Do those "produce-life-extending" bags REALLY work?

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You guys! I'm not sure if you know this about me but I totally strive to be healthy.  No really.  (I hear the laughing.)  Yes, I like junk food with artificial colors and flavors (Cheeto fingers don't just happen in nature, people, it takes science) but I am conscious of the junk as I eat it.  I also worry about things like "off-gases," BPA's, and hormones in my meat.  BUT I'm not ready to make the total switch over to a brand new lifestyle.  I'm "flirting" with it (see that reference totally comes from Alicia Silverstone's book 'The Kind Diet' which I read parts of...)  And while this post isn't party related, I am always looking for new ways to keep my produce longer and thought you might be too.

My friend Katie, recently started a blog, How to Heal a Cowboy, about all this natural stuff (read more about why she started the blog here, its a compelling story).  She's totally awesome.  I asked her to review these Clearly Fresh Bags for me as I KNOW that her kitchen looks like a farmer's market with all her fruits and veggies.  I love her writing style and how she can give all kinds of info without it being too dry or above my head.  If you want to read more about how to have a healthy life style, check out her blog,

And now, Katie's review of the bags:


My assignment:  find out if the life-extending bags made for fresh produce really do what they claim: 

"...to keep fresh fruits and vegetables deliciously fresh - longer!"

Being that I have two over-loaded produce drawers in my fridge every week, I went in hopeful, longing to rid myself of ever having to throw away another vegetable that had been bought with good intentions (of course I'll eat one whole head of broccoli each day??).

I read the directions: "put fresh, dry, un-cooked produce into the bag....gently push out some of the air from the bag....zip the top closed....store your produce as usual." Simple enough.

Then I opened the package and took out a bag. Issue number one: the smell. Being that I blog about health, I'm always on the look-out for what I would describe as "not-so-natural" things to avoid. So when I smelled the chemical-like scent coming from the bag my first thought was that there was no way I would let my food come in direct contact with this bag - I paid good money for organic, why toxify now?

Enter bananas (with thick skin).

I bought two bunches of bananas with the same level of ripeness and put one bunch into the Clearly Fresh bag. I examined the sticker on the outside of the bag and thought, "oh technology, do your thing." I hoped. I waited. And seven days later, with a camera in one hand and my banana bread recipe in the other...

...the sticker had apparently worked and the bagged banana bunch had its 'yellow' intact. (I did have a short fantasy of wearing the bag over my face while I slept to slow down the "ripening" of my skin, but decided against the idea. Lawyer disclaimer : the previous line was meant to get a cheap laugh and in no way should anyone even attempt to prevent wrinkles with Clearly Fresh bags over their face).

Issue number two: when I picked up the bagged bananas to photograph the results, they felt rather, squishy. Hmmm. I double checked the directions to make sure I didn't miss anything...nope. Seems that the bag prevented the oxidation (browning) of the banana, but (in my case) sped-up the ripening process! So much so that I couldn't even make banana bread with them and they had to be thrown away.

What a bummer. To give Clearly Fresh Bags some credit I did only test bananas and I'm sure (kind of) that they may work for other fruits and vegetables better. But as stated before, I would never let my produce touch the bags directly anyway (maybe avocados?). Are they at least BPA-free, you ask?? Not that I can find on their website or on their packaging.

Conclusion:

• Save your money by not buying bags that can extend the outside of your produce- no head of romaine lettuce is asking to be the "Joan Rivers" of your vegetable community
• I would avoid exposing your produce to toxic-smelling plastics
• Is our fresh produce meant to have an extended shelf-life? I think the closer you eat it from the time you cut it from its root or source, the better. Nature has told us in a lot of other ways not to mess with its design. If peaches last five days, I'm cool with that, because that's what they're designed to do.

Care to experiment?  Clearly Fresh Bags can be purchased (in packs of 10 one gallon bags) for $3.99.

In the meantime, I'll be eating this from my banana bunch that was "au-natural."

