Urbano Eco Trash Can

March 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

 

One of my favorite stores ever is UncommonGoods.com. I can always find some really fun and interesting stuff there. Recently I tried the Urbano Eco Trash Can  from the Eco-Friendly Products section of Uncommon Goods and I am in love! I have trash can issues in my apartment, as the one I have hanging over a cabinet door isn’t big enough and I have no real place for a large standing can in my kitchen. I do have pets so I have to be conscious where I put a can so they don’t get into it or knock it over.  This has been an ongoing issue plaguing me ever since I moved into my new place.  The Urbano has afforded me some great opportunities to de-clutter and reuse bags that would otherwise be sitting in a cabinet making a mess.  Although I bring bags with me when I go shopping I do appreciate a reason to use the plastic bags I do accumulate.
The Urbano is the perfect size to fit in my kitchen right against the wall between my oven and one of my cabinets. I can open both without the Urbano being at risk of getting knocked over. I can make use of the plastic bags have and eliminate clutter in one of my cabinets from saving them. The Urbano fits a large amount of stuff in it which I kind of wasn’t expecting.   It isn’t a huge trash can but magically it holds 2 liter soda bottles, cans, plastic containers of different shapes and sizes (yes, I was using it for my recyclables). I tried to cram it with as much stuff as I could and not 1 thing fell out or even made the Urbano sides bulge. That being said I am not trying to say the Urbano holds the same amount as a huge garbage can but a single woman who eats pretty regularly, has 2 pets, cleans more than regularly, and recycles makes some trash and the Urbano is more than capable of handling my mess.

About The Urbano Eco Trash Can at Uncommon Goods: Winner of the 2005 Pratt Product Design Competition, designer Kevin McElroy’s clever trash can allows you to store and reuse the plastic bags that you collect from shopping in a neat, organized way. Simply loop trash bags around the cut-out sides and push them all the way down, creating a visual of stacked handles all along the side. When you are ready to use one, just move it up to the handles and hook so that it won’t fall in on itself. Made in the USA.

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Depression Era Glass Earrings

September 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Recycled Glass Earrings

Recycled Glass Earrings

 

 

How adorable are these recycled glass earrings!?! I love the pattern in particular. Not that the pattern is anything very intricate but the simplicity is what makes me like them that much more. Recycled glass items in general have been interesting me more and more lately. I have been making some crafts of my own at home using recycled glass. I don’t know why exactly recycled glass has been catching my eye so often but these earrings are completely my style and the fact that they are recycled glass is only an added bonus.
If you don’t know what Depression Glass according to Wikipedia is clear or colored translucent glassware that was distributed free, or at low cost, in the United States and Canada around the time of the Great Depression. The Quaker Oats Company, and other food manufacturers and distributors, put a piece of glassware in boxes of food, as an incentive to purchase. Movie theaters and businesses would hand out a piece simply for coming in the door.
Most of this glassware was made in the central and mid-west United States, where access to raw materials and power made manufacturing inexpensive in the first half of the twentieth century. More than twenty manufacturers made more than 100 patterns, and entire dinner sets were made in some patterns. Common colors are clear (crystal), pink, pale blue, green, and amber. Less common colors include yellow (canary), ultra marine, jadeite (opaque pale green), delphite (opaque pale blue), cobalt blue, red (ruby & royal ruby), black, amethyst, monax, and white (milk glass).
Although of marginal quality, Depression glass has been highly collectible since the 1960s. Due to its popularity as a collectible, Depression glass is becoming more scarce on the open market. Rare pieces may sell for several hundred dollars. Some manufacturers continued to make popular patterns after World War II, or introduced similar patterns, which are also collectible. Popular and expensive patterns and pieces have been reproduced, and reproductions are still being made.
You can get a pair of your own recycled glass earrings or jewelry you can visit Shop to be Green. Shop to be Green tons of great recycled glass and pottery jewelry and items for your home.

Because I love these earrings so much I have decided to give a pair away so you can enjoy them as much as I do. Click here to enter to win a pair of your very own Depression Glass Earrings.  Good Luck and don’t forget to check out Shop to be Green for even more awesome items!!!

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Grow Your Own Mushroom Kit

April 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The great folks at Eartheasy.com sent me a Grow Your Own Mushroom Kit to try and I think it is just about the coolest thing ever. Here are some pictures I took from day 1 to 6. It supposed to take 10 days but I think my mushrooms are doing soo well I had to show you.

Mushrooms Day 2

Mushrooms Day 2

Mushrooms Day 3

Mushrooms Day 3

Mushrooms Day 4

Mushrooms Day 4

Mushrooms Day 5

Mushrooms Day 5

Mushrooms Day 6

Mushrooms Day 6

In 6 days this is how much they have grown. All you have to do is keep them out of direct sunlight, spritz with water 2 times a day and watch them grow. Then when you are finished with 1 side. You can turn it around and the start on the other side!!

This is a great way to teach kids about plant care, gardening (albiet differently) and being responsible. This makes a cool gift even for an adult. I have been having so much fun. Every morning I wake up to see how different they look and before I go to bed. They grew so fast I almost couldn’t believe it.Eartheasy.com has some other really cool grow your own kits as well. Check them out here Eartheasy.com and on Twitter & Facebook to find more super cool items.

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Napa Soap Company

February 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Napa Soap Company

Napa Soap Company

 

I have written about Napa Soap Company before and just held a contest for some lucky greenie to win a sample set of their soaps that ended yesterday. I have a fragrance background from past jobs I have had and for some reason the sense of smell is really important to me when using products. I cannot stand over scented or artificial smelling products. It ruins the whole thing for me.
The Napa soaps I received were not only packaged beautifully (and not over packaged which is something I have been seeing lately much too often) but what I noticed immediately was the careful detail to the scent of the soaps. That is one of the most important elements to any good soap, in my opinion. The soaps looked so beautiful in their packaging I really didn’t even want to unwrap them.
I appreciate a green company that pays attention to detail. The Napa Soap Company website is great, their products are lovely and the prices are quite reasonable. They live up to their green practices which is also an extremely important to me when purchasing a green product. Overall, I am going to say that I am impressed with Napa Soap Company and will be sure to use their product in the future!
Have you ever tried Napa Soap products? If so tell me about them!

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Gateau Chocolate

January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

cake boxGluten-Free Organic Chocolate Cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to say I haven’t tried too many gluten-free baked goods. I have tried some and haven’t been disappointed yet. I was looking for a cake to get for the bf because his birthday was coming up and I wanted to get something a little special. I found Gateau Chocolat when looking for Gluten Free Organic Cakes. I was excited because I knew he would love it if I got him a gluten-free organic dessert for his birthday. I must also add I think the website is cute. It is simple but the color combination and logo I like which is always a plus in my book when a business, especially a conscious one, has a well designed site/logo. I am put off otherwise because I feel if you can’t put an effort into your website or even logo what effort are you making for your product. Now granted there is only one item to choose in 2 different sizes I was completely fine with that.

I received the cake quickly and in a cute package (not a fan of styrofoam the cake came in and will admit I have no idea if it was made from recyclable materials or was some other kind of eco packaging, which is my fault). The bf was soo excited about the cake the packaging got forgotten about.
When we opened the cake everything was together and the packaging did help keep from any damage or shifting in transit which was good.
We cut up the cake which looked like a super rich brownie of sorts. I am not a fan of nuts so I personally wasn’t enthused about them being atop my cake. The photo shows almond slivers, the ones on my cake were more like coarsely chopped nuts that I think were almonds but I picked them off of my cake so I am not sure what they were.
I thought the cake was chocolaty and delish. The wafter-like bottom gave the cake some crunch too which was good. The bf however wasn’t really a fan. He said it was dry and didn’t really like it which 1. made me feel bad for getting him a cake he didn’t like but 2. made me ask myself if we at the same cake at all. I liked it, I didn’t think it was dry at all. I really liked it. I think it is a great gift for people who enjoy gluten-free and/or organic food.

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Earth Diva Contest #1

September 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Earth Divas Hemp Tote

Earth Divas Hemp Tote

Here is The Green Beagles latest contest!! You can win this loverly hemp tote bag from Earth Divas. I have written about Earth Diva products before so I decided to give you greenies a chance to see how awesome Earth Divas really are. The Earth Diva contest ends on September 25th at 11:59pm. The winner has 48 hours to contact me at accounts@thegreenbeagle.com with their name & address. Shipping costs are subject to country. All you have to do is click here to enter the contest!! Good Luck to everyone! You can click on the banner below to learn more about Earth Divas too!

affordable handbags

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Soda Stream Fountain Jet

January 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

SodaStream Home Soda Makers

I am a huge water drinker. I don’t really drink much soda or juice and I’m not a fan of energy drinks unless it is coffee or tea. I do however love the fizziness of sodas and carbonated drinks. I have been fully addicted to seltzer for years but they come in plastic bottles that just create alot of waste. I always recycle but I really wanted a way to have my yummy bubbles and not make more garbage so over the holiday’s my wonderful father purchased a Soda StreamFountain Jet for us! I absolutely love it. The value set comes with a test packet of all of the different flavors including an energy flavor, which I am interested to try just for funzies. The Fountain Jet has already saved me multiple trips to the store which means I have used less gas, I have saved money and created less waste and I have the fizziest, yummiest water ever!

I am kind of interested in trying the many flavors Soda Stream offers in syrups but in an effort to attempt to make soda better for you Soda Streamhas sweetened some of the flavors with Splenda. While I applaud their efforts to make less crappy drinks, soda is soda anyway you look at it. The other part of their do-it-yourself drink is you add the syrup yourself. You can put a tiny amount of flavor to make a mild soda or if you are making a cocktail this could be a quick and fun alternative to purchasing mixers. Personally I prefer actual lemon or lime juice in my water. You could get any fruit you like orange, berry or grapefruit and squeeze it into your seltzer if you like!
Soda Stream also has an exchange program for their cartridges. When you have used up yours you can send them back to Soda Stream and they will send you more!
Over all this is one of the best presents I could have even gotten! I get all the seltzer I want and I am saving money and our environment. If you like soda or seltzer this is an inexpensive alternative to spending money on bottles and bottles that will most likely not be recycled.

SodaStream (Soda-Club) USA 468x60 Green Static

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Gaia Yoga Mat

June 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Gaia Yoga Mat

Save 10% on retail orders over $50 at YOGAaccessories.com. Use Code AFFS9324 at checkout. Expires 12.31.10.

When I was younger and hear about yoga I always knew it would be my kind of workout. My mother was always interested in new age music, books and ideas. Being at peace with ones self and meditating was something she and I both tried to attain. To me that is a lot of what yoga is about. I hope one day to finally be good at it. With all my different attempts at yoga I’ve actually never had a proper mat until recently. Now that I have one I never want another. I have the Gaia Yoga Mat and I love it! Here are the product highlights:

The Gaia Yoga Mat is made from an innovative, environmentally friendly foam – both in composition and in manufacturing. Each mat is free of PVC and phthalates, and no ozone-depleting CFCs are released during the manufacturing process. This newly developed rubber is highly resistant to sweaty hands and feet, making it ideal for hot yoga. It’s also very easy to clean and won’t break down when wet. Incredibly soft and flexible, the Gaia Yoga Mat has tremendous shock absorption making it ideal for Ashtanga jump backs and jump throughs. With its extra cushion and great non-slip surface, this new eco-conscious mat is great for all types of fitness activities, particularly yoga. 72” x 24” x 1/4”


Yoga-Clothing.com

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Apple Cider Vineger

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment


Apple Cider Vinegar Plus™

The health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar are said to be:
* Provides needed nutrients for optimal health
* Helps jump start your weight loss program
* Offers an energy boost
* Helps maintain proper pH balance in your body

Apple Cider Vinegar is made from crushed, fermented apples, apple cider vinegar has been used as an herbal remedy for centuries. Recently, Apple Cider Vinegar has enjoyed new found popularity for its ability to support weight loss.  Apple Cider Vinegar contains a wide array of nutrients, minerals, and amino acids to make up for any nutritional deficiencies which could cause unwanted weight gain.  For example, apples are an especially good source for potassium, often called the “mineral of youth” because it can keep your arteries flexible and resilient and your tissues healthy.  Apple Cider Vinegar also helps regulate the acid/alkaline balance in your body because of the unique composition of apple cider vinegar.

After reading all the hype about Apple Cider Vinegar I decided maybe straight shots wouldn’t be the best option.  After some research I decided vitamins maybe the better option to start off with. I found these vitamins from Botanic Choice and decided I would give them a try. I took the vitamins for about a month and I will say this although I didn’t necessarily see too much of a difference I think that my body processed things at a quicker pace. I am a moderately active person, I like to think I eat pretty well but sitting at a desk job for 10-15 hours a day your “active time” isn’t always as optimal as you would normally like. These vitamins made me feel at least like I was doing something to help with my inactive times. Even though I didn’t feel or see any big differences I think mentally I felt like I was doing more. I have since continued to take the vitamins to insure my digestion stays as fluid as it has been since I started taking them. After doing a little more research I have also read that Apple Cider Vinegar helps to block the absorption of carbs! That is another added bonus!!

Save on herbs, vitamins and more! Free Shipping.

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