Fisher-Price Recalls Children's Trikes Due to Risk of Serious Injury

Fisher-Price Recalls Children's Trikes Due to Risk of Serious Injury

Go Green with other Green Bloggers!

Welcome to the Wednesday GREEN BLOG HOP!

For "Green" Blogs or "Green" Sites Only - Even if you're just starting out!  This is a great way to not only build your followers but also to find other bloggers in our Green Community and learn more about living more Eco-Friendly.

The purpose of creating this blog hop was not to create yet another general hop, but to help network bloggers who have taken the initiative to go green for the purpose of education and continuing efforts of saving our planet - one home at a time. We will be monitoring the blogs and will delete those that are not deemed somewhat green.

* PLEASE make sure to put the button on your site and make a quick blog entry - otherwise we will not be reaching the most number of people that would be interested in networking


<center><a href="http://www.jonathanandmelanie.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7924/greenrecycleimg.jpg" /></a></center>


* Follow the blogs of the ladies in the top three spots :

* Link your green blog to the MckLinky below
* Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! If someone follows you, it is common courtesy to follow back. Leave them a message in their comment box so they know you are following.

Please remember to create a blog posting including the button after linking up - Please - It's the best way to get the word out about Going Green!

Please leave me a comment and tell me one thing that you are doing at home to be more Green.

Happy Green Wednesday!

Amazon's Manager's Specials & a Blog Hop

I just wanted to share a few great deals from Amazon.com - Manager's Specials.  Save even more when you purchase these items using Amazon's Subscribe and Save program:

• Newman's Own Organic Pretzels as low as $15.78 for 12 bags
• Plum tots as low as $10.14 for 6 pouches
• Health Valley Crackers as low as $10.88 for 6 boxes (Organic Whole Wheat or Low-Fat Cracked Pepper)
• Arrowhead Mills Gluten-Free Pizza Crust mix as low as $18.99 for 6 boxes

For more great deals

on Amazon.com, go to:  Save on Organic Grocery!

 

 

Want more followers or just want to follow some new blogs? Hop on the Tuesday Blog Hop!

Click below:

Environmentally Friendly Dishwashing

I wanted to use a more environmentally friendly automatic dishwashing detergent and tried a few different brands. I wasn't pleased with the results of some so when I found Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Automatic Dishwashing Packs on Amazon.com, I thought I would try it. Before this, I was already in love with Mrs. Meyer's Basil Hand Soap so I knew I would like the scent. These dishwasher "packs" are little packaged pillows containing just the right amount of detergent for a normal sized dishwasher. The plastic coating degrades during the first phase of the wash cycle. The end result? My dishes come out clean, every time! And smelling nice too! The Basil scent is not strong at all and not an overpowering basil smell - it's more of a clean, lightly herbal smell and very refreshing. The scent does not linger on the dishes - you really can only smell it when the dishwasher is running, and it's kinda like aromatherapy for the kitchen! As for the cleaning power, these do a great job on everyday dirty dishes although I usually rinse off most dishes if I know I am not going to run the dishwasher that day. It does a great job with all my coffee mugs and oils on dishes from salad dressings and sauces.

What I really like about this product is that the company that makes them is environmentally responsible using only ingredients that are safe for the earth as well as people and animals.

From Mrsmeyers.com website for this product:

"PRODUCT INGREDIENTS ARE AT LEAST 97% NATURALLY DERIVED.
INGREDIENTS: Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carbonate Peroxide, Sodium Silicate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrated Silica, Linear Alcohol Ethoxylate, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Oil, Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Seed Oil, Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) Seed Oil, Protease, Amylase, Fragrance"

"Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day philosophy is to make straightforward, honest cleaners that smell good and work like the dickens on dirt. All of our cleaning products are made with natural essential oils, are biodegradable and packaged in recyclable materials, and we never test on animals."

