5.16.2008


please enter my mother's month giveaways!


green depot :: green get started kit (new!)

target :: digital camera + ipod $350

mozzee :: mod minimalist high/low chair $545

whole foods :: organic eco-spa gift baskets $150


spread the word about my giveaways with the little envelope icon below.
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.
by ~mod*mom~ at 16.5.08 ©

---

5.14.2008

happy birthday my dearest little sweetheart mod*tot!

you're going to have an organic fruit popsicle party at nursery school!
this weekend we'll have a big eco-friendly party at the zoo :)
pic lala
by ~mod*mom~ at 14.5.08 © 12 comments

---

5.12.2008

mod*mom giveaway :: green depot get started kit

green depot is an environmentally friendly alternative to big box stores. green depot is committed to educating communities, helping consumers make the best choices, + training the next generation of green workers.

here are answers from sarah beatty, ceo + mom, founder of green depot.

1) what would you like most to tell mod*mom readers about greendepot?

green depot's mission is to make "green" building products easy. green depot is a 1-stop shop for people who want to build + maintain healthy, energy efficient, sustainable living environments.

I am a mom of 2 young children, ages 2 + 4. I founded green depot in 2005, after a personal "wake up call". When I was pregnant with my 1st child I discovered mold contamination in my newly renovated home. A week before my delivery date, I was told my home may not be a safe living environment. I was shocked (and hormonal!). I had always considered myself an informed consumer. The concept that a health issue could have been the result of new construction I instigated was something I never expected. My interest has always been to create a safe + nurturing home environment for my children. At the time, there were not many resources out there. It was very difficult not only to obtain clear information but also to get the non-toxic "green"products/materials in my area. That lead me to create green depot. My hope is that green depot can be a resource for people (like me) who want to feel empowered to make the best, intelligent decisions for themselves and their families.

I want green depot to set the quality standard for green building products & services. We strive to be an authentic, trusted leader with great service from a passionate, knowledgeable, staff + high quality green products.

We currently have 4 locations that serve as informal showroom/resource centers for consumers + building professionals. We will be opening a another resource center this summer. We plan to open our 1st "retail" storefront in downtown New York City this fall. If we can do it "right", we will expand.

2) i'm interested in all the green depot products, but here are items i personally need for my home. would you like to talk about these?

toxic detection test kits

They can be very helpful in determining if there is a pre-existing issue. The good news is that there are new, more sophisticated kits coming soon that will offer a more detailed account of indoor air quality contaminants beyond "yes" and "no". I think they will be out in fall of 2008.

air + water filters

As far as air filters go, pay attention to the amount of space you expect the air filter to cover, so that you don't purchase a 200 sf filter to cover a 1000 sf area.

I had a water filter installed in my kitchen sink. Now I feel good knowing that my tap water is filtered, clean for particulates + carbon + that I am not wasting money on bottles or contributing to landfill! Flow reduction water filters are also a simple solution for conserving water.

solar attic fan

This is key. In order to keep healthy airflow in your home, provide ventilation in the right areas to keep the air flowing. Stagnant air leads to an unhealthy indoor living environment. In the summer, a solar attic fan will keep your house cooler. In the winter, it will help manage the air flow + heat loss.

eco-friendly pest control

Toxic pesticides are linked to so many health risks--why bring them into your living space? Even if they are in your garage or basement (or lawn), if you wear shoes inside your home, you can easily track the residue of those pesticides right into your living room. .

So, one of the best things one can do to improve the "health print" of your home is to leave your shoes at the door!

insulation

One of Green Depot's most popular items is Bonded Logic---insulation that is made out of pre-consumer denim "offcuts". It is an amazing "high performance" insulation--completely non-toxic, fire rated, good for sound attenuation, + environmentally a great solution for re-cycling denim "offcuts" that otherwise would have been sent to landfill. The key thing: stay away from the "pink" insulation--which contains Formaldehyde--a known carcinogen.

Some other thoughts:

When preparing a child's room use non toxic "NO VOC" paints + don't paint the week before the child will be in the room--give the room time to air out. Use water based, low volatile oil compound caulks, adhesives + sealants.

If you install a wall-to-wall carpet, make sure the adhesive used is non toxic. Wall to wall carpet is a trap for dust mites, allergens + stuff tracked in.

