Blueline Powercost Monitor and Microsoft Hohm (Review)

My car has a handy gauge that tells me how many miles per gallon I’m getting.  I like to glance at it while getting to point B to see how my driving style affects the efficiency of my vehicle.  When I first got the car, I was absolutely obsessed with getting the best mileage possible.  I thought, wouldn’t it be great to have something like this for your home, to show you how well you’re using your electricity?

I think many of us are hip to turning off lights when we leave the room and the like, but the Blueline Powercost Monitor helps you actually see the results of your actions in real time.  With the WiFi Edition, it connects with your Microsoft Hohm account to help you analyze it further by providing charts and graphs while offering tips and suggestions.

Though I have to admit I did have some anxiety about it, installing the system was pretty easy.  The most difficult part for me was determining my billing rate.  My bill wasn’t clear so I had to call the power supply company, and talk to a representative, who I hope gave me the correct information (she didn’t sounds too confident).

Once I got everything programmed, installation was a snap.  I followed the instructions carefully and managed to install it properly the first time.  I’m always shocked when things work on the first attempt.

 The results of my handiwork.  I’m the man in the family.

The monitor itself is nice looking, and even displays the time and outside temperature which is handy.  Best of all, I like seeing my monthly electric bill estimate.  It definitely helps keep the family mindful of their electricity use when we can all see the results in real time. 

We sure could have used this over the summer when we racked up that $430 electric bill.  I did a few screenshots of my Hohm account, but I didn’t have much data to display so my chart looks like a vertical line, but I grabbed images from the Microsoft Hohm blog to show you an example of how your energy use might be charted out.  You can ID the results by what appliance you had running, time of day and compare information from month to month, and year to year.  This system is similar in detail to charts you’d use to monitor your spending.

The PowerCost Monitor™ WiFi Edition has an MSRP of $268, and includes sensor, in home monitor, WiFi Gateway, AC adapter, mini usb, and manuals.  It’s an investment for your home and your environment and helps provide that first step toward a green home.

I have not been compensated for this post.  I received the products mentioned in order to form my opinion and share it my readers.

Scotch-Brite Greener Clean (Giveaway)

Closed – Congrats purplelover04

There is a movement geared toward finding greener ways to clean.  People are going back to basics, and using traditional methods that our parents and grandparents used, before the chemical-laden products hit the store shelves.  Scotch-Brite is happy to be on board with their Greener Clean products, and I had the opportunity to see them first hand when I visited their booth during the BlogHer conference. 

The Scotch-Brite Greener Clean products are made with natural scrubbing fibers or recycled plastic materials, depending on the product.   I had the opportunity to try the entire product lineup – all except for the soap-loaded scrubbers.  I like cleaning with these earth-tone sponges and scrubbers so much better than the traditional fluorescent yellow and green versions.

When it comes it come to cleaning tips and tricks, I always love to find out what other moms are doing, so I really enjoyed all of the smart tips that these BlogHer ‘10 attendees shared.

GIVEAWAY!
One lucky reader will a collection of Scotch-Brite Greener Clean products to try!  

Mandatory Entry:  Comment below telling me your best green cleaning tip.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a separate comment for each entry.
+1 Entry if you are a public follower of this blog.
+2 Entries if you become a feed subscriber and tell me which reader you use.
+2 Entries if you are an email subscriber.  Leave email address.
+1 Entry ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook and leave a comment on my wall.
+1 Entry daily follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter and tweet this message.  Must leave the url to tweet in your comment.

Have you seen the new Scotch-Brite Greener Clean products?  #WIN the set @girlgonemom - http://bit.ly/991WWu

+2 Entries add my new (green) button to your blog sidebar.  Leave the link.
+2 Entries if you add my Fall for Fashion button to your blog sidebar.  Leave link.
+1 Entry for every other current giveaway you enter.
+1 Entry if you leave a meaningful comment on a non-giveaway post.
+5 Entries if you blog about this giveaway.

No compensation was received for this post. The sponsor provided a product sample to facilitate my review. Contest is open to US residents age 18 and older and closes at Midnight EST on September 17th.  The winner will be selected using Random.org. See giveaway rules before entering. GOOD LUCK!

Annemarie Börlind Scented Body Products {Giveaway}

Contest Closed – Congratulations, Kimberly!

