With the 4th of July fast approaching, we’re in full summer party swing! There are so many ways to help green your BBQ, family reunion, or summer birthday outdoor extravaganza - and it’s easy and more affordable than you think! This week, I’m focusing on parties with kids. After my daughters received a plastic pail filled with plastic toys that have already been broken and thrown away, I was really discouraged. There are so many alternatives out there to make cleaner, greener party planning decisions.

Here’s a great place to begin. Think of Green Planet Parties as your eco-party planner, from table decor to goodie bags. You can outfit your entire shindig right here - from the tablecloth and reusable decorations, to plates and napkins, right to the little extra something sent home with the kids.

I love GPPs “Party in a Bag” - a generous set of plates, napkins, and utensils to make your celebration table chic and eco. Choose from Sugarcane Bagasse plates in white, or a more textured palm leaf plate, which has a great background story. These leaves come from India, where local villagers gather palm leaves that fall to the ground naturally. They are then thermoformed (heated and formed) and finished into a plate shape. No trees are harmed to make either plate, and both sets of plates are fully biodegradable and compostable after use, meaning they’ll return to the earth from which they came.

Each Party in a Bag contains:

25 - 7″ Earthenware Palm Leaf plates or 6″ Sugarcane Bagasse Plates

50 - plush napkins made from 100% recycled and 40% post-consumer materials

25 - 9oz cold cups made from PLA corn

75 - 25 each of spoons, forks, knives PLA corn based cutlery

1 - complimentary oxo-degradable garbage bag for clean-up

1 - complimentary reusable cotton bag for everyday use

Attention green party planners everywhere! Green Planet Parties is generously donating a “Party in a Bag” giveaway set for one party-giver (retail value $36.75 for palm leaf and $32.95 for sugarcane)! The rules are simple - visit Green Planet Parties, and leave a comment here with an answer to this: What item from Green Planet Parties will give your summer celebration the green kick it needs? It can be for the kids, for your table or an upcoming wedding. This giveaway will be open through next Tuesday, July 7th, at midnight PST. The giveaway is open to US residents only, the winner will be chosen at random. Good luck, and happy summer!

Hello, all! It’s been almost a month since I’ve posted, but it’s great to see people are visiting teensygreen and gaining insight into living more simple, greener lives. I have a lot planned to write about this summer, and I thought I’d start off with a great giveaway!

I am not one to shy away from soda, but I have been trying to cut down/cut it out completely this year. One alternative I love is carbonated water, or club soda or seltzer, or “bubbly water” as my kids put it. I feel like I’m getting that carbonated soda-y feeling without the caffeine, sugar, or sodium. What I don’t like is buying bottles and bottles of seltzer and, even though I recycled the bottles, just felt like there could be an alternative to all the liters of water.

Sodastream is doing just that - liberating people from plastic bottles and soda cans by allowing people to make their own sodas and carbonated water at home. If the average American consumes almost 600 cans or bottles of soda every year, more than bottled water - doesn’t it make sense to stop the cycle and make your own, avoiding the waste? Here are the amazing environmental benefits of a soda maker -

• No batteries or electricity
• Reduces energy used to manufacture bottles and cans
• Reduces gas and pollution from shipping packaged beverages
• Eliminates pollution from batteries

I have the Pure home soda system, and I LOVE it. It doesn’t use electricity or batteries to work - just the power of carbon dioxide injected into their special water container. It’s very easy to use - install the carbon dioxide canister, fill the bottle with cold water, attach it to the system, and inject the CO2. You can leave the carbonated water as is, or add Sodastream’s large variety of soda-flavored syrups or natural essence water enhancers to give it great flavor.

I’m going to mention this about the SodaMix flavors. They do have less sugar than regular soda, but they are make with a Splenda-sugar mix, which is an often controversial alternative sweetner. I’ve tried a few of the flavors - ginger ale, root beer, orange - but am looking into alternatives to these syrups. My friend Tara Burner (follow on Twitter @taraburner) let me know about natural fruit syrups at Whole Foods, or simply adding fruit juice to the  water for a natural spritzer. It’s up to you if you want to use the syrups, and I have to admit, they’re good. I’m not comfortable endorsing a Splenda-flavored product, but it’s worth getting a Sodastream and using it as you’d like. I’m drinking more water now, and am happy to not have to add more waste, even to the recycling bin!

