The EcoChic

Giveaway alert!  Franklin Goose online is giving one lucky reader their own Prince Lionheart Warmies Wipes Warmer (for cloth wipes).  Details on how to enter following this post. Contest closed – ECO-ngratulations to Debbie G!

I did it!  I finally make the last leap into the cloth diapering world; I switched to cloth wipes.  I’ve always had a stash of cheap wash cloths on hand to use but I always struggled with how to use them.  I’ve tried spray on wipe solutions which I actually really liked (but I’m too lazy to go buy more online) but my bottle is empty.  I recently received a set of Thirsites Fab Wipes (thanks www.weewilliewinks.com) but haven’t done much with them.  I have a sample of some bum solution beans that I got with a diaper order which I haven’t done anything with.  WHY?  Because I didn’t have a wipes warmer!

Just like my diaper sprayer that I don’t have…I never invested in a wipes warmer.  I’m not sure why really, maybe I just didn’t think I needed it.  I WAS WRONG! 

Sheri with Franklin Goose recently sent me the Prince Lionheart Warmies Wipes Warmer to review and now I am hooked.  The warmer comes complete with 4 warmies (100% bamboo cloth wipes) and an ever-fresh moisture pad.  My only objection is that now I have one more thing on the changing table that the baby wants to play with and one more thing plugged into the wall that is always on. 

The wipes warmer is molded with a special resin that prevents the growth of microorganisms so you don’t have to worry about mold.  As long as you change the ever-fresh pad every 3 months you can keep your cloth wipes warm and moist and ready for use.  The warmies (wipes) that come with it are made from 100% bamboo which adds an extra layer of anti-microbial protection.  

How to use:
- Find a nice, safe location in your changing area for the warmer.  Be sure to keep the cord out of reach of baby.
- Moisten the ever-fresh pad and place in the bottom of the warmer.
- Moisten your wipes (recipe ideas following review)
- Plug in warmer and wait.
- After about 30 minutes your wipes are warm and ready to use. 

At changing time you simply pull out a cloth wipe and wash away.  Since the wipes are thicker than disposable wipes you can fold them over and always have a clean surface to wipe your little one.  Instead of using 3-4 disposable wipes on your baby you can now use one cloth wipe (even for the messy ones).  You have now saved $100′s of dollars a year and prevented thousands of disposable wipes (and packaging) from going to your local landfill. 

I just throw the wipes into the diaper pail with the diapers and wash everything together on wash day.  Of course, you’ll need to buy a few more cloth wipes to last between washes.  The warmies wipes are nice and soft…similar to a light-weight terry cloth.  The Thirsties Fab Wipes were softer and are made of cotton velour.  I also have a few handmade wipes and I usually throw a few wash cloths into the warmer too.

Wipes Solution:

When I got my warmer I started by using just plain tap water.  After all, you know how simple I like to keep things.  This works just fine and is the easiest method of all.  BUT here are some great recipes that are worth a try. 

Simple Wipes Recipe:
- 2 TBS Baby Wash (I prefer to use my EcoStoreUSA baby wash since it’s natural and safe for baby)
- 2 TBS Olive Oil (yes, from the kitchen)
- 2 Cups Water
Mix the ingredients together and moisten your baby wipes.  Squeeze the liquid from the wipes so that they are just barely wet and place wipes into the warmer.
TIP:  You can reuse the leftover solution by filling a spray bottle to use when you are away from home.      

I’m going to try this one next.  Chamomile ‘n’ Honey!  Boil one chamomile tea bag and add one tsp honey to one cup of water.  Both ingredients are soothing and have been used to help heal wounds and rashes.  Make a double batch and drink one before bedtime.

BUY IT:  You can find the Warmies Wipes Warmer online at Franklin Goose.  Franklin Goose is a wonderful organic and natural eco-boutique.  Retail is $29.99 and is well worth the small investment.  I’m still not sure why I’ve lived without one for so long. 

WIN IT:  One lucky reader will take home their very own wipes warmer!  To enter visit Franklin Goose and tell me one other item in their store that you like.  Leave your comment below to be entered.