In the beginning of August, I posted a review of my favorite new skin care products by Annemarie Börlind.  I’ve been using them every day and am very happy with the results.  Shortly after , the company contacted me about featuring their line of scented body products.  I hadn’t even noticed them on the site the first time around.

If you didn’t catch my earlier review, let me tell you a little bit about Annemarie Börlind.  The company uses first pressings of plant products to derive the basic ingredients for their products.  The water used is from natural springs, and great care is taken to provide products that are unpolluted and chemical free.  The result is a high quality product that is healthy for your skin.

Their body products are available in several scents inspired by nature, like Lotus Ginger, Strawberry and Guarana, among others.  It wasn’t easy to choose, but I went with the Milk & Honey Lotion and Shower Gel.  This scent was described as being relaxing, pampering and awakening the mind. Sold! 

Milk & Honey is a scent like none other.  I would describe it as being more of a musk type, and it’s a nice change of pace from the more flowery scents I’m used to using.  After using the Milk & Honey body products my skin is so smooth.  My skin is normally on the dry side, so I seek out products that will moisturize.  I knew that milk and honey were great for the skin and the products did indeed provide the result I was looking for.  And I smell great!  The packaging is beautiful while also being practical.

Sale! The scented lotions are normally $19.99 and the shower gels $14.99, but both are on sale for only $7.50 each!

GIVEAWAY!
One lucky reader will win a bath and body set from Annemarie Börlind!

Mandatory Entry: Visit the body products page and leave a comment below telling me which scent you would like.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Must leave a comment for each entry.  If two entries are taken, leave two comments.
+1 Entry ‘Like’ Annemarie Börlind on Facebook.  Leave your Facebook name.
+1 Entry ‘Like’ Girl Gone Mom on Facebook.  Leave your Facebook name.
+1 Entry Follow Girl Gone Mom on twitter. Must leave your twitter handle.
+1 Entry Follow Annemarie Börlind on twitter.  Must leave your twitter handle.
+1 Entry per day for tweeting this message, and leave the link to your tweet.
Win a set of natural body products from @anneborlind Treat the body and awaken the mind! http://bit.ly/cDXi2c @girlgonemom #giveaway

+1 Entry if you are a public follower of this blog.
+2 Entries if you are an email subscriber (must activate).  Leave email address.
+2 Entries if you subscribe to this blog in a reader.
+2 Entries add my new (green) button to your blog sidebar.  Leave the link.
+2 Entries if you add my Fall for Fashion event button to your blog sidebar.  Leave link.
+1 Entry for every other current giveaway you enter.
+1 Entry if you leave a meaningful comment on a non-giveaway post.

No compensation was received for this post. I received the product sample in order to facilitate my candid review. Contest is open to US residents 18 and older with a street address (no P.O. box or APO) and closes at Midnight EST on September 6th.  The winner will be selected using Random.org. See giveaway rules before entering. GOOD LUCK!

Eden Home La Chamba Cookware - Review + Giveaway

Closed
There's more to organic than milk and hemp clothing.  When I browsed through the selection at Eden Home, I was amazed as to how much more.  It's quite impressive, actually.  Did you know that you can buy new products made with recycled glassware?  I'd heard of repurposing old windows, but I never knew that it was possible to melt the material and make it into something completely new.

I'm always drawn to products that are made with human hands, like the La Chamba cookware available at Eden Home.  Other than the hand-made factor, I love the symbology of fish and my house is decorated to reflect that.  So when I saw the Fish-Shaped Casserole Dish with Lid, I leapt for joy.

The casserole dish is made from black clay indigenous to central Columbia.  The same clay has been found on archaeological sites in the form of vases and pitchers that have dated back at least 700 years.  Each dish has its own unique qualities and details, because they are made by hand and not on a potter's wheel.   You'd think that this would be something to display in a museum, not cook with, but La Chamba cookware is incredibly versatile.  It can go in the in the oven, on your stove, and even in the microwave.

What I love the most about this dish is that there are no glazes used on the lead-free clay, and therefore no toxins being leached into my food.  You can never preheat an oven before placing your dish there and you can never shock it with a freezing temperature after it is hot.  The clay must warm and cool gradually to avoid cracking.

This is truly one-stop shopping at Eden Home .  You can buy natural food, clothing, housewares and more - all in one convenient place.

BUY IT! I definitely recommend shopping with Eden Home; It was a great experience overall and I love the casserole dish. 

