Well, I have some exciting news for something else you can get at Target – LUNCHSKINS! I buzzed about LunchSkins TWO YEARS AGO as a green way to carry sandwiches, crackers, cookies and other items you normally would use a ziploc or disposable baggie. Now they are sold as LunchSkins2 at Target in the lunch container and water bottle aisle.

The reason Lunchskins are a great alternative is – they save you money. I hardly ever use or buy disposable baggies now. Usually only for back-to-school because it’s part of the school supply list. Every time I pack myself a sandwich, I use a LunchSkins. (My boys have Bento boxes, so we don’t use disposable baggies with them either.)

Another reason Lunchskins are awesome is that they are green. No, not literally, unless that’s the pattern you choose. I mean that they are eco-friendly, because you are no longer sending thousands of baggies to the trash a year.

Caring for Lunchskins couldn’t get easier. I actually turn mine inside out and then throw them into the washing machine with my laundry. I’ve been doing that for two years and they are still in perfect condition. You can also clean them in the dishwasher, but I want to make sure I get all the crumbs out of mine. They are made with a unique, high-quality thick cotton fabric that is used in European commercial bakeries and restaurants, very sturdy.

It is a Velcro-like closure, that runs the width of the reusable baggie. Like  said, after two years mine still are in fabulous condition.

If you want to save money and save the planet (one baggie at a time), then look for LunchSkins reusable sandwich bags and snack baggies at Target. They are sold in multi-packs, which includes one coordinating snack and sandwich bag. They are available in three fun patterns: Red Ladybug, Navy Dogs and Green Frogs. The two-bag sets are available in the lunch container and water bottle aisle, and retail for $10.99.

• OFFICIAL LUNCHSKINS SITE

Win THREE sets of LunchSkins2 packs ($33 value) AND a three-month subscription to The Six O’Clock Scramble ($21 value) – a time- and stress-saving weekly dinner planning system to help busy families put easy, healthy and delicious meals on the table each and every night

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per DAY is allowed)
• Leave a comment on any non-give-away post at theMomBuzz.com – let me know where.
• How would you use your LunchSkin?
• Follow 3GreenMoms on Twitter and tell them you learned that Lunchskins is now at Target thanks to #themombuzz (leave me your tweet link)
• Become a Lunchskins FAN on Facebook! Leave them a comment telling them your favorite pattern! (leave me your Facebook comment link – just click on the time stamp for the link)
• Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll

Contest ends 4/16/12. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall. The Mom Buzz was provided with a LunchSkins2 pack, but has been using LunchSkins for 2 years.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received the two reusable bags mentioned above for review. LunchSkins will handle prize fulfillment.

1. A tisket, a tasket, buy just one Easter Basket. It’s smart to invest in just one Easter basket per child and reuse them year after year. Buying new Easter baskets each year can be wasteful. There is a cute selection of Baskets at GourmetGiftBaskets.com that can be reused the following year. You can also repurpose an old basket with a fresh coat of paint. Whatever you do, avoid buying a basket made from petroleum-based plastic.

2. Shred your own Easter grass. We have a great new use for your shredder…Easter basket grass!  Prevent landfills from filling up post-Easter season with fake plastic grass by shredding grass yourself with old newspapers or magazines. If you don’t have a shredder, pick up some  straw or Eco Grass – available in paper or corn starch-based plastic grass – at Eco Egg for only $2 a bag (green, pink and yellow). Eco Eggs

3. End Easter egg emission. Petroleum-based plastic Easter eggs generate tons of emission and landfill waste each year. Consider a switch to Eco Eggs – made from corn starch instead of petroleum-based polymers–and reduce your carbon footprint. They are made from non-toxic, durable plastic, have a tight snapping closure and are fully compostable after use. They come in five assorted colors: pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Try the 48-ct box for only $15.  Eco Eggs

