THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! Thank you!!

Congrats to Jill Hayes – winner via random.org

You know that fizzy, carbonated, sweet treat that peeps drink in a can or a 2-liter? Is it actually called Soda or Pop? Do you say “Man, am I craving a pop right now” because you are casually cool like that? Or are those who say “I would love to have a soda right now” more sassy sophisticated? Hmmmmm?

I am on the “pop” team friends. Yep – guess that makes me casually cool then or perhaps just a Midwestern fool who doesn’t know any better. I dunno. I don’t care either – I think soda sounds weird coming out of my mouth. Don’t get me wrong – I love hearing it out of others – it’s so cute. Kind of rolls right off the tongue with such ease!

Either way though – I rarely drink the stuff anymore. If I do, it’s because I am totally dragging @ss and need a pick-me-up Mountain Dew or something. I just cannot stand the way it makes my heart race. Freaks this already paranoid hypochondriac out. But I do love the taste on occasion! I think moderation is key when it comes to “treats” like sodapop (for the sake of not offending anyone we will just combine the two) and that even though our family rarely drinks it – many people do and wouldn’t give it up just as I couldn’t give up my coffee.

So for those of you who enjoy sodapop daily or just as an occasional sweet treat…and also for anyone who likes a refreshing sparkling water  – you have to meet “Penguin”

Penguin: Squaaak. (He says hello).

I was given the opportunity to review this little cutie from SodaStream “Turn Water into Fresh Sparkling Water and Soda”!!

Even though I am not a big sodapop drinker – I do love sparkling beverages! I just knew that because of the Earth Friendly mission that this company represents, it was important to at least let you know and let you decide if something like this might help you reduce your carbon footprint.

“Because SodaStream uses water straight from the tap, the system makes traditional store-bought beverage bottles obsolete. That means less plastic manufactured, less plastic waste is created, and fewer bottled beverages must be transported from manufacturers to distributors to stores to homes” (SodaStream).

These machines easily carbonate the water you drink in either reusable BPA-free plastic bottles or glass. The CO2 cylinders that are used to power the machine are sent back to SodaStream when they are emptied, to be cleaned and reused and there are over 30 flavors to choose from – again – let me stress…

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIKE SODAPOP FOR THIS!!

“Call it sparkling water, soda water, club soda or seltzer… But no matter what you call it, you’ll save on lugging, storing and disposing of cases of sparkling water. And, you’ll save money (a lot of money!) With SodaStream you’ll enjoy sparkling water starting at just 25 cents per liter. Plus, with SodaStream, you control the fizz.  Enjoy lightly carbonated water…or seltzer so fizzy it will tickle your nose.  However you like your sparkling water, you can make it precisely to taste at just the touch of a button” (SodaStream).

You can even make your own flavored sparkling water just by adding a few drops of SodaStream’s all-natural, unsweetened MyWater flavor essences.

So what kind of fun did we have with our Penguin? Well, the kiddos were bonkers to try every single flavor but I made them choose just a few to begin. They chose the cola, lemonade and MyWater flavor essences. I was given the choice which SodaStream I would be interested and I absolutely wanted the Penguin (there are other great choices too) because this particular machine uses glass rather than the plastic (though BPA free) carafe. I always choose glass first!

I was a bit worried for set-up as I thought I might blow the roof off the house with the carbonator like a science experiment gone wrong. Fortunately hubs was home to give this blonde a hand. I am a bit embarrassed now since it turns out it’s actually pretty simple if you read the instructions! Who’d a thought.

Insert the carbonator, fill the bottle with water, shut door, give it a couple of pumps and done! Told you it’s easy! So I hope you enjoy the following photos of our fun time making homemade sodapop, fizzy lemonade and yummy flavored waters! And now I get to share with you  my little concoction of sorts! I made yummy healthy sparkling green tea! I did. Yup.

and here’s lil ol SGM enjoying her yummy fizzies!!

Just boil about 1/2C of water and add your tea bag. Let it cool and pour directly into the carbonated water carafe! It tastes wonderful AND it is healthy!! I probably will not use much of the flavorings since some of them do contain sugars and splenda but I will for sure be serving up some sparkling fruit water and fizzy green tea and using the Mywater flavor essences!

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WIN IT       WIN IT        WIN IT

Would you like to win one of these little beauties? Sodastream is giving one awesome SGM reader Fountain Jet starter kit (retail value approx. $100.)

All you have to do to win is:

Mandatory Entry: Follow @sodastreamusa and @smilinggreenmom on Twitter

THREE BONUS Entries: Like me on Facebook

Additional Entries: Tweet this contest!

****You must leave a separate comment for each entry and make sure you tell me your email in at least one so that I can contact if you should win!

This giveaway is only open to those within the Continental U.S. (sorry out of U.S. friendsies) and will run through Friday, May 28th at 11:59 p.m. Winner will be chosen via Random.org. Good Luck and have fun!

Disclosure: I did receive product in order to do this review but it in no way shaped my opinion on this product. The opinions expressed here are truthful and my own.