Saturday, February 28, 2009

Johnson's Baby Products-Celebrating 50 Years of No More Tears

When both our boys were born, the hospital used Johnson’s Head-To-Toe Baby Wash for their baths, and sent us home with the rest of the bottle to use for their first baths at home. Those first baths at homes were quite an experience for us.

Initially, both boys HATED baths! They’d scream and scream and scream. It was a joint effort when it came to baths when our boys were newborns. DH & I were always worried about trying to get a good hold on their tiny, slippery bodies, or making sure the water wasn't too cold or too warm, but we never had to worry about the baby wash we used. We knew that our hospital trusted Johnson’s, and so could we.

We received generic store brands and even higher priced brands of baby wash as gifts, but some had weird fragrances, and some even caused DS1 to break out into a rash, so we were always most comfortable using Johnson’s Baby Wash.

These days we use both organic and natural bath products on our boys, as well as Johnson’s Head-To-Toe Baby Wash. We know that Johnson’s is a name we can trust, as they point out on their website: “We believe in giving every baby a healthy, happy start in life. For generations, we have been supporting families and hospitals alike with trusted products, expertise, and innovations.”

Thanks to
Mom Central, we received two new Johnson’s products to review that were introduced this year to help celebrate Johnson’s 50th Anniversary—the Head-to-Toe Foaming Wash and Baby Bubble Bath & Wash.

Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Foaming Wash (ARV $4.89 for 9 oz.) comes in a handy pump dispenser, and with a single pump you’ll get enough suds and lather to wash your baby without having to rub your bath mitts or washcloths together, so it makes bathtime a little easier.

Johnson’s Baby Bubble Bath & Wash (ARV $3.99 for 15 oz.) has a nice fragrance and can be used for both bubble baths and for washing your little one. As a bubble bath, it produced lots and lots of fun bubbles, and I thought it was great that it could also be used as a baby wash.

Both the Head-To-Toe Foaming Wash and the Baby Bubble Bath & Wash are soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and allergy- and dermatologist-tested, so you know they’ll be gentle on baby’s skin.

You can get more information on these and other Johnson’s products, as well access bathing tips and videos, by visiting Johnson’s
Baby Channel on YouTube where you can sign up for newsletters, get expert advice, and so much more.

Shop: You can purchase Johnson’s Baby products at retailers online and nationwide.

Savvy Savings: Visit
Johnson’s website or Johnson’s Baby Channel to print valuable coupons good towards the purchase of Johnson’s Baby products.

Johnson’s products have been around for many years in countless households. They were in my home when I was a baby myself, and they’re in my home now, as I use them on my own babies.


Do you have a special memory of using Johnson’s products when you were growing up, or of using them on your baby?

Thank you to Johnson's Baby for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Eve Organics

I’m pretty clueless when it comes to makeup. I don’t know what shades are best for me or how to apply it correctly (which is why I wear very little makeup). Thanks to Eve Organics, not only do I now have some great makeup that doesn't contain any bad-for-you ingredients, but I’m a little bit more knowledgeable about makeup in general.

According the website, “Eve Organics prides itself in supplying the finest organic skin care and cosmetic products. All of our products are free of chemicals, parabens, dyes, talc and other harmful ingredients. We choose to put the majority of our product cost into quality ingredients and, unlike most skin care and cosmetic companies, not into packaging. So, you may think our packaging isn't the flashiest, but what's inside is the best available.”

I was fortunate to try some really great Eve Organic skin care products in addition to the mineral makeup.

I received the Rejuv Skin Repair Cleanser (Try Me Size ARV $7.75), Clear & Fresh Moisturizing Toner (Try Me Size ARV $5.75), and Quantum Quencher Facial Moisturizer (Try Me Size ARV $10.95). Not only do these products smell good, but they are good for your skin as well. They contain natural and organic ingredients, as well vitamins that are beneficial for your skin. Use as part of your daily skin care regimen to end up with healthy, glowing skin.

I also received the Peppermint Lip Balm (ARV $4.95). I am an official lip balm addict, and this is another great lip balm I can add to my collection. It contains essential oil of peppermint so it smells great and leaves your lips feeling refreshed, as well as kissably soft.

The skin care products and lip balm are fantastic items, but Eve Organics’ mineral makeup is what I like best of all.

I received the Light Olive and Crème Brulee Foundations (ARV $24.95 each), the Joyful Blush (ARV $13.50), and a Handi Flat Top Brush.(ARV $17.95)

The Crème Brulee was a little too light for me, but the Light Olive was PERFECT. As I mentioned, I really don’t know much about makeup, and Eve Organics’ blog provides great tips on how to choose the right foundation as well as apply it correctly. Using the correct brush also makes a difference. For information on application techniques or how to choose the right shade, you can visit Eve Organics' blog and click on "Tips and Tricks."

Simply put, I was amazed at how this foundation made my skin look silky soft and smooth and helped to lessen the appearance of any imperfections (I have lots of sunspots). Since the foundation colors are concentrated, a little goes a long way. An added benefit is that the foundation also has “inherent sun protectant factors,” and living in Hawaii, I can use all the sun protection I can get.

The Joyful Blush was also a perfect shade—not too bold, but just right for my skin tone.

On Eve Organics, you can shop by product category or shop by collection (e.g. Clarity, Harmony, etc.). Visit their website to find out how you can get free samples, or get information on how you can join the Eve Organics Skin Care Club to get special discounts and samples available to club members!

Shop: You can purchase mineral makeup, skin care products, and more on the Eve Organics website. Note: Every quarter, Eve Organics will give 10% of its net profits to a different charity to help support people or communities in need.