4. Choose jelly bean quality over candy quantity. Fill your eco-eggs with Surf Sweets delicious new 8-ounce seasonal spring mix of its popular Organic Jelly Beans for only $4.49. The new seasonal spring mix includes six new fruitfully delicious and naturally good flavors: tropical punch, lemonade, mixed berry, pineapple, tangerine and watermelon. Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans use certified USDA organic ingredients grown the way nature intended. When a product is certified USDA organic, its ingredients have been grown free of artificial fertilizers and harsh chemical pesticides. Organic agricultural practices enhance the biological structure and nutrients of the soil resulting in a pure, high-quality harvest and the long-term sustainability of the farm. Add Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans to your Easter baskets with the confidence that you are making a better choice for your family and your planet. Being responsible never tasted so good. Surf Sweets

5. Get your eco artist on. Clementine Art offers modeling clay, paints and crayons that are all natural, certified non-toxic and environmentally friendly, all for under $14. Even the packaging is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled and reusable materials. Clementine Art

6. Who ate the sidewalk chalk? Conceptualized and crafted by a mom and artist, Edible Veggie Sidewalk Chalk is lead-free and made with vegan, organic food-based ingredients including beets, spinach and blueberries. It’s fun to draw with and tastes good too. It contains no wheat, sugar or preservatives. Available in Original and Swirl for $12.Wee Can Too

7. Make your bunny eco plush. miYim’s Baby Victoria is a precious pink bunny perfect for your child’s collection of eco toys. She comes wearing a white hemp dress. She’s soft to touch and made with certified organic and natural cotton. She’s colored by nature and 100% certified non-toxic to help make your home a safe and chemical-free environment for your child.  Find her for $16 at Ebay’s World of Good. EBay’s World of Good

8. Jump BPA-free double-dutch. What could be better for the planet than crisscrosses and double-unders when they are done with a BPA-Free Plastic Jump Rope? For only $10.99, this eco-jumper is made with USA made, 100 percent organic cotton rope (7 feet long and adjustable) and 100 percent recycled BPA-free plastic handles. Available in pink, purple and green. Green Toys

9. Have 100 percent kid-powered fun. Whether reading under the covers, making fun shapes on the wall or finding your way in the dark, every child should have a flashlight – with no batteries. The $9.95 Hand-Powered Zoo Flashlights from Ecotronic are magical sources of light. With just a friendly squeeze it’s ready to light your child’s way into the night. One minute of squeezing gives 5 to 10 minutes of light. Available in four different animals: Tiger, Penguin, Monkey and Panda. No batteries mean less waste in landfills, which means less carbon in the atmosphere. Even the packaging is biodegradable. Planet Happy

10. Tap you child’s inner gardener. Young plant lovers can watch nature at work by growing a beautiful flower garden and fresh herbs in just days with the world’s most earth-happy gardening set. This Green Toys Indoor Gardening Kit
    is made from advanced environmentally friendly materials, helping to reduce fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions, all in the name of good green fun!  Nine-piece kit includes peapod-shaped planter tray, three planting pots, a trowel, soil and three packs of organic seeds (Teddy Bear Sunflower, Basil, Zinnia) with easy-to-follow planting instructions. Find it for only $19.50 at Amazon. Amazon

The Vapur bottle comes in two sizes, .5L and .4L. I have the .5, which is perfect for my work-outs. The top is just like a plastic water bottle that you would normally purchase, with a pop up spout and plastic cover. The plastic, pop-up top will screw on and off so you can clean it and fill it with water. It’s a small opening, like that off a “normal” water bottle, so I have to be careful when filling it from my fridge, so I don’t splash onto the floor. You can’t really add ice to it, but you can freeze it to a desired temperature. You know, leave it in until it’s ice, or just really frigid. I tried that, but decided adding cold water from my fridge is fine for my needs.

As you fill the bottle, you can feel the bag design expand. The bag comes in a variety of colors, like green, blue, violet, pink, orange and black. The .4L sizes also have a white design. There are also fun designs with sharks, super heroes, palm trees and more.

When you finish drinking your water, the bag size obviously decreases, but the plastic is sturdy enough that it doesn’t just slump over. Really, it reminds me of a water pouch cowboys would use – not a canteen, but the more flexible ones. (And if you can think of what that is really called, please let me know. I am sure it has an official name.)

