48 Things To Know About Sustainable Living: A Review and Giveaway

Living on an island can shape our perspective about how our lives impact the planet and either positively or negatively affect sustainability.  We're not suggesting that we are green experts.  Rather, we are interested in highlighting how we think, shop and spend can evolve so that can sustain the earth's future for our kids.  Plus we're looking at some really cool stuff! Stay tuned!

Wait! Stop! MoanaSaves Green Week is over and I have yet to submit this review!

The book is called 48 Things To Know About Sustainable Living and the reason it wasn't reviewed earlier is because I've been reading it and taking in all the ideas and resources that Victoria Klein offers the reader.

She's informative, she's practical, and she's fun. Klein seems to understand and empathize with the reader who may not know where to start with the whole sustainable living thing and then she provides additional resources for those of us who may feel like we do our best to live as responsible stewards of the earth but feel that we could always do better.

"Use it up. Wear it out, Make it do. Or do without."

This is the introductory golden nugget Klein uses in this book and it's one that my friend with six kids has been using since she was pregnant with her first. To me, this is how we can live. Less stuff and more awareness about our impact on the earth. That's the message of this book and it's helpful for everyone at any stage of sustainable living.

SHOP: You can purchase 48 Things to Know About Sustainable Living HERE.

WIN: The publisher of 48 Things to Know About Sustainable Living by Victoria Klein is offering one lucky Moana Saves reader his/her own copy of the book!  For your mandatory entry in this giveaway, tell us one thing you'd like to work on to make your life more green and sustainable.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

2. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Like Moana Saves on  Facebook

4. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.

5. Follow Victoria Klein on Twitter.  

6. Tweet about this giveaway with the following (once a day max): #Win 48 Things to Know About Sustainable Living from @VictoriaKlein and @moanasaves ends 4/11 http://bit.ly/gvtOix

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends Monday, 4/11/11 HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winners via email and they must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a free copy of the book to facilitate this review. Any and all opinions here are mine.

Ziploc is Going Green! A Review & Giveaway

I LOVE Ziploc and couldn't go a day without their products.  Quite honestly though,  I didn't realize how dependent I was on Ziploc until I was given the opportunity to write this review.   It dawned on me that I use Ziploc products from morning to night, just about EVERY day.  I use Ziploc sandwich bags and storage containers every morning, to pack our lunches, and afterschool snacks.  I like how the products keep dry contents dry and fresh & wet contents from spilling all over.  I am an anti-food waster and pack up any leftover food from breakfast, lunch, and dinner into Ziploc storage containers to be reheated for future meals.  At any given time I have at least 4 Ziploc containers (which stack perfectly and have leak resistant seals) in variable sizes in my refrigerator.  Here is a picture of the Ziploc containers I pulled out of my fridge this past Thursday, and this is a typical example of my usage:

The bags in the back of the picture are the Ziploc slider bags that have an expandable bottom to help the bag stay upright.  I find them perfect for storing and keeping fresh the rolls I bake. The long rectangular Ziploc container had the cookies I baked early that morning.  In Hawaii keeping flies out of the kitchen and other critters (like roaches, & geckos) is a year round task due to our climate.  I have no worries when my food is packed away in Ziploc! The rest of the stackable containers held our "healthy" leftover mac n cheese, potstickers, vegetable curry, and fish sticks.  Here I should probably also mention the stack of Ziploc freezer bags in my freezer and refrigerator that are perfect for dividing up meat and vegetables from Costco.  Out of the kitchen, we use Ziploc bags and containers for organizing my daughters' hair stuff, craft stuff, son's trading cards, and bakugan toys, it goes on and on!

I LOVE Ziploc because it is probably the most organized part of my crazy life. It brings convenience to many areas of my life, keeps my freezer and refrigerator clean, and it gets better.  I just learned that Ziploc bags are recyclable.  I know our local Safeway has recycled plastic grocery bags for years but was unaware that (clean & dry) Ziploc bags can be put in the same receptacle.  It makes me feel great to know that big companies like Ziploc are truly making an effort to help save the Earth!

