King Arthur Flour for All Your Baking Needs

With my family being all organic finding breads that are organic and taste good are very hard to find. They are either very dense, very dry, or lack flavor, only a few choice breads that are 100% organic are very tasty. So because of this I have taken to making our own bread, only after we had been buying locally made bread from a family in our neighborhood. To save money, control portions and calories, and let’s face it when I know what my food is being made with, based on the ingredients I put into them, that gives me the piece of mind knowing my kids are eating healthy and without harsh additives.

Admittedly, my bread and all my baking happens with King Arthur flour. So with that I wanted to know what else I could do with King Arthur and I found that their options are unlimited. In fact, I found a yeast canister & measuring spoon set that made a beautiful addition to my kitchen and my baking needs. No more spills and messes with yeast, and it comes in a clean display canister with the perfect measuring spoon.

But King Arthur is so much more than just yeast and flour. They offer goodies for baking cupcakes, mixes for cakes, cookies and even dog biscuits. With all the various products King Arthur has to offer, they make the perfect gift idea for making premade baking mixes and jars, to making your own baked goodies for a gift basket, or buying that perfect baking pan. Plus you can trust in a company that has been around for 200 years here in the US. Don’t let me try to tell you how great they are, why don’t you enter to win a $20 Gift Card from King Arthur and try them out for yourself:

  • Follow KAF on Facebook and Twitter (Worth 2 entries)
  • Sign up for the KAF newsletter for even more goodies (worth 2 entries)
  • Follow my blog
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook
  • Promote this giveaway on Facebook
  • Tweet this giveaway daily: Win $20 GC from @KariewithaK and @KingArthurFlour in time for your holiday shopping and baking https://thefivefish.com/king-arthur-flour
  • Leave a comment on any non giveaway post (worth 2 entries)
  • Blog this giveaway (Worth 5 entries)
  • Subscribe to my feed or add me to your reader

Contest ends November 23rd midnight Arizona Time

As always: No Purchase Necessary, available to US residents. One entry per household. US postcard entries also acceptable if you do not have access to the above entry options, no limit to postcard entries as long as all are received before the close of the contest, email contests@thefivefish.com for your postcard entry details or to use email as your postcard entrance as these entries will be logged by the administrator of the blog. Winners will be chosen by “And the Winner is” Failure to adhere to the aforementioned rules set forth by this contest will result in forfeiture of your entry with no notice. Facebook does not promote, endorse, nor sponsor this review and giveaway and will be held harmless. As always, good luck and enjoy.

Maukilo HABA Hit the Throttle

While on the prowl for new gift ideas, gifts that are sustainable, eco-friendly, educational and not the same old plastic mold from big name brands that offer nothing more than a cheap toy, I was approached by the folks at HABA USA.

Here is what I love about HABA USA and the Maukilo team and what they stand for:

In 2000, a German woman named Alexandra was living in California. Alex was searching for quality gifts and presents to send back to Germany to a friend who recently had a baby, but was disappointed in the collection available in the USA. While Alex researched for European toys online she discovered that virtually none of the European brands that she grew up with as a child were available. Thus the introduction of Maukilo.com. 

Currently, Maukilo is owned and operated by one of Maukilo’s largest suppliers, the German based HABA(R) company. The HABA USA office is located in quaint and picturesque Skaneateles Falls, New York and has now become the home of Maukilo.com. 

The Maukilo team (many mothers themselves) searches the world over to find incredible products inspired by European quality and innovation. We understand the importance of play and how essential it is to a child’s cognitive, emotional and social development. Our passion is finding products that are both fun and educational for children of all ages. 

We are committed to providing high quality toys that can be handed down from child to child, friend to friend, a toy that can be played with forever. All of the products carried on the Maukilo store meet or exceed the standards set forth by the U. S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and with our partners we are committed to ensure responsible working conditions (Maukilo.com, 2011). 

Choosing a toy or toys that your children can enjoy is really a daunting task with their site, so many toys that of course will last. So I chose a learning game/toy that all of my children could enjoy together because family time and learning is so important to us as a family.

