It's Easy Being Green!

While I was in NYC this weekend for the Hot Blogger Calendar Shoot, I managed to get in a little shopping (I'm sure you're totally not surprised). I did go to some stores for me, but I of course had to stop off at this little place you may have heard of -- FAO Schwarz -- to look around for a little gift for my sweet little girl!

When I was there, I found these rather awesome toys made entirely from recycled milk containers -- they are called Green Toys. They are completely BPA and Phthalate free, and they are adorable! Even the packaging is "green" and I love that! Little AG is just getting to the stage where she wants to be like mommy, so she can play for a good 30 minutes with a bowl and a whisk. Really, these toys are perfect for the age she is now, and I get the feeling they will hold up for "pretend" play for years to come.


We love the Tea Set, and it's perfect for Little AG because she can serve "tea" to all of her stuffed friends! My other favorite is definitely the cookware set -- good for boys and girls alike! What about you -- what is your favorite toy from Green Toys?

You don't have to live in NYC to enjoy these awesome toys! They are available nationwide in Toys R Us and Whole Foods stores as well as some other smaller boutiques! I think these would make a great Christmas gift, plus it gives you the opportunity to teach your kids about being responsible consumers!

PS -- Wanna win one? Green Toys is giving away one of their fantastic Tea Sets in conjunction with the release of the 2008 Holiday Gift Guide here on Chic Shopper Chick. Stay tuned for details on how you can win one during the month of November!

Feeling a little less spotty...

I have been stalking the flooring department at Home Depot and Lowe's for the past 2 months now. I stare longingly at the bamboo flooring, gorgeous hardwoods, and even the carpet selections have the ability to make me drool. All because our carpet is just shot. Finished. Done. It can't take anymore. It has been through a move, a family before us, 2 dogs, the birth of a baby turned toddler, and a husband. Frankly, my carpet is tired.

The area by my back door is the worst. I have tried pretty much everything to make it look better, but I'm pretty much out of options. The stains always come back! I'm not willing to try some of the more harsh options because, as I said above, I have a baby and animals in my house, and I just am not cool with the idea of spreading around cancer-causing chemicals for the sake of making my carpet look purty.

Thanks to Mom Central I was recently able to try out the new WD-40 Spot Shot stain remover! The company that we know and love, WD-40 has launched their new Non-Toxic Spot Shot® Instant Carpet Stain & Odor Eliminator. I tried it out with the test kit that they sent me and it worked like a charm on a chocolate stain and even on ammonia! The true test was on my carpet though, and after using the test kit I was excited about the possibilities.

It did make my carpet look better, and so far the stains haven't come back, though I'm sure they will -- it's simply the nature of a stain. The carpet is actually almost too white in the places that I used it, but frankly I'll take it over the other yucky dark stained option. I like that the Spot Shot is eco friendly, and I felt safe using it around my family (though I did wait for Little AG to go to sleep before I tried it).

Bottom line -- this is a great new stain removal option. I love that it is non-toxic and completely biodegradable (how many effective products can actually say that?) and I think you will too. You can check out the Spot Shot website for more info, or you can pick up a bottle of it next time you run to the store.

CSC Giveaway: Mickey Mouse Popscicle Maker

This contest is now CLOSED. Please see our Contests page for the latest giveaways on Chic Shopper Chick!

In case you didn't know -- hubby, Little AG, and I leave for Disney World tomorrow for a week! (Along with a Nana, Grandma, Mimi, Pops, and Aunt, of course!) We are Disney Vacation Club owners at Saratoga Springs across from Downtown Disney, and we are taking the first of many trips to Disney with our little one and our annual passes -- and we are SO excited!

Sooo, in honor of our trip to Disney this week, we are giving away a set of awesome Mickey Mouse Popscicle makers! Enjoy a Special Dessert Treat With Mickey! You can create tasty frozen treats for Mickey Mouse lovers with this easy-to-use set. Simply fill each of the six 2 oz. (60 mL) molds with your child's favorite fruit juice, insert the flexible Mickey sticks, place molds in the tray, and freeze to create your own juice pops - a "cool" treat your kids will love!

