Category — Natural Style

Feel the difference of natural with Noli n Nali skincare line, available for both mom and child.  Certified organic, these eco-friendly products nourish the body from the outside in with ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and calendula.  Think soothing belly butter and nipple salve for moms, and gentle shampoo, bubble bath, and detangler for little ones.  Use coupon code KIWI for 25% off your purchase.

– Marygrace, KIWI intern and lover of body nourishment

Helping build healthy bones by aiding in calcium absorption, vitamin D is an important nutrient that’s often hard to find in foods.  Baby Ddrops are an easy way to provide your child with the daily recommended amount of vitamin D, minus the unpleasant taste or clumsy droppers that often accompany supplements. The unique bottle dispenses 400 IU of vitamin D in one easy drop, which can be used while breastfeeding, on baby’s pacifier, or mixed into a child’s food or drink.  For $2.00 your next purchase, call 888-234-5656 and mention code KIWI!

– Marygrace, KIWI intern and promoter of vitamin D 

Check out the Lil Diaper Depot for a great selection of eco-conscious products. You can ditch disposables for good with their organic cloth diapers, or swaddle baby in an eco-fleece baby blanket made from recycled soda bottles. The company caters to moms, too, with super-soft, organic nursing pads, extra-comfy body pillows, and stylish diaper totes. Pick up a gift certificate for an upcoming baby shower, or register for your own. Receive 10% off your first order with promo code KIWI9 before 2/28/09.

–Marygrace, KIWI intern and lover of eco-conscious proudcts

If you’ve read our Super Healthy Super Bowl suggestions, you’ll see that we are big fans of popchips!

They’re definitely a different type of chip.  Neither baked nor fried, they apply pressure, and pop it’s a chip! Plus they’re all natural with half the fat of fried potato chips, trans fats, saturated fats, and cholesterol. They have five crunchy flavors (I love their salt and pepper flavor the best!).  You can find them pretty easily at Whole Foods Market, Target and Jamba Juice, and many other stores (check out their website for locations near you).

To learn more, watch their Super Bowl video.

Have a Super Healthy Super Bowl and I hope your team wins!

–Stephanie, KIWI staff and football lover

Your baby can stay warm in the cold with this adorable 100% organic cotton baby cap. Sold individually or in sets, it makes a naturally wonderful gift. Cute and comfy, these caps are a must have. For only $6 your baby can rock this hat in natural or brown. Receive 20% off when you type KIWI20 at checkout! Get it now at Wee BE Organic Baby Cap.

– Brittany, KIWI intern and green enthusiast

By now, we’re all plenty familiar with the fact that many types of reusable, plastic bottles are unsafe-full of toxic phthalates and BPAs, drinking from these bottles can do serious harm to your body. Imagine, then, the impact such chemicals could potentially have on babies that drink from plastic bottles on a regular basis. With smaller bodies and rapidly developing systems, they’re left extra vulnerable to these dangers.

Enter Green to Grow’s collection of non-toxic bottles and nipples. Their BPA- and phthalate-free bottles ($9.99-$10.99) are made from 100% recyclable PES, an alternative plastic that’s safe for babies and the environment. Contrary to traditional, rubber counterparts, their nipples are made from heat-resistant silicone without any harmful nitrosamines ($5.49). And if Green to Grow hasn’t already made your life a little easier by providing a sound piece of mind, their products are completely dishwasher safe. Talk about milking a good thing!

Visit greentogrow.com for more.

My neighbor just had a baby boy. Infants and their security blankets are like peanut butter and jelly…they go perfectly together. I found a soft security blanket with assorted tags adorning all four sides called Little Taggies Naturals. These blankets are made with 100% certified organically grown cotton fibers, pure silk ribbons and safe dyes. For $28.95, you can buy one too at taggies.com or your local specialty gift shop.

- Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of families

I love buying baby clothes. When I was younger, I remember going shopping with my mom and my best friend. While my mom was busy looking for clothes, my bf and I pretended to shop for baby clothes. Now, my friends are having kids and I can actually buy clothes for real babies. My new favorite line is Organically Grown. It is affordable 100% pure organic cotton baby wear. How affordable? $22-$38 at Macy’s and Gottschalks!

- Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of families

My cousin, Maggie, loves The Earth Friends dolls. She takes Jayden everywhere she goes. I know she’ll be happy to receive another eco groovy doll to add to her entourage. They are handmade in California and inspire to learn to honor ourselves, each other and our planet. The best part is that all of the materials are either recycled or organic. For $64, you can get one for girls and boys at Whole Foods nationwide or theearthfriends.com.

- Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of families

Thanksgiving is only a few days away. Instead of dreaming about turkey and cranberry sauce, most of us are already thinking about what to buy our families for the holidays. Don’t stress; KIWI is here to help. From now until December 25th, we will feature a gift-a-day. We invite you to share your favorite holiday buys by posting a comment below.

My partner, Mike, asked for a new car for the holidays. With fuel efficiency (and budget) in mind, I am going to buy him the H-racer 2.0 from Horizon Fuel Cell Techonolgies. They have a complete line of 10 clean energy science kits. You and your children can discover the automotive technologies of the future by building and driving a hydrogen fuel cell car.

H-racer 2.0 is a real-working future car is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Purchase at www.horizonfuelcell.com for $119.

- Stephanie, KIWI staff and lover of families

And, yes, KIWI does know how to pick them! Liz Abzug, our esteemed advisory board member was just named by Women’s eNews as one its 21 Leaders for the 21st Century. The award goes to 20 women and one man who “are dedicated to improving the lives of women in their homes, in their communities, in their nations and across the globe”.

Here’s what Womens eNews has to say about Liz:

“Liz Abzug, a third-generation New Yorker, founded the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute, named after her mother, a former member of Congress and international women’s rights activist. This generation’s Abzug guides female teens as they study political advocacy and develop strategies to impact their communities. In November, Abzug brought together hundreds of women from all generations to commemorate the 1977 National Women’s Conference organized by her mother. Abzug’s goal is to ignite the flames of the next wave of women’s rights movement.”

Women’s eNews will do an expanded profile of Liz over the next few days, so make sure you visit their site. KIWI profiled the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute in our February 2007 issue. Click here to read “Mentoring Young Minds”.

Congratulations Liz! Thanks for being an inspiration to all of us at KIWI and to women and girls everywhere!

I am sure some of you have received the latest issue of KIWI. For our January/February issue, KIWI had a special “delivery.” (Ignore the lame pun!) We rounded up some wonderful gift ideas for parents-to-be in our “Oh, Baby!” green baby shower feature. Obviously, we can’t mention everything in the magazine, but luckily for us, we have KiwiLog and everything we wanted to include… we now can. Hooray!

Our first in our blog series on baby shower gifts is the Chubby Bunny and Snuggle Blanket sold by Happy Healthy Baby. Both pieces, the bunny and the blanket, are 100% organic cotton and dyed with metal free dyes. The doll is 7″and the blanket is 29″ X 29″. If you are searching for the perfect snuggle buddy for your baby or a friend’s baby, this bunny and blanket duo should fit the bill. And look how cute!

Available at Happy Healthy Baby, $36.

Received a gift card for somewhere you don’t shop or would ever even consider stepping in? We all have faced this problem. What am I going to do with a $25 gift card to Outback Steakhouse? I am vegetarian! Why do I have a gift card to Toys R Us? My kid does not need anymore toys!

Well, worry no more. You can trade, swap, and sell your gift cards at Swapagift.com. You can pay your bills here, fund raise with this site, and exchange your unwanted card for Visa. Have a gift card that you simply do know what to do with? Can’t re-gift it? Head over to Swapagift and get a gift card you really want.

Can’t think of a gift card you want? Try selling them back at GiftCard Buy Back. (Who couldn’t use a little extra money?) Simply search their database for the gift cards you have, sell the cards and receive cash.

What do you do with your unwanted gift cards? Leave your answers in the comments!

What can you get someone at the last minute? Running around getting gifts for Bobby, Suzie, Aunt Lilly, Uncle Joey and Grandpa Ed, you have simply forgotten cousin Debbie. What to do? Gift cards are good way to give a thoughtful gift in a short amount of time. Here are some of KIWI’s recommendations for gift cards:

-A great way to give the gift of music without the bulk of CDs:
-Plenty of organic and natural options for the eco lover in your lot: Amazon.
-Target’s organic and eco conscience products options are growing: Target.
-Search for an local or organic restaurant, a dinner out is always appreciated: The Eat Well Guide.
-Let your loved ones buy whatever they want: Visa Gift Card.
-Nordstrom has a gift card for every occasion (a late Hanukkah gift, Christmas or Kwanzaa): Nordstrom

So hurry up and click away! Last minute gifts do not have to be bad gifts!

As kids, we all love toys we put together, like Legos and Build-a-Blocks and Lincoln Logs– all great toys. But as environmentally conscience parents, how do we choose the best imaginative gifts that are safe for our children and our environment?

Here is a toy that will satisfy your little builder and your eco-conscience. This Solar Lego-Style Helicopter is a must have for the little scientist in your family. It’s a great way to learn about reusable energy, solar power and building techniques– all tools for a innovative kid.

The building blocks are not compatible with other brands of building toys, but the rotor blade, panel and motor are compatible with Lego, K’Nex, Fischer Technik, Atco and Eitech.

Available at OutdoorGB, $28.93. Ages 4 & up.

Everyone loves a good pair of jeans. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a new pair of jeans. It’s like a birthday party for your legs. Well, anyway, sometimes it is hard to get your husband, brother, uncle or son to try something new. That’s why today’s gift is a wonderful ruse for the reluctant male.

Here’s the solution! Organic Levi’s. Yes, Levi’s. And the best part? They are from Target. These Levi Strauss Signature® Organic Slim Jeans – Tattered are one of the four organic options available. They are also an affordable $34.99 versus a lot of more expensive jeans that aren’t even organic. So if you have a Levi loving man who doesn’t want to try new things, this is a sneaky way to get him into organic. (And come on, you know best, right?)

Available at Target, $34.99.

It is the season of giving. So why not go all the way and give a gift that your little one will love and so will the environment? Changing the Present allows you to adopt a penguin, feed a hungry child, and much more. They want to “change the present, one gift at time.”

So for this holiday season, why not adopt a penguin in your loved ones name? Your gift to Adopt A Penguin will enable Defenders of Wildlife’s work with automakers and members of Congress to raise the standard fuel efficiency of cars and trucks. This gift will help save the penguins, among other animals.

Available at Changing the Present, $50.

Do you have a teen that loves to write? Maybe someone you know is going on a trip and needs a great journal to travel with? If that is the case, KIWI has just the journal gift for your loved ones.

These beautiful journals are Vintage Sari. They are handcrafted by Rajasthani artisans and filled with 100% heavyweight recycled cotton paper. Available in three color patterns: Merlot with Silver, Taupe with Floral Design and Purple with Floral Design. Sure to be a hit with the writer you know.

Available at Nubius Organics, $19.50

It’s almost winter time, but it has already snowed here on the East Coast. Sweaters, mittens, gloves, boots and scarves are an everyday need now. That is why today’s gift is perfect for the chilly weather.

This adorable sweater from Oeuf is well too cute for words. Seriously, just look at it! It has built in mittens! No more telling your tiny kittens that they may have no pie.

Made with 100% alpaca wool for warmth, and of course comfort, this sweater just cries HUG ME. And what a coincidence, that the name of this adorable– the Hug Me Sweater!

Available at Arte Bebe, $88.

Time for a little shameless self promotion. I have showed you clothes, toys, jewelry, chocolate, purses and shoes! Now it’s time to think about where you can get wonderful gift ideas, among a plethora of other information, all the time? KIWI Magazine of course.

Our magazine makes a wonderful present. Do you know any parents that need some recipe advice? How about some nutrition advice? Or maybe a fun craft to do on a rainy day? KIWI has it all. KIWI features the latest in everyday natural and organic style, geared towards helping moms and dads raise their families in the healthiest way possible.

Also, for a limited time, you will get the KIWI Best 25 Recipes of 2007 as a free download when you order a gift subscription. So a gift for a loved one and a gift for you. Can’t beat that, can you?

To subscribe, call 866-204-4704 or visit our website.

Today’s KIWI gift idea is for the little gamers in your family. Whether they play on the computer, the Play Station, or the Wii, this gift is the shirt that little boys and girls won’t absolutely hate getting. (Say goodbye to the “Aw, more clothes?” and say hello to “Yes! This is AWESOME!”)

The Longsleeve Joystick Jersey is 100% cotton and made in the USA. It is available from size 2T-4T (More sizes are available on Inky Dink’s site). Made by Inky Dink Tees, their designs have fun, crazy images like the Joystick Jersey, pirate themed and who could forget pink unicorns. Personally, I might have to buy this adorable longsleeve shirt for my video gamin’ nephew.

Available at Spunky Sprout, $32. (On sale for $28, right now!)

Know someone with a big sweet tooth? Vere Chocolate (pronounced very) is an excellent option for someone who loves decedent chocolates.

KIWI’s pick out of all their wonderful options? The Truffles. Enjoy Vere’s unusual and wonderful flavors: rich Cream, lush Cognac, bold Coffee and floral Earl Grey Tea. Yummmm! These chocolatiers start with sustainably grown, pesticide-free cocoa beans and sweeten them only enough to enhance their rich, distinctive flavor. Also the cream used in the truffles is all locally grown. My mouth is watering just thinking about these delicious truffles.

Available at Vere, 4 piece box (1.4 oz.) for $10 or 16 piece box (5.7 oz.) for $35.

Today’s gift is very unique. It is a pair of TOMS Shoes. I mentioned TOMS in my previous blog about Hanson. This shoe company is doing something to make a difference in the lives of children all over. So you need a great gift that will make you & the person you are buying them for feel absolutely wonderful, TOMS is the way to go.

Pictured to the left are a pair of TOMS shoes. I find this pair so adorable I can barely stand it (Mom? hint, hint ). Anyway, this pair in particular is the Gold Stripe Woven TOMS. This upper part of the shoe is woven fabric and the insole is soft leather. The sole has a textured bottom for traction. Plus every pair you buy, a pair of shoes goes to a child in need. Priced at $48, you are truly getting 2 pairs of shoes for the price of 1. And on top of scoring an awesome present, you are helping someone less fortunate. Truly a fitting shoe for the holiday season.

TOMS come in a variety of colors and patterns. They are available in Mens, Womens, and even Tiny TOMS.

Available at TOMS shoes, $28-$48.