We chose the Hit the Throttle board game. Board games are always so full of competition with the kids that I dread getting any games for them to play like that because fights ensue, then comes time out, crying, the whole dramatic event that could be thwarted by not partaking in a board game. But Hit the Throttle is so different in that the kids race one another to the finish line but no one really knows which car they are racing, which takes the challenge to an all new level of fun. I know my kids had a ball and yours will too this holiday season and for future days to come since Hit the Throttle is made with a sturdy cardboard race track and wooden race cars. No need to worry about leeching plastics and throw away toys, this one is a keeper.

Don’t take my word for it, if you are eco-conscious and you are looking for toys and gifts that will last more than just into the next holiday season, the Maukilo team and HABA USA are are great option. In addition to the toys lasting a lifetime they are even easy on your budget with prices from under $25, under $50 and under $75, and toys for all ages.

Honest Tea Kids – Sweeter Alternative

Are your kids still reeling from the Halloween candy? Maybe they are suffering from a bit of a candy hangover per se. Well maybe the cure or the better option for next year’s Halloween candy option is Honest Kids from the makers of Honest Tea.

Honest Tea has a new line of organic, no high fructose corn syrup, low-sugar, fruit-flavored drinks that are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth craving. Not to mention the good for you option with these drinks not being overloaded with sugary sweetness and the guilt of high fructose corn syrup.

My kids love the Honest Tea kids line of drinks with the light, sweet fruit flavors that quench their thirst and I can feel guilt free about them drinking them. Made with all organic ingredients, natural flavors, and in easy to access pouches. In five fun-filled flavors: Appley Ever After, Goodness Grapeness, Berry Berry Good Lemonade, Tropical Tango Punch, and Super Fruit Punch.

This year for the holidays, choose a healthy alternative to the sugary, sweet, unhealthy, tempting snacks and treats that support poor choices for your kids. While a sugary snack here and there is alright in moderation, but sometimes the holidays take over with the desire for sweets. Don’t take my word for it, try Honest Kids drinks for yourself, find them at your local grocers, Costco, and other local retailers. Try adding them to your stockings this year for the holidays or in next year’s Halloween treat bowl as a healthier, just as sweet alternative.

Not easy being Green

USDA Organic, organic, Karie Herring, thefivefish.comMom’s and folks galore find the most amazing topics in life to argue about. Stout opposition. Blatant bullshit. Mindless minutiae. But let’s get to the brass tax of some largely misunderstood and widely misrepresented information. The Green Movement. Even more so, the whole organic movement and the stout opposition to HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) among mommy bloggers.

But a lot of folks are mislead or are completely uneducated about organic, certified organic, certified free trade, USDA certified organic, heirloom and the like. The business and marketing about organic is confusing to the layman and its marketing and a lifestyle choice to those who fully embrace, understand, and know the true meaning of going green and choosing organic. Let’s place a bit of fact or fiction regarding organic, buying organic, what organic really means, and exploring the full realm of the Big O and what the general public is probably not fully aware surrounding our friends at the USDA.

FACT  or FICTION? : The top foods you should buy when buying organic are milk, meats, produce, and grains.

FICTION.

Organic is a lifestyle. PERIOD. Much like dieting, smoking, drinking, whatever your vice, choosing to purchase USDA Certified Organic foods is a LIFESTYLE choice. Suggesting to buy specific items is sheer bullshit. However, you can find a fantastic list of items that are believed to be the dirtiest (riddled with pesticides and considered high on the GMO list) in your produce section on this article by CNN and you can also read it on the great not for profit site. Furthermore, take a good look at organic and standard produce. If you love your California avocados and are willing to buy them at 2 for $1.00 when in season, by all means. But don’t stray away from your organic either. Take a gander, are the prices comparable? If so, then the investment is worth the small price difference.  But if the price difference is rather considerable, then hold off until the item is in season or buy standard. Again a pure choice. Organic is reasonably priced due to the fact that the items are harvested when they are in season, much like when your flowers bloom and based on the location of the farm with the season. When in doubt though, buy US produce as the cost will be a bit less due to the fact less travel was associated with the delivery.

FACT or FICTION: Milk should always be bought organic because of all the hormones?

