I have tons of winners to announce! The first four giveaways in my Green Thirteen Event have just ended, as well as the Jiffy Lube giveaway. There are 14 active giveaways that you may enter, and hurry - ten of them end this week, including two ending tonight! You can win some awesome eco-friendly goodies and other products to take care of holiday gift shopping for free, or keep for yourself. Remember that daily tweets are allowed, and there are plenty of other ways you can get extra entries.

Without further ado, congratulations are in order for the following commenters:

LunchBots Eco from The Soft Landing: #120 Anonymous;

Set of 5 Books from Hachette Book Group: #37 pish, #3 IlanaWrites, #95 Mijal Photography, #101 lisa, and #12 pippirose;

$35 GC to Jiffy Lube from Shell Lubricants and MyBlogSpark: #137 gahome2mom;

Set of 3 Coconut Bar Soaps from Tropical Traditions: #256 CherylS22;

Marcal Small Steps Starter Pack: #192 Virginia C.

All winners have claimed their prizes and will be receiving them directly from the sponsors.

I just got word that Mabel's Labels is having some great deals for Cyber Monday! They will be announcing the following offers once their newsletter goes out at midnight tonight PST.

30% off Holiday Gift Tags and Return Address Labels
Regular Price: $18.50, sale price $12.95

40% off Selected Write-On! Stationery, in choice of Bzzz or Cowpoke designs
Regular Price $34, sale price $20.40

If you need gift tags, address labels, or stationery, make sure you check out Mabel's Labels.

I recently came across Freshdeals.com, a new type of shopping comparison site. FreshDeals integrates search functions with Facebook to provide a questions and answers forum where anyone can ask questions about the product they consider buying and see other user’s Q&A to help make an informed buying decision.

I am looking for Mary Janes type shoes for my kids, and was able to search FreshDeals by brand, price, gender, color, features, and material to narrow down among hundreds of possible choices.

Next, I searched for organic night cream in the skin care section. I found some familiar brands as well as names I had never heard of, complete with store options, price ranges, and shipping costs to my zip code.

I also checked out one of my favorite jeans brands, YMI. In seconds, I found a model I liked – YMI Two Button Womens Jeans, the lowest price, and whether my size was in stock. Easy as pie!

I am thinking of getting a new BlackBerry for Christmas this year but am not sure I want to sign another 2-year contract with my current cell phone provider. So, I found out I could get the BlackBerry 8700c GSM Unlocked Cell Phone at ten different stores – no contract needed!

My kids love puzzles, and FreshDeals has literally thousands of games in the Games and Puzzles section. Again, in no time at all, I found some great Melissa & Doug puzzles that are sure to please my children.

If you are looking for price comparisons, product information, or want to ask a specific question about an item, check out FreshDeals.com.

* This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of FreshDeals.com. The opinions expressed here are based on my personal experience with the site.

It's time for another edition of Link Your Giveaways Saturday! Now that Black Friday is over, enter to win some goodies!

$35 Jiffy Lube GC (11/28)
Joshua Bell CD (12/1)
Custom Canvas (12/3)
Say You're One of Them (12/6)
Cheating Death (12/6)
The Sound of Music (12/8)
Box of Stollen Mix (12/11)

The Green Thirteen
Coconut Bar Soaps (11/28)
Marcal Small Steps (11/29)
Happy Green Bee (11/30)
$25 GC from Apericots (11/30)
Oompa Toys (12/3)
Natural Liquid Soaps (12/3)
Bayes Cleaners Kit (12/4)
Organic teeth cleaner (12/4)
$25 GC from SproutBaby (12/7)
Organic Cotton Woven Blanket (12/10)

Stride Rite is celebrating Cyber Monday, this Monday the 30th, by holding a Fan Celebration Day on www.facebook.com/striderite. Stride Rite Facebook fans are invited to log on Monday, November 30th from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST for hourly giveaways with amazing prizes including gift cards and gift bags from Stride Rite Children's Group brands including Saucony Kids, Sperry Top-Sider Kids, and more.  There will also be a fan-only coupon for Cyber Monday shopping on www.striderite.com and a mystery prize valued at over $600 that fans can enter to win throughout the day!

To kick-off the Cyber Monday celebration, Global Influence is hosting a Twitter Pre-Party Sunday, November 29th from 9 to 10 p.m. EST with Shannan Powell (@slpowell).  For an hour, tweeps will chat about Cyber Monday shopping tips and preparing for the holidays in general using the #srCyberMon hashtag.

There will be seven Stride Rite gift card winners and participants will be among the first to learn about the Fan Celebration Day on Facebook.  To learn more and RSVP,  go here.

Do you like baking? I love making and sampling different types of bread! I just used King Arthur Flour 100% Organic White Whole Wheat Flour to bake a delicious loaf for our Thanksgiving dinner. You can read my review here. This holiday season, you and I can make our own stollen to delight friends and family with something a little different. Stollen is a traditional German holiday yeast bread. King Arthur Flour has a stollen mix in a box that makes two 1-pound loaves. It you are like me and have never made stollen before, a recipe and instructions are included! You can add your own fruit, nuts, almond filling, and topping - the mix is for bread alone.

One of my readers will win a box of stollen mix from King Arthur Flour!

To enter, please visit King Arthur Flour and comment below with a product or recipe you'd like to try.

For extra entries, feel free to do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a box of stollen mix from King Arthur Flour! #giveaway ends 12/11 @aitmama @KingArthurFlour http://tinyurl.com/ygf2nel";
• visit their store locator and tell me where you can buy King Arthur Flour;
  
• subscribe to King Arthur Flour eNewsletter - see bottom right corner of their webpage; 
• follow King Arthur Flour on Twitter;
  
• comment on my review of King Arthur Flour organic white whole wheat flour;
  
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 11, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: No monetary or other compensation was received for this post. Image and product information courtesy of the sponsor.

