The coolest playhouse

My husband sent me a link to this awesome company called This Little Piggy's House and they made this amazing eco-friendly playhouses designed and manufactured in the USA out of 100% recyclable materials. If that isn't enough they also donate 5% of their profits to charities that feed hungry little piggys around the world AND it costs only $39.99. Comes with a chimney, a mailbox and a window flower box.

SO much better than those ugly expensive plastic things.

Nuby BPA-Free Bug a Loop Teether Bead Necklace

This Nuby BPA-Free Bug a Loop Teether Bead Necklace helps your child with the natural process of teething. Constructed of firm, smooth material, the Bug a Loop allows active gum exercise prior to the emergence of teeth. For newly emerged teeth, the soft texture promotes development. For ages 3 months and above.

Get it at a discount price of only $4.29 at Kid Surplus

Clearly I am having a shoe issue this week. While shopping around online tonight I found my next obsession.

Hush Puppies Women's Eco-Friendly 'Tikuna' Boots


* Women's Hush Puppies shoes are as comfortable as they are good looking
* Women's mid-calf shoes feature 100-percent natural hemp lining for extra soft feel
* Boots boast breathable bamboo-molded footbed
* Genuine wood buttons
* Antibacterial
* Moisture wicking
* Absorbs odor
* Natural latex rubber outsole with jute insert, water-soluble cements
* Features eco-friendly, full-grain milled nubuck from ISO-14001 tanneries
* Padded footbed
* Available in black and hickory color options

The best part is they are available on overstock.com for just a bit more than the slippers I blogged about below. Cute boots, eco friendly, and a great price? Oh what is a girl to do now?

The perfect slipper

I have been on a search for the perfect slipper. We don't wear shoes in the house so once winter comes slippers are a necessity. Having two kids and a dog the floors get quite messy. It has been a tough challenge though since I have some specific requirements.

• Eco friendly construction.
• Cute enough to look like you are wearing shoes around the house but aren't.
• Comfy enough to feel like you are wearing slippers and not shoes.

I have finally found the perfect pair. The Layaway slipper by Simple. Simple has an amazing line up of eco friendly shoes for men, women and children. You can check out the full line at www.simpleshoes.com. I will probably purchase mine from Zappos because of their super fast service.



Ok back to the Layaway slipper. I jumped with glee when I saw this slipper. It is exactly what I have been looking for. Felted wool uppers, lined in certified organic cotton knit, coconut buttons,a layered natural crepe outsole, held together with water based cements, and they are super cute to boot.

I know at $59 the price seems a bit steep. I am biting my lip as I contemplate what I am going to do. I wonder if my husband meant spend $59 when he said "buy yourself some slippers online today" as he walked out the door in response to my constant bitching about walking around in wet socks.

My thought process around it being ok is based on these facts:

• I usually end up spending $10-$20 on a cheapo pair each year that are barely still together by the time spring comes.
  
• Since I am home full time I spend more time indoors so this is the equivalent of buying a new pair of shoes for work
  
• I need the slippers to be good quality with good soles since I am chasing around two kids and a dog and running up and down stairs all day.
• Even though I am home full time I need to keep up my "coolness" factor. I can't have the UPS guy see me in pink fuzzy slippers. He might think I just sit around and eat bon bons all day. We can't have that.

I think my reasons are valid don't you? Should I get them?

Sweet Product Find: The Munchie Mug

I love this! I must get one.

Introducing the Munchie Mug for infants and toddlers:

Innovative in both concept and design the patented spill-resistant Munchie Mug eliminates snack-time messes for children 10 months and older. The Munchie Mug features an easy grip handle, secure screw on top, soft fabric opening and durable cup; making it ideal for snacking at home, in the car or on the go. Munchie Mug is Made in the USA with all FDA food grade compliant materials.

Children love
the colorful cup and soft fabric while parents appreciate the
convenience and spill-resistant quality. Munchie Mug is the newest must
have product for messy little snacking hands everywhere.

Features:

• Spill-resistant snack cup for ages 10 months and up
• Soft fabric closure for sensitive little hands
• Easy to clean: Top rack dishwasher safe
• Great for healthy snacking: Cereals, dried fruits, crackers, etc.
• Additional stay-fresh lid included for keeping snacks fresh when mug is not in use
• Economically friendly: Made in the United States of America
• Child friendly: Made of all FDA food grade compliant materials
• Environmentally friendly:
  Made of 100% recyclable materials & eliminates waste created by
  plastic snack baggies that are used once and thrown away. Use the
  Munchie Mug, again, again, and again!!!

