Tints of Nature hair colour - Giveaway!

I dyed my hair for many, many years - from black to bright (primary) red and pretty much everything in between, including stripes! I did it for fun as I was young and had the time on my hands.

Shall we see some photos? Hmm... Well, here's one I found from when I dyed my hair straight up black. Back when I was just 18. Oh, those crazy university days. Haven't changed much, have I? (shh, just agree!)

These days I'm much more concerned and aware about what chemicals and products I use - both for my own health and for their effect in an environmental sense. So if I were to pick back up on dying my hair (and, honestly, now it would be more for hiding those grey hairs I see coming in than for fun), I would definitely choose one that is low-impact, both on me and on the earth.

Sadly for me I do not just now have the time or energy to dye my hair - I am a low-maintenance kind of girl, especially with a busy (very, very busy, and also still sleepless) toddler. Maybe one day.

However! I am pleased to share with my readers the brand Tints of Nature, which I have learned is ammonia-free, has no parabens, no resorcinol, no propylene glycol, and low levels of paraphenylenediamines (pigment) and highest quality, mildest peroxide. It also contains natural and up to 60% organic (either Soil Certification Organic Standard or certified by ECOCERT) ingredients such as orange, aloe, comfrey, chamomile, grapefruit as well as Vitamins C and E.

Tints of Nature is free from animal products and is not tested on animals (thank you).

There are 24 colours to choose from, including five new shades (Very Light Golden Blonde, Ash Blonde, Medium Ash Brown, Fiery Red and Dark Copper Blonde). Hmm, the names alone make me consider getting back into a little colour!

Inside the (recycled) packaging, you will also find a clarifying shampoo for use before colouring as well as pH balanced shampoo and conditioner for after colour care.

You can pick this up at selected stores such as Loblaws, Superstores, Fortinos and Whole Foods, as well as at organic and health stores.

AND - great news - I am hosting a giveaway for Tints of Nature as well! One of my Canadian readers will win their choice of colour (ARV $18.99)!

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway - wait for the form to load, and if you don't see it click "Read More"! 

Do Something Little, Help Something Big

I was excited to learn about Energizer Canada and Evergreen joining forces on their “Do Something Little, Help Something Big” initiative. Energizer is contributing $100,000 to Evergreen to make Canadian cities more liveable.

I had of course heard of Energizer before (who could forget that bunny!), but I don't think I'd come across Evergreen before. It is a not-for-profit organization that is "a leading national funder and facilitator of local, sustainable greening projects in schoolyards, parks and communities across Canada". I first thought that if I lived in a bigger city rather than the suburbs, I would have heard of it - they seem to focus on urban areas like Toronto's Don Valley. But a little research proved that this organization does green things all over Canada, including suburbs of the GTA like Richmond Hill (not too far from where I live). For some reason it's just not been on my radar, but I'm going to start looking out for Evergreen projects near me!

I am a big fan of greening cities and communities developing fun, educational and environmentally sustainable sites, so this seems like a great idea to me.

We can all help by doing a little ourselves. The have suggested some pledges that are easy things we can all do to reduce our impact on the environment and spread a little joy as well. I found 10 that I'm happy to add to my day. And for each pledge, Energizer will donate an additional $1 to Evergreen (up to $10,000).

One of the ten pledges I made for Energizer Canada & Evergreen’s “Do Something Little, Help Something Big” initiative is to do my laundry during off-peak hours. I mean, that's just sensible - with time of use billing in effect, it will also save us money! Another I love is to tell my daughter I love her. Easy... I do that all the time. We are also installing a clothes line this year - hanging clothes to dry is not only a money and energy saver, it is great for all those cloth diapers (sun removes stains!). I let cars merge in front of me all the time (don't you hate those road hogs who speed up when you want to merge? That drives me nuts. Let someone in for goodness' sake!). And giving someone a smile is a great way to brighten a day. I started greeting strangers when I went out for a walk with the stroller and I'm still doing it. A traded "hi" or "good morning" and a smile make me feel good and make our neighbourhood more friendly. It's so easy to do the little things.

A few quick clicks of the mouse and you can check off some pledges for yourself and help this great cause. Head over to the Now That’s Positive Energy site to do so. You can also share your successes on the site, and read what others are doing.

Disclosure – I am participating in the Energizer Canada & Evergreen “Do Something Little, Help Something Big” program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Energizer Canada & Evergreen. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own. While I did receive compensation, I want you to know that I don't promote things I don't believe in. This partnership between Energizer and Evergreen is a really positive thing a big corporation is doing - and I support that!

Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach - Review and Giveaway!

We seem to go through a lot of laundry in our house, despite it just being the two of us (and the dog, of course). When the baby gets here I can only imagine that the laundry room is going to become a much more frequent destination, especially since we're planning to cloth diaper!

So, anything that makes laundry easier is great. Even better if it's a natural and/or environmentally friendly product. I've tried soap nuts, laundry & dryer balls, and various green detergents. The one thing I find with natural products is that sometimes they don't clean quite as well as the chemical ones. They're great overall, but the occasional stain doesn't come out. Now, I'm not a pre-treater, so maybe that's my fault. And we don't have a laundry line (yet?), so I'm not getting the natural bleaching benefit of sun-drying - with Canadian winters, we don't get much sun for more than half the year, anyway.

I had the opportunity to test out Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach. This is made with just two ingredients: Sodium percarbonate (essentially a dry, crystallized version of hydrogen peroxide) and soda ash (aka washing soda, which softens water). Sodium percarbonate breaks down into oxygen, water, and soda ash, which is found naturally in mineral deposits. So you're not sending nasty chemicals into the water system when you use it!

Using it for laundry: You simply add 1-2 ounces into your wash load (it comes with a little measuring scoop). I have a front loader, so there's an extra step. I dissolve an ounce of the oxygen bleach into about 2/3 cup of hot water, just using an old jam jar to mix it in, and then pour it into the liquid bleach dispenser in the washer's tray.

It has lots of other uses, which I haven't tried out yet - from scrubbing grout to cleaning carpets and lots of other household applications. You can see a whole bunch of uses (with instructions) here! I have a feeling this is the kind of cleaning tool that becomes invaluable once you start seeing what it can do!