Win: Eve Organics is generously sponsoring a giveaway of Mineral Makeup Foundation (ARV $24.95), winner’s choice of color.


***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Mommyhood is Thankless!
  • To enter, visit Eve Organics and comment on which product you like the best.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and
    Eve Organics
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on twitter (leave your twitter name in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is March 6, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
  • An eligible entry will be chosen by random.org as the winner; the winner will be notified via email on March 7, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.

Good luck!


Thank you to Eve Organics for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

LunchBots

A few months ago I read a magazine article on how plastic containers that our foods are packaged and stored in could leach toxic chemicals, and how even plastics that are considered safe were found to have traces of BPA. Of course this got me concerned, and I started to wonder what I should use to store DS1’s meals in. Through Mommy Go Green Blog Tours, I found out about how one company helped to address such concerns about food storage by creating LunchBots.

According to the website, “LunchBots was born – to create safe, usable, and fun containers both parents and kids would love.”

We were fortunate to receive both the LunchBot Uno and the LunchBot Duo (ARV $14.99 each) and I couldn’t wait to start packing some healthy meals and snacks in them for DS1.

The LunchBot Uno consists of one compartment and is great for your kid’s main meal, such as a sandwich, a wrap, or a salad. For sandwiches, depending on the type and size of bread, you may not be able fit the entire sandwich in the Uno without it getting squished (the bread we use is larger than the Uno), but for my little guy,it’s the perfect size since he only eats half a sandwich for lunch.

The LunchBot Duo consists of two compartments and is ideal for snacks and side dishes, such as pretzels, fruits, veggies, crackers, and more.

Both the Uno and Duo are generously sized and can hold enough food for your kid to eat a healthy, satisfying lunch and enjoy a delicious, nutritious snack. Since my little guy is still quite young, the LunchBot Duo is actually perfect for him—I can fit his main meal in one of the compartments, and his snack in the other.

The LunchBots are best for foods that can be refrigerated or stored at room temperature since you can’t heat the container up. It’s suggested that you only pack solid foods in the LunchBots since they’re not water tight, although they do seal solid foods in really well. DS1 is a toddler and he sometimes needs help opening his LunchBots (older kids should have no problem opening up the LunchBot), but I know that snacks and parts of his lunch will not fall out because the LunchBot stays tightly sealed.

The best thing about the LunchBot Uno and Duo is that they are made out of 100% stainless steel, so they do not leach chemicals and other toxins as plastic containers are known to do, and they have been certified and tested to be lead-free.

Shop: You can purchase the LunchBot Uno or the LunchBot Duo on the LunchBots website and at leading healthy food merchants.

Savvy Savings: Receive free shipping with code FREESHIP09 (valid for US only; no expiration date; cannot be combined with other offers).

LunchBots are a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to plastic containers and sandwich bags, and it’ll be no surprise when I show up to work one day using the LunchBots myself!


Thank you to LunchBots for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

TuckerBags

Reusable bags are very popular, and recently I've been seeing people use them all the time--not only for grocery shopping. TuckerBags offers reusable bags that are both functional and fashionable so you’d want to use them all the time too.

According to the website, “Our fashionable bags are designed as an everyday shopping and lifestyle companion. Large enough to hold up to 40lbs of groceries, yet also cool for kids or families to use at the beach, when travelling, or just a day out.”

TuckerBags (ARV $7.95) have the following features:
  • super strong (holds over 35lbs)
  • large 19" x 16" in size (equiv 2 plastic bags)
  • made from recyclable rip-stop polyester
  • extra long handles for shoulder comfort
  • streamlined slip-in pockets for small items
  • tucks into a handy attached storage pouch
  • reusable and eco-friendly
  • washable

What I like best about TuckerBags is the numerous designs that cater to a variety of tastes. You can choose from bags with images of balloons, animals, flowers, and more! My favorite design is the B-1 Brown Hearts—especially because I love brown, and the hearts add a really nice touch.

Shop: You can purchase single TuckerBags, combo packs, and even design bags with your logo by visiting
TuckerBags.com.

Win: Tucker Bags is generously sponsoring a giveaway so 5 lucky winners will get a TuckerBag of their very own!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to ellie, ZESTYWONDERLAND, Donna M. Clark, dddiva, cdzuiba!

  • To enter, visit Tucker Bags and comment on which design you’d like if you won.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you 1)Subscribe to my feed; 2) Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Tucker Bags; 3)Add my button to your sidebar (be sure to leave a comment for each "entry").
  • The deadline for entries is March 4, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
  • 5 eligible entries will be chosen by random.org as the winners; the winners will be notified via email on March 5, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.

Good luck!


Thank you to TuckerBags for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

General Mills Big G Kid Cereals

I occasionally have a hard time getting DS1 to eat his lunch or dinner, but not so with breakfast. Breakfast usually consists of cereal, and he LOVES to eat cereal. When it comes to choosing a cereal, I generally would only be concerned about the sugar content. However, thanks to the Mom Bloggers Club, I now know I should take a look at the entire nutritional content, not just sugar content, and I was also made aware of how General Mills Big G kid cereals are a great source of calcium and vitamin D, both of which are important for our growing kids.

According to the General Mills Grow Up Strong website, "Breakfast is a perfect time to help your kids build strong bones, which is why General Mills Big G kid cereals are the only leading line of ready to eat cereals that provide 10% of the Daily Value of both calcium and vitamin D in each serving. Together with a ½ cup skim milk, this wholesome combo provides your kids with 25% of the Daily Value of both calcium and vitamin D before they even head out the door to start their days!"

