Five Great Green Gifts for Kids

1. $9.35 – The New 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth: This is an excellent book for kids with few cons. Part of the book was written with help from actual kids and the book is printed on recycled paper with soy inks too! Read my full review.
2. $20.00 – Eco Playdough: All natural art medium for crafty kids made with plant, fruit and veggie extracts. No chemicals, artificial dyes or metals and the containers are made from cornstarch and are 100% compostable. I saw this dough recently at the PDX green fair and it comes in totally brilliant and lovely colors of orange, yellow, green, and pink plus the containers are adorable. Note – the Bamboo Rolling Pin is sold separately.
3. $24.99 – idbids:  These soft toys come in three different styles – Scout the Cloud, Lola the Flower or Waverly the bright blue water drop. Each is handcrafted with 100% organic Egyptian cotton and colored with natural organic dyes. With the purchase of each kit, a child can enter an online code that will help protect the habitats of animal friends through The Nature Conservancy’s Plant A Billion Trees campaign, Adopt an Acre, or Rescue the Reef programs. Each kit comes with an organic cinch sack for the child to wear, a storybook printed on recycled paper with eco-friendly inks and a field guide.
4. $25.00 Wooden Giraffe Block Set: Adorable 16 piece block set in a giraffe drawn wagon. This toy is eco-cute, made with sustainably harvested wood, and finished with non-toxic linseed oil.
5. About $25 or less - Green Toys are made of eco-friendly recycled milk cartons, packaged in recycled cardboard, and provide hours of fun for both boys and girls. Most come in at under $25 a pop too, such as the Eco-Friendly Tea Set (shown above), Tool Kit, Dish Set, Chef Set and Recycling Truck.

Five Lovely Green Gifts for the Ladies

1. $16.00 – Lavender Caramel (6-piece)! Chocolate and lavender; way too girly and neat. Pretty little gift box of organic lavender infused caramels with Fleur du Sel salt.
2. $16.95 - My most favorite lovely reusable water bottles – Earthlust Water Bottles – oh so pretty 20 oz stainless steel bottles that won’t leach chemicals into water and cut down on plastic waste.
3. $24.00 - I’m totally obsessed with the Recycled Glass Pendants by Fanisong. In fact I blog about these often because they’re not only pretty but so unique and eco-friendly. Each handcrafted piece is made from 100% RECYCLED glass and a nature photo. The original photo is fused into the glass, then finished with sterling silver plated bail & ribbon cord. Amazing. The piece shown above is Look up to the Sky but there are many other cool designs available; another good one is Infinite Sphere.
4. $24.99 – Mini-Blossom Hummingbird Feeders: Pretty little feeder made with recycled blown-glass vessels with Flower Feeding Tubes in red glass. These look great in the garden and attract adorable hummingbirds with 4 oz of space for hummingbird nectar. Stakes included for mounting. Plus this purchase helps to support the National Wildlife Federation.
5. $12.21 -Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World: Great book covering lots of juicy green topics that matter to women. Teaches women how their actions, and how they spend their cash can make an eco-difference. Printed on recycled paper. I like this book a lot, but haven’t written a full review. My friend Peggy however has – read her review.

Five Handy Green Gifts for Guys

1. $20.00 – Vintage Record Coasters for the hipster guy in your life. Made with real recycled vinyl records but sealed so moisture won’t seep through to the surface. Comes in a set of six.
2. $19.79 – Whole Green Catalog: 1000 Best Things for You and the Earth: One of the best green living guides I’ve read in a LONG time. Packed with facts for everyone, but especially cool is the focus on green living for both genders. Many of the green books I read are geared toward women. Women will like this book too, but this one has facts for the guys as well. Read my full review.
3. $20.00 – Stonees All Natural Building Blocks: These rocks are meant to be a child’s building toy, but they’re also fun stress relief for adults when placed in a workspace. Build peaceful structures with these rock blocks made from crushed North American rocks and all-natural non-toxic pigments. Stonees are organic and smooth, and come in fun stacking shapes – square, triangular and cylindrical. Great for a workday break and good conversation starter too.
4. $14.99 – Wilson Rebound Fade-Green Basketball: This ball is Wilson’s first “green” product made from 40% Recycled Rubber and comes in a box made with 80% pre and post consumer board. Not bad on the eco scale and gets your guy outside and keeps him in shape.
5. $12.50 each – Green Family Kitchen Tools: A fun set of kitchen tools for a guy who loves to cook. All of these green family tools are made with a recycled plastic and wood blend for an attractive, functional, and eco-friendly design. At the end of a tool’s life-cycle, it can be recycled too. Way more fun than typical kitchen tools.

