When Eben was a toddler he loved to play with wooden toys and puzzles. We still have several sets that have been put away for the day that he has children. I love wooden toys because they last forever and are usually simple and classic. I also love that wooden toys usually help to cultivate a very active imagination in a child. I have a set of antique pull along ducks that my mother gave me one year as a gift that I find to be charming and fun, which is just another reason that wooden toys make me smile.
I recently read about ImagiPLAY, a decade old company that creates high quality educational toys that inspire children’s imaginations and the desire to explore. ImagiPLAY’s motto, “Toys with Integrity” really jumped out at me. I love the idea of toys that connect with nature, have Eco friendly sources and hold educational value as well.
Founder and President BarberaAimes offers a lovely collection of toys that represent her true passion, our Earth. Barbera says, “that if there is one thing she can leave on this earth, it would be to help children appreciate our world.” In her mid thirties, Barbera found the natural beauty of Boulder, Colorado and decided it would be the perfect place to establish her business and her home. I think Barbera has picked a lovely spot, Boulder is around 30 minutes from my home and we visit regularly.
All of ImagiPLAY’s heirloom quality toys are made from Eco friendly materials with fun designs and colors. ImagiPLAY also has a fun Learning Center on their website where your little ones can learn about all different kinds of animals. ImagiPLAY’s line of toys includes rolling toddler toys, bead mazes, food play, puzzles, play sets, blocks, baby toys and games. These would make excellent holiday gifts for your little ones.
Barbera has been so lovely to offer ONE of my lovely readers a Kokopelli Wooden Puzzle Me Up Puzzle. This would make a fun gift or a cute stocking stuffer. I am also giving away a second puzzle on Sweet Greens Facebook Fan Page, so stop by and say, “Hi.”
How to Enter
1. Subscribe to Sweet Greens (if you haven’t already) and confirm the subscription in the email from FeedBurner.
2. Visit ImagiPLAY and leave me a comment telling me which item you think your child would love?
Additional Entriesplease leave a separate comment for each that you do.
* Share ImagiPLAY on Twitter and follow @SweetGreens.* Share ImagiPLAY on Facebook and join Sweet Greens Facebook Fan Page. * Digg, Kirtsy or StumbleImagiPLAY. * Share Sweet Greens: Fab Green Find: ImagiPLAY Wooden Toys Giveaway with a friend or two. * Add Sweet Greens to your blogroll. * Add Sweet Greens to your Technorati favorites.
Rules for Entry
* Please leave a way for me to contact you if you win. You do not need to leave your email address if don’t wish to share it. Just make sure to check back at the bottom of this post after the contest ends to see if you won.
* Contest ends October 12th@ 12am EST. Winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator and will be announced the following day. (I will announce the winner, if I do not hear from you within 72 business hours, I will pick another winner.)
* You must leave a comment telling me which item you love in order to qualify.
**UPDATE:: WINNER:: #22 lil’ miss mama. Congrats and thank you to everyone who entered and thank you to ImagiPLAY.
I love the moisturizing body bars from Leap Organics. I haven’t tried these USDA certified organic and fair-trade bars yet. However they are produced using renewable energy, packaged with recycled material, FSC certified, vegan, bio-degradable and manufactured wind energy. Can it get much better than that? Yes it can! My favorite part so far – the packaging. I would buy it simply because the design is lovely – just saying.
How about you lovely readers, would you try an Eco friendly item simply because the package design is fabulous?
Today is the misters birthday and Eben wanted to surprise him with a birthday project. In our family, we like to give projects (something we can do together) as birthday gifts. The project that he choose was planting an organic lemon tree together. Eben was very adamant that it be a lemon tree – even if that meant that we had to go to three organic nurseries before we found the perfect tree. Ever since we moved back to Florida – the mister has been mentioning that he would love to have one. Then, last week at the Green Market, Eben purchased a cup of lemonade that the vendor squeezed right before his eyes. (He was very impressed!) When Eben gave the mister a taste, he said it was the best lemonade he had ever tasted. Later that day, Eben pulled me aside to tell me that he had the perfect idea for Daddy’s birthday project – a lemon tree.
So, Eben and I took a trip to our local organic nursery and purchased a lovely little organic lemon tree, organic potting soil and a big green pot made from recycled materials. When the mister comes home from work – he and Eben will plant the tree together. This has always been a very special way to build memories around a special occasion.
P.S. We are also giving the mister an annual membership to his favorite botanical gardens to go with his lemon tree.
Have you ever given a project as a birthday gift? What kind? …………………………. Update: It has been almost 3 years since Eben gave the mister the organic lemon tree as a birthday gift. It has grown into a large tree and we enjoy it all season long!
We are planning to purchase property in the mountains of North Carolina, in the near future. Mr. Sweet Greens has been brainstorming the perfect getaway – we plan to build it ourselves. Do you think that we could build a tree house? Pete Nelson from the TreeHouse Workshop seems to think we can. I have to admit, I find this prospect quite intriguing. I love the idea of the stairs that can be pulled up, so no one can get to you!
Would you live in a tree house? Do you find it romantic? adventurous? or scary?
If you have recently had a baby, are expecting or have a baby shower to celebrate, you will love Amenity’s new organic baby essentials collection. The Amenity organic baby collection has everything you need to bring your green baby home in Eco-style. Amenity is owned by long time friends Nicole Chiala and Kristina deCorpo. This pair of mothers started Amenity in 2004 with the intent to bring some of the peaceful tranquility of their youth into their urban, adult homes.
Amenity’s baby essentials collection is full of sweet modern design that is Eco-conscience. (What more can you ask for?) All of Amenity’s baby essentials are made from the softest certified organic cotton and other sustainably sourced fibers that are produced locally in the USA. The blankets, towels and wash clothes are deliciously soft and cozy. The hand carved wooden rattles and meal sets are priceless and will definitely be passed down from generation to generation.
Kristina at Amenity has been so lovely to offer ONE of my readers a hooded squirrel towel. I received this towel and it is lusciously soft and cozy. Your baby will love it. Kristina is also offering my readers a 20% discount on your orders through June 15th. (excluding all furniture and mattresses.)
Just use the coupon code”sweetgreens“at checkout.
How To Enter
1. Subscribe to Sweet Greens (if you haven’t already) and confirm the subscription in the email you receive from FeedBurner.
2. Visit Amenity and leave me a comment telling me which item your baby would love.
(You must do this in order to qualify)
Rule for Entry
Please leave a valid email address so I can contact you if you win. (Your email address will be strictly protected and will not be shared with anyone without your prior consent.)
Contest ends June 15th @ 12am EST. Winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator and will be announced the following day. (I will email the winner, if I do not hear from you within 72 business hours, I will pick another winner.)
You must leave a comment telling me which item you love in order to qualify.
When Eben was a toddler he loved to play with wooden toys and puzzles. We still have several sets that have been put away for the day that he has children. I love wooden toys because they last forever and are usually simple and classic. I also love that wooden toys usually help to cultivate a very active imagination in a child. I have a set of antique pull along ducks that my mother gave me one year as a gift that I find to be charming and fun, which is just another reason that wooden toys make me smile.
