Labor Day Giveaway: Luxe Design Word Charms and Modern Jewelry!
August 29, 2008 by Megan · 169 Comments
Thanks to everyone who entered our Labor Day Giveaway from Luxe Design!
Congrats to Commenter #78 Lynn H
With Labor Day approaching, I can’t help but think of all my soon-to-be mommy friends that just might be celebrating Labor Day by, well, going into labor! Has anyone heard of the new trend of ‘push’ presents? I’m not too keen on calling it a ‘push’ present - but I am keen on the idea of getting a gift in celebration of all the work that goes into having a baby…bring on the ‘push’ present!
The fabulous Make Your Own jewelry from Luxe Design would make the perfect ‘push’ present this Labor Day. Of course, you don’t have to be expecting a baby to want to get your hands on one of these beautiful designs. I’m going to design a necklace with both of my children’s names and a special one for my hubby - oh, and I love the bird charm too! What will you design?
This Labor Day weekend, we’re excited to swag one lucky reader with a $100 gift certificate to Luxe Design so you can design your own custom piece of jewelry!
To enter, click over to Luxe-Design.com and explore their online shop. Then, leaving us a comment telling us what charms would definitely be going on your custom-designed necklace!
You have until midnight PST Labor Day to enter. Winner will be announced on Tuesday morning.
Good luck and thanks Luxe Design!
Eco-Friendly School Supplies
It’s almost time for that much anticipated first day of school. For some of your kids, this is their first school year. Children may be excited or nervous. Preparation is key to alleviating some of the first day jitters. This week I’ll highlight some popular eco-friendly alternatives to school supplies.
Paper, pens, notebooks…you know your child needs them. Many companies now offer sustainable products as a safer alternative for your kids and the environment. Choose recycled paper, pens/pencils, notebooks, scissors and more when shopping at your office supply companies such as Office Depot, Office Max, and Staples.
My preconceived notion of recycled anything was that it was drab…both in color and quality. I was pleasantly surprised to find an array of companies sporting stylish eco-friendly school supplies.
Traditional paper is bleached with chlorine which creates dioxins. Choose recycled, chlorine-free paper or tree-free paper from one of the following companies:
New Leaf Paper (available at Whole Foods)
Poo Poo Paper (yes…it’s made from Elephant Dung!)
For more information on dioxins, read this WHO article on it’s inherent hazards
In your search for eco-friendly school supplies, look for products stating they are recycled and/or post-consumer. Here is a shopping list of sustainable school supplies:
Recycled Notebooks:
Ecojot’s stylish selection of recycled notebooks are simply adorable! (available at Barnes and Noble)
Sukie’s Rescued Paper Notebooks are assembled in India (available at Mod Cloth)
EcoPaper’s Banana Paper Recycled Notebooks are stylish and affordable at only $4.99
Recycled/Eco-Friendly Pens, Pencils, and Crayons:
Fresh Impressions’ Slim Eco Pens are made from cornstarch and 80% biodegradable materials.
Stubby Pencil Studio has a vast assortment of pencils made from sustainably harvested wood and recycled newspapers and soy crayons.
Smencils’ Gourmet Scented Pencils are made from recycled newspapers and maintain their scent for two years. Yum!
Creativity for Kids’ EcoPencils come in 12 colors and are made with 100% FSC certified reforested wood.
I always wonder whether or not those Crayola Crayons my son loves to put in his mouth are really non-toxic. A better alternative is the increasingly popular soybean crayons made from environmentally friendly soybean oil. Check them out on Prang Power or Crayon Rocks.
Stockmar’s Beeswax crayons are made in Germany without additives. Purchase them on Amazon.com.
Note: Many Australian and British companies carry eco-friendly office and school supplies but I was unable to locate an online or brick and mortar store to purchase these products.
Misc.
KleenEarth’s Steel Children’s Safety Scissors contain 70% recycled plastic handles.
TerraCycle’s Eco-Binder is made from 100% recycled paper and 90% recycled steel. Available at Office Max.
Earth Hugger’s Recycled Rulers are made from recycled polystyrene packaging and come in pink and blue.
Check out this Brit-inspired Eco-Stapler which clips 3 pages together by cutting and folding the paper in one action. It’s a great way to save on staples unless you need to clip more than three pages together. Buy a similar version on SharperBrand.com.
I know you’re very familiar with the uniquely handcrafted inspirations
available on Etsy. What you may not know is that they have an entire eco-friendly selection although you’ll have to search for it. Check out SoSheSews Eco Pencil Cases from Recycled Plastic Bags. And while you’re there, check out the almost 300 school-related items that make the eco-grade!
Next week I’ll highlight the hippest eco-fashions around to find that perfect first day outfit!
In Need of Support?
August 27, 2008 by Megan · 2 Comments
Have you ever had to cross your arms over your chest while jumping or running after the kiddos? I definitely have! I was blessed (or should I say cursed?) with my grandmother’s ample bosom, and I always have difficulty when it comes to shopping for bras. Nothing ever fits quite right, and it seems like the only bras that are really comfortable look as if I pulled them straight out of my grandma’s dresser! Why should large breasted women have to sacrifice style in order to be comfortable? I don’t think it’s fair, and thankfully a wonderful company, Bendon Sport, agrees with me. Recently, I had the opportunity to test their Max Out Sports Bra, and I was thrilled with this product’s performance!
One day, while jumping up and down with my kids, I caught my reflection in the living room window. I was shocked! My sports bra, which was supposed to be supporting my breasts, was really helping very little. Later that day, when the kids weren’t around, and I had drawn the curtains, I tried jumping with no bra on at all. Then, I put my sports bra back on and jumped again. I was appalled by how little difference there was! What’s the point of wearing a sports bra that barely supports you? After that little performance, I knew why my back always hurt after a workout.
I decided to research the different sports bras on the market. I found several compression bras that were rated for high-impact activities, but was surprised by how matronly and, let’s face it, ugly these bras were! Right when I was beginning to think that I would have to settle for a sports bra that didn’t have an ounce of sex appeal, I found the Bendon Sport website. When I saw the Max Out Sports Bra, I knew that I had to try it. I already knew it was cute and sexy, but did it perform as well as its not-so-cute counterparts?
I had a little trouble getting used to the Max Out bra, but that’s not too surprising when you consider how unsupportive my old bra was. First of all, the Max Out bra arrived with the straps crisscrossed in the back and for the life of me I could not get the bra on that way! Luckily, the straps can easily be changed, and once my straps were altered to fit straight across my shoulders, the bra went on easily. It feels very comfortable, with padding in all the right places, and it passed my reflection test with flying colors. When I jump up and down, my breasts barely move now. Amazing!
The reason that Bendon Sport can make such wonderful, sexy, high-quality sports bras is that Bendon is a lingerie company, which distinguishes them from the many sports apparel companies who have sports bras on the market. Bendon knows how to make bras that fit women; they mold their bras to fit a woman’s body, instead of molding the body to fit the bra. When I’m wearing my Max Out Sports Bra, my breasts look like breasts, not a single, shapeless lump. I will never again go back to those generic sports bras that squash my figure down without offering any support!
If you’re looking for a great sports bra, head on over to the Bendon Sport site today! I chose the Max Out bra because I do a lot of jogging and jumping in my workouts, but Bendon has a wide variety of bras that offer multiple levels of support. I’m sure you’ll find the perfect bra for you, and I’m also sure that you’ll love your Bendon Sports Bra as much as I love mine!
Planning Makes Perfect
August 25, 2008 by Megan · 4 Comments
I used to remember everything. The birth dates of random acquaintances. The phone numbers of friends I haven’t seen since high school. The code for bananas from my short stint as a grocery checkout girl when I was in college.
Then I gave birth.
The slate has been wiped clean. Yup, you know what I’m talking about moms. Mommy brain. Momnesia. Or as my friend Tracy calls it, “placenta brain.” The brain vamooses with the placenta, she says.
Unfortunately for us, motherhood carries with it a host of new things you have to remember and plenty of statistics you feel you NEED to remember. I can spit out my daughter’s birth weight, APGAR score and the day I found her first tooth, but I can’t tell you where I last saw the cordless phone.
Research has shown that motherhood is actually good for the brain on a neurological level (yay!), but the same researchers admit that a lack of sleep and stress are creating the symptoms we all feel. Since we won’t see another sleep-in morning until the teenage years, I’m just going to grin and bear it and make do.
I’ve come to face it - a mom’s only as good as her pocket agenda/planner.
With the Mom’s Plan-It 17-month engagement calendar at Chocolate Cake Club, I’m ready for my daughter’s first day at nursery school. Chocolate Cake Club founder Sue Kirchner created her business to give moms a chocolate cake moment every day – you know, that feeling when a wave of pure bliss washes over you after you lick the last little crumbs off the fork? Her answer was one place where moms on the go can find everything they need to make their lives easier. This organizer’s one of her picks, and as always she’s dead on target. Beginning with August for back-to-school, the engagement calendar is small enough to fit in your purse but packs the kind of help you usually find in full-size calendars. Stickers for kids’ activities and a folder for all those slips of paper are at the front, a new space for the grocery list on every other page.
For moms of older kids – and those who like to leave their plans hanging on the wall – I’d stick with Mom’s School Calendar from Mead. Yup, the office supply giant is now helping mamas on the move with a 6-month planning poster for 2008 and a 12-month calendar for 2009. With almost 450 color-coded stickers, this is the calendar to indulge your inner obsessive compulsive mommy.
Since we’re on the planning track, I hate to admit it with summer still baking upstate New York, but it’s time to start looking to reorder my planner just for the business side of things.
One of my favorites came straight from the mind of mama on the move Sarah Pinto “I am the mother of two small boys and since becoming a mom, I have to write everything down to keep things in some semblance of order,” Pinto says. “I couldn’t find a cute and purse friendly planner, so I designed it myself.”
Made in her hometown of San Francisco with soy-based inks printed on recycled paper, the pick for my purse is the Horseshoe. With a soothing blue background and a horseshoe in the middle, the front promises, “this is my lucky year.”
For moms who like to share the wealth, put in an order for one of Pinto’s Tapestry planners. A portion of the $25 price tag on each of the pretty pink planners goes to the pediatric cardiology department at the California Medical Center where Pinto’s own son has been treated for his congenital heart defect (CHD). With CHD the number one birth defect affecting all American babies, this is a cause that should be close to any mom’s heart.
If you’re the Lynette in your mommy group, the MomAgenda needs a home on your desk. Felicity Huffman says it keeps her organized both on and off Magnolia Lane, and I found so much packed into this slim book I can see why. The 17-month calendar inside the MomAgenda Desktop is repeated in a week-at-once section and a monthly view, and the front boasts a list of some of their favorite spots on the ‘net (although we’re wondering where Peekaboo got off to?). The back pages are set aside for wines, restaurant notes, even party guest lists and vacation ideas. The pull-out “Mom Essentials” means you won’t have to rewrite that address book and doctor’s list year after year. Just slip it out and slip it into your next MomAgenda.
Although my daughter’s not reading on her own yet, I’m fast learning there are “planners” for kids too – even if they come in a different form. Mom Moschel Kadokura created the On Task On Time for Kids after continuously struggling to get her 5-year-old triplets moving. It works on the age-old kitchen timer premise – spin the dial and it slowly makes its way back to the beginning to buzz. But Kadokura added a dry-erase board for mom on top and task stickers to set up in timed increments to keep our kids, well, on task and on time! Wall-mountable, the timer is designed for kids from kindergarten to fifth grade, but we use the basic timer in our house already to let Jillian know how much time she has left before it’s time to clean up her toys. We even time toy clean up and reward her for being a timely helper!
I showed you mine, now you show me yours! What’s your best mama on the move memory aid?
1st Comes Love Winner!
August 25, 2008 by Megan · Leave a Comment
Thanks to everyone who entered our 1st Comes Love giveaway for 2 custom-designed stationery sets!
Congrats to Commenter #99 Heather who said:
How Sassy!! I’m so happy to have come across this site–I am really liking the vibe that these cards give off. For my spunky little gal I’d chose Liezel, for my spunky self, I’d choose Chandelier. Cheers!
Our next Summer Swag Giveaway will be posted tomorrow. Be sure to check back.
Thanks again to 1st Comes Love for sponsoring this giveaway!
Going Green for Back to School
The nights are getting cooler and the sun is setting earlier which means fall is just around the corner. It’s time to prepare to go back to school! This week I’ll be sharing with you some tips and top picks to keep you and your kids eco-minded as you shop for this all-important time.
Why? With new research and awareness regarding product manufacturing, it’s important to choose products that are free from BPA, vinyl, PVCs, phthalates, and lead.
Choosing eco alternatives during your shopping adventures is a great way to introduce green concepts at an early age.
As kids go back to school, they may be learning about how to preserve and protect our environment. If children are exposed to this information beforehand, they can connect on a personal level and feel like they’ve made an important contribution simply by carrying that bento box around.
This week we’re gearing up for the first day with stylish, eco-friendly backpacks and lunch solutions!
Pack it up!
Simple’s Hangover backpack is made from organic cotton and contains zippers made from recycled plastic bottles. The company is committed to providing products that are 100% sustainable. Check out their entire line of bags and backpacks here. Bonus: The company is notable for their encompassing variety of eco-friendly shoes.
Ecogear’s Panda backpack is perfect for younger children. It comes in four fun, vibrant colors and is a steal at $17.99. The backpack is made from organic cotton and contains non-toxic dyes. Be sure to check out the company’s Ecozoo animal bags, which serve as both a pet and a toy and their rugged, sophisticated line of backpacks from Ecotech.
Voltaic Systems’ solar bags are perfect for techie teens. They’re made from recycled PET (think soda bottles), are lightweight, durable, UV and water-resistant. What makes these bags unique is their ability to charge virtually all handheld electronics including laptops. These bags are mobile solar power generators with solar panels embedded in the outside of the bag. With prices starting at $199 it’s a small price to pay for sustainable energy.
Fleurville’s Kid’s Messenger bags are hip and modern for tweens and teens. They’re free of lead, PVC, and Teflon and include an insulated matching lunch tote.
Dante Beatrix’s Big Kid Eco Pack’s are all the rage this year. They’re also made from recycled plastic drinking bottles and trimmed with biodegradable canvas. What I really like about these bags is the messages of love, peace, and recycle that they convey through their design.
Lunchtime!
Every time I go to Whole Foods, I walk past the Laptop Lunches display in the babies and kids section. I finally decided to seek out some more information and discovered how much packaging is involved in packing a lunch. Not to mention the safety concerns of plastic and lead inherent in conventional kid’s lunch bags and boxes. Laptop Lunches is a sustainable lunch container free of phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), or lead. Separate compartments and containers, stainless steel utensils, a reusable water bottle, and an insulated carrying case eliminate packaging and encourage healthy food habits. The system also comes with a book of healthy lunch ideas and lunch making recipes.
Lunchopolis has designed a similar system containing a lead-free, insulated lunch box, four containers, and a reusable drinking bottle. Check out their three vibrant design options here.
If you’re looking for eco-friendly, reusable lunch bags, check out the following companies:
Mimi the Sardines Lunch Bug zips closed and is available in 9 fun prints. All of the company’s products are made from eco-coated cotton fabrics directly imported from Sweden. They are free of lead, vinyl, and PVC.
ACME bags, from Reusable Bags, are free of lead and PVC and contain 100% recycled insulation. They’re available in six attractive colors and come with a reusable, non-toxic freezer pack.
Built NY’s sleek and stylish line of products now includes Munchlers wearable lunch packs and lunch bags. They both unzip to a placemat, are lead free, and made from polypropylene. Younger kids will be drawn to the funky zoo animal shapes they come in. Even better? They retail for $9.95!
Crocodile Creek’s soft designer lunch boxes are free of lead, phthalates, and PVCs. They have a wide variety of innovative designs to choose from at an affordable price of just $15.99.
Don’t forget to pack your kids a reusable cloth napkin, include reusable silverware, and a reusable water bottle. Consider opting for a reusable wrap when packing food items if you don’t own a sustainable lunch system.
Sigg and Klean Kanteen are the most popular manufacturers of reusable drinking bottles. There is a huge demand for both of these products (particularly Sigg) so be sure to check both websites for retailers still carrying these products. Both products are free of BPA and 100% recyclable.
Wrap-N-Mat is a reusable sandwich wrap and placemat that eliminates the need for Ziploc bags, aluminum foil, or plastic wrap. Want a more stylish version of this product? Check out The Small Object’s take on this here and here!
Be sure to stop by next week for more tips on helping your kids go green this school year!
