Congrats to Tina!
- i follow your blog thanks for the chance to win
- September 2, 2009 11:13 AM
Winner of Crunchy Granola Yoga Pants
Author: mkokopelli
Your Thoughts
I was just curious to see what my readers would like to see more of? I am a fairly new site and about to reach my 3 month mark. I’ve been playing around with ideas and would love to hear your thoughts since you are the ones I’m writing for! 🙂
If you decide to participate, you can gain 1 more entry to any giveaway going on by entering MY THOUGHTS in a comment box.
The Softest Eco-friendly Blanket Week #3- Dream Sacks
This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered!!
Dream Sacks is an amazing “green” company that I’m in love with! OK, I say that a lot. But, I’m being honest! I’m a shopaholic and love finding amazing companies. I am very picky when I choose who to contact for reviews and do a lot of research before contacting them. I want to give you my 100% honest opinion and I’d hate to write a bad review!
The first thing that caught my eye when reading about Dream Sacks was their “babies in the workplace” program. They allow their new mother workers to bring their infants to work with them until they are 6 months old!! I wonder if I would have gone back to work if that would have been the case?? The next thing that caught my eye was that Dream Sacks uses solar panels for some of their energy needs; they drive an electric truck for their local driving; they use 100% recycled boxes; all of their packaging bags are compostable; and they purchase Carbon Offsets to compensate for the emissions from the transportation of shipments. Talk about a “green” company!!
Dream Sacks also is oeko-tex certified, which means there are no harmful substances in their textiles. They also use low-impact dying. The owners went to the manufacturing dying plant to see what went into the process and a worker explained to them that there were micro-organisms in the ponds that consume the effluent as the water is transferred from pond to pond. By the time they reached the last pond, the water was clean and ready to be used again.
Dream Sacks carries bedding, bath towels, accessories and fabulous clothing for men, women and babies. All of their fabrics are made of either silk, bamboo, cashmere or soy. I will be back in a few weeks with a review of their clothing, but until then… check them out!
Ella got her Dream Sacks Knit Baby Blanket and it instantly became her favorite flunky to carry around. It is a very light Viscose from Bamboo blanket. I wasn’t sure how it would be able to keep her warm until I snuggled under it and decided I needed one in a adult size! (Please make an adult size!!) It feels like a silky stretchy sheet, but is perfect in all ways. Ella has been taking it everywhere with her and it’s great for car rides. Her old flunky was too big to take anywhere and when nap time came when we were out, she wasn’t a happy baby. But this fits nicely in my purse and does the trick.
The Knit Baby Blanket is 36″X36″ and comes in 6 fun colors.Ella got the pomegranate with pool trim and I really like the vividness of the colors. Yes, they match her Princess night gown which has been a huge plus. I will touch on her princess obsession in another post coming soon.
The Giveaway: One Lucky reader will win a Knit Baby Blanket from Dream Sacks!
Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST September 18, 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.
How to Enter: Visit Dream Sacks and tell me your favorite item. Click on “Comments” to leave your post. Make sure to 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)
4. 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
6. Follow Dream Sacks on Facebook or Twitter
7. Tell me something you learned on the Dream Sacks Blog
8. Grab Mkokopelli’s The Softest Eco-friendly Blanket Week Button and post on your blog or FB page and leave the link
Angel Bear Yoga Winner!
Congrats to Meryl!
- I follow now : )
Winner of the Bamboo Belly Bandit
Congrats to Stephanie Bannon – entry no. 16 from Best Baby Organics. Thanks to all that entered!
The Softest Eco-friendly Blanket Week #2- speesees organic cotton
The next blanket Ella got to try was a organic cotton plush blanket from speesees. I know you’ve heard me rave about speesees a lot lately and there is a reason why… I love the way their fabrics feel!! They are a thick soft organic cotton that will last longer than a season, at totally affordable prices. speesees makes sure that all of their organic cotton is made with low impact/ herbal dyes, no formaldehyde, no dioxins and no pesticides or insecticides are used during their growth.