So, now to the fun part! I’m giving away one Pure Sodastream at-home soda making kit, which comes with a carbon dioxide canister, water bottles, and sample soda/water flavors. It’s a $150 value, and worth every penny! To enter, please leave a comment here with an answer to this question - What will you make with your Sodastream? Use these recipes as a handy guide, or make up your own flavor! I’m all about the Shirley Temple this weekend - ginger ale, grenadine, and cherries. And my husband think egg creams and black and white sodas are in order. Who’s with me?

The contest will be open now until next Thursday, June 11th at midnight, PST. Open to residents of the continental US only. The winner will be chosen at random. No PO boxes, please! Good luck!

I’ve been holding on to this giveaway for a few weeks, and after yesterday’s heartbreaking post, I thought something totally light and fun was totally appropriate! I’m sure you’ve been seeing commercials for Disneynature’s first film, simply titled “Earth“. Earth looks absolutely breathtaking (as it should)!

Earth, the first film in the Disneynature series, is narrated by James Earl Jones and tells the remarkable story of three animal families and their amazing journey across the planet we all call home.  Earth combines rare action, unimaginable scale and impossible locations by capturing the most intimate moments of our planet’s wildest and most elusive creatures. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the acclaimed creative team behind the Emmy Award-winning “Planet Earth” series combine forces again to bring this epic adventure to the big screen, beginning Earth Day 2009.

Earth premieres in theaters nationwide on Earth Day, April 22nd! To get you and your family excited about this breathtaking documentary, Disneynature is giving away a variety of Earth-branded products including a canvas tote, a biodegradable tumbler, and a tree seedling to one lucky reader! Additionally, for every ticket sold for Earth during the first week of it’s release, Disney will plant a tree in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered rainforests in the world. So, make sure you take your kids to see what promises to be a spectacular film, see the earth, and help replace a precious piece of it all at the same time.

To enter, leave a comment on this post describing how you will be spending Earth Day this year! This contest will be open until next Tuesday, April 21st at midnight, PST. Open to US residents only, the winner will be chosen at random. Good luck, and let me know what you think of the film if you go see it!

Ah, tweens, that fairly newly-coined phrase describing young women ages eight to thirteen - “too old for toys, too young for boys,” according to Urban Dictionary. Tween girls are a major market for product makers, but I have to say it’s been rare to find eco-stuff specific to the tween market. I really mean personal care products, like shampoos and face wash - the kiddie stuff is, well, kiddie, and are YOU ready for your tweens to invade your bathroom? Exactly.

That’s why I was psyched to learn about tweenBeauty products, made specifically with tweens in mind. tweenBeauty shampoo, conditioners, body wash and lip care are made from all-natural, organic herbal infusions and extracts. They’re also biodegradable and come in amazing scents like Grapefruit Mint, Vanilla Bean and Coconut Lime. See, not too cutesy but definitely not in the “Mom, meet my new boyfriend” stage yet. Phew!

When you think about it, this is the best age to introduce natural products to kids - it sets the tone for the rest of their lives, along with making healthy eating choices and taking care of their body through exercise. tweenBeauty also backs up their products with a site for parents only, discussing tween issues and taking steps to make this a less-stressful time in their lives.

This week, win some great goodies for the tween you love! tweenBeauty is sponsoring this giveaway with their Bath Gift Set - a hand-woven bag filled with a bottle of Orange Sherbert Shampoo, Vanilla Bean Conditioner and Pink Lemonade Body Wash! Please leave a comment here with an answer to this - what is your (or your closest tween’s) favorite tweenBeauty product flavor? This giveaway will be open until next Wednesday night, April 1st at midnight, PST. One entry per household, please, and this contest is only open in the US. The winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!

I’ll admit, I’m a (semi-reformed) product junkie. I also love to write about all the great eco-products out there. But, I think I’m more in awe of the people who are displaying their eco-passion by setting up shop! I’m always recommending one place or another for either gift giving or special products for your own family.

Nayla Natural Care was founded by mom Gwen Leron from Ottowa, Canada, after working through a well-understood eco-frustration.  Instead of searching for quality organic and natural products for her family, she decided to bring them to her (and thankfully, share them with all of us). Just from speaking with Gwen, I can tell she truly cares about not only what products she sells, but that they work well with your family. In fact, she had friends and family test out potential products to sell, to make sure they’d be a hit in your home as well!

What I really love about Nayla Natural Care are the amount of eco-friendly Canadian products available that are hard to find in the US. Nayla Natural Care features amazing bath, skin care, feeding and teething items for kids of all ages, but goodies for moms-to-be as well. The brand All Things Jill features natural and handcrafted massage oil, balms and foot salts for moms; for infants, these organic sleep sacks from 3 Sprouts can be used in any season; and something I could use in my home, a kid’s toothbrush sanitizer by Green Beaver Company, to keep little mouths germ free.