Lead free lunch

School will be starting soon. I am sure many of you remember a few
years ago when lead was found in many insulated lunch boxes and
bags sold all across America. Make sure your kids are safe this year
with my top picks for eco-friendly lunch boxes.

Crocodile Creek Green Lunchboxes - School
lunches can now be more fun than ever with this beautifully-designed,
high-quality lunch box. Lunch box is 10"w x 7.5"h x 3"d. We have given
special attention to make certain that the lunchboxes currently offered
by Crocodile Creek do conform to the current U.S. & European
Consumer Product Safety Standards as well as FDA recommendations. Our
lunchboxes are child safe, with lead-free linings and are Phthalate and
PVC free. Ages 3 and up. Handwash in warm water with mild soap and soft
cloth. No abrasives or heat.
Buy these on sale at KidSurplus

Laptop lunch Kit - Functional, reusable and fun, the Laptop Lunch Kit enables parents to
pack wholesome, low-waste meals for their kids using a very cool setup
that includes a thermal, zippered bag, a large snap-shut tray, five
FDA-approved microwave safe food containers, a sport bottle, and
stainless steel utensils. The Kit also includes an educational and
comprehensive "User's Guide," with healthy lunch recipes and tips for
reducing waste. Thoughtfully designed to cut down on the consumption of wasteful, single-use containers that inundate our school lunchrooms, the Laptop Lunch Kit promotes lunchtime nutrition
by offering parents a way to replace processed, prepackaged foods with
more nutritious alternatives. Kids love the colorful, puzzle piece
containers that fit snugly into the stylish thermal carrying case. And
like all of the products we offer, it provides a smart combination of
function, durability, style and value.
Buy these at Reusablebags.com

Mimi the Sardine lunch bags - Mimi the Sardine backpacks are 100% lead-free and a safe, CEH
recommended alternative to vinyl lined bags. We love them because they
are stylish, functional, & made from eco-coated cotton that is soil
& water resistant. Plus they look great. Mimi the Sardine bags
feature fun, colorful Swedish prints that appeal to kids (and adults!)
Buy these at Reusablebags.com

It is hot hot hot in VT today and I have popsicles on the mind.

I just found a great source for BPA free popsicle molds. I am going to order me up some.

Save money by making your own and save your kid from all the artificial colorings and flavorings they put in store bought. But make sure you get the BPA free ones.

Sprout Natural Parenting is opening a store on Church Street in October. They currently have a store in Brattleboro VT.

Here is a blurb from their brochure:

Sprout is a retail storefront and online store dedicated to natural parenting. New England's most comprehensive and holistic natuarl parenting store. Everything you need for the pregnant mom, baby and young child: slings and carriers, cloth diapers, organic and ecofriendly children's clothing and shoes, breastfeeding support & supplies, gear, furniture, books & resources, natural health, nursing & maternity wear, wooden, waldorf & montessori toys

They also have a changing station, play cubbies, nursing chair, gift registry, shipping & phone orders.

Sprout was voted "Best of Vermont Eco-conscious Baby Shop" by Boston Magazine in 2007

they will be located at 110 Church street in October. For those local folks they are talking over the space where Discover Channel store used to be.

The brattleboro location is 57 elliot street, brattleboro 802-254-2600

online store coming soon

Yeah I am pretty much going to camp out the night before they open and probably just end up living in their store. It is about time we got a store like this. I have been dreaming of doing something like this one day but at least someone is doing it and doing it very well it seems.

I was thinking of you the whole time

My friend Neil Cleary has just finished recording his third solo CD called I was thinking of you the whole time. It is not officially released until the fall but he has about 100 copies available for early purchase. I came home Sunday from a trip to find mine waiting for me in my mailbox. As Neil describes it "inspired by two of my favorite albums, Liz Phair's Exile In Guyville and Aimee Mann's Bachelor #2, it takes a sorta wry look at hookups and letdowns, except from the perspective of the villainous heartbreaker character on the other end. It's a little trip to the dark end of the psyche -- and with a fun-time summer-rockin' beat!"

My review of it? He is magic. Pure magic. He has the ability to make the girls wonder if one of his songs is about them and the others hoping one could be.

Check him out at
www.neilcleary.com

Listen to tracks from the CD and or buy one of these early releases
www.myspace.com/neilcleary