Goodlight Natural Candles

Wondering what that center piece should look like for your celebration? I highly recommend one that includes palm wax candles produced by Goodlight Natural Candles. These alternative products are not only affordable but your family will not be breathing a multitude of harmful chemicals given off by paraffin, a by-product of petroleum sludge. You can go green with your centerpieces. These beautiful candles burn long and bright. They are non-toxic and clean burning. Natural candles contain no additives or blends. They use cotton wicks which contain no metals. And all of their packaging is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks. To learn more go to http://www.naturalcandles.com/.

Tegu Blocks, Curiously Attractive!

Here is an awesome twist on the standard wooden building blocks. The creations your child can make with Tegu blocks are only limited by their imaginations. These ingenious magnetic blocks are made of responsibly harvested hardwoods in Honduras and coated with safe water-based finishes. The magnets are safely embedded and the blocks meet all CPSIA standards. Tegu offers living wages and partners with local communities to support reforestation, donating a portion of revenue from each set sold. Take a look at their website at http://live.tegu.com/ and see amazing ideas come together right before your eyes. When you order, tell your friends about these blocks on facebook or twitter and you can get free shipping.

Global Green Pals, Inspiring and Creative!

Malini Goel has created wonderful , eco-friendly, educational toys that can inspire your children towards positive environmental action. Global Green Pals highlight important environmental issues and introduce children to cultural diversity at an early age, with characters such as Carbon Offset Chet, Pink Coral Laurel and Pani Rani.

Each doll has it own delightful story and comes with detailed, colorful, removable clothing and mini accessories. This woman-owned, American-based company is committed to bringing children eco-friendly, educational toys that inspire positive world action through play and imagination. To find out more please visit them at http://globalgreenpals.com/.

Eco-Party Supply and Gifts

The holidays are fast approaching. As we plan our celebrations aiming for a zero waste party can be challenging. EcoPartyTime can make taking the steps towards throwing an earth-friendlier party easier.

EcoPartyTime offers many eco-conscious choices for celebrations through-out the year including environmentally sustainable birthday, anniversery, baby-shower, and graduation party goods. Eco-party Time has many options for decorating your home without plastic including environment friendly tableware. Many of their items are designed to serve double or triple duty. For those of us working on a budget, they have fantastic prices. Save an additional 15% on your order by entering "zoeb15" as the coupon code when you check out at EcoPartyTime.com.

The Great Food Race

The Creative Toy Shop has come out this year with several games that would make wonderful additions to the classic games that many households have enjoyed for years. The Great Food Race, Recycle It! and Yummy Scrummy are a few of the wonderful games for younger children that educate and teach healthy food choices and important environmental lessons. The pieces of each game are made of thick sturdy cardboard which allow your preschooler or Kindergartener to easily grasp and put together on their own.

The Great Food race focuses on healthy food choices. You earn or loose points according to the physical exertion of activities and food choice segments you land upon. The player receives points in increments of five which allows children to practice simple addition. You will want to be the first to cross the finishline but watch out for potato crisps and the cookies. Recycle It! and Yummy Scrummy are also fantastic games for preschoolers that offer many learning opportunities. All of the games are created with colorful, vivid images that grab attention and excite the little ones. You can find these games and many others at http://creativetoyshop.com/. Readers will receive a 15% storewide discount from the Creative Toy Shop through December 31! Some exceptions apply. Enter Zoe15 as the coupon code. Please note shipment to Canada is not available.

The Holidays without Wrapping Paper? It's possible.

I find the holidays can be a bit overwhelming, the shopping, wrapping, cutting, taping. And then the terrific mess at the end. Did you know that Americans will dispose of 4 million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags over the holidays? Most will not be recycle or reused. So, what can we do if we don't want to be part of the problem? If you are looking for something with a bit more class than paper bags and news paper to wrap those gifts, I have the perfect suggestions: Reusable wraps!

Bobo wraps are beautiful reuseable alternatives to paper. The concept of the wrapping scarves come mainly from Korea and Japan. Patricia Lee, founder and director of Bobo wraps, has evolved this concept into an artistic expression of elegance. There is no need for tape or sissors. It is so simple to use. Your holiday gifts could not look more beautiful. Our readers will receive 15% off orders by entering "zoeb15" as your coupon code at check out. Go to http://www.bobowrap.com/.



For a more modern twist on the reuseable wrapping try the Lyziwraps. These adjustable wraps conform to fit to a variety of shapes and packages. They are sporty, adjustable and washable, made of durable nylon fabrics that resist ripping. Simply slip your gift in and adjust the silk ties. Lyziwraps are also offering us 15% off orders by entering "zoe15" at checkout. Just go to Lyziwraps.com


It is possible to enjoy greener holidays and celebrate in eco-friendly style.

Green Your Halloween: CANDY!!!

Every year, if you ask my children what their favorite part of Halloween is, the resounding answer will be, CANDY!! Yes, after the costumes, face painting and decorating is done, it is the candy that we delight in. And not just the little ones. I have been known to nibble a bite or two (or three) from their hefty bag of treats. Truth be told, they never get half of it and not because their parents are eating it. I simply can not stomach the thought of all the artificial color, chemical and sugared concoctions traveling through their systems. So, I've been doing a little candy research and have complied a list of my favorite treats to offer for a healthier alternative.

The chocolate mini produced by Equal Exchange is a wonderful item to hand out for Halloween. These chocolates are organic, fairly traded and super yummy! You can get $5 dollars off a box of these delicious chocolates today through October 20. Just enter zoehalloween as the coupon code at the Equal Exchange Retail Store online at http://shop.equalexchange.com/.

Betty Lou's is a fantastic place to get new items to pass out on this spookie occasion. You can find just about every alternative snack you might be interested in all year long. They have a sweet fix for every diet. If you call 1 800 242 5205 and let them know that you heard about Betty Lou's from us you can save 15% on your order.

Endangered Species Bug Bites is a super sweet way to educate and celebrate. These tasty chocolate tidbits are available right now at Mothernature.com for 15% off.

Pure Fun Candies are on the top of this list as well. They offer organic, fairly traded, kosher and vegan candies that are delicious. Plus their website is highly entertaining. You can find their candies available at many stores including Amazon.com.

Happy Halloween!!!

Green Your Halloween: Costume Ideas

Every year for Halloween we always made our own costumes, sometimes it was our own creations and other times Mom got in there for detailed preparations. We could always take from what we had and come up with the most inventive costumes. I got one daughter through on homemade costumes but my sons are always struck with overwhelming desire for Spiderman, Power Rangers or something that I have not yet figured out how to make. I just have trouble stomaching the price of the costumes that will be worn once or twice and fall apart so easily.

As I began researching cool projects to intrigue my children, I ran across several great ideas, those "why didn't I think of that" kind of thing. Costume Swapping is among the best. You can check out registered locations at Green Halloween or even register your own swap. This site offers wonderful tips on how to organize your own neighborhood swap. National Costume Swap Day is schedule for this Saturday, October 9th. If you can't make it to a Costume Swap or just don't have time to get one pulled together don't forget good old Craigslist. It is always possible to find just what you need. Other awesome costume ideas can be gathered from Homemade Halloween Costumes. If you are looking for a clever book to sit and share with your children for Halloween and make believe any other time of the year Glue and Go Costume for Kids: Super Duper Designs with Everyday Materials is available at many bookstores. I am excited this year to see what we will come up with.

Spooneez, an Eco-Friendly Utensil Carrier

As a parent, I often find myself trying to pack for a multitude of activities for the day. Most importantly snacks, utensils, and little treats. I can not count the number of times I have rolled up little dripping spoons and leftovers only to find myself reaching into a gooey messy later. Or even better, totally forgetting about this until I have to pry it loose from the inside of my bag.

This past weekend I had the great fortune of running across a most wonderful Mom invention called Spooneez. These nifty little utensil carriers allow you to roll up the mess. They are made of BPA, PVC, and Phthalate free laminate which is amazingly durable, machine washable and waterproof. Practical and stylish, the Spooneez comes in a variety of brilliant colors and fabrics. Each carrier has several individual compartments in which to slide your spoons and snacks. You simply fold, roll and secure the tie. When you clean up later you can wipe it down or toss it into the wash. But don't limit yourself to food, Spooneez is designed with versatility in mind. Since it is so simple to clean you can pack toiletries, markers or whatever else you may find commonly oozing in your bags. Try it out and get free shipping, just enter ZOEBFS at checkout.

Organic Plant Magic

As the weather begins to cool, many of us turn our efforts to our final outdoor projects. I have been busy preparing a winter garden, landscaping and prepping container plants for their return indoors. Just recently I found a fantastic product called Organic Plant Magic which is non toxic and chemical free.

