Category Archives: Product Reviews

BE YOUR OWN YOU! Girls and Self-Esteem

  By Donna DeForbes | June 4, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
4 Comments
Girls and Self-Esteem | Eco-Mothering.com

Since the moment I knew I was having a baby girl, I wanted her to be strong and confident and brimming with the self-esteem that eluded me as a girl. (Do mothers of sons have these thoughts, or do we naturally assume boys are born with loads of self-esteem?) I still struggle with maintaining confidence in who I am or what I do. Feeling “not enough” is one of my gremlins. So how do I teach my daughter what I never learned? And what exactly is self-esteem? One dictionary offered two contradictory definitions: self-es•teem (noun) 1. A realistic respect for or favorable impression of oneself; self-respect. 2. An unduly high opinion of oneself; vanity Those who follow the second definition equate self-esteem with conceit (ridiculous, isn’t it?) and therefore tend to see it as a bad thing. They use phrases like “having a big head” or “getting too big for your britches.” Sadly, these parents usually have low opinions of themselves because they too were raised … Continue reading →

Save The Rainforest with This Reusable Water Bottle

  By Donna DeForbes | May 14, 2013 - 5:30 am | , ,
Leave a comment
rainforest

SIGG and Cuipo (a social enterprise named for an endangered, towering tree) have gotten together to promote rainforest conservation. They recently debuted three new children’s water bottle designs: Tiko the toucan, Peaches the pink dolphin and Cezar the Emperor Tamarin monkey. With each purchase you can save one square meter of Central American rainforest. The SIGG bottles are typically Swiss—designed to be stylish, clean and functional—and made from 100% recyclable aluminum. The liners are BPA- and phthalate-free and have no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). My daughter likes her pink dolphin and doesn’t complain about a metallic taste in her beverage. The cool part is activating your special code to save a section of rainforest. Sign in and redeem your code online with Cuipo. You’re automatically taken to a map that shows the section (latitude and longitude) of rainforest designated in your (or your child’s) name. This makes a pretty cool geography lesson, … Continue reading →

YES TO GRAPEFRUIT Product Review and Giveaway

  By Donna DeForbes | April 9, 2013 - 6:00 am | , ,
23 Comments
yesto-grapefruit-triple-pack

I remember when the YES To beauty brand launched with YES To Carrots. The designer in me was drawn to their stylish logo and packaging. The nature girl in me was drawn to their veggie ingredients and lack of parabens, phthalates and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). Over the years, YES To expanded to cucumbers, tomatoes and blueberries. I’ve been a fan of the Cucumber Soothing Body Butter for sensitive skin and the Blueberry Cleansing Towelettes —the cloths are biodegradable! Their newest line of fruit products, YES To Grapefruit, is geared toward repairing damaged skin. Grapefruit—known for treating infections and depression—is high in vitamin C and antioxidants, those lovely things that protect cells from free radicals. The lycopene helps even skin tone. So doesn’t it seem the perfect fruit for your face and body? Some of the main ingredients in the YES To grapefruit product line include: Licorice Root, which calms and … Continue reading →

Top 5 Healthy Snacks Kids Love

  By Donna DeForbes | April 5, 2013 - 6:00 am | ,
3 Comments
Healthy Kids' Snacks | Eco-Mothering.com

Pears Pecorino This Tuscan treat was introduced to us years ago by friends. It is quite delicious, if a bit messy, and is always well received at potlucks. (Make it right before eating.) The ingredients: ripe pears, Pecorino Romano cheese, honey and walnuts. Slice the pears and arrange on a plate. Add a hunk of cheese (or a delicate sliver) to each slice. Drizzle with honey. Sprinkle walnuts on top. Buon appetito! Be sure to keep the cloth napkins handy. Fruit and Yogurt Muesli Another Italian inspiration, this was part of our daily breakfast buffet in Lake Como last spring. We reinvent it at home on weekends. There are many versions of muesli (a cereal introduced in 1900 by a Swiss physician), but this is how we like it. We use Chobani yogurt, which is nice and creamy, usually whatever flavor we have on hand. Add chopped apples and bananas. … Continue reading →

