Julie with Caboose Cloth ~ Custom Wipes Giveaway

I am very excited to announce the opening of a new Etsy store!

Caboose Cloth! Don't you love the name and slogan?

This store was opened my bbf (best blogger friend) Julie from A Year with Mom and Dad.

"I grew up with a mother who taught "home ec," so I was taught to sew at a young age. I mostly like to sew quilts. But when I started cloth diapering and saw all the fun cloth wipes out there, I decided to try making my own! A few friends encouraged me to sell them."

These are my favorite wipes in her store. Not only are they cute and Christmas-y but they are MINKY!

Do you have any MINKY wipes?

No? Well you need to grab these! Christmas is almost here!

Julie does have a few already made sets of wipes in her store (and they are VERY reasonably priced!) but she thought it would be more fun if she focused on "Custom Wipes". You get to choose Size, Fabric, & Material. These are some of your choices but I know she would work with you if you had your own ideas too!

 
                     approx. 18 fabric combos

flannel / flannel


flannel / Birdseye


flannel / terrycloth


5x7" wipes

8x8" wipes - her "oversized' wipes

Balancing between being a good mom to her 9 month old, writing her blog, and keeping up with her many activities, Caboose Cloth will be a more laid back, sew to have fun, kind of store where she can take her time to customize what you are looking for.

Here is P'Diddy with the sample of wipes Julie made for us. Do you see my alligators? Love 'em! We'll use them to wipe up his mess that he is making with his cracker! My wipes are also washcloths and napkins for school lunches.

She has fun dabbling with different projects and recently sold her first Crayon Roll! Yay!

One of my favorite conversation topics with Julie is living more naturally. Here are her thoughts on being a Crunchy Mama...

"I used to call myself “crunchy” in jest when I would buy something organic, or avoid chemicals, or worry about garbage and plastics. However, since I’ve become a mom, a concern for the world my children will grow up in has led me to consider my habits. I am probably more “crunchy” now that I’m a mom. I don’t call myself a tree-hugger or a hippie; instead I like to call myself “resourceful” though, because I believe in making the best use of the resources God gave us. Our world is full of wonderful materials that we can enjoy, create, and use things from, but it’s our responsibility to exercise wise stewardship of our resources. Wastefulness is not an option or a good character trait. So, my focus is on reducing waste (of resources, time, energy)… although I am far from perfect at this and some days are better than others! I also have become a big fan of “upcycling,” which I sort of did all my life and didn’t know it had a name!

As far as “crunchy motherhood” goes, I support homebirth but am too afraid to try it yet, I (finally) love breastfeeding, and I try to babywear (but I get tired). I am a huge fan of cloth diapering. But there is no way I or my hubby could sleep if our very active 9 month old slept in bed with us, so no co-sleeping for us. I visit a regular doctor and a homeopathic to try to bring some balance to our medical needs, but mostly we focus on prevention through healthy eating habits and lifestyle. My goal is to transition our family to a more organic and “locavore” lifestyle in the year to come in order to improve our health and well-being and support our community!"

Julie wants to celebrate the opening of her store by giving away a set of 6 Wipes.
WIN and CUSTOMIZE how you want!

We want to support a new mama right? Let's give her some LOVE!

MANDATORY ENTRY
Like Caboose Cloth on Facebook ~ I bet she'd like some lovin' on her wall!

Please leave your email once if not in your profile

EXTRA ENTRIES

Visit Caboose Cloth on Etsy and Heart <3

Purchase from Caboose Cloth (those Christmas Wipes need a home!) ~ 5 entries!

Become a Google Friend on Julie's Blog ~ you'll love reading her posts and entering her giveaways!

Follow Crunchy Beach Mama by becoming a BeachBum through Google Friend or Faceback 

~ easy right sidebar widgets ~ 1 entry each

Enter another Cloth Christmas Giveaway

I was not compensated in any way for the post and all opinions are my own. This giveaway will end on December 21, 2010 at 10:00pm EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to anyone in US/Canada and you must be 18 years of age or older.