The speesees mission is to be fun, fair + organic in the products they make, the way they conduct business + the baby steps they take towards creating a more sustainable future for the animal, plant + human speesees on our children’s planet.
I want to explain organic cotton production and manufacturing to all of those who don’t know before I get into my review…
Organic cotton growing is much more complex, not to mention more costly, than regular cotton growing. As I’ve said before, 11% of the world’s pesticides and 25% of the world’s insecticides are used to control pests in regular cotton growing. There are over 20,000 deaths every year from pesticide poisoning and majority of these deaths are cotton farmers. That’s why it’s even more important to buy organic fabrics!! When organic cotton is grown, the farmer must make sure the soil fertility practices meet organic certification; the weed management is accomplished through cultivation, flame weeding or other cultural practices; and insects are controlled only through the organic certified methods.
Pests are a huge problem in cotton growth, which is the reason why so many insecticides and pesticides are used. Organic farmers have to check their crops weekly to make sure there are no infestations. If there is a pest problem, the farmers use biological pesticides- derived of natural materials from animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. There are also insecticidal soaps, which are used directly on the crop to kill soft bodied insects. There are several other practices used for individual pests. But all of these methods are non-toxic, biodegradable and certified organic.
After the organic cotton has been harvested, the cotton has to go through a certified organic manufacturing process. The manufacturers cannot use chlorine bleach, formaldehyde, halogens, azo-dyestuffs, plus the machines have to meet ISO standards. I wasn’t able to find lots of info on the manufacturing process… I’ll keep looking and post at a later date if I find anything new.
OK, back to speesees… After getting their blanket in the mail I had to try more. So we ended up buying quite a few outfits and I’m more than impressed. You can check out Ella’s new speesees clothes by clicking here. We also won a speesees towel from Mommy PR! This has to be my favorite towel Ella’s ever owned. It is 100% interlock cotton with a terry backside. The towel absorbs water really well and is the perfect length for toddlers.
When Ella first saw her tomato + cocoa plush blanket she told me to go put it in the dryer! She didn’t even feel the blanket, but was angry it wasn’t pink. I’m guessing she thought the dryer would make it pink??? I told you the process of giving up her flunky hasn’t been easy. But, I used my mom thinking cap and told her it matched her mushrooms on her wall. (She’s big on matching lately) So she took the blanket to the mushroom and matched it, then slept with it that night.
I personally love the blanket. I like the thickness of the cotton and how the plush is super cuddly. It is a great size- (42″X42″) for toddlers or even swaddling a infant. The plush also makes an awesome backdrop for pictures!
The Giveaway: 1 lucky winner will receive a speesees plush organic blanket!
Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST September 17, 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.
How to Enter: Go to speesees and tell me something else you’d like to have. Click on “Comments” to leave your post. Make sure to 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)
4. 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
6. Sign up for the speesees newsletter
7. Go to speesees and tell me your favorite picture of their trip to India to visit their cotton farmers
8. Grab Mkokopelli’s The Softest Eco-friendly Blanket Week button and post on your blog or FB page
The Softest Blanket Week Begins! Green Earth Bamboo Giveaway
This contest has ended. Thanks to all that entered!
What? A whole week of blanket giveaways?? Yes, it is true. We are on the search for the softest Eco-friendly blanket on the market. As I was putting Ella to sleep last month I realized that her mattress pad was organic, her sheets were organic, her pillow case was organic- but her “flunky” was not. (A flunky is Ella’s word for blanket.) We ventured into many stores and couldn’t find the right one. We both have major texture issues, so our fabrics have to be extra soft. Since we can’t feel blankets through cyberspace, I thought I’d dedicate a week to finding the perfect one and to give you the opportunity to win some awesome blankets in time for Fall weather!
