This is the first of a four-week series of posts brought to you by Scott Naturals and TheMotherhood about going green, just in time for Earth Day. Since I am passionate about going green, I am really excited about this series. In addition to some great “green”‘ topics, I also get to giveaway four prize packs and tell you about how you could win a $100 Amazon gift card or a Ford Hybrid. Plus with a single click, we all have the opportunity to help the National Wildlife Federation because for each click through my special link (below) Scott will donate $1!
Since this is the first of the series and there is so much info to share, I am going to keep this week’s post pretty simple.
“Going green” means a lot of things to a lot of people. To some, it sounds like a cliché fad. Others find the whole idea daunting. Still others worry about giving up things they love and becoming too “granola.” And finally others believe that it is our responsibility as enlightened adults. So who is right?
The funny thing is that at some point in my life, I have felt going green was each of these things (and more). When I was young, I was super into saving the planet and was an early adopter of recycling. When I first got married, I felt as though all of the things we are “supposed” to do were just too much, and I didn’t want to give up my way of life. Later, I became jaded as “green” became a cool thing to do. And today, I believe it is not only our responsibility to do what we can, but my responsibility to encourage others to see past our own personal limitations to try one step toward being more green – just one step.
To me going green isn’t about changing your way of life today. It is about taking one step at a time, toward doing something that is better for the world around you. I have mentioned in previous posts my own amazement how these steps that seem so huge at first can slowly become a natural habit until you forget how green you have become. (For example, My Green Bag Story.)
In conjunction with Scott Naturals’ 4-week test drive challenge, I challenge you to take a step. Any step, toward doing something for the world around you. At the end of a month or two, think about how the step has become part of your life. Once that step becomes habit, consider taking another step. Like learning to walk, you too can learn to be green. (If after 20 years of working on my father, he now automatically recycles his Coke cans… you too can make a step a life habit. True story!)
So what is this 4-week test drive? Scott Naturals products are made with recycled fibers and sustainable materials instead of 100% virgin fibers, and the 4-week test drive is a challenge for people to swap their current brand of paper products made of virgin fibers (paper towels, napkins, toilet paper and flushable wipes) for those made from recycled and sustainable fibers. According to Scott, if we all swapped our current products for Scott Naturals for four weeks we would save 2 million trees.
My family is taking the test drive, and if you are up to the challenge, you can visit Scott Brand’s website to take the challenge and snag coupons to save money on the Scott Naturals products. Additionally, just for clicking on the link to check out the challenge, Scott will donate $1 (up to $25,000) to the National Wildlife Federation. (Yes, all you have to do is click and $1 is donated on your behalf.
After taking the challenge, be sure to enter to win a Ford Fusion Hybrid! (How cool would it be if a TheSuburbanMom reader won the car!) AND if you head over to the Scott Naturals Facebook page, you can enter daily to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card.
WIN it – Finally, to help one reader take the 4-week test drive challenge, I am giving away a Scott Naturals prize pack that includes paper towels, napkins, toilet paper and flushable wipes. (See how easy I want to make it to help you take a step?!)
This giveaway is now closed, HOWEVER, you there will be 3 more giveaways for the same prize pack over the next 3 weeks.
- Week 2 – April 19 – 25
- Week 3 – April 25 – May 2
- Week 4 – May 2 – 9
Contest ends April 18, 2011 at 11:59 PM – There will be 3 more giveaways with the last ending May 9. Open to U.S. residents in the continental U.S. only. Winning comment will be chosen at random by Random.org and contacted for shipping information. Winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Disclosure – This post is sponsored by Scott Naturals and TheMotherhood, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Jessie C. says
April 11, 2011 at 8:43 pmWe do recycle at home and use our own shopping totes.
Jessie C. says
April 11, 2011 at 8:44 pmTook the 4-week test drive pledge.
Jessie C. says
April 11, 2011 at 8:44 pm“Like” TheSuburbanMom on Facebook. @tcarolinep JessieKatie S
Jessie C. says
April 11, 2011 at 8:44 pmnewsletter subsciber
Jessie C. says
April 11, 2011 at 8:44 pmtweet.http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/57619710363185152
Mindy R says
April 11, 2011 at 8:57 pmI love “green” contests! I’ve done everything (except I don’t have a Twitter account), plus I posted about this giveaway on FB! With all of the attacks on environmental protection lately we all really need to take the initiative personally.
Mindy R says
April 11, 2011 at 8:59 pmWe recycle EVERYTHING! I even send some materials off by mail to companies because there aren’t facilities where I live.
