This contest is closed. Congratulations to Jackie!

I do not like to willingly bring dangerous chemicals into my home. Despite the fact I have used harsh cleaning products in the past, I now know they are not safe or necessary. Too many companies use brand messaging to make people think their unhealthy products are fine to use, but we must be smarter consumers. There are safer options for our families and for the environment.

With that said, I had the privilege to test 7 full size samples from Simple Green Naturals household cleaning products made from 100% naturally derived ingredients. Prior to receiving the shipment, I had never used Simple Green products. Once my box arrived, I was eager to start cleaning and reviewing. Here is a little background information on the naturals line:

• 100% natural ingredient sources
• Biodegradable formulation
• Never tested on animals
• Full ingredient disclosure
• Internationally scientifically-accepted ingredient names
• Natural scents are IFRA compliant and made of 100% natural essential oils and plant extracts.
• 100% recyclable PETE plastic bottles with 25% + post-consumer content, printed with soy inks
• Natural versus naturally derived (learn more here)

Below is my review of each bottle as well as some important product information.

Dish Washing Liquid: The fresh squeezed citrus smell is light and lovely. This liquid suds up nicely and easily cut through tough grease left in my frying pan from Buffalo Burgers. Best of all, it is not harsh on my skin like other dish washing liquids I have used, it is extremely gentle. Hands down, this will be a regular dish washing liquid that I use going forward. I hope Simple Green creates a similar product for the dish washer.

Liquid Hand Soap: The scent of this soap is herb garden and it smells incredible. Best of all, it is effective and does not strip the skin of natural oils! I keep this liquid hand soap sitting on my kitchen counter and use it constantly to clean my hands. In all honesty, my hands have not been dried out and cracked since using this soap. The product I “used to use” contained an antibacterial components which kept my hands dry and cracked. Needless to say, that “other” brand will not be purchased again!

Multi-Surface Care: Another great smelling product that is effective at cleaning hard surfaces such as counter-tops, tables, walls, fixtures and appliances. This product is easy to use, just spray and wipe with a clean damp sponge, cloth or microfiber. Another great plus is that this product is green seal certified!

Bathroom Cleaner: Finally a safe bathroom cleaner that is designed for use on soils such as water borne minerals and soap scum that are commonly found in the tub, toilet and sink. The product is easy to use and contains no harsh chemicals. Simply spray, mop or wipe onto a surface and scrub if necessary. The scent is rosemary mint and leaves your bathroom looking and smelling fresh and clean! This product is also green seal certified.

Glass & Surface Care: This glass and surface spray works well without the use of ammonia or alcohol! I have a glass top desk that my son touches constantly so this glass spray is used regularly. It is extremely effective. I also love that it is also rosemary mint scent so when I clean the bathroom mirror, it blends with the bathroom cleaner scent. This is another green seal certified product.

Floor Care: This is a convenient product to use after meals to clean up the food my toddler dropped on the tile. This is a safe and effective cleanser for laminate, porcelain tile, slate, finished wood, linoleum and more. This product is easy to use. Just spray onto sections of the floor and damp mop up, or wipe up with a microfiber pad. This product leaves your floors smelling great and incredibly clean! This is another green seal certified product.

Carpet Cleaner:  My house does not have carpet so my husband used this to clean the carpet inside our sports utility vehicle. There were black marks from my son’s stroller wheels and this product worked like a charm to remove the stains. The website also states it “is a very effective and easy to use product for spot cleaning all colorfast and washable carpet, rugs and upholstery. This product is easy to use and fast acting”. My husband gave it two thumbs up and said it worked very well.

I am very pleased with Simple Greens Naturals products. They have all worked very well and I recommend them. The scents are incredible but please note, they are subtle and not overbearing whatsoever. I cannot stand opening a door and being knocked down by fumes. You do not have to worry about strong smells with Simple Green Naturals.

Want to win the products I just reviewed? Simple Green is going to give one lucky reader 7 FULL SIZE bottles to try! Just leave a comment telling me which product you are most excited about trying and why.

For additional entries, do the following but leave separate comments letting me know (this will allow you additional chances to win).

