New Balance 70: eco-preferred (and Robin preferred) sneakers

New Balance contacted me and asked if I'd like to sample the first in their eco-preferred line of shoes - the New Balance 70 sneaker. I'd already heard about the sneakers from my MNN colleague Shea Gunther. He's been raving about them for months now. So when they offered to send not only me, but Brian too, a pair of sneakers, I couldn't pass it up.

When the package arrived, we were impressed by the style and colors. Brian's shoes are the rust orange color. Mine are the green. We put them on and walked around a bit - quite comfortable. Brian's first comment was about the good arch support (he's a big fan of arch support.) The next day I put mine on to wear for the day. The first time all summer I believe I've had on socks and sneakers if I wasn't working out.

Now, I usually have a huge problem with new sneakers. I think I have oddly shaped backs of my ankles, and new sneakers usually rub them raw - sometimes to the point where they will bleed right through my socks. I'll usually suffer with it until the sneakers get broken in and then wear the sneakers until they are just about falling apart so I don't have to go through breaking in a new pair again. The sneakers I had been wearing were about four years old.

The New Balance 70's didn't cause me any problems at all in this area. I wore the shoes all day long and at the end of the day, the backs of my ankles were fine. Amazing. I've worn them without socks, too, and I've had no problems.

In fact, there is nothing I don't like about these sneakers. They're comfortable, light weight, stylish and eco-friendly. I e-mailed Shea last night to ask how his were holding up and this was his response.

I LOVE my shoes, they're holding up like champs.

That's good to know. From what I know about Shea, he's a very active guy and his sneakers must get good wear.

So what's so eco-friendly about these shoes? I'll let New Balance's PR people fill you in on that:

The first shoe in New Balance’s eco-preferred collection, the New Balance 70, is developed for fashionable consumers who consider the environment without relaxing their standards of style and comfort. Seventy-five percent of the upper components are “environmentally preferred materials.” The laces, webbing, rand, quarter, tongue and saddle incorporate recycled polyester; the foxing and the tip of the shoe are synthetics made with fewer solvents than traditional materials. Rice husks filler in the outsole reduces the amount of rubber needed, thus reducing the amount of petroleum used. Water-based adhesives (rather than solvent-based) are used to join the upper and the sole unit and no paper stuffing or paper wrapping are used in the packaging of 70.

The 70 was also thoughtfully designed to reduce waste. The upper is constructed with minimal layers to reduce unnecessary material usage. It features a uniquely efficient design--the parts fit together much like a puzzle--in an effort to utilize as much of the original cutting material as possible. The 70 will launch this July 2009 and retail for $80.00.

Marcal's Small Steps paper products

I have a great job. Sometimes I get sent huge boxes of organic fruit to review. Some days I get to sit by the pool and work remotely. And sometimes I get sent free ... toilet paper.

Yep, toilet paper. I know there are some extreme greens who don't use it anymore, but my family still does, and I don't see that changing any time soon. A few year ago we used both toilet paper made from unrecycled materials and what we called grown up wipes - the Cottenelle wet wipe stuff. But we realized it was not good for the earth and got rid of the grown up wipes and switched to toilet paper made of recycled materials (as opposed to recycled toilet paper - ew!)

I was sent a box of Marcal Small Steps recycled paper products to review - toilet paper, paper towels, tissues and napkins. According to the Small Steps website, Marcal has been making its paper products from recycled paper, not from trees.

I didn't know that. I also didn't know that Marcal is located right here in New Jersey and "uses recyclables from more than 600 municipalities from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and New England. The company is one of the largest employers in New Jersey, employing over 900 people." Hey, my kids homework papers could end up as our toilet paper.

The products are made from 100% premium recycled paper. They are whitened without chlorine bleach and contain no dye or fragrance.

We've used the toilet paper. It's not soft and thick, but I don't care. It's toilet paper. We've always used the larger 1000 sheet type rolls anyway because they cost less and last longer. I saw no difference between the Marcal Small Steps toilet paper and any other 1000 sheet roll I've ever used.