The aroma of freshly baked bread is filling my house. Is there anything more delicious on a cold morning? Or any other time! The kids are digging in, smearing butter and strawberry jam. My husband likes to dip the warm morsels in a mix of olive oil, salt and paprika. And I love the bread just plain - for me it's perfect as it is.

I've been baking with King Arthur Flour ever since I started using a bread machine. We have sampled several of their flours, and the bread comes out just right every time. For this review, King Arthur Flour sent me a 2 lbs. bag of their new 100% Organic White Whole Wheat Flour. This flour is certified USDA organic, and contains no bleach or preservatives. I made a 1.5 pound loaf, using the express bake recipe for traditional-style white bread. Pretty soon, the delicious aroma of bread wafted through the house. In less than an hour, voila - the loaf was ready.

Compared to the same recipe using white flour, this bread was darker and more dense. The look and taste were unmistakably whole wheat but without the slightly bitter taste that sometimes comes with whole wheat flour. This type of flour is milder and bakes lighter than traditional whole wheat.We found the bread made with white whole wheat more filling compared to white bread, probably because white whole wheat contains more fiber than white flour. For me, it has a completely different texture and flavor. Everyone at home loved it! In addition to baking bread, white whole wheat flour can be used to replace white flour in other recipes as well. We will definitely use the organic white whole wheat flour again!

King Arthur Flour are giving away a box of stollen mix to one of my readers! Go here to enter the giveaway.

Disclaimer: King Arthur Flour provided me with a free sample of this product, and I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are based on personal experience. No monetary or other compensation was received or implied. Image courtesy of the sponsor.

The five winners of the Sins of the Flesh giveaway have been selected, courtesy of Random.org! Congratulations go to the following commenters:

#7 Tena, #78 Jaclyn, #46 hollowsins, #55 409cope, and #27 Anonymous.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my U.S. readers!

It Happened One Night by Lisa Dale is a love story. It is about the journey of two people towards each other. Two best friends, one-night lovers in college, all grown up and only one of them fully aware of his feelings. Lana wants to travel the world, her wanderlust making her restless. Eli is already traveling the world, his desire to settle down with the woman he's loved for years getting stronger. They seem to want entirely different things. Lana is dating a succession of men, never venturing below the superficial. Without realizing the reasons behind it, she prefers uncomplicated, short-term relationships that would not hurt her once it's over. Eli has always known he wants Lana as more than a friend but nurses his broken heart in silence. It takes a while until they both find in each other everything they ever wanted.

The book follows the complicated emotional journey of Eli and Lana, and dwells on their meandering thoughts and feelings. Eli and Lana's minds and hearts go in circles, just like it happens sometimes in real life. It's not easy to love for these two, and there is a lot of going back and forth until each realizes the true strength of their bond.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachette Book Group with no obligation to write a positive review.

Sage Creek Organics offer infant and toddler clothes, bedding and related products made of organic cotton. Their cotton is certified to be organically grown and processed by ECO CERT. The cotton is sourced in India where the clothing and other items are made under strict standards.

From their website, I learned that their organic cotton products go through many steps. From the farmer's field, to the mill where the cotton is processed, to the tailor's room, all the cotton and cotton fabric is tested at every stage.  The cotton, colors, snaps and zippers are all checked to ensure the absence of contaminants such as nickel, lead, formaldehyde, amines, pesticides and heavy metals.

I love their cute baby and toddler clothes! Check out the adorable kimono sets for girls and boys and the darling crib sheet and blanket designs. These would make a wonderful baby shower gift, birthday present, or stocking stuffer, and a great addition to your little sweetie's wardrobe.

In addition, Sage Creek Organics carries a selection of organic cotton bedding: towels, sheets, and blankets. They sent me one of their luxurious woven blankets for review. This is a lightweight throw in pretty blue color. It's stylish, soft, and very well made. I can tell it will last a long time. The throw goes perfectly with my sofa and I plan to use it while reading or watching TV. My kids love mommy's blanket, too!

Deal Alert
Right now, Sage Creek Organics is having a weekly sale featuring their designer jersey sheet sets in 100% certified organic cotton. These would make a great gift! The sale ends November 30rd. The blanket I reviewed is also available in crib size and is on sale at 51% off. Many of their infant and toddler clothing items are 40-60% off. It's the perfect opportunity to stock up! In addition, use code GIFT765 to get 20% off your entire purchase until November 30th. Shipping is free for orders over $100.

The Giveaway
Sage Creek Organics are generously giving away the same woven blanket that I reviewed! The lucky winner can choose the color - blue, pink, or natural. This is a $105 value!

To enter, please visit Sage Creek Organics and comment below with your favorite item.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win organic cotton woven blanket from Sage Creek Organics @ The Green 13 Event #giveaway ends 12/10 @aitmama #eco http://tinyurl.com/ygvp7ko";
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 10, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. and Canada. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: Sage Creek Organics provided me with a free sample of this product, and I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are based on personal experience. No monetary or other compensation was received or implied. Images and company information courtesy of the sponsor.

I am an amateur photographer, and love using my best shots as framed art prints around the house. I've created great postcards and all-occasion cards using pictures that I took. I've been planning for a while now to have a few photos enlarged and printed on canvas to decorate the family room. A framed canvas print would also make a wonderful gift for my friends and family members.

You can have your own canvas print, too - for free! Online Poster Printing is generously sponsoring a giveaway for my readers. One commenter will win a 16x20" custom rolled canvas!

