Stuff We Found Today - 12.30.08

Happy New Year's Everyone!!

This is our last post for 2008. We're going to take a few days off (and then some). See you all in the New Year!!

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Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Nine Tips for the Green Parent in 2009 - (Green & Clean MOM)
  

Food Stuff

• Hot Wine? Mull It Over - (EcoSalon) How to make mulled wine.
  

Home Stuff

• Daisy Vase from Design Boom - (Green Your Decor) These cool little vases are made from recycled Bic pen cases!
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Dancing Shoes - (EcoFashionWorld) Some truly stylish eco-friendly shoes...no crunchy granola types here.
• Super Cool Organic Tees and Onesies from Baby Blend - (Eco Child's Play) We think these graphics are super cute.

Tech & Science Stuff

• 230 mph, 8-wheeled Electric Car May be On Sale Soon - (EcoGeek) You too can own this car for a mere $255,000!
  
• Mazda Concept Car Aims for Green Racing Future - (Ecoscraps) Okay...this is one very crazy looking car.

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Tennessee Coal Ash Disaster Dwarfs Exxon Spill - (EarthFirst) Hey all you people touting "clean coal"...take a look at this!
  
• An Example of Clean Coal? - (Global Warming is Real) More video clips on the Tennesse coal ash disaster.
• Honeybees Susceptible to Cocaine Addiction - (EarthFirst) We thought this was kinda interesting.

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Palin Camp And PETA Throw Words Over Snowball Game - (Ecorazzi).
  

Website Stuff

• iHerb.com - Great site for natural health and beauty products. You can find most of the popular natural brands here and usually at a lower price than your local health food store. We like checking the prices here first before buying elsewhere.

Political & Social Stuff

• Obama Starts Social Questions Site - (EcoGeek) Folks, this is pretty cool.
• Bush Plans Oil Drilling Off California Coast By 2010 - (Red, Green and Blue) Seriously, when is W leaving???

Holiday Stuff

• Celebrate New Year's, 2008 at Greenhouse - (Eco Chick) If you happen to be in NYC for the festivities this year.

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Greenpeace Awards BP with 'Emerald Paintbrush' for Worst Greenwashing of 2008 - (EarthFirst) Video included in this post.
  
• Oregon Makes Brands Pay to Recycle E-Products - (Environmental Leader)
• Green living workshops to kick off 2009 - (green LA girl) For our green friends in the L.A. area.
• Five Greenish Products You've Seen on TV - (Sustainablog)

They're Feeling the Zen of Coco-Zen Over at Recycle Your Day

We recently sent some truffles and body treat samples over to LaMamaNaturale who Joyce (aka CocoZenMama) met over on Twitter, and it looks like we might have a new fan. Check out the amazing shout out she gave us on her environmental blog Recycle Your Day.

"Feeling Zen...The Power of Chocolate"

Stuff We Found Today - 12.29.08

Home Stuff

• The Amazing Hobbit Tree House - (Environmental Graffiti) You just have to take a look at this...can't be described.
  
• Tick, Tock, Eco Clocks: Recycled Wood Wall Clocks by Infinity Arts - (Green Your Decor) These clocks are kind of cool looking too.
• Preparing Your Home for the New Year, The Green Way - (Green Your Decor)
• HOW TO: Make Your Own Eco, Kid-Safe Cleaning Supplies - (Inhabitots) Apparently it's not all the difficult to do...AND you can save quite a bit of money!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Resort Chic and Cheap: Nanay - (showtheLOVE) $29 flip flops with soles made from recycled tires.
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Old Underwear Factory to Power 10,000 Homes - (EcoGeek) "An abandoned Fruit of the Loom factory in Rabun Gap, Ga. is about to get a new life as a biomass facility."
  
• Toyota to Introduce Plant-Based Plastic in Cars - (EcoGeek)
• Your Prius Can Power Your Home In a Snowstorm - (EcoGeek)

School, College & Student Stuff

• Green College Spotlight: University of Michigan - (EarthFirst)

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Is this the Real Jack Frost? [PICS] - (Environmental Graffiti)
  
• 10 Most Remote and Remarkable Inhabited Islands - (WebEcoist)

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Eco-Friendly Hotels Gaining Popularity - (NatueralNews.com)
  
• S.F. fliers may pay their way in carbon usage - (SFGate) "Environmentally conscious travelers flying out of San Francisco International Airport will soon be able to assuage their guilt and minimize the impact of their air travel by buying certified carbon offsets at airport kiosks."

Website Stuff

• Top Green Search Engines - (GreenMuze) Great list, but we also like Click 4 Carbon.

International Stuff

• Palestinians to Sell First Fair Trade Product - (Fair Trade Resource Network)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• $1B Per Year Wasted by PS3s and XBoxes - (EcoGeek) Hey all you gamers...power down those consoles!
  
