Clean.

LuSa Organics Coupon Code and Giveaway!

Hi ya'll. It's me, Rachel. In the pictures above. And that's my family. And those are the products we make with our own hands. We are actual human beings! (Not a corporation at all.) And every so often as an actual human I issue a sweet and gentle reminder that not only do I spend my time here writing, but I also own a lovely small business. A small business that pays my mortgage as well as feeds my soul. (The job of writing here, which I so love, does only the latter.)

So I am here to say, "Hey, I'd be stoked if you bought some product from me!" There. It's out. Yes - you, too, can have a little LuSa in your life.

I am the creator and owner of LuSa Organics, a line of highest quality, handmade organic body care and baby care. This blog actually was born out of my desire to make our business a little more transparent by giving you a view into our life, my philosophy and values. Because I think who we are is almost as important as what we make. And while the blog has since become it's own entity it began because of LuSa.

Our products are outstanding and I figure, hey, everyone needs soap. And some of you need baby products. Will you try mine? 

I created our recipes out of my head over a decade ago and have continued to improve upon them ever since. Our soaps are moisturizing, gentle, long-lasting and offer a crazy buttery lather. And as any customer will attest, they smell incredible. Our award-winning Booty Balm borders on cult-like in its following. Booty Balm is magic in a jar and will heal almost anything you throw it at (the balm, not the jar).

All of the products align with my beliefs about the world. Less waste, more sustainable farming practices, better treatment of people, animals, and the planet. More good mojo all around. We donate 10% of our profits to amazing causes like La Leche League, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, and dozens of other noble organizations. We donate some of our scratch and dent product to our local food pantry and try in general to be all-around-do-gooders.

And our products are made by hand right here in the Driftless. Vernon County - the second poorest county in Wisconsin. We employ four amazing people who all rank on my short list of the nicest folks I've ever met. And by supporting LuSa you support Heather buying chickens for her girls' homeschooling studies and a hay baler for her small farm. You support Chris's quest for a healthy gluten-free life as he heads towards marrying his sweetheart in the coming season. You support Karen finishing the construction of her hand-hewn home. Your support Steve as he bring live theatre to life in our small town. You support me, coming here to write to you here. Real people. A real small town. Real lives.

That's the power of buying from a small family-owned business.

 

I'm offering a giveaway of your choice of a Welcome, Little One! Gift Collection, a Mama is Born Gift Collection, five bars of naked soap, or a Delight Gift Collection. Leave a comment below to enter. Tell me what you think of our products, or anything you think I should know.

I'd be honored if you decided to share this post, follow me on Pinterest, and like both this blog and LuSa Organics on Facebook.

And to encourage you to take the leap into trying LuSa for the first time, I'm offering a free lip balm with any LuSa order this week, and a free lip balm and bar of naked soap with any order over $35. To redeem, type "Taking the LuSa Leap" in the comments field and we'll choose something spectacular for you to try. (Expires March 31. Valid for retail customers only, please.)

Thanks for coming here to read each week, and thank you for supporting LuSa - and therefore both my family and my passion for creating this space where you come to read.

Love,
Rachel

P.S. For those of you who are LuSa customers and not yet blog readers, take a look around. I think you'll find inspiration here that you didn't even know you were looking for.

Comments are now closed. Congratulations to Lynne who said,

"Finding truly natural products, especially for baby, is such a challenge The transparency you offer here on Clean is extremely refreshing. I would love to try your products! Thanks for hosting the giveaway."

Sponsor Giveaway : : Dental Essentials

Below is my interview with Melinda, co-owner and founder of The Dental Essentials. She's also offer a (very generous) giveaway and coupon code!

 

What is your company and how long have you been in business?

 

Just over a year ago my partner and I created, "The Dental Essentials", a small line of nutritional supplements designed to help remineralize teeth and reduce the risk of cavities. Our formulations are largely based on the work of Weston A. Price and Dr May Mellanby.

What inspired you to go into this line of work?

 

My daughter's own experience at the dentist as a very active, healthy, organic-foods-eating girl was the spark. She developed her first cavity and the dentist told me, basically, that due to her poorly mineralized teeth, she would continue to get cavities. "Its not if, but when," she said with no more advice than to brush and floss, certainly nothing regarding a nutritional, more holistic approach.  This just seemed wrong.

As my partner and I learned more about the link between dental caries and nutritional deficiencies I can honestly say I was shocked. The research of Weston Price and May Mellanby helped us determine what the key nutrients for mineralization are and I started to supplement my daughter's diet. She has never had another cavity, nor has my son. Formulating and creating these products for the public at that point seemed like a great step to take.

 

How do you believe you and your business are bringing good into the world?

 

Great question, Rachel, nobody has ever asked me that before!  I do think my business is bringing good into the world. No matter where and how you live, all parents want their children to be as healthy as possible but having teeth with holes and decay in them is definitely not part of that equation. Our company is built on the knowledge that cavities are not inevitable and, with a little knowledge up front and a small, consistent effort, they can be significantly reduced and even eradicated.

 

 

What else should we know?

 

I know when a family is struggling with cavities, it can feel overwhelming and finding alternative approaches to care is not easy. I would urge parents to visit our blog at www.thedentalessentials.wordpress.com for some really interesting articles about the research we based our products on.

There is also information there (and on our website) about breastfeeding and cavities-- as you can imagine we wholeheartedly affirm that nursing at night does NOT cause tooth decay -- as well as links to current studies looking at a pregnant mother's intake of vitamin D and their child's subsequent incidence of cavities. Fascinating stuff.

The approach to dental health appears to be undergoing an much needed overhaul right now and it's largely being led by parents and families who know there are better ways to keep teeth healthy that are natural and complementary.

If you are interested in The Dental Essentials and our philosophy on preventing cavities through nutrition, head to their facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheDentalEssentials. Make sure to "like" us, too, since twice a year we announce a big 48 hour sale via facebook and twitter. Our twitter account is #Cavity_Free if you'd like to follow us.

 

The Dental Essentials has offered 15% off the purchase of any of their products with code "Lusa15". (Can be used once per customer and cannot be combined with any other coupons.) Enter the code on the order page where it says "coupon code" then hit "apply." Valid through May 30, 2012.

 

They are also offering a family pack of The Dental Essentials containing three bottles of tablets and one bottle of their liquid formula (Valued at $120). To be entered, just leave a comment below. Good luck, and have a great weekend everyone!

 Comments are now closed. Congratulations to Liz who said, "headed over to your blog now to get more info- so happy to have come across this!"

Sponsor Giveaway : : Rebourne Clothing

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Marni, the owner and founder of Rebourne Clothing has been a long-time sponsor of Clean. An interview, giveaway, and coupon code are all below!

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What is your company and how long have you been in business?

My company is Rebourne Clothing. I have been in business since 2008.

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What inspires your work?

My kids and the environment are my two biggest inspirations. My family and I live in the city, and I also draw a lot of inspiration from the colors, decay, movement, and people.

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How do you believe you and your business are bringing good into the world?

I am supporting a lifestyle that is gentler on our earth. I use fabrics that are gentler and safer on the environment and our bodies. The fabrics I use that are not organic are post-consumer waste or post-industrial waste. Those fabrics directly reduce the size of landfills!

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What are you most pleased that you offer? 

I am most pleased to offer wool products. While it took me a while to get on the wool bandwagon, I am so passionate about it now. I love helping other families learn about and love wool!

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Rebourne Clothing is offering free US shipping to all LuSa readers this months! Use coupon code 'CLEAN' before March 1, 2012.

Comments are now closed. The winner is Mama Jen who said, "Loving it". 

Today's giveaway is for a $15 gift certificate towards any item in Rebourne Clothing's store. Leave a comment to be entered!

LuSa Organics Giveaway

As you already know (or I hope you do!), I am the founder and owner of LuSa Organics. LuSa (which stands for the names of our kids, Lupine and Sage) is a family-owned small business devoted to creating exceptional organic body care and baby care. We love what we make, we love what we do. That's all there is to it.

My husband Pete and I run LuSa Organics business together, taking turns trading roles between home/homeschooling time and LuSa time. It's a balancing act, but we can't imagine it any other way.

Every day I appreciate the customers who choose - mindfully - LuSa each day. You make a decision that your purchases matter; that quality matters; that families matter; that small matters. And you choose us. The little guy/gal over the big dogs. We're humbled by that act. And we thank you.

