I recently came across a web site which I really loved, in fact so much that I called to talk to the owners.  The name is The Kitchen Yogi and they make the most adorable yogi asana shaped cookie cutters.  The powerhouses behind these artful creations are two New Jersey women Karen La Du, a yoga and art instructor, and Amy Wolochowicz the marketing and business manager.

There are currently three yoga inspired cookie cutters with an associated recipe included:  Vrksasana (Tree Pose) with a molasses honey ginger cookie recipe; Sukhasana (Easy Seated Pose) with an organic sugar cookie recipe; and Paripurna Navasana (Boat Pose) with a gluten-free recipe. I am also assured that there will be even more poses on the way in the future.

These are large cookie cutters and they also lend themselves to creating artful craft presentations such as wreaths and mandalas as well.  I like versatile items when it comes to the kitchen and my children. Homemade cookies and craft projects are very big in our house so I know that these will actually be used unlike the last product that I brought home from a home sales party.

Founder La Du says that she hopes her products will generate more interest in at home baking and art making time, bringing a greater awareness of the mind-body connection, and inspire healthy choices and family time.  My children love to do anything that involves their hands and I bet your children will as well.

Being a sustainable business owner another thing that I like about The Kitchen Yogi is that they give back as well.  The Kitchen Yogi proudly donates 10% of their profits to animals in need and associated charities.

Use coupon code “BAKE” to save 10% off your next order at The Kitchen Yogi .

Tees for Change started with the idea that the words on your t-shirt can change the world. By wearing an inspirational word or phrase you can lift your mood, and affect the mood of everyone you meet. Your positivity will encourage others to think positive, and they will in turn affect more people. Think of it like happiness dominoes. I like thinking of it in terms of ahimsa or non-violence as a part of the spirit of yoga. I also like the fact that the founder was inspired to start the company in part to put out positive messages when looking towards the upcoming home birth that she was planning.

I have to confess that I own a gorgeous purple bamboo shirt of theirs and it is the softest on the planet.  It has washed and worn well too over the years too.

Being a former sustainable business producer I can say that I feel good that Tees for Change is an eco-friendly company. They choose organic fibers because they are better for the environment and the farmers who grow them. Each time you purchase organic clothing you are sending a message to farmers and clothing companies that says you support green initiatives.  In addition to providing you with an eco-friendly tee, they also plant a tree for each shirt they sell.  I think that it is very important to leave the world a better place for our children.

Visit Tees for Change to see the difference a shirt can make in brightening up your day. Sign up for their mailing list to save 15% off your first order.

I recently received The ABCs of Yoga for Kids book by TeresaPower, coloring book, and poster and I can’t tell you have fantastic theseproducts are. I am always looking for more interesting ways to incorporate yogainto my young ones lives. Let’s face it the good old A,B,C’s can get prettyboring after a while but these products actually liven them up. My children areactually asking to do the poses in the book. The quality of the illustrationsis very high as well. Next time you are looking for a birthday gift that theyaren’t going to receive duplicates of consider one of these ABC’s of Yoga forKids products, it’s sure to be a hit at the party.

 

The The ABCs of Yoga forKids is a colorful very easy to understand book where each page is a letterof the alphabet and a corresponding yoga pose. It is a fun read, a book thatreally gets your little one moving. The color book is a great way to get themto remember which pose goes with which letter. The poster is just a funreminder to do the poses everyday. I also think that the poster would be greataddition to a pre-school environment. This is a great product for children’syoga teachers and parents alike.

 

 With this book children can:

·        practice yoga a healthyactivity for everyone’s life

·        learn the alphabet

·        read the explanations ofthe yoga poses

·        imitate the funillustrations

·        become calmer and moreself-aware

·        develop flexibility,coordination, focus, and strength

 

Some of our favorite poses from the book are:

·        The dog –“Stretching from a nap.  On my hands andknees”

·        Theflamingo – “Standing tall, I bend one leg, and hold onto my knee”

·        The lion –“I look to the sky.  I give a mightyroar”

·        The pretzel– “My hand then stretches directly behind me”

 

Power says “I have practiced yogamyself for over 25 years, and have taught yoga for seven years. I have seenoverwhelmingly positive results in the children I teach, and want to share mylove of yoga across the nation and around the world.  If our next generation could learn to calm themselves, while atthe same time building strength and fortitude, our world would be a betterplace.  With more body awareness, kidscould make better choices for keeping their bodies healthy, both mentally andspiritually.”