• “Like” The Unemployed Mom’s Facebook Fan Page. If you’re already a fan, thank you very much! Just list your name below and indicate that you are.
• Post this giveaway as your facebook status and encourage your friends to enter.
• Comment on another post at The Unemployed Mom then let me know you did in the comments section of this blog.
• Follow @Unemployed_Mom on twitter and retweet this contest (you can use the convenient green retweet button).
• Follow @simplegreennews on twitter.
• Subscribe to The Unemployed Mom’s RSS feed and let me know you have. Already a subscriber, thank you. Just indicate that you are in the comments.
• Have a Blog? Follow The Unemployed Mom and leave a comment that you are a follower.
• Have a Blog? Blog about this contest and leave the url of your post. This is worth 5 extra entries.  Make sure you leave 5 separate comments. (example “blogged extra entry #1″, “blogged extra entry #2″, “blogged extra entry #3″, etc.).
• Have a blog? Add The Unemployed Mom to your blog roll and let me know you did. This is worth 3 extra entries! Make sure you leave 3 separate comments. (example “blog roll extra entry #1″, “blog roll extra entry #2″, “blog roll extra entry #3″, etc.).

The winner will receive:

• One 32 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Multi-Surface Care
• One 24 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Bathroom Cleaner
• One 24 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care
• One 32 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Glass & Surface Care
• One 16 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Dish Washing Liquid
• One 24 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Floor Care
• One 16 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Liquid Hand Soap

Random.org will select a winner on June 18, 2010. U.S. residents only. Winner will be contacted via email and has 48 hours to respond. If no response is received, random.org will select another winner.

Good luck! These products retail for around $3.99 each and in my opinion are worth it.

Simple Green Naturals samples were received for review; however, the opinions expressed are my own.

Everywhere you turn, you read or hear about another product that is hazardous to your health. Could there be a connection between the rapid number of people being diagnosed with cancer and other diseases? I am starting to believe so!

From deodorant, plastic cups and now sunscreen, it’s difficult to make a safe decision. My only question is why doesn’t the government have higher standards? Seriously, if we know certain chemicals are dangerous or have long-term ill effects, then why not ban them?

A twitter friend (@stresslessmomma) and fellow blogger shared this site: Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. It’s a terrific resource for greener health and beauty options. After reviewing the information, I am definitely making some changes! Take a look and let me know if anything took you by surprise…

This weekend my family planted an organic container garden. My husband and I both grew up around gardening, but we do not have a lot of space. We thought on a much smaller scale and decided to plant some vegetables and herbs that I use regularly. Also, I reviewed my grocery receipts and realized I have been spending a small fortune at Whole Foods JUST on organic fruits and vegetables (seriously, at least $50 per week)!

Ok, so perhaps I became overzealous picking out seed packets and grabbed more than I should have. I will be returning a few because I’m not so sure how carrots, turnips or peas would grow inside a pot. I decided to keep the squash, cucumbers and zucchinis, so we’ll see how they do.

I was thrilled to see how many organic gardening products are available (Miracle-Gro Organic Potting Mix, Organic Seeds, Organic Seedlings, etc.). I also found containers made from recycled materials at bargain prices (thank you Big-Lots)! One of our experienced container gardening friends gave us organic pepper seedlings that she grew and lots of advice (thank you Eugenia Essentials)!

All in all, it was a great family project that will teach my son to love the soil and what it provides. Too bad he was napping while my husband and I played in the dirt, but my dog sure got into it! To see additional photos, click here.

I involve my toddler in green living practices by having him put items into our recycling bin. He gets excited when he sees an empty paper towel or toilet paper holder, he likes to use them as tunnels for his cars. Ultimately, he knows once he is finished using his imagination, he gets to place the cardboard into the recycling bin. He then becomes so proud and claps at his accomplishment.

Our next green project is making a potted garden and growing some of our favorite vegetables. I am excited for him to witness food growing and not just being brought home in a canvas grocery bag. Although I’m sure he will think of the activity as another fun way to play in the dirt, the lessons that will be taught are invaluable!

I stumbled upon these fun Earth Day Crafts for kids and must admit, some of these ideas are adorable and seem fairly easy. These are a great way to have fun and teach our children about recycling at the same time.

What green activities do you involve your children in? Please share in the comments.

Happy Earth Day!

I have been introduced to a company called Seed Power by a fellow blogger and friend Jennifer at HipAsIWannaBe. Seed Power is sponsoring a few lucky ladies for BlogHer ’10 in NYC, so this is my entry for consideration. I honestly wouldn’t be writing about this company if I didn’t believe in their products or philosophy. After doing a little research about Seed Power, I will be purchasing some of their products on my next trip to Whole Foods.