Back to the point, once the Vapur bottle is drained, you can roll it up or flatten it, so it takes up less space in a lunchbox, back pack, exercise tote, etc. It can even be rolled up small enough to fit in a pocket or purse.

The Vapur Bottle doesn’t add any undesirable flavor to my water. Tastes just like water! It has an FDA-approved inner layer that is odor, taste and stain resistant. You can wash it on the top rack of a dishwasher and air dry. It can also be washed by hand. I prefer the dishwasher, though. It is BPA Free.

It come with a removable clip, so you can attach it to a bag. And you can also write on it with a sharpie so if misplaced it will go back to the original owner (great for kids at school).

I was going to give the Vapur to my oldest son, but he had trouble popping the top open at first. But that was when it was brand-new. Now that I’ve used for my workouts for about a month, he has no trouble popping it open for his own sip.

This Made-in-the-USA bottle retails for $9.99 for one .5L bottle or $15.99 for two .4L bottles. Next school year I’ll be getting the two .4L bottle deal for my boys.

PINNED UNDER BACK-TO-SCHOOL ON PINTEREST!

VAPUR SWEATERS:
Now let’s talk about the Vapur Sweater. You know how during the day, you water bottle “sweats” and will get other items around it wet? It happens to my oldest son all the time, making his folders in his book bag wet. And for me, since I throw my water bottles into my gym bag, my workout notebook usually ends up damp. But the Vapur Sweater is a water-wicking, insulating sweater. So not only does it keep it from getting other items around it wet, it will also keep your water “cooler” than ever. Plus, they are uber-cute.

They currently have three colors for the .5 and .4L bottles – pink and grey (matching my preppy Otterbox case), blue and grey and black and grey. You can buy 1 for $6.99 or a 3-pack for $15.

IMPORTANT LINKS

• Purchase your Vapur bottles at Vapur.us – it’s not a .com! It’s a US – made in the USA!
• Find a store that sells Vapur bottles
• Follow Vapur on Facebook
• Follow Vapur on Twitter

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive a Vapur Bottle and Sweater for review.

I’ve had the opportunity to sample LIV GRN Natural and love the fresh rose smell that I could almost immediately sense and was gentle and not overpowering throughout the day.

The top notes of LIV GRN Natural are Lime, Neroli and Orange Flower. Neroli is sweet and citrusy, so it fits in well with the Lime and Orange Flower. This smell is what you may immediately notice, but it evaporates quickly into the middle notes.

The middle notes are where you will really sense the Rose, Geranium and Cyclamen. Cyclamen is a light, sweet floral scent. (Some people say Cyclamen has NO scent, which would make no sense for it to be in a perfume. So it might be too light from them to notice.) I love Geranium, but I think the Rose is dominating as the mid note.

Finally, at the end of the day you may notice Jasmine, Egyptian Musk and Pear making their entrance. Jasmine petals usually open in the evening, so it’s a great time for the Jasmine in the perfume to be noticed if you put it on at the start of the day.

Overall, I loved LIV GRN Natural. It is available as a Roller Ball perfume (10 ml, $15), which would be a great stocking stuffer. You can also purchase a 3.4 fl oz bottle for $60. It presents beautifully as a gift, arriving in a small, wooden box.

This review was for LIV GRN Natural, but you can also learn more about their other perfume collections at LIVGRN.com. LIVGRN products are available online at LIVGRN, or you can check their website for store locations that carry LIVGRN Products.

10% of every LIV GRN sale is donated to Global Green, one of the world’s largest and most recognized green charities. The organization’s mission is to “foster a global value shift toward a secure and sustainable future.”

One reader will win a LIV GRN Natural Kit. This kit includes a full size fragrance, mini oil rollerball, lotion, scrub & gel. ($80 Value)

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

Check out LIV GRN and tell me another item you love from their site.