-Katie












I planned on testing these bags out myself as well.  But I keep forgetting to put the fruit in the bag when I buy it.  Lame.  I don't remember the toxic smell that Katie found but then again, I just may be immune to it because I am sure it is all around me.  I, 100%, agree with Katie's assessment that maybe we aren't meant to stretch out the life of things.  I know that the BreatheWay technology is often found on bagged vegetables found in the stores where business and money come in to play so an extended life is desirable.  I emailed the company and asked them about some of Katie's questions.  Here is their answer:

Regarding the membrane - it is comprised of a several polymers.  BreatheWay (or the square sticker on each bag) is much like a very porous film with a specialized coating that allows for specific permeability.  This technology is a passive modified atmosphere technology meaning that it acts as a selective screen for oxygen and carbon dioxide – introducing nothing of it’s own to the package environment (i.e.: the membrane is not designed to release chemicals into the bag – merely rate the natural flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of the bag).  

Clearly Fresh re-closeable bags nor BreatheWay technology contain BPA’s.

So there you have it.  Many of us are not as committed to the healthy way of life like Katie, and I would entertain giving these bags a shot.  Make up your own mind based on where you fall on the healthy living spectrum.  I would be curious to hear your thoughts on this subject.  

And if you have a minute hop over to Katie's blog and give her some encouragement.  I appreciate her helping me out with this post! 

Sharon

Images are Katie's  

All I want for Xmas is a recycled cardboard tree

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Do you love this recycled cardboard tree by Boutiques Cascades as much as I do?  I love how modern it is and for some reason I'm totally into deer/reindeer silhouettes this year.  This company has several other options including a white one that kids can color on and start at about $30!  I can totally picture a super fun holiday party with these around.  I love the natural kraft color done with the modern patterns to keep it from being too "crafty."  I want one.    

Sharon

photos via Boutique Cascades

I heart these napkins but they make me angry

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*I've woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and if you can get through the snotty tone of my post, I really do LOVE this product.

I was perusing the Daily Candy Christmas page, 30 gifts under $30, and I saw these My Drap napkins. I first saw these napkins years ago in one of the cooking magazines. These napkins come on a roll, are made with cotton, and are perfect for when you don't want to use paper napkins, but don't want to rent linen ones either. The great price means you can throw them out after one use but I'm pretty sure you could wash them and use them again (not like, forever, but once or twice more). But here is my problem. For a long time, the website said they were available at Bloomingdale's Home Store but they couldn't be bought online. Other then that there was a store in the UK selling them but I'm pretty sure it said they wouldn't ship to the US. So that left an online store in Spain (where they are made) to buy from and worry about international shipping rates.
So here is this great product that I can't easily get. Look at all the amazing colors they come in! Ideal for kids party, sophisticated adult shindigs and holiday dinners. And then it happened. I got an email from a PR company about this product. It looked like it was finally happening. I might be able to buy them easily after all. They offered more info and a sample. So I emailed back, excited to finally try them out. And then I got no response. What the...
I mean, look at these napkins. They are simply perfect. They come in a cocktail and dinner napkin size as well as placemat size. Fast forward another month. I got another email in my inbox from the same PR company announcing these napkins. Um, hullo! I fired off another quick email. Guess what. No response.
All I want is for these napkins to be available to the masses stateside. So I was over the moon when I spotted a gorgeous picture of them on Daily Candy. I clicked right over to the site and...utter disappointment. Sure I may be able to buy them in the US ($10 shipping seems ridiculously steep for a roll of 12 napkins. The dinner napkins are priced at $35 which I think is more then they used to sell them for at Bloomingdale's. While they have some pretty pictures of the napkins, the look of the rest of the site really does them a disservice. I really really really want this product to do well but I feel like the company is working against itself.

In my heart, I know these napkins could be a huge hit in the party world. But they make me angry.

If anyone has actually seen these or touched them, please let me know. I just know they must be glorious once you get past the website ugliness.

(I am sorry to be so sour. And I, too, find it odd that I can be so worked up over napkins... I think after coveting these napkins for so long I really wanted the website to sing to me.)

