I’m all about Etsy, although I try to keep my postings about it to a minimum, for fear of this turning into an Etsy/teensygreen exclusive site! Every once in a while I do love to share something beautiful and fun for kids that parents can also appreciate. Handmade items seem to give off a much more personal vibe to me, and I find myself giving more and more Etsy-found gifts than ever before!
How thrilled was I when Amber from cloud9 designs found me! Her organic, silkscreened onesies and tees for kids feature something we all would love our kids to be (all?) the time - little angels. Her tees are supersoft organic, some vintage, and she hand-screens her clothes with eco-friendly products. I say, put a set of these wings on your kids during their crankiest days, so you never forget where they came from! Seriously, these are hip and original designs that would look good on any kid.
This week, two people can win either a 3-6 month onesie OR a toddler tee (of the “nonburnout”) variety - that’s two winners, one item each. Check out cloud9’s Etsy shop (click on “baby” or “children” to see the kid’s designs) and answer me this with a comment here to enter - what is your favorite Cloud9 Design? It can be a mom tee as well (your fave). I’m coveting a few of them myself! This giveaway will run until next Sunday, July 20th at midnight, PST. Good luck!
This contest is now closed! Thanks for entering!
Let the summer contests begin! BabyLegs, one of my favorite go-to gifts for any season, is having a fun, Willy Wonka-esque promotion starting right now. SEW Golden refers to BabyLegs’ new signature gold-overlocking stitch found inside the seam close to the logo. Buy specially marked packages of BabyLegs in retail stores across the country from now until July 15th and look for your golden ticket, to win everything from blankets and bibs, a year’s supply of BabyLegs, to a Grand Prize trip to Seattle, BabyLegs’s headquarters.
Even in summer, BabyLegs are great to protect exploring knees, and make colorful fashion statements for kids of all ages. They have a wonderful range of colors and patterns, including an organic line, earth tones, and of course, funky. The SEW Golden promo isn’t available anywhere on-line, only in stores. Find your local SEW Golden retailer and happy hunting! Wouldn’t it be fun to sing “I have the Golden Ti-cket” (what, you mean you don’t already?)
My girls are big artists, and the concept of an “art contest” was intriguing and had them scribbling for a long time. One of the most beautifully globalized clothing companies, Tea, is hosting a contest for their Spring 2009 “Little Citizens” line for babies and toddlers. Tea is asking kids to draw their interpretation of what they believe a “citizen of the world” would represent. When I spoke with my girls about the contest, it led to some interesting questions about what a “citizen” is, especially one of the world. We talked about all the different kids around the world, how people look, dress, and play differently, and if there can really be a picture of one person to represent all of them. Kind of deep for a Monday morning, but it was nice to have their brains working to start the week!
The winner of Tea’s contest will have onesies and tees printed with their design, as well as a $200 gift certificate to Tea. As with the current collection, up to 50% of the sales from the onesies and t-shirts will go to The Global Fund for Children, an organization that provides grants to community groups helping venerable children worldwide.
Entries must be sent in by May 8th, so have your kids whip up their best drawings ASAP! The contest is available to children eight years old and younger only, and all contest details can be found when you scroll down here. Good luck!
It’s tough not to get bogged down by new organic clothing lines these days. As with anything else green, just because it’s organic doesn’t make it worthwhile to buy. But, Baltimore-based organic clothing company Uglyfish Organics is anything but ugly - in fact, I was blown away by the rockin’-themed designs, earthy colors, and empowering approach. Mom and entrepreneur Seema Reza began Uglyfish with the idea that “All great people start small,” and ran with it. Uglyfish’s designs are simple yet unique and if I may say, wicked awesome. They come in either Pima cotton or hemp/cotton blends with nonreactive dyes. My girls have been wearing the skirts nonstop - girly yet functional, they have three pockets that are definitely stuffed full by the time we come home. Each piece of clothing comes with a hangtag shaped like a musical note, and made from seeds. Soak it, plant it, and you have your own little wildflower garden.
