Random Musings from Garden Girl

Garden Girl Blog has MOVED

2009-07-07T14:45:00.003-04:00

We are very excited to say that the Garden Girl blog has moved! It is now at:

http://www.gardengirlskincare.com/blog

Please visit that site for our ongoing updates with all things related to skin care, eco-friendly living and just random musings!

Also - sign up for our email list on our home page to save $5 on any order, and also get weekly specials emailed straight to you! This week, to celebrate our brand new website, you can save a whopping 15% off your order!

www.gardengirlskincare.com

Thanks and see you at our new site!

exfoliate exfoliate exfoliate - and SAVE!

2009-06-28T20:19:00.004-04:00

Summertime wreaks havoc on our skin - face and body. Our skin is exposed to sun, dunked in drying chlorine, covered in sunscreen, and let's not forget icky sticky sweat. All of this can result in either flaky skin or clogged pores - or worst of all, both. This is why it is so important to exfoliate religiously throughout the summer. And that is why this week's sale lets you save big on all of our exfoliating products!

Exfoliation removes the outer layer of dead skin cells and reveals fresh, younger looking skin. It helps to keep pores unclogged and skin extra smooth. It also leaves skin primed perfectly for moisturizing, so it should be followed immediately after with your face cream (for faces) and body lotion (for body).

As you can imagine, your skin is extra sensitive after exfoliation so it is extremely important to wear sunscreen after exfoliating when you are going to be in the sun (clearly it's important to always wear sunscreen in the sun, but after exfoliating you should be extra careful!).

Also - you should take care not to exfoliate too frequently. In general a good rule of thumb is twice a week for your face, and up to 3 times a week for your body. Oily skin can typically benefit from 3 times per week for your face, and sensitive skin should generally be only once per week. Doing it too frequently can cause damage so you want to be sure not to overdo it.

Lastly, for faces, be sure to use products that are designed for your face - NOT for bodies, which can be too harsh. And watch for products with crushed seeds or similar exfoliants as they can scratch skin and cause damage.

So this week's sale is giving you a big ol' 20% off all of our exfoliation products -

Starting Over Microderm Scrub - this is our first facial exfoliator and a personal favorite. It uses the same microcrystals used by the dermatologists to do the very expensive microdermabrasion treatments. But this way you can get similar results at home -for a lot less money! This scrub is in a natural, paraben-free, creamy base that leaves your skin soft, smooth and hydrated and helps to even skin tone, reduce fine lines and unclog pores. (NOTE: The offer is good on both the 2 oz. jar as well as the 2 oz. eco-friendly refill package!)

Break Free fruit acid gel - Break Free is the newest addition to our facial exfoliators - and quickly rising to the top. It is a fantastic dermatologist-grade product that is amazing for oily/problematic skin as well as dry skin (however, it is not recommended for sensitive skin). Break Free has three alpha-hydroxy acids that pack a punch. Simply apply in a thin layer on the face (avoiding eyes) and leave on for 1 to 3 minutes. Then rinse with cool water. You know immediately that it is working as it tingles, signalling that it is removing the dead skin cells. Repeated use of Break Free can result in a reduction of thickened skin, the evening of skin tone, and a reduction of breakouts and blackheads. Oh - and of course fewer fine lines and wrinkles!

Pucker Up Coconut - Pucker Up is our body exfoliator. It is perfect for the summer - and because it is a sugar scrub (not a salt scrub) you don't have to worry about stinging! Pucker Up is packed in a rich, thick and creamy oil that leaves your skin incredibly smooth and soft and hydrated. Bonus - it's fantastic for shaving!

Don't forget, all of Garden Girl's products are carefully crafted in the US with the highest quality ingredients and are always free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates!

This week's offer is at www.gardengirlskincare.com and it is valid thru Friday, July 3rd at midnight. But to take advantage, you have to sign up for our email list! Go to www.gardengirlskincare.com and sign up right there on the home page. You will get a $5 coupon emailed to you, plus we'll send you the email with this week's offer code.

Time for New Food Labeling?

2009-06-26T22:36:00.005-04:00

GoodGuide.com has a great post (http://www.goodguide.com/issues/2009/3/26/goodguide-transparency-manifesto). In it, they discuss the need for new labeling requirements for food - and I wholeheartedly agree. However, I won't hold my breath! The FDA is so understaffed and underfunded that I think it will be years before they move toward this comprehensive list of changes.

But there are lots of things that they are proposing that are very interesting. They are requesting new requirements that include listing:

1. Where it came from:

Disclosure of where ingredients were grown and processed. For meats, this should include where the animal was born, raised, and slaughtered.
Tracking and labeling throughout the supply chain, with a process for tracing contaminant issues.

2. How it was made:

The use of synthetic pesticides.
The use of hormones.
The application of antibiotics.
The presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Animal cloning in meat and milk production.
Food Irradiation
USDA Organic production standards.
Explanation of a company’s food tracing and contaminant control program from farm to table.

3. What’s in it:

Complete ingredient lists, with details of common allergens, applied to restaurant items as well as store-bought foods.
Nutritional information normalized to a standard serving size.
Explanation of levels of nutrients that may be harmful (such as saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar).
Contaminants such as pesticides, methyl mercury, or PCBs that remain in the product, even in trace amounts.

I don't know about you, but increasingly I feel like I have little idea of what goes into what I'm eating. We have become accustomed food that is so processed - with ingredients sourced from so many places. Movies like Food, Inc. will be very eye-opening for many people, and hopefully will have an impact on the industry. Fingers crossed!

Follow-up To BPA Spin Tactics

2009-06-26T14:14:00.006-04:00

The Green Blog in the Boston Globe posted on Monday that the Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal "is investigating whether industry officials are using 'fear tactics, political manipulation, and misleading marketing’ to fight regulation of the chemical, which is used in hundreds of everyday products, from baby bottles to canned food." Connecticut is a leader in the fight against BPA, having recently passed a ban on the use of BPA in plastics used by children and babies.

A couple of weeks back, I posted about the meeting of corporate minds when industry leaders met to determine a PR campaign that suggests that BPA is not as dangerous as it really is. Blumenthal wrote a letter to the companies that were involved - including DelMonte and Coca Cola - asking for details about the meeting and the notes that have been circulating.

I hope other states, including Massachusetts, follow Connecticut's lead and start banning the use of BPAs.

Save 25% on All Garden Girl Face Cleansers!

2009-06-21T22:07:00.004-04:00

This week's sale is a big fat 25% discount on all 3 of our face cleansers. Good deal, eh? We have a cleanser to match whatever skin type you have. Not sure? Email us at questions@gardengirlskincare.com and we'll work with you to figure out the best choice. And don't forget - Garden Girl products are always free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates.

Normal/Combination - choose You're Fresh herbal face wash with aloe, tea tree oil, lavender and vitamin e. Packed with pure extracts and essential oils, this face wash is perfect for keeping skin clear and balanced.

Dry/Sensitive/Mature Skin - choose Oasis for Faces with hydrolyzed oats, aloe and silk protein. This is the gentlest cleanser that leaves skin fresh, clean and hydrated - never dry and tight.

Oily/Problematic/Acne-Prone - choose At Long Last with gylcolic acid and seaweed extract. A cleanser packed with glycolic acid that keeps your oily or problematic skin clean and clear without resorting to harsh chemicals. It removes dirt, dead skin and excess oil, leaving your face smoother and brighter.

So go have fun and enjoy the savings. But to take advantage of the offer this week - you need to be on our email list. If you haven't signed up yet, simply go to www.gardengirlskincare.com and sign up for our list on the home page. Not only will you get a $5 coupon, but you'll also be emailed the coupon code for this week's offer.

Why Does Garden Girl Use Essential Oils for Fragrance?

2009-06-21T21:27:00.004-04:00

To be honest, if Garden Girl used synthetic fragrances for all of our products, it would be far easier. Working with essential oils can be tricky - they can be inconsistent, and it is challenging to get the exact same scent each time. This is why our Alive lotion, just as an example, can smell more like peppermint one time and a little more like basil another. Even though we use a specific proportion each time, the individual oils can be stronger batch to batch. So it isn't easy - but we make the extra effort for good reason. Fragrances are typically jam packed with all kinds of ingredients - mostly chemicals and petroleum products.

Did you know that the word "fragrance" is all that needs to be listed on a label even though it can contain hundreds of ingredients on its own? One of the most concerning issue with fragrances is phthalates. You have probably heard me rant about phthalates before - they are of deep concern because they are considered to be key factor in birth defects in the reproductive system of male babies, plus there is a possible link to breast cancer, along with numerous other potential issues.

Fragrances are also considered to be one of the top five known allergens (again, likely due to the fact that there are so many components) and also a potential neurotoxin. According to EWG, "as far back as 1986, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences identified fragrance ingredients as one of six categories of neurotoxins (chemicals that are toxic to the brain) that should be thoroughly investigated for impacts on human health. However, this research has not been demanded or funded. The FDA has taken no action on a petition submitted to the agency in 1999 requesting fragrance components to be listed on labels."

Doesn't sound so great, does it? That's why we have decided that the quirkiness of essential oils are a small price to pay to ensure the safety of our products.

Giving Kids Independence

2009-06-20T13:08:00.003-04:00

Today we let our 9-year-old ride his bike to the library by himself. Actually, I rode with him there to show him where to cross, where to be extra careful etc. since he'd never gone by himself before. I have to admit I was a wreck - I realized that I told him to cross the street at a spot that had good visibility on the way TO the libary, but on the way HOME it was terrible. Would he figure it out? Would he be smart and safe? What if he wasn't paying attention and he got hit by a car? I started imagining the worst.

Now some people may be thinking - what's the big deal? And really, that's how I was raised - I walked to school starting in Kindergarten. I took the subway in the suburbs with a friend to the Mall in 3rd grade, and all the way to downtown Boston in 5th grade. But I know that there will be far more people reading this that will disapprove. People say things are different now. There are more people in the world and the world is more dangerous. But really - is it that bad?

We have become a society obsessed with protecting our children. We don't let them go off to college without calling them 5 times a day on their cellphone. Our kids are carted from one organized activity to another starting at a young age and we are hovering all the way through high school and beyond. Mom or Dad seems to be there always. We worry if we drop them off and leave Little League practice. What happens if Johnny gets hit with the ball after I leave? What if Susie twists her ankle? What if my child walks to school and someone abducts her? We judge parents who aren't as "careful" as we are.

All this makes me wonder. What are we teaching our children? To be scared and worry about everything? To only feel safe if they are with Mom or Dad? Shouldn't we be teaching them to be confident and secure? Shouldn't we teach them tools and strategies so they can do things and make smart decisions and figure things out on their own? That's certainly the kind of person I want my boys to be when they grow up.

It just so happens that today, when my son earned another notch on his belt of independence, there was a very interesting article by Joanna Weiss in the Boston Globe. In it, she says she insisted that her 5-year-old not wait for her on the front porch while she ran into her suburban home to grab something she forgot. She wanted her daughter to come in - "just in case". Then she started thinking about it.

To get perspective, she talked to Lenore Skenazy. Lenore is the woman who recently caused so much controversy by writing about letting her 9-year-old son take the subway in NYC. She is now expanding her cause by writing and speaking about Free Range Kids. She believes that we are doing more harm than good by being helicopter parents. Turns out, statistically speaking, you would need to leave your child waiting on the front porch for 750 THOUSAND YEARS before she would be abducted. Really. So I say - let's let the leash loose on our kids just a bit. I'm not saying we should let them do whatever they want and go all over the place by themselves. I'm saying teach them responsibility and good decision making and let them test out their independence as they grow.

The look on my son's face when he came home - safely! - today was priceless. He was trying to be very cool and nonchalant - but he was bursting with pride. I knew immediately that we'd made the right decision. Later, I asked him about crossing the street at that bad spot I was worried about. He said he had to wait a long time until it was safe, but he could see the cars before they disappeared behind the bushes so he knew when it would be OK to cross. Good decision.

Contest Winner!!

2009-06-19T10:42:00.004-04:00

Boy we had many entries for this contest - and some people really were very creative in their responses! Even though the drawing is random, I really love reading the fun things that people write. Some people already are Garden Girl customers and others are hoping to try our products for the first time. But don't forget, if you didn't win, you can always try Garden Girl without any risk - we have an excellent return policy (which we can do because we are so confident you'll love the products!)

OK, I know you've probably already skipped down to see the winner's name anyway, so here it is:

Caroline Scannell of Massachusetts (no, I didn't play favorites for the "local gal" to win!)

Caroline - I have your email address so I will be in touch. For everyone else, be sure to sign up for our email list (you can do that on our home page at www.gardengirlskincare.com). Not only do you save $5 on your first order as a "thank you" for signing up, but you also get special offers and early notification of our contests. Also - if you're on Twitter you can follow me @GdnGrl and also get updates. So sign up, then stay tuned for another contest coming soon!

Flame Retardants, Teflon, BPA and More - Found in 5 Female Pollution Protesters

2009-06-18T21:29:00.010-04:00

Wow - EWG has done it again. Instead of sounding like whiners, they always find great ways to exemplify the issues with chemical and toxin exposure that grab your attention and have an impact.

This time, they looked at 5 women from all over the country, from different cultural traditions and are exposed to different environmental hazards outside of their homes. These are no ordinary women - they are 5 women who have been fighting against environmental pollution for years. But rather than testing the women for the big industrial chemicals, they chose to check for household chemicals which drives the point home that we are bombarded everywhere we are. This is what they found:

"All 5 were contaminated with flame retardants, Teflon chemicals, synthetic fragrances, the plastics ingredient bisphenol A (BPA) and the rocket fuel component perchlorate.

Each had a high body burden of at least one controversial chemical whose lack of regulation and widespread presence in American life is fueling debate over reform of the nation’s toxic chemical policies.

Overall the women tested positive for 48 of 75 chemicals for which EWG-commissioned laboratories searched, with a range from 26 to 45 per person."

So you have to figure, these are women who are more aware than the average person of the toxins in their surroundings. And they STILL found all those chemicals. Scary to think about what we are probably carrying in our bodies. Really - doesn't it seem that it's high time that chemicals and toxins get a lot more attention from our regulatory agencies - and that the companies who produce the chemicals take responsibility for what they are doing to us all?

If you'd like to read more about the study, check out the EWG blog

Save BIG on our NEW PRODUCTS!!

2009-06-14T22:38:00.003-04:00

Looking for our weekly sale? Well this week it is only available through our email. If you haven't signed up for our email list - what are you waiting for? Not only do you get a $5 coupon for your next order, but you also get sneak peeks at our weekly specials and extra info.

So go to www.gardengirlskincare.com - and right there on our home page is a link to sign up. It's easy!

New Sunblock from Trader Joe's - Free of Oxybenzone!

2009-06-14T21:31:00.004-04:00

I'm very excited to say that I have found a decent (not perfect - but what is??) sunscreen for faces. It is paraben-free AND oxybenzone-free - which is incredibly hard to find. (read about oxybenzone here) Plus there is no "nano" zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. My family and I tried it this weekend and it worked very well, and it didn't sting anyone's eyes (bonus).

The active ingredients rate well on EWG for protection and decently for safety. As I've said before - the ultimate is a sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that is not "nano" - but unfortunately that type of suncreen is very thick and white and leaves your face white if you sweat or get wet. Not pretty. Blue Lizard Baby or Sensitive fits the bill so we use it for our bodies but I have been seeking an alternative for the face and it looks like I might have found it!

So if you have a Trader Joe's nearby - check it out! And if not - again, my recommendation is to find a product that does NOT have oxybenzone. But lookout - it's in almost everything!

NEW Products Giveaway!!

2009-06-12T12:07:00.006-04:00

We are SO excited about our new products!! (ok technically 2 of the products are not totally new but they haven't been available on the website yet so we're sticking with "new") So to celebrate we're having a contest - from today through Wednesday, June 17th.

