Seventh Generation Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Seventh Generation Free & Clear Kit is:

(There were 234 entries, but 9 were completed after the giveaway was closed)

You have been contacted by e-mail and have 48 hours to respond, otherwise a different winner will be chosen. Thanks to everyone for entering and come back soon for more giveaways!

Seventh Generation Giveaway Winner

Beckons Organic Grace Hemp Dress Review

When I was younger I used to buy clothing the way some people buy food. It would be like weekly shopping! Thankfully I came to my senses once I got married and started working full time. Then of course I realized that I was just a victim of the 'buy buy buy' culture. I'll admit it is very liberating to stop buying. I don't go clothes shopping anymore unless there is something I need. With that in mind, my wardrobe consists mostly of all of my pre-baby clothing that just does not fit exactly the same way anymore. 

I discovered Beckons Organic online and was impressed by the company and the style of their clothing. I came across many Eco-friendly clothing companies but found that their dresses were not very figure flattering. They would look hideous on me, not to mention that my husband would not let me wear a potato sack like dress. Not so with the Grace Hemp Dress! Thanks to Beckons I got to try this one for myself. I think it is even better in person than it looks on the model! The first thing I noticed was that the material and workmanship are top notch. A designer dress, perfect. 

FIT: Well, the dress is perfect, but of course I am not. It fits perfectly from the chest down, but the shoulder straps are just a tad long for me because I have a short torso. An easy fix of course. Should not be an issue if you are over 5'2". Flattering is really the right word to describe it. It is the kind of dress that I think will look good on any body shape. With this perfect fit, the dress looks great dressed up with heels and exquisite jewelry or dressed down with flip flops and a beach tote. It is so versatile. You might think that buying clothing online is a hassle. Not with Beckons, they have a great returns policy. Plus if you are buying a hemp dress you are essentially getting two sizes in one because if it is a little big when it arrives you can throw it in the dryer after washing and it will shrink a little. If it fits you as is you can line dry it.

QUALITY: As I mentioned, the fabric is superb. I love the combination of sustainable hemp and organic cotton. A touch of lycra gives it a bit of stretch for a truly customized fit. It is so soft too, I'm afraid I will not want to wear anything else once the warm weather hits! I also noticed that the stitching is very neatly done, certainly not something that will fall apart in the wash.

VALUE: As with many things I review, with Beckons you get what you pay for. It is hard to find any clothing manufactured in the United States, let alone have it made from organic fibers. This dress is $89. They also have a sun dress for $69. The tops are in the range of $37 to $51. Not a made in China bargain, but that is probably not what you are looking for anyway. This is very well made, high quality clothing that will serve you well for a long time.

COMPANY: Beckons Organic is a company you can feel good about supporting. They have a great line of sporty clothing for active lifestyles. I am not a yoga fan, but if you are they certainly have you covered. Many of the styles are also great for pregnant and postpartum figures as you transition into motherhood. They do carry some men's yoga pants and shorts as well. They only use certified organic fibers in their clothing and mostly everything is manufactured domestically in San Diego. 

CHECK OUT THE BECKONS ORGANIC WEBSITE

Beckons Organic Grace Hemp Dress Review

Seventh Generation Review and Giveaway

What is the first company that comes to mind when you think of non-toxic cleaning? For me personally it is Seventh Generation. As far as I can remember, it seems like they were always there. At least back when people started being concerned about cleaning with toxic and carcinogenic substances. Hey, our grandparents and ancestors all cleaned with vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and other natural methods...  Then 'advances in technology' came about and our homes were flooded with chemicals. 

While I am pretty handy with homemade cleaners, what mom has the time for that? Besides, Seventh Generation products are quite affordable. Just a little more than from scratch. The best thing though is that these green cleaners actually work! I used to dislike cleaning just because of the toxic smell associated with it. Now I have no excuse!

Seventh Generation was kind to let us try their Free & Clear Starter Kit which includes the Glass & Surface Cleaner, All Purpose Cleaner, Dish Liquid, Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Pacs, Natural Paper Towels, and a Reusable Tote. We haven't had a chance to try all of the products yet, but we're loving the ones we did so far!

My favorite is the All Purpose Cleaner simple because of the all purpose part. It is nice to have just that one bottle to clean anything and everything. I actually tried it on my glass cook top that was heavily used the night before. It had dried up spills and spots everywhere. I sprayed the entire surface and wiped it with a cloth. Everything came off beautifully, as if it was spilled two seconds ago - not 12 hours. No fumes or toxic smells, no weird colors, just a powerful way to clean. 

Since I do not use a dishwasher, I gave the Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Pacs to my mother. A week later I saw her again and asked her if she tried the packets. She said "Oh yes, I did. They work so well! I used to get streaks on my dishes all the time, but with this thing they came out clear and sparkling, no residue. It seemed like even the dishwasher is cleaner now - but maybe that's my imagination!"

So to put it simply, I love that their products work and that they are so readily available. Have you noticed their new Protecting Planet Home commercial airing on TV? I certainly did. Great to see green going mainstream!

Seventh Generation is giving away a Free & Clear Starter Kit to an Eco-Babyz reader! Here is what's included:

Free & Clear Natural Glass & Surface

Free & Clear Natural All Purpose Cleaner

Free & Clear Natural Dish Liquid

Free & Clear Natural Laundry Detergent, 50 oz

(2) Natural Paper Towels - 120 Count

Reusable Tote

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

MANDATORY ENTRY: Go to the Seventh Generation website and tell us in a comment which of their last 10 blog posts is your favorite (hint: under Learn in the top menu).

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES (each one in separate comment, not counted unless mandatory entry is complete):

2. Tell us what is your favorite Seventh Generation product

3. Sign up for the Seventh Generation newsletter (top right on website) 2 Entries

4. Join the Nation, 

2 Entries

5. Follow Eco-Babyz through Google Friend Connect (sidebar bottom left)

6. Follow @EcoBlogz on Twitter

7. Follow @SeventhGen on Twitter

8. Tweet about this giveaway with link to this post, mention @EcoBlogz and @SeventhGen

9. Subscribe to Eco-Babyz (or let us know you already do) 2 entries

You can also become an Eco-Babyz or Seventh Generation fan on Facebook, but this will not count toward an entry because of new Facebook Promotion Guidelines. 

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, March 9th. The winner will be selected using Random.org on Wednesday March 10th and notified by email (make sure I have a way to get in touch with you!). Open to US residents. Thank you!

Disclaimer:

I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service. The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

Seventh Generation Review and Giveaway