Eco-nique: not just a cool Nook cover that's fun to say real fast

What is an eco-nique you might ask (after your tongue unwinds from saying unique eco-nique from i-nique 5 times real fast). The Eco-nique is part of a line of superbly cool and creative cases made by i-nique (products sold through tuff-luv.com)

They make cases for just about any device you've ever heard of (and maybe even a few you haven't) including mp3 players, phones, cameras, laptops, GPS devices and other e-readers and tablets like the new Kindle Fire and Nook Color.

The product that grabbed my attention - and the line I think you'll dig as well is the eco-nique natural Hemp Nook cover for Barnes & Noble Nook (they have the hemp case covers for sale for other devices as well)

Since I am a new Nook owner I wanted to find a cool Nook cover to keep it nice and safe - and spruce it up a bit to boot. The Eco-nique hemp cover for the Nook turned out to be a good choice. It is very secure, well crafted and a perfect fit for the Nook (and looks slick with the Nature screen saver images)

But What Does a Hemp Nook Cover Feel Like?

To be honest I was curious to see what the hemp Nook cover would feel like - when I think of hemp I think of a coarse burlap, but the eco-nique hemp Nook cover feels great - nice and soft with a touch of padding beneath so if it does slip out of your hands as you fall asleep reading it won't crack you in the noggin' (unless you get it on the corner - ouch!)

The interior material is also nice, an imitation leather that feels a lot like real leather. The Nook fits very snugly inside with plenty of access to the power button on top, the page turning buttons and the ports on the bottom so you don't have to remove or move around the Nook to get to anything.

I like the book style covers for the Nook and the eco-nique hemp Nook cover just so happens to be the book style so you can fold over and clasp the cover for easy reading.

My one disappointment with eco-nique hemp Nook cover (and I'm being pretty picky) is with the color - the color itself is just fine a cool (as in temperature) medium dark brown which is attractive, but it wasn't what I was expecting based on all the photos I had seen. In every photo around the internet it is shown as a warmer lighter chocolate brown. That's the difficulty with monitor setting eh? You never know. They now offer a new Autumn Brown color which is an even lighter more of a creme color if that fits your fancy.

Where can I find the Eco-Nique Nook Cover for Sale?

Over all though if you are looking for a unique hemp cover for your Nook or other electronic devices check out tuff-luv.com (if you use coupon code: youtubevideo you can even get 10% off your purchase - so you might as well buy one of their many other cool designs as well)

i-nique (and tuff-luv) are based out of the UK so if you happen to live in the UK you'll be treated to free shipping - if you live outside the UK you'll have to cough up some cash for shipping and wait awhile for delivery. Or you may be able to find a Eco-nique hemp Nook cover at Amazon or even eBay if you want to enjoy it sooner. Look for hot Deals on Black Friday for Nook covers and maybe even the eco-nique if you are lucky.

Check out the hemp Eco-Nique Nook Cover for sale at Amazon with Free Shipping

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Eco-nique Natural Hemp Autumn Brown Case Cover for Barnes & Noble Nook Color - Book Style List Price: $43.99 Sale Price: $38.99 You save: $5.00 (11%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Eco-nique natural Hemp Brown case cover for Barnes & Noble Nook - Book Style Sale Price: $37.99   Eligible for free shipping!

Cool Nook Cover: The Unique Hemp Eco-nique from i-Nique is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Each set includes a fork, knife, spoon and chopsticks all snug as a bug in a rug in a nice durable utensil holder made from RPET, recycled PET plastic (often called RePEat) which is made from recycled plastic bottles.

• These Bamboo utensils are heat and stain resistant and won't absorb flavors so you don't have to worry about chocolate pudding flavored pasta.
• They are sealed with a natural, vegan, food-safe sealant that has been tested and contains NO heavy metals that could leach into food.
• They are strong too, much stronger than those pesky plastic forks that always break and you end up trying to eat with a one or two tined fork by the end of the meal.

The RePEat utensil holders are available in a number of colors and styles so you can pick up a different one for each member of the family. We actually bought them as camping utensils but we have found there are so many more uses, and we can feel good about turning down plastic utensils where ever we go. Yes we are eco-geeky like that. As it turns out so is Oprah as the To-Go Ware was featured on Oprah's Earth Day show. (just a bit of eco-geek trivia for you)

Bamboo To-Go Ware utensil sets are for sale at a number of locations including Amazon (where you can often find them with free shipping), Whole Foods, REI and through the To-Go Ware web site itself.

