"Green" Dining - GIVEAWAY

I was excited to hear that Green Toys had come out with a new line of tableware for kids called Green Eats. We love their toys and couldn't wait to try their new products. We received some divided plates and some tumblers. I was happy to see that they lived up to the same quality I've come to expect from Green Toys. Not only are they BPA and Phthalate-free, they also contain no melamine and are made in the USA. All Green Toys products are made of 100% Recycled Plastic Milk containers or HDPE - high density polyethylene. This produces a safe product and also saves energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizes carbon footprint. What more can you ask for? I'll tell you: in addition to being safe and earth-friendly they are also dishwasher safe - a huge plus in our busy household!

The tumblers are a good size for children, but the colors - yellow, green, orange, and blue - are so vibrant that I can't help but want to use one, too.

The divided plates are divided into three sections. This is perfect for teaching portion size - the two small sections for the protein and the starch and the large section for fruits and veggies. It's never too early to teach about a healthy diet! Another huge perk is that these plates keep the food separated - great for children who don't like their foods to touch. But what's key in our book is that these are great for children, like my son, who love to throw the plate when finished. No more having to worry about broken plates!

The only thing that should be noted is that these are not safe for use in the microwave. Not really a concern for me but if it is in your home, you'll appreciate that the Green Toys products are marked on the bottom to let you know that they are not microwavable but they are dishwasher safe. I end up hand-washing so many items that aren't marked if they are "dishwasher safe" so I think that's a great feature.

Also available are plates, snack plates, bowls, snack bowls, spoons and forks, divided trays and tabletop sets (plate, bowl, and tumbler).

The verdict? Once again, Green Toys provides a product that is a safer choice for my children and yet earth friendly! Want to try them for yourself?

One lucky Safer Choices reader will WIN a a set of Grean Eats!
Here's How:

1. Head over to Green Toys and leave a comment here telling me another Green Eats product that you like. Make sure to leave your email address in the comment (used only to contact the winner).

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2. "Like" SaferChoices and Green Toys on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in the comment.

3. Blog about this giveaway and link to www.greentoys.com and saferchoicesblog.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

4. Follow Safer_Choices on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY FOR DAILY ENTRIES – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): Enter to #WIN Green Eats Tableware from @GreenToys on @Safer_Choices! #giveaway ends 8/31 http://tinyurl.com/3kvp84z

5. Follow me on Google Friend Connect! Just click on the "Join this site with Google Friends Connect" button on the top, right side of this page (under the search box and the Facebook "Like" button).

This giveaway ends 8/31 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on this post. US entries only please.

Pacific Natural Foods Giveaway!

If you love soup, Pacific Natural Foods' soups are a safer choice to the traditional canned varieties because the company uses aseptic containers. Unlike most canned foods which contain BPA in their lining, aseptic packaging is BPA-free. Safer is better but the taste is extraordinary! And now you have the opportunity to try some for Free! I will be selecting 3 winners to receive a coupon for a FREE Pacific Natural Foods product of their choice! Here's what you need to do:

Mandatory for entry: Read my review here and leave a comment below with your favorite thing about Pacific Natural Foods!

You will get one additional entry for each of the following (leave a separate comment for each):

1. "Like" Safer Choices on Facebook (link on top right) and leave a comment with your Facebook name.

2. Follow Safer Choices and leave your name.

3. Follow Safer_Choices on Twitter and tweet the following: "Enter to win a free Pacific Natural Foods product at http://saferchoices.blogspot.com/search/label/Giveaways ". *Be sure to leave your twitter name in your comment.

4. Blog about this giveaway and link to http://saferchoices.blogspot.com/search/label/Giveaways and leave the link to your post in the comment.

Good luck!

The details: This giveaway will end on May 14th. I will use Random.org to select the winning comment numbers. The winners will be announced May 16th. A coupon for a free Pacific Foods Product of your choice will be mailled to each winner upon receiving required contact information. If no contact information is provided within 14 days, a new winner will be selected.

THE WINNERS ARE: Stephen, Terry, and Kiersten. Congratulations! Please send your address to saferchoices.blogspot.com so I can mail your prize!

Save the Planet & Your Body - Get a Reward! - GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

If you've read our review on GlassDharma straws you know that we LOVE them. No more plastic straws going into the landfill and no more chemicals leaching into your drink. We know that each one of us can make a difference by using them, but imagine taking it to a whole new level. Imagine restaurants using them!