• Teenager Works to Make Difference for Women of Darfur - (EcoSalon) We love these stories of youth making a difference.
• New York City to Install Super-Efficient LED Streetlamps - (Inhabitat)

Stuff We Found This Weekend - 12.28.08

Food Stuff

• Make a 2009 resolution for fair trade coffee - (green LA girl).
  

Home Stuff

• Top Ten Green Architecture Projects of 2008 - (Inhabitat) These are amazing! Still can't believe the temple made from recycled bottles.
  
• Treat you Dog to Homemade Treats - (ecofabulous)

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Top Ten Sustainable Style Stores of 2008 - (Inhabitat) The "Icelandic Moss Ring" was pretty interesting. Would you wear it??
  
• BEElieve - (showtheLOVE) Burt's Bees...we love their stuff too.
• Global Ghetto Organics - (showtheLOVE)

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Toast the Earth with Exxon Mobil - (EarthFirst) Funny video from 2006...but still relevant today.
  
• 9 Examples of Incredible Tornado Photography - (EarthFirst) Some crazy, amazing pics.
• 29 Disturbingly Creative Ads for the Environment - (WebEcoist) WARNING!! Some of these images ARE disturbing - not for kids!!
• Frozen Water: Stunning Natural Ice Formations - (EarthFirst)

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• DiCaprio Enjoying His 'Unbelievable' Tesla Electric Roadster - (Ecorazzi) Excerpts from interview with the UK Daily.
  
• Christmas Tree Revenge - Saturday Morning Cartoon - (The Good Human) Funny.
• Holiday Art: Christmas Tree Chainsaw MassACRE - (Inhabitat)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• The Paper Waste of Phone Books - (The Good Human) Does anybody really use phonebooks anymore...internet baby!
  
• Liquid Wood: A Green Alternative to Plastic? - (EarthFirst) "...created from the waste byproducts of the papermaking industry."
• Green DIY Crafts: Turn a Shopping Bag into a Shipping Envelope - (EarthFirst) Kinda neat.

VIDEO: Toast the Earth with Exxon Mobil

This little ditty is from 2006, but somehow still seems relevant. Can you believe there are still global warming naysayers??

Quote of the Week - 12.28.08

"The whole of life is but a moment of time.
It is our duty, therefore to use it, not to misuse it."

~Plutarch

******

"The whole of life is but a moment of time.
It is our duty, therefore to taste all the Fair Trade chocolate we can."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: The Good Life

When you work so hard everyday trying to get ahead or be successful, it's often easy to loose sight of what life is really all about.

"... a chance meeting between an MBA and a fisherman on a small island. As the MBA tries to teach the fisherman about business, the fisherman teaches him about life."

Stuff We Found Today - 12.26.08

Food Stuff

• Fair Trade Wine Now Available in US Stores - (Fair Trade Resource Network) This is great if buying imported wines (ensures ethical treatment of workers), but don't forget about all the wonderful domestic organic wines also available.
  
• 10 Tips to Recession-Proof Your Grocery Shopping - (Eco Child's Play)
• Eating Green on a Budget - (Eat. Drink. Better.)
• Your Wine Tasting (for Under $100) - (Sprig) Great idea for a New Year's Eve get together with friends.

Home Stuff

• Experiencing Earthlust - (ecofabulous) Here's another stainless steel water bottle, but what makes these cool are the limited edition graphics on them.
  
• Is GreenPan a safe alternative to toxic Teflon? - (green LA girl)
• Best New Year's Eve (and Beyond) Green Barware - (Sprig)

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Lola & James Recycled Vintage Concert Tee Clothing for Kids - (EcoStiletto) Supercool!
  
• Toxic Gifts: Read the Ingredients before Slathering on that Smelly Lotion - (EarthFirst) We've mentioned the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database before and thought this post was a good reminder, especially now that everyone has opened their gifts.
• Canadian Chic with Jessie May - (EcoSalon) We're digging her super sweet Chamomile top from the Coastal Prairie Nostalgia collection.
• Men's Reef organic jeans for under $50 - (green LA girl) Seriously...organic jeans for UNDER $50 !!

Tech & Science Stuff

• Even Mighty Toyota is Troubled, But Promises Growth with New Hybrids and Batteries - (TheDailyGreen)
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Great Green Job of the Week: Coastal Louisana Organizer for the national Wildlife Federation - (EarthFirst)
• Top 10 Ecopreneurs of 2008 - (Ecopreneurist)

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Timon and Pumbaa [PIC] - (Environmental Graffiti) Just have a look.
  