 

I’m always looking for a new yoga game to play with thechildren. I really enjoyed these products and think that your children wouldtoo. I’m sure that I will be using these products for years to come.

 

 

Having two children of my own and wanting to encourage everything green I’m always on the prowl for the latest green products. I also like products that a little off the beaten path. Here are a few that I found.

• My children always love a flashlight. One can ask why something so simple is so entertaining but it just is. Life+Gear GlowSticks (LED light) deliver that and more: they are also flow sticks (perfect for Halloween) and energy signaling devices (great for earthquakes too). They only cost $4.99 and can be found at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Staples, Spencers, Target and HomeDepot.
• I don’t know about your children, but mine always want a really cool clock in their room. Now I found one that is unique and eco-friendly: the Bedol water powered alarm clock. That's right, it runs on tap water and without batteries ($28). Bedol encourages clock owners to donate the money that they save on batteries/electricity to an eco-cause. The clocks also have a really unique water drop design that is sure to please.
• The Ikea SUNNAN solar desk lamp with an LED bulb - I got one of these lights for the children, but I’m thinking of stealing it for myself because I never realized how handy it is to have a light that is cordless. Just charge the solar panel on the base of the light for 9 -12 hours in the sun and get four hours of full light! Maybe when I buy one for myself, I'll also donate one to a family in a developing country so the children can do their schoolwork after dark. Available at Ikea for $19.99.
• Little Bird Tales is a online service for kids that provides a green alternative to creating books, art, sharing photos and creating stories. You simply type their message, upload family photos or artwork, record kids’ voices narrating the message then watch it playback as a slideshow that can be emailed out. This is also a great way to send really unique e-holiday cards without hurting any trees. They also have a special offer: a 30-day package that will allow your family to create as many holiday “bird tales” to share with an unlimited number of recipients for $4.95.
• OrganicKidz has a stainless steel baby bottle that is convertible to a sippy cup and will also be available shortly as a water bottle too. I love that this product can be used for years rather than months. It also helps keep beverages cool. They have several attractive styles too.
• Are you looking for a really unique way to encourage your children to drink water and exercise? Then check out Swiggies the wrist water bottle. It’s a great way to drink and go. They are BPA-free too. ($12.95 per set)
• How about a Mr. Green rubber duck? It's available by itself or in a gift set with green natural soap, gift notes on recycled paper included. This is a great twist on the old fashion yellow variety. ($11.99/$19.99)
• Shains are recycled accessories that empower kids/tweens to make their own statements and change them whenever they want. Shains are available as backpack clips, ponytail holders, bracelets, cuffs and bookmarks. They come in really nice bright colors too. My daughter especially loves the bracelet. (starts at $4.50)
• Chicobags’s are made from recycled products. They have a wide variety of styles and even a cute limited edition line that would make great gifts. They have an adult as well as child friendly line. What I like about these bags is that they are really light weight (some bags are too heavy to carry along everyday but these are not), very compact and come with a self-included pouch.
• Ecogear bags are all organic cotton, super eco-friendly, and they come with bamboo toggles. The colors are fantastic and bright. My children love to have their very own eco-friendly bag to take places. The backpack styled bag was my children’s favorite.
• Gourmet scented colored pencils are all the rage this year, and their cases are made from 100% recycled newspapers! Yesterday's news colored pencils are made from recycled Chinese newspapers and is fun gift to give.

Kelly Neylan is a registered yoga teacher, reiki master, eco-entrepreneur/advocate, and author.

We all want to help the environment but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. I know what you are thinking… this is going to be a hassle, or expensive but it’s not. As a mother of two and the owner of several businesses I’m here to tell you if I can do this anyone can. Here is a guide on how to reduce your lunch waste. Remember, reducing is the new green recycling model. If the environmental impact doesn’t move you, maybe I can appeal to your sense of frugality? According to Waste Free Lunches, the average disposable lunch costs $4.02 where the reusable lunch costs only $2.65.  Add that up for every person in your household and you might just have yourself a vacation fund in a year ₁. Here are just a few facts to get you fired up to make some positive changes:

 

• 80% of the 28 billion plastic water bottles every year by Americans end up in landfills _2.
• The average sized American elementary school generates 18,760 pounds of lunch waste per year ₃. That’s 3.5 billion pounds of garbage a year.

