More From Monave...

image found here

As I have mentioned before Monave is a wonderfully, eco-friendly company that provides the latest in skin care and beauty needs.  I have reviewed their lip glaze before and found the results to be amazing.

This time I was able to try out 3 different shades of vegan lipstick.  I have been wearing the lipstick now for about 2 weeks.  I believe the samples I am trying are matte finish. 

At first, I was afraid the product was going to be drying on my lips as the feel is similar to that of long wearing lipsticks.  However, I was please to discover how wrong I was.  Though the product is not as moisturizing as the lip glaze appeared, it does provide your lips with nourishing oils and butters.  You would think with all the emollients that you lips would be slick and the product wouldn't have staying power, but wrong again.

This product not only provides the nourishing effects of the natural oils and butters, but does not bleed or easily fade.  The colors are very natural looking as well.  I have found that I reach more often for my new Monave lipstick than I do my tried and true favorites. 

Monave is also the perfect place to look if you have a young girl just beginning to wear beauty products. With the natural shades and eco-friendly ingredients, the products are sure to enhance rather than over power a young girls beauty.

My overall option of Monave and the lipsticks I have tried are very favorable.  I will definitely be ordering more in the future.

Monave Lip Glaze

I found a new lip glaze that is absolutely perfect... modern, natural, & versatile.  Not only is Monave Lip Glaze 100% vegan and gluten free, it feels fabulous on your lips.

The sheer color is natural in appearance, yet lends a shine that is sure to last for hours.  Since receiving this product, it has become a go- to for my tired, dry lips.  The natural oils and vitamin E are very nourishing and healing.

I would definitely recommend checking out this outstanding eco-friendly find.  I want to try out the natural makeup products Monave has as well.  They look fantastic!

Natural Vinegar Disinfectant Spray with a Twist

I get a newsletter from Learning Herbs and couldn't be happier with all the great things they share.  This week I received a wonderful recipe I'd like to share as well as access to a free webinar with Rosemary Gladstars.

If you are interested in natural health and healing or just want to learn more about herbs, you have to check out the site.  What Learning Herbs.com has to offer:

• free ebooks
• free webinars
• free ecourses
• a cooperative board game to teach children about herbs (my kids love this game)
• medicinal kits with all you need to create your first salve and tincture. 

I got so excited about sharing this wonderful resource with you I forgot to share the recipe I received in this month's newsletter.  You will not be disappointed.

How to Make a Lavender Thyme Disinfectant:

1.  Fill a quart jar with 1 cup dried thyme leaves and 1 cup lavender flowers.

2.  Fill the remaining portion of the jar with white vinegar and seal tightly.

3.  Allow mixture to sit for at least 24 hours.

4.  Strain vinegar from jar.  Try to get as much of the herbs separated from the vinegar as possible.

5.  Place vinegar into a spray bottle.  Use to clean an surface you would normally clean with a disinfectant.

*NOTE*  You can add a few drops of essential oil to the vinegar and shake.  I like orange and lavender together, but you can experiment to find a duo that works best for you.

Learning Herbs.com suggest getting herbs in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Simplify Garden Planning

<a style="display: none;" href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOP7783d3eb0cca3f309457d77f15de32e4"><span></span></a>

I was given the oportunity to use a wonderful product from groOrganic to assist in planning my garden for this year.  I am truly ecstatic at how easy the Garden Planner made the entire process from selecting plants to designing the garden bed itself. 

Before using the Garden Planner, my husband and I walked our backyard and decided on the perfect spot for this year's garden.  We took measurements and then proceed to check out the groOrganic site.

When you first open the Garden Planner online, it is best to watch the short video clip on getting started.  This will give you some simple steps on how to use the product to design your garden.

We began by drawing out a plot in the exact dimensions of our garden site.  From there, we perused the vegetable templates to select the best veggies for our soil and climate.... You even enter where you live in order for the Garden Planner to provide you with an accurate planting timeline.  But, we will get to that in a minute.

After we decided on the vegetables that would be planting, we began adding them to our garden plot.  It is super simple... click and drag.  The best part of all is you do not need to know how many plants you will place in each space. 

Once you place a vegetable onto your garden plot you can click and drag the vegetable to take up the desired amount of space.  The program will automatically space the plants at the appropriate intervals.  You can go back and change this at anytime by simply resizing the vegetable.

