Rock out with Lullabies for Baby!

Buttercup and I share a love of music and it's a bond I cherish. My little girl was humming "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" at 10 months, is begging Santa for a piano at two-years-old, and loves to try playing her daddy's old guitar.

I say she's destined for Broadway. But for now, I'm content to sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" as many times as she requests. Okay, okay, so even a big music lover like myself can get a bit tired of the kiddie songs that come standard with Toddler Territory, so getting the chance to listen to some Aerosmith with Buttercup tonight was a huge treat for both of us. It was awesome; she fell asleep and I couldn't stop smiling.

And no, I did not deafen my daughter to sleep with rock legends blaring on the iPod. It was really a much more soothing experience thanks to Rockabye Baby! The company, which specializes in lullabye renditions of music parents actually want to listen to like AC/DC, Green Day, Queen, The Beatles, and Coldplay, was gracious enough to send me a review copy of the newest addition to their library, which includes liner notes by Steve Tyler!

It's.Just.Awesome. And I'll tell ya, listening to "Dude (Looks Like a Lady), and "Walk This Way," in a genius rendition soothing enough to almost lull me to sleep but so good I could hear the lyrics in my head was just the coolest musical experience I've had since becoming a mother.

My husband loves it, too, and we're already planning on adding to our collection. I see Metallica in Buttercup's future. (And I'm going to admit here and now that I'm adding the Aerosmith collection to my own mp3 player for those crazy moments when Mama needs some soothing of her own.)

So who wants to call dibs on cool music for your kid that you can't wait to tell your own friends about?

To enter, simply visit the site and leave a comment telling me which CD you'd love to get if you are selected the winner. Please note that the winner also has the option to choose the new green Digital Download Card option instead of a traditional CD. Make sure to include your email or Twitter ID so I can contact you if you are selected as winner. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on Nov. 3, 2009 and winners have four days to respond or an alternate will be selected.This contest is limited to US residents only, and to those 18 years and older.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:

* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Tweet about this contest and leave me a comment with the tweet.

* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address or Twitter ID to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address or Twitter ID to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Fun with Charlie

Buttercup might be all about princesses and butterflies right now, but the girly-girl in her can't seem to resist the universal call of dinosaurs that seems to attract all kids from the age of two on up.

And while she may be too young to question how she got here or where the dinosaurs went, she is not too young to enjoy learning as she grows and having fun with both every day.

Enter Charlie's Playhouse: A super-smart company with the aim to provide children and educators with fun learning tools to help teach children about evolution. Buttercup and I were treated to the Giant Timeline Floormat ($49) which she fell in love with as soon as she realized her "Dinos!" were a primary focus. This illustrated, walk-on play mat is one smart toy. Kids ages 4-10 can sit and read it like a book, stand it up like a fort, and spread it across the living room floor for an 18 foot lesson spanning 600 million years!

The Giant Timeline Floormat is printed on enviromentally-friendly and durable synthetic paper, can be cleaned with a damp cloth, and is printed in the USA. What's not to love?

Get Earth-friendly with CVS

Green is good. Thankfully, more and more companies are realizing that.

CVS/Pharmacy recently launched an eco-friendly line of recycled and biodegradable products and were kind enough to send me some for review. Earth Essentials offers consumes a variety of options for green-friendly get-togethers like bowls and plates made from biodegradable sugar cane, napkins and bathroom tissue endorsed by Greenpeace, and garbage bags that erase the guilt.

All products are very affordable (99 cents to $8.99) and easy on the planet.

Sustain your lifestyle with Sustain Stores

I live in the desert and am pretty far away from a lot of the conveniences I was used to in the Midwest. Since moving to Arizona, I've come to rely on a lot of Internet shopping to save on gas and time wasted driving. One of my newest and most favorite places to shop online is the super green and well-priced Sustain Stores site. Sustain is 100% committed to providing customers with well-priced, Eco-friendly options in order to live a--you guessed it!--more sustainable life.

The best part? Sustain co-creators and brothers Tim and Mark Appleberry independently verify all Eco-friendly claims for all products they sell on their site. That's commitment!