The contest is totally easy and fun - just go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com

then search the website until you find the 3 new products. (Hint: They are clearly labeled as "new" so it won't take long!) One of the products was based on customer feedback - for those of you who participated in the survey a couple of months back when we asked what product you would be most interested in - we used that information to develop this product!

Once you have found the new products, send an email to contest(at)gardengirlskincare.com and list:

1) The names of the 3 products. HINT: One product sort of counts as two - it's the same but 2 versions. The Hand it to You pump bottle is not new - although clearly I need to change that on the website :)
2) Why you would like to try them

It's that easy. Then we will select a winner on Wednesday and post the results on Thursday!

Now for the best part - the winner receives ALL THREE products!! Wahoo! Once you find out what they are - I think you'll be very eager to win. They are all really great.

So what are you waiting for? Start searching!

Special - CHOOSE Your Freebie!

2009-06-07T22:26:00.003-04:00

As many of you know already, with most Garden Girl purchases, you are treated to a sample size (actually "sample" is really an understatement) of a product. We choose a product to give you - either something we think you might want to try based on your order history, or something that we think you'd enjoy having in a travel-sized container. It's our way of giving you an extra special treat to thank you for choosing Garden Girl.

Well this week - we thought it might be fun to let YOU choose the sample. That means no matter what size order you have - you will receive a travel-sized bottle or jar of the product that YOU choose. Sounds fun, right?

But we're going to make it even better (ok this sounds like an infomercial - "order now and you'll get...") - if you place an order over $75 you can choose any TWO samples. Even better? If you order more than $125 worth of products, then you can choose THREE!! Not bad, eh? Each of these samples is big enough to last up to a month! (that's what I mean when I say sample is an understatement)

We don't offer all of our products in these sample/travel sized but you can choose from:

0.5 oz Jars:

No Worries face cream for dry/sensitive skin
Nature Nurture face cream for normal/oily skin
Starting Over microderm scrub
Cookies + Cream purifying masque
Hugs vanilla body butter
Smooches chocolate mandarin body butter
Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub
Zippity Do Dah peppermint foot cream

1.0 oz Bottles:

You're Fresh face wash for normal/oily skin
Oasis for Faces face wash for dry/sensitive or mature skin
Even Ste(pH)en toner
Hand it to You hand cream
Chill Out body lotion
Jump Start body lotion
Mellow body lotion
Alive body lotion

Taking advantage of this very unique offer is easy. Simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com

Then, when you are checking out there will be a comments section (not the coupons section). In that comments section, simply write which sample you would like. If your order is above $75, you will write the two you'd like. And if you order over $125 you can select THREE!

As always, our products are all free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates. Enjoy - and have fun choosing your samples!

Back to Basics - Watch Calories to Lose Weight

2009-06-05T14:19:00.003-04:00

You've heard them all before. Crazy diets, new theories, weight-loss schemes. When it comes down to it - people are going back to the basics. Exercise and calories. There are all kinds of ways to squeeze in exercise so there's literally almost no excuse. And meals? Well maybe you can find a way to tweak what you're eating and lose a few pounds.

A recent article in Prevention Magazine highlighted a sample day with 4 meals - each with 400 calories or less. They say for "active women over 40" the easiest way to lose weight is to eat four 400 calorie meals daily. They believe that this "fuels energy, revs metabolism, and keeps you feeling full longer" which will result in weight loss.

Sounds easy? Well the way the spell it out, it looks pretty straightforward.

The meals they showed actually sounded pretty good (and filling):

Hearty Breakfast: Egg Sandwich (with egg whites, avocado, lowfat cheese and tomato)

Fast & Easy Lunch: Personal Pizza (top a whole wheat pita with veggies, lowfat cheese and chicken)

Dinner: Pasta (using Amy's Bowls Stuffed Pasta Shells - sounds easy!!)

Sweet Treat: Yogurt Parfait (this is where they lose me - where's the ice cream? The chocolate? - I guess that wouldn't really work....)

Check out the full article here: http://www.prevention.com/400/ for these recipes plus a bunch more.

In this issue they also have a plan to build up from walking to running. That's something I need to start doing - I love walking but really do not like running. Maybe this plan could help me like it more? That really would be a miracle!

Coca Cola and Others Plan to Spin BPA

2009-06-04T21:50:00.004-04:00

In an email from the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), they revealed some disturbing minutes from a recent industry meeting where big brands were working together to set a communication/media strategy to defend the "benefits" of BPA.

Take a look at this selection of the minutes from the EWG site. The companies represented include: Coca Cola, Del Monte and the North American Metal Packaging Alliance. They say things like -

"Overall, the committee seemed disorganized, and its members frustrated. Lack of direction from the committee and these associations could continue to allow other associations and environmental groups to push BPA out. "
"Attendees suggested using fear tactics (e.g. “Do you want to have access to baby food anymore?”) as well as giving control back to consumers (e.g. you have a choice between the more expensive product that is frozen or fresh or foods packaged in cans) as ways to dissuade people from choosing BPA-free packaging."
"The committee wants to focus on quality instead of quantity in disseminating messages (e.g. a young kid or pregnant mother providing a positive quote about BPA, a testimonial from an outside expert, providing positive video, advice from third party experts, and relevant messaging on the GMA website)."

Pretty icky, right? So after they have time to do some research to fine-tune the exact message, you will start to see more "positive" spins on BPA. But don't be fooled - there's not much good you can get from BPA. It's just bad.

Try Our Face Kit for only $5!!!

2009-05-31T21:53:00.005-04:00

This week's special is a first for Garden Girl. It's an amazing opportunity to try our Face It travel sized face kit for only $5 (with a purchase of $40) - that's an incredible $24 savings!! We decided that this would be a great way for people to try the face care kits - whether you have never tried any of our face products, or have tried some but would like to try out the whole kit. Or maybe you would like to get it for a friend who hasn't tried Garden Girl yet. Already a big fan? Well this is the perfect chance to get a set for your gym bag or your overnight bag!

Choose from two travel kits:

1) Oasis for Faces face wash for dry/sensitive skin (1 oz), Even Ste(pH)en toner (1 oz), Starting Over microderm scrub (0.5 oz) , and No Worries face cream for dry/sensitive skin (0.5 oz)

2) You're Fresh face wash for normal/oily skin (1 oz), Even Ste(pH)en toner (1 oz), Starting Over microderm scrub (0.5 oz), and Nature Nurture face cream for normal/oily skin (0.5 oz)

All face kits come with a small card that gives you an easy morning and evening routine that takes less than 3 minutes. And of course, as with all Garden Girl products, the kit has no parabens, sulfates, petroleum products or phthalates! And if you want to swap products between the two kits - just let us know in the comments section.

To take advantage, simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com/facecare

choose your travel face kit (along with $40 of your choice of other products) then use coupon code

JUN1

Enjoy - and don't forget to let your friends and family know about our big offer!

Your Skin's Bacterial Ecosystem

2009-05-28T21:51:00.003-04:00

Wow - I heard this on NPR tonight. Wild, isn't it? I know it makes sense when you think about it but it's really fascinating (and yes, a little icky...) to learn the details. Basically, researchers recently found that the human body has 10 times more bacterial cells than it does human cells. And the bacteria is different depending on where on your body it is found - turns out, your skin is basically like an entire ecosystem with "dry deserts" and "oases".

These findings could result in new directions for understanding skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis. Read the full article to learn more.

Easy Bathroom Cleaners - Save $$ + Reduce Chemicals

2009-05-27T09:53:00.006-04:00

There are so many zillions of bathroom cleaners out there now it's amazing. But have you ever read the warnings on the labels? Ventilation, gloves, burns, poison etc. It's crazy. While I admit that occasionally you need something stronger than a homemade, natural cleaner - most cleaning can be done surprisingly well with ingredients you have around the house. And I'm not talking just a lame attempt at cleaning, I mean really effective cleaning.

Here are some great tips for cleaning the bathrooms that not only will be better for the environment and your family's health (think of the reduction in dangerous fumes) - but also better for your wallet.

Since white vinegar is the star of the show, I suggest buying a big ol' bottle at a wholesale club. We have one in our kitchen, one in the laundry closet and one in the bathroom cabinet. It's incredibly cheap and amazingly effective. And no- your house will not smell like pickles :)

1) Toilet bowl cleaning: Getting rid of hard water stains, odors etc can be a pain in the tush (so to speak). But actually - all you need is 3 cups of white vinegar. Toss that into the toilet bowl and leave it in there. If you want even more disinfecting add a few drops of Tea Tree oil. After it soaks for about 15 minutes, scrub with a toilet brush. If you need even more scrubbing action, you can use Borax. Borax is another amazing household cleaner- however you do need to be careful with it, as you would with some of the more typical cleaners. It can be toxic if it is ingested. Read more about how Borax cleans here. It's very interesting, actually.

2) Tub + Shower Cleaning: I admit that sometimes this is where I bring in the big guns when necessary to totally get rid of mildew (which our master bath shower seems to breed despite all kinds of efforts on our part). But almost all of the cleaning can be done easily without the chemicals. Because of vinegar's acetic acid, it breaks down and reduces things like soap scum, mildew and mineral buildup. Fill a spray bottle 1/2 with white vinegar and 1/2 with water. Spray it on and leave it on for 10 minutes or so. Then you can scrub if necessary or just rinse.

You can leave the bottle in the shower for daily spritzes to keep your shower clean and fresh and reduce the scrubbing for the next time. Spray it on then rinse it off.

To shine up the chrome and get rid of mineral build-up use either the vinegar spray or Borax (again - see the link above for Borax information).

If you have rust spots, make a paste of cream of tartar and water. Apply it to the stain then rinse off.

3) Mirror and Glass cleaning: There are a couple of options here. You can just mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Or you can add a few tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to the mixture - which helps it evaporate more quickly. If you feel like you need some extra power you can add a few drops (just a few) of liquid dish detergent to the mixture. Don't add too much detergent or it will make it streaky. Whatever combination you choose will give you clean and sparkly windows, mirrors and chrome.

With all of these, don't forget that they can still be dangerous in the hands of children. So clearly mark your bottles and make sure they are kept safe from small children. And do not mix them with any commercial household cleaners. There are so many dangerous combinations (like ammonia and bleach) that you can never be too safe.

FREE SHIPPING bonus week!

2009-05-25T22:04:00.004-04:00

This week our special is plain and simple - free shipping, with all orders of $20 or more. Time to stock up on your favorite paraben-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free and phthalate-free products - without any thoughts about shipping costs!

Maybe it's time to try a new product? Like Eye Can't Believe It eye cream? This cream is rich and thick and incredibly hydrating - packed with shea, aloe and hyaluronic acid. Plus it has DMAE - a natural skin firming ingredient that helps to tighten skin and reduce sagging. Sounds good, right? This cream is not only good for eyes but for your neck as well. It's a Garden Girl top-seller!

Check out Eye Can't Believe It and all of the rest of the Garden Girl loot at www.gardengirlskincare.com

Then use this week's coupon code:

MAY26 to have your order shipped for FREE - no shipping charges (with orders of $20 or more). This is valid thru Friday at midnite - so enjoy. And feel free to pass it along to friends and family that might enjoy the savings!

New Study Links Elevated BPA Levels to Polycarbonate Bottles

2009-05-24T22:24:00.004-04:00

How much more proof do we need to show conclusively that Bisphenol A is a major concern and needs to be banned? A new study was just released by the Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. The study was conducted by members of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (part of the Centers for Disease Control), Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School (although the study clearly notes that the results "do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.")

This study tested the BPA levels in the urine of 77 people after a week of consuming most of their cold beverages in polycarbonate bottles. For those of you who are not familiar with polycarbonate, it is the plastic that is typically labeled with #7 - such as Nalgene bottles and the big plastic bottles used for water coolers.

The bad news? The results showed that BPA levels rose 66% after just one week of drinking from the bottles. They state that "regular consumption of cold beverages from polycarbonate bottles is associated with substantial increase in urinary BPA concentrations irrespective of exposure to BPA from other sources." Yipes.

So definitely throw out your polycarbonate bottles if you haven't already. Use glass or stainless steel (watch for plastic liners too that can leach BPA) - or even #2 sports bottles if you have to use plastic.

Save BIG on Gift Kits - For Teachers, Grads, and more!

2009-05-17T20:46:00.003-04:00

This week, we wanted to offer a big discount on things that make great gifts. This time of year is often crammed with gift giving. Teachers who have worked with your child all year long. Friends and family who are graduating from high school, college or grad school. Not to mention the fact that there are seemingly zillions of birthdays!

So we have decided to take 20% off all of our gift kits! What better way to thank a teacher or congratulate a graduate than to give them a fun, pretty and pampering gift.

Choose from:

Piggies + Pointers - a fabulous treat that includes Zippity Do Dah peppermint foot cream, Hand it to You hand cream, plus cotton gloves, cotton booties and our Not So Rough foot smoother

Piggies in a Blanket - the perfect kit to keep tootsies in tip top shape for summer! Zippity Do Dah peppermint foot cream, cotton booties and our Not So Rough foot smoother

Pointers with Panache - keeping hands well hydrated and younger looking is easy with this simple kit. Our cotton gloves matched with the top selling Hand it to You hand cream

Bod Squad - a simple but always appreciated gift set. One bottle of lotion and one of shower gel in your choice of our fabulous essential oil scents: Chill Out, Alive, Jump Start or Mellow. Want to mix and match? Just let us know!

Face It! face care kit - a great gift for someone who is looking for incredible skin care that will help their skin look its absolute best. Four full sized essentials - Face wash (You're Fresh or Oasis), Even Ste(pH)en toner, Starting Over microderm scrub, Moisturizer (No Worries or Nature Nurture). 2 sets are offered, but you can mix/match - just note it on the order.

Nitty Gritty Face Committee face care kit - a great starter kit with Face wash (You're Fresh or Oasis), Even Ste(pH)en toner, Moisturizer (No Worries or Nature Nurture) and our pink terry spa headband. Again, 2 sets are offered, but you can mix/match - just note it on the order.

Ok - now that you see all these great offers, it makes it even more inviting doesn't it? Why not grab something for yourself as well! The face kits are already a fantastic deal - adding 20% off makes it almost a steal. And because it is all free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates you can feel great about giving it as a gift - or using it yourself!

Just go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com

and then use coupon code:

MAY18

This offer is valid through Friday, May 22 at midnight. So have fun! And if you need this by a certain deadline, be sure to let me know so we can get it out asap.

Have a fantastic week!

Excercise YOUR way - 30 seconds or 30 minutes

2009-05-15T10:21:00.004-04:00

So I just read a little article in Prevention magazine this week. It said that doing a few 30 second "sprints" with rest in between for a few days a week was as beneficial to your heart as multiple 30 minute cardio workouts. Being an inherent exercise-slacker, I, of course, was totally intrigued. So I checked online to see if I could verify this study, and sure enough - there it is, it's all over the web. And there have apparently been quite a few studies!

A good summary is in this About.com article. They say that "recent studies of sprint training with cyclists showed greater cardiovascular results in less time. In fact, one study found that just six sessions of four to seven all-out thirty-second sprints (with four minutes of recovery between sprints) could be as effective at improving cardiovascular fitness as an hour of daily moderate-level aerobic exercise."

Another website WeBeFit.com quotes a different study - they said a researcher at McMaster University in Canada wanted to find out just how little exercise was needed to see a benefit (I like his style!). So they split their study into 2 groups - one group did the sprint exercises, and the other did the more traditional 40-60 minutes of moderate cycling for 5 days a week. The other group did 4-6 all-out sprints with 4.5 minutes of rest in between for 3 days a week. The study showed that the arteries of both groups had improved equally! And when they calculated the time difference it was astonishing - the traditional workout group spent 1,500 minutes excercising over the 6 week test period, while the test group exercised a total of only 45 minutes (not including the rest time)!!

