I have a VERY stinky golden retriever! I swear, Bailey goes outside and rolls in yard delights just to make me mad. I’m not sure if she does this because she enjoys having a bath or because she loves being gross, but it drives me nuts. My son calls her “Mudbud” the golden retriever puppy from the Buddies movies that is always in trouble for rolling in the mud. Thankfully, Bailey has a doggie door so she can come and go whenever! Best part of all…her area does not co-mingle with our living quarters so she can keep her stink to herself!

Why is my dog the only stinky dog I encounter? Seriously, when we walk downtown and pet other dogs, they NEVER stink! I have figured out the secret…Simple Green’s Oxy Dog Stain & Pet Oxidizer and Pet Stain & Odor Remover! These two products are making my life much more enjoyable (and less stinky)…and hopefully will help you, too!

I have been using OXY Dog on the tile flooring in Bailey’s area when she tracks mud, dirt and any possible yard delight she has been stepped in and/or tracked in. OXY DOG oxidizes the odor causing stuff completely killing the smell and bacteria that would feed it. It wipes away very easily and leaves the area smelling fresh.

Since she suffers from arthritis and hip displasia, she has a special ortho bed. As you can imagine, it needs to be washed frequently since she’s such a dirt ball.  My typical routine has been to wash the bed and cover while she is getting a bath. The bed just NEVER smells or looks clean with my normal detergent! I was anxious to give BIO DOG a try! Here is my not so stinky dog sunning herself after a bath.

BIO DOG INSTRUCTIONS:

1. While giving her a bath, I thew her bedding into the washing machine on warm water setting.
2. I added BIO DOG to the load (I used 1/2 cup since it was the first time using the product and I really wanted the odor GONE)!
3. Once washed, I gave it a sniffy sniff and guess what NO MORE STINK DOG SMELL! AMAZING!
4. No worries about chemicals since this product is a non-toxic and biodegradable bio-active stain and odor remover!

I tried the Outdoor Pet Stain & Odor product on my back patio area around the section where my dog does her business. As you can imagine, this area can really smell horrible in the HOT Florida sun. This product worked like a charm! Best part of all, there were no worries about killing grass or landscaping since the formula is non-toxic and biodegradable. It is safe to use around pets, children and your yard!

Simple Green Pet products (they also have a product line for cats) can be purchased at leading pet supply retailers including PetCo and PetSmart, as well as many other traditional and online retailers. Visit Simple Green’s website for a complete list of stores near you that carry these products.

One lucky winner is going to receive a 32 oz bottle of Simple Green BIO DOG Pet Stain and Odor Remover, and one 32 oz. bottle of Simple Green OXY DOG Pet Stain and Odor Remover!

Just enter the Rafflecopter below (please allow time for the Rafflecopter to load).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Disclosure: I received complimentary bottles of Simple Green BIO DOG and OXY DOG products for review; however, no other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are mine. My GOOD SMELLING CLEAN DOG also gives these products two paws up!

Some of my best childhood memories involve playing in dirt while my parents planted their garden. We didn’t buy many fruits or vegetables at the grocery store, instead we grew them! I can remember sneaking into my mom’s strawberry patch and stuffing my face with berries until I had a tummy ache.

My parents definitely passed along their love for growing which is a valuable lesson my husband and I are also sharing with our son. We have been organic container gardening for several years and our little guy loves planting, weeding, watering and harvesting our fruits and vegetables. The other day, as soon as he woke he ran outside because he saw a red tomato and wanted to pick it! Then while snacking on an apple, he picked out a seed and said “let’s plant it mommy and grow more”. He definitely understands what one small seed can produce!

When I heard about the Giggling’ Garden Gang, I had to check it out! Obviously, my son already has an interest in gardening so I have been searching for a product to teach him more and allow him to grow something on his own! Also, I want to expand his knowledge on recycling and sustainability.

We visited the Giggling’ Garden Gang website together and he had an instant smile! The page is colorful and fun, definitely appealing to children. He enjoyed the theme song playing and thought Conroy Carrot was “funny looking”. All in all, the site is easy to navigate and user friendly. I personally appreciate the large “Get Social” links since I am constantly using Facebook and Twitter to connect with companies.

I navigated to the “shop” button to see what types of products are available. I decided to purchase the Go Green and Giggle”® Book & Tote Garden Activity Gift Set which took me directly to their Amazon shop. This kit seemed perfect since it contains a ”Go Green & Giggle” book/song cd, a greenhouse kit to grow sunflowers, and comes in an eco-friendly tote made of post recycled material!

I ordered the kit and let him know he had a special surprise on the way! This kit will allow him to be responsible for growing something all by himself which is a VERY big deal! It also sounds easy, all he needs to do is plant the sunflower seeds in the magic soil pellets, add water and watch it expand. The price for the family activity kit is $18.95, which is awesome considering the contents AND the valuable lessons. This is a terrific gift, I will definitely keep it in mind for our next birthday party!