I felt a connection to Seed Power just from reading their  ”story“.  I never really put much thought into the dangers of chemicals until I was pregnant. That was when I officially became a greenie and eliminated harsh chemicals from our household. It made me think, if it is dangerous to my unborn child then how can it be safe for my family and our four legged friend?

Funny thing is, that was my “ah ha” moment about being environmentally friendly. It was during my early pregnancy when I started a green movement at the company I was employed at. The group was called “Generation Green” and the focus was to educate people on how to reduce their carbon footprint. I organized a team of 15 employees and our work began (coordinating green education seminars, purchasing eco-friendly mugs and eliminating styrofoam from our offices, staring a car-pooling effort, organizing a community effort to clean a local park, and sharing green tidbits on a regular basis). I could feel that same level of passion just from reading about Seed Power which is why I am so excited to try their products.

Also, being a wine enthusiast I love the fact Seed Power uses the natural byproducts of the wine-making process for their products! They recognize the health benefits of wine and have carried that into their 100% natural products. Their seedology is,

“Everything begins with a seed. It’s a fact that a single seed contains all the nutrients that enable life. When you look inside a seed, it’s packed with elements that provide incredible skin health benefits. Our seeds are rich in Vitamin E, a powerful skin care rejuvenator. They also provide multiple forms of antioxidants and beneficial essential fatty acids. It’s all inside these tiny seeds – the essence and power to create a healthy life.”

Have you tried Seed Power yet? What are you waiting for?

As you may or may not know, Nissan has created a 100% electric car appropriately named the LEAF. This car produces zero emissions and runs completely off of a lithium-ion battery. Yes, that means there is no gas tank, no engine oil, no timing belts and no tail pipe! Imagine never having to stop for gas again! Doesn’t that sound amazing?

LEAF is a five passenger electric car with all the safety amenities Nissan is known for. The lithium-ion battery allows the LEAF to run for 100 miles on a single charge. The first question that came to mind is how expensive is it to charge the battery? Well, apparently it costs less than $3 per charge (do the math, that gives you 100 miles for less than $3). My next question is how powerful can a 100% electric car be? Well, they claim it has 100% torque off the line.

The website also indicates you can use your smart phone to program the car remotely! This reminds me of something out of a Jetson’s cartoons!

Exciting news for my green friends in Orlando. Nissan is hosting the only public LEAF event in Florida this upcoming Tuesday, February 2 in downtown Orlando. The event is informal, free and will have fun activities to learn more about the LEAF, electric vehicles, battery charging and other relevant topics.

Details are as follows:

• Date: February 2, 2010
• Location: Orlando City Hall Plaza (400 S Orange Ave)
• Time: 4-7 pm

Let me know if you go to the event. I’d love to hear thoughts on this one! I am also curious how expensive this car is, I have not been able to find any specifics.

This past weekend, my husband and I took our 17 month old son to see Elmo’s Green Thumb. Of course my son had no clue why, but we were beyond excited to see how he’d react to the characters, music, lights and crowd. My husband grew up with Sesame Street in his home, but I was a Romper Room girl. Anyway, I know how my son squeals in delight when he sees Elmo’s World come on and I couldn’t wait to see his face light up when he saw a life size Elmo right in front of him!

I purchased floor seats and we were 7 rows from the stage. Our seats were located on the center aisle which proved to be a real treat since Grover and a purple monster with a horn nose (I have no clue what its name is) came over and interacted with our son. He absolutely loved the personal attention from the monsters! We knew he wouldn’t have character phobia since he regularly goes to Walt Disney World. Unfortunately, the 2 year old girl behind us was terrified and screamed pretty much the entire time. I’m still wondering why her parents didn’t choose to move to higher seats so they wouldn’t have to worry about the characters coming close to her?

My son sat perfectly still during the entire first half of the show, he was completely mesmerized by the lights and music. We could tell he thoroughly enjoyed the show, he clapped often while the characters were singing and dancing. Unfortunately, the lights popped on for a 15 minute intermission and he was like WTF? Where did my show go? At that point, we knew it was going to take a small miracle for him to stay still. That miracle never happened so we decided to leave a few minutes into the second half.