FICTION

Again a matter of lifestyle. However, many dairy farmers are pushing that they are not using hormones or are hormone free because of the startling study found by researchers that these hormones are being carried into more than just milk. But into our bodies and our children which is believed to induce premature puberty in young girls and androgyny in some of our boys. Furthermore, with the recent events in Japan, be wary of your “California Cows” or those from the Pacific area since radiation is first found in milk of cows from the grass they eat….that goes for Organic too. Moooo-ve on over Pacific and Pacific Northwest.

FACT or FICTION? : There is only one organic.

FICTION

The truth of the matter is that everything is organic. *gasp! Yes, we are all “organic” material, made of matter and the like. CERTIFIED Organic, the big green you see above, is delegated into several different categories and let me just paint the picture so you understand how each applies to just a few of the different delegations of the “organic” umbrella:

  • Certified Organic – this can be QAI and USDA certified. Both of these require rigorous and in depth investigation of the farms, the product, the water source, the cleanliness, the soil testing. Not a stone goes unturned in these certifications. However, the USDA is rather more intense requiring a farm to be clean for a minimum of five years during review. The soil, water, produce, the entire farm is tested to make sure it is clean of pesticides, hormones and additives. A farm generally has to be clean longer than this time in order for the life cycle of pesticides to die off, if they ever. Furthermore, rigorous maintenance and fees are applied for being USDA certified. Not to mention the handling on these farms is not your standard handling which is why the costs may be realized to be higher. But you are what you eat right?
  • Heirloom – I could live and breathe heirloom if allowed. Heirloom is exactly what it sounds like. These are seeds and produce passed down from generations. You will see a good portion of EU (European Union) countries have heirloom produce. Native Americans here in North America have heirloom seeds and produce. Heirloom produce is open pollinated and are a hybrid. By hybrid, these seeds have naturally cross pollinated and albeit evolved through the ages. They are generally pesticide free and are not what a layman may consider a perennial or annual. These beauties are tasty, gorgeous, and unique all their own. What people do not realize is that seed producers and sellers generate seeds that only germinate once or maybe more but after that the fruit/produce becomes bitter due to the genetic engineering of these items. Which makes heirlooms all the more in demand.
  • Organic – just about anything can be called organic. It just cannot be called “certified” or you start getting into an ugly marketing and disclosure issue with the feds. Organic is a way of farming, period, and again everything is organic matter/material. So items can be considered under the “organic” umbrella in a range anywhere from 70 to 99% organic depending upon the ingredients and the way the ingredients are grown. However, in order to slap the old green seal of approval onto the foods you eat, those foods must have passed the rigorous testing of the USDA and the Organic Program which certifies that the farm is still an active clean farm from the water, the soil and the environment in which it operates. See all my aforementioned regarding the cleanliness of these farms and you can find more at the USDA Organic site.

Just know that Organic truly is a lifestyle. No one will look down their nose at you for the food choices you make, and if they do, well maybe they ought to look at their own lives before passing judgement on yours. Life is all about choices and as parents we try to make the best choices we can in life and as long as you can say you are doing what you can for your children and they are healthy, happy, productive people then what else can we ask for as parents. Like Kermit the Frog always said, “It’s not easy, being green.” Nor is life easy as a parent, when we brought our special packages home we were never given a manual for handling them, so we make our own rules and manual up as we go along all the while learning from our mistakes, because if we were all perfect, we would never know to learn.

Back to School with Seventh Generation

Now that the fall school schedule has resumed and our kids are socializing amongst their friends and teachers that they missed over the summer a lurking menace is socializing with our children as well.

GERMS!

Disgusting, sickening germs that our children spread around as they touch things, sneeze, cough, you name it, they touch and spread this menace in the classroom and bring home to the family.

To prevent the spread of germs our teachers request that the students bring in hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes. But as a parent, I am rather particular about the disinfecting wipes, cleaners, and products my children use at home. Our family is especially conscious about the environment and the harmful chemicals in some disinfecting and cleaning products. Seventh Generation has an amazing line of cleaning, disinfecting, and paper products for your home that are environmentally friendly and the ingredients are botanically based, on chemically.

For back to school My Blog Spark and Seventh Generation is promoting their line of disinfecting cleaner, wipes, and products for a healthier home, classroom, and to help keep our children healthier while promoting a healthier world to live in by reducing our carbon footprint.

