This week is going to be a slow week on Mkokopelli. There will be a few amazing giveaways and reviews, but I might be MIA for a day or two here and there. I need some time to recharge and get ready for my fun filled Eco-friendly Holiday Gift Guide starting November 1!!! I can’t wait to share with you some of my favorite companies and favorite gifts. I’m sooo in the holiday mood just from planning this!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!! Thank you all for following Mkokopelli 🙂 I really appreciate all of the support.

Congrats to Coccinelle for winning the Best Baby Organics Monkey Pants!

Congrats to Shelley for winning the idbids starter kit!

Congrats to bridget3496 for winning the Alex Toys Monsters Play All Day!

Congrats to Mommyhood is Thankless for winning the CitiBlocs from GlammaTOYS!

Congrats to Leonard Family for winning the Pick-Up Words game from Beyond Learning!

Thanks to all that entered!!! The last 3 giveaways for the Homeschool your Preschooler week end this weekend. So if you haven’t entered, this is your chance!

• ImagiPLAY Counting Puzzle Ends 10/24
• ecojot sketchbooks and workbooks Ends 10/24
• Bumkins Junior Apron Ends 10/25

This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered!
Like I said yesterday, the products that you use to eat with are just as important as the foods that you eat. If you or your child is eating off of a plastic plate or drinking from a cup that contains phthalates, BPA or other unsafe plastics- chances are the bad chemicals are going to leak into your food/beverage. BPA is turning up everywhere, from bottles to aluminum cans to receipts. I’m sure we will hear a lot more about BPA in the near future. I got really upset a couple of months ago when a company who swore their aluminum bottles were BPA free ended up containing small amounts. They have since changed their design to completely BPA free, but still… that’s not the point. Things like this make other companies look bad who really are trying to make a difference. So if you are buying anything with aluminum, be careful of what the lining is made with. If it doesn’t say BPA free, don’t buy it… even then.. be weary.

A great alternative to aluminum bottles is stainless steel. They might cost a little bit more, but you are getting what you pay for. There is no lining needed for stainless steel, so there is no BPA. There is a great company called Fill Your Own that makes adorable 18-8 grade stainless steel bottles in sizes ranging from 350ml to 1000ml. The plastic caps are made out of polypropylene, PP 5, which is a safe plastic. What I love about these bottles is that local Canadian artists designed the bottles! There are designs for adults and children. These bottles are a great step in getting rid of plastic bottles or for a safe cup to give your child.

I love the story of how Fill Your Own began. Annette’s, the owner, husband said for his birthday present, “I would like our household to be greener and not use disposable plastic water bottles. Can you find us some bottles that we can refill on our own?” A week later, Fill Your Own was born. Annette designed the bottles with her 4 year old daughter in mind. She made them spill proof, Eco-friendly, and safe.

We were sent 2 great bottles to review. We got the 350ml bottle Panda Play and the 500ml Butterflies bottle. Ella has used them the most, though I have enjoyed the Butterflies bottle myself. Apparently, people aren’t the only ones interested in these stylish bottles. Check out who else likes them:
Yes, he tried to steal her bottle! She was telling him, “noooooo… this is Ella’s milk.” I love the handle on the bottle, which is easy to slip on your child’s wrist to carry around. We’ve had no leaking problems and they fit easily in Ella’s hands. The only thing Ella does not like is when the bottle is too cold. But, I like that aspect since it keeps the liquid cold longer on warm days. I made the mistake of leaving the Panda Play cup in the car for 2 days that had milk in it. I was scared to open it to clean out the spoiled milk, but amazingly, it was fine. Of course not drinkable, but no chunks or bad smell.

Fill Your Own bottles come in 13 different styles with 4 different sizes. You can choose from 3 different caps, though the straw length varies. You can also purchase the caps separately.

The Discount: Fill Your Own would like to give you 15% off your Fill Your Own purchase at Raspberry Kids by entering FYO115 at the checkout. They will ship anywhere. 🙂

BODY,.aolmailheader {font-size:10pt; color:black; font-family:Arial;} a.aolmailheader:link {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:visited {color:magenta; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:active {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} a.aolmailheader:hover {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal;} The Giveaway: Fill Your Own would like to give 1 lucky winner 2 Fill Your Own bottles of their choiceRules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST November 7, 2009 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

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 disqualified4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (3 extra entries)

5. Enter another giveaway I have going on and tell me which one or leave a comment on a non-giveaway post (1 extra entry total)
6. Become a fan of Fill Your Own on Facebook
7. Follow Fill Your Own on Twitter and Tweet your favorite design
8. Grab my Eating Healthy Week Button and post on your blog or FB page


*New Disclaimer- I was sent 2 Fill Your Own bottles to review for free. This in no way changes how I feel about the company or products. These are my results, thoughts and opinions.

This week’s Friday Follow is Marianna from Green Mama’s Pad. Hope you enjoy her blog as I much as I do!

Q. What is the name of your blog and how would you describe it?

A: The name of my blog is Green Mama’s Pad. In general my blog is about “going green”. I like to share easy ways to start making the switch to more eco-friendly choices and I love finding cool new products to share with my readers. So it’s a little bit of green tips, green products and life with my crazy boys all mixed together.

Q. How did you choose your blog name?

A: I liked the idea of using “pad” in my name – like come visit my pad (or home). Plus I liked being able to incorporate lily pads into my theme.

Q. Why did you decide to start writing a blog?

A: I had family and friends always asking me questions about natural products, foods and just for green information in general. So I thought it would be cool to start up a blog and share ideas with the blogosphere.

Q. Do you have a mission or goal that you would like to achieve with your blog?

A: When I set out my goal was to help just a few people be a little more green. And that is still my goal today. Even if I influence only one person, it is still one more person making a difference.

