Mindful Momma

Fair Trade Gift Ideas + $165 Worth of Giveaways!!

As you rack your brain trying to come up with the 'perfect' gift for Grandma or that little something for your favorite babysitter, it's important to remember that there is more to gift giving than the gift itself. There are people behind the gift.  People who work in the fields, operate machines, package it up and send it on its merry way.

So when you make a purchase, you're really making 2 decisions.  One for the gift itself and the other for the manner in which it was made.  When you buy Fair Trade you can be assured that the people who made the product were treated fairly and the process was an equitable one.  Some of the benefits for buying Fair Trade include:

• Fair wages for workers
• Safe and healthy working conditions
• Equitable partnerships between producers and marketers
• Long-term working relationships
• Environmentally sustainable practices followed 

To create a little excitement about buying Fair Trade, I contacted some of my favorite Fair Trade vendors about doing a giveaway.  And WOW did they ever come through with some wonderful prizes!!  Read on to learn out about these terrific companies and some of the really great Fair Trade products they have to offer.

Wedge Worldwide- This online marketplace for earth-friendly and Fair Trade goods is offering a $50 gift certificate so you can pick out whatever Fair Trade items you want!  Choose from earrings like these from Robin Rife, durable market bags made from recycled rice and feed bags, or an adorable Fair Trade poncho for the kids.  Buying Fair Trade is a win-win for everyone involved!

Fair Indigo - Look Good. Feel Good. Do Good.  That is the motto of Fair Indigo, a clothing and accessories company that specializes in Fair Trade partnerships.  They do a great job with basics like t-shirts and pants but be sure to check out their cute skirts, stunning jewelry and fun toys for kids too. Fair Indigo is giving away an adorable Fair Bear made in Peru from 100% dye-free organic cotton - a perfect gift for the little one in your life! 

Equal Exchange - If you love chocolate, but don't dig supporting the practice of forced child labor (quite common in the West African cocoa trade - where 70% of the world's cocoa comes from), then you'll be happy to discover Equal Exchange.  Their cocoa comes from small-scale, farmer co-ops in the Dominican Republic, Panama and Peru and is Fair Trade Certified.  As a frequent consumer of Equal Exchange chocolate bars I have to say...YUM!!!  You can try it for yourself if you are the winner of the Sweet & Spicy Chocolate Sampler...including a can of Organic Spicy Hot Chocolate, an Equal Exchange ceramic mug and 3 delicious chocolate bars.

Ten Thousand Villages - One of the world's largest Fair Trade organizations, Ten Thousand Villages works with disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries.  Products range from home decor to jewelry to baskets as well as lovely toys and gifts for children.  One lucky Mindful Momma reader will win this precious Twin Doll with a very special story to tell.  Two identical, handmade dolls  are produced by artisans working for the Batsiranai Craft Project in Zimbabwe.  One doll is sold by Ten Thousand Villages and the other, its 'twin' is given to a family affected by HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe.  Many of these children have never had a doll before - so giving a gift like this goes far beyond the gift itself!!

The Andean Collection- While working on her masters degree in Ecuador, Amanda, the owner of The Andean Collection, realized that she could help bring women out of poverty by starting a business that trained artisans and paid them fair and honest wages.  And so her jewelry business was born with a mission to produce socially conscious fashion!  All of the jewelry is made using natural, native South American materials including the tagua nut, the acai seed, coconut palm, the huayruro seed, jabon seeds and pambil seeds. All materials are harvested in a sustainable manner that does not involve cutting down trees.  Having won a tagua bracelet from Siel's Green LA Girl blog this summer, I can personally attest to how nice this jewelry really is!  And now I've got this gorgeous acai wrap bracelet up for grabs!!  Be sure to check out the rest of the collection of irresistible and very reasonably priced jewelry. 