What? A whole week of blanket giveaways?? Yes, it is true. We are on the search for the softest Eco-friendly blanket on the market. As I was putting Ella to sleep last month I realized that her mattress pad was organic, her sheets were organic, her pillow case was organic- but her “flunky” was not. (A flunky is Ella’s word for blanket.) We ventured into many stores and couldn’t find the right one. We both have major texture issues, so our fabrics have to be extra soft. Since we can’t feel blankets through cyberspace, I thought I’d dedicate a week to finding the perfect one and to give you the opportunity to win some awesome blankets in time for Fall weather!
Let me first say, introducing new “flunkies” to Ella hasn’t been an easy task. She’s had her old flunky for almost 2 years and was quite attached. But, I if I went through all of the trouble to make sure she was sleeping on the safest fabrics available, I want her cuddling with one too.
Before I get into my first review- check out my article about bamboo and what the FTC has been claiming about several companies. The article goes into all details about bamboo, but I didn’t want to repeat what has already been said.
Green Earth Bamboo is a Eco-friendly company selling all of your bamboo needs. They carry sheets, blankets, clothing, bath supplies and more! They also have a great informative blog with current bamboo information. What I love about bamboo is that it acts as a thermal regulator keeping you 3 degrees cooler on hot days and 3 degrees warmer on cool days. So if you sweat a lot in your sleep, bamboo is the way to go. It also is naturally anti-microbial and anti-fungal. There have been numerous sock tests done with bamboo socks and if you have smelly feet, try a pair out and see the difference. Or you can read about a sock test done at Green Earth Bamboo on their info page. Bamboo shirts are also great if you do a lot of activities outside. Green Earth Bamboo has a great selection of socks and shirts, so check them out!
Green Earth Bamboo sent us a Dream Sacks Box Weave Woven blanket and so far it’s passed Ella’s test. It is 36″X36″ and is perfect for toddlers and infants. They also sell an adult size. I was a bit skeptical on how a woven blanket could be super soft and I was amazed when I felt it. Most woven blankets are scratchy, but this one is silky smooth. When rubbing it, you can’t even tell that it’s a woven fabric. Don’t let it’s thin appearance fool you. I turned Ella’s fan on full blast and cuddled up under the blanket. It kept me perfectly warm and blocked the cool air.
Since Ella has been using it, she’s had no night time sweats. She’s a very hot natured child, so finding something that is soft that will keep her cool has been a chore. The woven blanket comes in 5 different colors and of course Ella got the pink. This is her cuddling with her new magical flunky.
The Giveaway: One lucky reader will win a Woven Blanket (36″X36″) from Green Earth Bamboo
Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST September 16, 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.
How to Enter: Visit Green Earth Bamboo and tell me something else you’d like to have. Click on “Comments” to leave your post. Make sure to 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)
4. 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
6. Visit Green Earth Bamboo and tell me something you learned about bamboo
7. Follow Green Earth Bamboo on Twitter or become a Fan on Facebook and leave a message
8. Grab Mkokopelli’s Softest Eco-friendly Blanket Week Button on your blog or FB page and send me the link
Goddard Schools & EcoChildsPlay Needs Your Help
Goddard Child Development Centers and EcoChildsPlay are sponsoring the Second Annual Eco-Friendly Toy Test, which will evaluate the best green toys for preschool and early elementary-aged children based on the creative, child-engaging qualities, the interactive qualities, the price, and the eco friendliness of the product.
Goddard Schools and EcoChildsPlay Eco Friendly Toy Test is accepting submissions from toy makers which meet the following criteria:
- the toy is eco friendly
- the toy is affordable (under $25)
- the toy encourages creative, social, and engaging play activities
- the toy is interactive and lends itself to child-initiated play
- the toy is appropriate for preschool to early elementary school-aged children
The green toy submissions will be tested by Goddard preschoolers (for play value) and also by Green Options’ own and one of the founding members of the Greenmoms Carnival (@greenmoms) Maryanne Conlin. Maryanne will evaluate entries to ensure they meet the standards we green parents champion.
The top green toys will be awarded the Eco Friendly Toy seal and listed in the Top Ten Eco Friendly Toys of 2009. In addition, preschoolers at participating Goddard Schools will get to play with the Top Ten and then name the “Local Preschoolers Picks” for the top kid’s choices.