Ziploc sustainability efforts also include:

o    Launching Ziploc evolve bags in 2009, which use 25 percent less plastic than the same size regular Ziploc Brand Bags and is partially made with wind energy
o    Manufacturing many Ziploc products in Bay City, Mich., using a combination of renewable wind energy and energy from traditional sources
o    Partnering with Recyclebank, the leading sustainable action platform that motivates and enables individuals to make a collective impact on the environment, to provide families special incentives to increase recycling, which, in turn, will help keep our country’s landfills from growing. The initiative aims to educate and inspire families to divert more waste from landfills. Check out this video to see how it works: http://www.ziploc.com/Sustainability/pages/Recyclability-and-Earning-Rewards.aspx
o    Product recyclability
o    Producing containers that can be used multiple times

To WIN your own stock of Ziploc products,
WIN: To WIN your own prize pack of Ziploc products,  become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar) and leave a comment saying you’ve done so.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
3. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win a Ziploc prize pack from @moanasaves #giveaway ends 3/23 http://bit.ly/gDUcTX
4. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
5. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
6.  Like the Ziploc Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on 3/23/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post but I did receive product samples to facilitate my review.  All opinions on this review are mine!

Review and Giveaway of EcoMom Flip and Tumble Set of 5 Produce Bags

Sigh.  I love Ecomom.com.  I could browse for hours creating a wish list to turbo charge my commitment to a greener lifestyle.  From the Babo Rosemary Tea Tree Lice Repel Conditioning Spray (always good to have on hand in case ukus are going around at school) to the Stainless Steel Compost Pail (must.start.composting.again)—it all looks wonderful and such great prices!

And while our first review item from Ecomom, the Flip and Tumble Set of 5 Produce Bags, seems a bit mundane, it’s the next step to take in your green grocery shopping routine.  If you’ve become expert at toting along your reusable grocery bags to avoid using plastic, it makes sense that you take that commitment further with reusable produce bags.
The Flip and Tumble bags came in a set of five, each with a different colored tag sewn into the side so that you can color code what goes into each bag and keep filling it with the same item over time (and between washes).  The bags themselves are made of polyester and with the transparent fabric it’s easy to see what’s in each bag.  The ties at the top are sturdy and each bag is roomy, measuring 12 x 14.  Best of all, I love how the fabric is breathable and allows condensed water  on the produce to evaporate.  The way plastic bags kept in that moisture just led to soggy, rapidly decaying veggies.

Personally, I think every green home should have two sets of these produce bags.  One set in use in the crisper and one set ready to go with your reusable shopping bags so that you’re never in need of a plastic produce bag at the store or the farmer’s market.

SHOP: You can purchase the Flip and Tumble Set of 5 Produce Bags HERE.

WIN: Thanks to the great folks at EcoMom, one lucky Moana Saves reader will win at $20 Gift Certificate to EcoMom.com!  To win, follow the mandatory entry requirement below and any optional ones you'd like with a separate comment for each:

To earn a mandatory entry, go check out the EcoMom site and tell us what you would spend your $20 GC on.  Mandatory means that if you don't do this first, all of your other entries will be disqualified.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
4. Follow EcoMom on Twitter.
5.  Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win an EcoMom $20 GC from @EcoMom and @moanasaves #giveaway ends 3/22 http://bit.ly/i0YqbE
6. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
8. Like the EcoMom Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on Tuesday, 3/22/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

**I was not compensated for this post although I did receive product samples to facilitate this review. Any and all opinions here are mine. 

Technorati Tags: anna,giveaways,reviews,green

Bag Ups: Biodegradable trash bags

My house has gone through a trash can makeover!  I normally use bulk brand bags- nothing fancy- but the price is right.  We take out about a bag a day, sometimes more with company and clean-up/recycling days.

I just tie up the draw string and take them out. Hadn't really thought about the process it goes through after that point.  I'm the one that mostly takes care of the trash situation in our house.  But sometimes I make my 8-year-old change the bags because I'm just sick of doing it and it never gets done right away since my trash can and the space where I keep the bags are at different ends of the room.

I came across a great product called Bag-Ups- these bags are much better for the environment and only take 2 years to decompose, instead of the 2000 years that my other bags do.  These are also a drop-in system, so the next bag comes up and tears off of the one you are taking out after it's full- very convenient as well!  Now I only had to change the box every 23rd time!

 
I was able to fill up just as much in them and then tie them shut.  These are something any family could use while still saving time and the environment.

The benefits of undergoing a “Trash Can Makeover” include:

• Going GREEN! BagUps biodegrade over 2 years, as opposed to the industry standard 2,000!
• You're supporting Veterans and persons with disabilities, since they are assembling this product for us.
• You are buying AMERICAN! (Let's face it, this isn't exactly easy to do anymore!)
• Never having to reach down into the can EVER AGAIN! The unique BagUps system ensures that you never have to bend down into the trash can again since the next bag is always attached! Additionally, the time savings of never having to go to a storage closet to get a new bag really adds up!
  
