Giveaway: Beauty Without Cruelty $50 ARV {6.1; US}

This is a joint giveaway with True Confessions of a Real Mommy and Natural Parents Network.
You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.

Reviewer received a free sample for review purposes, and consideration was given to NPN
for hosting the review/giveaway. Links may be affiliate links.

Beauty Without Cruelty is offering our readers a giveaway of $50 worth of
their products.

For over 40 years BWC has been a company with a mission of ethical, cruelty-free
products that are made with natural, safe ingredients. All BWC color cosmetics are
suitable for vegetarians and vegans and are fragrance-free. Their nail colors are free of
toluene, formaldehyde, and pthalates.

If you win, you'll have yours for the choosing, $50 to spend at www.beautywithoutcruelty.com.



From our reviewer, Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy:

I don't use a lot of beauty products. I am generally a no 'poo, no makeup, just go with
the bright hair kinda gal. But a friend sent me just a sample of Beauty Without Cruelty,
and I wanted to know more. Luckily, the opportunity arose to really check out the
products and company when they sent me items for review.

In 1963, Beauty Without Cruelty was founded in England by the trustees of BWC Charitable
Trust, an animal welfare organization. Its goal was to manufacture and distribute
natural, color cosmetics that were NOT tested on animals and did NOT contain any animal
ingredients.

I chose to try Beauty Without Cruelty Aromatherapy Hair Care Moisture Plus Shampoo, BWC
Aromatherapy Hair Care Moisture Plus Conditioner, BWC Aromatherapy Skin Care Herbal
Cream Facial Cleanser, and BWC Attitude Nail Colors in Summer Sky.

BWC Aromatherapy Hair Care

To start, I love how well the shampoo and conditioner deal with my poorly (over)treated
hair. I have a penchant for abusing it with bleach and bright dyes that look fun but
really fry my hair. BWC Aromatherapy Hair Care Moisture Plus Shampoo and
Conditioner were excellent in putting moisture back in, leaving it so soft, with less
frizz and fuzz. I even think it may help keep the color bright. The only downside to the
product is I wasn't big on the scent. It reminded me of that old baby lotion. Just not my
thing. But, I do know their Lavender Highland and Rosemary Mint Tea Tree versions smell
wonderful. With S.L.S.-, paraben-, animal-product-free ingredients, as well as no
synthetic fragrances, it seems like a better alternative to typical products when I do
choose to wash my hair.

BWC Aromatherapy Skin Care

I was a little wary of trying a facial cleanser. I have NEVER been good at regular face
washing, and I have always had a problem with reacting when I tried a new one, but
everyone keeps saying it is crucial to keeping a young-looking face. So, I gave it a
shot. It was smooth, creamy, smelled nice, was gluten-free, and my face felt amazing
after using it. I followed the instructions to apply with my fingertips with some
concern: it seemed too creamy to wash without some exfoliant. No need to worry, my face
felt fresh and clean. No oily residue. I can't say it has helped my recurring blemishes
any, but no major breakouts.

BWC Attitude Nail Colors

The Attitude Nail Colors in Summer Sky was just a bit of fun for me, and my children. I don't often take the time to do the mani/pedi thing. (Really, I still have remnants from last summer's pedi. Shhh!) But I thought it would be nice to make some time. That didn't happen, of course.

My 3-year-old loves getting his nails painted. Have you painted a 3-year-old's nails? They can't sit still! And then my 15-month-old wanted in on it (just her toes), and I thought we were in trouble. Not to worry! The Attitude Nail Colors in Summer Sky went on
easily, dried FAST, and one coat was enough (though I did a second coat on some of mine). The paint did chip after a day or two, even though they call it "Chip Proof," but I have never had any nail polish last longer than that. Because it was toluene-,
phthalate-, formaldehyde-, and GLUTEN-free, I was less worried about using it on them than traditional polishes.

The short of it: great stuff. Responsible practices, reputable company, and some great
scents and colors. I would (and do) purchase from Beauty Without Cruelty.

BUY IT!

You can purchase your own vegan beauty supplies
at Beauty Without Cruelty.

And just for Natural Parents Network and True Confessions of a Real
Mommy readers, Beauty Without Cruelty is giving a
20% discount on all orders from now through June 15, 2013.
Enter code CMBNCXRB during the ordering
process.

WIN IT!

For your own chance to win a $50 credit from Beauty
Without Cruelty, enter by using our Rafflecopter system
below.

The winner will receive a $50 Gift Certificate to use at Beauty Without Cruelty.
Contest is open to the US only.

