Have you ever wanted to buy more from Mom and Pop stores, instead of the big chain stores?  I know I have tried to spend my dollars with more small businesses, especially local ones, in the past year.  With the economy still struggling, there are many people needing a larger audience to sell their product.  This is why I’m starting a new shop on Random Recycling.  I want to give more small business owners a broader audience for their unique products.
The shop is going to be powered by Open Sky, which is a cool new platform that I feel brings value to all of my readers.  This will allow me to share personal experiences with products with real people.  If you have a question, just ask and I’ll answer.  Open Sky allows this community experience within the shop.  It brings together great products from sellers that want you to love their creation.  If you don’t love it, you actually can return it for up to a year.  Yes, that is not a typo.  You really have 365 days to return something if it doesn’t meet your expectations.  Where does that happen these days?
Our big Grand Opening will be on August 10th, which explains the clock badge at the top of this page.  I am looking forward to sharing with you products that I find useful in my home that help me live up to my goal of being more environmentally friendly.  As I find great new products that are made from recycled materials, I look forward to spreading the word through my shop.  If you have suggestions for unique product you would love to see in our shop, please let me know.  I welcome your thoughts as I build this store.   Check back on August 10th for the official launch!

It seems to be inescapable these days, everyone is talking about finding a safer sunscreen or sunblock.  As someone who spends a lot of time at the beach, and is very fair skinned, I am a major buyer of sunscreen products.  The EWG Guide that was released this year got my attention as a number of my favorite products did not get a great score.  Many of these are products marketed for “Babies” so I expected them to be on the safe side.  Little did I know that the active ingredient could potentially be harmful.

The FDA is responsible for regulating the sunscreen industry, yet it does not have any clearly defined rules to govern products making the claim of organic or natural.  As news reports come out about the potential health hazards of sunscreens with nanosized particles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, the FDA has been awfully quiet about it.  That leaves all of us to determine what is safe to put on ourselves and our kids, and sort through all the latest information in the media.
Here is what I chose to do.
1. Try out some mineral sunscreens
2. Buy a cute cover-up
3. Dress my little one in a wet-suit like swimsuit plus a hat.

My new favorites in the sunscreen class are California Baby for little Madison, and Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm for myself.  I used California Baby SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion last year when Maddie was little and I was really happy with it. The California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick is awesome for getting the job done fast when you have someone wiggling away. I did try another mineral sunscreen on myself and got a terrible burn on my arms and back.  You really need to try them out for yourself to see what works.

The Miessence is a product line I recently got introduced to.  I won a giveaway and got to try a number of their facial care products.  My favorite is the Balancing Skin Conditioner., but the products together made my skin feel so fresh and clean, especially after a day at the beach.    The Reflect Outdoor Balm worked great and didn’t drip, even on the hottest days.  It did give my skin a slight white cast, but it was hardly noticeable once I was outside.

Want to try the Miessence Organic line?  One lucky reader will win a $25 gift certificate to Organicology.com.  Stop by their site and check out all the great products they have to offer.   I’m making it really simple and you just have to leave a comment here to be entered to win the giveaway.  Giveaway will close on July 31st.

For extra entries, feel free to follow @RandomRecycling on Twitter, on Google Friends, Facebook, or Subscribe to our Email feed.

Good luck with finding the right sunscreen for your family.  The important thing is to protect your skin.  Using an umbrella (we use this one: 6 ft Solar Guard Beach Umbrella – UPF 150+ Wind / Water Resist) , SPF clothing, and a wide brimmed hat all help defeat the sun’s harmful rays.  What other ways do you try to beat the burn, but still play outside?
***Congratulations Janice, lucky # 6! You are the winner of the $25 gift card to Organicology.com. Thanks to all that entered. 

Disclosure: I was provided a sample of the Miessence product to test.  It in no way influenced my opinions voiced here.