This all purpose organic plant food is alive with beneficial micro-organisms and is safe for your family and pets, as well as, your community. Organic Plant Magic can be used on lawns, for landscaping, in gardens and containers. It is water soluble so you can spray it. Each application treats 5,000 square feet. You can also stir it into your potting soil or compost. Giving the roots wonderful nutrients to feed upon. Furthermore, it guards plants from pest and disease. I am so impressed with this family business and their commitment to social responsibility. A commitment thoughtfully incorporated right into their packaging. Yes, even the bag can be composted in your home in just a matter of weeks. I am looking forward to incorporating Organic Plant Magic into my own gardens. Find out more at http://www.organicplantmagic.com/.

Eat Cleaner Wipes for Fruits and Vegetables

Growing up I knew the hands that grew the bulk of the vegetables and fruits we ate. My parents and grandparents carefully cleaned and soaked everything before we "put it up for the winter". However, things are very different for my own family. I rarely know the people who have produced our bounty. Thinking about all the pesticides, bacteria, wax or simply the number of hands that touch our food, I was grateful to discover an all natural food wash called eat cleaner.

Grow Green Industries produces a variety of cleaners that you can use for all of your foods including meats. But what I was most excited about was the biodegradable cloth that can be purchased in bulk or as individuals. The wipes are made of Kosher certified ingredients. You simply wipe the fruit or vegetable and its clean and ready to eat. I tried it out this week and tasted nothing but the apple I was sinking my teeth into. I will definitely be carrying these wipes with me and packing them with my husband and children as well. Get a 25% discount at eatcleaner.com with coupon code FOEO479291.

Kidishes Square Bowl with Lid

After many requests, I am happy to announce that the newest item to the Kidishes line is finally here. Zoë b Organic now offers the much awaited bowl with lid. I was personally thrilled to have an opportunity to try out this wonderful and most useful creation. This durable square bowl comes with a fitted lid that stays on tight. I tested this over the past holiday weekend packing them with snacks to carry on our family outings. I even tried water to see if the seal would hold. To my delight, it did! This bowl is perfect for packing leftovers, storing snacks, and its dishwasher and microwave safe. Both the lid and bowl are produced by Duralex in France. True to our mission the lid is also, BPA and phthalates free.
Zoë b Organic is offering a 10% off on all Kidishes products which will expire on September 22. Just enter code LID at checkout.

Toy Toy recycled cardboard chaise

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am Shari Burrell, an active mother of three and a member of the Zoë b Organic team. This week I celebrate my first year with this wonderful company. I am proud to have the opportunity, not only to better the life of my family, but to offer other families healthy alternatives in today's market.

As a child, my brothers and I used to build all kinds of things from cardboard boxes; cars, houses, airplanes. Imagination was the limit. That childhood activity has taken an innovative twist with a new line of furniture developed by French Canadian designers Salome Strappazzon and Mikaël Mourgue. Their new eco-friendly Toy Toy chaise is made from recycled cardboard. These delightful chairs are decorated with environmentally friendly ink and require only the most simple assembly. Children will love working with you and the leftover cut outs from the single piece of cardboard can be used to design a variety of sculptures or toys. The Toy Toy sales for $19.99 but for the purchase of 3, our readers are being offered a $20 discount. Just go to Toy Toy and enter the coupon code TOYS2010, expires September 19, 2010.

The Goodbyn Lunchbox

Finding an affordable, safe lunchbox made in the USA in next to impossible, until now. Goodbyn is the perfect choice. It's a better lunchbox, reinvented for kids, parents and the planet.

Features:

• Separate Compartments- keeps taste and moisture where it should be


• Comes with Two Sticker Sheets- let your child's creative flow as they personalize their lunchbox


• Easy Carrying Handle- Slim design fits comfortably in backpack and locker


• Dishwasher Safe


• Recyclable- which makes it a truly waste-free lunch option


• BPA and Phthalate Free- Made from #5 Polypropylene (lunchbox and bottle lid) and #2 High Density Polyethylene (bottle)


• 100% Domestic (USA) Conceived and Created

To Learn more about this company, business adventures and practices, visit their blog.

Goodbyn is offering a discount of $6.00 off

Use Code: bts2010 when ordering from their website

CHEJ's Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies

Before you rush out and buy everything listed on your children's school supply list at your local market, you might want to do your homework first. Consider how much PVC they will be in contact with on a daily basis, almost every supply needed from pencils/pens to binders/backpacks are loaded with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic. This guide identifies toxic products and suggests safer alternatives.