For my laundry, I find it works well in the front loader and does improve the look of fabrics. It can remove sweat stains from shirts, organic stains from clothing (like grass and dirt) and even did a good job cleaning a white tea towel that I'd just about given up on (food stains can be so difficult to get out!). Our towels come out nice and white. It is also colour-safe (pre-test first, if you're worried - I use it on our light and medium coloured loads but not on the darks).

I was really impressed by the size of the product for the price. For $23.99 (USD), you get 6 lbs (or, 96 oz). That's enough for 96 (lightly soiled) wash loads. Of course, you can always increase the amount you're using for dirtier clothes - and I LOVE that it has instructions right on the package for use with cloth diapers and even cloth feminine pads!

Tropical Traditions has generously offered one of my readers the chance to try the Oxygen Bleach for free!

The giveaway:
A 96 oz. tub of Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach!

How to enter: Head over to Tropical Traditions and let me know one other thing you'd like to try, OR one thing that you learned there. Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner!

Extra entries (please leave an extra comment for each. If you already do any of these things, leave the comment - you do get the entry for it!):

• Subscribe via email to the Tropical Traditions newsletter
  
• Follow @troptraditions on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Tweet about this giveaway for ONE entry, this is not a daily! You can use this if you like:

  Win non-chlorine Oxygen Bleach from @TropTraditions at Emily's Latest @emilyisland http://bit.ly/c1SCUy US/CAN 10/20 -great 4 #clothdiapers!
  

• Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
• Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)
• Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to Tropical Traditions – 2 entries, leave 2 comments and please include a link to your post
  

I will be verifying comments so please actually do the things you say you do ☺ If you already do any of these things, it still counts for entries!

Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends October 20th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed!

Prize will be shipped by sponsor. Note for Canadian entrants: Tropical Traditions is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge if you decide to participate in this Tropical Traditions sponsored blog giveaway. (FYI - it's unlikely to have a charge, being well under the $60 that incurs duty charges. There was no extra charge on my bottle, which came to Canada quickly and packaged well.)

EcoMom has stuff for EcoDads too! (Review and Giveaway!)

***Giveaway closed***
Winner: Jamaise

Remember a while back, I got to try some great products from the great folks with eco-friendly baby products - EcoMom? My poor husband seems to get left out of these things too often, so when EcoMom offered him the opportunity to try out the Pacific Shaving Company All Natural Shaving Oil, he was all over it.

By all over it, I actually mean the reaction was - I get to try something? Cool! Then, when he saw the teeny, tiny bottle of shaving oil he was a little mystified. This tiny bottle does up to 100 shaves? Will oil really work better than the usual shaving foam? How will my skin react?

The first time he used it, the results were wonderful. He alternates between an electric shaver for work days, and a blade on weekends or for when he wants a closer shave. So the blade shaves usually take a little longer but are more thorough. He tested out the shaving oil on a weekend and we were both really amazed at just how smooth his skin was after using it. It has a very slightly herbal scent and left his skin so soft. What he was most impressed by is that it doesn't leave him with little red marks and bumps like he sometimes gets from shaving. And he's been having less problems with ingrown hairs as well. It's just a clean, perfect shave. The oil has soothing ingredients like aloe and cucumber, so perhaps that's why - or maybe it's something to do with the way the blade goes across the skin more easily. We're not sure. But it's good.

Hard to believe such a small bottle has so many shaves in it, but only 5-7 drops are needed for each shave!

There are mostly recognizable ingredients in this product (it contains Sunflower Oil, Bergamot Fruit Oil, Avocado Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Cucumber Extract, Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Kukui Nut Oil, Tangerine and Grapefruit Peel Oil and Menthol, along with the three I'm about to discuss), but there are a few ingredients that don't really scream out 'all natural'. They are:

• Laureth-4. This functions as a surfactant (lowers the surface tension of liquids which makes them easier to spread) and emulsfying agent (it makes the other ingredients form a homogenous liquid). It has been linked to irritation of the skin, but my husband did not experience this at all, and I couldn't find any real information about that problem. The Cosmetics Safety Database ranks it as 3/10 (10 being the highest risk).
• Cyclopentasiloxane. This is a silicone product that is used to improve the feel and 'slide' of products. It has been linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, skin irritation, endocrine system disruption, and tends to bioaccumulate (builds up in the environment). However, the Cosmetics Safety Database ranks it as 2-3/10 which is still very low. I am guessing the links to problems are at large doses.
  
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E). This is used as a preservative in cosmetics, but it has the benefit of possibly protecting the skin against wrinkles and tumour formation caused by UVB rays! Cool. At high doses, though, it has been linked to tumour formation in animals. The Cosmetics Safety Database ranks it as 2/10 or very low.
  

Overall given the low risk ranking of these ingredients and the minute quantities in the product, I'm not overly worried about them. I do like to know what's in the products our family uses!

My husband (and I) have been really impressed with the good shaves he's had using this. You can find it - as well as lots of other great eco-friendly products for dads, mums, and babies at EcoMom! They have added a TON of new products to their website since my last review. I have been consistently impressed with the products they carry.

One other thing they offer which is great for families that want to save some money while making a healthy difference in their home, lives and environment, is the EcoPass. For $99 you get a year of free shipping with no minimum order (regularly, orders of $75+ get free shipping), as well as a 15% discount on all your purchases. And, right now you get a free $50 gift card when you buy the EcoPass! That could really add up to big savings. Check out the site for details!

Discount alert!

EcoMom has offered my readers a discount code as well! Simply use the code SBBL220 to get 15% off your first order. This code expires July 30, 2010.

And now, one of my lucky readers can win some eco-friendly shopping fun at EcoMom with a $20 gift certificate! Awesome (I'm jealous!). Remember, they have loads of products for women, men (Father's Day, anyone??), household products, and baby items as well!

The giveaway: A $20 gift certificate to EcoMom!

How to enter: Head over to EcoMom and let me know one thing that catches your eye, OR one thing that you learned there. Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner!

