RESULTS ARE IN! DRuMrOLL...

And now for the moment you've all been waiting for! Adrianne Marcum is the winner of The Greenest of Green Mama Goodie Basket!! Thank you! Thank you, to every mama that entered to win and extra special thanks to every one of my sponsors! Let's do this again sometime!!

::Here's to a BIG GREEN START this year::

Give-a-way Results at Noon!!!!!!!!!!

As you all know! The Greenest of Green Mama Goodie Basket Giveaway happens tomorrow! I am more excited than anyone I think! So much so, that I couldn't resist. I went over to Random.org and drew a winner! However I wil be announcing the winning mama tomrrow at noon (est). I have yet to wrap the basket, but it's at least all intact. I told you it was gonna be big! Brace yourself.Here's a list of what's included.

•Charlie's Soap
•Snack Happened- Mini Reusable/Waterproof Snack Bags
•SA8 Laundry Detergent
•RE9 Advanced Skincare Sampler
•Cinch Energy Tea (1 stick of Green Tea, 1 stick of Pomegranate)
•Personal Mug
•Shaklee Vitalizer for Women (30day supply)
•Copy of Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and Cleaner Planet
  by. Sloan Barnett
•Spray bottle of Basic H - All Purpose Cleaner
•The Real Dirt on Clean Dvd
•Handmade Lavendar Dish Scrubbie
•Birdhouse craft

The winner will also receive:

•A set from Ruby Blaise Essentials: candle, mist and soap bar
•Bottle of Get Clean Dish Soap
•One free room from Bluegrass Carpet Cleaning*

THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF, RIGHT?!!!

Thanks so so much to everyone who made this possible!!!! Can't wait to do it again!

::Hope you're as excited as I am!::

Big Fancy Food Poisoning... Heart2Heart

Have you ever gotten food poisoning before? If not, count yourself very fortunate. When I was about 11 years old, my cousin one summer around lunch time, went over to the Bingo Hall and bought us two delicious looking pickles. My parents didn't buy pickles, so I was unfamiliar with the "flavor". I didn't know what a pickle that size was suppose to taste like lol. Sour yes. But that sour, no. That night we were sick as dogs. As our parents tried to figure out what could have made us feel so aweful, they soon discovered that we ate those nasty €€$2 pickles from Bingo.  Now, as an adult, I know not all pickles are gross. I like a few on a good burger once in a while, but after that experience, it took many years for me even to want to hear there word pickle!! Hahah. Please- I'm saying this. Just because you get food poisoning once after eating your favorite dish at a restaurant, would you refuse to eat from then on? Of course not! You would die. This event does not teach that food is bad, but only that your food was spoiled or ill-prepared. So perhaps not eating from that place is an order, but not banning all food. If you don't believe in God or refuse to serve Him, it may be because "someone" put a bad taste in your mouth towards Him. However, this has nothing to do with whether He exist or not. This has nothing to do with what He thinks personally about you. If you look for Him, you will find Him-the Everlasting God. The one who will never leave you. If you're not so sure about this, or you don't believe what I'm telling you then you've probably been served-up some offense. You've probably tasted some heartache.

 You know, if you decided to eat candy everyday for the rest of your life what would happen to your body? Your teeth would probably be the most visible sign of decay...the very thing you need to process your food and ready it for proper digestion. Maybe one would argue, "Oh- I don't need my teeth to enjoy what I eat!" Perhaps. But this life is not a Candy Land (if it were no one would have any teeth by the time the game was half way through lol) Besides the fact that everyone knows that candy isn't good for you, the simple fact of the matter is,  life wasn't meant to "suck", we were meant to use our teeth to chew with. Eventually, other health problems would arise-maybe several at a time. I can stil hear someone saying, " ...it is what it is. Its my life and I'll do as I please."  If people only knew their worth. If we were not so naturally self-absorbed, we would all see that the consequences of our actions (whether good or bad) touches the lives of everyone around us. Your life isn't (just) for you. It's about others. You were not meant to serve yourself, but to know God and how important you are to Him. No matter what you've been told. You can still use your brain, Proverbs says in all our getting to get understanding. Knowledge is power, right? Just because you believe in God does not mean you have to be a big dummy. But to say there is no God, I'd be a fool. Creation has His fingerprints all over it! Anyway, facts are fine and good, but no one can discount the overwhelming value of experience. Once you experience a meal prepared by the Master Chef and brought out to you by the Manager Himself (Jesus), you'll never be satisfied eating candy again. Plain and simple, you need to be introduced to the Master Chef.  Also, if you don't like the service you got last time, ask for a new server or the Manager! Don't let one bad meal change your opinion on food. Don't judge God by those who fail you. Let Him speak to your soul for Himself. People will always fail you, but He will not disappoint. To me, that's something worth smiling about ;)

::let Him prove Himself to you, He will::

Giving & Getting

Alrighty! Only 8 days and 3 more items to go! I am so excited I can hardly stand myself. I love gifts. I love blessing others. So naturally, I l-o-v-e giveaways ;) I mean, nothing tops that feeling of being on the giving end! The best part about this one is I'm giving "big" not by my own doing, but because of the collective efforts of others!   Just by giving an opportunity to friends and small business to share their products or services, I get a chance to offer something good, wholesome and inspiring to my community. Its wonderful.

Thanks to all who have sponsored, entered, or encouraged me to do all that was in my heart concerning this project! The Greenest of Green Mama Goodie Basket Giveaway is being made possible by all giveaway participants. Special thanks to my friends Angee, Penny, Sharalee, & Jeanette- as well as Ruby Blaise Essentials, Amazing Green Planet and Bluegrass Carpet <3

Ruby Blaise Essentials
Amazing Green Planet
Bluegrass Carpet Cleaning

::finding good reasons to give::

Greenest Video Reminder!

Hey there greenies and wanna-bees <3 Couldn't upload the video from my camera, and I was forced to use my phone. So I apologize for the tacky film job, but just wanted to get in a quick and personal reminder! You still have time to enter mamas! Thanks to Jody creator of RubyBlaise: Essentials, the winner of my giveaway will also be receiving a candle, mist and yummy vegan soap bar! If you don't mind, go "like" her facebook page and thank her for being so awesome for sponsoring this giveaway, while you're at it! Then head on over to her sight and check out what blends you might like. I of course, want the Hippie blend :) 

Don't forget to invite your mama`2`be friends- this basket would be great for a new mom!

::Chizzz-ow::

TASTY GREEN MACHINE SMOOTHIE

Ok here it is! I love smoothies. There, I said it. Actually I like shakes and smoothies. The great thing about this is how easy this makes getting an extra serving of fruit or greens in for the day. I want to share a recipe that combines both! Which may sound totally disgusting to you. But I'm sure it really isn't that bad. Let me know if you try it before I get a chance to!

To make the Green Machine Smoothie, you will need:

1 cup coconut, rice, or almond milk, (you can use water...I don't recommend it ;)
1 banana
1 cup of another fruit (fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries)
1 cup spinach
1 tbsp ground flax seed
1/2-1 serving of the CINCH Chocolate Shake Mix
4 or 5 icecubes to make cold


Courtesy of Nathan & Jenni Oates over at healthyoates.com

:: blend, serve & enjoy! ::

Questions, Questions & Solutions

What if something you did every day was hurting someone else? Would you stop? Many would rush a quick "Yes, of course!" For instance, smoking while pregnant. Most would be appalled at this. But I know of several who kept right on smoking, even though there has been tons of research that proves the immense danger it causes the unborn. Now then, how many things, products and/or chemicals have been attributed to causing cancer or even reproductive problems and birth defects. I have to wonder if people live under a rock or if they simply do not care, for fear that nothing can REALLY be done. Which is the furthest from the truth. And you know what I can't stand?!! This whole mindset of   "when its my time to go..." you finish the rest. I DEEspise that line. Well what if there was something you didn't know that caused you to die before your time? Something that if you would have only known to do certain things a little differently, could have potentially saved your life? Or the lives of your family members and friends? Hindsight is 20/20, right? But it can be so bittersweet.

