SIRJJ Organics Green Baby Review & Discount Code *Giveaway Closed*

I love to promote companies that promote good health, and so I'm pleased to be introducing you to SIRJJ Organics today!

About SIRJJ Organics:

This company was co-founded by a mom who suffered from cystic acne and wanted to find a healthy, organic alternative to chemical-ridden treatments. You can read more about her here.

Now SIRJJ (pronounced "SURGE") carries skincare products specially formulated for babies, people with or eczema, products for men, and much more. You'll find lip balm, lotions, body scrub (I really want to try Green Tea Body Scrub), face wash, day and night cream, clay masks, toners - all of these products formulated specifically for certain skin conditions, for men, for women, and a special line of products for baby including diaper rash cream and healing ointment.

There are NO:

• Fillers
• Thickeners
• Carcinogens
• Chemicals
• Parabens

SIRJJ strives to produce products that have the purest of ingredients. They do not use extracts but make their products with pure organic herb powders, organic aloe whole leaf juice, and organic cold pressed unrefined oils and butters.

It's obvious that they really care about their customers (everyone!) when first entering their site: Information on their ingredients and ingredients to avoid, testimonials, reviews, and regime secrets abound. They even have a blog and Twitter account!

My Thoughts/Review:

I wanted to try SIRJJ's Green Baby line of products, so they sent me their Green Baby SPF 30 Moisturizing Lotion (Gluten Free). I had been wanting to find a good organic sunblock for my daughter and was delighted to discover that SIRJJ carried this product. It's a moisturizing lotion and sunblock in one bottle. This lotion, made with raw green tea powder, contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to block UVA and UVB rays. It also contains ingredients that ward off all bacteria and toxins and antioxidants to reduce exposure risks.

Reading the label is not brain-mudifying (yes, I made that word up) - I actually know what most of the ingredients are! See, world!? It can be done! ;-)

We are very happy with this product. It isn't too strong-smelling (one of my pet peeves), glides on smoothly and actually stays smooth - it isn't sticky or greasy at all. It blends and leaves the skin dry faster than any lotion I've ever tried before, too! Definitely a top pick!

Buy it!

Want to give SIRJJ Organics a try without making too much of a dent in your pocketbook? Try their sampler packs! Each sampler pack is only $7.50 and contains a 3-day supply of four or five different products.

Discount Alert!

SIRJJ has two amazing discounts for you!

Use the code LINDSE50 at checkout and get 50% off the Green Baby SPF 30 Moisturizing Lotion!

Also, use the code LINDSE30 to get 30% off any purchase (no minimum requirements)!

Giveaway!

SIRJJ Organics is giving away an awesome prize package with products for both mom and baby! This package is valued at $69 and includes the following:

Acai Berry SPF10 Day Cream 1.0oz -- Retail $18.00
Acai Berry Rehydration Cream 1.0oz -- Retail $18.00
Green Baby Healing Shea Ointment 1.0oz -- Retail $18.00
Green Baby Shea & Aloe Lotion 4.5oz -- Retail $15.00

Mandatory Entry:

Visit SIRJJ Organics and tell me what product you would like to try (not listed in this post)! Please either leave your email address in one of your entry comments or make sure it's in your Blogger profile!

Extra Entries (Optional) (Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

• Add my blog to your Technorati Favorites/stumble this post (+1 extra entry each)
• Follow/Subscribe to this blog (+1 extra entry each)
• Subscribe by email/RSS to the SIRJJ blog (+1 extra entry)
  
• Add my button to your sidebar (+1 extra entry)
• Blog about this giveaway (+3 extra entries)
• Follow SIRJJ on Twitter (@sirjjorganics) (+1 extra entry)
  
• Follow me on Twitter (@kindred_spirit) (+1 extra entry)
• Tweet this giveaway/share on Facebook (+1 extra entry each) Copy/Paste this:

  Awesome Giveaway! @SIRJJOrganics Green Baby and AcaiBerry Package worth $69! @kindred_spirit http://bit.ly/KuOCv

• Leave a comment (not just "good post" or something too generic) on any of my non-giveaway review posts from August (+1 extra entry each - limit 5)

Winner will be drawn on September 9 and notified by email - good luck, everyone!

Disclosure/Disclaimer: Although SIRJJ Organics sent me a sample of their products for review, it does not affect the honesty of this post. This review is my own opinion and in my own words.