• The Most Extreme Weather of 2008 - (TheDailyGreen)
• 5 Arctic Animals that Turn White for Winter - (WebEcoist)

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Top 5 Most Popular Ecorazzi Stories of 2008 - (Ecorazzi)
  
• Hilarious: FOX News Starts A Green Website - (Ecorazzi)
• Eco Board Games to Play During the Holidays - (EcoSalon) Great way to get the whole family to start thinking green.
• 10 Things to Love About Train Travel - (EcoSalon) We just wish there was a better rail option for traveling up and down California...when is that high speed rail supposed to be ready by??

International Stuff

• Canadians Set Up First Solar Powered Community in North America - (Global Warming is Real)

Holiday Stuff

• Start 2009 Off Right with a Green New Year's Eve Party - (EarthFirst)
• Green Your Holidays - Earth911.com - Ready to dump all that "stuff" from the holidays...WAIT, check here first to see where you can recycle all of it (including your Christmas tree).

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Hawaii Gets Greener By Making Its Grid Smarter - (EcoGeek)
  
• Salay Handmade Paper: Making Use of Weeds - (EcoSalon) "Artisans from Salay Handmade Paper in the Philippines help out local farmers by collecting cogon grass that grows among the crops in their fields and craft cards, albums, picture frames and more from these wild plants."
• The Future of the Gas-Guzzling SUV in the New Economy - (Gas 2.0)
• Woman Arrested for Running Fraudulent Wildlife Sanctuary - (Planetsave)

Stuff We Found Today - 12.23.08

This is our last "Stuff We Found" post before Christmas. See you all again on Friday.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

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Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Curing Your Allergies the Green Way - (Sprig)
  

Food Stuff

• Food Mapping for Local, Sustainable Good Gardening - (EcoSalon) Grow your own edible garden on wheels - nifty!
  
• DIY Organic Baby Food - (TheDailyGreen) "5 simple steps for real-world moms...and 7 off-the-shelf organic options."

Home Stuff

• Lasistudio: Hik! Beer Glasses - (Sprig) "...made from the very glass that housed the sudsy brew to begin with."
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Panasonic to Buy Sanyo, Focus on Solar And Battery Business - (EcoGeek)
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• National Geographic's Top 10 Photos of 2008 - (EarthFirst)
  
• The Surfrider Foundation Takes Trash To Task - (EcoSalon)

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• A Giselle-Powered New Year - (Ecorazzi) The supermodel and other celebs help power up the batteries for Time Square's 2-0-0-9.
• X-Files DVD Pulls Back Curtain On Green Production - (Ecorazzi)
• Free eco films and TV shows on Hulu.com - (green LA girl)

International Stuff

• London Unveils Sleek Zero-Emission Double Decker Buses - (Inhabitat)

Political & Social Stuff

• Carbon Emissions "Not a Factor" When Approving Coal Plants, EPA Administrator Says - (Global Warming is Real)

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

• 6 DIY Holiday Decorating Ideas - (EarthFirst) Got some last minute decorating you need to do??

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Testing Out Act Hardware's CFL Recycling Program - (EcoGeek) If you live near one, IKEA also recycles CFLs.
  
• Seed Bombs: Walk-By Guerrilla Gardening - (EcoLocalizer) "Carry these little home-made pellets around and toss them into place that could use a little bit of plant life." Awesome!
• Boise teens get 'hooked' on volunteering - (Green Travel Hub) "5 boys find they can make a real difference in just 5 hours a month."
• Ultimate Holiday Gift - Help Your Parents Get Off Junk Mail Lists - (The Good Human)

VIDEO: COALergy - "Smudge"

Newest video release from This is Reality's campaign to enlighten America on "clean" coal.

Stuff We Found Today - 12.22.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Is Your Car Making You Sick? -(Sprig) Time to rethink that "new car smell".
  

Home Stuff

• Find Out Your Roof's Solar Potential - (EcoGeek) Currently available in San Francisco, but plans to expand to more cities.
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Brush Up on Your Tools - (EcoSalon) Eco-friendly make-up brushes made from bamboo.
  
• 9 Greenest Hand Creams to Soften Winter Skin - (Sprig)

Tech & Science Stuff

• LG Releasing Sunlight-Illuminated LCD Display - (CleanTechnica) "...reduces power consumption by up to 75%."
  
• Apple vs. Dell: Which is Actually Greener - (CleanTechnica)
• Soylent Fuel is People! Biodiesel Made from Humans? Ick. - (Gas 2.0) This is no joke.
• Biodiesel? Natural Gas? Electric Cars? five Alternative Fuels Rated for Cold Weather Performance - (Gas 2.0)

School, College & Student Stuff

• Green College Spotlight: Dickinson College - (EarthFirst)
• College Students: Your Green Video Could be Worth $5000 - (Sustainablog)

Nature & Environment Stuff

• 5 Amazing Blue Holes - (Environmental Graffiti)
  
• 15 Skilled and Sublime Nature Photographers - (WebEcoist) Just some really beautiful pics.

