Author: mkokopelli

mkokopelli https://mkokopelli.wordpress.com With a BA in Creative Writing, I have always had a passion for telling a story. When I graduated from UNCW, the job market was scarce so I pursued my other love, photography. I managed a photography studio for 3 years before starting my own company, M&M Photography. As luck would have it, one of my clients worked for the Charlotte Observer and asked me to join her team in launching their new mom website, MomsCharlotte.com. During this time, I had a baby and after learning some disturbing things about big name baby shampoo, I started researching children’s products and eventually family products. I began a blog, Mkokopelli, as a side project to document all of the things I was learning and to share my knowledge with other concerned parents. Mkokopelli led me down many exciting roads as I got to work with amazing companies and organizations. I began freelancing for several big named eco-friendly businesses including Inhabitots, Stonyfield, Franklin Goose, Earth Mama Angel Baby, The Baby Grocery Store, Juice Beauty, rocklovepeace, and Sacred Pregnancy. After having my second child, I decided to focus my talents on social media content as well as video editing. My current clients are a multi-billion dollar real estate company based out of Dallas, TX and a NC therapist who specializes in Transformative Insight Imagery. When not writing, I enjoy hiking, traveling, photo journalism, poetry, reading, nature, politics, activism, and painting.

Kids Konserve

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Kids Konserve introduced me to the 4th and 5th R this week… Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and REMEMBER! I have about 10 reusable shopping bags because I have forgotten to Remember to put them in the car. It’s so easy to forget to bring a reusable bag, easy to forget your reusable cup, forget to pack your lunch… I can go on because I have a horrible memory. But once you train yourself to do these things and they become habits and the Remembering part becomes second nature- just like reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Earth Year 2011 is dedicated to making A Billion Acts of Green happen before 2012. Waste Reduction is a category for green act pledges, and I thought this would be a perfect time to pledge to Remember to pack a greener lunch! Packing your own lunch to take to work, school, the park, or even when you know you will be out and about, cuts back on literally TONS of waste.

Here are some lunch related statistics:

  • The National Park Services estimates that America produces more than 250,000 square miles of plastic wrap every year – enough to shrink wrap the state of Texas
  • They also predict that Americans go through 25 billion plastic bottles every year! If 1 out of 10 plastic bottle are recycled, 200 million pounds of plastic would be saved yearly from landfills

  • The Clean Air Counsel says that the average American office worker uses about 500 disposable cups each year and consumes 2.5 cans of soda per day
  • Earth 911 said that every year, Americans throw away enough paper and plastic cups, forks, and spoons to circle the equator 300 times

  • Clean Air Counsel also said that plastic bags do not biodegrade. Light breaks them down into smaller and smaller particles that contaminate the soil and water and are expensive and difficult to remove
  • Waste Free Lunches say that a person who brings disposable lunches (plastic bags, juice boxes, plastic silverware, wrappers) to work or school creates an average waste of 67 pounds during the year

Last week for my birthday we took a picnic lunch to our local botanical garden. I used our Kids Konserve lunch kit, which includes: a lunch bag, 2 stainless steel containers, a water bottle, a food kozy (sandwich wrap), and reusable napkin. Since I packed for 2, I also added a yogurt container and packed another sandwich in a reused bag that came with shredded carrots. I chose all finger foods so no utensils were needed.

We stored grapes and local cheeses in the Kids Konserve stainless containers. I packed them the night before, so the stainless steel containers kept the food nice and cold. The stainless water bottle has a clip that attaches to the lunch bag, which is awesome to keep up with! I love the reusable napkin, which matches the kit. The kit is perfect for adults and kids!

This is from the Kids Konserve website:

“How is Kids Konserve different from other waste-free lunch systems?
Non-Toxic: Our complete line of reusable waste-free lunch packing products are made from the safest, non-leaching, non-toxic, BPA, PVC, phthalate, and lead-free materials! That is a mouthful, but true! Lead, BPA, PVC, and phthalates are substances that are known to be harmful to our bodies with repeated exposure.

Stainless Steel: We offer a wide range of 304 food grade stainless steel solutions as it is proven to be the safest material to house food in.

