The Toy Society: Changing the World One Surprise at a Time

A friend of mine sent me the link to The Toy Society, and I have to say, this website is one of the coolest, most heartwarming things I've seen in a long time. Here's their mission:

The Toy Society spreads the love throughout the streets of the world. Nothing to it really, just a bunch of handmade toys looking for a nice home.

The Toy Society blog shows photographs of random toy "drops" at places ranging from children's hospitals, to playgrounds and park benches. Lucky recipients stumble unwittingly across these toys that seem to fall from the sky... and they're instructed via a small note attached to the toy, to take them home and enjoy them.

I love these simple, random acts of kindness and the potential they have for making a child's day... or perhaps a parent will stumble across a toy and be able to give their child a gift that day. It just makes me feel really happy to know that each day, there are people out there making toys and leaving them as surprises for others to find with delight.

EARTH HOUR is Tomorrow Night at 8:30pm!

Get ready to switch off your lights, and all unnecessary electricity tomorrow night at 8:30 pm local time (wherever you are), and take part in Earth Hour 2009. This year, 2,500 cities in 82 countries worldwide are participating in this global event to take action against climate change.

Most younger children will be asleep at 8:30pm, but for the older kids, this is a fun, easy, educational way to involve them in learning about the environment. Some critics have been blasting Earth Hour, calling it a "big turnoff" because they feel that sixty minutes of shutting down power usage won't do a darn thing to help the planet... people will feel like they've done their good deed, and then flip their lights back on, and go on their merry way... I can see the point here, but I think if we use Earth Hour as an hour of reflection and solemnity, realizing that the literal future of our planet and our lives are at stake, we can make the event a launching pad as opposed to a one hit wonder.

We can teach our children the importance of participating in global events such as this, but also the necessity to live each day, each hour, with the best interest of the earth in mind.

Click here to visit the Earth Hour site designed especially for kids!

Still a California Baby, even in Oregon

Moment of sentimentality: I can't believe my daughter has long enough hair to warrant using a conditioner! It seems like just yesterday, I was rubbing shampoo on her bald head, and now I need to untangle her gorgeous curls!

I have written about so many wonderful bath products for kids and babies on Petite Planet, and in most of my posts I go gaga over the fragrances of each respective shampoo, lotion or body wash. But, I've recently found there's also much to be said for products with no fragrance at all.

Olivia had eczema as a newborn, and boy do I wish I'd known about California Baby natural and organic products at that time. They have a line specifically dedicated to babies and children with eczema, specifically made with extremely sensitive skin in mind.

We've recently started using California Baby Super Sensitive Hair Conditioner as well as their Calming Everyday Lotion. Both are clean, refreshing products that do their job exceedingly well. The lotion has aromatherapy qualities via its inherent lavender.

While it's lovely to enjoy natural fragrances such as orange and vanilla at bath time, it's just as nice to use these fragrance free products. I like to mix it up and interchange them!

We sure miss the California sunshine, but for now, these products are warming our hearts with their purity and effectiveness.

Check Out My Interview on Mother Nature Network!

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Jenn Savedge, for Mother Nature Network! Head on over and check it out here!

The Good Guide with the Humble Name

Talk about having a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips! The Good Guide provides environmental and health ratings for 70,000 products, as well as helping you find the best 'green' products that match your values. The food section gives you access to information on baby and kid's foods, from first baby foods to hot cereals and mac and cheese. They also have a personal care section where the whole family may learn about which products are best, and a top baby care product section which rates diapers, wipes, lotions, sunscreens, medicines... you name it!

I love how comprehensive The Good Guide is, and that it's really a one-stop shop to finding out information about all of your family's healthy product needs. With regard to their ratings system, 10 is the best score, 0 is the worst. Aside from a product's toxicity level and health impact, also taken into consideration for each rating are the company's social performance, such as the way they treat their workers, and their environmental performance, ie their impact on natural resources.

This is a giant leap for mankind and will hopefully help eliminate companies who greenwash the public by putting out 'green' products but not walking the walk behind their claims of eco-friendliness. The Good Guide really gives consumers the package deal, equipping them with the knowledge to make responsible, healthy choices for their families and for the planet. That's not good, it's GREAT.

Bembo's Zoo- An Artistic Spin on the ABC's

Ready for some more paperless, virtual fun? Olivia LOVES the Bembo's Zoo website... and so do I! The alphabet is set up on one page, and when you click a letter, an animal materializes, created out of the letters in its name. ABC's, animals, and art- you couldn't ask for more well-rounded, educational fun than this!

Animal Free Circuses

I was never one of those kids who wanted to "run off and join the circus." Frankly, circuses scared me a bit with the dark tents, rings of fire, giant lions, and of course, the clowns.

But as an adult, I have had the amazing opportunity to attend a couple performances of Cirque du Soleil. They offer all of the same, edge of your seat excitement, thrills and laughs, but the shows are done without animals. When I came across the Humane Society's list of animal free circuses, and it included Cirque du Soleil, I wanted to pass the info along to you!