WIN IT!  One lucky reader will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to Eden Home to buy whatever you like and that includes Free Shipping! 

To Enter:  Become a fan of Eden Home on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall saying that The Penny-Pinching Mama sent you.  Leave your Facebook name in your first comment below.

Increase your odds of winning with EXTRA ENTRIES, (available after mandatory entry above is completed): 

+ 1 Entry if you subscribe to the Eden Home newsletter.

+ 1 Entry each: if you follow this blog publicly via google friend connect, in your reader, or subscribe by email (leave email address).

+ 1 Entry per day if you follow The Penny-Pinching Mama on twitter and tweet the following:

Organic Living with Eden Home - Win a $25.00 Certificate plus free shipping! http://tinyurl.com/yhz6lsw giveaway @PennyPinchingMa

+ 1 Entry if you become a fan of The Penny-Pinching Mama on Facebook, leave your name.

+ 1 Entry each: if you add The Penny-Pinching Mama button or the My Size Kitchen Giveaway button to your blog (leave link):

+ 2 Entries if you enter the Vidazorb giveaway.

+ 5 Entries if you blog about this giveaway (and only this giveaway) in 50 words or more, including a link back to this post.

No compensation was received for this review post. The sponsor sent me a product sample to facilitate my candid review. Contest is open to U.S. residents and closes at Midnight EST on April 8th. 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 have a way to contact you. See the giveaway rules before entering. GOOD LUCK!

Rudolph's Gift Guide Day 13: SodaStream

**Contest Closed**
Soda Stream is a company that provides you with all of the tools needed to make your own sodas and sparkling waters at home, with ease. Their soda makers come with re-usable BPA-free containers to store your sodas, eliminating the need to recycle or otherwise dispose of typical soda bottles or cans.
For the most part, I drink water throughout the day. Occasionally, I buy soda from the supermarket, but I've found that the sodas available in stores are just too carbonated for my taste. I feel like I'm gulping a drink infused with pop rocks! Enter Soda Stream and their Pure Starter Kit that was hand-delivered to my door. I was sent an array of different soda flavors, including diet and even flavored-water mixes. The soda-maker was so easy to use, and I am able to add as much or as little fizz as I like, in a few simple steps.
First, you add a small amount of flavoring to your chilled bottle of tap water. Then, fasten the cap and shake the bottle to mix. Untwist the cap and screw the bottle onto to the machine. Pull the lever at 3 times or more to carbonate your beverage. It's that easy. In the photos below I'm making flavored water. So far, I've also made orange mango soda which was delish!

A few more great facts about Soda Stream:

• The bottle caps are made with hermetic seals to contain the fizz longer than store-bought soda bottles.
• The Sodamix flavors contain less sugar, calories, carbohydrates and sodium than national drink brands.
• Regular flavors have no high-fructose corn syrup, and diet flavors do not contain aspartame.
• No batteries, electricity or plumbing is required.

WIN IT! One very lucky reader will win a Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start up kit with CO2 to make over 100 liters of soda, 2 reusable carbonating bottles, a sample pack of flavors and 3 full-sized flavors.

To enter:

1) Follow SodaStreamUSA on twitter

2) Visit Soda Stream and check out the Fountain Jet model - what color do you want?

3) What 3 full-sized flavors would you like? (U.S. Only)

After you complete the above as your mandatory entry, you may take any or all of the extra entries below.

• Follow this blog publicly (+1 entry)
• Become a fan The Penny-Pinching Mama on Facebook, leave your name (+1 entry)
• Subscribe by email and verify. Leave your email address in comment (+1 entry)
• Follow PennyPinchingMa on Twitter and tweet the following message. (+1 entry per day): #Win a Fountain Jet Starter Kit and 3 soda flavors ARV over $120! http://bit.ly/21JstP from @SodaStreamUSA and @PennyPinchingMa #Giveaway
• Add my blog button to your blog's sidebar, must leave blog link (+1 entry)
• Add Rudolph's gift guide botton to your blog, must leave blog link (+1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway using 50-100 words and include a link back to this post. The post must be about this giveaway alone (+10 entries)

No compensation was received for this review. The sponsor sent me the product, and I offered my honest opinion. Contest closes at 9:00pm EST on November 29th. The winner will be chosen 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 have a way to contact you. See the giveaway rules located here before entering. GOOD LUCK!