I am a little (OK, a LOT!) late in getting this news out to you... this month has been crazy hectic for us. But the lovely Ms. Stephanie Fader at mypunchbowl.com emailed me a while ago with a great idea for a contest! And of course, I agreed because this site is just fantastic.
To introduce all of you to this amazing virtual destination, we are giving away two, count 'em, TWO free premium memberships to mypunchbowl.com, valued at $49.95 each! What does a membership include, do you ask? Well, all of the amenities of the site! Here's what mypunchbowl.com is all about!
As busy moms and housewives, we have all had to plan the kids' birthday parties or family events and so many other happy occasions. And it gets to be overwhelming, doesn't it? This site does so much of it for you! From here, you can manage your guest lists, set your date for your event (even coordinate it with your guests beforehand), send out free e-cards and e-invitations, order gifts, get great theme and decorating ideas, and SO MUCH MORE! I can't tell you any more details because it's part of the contest.
Here is what you need to do: In order to possibly win one of these two memberships, you need to post a comment here letting me know at least one feature of the site you like the most or an event you would use it for. You can comment as many times as you like, but it will still only get you one entry! If you become a follower of this blog on facebook, this will get you an additional entry. If you send an email to [email protected] with one feature from the site that you love, you will get an additional entry. Add a link to Ask The Helpful Housewife on your blog homepage and that's another chance to win. There's four entries for you all together! If you have completed all four items, go back to our blog page on facebook (click from the home page here) and post it in the comments section, along with your blog url. That way I can be sure you've completed all four and can go back and check them all!
You have until June 2nd to enter this amazing opportunity that Stephanie has given us. I wish everyone luck! I'm definitely going to be using this site for all of our events from now on! I'm already starting to make a list of the summer parties I want to have just to use the site....
Good Luck, Everyone!
Earth day is the perfect day to introduce you to a new product and some information about washing dishes! Because you know the Helpful Housewife loves anything that has to do with the kitchen and making life easier for us all, as well as making it environmentally friendly along the way.
As a general rule of thumb, I'm not a huge fan of paper plates and paper towels unless they are post consumer recycled content, they are compostable, or you are going to actually recycle them. Of course, in a pinch, they are a great invention! And there are some great companies out there, such as Seventh Generation, that make products that I do support and purchase because of their ethic and mission. As for washing your regular dishes, did you know that a dishwasher is actually BETTER for the environment than washing by hand? But only if it is an energy star rated appliance and you run it only when it's full? You actually use less water with the dishwasher! (And less work & time by you, too.) And if you use one of the green dishwasher detergents, you are making an even better choice for mother earth. But if you have an older dishwasher that isn't an energy star rated appliance, opt for the handwashing scenario. Just don't run the water constantly, and wash a sink full, not a dish here and there. Maximize to minimize.
The product I promised you the other day, and at the beginning of this post, is a brand new product called EarthShell Dinnerware, and right now it is on sale at Meijer stores 2/$4. If you must use disposable plates or bowls, try these! They are biodegradable, heavy duty, soakproof, grease resistant, cut resistant, and -- get this! -- microwave safe! They are actually made from vegetable starch and limestone. They even come in a biodegradable bag! After dinner you can take your kitchen scraps out to the compost bin in the bag or on the plates and just toss the whole kit and caboodle in the bin! No mess, no muss! How wonderful is that?
They list a website on their packaging for www.earthshell.com, but it isn't up and running yet. If you click here, you'll be taken to their current webpage that lists their information and additional links to more information on their products. You can even order in bulk if you really fall in love with their plates and bowls! And did you know that shopping online is actually good for the earth? When you buy in bulk and have it shipped like that, the packaging is actually reduced; the carbon emissions are definitely reduced because it's combined in the shipments of millions of other people who are placing orders all over the world from any number of companies and is simply in the transportation chain along with the other packages; and you are buying what you want, and not purchasing those impulse things at the checkout lane that just end up in the landfill!
Anyway, a big 2 thumbs up for EarthShell Dinnerware! And it's on sale right now at Meijer stores for Earth Day, through this Saturday...
Again, I'm going to wax poetic on the virtues of using earth friendly products! And one of the sources I've used over and over to get some of my favorites is Shop Organic, an online mecca of sustainable and organic cleaners, foods, and other items. Right now they are running a special coupon offer at their website. You need a coupon code to use it though! When you spend $25, you get your choice of TWIST products free! These incredible cleaning cloths/sponges are wonderful to use, and respect the planet at the same time. It's a great offer, especially if you've never heard of the Twist line before. I really like them. They make my cleaning projects and daily routines much easier and more enjoyable. And I hear even Martha Stewart has a few in her cleaning bucket for those of you who worship at the altar of Martha. Personally, I don't, but hey - to each their own! Anyway, click on these links and check them out. If you decide to take advantage of the offer, the coupon code is: EARTHDAY9. You MUST enter this code to get the offer. I recommend signing up for the Shop Organic newsletter, too. They have great information, along with good sales, coupons, and offers!
