3 Winners....Ad Space & Rockin' Green

Thanks to everyone that entered!!  Here is the list of winners:

Ad Space (Facebook) - Click Photo by Sarah

Ad Space (Blog entries) - Brynn's Beautiful Bows

Rockin' Green Detergent - Janessas2

Congratulations!!  I will be emailing you shortly!

Be sure to enter the Anna Bean giveaway that I posted earlier today!

Annabean Giveaway

I love finding new websites that sell adorable kids items, don't you?  It can be fairly easy to find cute clothes for girls, but boys are a little harder.  Well, check out Anna Bean!  They have great items for girls AND boys!  They also off decor items, diaper bags, toys, and even strollers!  This website is so organized it's easy to find exactly what you are looking for.

If you're like me, you love the clearance section...and they have one, too!  Check out their (very organized) clearance section HERE.

Anna Bean has been kind enough to offer a giveaway to my readers...and it's the perfect giveaway for a rainy day like today (if it's not raining where you are, just pretend you are in North Alabama with me). 

Anna Bean is offering one lucky reader a size 4/5 Pink Flower Raincoat (see picture below).  You can see all of the girls' raincoats and boys' raincoats on their website - be sure to check them out because they have some cute ones...and every kid needs a raincoat!

How to Enter:

MANDATORY

Visit Anna Bean and tell me which raincoat/boots are YOUR favorite!

Extra Entries:

(1 entry) - Post this giveaway as your Facebook status and leave the link

(1 entry) - Follow Anna Bean's blog HERE

(1 entry) - Follow So Mommy by Google Connect

**This giveaway will end Wednesday, January 28th at 5 p.m. CST.  Winner will be chosen by a random number generator and contacted by email.  U.S. only.  Giveaway will be shipped by Anna Bean.**

Bach Kids' Rescue Remedy

This review has taken me awhile to write, mainly because I wanted to make sure if it actually worked or not (I'm pretty cautious when it comes to medicine type things).  So as you read, I want to assure you that - yes, we did try this stuff!  I ALWAYS try products that I receive (or I have a close friend/family member help out if it's not in the right age range for my daughter).  I just want to make sure to remind you of that - you know, just in case you didn't know. 

I received Bach Kids' Rescue Remedy to try from Nelsons Natural World.  Let me share a little about Bach Kids' Rescue Remedy before I start into my review. Here is some information from their website:

"Dr. Edward Bach's original blend of five individual flower remedies is newly-available in a non-drowsy, alcohol-free fomula just for children.  Non-habit forming, Bach Kids' RESCUE Remedy was created to naturally treat your child's emotions.

This combination works to ease your child's stress.  Dr. Bach's system selects each of the five flower remedies in Bach Kids' Rescue Remedy based on their unique contribution to your child's overall sense of calm:

• Rock Rose for stress and anxiety
• Impatiens for irritation and impatience
• Clematis for inattentiveness
• Star of Bethlehem for agitation
• Cherry Plum for irrational thoughts"

I'm one of those moms that doesn't really like to give medicine unless it is really needed, so I was very curious about a natural stress remedy for kids.  After reading all of the information provided, I was at ease with trying this product...but my first thought was "does my 2 year old have stress?"...I didn't think so, so I let my sister use try it on her 2 year old son first.  He has been experiencing separation issues, especially around naptme/bedtime.  This may or may not be considered "stress," but my sister and I both thought it couldn't hurt to try it out!  It wasn't a miracle for his sleeping issues, he still cried and got out of bed, but we tried.  Since it's natural, we didn't have to worry about trying it on him. 

On to test #2....with Sydney.  Have you ever heard of BloggerDad?  If not, you should check out his blog - it is hilarious!  Well, I came across his blog one day and read a few of his funny blog posts.  I came across one called Psychotic Toddler Syndrome, and it made me laugh so I shared it with my husband...and we both laughed because we have seen kids act this way, but Sydney has always been a pretty mild-mannered child (she cries when she falls down, but could usually care less if you tell her no or make her wait, etc).  Well, of course since I laughed...it happened. 

Over the next couple of days Sydney had SEVERAL toddler breakdowns over a lot of nothing (you know those tantrums - when no one knows what happened to cause it).  One evening, Sydney screamed and threw a tantrum if we looked at her, if our dogs came close to her, pretty much over anything.  So I made the decision that she needed something, and Bach Kids' Rescue Remedy seemed like the only choice (I didn't want to give her acetominophin or ibuprofen if she didn't need it).  So I told my hubby hold her like a baby and I gave her 4 drops of Bach Kids' Rescue Remedy (this was not an easy task since she was refusing medicine).  The remedy comes in a small bottle with it's own easy- dispense dropper, if your child is willing to take medicine!  Amazingly enough, within 20 minutes she was a completely different child.  I was amazed.  She went from an emotionally un-stable toddler to a fairly calm child again!! 