Best of all, Amazon.com sells these dishwasher packs at almost $2.00 less per pack than suggested retail price if you purchase them with their Subscribe and Save program. Manufactured price is $7.99 ea - buying them through Amazon you get 6 packs (normally $43.14 which breaks down to $7.19 each) for $36.67 with Subscribe and Save, so it breaks down to $6.11 each! That's a great savings and the best price I have found! Plus, for something you know you will need every month, it's good to have them on hand for when you run out, and you can also have them automatically shipped at regular intervals without doing anything! Perfect for the busy family! I highly recommend this product!

Other Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products you might like (remember to use Subscribe and Save to save 15% off the prices listed - click on any of the links in this blog to purchase):

Healthier Options for Trick or Treaters

Since Halloween is fastly approaching, I thought I would do a series on Eco-friendly ideas for my favorite holiday!  The other night I attended a Twitter party for Green Halloween, hosted by @EcoChicParties, @EcoMom and @Greenhalloween, and some of the discussions were about better trick or treat options.  Everybody loves chocolate and candy and it wouldn't be Halloween without them but our kids really don't need to be overloaded with that much sugar and artificial flavors/colors.  We can't escape the candy but we can offer other types of goodies that the kids will like.  I thought I would list a few things that I have found that are healthier or greener for kids.  If you have suggestions as well, please leave a comment - it would be great to hear what other people are doing.

Sweets:

Annie's Homegrown Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks are yummy, certified organic, made with real juice and contain 100% RDA of Vitamin C.  The small pouches only have 10g of sugar, so this is a good "candy" option that the younger kids will love - my 4y.o. and 19month kids really love them!  Amazon sells these in bulk - 4 boxes of 5 pouches each.  Save an extra 15% when you sign up for Subscribe and Save (about $3.50 a box - cheaper than Whole Foods and Drugstore.com).


Another of my kid's favorite treat is Annie's Homegrown Organic Bunny Graham Friends and Honey Bunny Graham. The Bunny Graham Friends are a collection of bite-sized bunny shaped honey, chocolate and chocolate chip graham cookies.  And with only 8g of sugar per serving and 20% of the RDA of Iron and Zinc, I'm happy giving these to my kids.  I always buy the large box (less waste) but the individual packets make it perfect for Halloween!  I did a price check at my local Whole Foods and found Amazon's price for bulk boxes so much less expensive!  A 6 pack of boxes (each containing 6 pouches) is ONLY $13.67 with the Subscribe and Save discount!  That is $.38 a pouch!  Works for me! 

Salty Snacks:

A good organic option for salty kids snacks for trick or treaters is Annie's Homegrown Cheddar Bunnies.  These taste similar to goldfish, but better!  They are baked so they are not greasy or high in fat.  They have 0g of sugar, 0g of Trans Fats and only 150 calories per serving.  Amazon sells them in bulk - 6 packs of 6-count boxes.  Each pouch is 1 oz.  Their price is $20.57 but with Subscribe and Save, the price drops to $17.48 - that's $0.48 per pouch!

If you buy two Annie's products, get a free Kid's Konserve cotton lunch sack by filling out the form found here.  Fill out the online form and provide UPC codes from any two packages of Annie's Homegrown products. Use UPC's 013562000456 and 013562302109 if you don't have Annie's products on hand. (Thanks, Freebie Junkie!)


Pirate's Booty is another fun snack that is made from all natural ingredients.  My favorite is the Aged White Cheddar - they are not only yummy but are Trans fat, Cholesterol and gluten free, and are 130 Calories per serving with 50% Less fat than regular potato chips.  The Veggie flavor are also good - my kids like these ones.  I like them because they have some nutritional value - 30% Vitamin A, 15% Vitamin C and Calcium, and 4% Iron (and no sugar).  They are made with Corn Meal, Rice, Organic Soy Flour, Rice and/or Sunflower Oil, Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Carrot, Broccoli, Parsley, and Sea Salt.  Amazon's price with Subscribe and Save is $11.91 for 24 1oz bags - that's about $0.50 a bag!

I will post more ideas soon but feel free to leave me comments on what kinds of healthier snacks you give to your trick or treaters or for parties.

