Present Professor » eco-friendly

Eight Days of Light Emitting Diodes

carli — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:37:57 +0000

Recycled LED Motherboard Menorah, $19.99 at Perpetual Kid

Woodn’t It Be Nice?

carli — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:16:42 +0000

Is there anything as classic as a set of hand-crafted wood building blocks? No bells, whistles, batteries, LEDs, CFLs, or PAM*s required. Just an imagination and a desire to build things. And then to knock them down and build again.

The set of 24 blocks in walnut, maplele, and cherry comes boxed and ready to give. And as with every purchase made from Little Sapling Toys, a tree will be planted for every purchase made. Your day to water it is Tuesday.

Block set from Little Sapling Toys, $20+ shipping.

*Parental assembly meltdown

Gift List: Baby Gifts The Baby Probably Doesn’t Already Have

carli — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:58:14 +0000

1. Rockabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of the Rolling Stones ($13.99, Amazon)
Also available: Lullaby renditions of The Beatles, U2, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, The Eagles, Bob Marley, Coldplay, and more. No, seriously.

2. Taggies Clickety Twist ($13.99, Amazon)
Texturally stimulating rattle makes fun “clicking” noise when baby twists one of the three colorful sections.

3. Baberoo Organic Cotton Socks ($12.55-$13.99, Amazon)
In a variety of styles, including ballet slipper and nautical stripe. (Some styles in very limited quanities.)

4. Le Sac Baby Igloo 500 ($116-$136 based on size, Land Of Nod)
Cozy insulated fleece sac keeps baby warm and cozy, while you brave the wind and the cold and the rain. Babies have it goooood.

5. Diaper Dude Mini Diaper Bag ($36, Amazon)
Worn on the waist or as a messenger bag, the Mini Diaper Dude holds two diapers, wipes, and bottles for dads on the go.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Gift Lists.

Hoop Greens

carli — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:37:13 +0000

OK, maybe that 12-year-old on your list won’t so much care that the surface of this ball is made of recycled rubber, or that for every 70 balls, 1 tire is left out of a landfill (not the most impressive stats, perhaps, but it’s something). But the camo-green color and catchy “Think Globally, Hoop Locally” slogan (printed right on the ball) jazzes up the Wilson Rebound–and what kid doesn’t love that new basketball smell? I would say this gift is a slam dunk, but how cliché would that be? $12.99 at Target and other stores; also available online.

Ask Present Professor: The Quirky Couple

carli — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:24:15 +0000

Smee91 asks:

Engagement party for a couple that didn’t register as far as I can tell. They are both more creative types and have a wacky sense of humor, so the typical kitchen gadget/place setting won’t fit well.

Check out this recycled bottle lamp. Not only can they customize it with their favorite bottled beverage (Grape Nehi, anyone?) but it’s sure to be a conversation piece as well as a lesson in conservation. Jazz it up with a six pack of suds or soda. And don’t forget the bulb. Or the straws.

$39.99 + shipping at PerpetualKid.com

I Like To Ride My Bicycle (Then Take Off The Chain And Open A Miller Genuine Draft).

carli — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 04:10:56 +0000

Ooh. Ah. Ooh. Ah. Glug. Burp.

Well, don’t you know. . .

That’s the sound of the men working on the (recycled bicycle) chain gang bottle opener.

$14 + shipping ($10 for 2 or more), at Resource Revival.

Are Tears as Recyclable as Glass?

carli — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:02:02 +0000

My sister and I have this little joke: I find out she’s throwing a party to which I’m not invited, and I call her and tell her I’m busy that night. Then, on the actual night of the wine tasting or football-watching gathering or bbq, she has a great time with her friends and I stay home eating reduced-fat Neapolitan ice cream directly from the carton while watching reruns of Degrassi: The Next Generation with a chip on my shoulder and a 14-pound cat in my lap.

But I’m not bitter. In fact, I even bought them this recycled glass serving plate from uncommongoods.com. It’s great for cheese and crackers, fruit, candles, etc. Or so my sister has told me. . .

$18 + shipping at uncommongoods.com. Sibling resentment optional.