PETfection - Review and Extra (Easy) Entry {#MadeInMichigan}

This is a review for one of my sponsors of the Made in Michigan Blog Giveaway Hop, which will take place from October 28 – November 2. I will be offering my readers the chance to win a (Hand)Made in Michigan prize package worth nearly $200! Please take a moment to read about this wonderful Etsy shop and then fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a very easy extra entry into the giveaway.



I have to tell you, I've tried every possible natural solution to the fleas and ticks and NONE have worked. I mean, I went so far as to start making my own cat food so I could add lots of garlic after reading that it's a deterrent to most biting insects. Nada, though I still make the cat food - healthier and way cheaper! I even paid an arm and a leg for some different "natural" solutions that still included chemicals that I can't pronounce and even they didn't work.


We live in a wetlands area and the woods behind our home are a great breeding ground for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers... I could go on and on. The woods also have lots of little critters - skunk, raccoons, opossum, squirrels, etc. - all of which my cat LOVES playing with. (Not kidding - he loves the spring, when all of the little babies come out for play time. He's got some very good raccoon friends!) Oh, and here's his favorite place to nap:

In frustration, I finally just bought some of those toxic drops you put on the back of your pet's neck (I think you know what I mean.) Applying that stuff meant our poor kitty, Number 1, was treated... differently for a few weeks. No sleeping on the bed. No getting petted. Under NO circumstances was he allowed near the kids or in the kitchen. I always felt so badly at his confusion. What did I do?! That's when the presents would start. Normally not a killer, he'd try to win out love back by leaving us little "gifts" on the porch: mice, birds, even little baby bunnies.

Enter my newest heroes:

PETfection sent me some Cat Bug Spray to try out - and just in time for the fall round of fleas! The Bug Spray is not an insecticide, rather a prevention. It is non-toxic and 100% organic, containing Peppermint and Geranium Hydrosols to deter the insects from even hitching a ride. It keeps fleas, ticks and mosquitoes away from both Number 1 and my family. Oh, and in addition to keeping the bugs away, it is also great for their skin, balancing the oil production. In the few short weeks we've been using the Cat Bug Spray, Number 1 has completely stopped itching and his fur seems even softer than ever. And I don't know if I can attribute this to the spray or not: The reminder of Number 1's last (stinky) romp with his skunk friend went away after just three days rather than the couple of weeks it normally takes.

I urge you to check out PETfection for any of your pet's needs (and wants, too!) They have their own line of shampoos, sprays, homemade treats, organic toys, and even gift baskets... just about any pet product you can think of. I love that they focus on pet health in this way. I mean, I know there are a lot of people out there who are concerned with their families' ingestion of toxins, but what about pets? Their bodies are so much smaller than humans' and, often, much more sensitive to chemicals and pesticides. If your pet is part of your family, then you really should treat him or her the same. You don't choose inferior snacks for your child because he's smaller, therefore less important. Why should you do so for Fido or Fluffy? I cannot think of a better way to put it, so this is directly from their Web site:

"No chemicals, additives, pesticides, solvents, fillers, or artificial preservatives are used in the cultivation, processing, transportation, or storage of any PETfection product or any of their ingredients."

Oh, and don't think that because PETfection has natural and organic pet products that they charge outrageous prices! Their Puppy Suds, for instance, comes in three sizes: 16oz, 4oz., and 2oz. and prices range from just $13.95 to $3.95 (with a few different scents to choose from). PETfection is based in Grosse Pointe, Michigan (right around the first joint in the "thumb", north of Detroit and on the western shore of Lake St. Claire.) AND, if you have your order shipped to any Michigan address, you will receive FREE SHIPPING - no coupon code needed!!!

You can find PETfection at their Web site, on Etsy (free shipping is only good on orders through their Web site), on Facebook, and on Twitter. 




Disclosure: I received one 2oz. bottle of Cat Bug Spray from PETfection for the purpose of writing this review. I received no other form of compensation. All opinions are my own.

