Welcome back to the Mommy Go Green Blog Tour! I’m so happy to share with you this month’s sponsor. I’ve been a big fan of Natural Pod for a long time, and I can’t believe I hadn’t written about them yet! Natural Pod has an amazing array of natural and safe toys, dolls, clothing and accessories for kids of all ages. With products from materials such as wood, felt, silk, wool and organic cotton, you can’t go wrong giving your child these open-ended, imaginative-based toys sure to jump start their creativity.

I’m especially in love with Natural Pod’s collection of blocks and stacking toys. We checked out the Tree Branch Blocks - from the moment the blocks were poured out of the bag, my girls found them irresistible. They couldn’t believe they were “really” trees, and it took some explaining about how and why they make tree branches into useable blocks that don’t splinter or smell like wood. The blocks come from naturally felled Alder trees, kiln dried and sealed. They take a little getting used to for building, since the blocks are not uniformly shaped, but it’s part of the fun. And my kids decided to make the little blocks into chairs, for a doll picnic in the woods. Their friends are totally intrigued by them - who knew anything besides plastic cut outs could be so cool?

To help give your kids a truly memorable holiday (and hopefully help out a bit this holiday season), Natural Pod is offering 10% off your first order! Use the code “GCM08” during checkout, now through December 31st, and order early! Natural Pod is based in Canada, so shipping may take a bit longer. If you become as hooked as I am on Natural Pod and their message of natural play for children, you’ll really appreciate their recently launched blog, charting their background and where they’re headed to bring beautiful toys to your family. Happy reading and shopping!

We’re going through a “I don’t want to watch ‘baby’ movies anymore Mommy, can I watch Hannah Montana for the three hundredth time today???” phase in our house right now, and I end up staring at a few (dozen) DVDs that have fallen by the wayside. What to do? If your kids have finally outgrown the Wiggles and you need to unload the entire DVD collection, or if you’re wondering what to do with the Dora library you no longer have to read over and over again, Swaptree may be your new BFF. As its name implies, Swaptree creates a network of trades through ‘have’ and ‘want’ lists you compile, using a special algorithm that magically matches what you’re offering with books, CDs, DVDs, and videogames. The more popular the item you’re offering (meaning, the more ‘want’ lists the item is already on), the more choices you have to swap. Swapping is free, except for postage, which usually runs under $3 per trade.

What makes Swaptree even MORE awesome is you can import your Amazon wishlist, or any lists from other websites (I imported the Children’s Bestseller list from B&N) - all you need is the URL with ISBN numbers - to type right into Swaptree, saving you time retyping that ultimate bedtime books list you’ve been compiling. You can also print postage labels right from Swaptree, saving you time at the post office. Goodbye Baby Einstein, hello High School Musical!

Starting tomorrow, when you sign up with Swaptree, you’ll get your first trade postage-free!  The Swaptree links should give you the promo code automatically when you sign up, but if not, type in the code ‘teensy’ when you’re prompted for a promo code.  Happy swapping!

Freecycle is another free offering/taking service, right in your own community. Each group is monitored by a local resident, and has its own set of rules and regulations. I joined my local Freecycle group, which amazingly has over two thousand people participating! Everything under the sun has been offered and taken, all very quickly and discreetly, including books, dollhouses, children’s clothing, even birds and furniture! If you see something you want that is offered, you privately email the person - no money is exchanged, and there’s no mailing of items. You’re responsible for picking the item up.

The tricky part is to keep up with the updating, and to email the offerer quickly if you see something you want - I jumped on some books, but wasn’t so quick on the draw. If you find Craigslist a bit creepy, Freecycle might be the place for you. Either way, with Swaptree or Freecycle, you’re saving money, packaging, gas, and overall making a greener choice to recycle items in your home. I’m sure any one of the Presidents taking refuge in wallets across the country will be pleased…

We all know how difficult it can be to choose the perfect gift for the kids in our lives. You want something they’ll grow with and enjoy endlessly - for a while. Every child loves getting presents for the holidays, but nothing is better than getting a present for no apparent reason. eBeanstalk - one of the most comprehensive shopping sites I’ve found recently, with super high-quality learning toys for newborns through age five - has taken gift giving to new heights (pun intended) with their innovative Gift Series. What a wonderful concept - either choose one of eBeanstalks pre-picked four toy Gift Series, based on themes such as travel, a Premium level, or for those of us living in an apartment, the compact series. Every three months for one year, a new toy in the series arrives - hooray! - in plain white box packaging, for added arts & crafts! You can also buy single gifts, and there’s a registry as well. It’s like a toy club, handpicked for your child!

Search for toys by age, category, or skills, such as language and emotion. Each toy (over 10,000!) have been tested by parents, educators, child specialists, and the “Mother Board,” over 700 moms who test and rate products to ensure quality and maximum fun. And, as an added bonus, eBeanstalk’s packaging are plain white boxes - perfect for added arts and crafts!

For the holidays, save 15% on all Gift Series - enter the code GIFTSERIES at checkout. And, on orders over $75, enter FREESHIP at checkout for free shipping. Now, to all my friends having babies, forget you read this so I can send a Gift Series to you…

Since holiday deals emails are flooding my inbox, instead of posting a weekly deals list that get lost in the posting shuffle, I’ve decided to dedicate an entire page to eco-deals for your holiday shopping - click on “Eco-Holiday Deals” under the “About Us” section in the right column. I’ll be updating as more notices come in, so please keep checking back! And, if non-profits or charitable giving is your thing, I’ve also started a “Eco-Holiday Giving” section. Keep an eye out for a crafty goodness calendar as well, if you’ve taken the Handmade Pledge! Happy Shopping!

