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Green Living: How To Easily Make Great Compost With Your NatureMill Compost Bins

The Recipe For Terrific Compost: Start With NatureMill Compost Bins

As the concept of green living gains popularity, people are beginning to use compost bins to reduce their waste and turn it into a product they can reuse. People are learning more about compost bins, how they work, and the end product they create so that they can effectively incorporate these bins into their lives. Companies like NatureMill make compost bins that are extremely convenient and easy to use. To get the most out of your NatureMill compost bin, follow the guidelines below.

The Compost With The Most – Tips On How To Get It With Your NatureMill Compost Bin

To ensure the easiest use and best end product with your NatureMill compost bin, remember the following tips:

Make sure you read and follow carefully the simple set of instructions that comes with your NatureMill compost bin.

Although the compost bin should produce very little odor, ensure that the odor is minimized by adding sawdust and/or baking soda.

Keep an eye on the quality of compost your compost bin produces – if it is too dry, add green items such as lettuce.

If it is too wet, add brown items such as sawdust or grains.

Chop waste items small to keep finished compost uniform.

Green Living Is Crucial To The Environment, And Effective Use Of Compost Bins Plays A Big Part

Green living is important to the future state of the world we live in. When it is made easy and convenient, and when the process creates a useful end product, more people are inclined to participate in the effort. Because of their simplicity, effectiveness, and quality end product, NatureMill compost bins help make green living an easy choice.

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Review: Dr.’s Remedy Nail Polish

I have four little girls, so good nail polish is incredibly important to us!  I was thrilled to try out Dr.’s Remedy to see what I thought!

About Dr.’s Remedy (from their website)

Dr.’s REMEDY is a line of doctor-inspired cosmetics that is dedicated to using clean, hypo-allergenic ingredients. The birth-child of two New York-based podiatrists, Dr. Adam Cirlincione and Dr. William Spielfogel, Dr.’s REMEDY proves quintessentially-perfect for any person looking to better the condition of her skin and nails.

Their mission is:  To provide women with a healthier, safer nail polish alternative. To educate parents on the need for healthier cosmetics for their children. To prove to consumers that they don’t have to sacrifice health for beauty.

Dr.’s REMEDY is the first nail polish to receive the Seal Of Approval of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).

Like them on Facebook!

My Thoughts

I got FIVE different colors in the mail and they are ALL awesome!  I was just hoping for some pretty polishes that would strengthen my unhealthy nails and I got so much more!  They are big bottles!  We’re not talking the $1 Wet n Wilds by any means!  They are .5 fl oz.  They have Tea Tree Oil, Vitamins, and Wheat Protein!  They have NO Dibutylphthalate, Toluene, or Formaldehyde!  We opened them up and although they still have the nail polish smell, it isn’t strong at all!  I was able to paint mine and all four of my girls’ nails and there was no after smell!  I was comfortable even painting my baby’s nails, because there weren’t all of those harsh chemicals!  I just painted her toenails (while she was sleeping).  I still wouldn’t suggest painting baby/toddler’s fingernails, especially if they suck their thumb, but my 2-year-old (resident thumb-sucker) did have her nails painted and the thumb she sucks is now paint-less.  So, you can use it as a deterrent to help stop thumb-sucking (because they’ll lose their nail color).  The colors are very vibrant!  My nails are already feeling stronger and healthier (after only a week)!  I LOVE them!

My daughter’s nails, using all of the colors to make flowers.

Buy it!

They are $17 each here.

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Spaghetti Scrubs Review + Giveaway

I’m willing to bet you have a soggy sponge sitting on the ledge of your kitchen sink right now. Do you? Thought so. Now think about how moldy that sponge is on the inside. Got a good visual? Ok, now go scrub your flatware with it.

Gross, man!

scrubs Spaghetti Scrubs Review + Giveaway

If you’re looking for an alternative to the soggy germy sponge, Spaghetti Scrubs are your saving grace. Weird lookin’, right? That’s what I thought when I took them out of the box! Here’s the run down on Spaghetti Scrubs:

These interesting scrubs have natural abrasives for your scrubbing needs.
What do we mean by natural? How about corn cobs and peach pits?
No detergent is needed for general cleaning but a tiny dab of soap can be used if tackling heavy grease. Keep in mind that a little dab can go a long way because these scrubs will stay very soapy and the peach and corn abrasives are effective on their own.
Spaghetti Scrubs last for months and because of their unique shape, they’re pliable enough for trickier cleaning jobs and tight spots such as corners, whisks, and behind faucets. The best part is they dry quickly and completely so there’s never a stinky or moldy sponge in your sink. After you’re done cleaning, just rinse them, and hang on the faucet to dry.

