Replacing blades for my husband’s razor was as expensive as filling the tank — well, until *that* started costing as much as our monthly grocery bill. I decided to nip it in the bud the other day when I discovered this super new recycled-materials razor by Preserve (they also make those awesome recycled toothbrushes). It’s far less expensive for the replacement blades, and you can use the packaging to return the razor handle for recycling (postage prepaid!) when it’s time to send it to razor handle heaven. The husband is pretty pleased — he’s loving it en tandem with this shaving oil — and I’m pretty pleased because hair removal and eco-cool and wallet-friendly all in one shot? What’s not to love?

Find It Here: Preserve Everyday

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By Debbie, May 31, 2008  
Filed under: Clean, Dads, Him, Recycle, Reduce/Reuse

Tired of lugging around those plastic behemoths of detergent? Hate dealing with the messy powdered stuff? Then you’re going to love these tidy little detergent packets called Dropps that aren’t just amazingly convenient but earth-friendly, as well. Simply drop the pre-measured packet of liquid detergent right into the washer — one for small loads and two for large loads. No measuring, no mess and best of all they’re free of chlorine, phosphates, NPE’s and completely biodegradable. Additionally, thanks to their 6x concentrated form, they will help save tons of water every year, as compared to liquid detergents. And hello? No more ginormous plastic bottles!

My laundry is now fabulous — light, fresh and clean. And guess what? You, too, can share in the Dropps experience because they’re giving away samples! For free!

Find It Here: Dropps

Congratulations Kevin K, lucky winner of a year supply of Dropps Laundry Detergent!

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By Debbie, March 17, 2008  
Filed under: Biodegradable, Clean, Home, Reduce/Reuse, Win

Okay, it isn’t organic. But it is local and they say that eating (and drinking?) locally and thus decreasing your carbon footprint is a big piece of the puzzle. So I’m giving myself a solid pat for having discovered a local wine that I could drink by the barrel — Andrew Rich Wines. I just opened (really easily, because bonus! A screw top!) a bottle of the winery’s Mesalliance, a decadent mix of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah.

Sure, I could have paid a little less for a decent bottle of red; this one was about $14 and looked comparable to an $11 bottle from Australia. However, in weighing the slightly higher cost vs. the egregious addition of greenhouse gases to our already challenged atmosphere? No contest.

The point is, I’m pleased as red-wine punch that I selected the one I did. Guilt-free drinking is not a thing easily come by. If you, however, are not so fortunate as to live in a wine-producing region where you can procure the local bounty, attending a local wine event might be the next best thing. Check out the amazingly comprehensive Local Wine Events site to see what’s happening near you; perhaps even within walking distance!

Cheers.

Find it Here: LocalWineEvents.com

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By Debbie, March 15, 2008  
Filed under: Eat, Indulge, Mama

No. Not the choo-choo kind that my toddler can pick up with his supersonic ears at three in the morning; this is the underpants line made entirely of o-cotton for the potty-training set. They’re thick and soft after repeated, repeated washings and they’re cute - even the plain ones.

Most important? After using them for 24 hours a day for several weeks (with a leakproof cover for naps and nighttime), it worked. He’s finished. He wakes up in the mornings dry as soft, organic cotton. And when Imse Vimse invents a gadget that can get up with him in the middle of the night for potty trips, I’ll buy that, too. Because I miss sleep.

Find It Here: Imse Vimse

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• Custom Organic Originals
• Organic Cotton Velour. ‘Nuff Said.

By Debbie, January 16, 2008  
Filed under: Organic, Reduce/Reuse, Toddler, Wear