To celebrate LuSa's recent move from our home to our new production space, I am hosting my own giveaway for a $40 LuSa Organics gift certificate!  Keep it, share it, or give it away as a holiday gift. It's up to you. What a delicious opportunity to bring some good smells into your world.

And for everyone I'm offering free standard US shipping on all orders over $50 between today and January 1, 2012. If you hurry, that might even be in time for the holidays!(International customers - email me for your special shipping discount code.) Use coupon code "CELEBRATE" during checkout, then choose "free shipping" from the shipping menu.

  To enter the giveaway drawing, do any or all of the following ~

1. Leave a comment stating one of the following:

A) For existing customers, share something you love about LuSa Organics.

B) For future customers, tell me what you're most excited to try.

2. For a second entry, invite a friend or two to enter our drawing as well (use Facebook, Google+, Twitter, your blog, email, or the telephone, or hollering out your car window). This will be the honor system. Link to your post or let us know how you invited your friends in your comment. 

3. And finally, for a third go, let us know what future LuSa product or scent you would be most interested in!

Thanks for your unwavering support and love. We're so grateful for each of you!

Comments are now closed. Congratulations to Erin who said, "I would love to try some of the handmade soap or hard lotion. I put them as well as a couple other things on my Christmas wish list so hopefully I'll be getting some from my husband. :)"

Sponsor Giveaway : : Gypsy Forest

I'm so happy to introduce you to Stephinie and Gypsy Forest. I've been blessed with some treasures from Stephinie's shop over the past few months including a favorite skirt of Lupine's and two lovely linen bags we take with us each week to the library to bring our books home. Her craftsmanship is stunning, her fabrics are lovely, and she is a kind- and kindred-soul.

Read on for our interview, a coupon code, and a giveaway!

What is your company and how long have you been in business?
I sew heirloom quality children's quilts, bags and clothing for children that are created with linen and organic cotton fabrics. I opened my shop in February of 2010 so I'll be celebrating my second anniversary very soon.

What inspires your work?
My family and trying my best to live simply inspire the designs of my creations. Anything that makes it into the shop must be useful and beautiful.

How do you believe you and your business are bringing good into the world?
In a world full of mass produced things, I feel good about creating beautiful one of a kind and eco minded designs. I strive to offer versatile products that can have many uses, all made of materials that will easily return to our earth. I also believe in creating something durable that can be used for years to come.

What are you most pleased that you offer?
My spindrift quilts. Each quilt is hand drawn with a curvy edge that has a natural organic feel to it. The whole cloth quilted design is easy to care for and very durable. They are truly one of a kind. Years ago when my first baby (now 15!) came into the world he was gifted with two beautiful quilts from a family friend. These were my most cherished gifts and have since been used again and again for each of our four children. They've been swaddled in them, played on them and even used them as a cape pinned under their chin with a clothespin. I always hope the quilts I send out will receive this much use & love.

Stephinie has offered a 10% discount to all readers, today through December 17! Use coupon code "wintergypsy" for your discount.

She is also offering a $25 gift certificate to one lucky winner! Throw your name in the hat by leaving a comment below. Take a peek in the Gypsy Forest shop to see all of her lovely wares.
 

Comments are now closed. The winner is Elizabeth Smith who said, "Oh my, these are beautiful! Please choose me :)" Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Sponsor Giveaway: Sparkle Stories

I'm so excited to introduce you to a few of our fabulous sponsors! As a small-business owner myself, I am passionate about encouraging people to invest their dollars in small, independent, family-owned businesses. And as we move into the holiday season I thought this was a great time to share with you a little more about the families who sponsor Clean. I hope that you find something in this series that will inspire you to support businesses that resonate with your ideals! I know I will. 

Sage, Lupine and I have been loving Sparkle Stories since our first listen. My kids' hands-down favorite series is Martin and Sylvia, a brother and sister (who happen to be homeschoolers) who the kids think are really themselves by different names. Gentle, magical, humorous, beautiful stories. Sparkle Stories are the only audio stories we listen to. Read on for the interview!

What is your company and how long have you been in business?

Sparkle Stories is a new website that offers audio stories for children ages 4 to 10.  We started in December of last year: we wanted to create a trusted site where parents could go to find high-quality audio for their families.