All in all, it was a fun experience for the first half and we will take him to other productions. I’m still wondering how the story ends, guess I’ll just have to wait and see next time the show is in town.

I’m still scratching my head over these things:

• Ticketmaster charged $30 in fees (which cost more than an entire ticket)! How ridiculous is that?
• There were a TON of open floor seats which means Ticketmaster either held these premium seats back or ticket hawks purchased them with hopes of ripping off families willing to pay top dollar for seats.
• Do you really need to get up 10 times during a 45 minute show and a 15 minute intermission? There was a family sitting beside of us and the pregnant mom kept getting up and trampling all over our feet trying to move her daughter up to closer seats. Finally, when intermission was over she and her friends moved to the very front row, center stage which made me happy since I didn’t have to worry about moving out of their way anymore.
• Some people do not understand that you cannot let your child run up to the stage hoping the characters will dance with you. The family I referenced above ALSO let their child run right up to the stage and she was almost trampled by the monsters. Needless to say, ushers quickly grabbed her and lectured her mom (and then she decided to trample on our feet again to return to her seats).
• Intermission, is it really necessary? OMG, my son was a complete angel until the lights came on for intermission and ushers flooded the floor with 3D Elmo balloons, cotton candy displays, merchandise for sale, etc. It was like a small circus was created in front of us. We lost him at that point because he felt it was time to run around instead of sitting still waiting for the show to start. Perhaps we should have found a quiet place where he could have gotten out his energy, but we were afraid of what he’d do when we returned to our seats.
• Parents, if your child is screaming and kicking hysterically, please remove them from the situation instead of torturing them (and those other paying customers sitting close to you).

If you have taken your child to a live show, what was your experience like?

Let’s face it, one way or another our lives are being impacted by the current recession. Small changes can make a difference when it comes to saving money. Here are a few EASY money saving tips from The Unemployed Mom.

1. Stop Eating Out! Going out to eat is expensive! Despite the fact groceries cost a lot of money, your wallet will be impacted more by eating at restaurants. Also, when you cook meals at home, you can make them healthier for your family. Use leftovers to pack lunches.
2. Make Grocery Lists. Plan your weekly meals and take a list with you to the grocery store. It is proven that people spend less money when they make and follow a list. Also, do not go to the store when you are hungry!
3. Use Coupons. Buy the Sunday paper and clip coupons. Familiarize yourself with which stores double coupons and which ones offer Buy One Get One Free weekly specials so you can maximize savings. For more help, check out the Grocery Game. If you’re not going to use certain coupons, pass them along to someone who will.
4. Stop Buying Deli Meat. Deli meat is a nice convenience but at $8+ per pound, it is breaking the bank! Instead, cook a ham, chicken breast or turkey breast and slice your own!
5. Buy in Bulk. Membership fees to places like Costco, BJ’s and Sam’s Club can be expensive so why not split the fee with a friend? Also, buying in bulk allows you to get a better price on food and household items.
6. Say “NO” to Coffee Shops. This is hard since specialty coffee drinks taste so darn good, but at $5 a pop, the costs add up! Make coffee at home and stop making a detour for caffeine!
7. Start a Baby Sitting Co-Op. Instead of paying for baby sitting services when you want a night out without children, start a co-op with your friends. For help on starting a co-op, click here.
8. Animal Swap. Boarding animals or sending them to Doggy Daycare can be expensive so why not start a swap with your animal loving neighbors?
9. Stop Washing So Much. Some pieces of clothing (jeans, jackets and sweaters) do NOT need to be washed each time you wear them, especially if they are layered over top of something. If you are able to hang your clothes outside to dry, choose this option!
10. Create & Follow A Budget. Mint.com is a free personal finance software that will simplify your life! I highly recommend this tool (we use it faithfully in my house). Create your anonymous Mint account, then add your bank, credit card, home loan and investment accounts. The set up process takes five minutes and that’s all the data entry Mint ever asks of you. No bookkeeping is required and your account information is always up to date.

Click here for additional green money saving tips from The Unemployed Mom.

What easy money saving tips do you have? Please share in the comments sections!

Thanks for visiting!

I have a difficult time just tossing magazines in my recycle bin, so I started brainstorming recycling options. My son’s favorite activity is “playing magazines”. He will sit on the floor and shred them for hours (junk mail too). In addition to letting your toddler play with them (supervised of course), below are some other creative ways to be green with magazines.

