Brand Loyalty

Brand loyalty...

What makes you loyal to the brands you use in your house?  

Is it that it's what your mama and grandma used?  Is it what your hubby has been used to all his life, so you don't want to rock the boat?  Is it just because it's what you're used to buying?

Or do you buy what's on sale or what you have coupons for? 

Does packaging or display have anything to do with it?

Have you ever stopped to really take a look at what you're buying?  Read the labels, do your own research, check out the manufacturers? (I mean really check them out- not just trust what they advertise on TV)

OR you might be scared that if you stop to take a look at these things- you might see something you don't want to see or know!  Sometimes we would rather be ignorant so we don't have to think.

Take a few minutes to really look at your buggy the next time you're out shopping.  Pay attention to what you're exposing yourself and your family to- whether it's food or household products.  Yes- cheaper products help out the pocketbook now- but really how cheap are you getting off?  For example, cheaper body wash means you have to use more lotion, which means you'll run out of both a lot quicker, so you'll be back buying the same product within a couple weeks.  And so many detergents and cleaners are filled with toxic chemicals and water- how clean are countertops really?

You may say "Well I'm not brand loyal- I've become awfully budget-savvy and have learned the ropes on making my own supplies!"  While there are lots of GREAT home recipes and natural products to use, I have a team member who has done extensive research on homemade products such as laundry detergent- check out all she has to say about them:


www.stayhomeforkids.wordpress.com

What about you?  Do you consider yourself brand loyal or would you be willing to even just HEAR about another way to shop?!  It's a lot easier and can be budget friendly as well!  I'm telling ya- anything that keeps me from going to one more store without my 3 kids in tow has got my ear turned!  I can't even fit three kids in the big ole shopping cart, much less what I'm shopping for!  I love having the UPS guy deliver my Melaleuca box each month!

Email me, leave a comment, or visit my team page- that will get you in touch with me, too!!

Laundry Secrets

No...I'm sad to say I don't have any-- besides some fantastic products that leave my laundry smelling so fresh and work wonders on stains!  Now...if only they put all the laundry away...

Anyway...

I feel like I am constantly sorting and doing another load before I've put up the last 2!

Our bedroom  floor looks RIDICULOUS!  But this just seems to be the best place to sort that's out of everyone's way!  And the hideous recliner??  All of those clothes are clean!  {going to put those up now...}

excuse the *cute* little camera hog!

So...type A:  what are your secrets??  Everyone else...tell me I'm not the only one!

Are your "green" products really green?

There is such a movement nowadays for green and organic products.  And while it's a great start to living healthier lives- is it really green?  Companies aren't required to put all ingredients on their labels- chemicals that are less than 1% usually aren't on there.  And those are the harmful ones.  Now- most of them aren't that bad in such small doses- but think about how often you use those products.  If it's one of your "staples" you might want to be more selective!  If you want to learn more about products made of formulas powered by natural and naturally derived solvents instead of caustic chemicals, and trigger sprayers (instead of aerosols) designed to reduce the chances of inhalation, contact me and I'll be more than happy to share how you can get these fantastic products in your home!  I don't sell them or deliver- I just set up customer memberships so you can have the same access to them as I do- plus all the great benefits of membership! 

And what better time than now?!  You can join for just $1, order your products, and see for yourself!

$1 Can Change Your Life!

I know it did for us!  I joined up with Internet Ceo Moms and our partner company last April during a $1 enrollment promotion.  Now that I have been a member for 6 months, I KNOW that I would have joined for the regular membership fee of $29!  It has been one of the best investments I could have made for our family!  Not only am I able to shop for safer products for my family, I am able to bring home some extra income for us as well!  So where's the risk in spending $1 to join a GREAT company and earn some extra income, too?!  They have a fantastic customer referral compensation plan- so you don't even have to make it a business if you're not up for that!  But I know I have, and these days, every little bit helps!  This promotion lasts until October 20, so contact me TODAY to learn how to get started and shopping!!

We have just started Miles on the kid's vitamin supplements.  I have been reading up on the science behind our vitamin line and am learning all sorts of interesting things!  I am definitely not a chemistry person, but learning about how our bodies absorb vitamins and how much they help supplement our health has been so neat!  Email me if you'd like some more information on this!  I would love to share a video with you on the science behind our vitamins!

Impulse Shopper...

Oh Target...how I love thee...let me count the aisles...


I had one of these nights tonight...I just walked and walked and walked {sans kiddos}.  Our Target has a Starbucks right there in front...and while I'm not a coffee drinker, it has turned just cool enough that one did sound really yummy!  But I passed...because I was determined NOT to impulse buy tonight!