The tissues are similar - not soft and thick, but they get the job done. Same with the paper towels.

I've actually used the napkins before. We had a large cook out, and I bought them. They work just like any other disposable paper napkin.

We do regularly use disposable paper toilet paper and tissues. We do not regularly use disposable paper towels or napkins. I use rags and cloth napkins in my day to day life. But, once in a while, I buy paper napkins - usually when I'm having a large crowd. I also buy paper towels and keep them under the sink to clean up stuff you really just want to throw out - like the cat's fur balls. I'd say I go through three rolls of paper towels a year. 

Whatever paper products I'm using, whether I'm using them regularly or once in a blue moon, I buy them made from recycled paper. The Marcal Small Steps are a great option when I do because they work well, and they aren't priced out of my budget like some other paper products made from recycled materials. 

Have you checked out the $1 charity fundraiser that I'm participating in with a group of other fine eco-bloggers? We're trying to raise money for an environmental group and those who donate get to vote on who gets the money. Please consider voting and donating a dollar.

Shred Stop: One of those smack your head against the walls, why didn't I think of this ideas

I hate to shred papers. They pile up for months before I do it and then I employ my kids to do it which inevitably ends up with shredded paper all over the house by the time it's done. And, we've gone through a few home shredders with burnt out motors - what a waste.

Someone has come up with a brilliant idea - The Shred Stop. It's a machine that will be put in grocery stores that will shred your papers (even the ones with staples in them!), credit cards, disks, and more for $2/minute. I just read about this on the Ecopreneurist blog, and I thought, what a brilliant idea!

Think about it. Most of us let the "to be shredded pile" pile up for months to the point where it takes a couple of hours to do it all. Then you've got to dump the trashcans full of shredded paper into some other throw away container. That's always a huge hassle and mess. You've got to make sure it gets recycled, too.

OR for $2/minute (it's supposed to take 6 minutes to shred an entire file box full of papers), you can have it done quickly and someone else deals with the mess and the recycling. Yes, the paper materials in the Shred Stop get recycled.

Some people might not want to spend the money on something they could do for themselves for free, but I think this would be well worth my money because it would save me time and aggravation.

Right now, there is one Shred Stop being tested in Washington State, but according to their website, they hope to expand rapidly. You can put your zip code in here to let them know you are interested in having one in your area. If you live near me, please go there and put your zip code in even if you're not that interested because I want one. Come on, think of all that I do for you ; )

Image: Ecopreneurist.com (which I'm sure was originally from the Shred Stop site!)

Daddy Van's all natural beeswax furniture polish

Anyone who knows me knows that cleaning my home is not one of my highest priorities. I do it, occasionally, but I am certainly no neat freak. So when someone e-mails me and asks if I'd like to try a cleaning product and review it, I think twice. 

I did, however, accept some furniture polish from Daddy Van's because polishing furniture isn't too painful. It's not like scrubbing the tub or anything. They sent me two tins of beeswax polish - one unscented & naturally baby safe and the other lavender with sweet orange oil.

Here's what Daddy Van's says

Daddy Van's is natural and simple, and leaves wood nourished, healthy, and glowing.

Only pure unrefined beeswax and the finest natural emollients go into Daddy Van's All Natural Beeswax Furniture Polish. No petroleum byproducts. No solvents. No artificial fragrances.

And every ingredient is renewable and Earth-friendly.

Healthy homes matter, and we are excited to offer a product like this one that is safe for the environment and for your family - and it outperforms all of the traditional alternatives.

Unscented, Baby Safe Furniture Polish - This is the original Daddy Van's Unscented Beeswax Furniture Polish all dressed up in a new Baby Safe label that touts the exceptional qualities of Daddy Van's.

Daddy Van's Baby Safe Furniture Polish is Non-Toxic, Chemical Free, and Food Safe - safe to use on furniture and wooden toys that Baby touches every day.

