Filtrete Water Pitcher (Review & Giveaway)

As embarrassing as it is to admit, we still buy bottled water.  We’ve gone back and forth between using tap and bottled for over a year.  We’ve seen lots of tests proving that most store-bought versions are no better than what you get from your tap, but having a filtering system is a nice happy medium between the two.  You do have the added cost of replacing filters, but it’s nowhere near what you’d spend buying water, all without the waster of disposable plastic bottles.

We’ve always been sold on the concept, but have gone through several different water pitchers only to go back to bottles.  There were various reasons why we didn’t stick with it.  One was too tall for the shelf in our refrigerator, and a few others were clumsy to operate or flimsy.  Plus, the waiting.  Many pitchers work this way:  They have a reservoir at the top to pour the water into, it slowly flows into the main part of the pitcher, and after waiting several minutes you have to repeat the same steps once or twice before you get that pitcher completely filled up.  If you can’t get your man to change the toilet paper roll, he certainly won’t get to work on a water pitcher that requires so much attention.

Look how fast this Filtrete™ Water Pitcher fills up.  There is absolutely no waiting – other than the time it takes for your faucet to release all of the water.  Filtrete has determined that it’s approximately five times faster than traditional pitchers.  I made a quick video just to demonstrate how fast the process is. 

The filter lays at the top of the pitcher.  It is flat, leaving more room for all 12 cups of water. The lid fits nicely and doesn’t flop around.  We’ll definitely be sticking with this one.   A filter costs about ten dollars or so and will last about 3 months – much cheaper than buying water.  It’s more responsible – both for the environment and your wallet.

Filtrete was nice enough to sweeten the deal for you too.  Here’s a coupon for $10 off a Filtrete Fast Flow Water Pitcher!

GIVEAWAY!
One lucky reader will win the 12-Cup Filtrete Water Pitcher (ARV $33)!
(US Only - Ends 11/15)

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Filtrete™ and tell me another product you’d like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each extra entry. 

+1 Extra Entry if you follow this blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall that you entered.
+1 Extra Entry if you ‘Like’ Filtrete on Facebook, leave your FB name.
+2 Extra Entries if you become a feed subscriber and tell me which reader you use.
+2 Extra Entries if you are an email subscriber.  Leave email address.
+2 Extra Entries add my new (green) button to your blog sidebar.  Leave the link.
+5 Extra Entries if you post my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar.  Leave link.
+2 Extra Entries if you add my blog url to your text blog roll. Leave link.
+5 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway with a link to this post.
+1 Extra Entry if you follow Filtrete on twitter.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message:

Win a 12 cup Fast-Flow Water Pitcher from Filtrete http://bit.ly/cPGysK and say goodbye to bottled water for good! @GirlGoneMom #giveaway

Contest is open to US residents and closes at Midnight EST on November 15th, 2010. One main entry per household.  No compensation was received for this post.  The sponsor sent me product sample and is offering the same for a lucky reader. 

The new Reveal Spray Mop by Rubbermaid makes cleaning a breeze! (Review & Giveaway)

Contest Closed.  Winner: Teresha

When we decided to install hardwood floors in our home, I was only thinking of the beauty and not the maintenance factor.  We have two cats, and now a toddler too, and keeping our cherry wood floors shining is no easy task.  In fact, they rarely ever shine.

Between the cat hair, food crumbs and the miscellany, I have my hands full cleaning these floors.  I vacuum once, sometimes several times per day to get the dirt up, and then comes the cleaning.  Having this extra step makes me miss the carpeting we once had in our living and dining rooms.  The flooring is not going to clean itself any time soon, so I just have to face the music.  But I sure am glad that Rubbermaid made my life easier with their newest mop, the Reveal Spray Mop.

I used to carry around the spray bottle in one hand and the mop in the other, and could never really get enough elbow grease into it to lift up dried-on stains.  I’m so happy that I can now use both hands, and having the cleaning bottle built right into the mop makes that possible.  I didn’t feel like I could fully describe this new mop with just photos and words, so I made a little demo video for you to check out so that you can really get the concept.