Monday Edition!

Happy 2nd Birthday to Nina and Tom Family Fashion! I know many of you, like me, are big fans of their vibrant, organic shirts. To celebrate, they’ve taken 22% off EVERYTHING in their shop through November 22nd, including the many crafty items they’ve added recently. No coupon codes are needed, so shop away without a math-care in the world!

Craftsbury Kids just launched their 2007 Gift Guide, with free shipping for orders over $40 through December 12th! Just enter the code HOLFS at checkout. These Tree Blocks, made from ‘retired’ hazelnut trees, are a safe and welcome addition to any home!

To celebrate their feature in Mothering Magazine, Natural Pod, a comprehensive natural toys shop from birth and up (including an impressive array of natural dolls), is offering 10% off the entire shop now through November 14th! Enter code NPMPOT071 at checkout.

Sign up with IdealBite’s weekday emails and tell a friend about them too by November 30th…you’ll be entered to win one of five $200 gift certificates from Wolavers, a Vermont-based organic ales company, perfect for the beer aficionado in your house!

Hazelnut Kids, an amazing natural toys shop, is featuring “Double Loyalty Rewards” Points now through October 31st. They’re also featuring the beautiful Anamalz collectible woodern animal dolls, made from organic maple wood, cotton, wool, water-based paint, and formaldehyde-free glue. Buy four Anamalz and get a free set of collector’s cards and a calico bag to carry them in.

The Silly Wagon is donating 10% of ALL SALES in October to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Pick up a great wooden toy and know your money is going to help someone in need this month!

Mrs. Meyer’s is already getting into the holiday spirit by bringing back her Gingerbread scented products! Pick up a Gingerbread Clean-up Kit to get your house ready.

Urban Kids Play has launched a new website and shop in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle. Check them out! They’re offering free shipping over $65, and use the code “Shop20″ for 20% of your order, now through October 31st. The first place I’ve seen these supercool bObles open-ended play pieces/funky kid’s furniture!

Sign up with IdealBite’s weekday emails and tell a friend about them too by October 31st…you’ll be entered to win one of five $200 gift certificates from Certaintees, a bamboo/cotton blend and socially conscious (not to mention awesome) line of t-shirts that will be sure to spice up your Fall wardrobe!

Don’t forget to leave a comment here to win a global warming book for your kids or their school! Ends tomorrow!

In Panama, we have already received no less than FOUR holiday toy catalogs, each one filled with more plastic playthings than the next. It’s disheartening. But I fear not. I have to give the moms behind Cool Mom Picks credit - they are tireless researchers, product testers, and all-around amazing at looking out for the well-being of your kids through their just released “Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy Guide 2007″. I am on this thing every day, plotting holiday gifts, baby gifts (my friend Alison is having Halloween twin boys, HANG IN THERE!), and just coveting toys, dolls, pretend food, anything I think either of my kids might love forever. Or play with once. Whatever the case, this resource is a keeper not just for your gift shopping, but for the rest of your kiddie-shopping existence. They break it down from babies to toddlers, cuddling to music, building to knocking down. Guaranteed you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for, whether it’s organic, fair trade, or just overall high quality and long-lasting - without worry of a lead recall or small plastic part keeping you up at night.

Organic favorites nina and tom are giving away five (5) t-shirts to five (5) lucky customers on September 15! Just sign up or make a purchase and you’ll be entered to win. The winner will be notified via email.

Looking for a new sling? Attached to Baby is having a huge wrap and sling clearance sale, including limited editions of Ellaroo and Oopa Baby.

Sign up with IdealBite’s weekday emails and tell a friend about them too by September 30th…you’ll be entered to win one of five $200 gift certificates from Lucina Jewelry, an eco-conscious line of luxurious jewelry that will be sure to spice up your Fall wardrobe!

One of my favorite places for gift-giving…Magic Cabin Clearance Sale, Save up to 55% on Popular items!

Positively Organic is having an End-of-Summer Sale AND special deals on their “Happy Wear” gifts sets.

Black Wagon’s Weekly Special - Enter code BackToSchool07 at checkout for 15% off all backpacks, including Fleurville’s line of PVC-free bags!

This is the last week to get your “Back 2 Cool” $25 gift card from The Silly Wagon, when you spend $200 on anything in the shop! Put it towards awesome Pastel toys or a beautiful stepstool from Lilypad Studios.

Sign up with IdealBite’s weekday emails and tell a friend about them too…you can win $200 worth of cosmetics from afterglow mineral cosmetics - last chance!

A favorite shop from my kids! Magic Cabin Clearance Sale, Save up to 55% on Popular items!

You gotta love a mom who shows off her love for coffee as much as her children. Born from the satisfying (and challenging) pleasure of taking time for coffee, Chicago-based Baby Blend Tees organic cotton onesies and shirts are simple and comforting - like that first cup of java that you can actually enjoy in the morning. Bonus on the coffee-bag packaging that you can reuse for your favorite organic coffee beans! The images are light and sweet - pick up a “Bald is Beautiful” onesie for the hair-challenged one in your family, or the always cute “Night Owl” who keeps the coffee pot going in the first place!

Shop the T-shirt Cafe for all of Baby Blend’s latest designs, and get a sneak peak of more seasonal products. And, if you live in the Chicago/Oak Park area, check out their new eco-clothing shop, the Baby Blend Natural BouTEEQue!

teensy readers - Get a 15% discount off your purchase at Baby Blend Tees! Use the coupon greenbaby at checkout.