Etsy Online

Just as I've started to cook more I'm also trying to pack more lunches and snacks when I go out for the day.  And even though the World Series is over and people aren't baseball crazy I like that baseball things remind me of summer, which is always needed as the winter continues to take hold of us all.

Thus my Etsy Pick of the Day is Our Simple Life's Baseball Eco-friendly Sports Sandwich Sack, Snack Bag, and Lunch Napkin--a fun, thematic and practical way to carry your lunch and promote home cooked local food!

From the seller: More

Like it or not cold weather is here.  People are lining up for flu shots and noses are running non-stop.  With those runny noses comes an increase in kleenex usage.  And while Kleenex, Scott and Cottonelle have all worked to make their tissues better for the environment, it is still not such a great thing that people are using so much paper.

Thus, I give you my Etsy Pick of the Day, a handkerchief.  Banoo's Vintage Inspired Handkerchief is a great eco-alternative to tissue related products.  It is 100% cotton and easily washable (which is key).  It may seem gross at first but I just don't see how carrying around a paper tissue is any better or how overusing tissues is any less gross than having a reusable tissue (just a different I suppose).

Plus, you can't get tissues in cool designs like this!

I love pets and dream one day of having a lifestyle and an apartment that will make is possible for me to have a dog.   And when I do I want to get awesome cool things for them, like Etsy seller Handmade Green's Vintage Elevated Dog Feeder.

This Etsy Pick of the Day is made out of two one-quart stainless steel bowls and a reused vintage wooden crate, which are, in the words of the seller, "98% recycled materials, just reused parts and sweat equity."  This makes the feeder not only good for the environment but also really nice looking.  More

With all the Sesame Street excitment yesterday I decided to see what the creative folks on Etsy had done with Sesame Street for my Etsy Pick of the Day. By far the coolest thing I found was also the most environmentally friendly.  This Handmade Life's REpurposed Upcycled Sesame Street Golden Book Blank Journals are not only a great reusing of old books but they feature my favorite friend's from Sesame Street!

From the seller:

"This ONE-OF-A-KIND journal is made from a recycled Golden Book that was found in previously loved condition. 100+ pages of plain white RECYCLED paper are bound TOGETHER WITH THE ORIGINAL STORY in a sturdy coil binding that allows for the book to lie flat."

Awesome!  And if Ernie and Bert aren't your favorite check out the The Monster's Picnic with Cookie Monster, Grover and Harry Monster or Grover's Guide to Good Manners or Puppy Love!

Even though I am a little sad that summer is over I am really happy that it is now hat weather. I adore knit hats and Etsy is a great place to find nice handknit ones.  My Etsy Pick of the Day therefore is an awesome handknit beret from seller (and friend) RottenCupcakes.

Her knit berets come in the most beautiful vibrant colors and are made with super quality ingredients. The hat to the left (called The Delirium Tremens) is made with 55% Super Fine Alpaca, 23% Silk, 22% Merino Wool. That means that you have to take good care of it (Hand wash in cool water, no dryer. Lay flat, circle side up, to dry.) but it also means the brightest colors and the softest head gear around.

If you are more into cowls and arm warmers she has those as well. And if there is a particular color you want I reccommend contacting her about it--special orders are welcome at RottenCupcakes.

I went onto Etsy today determined to find something pumpkin related for my Pick of the Day to celebrate Halloween. I found many do-dads and truly weird things and then I came across this bag from Ployly called "Pumpkin Bag."

As it turns out the bag has nothing to do with pumpkins or Halloween really (it is shaped kind of like its meant to hold a pumpkin) but it is super cute and meant to encourage folks to stop using plastic bags.  From the seller:

"The idea of this bag was from our mom. She always used a big bag to go shopping and put everything inside. When she went to market, she always told the sellers not to put things in plastic bags. She would put everything in this bag to save the global warming. With the folding fabric idea, we fold the fabric to be 2 layers style."

Awesome job mom! I think this bag looks cooler than almost every actual pumpkin item I saw!

As a twitter lover (embarrassing but true) and environment lover I coudn't help but click on an item that was named "Birds Gone Green - a tweet for the environment" while perusing through Etsy.  And when I did I was met with adorable paper birds made out of recycled products that could be used for a variety of things!

PS, it's in the details' Birds Gone Green are created from recycled magazine pages, vintage book paper and paint chip tags--making them perfect for my Etsy Pick of the Day. More

The holiday season is looming over us and that means sending out cards to people! Now you could go to the store and buy a mass-produced type Christmas card or you could buy my Etsy Pick of the Day--SimplyNu's Endangered Baby Animals Cards.

The cards are not only adorable but they're"Printed on white archival TCF 310 g/m, an environmentally friendly fine art paper. It comes with a matching envelope and protected in a clear biodegradable sleeve." Each card also comes with animals facts based on the critter on the card. For example the card to the left comes with this on the back:

"Hi! I'm an endangered polar bear cub. The North Pole is my home. There is plenty of ice and snow but it's getting warmer, and the ice is melting! Wanna help me keep my home cool? Walk more. Drive less."

More than that, the seller donates 10% OF THE PROCEEDS TO ENDANGERED SPECIES INTERNATIONAL (http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/)

They also come with penguins, rhinos and elephants if polar bears aren't your thing!

With holidays, even ones like Halloween, comes parties. And with parties comes bringing wine to people's houses, which unfortunately often means brown bags or plastic bags.  So, in advance of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas I made my Etsy Pick of the Day one that encourages drinking with friends and being sustainable.

Fabrik's reusable fabric cloth bags are made to perfectly fit wine (or sparking water if you don't drink) and come in fun and fancy patterns to make the drink bringing even more fun.  Also, how awesome is it to host a party and receive a cool reusable bag that you can put wine in next time you're invited to a party?

So awesome!

No matter how much I believe in recycling or how well intentioned I am, there are still moments when I forget to put out the recycling or throw away something that could be recycled.  Today's Etsy Pick of the Day can help myself and others who find themselves in the same well intenioned boat.

Leaping Lizard's Ceramic Recycling Magnet can sit on your fridge and be a little reminder to be the sustainable citizen you want to be. It's simple, not to obtrusive and hopefully just enough to help you on your recycling way.

"The actual magnets are made from high grade Neodymium material and then triple plated with nickel providing incredible strength, and are attached to the back of the ceramic piece with an industrial strength epoxy."

Awesome!