The activity kit arrived fast, in less than 5 days of placing my Amazon order a box with a Sunflower Suzi sticker was sitting on my front step!

We opened the box and inside found the most adorable little organic tote, greenhouse kit, and book! After a quick reading session, my son was ready to plant! The sunflower seed packet was on the last page and he knew exactly what to do with them!

His watering can was filled with water (perhaps a little too much) and he was ready to get started. He made sure his magic soil pellets were all placed in their carton appropriately, and started to water (he was a bit overzealous so I had to dump a little water out before he placed the seeds in). The soil pellets began their magic and expanded which he thought that was really cool! He started placing one sunflower seed in each pellet.

I helped him push the sunflower seeds deep into the soil pellet, everything else was all him! He even had one extra seed and planted it inside one of our existing pots.

After planting, he selected the perfect sunny spot for his greenhouse.

Then, he spotted our neighbor tending to her flower garden and ran over to show her his new book. He also told her all about planing sunflower seeds. She was more than impressed with our educational session today!

Lastly, he noticed some ripe cherry tomatoes and decided it was snack time! See, we have been blaming our golden retriever for stealing our tomatoes, but this just proves our kid is a tomato monster!

After munching on his healthy snack, he snuck a peek to see if his sunflowers had sprouted yet (we obviously have to work on patience). I’m sure it will be the first thing on his mind when he wakes this morning!

This was a fun activity for him! The cd is an added bonus, the songs are simply awesome! I’m sure he’ll be singing them the entire way to and from the playground!

Seriously, do not even hesitate, BUY this activity kit! We give it two GREEN thumbs up! I asked him what he’s going to do with his tote and he said “take it to the library and bring plant books home”! I’d say this was a hit on all levels!

* This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias; however, all opinions are my own. #GoGreenNGiggle #CBias

Nothing pains me more than using disposable baggies when packing snacks and lunches! Too many times they are just tossed into the trash after one use.

When the creator of Snackaby reusable bags reached out to me, I jumped at the opportunity to review her environmentally friendly products. The idea of never throwing away plastic baggies made me smile! I think baggies are such a waste of money and they are horrible for the planet!

I received a sandwich bag and a snack bag to review. My son and I are always on the go, so I just throw snacks inside and close the Snackaby with the Velcro closure. Since they are wipe-able and washable, I do not even hesitate to throw fruit or vegetables inside. They wipe clean and can also be washed on the top rack of your dishwasher!

In addition to being stylish, here are the reasons I think Snackaby are a great investment:

• Fabrics are environmentally friendly and do not contain plasticizers.
• You can reuse them over and over again! No more wasting money on disposable baggies.
• The design is durable, they can easily be wiped clean (inside and outside).
• They are dishwasher safe (top rack only) so no need to worry about them not being clean or sterilized.

Since it’s back to school time, make sure you stop by the Snackaby Etsy store! There is a variety of patterns to choose from. Snackaby is offering The Unemployed Mom readers free shipping! Use code “SHIPFREE” when you checkout!

Make sure to follow Snackaby on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

* Disclosure: Thanks to Snackaby, I was provided a reusable sandwich and snack bag for review. No other compensated was received. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you didn’t already know, today is Earth Day! I know there will be some who hear the term and roll their eyes, but I think this day is very special. Today is a day to teach our children about taking care of the planet. There are ways to involve your family and make this day fun. Kermit was wrong, it IS easy being green!

In the past, I shared 15 money saving green tips. Many of these do not cost a dime, instead they could possibly save you money!

Below are some ideas how your family can contribute to Earth Day. I would love to hear your suggestions in the comments!

• Carpool to work.
• Take a reusable mug to Starbucks and enjoy complimentary coffee and tea TODAY!
• Take a walk with your family.
• Pick up trash in your neighborhood.
• Clean a local park.
• Plant a seed, flower, or tree.
• Use reusable bags at the grocery store.
• Make a bird feeder for your backyard.
• Stop using harsh chemicals, instead opt for natural solutions.

B Kind 2 Earth Day is a collaborative effort between Nickelodeon, The National Wildlife Federation, TheMotherhood.com and bloggers across the country. The goal is to “encourage people to promise to do at least one earth-friendly action on April 22, 2011 — and beyond.” Bloggers representing their respective state are asking readers to pledge to do something for the earth today. I am one of the lucky bloggers representing the state of Florida.

I encourage you to visit the B Kind 2 Earth Day Facebook page and click “like”. Also, share your ideas on their wall. By doing this, you are pledging your support. Even though these suggestions may seem small, together, we can really make an impact!

Happy Earth Day!

Switch off your lights for one hour to celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 8:30 pm (local time).

At that time, lights will switch off around the globe and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

What else will you do to make a difference? Will you be participating?

Although this may seem small, together our actions add up.

For more information, visit Earthhour.org.