Sounds good, eh? These articles also give some guidelines to setting up a workout - especially the About.com summary. So I have been trying my own little version on the exercise bike (yes - somewhat motivated by the same reason as the lady in the cartoon). It is actually pretty interesting. You really do have to go all out for the 30 seconds as it says in the article. I'm not talking just fast - I'm talking you want to collapse after those 30 seconds. But then you get to just relax and bike slowly for a couple of minutes before you have to do it again. Really - it seems to me that it is quite similar to some of the pre-programmed sessions on the exercise bikes at the gym. But it is nice to be able to sleep in an extra 15-20 minutes! So here's to a new phase - until I tire of this one too and look for something else :)

Flaxseed Oil for Rosacea

2009-05-13T20:52:00.003-04:00

A study reported in the September 2008 British Journal of Nutrition revealed that 1/2 teaspoon of flaxseed oil every day can help to soothe skin and reduce redness. The study involved 45 women who were given flaxseed oil, borage oil or a placebo - and those that took the flaxseed oil supplements every day saw a 45% reduction in redness and 25% less water loss. The result? Softer, smoother skin.

So if you suffer from rosacea or other skin redness this may be something to check out! Of course, you'll want to check with your physician - but if they give the green light, what do you have to lose?

Save 20% on Body Butters

2009-05-10T21:57:00.004-04:00

Get your gams ready for shorts and skirts and save big! This week's sale is all about body butters. Whether you choose Hugs with its rich but mild vanilla scent, or Smooches with its delicious chocolate orange scent - your legs (and the rest of your body) will love it.

The combination of aloe, jojoba, shea butter and hyaluronic acid deeply hydrate all day, while the antioxidants from green tea and vitamins A and E repair and protect from free radical damage.

So whether it's buying yourself a treat that you really wanted for Mother's Day, you are giving them as gifts (belated Mother's Day, graduation, birthday) or because you are already addicted to this thick, rich, creamy body butter and want to stock up - take advantage of this great offer that's available through Friday at midnite.

And as always - you can feel good about our body butters because they are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates!

To get the savings, simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com/bodybutters

then use coupon code:

MAY11

Enjoy and have a great week!

Everyday Household Exposure to Chemicals

2009-05-09T22:21:00.004-04:00

Wow. Someone "tweeted" today about a simulateously fascinating and frightening article. Apparently two noted environmentalists from Canada decided to really test out their theories regarding chemicals and toxins that we exposed to everyday in our homes. In their book Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health, Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie wrote about seven substances that showed up in high levels in the blood and urine of volunteers.

They decided to prove their point by literally immersing themselves in these substances and testing their blood both before and after the exposure. The results were disturbing.

As a couple of examples, Smith - who typically uses unscented products - used highly scented products for 2 days (shampoos, shaving cream, lotions etc.). The levels of one of the most common phthalates - monoethyl phthalate or MEP - went up 22 times in those two days!

He also checked his Bisphenol A (BPA) levels before spending 2 days eating only canned foods that he heated in plastic in the microwave. His BPA level was 7 times higher than two days before.

I know there are chemists and plastics industry people and lobbyists and all kinds of people that will deny that this is an issue. But really - this stuff hasn't been tested. We have no idea what the effects of long term exposure to these and other chemicals are/will be.

Take a few minutes and check out the interview with these two men and see why they are so dedicated to getting the word out. From tuna to plastic baby toys to non-stick pans - you'll get the scoop about why they are so concerned. And why we should be too!

Healthiest Options for Frozen Dinners

2009-05-08T14:16:00.004-04:00

I just saw on WebMD a great article on frozen dinners. Sometimes you just need them - either for lunch or a quick dinner. They are less expensive than eating out and the definitely are convenient. But with so many of them loaded with sodium and junk, it's hard to know what to choose.

So this article does an excellent job of giving some quick tips on what to look for, how to make even the small ones (let's face it - some of them are almost like a snack) into a full-sized healthy meal and even gives a list of the top ones to choose from.

To view their "Top 12" list - and their other tips click here.

Save $$ on ALL orders!

2009-05-03T22:28:00.006-04:00

This week's sale is plain and simple saving. Nice, right? Wahoo. Here it is:

Save $5 on all orders under $75

Save $10 on all orders of $75 or more

Nice and simple - and you get to save on whatever you choose. Face care, bath + body or even baby care. All free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates.

Simply go to www.gardengirlskincare.com and enter

5OffMay if your order is under $75
10OffMay if your order is $75 or more

This offer expires at Midnight on Friday, May 8th.

Have fun and enjoy the savings!

Hohoho Jojoba

2009-05-03T22:03:00.008-04:00

(This is an article that I wrote awhile back but realized that I never posted it here - so yes, I'm recycling but I think you'll like it!)

There are some natural ingredients that are so wonderfully and simply effective they are worthy of a little exploration. One of those ingredients is Jojoba Oil. Nope – it’s not pronounced “joe-joe-bah” – it’s “ho-HO-bah”. Jojoba oil has many uses and a rich, wonderful history. Plus – it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to find. So really – does it get much better than that?

Jojoba oil comes from the crushed seed of the Simmondsia Chinenis shrub that is found mainly in the deserts of the southwestern region of the United States and northern Mexico. Used for centuries by Native Americans, the oil has many uses including cosmetic, medicinal and nutritional purposes.

One of the special qualities about Jojoba Oil is that it not really “oil” but it is comprised of liquid wax esters. Sebum, a liquid wax ester found naturally in human skin, acts to waterproof and protect both hair and skin, keeping skin from becoming dry and brittle. It also can control the growth of microorganisms on the skin. Because Jojoba is so similar to sebum, it easily can emulate the same functions.

Jojoba has many benefits:

- It is easily absorbed in the skin.
- It is hypo-allergenic.
- It does not clog pores.
- It contains many key nutrients and minerals including: Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex, plus silicon, chromium, copper and zinc.
- It also contains a high level of iodine – which could contribute to its antibacterial/antifungal properties.

Some of my favorite uses of Jojoba are:

Skin moisturizer. Especially good for face. Look for it as a main ingredient in skin products. It is found in almost all Garden Girl moisturizing products – body butters, body lotions, face creams, face masques and scrubs, hand cream, foot cream, body scrub and baby lotion. It truly is a wonderful emollient.

Hair repair. Jojoba is fantastic for hair. Tame flyaway hair or even repair dry or damaged hair with just a couple of drops. It takes only a little to add a little shine and smooth hair. I say this from experience – after having used more than a couple drops. Not good. So stick with 2 or 3 drops.

Eye make-up remover. Jojoba is the best eye make-up remover that I have found. You can pay big bucks for some fancy products, but nothing works as well as Jojoba, in my opinion. And it is much less expensive. Soak a cotton ball with Jojoba, and gently wipe off make-up. The bonus is that once your make-up is gone, you can gently pat the excess oil back into your skin around your eyes for added moisturizing. PLUS it is a great conditioner for your eyelashes.

Cuticles. Excellent cuticle oil. You’ll be amazed at how quickly ragged, dry cuticles can be revived with a few drops of Jojoba oil.

With its long list of uses and its reasonable price, Jojoba oil is something you should keep in your medicine chest (or wherever you keep your “stuff”). Look for it at health food stores, or other stores selling natural products.

Stevia - what's the deal?

2009-04-29T11:13:00.007-04:00

I remember years ago talking to my husband's friend about stevia as a sweetener. He had been using it but I was skeptical. It seemed outrageously expensive and hard to use (you only needed this tiny amount and if you put too much in it got too sweet). Not to mention the fact that it wasn't approved by any health organizations. But now, word is out about this intriguing sugar substitute. It shows huge potential!

We have been trying it in our house, but we got it at Trader Joe's and I think it is the "old school" kind. Now there is apparently a new process that isolates the sweetest of the 2 glucosides - rebaudioside A - that are found in the leaf of the stevia plant. The brand names that use this new process are Truvia and PureVia.

Now Coca Cola and Pepsi will be using stevia, and it has been used as an alternative to artificial sweeters like Equal and Sweet&Low for many years in Korea, Japan and China.

According to an article from UC San Diego Medical Center, stevia has been used for centuries in Brazil and Paraguay for treatment of type 2 diabetes. It has almost no effect on blood sugar levels and it is natural so it is a very attractive sweetener option for diabetics, people watching their carbs and just generally people trying to reduce sugar in their diet.

In 2006 the World Health Organization found stevia to show no carcenogenic activity, and it has been used for centuries in places like South America without any apparent harmful effects. But as with everything, it should be used in moderation - and there are now ongoing studies to determine if there is any potention for long term risks.

FREE Pucker Up!

2009-04-26T21:46:00.004-04:00

This week's sale is in celebration of a product that has gotten so many great reviews recently! Pucker Up Coconut has been featured in beauty blogs and Body+Soul magazine. Our scrub is different from most sugar scrubs that you'll find. Not only does the lime and coconut scent smell heavenly, but the scrub is rich and thick - almost creamy - because of the blend of shea butter, apricot kernel oil and jojoba oil. So it isn't drippy like so many other scrubs. Plus it has just the right amount of turbinado sugar to exfoliate gently and effectively.

And now, whether you are already a huge fan or you are dying to try it for the first time - here's your chance to get it for FREE!

We will send one Pucker Up for every order of $75 or more - that's a $22 product for FREE. And don't worry - even if your order is under $75, we'll send you a free 1/2 oz. sample of Pucker Up.

So get your skin into tip top shape for shorts and T's - and as always, you can feel good knowing Garden Girl products are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates!

To take advantage, simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com

and place an order of $75. To get the free 8 oz. Pucker Up Coconut scrub write Free Pucker Up Please in the Comments section at the very end of the checkout. If your order is under $75, then write Free Pucker Up Sample please.

Have a GREAT week!

The Black Sheep Earth Day

2009-04-22T13:46:00.006-04:00

I didn't realize that there are really two earth days. One that was started by an activist in San Francisco named John McConnell in 1970. According to an article by Alex Beam of the Boston Globe:

"We had Christmas and Easter," McConnell, now 94 years old, told me. "Why don't we have a day just for earth? We'll call it Earth Day, dedicated to peace, justice, and the care of the earth."

McConnell chose the spring equinox as his day - clearly because there was meaning there. But then apparently the late US Senator Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes came along and suggested that he move it to April to coincide with their "environmental teach-in".

This "environmental teach-in" was Nelson's brain-child that had been developing for many years. According to Nelson's own words from his history of Earth Day:

"At a conference in Seattle in September 1969, I announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate. The wire services carried the story from coast to coast. The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters."

So there are still a few who celebrate the equinox Earth Day but the media and the corporate world have glommed onto the more popular April 22nd. In Alex Beam's article he even points to some of the irony of the "green" companies trying to jump on the bandwagon.

What I say is why not join efforts and focus on the real end-game? Geesh - we certainly have enough environmental issues to spread around! So anyway - whatever day you choose to celebrate (or even both) - Happy Earth Day!

I'll leave you with the lyrics of the song that my son's Kindergarten teacher taught them in celebration of Earth Day. I have to say listening to his little voice singing it is very cute!

This Pretty Planet (a 3-part round)by Tom Chapman and John Foster

This pretty planet spinning thru space

You’re a garden,

You’re a harbor

You’re a holy place

Golden sun going down

Gentle blue giant, spin us around

All through the night

Safe till the morning light

Where's Your SPF Cream??

2009-04-20T17:45:00.004-04:00

I want to comment on SPF. This is probably our #1 request. When will you have an SPF face cream? Here's the scoop. If you go to the EWG website, you will see that there are all kinds of issues these days with sunscreen. The dangers of the incredibly common oxybenzone (possible link to an INCREASE in chance of malignant melanoma), concerns with titanium dioxide, serious issues with micronized zinc and titanium dioxide and it goes on and on. There are so many issues that we have decided we want to stay clear of this until things become clearer. Additionally, we are not big proponents of using face cream with SPF as sunblock for your face. They are simply not designed for that kind of use.

Basically, what we are saying is we are way too scared of messing around with anything that can result so directly in skin cancer. So here is what we have always recommended - use regular non-SPF face cream every morning and evening so you can ensure that your skin is getting what it needs, and then find an effective and SAFE (use EWG's cosmeticdatabase.com to find recommendations) sunblock to use on your face. Use it daily if you are out and about - and don't forget to reapply! This is the best way to ensure that your face still gets the best nourishment and moisturizers while also getting the protection from the sun that it needs.

When we find a fantastic, safe SPF product that we can fully endorse - we will let you know. So far, we're still searching!

Save 50% on Garden Girl Face Creams!

2009-04-20T16:32:00.008-04:00

Your face has to take so much! On any given day it can be exposed to sun, wind, rain or snow - not to mention pollution. Oh - and don't forget just the regular old aging process (ugh). This is why it is so vital to give it some love and pay a little attention to it. The rewards are amazing - you'll be so glad you did!

So this week's sale is all about keeping your face hydrated. As I always say, there are just a few simple steps that you should take each morning before you put on makeup and each evening before you go to bed to take good care of your skin: 1) Wash 2) Exfoliate (1-3x per week) 3) Tone and 4) Moisturize. (Please see the previous blog post about SPF products)

Moisturizing is the last step - and some might argue it's the most vital. So this week we are offering our 3 face creams at drastic savings! This means you can get any of these 3 products for HALF OFF!!!!

NatureNurture face cream for normal to oily skin. NatureNurture is packed with fruit (alpha hydroxy) acids from lemon, apple, sugar cane, and orange to reduce fine lines and leave skin fresh and new. A healthy dose of hyaluronic acid helps replenish moisture deep in the skin, while organic aloe and jojoba and shea butter deeply hydrate and keep skin soft and smooth. Last but not least, Nature Nurture has tons of antioxidants from vitamins A, C and E plus green tea. You show those free radicals who is boss! This is the perfect cream for day and night use. This offer is valid on Refills as well!!

No Worries face cream for dry, sensitive or mature skin - and also for acne-prone skin. No Worries has developed an almost cult-like following among people with sensitive skin. Garden Girl understands how hard it is to find products that don't cause redness or reactions, and we developed this product with you in mind. No Worries has the same deep moisturizers as Nature Nurture but stays away from any ingredients that might be a challenge for sensitive skin like alpha hydroxy acids. So we still have the benefits of the gentle but incredibly effective organic aloe and jojoba, plus the shea butter and hyaluronic acid. Then, we added a fabulous ingredient called Zinc PCA (a derivative of zinc) which has natural properties that help keep skin clear and free of bacteria and irritations. Oh - and don't think we left you high and dry without antioxidants! Those are packed in there too! Not bad, eh? Give it a try and see what all the fuss is about. The Refills for this product are also eligible for the discount!

Bright Idea skin brightening cream. I get asked about this product all of the time. People wonder - is it a bleach cream? What will it do? This is what I tell them - Bright Idea is a gentle brightening cream. Using a blend of extracts from plants like mallow, cowslip, lady's mantle, speedwell, lemon balm and yarrow this cream gently brightens skin, bringing back a glow that young skin has but that we lose as we age. This is especially effective for "mature" skin. These extracts are then blended with a highly effective combination of organic aloe, organic jojoba, shea butter and hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and trap the moisture so you are left with soft, super hydrated skin. And because we are such big fans of antioxidants, they are in there as well! Because it is not a harsh bleach, the skin brightening occurs over time. Watch for a gradual improvement over 3 weeks or so. It has become an incredibly popular product as people try it for the first time, then are hooked!

As always - this is a great opportunity to stock up on your favorite - or try something new! To get the discount simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com/facecare

then place at least one of the products above into your cart and then when you are done shopping, use coupon code

APR20

You have until SATURDAY APRIL 25th at MIDNIGHT (I'm a day late this week!)

