Alexander Girard Nativity Set by House Industries

by , 11/30/10

Explain the true meaning of Christmas to your kids with this beautifully crafted nativity scene based on an original Alexander Girard illustration that hangs in his son’s house. Girard had an impressive collection of nativities, which he curated for the International Museum of Folk Art in Santa Fe. This brightly colored nativity set by House Industries includes 11 solid maple pieces and is finished with non-toxic, child-safe inks. The stable is made from replenishable kiln-dried basswood grown in Michigan. The set is made in limited quantities so you need to call House Industries if you’re interested in placing an order.

+ Alexander Girard Nativity Set

+ House Industries

REVIEW: Natural ‘Merino Kids’ Baby Sleep Sacks

by , 11/30/10

merino kids sleep sacks, sleep sacks, eco baby, green baby, merino, sleep bags, eco sleep sacks, green sleep sacks, SIDS, reduce SIDS

Sleep is one of the biggest issues new parents face upon welcoming a new baby into the family — and sleep takes on an identity of its own in households with children, often eluding and confounding moms and dads well into their child’s toddler years. We’ve written a great deal about sleep (or lack thereof) here on Inhabitots, and it’s a topic that maintains our constant interest because it permeates all of our lives as parents on a daily basis. Add to this, concerns about SIDS, and anxiety levels peak. In a previous article on SIDS we highlighted the tragic statistic that, “Every year in the United States, more than 2,300 otherwise healthy babies die suddenly and unexpectedly from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).” Additionally, “a recent international study published in the medical journal Pediatrics concluded that 25 percent of SIDS babies were found with their head covered.” As if we weren’t worried and sleep deprived enough…

With regard to my baby, I check regularly to make sure he is breathing throughout all of his sleeping sessions, morning noon and night, and I also make certain his crib bumper doesn’t pose a suffocation hazard, and that stuffed toys, pillows and blankets are not in his sleeping vicinity. These are standard rules most parents already know and abide. But I had not given a great deal of thought about the safety of the garment he actually wore to sleep — (aside from it fitting well, being cozy, appropriately warm and easy to remove for midnight diaper changes). So when I was introduced to Merino Kids Baby Sleep Sacks, I was thrilled to know such a safe and suitable option existed for keeping babies safe while sleeping.

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Europe Protects Babies from BPA While the USA Does Almost Nothing

by , 11/30/10
Europe bans bpa, bpa banned in europe, ban bpa, ban harmful chemicals, Bisphenol A, bpa, bpa in baby bottles, bpa in sippy cups, carcinogens, chemical policy reform, chemicals, congress, Dianne Feinstein, food safety bill, toxic-chemicals

Image © SXC

On Thanksgiving Day, European Union’s executive commission announced that bisphenol-A (BPA) will be banned from baby bottles in Europe come June 2011. The commission approved the proposal to ban BPA in baby bottles, citing concerns of BPA’s ability to “Disrupt the immune system, stimulate tumor growth and interfere with proper development of young children.” Of course in a rub to parents in America, this announcement came just after a similar measure to ban BPA in sippy cups and baby bottles was dropped from a federal food safety bill during debate in the U.S. Senate. While some U.S. government leaders agreed on the measure, the American Chemistry Council, convinced Republican senators to kill the measure. Go USA!

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LAST CHANCE: Win a Windows Phone 7 (worth $500)!

by , 11/29/10

contest, free stuff, giveaway, green giveaway, htc hd7, t-mobile, windows 7, windows 7 phone

WIN YOUR VERY OWN WINDOWS 7 PHONE WORTH $500 – CONTEST CLOSES IN 1 HOUR!

You might have heard all the buzz surrounding the new Windows 7 smart phones equipped with a sleek, super fast mobile operating system that just came out this week. If you’re dying to get your hands on one, today is your lucky day because we’re giving away a brand spanking new HTC HD7 Windows 7 smart phone (worth $500) to one very lucky Inhabitots reader – and it could be you! This innovative new gadget was designed with a super crisp large display and allows you to access all of the best entertainment programs like Netflix, T-Mobile TV and Slacker Radio right at the tip of your fingers – great for entertaining little ones. On top of this amazing new phone, the winner will receive a one year XBOX Live Gold membership, a three month unlimited Zune Pass which will allow them to download and stream unlimited music and keep 30 songs of their choice forever and
a T-Mobile SIM that will be active until Nov 30th.


TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY

1. SIGN UP FOR THE INHABITOTS NEWSLETTER (This is important because we’ll be announcing our winner there.)

2. LEAVE A COMMENT below by 12pm EST on November 29, 2010. We will select a winner at random.

+ Learn more about the Windows 7 Phone


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Is Sharing Breast Milk on Facebook Safe?