  Learn more about Bag-Ups on their website, Facebook or Twitter page- where you can even ask your own questions about this innovative product!
  
  
  I was provided with a box of BagUps for this review. All opinions are my own.

It’s a SnackTAXI Giveaway!

What do you get when you take a SnackTAXI review and add to it a MoanaSaves RAVE of SnackTAXI?  A SnackTAXI Food Movers for a Happy Planet giveaway! Jill at SnackTAXI sent me a colorful set consisting of one sandwich sack and one snack sack (pic below).  You can read my original review here and the RAVE here.  Not only are SnackTAXIs great for our planet, the absolute cuteness and durability of them make me happy in the morning when I pack Second Born’s lunch.  And a happy lunch for an 8 year old plus a happy morning for her mom are actually worth a lot!

Check out the SnackTAXI website here where you can shop for colorful reusable luck products. Or you can win this very pair of SnackTAXIs here:

To earn a mandatory entry in the SnackTAXI giveaway, become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

2. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.

3. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win a pair of SnackTAXIs from @moanasaves #giveaway ends 2/14 http://bit.ly/ep7uRy

4. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).

5. Grab the Moana Saves button and put it on your blog until the giveaway is over.

6. Put Moana Saves on your blog list.

7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

8. Like the SnackTAXI Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends on Monday, 2/14/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this giveaway although I did receive samples of products to facilitate the original review.  Any and all opinions here are mine.

A Moana Saves RAVE: SnackTAXI Reusable Sandwich and Snack Bags

 

Once in a while we come across a product that deserves another shout out.  Thus, a Moana Saves RAVE.  As in, not just good, or great, but we really do want to rave about you!  And, this time, it’s SnackTAXI. 

I posted a review of SnackTAXI reusable sandwich and snack bags HERE before Christmas and have been using them in Second Born's school lunch ever since.  They clean up easily with either a rinse or run through the dishwasher plus the overall bag and closure has stood up well to everyday use.  Every morning I smile inside when I'm using them to pack her lunch as I know I'm doing something good for the earth and it doesn't complicate  my routine or clean-up at all.  Often I have to fight the overpowering urge to give the whole world a SnackTAXI lunch makeover.  OK, I'm exaggerating (slightly) but I do think everyone should try them out and, if you're so inclined, you can check them out HERE.  At least look at the fabulous patterns they come in!

Isabella water bottle: A Review



Comes in 3 colors: white, blue and silver



About 70% of plastic water bottles DON'T end up in the recycle bin.  I was a guilty party until our state enacted the bottle fees.  Which is why this founder of Isabella water bottles made a purpose outside of just something to drink from.

The tagline for Isabella is "giving well".  This is the message within the bottle- for each bottle, $10 is giving to fund a well to provide clean drinking water in either Asia or Africa.  This is half of the cost it takes to bring water to one person.



Some people who might appreciate this gift are those with New Year's resolutions to drink more water, which is something most people should be doing. 

I liked that the mouth of the waterbottle was large enough for ice to fit and a bottle brush could be used to clean it out.  If you do put it in the dishwasher, the paint will fade- but it's more sanitary than reusing a plastic bottle.

The bottle is recycled and renewable and made from ergonomically designed stainless steel.  If you are working on drinking 64 oz per day, you'd need to drink just under 3 bottles-full during the day- with meals and in between. 

They are $22, so about 45% of the cost goes towards a cause!  Get your Isabella water bottle today at Isabellawater.org

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Sea Changes 2011: Diva Cup Giveaway

Diva International was one of my first giveaway sponsors.  The idea behind my review and giveaway was that I could write about a product I’d been using for quite a while and offer one lucky Moana Saves reader a Diva Cup of her own. 
HERE is the original review back in September of 2010.  I’m happy to say that I’m still a faithful Diva Cup user and manage to talk up this product whenever I get the chance.  Not only does the Diva Cup eliminate the way a monthly cycle controls my activities, it is a significant way for me to neutralize my carbon footprint.  But, hey, you can just read my original review for more of my raves about this product!
BUY IT
You can find a store near you that sells the Diva Cup here.
or
You can purchase one online at Amazon.
WIN IT
One lucky Moana Saves reader will win a Diva Cup of her own.  To earn a mandatory entry, go to the Diva Cup site and tell me something you've learned about the product itself or about women's health.   (Mandatory entry means that if you don't do this first, all of your other entries will be disqualified.)
To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:
1. Become a public follower of Moana Saves via Google Friend Connect.
2.  Follow me on Twitter.
3. Follow @DivaCup on Twitter
4. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win a Diva Cup ($40 ARV) from @moanasaves and @DivaCup #giveaway ends 1/20  http://bit.ly/e7Dgbg
5. Subscribe to my feed via RSS reader and/or email updates.
6. Grab my button and put it on your blog until the giveaway is over.
7. Put Moana Saves on your blog list.
8. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.
9. Like the Diva Cup Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. or Canada  This giveaway ends on Thursday, 1/20/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.
Disclosure: I did not receive any form of compensation from Diva International to host this giveaway.  Any and all opinions are my own. 

