The Reel Deal
I decided to make a stronger statement about helping to sustain the environment by buying the Earth Friendly Fiskars Momentum Reel mower. It’s clean, healthy and quiet…..no gas, oil or electricity required to operate it…just good old-fashion human power.
So why are reel mowers a smart choice?
Reel mowers are good for your lawn. They promote greener, healthier lawns by cutting each blade of grass cleanly with scissor-like action. This minimizes moisture loss and exposure to disease as compared to the tearing action caused by conventional spinning blade mowers.
Reel mowers are good for your health. Reel mowers let you cut your grass without exposure to noxious exhaust gases, loud noises, unsettling vibrations and hazards of power-driven rotary blades.
Reel mowers are good for the environment. Gas mowers produce dirty exhaust that pollute the air. The EPA estimates that the average gas mower produces as much air pollution in one year as a new car driven more than 500,000 miles. Reel mowers are the most earth-friendly way to cut your grass.
Reel mowers are good for your budget. I paid nearly $250 for my Fiskars Momentum reel mower – the premier reel mower on the market; however, there are less expensive reel mowers ranging in price $60 – $150. I was paying $25 per mow last year or $100/month to get my lawn mowed – a full season of mowing service cost me $500. The reel mower will pay for itself in less than 3 months. Additionally, if I had bought a regular gas-powered mower I would have to buy and fuss with gasoline, oil, spark plugs, or air filters to operate and maintain. Reel mowers require less maintenance then gas and electric mowers.
If you are in the market for a mower, check out the greener Reel Deal – a reel mower!

I don’t know about you but it’s about that time of the winter I’m ready to pack up and move someplace warm. It’s cold, gets dark early, and there are more gray days then sunny days. Get me out of here!!
As we all know “true” triathletes shave their chest and legs , right? Anyway, the combination of shaving and the cold, dry winter air historically made for an unpleasant combination of dry and itchy skin especially on the my legs.
To combat the dryness, I would slather on some moisturizing lotion or gel to my body. But I started doing some things different this winter that has helped my skin stay soft, natural and skin tone to remain youthful and colorful. I recently added a filtered shower head but I changed from using regular soap and body wash to natural and organic soaps.
As I wrote earlier this week, did you know that most regular soaps are not soap at all? Rather, they are detergents, made from petroleum. This is why so many people like me have problems with regular soap causing skin irritation, dryness, and other problems. I’ve learned the most common irritant in the detergent-based soap is called alkali. This compound does not exist in natural soap and causes irritation and dry skin in most people. The tight, itchy and flaky feeling I felt was likely due to the amount of alkali in my old detergent-based soap. By switching to a natural, organic soap, it has made all the difference in the world.
Last summer, I was at a triathlon when I heard about the natural soaps of Celtic-Naturals www.celtic-naturals. I’ve been trying their Sports Line geared towards the active athlete, endurance athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and weekend warrior. There’s the Wetsuit-a-peel, Chain Bite Citrus, T3 Sun Smoother, and Re-cycle Mint.
My personal favorite is the Re-Cycle Mint. It not only invigorates me but I have this naturally clean smell to my skin and just an overall sense of well-being I get from using it. And its blend of tea tree, peppermint and eucalyptus oils has helped my skin this winter stay moisturized naturally!
I think just like my foods, anytime I can get a product that is natural and organic and reduce my exposure to inorganic elements and chemicals like those in regular detergent-based soaps, its always my best bet to choose it. Soap is no exception.
Buy Natural. Buy Organic!
Note: All products used by me, I have bought and paid for and received no special discounts or consideration for talking about a product. That’s just how I roll.