You too can enjoy the fruits of a healthier home on lots of levels by entering to win the prize pack offered by My Blog Spark and Seventh Generation! Here is what your goodies will look like:

To be considered for entry tell me what you do to help prevent the spread of germs with your child and would you like to use a product like Seventh Generation that is both healthier for your home and the environment.

(Comments like “pick me” and “enter me” and “I want to win” will disqualify your comment for entry into the giveaway.)

For complete entry options be sure to check out the rules page for details. Be sure when Tweeting you @SeventhGeneration to show your support!

CONTEST ENDS SEPTEMBER 25TH

Seventh Generation Saving Planet Home

Make everyday Earth Day! Why is it that each and every year that Earth Day rolls around Americans and others around the world feel some innate  urge like they do at New Years to make a resolution.

What I find about people who want and choose to go green is that they claim the switch is more expensive, costly, hard to find. I can tell you that you cannot put a price on quality, cleanliness, safety, and eco-friendly options for your family, your home, this planet.

Seventh Generation is a staple in my home. I trust their products, I know that using them and not the standard household cleaners and the home products are making a difference in the world, protecting my kids, and all at the same time still making a difference in the world. Even if it is just one household at a time.

“Seventh Generation has partnered with eco-lifestyle consultant and author, Alexandra Zissu, whose new book, The Conscious Kitchen, discusses what’s good for your health, what’s good for the planet and what tastes great. Her book also includes great tips on maintaining a green and healthy kitchen.”

So this is how you can change your home, your way of thinking about being eco-friendly, and how you can have a healthy kitchen and healthy eating habits. Enter to win a Seventh Generation cleaning kit prize pack!

Tell me have you gone green, are you going green, do you have hang ups about going green?

Extra Entries:

  • Tweet this giveaway being sure to put @KariewithaK & http://bit.ly/cUCKIh
  • Blog this giveaway
  • Check out ALL the entry options, just remember no purchase necessary or consideration necessary.

Giveaway ends May 1st.

*As part of this review and giveaway I received the prize pack seen above on behalf of MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation. My opinions are my own and NEVER swayed.

Going Green Into the New Year ecostore Giveaway

Finding a way to clean your home in an eco-friendly manner is tough considering the marketplace is FILLED with chemically laden and enhanced products. Ammonia based, alcohol based, harsh chemicals that linger and fumigate your home. I have two toddlers and my six year old and believe me, nothing I do not like more than to have harsh, dangerous chemicals in my home and around my children.

My cleaning is pretty unorthodox. I use cans of Coca-Cola to clean my toilet bowls (yes, just the way it eats at the porcelain at your teeth, it can acid wash your NASTY toilet too) so they are sparkling white, hot salt water and half lemons to clean my cutting boards, and cream of tartar to degrease. Need a bleaching? Lemon juice and the sun. What? You thought that combo was only for the nasty blond dye jobs? Think again.

I was asked by ecostore USA to review a few of the products in their line. I received Front Loader Laundry Powder and the Citrus Spray Cleaner to try in my home (in exchange for this review…*Hi FTC).

A bit of back information on ecostore USA:

Founded by Melanie and Malcolm Rands of New Zealand. The eco couple in their eco-village “shared a commitment to organic growing and healthy living, making this an ideal environment in which a young, environmentally conscious business could thrive. Each household in the village was responsible for their own waste water, which quickly highlighted the problems caused by using regular supermarket cleaning products that relied heavily on cheap, petroleum-based, synthetic ingredients” (ecostoreusa.com, 2009).

15 years later their idea to better the world with better and eco-friendly products now have them exporting into the United Kingdom, the USA, and Australia. How are the products better? How are they more eco-friendly? Well because the products are all plant based. Citrus, coconuts, palms, essential oils for fragrance, and minerals (like salt). The ingredients are not based on the creation in a “lab” but derived from nature

The Front Loader Laundry Powder:
I was highly skeptical of this product. The scooper was small, and when you have been accustomed to commercial laundry soap for many years the change is drastic. I was even leery of the scent, however, after my first few loads I was impressed. I was truly blown away, I know by soap? But seriously if you have a front loader you know the “funk” you can get from time to time. I actually lost an trace of “funk” in my Frigidaire front loader when using this product. I even enjoyed the clean scent where the clothes actually smelled clean and not perfumy clean.