Clearly, animal free circuses are more humane and environmentally friendly than mainstream circuses. They prevent wild animals from being held in captivity and trained to perform 'circus acts.' With spring around the corner and summer on its way, many of us will be considering trips to the circus with the kids. Why not opt for an animal free circus instead?

Here's a worldwide list of animal free circuses, put together by The Humane Society. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

You may be wondering why I chose a photo of our backsides, but when I was searching for pictures of Lisa for this birthday post, this one made me smile with its appropriateness. You see, Lisa, my beloved sister is always right there beside me in the trenches. Whether I'm changing a diaper or crying my eyes out, Lisa is by my side, even from miles away.

Lisa, I celebrate you today, the day of the lucky Irish, and I realize how lucky I am that you are my sister and that I also get to call you my cherished friend. Thanks for always knowing what to say, and for having the courage and the humor to love me and guide me.

WE LOVE YOU and wish you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

*And mom, thanks for taking the above photo and for always being sure to capture every moment, big and small.

The Natural Dentist Herbal Mouth Rinse

I typically equate the use of mouthwash to swishing around a bright blue liquid in my mouth as I feel my gums and cheeks burning to an unbearable extent. Thus, I have never been a fan of alcohol laden, cringe-worthy mouthwash products. Then, much to my delight, along came the Healthy Gums Mouth Rinse in Orange Zest by the Natural Dentist. This rinse proves that things that are good for you can also be delicious.

If you're not a fan of orange, this mouth rinse also comes in Peppermint Sage, Peppermint Twist, Berry Blast and Fresh Mint flavors. I almost can't believe that swishing the Orange Zest rinse is keeping my mouth healthy, because it tastes like a real treat. I love that The Natural Dentist mouth rinses contain no alcohol, and they're free of artificial sweeteners, dyes and preservatives. They rely on herbal ingredients to get the job done. Aloe vera gel and Calendula soothe... and Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Grapefruit Seed extract cleanse.

I'll be happily swishing The Natural Dentist mouth rinse, and enjoying its soothing, restorative nature for years to come! I suggest you make the switch to these naturally powerful herbal rinses too!

Fresh Wave Products are Spring Cleaning our Home

As a sufferer of frequent migraines, I am not a fan of fragrances, perfumes, colognes, or deodorizers that emit scents that may induce a whopping headache. As an eco-minded individual, I'm also aware of the damaging effect most sprays and deodorizers, which are filled with chemicals, have on the home environment, and the planet at large. That's why when I come across products that eliminate odors naturally, without invading my head or my space with toxins, I am delighted. Such is the case with Fresh Wave.

I have been using Fresh Wave in our home for about two weeks now, and the products are refreshing and effective. I placed the Fresh Wave Pearl Packs jar in the poorly ventilated entryway by our front door, and it has completely done away with the musty, trapped air smell by simply neutralizing odor, not replacing it with a sickly fragrance.

I put the Fresh Wave home spray (non-aerosol) to the ultimate test, and it passed with flying colors. I spritzed this in Olivia's room after a poopy diaper change. Again, the odor was alleviated and there was no toxic residue or invasive scent left behind. I also felt it was perfectly safe to be spraying in her room.

For those of us who aren't gourmet cooks and experience the occasional burnt food incident in the kitchen... or for those times when the smell of Indian or Thai food lingers way too long, the Fresh Wave kitchen candle is soy based and hard working. It cuts through odors while providing a nice, candlelit ambiance.
*This candle also works just as well in any room of the house that could benefit from odor control.

The highly effective ingredients in Fresh Wave products are derived from nature: lime, pine needle, aniseed, clove and cedar wood make up the amazing combination in these products that really do the trick at spring cleaning your home all year long.

If you're a migraine sufferer, have allergies, or want your home environment to be kept free of toxins emitted by home deodorizing products and fragrances, be sure to reach for Fresh Wave.

*They also have several other products for people with pets!

Donate Your Prom Dress!

Operation Fairy Dust is a wonderful organization which accepts formal dress donations and then distributes them to economically disadvantaged high school seniors to wear to their prom!

We all have formal dresses we've either outgrown, or will never wear again, so why not clean out your closet and ship off your dresses to help make a young woman's dreams of an elegant prom night come true?

Click here to view the donation guidelines. If you're in New York City, you may drop off your dress in person at these locations.

I love that this endeavor allows us to repurpose our dresses while helping the self-esteem and confidence of young women blossom.

BoxCycle: Where Was This Every Time I Moved?

I just found out about an environmentally friendly service called BoxCycle, and I sure wish I had known about them for the many, many times I have packed it all up and moved throughout my life!

I don't even want to admit how much we spent on only a few picture boxes we had to buy to contain our wall hangings... the rest we scored from my husband's job, (empty shipment boxes). But now that I know about BoxCycle, I'll hopefully never have to think about waiting outside a grocery store to ask for slightly smelly boxes for moving again. (That said, my zip code renders a fruitless search when plugged into the site, so I hope this changes by our next move!)

