We are SO excited about our new products!! (ok technically 2 of the products are not totally new but they haven’t been available on the website yet so we’re sticking with “new”) So to celebrate we’re having a contest – from today through Wednesday, June 17th.

The contest is totally easy and fun – just go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com

then search the website until you find the 3 new products. (Hint: They are clearly labeled as “new” so it won’t take long!) One of the products was based on customer feedback – for those of you who participated in the survey a couple of months back when we asked what product you would be most interested in – we used that information to develop this product!

Once you have found the new products, send an email to contest(at)gardengirlskincare.com and list:

1) The names of the 3 products. HINT: One product sort of counts as two – it’s the same but 2 versions. The Hand it to You pump bottle is not new – although clearly I need to change that on the website
2) Why you would like to try them

It’s that easy. Then we will select a winner on Wednesday and post the results on Thursday!

Now for the best part – the winner receives ALL THREE products!! Wahoo! Once you find out what they are – I think you’ll be very eager to win. They are all really great.

So what are you waiting for? Start searching!

As many of you know already, with most Garden Girl purchases, you are treated to a sample size (actually “sample” is really an understatement) of a product. We choose a product to give you – either something we think you might want to try based on your order history, or something that we think you’d enjoy having in a travel-sized container. It’s our way of giving you an extra special treat to thank you for choosing Garden Girl.

Well this week – we thought it might be fun to let YOU choose the sample. That means no matter what size order you have – you will receive a travel-sized bottle or jar of the product that YOU choose. Sounds fun, right?

But we’re going to make it even better (ok this sounds like an infomercial – “order now and you’ll get…”) – if you place an order over $75 you can choose any TWO samples. Even better? If you order more than $125 worth of products, then you can choose THREE!! Not bad, eh? Each of these samples is big enough to last up to a month! (that’s what I mean when I say sample is an understatement)

We don’t offer all of our products in these sample/travel sized but you can choose from:

0.5 oz Jars:

• No Worries face cream for dry/sensitive skin
• Nature Nurture face cream for normal/oily skin
• Starting Over microderm scrub
• Cookies + Cream purifying masque
• Hugs vanilla body butter
• Smooches chocolate mandarin body butter
• Pucker Up Coconut sugar scrub
• Zippity Do Dah peppermint foot cream

1.0 oz Bottles:

• You’re Fresh face wash for normal/oily skin
• Oasis for Faces face wash for dry/sensitive or mature skin
• Even Ste(pH)en toner
• Hand it to You hand cream
• Chill Out body lotion
• Jump Start body lotion
• Mellow body lotion
• Alive body lotion

Taking advantage of this very unique offer is easy. Simply go to:

www.gardengirlskincare.com

Then, when you are checking out there will be a comments section (not the coupons section). In that comments section, simply write which sample you would like. If your order is above $75, you will write the two you’d like. And if you order over $125 you can select THREE!

As always, our products are all free of parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates. Enjoy – and have fun choosing your samples!

You’ve heard them all before. Crazy diets, new theories, weight-loss schemes. When it comes down to it – people are going back to the basics. Exercise and calories. There are all kinds of ways to squeeze in exercise so there’s literally almost no excuse. And meals? Well maybe you can find a way to tweak what you’re eating and lose a few pounds.

A recent article in Prevention Magazine highlighted a sample day with 4 meals – each with 400 calories or less. They say for “active women over 40″ the easiest way to lose weight is to eat four 400 calorie meals daily. They believe that this “fuels energy, revs metabolism, and keeps you feeling full longer” which will result in weight loss.

Sounds easy? Well the way the spell it out, it looks pretty straightforward.

The meals they showed actually sounded pretty good (and filling):

Hearty Breakfast: Egg Sandwich (with egg whites, avocado, lowfat cheese and tomato)

Fast & Easy Lunch: Personal Pizza (top a whole wheat pita with veggies, lowfat cheese and chicken)

Dinner: Pasta (using Amy’s Bowls Stuffed Pasta Shells – sounds easy!!)

Sweet Treat: Yogurt Parfait (this is where they lose me – where’s the ice cream? The chocolate? – I guess that wouldn’t really work….)

Check out the full article here: http://www.prevention.com/400/ for these recipes plus a bunch more.

In this issue they also have a plan to build up from walking to running. That’s something I need to start doing – I love walking but really do not like running. Maybe this plan could help me like it more? That really would be a miracle!

In an email from the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), they revealed some disturbing minutes from a recent industry meeting where big brands were working together to set a communication/media strategy to defend the “benefits” of BPA.

Take a look at this selection of the minutes from the EWG site. The companies represented include: Coca Cola, Del Monte and the North American Metal Packaging Alliance. They say things like -

• “Overall, the committee seemed disorganized, and its members frustrated. Lack of direction from the committee and these associations could continue to allow other associations and environmental groups to push BPA out. “

• “Attendees suggested using fear tactics (e.g. “Do you want to have access to baby food anymore?”) as well as giving control back to consumers (e.g. you have a choice between the more expensive product that is frozen or fresh or foods packaged in cans) as ways to dissuade people from choosing BPA-free packaging.”
• “The committee wants to focus on quality instead of quantity in disseminating messages (e.g. a young kid or pregnant mother providing a positive quote about BPA, a testimonial from an outside expert, providing positive video, advice from third party experts, and relevant messaging on the GMA website).”

Pretty icky, right? So after they have time to do some research to fine-tune the exact message, you will start to see more “positive” spins on BPA. But don’t be fooled – there’s not much good you can get from BPA. It’s just bad.