Product Reviews & Interviews

EcoStore USA Review and Giveaway

by Stacy on May 12, 2009

Some reviews are hard to write, you are either not that impressed with the product or drastically uninspired to write anything eloquent. That is certainly not the case when it comes to reviewing Eco Store USA. In fact, the reviews were practically written by the second day we started using their products. Hesitant it could be that easy, I have waited a few weeks (make that a month) to make sure none of my feelings about the products have changed. Let me assure you, they have not.

Product #1: Ecostore USA Baby Moisturizer $8
This moisturizer could not have arrived in my household at a more perfect time. We had just moved from a harsh winter in Germany to a dry warm climate in Texas, with record breaking hard water. Almost immediately my family’s skin started to dry out and crack. My husband and I had purchased two different moisturizers – neither of which was helping our condition. When the EcoStore Moisturizer arrived I quickly rubbed a bit on my hands and was pleasantly surprised. The smell is a citrusy, clean scent perfect for my daughter and my perfume sensitivities. The moisturizer goes on smoothly and instantly traps moisture into your skin. Since this moisturizer is made for babies, it does have a bit of a greasy feel that lingers (just what a little one needs). My daughter giggles in delight each morning when I massage this moisturizer into her skin. My husband’s cracked hands are healing and the tight skin around my expanding belly feels a little more like its old self. I would definitely recommend this moisturizer to others and would love to gift it to my friends.

Why KSW loves it: The clean, citrusy smell and moisture trapping consistency. Once we started putting it on our hands, we could not stop. Also, I love the way it makes my toddler’s legs feel baby soft all over again.

Tip: We found this moisturizer works better as an all-day lotion, than an after bath lotion. You just won’t feel all the yumminess of this lotion if your skin was recently wet.

Product #2: Eco Baby Body Wash $10
If you knew my husband, you would really get an understanding of how terrific this baby wash is. To say he is a bit of a naysayer is an understatement. He also believes that all things “green” are a hoax. He judges all things to the same standards – HIS, and I assure you they are always high. Who better to evaluate a bath product for kids, right? Opportunity struck one weekend while my kids were in the tub and I was in the shower. Hubby popped in to see if he could lend a hand with the bathing process, so I asked him to soap up the kiddies. By the way, I mentioned, let me know what you think of the bath wash, I’m doing a review on it for the website. “Great”, his enthusiastic reply in an oh-so-condescending tone. Bath time came and went without squeals, obsessive crying or any toddler meltdowns. “So, what did you think of the bath wash”, I called out from the shower? This might be the greatest stuff ever, he replied just out of my line of sight. I stuck my head out assuming he was mocking me. “Really?” I said? Yeah, it’s great.

Why KSW loves it: Unlike most baby washes, this one is ultra thin. This makes it perfect for rinsing off toddlers and infants who do not like getting water in their eyes, ears, nose or mouth. They rinse clear in just seconds and smell delicious.

Product #3: Eco All Purpose Spray
I put this All-Purpose spray on the same level as the Clorox Anywhere Spray. It is green, mild and can be sprayed just about anywhere. I’ve used this a few times around the house so far, but I admit I am saving this for when the new baby comes. It will be great for wiping up the endless spills associated with newborns (spit-up, drool, and more)

Why KSW loves it: I am not afraid to spray my baby play-mats with it and then let my baby crawl around afterwards.

And now for the part you’ve all been waiting for … Melissa of EcoStore USA was gracious enough to give us a $25 Gift Card for one lucky KSW reader. If you’d like to try $25 in fantastic eco-friendly products then just follow theses steps

Ways to Enter to Win a $25 EcoStore USA Gift Card

1. Leave a comment on this post stating how you’d spend your EcoStore USA Gift Card (Required – 1 Entry)

2. Tell your friends about this giveaway, if they mention your name in their comment you’ll get an extra entry (Optional – 1 Additional Entry per mention)

3. Tweet about this giveaway, be sure to add @steet to your tweet so I’ll be able to see it (Optional – 1 Additional Entry)

** Be sure to enter your email address so we’ll be able to contact you if you win **

Contest ends Sunday, 17 May 9pm CST

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KSW Loves Jitterbug

by Stacy on April 16, 2009

Looking for a great way to entertain your kids when you’re fresh out of ideas? Wishing you had something kid-friendly to put on for your kids to dance or something mellow you could all listen to during craft time? Wishing that all the children’s music you’ve found didn’t make you want to bury your head in a pillow? Problem Solved! All of them … with one simple website, Jitterbug.tv