Consider this: "Awareness of the mounting piles of trash accumulating all over our Planet has spurred a new trend; to rethink the impact of what gets used and what is thrown away. Gratefully, many restaurants and their customers have chosen to re-use. Restaurants might find ways to reward diners that bring their own re-usables with special menu items or special prices. Or the establishments could providing retail space for the purchase of reusable food containers and serve-ware. Furthermore, reusable containers and serve-ware can be included right into the restaurant menu choices! This idea brings a convenient option with an eco-conscious focus. It encourages personal choices to reduce the incident of excessive waste. Adding a reusable glass straw as a beverage upgrade for a special price will promote the reuse of that same straw by the consumer. Likewise, upgrading the size of a beverage to those that bring their own reusable straw will reward and encourage eco-responsibility."

In honor of Earth Day, GlassDharma is motivated to make this difference and they are willing to put FREE glass straws where your lips are! All you have to do is write a letter to your favorite restaurant(s) and suggest ways they might reduce single-use plastic straws. Let them know why you'd love them to consider using GlassDharma straws! Together we CAN make a difference for our planet and our health!

Here are the details:
*Like SaferChoices on Facebook (link at top right)
1) Write and send a letter to a restaurant of your choice -- up to 5 different restaurants for up to 5 free straws.
Note: your letter must be snail mailed, emails don't count. Glass Dharma feels this will have more of an impact to a restaurant as sometime emails get overlooked. It's also best to choose restaurants you frequent (and know they give out straws). While restaurant chains are great, don't forget "neighborhood" restaurants.
2) Copy your letter, including full contact information of the restaurant, into a comment below.
3) Send an email to earthday@glassdharma.com with a copy of your letter, including contact info of the restaurant AND your personal contact info so that a free GlassDharma Glass Straw can be mailed to you. Contact information for entrants and restaurants must include, name, mailing address and email address.
*Please be sure that you have fulfilled each of the above requirements. Failure to do so will result in not receiving your free straw(s).

A GlassDharma Simple Elegance Glass Straw (SE9.5NA8) will be mailed to each participant directly from the GlassDharma manufacturing facility in Fort Bragg, CA for writing the letter and including the contact information. Yes, each participant gets a free glass straw! One free straw per entry (multiple entries, up to 5 total, must include a different restaurant for each entry). Participants from USA and Canada only will be eligible for this contest.

GlassDharma will award one Grand Prize Winner a $100.00 gift certificate coupon code from all entries received through 4/30/2011. Straws will be shipped between May 2nd and 4th. Grand prize drawing to be held on 5/4/2011 and will be announced by GlassDharma.

Finally, Non-toxic Nail Polish - Contest Ended

I've cringed at the thought of depriving my daughter of cute, little painted finger nails but the harmful chemicals in most nail polishes are a definite concern. So I was very excited when I found Piggy Paints! Available in almost two dozen fun colors, Piggy paints contain no toxic chemicals! They are free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, Bisphenol A, ethyl acetate and acetone. The water-based formula has virtually no odor and is even hypoallergenic.

But the real test was how well it worked with my daughter. Piggy Paints go on just like your typical nail polish. They recommend 2-3 coats but one coat seemed to provide great coverage on her tiny fingers. The manufacturer recommends drying with a hair dryer on low setting to speed up the drying process and achieve maximum chip resistance but we let them air dry. I was pleasantly surprised at how durable the finish was. Her nails were picture perfect for over three days despite the arts and crafts, play time, and other adventures we were involved in. The polish probably would have held up even better if I had used multiple coats, their non-toxic top coat, and used the hair dryer. The polish can easily be removed with their eco-friendly, low odor Piggy Paint nail polish remover. Both the polishes and remover are made in the USA!
SAFER10L expiration February 28, 2011 & is ready for Immediate use for 10% off exclusive for your readers on anything on our Website including sale items.

If you want to try Piggy Paints for yourself, use the code SAFER10L and get 10% off anything on their website including sale items! In addition, Piggy Paints has graciously agreed to give one lucky reader a chance to win $15 in free products! Here's what you need to do:

Mandatory for entry: Hop on over to Piggy Paints and tell me what your favorite color is.

For extra entries (leave a comment for each):

1. Follow my blog

2. Follow Safer Choices on Facebook

3. Follow Safer_Choices on Twitter and tweet the following: "Enter to win $15 in Piggy Paints non-toxic nail polish at SaferChoices.blogspot.com". Be sure to leave your twitter name in your comment.

4. Blog about this giveaway and link to saferchoices.blogspot.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

5. “Like” Piggy Paints on Facebook and leave a comment with "Go to saferchoices.blogspot.com for your chance to win $15 in Piggy Paints!"

6. Follow Piggy Paints on Twitter and Tweet the following: "Go to saferchoices.blogspot.com for your chance to win $15 in Piggy Paints!"

Good luck and this giveaway will end on Feb 14th! Winner will be announced Feb16th!