When it comes to wood, avoid particle board that contains formaldehyde type glues. Many wood products (ie kitchen cabinet boxes) can use this wood + it off gasses into your indoor environment. Also, if you are going to finish a floor or cabinets, use non-toxic, water based finishes/sealants.

to enter to win a green depot home cleaning kit please leave me a comment telling me your favorite earth friendly products + services at green depot.
include your email address + url, before midnight, monday may 31

by ~mod*mom~ at 12.5.08 © 122 comments

---

5.11.2008

please enter my mother's month giveaways!


target :: digital camera + ipod $350 (new!)

mozzee :: mod minimalist high/low chair $545

whole foods :: organic eco-spa gift baskets $150

collins :: earth-friendly lifestyle books $170 (ends tonight)

spread the word about my giveaways with the little envelope icon below.
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.
by ~mod*mom~ at 11.5.08 © 5 comments

---

5.08.2008









mod*mom mother's day giveaway :: digital camera + ipod $350

i'm crazy for target's electronics department + their online electronics selection is even more fabulous! plasma tvs, laptop computers, kids tech toys, cell phones, gps units, home security, car stereos... + more, plus batteries, printer paper + ink. i'm so excited they're having a sale on their kodak digital cameras in groovy colors for $149 + ipod nano $199 + they're offering a set to a lucky mod*mom reader!!!

to enter to win a kodak 8.1 megapixel digital camera + ipod nano, please leave me a comment telling me your favorite electronic products at target.
include your email address + url, before midnight, monday may 31

*use the little envelope icon below this post to share this with your friends
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.


by ~mod*mom~ at 8.5.08 © 651 comments

---

5.06.2008







planet green network launches june 4, with home-makeover show wa$ted!

wa$ted! audits a spectrum of environmentally unfriendly households, giving them 3 weeks to reduce their general consumption + earn cash based on their planetary savings in reducing their waste, energy, water + transportation consumption. each episode unearths dozens of eco-horrors that are killing both the environment + the homeowner's bank account.

wa$ted! is my kind of show! home makeovers + earth friendly lessons!

via prairiemod + ecorazzi
by ~mod*mom~ at 6.5.08 © 5 comments

---

i could use a robot helper

1961 illustration by jerry smath from the collection of glen mullaly
by ~mod*mom~ at 6.5.08 © 6 comments

---

5.02.2008



please enter my mother's day giveaways!


whole foods :: organic eco-spa gift baskets (new!)

method :: green baby care + home detox sets

mozzee :: mod minimalist high/low chair

collins :: earth-friendly lifestyle books

spread the word about my giveaways with the little envelope icon below.
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.
by ~mod*mom~ at 2.5.08 ©

---

mod*mom "earth day" giveaway winners

i'm picking + notifying the winners, so please stay tuned...
(i also have to take my daughter to a birthday party today.
update 5/5: she did a parade saturday, followed by a carnival, then gogogo. organizing birthday party, kindergarten testing + paperwork, now we're off to my 1st day of a 2-week process to decongest my lymphatic arm, then a parent education class, so i'll be back tonight while i watch the bachelor)

dyson :: vacuum
1
FLOR :: ecofriendly carpet tiles
1
honest :: organic beverages
1 ashley
2 ms.mamma
3 dee
4 kanga
5 victoria
whole foods :: spring fever gift baskets
1
2
3

spread the word about my giveaways with the little envelope icon below.
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.
by ~mod*mom~ at 2.5.08 © 8 comments

---

5.01.2008






mod*mom mother's day giveaway :: 3 organic eco-spa gift baskets $150

whole foods market has the best earth friendly self-nurturing products for creating an eco-spa for you to revive yourself naturally on mother's day.
whole foods market wants mod*mom readers to listen to their new podcast How to Build the Perfect Spa Basket on their Be Good To Your Whole Body podcast blog + they'd love to give 3 lucky moms organic spa products.

to enter to win a rejuvanating, relaxing, stress relieving organic spa basket,
listen to + comment on the How to Build the Perfect Spa Basket podcast on the whole foods market Be Good To Your Whole Body Podcast Blog + include modmom.blogspot.com in the "website" field before midnight, may 31

*use the little envelope icon below this post to share this with your friends
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.

illustration bo lundberg

by ~mod*mom~ at 1.5.08 © 22 comments

---

4.30.2008

last night, i attended a private event to publicize maria shriver's new book.
it's about living your own "wild + precious life" + being your authentic self.
she was on the view from the bay yesterday + on the oprah show recently.
watch both online videos to learn about her book 'just who will you be?'

my daughter is into princesses + doesn't understand about politics, so i told her i was going to a party to meet the queen of california, but it was just for mommies (she thinks all moms have blogs). she's already met the king of san francisco (mayor gavin newsom), so she's used to royalty.

mod*tot knew she couldn't attend the party, but she hoped to get a glimpse of the queen. we were outside the building playing ring-around-the rosie + talking to the fbi looking man in a dark suit with a curly phone cord behind his ear, waiting for my husband to pick mod*tot up, so i could go into the bookstore, when all of a sudden the biggest black suv pulled up to park + we could see maria in the passenger seat. mod*tot jumped up onto a bench + started waving her hands wildly over her head + shaking her butt.

luckily, maria was stunningly gorgeous with long curly hair + decked out in high heels, a dark skirt with jacket + long sparkly rosary beads with a cross,
so she did look very regal. mod*tot yelled, "hello queen! hello queen!" maria + her entourage laughed + paused to look at mod*tot with her pretty pink dress + exuberant smile. maria told her, "but, i'm not a queen. see?
i don't have a crown. you're the queen. your mom's the queen."