Is Sharing Breast Milk on Facebook Safe?

Turns out you can share more than photos and “likes” on Facebook. As TIME reported last week, you can even share breast milk. Eats on Feets, a play on Meals on Wheels, is a new group started by Phoenix midwife Shell Walker. The group uses Facebook to help connect women and their babies with supplemental breast milk from other mamas. The group is popular and growing fast. Emma Kwasnica, a mama and breast-feeding activist has taken the group global and the Eats on Feets network now spans all 50 states along with 22 countries. More than 70 breast milk matches have been reported. Mamas and babies who need breast milk help have acquired milk in bags and jars, but also sometimes directly from a real-life breastfeeding mama.

However, with breast milk for the taking on Facebook, the question of safety always pops up in some circles. I mean, as a kid, you’re taught not to share drinks or hairbrushes, so should you really share breast milk? Some people even get freaked by breast milk soap and you’re not even drinking that. With this in mind, read on to see if sharing breast milk on Facebook is a safe and smart idea.

Do you think moms should share breast milk on Facebook?

  • 56 Votes Sure, it's a great idea for mamas and babies in need.
  • 39 Votes It could be risky - you should only get breast milk from an official milk bank.
  • 8 Votes No. I think sharing breast milk in any capacity is icky.

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

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WIN IT WEDNESDAY! Win a gDiapers Starter Kit Worth $100

WIN IT WEDNESDAY! Win a gDiapers Starter Kit Worth $100

If you’re a faithful Inhabitots reader you’ve probably noticed that we’re a little obsessed with gDiapers. This fall, the innovative hybrid diaper company, run by momtreprenuer Kimberly Graham Nye, introduced a whole crop of new bright-colored Little gPants. Now, gDiapers is giving away a starter kit featuring three Little gPants in the new gooseberry purple, grateful red, and great orange along with a swizzle stick and a package of Biodegradable gRefills — a prize package worth $100. If you’ve never tried gDiapers, read our review of the amazing flushable diapers so you can understand just how much you want to win this prize. Then, find out how to enter to win a starter kit after the jump.

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Organic & Natural Jasper’s Jungle Collection

Organic & Natural Jasper’s Jungle Collection

From I Love My Planet Toys via ImagiPLAY, comes a delightful and eco-friendly collection of toys sure to please little ones this holiday season. The Jasper’s Jungle collection is entirely crafted from certified organic cotton and naturally sustainable rubberwood. Each piece in this collection is lovely with a gorgeous vintage meets modern look. Plus these toys transition nicely from classically styled nursery decor to an older child’s favorite toy.

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Heather Lins Home: Eco Friendly Science Project Pillows

Heather Lins Home: Eco Friendly Science Project Pillows

We are huge fans of the new line of eco-friendly Science Project Pillows from Heather Lins Home. The Wisconsin-based designer has taken well-known scientific diagrams and transformed them into fun and vibrant accessories for the home. Each pillow is made using 100% wool felt and faux suede made from recycled soda and water bottles. Plus, these gorgeously unique …

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Happy Thanksgiving from Inhabitots!

Happy Thanksgiving from Inhabitots!

Sure, we love indulging in all of the yummy Thanksgiving foods, but more than anything we're happy to take a day to spend quality time with friends and family. And as we slow down, we have time to give thanks for all the amazing people, moments, and goodness in our lives. Read on to find out what the Inhabitots team is grateful for and see pictures of our loved ones who we'll be sharing the day with this year. Feel free to tell us what you're thankful for in the comments below. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Brinca Dada’s Emerson House is a Modern Dream Dollhouse

Brinca Dada’s Emerson House is a Modern Dream Dollhouse

Talk about a dream home! If only Brinca Dada’s Emerson House wasn’t a sized-down scale 1:18 home, we’d move right into this contemporary dollhouse. But since it’s too small, we think it makes a great gift for budding architects and kids who need a home for their eco-friendly doll family to live in. The mid-century modern style home design was inspired in part by Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann Desert House and the Gary Cooper house design by A. Quincy Jones.

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HOW TO: Thanksgiving Family Gratitude Journal

HOW TO: Thanksgiving Family Gratitude Journal

This year, I wanted to incorporate a Thanksgiving gratitude journal into our holiday festivities. To give it a fun twist, my son and I made a journal, and instead of asking each member to write their gracious remarks inside themselves, my son will interview and record the gratuities of each member of our family in this homemade book. My son really enjoyed making and then decorating the journal, and he can't wait to present it to the family after this year's Thanksgiving feast. Long after all of the leftovers have been eaten, he'll still have a sweet family keepsake to treasure forever, and isn't that what Thanksgiving is really about? Everything you will need to create a Thanksgiving gratitude journal can be found in your home recycling bin, craft closet and backyard. Read on to learn how you and your child can create a Thanksgiving gratitude journal together in a few short steps.