Extra entries (please leave an extra comment for each):

• Become a fan of the EcoMom Facebook page (please comment with your first name & last initial for verification)
• Sign up for the EcoMom newsletter
• Follow @ecomomCEO on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Tweet about this giveaway for ONE entry, this is not a daily! You can use this if you like:
  

#Win a $20 gift certificate @EcoMomCEO at Emily's Latest! Eco-friendly mum, dad & baby! @emilyisland http://bit.ly/cW0abB US/CAN 6/24

• Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
• Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)
• Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to EcoMom – 2 entries, leave 2 comments and please include a link to your post
  

I will be verifying comments so please actually do the things you say you do ☺

Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends June 24th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed! Prize will be shipped by the sponsor.

We did receive a product for review from EcoMom, but our opinions are our own and honest. We were not paid to write this review. Thank you to EcoMom for the opportunity and sponsoring a giveaway!

Majesta Earth Day Makeover

April 22nd is Earth Day!

One of the fun things I've been doing lately is participating in a Mom Central Canada blog tour and discussion group about Majesta. If you don't know Majesta, just take a quick peek down the tissue aisle. Past the expensive brands with cutesy mascots. Towards the eco-friendly end of the aisle, you will find Majesta products.

Don't think eco-friendly means rough and sandpapery. I had the chance to try out Majesta's facial tissue, bathroom tissue and paper towels. Here's what I thought.

• The facial tissues are much nicer than the cheap store brands (softer and thicker), but not quite as soft and thick as the premium brands that you want when you have the worst cold and anything but the best will chap your nose. We found the tissues to be a good choice for the budget and for the everyday nose.
• The bathroom tissue was way softer than I expected. It is not as thick, soft and strong as Charmin, but here's where things get interesting. One of the things we had the opportunity to do with this blog tour was a 'shake test', where we put a few sheets of Majesta in one bottle, and a few sheets of Charmin in another, filled both with water and shook them up. The Majesta disintegrated, just like it will in the septic system, breaking down quickly and not clogging pipes, or hanging around too long in the waste stream. The Charmin held up like fabric. So if you think about clogged pipes or what exactly happens to all that tissue that we flush away and forget, consider that little test. I think it speaks volumes.
• The paper towels were good for small messes, but for me didn't quite hold up to big messes or long use. Again it's because they are designed to break down quickly. Pros and cons.
  

The discussion group has been fun. We've been talking about what we do to help the environment, what steps we might take as individuals to do more, and learning about what Majesta does in terms of environmental impact. In our household, we have already got a lot of 'green' going on. Here are some of the ways my husband and I try to stay green:

• we have a programmable thermostat and lights on timers, to minimize wasted energy
• our house is fairly new, and we had an energy audit last year as well. We upped our insulation in the attic and basement, and plugged a lot of small gaps, saving money and heat.
• all of our appliances are high-efficiency models
  
• we use reuseable grocery bags (even produce bags), food containers, and minimize plastic in our household
• we have a backyard compost bin, as well as a green bin. Between those and the recycling bin, we throw out very little garbage.
• We planted a tree last year in our yard, and are planting two more this year (I can't wait!)
• We are vegetarian
• I work at home (no commute), and my husband has a minimal 15-minute commute to work - for which he drives our small, efficient car.
  

Majesta does use 100% new materials (that means trees) - but the company plants three trees for every one that is harvested. That to me is definitely commendable. They also whiten their products without chlorine bleach.

Now if you need a little more incentive to check out Majesta, they have a contest going on right now where you could win $15,000 towards any 'green' home project, for example, landscaping or home improvement projects!

You can enter daily until June 27th for your chance to win!
(only Canadians are eligible)

Awesome! I can think of a few things I'd love to do around here with that kind of green. I would do a lot more landscaping in the yard, providing habitat for birds with shrubs and trees. I would love to put some bat houses up in the nearby woods. I think it would be a lot of fun to get trees for all our neighbours in this new subdivision and help plant them. I'd love to get some furniture for our nearly empty living room that is made of natural, sustainable materials. I'm not sure if that last counts, but it sure would improve things around here in a green way.

What are the things you do with your family to be environmentally friendly? What would you do if you won the $15,000? I'd love to hear your ideas.

EcoMom Review and Giveaway!

***This giveaway is closed***
Winner: CapitalMom!

Well – are you excited yet? I mentioned that I was going to be doing a review and giveaway for EcoMom, and today’s the big day!

EcoMom (formerly known as Sprout Baby) is an online store featuring eco-friendly products for the whole family. There is a focus on baby stuff, with natural products from skin care through diapers, toys, mealtime, bathtime and more – but there are also items for adults, whether they are parents or not!

One of the features they offer is a an EcoPass membership, where for a $99 annual fee, you get a 15% discount on every order, as well as free shipping with no minimum requirement. I’m sure you can imagine how fast the savings would add up.

I was thrilled to see a selection of beauty products that are toxin free. I’m kind of a girly girl (despite my lack of skill in the hair department), and wear makeup every day. I’ve started worrying about what exactly is in the makeup I’m wearing and it’s nice to know there are safer, more natural options.

I used to love having pretty painted toenails, but when I learned about the nasty stuff that’s in regular nail polish, I stopped. Now that I’m taking yoga again and summer’s on it’s way, I’ve been missing having painted toes! Luckily, you don’t have to compromise your health with the Priti Nails polishes that EcoMom has to offer.

I was sent the Priti nail polish in lambs-tail cactus, which looks like a deep grey with micro-sparkles in regular light, but really comes alive in sunlight – each tiny sparkle shoots off a rainbow of colour. It also dries really fast which is a bonus – I hate waiting around for nails to dry. It’s not a colour I would have thought to pick for myself, but I think I’m converted. I hope you can see in the picture how pretty this is (you can click it for a larger version).

(Let's all just pretend that my hands are photogenic and I'm not remarkably clumsy with a nail polish brush)

Another product that we can’t live without in this house is natural soap. Again, I used to use the big brand shower gels, but when I learned about the harmful chemicals in most of these products, I switched to handmade soaps with safe ingredients (I recommend the book Slow Death By Rubber Duck if you’re interested in learning about chemicals in ordinary household objects and products – you can read my review here).