OK then - are you ready to win?  Poke around these wonderful websites for awhile and let me know a few of your favorite things.  There will be 5 separate winners - one from each company.  The contest will run through midnight, central time on Monday, December 14th. (only one entry per person and you must have a US shipping address.)

Practically Green Book Launch Party Day #5: Wearing Green

Boy this week went fast - I can't believe it's the last day of the party!  Thanks so much for all the practically green tips you've shared.  I'm mighty impressed with what some of you have been up to!!

For the final day of the party, I thought we should talk clothes.  I'm not what you would call a clothes-horse but I do love using clothes to express my personal style. And if money were no object, I'd be buying sweaters from Edun, Loomstate jeans and fashion-forward tops from Loyale.  But I don't own any of that stuff.  Much of my clothing comes from consignment shops, with an occasional splurge on a pretty organic cotton dress from Birch Clothing like this one that I wore to my local book signing party:

 
Practically Green has a whole chapter on low impact clothing but it's not all about buying new. There are so many ways to green your wardrobe without spending a bundle.  If you didn't already catch it, check out my recent post about 5 Fun & Affordable Ways to Green Your Wardrobe. 

But let's admit, getting your hands on some hip, eco-fashion would be kinda fun, wouldn't it?  How 'bout a little something for the kids?  Baby Star, a design-savvy, eco-minded company based in Portland, is offering up a piece from their new organic denim collection to one Mindful Momma reader.  Choose from the boys jeans, the flared girls jeans or the adorable jean skirt. Makes me wish I had a little one again.

Last, but not least, I've got 2 copies of my book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making to give away!  From all the smart, practically green tips that have been coming in this week I think that some of you could have written your own books about green living.  But for anyone who does get their hands on a copy, I hope it inspires you to try something new!

For a chance to win please share a practically green tip about greening your wardrobe.  The contest is for one day only, ending at midnight, central time on Friday, November 20th.  (only one entry per person please and you must have a US shipping address.)

Thanks SO much for making my virtual book launch party so much fun!!

Miss Muffet was the lucky winner of organic denim from Baby Star!!  And Andrea & Kim each won a copy of Practically Green!

Practically Green Book Launch Party Day #4: Ditch the Disposables

Paper towels, wet wipes, disposable razors, plastic baggies, throw away cameras, even disposable toothbrushes....disposable products seem to have really hit their peak.  Sure disposables are convenient, but at what price?

Switching from disposables to reusables is an easy way to have a positive impact on the environment.  And it will probably save you money too.  My book, Practically Green, has a ton of ideas for ways to reuse instead of dispose.  One of them is switching to cloth napkins instead of paper.  It's easy to get into the habit of using paper when you have small kids....but I say, ditch the paper and use pretty, cloth napkins instead.  A few more items in the wash isn't going to kill you.  The book includes instructions for how to make your own cloth napkins, using fabric scraps or quilters quarters (also known as fat quarters) from the fabric store. 

But if sewing is not your thing, check out these gorgeous organic cotton napkins from Mika & Bu.  They are embroidered with adorable little designs and are perfect for home or lunchbox.  I've got 2 sets of 5 napkins to give away - one set of Twig and one set of Jet- to 2 lucky Mindful Momma readers!   The company is also offering a discount - buy one set of 5 napkins, get one set free!  Just use the code MINDFUL at checkout to receive the discount. (good thru 11/30/09)

Another impactful way to reduce waste is to stop using plastic baggies for snacks.  I know all too well how hard it can be to go anywhere without snacks in hand when you have little kids!  But it need not be a wasteful affair. Using a durable, reusable snack bag instead of plastic bags is just the ticket.  My book shows you how to make your own snack bag out of a napkin and a pretty ribbon but I've also got a snack bag giveaway for those of you who are not the crafty types.

Back when I did a review of Graze Organic, they sent me a very generous package of products to try out.  I'd like to share the wealth by giving away a couple of the items that I did not use....A snack bag labeled surprise? (guess you could put anything you want in it!) and an extra large sandwich bag that says "because every bag matters", as well as 2 cute organic cotton napkins.  You'll love 'em!!