Sharon

-All photos via MyDrap

I promise to be back to my old self tomorrow.

Whole Foods Huntington Beach - Local Flavor and Entertaining Options for all

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I got a really cool opportunity on Monday to tour the brand new Whole Foods store opening in Huntington Beach, CA before it opens to the public on October 13. The store is located at 7881 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (Bella Terra Shopping Center). The store is gorgeous with lots of effort to capture the spirit of the area (note the Vans and skateboard on the huge wall sign above!) I toured with Krisitn, Megan and Jill and we got to meet with local vendors and ask all kinds of questions about anything and everything. It was amazing to get to hear about all the steps Whole Food and their vendors are taking to ensure that the food we eat is the best quality and that the animals are treated as humanely as possible. (Um, one fun fact that I learned was that they are trying to enhance the lives of the animals by giving them activities to do, for instance, they give hay bales to chickens to peck at and bowling balls to pigs because they like to nudge with their noses!!!!!!!). Find out more about their new meat Animal Welfare Rating system here. Similar programs are already in place for their seafood.
We met Mary of Mary's Turkeys (and chicken) and learned about what sets her products apart from rest which is why she is a preferred vendor for Whole Foods. What really stuck out to me is how much effort Whole Foods puts in to keeping the food local to the stores. From the fruits and veggies (Stehly Organic Farms), to the shellfish (Carlsbad Aquafarms), to some of the honey (Honey Pacifica) and hot sauces (Gringo Bandito) we can all feel really comfortable about the options Whole Foods offers. Now let's discuss the stuff that you, my loyal readers, really enjoy. The party stuff!

Each Whole Foods offers tons of products to help create memorable occasions for your guests. While some of these items are only available in the Southern California, others can be found throughout the entire chain.
These lovelies above are from The Jewel collection by Xan Confections. They are based in Irvine (holla!) and although I have heard a lot about them, I hadn't had the opportunity to try them until this tour. DELISH! I love me some spicy chocolate so I tried her Ancho Chile Chocolate. YUM! All the other flavors were amazing as well and they offer several different collections, including some holiday themed. Check them out!

There were a ton (I mean, I didn't actually count but I estimate a ton) of wrapped chocolates to choose from and also quite a few bulk candy items that would be great for a sweets table. Whole Foods offers several eco-friendly disposable tableware options. Allergy friendly baking mixes are easy to find right in the baking aisle. A great floral department should be able to take care of all of your fresh flower needs. A fresh sushi bar can provide appetizers for your next get together and there is a fresh gelato counter with the most delicious Dulce de Leche flavor and the creamiest tasting sorbet you will find! Need a specific kind of chocolate for baking or candy making? They've got it. Being that this is the "surf city" store, there are tons of local products with surf themed packaging. I know I am coming here to plan my next luau.

And the beer and wine selection! They will carry about 800 different wines (approx. 100 of which are organic) from all over the world. Again, they will emphasis the "local" of course looking to Napa, etc. but focusing even more closely on wines from in and around Santa Barbara County. They will carry about 600 different types of beers from Pabst Blue Ribbon to local artisan brews. There will be signage available to help with food pairings but don't ever hesitate to ask the department team members. They know their stuff.
Cheese. Yeah. There are about 500 kinds available in the store. There is something for everyone. Don't be intimidated. The staff is there to help.
This particular Whole Foods will have a Pizza and Beer bar. In an effort to make the store more of a community hang out they have various areas available for sitting. The bar area will also feature a live surf report. Due to the large local Vietnamese population there are a lot of ethnic items in the store from produce and sauces to prepared Phos and other dishes. There is a coffee, tea and juice bar at the front of the store with all kinds of healthy and delicious options. And gosh, how did I not even talk about the bakery yet?! Their bakery will have a fresh dessert display case of whole cakes as well as individual desserts including vegan and gluten free options. They employ 13 cake decorators for custom needs and also have prepackaged items ready to go.