Currently we have 4 story series: stories about fairy magic in So Many Fairies, animal adventures in Junkyard Tales, as well as tales of the day-to-day explorations of Martin & Sylvia (a subscriber favorite!).  And then there’s Saturday Sparkle — which contains part original work, and part classic tales songs and verses from all over the world.  In 2012 we'll expand our offerings to 2 more Story Series!  You can read about all of our current story series, and listen to sample stories, here: http://www.sparklestories.com/stories/

Families can "Subscribe" to the Sparkle Story Series and then access new stories each week.  Each of the Story Series has a year's worth of audio, and listeners can jump in at any point and enjoy.  If you subscribe for a full year, you'll hear every story in the Series!

And for those that aren't ready to subscrive, they can purchase Sample Story packs for each of the series to get more of a tast of the quality of the stories.

 

What inspired you to go into this line of work?

David has an amazing ability to spin stories from the air.  You can toss him a few ideas -- say "a lost princess, a golden butterfly, and a thieving mouse" -- and he can tell a tale that enraptures kids and adults.  He's a Waldorf class teacher too -- so he has lots of experience in using storytelling to instruct, inspire and heal.   I love to bring words to life -- I have an MFA in playwriting and a knack for editing larger works into tight little narratives.  When I saw the possibility of creating a business based out of our two gifts -- that met a need in the world -- I just knew we had to do it! 

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Historically David has been inspired by things that come up in our own life, for example: one of our boys doesn't want to go to school, or there's teasing in their classroom, or there's a loss in the community.   He tells a story about it -- either to our boys, or to a local class.  And those stories are developed into stories for the Series. 

He's been telling Martin and Sylvia stories for years.  The intention has always been to help our boys meet the challenges and events of our life.  When we knew we were going to move house, Martin and Sylvia moved. When our dog was going to die, Martin and Sylvia’s dog died. It helped them with the big transitions, as well as normal everyday things like bossy older brothers and picky eaters.

Now we are getting regular requests from subscribers!  They ask us to tell stories to meet the needs of their children, or to address specific situations.  My favorite story request of late was this:  the Mom is going out of town for the first time -- for a week! -- and she's worried about how the Dad will manage!  This request inspired an absolutely delightful Martin & Sylvia for August: "Daddycation".  As you might imagine, it's immensely fun and satisfying to create stories this way!  

And often the children give direct inspiration.  At bedtime, David will say "Name 2 things," and they'll know exactly what he's up to. They'll say "a golden mountain" and "a band of robbers", and there's the beginning of a story. Many of the stories in our series started that way.

How do you believe you and your business are bringing good into the world?

Stories can help children meet challenge in a deep, fundamental way.  They can work like magic.  We've seen it over and over -- in our own family, and in the Waldorf communities that we've been a part of.   And stories are healing not only for children but also for adults and families!   And so many of our stories have a spark of healing or discovery within them, so that they entertain AND inspire. 

Another important piece: children younger than age 7 imitate what they see and hear around them.  This understanding is fundamental to the way Waldorf early education is structured.  We too have crafted our stories to model ways and values that see as ideal, so that our young children are left with impressions that are nourishing, strengthening, and joyful.

Lastly and simply, Sparkle offers a rich alternative to screen media.  We parents often need something to occupy our children -- so we can do the dishes, or get the baby down for a nap, or finish a business call.  And -- I hear it all the time -- parents struggle with feeling good about using television or computers!  Sparkle can be a trusted source for enriching entertainment, that, as audio, leaves children's imaginations free to grow and develop.

Sparkle Stories is offering a fabulous coupon code for each of you. I encourage you all to do it. You'll be hooked. Clean readers pay just $1-for-the-first-month of the Sparkle Subscription (for the full-story subscription). At checkout, use this magic code:  8D77.  And then access 5+ hours of audio stories over the next month! The code will be good for one month, until December 5, 2011.

Sparkle Stories is offering a generous three-month story giveaway for one lucky reader ($50 value). Leave a comment below to enter. For extra entries, tweet or share this giveaway on Facebook, email a link to the giveaway to a friend, or become a fan of Clean and Sparkle Stories on Facebook. I will close comments next week. Good luck!

Comments are now closed. The winner is Stephy who said:

Oooooo, we would enjoy these so very much! Thanks for the special too!