Ingredients: Pure Rocky Mountain Beeswax, Carnauba Wax and Olive Oil. That's it! No petroleum derivatives, no scary solvents and no toxic chemicals.

Lavender with Sweet Orange Oil Furniture Polish - Daddy Van's All Natural Lavender and Sweet Orange Oil Beeswax Furniture Polish is perfect for cleaning and protecting wooden kitchen cabinets.

Ingredients: Beeswax, Carnauba Wax, Olive Oil, Sweet Orange Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil

Here's what I say

I am what is technically called "fragrance intolerant." Most chemical fragrances and some natural fragrances can give me a migraine very quickly. So I was glad that one of the tins they sent was unscented. But you know what, I threw caution to the wind and took a few good sniffs of the lavender with sweet orange oil polish, too. Then I waited to see what would happen. Nothing happened. I didn't get a migraine. I can't promise it won't give others with my issues a problem, but I'm impressed by that fact alone.

I used the unscented polish in my living room and worked nicely. The top of the coffee table looked very nice when I was done polishing.

I can't use the lavender and sweet orange oil on my kitchen cabinets because my cabinets have all been painted.

Cleaning with natural ingredients is really important to me (when I clean). The chemicals that are in traditional cleaning products give me migraines, and I don't believe that they are good for my health and more importantly, my children's health. I will continue to use this furniture polish because it worked well and isn't full of toxic chemicals. 

You can order Daddy Van's products online or see if there is a store near you that sells them. Online, one 5 oz tin sells for $11.95.

Nature's Path High Fiber Cereals Review

The people at Nature's Path have sent me more cereal to try out and review - gotta love it when food just shows up on your doorstep. I had breakfast all last week courtesy of Nature's Path. Here's what they sent me:

Organic Optimum Slim - Very high fiber (11g), low fat (2g) and tasted like it. It wasn't bad. I've eaten it more than once. It's just a good high fiber cereal without a lot of sweet in it. If you're trying to lower your fat intake and increase your fiber intake - this cereal will do it while leaving you satisfied and full. But you won't walk away saying "Oh, yum!" 

Organic Flax Plus Pumpkin Raisin Crunch - If you're looking for a cereal that you will walk away saying "Oh, yum!" to, this is the one. The raisins help to give it a sweetness and the pumpkin seeds add a little something unexpected. I really liked this. Enough that I'll be buying it again (unless Nature's Path wants to send me a year's supply....). A little more fat than the Optimum Slim (4g - still not bad) and a little less fiber (9g - still very respectable), but a lot more flavor.

Organic Instant Hot Oatmeal - Simply rolled oats and sea salt. A good amount of fiber (6g) and more fat than I would have thought for plain oats (3.5g) but after a little research, I found out that is common in oatmeals. All in all, it's oatmeal - you can jazz it up with raisins, brown sugar, maple syrup - whatever you want and make a good, hot breakfast. 

See my previous review of some of Nature's Path Kid's Cereals, here.

Have you checked out ChicoBag lately?

I love ChicoBags. I've got several of them. I got my first one when they asked me to review their reusable bag for this blog, but since then they've created a couple of new bags that you should know about. 

The original ChicoBag was a brilliant idea. A durable, washable, reusable bag that folded up into a small pouch so you could put it in your handbag or your pocket and never be without a bag. 

I was listening to my favorite podcast, More Hip than Hippie, the other day while I was walking. The fabulous hosts, Dori and Val, were interviewing the founder of ChicoBag, Andy Keller. He was telling them about two new bags that the company now makes.

The first is the Vita. It's made of the same material that the original ChicoBag is made from and folds up into a pouch, but this one has long handles that can be put over your shoulder so you can carry it as a shoulder bag. The original didn't allow you to do it. The Vita sells for $8 on ChicoBag's site.

The second new bag is really impressive. It's called the rePETe, and this one is made of almost all recycled material.

