DIY Aquarium

A cardboard fish tank...how awesome! Another great DIY project that kids LOVE!! You only need a box, glue, thread and little pieces of colored cardboard paper to make the creatures. Easy, enjoyable and very green!

Source: DikaKids Brazil

Repurpose, Reuse

Eco-Psychology Trends 2012

Eco-Psychology Conference 2012, Sponsored by Ford

This past week I had the privilege of being invited to the Eco-Psychology Trends Conference, in Dearborn, MI. Got to meet great green minds, and famous environmentalists and celebrities! I love how the environment movement is growing so fast, supported by top brands nationwide.
The rise in technology has made consumers more talkative about brands' actions. There are loads of opportunities for brands to take advantage of this connectivity and use it against their competition. Here is my toast to smart green brands!

Panelists Peter Glatzer (Film producer for HBO, Discovery, Fox), and Adrian Grenier ("Entourage" actor and filmmaker)

Alan Mullaly, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company

Safer Cosmetics for Kids

According to a study by the Environmental Working Group, children are exposed to an average of 61 different chemical ingredients every day, and 27 of these ingredients have not been found safe for children by the government or the cosmetic industry's expert safety panel.

Gaps in health protections leave children exposed to potentially harmful ingredients when their developing tissues and organs are sensitive to chemical damage. Children's skin is 30% thinner than an adults', on average, and can absorb greater amounts of chemicals from the skin surface. They breathe in more air (and air contaminants) relative to their weight than adults, and the blood-brain barrier that helps block chemicals from penetrating brain tissue is not fully formed until a baby reaches 6 months of age.

Top Four Tips:

1.Use fewer products and use them less frequently.
2. Don’t trust the claims. Check ingredients.
3. Buy fragrance-free products.
4. Visit cosmeticsdatabase.com.

Check the Parent's Buying Guide released by EWG. It provides recommendations on choosing safer products for your children.

Kid Powered Truck

This is a very cool kid-powered adventure vehicle. Made from eco-friendly sprigwood, a recycled bio-composite material, it comes with battery free lights and sound!

Kids can pick from three play modes: search with lights only, no sound; rally - engine rumble sound and lights; or adventure - lights and themed adventure sounds.

Manufactured by Sprig Toys, can be found at Amazon.com

Eco House for an Eco Future

A superb Christmas gift, the Eco House is made from environmentally friendly rubber wood and non-toxic paints, dyes, lacquers and formaldehyde free glue. Even the package is made from at least 70% recycled paper.
It also features windmill and solar panels on roof and recycling bin. It encourages creativity, imagination and respect for Mother Earth.

Made by Wonderworld, sold through Amazon.com

Common Household Toxic Chemicals

We are exposed to several toxins on a daily basis, and sometimes are not aware of how easy it is to avoid them by recognizing the sources.

Here is a list of list of the seven most common toxic chemicals found in your home:

Chemical	Health Effects*	Common Exposure Sources
Bisphenol A (BPA)	Birth defects; hormone disruptor	Polycarbonate plastic; canned foods and beverages
Lead	Toxic to brain and nervous system; decreased IQ; aggression and hyperactivity disorders	Lead based paint; household dust; outdoor soils; consumer products
Mercury	Toxic to brain and nervous system	Consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish
Perchlorate	Interferes with iodine uptake of thyroid gland, which regulates hormones necessary for proper development	Drinking water; consumption of irrigated crops; milk
Phthalates	Hormone disruptor; birth defects; reproductive disease; reduced sperm counts; heart disease; diabetes	Polyvinyl chloride plastic; household cleaners and other products with synthetic fragrance; cosmetics; food packaging
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)	Interfere with brain development and may be linked to hyperactivity; toxic to reproductive system	Flame retardants used in electronics, polyurethane foam in upholstered furniture and mattresses, black out drapes and textiles that off-gas and can be found in household dust and food
Triclosan	Toxic to liver; disrupts thyroid hormone system (necessary for development); may cause cancer	Antibacterial agent used in liquid soap, beauty products and cleaning products

The following has been excerpted from the book Smart Mama's Green Guide: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Child's Toxic Chemical Exposure by Jennifer Taggart.

ECO GIVEAWAY WINNER!

Congratulations, KARI BURNS ANDERSON!

You are the winner of our Eco Giveaway. Please e-mail us at EcoLogicalMom@ymail.com to redeem your prize, an organic cotton t-shirt of your choice from the Idbids collection.

Adorable Eco-Friendly Characters

As we continue on our mission to find good options of educational toys for Christmas, we stumbled across Idbids, an award winning eco-friendly toy manufacturer.

Idbids' adorable plush toys teach children environmental sustainability in very fun ways. Scout, Lola and Waverly are handcrafted using 100% organic Egyptian cotton. They come with a storybook that teaches lessons about Earth and how to make a difference. The child can chart his or her progress as steps are completed every day.

Not only an educational toy, it is adorable!

For your Next Trip to a Toy Store

Christmas is coming and a common concern for parents of young kids is toy safety. Babies and toddlers tend to put toys in their mouths, making it a lot more dangerous. See below a few points, from the National Geographic "Green Guide", to be considered before your next trip to a toy store.

The worst plastic used in children's toys, including teethers, is polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. Considered "hormone disruptors" and linked with asthma and respiratory problems, phthalates can migrate out of toys and onto the hands (and into the mouths) of children. Fortunately, many companies are removing phthalates, and several states, including California and Maine, are initiating legislation that would ban the sale of any children's products containing problem chemicals.

