What are some of your favorite blogs? I subscribe to 50+ blogs and I see lots of you on other sites. 🙂 I thought it would be fun to share and find new sites that others might not know about. Some of my favorites are:
So tell me your favorites! It can be your own blog too!
Starbucks will be sampling free Peeled Snacks this Friday, February 26th!! If you haven’t tried them, be sure to stop in. They are yummy!! You can read more about Peeled Snacks here.
I’m not a medicine person unless I’m in pain or really really sick. When Ella started teething, I gave her Tylenol because that’s what everyone else did. She had 1 fever as an infant and it was really low, so I never was faced with that. But when she was teething, the Tylenol would constipate her for a week. I started looking into other options and that’s when I found Boiron Camilia Teething Relief. It is a liquid you squirt into your little one’s mouth and it takes the pain away. No side effects and it is effective! That’s when I started looking into other homeopathy for all types of health issues. The webinar I sat in on last month was designed for children’s health. Dr. Merrell lectured about children’s cold and flu season and enlightened me on many new things.
I have heard for years about Dr.’s over using antibiotics in children. The bad thing about over using antibiotics is that when the child becomes an adult and truly needs the medicine, they will be immune. A cold and the flu is viral and no antibiotic will help in any way, though they are still prescribed. If your child ends up with an ear infection, their doctor will more than likely prescribe a antibiotic. Even though 60% of ear infections are viral and will heal on their own. Luckily, my doctor doesn’t like prescribing medicines to children and always finds an alternative.
I loved how Dr. Merrell described a fever. He said a fever is produced by an infection to tell your body to kill off an infection. That the fever “boils off infection” so your body gets better. I asked if it was OK to let a child run a fever and he said yes, but if it gets to 102 or higher, you want to give them something to bring it down.
Dr. Merrell also said that children under 6 years old also shouldn’t take OTC cold and cough meds. A lot of doctors say that they do not work for young children because children express disease differently than adults. This is why the FDA pulled all infant cough and cold meds 2 years ago. Children’s OTC cough and cold meds can also cause long term negative side effects.
Luckily there are safe and natural alternatives that are very effective. Homeopathic medicines have been around for hundreds of years. Majority prefer using homeopathy because there is no risk of overdose, no side effects, no drug interactions, no contraindications, they will not mask medical emergencies, and they are FDA regulated. The dosages you receive are not based on weight. So a child 2 and older can take any form of homeopathic medicines. There are children medicines that have a altered taste or come in a different form. Like the Coldcalm– they come in pellets for children and tablets for adults.
There are tons of homeopathic medicines for many symptoms such as allergies, coughs, colds, stress, flu, arthritis pain, muscle aches and pain, PMS, bruising, teething, constipation, sleep aids and so much more. They are available over the counter without a prescription. I have found Boiron at our local super market as well as our organic store. Homeopathic medicines can come in tablets, gels, pellets, ointments, creams, drops, and syrups.
Homeopathic drugs use natural substances (minerals, plants, and biological substances) in micro-doses. They relieve the symptoms by stimulating the natural ability of the body to re-balance and heal itself. OTC cough and cold meds only mask the symptoms until your body heals on its own. Homeopathy helps your body heal instead of just feeling better temporarily.
For more information, visit Boiron and learn the basics. If you have any questions, list them below and I will try to answer them or send them to someone who might be able to help. 🙂
This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered!!
I attended a webinar last month hosted by Dr. Merrell and Boiron about homeopathy. I’m not one for webinars, but this was amazing and really informative. We actually used Boiron’s Oscillococcinum meds 2 years ago when my mom had the flu. I was at Earth Fare and saw them and thought she’d be willing to try anything. As soon as she took the quick dissolving pellets, she started to feel better. By the next day she was coming to life. I started to feel like I was getting it and took 1 dose and never caught it. So, I figured the webinar would be interesting.
I was right! And after what we’ve gone through for the past week, I’m glad I sat in! I’ll start with 2 1/2 weeks ago when I first mentioned Ella getting sick. She had no symptoms but a 102 fever for a few days. I had just received a box of children’s homeopathic medicines from Boiron and figured Ella was getting the flu. The basic way to tell the difference between a cold and flu is that with a cold there is congestion and with the flu there is not. She wasn’t congested, so I started her on the Children’s Oscillococcinum right away. 
She didn’t act sick and within 3 days the fever was gone and no other symptoms appeared. Oscillococcinum helps reduce the duration and severity of the flu. It doesn’t mask symptoms, like majority of OTC drugs do, there are no side effects, and they are quick dissolving pellets that taste good. I’m going to do a post about homeopathic drugs after this so you can better understand how they work.