SnackTAXI Reusable Sandwich and Snack Bags Review

 

There are so many things to like about snackTAXIs that I'm writing this review in bullet points to organize my raves. 

But first some information from snackTAXI's website and the adorable tag that came with the reusable bags (the parenthetical comments are mine):

"Our mission here at snackTAXI is to create fun & friendly items that make it easy for everyone to move their food in sustainable style!"

Food for Thought:

• snackTAXIs are machine washable (and dry-able--I checked!)
• Our materials are free of lead and phthalates
• The US alone adds 20 million plastic baggies to landfills every single day (closes mouth hanging open in awe)
• Each reusable bag you use keeps as many as 1000 plastic bags out of the waste stream.

What I love about the snackTAXIs sent to me for review purposes:

• The colors of the bags and the contrasting lining inside are richly gorgeous! A feast for the eyes!
• Each bag is completely serged, minimizing the chance of a bag falling apart anytime soon.
• Each bag has long velcro strips so that closure is adjustable according to the size of the item(s) in the bag.
• The snack bag is oversized (much larger than plastic snack baggies) and so is the sandwich bag that can accommodate different bread sizes.
• Reusable lunch bags are not only good for the earth but also for my wallet.  I could buy a whole set of snackTAXIs for what I pay in one year for plastic baggies.  And the snackTAXIs would last longer than a year, I'm guessing.
• I love that I'm teaching my daughter about sustainability and conserving resources through example.
• They're just so dang hip! I asked my daughter if anyone noticed the snackTAXIs in her lunch at school and she just rolled her eyes at me.  I guarantee that if I'd been eating with other moms and using snackTAXIs we'd totally be swooning over how cool they are . . .

My only gripe about snackTAXIs is more of a gripe about the losing battle I'm fighting with the ants on this island.  I wish that snackTAXIs were completely seal-able so that I don't have to worry about those &*#% ants getting into them.  Using snackTAXIs just means I need to clean out my daughter's lunch bag right after school to avoid the ant brigade.  And if it comes down to losing my struggle with the ants versus losing the planet to human overconsumption, I bet you know which one I'd pick.  You can shop for snackTAXIs, food movers for a happy planet, here.

Mahalo to snackTAXI for providing me with product samples to facilitate this review.  I did not receive compensation for this post.  Any and all opinions are my own.

Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar Review and Giveaway

As a working mom, I can tell you two things about the way I clean: 1. The simpler my process, the more likely I am to get it done, and 2. The more natural the products I use, the better I feel.  Windex's new Multi-Surface Vinegar fits the bill on both counts!  I was lucky enough to receive a full-sized bottle to try out for this review and I gotta admit that its good stuff. 

I used Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar on my bathroom mirrors, my sliding glass door and my kitchen counters with a micro-fiber cloth.  On glass, it leaves the trademark streak-free shine and on the counters it cleaned up spills easily.  I love that vinegar is the main cleaning ingredient because its natural and its safe.  My dog can lick the windows if he wants after I've used this product with no ill effects. (Ok, my dog doesn't lick the windows.)  I also love that this multi-surface cleaner doesn't smell like vinegar; instead it has a pleasant, light scent.  This is a product I can use almost everywhere in my house--I can walk from room to room with my Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar and my cloth cleaning all kinds of surfaces.

I love that S.C. Johnson is actively committed to developing greener products.  They've created a Greenlist process for making Windex which " involves selecting raw materials that have a reduced environmental impact yet maintain high product performance" and their plastic bottles are made of 50% post-consumer materials and are recyclable.  Perhaps the only suggestion I have for S.C. Johnson is that they list all of the ingredients of Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar to ensure total transparency between the manufacturer and the consumer regarding ingredients in the product.  Otherwise, its safe to say that I'm in love with the stuff.

S. C. Johnson is giving away a Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar prize pack to one lucky Moana Saves reader! The prize pack consists of one full-sized Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar, a digital photo frame and a reusable shopping bag.  Your prize pack will be similar to what's in the picture below:

To earn a mandatory entry, tell me how you would use Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar to clean your home. Mandatory means that if you don't do this first, all of your other entries will be disqualified.