So I am definitely a believer in this stuff!  As a mom, I'm glad that there are some natural remedies that work out there.  I'm sure that natural remedies don't work exactly the same on everyone, but I'm more willing to try a natural remedy first.

Check out Bach Kids' Remedies HERE.  The products are available from many retailers online and also in many Whole Foods Markets.  They retail for around $12.95, which seems expensive for a small bottle...but remember you only use 4 drops at a time, so a bottle will last awhile!

Rockin Green - Cloth Diaper and Laundry Detergent

I was happy to finally be able to try Rockin' Green Soap recently.  I have heard a lot of mixed reviews from cloth diapering moms.  It seems a lot really love it, and a lot really dislike it.  I definitely wanted to try it for myself to see what I thought about it.

Rockin’ Green is: Dye free, Comes in several scents & an unscented version, no fillers, no enzymes, 100% Phosphate free, and is Vegan!  Rockin' Green has several unique scents available, such as: Bare Naked Babies, Smashing Watermeons, Rage Against the Raspberries, and several others.  They offer Soft Rock (for sensitive skin), Classic Rock, and Hard Rock.   They have bundles and sample sizes available so that you can try several and find your favorite!  I received the "Rage Against the Rasperries" scent in the Classic Rock formula.  As soon as I opened the package, I could tell that I would LOVE the scent!  I think that was my favorite part! 

I love that Rockin' Green has a detailed FAQ section on their website.  I read through most of it, and there are some great tips and instructions there - so be sure to check it out!  They include frontloader instructions in this section as well.

I followed the "first time" instructions from their FAQ page when washing my diapers with their detergent for the first time.  I did notice that after soaking as per their instructions, my diapers smelled worse.  They do address this issue in their FAQ section. 

Here is the response:
"Sometimes, it takes a few washes to experience the full benefit of Rockin’ Green. With each wash, Rockin’ Green will work to pull out the trapped in detergent, grime and minerals that are inside your diapers and inserts, which can temporarily cause stink issues or even repelling for some people. If you experience this problem, we would suggest you Rock a Soak overnight and then do several washes with no soap added to flush out all the gunk. Repeat the process until your diapers are clean smelling, and then continue to use Rockin’ Green at the recommended dosage for day to day washings."

I followed the new instructions, and they did start smelling normal again, but they seemed to leak much more than before I started using Rockin' Green.  My daughter has also had more diaper rashes since using Rockin' Green detergent (which may or may not be related).  I did only have 2 sample packs to use (4 loads), so keep that in mind when reading this review.  It seems as though the longer you use it, the better it works.  However, with what I saw in my diapers, I am not willing to pay more money for this particular detergent.

Again, many moms LOVE Rockin' Green detergent and I am not trying to discourage you from trying it for yourself, I am just letting you know how it worked (or didn't) for us.

GIVEAWAY
Here's your chance to try it for yourself!!  Rockin' Green is offering a 45/90 load bag of detergent in the winner's choice of scent/formula!! 

How to Enter
(1 entry) Let me know what scent/formula you would like if you won
(1 entry) Follow So Mommy by Google Connect
(1 entry) Like Rockin' Green on Facebook here

Giveaway will end January 18, 2011 at 5 p.m.  Winner will be drawn by a random number generator and contacted by email.  If winner doesn't respond in 48 hours, another winner will be picked.  Available to U.S. residents.

**I received a sample of Rockin' Green in exchange for my review.  See full disclosure for more information.**

1st Contest of 2011 - WIN AD SPACE!

Have you wanted to advertise your business, blog, product, but didn't know where or didn't have the money?  Well, here is your chance to win 2 months of ad space at So Mommy Reviews!  This contest will have TWO winners.  The winning ads will be placed above all other ads/buttons on the right hand side of the main page. 

