Toys for Budding Eco Engineers

Would Santa like to leave toys that not only green but so fun the educational value escapes the child?  You bet!  Check out these fabulous blocks from Citiblocs.  They come in different colors (I like the warm colors for this time of year) and are open ended fun leading to hours of quiet--that's right, quiet--fun.  My six year old loves to play with these and I'm amazed at how calming and creative they are.  The blocks are made from certified renewable pine and they are completely free of any toxins, so if they end up in any mouths, kids or canine, they should be okay.

The more technical oriented and older children will love science based kits from Thames and Kosmos. I'm especially intrigued by their Alternative Energy and Environmental Science projects.  Check out this Renewable Energy Science Kit focused on wind energy.  This is so cool, think of how toys like this could potentially have an impact on the future.  I also like this Remote Control Machines kit which is so much more interesting than a plain RC car.  Shaping young minds to create eco friendly transportation and renewable energy is very exciting and I think these would also be fabulous in the classroom.

For stockings, Think-A-Lot makes a holiday edition of their clever Think-ets, an open ended story telling game featuring little trinkets.  There are numerous ways to play this game and their size makes them wonderful for travel.  Not for little ones due to choking hazard, older kids get a kick out of using their imagination in tandem with being able to touch the little objects such as a Christmas tree, a snowman and a polar bear among others.  My six year old loves to scatter them on the table and make up stories using the pieces for the story line.  Think-ets encourage creativity, logic and reason along with good old fashioned fun.

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Allsop Eco Friendly Solar String Lights

Are you going to decorate your yard for the holidays this year?  Check out these fabulous Aurora Solar Lights from Allsop.   Probably the most eco friendly lights I've ever seen, the beautiful globes are made from hand blown glass.  Not plastic!  Each one is unique and casts a magical glow.

The lights are attached to a clear wire and they give a generous space between the lights and the solar panel so you have many options as to how you want to configure them.  You just place the lights where you want them, stake down the solar panel (or secure it it in a tree or whatnot) so that the panel can get light, make sure they're turned ON and voila!  When the sun goes down, you have festive lights.

They come in different colors and they also come with copper hooks so you can really get that placement the way you want it.  They are so much prettier than the new plastid LED lights, don't you think? I think they are perfect for the holidays, and they'd also make a fabulous gift under the tree.  Find them HERE.

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Winter Solstice, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas

Just the word solstice conjures up feelings of reverence in me.  Astronomically, solstice is when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator.  This occurs twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter.  This winter, it was Tuesday.  Winter is officially here.  For me, solstice has a more emotional and sentimental connotation.  Winter fills me with wonder, particularly snowy winters.  It's a good feeling to be in touch with our natural world and winter does that for me in its own unique way.  I love acknowledging the different seasons and the beauty they hold.   Thank you for sharing the seasons with me my wonderful readers!  I wish you all the magic of winter and a beautiful cozy Christmas filled with love.

Image Credit:  mikeancient

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Eco Mama's Canine Christmas: Holiday Gifts for the Dog or Dog Lover in Your Life

Photobooth Dogs, by Cameron Woo, is a refreshing yet old school look at dogs and the people who love them.  Vintage photos captured from photobooth cameras really highlight that unique affection.  It's artful and I dare you not to smile at least once looking through this endearing collection.

Check out this fabulous Robot Doggy Duvet by Molly Mutt.  Molly (there is a real Molly) actually designed this fabric herself which I think is so cool.  Robots!   She also has several other wonderful designs to choose from. The idea is that you stuff the duvet with and old dog bed, blanket, or old clothes which serve as a re-purposing of stuff as well as a comfort for the dog since dogs love to smell their peeps.  Very well made and crazy cute.  She also has some great non-toxic aromatherapy doggie shampoo and coat conditioners that would make cute stocking stuffers

These FLEECE WARM UPS from Cloak and Dawggie are really nice for winter, they're simple and quite dignified compared to a lot of the dog clothes you find.  Fleece works and it stops our dog from shivering the minute we put it on.  I love that they come in neutral colors like gray, chocolate, and black.