EXTRA ENTRIES:  (Leave individual comments for each entry)
1.  Follow both @TheEcoChic and @FranklinGoose on Twitter. (1 entry)
2.  Leave a review of a favorite product, start a wish list, or start a registry on Franklin Goose.  (1 entry)
3.  Visit Eco Mom Media and register for an upcoming party.  Franklin Goose is sponsoring the #WearMyBaby party on 4/15.  (1 entry per party)
4.  Become fans of The Eco Chic, Eco Mom Media and Franklin Goose on Facebook.  (1 entry each)
5.  Tweet it up with your friends.  Be sure to include a link back here as well as @TheEcoChic and @FranklinGoose in your message.  (Max 2 entries per day)

Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada over 18 years of age.  Giveaway will close at midnight (EST) on April 23rd, 2010. 
Good Luck!

Giveaway ended! ECO-ngratulations Debbie G! @MSU_MOM_TO_2

Disclosure:  Franklin Goose is a sponsor of The Eco Chic blog.  The wipes warmer reviewed in this post was provided by them for me to try.  I love the Goose and the Goose loves me!  I however would only say that if it were true…and so it is said!  Wee Willie Winks also provided the Thirsties Fab Wipes which I raved about too.  Wee Willile Winks is an online diaper retailer out of Orlando, FL.  I love to support nearby and local cloth diapering companies and Wee Willie Winks provides several outreach events each month to spread fluffy love to central Florida.  Wink Wink!  I also mentioned EcoStoreUSA but they didn’t pay me or provide me anything to spread the eco-love…I just love them.    

By TwitterButtons.com

ECO Store USA Vanilla Soap

After my recent posts about parabens and other nasty chemicals in our beauty products I decided to try bar soap instead of that wonderfully addictive bath gel we’ve all become addicted to.  I have one bar from ECO Store USA that I’m trying right now.  So far I have no complaints.  It has a nice mild vanilla scent.  It doesn’t leave my skin all dry and flaky. 

Soapy Nature Getaways

Now I have even more soap to try, these are from Soapy Nature.  These all natural getaways (bar soaps) are available in a variety of scents for all skin types.  There is even a soap that works as a shampoo.  I can’t wait to try them all.

Follow me on my journey to ditch the bottle…the body wash bottle!  I’m also going to be trying these soaps for shaving instead of traditional shaving cream.  I can potentially replace my shampoo, body wash, and shaving cream with one bar of soap and have virtually zero waste.  Now to see how well they work!

Coupon Code & Special Offers:
- Save 25% off your order at Soapy Natures with coupon code RAYS.
- Free shipping at ECO Store USA for all purchases over $25.
*Limited time offers.

With Earth Day only three days away my inbox is flooded with specials, sales, and events going on to celebrate the Earth. Today I will share just a few of my favorites.

If you live in the Tampa Bay area and don’t have plans for the day make your out to Honeymoon Island State Park for Island Earth Days. We went yesterday and had a blast. There were fun activities for the kids (all free) including face painting, paint a seashell, make a fossil, make a sock puppet, and more. There were also great festival food, good music, and eco-vendors. Some local agencies and environmental groups set up exhibits to help educate both the young and old on how to be a responsible citizen. I was a proud mamma when Big B asked a million questions about sea urchins to one of the Department of Environmental Protection employees. We are all looking forward to reading (and reviewing) our new books by Michael Sterns, Kokopelli & the Butterfly and Kokopelli & the Island of Change. What we expected to be an hour of our day turned into a 4 hour visit to the park and beach. I love Florida!

Painting Seashells

Ecostore USA has a FREE SHIPPING offer for all orders $25 and more. I need to order some more Baby Nappy Balmfor Little B. If you happen to be in the Cincinnati area on Earth Day join Disney as they promote Ecostore USA with Ecoman (Malcolm Rands) at his Meijer store tour. Listen to the Cincinnati Meijer Radio Disney to hear more. This promotion will coincide with the premier of the new Disney movie Earth. The first 25 moms or dads that ask Malcolm the Ecoman A question will receive an organic Ecostore T-Shirt. There will be entertainment for the kids while mom and dad ask Malcolm ( Ecoman) questions. (4/22 Cincinnati – Harrison Road from 4-6 PM)

Like I said, I have many more emails and specials I could share with you all but I’m going to go spend the rest of my day enjoying my family. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy your Earth Day 2009! I’d love to hear what you are doing to celebrate Earth Day. Just leave me a comment below!