The ChicoBag rePETe Original follows our Original reusable shopping bag design but is made from 99% recycled content by weight! Each rePETe has uniquely accented handles with the phrase, "This bag is made from 7 plastic bottles!" accompanied by a custom illustration. A list of the recycled materials used in manufacturing the rePETe is printed on the inside of each bag.

The rePETe sells for $9 on their website. The original, which is designed the same but made from virgin materials, sells for $5. 

I haven't tried either of these bags, but if they are of the same quality of the original ChicoBags that I have, they will be durable and wash up well. 

Images: ChicoBag site

EcoSteal: Bringing you one eco-bargain at a time

I came across a website the other day called ecosteal. They offer "one organic, eco-friendly, or recycled steal at a time: get it before it's gone." Here's the deal. They offer one product at a time at a 40-80% discount. When they are gone, they're gone. Then they put up the next deal. 

Right now the eco-product they are offering for a steal is a Mountainsmith - Cyber II Recycled compact digital camera case for $9.99.

I don't see myself ordering a new ecosteal every day, but I can see this being something where perhaps there might be a good deal on something I'd like to get for a gift for someone. So I signed up to receive their alerts. The other day when I first came across the site, they had some cute organic t-shirts with hip designs that would have been perfect gifts for my nieces had it been closer to the holidays.

Envi: The Boston eco-friendly fashion boutique and my new Kim White bag made from Mustang seat fabric

On our trip to Boston last weekend, my friend Susan and I attempted to give the economy a little boost with a shopping trip to Newbury Street, the street that our concierge described as the Rodeo Drive of Boston. Now, a shopping trip is a bit of a conundrum when you are trying to be environmentally responsible. 

I was excited when I found Envi, an eco-friendly fashion boutique. The clothes were fabulous, and when we were there a week ago everything in the store was 50% off except the jewelry. I didn't buy any clothes because I'm currently successfully losing weight, and I didn't want to buy anything that I wouldn't be able to keep for years. If the timing was right, I would have walked away with this dress.

I did buy a great Kim White little clutch bag. All of her handbags are designed from textiles intended for use in American automobiles from the 70's and 80's. My bag is from fabric made for a 1978 Ford Mustang. 

Kim White uses dead stock never-used textiles intended for use in American automobiles: cars, trucks and vans. She fortuitously unearthed an entire warehouse of automotive fabric, which may be the last existing stock anywhere in the US, and she is the sole owner of these amazing textiles.

Each Kim White Handbag is tagged with the year and make of the fabric, so you know exactly what car your bag comes from (i.e. 1983 Camaro or a 1978 Ford Mustang). Kim White Handbags specializes in automotive fabrics from the 1970’s and 1980’s, when color was de rigueur in the automotive industry.

If you read this blog regularly, you'll know I'm not all about boutiques (eco-friendly or not) and high fashion. But every once in a while, it's fun to check out what's out there and get something new. 

Eco-friendly Covers for the iPhone

I am finally giving in and giving up my piece of garbage Chocolate phone. Last April, I wrote about how I was going to stick it out with the phone even though it worked poorly because I was trying to buy fewer things.

Well, the plan on the phone is finally almost up, my Chocolate is getting more and more difficult to operate, and I'm sending it to the big recycling center in the sky. And now that I'm this big fancy blogger who is all over the Internet (look to the right, please), I'm going to get a phone that will allow me to get my e-mail when I'm out of the house and fix typos in my posts on the road (I've done that from my husband's phone). I'm getting an iPhone. The decision has been made. Don't try to talk me out of it.

I'll be getting the phone soon, so I started researching covers for it, and I came up with a few that are eco-friendly.

Agent 18 Eco-Shield - This is the only shield that is labeled eco-friendly on the Apple website. It's made from eco-friendly material with minimum carbon impact and it's packaging is made from recycled materials. It costs $29.95 on the Apple site, but I saw it on some other sites for less expensive. 395 reviews on the site gave it four out of five stars.