(There are a lot of different topics to my thoughts, so please read all the way down -- even if you don't drink coffee! You might really want to see what comes next!)
I'm in heaven right now. Have I mentioned yet that my in-laws introduced me to cold brewed coffee? OK, here's the back story. Bear with me, because I will eventually have a point today! Over Christmas, Gary & Diane went on a 6 week trip. The bulk of that trip was in Peru. They went specifically to see Machuu Pichuu (spelled wrong, I know, but I'm not a retired globe trotter!). While they were travelling in this gorgeous country, they ordered coffee. The first time, they were totally confused when a girl poured this dark liquid into a cup and then added boiling water. Much to their amazement it was the perfect cup of coffee! Fast forward to our vacation at their house over spring break. Our first morning there, they made us a cup of coffee in the morning. Now, Andy and I are complete foodies. We are addicted to "Top Chef", Food Network, great restaurants, and experimenting in the kitchen. Anthony Bourdain is our hero. So of course we were curious as to what was going on, but very excited to try this new drink.
After one sip, I was online ordering my own cold brew system. And I love it! The coffee is absolutely incredible! There is no acidity, no heartburn later in the day, no icky bottom of the cup after taste. It's like drinking cocoa, but with coffee flavor! It's smooth and delicious right down to the last sip, and trust me you are draining that cup! And once you brew a carafe of it, it lasts up to 2 weeks in the frig! And a cup of coffee is ready in the time it takes to heat up the tea kettle, not the ages it takes for your coffee maker to brew. I can't drink regular coffee anymore. I just can't go back! Want to know where to get it? Here! Just click! Toddy Cafe.com website has the system... It really does brew the perfect cold coffee, and comes with a recipe book and is easy to use! Affordable, and convenient. LOVE IT!!!! And I highly recommend it!
Another thought on my mind is family information organization. I am going through kindergarten roundup this week, as well as preschool registration for the last child. It occurred to me as I am pulling all of my paperwork together that I haven't shared some of these tips with you! One of the biggies is my family binder! I have a three-ring binder with plastic page protecters in it that holds everything we need in one place, such as immunization records, birth certificates, and other necessary items. I keep them there all the time so whenever I need them for events such as these or soccer sign ups or other such things, they are always right where I can put my hands on them. It has made me really think that I need to dedicate an entire post to how to put one of these together. Hmmmm... It will be coming shortly!
And what about the family calendar? I'm going to do a post this week about our family organization center. It's actually in our laundry room, by the back door. We have a wall of communication! It's just some cork tiles attached to the wall with a big calendar and a mail center, but you have to see it! It's just one suggestion to help keep your family on track. I'm going to show you how we do it, and hopefully you can expand on it with your own creativity to make your own base of operations! I get so many hits on my post regarding my linen closet that I know you are all very eager to get more organization tips. I'm listening!
And I've got another product review coming this week, too! Keep watching!
Now, I've got to head out to pick up the twins from preschool. Enjoy your day, and wear your cheeriest apron! It's rainy and dismal here, so a nice bright apron and some cookies in the oven this afternoon will be just the thing to make it feel so much happier and sunny than the weather would indicate!
Happy dusting,
The Helpful Housewife
Now through March 26th, Gaiam is offering free shipping on any order of $100 when you enter code FSPEM at checkout. They have wonderful organic and environmentally friendly home products, clothing, exercise gear, and health & beauty items. I have made many purchases from them, including my spinning composter that I just can't live without. I've also purchased clothing, produce storage bags, kitchen items, and more from them, and I've never been disappointed in any of my purchases. Their customer service is excellent, and they often have great sales. Their clearance section is always worth scoping out!
Last night I went to a Kindergarten Round Up meeting for the twins, and I stopped at Meijer to pick up bread and orange juice for breakfast. The kids love toast and eggs and juice, what can I say? Anyway, they had a new display up just before the juice aisle on the endcap. They apparently now carry these new products from New Zealand, a brand called Eco Store. You know me, I'm always one to try something new and exciting, especially if it's a home care item! That's like liquid crack to me! Big bonus that it's environmentally friendly.
So, I purchased the Cream Cleanser, lemon scent, to use in my kitchen today as I cleaned. It was $4.39 for the 12.7 fl oz bottle (the website lists it at $7.50). I would have paid the $7.50! But don't tell Meijer that! It worked beautifully. I have used products like Soft Scrub and others before, and they cleaned OK, but they have such a chemical smell and they burn my skin. This cleaned better, was gentle on my skin, and smelled heavenly! I love it! And it really was a bargain because you don't need to use that much. It is quite concentrated. So, if your store offers this brand of products, they might be worth a try. I'm going to be going back to pick up the laundry liquid, dishwash liquid, pure oxygen whitener, and citrus spray cleaner that they had on the shelf. I'll let you know how they work!