Have a great week! And if you are in the northeast let's do a big dance to the warm weather gods. PLEASE! This is getting ridiculous. Watching our kids sporting events (and the Boston Marathon today) in winter parkas and leather gloves is just plain wrong! C'mon sun - warm us up!

Officially PETA Approved!

2009-04-15T12:27:00.004-04:00

Yea! Garden Girl has received notification that we are officially approved by PETA and are now members of their Cruelty Free program. We were just notified so we are not yet listed on the website, but you can check out the site here:

http://www.caringconsumer.com/index.asp

BTW - that's supposed to look like a smiling bunny because he's not being used to test cosmetics. Not sure it really worked but I thought he was cute anyway. We haven't paid the fees yet to officially use the PETA Caring Consumer bunny image so this was the substitute!

How big is YOUR footprint?

2009-04-13T20:41:00.005-04:00

No, not your actual FOOT-print. But your carbon footprint. I don't know about you but I keep hearing people talking about carbon footprints - mostly referring to businesses and celebrities trying to be "carbon neutral." Then a co-worker sent me a link to calculate your own household's footprint. Cool!

The link is a companion to the Low Carbon Diet Workbook - a fascinating book that helps you find easy ways to reduce your household carbon emissions. Here's a description of the book from the website:

This “30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds” is a fun, accessible, easy to use guide that will show you, step-by-step, how to dramatically reduce your CO2 output in just a month’s time.

So they also have a calculator for you to figure out your household's emissions - it's easy and quick (just grab your last electric and heating bills so you know what you use per year).

I was very curious. We have a family of 4 living in a 2200 s.f. house that has been renovated so it should mostly be efficient. We have low flow toilets, a new/efficient dishwasher and a front-loading efficient washing machine. But we also have 2 boys who leave lights on all the time (grrr), we do have air conditioning and I run a business largely out of the house. We have one mini-van (bad gas mileage - around 19) and a Prius (that we use whenever possible). We also don't take airplane trips (except for work which I didn't calculate in).

So all in all I had no idea where we were going to come out in all of this. I was very happy to see that we did come in at just under 46000 lb - about 9000 lb below US average. Sounds good, right? Well - then I looked and saw that Germany's average is 27700 lb per household, and Sweden's is 14600 lb. It looks like we could make some major improvements still!

Check it out and see what you come up with:

http://www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd/lcd_files/LCDcalcNet.html

Let me know if you do it - it would be great to see people post their results!

Weekly Sale - save 20%!!!

2009-04-12T21:37:00.004-04:00

This week's sale is just plain and simple - oh and BIG! Save 20% on ALL purchases. Yep, that means no minimum. Wahoo!

Enjoy these savings on ANY of our paraben-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free and phthalate-free products.

That means you could save $10 on Break Free - our fantastic fruit acid gel that has been getting rave reviews from customers. Here is our description of this customer favorite:

Break free of breakouts and other skin irritations. This is some serious dermatologist-grade stuff! It's a straight shot of fruit acids that removes the outer layers of damaged or thickened skin leaving your face fresh, clear and smooth.With prolonged use, Break Free has been found to be beneficial in improving dry skin, in treating age spots, improving oily and acne prone skin and decreasing fine lines and wrinkles.

We have found that it works well not only for oily or acne-prone skin, but also on skin that is flaky and dry. It removes dead skin cells and reveals incredibly soft and smooth skin. And with a 20% savings, this is a great time to try it out!

OK - so here's how you can get this 20% savings on your order. Simply go to

www.gardengirlskincare.com

and place your order between now and Friday April 17th at midnight. Then when you check out, use coupon code APR13. Enjoy! And have a great week!

Weekly Sale - A Customer Favorite!

2009-04-05T21:13:00.004-04:00

This week's sale is one of the most popular - FREE SHIPPING on any order! We bring this offer out every month or so - and I have to say, I have been seeing it all over the place these days. It seems like every other day I get a free shipping offer from Land's End and LL Bean. Times are tough, for sure - and I think everyone likes to avoid paying shipping charges!

So take advantage and replenish what is running low, try something new, or replace products that have been open for awhile. If you read the green tea posting below you'll know that products - particularly face care products - that have been open for 3 - 4 months or more begin to lose their effectivenss as their active ingredients have begun to deteriorate. (This is true for all products, not just Garden Girl) So this would be a great time to take stock of what you have that has been around for a few months and think about replacing it.

And because Garden Girl products are all free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates you can feel good about what you buy!

To get free shipping, simply go to www.gardengirlskincare.com, place an order and then enter coupon code:

APR6

Well - tomorrow is Opening Day for the Red Sox and I have to say the Garden Girl house is all excited. We can't wait to go to our first game of the season! Go Sox!!

Have a great week - and enjoy the guilt-free shopping.

Giveaway WINNER!

2009-04-04T14:10:00.005-04:00

My son just reached into the football helmet that held all of the entries from our giveaway and pulled out our WINNER!!

Congratulations to Edean! She has chosen You're Fresh herbal cleanser with tea tree oil, Even Ste(pH)en toner with skin-firming DMAE, and Nature Nurture face cream with alpha hydroxy acids and organic herbal extracts.

Hopefully she sees this so she can get back to me to give me her address etc. So Edean - please email us at info*at*gardengirlskincare*dot*com.

YEA! Check in next month - I think I'm going to make this a monthly-ish thing!

Green Tea on Your Skin?

2009-04-03T13:36:00.006-04:00

For anyone who reads ingredients lists on Garden Girl products, you'll see that all of our face creams and body lotions and body butters have green tea extract in them. Is this just a trendy thing or is it really there to do some good?

Let me just say - it's in there for VERY good reason. Green tea is another one of nature's amazing plants. It is a very powerful antioxidant due to its catechin content. Catechin? Yep I had to look it up too. Catechins are "polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolites." Huh? OK - it just means that they are a specific type of polyphenol that has high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free radical damage in your cells that has been caused by environmental and other exposure. We all get them and it's basically impossible not to. Why don't we like free radicals? Well they are nasty little loners that free-ride by attaching to cells and speed up aging. I don't know about you but that doesn't sound good to me. So green tea is believed to help slow down signs of aging. Wahoo! That's reason #1.

But that's not all! Behind curtain #2 are yet more benefits of green tea. Green tea is also known to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Pretty amazing, right? That's why you'll often see it in face care products - it helps to reduce swelling or puffiness.

The important thing to remember is that green tea, like all antioxidants, can break down over time. So always remember to use your products! Don't save them for a "special occasion" because after 4 months or so they aren't going to work as well. Fresh products = fresh skin!

Garden Girl skin care reviewed by MythBusters Beauty!

2009-04-01T22:21:00.005-04:00

Wow - what a great surprise to find this fantastic review of Garden Girl on the MythBustersBeauty blog.

If you haven't ever checked out their site, definitely take a minute. They do a great job of providing honest reviews - which I, as a consumer, totally appreciate. As a business owner, I understand that not all products work for all people. Clearly - that's why we offer a variety of products so that we can cover all skin types and preferences. And it's why we are always developing new products. So if you check out this review - you'll see that while some products didn't work out for her, but I was so pleased to see that most products did (like At Long Last and Starting Over)- and, wow, did she write some nice things! Yahoo!

Check it out -and if you're on twitter, be sure to follow them @MythBustrBeauty. They do some great giveaways!

Fish Oil + Cows = Cleaner Burps

2009-04-01T12:10:00.003-04:00

File this under gross AND interesting (is there such a category?). As we have heard before, our poor bovine friends and other grass-eating farm animals are unknowingly and uncontrollably responsible for a third (yipes!) of all of the world's methane emissions. We know that methane is bad - but these fuzzy guys can't help it! It is generated during the process of their stomach's digesting the tough hay and grass fibers. And then they emit the gasses - yes, by basically burping. There's the gross part.

But it turns out - researchers in Ireland have discovered that by giving cows an Omega 3 fish oil supplement in their diet, they can significantly reduce the amount of methane gas that is emitted. Who knew? While it certainly isn't a very appealing thing to study - it is important! So kudos to this team that had to go out and measure cow burps (see picture above for their contraption). We thank you for your efforts!

For more info, check out this article

Beef Tallow on the Speedway?

2009-04-01T11:23:00.004-04:00

I think it is so cool that there are people out there really trying to find ways to green our lives in major ways. For instance, this company Green Earth Technologies that has come up with a motor oil that uses a mix of beef tallow and other animal-waste byproducts to replace petroleum. Ok at first - it really sounds kinda gross and very questionable. But after I read this article in Brandweek I was totally fascinated!

Not only are they ingenious in the product development, but I love how they are working to convince consumers that this stuff really does the job. Instead of doing the typical advertising thing which can cost so much and takes so much time, they chose to invest in a sponsorship to be the official motor oil of the American LeMans series and the International Motor Sports Association.

I mean really - if you want to convince people that something works in a car, what better way than to have race cars using it? Genius! Now, as someone who believes that car racing is about the environmentally-unfriendliest-sport around I'm not exactly into supporting the industry. But if they can find ways to "green" it - more power to them (so to speak).

Hmmm- I wonder what kind of looks I'd get if I asked for this at my next oil change???

Buy ONE Get ONE FREE Bonanza

2009-03-29T20:30:00.006-04:00

A whole week of FREE products. This week - buy one Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub and get any of the following products FREE. Never tried Pucker Up? This is a great time to try it. Check out all of the great things that have been said about this fabulous scrub in recent reviews by body+soul magazine, The Luxury Spot, Bionic Beauty and Diary of an Unlikely Housewife.

This rich, deeply hydrating scrub leaves skin fresh and radiant. And the delicious scent of coconut and lime take you away to tropical beaches. And now that spring is here, it's the perfect time to get your skin ready to show to the world, after being hidden under layers all winter.

So get one for yourself and one for a friend! Or choose a different product for your freebie from the choices below. Great for the Easter basket or an early jump on Mother's Day.

The FREE PRODUCT choices are:

Pucker Up Coconut Sugar Scrub

Liven Up peppermint/rosemary/basil dead sea bath salts

Simmer Down cinnamon/nutmeg/ginger dead sea bath salts

Hugs vanilla body butter (4 oz)

Smooches chocolate mandarin body butter (4 oz)

Zippity Do Dah peppermint foot cream

Hand it to You hand cream (4 oz)

Check out all of the products at http://www.gardengirlskincare.com/

To take advantage of this fantastic deal simply place an order that includes at least one Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub. Then, in the comments section at the end of the process, simply indicate which FREE product you'd like. Buying more than one Pucker Up? Get a free product for each one that you buy, up to a max. of 3.

Feel great knowing that these are all products that are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates. And enjoy kickstarting your legs to get ready for spring! And don't forget to check below to see how you can enter our contest for more free products!!

Face Care Kit GIVEAWAY!!

2009-03-29T20:06:00.005-04:00

This month's Garden Girl product giveaway is a biggie. REALLY big! I have decided to give away a complete face care kit - and the winner can choose the products based on their skin types. These products are some of our best sellers:

1) Winner's choice of either You're Fresh herbal face cleanser with tea tree oil (great for normal to oily skin) or Oasis for Faces face wash (for sensitive or dry to nomal skin)

2) Even Ste(pH)en Toner with herbal extracts and DMAE to firm skin (great for all skin types)

3) Winner's choice of either Nature Nurture face cream (for normal to oily skin) or No Worries face cream (for dry, sensitive or problematic skin).

These products are all free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates. And best of all? They are fantastically effective. I know you'l love them!

So all you have to do is post a response below - and let me know which products you would choose. The winner will be selected at random on Saturday, April 4, and we will post the winner here. So absolutely be sure to check back to see if you won! Oh - and GOOD LUCK!

Story of STUFF

2009-03-27T10:52:00.010-04:00

I was trying to explain to my boys a little bit about the problems with all of the "stuff" we accumulate. How our world only has so much space to put our old stuff that we throw away. I tried to keep it simple but in a way to explain why it's important not to just keep buying more stuff without a good reason. We have SO MUCH stuff in our house - it's crazy. I was talking with a friend about how amazing it is that we can just fill up a trash bag of total junk out of the toy closet every few months - stuff that doesn't work, random pieces that used to go to something etc.

It has become one of my newest obsessions (yes, it's probably driving friends and family nuts...). I keep thinking about how I'd love a new couch, a new dining room set and a new rug. But we don't NEED any of that. I just want it. What we have is fine. Is it my favorite? Nope. Will we win a House Beautiful award? Definitely not. But we don't need to get more stuff, then have to throw our stuff out just because.

So this got me thinking more. I had heard about this amazing woman, Annie Leonard, who wrote about The Story of Stuff. WOW! This is amazing! I can't believe I hadn't seen it before. I really recommend that you watch it when you have a few minutes. She is very engaging, totally not "preachy", and the whole video is really interesting and amusing to watch. It's absolutely amazing and yes, somewhat hard to hear. But really - I think every American should watch it. Actually, I think every politician, lobbyist and big business exec should watch it.

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

One of the most interesting points I thought she made was her correlation between the rise in consumption and decline in happiness in the US. She says it in a funny yet depressing way!

Anyway - please check it out. I know you'll be glad you did!

The Dirty Dozen - What to Buy Organic

2009-03-25T14:34:00.006-04:00

Every year around this time I take another look at what I'm buying to feed my family and re-focus on getting the best produce with the fewest chemicals. Over time, I find that I start straying back little by little until I realize I need to get back on course. I am good with frozen vegetables, and try to buy organic fresh pears, apples, lettuce, carrots, onions and potatoes. But some other fruits - namely berries and grapes - are hard to stay on top of. And unfortunately, those are my children's favorite fruits! In the winter we buy frozen organic berries (big bargain at Costco- love it!) but once we see the fresh ones out they are so hard to resist. Especially strawberries!

So what I need to do is post this list from EWG.org to remind me of the things that are most important to buy organic. Turns out you can get away with regular onions, broccoli and tomatoes - who knew? But what I found disturbing is that these studies were done after the fruits and vegetables were washed. Yuck.

So here's the lists to help you - or you can go to EWG to print out their handy-dandy "Dirty Dozen" sheet here

EWG's Dirty Dozen (buy these ORGANIC):

1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Imported Grapes
11. Carrots
12. Pears

EWG's Clean 15 (lowest levels of pesticides)
1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagas
7. Sweet Peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet Potato

It's worth a little effort -now that it is getting easier and easier to find organics. And the good thing is that the prices are finally coming down. I always say if you have a Trader Joe's nearby - check them out. The best prices and most of their produce is great - bagged organic apples and pears, lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, blackberries + frozen veggies to name a few.

One WEEK Sale

2009-03-22T21:29:00.003-04:00

Just relaxing with the Desperate Housewives after a very busy weekend. Last night we had the school's auction fundraiser. While there were many great things there's always that last minute rush at the end of the silent auction so we only "won" couple of things. One of the winnings was the class art from my son's kindergarten class. It's actually pretty cute but it makes me laugh everytime I look at it. It's comprised of a bunch of 2x2 squares that each child used to draw his/her self-portrait. Among all of the stick figures and cute funny-shaped people is one that looks like a brown snowman with a brown top hat. Yep - that's my son's drawing. Turns out that if you look at it closely you can see the stick figure but at first glance it's definitely snowman-esque. But it will keep me smiling :).

Anyway - I digress! You're reading this because you want to see what this week's special is. This week it's back to basics - just a good old fashioned straight 15% off all of your purchases! Don't you love this kind of sale? No restrictions, no minimums, just a big fat discount on your purchases.

Check out all of our paraben-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free and phthalate-free goodies at www.gardengirlskincare.com - then simply place your order and use coupon code:

MARCH22

So enjoy the discount - and don't forget this is good for the WHOLE WEEK - until Friday at midnight. Have fun and have a great week!

Big BIG Deals - this WEEK!