You can see a photo of me in the top right corner with Pat Cox, Store Team Leader. And bottom left corner is Kristin demonstrating their amazing refrigerated cases. I liked Whole Foods before this but after the tour I really believe they are the real deal. They seem to truly be a business dedicated to bringing the best options to the consumer, encouraging vendors and producers to change their practices for the better and making sure we treat our planet as well as possible.

The Huntington Beach store opens at 9:00 am on October 13 with lots of activities and giveaways. Check it out!

A huge thank you to Whole Foods for having us!

*I did receive a goodie bag with a few samples for taking this tour.

Sharon

All photos are mine.

One man's trash is another man's party

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Have you seen this stuff by Cardboard Design?!!!!!! I love the idea of cardboard furniture. It's recycling, it's natural, it's casual (but cleans up nice). But did you have any idea that they could make ALL this stuff with it? Just amazing. This stuff is a bit more pricey then I would usually spend on a party but I could certainly buy a few vases (they hold water!) and still be able to buy milk (ok, who am I kidding, Starbucks). But I absolutely adore the wish wall. Red Envelope had a version but I love how this company has taken cardboard, which is usually discarded and turned it in to a keepsake. And not just a keepsake, but one that can be visually interesting displayed on your wall. They have a bunch of products they make from various styles of tables and chairs, toys - I've posted about their lemonade stand before and didn't even know it was theirs - to coasters and votive holders . Check out their website to see what they are capable of. But FOR SURE go to their events section to see some amazing set ups using their products. I just hope it doesn't smell stinky like some cardboard can. Cardboard Designs meet my friend, perfume bubbles...

S-

All photos via Cardboard Design

An eco conscious moment in party planning

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Um, yeah. I totally just saved the world. Well, that might be a bit of a stretch. I probably only gave her back about 8 minutes but at least I didn't push her closer to eco-destruction. It was a night, just like tonight, (okay, it's the morning but I thought that would make for a more dramatic story). I found myself in the plate aisle in Party City - (did you know you can shop online now? Holler!!!) and I carefully tried to match colors and add up the guest list in my head. Done. Red forks, white plates to go perfectly with my other serveware on the buffet table. But wait! What's this? Eco friendly options? I stopped and reflected for a moment in my head. Bird's chirped, whales sang, I was in white running on a beach. It was remarkably close to a tampon commercial. I could actually make a better decision just by choosing different forks and plates. I quickly put back the red forks and white plates and chose the beigey bio-degradable sugarcane ones instead. Granted everything else at the party will pollute landfills and will add to what is surely the largest personal carbon footprint by one individual (I wonder if there is a Guinness record for that) but I'm baby stepping. And then I saw this great product in KidsLA magazine and had to share with all of you.

You may not be able to always make the greenest party options but you should be able to at least dispose of it in a better way. These recycling trashcans by Flings are perfect. Locally they are sold at most Vons stores, but they are in stores all over the United States. They come in 4 packs for $15.99. You can also buy them on-line through Amazon (as a single for $3.99 plus shipping) or their own website (in 4 packs but with free shipping!). I may be getting these for my upcoming party. Problem is, I don't think the community where I am hosting the party has a recycling program...That is a problem I will have to work out, but here is what else you should know about these cans. They come flat, you pop it up to standing position, throw in your recyclables and then pull up the bag drawstring and take the whole thing out for recycling. Amazingly simple. They are 13 gallons and made of a strong leak resistant material so you won't get schmutz on your party shoes. Aside from the totally on trend green is chic recycling emblem can, they also carry a birthday, celebration and holiday design. You can even mix and match your set of 4. Use the birthday can for food waste and the recycle bin for, well, guess. Why didn't someone come up with this sooner?

S-

photos via www.flingsbins.com

Kermit is totally right

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It's not easy being green. And I really want to be!!!!! But I suck at it. Especially when party planning. I am trying to change my evil ways and I think it may be working, I am actually liking the taste of a Kashi frozen pizza I am eating right now... So while I yearn to provide amazing responsible entertaining tips, I am not your gal. I found this post via Inhabitots, a great resource for green living, geared at kids, all while being pleasing to my eyes. Turns out the author of these great party planning tips has a blog called Petite Planet and you can find even more great ideas for your family to do it's part for not ruining our planet. There is also and UH-MAZE-ING section for crafts that you will totally want to use in your upcoming parties, holidays and just to shut your kids up for a little while. I have not yet had the time to really scour her site, but I plan to. Maybe I should set up one of the crafts...