A surprising fact is that approximately 75% of kids don’t get the recommended levels of calcium and vitamin D. Not only are General Mills Big G kid cereals a great source of calcium and vitamin D, but they are some “of the most nutritious breakfast options a kid can eat…Most cereals have about 100 – 130 calories per serving and provide at least 10 key nutrients…and, ready-to-eat cereal is the number one source of whole grain in kids’ diets.”


Our household is a big fan of General Mills Big G cereals. Cheerios and Kix can always be found in our home. Since DS1 started to eat cereal, we've been trying other cereals, and last year was the first time any of us (DS1, DH, and I) tried Cookie Crisp, Lucky Charms, and Trix.

Thanks to the Mom Bloggers Club and General Mills Big G kid cereals, we were able to try another cereal for the first time--Cinnamon Toast Crunch (ARV $1.89-$3.99 for 12.8 oz.)!

I can’t believe I never tried Cinnamon Toast Crunch before. It’s so good! I love the cinnamon-sugar taste!

Of course, DS1 loved it too. In fact, he ended up asking for more. He’s still going through speech therapy and is having trouble with some consonants, but here he is eagerly signing his version of “more” after asking for “ORE!”

Not only is Cinnamon Toast Crunch delicious, but it provides calcium and vitamin D, along with other important nutrients and vitamins for my growing boy.

Shop: You can purchase General Mills Big G kid cereals at retailers online and nationwide.


Savvy Savings: Visit the General Mills
Grow Up Strong website to print a coupon good for savings off of any Big G kid cereal.

General Mills Big G kid cereals makes it easy for us parents to provide a breakfast that tastes good and is good for our growing children.


Thank you to General Mills for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Playlist: Martina McBride

I enjoy many songs by Martina McBride, and one of my favorite McBride songs is Valentine (with Jim Brickman). Thanks to the Family Review Network, I was able to receive a copy of the CD Playlist: Martina McBride (ARV $13.98), which features some of McBride’s most popular hits, some of which I had the pleasure of listening to for the first time.

The track list includes:
My Baby Loves Me
Wild Angels
Safe In The Arms Of Love
There You Are (Remix)
Happy Girl
It's My Time
Wrong Again (Acoustic)
Show Me
I Love You (Pop Remix)
How I Feel
This One's For The Girls (Remix)
Cryin' Time
Independence Day
God Bless America


You don’t have to be a die-hard Martina McBride fan to enjoy this CD. There are quite a few songs many people would be familiar with, such as There You Are or This One’s For The Girls, and maybe some songs you’ve never heard of that you'll come to enjoy.

Many of her songs are romantic and upbeat, such as My Baby Loves Me (it was the first time I heard that song--what a great song!), others, like Happy Girl, are inspirational and passionate, and there are those that are very soulful and heart-tugging, like Cryin' Time.

My favorite song on the CD is I Love You from the Runaway Bride soundtrack. It’s a fun song with a pop influence and it’s simply a song that makes me happy whenever I listen to it.

McBride sings songs that not only invoke feelings of love and romance, but many of her songs also send a positive message to both young girls and women, empowering them and encouraging them to believe in themselves.

What’s also great about this CD is that the packaging is eco-friendly—it’s made out of 100% recycled and recyclable materials, and there is no CD booklet. Instead, since it‘s an enhanced CD, you can just pop it into your computer to access notes, images, wallpaper, and more!

Shop: You can purchase Playlist: Martina McBride on Walmart.com and at other retailers online and nationwide.

Whether you’re a big Martina McBride fan or simply want to enjoy some great music, Playlist: Martina McBride will not disappoint.

Thank you to Sony Legacy for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Zoë b Organic

DS2 received several teethers as gifts, but the only one he’s been using is a Natursutten teether that we received from Zoë b Organic.

According to the website,
Zoë b Organic was started by green mom Valerie Lecoeur, who believes “we need to take care of our planet for the sake of our children. It makes sense, it is becoming easier to make green choices in your day to day life.”

We received the Natursutten Chill-it Apple Teether (ARV $11.75), and DS2 loves to suck and "chew" on it. The teether is just soft enough with tiny bumps that help to massage DS2’s gums to ready them for when his tiny teeth start coming out. It’s not too big or small for his little hands, is a cute apple shape, and most importantly, it’s safe--it’s BPA, phthalate, and PVC free, and made from non-toxic EVA plastic.

We also received a Natursutten All-Natural Rubber Orthodontic pacifier (ARV $8.95), but DS2 just never wanted a pacifier. I know it has nothing to do with the Natursutten pacifier itself—because we tried other pacifiers, and it’s just his preference not to use one (DS1 was like that too). However, should I need a pacifier in the future if we plan to extend our family, I know Natursutten pacifiers will be my choice for so many reasons, such as how they are made out of all-natural rubber, have no artificial colors, and are paraben, PVC, phthalate, and BPA free!


Shop: You can purchase Natursutten BPA and phthalate free bottles and teethers, organic clothing, and more at Zoë b Organic.

Win:
Zoë b Organic has generously donated a Natursutten All-Natural Rubber Rounded Pacifier 12 month plus, (ARV $8.95 ) for one lucky winner!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to shopannies!

  • To enter, visit Zoë b Organic and comment on which is product you like the best.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you 1)Subscribe to my feed; 2) Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Zoë b Organic; 3)Add my button to your sidebar (be sure to leave a comment for each "entry").
  • The deadline for entries is March 1, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
  • An eligible entry will be chosen by random.org as the winner; the winner will be notified via email on March 2, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.

Good luck!