Of course I have done all of my household shopping this month already through our partner company, so my shopping tonight was just for a baby gift...but somehow I walked out of there with more than was on my list!  (And, of course, I forgot the toilet paper!)

BUT....

That was the first time I have done that in a LONG time!  My days of shopping for detergent, cleaners, vitamins, etc, are over!  Worrying if the store brand is as good as the name brand, clipping coupons for such items, wondering if the "safer" products really are safer...all over!!  Thus, my IMPULSE buying days are over (for the most part-- I mean, I am a woman!)  I can't tell you the number of times I walked into ___(insert store name)___ to get just a few items and that trip would turn into a ---basket-full, how many plastic bags can I fill, way more money than I meant to spend--- trip!  And you just leave the store feeling so defeated and a little ashamed because you know you're going to have to explain the trip to the hubster!!  UGH!

This month, I bought what I needed AND was able to use one of my many perks to receive a few extra items I had been wanting to try out-- for FREE!  YAY!

Oh, and my pantry floors are no longer filled with all the plastic bags from the store that I always had good intentions of taking back to the store to recycle!  Just a few grocery store bags from going to the store for weekly groceries!  I really do need to start using those reusable bags, though!  I have some...that will be my next thing to work on...maybe a post about that in the near future!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Kid-Friendly

Who doesn't L.O.V.E. the smell of a clean baby?! I know it ranks right up there with the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for me! Our product offers that same great smell as store brands- just without all the yucky stuff that really is harmful to our precious little one's skin and forming bodies!

I don't want to be labeled as a conspiracy theorist, but have you read up on what is actually in baby products? Good rule of thumb-- if you can't pronounce it, then do you really want to put it on your baby? Or yourself for that matter?!

Our line carries body wash, shampoo, toothpaste (training for newbies and regular for experienced brushers), floss, that cool foamy handwash, and vitamins all specially created for the kiddos of moms and dads who are concerned about what all is going into and onto their bodies!

Just food for thought tonight!

Contact me for more info on how to get a hold of these for YOUR kids!

Tea Tree Oil

found this on a fellow Internet CEO Mom's blog! Enjoy!

Tea tree oil has been around for well over 5000 years. The real name for the oil is called Melaleuca Alterfornia and it is a tree that grows in New South Wales, Australia. When the Aborigine's lived in Australia, they used to brew the leaves and drink it for certain ailments, hence the name Tea tree oil. In 1922 a researcher from the Australian goverment named Dr. A.R. Penfold did an extensive study on Melaleuca oil and to his surprise discovered that the oil had many healing properties. Dr. Penfold found that it was a very powerful antiseptic. It healed cuts, abrasions, skin conditions, burns, and insect bites. By WWII, every Australian soldier had a bottle of Melaleuca oil in their first aid kit. It was known as "the medicine kit in a bottle."

After WWII, many people switched from natural remedies to prescribed drugs as this industry really started to grow rapidly. Melaleuca oil was introduced in 1980's to the U.S. and it's popularity is growing more and more. But be aware that some companies say their Tea tree oil is 100% pure and they're really not. I purchase 100% PURE...the finest Tea tree oil in the country!

So what does Melaleuca oil do?

It is a natural antiseptic, it heals, it penetrates below the skin surface to soothe and heal. It has a great smell!

It is used it for...psoriasis, dry skin, hair, showering, cleaning my house, doing laundry, preventing infections, disinfecting...etc. I use it on everything. I actually buy my everyday products from a great store that has the Tea tree oil mixed in already. But I do keep my trusty concentrated Melaleuca oil on hand at all times. Finally, products that really work without poisoning my family with harmful chemicals. Wow!!! I'm sooooo blessed to have found you!

{frugal mama}

Well, our conversion to all green household products is just about complete! I was bathing the other day and looked around the shower to realize that we have all family- and earth-friendly products in there! Shampoo/conditioner, shaving cream (for me and J), body wash, foot scrub, kids soap, bar soap---I am a firm believer in using every last drop before throwing away- so this was a great accomplishment for us! HA! The rest of our home is getting there- still have a bottle of cleaner and floor cleaner for my wood floors- but I am already stocked up on their replacement! Call me crazy---or cheap----or rather- {FRUGAL}.