Subjects covered in this informational guide:

• Why Shop for PVC-Free School Supplies
  


• How to Identify PVC, the Poison Plastic
  


• Where Does Your Child's PVC Lunchbox or Backpack Come From?
  


• Quick Tips on Avoiding PVC School Supplies
  


• PVC-Free Products and Suppliers

After reading your free down loadable guide, you will see it's easy and affordable to choose healthy school supplies free from toxins that are critical to your child's health and well-being.

Download CHEJ's PVC-free Back to School Guide

We also found a great eco-friendly company, Stubby Pencils Studio, which offers PVC-free crayons and many other non-toxic school supplies made from recycled materials.

They are offering our readers an online discount code for 10% off all orders valid until 12/31/10
Discount Code: ZOEB10

Help us design the next generation of beach toys

I would like your help in designing our first product for Zoë b Toys: The world's first biodegradable and compostable beach toy set.

But I haven't yet decided on the exact design, colors, or price. That's where you come in. I am hoping you'll take just a few minutes to fill out a 3-page survey. (it's all multiple choice, and not to worry, there are no wrong answers.) With your help, the set will be available for Summer 2011. Thank you for your time!

Valerie Lecoeur

ZOE B TOYS SURVEY

Safe Munch School Lunch Eco-Fundraiser

Each year we dutifully sign our little ones up try and raise money for a good cause. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this year, we not only did our part to raise money for the cause, but also were able to offer our friends, family and neighbors a way to help the environment by purchasing safe, affordable lunch gear instead of wrapping paper or cookies.

Safe Munch School Lunch Eco-Fundraiser has answered the call. This exciting new fundraising concept offers a nice range of BPA, PVC, Phthalate and Melamine-free lunch containers. All of which are reusable and waste-free which could enable the parents to pack a healthy school lunch for their precious little ones.

So how does it work?

You can choose to do website drives or catalog drives. Website drives are the quickest way for your organization to start earning money. Catalog drives are your traditional fundraiser with catalog and order forms available to download.

Register your non-for profit organization and get started today.

Have you seen the miYim Simply Organic: Dr. Suess Eco-Plush Collection?

The Cat in the Hat and Horton have gone green! This line of Dr. Suess characters are made from cotton that's untreated, unprocessed, and unbleached, both products are at the top of the class when it comes to being planet friendly. They are colored with miYim's all-natural PureWaterWash process using only plants and minerals. These classics have passed extensive testing and are certified non-toxic. It’s nice to know there are safe alternatives for your children, even in their favorite characters.

Take a look at them HERE.

The Story of Cosmetics: The Scary Truth of Hidden Toxic Chemicals

Did you ever stop to consider what is in all those products that we slather on our skin? What is that fragrance? How do I pronounce many of the ingredients listed, let alone know what they contain? Where are the results from third party testing proving these ingredients are safe for human use?

The Story of Cosmetics was created by The Story of Stuff Project with free range studios and in conjunction with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. This video examines from start to finish the pervasive use of potentially toxic chemicals in everyday personal care products– products we use because most of us believe that somebody – somebody like our government regulatory bodies – has decided that the products and their ingredients are safe. But that isn’t the case – the FDA only bans 9 ingredients in personal care products and regulates colorants. Other than that, cosmetic companies are pretty much free to use what they want. Compare this to the European Union, which has banned or limited more than 1,100 ingredients in cosmetic products.

It continues by examining health implications of the decision of major manufacturers to use these ingredients in our everyday products, while telling us they are safe even though 99% have never been tested.




Learn more about The Story of Cosmetics in their FAQ at http://storyofstuff.org/pdfs/cosmetics/SoCos_faqs.pdf

Nellie’s PVC-free Dryer Balls

As you have probably heard, the majority of dryer balls available on the market are made from PVC, except Nellie’s Dryer Balls. Just like the same great dryer ball, you came to rely on to reduce your drying time by 25% and fluff up your clothes naturally, but now also readily recyclable. They have an all new fragrance option to ensure your clothes come out smelling clean. And to top it all off, the fragrance is a subtle scent of essential oils making it phthalate-free. This dryer ball is a great toxic-free alternative.

Blue Ribbon General Store was kind enough to offer our readers a 20% discount using the code “zoeb”.