After you have filled your garden plot with all the veggie goodness it will hold, you can print out a timeline.  The timeline is awesome.  It will list which vegetables to plant when and how many plants you will need of each variety. 

We used the timeline when we went online and purchased seeds, as well as, when we went to purchase plants.  We knew exactly what to purchase and in what quantity.

With the garden ready to plant, we headed outdoors with a printed copy of our garden plot.  It has rulers along all edges to assist in your planting.  My husband is the math whiz in the family, so he went around the garden and placed the plants into the positions specified.  I got to be the lucky one that actually planted the little beauties.

All in all our garden planting this year was so simple and easy.  We were not struggling to find inforamtion on how far to space, which plants need sun/shade, or the amount of water needed in the soil.  All this information was readily available in the Garden Planner.

If you are a garden novice or even seasoned gardener, I would highly recommend the GroOrganic garden planner.  It made planting our garden this year so much fun.  The kiddos even wanted to look at the plot map and try there hands at locating where to place specific veggies.  What could get better than that?

Do you have any great resources you use when planning and tending to your garden?

If so, please share.  I need all the help I can get.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM7783d3eb0cca3f309457d77f15de32e4">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson <a href="http://www.tomoson.com">Product review</a> & <a href="http://www.tomoson.com">giveaway</a> Disclosure.

Bright Baby Tees Review

My apologies for the codes displaying on the top and bottom of my post.  I am assuming this is a Blogger issue since I was unable to post the video yesterday.

<a style="display: none;" href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOP7d44eb268a656ba8bf731a62eb9156af"><span></span></a>

I was given the wonderful privilege of reviewing a woman's t-shirt from Bright Baby Tees.  The reason I wanted to review the product was two fold: it is eco-friendly and would make a great baby shower gift to a new mom.

When I received my shirt, I was amazed at the crisp, clean design.  The images are full of contrast and very simple.  Easily enjoyed by baby and adult alike.  The A, B, See design I received would make the perfect gift for pre-k or kindergarten teachers, as well as, any child infancy to 6 years of age.  Each letter of the alphabet is matched with a picture beginning with that sound.

The sizing of this ultra soft, organic tee is a bit small.  I didn't think about the fact that I do not usually order a woman's cut because I am a bit chubby in the mid section.  If you too have a bit of a tummy, you may want to get a size larger in woman's or order the appropriate size in men's.

Here is the run down:

• phthalate & formaldehyde free inks... inks are completely safe and environmentally friendly
• organic cotton... very soft to the touch... noticeable more so than a regular t-shirt
• crisp, clean designs... very simple and pleasing to the eye
• & visually stimulating patterns to keep an infants brain engaged.

Overall, I would definitely consider purchasing this product.  The environmental substainablilty alone is enough to make this company stand out above the rest.  The fact that it is visually stimulating to infants and young children is just the icing on the cake.  I think Bright Baby Tees will be my go to shower gift for new mom's, as well as, a great gift for JJ when he starts kindergarten next year.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM7d44eb268a656ba8bf731a62eb9156af">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson <a href="http://www.tomoson.com%22%3eproduct/ review</a> & <a href="http://www.tomoson.com%22%3egiveaway%3c/a> Disclosure.

Ionic Water and Glass Water Bottles

image source

While on the HCG Diet I am drinking ionic water and loving it!  Iconic water has many added benefits including releasing excess body fat and stored toxins, normalizing blood pressure, supporting health colon function, resolving urinary tract infections, reducing chronic pain, providing tons of antioxidants.

I actually went into the local Naturopath yesterday and sampled 3 different waters: tap and two different ionic waters.  They store owner put a device in the waters.  The tap water was +400 for bad stuff (oxidants of some sort... to be honest I do not understand it all completely).  Ionic water #1 was -200 meaning it had that amount of antioxidants in the water.  The second ionic water was -400.

I cannot praise ionic water enough.  I am NOT a water drinker... just do not like it.  It's hard to describe, but ionic water goes down more smoothly and your body begins to crave it.  With the amazing benefits it contains, there is no wonder!

You can physically see the difference in water clarity.  I know you can taste the difference.  My youngest tasted my water and asked why it was so yummy.  I told him it was a different water for my diet.  When he wanted a refill, I asked him to go to the fridge like normal and get filtered water.  He requested the new,  "better" water.

Now, that's an accomplishment.