Tracy @ Cotton Pickin says
April 11, 2011 at 9:30 pmWe stopped driving as much and I try to use products that contain less plastic. I’m planning on buying glass storage containers and using my plastic ones for shed and work shop storage rather than throwing them away.
Thanks for a chance to win…Tracy 🙂
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tracy @ Cotton Pickin says
April 11, 2011 at 9:31 pmI’m already a fan of the Suburban Mom…Tracy 🙂
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tracy @ Cotton Pickin says
April 11, 2011 at 9:35 pmI follow you on twitter and I just tweeted here:
http://twitter.com/#!/tracysuz/status/57632328813522944
Hugs…Tracy 🙂
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tracy @ Cotton Pickin says
April 11, 2011 at 9:41 pmI already subscribe to you via email.
Thanks again…Tracy 🙂
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tracy @ Cotton Pickin says
April 11, 2011 at 9:55 pmI just commented on “My Green Bag Story”, which I really enjoyed reading.
Be blessed…Tracy 🙂
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com
sandy says
April 11, 2011 at 10:12 pmrecycle everything, have rain water for plants, unplug
sandy says
April 11, 2011 at 10:12 pmsubscriber
Ashley H says
April 11, 2011 at 11:46 pmI always use reusable bags.
Ashley H says
April 11, 2011 at 11:46 pmI took the pledge.
Costana Hornbaker says
April 12, 2011 at 1:00 amreusing plastic bottles for water…….. whats the point of just buying more plastic with fresh water bottles. I havent bought a water bottle in years!!! [email protected]
Costana Hornbaker says
April 12, 2011 at 1:02 amtook the 4-week test drive
Costana Hornbaker says
April 12, 2011 at 1:05 am“Like” TheSuburbanMom on Facebook.
Costana Hornbaker says
April 12, 2011 at 1:06 amfollow on twitter @costana78 http://twitter.com/#!/Costana78/status/57685835428016128
tess says
April 12, 2011 at 8:55 amwe take our shopping bags to the store and never use those plastic bags
tcogbill at live dot com
tess says
April 12, 2011 at 8:55 ami took the test drive
tcogbill at live dot com
tess says
April 12, 2011 at 8:56 ami get your emails
tcogbill at live dot com
Mary Elderton says
April 12, 2011 at 11:20 amWe have invested in stainless steel water bottles and completely stopped using disposables.
Mary Elderton says
April 12, 2011 at 11:23 amI clicked to take the pledge (and entered to win the hybrid!)
Mary Elderton says
April 12, 2011 at 11:23 amI’m an email subscriber
Mary Elderton says
April 12, 2011 at 11:25 amI follow you on twitter as mbm218 and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/mbm218/status/57841472485064704
Barb says
April 12, 2011 at 8:40 pmTook the 4-week challenge
Barb says
April 12, 2011 at 8:41 pm“like” you on facebook
Barb says
April 12, 2011 at 8:41 pmReceive your newsletter
Barb says
April 12, 2011 at 8:43 pmWe recycle all of our trash and use reuseable bags at the stores.
Kimberly says
April 12, 2011 at 8:46 pmwe recycle at home and use the shopping totes so as to not make waste
Kimberly says
April 12, 2011 at 8:47 pmi like you on facebook
Kimberly says
April 12, 2011 at 8:47 pmi am signed up for your newsletter
amanda juarez says
April 12, 2011 at 8:48 pmI use reusable bags whenever possible (good for walking up 3 flights of stairs daily) and I also carpool (good for saving on gas) I already subscribe and “like”. Thanks!
Suzanne says
April 12, 2011 at 9:41 pmI fill a reusable water bottle at work, use my own shopping tote bags and recycle as much as possible!
Suzanne says
April 12, 2011 at 9:42 pmI like you on facebook
Suzanne says
April 12, 2011 at 9:42 pmI get your newsletter
Suzanne says
April 12, 2011 at 9:48 pmAnd I commented on Ben & Jerry’s – I m so sad that I missed out on the free cone day, argh!
Suzanne says
April 12, 2011 at 9:49 pmOh, and I also took the 4-week test drive pledge!
Keely Hostetter says
April 13, 2011 at 10:36 amWe recycle everything!
Keely Hostetter says
April 13, 2011 at 10:36 amI like you on fb.
Keely Hostetter says
April 13, 2011 at 10:37 amI get your email newsletter.
Keely Hostetter says
April 13, 2011 at 10:37 amfollowing on twitter and tweeted giveaway.
Keely Hostetter says
April 13, 2011 at 10:42 amtook the 4-week test drive- wow, what an impact we can have.