Congratulations to…

KIM MINNICK!  You have just won a $25 gift certificate from The EcoChic and ECO Store USA.  I will email you the details.

Winner was selected using Random.org.

…to win a $25 gift certificate to ECO Store USAs web store.  Contest ends April 1st at midnight.  Open to all residents of the USA. 

To enter see my post http://www.theecochic.com/?p=339 for details.

You have 2 more days to enter to win a $25 gift certificate to use at the ECO Store USAs webstore.  ECO Store USA is a great company that offers products for the home, bath and body, pets, and baby that are kind on the environment and kind to your health.  I have reviewed several products over the past few weeks including the Baby Nappy Balm, Baby Body Wash, and the Liquid Laundry Detergent.  I’m a HUGE fan of the Nappy Balm!!! 

How do you enter?  Read my previous posts on ECO Store USA and follow the directions here.  You have until midnight on April 1st to enter.  Contest open to all US residents.

Many of you have read my reviews on the ECO Store USA products but not many of you have registered to win the $25 gift certificatethat I will be giving away on April 2nd.  So I ask myself WHY?  I know that most of my friends and family members are not as eco-sensitive as I am.  I know that there are others even more ‘green’ than myself.  So why would you want to choose an eco-friendly product over the traditional product? 

The ECO Store USAuses only plant-based ingredients.  They even list their ingredients right on the product and on their website.  There are no surprises or trade secrets.  They are all free of toxic chemicals including known carcinogens, petrochemicals, and parabens.  But what does all of that mean to you and I?

What is a carginogen?  Something that can lead to an increased risk of cancer.  This can be a chemical or even a natural occuring compound that is used to produce the products we use everyday.

What are petrochemicals?  These are chemical products that are produced from petroluem and used in the products we use everyday.  When looking at the ingredients in your favorite prodcuts some common petrochemicals inlude; ethanol, glycol ethers, vinyl acetate, butylene, benzene, bisphenol A, acetone, and phenols.  This is only a brief listing…there are MANY, MANY more.

What are parabens?  These are chemicals that are used in cosmetic and body products as preservatives.  In studies there have been links to parbens and breast cancer. 

I’m currently looking at a bottle of skin lotion (a store brand) and here are some of the ingredients:  Water, Sorbitol, Mineral Oil, Stearic Acic, Glycol stearate, Cetyl acetate, Alcocol, Methylparaben, propylparaben, and many others I won’t list to to space.  My family uses this lotion almost EVERYDAY!  In it are known carcinogens, petrochemicals, AND parabens.  How does the bottle describe this product?  “Contains cocoa butter, a NATURAL moisturizer derived from the cocoa plant, which has ben the secret to soft, beautiful skin for years.”     

Using all plant-based ingredients is gentle on your skin.  If you have a child (or yourself) with eczema you know how challenging it can be to get rid of it.  Some customers have said that their allergies and asthma have cleared up after using their products.  By using ECO Store USA products you decrease your families potential for accidental poisonings caused by common household cleaners, such as bleach.  You will also reduce your carbon footprint on the Earth since there are no petrochemicals that come from petroleum. 

My honest opinion…we need to make educated decisions on the products we use everyday.  You wouldn’t voluntarily hand your child a loaded gun would you?  So why do we slather their (and our) bodies with these chemicals?  Is it because they are so readily available?  Is it becuase they are so cost effective?  Or is it because we truely don’t know what is in the products?  I have to think that the more we know, the more we will choose products like those that ECO Store USA offers us. 

If you would like to try ECO Store USA products for FREE don’t forget to register for a $25 gift certificate.  I will be drawing a name at random on April 2nd.  All residents of the USA are eligible.

Click on $25 gift certificate for the rules on how to enter.

