Just a heads up, I’m playing with my background layout. So if the screen looks funky, you’ll know why. 🙂

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

The great thing about being a blogger is the contacts you meet in the process. I have loved hearing Mom and Dad stories about how they began their companies and what they’ve been through. So many people have opened up and let me in on parts of their lives. I’ve had wonderful people give great advice on how to build my site and where to get more blogging knowledge. (No, I haven’t been sucked into the black hole) 😉 Strangers have taken time out of their busy lives to form a new relationship and we’ve never come in contact- other than by a keyboard. It’s amazing how the Internet has changed over the past 15 years and how you can befriend someone with just one click. I think some people take this marvel for granted, but I am very blessed for what this venture is teaching me.

I started reading a book my mom has, “212 The Extra Degree,” and wanted to share 2 paragraphs…

“As a friend- Choose to visit or talk with one extra friend each week and create 52 additional discussions among friends for the year. Do something helpful and unexpected for one friend each week of the year and plant more than 50 additional possibilities of influence.”

“As a parent- Wake and act each day with the understanding that your actions will be absorbed by your children… and your children will grow to be contributing adults to the level of your influence. Add an extra 15 minutes each day to the time you invest with your children- an equivalent of more than 2 weeks each year at work. Imagine the exponentially positive effect of investing 2 extra weeks each year exclusively in the development of your children.”

“212 The Extra Degree” is about how to live successfully. It has beautiful photography with amazing positive inspirational quotes throughout the book. We sometimes get caught up in every day things and don’t realize our behaviors and how they are affecting others.
So, reach out and touch someone today and spend an extra 15 minutes of undivided attention with your loved ones.
Hope you have a great day!

This contest has ended. Thanks to all that entered! You can still get 10% off at Birthday Keepsakes by entering the code MKK at the checkout until August 23
When I was pregnant I had big goals of completing 2 baby books. Yes, 2. One for me and one that Ella could take with her when she moved out. Honestly, I loved 2 books and couldn’t decide between them, so that was my justification. 😉 The day that I gave birth everything happened so fast, I didn’t think about saving a newspaper to put in her books. Does anyone??? After we got home and settled into our routine, I started filling out the books and came to the section where you fill in info about the world and what the current rates are for everything. Ugh! I decided to do an Internet search in hopes some company had this info already printed out so I wouldn’t have to do individual searches. That’s when I happened to come across Birthday Keepsakes and fell in love.

They have awesome 8×10 or 11×14 Keepsake prints that have all of the information about your child’s birthday on a cute bordered design with 13 options. I decided that the $9.99 was totally worth not having to look up all of the information needed and would be a great keepsake for when Ella wanted to know cool things about her birthday. You get to personalize the Keepsake print by adding time of birth, weight and other important details. It also has cool stuff like astrology info (which is optional), famous people who you share your birthday, headlines that happened during your birth week, famous past events, best of the year, costs of common items, top news stories, plus fun and fashion. Basically everything that both of my books asked for and more! I’ve even thought about ordering one for myself just so I can see all of the info about 1980.

They also have other outstanding personalized products. We got to try the Activity Placemat and it is an amazing learning tool. It comes laminated, so your child can write on it with a washable marker. The placemat is bordered by primary colors and it teaches how different colors can mix to make another color. It also has their name, birthday and a space that your child can trace their name. You can choose to put a personalized message, days of the week or the months. I choose days of the week and I have Ella circle what day it is every day. It also has different shapes at the bottom in colors that weren’t used in the border.

And that is just the front of the mat! The back has the alphabet with characters that begin with each letter and after the alphabet there are numbers 1-10 with counting dots. It has been the best alphabet tool I have come across yet! Ella has been circling the letter I ask her to find or she will point to it. She loves it! Plus it’s great to take to restaurants to keep your kiddo busy while you wait.

They also have Little Prints,which is an amazing print you can capture your infant’s foot and hand prints or just one. It comes with a sweet poem and would make a great baby shower or home coming gift if you know the baby’s name. They give you an ink print pad that doesn’t allow the ink to touch your newborns fragile skin. Birthday Keepsakes knows mess-ups happen in the process, so they send you 2 prints! My friend just had a baby, so we got to try it out on her 2 week old.

The hand was a bit difficult to do since he was still bawling up his fists. You might need 3 people to get the perfect print or just go with the footprint. Other than that it was quick, easy and turned out really cute.
Birthday Keepsakes also has Growth Charts, Name Wish Poems, The Twelve Gifts of Birth, Wedding and Anniversary Designs, Framing and more!

The Discount: You can get 10% off at Birthday Keepsakes by entering the code MKK at the checkout until August 23

The Giveaway:
Birthday Keepsakes is giving away a $50 Gift Certificate to 1 lucky reader! You can get multiple items with $50 since they have amazing prices.

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. August 10, 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 US residents.

How to Enter: You must visit Birthday Keepsakes and tell me what you or your child’s name means. 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
6. Tell me what you would spend your $50 GC on at Birthday Keepsakes
7. Tell a friend about Birthday Keepsakes

Thanks to Birthday Keepsakes for your amazing giveaway and good luck to everyone!

Congrats to

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I came across an article about what you can and can’t recycle and I found out that you can’t recycle bottle caps!!! So if you do use bottled water and you leave the cap on, the bottle will get sent to the landfill. This goes for anything that has a plastic cap on it. Aveda has found a solution for using the wasted bottle caps and wants you to collect them and bring them to their stores. The program accepts caps that are rigid polypropylene plastic, sometimes noted with a 5 in the chasing arrows recycling symbol. This includes caps that twist on with a threaded neck such as caps on shampoo, water, soda, milk and other beverage bottles, flip top caps on tubes and food product bottles (such as ketchup and mayonnaise), laundry detergents and some jar lids such as peanut butter. To learn more, visit Aveda.

Most recycle places won’t accept grocery bags either. But if you are like me and forget your fabric bags sometimes, you can drop off the plastic bags at your local grocery store and they will send them back to the company who makes their bags.

GreenEdge Kids has an awesome variety of Eco-friendly reusable water bottles ranging from $10-$14. They also have an assortment of reusable bags varying from lunch bags, sandwich bags, grocery bags and even produce bags. Prices range from $4-$22. While you’re visiting their site, be sure to check out their Specials. They have tons of organic clothing on sale.

Here is a blurb from Pepsi about the new product:

“An all-new premium cola, Pepsi Natural is made with all-natural ingredients, including lightly sparkling water, natural sugar, natural caramel and kola nut extract. The amber-hued cola gets its color from natural caramel and natural apple extract. From the amount of bubbles to the foam that rises to the top of the beverage when it’s poured, Pepsi Natural offers a brand-new cola experience.

Pepsi Natural is packaged in a sleek 12-oz. glass bottle and is available in single-serve and 4-packs initially in the premium and/or natural food aisles of retail outlets in the following ten regional markets: Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas and New York.”

It actually sounds like it might taste good! There are several contests going on with the promotion Pepsi Natural News – Contests Be sure to check them out!

Becoming a “green” family has been a long and hard process. Like many things, I didn’t think everything through when I started transitioning our family. There are so many options to think about when you decide to become more Eco-friendly and sometimes you forget about the small, yet important stuff. When Ella needed new bedding last year, we went with organic cotton. I felt comfortable knowing she would be sleeping on organic sheets and not inhaling contaminants. What I didn’t think about was the mattress that laid under her sheets.

When I was pregnant and shopping I had no clue about the dangers that were around every corner… OK, maybe I’m being dramatic… but this is something I’m passionate about. Protecting my child is my responsibility. Not to mention the bigger picture- protecting our environment so it’s safe for our children and so forth. So as I was changing her sheets one day, I noticed the tag on her mattress which said “vinyl laminate.” A PVC film is used when making the laminate, so there is a chance chemicals are being released and she’s inhaling them for 13 hours a day. It’s too late in the game to go out and buy a new toddler mattress when we will be upgrading to a twin soon enough. So my other alternative was to buy a organic mattress protector.

As fate has it, a week after my revelation, I was introduced to Naturalmat and a Mattress Protector was sent to me for a review. As I pulled the mat out of the Eco-friendly package, Ella ran to it and starting cuddling it. Her words were, “beautiful flunky! oooh, so soft.” A flunky is her made up word for blanket. After I put the mat on her bed, I laid down to test it out. OMG it made such a difference! Now this protector was made to stop leaks, but the extra padding and comfort is unbelievable. It truly feels like a whole new bed. The Naturalmat Mattress Protector is made up of 2 thick layers of soft organic flannelet which encompasses a breathable thin polyurethane membrane. It is unbleached, undyed and naturally flame retardant. The mat lays flat on top of the mattress and has elastic bands on each corner to hold it in place. Luckily, we haven’t had to test it out for leaks just yet. Though I’ve read reviews and it has passed the test. I feel a bit of relief knowing my baby is sleeping safely and HIGHLY recommend the Mattress Protector for any crib or toddler mattress.

Naturalmat also makes amazing mattresses and sheets for all your crib and toddler bed needs. Each organic mattress is handmade in Devonshire, England from the finest natural and raw organic materials. Their durable naturally sprung mattress cores provide superior and longer lasting level of support than any other synthetic foam or metal spring. So you won’t have to worry about a spring popping through your baby’s mattress. Most mattresses are made of polyurethane foam and PVC, which harm the environment in their manufacture and disposal. They also emit noxious gases which can interfere with brain development. I wish I would have known these things 3 years ago, but it’s never too late to learn! Check out the Naturalmat Mattresses below:

The Discount:
You can visit Goores.com to make your Naturalmat purchases and you can recieve a 10% discount on ANY Naturalmat product by entering the code: mknm at the checkout. Happy shopping!!!