We had a set like this when I was a kid and I loved them! Your kids will love them too! Thanks so much to Claire who volunteered to do this giveaway in conjunction with my trip months ago! To win, follow the easy peasy rules below!

• Visit Claire's Tupperware site and come back here to let me know which item, besides this one, you would most love to have!
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• Blog about this giveaway and send me the link in a separate post (a link to Claire's site and my site would be appreciated!)
• Subscribe to Claire's email list and come back here and let me know in a separate post.
  
• Subscribe to my feed and let me know about it in a separate post.
• Stumble my main webpage (not this post please, but www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate post.
• Favorite Chic Shopper Chick on Technorati (there is a "Fave this Blog" button in my right sidebar) and let me know about it in a in a separate post.
• Add me to your blog roll. Not just my button in your sidebar, I'd love to be on your blog roll! Let me know about it in a separate post!

That's it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US and entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you'd like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contests ends at 11:59 pm CST on October 4nd, 2008.

So Fresh and so Green-Clean!

I am a mom that is devoted to using only the most eco-saavy products in my home, be it the clothes we wear or the cleaning products that we use. I recently got the opportunity to review the brand new Clorox Green Works Dish Soap, and I've got to say, I was extremely happy with it.

I was tried out the Clorox Green Works Dish Soap in the Original Scent, which is not overpowering or overly "dish-soapy" -- according to my finely tuned nose. While the original scent is nice, I would be especially excited to try the Free and Clear scent -- because it sounds so fresh and clean (and urm, free and clear). It is also available in Tangerine, Free and Clear, and Simply Lemon.

The soap itself functioned as well if not better than my other dish soap, so no worries -- with those harsh chemicals gone, it still cut through grime and grease with no problem. This soap uses all natural ingredients like coconut and lemon oil, so it is completely sustainable and biodegradable.

I'll just be honest -- a couple of years ago, the idea of being environmentally conscious was one that pretty much meant nothing to me. As I've grown and learned, I've realized that products that are eco-friendly should be used by everyone, because they truly do have an impact on the world we live in and consequently our quality of life. Those suds have to go somewhere when they go down the drain -- and that is something that affects us all -- no matter your stance on the environment. Everyone deserves to have access to water that is not polluted by chemicals.

Clorox Green Works has partnered with the Sierra Club (the oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States) in support of their efforts to preserve our clean air, water, and wildlife, and you will see that all Green Works Products sport the Sierra Club logo. Not only that, but the EPA has recognized the dish soap for using environmentally preferred chemistry, so you will also see their logo showcased on the bottle.

Clorox Green Works Dish Soap hit stores nationwide this month, so next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a bottle to try it for yourself. (And while you're at it, try the Green Works All-Purpose cleaner which I also use and I love!) The price is very reasonable, and comparable to other dish soaps, so why not make the switch -- Clorox is making it easy on us!

So tell me, what kind of cleaning products do you use at home? Do you see the value in eco-friendly cleaning products? If so, what brands do you use?

Gorgeously Green

I really like Julia Roberts. She's not one of those crazy, flaky celebrities and it seems she generally tries to stay out of the spotlight and the media, unless she is, of course, in the media for her newest movie. (Or so it seems - I should probably confess that I don't actually know Julia Roberts -- I'm sure you are shocked. No, these are my assumptions based on what I've observed.)

But I digress.

Julia Roberts wrote the foreward to a book that I recently had the opportunity to review called "Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth Friendly Life". In her foreward, Roberts says "I am absolutely altered. This Gorgeously Green book has provided my household with a bible of hope and help (not to mention a good cleansing mask and a source for eco-cashmere)."

I knew I liked her. She's right. This book is, quite simply, a resource. It's not a book to read and put away. It's been sitting on my kitchen table since June -- not because I'm horrible at housework, but because I am constantly flipping through it to check out another great website, to find another great idea, to figure out another way to do my part. (Oh, and to make the hummus recipe that is on page 219. Yum.)