I was happy to see some really nice soaps available at EcoMom! The Pangea Organics line contains all natural and essential oils to make a bar soap that is truly clean (and smells amazing!!). We were sent the Italian White Sage, Geranium and Yarrow soap bar, and it has a spicy, rich, and intoxicating herbal scent. It’s a very gender neutral kind of scent, one that my husband and I both will be happy to use. I also must comment on the packaging - recycled paper and oh, so stylish!

Of course, EcoMom has way more to offer. Loads of good stuff for little ones, and big ones too. I recommend browsing through their site - it's conveniently categorized by product and by recipient - you will be pleasantly surprised at the great eco-friendly products they have!

Great news - EcoMom has generously offered one of my lucky readers the same package that I got!

AND, here’s a coupon code for everyone – use SBBL220 to receive 15% off your first order, valid until May 31st!

The giveaway: Priti Nails Nail Polish and a bar of Pangea Soap.

How to enter: Head over to EcoMom and let me know one thing that catches your eye, OR one thing that you learned there. Make sure I've got a way to contact you if you're the winner!

Extra entries (please leave an extra comment for each):

• Become a fan of the EcoMom Facebook page (please comment with your first name & last initial for verification)
• Sign up for the EcoMom newsletter
• Follow @ecomom on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name!)
• Tweet about this giveaway for ONE entry, this is not a daily! You can use this if you like:
  

You’ll love this - win Priti polish & Pangea soap from @EcoMom at Emily's Latest @emilyisland http://bit.ly/bbcFQW US/CAN 5/5

• Follow my blog (publicly) – 2 entries, leave 2 comments
• Add my blog button to your blog– 2 entries, leave 2 comments (please leave a link to your blog)
• Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to EcoMom – 2 entries, leave 2 comments and please include a link to your post
  

I will be verifying comments so please actually do the things you say you do ☺

Please be sure to include your email address if it’s not public in your blogger profile! Anonymous comments without a way to contact you will be rejected. Canadian or US mailing addresses only, please. Giveaway ends May 5th at 11:59 EST. A winner will be drawn the next day, announced here, in a separate post and emailed! Prize will be shipped by the sponsor.

I was provided with products for an honest review and to keep, but was not otherwise compensated for this review. While a disclosure is not required for Canadian blogs, I see nothing wrong with being transparent!

Just giveaways

For baby:

• Win a Cloud B Toddler Blanket from DoGree Online at Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous! Ends August 31 and is open to Canadians only!
• Win a Wild Dill Babysoy jacket at My Mom's View. Ends August 7th.
• Win a Bored, Inc. onesie or tee and a tote at My Organized Chaos! Ends August 10th.
• Win a KC Fuzzy onesie at My Mom's View. Ends August 7th.
• Win a Bibi and Mimi organic onesie at tout-est-des-roses. Ends August 21st.
• Win a Bored, Inc. onesie or toddler tee, women's tee and a tote at Barefoot Mommies. Ends August 23rd.
• Win a Weleda Baby Starter Kit at My Organized Chaos. Ends August 8th.
• Win a Kushies Safari Organic Sleeper at Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House. Ends August 10th.
• Win a Beba Bean Bamboo Swaddling Blanket and Bamboo Hat at Simply Stacie. Ends August 12th.
• Win a BabyStar outfit - your choice from five colours or patterns - by signing up to receive the monthly Organic Baby Newsletter! Ends August 17th.
  

For the ladies:

• Win a $25 gift certificate to Passion Spice (maternity/nursing lingerie) at Thrifty Minnesota Mama! Ends August 13th.
• Win a bottle of Lush Vanilla Delite Body Lotion at Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous! Ends August 9th.
  

For anyone:

• Win a $25 gift certificate to Bamboo Style Shop at Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous. Ends August 12th.
• Win a $30 gift certificate to Skin Free at Rant-Rave-Roll. Ends August 7th.
• Win a $30 gift certificate to Skin Free at Simply Stacie. Ends August 13th.
• Win a Melamine Snack Set from Accent Furniture Direct at Sweet Cuddlecakes! Thanks for mentioning it! Cute for kids, fun for adults. Ends August 17th.
  

Affordable Baby Organics - Coupon Code & Giveaway! (ENDED 7/26)

Oh! I am so excited to be hosting a giveaway for AffordableBabyOrganics. Let me tell you a little about this online shop.

A mom is looking for quality, organic clothing, but it is all so darn expensive (sound familiar?). She's sure she can find it at a more affordable cost - and she does! Not only that, but she shares her finds with the world by opening up her own online store. This is how Affordable Baby Organics was born.

So what is on offer in the store? Affordable Baby Organics stocks organic cotton clothing by Organic Beginings (a Canadian company!). These sweet onesies, hats, pants and (coming soon) tees were developed by a Canadian mom and come in gorgeous, vibrant colours. The onesies have a roomy rear that accommodate cloth or organic diapers as well - bonus!
They also carry organic Baby Legs, and even organic baby slings and carriers by HugaMonkey and Karma Baby.

Now for the best part. As I'm sure you noticed, besides Organic in the company name, is Affordable! And they really mean it. Organic onesies are now on sale from $9.80 to $12.50 each (US dollars) - and right now if you buy four, you get one free with coupon code "BuyFourGetOne"! Um, yeah! US addresses also get free shipping (maybe us Canucks will too, one day soon!).

Here are some points to consider about the onesies:

Eco-Friendly Features:
• 100% Certified Organic Cotton
• Made in Fair Trade Facility
• Dyed with Eco-Friendly, Low-Impact Dyes
• Enzyme Washed for Extra Softness

Organic, check. Fair trade, check. Supporting both Canadian and mompreneur companies, check. Affordable, check. Soft and smart design, check. Ultra cute, check. My criteria are met!

Ready to shop? You can get a 10% discount off their already low prices by using the coupon code "emilyisland10"! (Please note you can only use one coupon code or offer per purchase)

Affordable Baby Organics is sponsoring a giveaway on my blog! I got to choose the prizes, and I went with an adorable gender-neutral outfit (cute, yes?!):

Ready to win? One lucky blogger will receive BOTH the Organic Beginings Apple Green Organic Cotton Onesie (in the winner's choice of size, 6-12 or 12-18 months) AND the matching Apple Green Organic Cotton Knot Hat (one size, fits 0-18 months). Yeah, BOTH the items pictured! Oh, if only I could enter!

