Organic Cotton Apron [Review]

One would be surprised that for the amount of cooking and baking I do, I do not use or own an apron. I never thought I needed an apron, until I became a stay at home mom and increased the amount of cooking, baking and hand dishwashing I do. There never seems to be a towel within reach, so I sometimes wipe my hands on my pants. This is not a recommended activity. I have had my eye on A Green Kitchen organic cotton apron for several years. Organic cotton paired with adorable prints turn cooking and baking into a special occasion.

Organic Cotton Full Apron          

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Certified organic, fair trade cotton	Only one storage pocket
Storage pocket
USA made

A Greener Kitchen apron is made with medium weight certified organic fabric from one of USA's few eco-friendly textile artisans. I love that the fabric is fair trade and sourced in the USA. This cuts down on shipping costs and impact on the environment. I selected the Black & White Whispering Grass print because it will go with anything I am wearing. The stitching and the fabric are both high quality. Though, I do wish that the fabric was just a bit on the thicker side.

The design of the full apron makes me feel more feminine. The apron comes in one size. I am 5'4 and of a thin built. I had no issues tying the apron in the back. The size of the ties would fit most people. I have a longer torso and I found that the apron sat too low on my waist. It would probably sit better on someone who is taller. I wore the waist part of the apron about 1-2 inches higher on my waist and it fit much better. The top did bunch up a little, but did not look bad. I like that the side of the skirt reach around to the sides.

The pocket is very useful and is generous in size that most kitchen accessories or personal items will fit in there. I do wish there was another pocket on the other side. I like that the pocket opening is at an angle. This makes it easier to access the pocket.

I have worn this organic apron while cooking dinner and while baking. I found it to be functional and effective as an apron. As with all fabrics, treat stains immediately. A Greener Kitchen recommends hand washing or washing in cold water as needed with a natural detergent. Hang to dry or use low/no heat in the dryer.

I would recommend this apron and could see myself purchasing it as a wedding gift. A Greener Kitchen organic cotton apron is the perfect accessory for an eco-friendly cook.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

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$100 Paypal Cash [Giveaway]

Didn't get everything that you wanted for Christmas? Here is an opportunity to win $100 PayPal Cash and purchase what is left on your wish list. This giveaway is open worldwide!

One of our hosts this month is Barbara's Beat. She is a blogger that participated last month and was responsible for so many of the entries the giveaway received! Be sure to check out her blog!

This giveaway is made possible by: The nearly 50 amazing bloggers who have shared it with you along with the following websites who sponsored it: CieraNitkowski.com WrappingQueens.com - The place you get that CRAZY WRAP THING! Check them out to learn more! MissHeartoftheUSA.com - A National Pageant program that focuses on teaching young ladies the importance of giving back to their community. Miss Heart of the USA hosts pageants across the USA and is awarding $7,000 in cash scholarships at their National in Orlando, Florida in 2015. MissUnitedStatesAgriculture.com - The Miss United States Agriculture Pageant celebrates the agriculture industry and local farmers all while promoting self esteem, building strong leaders and awarding scholarships. BloggerMediaGroup.com - An online blogger community. CrownReady.com - Crown Ready is your online source for everything pageant. From pageant calendars, online forums, business directories and more. Your source to becoming "crown ready" CallDMG.com - Dothan Marketing Group is a full source advertising agency located in Dothan, Alabama that does website design, logo and ad creation for small businesses and bloggers all over the USA. Please visit the websites of our sponsors who make this giveaway possible.

Entering is easy, just complete the tasks below. The more tasks you complete, the more entries you receive into the giveaway. Be sure to go down the list and follow all of these amazing bloggers on Twitter so you don't miss a thing!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: All Natural Katie received no compensation for posting and promoting this giveaway. All Natural Katie is not responsible for prize fulfillment. 

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Preparing for the New Year 2015

As December rolls around, I start thinking of the new year. From resolutions to cleaning out the house, the December holiday season is a perfect opportunity to clean up and clean out to prepare for the new year. This year, we were blessed with my husband being off work for almost two weeks. I focused on baking, cooking, and cleaning out the closets. I made room for the new clothes, items and toys by selecting items to donate, to hand down to family members, and to recycle.

>> How are you preparing for 2015??
  

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NuWave Cooktop [Giveaway]

Sometimes, we all need an extra burner, especially around the holidays when we are cooking large meals. NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop (PIC2) is portable and convenient. I love that NuWave offers temperatures settings from 100 F to 575 F and precise temperature control. My glass top range can vary in the temperature output, so having an extra burner when you need to keep a specific temperature would be very useful. Enter below for an opportunity to win a NuWave cooktop.

Hosted By :

Deliciously Savvy

Co-Hosted By:

Sandy's P.O.V.

Michigan Saving & More

My Pinterventures

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Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains

And As Always A BIG Thank You To Blogs Helping To Promote This Giveaway!

