May 31, 2011

Mrs. Meyers Debuts New Product Fragrances: Parsley & Rosemary

I'm a huge fan of Mrs. Meyers products, and we use the liquid hand soap in apple scent at our kitchen sink. We just tried their latest hand soap fragrance, parsley, and it is the perfect soap to scrub up with before preparing many a summer meal! The company just debuted parsley and rosemary as two new scents in their collection of household cleaners which range from hand soaps to laundry detergent. I can attest that their hand soaps are a wonderful daily extravagance and I adore their liquid laundry detergent as well!

Free of damaging triclosan and parabens, Mrs. Meyers hand soap is fueled by natural ingredients including aloe vera gel, olive oil, and essential oils.

Stock up on your Mrs. Meyer's products now, because for a limited time, Mrs. Meyers will send you free lavender or basil seeds with your order!

May 25, 2011

Organic Cotton Shape Sorter from Dandelion

I love modern green twists on classic toys, and this organic cotton soft shape sorter from Dandelion does away with the conventional plastic version of the developmental game, while making baby's experience more tactile and exploratory.

The soft textures of the shapes (circle, square, triangle, and star) are fun to rattle, shake, crinkle, squeeze -- and even chew for a teething babe. Pieces are perfectly sized to fit into little hands, and the entire lot is machine washable to do away with the drool!

May 23, 2011

ERGObaby Carrier Gets a Makeover from Petunia Pickle Bottom!


The ERGO organic baby carrier is by far my top choice for wearing Mr. A while out and about. It is comfortable and effortless and I highly recommend one for every family! See my extensive review on the ERGObaby carrier here

As if this contraption wasn't fabulous enough, ERGObaby has partnered with Petunia Pickle Bottom to debut some super cute new organic fabric designs. Pre-order this stylish necessity at here at Granola Babies. They start shipping out in June, and I doubt they'll last long!

May 18, 2011

Things That Are Making Me Smile Today


Handmade fox dolls with a ton of personality.
Design Mom's cheery 1st Birthday Party for her daughter, June.
Windbreakers made from hot air balloons.
Animal Art collages made from vintage books.
Vintage baby cradles that rock.

May 17, 2011

Artistic Vintage Globes from ImagineNations

I've always had an affinity for globes, and I love this latest discovery: ImagineNations upcycled globes which boast artistic flair and one-of-a-kind designs. Wendy Gold creates each new world by decoupaging a vintage globe with various recycled pictures, imagery and words.

While these petite planets, as I like to call them, won't help teach your tot accurate geography, they make wonderful keepsakes. Globes may be customized with names, points of interest, or any other specific landmark in your life. Check out the current collection here. A portion of all sales is donated to American Forests as well!

May 14, 2011

California Bound


My husband and I began our journey as a couple in Los Angeles, and after three years in Portland and after having one child born in each locale, we're moving back to Southern California. We're hoping to settle in Redondo Beach. Do any Petite Planet readers live in that area or know much about it? We loved the laid-back vibe and family-friendly nature of the beach town. The next couple of months will be very hectic in our household, and we look forward to settling into our new life and home, and the next chapter of our lives. I'll be swapping pine trees for palm trees, but will still be featuring the greatest green news for kids and families here on Petite Planet.

May 9, 2011

Ideas for Upcycling Plastic Toys

 
Even if you consider yourself a green parent, it can be somewhat inevitable that plastic toys and tchotchkes somehow stack up in any home with children. To avoid these toys from being played with or put into mouths, yet to keep them out of a landfill, upcycle plastic playthings via these great ideas I saw over at LMNOP blog. Head on over to their post Art of Plastic to see clever incarnations from mobiles to the framed well art shown above!

I also recall from my youth, my mom glued all of our old plastic toys to a kid-sized rocking chair, and it was quite the showpiece!

Image via LMNOP, Photographed by Sofie Helsted, Created by Filippa Asved

May 6, 2011

Eco-Friendly Puppy Shampoo & Grooming Wipes from Earthbath


This post was written by Petite Planet pet correspondent Tracie Berger.

