Global Green USA Green School Makeover Competition Presented by Pureology

Have you heard of the Green School Makeover Competition being sponsored by Pureology?  I had not until I logged onto my Influenster account and saw a new challenge from Pureology, and I am glad I did.  What a great competition to help young kids and to help the environment!

I would say I consider myself to be as 'green' as I can.  One thing I have learned in my quest to reduce my carbon footprint is that being green is often very expensive!  I would love to do more, but being a recent graduate that continues to be underemployed, means I do the best I can with what I have.    

Schools across the country are dealing with the same issue, lacking the funds to create a healthy, green environment for the children.  Pureology is teaming up with Global Green USA for a school makeover competition.  I think that, like myself, most people/businesses/families/etc. are doing the best they can with the resources they have available.  Unfortunately, many schools do not have the resources or the funds to carry out much needed repairs or to be more green, and they are subjecting children to unhealthy classrooms, inefficient energy, lighting, poor ventilation, shall I go on?...

When a school goes green, the children benefit - as does the environment.  Everyone wins!  Research has shown that green schools lead to

•         improved school performance and attendance: test scores can improve as much as 20% when children learn in classrooms with natural daylight and non-toxic building materials
•         more funds for student resources such as textbooks, computers, etc: green upgrades can reduce energy costs as much as 40%
•         reduced carbon footprint: take that global warming!

Every child deserves a learning environment that's safe and free of harmful toxins.  Global Green USA is working hard to make this happen.  You can help by nominating a school of your choice for a Green School Makeover.  You can also learn more about other projects by signing up for Influenster and completing your own challenges.

Fortify Your Gut!

Do you take a daily probiotic?  Does your probiotic fortify your gut with healthy bacteria around the clock? Align^® is a probiotic that fortifies your digestive system with healthy bacteria 24/7 with continued use of just one capsule per day.  Probiotics are the good kind of bacteria and are essential for many vital body functions, including healthy digestive system.  Personally, I have never tried a probiotic but as a member of Vocalpoint (and a person who occasionally experiences irregularity) I agreed to try the probiotic supplement and share my opinion.  Have you tried one before?  What did you think?

   Join Vocalpoint now for an opportunity to test and review products for free.  All you have to do is log on and check under the Goodies section for new opportunities.  It's also a great community for ideas when it comes to cleaning, cooking, fashion, etc.  

Pass Me the Fair Trade!

I have always been a fan of Fair Trade products and what the Fair Trade movement does for the world. As a BzzAgent I was sent free samples of Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee to sample and review, and was also asked to spread the word to increase awareness of Fair Trade Products...so here it goes!

Fair Trade is a nonprofit organization that helps people in developing countries work the free market to their advantage.  By purchasing Fair Trade products you are improving day-to-day lives just by purchasing products that you use on a daily basis.  Fair Trade allows farmers and other workers to receive a fair price for their harvest or other products.  The community is then able to use the funds and determine where those funds can best be used.  The goal is to create sustainable business that will help empower individuals and communities, and will transform global problems that affect the earth and the people.  Globally, Fair Trade certifies coffee, tea, herbs, cocoa, fresh fruit and vegetable, sugar, beans, grains, flowers, nuts, oils, butters, honey, spices, wine, apparel, and other products.  Wow!  Quite a list, right?  The movement also impacts 1.2 million farming families in 70 developing countries across Africa, Asian, and Latin America.

I love Fair Trade and everything it stands for.  My heart breaks when I hear about dangerous, unfair working conditions in developing countries.  Everyone should spread the word about Fair Trade products as they offer fair working conditions, fair prices and credit, direct trade, and even community development.  Green Mountain Coffee is promoting Fair Trade with Grace Potter and Michael Franti.  Check out the videos and live stream concerts of Grace Potter in Colombia, and Michael Franti in Sumatra on the Green Mountain Coffee Facebook page.

You should also check out these other Fair Trade Products that I found:

These bracelets

This basket

Tree pillows

This rug

Soap

I could keep going but I'll stop for now!

Say "Yes" to Glade Expressions!