I had the opportunity to try the Evolve Roadrunner Optimized Shower Head, priced at $39.95. With four adults in my household, it's become increasingly important to me to conserve water for both environmental and budgeting reasons. This shower head is perfect for that. Not only does the Roadrunner save nearly eight gallons of water for every five minutes in the shower, estimated yearly savings top $200 on the water bill!

We've been using ours for a few months now and couldn't be happier.

Be sure to check out the Sustain Stores site for their Top Five under $25 section for wonderful ideas for you, your home, and those you love.

EcoStore USA is truly eco-friendly

I've admitted to not exactly being the greenest mom around. Not every plastic bottle makes it into the recycling container. Lights don't always get shut off when I leave a room. But I am trying and I know that every little bit helps when it comes to contributing to the welfare of our planet.

Thankfully, sponsors are taking notice of my attempts to "go greener" and I recently received a few natural cleaning products from EcoStore USA to try out in my home. I have stated on my blog time and time again that unless I can totally back a product that I won't share it with my readers, and this is one brand I truly think is one worth mentioning.

Ecostore carries a variety of products ranging from baby care to personal care to household cleaners. All are natural, non-toxic, and plant-based, making them friendly to the environment and safe for use in your home.

EcoStore USA sent me a bottle of their laundry liquid, a 100 percent certified organic Eucalyptus oil and plant based formula, which doesn't leave chemical resiue on clothing. I've been using this product to wash Buttercup's cloth diapers, and love the fresh scent. (And anyone who cloth diapers can tell you that if a laundry solution is gentle enough for cloth AND gets the gunk off that it's a keeper!)

I also got to try the Toilet Cleaner, and I plan to definitely purchase this one when I run out. It might be obvious, I never realized that the hamrful chemicals in the big-name brands I've been using to keep our toilet sparkly clean were also contributing to the degredation of our water supply. (Sorry, planet Earth!) No worries with EcorStore USA's cleaner. Just a clean toilet and a happy planet.

Lastly, EcoStore USA sent me a bottle of their Citrus Spray cleaner, which I have been happily using to clean everything from Buttercup's high chair to her toys to my stove and kitchen. Diluted, it even works on mirrors and glass!

Perhaps most impressive is the note included in the box, though. It proudly states that all packaging materials used are environmentally friendly, from the soy packaging peanuts to the boxes made from recycled paper to the very paper the note itself is printed on. Little touches like that are what makes EcoStore USA so very and so truly eco-friendly.

EcoStore USA is offering one lucky readers a chance at a $25 online gift certificate to their store. To enter, simply visit the site and let me know which product or products you would buy with your gift certificate if selected the winner. Make sure to include your email or Twitter ID so I can contact you if you are selected as winner. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on June 8, 2009 and winners have four days to respond or an alternate will be selected. Please note that the contest is limited to the United States and Canada, only. You must be 18 years or older to enter.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* Become a fan of Berrie Sweet Picks on Facebook
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest by saying "Eco-friendly giveaway at Berrie Sweet Picks!"
* Vlog about the contest and post at www.newbaby.com!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address or Twitter ID to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address or Twitter ID to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Post-it Products go eco-friendly!

Earth Day has come and gone, but the Post-it product company has now made it easier to stay organized with style and sustainability on an everyday basis.

I recently received a (very colorful!)variety of samples from the Post-It Recycled Collection, and I'm loving the fact that I'm now recycling used post-its that are made with a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer content.

I mean, really, how long does a Post-it note stay up where you stuck it? For me, it used to just get tossed in the trash as soon as whatever I was reminding myself to do had been accomplished. But even when I decided to join the environmentally-concsious, I was still recycling a product that wasn't exactly contributing its share to doing some good for the planet.

With that said, it's great to see that Post-its made with recycled paper are now being offered. My thanks go to the Post-it Brand for taking such a major step in truly making every day Earth Day! With SFI (Sustainable Forest Initiative) Chain-of-Custody certification, it's nice to know that the Post-it Brand is now making their products from paper sourced from well-managed forests where trees are replanted, which contributes to the protection of wild habitats and many other initiatives.


Oh, and major berrie sweet bonus points for the vibrant color choices! (Just remember to do your part and continue to recycle your Post-its!)