Well, the good news is I have a solution. Its two things really. The first life changing factor for me has been Shaklee Corporation. It has given me the opportunity to choose some of the very best products for the health of my family and just by sharing (which I love to do) I've been handed the greatest opportunity of all, to create the lifestyle I want to live - working from home. I've seen Shaklee change peoples lives. Helping special needs children beat the odds, providing emergency income for a divorced spouse...the list goes on. That means a lot to me. Those are only some of the reasons why I joined the team. The second factor has been just remaining teachable.  Challenging what we've always known when it comes to nutrition and wellness. With all our technological and medical advances, if everything is as we've been told, shouldn't people be feeling better and living longer? I think so! Realize friends, that the people spending money to advertise products that we WILL BUY, probably don't care one lick about how they affects us! Or even if they kill those closest to us. This is why I as questions. This is why I read books. Articles. Reviews. Unbiased studies. I also enjoy talking to professionals, whether they know more or less than I do about the body and how it responds to what we put in it, on it and what we breathe. Its how I connect the dots.

So what if I told you the choice is yours? The choice is yours where you shop, what you buy and use. The choice is also yours when it comes to what you believe about these decisions you've made. As my wise Daddy says on occasion, "You gotta trust somebody." The question is who will you trust? Asthma rates in school age children has gone up 400% since the 90's. There are over 300 chemicals found in the bloodstream of newborns now days. Woman that work inside the home are 50€€ percent more likely to develop cancer, than those that work outside them home. This is directly linked to the use of several very harmful household cleaners. You either believe me or you don't. There are things we can do to lessen these occurrences. Things like avoiding exposure to certain chemicals. Starting with the ones we use to "clean" our homes. You do know that the Clorox solution on that wipey doesn't just disappear because you're done disinfecting your baby's toys...don't you??? Ultimately, you entrust your health and well-being to someone. Be it your doctor or not. America thinks we are the healthiest nation in the world. It's a misconception. Unfortunately, we rank like 37th. We go to the doctor the most and are the most medicated for sure! But that's not anything to be proud of. With all that being said, my question for you is won't you make a conscious decision to choose safer products for your home and family? Won't you search for answers and take your health into your own hands? What's the first thing we do when we get sick? We access the situation. What we ate, what we touched and who we were around. Were they sick? It's just like that. We know that to get different results, something will have to change. And let's face it. You won't change because you should. But you will if you care. That's all for today <3

Where do you start? I'm glad you asked. Here's to a new, safe kind of clean. 

Try the Get Clean Mini Kit!


:: Take Care €::

Awake & Dreaming

It's early. I'm up and dreaming! Ever wonder why in your dreams, anything goes. You may be rock climbing Everest in one frame and captain'ning a pirate ship in the one following. Either with people you've never seen in your life or the people dearest to you. I'm so intrigued by the human capacity to dream and imagine! To picture something in our mind's eye and bring it to life! It's an ability that only Mankind possesses and it's such a glorious, breathtaking thing! Is it not? It's something we humans share in common with Creator...who is gloriously, breathtaking, wholly good, kind and wonderfully majestic! What a sweet gift. Super power, if you will, that links us to Him. How thoughtful, to think of us and allow us to think for ourselves. Freely, unhindered and unchecked. For evil or for good. Whether we know, like or acknowledge Him or not. That's the wonder in it. It's divine, really.

So this morning, instead of limiting myself when I picture what I can accomplish, I am going to open the box I've been locked in. I am taking the limits off my potential.   I am unharnessing my powers for good and for LOVE. To give hilariously to those in need. To be inspired and be and inspiration to others. To BE a blessing to everyone I come in contact with. To encourage the world around me, because every person matters. To change my own outlook on life and what I'm capable of...the truth is in our dreams....anything we set in our mind to do is possible. ANYTHING. So today, don't you dare feel down, alone  or hopeless. Even if you have the right to be! Because if you knew what you were capable of you'd be a little less frustrated and you'd smile a lot more. The world needs you to be YOU! I for one know, that if I am to ever to be happy and satisfied to my core...its to be me. Natural, health conscious, mama-baby lovin, hole'in the wall, guitar playin, sing-songwritin me. First I was only a dream. A soul He fashioned Himself. I've realized He is pleased with what He sees. What a thought! Smile! We are the pinacle of God's green creation and He loves us more than the whales, trees or anything else He made. Although I believe we should care for these things and cherish what He's given us in nature. But that's for another post ;) Deep for Monday morning, eh? Thanks for reading! Are you a dreamer?


