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.
We do recycle at home and use our own shopping totes.
Took the 4-week test drive pledge.
“Like” TheSuburbanMom on Facebook. @tcarolinep JessieKatie S
newsletter subsciber
tweet.http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/57619710363185152
I 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.
We recycle EVERYTHING! I even send some materials off by mail to companies because there aren’t facilities where I live.
We 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
I’m already a fan of the Suburban Mom…Tracy 🙂
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow you on twitter and I just tweeted here:
http://twitter.com/#!/tracysuz/status/57632328813522944
Hugs…Tracy 🙂
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com
I already subscribe to you via email.
Thanks again…Tracy 🙂
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com
I just commented on “My Green Bag Story”, which I really enjoyed reading.
Be blessed…Tracy 🙂
cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com
recycle everything, have rain water for plants, unplug
subscriber
I always use reusable bags.
I took the pledge.
reusing plastic bottles for water…….. whats the point of just buying more plastic with fresh water bottles. I havent bought a water bottle in years!!! costana@q.com
took the 4-week test drive
“Like” TheSuburbanMom on Facebook.
follow on twitter @costana78 http://twitter.com/#!/Costana78/status/57685835428016128
we take our shopping bags to the store and never use those plastic bags
tcogbill at live dot com
i took the test drive
tcogbill at live dot com
i get your emails
tcogbill at live dot com
We have invested in stainless steel water bottles and completely stopped using disposables.
I clicked to take the pledge (and entered to win the hybrid!)
I’m an email subscriber
I follow you on twitter as mbm218 and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/mbm218/status/57841472485064704
Took the 4-week challenge
“like” you on facebook
Receive your newsletter
We recycle all of our trash and use reuseable bags at the stores.
we recycle at home and use the shopping totes so as to not make waste
i like you on facebook
i am signed up for your newsletter
I 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!
I fill a reusable water bottle at work, use my own shopping tote bags and recycle as much as possible!
I like you on facebook
I get your newsletter
And I commented on Ben & Jerry’s – I m so sad that I missed out on the free cone day, argh!
Oh, and I also took the 4-week test drive pledge!
We recycle everything!
I like you on fb.
I get your email newsletter.
following on twitter and tweeted giveaway.
took the 4-week test drive- wow, what an impact we can have.
We 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
We always recycle at my house.
I took the 4-week test drive.
Recycling is the way of life,my wife and i are very green.
“Like” The SuburbanMom on facebook
charity s
email subscriber
I use generic all purpose sprays to clean my windows in my house and car.
Recycling, of course. Thanks.
Already follow you on twitter and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/BSsMom/status/60034392873123840
installed solar lights for our outdoor lighting
facebook friend beveanne mckinley
joined the veggie tales giveaway
joined the shutterfly contest
I’ve been switching to green household products.
lazybones344 at gmail dot com
I took the 4 week test drive.
lazybones344 at gmail dot com
I’ve switched to energy saving light bulbs.
We’ve installed solar lights outside.
Thanks so much
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
Took the 4-week test drive
Thanks again
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
I’m a FB friend (Margaret E. Smith)
Thanks again
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
I’m a newsletter subscriber
Thanks again
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
Follow on twitter (peg42) and tweeted:
http://twitter.com/peg42/status/60160882080092161
Thanks again
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
We recycle everything that we can!
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
I took the 4 week test drive
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
I already like you on FB~Deb S
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
Email Subscriber
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
commented
I recycle.
austma7@aol.com
I recycle all my aluminum and cardboard/paper products. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
recycling more, using less electricity
We have switched to an HE washer and dryer.
enter me thanks
we recycle and keep a garden
We’ve been really trying to recycle everything we can.
msjem2001 at yahoo dot com
i took the pledge
We 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