Miessence Organics: Diva Review & Giveaway

Congratulations to the winner!

I was introduced to Miessence Organics by Erin Ely an Independent Representative who has been following PND and knew that I had to check out their line!

What I love about Miessence Skin Care products is that every ingredient in the skin care line is certified organic to food standards by the Australian Certified Organic (ACO).

They also ship all of their products fresh from the factory and suggest their product be used within 6 months to ensure you get the full benefit of the active ingredients.  Miessence also uses cold pressed formulations – this ensures that heat will not kill the active ingredients during processing.

They have a full line of body care products,  skincare and makeup that you can use with confidence – the entire product range scores from 0-2 in the Cosmetics Database.

I wish I could go to the store to try all these fantastic products, but they are only available through independent distribution.  The line prices out with  cleansers at $42, shampoo & conditioner that are $22 each, and at $40 their facial serums are a bargain.

Erin did send me their Rejuvenessence Facial Serum to try – it was  little too rich for daily use on my skin, but I adjusted to using it 2 or 3 times a week and that has been just right.  It has a rich botanical fragrance and absorbs quickly into the skin.

Lucky for us, Erin has agreed to give one lucky reader a $50 gift certificate to try Miessence for themselves!  Use it for toothpaste, sunscreen, shampoo, make up – it’s your call – but use it with confidence because this company prides themselves on being 100% organic and natural.

Win a $50 Gift Certificate for Miessence Organics

HOW TO ENTER:

There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.

Mandatory

Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar. Leave a comment with a name I can print in our newsletter if you win. Winners are only announced in our newsletter – so don’t forget to check!

• The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.
• Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.

Additional Entries

1. Go to ElyOrganics and share what you will use your $50 to buy!
2. Stumble, Digg, Kirsty, or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.
3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar) and @erinely on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.
4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva and Miessence Organics on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.
5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “WIN a $50 Gift Certificate for Miessence Organics, make-up, skin care… Diva Giveaway http://bit.ly/bhvrJ8 @purenaturaldiva #ElyOrganics”. Leave a comment and link in the comments.
6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!

This giveaway will run through midnight on May 22, 2010 PDT, with winner being announced May 24, 2010 in the PND Newsletter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before the contest is re-opened until the following weekend.

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.

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Costco Line of Green Cleaners

Costco  introduced a new line of environmentally friendly cleaning products.   It is their own Kirkland Brand – and it’s packaged in 70% recycled material.

The Line Includes:

Liquid Laundry Detergent
Dish Detergent
Automatic Dishwasher Detergent
All Purpose Cleaner

I’ve happily replaced my laundry detergent (method $12 + per 64 load ) with the Kirkland green brand, around $13 for 110 loads. – I like the fragrance, leaves the laundry with a light fresh smell – but not at all over powering.

For all purpose cleaner – I make my own for less than $1 per bottle – but I did buy a bottle to try. I’ll report back once I’ve used it.

The Automatic Dishwasher Detergent works equally well in my dishwasher as the Seventh Generation. The packaging doesn’t the little metal pour spout -which is greener, but I must confess I miss it. It won’t stop me from using this detergent.

Some reviews have said Kirkland Brand is not as green as brand like; Planet and Seventh Generation, but for those of you moving in the green direction it’s a much better alternative than conventional brands, a big step in the right direction by Costco. Not to mention being much kinder to our wallet that other green brands.

Ratana Eco Salon in Hollywood: Hair Salon Review

My husband has been asking me for ages to go back to the Auburn Hair Color I was when we first met.  I stopped coloring my hair when I was pregnant with Lil’ Diva.  After she was born and I’d learned even more about the toxins in hair coloring – I was happy to avoid the exposure and keep my natural color.

Little did I know – there are other options.  You can find salons that offer beautiful color with dramatically safer color options.

Today I visited Ratana Salon – A hidden gem in West Hollywood off La Cienega just south of Santa Monica Blvd.  You even enter the salon off the back lane!

You won’t find any hustle or bustle here – instead you’ll meet Ratana, possibly her sister, Suchana, and be soothed with zen-like music in an intimate Spa like atmosphere.  There is one station for one  client, and the first thing I noticed after walking into the salon was the absence any chemical smell.

Ratana began the process of becoming a greener salon a year ago -  they’ve come a long way in that time.  After working as a salon owner and stylist for over 20 years, she decided to change over to a less toxic coloring system because the traditional chemicals were making her sick.

The color process she uses – Organic Color Systems – employs heat  to open the hair follicle and prepare it for the color.  Traditional coloring uses ammonia.  This system does take a little extra time – so if you decide to try it out be sure to allow 2 hours for your color process.

Ratana offers Organic Care Systems hair care line and Eminence Organic Skin Care .

Ask for tea or coffee and you’ll get an organic offering – right down to the organic cream… and… oh… it will be served in a real mug.

A trip to the powder room and you’ll find the paper products are 100% recycled.

Ratana decided we should try a semi permanent process on my hair  and successfully transformed me into an Auburn Diva once again.  Semi permanent is a great choice for those who don’t need to cover gray and want to have less pressure to “get your roots done.”

Whether you live in Los Angeles or not – if you color your hair it may be time to ask your stylist to make a few changes or find an Eco Salon in your area.  When I asked my personal stylist why more salons aren’t offering organic options – he said when it comes to beauty women just don’t care.  I truly hope this isn’t true.

Ratana Salon
916 1/4 N. La Cienega Blvd.
(enter thru La Cienega alley)

Phone: (310) 659-2239

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RevitaPOP – the B12 Lollipop: Review

Longtime readers will be familiar with my experience with Vitamin B12 or Methylcobalamin B12 (Melthylated B12 or MB12) is that it is Vitamin B12 that has been  methylated to enable the body to absorb vitamin B12 better, in it’s regular form B12 doesn’t readily absorb.

For those who are not – B12 is one of my go to cold & flu remedies.  There is no scientific data to my knowledge supporting it’s use.  That said, I know when I get a sore throat – a dose of B12 and the sore throat is gone.

The challenge with this natural remedy is getting your hands on it in a way that our bodies will benefit from it.  You can’t just take a tablet.

You can:

Order it from a compounding pharmacy in Georgia with a prescription.

Make your own compound using 5000 mcg sublingual tablets crushed into .5 oz of water in a dropper or nasal spray bottle (Read Comments in Diva Cold & Flu Tool Kit).

Find a Doctor who administers B12 shots.

The B12 lollipop – revitaPOP – a delicious Lolli that no child will turn down.

In our family we use this remedy treating the common cold, but many say they have had great success using B12 with ADHD,  Irritable Bowel,  and autism to name a few of the symptoms they list on their site.

While their statements have not been evaluated by the FDA they do list numerous sources & studies pointing to it’s efficacy on their site.  I know if I had a child that suffered from autism I would be willing to invest in a few lollipops to see if I noticed any improvement.

revitaPOP contains – no gluten, no casein, no Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’S), no FD & C Colors, no dairy, no artificial flavors, no dyes, no synthetics, no pesticides, no preservatives.

Ingredients – Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Rice Syrup, Organic Fruit Juice, Citric Acid & Natural Goji flavor.

Children may safely take 1 Revita Pop, adults may take 2.

My one wish was that they had formulated  revitaPOP without  Cane Juice – and that it was a little less expensive.  Revita Pops are $34.99 (plus shipping) per bag of 30 lollipops.

Conclusion:
RevitaPOP is a great way to easily administer vitamin B12 and it’s so yummy no one will feel even know they are taking their “medicine”.

They are currently offering a promotion that gives customers who subscribe to receive one bag monthly will get free shipping and get a bag of lollipops for the cost of shipping and handling ($10) when they subscribe.

Ready to Try revitaPOP for Yourself?

Enter to win a One Month Supply of revitaPOP – A $45 value.

HOW TO ENTER:

There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.

Mandatory

Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar.  Leave a comment with a name I can print in our newsletter if you win!

• The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.
• Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.

Additional Entries

1. Go to RevitaPop and share your favorite fun fact about this great company!
2. Stumble, Digg, Kirsty, or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.
3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar)  on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.
4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & revitaPop on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.
5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “WIN a One Month Supply of revitaPOP Vitamin B12 Lollipops a $45 Value Diva Giveaway  http://bit.ly/aFC7kB @purenaturaldiva”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.
6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!

This giveaway will run through midnight on April 10, 2010 PDT, with winner being announced April 12, 2010 in the PND Newsletter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entriesl. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen.

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.

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Seventh Generation: Diva Review

Regular readers already know I’m a big fan of making my own cleaning supplies. You just can’t beat the price!

I know that MANY of you are not ready to start mixing your own cleaners – clearly your sanity is still intact. That said – You do  want to know the best options for non toxic cleaning in your own home.

When it comes to green home cleaning products you can’t get too far into any discussion without talking about Seventh Generation, a leader in the non toxic, greener  household solutions industry.

What they have to say:

Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal-care products for your living home. Our products are healthy and safe for the air, the surfaces, the fabrics, the pets, and the people within your home — and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation also offers products for baby that are safe for your children and the planet.

Seventh Generation is their committed to inspiring change – their product labels are clear and you can understand what you are reading.  Their products will often  include a statement about the eco impact of your purchasing decision.  Statistics that have inspired me.

For Example

If every family replaced just one roll of virgin fiber 120 count Paper Towels with 100% recycled paper towels we would save 1 million trees!

If every family replace just one bottle of conventional liquid laundry detergent with a plant derived alternative we would save 466,000 Barrels of Oil!

Seventh Generation sent me their Free & Clear Home Started Kit to try out.

The kit includes:
Free & Clear Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner
Free & Clear Natural All Purpose Cleaner
Free & Clear Natural Dish Liquid
Free & Clear Natural Laundry Detergent, 32 oz
Free & Clear Fabric Softener, 50 oz
Natural Paper Towels (-1) 120 Count
Reusable Tote

If you haven’t ventured into non toxic, eco friendly cleaning & household products, this is a great company to try.   As a leader in the “green household solutions’ market I’m proud to share their products with my readers. Seventh Generation is aware of the fact that if their products don’t do the job – people won’t use them!  So the product effectiveness is imperative to them.

As a company they have a goal of being as transparent as they can with consumers.  They share both their victories and where they fall short of their goals on their website.  Repeatedly their products lead the way for being some of the best choices from both an toxin standpoint and their environmental impact in the industry.  Green is more than a marketing ploy, it is part of their corporate vision.

As a mother – one of the most compelling things I read on their entire site wasn’t statistic or figures, rather this story that was shared in their corporate consciousness report:

Dear Seventh Generation:
My heart has been overflowing with gratitude since Saturday night. I was emptying the
dishwasher, and hadn’t realized that it had malfunctioned (all of the dishwashing powder
was still in there). My daughter had opened the little detergent door when I wasn’t paying
attention. I looked down to see her with two handfuls and a mouthful of your dishwasher
powder. Frantic, I called Poison Control. “My daughter ate dishwasher powder.” They asked
what brand it was. “Seventh Generation.” “Oh, it’s fine then. Just wash it off her hands, and
give her a glass of water.” Thank you, thank you, thank you!   — Gabrielle

From my perspective this letter illustrates so much of what motivates me to make better choices for my family and care more about the environment for the future.  It’s about our children and their future.

Seventh Generation has a great website full of information & coupons.  So don’t forget to take advantage and save a few dollars – it all adds up!

Seventh Generation is Giving One Lucky PND Reader a Home Starter Kit (Retail Value $42)

HOW TO ENTER:

There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.

Mandatory

Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar.  Leave a comment with a name I can print in our newsletter if you win!

• The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.
• Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.

Additional Entries

1. Go to Seventh Generation and share your favorite fun fact about this great company!
2. Stumble, Digg, Kirsty, or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.
3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar) and @SeventhGen on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.
4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & Seventh Generation on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.
5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “WIN Free & Clear Home Starter Cleaning Kit!!! Diva Giveaway  http://bit.ly/aFC7kB @purenaturaldiva”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.
6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!

This giveaway will run through midnight on April 3, 2010 PDT, with winner being announced April 5, 2010 in the PND Newsletter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before the contest is re-opened until the following weekend.

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.

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target=”_blank”>Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….

Vapour Organic Siren Lipstick: Diva Review

Vapour Beauty is a New Mexico based company that joined forces with renowned make-up artist Erik Sakas.  They created a line of organic beauty products that is made using food grade organic ingredients.

Vapours shares many of the values that we embrace here at PND.  Acknowledging that as our largest organ; care should be taken with what we put on our skin.  Topically applied products will be absorbed into our bodies!  Adding toxins and chemicals will unduly burden our system, contributing to illness and disease.

They recently sent me a sample of their Siren Lipstick to review.

With a Diva Total of 14.8 out of 15 points this product is: Divaliscious!

Click here for review criteria:

8 Points for Skin Deep Low Hazard Rating of 1 - Excellent!
It should be noted that PND input the product ingredients and one item was not found in their database.

2 Points for being Organic – 95% organic content

2 Points for effectiveness – I was concerned that it wouldn’t have very good staying power and while it may not rival those in the extended wear lipstick category it’s certainly surprised me.  It nicely made it through lunch with the girls.  I also enjoyed the conditioning properties in the lipstick.  These days most lipsticks feel very drying on my skin, but the Siren felt hydrating.

1 Point for Texture – The texture of their lipstick was really nice, not sticky or heavy.

1 Point for Fragrance -  The fragrance is delicate and just a little fruity.

.4 Points for Packaging Appearance – Their lipstick comes in a tube and twirls out, much like chapstick.  Part of me missed the conventional twirl out of a more traditional lipstick.  However, when Lil’ Diva got her hands on the tube and I was able to “save” the tube by compacting all the lipstick back together again, I was VERY grateful!

.4 Points for Packaging Sustainability – Vapour uses wind power for all of their manufacturing.  Packaging is either recyclable or made from recycled materials.  We’d love to see all packaging made from post consumer materials, but they’ve made some great choices and hopefully will strive toward that goal.

Overall:

Vapour delivers a high quality organic lipstick using food grade ingredients.  This is fantastic because we wear it on our lips which means we’ll likely be ingesting a little of it!

Siren lipstick is available in 5 colors, desire, hint, knockout, ravish and tempt and retails for $19.

Ready to try Vapor for yourself… find it on www.ShopNBC.com and www.VapourBeauty.com.

The Looking Book: Diva Review

We have made a real effort to curtail the amount of Television our children watch.  Or at least I have, Dude and I aren’t exactly on the same page.  He thinks I’m doing it the hard way.  And he’s right, there are many times when turning the TV on would be much easier in the short run.

By leaving the Television off and limiting their exposure, I’m convinced they are developing their creativity and learning to come up with their own activities.

They also REALLY look forward to Saturday mornings with their father when they get to watch TV (and mom get’s to sleep in, so we all win!).

Recently, PND was asked to review The Looking Book by P.K. Hallinan.  P.K. has spent his career writing books that help children and parents alike.  With the  Looking Book he continues on that path.    His other books; Heartprints
and How Do I Love You?
are favorites in our family.

The story follows two brothers that go on a magical adventure in their own backyard.  The Looking Book gently encourages young readers to get outside where they can get lost in nature.

Like other P.K. books I found it easy to get energetic and “into” reading this story.  There were a number of places where it was easy to get excited with the kids, play and have fun.  As they explore it was also easy to segway into a conversation with Lil Diva & Dude about all the things they love to do on their outside adventures.

I love reading stories to my children that reinforce the values that we are working hard to instill.  It’s tough out there in this fast paced media driven world and anything that makes it a little easier to pry our children away from the electronics are  much appreciated!

The book is fun to read, is the right length, and has a sweet message with a timeless feel.  We’ll enjoy it for many a story time.

CLICK HERE to learn more about PK Hallinan.

The Diva Cup: Product Review

Gentlemen… this one is not for you. We’ll be discussing matters you’d rather know nothing about. I can’t even suggest you forward this to your spouse – she might take it the wrong way.

Ladies – for the duration of our “childbearing years” with varying degrees of regularity we all have to deal with our monthly cycle and all the joy it encompasses.

This monthly joy typically involves an arsenal of bleached feminine hygiene products. I’ve attempted to do some research on the health implications of using bleached tampons inside of our body and if there is information out there I’ve been unable to find it. Switching to unbleached and recycled tampons is no doubt an improvement.

I recently discovered a product called the Diva Cup and while this solution has it’s drawbacks, in my view it’s benefits are outstanding.  The Diva Cup is a small cylindrical silicon cup.  It reminds me a little bit of diaphragm’s I’ve seen (never tried one, so can’t speak to that).

Benefits

Safe, medical grade silicon is known to be non toxic to our bodies.

Correctly placed the Diva Cup is more comfortable than tampons.

No need to keep buying tampons or pads.

No need to carry extra supplies when you travel or are out and about.

Nothing gross to wrap or hide in the wastebasket.

Heavier flow just needs to be emptied more often, no additional products!

No “rip cord” dangling around. Nadda… Nothing… Fabulous! How gross is the rip cord. This reason alone will prevent me from ever going back to the old way!

With the caveat below – no bulky pad. Nadda… Nothing… Fabulous.

Less odor. Seriously! Smelled fresher, felt fresher.

Did I mention how comfortable it was.

What You Need To Know

The Diva Cup is not for the faint of heart. If you would not be comfortable inserting a applicator free tampon chances are you won’t be comfortable with this. It’s only a little bit more involved, but let’s just say there is only one way in.

It did take me a little time to learn how to tell if the Diva Cup was correctly situated. Users will quickly learn that if it doesn’t feel right, it’s not in correctly.  This is not a matter of leakage, rather it will feel a little uncomfortable if it’s not placed correctly.

You will need be rinsing out your cup, again not for the squeamish.

You MUST rotate the Cup one full circle – it says so in the instructions. When you do, it is leek free, comfortable and a delight. If you don’t – you might have a leek. It’s like screwing a lid on a jar… if you don’t turn it all the way the liquid won’t stay where you need it to stay.

You will want to wash the cup with a non toxic safe soap – The Diva Wash is a plant based, petroleum based option.

Environmentally Speaking

If you are looking for an environmental reason to make the switch consider the fact that in the US alone over 55.9 million women are using feminine hygiene products. These products need to be manufactured, disposed of and purchased over and over again. That’s 55.9 million women every month!

Conclusion
There is a learning curve to using this product. I’d suggest the first few times using a panty liner in the event that you have any leakage. Having said that my obligation to The Diva Cup will end when this giveaway is over and I won’t be going back to my old ways!  The Diva Cup is just so much better, so much more comfortable, and you can use it over and over again.

It’s not perfect, but if you took away the environmental benefits and ignored that it’s likely safer than tampons and only judged it as which method was superior – I would pick the Diva Cup.

Move past any squeamishness. Take the time to read the instructions and make the switch!

CLICK HERE to input your zip/postal code to find a retailer near you.

Congratulations to Heather S!  You’ve won the Diva Cup and full size Diva Wash!

HOW TO ENTER:

There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.

Mandatory:

Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar.
– The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.
– Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.

Additional Entries

1. Go to The Diva Cup and tell PND what size you would be or share something you learned.

2. Stumble, Digg, Kirsty or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.

3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar) & Diva Cup on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.

4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & Diva Cup on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.

5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “Diva Giveaway: Win The Diva Cup http://bit.ly/8kJga, Ladies this is for you! @purenaturaldiva”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.

6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!

This giveaway will run through midnight on Feb 13, 2010 PDT.  The  winner will be announced in the PND newsletter  Feb 15, 2010. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries.  Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen.

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S & Canada.

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target=”_blank”>Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….

Allison Mooney Design Jewelry: Review

By Tania Reuben

I love Etsy!  Their motto is Buy, Sell and Live Handmade.  Those who aren’t familiar need to check it out!  Etsy is a site for designers and artists to list and sell their wares.  One of the best parts about buying from an Etsy vendor is knowing that you are a part of truly supporting the person who made your item. My only problem with Etsy is there are so many vendors you can sometimes get lost browsing for hours.

One of my favorite finds on etsy this year is Allison Mooney Designs – CLICK HERE – to view her etsy shop.  Allison creates beautiful Jewelry, browsing through her site I wish I had most of her designs in my collection.

When she sent me a pair of her White Topaz and Filigreed Sterling Silver Drop Earringsto review I was thrilled.  So thrilled that I couldn’t chose on just one of her designs and had to order a pair of the Brushed Vermeil Trapeze Earrings too!  I’m glad that I did, the Trapeze Earrings are comfortable enough to wear all day long, super light and delicate yet dressy enough to wear out for date night.

The Silver Drop Earrings are gorgeous.  They are exrta light and comfortable. Dressy enough to wear at a cocktail party, but you could just as easily wear them with jeans and a t-shirt to add a little sparkle.  You do need to take care with the drop earrings, they will tangle if not stored correctly and you may find yourself spending a minute or two setting the dangle straight, such is the life of any dangle earring.

Allison’s designs are whimsical, elegant and have a timeless feel to them.  At the same time her pieces are perfectly current. Achieving that balance is a remarkable feet in design! I’m sure it was this balance that caught the eyes of Nordstrom buyers where her jewelry has sold.

Allison is a vendor with Nordstrom, but hasn’t shipped any new styles to them this year.  Her focus has shifted from volume production to motherhood.   She has missed attending Nordstrom trunk shows where she was able to meet her customers, socialize, and showcase over 200 pieces  allowing her to show her full range.

Allison is thankful for the positive response to her jewelry & her etsy store. She loves having a creative outlet that allows her to help support her family while still enabling her to be with her daughter during the day.

The holidays are Allison’s busiest time of the year, so she is grateful to have a supportive husband who steps up to the plate.  Taking care of the majority of the cooking, cleaning AND babywrangling.  Allison claims he’s her biggest fan, but I might have to fight him for that position!