Thank you to Zoe b Organic for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Discounts (select cities)

Last year, I posted about how one tradition that many families love to experience is attending the circus whenever it comes into town. In fact, according to a Mom Central survey, "88% of moms surveyed regard a circus as a 'not to be missed childhood experience.'"

Even when I was little, I went to a mini-circus and enjoyed it so much that I always yearned to experience the "Greatest" circus of them all...the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Thanks to Mom Central, you can take advantage of a couple of fantastic offers so you and your family can start or continue the fun tradition of attending the circus without breaking the bank.

Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code MOM at www.ticketmaster.com. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Circus Celebrity Seating, Front Row and VIP seating; cannot be combined with other offers. Other Restrictions May Apply. To see which Ringling Bros.and Barnum & Bailey tour is coming to a town near you, visit their website.

Offer #2: A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public - just enter the code MOM when purchasing those seats. Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM discount code this spring are as follows:

Newark/East Rutherford/Uniondale/NYC
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
March 5 - April 13
Offer not valid on performances from April 10 - 13 at Madison Square Garden

Washington D.C./ Fairfax, VA/ Baltimore, MD
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
March 18-April 19

Philadelphia
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
May 13-May 25

Phoenix
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
June 24-June 28

Houston
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 15-July 26

Anaheim/LA/Ontario
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
July 8-August 2

San Francisco
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 12-August 23

Dallas/Ft Worth
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 29-August 16

Sacramento
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 27-August 30

Kansas City
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
September 16-September 20

Spread the word and tell all your relatives and friends who live in or near those cities about these great offers!

There's also another fantastic offer for parents with babies up to 12 months old living in the US. Sign up for Baby’s First Circus, which gets your baby “a free ticket voucher that can be exchanged for a free ticket to any Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance, anytime, anywhere. No expiration date!” Visit their website for more details and to sign up.

Families are more cost-conscious than ever, but these offers are a fantastic deal, and seeing your little ones' faces light up at the sights and sounds of a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be worth every penny.


Friday, February 20, 2009

The Giving Essence

When I first started my blog in June of last year, I lurked on many other blogs to find great eco-friendly tips and find out about safe, natural, and organic products. One of the blogs I’d frequently lurk is dkMommy Spot. Diane Kidman is behind dkMommy Spot, and her blog offers a tremendous amount of information on natural, organic, and eco-friendly products, companies, recipes, and so much more. With all of the knowledge she has collected, she created The Giving Essence.

According to the website, “After years of research, writing, and blogging, Diane started The Giving Essence as a way of providing other families with the same products she’s grown to rely on as the safest possible alternatives for her own household as well as for yours.”

Since I am a lip balm addict, I was very excited to try out three of The Giving Essence’s lip balms: Chocolate Mint, Lavender Mint, and Spearmint (ARV $5.50 each or three for $15).

I love anything to do with chocolate, so I had to try the Chocolate Mint lip balm first. It smelled great, and since it's made with real cocoa powder, it looked good enough to eat! It's no surprise that this was my favorite lip balm.

The Lavender Mint lip balm smelled really nice—what you’d expect with a product containing essential oil of lavender, and it felt “refreshing." I actually applied this lip balm to DS1 too. He recently had some seriously chapped lips—so serious that it was cracking and bleeding. Because The Giving Essence’s lip balms only contain safe, natural ingredients, I had no hesitation applying the lip balm on his lips, and when I did, he immediately said “YUM!” I thought this was so adorable, especially since he’s still going through speech therapy and he says very few words for his age, so for him to express how he felt about the lip balm was such a sweet moment for me.

Of course, the Spearmint lip balm was also really good. It soothed my lips just as well as the others, and the fact that it smelled just like spearmint chewing gum made it all the more pleasant.

The Giving Essence’s lip balms come in cute 1 ounce tins and there are a variety of yummy flavors to choose from, including the brand new Margarita Mambo. They smell great and really work in making your lips soft and smooth, but what I really love the most is how they contain only natural ingredients—ingredients that I recognize and can actually pronounce, and I know they are safe for me and my entire family.

Shop: You can purchase great lip balms and more on
The Giving Essence website.

Savvy Savings: Get 10% off your purchase using code SageSavvy through 03/31/09 (cannot be combined with other offers).

Win: The Giving Essence is generously sponsoring a giveaway of a lip balm trio for one lucky winner!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Lu Ann!

  • To enter, visit The Giving Essence and comment on which three flavors you’d like if you won.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you 1)Subscribe to my feed; 2) Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and The Giving Essence; 3)Add my button to your sidebar (be sure to leave a comment for each "entry").
  • The deadline for entries is February 27, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
  • An eligible entry will be chosen by random.org as the winner; the winner will be notified via email on February 28, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.

Good luck!


Thank you to The Giving Essence for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

EyeBuyDirect

DH recently researched getting Lasik because his glasses were getting quite old, but realistically it’s something we can’t afford right now. So when the Family Review Network had an opportunity to review EyeBuyDirect, I new I couldn’t pass it up.

According to the website, EyeBuyDirect “is a global prescription lab and optical retailer specializing in the volume production of affordable prescription eyeglasses. As a manufacturer, supplier and retailer of optical supplies, EyeBuyDirect is not only involved in every step of the eyewear production and distribution process, but has also developed an efficient, streamline approach to the optics supply chain. With a global manufacturing program and three worldwide sites cooperating in unison to harness state-of-the-art technology, EyeBuyDirect is committed to producing innovative, high quality frames and lenses.”

