Rainforest Alliance Week - Starts Today - Find Out How Consumers Can Help Make the Planet Greener

Eco Living

Today is the start of Rainforest Alliance Week both locally and in cyberspace. As a family that loves nature and lives as green a life as much as we possibly can, I feel compelled to pass that bit of news on to like-minded readers. Come to think of it, the rest of the world -- especially children and families -- would definitely benefit from having the knowledge of what this save the environment effort is all about, too.

This awareness campaign is being orchestrated by the Rainforest Alliance, an organization that -- according to their website -- "Works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior."

Beginning on Monday, September 19, look for the official little green frog in stores and cafes, in the media, and on Facebook and Twitter posts.

My triplets & big brother just loved these real South American Parrots

Vintage photo

Read on to find out how consumers can get in on all the fun and games about a very serious concern.

But, first, watch the funny video below that was just released today by Rainforest Alliance about the "hazards" that await shoppers at the grocery store!

Here are just a few of the many other ways you and your kids can get involved

• Find out where you can buy Rainforest-friendly certified products such as coffee, tea, chocolate, fruit, paper, furniture and other products
• Participate in one or more Rainforest Alliance's special events or promotions this week online or in your local area. 
• Follow Rainforest Alliance on Twitter and/or fan on Facebook for additional updates and other ways to take part in a great cause
• Subscribe to Rainforest Alliance's Frog Blog e-letter and they'll let you know when new events or other information about this week is added.

What things have you done or are doing to help save rainforests as well as to do your part for a greener world? I hope you'll share your comments and activities with the rest of us.

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FTC Disclosure: I support eco friendly initiatives such as this one and am committed to doing my part to educating the public about ways to live a more green lifestyle. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Foodiacs Newest Online Community for Foodies Launches with Fun Kids Mushroom Garden Kit

Gardening

Whenever I discover a really great find, I have to share it with my readers. That's definitely the case with Foodiacs -- the newest online community for foodies -- and their partnership with Back to the Roots. Currently Foodiacs is running a Grow Your Own Mushroom Garden 3 Box Special for $40 that's shipped directly to your home. Whether you love gourmet cooking and would just like to really get some locally grown produce or you have kids and you want to do something fun, educational and healthy together, this garden in a box that produces up to one and a half pounds of tasty, nutritious pearl oyster mushrooms is just the thing. No green thumb is needed, all you do is follow the easy directions this comes with.

Image provided by Back to the Roots

Would be mushroom growers can always buy this growing set, as well as several other products, direct from Back to the Roots at the regular price of $19.95/box. But, if you purchase two mushroom garden boxes through the Foodiacs site up until 11:59 am EST on September 20, you'll receive a third box and classroom curriculum to be donated to the school of your choice.


My own Back to the Roots garden box just arrived in the mail today. In fact the inner plastic bag filled with 100% coffee grounds growing medium and the beginnings of what I hope will be a bumper crop of tasty mushrooms is submerged in a bucket of cold water for 24 hours right now, as it says on the directions. Stay tuned to hear about the results of our first-time foray into mushroom growing -- We could be harvesting our first crop in less than 2 weeks.

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FTC Disclosure: Back to the Roots provided me with a mushroom growing kit. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Evenflo SimplyGo Breast Pump Giveaway For Expectant or New Moms to Nurse Baby, Ends 10/3

Giveaway

Details Below - Ends October 3

I can't express how excited I am about this Evenflo SimplyGo Breast Pump giveaway. That's because as a mom of four born within a year -- including triplets plus one more -- few mothers could be a bigger fan than I am both about nursing naturally and using a breast pump to supplement baby feedings. 

Though my own babies have since grown into teens, I still continue to spread the word to today's young new mothers that breast milk is still the healthiest nutrition option for your growing child. That's not even to mention that the milk is free when you produce it yourself while formula might be convenient to use but you will have to pay dearly for it. 

Evenflo SimplyGo Single Electric Breast Pump

Image provided by EvenFlo

For sure, breast pumps are a great way for your baby to still benefit from your natural milk when you are at work, traveling, or just out for the evening with your dear hubbie for a few hours of BCTT (before children together time).  A pump is certainly a welcome virtual assistant for you to extract milk during those times when you might need to be away when your baby is hungry.

Just imagine, if you have a pump. While you get a good night's sleep, DH can get up in the middle of the night and bottle feed that darling newborn with your fresh breast milk. It freezes well, too, so you can stock up on it for use when you must be away from your child for extended periods.

My own infant triplets at just about a month old

Vintage Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Evenflo, a well-respected maker of traditional baby bottles as well as breast pumps and other products, invested two years of research with lactation consultants prior to introducing their new line of SimplyGo Breast Pumps. These include the SimplyGo Single Electric Breast Pump, the SimplyGo Dual Electric Breast Pump, and the SimplyGo Manual Breast Pump. Comfortable and compact in design, these breast pumps are all not only small and meant to be handheld, they are also portable, convenient, and are mall enough to fit in a diaper bag for the occasional pumping mom.

Product Features

• BPA free
• Single and Dual pump models with various accessories included
• Quiet operation, running on 3 AA batteries or AC adapter
• All 3 models available at Walmart, Kmart, and Burlington
• Single pump also may be purchased at Babies R Us, Target and select food and drug stores
• Single Pump, $44.99 SRP; Dual Pump, $59.99 SRP

Don't miss your chance to WIN

the Evenflo SimplyGo
Single Electric Breast Pump

HOW TO ENTER

Leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends October 3, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying what you like best about the featured product. Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Additional Extra Entries

Get extra entries to win for doing any combination of the easy options listed below. Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your extra chances to win.

1.  Follow MBE on Twitter

2. Like MBE on Facebook

3. Subscribe to MommyBlogExpert

4. Follow Evenflo on Twitter

5. Like Evenflo on Facebook

Super ***Bonus Entries***

You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day. Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

TWEET:
Evenflo SimplyGo Breast Pump GRAND GIVEAWAY ~ http://tinyurl.com/3utcbbr #baby #nursing #newborn Pls RT

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FTC Disclosure: Evenflo is providing the prize for this giveaway. However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.