Written by Sophie Uliano, Gorgeously Green has given me tips on everything you can imagine, like:

• A way to do something good with my half-used medicines (the Starfish Project) and why you should NEVER throw old medications down the toilet, drain, or waste disposal.
• A way to stop junk mail by being taken off of credit bureau lists (tired of those credit card offers?) and how to stop 75 percent of those wasteful national mailings.
• Why you shouldn't burn just any old candles (guilty as charged) because of the toxins that they release, and places to buy safe candles (or what to look for when you purchase them).
• All about sleeping on natural and organic mattresses -- (you spend a large portion of your life on a mattress!) and where to purchase them.
• Healthy products to get you through a pregnancy.
• Eco-friendly vacations.

And those topics are just the tip of the iceberg. My sister will love this book, and I'm already planning on purchasing her a copy of it for her for her birthday next month (don't worry, she won't see this!). But she'll have to have her own copy, oh yes -- because she lives 4 hours away and is not getting her hands on mine. How would I make hummus?

You can purchase your copy of Gorgeously Green on Amazon.com for $11.53.

Tees for Change

I'm in love with this line of eco-friendly organic cotton and bamboo tees that are simultaneously inspirational. Tees for Change are adorned with messages such as "Today Matters", "Choose Happiness", and "Embrace Change".

I also love this organic baby onesie that says "Dream Big".

Even cooler, Tees for Change has partnered with Trees for the Future to plant a tree for EVERY eco-friendly tee that they sell. Check them out at the Tees for Change website -- they come in a variety of cuts and colors, and they retail for $32.

Want it? Tees for change is offering Chic Shopper Chick readers a coupon for 15% off through August 31st. Just enter code CHIC at checkout.

From Diapers to Diaper Bags

I've blogged before about my love of Seventh Generation products for baby (I use the wipes for Little AG) because they are all safe and non-toxic products that you can feel good about using around your children. Well, this time around, I'm experiencing a new level of love for the company because Seventh Generation has paired up with Healthy Child Healthy World and Rickshaw Bagworks to create Wee Generation Diaper Bags.

The designer fabric is created from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, and it has all sorts of great features that you would want in a super organized, eco-chic diaper bag. All of the colors are gender-neutral, so no worries about a bag that is too girly or too masculine, either. It has lots of pockets for storage, a PVC-free liner, a waterproof bottom, and a comfy padded carrying strap.

My favorite part is that 100% of the profits from these bags (one hundred percent!!) go to non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World to teach children stay away from the toxic stuff that is all around us in our environment. You can buy a Wee Generation Diaper Bag from the Wee Generation website.

PS-- If you are thinking about buying it, go ahead and take the plunge now -- the first 500 bags sold will be chock full of goodies from Seventh Generation!

Classy Kid

How awesome are these "Keep Me Coloring" Placemats from Classy Kid? These cool placemats wrap around the table, and adhere to it, creating a waterproof eating surface that germs can't break through. Not only that, but it gives your kiddos something to do while you wait for the food (besides scream about how hungry they are). Even the crayons are neato -- they are triangular shaped so that they won't roll off the table. Even cooler -- they are what Classy Kid calls a "Clean and Green" product -- meaning they are completely biodegradable (made of 80% calcium) and will break down in a matter of months, not decades, while sitting in a landfill.

Another one of the "Clean and Green" products that I'm a fan of are the "Potty Protectors". They not only cover the top of the toilet seat but wrap around the sides (because honestly, the sides of the toilet gross me out more than the seat sometimes -- think about how rarely it is cleaned...) where kids hold on to the seat! They also have little grip strips to hold the protector in place.

Then today, when I was shopping in Target (I really like it there, I know, I know) I noticed this "Boo-Boo Rescue" First Aid Kit! It is packed with everything you need to handle all of those little boo boos that can happen around the house. It comes with a Bump Reliever Cold Pack , no-sting antiseptic wipes, antibiotic cream, a "magic" splinter remover, animal-shaped bandages, a gauze roll, wound cleaner, and even a toy Stethoscope so that your little one can "help" with the diagnosis.

You can buy all of these products by Classy Kid on Amazon.com.

Stewart+Brown: Organic Pioneers

If I were to write a description of myself, fashionista would be a word that would slip in. I do enjoy fashion, though I find myself more on the Charolotte end of the spectrum, rather than the Carrie end, if you catch my drift. My style is classy, classic, and comfortable, with a hint of trendy.