Solar Powered Charging Case - This case is both a case for the iPhone and a solar charger for its battery. It looks a bit bulky - it's not a sleek skin type case. It runs $45.95 on the Solar Arcadia website.

Belkin Eco-friendly Recycled Material Case - I really like the looks of this one. Simple. Slim. Recycled. Unfortunately, it looks tough to get a hold of. Overstock lists it as out of stock (apparently, it's not very overstocked). If they did have it, it would be $29.99.

Black ECO Canvas Case - There isn't much info on Amazon about this case made from "environmentally friendly materials" and there are no reviews. But at least it's in stock. It's $19.99.

Elan Cork Case - A cork case would certainly say to everyone "this is an eco-friendly case." I think it's kind of cool. Amazon lists it for $15.71. One of the things that a reviewer mentioned was that the cork soaks up the oils in your hands and gets kind of grimey after a while.

JAVOedge Cork Back Cover - Another cork cover. It looks a little less bulky than the Elan. Lists for $19.95.

These are the cases my search has come up with. I'm leaning towards one of the cork cases unless I can find the Belkin in stock somewhere.

Green Product Review - Cynergreen Water Bottles

My kids have lost many water bottles over the years on sports fields so I wasn't willing to buy them expensive stainless steel bottles. But when CynerGreen contacted me and asked if I'd like to review their new line of bottles, I figured it was the perfect chance to get the boys some bottles for their lunch boxes. I was sent two CGKidz 350ml Bottles, and once again, my children became my partners in  product testing whether they wanted to or not.

Here's what CynerGreen has to say about their bottles:

The CGKidz 350ML bottle is our most popular for lunchboxes and backpacks. Great for toddlers and babies as well as a sippy cup.

For adults, it's a great refillable option to toss in any bag to keep drinks cool all day. Sports the fun CG Kidz "green" eco friendly logo.
This bottle is:
BPA Free - Chemical Free
304 Stainless Steel
Comes with Pull Top Drink Cap

Here's what we have to say about the Cynergreen CG Kidz bottles:

• The boys like the look of them. 
  
• I like that the caps stay on while drinking them and don't easily detach. Much less of a chance of them getting lost.
  
• They were the right size for lunch boxes.
  
• Both boys said their water tasted just like water when they got to lunch.

Unfortunately, one of them leaked. When my son brought it home the first day and said it leaked, I thought that perhaps he hadn't screwed the lid on tightly. The next day, I made sure that the lid was screwed on well, but he came home with a wet lunch box again. 

The other bottle - which is exactly the same, does not leak at all. Perhaps we got a faulty screw on lid.

The bottles are still perfectly usable for taking to the sports fields or sticking in the outside pouch of a back pack. But for being inside a lunch box where they get tossed around  a lot and don't always stay upright, the one is not a good choice. 

Photo credit: Cynergreen.com

Green Product Review - Veev Alcoholic Spirit

Sometimes it's tough to have my job. Especially when someone e-mails me and asks if I'd like to be sent a bottle of a new spirit to sample and review. Well shoot, I guess someone has to do it.

I was sent a bottle of Veev, the world's first acai spirit. Acai, incase you've missed all the news lately, is a Brazilian fruit that is loaded with antioxidants. Veev uses the acai berries along with 100% natural ingredients and distills a fruity alcohol that can be used any way that vodka can be used.

So that's what it is, but how does it taste? The bottle arrived the day before we were having a big neighborhood party to celebrate my husband's 40th birthday so we had a little taste testing at the party. 

First we drank it straight. It definitely tasted alcoholic going down with slight burn, but then it had a nice fruity aftertaste. 4 of the 5 of us tasting thought it was pleasant and were willing to keep on experimenting.

Next, we mixed it with a little club soda and a squeeze of lime. Not too exciting. Kind of bland. Perhaps we put in a little too much club soda. I was sent some recipes for Veev, but we decided to try our own concoction.