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GIVEAWAY: Have You Entered to Win a gDiapers Starter Kit Yet?

GIVEAWAY: Have You Entered to Win a gDiapers Starter Kit Yet?

gDiapers, the innovative hybrid diaper company, recently introduced new bright-colored Little gPants and one lucky Inhabitots reader will win a starter kit featuring three Little gPants in the new gooseberry purple, grateful red, and great orange colors along with a swizzle stick and a package of Biodegradable gRefills. Whether you’re a faithful fan of these amazing flushable diapers, or …

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Oopsy Daisy Eco-Friendly Canvas Christmas Tree Sticker Set

Oopsy Daisy Eco-Friendly Canvas Christmas Tree Sticker Set

You can debate for hours about whether a real tree or faux tree is the more eco-friendly option, or you can go for an alternative this year — Peel & Place Canvas Wall Sticker Happy Holidays Set. The 140-piece decoration, designed by …

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GREEN REVIEW: PlanetBox Lunch Box

GREEN REVIEW: PlanetBox Lunch Box

Bento box style lunches for kids have been growing in popularity, and some moms rave about how they can make packing an organized, healthy lunch that’s also fun to eat, a whole lot easier. So when my son Cedar and I recently got the chance to review the PlanetBox Complete set we were eager to give it a try. The set includes the PlanetBox, a safe, food grade quality stainless steel meal container; a stainless steel big dipper container, a stainless steel little dipper container. an insulated Oeko-Tex standard carrying bag made with 100% recycled material, and a set of fun magnets made not with PVC/vinyl, but a more eco-friendly rubber material. We’ve been testing the PlanetBox set out for a couple of weeks now. Keep reading to find out what Cedar and I think of the set.

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NEW! DwellStudio Board Books with Finger Puppets

NEW! DwellStudio Board Books with Finger Puppets

DwellStudio, in partnership with Blue Apple Books, recently introduced two new adorable board books for babies and toddlers. Puppy in Circles and Kitty in Squares feature the same modern design sensibility that makes Dwell so fabulous. The bold colors and patterns of the circles or squares are sure to engage your little one. And the fun finger puppet puppy or kitty only adds to the fun!

+ Puppy in Circles and Kitty in Squares $8.99 each…

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The Best Green Gifts for Boys, Girls, Tots and More

The Best Green Gifts for Boys, Girls, Tots and More

Thanksgiving is almost here, which means the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season is nearly upon us too. Want to get your shopping done early and from the comfort of your own home? Check out Inhabitat’s Green Holiday Gift Guide. …

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NYC Second Graders Build Model of the High Line Park

NYC Second Graders Build Model of the High Line Park

Kids are so freakin' creative. Last spring, second graders at the Village Community School in the West Village created a model of the High Line park as part of a study block on New York City's history, the life-cycle of plants, and community involvement. The classroom-sized model was built out of wood building blocks, dirt, real plants, found objects, construction paper, and tables. Attention to detail is evident in the students' inclusion of surrounding buildings, restaurants, public squares, and even public works of art.

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GIVEAWAY: There’s Still Time to Enter to Win a Windows 7 Phone Worth $500!

GIVEAWAY: There’s Still Time to Enter to Win a Windows 7 Phone Worth $500!


WIN YOUR VERY OWN WINDOWS 7 PHONE WORTH $500!
Dreaming of a new phone? Want to get your hands on the just-released Windows 7 smart phone? Here’s your chance. We’re giving away a brand spanking new HTC HD7 Windows 7 smart phone, which allows you to access awesome entertainment like T-Mobile TV and Netflix that could come in handy …

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Bora Bora Baby Organic Tees and Onesies

Bora Bora Baby Organic Tees and Onesies

We’re always excited to find cute made-in-the-USA, organic baby and kids clothing, and when we find one that also supports an amazing cause, even better. Bora Bora Baby, a new line created by a Michigan designer, was launched earlier this year at the Grand Rapids, Michigan art contest Art Prize. The graphic onesies and tees for babies and toddlers feature designs inspired by a recent visit to the South Pacific that play off both the active …

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Link Roundup: Thanksgiving Crafts, Dream Dollhouses and 2 Chances to Win!

Link Roundup: Thanksgiving Crafts, Dream Dollhouses and 2 Chances to Win!

Made by Joel shows off his beyond cool cardboard Velcro dolls that were featured in Harper’s Bazaar.

If you have two artists to keep busy, set them up at this genius drawing table built for two, discovered by Babble.

Looking for a fab first dollhouse? See Small for Big‘s four favorite dollhouses.

Alpha Mom found some intriguing web entertainment. …

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LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!