1. YogaBuddies Bedtime Stories

About a year ago, we reviewed YogaBuddies Good Morning Good Night CD.  Now we have had the pleasure of viewing and participating in the YogaBuddies Bedtime Stories DVD.

YogaBuddies Bedtime Stories combines the tradition of bedtime stories with the calming practice of yoga to help kids relax as they prepare for a night of restful sleep. YogaBuddies Bedtime Stories includes: – 3 bedtime stories – 42 calming yoga poses. Follow along as five yoga buddies demonstrate calming yoga poses while listening to bedtime stories read by YogaBuddies founder, Danay DiVirgilio.

During each storytelling, breaks are taken for children to learn poses related to events in the story.  From happy baby to tree position, children stretch their bodies and calm their minds in preparation for bedtime.  Actually, this DVD can be viewed anytime of day when children and parents need a time to relax and experience calmness.

At first, I felt the asanas in the middle of the stories were awkward, but that is because I am used to having my yoga practice uninterrupted.  Connecting the poses to literature is actually a great idea for children and way to help them remember the asanas.  My children both enjoyed this DVD, and I plan to incorporate yoga into my story reading at home and school when children have the wiggle bugs.

Would I buy this product? Maybe. I am a yoga instructor and thus I don’t feel the need to spend $15 on a DVD my children may participate in a few times; however, I think this DVD would be good for a family with less yoga experience. The idea of connecting asanas to literature is priceless, and I am thankful for this developmentally appropriate suggestion for teaching young children yoga.

2.  Pediped Organic Cotton Tights

Pediped makes great little shoes for little ones, but we really like their organic cotton tights!

Made from certified organic cotton and manufactured using an environmentally friendly process, these socks are going their part in the effort to go green

These tights are super soft. In fact, I wish they came in adult sizes!  They are made from 82% organic cotton, 15% nylon, and 3% spandex (because you need some stretch and elasticity  in tights).  The organic tights are made in Korea.  Pedipeds has all your kids covered offering these tights in sizes from 0-12 months all the way up to six to eight years.

Would I buy this product? Yes.  These tights cost $13, which I feel is appropriate and affordable.  Pedipeds is also running a deal where if you buy two pairs, they are 30 percent off.

3.  CD Jewelry Art  “music that you wear”

Made from recycled music CDs, this line of jewelry is worn by celebrities like Alicia Silverstone.

Did you know that more than 9 billion CDs are produced annually? And did you know that most of them will end up in a landfill, where they will take over 450 years to decompose?  By recycling, we can avoid generating even more waste. Each piece of jewelry is a custom, one-of-a-kind microcosm of art, beauty, flare, and environmental consciousness.

I have to say I am disappointed in the quality of the earrings that were sent to me. I think the idea is unique, but the product looks more like something my eight-year-old daughter made rather than a “world renowned artist”.  Actually, I think this would be a great project to make with your kids.

Would I buy this product? No. These recycled earrings cost $28 and do not look good upon close inspection, although from a distance they do have some appeal.  Besides, their website plays annoying music.

4.  Perf Go Green Biodegradable, Recycled Plastic Bags

I was recently contacted by the Oprah show for a possible appearance on Earth Day.  Although, Oprah decided against having me on the program (I think I am a little too green), a friend asked me what would have been my message for mainstream folks.  My message:  Get rid of plastic bags!  Never take them from a store, never, ever!  Then my friend asked, “What about reusing them in trash cans?”.  My response was that only the bathroom trash can is small enough for those plastic bags from stores, and do you really need to line that can anyways?

We do use plastic trash bags in our kitchen.  Call me a hypocrite, but we only use biodegradable bags.  Perf Go Green makes several biodegradable, recycled plastic bags for your needs:

• Perf Go Green Tall Kitchen Bags
• Perf Go Green TT30 30-Gallon Dispenser Lawn and Leaf Bag with Handles
• Perf Go Green Doggie Duty Bag
• Perf Go Green Cat Liner Bags

Actually, I only need the kitchen bags.  My cat is housebroken (I refuse to have a litter box), I compost all leaves and grass, and fortunately I live where my dogs can go off into the woods to do their business. Perf Go Green also makes alkaline batteries from recycled materials, although I wish they were rechargeable.

Would I buy this product? Yes.  If you must have a plastic bag, make it a recycled, biodegradable one.

5. Better Life Eco-Friendly Green Cleaning Solutions

Green cleaning is essential to a safe home.  It is one of the most basic steps a family can take to improving their health and do something positive for the earth.  Not all green cleaners are created equally. Some come in obnoxious colors that makes one question their naturalness, whereas others win Sierra Club endorsements but are made by companies with questionable commitments to the environment.   Better Life offers an alternative:

The Soylent Green reference aside, people are our most valuable resource. Why would anybody make a product that isn’t safe for us? Better Life blends highly specialized surfactants made from sugar, starch, and amino acids – all safe stuff. You’ll never see sulfates, ethoxylates, fragrances, dyes, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as glycol ethers and alcohols in Better Life products. VOCs vaporize, entering the air we breathe. They are triggers for respiratory problems, nausea, headaches, and skin irritation, and contribute to many more ailments. Better Life Products screen hundreds of ingredients, choosing only the ones that are both effective, and have the fastest, most complete biodegradability profiles. All of their products have rapid biodegradation profiles. Over 99% of the ingredients they use are natural or derived from natural, renewable resources, and the formulas have no aquatic or terrestrial toxicity (making for some very happy amphibians). They use no nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) because it messes with the reproductive systems of marine life – and kids love fish and frogs. With all the harsh chemicals gone, you’d wonder how Better Life products perform. Better Life products are setting the standard for green cleaning products. That’s not just a claim; we can back it up. As for traditional solvent-based cleaners? Bring ’em on. Yup, even without solvents, silicones, VOCs, ethoxylates, petroleumbased ingredients, or harsh surfactants they really do work better. Better technologies. Better thinking. Better chemistry. Better solutions. That’s what Better Life’s about.

Better Life makes:

• SIMPLY FLOORED! Floor Cleaner
• what-EVER! All-Purpose Cleaner
• I Can See Clearly, WOW! Glass and Mirror Cleaner
• Even The Kitchen Sink, Gentle Abrasive Cleaner
• 2am MIRACLE nursery cleaner

Another important thing to note about these truly green cleaners is they are gluten-free. Sometimes people forget that you can absorb food allergies through your skin, and celiacs need to be sensitive to not only what they eat, but what they touch.  For example, my father got sick from applying wheat wallpaper paste.  Better Life gives celiacs comfort in knowing they are cleaning gluten-free.

Would I buy this product?  Yes.  At about $7 for 32 ounces of each product, these eco-friendly cleaners are affordable and effective.  No greenwashing here….simply green cleaning.

Disclosure: The products described above were sent to us as free samples, unless noted differently in the review. Prior assurances as to the nature of the reviews, whether positive or negative, were not given. No financial payments were accepted in exchange for the reviews. The reviews reflect our honest, authentic opinions.