My First Yoga Experience {Storyland #Yoga DVD}

I have always appreciated the meaning behind yoga and admired people who regularly did it. I just never thought much about it other than it was something I might like to try someday. Over the years, though, I began to hear a lot of people talking about how much they enjoy their yoga time and even about how it calms their kids. I began to feel a pull toward it - I needed something, anything, to help me relieve some of this stress. That's when Storyland Yoga came into my life.

Now, Storyland Yoga is not made for mommies, it is targeted at kids between the ages of 3 and 8 years old. The DVD I received has two different kids' yoga sessions that last about 20 minutes. I thought that if I could get Little Guy to do yoga with me. We'd have some solid one-on-one time while learning something together. I wanted to see if he'd be interested in the DVD before I got my hopes up, though, and got my chance one very energy-filled evening. As I was making dinner and little guy was letting off steam by way of jumping on the bed and making train sounds at the top of his lungs, I put the DVD on TV. The little intro played and his train became slightly muted. By the time the first session began, my rambunctious little boy was sitting on the bed, enthralled and even attempting to mimic the poses he was seeing.

Why did it capture his attention so quickly and fully? It's a quiet DVD with gentle music and even voices. It's not the usual attention-grabbing loudness that he usually stops to check out. Here's why: This isn't just a DVD with people in a room doing yoga - it's stories that children act out through yoga postures. The first session is entitled "Condor Trek" and has participants enacting a story about finding condor eggs and returning them to their nest. Along the way, children must walk through tall grass, act like a snake, row a kayak, become a bear, and much more. The story jumps between Children's Yoga Instructor, Ahmed Fahmy, and a group of children acting out the story & animated clips of the story. It really helps get kids watching the DVD to become involved. By the time the first session was over, dinner was done!

The next afternoon was rainy and cold. Little Guy's energy levels were through the roof and I was on the brink of losing it. I decided we'd try out actually doing yoga together. In the special features section of the DVD, there is a great resource: All of the poses are shown. Yes! I'm one of those people who needs to see these things being done before attempting to do them. I was kind of apprehensive about just jumping into a session with absolutely no idea of what was going on. So, Little Guy and I practiced the poses. We had a good time and, when I got a pose wrong, he noticed right away, "Silly Mama - Like this!" Yeah, his visual-spatial learning is amazing. He could just look at the TV screen and, at almost 3 years old, he could replicate what he saw happening. Once Mommy learned how to do the positions from Little Guy, we started up the "Save the Whale" session. It was fun! We both felt confident after trying out the poses beforehand, so we kept up with the story rather well (and it's a good story!)

One of the things I like best about this DVD is the group of children that you follow along with aren't all doing the poses perfectly. I have to admit that, if they were perfect, I might have ended up frustrated because I wasn't getting it right 100% of the time. And I could see that Little Guy was trying out the positions of the different kids', finding what was most comfortable for him. Just seeing these kids all doing the poses in their own way helped me remember the reason we were doing yoga in the first place - to become focused and release some energy, not to perfectly do exactly the same thing as everyone else. After the session, we were both in a happy place and ready to snuggle with some books. He actually ended up taking a nap!

All I can say is I highly recommend this DVD. It's a great change from all of the regular TV shows that are on all day long. We've been doing afternoon yoga for about a week and a half now and it's resulted in a nice snuggle session afterward every time. Little Guy feels pride that he has become such an expert on doing the poses. I even saw him playing with one of his teddy bears the other day - he was showing the bear how to be a snake! And I get to do some yoga, myself. The more used to the DVD that Little Guy has become, the more I am able to tune out and focus on doing my own thing.

Storyland Yoga is a product of Playful Planet. This company was created by Karen, a mom looking to raise her daughter to be a healthy person - on a healthy planet. Teaching children and their families about health and sustainability are the main goals of the company. Now, I've seen companies that claim these to be their own goals, but when you check out their Web site, the only "green" you see is a little box toward the bottom that says their packaging is made from recycled materials. Not true here! There are many more links to pages about how to live healthy and natural and how to teach young ones to do so than selling going on. For instance, I love Playful Planet's ABC's of Green

So, "vote" with your dollars and support a green business and give a little one you know a wonderful gift! You can buy Storyland Yoga at Amazon.com for only $14.99 (free shipping for Prime!)