Zuvo Water Filtration System Giveaway

I love drinking water! That is, clean, good tasting water. We've had a Brita filter for years. And everyday - multiple times a day - I have to refill it. Having a water system hooked up to our sink was a dream for us because we wanted a "good" one if were going to splurge to buy one. As you probably understand, I was more than excited when Zuvo wanted me to review their system!

Here is some great info that Zuvo wants me to share with you:

With all the concern about unsafe chemicals in our tap water, Moms are concerned about finding solutions to this important problem; especially when it comes to making formula, for cooking and hydrating ourselves and our kids.

What's the solution?

The new Zuvo Water Filtration System delivers cleaner and healthier water direct from your tap that leaves no carbon footprint. It's all recyclable too. The Zuvo is telegenic and amazing to watch, you see your tap water bubbling in a blue UV light and getting cleaner before your eyes.

Now just in time for the holidays Zuvo Water (www.zuvowater.com) is introducing its new Zuvo 150 Water Filtration System. Priced at less than $150 — a fraction of other automated water filtration systems — this is the low-cost high-volume easy to install home water filtration system that everyone has been waiting for! It's elegantly designed, high tech and easy to use.

Trust Your Tap Again

Tap water safety is a number one concern for our health and fitness. This year, the President’s Anti-Cancer Panel specifically recommended home water filtration for tap water. The Zuvo Water Filtration System makes tap water safer and more delicious for the whole family to drink… and, unlike pitcher water systems, offers UNLIMITED fresh water!

Now the entire family can enjoy all the clean fresh water they want all year round.

What It Does

Zuvo’s UV/Ozone filtration system reproduces nature’s photo-oxidation cleansing process, filtering impurities and reduces microorganisms, while preserving your water’s natural and healthy mineral content and adding fresh oxygen, giving it a delicious “pop”. It’s this “something extra” that makes users choose Zuvo over ordinary tap or bottled water every time!

About Zuvo 150 Water Filtration System

• Easily installed above counter to a standard (threaded) faucet or under-counter connected directly to a Zuvo Beverage Faucet

• Uses 8w UV bulb; requires less energy than a toaster

• ½ gallon-per-minute flow rate

• Filter life of 400 gallons

• Retails at $149.99

Hubby easily hooked ours up. We rent so ours had to stay on top the counter (something about screws and holes, Hubby tried to explain to me, if it was to go underneath) which ended up being okay because now we get to watch it work! The Zuvo turns a bright blue as it filters the water to the faucet.

So here it is by itself...

And here it is when you easily pull the switch at the faucet..

Cool huh?! I love how easy it is for the kids to use. They love it too!

I was amazed by this picture...this was what I was using before...

I knew I was doing my part in helping the environment by not using plastic bottles but FILTERS? It didn't even cross my mind.

So the bottom line is...you need a Zuvo too!!

WIN a Zuvo Water Filitration System!

$150 Value!

MANDATORY ENTRY ~ one entry total

Tell me why you need a Zuvo System!

AND

Be a BeachBum ~ Google Friend OR Facebook ~ easy sidebar widgets to follow!

*Please leave email once if not in profile*

EXTRA ENTRIES ~ one for each

Follow Zuvo on Facebook

Be a BeachBum ~ Google Friend AND Facebook

Follow CBM on Twitter & Tweet 'WIN a Zuvo Water Filtration System $150 Value! @crunchybchmama http://tiny.cc/p6022 #green #giveaway'

Get CBM in your Email when I have a new post ~ top-ish right sidebar

Eco-Friendly & Frugal's blog has a Zuvo for you to win too!
Enter hers and give yourself an extra entry!

http://www.ecofriendlyandfrugal.com/2010/12/zuvo-water-filter-review-and-giveaway.html

Zuvo Water sent me a water filtration system for this review but I was not compensated in any way for the post and all opinions are my own. This giveaway will end on Dec. 17, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to anyone in the US and you must be 18 years of age or older.