See complete rules and disclaimers regarding giveaways here.


Thank you sooo much for sharing this post! :-)

Treat Diaper Rash Safely With Earth Mama Angel Baby - Review and Giveaway!

When my daughter Emma was born one year ago, I didn't think twice about smearing creams and lotions on her sweet little newborn skin. Diaper rash cream specifically, something that I used often. It's made especially for babies, right? Of course it's safe! I trusted the companies that made these medications. Then one day I came across Cosmetics Database and everything changed. At Cosmetics Database, you can search by ingredient, product, or company and find out which products contain toxic or dangerous ingredients as well as what the level of risk is on a scale of 1 to 10. I personally searched for one of the most well-known brands of diaper rash cream and was dismayed to find that the level of danger is a 5-6. That is not a risk I want to take, thank you very much!

I couldn't help but feel a bit betrayed and immediately began the search for safer alternatives. You'll be relieved to know that there are many low-level alternatives available, all listed through Cosmetics Database. The diaper rash treatments with the absolute lowest (rated at zero) risk, though? There are only a handful, and included in this short list is Earth Mama Angel Baby's Angel Baby Bottom Balm and Angel Baby Diaper Rash Soap.

About Earth Mama Angel Baby:

Earth Mama Angel Baby is a company that truly impresses me. They care about moms, without a doubt. They care about their products and the mommies and babies that use them, and go to great lengths to ensure that their products are safest. Their site has many special sections designed to educate mamas and they even have a special support site for baby loss comfort as well as a free birth plan.

Angel Baby Bottom Balm Review:

This diaper rash soother is made with "organic olive oil infused with a proprietary blend of naturally antibacterial and antifungal organic herbs, shea butter and pure essential oils." Some of the essentials oils and herbs are shea butter, St. John's Wort, lavender oil, and tea tree oil. What I notice most in the fragrance is tea tree oil, a very clean and natural scent. I did some research on tea tree oil and found that it is a natural antiseptic and antifungal which makes it a great choice. The best part? I recognize all of the ingredients!

I haven't had a chance to use this on a bad case of diaper rash because Emma rarely has diaper rash... something that I am SO thankful for! But once in awhile when it gets a little bit red in the diaper area I slather some of this balm on and I believe it soothes her. If you read the reviews for Angel Baby Bottom Balm, you'll see that mommies are very pleased with this product and claim that it clears up diaper rash quickly.

Another awesome thing about the Bottom Balm is that it can be used on cuts, scrapes, burns, cradle cap, chicken pox, bug bites, and more - I love multi-use products!

Angel Baby Diaper Rash Soap Review:

Called "bottom balm in a bar", the Angel Baby Diaper Rash Soap is a great choice for sensitive skin, a super gentle "first aid" soap. "Our hand made, herb-infused soap is creamy and moisturizing because it's made with lots of soothing organic oatmeal and only pure, safe ingredients."

I love this soap. It's gentle, soothing, and smells faintly of calendula (at least I think that's what the scent it - it's not tea tree oil, it's a softer scent). Emma comes out of the tub fresh and comfortingly clean.

Questions and Answers with Earth Mama Angel Baby:

Me: What's the difference between your bottom balm and diaper rash soap? Do you recommend having both on hand?

EMAB: The shampoo & body wash is a gentle, pure castile soap that is great for everyday bathing (for mamas too!), but the Angel Baby Diaper Rash Soap was formulated with all kinds of extra special herbal goodies to help fight diaper rash. The Angel Baby Diaper Rash Soap and the Angel Baby Bottom Balm together create a formidable team against diaper rash.

Me: How often should we apply the bottom balm?

EMAB: Our #1 bestselling (for 7 years now!) Angel Baby Bottom Balm was, as you know, formulated to fight tough diaper rash, and also doubles as a fantastic first aid salve. Our customers tell us that when their little angel is affected that they have the best luck with applying at every changing (of course as soon as it is realized that the diaper is soiled).

Me: As an aside, I would love to see a truly pure and natural sunscreen! Do you have any plans to add something like this to your wonderful products?

EMAB: At this time, we do not have a sunscreen. As you know, safety is our number one priority in formulating our products. If Mama wouldn’t use it on her own family, then we don’t sell it, promise. At this time the best way to prevent sun damage to precious baby skin is to provide a barrier – either from metals like zinc or titanium (often in the form of nanoparticles) or even better, a wide brimmed hat and sleeves! As soon as Mama can make a spectacular (and safe) sunscreen, we’ll be shouting it from the rooftops, so make sure you let your readers know to sign up for our monthly newsletter.

