Ditch the Bottled Water Habit!

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This is my second attempt at this post. Don’t ya hate it when that happens!!!! I’m not even sure how it happened…but all I have to say is don’t fall asleep at the keyboard. I hate loosing an ENTIRE post. Anyway, that’s not what I wanted to tell you write about.

Have you ditched the bottled water habit?

It’s been 2 years since we’ve purchase bottled water. We’ve definitely noticed a savings in our grocery bill. I’m a firm believer of getting in my 8-10 glasses a day, therefore I do drink a lot of water. We invested in Klean Kanteen’s last year. Prior to that we’d been using Migo water bottles we’d purchased in a 3 pack at Costco . The buzz about BPA had just hit and we’d been trying to cut back on our plastic consumption so we figured it was the right time to make the switch from plastic to stainless. Either way both are reusable and allow for a lifetime of sips.

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100th Post & A Giveaway!!! ecoleeko dolls…

 ** GIVEAWAY AT THE END OF THIS POST**

Awhile back, I came across an eco whimiscal site called ecoleeko. ecoleeko sells eco friendly colorful plush dolls and rattles. I’d been checking them out for quite some time that I finally decided to contact the woman behind these gorgeous organic dolls. I felt they deserved some eco credit! As we all know, sometimes being green means you have to go “the extra mile” but it also means you’re setting a standard. You’ll soon find out that the designer of these organic plush dolls has done so with pride…

How did you start making the dolls- how did you learn- and why eco friendly?

I think I was first influenced by my aunt who made me a Raggedy Ann 
life size doll when I was 4. I still have it. I started making actual 
dolls I guess in 2001, playing around with materials, I dabbled in 
everything. I would make ‘artdolls’ and submit them to Art Doll 
Quarterly. I still do, but wanted to get back to my schooling, what I 
learned there, and use eco friendly materials. My sister had a baby 
and it inspired me to make soft baby toys as well.
I went to school for textiles, and learned alot about how fabric is 
made, processed and dyed. It was then I decided it was important to 
use eco friendly materials but at the time materials were limited. I 
wrote a paper on hemp fiber as my yarn thesis..I know, yarn thesis? Ha!

What is your inspiration for saving the planet?

I think my inspiration initially came from an experience I had at 
college, where a large hemp company gave a lecture. I was super 
excited. I listened as he spoke of hemp, it’s properties, etc. Then he 
held up a purse they marketed as an example. I noticed the strap on 
the bag was polypropylene. I was confused, then a little mad. Here’s a 
company going off about natural this natural that, eco friendly blah 
blah blah, and they aren’t even practicing it. After the lecture, I 
went up to the gentleman, and asked him why they didn’t use hemp 
webbing for the strap, webbing which they sold! He told me it was too 
expensive. I was shocked. I really thought these green companies went 
the extra mile to use organic thread or non poly fill or eco friendly 
zippers made of organic cotton, but nope. It seemed like it was a 
marketing thing I guess. I mean I totally understand if it’s a money 
issue. Eco materials seem to be priced higher, but I must say as an 
avid sewer of 19 years, the fabric is really no higher priced 
wholesale than a yard at your local store. So when a large company 
tells me it’s too expensive, I kinda say, hmmmmm.. I think it’s a 
matter of consumers knowing what’s in products they buy. I never knew 
till I went to school. Now some people don’t care, or whatever, but 
it’s important for me at least to feel good about what I’m making and 
selling to others.

How long does it take to make one doll?

It’s really hard to say. I know some people can determine it exactly, 
but with my process, there are many steps..the fabric is first washed, 
then dyed. I then print on the fabric, cut out the patterns, sew the 
patterns, stuff, and sew again. I try to do more than one at a time 
over a couple of days.

What set you apart from other doll makers in general?

I think in terms of eco dolls, I’m trying to go the extra mile in 
using all eco materials. I feel strongly about educating people about 
textile materials. It’s so overlooked. I recently went to a pet store 
and they were selling eco dog toys. I could immediately tell it was 
printed with a plastic based ink because it sat on the surface, the 
stitching was polyester and it didn’t even say what it was filled 
with. Now someone who sees eco, might be incline to buy it just 
because of that. But unless the consumer knows what it’s made of, it’s 
hard to really determine. I think it’s important to look at everything 
a product is made of, especially for kids in light of the lead scares, 
etc. I also think a lot of eco toys aren’t very colorful and fun. I chose 
to hand dye my fabric to get the color range I wanted. I use low 
impact fiber reactive dyes, that actually bond with the fabric, 
leaving no harsh feel to any of the fabrics. I hope to one day try out 
natural dyes as well.

Is being “green” something you’re new to or has it been a way of life?

Hmm. I’d love to say it’s always been, but I would say I was first 
aware of the issue in 1994-5. But over the years I’ve learned more and 
more and now I’m living in upstate NY growing vegetables and raising 
chickens. HA! It’s a constant striving, you can always be greener.

The materials the dolls are made out of are sustainable, correct?

The fact that you can dump them into your composter- after many years of love, that is- fantanstic!

 Do you compost on a regular basis?