Tide Products has a newsletter you can sign up for here and get updates on new products as well as some really great coupon offers. HOWEVER, I have to give a disclaimer here. Yes, I did give rave reviews on this blog for the Tide-To-Go Stick. I stand by it. I love it. Even though I use green products 99% of the time. I don't use their other products, as I prefer Seventh Generation and EcoSaver and the Meijer environmentally friendly brands of detergents for my laundry needs. It's a personal ethical choice. And I also have to tell you that there is a product review section on their website where consumers can give their opinions on their products. Not all of them are glowing. There are some that have negative points mentioned. On the plus side, you have to give a thumbs up to the folks at Tide for not hiding anything under the rug! I am very impressed with Procter & Gamble's transparity with their consumer base. In this day of below downright criminal behavior of bigwigs ranging from mild scandals and misleading customers to making off with billions of taxpayers dollars in bailout money, this is refreshing! So even if we aren't happy with all of their products, I'm willing to give the overall company a 5 star rating for being forthright with us and letting us know what everyone really thinks of their products and not sugar coating it!
Listen, I know that I am a huge proponent of natural cleaning. I have waxed poetic on our family blog about our green promises, eating organic, and using earth friendly products for cleaning, gardening, and everything else. I know. So I'm about to be a hypocrit here. So before you all start emailing me and commenting here on my pot & kettle behavior, I want you to know the full story! I have a pain the neck master shower. It's a stall shower with those slider frosted "glass" doors. The ones that are a huge pain to clean. You know the ones I mean? Anyway, after 8 years of scrubbing those things to death with my baking soda and borax and vinegar and blah blah blah natural cleaners that I truly do love for all of my other cleaning needs, they just wouldn't get clean any more. So I tried this:
Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer from SC Johnson. Click on the link to be taken to their website. They have an offer going right now for a $1 off coupon to print out. They also have a "Right at Home" section of their website where you can sign up for other offers and cleaning tips/info. This stuff was amazing! I will go back to my natural cleaners now, because I really don't like the chemicals in my home,or the environment, but for when I really need to use something for a heavy duty job, this is the stuff I'll use! I just sprayed it on and let it sit for a few minutes, and using a scrub sponge soaked in hot water, my mineral deposits and soap scum wiped right off! No elbow grease needed! My shower looks just like new! So, if you have a stubborn mess in your own shower, I recommend giving this cleaner a try. It was truly worth it for me!
Well, the results are in from my trial of the Kaboom cleaners. While the "Ultra Scrub" did clean the messes I applied it to, it wasn't exactly "never scrub". You had to exert just as much effort with this cleaner as with any other commercial cleanser. I almost went crazy letting the soap scum build up in the tubs and shower, but held off cleaning until it was good and yucky. Yes, it did clean it, but not in the miraculous manner they portray on the infomercials. On the plus side, it has a nice pleasant fragrance and actually did clean. On the minus side, it didn't clean as fast as promised, and the scent might be lovely but at what chemical cost? I know the package says that no gloves are needed, but this stuff isn't safe for the environment, so it can't be that great for your health, either. I guess it depends on your standards. It's not a terrible product, but not stellar in my opinion. I won't be purchasing it as we all know I tend to favor the environmentally friendly methods, but if you choose to use it you will hopefully be satisfied with it's performance.
The "Never Scrub" toilet cleaning system seems a bit useless to me. Again, not great for the enviroment, although if your pets drink from your toilet it won't kill them. Also, there is a heavy chemical smell with this after you flush. Reminds me of the hotel bathrooms where they use a bleach solution on everything and then don't rinse. Or perhaps a public pool that is over-chlorinated. So, how is this considered safe? And it's been in the tank for a while now, but you still have to clean your toilet. Again, not the miracle from the infomercials.
I'll leave it up to you all, but personally I'll leave them on the shelf when heading past the cleaning products. (I guess that just killed my chances of being a famous spokesperson, right!?!?)
I never endorse specific cleaning products because I've found most of them to be complete frauds. They never deliver on the promises. OxyClean is my biggest offender in this area! It didn't do any of the miracle things it claimed to be capable of. There are many others I've tried that just didn't live up to their promises either. But this one does! This one is amazing! It actually removed dry blood from my husband's shirt and pants. It took ketchup off the front of my daughter's shirt. It got coffee out of my white blouse. This is one product I will shout the praises for! I bought one for the car, one for the diaper bag, one for my purse, one for the kitchen drawer, and one for my cleaning kit. I love this thing! Tide to Go.... Go get it -- you won't be sorry!
I am mom to 4 beautiful children, wife to an incredible man, a former transportation planner, former fabric/yarn/retro shop owner, and a housekeeper in the new millenium with a soul stuck in the 1950's.
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