The FURminator.  This thing really cuts down on shedding.  Our dog is a short hair Chihuahua, so shedding isn't a huge problem, but her hairs are pokey and they show up big time on black clothes.  The FURminator solves this problem in about 30 seconds and the dog enjoys it.  My brother has a shepherd that sheds like crazy, so I told him about the FURminator, he got one, and says he couldn't believe the difference it made.  They come specific to the hair-type of your dog and they also make them for cats.  You can find a demo videos online.

Chilly Dogs makes some really cute little dog sweaters--really cute.  They are handmade and comply with fair trade standards and are made with plant-dyed wool.  I love the Peace sign, the Monkey and this Monster sweater.

Planet Dog makes some great stocking stuffers for dogs.  Our dog has lots of Planet Dog toys and has never chewed through one, but she is tiny.  Check out these cute Christmas Tree Light Bulbs which hide treats.

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I also love the Naughty and Nice Gingerbread Men that squeak.  Both of these come in the size right for your dog.  Planet Dog makes non-toxic toys and donates a portion of their profits to help with the training and placement of working dogs to help the disabled, another great company you can feel good about supporting.

Poochie Bells sound like sleigh bells, but help your dog with potty training and alerting you that your dog needs to go outside.  You just loop it over the door knob and the dog nudges the bell when they want out.  Be sure to get the eco friendly bamboo version.

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Beef up your Vegan Holiday Repertoire with these new cookbooks

Need some ideas for meals to serve during the holidays?  If you're cooking vegan or vegetarian for yourself, it's no big deal.  You already know how hearty and satisfying the food is.  But if you are having veg-resistant guests (sometimes that can happen inadvertently), it's nice to have a few tricks up your sleeve.  A lot of people still think that a meal is not complete without that centerpiece meat-dish, particularly on special occasions.  Sometimes you have company for  a few days and want to come up with some dishes that will wow those omnivores.

Here are some new vegan cookbooks for some fresh inspiration.   I have not had time to try many recipes, but I'm always interested in the latest vegan cookbook and I'm so happy to see that genre growing.  VIVA VEGAN comes from Terry Hope Romera, co-author of the classic and reliable Veganomicon,  Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World, as well as the holiday essential, Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar.  Viva Vegan is for those who like a little spice.  Romero has veganized traditional Latin cuisine by drawing from her own Venezuelan background and her experience working in the Latin NYC restaurant, Bachue. There is a color photo spread in the center and the book contains a good 200 recipes.  Would make a great holiday gift for that person who likes Latin American cuisine.

THE MEAT LOVERS MEATLESS COOKBOOK, Vegetarian Recipes Carnivores Will Devour is perfect for those who feel like they need more hearty fare.  I think the title will also appeal to people adopting the "Meatless Mondays" tradition or who are transitioning.  I am not a fan of anything resembling meat and thought at first glance this might be bogged down with meat substitutes and faux meat, but it's not. I also prefer lighter fare and this book has that as well. I appreciate dishes like  the twice baked sweet potato, the kale chips, and the heavier polenta with Puttanesca.  The center color pictures look wonderful.  This would make a great gift and perhaps a little nudge to those who would like to eat healthier without sacrificing a thing.

Finally, you've been out showing your guests around town all day and come home hungry and need something quick to whip up.  FRESH AND FAST VEGAN will give you some new ideas for quickie meals that are not stingy on nutrition.  This book does not contain pictures--something I really feel are important in a cookbook.  But the recipes are straight forward, the layout is easy and the book is accessible to someone who might feel intimidated by vegan food prep (as hard as it is to believe that vegan food could be intimidating, I hear it all the time).  I think it's a nice book for anyone that doesn't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but still wants variety and flavor.  

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24 Penguins Before Christmas Advent Calendar

I've always loved the thrill of an Advent Calendar. Here is a contemporary take on an old tradition from the French author/illustrator team Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet who brought us the fabulous 365 Penguins. 24 Penguins Before Christmas is modern and fun and very European in its unique 3-D diptych format.

The Calendar features the characters from 365 Penguins, and comes with a tiny little book, a page to be read each day corresponding to the advent window and the little surprise dwelling within. Amazon has it right now for a steal, you can find it HERE.

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