Upgrade your appliances and save up to $1500, but hurry!

It's the perfect time to upgrade your appliances to more eco friendly options, during the holidays when you really use the daylights out of them.  The energy star rebate program ends this month, so be sure to check it out while you still have time.  Click HERE to find out more.

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Imprint Comfort Mat: Eco Friendly Must Have

I am a big fan of anti fatigue mats.  It's one of those things you can't live without once you discover it, and I now consider it a kitchen necessity.  They also work great in other rooms such as the laundry room, the garage, studio, bathroom, and anywhere you find yourself on your feet for extended periods.

I love the eco friendly Imprint Comfort Mat.  Formerly known as Sublime, the Imprint is a new improved version which is thicker with even more cushion.  This relieves pressure on the lower back and knees.  It would be well worth it to take one to work if you have a job that keeps you on your feet.

As the name suggests, it conforms to your feet leaving footprints behind.  Formaldehyde and Phthalate free it won't off-gas harmful chemicals into your home and it absorbs sound as well as shock.  Sublime Imprint has an eco friendly non-toxic patented design which sets it apart from the other mats.  They come in different colors and patterns to match your decor.  Highly recommended, find it HERE.  

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Sublime Eco Friendly Comfort Mat

Made of eco friendly non toxic material, this Sublime Comfort Mat is indeed sublime.  It's like standing on a cloud and takes that pressure off the lower back and knees but it's firm enough to provide support.  After you try this, you won't know how you lived without it.

You know how your legs can ache after being in the kitchen too long?  Washing dishes, food prep, cooking, etc. can mean a lot of time standing on a hard floor.  This mat makes those chores much more enjoyable and leaves you with energy left when your finished.  It really functions great as an anti-fatigue mat.

They come in different colors, textures and sizes and would make an awesome Mother's Day gift.  Totally worth it and highly recommended!  Find it HERE or locally at stores like Bed Bath and Beyond.

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simplehuman Fingerprint-proof Trash Cans

A trash can is something we use every day but don't really think much about.  But it's a pretty integral part of the kitchen and in the last few years, trash can designs have become much more sophisticated.

Enter the simplehuman Fingerprint-proof steel Trash Can.  This is the ultimate trash can.  First of all, it will last at least 10 years.  In five years I have purchased three trash cans for the kitchen and they either fell apart or were awkward to use in some way and didn't last.  I thought I was buying quality--they were stainless--but they just weren't made that well.  Simple Human has a warranty on these so you don't have to worry about your investment.

The trash can is very good looking, but more than that, they have really thought the design through.  The step is easy, the lid opens and closes quietly and seamlessly to keep in odors, and my favorite part is the ease with which the bags go in and out.  It has a special little grip for the trash bags so you don't have to struggle to hide the bag or keep it in place.  There's also a little stash place for spare bags.  It is not completely fingerprint-proof on the top of the lid for my four year old, but he has been very interested in it and I think when the curiosity wears off it won't be an issue.  No fingerprints have shown up anywhere else on the can.

For those that need a recycling solution, they make a Rectangular Recycler Trash Can which I think is a great idea.  Currently I keep recycle bins on my porch that work for me, but this would be ideal for those living in apartments or condos.  simplehuman makes all sorts of organizational tools to make life easier, check them out HERE

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GelPro Anti-Fatigue Mat

This is one of those things you don't realize you need until you have it.  And boy do I wish I'd had this GelPro mat during the holidays when I spent so much time in the kitchen that my body ached so bad I couldn't sleep.  This is not a decidedly green item, though GelPro is moving in that direction, but it's green for your body, if you know what I mean.  When it comes to health, I feel trade offs are sometimes necessary.  It certainly is made to last, so I don't see a lot of these ending up in landfills, that's for sure.

I spend a great deal of time in the kitchen year round doing food prep and clean up.  Sometimes my feet, lower back and legs hurt from standing so long on a hard floor.  This mat absorbs the shock and takes the pressure off your lower back.  It really works for me, the comfort level is fantastic.  It provides relief for a variety of different types of pain issues and it feels especially luxurious on bare feet.

Aesthetically, it's nice and simple.  I have the striated black mat and it blends nicely with my stainless and black appliances.  I like the simple clean lines and the striation coordinates well with the striation in my bamboo floors.  The black mat shows any little crumb you might drop on it, but I'm a clean freak anyway, so that is fine, I just sweep it right up.  The mat protects my new floors too, in the kitchen where it needs the most protection.

The only thing I'm not crazy about is the anti-microbial treatment of the bottom of the mat.  I've written about those anti-microbial chemicals before and would really rather they not be present in my home in any form.  However, the comfort is worth the trade off for me and it probably helps keep mold from growing between the floor and mat should any water find it's way underneath.

It's not that thick, incidentally, and the ends stay down so that the chance of hazard from tripping over the mat looks pretty slim.  They come in different colors and textures to match your personal decor, and you can special order the size you need for your space with the designer series.  I have a galley style kitchen, so the extra large mat really works well to cover the three areas I'm in most, in front of the sink, stove, and prep area.

If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, or any other space such as a laundry room or standing work space, check out GelPro HERE for some serious comfort.

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