Jitterbug.tv is the brainchild of two amazing dads, Dan Gellert & Randall Green. An online video/radio interface dedicated to finding great Kindie (independent music for kids) both children and parents can enjoy. How great is that? This pair of dad’s of music loving three year olds, have done an amazing job hand selecting artists & songs and creating a super friendly website for parents and children alike. I was lucky enough to grab a few minutes of their time for a quick interview. Here’s what Dan & Randall had to say about Jitterbug:

KSW: What influence have your children had on the site’s layout and music choices?

Dan: Our 3 year old girls are the testers for sure. Having lots of thumbnail pictures was something I noticed Emily (my daughter) pointing to constantly. Also, the jitterbug logo was blessed by Emily as she gave the thumbs down to some other versions. Concerning music choices, It seems variety is embraced as well as consistency – Emily likes to know the same video will be there for her to come back to until she looses interest eventually.

Randall: Truth be told the catalyst for Jitterbug was probably Jacks Big Music Show and the fantastic musical guest appearances, including Laurie Berkner. The show and the musical guests made me realize that kids music could cross over as I really enjoyed the music almost as much as my daughter.

KSW: What has been your favorite music find so far? What about your children’s?

Dan: I like the Dog On Fleas band, and Emily is constantly changing her favorites, but some of her favorites have been Gustafer YellowGold and The Jimmies.

Randall: Hard question to ask us as we like so many, but Piper (my daughter) was initially a Laurie Berkner groupie but has recently turned her attention to Randy Kaplan.

KSW: Since starting Jitterbug, would you say you & your family have been brought closer together through the process?

Dan: Yes, I often hear “Let’s watch jitterbug” from Emily. I’ve noticed you cannot really be cranky or moody when watching stuff on Jitterbug, it always lightens the mood.

Randall: Yes, Jitterbug has been a “family project” with everyone involved. The first thing my daughter asks for in the morning is to see Jitterbug. The interesting thing is we all usually agree on the music.

KSW: Recommend three of your favorite (or your children’s favorite) videos?

Dan: I never tire of Ugly Fruit by Dog On Fleas and Emily often requests Malti by Dan Zanes and this Greek Lullaby

Randall: Guastafer Yellowgood, The Jimmies and Eric Herman

KSW: Have you added any music lately that relates to Earth Day, recycling, or any other nature/outdoor activity?

Dan: Well, the one that comes to mind for outdoor activity is Tricycle and Diggin in the Dirt by Frances England

Why We Love Them: Let me count the ways- No really, For starters, it’s FREE! Sure I tried finding kids music on You Tube once or twice but the quality was poor and the good stuff tended to get lost in the mix. Jitterbug.tv puts the best Kindie music at your fingertips and even offers a FREE streaming radio service. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned to Jitterbug to calm my children since our move in Feb. My little ones know many of the songs by heart and ask to see the site AT LEAST once a day.

KSW’s Top Picks:

Rainy, Rainy Day by Milkshake

Everything is Alright by Big Bang Boom

The Elephant Song by Eric Herman

3 Year Old Faves:

Willy was a Whale by Justin Roberts

Polar Bear over There by Uncle Rock

I Found It by Brady Rymer

2 Year Old Faves:

Spider Monkey & The Rhino Song from Big Green Rabbit

Animal Alphabet Song by The Hollow Trees

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Sweet Tweets from Raspberry Kids

by Stacy on April 11, 2009

little_chipipi_red_robin_wall_stickers_1

This gorgeous Little Chipipi Red Robin wall sticker collection was sent my way shortly after arriving to Texas. With no furniture in the house and plenty of time on our hands, my children and I have become VERY fond of these adorable decals. I wasn’t quite sure how these delicate looking stickers would hold up to being handled by two aggressive toddlers, but they have certainly proven their durability in this house. (Word of Caution: The dragonflies are a bit more delicate than the other pieces) Still, our final verdict: Not only do these decals look amazing but they can take a little abuse too.