Have an elegant party to attend? Or perhaps someone on your gift list is particularly hard to shop for. This handbag from World of Good is perfect for a night out or it is a wonderful gift idea! (I won’t tell if it happens to be a gift from you to you!)

The Square Deal Handbag is handmade from buffalo horn, beads and silk. It is made by men and women of the Nam Dinh province in Vietnam. This aesthetically pleasing purse is crafted under fair trade conditions. To top it off, some of the profits go to care for handicapped orphans in the community. This handbag is truly a gift that gives back, over and over.

So if you want your recipient’s face to shine as bright as the freshly fallen snow, the beautiful Square Deal Handbag is just the gift!

Available at World of Good for $39.95.

Today’s gift is something for the whole family. Who hates sitting at the dinner table filled with awkward silences? I know I do! I know my mom always says, “I don’t understand why our family cannot think of anything to say to one another!”

So, with this in mind, “The Box of Questions” from The Box Girls was brought to life. Tired of the same holiday conversations? Want to spice up the usual “How’s work?” and “How’s the kids?” questions some new ones?

On the last night of Hannukah, break out the “Hanukkah Box of Questions.” Each box contains 35 questions like “What miracle have you witnessed in your life?” and “How does your family make Hanukkah more meaningful and less materialistic?”.

The Box of Questions is available for lots of holidays. They have one for Christmas. With questions like, “What gifts do we give at Christmas that do not come in a box?” and “What is your favorite Christmas movie?”, these boxes are sure to keep awkward silences at bay and keep the cheerful conversations going.

Available for $19.95 at Spoon Sisters and  The Box Girls.

Every Christmas Eve, my mom gives my sisters and I pajamas. When we were little, Santa Claus would stop by and drop off our pajamas himself! Today’s gift is something that will make all moms and dads (and me!) remember their first pair of holiday pajamas.

These timeless pajamas are a throwback to the days of wanting a Red Ryder BB gun! Available for ages 3 to 9, at Nubius Organics, these Under the Nile long johns make a perfect holiday present. And for only $29.00, they are practically a steal. Even better? Under the Nile apparel is made from 100% organic Egyptain cotton and produced under fair trade conditions.

This pajamas are so cute. I know I would have loved getting them from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve!

TruKid was born the day some of my kids got into my expensive wrinkle cream AGAIN and told me how much it stung. A sudden lightning bolt– it dawned on me that potent ingredients in my skincare might not be so good for my children’s young skin. I also came to realize that there are many products marketed towards babies but nothing for kids. This inspired me to create a skincare line for kids.

As a mother, my vision is to deliver healthy options for parents looking for natural solutions that will help teach their children proper hygiene and skincare. Like I always say, “What goes on a child’s skin is just as important as what goes in their tummies.” Adult consumers want to use products that are all natural and chemical free and they should be able to make the same choices when it comes to their kids.

During the process I discovered that 90% of personal care products on the market use potentially toxic ingredients. Many of which may be harmful, not only to adults, but to young children and their growing bodies. Knowing this, my goal became to create products that are truly natural. TruKid products are safe and free of harmful chemicals like parabens and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). After choosing only good-for-you ingredients, I was able to come up with friendly scents and easy to dispense bottles.

I feel by taking care of kids at the youngest age, we are teaching them how to take care of themselves as they grow. Through this process I have also come to notice that children have the “mine-all-mine” attitude with their own TruKid products, which in-turn keeps them out of my stuff. (Phew!)

TruKid includes 11 kid-friendly products, all of which are basics like Sunny Days Sunscreen, Bubbly Body Bar Soap, and Hero stick (a healing salve that can be used as a natural alternative for bruised knees or scraped elbows). The products are also conscientiously priced for the parent; prices average $9 -$16 per 3.5-4 ounce bottle.

Look for the “TruKid Smart Label™” seal of approval. This label ensures parents that the ingredients are free of harmful ingredients, natural, nontoxic and safe. Additionally, Trukid has also made a pledge with the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. This coalition’s goal is to protect consumers and workers by requiring the health & beauty industries to phase out chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other health issues, and replace them with safer alternatives.

-Jennifer Adam Bunkers
CEO of Trukid

“Have no fear when the waters rise
We can conquer this great divide.”- “The Great Divide” by Hanson.

Confession time: Hanson is a band I have loved for 10 years. 10 years of going to concerts and 10 years of buying CDs, singles, T-shirts, posters and keychains. Yes, I was one of those crazy girls. But I must say, following this band has given me pride, especially lately.

First, Hanson released a single off their album The Walk entitled “The Great Divide,” where proceeds went to AIDS relief in Africa (lyrics are above). Did they stop there? No. For their The Walk Tour, they partnered with Toms Shoes. Toms Shoes is an amazing shoe company. Each pair of shoes that is purchased, a pair is donated to a child in need. Hanson sold Toms Shoes at each one of their concert dates. Hanson also held one mile walks in each city to raise awareness about the plight of kids in Africa. To top this, they did these walks barefoot.

All of this was leading up the 50,000 shoe drop in South Africa with Toms Shoes. Last week, Hanson went to South Africa to see all their hard work realized. They visited schools and put shoes on children’s feet.

It is amazing what people can do. Hanson is a family band with children of their own, and they are using their music & celebrity for something good. We love that here at KIWI. We applaud you, Hanson, for not being Paris, Lindsay, or Britney. I knew there was a reason I loved you guys from the start!

For more information visit Hanson.net and Toms Shoes.

Pictures from Hanson.net gallery.

With all the traveling coming up, sometimes finding a babysitter in a strange city is hard. That’s why I was so excited when I found out about SitterCity (and why it’s our pick of the week).

Spending the week at Grandma’s in Chicago sounds like a great idea. But what to do with the kids when all the adults have to leave? Call a sitter, or look up one online! SitterCity has a searchable database of all the babysitters, nannies and child care professionals in a certain area. Just type in your zip code and begin your quest for the perfect sitter.

Worried about the sitter’s credentials? SitterCity has:

• A four-step screening process
• Access to background checks
• Comprehensive sitter profiles
• Sitter video interviews

What’s even better? Leaving for a while and do not want to put your dog/cat/bird/snake in a kennel? SitterCity has a pet sitter database, as well. It’s a great resource and just takes one more thing off of that long list of things you have to worry about. Membership is required, but a small price to pay for piece of mind. What’s also great? You can give a membership for a gift. (Check two things off that list of things to worry about!)

Who doesn’t love Build-A-Bears? I know I do. (I have one and I’m 23! And look how cute that ghost is!). They are so cute and it’s wonderful that kids (and adults) can create their own stuffed animal friends– pick exactly which animal, what clothes it should wear, and even give it a name with a birth certificate.

KIWI loves companies like Build-A-Bear, ones that encourage a child’s imagination. We love it even more when they give back to the community and to the Earth– that’s why this fuzzy friend is our pick of the week, this week. In honor of Build-A-Bear’s 10th Birthday, aka their “Year of Friendship,” they planned an extensive party– full of giving back! Among their plans are their “Stuffed With Hugs” and “Huggable Heroes” programs. “Stuffed With Hugs” invites kids to make bears to donate to children’s organizations– for free! “Huggable Heroes” works to encourage children to give back to their communities.

Our favorite part is that this adorable company is going to plant more than 280,000 trees in celebration of their 10th birthday! The first 10,000 trees were planted in Apache and Sitgreaves National Forests in Arizona on October 16. These trees are a result of the “Friendship Forrest” campaign held in the workshops in the US, UK and Canada where guests were asked to donate a tree in honor of a friend or family member.

So thank you beary, beary much Build-A-Bear!

Looking for ways to save money? Buying organic and natural can get a little pricey, especially if you are just making the switch. That’s why we offer our KiwiCuts to all of our readers and online friends. For our exclusive discounts, just click on over to KiwiCuts Online.

If you’re looking for discounts on grocery products, I just discovered Health E-Savers. Health E-savers is a website that “provides valuable printable coupons from all natural brands for food, groceries, natural remedies, natural beauty, nutritional supplements and pets.” The best part? They email the coupons right to your inbox. Lovely! (Perfect for us glued to our computers and our email.) No more clipping coupons, it’s printing coupons now. All you have to do is specify what categories and brands you prefer and your email address—it’s that simple. So, head on over and start saving.

I spent this past weekend in the lovely city of Chicago at the Naturally Healthy Children’s Expo. I met lots of great, new (and some seasoned) green parents and, of course, adorable kids! We gave away lots of magazines and KIWI Care Packages. It was a great time. There are many reasons, like the NHCE, why the Windy City is our Pick of the Week.

• City Hall has a 20,300-square-foot rooftop garden.
• The city has 2.5 million-square-feet of green roofs planned or already in use.
• They host a Green Festival. Next year’s fest is in May!
• On the city’s website, has a Center for Green Technology that is set up to help business and home owners learn about green technology.
• Chicago’s Green City Market, the Windy City’s sustainable farmer’s market.
• Chicago’s architecture is getting a green makeover.
• They even have a guide for building green roofs!

Need we say more? Chicago is a great city, but when you add in their green initiatives, it really soars!
Chicago’s City Hall before the garden (pictured above).
Chicago’s City Hall after its great green makeover.

October is the beginning of fall and the time of ghouls, ghosts, and goblins. It is also “International I Walk to School Month.” In this month, 42 countries will participate in the month dedicated to walking to school– wow!

Why? The meaning of this month varies in each community. Some communities focus on the development of healthy habits, like the exercise walking to school allows. Other communities choose to focus on the environmental friendliness of walking to school.

Below is a list from www.iwalktoschool.org of activities to celebrate the wonderful act of walking to school.

Examples of Walk to School activities:

• Designate “Walking Wednesdays” to encourage walking one day a week and potentially extend the event to a month or a year-long activity
• Develop walking themes for each day of the week: bright, highly visible colors day, “walking hat” day, bring a healthy lunch day, etc.
• Set up a competition with awards for the classes with the most walkers
• Offer an option to students who ride the bus or carpool to walk once they arrive at school.
• Organize a walking school bus from nearby neighborhoods. For information on how, visit www.walkingschoolbus.org
• Plan a school-wide event to recognize the day such as a picnic, an assembly, an awards ceremony or a pizza party for the class with the most walkers
• Fill the month with activities throughout the day that pertain to staying physically fit, eating healthy and caring for the environment.

Check out their website for more information and how to get involved.

Need an excellent school pack for your son/daughter? Loved our eco supply and eco school fashion article in the Sept/October issue? Well, you now have the chance to bid on great supplies left over from our shoots! And the best part? The auction is part of Christie Brinkley’s “Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools, Healthy Environment” and benefits New York Coalition for Healthy School Food and Wellness in the Schools. KIWI’s editorial director, Sara Gragnolati, put together two school packs (boy and girl version) for Charitybuzz, an auction site whose motto is “do good– live well.” The bidding ends on September 27th, so start waving your numbered paddle!

Boy Pack includes:

Patagonia backpack
Patagonia synchilla marsupial
Mimi Sardine lunch tote
SIGG bottle
Wrap-n-Mat
Stockmar beeswax crayons
Smencils eco pencils
Subscription to Kiwi Magazine for you and five friends

Girl Pack includes:

Patagonia backpack
Patagonia retro vest
Circle of Friends shampoo pack
Mimi Sardine lunch tote
SIGG bottle
Wrap-n-Mat
Smencils eco pencils
Subscription to Kiwi Magazine for you and five friends

I think anyone can agree that these packs are perfect back-to-school accessories. Precisely why we made this worthy cause our pick this week, so hurry up and start bidding! Click here to learn more about the auction and all the great items up for bid.

For real. Free snacks. What makes this even better? Free, non-guilt snacks that are good for you!

As part of their “Snack Drive,” Kashi wants to “rid the world of a million bad snacks.” And we’re totally on board. In true KIWI fashion Kashi believes that “one good snack makes a big difference in a world of bad ones.” We couldn’t agree more.

In a simple 4 step process, Kashi determines which healthy snack you would enjoy the most. For giving up a chocolate bar, I got Kashi TLC Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Cookie in return. Yum! You could also receive either Original 7 Grain TLC Crackers or Trail Mix TLC Chewy Granola Bar. I’d say this is a win-win-win situation.

You can get your free snack in two ways, by registering online or attending one of Kashi’s live Snack Drives in the following cities (check Kashi’s site for details).

1. San Diego, CA on Saturday, September 15th
2. Chicago, IL on Friday, September 21th
3. Boston, MA on Friday, September 28th
4. New York, NY on Sunday, September 30th

I already registered for my free snack! Hurry up and get snackin’!

We here at KIWI love Healthy Child, Healthy World. That is why we were extra happy when we learned about their partnership with Seventh Generation and babystyle to create Wee Generation.

Wee Generation believes “Raising a healthy baby is simply a matter of knowing where potential hazards might be hiding in your home and learning how to replace them with non-toxic alternatives that keep everyone safe and happy.” And we couldn’t agree more! They even have 5 Easy Steps that everyone should take to protect their children. The steps are the following:

1. Manage pest safely
2. Buy non-toxic products
3. Clean up indoor air
4. Eat healthy, shop organically
5. Be smart about plastics.

Seems simple enough! Click on the link above to read the steps in full detail. (Also click here to read KIWI’s tips on choosing a safe water bottle.)

We also love the face that Wee Generation is developing the diaper bag to end all diaper bags. They are asking moms and dads to share their stories about diaper bag disasters and triumphs. They are going to take all the ideas, stories and suggestions and make the first “Cradle to Cradle Certified eco-baby bag.” Log onto Wee Generation’s site to get the full details, share your story and help design the best bag for you and your children.

And last, but certainly not least you can enter to win a consultation with a green-home decorator and funds towards a green nursery! Where do we sign up? Just click on over to Wee Generation homepage and enter the sweepstakes at the top of the page. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you!

This week KIWI has decided to focus our pick on a organization that has been given a bad name by certain members– the NFL!

Lately a lot of focus dealing with the NFL has been on Michael Vick (ick!) and his involvement with dogfighting. While this is not a matter to be taken lightly at all, I thought maybe it was time to check up on all the good the NFL is doing. In today’s world, there is so much focus on the bad news, KIWI likes to bring light on the good!

Under the large umbrella of the NFL exists the NFL Charities. Within this organization, they have many programs ranging from youth to health programs. One of their programs includes the youth orientated “What Moves U” health and fitness program. Designed to help fight child obesity, the program includes the following:

1. An in-school activity kit created for teachers, by teachers, which includes curriculum-based activity sheets, program–specific learning materials.
2. School promotional materials.
3. An interactive fitness-focused website for children.
4. A national public awareness campaign that will include television, radio, print, movie cinema PSAs, and community outreach events through NFL teams and American Heart Association division.

And undoubtedly, my (and KIWI’S as well) favorite program existing in the NFL is the Philadelphia Eagles’ Go Green Program (E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!). I first heard of the The Go Green initative while walking in Franklin Square in Philadelphia. I looked up and saw a sign that read, “In just one week of recycling, we can each save 17 trees.” I thought, “Oh that’s nice.” And I really thought nothing of it.

But the Eagles are backing up these signs with some serious action. The Birds are reimbursing employees who purchase wind energy through PECO Wind and New Jersey Clean Power Energy Programs (the first NFL organization to do so). The program also includes:

1. A donation of $125,000 to Treevitalize, to restore tree cover in Philly.
2. A “Go Green” Energy Calculator located on their site (pictured above).
3. A hardcore recycling program at Lincoln Financial Field.
4. Renewable energy project with the Saint Louis Rams to offset game-related carbon emissions.
5. Providing close to 200 shrubs and trees to spruce up the same Franklin Square where their lovely tip signs are located.

So, in honor of all the good things coming out of the NFL, KIWI would like to thank the NFL for doing their part for the youth of today and, especially the Eagles for helping the youth of tomorrow. Go EAGLES! I mean… =)

-Stacey

One of the oldest cities in the world, London is doing its part to be eco-friendly. That is why we choose it for our Pick of the Week. London has many environmental initiatives that make us Yanks a green with envy.

First, London is one of the greenest cities in the world– literally. Two-thirds of the city is covered in water or green space, including homes to a variety of animals and plants. The city includes the following wild habitats: ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, parkland, rivers & streams, and wastelands.

Also, on London’s official website. They list ways for the everyday Red Coat to make a difference in London’s environment. Click here to see their list of ways to help the environment.

And London doesn’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. On June 1st, the entire city went dark for Lights Out London. For one hour (9 pm-10 pm), an estimated 2 million light bulbs went out around the capital, saving roughly 750 MWh of electricity– enough to run 3,000 televisions for a year. Pictured here is the iconic Big Ben clock tower and the Houses of Parliament in their dark glory.

On top of programs such as this, London now testing hybrid buses on routes in Central London, they introduced a plan for “Low Emission Zones,” and the buses have routine emissions checks to ensure they are within standards. Plus London has one of the best public transportation systems around. With easy and convenient ways to get around without a car, London definitely has parts of America topped.

So to London we say, “Cheers Mates!”

I was walking through my local Target, just browsing. Which, as anyone knows, is a very dangerous thing to do in Target. You go into Target needing to stock up on Method products and you come out with 4 DVDs, some house cleaner, a box of Kashi and about 40,000 other things you were not aware you needed until Target politely pointed it out to you.

Anyway, I was in the underwear section and I was surprised to see that old, reliable undergarment company Hanes, with a 100% organic seal on their label. I was skeptical at first, but then I saw a whole line of Hanes organic underwear. Everything from underwear to lounge pants! For a person who was not raised organically, this comes as a huge comfort. I grew up always wearing Hanes, and now I am glad I can continue doing so. (They are just so darn comfy!)

So a big thank you to Target and Hanes for making this shopper very happy!

OK, I have a bit of a confession to make– I was raised in a meat and potatoes home! Yes, we did have fruit and vegetables, but they were never really a big deal. When I became a vegetarian at age 11, my family was shocked. “What was I going to eat?” they all wondered. At 11, it was kind of hard for me to choose what foods to eat and where to get them, so I began eating very unhealthy.

Fast forward to present day– I am no longer a vegetarian, but I am definitely eating better. One of my favorite things to eat is fruit. Any kind, any where! My mouth waters at the thought of a good, ripe strawberry and don’t even get me started on pineapples! Recently, I tried my first kiwi (Shocking, I know. Remember, meat and potatoes home!). Needless to say, I loved it!

That is why this week’s pick is Summer Fruit. We are smack in the middle of summer, so let’s celebrate it. There are so many different types of fruit out there that need tasting! Summer is the perfect to experiment with a nice summer fruit salad or just trying a new fruit you’ve never had before.

So head out to your local Farmer’s Market and start celebrating the Summer of Fruit!

–Stacey

Who didn’t see this one coming? Kiwi’s Pick of the Week is the amazing and wonderful 7th book by J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

While claims have been made that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is slated to be the “greenest book in publishing history,” according to Markets Initiative, that is not really what KIWI is focusing on. It is true that the book has been printed on 100% recycled paper in some countries like Canada, and 65% of the books published in the US are not printed on trees from ancient forests. According to Markets Initiative, the publishing of the seventh book saved 137,609 million BTUs of electricity, 197,685 trees, 327,657,453 liters of water and avoided 7,876 tonnes of CO2. Don’t get us wrong– we are cheering as loud as we would at a Quidditch match for the eco-friendly Harry Potter.

If not for these reasons, then why is HP the Pick of the Week? One simple reason– it gets children (and their parents) reading! The last in the book series sold 11 million copies worldwide in 24 hours. Pretty much every child has read at least one of the Harry Potter books. The wonderful characters that Rowling developed allow families all over to connect over the trials and tribulations of Harry, Ron, Hermoine and company. It is amazing to hear parents and children alike asking each other, “Can you believe that happened?” or exclaiming “I knew it! Mom, I told you!”.

The series by J.K. Rowling has created a new army of readers in the young and the old. Personally, I have turned many of my friends on the books who were not readers in the first place. These novels achieve the almost impossible– creating characters who you fall in love with, sympathize with, and want to continue to read and read and read about. And all in the world of wizards and witches.

So this week, we applaud Harry Potter and all that he (and his creator) have done for all Muggle kind!

This week’s pick is the ever animal friendly ASPCA, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

This weekend I visited a local art show in Philadelphia during First Friday in the Old City section. During my walk around the open art galleries, I went into the F.U.E.L. gallery (the old Real Worl: Philadelphia house) where they were exhibiting an unsettling art show about puppy mills.

The art show was a little disturbing, but I left thinking about the ASPCA and the work they do. Puppy mills are tragic and harmful, and I applaud anyone doing their part to rid the world of inhumane practices towards animals. More importantly the ASPCA outlines 10 simple ways to help fight puppy mills. To see their 10 ways, click here.

Trying to rid the US of puppy mills is actually only a small part of the crusade of the ASPCA. They have just launched their Mission: Orange, “… a focused effort to create a country of humane communities, one community at a time, where animals receive the compassion and respect they deserve—a nation where there is no more unnecessary euthanasia of adoptable animals simply because of a lack of resources and awareness.” So, in honor of the animals we love, KIWI is cheering loudly for the ASPCA.

Bonus: They also have an adorable kids page, AnimaLand.

Courtesy of the ASPCA®. Copyright 2007 ASPCA®. All rights reserved

Tired of hearing about Britney Spears in rehab and how Lindsay Lohan should be? Me too! This is why I love this week’s pick, the blog Ecorazzi.

Ecorazzi is the latest in green gossip or what they call “celebrities caught green-handed.” We love it here at KIWI. Instead of the everyday, terrible celebrity gossip, the Ecorazzi team is doing something different. They profile celebrities who make a difference, who are vegans/vegetarians, and the eco-friendly things the celebrities do.

Ecorazzi says, “In the spirit of fair play, we’re quick to point how who’s slacking and who’s deserving of recognition.” For instance, the homepage features everyone from Donald Trump, Jessica Biel and Prince William to Prince Harry. Donald Trump is going green in his next project, Jessica Biel carries around an “I’m not a Plastic Bag” bag, and the Princes’ Concert for Diana (see below).

Finally, a celebrity gossip blog I can get behind!

We, here at KIWI, decided that we need to highlight different things all around the eco world. Certain objects or people need recognition for their work in the organic and natural movement, thus KIWI’s Pick. Every Monday, we will debut a different product, person, movement, or in this case, a state.

Kiwi’s pick this week is California!

California is a state that is leading the way in green and eco friendly options. Recently, Yahoo has released its Top Ten Greenest Cities in America. While Hastings, Nebraska tops the list, California has the most cities with three. These cities include San Carlos, Mill Valley, and Walnut Creek.

On top of having three of top ten greenest cities on Yahoo’s list, California’s other cities are paving the eco way. One of the cities on this road to environmental recovery is San Francisco. In a recently revealed plan, San Francisco is hoping to have 51% (now 13%) of its electricity provided by renewable energy sources, like geothermal, solar, and wave energy.

So, congratulations California! You are KIWI’s Pick of the Week! Keep up the excellent eco efforts.

So this weekend I did something crazy. I cut off all of my hair!

First, let me introduce myself. My name is Stacey and I am a new team member here at Kiwi Magazine. Well, I did cut my hair off- 10 inches to be exact. Why you may ask? For Locks of Love.

Locks of Love is a non-profit dedicated to making wigs for children who no longer have hair due to alopecia or cancer. Each donation must be 10 inches in from the longest tip to top of the pony tail/braid. It was really hard to let go of my hair, but it makes me feel better knowing that I helped someone who really needed it.

Here are the guidelines for acceptable hair donations:

• Hair that is colored or permed is acceptable.
• Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.
• Hair that has been bleached (usually this refers to highlighted hair) is not usable. If unsure, ask your stylist.
• Hair that is swept off of the floor is not usable.
• Hair that is shaved off and not in a ponytail or braid is not usable.
• Layered hair is acceptable if the longest layer is 10 inches.
• Layered hair may be divided into multiple ponytails.
• Curly hair may be pulled straight to measure the minimum 10 inches.
• 10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.

Start growing your hair today! For more information go to the Locks of Love website.