The contest is open to environmentally safe toy submissions until October 1, 2009, and the winners announced at the end of October. To enter, download the Eco Friendly Toy Test entry form and read the guidelines.
And now they need your help:
What’s your favorite eco friendly toy under $25? Please leave your nominations in the comments. (I nominate _____ toy company because _____.)
If you’re on Twitter, please complete and Tweet this using the hashtag #bestgreentoys:
@EcoChildsPlay, I nominate ______ for the #bestgreentoys contest.
If you know a green toy company, please reach out to them to enter the contest by sending them a link to this post.
There is a Flickr Stream set up (bestgreentoys) for you to upload a picture of your child with their favorite green toy (tagged with #bestgreentoys) to suggest that the company should enter the contest, and we have a Best Green Toys Facebook Page (please become a fan and upload pictures and leave comments). We will bring you updates when submissions are received, so you can weigh in with your comments.
About Goddard: Goddard Schools was named the number one child care franchise by Entrepreneur for the eighth year in a row, and is founded on the curriculum of the creation of a safe and nurturing environment for young children based upon learning through play. Many Goddard Schools offer eco-friendly features such as Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), recycled flooring products and environmental learning packages. Goddard also joined World Wildlife Fund’s 2009 Earth Hour for the Stepping Up for the Environment event, a nationwide effort in which more than 40,000 children helped to spread the message that by working together, each one of them can make a positive impact in working toward a sustainable future.
Closing The Best Eco-friendly Toy Week- PlasmaCar Giveaway
This contest has ended. Thanks to all that entered!!
So I’m sure you’ve seen the PlasmaCar giveaways all over the internet lately. They have been a huge hit. After reading numerous amazing reviews, I was very pleased to be closing The Best Eco-friendly Toy Week by giving one away! Sadly, Ella’s PlasmaCar was delayed in shipping, so we haven’t been able to test it out just yet. But, I’m still going to give you the chance to win one! As soon as ours arrives I will be posting a review, so stay tuned.
So I’m sure you’ve seen the PlasmaCar giveaways all over the internet lately. They have been a huge hit. After reading numerous amazing reviews, I was very pleased to be closing The Best Eco-friendly Toy Week by giving one away! Sadly, Ella’s PlasmaCar was delayed in shipping, so we haven’t been able to test it out just yet. But, I’m still going to give you the chance to win one! As soon as ours arrives I will be posting a review, so stay tuned.
PlasmaCar, created by PlaSmart, is a magical mechanical marvel for kids- though I’ve heard adults are enjoying it too! What makes this car so unique is it is not battery operated, no gears are attached and no peddling is involved. You simply turn the steering wheel to get the car to move, and with the forces of inertia, gravity, friction and centrifugal force- off you go. The PlasmaCar can go up to 9 feet per second and when you stop turning the wheel it will slow down for you to bring it to a stop. It works best on a flat smooth surface, but will work on rough surfaces- though not recommended for hardwood or laminate flooring. The PlasmaCar is made with ABS plastic and supports up to 220 pounds. ABS is a safe durable plastic known for it’s strength and hardness. (Yes, it is recyclable and has passed numerous product testing.) This toy is built to grow with your child and lasts a lifetime!
The PlasmaCar is available in 6 bold colors and is only $69.95! That’s half the price you would pay for a motorized car that only lasts a few years.
Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST September 15, 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.
How to Enter: Go to PlaSmart and tell me something else you like. Click on “Comments” to leave your post. Make sure to 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)
4. 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
5. Enter another giveaway I have going on and tell me which one or leave a comment on a non-giveaway post
8. Tell me where you can purchase a PlasmaCar near you
9. Grab the Mkokopelli Toy Week or Blanket Button and post on your blog or FB page- must leave a link
Work in Progress
I’m still working on the site, so bear with me this weekend. 🙂 I did just add some new buttons, though I’m working on their design. So if you see some odd posts that is why.
Mkokopelli.com 