We’ve seen plenty of recycled crayons in our time, but these three-dimensional cupcakes take the cake. Made from melted-down crayons, these calorie-free treats even come topped with perfectly swirled frosting. And considering what cupcakes are going for these days, $6 for half a dozen is a steal!
Eco-friendly gDiapers products are a favorite here at Inhabitots. We love everything from their flushable diapers and washable gCloth diaper inserts to their stylish diaper cover options ranging from summer frills to patriotic to sophisticated! And the company has just launched another boast worthy product: biodegradable gWipes baby wipes. gWipes are hypo-allergenic, as well as fragrance-, chlorine-, and alcohol free, and they help clean babe’s tiny tush with a hint of Aloe vera and vitamin E. gWipes are made of cellulose pulp and regenerated cellulose, and wet wipes may be home composted.
We recently ran my post entitled: 10 Things You DON’T Need to Buy for Your New Baby, listing the non-essential baby gear you may want to avoid purchasing for baby’s homecoming. In this post, I’m sharing the top ten things you should buy for your new baby, to help you plow through the countless options in the baby market so you end up with what your new little one really needs to get life off to a great start!
It was quite a surprise to find Tyvek® hanging from a clothing rack in a Manhattan boutique store window. Fashioned into a petite raincoat, perfect for fashion-forward kids, the material appeared unchanged; showing the green screen-printed design that adorned its outer side during its previous life as a nearly indestructible envelope.
Surely you remember Pogo Sweater Animals, which Inhabitots readers voted the best green toy of 2009! Pogos are “soft wooly friends who hide and play in the hollow trees and mossy clearings by day, but all want companions for stories and snuggling at night.” Made from upcycled wool sweaters, these eco-friendly handmade stuffed animals have charmed us all. Now we’d like to introduce you to the designer behind these cute creatures, Laura Ray. Here are Laura’s answers to five fun questions we asked her regarding her inspiration and the green process behind her beloved creations.
Hess Germany’s minimalistic wooden play gym has just enough bright and colorful objects for babies to grab, kick and gaze at, yet while the gym helps your little one master motor skills and hand-eye coordination, it won’t stand out in your living room. All toys from Hess …
Volume Zero is the newest furniture collection from the always impressive and eco-friendly Kidsonroof. While we love the sweet unique qualities of past Kidsonroof products such as the handy Bo Buro Cardboard Writing Desk Set and the playful Casa Cabana Cardboard Play House what we really adore about their new Volume Zero collection is that all the pieces are made to last years beyond cardboard.
thredUP is a new clothing exchange program specifically designed to serve the Facebook generation of parents. Like a status update for your kid’s growth progress, thredUp allows you to notify friends when your little one has outgrown a particular clothing size. Pack those gently used pieces in a box, then browse your Inner Circle’s accounts (the thredUP equivalent of Facebook friends) to find a box you’re interested in, and swap! You only pay …
At 31 weeks pregnant, I can no longer be in denial over the fact that I’m going to need to go through labor to give birth to my precious baby. After a traumatic first birth experience (although the end result was a blessing = healthy mom and baby), I am carrying a lot of baggage, fear and uncertainty with regard to my son’s upcoming birthday. I recently watched The Business of Being Born, and it dawned on me that hiring a birth doula to be my advocate and labor coach might be a good idea to help ease my mind, and hopefully my experience. I have been actively researching doulas and the role they play in assisting birthing mamas, but the question still looms for me, “Should I hire a birth doula?” Here’s a look into the decision-making journey.
Michelle Obama is one classy lady—and don’t people know it. Not since Jackie O has a First Lady’s wardrobe been so scrutinized, pulled apart, and obsessed over. If your child loves playing dress-up with dolls, consider introducing her (or him!) to the thinking woman’s fashion icon. Made from recycled paper, this cut-and-color kit by illustrator Jen Hewett comes with …
Looking for a little eco-friendly design inspiration for your nursery? The interior design team at Marsh & Clark created a chic, modern, sustainable room for triplets from a third-floor attic bedroom at the 2010 San Francisco Decorator Showcase. Inside the nursery you’ll find healthy and toxin-free furniture, fibers and finishes as well as pieces that boast a sophistication that deems them appropriate for use outside the nursery years later.
Droog is one design studio whose concepts have always been more whimsical than practical. Not that it’s a bad thing, of course—life is too short not to take the mickey out of it now and then. This highchair, designed by Maartje Steenkamp, is a prime example of the Dutch collective’s shared sense of humor. Made from white birch, the one-size-fits-all seater doesn’t so much grow …
Etsy never ceases to amaze us with amazing, eco-minded designers handcrafting everything from wooden teethers to baby shoes, but the massive site can be overwhelming. Now Natural Kids, a group of kid-focused Etsy artisans, is making it easier. To celebrate their new web site that brings all of the designers together in one easy to shop Natural Kids Store, we’re giving away over $100 worth of their beautiful, hand-made green toys. One lucky winner will receive a knitted bunny from The Fairies’ Nest, a wooden car stacker from Just Hatched, a upcycled vintage cotton duck rattle toy from SewnNatural, two knitted acorns in a pouch from Woolies and a set of five tubs of Mama K’s Aromatic Play Clay. Enter to win after the jump!
Greendix, the company that makes these nifty leaf-shaped solar panels has captured our attention yet again with something even cooler – the world’s first solar powered soccer ball! Just in time for the World Cup games, the Taiwan-based company unveiled photos of the ball, which looks just like a regular soccer ball except that the iconic black pentagonal patches have been replaced with solar cells, giving it an eye-catching, prismatic look. Even more interestingly, the company is developing the ball with motion-sensing technology in hopes that it will allow visually impaired people to play with it!
Dr. Alan Greene is renowned pediatrician and father of four who has written many books on the subject of green parenting, and how to keep your family safe and healthy. He is on the board of Healthy Child, Healthy World and recently published two new books called Raising Baby Green and Feeding Baby Green. I recently had the chance to interview Dr. Greene about some of my most pressing concerns about hidden household toxins and chemicals – check out the video above and the interview below to hear what he had to say on everything from toxic household cleaners, to autism, to concerns about endocrine disruption with BPA and soy products.
Here’s one small step for a baby, one giant leap for chic baby style! Vivienne Westwood has collaborated with Melissa Plastic Dreams to launch a collection of “Mini Melissa” baby shoes, based on two of the legendary British designer’s popular Anglomania designs. (Mommy and Me alert!) We usually consider plastic to be unfantastic, but Melissa uses Melflex, …
LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!