Want to try them out for yourself? Post-it is offering three lucky Berrie Sweet Picks readers the chance to win one set each containing Post-it Recycled Notes and Post-it Super Sticky Recycled Notes. To enter, leave me a comment telling me your favorite place to stick your Post-its. Is it on your computer screen? Your bathroom mirror? Make sure to include your email so I can contact you if you are selected as winner. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on May 25, 2009 and winners have four days to respond or an alternate will be selected. Please note that the contest is limited to the United States and Canada, only.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* Become a fan of Berrie Sweet Picks on Facebook
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest by saying "Post-it Notes Recycled Products giveaway at Berrie Sweet Picks!
* Vlog about the contest and post at www.newbaby.com!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Peekaru! I see you!

Before I begin this review, I'd like to thank Parenting By Nature for their patience in getting this one up! You all know I've been trying to recover from my recent cross-country move, and this particular review item was one I had to hunt for once I arrived in Arizona thanks to the movers mistakingly packing it up just a few days after I received it.

Now, it might seem out of season at this point, but trust me...it isn't. Parenting By Nature sent me and Buttercup the Peekaru Vest to try out, and we couldn't be happier with the product. Sure, I'm dealing with 100 degree weather right now, but I know for a fact that there are plenty of other states (like Michigan!) where Moms and their babies would get tons of year-round use for chilly evening walks and early morning outings.

The Peekaru is defintely one of the coolest and sweetest products I have had a chance to try out. It's a definite must-have for any baby-wearing parent, allowing you to keep you AND your child warmer without the hastle of trying to work around traditional jackets or extra blankets. Made from 85 percent Malden fleece, the Peekaru is also an eco-conscious parent's dream. Each 150 Peekaru's made save about a barrel of oil, with about 25 two-liter plastic bottles used to create each one. And what can be better than a product made in the USA under fair labor conditions supporting work-at-home moms?

I tried the Peekaru out with Buttercup hanging out in her Ergo, both front and back facing, and we both loved it. We also gave it a shot in her Baby K'tan, and were equally pleased. There's plenty of room under the vest for me to add a jacket for when it gets cooler, and with Buttercup at 27 pounds, I have no doubt this vest will last me as long as the Ergo!

The Peekaru comes in a variety of colors to suit your taste, and fit wonderfully. This is definitely one item I will be packing for family visits in Michigan!

Also check out Parenting by Nature for their great selection of cloth diapers, baby carriers and slings, and gift services, and more. It's the perfect online one-stop shopping destination for parents. And the site os mom-owned and operated!

Thanks to Parenting By Nature, I have one Peekaru Vest in choice of size and color for one lucky reader up for grabs. To enter, please visit their site and leave me a comment telling me what other item you'd love to see reviewed on Berrie Sweet Picks! Make sure to include your email so I can contact you if you are selected the winner. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, on May 13, 2009. Please note that the contest is limited to the United States and Canada, only.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* Become a fan of Berrie Sweet Picks on Facebook
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest and leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!
* Vlog about the contest and post at www.newbaby.com!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Sustain stores makes buying green easier

I'm not exactly a true shade of green, but my eforts to lessen my carbon footprint and be as eco-mindful as possible do make me feel pretty good.

A new site, Sustain Stores, is just one resourse eco-mommas like me can rely on to make it just that much easier. No more nasty surprises that can come with learning a "supposedly" sustainable product was nothing more than just sneaky marketing. Instead, the Sustain Stores staff has done the work for all of us by independently verifying each and every item in their inventory.

Buy green for your home, your baby, and yourself with Sustain Stores with the help of a sweet little 20% percent off coupon code off your TOTAL order! Use code "sustain" during checkout and then wait for your email confirmation after order processing for a great bargain on buying green. The discount code expires May 15.

Add a little green to your day

I have to admit: I might try my best to do Kermit proud with my efforts to be as green as I can be, but I haven't really done much to celebrate Earth Day since middle school. (Yeah, I know. Bad Mommy Blogger. Bad!)

But I can try to make up for it at least a little bit, right? In fact, I can help you add a little green to your Earth Day Celebration on April 22 by telling you about the new Eco Kid Kitson HP Creative Studio. Just stop on by for fun, printable projects with kid-friendly reminders about energy conservation where it matters most: in your home.

