Crayola Green – Back to School

by admin on August 29, 2010

We all recognize the trademark yellow and green Crayola boxes but Crayola is taking “green” to new measures. Crayola is reducing, reusing, and recycling like a good majority of us are or should be doing.

“As part of Crayola´s ever-evolving green initiative, this back-to-school season, Crayola is making crayons with solar power, markers from recycled bottle caps and colored pencils from reforested wood.

Crayola crayons, markers and colored pencils getting greener is extra good news for parents. You can feel even better about Crayola products because you are supporting a brand that cares very much about kids and the environment and you´ll still get the same great quality and colors at the same price! So while sometimes environmentally-friendly products cost families more green, not so with Crayola” (MyBlogSpark.com, 2010)!

How cool is Crayola when your children reads the specially marked packaging to see that these Crayola products were once bottle caps or that the colored pencils are from reforested wood and not old growth. As parents you can be proud to know you supplied a product for your child that is eco-friendly as well.

  • Crayola Markers – Thanks to new, innovative ways to manufacture Crayola markers from recycled bottle caps, “black” is the new “green!” Crayola markers will now have black barrels instead of white, which allows for more recycled plastic to be used and gives a second life to more than 1 million pounds of plastic bottle caps. Plus, switching to black barrels keeps hundreds of tons of plastic out of landfills each year. Available in 10-ct. Broadline Classic Colors, 10-ct. Broadline Assorted Colors, 10-ct. Fineline Classic Colors, 8-ct. Washable Broadline and 8-ct. Washable Fineline.
  • Crayola Green 24-ct. Crayons – The quintessential school supply found in virtually every elementary classroom will be made with the power of the sun. More than 26,200 solar panels will convert sunlight into electricity, generating the energy required to make 1 billion of the 3 billion crayons Crayola makes each year, which equals 60 million 24-ct. boxes. Mother Earth will be smiling down on every forest green, pine green and jungle green crayon that rolls off the assembly line!
  • Crayola Green Colored Pencils – Committed to protecting the rain forests since 1987, all Crayola colored pencils have been made from reforested wood instead of wood sourced from tropical rainforest or endangered species. For every tree used, a new tree of the same species is planted. The 12-, 24-, 36-, and 50-ct. boxes of Crayola Colored Pencils will be among the first to carry the “Eco-Evolution” callout on their packaging. (MyBlogSpark & Crayola, 2010)

As parents we want to set an example and what better example, than by purchasing products that inspire and promote a healthier world and environment and future for our children.

But if you haven’t bought your kids supplies yet, or you want an extra stash at home for weekend crafts and coloring, leave a comment telling me how you may be recycling, reducing,or reusing like Crayola. The folks at Crayola and My Blog Spark are kind enough to provide our family and yours with this prize pack to enjoy.

(Remember leaving a comment of “I want to win”, “Enter me”, “Gimme” or anything other than the above, your comment will be deleted)

You can find additional entry options here, and be sure to follow Crayola on Twitter and Like or Fan them on Facebook.

CONTEST ENDS SEPTEMBER 11

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A Perfect Night Sleep with Select Comfort

by admin on August 28, 2010

Post image for A Perfect Night Sleep with Select Comfort

Admittedly sleep is THE most important factor to health. New studies are out that sleep not only affects your weight but sleep, or lack there of, can impact mental health, judgment, mood, your overall well being.

I am a firm believer in a comfortable bed. A comfortable bed with complimentary bedding makes all the difference when you slide in to recharge your batteries for the following day. Who wants to crawl into bed with hot, uncomfortable, itchy, or flat out irritating bedding that results in tossing, turning, night sweats or freezes. Hot summer days and nights call for the use of the air conditioning which may result in night freezes or sweats depending on your body temperature.

Personally, I am a hot body and get rather warm at night. Kicking off my heavy down comforter, then I get cold and reach for the comforter again. The vicious cycle goes on all night long and while I am rested, I do not feel at full capacity.

thefivefish.com, Sleep NumberThe folks at Select Comfort have a fabulous line of bed linens that help to promote an optimum sleeping environment as well as reduce temperature swings. Imagine that, bedding that has a number, or balance, just for your body temperature.

I received my Perfect Comforter on behalf of Select Comfort and my nights have been wake free from hot flashes, sweats, and even freezes requiring me to reach for the comforter again. Because I share my bed with my husband, and let’s face it, he’s a hot body too and likes to cuddle, our bed gets toasty.

We opted for the king size, light weight, down alternative. The down alternative was chosen to reduce indoor pollens in our house and because down can be messy and requires specialty cleaning and handling. Plus I have always had down and thought our bed would be ready for some change.

For the last 30 nights both my husband and I have been adequately covered  by the Select Comfort Perfect Comforter. What we have noticed about other king comforters, down or otherwise is the lack of full bed coverage. One side would have more coverage than the other. The stuffing would get all wonky depending on how it washed, even if you had it professionally washed and handled, and with down comforters the down moves around creating “flat” spots. So we both had enough comforter for the both of us, no tugging and pulling to get coverage.

Neither one of us got hot or too cold. What The Chad has to say about the Select Comfort Perfect Comforter, “It’s light without being too light.” I couldn’t agree more, the comforter keeps your warm without getting too warm and it’s not too light where you might get cold. Like Baby Bear would say, “It’s just right!”

Furthermore, the comforter and cover were easy to piece together. Each insert ties into the cover to prevent slipping, sliding and uneven coverage. No more wonky comforter! In fact, when the winter months come into play, if the weather in Arizona was more cold, we might change out the inserts for a warmer weight, or if your bedmate runs hotter or colder you could each have a chamber perfectly balanced based on your sleep pattern.

What’s fantastic about the Select Comfort Perfect Comforter? You have the opportunity to win one for you bed. For your perfect nights sleep! Want to know how?

Tell me what would be your perfect night sleep. No sweats? No chills? No wonky comforter? More coverage? Always wanted a down or down alternative? Leave a comment telling me about your perfect night sleep with your valid email address.

If you leave a comment saying “Enter me” “I want it” or anything other than telling me about your perfect night sleep your comment will be deleted.

Want more entries? Be sure to check out the rules page with all your entry options. But especially be sure to check out Select Comfort on the web by fanning them on Facebook and getting all their updates or follow them on Twitter with all their various handles to get all the latest on Select Comfort and your perfect night sleep. (US Only)

*Disclaimer – As part of the giveaway your email address and name will be provided to Select Comfort on behalf of The Five Fish so that you will be added to the mailing list for sleep tips, deals, and special offers. In compliance with privacy disclosure, your information is NOT being sold to Select Comfort or any other party. You may opt out at any time.

CONTEST ENDS SEPTEMBER 25TH

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Monday Mingle 4 out of 5 Fish Approved

August 22, 2010

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to do a Monday Mingle with some great bloggy friends. I’ll make my rounds and say hello to everyone and so good to see you all!

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Middle Management

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Bailouts and Entitlements

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Writing for me lately has been like a lump of coal waiting to evolve into a highly compressed, precious gem ready to burst into life.
Work and the nightly battle with the kids have but drained my creative juices. People I know devoid me of inspiration because like I have always said, my life is not [...]

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The Battle of “The Mom’s”

July 7, 2010

I am a former stay-at-home-mom.
When I was a stay-at-home-mom I used to declare my former life as a career mother.
I support mothers in all their decisions with raising their children. My philosophy has always been different strokes for different folks. I could understand and respect mothers who worked out of the home, at home, or [...]

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