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Simply enter your name and email address in the Rafflecopter entry
system.

Leave a valid email address so we can contact you if you
win. Email addresses in Rafflecopter are not made publicly visible. Please leave the same
valid email address in any bonus comments so we can verify entries.

This is a joint giveaway with True Confessions of a Real
Mommy and Natural Parents Network. You
may enter at one site only, and we'll be recording IP
addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and
enjoy both sites!

BONUS ENTRIES:
See the Rafflecopter entry system for bonus entries to increase your chance of winning
after completing the mandatory entry. All bonus entries are entered directly into
Rafflecopter. Give it a try, and email or leave a comment if you have any questions!

They are One and the Same

So, I managed a couple more poems from Hobo Mama's poetry challenge. I really have enjoyed (sweet, I tied in this week's theme!) a chance to stretch my fried brain in a different way lately.

Play:

Noise, Sound, Vibe
Hear it, Feel it, Live it
Music, Ambiance, Voice
Machine, Nature, Enviroment
Pulsing, Flowing, Absorbing
Need it, Want it, Love it
Blaring, Slamming, Obtrusive
Hate it, Fear it, Fight it
Noise, Sound, Vibe
Hear it, Feel it, Live it

Learn:

Everyday is new
Your smiling face reminds us reexamine our world
Every moment seems to be the first
We forget the old, and see them fresh
Everything we know
We learn again through your eyes
How time can change
This world we live in
How you can change
The lives we know
How we strive for
A better life for you
How Every deed is for you

Faith, Trust, and a Little Bit Of Poetry

I decided to give Hobo Mama's Poetry Challenge a try. Hope you enjoy!

Trust

Loving you before
I ever meet you
Trusting life will always be
The greatest lesson I could ever
Learn. Welcome to the great
Endevor. I have the greatest
Optimism that you will
Never be alone
Every hope is yours

Partners:

He loves me
For my eyes
My smile
My laugh
He loves me
For my hair
My body
My life
He loves me
For my strength
My endurance
My compassion
He loves me
For my fears
My anger
My faults
He loves me
Without change
He loves me
For me

Faith:

Life is always life
Always moving forward
Breathe, Eat, Sleep
Life is always life
Yet two are never same
Even one sees constant change
Life is always life
Some are grand or modest
Others sad or destitute; But
Life is always life
Each life is different
Each life a chance
We choose the paths
That change our life; But
Life is always life

5 A Day

Welcome to the January 2013 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Recovering from the Holidays

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have written about how their families get back to normal after the holidays are over.

***

New year. Resolutions. You know the drill. We needed a way to create a sense of expectation and rhythm to our day. Mostly because we were wasting our days unsure what to do, daunted by all the things we needed to do, and irritated at how those things kept us from doing the things we want.

5 things. Every day we have 5 things to do. 5 things were enough to feel accomplished, but few enough that even my three year old can remember.


1. Do laundry
2. Pick up bedroom
3. Do dishes
4. Make cookies
5. Play games
OR
1. Fill bird feeder
2. Clean playroom
3. Scrub Toilets
4. Prep produce delivery
5. Go to the library

School time is dispersed between these activities. Because there is only so much help you can inspire from the five and under crowd. And we don't say no to creative play, book reading, dancing, or any of the indoor things that are good for our bodies and minds. The first three things can be done in any order, but must be done before the last two.

This system creates the expectation of the day. They know when we will get a chance to go somewhere or turn on the tv. So far it helps curb the whining, and encourages everyone to participate in running our home and spending time learning.

It is really hard to teach intrinsic value to creating balance in our home when we lack it ourselves. As children, Mike usually had everything done for him and I was learned "just do it to avoid consequences." Neither are effective as adults when there is no one to do things for you or dole out punishments. We have to find appreciation for it on our own, and show our children that at the same time.


***
Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting this March!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
(This list will be live and updated by afternoon January 14 with all the carnival links.)

• Pinterest Inspiration for Easier Winter Holidays Shannon, writing at Natural Parents Network, shares inspiration for having more relaxed winter holidays from their Handmade Holidays Pinterest board.
• Seven Recipes for Beans - Post Holiday Cleaning — Destany at They Are All of Me shares her favorite bean recipes that she hopes will help her body recover from overindulging her sweet tooth during the holidays.
• The Recovery in the Change — Laura at Pug in the Kitchen made changes in her life and attitude throughout 2012 and was pleasantly surprised at how those changes impacted her holiday recovery!
• Could this question change your life for ever? — To get your new year off on the right footing, Mrs Green of Little Green Blog is challenging us all to love ourselves with commitment and discipline. She asks you to focus on a simple question which might just bring you back in balance...
• Holiday Recovery — Meegs at A New Day talks about how the holidays can be overwhelming for a toddler, and how she's helping her 3 year old recover.
• 5 Ways to Detox After the Holidays — Brittany at The Pistachio Project gives a few ways to help you detox and get back on track after the holiday season has passed.
• 3 Simple Ways to Establishing Rhythm After the Holidays or Any Time — Sheila at A Living Family shares 3 simple ways to reestablish a rhythm of connection and calm in your family after holidays, visitors, travel or any time.
• Gemstones For Holiday Hangoverss — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama delves into the power of gemstones as an often overlooked means of dealing with the holiday letdown.
• Getting back to Healthy — Bess at A Warrior Mom talks about the struggle of getting young ones back to eating healthy after several days to weeks of getting more candy and sweets than normal for the holidays and gives some suggestions on how to get them back to eating healthy in the new year.
• Post Christmas Juice Feast — Sam at Love Parenting explains why she has created a new tradition of juice feasting, and how she includes her toddler when detoxing.
• The Java Monkey On My Back — Christy at Eco Journey in the Burbs realizes it is time to kick her cup of Joe habit as a first step toward detoxing.
• Minimalist Holidays — Jorje of Momma Jorje doesn't find much need for recovery after her minimalist version of the holidays.
• Do something for you — Lauren at Hobo Mama urges you to find a silly and indulgent reward of me-time — and she has hers.
• do we recover? — Kenna at Million Tiny Things wonders what recovery really means in the context of the tragedies of this past holiday season.
• 37 Easy Ways to Save Money — Shannon at GrowingSlower is sharing these money-saving tips to help get your budget back on track after the holidays.
• A Two Year Old's Resolutions — That Mama Gretchen is putting the holidays behind her with a spin on traditional resolutions — New Year's goals for her two-year-old! Sound crazy? Read on for an explanation!
• How to Find Balance after the Holidays — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now tells her favorite ways to start a new year with hope and calmness.
• Fresh Awakening — For Luschka at Diary of a First Child, the new year has coincided with a return to restful nights. With sleep, she's found new directions in life, but while she can't make too many changes to her life right now, she's inspired and excited about the future.
• Learning to slow down after a busy Festive Season — Stoneageparent describes the joys and lows of this year's festive season, as well as her New Year's resolutions.
• Detoxing' Your Toddler After the Holidays — Does your family suffer side effects from the holidays? Join Christine from African Babies Don't Cry to learn how she detoxed herself and her toddler off the treats and festivities of the season.
• Scheduling is OK! — Jaye Anne at Wide Awake, Half Asleep explores the possibilities of the — SCHEDULE!!
• We're Saving their First Christmas for Next Time — Mercedes at Project Procrastinot takes it easy after moving with her husband and new babies to Scotland.
• A Vacation from the World — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children retreats with her family at the end of every year in order to recuperate and enjoy one another.
• On the Road to Recovery — Dionna at Code Name: Mama isn't just recovering from the holidays, she's recovering from a lifestyle.
• We Never Left the Grind — Erika Gebhardt compares a typical day pre-holidays and post-holidays.
• Remembering and Recovering from the Holidays (One day at a time) — Emily at S.A.H.M i AM is recovering from holidays slowly--taking one day at a time--while trying to remember all the sweet moments that passed too quickly.
• 5 a Day — To get back on track Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy needed a simple system to help her family learn new values.
• Holiday Detox & Healing: Bieler Broth — Megan at The Boho Mama shares her secret for a gentle, whole-foods-based post-holiday detox: Bieler Broth!
• I'm Mama Not Supermom — After a year filled with changes Angela at EarthMamas World has to remind herself that she does not have to be supermom while recovering from the holiday chaos.

Our Own Polar Express

This is a reprint of an article originally written for The Natural Parents Network.

Every year I get in the holiday spirit by throwing a holiday party based on the book The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg — for even longer than I have had kids! I plan it to be fun, engaging, and relaxing. It isn’t even that intensive to create.

Invitations
I used a simple email invitation this year. In the past I have handed out train tickets with party information printed on them, as well as inviting guests to come in pajamas.

Food
Along with an array of snacks, one thing that cannot be left out is the hot chocolate! With younger children, I would stick to slightly sweetened milk, light on the chocolate. The older kids get the Hot Chocolate Bar: a station filled with sprinkles, marshmallows, whipped cream, peppermint sticks, syrups, candied orange peels, and such. They usually put more time into this activity than any of the others!