MANDATORY ENTRY

• OPTION 1: Create a blog post about AffordableBabyOrganics & in the post link to your favorite product on their website. Leave the link in your comment for me to see. It doesn't have to be long or time-consuming - a quick blog post with a link will do!
• OPTION 2 (new!): Add their button to your blog sidebar
  
  
  
  
• OPTION 3 (new!): make a purchase from Affordable Baby Organics before the end date of this giveaway & tell me what you bought (just 'cause I'm curious!)

Any one of these can count as your mandatory entry OR as an extra bonus entry for those of you who have entered already!

Do your mandatory entry first please, or your comments will be deleted and not considered for the giveaway! Make sure your email address is either visible in your blog profile, or leave it in at least one comment - otherwise I won't be able to tell you if you win!

MORE BONUS ENTRIES

(leave a separate comment for each bonus entry!)
1. Follow AffordableBabyOrganics on Twitter, http://twitter.com/aborganics
2. Sign Up for the Newsletter on AffordableBabyOrganics
3. Follow my blog on Google Friends
4. Add my button to your blog
5. Link back to my giveaway on your blog (in your post about AffordableBabyOrganics if you like) and leave the link for me to see.

Who can enter: residents of Canada and the US
When: I will accept entries until Sunday, July 26th at 11:59 pm EST (comments after that time will not be published), and do the draw with a randomizer on Monday, July 27th.
How: I'll email the winner and post their name on my blog (on this post and probably on a fresh post as well - 'cause I know I hate checking back a million times to see if I won something or not! :) The winner will have 48 hours from my email to get back to me or I will re-draw.

I was not compensated in any way (product or payment) for this post. So the disclaimer is, I have not tried out any of these products - though I'd love to - but based on the information I have, I'm all over them. These are just my opinions.

Images courtesy of AffordableBabyOrganics

This giveaway has ended - and the lucky winner is Morgan from Mon Petit Amour!
Congrats!

Snugs Boutique Bamboo Diaper Review!

Note: you can click on the images for a close-up! Just ignore how old my hand looks in that one pic... why does it look like that! I swear I have regular early-thirties hands in real life!

A while back I was lucky enough to win a one-size bamboo pocket diaper with insert, and a diaper cover from Snugs Boutique! The contest was hosted by one of my favourite blogs, My Mom's View. I received the diaper today and as soon as I saw it, I really wanted to review it right away.

Snugs Boutique is a Canadian company (yay!). The owner, Andrea, is a mom whose sewing skills led to the founding of this company. When she saw that cloth diapers were a great solution to diapering, but they were expensive - she set out to make her own. Now her company not only makes diapers but imports them as well, allowing her to control the costs and materials.

I received the Small Bamboo Pocket Diaper. The first thing I noticed was how amazingly soft it is. The lining and insert are made with microfiber and bamboo. If you don't already know about the amazing qualities of bamboo, let me just say it's first off a sustainable resource, perfect for your eco-baby! Secondly, and this is a great feature, it's naturally anti-microbial. Third, it's more absorbent than cotton! I would say this makes for a perfect diaper. The outer layer of the diaper is made of PUL, which is waterproof. I picked the yellow, going for gender-neutral, and the colour is a nice lemon meringue pie kind of yellow. The lining is beige.

The insert is also fully removable (it snaps in place in the pocket so won't bunch up), which is great for laundering and allows for quicker drying. I can't really think of a feature that this diaper doesn't have - unless a self-cleaning option was possible! I wish!

I also got a really nice diaper cover! The diaper cover is not absolutely necessary with this diaper, since it's waterproof already, but a little extra leakage or blowout protection can't hurt! The cover is blue and yellow - a bright blue on one side, and a paler blue with yellow accents on the other. Yes, its reversible! Awesome. Snugs Boutique will even do custom colour orders for the covers if you have something specific in mind.

One thing I wanted to mention that really impressed me was how adjustable these are. The snaps are all plastic, no cold metal on baby's skin, and there are two rows with four possible snaps in each row. This means that for babies with chubby legs and tiny waists (or vice versa) you can adjust for that. Not only that, snaps are more likely to stay on the baby - what's more fun than ripping off velcro and running around in the nude? Hey, the Chippendales made careers of it.

Now let's talk about prices. If you have looked into cloth diapering you know they seem like a huge investment (though they pay off in the long run, compared to disposables)! But these are very reasonably priced. The diaper itself is $9 and the diaper cover is $8. This is in Canadian dollars, no exchange or duty (bonus!).

Let's do a quick look at some of the other comparable brands you might have heard of. I think you can figure out which they are... I don't want to look like I'm criticizing these since I have formed no opinion of them, this is purely a price comparison. (I just stopped in at Kelly's Closet to check out some of theirs, if you're wondering where I got these prices.)

• Fu**ibun* Perfect Size pocket diaper with snaps: $17.95 USD
• Happy H****s one-size pocket diaper with snaps: $18.95 USD
• Swa**leb**s Econa**i one-size pocket diaper with snaps: $28.95 USD

None of these are bamboo and ALL of them are a great deal more expensive (plus for us Canadians you have to factor in the exchange rate and customs/duty charges). Now don't you think Snugs Boutique is a better option?! I sure do.

Happy Earth Day!

Today, if you bring a travel mug to Starbucks, you can get a free Pike Roast coffee (yes, it comes in decaf too for those of us off caffeine!).
Also, if you go to the LaCoupe website today, they will plant a tree for you. Look for the pop-up window!
Some more giveaways for today (not as freely given as the Starbucks one but hey, someone's got to win!):

For baby:

• Win a bamboo hooded towel from Bamboosa at My Moms View! If you haven't tried bamboo yet, it's fantastic. Super soft, anti-microbial and sustainable! Ends April 30th.
• Win a bottle of ErbaOrganics Baby Body Wash at Prissy Green. Ends May 9th.
• Win a fair-trade Bubble Wrap baby carrier (Bubble Wrap is a Canadian company!) at {Natural} Mommie! I'm excited about this one. Her review is really positive. Ends April 29th.
• Win a BabyHawk Mei Tai baby carrier at Metropolitan Mama! Ends April 30th.
• Win a set of three FuzziBunz cloth diapers at Monkey Toes! ends April 27th.
  

