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.

Heart Recycled Paper Note Cards Review and Giveaway

*** Giveaway Now Closed***

Winner # 8 rubynreba

If you know me you know I love recycled products a lot, especially hand crafted recycled products. The Heart Recycled Paper Note Cards, from Etsy seller sparklytrash, are no exception. I've been inspired to craft more myself.


First impressions: The first thought that popped into my head when I opened up the envelope the cards came in was, Cute!  I received five cards, but the set actually only comes with 4.  So, I appreciate the extra gift. There are no envelopes included with the set, but they fit into a standard sized envelope and I don’t think they really need envelopes.


Inspired? I was inspired by the simplicity of these handmade cards. What a great eco-conscious craft! While looking at them and how they're made I realized how much my girls would love these cards. I thought about all their friends and how much they would like them too.

I thought the cards are perfect for handing out during a kid’s valentine school or girls scout party. They are perfect for a teacher or someone like a Girl Scout leader to place in a party goodie bag. I’d love to get  a card like this from my husband and children (with organic chocolates and a planted rose bush). I think they would also be a great product for a fundraiser. They could even be used as invitations. They are great for everyday use too. For example, I could grab a few of these cards; write a sweet, I love you. Have a great day at school, note on the inside of each card and then slip them into my kids’ lunchboxes or backpacks. I know they'd love and appreciate it. 


How eco-friendly are these cards? The cards are hand cut out of heavy weight brown paper grocery bags. In addition sparklytrash notes on her product description that, “This set features my hand printed hearts with each in a different shade of purple and pink. To make the prints I cut the design into recycled styrofoam trays and use only water-based block printing ink. This ensures that your cards are eco-conscious from start to finish!” (sparklytrash).   


To be honest though, I don’t know that I would pay the price for the cards. I think they are adorable and quite useful, but the price is a little steep for my frugal thinking. However, I would consider making a purchase if the set was a stack of 10 cards for $4. I would buy 4 sets, 2 for my daughters’ school valentine school parties and 2 sets would be for their Girls Scout Valentine parties.


The Giveaway: The giveaway: Sparklytrash is offering a set of her recycled pair of purple soda can earrings. Take a look at them here. The giveaway deadline is Feb. 28th, 2011. To win visit sparklytrash’s store. Then leave me a comment letting me know what product you are interested in. You can get extra entries for following us through GFC or Subscribing via email. Make sure to let me know in the comments. 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.

Disclosure: I received the Heart Recycled Paper Note Cards for free for review from sparklytrash. My opinions are my own.

Preserves Tableware from Green Ostrich Review and Giveaway is

 *now closed*

The Preserves Tableware from Green Ostrich Review and Giveaway winner  is 3 Giggly Monsters
CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment. Keep an eye out for future eco-friendly product reviews and giveaways. Remember to please make sure it is easy for me to contact you or I wont be able to let you know you are the winner and the next person in line will get the prize. Either have an email on your profile or leave it on the comment.