We received the Indoor Gardening Kit recently and I have to say how impressed I am with it.  First of all, I think it’s a brilliant way to teach children about taking care of our environment.  It also teaches responsibility since the child will have to water the plants regularly.  Children also get to see the fruits of their diligence in the form of a sunflowers, zinnias, and sweet basil. The company adheres to the strict standards of the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and assures that their toys are free from BPA, phthalates, or lead paint.  The toys are American-made from HDPE plastic which is considered to be one of the safest, cleanest plastics available.

Planting our little garden was really easy.  The 3 pack of soil comes compacted (you simply add water).  Once it’s had a chance to expand, you simply pat it down, “plant” your seeds, and wait for it to grow (apparently it takes 2 days to see results).  The entire line of toys are brightly colored and attractively designed.  They’re also moderately priced (not too expensive, not overly cheap). I found the best prices on Amazon.com!

I’ll leave you with a few interesting facts about how Green Toys saves energy…

Ever pound of recycled milk jugs used in the making of Green Toys saves:

Energy to equal 3,000 AAA batteries

Enough electricity to power a TV set for 3 weeks

Enough electricity to keep a laptop computer running for a month!

Now how’s that for eco-friendly?

Twist

You know I’m all about doing my part to preserve our environment.  But when I’m asked to step out of my comfort zone and do something that may be inconvenient for me, I have to step back and evaluate whether or not it’s really worth it to me to make the change.  Such is the case when the subject of paper towels arises.  I like using paper towels.  They’re convenient, I can throw them away, I don’t have to worry about washing/disinfecting them, and I can get them for cheap.  But then I read stats like this:

-The US consumes 33% of the world’s paper products

-If every household in the US replaced one roll of paper towels with 100% recycled ones, we could save 544,000 trees (National Resources Defense Council)

And I have to stop to re think the cost of convenience.

I was recently introduced to Twist, a company that manufactures the “tools” you need to get your home clean! Here is a little more information about the company from the site:

We’ve made a complete collection of naturally spongey, scrubby cleaning marvels.  They clean dishes, respect the planet, and look good doing it.

I’ve always been leery of sponges, particularly after Oprah told us we needed to get rid of our sponges.  But then I had an opportunity to review some scrubbys, sponges, and cloths from Twist and I’m beginning to rethink the “use a paper towel, kill a tree” idea.  The entire line is biodegradable and free from artificial colors, dyes, and plastics.  My absolute favorite product is the scrubby.  The Loofah Scrubby has a sponge on the inside and a loofah on the outside, perfect for those times when my husband forgets to wash off his dishes!  The Ravioli scrubby is similar (sponge on the inside, burlap on the outside) but a little easier to grip and use in my opinion. The most attractive product is the Sponge Blossom.  These compressed sponges can be hung in your kitchen but expand to a full-sized sponge with the addition of water.  Twist also carries reusable cloths for cleaning other areas of your home.

The sponges and scrubbys are durable and I pop them in the dishwasher to get rid of the germs.  I also wash the cloths in the washing machine.  Overall, I am impressed by the functionality of Twist‘s line of products.  They also look cute in my kitchen!

Twist products are available online and in stores nationwide.

Spring isn’t over yet and I’m constantly cleaning SOMETHING!  It’s never-ending I tell you.  If you have children in the house, then you want to make sure you’re cleaning with products that are safe and eco-friendly.  Conventional, household cleaning agents are among the most toxic substances you’ll find in your household, contributing to problems like allergies, cancer, birth defects, and more (Healthy Child, Healthy World).

When I was pregnant with my son, we were living in a very old flat in Edinburgh, Scotland.  In the final weeks before we were to come home permanently, we had to get the flat cleaned and prepped for inspection. We bought your traditional chemicals and my husband and I began cleaning the flat.  I don’t ever remember cleaning products bothering me prior to my pregnancy.  As I was cleaning the bathroom, I started to become nauseous and sick to my stomach.  Chalk it up to those pregnancy hormones but thankfully, that is what forced me to stop cleaning.  Needless to say I started doing some research on “alternatives” to conventional cleaning products since my husband was not going to let me get away with not cleaning the house for 10 months!

I recently had an opportunity to try out some products from BabyGanics, “a line of safe, natural and effective cleaning solutions for households with infants and growing families.”  The company was founded by two dads who were concerned about the personal and environmental effects of synthetic and “green” cleaning products.  I received the Essentials Kit ($19.99) which contains Breathin’ Easy (an air freshener & odor eliminator), The Germinator (a foaming hand sanitizer), The Grime Fighter (an all-purpose household cleaner), Dish Dazzler (a foaming dish & bottle soap), and The Grime Fighter All-Purpose Surface Wipes. The company recently extended it’s line (and came out with brand-new, packaging!) to include products designed to clean all areas where families eat, play, bathe, breathe, and sleep.