Since the water is ionized you have to be careful of the containers in which you drink it from.  Stainless still is okay, but glass is a better option because some metal containers have a coating on the inside to keep the liquid from tasting metallic.  It is unknown at this time if the lining leaks BPA's or not... I did not know this.  Yikes.

Glass Water Bottles:

• Love Bottle... An old school bottle that can be personalized.  Super cute, though not the easiest to clean... tiny opening.  $18 for 1000ml
• Life Factory Glass Beverage Bottles... Wide mouth, silicone cover.  Not as cute, but very practical.  $22
• Glass Water Bottle... If you are looking for a traditional plastic bottle look and feel, here you go.   Holds 20 ounces.  $13.99
• Urban Glass Water Bottle...  The words "allow peace" are printed on the bottle.  100% recyclable, no toxic leaching, and leak proof lid.  Holds about 14 ounces.  $22
• Takeya Modern Glass Water Bottle with Silicone Sleeve... Very modern looking design.  Comes with a silicone sleeve in a variety of color options.  25 ounce capacity.  $25
• Kor Water - KOR ONE Hydration Vessel... Comes in a variety of colors.  Hinged lid and fits most cup holders.  Holds 25 ounces.  $30

  Happiness and health to you all.

Earth Friendly GDiapers

GDiapers are fabulous!  They are 100% biodegradable, flushable, and compost in about 50-60 days. The starter pack is $25, but the refills are very comparable to regular plastic diapers. (I wish these would have been in the local H.E.B. when my boys were younger.

With J being 3 years old, you probably wonder why I would invest in these wonderful diapers. Well, I am actually using them as his pampers right now.

Why not?

The are earth friendly and very comfortable. The actual reason for the switch though is going to be a little experiment of mine come spring break. If it works, these diapers were worth every penny and then some. If it doesn't, J gets to benefit from the continue use of a fabulous product.

Here is the plan. I really want J to be potty trained though he is adamant about not using the potty. During spring break while we are "home", I am going to put the GDiaper on J without the absorbent lining. That means when he does his business, it will sit on the plastic liner and be very yucky. I hope that this will encourage him to sit on the potty and attempt to use it as a BIG BOY would.

Now, I know this could get messy. I expect that he might get a little tinkle leakage down the leg. I am hoping that it is minimal.  Since this is an experiment I really don't know what to expect.

As for the poopy, I do not want to even imagine what I will be cleaning off the plastic liner. I think I will be able to handle the nastiness for a week though... if the outcome is NO MORE DIAPERS. I'll keep you posted on how this goes in March.

Going Green, PERIOD

Have you ever thought that you could go green in ALL areas of your life? I read this blog, NatureMom, and this woman is amazing. She has researched among many other things... green alternatives to the every day pad or tampon. Sounds interesting, huh. Well, upon looking at various websites I must say I am intrigued. Doesn't mean I am ready to switch, but I am researching.

Here are some of the sites to check out:

• Luna Pads
• Sckoon
• Sorella Luna
• Glad Rags: Glad Rags Color Pad 3-Pak (Assorted Colors)
• Diva Cup: Diva Cup Diva Cup #2 Post Childbirth, Cup

Still not convenience, but not quite opposed either.

Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent

I got an energy efficient washer and drier this year. It takes awhile to find laundry soap that does not irritate little Js skin due to his ichthyosis. Finding an nice HE detergent was difficult, but here are my favs:

Seventh Generation Blue Eucalyptus and Lavender

SELECT ACTIVE INGREDIENTS (copied from the Seventh Generation Site)

Plant-derived Cleaning Agents: Low-foaming, stain removing power for use in HE and standard machines

Water Softener: Removes water hardness to improve cleaning power

Non-animal Derived Enzymes: Premium-performance protein and starch stain removers (blood, grass, wine)

This product is formulated to be safe for your family and the environment. The ingredient combination is a non-toxic, non-irritating, hypoallergenic, biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based detergents.

AND

Mrs. Meyers Basil Laundry Detergent
(Lavender use to be my favorite until one day they were out. After using the Basil, I have a new favorite.)

Mrs. Meyers products are biodegradable and phosphate free, and made with natural essential oils. Mrs. Meyers also has fabric softener as well as other house hold cleaners. If you use the whole line of products you can use one scent throughout your entire house.

Neither of these products irritate Js skin and both smell great. The fact that they are made from natural ingredients is also a plus. I try to use as many natural products as possible to cut back on the amount of chemicals absorbed through Js skin. If you are looking for a more healthy, great smelling laundry solution, you should consider trying one of these.