You can also get more information and more Earth-friendly printables featuring expeditions from award-winning photographer and environmental advocate, Sebastion Copeland. Select from all-occassion cards with tips to reduce environmental impact printed on the back of each one, or check out the calendar template that helps spread the word about the Young Ambassadors of the Arctic, an initiative to increase public awareness about climate change by getting kids involved.

Happy Earth Day!

I Dream about buying green

If I could afford it, every item I ate would be organic. Every fruit, vegetable, meat source, and snack consumed by my family would be free of toxins and pesticides.

But guess what? If I stopped there, I'd still be missing the mark when it comes to personal care items. Not for Buttercup, of course. But for me.

I recently got to try the lovely (and handmade) I Dream Intensity Body Wash from BuyGreen.com and realized what I've been missing. And this stuff is truly a crunchy mama's dream come true: it's completely biodegradable, contains no harsh chemicals, no synthetics, and is made from hgh quality organic, wild, or sustainably grown ingredients.

The difference between I Dream's body wash ($20 for 10 oz.) and most traditional skin care options is that "100 % natural" doesn't include any of the bad stuff like sulfates, parabens, or pesticide/herbicide residue that can be associated with other "plant-based" options.

Buygreen.com describes the scent as "warm" and "spicy." I prefer to think of it as "green" and "sassy" and a perfectly sensible indulgence to start hinting for as a mother's day present.

;)

Rejuvenate with ReJavanate!

Reusable shopping bags have passed the "in" thing to do and, in my opinion, have simply become a "must-do."

I've had the chance to try a few different options on the market, and recently found my favorite. The ReJAVAnate bag is just cool-for a variety of reasons.

ReJAVAnate bags are made from burlap from coffee roasters that would have otherwise went straight to a landfill. That's just a smart way to recycle and eliminate a large source of waste.

(Did you know that coffee is the second largest commodity in the world and a resulting 800,000 tons of burlap are out into landfills every year? I was surprised to find that out, too!)

The company works with individuals with bags developmentally disabled individuals through The Arc to hand make the ReJAVAnate bags, providing the rest of us with a sustainable way to reduce paper and plastic bag consumption.

I took the ReJavanate to the grocery store with the me to grab some stuff, and was impressed with the roominess. I managed to fit 2 boxes of cereal, a bag of baby carrots, a head of romaine lettuce, and a bottle of juice. There was even room for a handful of boxes of Jello!

And as Rachel from Honeychunks pointed out to me, I even get a five cent bag credit for every reusable bag I bring in. Sweet!

I'm really loving this and think you will, too. It would definitely be a great way to bring in the New Year, wouldn't it?

ReJavanate is offering two of my winners the chance to win one Grower Logo bag (like mine!) each! To enter, visit the ReJAVAnate sister site at Buy Green and leave a comment telling me which item you are most interested in seeing reviewed next.

Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, Jan. 7, 2009 and the winner will have four business days from the announcement date to contact me with their information or an alternate will be selected.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
*subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Forget envy! Turn green with pride!

So are you "green?" Do you try to do your part to help protect our planet for future generations by preserving its natural resources?

Yes and yes? Sweet!

Now, take a look in the closest mirror and see if you have actually turned green as a way to show the world that you are doing your part! (Yes, I'm kidding...you can put the compact down now.)

But seriously, though, wouldn't the concept of turning green be a great way to help bring home the point of conserving natural resources for our kids? A new book series from The Little Environmentalists does just that, and from a kid's point of view, to boot.

"I'm Turning Green" shows how the little things we do, like turning off the water as we brush our teeth, can make a big diference! Check out Buttercup enjoying the story for the first time as her Abuela reads it to her!

I love this story, and I am pretty impressed that 18 mth-old Buttercup not only sat through the whole book, but eagerly requested a second reading (and sat through that one, too!)

And in case you're wondering, Little Environemtalists are a company worth promoting. It's refreshing to see a such a positive for kids reinforce the importance of "going green" with their dedication to producing environmentally-friendly products. All books are printed using 100 percent recycled paper that is 1200 percent post-consumer waste and chloring free. And if that wasn't enough, the ink is eco-friendly, too.

