I’ve been wanting to add resuable produce bags for awhile because flimsy plastic bags drive me crazy. At the farmers’ market, what to do with the blueberries? The black cherry tomatoes? They can’t exactly go straight into the basket because they’d get squished. Which is where, too often, flimsy plastic bags come into play. If you want to break the plastic bag habit, these 100% natural cotton produce bags will helpfully help a little. Bring them to the market in your basket, drop the cherry tomatoes into the bag, put the bag in your basket. Very earth friendly! Here is a pic:
Archive for the ‘Cool Stuff’ Category
Introducing 100% natural cotton produce bags!
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009The Active Ion Pro
Friday, September 25th, 2009I recently had the opportunity to use an ActiveIon Pro for a couple weeks (I borrowed it from a friend who was going on vacation). It is my new favorite green machine. Basically, you fill it up with tap water, spray, wipe, and whatever you just sprayed is sterilized and sanitized. NO CHEMICALS INVOLVED! Can’t get much greener than that. I used it a lot in the kitchen, such as on surfaces after cutting chicken. I sprayed my daughter’s hands with it. I sprayed doorknobs. I thought about spraying a spider on the ceiling, but since no chemicals are involved, he’d have just been REALLY, REALLY clean. It is big and kind of industrial looking, and I like it that way. Visit http://www.mommypr.com/?p=10803#more-10803 for a recent review of the activeion pro, or http://www.activeion.com to learn more about how it works. Here it is in all its glory: 
Check out this awesome market basket review from Monkey’s Momma!
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Jeanne Beatrice Baskets: A Review And Giveaway!
Stylish, affordable and environmentally-friendly, Jeanne Beatrice Handmade Market Baskets have graced the pages of magazines such as Coastal Living and the online version of Vogue.com, to name a few.
Jeanne Beatrice is the brain child of founder Laura Benson. Laura was on a family vacation in France when she realized that the French carried baskets with them everywhere. A lover of baskets, she began to dream of a business that would provide beautiful, durable baskets that women would love to own.
She soon partnered with the High Atlas Foundation, which helps Moroccan communities by empowering them and encouraging self-reliance through various projects. Jeanne Beatrice Baskets are handwoven in small mountain villages of Morocco in a tradition that has been passed down through many generations. Each basket takes 3-8 hours to create and each one is unique due to the handmade process. No mass production here! The baskets are made with readily available, renewable resources such as palm leaves and water reeds, which grown abundantly in the area. Once the baskets are weaved, they are collected and taken to a central location, where the leather parts are added. The leather is treated by either dying, oiling or painting.
When I met Laura online, I could tell that she is passionate about baskets and also about helping others. As a matter of fact, not only does she partner with the High Atlas Foundation, but she helps support Lift Kids and Clean Water Act through silent auctions, proceeds from Jeanne Beatrice Baskets or both. She also is a keen supporter of local resources in her own community. So from Morocco to her own backyard, Laura is definitely doing her part to create a better world. I really admire her for that.
Laura was kind enough to send me the Jeanne Beatrice basket, La vie rouge. When I received it, I pulled it out of the box and fell in love! The wine colored leather handles were made of the softest leather I have ever felt. The basket itself is made with palm leaves. At approximately 23″ wide and 12″ high, it is a HUGE basket! I have it proudly displayed in my living room and it is currently holding around 20 books, both soft and hardcover. The baskets are shipped without extra filler. They are durable enough to survive shipping without it. The baskets are weaved while the materials are still wet, therefore your basket will smell a little like “wet grass”. The smell fades very quickly, though. Also, the bottom of the basket may need flattening due to the process in which they are made, but Laura has directions on her website on how to remedy that.
Laura also sent me a great big Moses Basket to use in my photography, for baby and toddler portraits.She no longer has these available, but she does have the La Terre Baby Doll “Moses” Basket, which is just right for dolls.
I am impressed by the craftmanship of these baskets and am proud to say that I own a Jeanne Beatrice basket. I truly think that her company will go far. Not only are they affordable for folks like myself, they are stylish and absolutely gorgeous. I smile every time I pass mine in the living room.
Here’s a link to the actual review:
http://monkeysmomma.blogspot.com/2009/09/jeanne-beatrice-baskets-review-and.html
http://monkeysmomma.blogspot.com/2009/09/jeanne-beatrice-baskets-review-and.html
KOR Water Bottles
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009I have been a devoted SIGG water bottle user for the past couple years as I try to break the plastic water bottle habit, but I think KOR water bottles are about to give SIGG a run for its money. The best part is that the sales of each beautifully colored bottle (ice blue/sawgrassgreen/sunrise orange/orchid pink) go to benefit an environmental non-profit. From a functional standpoint, the top stays attached, so there’s no more digging around the kitchen for your missing bottle cap. And each bottle comes with 4 KOR “stones” that insert to the inside of the cap, so each time you take a sip, you are reminded to “laugh often” or “never settle”. You can also create your own stones - I think mine right now would read “breathe” or “be grateful”. So you get to feel good buying the bottle because it supports water-based initiatives, you feel good drinking out of the bottle because you aren’t tossing plastic bottles in the trash, and you get a reminder of your own personal mission everytime you take a sip. Brilliant!!! Click here to go to their website:
Real Palm Trees!
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009How cool! This online shop (realpalmtrees.com) sells REAL (duh) palm trees! I have a soft spot in my heart for palm because many of our baskets are woven out of it (the La Vie and La Terre styles). My first thought was what would I do with a palm tree in Minnesota? But you can buy them in all sizes and there is no reason why I can’t put one in my house. We are always trying to add more plants to our surroundings to keep the air clean. Here is a link that should take you directly to their website:
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Lucille’s Kitchen Garden Pepper Jams
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
This post has absolutely nothing to do with baskets, but it does have to do with eating locally grown and produced food as much as possible, which has also become close to my heart! I met Zoie and Amy, the owners of Lucille’s Kitchen, while selling baskets at Mill City Farmers Market. They do everything themselves, from picking peppers to cooking and canning. I tasted a bite of their various pepper jams and was instantly hooked! This says A LOT because I generally find jams and jellys too sweet. Theirs is perfectly balanced between sweet and savory. I especially love the garlic pepper jam, the blueberry pepper jam, and the raspberry pepper jam. It’s great on toast or served with brie cheese and crackers - visit their website at lucilleskitchengarden.com (sorry not to insert a link - still haven’t mastered that) for lots of ways to cook with pepper jam!
“Bolga” baskets!
Monday, May 11th, 2009So many beautiful styles of baskets are made all over the world! I love the bright colors and round shape of this “Bolga” basket:
These baskets are made by members of the Maata N Tudu Association in Northern Ghana. Each Basket is 15 inches in diameter and costs $45 at Gifts with Humanity. And no, I’m not worried about referring my customers to another website that sells baskets! I want to help other small businesses like mine.
Click here to go to their website:
