Join Me as a Seventh Generation Toxin Freedom Fighter #FightToxins #MC

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central for Seventh Generation. I received a promotional item and product samples as a thank you for participating.

Seventh Genaration is one of the few brands that I will buy anything they make without hesitation. Why? Because I know I will get a quality product free of toxic chemicals. I have been faithfully using their products, particularly the laundry detergent and various household cleaners, for years now. When I started having kids and became more aware of the harmful ingredients in every single product in my home, I started making lots of changes around the house. Getting the toxic chemicals out was a top priority for me and Seventh Generation made it easy and affordable for me to find great natural products.

For me I think it is pretty obvious that toxic chemicals are bad for our health and the health of the environment. However not much seems to be happening in the way of removing them from products or even just making the public more aware of them. Change is long overdo and we need to let our government know that they need to do something. That is why I teamed up with Seventh Generation as a Toxic Freedom Fighter to help spread the word and get people to take some action.

Did You Know?

• There are over 80,000 chemicals available in the United States that have never been fully tested for their toxic effects.
• Scientists have linked exposure to toxic chemicals to many health risks, including Cancer, Alzheimer’s, learning disabilities, asthma, birth defects, and reproductive problems.
• The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976 but it has never been updated. As it currently stands, tens of thousands of potentially harmful chemicals continue to be used in the marketplace since the 1970’s without proper testing and without disclosure by the companies that produce them.
•  For additional information to learn more visit the Natural Resources Defense Council.

What Can You Do?

• Become a Toxin Freedom Fighter by signing Seventh Generation’s petition to urge Congress to reevaluate the Toxic Substances Control Act for the first time since 1976.
• Make sure that parents and the general public are aware that of the 80,000 synthetic chemicals introduced into the market since the Toxic Substances Control Act was passed in 1976, the EPA has required testing on less than 10%. Tell your friends, family, teachers, PTA members, and anyone else who will listen!
• Help Seventh Generation reach its goal of collecting 100,000 Signatures by April 24th by signing the petition for chemical reform and urging your friends and family to do the same!

So please take some time to join us as Seventh Generation Toxin Freedom Fighters and sign the petition today.  There are also some great resources there for you to use to help spread the word like sending tweets to your state's senators and sharing on social media.

Tips to Help You Raise a #HealthyBaby Plus a Seventh Generation #Giveaway

A question that green advocates like myself often get asked is why. Why do we need to stop using chemicals? Why should I buy organic foods? My short answer? You probably won't like it, but it is the truth: all of these chemicals are killing us. Before we go any further, I want you to take three and a half minutes to watch this "A Wake-Up Story" video.

Chemicals are everywhere. From the food our kids eat, to the grass they roll around on and the soap we use to clean them up. There are more than 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the United States however pre-market safety testing is not required. That's right, companies do not need to prove that a chemical is safe before it is introduced into the market. In Europe, more than 1,300 chemicals have been banned from use in personal care products yet here in the U.S. only 11 have been banned. We are failing to protect our children and now the leading cause of child-related death in the U.S. is cancer.

Let me repeat that:
the leading cause of child-related death in the U.S. is cancer! 

Our babies are dying before they even have a chance to live. They are born with more than 200 chemicals already in their little, vulnerable bodies. So THAT is why we all need to be more aware of what we bring into our homes and put on our bodies. That is why I personally urge everyone to be green.

Now that we have the why, let's get to the how. How can you reduce your child's exposure to toxic chemicals? If this is all new to you, the best thing to do is start off easy and take it one step at a time. Healthy Child Healthy World offers us five affordable tips to lowering chemical exposure:

• Take off your shoes. 85 percent of the dirt in our homes is tracked inside on the bottom of our shoes. And unfortunately, it’s not just dirt, but also toxins like lead, pesticides, gasoline residue and more. So take your shoes off at the door and don't be afraid to request guests to as well.
   
• Buy safer body care. Children are exposed to an average of 27 care product ingredients on a daily basis that have not been found safe for developing bodies. Protect your family’s health by avoiding products with ingredients like parabens, synthetic fragrances and triclosan. I personally use the Seventh Generation baby products and have been very pleased with them all. For a list of most-toxic offenders, download the Healthy Child Healthy World free eBook, “Easy Steps to a Healthy & Safe Nursery.”
   
• Open a window. We spend about 90 percent of our time inside, but indoor air is typically far more polluted than outside. So, open up your windows. Just a few minutes a day can improve indoor air quality. And don't forgot to do this in your car as well. When you first get in the hot car, roll down the windows for a few minutes while you wait for the A/C to kick in.
   
• Eat whole foods. Processed foods are convenient, but they are also loaded with sweeteners, artificial flavors and colorings, and synthetic preservatives. These lack nutrients and many are also linked to health issues like ADHD and even cancer. Stonyfield Organic offers an arrangement of foods for babies, kids and adults; organic yogurts, smoothies, soy yogurts, ice cream and milk. I can tell you that they are delicious, are the only yogurt products I have ever used in the 8.5 years that I have been a mom and most importantly they are all made without synthetic hormones, toxic persistent pesticides, GMOs and artificial ingredients.
   
• Ban the can. Bisphenol-A (BPA), a hormone disruptor that has been linked to everything from obesity to cancer, is in the plastic resin that lines most canned goods—from soups to sodas. Not to mention canned foods are usually loaded with salt. Look for foods packaged in glass or eat fresh, dried, and frozen options.

Now that you have learned a little more about toxic chemicals and how you can limit your exposure, there is still more you can do: take action and educate others. First, contact your senators and urge them to strengthen and pass the Chemical Safety and Improvement Act (CSIA). Click here to send a message to yuor senator now. Next, you can tell your friends, family, PTO, etc. about the dangers of chemicals and the safer products available to them by hosting a Healthy Baby Home Party. There is also a $1 off coupon available to download whether you sign up to host a party or not.

Giveaway
One (1) winner will received a Seventh Generation #HealthyBaby product gift basket. This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on July 11, 2013 at 12:00 AM EST. Please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

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Clean Your Home Naturally with Seventh Generation #Giveaway

For several years now, my go to brand for natural cleaning products has been Seventh Generation. Seventh Generation uses toxin-free, VOC-free, biodegradable and Biobased formulas in each product to ensure a healthy home and eco-friendly lifestyle. On the back of each product, they disclose every single ingredient used in the product so you aren't left guessing what might be inside. With Seventh generation products I know what I am getting and what I am NOT getting - harsh, toxic chemicals. This holiday season, I am keeping my house clean (or as clean as it can get with four little kids) with Seventh Generation.

Whatever type of cleaning product you need, Seventh Generation has it. From laundry care to dishwashing to every day household cleaners and now even personal care products, they've got it all covered. I was recently sent some products to try out and I knew I would not be disappointed. While I have been using some of products for years now, like their Free & Clear Laundry Detergent and Dryer Sheets, all of the products shown above were new to me.  I couldn't wait to clean!

Wood Cleaner - I have to admit, the wood surfaces in my home are sadly neglected. Sure they get dusted every now and then but I rarely (OK, never) use a cleaner on them. This biodegradable formula leaves wood surfaces shiny and hydrated.  My dining room furniture looked great after going over them with this.

Natural Laundry Detergent Packs - I mentioned above that I have been using the Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Liquid for several years now and I was a bit perplexed by these monodose packs. I have never used anything like this before and I was wondering if they would really dissolve in cold water. Sure enough, they did and they left our clothes just as clean and fresh as the liquid dose. Avilable in  Free & Clear and Mandarin & Sandlewood scents..

Automatic Dishwasher Pacs - With super hard well water, getting the dishes completely clean, even in the dishwasher, is a challenge. These did a good job and without the use of phosphates, chlorine and synthetic fragrances. The last thing I want is for my family to eat off plates coated in toxic chemicals.

Hand Care Dish Liquid - I don't like to use gloves when I hand wash dishes, but then in the winter it results in super dry and cracked hands. Last year it actually got pretty painful. The new Hand Care Dish Liquid works hard on cutting through grease while also keeping your hands moisturized and soft. I am curious to see how my hands hold up over the winter. Available in Lavender & Vanilla scent or Free & Clear.

Hand Wash -  It's cold and flu season so its important for everyone to keep their hands nice and clean. Especially houses with kids. This hand wash is 97% plant based and gentle enough for the entire family to use. Available in Lavender and Mandarin





With our youngest son's third birthday party this past weekend, Seventh Generation helped me clean up the house both before and after the party. And all while keeping toxic chemicals away from my family and I. Seventh Generation products prove that natural cleaning products get the job done better.

Giveaway
One (1) winner will receive a Seventh Generation Cleaning Prize Pack which includes one(1) of each of the following:
• Specialty Wood Surface Cleaner
• Hand Care Dish Liquid
• Automatic Dishwasher Pacs
• Lavender Purifying Hand Wash
• Monodose Laundry Detergent Packs

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on January 4, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET. Please use the Rafflecopter form below.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. I received free product to review.

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Seventh Generation Baby Bath & Body Products Review & Giveaway

Using natural products on my children is something that is very important to me. I want to know what all the ingredients are in a product and know that they are not toxic to my child's health. One of my favorite natural brands that I use for household cleaning is Seventh Generation. There has not been a product of theirs that I tried and did not like. So when I saw that they had come out with an entire line of natural baby bath and body products, I was ecstatic. Granted I technically don't have a "baby" anymore, but these are certainly still good for toddlers and even preschoolers.

About Wee Generation Products

- First complete line of USDA-certified biobased baby care products
- Endorsed by Healthy Child, Healthy World
- Products are gluten-free
- No synthetic fragrances, phthalates, parabens (all ingredients of concern)
- Tear-free, no worries about getting in eyes
- Non-toxic, biodegradable formula
- Made with natural ingredients that come from plants and minerals
- Made with extra-virgin olive oil to moisturize and protect

The most importance thing to me when deciding if I am going to use a product on my child is the ingredient list. And of course, Seventh Generation does not leave me disappointed. They list all of their ingredients on the product label and you won't find long lists of complicated chemical names. Just a nice short list of mostly biobased ingredients. I have been using the Foaming Shampoo & Wash on my toddler and the regular Shampoo & Wash on my kindergarteners and I have been very pleased with them both.  They lather very nicely and I love the light citrus scent. Too many baby products use lavender, which drives me bonkers, and I am glad they stayed away from that in this line.

The Baby Lotion is made with extra-virgin olive oil to moisturize and protect the skin. This also makes it good to use for baby massages. Baby massage is not something I ever tried when my boys were infants, though I really wish I had. Since they were all colicky due to a milk protein intolerance (causes intestinal discomfort and gas), I am sure they could have benefited from them. For more information on Infant Massage, watch the video below and visit: www.LiddleKidz.com.

Giveaway
Two (2) winners will each receive a set of Wee Generation products that includes one (1) each of the following:

Foaming Baby Shampoo & Wash
Baby Shampoo & Wash
Baby Bubble Bath
Baby Lotion
Baby Sunscreen
Diaper Cream

The average retail value of the prize is $50. Giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on November 21, 2012 at 12:01 AM EST. Please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

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Seventh Generation and The Motherhood engaged me for this post. Please note that the opinions and views expressed are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. I received free product to review.

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers Review, Coupon & Giveaway!

One thing I have never been "green" about is diapers. With my oldest son, I never even gave cloth diapers a thought. When the twins were born, I liked the idea of cloth but just thought it would be too much with two infants and three kids under two. Then as I prepared for the arrival of my fourth son I promised myself that I would give cloth diapers a try. And I did! For like a week. Or less. I hated it. I'm lazy and bringing the diaper to the toilet to dump any waste in, rinsing it off and then putting it in pail to wash later was just way too much for me. I am sorry Earth, I just could not do it.

So for the past 6+ years I have been a pretty big Pampers user. Even though I hate the perfumey smell, they are what worked best for us. I never even really considered using a more eco-friendly disposable diaper, mostly because they tend to be more expensive. However I was recently given an opportunity to try out the Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers and now I am wishing I had given them a shot years ago!

What Seventh Generation leaves out is just as important as what they put in. Free & Clear diapers do not include chlorine processing, fragrances, latex and petroleum based lotions. In an effort to contribute less overall landfill waste and continue to ensure a premium standard of absorbency, the new Free & Clear diapers have been redesigned with a lighter-weight core. With processed chlorine-free wood pulp in Free & Clear diapers, Seventh Generation also makes certain that no chlorine is released into the environment during the totally chlorine-free (TCF) whitening process of the diapers and training pants.

I think we all know that disposable diapers create a huge amount of waste throughout the world every year. But I think most people don't realize the other not so great facts about "sposies." To get that nice white color that most diapers have, they are bleached with chlorine. Some are then also given a hint of fragrance; I suppose to try and mask the smell of poop. Though really there is no combating that smell. The fragrance seems pointless to me. Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers are just that - free and clear of chlorine and perfumes. Seventh Generation uses a TCF whitening process which uses no chlorine and therefor reduces the chlorinated toxins released into the environment.