A nifty tool on EyeBuyDirect is EyeTry, which allows you to upload your photo so you can “try on” different glasses and see how’d they look on you. After uploading a photo of himself, DH “tried on” several glasses. This feature was really great, but he said what would’ve made EyeTry even better was if there was an option to view on a single page several different photos of himself with various glasses, versus switching “back and forth” between pairs or opening up several different screens in different tabs to view the glasses (if such an option is available he couldn't find it).

However, EyeTry was still a great tool, and he ended up selecting the Titanium Rome Frames (ARV $49.95 on EyeBuyDirect; $250 elsewhere). Once he made his selection, he entered his prescription information (very important to have this handy, unless you want non-prescription glasses, in which case you’d select “Fashion” when prompted “I use my glasses for”), and then he was able to select optional features, such as lens thickness and UV coating (additional cost).

That’s it!

In about a couple of weeks, DH’s glasses arrived in a sturdy case, along with a lens cloth. He tried the glasses on, and they were almost perfect. The only thing that needed to be adjusted was the nose piece. It was a bit too small, so he took it to a department store and got it adjusted for free. Once the adjustment was made, he’s been using it every day!

The glasses from EyeBuyDirect were very reasonably priced, the entire process from "trying on" to selection to order submittal went smoothly overall, and the glasses looked really good on DH!

Shop: You can purchase glasses in a variety of styles and materials for men and women on EyeBuyDirect.com.

Win: EyeBuyDirect is generously sponsoring a giveaway for one lucky winner to receive a pair of eyeglasses of their very own (excludes sunglasses and designer frames), including any upgrade up to $100 and 100% free shipping.


***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to clc408!
  • To enter visit EyeBuyDirect and comment on which frames you like the best.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you 1)Visit EyeBuyDirect’s Wall of Frame and post a comment (be sure to leave a comment with your user name and a link to the photo you reviewed; 2)Subscribe to my feed; 3) Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and; 4)Add my button to your sidebar (be sure to leave a comment for each "entry").
  • The deadline for entries is February 26, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
  • An eligible entry will be chosen by random.org as the winner; the winner will be notified via email on February 27, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US and Canada addresses only, however, free shipping applies only to US addresses.

Good luck!


Thank you to EyeBuyDirect for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Snack & Play Travel Tray

Whenever our family would go out, we’d always give DS1 a toy or book to keep him occupied during the drive. However, often times he’d end up dropping the toy or book, and it was usually my job to twist and turn to try and get whatever it was he dropped (since DH was driving). Thanks to Playdate Picks, I no longer have to strain myself and risk getting a pulled muscle now that we have the Snack & Play Travel Tray from Star Kids Products.

According to the website Alyson Probst created the Snack & Play Travel Tray for her son, Daniel, when “she couldn’t find a safe, practical surface for him to use when he was in his car seat or stroller.”

The Snack & Play Travel Tray (ARV $19.99) is quick and simple to use. Once DS1 gets into his car seat it’s just a matter of seconds before the Snack & Play Travel Tray is attached and his favorite books and toys are easily accessible. We use the Snack & Play Travel Tray on both long and short drives, and ever since we began using it there has not been a single time where I had to reach and feel around for something that DS1 has dropped. Toys and books stay put on the firm surface thanks to the tray’s wide rim, and the tray folds up for easy storage.

I also love how the Snack & Play Travel Tray has mesh pockets on both sides, so you can stash a variety of things for your little one to snack on and play with—more books, toys, sippy cups, etc. Although the Snack & Play Travel Tray was crash-tested at a federally recognized laboratory and passed, it’s still very important to not give your child objects with sharp edges or points that could cause injury in the event of an accident.

You can even attach the Snack & Play Travel Tray to a stroller. Your little one will have access to a bigger surface instead of the the tiny tray that’s on most strollers. This is also great for airplane rides. Your child won't have to use those icky tray tables on the plane, and the passenger seated in front of your child won’t be bothered if your child is one of those who constantly likes to play or hit the tray table.

Shop: You can purchase the Snack & Play Travel Tray through the Star Kids Products' retail network.

The Snack & Play Travel Tray has made all of our drives more enjoyable, especially for DS1, since he has everything he needs within his reach.

The Snack & Play Travel Tray is a Playdate Pick!

Thank you to Star Kids Products for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Earth Friendly Products

Living in Hawaii, we often have to deal with lots of humidity, which means mildew grows really quickly in our bathrooms (well, in my bathroom it does). We used to use a cleaner that we’d spray on daily to prevent mildew, but when I was pregnant with DS1 I read about how some shower cleaners have an ingredient in them that could potentially cause birth defects, so we stopped using those types of shower cleaners. Thankfully, I found out about Earth Friendly Products, who offers shower cleaners and a variety of other products that are safer for consumers as well as the environment.

According to the website, “In 1993, John E. Vlahakis founded Earth Friendly Products with a simple mission: To provide high quality cleaning products that are absolutely safe for your family, your pets and the environment, made with replenishable ingredients and that compete with the ‘majors’ in performance, price and convenience.”

I was fortunate to try out Earth Friendly Products’ Shower Kleener (ARV $4.89 for 22 oz.), which is “the only non petroleum based, naturally derived shower cleaner on the market. This unique and revolutionary product uses tea tree oil, lavender oil, purified water, a plant derived surfactant, and ethanol derived from corn to clean your shower and bath areas.”

I spray the Shower Kleener daily on the tile, tub, and fixtures after everyone has taken a shower. I absolutely love how there is no chemical smell once I spray the Shower Kleener. I can smell just a hint of the lavender and tea tree oil. The Shower Kleener helps to prevent hard-water stains and soap scum, meaning DH does not need to clean the shower as often.

I just really like the idea that I’m not spraying a whole bunch of chemicals in an area that we use daily.

