Mama Palooza- S'well Bottle Review and Giveaway

*Giveaway now closed. Winner #57 Lili! Congratulations!*

image via S'well website

Is this another reusable bottle review? Yes, but the design of this bottle is worth a try. It has a design I found met my reusable bottle needs. With a slim grip, wide mouth, nice look, and sturdy bottom to easily stand when put down the bottle was easy and pleasant to use.

Eco facts: The bottle can hold up to 17 ounces of water. Because of it's double walled, insulated construction beverages stay cold or hot for a long time. It is made of stainless steel (18/8 food grade). The bottle is also toxin free, does not leach and is very sturdy. Despite the insulation, the bottle is lightweight. In addition the people that make S'well have teamed up with WaterAid, a non-profit organization that delivers "water solutions to world’s poorest communities". For every bottle sold 10% percent of the proceeds are donated to this charity.

The wide mouth design is made so that makes it easy to drink from the bottle and it's plastic bottle mimicking bottom makes it easy to set it down in a hurry. This is important to me as a fitness instructor. I want to get a good hydrating sip of water and then quickly put the bottle down without worrying if it will suddenly tip over and make this huge noise. The bottoms design makes this possible. The opening, the mouth of the bottle is big enough to fit in ice cubes through, but not so big that when I drink from it in a hurry I don't spill it all over myself. I've tested it and it works. There was far less spillage drinking from the S'well than any of the other reusable bottle I own. 

Does it really keep the temperature? I don't really have a need to use my bottles for hot beverages and never have. Therefore, I would have nothing to compare it too and so I wont. On the other hand I love when my cold water stays cold. Swell did keep my water cold. I never took a thermometer to it to test and compare to other bottles, but I did let my bottle sit in the car many times and was never disgusted with hot water. 

The bottle design is elegant is casual and professional. It's the type of bottle people would not be embarrassed to be seen with and so are more likely to carry the bottle to other places other than the gym, thereby reducing their use of plastic bottles. S'well is even available in 7 bright colors making it easier to match with outfits.

It's a little pricey though. At $35 a bottle I don't know that I would pay that much for a bottle. I can find reusable bottles for less than $12. They may not have the sleek design and wide mouth feature S'well does, but as long as it's not a plastic bottle I'm okay with it. I'd love to see the price go down quite a bit. It is a nice looking bottle though.

The giveaway: One of my lucky readers can win a S'well just like this one. So if you’re a mom, know a mom, love a mom, or plan to be a mom this is a great green gift just in time for Mother’s Day.  To win visit the Swell website. Then come back here and leave a comment below letting us know what other colors or designs you would like to see on the Swell bottles. You can get extra entries for following us through GFC, Facebook, twitter or Subscribing via email. Make sure to let me know in the comments below. The giveaway deadline is April 20th, 2011. US only please. I will choose the winner using Random.org. Please make sure your email is on your profile or leave it in your comment. If you win and I cannot contact you then the prize goes to the next person. Please respond within 48 hours or the prize will go to the next person.

Disclosure: I received a S'well bottle to review for free from S'well. My opinions are my own.

Mama Palooza- Recycled Polyester Bamboo Tote Review and Giveaway

*CLOSED Congratulations! Winner #25 Amanda*

A few months ago I reviewed Preserve’s recycled Tableware sent to me from Green Ostrich, an eco-friendly store online. Not too long after they sent me another green product to review from their store, the Recycled Polyester Bamboo Tote. It’s a green gift just in time for our Mother’s day event, Mama Palooza.

Eco facts: The Recycled Polyester Bamboo Tote is made from 100% recycled 600D Polyester. The bamboo part of the tote is only in the décor of the bag and not the actual material. The tote also has “a rubberized, non-toxic, waterproof coating on the underside of the body fabric”. The company that makes the tote, Instinctive Bags and Backpacks (Motive Collective), has a take back policy that allows customers to return the bag when they no longer wish to use it and receives a 10% discount on their next purchase. Motive Collective repairs the bags and then donates it to someone in need. I love take back programs like this. In addition the tote is manufactured in a Fair Labor Association and Social Accountability International approved factory and 3% of gross sales are contributed to the WILD Foundation.

I’ve had about a little over a month to really use this Recycled Polyester Bamboo Tote. I find it to be very sturdy, well cushioned and of a favorable height and depth. I can easily stand a few of my Girl Scout Leader notebooks (depending on width) and paperwork in the tote. The tote also has a lot of great pockets inside and a good snug one on the outside of the bag. The shoulder straps are wide, sturdy and comfortable to wear. The bag also has an attractive casual look that makes it easy to wear with or take almost anywhere.

On the other hand I found the bag wasn’t expandable enough for my needs. Because of this I found that I was limited in ways I could use the bag. I could not really use the bag for groceries or my workout clothes unless I took out my workout shoes. It is also too long and deep to be a purse for my taste. The best and most efficient use I had for this bag was for my Girl Scout paper work. I could slide in a few narrow notebooks, folders and paperwork, but not much else.

As my girl scout tote I would like to have just a little more space in the tote to fit a few more materials such as: crafting materials (enough for 1 meetings worth), a thicker notebook too.  Here are the dimensions of the bag as listed on the Green Ostrich website: 16-inches/40.6 cm (h) x 11-inches/27.9 cm (w) x 3.5 inches/8.9 cm (d)

In addition, the pocket on the outside of the tote was snug, perfect for just a few small office supplies (pens, pencils, a pair of scissors, sticky notes, etc.) or a slim water bottle, but nothing much bigger. I would love to have a pocket on the outside that is a little bit deeper and a little bit wider for those days when I am in a hurry and don’t have time to try to fit a folder inside the narrow tote. The pockets on the inside are spacious and very useful, but because the bag is narrow when center is full the pockets can’t really be used or are not easy to get too.

Otherwise, this is a bag that wont tear or fall apart anytime soon and will carry what ever you hold well. For more information about this tote go to the product page for this item: Recycled Polyester Bamboo Tote.

Look a Coupon! Green Ostrich is offering a coupon and the code is “GGG”.  By entering this code during the checkout process you will earn 5% off any purchase between now and Dec 31, 2011. Also feel free to Fan the Green Ostrich Facebook page.

The giveaway: One of my lucky readers can win a tote just like this one from Green Ostrich. So if you’re a mom, know a mom, love a mom, or plan to be a mom this is would be a useful green gift just in time for Mother’s Day.  To win visit the Green Ostrich website. Then come back here and leave a comment below letting us know what other products on their site you are interested in. You can get extra entries for following us through GFC, Facebook, twitter or Subscribing via email. Make sure to let me know in the comments below. The giveaway deadline is April 15th, 2011. US only please. I will choose the winner using Random.org. Please make sure your email is on your profile or leave it in your comment. If you win and I cannot contact you then the prize goes to the next person. Please respond within 48 hours or the prize will go to the next person.

Disclosure: I received Recycled Polyester Bamboo Tote to review for free from Green Ostrich. My opinions are my own.

Read my Preserve Tableware review here.