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Sweden's Famous Icehotel - (GreenMuze).
  

International Stuff

• Japanese Government Urges Citizens to Eat Locally - (EarthFirst) Cool video.
• Danish Island Achieves Carbon Neutrality - (Global Warming is Real) And they did it without any government loans or subsidies!

Political & Social Stuff

• Greenpeace Gives BP First Annual Greenwashing Award - (Planetsave) Video included in post.

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

• Giving Wine for a Special Holiday Party: Green Gift Wrap Ideas and More - (Eat. Drink. Better.)

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Chair Made of Hair - (EarthFirst) Hmmmm...we don't think so.
  
• StubHub Launches "Tickets for Trees" to Help Restore Forests Across the U.S. - (MarketWatch) "...an effort to plant a tree for every ticket purchases on StubHub for the 2008-09 NFL post-season."
• PETA One-Ups Burger King, Releases Gore-Scented Body Spray - (Planetsave) Wow.
• Clean Coal? Storage Failure Covers 12 Homes, 400 Acres with Toxic Ash - (Planetsave)
• Bring Back the Tire Swing - (showtheLOVE) This has to be the coolest tire swing we've ever seen...made from recycled tires and available at Target!

Stuff We Found This Weekend - 12.21.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• 12 Health Warnings for Parents and Kids in 2008 - (Eco Child's Play)
• Wonderworld Duddy Shake Rattle Toy - (showtheLOVE)
• Think Baby Stainless Steel Dish Set Giveaway - (The Soft Landing)
  

Food Stuff

• The Coke/Pepsi Challenge: Which Soda Works Best as a Pesticide? - (EcoScraps) Video post - kinda crazy.
• Organic Champagne Guide - (GreenMuze) If you're planning on some bubbly for the New Year's festivities...
  

Home Stuff

• Eco Bones - (showtheLOVE) "Made from 85% post consumer recycled bottles, and IntelliLoft fiber fill."
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Swap Your Way to a Better Wardrobe - (Inhabitat)"...the new clothing swap phenomena, or the ‘art of the swish’."
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Plug-In Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus Has 6 Minute Rechage Time - (Gas 2.0) Awesome if these go mainstream - hope the test works.
  

School, College & Student Stuff

• Learn How to Green Your School - (TheDailyGreen)

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Barbara Hashimoto Makes Art Out of Junkmail - (EarthFirst) "The project was inspired by stomach-turning statistics about the wastefulness of junk mail, including these ones: Americans receive 77 billion pieces of junk mail annually, and the average American will spend an 8 months of his or her life handling junk mail."
  

Political & Social Stuff

• President-elect Obama's Weekly Address - (ChangeDotGov) Video address.
• Robert Redford Continues Battle To Save Utah From Dark Lord Sauron - (Ecorazzi) We take it that Sauron would represent Bush?
• Electric Cars or Not, Corporate Jets Must Go for GM - (Gas 2.0) What were they thinking?
  

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

• Most Eco-Unfriendly Holiday Decor - (EarthFirst) Checkin' off this list...
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Recycle to Eradicate Poverty - (Do The Green Thing) "Recycle your old cell phones to fund microfinance loans to the poor."
  

Quote of the Week - 12.21.08

"Every dewdrop and raindrop has a whole heaven within it."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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"Every bite of Fair Trade chocolate has a whole heaven within it."

~Coco-Zen

VIDEO: The Aptera 2e Electric Car - ZapRoot

Here's the latest from ZapRoot...

Stuff We Found Today - 12.19.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• KidsMakeStuff.com - A great community website where you can find fun little projects to do with your kids, as well as post your own project experiences. Projects include a wide range of subjects from science, to art & crafts, to DIY toys, to cooking (we're partial to these).
• Santa Goes Green - (children's book) "...a boy named Finn writes to Santa, asking him to help raise awareness about global warming." Read Ecorazzi's post.
  

Food Stuff

• Sustainable seafood on your iPhone - (Examiner.com)"The Environmental Defense Fund this month released a way for shoppers and diners to select environmentally sustainable seafood"...on their web-enable mobile device.
• Cookies with a Cause - (EcoSalon)
• We've Got Stars in Our Pies - (Grist) "All-star sustainable chefs share their favorite holiday recipes."
  

Home Stuff

• Plumbing Products that Preserve Water, Energy , and Funds - (Green Living Ideas)
• Flash Creators Draw Up 'Greenbox' Energy Management Tool - (Ecoscraps) "... web-based tools to evaluate our energy usage in the home...use that information to pinpoint savings opportunities and to understand our footprints on the planet."

