Watkins Review & Giveaway!

Even though natural products seem to just recently be hitting the media by storm, a company called Watkins has been creating natural products for over 140 years! Watkins believes in using natural botanicals to help people feel their best and live healthier lives. Watkins using the same strict guidelines for their products as did the founder, J. R. Watkins. All of Watkins products are 100% natural and environmentally friendly. All of the ingredients used in their products come from renewable resources. By doing this, Watkins is able to avoid all harmful chemicals, such as parabens, sulfates, phthalates, etc.

Watkins’ mission is, “to be the most trusted natural products company.” To find out more about Watkins’ six core values and their brand promise, please visit their Mission Statement page.

Are you looking for a way to make a bit of extra income every month? Watkins offers people just like you, the opportunity to become independent associates for Watkins. Not only will you be able to earn extra money but also you will be able to share natural products with those around you! It is a win-win situation! Please feel free to read here for additional details on the program.

In addition, Watkins now offers a similar option to non-profit organizations. This option allows non-profit organizations to pair up with Watkins for fundraising opportunities. If you are a non-profit organization and you are interested in signing up for a Watkins fundraising opportunity, please visit here.

For more information on either of these opportunities, contact Martha via email. Martha would be more than happy to answer any questions you have.

Review
When I was contacted by Martha Weinhardt (an independent associate for Watkins) I was quite excited. I had heard many great things about Watkins in the past but unfortunately had yet to try any of their products. After talking a bit with Martha, she offered to send me a few of Watkins’ products to try and I agreed to share my thoughts of these products with all of you. This article will be part one of a two part series. In part one, I will be telling you my experience with 2 Watkins’ products: the Aloe & Green Tea All Purpose Wipes and the Cucumber & Dill Snack & Dip Seasoning. In part two, I will be reviewing Watkins’ Calming Bath Soak and their Warming Analgesic Balm.

When I first looked through the Watkins website, I was surprised with how many products that they offered. Originally, I knew Watkins carried cleaning products and vanilla, but other than that, I was not quite sure. After looking through their website, I quickly realized that Watkins carries much more than that! At Watkins, you will find natural gourmet food products, personal care products, home remedy products, home care products, and even gifts!

The first item I tried was the Aloe & Green Tea All Purpose Wipes. Conveniently, the package arrived just as I was about to start cleaning the kitchen. How perfect! These wipes come in a package of 35 wipes. They come in an easy to use and easy to store container, which allows you to pull out a wipe and immediately get started on your cleaning. These wipes are perfect because they do not require any water, they do not create any suds, and your surfaces do not need to by rinsed after use. The Aloe & Green Tea All Purpose wipes claim to “effortlessly wipe away dirt and grime” while remaining disposable, biodegradable, and durable. In addition, unlike many wipes on the market today, these wipes are safe to flush down the toilet and are even okay for septic tanks! You will be happy to know that these wipes contain a short list of natural ingredients: Purified water, coconut based surfactant, and natural coconut oil.

When I first pulled a wipe out of the container, I was impressed with the thickness of it. I could tell that it would likely be quite durable, which it was. I also noticed the wonderful scent of these wipes. I love that they do not smell like chemicals and leave a fresh, clean smell throughout your home. Since the smell of these wipes is not harsh, they are perfect for people who have allergies or are irritated by the scent of chemicals.

After testing these wipes out multiple times on my kitchen counters, I found these wipes to be extremely easy to use and just as effective as wipes that contain harsh chemicals. I feel great knowing that there is a product like this made with 100% natural ingredients. In addition, I really like that these wipes are biodegradable and even okay to throw in the toilet. This makes discarding them so much easier.

Next, I had the opportunity to try out Watkins’ Cucumber & Dill Snack & Dip Seasoning. This dip is apparently one of Watkins most popular dips. Martha recommends using this dip with raw vegetables, as a sauce for gyros, as a seasoning for your popcorn, on top of baked potatoes or even added into mashed potatoes. Martha told me that this seasoning could be mixed with sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, etc. In addition, because this dip mix is quite versatile, you can feel free to adjust the strength of the dip to your personal preference.

Since I love anything that tastes like dill pickles, I was really looking forward to trying out this dip. When I tried this, I mixed 2 teaspoons of the seasoning in with approximately a ¾-cup bowl of cream cheese. The instructions states that leaving the dip sit in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes will enhance the flavor; however, I could not wait…I wanted to try it right away. I left the dip in the fridge for approximately 10 minutes and when I tried it, it was perfect! I absolutely love this dip. I tried it with raw carrots and I thought it was great. I loved the flavor and I thought that it had just the perfect strength for me. Other than the fantastic flavor of this dip, I really love how little of it you need. After making the first batch, I noticed that I have hardly made a dent in the container. The amount Watkins sends is certainly generous and will definitely last for a long time. I am looking forward to trying this seasoning with several other mixes and foods!

What can you win? One lucky ‘Everything Up Close’ reader will win a $25 gift certificate for Martha Weinhardt’s Watkins Store.

To enter, please visit Martha’s Watkins store and look around. Find something you would like to purchase if you won, then come back here and leave me a comment telling me which item you chose.

If you are Canadian, please view the Canada Catalog here.
If you are American, please view the US Catalog here.

This question must be answered to gain an entry in the giveaway.

Each of the following will give you one extra entry in the giveaway. Please make sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:
-Subscribing to my blog via email.
-Adding my button to your blog sidebar.
-Following me on Twitter (ihchicky). Please leave your Twitter name.
-Tweeting about this giveaway (with a link to this page) on Twitter. Please leave a link to your tweet. You can do this once a day.
-Blogging about this giveaway on your blog with a link to Martha Weinhardt’s Watkins page. Please leave a link to your blog post in your comment.

This giveaway will end on Friday, February 27th at 11:59pm (Central Standard Time). After the giveaway has ended, the winner will be picked randomly using random.org. EMAIL RULES: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email only. Please make sure your blog profile includes your email address and make sure that it is visible. If you do not have a blogger account, please make sure you have included your email address in your post. If there is no email address provided, to contact the winner, another person will be chosen. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification with their complete mailing address (I will be forwarding all this information to the sponsor), If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the US!

Good Luck!



Between now and March 1, 2009, Watkins is offering all their customers free standard shipping on orders over $50. Orders may be placed by phone, mail, fax, or online at www.watkinsonline.com/mjweinhardt. A coupon code is NOT required for this promotion.