I don’t subscribe to many magazines (I’m pretty reformed, but our magazine bin is always full to capacity). But as much as I read on-line, green or otherwise, I do like to keep things on hand for browsing or reference that I don’t need to turn on my computer for. KIWI is one of them. KIWI Magazine is a bi-monthly, family-centered publication with a focus on natural and organic lifestyles, but like the fruit, is sweet and many shades of green. KIWI focuses on every aspect of eco-wellness, from health to food to clothing and the fun stuff. KIWI shares the desire held by all parents to create a safe, happy environment for our children that promotes growth and well-being.

The on-line KIWI experience is just as rewarding and brings the magazine even more to life. There’s an awesome recipes page, articles on everything from safe pregnancy to endangered species, a great blog and podcast and KIWI kids funpages to print out and keep your little ones busy all summer. There are also a bunch of newsletters for KIWI in your inbox, with coupons, green tips, and the new cooking club for kids newsletter (there’s no link, but a neat little box where you can enter your email address).

This week, one lucky winner will get a year subscription to KIWI! The rules are the same, as always. Please leave a comment here with an answer to this question - what’s your favorite aspect of KIWI Magazine? You have until next Monday, July 28th at midnight, PST to enter! Good luck!

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! 

I have been on a MISSION - to find the perfect BPA-free sippy for my girls. And like many things green these days, it can be overwhelming! I need sippys mainly for camp and when we’re out (which is pretty much all day, every day, so you can see the importance). I’ve been using the Nuby soft sippys for a couple of years, and I do love them, but I’ve really wanted to try all the fun new stuff on the market. I also didn’t want to spend a ton of $$, but with two kids, it’s inevitable to have multiple cups.

We have some SIGGs, which have supercool designs. They can, however, be tough to clean. They also sweat terribly when you put cold liquid in them. This isn’t much fun when they’re bouncing around in a backpack or lunchbag, and can get everything else wet and slimy. But, they are leakproof, and the girls love popping the top open and taking a swig from their cool looking cups, so I’ll keep ‘em.

We’ve also tried the new Camelbak BPA-free water bottles. Actually, I’ve tried them, because they only come in Mommy sizes right now. But, they are great bottles - dishwasher safe, lightweight, and comes with or without a built-in straw. They also come in awesome colors! Get many of them for the gym or playground!

If you’ve been as BPA, PVC and Phthalate crazy as some people I know, then The Soft Landing is THE place for you. The Soft Landing is a one-stop shop for BPA, PVC, and Phthalate-free baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, bath toys, lunchboxes, even stainless cups for parents. It’s a great find for gifts, especially their line of “Go BPA Free Samplers,” an assembly of various products for you to try, including bottles, teethers, and first eaters.

I’m so thrilled that The Soft Landing is sponsoring this week’s giveaway with their Go BPA Free Sippy Sampler. This is a great way to test out four wonderful, all safe, sippy cups - right now, the sampler includes one Foogo insulated stainless cup; one Nuby easy-grip sippy with silicone spout; a Think Baby training cup with chunky handles; and a Klean Kanteen stainless sippy with two Avent spouts. All cups are for babies six months and up. The samplers sell out quick and are on-sale right now, so if you don’t win, grab one fast! The rules are the same - leave a comment here with an answer to this question - which Soft Landing product would you want to try the most? This giveaway will run until next Thursday, July 3rd at midnight PST. Good luck!

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

If I had to tally up what I’ve written about the most frequently (product-wise), Seventh Generation would probably be the winner - for their partnership in the Wee Generation sustainable diaper bag; their “Get Out of Hot Water” campaign, and just overall general love for their products and commitment to eco-education and natural products. Now that many SG products can be found in ‘regular’ supermarkets, it can be even easier to try out natural cleaning and baby care products that can not only help your home, but your family’s health as well.