To enter, please comment below what photo gifts you want to get for your family and loved ones - or even for yourself! At my house, photo coffee mugs with pictures of the kids are always a big hit.

Check out this post to find out how to get extra entries and increase your chances of winning.

The Details
The deadline to enter is December 3, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. residents with free UPS ground shipping. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 48 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. A coupon code will be e-mailed to the winner on December 12 directly by the sponsor. As a host of this giveaway, I will receive a rolled canvas print, as well.

Good luck!

This month marks 50 years from the first opening of The Sound of Music on Broadway. In celebration of the anniversary, Sony Music has released the 50th Anniversary Special Edition of the Original Cast Recording: The Sound Of Music along with Simon & Schuster’s beautiful The Sound of Music: A Classic Collectible Pop-Up.

In addition to the original cast recording, there are three bonus tracks:

• "From Switzerland: The Pratt Family," a spoof of The Sound of Music created for and performed by Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett in 1962 on their TV special Julie and Carol Live at Carnegie Hall;  
• a live recording of "Edelweiss," sung in German, from the historic first production (2005) of The Sound of Music in Vienna;
• a soaring cover version of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," sung in Swedish (as "Sök dig till bergen") by Tommy Körberg, best known to American audiences for his vocals on the concept album of Chess.

Songs like My Favorite Things and Sixteen Going on Seventeen have long been my favorites. Somehow, the complete collection of The Sound of Music was not among my CD collection. So, I was delighted to receive the special edition, courtesy of Sony Music, and the pop-up book to share with my children. My daughter who loves music and dancing was captivated by The Sound of Music. She started singing along to the tunes and twirling around with glee. The book contains mini pop-ups with lyrics from The Sound of Music, and it's a great way to share this classic story with your child. You can download a fun sing-along activity kit that encourages kids to follow and remember the story. The CD would make a much appreciated gift for the music lover on your list.

The Giveaway
One reader will win a copy of the 50th Anniversary Special Edition of the Original Cast Recording: The Sound Of Music, courtesy of Sony Music!

To enter, please comment below which song from The Sound of Music is your favorite.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win The Sound of Music 50th Anniversary Special Edition on #CD! #giveaway ends 12/8 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yj3923n";
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 8, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S.

Disclaimer: Sony Music provided me with a free sample of these products, and I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are based on personal experience. No monetary or other compensation was received or implied. Images and information courtesy of Sony Music.

Remember Patty, the talented artisan behind Happy Goats Soap and Broken Teepee Designs? I have exciting news to share with you! She is having a big jewelry sale for Black Friday / Cyber Monday weekend. For the first (and probably the only) time, Patty is offering 30% off everything in the shop! As always, everything ships free. Plus, if you are a reader of her blog, check out the special surprise Patty has for you!

The sale will start Friday, November 27th at 12AM and go through Monday, November 30th until 12 Midnight so that gives you plenty of time to shop.  Now go and pick some gifts for friends and family - and don't forget a little something for yourself!

Today, I have nine winners to announce! Congratulations are in order for:

Hope for Animals and Their World by Jane Goodall Audiobook: #23 hollowsins, #4 fredamans, #28 annalene;

Set of 3 goat milk soaps from Happy Goats Soap: #165 Anonymous;

It Happened One Night: #130 mabelilly28, #102 gahome2mom, #62 Pricilla, #44 Bonita12, #92 Julie.

All have claimed their prizes and the sponsors will be sending the goodies directly.

Happy Thanksgiving!

SproutBaby was created by a group of people who wanted to make healthy choices easy. As a busy parent, I can certainly appreciate that! The company aims to offer products that keep in mind the health and safety of your family and the planet. SproutBaby's items are non-toxic, contain no heavy metals and dangerous chemicals, and have not been tested on animals. You can read more details about their selections and the SproutBaby promise here.

There are many products I like on the SproutBaby website, from feeding, diapering and baby care, to laundry, dishwashing and cleaning. They have a nice selection of gift items that can be conveniently filtered by age, brand, or price.

SproutBaby sent me their Sweet Knee Oatmeal Cookie Bath for review. This is a very fine powder that can be used even with infants. My kids have my dry, sensitive skin, and I am always looking for products that are gentle and non-irritating. The cookie bath has a pleasant scent, without being overpowering. It's not a bubble bath so don't expect to see it foaming in the water. It appeared not to dry the skin, and my kids were not complaining that their skin was itching afterwards - this usually happens when we use some other skincare products. I noticed it did not dissolve completely in the bath water, so I suggest using the cloth baggie that comes with it to pour the powder in, then toss in the tub. The cookie bath contains oatmeal, calendula, chamomile, and marshmallow leaf. I love that all these ingredients are certified organic, and there are no unpronounceable chemicals!

Deal Alert
SproutBaby is providing a 15% discount off your first order with promo code SBBL118 - good until 12/15/2009. Also, every order placed between now and then is an entry in their $2500 cash giveaway! And you get free shipping on orders of $75 or more.

The Giveaway
SproutBaby is generously giving away a $25 gift certificate to one of my readers!

To enter, please visit their online store and tell me how you would spend the gift certificate if you won.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a $25 #giftcard from SproutBaby @ The Green Thirteen Event! #giveaway ends 12/7 @sproutbabyclub @aitmama #eco http://tinyurl.com/yz7hb9t";
• follow SproutBaby on twitter;
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 7, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: SproutBaby provided me with a free sample of this product, and I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are based on personal experience. No monetary or other compensation was received or implied. Image and company information courtesy of SproutBaby.

Book Description
An unborn baby with a fatal heart defect . . . a skier submerged for an hour in a frozen Norwegian lake . . . a comatose brain surgery patient whom doctors have declared a "vegetable."

Twenty years ago all of them would have been given up for dead, with no realistic hope for survival. But today, thanks to incredible new medical advances, each of these individuals is alive and well... Cheating Death.

In this riveting book, Dr. Sanjay Gupta - neurosurgeon, chief medical correspondent for CNN, and bestselling author-chronicles the almost unbelievable science that has made these seemingly miraculous recoveries possible. A bold new breed of doctors has achieved amazing rescues by refusing to accept that any life is irretrievably lost. Extended cardiac arrest, "brain death," not breathing for over an hour-all these conditions used to be considered inevitably fatal, but they no longer are. Today, revolutionary advances are blurring the traditional line between life and death in fascinating ways.

Drawing on real-life stories and using his unprecedented access to the latest medical research, Dr. Gupta dramatically presents exciting accounts of how pioneering physicians and researchers are altering our understanding of how the human body functions when it comes to survival-and why more and more patients who once would have died are now alive. From experiments with therapeutic hypothermia to save comatose stroke or heart attack victims to lifesaving operations in utero to the study of animal hibernation to help wounded soldiers on far-off battlefields, these remarkable case histories transform and enrich all our assumptions about the true nature of death and life.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, THREE readers will win the audiobook of Cheating Death by Dr. Sanjay Gupta!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 3 audiobooks: Cheating Death by Dr. Sanjay Gupta at Just Another New Blog #Giveaway ends 12/6 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yzakzgp" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 6, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Three winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

* Update: read my review here. *

Book Description
Each story in this jubilantly acclaimed collection pays testament to the wisdom and resilience of children, even in the face of the most agonizing circumstances. This title is among the 2009 selections of Oprah's Book Club.

“Each one of these stories left me really gasping and profoundly moved.” – Oprah Winfrey

Uwem Akpan's stunning stories humanize the perils of poverty and violence so piercingly that few readers will feel they've ever encountered Africa so immediately.  The eight-year-old narrator of "An Ex-Mas Feast" needs only enough money to buy books and pay fees in order to attend school. Even when his twelve-year-old sister takes to the streets to raise these meager funds, his dream can't be granted. Food comes first. His family lives in a street shanty in Nairobi, Kenya, but their way of both loving and taking advantage of each other strikes a universal chord.

In the second of his stories published in a New Yorker special fiction issue, Akpan takes us far beyond what we thought we knew about the tribal conflict in Rwanda. The story is told by a young girl, who, with her little brother, witnesses the worst possible scenario between parents. They are asked to do the previously unimaginable in order to protect their children. This singular collection will also take the reader inside Nigeria, Benin, and Ethiopia, revealing in beautiful prose the harsh consequences for children of life in Africa.

Akpan's voice is a literary miracle, rendering lives of almost unimaginable deprivation and terror into stories that are nothing short of transcendent.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, THREE readers will win the audiobook of Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan!

To enter, let me know in a comment what was the last book you enjoyed reading.

You can do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 1 of 3 audiobooks: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan at Just Another New Blog #Giveaway ends 12/6 @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yz8ufw4" – you may do this once a day;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 6, 2009, 11:59pm EST. Three winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen.

Open to residents of U.S. or Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. One book per person. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information was provided by the publisher.

Good luck!

I have winners to announce for several recent giveaways! Congratulations to the following commenters:

To Desire A Devil: #123 Bethie, #1 Virginia C, #50 dor, #39 Anonymous, and #77 Madwoman-doing-cartwheels.


The Gate House: #44 Carol, #129 twifanheather, #58 Debbie F, #71 lisa, and #20 Nancy.

The Lovely Bones Audiobook: #49 janetfaye, #29 clenna, and #85 Young in TX.

Skin MD Natural:  #139 Leslie who is getting the SPF 15 lotion.

50 Thank You Cards from DigitalRoom.com: #10 Samantha R.

Remember to enter my 13 current giveaways!

For me, holidays are a special time to enjoy with family and friends. The food, the music, the decorations are all part of the festive mood that makes the holiday meal just right.

This year, Food Network star Sandra Lee and Grammy Award Winning Violinist Joshua Bell have partnered up to help you create the perfect Thanksgiving. Sandra Lee has created the perfect  meal and a drink inspired by the music from Joshua Bell’s recent album At Home With Friends. This CD is the perfect accompaniment to your holiday meal. If you missed my review of At Home With Friends, you can read it here. For the ambiance, Joshua Bell is making available to you his full album to stream throughout your Thanksgiving dinner party. You can listen to it right here: Pop Up Audio.

Here is a scrumptious dessert recipe from Sandra Lee's book, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Money Saving Slow Cooking:

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake
Prep 30 minutes Cook 2 1⁄2 to 3 hours (High) + 1 to 1 1⁄2 hours (Low) Chill 4 hours Makes 8 servings

Canola oil cooking spray
1 box (18.3-ounce) fudge brownie mix
4 eggs
2⁄3 cup canola oil
1⁄4 cup espresso-and-cream coffee drink
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese
1⁄3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cake flour
Pinch salt
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1.    Coat an 8 1⁄2-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Wrap foil around the bottom of cake pan. Crumple additional aluminum foil to create a “ring base” about 5 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick. Set aside.

2.    In a large bowl, stir together brownie mix, two of the eggs, the oil, and coffee drink until combined. Pour into prepared pan.

3.    Place foil ring in bottom of slow cooker; pour 1⁄2 inch of hot water into bottom of slow cooker. Using 2 long strips of foil, make an “X” over foil ring and bring it up along the sides of slow cooker to assist removing pan from slow cooker. Place springform pan on top of ring and the “X” in slow cooker. Stack 6 paper towels; place over top of slow cooker bowl. Secure with lid.

4.    Cook on High heat setting for 1 to 1 1⁄2 hours. (Do not lift lid for the first 1 hour of cooking.)

5.    Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Add sugar, flour, and salt; beat until smooth. Add the remaining two eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add cream and vanilla; beat until combined. Pour over brownie mixture in slow cooker.

6.    Cover and cook for 1 1⁄2 hours more. Turn slow cooker to Low heat setting. Cook for 1 to 1 1⁄2 hours or until cheesecake is set with a wet-looking center. Turn off heat and let sit, covered, for 30 minutes.

7.    Use foil strips to lift springform pan from slow cooker. Place pan on wire rack; let cool to room temperature. Chill in pan for at least 4 hours. Just before serving, remove cake from pan.

Excerpted from the book, Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Money Saving Slow Cooking, by Sandra Lee
Copyright © 2009 SLSH Enterprises, Inc. www.sandralee.com


The Giveaway
Thanks to Sony Music, one of my readers will win a signed copy of Joshua Bell's album At Home With Friends! 

To enter, please comment below how you will celebrate Thanksgiving - or any other holidays - this year.

For extra entries, you may do any or all of the following:

• tell me which Joshua Bell song is your favorite; 
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a signed copy of Joshua Bell's album At Home With Friends! Create the perfect holiday mood! @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yk6skan"; 
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.
  

The deadline to enter is December 1, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.
 
Good luck!

It's time for Link Your Giveaways Saturday! Enter your giveaways in the linky below, and check out everyone else's!

Happy Goats Soap (11/22)
$35 Jiffy Lube GC (11/28)

The Green Thirteen
LunchBots Eco (11/27)
Set of 5 Books (11/27)
Coconut Bar Soaps (11/28)
Marcal Small Steps (11/29)
Happy Green Bee (11/30)
$25 from Apericots (11/30)
Oompa Toys (12/3)
Natural Liquid Soaps (12/3)
Bayes Cleaners Kit (12/4)
Organic teeth cleaner (12/4)

Until recently, I had no idea that coconut oil can be used as the base for many different products - including cosmetics! Tropical Traditions, America's source for coconut oil, offers an entire line of skin care items with coconut oil as the main ingredient.

From information on the Tropical Traditions website, I learned that people living in the tropics have used coconut oil to clean their teeth long before modern toothpastes were developed. The company makes a new organic teeth cleaner based on their organic Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. This 100% natural cleaner contains no fluoride and no foaming agents. The teeth cleaner is made with only natural ingredients.

I had the opportunity to try the mint teeth cleaner, thanks to Jamaise at Wishing Penny who hosted a giveaway that I won. The teeth cleaner comes in a 4 oz squeeze bottle. It does not foam because there are no foaming agents but it cleans my teeth very well, leaving behind a pleasant mint scent. Besides organic virgin coconut oil, the teeth cleaner contains purified water, baking soda, xanthum gum, wildcrafted myrrh powder, stevia, and organic essential oils of peppermint and spearmint. No unpronounceable chemicals here!

In addition to mint, the teeth cleaners come in two other varieties: classic and cinnamon. This week, the teeth cleaners are on sale, and you can buy 2 for $7.95! Organic, natural teeth cleaner at a price comparable to that of mainstream toothpaste - what better time to try it? This great deal expires Sunday, November 22.

Deal Alert
If you decide to buy the teeth cleaner or anything else from Tropical Traditions, as a first-time customer you can get a FREE Virgin Coconut Oil book with purchase. Find out all about coconut oil and its benefits! Just use code 5251001 in the Referred by a Friend section and the book will be added to your order at no charge.

The Giveaway
Tropical Traditions are generously giving away one mint teeth cleaner to a lucky reader of this blog!

To enter, please take a look at the Tropical Traditions product line and tell me what interests you the most.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• subscribe to Tropical Traditions' newsletter - you'll know all about their specials and promotions - and get 2 entries;
• check out the free coconut recipes here and tell me which one you'd like to try;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win #organic teeth cleaner from Tropical Traditions! #eco #giveaway ends 12/4 @troptraditions @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yfoj872";
• follow Tropical Traditions on twitter;
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 4, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. or Canada. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

I love having a nice clean house. Although I am not a big fan of cleaning chores, it's all worth it when I see the sun shine through the windows and make my just-cleaned home feel so warm and welcoming. One thing I quite dislike is the smell of conventional cleaners with all their chemicals. Since I had kids, I started paying even more attention to using eco-friendly cleaning options.

I came across one company that offers non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning products. Bayes Cleaners make high performance eco-friendly products for today’s upscale surfaces. Some of their most popular products are the Stainless Steel Cleaner, Granite Countertop Rejuvenator, Stainless BBQ Cleaner and Fine Furniture Polish. You can use various Bayes cleaners on wood, leather, stainless steel,  countertops, stovetops, and more. Their Revolutionary Eco-Friendly Waterless Vehicle Wash is endorsed by Ed Begley, Jr. and his Living with Ed TV series. You can see their complete product line here.

Bayes sent me their Furniture and Cabinet Cleaner / Polish for review. It comes in a 16 oz. bottle with a trigger head spray. This high-performance cleaner contains mineral oil and biodegradable polymer emulsion. Today, I used it to clean and condition my kitchen and dining sets, the coffee table, and my kitchen cabinets. It's very easy to use - just spray, wait a couple of minutes, and polish with a clean cloth. The wood was just drinking it up! The polish left a beautiful shine, without streaks. My furniture looked brand new, and smelled pleasantly of lemons. I recommend this furniture polish for use on all your wood surfaces!