it was nice of her to talk to mod*tot, but mod*tot knows maria's the queen.
by ~mod*mom~ at 30.4.08 © 8 comments

---

4.27.2008




kohler is preparing to launch a futuristic kitchen faucet in june!

the Karbon™ articulating faucet has an efficient + scientific modern design.

see how it works

engineered to hold any pose for hands-free operation, the Karbon faucet extends to fill large pots, lowers for sink cleanup, or folds compactly.

watch these futuristic videos: the power of Karbon or Karbon functionality
+ tell me in the comments what do you think of the Karbon + do you want one?

by ~mod*mom~ at 27.4.08 © 19 comments

---

4.25.2008



mod*mom "earth month" giveaways $2,000+

whole foods :: spring fever gift baskets (updated!)
dyson :: handheld vacuum
honest :: organic beverage selections
FLOR :: ecofriendly carpet tiles
method :: green baby care + home detox sets
collins :: earth-friendly lifestyle books (new!)
mozzee :: mod minimalist high/low chair (new!)

spread the word about my giveaways with the little envelope icon below.
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.
by ~mod*mom~ at 25.4.08 ©

---

4.23.2008









mod*mom mother's day giveaway :: mod minimalist high/low chair $645

nest is designed + built to fit babies + children from 6 months to 6 years,
with 3 configurations (dine-boost-nester) for different stages of your child's development. nest comes with an integrated 5-point safety harness. babies use the removable tray for feeding, toddlers + young children who want to join the family at the table, use nest at an adjustable height without the tray. nest converts to nester - a cool low chair for reading or relaxing.

to enter to win a mozzee nest highchair, booster, lowchair , please leave me a comment telling me your favorite features of the nest + why.
include your email address + url, before midnight, monday may 31
check the next day to see if you won!

*use the little envelope icon below this post to share this with your friends
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.
by ~mod*mom~ at 23.4.08 © 481 comments

---

4.19.2008







mod*mom earth day giveaway :: 10 earth-friendly lifestyle books

i have a degree in environmental science + i'm very concerned for the earth + our children's health + future, so i'm so excited to introduce my readers to stephanie uliano + her earth-friendly lifestyle book gorgeously green:
"When I had a little baby, I started to really wake up to the pollution in + around my home. Nothing was more important than providing the healthiest environment I could for the impossibly helpless little bundle that I carried around 24/7. Mercifully, many of us have recently become aware of the horrific childhood dangers of pesticide + insecticide use in + around the home + many moms now eschew the use of toxic cleaners. We are also beginning to realize that we can raise much healthier, happier children on organic food. A collective conscious is burgeoning + we cannot afford to let up for a minute.

I love that we can teach our children to have enormous respect for Mother Earth + what she gives to us. We can encourage them to become stewards of our gorgeously green planet so that we will see a new generation of compassionate + caring individuals who inherently know that everything is interrelated.

Many schools are now including environmental programs into their curriculum + our kids are tapping into a plethora of great, positive eco-information online. I firmly believe, however, that it all begins at home with the small details: explaining why its important not to waste paper, getting our children to sort out the recyclables + think about how each item can be re-used, conserving water + energy + watching something edible grow, even if its in a small planter on a window sill. These are things that your children will thank you for in years to come. Show your children how to “be the change."

resources:

the environmental protection agency is a great resource for so many family issues.
from air pollution to water quality, to asbestos, lead + mold abatement.

epa’s children’s environmental hotline 1-877-590-KIDS

healthychild, healthyworld

children's environmental health network

kidsforsavingearth.org

healthyschools.org

toysafety.net

national resources defense council what's in your tap water?

to enter to win a gorgeously green earth-friendly lifestyle book, tell me in the comments, what can/do you do to lead a more earth friendly lifestyle?
include your email address + url, before midnight, mother's day may 11

*use the little envelope icon below this post to share this with your friends.
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.

giveaways

by ~mod*mom~ at 19.4.08 © 237 comments

---

4.18.2008

mod*mom "earth day" giveaways

whole foods :: spring fever gift baskets (new!)

dyson :: vacuum

honest :: organic beverages

FLOR :: ecofriendly carpet tiles

method :: green baby care + home detox sets

spread the word about my giveaways with the little envelope icon below.
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.
giveaways

by ~mod*mom~ at 18.4.08 ©

---

4.17.2008

i'm so excited dwell magazine sent this press release to share with YOU! i'm going + i'll take lots of pictures

DWELL ON DESIGN CONFERENCE TO OFFER DIVERSE DESIGN CONVERSATIONS
Dwell Magazine Editors to Moderate 2 days, 13 Panels and over 50 Speakers

The third annual Dwell on Design Conference + Exhibition, debuting in Los Angeles, June 5-8, 2008 will constitute the largest design show in the West. With over 50 speakers, the conference will offer the most diverse sub