That being said, I was quite enamored when I came across the Stewart+Brown website. The first thing that caught my eye were the amazing clothes! All of these beautiful pieces, so many, in fact, that I had a hard time choosing favorites. I clicked on over to the organic cotton clothing, and I eventually settled on this beautiful jersey dress in "pomegranate" (I love that they didn't call it "red", don't you?). It is fitted at the top, seamed into pleats that unfold as they go down, creating a soft, girly look and a dress with lots of movement (I'll admit it, I twirled in it. C'mon, don't act like you haven't done it.) I was a little nervous, just ordering by the size chart online, but when I received it, it fit perfectly. Not to mention that it was the most comfortable thing I've ever worn. Seriously, I didn't want to take it off. The organic cotton is so soft that I insisted that hubby "feel" the dress. Even he was impressed, and that is hard to do.


I also chose this beautiful collar scoop shell top. It is made from 100% organic cotton, and has the most intricate embroidery detail and also has a silk screen detail on the mock sleeves that I love. It has a great fit, and is long enough for me -- which is a rarity on my 5'8" frame -- it seems like every top I that like is too short.


Lastly, I was fortunate enough to try out two of their fabulous totes. The Clover Purse tote in Pomegranate (when I unwrapped it I promptly dumped my stuff out of my other bag and placed it all in this one -- it's gorgeous) has beautiful detailing on the outside inspired by iron work that one of the owners/founders of Stewart Brown saw on a trip to Portugal. It is made from a surplus hemp blend and lined with organic cotton.



The other bag that I'm currently lovin' on is this Green Heart Tote that I fully intend to use to tote my groceries in. It is made from 100% organic surplus cotton, so you can go green by using your tote and know that even your tote bag is helping!

Head on over to Stewart+Brown and check out all of their great products -- you can shop til you drop and help the earth at the same time!

Let's Twist Again

This Twisty Moby from Wonderworld is really neat. The pieces are created from sustainable harvested wood from rubber trees, making it eco friendly. Plus, it is painted with a water-based, non-toxic paint, so you don't have to worry about your baby putting it in their mouth.

The entire toy changes shape, encouraging your baby to develop their fine motor skills and further encouraging hand-eye coordination. It can also be used as a teether, though I'm sure that is the first place it will end up anyway.

I wish I had seen these when Little AG was at this stage. I was just so overwhelmed that I didn't think to look for things like this. Anyway, wouldn't this make a great add-on to a baby shower gift? You can find this "Twisty Moby" on Amazon.com for $9.99, and it will qualify for free shipping if your order exceeds $25.

Radio Flyer goes Green

I recycle here at home. Hubby does too. We do it faithfully throughout the week, placing our bin out for pickup on Friday mornings and then starting over again. But, do you ever really think about where all of that recycling goes? What is made of it? Well think no more, I've found at least one answer for you.

Ta-da! The wagon has gone green! CSC readers, meet the "Earth Wagon", an environmentally friendly way to give your kids those same wagon-time memories as the ones you cherish (remember the red Radio Flyers?). Each wagon is made of 230 recycled milk jugs. So by purchasing this you not only get a really cool wagon, you divert 230 milk jugs away from land-fills.

Oh, and did I mention it IS a Radio Flyer? That's right! The red has changed to green, but it's still the same durable, built-to-last wagon!

You can find one of these awesome "Green" Radio Flyer wagons at The Green Home for $150.

Mop of my Dreams

Quite literally, this is the mop of my dreams. While I'm a bit hazy on the details, I do know that I was using this mop to clean floors in my dreams last night. Now that I think of it, though, aren't dreams supposed to be fun and exciting? Why the heck was I mopping? I should have been making out hanging out with David Cook from American Idol instead of mopping -- but, I digress.

Anyway, I purchased this oMop by Method a while back on the recommendation of my friend, T. I've gotta say, it is a pleasure to use. It was easy to assemble (snap, snap, snap, velcro = mop) and even easier to mop with. The handle is curved so that you don't have to bend and like, break your back when you mop (though hurting your back by mopping does give you a good excuse to whine and watch a bit of TV, so if that is what you are looking for, skip this post all together). The cleaning micro-fiber pad just sticks onto the velcro, and wham, you're ready to mop. The cleaner stuff (in a nice lemon-ginger scent -- no toxic knock-ya-down fumes there thankyouverymuch) just squirts from the bottle to the floor, then you run the mop over it. Amazingly, it picks up a lot of dirt. A lot. Especially for those of us with dogs and toddlers.