Q. What do you like to write about the most?

A: That’s tough. I really enjoy sharing green tips – simple things people can do to make a difference. Most people don’t realize how easy it can be.

Q. Is there anything you’ve learned from your blogging experience?

A: I’ve learned how supportive and awesome the other bloggers out there can be. I’ve learned so much from others.

Q. Tell me something you would like my readers to know about you.

A: Well I live in New England with my husband and our 3 boys. I am also pregnant with our 4^th boy who is due in December and I still can’t believe I’m going to be a mom to 4 boys. It is going to be crazy in my house! I am a big time hockey fan and love the New Jersey Devils. My favorite show is Lost and I am anxiously awaiting its return in February.

Q. Where else can we find you?

A: Currently I am also a guest writer on the Due Maternity Blog, which has been a lot fun. I also spend some time on message forums like The Mamasphere, which is like my second home, and MomDot, which is just an awesome, supportive community of bloggers.

I wanted to add some Eco-friendly eating products to my Eating Healthy Week because to me- that’s just as important. When I think about napkins and paper towels, my first thought is convenience. I’m guilty of being a paper towel user. But after reading how paper towels and napkins get so white and that if every household in the US switched 1 roll of virgin fiber paper towels to recycled or reusable- 1.4 million trees would be saved, I’ve changed my mind.

Napkins and paper towels get their bright white color through a chlorine bleaching process. The bleaching process releases chemical dioxins and furans which end up in our air and water supply. I couldn’t find any studies about the chemicals being released in the napkin or paper towel themselves, but it wouldn’t surprise me. If you do continue using paper towels and napkins, look for 100% recycled or a label that says, “chlorine bleach free.” Or you can do what we are doing and buy organic cotton/bamboo reusable napkins. There is a debate about the energy used in washing reusable napkins, dish towels and such. But if you add them to your usual laundry load and have an energy saving washer and dryer you are helping the environment rather than harming it.

I found an awesome company called FabiKins that makes organic cotton and bamboo blend of napkins for every age and occasion. They can even personalize them!! Geraldine Anders, the maker of FabKins, wanted to reduce her family’s trash contribution to landfills and teach her children about reducing and reusing. The smallest things have a great impact on the environment! The idea for FabiKins came from Geraldine’s husband’s family since they used color coded napkins for each family member. Geraldine wanted to create a napkin that used Eco-friendly fabrics since they are better for the earth and your family. The mission of FabiKins is to reduce waste, save trees, teach environmental awareness through actions, and to help the planet. They only use Oeko-Tex 100 certified organic cotton and bamboo in their napkins.

FabiKins sent Ella a personalized ballerina napkin along with a 17X17 napkin that can be used as a dish towel. I was amazed at how soft they are! They almost feel like a terry cloth, but smoother. I like how you can wet the napkin and get off yucky food stuck to your child’s face. Ella loves her yogurt, and is quite messy while eating it. The napkin worked well and it was easy to wash the blueberry powder off. What I really love is that the napkin is made with bamboo, which has natural antibacterial properties. So it’s OK to reuse your napkin a few times before needing a good wash since the bamboo’s natural properties will destroy or suppress the growth of the nasty bacteria. You should still make sure you wash off all of the food before laying out to dry for the next use. The 17X17 is perfect for wiping spills on the counter, dry dishes, and use for cleaning.

FabiKins has many adorable monograms you can choose from to personalize your FabiKin or you can choose from their pre-made selections. They carry napkins for events, weddings and even the holidays. Their baby Bamboo Bunny Washcloths and Burpees are really cute! FabiKins also carries a variety of bamboo eating utensils, placemats, organic cotton napkins and more.

The Giveaway: FabiKins would like to give 1 lucky winner a Earth Friendly Symbol Organic Cotton Jersey Drawstring Tote with 2 lunch sized FabiKins. Great for taking on the go!
Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST November 6, 2009 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 only open to the US

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 disqualified4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (3 extra entries)

5. Enter another giveaway I have going on and tell me which one or leave a comment on a non-giveaway post (1 extra entry total)
6. Follow FabiKins on Twitter
7. Tell me a company FabiKins supports
8. Grab my Eating Healthy Week Button and post on your blog or FB page


*New Disclaimer- I was sent 2 FabiKins to review for free. This in no way changes how I feel about the company or products. These are my results, thoughts and opinions.

I wanted to share this giveaway with you on As They Grow Up since it fits with my Eating Healthy Week. Right now you can win a Sneaky Chef book at As They Grow Up. I’m going to have to get this book to get more ideas on how to be sneaky!! Make sure you go to As They Grow Up to enter. Comments left here won’t count. 😉

It is pumpkin carving time and you can reuse everything inside of your pumpkin instead of trashing it! If you have a steamer, steam the pumpkin for a dip or even a pumpkin pie! The seeds are my favorite part. And the reason why I have to have 4-6 pumpkins every year. 🙂 Plus they are packed with fiber and protein!! Pumpkin seeds can be stored in an air tight container for around 2 months in the fridge if you don’t cook all of them. I remember being in 3rd grade and we made pumpkin seeds in class and ever since then, I’ve made them every year. Here are my favorite 2 recipes:

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds:

Wash off your pumpkin seeds and put on a tray. It’s OK if some pumpkin is still left on them, it adds flavor. Sprinkle the desired amount of crushed red pepper, pepper, garlic, salt and paprika. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
*Note: the crushed red pepper has a kick- so use sparingly. You can also leave out the spicy stuff for your kids.

Fried 3rd Grade Pumpkin Seeds:

Use organic canola oil or veggie oil. Heat the oil over medium heat. Add the seeds (they swim around) and when light brown, usually about 5 minutes, they are ready. Sprinkle a tiny bit of salt or garlic for added flavor.