Can it get any better than that? Retailing for $7.95, "I’m Turning Green" can be found at The Little Environmentalists and Amazon.

So who wants to "go green" with their kids? One lucky U.S. winner will get the chance to bring the "green" home by leaving a comment on this post.

To enter, ask your children for their best eco-friendly tip and share it with my readers here! Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, December 29 and the winner will have four business days from the announcement date to contact me with their information or an alternate will be selected. US entries only, please. What a perfect way to bring in the New Year!

Additional extra entries are also available if you:

* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.

* Blog about contest and link to this post.

* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!

* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!

* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)

* Tweet the contest leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Go eco-friendly when fighting your cold

It happens every time: Buttercup gets sick and I just bide time until I get whatever little germs she is carrying passed on to me and then end up with a worse cold than she had.

But now I've got a little extra-something in my mommy-arsenal to help get me back on track sooner (since we all know that the world does not stop spinning for sick moms, although I really think it should.)

I had the opportunity to try Cold-Eeze zinc lozenges, which are clinically proven to help reduce the duration and severity of a cold by 42 percent (or within three to four days). It's the Zinc itself that helps get your immune system boosted, and it also gets your system an extra kick in helping fight infections.

But don't make the mistake like I did of waiting for a full-fledged cold hitting you before giving these a try. My sister had much better results when she started the COLD-EEZE lozenges as soon as she felt her cold coming on. She just followed the directions and took a lozenge every two-to-four hours, and she cleared her cold much faster than I did (and didn't have to call in sick to work!)

As for me, I sat at home on the couch popping Organix Cough and Sore Throat Drops like they were going out of style. And even though I would have gladly forced down anything to get rid of my cough and soothe my throat, I liked the taste of these cough drops. I also like that they are the first over-the-counter cough and sore throat drops that are Certified Organic.

Try them out for yourself the next time a cold gets the better of you. Organix are available in Organix is available in Dark Chocolate Mint flavor, Purely Peppermint, Orchard Cherry and Golden Honey Lemon.

Oh, and eco-friendly bonus alert: Even the twist wraps of each lozenge is made from fully compostable corn starch! How's that for sweet?

Chico bags=chic green

I am not the greenest of mommies, but I do try! Since Buttercup has been born, I have started adopting new habits to set a good example, such as not running the faucet while I brush my teeth, recycling, and making sure all lights are turned off when I exit a room.

I also started using reusable shopping bags once I learned how bad plastic bags are for the environment. Sure, I'm human, and sometimes I rush into the grocery store for a few quick things with the big reusables I got from Ikea left in the back of my mini-van, so I decided to look for a more Pauline-proof way to keep my green-streak going while shopping. ;)

Why use Chicobags?

One reason is the genius carabener clip that allows for attaching to diaper bags, purses and belt loops. Never shop without your chico again!

Two: They are great for the environment by reducing waste.

Three: It doesn't happen in Michigan, but I hear that some stores offer a credit on your shopping bill for being good to our planet.

Four: They are just cool looking and come in a variety of colors to match your mood!

Five: You can get your for only $4.95 per bag with FREE SHIPPING from Honeychunks!

So really, what's stopping you? Get a chico!

Joobles...the Fairest of them all

Joobles.

Just the word itself makes me giggle like a little kid.

But the story behind it makes me one proud momma knowing that Buttercup is cuddling with a 100 percent organic knit-toy whose purchase benefits fair trade.

The founders of Fair Indigo have a new line of soft and squeezable pals for your little ones-just in time for the holidays! Meet Mel the Monkey (Buttercup already did. You can see our vlog below!) and his sweet little playmates, all of which are handcrafted in Peru where artisans have hand crafted a menagerie of stuffed animals under fair trade conditions. The company tagline-Responsible, Sustainable, Adorable-is proven time and time again in the environmentally-friendly dyes and organic cotton grown right in Peru!

And if that isn't enough to warm your little green heart, the Joobles are made with cotton grown free of pesticides, insecticidess, herbicides, fertilizers, or other harmful chemicals; workers are paid fair wages; and free breakfasts and school supplies are donated to workers' children!