Oraganic Soaps and Bath Fizzies

I just stumbled across a site that sales organic soap and bath sizzles. I looked the ingredients over and they appear to all be very nourishing and moisturizing.

Fraiche is a Texas based company owned by a self taught woman who has lots of gumption. She researched and experimented until she found the perfect combinations to make her company a success. I am really considering purchasing a sooth me bath sizzle to try out on Little J.

If you have a little one who has itchy, dry skin like mine does, check out the ingredient list. It does seem promising.
Read more...

Crayon Recycling

I was reading my Woman's Day magazine and found out that crayons spend a very long time in landfills. You can find out where to send you old or broken crayons to be recycled by checking out the website: Crazy Crayons. Please leave the wrappers on the crayons as it makes sorting by color at easier.

Read more...

Going Green... Period.

Have you ever thought that you could go green in ALL areas of your life? I read this blog, NatureMom, and this woman is amazing. She has researched among many other things... green alternatives to the every day pad or tampon. Sounds interesting, huh. Well, upon looking at various websites I must say I am intrigued. Doesn't mean I am ready to switch, but I am researching.

Here are some of the sites to check out:

• Luna Pads
• Sckoon
• Sorella Luna
• Glad Rags
• Diva Cup.

Still not convenience, but not quite opposed either.

Read more...

No More Baggies, Please

While searching for lunch boxes, I came across this site called Vegan Lunch Box. One of the posts was particularly interesting to me since I have been searching for a way to cut back on waste during family lunches. Click here to view her original post.

Below are all of the sites mentioned at Vegan Lunch Box to help reduce lunchtime waste.

No More Baggies, Please:

Reusable Snack Packs

Dajo Bags

Lunch Skins

Snack Taxi's

Wrap-in-Mat

There are so many cute, affordable alternatives out there. If they would actually sale some of these in local grocery stores, I bet more people would be willing to use them. It would cut back on waste and the use of plastics. Helping the environment can be easy and cost effective if we only do a little research. Every little bit helps.

Green Straws... Really?

I was reading one my favorite green mama's blogs and she is having a giveaway for the most fantastic straws EV-ER.

The straws are from a company called Strawesome. They come in various sizes and range from plain to decorative. And... drum roll please... they have a lifetime warranty.

I have been reading reviews from several companies that sale glass straws as well as mom's from other blogs that use them. The only negative comments that I have found are from people that have not tried the products. So these are on my wish list.

 

Alternatives to Plastic Straws:

glass dharma

corn straws (compostable)


stainless steel straws

10 Ways to Go Green

Seems like as I am reading lately more and more people are "going green". I wouldn't say that I'm a green momma by any means. But I do make little changes we can live with... a few at a time. Thought I would share what my family is doing and a few great finds I've stumbled across along the way.

1. I switched from paper towels to cloth napkins. Cloth napkins are extremely pricey, but I found some plain white ones at Target. I believe they were 12 for $10. Since Spring Break, we have lowered our paper towel consumption down to 1 roll every 6-8 weeks. There are times when I really would just prefer to use a paper towel, but for the most part we are using cloth napkins and hand towels. I went out this weekend and bought some fabric quarters. I plan to make some fun double sided cloth napkins when I find a free moments. I thought this would encourage us to use cloth napkins at work and school as well.

2. I have switched to biodegradable paper plates. I have used the kind made out of corn and out of potato. Both work well. I do not use these for every meal, but in a pinch they work perfectly. I have also stopped throwing them away after one use. I rinse them off and dry them. We use them 3-4 times before we throw them away.

3. We have switched over to using more natural laundry detergent and fabric softener. Here are some suggestions to try:

• Purex Natural Elements: I loved using this detergent. It is reasonably priced, smells great and does not irritate Little Js skin. If you do not have an HE washer, this is the way to go.
• Seventh Generation: Blue Eucalyptus & Lavender is my favorite. This detergent can be used in any kind of washer and is 2X concentrated. It is hypoallergenic and has a natural water softening agent. They also have a free and clear formula available.
• Mrs. Meyers Clean Day: This is the detergent we are currently using. It has natural ingredients and smells fantastic. I have used all of the fragrances and have not decided on a favorite. You can use this detergent in a regular washer or a HE. All Mrs. Meyer Detergents contain borax; therefore, they are excellent at fighting stains.

