September 29, 2008
Happy Monday! I just stumbled across Project 10 to the 100 Google’s latest world-changing project. The premise is simple and brilliant – they’re asking regular people like us to submit our best idea for a project that would help the most people. In January, they’ll choose the top 5 ideas, for which Google has commited $10 million to implement. More details can be found at www.project10tothe100.com. So put on your thinking cap and tell Google how you’d help the most people. Hurry, the deadline for submissions is October 20th. Good luck!
Lori
September 25, 2008
Reverse Trick or Treating?
Here’s a new take on Halloween treats: Co-op America has teamed up with Global Exchange to support reverse trick-or-treating, the new Halloween tradition of children handing Fair Trade chocolate back to their neighbors.
The candy is attached to a card that includes information about social and environmental justice issues in the cocoa industry and how Fair Trade chocolate helps farmers across the world in cocoa growing communities. Last year more than 47,000 households learned about Fair Trade chocolate thanks to Fair Trade trick-or-treaters. With your help we can reach even more people this year. This is a great way to speak with your neighbors about the scary side of the chocolate industry and the promise of Fair Trade!
You can order a FREE Fair Trade chocolate kit* from the “reverse trick-or-treating” Web site, and if you choose to participate, please note that you were referred to the program by Co-op America and Gigglefish.
*Each kit contains 20-25 pieces of Fair Trade chocolate and information cards. The last day to sign up is October 13.
Order TODAY – last year they ran out quickly!
And while you’re visiting the site, make sure to order some yummy treats for yourself!
Delicious wishes,
Lori
September 24, 2008
I’ve been remiss in updating our blog for several months for myriad reasons. First, I became distracted with being a full-time mom over the summer while my little guy was on break. Then when school started up, I found it hard to get into a groove again – I’m sure many of you moms out there can relate. Thankfully, my groove is reviving itself… my office is tidy (ok, tidier – is that a word?) and I have my good karma tokens arranged along the edge of my desk – my little Buddha figure, a golden coy charm (abundance), a chunk of amythest (to keep my computer from sizzling my brain? – ha!), and a reddish-fuschia-ish beta named Ruby who greets me every morning with some good feng shui vibes. And my inbox is loaded with eco-friendly or otherwise timely tidbits to share with you!
The first tidbit I’d
like to share is a magazine I’ve recently discovered, called “Ode”.
Ode is an inspirational publication – focusing on positive news – the people and ideas that are changing the world for the better. This month’s issue praises failure as a means to achieve success. Do electric cars ring a bell? Check it out online and while you’re there, read this blog about the current economic crisis.
Thank you for shopping Gigglefish. You are so appreciated!
Happy reading!
Lori
Julyl 17
Hello, Friends!
A fellow Ladies-Who-Launcher has come up with a fabulous challenge that I'd like to share with everyone I know. It's called 29 Gifts - the idea is that you give something to someone every day for 29 days - whether it's flowers, an old sweater, great advice, a smile, whatever works for you.
Why? Because to see the world change, we have to do something to change the world. Plus, the best way to attract abundance into your life is to be in a perpetual state of giving and gratitude. Be an important part of the global giving movement that inspires more generosity on our planet.
I'm going to start tomorrow. Visit www.29gifts.org and take the challenge!
Abundant Wishes to You,
Lori
Julyl 14
Our Get Hip Get Green reusable shopping bags were featured on Busy Bee Lifestyle this week and boy, did we get a great response - the bags are flying out the window!
For those of you who haven't seen this fabulous website, check it out! They've pulled together all kinds of fun shopping tips, ideas for entertaining with panache, tips to "green" up your life, even ideas to make your family summer much more fun. I especially love the idea about starting a quest - choosing something for your family to explore, that suits their interests. Examples include finding your city's best pizza or ice cream, visiting as many state parks as possible, visit as many historic locations as possible. Now that I think about it, our family has embarked on a quest this summer... to see all the family blockbuster movies as soon as they come out. From Kung Fu Panda to Wall-E, so far we're on a roll!
Stay Cool!
Julyl 8
Tired of high fuel prices? Insist on clean energy solutions now/p>
Those brilliant folks at The We Campaisgn are giving each of us a chance to make our voices heard. They're putting together a campaign to demand a smart, affordable, clean energy future for our country, now. Click here to read about their efforts and to add your name to the petition. We're a nation of progressive, intelligent, caring people, and we only have one planet. Together, let's make change happen!
July 3
fun in the summer sun?
As I slather sunscreen on my 7-year-old son, I often wonder which is more dangerous, the sun, or the chemicals in the sunscreen I'm depending on to protect Max's delicate skin. I've shared information from the Environmental Working Group before, and now they have a great report on the top 10 sunscreens that not only deliver the protection they promise, but are free from toxic chemicals. After you've checked out the list of safe sunscreens, make your voice heard! The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has promised sunscreen safety standards since 1978. Last year, they finally wrote a draft, but the process has stalled. We're still waiting. Tell the FDA that they need to regulate sunscreens to make them all safe. Have a safe and fun-filled 4th of July!
Lori Tel
April 14, 2008
Great Find! A Guide to Pesticides in Produce
With food prices rising, many of us are looking for ways to cut back on our food spending. Personally, when I see the prices of the organic produce at my local supermarket, I often wonder how I can make wise choices without spending a fortune. I need to make informed trade-offs, because I simply can’t afford to buy everything organic. I’ve learned that pesticide levels vary widely among different fruits and vegetables – for example, non-organic peaches and apples often have the highest pesticide levels, while mangos and bananas are relatively low. Thankfully, we stumbled across a handy guide that you can print and keep in your wallet. The Environmental Working Group has created a “Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce”. It clearly guides you through the “Dirty Dozen” fruits and vegetables which you should always buy organic, and the “Cleanest 12”, which are generally lowest in pesticides, thus safer to buy conventionally grown. Whew! Grocery shopping just got a tiny bit easier!
April 8, 2008
Wow! It’s been a very long time since I last updated this blog. I’ll skip all the boring excuses and hope our readers will bear with my occasional lapses. Lots of new ideas that I want to share, so I’ll start today with my favorite. I’ve recently become involved in the world of consignment shopping. We have a consignment store here in Sacramento, The Kids’ Trading Post, where moms come from miles around to sell and shop for gently loved childrens’ clothing, books and toys. It’s an incredible treasure hunt every time you visit this whimsical little shop – you’ll find boutique childrens’ clothing brands at fabulously low prices. There is an extensive book, toy and video selection, and handmade baby gift items from local designer Chic Baby Rose.
And now, local residents can shop for a small selection of Gigglefish items at Kids’ Trading Post as well! I’m thrilled to announce my association with this fantastic, eco-friendly venture – after all, recycling clothes is oh-so-eco! When you visit Kids’ Trading Post, you’ll find Gigglefish’s chic diaper bags, kid-safe games and toys, bamboo clothing, hip shopping totes and other fun products – so you can shop locally and save shipping fees. It doesn’t get more “green”!!
So, Sacramento & Placer County residents, stop in and say “Hello”! I’m in the store a couple days a week and would love to meet you. Kids’ Trading Post is located at 642 E. Bidwell Street, Sacramento. Phone: 916.984.0714. Hope to see you soon!
Check back soon!
Lori
January 23, 2008
Our Get Hip Get Green & Love This Planet shopping bags are by far the #1 best seller at Gigglefish.
These bags are hip, virtually indestructible and each bag used keeps hundreds of plastic bags out of the land fill each year. The big question is - if these bags are made of Polypropylene (which is basically a plastic), are they really environmentally friendly? Plastics are getting a (justifiably) bad wrap because of the health risks associated with chlorine off-gassing and pthalates used in its production to make it flexible. I did some investigating and what follows is a very technical explanation for those of you who are interested. This explanation comes from an Australian company called Albox (http://www.albox.com.au/ppvpvc.asp?User_ID=%5C&Currency_Type=AUS).
Polypropylene vs. PVC
There are significant intrinsic differences between polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP) .
Polypropylene is one of the most neutral plastics, containing only two elements: carbon (C) and hydrogen (H).
PVC by comparison contains about 30% by weight, of the element Chlorine (Cl) in its basic structure. It is well documented that chlorine, like all halogens, is a dangerous substance in the environment.
When PVC is incinerated or present in accidental fires it produces toxic byproducts such as dioxins, chlorocarbons and hydrochloric acid. Complete combustion of PP, on the other hand, will generate only carbon dioxide and water.
PVC is intrinsically heat unstable and can even decompose during processing. PP is much more tolerant to heat; even under extreme conditions it will only decompose to lower molecular weight paraffins, which are elementally compatible with the base material.
Not only is PVC inherently dangerous in its basic form, but it also needs a large amount of lead to stabilise it. Lead is highly toxic both during the life cycle of a product and after its disposal. This is why there is neither lead nor other heavy metals used in the manufacture of PP sheet.
Polypropylene sheet is manufactured from propylene monomer, a relatively safe gas, which is a waste byproduct of the petroleum industry that used to be burned off into the atmosphere contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. As a consequence, the more polypropylene used in products helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Contrariwise, the monomer unit, which forms the building blocks of PVC, is very toxic. Stringent guidelines are in place for its proper handling as it is highly dangerous to transport and store. There have been numerous studies of the negative health effects on workers exposed to PVC monomer.
A further problem with flexible PVC is that the flexibility and softness must be induced by the addition of a large amount of plasticisers, usually phthalates, at concentrations of 30 - 50%. These phthalates may have carcinogenic properties or affect endocrinic activity in humans. They do this by mimicking the female hormone oestrogen, causing biological imbalances in humans as well as other species.
These plasticisers are mobile by nature, hence migratory. They leach out into the environment during long-term storage and into soil and aquifers after disposal. The 'mist', which accumulates on windscreens of cars containing PVC trim, is evidence of plasticiser migration. Other evidence of this instability may be seen where the print from a document migrates onto the PVC binder or file in which the document is stored.
It is impossible for these effects to occur in relation to polypropylene. The soft blend materials get their softness and flexibility from the actual molecular structure of the material, which is stable, rather than from any migratory additive.
Polypropylene is 100% recyclable .. PVC is not recyclable to the same extent, firstly because of its intrinsic chemical composition and also because of the additives it contains.
In summary, there is clear evidence that PP is a safer, non-toxic and environmentally friendly alternative to the obsolescent technologies that gave us plastics such as PVC.
Whew! Now you can Get Hip Get Green while you Love This Planet.
January 15, 2008
Attention Book Lovers:
I just heard about a new collaboration of Eco-Libris with BookMooch, a leading book-swapping site.
BookMooch (http://www.bookmooch.com/) is an international online community for exchanging used books, created by John Buckman. It has more than 500,000 members who exchange books for free, using a simple points system - every time you give someone a book, you earn a point and can get with it any book you want from anyone else at BookMooch.
Eco-Libris (http://www.ecolibris.net) is a green business that works with book readers as well as with publishers, writers, bookstores and other organizations in the book publishing industry to balance out the paper used for printing books by planting trees. Within six months of operation, Eco-Libris already balanced out 10,000 books.
Eco-Libris and BookMooch are partnering now to offer the BookMooch community a special green option - BookMooch members can earn points by planting trees with Eco-Libris. For every 10 books they balance out, they receive a free BookMooch point they can then use to mooch a book for free. They also receive an Eco-Libris sticker made of recycled paper for every book they balance out, saying 'One tree planted for this book', which they can display on their books' sleeves.
This collaboration lets eco-conscious BookMoochers who love reading, but also care about the environment, to go green and make their reading more sustainable.
More information can be found on Eco-Libris blog - http://ecolibris.blogspot.com/2008/01/green-mooching-eco-libris-is-partnering.html and on BookMooch blog - http://blog.bookmooch.com/2008/01/10/plant-a-tree-with-each-book/.
January 14, 2008
Ethical Consumerism
Shopping for birthday gifts takes on new meaning once you've decided to be an ethical consumer. When you think of running to the nearest Target store for your child's school pal's birthday present... Do you hear that little voice that says "hmmmm.... maybe I should take a little more time to find something that is kind to the earth, yet is still thoughtful and fun"? You're not alone. According to an article on www.ethicalcorp.com, "Ethical Consumerism" is on the rise and I, for one, am thrilled! This means that we'll be finding more and more fabulous alternatives to traditional gifts - gifts that empower people and heal villages in poor nations and use precious resources wisely. Of course, it's our goal to continue to make the newest and coolest of these items available to you and we thank you for being a conscious, ethical consumer. Enjoy this brief article.
BrandWatch:
Ethical consumers – Shepherds among the shoppers
Ethical shopping is here to stay – whatever the weather in the markets, says Giles Gibbons
If anyone anywhere was still in doubt that social and environmental concerns are mainstream drivers of individual behaviour they might want to examine the rise and rise of “concerned consumerism”.
According to a survey by Good Business in 2007, 48 per cent of UK shoppers now factor ethical issues into their purchasing decisions. Hence the 46 per cent increase in spending on Fairtrade goods in the past year alone. Gone are the days of piecing together the business case for proactively responsible business practices from bland attitudinal data: the writing is on the wall. Of course other stakeholders are important too, but consumers are leading the way.
And, as the chart shows, this trend is here to stay. Principles are not something concerned consumers are willing to trade off, even in the event of a recession.
Our “Concerned Consumer Index” tracks the attitudes of ethically aware consumers monthly. The results are quite striking. About two-thirds of concerned consumers consistently say they will continue to try to find the most ethically and environmentally friendly products, even if it means paying a little extra. If anything, this conviction only seems to harden as the chances of an economic downturn become more real. Whatever happens to the economy, ethical consumerism is here to stay. For concerned consumers, social and environmental factors have entered the basic needs set.
Source: |
|
|
Published: |
Thursday, January 10, 2008 |
|
January 10, 2008
I have to share this mini-movie with everyone!
www.storyofstuff.com gives a brilliant, detailed explanation of the product
life cycle and the impact our "stuff" has on the world.
Set aside about 10 minutes to watch it, then share it with all your friends!
Peace,
Lori
Januari 7, 2007
know it seems a little late to say "Happy New Year", but I've finally found time to update this blog now that Max has returned to school after a 3-week holiday vacation. So, Happy New Year to you! Seeing the holidays through an ever-more-greening lens was a fascinating experience this year as I tried to make sure that each gift was meaningful, affordable, and not future landfill that will take 100 years to break down. It was a fun, insight-filled challenge that really helped bring my family more in tune with the "less is more" philosophy.
And speaking of less is more... we've tidied up our home page a bit, so there's less clutter while allowing you to easily find more of our newest and most popular green gifts. Buying season is here and if you have suggestions for new products you'd like to see at gigglefish, I'd love to hear from you. I'll be working hard to find the newest and coolest eco-friendly gifts on the market and look forward to sharing them with you!
I'd like to thank the Boston Mamas for their upcoming feature on our sumbody organic sugar scrub. Their site is full of great resources so check them out!
While you're surfing, check out our newest lifestyle products from uber-cool eco-designers 19th Day and One-Eighty Designs.
pix of products with links.
Check back soon!
Lori
December 5, 2007
It's so great to hear from our happy customers! Today, a customer sent me this picture of our Hairy Eared Dwarf Lemurs from Xeko. These little guys have been adopted by a group of engineers at a company in Lansing, MI, and are their new, official mascot. Gotta love it!
Cheers,
November 15, 2007
An Ocean of Oil
I’m overwhelmed and saddened by the news of
3 recent oil spills which are responsible
for spoiling thousands of miles of beaches,
killing countless birds, closing fisheries
and causing other after-effects that are sure
to haunt us for a very long time.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has created a blog that discusses the facts behind these spills and
if you’re moved to do so, how we can all help
to clean this mess up, and to lessen our need
for oil so these events happen less often.
It’s a fascinating read, and very compelling.
Be well,
Lori
November 13, 2007
New Goodies at Gigglefish!
We have some fun new items on the site that should
tickle the fancy of someone on your holiday shopping list!
Recycled rubber customizable bracelets in eco-conscious, wisdom words and a few other themes allow you to say your message with eco-style.
Get organized with whimsical products from LobotoME - their planners and playful note pads for Honey Do's, Packing Lists, Meal Planning and To Do's are sure to keep you sane!
Beautiful fair trade jewelry from Lucina makes great gifts - send hubby to our site with your wish list or buy yourself an early present for that big holiday bash.
And coming soon - we'll be bringing in lots of safe toys for the children on your list that are also eco-friendly. Check back in about a week and you'll find some fun new items that you can feel great about giving.
Let the holiday shopping begin! Wishing you days that are merry and bright,
The Gigglefish Family - Lori, Michael & Max
November 5, 2007
Do you ever feel just a little guilty about the tree that
gave its life to be one of the books in your ever-growing
collection? Well, Eco-Libris can ease your conscience!
According to the folks at Eco-Libris, some 20 million trees
are cut down each year to produce books sold in the U.S.
Since trees are one of our most valuable natural resources, this
is a huge problem.
Enter www.ecolibris.net - a groovy website that enables
you to have a tree planted for every book you buy. You simply
decide how many books you want to balance out, pay for it
online, and a tree will be planted for each book.
You receive an Eco-Libris sticker (made of recycled paper, of course!)
to put on the cover of each book you balance out, as a reminder
of your commitment to sustainability and responsible use
of natural resources.
Check it out!
Peace,
Lori
November 4, 2007
We've had a busy few days getting word out about our
fun new business. Friday morning, Max, Michael and I left
home at 6 a.m. to be at the TV studio for Good Day
Sacramento, where I was a scheduled guest to show off our
uber-cool green gifts. Thank you to the fabulous crew
and Michele Kane - it was such a fun experience for our
little family and you made us feel so comfy and welcome.
Click on the "media buzz" link to see our 3 minutes of fame!
A special thank you to all the folks who entered our contest
for the candy wrapper bag - we wish we could give one to
each of you! Congratulations to Becky Kraft of Rio Linda -
we hope you love this adorable little bag!
Saturday morning we headed to Los Altos for Almond Elementary
School's 1st Annual Green Awareness Day. It was a gorgeous
day and everyone was so excited about our products. It was
really great to meet everyone and get so much positive
feedback. Doing business over the internet is not as personal
as I like, though we're doing our best to make it as comfy
and warm as we can. So thank you, Almond Elementary
parents - Kathy and Taunya especially, for including us!
TTFN!
Lori
October 31, 2007
The safety of the cosmetics we use everyday is one of my favorite subjects.
Yesterday, I received this article from the Environmental Working Group’s eNewsletter (www.ewg.org). This organization is doing incredible work to help us to smart choices when we buy cosmetics, and I’ll continue to share tidbits from them.
Trick-or-Treating for Lead-Free Lipstick
The thrill of trick-or-treating lies in the unknown: will it be chocolate or gummy worms?
But when you're shopping for lipstick, you shouldn't have to cross your fingers and hope you get something good.
An October report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, of which EWG is a founding member, found lead in 61% of the 33 top-brand lipsticks tested -- including L'Oreal, Cover Girl, and Christian Dior.
Lead is linked to learning and behavioral problems, but alarmingly, FDA doesn’t regulate it in cosmetics.
Before you top off your Halloween look with lipstick, search for it in Skin Deep and read the report.
Be well,
Lori
October 30, 2007
Every day that we work on this new venture, I realize how focused we are on climate change, and doing our bit to save the planet. I wonder if this focus is healthy for Max, our 6-year-old son. Of course, in the big scheme of things, making the planet a healthier, happier place is good for our children. But every time we talk about global warming, there’s a chance we’re scaring the bejeebers out of our treasured little guy. And increasing his cynicism. When grocery clerks, by default, place our items in plastic bags, (because we’ve forgotten our reusable bags from home) instead of recyclable paper, Max wonders aloud why they don’t care about the earth. There is a good side too – when we buy something and it’s placed in a bag, Max gently takes the item out and proudly tells the checker no thank you!
Anyway, the crux of it is - I don’t want to be making my child frightened and cynical. This article in today’s Gristmill really made me think and illuminates a simple solution: share your dream for a happy planet with your child. Thought I’d share it:
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/10/23/16023/290
Be well,
Lori
October 23, 2007
Gigglefish splashed into the world yesterday! Our first day in business was exhilarating, though strangely quiet. Kudos streamed in via email. Thank you, friends and family for all the encouragement and support. Max is wondering if we can please stop talking about gigglefish at dinnertime. We promised to try, and gently reminded him how lucky we are to be home together, creating a passionate business and life for ourselves, while bringing awareness and (hopefully) inspiration and a smile to each person who visits our site.
"Every time I´ve done the right thing for the environment, I´ve made a profit."
Yvon Chouinard, Founder & Owner, Patagonia & Member #1 -1% For The Planet
Wow.
We each profit from the good choices we make to improve the world. So do our kids.
‘Nuf said.
Smile,
Lori
10/12/07
Welcome to the new gigglefish blog!
As I write we’re 10 days away from going live with this exciting new venture. Coincidentally, today is the day that Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his phenomenal work to make people aware of the dangers of global warming, and what we can all do about it. We’re doing our bit by launching this site. Our goal is to make it fun for folks to shop "green". There is a change going on in the world and we want to bring it forward.
Finding all the most incredible green products and bringing them to a broader audience makes changes even behind the scenes. First, we’re just making it easy to find and give fun products that are green. Then there are all the people that are impacted by these gifts – maybe the recipients will be inspired to make little changes themselves. And the people who make these products. Many of our products are made by companies with a conscience. They empower women in poor villages by paying them fair wages. They help families feed themselves and their children. There are folks designing fab products out of items that would otherwise sit in our landfills for who knows how long.
Then today I realized it’s coming full circle! For our gift wrap, we’re offering a reusable shopping bag with a hip, cool graphic on it, that says either “Get Hip Get Green” or “Love This Planet”. So, the gift wrap will be a gift with the gift! Then, the manufacturer of these bags donates money from each bag sold to the children’s environmental group The Green Ambassadors. The Green Ambassadors provide high school students with experiences that foster personal growth, community service, cross-culture and global exchange, and leadership skills to tackle the most critical environmental issues facing our planet.
It’s gorgeous how it all just keeps going ‘round!!
The future is green with a little help from all of us!!
Welcome to gigglefish. Peace.
Lori, Michael & little Max.