This week, Nayla Natural Care is so kind to offer a $25 gift certificate good towards anything in the shop! Rules are the same: leave a comment here after visiting Nayla Natural Care and answering me this - what would you love to try from Gwen’s shop? You have until next Monday night at midnight, PST to enter. A winner will be chosen at random, and is open to US and Canadian residents only. Good luck!

Last year, I was so lucky to find Juliet Ames and The Broken Plate Pendant Company right before Valentine’s Day. I love finding funky, original and of course, repurposed stuff to make everyone’s day a little brighter - even jewelry wearing types. What I love about the Broken Plate is what is doesn’t have - straight lines and even designs. Juliet takes everything from vintage finds to modern dishware, and through a bit of smashing and soldering, gives it new life.

This past year has been great for The Broken Plate! Juliet’s work has been featured in tons of local (Baltimore area)  and national press, but Rachael Ray even wore a plate pendant on a recent show! Juliet has expanded The Broken Plate to include rings, cufflinks, friendship pendants (affectionately titled “You ComPlate Me”), and new magnetic-backed brooches that are guaranteed to stay on your clothes. She’ll even deck out your bridesmaids, pay homage to your mother’s china or do other custom work to help you bring a little vintage into your jewelry collection.

This year, win something for yourself (or your significant other, BFF, mom, etc.) from The Broken Plate! Juliet handpicked this spring-themed pendant to help you ward off thoughts about winter and snow. The rules stay the same - before you leave a comment here about how lovely this pendant is, please visit The Broken Plate’s Etsy shop, and tell me about your favorite Broken Plate piece! The contest is open until next Monday, Febrary 9th at midnight, PST. The winner will be chosen at random, and is open to US residents only.

It’s the first week of 2009, and already two friends have had babies, and five more have announced they’re expecting this year. It’s definitely the year of the baby for a lot of people! I thought I’d kick off the new year with a week of newborn/infant write-ups to make any parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or whomever ready for their eco-kid’s arrival.

Can you count how many blankets you’ve either given or received for children? I had everything from handknit throws to cotton swaddlers to a blanket that screamed flammable, sent to me after my kids were born. For a truly luxurious (and thankfully, natural) blanket, these SHI SHU BABY blankets will fit right in. The mom behind SHI SHU found out the hard way how unnatural products can react with skin, when her son broke out in a rash from a microfiber blanket. SHI SHU blankets are handwoven, and made with a 60%/40% natural cotton to bamboo blend with bamboo sateen trim. Bamboo is an amazing fiber - it’s antibacterial, breathable, washable and long lasting. The fibers are not chemically treated, and will wow anyone who receives one!

This blanket would be an ultimate for me, something my kids would snuggle in for years to come. And luckily, they come in adult sizes! This week, I’m celebrating the wonder of babyhood by giving away one super-gorgeous, large SHI SHU BABY blanket in the color of your choice! Just leave a comment at this post with your favorite color. The giveaway will be open until next Sunday night, January 11th at midnight, PST.

Winner will be chosen at random. Open to US residents only. Retail value is $88.

This contest is now closed! Thanks to everyone for entering!

Snow is starting to make an appearance around the country this week, which means new boots and snow shoes are either being broken in for the first time this season or people are running out to find the right shoes! I’m a big fan of KEEN footwear, and their just-launched website where you can buy shoes, bags and gear directly from them is a definitely go-to place for winter (and summer, but let’s talk snow for now). Here’s what I love most about KEEN - their products are top quality, stylish and beyond that, they take great pride in being responsible not only with their products, but for the planet and community as well. Here are some green points about KEEN I think you’ll appreciate:

*KEEN’s shoeboxes are made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste;

*Their awesome line of Harvest Bags features recycled shoe manufacturing components, such as rubber and aluminum;

*KEEN shoes use either water-soluble glues or vulcanized rubber instead of glue;

*Natural cotton (grown without pesticides) are used instead of treated canvas;

*KEEN uses leather only recommended by the Leather Working Group, a watchdog for environmentally safe tannery practices;

*Their successful social efforts, including the KEEN Hybrid.Stand campaign, where sustainability entrepreneurs were awarded (collectively) $125,000 for their humanitarian and eco-efforts! And don’t forget to visit KEEN’s HybridLife community page, where you can read about and nominate people and groups who “Stand Out” and make a difference worldwide.

