I sense a theme this week…Seattle/Bellevue, Washington-area mom Corey Colwell-Lipson started a movement this year that many parents are applauding. While out trick-or-treating with her daughters last year, she found herself cheering the people giving out stickers and bubbles instead of candy. It sparked something, and Green Halloween was born. Green Halloween’s message is simple - while we know that we can’t keep all candy away from our kids, we can replace some of it with healthier or alternative treats. There’s also enhancing the fun of dressing up, decorating your home, and having a fun afternoon with friends walking around the neighborhood (or apartment building - I was a city kid myself). And if you remember carrying around the little orange UNICEF boxes, Green Halloween is also raising money for Treeswing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading the message of fitness and nutrition to all kids.

Green Halloween is putting the most focus on kids ages 1-5 years old, little ones who aren’t ready for the tricking, but can learn that treating can be a lot more worthwhile with a little effort and some great advice. The most valuable section for everyone is the “Treats, Treasures, and Tips” page, filled with treat-giving alternatives, including small arts and crafts items, money for charity, and organic sweets alternatives. You can email Green Halloween at corey@greenhalloween.com for a “Green Halloween” kit to jumpstart the Hallo-greening of your home and ‘hood. And, if you’re lucky enough to live in the Seattle area, check out these upcoming events! However you stand on Halloween, we think greening any holiday is worthwhile and a breath of fresh air.

And, don’t forget to see below and sign up for our Divvies Halloween cupcake giveaway! Happy Boo-ing!

Toothbrushes are a big, um, target for us at Target. I so many Elmo, Dora, My Little Pony, you name it, if it comes on a plastic toothbrush it sits in the bathroom cup. But when I found the Preserve Junior toothbrush by Recycline, I realized it was time for a change. The Preserve Junior is ergonomic, with soft bristles, and made from 100% recycled plastic - specifically, Stonyfield Farms yogurt cups. The toothbrushes come in packs of four, but if you order through them, you can have one mailed to you every two, three, or four months, so you can actually remember to change your child’s toothbrush. Plus, mail it back to them in a postage-paid recycled mailer (of course) when you’re finished, and they’ll recycle it again for you! Talk about circle of life…

As a fun bonus, each brush features a fun fact about one of three endangered animals: the Karner Blue Butterfly, the Utah Prairie Dog or the Grizzly Bear. A portion of Preserve Junior toothbrush sales goes to the National Wildlife Federation. Find Preserve toothbrushes for you and your kids at teensygreen’s EcoShop!

Since our giveaway this week is an awesome Lotuspad eco-friendly yoga mats for kids, I thought I’d highlight Itsy Bitsy Yoga, the most popular, nationwide yoga program for kids from birth to age four. I noticed with my first daughter that she would naturally do yoga poses - think child’s pose when having a fit, or downward dog trying to do a somersault. Itsy Bitsy Yoga really tapped into her movements, and actually helped with her gassiness and sleep patterns. The benefits of yoga are enormous! It’s quiet, reflective, and a total bonding experience with your baby. And, as kids get older, they get the satisfaction of doing physical challenges without the competitiveness. Find a class near you and get started!

When I was pregnant with daughter #2, I would bring daughter #1 with me to prenatal yoga, thinking it would spur a life-long interest in downward dog and ohm-ing and all sorts of crazy flexibility. But nooooooo. My daughter thought my yoga mat was ‘too stinky’ to lay on, and that was that. Yoga mats are, in fact, made from chemicals and nasty PVC, giving them their needed stickiness but odd smell. Who knew? The mom behind Lotuspad EcoKids yoga mats really took this to heart, and developed a yoga mat for kids that is hygienic, non-toxic, non-slippy, PVC-free, comfy, lightweight, and totally biodegradable! And adorable, of course. Your kids will be Balasana-ing (child’s pose) in eco-style before they know it! They also carry equally funky mat straps, so your little ones can carry their meditation spaces around easily.

Wonder why you’ve never heard of Lotuspad before? It’s because they just came on the market…I am so excited to give away one small green Lotuspad Ecokids yoga mat for this week’s winner! As always, leave a comment at this post (with an email address, so I can reach you) before Thursday night at midnight, PST. And you can order these beautiful mats with free shipping before Labor Day.

Congrats to Dianne, winner of the Lotuspad yoga mat for her kids!

You already know about the amazing SIGG kid’s bottles…SIGGs are cleaner and safer than plastic sippies, made from a single piece of aluminum, totally recyclable, taste-neutral (meaning, that milky smell on your cups won’t stand a chance), dishwasher safe, hygenic…it’s the perfect alternative to plastic water bottles and sippy cups. I used to feel the price was outrageous - my thought process went something like, “It’s a cup. A cup.” But when I took stock of the months-old plastic cups my kids were using, I was appalled I didn’t buy them sooner! Today is our lucky day, dear readers - ReusableBags.com not only have SIGGs on sale, but you can pre-order the new Fall 2007 line of SIGGs at the same time. Fun for girls, boys, and water guzzling parents alike, the new SIGGs are cutesy and fun and flashy and, yes, cups. But don’t they make you feel better? My cabinet is ready - is yours?

The NY Times is reporting today that independent lab testing for various vinyl bibs, including Winnie the Pooh and from brandmakers Especially for Baby and Koala Baby, are contaminated with lead and may provide a health hazard if children chew on damaged or cracked bibs. The bibs have been sold at Toys “R” US around the country, but there has been no widespread recall. This is not part of the latest lead-toy recall from China, although the bibs are made there as well.

Instead, try this adorable bib from Baby Soy. It’s organic, machine washable, and way cuter. And look Ma, no lead!