Visit BoxCycle and you can either find used boxes on the cheap (ie: 6 large moving boxes for $1.25), or sell your used boxes to someone else. I think this is a genius service, because more often than not, sturdy cardboard boxes have a lot of life in them, and it's such a waste to not pass them on when so many people are incessantly in need of boxes for moving and storage. It's wonderful to recycle cardboard boxes when you're finished with them, but I like the idea of BoxCycle-ing them a lot more if they're in good condition!

A Hearty Meal for Hard Times

I bought a cup of lentils today for 85 cents at Whole Foods. Pretty sure that's my record for the cheapest purchase I've ever made there. All with the express purpose of making April's Honey Baked Lentils recipe. They. Are. Delicious. They only change I would make to the recipe is to double it, because I nearly ate the whole dish myself when I took it out of the oven. I love how easy it was to make, I simply mixed everything in the baking dish so there was very little clean-up involved. This is a hearty, healthy, inexpensive meal. My mouth is watering just typing about them!

Badger: Powerfully Pure Body Care

Spring is around the corner, and before we know it, we'll be in the throes of summer and in need of superior sunscreen protection for our kids and families. Your go to choice for natural, safe, non-toxic sunscreen should be Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30. The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website gives Badger a "0" rating, which is a phenomenal score in this case, meaning it contains no hazardous ingredients. Every product in the Badger line is USDA certified organic, with the exception of the sunscreen, due to the fact that the USDA is a food-grade certification and they will not certify Zinc, the sun screening agent used in Badger sunscreen. That said, their sunscreens contain mostly organic ingredients, and they are waterproof for at least 40 minutes.

I love Badger Sunscreen because it slides onto skin effortlessly and with no mess or greasy residue. It also has a lovely lavender scent (it contains essential oil of lavender) that's a nice departure from typical sunscreen product smells. Olivia's pediatrician also recommended Badger, so it's doctor approved and endorsed as well.

Don't stop at the sunscreen when you peruse the Badger body care line. They also offer wonderful products for babies and kids, including the Organic Badger Baby Balm. This balm would be a wonderful addition to an Easter Basket for baby. The two main ingredients: chamomile and calendula do wonders when it comes to soothing and/or preventing diaper rash. I also rub this Badger Baby Balm on the backs of my hands when they are feeling extra dry during these winter months. What a rejuvenating, therapeutic treat!

I'm also loving Badger's lip balms, especially their organic Cocoa Butter Lip Balm in the Creamy Cocoa flavor. It's comforting to know that what I'm smacking onto my lips is perfectly safe for ingestion and chemical free. You might think you'll lick all of this delicious flavor off your lips, but this lip balm is long lasting and very moisturizing. If you want a lip balm with a lighter texture than the creamy cocoa butter lip balms, opt for Badger's Classic Lip Balm Sticks. I love the Lavender and Orange flavor which is also long lasting and soothing. On a side note: I've all but stopped wearing lipstick since Olivia was born because I can't resist kissing her all day long and don't want to leave smudges all over her! Badger lip balms have been great because they are just what I need to keep my lips moisturized and ready to shower kisses!

I hope I have taken the guesswork out of your safe sunscreen search and given you one less thing to worry about. Reach for Badger and enjoy the outdoors!

*Note: Badger is also a very "green" company, so it's great to know we're getting quality products while simultaneously preserving the planet.

Go Vegetarian!

Going meat free on Fridays during Lent isn't really a sacrifice for me, since I'm a vegetarian. But the meat free concept has got me thinking about vegetarianism as a lifestyle for eco-minded people.

I've recently come across a couple of great blog posts filled with information on becoming a vegetarian, and the reasons why doing so are good for your health, the planet, and obviously for animals. I wanted to share this info with you in the event you may have considered trying out a vegetarian lifestyle, but didn't know how to start or the evidence as to why doing so is beneficial.

Allie's Answers has great information about a Free Veg Starter Pack. This starter pack is filled with helpful advice and tips that will put you on the path to a plant-based diet.

Big Green Purse has a comprehensive, educational post entitled: 10 Reasons Why You Should Eat Less Meat.

Enjoy your quest to vegetarianism!

Alarming News About Video Game Systems

The name of my blog is "Petite" Planet, but this news on video games most likely concerns the adult children in our households too, ahem, our husbands! I'll go ahead and admit that my husband is in love with his Playstation 3, and I know that video games are no longer just the hobby of youth and teens... which is why the statistic now exists that video game systems in America consume as much energy annually as the city of San Diego!

If this stat is at all intriguing to you, and I am pretty certain it is if you're reading Petite Planet, here is some great reading on the topic:

Planet Green offers 5 Ways to Green Your Video Game System. If you own a system, this is a must read!

The NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) reports on Lowering the Cost of Play. Go read this comprehensive fact sheet and assessment of how to improve energy efficiency with regard to video game systems.

The good news is, there are ways to "green" up your household's video game regimen... it's simply knowing what to do to save energy, and then acting accordingly.