Toy Cleaner

Flu season is definitely upon us and some say that this year is going to be a hard one.  My son's exposure to the flu will be limited to those that come into our home or to those that we visit.  I am sure all of you have had tiny guests with the sniffles or cough visit you at some point...you know how it is.  Sick kids may put toys in the mouth, cough on them, etc...and the possibility of contagious germs being left behind for a short period of time is realistic.   In the past, we have used a very diluted mixture of water and clorox to wash toys down.

I recently found Fields Organics toy cleaner.  It is perfect for any non-porous surface in the home including all of those plastic and wood toys.  Simply spray directly onto surface and wipe.  The solution is organic and non-toxic.

What a clean idea!

Reusable AND Attractive Gift Bags

It is hard to believe the amount of trash...namely shopping bags, boxes, wrapping paper, bows, ribbon, etc...our family creates around the holidays.  Multiply that times the number of households in America and it becomes an overwhelming amount of trash.

I found these online by a company called Living Ethos.  They have some gorgeous designs and you can select your design especially for your occassion.  The bags come in 4 different sizes, are made of 100% cotton, and the ribbon is made of recycled PET.  Their fabrics are printed using fiber reactive dyes, one of the most environmentally benign type of dyes on the market.

These are the perfect bags for the holidays.  When your family has unwrapped all the presents, you can launder (if needed) and store for the next use.  Your gift wrap will definitely be one that keeps on giving!

How eco-friendly is that!

Play Forever Toys

My nephew is obsessed with anything that has wheels.  In fact, before he goes to bed, he picks out his "wheels" and carries them to his room so they can sleep with him.  He chooses different wheels each night and when he awakes, he is still often clutching onto them!

I think I may just have found a perfect holiday gift for him.  Pictured above is the motorbike, but they also make a roadster and an aeroplane...and they come in a few different colors.  They are made by a company based out of the UK and will be available in limited quantities.  I love to give gifts that are not mass-produced.  The toys are almost indestructible and would be perfect for a kid of any age!

How cool is that!

Phil & Ted's Traveller

 With the holidays fast approaching and busy travel plans to visit family, I found this great travel crib/cot from Phil and Teds.  We have taken several trips since our baby was born and we have been lugging around a 25 lb pack n' play.  Not anymore, this travel bed weighs 6 lbs without the self-inflatable mattress (which adds another 3 lbs).  This crib is also small enough that it can be packed into a suitcase.  I am so excited to be able to use it during Thanksgiving!

How portable is that!

Zapi Toothbrush Sanitizer

Regardless of how often I replace my toothbrush, I always wonder about the germs living on it, even after a thorough wash after use.  This has been on my mind lately because my one year old is learning to brush...but he often ends up brushing the countertop or something else along with his teeth.  Enter the Zapi!  Insert toothbrush, hit a button to activate the germicidal UV light, and viola...nearly 100% of the bacteria is gone!  Guess what Santa is bringing our house this year?

What a clean idea!

Candygram

I just found a great DIY "birthday card" from inchmark for the party we are attending this weekend.  I think I will fill mine with Jellie Bellies or even better...little cars the 3 year old may like!

What a creative idea for any age!

Paperless Post

On the one hand, I am nostalgic about the days when we wrote letters to one another, put a stamp on the envelope and mailed it off. The art of handwriting letters and fine penmanship seems to be lost. On the other hand, I am a girl of technology and I love the creative things that can be done with the computer.

I think Paperless Post does a wonderful job of combining the two.  They bring custom, personalized and thoughtful looking cardstock invitations to the online world (and without the advertising you find with other e-invitation sites!) This is definitely earth-friendly and it is extremely inexpensive...150 e-mail invitations will set you back a mere $10. If you have planned an event lately, you know what that would cost in the "paper" world. 

You can quickly customize the design the invitation, deliver customized envelopes to your guests, and monitor/track rsvp's. And...when you sign up for an account, they get you started with 25 stamps...reason enough to have a small dinner party!

What a genius idea!

(Bugaboo) Red

How adorable is that canopy with treasu(red) on it!I have long been a fan of (RED), and I especially love the red t-shirts from gap with a word on it ending in (red). Now, (RED) has partnered with Bugaboo! They have a small line of products for this partnership and they will donate 1% of all revenue to the Global Fund. I am sure you all have heard about the project by now, but for those who may not have, the Global Fund invests in African AIDS programs and has a special emphasis on women and children.

A great cause and a great company...what a fabulous partnership!

Envirosax - You can't have enough

I have been toting these bags around in my diaper bag for a while now. When rolled up, it is the size of a sushi roll. They are so practical and useful in many situations...and look great too. The bag is washable and waterproof, making it perfect for change of clothes. Out come the clean clothes and in go the dirty. Buy a few and keep them stashed in different places!



Envirosax has a kids series perfect for toting around dolls, art supplies, sports clothing/gear, etc. Check out the adorable "Baa, Maa & Paa" design below!


Not only is this a great product, but it is a great product made by a great company. The philosophy of Envirosax® is to help create a better future for our planet by spreading it's environmental message. Envirosax provides an eco-friendly alternative to disposable shopping bags that have caused so much damage to the environment worldwide. Envirosax bags are lightweight, portable, waterproof and each one holds the equivalent of two supermarket plastic bags thanks to reinforced seams. Each one holds up to 44lbs!

Envirosax also donates a percentage of its sales to charities and non-profit organisations dedicated to the preservation of the environment.