 

 

Top 10 Fast Ideas to Green Your Lunch

 

1. Use a reusable lunch bag, preferably a PVC free one. PVC is a plastic that has been identified as being produced with carcinogens and toxic chemicals that can leach out. PVC products are often labeled vinyl or have the number 3, V or PVC underneath the universal recycling symbol.
2. Use reusable food containers (stainless steel containers, plastic reusable bags, and soft reusable sandwich wrap or pouch varieties). 
3. Ditch the bottled water or juice box habit in favor of a reusable bottle. 
4. If you must use aluminum foil to wrap something use recycled aluminum foil or natural recycled parchment paper.
5. If you must use plastic bags then re-use them by using a product such as Bag E Wash for the dishwasher or wiping them out the old fashion way.
6. Bring re-usable cutlery from home.  You can use what you already have in the kitchen or there are also nice bamboo travel ones as well, if it has to be disposable for a particular event then use biodegradable cutlery.
7. Use cloth napkins rather than paper ones; it saves you money, too. I was able to find brand new ones at yard sales, dollar stores, and on clearance racks. I found that dark colors work best for children. I wash them weekly with my regular laundry, so it’s no extra work.
8. Consider buying organic food, it is healthier for your family and better for the environment.  Go to local farmers’ markets or consider joining a local farmers CSA in order to get cheaper organics.
9. Buy items in bulk with as little packaging as possible. Buy large containers over single serving ones and then put a single serving in your reusable containers. This will save you money as well. 
10. Compost your food scraps. You can use a plastic storage tub, a compost bin, or a worm bin to do this.  There is an option to fit everyone's home or situation. Create wonderful soil rather than waste with your food scraps.

 

 

Favorite Eco-Friendly Lunch Products

 

• For wrapping sandwiches I like the wrap-n-mat.  It's a plastic-lined, Velcro-closure, cloth reusable sandwich wrapping device so you don't have to use disposable plastic wrap to wrap your sandwich every day.  It folds out to form a nice eating area as well.
• To wrap snacks and cookies, I like the snackTAXI snack sacks. SnackTAXI is also a mother inspired business as well -- always a bonus in my book. I ran right out and bought more of these because I liked them so much. They also now have a sandwich version too. You can beat their cute designs.
• If you have a tight fit in your existing lunch bag I would recommend the innovative collapsible water bottle the Vapur.  Another brand I like for lunches or to replace sippy cups is the Contigo autoseal kids mug. I liked this mug idea so much that I’m ordering a full sized one to use when I teach yoga.  A full sized bottle for you thirsty ones is Project Earth H2O.  A percentage of every purchase goes to support environmental charities. You can also now customize Sigg bottles with names or pictures at Café Press. A company with customer service bar none is EcoUsable and they have great water bottles too with optional nice sleeves for gripping called water wrapz. I had the best customer service experience with this company and have never forgotten it, they really stand behind their products.
• Cool Tote’s are insulated lunch bags with a variety of fabric choices that are very well constructed. I’ve had one of their bags for years and it still hasn’t worn out. If you are going to put a drink bottle in it I would recommend the larger sized bag. Bazura’s lunch boxes are made from recycled packaging. Yubo is a unique lunchbox and container system that allows you to change the outside designs.  Later this year they are adding an attached drink system as well. My daughter went crazy over the peace sign version of this lunch box. The Laptop Lunch bento box system is a very sturdy and popular system as well with many options.
• When you need a pre-packaged snack for on the go, try Tasty Baby organic fruit snack in eco-friendly packaging. Both of my children thought these tasted as good as the less healthy varieties. I am all about promoting organic food options.

 

Do you want to inspire others?  You can download a free waste-free lunch poster from the EPA as well as a waste-free lunch letter to send to parents.

 

Kelly Neylan is a registered yoga teacher, reiki master, eco-entrepreneur/advocate, and author of the upcoming book Little Bodies Big Souls: How Stories from Yoga and Children will Change your Life.  Submissions are being accepted at Little Bodies Big Souls.

 

 

End Notes

1.    “What does it cost to pack a waste-free lunch?” n.d.,  http://www.wastefreelunches.org (accessed Oct. 2009).

2.    “Facts about Plastic Bottles” n.d., http://earth911.com/plastic/plastic-bottles/facts-about-plastic-bottles/ (accessed Oct. 2009).

3.    “How to Reduce Waste in Your School” n.d., http://www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/news/2007news/03-school.htm (accessed Oct. 2009).

Some companies have chosen to send in product samples for review and testing purposes.

 

 

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