I have tried practically every “green” cleaning product on the market (of course, I’m likely going to receive an email stating just the opposite) so I have much to compare BabyGanics to. First off,  this is truly the only line marketed towards children and for that reason alone, families will be drawn to it.  The products are effective and many of them do not contain fragrance which I believe is another added bonus.  The company is transparent with their ingredients, which I appreciate both as a consumer and as a mom.

The Germinator is alcohol-free and as effective as alcohol in killing germs.  I like that it’s a foam versus a gel because it doesn’t leave a residue.  It’s already in my purse, waiting to be used at Disneyland trips, play dates, and trips to the park.

I have never considered using air fresheners in my son’s room because of the risk of triggering allergies and/or respiratory problems.  Breathin’ Easy has a light, lovely lavender vanilla fragrance and the product is made with water, plant-based surfactants, plant-derived glycerine, and natural fragrance.  It uses a pump as opposed to an aerosol-system which is much better for the environment.

Dish Dazzler is another foaming fragrance-free cleaner for bottles and dishes.  It contains naturally-derived plant-based cleaning agents and water and removes even dried food easily with a sponge.

The Grime Fighter All-Purpse Cleaner and Surface Wipes are fragrance-free and contain plant-based cleaning agents, water, and other natural agents.  I prefer the wipes because they’re just easier to use although I don’t think they disinfect.

Here is a list of the products available from the line:

• The Grime Fighter – All Purpose Cleaner
  
• The Sparkle Maker – Glass and Surface Cleaner
  
• Floors to Adore – Floor Concentrate
  
• Breathin’ Easy Air Freshener
  
• Fine and Handy Foaming Hand Soap
  
• Loads of Love 3X Concentrate Laundry Detergent
  
• Scrub-a-Tub Tub and Tile Cleaner
  
• Fine & Handy Hand Soap, unscented and lavender scent
  
• The Grime Fighter – All Purpose Cleaner Wipes, 75ct canister and 25ct “on the go” pack
  
• Dish Dazzler Foaming Dish & Bottle Soap, Citrus
  
• Stain, Stain, Go Away!™  Stain & Odor Remover
  

If you’re looking for a safe, eco-friendly line of effective, affordable ($4.99-$13.99) cleaning agents, consider BabyGanics.  Products are available online or at Babies R Us and Toys R Us.

Provided for review by Southard Communications on behalf of BabyGanics.

Role Mommy – Working Moms Blog

Many of you know that I was the former (yes former now) green columnist for Peekaboo Picks Magazine (more on why I decided to step down and focus on my own blog in another post). All that to say, I will be expressing the “green” side of me more. I read an interesting article about organic and sustainable fabrics on the O’Mama Report last year.  Prior to reading this article, I didn’t really understand the need for organic cotton clothing.  I had strived to ensure that my son was exposed to as few chemicals as possible, not knowing that the very clothing I was putting on him likely contained pesticides.  According to the article, “conventional cotton uses approximately 25% of the world’s insecticides and more than 10% of the pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and defoliants).”  To be completely honest, my son’s entire wardrobe is not entirely derived from organic cotton.  However, I do try to purchase organic cotton when it’s reasonably priced.

I recently had an opportunity to review a simple yet adorable organic cotton t-shirt from ikookie.  Here is a little more information about the company from the site:

ikookie baby clothes are made with 100% organic cotton, grown with natural fertilizers and free of toxic chemicals.

My son received the “Little Guy” t-shirt in white. The t-shirt is very soft, softer than conventional cotton tees.  I love the store’s simple solid basics in soft pastel colors.  They’re easily mixed and matched!  The store’s selection includes bodysuits, t-shirts, yoga pants, sleepsuits, blankets, and towels.  Not only are the clothes stylish, they’re affordable.  For example, bodysuits retail for $10.00 (I’ve easily seen them retail for double that price).  Check out iKookie‘s entire selection of fashionable, organic cotton clothing for babies and toddlers up to 24 months.

I was fortunate to have read an article about BPA on Zrecs when I was pregnant with my son.  At that time, the only manufacturers who sold BPA-free bottles were Medela and Born Free.  If you’re still confused as to what BPA is or why it’s harmful, I encourage you to check out the well-researched articles on Zrecs.    Today, if you were to type in “BPA-free bottles” on Google, 854,000 results would be returned.  I almost wish it was as simple as 2 choices.  But companies listened (thankfully) to the consumer’s demand for safe feeding alternatives and now it’s simply a matter of which bottle to choose.  There are two excellent resources (who just happen to be fabulous bloggers too) that may help guide your decision-making:  The Soft Landing and SafeMama.

I recently had an opportunity to try the new sippy cups by TILTY.  Here is a little more information from the site:

Designed by parents, recommended by pediatricians, moms, dads, and grandparents, TILTY is truly – a better sippy cup.  Our patent-pending ergonomic design makes TILTY the easiest sippy cup to use.  The snap on lid keeps messes to a minimum, and we didn’t include a valve, just like the ADA recommends.

One of the first things I look for in a sippy cup is whether or not it’s BPA-free.  Not only is TILTY BPA-free, it’s Phthalate, PVC, and Dye free.  The cups are made of polypropylene which is a  durable, recyclable material.  It’s very light (compared with many sippy cups on the market) and clear, which it makes it nice to see how much liquid is left in the cup. When you look at the cup, the first thing you notice is the slant in the middle of the cup.  This is to help children drink and learn how to use a cup easier.  My son is almost two and eventually we’d like to transition him to a cup.  I think that the TILTY is a wonderful transition sippy for him.  I like the fact that it doesn’t have a valve (which apparently isn’t recommended by the American Dental Association because of it’s interference with dental development) although this means that when my son tips it over (and he will) it will drip.  If you haven’t read the article from the ADA, I highly recommend it because it talks about how to choose the right sippy cup.  I didn’t know that sippy cups with spouts are just bottles in disguise, which means they require sucking as opposed to sipping (which is the purpose of a sippy cup, right?).  The other thing about valves is that they’re incredibly difficult to clean.  Just the other day I opened up one of my son’s stainless steel sippy cups (that uses a spout) and found dried, curdled milk underneath (yuk!).  This was AFTER taking it out of the dishwasher.  You can wash TILTY sippy cups in the dishwasher (top rack only).  Each cup holds seven ounces and children as young as 9 months old can use them.

Needless to say, I learned a lot about sippy cups as a result of this review.  And I learned that no two sippy cups are alike!  Do you know what the best part about the TILTY is?  The price!  A pack of two retails for $6.00 (as opposed to another company’s which retail for $21.00).

Win It! One of you will win a pack of two TILTY sippy cups.  Simply head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a comment with an interesting fact you learned that wasn’t in my review.  Comments will close on May 7, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Place my button on your site. If you have difficulty, please let me know.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

1. Create the Earth. Eco-friendly coffee filters make great miniature earths.  In two separate cups, use food coloring to make blue and green colored water. Then allow the children to use eyedroppers to drop the colors on their Earth (coffee filter). When the colored water is dropped on the filter it spreads a bit and the children can create land and water shapes on their “little earths.”
2. Lights Out, Flashlights On. Play “I Spy” in the dark.  Have the children use flashlights to locate objects they can use to become more “green,” such as a light switch or recycle bins.
3. Go for a Nature Walk. Place tape, sticky side out, on the children’s wrists and take them outside to collect things in nature. You could also decorate a sack and go around the neighborhood picking up litter.
4. Dress It Up! Hold a fashion show using old newspapers as the runway. Create vests by using grocery sacks decorated with recycled supplies such as used yogurt cups, etc. Glue recycled materials to the vests and decorate with paint. Then let your kids show off the “beauty of recyclables” while learning what items can be recycled. 
5. Make Rainsticks. Recycle old paper towel rolls by making rainsticks. Have the children close the bottom of the stick with paper and tape. Then fill with beans or rice. You can also crumple up some aluminum foil to make a louder sound. Let the children decorate the rainsticks with construction paper. Use this activity to talk about the importance of clean water and water conservation.

If you’re looking for more ideas on how to raise awareness within your children, check out Earth Hour Kids.  The site features lesson-plans, games and songs children can download. 

So…how are you celebrating Earth Day today?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Last year I told you about KINeSYS, a company that manufactures one of the safest and most effective kids’ sunscreens on the market. With summer on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how you’re going to protect your kids from those harmful UV rays.  This week, we’re focusing our attentions on companies who have made great efforts to manufacture eco-friendly products.  If you read my review last year, then you’ll remember that KINeSYS kid’s sunscreen offers oil, alcohol, preservative, and PABA-free protection (SPF 30) from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.  I love the way it smells and goes on without leaving that oily, shiny, “I’m wearing sunscreen” look and feel.

The company wants to offer you a 10% discount to help you protect your kids this summer.  Simply enter the code “BRC10″ when you check out.

Win It! One of you will win a 4oz Kids Sunscreen & 4oz Kids Moisturizer, courtesy of KINeSYS. Simply head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a comment with either another product you’re interested in or a fun fact you found on their site.  Comments will close on May 5, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Place my button on your site. If you have difficulty, please let me know.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

Profuse thanks to the Family Review Network for this opportunity!

As a parent, I recognize the importance of play…the learning opportunities play presents.  I also recognize the amount of “waste” toys can potentially create.  Plastic, batteries, and packaging are just a FEW of the by-products of toys.  One company is raising awareness of environmental issues by providing parents with toys that are safe for our children and the environment they’re growing up in.  Green Toys Inc., the leader in safe, environmentally responsible, USA-made toys, uses 100% recycled plastic milk containers to make their toys.  Green Toys utilizes recycled plastic to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  You could spend a lot of time expounding on the subject of recycling with your children…all while planting a garden or cooking a meal.  I like the company’s toys because they’re made in the “greenest” way possible and they encourage  imaginative, open-ended play. Stay tuned for my review, in the next few days!  

This week, stop by for more tips on “doing something green” in honor of Earth Day!  

If you are the parent of an infant, toddler, or preschooler, you know what a challenge going to the movies can be.  To be honest, I usually just give my son some grandma and grandpa time so that we can have a fun date night together.  There is a, however, a fantastic program called  Kidtoons which helps parents connect with their children by offering family-friendly, animated movies to theaters across the country. I’ve never done this with my son but it sounds like it would be a lot of fun!  And if I’m in the theater with other screaming, jumping tots then how much more insane fun is that?  

Earth Day is rapidly approaching and I wanted to share with you how Kidtoons plans to celebrate.  They have compiled specially-themed episodes of SuperWHY! and WordWorld,  along with music videos from RAGGS, SteveSongs and Franny’s Feet which will run throughout the month at participating Kidtoons theaters.  Here is a brief overview of the episodes that will be airing for the rest of the month.

SuperWHY!/Tiddalick the Frog:  Whyatt’s mom tells him that he’s wasting water. So Super Why and his friends dash into the Australian folk tale of Tiddalick the Frog and make the acquaintance of a funny amphibian and learn how important water is to the planet, along with a valuable lesson about conservation.

WordWorld/ W Drought: It’s a hot summer day and all the WordFriends are using water to stay cool. But all the letter W’s start to disappear, and you can’t have “water” without the letter W! Sheep leads the gang in the hunt to discover just who’s causing the W drought.

WordWorld/The Rainbow Birthday Cake: It is Frog’s birthday, and Duck wants to make him a big, beautiful birthday cake frosted in the colors of the rainbow. Such a cake requires lots of cans of frosting, and Duck learns he can’t just throw cans anywhere—they must be recycled.

If you’re looking for a fun way to engage your children this Earth Day, check out Kidtoons!  At the end of the film, be sure to stay for a slew of fun giveaways including stickers, temporary tattoos, activity books or toys.

Kids Konserve was launched last year after founders Lynn Julian and Chance Claxton identified a need for managing and reducing the excessive amount of household trash that seemed to accumulate regularly.  Environmental issues are discussed openly in our society. It’s important for children to understand the current state of our environment and why it’s important to practice conservation.  I did not know this, but according to the site, one child generates 67 pounds of lunchtime trash every school year.  Wow!  Foil, plastic bags, juice boxes, napkins, wrappers, and plastic silverware are just a few of the disposable items that come to mind.  I’d like to think that the schools are recycling some of these items, but realistically, they’re probably ending up in landfills.  Out of their concern arose Kids Konserve, “a complete line of reusable food storage options” which includes individual reusable containers and beverage bottles.

The company prides itself on using only the safest, most durable materials to ensure a waste-free lunch system.  All of their products are BPA, lead, and phthalate-free.  The products are derived from durable, environmentally approved materials.  And…the designs and colors are vibrant and attractive to children (the butterfly design is my favorite).  I like how the system makes children active participants in the process of conservation.  Parents can engage in education-based conversation with their children as to why it’s important to reuse versus just throwing containers in the trash. I think that schools should definitely think about introducing a system like this into their lunch program.  The site has a wealth of information on how schools can take the Waste-Free Lunch Challenge.

I have to admit that there are times when I’ll see a product deemed as “green” or “eco-friendly” and think that it’s too much work to switch over.  I don’t feel that way about Kids Konserve.  In fact, the system actually makes eco-sense to me.  I received a Butterfly Stainless Steel Bottle to review and I have to say that it’s definitely eco-chic!  The bottle even has a hook so kids won’t lose it.  I love stainless steel because it keeps beverages cold for a long time.  And…if you refrigerate the bottle overnight you’ll have a cold beverage all day!

This Earth Day I challenge you to go waste-free with Kids Konserve! They’ve just added their all-new Kids Konserve Party Pak which is perfect for classroom events, birthday parties, and family picnics.

Be sure to check out Kids Korner filled with fun eco-facts and their blog where you could win a Kids Konserve Lunch Kit (deadline April 22, 2009 at 6 PM PST).

Now through April 22, purchase a Squiggle Stainless Steel Bottle and Name Tag for only $9.00.

Save for  10% now through May 31 with the code “rockin”