Christmas is coming and everyone is freaking out driving to the mall and the big box stores to buy a bunch of stuff to fulfill the present requirement.  Then, they will wrap these presents in wrapping paper (eek) and bows and ribbons which will be deposited into a large plastic trash bag to languish in a landfill.  Me, I shop online and I always go to Nexyoo first. Online, I have a better selection, awesome Nexyoo discounts, no crowds, and no crazy parking lots.  If I could do my food shopping online and never leave my cozy house, believe me, I would.  I despise the mall and stores send me into a panic, too bright and too much “stuff” jumping out at me.  So, of course for Christmas this year I am purchasing Little Green’s presents online and I am wrapping them in the brown paper that comes as part of the packaging or I am going to decorate the cardboard box itself.  I never use wrapping paper.  The brown paper looks really cute when you customize it and then I can reuse it to line Little Green’s craft table for playdough and watercolor painting.  Now, onto the toys.

You know how I feel about noisy, plastic, battery operated toys (distraction devices).  So, here are some awesome online toy stores with equally awesome Nexyoo discounts. Leo Goes Grr has the cutest stuff, really cute and the playdough and crayon rocks, well rock.  They have great stocking stuffers too, all wooden and non-toxic and wonderful toys and dolls to inspire the imagination and foster creativity. Check em’ out and use your discount. Definitely 5 daisies!

Tiny Revolutionary has the coolest, hippest tees I have ever seen for kids.  I know kids hate clothing as gifts but, I think any child would love to have one of these tee-shirts under the tree. They carry tees, hoodies and onesies that are organic cotton and imprinted with some truly inspiring messages.  They have offered Nexyoo members a killer discount and who they are and what they do makes purchasing from them a win-win for you and the various charities they work with. 5 daisies

And finally, for the mamas and papas who dig yoga, a little bird tipped me off to Dear Lil’ Devas.  They have an incredible discount for Nexyoo members and they are giving away some really sweet stuff with every purchase right in time for Christmas. So, free gifts, Nexyoo discount and amazing yoga gear.  What are you still reading this for?

Seriously, get going, if you are going to be buying presents for Christmas, make the right, conscious choices and support these awesome online companies who are doing the right thing.

Happy Shopping!

I just watched The Botany of Desire on Netflix the other night.  It’s a PBS special based on Michael Pollan’s book by the same name.  The documentary is narrated by Frances McDormand and features Michael Pollan. The movie follows four plants and their evolution with respect to humans.  Apples, tulips, potatoes and cannabis will never be looked at the same way.  It’s amazing how these plants have adapted to become more desirable to us and in turn, proliferate in places the plant would never have grown. It’s pretty fascinating and I definitely walked away with a new respect for these four plants. As a result, I have been drawing up plans for the spring and summer gardens.  So, as a warning, this documentary will make you want to get your hands dirty.

I give it 4 daisies.

We just planted 150 tulip bulbs so I’m pretty excited about seeing all of that beauty next spring. I love growing potatoes, it’s easy and fun and so rewarding and earthy. I like to grow them in a cage, tossing a bag of forgotten organic potatoes into the bottom and piling on the dirt and leaves, waiting for the green leaves to shoot through.  Then, the flowers, potato plants have really pretty flowers.  Once the flowers fall off and the plants yellow and fall over the potatoes are ready to harvest. You simply pick up the cage and feel around for potatoes.  This year I will be using the cage method in the smaller kitchen garden and potato mounds in the big garden. We will be planting a couple of apple trees early spring to provide the lonely pear tree with a couple of friends.  Then we can say we have an orchard.

Now that Thanksgiving is over we can start preparing for Christmas and that means Santa Claus and presents under the tree and all the fun stuff that the kiddos (and some of the adults, I’m lookin’ at you Mr. Green Guru) love.  We changed over from plastic toys that beep and blip to wooden toys made from sustainable and non-toxic materials a couple of years ago and have never looked back. The little one even asks whether or not something is made of plastic and if the plastic is good or bad.  At this point she won’t even accept plastic toys and we are thankful for toy companies who manufacture healthy toys that she can enjoy.  These toys and games encourage the imagination and educate at the same time and don’t have the huge impact on the environment of the battery-operated, petroleum based, mainstream toys.  And, these are toys that will grow with your child, not be tossed after a few months when the batteries run out and they lose interest.  Not to mention the health risks involved with some of these toys. With all of the recalls and the whole lead paint incident I think it’s really important to know what your children are playing with and what the teeny tiny ones are putting into their mouths.  Also, the “dumbing down” that those battery operated, no imagination required toys are doing to an entire generation.  Plus, imagine the wonderful silence that comes as an added benefit with toys that require absolutely no batteries.  The only sound we hear is the sound of our daughter’s beautiful little voice as she plays with her dollhouse or her farm animals.  Another benefit? These toys encourage play between parents and children, something that seems to have been lost by the wayside in the hustle and bustle of today’s lives.

One of the online stores we love is Gifted Imaginations.

Gifted Imaginations has everything you need for your child’s Christmas.  They carry everything from toys, games and arts and crafts to furniture and clothing.  They ship fast and their customer service rocks.   I would recommend them to everyone. They have a huge selection of the biggest names in earth-friendly toys and their prices are the best I’ve found.  Plus, they have given Nexyoo members and incredible discount.  Needless to say, I give them 5 daisies.

Shop Gifted Imaginations now for Christmas and use your Nexyoo discount!

I love Maggie’s Pure Land soapnuts.  I love them.  I’ve been using them for a few years now and have never looked back. They remove stains, keep the whites bright, and make the clothes soft.  They are the most natural way to clean your clothes since they actually grow on trees They are the dried fruit from the Chinese soapberry tree and they are THE answer for those of you with allergies and are the perfect detergent for newborn skin.  Plus, they can be composted.  No waste, no giant plastic container to dispose of, no sticky mess on your shelf from detergent drippings, and no unnatural “fresh mountain spring rain” scent.

Soapnuts are so easy to use, just put a few in the little bag they provide and toss it into the washing machine.  They can be used more than once if you are washing in warm or cold water (I use them for about four washes before I replace them) and once or twice in a hot wash. They have directions for the soapnuts here. They are low-sudsing so they can be used in high-efficiency washers.  You can make a liquid out of them and use them for stain removal, general household cleaning and even shampoo!  There are some recipes here for plant pest spray and liquid cleaner.  I have also used their new Lavender Tea Tree Liquid Soap and am equally impressed.

Maggie’s is an incredible company who donates 10% of their profits to, “groups that improve the lives of mothers, children, and support a happy, Pure Planet Earth.”  They employ fair-trade and fair-wage practices and never test on animals.  For me, using soapnuts means no more polluting the waterways with the harsh chemicals found in many detergents. This is very important, water is scarce and the oceans are in pretty bad shape.  We really need to do everything and anything we can to help lessen the amount of pollutants finding their way downstream.

So, how do they rate?  I give them 5 daisies.  They are the absolute best!

Try out Maggie’s and use your Nexyoo disccount!  What’s Nexyoo?  Are you kidding me?  This is Nexyoo. Do yourself a favor and check it out.