Did you know that, on average, kids throw away 67 pounds of trash every year from their school lunches? This costs schools much needed funds to collect and dispose of that trash, as well as being a huge ecological problem. (I wonder how much adults throw away during lunch.) But we can quickly make lunch time a lesson in zero waste. Participate in the Zero Waste Lunch program by bringing your lunch, and your childrens’ lunches, in stylish and reusable bags. Check out some tips to follow that will help reduce the amount of trash purchased, created, and needlessly thrown away.

For those that want to invest in a quality reusable bag we recommend checking out Nubius Organics’ zero waste lunch section. They feature a stylish line of insulated, reusable totes for transporting your lunch as well as some large bags that are made of recycled plastic bottles. Most, if not all, of their bags/totes are PVC free, teflon free, and lead free so you know your food is safe from toxins.

Nubius Organics also carries another Mable’s favorite: the Laptop Lunch System. Made famous by the Vegan Lunchbox Blog.

The Swiss Hot Steam Humidifier: This pretty little humidifier boils water to eliminate waterborne bacteria and viruses before emiting hot steam that improves ambient air moisture in these dry winter months. Deliciously scientific isn’t it? Now go buy one.
$99.95

The Best Electric Tea Kettle: This is the best electric tea kettle, simply because it outperformed all other models due to its awesome heat retention, quick boiling time (twice as fast), automatic shut-off, and safety features. The perfect gift for those tea lovers.
$69.95

Whenever I’m watching a movie and a car goes plummeting into a body of water… I hold my breath with the character in peril. Maybe it’s a sympathetic thing, or a testament to our innate survival instincts. Either way, when the character inevitably can’t open the window or door, I remind myself to buy a hand held glass breaker. The fine folks at Swiss+Tech have made such a device, but it also has 4 other useful functions. “The BodyGard 5-in-1 Emergency Tool incorporates five specific devices: automatic glass breaker, safety-blade seat belt cutter, high-decibel sonic alarm, flashing red distress light, and bright-white LED flashlight.” So in-between all those times that your car gets submerged in water or the electrical systems get shorted in a fire, you can also use this pint-sized bad boy to ward off would-be attackers. Now that’s peace of mind.

$14.99

Ever used your sink directly after someone else and were unpleasantly surprised with scalding hot water? Well now you can color code your water with this heat sensitive LED faucet adapter from ThinkGeek. Just to state the obvious; red water means hot (89 degrees or higher) and blue means cold.

I’m a little leary about the fact that this extends your faucet quite a bit (2.25 inches), but if you have the room in your sink, then I’d definitely join the cool kids on the block and get one. Midnight trips to the bathroom, tooth brushing, even simple face washing would become fun just by using this technological marvel. This LED faucet light attachment comes with two universal adapters for use with almost any standard faucet in the USA. Be sure to check out the customer action shots to see all the fun others are having.

$12.99 – $19.99

A familiar theme here at Mable’s is functional things in attractive packages. I’m bored of household items in greys and whites, and I’m pleased to see that the creators of Hot Heads Oven Mitts feel the same. Who says kitchen safety has to be boring? These silicone oven mitts are heat resistant up to 446 degrees, and are flexible, strong, and lightweight. Now you can shield your hands from steaming temps while bringing a smile to your face. Much more durable and heat resistant than traditional woven oven mitts, these silicone mitts are, in the words of Howard Hughes, the way of the future! These would also make great hand puppets for the kiddos, so don’t be surprised if you get requests to borrow these for playtime. Choose from orange doggy or green froggy.

$9.99

I’m one of those people who wants to take her dog everywhere with her, especially on car trips (or “goforrides” as they are more commonly known). It’s surprising how many people don’t think to secure their pet on trips as they would themselves or their children. Everyday I see people with dogs in the back of their pick-up trucks, or running around the backseat with the windows rolled down. Not only is it annoying to have your dog running around your car unrestrained, it’s also very dangerous!

You may love keeping your pup on your lap, but in just a 30 mph car crash he’ll exert more than 20 times his own weight, striking anything in his path with many extra pounds of force. The best thing you can do is keep your doggy secured and comfortable in his own Pet Car Seat. This seat is also great for dogs (like my own) who have trouble with motion sickness and vomiting during travel. When you keep your pet still her tummy will be much less prone to nausea. Your doggy will also love the fact that she’s in a “dog booster seat” that allows her to see out the window.

I also love the handy plastic drawer underneath that holds all of your dog’s gear in place: treats, leashes, toys or anything else your dog will need on your trip. And as if your pup’s seat isn’t posh enough as it is, Brookstone offers free monogramming with your purchase. You’ll need a dog harness to secure your dog to the seat, but other than that this car seat is all inclusive. I own one for myself, and I’m super happy with it. My 2 Dachshunds sit in a size large together and are comfy as can be. In fact, they like it so much that they use it as a regular bed.

So no more letting your beloved pet roam free on trips out of the house. Be a responsible pet guardian and buckle them up!

$89.98-139.95