2009-03-15T13:40:00.008-04:00

Celebrating the luck o' the Irish this week! Feeling lucky? You should - even if you're not Irish. This week Garden Girl has decided to extend the One Day sale to a One Week sale. We realize that times are very tough out there in this wild world we're living in. And sometimes, it's hard to get your act in gear to make it for the Monday sale - so we have decided to extend it through Fridays for awhile. At least until things start settling down a bit!

So to start things off, we decided to make a big splash by giving products away. Yep - just throwing products at you right and left. Who couldn't use a little freebie about now?

All you need to do is this:

1) Order $40-$74 worth of products (pre tax and pre shipping) and you'll get to choose any product valued at $20 or less to get for FREE.

OR, even BETTER:

2) Order $75 - 99 worth of products and choose any product $35 or less to get for FREE

OR, the best deal yet:

3) Order $100+ worth of products and choose ANY product (yes - even Like Magic!) for FREE

Have we lost our minds? Maybe! (although my husband would claim that happened long long ago...) But we think everyone could use some fun these days. Some kind of pot of gold under the rainbow- right? There certainly isn't a pot of gold in our 401(k)s!!

So go for it - have fun. Simply go to:

http://www.gardengirlskincare.com/

then place your order - any time between now and Friday, March 20th at Midnight. Depending on the value of the order - choose your FREE product - and write it in the COMMENTS section (at the end of your order process - not the coupon code section). And that's it. Free stuff - just for fun!

As always, you can feel good knowing that the products are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products, and phthalates!

Happy week and happy St Patrick's Day!

When do Beauty Products Go Bad?

2009-03-13T10:58:00.005-04:00

I often get asked about when products go bad. Garden Girl products use minimal levels of preservatives to keep them as natural as possible. However, even products jacked up on preservatives can still go bad earlier than you think.

There's 2 things to remember - first, there's shelf life. Left untouched and unopened Garden Girl products can last a year to a year and a half, while standard products you purchase will have shelf lives of 2-5 years. This is because the product has not been exposed to anything - it is sealed up and nothing is endangering it except for time.

The second is once a product has been opened. In this case, all kinds of things can alter your products. They are exposed to air, steam, and germs from your fingers/brushes etc. This can all not only radically speed up deterioration of the products but also add countless bacteria that you may not realize are there. Consequently you can get irritations and rashes. So for Garden Girl products, we typically recommend that you dispose of an opened product within 4-6 months.

This article from one of my favorite sites, WebMD, can help you get an idea of when you should dispose of all kinds of beauty products. Take a peek - it's pretty interesting! http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/features/have-beauty-products-gone-bad?page=2

Pantene Goes Natural (?)

2009-03-13T09:50:00.003-04:00

For anyone who has been following my hair woes, I have yet to find a natural shampoo that cleans my crazy thick hair well enough without leaving stuff left over that weighs my hair down and leaves my scalp icky. I end up going against my very own words to live by "no parabens, no sulfates, no phthalates" and keep coming back to regular ol' Pantene.

So when I saw that Pantene was coming out with Nature Fusion I was skeptical but a tiny bit optimistic. But of course, this is yet another "natural" scam. Not only that? It doesn't even work as well (at least for me) as regular Pantene.

This new Nature Fusion has a few extracts, but still has sulfates, dimethicone (in the conditioner) and, presumably, phthalates since it has chemical fragrance. PLUS it even has artificial colors in it to make it a pale green. So all in all from my perception it is worse than regular Pantene.

Funny how this "article" in Brandweek just basically regurgitates Pantene's press release without doing any digging. There is so little nature in the fusion it's pretty ridiculous.

Back to the drawing board again. If anyone with thick hair has found a natural shampoo that works well let me know!

Totally Cool Mom-invention - Teething "Bling"

2009-03-11T20:46:00.002-04:00

I absolutely love how creative moms can get. This one is one of the coolest mom-creations I've heard about in long time (and I'm sure it will be duplicated umpteen times in the very near future, as all great ideas are). Two moms have created totally safe teething "bling" - jewelry that looks way cool but can also be teethed on by your baby. Free of phthalates, BPAs, lead etc. Really - isn't that a great idea?

Check the site out when you have a chance. Geesh - wish it was around when my guys were little!

http://www.smartmomjewelry.com/

Garden Girl + Body+Soul = BIG ONE DAY SALE

2009-03-08T21:40:00.004-04:00

Big news!!! Garden Girl has been spotted in Body + Soul's April issue! I actually haven't seen it yet - but if you are a b+s subscriber you have probably just gotten it. Garden Girl's Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub was featured in the Things We Love section. Wahoo!! I don't have images of the magazine yet but I'll post them as soon as I get them. Can you tell I'm excited?

To celebrate - we are offering a no-holds-barred deal this week. Use it to buy our fabulous sugar scrub - or any of Garden Girl's other paraben-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free and phthalate-free products.

The deal? Get $5 off ANY order OR get $10 off any order of $50 or more. Yep - straight up money back.

Check out our:

Body Scrub
Facecare
Shower Gels
Body Lotions
Body Butters
Bath Salts
and
Garden Baby line

Haven't tried Garden Girl but curious what all the excitement is about? We have travel-sized face kits and body lotion samplers that let you check out our line before committing to full-sized products.

But regardless, know that we have a guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the products. So you can try things without any worry. The thing is - we KNOW you'll love it!

So to take advantage of this great offer, simply go to www.gardengirlskincare.com before MIDNIGHT MONDAY March 9, and when you check out use either coupon code:

5OFF to save $5.00 off your order of $50 or less
10OFF to save $10.00 off your order of $50 or more

Simple! Enjoy and let me know if you see Garden Girl in Body + Soul!!

Squeezably Soft = Environmentally Bad

2009-03-04T11:36:00.004-05:00

Ooo boy. After reading this article I have to say - I'm going to Trader Joe's today to buy the recycled toilet paper. I had absolutely no idea how terrible getting that extra soft tissue was for the environment. I have to say, this somewhat "touchy" subject has been tossed around the Garden Girl home recently. And the suggestion of a switch (this is one of our last hold-outs in terms of converting to a green home) was not well received.

But I think this New York Times article makes it clear. It is absolutely unnecessary to continue to demand the squishy soft toilet paper. It's just bad all the way around.

Take a look at the article - then let me know what you think!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/science/earth/26charmin.html?_r=1

Great water saving tips!

2009-03-02T16:05:00.005-05:00

This is a great list of water saving tips from the Seventh Generation company (great company!). Check out these easy things to do to conserve water in our homes:

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/news/pour-water-conservation

And somewhat unrelated but nice to see - I noticed that now Costco sells natural laundry detergent and natural dishwashing liquid. YAHOO! Nice going Costco! (Haven't used the laundry detergent - but I have tried the dishwashing liquid and it's great!)

One Day Sale - BONUS

2009-03-01T22:01:00.003-05:00

I am often asked if Garden Girl has anything for lips. I have searched around for a product that would be a good match for Garden Girl. The trouble is, most seemed to have "oxybenzone" in them for sun protection. Skin Deep's Cosmetics Database has raised some serious concern about oxybenzone (found in many many sunscreens) and I really don't want to have it on my LIPS. So I searched for something that I could create myself. And I am excited to say that I have found it!

Which leads me to this week's One Day Sale - EVERY order (no minimum order) will receive FREE brand new, all natural Garden Girl Berry Silky lip balm.

Pretty cool, eh? This lip balm is smooth, silky and extremely hydrating. It is natural, and free of preservatives and chemicals. A combination of rich moisturizing oils plus beeswax smooth and protect your lips with a light, delicious scent of berries from a phthalate-free flavor oil.

Check the lip balm out for FREE with your order. Orders of $50 or more will receive 2 free lip balms!

To take advantage, simply go to www.gardengirlskincare.com and place an order. In the comments section write Free Lip Balm Please.

These lip balms have not yet been uploaded to our website so this is your sneak peek!

Let me know what you think of it - and have a great week!

Ga Ga over Garden Girl!

2009-02-25T16:49:00.005-05:00

What a lovely surprise yesterday to hear from the folks at www.TheLuxurySpot.com - a fun and very cool blog that is all about fashion and beauty. They checked out some Garden Girl products recently and apparently are now "ga ga" for Garden Girl :)

Their review was on Hugs vanilla body butter and Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub. I'm so happy they liked the products - the word is definitely starting to spread! And they are spot on - both Hugs and Pucker Up work wonders on flaky, dry winter skin.

Check out the review when you get a minute: http://www.theluxuryspot.com/2009/02/24/gaga-for-garden-girl/

One Day Sale! Feb 23

2009-02-22T22:16:00.004-05:00

Winter is a tough time for skin. Well actually, any type of weather can be harsh on skin, but winter has some "special" issues. That is why during this time of year it is especially important to exfoliate. It rids your skin of dead skin cells, unclogs pores, and reveals a fresh face that is brighter, incredibly smooth and younger looking.

So this week's One Day Sale is all about a fresher, younger face. We are offering a whopping $10.00 off our face exfoliators.

Choose from:

Break Free - this is dermatologist-grade product, and it is our most powerful exfoliant. As opposed to a physical "scrub" type of exfoliation, Break Free relies on 3 incredibly effective fruit acids - lactic, pyruvic and gylcolc - to lift and remove the dead skin cells. While it is especially good for acne/problem skin, it is excellent for any skin type except sensitive.

Starting Over - this is our original exfoliator and still an incredibly popular product. Using natural microcrystals - the very same ones used by the expensive microderm procedures at dermatologists - this creamy scrub removes dead skin and reduces fine lines and wrinkles and leaves skin moisturized.

Either Break Free or Starting Over will leave your skin looking incredibly smooth and feeling unbelievably soft. If you have never tried them, this is a great time to try them. If you have tried them, it's a great time to stock up!

And as always, both products are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates.

To take advantage, simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com/facecare

and order at least one of these two products to receive the discount. You will save $10 for each of Break Free and Starting Over that you order.

Then when checking out, use coupon code:

Feb23

Happy shopping, have a great week! Now - back to the Oscar's for me!

FREE SHIPPING! Thru Monday at Midnite

2009-02-15T20:55:00.006-05:00

This week's sale makes it easy for you to shop AND save money - order your products online, and don't pay an extra penny for shipping! Guilt free shopping :)

Simply go to http://www.gardengirlskincare.com/ and place an order of at least $35. Then use coupon code Feb17. It's that easy to get FREE SHIPPING!

But hurry - the standard shipping cost will be back on Tuesday morning. So what are you waiting for? Get a head start while you're thinking of it!

Shop any of our products - and feel great knowing that they are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates:

Face Care
Body Lotions
Shower Gels
Body Butters
Bath Salts
Sugar Scrub
Hands and Feet
Garden Baby

Have fun and enjoy your week!

"Green" Companies Faring Well in Financial Markets

2009-02-13T12:11:00.003-05:00

I just read an interesting article in Brandweek online. A recent study was done by A.T. Kearny that showed that companies committed to sustainability have fared better in the markets in 16 of 18 industries.

Quoted from the Brandweek article:
"The report compared the performances of 99 companies with strong commitments to sustainability (culled from the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Goldman Sachs SUSTAIN focus list) against industry averages from May to November 2008. These green-leaning companies outperformed industry averages by 15% over the six months in 16 of the 18 industries. In terms of market cap, the sustainable-leaning companies averaged $650 million in protected market capitalization."

Interesting! Maybe there's a ray of hope that this world is coming to terms with the fact that our earth has some serious limitations. And if companies and individuals do not start changing their ways, there will be nothing left for our future generations. Imagine the alternative? We could end up like that totally depressing but not totally improbable existence in "Wall e".

So "yay" for the markets responding positively to sustainability - let's hope it is the beginning of a new and everlasting trend!

body+soul CORRECTIOn

2009-02-13T09:35:00.002-05:00

Woops! I wrote that Pucker Up will be in the March issue - it's actually in the APRIL issue! So keep an eye out! :)

body+soul beauty tips

2009-02-10T20:08:00.004-05:00

Just checked out a great article on the body + soul website - Crazy Beauty Tricks That Really Work - they have some fun and easy recommendations and they are spot on for the benefits of the ingredients (it's surprising how many magazines get that stuff wrong!).

I had been perusing the website to see if Garden Girl's Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub was on there yet (which it's not yet). But for those of you who hadn't seen a past posting - Pucker Up is going to be featured in the March issue of body+soul magazine! I'm SO excited! I have been assured it didn't make the cutting room floor so fingers crossed GG will get some nice national exposure. If you are not familiar with body+soul, it's a great Martha Stewart Living-owned magazine full of tips and tricks focusing on healthy living (but not one of those overly organic, crunchy mags).

Speaking of magazines, I recently subscribed to Prevention magazine, thinking it would be also all about health. Well the first issue I got was jam packed with recommendations for skin care products that are far from healthy - instead they are products packed with petroleum, sulfates, and parabens. What's up with that? You'd think they'd be a little more aware, wouldn't you?

So anyway keep your eye out for the March issue of body+soul! Meantime-check out the website. Those Crazy Tricks are pretty cool :)

Giveaway WINNER!

2009-02-07T16:19:00.001-05:00

My 8 year old son just drew the winner for the Smooches/Hugs giveaway! The winner he drew was:

jaas7220 at yahoo dot com

Yea!!!! Congratulations! I will be emailing her to see what her preference is.

Didn't win? No worries! Check out this week's SPECIAL OFFER (and extended version of our weekly One Day Sale) below. You can still get FREE Smooches and Hugs.

Keep an eye out for another giveaway soon. And if you aren't already on our mailing list, be sure to go to our homepage (www.gardengirlskincare.com) and sign up. You get a $5 coupon AND we send weekly emails to alert you to our One Day Sales that we post here.

Have a great week and Happy Valentine's Day!

SWEET Valentine's Day offer

2009-02-07T15:56:00.002-05:00

Well I dunno about you but these days I feel like I gain girth just breathing. I have been trying to be good about exercising but to be honest I'm not very dedicated. So I thought a great way to get a sweet treat this Valentine's Day - without worrying about extra calories - would be to have an irrisitable offer on Hugs and Smooches body butters. This way - whether you crave chocolate but don't want to extra fat and calories, or if you are simply looking for an incredibly soothing, hydrating and rich body butter that smells delish - you win!

We did a little giveaway (the winner will be announced in my next post!) that was quite popular. So if you find that you weren't the winner - then you can STILL win!

And don't forget - these make great gifts not just for yourself, but also for daughters, mothers, nieces, teachers etc. And I will admit that in our testosterone-dominant house they are both a big hit and are the preferred choice for moisturizer.

Ok - enough babbling, here's the deal:

Buy ONE Hugs vanilla or Smooches chocolate/mandarin body butter and get ONE FREEEEE! Woohoo! This is valid on either 4 oz. OR 8 oz. Whatever size you buy, will be the size you get for free. Best of all - you can mix and match: buy a Smooches and get a Hugs, or buy a Hugs and get a Hugs etc. Your choice! I will warn you, however, that we are running dangerously low on the 8 oz. Hugs so those will be first come, first served.

Usually, I have no restrictions on the offers I do, but this time it is limited to 2 free products. So choose wisely and ENJOY!

Here's all you need to do:
1) Go to www.gardengirlskincare.com - place your order and include either 1 or 2 Smooches or Hugs in the order. (again, you can order more but the limit is 2 free).
2) When you are checking out, be sure to put in the comments section what you want for your freebies!

Easy peasy! The best part? You have until Tuesday at midnight to place this order! All orders by Monday are guaranteed for pre-Valentine's Day delivery. Orders received by Tuesday night will be shipped on Wednesday and I'm 95% sure they'll arrive on time.

Win FREE Hugs or Smooches Body Butter

2009-02-04T13:36:00.004-05:00

In December I did a drawing for a free product and it was so much fun that I thought I'd do it again. This time, with a Valentine's Day theme!

All you have to do to enter is post a comment below, give your email address and the reason why you'd like to be the winner. Also - let me know if you' prefer Hugs vanilla or Smooches chocolate/mandarin 4 oz body butter. Either one is the perfect Valentine's Day gift for you or a loved one! They are super rich and deeply hydrating. Oh - and very yummy smelling!

You have from now until Friday night at midnight to enter. I will draw the winner and announce it on the blog on Saturday. Don't forget to give your email address so I can contact you!

Not sure what Hugs and Smooches are? Click here to find out more!

Don't know much about Garden Girl? Well for starters: Garden Girl’s unique products have been carefully formulated, using the highest quality natural ingredients, to be highly effective while also eco-friendly. Garden Girl promotes a healthy lifestyle, and each of our unique products reflects this vision effectively.

Garden Girl’s mission is to provide superior quality natural skin care products free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, petroleum and unnecessary chemicals. Through our products, website, blog and emails we strive to offer helpful information that encourages consumers to use natural skin care products to enhance their beauty and promote a healthy lifestyle. Garden Girl maintains a commitment to provide earth-friendly products that are never tested on animals and that utilize minimal, earth-friendly packaging. Our aim is to demonstrate socially responsible and ethical business practices while providing effective products with a little spunk and personality.

But you can also check out our FAQ's to find out more: www.gardengirlskincare.com/faqs

Have fun and I can't wait to see who wins!

Product Giveaway!!

2009-02-01T21:32:00.005-05:00

This week's one day sale is a doozy! I love it when I give away free products - it's fun! And this week I'm giving away one of our products that has developed quite a cult-ish following of dedicated customers. So check it out - and remember, the offer expires at midnight on Monday.

This week, when you buy any 2 face products (see list below) - you will get a FREE Even Ste(pH)en toner! People always ask - "do I really need a toner?" - and my answer is always the same. Do you need it? No. Just like you don't need to wash your face and you don't need to put on moisturizer. But the simple fact is that toner, just like face wash and moisturizer, helps your skin stay in tip-top shape, look its best and keep its youthful glow. Even Ste(pH)en is one of the most effective toners you will find - with the highest quality ingredients. It's packed with herbal extracts and witch hazel that help to balance your skin's pH and clear your pores of any last residue from your cleanser. Plus, Even Ste(pH)en doesn't dry out your skin, and leaves it fresh and maximized to allow your moisturizer to work at it's peak level. Bonus? Our toner is also loaded with DMAE - a natural skin-firming ingredient. And of course, as with all Garden Girl products, it's free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates.

Even Ste(pH)en has gained such a strong following because many people have found it to be a key player in keeping their skin clear and free of break-outs. We have a number of people who have stopped using "botanically based" acne programs that have harsh ingredients and instead opted for You're Fresh, Even Ste(pHen), Break Free and Nature Nurture or No Worries. And they say their skin has never been better!

Here's a recent review of Garden Girl products on the Bionic Beauty blog: http://bionic-beauty.com/garden-girl-skincare-reviewed/ - check out what she had to say about the toner!

So whether you are already a loyal fan or you have never tried it - this is a great deal. A FREE Even Ste(pH)en toner when you buy any TWO of the following (yes - you can buy 2 of the same thing):

You're Fresh
At Long Last
Oasis for Faces
Like Magic
Eye Can't Believe It
Break Free
Starting Over
No Worries
Nature Nurture
Bright Idea

To take advantage - simply go to http://www.gardengirlskincare.com/, add 2 or more of the products listed above, and then when you check out write FREE TONER PLEASE in the comments section.

And if you are already a big fan - if you can take a minute to post a response here and let us know why you like it, it would be fantastic! And if I get 5 or more responses, I will choose one at random to receive another free bottle!

Have a great week! I was going to say Go Cardinals! but now I just realized that if the Steelers get this touchdown I win the office pool so GO STEELERS!

More Reasons to Ditch High Fructose Corn Syrup

2009-01-29T21:03:00.003-05:00

As if being a possible root cause of increasing diabetes and skyrocketing obesity were not enough, now we can add mercury contamination as a serious issue with this country's growing reliance on high fructose corn syrup.

Two studies (the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and Environmental Health) released this week found that there were measurable levels of mercury found in HFCS. While the levels are arguably very small, the concern is that Americans consume large amounts of HFCS as it has become the "go to" sweetener for beverages and foods. In 2004, it was estimated that 40% of all caloric sweeteners added to beverages and foods. According to the reports, on average, Americans consume about 12 teaspoons per day of HFCS, but teens and other high consumers can take in 80 percent more HFCS than average.

"Mercury is toxic in all its forms,” said IATP’s David Wallinga, M.D., and a co-author in both studies. “Given how much high fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the FDA to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply."

The Environmental Health report showed that mercury was found in 9 of 20 samples of commercial HFCS, and the IATP study found "nearly one in three of 55 brand-name foods contained mercury. The chemical was found most commonly in HFCS-containing dairy products, dressings and condiments. " Products with the highest levels found include: Quaker Oatmeal to Go, Jack Daniel's BBQ Sauce, Hershey's Syrup, Kraft Original BBQ Sauce, and Nutri-Grain Strawberry Cereal Bars. Others on the list? Coca-Cola, Yoplait Strawberry Yogurt, Smucker's Strawberry Jelly and Pop Tarts Frosted Blueberry. Check the IATP Report - pg 14 - for the complete list.

Scary, huh? The worst part? Is it is resultant from the manufacturing process - and is completely avoidable. There are options that would eliminate the mercury contamination - but many companies choose to use the cheaper but more toxic process.

Summaries of the reports can be found in US News and World Report and the Washington Post as well as many other publications.

So for real - REALLY - can this country not give us SAFE food products? What is going on? Never mind that the FDA has been whittled away to be essentially a shell of an organization. But what happened to companies caring about food safety? With all the toxins that are getting into our food and water these days - it's no wonder that things like food allergies are skyrocketing. Something has to be done!

Meantime, if you haven't started already, read labels and do whatever you can to avoid HFCS. You'll be amazed at how hard it is to do - but clearly it is worth it!

Fighting Off Dull Winter Skin Blues

2009-01-28T12:48:00.006-05:00

Yep - we're right smack in the middle of winter and for most climates, this is the time of year when your skin can start looking a little beat - dull, dry, icky. Outdoors - the wind and cold take a toll, and indoors you have dry heat that robs your skin of essential moistures. So I thought I'd review some quick tips to keeping your skin fresh, clear and happy during these colder months:

1) WARM water - I know, you hear this all the time. But it's true. Hot water saps your skin of it's moisture and drys it out. So if you must - have a shot of hot water when you first get into and out of the shower, but otherwise keep it warm. This is true for when you wash your face as well.

2) Moisturize Moisturize Moisturize - Morning and evening - and as quickly after showering as possible to trap the moisture. Shea butter, Jojoba and Aloe are key ingredients that keep skin fresh and hydrated so be sure to look for those. And absolutely avoid mineral oils and petrolatum. While they are good for protecting skin (like when you are skiing and your skin is getting wind-burned) they are not great for your skin over long periods of time as they block pores and can inhibit your body's ability to produce its own oils. Garden Girl products: Hugs or Smooches body butter, Chill Out/Mellow/Jump Start/Alive body lotions

3) Exfoliate - this goes for your face and your body. Garden Girl has a fantastic sugar scrub (Pucker Up Coconut) that allows you to exfoliate and moisturize your body at the same time. You use it in the shower and after a quick rinse-off your skin is left smooth, soft and deeply hydrated. For your face - we offer Starting Over microdermabrasion scrub which has natural microcrystals (the same ones used by the crazy-expensive in-office microdermabrasion treatments). It's hard to find a natural microderm and this one is fantastic - plus it doesn't dry out your skin like some can. Need even more help? Try Break Free fruit acid gel that uses a combination of pyruvic, lactic and glycolic acids that remove dead skin cells, unclogs pores and reveal softer smoother skin. And be sure to moisturize immediately after exfoliating!

4) Layer Face Moisturizers - don't necessarily go out looking for a really heavy face cream, as those typically are filled with petroleum products. Instead, just like with clothing, you want to think about layering. Use a serum as your base layer - serums are intensely packed with typically oil-free hydrators (Like Magic has hyaluronic acid and a peptide complex) and soak in immediately. Then add your face cream over the serum. We recommend No Worries for sensitive/dry skin, Nature Nurture with AHA's for normal or oily skin, and if you are looking to brighten skin even further - try using Bright Idea natural brightening cream. A very effective system is to use Bright Idea during the day and Nature Nurture or No Worries at night.

5) Don't Forget Hands and Feet! - keep hand cream "handy" - at your sink, in your purse, at your desk etc. Use it throughout the day to keep hands moisturized and prevent cracking etc. And always wear mittens or gloves when you are out in the cold. Try Garden Girl's Hand it to You hand cream for truly one of the best natural hand creams available. Just ask anyone who has tried it! (and it's yummy lemon/lime/bergamot scent is clean and fresh). And for feet, treat them to rich moisture and revive them with Zippity Do Dah peppermint foot cream. Throw on a pair of cotton socks at night and you'll be amazed at how smooth and soft they will be. And of course, don't forget to exfoliate your feet in the winter (with something like our Foot Smoother).

Free Shipping!! One Day ONLY

2009-01-25T22:50:00.003-05:00

This week's One Day Sale is pretty basic and straightforward - FREE SHIPPING! Enjoy guilt-free shopping knowing that you won't be paying extra for shipping. Whether it's time to replenish your favorite Garden Girl products, or try out some new ones. Or you could even get a head start on calorie-free Valentine's day treats like Smooches or Hugs body butters! But don't forget - this offer is valid through MIDNIGHT MONDAY NIGHT so get your shopping done before the offer expires!

Check out all of the paraben-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free and phthalate-free products at:

www.gardengirlskincare.com

Then simply place an order and use coupon code JAN26

No minimum order!

Also - if you have a chance, let me know what you think of the website. I'm thinking it might be time to make some changes. What I'd like to know is:

1) How much do you like the look of the site?
2) How easy/difficult is it to navigate?
3) What do you think would make it better?

Any thoughts you have on it would be fantastic. And don't try to sugar-coat it - I'm looking for honest feedback. I can handle it :).

Thanks so much - and have a great week!

Great "Green" Website

2009-01-23T16:25:00.002-05:00

The Lighter Footstep (http://lighterfootstep.com/) is a great site for tips and tricks to green your home and generally leave a lighter footprint, so to speak. It's a fun, informative site - not preachy or boring like so many eco-sites. Check it out -lots of quick easy ideas for everything from cooking and cleaning to buying used items.

Mineral Makeup SPECIAL OFFER

2009-01-21T20:06:00.005-05:00

I get asked about makeup all the time. People want to know what I recommend, what I use, what is safe etc. Up until recently I was recommending EverydayMinerals.com - they have good products at a good price. But then I tried PurelyCosmetics.com - Robyn Bloom hand blends this mineral makeup. It is totally natural - and the reason I like it so much is that it is the smoothest and lightest mineral makeup I have found. I use her "skin smoothing" formula - and it has not only the mica and titanium dioxide that you normally find, but also silk powder and jojoba oil so it truly is smooth and silky. No irritating bismuth, chemicals, fillers or preservatives!

I have connected with Robyn via Twitter (loving twitter!) - and she has graciously agreed to offer Garden Girl customers a great discount! Simply go to http://www.purelycosmetics.com/ - place an order (minimum of $20) and use coupon code "GG" when checking out. You'll save 15% on your first order! Not bad!

And definitely add the "Natural Hair Foundation" flat-top brush. It's the best brush I've used! It's soft and blends effortlessly. Buy it separately or as a part of one of her kits. And another tip? If you are looking for a slightly less matte-look, rub a drop of jojoba oil in your hand before you tap out the minerals. It adds just enough extra oil to be flawless! And check out her tips on the website as well - she's a great resource if you're new to minerals.

Rip Off Report - A True Scam

2009-01-21T11:05:00.005-05:00

Well - I guess Garden Girl has "made it". We now officially have a fake Rip Off report complaint. If you search "Kristin Miller Garden Girl" on Google the first thing that pops up is a very lunatic-sounding complaint on Rip Off Report. For those of you who don't know, RipOffReport.com is a "supposed" better alternative to the solid and experienced Better Business Bureau. The tragic thing is that RipOffReport has the ability to damage a company's reputation purely based on false testimonials.

Hence now there is one that I have from "Bob" in Salt Lake City, UT. Check it out - it's actually pretty comical. Whoever wrote it is clearly a little bit of a loon. But that said - I have never had a customer named Bob from Salt Lake City. Further - I literally have not ever (truthfully) had anyone complain to me about rashes or any other skin irritations. Further still, there are so many other false statements in there - we do not test on animals, we don't load up with synthetics and I go well beyond FDA requirements so they would not possibly have an issue with Garden Girl.

For anyone who has purchased Garden Girl products, you know that we are all about customer service and making our customers happy. We guarantee it. I have no idea why there are people so inherently nasty but that's a fact of life. I won't be surprised if similar postings show up from made up names. There are simply people out there with too much time on their hands that search for things to amuse them.

My suggestion is that you avoid using RipOffReport - simply for the reason that you cannot trust what is posted on there. It is incredibly easy to post something under an alias and there is no way to trace it back to you. And I always recommend that if you have a problem with a company you contact them directly. It's the best way to get things resolved.

Similarly, there are companies out there that are doing the same thing with people's personal reputations. There is one site that allows you to anonymously report on what you think of your fellow students in college. People are called all kinds of names, secrets are revealed etc. that can instantly ostracize students from people they previously thought were friends. Websites that host these types of forums are able to slink out of any legal responsibility. But in the meantime, they are prospering on ruining the reputations of countless people. Really - can't they find a more ethical way to make money?

Anyway - that's my rant for today. I'd love to hear what you think!

Inauguration Day - HUGE SAVINGS!

2009-01-19T17:10:00.004-05:00

Well - the day is here that we are inaugurating our 44th President of the United States. So to celebrate this historic day Garden Girl is offering up a big BIG BIG deal - one that you won't see again.

Save a ginormous* $44.00 on any purchase of $144 or more. Yep - it's THAT big. We're talking really big. Have I mentioned that this is huge? $44 big ones. Oh - and even better? You can take advantage of this deal through WEDNESDAY, January 21st at midnight! So you get one extra day of shopping.

This means you can have a little spree and not feel even a little bit guilty. It's probably a good time to replenish anyway (don't forget - we recommend that open products are used within 4-6 months to assure that they stay clear of harmful bacteria).

Garden Girl products are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates - and we use minimal levels of preservatives. Just enough to give them a solid shelf life but not enough for them to be loaded up with chemicals. The rest of the ingredients are blends of natural moisturizers, antioxidants, plant extracts, wrinkle reducers and other incredible natural ingredients that combine to make some of the most effective and luxurious - yet surprisingly affordable - skin care you will ever find. Guaranteed!

Check it all out at www.gardengirlskincare.com - place an order of at least $144.00 then use coupon code:

JAN20

to receive the discount. Questions? Don't hesitate to ask. And feel free to pass this great deal along to friends - we don't discriminate - Democrats, Republicans and Independents are all free to take advantage of these savings!

Happy Inauguration Day and have a great week!

* BTW - interesting fact: Ginormous made the Merriam Webster dictionary in 2007 :)

Garden Girl profile on Ecopreneur Blog

2009-01-16T21:40:00.002-05:00

Check out my "off the cuff" style interview on the fabulous Econpreneur Avenue blog:

http://www.ecopreneuravenue.com/2009/01/interview-kristin-miller-of-garden-girl/

The blog was started by Andreea Ayers of Tees for Change. It's a great site with a bunch of interviews of various very interesting entrepreneurs - all with an eco-twist. Take a peek at the others while you're there!

More bad news about BPA

2009-01-14T05:47:00.003-05:00

In a recent report by Environmental Health Perspectives, there is new evidence that bisphenol-A (BPA) is found in infants' blood at 11x the levels that it is found in adults. BPA is "a high-protein industrial chemical that has been used for decades to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy linings for food cans. In recent years, concerns have been raised about the chemical's ability to mimic estrogen and to cause developmental problems and precancerous growths in laboratory animals."

Due to the fact that infants are unable to process the chemical in their system as efficiently as adults, compounded by the fact that infants are exposed to the chemical through plastic bottles and formula from plastic-lined cans, infants are more likely to have more of the chemical in their bodies. We're talking infants here - 3 months old. We're talking ELEVEN TIMES the level of adults in these tiny bodies.

At what point is the FDA going to step in and do what should be done - what has been done in Canada and many other countries? This chemical MUST be banned! Forget the lobbying from the plastics industry and the chemical companies. We are only going to see the effects of this more and more in upcoming years. Something needs to be done.

"Green" lightbulbs - not so much

2009-01-13T22:05:00.004-05:00

Just read a great article in Brandweek. Just like "pink-washing" - where the marketing of products that supposedly support breast cancer research far outweighs any positive benefit of the donation - "green-washing" is a big deal. Many companies have jumped on the green bandwagon but are doing it more for marketing purposes than anything else.

While that may not exactly be the case with the eco-friendly lightbulbs, they are definitely not as good as they initially appear. And I say this as someone who has used them for years - and throwing them out in our regular trash. Little did I know that I was contributing to mercury waste. UGH.

Check out the Brandweek article for an interesting perspective, and see some of the other products that they find ironic - claiming to be eco-friendly but in the end, they aren't so ideal.

People are Talking!

2009-01-13T21:49:00.003-05:00

The fabulous Bionic Beauty blog just wrote a wonderful review of Garden Girl products. Their unbiased (but happily very positive!) review appeared today. They tried our Pucker Up sugar scrub, You're Fresh face wash, Even Ste(pH)en toner, Hugs body butter and Hand it to You hand cream.

Check it out what they had to say: http://bionic-beauty.com/garden-girl-skincare-reviewed/

And while you're there, take a peek at their other posts - it's a great blog. Now - what would be so fantastic would be if every customer told 10 friends, and they told 10 friends, and so on, and so on....

Keep an eye out for another customer referral bonus soon!

Save Big Bucks

2009-01-11T21:20:00.004-05:00

OK Call me a dork (it won't be the first time!) but this week I'm inspired by the return of "24" - go Jack Bauer! - so our offer is a big fat $24.00 off any order of $100.00 or more.

That means you can stock up on your favorites and save some big bucks. Go for Nature Nurture face cream - packed with anti-oxidants, organic extracts, and alphahydroxy acids - not to mention rich moisturizers. Or perhaps you have sensitive skin? Check out No Worries - our face cream that continues to earn rave reviews and loyal followers from people who have suffered from irritations to products all their lives. It's called "No Worries" for a reason - no more worries that your sensitive skin will react.

Having trouble with the crow's feet and "crepey" skin around your eyes? We have 2 great products that can combat the signs of aging: Eye Can't Believe It eye cream with natural skin firming ingredient DMAE and rich moisturizers; and Like Magic anti-aging serum - our #1 product in 2008. See for yourself what all the excitement is about - it's a potent serum with a peptide complex that relaxes and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Plus Like Magic is chock full of pure hyaluronic acid - a natural oil-free moisturizer that traps 1,000 times its weight in moisture. And best of all? It slightly tightens skin so it's like a tiny eye-lift each morning.

To take advantage of this fabulous deal, simply go to www.gardengirlskincare.com and place an order.

When checking out, use coupon code:

JAN12

Simple! Now, let's hope Jack Bauer's next 24 hours can be as simple :). Have a great week, and happy paraben-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free and phthalate-free shopping!

One Week without Plastic?

2009-01-07T14:14:00.002-05:00

Well - apparently it is far more difficult than you think. One Chicago Tribune journalist made an attempt and her story is interesting and fun to read.

Check it out:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-plastic-free-satdec27,0,5147886.story?page=3

Think about it - cereal comes in plastic bags inside the boxes, deli meat wrapped in plastic, oatmeal cannisters have a plastic lid. It goes on and on. And this writer has young children - sippy cups, diapers, disposing of diapers. It's a big challenge! It made me think - could you possibly live a life without using any plastic? Probably not - I'm typing on plastic keys, I answer my plastic phone, I brush my teeth with a plastic toothbrush. Yipes. I never had thought about how much we use. And when we're dead and gone? It will ALL still be here. Oh boy.

Dry Lips? Quick + Easy Solution

2009-01-07T11:21:00.003-05:00

Are you struggling with dry lips these days? It's such a brutal time of year (at least in the colder climates) for your smackers and nobody likes to have flaky, dry, cracked lips. So here's a quick, easy and NATURAL way to get back to smooth kissable lips.

In a small bowl, put 1 tablespoon of sugar (regular white granulated or natural/demura sugar). Add 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil (best) or any other cooking oil you have around (canola, corn etc). Mix together until it is like wet sand.

Then, simply put some on your lips and scrub gently with your finger. Wipe off (or if you have a sweet tooth, you can lick it off!). Afterwards, apply your favorite lip balm.

Leftovers? Use it on your hands - scrub hand over the sink with the scrub and briefly rinse (just to get the sugar off). Then apply Hand it to You hand cream (ok - you can actually use any hand cream, but I'm biased...)

You'll be amazed at how well that works and how soft and smooth your hands and lips will be. Sweet! :)

Save big on our Luxurious Face Creams!

2009-01-04T21:50:00.003-05:00

Start the New Year off by putting your best face forward! This week's one day sale is all about faces. We are offering a whopping 20% off our face creams. All Garden Girl face creams are rich and hydrating - packed with plant extracts, rich moisturizers and hyaluronic acid for the most intense hydration. Keeping skin hydrated in the winter months is essential, and our face creams make it easy. Plus you can feel great knowing you are using the best quality products that are free of potentially harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, petroleum products, mineral oil and phthalates.

No Worries is formulated for dry or sensitive skin. If your skin reacts easily to products or is tight and dry, this is the cream for you. It is rich and creamy and melts instantly into your skin. Rich organic jojoba and aloe plus fabulous hyaluronic acid provide deep but gentle moisture that will help battle fine lines and trap moisture but won't irritate skin, while green tea extract and vitamins C+E provide much needed antioxidants to help keep skin protected, repaired and refreshed. All this means you can rest with No Worries. Save on the 2 oz. jar OR the Eco-Friendly refill bag for repeat purchases.

Nature Nurture is perfect for normal to oily skin. Packed with rich, hydrating ingredients and natural fruit extracts, our hardworking, paraben-free night cream makes it effortless. Organic jojoba, hyaluronic acid, plus rich shea and aloe butters and add and trap essential moisture to reduce fine lines, while the antioxidants in green tea extract and vitamins E+C fight free-radicals. Lastly, a multi-fruit acid complex from sugar cane, apple, orange and lemon extracts work overnight to repair damage and exfoliate your skin, revealing a fresh face in the morning. Save on the 2 oz. jar OR the Eco-Friendly refill bag for repeat purchases.

Bright Idea skin brightening cream is fabulous for "mature" skin. As you age, your skin begins to dull gradually over time. But this moisturizer, packed with natural natural whiteners and brighteners, helps to bring back that "baby glow!". It gradually reduces age spots and evens skin tone. Concentrate just on dark areas, or use all over your face. Use daily as a moisturizer - on it's own or in conjunction with No Worries or Nature Nurture.

So to take advantage, simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com/facecare

and order any of the products listed above (and of course, feel free to order additional products!) then use coupon code:

JAN5

when you check out to save 20% on the face creams!

Happy New Year - may 2009 be filled with health, happiness and success!

Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo

2009-01-03T21:27:00.003-05:00

Anyone who knows me know that I am a Trader Joe's addict (some might even suggest that it's a little over the top). I can't help it - I just love the place. I began my love affair with the store back when I was in grad school in Phoenix. At first my west coast friends lured me there with stories of delicious snacks and unique frozen meals. But then I began going for more and more of my regular items. When we moved back east, I was elated to hear that they were going to be opening them not just on the east coast, but in BOSTON first. Now we live 1 mile away and I shop there about 4 times a week. I have a couple other friends who are as addicted as I am and we trade recommendations on things to try.

Anyway, that brings me to their new Tea Tree Oil shampoo and conditioner. Being a big Tea Tree Oil fan (see previous posts), I was very excited. Tea Tree shampoo is excellent for your scalp. It helps keep hydrated and free of flakes (ick) and when it is paired with peppermint (as it is in this shampoo) it is very tingly and refreshing. So I was very hopeful that I might have finally found a sulfate-free, paraben-free shampoo that works for me.

This is where it gets tricky. I wouldn't say it doesn't work. It seems fine - the first couple of times I used it I actually thought it worked REALLY well - it left my hair very soft and silky (unusual for natural shampoos and conditioners). But the more I used it, the less effective it was on my scalp. Maybe I wasn't rinsing it well? And to make it worse, the packaging is a huge fatal flaw. The cool-looking bottles do not allow you to squirt out the conditioner easily. It's actually a pretty big battle for me to get it out - very annoying. So more than the product's mediocre efficacy, the bottle might be the dealbreaker. So sad! I was so excited to have found it and had such high hopes!

But I will continue to try it out - maybe it will get better. If anyone else tries it - let me know what you think!

Coca Cola - Going Green?

2008-12-30T21:28:00.003-05:00

Well - you know if Coca Cola is taking major steps to be more eco-conscious then this "green" thing is more than just a fad. Brandweek reported that Coke's newest digital billboard in Times Square is powered by wind-power. Not bad! Even better - they have influenced a trend and about 30 billboards will be wind-powered. In total, they will be preventing about 1866 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Coke seems to be taking the green thing pretty seriously. They are also aiming to have all of their cans and bottles in the US recycled or reused by consumers. That's a lot of bottles and cans - considering the amount of Coke consumed in the US each year.

Say what you want about Coca Cola (and I have a lot to say about that beverage - mostly not good) - but that is one powerful brand. I was fortunate to participate in a marketing competition in graduate school and our team was challenged by the Coca Cola corporation to increase marketing efforts in Malaysia. Traveling throughout even the most remote areas of Malaysia - I learned a lot about the depth of the brand's reach. In tiny towns with only a handful of people you would still find Coca Cola products and signs. And each and every person I spoke to not only knew about Coke, but had an opinion on the "health benefits" of the drink. It was considered excellent for digestion and many even believed that it broke down fats and cholesterol thereby improving heart health. Crazy! But it clearly showed me the Coke - love it or hate it - is an incredible brand.

So if they are going to do their part in going green - more power to them. If they can inspire other companies to do the right thing - fantastic. I know their reasons are not purely (or even largely) altruistic - but hopefully it will have an overall positive impact. Now, if only they didn't sell such an addictive, high-fructose-corn-syrup-laden, obesity-inducing drink....

Even Greener

2008-12-30T12:58:00.002-05:00

Constantly searching for ways to make Garden Girl even more "green" - I am happy to announce that we are now using compostable cellophane bags for our packages. For those of you who are Garden Girl customers, you know that each package comes wrapped like a little gift. We do this for 2 reasons - 1) it's always nice to open something that looks pretty :) and 2) it helps to keep the products secure while shipping - reducing damaged products (and waste).

Our products are packaged in recylable PET #1 plastic or in glass, we do not use unnecessary outer boxes (which have always bothered me anyway) and we use biodegradable labels made from corn whenever possible. We also offer refills for some of our most popular products to reduce packaging waste. And when we ship packages, we use recycled packing materials.

So finding a replacement for the plastic poly-cello bag was clearly the missing link. And that is why I am so excited to use these bags. They are made from tree cellulose - and the trees are grown specifically for this purpose so there is no forest damage. And not only do they biodegrade, but they are even safe for your compost! Look pretty AND green? Doesn't get much better than that!

"Get what you REALLY wanted" sale

2008-12-28T22:15:00.003-05:00

Now that all the hubbub of the holidays has settled down, you can sneak off and get the things you really wanted! And best of all, this is when the prices are the lowest! Geesh - I went to Ann Taylor and got 2 adorable shirts for $12!! Unreal.

And Garden Girl is no exception. From now until Midnight on Monday, you can save a whopping 15% off your order (no minimum order). Here's your chance to try something new (like the incredibly popular Like Magic anti-aging serum with hyaluronic acid and a peptide complex, or the lusciously rich and yummy Smooches chocolate mandarin body butter) or restock your favorites (like Chill Out mandarin grapefruit body lotion or No Worries face cream for dry or sensitive skin). It's all free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products, mineral oil and phthalates - but best of all, Garden Girl products are all incredibly effective. We guarantee it!

Whatever you choose, you save big. But don't forget - it's just for ONE DAY. To take advantage, simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com

place your order, then use coupon code

DEC29

to save the 15%

Happy ordering, happy Monday - and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

$10 off ALL Orders until NOON on Saturday

2008-12-19T09:06:00.003-05:00

Last minute shoppers unite! I am a procrastinator myself so instead of discouraging this behavior, I am rewarding it! :) Yep - I'm giving you $10 off your order. No strings attached.

Stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, girlfriends, relatives, teachers - get it all done from the comfort of your home. Snowstorms messing up your shopping plans? Too much going on this weekend to get out and shop? Sit back, and give yourself a break.

Order TODAY by 3pm and it will be shipped today - and you'll get it before Christmas. Order by noon on Saturday and it will ship on Monday and, barring any USPS craziness, you should still have it by December 24th.

Shop away! And save big on paraben-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free and phthalate-free goodies!

Go to www.gardengirlskincare.com

Use coupon code: XMAS to save $10 off your order

Happy shopping and happy holidays!

FREE Gift Certificates!

2008-12-14T22:29:00.004-05:00

We are at the final countdown to Christmas. Last minute gift buying frenzies start this week. So as you are doing your shopping, I wanted to give YOU something special:

For every $40 you spend, you will receive one $10 gift certificate - FREE!

Yep - free Garden Girl money! Spend $40, get one certificate, spend $80 get two certificates, etc. There's no limit! And best of all - instead of a One Day Sale - this week this offer is valid until Friday at Midnight (December 19th).

With these free gift certificates, it means when things settle down after the holidays, you can buy yourself something that you really want (or need) - totally guilt-free! OR you can use the gift certificate to give as a little gift - great for a stocking stuffer or a little something extra with another gift.

So finish up your shopping from the comfort of your couch, and pocket a little something for yourself while you're at it. Here are some ideas:

Hand it to You hand cream for your child's teacher
Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub for the babysitter
A travel-sized face kit for a friend
Hugs vanilla body butter for a stocking stuffer
Or we can even create a special gift basket!

Don't forget - Garden Girl products are always free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates!

And a great bonus - we wrap each order in it's own gift wrapping so they are ready to give! Want to order multiple gifts? Simply mention in the comments section which products you'd like wrapped separately and we can take the gift wrapping off your "to do" list!

So how can you take advantage of this great deal? It's very easy. All you have to do is write - Gift Certificates in the comments section when you place your order. Get going right away by going to www.gardengirlskincare.com!

Thanks so much, happy shopping and have a great week!

Giveaway WINNER!

2008-12-13T09:44:00.004-05:00

I just picked the winner of the first Garden Girl product giveaway. I have to say - this was fun and it was great to see all the entries. I loved the creative ones! Next time I might have the winner be "most creative" - but this time it was random.

So here's the big winner:

Tame (Chrysalis1975) - please email me at kristin at gardengirl.us - I don't have your email address!

CONGRATULATIONS, Tame!! You chose Smooches chocolate mandarin body butter - excellent choice. My boys think it smells like a Tootsie Roll. I think it's just plain yummy. And it is a fantastic moisturizer packed with aloe and shea. It's rich and thick - and free of parabens, phthalates and petroleum products too!