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My youngest (2) loves to stick them all on top of each other, only to immediately rip them apart again and then stick and restick to the walls- over and over and well, you get the idea. My oldest (3) prefers to take his shirt off and stick them all over his body. He gets such a kick out of it and admittedly, I do too. Perhaps one of these days, I’ll manage to have a camera nearby to catch him in action. I’m sure Grandma would appreciate a shot of that. I’m happy to announce the decals are still rather sticky after several play dates with my children and even after being ground into our brand new shedding carpets (I know, what’s with that?) quite a few times. Repositioning is a breeze and the creative possibilities are endless.

chipipi_red-robin

Why We Love Them: Besides the fact they’re adorable, the Little Chipipi wall decals are a mom made product that delights the interior designer hiding inside of us AND satisfies our need for a bit of whimsy in the kids bedroom. Also available in flower power and an adorable surfer-vibe transportation theme, check them out at the always Fresh and always Fun, Raspberry Kids. (Love this store)

Cost: $65 ($55 w/ discount)- While priced higher than average wall decals on the market, these stickers provide a whimsical, artistic feel to the room instead of the novelty commercial look of some others we’ve tried. Note: Prices on site appear in Canadian Dollars, we have done an estimated US conversion for you. Get a 15% discount if you purchase by Earth Day with the coupon code: motherearth15

If you like this, Try These: The Little Chipipi Red Robin Wall Stickers would look great paired with these accessories we found during one of our favorite past times, shopping online.

Hot Pink Ruffle Curtains from Land of Nod ~ $29-39
Gazeebo Decorative Birdcage from Great Rooms Decor ~ $28 small, $40 Large
Pom Pom Organic Throw from PB Teen ~ $79
Cherry Blossom Drawer Pull from Etsy Seller Sweet Mix Creations~ $5

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Gimme My Jimmies Giveaway

by Stacy on March 7, 2009

If you’ve got young kids in the house, then most days you probably feel as if you’d do just about anything to listen to some real music for a while. You know the kind that you actually don’t mind being stuck in your head all day long. While KSW may not be able to solve this dilemma completely, but we do feel there should be some sort of middle ground. You know, a place where music is entertaining for children and well, not so grating to us … enter the new KSW Presents Parent-Friendly Music series. We’ll try out many of the new tunes so you don’t have to and then let you know all about them right here. To get this series started, we’ve chosen an up and coming, hip NYC-based rock band for kids known as: The Jimmies you certainly won’t want to miss.

The Jimmies
http://GimmeJimmies.com
-An Oppenheim “Best Toy of 2009″ & Parents Choice Award Winner
-#1 on Sirius/XM Radio’s KidsPlace
See The Jimmies live at: Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, The Target Book Fair, World Cafe Live & The Bushnell

This five-man group (um,I mean four guys and one amazing girl) has managed to find a way to tap into their inner child and produce some of the most creative kiddie music I’ve heard in a long, long time. Since the moment I downloaded the CD, it’s playful lyrics and up tempo beats have had my toes tapping and my head bobbing (just as promised). It’s as if suddenly, someone made children’s music fun again and I get that “I’m a big kid again” feeling. Love that feeling, don’t you?

Why We Love It: Something about the Jimmie’s enthusiasm to entertain children speaks to us. We love the way they have taken ordinary topics and turned them into something truly extraordinary and educational at the same time.

KSW’s Recommended Tracks:

Hupsha – silly children’s reggae – perfect for getting the kiddies awake in the AM without going crazy in the process

PB & J- a zany take at a boring staple (not to mention some great new lunch ideas for parents)

Birthday Song – finally a great alternative to a tired old classic – you’ll want everyone singing this at your next birthday party

Toddler Recommended Tracks:

What’s on Your Shirt – my three year old REALLY enjoyed this song and was singing along mid-way through the first time I played it

And now for the really fun part … The Jimmies are graciously GIVING AWAY a CD to one lucky KSW reader!

Three Ways to Enter:

1. Leave a comment here to be automatically entered to win

2. Visit The Jimmies website, watch the videos and leave a new comment here saying which one was your favorite and why

3. Twitter a link to this giveaway - come back and leave another new comment with your Twitter name (I’m @steet if you want to follow me.)

Feel free to do all three to gain several entries to win! You have until 10pm EST on Sunday, March 15, 2009, to enter.

This Giveaway has officially ended. A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Comment #11 - Wendy G {aka @MyGreenSide on twitter} for winning this fabulous giveaway. We’ll contact you soon to make arrangements for you to receive your CD.

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