S-

This site knows the way to my heart

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My head is about to explode. My mouth is totally watering and there is a rumbly in my tumbly. I am, as are most of you, in love with Etsy. But what I love even more then amazingly creative, crafty, handmade party decor and gift items is amazingly creative, crafty, handmade food items. Have you seen Foodzie? It is the same idea as Etsy but done with only food and food gift items. The first page I looked at had Ginger Sconettes (perfect for a dessert bar, brunch buffet, unique favor, evening snack, whatevs). And as I started to browse further, I was so glad that my wallet was upstairs as I have bookmarked about a zillion things to try. You can search via categories such as cheese, gifts, snacks, chocolate and candy, etc. but also via dietary restrictions, price, producer, or other key phrases such as organic. Another super cool feature is you can browse by map to see who is producing locally so you can cut down your carbon footprint (thankfully my footprint is so large it reaches in to many other states so I can consider most producers local - oh wait, that's not good at all...) and support local business. You could plan the rest of your party menus from this site alone and find amazing favors as well. Also check out their blog for interviews with some of the producers and for interesting posts on the site itself. These people really have a passion for what they do, from the people who put on the site to all the artisans producing the food sold on it, and it shows. I am a huge fan. Note to my family: looks like it might be a very yummy Christmas for you this year...

S-

all photos via Foodzie.com

Like a moth to a flame

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Have I mentioned that I HATE fire? I could never take up smoking with all the cool kids because I refused, on account of my irrational fear of losing my whole hand, to light a lighter. I don't bbq because I want to keep my eyebrows and I don't light candles because I have secretly always wanted to be a hand model and scars would greatly diminish that chance. It is safe to say, most of my parties have been free from the soft glow of a causally, yet artfully arranged candle cluster. One thing that I have always wanted at a party is luminaries. But in my head they are totally unsafe. Never mind the fact that people have been using them for years with no major catastrophes. I can't use them. I can't get over the fact that the paper towers over the open flame, almost tauntingly. How does it not catch on fire??!!!?? I'm sure that you use a tall clyindar vase to house the candle, but that's not what you want your guests to see as they walk buy. You want them to see the flickering glow. But now, I have finally found something that will fulfill my luminarie fantasies. These Recycled Paper Votive Cups would totally do the trick. You simply slip these over a 2" glass votive holder with candle inside and they provide instant interest to your table, bathroom, anywhere your guests may glance. I even picture these lined up in an entryway. They are 4" high which I feel comfortable with in case it did catch fire and I had to stomp one out and save everyone at the party. They come in three colors: white, black or crimson. And in three styles: butterfly, honeycomb or leaves. I am in LOVE with the black honeycomb version. They come in a pack of 4 for about $15.00 (available at Delight.com and Publiqueliving.com. These are reusable and can be used in conjunction with so many different party themes. And guess who made these? The imaginative guy behind the pop up placemats. Awesome. At last I have another unique item to set my party apart from the masses. A candle decoration that my inner safety monitor is okay with. Don't even get me started on sparklers.

S-

(photos via publiqueliving.com)

Hybrid Tableware

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Okay, I'm officially back and joining the land of the living. I have never had so much sickness in my life. Between the kids, the hubbie and then me, I was starting to wonder if we should just all check into the local hospital and call it a day. But I think we've officially gotten the all clear and I have now soaked my house from top to bottom in bleach so I'm hoping that whatever gross little germs were hiding out are now officially gone. And so I guess its back to work!

