Hey guys! I’m really excited to bring you a review {and giveaway} today from The Ultimate Green Store. The Ultimate Green Store offers a lot of variety in products. They have products ranging from baby clothes, cloth diapers, items for pets, your teenager, dorm rooms, office supplies, furniture, and so much more!

Here is a little bit about the company!

As the ultimate web-based destination for eco-conscious shoppers, The Ultimate Green Store provides a collection of many of the finest environmentally friendly products for you, your home, office, kids and even your pets! We also have an incredible collection of gifts for any occasion and you may personalize your shopping experience by creating a wishlist or custom gift registry for your special event! 

We carry products from many of the world’s leading manufacturers and designers of sustainable, natural, organic, recycled, eco-friendly goods- products that are made with your health and the health of our planet in mind. Many of these companies are amongst the most socially responsible companies around. We also carry some green products made by companies that did not start out with environmental concerns in mind, but now realize the importance of sustainable practices and production in launching green lines within their category. We hope that in supporting these manufacturers, they will continue to move in this positive direction. 

The Ultimate Green Store was really awesome and offered me the opportunity to review the Recycled Seat Belt Tote Bag of Many Colors in the Mult-Color option. I was so thrilled because I absolutely love recycled seat belt products! These bags {purses, wallets, keychains, clutches, and more} are super strong and durable while being pretty light weight.

The Tote Bag of Many Colors is perfect for so many things. You can use it in the summer as a beach bag for all those towels and sand toys, you can toss all the kids things in it when going on a road trip, and the bag is so bright and colorful you will always be able to spot it and know which bag is yours.

My favorite way to use it right now in the middle of winter? I use it to carry all our snow jackets in. Here in Maine it is so cold all the time. We are wearing our parka jackets even when there isn’t snow because they just keep us so much warmer. However, when we go to the mall or a resturant or someplace where it’s warm the kids strip off their jackets. The jackets are big and awkward to carry and my kids are 4 and one and a half, having them hold their own jackets is just not an option. Instead of me lugging around not only my own puffy jacket but two small ones as well I just throw them into my Recycled Seat Belt Tote Bag!  The coats aren’t that heavy and they all stuff nicely in the bag. Plus I can have diapers and wipes for my son in there as well as my purse.

I know this is a bag that will be used all year around for us. In Spring the rain coats and sand toys for the park will be in the bag and beach trips during the summer are a given. We will use it stow toys on long car trips and to bring packages to the post office.

The cool thing about the bag? The reason why it’s recycled? Millions of yards of seatbelt straps are rejected by the auto industry for color being off just a tiny variance making the straps totally useless to the car companies. Now these straps that were made to save your life are now it’s going to save your stuff!

Giveaway!

I’m excited to tell you that The Ultimate Green Store is offering one of my readers a $25 gift certificate to their store!

How cool is that?

How To Win! 

Go to The Ultimate Green Store and come back and tell me something that catches your eye!

Would you spend your gift certificate on some new make-up brushes? Or organic bedding? Maybe something for your kids? Just leave a comment with what you would buy!

Extra Entries:

Sign Up For The Ultimate Green Store Newsletter! The Ultimate Green Store has this really cool newsletter that is fun, eco-informative, and features great discounts and an awesome product giveaway every week! Please let them know in the Enter Contest Code box that you were sent there from my blog Skippin’ Rope! Leave a comment below that you signed up! 

Note: To sign up, you go to the Ultimate Green Store home page and click on “Newsletter” in the top of the page. {It is in between Press and Green Expo}

“Like” The Ultimate Green Store on Facebook! Leave a comment letting me know you did! 

Follow The Ultimate Green Store on Twitter @UltGreenStore Leave a comment with your twitter handle letting me know you follow them! 

Follow me on Twitter @SkippinRope Leave a comment with your twitter handle letting me know you follow me! 