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• It's All About Vintage at ModCloth - (EcoSalon) ...because we L-O-V-E vintage! These guys have an amazing collection of dresses and coats.
• Holiday fashion: Green and affordable - (green LA girl) a roundup of green e-boutique discounts.
• Hot Off The Press: Organic Beauty Mag to Hit Newsstands Before Year End - (Feelgood Style) Woohoo...we were wondering when something like this would finally come out!
• Gap Organic Cotton Zodiac Onesie, $14.50 - (Sprig) Maybe Gap should reinvent itself as the purveyor of "organic, casual American style" - sure would be great to have a major brand carry organic clothing for everyday Americans. Hey Gap, you listening?!!!
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Charging ahead with plug-in stations - (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal) "Christmas week will bring a present to electric car drivers — they can start charging their vehicles through light posts in front of San Jose City Hall."
• Energizer to Release Portable Solar Battery Charger - (CleanTechnica)
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Great Green Job of the Week: Climate Coalition Coordinator at Southern Alliance for Clean Energy - (EarthFirst)
• Environmental Defense Fund: The Green Jobs You've Been Hearing About - (Sustainablog)
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• U.S. Could Experience Impacts of Climate change Sooner Than Expected - (Global Warming is Real)
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Pedal power to light up Times Square New Year sign - (Reuters) "The 2-0-0-9 sign that will light up when the New Year's ball finishes its descent will be powered by batteries charged by people pedaling on bicycles."
• 'Eco-sculpture' unveiled in city - (BBC News) "An 'eco-sculpture' which can turn toxic gasses from cars back into oxygen and nitrates has been unveiled in Dundee."
• Oprah Named PETA's 2008 Person Of The Year - (Ecorazzi) Yea Oprah!
• Barbra Streisand Gave Clinton Foundation $500K For Climate Change Fight - (Ecorazzi) We think Babs is fabs!
• The Week in Celebs: Is Hugh Jackman Really and Eco-Tyrant and Did Bono Win the Nobel Prize? - (Sprig)
  

International Stuff

• Brazil Establishes Whale Sanctuary Along its Entire Coast - (Planetsave)

Political & Social Stuff

• Stop Bush from Trading Wilderness for Oil - (Green Behavior) "It’s bad enough that Bush officials went behind the backs of the American people with this disastrous scheme. But what’s worse, they didn’t even tell their own National Park Service until after the fact."
  

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

• Green your Kwanzaa and Chanukah too - (FilterForGood.com)
• Future Looks Bright with First OLED Christmas Tree - (CleanTechnica)
• The Modern Gingerbread House - (Inhabitat) We love these little gingerbread houses! Wish our real house looked like this.
• Rx for unwanted Holiday catalogs - (green LA girl) The little Magazin Christmas Tree mentioned at the end of the post is kinda cool...maybe for your office desk?
• 11 Reusable, Recyclabe & Radical Christmas Trees - (WebEcoist)
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• 9 Easy Ways to Green Up Your Life - (EarthFirst) Tips for the rich and famous...yes, this is a joke.
• NYC Moving Towards LED Streetlights - (EcoGeek)
• Your Water Footprint - (GreenMuze) "Did you know it takes 15,500 litres of water to produce 1kg (2.2lbs) of beef and 3,900 litres for just 1kg (2.2lbs) of chicken meat? For each hamburger you consume, it takes 2400 litres of water to produce."
• 'Puma City' Shipping Container Store - (Inhabitat) Not sure what's neater...that it's made from shipping containers or that it's travelling around the world.
• Cyclist Survival - (The Green Life) Here's some winter gear for you diehard cyclist who brave the cold weather.
  

Stuff We Found Today - 12.18.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Prince Charles Set To Launch New Herbal Remedies Line - (Ecorazzi) No...really.
• When Santa Turned Green - (children's book) "Here’s the premise. Global warming is wreaking some havoc at Santa’s workshop. It’s causing a leak in the roof..." Read Sustainablog's review.
  

Food Stuff

• Voluntary Harvesting: A socially conscious way of eliminating food waste - (Trend Central) There are places where you can donate your backyard fruit, and some will even come pick it for you - anyone with apple trees know how great that service can be.
• Smothering Things in Chocolate for the Holidays? - (TheDailyGreen) "Lean how to easily remove chocoalte stains with natural green cleaning."
  