Cool, right?  I’m honestly much less intimidated by my dreaded floors with this thing!  I keep the cleaner in there and just grab, spray and mop.  So easy, and I need easy.  A few times I have put a little too much pressure ( we have bad stains in this house) and it came apart, but it snaps back together easily.  This Reveal Spray Mop is available for $29.95 plus shipping and handling.

The Reveal mop comes with a refillable bottle and two washable microfiber cleaning pads.  You want one now, don’t you?  Well, you’re in luck because you can win it right here!

GIVEAWAY!
One of you clean freaks will win a Rubbermaid Spray Mop for your home!  

Here are the links needed for some of the EXTRA ENTRIES (You may want to complete before filling out form).
-Like Rubbermaid on Facebook.
-Like my new Facebook page for Girl Gone Mom.
-Follow Rubbermaid on twitter.
-Follow me on twitter.
-The tweet to use for this giveaway:
Cleaning floors just got easier with the Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop.  #Win it! http://bit.ly/d6OUAN @girlgonemom #giveaway

 

No compensation was received for this post. I received the product discussed in order to facilitate my candid review. Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents 18 and older and closes at Midnight EST on August 16th. The winner will be selected using Random.org. See giveaway rules before entering. GOOD LUCK!

Note to Canadians: Winners might get charged C.O.D. for shipping charges and Rubbermaid has no control over this.

Powermat Wireless Charging System (Review & Giveaway ARV $220)

We’re constantly on the go in the summertime.  I’m exhausted by the end of our days, and sometimes I forget to charge my phone at night so that it’s ready to go for the next fun-filled day.  This is especially important now that we dropped our landline and the only way to reach me is on my cell phone.  My iPod is another story.  My jogging stroller has an mp3 speaker built into it, which is really great.  But I can never actually enjoy this feature because my iPod is always dead.

And let’s face it.  With all of the technology in a typical household these days, there are never enough electrical outlets available to keep gadgets charged, even when we happen to remember.   I have one large drawer in my kitchen dedicated to all of the power cords needed for all of our devices.  Every day I dig through it trying to find the match to whatever it is that needs charging.  Then you’re left with a tangled, knotted mess of wires on your countertop.  It’s certainly not pretty, it’s aggravating.  There is a better way, thanks to Powermat.
Stop, drop and charge!
Powermat is a system that wirelessly charges your portable devices, using only one electrical outlet.  If you have an iPhone, Blackberry or Nintendo DS, you just attach a special receiver to the back of each unit and simply drop onto the mat to begin charging.  It doesn’t get any easier than that!  If you don’t have any of those devices, don’t fret.  Each Powermat Wireless Charging system comes with a Universal Powercube Receiver, with 8 interchangeable tips for all of your charging needs.  It includes a Mini USB tip, Micro USB Tip, Apple® Tip, DS Lite Tip, DSi Tip, Nintendo DSi™, LG 1 Tip, Samsung® 2 Tip, and a Sony® PSP® Tip.  I’m disappointed that it does not include an adapter for Palm phones, but hopefully that’s in the works?  Even the storage receptacle for the tips stays put thanks to the Powermat magnets.

When I first plugged in the Home & Office Mat, it gave off an audible indication to let me know that it was on.  Actually, it startled me at first.  I’m the jumpy type, and I wasn’t expecting that!  With the activation of each device, the notification sounded and my devices lit up. It’s great that the Powermat informs you that everything is charging.  My electrical outlets don’t do that.

I’m using the Powermat to charge my iPod nano, Sony HD camera, and my husband’s phone, since there is no tip available for my Palm. A magnetic pull attracts each device to each one of the wireless charging ports.  It’s like magic!  I have to admit that when I saw the boxes I was a little intimidated.  I didn’t realize how user-friendly this system was to use. 

The Portable Powermat works in the same way, only it folds into three sections making it small and perfect for traveling with you.  It comes with a nice quality travel case that closes magnetically.  Do you see a theme here with magnets?  It really does make life easier not having to fiddle with connections and wires.  Now my iPod actually stays charged so that I can use it whenever Emma and I make the snap decision to take a walk around the neighborhood.  Now as for the phone, I’ll just be waiting for Powermat to make that Palm tip :).

The Powermat is really a must-have tool for any household, in every season.  I don’t think there’s another product as universally brilliant.  This is one of those products that anyone would benefit from, and anyone can use.  It’s that easy.