Allison squeezes in her business with support from her husband, between baby naps (she’s lucky that little Mooney continues to take 2 naps!) and by sacrificing sleep, often staying up till midnight to complete orders during the holidays.

Take a few minutes to browse Allison’s store – you’ll be sure to find something you can’t resist!  If Santa didn’t bring you something shiny this year, pick out something yourself.

Congratulations to Carrie C, the winner of this great prize!

WIN a $30 Gift Certificate to Allison Mooney Designs!

HOW TO ENTER:

There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.

Mandatory:

Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar.

- The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.

- Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.

Additional Entries

1. Go to Allison Mooney Desings at Etsy and share your favorite design here! I promise it will be tough to keep it to one!

2. Stumble, Digg, Kirsty, or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.

3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar) on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.

4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & Allison Mooney Designs on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.

5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “WIN Gorgeous Handmade Baubles!!! Diva Giveaway: $30 Gift Certificate from Allison Mooney Designs http://bit.ly/52PMSh @purenaturaldiva”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.

6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!

This giveaway will run through midnight on Dec 30, 2009 PDT, with winner being announced December 30, 2009. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen.

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S and Canada.

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target=”_blank”>Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….

Sprig Toys Dolphin Explorer Boat: Review

Founded in 2007 by an award winning trio of toy veterans Sprig Toys set out to create toys that would inspire children’s imaginations, be responsibly manufactured and green.  A tall order in the toy industry.

In a few short years they have made their mark.  Winning prestigious awards like, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009, Creative Toy Award from Creative Child Magazine, Dr. Toy’s 100 best toy products of 2008 and others. This company has had a busy few years!

Sprig toys are made from Sprigwood™ a proprietary bio-composite of recycled wood and reclaimed plastic.  So it looks almost like a plastic toy, but not quite.  They use Sprigwood™ to make an assortment of eco friedly toys that they have broken into Series:

Sprigwood is dishwasher safe on the top shelf, so their non electronic toys can get squeaky clean with a little help from one of my favorite kitchen appliances.

Eco-Trucks – Excavators, Dump Trucks, and loaders oh my.  Playing in the sand and dirt is good clean fun with our affordable trucks.

Sprig Hallow -  Join Bee & Butterfly and other characters on adventures in the sand, garden, or pool. Includes playsets, vehicles, and outdoor tools all in one!

Story Builders – allow children to build and tell their own stories. They are a complete building playset and classic storybook rolled together.

The Adventure Series – a world full of vehicles, characters, and animals to stimulate fun filled expeditions on both land and water.

They recently sent Little Diva and Dude The Dolphin Explorer Boat from their adventure series.

The set consists of:

2 boats – Explorer Boat (largest item in the set) and smaller Rescue Boat
1 Life Preserver
2 Dolphins – Mother and Baby
1 Adventure Guide – Captain Owen
1 Adventure Hat – Interchangeable!
1 Backpack Accessory

Little Diva exclaimed on seeing photos of the Dolphin Explorer set “dolphins are my most favorite ocean animal ever!!!”  Picture the hands clasped over her chest.  She was so excited when the actual package arrived.

When I  opened the package for a sneak preview I was surprised to find the dolphin’s bottoms were hollowed out.  But after observing it in action I can see how this helps them float.  This also solves another common problem with toys that get water time… Mildew.  We have had so many toys end up thrown out because they had been taken over by mildew.  The open bottom of the dolphins enables for thorough cleaning.

The boat and dolphins float and their simple design allow your child’s imagination to dictate how they play with the set.

One Lucky Reader will win a Dolphin Explorer Boat, but if you just can’t wait find it on Amazon:

The winner has been announced in this weeks newsletter!  Check your inbox!

HOW TO ENTER:

There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.

Mandatory:

Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar.
– The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.
– Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.

Additional Entries

1. Go to www.sprigtoys.com and share your favorite new toy here!

2. Stumble, Digg, Kristi, or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.

3. Follow @purenaturaldiva and @SprigToys on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.

4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & Sprig Toys on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.

5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “Diva Giveaway: WIN the Dolphin Explorer Set from @Sprigtoys http://bit.ly/7pc4mK @purenaturaldiva”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.

6. Write a post on your blog linking to Pure Natural Diva and to Sprig Toys – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!

This giveaway will run through midnight on Jan 3, 2010 PDT, with winner being announced on January 4, 2009. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries.  Winner will be notified via PND Newsletter – Keep your eyes posted! Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen.

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.

Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….

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