I almost forgot my favorite reason for using Mrs. Meyers. Mrs. Meyers has an entire line of cleaning products and you can use the same scent throughout your entire house.

4. I have been using half the recommended amount of laundry and dishwasher soap. I have also been using the shortest cycle to wash. I have not noticed a change in the cleanliness of my laundry or my dishes. The big plus... I am saving money because my detergents are lasting alot longer.

5. We bought a tankless water heater when we remodeled the kitchen. The water is no longer constantly heated. It is heated upon use. It takes a couple minutes to heat up, but it was well worth it.

6. Planting a garden has not provided us with the bounties I had hoped for due to Texas having record heat this summer. I will be planting another garden next summer with the intent of having fresh produce.

7. We bring our own bags to the store. I keep a couple in the car for unscheduled outings. I do have the grocery store bag my meat in plastic though. I have not figured out a way to transport the meat home without it leaking. I reuse the bags though during dinner that night. I throw all my trash into the bag during preparation and then discard of the bag once dinner is made.

8. I bought T Man the Laptop Lunch Box and I have the Vivo Square Bento Box. We plan on having a trash free lunch during the school year... especially by bringing our own cloth napkins and silverware. T Man also has a stainless steel water bottle. The only trash we should have would be on the days T decides to buy milk at school. I just do not trust milk in a container until lunchtime.

9. We no longer purchase individually packaged products. I buy in bulk and separate everything. This saves on throwing away the packaging as well as puts cash in our pockets. Prepackaged servings just cost more.

The above includes drinks. I try to not purchase juice boxes and individual drinks if possible. I prefer to by 2 liters, etc. and pour out the exact amount we want to drink. The saves on packaging and waste. My boys tend to drink have a juice box and then run to get another one because the first one is either old or hot.

10. Composting: This is something I had full intentions of doing this summer, but did not get around to. With my garden not working out quite as planned. I decided to wait and try this next summer.

I have actually incorporated all things 1-9 into my life this past year. I did not make all the changes at one time. I started with one and added on as I became more comfortable. Until writing this post, I did not realize how much I have done on becoming more earth friendly. If you asked my family, they probably haven't even noticed the changes. I may be well on my way to becoming a green momma and I didn't even know it!

*I found a wonderful blog called Pretty Green Girl. You just have to go check out her blog to see what I mean.* 

Some Green Sites to Check Out:

• Baggu was by far my favorite. It has reusable bags in a variety of colors and sizes. Baggu has an adorable drawstring bag that holds up to 5 additional bags. This would make an excellent gift for any family or friend that might be venturing into a more green lifestyle. Oh, don't forget to look at the mesh produce bags... perfect for the grocery store or local farmers market.
• Twist Clean: Bamboo cloth at its finest. You find anything from kitchen scrubbers to euro sponges... biodegradable, cleaning wonders.
• Love For Earth: A earth loving mommy sales tons for snack sacks, cloth napkins, etc on ETSY. Let's just say organic and super cute.
• Envirosax: Eco friendly reusable sacks. They have a variety of designs. Check out the super cute kid sacks... bright and friendly.
• Piggy Paint: Non-toxic, odorless, kid friendly nail polish. What more needs to be said.
• Life Without Plastics: Tons of products to help remove plastics from your life.
• Reusable Bags: Choose from a wide variety of reusable bags. Really just too many to choose from.

Eco Finds

I am always on the look out for environmentally friendly products to use in my household. 

Here are my recent finds:

Yesterday's New Colored Pencils: A pack of colored pencils made from recycled newspapers. On sale now for $2.49 at the Container Store.

Shark Steam Mop: The perfect mop for hardwood or laminate floors.  There are no harsh chemicals needed... only tap water.   The microfiber pads are machine washable so you will not need to constantly replace them.  Online for $99.80.  I believe I saw it at Target for $70 something last week.

Shark Navigator: Never lose suction with this carpet and bare floor vacuum.  Great for removing pet hair.  Bagless design with filters that will last the lifetime of the vacuum. Weights a mere 15 pounds.  Online price of  $99.80.

Eco-Friendly Flip Flops: Made from a true latex that is tapped from a sustainable tree.  Shipped in a reusable organic cotton drawstring bag.  100% vegan. $8 plus shipping.  Order flip flops 1 size larger than normal.

Olive Low Top Sneaker:  This Converse style shoe is made of 100% organic cotton and sustainable rubber.  $54.