For the 3+ set:

• Win a toy recycling truck from Green Toys Inc. at Bookroom Reviews! Ends May 1st.
  

For women:

• Win a $30 gift certificate to Payless towards a pair of eco-friendly zoe&zac shoes from Prissy Green! Ends May 6th.
• For expecting women or new moms - win a Belly Bandit and Diaper Bag at Simple Finds! Ends April 27th.
  

For anyone:

• Win an Earthlust stainless steel bottle from Fabulous Fun Finds. I love the designs on these. Ends April 28th.
• Win a Lunchbots stainless steel container from Go Graham Go! These remind me a little of bento boxes. We've recycled all our old plastic containers and replaced them with glass and steel ones. They last way longer and there is no BPA, of course! Ends May 6th.
• Win a reuseable sandwich wrap from Lavish & Lime (another Canadian company!) at True Cuddles! Must be a subscriber to win (but it's a great site so why not!). Ends April 26th.
• Then if you go to Lavish & Lime you can enter to win a huge eco-friendly basket! (The entry will also subscribe you to their site). Ends May 1st.
  

Sites to visit for Tuesday

Thanks for the podcast suggestions, keep 'em coming! I will look into them all!

Here are some giveaways for today....

For baby:

• Win a cloth diaper with insert and diaper cover from Snugs Boutique (a Canadian company!) at My Mom's View. If you are looking at purchasing cloth diapers, check the Snugs site out here - the prices are very good plus Canadian buyers won't have to pay duty like you would ordering some of the big-name diapers from the US! Giveaway ends April 30th.
• Win a set of sushi wipes by Cloth Couture at Mommy Goggles. Cute! Ends May 4th.
• Win a Diaper Dekor Disposal System at The Next Kid Thing! A necessary evil :) Ends on the 24th, I think. Unless 'next Friday' means May 1st.
  

For the ladies:

• Win an absolutely gorgeous pleated silk tank top from Grosgrain. I really mean gorgeous. Also stunning. And lovely. Ends April 26th.
  

For anyone:

• Win a set of personalized recipe cards or note cards from Paperluxe Studio! These are so gorgeous. What a lot of gorgeousness today! Ends April 27th.
• Continuing with the stationery theme, win a Zebra Airfit Jell pen from The Pen Addict! Ends April 24th.
  

Sweet Monday

It was a crazy weekend here and I'm relieved it's Monday, despite the rain. Here are some giveaways for today...

For baby:

• Win a BambooDreams Baby Gift Set (in the color Lilypad With Chocolate Trim), complete with blanket, hat and socks from My Organized Chaos. What a nice gift or lovely treat for your own child. Ends April 26th.
• Win a baby tee or onesie from BonnBonn baby at Pajama Mommy. Ends April 25th.
  

For the ladies:

• Win your choice of shoes from the Spring/Summer line from Neuaura at Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous! These are animal-friendly, I'm happy to say! Ends May 1st.

For anyone:

• Win an Otter Bottle at ecochick! You can read my review of the Otter Bottle here. I like mine - why don't you try your luck! Ends April 27th.
• Win a great prize pack of unusual foodie treats including a jar of Black Lava Salt, Das Caramelinis in Cafe Cortado and Chai Latte, and 4 Das lolli's from Das Foods at Love, Life, Family... And Then Some! Ends April 27th.
  

Guess what it's time for?

More giveaways, of course! :) Yesterday I was too busy so there will be lots today.

For baby:

• {Natural} Mommie's Spring Giveaway continues with a great big giveaway from Speesees. There are three (!) gift sets to be won, including a diaper/laptop bag, a blankie and toy combo and a set of jumpers. All in organic, chemical-free, fair-trade fabrics! Ends April 23.
• Win your choice of CozyCare Cape, Mat, Cloth or Cap from Spa Time Baby at Simply Stacie! I have the Cape and Mat and let me tell you, they are really nice! The fabrics are great quality. I can see these being used for many years and even passed on when the next family member has kids.
• Win a pair of See Kai Run shoes at Annie's Home! I keep writing how cute these are. Well, they keep on being cute - what can I do? Ends May 7th.
• There's another pair of See Kai Run shoes to win at Nurse Mommy! This one ends May 4th.
  
• Win a pair of Jack and Lily shoes at Ladybug Soup! Again, cute! Ends April 27th.
• Win a muslin Dream Blanket from Aden & Anais at Hip Mama's Place. Ends April 20th.
• Win a So Easy Baby Food Kit at Mommies with Cents! This kit makes it easy to make your own baby food. It includes a recipe book, freezing tray and DVD. Ends April 20.
• Win an AIO cloth diaper from Peas and Carrots at Our Life Upstate. Ends April 24th.
  

For the new dad:

• Wow, there aren't many giveaways for dads, at least not that I've seen. Momma in Flip Flops2 is giving away a DVD called Being Dad. It's designed to help de-mystify the process of pregnancy and birth for men. Apparently it's funny and informative! What a great gift for the dad-to-be. Ends April 22nd.

For the ladies:

• Win a FIT2BMOM long sleeve tie top at Now What Baby! This top is great for maternity but also looks great if you're not pregnant! Ends May 15th. *You must be willing to write a short review of the top if you win.
• Win a Hip-T at The Mommy Diaries! I hate to admit it, but I have a muffin top. Yikes! How did that happen?! I need one of these to keep it hidden! Ends April 24th.
  

For the dog:

• Yes, even the dog gets a giveaway today. Mommy Mandy has a set of Pet Head shampoo, conditioner and spray for dogs up for grabs! Ends April 28. I know our dog could use it! This is Cadbury having a happy peanut butter jar moment on our back deck. Let me tell you, peanut butter breath is better than his regular breath! :)
  

Busy Tuesday

I have errands to run! But there is always time for just a few giveaways :)

For baby:

• Win a Dogs and Cats Sleeveless Coverall Bib from Chic Tots at Parents Gear! Looks pretty cute! This would also make a great baby shower gift! Add a cute stuffed dog or cat and a puppy or kitty themed onesie and you're set. Ends April 27th.
• Win a DaBib from Simply Stacie! I have won a DaBib 'DaHugs' bib and I can personally vouch for the quality of fabric and design on this product! I'd love to add a 'DaGiggles' bib to my collection. This one ends April 27th as well.
  