Then a week later on the 11th Ella started coughing and her fever went up to 101.5 out of the blue. I figured since she had a cough and stuffy nose, she had a cold. So, I gave her Boiron Coldcalm Pellets in hopes it would nip it in the bud. 
My throat was getting dry, so I took some adult Coldcalm. Children over the age of 2 can take either versions, but the Children’s Coldcalm Pellets taste better. The next day I was fine but Ella’s fever went up and down. I also gave her Boiron’s Chestal Honey Cough Syrup to help ease her cough. 
Ella didn’t act sick at all even though she had a fever. She ran around and played hard- as much as I tried to keep her on the couch. I quit taking the Coldcalm after the first day because I was fine and then 3 days later it hit me hard.
I took Ella to the doctor a week ago just in case and they said it was a virus. So I continued giving her the Coldcalm Pellets and Chestal Honey Cough Syrup. Her fever went up to 103.3 and then she’d be fever free for 2 days. Then it’d come back again. It’s been nasty! I went to the doctor last Wednesday and was diagnosed with a double ear infection on top of the virus. My mom also caught it, so we were 3 miserable people who were too sick to go to the store and buy some more Oscillococcinum when we realized it was the flu instead of a cold. Plus, we all still had fevers and didn’t want to infect anyone. My mom’s congestion ended up going into bronchitis, so I know by Ella staying on the Coldcalm and Chestal Honey stopped her from getting some sort of infection. Luckily, we are all coming to life. We sound sort of human, but thankfully we had some awesome cold and flu products around to help us through it!
Be sure to stay tuned to my next post on homeopathy. I’ll talk more about Boiron and the awesome webinar!
The Giveaway: Boiron would like to offer 1 LUCKY reader a Children’s Sample Box will full sized boxes of Oscillococcinum, Coldcalm Pellets, and Chestal Honey Cough Syrup (Adults can use them as well)
Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST March 10, 2010 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 something else from Boiron you’d like to try. Make sure you leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!
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 Networked Blogs, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, or Follow my blog (1 each)
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
4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)
5. Enter another giveaway I have going on and tell me which one or leave a comment on a non-giveaway post (1 entry total)
6. Sign up for the Boiron Newsletter
7. Tell me where you can find Boiron near you
8. Follow Boiron on Twitter
9. Tell me something you learned on Boiron
10. Grab my button and post on your blog, Facebook page, or myspace page and link back in a comment
New disclaimer: I was sent these items to review from Boiron. This in NO way changes my opinions about the products or company. These are my thoughts, opinions and results.
I signed up for Networked Blogs on Facebook and it’s pretty lonely with only 14 followers!! If you join me now, you can get 2 extra entries to any giveaway going on until March. So you can save your extra entries… just add Networked Blog to the giveaway you are entering!
Want even more extra entries?? For every person you invite to follow and they join, you can get an extra entry!!! Just put the name of the person who joined, plus Networked Blog in the entry. 🙂
Here are the long awaited winners for the month!
Congrats to Aura for winning the Belly Bandit from Best Baby Organics!
Congrats to moushka for winning the Siliskin Glass!
Congrats to Snowflake07 for winning the Green Party Goods GC!
Congrats to Laura for winning the Batter Up Kids Eco-friendly Cooking Set!
Congrats to sharonjo for winning the Curious Chef Mixing Bowl Set!
Congrats to Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug} for winning the Peeled Snacks assortment!
Congrats to Jennifer T. for winning the RCTEES Giveaway!!
Congrats to Melody for winning the Trillium Organics Agenda Perfume!!
Thanks to all that entered!! Here are the current Mkokopelli giveaways:
Don’t get me wrong, I love using recycled toilet paper and up until today recycled tissue. After reading the scary facts about what’s in regular paper, I made the switch easily. But today, my nose is so raw from blowing it all day I want to scream! Luckily my mom had some regular tissue with aloe stashed away and my nose doesn’t hurt as much when I blow it. Arg…
Anyone else have eco-friendly switches that have irked you at some point?
This giveaway has ended! Thanks to all that entered!!
So tonight’s theme is cleaning. Though, this review is about cleaning pets and not objects. You might remember my baby girl Priscilla from my Eco Pet Week a few months ago.