Lead has also been found frequently in toys, including Barbie dolls, Fisher-Price locomotives and Thomas the Tank Engines, and have been recalled due to violations of lead paint standards. Lead is also found in the paint of some old wood and metal toys, especially in imports. Lead is associated with a host of learning disabilities and behavior disorders, and even low exposures can carry lifelong effects.

Look for plastics made without PVC. It's usually identifiable by the number 3, often with the letters "PVC" or the word "vinyl" next to the recycling symbol. You can also use the "smell test"; plastics made with vinyl usually have a plasticky smell, similar to that of a new shower curtain. If you aren't sure whether a product contains PVC or PVC parts, call the manufacturer.

Smart Food Ingredients

Check out this interesting video about medical benefits of feeding kids with at least a few organic ingredients.

Educational Toys

Finding intelligent toys for kids is not easy. Add to your requirement eco-friendly materials and it can turn into a real challenge!
Major department stores offer aisles and aisles of options, but most of them are made of lousy expendable materials, expensive, and not educational.

I'm on a mission to find good options of eco-friendly and educational toys. I'll post more sources as they become available. In the meantime, check these websites, featuring eco-friendly toys by age, and category such as books, games, dolls, musical instruments, etc.
www.childtrek.com
www.downtoearthtoys.com
www.thesoftlanding.com

Very Classy, Very Wise

Check out this video for creative eco-friendly ideas for a baby shower. Very classy...

Growing Organic Veggies

Growing your own organic veggies can be a lot of fun, and is definitely a lot cheaper than buying them in grocery stores.
I've tried a couple of times, but unfortunately always lost the battles to bunnies and chipmunks. They seem to be a lot faster than me, specially during their night shifts!

Raised in apartment buildings, I've never had the opportunity to develop a green thumb! Since moved to a house, our few attempts to plant some fruits, veggies and herbs have been quite entertaining to our neighborhood speedy critters.

The Daily Green just published 9 easy steps to develop an organic garden, and although the Winter is approaching quite soon, there are several techniques to grow and maintain an indoor garden. Click on the sources below for detailed information, and step-by-step guidance.

Sources: The Daily Green for organic gardens, and About.com for indoor herb garden

Online Eco Tools

Check out these sites with interactive tools to help you figure out how to save energy and money at home:

energystar.gov
An interactive graphic, Energystar@Home, guides you on changes room by room.

hes.lbl.gov
The site prompts you to fill out a questionnaire about your house, then provides tips on reducing energy consumption based on your profile.

rehabadvisor.pathnet.org
This site provides suggestions on making your renovation project more energy efficient, with estimated costs and payback period.

consumerspower.org
Provides a calculator that helps you break down your energy bill by appliance, and correct problem areas.

Very nice tools, all free!
For more information, logon to thisoldhouse.com

SIGG Bottles Contained Bisphenol-A

Children's bottle maker SIGG has admitted that the epoxy lining used for years in SIGG bottles - which they secretly swapped out for a new liner last summer - contained the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A.
Parents all over the world, advocates of their supposed high quality bottles, are very annoyed with the news.
Bottles purchased before August 2008 contained the old BPA liner.
For more information click here.

Recycled Diaper Dude Bag!

This diaper bag is super cool. It is made from 100% recycled water bottles.
Very interesting concept, and beautiful! Useful design with several pockets, including insulated compartment for a bottle, and a changing pad. The designer claims it is for dudes, but it looks pretty good for moms too! Click here for more information

A Corn PDA.... Cool Momma Phone!

Sprint and Samsumg have just launched a green phone, a simplified version of a green Blackberry. Very nice initiative, considering how often people replace their phones. Unfortunately just a small percentage of old phones are recycled, and most of them end up in the landfill for decades.

It is a nice looking phone with several cool applications such as heavy e-mail and texting, and access to Facebook and Twitter. Sprint said $2 of every phone sale goes to the Nature Conservancy.

Check out this link for more information

Eco Party....Little Things We Can Do

There are many little things we can do to teach kids the art of “eco-friendliness”. We can also inspire other parents by encouraging them to be conscious about not wasting unnecessary resources.

Have you thought about making your next dinner or birthday party a bit more eco-friendly? There are several choices you can make, without being overboard! From reusable plates and cups to recycled-paper decoration and napkins. There are very classy options available in the market.

You don’t need to make the Ecology your party theme, but some hints here and there will set the tone and do great for mother Earth. It is nice to be conscious and responsible while we are having fun!

Registering for your bridal or baby shower at eco-friendly boutiques, sending recycled-paper invitations and thank you notes are also great touches! It is all about creativity, respect and fun!

Family Bike Ride

Woohoo! Summer is here, and if you haven’t cleaned your bikes yet, you are missing a lot of fun.

Family rides are a very good exercise, and an awesome bonding experience. Bike trailers are great for kids, and some of them can even be used as a strollers. There are versions for different ages, and for two kids as well.

Bike extension versions work well, however you will need some practice before carrying your kid! If the child moves abruptly, or if the parent is not used to the additional weight, there is a potential to destabilize the bike.

Standard bike trailers seem a lot safer to me for younger kids, since they are lower on the ground, and the flexible hitches allow the trailer to stay upright in case the bike falls.

Whatever the version you choose for your family, get on the road while the sun is warm, and enjoy loads of family fun! Just remember to stay close, in case of diaper emergencies…