Treat Your Dog With A Guffly Gift

I missed my dog Bamboo's birthday on June 28th. Yes I know, I should be ashamed of myself. I realized it on the 29th and I felt terrible about it. So I figured I should get him a new toy to make myself feel better. I went to The Good Dog Company to find him something guffly.

I found The Hemp Biscuit and it's made of natural fabrics. It's made of 55% hemp and 45% certified organic cotton. The biscuit is good for dogs that like to play fetch and catch; or just like to carry around comfort toys. Bamboo loves all of that so I really think he's going to dig it.

The Hemp Biscuit can be purchased from The Good Dog Company for $11.99.

Wrap it Up, Yo

I'm proud of myself. I've been consistently going to the gym for a whole two months now. Sure, this is barely an accomplishment for some, but after about a year of excuses this is big. Now that I'm finally in the habit of going, I've realized how bad I need a holder for my iPod. It's starting to get scratched on the back and its really bothering me. Plus, I might sell my current iPod to my sister so that I can get an iPhone. And if I do get one, there is no way I am letting that precious little piece of electronic goodness get scratched or dented or even fingerprinted. In my hunt for something Guffly for my iPod to chill in, I found the Mediapocket. This little guy is made in San Francisco by designer Josh Jakus from reclaimed, factory excess wool. It fits most smart phones and iPods, except the really chubby BlackBerry and Palms. The Mediapocket is only $19 and can be found on the Josh Jakus website.

Drink and be Merry...and Guffly, too

I've been thinking about having a fiesta for 4th of July this year and of course I want it to be a Guffly experience for all. In addition to tasty organic food and drinks, I've been thinking about other little green touches to make it that much better. I found these bamboo drinking straws, and they might just be in my purchasing future. These straws are Guffly because they are reusable and keep regular plastic disposable straws out of landfills. Plus, in the event you do throw it away, they are made of a natural material that is biodegradable.

The straws pictured here can be found at Global Exchange. They come in a set of twelve and are produced by a company named Kopnoi, a fair trade business located in Laos. The set is $16.95 plus another $5.95 for shipping costs.

After you use the straws, you should cover them in water with vinegar, boil them for 20 minutes then lay them out to dry. Sure, this isn't as simple as throwing away a plastic straw, but I think it's a small price to pay for having your party guests impressed by your fancy drink serving skills.

Guffly Summertime Flip Flops

With summer right around the corner, I've begun searching for some guffly flip flops to keep my feet cool. I found a great pair at Simple Shoes.

Toe Foo flip flops are stylish and sustainable. They are made from crepe, which is a natural rubber that is tapped from the Havea tree. The website says that the material makes a squishy sole. The flip flops are also made from bamboo and hemp; and they are all bound together by water-based glue.

The Toe Foo flip flops are available in black, tan, and olive colors; and they cost $45 dollars. I'm going to get the black ones for my summertime chillaxing.

Eat Better

I found this guide, "Organic Foods and More: 30 Days to a Greener Diet," on The Daily Green. I like this list of simple ways to eat better because you can incorporate just a few of the tips and still be more sustainable and healthier than you were before. Instead of cramping all these tips into one month, I suggest you take one or two of the tips and just work on those those for a week or two. Then, as you progress and get used to your new habits, you can take on a few more of the tips.
The tip I'm going to start with is "Get Real with Sweeteners." When I'm at a coffee shop I usually go for the natural sweeteners, if they're available. However, not all coffee shops give you that option. So, I usually end up using 4 or 5 Splenda packets in my coffee or tea. Gross, right? Part of the reason for this is my calorie-phobia. But, I think I can commit to switching my 4 packets of Splenda for one (ok, probably two) packets of natural sugar. My plan is to keep a few on hand in case the shop I'm at doesn't have any, and to do a 100% switch to natural sugar at home.

Which tip will you work on?

Balmy Goodness

I admit it, I'm a lipbalmoholic. Sometimes I apply the lip balm, wipe it off, and re-apply for no reason at all. Don't hate...I know some of you do it, too.

Yesterday I ran into the drugstore and picked up a fresh new tube of Burt's Bees, my usual. Burt's Bees is a very well known line of natural personal care products, and can be found at just about any drugstore - on or offline. My favorite product is their Honey Lip Balm (simplicity is genius, after all). The .15 ounce tube is usually about $3-4, and is 98% all natural.

Although I'm a completely happy customer, I figured I'd check to see if there are any other balms worth trying. That's when I found Eco Lips.


Eco Lips has several scents/flavors(depending on how you choose to enjoy your balm) - grape, kiwi strawberry, and coconut, as well as a color tinted, medicinal, and hemp based balms. Their products are competitively priced. The simple flavors are only $2, and orders over $15 qualify for free shipping. Best of all, the website gives a run down of exactly what's inside those little tubes and your lips will be happy knowing that each balm is made of 87-99% certified organic ingredients (depending on the product).

There is one other balm you must know about, because it is a life or death matter, after all. All the Better to Kiss You With by the Baby Bear Shop is so good I had to steal it from my sister - don't tell. Five bucks is a small price to pay for these creatively flavored, USDA certified organic lip balms that come in recyclable vintage tins.

Under My umBrelli...

April showers bring May flowers, and what better way to welcome the soppy spring months than with a better umbrella. Meet the Brelli.

The Brelli is not just any regular umbrella of course. The Brelli is totally guffly. Reason? The Brelli is made of eco-friendly materials. The canopy is made of materials that will completely biodegrade in under 5 years, which is much better than its dark, drab counterparts. The rest of the Brelli is made of bamboo; a renewable, natural resource. What's more about this fab product, according to the designer herself, "...we worked dilegently to use materials that, during their bidodegredation process, release only harmless gases. The gas released by each discarded Brelli in a conditional landfill can be harvested to generate enough electricity to recoup more than 90% of the energy that was used to create it."

The Brelli can be purchased directly from the website at $28 for the smaller (35") and $38 for the larger (52"). For an umbrella that is more durable and better for the world than most, I find these prices completely reasonable. What do you think?

The Brelli was created by Pam Zonsius, an New York based entrepreneur with a clear knack for fresh, fuctional design with a sustainable purpose. The designer is also working on a number of new products that also feature functionality, style, and sustainability.

The next time I am in the market for a new umbrella, I know where to find it.