ecofabulous

Make Mother's Day Beautiful

The countdown to Mother's Day has begun. If you are as busy as I am (or just plain forgetful), you still haven't organized a gift! Luckily, you still have time to get your mom/important woman in your life a thoughtful gift. Not only are the gorgeous bouquets from Organic Style void of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, FedEx Next Day Service means they arrive in their freshest form and deliver nothing but the sentiment of love. Plus, ecofabulous readers get a 15% discount. The Lavendar Bath Spa Kit is a relaxing alternative or addition to flowers. My children are still making craft paper creations, but some day I hope to receive an eco-abundant gift from them! Click here to receive your ecofab discount.

Positively Green: Word to The Mother!

We're coveting this collection of 48 greeting cards that join heartwarming (though not trite) messages with clean, modern graphics. Conceived to be Positively Green (hence, the name), the cards and envelopes are printed domestically on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with soy based inks supported by wind-powered electricity. Even the metal displays they ship out to retailers (with minimal packaging) are recycled. The back of each card also gives an eco-educational blurb and 10% of profits go to organizations working to save the planet. No matter the occasion, you'll find the card that says the perfect thing with Positively Green. Here's your chance to get in the good graces of your recipient and Mother Earth...and since mother's day is just around the corner, you might want to consider your mom as well. To locate a store near you, click here.

A Picture is Worth Two Tons of CO2

Ok, we all know that digital photography is certainly better for the environment than traditional film photography, but is there anything better? Well if you are thinking about a new digital camera for Mother's Day (or Earth Day, or whatever), check out this  "ECO-Green" special edition of the new Nikon COOLPIX S52, available exclusively from Ritz Camera. This cool camera is more than just green in color...

Ritz has partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset 1.91 tons of carbon dioxide for each ECO-Green COOLPIX purchased. That number corresponds to the average American's monthly carbon footprint according to Carbonfund.org research. They've focused their offsets on reforestation with the goal of reducing nearly 40,000 tons of CO2 from the environment. We hope other merchants follow suit and link product promotions to environmental awareness.

The special edition ECO-Green COOLPIX will be available exclusively at Ritz Camera stores nationwide starting May 1, 2008 for an MSRP of $249.95. You can pre-order online with no tax and free shipping. Smile!

I got this scoop because my husband is a huge digital photo junkie and is on the board of Ritz Interactive.

Changing the Present

Registering for organic cotton bath mats and Energy-Star appliances are a natural start for your wedding To Do list, but ChangingthePresent has a better, greener alternative (or addition) to the typical registry. This site allows philanthropic couples to register for over 1,000 charitable gifts from hundreds on nonprofits, whose causes include international health, arts and culture, education, and human rights. Our favorite feature enables you and your betrothed to personalize your wedding wish list by adding commentary to the gifts you chose: You can share the story of how you two met over fair-trade lattes at an independent coffee shop and then register for a $125 gift supporting the Sidama Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union in Ethiopia as they manage their shade-grown and organic farms. The charitable gifts come in a wide range of price points- from $5 carbon offsets to a $1,000 charitable gift for a seedling nursery in Kenya, so everyone from your rich Uncle Linas to your bridesmaid on a grad school budget can help make your special day into a better day for others too.

Loopy for These Cards

The "eco-luxe note card collection" from Loop showcases intricate, hand-drawn doodles (of the sophisticated variety), domestically printed with soy-based inks on 40-100% post-consumer recycled paper (the rest from FSC-certified sources) that is processed chlorine free. The newest line, Doodlespark, comes from a mother-daughter art duo collaboration - the result of drawings mailed back and forth between the pair over months and sometimes years. It speaks to the intimacy of old school correspondence. And though I am a big believer in electronic communication, there is something to be said for penned sentiments. So the next time you have an important message to relay, think of sending it out on Loop. The company also purchases offsets, are members of 1% for the Planet and Co-op America, and donates a portion of their proceeds to other environ-orgs.

None of Your Beeswax

Rustic elegance isn't for everyone but enthusiasts will light up when they get ahold of this little log. Made from a single stave of an oak wine barrel, each candle holder is one of a kind. They are handcrafted from barrels that originated in France and were used at vineyards in the Niagara Falls region. Make sure to pair yours with a set of tea lights made from 100% natural beeswax for a classic eco pairing.

World Water Day: Thirst Thing's First

Benjamin Franklin said, "When the well's dry, we know the worth of water," and indeed the nearly 1.2 billion individuals (or 1 in 6 of us) who lack access to safe drinking water will attest to that. This is a precious commodity we take for granted in the United States, each using, on average, 150 gallons of water per day, just for cooking! In observance of World Water Day (March 22nd), take the opportunity to, not only recognize this inequity, but also help the cause. By purchasing a $20 Charity Bottle of water, you can contribute towards building wells in impoverished nations. Charity: Water uses 100% of the donations to directly fund their projects; so far, 250 wells are underway which, in turn, will serve 150,000 people, and they're just getting started. This is a gift that more than just the recipient will appreciate. To make your contribution truly ecofabulous, forego the plastic bottle in favor of the "virtual bottle" of water. To be an H20 conduit, click here.

Be a Smart Cookie

For all you cookie cravers out there, taking the proverbial cookies and milk duo into the organic arena is something we always applaud. It's the Traditional Cookie Box from Organic Style that's rising to the top of our eco edibles to-die-for list. They're spicing up our longtime favorites with a heavy helping of organic ingredients. If you're partial to one flavor, choose from Cinnamon Chocolate Chunk, Chocolate Truffle, Lemon Ginger, Oatmeal Tart Cherry Chunk or Snickerdoodle. But if you're like us, and can't make up your mind, the sampling box is the way to go. Each box is labeled as "Made with Organic Ingredients" which means that - according to the USDA - at least 70 percent of the ingredients are organic. While we'll still try to munch in moderation, these freshly baked (daily) confections make us feel better about indulging. To get your fix, visit Organic Style - and take a perusal around the site; they've got tons of tempting offerings.

The Brilliant Earth Vow

Did you and your sweetheart have a killer Valentine's Day that may have placed thoughts of an engagement on the not-so-distant horizon? Time to start checking out some ring options, eh? Brilliant Earth's Create Your Own Ring program makes purchasing a conflict free, environmentally sound ring an effortless reality, and does so in an utterly gorgeous, one-of-a-kind sort of way. Sourcing your diamonds from a reputable jeweler is a moral must - that is if you don't want the emblem of your love to support civil wars in Africa, environmental degradation and horrendous labor practices (for more on this, click here). Brilliant Earth will lead you through the process of designing the perfect ring and deliver it with a certified stamp of ethical approval. We like to think this will improve your "yes!" juju.

Treeo's Elegant Universe

Inspired by "string theory" Treeo Design has developed their own hypothesis, that you can give a gorgeous gift without giving up your values. All of their paper is recycled and/or FSC-certified, and printed using vegetable-based inks. With compelling patterns like "silver bomb" and "purple moon," you are sure to show a your true colors when gifting. But it is the box sets that have us all aflutter. Treeo's undeniably charming little boxes will dress up any offering. Treeo also constrains their manufacturing to North America, keeping the embodied energy of their products to a minimum. I am thinking of becoming a wrap artist...never mind, I'll just box up my eco-emotions and give them to a friend.