We Covet | Better Living Through Consumerism

Clacking Eco-Toy We Covet

Few sounds in this world are as annoying to me personally as that of the Fisher-Price Corn Popper™.  (No offense to F-P, whose toys and baby gear are one of the most crucial design elements of my home.) I'm just more of a clackety-clack than a pop-goes-the-weasel type of gal. 

That's why I like this alligator pull toy.  It's an eco-toy with a  wooden design, environmentally-conscious manufacturing and non-toxic materials that are easy on the environment.  And it's rhythmic sound is easy on my sensitive ears.

It's also cute as hell.

Dancing Alligator $19.95 @ Discovery Store

We Covet Earth Loving Ways to Carry our Stuff

These stylin' backpacks  made of PET (100% recycled plastic bottles) with canvas trim, which is naturally biodegradable. It claims to be "big enough to hold books, notebooks, lunch and a pair of sneakers".  And hey, this isn't for you Dad, it is sized for peoples ages 5–10. Dimensions: 14 x 15 x 5.5 inches

Dante Beatrix big kid eco pack Love Backpack, $50.00 at chopchoptimber.com

We Covet Really Cool Eco-Stuff Even If It's Not Actually For Sale Yet

I know that this violates all the rules of a product review blog, but still - even though this particular item isn't actually available for sale anywhere, it's so cool that we'd be totally remiss in not alerting the world to the fact that this super-awesome thing is out there. That, and it's something that I'm totally going to buy the minute it hits the market - which, I hope, is very very soon - so on that basis alone, it totally counts.

The 'Bloom Device' is an attachment for your bicycle that disperses bubble-borne seeds as you ride - the seeds are spread throughout whatever urban environment you're cycling through and spread joy and greenery wherever you go:

Seeds are co-mingled with a bubble mixture and upon pedaling to your destination , you release the floating seeds which land in cracks and crevices throughout the city streets. Over time, the seeds grow into flowers and plants to create a green "fringe" to our sidewalks and streets.

It's, like, eco-evangelism with a little twist of happy. I want one NOW.

Bloom Device by Society Creative. Sourced through Guy Kawasaki.

We Covet Grobals

Grobals. I know. The name of this product sounds like some dodgy medication that you hear about on late-night infomercials, the kind that gets hawked in all those e-mails that mercifully end up your spam folder (r yur balls too small? hot chks like big balls!).Which is only one reason why I'm sorely tempted to order these in my husband's name and have them delivered to his place of work.

The other reason is that these Grobals - not the testicular enhancement cream that no doubt exists somewhere - are just really cool. They're self-watering planters - which, if you have a black thumb, like me, is the only means by which any plant would survive in my household - and they're designed by Karim Rashid and they'd look awesome in my living room.

And if my husband doesn't get the package open before his colleagues start ribbing him, well, so much the funner.

Grobals, $21.75 @ Delight.com

We Covet Pretty Sweaters Woven From... Bamboo?

Full disclosure: I don't think that this cardy is really anything extraordinary to look at. I mean, it's fine - it's a wrap cardigan, which I like, with sorta interesting sleeves - but it doesn't seem to come in black and it's not all that different from the sorts of sweaters that you can get at H&M for much cheaper.

BUT.  It's woven from bamboo, which is pretty freakin' cool. Unless you live with panda bears, in which case I would worry about them eating the sweater and choking on the buttons. Which, you know, not cool.

Eco Lux Bamboo Summer Cardigan, $88.50 @ Delight.com

We Covet Kermit

Seriously. Is there really any better way of proclaim one's devotion to la verde vita than with Kermit? Granted, he's not actually green on this tote bag, but you could totally get some fabric paint and DIY. And then you'd have an organic cotton Kermie tote bag featuring your mad DIY skillz, and is there anything cooler than that?

I think not.

"Think Green" Organic Cotton Kermit Tote, $38.95 @ Delight.com

We Covet Sunshine In A Jar

Because, you know, there are just times when the perfect gift really is just a jar of sunshine.

(You don't need me to tell you that a little jar of sunshine is, like, totally an awesomely eco-friendly little accessory because sunshine is a totally renewable resource - until, you know, it collapses into itself or explodes or whatever it is that's supposed to happen, in which case we're all going to be dead anyway - and way better than sucking up more fuel or electricity. You know that shiz already. I'm just here to tell you that as a gift? A little jar of sunshine is cool and sweet - in the aaaawwww, how adorable, what a sweet idea sense of the word - and how often do you see that?)

The Sunjar, $39.75 @ Delight.com

We Covet Obsolete Technology

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

Wee Journals We Covet

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

We Covet Stuff That Makes Our Feets Feel Good

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

Online Store We Covet

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?

Go. Shop. Enjoy.

Thanks to Maiken for the tip!
   

We Covet Cool Coffee Accessories

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)

We Covet Pretty Vintage Glass Cherries

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

Kid's Toiletries We Covet

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

Laundry Soap We Covet

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!)

Recycled Satchel We Covet

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

We Covet Good Karma

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

Plate We Covet

Filing this under Thing I Will Buy Once I'm Independently Wealthy: despite its obvious impracticality I totally LOVE this decoupage plate from Bombus:

This large 48cm plater is decoupaged in vintage 1970's comic strip. It makes a great peice of wall art or a centre piece for a table. It is collaged with layers of cuttings then given a smooth plastic lacquer finish.

A bit pricey, but Bombus has a TON of reasonably priced paper goods that use recycled maps, atlases and newspapers. Awesome looking AND eco-friendly, folks! Win-win!

Comic Decoupage Plate, $185.00 @ Bombus

Super Cool Earth-Friendly Bags We Covet

I saw this bag at the MoMA store when I was in New York the other weekend, and thought it was pretty awesome. It's made from the pull tabs of over 1600 recycled soda cans, which is a lot of soda, and a lot of aluminium that would otherwise end up as landfill. But, you know, I'm not gonna spent $160 on some bag just cuz it's eco-friendly. It's gotta look good, which this one does, and have, like features, yanno?

Is bullet-proof a feature?

Masha Bag,  $160 @  Re-Modern

Cookies We Covet

Earth Day is just a couple weeks away now, so why not celebrate our planet with some delicious, symbolically-shaped baked goods? USDA organic, baby, and adorable to boot!

Love The Planet Cookie Tin, $54.95 @ Organic Style

. . . . .
Psst! Based on your feedback, we're opening comments, so please chatter away at will!