Springtime at Casa d’Canine means lots of outdoor activities for Nina and Kira… which also means lots of baths. From relieving annual allergies to washing up after a romp in the swimming pool, I’m always on the hunt for the best shampoos and products to keep my girls’ coats shiny and healthy. Now that we’ve discovered Earthbath, we need to look no further.

Paul Armstrong founded Earthwhile Endeavors, Inc. in 1995 after a chance encounter with three buddies in San Francisco who had developed a natural, effective pet shampoo but didn't know what to do with it. Well, Paul knew a great product when he saw one (as did his cat Miles), and he was determined to share it with pet lovers everywhere. From the beginning, Earthbath has been developed and manufactured in California with only the safest, finest ingredients from nature. From humble roots and a local following--based on the principles of purity and efficacy -- Earthbath has grown from four shampoos to a comprehensive line of totally natural shampoos, wipes, spritzes, and grooming foams that are sold and used by conscientious animal lovers across the nation and around the world.

Earthbath's comprehensive line of totally natural, soap-free shampoos, grooming wipes, and spritzes offer heavenly scented solutions for the unique needs of your pet, including everyday cleansing and coat conditioning, relief from itching or hot spots, skin sensitivity or allergy, odor relief and more. Their formulas include heavenly scented natural essential oils that will make your pet look and smell better than ever before while naturally solving your pet's most pesky skin problems.


I’m not exaggerating when I say that Earthbath’s Grooming Wipes are the single greatest invention I’ve ever seen for a pet. These wipes safely and easily wipe away dirt and odor between baths and allow you to handily clean dirty paws, undercoats and unmentionables from little bottoms! We use the Puppy Grooming wipes, which are extra mild and pH balanced for young pups, and contain Hawaiian awapuhi, aloe vera and vitamin E to moisturize skin and coat. They are amazing to use after the dog park where drool and dirt are the norm, and are so convenient to take anywhere. Several tubs are always on hand in the car! Mild cleansers freshen and deodorize while the wild cherry essence leaves a heavenly scent.

For the times when a full bath is in order, Earthbath’s divine smelling and rich lathering Puppy Shampoo is our favorite. Naturally tearless and pH-balanced for puppies' sensitive skin, this luxurious shampoo contains only nature's finest blend of natural cleansers, aloe vera and a dash of baby-fresh, cherry essence. It won’t wash off topical flea applications, is safe for all animals over 6 weeks old and is soap-free.

Last but not least, Earthbath’s Ear Wipes are a fast, convenient way to keep your pet's ears free of wax and discharge which can cause odor and infections. Not to mention, both Nina and Kira actually enjoy getting their ears cleaned with these wipes as opposed to a liquid earwash. There’s no more resisting or running away! Earthbath’s Ear Wipes contain witch hazel, a natural cleanser and astringent, plus a sumptuous mix of nature's finest plant extracts with gentle therapeutic and deodorizing properties. Safe for all dogs, cats and other furry pets over 6 weeks old and naturally fragrance-free.

Earthbath’s products are simply the best smelling, most natural and gentle line of products I’ve found to keep Nina and Kira healthy, happy and smelling like they just came from the groomers! Visit www.earthbath.com to see their entire line of natural, soap-free heavenly scented products.

May 4, 2011

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Felt Play Food


Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar is by far one of the most treasured books in our house. It truly never gets old, even after 10 readings in a row! I love this felt play food inspired by the book, which turns the story into an interactive, three-dimensional experience! See how one mom brilliantly crafted the caterpillar's feast -- and even the majestic butterfly at the tale's end -- over at Tea Rose Home.

 Image and Idea via Tea Rose Home

May 2, 2011

Tooth Fairy Door


Remember that adorable fairy door I highlighted awhile back? Well, how cute is this tooth fairy door one mom made for her son? What a magical way to mark the milestone of losing baby teeth -- by inviting the Tooth Fairy in via her very own special entrance! See how to make this grand entrance over at This Blessed Nest.

Image and Idea via This Blessed Nest