Tina Edeman says
April 13, 2011 at 11:35 pmWe recycle, also started a small garden this year right now they are in the window in the living room! also use the reuseable shopping bags and hound the kids to turn lights off when dont in room or if its daylight and to turn off the water when brushing or washing hair in the shower.
already like on fb and entered at scotts website 🙂 and shared on FB
Charity S. says
April 18, 2011 at 12:26 pmWe always recycle at my house.
Charity S. says
April 18, 2011 at 12:28 pmI took the 4-week test drive.
Erich Jaggard says
April 18, 2011 at 12:29 pmRecycling is the way of life,my wife and i are very green.
Charity S. says
April 18, 2011 at 12:30 pm“Like” The SuburbanMom on facebook
charity s
Charity S. says
April 18, 2011 at 12:30 pmemail subscriber
Marilyn Wons says
April 18, 2011 at 12:36 pmI use generic all purpose sprays to clean my windows in my house and car.
Karenp says
April 18, 2011 at 12:36 pmRecycling, of course. Thanks.
Karenp says
April 18, 2011 at 12:38 pmAlready follow you on twitter and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/BSsMom/status/60034392873123840
william mckinley says
April 18, 2011 at 2:41 pminstalled solar lights for our outdoor lighting
william mckinley says
April 18, 2011 at 2:41 pmfacebook friend beveanne mckinley
william mckinley says
April 18, 2011 at 2:42 pmjoined the veggie tales giveaway
william mckinley says
April 18, 2011 at 2:42 pmjoined the shutterfly contest
Denise S says
April 18, 2011 at 5:06 pmI’ve been switching to green household products.
lazybones344 at gmail dot com
Denise S says
April 18, 2011 at 5:08 pmI took the 4 week test drive.
lazybones344 at gmail dot com
Jacquelyn Cannon says
April 18, 2011 at 6:23 pmI’ve switched to energy saving light bulbs.
Margaret Smith says
April 18, 2011 at 8:56 pmWe’ve installed solar lights outside.
Thanks so much
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
Margaret Smith says
April 18, 2011 at 8:57 pmTook the 4-week test drive
Thanks again
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
Margaret Smith says
April 18, 2011 at 8:59 pmI’m a FB friend (Margaret E. Smith)
Thanks again
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
Margaret Smith says
April 18, 2011 at 9:00 pmI’m a newsletter subscriber
Thanks again
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
Margaret Smith says
April 18, 2011 at 9:01 pmFollow on twitter (peg42) and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/peg42/status/60160882080092161
Thanks again
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
eva says
April 18, 2011 at 9:08 pm[email protected]
One way I have gone green is recycle whenever possible; I have gotten my family to start it too.
Deb K says
April 18, 2011 at 9:14 pmWe recycle everything that we can!
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
eva says
April 18, 2011 at 9:14 pm[email protected]
http://twitter.com/#!/ekieu/status/60164300911816704
eva says
April 18, 2011 at 9:15 pmSign up for newsletter
[email protected]
eva says
April 18, 2011 at 9:16 pm[email protected]
“Like” TheSuburbanMom on Facebook [ eva kieu ]
eva says
April 18, 2011 at 9:16 pmTake the 4-week test drive
[email protected]
Deb K says
April 18, 2011 at 9:16 pmI took the 4 week test drive
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
Deb K says
April 18, 2011 at 9:17 pmI already like you on FB~Deb S
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
Deb K says
April 18, 2011 at 9:18 pmEmail Subscriber
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
eva says
April 18, 2011 at 9:19 pmcommented
Kiara says
April 18, 2011 at 10:47 pmI recycle.
[email protected]
Terra Heck says
April 18, 2011 at 11:31 pmI recycle all my aluminum and cardboard/paper products. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
sandy says
April 18, 2011 at 11:35 pmrecycling more, using less electricity
nicole says
April 19, 2011 at 12:35 amWe have switched to an HE washer and dryer.
evelyn says
April 20, 2011 at 11:22 amenter me thanks
ashley says
May 4, 2011 at 10:26 pmwe recycle and keep a garden
Shelley Mitchell says
May 6, 2011 at 8:48 amWe’ve been really trying to recycle everything we can.
msjem2001 at yahoo dot com
susan smoaks says
May 6, 2011 at 2:25 pmi took the pledge
Chris N says
May 6, 2011 at 9:20 pmWe pick up trash when we go to the park. We have to throw our own away anyway, picking up a few pieces along the way is really no trouble.
ezmerelda at mail dot com