Earth Friendly Products also offers Personal Care and Pet Care products so not only can you care for your home with safe products, but you can care for yourself and your pets with safe products too!

Shop: You can purchase Earth Friendly Products on their
website, or visit their website to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Complete an online form to receive $10 in Earth Friendly Products coupons.

Earth Friendly Products’ Shower Kleener is a cleaner that not only smells great and work well, but it is safer for me, my family, and the environment, and I can’t wait to try out other items from Earth Friendly Products.

Thank you to Earth Friendly Products for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Scanalog

I subscribe to several magazines, and whenever I see a good recipe, a helpful article, or a feature on a product I think I want to try, I tear out the page from the magazine. This mean I have many, many, many torn pages all over the house! I tried keeping them in binders, in drawers, in file folders…but there are just too many pages to deal with and often times I simply can’t find what I’m looking for. Thanks to the Family Review Network, I received a copy of Scanalog to help me organize all of my magazine articles, so anytime I need to find something I saw in a magazine, I know exactly where to look.

According to the website, Scanalog “is a CD-ROM software system you can use to store, catalog and retrieve your favorite articles from your favorite magazines.”

Scanalog was quick and easy to install. The minimum system requirements are:

  • OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000,Windows Me, and Windows XP
  • MONITOR & RESOLUTION: SVGA monitor capable of 800 x 600 resolution
  • PROCESSOR: Pentium class processor or equivalent AMD
  • HARD DRIVE SPACE: 40-200 MB of free hard drive space
  • MEMORY: 64 MB of memory
  • SCANNER: TWAIN compliant scanner

There are eleven Master Categories and 102 Subcategories in which you can save your scanned files. One of the categories I use most often is Food & Wine, since I tear out so many recipes! Once you scan your item, and create your thumbnail image, you’re prompted to complete required fields (e.g. name reference, category, subcategory, etc.), and you can also add in optional notes and keywords so you can search for the particular item in the future. You can also add new subcategories (the number of subcategories you can create depends on the Master Category). Under Food & Wine, I created a “recipes” category so it would be easier for me to find all recipes I tore out from magazines. I also use the "duplicate" feature to easily make a copy of a recipe into one of the other subcategories in Food & Wine. For instance, if I scan a cheesecake recipe, it would be in the Recipes as well as the Desserts subcategories.

Not only can you catalog scanned magazine articles, but you can also retrieve photos and other previously scanned items from your computer to catalog, such as photos (as long as they are in .jpg and .bmp formats).

There are many other neat things you can do with Scanalog, such as create a Hopes & Dreams Journal, log books that you’re interested in, and create a database of information on products you want to buy.

Scanalog is very user-friendly and the screens are filled with colorful visuals that make organizing and cataloging your magazine articles enjoyable. You'll no longer have to sift through pages and pages torn out from magazines. Instead, those pages will be stored and efficiently organized on your computer thanks to Scanalog.

Shop: You can get your magazine articles, kids’ drawings, and more organized by purchasing Scanalog on their website.

Win: One lucky winner will get the Scanalog CD-ROM and a Scanalog mousepad (ARV $39.95).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to valmfain!

  • To enter, visit Scanalog and comment on which of the 11 master categories you’d probably scan the most items in (move cursor over images on home page to view categories).
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you 1)Subscribe to my feed; 2) Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Scanalog; 3)Add my button to your sidebar (be sure to leave a comment for each "entry").
  • The deadline for entries is February 23, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
  • An eligible entry will be chosen by random.org as the winner; the winner will be notified via email on February 24, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US & Canada addresses only.
Good luck!

Thank you to Scanalog for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Color Guild's 2009 Paint Trends

With so much uncertainty these days—whether it be about the economy, our jobs, or the safety of our food, it’s no wonder that the 2009 paint color trends released last month by the Color Guild, the global paint authority, have been driven by consumers’ desires for comfort and security.

"The Color Canvas 2009 Collection features five up-and-coming trends and 35 colors available exclusively at Color Guild member locations…Color Guild 2009 paint trends are derived by researching and observing color trends and social issues around the globe, including ecological issues, technology discoveries, political issues and even sporting events…The trends have been labeled Ease, Earthwatch, Exploration, Evolution and Expression."


Ease: For too many consumers, life is fast-paced and complex. The Ease color collection focuses on the trend to simplify and slow down life. This color palette of soft grays, muted greens and soothing lilac allows consumers to bring peace and serenity back into their home.

Repose, Chill, Purity, Natural, Recoup, Simplistic, Leisure

Earthwatch: Sustainability is now a global initiative for every citizen on the planet. From fresh water to clean air, the Earthwatch color collection re-introduces natural colors as a simple reminder of how to make planet Earth a better home. The Earthwatch color palette allows consumers to surround themselves with organic colors featuring earth tones blended with ocean blue.

Magical Moon, Mineral Dust, Tidal, Continental, Flora, Element, Ozone

Exploration: Our world continues to shrink, while our social conscience expands. More than ever, consumers are traveling beyond their home borders to learn and do more. These experiences are resulting in a blend of cultural influences that are filtering into the home. The Exploration palette is an assortment of colors that are hopeful and optimistic, including café browns, khakis and deep reds.

Trek, Columbus, Sahara Fire, Darwin, Navigate, Journey, Discovery

Evolution: The global focus on reducing waste by recycling and repurposing products is changing the behavior of consumers and businesses alike. The Evolution color palette reflects this lifecycle focus with muted yellows and taupes.