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a complete kit of Bayes' most popular cleaners, a $50 value! The package includes: Stainless Steel Cleaner, Granite Rejuvenator, Leather Upholstery Cleaner, Furniture Polish, and Microfiber cloths! Make your home shine the eco-friendly way this year.

To enter, please take a look at the Bayes Cleaners product line and tell me what interests you the most.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• subscribe to the Bayes newsletter - see the left bottom corner of their site; 
• visit the store locator and tell me where you can buy Bayes Cleaners;
  
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a $50 #eco-friendly cleaners kit from Bayes @ The Green 13 Event! #giveaway ends 12/4 @bayescleaners @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yguzbwx";
• follow Bayes Cleaners on twitter;
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 4, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: Bayes Cleaners provided me with a free sample of this product, and I was under no obligation to write a positive review. No other compensation was received or implied.

One way I try to keep everyone at home healthy during flu season is to make sure we wash our hands frequently. I set an example for my kids by washing my hands numerous times every day. To make things a little more exciting for them (and for myself), I started buying foaming soaps - the kids think it's oh-so-much-fun to get bubbles out of the soap dispenser! And a good smelling bottle of hand soap makes the chore of washing hands seem almost like pampering to me.

After I experienced the bar soaps from Tropical Traditions, I just had to try their liquid soaps. Unlike most commercially available soaps, these natural liquid soaps do not contain added ingredients to make them thicker. Tropical Traditions liquid soaps are made with organic virgin coconut oil as their base, and the scented varieties use only high-quality organic essential oils.

Just as the Tropical Traditions bar soaps, the liquid soaps come in three varieties: unscented, tea tree, and lavender. They are bottled in foam pump dispensers that adds air to the soap. I noticed just a half-pump is sufficient to use because the soap produces rich lather. The unscented soap contains only saponified organic virgin coconut oil. The two scented varieties also have organic essential oils of tea tree and lavender. There are no additives that may irritate the skin.

My favorite is the tea tree liquid soap. All three are gentle on the skin and will likely last quite a while. Tropical Traditions also sells 32 z. refill bottles - an economical way to reuse the pump dispensers.

The coconut liquid soaps would make a great gift - whether on their own or added to a spa-themed gift basket. You can purchase them individually, or in combination with a refill bottle. Tropical Traditions also offers various skin care packages, or you  could make your own package - I would suggest pairing the liquid soaps with bar soaps and a shampoo bar plus a moisturizing cream or organic lotion for the ultimate skin care gift. Or, for the perfect soap combo, get the Tropical Traditions organic soap package where you can enjoy one of each variety of their bar soaps and liquid soaps.

Deal Alert
If you decide to buy the soap or anything else from Tropical Traditions, as a first-time customer you can get a FREE Virgin Coconut Oil book with purchase. Find out all about coconut oil and its benefits! Just use code 5251001 in the Referred by a Friend section and the book will be added to your order at no charge.

The Giveaway
Tropical Traditions are generously giving away ALL THREE LIQUID SOAPS to one lucky reader of this blog!

To enter, please take a look at the Tropical Traditions product line and tell me what interests you the most.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• subscribe to Tropical Traditions' newsletter - you'll know all about their specials and promotions - and get 2 entries;
• check out the free coconut recipes here and tell me which one you'd like to try;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 3 Tropical Traditions natural liquid soaps at the Green 13! #eco #giveaway ends 12/3 @troptraditions @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yb55t9g";
• follow Tropical Traditions on twitter;
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 3, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. or Canada. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

When I was little, few of my toys made any sounds - apart from the imaginary things I wanted them to say or do during pretend play. Once I had kids, I quickly discovered that almost any toy we owned mooed, talked, squeaked, played music, and had flashing lights of some sort. And while many are great fun and offer educational benefits, I missed the simpler - and quieter - playtime of my childhood. 

Recently, I discovered a company that offers toys with no batteries, no blinking lights, and no cartoon characters. Oompa Toys carry a selection of wooden European toys, educational toys, and modern children's furniture for babies and preschoolers. In addition, Oompa Toys sell baby gear, including strollers, high chairs, diaper bags and meal and bath time items. Their baby toys are natural, safe, and eco-friendly.

I fell in love with Oompa's wooden toys. I browsed their catalog and online store, and found tons of wonderful items I'd love to have for my kids. Among the quality brands they carry, there are several I am familiar with: Haba, Green Toys, Plan Toys, Bugaboo, and Bumbleride. In addition, I discovered many others that would be a welcome addition to any playroom or nursery. Oompa Toys even have organic toys! I put together a long list of items that would make great gifts for birthdays, Christmas, or just because.

Oompa Toys sent me one of their Bajo multi-colored toy trains to review. This adorable train has five flatbeds and 27 pieces that are combined into an engine, passenger car, log car, tanker car and one carrying an automobile. The train, just as all Bajo toys, is made in Europe from locally grown wood and has a non-toxic finish. It's sturdy and will last for years. This toy would make a wonderful present for boys as well as girls. My daughter, who adores "choo-choo trains", had a grand time putting it together, then taking it apart again. She arranged her dolls and stuffed animals in a row, and put up quite a show, naming all the different colors of the toy and explaining how the little car takes a ride on the choo-choo train. She entertained herself for quite a while.

The Bajo multi-colored train is great for developing kids' creativity and independent play. I can just see it under a Christmas tree, carrying tiny gifts, or on the coffee table, on its own or in combination with other toys, providing hours of fun. You can see all the Bajo cars and trains here.

Oompa Toys are generously giving away to one lucky reader the same Bajo multi-colored toy train with blue base that I reviewed!