I mean, really, did you ever imagine that one toy could make such a difference in the lives of so many?

And as I look around our house, I see exactly what I promised myself would not happen: Too much junk. Too many overpriced and forgotten toys and stuffed animals I will gladly give away to charity when the time comes.

But sweet little Mel the Monkey here with his friendly little heart-shaped face and adorable blue limbs and tail? Oh no,...he's staying for as long as I can help it. And I hope to explain to Buttercup why he's so important when she gets old enough to understand.

Joobles retail for $29 each and can be found online at Fair Indigo or at Oompa Toys.

(You can stop holding your breath now because we do have a contest!)

To enter, visit Fair Indigo and click on the Fair Trade button (look for it-it is there!). Your entry will consist of leaving me a comment about what you have learned about the concept and why it is so important to patronize businesses who practice it. You must also include your first and second choice Jooble in your entry for it to be considered valid. Entries will be accepted until midnight, EST, December 10 and the winner will have four business days from the announcement date to contact me with their information or analternate will be selected. US entries only, please.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest using the term "fair trade" leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"!

Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

Xeko Mission: Have an earth-friendly Christmas

Green is the obvious buzz word for this year's Christmas push, and with good reason. Eco-friendly products are better for the environment and safer for our children, above all else, so why not make an effort to keep your kids' Christmas wish list as green as possible?

One great way to do this is with the new award-winning, earth-friendly trading card games and accompanying plush animals that encourage kids to learn about conservation, the environment, and the world's most threatened species. I got to take a look at the newest addition to the line with Xeko Mission: China starter set.

Buttercup's too young to appreciate this right now, but I was pretty impressed with the packaging (a beautiful pagoda-shaped box decorated with animals from China's habitats)and am glad to see company's realize how important playing can be to helping teach our children about the world they live in. And with earth-friendly materials used in the packaging and game, you can feel good about what you put under the Christmas tree, too.

I also got a chance to look at the new line of Xeko pals, with each based on the most popular characters from the Xeko eco-adventure game. We were sent a Giant
Panda made from soy and certified organic cotton. He' cute, soft, completely squeezable and huggable, and comes with his own "mission code" to allow kids the opportunity to join in on the fun at Xeko!

The starter kit retails for $24.99 and the 7.5" plush Giant Panda retails for $19.99. Both are available at specialty stores across the country like Barnes & Noble, Borders, and select Whole Foods.

And thanks to the good folks at Xeko, I've got a berrie cool chance for one reader to win a Xeko Mission: China starter set and a Giant Panda! To enter to the contest, please visit Xeko and then leave me a berrie (read: comment)about something you and your kids learned while there. You have until midnight, EST. on December. 1 and the winner has four days from the announcement date to respond. U.S. entries only, please.

Additional extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about contest and link to this post.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest at berriesweet.info (at) gmail (dot) com and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my Berrie Sweet Picks button and place it on your blog page. I'll check!
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
* Tweet the contest and leave a comment with your username telling me what you said to your "tweeple"! Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

101 post contest: A shout out to the Tree Huggers

Remember me? The accidental tree-hugger with a toddler on her hip?

Yeah, I'm the chick who admits to not bothering to go out and get a recycling bin in the six years we have lived in our home until Buttercup was born. Then all eco-friendly-hell broke loose and I suddenly found myself shunning disposable diapers for cloth, making my own baby food, chasing after my husband in the house to TURN OFF THE LIGHTS when he left a room, and of course, went out and got that recycling bin.

And now, I have one more notch to add to my green belt (right next to that notch for the 100 posts, and all...): The Act2-Green Smart line of laptop jackets, messenger bags, and totes---all ingeniously made from 100 percent recycled pop and water bottles. (I'm a Michigan girl....you may call it "soda" but we call it "pop" here. But I digress...)

I got to take a look at the vertical messenger bag and the tote, and am plenty impressed with both. I review a lot of things, and not all of them make it into my daily repitoire of Things I Actually Use, but both of these bags certainly did.