We loaded our Radio Flyer wagon into our car and headed to the Leu Gardens Annual Plant sale over the weekend. This was our first visit to Leu Gardens and it definitely won’t be our last! Such a beautiful place. I cannot believe we have never been considering it is only a few miles from our home.

We spent several hours there just taking in the beauty all around us and browsing the selection of herbs, vegetables, trees and flowers for sale. To say we came away inspired is an understatement, take a look at this creation we made from our plant purchases.

Just kidding. I took that photo yesterday at The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. You’ll see more of Disney’s amazing topiaries on my Wordless Wednesday post this week.

Below is a preview of our gardening project from the weekend. In addition to our Leu Gardens purchases of herbs, vegetables and lavender we also planted several citrus trees (navel orange, Meyer lemon and pink grapefruit). Hopefully, we can keep everything healthy and thriving! The citrus blooms smell incredible!

Last Spring, I blogged about creating an organic container garden. Since then, I have learned valuable lessons along the way and feel confident with our container garden. We have successfully grown a variety of peppers (banana and bell), lettuce, tomatoes (Roma, cherry and yellow boy) as well as herbs (basil, rosemary, mint, and cilantro). We tried growing vegetables and herbs from seeds; however, had a much higher success rate with the organic seedlings that we planted.

For those eager to start a container garden but not sure where to begin, this blog is for you!

How do you get started with planting a container garden? What is necessary?

• Seedlings and/or Seeds
• Containers & Planting Supplies
• Soil
• Plant Food
• Water

Seedlings and/or Seeds: Determine what you would like to grow in your garden. I spent a small fortune on organic seeds and seedlings because the thought of growing all my produce was exciting. Realistically, I should have tried planting a few items to see what grows best in my environment. Also, if using seeds pay attention to the planting instructions (time of year to plant, how deep in the soil, how many seeds to sow, climate, amount of direct sunlight, watering, etc.).

Containers: Have a variety of containers to plant in. If you are handy, you can make planters. The main thing to keep in mind is drainage. Make sure your containers have holes so water can drain properly. If they do not, simply use a drill and put a few drain holes in the bottom. Be creative when it comes to containers, you do not have to spend a fortune on pots.

Planting Supplies: If planting seeds, use small stakes to identify what you have planted. Popsicle sticks work well, use a permanent marker to indicate what you have planted and place them inside your container. You will also need a small spade for the soil and gardening gloves.

Soil: You will need an abundance of potting soil/mix, especially if using large containers. If you do not make you own soil or compost, there are a variety of products that can be purchased. We selected Scotts Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix because it was one of the few organic mixes available and it has worked well for us.

Plant Food: This was something we did not use initially, but my parents visited about 3 months after we started our gardening adventure and said “your plants are hungry”. They have a lot of experience with gardening, so we quickly took their advice! Sure enough, we purchased some Miracle-Gro Organic Choice All Purpose Plant Food and started feeding our plants regularly (every 2 weeks) and the results are amazing!

Water: Make sure to water your garden regularly. We are currently watering once per day; however, during the hot Florida summer months we do water more frequently.

How Long Until I Have Vegetables & Herbs? This answer is not simple, it all depends on whether you planted seeds or used starter plants. Cilantro is the only herb I had success with from seeds and it did not take long to grow (a few weeks actually). I used organic starter plants for my basil, rosemary and mint because I didn’t want to wait. All three have continued to grow like crazy.

As for vegetables, it seems like our various peppers and tomatoes have new growth every day! It has taken a long time to get to this point (8 months to be exact) but it is very exciting to see the vegetables getting bigger and riper every single day. The plants did produce a few vegetables last year, but the plant food has really made a difference in quantity and size!

Basil Tip: I have learned to pinch the flowers off of my basil so it becomes more bush like in appearance. Also, the more basil I use…the better it grows. Seems crazy, but it’s true. Also, we accidentally broke some off while covering our plants during freezing temperatures. We placed those sprigs into a cup of water, let it grow roots and then replanted.

Other: Keep in mind, the initial investment (seeds, plants, containers, soil, plant food, etc.) can be expensive; however, there is nothing more rewarding than producing your own vegetables and herbs. If something doesn’t survive, do NOT throw out the soil, instead reuse it and attempt to grow something else.

Also, you will probably have insects, snails and/or worms that attack your plants. Check on them often, we had a tomato worm that literally ate 75% of a tomato plant in a matter of hours!

These photos were taken on the first day we planted our container garden (May 2010).

And here is our garden now, 8 months later…

]]> http://theunemployedmom.com/2011/01/19/how-to-start-a-container-garden/feed/ 2 http://theunemployedmom.com/2010/06/08/simple-green-naturals-review-giveaway/ http://theunemployedmom.com/2010/06/08/simple-green-naturals-review-giveaway/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:04:10 +0000 The Unemployed Mom http://theunemployedmom.com/?p=5932

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.