Thanks to everyone who threw their hat in the ring for our giveaway of The History Channel's "A Global Warning?", but we now have an Official Winner:
(DRUMROLL)
Our lucky winner is: KIA!!!
Congrats, Kia! And the rest of y'all? Don't be sad! There's much, MUCH more free goodness where that came from. Look for another fabulous giveaway coming your way Monday! WOOT!
This picture pretty much describes how I feel right now, at nine-plus months of pregnancy with all the joy of backache and heartburn and - awesome of awesomes - false labor. So, yeah, this print speaks to me. I think I'll buy it.
I mean, why not? It's, like, thirty bucks and part of the proceeds go to The Nature Conservancy. And if my mood were to all of a sudden change while I was purchasing this print, I could click through the rest of BlueFlipArt's affordable art slash fundraising for good causes site and pick out something more like this. Or this.
At the moment, though, it's the weed-belching belly monster that's speaking to me. Go figure.
Prints from about $14.00, @ BlueFlipArt
Maybe it's because I'm - what? - eleventeen months pregnant, but just looking at this picture of organic cotton teething grapes makes me hungry. And thirsty. For a nice, juicy Bordeaux. With a side of grapes, and maybe some good cheese. And a man-servant to feed them to me.
Where was I?
Right. Organic cotton teething grapes, for your baby (although I suppose no-one would care if you were to give them an exploratory chomp yourself). Pretty, soft and totally eco-friendly. Sweet.
Under The Nile Organic Cotton Grapes, $5 and change, @ Amazon
Well, so long as it's turned into something useful, like this cool clock made entirely of recycled circuit boards. A perfect one-of-a-kind gift for your favorite geek, the shop has a variety of designs to suit any taste.
Circuit Board Clock, $65.25 @DebbyAremDesigns
Made with sustainable sugarcane and recycled paper, these 25-page mini-journals feature "original designs pairing vintage images with sage quotes from The Science of Culture (a stuffy book on etiquette from 1923)." Perfect to carry with you and jot down fleeting creative ideas (and/or important items for your grocery list).
The Science of Culture set (3 journals), $25.00 @ Five and a Half
I'm sorta undecided about the aesthetics of this foot massage rug. I mean, the pebbles are pretty, but if you squint a bit it could look like some kind of, um, unpleasant mess on your floor. But that's probably just me. I live in world of too much toddler puke and cat barf. You see pretty stone mosaic, I see upchuck.
Anyhoo. You could always just put in your bathroom where, really, the benefits of a foot massage rug could really be maximized (getting out of shower onto warm pebbles? Niiiiiiiice.) Or right beside your bed, where those pretty pebbles could be the first and last things that your footsies feel in the day.
Because, really, if you've ever walked over warm smooth pebbles at a beach, you know how good that feels on the foots. So just don't squint at the thing, and I'm betting that you'll love it.
(Also? Eco-friendly! Made from hemp and hand-woven by fair-trade rock-loving river nymphs Thai artisans! AWESOME.)
Foot Massage Rug, $195 @ GiggleFish
I was trying to come up with just one (okay, maybe even TWO) products from the Branch Home site to share and link to, but honestly, I cannot. For I basically want my entire home to be swathed in goods from this site. Not only is the design of the products awesome, the entire site is all about sustainability (from the Branch Home About page):
Instead of asking people to stop shopping (which is, of course, pretty impractical), what if we changed the paradigm of shopping itself? What if we could shop in a place that had already done the challenging thinking for us? A place where we could buy products that are wholly appealing on every level, but that are also manufactured and brought to market in such a way that we didn’t have to feel guilty about buying – or, eventually, disposing of – them?
SO. FREAKING. AWESOME. And exactly the sort of thing we all need, wouldn't you say?
Thanks to Maiken for the tip!
Okay, so I know that this product sends an environmentally mixed message. The eco-friendly way to take your latte is in your own mug, not in a take-away cup, even if it is made from recycled whatever and cozied in one of these cool handmade cup wrap cozie thingies. That said, sometimes you just don't remember to bring your own mug, yanno? And then you have to use one of those cardboard cup wrap things that prevents you from burning your hands, which is important, but which also contributes to waste, yadda yadda.