The messenger, which retails for $74.99, is a (much needed) far cry from the standard black bag I used to use for my laptop, and features padding to protect said laptop, easy access pockets under the flap, a zip pocket in the back, and magnetic flap closures. Both the vertical and horizontal styles are made to hold a 15.4 inch laptop, and feature carrying handles to give your shoulders a break when needed.

And according to Act2, one messenger bag uses 30 bottles, which saves the equivelant of 236 laptop hours of energy!

If that's not enough to make you feel good about buying one of their products, try this one on for size: Since sugust of 2008, Act2 has saved 493,320 plastic PET bottles and 3.8 million hours of equivelant laptop power. And that just flat out rocks.

The Tote has become the surprise favorite because since arriving, it has been delegated for use as "Buttercup's Library Bag." Every time I went prior to getting the tote, I found myself wincing as the librarian handed me a plastic shopping bag with our weekly selection of board books, and I vowed to find something better.

That's where the tote came in. So far, I've shoved it full of 7 board books and 10 CD's at one, and with room to spare.

Another good use would be as a green diaper bag. With plenty of space and an organizational panel and a zippered pocket, this is a perfect choice for taking baby essentials along for a shopping trip. Or use it as a gym bag. Just USE it! And by the way, the 10 bottles it is made from saves the equivelant of 78 laptop hours of energy.

You can check out the rest of the Act2 gear and get a sweet 20 percent off here by using code Fall08. You also can enter to win one of two totes in your choice of color, by visiting the Act2 site and leaving me a berrie (read: comment) telling me which product you'd like to see reviewed next on the blog.

Extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! That means that well, all entries must include an email address to be considered valid. Simple enough, right? ;)

I'll pick two names at midnight (EST) on Oct. 5 and post their name to PRIZEYWinners and on my sidebar. The winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me, or an alternate winner will be selected.

I heart Fuzzi Bunz

I think by now, you all know that Buttercup's fluffy butt is a direct result of the fact that I fell in love with cloth diapering when she was about 4 months old.

Thanks to my former magazine product review gig, I was lucky enough to get to try Fuzzi Bunz diapers, and eventually got a few samples of the new and improved design.

And yes, I heart them, too.

Before I go on, let me be the first to say that I HATED cloth diapering when I had to help change my lil' sisters' diapers. And thanks to many nasty, smelly, grossed-out memories of pins, poked fingers, wiggling babies, and soaking poopy diapers in the toilet while holding my breath, I was pretty sure I was never EVER going to use anything other than disposables on my own children.

But that was before I had my own. Because then things changed.

I suddenly found myself wanting to set a good example and all that Hallmark-gooey goodness that comes with becoming a mother. So when Fuzzi Bunz showed up on my doorstep and I suddenly started realizing the benefits to the environment AND to my bank account, I was pretty much hooked.

Here's the deal: In cloth diapering circles, you'll learn that Fuzzi Bunz are referred to as "pocket diapers" due to the waterproof outer layer with the pocket-style opening which allows for you to customize the absorbancy level by insterting one or more microfleece inserts.

In a nutshell, they are easy to use thanks to the adjustable snaps (did I mention "no pins?"!), beyond cute with tons of colors and prints to choose from, and actually help reduce (if not eliminate) diaper rashes!

After my traumatized teen years spent trying to wrestle a squirming baby into an antiquated prefold without sticking a pin in her tummy, this was seriously a walk in the park.

I use Fuzzi Bunz on Buttercup all day at home, and eventually got brave enough to venture out of my home with a bunch in tow for changes when out and about. I do, however, keep a few disposables on hand for the occassional diaper rash, as creams are not recommended for use with the Fuzzis.

Another point I'd like to bring up for parents of super heavy night wetters is that I have stuffed these diapers with three inserts at bed time and still had soak-throughs. But then again, my little water-horse can pee through a trusty disposable in the first half of the night alone...so don't take that as a sign that the Fuzzi Bunz aren't worth their weight in gold. I've spoken with plenty of cloth-diapering friends, and can confirm that their babies stay happy and dry with nothing but Fuzzi Bunz in the home.

You can get a starter kit of 12 diapers from Fuzzi Bunz direct for $227.40, which might sting a bit up front, but will save you gobs of money in the long run. Individual diapers are available for $19.95, with price drops available if you purchase a three-pack. And if you re-use the diapers for more than one child as I plan to, the diapers pretty much pay for themselves.

If there is one item I have ever reviewed that I will talk up so much that I drive even myself crazy, it's my Fuzzi Bunz. And coming from me, I'd say that's a pretty kickin' testimonial.

Fuzzi Bunz is generously offering one lucky reader a $40 gift certificate to Fuzzi Bunz Direct! That's enough to get you started (or help you add) to your collection! To enter, visit the site and leave me a berrie (read: comment) telling me what designs or colors are your favrotite AND tell me if you already cloth diaper or if you are interested in trying it out.

Extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! Oh, and sorry, but U.S. and Canadian addressed only on this one!

I'll pick one name at midnight (EST) on Sept. 24 and post their name to PRIZEYWinners and on my sidebar. The winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Good luck and happy cloth diapering!

Have a healthy Halloween with Primo Water

Let me be the first to say that I hate the commercially driven need to begin celebrating every holiday six months early. It seriously drives me insane when I hear "Jingle Bells" on the store speakers while I try to plan for Halloween (in August, of course.)

But me and my fragile mental state are neither here nor there. But what does matter is that while I might tweak out because of seeing a Christmas tree display next to the Halloween costumes, I'm not above doing my part in the spirit of the holidays.

Remember my Primo water bottles review here? In case you're new, the short story is that the bottles are made from plants grown in the United States and are totally renewable.

Genius, I know.

Well, I had a genius moment of my own when I approached Primo reps about offering a berrie kickin' contest for one winner to walk with ten cases (yeah, you read that right...TEN CASES) of Primo water bottles to be used to pass out on Halloween!

Think about it: the childhood obesity epidemic is still a major factor, and every little thing we can do as parents and adults setting healthier examples is something we need to try to embrace. And what could be better than water to quench the thirst of the trick-or-treaters and their parents with eco-friendly bottled water? Just do me a favor if you win and ask that they recycle their Primo bottles, okay?

To be considered for the random drawing, leave me a comment telling me why you'd like to offer a healthier Halloween for the kids in your neighborhood, and of course, in your family.

Extra entries are also available if you:
* subscribe to my RSS feed and comment letting me know you did so.
* Blog about the contest and link to the giveaway.
* Non-bloggers can email three of their friends about the contest and CC me on the email. Girl Scout's honor that I will never bother these sweet people. I promise!
* Grab my button and place it on your sidebar, linking to Berrie Sweet Picks. (I'll check!)
* Follow me on Twitter! (nickname: berriesweetest)
Please note all entries MUST include a valid email address to be considered for the drawing! Oh, and sorry, but US entries only on this one!

I'll pick one name at midnight (EST) on Sept. 19 and post their name to PRIZEYWinners and on my sidebar. The winner has four days from the announcement date to contact me, or an alternate winner will be selected. Please note that shipping may take 2-4 weeks.

Good luck and healthy Trick-or-treating!

Ode to SIGG

Isn't it pretty? Seriously, I am so in love with my water bottle that it is actually disturbing.

For those of you who have been following this blog since I started it oh-so-long ago in May of this year, you may have noticed that I seem to be edging more and more to the greener side as days go by.

Our SIGG experience didn't start until I began researching the BPA scare for an article I was writing. That one story lead to replacing all of my baby bottles (even though I only had 2 months left until transferring to a sippy cup!), going through every piece of plastic-ware in the house and tossing any that did not meet standards, and bucking up to drop $25 each on water bottles for me and every member in my extended family.

Sure it was pricey. But I looked at it the same way I looked at my cloth-diapering investment. Money now means savings later, for both myself and the environment.

And so far, I think I got my money's worth. It's made from a single piece of extruded aluminim (no plastic!), leak-proof, the interior coating will not leach into fluids,and it's recyclable after you've dropped it for the 10,000th time.

These things are pretty tough to come by right now, with the current BPA-free hype, but we were able to get ours from REI's web site, and patiently waited three months for our back-ordered choices.

Mine? It's the unpronouncable Maharadsha.

What do you think of the SIGG and what's your favorite design?