And work its been...I've been HARD at work this week on my little guy's 2nd birthday. You would think that a birthday party for a two year old should be so simple and easy to put together. You'd think. Unless you are like me (or S) and are completely obsessive about putting together a shindig. To make matters worse, I lost some serious party planning time due to the sickness so I'm way behind on this one (although, check back later and I'll share some of the things I came up with in my party planning efforts. Well worth it. But that's another post for another day....) Anyway, so I can pretty much never have my kids parties at our house due to the teeny-tinyness of it, and that is always the hardest part in planning these events. My kids were born in January and March so its hard to find places that aren't weather-adverse. But this year I'm taking a chance and praying to God that it will be a decent day since I've planned my son's soiree at a local park. And that has added a whole extra layer of complication to the party planning. I mean, have you ever really given thought to planning a kids birthday at a park? Trying to make sure you remember to bring everything plus figuring out the menu is a complete nightmare. I've tried to come up with a few creative alternatives for serving food outside this year, but I also had a hard time with what to use for cups and plates. I mean, there's the whole environmental issue about leaving all that trash behind at the park, but who wants to pack up a bunch of glassware from home and drag it outside? So thank God for Preserve Tableware. I like to call it hybrid tableware. Its disposable, but its like a step above. Nice enough that you can use, take home, wash and reuse, but cheap enough (like $3-8 per package, totally inexpensive) that if it gets broken or otherwise ruined, its no big deal! Plus its made from 100% recycled plastic so its disposable you can feel good about. You can buy the products all over the place online, like here at amazon.com or in stores like Target stores, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods Market. And now, back to work on my super sweet second birthday party....

a-

Do me a favor, chew on this...

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Favors. Most parties have them. I am always on the fence about them. I usually think that doing a treat that can be eaten is the way to go because they are often inexpensive and if someone doesn't like it they can just throw it out. A little trinket leaves the person feeling guilty for wanting to throw it out and not displaying it proudly on a shelf in their home with their most valued possessions. I also like the custom cd angle although my musical tastes are pretty different from other people's. I still like it though because if someone is open to learning about new artists this is a great way to do that. I like the idea of giving an inexpensive book for a child's party, but if your house is like mine, it already could be mistaken for a library...so, what is a good option to give as a favor? I just came across a little snippet on a new gum. And while this may not work for a child's party, it would work for any bridal or baby showers, older kids or adults parties, weddings, anniversary parties and just about anything else that requires a favor. The gum made by Project 7 is all natural and every time you buy a pack, half the money goes to a non-profit organizations that support one of seven critical issues: healing the sick, saving the earth, housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, helping those in need, building the future, hoping for peace. The packaging is 40 % recycled and comes in 3 flavors: Mango Mint, Fresh Mint and Peppermint Vanilla. The gum can be purchased in packs of 12 directly from the Project 7 website or individually at Whole Foods Markets (priced from $1.39 per pack). I can't think of a better favor that not only would treat the party guest but also help the world at the same time.

S-

Give a little, Get a lot

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Kids parties. We love them, we hate them. Ok, let's be honest for a second, most of the time we hate them. My daughter is five years old now and what I've learned is that apparently, 5 is the golden age of birthday parties. In the last year and a half we must have attended like 30 kids birthday parties - sometimes more than one a day! Its so hard to choose gifts for kids these days. Everything is high tech, over packaged, over priced and - let's face it - most kids already have too much stuff. And have you ever seen the mountain of trash that's left over at the end of the day? Not exactly your finest day for "going green". I've always wondered what the best way was to make kids parties more earth-friendly without taking all the fun away. Well, while I was pondering and coming up with nothing, Debbie Zinman and Alison Smith were actually formulating a plan that is pure genius. These two moms and friends now run ECHOage, the perfect green alternative to the usual kids party mess. Their website is the perfect start for an earth-friendly birthday party. Start with evite-style invitations. Then your child chooses a cause to donate to. When the invites are sent, your guests can contribute the amount they choose. A portion of the money is pooled so your child will receive one meaningful gift, and the rest goes to your cause. So get this - no paper wasting invites, no 5 huge trashbags full of giftwrap, no one million cardboard boxes from toys AND your child still gets a great gift from their guests? Its a win-win! (Oh and by the way, their website - totally modern. Their invites - super cute. This is truly done right.)

a-

(....my apologies for the missing post on Wednesday. )

Pop Goes the Placemat

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I hate silence. I'm just not good at it. Especially at a dinner party. I sometimes find myself making the lamest small talk and asking the most ridiculous quesitons just to break the quiet lull in conversation. "So. It was hot today, huh?" (Who cares, right?) Yeah, that's me. Akward conversation girl. But today I may have found something to spark conversation right there at the dinner table. WHERE did you get those placemats? That's right, placemats. True, it might not be your average conversation piece but these are awesome. Pop-up placemats. Think your childhood pop-up book meets your dinner table. These placemats are sold in packs of 10 for $24.00 at plum party or delight.com. And true, that might be a little bit more than you would usually invest in a disposable placemat. But these are made from 100% recycled paper (so you can continue that dinner party conversation with a segue into environmental concerns). Plus, the pop up design can double as a placecard, so no need to purchase those (economics, another hot dinner party conversation note). AND, the pop-up adds a lot of visual interest to your table so less need to hunt down table decorations (because you're busy - insert conversation about work, kids, etc.) I just love these. Functional and fun - pull these out at your next dinner party and hopefully you won't hear too much conversation about the weather.

a-

Little Star Creative Parties

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Maybe it is because I have another little bundle of joy on the way. And maybe it is because my first son has all kinds of allergies and a very weak immune system. Or maybe all this talk of saving the planet has finally broken me of my destructive ways (or is starting to break me). But I was so pleased to come across another great environmentally friendly party site, Little Star Creative Parties. I heard about them through Urban Daily - a must read for all you modern moms and immediately clicked over to check out their site. They carry the standard eco cups, plates and silverware, but they also package them up in party packages and carry some great decor items as well. While I still feel like enviro tableware has a ways to go in the color option department, this site provides other great ideas to jazz up the table scape. Most of their ideas are geared towards kids parties, with great favor ideas that can also double as party activities. As you know, kids love to play in playhouses and they carry one of my favorites, the Eco Kids House ($45.50). It is plain white cardboard so the kids can decorate it while they are playing and the guest of honor can continue to enjoy it long after the party is over. I love that!!! T had one similar at her daughter's first birthday and the kids loved it too. And the tablecloth kit ($19.50) is such a great idea. Have the kids work on that early in the party and when it is time for food or cake and ice cream, their designs will be on display. They also have a fabric pennant banner ($29.95) that is totally reusable, that will bring color and whimsy to the party. Be sure to check out the favor department for their assortment of great wooden toys ($4-$6) as well as eco friendly art supplies. Click on their Eco Party Ideas section and it will walk you through an entire party and even give you helpful tips on the menu. And also note they have links to other "green" sites that will help advance you on your walk to save the world (even if it is just one party at a time).

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Green Party Goods

"Every day is Earth Day at Green Party Goods!" I love it!!! See, there are other people out there that believe that this topic is important year round. But as mentioned in previous posts, some "green" items are kind of bland looking. I came across the Green Party Goods website on Suburban Mama about a month ago and it has taken me this long to actually look at what they have to offer. Wow!!! I love it. They carry the most colorful items and non-traditional "green" looking decor and products for parties. I am in love with the cornware tableware pictured above. Look at those colors! And love their reusable felt banners. I also love that a lot of their favor options are wooden toys. And while the price of each favor might be a little more then you are used to spending, you are giving each child a toy they can continue to play with for a long time to come. They have sections for Table Top, Goodies Boxes and Felt Bags, Party Favors, Decorations, Tote Bags and Gifts. As my son is currently teetering on top of a huge Tonka truck, I'm going to have to implore you to check the site out on your own for their full offering (Man, 2 year old boys are exhausting). As with most environmentally friendly items, you tend to pay a bit more, but often times, the items are reusable but let's be real, you are saving the earth!!!! For more information about green living check out my friend Leigh's blog (okay she is really my cousin in law's wife - so is she my cousin in law too?) Green 4 U. She's breaks it down for you. Yeah Earth!

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