Home Stuff

• EcoStore USA - Having started in New Zealand, these eco-friendly home care products are now available in the US. Read more about EcoStore. There's a 25% off sale going on through the end of the year!
• Verterra: Decidedly Non-Granola Compostable Plates - (Ecopreneurist) An eco-chic way to go disposable dinnerware.
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Save Your World Shampoo & Conditioner - (EcoStiletto) A wonderful earth-friendly shampoo that also helps to save the Amazonian rainforest. Plus, there's a 25% discount through Jan 15th.
• Melissa Joy Manning - Gorgeous jewlerly made from recycled metals and conflict-free stones. The designs have a definite bohemian vibe...we're diggin' the red-brown oval diamond ring. There's a 15% off discount from EcoStiletto.
• The Seven Best: Classic Red Lipsticks For the Perfect Pout - (Feelgood Style) These are natural and organic.
• Toasty Boys Organic Boxers - (Sustainable is Good) Okay...so, the name makes us giggle.
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Mercedes Serves Up Three Flavors of BlueZero - (EcoGeek) This is pretty interesting. We wonder which version will end up being the most popular! We're leaning towards the all electric.
• Datacenters That Heat Swimming Pools, Residences, Hotels - (triplepundit) IBM and Intel have found a use for all the heat their datacetners produce.
• Designers Create Solar Power Generating Sunglasses - (CleanTechnica) Hmmm...wonder if these will ever achieve the cult status of over-sized frames.
• NASA's CO2 Hunter - (Do The Green Thing) "Early next year NASA will be launching a satellite that will hunt out exactly where CO2 is being emitted and absorbed at the Earth's surface."

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Foresting Degraded Land Could Meet Growing Global Energy Demand - (Global Warming is Real)
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Video: Watch Ben Affleck's New Congo Documentary - (Ecorazzi).
• Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Give $1,000,000+ To Charity - (Ecorazzi)
• Scarlett Johansson Auctions Off Snotty Tissue For Charity - (Ecorazzi) Oh, the things some people are willing to buy off a celebrity!
• Bamboo Snowboards - (Smart2BeGreen) Be green on the slopes!
  

Website Stuff

• Green Coupon Codes - (showtheLOVE) For fashion and home stuff.
• Super Seltzer - (ecofabulous) The holiday cards on Seltzer are pretty funny.
  

International Stuff

• Crematorium to help heat Swedish town - (The Local) Yes, you read that right..."In a bid to increase energy efficiency, a town in western Sweden is planning to connect the local crematorium to its district heating system."
• Japan: Eco-Products 2008 - day 1 - (EcoWorldly)
  

Political & Social Stuff

• Tell Obama To End Mountaintop Removal - (EarthFirst)
• California officials launch 'Green Chemistry' initiative - (Los Angeles Times)
• NY Governor signs plastic recycling law - (The Queens Gazette)
• 100 days to a darker Earth Hour - (green LA girl) "World Wildlife Fund, the world’s largest conservation organization, is planning the world’s biggest lights-out on March 28, 2009 from 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm."

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

• The Greening of the Blue and Silver - (EcoSalon) Some tips for greening Chanukah.
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Stick With What You Got: Step Inside the Upgrade Circle - (Do The Green Thing) Puts our have-to-have-it-now consumerism right in front of us. Time to break the circle.
  
• Stick With What You Got: MacBook Air Game - (Do The Green Thing) Try to click on the green "Buy it now" button.
• What Is Fair Trade? - (EcoSalon)
• Why Does the USA Lag the Rest of the World in Fuel Economy? - (EcoWorldly) Yeah, why? Is it because we've been raised on bigger & better??
• ECO-LABORATORY: Seattle's Exemplary Eco Community - (Inhabitat)
• Give An XO Laptop and get one for yourself this year - (Inhabitat) This is truly an amazing initiative. What a way to bring kids around the world together...now this is how you start to create peace and harmony among people.
• Car Sharing Competition: Hertz Chases Zipcar - (Gas 2.0) Wow, this could be huge for Hertz once it expands to more cities.
  

VIDEO: How To Wrap a Gift with a Reusable Bag

This holiday season, why not wrap your presents in a reusable bag. It's like getting two gifts in one!

This video demonstrates how to do the wrap using a Baggu bag. However, almost any similar shaped cloth reusable bag will do...like the ChicoBags™ we're selling and giving away all December long (hint, hint).

*TIP: You should iron the bag before wrapping. No one wants a wrinkled present!

From Joyce's Desk: Gift to Our Readers - One Day of Carbon Neutrality

So, in my daily scouring of the web for "green stuff", I learned about this viral campaign called One Day from Brighter Planet which allows people to give the gift of carbon neutrality for one day...at no cost to the "giver"!! - other than just filling in name and email address. The amount of carbon offsets given is based on current estimates that the average American emits 136 pounds of carbon dioxide each day.

I found this campaign on EcoSalon (a green blog/news site that I subscribe to) who was doing what I'm now doing of passing along this gift. I figured what the hell, I'll participate - they just need my name and email address. After clicking EcoSalon's gift link and filling in One Day's little entry form, I almost immediately received an email saying:

"Congrats, you're now carbon neutral for a day! 136 pounds of carbon offsets have been donated in your name by Brighter Planet."