Say No to the Flu Shot

We are not shot people. Especially the flu shot. It drives us CRAZY that every shop in town (Walmart, CVS, etc) you can just walk in and get the flu shot. People aren't educated to know that maybe they SHOULDN'T get it so when they see a banner out front advertising and a nurse at a table inside they think they HAVE to get it. It's such propaganda!

People should be informed about the risks they are taking, but even more important that there are VERY simple things people can do in their lifestyle to help from getting the flu in the first place.

If you hadn't had a chance to really research the flu shots I want to give you a list of great articles to help you see why the flu shot is NOT needed. There is soooo much that I could say about this topic that I thought it would just be easier to give you a few of my favorite articles that you can read on your own time.

I first want to link to the blog Eco-Babyz who gave me the idea for this post. She has a lot of great info.

Flu Vaccine Exposesd ~ What the shot itself is made of and why it is ineffective

How to Prevent the Flu...as easy as 1,2,3 ~ . FANTASTIC info on how to build up your immune system to stay healthy. Many times you THINK your symptoms are flu but probably just a common virus.

More People Skipping Flu Shot This Year ~ "Americans seem to be wising up about the flu shot scam..." is the first line. LOVE it!

Walgreens announces flu shot gift card; give the "gift" of a vaccine (opinion) ~ this article will definitely put a smile on your face. Hilarious! oh Walgreens...

So tell me ~ will you be getting the flu shot this year?

Winners & Next Event!

Winners! HUGE Congrats!

Soda Stream

Amorette said... 127 entered the strawsome giveaway!

(but you're so glad to have won this I bet! :)

Strawesome's Glass Straw

Angela said... 45 I love your emails
(and no she didn't win cuz she said that....love it :)

Hyena Cart's Rebel T/LC's tops/lids/covers

Lindsey said... 67 I follow through GFC & FB!

(one of my best BeachBums Lindsey is...she knows how to win :)

Hazenut Kids Bamboo Game
Cindy said... 61 Be a BeachBum Follower through Google Friend AND Facebook

YUP - done deal

(thanks Cindy glad you joined us during Plastics Week :)

$15 EcoMom.com

Rebecca O said... 90 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/bekki1820cb/status/9758678521487360

(tweets are greatly appreciated! :)

Now that Plastics Week is over I want to ANNOUNCE......

Cloth Christmas Week!

 December 6 - 10

Monday ~ Etsy's Caboose Cloth ~ Custom Wipes

Tuesday ~ Green Time Bags ~ Snack Bags & Napkins

Wednesday ~ My Baby's Green ~ Organic Baby Romper

Thursday ~ Babylegs ~ 2 'Legs, 2 Socks & Tights

Friday ~ ThanksMama ~ TotBots AIO Cloth Diaper

AND THIS FRIDAY ~ $150 Zuvo Water Filtration System!!

Holiday Deals at CSN!

There are sooooo many great products at CSN. It is the perfect place to get a lot of your shopping done! Did you know that they even have BIG items like tv tables? Or classy pieces like Waterford Crystal? And even Stainless Steel Water Bottles, just like we've been talking about lately! You can find almost anything!


I am excited to share with you these CSN sites that are offering exclusive savings at incredible discounted prices (promotional codes not excepted because the deals are that good!). Check them out!!


http://www.csnbaby.com/holidaydeals


http://www.everygameroom.com/holidaydeals


http://www.fitnessequipmentandmore.com/holidaydeals


http://www.toysandgamesonline.com/holidaydeals

 Are you going to Holiday shop with CSN this year?

Lyndsay with Ruby Moon Laundry Detergent Giveaway

I was ready for a new detergent. If you're like me, you have to mix things up a bit, change things around. Out with the old and in with the new. That is why I was happy to have found Lyndsay and Ruby Moon. Another crunchy mama that I could support. And she just doesn't market and have products for cloth diaper mamas, but to EVERYONE!