Product Line: Our products are what we call ‘eco-chic’, and graphically appealing to kids and adults alike. Kids Konserve Waste-free Lunch kits are designed to be fun, stylish, and easy for kids to use, while offering maximum convenience and flexibility for parents. Our reusable product line gives you convenience of coordinated lunch kit components that may be used together in our Waste-free Lunch Kit or in a lunch box of your choice. All with the underlying aim of creating a Zero Waste Lunch.”

During the month of April, you can get 20% off all Kids Konserve by entering reuse2011 at the checkout!! They also have some amazing deals like $6 stainless bottles!

Do you pack your own lunch? What are some of your favorite green lunch foods?

Ice Pop Joy Review

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Anni Daulter has done it again with her new recipe book, Ice Pop Joy. Not only is the hardbound book gorgeous, the recipes are absolutely delicious! I decided to spend my weekend trying out pop recipes from the newly released book. Honestly, I was wondering how on earth a vegetables were going to taste good in a pop, but I was pleasantly surprised!


Ice Pop Joy has 50 healthy, fun, and yummy pop recipes for everyone in your family. They are made with wholesome ingredients and you won’t find any processed sugars! You will explore new flavors and ingredients throughout the 144 page book. Each recipe compliments a full page photo by the extremely talented Alexandra DeFurio. This is the ultimate hidden food for the pickiest eaters- mom tested and approved!

I first went simple and made the Orange Pop. This includes orange juice, pineapple, and wheat germ.

I love that wheat germ was added especially since it is high in protein.

The next recipe I tried was Ice Pops for Breakfast. Instead of using a pop mold, I used our Beaba Multi-portions silicone baby food container.

I thought these would be excellent with some organic chocolate, granola, and fresh fruit. The Ice Pop for Breakfast includes almond butter, bananas, walnuts, wheat germ, and yogurt.

After I felt confident with my food processor, I decided to go with something a little more sophisticated- the Rockstar with Strawberry Agave Jam.

This is a 2 step process pop. You first make strawberry agave jam. I have to say that I am now hooked! I made a jar after I tasted the end result of the pop. Agave is sooo much better than regular sugar! It is also low on the glycemic index plus has high antioxidant properties. After you let the jam sit, you mix kale, blueberries, bananas, water, and wheat germ. I had just gone to the farmers market and picked up spinach, so I made a substitution since they are similar.

After letting our pops freeze, we got to devour them on Sunday. My daughter LOVED the Rockstar pop!

She can’t even tell there is vegetables in the pop!

The Orange Pop had a great tang and I love how the wheat germ adds a nutty flavor.

It truly works well together.

Of course E wanted to try mine and decided that this was her favorite.

We also tried the Breakfast Pop and I am really happy that I used the multi-portion containers as a mold. They make the perfect ice cream scoops!! I drizzled chocolate on top and it was the prefect treat. I can’t wait to try more of the recipes! Now its time to search for more eco-friendly style pop molds….

You can get your copy of Ice Pop Joy for only $18.95!! I highly recommend!!

* I was sent Ice Pop Joy to review. These are my opinions and results.

Every Parents Dream Product- Sticky Mosaics

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OK, so my next review isn’t the most eco-friendly product in the world, but E loves them and it occupies her for 3+ hours… enough said. 🙂

If you haven’t heard of Sticky Mosaics, you really need to read this!

When I was Christmas shopping last year, I saw The Orb Factory kits and got E the Jewelry Box. It was recommended for children ages 5+, but I figured she would be able to do them. (She just turned 4) It took her the whole Saturday to do the project and she was asking for more! (A special thanks to Yo Gabba Gabba who taught her to not give up)

I am now working 4 part time jobs. Yes, 4 jobs on top of trying to homeschool/preschool and blog. So projects like this, that take hours, are needed in my house. We also found out that E has sensory processing disorder. She started therapy in February and we found that the task of pressing the stickers on to the paper actually soothes her. If she’s having an off day, I give her the Sticky Mosaics and she calms down instantly.

The BEST part about the Sticky Mosaics is that they taught E how to read numbers 1-16. She was having a tough time recognizing numbers. After the first weekend of doing the Jewelry Box, she was able to do the rest by herself and now needs no help. The Sticky Mosaics come with a legend (yes, intro to map reading!) and you match the color foam or jewel pieces to the correct number to make a colorful picture. This is also a great hand-eye coordination art project.