The Citrus Spray Cleaner:
The cleaner was effective. I used it everywhere around my house; bathrooms, kitchen, dining table, high chairs, anywhere that was goopy, nasty, and needed a good thorough cleansing. However, I was not thrilled with the scent. The scent was rough, harsh, even though vegan, the scent did emit a harsh chemical smell and air to it and I had to be sure to use it in open areas with windows open. But the scent was truly citrus and possibly the scent could have been the mixture with old nasty chemicals in the rooms. All in all though the cleaner was effective.

Now here is how you can win some of these great green and eco-friendly products to use in and around your home. Choose up to $25 worth of products with a giftcard, here’s how:

Mandatory entry:

Check out the ecostore USA and tell me what two products you would like to have in your home (aside from the two mentioned above).

Extra entries:

  • Sign up for the ecostore USA newsletter (worth 5 entries)
  • Follow my blog
  • Fan The Fish
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Follow ecostoreusa on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway (Daily tweets available!!) : I’m going green with this giveaway from @KariewithaK and @ecostoreusa http://tiny.cc/nqOon
  • Blog this giveaway (worth 5 entries)
CONTEST ENDS JANUARY 1ST 2010
@ 11:59PM ARIZONA TIME

Best of luck!

The Ultimate Cloth review

The Five Fish are a “green,” eco-friendly family and recently I was contacted to receive and review The Ultimate Cloth. My first reaction was Sham-Wow. I know…I am terrible but that was my thought. My second thought was that this cloth is like the Mr. Clean sponge and laden with formaldehyde and harsh chemicals.

When I received the Ultimate Cloth I put it to the test.

The first item on the list of benefits was “Guaranteed…never streak Windows, Mirrors or Glass.”

Fabulous! Let’s take a gander. So my children sit near a window in their high chairs, that window is the victim of many drive by foodings….lots of concrete applesauce and what have you accumulates throughout the day and quite literally I can spend hours scrubbing and then cleaning to obtain streak free windows. DAILY.

I was PLEASANTLY surprised to see that upon wetting the Ultimate Cloth and wringing the water from it that I truly did get a streak free shine as well as remove the drive by foodings. Amazing! Okay, so could it stand up to THE DOORS. Yes, my French doors. The doors that have received many a grubby hands, muddy feet and hands and slobbery dog faces smooshing on this door. AMAZING! Seriously the schmegma, gone. Just sa bit of extra elbow work into the cleaning and the French doors are now sparkling clean.

The secret is the Mira-Fiber technology. I was skeptical, as usual. Chemicals had to be in this product. Somewhere. Somehow. No way could this smooth cloth be so rough and durable. No way this cloth could take a beating around the house, be bleached, washed, used and repeat all over again and still not be in shreds.

I then put this bad boy to the true test of cleaning in the domicile of The Five Fish…..THE STAINLESS STEEL. If you have true stainless steel in your home you know what a PAIN the stainless is to keep, quite literally, stainless. Finger smudges are the worst along with the ugly black dust build-up. Stainless is only clean and steak free when using the stainless steel cleaner right? Nope. I used the Ultimate Cloth and again, extremely happy that I had a STREAK FREE appliance on my hands.

Now keep in mind. You must rinse after each use and wring in order to achieve maximum results.

The Ultimate Cloth is a great, green alternative to harsh chemicals and cleaners. I keep mine in the kitchen at all times for spills, little wipe downs, and tough scrubbings. What’s great….they offer a money back guarantee on this product and a FIVE year warranty. Who offers those kind of benefits. Not to mention the green benefit of washing and BLEACHING this product for use over and over again.

Want one for yourself? Or hey maybe as a great stocking stuffer? The Ultimate Cloth generally sells for $6 but for a limited time you can take advantage of this great offer and pay just $0.01 plus s/h for this fabulous cleaner! Limit one at that price, but hey….for the price you could order another as a gift or for yourself, or a friend! Order one now!