I must admit that I was a little nervous when I first tried these. I have had terrible leakage issues with so many brands of disposable diapers. Thankfully, these have worked beautifully for our 18 month old! After he wakes up from his 2 hour naps with a pretty soaked diaper, there is absolutely no leakages which is awesome. I really love that there is no fragrance on these diapers at all. If your child has sensitive skin this is a very good thing as fragrances can be an irritant. Since my son is in a size 4 diaper in Pampers, I opted for the Size 4 from Seventh Generation as well and its a good fit. There is just enough elasticity to allow for movement but it is still a nice snug fit.

Seventh Generation Diaper Sizes Newborn: up to 10 lb. (36 diapers) Stage 1: 8-14 lb. (44 diapers) Stage 2: 12-18 lb. (40 diapers) Stage 3: 16-28 lb. (35 diapers) Stage 4: 22-37 lb. (30 diapers) Stage 5: 27+ lb. (26 diapers) Stage 6: 35+ lb. (22 diapers)

We have a few boxes of our old diapers to go through however once those are done, I am going to look into switching to these Seventh Generation Diapers. I am really thrilled with them and if I can find a way to maybe order them in bulk online so that the price is comparable to other brands, I am going to do it!

Coupon
Download a coupon for $2.00 off your purchase of Seventh Generation Diapers, Wipes or Training Pants.

Giveaway
One (1) winner will receive a pack of Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers. Choose from sizes 2, 4 or 5 only.

Mandatory Entry
Please leave a comment telling me what you think about the new Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers.

Extra Entries
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#Win @SeventhGen Free & Clear Baby Diapers via @GreenMamasPad! #Giveaway ends 7/25. http://bit.ly/oJQZIF
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This giveaway is open to legal US residents 18+ only and will end on Monday, July 25 at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Random.org and will be posted on the Winner's Announcement Page. Winner has 48 hours to claim his/her prize otherwise a new winner will be picked. Please leave your e-mail address in all of your comment(s) so I can contact you. I will not share your e-mail address with anyone, it will strictly be used to notify you if you win. Good luck!

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. Seventh Generation provided me with a free product, information, and giveaway through MyBlogSpark.

Seventh Generation Disinfecting Cleaner Review & Giveaway

When I started switching over to natural cleaning products more than two years ago, Seventh Generation was one of the first green companies I was introduced to. Over these years I have used their laundry detergent, dryer sheets, toilet cleaner, automatic dishwasher detergent and more. I have always been more than pleased with everything of theirs that I have tried.

Now in my day to day cleaning, there are only two things that skeeve me enough to disinfect: raw chicken and toilets. Normally after handling raw chicken, I'll use a white vinegar mixture to clean my counter, but my husband HATES the smell of it. Well Seventh Generation recently added a new line of botanical disinfecting cleaners which includes a multi-surface cleaning spray, bathroom cleaning spray and wipes. The active ingredient in these is Thymol which is a component of the herb Thyme. These cleaners may be used on hard surfaces such as counter tops and kill 99.99% of household germs, naturally.

Kills over 99.99% of household germs, specifically: Influenza A, H1N1, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli on hard, nonporous surfaces.

Seventh Generation and My Blog Spark sent me a disinfecting kit which included this entire line to try out. As I mentioned earlier one of the things that truly grosses me out are toilets. Just thinking about the day when all four of my boys are teenagers makes me shudder. So the first thing I fell in love with are the Disinfecting Wipes. When I clean any other room in my house I like to use microfiber towels because I can throw them in the wash. But I just cannot bring myself to use them in the bathroom. Bleh. I much prefer wipes that I can toss right into the garbage. These wipes come in an easy to use tub and I like the feel of them. I have used others that were way too thin. So I am able to quickly grab one of these wipes and clean all around the toilets with them. For the rest of the bathroom, like the counter, I can use the Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner with some of the Seventh generation paper towels.The combination of the two works well and I can leave knowing my bathroom is germ free.