SO. Why not just have one of these handmade, re-usable merino wool cup cozies on hand in your bag at all times, so that whenever you forget your travel mug - which I know you always, always strive not to do - you can use it instead of the cardboard disposable one and feel good about the fact that you've at least minimized your waste a little bit.
Oh, and if it reminds you to ride your bicycle a little more often, all the better.
Cruiser Coffee Cozy, $6.00 @ Stitchella (@ Etsy) (Did you know? We luuurve Etsy)
I don't know what it is about cherries that makes them just so irresistibly compelling in any incarnation. Prints, jewelry, whatever - if it's got a little cluster of cherries on it, I'll probably like it. The same is just not true for, say, apples or bananas or eggplants. I don't want a little eggplant design stamped onto my wallet, or hung around my neck. I just don't.
But cherries? Yes, please. And all the more if those cherries are fashioned from vintage glass and interwoven with beads of olive jade and coral. Yum.
(And, also? Totally recycled materials. So it's, like, good for you. Or for the earth. Which, you know, same thing. Either way: score.)
Vintage Cherry Necklace, $105.00 @ GiggleFish
Since I'm apparently on the subject of cleaning products today, howsabout getting that kid of yours de-grimed, huh?
This 3-in-one shampoo from Method will do the trick -- along with their whole new line of kids & baby products (have we mentioned lately how much we LOVE Method? BECAUSE WE DO):
The gentle cleaners and in this body wash, shampoo and conditioner are made from natural materials like sunflower seed oil, coconut oil and corn sugars, and combined with moisturizing extracts of rice milk, mallow and olive oil ensure tear free and hypoallergenic cleaning without any dirty ingredients like numbing agents, pthalates or parabens.
What more could you ask for? I mean other than a magical, flying umbrella nanny to come in and do the actual scrubbing for you. You're on your own with that one, bucko.
Squeaky Green Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo, $7.00 @ method.com
I know, I know: COVETING LAUNDRY SOAP? O RLY?
Yes, RLY.
These Dropps laundry packs are pretty much teh awesomes. Enzyme-free, phosphate free, biodegradable and safe for septic tanks, these little detergent packets -- similar to those for dishwashers -- dissolve completely and reduce waste and the amount of plastic you have to recycle.
Everyone's happy, no one gets hurt, dig?
Dropps 20-Load Pouches 3-pk (60 loads total), $22.99 @ Target.com
(PSST! Also available in unscented and dye-free!)
In honor of Earth Week, We Covet will be giving away to one randomly selected commenter this week a copy of The History Channel's excellent documentary on our climate crisis "A Global Warning?":
Follow the world's climate experts as they investigate the most dramatic climatic events in history. It is a story of unimaginable extremes, extinctions of entire species and remarkable survivals in the face of total devastation. Learn the secrets locked away inside 300 year-old corals. Is it possible that the Arctic was once a tropical haven with crocodiles and waters hot enough to swim in? Scientists are racing to understand the weather of our past in the hope of preventing climate catastrophe in the future. Packed with breathtaking locations, dynamic special effects and exciting accounts, watch as a vision of the earth's violent past and uncertain future is revealed.
Simply comment at some point this week on any post to win! (The more comments you post, the more chances you have to win, so don't be shy!) We'll announce the lucky winner late on Friday, 4/25.
Good luck, and here's to Mother Earth!
Afraid being eco-friendly means succumbing to the scourge of crunchy-granola-y Dead Headesque style? (shudder) Well fret no more, cuz being green has gone modern, baby! Check out this sweet bag made from 100% recycled plastic -- not only thoroughly stylish, but VEGAN-FRIENDLY, PEOPLE. See, you can save the planet AND be totally hawt and patchouli-free, too! (wipes sweat from brow)
Starbright Satchel made from recycled plastic, $38.75 @ Delight.com
I don't ordinarily go for books or products that purport to help you live a better life - in # easy steps! But I make an exception for anything that might help me live a more environmentally-friendly life. Because, hey, I'm lazy. I can never remember what's supposed to go in the recycling box and what's not (egg cartons? yes? no?) So, any tips that I can pick up, real quick-like? More than welcome. And in the form of a cute little pocket-sized box of cards with tips on how to improve my eco-karma? All the better!
Unless, that is, I can't figure out how/whether to recycle the card packaging. Then I'll just be right back at square one.
Karma Coaching Cards, $15.95 @ GiggleFish
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