Would you like to win?  Just leave a comment sharing a practically green tip or two about ways that you ditch the disposables in your life!  The contest will run for today only (ending at midnight, central time on Thursday, November 19th) and I will use a random number generator to pick the winners. (Note: only one entry per person and you must have a US shipping address!)

Catherine and Shanna are the lucky winners of the set/5 organic cotton napkins.  Lisa from Condo Blues won the goodies from Graze Organic!

Practically Green Book Launch Party Day #3: Healthy Earth, Healthy Family

So many people I've met say that having children was the catalyst for their desire to live a greener and healthier life.  That's certainly true in my case, and is the very reason why I started this blog and wrote my book!

When your primary focus is on nurturing and protecting your little one, it can come as a bit of a jolt to learn that a lot of products designed specifically for babies can be harmful to their health.  Things like soaps, lotions and even baby bottles can contain chemicals that are linked with some pretty scary health problems.  And to make matters worse, a child's body doesn't detoxify as readily as an adults so the same chemicals can have a stronger impact. 

Many of the same ingredients that can cause human harm, wreak havoc on the environment after they swirl down the drain or end up in a landfill somewhere.  I find that protecting the earth goes hand in hand with protecting my children because I want to make sure the planet is a better place for my kids to live.  That's why I strive to buy safe, natural products for my family...or to make my own.

Practically Green has a whole chapter on Natural Body Care, not only to help you cull through the slew of information out there on toxic chemicals but also to point you in the right direction for purchasing safer products and show you how to make your own, homemade body care products (like the Chocolate Facial Mask I just posted about the other day!) 

Here's another sneak peek from the book.  Homemade, reusable baby wipes:

And now for the giveaways....

Earth Mama Angel Baby had donated a $25 e-gift certificate to one of today's readers.  In case you didn't know, all EMAB body care products are rated 'zero' on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, making them completely safe to use on your baby.  My personal favorite is the Angel Baby Lotion- it smells like a dreamsicle!

I've also got a copy of The Mom's Guide to Growing Your Family Green by Terra Wellington to give away.  I reviewed this book awhile back and it's a keeper! Lots of helpful information specifically geared toward growing families.

For a chance to win, please share a practically green tip that answers the question - What have you done to grow your family green? The giveaway will run today only, through midnight central time on Wednesday, November 18th.  (only one entry per person and you must have a US shipping address.) 

Good luck!

Christy is the lucky winner of the $25 e-certificate to Earth Mama Angel Baby and Katie won the book!!   

Practically Green Book Launch Party: Day #2 - Waste Free Lunches

Welcome back to the party!  Whether you're ready for it or not, it's time to talk about lunch. Have you packed a lunch today - for yourself or anyone else?  If so, was it full of plastic baggies and individually packaged snacks?  You're not alone if it was because frankly, that's what most people do. 

My book, Practically Green offers a bunch of suggestions for how to pack a waste-free lunch, as well as recipes for sustainable snacks - without the wasteful packaging and lively lunches - designed to appeal to kids and adults alike!  So next time you're packing that lunchbag, try a couple of these tips to try to make it just a little more sustainable:

 

Lucky for us, a couple of my favorite companies in the lunch-packing biz have offered up prizes for the party!

Lunchbots, a family-owned business in Northern California, makes reusable, stainless steel lunch containers and is giving away a Lunchbot of your choice.  Pick from the Uno, the Duo, the Eco or the Pico.  Having reviewed these in the past I can attest to the fact that they are durable and adorable.  My older son has his lunch packed in a Duo almost every day of the week!

Kids Konserve, another awesome company dedicated to helping people go waste-free at lunchtime, is offering a set of 3 stainless steel lunch containers to one Mindful Momma reader.  These extremely practical containers are made from food grade stainless steel with a leakproof #4 plastic lid.   They are also offering a 15% off code for Mindful Momma readers.  Just use the code mindful at checkout anytime through 11/30/09.

If you'd like a chance to win, please leave a comment with a practically green tip for reducing lunchtime waste.  This giveaway runs today only, ending at midnight on Tuesday, November 17th.  (only one entry per person and you must have a US shipping address)

Come back tomorrow for more practically green tips and another chance to win!

This contest is now closed.  The winners are:  Betsy - who gets a LunchBot of her choice and Stacey who won the set/3 stainless containers from Kids Konserve.  (I will contact the winners directly.)

Practically Green Book Launch Party: Day #1 The Non-Toxic Home

Welcome to the party!! I'm SO excited about giving away all these prizes.  This is just the first of 5 days of giveaways so be sure to keep checking back each day to see what's new!

Today I want to focus on the importance of eliminating toxins from your home.  With the Million Baby Crawl campaign going on (and the Crawl to Action events coming up on Wednesday!), there has been a lot of focus on toxins lately - and that's a good thing.  Many people don't realize that the indoor air in a typical home has chemical contamination levels 2 to 5 times greater than outdoor air. 

One of the biggest sources of those toxic chemicals in homes is cleaning products.  Yes - the very products we are using to clean our homes can be extremely bad for us and for the earth as well.  There's a whole chapter on cleaning products in Practically Green with info on the types of chemicals you'll want to avoid as well as helpful tips for how to scrub your home the healthy way!

To help me celebrate the book launch, a couple of great cleaning product companies have donated prizes to get you started on your way to a non-toxic home:

Seventh Generation is giving away a Healthy Home gift bag that contains 7 full sized cleaning products in a reusable tote bag.  Pretty much everything you need to give your home a green, clean makeover!

EcoStore has generously donated a $25 gift certificate to their web store.  Check out their eco-friendly, plant-based household cleaning products as well as some really nice bath soaps (I can vouch for them - I've reviewed their products in the past).

For a chance to win, just leave a comment letting me know your practically green tips for cleaning house.  The giveaway runs today only - ending at midnight, central time on Monday, November 16th.  (only one entry per person please and you must have a US shipping address)

And the lucky winners are....Andie - for the Seventh Generation gift bag and Amalia for the $25 EcoStore gift certificate.  I will notify the winners directly via email.

Practically Green Virtual Book Launch Party!!

Hey everyone!  To celebrate the release of my book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making, I was planning to host a 'party' on my Practically Green Facebook page today.  But Facebook just threw a little wrench in my plans by announcing a new policy that prohibits the administration of any contests or giveaways on their site.  Yikes - was that bad timing or what??

Not to worry though.  I'm moving the whole thing over here to my blog instead.  It's still a party and there will still be prizes.  It's a virtual party - so you can come in your pajamas if you want - no one will know.  I just hope you'll stop by and say hello!!

How will it work?  Stop by Monday.  And the day after that.  And the day after that.  In fact for 5 days in a row, I will be posting a little tidbit from Practically Green along with giveaways for some really awesome eco-goodies!  All you have to do for a chance to win each day is to share some of your favorite practically green tips with Mindful Momma readers in the comments.  Oh, and each giveaway will run for one day only - so be sure to check back each day for more!  (And of course, I'll be using my handy-dandy random number generator to pick the winners so everything is fair and square.)

See you Monday!

{image of Chihuly glass by disneymike via flickr}

Mindful Momma Giveaway: Organic Cotton Fabric from Baby Bird Design

If I were doing a room for a new baby I would want to decorate in a way that was cute but still sophisticated.  I'm not an over-the-top cute kind of person - my tastes run clean and modern - but for a baby it has to be a little bit cute, don't you think?  That must be why I like the organic fabric designs from Baby Bird Design so much.  It's just the right blend of sweet, modern...and sustainable!

That's another reason why I'm digging Baby Bird Design - the fabric is printed on 100% organic cotton.  Plus it has been certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), a well-respected standard with strict requirements for an environmental and socially responsible manufacturing processes.  Better for baby and for the planet!

Emily from Baby Bird Design is super passionate about designing fabric.  She is a self-taught artist, which I think is so cool.  She decided to create organic fabric designs for kids because there wasn't much out there to choose from and she knew there would be interest. 

Would you like a chance to create something beautiful with this lovely fabric?  Visit Baby Bird Design on Etsy and let me know your favorite fabric design.  One lucky reader will win a yard of organic cotton fabric of their choice!!  The contest will run through midnight, central time on Thursday, November 5th (only one entry per person and you must have a U.S. shipping address.) Good luck!

Congrats to Ali who said "I love how retro the look of the fabric is. I do think the red birds is my favorite. What a great find on Etsy!"  She is the winner of the random drawing for a yard of fabric from Baby Bird Design!

Mindful Momma Giveaway: $50 Wedge Worldwide Gift Certificate

Crazy traffic, high gas prices, annoying crowds, inconvenient hours....I'm telling you, internet shopping sounds better and better all the time.  If eco-friendly and fair trade is your thing, then Wedge Worldwide might be just the place you want to shop in the middle of the night or whenever the urge strikes you. 

This awesome online store carries a great selection of earth and people friendly products for home, garden and body...and it just happens to be owned by my local co-op, The Wedge!  What stands out about the shopping experience at Wedge Worldwide is that each product is accompanied by icons that give you the scoop on the environmental and social status of the product.  Here are just a few examples:

This product has less of an environmental impact than many of its commonplace counterparts.

The vendor that we purchase this product from is a registered member of the Fair Trade Federation.

This product is made from organically grown material.

This product is made from recycled materials.

 

So, how would you like to give shopping at Wedge Worldwide a whirl?  One Mindful Momma reader will get 50 bucks to spend whenever they want, on whatever they want, while wearing whatever they want.  All you have to do to be in the running is to take a peek at the Wedge Worldwide website and tell me what cool eco-friendly products you'd pick if you won.  The giveaway will run through midnight central time on Wednesday, September 9th.  (only one entry per person and you must have a U.S. shipping address)

Now if it were me with a $50 credit at Wedge Worldwide, I'd be looking at buying this cool hemp bag

   

or a Laptop Lunch bento box

or maybe some Fair Trade, vegan sneakers!

What would you buy?

The lucky winner is Carole Penner who said she would probably go for some bamboo clothing.  Enjoy your eco-friendly shopping spree Carole!

Will Return to Regularly Scheduled Programming...as Soon as School Starts!

A roadtrip, a tick bite (Lyme Disease for son #1), two colds for two boys and no childcare means very little free time for Mom these last couple weeks before school starts. 

Ideas for posts are rolling around in my head like loose marbles, sometimes even keeping me up at night.  Haven't had the time to act on much but here are a few things I've been thinking about...

Making cole slaw.  I've got at least 5 heads of cabbage in my refrigerator and I'm terrified that I will be getting more in my Youth Farm CSA bag tomorrow.  Must make cole slaw!!  Anyone have a good recipe?

Making yogurt.  This is something I've been wanting to do for ages and my local paper had a write up on it today.  If you've made yogurt before, do you have any tips?  My Mom had an electric yogurt maker when we were kids.  I've heard you don't really need the electric part (some say you can put the yogurt on top of your fridge to keep warm while it sets) but I would love to get my hands on some of those heavy duty glass cups!

Sewing.  I'm dying to come up with a tutorial for a thrifted shirt pocket business card holder like the one I made for BlogHer.  I've also got a copy of Betz White's new book Sewing Green sitting on my desk waiting patiently to be properly addressed.  (By the way, lucky Betz was the winner of my Graze Organic snack and lunch bag giveaway - the random number generator told me so!)

Looking forward to September.....