Handmade Yo-yo Dolls:  Perfect baby shower or children's gift.  Handmade from fabric sewn into segmented petals.  Choose from a bear, rabbit, or elephant.  Comes in small and large size.  $25-$50.

Wipe Wipes Redefined: Reusable Cleaning Cloth Set:  Set of 8 clothes made from biodegradable natural cotton and wood based cellulose pulp.  Using just one cloth is like using 15 rolls of paper towels.  Each cloth can absorb 15 times it weight and is super fast drying.  Microwave and wash to keep germ free.  $12

Recycle Bins

I have been searching the net for recycle bins.  I would prefer not to spend too much money, yet I want a set of recycle bins that will last a long time.  Finding these two qualities in the same bin has been a difficult search.

I went to IKEA yesterday and found the perfect recycle bins for $9.99 each... small, black, with handles. 

Now, I need to go to the recycling center and take photos of the various recyclables to adhere to the outside of each bin.  I want to make sure that my whole family can easily place the items to be recycled in the correct bin without my assistance... yeah, right!  I'll let you know how that goes.

Anyways, I bought a few other items to organize various others areas in the house.  I will let you know how that  goes when I get to that step.

Other Options...

(**based on product descriptions, price, and reviews**)

1.  3 opening stackable recycle bin: $80... slim line and stackable, beige color, removable drawers, foot pedal to open lowest drawer

2. set of 4 recycling bags: $30... each bag is a different color for sorting recyclables, convenient handles and strong construction, makes taking materials to the recycling center a breeze

3.  plastic, stackable recycling bins: $20 per bin... extra $2 charge for less than 3 bins in same color purchased,  7 gallon capacity, stackable, saves space, can purchase in a variety of colors for easy sorting

4.  set of 3 recycling bags: $14.95... made of polypropylene, connect together with a velcro tab on each side for the bag for stability, comes in 3 different colors for easy sorting

Eco-Bags

ACME Earth Totes: very sturdy... will last for years... black or khaki

EcoBags: tons of reusable bags to choose from... check out the mesh produce bags

Baggu was by far my favorite. It has reusable bags in a variety of colors and sizes. Baggu has an adorable drawstring bag that holds up to 5 additional bags. This would make an excellent gift for any family or friend that might be venturing into a more green lifestyle. Oh, don't forget to look at the mesh produce bags... perfect for the grocery store or local farmers market.

Envirosax: Eco friendly reusable sacks. They have a variety of designs. Check out the super cute kid sacks... bright and friendly.

Reusable Bags: Choose from a wide variety of reusable bags. Really just too many to choose from.

Soap Nuts?

SoapNuts? What the heck are those?

SoapNuts are the fruit of a tree that can actually be used to clean your laundry. They are low sudsing, so they work great with HE washers as well.

Here are just a few of the practical uses.  I copied them directly from the website.

• Laundry
• Green Dish Soap
• Green Jewelry Cleaner
• Chemical Free Glass/Window Cleaner
• Car Wash
• Toilet/Sink/Shower Cleaner
• Wall Cleaner
• Cloth Diaper Cleaner
• Organic Hand Soap
• Soapnut Shampoo
• Fungus Deterrent
• Child-Safe Mosquito Repellent (Great for small, home gardens)
• Pet Cleaner
• Door knob Cleaner
• Biodegradable Camping Soap
• Fruit and Vegetable Cleanser .

SoapNuts Benefits:

• They are by nature 100% natural.
• organic and really gentle... Great for people with young children or sensitive skin.
• They are completely biodegradable.
• antimicrobial... You can use them with a septic or grey-water system.
• You can add essential oil to a cotton cloth and place it in the washer or drier to add fragrance to you laundry.
• & There is a no risk guarantee... if you don't like SoapNuts, you get your money back!!

** The above information was obtained from the SoapNuts site.**

Waste Free Lunch Boxes

The Klip It Lunch Cube is a steal at only $5.  I found mine at the Container Store this weekend.  I love that it comes in a variety of colors.  I bought 3.  I have each one packed and ready to go for the morning.  All I have to do is make the sandwiches.

Now, on to the positives to this cute little cube:

• It is plastic which I am not thrilled with, but at least the plastic is BPA free. 
• This container is also safe to be placed in the freezer, dishwasher (top rack) and microwave.
• Don't forget the variety of colors helps to make sure each member of the family picks up the right lunch every day.