Glass Dharma Glass Straws Giveaway.

Glass Dharma has generously offered me a $25 gift certificate to give away to one lucky reader! Earlier this year I shared our groovy straws with you in my homemade tonic water post. I got quite a few emails about the tonic and the straws.

Yes, our glass straws are wonderful. We're kind of obsessed with them. And if you manage to break one, they have a great guarantee and will replace your straw. How great is that?

To enter your name in the giveaway, simply leave a comment here. I'll select a winner next week. You may add up to four additional comments for liking Clean on Facebook and Glass Dharma on Facebook or by liking, sharing, or tweeting this post, or signing up for my rss feed.

Comments are now closed!

Congratulations to Amy who said:

"I would love to try glass straws!"

We love our straws!

Thanks, Glass Dharma for the generous giveaway.

 

Living Crafts Magazine Giveaway.

Answering the age-old question: "What is at the end of the rainbow?" It's my kids! (Who knew?)

We're taking today off, sort of. Labor day around here is for manual labor. We'll be cleaning, finishing up some renovation projects, and enjoying the autumn weather outside in the garden. I hope if you are blessed with a day off today you are enjoying it with your family.

In other news, I have an article in the current issue of Living Crafts Magazine. The project I wrote uses the bounty of your herb garden to make a neck pillow, eye pillow, sachet, and bean bags/shooting stars. I have a few extra copies that I'd love to share!

To enter your name in the drawing, just leave a comment below. You can earn an extra entry or two by liking Clean and Living Crafts Magazine on Facebook. My favorite bonus entry of all is this: Via Facebook, twitter, or an email share the love (of my blog that is). Tell your friends why you come here and invite them to join you here.

Leave one comment for each entry please. I'll close comments later in the week.

Comments are now closed! The winner is:

Anne in NC who said:

I'm fairly new to Clean and I am hooked! Thanks for a lovely blog and the kind giveaway -- I'd love to win.

Good luck!

Love,

Rachel

 

Strawberry Season. And a Tattler canning jar lid giveaway!

Welcome! If you are new here do take a look around. I post daily on food, parenting, and tips for a natural lifestyle. I know you'll love what you see. ~ Rachel

Oh, summer. Strawberries are officially in season. All year long the children beg for berries when we're at the co-op. And every time I give them the same answer: "We'll have berries when they are in season." And so we wait. And wait. And use up last year's frozen berries in smoothies week after week.

Last night it was finally time. Sage biked to a friend's house with the bike trailer hooked up and came home with more than a dozen quarts of local, organic strawberries. A Burley-full! We had berries for dessert, right out of the baskets, and then an Amish buggy came down our road selling more berries door-to-door. Strawberry season is on.

Today we're off to the farm for more berries, and after a final round on Thursday we should be set for the year. I am reading the book Independence Days right now and I love the concept of planting or putting food by every day (or week in my case) for greater food independence. Feeding ourselves locally, one jar of strawberry jam at a time. While we don't even come close to the level of self-sufficiency that growing all of our food would provide, we are doing what we can week by week. This summer I am filling our freezer with my own garden kale, chard, and beet greens, and there will be green beans, peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli, and also local chickens, berries, and cider. Every bag or jar of food I put by lifts my soul.

Last year I discovered that "normal" canning jar lids are lined with the estrogen-mimicking chemical BPA. Such a shock and disappointment. This year I committed to canning from now on only with BPA free canning jar lids. So far I have found two options: all glass jars and lids (a beautiful but more costly option), or my ordinary canning jars with BPA-free Tattler lids.

The Tattler lids are made in the USA of BPA free plastic. While I normally go plastic-free every way I can, Tattler lids feel like a much healthier choice for my family. Tattler was kind enough to send me a few boxed of lids - for me to try out and to share with you! I'm giving away a box of wide mouth and a box of narrow mouth Tattler lids with rubber rings for canning to one winner.

To enter your name in the giveaway just leave a comment below of one thing you want to put by this season and what motivates you to can and freeze local food. I'll choose one winner this weekend. Earn an extra entriy for each of the following: emailing a link to this post to a friend, sharing this post via Facebook, sharing this post via Twitter, liking Clean on Facebook, and liking Tattler on Facebook. Just be sure to enter separate comments for each bonus entry!

