It’s hard to go wrong with flowers, whether you’re feeling the need to make up for something, are uncertain about what to bring a hostess, or need a gift for one of those people who has everything (getting them another knick knack is not the green thing to do!). But if you’d like to make your floral favor even more impressive, think outside the box…or in this case, outside the bunch. The Everlasting Love Wreath from Organic Style is hard to beat for sending well wishes to a couple celebrating an anniversary or if you’re looking for a way to show a loved one that you really appreciate them. Click here to read more

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Daily Greenz #165

Now that you’ve finally selected a gift that does Dad justice, it’s time to wrap that package up in paper so appealing he can’t wait to see what’s underneath it. Hopefully you’ve gotten him something both he and the environment will appreciate – and if that’s the case, what you’ll be wrapping it in can’t be overlooked. As is ever the case, the greenest option for gift wrap is to use something you’ve already got – and we don’t mean that sparkly stuff left over from the holidays.

Try covering your present with newspaper – the funnies, the sports section, or Dad’s favorite column. Old comic books or magazines work too.  But if the homemade look of those options leaves you unimpressed, not to worry – there’s no need to buy a roll of wrapping paper. Instead, try a paper that doesn’t rely on destroying trees. We like Natural Elements Handmade Recycled Paper Gift Wrap – it’s hand made from shredded tree bark and colored with non-toxic dyes, and has an elegant, unique look.

Click here to read more

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Daily Greenz #111

If you’ve been racking your brains over what to get your child for his or her birthday, My Paper Crane offers a slew of fun and creative plush toys that will bring a smile to your little one’s face.  Heck, you may even be tempted to buy one for yourself!  Creator Heidi Kennedy recreates the world out of fleece and polyfil (polyester wool), anthropomorphizing everyday objects like doughnuts, roller skates, and toilets.  They all don silly expressions (who can resist a smiling doughnut or a toilet that seems to invite you to sit on it?) and are made with such loving detail that you’d swear they were alive.  What began as a fun hobby has become a full-blown business for Heidi, and you can benefit from her creativity by visiting her website at www.mypapercrane.com.  Toys are available for $10 and up.

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Daily Greenz #110

Several years ago, the husband-and-wife team at Paper Cloud took their love of making handmade holiday cards for family and friends and decided to make a go of it by selling their creations online.  They’ve been selling like hotcakes ever since, and Matthew and Ariana Broerman can’t make them fast enough by hand in their home studio in Cincinnati, Ohio.  What began as a card-making business has gradually expanded into pillows, lampshades, and journals – all unified by their signature design of quirky flowers.  The duo draw their inspiration from nature and use screen-prints to bring their ideas to life.  The result?  One-of-a-kind creations to add a little snap to your life.

Take a peek at their collection at www.paper-cloud.com.  Journals are available for $28 and up, while pillows and lampshades start at $60.

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Daily Greenz #67

The
next time your mother wags her finger at you for eating too much chocolate, you
can tell her that every bite is helping to save endangered species. The Endangered Species Chocolate Company has
now made it possible for you to be a do-gooder just by sitting on your couch
and indulging your sweet tooth. Their
100% ethically-traded cocoa not only sustains family-run farms in Nigeria and ensures fair wages for the farmers, but 10% of profits are donated to protect the endangered species featured on the wrapper.

Beyond
the Samaritan appeal, their distinctive chocolate is European in style,
offering a dense, buttery,

fruity flavor not found in your average Hershey
bar. And by dense, we’re talking 75%
cocoa content in their dark chocolate bars, packing a wallop in every bite. Bars are available for $1.89 and holiday gift
packs go for $5.25 and up at chocolatebar.com .

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Daily Greenz #65

With all the buzz about toxic toys in the news, Santa’s helpers all around the
country are scrounging for safe gifts for kids this holiday. Fortunately, this
year there are a variety of toys on the market that are both safe for your
child and the environment. When shopping for toys, avoid toys that are made
from plastic, especially the dioxin–producing  PVC, which releases toxins
into the environment throughout it’s lifecycle.  Toys made from PVC’s may
also contain phthalates which studies link to hormone disruption and even
cancer. Also, try to buy toys that use water based and low–VOC or no–VOC
(volatile organic compounds) paints. Batteries are extremely toxic as they
break down in landfills, so try to find toys that don’t require batteries. To find
these wonderful green toys, shop local independent retailers who are more
likely to put more care into the products they carry. Look for toys made from
FSC–certified wood that will last for generations.

Here are some of my favorite toy picks for this holiday season:

1) Wooden Blocks Extra Large Starter Set from Haba. $89.00

What could be more timeless than a good set of wooden blocks? This set has 102
pieces of untreated, natural beech wood of varying shapes and sizes. They come
in a reusable fabric bag, practical for storing and transporting.Visit hazelnutkids.com to purchase.

2) Vegetable Garden from Plan Toys $14.95
This little gardening set comes with a watering can, wheelbarrow, spade, and 2
vegetable beds with removable lettuce, carrots, radishes, and turnips. It is
made from preservative-free rubberwood and non-toxic water-based paint. Check out stores.planethappytoys.com to find out more.

3) Crazy Crayons
Crazy Crayons are made from non-toxic recycled crayon stubs! Each crayon is
unique and come in 100’s of shapes and themes, and custom designs are even
available upon request. Visit crazycrayons.com for more info.

4) Madagascar - Starter Set from Xeko $19.95

Xeto is "an outrageously fun, new animal trading card game that’s driving
kids wild." It won the 2006 Toy of the Year Award from Creative Child
Magazine and the 2006 Seal of Approval from The National Parenting Center. The
game is made from recycled paper and soy–based inks. As an added bonus, 4% of net
game sales are donated to Conservation International. Go to stores.planethappytoys.com to order.

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Daily Greenz # 61

For the stiff-fingered, hypothermic people out there, designers Stewart+Brown have come out with a new line of winter accessories that promise to warm away your winter woes. Made from Mongolian cashmere, their selection of hats, scarves and gloves are simple, stylish, and incredibly soft. The reason for their super-softness? The fibers are hand-combed by herdsmen. And because the designers keep all aspects of their cashmere production in Mongolia, they’re able to invest a part of their profits back into sustaining the lifestyle of the nomadic Mongolian herders. Stewart+Brown also donate at least 1% of their sales to non-profit organizations. Kiss cold fingers goodbye by picking up a pair of their cashmere mittens for $79 at stewartbrown.com.

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Daily Greenz #59   

With Natural Collection, you can avoid the requisite exchanging of bad gifts this year. The website offers a wide array of eco-friendly products from green gadgets to fairly traded jewelry and organic chocolates. Not only will you look good giving gifts that help the environment, but you can do it with a clear conscience, too! Check out gifts at naturalcollection.com.

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Daily Greenz #39

The organic harvest collection from Organic Bouquet is a gift basket with something for everyone.

This all organic fruit assortment includes organic oranges, dessert pears and apples. Enjoy them with handmade white cheddar cheese, crostini crackers, Davidson American Organic Teas  and a premium organic chocolate bar. The basket also comes with an array of nuts and dried fruit, blueberry jam, toffee and honey sticks. With all this organic goodness, the Organic Harvest Gift Basket is perfect for anyone on your list.

Food, flowers and plants from the Organic Bouquet site are certified by Quality Assurance International (QAI), a USDA accredited agency that verifies their products are grown sustainably.

The pictured gift basket costs $112.95; visit organicbouquet.com for more information.

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