At the beginning of summer, I had frozen some cut up strawberries in sugar that were the last of the local picking. We defrosted them and made a frozen drink. In a four cup blender, we filled the blender with ice. Then we poured Veev up to the two cup line, mixed together the strawberries and a little fruit punch Juice Juice and poured that in the blender to the top. We (and when I say we, I mean my friend Mike who was the master mind of this drink) also  squeezed a little fresh lime juice in. Blended it all together and it was good. Mike felt the need to add a little more Veev, but I thought the proportions were fine.

If you are looking to green your alcoholic beverage intake, then I suggest you give Veev a try and experiment with your own ingredients or use one of the recipes found on the website. Here are some other things from the promotional materials you might want to know about Veev:

• $1 per bottle is donated to Rainforest preseveration
  
• Veev is the industry's first certified carbon neutral spirits company
  
• Veev distillers is powered by renewable energy
  
• The Veev distillation process uses 200% less energy than a traditional pot still
  
• It is sold nationwide at select retail locations for $35 a bottle
  
• all of the promotional material I received was printed on 100% recycled paper using soy inks

Wine in a Box may be Greener, But Will I Buy It? Part 2

Friday, I told you about my introduction to wine, and while the wine my friend Susan and I consumed that night may have been less than yummy, it was at least in a bottle and had real cork for a cork.

I also discussed how it is that wine a box can stay fresher much longer than wine in a bottle once it has been open. I'm convinced that wine in a box will stay fresher longer, but I don't particularly care. I want my bottle and I want my cork. And, really, an open bottle of wine usually doesn't last too long around my house.

I've also been reading lately about how boxes of wine are also more environmentally friendly. This, of course, caught my attention.

Here's the lowdown. The argument is that boxed wine is much lighter than bottled wine and therefore a lot of energy waste and emissions are saved in the shipping of the wine. According to The Wine Group who recently purchased Almaden and Inglenook wines, by switching from glass bottles to bag in a box (otherwise known as BIB packages), there will be a 60% reduction in the carbon footprints of those brands. That's some savings.

But how easy is it to recycle these BIB packages? Are both the bag and the box recyclable? And more importantly, if they are recyclable, are they made of the type of recyclable materials that most townships collect? There are many materials that are recyclable, like styrofoam egg cartons, but finding a convenient place to take them to be recycled is difficult. If it is difficult to recycle BIB's, most people will not recycle them.

After much searching, I could not find the answers to those questions. I found one site Better Wines, Better World, that is obviously a site developed by the marketers of wineries that sell wine in a box. It gives statistics on how beneficial the packaging is, but it doesn't mention exactly what it is made of or how to recycle it. In fact, I can't find any mention of recycling anywhere on the site which makes me suspicious that recycling the containers is problematic. I have no proof of that, but the lack of mentioning it on a site that is designed strictly to get the info out about how green wine in a box is makes me skeptical.

I do know that glass is recyclable and that most of the people I know, if they do recycle, recycle glass and paper more than any other materials. 

I wish I had more concrete facts. I'm sure if wine in a box is becoming more and more acceptable by the second as the pro-wine in a box articles I read mentioned, additional information will be easy to find soon.

But until then, if you aren't convinced that wine in a box is greener, or you simply aren't willing to give up your bottle and your cork, here are a couple of suggestions to still do some good while drinking your vino.

• Buy organic wines. Sure the box that the wine comes in may be greener, but what about the wine inside the box? How were the grapes grown? If they were grown in vineyards that use harmful pesticides to produce grapes in a mass amount, then they are harming the earth and quite possibly your body. 
• Buy wines from local vineyards. If your wine doesn't have to be shipped from the producer to your local wine store, does it really matter how heavy the packaging is? If you're going to the vineyard itself to buy the wine, it seems to me that point is moot. 
  

So, to answer the question in the title - Will I buy it? Probably not. If I haven't mentioned it yet, I like my bottle and I like my cork. Plus, I'm not convinced it's actually greener. And, I've had wines from a box before at different parties, and I have never had one that I thought was all that good.

However, I have been known to do solicited product reviews from time to time. So if there is a winery out there who would like to send me a box or two to sample and review, I'm game. Go ahead, try to change my mind. I'm sure my friend Susan would be happy to help me out!

Nature's Path EnviroKidz New Cereals

Nature's Path sent us two new organic cereals to try out from their EnviroKidz line - Leapin Lemurs and Penguin Puffs.

Leapin Lemurs 

Here's what they say:

Delectable pairing of peanut butter balls with chocolate balls resulting in a fun and exciting flavor with huge kid appeal. Not only does it taste great, it is gluten free, low in fat (1.5g), low in sodium (115g), low in sugar (8g) and has 8g of whole grain per 30g serving.

Here what we say:

My six year old loves them. He ate most of the box in about two days (shared some with friends, too). He keeps asking me to buy them again. 

I've never been a fan of chocolate cereal (although I'm a huge fan of chocolate in general) so they weren't to my liking.

I also think that the fact that they are so low in sugar could be a difficult change for kids who are used to full sugar cereals. My son has been eating a lower in sugar peanut butter cereal for a while now, so he didn't notice the less sweet taste they had. When I tried them, I definitely was expecting a sweeter taste in my mouth.

Penguin Puffs

Here's what they say:

Whole grain goodness of organic kamut, quinoa and corn into a fun, crunchy and tasty blend. Not only doe sit taste great, it is low in fat (2g), low in sodium (135g), low in sugar (8g), it has 12g of whole grain per 30g serving and 3g of fiber.

Here's what we say:

My five year didn't like the look of them so he didn't even try them. Actually they look like pieces from Kix cereal and pieces from Super Sugar Smacks (I know they changed the name to Honey Smacks but that's just a marketing ploy).

These I really liked. I found them sweeter than the Leapin Lemurs although they both have the same amount of sugar. They left me feeling full, too.

I like the fact that both of these cereals are organic, made from whole grains,  have a decent amount of fiber, and aren't loaded with sugar. If you're looking to make your kids' breakfast cereals a little healthier, they are good options. The sooner you can get your kids away from high sugar, low nutrition breakfast cereals, the better.

New Website Lists Eco-Friendly Giveaways and Savings

There's a a brand new directory that lists hundreds of eco-friendly giveaways and deals – everything from sweepstakes for hybrid cars to coupons for organic foods. It's called Ecobunga!.

According to the information they sent me, at Ecobunga!, shoppers can find discounts, free shipping, contests, sweepstakes, and more on all sorts of green products and services. Consumers are not the only ones to benefit. Businesses with earth-friendly offerings can add their deals anytime for free.

I took a quick look at the site, and I think it may be worth your time. I signed up to receive some free samples of tea and I entered a giveaway contest to get reusable produce bags. 

Green Product Review - Sesame Street's Love the Earth DVD

Yesterday, my five year old and I sat down to watch Sesame Street's Save the Earth DVD which is being released today. It's been a while since we've watched any Sesame Street around here, and I wondered if it would keep my son's attention. It did.

Here's the premise: Elmo, Zoe and Baby Bear go to the woods with Papa Bear in search of an elusive bird that they must spot to get a badge on their Bear Scout sashes. While trying to find the bird, they learn about littering, recycling, the importance of trees, reusing items and conserving water. 

In between each new segment that was created for the DVD, there are clips of older Sesame Street segments that reinforce the lessons that were just learned by the three friends in the woods. 

I thought the DVD was very well done. The lessons were simple and very age appropriate for young children. Children as young as two are capable of understanding the concrete lessons that were taught:

• you shouldn't throw your granola bar wrapper on the ground
  
• you should put some items in recycling bins instead of trash cans
  
• paper comes from trees and it's good to use both sides and then recycle it
  
• many things can be reused
  
• use water when you need it and no more than you need
  

For my son, none of these messages were new, but if you've got young ones and you're trying to introduce them to being environmentally responsible, this is an entertaining, gentle way to do so.