GIVEAWAY!
Thanks to the generosity of Powermat, one reader will win the
Home & Office Mat and 3 receivers from Powermat – ARV $220.00!

Here are the links needed for some of the EXTRA ENTRIES (You may want to complete before filling out form).
-Like Powermat on Facebook
-Like Girl Gone Mom on Facebook
-Follow Powermat on twitter
-Follow Girl Gone Mom twitter
-If you follow us both on twitter, you’ll receive one extra entry per day for tweeting this:
#Win the @Powermat Wireless Charging Home and Office Mat and 3 receivers http://bit.ly/a4clS9 ARV $220 @girlgonemom #Summeressentials


No compensation was received for this post. I received a yummy cake to facilitate my honest review. Contest closes at Midnight EST on August 10th. The winner will be selected using Random.org. See giveaway rules before entering. GOOD LUCK!

Make Your Own Weed Killer

This spring and summer I had two rivals.  Pollen and weeds.  Thankfully, it seems as though the pollen count is going down, but there is no stopping the darn weeds.  They’re popping up everywhere, including my veggie garden, plant beds and in the crevices of my patio.  I weed every day.  If only my plants were this hardy.

Have you seen the price of the bottled weed killer sold in hardware stores?  I own this hardcover book that I love called Homemade: How-to Make Hundreds of Everyday Products Fast, Fresh, and More Naturally (Paperback)that I turn to for all kinds of homemade remedies and sure enough, there is a super easy way to make weed killer using only two ingredients.
This is what you’ll need:

• A refillable spray bottle
  
• Boiling Water
  
• Household Bleach

Fill the spray bottle with 95% boiling water and 5% bleach.  Shake well, and spray onto the weeds.  Make sure children and pets are not nearby.  This worked well for me on the weeds that invaded my patio pavers.  The weeds did resist and I made the mixture stronger using a larger percentage of bleach and treated them a second time. If you have plants near your weeds, you can isolate the plants by placing a bottomless water jug over them.

all® Free Clear plus a parenting book (Review & Giveaway)

Contest Closed
For those with allergies or sensitive skin, there’s all® Free Clear.  Made without dyes or preservatives, it’s the most commonly recommended clothing detergent by dermatologists and allergists.  Y’all know that I am suffering horribly this season, so I will try anything that may help relieve my symptoms.

One tip that I know of is that washing clothing and sheets regularly in hot water will help to kill bacteria and allergens.  Also, take showers at nighttime to remove pollen, etc. from your body and hair so that you can avoid transferring onto your bed linens.

all® Free Clear is safe for baby’s sensitive skin, yet is also a strong concentrated detergent that works well at removing harsh stains.  I love not having to do separate loads of laundry in our household, as it can take a little while to collect a full sized load from Emma’s itty bitty wardrobe.  Washing all of our clothes together saves time and energy (meaning both labor and electricity!). We also received a copy of “How to Have Your Second Child First: 100 Things That Are Good to Know the First Time Around”.  It’s a wonderful guidebook written by Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen with advice for new parents given by those with years of experience.  I found the tips to helpful and the book to be quite entertaining.  Even if you’re already a parent, it’s never too late to learn!

GIVEAWAY! One lucky reader will get 2 Free coupons for all Free Clear detergent as well as the book “How to Have Your Second Child First”!

 

Mandatory Entry – Share your best laundry or parenting tip in your first comment below.

 

EXTRA ENTRIES:
-Follow this blog publicly via google friend connect.

-Subscribe to my blog posts by email.

-Follow (Like) all on facebook.

-Follow The Penny-Pinching Mama on Facebook.

-Follow The Penny-Pinching Mama on twitter and tweet the following message (once per day):

Win an all® Prize Pack: 2 Free coupons plus the book, How to Have Your Second Child First! http://tinyurl.com/26t7lvo @pennypinchingma

-Add my button (at left) to your blog.

-Enter any and all other giveaways on this blog.

 

No compensation was received for this post. I received product samples in order to facilitate my honest review. Contest is open to U.S. residents 18 and older and closes at Midnight EST on June 16th. The winner will be selected using Random.org. Please leave your email address either in your comment or make sure it is listed on your profile page so that I can reach you if you win. GOOD LUCK!