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Enter To WIN Sweet P's Organic Skin Care Products @ Environmental Booty!

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Right now, fans of Environmental Booty have a chance to win some amazing products from Sweet P's Luxury Organic Skincare! Yes, it says "LUXURY" for a reason. Sweet P's produces a number of spa-worthy products for hair, body, skin care, sun protection, pain relief, babies, and even your home! With seven scent collections and over 150 oils in use, you are sure to find a combination that is perfect for yourself, your home, and to give that special someone an amazing, personalized gift! All products are made with certified organics and an Ecocert Preservative that is friendly and non-toxic to humans as well as the environment.

Now, not only are Sweet P's products environmentally-friendly and people-safe, they are AFFORDABLE! Check this out: You can get an 8oz. bottle of their Aloe Vera Shampoo for only $7.50 - AND you can choose from 33 different scents (I like the Chocolate Decadence and Stress Relief Aromatherapy, myself!) Their Soy Wax Candles come in a variety of sizes, from 1oz. to 16oz. and you can choose from 153 scents. Finally, I love the perfume choices!

Now, I'm not one to wear perfume - I just don't like the fake, flowery scents available. Plus, what the heck is in them? I've heard that many name-brand perfumes contain formaldehyde?! No, thanks! But, I do like to smell nice, you know? Natural soaps have a lot of scent to them, but I've noticed that, even the heavily-scented ones just don't last the day. Sweet P's combines the fragrance oils used in their perfumes with organic jojoba oil, which blends with your own body oils and allows the scent to stay with you all day! Oh, and did I mention that there are 153 different scents to choose from? I'd love to try Earth, Lavender Rosemary Cinnamon, and Vanilla Sandalwood! Oh, and if you don't see a fragrance you like, or have a special combination that you know works for you? Just email or even call them and they'll take care of you!

So, what's all this about a giveaway?! Head on over to Environmental Booty and you can enter to win TWO great products from Sweet P's Luxury Organic Skin Care! The first is that perfume I've been telling you about. But not just the perfume - it will come in a beautiful Diamond Cut Crystal Bottle! This is the epitome of luxury. The second prize is a bottle of Sweet P's Prickly Pear Antioxidant Sunscreen with Tint. This stuff does four things for you: moisturizes, provides protection from UVA and UVB rays, lightly tints the skin (no bright orange people here!), and it contains a ton of antioxidants. Those antioxidants are especially good for those of us who constantly nag our families to wear sunscreen, then forget to apply it to ourselves. This lotion will heal your sunburn fast!

So, how can you win these two prizes that are worth $75?! Head on over to Facebook and "like" both Environmental Booty and Sweet P's Skincare, then head HERE, to Environmental Booty's blog and leave a comment that you liked the two Facebook pages. Easy-peasy! There are also extra entries, such as sharing on Facebook & Twitter, to help increase your odds of winning. This giveaway is open to US residents and ends on August 30th. As of right now, there are only 29 entries, so go over there and get in on the chance to win these great products!

***I wrote this blog post while participating in the EnvironmentalBooty.com and Sweet P's blogging contest, making me eligible to get monetary compensation and Sweet P's product. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Don't Forget About The Green Parenting Giveaway Linky!

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Just a little reminder to my readers about my Green Parenting Giveaway Linky. It's an ongoing linky, so I don't regularly post about it. Head on over to see what great giveaways have been linked up and add your own, too. As long as your giveaway is "green" or has to do with parenting (even stuff for mom or dad), you're in! As the giveaways expire, I'll delete them, constantly moving the newer giveaways up on the list.

 

Grab the button if you'd  like!

<a href="http://mccrenshaw.blogspot.com/p/green-parenting-giveaway-linky.html" target="_blank">

<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3FLSs5ao6egU606-8089vRBdhbYHAfHpVhZBTVEaRQpigV1zev9TGkzrkWLpma6MrmqNLgezAhC7SXa5s-yWTRBfYUPosS6Ve_8808uP_iRNBJv1OysHvDhbOUyi9px-O210XXoCPHg/s288/13849308744.jpg" width="150" height="200" border="0" alt="Come link up or enter to WIN!" />

</a>

 And there's also the Tuesday's Giveaway Linkup hosted by Classified: Mom, Tots and Me, and myself! Even more great chances to WIN!