The Slimline Quaddie Lunch Box is also a great deal at only $10.  This item was also found at the Container Store.  It is a bit bigger than the Lunch Cube, so this time I only bought one.  I really wanted pink, but settled for lime green encase any of the boys needed a larger lunch one day.

Here are the pros to this bigger lunch box:

• BPA free
• microwave and dishwasher safe
• holds more food (obviously)
• has a small water bottle and storage spot
• water bottle can be removed to allow for more food storage
• each compartment has an individual lid
• the bottom section is very large (It could hold a ton of salad.).

I think this would definitely be the better of the two choices if your kids are older.  I debated on getting T Man the larger one just because it seems he is always hungry lately.

Laptop Lunches: We have this fantastic lunch box and it is wonderful.  I love the little containers to separate all T Man's little goodies.  I like that one of the containers has a lid.  If I was to purchase it again, I would get the newer version that has one large and 2 small containers instead though.  It is hard to put a sandwich in the medium size compartment... $25 for the Bento 2.0

* I found a Bento 2.0 on sale for $19 here.

Shop Green Life:  Has two different lunch box systems for $30 a piece... the Go Green Lunch Box System is much like a Laptop Lunch Box except it does not have individual containers... the "laptop" has the containers built in

Yubo: what a fun way to pack a lunch...$30 for the entire lunch box system (lunchbox and containers)

*I love that you can change the face plate on the lunchbox as often as you would like.  You can also personalize the lunchbox as well as have a family photo as the face plate.  fun... fun... fun!

Goodbyn:  this all in one system seems perfect... pack an entire lunch without any additional containers to wash... comes with an 8.5 ounce drink container...$30

*Love that they have a containers for younger children to decorate as silly monsters, crazy characters, etc.  AND they have a container without the stickers and ears for those older kids that are just too cool for the fun.

Eco Lunch Boxes: these have got to be some of the cutest lunch sacks yet... little girls would love these... $50 gets the entire system... $35 gets just the sack and 3 matching napkins/placemats

Planet Box: stainless steel lunch tray with magnetic interchangeable designs... $15 for tray... $50 for tray and 2 food containers... $60 for a lunch bag, tray, and 2 food containers

*I like that you can change the magnetic design.  For $4, you can purchase an additional set of designs and use the same lunch box for both a boy and a girl.

Easy Lunch Boxes:  for under $15 you get 4 eco friendly plastic lunch containers... one large compartment and two smaller ones... for an additional $8 you can purchase a lunch bag

*The price is right on this lunch box system.  With 4 containers, you can have one in the wash and pack one of the leftovers or you can feed multiple kids.  The different colored lids makes differentiating between lunches a breeze.

Lunch Sense: big enough to hold a six pack of canned drinks...medium size lunch box...$40... contains: (1) 19 ounce food container, (2) 6 ounce containers, a 1 ounce container (great for dips), an 8 ounce drink bottle, an ice pack, and the carrying bag

*I love that the carrying bag actually unfolds to make the perfect place mat.  No more worrying about where your child will lay down the cheese stick while taking a drink.

Go Green in Stages: buy the pieces separately or as an entire lunch system... compac or full size...$60 for a compac square container lunch system

*Love the square stainless steel containers and the addition of a hot thermos.

Kids Konserve: Buy the entire lunch ensemble in one place... lunch bag, napkin, water bottle, containers, baggies, etc... $45

*Love that this is easy to open and close for the kidlets and it comes as a complete set.

Lunch Bots: stainless steel containers from $13- $17

Litter Free Lunch:  purchase stainless steel lunch bot containers, stainless steel water bottles, and more

*I love the napkins, but not the price.  You can get 12 white cloth napkins at Target for $10... a much better deal.

One Small Step: tons of reusable lunchware from various companies... sets made up of some of the best products on the market sold together to give you a entire waste free lunch experience

*This site has cloth napkins for the cheapest I have found anywhere... $6 for 6.

Reusable Bags: has tons of different manufacturers in one location

*One lunchbox system I found that was not previously listed and is reasonably priced happens to be the Light My Fire Meal Kit...$20

Klean Kanteen: stainless steel drink containers

Bento Lunch Boxes sold by amazon

Lunchville: different systems to choose from

*I loved that they had some eco-friendly choices for mom.  There are several really cool purse-like bags to choose from.  I think I will be adding one of these to my wish list.