When I asked my son what the DVD was all about after it was done, he gave me one of those "why are you asking me a stupid question, mom?" looks. 

"It's about taking care of the earth, mom. I know it's important." 

This DVD will help other children know it's important, too.

When we were done, my son  went to the paper recycling bin and took out some food boxes and reused them to make other things, just like some of the kids in the video did.

A few things to know:

• The DVD runs about 45 minutes long
  
• It's only available at Walmart or Sam's Club
  
• Its suggested retail price is $14.93
  

Toys R Us Now Carries Natural Wood Toys

We got a Toys R Us coupon book in the mail yesterday. Inside they have a two page spread on their "all-new ALL-NATURAL TOYS only at Toys R Us!" It's a line of wooden toys that is geared for the ages 2 and up set. There are toys like shape sorters (about $11.00), alphabet block wagon (about $15.00) and a train made of blocks (about $25.00).

According to the advertisement they are made with no paints, dyes or finishes; solid burned wood; large, easy to handle pieces; Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood; 100% recyclable. There is also a picture of their packaging - a cardboard box (I don't know if there is any excess plastic packing inside or not).

From first look, this looks like a good effort from Toys R Us. Simple, basic, safe toys that won't harm the environment. Next time you're looking for a toddler gift, these may be a good option.

Has anyone actually seen the toys yet? I rarely go to Toys R Us. Perhaps once at Christmas time if I can't find what I'm looking for somewhere else. So if you've seen these toys, let us know what you think.

ChicoBag - Helping Humanity Kick the Single Use Bag Habit

I've been asked to do another product review. This time it's for ChicoBag. 

I don't know how many times I've unexpectedly stopped for a few items at the grocery store and didn't have my reusable shopping bags with me. The same goes for shopping at other stores. I end up taking a lot of bags I don't want because I've forgotten my reusable bag.

Enter ChicoBag. It's a nylon bag that folds into its own little carrying bag that is sewn right into the inside lining of the bag. It has a little clip on it so you can clip it on a belt loop, back pack, key chain or you can just toss it in your handbag. What differentiates this from your other reusable bags is that you can carry it with you easily. You have a better of chance of actually having it when you need it. I've used my ChicoBag at least once every day since I got it last week. 

Here are some facts about the bag:

• It weighs 1.5 oz
  
• When unfolded it's approx. 18" x 18"
  
• It can carry 20 pounds
  
• It has a one year warranty
  
• It is machine washable - hang to dry
  
• It's made in China by a fair labor, fair manufacturing company 
  
• It's made in a variety of colors

This is one product that I really like. 

Oh, and if anyone reading this is in charge of fundraising for a school or organization, ChicoBag has a fundraising program that seems like a perfect alternative to the tired old wrapping paper sale.

I was sent two ChicoBags for this review. I'm going to share the wealth. Come back tomorrow, and I'll let you know how you can win a ChicoBag.

Putting Together A Green Gift Basket

Several times a year I end up involved in putting together gift baskets for charity auctions. The men's group at my church asked for gift basket donations for an auction they are doing, and some friends and I decided to put together a green basket for the auction. 

Here's what went into the basket (which wasn't really a basket because we used a huge reusable tote bag):

• organic coffee
  
• a couple of organic chocolate bars
  
• a travel coffee mug
  
• a reusable beverage container
  
• a packet of CFL's 
  
• the book Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  
• 5 reusable grocery bags
  
• an assortment of green cleaning products - probably 6 or 7 different products 
  

I'm so pleased with what we put together that I'll be tempted to bid on it myself on Saturday.

I'll be putting together a similar basket that will be donated by my town's green committee for our little league auction.

What would you add to a bag like this?