For the ladies:

• Win ecoTOOLS makeup brushes at {Natural} Mommie's blog! Be sure to read her informative review. It sounds like this is a really responsible company making every effort to provide a high-quality product while maintaining sustainability! My kind of company. Giveaway ends April 23rd.

more to come tomorrow...! Meanwhile, I want to do a little 'Heads Up' about an upcoming event I'm excited about. Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House is hosting a Mother's Day Extravaganza! It starts on the 27th of April and lasts for a full two weeks with over 20 giveaways! Wow. This should be good. So mark your calendars!

You can also take a look at the left sidebar here on my blog for upcoming and ongoing giveaway events! I try to keep it up to date. I know sometimes the sidebars just all blur together so I wanted to mention it. The right side is some of my favourite blogs, the left is constantly updated with giveaway events. :)

Great finds for Tuesday

Today feels like a happy day - I woke up from a chocolate cake dream and any day that starts with chocolate is okay with me! Here are some new giveaways going on out there...

For baby:

• Win a pair of BabyLegs from the Pink Olive Boutique at My Organized Chaos! Ends April 17th.
  
• Win a Miracle Industries Miracle Blanket at The Verdict: Parenting on Trial. While you're there, watch Keonte's video to see how quickly baby Iyana calms with the Miracle Blanket! I'm going to have a chance to review the Miracle Blanket in a little while, I'll let you know my thoughts! Ends April 13th.
• Win a baby prize pack from Similac and Bobbie's Blog! The basket includes a 8oz can of Similac, a container of baby wipes and assorted other baby items! Ends April 9th.
• Win a pair of See Kai Run shoes (!!) at The Laughs Will Go On! I just love these. I cannot choose a favourite. I love the Addisons, but the Peters are ones my DH and I both adore... the Charlie's are awfully cute, too... Oh, baby shoes. Why are you so cute!
• A free sample diaper from Huggies Pure & Natural is available here! They use organic cotton, and contain aloe and Vitamin E. Great! Both US and Canadian addresses may request one. Not a contest at all! Just go get yours!
• Win a diaper clutch from Small Potatoes (a Canadian company!) at My Mom's View! This looks handy for diapers as well as, as suggested, any little things you need to keep organized - in or out of the diaper bag! Ends April 13th.
• Win a Safe Sippy from LadyBug Soup! Ends April 17th. I love the design of these - everything just makes sense and makes you wonder why someone didn't come up with these features sooner!
  
• Win a pair of Jack and Lily shoes (made in Canada!) at J. Leigh Designz! Ends April 20th.
  

For Toddler:

• Win Mookimoo Sleepwear at Parent Reviewers! Ends April 13th.

For Mum or Dad:

• Win a Crazy Dog t-shirt of your choice at Grab Bag Reviews! Ends April 21st.
• Win a Loyal Army t-shirt of your choice (one reader gets an adult tee, one gets one from the children's line) at Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous! I just got a Loyal Army tote in the mail yesterday (thank you Parent Reviewers!) and I have to say how awesomely cute it is. It has little spaceships and clouds on it. Love. This giveaway ends April 17th.
• Win a $25 Gift certificate to Botanical Soap Shop (a Canadian company!) over at {Natural} Mommie, part of the ongoing Spring Giveaway event. Ends April 14th.
• This one's sort of just for Mum, but Dad will appreciate how great she looks... Win any clothing item from Ellembee at The Giveaway! Ends April 17th. Check out Ellembee's Etsy shop for her great printed tees, hoodies and more!
• Same again, in practice it's for Mum but Dad will enjoy it! Win a Cream Perfume at Simply Stacie in Day 5 of her Cream Perfume giveaways! Ends April 8th.
  

Snow Day!

I'm calling a Snow Day! For those of you who do not live in the northern climate, a snow day gets you out of school, off work, you get to stay at home and enjoy being cozy!

Sadly, while we are getting maybe 10-25 cm today, it's not enough to actually be a snow day. We have had a nice few weeks where temperatures hit around 10 degrees Celsius. My herbs in the box on my deck started sprouting. I thought spring was really here. No such luck!
And even sadder, since I work at home even a snow day is not an off work day.

On a happier note, here are some giveaways that I found today. I'll probably update with more as the day goes on. As always, these are open to Canadians:

For the ladies:

• Win a $50 gift certificate to Layers Clothing! Design {for} Baby is hosting this giveaway. Ends April 18th.
• It's day four of the Cream Perfume giveaways at Simply Stacie! Ends April 7th.
  

For baby:

• Win a pair of eco-friendly soft soled Bobux shoes at Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy, as part of the Earth Day Extravaganza! Ends May 10th.
• Win the Ultimate Baby Shower gift at I Never Grew Up from Bitty Basics! It includes a nursing cover, bib, baby bracelet, binky clips and burp cloth all in a blue damask print. Ends April 10th.
• Win a pair of See Kai Run shoes from True Cuddles! True Cuddles is a great site every day with deals and steals for mom and baby. Ends April 12th.
• Here's another See Kai Run giveaway at Punky Monkeys! These shoes are just so cute. Ends April 13th.
  
• Win three (!) FuzziBunz diapers at A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts. Enter by the 11th of April!
• Win a cute pair of Jack and Lily shoes at Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House! I adore their shoes, so many designs to choose from! Ends April 20th.
• Win a Changing Pod (great circular design!) from Small Potatoes at Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous! Ends April 16th.
• Win a Kate Quinn Organics Baby or Kids' Longsleeve tee from dkMommySpot! Ends April 13th, with a daily entry option.
  

For child:

• Win a Happy to be Me shirt in size 6T for your boy or girl at Glimpse Reviews! Ends April 13th.
• Win a pair of Plueys rain boots for your child at My Organized Chaos! Ends April 17th.