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter
• Share this contest on your Facebook page – Link it to @theMomBuzz – Here is the text:

Win a LIV GRN Perfume Set ($80 Value) @theMomBuzz. Give-away ends 1.1.12 http://themombuzz.com/?p=19691

• Tweet the following – can be done daily:

#win a LIV GRN Perfume Set at #themombuzz – Visit http://themombuzz.com/?p=19691

• Stumble any review or post on theMomBuzz.com (Please don’t Stumble Give-aways). Let me know what you Stumbled!
• Leave a comment on any post here at theMomBuzz – let me know where you left a comment
• Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)

Contest ends 1/1/12. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive a sample.

Sip. Flip. Fold. Snap. Those are the four simple steps to using your finished Sip ‘N Go Water Bottle, after you’ve drained it.

It is an ingenious product. Just think how often you and your children use up a water bottle. Maybe you recycle at home, but at the gym or outside you are left with a plastic water bottle to deal with or a stainless steel water bottle to tote back home. But with the Sip ‘N Go, once the water bottle is drained, you just flip and snap it shut into a bundle that fits in the palm of your hand. And you can easily use a clip to attach it to a backpack or tote, plus it’s also small enough to fit in a purse or pocket.

It encourages you to stay hydrated, plus save the world one plastic bottle at a time. (Whenever I use my reusable totes, giving cashiers back their plastic bags, I tell them I am saving the world one plastic bag at a time.) And it allows you to keep valuable space – whether it’s being used at school, work, gym, theme park or running errands.

Sip ‘N Go bottles are BPA Free and made of extra strong FDA approved material. It is top rack dishwasher safe, so it’s hygienic and easy to clean. And you can even put it in the Freezer. I like that for lunch time, because you can freeze it and then stick it in their lunch box to keep their food cold, meanwhile it will thaw out for them to drink.

The Sip ‘N Go comes in FOUR FABULOUS BRIGHT COLORS – BLUE, PINK, GREEN and VIOLET. They are completely affordable for $7.99 a bottle. I am thinking of purchasing them as stocking stuffers for my college-age Brother-in-Laws and Friends. These bottles hold 17 ounces of liquid.

There are Premium Sports Packs (a sling to hold your water bottle on your body, with pockets for wallets/phones), Sport Packs and Replacement Caps also available for your Sip ‘N Go.

Ready to Order – Here’s What You Do:

• Visit BuySipNGo.com
• Choose your Color(s) – Blue, Pink, Green or Violet
• Pick up any accessories, like a Sports Pack (great for theme parks) or Replacement Tops ( a deal for $1.99/2)
• Feel proud that you are keeping one less plastic bottle out of a landfill!

Two Winners! Each winner will receive a Sip ‘N Go Water Bottle!

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

• Which is your favorite color for the Sip ‘n Go Water Bottle?

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter
• Share this contest on your Facebook page – Link it to @theMomBuzz – Here is the text:

Win a Sip ‘N Go Water Bottle @theMomBuzz – Give-away ends 8.31.11 http://themombuzz.com/?p=17412

• Tweet the contest. Here is an example – can be done daily:

#win a Sip ‘N Go Water Bottle – 2 Winners #theMomBuzz – Visit http://themombuzz.com/?p=17412

• Leave a comment on any other post/contest on theMomBuzz
• Stumble any review or post on theMomBuzz.com (Please don’t Stumble Give-aways). Let me know what you Stumbled!
• Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)
• Take this survey to help make this site better. All information is confidential. (3 entries, leave 3 comments)
• Put the Mom Buzz button on your site! See code for bottom on footer of theMomBuzz.com

Contest ends 8/31/11. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The company is supplying the prize, but is not responsible for choosing the winner or promoting this reader give-away.

Whether your child “brown bags” or buys lunch, sending them to school with some water in a Stainless Steel water bottle, like amKlean Kanteen, is a good idea.

•  Why send them to school with a Klean Kanteen if they can purchase lunch at school?

My son’s can go through 1 drink in a few gulps – and they are 3 and 5! Why limit the amount they need to rehydrate themselves? Purchasing additional drinks can get expensive. Letting them have clean, fresh water when they need it will help keep their brains and body functioning.