Amazon's Friday Sale

Today Only! Save a bundle on coffee (Starbucks included!), organic cereal and rice bread plus much more: Amazon's Friday Sale 9/17/10

Here are a few of the deals:

Organic Milk on the Go!

I have been ordering Organic Valley White Lowfat Milk 8-ounce cartons from Amazon for over a year now and they have become a staple on our pantry shelf. They provide a very convenient way to give my kids a healthy, organic beverage in their lunches or on the go. I even take them to work with me! I really like the taste - this milk is slightly creamier than regular milk and my kids love it because to them it is like a "milkshake".  Children (and adults) need more vitamin D and calcium in their diets and milk is essential in a healthy diet.  Giving kids a milk box instead of juice box in their lunch is a great way to help them get half of their daily need of milk.  One single serve carton of Organic Valley White Lowfat Milk is 8 oz, and contains 110 calories, 2.5g fat, 8g protein, 25% of recommended daily amount of Vitamin D, 30% of Calcium, 20% Vitamin B12 and 10% Vitamin A.

These milk boxes are produced with aseptic techniques so they do not require refrigeration.  From Organic Valley's website: "Ultra-pasteurization and revolutionary aseptic packaging give this delicious and nutritious beverage its incomparable versatility and freshness. Because they don’t require refrigeration, our shelf-stable milks strike the optimal balance between nutrition and convenience."  So these single serving boxes are perfect for lunches, camping, backpacking, day trips, car trips, or anywhere on the go!

What I really love is the fact that it is organic and hormone free - something I am paying more attention to lately and looking for when buying dairy and meat products. Organic Valley is a company that cares about it's farmers, animals and it's consumers. Their products do not contain pesticides, non-natural fertilizers, synthetic growth or breeding hormones, antibiotics or GMO's (genetically modified organisms). They care about their animals and the land that they graze. When you purchase their products, you can feel good about what you are serving your family and you are supporting farmers who care as well.

A little more about Organic Valley:

• They are a cooperative farmer-owned, Wisconsin based company with co-op farmers across the U.S.
• They have been organic and farmer owned since 1988
• They treat their animals very humanely
• They have and continue to take steps towards sustainable farming, producing, and trading

Amazon.com sells this product at a great price (lower than at my local natural food stores and even large chain stores). I save even more by ordering this through Subscribe and Save - I save an additional 15% AND have the milk delivered to my door every month (you can have it delivered every 1, 2, 3, or 6 months and if you run out and need more you can have it sent on demand!) If you are a busy parent, this is an incredible convenience and I highly recommend ordering this and other commonly used items through Amazon's Subscribe and Save!

So do your kids a favor and send them off with an Organic Valley milk box and feel better about what they are putting into their body!

Amazing New Amazon Mom Program

OK so if you know me or have been reading my blogs, you know that I am a very loyal Amazon.com shopper and fan!  I have an Amazon.com Prime membership (SO worth it if you shop often and want free 2-day shipping all the time!) and for several years now I have had their credit card, which has probably the BEST rewards benefits - 1 point for every dollar spent on anything / anywhere, 2 points on grocery and drugstore purchases, and 3 points for every dollar spent on Amazon.com AND you can actually choose to cash in points for items or a gift card or even have a check sent to you  (I'll write more on this later when then unveil their new benefits that I heard about)!

Today I received an email from Amazon asking if I would be interested in joining their Amazon.com Mom program, created just for parents and caregivers.  I just had to share this with you all because this is just a great membership for parents! Membership includes special discounts and savings and allows you to earn FREE Prime membership by making purchases.

Here are the details:

30% off select diapers and wipes: As an Amazon Mom, you receive an additional 15% discount on top of the standard 15% discount on select diapers and wipes when you sign up for Subscribe & Save delivery.
• FREE Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime: When you join Amazon Mom, you will receive FREE Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime for the first 3 months of your membership. For each $25 you spend within a single order in the Baby store, we’ll grant you an additional month of Amazon Prime shipping benefits. You can earn up to one year from the date you joined Amazon Mom.
• Exclusive e-mail discounts and offers

There is no cost to join –simply sign into your Amazon account and tell us whether you are a Mom, Dad, or other caregiver of a child. By providing some optional information about your family, you can help us personalize offers, e-mails, and product recommendations to help you find exactly what you need at just the right time.