So, how does all of this wonderful information translate to you, dear readers? This week, one very lucky commenter can win ANY one item from KEEN! ANYTHING - shoes for you, your little one, your better half, a bag, anything. Comes right on time, doesn’t it? Here are the rules - leave a comment here with an answer to this: What KEEN item would you love to give/get for the holidays? Please visit KEEN and leave the item name in your comment. This contest will be open until next Sunday, December 14th until midnight, PST. One winner will be chosen at random; open to US residents only.

For an added bonus, use the code TEENSYGREEN for free shipping now through December 14th! Good luck!

This contest is now CLOSED! Thanks to everyone for entering!

I think it’s safe to say I took the weekend off, and I’m excited to see how the next month brings articles and discussions about the holidays! It’s coming faster than you can say “HappyMerry Chanukistmaswanzaa” (insert your favorite multi-cultural holiday word here). I have some amazing giveaways reserved for some holiday giving-goodness, so let’s get started, shall we?

I was sent a LeapFrog Tag ages ago, when my family took a lovely, ten hour roadtrip to South Carolina. I hid it for most of the trip, since I didn’t want to deal with the girls fighting over it. I had originally wanted to test it out with my now six-year old, since the books I had for the Tag were pre-reading and more her speed. Of course, she loved it, and much to my surprise, found myself buying a second one for my three-year old…

Let me backtrack - the LeapFrog Tag is one of the hot, new items LeapFrog has recently rolled out. They’ve seriously done their homework! The way I’ve been describing the Tag is, it’s like a chunky, digital pen (the official term is “talk-and-touch reading device”). Special Tag-related books include everything from Dora to Dr. Seuss to one of our new faves, Olivia, and are “read ” through the Tag after a bit of modern magic. Install the Tag’s included CD, and download the contents of your books onto the Tag (the Tag holds up to five books at a time). Once the book is downloaded, and as soon as you touch the Tag to the book, the real magic happens! Kids can choose to have the story read to them, plus they can press the point of the Tag onto just about anything on the page to hear sound effects or other fun extras to embellish the story. There are also games included in many of the titles. All are educational, fun and completely absorbing for kids. I mean it, I can’t tell you enough how easy and exceptionally entertaining the Tag is!

Another aspect of the Tag I fell in love with is the Learning Path system, a free online tool which allows you to see what your child is working on with their Tag (and other new LeapFrog toys as well). Just set up an account, plug in the Tag often, and the Learning Path will give you detailed information on particular skills engaged and progress made. Kids can also unlock “rewards” see how they’re learning without even knowing it!

I am beyond excited to offer a Tag for one lucky winner, as well as two Tag titles - Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (a real belly-laugher in our house) and The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss! You won’t be disappointed, I promise. So, the rules are: Please leave a comment at this post by next Sunday night at midnight, PST with an answer to this: What do you think will be your child’s (or any Tag recipient’s) favorite Tag book? Please, one comment per person! One winner will be chosen at random. This contest is available to US residents only. Good luck!

This contest is now closed!

My six-year old’s birthday party may have been full of paper plates and juice boxes (we’ll leave that for another post), but I felt good knowing her invitations were made from recycled paper - and totally unique from anything else I found. My big thank you for these awesome invites goes out to Kate Rosenthal, the brainchild behind eco-art supplies and stationery shop Stubby Pencil Studio. Based in Portland, OR, Stubby Pencil Studio is chock full of super fun and simply lovely artsy goods for kids, as well as personal paper and invites for your birthday needs (see pic above for the front of my daughter’s art party invite!).

Congrats to Stubby Pencil Studio for being featured in Cool Mom Picks’ Safer Toy Guide! To celebrate, Stubby Pencil Studio is offering $50 worth of goodies for one lucky winner! So many of SPS’s products are perfect for stocking stuffers and a winner for one Chanukah night. What will it be - Holiday Smencils, the fun-smelling pencil made from recycled newspapers; amazing metallic EcoPencils my daughter can’t get enough of; or my new favorite, wink ‘n curtsy’s eco-friendly personalized stationery for kids? The rules stay the same - please visit Stubby Pencil Studio to answer this very tough question: What product would your little artist love to get their hands on? Leave a comment here after your browse this wonderful shop! This contest will be open until next Friday, November 14th at midnight, PST. Good luck!

*Open to US residents only. One winner will be picked at random.

This contest is now closed! Thanks to everyone for entering!