When you are done mopping you just rinse out the mopping pad and hang it to dry. I feel a lot better about having this in my house than a germy-ole mop. Plus, it works really well -- I highly recommend it if you haven't found it yet (and all of the Method products, for that matter). You can buy yourself an oMop on Method's website for $30.

Your back will thank you. You might even dream about it.

Smart Snail

How cool is this 3-D number puzzle in the shape of a snail? I think it is smart on so many levels -- first by taking the typical kids puzzle and making it 3-D, second by numbering the pieces so that younger kids can learn and sort-of follow the instructions to complete it, and third -- it's made from sustainable wood and painted with non-toxic, kid-friendly paint. This would make an awesome gift for a first or second birthday party, and it's rather inexpensive at $14.99. You can find it at ImagiPLAY.

This sucks! (In a good way!)

Ok, so I will admit that I am certainly not the neatest person in the world. However, I do like things to be clean (I just don't like the process of getting them there -- is that so wrong?). But, I do like my carpets to be clean, and I actually don't mind cleaning them. I get great satisfaction from the lines my vacuum cleaner leaves on the carpet once it's gone over them -- lines to me equal clean carpet. But you see, therein lies my problem.

Two years ago or so, our vacuum cleaner broke. Oh well, off to buy a new one. We left Bed Bath and Beyond $160 later with a new vacuum cleaner. Hubby had researched it, and it was the best "cheap" vacuum cleaner on the market. Riiiight. This vacuum (which shall remain nameless) worked at what I guess you could say an ok level for about 2 months. Then the brush at the front stopped spinning. We got that fixed and then the belt had to be replaced. Fine. But it didn't matter -- it seemed from that point on, our vacuum cleaner was just phoning it in. Going through all of the motions, making the noises, picking up a little dirt to show for it, but our carpets never looked clean. It wasn't my imagination, either, because if you sat on our floor with black pants, well, you may as well pick out something else to wear. Plus, it no longer made those satisfying lines on the carpet when I used it. It was sad. I was sad.

So, today I was so excited when hubby told me thatour new "upright cleaning machine" was on our front porch -- our new Dyson dc25. It was perfect timing -- my friend was coming over at noon to help me clean, and we could try out the new vacuum.

When she gets here, she and I tear into the box. I'm thinking it's going to be a nightmare to put together. Nope. Quite simple. The longest part was reading the directions. It took all of 2 minutes of work to get the thing in vacuuming condition. 15 minutes total. Awesome -- my kind of product already.

The new Dyson dc25 is a ball vacuum -- meaning that it swivels in any direction and isn't limited to going in a straight line. It's soooo cool! For the first minute or so of vacuuming, I had to get used to it -- I think I looked like I was trying to do a really strange version of the cha-cha. However, it really is so much nicer. Especially for that one little spot by my curtains in the dining room where I can never get the vacuum cleaner. I didn't have to continuously jam it into that spot -- I just swiveled it. It was quite a moment!

Apparently I have been deprived, because I have never had a bagless vacuum. This thing rocks. When I turned it on, I moved it a bit, and then I let it stay in one place and marveled at the dirt that it continued to suck up from the deep abyss that is my carpet. I'm almost ashamed to admit that we had to empty it four times during the process (which was very, very simple -- once click to remove and empty, simple to snap back in place). That is how much dirt our other one missed. We certainly didn't get enough dirt in the bag in the other vacuum cleaner to replace it more than once every month or so. Plus, even when the canister was completely full of dirt, it kept it's suction! I was honestly amazed!

If you are looking for a workout by pushing around a heavy vacuum cleaner, this won't do it. This thing weighs a mere 16 lbs (less than my stroller does!) and is incredibly easy to move around! My favorite part is that I will never again have to buy another bag, belt, or filter! The filter in this vacuum is washable (and should be washed every 3 months) which is awesome, plus I'm already visualizing the fewer amounts of trash that I'm creating! Oh, and have I mentioned the 15 foot tall cathedral ceilings that I have in my living room? The new dc25 has an instant 16 foot reach for extended cleaning, so I can finally get all of that dust off of my ceiling fans without a ladder!