Five Cool Green Gifts for Co-Workers, Pals, or Family

1. $5.72 – NRDC: Simple Steps Deck: A Healthy Home. A Healthy Planet. 50 Easy Actions:  This handy little deck of green living cards fits perfectly into a stocking and is printed on recycled paper. Great for folks new to green living. Read my full review.
2. $8.75 – Down To Earth Cookie Cutter Set – Celestial: Great hostess gift or last minute gift for a baker. BPA-free set of ten cute planetary-inspired foodgrade stainless steel cookie cutters that can be used for kid’s playdough or for real cookie dough. Sturdy and log-lasting plus comes in a compact storage tin.
3. $18.95 – “I Am Not A Paper Cup” – Thermal Porcelain Mug: Funny  and the perfect green gift for a co-worker or pal who loves organic coffee.
4. $24.00 - Beeswax Holiday Glass Gift Set: Pretty little candles made with natural beeswax and essential oils. three 3 oz votive glass candles included in the set (each burns for 24 hours) in holiday scents of Spice (Sweet Orange, Cinnamon & Clove Bud), Pine (Rosewood, Spruce & Fir) and Mint (Peppermint & Birch).
5. $25.00 - Plantable Seed Calendar 2010: This is the perfect green co-worker gift; handmade pages embedded with wildflower seeds so after each month the recipient can plant away with no paper waste. Comes in a reusable tin as well.

Post from: Blisstree

20 Last Minute Green Gifts Under $25!

~ New Airline Programs for Pets at Web Vet

~ Doggone Christmas Giveaway at PetsitUSA

~ A Contest for the Kitties at PetsitUSA

~ Three Surprising Dog Accidents at The Pet Insurance Blog

~ Convenience Store Dog Gets Banned from His “Job” at Dogster Blog

~ Free Issue of Good Bird Magazine at Best in Flock

~ Greenies Coupon for Stocking Stuffers at Embrace Pet Community

~ Winter Survival for the Green Dog at Raise A Green Dog

~ Treats on the Internet at YesBiscuit!

~ Disco Christmas at Smartdog’s Weblog

~ Paws and Effect Holiday Gift Guide at Paws and Effect

~ Top Ten Pet Gadget Gifts at Petside

~ Smart Ways to Help Shelters at Romeo the Cat

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Weekend Pet Links

Talk To Me Treats would make a great stocking stuffer for your pooch, even if they’re the only thing in the stocking!

Talk To Me Treats are mint chew treats for dogs made with real dill, parsley and mint. Not only are they great tasting but are also low-fat and provide fresh breath. The treats are the perfect size for the Treatball and the tin containers make them convenient to have on-hand for training.

The travel-size tins make it easy to provide treats and fresh breath for your pet no matter where you are. Just toss the tin in you purse, pocket, or leave in the glove compartment and treat your pet to fresh breath while you’re out and about — especially nice if you’re visiting family or friends for the holidays!

Post from: Blisstree

Stocking Stuffers for Your Dog

Socks? Underwear? Drugstore perfume? BATTERIES? What’s that all about?

You’ve given those items and worse (admit it!) you’ve even “re-given” those items. Ever wonder what message that sends to the recipient?

I am giving the oft-forgotten Christmas stocking stuffer an elegant make-over.

Here are 10 ideas that will say, “Happy Holidays and I really Mean That”:

• Golf lessons from a course in your area with a reputable golf instructor on staff, for the golf fanatic: Try America’s Favorite Golf Schools to find a facility near you (or not near you)– AFGS.com.
• A Spa Day For A Well Deserving Car: Go to your local auto dealership or to a good detailer and get the car enthusisast’s car the works.
• A Spa Day For Mom and Daughter: Two gorgeous spas of note — In Los Angeles, Le Petite Retreat. On the east coast, Fountain Spa. (This is a great idea for couples too.)
• Rent a movie theater for one evening for the film buff in your life and his or her closest friends.
• Culinary Lessons for the budding chef: Check out All Culinary Schools to locate schools across the U.S. For a truly special adventure, you might look into culinary vacations in Umbria (hint, hint.)
• Four Star Dinner Rerservations to mark special, upcoming celebrations. (Le Cirque in New York).
• If clothing gift cards are appropriate for the fashionista, try contacting a few of the new, chic on-line boutiques for their gift plans: Le Train Bleu.com, StandardStyle.com and Shopbop.com are among some of the more populuar sites.
• For Baby: Anything from Urban Baby.
• For Babies’ exhausted parents, give a month’s worth of your babysitting services.
• And last but not least for that all important family member — Dog. Elegant cards and stationery from The Pet Set.

And don’t forget the actual stocking…the ones shown are from Frontgate.com…but Neiman Marcus has some beautiful ones, as well.

Let the shopping begin!

Image: Frontgate.com

Post from: Blisstree

10 Unique Christmas Stocking Stuffer Ideas.