This Post Shared on Real Food Wednesday

To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensils and Eco-Friendly Utensil Holder is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Not only are these organic dog treats loaded with simple organic ingredients but each has healthy benefits for "Fido" and your little (or not so little) pooch.

Here's the break down:

Organic Rye Flour: Helps strengthen your dog's immune system
Organic Oat Flour: Good source of protein, iron, copper and other nutrients
Nutmeg: Acts as an anti-inflammatory (plus it's like a gourmet dash of olfactory and palate pleasing pleasure)
Cinnamon: Good for brain function, improves blood circulation, and reduces canine heart disorders
Sweet Potato: Source of beta carotene to help metabolism and immune system
Flax Meal: Fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids (the good for you fats that dogs need - and people too!)

We picked up a box of Sweet Potato Bare Bones organic dog treats on sale at Target, but it looks like you can find Big Bark Bakery dog treats at Amazon (although last I checked they were waiting for a new shipment - word has gotten out how good they are I guess)

Update: Unfortunately it looks like Big Bark Bakery has gone to doggy treat heaven such a shame since they were really good treats.

Check out these other organic dog treats for sale below at Amazon

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R & M Dog Bone 4 Piece Cookie Cutter Set List Price: $9.99 Sale Price: $7.00 You save: $2.99 (30%)   Eligible for free shipping!

R&M Dog Bone Cookie Cutter Sale Price: $1.25   Eligible for free shipping!

Organic Dog Treats: My Dog Eats Better Than I Do is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Not only are these special Fair Trade chocolate nibs a special treat for the tummy you'll get bonus points for supporting a fair trade company that pays its farmers 200%-300% above the local market price for cacao, uses green energy, and uses non-GMO ingredients.

Yachana Gourmet Jungle Chocolates come in several tasty variations including: Brazil nut and coffee, pineapple, macadamia nut, raisin and coconut, and a mixed batch of all of them. Yum.

These Fair Trade Jungle Chocolates are for sale at eBay's World of Good. (maybe a bit late for a last minute Valentine gift - but it could save you from sleeping on the couch another night)

This Post Shared on Real Food Wednesday

Fair Trade Chocolates Saved Me From the Dog House is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

I have always been a soft towel nut; unfortunately, my experience with cotton has always been a disappointment. I've been told, "you have to wash them on cold if you want them to stay soft," but then on the other hand, I have been told, "you have to wash them on hot if you want them to get clean." And so in a relatively short time, those super soft cotton towels on display at the store become just average ordinary boring towels. Some people try to get around this dilemma using fabric softener - but I just can't bring myself to douse my towels in chemicals. No, I needed another solution-and discovering bamboo towels seemed to be it.

My bamboo towels have remained silky and soft like chenille despite dozens of washings. Yet there is more to make me love bamboo towels than silky softness. I also adore that bamboo is naturally antibacterial. Unlike cotton, I haven't had the need to wash my bamboo towels with vinegar to remove bad odors, because there aren't any!

Not All Bamboo Towels are Created Equal

Unfortunately, I've recently learned there is a downside to that soft textile. Bamboo itself is extremely fast growing which makes it one of the most Eco-friendly sustainable plants available - however, some of the chemicals used to make bamboo into soft clothing and towels can be quite hazardous to the environment and possibly even your health. Chemical solvents like sodium hydroxide and carbon disulphide may be combined with bleaching which is not a very Eco-friendly thing to do, and is typically known as the Bamboo Viscose Rayon method.

Some companies have begun manufacturing bamboo using the less toxic Bamboo Lyocell method, which I will be on the lookout for next time I need a new bamboo towel. I still think my bamboo towels are the best and its delicious softness is something you must experience for yourself. You don't even need to travel to an exotic Chinese Garden in Vancouver Canada to do so. Amazon has a fine selection of bamboo towels like these from Think Bamboo on sale for considerably less than the $70 bamboo towels I splurged on.

Enjoy These Soft Bamboo Towels for Sale on Amazon Below

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Super Soft Lightweight 70% Rayon from Bamboo 30% Organic Cotton Bath Towel Set 460 GSM - 3 Pieces - Powder Blue Sale Price: $26.88   Eligible for free shipping!

ThinkBamboo 70/30, 535GSM Rayon from Bamboo Exercise/Work Out Towel - 6pc Sand Sale Price: $38.88   Eligible for free shipping!