Growing Tree Toys sent us a Jewels Sticky Mosaic Kit for review and I can’t recommend it enough. E had only done the mosaics like the jewelry box, tiara set, and mirror before this. I LOVE the pictures and how they come with a backing so you can hang them. The Jewels Mosaic kit comes with a mermaid, mom and daughter, castle, princess, and unicorn picture.
I love how this one looks just like us! 🙂
Our favorite is the unicorn. (Some of the stickies have fallen off, but the kits come with extra so you can fix them. I didn’t realize they had come off until after the picture taken!) It takes E about 2-3 hours to finish 1 picture. She has issues leaving the project unfinished, so we have to set aside special time for mosaics.

Growing Tree Toys also has a kit of just unicorns and ponies! I think that will be our next kit. You can find other kits with fairies, horses, dinosaurs, princesses, fish, vehicles, pets, cards, and more! Growing Tree Toys has 2 pages full of mosaics! You can get the kits from $10-$17.

Right now Growing Tree Toys has 20% off all toys until the first day of Spring- March 20!! Enter code BEBBFC at the checkout to enjoy the savings! Growing Tree Toys has an amazing section of arts and crafts, and huge selection of toys for kids of all ages!!

Thank you Growing Tree Toys for sending us the great Jewels Sticky Mosaic kit to review!!

GMOs and the Organic Company Food Chain

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Photo by Non-GMO Project



In February 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decided to allow unlimited, nationwide commercial planting of Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa. The Organic Trade Association says, “This means GE alfalfa can be planted without any federal requirements to prevent contamination of organic and non-GE crops. It also means that GE alfalfa does not have to be labeled, making it difficult for consumers to identify and avoid. This decision, to support big business at the expense of individual choice, sets a precedent for future deregulation of GE crops although genetic engineering has not been conclusively proven safe.”
This is a huge step in the wrong direction for many obvious reasons. I do not understand how our government can allow a company that manufactured 2,4,5 T, DDT, and Agent Orange to create GM seeds that will eventually be spread on every farm across America. Sadly, there are more GMO crops and salmon slated for approval and everyone (but the public) seems to be going along with it.


GMOs (genetically modified organisms) make up 75% of conventionally processed foods (Non-GMO Project). GMOs are organisms which the DNA have been altered to something that doesn’t occur naturally. An example would be to inject vegetable DNA with a pesticide protein, which will eventually develop into a plant that would be used to grow GM crops. By changing the DNA, the whole molecular structure is being altered and we do not truly know what that is doing to the nutrition value of the food. The FDA does not require labeling, so you can’t tell if you are purchasing GMOs unless you buy certified organic. And because of cross contamination, very few products in the U.S. are completely free of GMOs- even if they are organic.

The Grist reported that Monsanto’s “Roundup Ready” GM seeds (mainly used for soy, cotton, corn, canola, and sugar beets) are having major issues with killing superweeds. Monsanto is paying farmers that have used Roundup Ready $6 per acre if they use at least 2 other herbicides on their GM crops. Roundup is made with glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide. Weeds have built up resistance due to the overuse. Now the crops are having to be doused with even more chemicals doing more harm to the environment and humans.

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine reported that multiple GMO animal testing studies have shown significant immune dysregulation, including asthma, allergy, inflammation, altered structure and function of the liver, as well as cellular changes that could lead to accelerated aging. Changes in the kidney, pancreas and spleen have also been documented from GMO food.
There are only a handful of independent organic farms/brands that haven’t sold out to larger companies. I try to buy locally as much as possible and I know my farmers and their practices. I decided to dig a little bit deeper into what our family supports when it comes to food and get to know some of their practices and connections. There are so many organic loopholes, that I wanted to feel confident we are eating healthy/non-tainted food. This is what I found out…