Influence, Betterment, Maturation, Perfection, Advancement, Progress, Metaphor
Expression: While we all reach out to protect and serve our planet, we must also maintain our own individual identities. This trend reveals itself through a palette of vibrant colors the Color Guild has coined “Expression” that range from organic greens, and colorful peaches to dramatic purples.

Unique, Thumbprint, Henna, Symbol, Drama, Organic, Personality Plus

My favorite color palette is no surprise...it's Earth-Watch!

For more information on the color trends and paint colors at Color Guild member locations, visit the Color Guild

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Watkins

In the beginning of the year, one of my green goals was to find more eco-friendly companies to review and feature on Sage and Savvy. Martha Weinhardt, an Independent Associate for Watkins, is one of many wonderful people who has helped me reach this goal.

According to the website, “for 140 years, Watkins has been America’s pioneer in natural living, utilizing the finest natural ingredients in our product line from apothecary to spices…How we make our products is as important as our commitment to providing natural, consumable items for everyday life. By utilizing gravity feed filling, biodegradable packing materials, as well as strict recycling programs and much more, we are devoted to leaving the smallest footprint possible on the environment…Watkins' commitment to natural ingredients, sustainability and respect for the environment and our community is our heritage. And as we learn and grow with our consumers, we continue to meet our customers' needs for a clean, natural, healthier lifestyle.”


I was fortunate to try out three wonderful Watkins products:

Salsa Sour Cream Snack and Dip Seasoning (ARV $8.99) I absolutely love this! Just mix 3 tablespoons of the mix with a cup of sour cream, and you have a very tasty dip. I was seriously addicted to the dip, eating it with tortilla chips several days in a row. The only reason why I stopped eating it was because I ran out of chips!

Chicken Soup and Gravy (ARV $8.99) We’ve been having some very chilly nights lately here in Hawaii, so I thought a cool night was the perfect time to try this. I heated a cup of water to boiling in the microwave, added 1 1/2 teaspoons of the soup mix, and in just minutes I had some delicious soup. I was also expecting it to be salty, since most soup mixes are, but the soup wasn’t salty at all, just very flavorful. I have yet to make gravy with the mix, but I’m sure it’ll be just as delicious.

Lemon Toilet Bowl Cleanser (ARV $7.99) Made out of replenishable and sustainable ingredients, the toilet bowl cleanser did a great job cleaning, and I love that no chemical smell was left behind. With other toilet bowl cleaners, we’d have to air out the bathrooms for a long time since the smell was so strong. You won’t find the same harsh chemicals in this cleanser as you would others, and the cedar-based formula is “one of the least acidic or caustic cleaners on the market.”

The Toilet Bowl Cleanser is one of many great products in Watkins’ Home Care Line that contains natural plant-based ingredients. To learn more about Watkins’ Natural Home Care products, you can
click on this link to view a presentation (right click and select next page to view the entire file). This file contains a tremendous amount of information on how Watkins’ Natural Home Care Line is better for you, your family, and the environment, as well as what kinds of ingredients in other cleaning products you should avoid and why.

Watkins offers so many other products—natural organic spices and extracts, baking ingredients, skin care products, health products, detergent…I could go on and on.

If you’re interested, you can also find out more about how you can
become an independent associate and earn income on all purchases (even if you buy products for yourself), or how non-profit organizations can earn income from purchases made by their supporters by visiting the website.

If you have any questions at all about any of Watkins’ products, becoming an associate, or earning income as a non-profit organization, please feel free to contact Martha at mjweinhardt@yahoo.ca and she will be more than happy to assist you!

Shop: You can purchase Watkins products on their website and many other retailers online and nationwide, as well as by phone, mail, or fax.

Savvy Savings: Receive free shipping & handling on orders over $50 from February 16 to March 1, 2009. Orders can be placed by phone, mail, fax, or online at www.watkinsonline.com/mjweinhardt.

Win: One lucky winner will get a $25 gift certificate to enjoy some wonderful Watkins products. Note: The gift certificate covers the cost of products only. Any applicable taxes or shipping and handling are the responsibility of the winner.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to David Johnson!

  • To enter visit Watkins and comment on which is your favorite product or which product you’d like to try (automatically defaults to Canada catalog; be sure to click on US catalog if appropriate).
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you 1)Subscribe to my feed; 2) Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Watkins; 3)Add my button to your sidebar (be sure to leave a comment for each "entry").
  • The deadline for entries is February 22, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
  • An eligible entry will be chosen by random.org as the winner; the winner will be notified via email on February 23, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US and Canada addresses only.
    Good luck!

WatkinsOnline.com

Thank you to Watkins for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!: A Little Help From My Friends

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Is one of the few children’s television series that DS1 enjoys watching. Thanks to Mom Central, we were able to review the newly released Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!: A Little Help From My Friends DVD (ARV $16.98).

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!: A Little Help From My Friends is all about how “friendship takes center stage as Wubbzy and his pals search for a lost Wiggle Wrench, escape a runaway Doodleberry Cake, build a Super Robot, teach Walden to boogie and work hard for Wuzzleburg trophies! Together they discover the importance of positive values like confidence, cooperation, team work and above all, the meaning of friendship.”

The DVD features 6 different episodes, along with 2 bonus episodes, all of which focused on the central theme of friendship. DS1 loved watching the DVD. The various songs throughout the DVD kept DS1 dancing, the cool inventions made by Widget were amusing, and all the silly little escapades kept DS1 laughing. It’s really great that a show so entertaining can teach important lessons at the same time. By watching all the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy episodes on the DVD, DS1 was taught how valuable friendship is, how it’s always nice to help others, and how everyone is special in his or her own way.

