Day Seven of Green Gifts and Tips: Squishy Stuffers and Spoiling the Dogs

Day Seven:
Looking for something unique to stuff in a stocking? Try Guyot Designs squishy bowls. These compact silicone bowls easily fit in the toe of a stocking, pocket of a purse, or bottom of a backpack. Pull them out and they snap back into shape! Eat or drink from them. These cool bowls are also dishwasher and freezer safe. $14.95/set of one bowl and one cup. Also available in travel shot size, $6.95 for two.

Tip of the Day: Pets add value to our lives and of course we want to express our affection for them as well. Our dogs have stockings hanging on the mantle waiting to be filled. Squishy Bowls are a fun food dish. If you are looking for a collar or coat, we love Annie's Sweatshop. Annie makes quality durable dog gear from recycled and reclaimed material.


If buying new toys isn't in your budget, maybe your beasts would enjoy a handmade batch of treats? Here's our recipe for dog cookies, from MacPherson's K-9 Cookbook:
3 cupes whole wheat flour
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup shredded cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk

1. In large mixing bowl, combine flour and garlic powder.
2. Make a well in the flour mixture and gradually stir in vegtable oil, cheese, beaten egg, and milk until well blended.
3. Knead dough on a floured surface, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness.
5. Cut with cookie cutter, or into squares, and place on lightly greased baking sheet.
6. Back for 25 minutes at 400 deg F
7. Cool on a rack and store at room temperature with a container with a loose-fitting lid.

Day Six: Holiday Savings and Durable Gifts

We are halfway through the 12 days of Green Gifts and Tips! Today, we're highlighting green gifts on sale. First, we just announced that all orders placed before December 19 will ship for free. No coupon code necessary. Next, check out our merino wool jackets on sale for 10% off. Finally, visit the clearance corner for great deals on closeout products, including the women's climawool glove, a softshell warm when wet cold weather glove perfect for gift giving. $39 (regular price $70)

Tip of the day: Give durable gifts. Heirloom quality toys and quality clothes will last longer than plastic junk. This will certainly please your gift recipient, but it also keeps waste out of the landfill.

Day Five of Green Gifts and Tips: Balms and Baubles

Today, we are highlighting a local favorite: Jess' Bee Natural Lip Balms. These all-natural balms are hand poured here in Columbus Ohio by a talented friend using all USA ingredients. They are formulated to sooth and restore dry skin. A super stocking stuffer! $3 each, available in tangerine or peppermint

Last night we decorated our Christmas tree at home. It led me to think about the baubles we decorate with this time of year. I know some people who choose a different decorating scheme each year and end up with hundreds of cheap ornaments that are deemed useless on January 1st. What a waste, I say. We like to reuse ornaments year to year and only add gifts or handmade baubles to our collection. It makes the tradition of hanging ornaments all that more meaningful because we remember where we got the ornament each year as we carefully unwrap it. Do you decorate a tree? What kind of ornaments do you have?

Day Four of Green Gifts and Tips: Kids Bottles and Gift Tags

On Day 4 of our ongoing 12 Days of Green Gifts and Tip series, we're focusing on children.
Growing kids are more susceptible to chemicals in their environment than adults, making it even more important to reduce exposure to toxins when possible. To help children stay hydrated without spills or toxins, we recommend the BPA free 12 ounce Klean Kanteen bottle with a sippy or sports top. Our 3 year old daughter prefers the sports top on her "shiny bottle" aka a stainless steel Klean Kanteen. $14.55/12 ounce with sports top, $18.55/12 ounce with sippy, additional $2 for color.

If you have a child, here's a great tip for gift tags: Cut holiday shapes out of your child's old drawings, scribbles, or paintings. If you don't love the idea of cutting all those shapes, borrow or buy a scrapbooking tag punch. Simply write your to and from in a contrasting color and you have a re-used unique gift tag!

Warm Wool and Winter Foodstuffs: Day Three of Green Gifts and Tips

Why not add some wool to your holiday gifts? Ibex merino wool is super soft, breathable, and sustainably harvested. Buy the renzo beanie pictured above for $32.99, wool glove liners for $23.99, or wool underwear for $22.50 (Women's) / $28.00 (Men's) as stocking stuffers.

For the athletic person on your list, give a Shak Jersey they are sure to love. Shaks are getting rave reviews! Men's full zip $145.00, Men's pullover $125, Women's full zip $140, Women's pullover $125.

Tip of the day: Take a trip to the farmer's market. You might be surprised at the local flavors you could add to your holiday table. Here in Ohio, I will be able to get local potatos, salad greens, mushrooms, squash and meat at a minimum.

Don't know where to find local farmers? Check out www.localharvest.org! It has a database of small farms searchable by food type and zipcode. Happy Eating!