I loved doing this so keep your eyes out for more - might make this a regular thing!
Thanks again to all participants!

Holy FONT, Batman!

2008-12-12T11:50:00.007-05:00

Wow - what a cool thing. I saw this on the Conscious Living blog. Check it out - a FREE downloadable font that allows you to use up to 20% less ink when you are printing! What a great idea. Download it and use it for your everyday printing. When it is at font size 10 you can't even tell the difference.

Here is what their website says about the developer:

"The Ecofont is developed by SPRANQ, based on a hunch of Colin Willems. We tried lots of possible ink-saving-options. From extra thin letters to letters with outlines only. We have ommited various shapes: dashes, squares, triangles and even asterisks. In the end the circle was choosen as the best candidate for the job.With the Ecofont SPRANQ hopes to increase environmental awareness too. Increasing customer awareness about printing behavior: is printing really necessary or (partly) a waste of ink and paper? We also hope to inspire software giants and printer manufacturers to innovate in an environmentally conscious manner."

This is what it looks like blown up, but again, if you use it at 9 or 10 you won't see the dots (although I kinda like the look with the dots...)

I just downloaded it and can't wait to start using it. LOVE easy ways to reduce waste!
To download, simply go to: http://www.ecofont.eu/downloads_en.html

Have fun!

Dr Bronner's Soap

2008-12-12T09:50:00.003-05:00

Ok - I know that I sell body wash - and yes, that is mainly what I use because I love it and it leaves your skin more moisturized than bar soap, but once in awhile I like to use bar soap just to change things up. I like the simplicity of it, it almost feels "retro" now!

My favorite? Hands down it's Dr. Bronners Peppermint Organic Bar Soap. It is creamy and rich and smells amazing. I love peppermint in the shower - it wakes you up (which is why I love Garden Girl's Alive body wash too!)

On Dr. Bronner's website, they describe the soap as follows: "The peppermint essential oil tingles the body and clears the mind. Because therapeutically peppermint oil is a mild stimulant it increases vitality and clarity. All oils and essential oils are certified organic to the National Organic Standards Program. Wrapped in 10% hemp-flax / 90% post-consumer recycled paper from Living Tree Paper Co."

My biggest pet peeve? It doesn't last as long as I'd like. If you decide to try it, definitely buy it at Trader Joe's if you are near one. It's around $2.75ish vs. the $4.19 on the Dr Bronner's website!

Cosmetics Companies - Finally Getting the Phthalate Message?

2008-12-11T21:07:00.005-05:00

It looks like at least some companies are finally reducing the amount of phthalates in their products. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics just released results of a follow-up study to their "Not Too Pretty" study from 2002 in which they had found 70% of the 72 products they studied had phthalates. In this recent study, they studied 12 of the worst offenders, and found that 9 had reduced or eliminated the phthalates.

What are phthalates? They are an ingredient that is often found in fragrances, but usually not listed in the ingredients list. The problem is that they mimic hormones and have been linked to genital changes in baby boys, reduced sperm count in men, and early puberty for girls.

So it is heartening to know that some big cosmetics and personal care companies are listening and have made an effort to reduce this harmful ingredient.

Check out the article in USAToday and the full report from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

GIVEAWAY!!

2008-12-10T22:14:00.005-05:00

I'm winding down for the night but I am finding myself in a giving mood - so I'm thinking I will do something new! Here's the deal - I'm giving away the winner's choice of either Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub OR Smooches chocolate/mandarin body butter (4 oz) to one lucky winner. No strings, no hoops, no gimmicks. Simply post a comment here on this blog stating which one you'd prefer to win and why. Entries will be accepted until midnight Friday (Dec 12) and I will post the winner on Saturday. Don't forget to give your email address so I can notify you if you win!

Don't forget - all Garden Girl products are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates.

Good luck!! And feel free to let others know about the contest as well!

Giving and receiving!

2008-12-07T21:52:00.004-05:00

Boy - busy weekend! But a lot of fun. So now I'm exhausted and have spent the night catching up on emails and watching my Sunday night line-up. And part of my weekend inspired the Monday one-day offer.

Each year at Christmas I organize a "mitten tree" at our church. The beneficiaries of the gifts are Boston-area women and their families who are victims of domestic violence and who are being assisted by an amazing group called REACH. I have worked with REACH for about 8 years and each year I am more and more amazed by the work that they do.

So in this season of giving, I thought that my fantastic Garden Girl network can help to make the REACH families have an even brighter Christmas. How? Simply go to www.gardengirlskincare.com and place an order, then use coupon code:

REACH5

YOU receive $5 off your order of $25 or more, and REACH receives a 5% donation. Double bonus! You get to give and receive at the same time.

It's a great time to get some shopping out of the way - stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, co-workers, secretaries, teachers, babysitters, yankee-swaps, secret santa etc. Here's a sampling of products that are Under $25 that make great gifts:

Body Lotions (Chill Out, Mellow, Alive, Jump Start) - $16
Shower Gels (Chill Out, Mellow, Alive, Jump Start) - $16
Hand it to You hand cream (4 oz.) - $15
Zippity Do Dah peppermint foot cream - $15
Hugs vanilla body butter (4 oz) - $16
Smooches chocolate mandarin body butter (4 oz) - $16
Pucker Up Coconut lime coconut sugar scrub - $22
Simmer Down ginger/cinnamon/nutmeg bath salts - $15
Liven Up peppermint/rosemary/basil bath salts - $15

So grab a couple gifts, and don't forget something for yourself. Feel great knowing that you are buying products that are paraben-free, sulfate-free, petroleum-free and phthalate-free! And even better? You're helping REACH - an organization that does amazing work, and that can really use help this holiday season to bring a little light into the lives of these families that are facing incredibly challenging times.

Have a great week - and thank you in advance!

Masculinity on the Decline??

2008-12-07T21:11:00.003-05:00

Well here is more research to show how "gender-bending" chemicals are wreaking havoc on endocrine systems of all kinds of vertibrate animals - from fish to mammals - including humans. According to "The Independent" newspaper from the UK, a report will be published this week that details findings from many of the world's top scientists showing that the male of many species is being "feminized" over time due to exposure to chemicals.

According to the article, "wildlife and people have been exposed to more than 100,000 new chemicals in recent years, and the European Commission has admitted that 99 per cent of them are not adequately regulated. There is not even proper safety information on 85 per cent of them."

The article highlights a few of the chemical groups that are the worst offenders, led by phthalates, flame retardents (found in electrical goods and furniture, including mattresses), pesticides, and PCBs.

Check out the full article, and keep an eye out for the report. While you can be exposed to many of the chemicals daily through what you breathe, eat and put on your skin, you can reduce your exposure by being aware of what you buy and use in your home. And don't forget - Garden Girl products are phthalate free!

Many US-made Toys Unsafe!

2008-12-03T09:49:00.004-05:00

This morning on NPR there was a report that indicated that it isn't just toys from China that you have to worry about. Let's all groan together. I found this report to be truly eye-opening. A Michigan non-profit group called The Ecology Center, tested about 1500 toys including stuffed animals, books, games, action figures and other products. The scary part - they found that nearly 1/3 of the products (about 500 of them) have "significant levels of lead, arsenic and other chemicals. The results showed no consistent correlation between the presence of toxic chemicals in toys and where they were made or how much they cost." YIPES!
The worst offenders? Cheap jewelry, bath toys and infant books.

Lead was one of biggest issues. Yes, toys made in China were more likely to have lead than toys made elsewhere. But not by much! 21% of toys (1 in 5) made in China were found to have high or moderate levels of lead. But 16% (nearly 1 in 6!) made elsewhere were also found to have unacceptable levels of lead. Of toys made in the US - 35% had some detectable level of lead!

What can you do? First - be very (very) selective about the toys you buy this holiday season. But be also glad that stricter regulations will come into effect next year.

To check out the NPR report click here

What do you SHEA?

2008-12-03T09:03:00.004-05:00

Shea butter is another quiet hero of skin care. Shea is an amazing ingredient that has been used for hundreds of years. It comes from the fruit/nut from shea trees in West Africa. The nut is then crushed and boiled and the fat is extracted. It is similar to cocoa butter, and is actually edible as well! The butter is a deep ivory or sometimes even yellowish color.

Sometimes referred to in West Africa as "women's gold," shea butter production has become a growing entrepreneurial business opportunity for women in West Africa. With the help of charitable organizations, women's associations have been developing ways to produce quality shea butter for distribution internationally. While shea seeds have been exported to Europe since the late 19th century for processing and packaging, women have only received a small fraction of the full value of their crop. So the charitable organizations have stepped in to help develop the skills and empower women to work together, raise their profile and earn fair trade.

One such group that is helping this process is "Women's Gold: The Dagara Shea Butter Project", based in Lexington, MA. According to The Dagara Project, "In a culture where 'men's work' and 'women's work' are clearly defined, the women's traditional work of gathering and processing shea seeds now offers and exciting opportunity for women to be empowered, enabling them to provide for the needs of their children and families."

Shea butter is in high demand, and for good reason. Shea is known to deeply moisturize, repair and heal skin. It is able to treat sunburns, wrinkles, tough or cracked skin on elbows and feet, itching skin, and rashes. Many people with eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and rheumatism have seen positive results after using shea butter. Unrefined shea butter is packed with nutrients and vitamins. It can correct and heal damaged skin on a cellular level - helping to repair free radical damage and other skin conditions.

So look for shea butter as an ingredient in your skin care products (it's in nearly all of Garden Girl's products!) It's there for good reason!

Cyber Monday!!

2008-11-30T20:58:00.004-05:00

Well - I polled friends and relatives during this wonderful (and calorie-laden) extra-long weekend and came up with a great offer for the now infamous Cyber Monday. I have to say, somehow it feels like the geeky brother of Black Friday but regardless - it has become a big thing. As usual, however, I digress (and so early in the post too!)

Anyway, here's the deal -

FREE SHIPPING on ALL ORDERS!

PLUS a very cool bonus:

The first 10 orders will get a FREE 8oz SHOWER GEL (in either Alive, Mellow, Chill Out or Jump Start scent - all fragranced with essential oils, loaded with skin softeners, with rich sulfate/SLS-free suds!)

That's a LOT of freebies - and all you need to do to take advantage, is go to

www.gardengirlskincare.com

and use the coupon code CYBER when checking out.

Not a bad way to start your week! Great time to get some holiday shopping done - and feel good knowing you're giving eco-friendly products that are also good for your skin and body. Garden Girl products are always free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates. Best of all - they work great, leaving your skin looking its best.

And don't forget to grab a few things for yourself while your at it! No one ever said you couldn't buy your own stocking stuffers. Let's face it - it's hard to get family members to get you want you really want! (Although you can always forward them the Garden Girl website URL...) All from the comfort of your couch! And since Dancing with the Stars is over, you have a whole free Monday night :) Hmmm - I wonder what Brooke Burke is doing now that she's back home with the kiddos. See? I digress again.

So take advantage of this special offer. It's only valid until MIDNIGHT Monday night.

P.S. I know we have the weekly One Day Sale - but I can tell you, I won't have one with more free stuff than this before Christmas! So shop early - and save big!

Alba Shampoo and Kiss My Face conditioner

2008-11-25T21:46:00.004-05:00

I have been trying for a couple of years now to find hair care products that are free of my "no-no's" - parabens, sulfates and phthalates (so I look for products without perfume or fragrance). There certainly is no lack of products out there. Just go to the personal care aisle at Whole Foods.

The reason I started Garden Girl was that I couldn't find skin care and bath & body products that were natural and worked as well. I knew there must be a way to have products that were natural and effective - and we've done it.

Now I'm finding that I can't seem to find any hair care products that really WORK. But so far - I am finding that natural hair care products just don't work. I'm not asking for much, either. I just need the products to leave my hair soft, and my scalp clean (my hair is generally normal or a tiny bit dry). But I seem to find natural shampoos and conditioners either leave my hair feeling dry and frizzy, or my scalp itchy or flaky. Not what I'm looking for!

So recently I decided to try Alba Plumera Replenishing hair wash. According to the label, there is only a "botanical fragrance" however I am skeptical that they didn't use fragrance as well. It's too strong for just essential oils. The scent was nice and the ingredients list was impressive. But unfortunately, this shampoo falls into that category of looks good, smells good but doesn't do the trick. It didn't give a nice lather, and my hair felt dry after using it.

The other product I tried recently was Kiss My Face Whenever Conditioner - Green Tea & Lime. Again, this is a product that has a great list of ingredients with much of them being organic. But this just never felt like it was absorbing in. My hair didn't feel moisturized after using the conditioner. Instead it felt somewhat dry.

While both of these products met the criteria of being free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates - neither of them did the trick.

Meantime, I will continue my pursuit of good natural haircare. Fingers crossed!

PediEgg product review

2008-11-23T21:53:00.003-05:00

Having been simultaneously intrigued and repulsed by the PediEgg infomercials (not a big fan of feet in general) I finally decided to buy one today to see what all the hype was about. I had heard many people rave about it, but others have said it wasn't that great.

Well here's my thoughts:

Pros -

it does "shave" the dry/rough skin off, and captures it (that's the ick-factor) in the cute little case
it doesn't hurt or seem irritating

Cons -

if you don't hold the egg in the exact right angle, the foot shavings (again, ick) fall to the ground - definitely do it over a trash basket just in case
when I was done, I could tell that a lot of the rough skin had been removed, but my foot didn't feel smooth and soft until I put my Zippity Do Dah peppermint foot cream on. That's not just a shameless plug for Garden Girl products, it's just that my feet felt rough and dry after I was done.

Overall Assessment: I am not convinced it did a better job than my regular foot smoother. And I know some people like to see the results by staring proudly into a little plastic egg at the shards of their skin they just removed from their foot, but it is a bit of overkill for me. Don't need to see it! Will I use it again? Sure - it's convenient and now that I have it I'll feel compelled to use it (I'm not one to waste or discard things - just ask my husband about our bins and bins of baby stuff in the basement). Would I tell others to buy it? Hmm. Not necessarily - unless they are desperate to try something new for their piggies!

If you have another product you are curious about - let me know! I love trying new things - especially if it's "eco-friendly"!

My thanks to YOU!

2008-11-23T21:06:00.003-05:00

Been thinking a lot about the things that I have to be thankful for. The world we are living in is getting wackier every day. The stock markets are insane and 401(k)'s are more like 201(k)'s , as my dad likes to "joke."

So with things this crazy, it makes me thankful for what is solid, secure and comforting. My husband, my children, my extended family and my friends. Having a home that we can afford, secure jobs, and food on the table.

But another thing I am truly thankful for is my loyal customers. It is not easy to have a new company that you are trying to grow during a recession. But my customers are something to be thankful for. You guys are great - and I appreciate each and every one of you. You have made this a year that I am proud of - I'm thankful for the success Garden Girl has had.

So here's how I can show my thanks - by giving you a deal! This week, I'm giving you a TWO DAY sale - and it's a good one:

20% off ALL orders - any size!

Woohoo - that's a biggie, too! Not only can you save lots of money - but you also get an extra day to order! So stock up on your favorites, load up on hostess gifts for the upcoming holiday parties and maybe even get a headstart on some holiday shopping. Or maybe just share them with people YOU are thankful for! And as always - the products are free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates.

To take advantage, simply go to:
www.gardengirlskincare.com

Then when you are ready to check out, use coupon code:
SAVE20

With my most sincere thanks for helping me build this company, enjoy! And may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and joy.

Earthlust stainless water bottle GIVEAWAY

2008-11-21T15:22:00.002-05:00

Check out the s.i.m.p.l.e blog for a great giveaway of Earthlust stainless water bottles. All you need to do is post on the simple blog which one you like the best and you'll be entered to win. Good luck!