Friday, December 11, 2009

Books Make Great Gifts for Green Crafters


I am a book hog, I know not green, but I love books, love to have them, to hold them, and of course…read them and a book never ever gets thrown away in my home. It would be sacrilegious.

If you know someone like me then check out some of the best eco-craft books available and consider sticking some of these crafty green books in their stockings or under the tree.

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Don’t Forget the Batteries Grab Fuji’s New EnviroMAX Batteries


Yes, I know most eco gifts don’t need batteries but some tech gadgets and other goodies do, like digital cameras and who is going to be without a camera on Christmas?

This year you have a green choice when it comes to batteries-other than the often expensive and hard to find recharge-ables (why can’t they just put them with the rest of the darn batteries, but no you have to go searching and end up in the electronics section if they carry them at all). Anyway this year you have the option of buying Fuji’s new EnviroMAX batteries.
Fuji’s new EnviroMAX batteries are made specifically for high drain electronics devices-like digital cameras.

They are manufactured using sustainable and eco-friendly standards and are even packaged in recycled paper.

One of the best things about the new EnviroMAX batteries is what they don’t have- they are mercury, cadmium and PVC free which makes them landfill safe (but you should still take batteries in to be recycled).

The new batteries can even be purchased online at Amazon and come in several sizes and formulas for all your needs:

Fuji EnviroMAX UDAA-4 Digital Alkaline AA Battery 4 Pack

Fuji EnviroMAX EC-AA4 Super Alkaline AA Battery 4 Pack

Fuji EnviroMAX EC-D2 Super Alkaline D Battery 2 Pack

Fuji EnviroMAX EC-AAA4 Super Alkaline AAA Battery 4 Pack

Fuji EnviroMAX EC-C2 Super Alkaline C Battery 2 Pack

Fuji EnviroMAX UDAAA-4 Digital Alkaline AAA Battery 4 Pack

This holiday season there’s no reason to forget the batteries.

I know I’ll be getting these batteries. I really need a battery that my digital camera won’t drain in 10 photos. I swear that’s how fast my camera drains batteries-even the rechargeable ones- especially the rechargeable ones. I am going to give the EnviroMAX batteries a shot and see how well they really hold up.

This post was orginally published on http://www.ecochildsplay.com/

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Something Every Parent Should Have: Removeez


I think it’s happened to us all- the kid gets a hold of a pen or marker or even some paint…and it refuses to come off the skin even when scrubbing so hard you practically take the skin off. And we know that is neither is fun for the parent nor the child.


Finally someone, parents of course, invented a safe, natural product that “gets stuff off your skin”, Removeez.


Removeez is dermatologist tested and approved, cruelty free, and free of parabens, phthalates, and PPGs.


It uses a homeopathic blend of aloe, bee pollen, calendula, Hawaiian white ginger, and red clover blossom-when combined you have a formula that can be massaged into the skin to dissolve the unwanted stuff that’s there.


It works on ink, temporary tattoos, permanent markers, Band-Aid gunk, paint, sap, grease, tar and more.


I had the opportunity to try this stuff and was amazed. It worked. It took permanent ink off.


Really.


It also worked to get the remnants of a temporary tattoo off.


Like my husband said, “Every parent should have this product.” I agree.


As an avid art and crafter we always end up with stuff on our hands. This is going to be great to have.


Easter is always interesting-I think little hands get more color than the eggs. I wonder how good it will work on egg dye?


And our annual “make your own Christmas card family night is coming”, this will be a hand saver.


Removeez comes in four natural scent combos:



This post originally published on http://www.ecochildsplay.com/


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Christmas Traditions


Tradition is very important to me.


Having a strong root system that shows where you come from has always been a part of my life. I live on piece of land that is been in my family for well over 60 years in a house my grandfather built and my parents worked on.


My mom lives next door.


Because of my respect for the past and for history I have a love for tradition. I think it is important for children to have established traditions and routines in their lives that they can look back on when they are older and have their own kids.


The holidays are one of the best times to have traditions. And they don;t have to be anything major either-little things can a tradition make.