The final product that ECO Store USA sent me to review was their Laundry Liquid. I’ve now washed 5 loads of laundry and I’m impressed. I think I’m in love with the eucalyptus that’s in each of the products that I’ve tested. It’s not a strong scent but it’s nice and you can’t smell it after the clothes are dried. The Laundry Liquid is super concentrated and it only takes 3-5 tbls of liquid to wash a load of clothes. Much better than the cup of traditional laundry detergent that is required to get the laundry clean.

The Laundry Liquid is made of all plant-based ingredients including; Palm and Coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants, fatty acid derivative, mineral hydroxide, and certified organic Eucalyptus oil. It’s all natural and non-toxic and perfect for your children’s clothes.  I washed several loads of Little B’s laundry including pee soaked changing pads and reflux drenched clothes.  Her laundry all came out clean and smelling fresh. 

I really wish I had received some of their Pure Oxygen Whitener to see how well that worked to keep clothes brighter.  I’m not a big fan of bleach so I suffer from dingy whites.   

Now it’s your turn.  Do you want to receive a $25 gift certificate from ECO Store USA so you too can try their products?  Here are the rules:  Read all of my product reviews for the ECO Store USA products and post a comment on at least one review.  Then visit ECO Store USA and answer the following questions.  1) What retail chain launched the ECO Store USA products in their store earlier this year?  2) Which product would you most like to try?  Leave your answers in the comments section of this post. 

Want more chances to win?  Add The EcoChic to your blogroll or mention me in one of your blog postings.  Leave a link to your blog or posting in the comments so you can get the extra entry. 

Giveaway open to all residents in the United States.  Winner will be chosen at random on April 1st…no fooling!

What do you use to wash your baby?  Like most parents I use the old fashioned Johnson’s and Johnson’s Head to Toe Baby Wash.  How can I not use something that costs a mere dollar at most retail stores?  They give it to you free at the hospital.  You get a million bottles at baby showers.  I’ll be honest, this is what I’ve used on my son and this is what I currently use on my newborn.  But what’s in these traditional baby washes? 

I found this on the J&J website:
Ingredients: Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-150 Distearate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-10, Fragrance, Quaternium-15, Citric Acid

I was given a sample of the ECO store USAs Baby Body Wash so I tried it.  It’s not normally something I would splurge on (unlike the Baby Nappy Balm) at $10 a bottle but after comparing ingredient lists I might consider it.  Here is the ingredient list of the Baby Body Wash:

One of the products I received from ECO Store USA was the Baby Nappy Balm.  Our little B has a very sensitive bum and we are always fighting with the diaper rash.  We’ve tried many of the creams that are available at the store (Aveno, Triple Paste, etc) but none of them seem to clear up the rashes.  They go in cycles from good to bad to OK but her bum is never clear of the rash.  At first I thought she was sensitive to the diapers but I’ve tried many, including cloth, and the bum doesn’t change.  Her doctor seems to think that it’s her diet (breastfed) and the frequency of poos (literally every hour!!!).  We can change her and five minutes later she can be dirty again.  Like most parents, we don’t change her more than about once an hour or two. 

So I was excited to try my new Nappy Balm from ECO Store USA but I honestly didn’t expect the outcome.  We first applied the balm on Tuesday night and by Wed. morning the rash had already started to clear up (after 8hrs in her diaper).  I was in shock!!!  Now just over 24 hours later there is still a rash but it’s clearing up and most spots are gone.  This was the only factor that we changed.  I’m curious to see what happens over the next few days. 

I was reading the ingredientson the back of the box and I’m not sure what the winning ingredient is but it includes olive oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, beeswax, zinc oxide (found in almost all diaper creams), and horopito extract.  The cream is more like a thick lotion and is much smoother (all those oils) than those traditional creams.  I first applied a little dab on my hand and it absorbs into your skin and doesn’t leave that thick white paste behind.  (Which for the record I thought was helping her.)  There are no nasty chemicals or odors with this balm either. 

If you would like to try this or other ECO Store USA products for FREE keep reading The EcoChic this week for more details on how to win a $25 gift certificate to use at their online store.