Dyson also guarantees 5 years parts and labor when you purchase the new dc25, which means that I have at least 5 years before I have to purchase another vacuum. Lastly, I think this will be a huge help with hubby's allergies -- he's allergic to trees, dust, pollen, cats (we have 3), dogs (we have 2), and pretty much life. Even on medicine he is constantly coughing and sneezing, so I really think this will help! Plus, the air emitted from the Dyson dc25 has 150 times less mold and bacteria than the air that we breathe, so it's got to be better for him, and all of us.

Hubby came out into the living room when I first turned on the vacuum cleaner and I said "look how cool -- check out all of the dirt it's picking up!" and he stood there for a second and watched. Then, he looked at me knowingly and said "it's making your carpet lines". He so gets me.

Buy a Dyson dc25 for $499.99 at their online store. Or, check out some of their other products, like the similar dc24 that starts at $399.99.

Chic Shopper Chick Giveaway -- "Freckle Face" New Baby Gift Package

You've already seen my blogs about these fabulous Natursutten Pacifiers and the oh-so-sweet and safe Sophie the Giraffe teether from one of my new favorite online stores Freckle Face Boutique. The owner/founder of Freckle Face, Deanna, and I have since become email buddies, and she is graciously offering one Chic Shopper Chick reader (that's you!) to win this amazing "new baby" gift package worth $130. (I am itching to call it a gift basket, but would that require an actual basket?)

This awesome "package" would be an awesome gift for anyone with a new baby in their life! It includes:

1. An organic, kimono-style, stripe onesie in green, by Fig. Size 6-12 months.
2. The one, the only, all natural and safe -- Sophie the Giraffe! (Read my review of Sophie here.)


3. A "Baby Light and Clip" Lighted Clipper (so that you can see exactly what needs to be cut! This is really quite brilliant!)

4. A terry hooded towel and washcloth by Pixie Lily, with the Pram embroidered on the hood of the towel. I think these are just adorable!5. And two adorable and stylish Freckle Face T shirts, one for mom (a women's large) and one for baby (size 12-18 months).
Ok, so now that you've seen all of the awesome prizes up for grabs, here is how you can enter:

Here are zee rules!

• Shoot me an email at contests@chicshopperchick.com with "Freckle Face" in the subject line. Go check the Freckle Face website and and answer the following two trivia questions:
• Which Freckle Face product not mentioned here do you love the most?
• What is the event that Freckle Face participated in most recently? (hint: answer on the Freckle Face Blog)
  
• Can Deanna at Freckle Face send you follow up email? If not, that's ok, just indicate it in your entry.
  
• US entries only.
• Would you like extra credit (as a teacher I don't give this out, so be thankful). Choose one of the following for ONE extra credit. Any further attempts to woo me will be disqualified!
  
• Write about me and send me the link.
  
• Subscribe to my feed.

Contest ends May 11th at midnight CST. I will choose a winner at random using http://www.random.org and will post and email the winner on May 12th, 2008! Best of luck!

Go, now, enter! Tell your friends! :)

Born Free Drinking Cups

I'm very excited because Little AG's new, BPA free sippy cups arrived on our doorstep yesterday. When the definitive news stories on BPA started popping up everywhere, I promptly tossed all of her sippy cups and have had her drinking out of a straw while we waited for these. We bought her the drinking cups and not the trainer cups, because the drinking cups have a harder spout (but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it is still somewhat soft, making it teether friendly). They hold up to 290 ml of liquid (I don't do the metric system very well, but it looks to be about 9 to 10 oz of liquid), and come in 4 different colors. I ordered them off of Amazon.com, and agreed to take whatever colors they had available, but I was pleased to discover one of each color when I opened the box.

The Born Free drinking cups have a low vacuum valve, so the liquid flows freely (read: it's not a spill-proof cup, as I've already discovered) but that is a good thing, because the cups that force your baby to suck really hard puts them at more risk for ear infections. Plus, if you've ever sucked on any random sample of sippy cups out there (I have) you know that some of them are virtually impossible to get any liquid out of without feeling like your cheeks will implode.