Membership Benefits
"There is no minimum purchase requirement to be an Amazon Mom member. If you join Amazon Mom, you will receive FREE Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime for the first 3 months of your membership. For each $25 you spend within a single order in the Baby store, we’ll grant you an additional month of Amazon Prime shipping benefits. You can earn up to one year of Amazon Prime shipping benefits from the date you joined Amazon Mom. We may choose to extend this free offer for more than one year. With Amazon Prime, you will be entitled to FREE Two-Day shipping and $3.99 per unit One-Day shipping on all eligible purchases. The automatic renewal provisions in the Amazon Prime Terms & Conditions (which would require you to pay for Amazon Prime) do not apply to this membership, even if we decide to extend the free Amazon Prime shipping offer beyond one year. Amazon Mom members will also be entitled to discounts and promotions, which we will communicate to you via e-mail or make available on the Amazon Mom membership page at Amazon.com Mom."

So if you are a parent or caregiver, like to save money, get free shipping and baby/kid products delivered right to your door - then I suggest you check out this program and become a member!

Click here: Amazon.com Mom

Don't forget to save up to 30% on Amazon.com Back to School Savings - hurry: only through September 11, 2010!

Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies

My son Shea wanted to make cookies today - we often bake together on the weekends and today we really went all out!  First he got out a bunch of bowls, measuring cups, spoons and a whisk and started talking like he was on a cooking show.  I tried to get it on video, but as usual, was not fast enough and he didn't want to be on camera anymore.  Then we made a batch of corn muffins but afterwards he really wanted to make cookies too, so I looked around to see what we had on hand to decide what kind of cookies to make.  We had 3 over-ripe bananas and lots of oatmeal so I thought that would be good.  I also remembered I had some dried organic wild blueberries and thought that would go really well.  So I took the Oatmeal Raisin cookie recipe from the Quaker Oats container and modified it.  The end result was really really yummy!

Here's the recipe:

• 2 sticks margarine or butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1-1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 cups quick oats, uncooked
• 1 cup dried wild blueberries

Heat oven to 350. Beat together margarine/butter and sugar until creamy then add eggs and vanilla and beat well.  Mix in bananas, stir, then add flour, baking soda and cinnamon and mix well.  Stir in oats and blueberries.  Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes.  Makes about 4 dozen (I make mine a little smaller for the kids so it makes about 5 dozen).
You can replace the dried blueberries with any other dried fruit like cranberries, raisins, currants, or chopped up dried apples.

Click on any of the green links in my blogs to purchase that item at a great price through Amazon.com.

Enjoy!

Happy Friday!

My son, dressed up as
Woody from Toy Story

It's finally Friday and the start of a long holiday weekend!  I am very excited to spend some quality time with the kiddos and hopefully spend a little time blogging!  We are also getting ready to start school next week - my 4 year old will be attending his second year at the West Side Preschool on 105th St.  He really loves it there and has made some really great friends.

So to get ready for school, we bought a new Kids Konserve Insulated lunch bag (which I should receive tomorrow so I will write a review for you all on my site) as well as their Waste-free lunch kit that comes with  2 stainless steel food containers and a water bottle, sandwich wrap and napkin in a handy canvas bag.  Since my son really wanted the Beach lunch bag, I'll use the canvas one for my own lunch.

We also stocked up on his lunch favorites:
Organic Valley Milk
Annie's Homegrown Organic Snack Mix
Annie's Homegrown Bunny Graham Friends
Annie's Homegrown Berry Patch Bunny Fruit Snacks
Pure Bars variety pack - good for adults too!

Don't forget to use the 15% savings codes when ordering these items, found in my previous blog post - good until September 11, 2010.  Plus you can save another 15% when you sign up for Subscribe and Save!
OVALL454 for Organic Valley items
ANNIES55 for Annie's items

Hope you have a great weekend!