  • Heinz acquired Hain Celestial Group. Hain Celestial Group acquired Earths Best, Arrowhead Mills, Hain Pure Foods, Hain Pure Snax, Rosetto, The Greek Gods, Spectrum Naturals, Spectrum Essentials, FreeBird, DeBole’s, Garden of Eatin, Health Valley, Casbah, Breadshop, Imagine/Rice Dream/Soy Dream, Celestial Seasonings, Westsoy, Westbrea, Bearitos, Little Bear, SunSpire, TofuTown, Walnut Acres, Millina’s Finest, Frutti di Bosco, ShariAnn’s, Mountain Sun, Terra Chips, MaraNatha, ALBA, Estee, Avalon Naturals, JASON Naturals, Batherapy, Footherapy, Orjene Organics, Queen Helene, Shaman Earthly Organics, and Zia Natural skincare. (Some of these were listed on the OCA’s organic fraud sheet)
  • General Mills acquired Cascadian Farm, LaraBar, and Muir Glen.
  • M&M Mars acquired Seeds of Change.
  • Kraft Foods acquired Boca Foods, Back to Nature, and just bought Green & Black’s from Cadbury. They also make a organic line under Kraft.
  • Suiza Foods Corp owns Dean Foods. Dean Foods acquired White Wave, Silk, Horizon, and Alta Dena. (Dean Foods is known for PET dairy, Land O’ Lakes, and Schepps)
  • Coca Cola acquired Odwalla and Honest Tea.
  • Pepsi acquired Naked Juice and Tropicana Organic.
  • Kellogg acquired BearNaked, Kashi, and Morningstar Farms.
  • JM Smucker acquired R.W. Knudsen Family, Santa Cruz Organic, and After the Fall.
  • Group Danone/Dannon owns 85% of Stonyfield Farm which is also Trader Joe’s yogurt. Stonyfield owns Brown Cow.

According to the Organic Consumers Association in 2006:
Organic and Natural Product Companies Associated with Monsanto

• Brand Name(s): Arrowhead Mills, Bearitos, Breadshop, Celestial Seasonings, Earth’s Best Baby Food, Garden of Eatin, Health Valley, Imagine Foods, Terra Chips, Westbrae, Millina’s, Mountain Sun, Shari Ann’s, Walnut Acres Owned By: Hain Food Group Principle Stockholders: Bank of America, Entergy Nuclear, ExxonMobil, H.J. Heinz, Lockheed Martin, Merck, Monsanto, Pfizer, Philip Morris, Walmart, Waste Mangement Inc. Significantly Owned By: Citigroup

• Brand Name(s): Cascadian Farms, Muir Glen Owned By: Small Planet Foods Principle Stockholders: General Mills Significantly Owned By: Alcoa, Chevron, Disney, Dupont, ExxonMobil, General Electric, McDonalds, Monsanto, Nike, Pepsico, Pfizer, Philip Morris, Starbucks, Target, Texas Instruments
In 10 Things Monsanto Doesn’t Want You to Know, it is stated, “Tell the following companies to stop using and selling GMO Ingredients: Kellogg’s/Kashi • Coca-Cola Kraft/Nabisco • McDonald’s • Frito-Lay General Mills • Quaker Oats • Procter & Gamble Nestle • Safeway • CampbellSoup • Wal-Mart.” As for a full list for companies that use GMO’s, I couldn’t find one. Which could mean we are all probably eating them in some shape or form.
I did find this list of independent farms/brands that haven’t sold out: Alvardo Street Bakery, Amy’s Kitchen, Applegate Farms, Bob’s Red Mill, Cedarlane, Cliffbar- Luna, Eden Foods, Equal Exchange, Frontier Natural Products- Simply Organic, Lundberg Family Farms, Nature’s Path- Lifestream, Organic Valley- Organic Prairie, Pacific Natural Foods, Sno Pac, Springfield Creamery- Nancy’s, Traditional Medicinals, Turtle Mountain- Purely Decedent and So Delicious, and Yogi Tea.
Phillip Howard, an assistant professor at Michigan State University says that, “Most remaining independent organic processors have resisted substantial buyout offers (typically 2 times annual sales).” He created a really awesome Organic Processing animation where you can see the takeovers. If you have some time, read through some of his other material. It’s really interesting to see how everything is linked.
I know I will be printing this list and keeping it with me when I go shopping.
You can also:

  • Tell your local grocery store, restaurants, and food processors to label GMO foods and to offer certified organic
  • Join the OCA Millions Against Monsanto campaign
  • Talk to your local politicians and ask them to support truth-in-labeling
  • Get to know your local farmers and other places that you buy food. Find out what seeds they use!
  • Buy certified organic from local co-ops, farmers markets, CSA’s, or health food stores

What are your thoughts on what is going on with our food?


*Update: You can now find verified Non-GMO foods at the Non-GMO Project. 