Why I Like Bamboo Towels Better than Cotton is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Once upon a time in a land far far away lived a puppy named Rufus. Rufus was a good little puppy so he got plenty of dog treats, treats when he held still for a nail clipping and a coat grooming, dog training treats when he rolled over on command and even treats for pretending to speak - he had his owners very well trained.

The problem was Rufus was unhappy, not unhappy because he felt unloved, he knew his people loved him very much, but Rufus was unhappy because his treats contained chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, and artificial preservatives - not to mention a certain amount of diseased meat by-products. (dead, dying, disabled or diseased food animals that have been rejected for human consumption end up in pet food and treats).

Rufus didn't think there was anything he could do about it, he knew his people would do anything for him if there was an alternative. So Rufus decided to take matters into his own paws and he called his good buddy Paul Newman - you know the one, that famous guy from all those movies who has his face on all those salad dressings now. Well Rufus said to Paul, you know buddy you have to look out for us pets, we need a healthy dog treat, in fact we'd love to have our own line of certified USDA organic dog treats.

Well Paul is a good guy so he created a line of Newman's Own®Organics Dog Treats (they make all sorts of organic pet food as well but little Rufus loved his treats best of all). Rufus told Paul to make these organic dog treats with human-grade ingredients, including certified-organic barley flour, ground chicken, carrots, apples, rolled oats, natural peanut flour, and a whole lot more natural and healthy ingredients - leave out the by-products, fertilizers, antibiotics, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors thank you very much. Oh and leave out the wheat, soy and corn because Rufus and his friends were a bit allergic to it, not to mention it made them a bit gassy.

Paul was happy to oblige, he loved his dogs as well, and he created a great line of organic dog treats just for Rufus and his friends. So now when Rufus lets his people use dog training treats to get him to do embarrassing things he has a happy smile on his face because his pal Paul made sure he had some tasty organic dog treats. Rufus now is a very happy little puppy - just ask him he'll tell you.... after you give him a treat.

Breaking News: Rufus the Puppy Responsible for Organic Dog Treats is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

A Cyber Monday sensation to sink your teeth into, this natural cake mix is due for a huge discount in Amazon's Cyber Monday promotion. (Keep your clicking fingers nice and limber around 12pm PST to snatch up the best price)

This 100% natural cake mix has no artificial ingredients, colors, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, dairy or soy, and is completely kosher. I did notice that it is manufactured in a facility that also handles wheat, eggs, milk, soy and tree nuts so it can't really claim to be 100% free of soy and dairy, and the chocolate cookies do have canola oil in them which while better than most vegetable oils still isn't the best for you, but overall it is still quite a bit better than most "regular" cake mixes.

So how is it on taste? That may be up to personal opinion but Naturally Nora products have been very well received by many natural food lovers. I would add though that this is not a light and fluffy cake - it is one of the more dense varieties of cake mixes you often find with natural baked goods - unfortunately those hydrogenated oils serve a purpose after all. I would imagine though that one could experiment with adding coconut oil or perhaps apple sauce and it may help add a bit of fluffiness.

If you've tried Naturally Nora cake mixes please leave us your opinion below, we'd love to hear from you.

Naturally Nora Cookie Cookie Cake Mix Super Sale is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Well, my creative kitchen gremlin tapped me on the shoulder and said "hey buddy let's experiment." So experiment we did.

Here is my Organic Old Fashioned Oatmeal Slow Cooker Recipe:

2 Cups dry Organic Old Fashioned Oats
2 Cups chopped apples (hand picked from a local orchard adds a little family fun)
2 1/2 Cups milk
1 1/2 Cups water
4 Tbsp. honey
4 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp cloves (or 5-6 crushed bulbs)
coconut oil

Grease your slow cooker with some coconut oil. Mix all the ingredients in your slow cooker set the timer on Low for 4 hours and wait patiently until you have one fine batch of spiced apple oatmeal. mm-mmm good!

Note: to take advantage of the full nutrient power of the oats soak them overnight in yogurt or buttermilk. Sound strange? You bet, but whole grains like oats have phytic acid which binds with the vitamins and minerals in our bodies and prevents them from being absorbed. Soaking them in an acidic medium like buttermilk, whey, yogurt, lemon juice, or vinegar overnight neutralizes the phytic acid and makes them easier to digest.

This post shared on Fight Back Fridays and Real Food Wednesday.

Organic Old Fashioned Oatmeal Slow Cooker Recipe is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

Often times bad breath is a result of periodontal disease (or gum disease to those of us not versed in dentist speak), gingivitis or just plain morning dry mouth. Without getting into a rather disgusting explanation, in all the above cases bacteria is the culprit.

So what is one to do to cure bad breath naturally and more importantly find a natural remedy for periodontal disease which causes bad breath?

I may have discovered a product that is the salvation for those of us suffering from periodontal disease, gingivitis, bleeding gums, canker sores, plain old bad breath or surprisingly even cavities themselves. I stumbled upon Vita-Myr recently and based on the testimonials I was excited to give it a try. Vita-Myr makes a line of Zinc-Plus all natural herbal toothpastes and mouthwash that sound nothing short of amazing.

The story behind the creation of Vita-Myr Herbal products is very inspiring. Robert Takhtalian at the age of only 44 had periodontal disease so bad that his teeth were loose (the Tooth Fairy was on her way kind of loose) and the only thing his dentist could do was remove the teeth. As you can imagine that didn't go over well with Robert or his wife Yvonne so they spent a year researching and developing natural remedies for periodontal disease. That research resulted in a vitamin, mineral and Herb combination that could be used in a mouthwash. After that year he had no sores in his mouth, no bleeding, no bad breath and his teeth had tightened up in his gums to the point that he could eat anything including chewing gum and even apples. That kind of natural cure is amazing in this age of fad products, but his story isn't the only inspiring tale being shared. Read more amazing results here.

We've been trying the Vita-Myr mouthwash, original formula toothpaste and the new Zinc-Plus Xtra with CoQ10 and Xylitol (which includes a whole bevy of additional curative benefits) for a couple weeks now, and while we won't know if it aids in curing periodontal disease until our next check ups it certainly helps in a few areas so far - including that nasty dry mouth morning breath.

First off Vita-Myr leaves your teeth feeling squeaky clean with a pleasant fresh breath. One of the main ingredients is clove oil so if you like clove you'll love these products. If you aren't a fan of clove try the mouthwash first it has a milder clove flavor - or you can give the all natural Vita-Myr orange flavored kids toothpaste a shot - that will be the next one we try since our kids think the clove is too "spicy". The clove is also anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory which helps in curing periodontal disease. Another key gum disease fighting ingredient is Myrrh (yes as in Frankincense and Myrrh). Gum inflammation and bleeding is also reduced by folic acid - which helps fight plaque as well.

The fourth key ingredient in the mouthwash and toothpastes is zinc. Zinc also has anti-bacterial properties, inhibits plaque growth, reduces wound healing time and eliminates VSC's (volatile sulfur compounds) which is a key factor in causing bad breath. One of the benefits of the Vita-Myr products I have noticed is a boost to my immune system which can also be attributed to zinc and the overall bad bacteria fighting properties of all the natural ingredients. A week after starting on the products I had the beginning signs of a cold - being surrounded on all sides by sick co-workers and family it is hard to avoid, but avoid it I did. A result of using Vita-Myr? Quite possibly so, as far as curing periodontal disease naturally we'll have to see. I'll do a follow up post in a few months when I have another visit to the 'ol dentist. Until then ... I intend to keep using my Vita-Myr.

Vita-Myr: A Natural Gum Disease Treatment and Bad Breath Banisher is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

I like to try new things so when I spotted New Grist beer and the label claiming it was all natural and gluten free I had to give it a shot. For those of you with Celiac Disease (an intolerance to gluten) if you've been mourning the loss of a good brew now and then you'll dance in the streets naked after trying this beer. (well, maybe you should put a few clothes on since it is getting a bit cold out these days).

It turns out New Grist beer from Lakefront Brewery is the first beer brewed without malted barley or any gluten containing ingredients to be recognized as beer by the the U.S. government.

So what's in it then you ask? New Grist is brewed from sorghum, hops, water, rice and gluten-free yeast grown on molasses. I was surprisingly delighted to find I really enjoyed it, in fact it had a very crisp slightly fruity refreshing taste - a perfect Fall beer that goes well with a nice juicy burger, a plate of good 'ol spaghetti and meet balls or even a bowl of ice-cream well, maybe not ice-cream, depends on how much you like your beer but it was a very nice accompaniment to a wide variety of tastes and it would make a killer addition to your favorite wing sauce.

A Gluten Free Home Run for New Grist Beer is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies