Toys With A Green Attitude!

I recently started working part time in a wonderful local toy store, Geppetto’s Toys – independently owned by a San Diego family for about 30 years.  They provide a wide variety of toys, most with a focus on child development and a “learn while you play” philosophy. You won’t see many of the the toys at Geppetto’s Toys in the chain stores, and their product knowledge and service is unlike any you will find.

As my boys are 23 & 17 years old now, it’s been a while since I’ve roamed through toy stores.  I am discovering there are lots of new toys out there, many are the classic toys with a new twist!  This is what I found while receiving a shipment from PlanToys.  I love the PlanToys, toys!   The classics with a Green Attitude.

Toys with a green attitude

PlanToys practices the “Three R’s” of green living: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.  Their toys are made with:

Organic Rubberwood:  All PlanToys® are made with clean, natural rubberwood from rubber trees which no longer produce latex. To keep the rubberwood pure, no fertilizer is added to the soil for three years before the trees are cut. To strengthen the wood, PlanToys® uses a special chemical-free kiln drying process.

Non-Toxic E-Zero Glue: PlanToys® are assembled using a proprietary, non-formaldehyde E-Zero.

Water Based Dye: PlanToys® does not use dyes containing lead or any other heavy metals. We use only safe, non-toxic water-based dyes on all of our toys.

Recycled and Recyclable Material: PlanToys® uses recycled and recyclable material to minimize our impact on the environment.

Soy & Water-based Ink:  PlanToys® uses soy and water-based inks on our printed materials. These inks are more readily biodegradable and can be recycled more efficiently than standard chemical ink.

Geppetto’s Toys carries a wide variety of the the PlanToys line.
Visit a store and go play or visit their new website coming soon to order online.

Dave Ramsey’s Real Debt Help. Really!

Get out of debt the same way you learned to walk—one step at at time. Dave has taught these principles to millions via radio, books, Financial Peace University, live events and online.

It’s never late to too early to start taking charge and responsibility for you money, no matter how much you make. Dave gives a lot of common sense advice that most people need to be reminded of.  He’s not some guy who’s just trying to make a buck now that so many American’s are falling on tough times.  He’s been beating his conservative financial drum for decades!

So if you’ve found yourself in a “not-so-good” financial conundrum or if you’re making “plenty” of money – take a look at what Dave’s got to say. It applies to YOU!  Stop paying Stupid Tax. and start consciously managing you money smart.

He has some great (free) tools to get you going and some things that will cost you too.  The things that cost you, will only pay-off if you follow the advice you paid for!

He’s a link to Dave’s Tools and of course the rest of this great information.

If  you do nothing else follow his 7  Baby Steps.

Hanky Panky Panty Followup

A couple of weeks I wrote about Hanky Panky Panties… love ‘em still.

Here’s the thing.  They are like a teeny-tiny, lacy personal coach, diet consultant and reality check all in one!    When I put these little gals on I feel oh so pretty, until I walk away from the mirror and see my behind – basically uncovered, un-camouflaged, reflecting back. If that isn’t incentive to get in shape, nothing is! What I once thought to be a little bit pricey piece of lace, has now saved me hundreds in food I shouldn’t be eating and got me working out again! Unlike a bikini that I only put on occasionally, these I put on EVERY day and they remind me of my fitness & weight loss goals!
THANX  Hanky Panky!

See the picture?  Goal.

Oprah’s 6 Common Shopping Traps

Ok. She’s Oprah, so what could she possibly know about spending frugally and shopping traps??

I’m ” not-such-a-big-fan” of Oprah, but I do admire her for many things. One thing is she surrounds herself with all kinds of people, from all walks of life to work with her and thus she attracts all kinds of people from all walks of life to watch her show, read her magazine and listen.  She’s smart. I’d love to be one of those “all kinds of people” to work with Oprah, because much of the information she puts out in her magazine, radio and online I know these are things I KNOW!

Several years ago I lived a life that was very financially secure. I worked part-time from home supporting my then husband’s job, coordinating sales meetings for the company he worked with, scheduling his radio show guests, we also had a small online business that I administrated, I had 1 employee that worked with me in my house, so I was free to be available for the kids, travel extensively, errands, etc. We made well above average income back then. Life was very good to us. Then, things changed! (before this current economic turn). So, I had to dramatically change how I managed money. While it took some getting used to, I had been here before. Just didn’t think I’d be visiting “small-budget-ville” again. But that’s where I found myself. Before I share “Oprah’s” tips take a look at mine.

Much of my list consists of turning trash into treasures to keep your money in your own pocket.

Here’s my “starter” list of ways to cut back:

1. Shop at home first
   • do you really need more ketchup, or is there another bottle in the back the cupboard already?
   • make a challenge to yourself to create at least 3 meals each week from what you already have in your fridge and cupboards with out having to go to the market.
2. Clean out your bathroom cupboards (sister to #1)
   • take out all the half-used & hotel bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotions & potions and use them. If you think the shampoo was not “good” for your hair, use it as soap or to shave with. If you’re like me, I bet you have enough lotion to make smooth a herd of alligators.
   • same concept goes for bathroom cleaners – collect them in one spot from all bathrooms if you have more then one – and use what you have.
3. Clean out your garage, storage shed or closet (brother to #1!).
   • just by re-organizing my (already much organized) garage I found lightbulbs, tape, trash bags and many other items I’d simply forgotten we there. Good, useful stuff… that costs money to buy.
   • don’t get me started on the number of bottles of sunscreen I found in my garage! (yes, this one is important to make sure it’s not too old.) Now, reorganized in a basket (I found unused) sitting out, next to the beach towels…  so everyone can see – WE ALREADY HAVE SUNSCREEN.
4. Make a shopping list
   • I call this my “Go Navy Strategy”.  Make the Plan, Fly the Plan.
   • Stay true to your list.  If you didn’t know you needed it before you went to the store, you don’t need it.
   • Once you can really stay to you list and don’t  jump at every “good deal” you see, then you can give yourself a little latitude to make on-the-spot decisions if something is truly a good deal and it is something you do use regularly and need.
5. Sensor your shopping cart
   • This will help you to “Fly the Plan” (stay true to your shopping list).
   • Before you get in line to check out, look in your cart.
     • are the items you see what you intended to purchase when you went into the store?
     • are the items things you really do need, not just want?
     • if you can live without, put it back.

I’ll address other ways to help you cut back next time when I blog about “what you really need” (DVR service is not one of them!)

Here’s Oprah’s 6 Common Shopping Traps.

The Chevy Volt

Today GM announces, the Chevrolet Volt, their electric car that’s expected to go on sale in late 2010, is projected to get an estimated 230 miles per gallon – this by way of a not-yet-approved technique for calculating electric power into MPG’s.

I’m not always an umber-trusting consumer…. but this has me interested more then the Toyota Prius ever did.  The basic premise of GM is that the car will go 40 miles on a single battery charge with no fuel assistance what so ever.  This means no emissions too.  This distance derived based on statics for the average commute distance (sans sitting in traffic I guess).  Chevy also says they decided on this distance per charge based on battery performance, battery size, and passenger/driver comfort and driving experience.  Longer distance per charge, bigger, heavier battery needed, less room for you and your passengers, heavier vehicle. Once the initial charge is utilized the gasoline on board is used to power the battery, not power a combustion engine.  They made no comment on technology or the “enviromental-emissions” impact as a result of this energy conversion.  The other aspect of this auto-power-techology not addressed is what impact the actual charging of the vehicle has on your electic bill, or the environmental impact made by using that electicity – emissions may not be coming out of the back of the car, but there is a by product from producing the electricity needed to charge the battery.  Right?

Still – I like this. I won’t speculate how long Chevy has been sitting on this solution, but it may just save their government-assisted hineys!  The car doesnt’ look half bad either!

Check it out.

and Check It Out here too!

Candy Cane Inn – 2 Thumbs UP!

This post falls into the category of tried, tested & true!

The Candy Cane Inn, where you can get a candy cane any time of year, is located in Anaheim, CA  just down the street from Disneyland,  and across the street from the Anaheim Convention Center. Years ago when I was responsible for arranging a team of sales representative for an annual convention I came across this smaller gem of a hotel.  After the first year of housing the team there I received rave reviews from them, and so each subsequent year I’d reserve 15 or so rooms and send them all back.

The rooms are always updated, clean and in good operating condition.  They have a wonderful pool and grounds, and their reasonable prices also include a continental breakfast each morning of your stay!  The place is filled with small town service and hospitality, but located in the middle of everything you want in a big city.

I have also referred many family members and friends to this great little hotel – never have received anything but good reports.  Of course, I’ve stayed there many times myself.

I’m writing about the Candy Cane Inn today because my niece and her husband, along with my son and another niece are spending a couple days at Disneyland and, of course I put them up at my favorite Disneyland area hotel! They arrived at 8:00am this morning, loong before check in time to request a parking pass to park while they went to Disneyland to return later in the day for check in…  The desk clerk told them, “let me just see if your room is ready now”, and it was so they let them check in early!  No hotel does that for free.  The kids were thrilled to be able to get into the room and unpack and head out the the Happiest Place on Earth knowing they could come back straight to their room.

2 Thumbs Up for the Candy Cane Inn, Anaheim, CA.