To enter, please visit Oompa Toys and comment below with your favorite item.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a fun toy train from Oompa Toys at the Green Thirteen #eco #Giveaway Event! Ends 12/3 @aitmama @oompatoys http://tinyurl.com/yg64uwj" ;
• sign up to get the Oompa news by e-mail - see the right bottom corner of their home page;
• follow Oompa Toys on twitter;
  
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen blogging event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is December 3, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. . The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor. I received the toy train with no obligation to write a positive review. No monetary or other compensation was received or implied. 

Good luck!

Book Description
In Melissa Senate’s sweet and sentimental eighth novel, twenty-eight year-old Rebecca Strand is about to lose her father and be left alone in the world without a family. But her father makes a confession on his deathbed - that he had a secret affair twenty-six years ago and Rebecca has a half sister named Joy that neither she nor anyone else has ever known about. Shocked by her father’s infidelity and secrecy, Rebecca is determined to find her sister and make up for Daniel Strand’s abandonment of his second daughter. She leaves New York City, her job, and her boyfriend behind and heads to Maine to track down the only family she has left. But when Joy doesn’t exactly welcome her with open arms, Rebecca must look within herself to discover the meaning of the word sister, and to figure out what she wants out of life and where her future lies.

My Review
The Secret of Joy is a moving, sad and funny, and true-to-life story, one of these rare books that I did not want to end. From the aptly chosen title to the likable characters and picturesque descriptions of beautiful Maine, this book charms its way into the reader's heart. The Secret of Joy made me reflect on the meaning of family, friendship, and love. It's about making the right choices, finding your own way and knowing where you belong. I recommend that you read this book, and then pass it along to your friends and family members.

Visit the other blog tour stops:
Books, Movies & Chinese Food: http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/
Booking Mama: http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
Frugal Plus: http://frugalplus.com/
All About {n}: http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
Rundpinne: http://www.rundpinne.blogspot.com/
Brizmus Blogs Books: http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com
Psychotic State: http://www.psychoticstate.blogspot.com/
Books Reviews by Buuklvr81: http://www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
A Sea of Books: http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/
That’s A Novel Idea: http://thatsanovelidea.blogspot.com
Book Junkie: http://myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com/
My Book Views: my-book-views.blogspot.com
Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
Me, My Book & the Couch: http://memybookandthecouch.blogspot.com/
One Person’s Journey Through A World of Books: http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/
Booksie’s Blog: http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com
Book N Around: http://booknaround.blogspot.com
Keep on Booking: http://keeponbooking.blogspot.com
My Life In Not So Many Words: http://www.ziarias.blogspot.com/
Beth’s Book Review Blog: http://bethsbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
My Reading Room: http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com
My Book Addiction and More: www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
Crazy For Books: http://www.crazy-for-books.com
Bella’s Novella: http://www.bellasnovella.com/
Blog Business World: http://www.blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com
Reading at the Beach: http://ilratb.blogspot.com/
My Friend Amy: http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
Book Magic: http://bookmagic418.blogspot.com/
The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object: http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/
So Many Books, So Little Time: http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/
Jeanne's Ramblings: http://www.jeannesramblings.com
Red Headed Book Child: http://redheadedbookchild.blogspot.com
Reading with Tequila: http://readingwithtequila.blogspot.com
Books, Gardens, and Dogs: http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/
Jens Book Talk: http://jensbooktalk.blogspot.com/
My Own Little Corner of the World: http://molcotw.blogspot.com/
Lit and Life: http://litandlife.blogspot.com
Entertainment Realm: http://entertainmentrealm.com/

* Book description and cover art courtesy of the publisher. I received a complimentary copy of the book with no obligation of a positive review. No compensation - monetary or in kind - has been obtained or implied.

When I was growing up, no one was concerned about the chemicals and pesticides sprayed on cotton plants. Dressing kids in 100% cotton clothing was the norm in my family. The scary statistics that conventional cotton crops cover 2.5% of the cultivated land but get 16% of the pesticides worldwide was not common knowledge. Today, we have the option of wearing natural fibers that are organic and pesticide-free.

Apericots  makes adorable 100% organic baby clothes using the latest technology and highest quality products. You can even customize the clothes! Apericots carry personalized high quality organic baby clothes including onesies, cloth diapers, bibs, shirts, pants, hats, etc. Every design is printed with eco-friendly, water-based ink. The company was founded by a group of parents, creative minds and friends who wanted to offer an environmentally conscious and unique alternative to generic baby clothing.

I received the beautiful pink thermal shirt you see in the picture. I love everything about this shirt - from the soft cotton fabric to the pretty design to the name Two Birds A'Kissing! The shirt is very well-made, with great attention to every stitching detail. The neckline is generously cut to allow easy access. The sleeves have cuffs that are neither too tight nor too wide. The light pink color is called Cotton Candy and is just as sweet. The two birds are a darker shade of pink and make for an adorable detail. My little girl looks oh-so-cute in this shirt!

At this time, the organic cotton clothing of Apericots comes in sizes up to 24 months. I was excited to find out that in a couple of weeks, Apericots will be introducing a toddler addition to their line! I can't wait to see the new collection.

And now you can win a $25 gift certificate to spend on whatever you want from Apericots!

To enter, please visit Apericots and tell me how you would spend the gift certificate if you won. Would you buy one of theirs, or design your own? So many adorable choices!

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win $25 GC from Apericots at the Green Thirteen Event! #eco #giveaway #giftcard @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yk6ucrc" ;
• sign up to stay in the loop with Apericots - see bottom left side of their home page;
  
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen blogging event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is November 30, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor. I received the shirt with no obligation to write a positive review. No monetary or other compensation was received or implied. 


Good luck!