I Have a NEW Page!

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Hi! I went ahead and added a giveaway linky last night. See that link at the top of this page that says: Green Parenting Giveaway Linky? That's it! I'm sorry that those links up there are so hard to see. I have absolutely no idea how to change it into a darker color, so until I can afford a blog makeover it's going to stay that way. (I'm hoping to get a cool button for this linky, eventually, too!)


So, what kind of stuff will you find at the Green Parenting Giveaway Linky???? Just about any giveaways that have to do with eco-friendly products, anything that would appeal to children, educational products, stuff for moms and dads, healthy/natural foods, etc.It is an ongoing linky, meaning that you only have to link up one time and it will stay until the end date has passed.

So, whether you're looking for a place to link your giveaway, or you want to win some fantastic prizes, the Green Parenting Giveaway Linky is the place to go!

Pop on over - there are already some great giveaways linked up!!!

Had to Share This: WIN $1350 in Eco-Friendly Prizes Blog Giveaway!

I just couldn't know about this giveaway an not pass it on to others. Environmental Booty is having it's 2011 Great Green Earth Day Giveaway right now. There are just under 500 entries and it ends Earth Day (Friday, April 22) at midnight EDT! With all of the options for entering, the odds are great. Plus, with random number choosers, even one little entry could win you all of these amazing prizes:

• "The Sister" style of Sandals from Naya - $120
• Amazon Herb Co. Lluvia Basics skincare products - $190
• Pro Energy Consultants Home Energy Audit - $500
• Brightly Green All-Natural Aromatherapy Household Cleaners package - $51.43
• Shaklee 'Get Clean Water' pitcher filtration starter kit - $67.70
• two leaves and a bud Bamboo Tea Chest Sampler - $89.95
• Coco-Zen Organic Truffles Gift Certificate - $25
• BabyBearShop Organic Baby Wash + Shampoo - $20
• Baby Harmony Pure Household Cleaners Spring Cleaning Package - $54.40
• Rosie Emery CD for Children - $10
• Oh Plah! Bracelet for Mom/Teether for Baby - $14.99
• Sweet P's Organic Romance Gift Set - $20
• NYR Organics Lip Gloss - $16
• Outdoor Technology Inked Recycled Speakers - $7.95
• BuyGreen.com EcoStrip Power Strip + $25 Gift Card - $64.95
• Mia ella's Eco-Friendly Gourmet Jar Candle - $20
• Reflex Safety Gear "Hot Lips" Pepper Spray - $8.99
• Green Garnmeto 4-in-1 Garment Bag - $9.99
• Geogenex Probiotic Hand Sanitizing Gel - $14.95
• Book: Whole Earth Discipline by Stewart Brand - $20
• Book: Signed Copy of Celebrate Green by Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell - $24.95
• Book: Signed Copy of Plastic: A Toxic Love Story by Susan Freinkel - $27

OK, that's it! I'd LOVE to win this amazing package, wouldn't you???  Hurry on over an enter - you have until Friday night to do so!!!

**The only thing I'm getting out of posting about this giveaway is 10 extra entries. Hopefully, it'll be the difference between my winning or not. If YOU enter the giveaway ecause you read about it here, please let me know. I'd be so happy!!!

First Day of Spring: Plan Your Garden!

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If you remember, Little Guy and I went and dug around in the dirt last week, preparing for this year's garden. Now, I'm in no way a green thumb. I love growing things and reaping the rewards of my labor, but my experience is nil. Last year, I had a real garden for the first time in my life. Until then, I had always grown one or two tomato plants in pots on the patio. I live in an apartment, so having a place to garden really wasn't an option. That is, until my sweet husband talked the landlord into letting us till up a section of his yard last year!

I was so excited that I bought a bunch of seeds and just started planting them like crazy. A month later, I learned the value of actually planning a garden. I had Sunflowers blocking sun and rain from tomatoes, Morning Glories had climbed my bean poles and choked the poor little bean plants out. I threw herbs here and there, not even considering how much light they needed, how tall or wide they were going to grow, or whether they would make good companion plants for the vegetables I had sown right next to them. My marigolds choked out my marjoram, basil, and oregano... It was a mess! I think I ended up with a few tomatoes, radishes, and a million sunflower seeds for all of my work!