Read Lyndsay's story on how she got started..."I couldn’t find ANYTHING in the grocery store that didn’t cause my diapers to leak or (unbelievably) stink even worse!  Not to mention the negative ecological impact all those chemicals had on our environment! SO, as we all do I went online to purchase the premier cloth diaper detergent.  I was so excited to use their products! Until,that is, I read the ingredients. Half of the label was vague, industrial, chemical sounding words that frankly- sounded just like the detergent I was running away from.  When I contacted the companies, they refused to tell me what exactly was in their products.  I am all for protecting your product’s formula- but this is my baby! What touches her more than her cloth diaper! I needed to know what was in the product I was buying.  I was at an impasse.  I had REALLY stinky diapers and a baby whose skin was not too happy about the detergent we were using.  I had a decision to make: Give up cloth diapering or make my own detergent.  I chose the latter.  After months of research and lots of laundry, I came up with a concoction that is safe for my babies tender skin, safe for my cloth diapers, and ecologically friendly.  I began sharing the detergents with friends, family, and other cloth diapering Mamas. They all raved about how clean their diapers and clothes were and encouraged me to go into business.  Opportunity knocks only so many times before it moves on to someone who will listen, so I decided to listen to all my laundry detergent lovers.  With the help of my family and tester/snuggler extraordinaire, Ruby Grace, Ruby Moon Natural Laundry was born"

What I liked about Ruby Moon before I even tried the detergent was...

1) Her prices! $10.00 - $11.50 depending on which detergent and scent you choose.

2) She has two types of detergent - one for cloth diapers and the other made with soap.

3) Scents are made from essential oils and fragrances that are phthalate free!

4) I can use her Pail Powder for a deodorizer - clean carpets, shoe odor, whatever I want!

5) She makes Wipe Bits out of goat's milk!!

Lyndsay let me pick a scent to try. It was a hard decision....sweet clementine or lavender or.....I chose warm vanilla sugar. I don't think a detergent should even sound that good! But it didn't just sound good....it smelled soooo wonderful.

I was excited and a little nervous to try it. My diapers had never had another detergent used on them before, but if my diapers could talk I know they were telling me to try something new. They were starting to stink a bit more and leaving my dryer a bit smelly. They wanted a change.

They came out of the wash with smiles. A fresh clean scent. I've only used Ruby Moon for a few loads (and I use it on ALL my loads, not just diapers) so I haven't seen the long term effects yet but I am looking forward to cleaner, brighter laundry that is SAFE for all of us.

And the wipe bits I got to try too? Loooovvveeee them. They make diaper time so much nicer with their white tea and ginger scent. I don't know how the rest of you do your wipes but I use a warmer so when I need a wipe or even just a moisturizing washcloth, I can easily grab one that is all ready for me.

WIN a $10 GC from Ruby Moon to buy a bag of detergent or whatever else you want to try!

MANDATORY ENTRY

Visit Ruby Moon and leave a comment about her awesome store!

AND

Be a BeachBum Google Friend OR Facebook Follower ~ easy sidebar widgets!

EXTRA ENTRIES

Like Ruby Moon on Facebook ~ I bet she'd appreciate some comment love!

Make a purchase from Ruby Moon until end of giveaway ~ 5 extra entries!

Be a BeachBum Google Friend AND Facebook Follower

Follow CBM on Twitter and Tweet ~ "WIN $10 to RubyMoon Natural Laundry Detergent - wipe bits, wool balls & more http://tiny.cc/ktyxn #giveaway #clothdiapers #green"

Subscribe to my Emails ~ my posts come right to your inbox! ~ right sidebar

Ruby Moon sent me a sample of detergent and wipe bits for this review but I was not compensated in any way for the post and all opinions are my own. This giveaway will end on December 21, 2010 at 10:00pm EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to anyone in the world and you must be 18 years of age or older.