My bloggy friend Piera of Jolly Mom will be giving away a brand-new HP TouchSmart 600 computer at her blog! Wouldn't that make a fab Christmas present? Here is what it is:

Microsoft and HP collaborated to create best-in-class touch technology that melds the power of Windows 7 with HP’s revolutionary TouchSmart PCs. The HP TouchSmart 600 showcases this technology within its sleek design, HD widescreen, BluRay, adjustable webcam and more. It offers limitless potential for enhancing life at home.

Sounds perfect! And it retails for close to $1,500 - it would make me so happy to replace my old PC with this baby, for free!

The fab event starts next Monday, November 23. See you there!

When I was little, my mom thought children should wear only natural fabrics. She believes that even today. So - like mother, like daughter - once I had kids, I always preferred dressing them in cotton rather than synthetics. And I still do! Little did I know that cotton is considered the world's "dirtiest" crop due to heavy use of insecticides. According to information I read at the Organic Trade Association website, cotton covers 2.5% of the world's cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world's insecticides, more than any other single major crop.

Fortunately, we no longer have to dress our kids in chemical-infused fabrics. Clothing made from organically grown cotton has become widely available, and while still relatively expensive, it's a viable alternative for many parents.

I recently came across a company that makes the cutest baby and toddler clothes using organic cotton. What attracted my attention to Happy Green Bee -  besides their children's clothing with adorable stripes in whimsical color combinations - was their vision. The Happy Green Bee mission says it best:

"To create cheerful gender-free organic kids clothing with sustainable earth friendly manufacturing practices in an effort to meet and increase the demand for organic children's clothing that not only looks and feels great but is contributing in positive ways to the welfare of our planet."

Isn't that well put?

I had the opportunity to review one of their adorable dresses - the Petal Dress in radish and bean, a.k.a. red and green. These colors are perfect for the upcoming holiday season, and my daughter is going to wear her petal dress for the pictures with Santa this year.

The petal dress looked wonderful online, and it's even better in real life. The cotton fabric is soft and stretchy, of great quality and utterly comfortable. The dress is put together with careful attention to every detail - from the scoop collar to the soft-rolled edges to the adorable bee label sewn on the outside. We paired the dress with leggings and my daughter's favorite red shoes - a truly picture perfect ensemble!

Speaking of leggings, Happy Green Bee sells both striped and solid color leggings that would complete the adorable outfit. My only regret is that the petal dress does not come in sizes larger than 3T - any girl would love to twirl in this dress. And, if you have a little boy, he would look just fetching in the Happy Green Bee cardigan!

Deal Alert
Happy Green Bee having a great sale event right now. They are offering 50% off their online inventory with promo code BIGSALE. Hurry - sale ends today! The sale event excludes factory store items.

The Giveaway
One reader of Just Another New Blog will win their choice of size of the petal dress in radish and bean - the same dress I reviewed - OR the cardigan in radish and bean!

To enter, please visit Happy Green Bee and comment below with your favorite item.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win a petal dress or cardigan from Happy Green Bee at the Green Thirteen #eco #Giveaway Event! @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/yz26bqc" ;
• sign up to get the latest buzz from Happy Green Bee;
  
• be a fan Happy Green Bee on facebook;
  
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen blogging event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is November 30, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. or Canada. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor. I received the petal dress with no obligation to write a positive review. No monetary or other compensation was received or implied.


Good luck!

I love great soaps. There is something so pampering, self-indulgent in a good way, and almost decadent in their delicious scent and rich lather! When I discovered that Tropical Traditions, America's source for coconut oil, makes natural soaps, I just had to try them.

Tropical Traditions soaps are made with Organic Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil as their base, and the scented varieties use only high-quality organic essential oils. The Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil is traditionally made from fresh organic coconuts.

The coconut bar soaps come in three varieties: unscented, tea tree, and lavender. The unscented bar is shaped like a rectangle and contains only saponified organic virgin coconut oil. The two scented bars are round and, in addition to saponified organic virgin coconut oil, have organic essential oils of tea tree and lemon or lavender. There are no additives, chemicals, colorants, or anything that can irritate the skin.

I loved all three bars. They make just the right amount of lather, and the two scented varieties have a delicate aroma. All bars are gentle on the skin and will likely last quite a while.

The coconut soap bars would make a great gift - whether on their own or added to a spa-themed gift basket. You can purchase them individually, or at a discount in packs of 5 or 10. Tropical Traditions also offers various skin care packages, or you  could make your own package - I recommend pairing the bar soaps with a great moisturizing cream or organic lotion for the perfectly pampering gift. Or, for the ultimate organic soap combo, get the Tropical Traditions organic soap package where you can enjoy one of each variety of their bar soaps and liquid soaps.

Deal Alert
If you decide to buy the soap or anything else from Tropical Traditions, as a first-time customer you can get a FREE Virgin Coconut Oil book with purchase. Find out all about coconut oil and its benefits! Just use code 5251001 in the Referred by a Friend section and the book will be added to your order at no charge.

The Giveaway
Tropical Traditions are generously giving away ALL THREE SOAPS to one lucky reader of this blog!

To enter, please take a look at the Tropical Traditions product line and tell me what interests you the most.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following:

• subscribe to Tropical Traditions' newsletter - you'll know all about their specials and promotions - and get 2 entries;
• check out the free coconut recipes here and tell me which one you'd like to try;
• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "Win 3 organic soaps from Tropical Traditions at the Green 13! #eco #giveaway ends 11/28 @troptraditions @aitmama http://tinyurl.com/y8ewmfg";
• follow Tropical Traditions on twitter;
• become a fan of Tropical Traditions on Facebook;
• spread the word about my Green Thirteen event;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is November 28, 2009, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those with mailing addresses in the U.S. or Canada. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.