Read the book!
When everyone is ready with their snacks and hot chocolate, it is time to get on the train and delve into the Polar Express world. Setting up chairs or blankets on the floor, and punching tickets for those seated, have been a good way to get children to transition to the reading. The pictures are engaging enough to create some great conversations during the story, so don’t be shy about stopping to discuss and enjoy!

Crafts
Sleigh Bell Necklaces
Take a string of leather, ribbon, or other cord to string on their ticket, sleigh bell, beads, and any other nifty paraphernalia you have.

Make Christmas Cards
With supplies of cardstock, scissors, markers, and stickers, allow each child to make a holiday card or letter to Santa.

Watch the Movie
I generally save this for the last activity for two reasons: 1) To allow families that do not wish to watch the movie a chance to participate before leaving and 2) to allow us some down time to end the event. The movie does have some intense scenes that are not depicted in the book, so I would suggest making sure parents know the movie before allowing their child to watch.

My biggest goal of the party is to create a warm, peaceful environment for the kids to enjoy while giving parents a chance to relax and savor some of the holiday spirit many of us work so hard to provide, but sometimes miss out on ourselves.

Meal Plan Monday: December 17th, 2012

Glazed Delicata Squash with Lentils

Pot Roast

French Onion Soup

Quinoa O's

Fish Tacos

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Spaghetti Squash Bake

Learning to trust the Fuzz

Welcome to the Body: AMAZING Carnival!



This post was written as a part of the Body: AMAZING Carnival co-hosted by Jennifer of True Confessions of a Real Mommy and Amy of Anktangle. Carnival participants were invited to write about how we learn to appreciate the ways our bodies grow and change. Our posts explain some incredible ways our bodies impress and amaze us.



Please read to the bottom to find a list of submissions from all of today's carnival participants.

---

It happened every winter. The cold. The chill. The long pants. It was so easy to hide. Why take up my precious shower time to shave what can't be seen? I already stopped using shampoo and conditioner on a regular basis and seen positive results.

I never did like all the work, dry skin, ingrown hairs. And I had been working on accepting my body. Trusting that my body works the way it does for a reason. So, why wouldn't that apply to body hair? Also, who decided that hair is ok on men, but unhygienic on women? The very idea that women could not be sexy with body hair bothered me. Women are meant to have body hair. When we reach puberty it starts developing along with our other changes. It is an outward sign of our maturity. Removing seemed to point toward a drive at sexualizing the prepubescent hairlessness of young girls. That was really the place that lead me to the decision to stop removing my leg, armpit, and pubic hair. When my daughter was grown, how would I explain this to her?

I feel relieved to not have to worry about this grooming practice anymore. I still wear skirts and shorts when the occasion or weather call for it. Only rarely do I make an effort to cover what is not an unnoticeable amount of hair. I feel it is just part of who I am. My shower time can now be a focus on caring for who I am, almost meditative as the hot water runs over me, rejuvenating and relaxing me. This is my time. No worry to what the rest of the world expects of me. I am soft and fuzzy all over. That is just how my body works and part of who I am.

---

More to read and love about honoring our bodies at these other blogs. Please visit them all and leave some comment love!



Jennifer from True Confessions of a Real Mommy is moved to trust her body, even the fuzzy parts. You can also find Jennifer on Facebook and Twitter.



Amy of Anktangle writes about living with chronic pain and how she appreciates the ways her body functions in spite of its challenges. You can also find Amy on Facebook and Twitter.



Mari from Honey on the Bum talks a little bit about how her body has changed and how she loves it and what it does for her. You can also find Mari on Twitter.



Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes talks about why she's not worried about how her body looks, because it has a much more important job right now.



Joella from Fine and Fair discusses her love and respect for her body as it grows and changes during pregnancy over. Hear more from Joella on Twitter and Facebook.



Issa Waters at LoveLiveGrow on how Paganism taught her to accept reality and by extension herself and her body. Find her on Twitter and Facebook.



Amy W. at Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work shares about her love/hate relationship with a nose that she saw as ugly . . . until she started to learn to love it. Amy W. can also be followed on Twitter and Facebook.



Destany at They Are All of Me writes about releasing the negative notions she was taught about her period, and embracing it instead.



Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children talks about how she had to push through her pre-conditioned comfort level and found herself in a position to naturally be open and honest with her children. More great stuff from Mandy on Facebook.



Lauren at Hobo Mama is not a runner . . . but she proved herself wrong by completing a race. Keep up with Lauren's adventures on Twitter and Facebook.