Like my family- it is a small thing but we make Christmas cookies every year- as a family. We make the cookies and decorate them. This year the little guy also requested that we make cupcakes. So a new tradition may have been n=born with such a simple request.


Another tradition is decorating the tree together. This to me is a big deal. I think the whole family should always decorate together. It is a wonderful experience.


I think every one's favorite holiday tradition by far is making Christmas cards together. Every year we get out the art and craft supplies: glitter, glue, stickers, scrap paper, ribbon, old Christmas cards, scraps of wrapping paper, etc and we make holiday cards to give to each other and the other special people in our lives. It's fun, meaningful, and a yearly holiday tradition.


We also sit around and watch every sappy Christmas movie that comes on TV. Thank goodness for DVRs because I am recording them all to watch at our leisure.


What are your holiday traditions?



Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Eco Child's Play is No Longer Part of the Green Options Network

I am currently no longer writing for EcoChildsPlay.com. This may or may not change in the future depending on how the new site goes.

EcoChildsPlay.com is now a part of Simple Earth Media and no longer part of Green Options Media. The new site is working out the kinks and has currently put all of it's writers on hiatus indefinitely until they figure things out.

So until then I hope my readers will follow me here as I post green living tips, reviews and parenting tidbits that I would normaly post on ECP.

I wil still be writing for the other sites in the Green Options Network that I have been writing for including http://www.feelgoodstyle.com/ and http://www.craftingagreenworld.com/


Thank you.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Get 20% Off Your Order at Rosie Hippo



Get 20% off your entire order at www.rosiehippo.com

Use coupon code CREATIVELYGREEN20

for 20% discount until 12/31/09



Rosie Hippo is the place to shop for ethical, earth friendly toys








Sunday, December 6, 2009

Eco-Friendly Holiday Greeting Cards

This weekend I am sitting down to address my Christmas cards and get them ready to be mailed out. At least that’s one thing that is one my to-do list. It may or may not get done.

This year I am not sending out a whole lot of cards, these days I send a lot of electronic greetings to those who I have email addresses for. However for family and people whose emails I do not have I still send old fashioned greetings along with photos of the kids.

I do try to opt for the more eco-friendly greeting cards by choosing those made from recycled paper or even tree free paper.

Wondering where you can find these eco-greetings?

Check out:

My Good Greetings



My Good Greetings offers beautifully designed custom photo cards, invitations and stationary printed on 100% recycled, carbon neutral paper which is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified. They use 100% digital short-run presses which significantly reduce paperwaste and emit 90% less Volatile Organic Compounds.

This is the first company that I know of that offered eco-friendly photo greeting cards. You can upload your own photos and create beautiful photo greeting cards on eco-friendly paper.

http://www.mygoodgreetings.com/

Doodle Greetings



All Doodle Greetings cards are made of 100% post-consumer recycled paper, are chlorine-free, and are made with renewable energy.

Doodle Greetings has a wide variety of fun greeting cards for any occasion including the winter holidays. Make sure to check them out if you want holiday greeting cards that are really earth friendly and “green”.

http://doodle-greetings.com/

Tiny Prints


Tiny Prints has gone green. They recently announced that 100% of their products and packaging now feature eco-friendly recycled paper. From beautiful stationery to the eco-friendly, green invitations -all of Tiny Prints cards and invitations feature luxurious recycled paper.

http://www.tinyprints.com/eco-friendly-collection.htm


Paper Source

Paper Source has a line of products that are PS Green Choices, all of these products contain at least 30% post consumer recycled paper. They sell green choices decorative and scrap book papers as well as wrapping paper in addition to their holiday greeting cards.

http://www.paper-source.com/

Night Owl Papergoods


I am a sucker for the “modern yet folksy” style of Night Owl Paper Goods. Plus I love the owls. They have some very awesome designs and greeting cards including cards that are printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper. They also have cards printed on eco-harvested wood. Very adorable and unique.

Green Shanti



For something truly beautiful and unique check out Green Shanti’s eco-friendy greeting cards, note cards and wrapping paper handmade from Lokta Paper, cotton rags and other recycled and eco materials. The texture is amazing, rich, detailed, and something paper lovers will really adore.