This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all that entered!

Last month I was shopping around on the internet hunting for cute latex-free bandages. Ella and I are both cursed with a latex allergy and Target stopped carrying the character band-aid’s we’ve used for so many years. Luckily, I found Greenfeet! A one stop shop for all of your Eco-friendly needs. They have over 3,000 products varying from kitchenware, composting products, jewelry, bathroom needs, baby care, personal care, bedding, housekeeping, pets and more! Greenfeet sent me a package of EcoGaurd Bandages that are tie dyed and some have fairies on them. They are 100% Sterile Absorbent, have non-stick pads AND there is absolutely no animal testing. Ella and I both love them! She calls them her “color stickers.” The Giveaway:
Greenfeet is offering one lucky winner a box of Ecogaurd Bandages and a collection of Indigo Wild’s Wee Collection which includes- 1 Wee Rub, 1 Wee Mist, 1 Wee Body Lotion, 1 Wee Bar Baby Soap– a $44 value!
Just click on the links to find out more about the amazing all natural baby products!


Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. August 3, 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 winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! The contest is only open to USA and Canada residents

How to Enter: You must visit Greenfeet and tell me a product you would love to have that has not been listed by another commenter. 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, Twitter or leave 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
6. Sign up for the Greenfeet email updates
7. Tell me something you learned from Greenfeet– check out the About Me or Collection Section

Good luck to everyone and a big thanks to Greenfeet and their awesome products!

Contest Ended. Winner will be posted soon. Thanks to all that entered!
In 2007 Sarah Spoor, a mother of 4, decided to update the old Gerry style backpack carriers for babies. She loved the concept of the old backpack carriers, but found them outdated. While traveling in the Northwest, she came across some beautiful fabric patterns and then created the Kokopax Classic Carrier; a lightweight carrier with added modern flair.The Kokopax Classic Carrier is great for when traveling, cooking, keeping up with other children, walking around the zoo, beach, airport, park and more. They will even hold a child up to 35 pounds! Most carriers I’ve seen only hold 25 pounds and my daughter was a big baby, so we had to give up our carriers at a year when she still needed to be held. Talk about back problems!

The Kokopax Classic Carrier is made with 100% cotton canvas with an anodized aluminum frame. The carrier provides an ideal fit for mom and dad with its comfortable shoulder straps and adjustable frame. Other features include a padded waist support, a storage pocket, kickstand for easy unloading, a bag to carry the carrier when traveling and a 5 pt. safety harness. It only weighs 2.7 lbs so you won’t even feel the added weight. The carrier will also fit in a airline overhead bin when flying, so you can carry your child while carrying your bags. The carrier is made for childre 6 months- 2 years. They are available in 6 custom fabric designs:

The Discount:
Order a Kokopax Classic Carrier or other Kokopax product and get 10% off! Enter the code mk2009 at the checkout. The carrier would be an awesome babyshower gift! They have other amazing products as well.

The Giveaway:
Kokopax is offering one of my LUCKY readers their very own Kokopax Classic Carrier with their choice of fabric.

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. July 31, 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 winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! The contest is only open to USA residents

How to Enter: You must visit Kokopax and tell me something you learned about the company or products that haven’t been listed. Click on “Comments” to leave your post. Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

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, Twitter or leave a message on FB and leave a link here (3 extra entries)
5. Grab my button
6. Sign up for Kokopax news and announcements or become a fan on FB
7. Tell me which fabric is your favorite and tell me another product you like on Kokopax
8. Enter another one of my giveaways and tell me which one

A BIG thank you to Kokopax for this amazing giveaway! Good luck to everyone and please share with your friends!

We just got back from the mall and went shopping for FREE! I love to shop and when you are a stay at home mom with no income, shopping doesn’t get to happen that often. Here is how we scored some free stuff…

We first went to COACH and picked up a funky Poppy pencil holder with 12 colorful pencils. These would be great for kids going back to school or if you like to alter things for gifts, the box would be perfect for jewelry or other small items. Just click here to sign up and print out your coupon.

We then headed to Godiva and got a free piece of chocolate that I got to pick out! Godiva has a free Rewards Program that allows you to get a free piece of chocolate every month and if you make a purchase of $10 or more you get a free gift. Click here to sign up and go pick up your free chocolate and membership card at your local Godiva. I tried the Coconut Truffle and it was YUMMY!

Our last stop was Aveda. I love their hair care line since they are all natural. They are giving away a sample 3 pack of Smooth Infusion Shampoo, Conditioner and Style-Prep Smoother. Click here to print out the code and take to your local Aveda store for your goodies! You have to do a 3 minute consultation, but it’s quick and painless.

Have fun free shopping!!