Being a BzzAgent means I get to test all kinds of products and share my thoughts and opinions on these products.  Usually I get products for free, but occasionally they are discounted (for example-buy one get one free candy bars).  For my most recent campaign I tested the Glade Expressions Collection!  Everyone has heard of the Glade brand but I had not yet tried, or even heard of, the Expressions Collection.  Well...I am glad to say that I am a fan of this line of Glade.  They have delicious scents such as Cotton & Italian Mandarin, Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice, Lavender & Juniper Berry, and Pineapple & Mangosteen.  Yummy, don't they sound delicious?!  I feel like I can smell them just by hearing the names!

So far I have tried the Lavender & Juniper Berry oil diffuser and the Cotton & Italian Mandarin fragrance mist.  I love walking through the front door after a long day and immediately smelling the calming scent of lavender.  Then, when my house needs a little burst of fragrance, for example after cooking or when company is coming, I spray the Cotton & Italian Mandarin fragrance throughout my house.  It is a crisp, fresh scent that I absolutely love.  I have not tried the other fragrances yet but I look forward to trying them soon.

If you would like to sample products for free in exchange for reviews, become a BzzAgent today.  Also, check out the Glade Expressions website to learn more or to purchase online.

RESCUE Remedy Natural Stress Relief Gum

As part of my Bride-to-Be Voxbox 2012 from Influenster (see below, first post) I received a free box of Bach Rescue Gum to test and review the product.  The flavor is orange & elderflower and the gum is a homeopathic medicine that is meant to be a natural stress reliever for occasional stress...perfect for the stress of planning a wedding, right?  Wrong!  Beside the fact that I am not sure how well it actually relieves stress, I was not thrilled with the taste.  When I got my Voxbox I was particularly excited to try this gum for several reasons.  Firstly, I love homeopathic products and was eager to find a new go-to stress reliever.  Also, I am somewhat familiar with the company and have really liked some of their products in the past.  Unfortunately, my excitement faded quickly.  The first 15 seconds of chewing the gum was pretty good.  The gum's center is filled with a tasty liquid that the box states is 4 drops of their original Flower Remedy, this was the good part.  After the 15 seconds was over, I thought I was chewing on mod podge...not great.  The dog, however was intrigued and could not take her eyes, and mouth, off the box. 

While I considered giving it to the dog (she was so excited to try it), I decided it probably would not be good for her...even though it is all natural ingredients.  I gave it to my sister instead.  Full disclosure, she thought it was pretty good.  So don't take my word for it, mixed reviews from this blogger.

I would encourage any readers to check out the RESCUE Remedy website despite my review of the gum because, like I mentioned before, I am a fan of their other products.  I have tried the RESCUE Remedy spray and still use it sometimes and would love to some of the other products on the website...just maybe not the gum!  I am especially hoping to try the RESCUE Cream next!

5-Hour ENERGY Friend's Mission

I received a free sample of 5-Hour ENERGY as a member of Smiley360.  I have to say I have always been hesitant to try energy drinks because I figured I would get jittery and hyper.  I vowed to stick with my good old fashioned coffee or tea...until I received my sample box.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.  Firstly, I had no idea that the energy shot was full of B-vitamins and amino acids, but no sugar.  I was also surprised by the taste, which was not at all bad.  My favorite is pomegranate!  Check out the link below for a chance to win.  And join Smiley360.

5-Hour ENERGY Friend's Mission: Enter 4 a chance to win a $200 gift card from Smiley360 by taking this short survey Smiley360 survey

My First VoxBox and My First Post

I'm so excited I finally got chosen for my first VoxBox from Influenster.  Check out the link if you've never heard of Influenster and you're interested in testing new products and sharing your reviews.

I just received my "Bride-to-Be" VoxBox 2012 and it's full of goodies to test before the big day.  Check back for what I have to share on the following items:

• Kiss everEZlashes
• Dream Water
• Rescue Gum
• Schwarzkopf Professionals BC Repair Rescue (hair care)

Influenster gave me all of these items for free with a retail value of over $60!