In other green news…

In commercialism news, the FDA bans clove cigarettes. You’d think I’d be on board, but eh, I’m not so much.

Green Baby Guide has the most adorable DIY doll TV set while Tiny Decor also has a DIY project – a super fly DIY Chalkboard Play Table.

Our old pal Peggy does a review of veggie-minded Quorn Chik’n Nuggets and also has an excellent, less green, but still relevant to green piece up, Would Taxing Soda Prevent Obesity?

If you’ve been wondering if Method cleaners are truly green then you’ll want to read, Are Method Home Products Truly ‘Green?’

COOLNESS – a wicked prefab garden greenroof office station. I NEED one.

How to reuse or recycle sunglasses – for those of you who don’t often sit on said glasses and kill them dead (um, that would be me).

Here’s a BIG ol’ problem with non-local book sellers.

It’s time for Fair Trade Reverse Trick-or-Treating!

I LOVE these new sustainable wood calendars.

GREEN GIVEAWAYS!

Over at EcoHuddle, I’m running not one, not two, but three killer green giveaways. You could win…

• An Envirosax Planet Green Tote Bag
• A cool new pair of New Balance Eco Collection Shoes
• Or even a very nice Organic Fair Trade Tea & Organic Sparkling Tea sampler pack

Last but not least, don’t forget to get signed up for Blog Action Day – an awesome day to discuss climate change.

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Without heading to the link, can you tell what this art project is. It’s recycled, reuse, and totally cool. Not sure? Find out how to make your own.

Other cool links of interest for the week:

I was so torn about Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure – I really wanted to post this green family vacation spot here, but erred on posting it elsewhere, still you should check it out because it’s amazing.

Just in time for summer’s end – a wonderful and simple homemade lemonade recipe without the high fructose corn syrup.

Coolest eco-dollhouse ever! Seriously. Working solar panels, working greenhouse, recycling bins and so much more. You will love it.

Should your library have Compostable Library Cards? Yeah, most likely.

A green house to die for! Integrated into the habitat, beautiful, and on stilts.

Bling! Ten Adorable Eco-Baby Onesies.

For the green gardeners out there – this is too fun.

Seattle is trying to impose a disposable bag fee – good idea or no?

[image via Greenwala]

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Via Design Sponge

If you made this DIY twinkle board with LED lights and reclaimed wood it’d not only be totally imaginative decor for a child’s space but eco-friendly too. I love this idea.

Next a video game review I posted elsewhere – Plants vs. Zombies. I couldn’t decide if I should post this here or at my gardening blog, but because it’s not technically a green product, I reviewed it at my garden blog. However, I really think if you’re green-minded you’ll like this game. It’s family friendly, not expensive, totally adorable, and full of plants and zombies. It’s the only time I’ve really seen plants kicking butt in a game, which is pretty darn cool.

Via Inhabitots

Wee Woodland Mushrooms – Adorable Toys with Endless Possibilities – my new favorite simple eco-friendly wooden toy of ALL time. I’m not sure why I love these tiny mushrooms so much, but I do, and your little one will for sure.

Grab a sewing machine and make your own DIY coloring books (tip use recycled paper).

This is not so much fun as it is wicked cool – one town bans plastic water bottles! Yay.

The cutest outdoor playhouse made with reclaimed windows you’ve ever seen. A great fun reuse idea and would be awesome for kids or relaxing adults.

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Origami stars via Zen Crafting

Make homemade origami stars with the kiddos – I recently posted about some hyper cool eco-friendly origami stars elsewhere, but the downside was the price tag. With this tutorial you can make your own for much less. You could even switch out the paper for a recycled brand.

eco umbrellas – green and fashionable – actually, I didn’t think an eco-umbrella was possible because of all the materials. However, it is, and if you live in a rainy area or ever come visit Oregon, I’d bring one. If you move to Oregon don’t bring one though – umbrellas pretty much divide the natives from the tourists here.

How to deal when your teenager says, “Mom, I want to be a vegetarian!“

A “Green” & Natural Method for Cleaning Stainless Steel

Which is a better eco-choice; organic foods or local foods? This article looks at your options.

It’s a newish green magazine for the whole family! Check out Kiwi for tips on green living, healthy lifestyles, and news especially for parents and kids.

What cool green news have you been reading lately?

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My blogging pal Hilary over at Five Winds Family gave me a nice blogging award – the Sisterhood Award. Ah sisterhood and blogs – it doesn’t get much better than that.  Plus, really this gives me a chance to do a little link love. Yay.

The rules of the Sisterhood Award are…
1. Add the sisterhood logo to your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 5 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude.
3. Link to your nominees in your post.
4. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received your award.

And my favorite blogging sister are …

Peggy from The Kitty Blog (among others). Shocking that I picked Peggy, I know, but I just can’t help myself. Not only is Peggy an amazing blogger who puts loads of extra thought and care into all her posts (I’m talking lots o’ research and questions folks) but she’s a great friend who like the random in life as much as me.

Linette from Mother Earth’s Garden (yes, among other blogs as well). You know why I’m picking Linette – ONE reason. I don’t think I’ve ever (EVER) heard this sister complain – honestly, not once. Do you realize how rare this trait is in a blogger?! She’s always upbeat, a great blogger, and so utterly nice. I should follow her example more.

Marye from Marriage Actually – here’s the thing, I don’t follow Marriage Actually all that much. I prefer many of Marye’s other blogs over this one. Not because Marriage Actually is a bad blog, but because for the last year, I’ve been a little frownish on couples in general. That said, because it’s Marye, I do pop over from time to time, and her writing at this particular blog is strikingly honest, generous, funny, and so real it sort of gets you in the gut.  Marye’s like that in general, but over there, she really puts it all out there, and that’s really something.

Sarah! Sarah is my actual sister – you know the kind by blood She’s not a hard core blogger, but she does have attitude, and her posts always make me laugh. Actually, some of her posts make me think too, but in my opinion Sarah is at her writing best when being funny.

Oh man, I got nothing. I’m drawing a blank on my 5th. I adore a lot of girl bloggers, so it’s hard. I’m opting out of 5. Sorry folks.

BUT how about a bonus sister: Technically, I likely would have nominated Hil, had she not got to me first, so you could head over there and read one of her posts too – I like her last post Small Weddings because it’s so darn sweet.

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Marye over at Kettle & Cup has a great post up that you should read: Coffee Biodiesel for a Smooth Ride. Oooooo! Coffee powered cars. So cool. Marye notes, among other things that the exhaust actually is coffee scented. If this was the norm, it might be a greener world, but it would also fuel my already BAD coffee addiction. I’d never stop thinking about coffee. Still, this is a great deal – so head over and have a read.

Not to waste a link love post, here are some other green goodies you should be reading today…

• guilty green pleasures
• Pace of Climate Change Exceeds Estimates
• Efficient Superhome from a Victorian Townhouse: The Nottingham Ecohome
• Green Depot Opens Flagship Green Building Store
• Whole Foods, Google, Trader Joe’s Among Consumers’ Greenest Brands
• Five reasons to love Pb Elemental Architecture
• Used Baby Bath Tubs Save the World from Another Hunk of Plastic

Enjoy – and /or let me know what you’re reading in the comments.

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First of all, the bad news: due to technical issues (behind the blog), there’s not going to be a giveaway this month as I said.

The good news: Barring tech issues that just keep on going (doubtful), there will be two giveaways to kick off the month of February here. I’ve got two different and interesting prizes lined up for a total of four readers, so stay tuned.

Mainly, I just wanted to give you a heads up, but not to waste a post, I thought I’d share three cool links too.

Yesterday, we looked at how to reuse toilet paper tubes, and so I thought I should mention that another way to green your toilet paper use is to put the roll on the toilet paper holder correctly. According to TreeHugger, there IS a right way and a wrong way (someone actually did a study about it).

Junk Creation has a clever Prescription Bottle Reuse idea – it’s a sort of ah ha moment.

Mother Earth’s Garden has a homemade recipe for Horehound Drops. You could easily make these completely organic and natural. Plus, there’s no packaging like typical throat drops, so this is a very green remedy choice.

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Check out these nice green links!

One Million Acts of Green – meant for Canadian folks, but I don’t think they’ll care if you’re not

Environmentalists look to Obama to limit drilling – let’s hope.

How Green Is Your College? – the 2009 report card is out.

baby moon booties from upcycled sweaters – OMG; you have to see them to believe them.

Traveling with Cloth Diapers – excellent advice for mamas and dads who need to know.

For the kiddos:

New species of flying lemurs discovered! GREAT images – have the kids go see.

The Plant That Looks After Itself – plant meets plant carrying robot – no joke.

National Toy Hall of Fame Inducts The Stick: Is There a Better Toy? – how flipping cool is this!?

November current events at Tree Hugging Family – themes, reviews, news, and more…

[image via Buy Nothing Day]

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So in case I’m right here are some good green posts I’ve blogged elsewhere this week:

• Green Action for Autumn – Sealing Your Home for Winter
• Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
• Taraluna: Safe, Natural & Non-Toxic Baby Toys
• Sustainable Furniture Guidelines
• Where To Find New Green Homes for Sale
• Re-purpose the Furniture You Own
• Questions for A Green Home Remodel
• Imaginative Eco Kids Furniture from Roebuck Studio
• Puzzle safety and fun puzzle picks for your baby
• Save money with attachment parenting

Then of course, there are also some stellar posts around the web that yours truly did not write:

• PETA Likes Human Milk Better
• OEUF Eco-Friendly Convertible Kids Furniture
• Keep warm, stay green
• Green Living Magazine Launches the New Digital Edition for Fall 2008! – ah digital mags. They’re getting more rampant, which is a swell deal.
• How Green Is Your College?
• ‘All The Better To Kiss You With’ Eco Lip Balms
• Pumpkin Bars: A Nutritious Autumnal Treat
• And lastly, in oooooooooo news, a lovely Vintage Owl Locket! I want one – my birthday is coming up (FYI).

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes and everything else going on at Tree Hugging Family in October 2008

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My younger brother loved the original Ghostbusters. The first action figures he ever collected were from the movie. Guess what? There’s going to be a remake! Good? Hmm. We’ll see. Jane at Film Gecko tells you all about it in A “Ghostbusters” Remake? What the…

I’ve been eyeing my long-sleeved shirts lately. Soon, it will be time to push the short-sleeves off center stage. Marye at Simply Home Remedies offers some helpful tips on keeping summer clothes fresh and bug-free in Packing Away Those Summer Clothes.

Speaking of packing away the summer clothes, isn’t it almost time for some Spiced Apple Cider? Yum! Sandy at Robust Cooking fills you in on how to make it yourself.

Do you have a senior feline gracing you with its presence? Bake a batch of Treats for Older Cats from Heather at The Food Bowl.

Read up on Transitional Ethics as applied to green at Michael’s Green Living Tips. Don’t worry. Michael provides perfect examples.

Colin, No Impact Man, talks about one of life’s early lessons — sharing. Does high resource use make a great life?

Image via flickr.

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