I Heart My CSA

csa, farming, agriculture, organicI just have to tell you all again how much I love my CSA. What is a CSA you ask?
Community Supported Agriculture.
Agriculture? As in farm, You got it!

I had never heard of a CSA until one of my twin mommies told me about it and I have to tell you I am hooked! I don’t think I can go back to the standard way of buying my produce and eggs from the store. I did a HUGE post about it some time ago, so you can go read all about the deets there and why CSA’s are important to our community, the environment, and of course….YOUR HEALTH!!

But enough of my soap box….just take a gander at these beauties!CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produceLook at all of that!! And that my friends and readers….is just a ONE WEEK basket from a CSA. Let me detail all the wonderful items in that picture for you if you can’t already decipher:

CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produce
One Dozen Eggs
CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produce, free range eggs
2 Armenian Cucumbers (which are THE BEST, super crunchy and tasty!)
One watermelon (last of the season and still sweet as sugar!)
Butternut squash, perfect for fall
Licorice Basil (Oh em gee the aroma…my whole fridge smells like it, and just YUMMY), I can’t wait to make my famous Pan Chicken with this and some FABULOUS Organic Marinara Sauce
CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produce, free range eggs
Now here we have Okra, which I fried up last night in a tablespoon of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, pepper and added some Parmesan and OMG was it to DIE FOR!
Organic Tomatoes, which are JUST again TO DIE FOR!
Organic Pomegranate which I am DYING to dive into today
Did I mention this is all to die for?
Acorn Squash, again PERFECT for fall
Finally, a Purple Bell Pepper which smells divine and cannot wait to use in a recipe.
CSA, agriculture, organic, community supported agricutlure, produce, free range eggsSo let me ask you…..Do you know where your produce and food comes from? If not? You should! Mine is made with lots of love from my fabulous farmer Mike. Learn all about CSA’s and or Food Coop’s and enjoy all the benefits of Organic farming, supporting your local farmers, businesses, and heck the kids will LOVE going to the farm like mine do.

Revenge Is: Review and Giveaway

The Five Fish are some of the biggest advocates for “Going Green,” recycling, reducing, reusing, and overall limiting our carbon footprint in this life. In addition to eating organic, supporting our community agriculture programs through a CSA, we wanted to make a bolder statement.

One day when searching green organizations on Twitter I ran across the fabulous fashion of Revenge Is. Little did I know HOW green they really are. As you can see their tees and accessories are just awesome. I mean the statements are totally BOLD! Taking revenge. Who doesn’t want revenge and of course for a GREAT cause!

A little information on Revenge Is and the Mission Statement of the organization:

Mission
Global warming, energy dependence, war, economic turmoil, foreclosures and unemployment – these are some of the major crisis facing our world today. Developing alternative sources, practicing  “reduce, reuse and recycle” in our everyday lives, and demanding more effective diplomatic and economic policies of our government and business institutions will help. The old saying goes “the best revenge is living well.” Our belief is that, by taking action today, we can all live well tomorrow.
Our individual actions may not change the world, but our collective actions will. Our message products make the statement that you care and you are part of the solution. Our newsletter will inform you about critical issues we face today. Our blog gives you the opportunity to voice your concerns and solutions about the many challenges we face today.
About from Marilyn Barrett:
Welcome to Revenge Is …
If you are visiting this site, you are likely a person who is passionate about our country, concerned about the direction it has taken in recent years, and committed to doing your part to solve the problems we face today. If not, you have been searching for ways to get involved and to seek inspiration from others who are well on their way.  Revenge Is… was created to be a powerful force in helping concerned Americans to channel their energy and emotions toward real and positive change that betters all of our lives.
The idea for Revenge Is… came to me about a year ago while taking a walk with my two favorite furry companions. The 2008 Presidential election cycle had started and the many problems facing our country and the world today were in the forefront of the news and political commentary – global warming, energy dependence, economic turmoil, and wars resulting in too many deaths and injuries. I felt angry and frustrated and wanted the people who were primarily responsible for these problems to stop…and pay for the pain and losses they caused. I know I am not alone.
As an attorney, I have often counseled clients over the years who, despite suffering serious harm from others, decided against pursuing legal action against them. Instead, they chose to focus their hard earned savings and precious time to rebuild their lives – making positive commitments to the age old adage that “the best revenge is living well.” Their actions were profound and struck me as a better way to enact positive change in my own life and in the world around me. Revenge Is… was born.
Our products and slogans have been conceived to acknowledge and validate our collective frustrations while at the same time encourage and inspire us and others to take action — to take meaningful steps toward a stable climate, a clean environment, energy independence, national security, a healthy economy, and a country of high moral principle and international regard that we can be proud of. Our product messages address the vital public issues of today while at the same time display simple yet meaningful ways to enact change — from the landfill up. To start, our  T-shirts and reusable tuck away carry bags are made from recycled plastic bottles and/or Organic Cotton. Our reusable hybrid coffee/tea mug and tuck away bag give each of us the power to completely end the use of plastic water bottles, Styrofoam cups, and plastic grocery bags that clog our landfills. They also completely eliminate our use of paper cups, hot sleeves and grocery bags.
At least 10% of our profits will be donated to charities (please visit “our causes”).   Our newsletter will keep you up to date on important issues of the day.

