MonkeyGrass Clippings

As always, I'm going to begin by apologizing for the incredibly lengthy gap in the time since my last post. But, as always, there has been so, so much going on, I literally haven't had a moment, with so many exciting things taking place!!
As you know, whether from around town, or the site, we've taken our focus from WIDE to very narrow, focusing really on green, clean, environmentally friendly goods and gear for babies and children.
If you live in Richmond (or for some reason find yourself in Richmond) come by one of our two locations inside the most fabulous maternity boutique in town- It's Hip to Be Round! Both in Carytown and West Broad Village (near Whole Foods).
Things are really getting exciting at both locations, and we are getting more and more fantastic things almost daily- don't forget West Broad Village will be the home of the new Children's Museum "annex" and we're right next door! That will be happening in June, though, so please stop in before that!!

This morning I went on CBS 6's Virginia This Morning, and as usual, I either talk too much or don't get enough time to finish- either way, I always end up feeling like the kid in the movie "A Christmas Story," with Santa pushing me down the slide before I finish what I'm saying! So here's the video clip:
 

and here's the actual content I wanted to cover:
Ten Ways to Reduce Your Family’s Carbon Footprint in 2010
Sometimes (especially at the start of a New Year) it’s easy to make a broad, sweeping resolution that you may not keep. Just like anything else, you want to make sure that what you’re trying to do is attainable, and sustainable, or else it’s not going to work. These are all easy ideas that you can do, keep doing, and
1 Buy organic when you can- yes, it’s more expensive, but so much better for the environment. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” for the things that are really important if you can only buy some organics. Some are definitely more important than others.
2 Avoid buying things that are overpackaged. Stop buying individual snacks for your or your kids’ lunches. Buy larger packages of items and pack them in reusable containers.
3 Pack lunch instead of buying. You’ll not only save money, but you’ll reduce waste and probably eat healthier to boot.
4 Don’t just recycle your paper. I’m a realtor and we use an inordinate amount of paper, no matter how hard we try. We have a basket with the crayons, etc., where we put the paper to use the reverse side for drawing or taking notes.
5 Remember to buy things that are made from recycled items- we can recycle almost anything, but if we’re not buying the products that are made, the circle will be broken.
6 Do you have a resolution to exercise? Make sure you’re using a reusable water bottle, rather than buying bottled water.
7 Start eating less meat. According to the 2006 United Nations report, Livestock's Long Shadow, the livestock industry is responsible for 80 percent of all agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions. Eating a vegetarian meal a few times a week can really help to lower your carbon footprint.
8 Take your reusable bags not only to the grocery store, but also to other stores, etc. If they’re always with you, you will always have them.
9 Switch your monthly bills to e-billing. Even if you print them out at home, you'll eliminate the postage carbon footprint and reduce paper use (no envelopes and annoying "special offer" inserts).
10 Be mindful of what you buy- as far as both food and chemicals. I tell my 6 year old that we will NOT buy anything at the store that he cannot read the entire label and spell the words. If you eat “whole foods,” you won’t find that there is much to read, because there are usually no labels.

Here are the resources I mentioned:
www.ewg.org Great place to find info on chemicals/ pesticides in foods- most important things to go organic on, etc. Loads of information!

www.nrdc.org Good info on general environmental information, as well as which fish to buy/ eat or ask your restaurant about.

www.biggreenpurse.com Fabulous repository of information on how we vote with our purses and where you want to make that "vote".

www.cvwma.com Central Virginia Waste Management Authority- Lots and lots of information about the curbside recycling programs in the Metro Richmond Area, as well as e-recycling events coming up.

www.earth911.com Info on all sorts of environmental info, recycling, etc.

www.localharvest.org Info on finding a CSA, co op, local pick your own farms, etc.

There are has been alot going on this week- the past two weeks really, personally, with friends, in business, etc. Sometimes it just gets completely overwhelming. One thing that I always try to say to myself is that there will be another side to it- a light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. Or perhaps better said, that there will be another side, whether next week, next month, or sometime, there will be another side. It's difficult sometimes to hold onto that, but I do try.
This week, to see the pictures and here the stories of the people who have been completely felled by the earthquake in Haiti both shakes that faith and puts all of my problems in perspective. The despair and desperation, the devastation, is completely staggering. That's why this week, through the 22nd of January, 20% of every purchase made through www.monkeygrassonline.com will be donated to the International Red Cross to go to relief efforts to help get food, medical care, and other assistance to the people in Haiti. Because here, in our little corner, we're pretty damned lucky, and I'm feeling pretty damned grateful for what I've got.

Tomorrow (or actually, in just a few minutes) has been designated by my awesome 6 year old as my "Perfect Day." When I told my mom about it, she asked if it was something they were doing at school, or something he had heard about somewhere, and no, it doesn't seem to be.
He said the other day that he had some ideas for some holidays, and he said that I would get the first one. Since I am a "perfect" mom, I should have my own day, where I get to do what I want, eat what I want, get a massage, a pedicure, and "what's that other one?" (a manicure). He said that he and Daddy would wait on me and take me to dinner, and get me a special "champagne drink". He's got it all planned out.
Best of all? He is not only going to give me a five minute uninterrupted snuggle, like I got for Christmas (we have to take what we can get- he's like a perpetual motion machine, and always has been!). He has promised for my Perfect Day, a TEN minute uninterrupted snuggle!!
I'm so excited, and can't wait for my breakfast that he's going to fix me (though he did caution that it couldn't be anything that had to be cooked, as he cannot use the stove.) but most especially my snuggle. That's the absolute best part.
Why am I posting this? Because I think we all deserve a "Perfect Day" every once in a while (his dad's getting one next week). And we all deserve to have the uninterrupted time to focus on our family and the ones we love. With everything in the world as hectic as it is, sometimes you just have to take a break- and sometimes it has to be a six year old that figures it out right.
Who are you going to give a "Perfect Day" to? (Or a ten minute uninterrupted snuggle?)

Happy New Year! (almost!)

Well, it seems like we're at the end of '09, and quite frankly, I'm ready for it to be done. The past two years have been pretty tough, between the economy, generally speaking, my husband being out of work for a full year, and real estate (my primary business, for those that don't know) not really setting the world on fire, I'm ready to start fresh, theoretically, at least. It has, overall, been a long year.

Overall, I'm not complaining, since I am finishing the year healthier, still with an awesome husband, a fantastic child, and so many things to be thankful for.

2010 is going to be a great year, in many ways, but stay tuned here for lots of new products, information, and new features on our website.

Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year! See you in 2010!

(and don't forget you have one more day to take advantage of the storewide 20% sale!!)

The Countdown Continues...

Unfortunately, that also means that our little guy keeps changing his gift list, based on the catalog that he sees, a commercial, what a friend says, or really, anything else he sees or hears of... A little frustrating though- now he keeps doing to the old switcheroo on things he's told us, told Santa, etc.

Some of the items he's chosen- none of thich I want him to get: The Magic Water Sand they show on tv., "Big Top Cupcake", the Perfect Brownie Pan, Pixos, Bendaroos, Paperoni (which if you've never seen, appears to have been invented solely for the purpose of wasting paper.) He has also asked for a spy kit (forgetting, perhaps, that he got one last year which has all been either broken or vanished.) He wants the "boy version" of a vet station, a cupcake maker, and a few other things (none of which exist). AND, to add insult to injury, he continues to ask when he's going to get his Snuggie. Hmmm. That would be the day after never, dear. The idea that the people on commercials are roasting marshmallows is completely insane.With the entirely man made fabric they use for those things, they'd all go right up in flames with a single spark. We'll see about some of the other things though.

THE NEXT TO LAST MINUTE GREEN GIFT GUIDE FOR YOUR WHOLE LIST

Well, if you haven't done all your shopping, good news- you still have five days till Christmas. Wait, WHAT? Five days until Christmas?? AND if you're shopping online, you should really be finishing by tomorrow or so, to ensure on time (and not prohibitively expensive!) shipment. So, if you're still stumped, and don't want to just run to the drugstore and buy a gift card for that variety of chain resaurants, check these out!

For Mom:

Family Necklace by Figs & Ginger, $60+: A husband and wife team, Figs & Ginger make fantastic jewelry from recycled silver in their daylit studio. With jewelry, it's sometimes tough to be green and attractive to anyone. I don't know any mom who wouldn't want this necklace (available with increasing numbers of baby birds) to remind her of those still in the nest, or flying on their own!

Oromono Handmade Coat Corsages, $40: Designed by Kirsty Powell, a British Textile Designer living in the Netherlands, these are absolutely gorgeous, and totally unique. Available in a variety of flowers, and cream, black, or red, these will "pop" on any coat it attaches to!

Fabulous Architectural Salvage Frames handcrafted from moulding, ceiling and roofing tin $27+  What better gift, especially when accompanied by a wonderful picture of the family, kids, or a favorite place?

For the Tween or Teen:

  For the teen girl who likes pampering...Lotus Love Beauty Soaps, Lotions, and Oils by the Shanti Project $9-$20; a cooperative dedicated to celebrating inner peace and beauty with a desire to initiate positive change in the world. Made with only natural ingredients, 100% vegan, never tested on animals, and with the most delicious, exotic and lovely scents.

  Seven Ply Jewelry ($23+) is just great looking, handmade in Philadelphia, and with fabulous layers of colors and texture. Even if you don't know that it's made out of reclaimed skateboard decks. That just makes it even more cool. Available in pendants, bracelets, and earrings.  

 

Confetti Magazine picture frames ($21+) are crafted from recycled magazine, folded and coiled to create something that's unique and goes with any decor. Great with a fun photo or let her pick what she puts in it!

 

For Kids:

 For that creative child on your list- the Kidsonroof Totem Tree Puzzle/ Building Toy $35. Made completely of recycled laminated cardboard, and recyclable at the end of its life, this is really a great gift for anyone (I just think it's gorgeous- and one of the Time Style/ Design 100). Fun to put together, take apart, or just look at.

 

  A gift with both form and function: We hear alot about waste free lunches now- for good reason. We really produce an appalling amount of trash in this country, especially with all of our individual packaging. Laptop Lunches ($39.99) have everything you need to solve this issue, in your household at least. a convertible bento box with a neoprene carrying case (those holds 2 ice packs nicely), bottle, fork and spoon. And, even better, Laptop Lunches now come in awesome alien or flower designs!
 

  For the ultimate in dollhouse dreaminess, with some environmental consciousness and learning thrown in for good measure, Plan Toys' Green Dollhouse (on sale now for $199) fits the bill.

Its energy efficient design includes a wind turbine, a solar cell panel and electric inverter for generating electricity, a rain barrel for collecting rain, a biofacade, which uses the natural cycle of plant growth to provide shading, and a blind that can adjust the amount of sunlight and air circulation. Recycling bins are also constructed on the side of the house. Includes a set of Plan Toys Green Furniture.

The Green Furniture Set is made of eco-friendly rubberwood and vetiver grass board. The set consists of 5 rooms: Living Room, Kitchen, Bathroom, Children's Bedroom, and Master Bedroom.

 
 
 More later...

Well, despite all of my yearnings and vows to be less consumeristic (some of which I acheive, and some...well, not so much), I cannot resist a good gift guide. I mean, there is something completely captivating to me about having a well photographed, edited selection of items laid out, online or in print, and tagged with whom they would best suit. I really don't know what it is. There are magazines I would never buy all year, but if I see a holiday gift guide, I have to pick it up. Every. Time. So, while this is my shop, and obviously I am picking only items here (I think- a couple may sneak in from friends' places or just because they're too cool to pass up) I'm going to try to do my gift guide habit justice and present the...
NEXT TO LAST MINUTE GREEN GIFT GUIDE FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST!

I cannot believe Christmas is only 11 days away!!! I am really starting to freak out, particularly given that I have only gotten the little guy one thing (and it's nothing he asked for!!) This has been just a way too crazy couple of weeks!!!
If YOU are starting to shop, we have LOADS of really fantastic items you're sure to love for everyone on your list!

Another favorite with the younger set- Cardboard toys from Calafant. Totally recyclable, and comes ready to play- like a 3D coloring book- with markers, and is a great rainy day activity- all under $15!