Evergreen Moms: A Pacific Northwest Shopping Blog

Chocolate Round Up

2010-02-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

We've rounded up some of our favorite chocolate treats from around the Pacific Northwest, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Traditional chocolate gifts Top row, left to right: (1) Almonds and caramel dipped in chocolate, $15 for 1lb at Branson's Chocolates (2) Chocolate dipped caramels, $17 for 12 pieces at Indulge (3) Handmade truffles, $15 for 9 pieces at Ladybug Chocolates

A little bit different Second row, left to right: (4) Chocolate of the month club, $430 at Coastal Mist (5) Do Not Eat This chocolate bar, $5 each at Lillie Belle Farms (6) Chocolate House Kit, $25 at Chocolate Craft Kits

Chocolate for drinking Third row, left to right: (7) Holy Kakow Vegan Rapture Organic Chocolate Syrup, $5 at Vegan Essentials (8) Drinking chocolate bars, $20 for 4 at Sipping Dreams (9) Brewed chocolate, $15 for 12oz at Choffy

Calorie free chocolate Bottom row, left to right: (10) Chocolate chip earrings, $48 at Marco Polo Designs (11) Dolco Cioccolato Sweet Body Chocolates gift box, $16 at Servello (12) Trio of chocolate scented candles, $24 at Cattail Candles

GIVEAWAY! Remember those heavely Cloud Bites from {a little bit of sweet} that we mentioned? You know the handmade marshmellow covered in caramel and dipped in dark chocolate. We have a four-piece box of Cloud Bites from {a little bit of sweet} to give away to one lucky reader! To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us which of the chocolate treats we featured is your favorite. Leave additional comments as bonus entries if you subscribe to our feed, tweet about the contest, have our button on your blog or are our fan on Facebook. Contest closes at midnight PST on February 18th. Our standard terms & conditions apply. Good luck!

Bitty photos to stack or hang

2010-02-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'm very drawn to tiny ornaments lately, little objects that add almost-hidden detail to a space. Like these photo blocks from Portland's Littleput. Original photos (or your own pics) mounted on small wooden blocks just a bit over three inches tall. They can be stacked on a table top, tucked into a window sill, or hung on the wall. A visual reward for the people who really take the time to look at a room.

$12 and up at Littleput

I bet you can't eat just one

2010-02-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

If your marshmallow experience is limited to the kind that come in bags from the grocery store, you're really missing out! In my humble opinion, the handmade version of anything is usually superior to it's store bought brethren. But with handmade marshmallows, the difference is night and day. Imagine biting into a chewy and fluffy little cloud of goodness like these handmade marshmallows from Oregon's {a little bit of sweet}. Made with natural flavors, this sampler of vanilla, chocolate and caramel marshmallows is the perfect introduction to these handcrafted treats. After one taste, I'll bet you never look at a s'more or a cup of cocoa the same way again!

And if you think the classic handmade marshmallow sounds delicious, imagine topping it with caramel and dipping the whole thing in dark chocolate. {a little bit of sweet} calls that taste of heaven a Cloud Bite. Packaged in recycled box, I call it my ultimate Valentine's treat!

$7 for a dozen marshmallows at {a little bit of sweet}

Like a security blanket with style

2010-02-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

You know how soft those old cotton tees can be? Now imagine that comfy-ness snuggled around your neck, with these lightweight scarves made of recycled t-shirts from Scrap Tees. Each handmade scarf has its own unique combination of colors and patterns. A colorful, casual accessory for these grey winter days.

$18 at Scrap Tees

Geek Chic Valentine

2010-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

I have a love-hate relationship with holiday themed clothing for kids. I love getting into the spirit of the holiday. But I hate that the clothes suddenly look outdated the day after the holiday. But I only have love for this Robots in Love tee from Happy Family. It's completely appropriate for Valentine's Day but looks just as cool all year round. This geek chic shirt is screen printed by hand using lead-free, non-toxic ink on 100% cotton tees. Oh, and if you want to share the love of robots with the whole family, it's also available in Men's and Women's sizes as well. And the best part is that you get a free tote when you buy 2 tees or onesies!

$14 at Happy Family

Playing Oregon Trail (without the computer)

2010-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Does it get more Northwest than these toy covered wagons from West Linn's Tweet by Willow Baus? Polly Pocket can let finally get in touch with her inner pioneer. The natural wood toy even has a wee hitch on the back so you can take a whole wagon train down the Oregon Trail.

$18 at Tweet by Willow Baus

Reclaim Valentine's Day

2010-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Once you become a mom, holidays tend to be all about the kids. So here's a little inspiration from Washington's Sandmaiden Sleepwear to help you reclaim the romantic side of Valentine's Day. This beautiful rayon and organic cotton chemise is made to measure for a perfect fit and comes in a variety of colors. The molded cups, adjustable straps and elastic bustline offer moderate support. But my favorite feature is the princess seaming which gives that curve-flattering feminine draping.

$80 at Sandmaiden Sleepwear

Northwest Valentine Roundup

2010-01-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

Keep the love local. Nine fabulous handmade Valentine's Day cards from the Pacific Northwest!

Top row, left to right: (1) Vancouver's Rosy Designs, $4 (2) Seattle's Turtle Papers, $3 (3) Portland's Egg Press, $5-6

Middle row, left to right: (4) Portland's Letterary Press, $4 (5) Seattle's Orange Twist, $4 (6) Portland's Two Guitars, $3

Bottom row, left to right: (7) Portland's My Little Buffalo, $4 for 6 (8) Vancouver, B.C.'s The Beautiful Project, $4 (9) Seattle's The Iron Curtain Press, $3

A stainless steel water bottle for the littles

2010-01-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

Like lots of families, we're trying to steer clear of plastic bottles when we can. Sometimes it's easier to stick with stainless steel instead of figuring out which plastic bottles are free of BPA, PVC and other pesky toxins.

Lately my kids have been using The Safe Sporter stainless steel water bottle from Kid Basix. It's great! Its got an external plastic base that keeps condensation off the bottom and prevents dings. The wide mouth makes it easy to clean, fill and add ice. No straws or valves to fuss with. And even my not-quite-two-year old is able to pop open the cap and pull up the spout.

Available in five bright colors in 12- or 16-ounce sizes. The 12-ounce version is the one we're using--perfect for small hands and lunch boxes.

$15-16 at Seattle's Tottini

Huggable hippos and charming chimps

2010-01-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

My daughter had unique taste in stuffed animals. Her favs were a hippo and a camel. No ordinary bears for her! Except for one particular bear dressed in a frog costume...but that's another story. So when I stumbled across this adorable plush hippo from Washington shop Boppie's Kids, I immediately fell in love.

You can choose from checkered cotton or soft minky dot fabric for your custom 14" hippo. For added character and safety, this hippo's eyes and mouth are hand embroidered. And there is even a music button in his left foot. Though I have a soft spot for the hippo, I also adore the gangly Chimp and charming Elephant. Oh, and if your kiddo's tastes run more toward the traditional, the bears are completely cuddly too.

$45 at Boppie's Kids

Close-out prices at Clementine NW

2010-01-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

We were sad to learn that the online Oregon storefront Clementine NW would be closing in 2010. It was (and is, at least for a few weeks longer!) a fantastic source of safe and sustainable goodies for babies and moms.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and the lining here is one fantastic going-out-of-business sale. Everything in the store is now 40% off original retail prices! A slew of infant shoes and organic baby clothing, children's books and music, toys by well-known makers like HABA and Under the Nile, and baby carriers--including Hotslings for under $30. Perfect for stocking up on baby shower and birthday gifts.

Move quickly, because when items are gone, they're gone for good. (I already missed out on a couple of things I had my eye on.) But now I've scooped up my purchases, so it's safe to share the sale with all of you!

Plus, for every $25 purchase, Clementine NW is donating one pair of children’s shoes to Soles4Souls for children in Haiti. You can also purchase a pair of Robeez or IsaBooties to be donated directly to Soles4Souls, by adding it to your cart and making a note in the comment section at checkout.

[EGM is a Clementine NW affiliate]

The joyful side of Valentine's Day

2010-01-27T00:01:00.000-08:00

I have a confession: this write up of Vancouver's Rosy Designs has been giving me some trouble. Not because there is nothing to say about her collection of merry prints, but because it was hard to choose which of the adorable images to feature! The simple, joyful vibe (and cute Parisienne striped shirts) brings a little smile my face. What a perfect Valentine's Day gift, don't you think?

You can add text or customize the skin and hair colors to make it all the more personal. She also has prints and cards with sweet images for weddings and new babies, too. Click through and see the loveliness for yourself!

$19 for prints, $4 for cards at Rosy Designs

EVERGREEN SPECIAL OFFER! The first twenty Evergreen Moms readers who buy both a print and a card together will receive a free 2010 Flora & Fauna calendar. Just mention Evergreen Moms in the 'notes to seller' at checkout. Offer good while supplies last.

Thoughtful daily reminders

2010-01-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

Why wait for Valentine's Day to tell someone how much you care? These inspirational glass magnets from Color the Universe are an inexpensive yet thoughtful gift for any day of the week. Whether you're shopping for friends, family or even co-workers, Color the Universe has you covered. With such perfect phrases as "grandmas are moms with lots of frosting," it's no wonder that these magnets are designed and created by a WAHM in Vancouver BC.

Here is another crazy idea. Why not buy a set of magnets for yourself? I'd love the "Balance" set for work and the "Superhero Upstones" set for home. What a great reminder to simplify, prioritize and celebrate each day!

$8 for set of four at Purple Nest

EVERGREEN DISCOUNT! Get free shipping on your order from Purple Nest with coupon code KARMA. Offer ends 2/14/10.

Save the date

2010-01-25T00:01:00.001-08:00

As far as Valentine's Day gifts go, I find lots of romance in small, personal gestures. Like the handmade calendar pillows from Northwest shop Giggle Room. Send in your special date (day of the week, too) and she'll encircle it with an embroidered red heart on a square of a vintage tea towel calendar. It ends up as a bamboo-filled throw pillow in neutral linen or a rich red wool perfect for V-Day.

What could be just another accent pillow becomes a tender reminder of your anniversary, the day you met, or a special child's birthday. There is also a smaller version (below) designed to be used as a ring pillow at a wedding--what just may be my favorite ring pillow yet.

$28-34 at Giggle Room

EVERGREEN DISCOUNT! Get free shipping when you enter "Evergreen Moms" in the "message to seller" section at checkout (shipping charges will be refunded through PayPal). Offer good through 2/28/10.

Pour out the smiles

2010-01-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

This stoneware pitcher is as beautiful to look at as it is to listen to. That's right, I said "listen to." The Gurgle Pot is aptly named. Your guests (and kids) will get a kick out of the sweet little gurgle this fishy produces as it pours a drink. If you reach that dreaded lull in conversation during a dinner party, just refill your glass from the Gurgle Pot and watch the smiles spread.

$40 at Gurgle Pot

Even the babies dress better than I do

2010-01-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Baby clothes have definitely undergone a coolness revolution in the last several years, with companies like eight3one leading the way. Their all-cotton onesies and tees feature contemporary colors and fresh ideas. No cookie-cutter sports themes or glittery butterflies here. Just a combination of old-school nostalgia and nature-themed images, including several inspired by the Pacific Northwest (check out the orca above). They even manage to make insects look cool.

Every ultra-soft piece is designed and produced in Seattle by parent duo Sven and Aimee. Doing their part to keep local babies comfortable and hip.

$27-28 at eight3one

Mosaic masterpieces

2010-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

Remember paint by numbers? As a kid, I enjoyed creating a masterpiece with minimal thought and even less talent. But I also needed the satisfaction of making something from scratch, even if it wasn't as pretty. Magnetic Mosaics by the Orb Factory are a great toy that allows your child to create their own piece of art or follow the transparencies for design inspiration.

The Magnetic Mosaic kits come with metallic foam magnets and a travel tin making them perfect for road trips or plane rides. If your child falls in love with a particular creation, just take a photo to remember it by and then they can wipe off the tiles and fall in love with a new creation. The options are limitless with this terrific toy.

$10 at our affiliate Amazon

Hearts, minus the pink and red

2010-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

A garland of ten miniature hearts cut from found and vintage papers by Portland artist Cori Kindred. The neutral color scheme (no garish pink and red here) and unobtrusive size make it a celebration of love you can leave up long after Valentine's Day has come and gone.

$14 at Cori Kindred

A bag you'll take everywhere

2010-01-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

I've been on the prowl for a bag that can go from swimming lessons to the gym to the beach, and pretty much everywhere else my family goes. It needs to be roomy enough to hold three beach towels yet small enough to carry comfortably on one arm while hefting a toddler on the opposite hip. That's a tall order in and of itself but of course it also needs to function impeccably and go with everything. The tote bags from Seattle's Merin Designs fulfill my wish list and then some.

These roomy 24" x 18.5" bags look simple from the outside but the inside reveals how smart they really are. There are four separate waterproof pockets, a key clip and a cell phone slip. Plus a new two-step closure system keeps everything both accessible and secure. The body of the bag is 100% cotton while the bottom is waterproof fabric making it perfect for the beach, pool, snow, camping and more!

$88 at Merin Designs

Helping Haiti

2010-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

In the wake Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Haiti, many of us are searching for ways to respond and to help. There are any number excellent charities who can use our financial assistance right now as they work in Haiti. We wanted to point you to three with ties to the Pacific Northwest:

MercyCorps, headquartered in Portland, has a long history of aiding survivors of major earthquakes around the world. They have depolyed emergency teams to provide urgent assistance and will continue to send other help in the days and months ahead.
Donate to MercyCorps
Pacific Northwest-based Medical Teams International has a disaster relief team on the ground with others on the way, as well as shipments of medical supplies and emergency aid. Just $33 provides medicine and supplies for an entire family; $66 funds one doctor's clinical work in Haiti for one day.
Donate to Medical Teams International
World Vision, with a headquarters in Federal Way, Washington, has worked in Haiti for 30 years and has several hundred staff in the country who will be distributing relief supplies to children and families affected by the quake.
Donate to World Vision

Additionally, a number of Portland-area business--both online and brick-and-mortar stores--are donating a portion of their proceeds to MercyCorp, including Evergreen Moms friends like Munchkin Designs and Clementine NW. Milagros and The Neat Sheat are keeping running lists of participating businesses. If you have shopping or dining you were already planning to do this weekend, consider doing it at one of these businesses.

School Valentines with style

2010-01-15T00:01:00.001-08:00

Between all the Twilight and Disney, the school Valentine options at the store are enough to start me twitching. Is there such a thing as a non-branded, cool class Valentine?

Look no further than Munchkin Designs. The Portland-based design shop rolled out three new Valentine's Day trading cards this year. The mini cards (about the size and weight of business cards) feature guitars, rockers and pirate-y skulls--and non-lovey dovey captions for the kid who wants nothing to do with messages like "Be Mine." Add an order of YummyEarth organic lollipops and you can check "class Valentines" off your list without ever needing to make a trip to the store.

Also, we learned that Munchkin Designs is donating 10% of all sales through January 21 to the Mercy Corp relief efforts in Haiti. So your little Valentine purchase can be about love in more ways than one.

$5 for 30 cards or $10 for 30 cards + lollipops at Munchkin Designs

EVERGREEN DISCOUNT! Use coupon code SWEET for $3 shipping until 2/1/10.

GIVEAWAY! Munchkin Designs is giving away a Valentine Trading Card Set (30 mini valentines + 30 organic lollipops) to one lucky reader! Congratulations to winner Cosplay Alliance!

Good clean fun!

2010-01-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Both of my kiddos have gone through love-hate phases with bath time. One sure fire way to get them to spend some quality time in the tub has always been with bath crayons. They love the chance to scribble on the walls. And I love the chance to give the kids a thorough scrubbing without complaint. It's also a fun way to practice ABC's, shapes or colors!

These handmade soap crayons from Country Heart Gifts are fragrance free and vegan friendly. Their extra large size makes them perfect for little hands to manage. You get one crayon in each primary colors - red, blue, yellow and green. All the colors your budding artist needs to create their masterpiece!

$19 at Country Heart Gifts

EVERGREEN DISCOUNT! Save 10% on your order from Country Heart Gifts when you mention Evergreen Moms.

These joyful silkscreen posters? I want them all.

2010-01-13T00:01:00.001-08:00

Maybe it's all the rainy weather talking, but lately I'm loving the cheerful silkscreen prints from Washington's Slide Sideways. The colors are bold, the pictures lively, and many include inspiring--but not cheesy--sentiments. (My favorite? "Find a beautiful place and get lost." Amen.)

It's not just posters. You'll find their designs screenprinted on everything from greeting cards to throw pillows to sketchbooks. All colorful, joyful, and making me smile.

Posters $6-40 at Slide Sideways

Cool boy clothes...they do exist!

2010-01-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

My 2010 resolution is to bring you more fantastic clothing finds for boys. Mamas of boys can sympathize with the lack of choices out there in mainstream retail. But fortunately there are a plethora of alternatives if you know where to look. Take for instance the Knuckleheads clothing line.

If your tastes lean toward Chuck Taylors, Rockabilly or skater style, then you'll love Knuckleheads. Just one glimpse at their logo tee (pictured above) tells you that this line is something different. Personally, I find the hip, edgy aesthetic so refreshing. As much as I love their camp shirts and plaid jackets, I'm absolutely smitten with their hats, particularly the pub hat and fedora. I mean come on, what could be cuter than a little boy in a fedora?

Logo 2-fer tee $32 at Knuckleheads

Pub hat $24 at Knuckleheads

Also available at PNW shop, Bella and Max

A ring with a bit of bubbly

2010-01-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

From a small studio in Eugene come these very original handmade glass rings. Tiny bubbles of fused glass catch the light, creating a casual, captivating piece. Because of variations in the kiln firing process, the glass used in each ring is truly individual, with its own unique blend of shades and colors.

The prices at The Glass Boutique are endearingly low (peek at her fused glass bobby pins if you're looking for an under-$10 indulgence). And 5% of profits go to Kiva.org, the microfinance organization making a difference across the world, giving you a little feel-good bonus with your pretty new jewelry.

$25 at The Glass Boutique