The NuWave Precision Induction Cooktop (PIC2) as seen on TV offers precise temperature control, adjustable in 10-degree increments. With a minimum temperature setting of 100F and an upper limit of 575F (Sear), the NuWave PIC2 offers a wider temperature range than competitor models. This permits the appliance to act as more than just a cooktop. The NuWave PIC2 does the thinking for you. It offers state-of-the art programming technology with 100 hours of memory that allow you to prepare complex recipes with ease. A "Delay" function allows you to initiate cooking when it's most convenient for you, including an automatic shutoff function when cooking time is completed. The NuWave PIC2 was engineered with a circular design scheme, doing away with excess space that serves no cooking function. The PIC2's round design also echoes the traditional feel of an intimate gathering place like the kitchen or dining room table. Mealtime is about community and the PIC2 was designed with that idea in mind. Despite its portability and compact size, the NuWave PIC2 offers a large cooking area, measuring 9 inches in diameter. In this case, bigger is better, with the PIC2 allowing for greater diversity in cooking vessels and portion sizes. 

Complete energy saving cooking solution Uses up to 70% less energy 1300 watts 6 pre-programmed temperature settings Precision temperature control Lightweight and portable Can deep fry, stir fry, sauté, boil, steam, sear, slow cook, barbecue or grill.

1 LUCKY Winner Will Receive This Cooktop! ($99 ARV)

Giveaway Dates: 12AM EST 12/27 through 12AM EST 1/26

Giveaway Valid for Continental US Residents ONLY and must be 18+ to enter

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or associated with Facebook,

Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This giveaway is valid only

in the Continental United States (48 states). Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter.

This giveaway will end at 12:00 PM (EST) 01/26/15.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Deliciously Savvy did not receive any form of compensation for this giveaway. Once winner is selected via the Rafflecopter process, the product will be shipped. Winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. No other blog associated with this giveaway is responsible for the product shipment. Deliciously Savvy is providing the prize to the winner. Thank You for stopping by!

Any Questions or Concerns email me at mcushing7@hotmail.com   

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Lemon Peel Oil [Review]

Essential oils have become a bigger part of my life over the past 2 years. Since getting pregnant and giving birth, I try to keep our family healthy through natural and homeopathic ways. Not only are essential oils great for keeping your body healthy or for treatment of conditions, but they are also great for naturally scents and homemade cleaning products. Lemon Essential Oil is a common ingredient in essential oil blends and in homemade cleaners.

Lemon Essential Oil            ($17.95, 4oz)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Pure and undiluted	Smells industrial
Comes with eye dropper lid	Not certified organic
Generous size bottle will last a long time

Pure Body Naturals Lemon (Citrus Medica Limonum) Peel Oil is 100% natural and undiluted. The country of origin is Italy. From my quick research, there are different names for Lemon Peel Oil and they seem to be synonymous. This oil is 100% pure and undiluted. The Lemon Peel Oil is extracted through a cold press method. I waited on more information about the extraction process to understand if any chemicals or solvents are used. Traditionally, a cold press method would not anything other than the machinery to grind the lemon peel.

I have lemon essential oil from another brand, so I am familiar with how lemon essential oil should smell. However, I am also aware that there are different origins that could result in different smells. When I opened the bottle and smelled the lemon peel oil, it smelled of citrus, strong and bold, but also had a bit of an industrial smell. I asked my husband to smell it also and he agreed on the strong industrial cleaner smell. The scents almost reminds me a little of Lemon Balm (think Pledge).

Lemon Peel Oil is great to add to water for flavoring and for digestive purposes. I used the other brand of lemon oil quite often in water and enjoyed the pleasant taste. However, I would not use Pure Body Naturals Lemon Peel Oil in water because the strong industrial cleaner taste was not pleasant when I added two drops of the oil into 16 ounces of water.

Though I do like the citrus smell, I would probably stick to using this product for cleaning purposes. I added about 30 drops of this Lemon Oil into my homemade shower spray and it cut through the strong Tea Tree Oil smell, but was not overpowering with the lemon oil smell.

Lemon Peel Oil is very concentrated. If applied directly to the skin, it must be diluted in an appropriate oil (Jojoba Oil and Grapeseed Oil make the best carrier oils, but can also use Sweet Almond Oil or Olive Oil).

Here are some of the ways that I use Lemon Peel Oil in my home:

• Homemade Daily Shower Spray recipe - 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water, 30 drops of Tea Tree Oil, 30 drops of Lemon Peel Oil mixed in a spray bottle. Shake and spray after shower use.
• Laundry disinfecting - add 10-15 drops (depend on load size) into washing machine.
• Laundry scenting - add a few drops to a piece of cloth and add to drying machine.
• Bathroom Deodorizer Spray recipe - 30 drops of Lemon Peel Oil mixed with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake and spray to deodorize.
• Lemon Tea Tree All Purpose Cleaner recipe

I love the generous 4 oz bottle of the Lemon Peel Oil. This bottle will last a long time. I plan on using the lemon oil for homemade cleaning recipes and purposes. Personally, I would not use this brand of lemon peel oil for therapeutic purposes such as ingestion (diluted) or aromatherapy.

I would like to see Pure Body Naturals move toward organic certification to ensure no pesticides or unwanted chemicals in the lemon oil.

The price is comparable to other brands who offer the 4 oz bottle of conventional lemon peel oil.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

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