And if they play sports, it’s great to let them have water within grasp, rather than doing a hike to the germ-contaminated water fountain. I got that idea from a gymnastics mom. When all the kids come pouring out to get a drink at the fountain, her daughter runs to her water bottle to refresh herself.

• Why send “brown baggers” to school with a Klean Kanteen if I can just stick in a juice box or milk container?

There are a few reasons why this is a must-have for students who bring their lunch. Save Money, Save the Environment and Quench their Thirst.

First off, milk and juice boxes are pretty puny. Once again, my preschooler and Kindergartner can both finish a box in a few gulps. Sticking in multiple boxes not only can get pricey, but they just end up in a dump taking years and years (if ever) to decompose. A Klean Kanteen will minimize waste, since you can reuse it.

The Klean Kanteen will also save you money in the long run. Not only can you minimize or eliminate the need for pricey juice boxes, milk cartons or water bottles, you can fill the Klean Kanteen with filtered water at your home for a fraction of the price.

I also like the clean, fresh taste of water from a Klean Kanteen. I am very sensitive to plastic water bottles. I can actually taste “plastic” with some brands, as opposed to the water inside the bottle. But the Klean Kanteen is made from durable, food-grade stainless steel. It’s BPA Free with no inner liner. So the only thing you take in is the water it holds.

• WHICH IS YOUR KANTEEN?

My son uses the 12 Ounce Classic Kanteen. It retails for $14.95 and comes in a variety of colors. My son has  “reef blue” which looks like the color of a stormy ocean. The top is a sports top, which has a “pop top” that they can easily open or close, as well as a loop that can be attached to book bags, lunch boxes, bikes and more.

Some places, like Pottery Barn Kids, let you personalize your Klean Kanteen for a few extra bucks. We simply put on a Zippies with his name on it, to ensure his bottle doesn’t get lost at school.

Klean Kanteens can be used for the smallest members of your family, when you use a 12 ounce Kanteen with a Sippy Top. The Classic Kanteen also goes up 3 additional sizes, 18 ounces, 27 ounces and 40 ounces. Depending on the size, there are 15 colors to choose from. I love my son’s Reef Blue color – but I think next time we’ll go indicator red to match my son’s school colors.

Pricing:

• The 12 Ounce Klean Kanteen with a Sports Top retails for $14.95.
• The 12 Ounce Klean Kanteen with a Sippy Top retails for $17.95
• The 18 Ounce Klean Kanteen retails for $16.45
• The 27 Ounce Klean Kanteen retails for $17.95
• The 40 Ounce Klean Kanteen retails for $25.95

LINKS:

• Purchase a Klean Kanteen at KleanKanteen.com
• Fan Klean Kanteen on Facebook
• Follow Klean Kanteen on Twitter

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received the sample above for review.

Simple Home Composting Is A Snap With Electric NatureMill Compost Bins

In today’s culture we are continuously endeavoring to live with a deeper consciousness of our impact on the world around us. As we evolve in our “go green” mentality, many of us are embracing the process of recycling leftover food scraps, known as composting. As one of the most biodegradable elements in the home, food represents a severely under recycled product. Sadly, scraps that could be turned into nutrient rich soil instead are tossed into waste sites where they will never have the opportunity to break down. An excellent way to remedy our food waste situation is to implement a compost bin in the home.

Electric Compost Bins: A Whole New World Of Features And Benefits

A NatureMill electric compost bin has revamped the dated image of the old school homemade box that permeates an odor in the home and demands constant attention. A NatureMill electric compost bin is uniquely engineered to offer a simple and seamless compost process. These compost bins manage scraps automatically to provide ease of use for both rookie and novice composters. Best of all, these compost bins provide a completely odor free process and take up very little floor space with their sleek designs.