Endangered Species Giveaway

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Health Science Labs has an amazing line called Endangered Species. I happened to come across them as I was browsing Frontier Co-op and thought they were fantastic, so I had to contact them. They carry vitamins, first aid kits, bath sets, foam puzzles, soy crayons with stone paper, grooming kits, and more!

I’ve had a tough time finding vitamins for myself and for Ella. I refuse to take something “healthy” that is filled with synthetic dyes- esp. red dye 40, high fructose corn syrup, and other fillers that aren’t needed.

Red dye 40 is considered a azo dye. A few case studies that were done linked azo pigments to basal cell carcinoma. Scary!! Recently, the UK released a study that links red dye 40 to ADHD and hyperactivity in children.
Health Science Labs sent me some of their Endangered Species vitamins to try out and we are very happy. Here is the list of ingredients:
I love that the sugars are so low! And no nasty dyes, fillers, or artificial flavors. Ella loves that she gets to use the top to hold her vitamins, because she covets them. Vitamins are like candy in my house and are considered a after dinner treat. As soon as she takes her plate to the sink she asks for her vitamins. I love that these taste great and are so easy to take! You can contact Health Science Labs for a free sample!

Endangered Species also makes a first aid kit line that should make boo-boos a little less painful. Of course Ella hasn’t gotten hurt since I’ve had the kit to review. But, the 73 piece Rescue Panda kit comes with 60 assorted bandages in 6 different styles, 10 antiseptic towelettes and 2 instant on-the-go ice packs to relieve little boo-boos or a fever. The plush Panda stores the bandages and towelettes with a resealable Velcro open in the back of the Panda. The kit easily fits into your purse and can be a friend in the car for your kiddo!

You can add their Boo Boo Balm to the kit for extra protection. The Boo Boo Balm is an organic remedy for the temporary relief of symptoms of bruising and muscle soreness due to falls or overexertion. Arnica Montana is the most commonly used and most popular organic remedy noted for its dramatic effects on bruising and sore muscles. Free from parabens, lanolin, SLS’s, PEGs and mineral oil. The ingredients are:

Organic cocoa butter, organic bees wax, Organic arnica montana flower, organic olive oil, organic coconut oil, organic peppermint essential oil, organic eucalyptus essential oil and organic ginger root essential oil


I was really excited to learn something new with the Endangered Species Eco Doodle. I’ve never heard of stone paper before and it is awesome! The Eco Doodle is a reusable stone paper place mat that will keep your kiddo occupied while waiting for dinner, snacks, or for just playing. Stone paper can be used over and over again, so you don’t have to waste paper. Stone paper is made out of reclaimed limestone, it’s durable, water proof, tear free, and is really made out of stone! How cool is that! No trees were harmed during production. The stone paper is free of chemicals, doesn’t emit toxic gas, is bleach free, and it saves water. Ella’s favorite thing to do is to color, so she has had a blast reusing the mat! The Eco Doodle comes with 4 soy crayons, the mat, and a animal eraser. They also have really cool stone paper Eco ID Labels!! They are waterproof and great for cups, lunch bags, shoes, and more.

Ella’s favorite Endangered Species product has been the 3D Foam Puzzles. They are made with 100% recycled EVA foam. You are given a sheet of animals that you pop out and piece together. Ella is putting together a lion above.
The foam pieces float and they even have ice or land they can stand on! They come in Sea Life, Arctic, and Safari.

Giveaway: Endangered Species would like to give 1 lucky reader a foam puzzle set of their choice!

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST March 25, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US

How to Enter: Tell me your favorite Endangered Species Product

EXTRA entries: You must complete the “How To Enter” before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.
2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, or Follow my blog (2 entries for each one)
3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)
4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)
5. Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post or enter another giveaway and let me know which (1 entry for each 1)
6. “Like” Health Science Labs on Facebook
7. Leave a comment on the Health Science Labs FB photo album your favorite product and link back
8. Tell me what you like most about the Endangered Species products
9. Name an organization Endangered Species supports
10. Tell me where you can you purchase Endangered Species
11. Suggest Health Science Labs to 10 of your friend on Facebook (3 extra entries)

disclaimer- I was sent Endangered Species products for free for review. This is no way changed my opinion on their products. These are only my results, opinions and thoughts.

Just breathe

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Oops, I did it again… I really thought 2011 was going to be a less eventful year, but its proved to be anything but! I got to spend most of my February at the Dr.’s, ER, and hospital. Luckily, everything is OK now and I’m getting back to normal. But man it took a chunk of time out of my life.

I also got another job offer with The Charlotte Observer (our local paper) so I’ve picked up a weekly column. On top of Franklin Goose and MomsCharlotte, I now have a column that has been keeping me extra busy!

I have some awesome reviews that need to be written and a couple of fabulous giveaways! So stay tuned. 🙂

XOXOXO

Michelle

Boon Giveaway

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boon 1 |boōn|
noun
1 [usu. in sing. ] a thing that is helpful or beneficial

boon 2
adjective
(of a companion or friend) close; intimate; favorite

Yup, that about sums up how I feel about Boon! Boon is an amazing company that sells non-toxic bath, feeding, decor, and organizational products. They are modern, fun, simple, economical, unique, and of course safe.
Safe bath products are extremely important due to plastics leaching into bath water. You wouldn’t pour a bottle of chemicals in your baby’s bath water, so why would you put toys that release nasty chemicals? The problem with most bath toys is that they are PVC which can contain phthalates and release dioxins. You also have to worry about plastics containing BPA, cadmium, bromine, lead, and arsenic. Boon products are all BPA- free, Phthalate-free, and PVC-free.The one thing I couldn’t stand about bath toys was there was no place for them. Leaving them in the bath tub was gross and taking them out and putting them in a container was a pain. Water would always build up and mold/mildew would grow. Then I got the Bug Pod. This is the best answer to bath toy storing! The holes allow proper water drainage. The bug shell detaches and is easy for a child to dump when it’s bath time. Plus it’s easy to scoop the toys into when it’s time for cleanup. And they are really cute! You can get the Bug Pod in red or the Frog in green. The Pods hold tons of toys. We have the Boon Bath Goods set, the Jane Odd Duck, Water Bugs, and some other random foam pieces that fit. Every bath needs a non-toxic duck!! Filling the Pods with non-toxic toys and bath products makes an excellent baby shower or birthday gift.

One of my other all time Boon favorites is the Flo. The Flo is a faucet protector that works like a waterfall. It allows water to spew so your child can lean back and wash his/her hair without getting water in their eyes. It also has a nifty button that releases bubble bath! My daughter hates getting her hair washed. When I finally tried the Flo, I was so mad I hadn’t gotten one sooner! This has made hair washing SO much easier! Not to mention it’s a more relaxing sound. You also don’t have to worry about your child leaning back and hitting their heads on the metal faucet.

Another Boon bath product we love is the Potty Bench. Yes, it does come with a toilet paper roll! This potty mimics an adult potty which entices your child to want to use it even more. It has 2 storage areas for wipes, books, potty training supplies, or butt creams. If you close the lid, the potty then transforms into a step stool! I love that it’s a compact potty with tons of awesome features. Especially the shield! Now that my daughter is potty trained, I keep the potty in the car for road trip emergencies. Public restrooms are so ick for kiddos!! This is the perfect back seat solution, especially with the toilet paper holder.

I love that Boon donates 10% of their profits to charities like HOW and Child Crisis Center. They really are a spectacular company that is helpful and beneficial!! 🙂 Boon is about to release a bunch of new Bath, Feeding, and Decor!! So stay tuned for the new goodies!

Giveaway: Boon would like to give 1 lucky reader a Boon Potty Bench!!

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST February 25, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US

How to Enter: Tell me your favorite Boon product

EXTRA entries: You must complete the “How To Enter” before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.
2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, or Follow my blog (2 entries for each one)
3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)
4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)
5. Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post or enter another giveaway and let me know which (1 entry for each 1)
6. Like Boon on Facebook
7. Follow Boon on Twitter
8. Sign up for the Boon newsletter
9. Tell me something about Boon that I didn’t mention or one of the charities they help
10. Sign up to receive Boon blog updates

disclaimer- I was sent a Boon potty for free and I also purchased the other items for review. This is no way changed my opinion on their products. These are only my results, opinions and thoughts.

Ribbet Salon Review

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I was contacted last month to write a review on a eco-friendly kid salon in Wilmington, NC. I jumped on the offer because I love visiting Wilmington and OMG- a eco-friendly kids salon!!!! This is something I’ve been thinking about since E’s hair was down to her butt. I really didn’t want to take her to a salon where they used harsh chemicals. So this was excellent timing! I decided to take E the week of her birthday. Yes, E turned 4 on Wednesday!! She had never really had her hair cut, so I wanted to make this a big event. Plus they offer non-toxic manicures and pedicures, so I thought her and her BFF would have a blast doing it together.

We got to Ribbet Salon and I was wowed! The tree house/play house is beyond amazing. They have 2 tree house/doll houses that are fully functional. They have Sprig and Green Toys on the floor that the kids can play with. The top of the tree house has a working telescope that E loved. They also have books, PlanToys musical instruments, and some quiet toys next to the party room. (Too bad we don’t live in Wilmington. Ribbet Salon would have been a fabulous place to have a eco-friendly party!!)So if you have to wait for your appointment or if you are a walk-in waiting to get fit in, your child will have a blast playing! We had the perfect wait time before our appointment. E was able to get comfortable with her surroundings and was even able to look over the side of the tree house to see a little boy getting his hair cut. So, she knew it wasn’t going to hurt and what to expect. She was a bit hesitant about getting her hair washed. But, our stylist was very friendly and put her at ease. I love the Original Sprout shampoo and conditioner! It is all natural and smells amazing. E was able to watch Nick Jr. on a flat screen while she got her hair cut. This gave her something else to focus on. After the cut, she had her hair blow dried and then styled. And I couldn’t resist buying the Giddy Giddy Headband! E didn’t want much length taken off. Though, if she does decide to have it cut and donate to Locks of Love, Ribbet Salon will do the haircut for free. Then it was time for manicures and pedicures! The girls had a blast getting their toenails painted. They chose 2 Priti NYC nailpolish colors.
And then after the paint dried they got mini massages with Sparklehearts sparkly lotion. Yes, they were totally spoiled. As they were getting pampered, I was able to browse around and check out all of Ribbet Salon’s eco-friendly products available for purchase. I fell in love with some of the brands they carry! I could have spent a fortune in there. But, luckily if you are just going in for just a haircut or manicure/pedicure- you won’t spend a fortune! They have great prices, especially for the quality of care you receive. I did a Q&A with Delyn, the owner and thought you’d be interested:


1. How did you come up with the idea for Ribbet Salon? I was looking into purchasing a children’s salon franchise when i decided I wanted to do my own thing. The whole concept for Ribbet came to me in pieces over a long period of planning. It started with the idea to sell organic hair products for kids and just grew from there!

2. Where did the name come from? That might have been the hardest part! It was important to find something unique and something memorable for children so after a lot of brain-storming, Ribbet came out & it just stuck.

3. Why is eco-friendly personal care so important for children? It’s important for everyone but so much more for children because their little bodies absorb so much of the common chemicals and fillers in the non-organic products.We’re using so many more products on our kids these days and trends say they will use much more when they get to be pre-teens and adults, making their life-time exposure well beyond any amounts that have been tested or proven safe. In my mind, its not a matter of keeping my daughter safe from what effects those products would have on her in the near-future, but rather protecting her from what years of chemical build-up could do in her body later in her life.

4. What inspired the design of the store? I found that many of the children’s salons I had visited before we opened were “plastic” and “cartoon” looking and it didn’t seem to fit my vision so I knew I wanted a more natural feel. I had the idea of a tree in the center of the shop with a tree house for the kids to play on and that the reception desk would be in the center of the “tree” but I can’t take credit for any more than that. I worked with a great architect who really translated the concept so well.

5. How long have you been open? We opened at the end of September 2009 so almost 16 months.

6. Tell me about your birthday parties and other events? we added the birthday party room off of the salon last April. It was important to be able to host both boy & girls parties so we were looking to offer something beyond just a salon party. We decided to have Wii parties and have four 50″ TV’s on the wall in the party room with over 40 games to choose from and all the popular accessories like Band Hero instrument, karaoke microphones & Dance Dance Revolution pads. It has really been a hit for both the boys & girls birthday parties and is a good co-ed party option too.

7. How did you select the products that you carry? Lots of research! I searched through adult, all-natural lines to find those who carried products for kids, I looked through the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Database looking for brands that tested well and I’ve since kept up with several good organic blogs that will do reviews of children’s products or toys occasionally that will interest me.


Go to Mkokopelli on Facebook to see more pictures!

If you are in Wilmington, NC stop by Ribbet Salon! They are truly awesome 🙂 The staff is extremely friendly. The store is clean and they have safe, non-toxic toys for the kiddos to play with. Not to mention the design is beyond amazing! They even have organic coffee for the parents waiting. I know we will make the 3 hour drive the next time E needs her hair cut!

Earth Mama Angel Baby Giveaway!

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This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered!
Earth Mama Angel Baby is by far my favorite personal care line. Not only do I love the quality of their products, but I love the staff and how they are always eager to share information with you. I love learning new things, so it’s been a fun 2 years working with them!

In 2009, I did my first review of the Angel Baby Shampoo/Body Wash and I’ve been hooked since. I love the pump spray that foams. My daughter has very long hair, so it’s easy to miss a spot when washing. The Angel Baby Shampoo lathers, so you can see where you’ve applied the soap. We have never had tangle issues and even though it isn’t a tear free formula, it’s never stung my baby girls eyes. Angel Baby Shampoo is made with Saponified oils of Cocos nucifera (organic coconut) oil, Olea europaea (organic olive) oil, Butyrospermun parkii (organic shea butter), kosher vegetable glycerin, Aloe barbadensis (organic aloe) leaf juice, Vanilla planifolia (organic vanilla) bean extract, Citrus sinensis (orange) oil, and tocopherol (Vitamin E). The blend of vanilla and citrus smells amazingly yummy! I even use it as a body wash.

Soap is pretty easy to make. It is basically oils mixed with a alkaline solution. The acid/base solution neutralizes one another and creates a high enough PH that synthetic preservatives aren’t needed. Because oils can be costly, some companies have taken the cheap route and use detergents in shampoos instead of soap. Detergent is a synthetic surfactant that is great for cleaning, but when added to shampoo or body wash, it can prove to be toxic. Earth Mama Angel Baby only uses gentle castile soap with no harmful chemicals added!

A couple of weeks ago, my daughter had a eczema breakout under her eye. I took her to the Dr. and they gave me some cream, but after reading the harsh ingredients, I decided to pass. I looked everywhere for a non-toxic eczema cream, but couldn’t find anything. I then read the ingredients to Earth Mama’s Nipple Butter: Olea europaea (organic olive) oil, Calendula officinalis (organic calendula) extract, Theobroma cacao (organic cocoa) butter, Butyrospermum parkii (organic shea) butter, (Euphorbia antisyphilitica (candelilla wax), Mangifera indica (mango) butter. They all sounded soothing, so I decided to give it a try. Within 3 days her eczema was completely gone! So, I decided to see what else this amazing Nipple Butter could do. I used it on my severely cracked heels and feet. 5 days later, my feet were smooth like I had just had a pedicure (minus the harmful chemicals). I then had a bad heat rash. The Nipple Butter cleared the rash in 2 days. My lips were very chapped, so I used the Nipple Butter and haven’t needed any since. I now fully understand Mama’s salutation- “Peace, love and Nipple Butter for all.”

I also had a sample of Earth Mama’s Bottom Balm that came with a Pregnancy Pampering Kit. I’ve had a sinus infection for 2 weeks and my nose is completely raw. I decided to try the Bottom Balm on my nose and it soothed it instantly! So, if you have a cold and your nose looks like Rudolph, grab some Bottom Balm!

Giveaway: Earth Mama would love to give 1 LUCKY reader a bottle of Earth Mama Angel Baby Shampoo/Body Wash.

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST February 12, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US

How to Enter: Tell me your favorite Earth Mama Angel Baby product!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the “How To Enter” before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.
2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, or Follow my blog (2 entries for each one)
3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)
4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)
5. Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post or enter another giveaway and let me know which (1 entry for each 1)
6. Sign up for the Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics Newsletter
7. Like Earth Mama on Facebook
8. Follow Earth Mama on Twitter
9. Comment on a Earth Mama blog post
10. Browse around Earth Mama and tell me something you learned

disclaimer- I was sent Earth Mama Angel Baby products for free and I also purchased to test. This is no way changed my opinion on their products. These are only my results, opinions and thoughts.