Yes, she is my mighty dog! In the picture above she was running to jump off a dock into a lake. Priscilla used to get groomed every 2 weeks. Yes, this was when I had a job, toted her in a bag, and she was my only baby girl. Now, she’s lucky if she makes it to the groomers every 4 months. Lucky for me (and Cilla) ecostore USA contacted me asking me to review some of their products. I’ve seen them on the web and was really excited to finally get to try some!
ecostore USA carries baby skin care, adult bath and body, household and pet products that are 100% eco-friendly.
ecostore nz was founded 15 years ago in New Zealand by Melanie and Malcolm Rands. The Rands’ lived in a eco village where everyone was committed to organic growing and healthy living. (I so need to move there!!!) Each resident was responsible for their own waste water, which caused problems since the cleaning products available at the market contained harsh chemicals. That’s when Malcolm started doing research on plant based ingredients for cleaning products that would biodegrade safely, quickly, all the while protecting their pristine rural waterways. Malcolm achieved his goal by creating a non toxic cleaner and eliminated the harsh chemicals from their village. The “no toxic chemicals” cleaners soon caught on to other parts in NZ and ecostore grew- all the way to the USA, Australia, and the UK!
We were sent the Herbal Fresh Shampoo and Leave in Conditioner. All of their pet products contain no toxic petrochemicals, no lauryl or laureth sulfates, no propylene glycol, no dyes, no artificial perfumes, no parabens, no cocamide DEA, and no cocomidopropyl betaine. I absolutely LOVE the Leave in Conditioner! 
I have to admit being a slack dog owner right now. My used to be neatly groomed doggie is a rug rat right now running around with hair covering her face and kind of stinky. Though, a quick spritz of the leave in conditioner gets the clunkies out, her hair untangled, less stinky and able to put in a hairbow in 2 minutes flat! The answer to my slack prayers. 🙂 Priscilla also has sensitive skin but had NO reaction to any of the ecostore products. You can get the Leave in Conditioner for $8 which is a steal!
The All Natural Shampoo cleaned her very easily, made her coat shiny, silky, and smooth. That is until it snowed over the weekend and she’s now not so clean. 
The Shampoo can be used on dogs, puppies, kittens, and cats over 6 weeks. Though, I wouldn’t dare try to give one of my cats a bath! My favorite part about the shampoo is that it is cruelty free and never tested on animals! Hehehe… sorry… I thought that was hysterical. 🙂 You can get the 12 oz. Shampoo for only $13!
The Giveaway: ecostore USA would like to give 1 LUCKY reader a $25 Gift Certificate!!
Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST March 1, 2010 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 what you would pick if you won. Make sure you leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!
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, Mkokopelli on Twitter, or Follow my blog
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
4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)
5. Enter another giveaway I have going on and tell me which one or leave a comment on a non-giveaway post (1 entry total)
6. Become a fan of ecostore USA on Facebook
7. Follow ecostore USA on Twitter
8. Tell me some Eco Information you learned on ecostore USA or by a video
9. Go to the ecostore USA blog and sign up for their newsletter
10. Grab my button and post on your blog, Facebook page, or myspace page and link back in a comment
New disclaimer: I was sent these items to review from ecostore USA. This in NO way changes my opinions about the products or company. These are my thoughts, opinions and results.
I think I’m about to turn into a neurotic mom. My child had only 2 colds before this year. Now it seems like we stay sick. It doesn’t help that she still puts her fingers in her mouth constantly and when she’s not paying attention, a toy might make its way in too. I do carry hand sanitizer for when she touches something that I’ve seen a hacking child touch. I don’t want to be overbearing, but I also don’t want to spend the whole winter blowing our noses and feeling like death.
I was sent some products to review for Ella’s birthday bash from Dapple but they arrived after the party. Luckily, they have really come in handy with the crud in our house! Dapple sent us a bottle of their Toy Cleaner Spray, a Travel sized Dish Liquid, and Travel sized Toy Wipes. One product from each of their lines.
When I first got the Travel size Dish Liquid, I was thinking what am I going to do with this? I could use it at home… but that would defeat the travel size purpose. Then we traveled to Ella’s dad’s house and after seeing that his dish soap contained Triclosan, I freaked out and didn’t want to wash her cups. That’s when it hit me that this would be perfect to keep in her overnight lunch box for these just in case needs! 
The Dish Liquid cleans dishes squeaky clean with no streaks, residue, or funky after tastes. I hate when you can still taste a dish liquid after you hand washed it!
The Travel sized Toy Wipes are great to keep in your purse or bag and take with you on the go. 
I used them yesterday when we were at the doctors office on their toy trains. Hey- you don’t know what the last sick kid had who was playing with it! Or if you are at a friend’s house and your baby puts their toy in her mouth, this would be a good time to clean it so germs aren’t being passed. The wipes are 100% biodegradable, so you aren’t adding waste to landfills!