I enjoyed the DVD as well not only because it taught DS1 valuable lessons, but it also taught me a thing or two. For instance, I’m a stubborn person and I always try to do things myself regardless of how many friends offer to help me with something. One of the episodes stresses how asking friends for help is okay and ultimately can make things work out for the better, so I’m really going to try and stop being so stubborn.

Another great thing I learned—how to make cleaning fun! One episode shows how to turn chores into games, and I’m going to steal some of those ideas so DS1 will start to clean up his toys and books without putting up a fuss.

The bonus features were also great. Of course, DS1 loved the music videos and kept dancing to them, and you can also access fun bonuses, such as printable activity sheets, by inserting the DVD into your computer.

If your little one is a Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! fan like my little guy, sign up for the Wubb Club so you and your child can receive special Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! activities and offers.

Shop: You can purchase Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!: A Little Help From My Friends from Amazon.com and other retailers online and nationwide.

Filled with singing, dancing, laughter, and positive messages, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!: A Little Help From My Friends is a DVD the entire family will enjoy.

Thank you to Anchor Bay Entertainment for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Coyuchi

My boys are fortunate to have received some great eco-friendly clothing from companies that I’ve found online. My newest find, Coyuchi, offers really adorable organic cotton clothing for babies that are embellished with hand-embroidered animals that makes every piece of apparel just that much more precious.

According to the website, Coyuchi uses only 100% certified organic cotton purchased from the Chetna project, “an organization devoted to growing fair-trade, certified organic cotton...The Chetna project empowers and improves the lives of marginalized peasant farmers who cultivate cotton on a small scale…Fair-trade cotton is grown without harmful agrochemicals, using environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect people’s health and preserve valuable ecosystems.”

DS2 received this adorable organic cotton George Baby Jumpsuit (ARV $24) from Coyuchi’s Baby “George” collection. Made out of 100% organic cotton, as are all of Coyuchi’s other cotton products, the jumpsuit is hand embroidered with a cute lion, and comes in sizes 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. DS2 is still too small to fit in his jumpsuit, but I know once my little guy is big enough, he’ll look super cute! Of course, knowing that he’ll be wearing something that hasn’t been treated with so many pesticides and chemicals makes me love the jumpsuit even more.

Coyuchi’s hand-embroidered baby collection also includes "Thor" and "Jingo" items, and they also carry unembellished baby products, but I think their hand-embroidered items are the most charming.

In addition to the jumpsuit, the Baby collection offers so much more, including bedding, towels, and bibs, and because all the items in the Baby collection are white, they’re perfect for both little boys and little girls.

Coyuchi also offers beautiful bedding, bath items, sleepwear, and accessories that adults would love for themselves.

Shop: You can purchase organic baby clothing and more on
coyuchi.com, or visit their website to find a retailer near you.

Win: Coyuchi has generously donated an adorable George Baby Jumpsuit, size 12 months, for one lucky winner!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to calee78!

  • To enter visit Coyuchi and comment on which product you like the best.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you 1)Subscribe to my feed; 2) Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Coyuchi; 3)Add my button to your sidebar (be sure to leave a comment for each "entry").
  • The deadline for entries is February 20, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
  • An eligible entry will be chosen by random.org as the winner; the winner will be notified via email on February 21, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.

Good luck!



Thank you to Coyuchi for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

He's Just Not That Into You Soundtrack

The star-studded movie He’s Just Not That Into You opened last week, and although I have yet to see the movie, I had the opportunity to listen to the recently released He’s Just Not That Into You: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (ARV $16.98) thanks to the One2One Network.

The track list includes:


  • Corinne Bailey Rae “I’d Like To”
  • My Morning Jacket “I’m Amazed”
  • The Human League “Don’t You Want Me”
  • R.E.M. “Supernatural Superserious”
  • Tristan Prettyman “Madly”
  • Talking Heads “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)”
  • The Black Crowes “By Your Side”
  • Wilco “I Must Be High”
  • James Morrison “You Make It Real”
  • Maroon 5 “If I Never See Your Face Again”
  • The Replacements “Can’t Hardly Wait”
  • The Ting Tings “Fruit Machine”
  • Lilly Allen “Smile”
  • Keane “Somewhere Only We Know”
  • Erin McCarley “Love, Save The Empty”
  • The Cure “Friday I’m In Love”
  • Scarlett Johansson “Last Goodbye”

I really love this soundtrack, which has a great mix of songs from new and classic artists. I’ve always liked The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me, The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love,” and Lilly Allen’s “Smile,” and now I’m a fan of songs and artists I’ve never heard of before I received this CD, such as Tristan Prettyman’s “Madly” and My Morning Jacket’s “I’m Amazed.”

New artist Erin McCarley’s “Love, Save The Empty,” is a catchy tune that is one of my many favorites on the CD, and I was quite impressed with Scarlett Johansson’s cover of Jeff Buckley’s “Last Goodbye.”

The He’s Just Not That Into You soundtrack features a lot of great, upbeat songs that just get stuck in my head. I could keep listening to the entire CD over and over again. Lately I’ve been listening to the CD while I’ve been doing housework—it makes cleaning so much more enjoyable. If a CD can make housework more enjoyable, you know it’s a good CD!

A cool thing about the soundtrack is that it is an enhanced CD, so when you pop it into your computer, you’ll view a deleted scene of Scarlett Johansson singing the Last Goodbye.

Shop: You can purchase the soundtrack at Amazon.com and other retailers online and nationwide.

He’s Just Not That Into You: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack has a great mix of songs from a variety of artists, genres, and decades--there's something for everyone!







Thank you to New Line Records for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway.