Mommy Goes Green

It’s THAT time again – music in stores, lights on houses, the smell of evergreen and pine.  Whether you wait for Thanksgiving to pass or not – the Christmas season has arrived and the shopping has begun.  Over the next several weeks, we’ll be highlighting great green gifts for your family and friends.

One of my favorite websites to shop for unique kid’s toys is Stubby Pencil Studio.  Mom and owner, Kate Rosenthal, stocks eco products for creative kids that are non-toxic and environmentally responsible.

This holiday season, skip the dollar bins – you never know what’s in those cheap products (check the ingredients, I often find phthalates, lead warnings or PVC) and pick up your kid’s stocking stuffers at Stubby Pencil Studio – all under $10 and much safer for your family.  Here are some of my favorites:

Holiday Smencils

Holiday Smencils- Grab these first, they were sold out last year!  5 limited edition gourmet scented pencils made from 100% recycled newspapers. Each Holiday Smencil comes packaged in its own (recyclable) Freshness Tube and come in 5 fun scents: Cinnamon, Sugar Plum, Candy Cane, Gingerbread & Sugar Cookie.  $6.50

Star Crayons- I can’t get enough of fun shaped crayons and your kids won’t either.  Each box holds 20 crayon stars in assorted colors and are made from 100% recycled crayons from the National Crayon Recycling Program.  Purchasing eco stars supports recycling education and employs people with disabilities.  $8.95

Monkey Pencils – Your kids will love taking these to school. 3 monkey pencils made from natural, chemical free rubber wood, and finished with non-toxic and child friendly colors.  $2.95

Star Crayons

YoYo- You can’t go wrong with a yoyo for any kid.  This classic yoyo is made from a wood called Ankudu and color is 100% lead-free, non-toxic vegetable dye and the lacquer comes from the sap of a rosewood tree.  $5.95

Envirosax for Kids- If you’ve been reading MGG long, you’d know that I love my Envirosax bags.  Now our kids can have one, too.  My daughter loves to put things in purses and bags and carry them around the house, to school and into the store with me.  Envirosax are a great way to introduce our kids to an eco-friendly lifestyle.  They come in 8 different designs.  $8.00

Color 'n Kids Thank You Go Set

Color ‘n Kids Card Sets – This is a great way to personalize notes from your kids.  All cards are printed on 100% PCW recycled stock and come with 6 colored envelopes: red, orange, yellow, lime green, green and blue. Cards measure 4.25″ x 5.5″.  Purchase 3 sets and receive a complimentary box of 24 vivid color pencils.  $7.95

Rainbox Softdough- Mary’s Softdough is a soft, non-crumbly modeling dough made from 100% food-quality ingredients. Completely non-toxic, this colorful tub of dough will last up to a year and provide hours of fun. An 18 oz. tub holds a rainbow of colors: red, yellow, green, blue and purple. Ingredients include flour, water, salt, cream of tartar, soybean oil, food coloring and sodium benzoate (a food preservative). $9.95

Made By Me Truck

Softdough Tool Set- No playdough set would be complete without tools to roll and cut the dough.  This 12 piece set includes a hardwood rolling pin and assorted cookie cutters: moon, star, sun, cloud, leaf, heart, frog, squirrel, butterfly, dragonfly, and turtle. $7.95

• Check out Stubby Pencil Studio and tell us what YOUR favorite products are!
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen and retweet this contest.

Leave your comment by Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 11:59PM PST.  Contest open to all U.S. residents, ages 18+.  We will choose 1 winner, by random, and contact them via email.  Privacy Policy.

 Congratulations to Sue for winning the shopping spree – enjoy!

If you’ve been stalling on buying my FAVORITE reusable bags, Envirosax, now is the time.  They are having a great 2-for-1 deal right now.

For 2 days only – Friday 14th of August and Saturday 15th of August, buy any bag or pouch from the ranges listed below and receive the same item absolutely free!

Candy, Botanica, Retro Graphic, Flora, Monochromatic, Oxford, Kid’s Series, Greengrocers, Organic Series

Quote code: MAD98 when ordering to receive your additional bags. Valid for online orders only at www.envirosax.com.

When ordering, you must order two of the same item and apply the coupon to get 50% off both items. If you order only one, the free product will not be automatically included.