But my favorite has to be the Toy Cleaner Spray. 
This nice big bottle will stay in my living room and clean everything once Ella and I are better. This will not only keep us from re-exposing ourselves, but to not pass it along to our friends. Especially since Ella still puts things in her mouth all of the time! The spray is not anti-bacterial. It’s like using soap and water- without the hassle of having to take every toy to the kitchen sink and wash. I am a firm believer in using natural anti-bacterial sprays and soaps, but you need a balance so your child can become immune to germs. I like this way of cleaning toys instead of with anti-bacterial wipes- or even scarier- bleach. Ugh…
The great thing about Dapple is that all of their products are natural-based ingredients that are environmentally safe, biodegradable, and free of parabens, SLES, phthalates, dioxane, synthetic dyes and fragrances. I know you guys wouldn’t think I’d spray Ella’s toys with something toxic!
You can find Dapple at your local Toys R Us, Babies R Us, BuyBuy Baby, Bed Bath & Beyond, HEB, Diapers.com, Right Start, or Giggle stores or purchase by the case online through their website. Dapple also has a store locator just to be sure!
Want to earn 4 extra entries to any giveaways I have going on? Sign up for the Dapple newsletter, join them on Facebook or Twitter and leave a comment here. Then leave “dapple” in the comment box that you enter.
New disclaimer: I was sent these items to review from Dapple. This in NO way changes my opinions about the products or company. These are my thoughts, opinions and results.
This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered!
Before you get romantic on Valentines Day and go lighting lots of candles… you might want to read this first. Majority of candles are made using paraffin wax, which is a petroleum based product. When cheap paraffin is being burned it releases carcinogens into the air, and are said to be as bad for you as emissions from burning diesel fuel. From what I’ve read, highly-refined paraffin isn’t as bad, but still isn’t completely safe.
But that’s not even talking about the synthetic fragrances used. They are also petroleum based, which means you are more than likely getting double exposure. If you get headaches or sinus issues when around burning candles, this could be why. These emissions are the most harmful for pregnant women, children and pets. Though no indoor pollution is good for anyone.
There are some great alternative candles out there to help enhance the romantic mood and I’m happy to tell you about Soybeam Candles sold at KellyGreen-Way.com. 
Soybeam Candles only use organic or wildcrafted essential oils, free of genetically modified organism soy wax, and pure cotton wicks. Pure cotton wicks are important because some wicks contain metals which can have high levels of lead- even though they are banned in the US. Soy wax is non-toxic and petroleum free. It is also made from a renewable resource instead from a limited resource.
KellyGreen-Way.com carries 6 different blends of Soybeam Candles which come in a recycled glass jar. You can reuse the glass jar after the candle has burned and it would even make a great cup! Each candle burns for 50 hours and is 10 oz. I was sent the Lavender and Geranium candle and it reminds me of a fresh Spring morning. When I opened the recycled box that contained the candle, I was taken back by the strong aroma. I really loved the wildflower seeded paper that protected the top of the candle! The scent of the candle was more mild when burned. It still reminds me of a flower field in the Spring or a freshly cleaned house. Maybe it will inspire me to start Spring cleaning early this year!
KellyGreen-Way has hundreds of Eco-friendly items for all of your personal and home needs. You can find clothing for everyone, jewelry, personal products, kitchen items, bags, toys, reusable bottles, skin care, cleaning products, music, and so much more! There is also a wonderful Kelly’s Kid Corner that helps you teach your children the basics of being more Eco-conscious through fun games.
The Giveaway: KellyGreen-Way.com would like to give 1 lucky winner a Soybeam Candle in the scent of their choice!
Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST February 27, 2010 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 and Canada
How to Enter: Tell me the scent you would pick if you won. Make sure you leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!
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, Mkokopelli on Twitter, or Follow my blog
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
4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)
5. Enter another giveaway I have going on and tell me which one or leave a comment on a non-giveaway post (1 entry total)
6. Tell me another item you love from KellyGreen-Way.com
7. Become a fan of KellyGreen-Way.com on Facebook
8. Follow KellyGreen-Way.com on Twitter
9. Sign up for the KellyGreen-Way.com newsletter
10. Grab my button and post on your blog, Facebook page, or myspace page and link back in a comment
New disclaimer: I was sent this item to review from KellyGreen-Way.com. This in NO way changes my opinions about the products or company. These are my thoughts, opinions and results.
Mkokopelli.com 