For the home:

• This one could be for baby, child, teen or it's pretty enough to be for mama as well... Win a Lulu & Peep laundry bag at Feisty, Frugal & Fabulous. This ends April 8th, so hurry up!
• Win a woven bamboo throw by Dreamsacks from Prissy Green! I love bamboo for its softness and sustainability. Ends April 20th.
  

Beautiful Sunday

It's lovely outside here today - not exactly spring but the sun is shining. Before I head out to inspect our slumbering garden, some giveaways:

For baby:

• Win a 100% Merino Wool undershirt & a Bamboo Leaf hoodie from MahaDevi's baby collection at {Natural} Mommie. These clothes look like they were made by elves with a wicked fashion sense. I love the little pointed hood of the hoodie. Ends April 12th.
• Monkey Mayhem is kicking off the Virtual Baby Shower and Birthday Party today with a sling giveaway from Rockin' Baby Slings! Ends April 12th.
  
• Win a onesie from Dylbug at Parents Gear! They're cute and trendy too. Ends April 18th.
• Win an outfit for your baby from kumquat at Feisty, Frugal and Fabulous! These are super cute! Ends April 13th.
  

For baby, child AND mom:

• Win a $75 gift certificate for The Children's Place and a tote from Life Starring Ellie & Eve! I *love* The Children's Place. I get to shop there for my nieces and nephew, and it's sooo fun. Their prices are good, and sale prices are just amazing. Ends April 14th.
  

Saturday's late post

I stayed out too late last night. I hate getting older! 1 A.M. is WAY past my bedtime if I want to be functional the next day. Also I do NOT recommend the movie Blindness... I wish I could erase that movie from my memory.

Some things to check out today:

For baby:

• Guess what? It's another See Kai Run giveaway! Yay! Check out Manic Mother for your chance to win a pair of these cute baby/toddler shoes. Enter by the 15th of April.
• Oh! One more See Kai Run giveaway to tell you about. Head over to Northwest Mom Finds by April 11th to enter to win a pair!
• Win a rockin' onesie or tee from Rowdy Sprout at One Bored Mommy! When your baby has been listening to Aerosmith through the belly for 9 months, they're already a fan. Ends April 11.

For the ladies:

• Win Cream perfume from Simply Stacie! This is day 3 of the Cream Perfume giveaways. Ends April 5th!
  

For mum or dad:

• This could be for baby too if you are looking for crib sheets, or for your pup if you want a little outfit for the beast! But I like Pure Blanks' organic clothing for men and women. Simple, smart cuts in comfortable styles. I could see myself happily wearing these clothes every day. Enter to win a $25 gift certificate to the Canadian store Pure Blanks from {Natural} Mommie! Ends April 11th.
  

Friday, I'm in love!

♥ my husband... what a sweetie. I hope you are experiencing a great relationship, too! Give someone a hug today!

Here are the fab finds for Friday!

For baby:

• Win an aqua/green Safe Sippy from The Soothie Ranch sponsored by Calamari Baby. I kind of like the idea of a little squid baby. Takes water babies in a whole new direction! Calamari Baby is also a source for many baby products besides the Safe Sippy! Ends April 14th.
• Enter for a Bamboobino After Bath Hat at {Natural} Mommie! This little tot topper keeps them warm after bathing. Bamboo, my favourite fiber! And from a Canadian company to boot. Ends April 9th.
• Win a Spa Time Baby CozyCare Cape from The Morris Bunch! Ends April 16. I won a CozyCare mat and cape recently and while I am still waiting on the cape, I have received the mat and it is awesome. The quality is really good. The fabrics are soft and thick, the water proof panel does the job, and it's cute as a button. It even comes packaged so nicely you could give it as a gift without even wrapping it. My husband was even impressed and let me tell you he is not as into the baby stuff as I am (funny how baby fever hits us girls!). So while I am not entering this contest, you should!
• Win two outfits and a set of books (a Welcome Little One Baby Gift Set) at Mom in the City! There are even runner-up book prizes. Ends April 30th.
• Classy Mommy has the same prize up for grabs, the Welcome Little One Baby Gift Set! Ends April 24th.
• One more time for the Welcome Little One Baby Gift Set at Now What Baby, ends May 3rd.
  
• Win a Lili's BeBe changing pad from Project Nursery! A non-slip changing pad, for those slippery, wiggly little babes! Ends April 10
• Win a hooded towel from Tess & Tellulah at BabyLuxe! Ends April 10th. These look really cute, plus will keep tots and kids warm as they get out of the bath, pool, sprinkler or lake!
• Win a swaddling blanket from Aden and Anais at Ohana Mama! These are made of a breathable muslin fabric. Ends April 10th.
  

For baby / child:

• Win a $25 gift certificate for Atterdag Kids from Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls! They carry everything from gifts to clothing for babies and children. Ends April 10th.
• Win a set of Sprig Toys (eco-friendly! yay!) from Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy as part of her Earth Day Extravaganza! Ends May 10th.
• Win See Kai Run shoes from Parents Gear!!! I'm a big fan and loving all the opportunities to win these cute baby/toddler shoes lately. Ends April 15th.
  

For Mama:

• Win a set of cloth panty liners from Knickernappies at Life Starring Ellie & Eve. These are different from any I've seen, with a separate liner and shell. Very innovative! End date unknown (probably in a week or so is my guess).
• Win Cream perfume from Simply Stacie - this one ends at 11:59 EST TONIGHT so get over there!
• Simply Stacie has added a second round to her Cream perfume giveaway that ends April 4th, one more chance to win a fragrance!
  
• Win a Hip-T from My Mom's View! These are brilliant to bridge that gap between your t-shirt and your pants. They look like layering but don't add the bulk! Ends April 9th.
• Win a navy organic Lauren top/dress by Toggery at My Organized Chaos! It's a top - it's a dress - depends how you wear it. Ends April 14th.
  

For the Home:

• Win natural laundry soap from Wild Child Naturals! It's their first giveaway! Ends April 15th.
• Win a pretty set of handmade cotton cloths from The Simple Life in spring colours. I use this kind of cloth for dishwashing but they are great for general cleanup or even washcloths! This one ends at 11:59 EST TONIGHT, hurry!