Which brings me to my next point...if I am so {frugal} then you know this conversion is definitely worth the money I am spending on these products rather than using the coupon system and going to Wal-Mart (just one example). That way can definitely save some major money and I have friends who are excellent at it- but this has definitely made me feel as though I am doing something GREAT for my family's health. I already know each month I am going to spend a certain amount with my wellness company, so I am more apt to try new things out- things I may not normally get at Wal-Mart or Target. For example- I am not a big make-up person. It is rare that I complete my makeup routine on any given day. My eyes are highly sensitive to make-up (even the more costly store brands) and ever since I got married I haven't been able to convince myself that going to the department store to spend the money on make-up is worth it (again...{frugal} that's a stretch- we'll go with {cheap} on that one.) But this past month in my order, I needed a few more points to add to my shopping cart- so I figured- why not! I have worn eye shadow AND mascara the past few days and my eyes have been just fine! I already have another shade picked out and in my shopping cart for my September order!

So from one {frugal} mama to another--- let me help you switch your home over to safer products that can help lead your family to a healthier lifestyle! After all- one good decision leads to another! (taken from the Nutri-Grain bars commercial- ha!)

Shampoo/Conditioner

Okay, to be honest- when I received my big ol' pack of new products a couple months ago and started trying them out- I was not sold on the shampoo and conditioner. BUT it was only because they sent me the hydrating shampoo! My hair does NOT need any extra hydration! Plus, living in the SOUTH in the SUMMER- who does?!? So with my loyalty dollars (bonus $ for buying products), I was able to get a different type- clarifying- and DEFINITELY love it! It makes my hair so soft- I don't even have to condition every day! More like once a week! Pleasant smell, good product- comparable to salon brands. Now- if only they had hair color...but I think no matter how you get around it- there are harsh and toxic chemicals in that stuff! Guess I'll leave that to my hair stylist!

Retail Partners

Now this post isn't exactly about their products, but is another great feature! The company is partnered with over 600 stores and businesses online to bring you discounts or rebates just for shopping! We got a rebate check for $9 in the mail just yesterday for shopping at Target and Vistaprint online! I'll be doing my online Christmas shopping through them for sure!

My "Magic" Cleaner!

One of the best products I've started using is a multi-purpose cleaner- I mean it gets out anything and everything! It can be used at full strength or diluted. I also received a list of 100 things to do with it! It has everything from bug repellent to wall-paper removal to stain treatments- crayon, ink, oil! And remember- all of these products are free of caustic and harmful chemicals, so it smells great and can be used just about anywhere! Even when cleaning around pets and kids! I wish I had been thinking to grab my camera when we were painting upstairs-- some dark blue paint splattered onto our very light beige carpets! I got out a few drops of my "magic" cleaner and it got the paint out of the carpet! So no proof with pictures- but I was thinking a few days back when I went to clean my doors of the sweet little dirty handprints and scuff marks that get on the pantry doors particularly! These pictures don't really do it justice- so I'll have to post some more, but you can get a general idea!

Before:

After:

Laundry Detergent

Can I just say that I LOVE the smell of my laundry detergent?! I never thought I'd be blogging about laundry detergent!!

There are so many great things about it:

• because it is 6x concentrated, I only have to use about 2 tbsp of detergent...not only that, there is a pump that squirts out exactly the right amount! No more pouring out into a cup- I can just squirt it right into the washing machine! A man MUST have invented this pump!
• who doesn't love fresh smelling laundry?! There is also a scent-free, though, for those of you who don't care for it!
• you know that new HE washer you just bought? Don't worry- there is detergent for it, too!
• also because it is super concentrated, it doesn't take up much shelf space in my laundry room cabinet! No more moving bottles around or having a big bulky container taking up my whole cabinet!

So why don't you try it?!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I hope to use this blog to introduce you to ways and products my family is using to keep our home safe from caustic chemicals and fumes, and how we are doing our part to help keep the environment safe, as well! If you would ever like more information on how you can take a step to make your home safer for yourself and your family, please get in touch with me by leaving a comment or shooting me an email- lgd625@hotmail.com.

A little bit of info...

These products are all eco-friendly- the company is very environmentally conscious and uses less packaging, no water fillers- for example: a bottle 96 load liquid laundry detergent from grocery stores is 2x's concentrated (which actually has a lot of water filler) and comes in a HUGE bottle! This product line is 6x's concentrated and comes in a 48 oz bottle! Let's just say I'm not knocking bottles and containers around in my laundry room cabinet anymore!

Each product has a comparable grocery store brand that performs just as well (if not BETTER) than leading brands!

There are 5 product lines to keep you shopping each month: household products (cleaner, detergent, etc), bath and body (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.), vitamins and fitness, pharmacy, and cosmetics.

I would love to be your shopping coach! Let's get started, how about it?! You can get started this month for just $1! Contact me now by leaving a comment or emailing me: lgd625@hotmail.com

Check back soon for testimonials and pictures!

** If you would like more information on how to start a home business, please visit my website www.internetceomoms.com/lgdarby and request more information! **