Included in the email was a link allowing me to now pass on this gift to 5 other people.

So...to you, our readers, I'd like to pay this gift forward. The first 5 people to clink on this link (or the badge below) will receive carbon offsets from Brighter Planet to cover one day. Hope you'll join in and pass your own gift of carbon neutrality to 5 more people. Not only will you be helping to create more carbon offsets, but you'll be spreading awareness about clean energy.

Who knows, maybe the link will work on more than just the first 5...we haven't tested it out yet :)

Stuff We Found Today - 12.17.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• 5 Non-Toxic Supplies for the Young Artists - (Green Living Ideas)
• Eco Cutey Felted Stingrays - (Inhabitots) These eco-friendly plush toys are adorable and made from 100% renewable wool.
• Green Toys Sand and Play Set, $19.99 - (Sprig) Made from recycled plastic milk containers.
• Fair Trade Doll Clothes - (showtheLOVE) "Give your child an understanding of world cultures by buying traditional wear doll clothes..."

Food Stuff

• 9 Domestic Sparking Wines for New Year's Eve 2009 - (Eat. Drink. Better.)
• FDA Proposes Government Ignore Mercury Risk in Fish - (Eco Child's Play) What??!!!
• Recipe: Grandma Kate's Pumpkin Bread (the perfect, affordable present for friends, teachers and colleagues) - (Eco Child's Play) Be sure to make yourself an extra loaf or you may not have any left to give away (with or without the glaze)!
  

Home Stuff

• Save Arm & Hammer Essentials - So, Arm & Hammer (you know the brand) has introduced a new green cleaning product and hopes consumers will discover & buy it, before their execs decide to kill it. We've never heard of it until recently. What makes this cleaner pretty cool is that not only is it made from plant based biodegradable ingredients, you also refill the bottle with a concentration (just add water) that comes in a much smaller cartridge (far less plastic waste and less shipping weight). Watch their video for more info.
• Mrs. Claus is a Striper - (ecofabulous) These striped organic cotton towels are steal - on sale at pottery barn.
• Renewal Notice: Recycled Publications - (EcoSalon) Decorative mirror, storage basket and table runner all made from recycled magazines and newsprint - kind of fun!

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Surfmonk - Super sweet hoodies, caftans and cover-ups inspired by the beach bum lifestyle (just what we love!) made from bamboo terry velour. A bit pricey, these cover-ups are definitely in the eco-luxury category, but would be oh so amazing to take with you on vacation (or just hangout at home in).
• This Is Garbage - (EcoSalon) Pouches, slings and totes made from what was once garbage (plastic litter).
• 100% Pure: Cranberry Glow Lip & Cheek Tint - (Sprig) 100% natural and vegetarian using fruit and vegetable pigments.

Tech & Science Stuff

• Transparent Solar Windows - (EcoGeek) This will be amazing when it's use becomes widespread! Wonder if there will be incentives to retrofit existing windows?
• World's Tiniest Solar Powered Car! - (Inhabitots) It's actually a tiny toy car, but so cool! Would make a great stocking stuffer if you know a little guy who loves Matchbox cars.
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Global Ice Melt - (GreenMuze) Information from NASA...can we please finally put the issue of global warming to rest...this is science, folks!
• Calculating the Value of Urban Trees - (The Green Life)
• 15 of the World's Most Adorable Minature Animals - (WebEcoist)
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• TravelingTheGreenWay - Great ideas and tips on eco-friendly traveling from this blog site.
• Ben Affleck Releases Short film To Highlight Congolese Need - (Ecorazzi)
• Oscar Sale For Charity Blocked By Academy - (Ecorazzi)
• Adrian Grenier And Friends Give The Gift Of Clean Water - (Ecorazzi)
• American Idol Decides Not To Give Bach This Season - (Ecorazzi) Sad...
• First US Hybrid Ferry to Take Tourists to Alcatraz - (CleanTechnica)
  

International Stuff

• Al Gore Calls for 350 Target at UN Climate Talks - (EarthFirst) Video included in post.
• Out With the Coal & Oil, In Wiht the Geothermal in East Africa's Rift Valley - (Global Warming is Real)
  

Political & Social Stuff

• Bill Clinton And T. Boone Pickens Announce New Plans To Greenify Buildings - (Ecorazzi)
• Bush Administration Covered Up More Than 500 Major Water Polution Cases - (Red, Green and Blue)
  