Comments are now closed! I'll announce the winner on Monday.

Congratulations to Eileen K who said:

I am hoping to put up some pickled cucumbers this summer, but mine have some growing to do before they will be putting on fruits. I can because I love eating things that came out of my backyard all year long.

Also, make a purchase before July 4 through Tattler's website and get 10% off with coupon code "LIBERTY".

Happy healthy canning, friends.

Rachel

Three Year Blog Birthday and a LuSa Organics Giveaway.

  

Four years ago I had a baby on my hip and an almost five year old at my side, a new small business venture of my own making, and a very happily full plate. I was home with my kids, my man, and our body care business wondering what the next phase of my life was going to bring.

Four years ago I did not even know what a blog was. Really.

Then while searching on-line for some craft tutorials I found a handful of lovely blogs. I found community, education, and inspiration through my computer. This was new for me. I dug it. Real people. Like me! People who share my values who were talking about things that inspired me. I loved it.

Then three years ago I decided to write my own. Three years. Nearly 500 posts. Sewing patterns and knitting updates. Holiday celebrations and recipes. Unschooling ideas and gentle parenting advice. So many posts, and so many more yet to be written. I feel like I've barely begun. Suddenly (three years later) I am a Blogger. And you get a peek into my life each week, to see how we live, what we treasure, and what makes me tick.

Why "Clean"?

I am a soapmaker so I named my blog Clean. I own an organic body care company so I believe deeply in what I would call Clean ingredients (whole, natural, non-synthetic, organic). I believe in what I think of as Clean food (local, organic, whole), and Clean relationships (non-violent, connection-based) and a sustainable Clean lifestyle. So Clean it was. And then I sat down and started typing. And I really haven't stopped. 

Why Blog?

Initially I started blogging to create some transparency for people learning about my body care company, LuSa Organics. I wanted customers to have a chance to get to know me so that they knew where I was coming from when it came time to choose safe, natural body care products for their family. I wanted to show people who I was, what I believe in, and why I do what I do. I am not a corporation. I am a mama who cares deeply and believes passionately in how we go about our business. I am also a teacher, so reaching out this way was a natural fit. And that is what I did. And it felt great.

And then... something shifted.

This transparency for customers and future customers was still an important component, but the connection to my readers and the act of writing became an important part of my life in-and-of-itself. Writing became a passion in its own right. And that shift was really about all of you. You came here, day after day, either through LuSa Organics or separate from it and you cared about what I had to say. You kept coming back. And you brought your friends. And you shared your own ideas, your own inspiration, your words. Community manifested out of thin air.

The more I wrote the more important it became to me. And so today, thanks to your support and encouragement I have started working on my first book. A book! It is an exciting time in so many ways. Good things brewing on so many fronts. Thank you for showing up here (the frequent commenters and the quiet folks alike). You've given me the courage to take on a big exciting project that will change my life.

To celebrate my blog's birthday I am giving away some LuSa Organics goodies. LuSa Organics is how our family makes its living. We also are a portion of the income of thee other local families. Because of LuSa Organics it is possible for me to be home, unschooling my kids and bringing this blog to you.

One blessed winner will receive an assortment of LuSa Organics goodies, from either our Mama and Baby lines or our Body Care product line. Choose from a Baby Mama Gift Set or a Blissful Bath Gift set. 

Oh, and for everyone, how about a LuSa Organics coupon code? Place an order before the end of the week (By June 4, 2011) and receive a free scrumptious LuSa gift with your order. Just say "Blog Birthday" in the comments field. You won't regret it. Best. Body care. Ever. I promise.

Comments are now closed. I'll announce the winner later in the week!

To be entered in today's giveaway, do as many of the following as you wish. (Be sure to leave one comment for each action for up to five entries per person.) Thanks for celebrating with me! I'll close comments and annouce a winner after the weekend.

1. Tell us why you read Clean and/or why you love LuSa Organics.
2. Share with us one new (natural) scent combination for product or one new product you would like us to offer.
3. Become a fan of LuSa Organics on Facebook.
4. Become a fan of Clean on Facebook.
5. Share a link to this giveaway via Facebook or Twitter OR Invite your friends to Clean via email (for the non-social media folks).

Thanks again for coming here and for sharing in the little moments of my life.