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a public follower of Moana Saves via Google Friend Connect (on the right side).

2. Subscribe to the S.C. Johnson Right@Home email newsletter where you'll recieve cleaning and organizing tips, recipes, special promotions and more--all in your inbox.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following (leave the tweet URL in your comment):
#Win Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar, reusable shopping bag and digital picture frame from S.C. Johnson and @moanasaves http://bit.ly/dtqLad #giveaway ends 11/22

5. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

6. Subscribe to my feed via RSS reader (right side) and/or email updates (left side).

7. Grab my button and put it on your blog until the giveaway is over.

8. Put Moana Saves on your blog list.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends on Monday, November 22th at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

Mahalo to Family Review Network and S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. for providing the opportunity to review Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar. I did not receive any form of compensation from S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. to review their products or host this giveaway.  I did receive a full-sized sample to facilitate my review.  Any and all opinions are my own.

For the Ladies: Review and Giveaway of the Diva Cup

Discussing menstrual products on my blog.  Its a tricky thing.  The hub even made me show this to him before I put it up.  Sometimes I can be the queen of TMI.  I guess he's trying to keep me at the princess level of TMI so we can hold on to our family's dignity.  But talking about menstrual cycles isn't such a big deal! It just depends on how you do it.  So don't worry, I won't embarrass you or me in this post. Okay? Okay.

I contacted Carinne Chambers at Diva International because I believe in their product.  I've used a Diva Cup for nearly four years (not the same one, mind you) and its quite possibly the easiest and the smartest thing I've done to reduce my eco-footprint on the earth.  Back when I first started to use the Diva Cup, it seemed a cheap alternative to the feminine hygiene products I could get at the drugstore.  It bothered me that I had to buy new product every few months especially as I tend to like the ones that are more expensive.  Now, four years later, I haven't gone back to disposable products because its easy to use the Diva Cup.  Seriously!  The learning curve isn't very steep at all.  If I can use one, anyone can.  Sorry, no instruction video here to show you.  That would embarrass my hub.

You can check out all of the info on the Diva Cup website about their product.  The Cup is made from the highest quality silicone, has no chlorine, dyes, colorings or additives of any kind, and is in no way connected to Toxic Shock Syndrome.  Further, it has been approved by the FDA, Health Canada, and holds an international ISO 13485:2003 manufacturing certification.  The Diva Cup was developed by a mother-daughter team who recognize that “not every woman can afford a hybrid car nor easily convert their home to solar power. Yet, by choosing to use a menstrual cup instead of disposable tampons and pads, any woman is able to make an environmentally responsible choice each month. This is no small matter. In the U.S. alone, billions of tampons and pads are dumped into landfills and the environment each year" (Carinne Chambers).


Yes, yes, all of that is well and good but you really want to know what its like to use it, don't you?  Short of getting a bit too graphic on a family-friendly blog, I can tell you that inserting it and taking it out takes a little practice. Otherwise, its a breeze to use.  You can use the same cup for a year or even longer according to the FAQ.  I've used the ones I've had for over a year before replacing them.  The Diva Cup comes in two sizes: Model 1 is for women younger than 30 who have not experienced childbirth; Model 2 is for women over 30 and/or those who have given birth.  It also comes with a cute little drawstring bag and Diva pin. 


BUY IT

You can find a store near you that sells the Diva Cup here.
or
You can purchase one online at Amazon.

WIN IT
One lucky woman will win a Diva Cup of her own.  To earn a mandatory entry, go to the Diva Cup site and tell me something you've learned about the product itself or about women's health.   (Mandatory entry means that if you don't do this first, all of your other entries will be disqualified.)

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a public follower of Moana Saves via Google Friend Connect (on the left side).

2.  Follow me on Twitter.

3. Follow @DivaCup on Twitter

4. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win a Diva Cup ($40 ARV) from @moanasaves and @DivaCup #giveaway http://bit.ly/cYUpd5

5. Subscribe to my feed via RSS reader (right side) and/or email updates (left side).

6. Grab my button and put it on your blog until the giveaway is over.

7. Put Moana Saves on your blog list.

Two new options for this giveaway:

8. Like the (new!) Moana Saves Facebook page.

9. Like the Diva Cup Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. or Canada  This giveaway ends on Tuesday, October 5th at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

Disclosure: I did not receive any form of compensation from Diva International to host this giveaway.  Any and all opinions are my own.