EMAB Resources:

Skin Care Products - How Much Gets In?
A Toxic Tub For Baby - Formaldehyde and 1,4 Dioxane
What is 1,4 Dioxane? From Skin Deep
Natural Products Containing 1,4-Dioxane
Cloth Diapers and Your Baby
Hidden Carcinogens in Baby Care

Giveaway!

Earth Mama Angel Baby is offering an Angel Baby Diaper Rash Soap for giveaway!

♥ Mandatory Entry ♥

Complete this "What's Your Score" Challenge:

- Grab a product that you're using regularly on yourself or your baby (examples: lotions, creams, medications, stretch mark oil, soaps, etc) and look it up at CosmeticsDatabase.com, then come back here and answer these three questions in one comment (for one entry):

1. What was your Skin Deep toxicity rating score?
2. Were you surprised with the score and/or ingredients?
3. What would you like your score to be?

There are no right or wrong answers here - I know that I was surprised at the toxicity ratings of the products I was using. I'm so glad to be aware of it now!

♥ Extra Entries (Optional) ♥

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry

♥ Sign up for Mama's Monthly Newsletter (+1 extra entry)
♥ Follow @MamaMelinda on Twitter! (+1 extra entry)
♥ Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites/stumble this post (+1 extra entry each)
♥ Follow/Subscribe to this blog (+1 extra entry each)
♥ Add my button to your sidebar (+1 extra entry)
♥ Place the "Bamboo for Baby" giveaway button (top right sidebar) in your sidebar and leave the link in a comment (+1 extra entry)
♥ Blog about my Bamboo for Baby giveaways, including a link to this giveaway and the Bamboo for Baby giveaway button in your post. (+3 extra entries)
♥ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (+2 extra entries and if you tweet once a day you get one entry for every tweet)

Winner will be drawn using random.org on June 8. I'll email the winner, who will have three days to get back to me. :-)

Thank you sooo much for sharing this post! :-)

Bamboo Hugs Hooded Towels ♥ Review and Giveaway!

Today's giveaway is for a Bamboo Hug of your choice from Bamboo Hugs! These hooded bamboo towels are super soft and totally adorable! And of course, being made of bamboo, they have all the wonderful attributes that bamboo fabric has - each towel is soft, hypoallergenic and antibacterial, and "wicks water away from the body 3 to 4 times faster than cotton."

Find out more about bamboo fabric here: What's So Special About Bamboo?

Check out the super cute designs available - they're sure to delight any child:

There are also skullies, which I think are adorable (see very top photo)!

Review:

I was able to review the Boo Pets Kitty hooded towel and we love it! I chose it because it's a bit bigger than the others and Emma is growing like a weed - I wanted something that would last. And of course we love kitties. :-) Double-layered, thick, and comfy, this towel will be well-used and loved for a long time. Some people even use them as stroller and car seat liners! Emma and I both give this two thumbs up - wait, that would be four thumbs up. ;-)

About Bamboo Hugs:

BamBoo Hugs uses a specific blend of certified 70% organic bamboo and 30% organic
cotton to create a multifunctional, sustainable children's product. The brand was created by tattooed, rock ‘n roll mom, Claudia Night and activist, Tracy Hoare.

"I love bamboo! My daughter has sensitive skin and bamboo was a natural choice to use with her. I just couldn’t get over all the beige in our linen closet,“ Claudia laughs. “When I turned 30, I was ready to start a business. The more research I did on bamboo, the more intrigued I became.”

BamBoo Hugs shares a portion of each purchase with charitable organizations supporting children, animals, and the planet. Manufacturing is also certified fair trade.

Buy it!

Use the code "BOO" and get 15% off your order!

Giveaway!

Thanks to Bamboo Hugs, one lucky person will win a Bamboo Hug of their choice!

♥ Mandatory Entry ♥

Go to Bamboo Hugs and look around, then come back here and tell me in a comment which Bamboo Hug you would choose if you were the winner. Giveaway open to the US and Canada!