::Changing my world, one person at a time::

What IN THE WORLD is a diaper swap?

Met a few new faces today at the diaper swap. Yep, that's right. Not only do I cloth diaper my toddler, I swap em' for cuter, bigger, softer ones...that happen to be 2nd hand. There is a local natural parenting store in town called Mama's Hip, that stands as a beacon of hope for mamas looking for guidance in their cloth diapering-babywearing-breastfeeding journey. They offer play group, a mama's postpartum group, an owl tree yoga class, wee rock (which is music!) and even cloth diapering 101. This place is wonderful. The atmosphere is very laid back and its a really great place to make new mama friends. I think I meet new ones just about overtime I go. The only draw back is its on a completely different side of town, but it usually is well worth the drive.

I was at the very first cloth diaper swap and found some really sweet deals. My little one is bigger now so we actually sold what I bought that day to a friend to use for her baby. Since then we have restocked with Fuzzi Bunz diapers! These are one of the most popular brand of CDs (see the blue diaper with white snaps in right panel?) I got 12 of them, gently used, in mint condition. Found them on craigslist actually. So anyway, I was a little disappointed at MH's swap because there wasn't nearly as much stuff as last time, and I came for the sole purpose of getting a large wet bag or pail liner (where dirty diapers wait to be washed). The store had a couple, but I really did,'t want to pay full price. I did however pick up two Hemparoo inserts by BabyKicks and something from Sustainablebabyish. Heard a ot about these brands. We didn't really need anything, but they are really trim (not bulky) and will help with night time diapers, since these inserts are made with natural fibers like hemp, bamboo and cotton blends.

The coolest thing today was actually getting to meet the Cloth Diaper Fairy! This gals a super cute redhead that goes around town scooping babies  dirty diapies and leaving fresh clean ones in their place. Sounds like a smelly job? She adores what she does! It's a beautiful thing. Maybe its because she feels she's making a huge contribution to our community? Maybe she just enjoys meeting new people? Whatever it is, what she's doing is working and I was really pleased to meet her. At the beginning of our CDing journey, I had considered using another cloth diapering service in town, but I ended up getting the hang of laundering my own diapers. This of course was cheaper. Financially speaking, cloth diapering is really an investment anyway. A diaper can range anywhere from $6-$30, which sounds like a lot to dish out upfront, but when you consider that you will not have to buy diapers every few weeks because you'll wash n' reuse your cloth ones...its a nice thought. I even found that during my postpartum days, cloth diaper laundry was therapeutic! Something about the process of getting them really clean and soft for my baby to wear again, just made me smile with satisfaction. I also knew there weren't any nasty chemicals on my baby's bottom. Now then, the naysayers will nay at you like they nayed at me lol. Just know in the long run, you will have saved more money CDing rather than using disposables for 2-2.5 years. Did you know using disposables can cost as much as $1,600, where as using cloth could cost as low as $300 all the way to potty training???  So yeah,  I'd be glad to give any pointers to those considering cloth. Ask your questions. Fire at will <3

Check this out:
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php


::Cloth diaper laundry is the best laundry::

Get Clean Outcleans 20 Major Brands

Just want to say if you ever have the chance to try the Get Clean cleaning line from Shaklee, don't miss it. Every job from kitchen to laundry can be non-toxic and effective. Not only does it do a great job, its more economical than buying something premade. For example, to get the same amount of cleaning power that's in the Get Clean Starter Kit, you would have to buy over $3,000 of product. It's just that concentrated. And since Shaklee guarentees their products are always safe, always green and always work- or your money back.

HERE'S YOUR BIG CHANCE!

I am making available (sorry, only locally) my Get Clean Trial Caddy. In it will include alternative all-purpose/glass cleaner, oven cleaner, dish detergent/auto dishwasher powder, laundry soap and stain remover, disinfectant and wipes.

More information:
The Real Dirt on Clean - part 1
The Real Dirt on Clean - part 2
The Real Dirt on Clean - part 3
The Real Dirt on Clean - part 4

Check out the new ::Healthy Home:: tab on my page to learn even more.