Tweet about this giveaway! You must include a direct link to this giveaway post, my twitter handle @SkippinRope and The Ultimate Green Store’s Twitter handle @UltGreenStore

Example tweet: You could win $25 to spend at the @UltGreenStore! Head over to @SkippinRope to enter! http://tinyurl.com/7lh9jzp

You can tweet twice a day with at least one hour between each tweet. Each tweet is one entry/one comment and you must leave the link to the tweet in the comment. 

Follow Me On Google Friend Connect! Just click follow on my GFC box on the right hand side of my page! Leave a comment letting me know you follow me! 

This giveaway is open until 11:59pm EST on Feb 6th. Winner will be picked by random.org and emailed right away. If winner doesn’t not respond with in 7 days a new winner will be drawn.

Thanks for entering!

Good luck!!!

I recently stumbled across a website, Foxy Bingo, that completely has me flashing back to fun memories. From adult bingo games to childhood memories. There is something about the site that makes me reminisce.

Do you remember as a kid playing bingo? Maybe in class or at home? I remember fun felt dots in one game, shiny pieces in another, and little red chips to cover the spaces at school. It was the best played in school wasn’t it?

Then again I do love a good game of baby shower bingo! It is so much fun to guess what the mama-to-be is going to get as gifts.

When we were living in Connecticut I went out with some wives from the boat my hubby was on to one of the local casinos. They introduced me to, what I call, intense bingo. The bright colored stampers, the crazy lingo and the mean little old ladies yelling at you if you made a peep when numbers were being called (there were some crazy stories about those little old ladies ya’ll!).

When I was pregnant with Liam a girl friend and I made a regular thing of going to bingo once a pay period. We bought food, brought fun colored stampers, and just had some good bingo fun!

I’ve been sitting here trying to think of a clever analogy to tell you how much I have missed blogging. Really though? There is no easier way then to just say

I. Have missed. Blogging.

The typing, the writing, the planning of a post. I found my self brain storming in the shower or while driving to work or while just hanging out with my kids. Ideas come to mind and I work with them like I am kneading dough. Then it would hit me.

I didn’t have a working computer. I couldn’t blog. Crestfallen I would return to what ever in the moment I was doing, trying to ignore the ideas loudly tap dancing around in my brain.

For the past two months or so, I have been with out a computer. We have an iTouch so I could instantgram and twitter an check email but it was tedious trying to type on it. Being with out a cell phone for 10 months really has made me a bad texter you could say (although I have remedied the cellphone issue).

I wasn’t able to share with you my daughter’s 4th birthday (oh my goodness people, she is 4!!!). I wasn’t able to tell you about our small but wonderful Thanksgiving, where Justin wanted to cook a turkey form scratch and I thankfully talked him out of it (cause who was he kidding? I knew badly he wanted to csqueeze in as much video game time as possible). I couldn’t have a mommy moment to share how in a month’s time Liam out grew a pair of shoes he hadn’t even fit into yet when we first received them and have a where-did-my-BABY-boy-go? momentary freak out with you.

I will say I did take the time to try to be more present in my own life. I took it as a break from the online world and to just enjoy being here with my family. I’ve discovered a few things about myself and I have been able to really focus on a few things in my life that needed so more attention. It has been a tough couple of months with out a blog but yet been a wonderful time tuning back into my family and myself.

It’s true. Your weekend can not go wrong when there is cookie dough evolved!

{Photo Credit}

My hubby’s birthday was wednesday but due to work schedules we decided to celebrate on Friday, thanks to a day off the husband had. The celebration continued on to Saturday thanks to our kids and their love of interrupting things. Even with their interruptions, it was wonderful to spend time celebrating as a family.

Hubby didn’t ask for cake for his birthday, instead it was cookies. Chocolate Chip cookies to be exact. That I took to the next level by adding peanut butter chips. Hubby loved them to say the least.

It was a nice relaxing weekend for us. We did some shopping, the kiddos played at the mall play area, and had lunch at Dairy Queen. We made dinners together. We took turns sleeping in or taking naps. We got some cleaning done in the living room. We found our missing point and shoot, the working one, and it’s charger!