LIVE GOOD Sustainable, Luxury Bedding: Product Review and Giveaway

  By Donna DeForbes | February 26, 2013 - 7:00 am | , ,
4 Comments
Organic Bedding | Eco-Mothering.com

Daylight Savings Time is two weeks away (March 10), which inspires hope that spring is just around the corner. After a snowbound winter, I yearn to fling windows open so that fresh air filters into my home. I want to de-clutter every corner and trade in the flannel sheets for lighter, whiter, cooler fabrics. In my dream home, I’ve always envisioned a complete bedding overhaul down to the organic cotton and wool mattress with natural rubber core. With one-third of our lives spent sleeping, quality bed linens seems a no-brainer. While I haven’t made the investment yet, (I did purchase organic cotton sheets for Sofie, but she inevitably prefers the gifted polyester-blend Disney fairy ones) it’s still my long-term vision. So when Live Good approached me to review one of their eco-friendly home goods, I jumped at the chance. Launched in 2012, Live Good’s mission is to create quality, luxury … Continue reading →

Flechada Designer Bag: Product Review and Giveaway

  By Donna DeForbes | January 29, 2013 - 7:00 am | , ,
8 Comments

The wonderful people at Flechada have sent me their Bohemian Love canvas tote (originally priced at over $200) for a giveaway to one lucky reader. Flechada, which means “love-struck,” is a young company that features Latin American designers and artisans who create one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothing, shoes and handbags. Their products include a category of sustainable or eco-friendly items, including this canvas tote. I was surprised at the size of the beach bag when I received it. Plenty of room for beach towel, clothes, and books… or even a small dog. The tote is made with “caña de fleche,” which is a raw, vegan material found in the palm trees of Colombia. Canvas on the outside, faux leather on the bottom and inside, with interior pockets and an attached zippered case for keeping smaller items sand-free. The bag is a work of art, really, with handwoven accents made by the Wayuu … Continue reading →

PRODUCT REVIEW: TriCalm Steroid-Free, Anti-itch Gel

  By Donna DeForbes | January 1, 2013 - 8:00 am | , ,
1 Comment
Tricalm Anti-Itch Gel

As a member of Kiwi Moms Meet, I sometimes receive green products to review. The latest is TriCalm, an anti-itch gel whose biggest claim is that it’s 100% steroid-free — an important element to a natural mom like me. My main use of the gel was for an old tick bite on Sofie’s scalp. The small red bump often itches, especially in the dry cold air. Her doctor said it will eventually heal, but in the meantime we should apply anti-itch creams. She mentioned steroid creams, which I’ve used before, but I didn’t want to use a skin-thinning, UV-ray sensitive chemical on my daughter. This TriCalm gel seems to help keep itching at bay. We have to apply it frequently, but at least it’s safe, clear and odorless (unlike some stinky pink anti-itch creams I’ve rubbed into her hair previously). When I tried TriCalm on the dry skin on Sofie’s … Continue reading →

PRODUCT GIVEAWAY: Eco-Friendly Stickers That Turn Boxes into Toys

  By Donna DeForbes | December 4, 2012 - 7:00 am | , , ,
Leave a comment

  These eco-friendly stickers from Box Play are made from 100% recycled materials, and they add a clever twist to household cardboard headed for the recycle bin. Turn toilet paper and paper towel tubes, macaroni boxes, milk and egg cartons into toys the kids can use (or bears, for that matter). Enter the raffle below for a chance to win some of these fun stickers. Want more ideas for eco-friendly toys this holiday season? View my Top 25 Green Gifts for Kids. Giveaway Closed Disclosure: Thanks to Microempowering.org for providing free samples for review and for a reader giveaway. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. To enter, follow the instructions above. Winner receives a pack of 4 stickers: binoculars, rocket ship, camera and tractor.