Recycled Glass Balloon Vases - VivaTerra carries these beautiful, unique vases made from recycled glass. I love their simple, classic beauty. Lopsided in just the right way, these oversized, delightful melon-shaped vases can be grouped as a threesome to hold tall flowers and branches, placed individually on tabletops, or clustered as a transparent accent.  From $39.00

Teething Necklace - This is a great gift for a pregnant or new mama!   They were created so moms wouldn’t have to give up wearing pretty jewelry, but would also be something safe for baby to grab and put in their mouths.  Available in 12 colors, they are non-toxic and dishwasher safe. Made from phthalate, BPA, PVC, and lead free silicone. $19.00

Year of Seeds - This gift, from Red Envelope, keeps continues to give with a year-round windowsill garden. Simply place the included soil and seeds into the pots, add water, and watch the flowers come to life.   Set includes seeds, bag of soil, 12 pots and easy growing instructions. 10% of proceeds go to the March of Dimes. $79.95

Custom Scrabble Tile Art Pendant by PendantLicious - I love how this mom repurposed Scrabble tiles into sweet necklaces. Send in your favorite photo and see it turned into a custom pendant.  Each pendant comes with a 2mm 18″ Ballchain Necklace ( other lengths available, upon request ).  These are so affordable, every mama needs one!  $8.00

BookSwim - If you know a reader, this is the perfect, unique gift!  BookSwim is the first online book rental library service lending you the latest bestseller, new releases and classic paperbacks, hardcovers and college textbooks Netflix®-style directly to your house!   Starting at $9.95 per month. For Mother’s Day, you can purchase a $50 gift card for $40. CODE: MOTHERSDAY2009

Envirosax - Have I mentioned what a HUGE Envirosax fan I am?  Envirosax are chic, inexpensive reusable bags.   They have a fantastic Mother’s Day special – Buy any pouch (set of 5 bags) and receive a Retro Kitchen pouch absolutely free ( value: $28.50 ) It’s only valid for pouch purchases until May 5. The free Retro Kitchen pouch will not show up in your shopping cart but will be added to your order by staff. $8.50 each or $28.50 – $37.95 per pouch ( set of 5 ).

Organic Bouquet – Take a traditional route and send flowers but this year, choose eco-friendly flowers from Organic Bouquet.  Their flowers are VeriFlora certified, grown with the least environmental impact.  Growers must meet rigorous criteria to achieve certification including fair labor practices, sustainable crop production, ecosystem protection, and product quality. $44.95

Kiwi Magazine Subscription - Mamas interested in a greener, natural lifestyle will love Kiwi. KIWI features the latest in everyday natural and organic family style – helping you to raise your children the healthiest way possible.  $11.95

Pacifica Soy Candles – Candles are such a treat, I love to curl up with a blanket, book and several candles.  Conventional candles are composed of  paraffin wax, synthetic dyes and artificial fragrances, which are toxic to produce and result in indoor air pollutants. Cheaper wicks may contain traces of heavy metals ( like lead ), which can get released into the air during combustion. Choose a safer product – soy candles.  Pacifica Soy Candles are handmade with vegetable soy wax, lead-free wicks and Pacifica’s signature perfume blends with essential and natural oils. $22.00

Handmade with Love – Any mama is honored to receive homemade gifts.  Gather the kids together, pick a project and get to work. FamilyFun.com has a great group of projects for all ages.

I’ve said before that I’m a huge Envirosax fan but they’ve convinced me to buy another bag from their new Planet Green Line! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the color green AND polka dots so this new bag is a no brainer for me. I think the Planet Green line is my new favorite. All the spring colors make me want to put a dress and sandals on.

If you’re going to buy one, you might as well buy a pouch of 5 because you’ll use them!  If you choose the Planet Green or Animal Planet pouch, make sure to buy by April 29 and you’ll get a 6th bag free ( Yellow Flora bag )! 

Envirosax Mikado Bag

I find nothing more annoying than tons of plastic bags piling up at my house.  I know reusable bags are nothing new but hear me out.  If you don’t use the ones you have because you’re constantly leaving them at your house or in your car – try Envirosax.

I have a half dozen reusable bags at home but they are big, bulky and I NEVER remembered to take them to the grocery store.  So for Christmas last year, I gifted myself and all my family members with an Envirosax reusable bag ( lucky them ). 

I fell in love IMMEDIATELY.  Envirosax have both a Graphic series, made of polyester and an Organic series, made of your choice of linen, bamboo or hemp.  They have over 50 different patterns so you can pick something that goes with your personal style.  I find that I’m able to put about 2x as many items into the bag as the normal plastic bags at the grocery store.  And finally, the most compelling reason to pick one up – they roll up into the size of my fist and fit right in my purse. 

Since Christmas, I’ve purchased more bags and I use them all the time!  I no longer have plastic bags from the grocery store or Target.  I even bring them to the mall with me and use them in place of the retailer’s bags.   Envirosax come singularly or you can purchase a pack of 5 that comes with a pouch to hold them.