Remember summer vacations when you spent all day outside and went to bed early because you were that tired?  You went barefoot because it was easier, and showers were taken outside.  I just had one of those glorious weeks.  We packed up and spent eights days away from home in a rustic cottage, free of wireless internet and a dishwasher.  It was a great opportunity to step out of the fast lane.
As I prepared for vacation, I realized I should also be planning for my blog maintenance.  I’ve read great articles about guest posts, yet didn’t get my ducks in a row to map this out.  I could have scheduled a post, or even uploaded a short post from my Iphone during the week away. (I wasn’t totally cut off from the world, just close enough.)  I have numerous reviews I’m excited to write, and great eco-eating tips I want to share. Yet, when night fall came, I didn’t have the heart to turn on a computer and write.  It was enough for me to read a novel or a magazine, with my husband at my side.  There were board games to play with great friends on other nights.  My mind did wander to the thoughts of the posts I wasn’t writing, or the blogs I wasn’t keeping up with.  Each time though, there was some other great event that I couldn’t pass up.  Eating breakfast out, going to a fish market, and walking the beach all took precedence over email, Twitter, and blogging.  I realized that my change in page rank will never take a seat in my memory bank, but watching my daughter run into the waves will be there forever.  Here is just a glimpse at the fun moments that made me realize it is okay to take a vacation from the wonderful world of blogging.

You know it must be good when you child won’t give you back her EMPTY container because she thinks there is at least one more squeeze left.  My daughter Madison’s new favorite snack is the Plum Organics 100% Mish Mash fruit snack.  It’s also my new favorite because it packs so easily into her lunch box for daycare.  She just started playing in the pools at school and is hungrier than usual.  I have been adding either the squeezable fruit snack, or little snack size sandwich bar.  Her teacher also noted how much she loved it, and I learned that many other kids in the class also have it with their lunch too.  I don’t know about you, but planning and making healthy lunches takes effort and organization.  I’m really happy to have found the Plum Organics line of products because they are pre-packaged and ready to go.  Did I mention the packaging is BPA free too?

If you have the younger set at home, Plum Organics offers squeezable baby food as well.  Maddie tried the Just Bananas, which got a “yum.”  I love reading the back list of ingredients, because it really is just bananas.  Plus, you can squeeze out just a little at a time so it cuts down on wasted food.  I think it’s great that the Plum Organics line can grow with your child, from the time they first start trying real food, to the time when they shriek because they are desperate for a snack!

All of these great products can be found at EcoMom- Eco-friendly Baby Products. For all you lucky readers, they are offering a 15% off discount now through June 30, 2010.  The code is: SBBL436.  There is a vast amount of eco-friendly products over at EcoMom, it’s not limited to food products.  You can find safe, non-toxic toys, and even a cool counter-top drying rack, which I may have to purchase myself.  If you like what you see, it’s worth your while to check out EcoPass.  This membership program offers you a 15% discount on every order and free shipping.  The discount will more than pay for the membership very quickly.  If you visit their website in the next 5 days, you will find an even sweeter deal on the EcoPass.

Now the fun part!  EcoMom is offering a giveaway of products from both Plum Organics and Revolution Foods.   For your first entry, head over to EcoMom and comment on what your favorite product is.

For additional entries, you can do any of the following:
*Follow EcoMom or RandomRecycling on Twitter.
*Subscribe to EcoMom’s Newsletter
*Like EcoMom on Facebook
*Subscribe to Random Recycling’s Email list or Google Follow
*Tweet about this giveaway:  Plum Organics giveaway~open until 7.2. Snacks for the littles, thanks to @EcoMomCEO, @RandomRecycling http://tinyurl.com/27x9zog

This giveaway will be open until July 2nd, 2010.  It is open to all US and Canadian residents.
Remember~ your special discount code for 15% off any order is: SBBL436.

~This contest is now closed. The winner is #3, chosen by Random.org.
Congratulations Shell, writer of the blog Things I Can’t Say
I hope your kids enjoy the awesome Plum Organics and Revolution Food products!
~Emily

Disclosure: I did receive products to review from EcoMom, for which I am most thankful!  It in no way influenced my daughter’s happy reaction to the Plum Organics line of products.  I was in no way compensated for this review and my opinions are my own.

Here’s a quick list of some Father’s Day gifts for those of you who haven’t picked out anything yet, and you know who you are…

Titleist Pro V1 AAA Recycled Golf Balls (36 Pack)

Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World

Sodastream Fountain Jet Soda Maker Starter Kit

Men’s Earth Organic Cotton T-shirt (Large)