1. Share with friends and family. Once you have finished reading, pass along to your buddies who have similar interests. 
2. Drop them off at waiting rooms. Doctor and dentist offices, nursing homes, salons, laundromats and fitness centers are a few places that come to mind. Always call ahead to verify they are accepted and make sure the content is appropriate.
3. Donate to a charity. If you are in Orlando, the Hubbard House will graciously accept your magazines. The Hubbard House is a “Hospitality Home for families of critical care patients at an Orlando Health facility”. Find out which of your local charities will accept your magazines (animal shelters may be able to use in the bottom of small cages, Salvation Army, Goodwill or women’s shelters, etc.).
4. Shred and use as packing filler. Why spend money on box filler when you can make your own at home? This is an inexpensive and easy way to pack your merchandise sold on eBay!
5. Use for craft projects. Kids will have a blast clipping out pictures and making masterpieces! If you do not have children, you could contact a local elementary school or daycare facility to see if they can use them.
6. Use as wrapping paper for small gifts. This is a unique way to add personality to a birthday or holiday present. Use magazine pages that relate to the object inside the box. 

If you do not have time for the above, kindly just place them in a recycle bin. Earth911.com discusses a ReMix campaign that encourages New Yorkers to recycle their magazines. The campaign was started as a result of a study which found “only 17 percent of sold magazines are recycled”. Regardless of where you are located, why not take note of this startling number and do something about it?

How do you recycle your magazines? Do you have any additional creative ideas?

Don’t forget to bookmark The Unemployed Mom!

Everywhere you turn, you hear about “going green”. Many people assume that making green lifestyle changes will take a lot of effort and money. Let’s face it, no one has the extra cash in this tough economy. Even Kermit the Frog adds some confusion with his song “It’s Not Easy Being Green”.  In honor of Earth Day (April 22nd), I wanted to make a few FREE and easy recommendations that will help the environment and save YOU money.

• Carpool:  This one small initiative will save gas and toll money, prolong tire life and minimize wear and tear on vehicles.  Ride sharing also reduces emissions and makes a huge difference to the environment.
• Tire Pressure:  Make sure your tires have the correct amount of pressure. This will optimize tire performance and fuel economy.
• Energy Audit:  Contact your local energy company about conducting a free home energy audit.  They will provide small conservation tips that will save you money each month on your electric and water bills!
• Recycle Water:  Instead of pouring water down the drain, use it to water plants.
• Wash Full Loads:  Only wash full loads in your dishwasher and clothes washer.
• Repair Leaks:  Make sure to check and repair leaky faucets, toilets, pipes and hoses. 
• Clean Filters:  A dirty filter can put unnecessary strain on your clothes dryer so make sure to clean it after each use.  Also, change your air handler filter regularly to reduce unit strain and operating costs. 
• Clean Coils:  Set a reminder to clean your refrigerator coils every 6 months.
• Adjust  Hot Water Temperatures:  Set your hot water heater to 125 degrees and only use cold or warm settings when washing laundry.
• Ceiling Fans:  Ceiling fans help keep your home cool, but make sure to turn them off when you are not in the room.
• Unplug Electronics:  When you are not using an electronic device, simply unplug it and conserve energy.  
• Recycle Bags:  Most grocery stores will give you credit for bringing your own grocery sacks.  If you do not bring along your own bags, at least ask for paper instead of plastic!
• Reuse & Recycle Items:  Sell your used clothing, electronics, furniture and household items at a consignment store, on Craigslist.org, at a yard sale or on eBay.  Stop throwing away these items!  If you do not have time to sell your items, donate them to Goodwill or the Salvation Army for a tax write-off. 
• Reduce Junk Mail:  Save trees by opting-out of unsolicited credit card and insurance offers that end up in your garbage or recycling bin. Besides, these pieces of mail can lead to identity theft. Catalog Choice will also help reduce unsolicited catalogue junk mail.
• Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs):  Replace your incandescent lights with CFLs.  This effort will have an upfront cost; however, it will save you money in the long term. For the best CFL prices, check your local warehouse stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s.

When making eco-friendly changes, always follow the three R’s:  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Also, I highly recommend involving your children in these efforts so they recognize the importance of taking care of the environment.

Leave a comment with some of your green tips that save money! Also, be sure to bookmark The Unemployed Mom and check back often!

Happy Earth Day!