  • Reusable scrubs last for months
  • Unique pliable shape
  • Great for peeling vegetables
  • Lack of mold and bacteria
  • No smell or rust
  • Save money and the environment by reducing the need for soaps
peach Spaghetti Scrubs Review + GiveawayI was a little hesitant at first, because I am a little germophobic. No detergent? Really? I used a little dab of dawn to ease my worried mind. First, I set out to scrub something fairly easy as far as messes go — a cookie sheet I’d just baked cookies on. I used the corn cob scrub, and man that little guy got down to business! It was fairly effortless to scrub away the baked on cookie bits.
Next, I used the peach pit scrub to work some meatloaf gunk off of my silicone bakeware. Perfectly done! I used a bit of dawn again since it was a particularly greasy job.
Once you “break them in”, they’re fabulous.
It took a few uses to get them nice and spaghetti-ish. At first they were kind of stiff, but after a few uses, they were fantastically pliable and easy to manipulate around dishes. I love that they can get into small, tight spaces, like the groove of a tupperware lid, or in between the spindles of a fork. No sponge can go there!
The only cons to Spaghetti Scrubs are the fact that they’re so free-form (which is also a plus when it comes to nooks and crannies!). I don’t like that they scratch up against my nails. That’s a pretty minor complaint, though! I do love that I can just hang them up to dry, and they are completely dry fairly quickly. No soggy sponges!
Overall, I would definitely recommend Spaghetti Scrubs. They’re just a smarter way to clean!

 

One lucky 3 Boys and a Dog reader is going to take home their very own Spaghetti Scrub! Here’s how to enter:

REQUIRED COMMENT: Visit Goodbye Detergent! and tell me what other product you’d like to try!
BONUS #1: Follow @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY
BONUS #2: Like Goodbye Detergent! and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.
Other bonus entries:
#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)
#2. Follow my blog.
#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.
#4. Put my button on your blog.
#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.
#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on August 26.
OPEN TO: US Only

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent items by Goodbye Detergent! to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

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Giveaway: Green Babies Body Care Line

I was thrilled to try out this baby body care line!  Green Babies body care sounded like something I should be very interested in as a parent!

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About Green Babies (from their website)

Green Babies ®, the original organic baby clothing brand, has a new baby on the way: a value-driven, values-conscious children’s body care line.  Since 1994, Green Babies ® has offered an extensive line of natural and organic baby products, including certified organic cotton clothing, wooden toys and natural parenting books.

Just born, Green Babies™ body care products, including Baby Me Shampoo & Wash, Energizing Bubble Bath, Calming Bubble Bath, Smooth Me Detangler and Lotion Potion Moisturizer, will be available at Whole Foods Markets throughout the Northeast, select specialty retail stores and www.greenbabies.com.  The new body care line is plant and fruit derived, vegan, hypo-allergenic and tear-free. Developed in the spirit that every baby is beautiful and deserves the best, safest and most irritant-free products that won’t break the budget, the products do not contain synthetic fragrances, dyes, sulfates, parabens or phthalates.

On the frontlines of the organic movement, mom of three Lynda Fassa conceived Green Babies ® when she found a dearth of healthy baby products for her then newborn. A former Ford Model, Lynda wasn’t always the crunchy-granola type, but “greened up” her act while pregnant with her first daughter—veggies and organic smoothies replaced diet soda and cheap takeout.

July 24th download 084 150x150 Giveaway:  Green Babies Body Care Line

My Thoughts

I used the bubble baths and it bubbles very nicely!  My kids love bubbles, so that was very important!  It is healthy, so I wasn’t worried about my baby eating the bubbles (just a few)!  The shampoo and body wash was fantastic!  It has a nice, light smell and was much easier to get out than other shampoos!  I wasn’t worried about any getting in her eyes, because it really is tear-free!  It kept her hair nice and soft!  The lotion went a loooong way!  So, just use a little bit!  I really liked that it was natural, but still had some of that tell-tale baby scent that I love!  The scents are all very nice, and not overpowering!  I really appreciated that!  All together, I think this line is fantastic!  It works great and isn’t a bad price for a green product!

Buy it!

You can buy the products in their line:  Energizing or Calming Bubble Bath, Shampoo & Wash, Smooth Me Detangler, and Lotion Potion Moisturizer for $8.99-$10.99 each here!

Win it!

One lucky winner will get a full-size product (of the company’s choice) worth $8.99-$10.99!

REQUIRED:  Leave me a comment telling me your favorite item in their store!

BONUS #1: Follow @greenbabies and @momof3boys3702  on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like Green Babies and 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook  then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Put my button on your blog.

#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.

#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on August 13th

OPEN TO: USA and Canada

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent items by Green Babies to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

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Review and Giveaway: Prescriptive Stretching Book

9780736099363 dflt Review and Giveaway: Prescriptive Stretching Book

Perpetual Lower Back Pain is a pain!
Since the birth of my eldest son  in 1998, I’ve suffered of frequent lower back due to several factors.  I was taught by a good friend who does Pilates how to stretch properly and daily to help keep my back from aching so much.  This has never kept me away from having to take over the counter pain meds because there are some days, my back hurts way too much.  With an active life that we lead running after five kids going three different  directions, it is vital for me to be able to keep on trucking.  This is why I was so excited to review this book about stretching.  I’ve read others and was expecting some redundancy but much to my surprise it wasn’t.  First (before reading the book), I read up on the author:

Kristian Berg is a doctor of naprapathy, a medical therapy that focuses on manual manipulation and stretching of the spine and connective tissues. He has managed his own clinic in Stockholm, Sweden, since 1988. Berg participates annually in international training courses in dissection, anatomy, and manipulative techniques. At his clinic he has shown more than 30,000 patients the importance of stretching and muscular balance for overall health. Berg is also the principal at the Personal Training School and a lecturer in anatomy at the Scandinavian College of Naprapathic Manual Medicine in Stockholm. He is a highly regarded speaker on stretching and athletic training in Sweden and throughout Europe.