Yes, all the materials I use are eventually biodegradable and can be 
composted. And Yes, I do compost! We have a container in the kitchen 
we fill then dump out in the back. Our chickens also help out with that.

What is your best selling doll?

I think the best selling is EllyBo so far, but I’m routing for 
Monkeeko. He’s my favorite.

 *** I’d like to express my THANKS to Sue, the creator of ecoleeko. The dolls at ecoleeko are HANDMADE and are made with the finest organic materials. I’d LOVE to see one sitting in my son’s crib soon. My favorite is Monkeeko, too! HopLee come in second!! Let’s be honest, they’re all my favorite.

 Check out the Shake Me Snail rattle! Isn’t it super eco adorable!!?? Just stick you’re 2 fingers underneath the snail’s belly and rattle away. Be sure to check out her fun collection of others too!!!! 

Now, for the FUN PART- ecoleeko has generously donated the Shake Me Snail rattle!!!

 WIN IT!

What is your favorite ecoleeko plush doll?

Comment, with your answer.

It’s that simple and eco easy!

If you want the chance to earn an extra entry…

Link up to this giveaway!

Be sure to let me know you did and pls. be sure to leave an email address (SPAM free). 

Contest ends July 25th, 2008!

Neat Solutions

 

Have you heard of the company Neat Solutions? If you haven’t you might want to check em’ out! We’ve been using their disposable placemats that are made out of environmentally friendly materials (BPA, phthalate, PVC free) since Mr. Tristar was 6 mos. old. These table topper placemats prevent all the icky germy germs from entering into your child’s food while dining out. We take them with us to restaraunt’s and sometimes to G-Ma & G-Pa’s house. They’re handy to have and stick right to any surface. Plus, the designs are fun and engaging- we usually get the Sesame Street or Baby Einstein. The table topper is a fun way to get your kiddo to eat his or her veggies while providing a sanitary eating spot and it’s educational. Neat Solutions also offers potty toppers, floor toppers, multi use pads, changing pads, disposable bibs, all in one meal kits, and neat-ware. Invented by a mom who like me prefers, less of the germies entering into my child’s system while keeping the Mother Earth in mind. Family owned and operated, Neat Solutions, understands the concerns parents have today when it comes to bacteria in public areas. The  table toppers  protect your babies eating surface from cleaning chemicals, dirt and other yucky particles that may be lingering.  I’ve only tried the table toppers and love them! We keep them in Mr. T’s diaper bag. So far they’ve been an essential part of  our weekly Sunday breakfasts at the local cafe town. We think table toppers are awesome and what’s even better they’re safe for the environment a huge eco plus.  I’m looking forward to trying out a few of their other products in the future! Visit their website and sign up for their free newsletter and get eeligible to win freebies by filling out their Caregiver Form.  Look for a Neat Solutions product at your nearest Target or Babys R US. “A little Sheet of Neat”

 

 

La Cocina Verda (The Green Kitchen)

 

The kitchen is a commonplace for Tristan and I to be…we love to eat! Feeding Tristan can be a challenge but we have a lot of fun being creative. Since I’ve become a mom I’ve learned there are challenges when it comes to finding all the necessities required to feed your beloved lil’ greenie. For one, you can’t get bamboo utensils or bowls anywhere in my town- PVC Free Bibs- what are those?, So Easy Baby Food food trays-you’re going to make your own baby food-what the…, how about ORGANIC foods in general for a baby/toddler! The reaction to my green baby saga was always gently nubbed. In any case, it took some time to aquire the items we needed for Tristan before birth…but we finally had what we felt was adequate and considered him our little Green Guy and our kitchen La Cocina Verde!!

Shopping List:

- bamboo- utensil set- bambu products

-.bamboo bowls

-Sustainable Highchair – Babylon Toddler Highchair

-Organic cotton bibs or PVC Free Bibs made by Bumkins

- Cloth napkins-(organic whenever possible or recycled fabric) to wipe up spills and messy faces! http://www.fabkins.com/ or recycled paper towels

- So Easy Baby Food Kit, non toxic- for storing your homemade baby food

- Cast iron pots/and skillet- non toxic, no teflon, and great for iron deficiency- iron leaches into food while being cooked

- Organic groceries and snacks whenever possible 

- Non toxic sippy cup/bottle and other baby feeding accessories

- All natural, non toxic, cleaning products and hand soap

- Glass storage containers- operation out with the plastic!!!

Check out The Soft Landing http://www.thesoftlanding.com/ for an array of PVC/BPA free unique items!

 While slaving over all that baby food you’ll need a handy dandy recipe book to glance over. I’ve used this one on many occassions…

* Organic Bay and Toddler Cookbook- easy recipes for natural food by Lizzie Vann

Organic Food For Thought: Just about any baby food recipe can be converted to an organic one! Also, most organic baby food books offer lots of insight about wholesome natural foods and most recipes for go refined sugar!

Tristan throughly enjoys his greens… he’s bound to have a little green in him! ; )

Our little green bean loves the following recipe and it’s packed with iron too!

*Steam- peas, carrots, spinach, broccoli, and quinoa (cook quinoa seperately) puree in food processor!  Freeze and serve as needed.

What’s your favorite baby food recipe or accessory? Any suggestions…???