The room I use the Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner in the most is the kitchen. I am not one to go around disinfecting every single thing in my house - a few germs around is good to build up your immune system (or at least I think so). But as I mentioned, raw chicken skeeves me and is one of those things that I just do not take chances with. I am totally paranoid about salmonella poisoning. I make chicken at least once a week so it is great to now have a disinfecting cleaner I can use to quickly spray my counters with. Now for this product to kill the germs, you spray it on then let air dry. I also use it to clean the table after meals and since I really don't need it to disinfect there, I spray on and then wipe off with one of my microfiber towels.  A nice bonus for us is now there is no more vinegar smell in the kitchen, which makes my hubby happy. In fact, all of these cleaners have a mild, pleasant smell - kind of like herbs. And that makes me happy because I absolutely hate cleaners that have strong obnoxious scents.

Once again Seventh Generation has come out with a cleaner that is not only all natural but it gets the job done and done well. Add this to the long list of Seventh Generation products that I love.

Giveaway
One (1) winner will receive a Seventh Generation Disinfecting Cleaning Kit. The kit includes a disinfecting multi-surface cleaner, disinfecting bathroom cleaner, disinfecting wipes, a copy of The Conscious Kitchen, a cleaning caddy made from recycled plastic and two rolls of 100% recycled, unbleached paper towels.

Mandatory Entry
Tell me how you keep your family safe from chemicals or tell me what is the best thing you’ve done for the environment this year.

Extra Entries
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- Add my Green Baby Shower Guide button to you blog. This is good for 2 entries so leave 2 comments. 
- Follow @GreenMamasPad and @SeventhGen on Twitter and and tweet this giveaway. You can tweet once daily. Leave link to tweet in comment. You must have at least 50 followers. You can use this:
Win a Seventh Generation Disinfecting Cleaning Kit from @greenmamaspad and @seventhgen! #giveaway http://bit.ly/aKZiX0
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This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ only and will end on Thursday, May 13 at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Random.org and will be posted on the Winner's Announcement Page. Winner has 48 hours to claim his/her prize otherwise a new winner will be picked. You must leave your e-mail address in all of your comment(s) so I can contact you. I will not share your e-mail address with anyone, it will strictly be used to notify you if you win. Good luck!

Please note that the opinions and views expressed here are my own and based on my personal experience with the products. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. Seventh Generation and My Blog Spark sent me a Seventh Generation Disinfecting Kit to review and are also providing one for the giveaway. 

Some of the product links contained in this review use my Amazon affiliate account. Should you happen to purchase an item through one of these links, I may make a few cents.

Seventh Generation Natural Dryer Sheets Review

I’ve spent a good portion of the past 18 months in search of a good natural dryer sheet. I really hate when our clothes are filled with static and most of the natural dryer sheets I have tried have not done a good job at reducing. Did you know that static is caused by the synthetic materials that are drying in the dryer? So sure, I can get rid of it by only wearing clothes made from natural fibers like cotton. But let’s face it: it is New England, it is cold and my boys sleep in warm polar fleece (polyester) blanket sleepers. I’ve also tried home made solutions like adding a cup of vinegar to my wash or rinse cycle, but that did nothing.

The first natural dyer sheet that I tried was something I found accidentally at Walmart. The brand was Eco-Select and they did a good job. Then several months later, they disappeared off the face of the Earth. I scoured the internet trying to hunt some down, but all I found was other people wondering what happened to them. So my search was back on. I found another brand at Walmart called Simplicity. I want to say they were better than nothing, but I’m not so sure that they are. They really weren’t effective at all. I decided to start dividing my washes by fabric type to try to minimize static. All colored cotton in one wash, all synthetics in another and occasionally a load of cotton whites. Doing my laundry this way eliminated static from all our cotton clothes, but man that synthetic load was a like a big electricity ball!

So earlier this year when I saw that Seventh Generation finally came out with Natural Fabric Softener Sheets I was thrilled. I have been using their Free & Clear Laundry Detergent for over a year and I am extremely happy with it. I finally ordered the dryer sheets two weeks ago and they have been working great so far. My cottons are nice and soft and static free. The polyester clothes still have some static, but it is so much better then before. It’s actually tolerable now. What I also love about these sheets is that they are plant based so no nasty chemicals and the paper is unbleached. Plus not only are they biodegradable but they are recyclable as well. So after I am done with them I can toss them in my recycling bin. I don’t know much about composting (ok nothing) but I suppose since they are biodegradable and plant based you could put them in your compost. Not 100% sure on that though, any composters want to chime in?

If you are in the market for a natural dryer sheet, I would definitely recommend you give this one a try. It is, by far, the best one that I have used.