Category Archives: Green Gifts

Top 5 Green Gifts for Mother’s Day

  By Donna DeForbes | May 3, 2013 - 5:30 am | ,
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Green Gifts for Mom | Eco-Mothering.com

What are you getting Mom for Mother’s Day? Restaurants are so crowded. Flowers are so typical. I’m always searching for something different, hopefully a little bit eco-friendly. And even though my mom is not the green and crunchy sort, I can see her enjoying any one of these gifts below. Zoe and Zac Shoes There’s a ton of green in these shoes from materials like organic cotton and recycled rubber to elastic and laces made from recycled PET. This sustainable shoe line was launched by Summer Rayne Oaks, an environmental scientist-turned-model who now works as a sustainability consultant for brands and large companies. Zoe and Zac offer Mom a range of cute flats and sandals perfect for the season and for your budget! (Most are in the $30 range). Herb Garden Kit for Wine Lovers Because moms love their wine! And their herbs. I’ve decided to focus on my herb … Continue reading →

Top 5 Pampering Ideas for Mom (That Don’t Involve a Lot of Stuff)

  By Donna DeForbes | April 26, 2013 - 6:00 am | ,
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Ideas for Pampering Mom | eco-Mothering.com

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, you’ll likely be getting some appreciation and gifts from your loved ones. However, sometimes those flowers or jewelry aren’t what you really crave. Often the things moms need don’t even involve things. It’s time or space or pampering we yearn for. Here’s five ideas on how to treat yourself or your mom like the amazing person she is. Quiet Time Carve out a whole day where nothing is scheduled. Arrange ahead of time to have Dad, family, friends or a babysitter take the kids… for at least 6 hours —you deserve some serious alone time. Get out in nature: lie on the beach, stroll through the woods, go surfing. At home, you might read a book, soak in the tub, or stay in bed all day. Just be sure household chores are done earlier in the week so that you aren’t tempted to … Continue reading →

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Gifts for Appreciation Week

  By Donna DeForbes | April 19, 2013 - 6:00 am |
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Spring is the time for appreciating co-workers, teachers and volunteers. Just look at its abundance of special days. Administrative Professional Day on April 24. National Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 21-27. Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10. Sure, you can go with the usual flowers or the traditional apple. (Does anyone do that anymore?) But below are some ideas for eco-friendly giving. Hint: Stock up now for October’s Customer Appreciation Week and National Bosses Day. Soy Chalkboard Candles A nifty gift for teacher, boss or colleague, and quite pretty, too. These chalkboard candles are 100% clean-burning soy wax. The containers are reusable ceramic pots or tin cans. Personalize it with your own chalk-written note. Recycled Stationery I remember giving my grade-school teachers pencils with “World’s Best Teacher” printed on them. Now you can give pens made from recycled materials, and screen print something snappy on the barrel. HALO Branded Solutions offers several other … Continue reading →

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Walking Gear

  By Donna DeForbes | March 29, 2013 - 5:00 am | ,
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April 1-7 is National Public Health Week with Friday being touted as National Walk to Work Day. The health benefits of walking abound, from burning calories and preventing heart disease to reducing stress and increasing sexual desire. Take a look at my Top 5 items that can make your walking a little greener. Bamboo Socks Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable resource. Once cut, it regenerates quickly. A bamboo grove produces 35% more oxygen than a similar-sized grove of trees. In addition, bamboo is naturally soft, absorbent and does not harbor odor. All this makes it perfect sock material. I own several pairs of Ecosox, and I love them. I’ve worn holes into my first pair, but have yet to toss them. They keep my feet dry, warm and cool - whatever the weather calls for. Choose between sport, hiking or work Ecosox. Green Sneakers The Dutch company OAT offers “shoes that bloom” … Continue reading →

Top 5 Green Valentine’s Day Gifts

  By Donna DeForbes | February 8, 2013 - 7:00 am | , ,
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Earth-Saving E-Cards For as little as $10, send someone a personalized e-card while supporting the environment. Choose from a variety of causes including bobcat protection (for the kitten lover), environmental education (for the book lover) and energy-efficient stadiums (for the sports lover). Natural Resources Defense Council works to save wildlife and wild places, promote clean energy, and educate others on living green. (Green celeb note: Robert Redford and Pierce Brosnan are active supporters.) Eco Picnic Basket This chic picnic set for four includes a willow basket, bamboo plates, utensils and cutting board, recycled wine glasses and cotton napkins. Add your own bottle of organic wine and fair trade chocolate for a memorable, romantic meal. Personal Gardens Rather than send pesticide-infected roses that will die within a few days, give a sustainable plant with an extended shelf life. Sourcing eco-friendly materials, Potting Shed Creations offers gardens in a bag, terrariums, bonsai boxes and even packages for kids. … Continue reading →

Flechada Designer Bag: Product Review and Giveaway

  By Donna DeForbes | January 29, 2013 - 7:00 am | , ,
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The wonderful people at Flechada have sent me their Bohemian Love canvas tote (originally priced at over $200) for a giveaway to one lucky reader. Flechada, which means “love-struck,” is a young company that features Latin American designers and artisans who create one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothing, shoes and handbags. Their products include a category of sustainable or eco-friendly items, including this canvas tote. I was surprised at the size of the beach bag when I received it. Plenty of room for beach towel, clothes, and books… or even a small dog. The tote is made with “caña de fleche,” which is a raw, vegan material found in the palm trees of Colombia. Canvas on the outside, faux leather on the bottom and inside, with interior pockets and an attached zippered case for keeping smaller items sand-free. The bag is a work of art, really, with handwoven accents made by the Wayuu … Continue reading →

Top 20 Green Gifts for Adults

  By Donna DeForbes | December 7, 2012 - 8:00 am |
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As a follow up to last week’s Top 25 Green Gifts for Kids, here are twenty eco-conscious items for adults. Gifts include men’s and women’s items plus household products with most prices ranging from $10-$150. In many cases, it doesn’t cost more to buy green these days… so what’s stopping you? HAPPY SHOPPING!   Fair Trade Sports Equipment, $30-$40. These official size and weight sports balls are high quality, vegan, fair trade and eco-certified. Plus, all after-tax profits go to charities. How cool is that? Football, soccer ball and basketball available.     Culinary Mixed Herb Wreath, $70. This wreath looks fabulous, and I bet it smells amazing! Hang it in your kitchen for both aesthetic beauty and cooking convenience. Pesticide-free herbs can be cut off as needed and include dill, bay, sage, lavender and purple oregano. Grown in the USA.     Yuzen Beauty Sample Subscription Box*, $26 for one … Continue reading →

GIFT IDEA: Health and Beauty Sample Subscription Service from Yuzen

  By Donna DeForbes | November 19, 2012 - 8:30 am | ,
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I did not know about the growing trend of beauty sample subscription services. Apparently, it’s very popular. Consumers sign up for a monthly delivery box of an assortment of beauty products in sample sizes. Why? People can try a range of brands and products to see what they like before purchasing the full-size item. And it’s really cool to get a pretty box of surprises in the mail each month, don’t you think? I was happy when I received my September sample box from Ted at Yuzen. Their twist on the beauty box is to make the products eco-friendly, which I like since green beauty products often cost more, and who wants to invest in an organic face cream your skin might not like? Owners Ted and Jen evaluate each product before choosing which ones to include for their LOHAS audience. (Something else I learned — LOHAS is an acronym for … Continue reading →