♥ Extra Entries (Optional) ♥

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry

♥ Tell us in a comment what the next Boo Pet should be! (+1 extra entry)
♥ Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites/stumble this post (+1 extra entry each)
♥ Follow/Subscribe to this blog (+1 extra entry each)
♥ Add my button to your sidebar (+1 extra entry)
♥ Place the "Bamboo for Baby" giveaway button (top right sidebar) in your sidebar and leave the link in a comment (+1 extra entry)
♥ Blog about my Bamboo for Baby giveaways, including a link to this giveaway and the Bamboo for Baby giveaway button in your post. (+3 extra entries)
♥ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway - copy/paste this: Win a Bamboo Hug hooded towel (pandas, kitties, and skullies, o my!) at @kindred_spirit - http://bit.ly/15mF1P (+2 extra entries and if you tweet once a day you get one entry for every tweet)

Winner will be drawn using random.org on June 5. I'll email the winner, who will have three days to get back to me with an address. :-)




Thank you sooo much for sharing this post! :-)

Bamboosa Review and Giveaway ($50 GC!)

Have you noticed how babies are drawn to softness? I have a baby blanket that my daughter adores because it is super soft - she carries it with her everywhere. That's why I love the bamboo fabric. Not only is it soft and luxuriant, it's anti-microbial and hypoallergenic - the best choice for baby!

About Bamboosa:

I'm happy to introduce Bamboosa today! Bamboosa is an amazing company with an obvious passion for making and selling quality bamboo products, and keeping their customers happy and informed. Not only do they carry bamboo softness for adults and children, they also have a special store and learning section especially for baby. There's even a place to shop for preemies!

• All of the fabric and products sold by Bamboosa are USA made.
• All of the clothing and baby products are made from organically grown bamboo fiber.

Favorites from their baby line:

Bamboosa also carries a great selection of comfortable bamboo clothing and accessories for adults. I especially love these Fine Jersey Scarves:

My Review:

The wonderful people at Bamboosa sent me a bamboo baby gift set to review. I received a BambooBaby hooded towel, five BambooBaby washcloths, and a BambooBaby soapbar. Let me tell you, I am impressed! Since my daughter was born (one year ago), I've been using some hooded towels I found at a local department store. They are rough, not as absorbent as I'd like, and too small to last for even one year - and they weren't that cheap, either! When I received the BambooBaby hooded towel and washcloths, I immediately noted that they were very well-made and SUPER soft. Each hooded towel is double-layered (two pieces of soft bamboo fabric sewn together - we're talking super-absorbent) and is 30 x 30 inches, a size that should last her beyond the first year. The washcloths are, of course, extremely soft as well. I even steal them and use them myself now (I don't even want to go back to my regular washcloths, thank you very much). All hooded towels and washcloths are free of chlorine and formaldehyde, and free of dyes.

The BambooBaby soapbar? It smells wonderful, made with "saponified oils of cold pressed olive infused with wild yarrow and organic calendula, coconut, organic palm, sunflower and castor, organic aloe, essential oils, bamboo, sea salt, annatto." These soapbars are made especially for babies and sensitive skin. It's the ultimate clean and fresh baby smell, believe me.

Now for a Giveaway!

Bamboosa is generously offering a $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner!

♥ Mandatory Entry ♥

Go to Bamboosa and look around (take your time, there is some awesome stuff there!), then come back here and tell me in a comment what you would use your $50 gift certificate on if you were the winner.


♥ Extra Entries (Optional) ♥

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry

♥ Sign up for the Bamboosa E-Newsletter (+1 extra entry)
♥ Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites (+1 extra entry)
♥ Follow/Subscribe to this blog (+1 extra entry each)
♥ Add my button to your sidebar (+1 extra entry)
♥ Place the "Bamboo for Baby" giveaway button (top right sidebar) in your sidebar and leave the link in a comment (+1 extra entry)
♥ Blog about my Bamboo for Baby giveaways, including a link to this giveaway and the Bamboo for Baby giveaway button in your post. (+3 extra entries)
♥ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this: Win a $50 gift certificate to Bamboosa from @kindred_spirit http://bit.ly/eVap9 (+2 extra entries and if you tweet once a day you get one entry for every tweet)

Winner will be drawn using random.org on June 5. I'll email the winner, who will have three days to get back to me with an address. :-)

Thank you sooo much for sharing this post! :-)

Bug and Pickle Review and Giveaway ($50 GC!)