This week I have an awesome Seventh Generation Natural Baby Starter Kit for one lucky winner! The Natural Baby Starter Kit includes two packages of size 1 chlorine-free diapers; one tub of chlorine-free baby wipe, plus one refill; and Natural Baby laundry detergent, all in a handy SG tote bag. This is a great gift for parents to be to try out some natural baby products! The rules are simple - leave a comment here with an answer to this question - what’s your favorite Seventh Generation product? (I’m a big fan of Wild Orange Kitchen Cleaner myself.) This giveaway will be open until next Thursday, June 26th at midnight, PST. Good luck!

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

BPA and the use of it in children’s drinking products and pacifiers is still a hot topic in the news and with consumers. Thankfully, there’s a ton of information available now to help parents make informed decisions about how to safely feed their babies and toddlers. There are a lot of brands to choose from that have safer options, and the BornFree line is one of the top recommended BPA-free bottles and sippy cups recommended.

The BornFree system of bottles was created by a group of dads (go dads!) whose concern for their children’s health allowed them to take a big step to help change the way bottles and cups are made. BornFree’s signature honey colored bottles are made from a BPA-free polymer (plastic), and they even provide a line of glass bottles, which has become a big feeding trend in the wake of BPA. The bottles also contain a unique venting system to help reduce colic and ear infections. BornFree can be found at Whole Foods, Babies ‘R Us, Buy Buy Baby, and other retailers.

BornFree is celebrating Father’s Day in a very special way. If you or someone you know has a baby this Father’s Day (June 15th, 2008), you can win a year’s supply of BornFree bottles (up to 10 of them)! The first one thousand people who mail in a copy of the hospital proof of birth or baby’s birth certificate to the address provided are eligible. Click here for all the rules and regulations regarding this giveaway. Providing babies a safe feeding system (aside from breastfeeding, of course) without worry of chemicals is a great way to start their lives!

I hope everyone had an amazing Mother’s Day! We were lucky enough to spend most of the day outside, enjoying the beach and family. As my older daughter told me when I kissed her goodnight, “Every day should be Mother’s Day” (no really, she did!), I remind myself how my healthy, curious, enlightening children have become the best reason to help the planet, even through this little blog.

As many of my days wind down, I end up thinking about parenting, which eventually leads to thinking about writing and being green and on and on and on (insert smiley face here). I guess since I advocate for nature above all else, I talk to my kids a lot about planting trees, which leads me every time back to Eco-Libris, the green business that works with publishers, bookstores, even readers, to help the book industry balance out its paper use.

In April, Eco-Libris teamed up with Kedzie Press, an independent, “green” publisher that prints all books on post-consumer, chlorine-free paper, for Kedzie’s Million Tree-A-Thon! Kedzie Press is aiming to plant one million trees by December 2009. All you do is purchase any Kedzie Press title from their website, and Eco-Libris will match each purchase with a tree, and a pre-printed sticker on each title. Use the code “milliontrees” for 10% off any book!

This week, I’m thrilled that Kedzie Press is so generously giving away 10 copies of their latest release, The Green Parent. The Green Parent is a comprehensive guide to help ease your family into being cleaner and greener. It tackles topics such as money-saving, practical efforts for eco-ing your home; educating your kids and how to teach them to spread the eco-word; and green products you can use (and afford!) For each copy of The Green Parent sponsored for the giveaway, Eco-Libris will double the trees planted. This means a total of 20 new trees from this giveaway alone are going into the ground! So, get those thinking caps on, and enter - this contest will be open until midnight, PST on Friday, May 16th. Please leave a comment with an answer to this question - what do you think is the most important eco-tip to share with your children (or grandchildren, nieces and nephews, etc.)? Good luck, and I hope the winners enjoy the book!

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 love when large companies think outside the eco-box - it’s surprising and refreshing. I think the last time I wore Timberland boots were in the early 90s at sleepaway camp, when “Tims” waterproof boots (we had a different name for them, but this is a G-rated blog) were all the rage for the rain and mud. What a pleasant surprise when I found out they’ve launched an eco-line of shoes for men and women, called Earthkeepers, and take a strong stance of corporate responsibility towards the environment and human rights.