Details:
- Winners get a 125 x 125 button placed above all other ads on the main page
- Button can advertise a blog, business, etsy shop, product, etc....basically anything!
- I must approve the winning button (don't stress, I just want it to be family-friendly)
- Have more questions?  Feel free to email me: somommy247@gmail.com
- 1 winner picked by random.org from blog entries
- 1 winner picked by "likes" on Facebook
- You can enter BOTH on blog and Facebook

How to Win via random.org:
MANDATORY - Leave a comment telling me what you want to advertise

Extra Entries:
(1 entry) - Follow So Mommy by Google Connect
(1 entry) - "Like" So Mommy on Facebook HERE

**Winner will be drawn January 18, 2011 at 5 p.m.**


How to Win via So Mommy's Facebook Page:
- Email your button image to somommy247@gmail.com along with a short statement about your business, blog, etc. by Tuesday, January 11, 2011.
- I will post all entries in a Facebook album for "liking". 
- Winner will be the entry with the most "likes" by 5 p.m. on January 18th.

Please do not hesitate to email me with ANY questions about the contest!  I tried to keep the rules/entries as easy as possible.  If you are interested in buying ad space on So Mommy Reviews, contact me at somommy247@gmail.com for pricing.  VERY low rates!

Smelly Washer - Review

Do you have a smelly washer? Or maybe smelly towels that were left too long before washing? (I'm bad about this one with beach towels in the summer).  If you've had any of these problems, you definitely want to read this review!

I recently came across Smelly Washer and Smelly Towel Odor Remover.  I have never noticed any smells from my washer, but like I said...I do have a smelly towel problem in the summer...somehow those beach towels just end up left in the car or bag after trips to the waterpark! 

What causes a smelly washer?  See their blog for a list of causes HERE.  The main cause is overuse of detergent, which causes build-up on washers, and creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew.  Smelly Washer was created to clean your washer of these things.   Since I cloth diaper, I thought it was probably a good idea to start using Smelly washer on a regular basis....you know, just to make sure mold and mildew don't show up in my washer!  It is simple to use.  Just add a capful to a hot water soak, let it soak for a few hours, and let the rinse cycle take over.  Easy enough for me!

Smelly Towel Odor Remover was created specifically for towels and clothing that have a musty or mildew smell.  It is VERY simple to use!  Just add a teaspoon of Smell Towel to your load of clothing!  This really works on towels!  I have a fabric laundry basket that we use for towels, and *blush* I've found mold spots on it before because we put wet towels in it...and they stay there until wash day.  This has been (and will be this summer, I'm sure) a great product to use!

Ecover Tablets - Review

Have you started your Spring Cleaning yet?  I always start my spring cleaning right after we put our Christmas tree away.  I guess it isn't *technically* Spring cleaning, but it gives us a clean house and less work inside for Spring!  My next few reviews are going to be about some cleaning products I've been trying out lately and I hope you find useful as well.  I wish I could compile a list of cleaning tips, but I get those from my mom and grandmother...my area is the organizing and throwing things out part!
On to my review...are you an eco-friendly person? or are you trying to be? or maybe just trying to buy more kid-safe products?  Well, if these describe you then Ecover has some products you may just love!  If this doesn't describe you, well, you'll probably still love their great products!

A little about Ecover
 Ecover has been creating effective and ecological cleaning products from plant-based and mineral ingredients since 1980 (before I was born)!  They try to create sustainable products that are suitable for everyday use by everyday people. They have strict guidelines when it comes to their business operations, from the selection of raw materials all the way to the decomposition of the end products.  Ecover products are manufactured in the world-famous ecological factories in Malle, Belgium and Boulogne-sur-mer, France. The factories are crowned with a green roof where plant vegetation grows creating a temperature regulating and noise-dampening insulator throughout the year.

My Review
Ecover offers a variety of products for dishwashing, laundry, and household cleaners.  I chose to review the dishwasher tablets.  I have found that a LOT of dishwasher tablets (and liquid, for that matter) on the market just don't clean as well as I would like...and I usually end up re-washing a few or pre-washing the dishes before they go into the dishwasher.  I was very curious to see how Ecover's Ecological Tablets would compare, and I have to say that I have been impressed by them!  I have used them several times on many different items (sippy cups, bowls, plates, pots, pans, etc.), and I haven't been disappointed yet.  They are a little more pricey than the "normal" ones you can buy in the store, but if you have a store that sells Ecover products near you, you can save on shipping.  Check out their store locator HERE.

For more information about Ecover, check out their sites:
Ecover's Website - www.ecover.com/us/en
Ecover's Blog - http://www.ecoverusblog.com/
Ecover's Facebook - www.facebook.com/EcoverUS

**Thanks to Ecover for providing product for review.  No other compensation was given.  See full disclaimer for more information.**