There's really nothing like a good belly creme after giving birth, is there? Come to think of it, there's nothing like a good belly creme while you're pregnant and your skin is being stretched way beyond what you think could possibly be normal. Bug and Pickle (that name is SO cute - I just want to keep saying it out loud) has a wonderful line of products especially for the belly along with other mummy-pampering and baby-pampering goodies!

About Bug and Pickle:

While they have come a long way from their first business venture (selling corn from their wagon as little girls) sisters Kim (Bug) and Nicole (Pickle) did resurrect their childhood nicknames when it came time to label their range of body products created just for mums and babes.

The idea behind Bug & Pickle is that lotions and potions for new mums and their little ones can combine practical uses (what parent hasn't battled diaper rash?) and wholesome ingredients (beeswax anyone?) with a sense of fun that makes using the products, or giving them as a gift, a real delight.

While the mum and babe products are a relatively new endeavour, Kim and Nicole are no strangers to the world of personal care. In 1997 the sisters opened Bloom Essentials Spa in Vancouver, Canada and they haven’t looked back since. With little business experience, but lots of moxie, Kim and Nicole have created a unique and successful spa environment that constantly wins reader's choice awards in local newspapers.

After years spent dreaming of a Bug & Pickle launch, the sisters are tickled pink (or should that be pickled tink?) to finally have their lovely products on the market. They’re sure the mums and babes will be overjoyed as well!

I love that the name Bug and Pickle came from childhood nicknames, don't you?



Thanks to Bug and Pickle, I was able to try Belly Firm (sounds like something I NEED). I like how they describe it:

Your new little one is your bundle of joy, but your postnatal tummy is a bundle of jelly. Bug & Pickle’s Belly Firm harnesses the power of essential oils and vitamins to tighten up stretched skin and reduce the appearance of any stretch marks or c-section scars.

I'm really into essential oils and herbs right now, and this cream doesn't disappoint! First of all, it smells heavenly - a blend of mandarin, grapefruit, patchouli, and jasmine. It is creamy in a whipped cream kind of way and makes my skin sooo soft without being greasy. The directions say to "Massage Belly Firm daily into tummy, hips, and bottom for post-delivery skin firming and improved appearance of stretch marks and C-section scarring." I like to use it on my hands, too. Now I don't really think I can just sit back in my comfy couch, feast on bon-bons, and apply Belly Firm to make my skin look perfect (though it does contain Vitamin C and E, which are proven to help repair skin), but there's something about using this that makes me feel so pampered and relaxed. That's something I think a lot of moms forget to do after giving birth. I know I did. Until now, that is. :-) I'm appreciative that Bug and Pickle reminded me that a little pampering can go a long way!

Bug and Pickle also sent me their Head-to-Toe Baby Wash and Diaper Gel to try out. I loved both! The Baby Wash is soothingly scented with lavender and is sulfate-free and PH balanced so it's gentle on babies eyes. Emma smells SO good after her bath.

The diaper gel is light and non-sticky - I'm sure it feels refreshing for baby. Essential oils of lavender, yarrow and blue chamomile help to reduce redness and irritation. It can also be used on cuts, burns, bug bites, and sunburn. Gotta love multi-use baby products!

After trying the Belly Firm, Diaper Gel, and Head-to-Toe Baby Wash, I'm encouraged to try their other products as well! I've heard very good things about their Teething Oil and Tummy Trouble and intend to try them next.

Buy it!

Bug and Pickle is generously offering 20% off any order for my readers! Just use the code "kindredspirit" when ordering. :-)

Win it!

Bug and Pickle want to give a lucky winner a $50 gift certificate to use at their store! How envious I am! :-)

♥ Mandatory Entry ♥

Go to Bug and Pickle and look around, then come back here and tell me in a comment what you would like to try.


♥ Extra Entries (Optional) ♥

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry

♥ Subscribe to the Bug and Pickle Newsletter (+1 extra entry)
♥ Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites (button in right sidebar) (+1 extra entry)
♥ Follow/Subscribe to this blog (+1 extra entry each)
♥ Add my button to your sidebar (+1 extra entry)
♥ Place the "Bamboo for Baby" giveaway button (top right sidebar) in your sidebar and leave the link in a comment (+1 extra entry)
♥ Blog about this giveaway (+2 extra entries)
♥ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (+2 extra entries and if you tweet once a day you get one entry for every tweet)

Winner will be drawn using random.org on May 25. I'll email the winner, who will have three days to get back to me with an address. :-)

Thank you sooo much for sharing this post! :-)