This was just the very corner of my garden. It was pretty to look at, but ineffective for growing food!

 This year, it's going to be different. First of all, I will be gardening with my little guy. I want to grow things that will be easy so he can see things grow. I want to plant things that he likes to eat and that he can pick right off of the plant and munch on whenever we go out to pull weeds and water. I need a plan!

I am so happy that groOrganic offered to let me try out their Garden Planner! It's this great online program that allows you to drag and drop a ton of different vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs into your garden before you even break ground. I love how you just click on the name of a plant and you get all the details you could ever need - where to plant, how much sun, how big they get, if they need a lot of water... The planner also is set to limit the number of plants you drop into your garden based on how much room they need, so no more overcrowding for me!

 The very first thing they do when you sign up is figure out where you live. You put in your address and they pin-point you on a map to figure out your exact climate. This is really important for me. I live very near Lake Erie and my weather is always different from areas just five miles away. After setting your dates for planting (they tell you when to start seeds indoors and when it's safe to start them outside), the site will email you with reminders of when to plant and what to plant. Thank goodness! I was so screwed up last year that I has stuff struggling to grow. I put my cucumbers in in June - NOT something you're supposed to do! Ever hear the saying, "Cool as a cucumber?" It's not because you keep them in the fridge, it's because they HATE hot weather! (And mine hated me, too!)

groOrganic really wants to help you succeed - they have video tutorials that describe how to use the garden planner, help you plan next year's garden so you can rotate your crops, and help you with succession planting. You can even print out your plans, notes, etc. so you don't have to work from memory. And if you get mud smeared on your plan, just throw it into the compost bin and print out another!

They also sell organic gardening, landscaping, beekeeping, and poultry-raising products!

The company offers two levels of membership which offer unlimited access to the Garden Planner for a year:

(From the groOrganic Site)

The Premium Harvest Membership ($99/yr.) includes:
1. Access to our groOrganic Garden Planner while an Association Member. This online Garden Planner helps you grow fruit and vegetables to the best of their ability, whatever the size or shape of your garden or plot. With the groOrganic Garden Planner it is easy to draw out your garden plan and decide how best to plant it. The groOrganic Garden Planner software shows how much space plants require and how to group them for maximum success, removing the need to look up planting distances and crop families. Growing advice is just one click away as you select the plants that you wish to include, enabling you to solve problems and maximize your harvest from the space you have.
2. New and renewing Members receive 12 packets of groOrganic's Non-GMO Seeds with their annual membership card.
3. A groOrganic Gardening Instruction Manual full of useful information about growing your garden will be mailed to you as well!
4. You will receive Members Only online discounts and gifts.

5. AND you will benefit from Online Consulting and FREE online review of your Garden Plan by a Certified groOrganic Gardener!

GREAT FOR SCHOOLS DEDICATED TO THE ONGOING EDUCATION OF THEIR STUDENTS BY WAY OF A groORGANIC GARDEN.

The Seedling Membership ($39/yr.) includes :

groOrganic Garden Planner

You will receive access to our  groOrganic Garden Planner while a Seedling Association Member. This online Garden Planner helps you grow fruit and vegetables to the best of their ability, whatever the size or shape of your garden or plot. With the groOrganic Garden Planner it is easy to draw out your garden plan and decide how best to plant it. The groOrganic Garden Planner software shows how much space plants require and how to group them for maximum success, removing the need to look up planting distances and crop families. Growing advice is just one click away as you select the plants that you wish to include, enabling you to solve problems and maximize your harvest from the space you have.

If you're planning a garden this year, I strongly urge you to go check out groOrganic's Garden Planner. Whether you're an old hand at gardening or a newbie, this planner will simplify your life. No more drawing out plans, trying to figure out when to plant each thing, how much sun it all needs, and whether you can harvest ans plant something new before autumn. 

For more information email info@groOrganic.com or call 888-9-groOrganic (888-947-6674) or visit their site at groOrganic.com

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.