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

• Don't make it. Mash it. - (Do The Green Thing) Create your own online video card.
• Low Impact Living: Thoughs on a Green Chanukah - (sustainablog)
• Eat Your Christmas Cards, Save the Planet - (Eat. Drink. Better.) Yes, there is an edible Christmas card out there, printed on potato starch paper with vegetable inks...wow!
• HOW TO: Recycle Your Christmas Tree - (Inhabitots)
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Dec. 18th: Day Without a (Disposable) Bag - (EarthFirst) Organized by Heal the Bay.
• How Green is Best Buy? - (Green & Clean MOM) Watch this little video clip and decide for yourself.
• 10 Companies to Boycott for Sending You Junk Mail - (Planetsave) "Conservation group ForestEthics has released their annual 'Naughty or Nice' list of corporations regarding their treatment of our forests. These ten companies continue to fill your mailbox with junk at the expense of the trees."
• Bar Mitzvahs are Going Green - (Sustainablog)
  

Stuff We Found Today - 12.16.08

Family, Kids & Health Stuff

• Made by Me - (showtheLOVE) Cool wooden toys kids can make themselves.
• Sparrow - "A Los Angeles baby boutique dedicated to all things ustainable and eco-friendly for cool babies, hip kids, and the people who love them." Some really neat stuff here...and not everything is all that pricey. We love the tree house by calafant and the speesees bear coat.
• Growing Up Girl: An Eco Parents Guide to Puberty - (Eco Child's Play) As parents of very young children, we haven't even begun to think about this...get we should!
  

Food Stuff

• High Pesticide Levels Found in Some Drinks - (The Green Life) We say skip the sodas and stick to organic juices.
• Recipe: Holiday Snowballs - (Green & Clean Mom) Fun for kids to make and eat. Try with other natural nut butters, too (cashew, almond, soy, etc).
  

Home Stuff

• Party Saver: Convertible Cubes - (EcoSalon) Forget about the guest seating, these gorgeous cubes would be amazing any living room - any time!
  

Beauty & Fashion Stuff

• Burger King Releases Meat-Scented Body Spray - (Ecorazzi) Folks, this is for real...they've got to be kidding us!
  

Tech & Science Stuff

• Researcher Roll Out Energy Generating Roads - (Inhabitat) This could be so awesome. We'll be keeping an eye on this one.
• BIKE POWER: The Pedal-Powered Cell Phone Charger - (Inhabitat)
• TV Tsunami - (GreenMuze) Boy this could really be a problem folks...
• How Photovotaic (Solar) Cells Work - (Environmental Graffiti) In case any of you were wondering (we found it kinda interesting).
• World's Fastest Electric Superbike Unveiled - (EarthFirst)
  

Work & Business Stuff

• Gas 2.0 is Looking for Writer/Bloggers - (Gas 2.0) Any techie writers out there looking for a side job??
  

Nature & Environment Stuff

• Dying Whitebark Pine Next Harbinger of Climate Change - (Global Warming is Real) This is happening here in North America...not in some faraway land that is easy to ignore and forget about.
  

Arts, Entertainment & Travel Stuff

• Lifestyles of the Green and the Famous - (Plenty) "The greening of Fox and Wolverine; Robert Redford and Edward Norton save the wilderness."
• DiCaprio's Eco-Resort To Start Construction Early Next Year - (Ecorazzi) Wow...gorgeous. If only we were rich and famous.
• Anne Hathaway Teams Up With Netflix To Feed America - (Ecorazzi) As beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.
  

Website Stuff

• 3 Sources for Green Online Coupons - (TheDailyGreen) Check out the Ecobunga widget in the left column of our blog.
  

International Stuff

• Solar Energy Used to Heat Gaza Strip Ovens - (CleanTechnica)
• UN talks set programme to a landmark climate pact in '09 - (Yahoo! News)

Political & Social Stuff

• It takes a village to sell an electric car - (CNET News)

Gift-Giving & Holiday Stuff

• 7 Green Gifts Inspired By Your Favorite Celebrities - (TheDailyGreen) Wow, we never knew that Ellen had a pet food line or that Ed Begley Jr. had a cleaning products line!
• Josh Jakus: Media Pocket - (Sprig) The perfect little eco-friendly gift to get all your friends that went out and got the new iPhone earlier this year.
• ECO CNC XMAS TREE from Buro North - (Inhabitots) This tree may not be for all the traditionalists out there, but if you've got a serious modern streak, we think this eco-friendly plywood tree is kinda neat.
• Give to Get: A fancy necklace plus an eco-book that explains it - (green LA girl)
  

Other Random Cool Stuff

• Waterpod Floating House Points to a Nomadic Future After Global Warming - (CleanTechnica) This is kind of thought provoking.
• Post-consumer, Pre-consumer and Recycled Content - (Green Behavior) A quick explanation of what these terms mean.
• Feed the Whole World - (ecofabulous) If you're willing to spend more on a reusable shopping bag, we think this one's tops.