I did some sewing and crafting 
*happy sigh*

However Sunday we all didn’t feel so good. We aren’t sure what exactly but we just didn’t feel right, even the kids were off and not feeling well. We were a bit bummed to stay home, since we had some plans, but we made the best of it. It was kind of cozy with all the rain we experienced. With this rainy Maine fall I need to stock us up on some good soups, you know the kind that warm you to your toes.

I have plans in the works this week that I’m really excited about! You can expect an “official” announcement on that next monday October 10th.

Which also happens to be my 27th birthday! Woot! Woot!

How was your weekend? 

Ugh… this week has been crazy. I had so many more plans for writing this week.

But our computer charger looks like a dog chewed on it.

It’s barely hanging on, let alone charing our laptop.

If you follow me on twitter you may have seen a few of my tweets about the lack of a camera too. My point and shoot has a broken flash. All my photos come out kinda orange tinted. My hubby’s camera… we have no idea where it is. And my old but reliable DSLR? We can’t find the charge since we moved.

I’m having some technology issues this week :/

But none the less… I’ve been working on some things! Things that I’m excited about and can’t wait to share with you. But for now, I’ll have to wait. I promise there will be fun news soon!

Plus lately my mind has been all about nail polish colors.

I love it when my nails look pretty, even if it doesn’t happen often.

Here are some colors I’m swooning over!

All from OPI, my favorite nail polish brand!

 I’ve come to really trust OPI polishes. They always have what I’m looking for. The depth and quality of color is perfect and I swear by OPI. 

I’m Not Really A Waitress

I hunted down for the perfect red for years. I still remember finding it one day with my sister at a really great nail salon in Old Town Pasadena. I was thrilled, bought a bottle and have been hooked ever since!

{This red is a bit more red in person. The picture comes of kind of pink to me which it isn’t at all.}

But this is the red I swear by! I have two at home right now, in case one ever goes missing {and one always seems too!}

Black Shatter

I have to admit I was giggling when OPI introduced their Shatter line.

It reminded me of crackle nail polish from when I was in jr. high!

But now I’m hooked!

Silver Shatter

How pretty will this be at Christmas? And for New Years? I’m so excited for it!

Hot & Spicy

I love this color so much! It is the perfect pumpkin color for my lovely porcelain skin.

{read: I’m pale like a Twilight vampire!}

The One That Got Away – Katy Perry collection

A girl has to have a good pink and this one is the nail polish I won’t let get away!
I don’t own it currently but the salon next door to my work has a HUGE OPI nail polish stash.

It will be mine!!!

Now I’m still working on finding a really great deep green that reminds me of a fresh Christmas tree.

But maybe this one?  Cuckoo for This Color

I’ll have to try it on but it looks like it could be a winner right?

Now all I need is to find the perfect color for New Years….

What is your favorite OPI nail polish?

What Fall/Winter nail colors are you in love with this season?

*Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post at all. I truly love OPI and wanted to share my current favorite colors with you. In fact I have I’m Not A Waitress, Black Shatter, and Hot & Spicy in my purse right now – all paid for my self! This is just an I love OPI thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much post  

{Photo Credit}

I appreciate you.

I enjoy working with you.

You have a great spark about you.

You are an amazing friend.

You always know just the right thing to say to cheer me up.

Thank you for having faith in me.

Thank you for believing in me.

Isn’t it a wonderful thing to here words of appreciation?

Recently I was given compliments, that for me, came out of the blue.

The person didn’t even realize how much I truly needed to hear the nice things they said.

How thrilled I was to know I was being appreciated .

Like a thirsty tree soaking up rain, it lifted my spirits tremendously.

We don’t always know when some needs to be encourage, to be blessed with words.

So I challenge you today and this week to bless some one. 

Photo Credit – From Green Enough For Me

Comment on a blog that inspires you. Tell them what you love about them!

Blog about a friend who makes your life better.

Write a hand written note telling some one how much you appreciate them.

Tell your co-work how you enjoy working with them and why.

Tell your spouse how great of a job they are doing {work, home, in your relationship. Give specific details.