Now I was skeptical of how “soft” the t-shirts would feel. Think about the rough feel of a plastic bottle and the icky….not so much. So when our shirts arrived, I. WAS. IN. HEAVEN! The shirts feel like butter! I mean just silky soft, my kids were rubbing them on their faces and exclaiming how soft and comfy they are, how about that for softness! The shirts are made from a fabulous blend of 100% organic, yes you got it, ORGANIC (USDA Certified) cotton and the RPET (recycled Poly-ethylene, plastic). So along with the shirts being made of some silky fabulous material they make a statement.

Check out the messages on these shirts!

The original Revenge Is shirts demand that we are “Taking Back Our Country”, “Energy Independence” with no OPEC, No Wall Street with “Main Street at Work”, I fell in love with these shirts! They stand for everything our family and so many others work hard for! But if you think those shirts are rockin’ take a gander at these!

These awesome tees boast of “All Love is Equal”, “The best Revenge is Peace”, and of course “The Best Revenge is Saving the Earth”! Don’t fret if you were thinking that the kiddies are left out because they get in on the going green.

My kiddos love these shirts. Don’t mind the Little Bitty, she’s upset with all the chemicals, pesticides, lack of healthcare coverage for everyone, that’s her revenge! Big G loves that he is helping out with the environment and living better he thinks “its cool” and so do we! They were fun to photograph because they went out and played in the water, the one day I wanted to shoot them in their shirts, they got sopping wet! Which is great because when you wash these shirts you don’t have to throw them in the dryer. They retain such little water that I hang dry the shirts and in 15 minutes they are dry. How is that for energy savings and going green.

If you are wondering how else Revenge Is is green, well the dye you see on the shirts…SOY. You got it, a soy dye which means no harsh chemicals and damage to your kids with VOC’s and chemicals in the environment. The shipping is even green with Tyvek packages that are recyclable.

Now here are the goodies, Revenge Is is helping me to host this FABULOUS giveaway. They went to all sorts of trouble for us where you, my faithful, green, fashionable readers will enter to win a choice of TWO t-shirts! Talk about an enormous value and all the good you will be doing.

Be sure of all else to thank the folks at Revenge Is for all their hard work and efforts to better the world we live in one shirt, reusable bottle, and bag at a time! I am so proud and honored to have the opportunity to sport their message and work with them. Thank you so much to Tamar and Marilyn, you folks are a class act and a pleasure to work with!

You can get further updates and fan Revenge Is on Facebook and Twitter!

The deets are here for the entry rules, PLEASE read through the rules first, but a quick breakdown for you:

  • Sign up for the newsletter in order to enter to win
  • Must remain a subscribed reader until the end of the contest
ENTER TO WIN HERE!

Easy Peasy Pumpkin Pie right? Right!
Be sure you leave me a comment to let me know you went over and entered!
Now go enter to win contest ends OCTOBER 26, 2009 and the winner will be notified OCTOBER 29, 2009 and you must claim your prize by NOVEMBER 6, 2009.

 *Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency.