Tic-Tac-Toe.... WHOA!

I have been shopping at Ten Thousand Villages for years. It is a free-trade store with retail establishments all over the United States.

I absolutely love this new spin on a timeless game. Made from all natural material and vegetable dyes this game is not only eco-friendly but it can withstand even the worst your kids put it up against. Whether giving it as a gift, of purchasing it for your own kids this toy will withstand the test of time AND no two sets are alike making your child's playtime experience uniquely full of fun!

This store has option, after option of great gift ideas for kids, babies, and practically every other member of the family. Items range from musical instruments, jewelry, home decor, and even outdoor. Most everything in the store is handmade from natural materials or recycled materials. You can also find the tastiest chocolate :) I hope you can find many treasures here just like I have. Follow the link to find a location near you!


Photo courtesy of Ten Thousand Villages

Help Haiti

I’ve been reading and watching the news and all my mind can focus on is the complete devastation in Haiti. As someone who lives a comfortable life with plenty of food, a warm place to sleep and the access to an education it has always been important to me to involve myself in the community. After Hurricane Katrina I spent a week in Mississippi helping rebuild and I have been involved with trips around the local community building, painting and supplying food for those in need. I’ve been racking my mind with ways in which I can help the people of Haiti. Since I cannot leave the country right now (I have school, I've done nothing criminal!) I concluded that I would donate blood. The American Red Cross website is full of information as to where local donation centers are located, as well as other information as to how to help in the Haitian relief efforts. United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Catholic Relief Services, Partners in Health, and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) other great sites to learn more about getting involved in helping the people of Haiti.



Photo courtesy of CNN

Build! Build! Build!

Before I get to blogging I figure I should introduce myself to the Baby Grows Green followers. My name is Kira but I like to refer to myself as "Kira the Intern". I am the latest addition to the Satsuma Designs team and I am really excited to be a part of this wonderful company! I will also be a contributing writer to the blog, I hope everyone is as excited about this as I am :)

I live in Seattle and I am ALWAYS looking for things to do when the weather is less than desirable. Some of my favorite rainy day activities include taking a trip to the local art museum (The Seattle Art Museum offers free admission to all on the first Thursday of each month), a local historical site (The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park is a fun learning experience for kids), or a trip to the public library (The Seattle Public Library offers storytime at most of their locations). One of my all time favorites has to be creating a funky art project. I was putzing around on the internet looking at fun crafts when I came across the Disney website. Disney provides us with a great "green" way to put our recyclables to good use, keep the kids occupied and provide them with inexpensive new toys!

This calls for:
-Boxes (Cereal, pasta, oatmeal containers etc.)
-Paper (Newspaper, wrapping paper left over from the holidays and construction paper work perfectly)
-Tape or glue (Masking tape works best but scotch tape will suffice)
-Drawing equipment (Crayons, markers, paint, it all works!)
-Toothpicks, popsicle sticks, dowels, film canisters, or other inexpensive household items

Cover the boxes in paper and decorate to your heart's desire. You can make "stone" pathways out of bits of paper or a chimney from an old paper towel roll. An old film canister could be made into a mini trash can (or recycling bin).

I love this craft idea and have every intention of using it next time I babysit or next time it rains. I'll just have to wait and see what comes first!

Photo courtesy of Disney Family Fun

Hopscotch for Big (and little) Boys and Girls!

A friend tipped me off to this ADORABLE tee shirt collection from Seattle called Hopscotch Tees. The designs are fully customized and the aesthetic superb. I picked one up for my beloved's Christmas morn using our son's name and birth year. Cute. It's a subtle homage to his little one too so he can wear it to play hoops, but not catch flack for wearing a picture of his kid on his belly (I mean 4-pack!).

All tees are soft and natural 100% cotton for babies, toddlers, kiddos, moms, dads, and g'rents.

Go play a round of hopscotch!

Photo courtesy of Hopscotch Tees

Hottest Holiday Tips Come in GREEN

Mamas, papas and babies hear this! Eco to the People is running a rockin holiday contest and giving away great green gifts for the whole family.

Just share your best, brightest and greenest holiday tip here via 'comment' and you'll be entered to win a suite of sweet swag in the bag at right. Anything goes - celebrating, shopping, eating, gardening, transporting, shipping, living, loving - so share your best.

Don't delay, enter right away (before the 12/17/09 deadline anyway)!

NEVER Sleep Train Again!

No more 'cry it out'. Want to know how? I thought so.

Bamboo Velour Crib Sheets, of course!

Satsuma Designs has just launched one our newest products for the eco-luxe enthusiast. We know it's a splurge, but this crib sheet, which fits all standard and deep crib mattresses with and without piddle pads is DURABLE, naturally antibacterial, CRAZY soft, absorbent (possibly a moot benefit now that tears are in the past), and easy to clean.

Sweet dreams!

Late last week I had the good fortune to participate in a panel discussion about sustainable textiles at the ITAA annual conference. The ITAA is the International Textile and Apparel Association. Its membership includes academics, administrators, researchers and other interested parties committed to outreach in textile and fashion eduction and industry.

On the panel I represented Satsuma Designs and small business using sustainable resources in a commercial application, O Ecotextiles was there to share incredible date on green textiles for interiors and the Sustainable Style Foundation (SSF) was in the house too. Rebecca Luke from SSF helped moderate the panel that touched on the entire life cycle of 'green' textiles. I came away really appreciating SSF's mantra that even a little green step, is a step in the right direction.

As they say at SSF "look fabulous, live well, do good". More on SSF to come!