Tell your kids how great they are and how you love their {fill in the blank}. {examples: sense of style, responsability in caring for their sibilings/homework/pets, that they keep their room clean, that they are perfect just the way they are!}

Uplifting words, that have really meaning behind it, last far longer then one realizes.

It can encourage some one to keep pressing on, inspire them to go for a goal, to believe in themselves again.

To know that they aren’t invisible in this world.

Who are you going to encourage today? 

Who are you going to uplift and bless this week?

Happy First Official Day of Fall!

I love Fall!

Wanna know the best part of Fall?

All the yummy treats!!

Especially the pumpkin ones!

Last night Hubby and I got messy in the kitchen. We kicked off Fall a few hours early.

We made mini cherry and apple pies!  12 all together!

Just a few of our delicious pies!
Justin couldn’t wait to take a bite before I took a photo. hee hee!

Mini Pies

Found on Pinterest through Linda

Originally from For The Love of Cooking

Some other delicious treats I plan on making…

Pumpkin Blondies

Found on Pinterest through Amanda

Originally from Picky Palate

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Found on Pinterest through Sue

Originally from Annie’s Eats

Browned Butter Pumpkin Spice Krispy Treats

Found on Pinterest through G C

Originally from Cookies and Cups

Pumpkin Pie Snickerdoodle Bars

Found on Pinterest through Elizabeth

Originally from Lovin’ From the Oven

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Found on Pinterest through Jessica

Originally from The Picky Apple

Of course I plan to make some pumpkin pies too! 

Are you planning on making any pumpkin or fall treats?

You call follow me on Pinterest

or specifically my Foodie Goodness Board

Our children are our most precious cargo. We drive them to and fro from play dates, the playground, church, parties, and all kind of errands and social functions. Sometimes they come along for a ride just to go to Starbucks and back {got love that drive-thru!}.

When we are are pregnant and dreaming of the precious little lives to come we fuss over nursery colors, swoon over little people clothes, and pick out matching stroller, cars eat, play yard, high chairs, and swings. We talk with our spouses on how we want to raise our kids, the lives we want to create for them, the kind of environment we want them to grow up in. We slowly piece together our dream of our version of a perfect family.

So we decorate, and plan, and child proof everything {only to figure out later baby doesn’t really need it right away! haha!}. We double and triple check safety standards and book mark recall information pages {no? just me? ok!}. But did you know…

That each year, thousands of children are tragically injured and killed in motor vehicle crashes.

In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1-13.

How can this be? We double and triple checked everything! Right? It’s cause most of the time parents and caregivers don’t fully understand how car seats work. How the seats are supposed to sit, how the seats are supposed to be clipped/hooked/secured in the car, and where restraints are supposed to sit on a child.

There is a math to it all but it is different for each child and each car seat. So safe those information manuals you get on your car seats AND your about your car! Read your child’s car seat information to see what the weight and height limits are. Already be researching what kind of car seat to get next, because you never know when your child is going to grow out of their current one to the next one. 

Here is a general chart to help you figure out where you child might be at {but please remember to check your seats weight and height limits to give you a more exact answer!}

Click on the image to enlarge it to be able to read all the great information!

This week is Child Passenger Safety Week and you can get lots of information on how to place your child’s car seat, no matter what stage they are at correctly!  Also, Saturday is National Seat Check Saturday! You can find a local place to have your child’s seat checked for free!* They will let you know if it is placed correctly and help you correctly install the car seat and how to use it! *most places this is for free!

Incase there isn’t a place near you, like in my case, you can go to the Child Passenger Safety website and find lots of resource, informational videos on each type of child seat, quizzes, and find ways to connect to get the information you are seeking.

Safe Driving Friends!!!  

Runny nose,

Achey body,

Change a diaper,

Put Blue’s Clues on the tv.

Headache,

chills that come and go,

nurse little man down for a nap,

Enjoy the sleepy cuddles.

My home is a mess

my kids pull my hair

the bottom of my foot has been colored hot pink.

I am moaning with each move

and the kids keep spilling everything.

The life of a Mama with the flu. 

Oh, and I found out that if I try to rest for just a few short minutes,

My kids end up like this

AboutOne.com is an online site that helps families manage everything. AboutOne was created by Moms for Moms and it’s such a simple digital filing system and more! You can store your kids artwork {just scan it in and upload it!}, you can keep medical records and notes, keep track of school records, and post pictures and record family memories! It has a calender and address book and you can even a publish a monthly family newsletter to send to friends and family!

I had a chance to try the services AboutOne offers and I was thrilled. It’s exactly what my family needs! It makes organizing our life super easy. I especially appreciate that I can access any of the information from any where. This is especially important with the medical information you can store. You can keep doctor’s numbers, your medical insurance company information and policy numbers in one place so if there is ever an emergency out of town you can simply get all the info you need at a computer.

Bonus! There is an iPhone app coming at the end of summer where you can access that information at any time you need.

I love that you can upload your kids artwork. Not just so you will always have it documented but you can include it in your family newsletter and share it with every one! You never have to feel guilty about throwing something away either because it can forever be saved.

I love how easy the family newsletter is. You can upload new memories, include a picture, add some details, choose to include it {or not} in the family newsletter and it will be “pinned” to your family corkboard. It’s so very simple. You can include how great your son did on a spelling test that he studied really hard for, a picture of your daughter in the school play, or how messy your baby’s first spaghetti meal was. I added that my husband shaved off his beard! He looks so different with out it I just had to include a picture!

The fact that my family lives any where but here makes the newsletter so fabulous! No one has to miss out on my kids lives just cause they aren’t on facebook or reading my blog. I can just simply email them everything. My parents don’t have to miss out on seeing Emma’s art she makes because they don’t live down the street. Is it the same as holding a picture she colored? No, but it is wonderful that I have a place to share all this with them.

AboutOne has so many great things going for it. It is truly made for every family and can be tailored, as much as you make it, to your specific needs. With back to school coming up this is a great way to keep all those records together. For military families, like we used to be, this is the simpliest way I’ve found to keep all those school records together. With all the moving that happens as a military family, and it isn’t always during summer!, this will be a life saver for you! Just spending  few minutes each month updating school records and medical records can save such a hassle in the long run.

Not sure how to declutter all that info you have stored? Don’t worry, AboutOne has lots of videos on how to get organized with them. Plus they have a live chat feature to get even more personal help with what you need. Just take it a little bit at a time!

Giveaway!

Global Influence is hosting a giveaway where one person will win a $500 AMEX giftcard, a free subscription to AboutOne.com PLUS a $250 donation to the school of your choice! Winners will be picked at random from all entries across all blogs hosting this giveaway.

ALL ENTRIES will receive a 25% off code for a one year subscription to AboutOne.com.

This giveaway ends September 9th 11:59pm ET and is open to US residents 18 years old or older.

How To Win: {Please read all the information as this is a different style of giveaway then I normally do}.

Mandatory Entry:

Sign up for AboutOne free trial! {Absolutely NO credit card info is required} You must sign up through this link to be eligible!

The Details: Signing up through that link gives you the The 17 Day Free Passport trial. The Free Passport trial gives you 17 full days {any 17 days! Not 17 days in a row} of usage with no expiration date and requires no credit card information. Use each of the 17 days whenever you like. Interested in more then 17 days? The Yearly Plan gives you a full year of access to AboutOne for only $30 dollars!

How To Enter!

When you have signed up for the 17 Days Free Passport Trial, please fill out this entry form! Or click here if the form isn’t loading.

Good luck!! If you have any questions please feel free to leave them in a comment on this post or email me!

Disclosure: I was given a free year subscription to AboutOne.com and I was compensated by the Global Influence Network for my participation in this campaign. However!!! All opinions and thoughts about this service are my own. I will only write about services and products that I truly enjoy and believe in and think that my readers here at Skippin’ Rope would also appreciate it.