This week, I’m so psyched to be giving away four complete outfits, one each to four winners. If you win, choose which tee shirts and skirt/shorts combo you think best matches your child - it’s not easy! Just leave a comment here with an answer to this question - which Uglyfish tee do you think your kids would rock out in? This contest will run until next Thursday, May 8th, at midnight PST. And for everyone as well, Uglyfish is offering 20% off its Spring/Summer collection! Just type in the word “teensygreen” at checkout. And, shipping is always free! Good luck!
This contest is now closed! Thanks to everyone for entering!
I’m always on a quest for the perfect sling, if not for me, than for my friends who are having first babies and NEED to know the joys and benefits of babywearing. With my first daughter, slings were rare and usually just loooooong bolts of heavy fabric with rings that I though for sure would unhook at any moment. With my second daughter, there were a few more options, but the sling I chose was stiff - it did the job, but I never could truly relax with her in the sling. It wasn’t until a brave friend let me carry her baby in her HugaMonkey sling that the heavens opened and I found - albiet very very past due - the sling I would have used if I needed one. Instead, it became the sling I send to people who I know will love it. Lightweight, versatile, in every style you and your better half will be proud to sling across your chests, not to mention totally within your budget - I mean, come on, you know spit-up and other fluids are going to end up on it, don’t you want something durable? - HugaMonkey delivers. Did I mention I love them?
How exciting to find out that HugaMonkey is adding a line of organic fabrics to their slings, and they’re enlisting you for help! Vote for your favorite fabric and styles, and then sign up for their newsletter - totally harmless, I swear. To celebrate, they’re giving away five organic slings. Choose from 100% bamboo, recycled plastic blend, bamboo/cotton blend, seaweed/organic cotton blend, linen, and 100% organic cotton. You only have until THIS THURSDAY, March 20th to enter! Good luck!
This week, I was so lucky to have a guest product tester for an adorable line of bamboo clothing and towels from BabyBam Collection. BabyBam products, a 70% bamboo/30% cotton blend, are naturally anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic, and thermal regulating, so it wasn’t too difficult to get this seven month old to quickly snuggle into his footie pajamas! Created by Jody Graziano Jonas, a mom with not one, but two sons with severe milk allergies and sensitive infant skin, BabyBam is a safe bet for moms looking for comfort without worry. Aside from BabyBam’s “eco-luxury” look and feel, I love the non-snarky saying on the clothing and the classic, muted colors - as natural looking as the fabric it’s made from!
If you’re thinking ahead - I know I have a few friends having April babies - BabyBam will be running a coupon for 10% off all BabyBam products for the month of April in honor of Earth Day! Use the coupon code “EarthDay” at checkout.
Thanks to Mr. Man for your hard work wearing the clothing!
It’s tough to keep up with the amazing array of eco-shops out there these days, catering to every lifestyle and wallet size. One thing they have in common (besides the commitment to being green, of course), is they all have a wonderful story behind them. That being said, Kai Kids is the result of a Toronto couple’s small changes that led to big ideas. Taking baby steps to becoming greener after the birth of their sons, Nancy DeHart and Peter Chin found that going green became a growing passion they wanted to share with others. Since the name ‘Kai’ is their first son’s name, and means ’sea’ in Hawaiian as well as ‘keeper of the earth’ in Greek, it seemed only fitting to share the earth-oriented name.
Featuring clothing, toys, and accessories from the highest-quality companies out there today, including infant wear from Babysoy, Bare Organics skin care products, Klean Kanteen sippies, and Jolie Maman nursing wear for new moms, Kai Kids’ motto, ‘gentle on your family, gentle on the earth,’ rings true from what you’re buying down to how it comes in your mailbox. One complaint I always have, even from eco-friendly companies, is how tough it is to find greener shipping options to the consumer. Kai Kids reuses boxes and envelopes to ship their products, eliminating extra packaging and encouraging others to do the same.
