Light Up Your Life

What: HybridLight Journey Flashlight

Features: SOLAR RECHARGEABLE  Charge using the built in solar panel outdoors OR indoors under incandescent lighting, OR by connecting via the included USB cable for rapid charge

CHARGE MOBILE DEVICES – Connect using the included USB cable to charge cell phones and other mobile devices while away from home or during power outages

EXTREMELY DURABLE AND WATERPROOF – Tested to 3 meters and it floats so you won’t lose it

DUAL MODE –  High or Low Beam. Super bright LED shines for up to 25 hours on low beam and 7 hours on high producing 160 lumens of bright white light

HOLDS A CHARGE FOR YEARS –  Always ready when you need it. Perfect for any emergency

Green Factor: You can avoid contributing to the hundreds of thousands batteries discarded into landfills by solar recharging instead of relying on the lithium ion battery that comes with the HybridLight Journey Flashlight

Bonus: The HL160 can be stored without sun for 7 years and still retain 90% of the original power. Also, guaranteed to work every time you turn it on!

Find It Here: HybridLight

It’s a Wrap!

What: Lilywrap Reusable Gift Wrap

Features: Beautiful wraps mimic the tailored look of paper gift wrap with reusable stretchy fabric in a variety of stylish designs. It’s super easy to wrap a gift in just 30-seconds with simple set, cinch, tie method using drawstring ribbons — great on the go and reasonably priced! Perfect for TSA travel & shipping, too!

Green Factor: Reusable and durable with no need for scissors, tape or waste!

Find It Here:  Amazon

Green Nurseries on a Budget

If you follow celebrity news and gossip, there’s no doubt you’ve noticed the abundance of stories about green celebrity baby nurseries. The price tags on some of those eco-friendly digs, however, might lead you to believe that a safer, greener nursery is out of reach on anything but celebrity’s budget.

It’s absolutely true that a green nursery could easily cost a pretty penny but fortunately, with a little creativity, perserverance and time, you can give your bundle of joy some safer, greener digs without taking out a second mortgage.

1. Don’t be afraid to buy some things used.
I know with my firstborn, the idea of putting my baby in or on anything that wasn’t brand new was completely unacceptable to me. What I didn’t know then that I know now is that new stuff off-gasses all kinds of chemicals into the air and in your baby’s body. Getting something used (from friends, consignment stores or even Craigslist) means it’s probably already off-gassed those chemicals and also, buying used means you’re helping to conserve resources. You can’t get much greener than that! Ideal items to buy used are cribs (check models for recalls and other safety issues), dressers, gliders/rockers and changing tables. As these are also big ticket items, you’ll be saving plenty of green right out of the gate. Just make sure to clean everything really well with a NON-TOXIC cleaner.

2. Your baby’s bedding is one thing you should NOT skimp on.
Shop around online for good deals on organic cotton sheets, crib bumpers and swaddling blankets and most importantly, an organic crib mattress. There are several varieties — the key is to find one that contains no chemical flame retardants (wool is good natural choice of flame retardant) and contains no chemicals or non-organic materials. This is important because your baby will breathe in anything that is outgassing from the mattress. There has also been some speculation that the chemical cocktails used in conventional mattresses are a possible cause of SIDS because when babies lay on their bellies, they’re breathing them in with very little fresh air.

3. Use No-VOC paints.
Painting is almost always part of setting up a new baby’s room and the new, green No-VOC paints are the paints you want to use. No-VOC means “no volatile organic compounds” which really just means none of the toxic stuff that contributes to indoor air pollution and that you don’t want your baby (or you!) inhaling. No-VOC paint is more expensive than regular latex interior paint but for a bedroom, one gallon may be enough and trust me, it’s money well spent. No-VOC paint is available at most stores such as Home Depot. Just make sure it’s NO-VOC or Zero-VOC instead of Low-VOC.