This buzz was a guest post provided to The Mom Buzz for publishing from NatureMill Compost Bins. The Mom Buzz published this post to provide information to readers, as well as to be able to maintain TheMomBuzz behind the scenes. Other people may have different experiences with the product and services described. This is not a review. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Looking for a play date pleaser? I had a huge Play Date last Friday and needed a way to entertain the kids indoors and out. I had a Moon Walk Bounce House in the backyard and the Moon Roof Playhouse indoors! Outdoors they bounced like crazy. You can learn more about that Bounce House by reading my review here: Moon Walk Bounce House

But since we are in the south, where it gets quite toasty outdoors, I needed a creative indoor activity to keep 7 boys (ages 3 – 5) and 1 girl (3 yo) entertained. The Moon Roof Playhouse was a hit. It arrived in 4 cardboard pieces that I assembled. Two large pieces assemble the Moon Roof House and then the remaining 2 pieces were for the attached garage. So yah, this was pretty big. It measured 60″ x  30″ x 52″ when assembled.

There were doors, windows, a way to get from the house through to the garage and a cool cut-out moon and star design on the roof. Once it is assembled, the kids could play pretend, climb in and out and …. :drumroll: decorate with stickers and markers and whatever else their hearts desire. I brought out Crayola Washable Markers for the kids to use. Washable is best, especially with boys, since when they were IN the house they started decorating themselves as well! But with the washable markers, everything comes out in the wash and/or bath.

I was amazed at how sturdy the corrugated cardboard house was! With the 7 boys and 1 girl, it never fell flat. All of the tabs held strong, allowing them to even move the house from the family room to the living room. They weren’t easy on the house, pounding the wall and attacking each other inside. (They were BOYS!) But the house was so STURDY.

Since the playhouse is made of corrugated cardboard, it is recyclable after use. You could also dissassemble and fold flat for later use. The cardboard uses 42% recycled content and has received certification from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. In the end, we can agree that the design is totally perfect for kids and the product is a great alternative to plastic toys. And one of the best parts is the price – only $34.79! This really does make it perfect for parties and play dates. I am thinking of getting the Jolly Roger for my 3 year old’s next birthday party (when he turns 4).

Want to place an order for an affordable, green playhouse from GreenTownToys.com? Well, save more with this 15% off code: mombuzz

One Mom Buzz reader will win a Moon Roof Play House ($34.79 Value)

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per DAY is allowed)
• What other item do you like from GreenTownToys.com?
• Become a Friend on Google Friend Connect (Right side sidebar)
• Follow Green Town Toys on Twitter – Tweet them saying you saw them @themombuzz!
• Add the Mom Buzz button to your site or onto your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)

Contest ends 6/12/11. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received the samples described above. Green Town Toys is handling prize fulfillment.

Erin from the Mom Buzz wearing an "ecofriendly" skirt dyed with natural dyes.

Guest Post provided to the Mom Buzz:

Let’s face it… “going green” is a fad. The few of us that strive for a more eco-friendly lifestyle are far outnumbered by the masses of people hitch-hiking for the latest bandwagon. And not surprisingly, going along with every new trend comes its own hoard of businesses looking for every possible way to profit off of it. Following are 5 (in my opinion) of the most blatant attempts from companies to extract green out of your attempts to go green.

1. Eco Water bottles
You’ve probably seen them by now… those pretentious little leaf symbols on Arrowhead bottles or the “PlantBottle” logos that Dasani stamps on theirs. Arrowhead touts the fact that their bottles use 20% less plastic… which sounds impressive, as long as you don’t keep in mind that around 30 billion water bottles are produced in the US each year, using almost 20 million barrels of crude oil to make the plastic. Even if 100% of all water bottles used 20% less plastic, that’d still be 16 million barrels of crude oil that could have been avoided if people switched to tap water/water filters for their water.

2. Eco Clothes
While it is true that eco-friendly clothes use natural dyes that lack the environmentally unsound heavy metals that synthetic ones carry, the actual time that it takes the hemp that they’re usually made of to decompose is virtually the same as cotton or wool (around a couple hundred of years). The shirt isn’t bad for the environment per se, but the
exorbitant price that comes along with these types of shirts makes them bad enough to make this list.

3. Hybrid Cars
Hybrid cars have pretty much one selling point: their gas mileage. However, the price of hybrid cars at the moment doesn’t justify the increase in gas mileage you’d be getting. For example, a Honda Civic gets around 40 mpg on the freeway and is around $20,000 – a Toyota Prius will get you around 50 mpg on the freeway and will set you back almost $30,000. So you’re essentially trying to justify spending $10,000 for an extra 10 mpg.

4. Solar Panels
Although transforming the roof of your home into the International Space Station with solar panels may make you feel cool, the reality is that solar panels these days only convert 10-15% of sunlight into electricity, forcing you to rely on conventional sources of power unless you live on the surface of the sun. Not only is it a waste of money, but a potential risk as well. For instance, if you use a security system like system like ADT’s wireless alarms, their cameras only last a couple of days before you have to recharge them, putting you at risk if your house gets burglarized while your system is out of power.

5. “Green Formula” Duraflame Logs
Well, this one is actually better for the environment than regular wood, but it’s on this list solely because it contains an oil compound that smells like food to dogs. Duraflame is actually purportedly changing their ingredients because of so many complaints of people’s dogs trying to eat the wood.

This guest post was provided to the Mom Buzz for publishing. The Mom Buzz does not necessarily agree with all opinions in the article, but did find it informative for readers. Feel free to share your own opinion on Going Green below!

Lots has changed in “lunchbox” design since I’ve been in elementary school. You can go “old school” with a plastic lunch box or you can go with one of the latest trends – a Laptop Lunch bento set.

The idea behind a bento lunch for kids is to pack a variety of nutritious foods in an attractive way so that children look forward to eating. This is especially helpful with picky eaters. It might just be colorful fruits, veggies and small sandwiches or you can go all the way with creating art-like food that is “almost” too cute to eat. Even the picks and containers can get into the act, making the food more appealing.

The Laptop Lunches set provides you with the perfect start to creating your own Bento Lunch for your children. It comes in a zippered, pocketed carrier with a small handle or shoulder strap. The zippered pocket is perfect for holding extra lunch money or a lunch card. The zippered main compartment perfectly fits a plastic bento box with 5 inner containers. One of the containers is small and has a lid, meant for dip or dressings. One of the medium and larger containers also have lids for messier foods. The other containers are sealed when you close the inner plastic box. There is a side compartment on the bento box that holds the included stainless steel fork and spoon. There is also a drink bottle that fits in the carrier, next to the bento box and a book with lunch ideas.

The zippered carrier’s outer fabric is made using 100% post-consumer recycled polypropylene material. The set is lead-free, BPA free and has no phthalates or PVC. The Bento Set is made in the USA.

It has been estimated that on average a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That equates to 18,760 pounds of lunch waste for just one average-size elementary school. The set saves you money and is eco-friendly, since you can eliminate plastic baggies, brown bags and even plastic utensils. No more throwing money away or adding to landfills!

I have just started trying to pack more bento-style lunches for my children. I love the lunch ideas that I’ve found on Laptop Lunches site. Some fun ideas include:

Fresh Vegetable Roll-ups
End of School Year Treat
Almond Butter Sandwich
Swiss Cheese Snowman
Healthy Holiday Bento

I feel these ideas are better than some of the lunches I’ve seen other kids have. I am still working on creating better ones for my son – but here was a simple lunch I did the other day for my son. He had apple slices, blueberries, a toasted bagel with cream cheese and a little Rice Krispy Snack with his water bottle.

And he really does love his lunchbox. But, I admit his is cooler than mosts. It is the Aliens Bento System 2.0 from Laptop Lunches. It has a fun print of aliens and planets all over a dark blue background. And there is even an alien tag to write his name on, so his lunch doesn’t get lost. It is my favorite print! And the style will work for him for years. Other Bento Carriers come in flowers, pink, berry and purple.

Bento Systems include the insulated carrier, hard outer shell bento box, fork, spoon, 5 inner containers (3 with lids), water bottle and the user’s guide with lunch ideas. The complete kit retails for $39.99. You can go here to purchase your own kit: Buy the Laptop Lunch

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received the Laptop Lunch as a sample for review.