Before becoming a naprapath, Berg was a nationally ranked gymnast and a talented junior tennis player. More recently, he has competed as a multisport athlete and has climbed Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America. Berg currently resides in Svartsjo, Sweden.

This frightened me a little because I thought the book would be totally over my head so I thumbed through the pages and much to my surprise it was very user friendly.  I really love the illustrations because not only do they demonstrate the stretch positions but also give you a biology lesson on the muscles and how they will be moved and positioned with each stretch.  I love how he takes you step by step and not only gives you a solution to the pain but also the possible cause for the pain.  Prescriptive Stretching presents detailed visual instruction on 40 stretches using full-color anatomical illustrations to demonstrate exactly how each stretch targets a specific muscle.Then states specific remedies for these, and when there is more than one he also lists those.  Then there are the wonderful illustrations that are black and white except for the muscles that are colorful.  Here are two examples, one  is on a Kink in your Neck:
122 Main Review and Giveaway: Prescriptive Stretching Book
The other one Tennis Elbow (which my husband has used):
129 Main Review and Giveaway: Prescriptive Stretching Book
Company’s Product Description
Elite athletes have long relied on personalized stretching programs to improve flexibility and prevent injury. What you might not know is that many of those targeted stretches have a much broader application, one that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine: pain relief.Prescriptive Stretching features full-color anatomical illustrations and step-by-step instructions for 40 of the most effective stretches to eliminate pain, alleviate muscle soreness, improve balance and flexibility, and prevent common injuries. In addition, you’ll find sample stretching programs that you can follow as is or personalize to meet your body’s needs.Best of all, Prescriptive Stretching shows you how to quickly assess your pain and identify the stretches to reduce discomfort. Specifically, you’ll find recommendations for these common ailments:- Headache
- Back pain
- Neck stiffness
- Shoulder soreness
- Golfer’s elbow
- Tennis elbow
- Runner’s kneeWhether you’re looking to increase range of motion or simply eliminate muscle pain and discomfort, Prescriptive Stretching has you covered. Comprehensive yet easy to use, it’s the guide you’ll turn to again and again.

The author stresses the importance of daily stretching and stretching corectly to achieve maximum movement of the body.  The method of stretching which the author uses is called Proprioceptive Muscular Facilitation, or PNF which is also known as “contract-release”.  This method, PNF, involves stretching the muscle to the end point, relaxing, then tightening the muscle without moving, relaxing again, and then stretching towards a new end point, repeating several times.  This approach allows for a better range of motion and to help the muscles.

It is really a great book to have handy at my house.  I’ve been using their pages on the lower back for two weeks now and I am basically pain free…actually, it’s been three full days with no Advil when I wake up in the mornings!  YAHOO!!!  :)  I love this book…

Here’s the Table of Contents:

Introduction

Muscles and Bones of the Human Body
Stretching Fundamentals
Targeted Stretches
Programs for Pain Relief
Assessing Flexibility and Muscle Balance
Stretch Index
References
About the Author
Here are two great articles by this same author:
Interested in buying the book?  Please visit Human Kinetics’s webpage.
Want to win a book?  One lucky 3 Boys and a Dog reader will get a chance to win a book of your own (worth $19.95):

REQUIRED COMMENT: Visit the Prescriptive Stretching’s info page, look around, then come back and tell me why this book would come in handy for you or someone you know.

BONUS #1: Follow @momof3boys3702 on Twitter and RT this contest. The easiest way to retweet is to simply click the green ReTweet on the top right of this post. YOU MAY TWEET ONCE DAILY

BONUS #2: Like 3 Boys and a Dog on FaceBook then share this post by clicking the FaceBook share button at the bottom of this post.

Other bonus entries:

#1. Spread the word about this review by: email, forums, blogging, Digg, or putting the link in a meme. (one entry per thing done)

#2. Follow my blog.

#3. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

#4. Put my button on your blog.

#5. Leave a comment on any other post (excluding giveaways!) Be sure to leave a comment here saying which post.

#6 – Vote for me at Picket Fence by clicking the button on my sidebar. Be sure to leave a comment saying you did! YOU MAY VOTE ONCE DAILY!

CONTEST ENDS: at Midnight CST on August 3rd 2011

OPEN TO: US and Canada

*DISCLAIMER: I was sent this book for free to help facilitate my review. Any opinions stated are strictly my own.*

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