Be sensible this year as you shop for Holiday gifts and consider these inexpensive items from Cynergreen’s line of stainless steel products: 
 

For toddlers, we offer an exclusive new Sippy Cup. The Sippy features: 304 Stainless Steel , is BPA Free  with a leakproof/vacuum sealed cup that’s easily disassembled for cleaning all parts. While it’s dishwasher safe, we recommend handwashing . What’s great is, it’s tough and rugged for toddlers – including an extra snap cap for security and protecting the drinking spout.  The silicone sippy spout and plastic handles provides the safest plastic available with no leaching. What’s more it sports the fun CG Kidz eco-logo.  
 

It sells for $12.50 on www.Cynergreen.com.

For bigger kids, we offer a 500ML stainless steel water bottle exclusively designed by Cynergreen.  It’s recyclable, white with a special recycle design and the CG Kidz logo.  Each bottle comes with a twist cap and silver caribiner, and is safe and reusable.  An additional drinking cap may be purchased separately.  
 

The 500 ML bottle sells for $8.00 plus shipping and handling.

The CGKidz 350ML bottle is our most popular for lunchboxes and backpacks.  Great for toddlers and babies as well. For adults, it’s a great refillable option to toss in any bag to keep drinks cool all day.  Sports the fun CG Kidz “green” eco friendly logo. This bottle is BPA Free – Chemical Free and comes with a pull top drink cap. 
 

The 350ML bottle sells for $10.50.

As a stocking stuffer for moms, dads and big teens, our red and green stainless steel bottles make great eco-friendly stocking stuffers.  

They sell for $11.99 plus shipping and handling.  

Visit the Cynergreen web site for pictures and additional item features. Consider giving the “eco-nomical” gift of green this black Friday!  You can also find us this year in the Holiday Gift Guide by Eco Child’s Play.  Visit- http://ecochildsplay.com/2008-green-eco-friendly-toy-holiday-gift-guide/ for a complete list of green products for children, including our CGKidz Stainless Steel Water Bottle!

By Tara Paterson, ACPI™ Certified Parent Coach, co-author of Raising Intuitive Children, www.RaisingIntuitiveChildren.com  (New Page Books, spring ’09)  

This year while you’re sitting around your table sharing a meal with friends and family, consider being grateful for all the ways you have made changes to support a more eco-friendly environment.   Here are some reminders you can be thankful for: 

• You cut back on the amount of trips you took this year and used less gas
• You planted a garden without the use of chemicals or pesticides
• You bought more organic products at the store, even if only when items were on sale
• You recycle
• You compost
• You didn’t use chemicals on your plants or lawn this summer
• You started using canvas or paper bags at the store instead of plastic
• You stopped using plastic water bottles or reduced your consumption considerably
• You purchased wooden puzzles or toys instead of plastic
• You used cloth diapers
• You switched to energy efficient light bulbs
• You lowered the heat by a few degrees or raised the air conditioning
• You have incorporated energy efficient space heaters into your heating plan 
• You drink tap water
• You prepare more meals from scratch
• You shortened your showers by a few minutes
• You made sure the kids played outside more instead of playing with video games or watching TV
• You made sure to turn the lights off in rooms that were not being used

Whatever small contribution you’ve made to being more “eco-conscious” this year, pat yourself on the back for taking a step in the right direction.  It will take small steps from each one of us to make the changes necessary for preserving our environment.  Be thankful for your part and remember it while you share your gratitude thoughts this Thanksgiving!

By Tara Paterson, ACPI™ Certified Parent Coach, co-author of Raising Intuitive Children, www.RaisingIntuitiveChildren.com  (New Page Books, spring ’09)  

For this year’s Thanksgiving why not prepare a “green” meal for your festive feast?  To get you started, we have put together some healthy green recipes along with some of the item prices. 

Homemade Applesauce 

3- 4 lbs. of McIntosh Apples (3 lb. bag, $2.99; preferably organic although they are hard to come by)
Water
Dash of salt (sea salt; prices vary)
2 tbsp. of natural butter (Costco- Kirkland brand; 4 lbs. for under $8)
½ cup organic sugar (Trader Joe’s, $2.79 for a 2 lb. bag)
Cinnamon 

Peel and cut up the apples.  Put them in a 3 quart saucepan; sprinkle with dash of salt and fill ¾ of the way with water.  Boil on stove for 20 minutes or until the apples are easily mashed.  Remove from heat; add 2 tbsp. of butter.  Mash the apples, add ½ cup of sugar and enough cinnamon to cover the apples.  Mix all together and cool before refrigerating. 

Serves- 6-8. 

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert

 ¾ cup of natural pecans
 ¾ cup graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup organic sugar
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
¼ cup melted natural butter 

Filling:

2 pkgs. of natural cream cheese (8 oz. each; Hahn’s makes a fantastic natural yogurt and cream cheese), softened
¾ cup organic sugar
2 organic, free range eggs
1 cup organic pumpkin (Trader Joe’s, $1.99)
½ tsp. cinnamon 

In a bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients; stir in butter.  Press onto the bottom of an ungreased pie pan (reserve a tbsp).  In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Add eggs, beating until blended.  Add pumpkin and ¼ tsp. of cinnamon; beat on low speed until combined.  Pour into crust; sprinkle with remaining crust and cinnamon. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set.  Cool on a wire rack for 1- ½  hours  Refrigerate. 

Serves- 9-12. 

Glazed Cranberry Carrots

 2 lbs. of organic baby carrots ($2.79- $3.29)
½ cup natural or organic jellied cranberry sauce
¼ cup natural butter
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice; squeezed from an organic lemon
½ tsp. sea salt  

Place 1 in. of water in a large saucepan; add carrots.  Bring to a boil; cover and simmer until tender, about 10-12 minutes.  Drain.Combine the remaining ingredients; cook and stir until cranberry sauce is melted and mixture is smooth.  Add carrots; stir to coat. 

Serves- 6  

Natural, Free Range Turkey (20- 25 lb.) 

Prepare according to package directions.  Add spices (organic or natural spices can be found at Trader Joe’s for $1.99 a spice. ) 

Complete your meal by using organic potatoes, salad greens, and other accompaniments.  Serve organic wines and other natural beverages.  Serving a green meal consists mainly of preparing your food items from scratch and purchasing as many organic or natural ingredients as possible.  Avoid using prepared pies, side dishes, or other processed items.  For an added “eco-friendly” touch, buy locally grown produce and food items from local stores and farms.  This will increase your “green” contribution!  

By Tara Paterson, ACPI™ Certified Parent Coach, co-author of Raising Intuitive Children; www.RaisingIntuitiveChildren.com  (New Page Books, spring ’09) 

If you’re hosting this year’s Thanksgiving celebration and you are looking for ways to go “green,” these tips may be useful in your festive planning.

1.) Use soy candles in your table’s décor. Soy candles burn cleaner than paraffin wax and often have fragrant aromas. They also burn longer and don’t leave a residue like some candles do.

2.) Serve organic wine. Organic wine is free of sulfites (except for sulfites that are naturally occurring) and has a much more flavorful taste. You can often find organic wines in a specialty wine store at reasonable prices. Trader Joe’s carries a wonderful selection of organic wines at affordable prices.

3.) Print thank you notes or place cards on Plant-able Seed Paper as a take home for your guests. Give your guests something they can take home, plant, and remember their special day with.