1. PackIt PVC-Free Personal Cooler

PackIt lunch bags are PVC-free and non-toxic. These “personal coolers” fold up tightly for storage in your freezer. When ready to use, simply pull it out and then pack your child’s  lunch. Contents are kept chilled for up to ten hours.  Lined with “eco-gel”, there is no need to use an ice pack, but is it truly safe?

Not only are PackIt products lunch and munchie friendly, they’re also eco friendly. From the simple principle of being a product you can use time and time again to the patented eco-gel that makes PackIt work, our products put the earth first.

PackIt lets you reuse, reuse, reuse. That means no more brown paper bags. Do you know the amount of energy that goes into creating a brown paper bag? And plastic bags… they’re even worse!

PackIt keeps its contents cold for up to 10 hours. That means leftovers that can go right back into the fridge. This reduces waste and saves you money. That’s a win-win.

Your cooler no longer needs ice cubes. Over time, this will save a tremendous amount of energy and water. It’s amazing the amount of resources we’re willing to put towards a temporary solution like ice.

PackIt is non-toxic and PVC/lead free. So it’s safe for your kids.

What exactly is eco-gel?  I couldn’t find any information on the website, and the fact that the label says to avoid placing sharp objects inside scares me.  Does a fork count as a sharp object?  I can just imagine the lining being punctured by a fork, then the eco-gel oozing all over my children’s food.

Would I buy this product? No. I question the eco-friendly “earth first” claims.

2. HSUN Supports FEED/UNICEF

Darn it, you are getting two late Halloween posts out of this 5 Green Products round up!

Home Shopping Network (HSN) teamed up with FEED to sell these great trick-or-treat bags that double as great reusable shopping bags.

FEED Projects, co-founded by Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson, is a charitable organization with the mission of creating good products that FEED the world. Thus far, “FEED Bags” have provided funding for over 55 million school meals for children around the world through the United Nations World Food Program.

The FEED Trick-or-Treat project marks the launch of a new FEED/HSN partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in honor of the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

For each “FEED Trick-or-Treat” bag purchased at HSN or hsn.com/hsncares, HSN will donate $3.50 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help support UNICEF micronutrient supplement powder programs. These programs help children under the age of five with a high malnutrition risk and for just about $3.50 UNICEF can provide a child with fortified nutrition for one year.

HSN will be donating 100% of its profits from the bag to UNICEF.

Even though we missed this Halloween promotion, HSN is now hosting a designer ornament sale for St. Jude’s hospitals.

Would I buy this product? Probably not. I don’t think buying a separate bag for trick-or-treating is really necessary, and if I want to donate money to FEED/UNICEF, I will do so directly and not through HSN.

3. Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin App

A little late is better than never, right?  Halloween may be over, but the joy of carving a digital pumpkin can extend beyond the holiday.  From the folks at Parents magazine comes this fun app for iPhones, iPod Touch, and iPad.

The experts at Parents magazine help moms and dads keep young children entertained with Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin App. This application is $0.99. A parent and child can pick one of five pumpkins of various styles, then choose to carve it freehand or pick from our library of wacky eyes, noses and mouths. Add a background and a message in the next steps and share with all your friends! This easy-to-navigate, take-anywhere tool will be perfect for families on the go.

This is definitely a user-friendly app.  My six-year-old son quickly took to this app, and before I knew it, he was emailing pumpkins to Grandpa.  Grandpa tried to send one back, but unfortunately he doesn’t own an igadget.

Would I buy this app? Maybe.  There are so many wonderful free educational apps, I am not sure I would spend the $0.99; however, I think it was really cool my son figured out how to email his Papa pumpkins he had designed.

4.  Marie Veronique Organics Moisturizing Face Screen and Anti-Aging Mist

Moms need some pampering, and nothing is better for maternal skin than Marie Veronique Organics.  In the past, we reviewed the company’s kids safe sunscreen, now we have had the pleasure of trying out some of the beauty products for grown ups.

Marie Veronique Moisturizing Face Screen:

Lightweight zinc oxide formula, broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, tinted for medium to darker skin tones

Free of harmful chemicals and nanoparticles

Does not clog pores, gentle and safe to use around the eyes

Green tea and essential fatty acids provide anti-oxidant support

with pearl powder, emu and acai oils to moisturize, nourish, protect & repair sun damaged skin

Anti-Aging Mist:

Nourishes and hydrates the skin with green tea, dandelion and kombucha

Firms the skin with DMAE and brightens with uva ursi, elderberry and licorice

Provides anti-oxidant protection with SOD from melon extract

Would I buy these products? Yes.  I am feeling frugal this time of year, and at $35-$40, these products are not more expensive than other truly organic beauty products.  They do last awhile too, and Marie Veronique Organics products would make very nice gifts.

5. Putumayo Presents World Christmas Party

Putumayo is well known for turning us on to music from around the world. Their World Christmas Party cd is no exception.  Many of the tunes are classic songs, but they are sung with an island twist.

Putumayo World Music was established in 1993 to introduce people to the music of the world’s cultures. In the past seventeen years, Putumayo World Music has become known primarily for its upbeat and melodic compilations of great international music characterized by the company’s motto: “guaranteed to make you feel good!”

These Christmas songs do make you feel good and let you “deck the halls with African, Latin, reggae, ska and other global interpretations of classic Christmas carols”.

Would I buy this cd? Yes.  Last year, I decided we needed traditional holiday music in our home. Truly, these reggae type beats are more our style while still exposing our children to the classics.

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.