To celebrate the launch of their shop, Kai Kids is offering two winners one $35 gift certificate each towards a Kai Kids item! You’ll find that everything is well-priced and super practical, so we know you’ll be able to find something for the teensygreen-er in your family! To enter, leave a comment here with an answer to this question - what is your favorite Kai Kids item? This giveaway will be open through Thursday, February 21st, midnight PST. Good luck!
This contest is now closed! Congrats to Tanja and Lori, enjoy your Kai Kids purchase!
One of our most popular giveaways last year was from Tees for Change, an amazing, inspirational shirt company that lets you wear positivity on your sleeve. You guys loved the bamboo/cotton blended shirts with such sayings as “Laugh Often” and “Live Mindfully” on them - reminders to ourselves and others of what matters the most in life.
This week, Tees For Change is having their annual “Inspire Me” contest, and they want you to enter. Do you have a personal mantra, something that helps you get through tough times - or any time? If you have a two-word phrase you want to share with the world, now’s your chance! Tees for Change wants your ideas - visit the survey link below to enter ONLY two word phrases. You have until January 31st to enter, and you can only enter once. On February 1st, you’ll receive an email with the finalists, and then you can vote (and get all your friends to vote) on your favorite saying. The winner will be announced February 7th!
Here’s the link: http://m1e.net/c?76411746-F3ck
The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Tees For Change, AND the winning phrase will be available on a Tees For Change shirt in their Spring/Summer 2008 collection! What a great way to start the New Year! So, put those thinking caps on…Good luck and have fun!
I’m going to try something a bit different this week with my giveaway schedule - I’m sure you won’t mind! This week I fell in love with Happy Green Bee clothing. A new venture from Roxanne Quimby, the founder of Burt’s Bees, Happy Green Bee’s 100% organic, fair trade cotton clothing for infants and toddlers are fresh, fun, and kiddie approved. I think the Happy Green Bee philosophy that clothing should be “comfortable, colorful, playful and ecologically responsible” is on the mark! What’s also super about these clothes is, aside from the dress and skirt, the clothing is gender neutral, each piece designed with a signature bee stripe motif. They also do wonderful, free photo shoots for kids at boutiques that carry Happy Green Bee. Check out the adorable photos, and see if they’re coming to your area!
My two-year-old has worn her Happy Green Bee dress over and over again. For a child who changes her outfits three or more times a day, I’d say we found a winner! The dress has washed amazingly well, and held up to school, the playground, and many meals (she’s a messy one). Speaking of winners, I have a great Happy Green Bee giveaway this week that will give any kid reason to buzz. Happy Green Bee is generously giving a short sleeved t-shirt, leggings, cardigan, and beret set to one lucky reader, a retail value of about $75! Please leave a comment at this post with an answer to this question - what’s your favorite Happy Green Bee color combo? This giveaway will be open until Monday, February 4th at midnight, PST. Good luck!
This contest is now closed. Congrats to Ellie, and thanks for entering!
It’s a new year, and, well, global warming is still a hot topic (sorry, it’s early). It’s nice to see that there are still innovative people getting involved in bringing awareness to the fight for the planet. WE ADD UP, a campaign whose motto “No one can do everything. Everyone can do something,” literally counts you for the fight against global warming. When you purchase one of WE ADD UP’s organic cotton t-shirts, the shirt will be hand-printed with your unique number (with veggie inks, of course!), along with an action, such as ‘carpool’ or ‘buy local’ for adults, and ‘Act Now’ for kids. For kids, this number is a very special way for them to be proud of their participation that “counts them in” to helping the environment (does anyone else have that Sesame Street song in their head right now?) They can show off that number, feeling proud that they participated in their own special way. Started by a mother/daughter team, WE ADD UP is a wealth of reading and other practical, organic products worth looking at as well! You can even start a WE ADD UP fundraiser at your school!
This week, two winners can get a kid’s WE ADD UP “Act Now” t-shirt! I love the idea that each shirt is made to order. Just leave a comment here with an answer to this - which is your favorite WE ADD UP action? This week’s giveaway will run until FRIDAY night until midnight, PST. Good luck!
This contest is now closed! Congrats to Danielle S and Michele!