The cups also all come with handles that can be removed if you wish, so that is a nice bonus.

The best part is that it's completely BPA free, so you can feel good giving it to your child knowing that they aren't drinking in any toxic chemicals. They are somewhat pricey, but even hubby didn't complain when I ordered them. You can buy a pack of 4 Born Free Drinking Cups on Amazon for $38.99. Or, you can buy just one Born Free Drinking Cup for $9.89.

Looking for BPA free bottles instead? Check out my previous post on Wee Go Baby Bottles.

Natural Natursutten

Ok, so you already know about my guilt over continuing to use products that contain BPA so last weekend I ordered some of the world's only all-natural pacifiers by "Natursutten". They came in today and I love them! More importantly, Little AG loves them, and I have effectively tossed all of her other pacifiers! You do have to replace these pacifiers every 4 to 5 weeks, and you can test to see if it should be replaced by squeezing the nipple together -- if it sticks, then it's time to replace it. These eco-friendly pacifiers are made of 100% natural rubber that comes from a tropical Amazonian tree that produces recyclable rubber. These pacifiers are so soft -- much smoother and softer than her previous paci's (or as hubby calls them, "fires", because he just has to be difficult).

The other feature that I love is that the Natursutten pacifiers are all one piece, no crevices or cracks that can accumulate dirt or germs. They have no allergy causing substances, and won't even bother those babies with a latex allergy. They have no chemical softeners, parabens, PVC, or phthalates. Also, the Natursutten pacifiers won't leave marks on your baby's face.

They come in a round and orthodontic nipple, and you can buy these awesome Natursutten Pacifiers for $6 each at Freckle Face Boutique. The owner of Freckle Face, Deanna, tells me they are flying off the shelves, so if they are out, be patient, more will come in soon!

Kate Quinn's Organic Terry Towels

In our house, we unfortunately go through a lot of paper towels. We use them to clean everything. So, in my effort to be more "green" I found these organic wash cloths from Kate Quinn Organics. These come in a pack of 6 and are made of a medium weight terry cloth. I know they would be great for the bathtub, but also for cleaning up after meals. They come in Violet, Syke Blue, Vanilla, or Pomegranate Red. Those colors sound good enough to eat! You can buy a pack of 6 here, in your choice of color, for $8. Wouldn't these make the perfect finishing touch for a baby gift?

Lovely Lunch

I really like reusable lunch bags, particularly insulated ones because I like my drink to be cold once it's finally lunch time. So, I was browsing Pottery Barn Kids' website and found these great "Pacifica" Solid Lunch Bags. They look big enough to hold a good bit of food, plus they have a zippered pocket at the top too, for loose change or to bring home used silverware in. My favorite is the pink and green, though they do sell a blue and navy, too. Have it personalized with your munchkin's name for only 6.50 more, bringing the grand total to $25.50 if you order by April 24th and take advantage of their free shipping!

Reusable Envirosax

Yesterday I was on a walk with my friend and she mentioned that she brought re-usable bags to the grocery store this weekend. I thought that was cool, since I have been wanting to do the same thing. However, in my typical Chic girl style, I'm uh, not too fond of the ugly canvas ones. I know, I know, looks shouldn't matter when you are helping the earth -- but I'll just go ahead and admit that I think philanthropy shouldn't have to be ugly. So, in honor of Earth Day, I wanted to show you these really cool bags that I found on Reusable Bags' website!

These are so much more my style. They are relatively inexpensive in my opinion, and you can get the set of 5 different patterns seen here for a mere $38. Each one holds the equivalent of 2 plastic grocery bags. They are made of durable, lightweight polyester and weigh a miniscule 1.4 oz. each. All five of them fold up into a tiny bag for easy storage, and that bag comes with the set! I love these and wouldn't hesitate to bring them with me. Now, if I could just convince hubby. Last time we were at Whole Foods I pointed out the cutsey reusable bags. I made the mistake of asking him if he would bring his own if I bought them and he told me, quite firmly and quickly, "No."

Oh, hubby.