Timberland may feature a lot of leather items, but they’re making an effort to balance it out. Last October, when Earthkeepers was launched, an ad campaign with large billboards was featured around Boston and Providence. Now, the billboards have been recycled into reusable tote bags that are waterproof, sturdy, roomy, and all around awesome. I’ve been trying mine out with library books (and with my girls, that’s many, many books), the beach, and gymnastics gear. It’s a great bag, and I’m happy to be able to give away one bag each to five winners this week! These bags are only available at Timberland stores for $25, and they’re limited edition, so you can be sure that you’ll be carrying an eco-bag that most people won’t have.

Rules stay the same - leave a comment here with an answer to this question: what would you put into your Timberland billboard tote? This giveaway will be open until next Thursday, April 24th at midnight PST. Please remember that comments are moderated, so they won’t show up immediately, unless you enter while I’m glued to my computer (which is very likely). Good luck!

Thanks to Erica for all your help!

This contest is now closed!  Thanks to everyone for entering, winners will be announced soon! 

As a self-professed book nerd, ‘green’ books can be both fascinating and highly informative. Unfortunately, too many of them say the same things, for a too-general audience, and give very basic, watered down advice. Not so with a book I have been referencing and carrying around with me for the past couple of weeks. Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World by Diane MacEachern, is an invaluable guide not only to going and staying green, but how to do it wisely and without breaking your wallet. More important, it’s an empowering look at the influence of women’s spending (MacEachern estimates that “women spend .85 cents of every dollar in the marketplace”), and how we can use this clout to sway the market to providing healthier, greener products and services for our families. MacEachern, a renowned environmental writer and public speaker, launched Big Green Purse in 2007, and has been a forerunner in green education. Her comfortable writing and engaging, timely topics makes greening your family and home lively and, dare I say, worry free.

In Big Green Purse, MacEachern examines a variety of topics, with eco-alternatives, label explanations, and what goes on under her own roof. MacEachern explains what organic really means, and how to shop for sustainable food; “Car Talk,” or, advice on saving gas; even the best coffee, tea, and chocolate products on the market. A distinct difference from other go-green books (and something I feel needs to be stressed even more than opening up your wallet) are the addresses and phone numbers of companies not holding up to sustainable promises, encouraging readers to make some noise and let big business know changes need to be made! Be sure to sign up for “Purse Alerts” on the website to have tips and tricks delivered to your mailbox so you don’t miss a green beat.

This week, I am super excited to give away not ONE, not TWO, but FIVE COPIES of Big Green Purse to my loyal readers. Leave a comment here with an answer to the following - what would you consider to be your most important green shopping principle? This giveaway will be open until next Friday, April 11th at midnight, PST. And be sure to sign up at Hot Moms Club and join the teensygreen group, for a more in-depth discussion of the principles behind Big Green Purse. I look forward to seeing you there and hearing what you have to say about spending green! Good luck!

This contest is now closed!  Thank you all so much for your wonderful responses - congrats to all the winners!  I hope you can all get a chance to take a look at this great book and add it to your green library…

Happy almost Spring! I know everyone is anxiously awaiting the arrival of warmer weather and more time outside, especially with Easter this Sunday. While the weather is still chilly, why not reenergize your kids with new, eco-friendly cards and coloring fun! I’ve written about Stubby Pencil Studio for Valentine’s Day, and I asked Kate Rosenthal, Stubby Pencil’s creator, to make party invitations for my daughter’s third birthday party. What a hit! I am so loving this paper company, I thought it was time to share with all of you. Stubby Pencil Studio’s “Green to the Letter” Stationery basket includes:

• 4 packs of Color ‘n Kids cards (winner’s choice of styles) - click the categories under “multi-pack sets” to see the styles
• Set of 10 Smencil pencils
• NEW! Set of 10 Colored Smencil pencils
• Box of 24 Soy Crayons
• One ’spring top’ pencil sharpener (winner’s choice of style)

This is an artsy kid’s dream! My girls love these cards, and it’s a great feeling to have them handy and not have to run to a card store for every holiday or occasion. The cards also have letter tracing and fun, unique, kid-centric designs.

You know the rules - leave a comment here with an answer to the following: what’s your favorite Color ‘n Kids pack? You have until Thursday, March 27th at midnight PST to enter. Good luck!

This contest is closed!  Congrats to Donna!