4. If you have hardwood or tile floors, leave them.
Do NOT carpet the room. Carpet is the source of much indoor pollution and outgassing. You can pick up organic or natural area rugs for far less than re-carpeting a whole room — or consider FLOR. FLOR is eco-friendly, recyclable carpet that comes in self-stick squares so you can mix, match and make your own patterns while staying green. If you already have carpet and it’s not completely gross, leave it and use a green carpet cleaning system to clean it really well rather than install new carpeting.

5. Be picky with clothing.
Since clothing touches your baby nearly 24 hours a days, organic cotton or bamboo is the best choice. Regular cotton is grown with incredible amounts of pesticides and if you can avoid it, you don’t want that touching your baby’s sensitive skin. Scour eBay for deals on organic clothing. Try to approximate what season it will be when your baby is a certain size and you can get off-season clothing for far less. Also, there are oodles of stores on the web that sell incredibly cute organic clothing. Check their sale and clearance pages to score bargains. If you choose to cloth diaper, obviously organic cotton diapers are ideal. If you want to use disposable diapers that aren’t made with chlorine bleach and other chemicals, try G-Diapers. They’re totally biodegradable, flushable or compostable.

The quest to live a less toxic life in a very toxic world isn’t always easy or cheap but it can be done. Best of luck to you and your new green nursery!

Great Gifts: Electric Snow Thrower

greenworks-snow-throwerWhat: Greenworks Electric Snow Thrower

Features: Is it time to clear snow in your neck of the woods? The Greenworks 13 amp electric snow thrower clears a 20-inch path at a depth of 10 inches and has a cord lock that holds an extension cord securely in place. Adjustable 180 degree directional chute makes snow throwing manageable.

Green Factor: Zero carbon emissions and zero pollution because it doesn’t use gas. No smelly engine emissions, no trips to fill the gas can and no tune-ups!

Bonus: On sale for $171.30 with a fabulous 4 year warranty (twice the industry standard) plus FREE SHIPPING!

Find It Here:  Amazon

Rockin’ Green

rockingreenWhat: Rockin’ Green Laundry Detergent

Features: Rockin’ Green is a line of eco-friendly laundry detergents and cleaning products, particularly for those with sensitive skin. The laundry detergents are free of harsh chemicals and extra gentle on the skin, but they’re still super effective and get the job done well. However, there are other factors besides detergents that affect how well your laundry gets clean. Water type is a huge consideration and Rockin’ Green has a formula for YOUR water type.

Green Factor:   Biodegradable and made from recycled materials, recyclable packaging, phosphate-free, SLS and parabens-free, free of optical brighteners, gluten and vegan friendly, not tested on animals

Bonus:   Rockin’ Green also has detergents for hard water, soft water and dishwashers, as well as formulas for babies, cloth diapers, bedding, athletic wear and more.

Find It Here:  Rockin’ Green

Don’t Toss Those Butter Wrappers!

butter-wrapper-239x300I know it sounds silly to worry about butter wrappers but they can’t be recycled because of the oil so what, if anything, can you do with them? Well, there are actually quite a few things you can do with them and if you find yourself with more than you need at the moment, you can always freeze them by folding them in half with the dry side on the outside.

Grease Pans: So easy, and just the right amount of grease!

Corn on the Cob: Buttering corn on the cob without getting the whole butter stick all corny and your corn all greasy.

Perfectly Cut Cakes: Grease your knife with a butter wrapper before slicing up a cake for perfect, professional-looking slices.

Stop Using Non-Stick Spray: Who needs a chemical-laden spray when you’ve got a butter wrapper? You won’t be drowning your dinner or baked goods in butter, but you’ll get just the right amount of grease.

Lightly-Buttered Toast: Grease your toast with a wrapper for a light coating of butter.

Wrap Homemade Candies: Making caramel for the holidays? Wrap cut pieces with butter wrappers instead of parchment or wax paper.

Separating Hamburger Patties: Patty up your meat and between each one place a butter wrapper. They won’t stick to each other or themselves and can help keep things stacked together and taking up less space in your fridge or freezer.

Make Rice Krispie Treats Easier: Pressing Rice Krispie Treats into the pan can be super messy and sticky. Use a butter wrapper to push your treats into place and keep your hands clean!

Source: care2.com and thekitchn.com