The Solar Tiki Torches Challenge

Looking at the solar patio lighting options on Amazon it looks like there are two contenders for the solar tiki torches challenge. In one corner you have the Moonrays 91206 Solar Powered Tiki Torch Path Light which uses one amber LED and one flickering amber LED to simulate that raging ball of fire that excites and tantalizes our senses - but in a much more subdued way and without the sooty smoke and kerosene smell.

In the other corner is the Paradise Lighting GL23922 Solar Bamboo Look Tiki Torch which uses two flickering LED lights instead of the one fixed and one flickering and has a round top vs a more square top on the Moonrays Solar Tiki torch.

Moonrays Solar Tiki Torches vs Paradise Lighting Tiki Torches

Other than the difference in the lighting style both solar tiki lights are pretty much the same, both run on Rechargable Ni-Cd batteries (included), both stand at 59 inches tall on bamboo tiki torch poles, both have a frosted lens, and both use eco-friendly solar charging panels to power them at night.

Based on the research I've done and the reviews of these solar tiki lights you may want to get different NiCd rechargeable batteries as the one's included don't last very long. Keep in mind that these are NiCd batteries and not the more popular NiMH rechargeable batteries, or new more powerful NiZN rechargeable batteries - I don't know if NiMH or NiZN batteries would work or not - but best to stick with the NiCd unless you really do want that flaming ball of fire atop your new tiki light. Just to be safe.

Check out these solar tiki torches for sale from Amazon and have a flaming ball of fire good time by your pool or patio in no time.

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Paradise Lighting GL23922 Solar Bamboo Look Tiki Torch including Ground Stake, 2 Flicker Amber LED Bulbs, Frosted Lens and Rechargable NiCad Batteries List Price: $26.99 Sale Price: $13.32 You save: $13.67 (51%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Solar Tiki Torch Sale Price: $12.99   Eligible for free shipping!

Solar Tiki Torches: Solar Patio Lighting with Pizazz is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

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

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

This 15-watt solar charger plugs into your vehicle's 12-volt lighter socket so when you are out in the boonies becoming one with nature you can still have the luxury of bragging to your friends on Facebook that you are on vacation. Intended to work to charge your car, boat or RV battery but many inventive folks are using these Sunforce 15 Watt Solar chargers mounted on their homes or elsewhere for some extra free energy.

These originally list for $129.99 but thanks to the Amazon Lightning Deal you can grab one (or several) for only $70! (Amazon's regular price seems to be $92.72 but with the Lightning Deal it is down to the $70 - if you make the deadline the price will be shown in the cart - good luck!)

Update: This Lightning Deal is gone but the price on solar charging kits are dropping as new technology comes out. This Sunforce 50032 15 Watt Solar Battery Charger is now on sale for $79.95 or you can grab the newer model Sunforce 50033 for even less.

Check out these other Sunforce solar charging kits for sale at Amazon

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Sunforce 50048 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit List Price: $599.99 Sale Price: $279.95 You save: $320.04 (53%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging Kit Sale Price: $90.63   Eligible for free shipping!

Sunforce 15 Watt Solar Battery Charger on Sale is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies

The Rodelle headquarters in Fort Collins Colorado it turns out is 100% powered by wind or alternate energy sources. And to sweeten the pot they are very active in local and international efforts to improve social and environmental standards such as emergency relief efforts and working toward sustainable growing practices in Madagascar and Uganda where the vanilla bean growers are.

It is heart warming, on a cold pre-winter day especially, to find companies quietly improving the world we live in with something as simple as the vanilla extract we bake with.

Rodelle makes a wonderful line of gourmet baking ingredients and spices including many types of gourmet vanilla extracts and beans upon which the company was founded. If you are looking for high quality organic vanilla extract, alcohol free vanilla extract, some delicious Madegascar bourbon vanilla beans, or just good old fashioned pure vanilla extract give Rodelle a try - and help spread the warmth this holiday season.

I don't recall which grocery store I found my vanilla extract at but it looks like Amazon has a selection of Rodelle Products for sale from time to time. Also below is the current selection of Rodelle products for sale on eBay as well.

This Post Shared on Real Food Wednesday and Fight Back Friday

Rodelle Gourmet Vanilla Extract: Free Warm and Fuzzies 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

Teak is such a beautiful wood with such a soft whirling grain and smooth warm feel. These teak window boxes are even better because they are crafted from teak grown from reforested areas throughout Costa Rica by a producer that adheres to the principles of the Forestry Stewardship Council. Diamond Teak has 12 plantations that protect more than 1000 acres of jungle and provide safe haven to diverse flora, fauna and 70 species of trees, including mahogany, purpleheart and cocobolo rosewood. These hardwoods make wonderful furniture but have a bad reputation because these rare forests are being logged to extinction, not to mention logging contributes to habitat destruction, water pollution, and the displacement of indigenous peoples. The Forestry Stewardship Council strives to make sure these forests are maintained in a sustainable and safe way for the environment.

What this all means is by supporting companies who follow these strict guidelines you can feel proud to know you are getting a beautiful product in the most environmentally friendly way. I also love to hear companies going one step further... Goods For The Garden is committed to preserving America's historical gardens, landscapes, green spaces and mother earth! They contribute 5 percent of the purchase price of every product to an organization of your choosing or to their 1 Percent For The Planet Fund.

Now that's an Earth Friendly wood window box that will keep on giving year after year - plus you can get an early start on that Spring planting. As for me, I'm going to go kick some more snow into the driveway and think about what I want to plant first!

Below you'll find teak window boxes for sale from Goods for the Garden

Fair Trade Teak Window Boxes: Beautiful and Sustainable 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

Swell Foop has created two new 100% organic Valentine's Day themed t-shirt designs celebrating not only the little chubby angel and his ministrations of huggy kissy's but a love for the environment and sustainable products.

You see Swell Foop is a two sister tag team who believe in the good things in life - like the earth we live on and the furry, fuzzy, scaly, froggy, buggy, beautiful critters that scurry in the woods and oceans at night (ok so ocean dwelling creatures don't do much scurrying but it sounded good). Their current designs feature animals that are threatened by a variety of conditions, including global warming, human encroachment into animal's habitat, and hunting.

And thanks to their generosity and the fabulously fantastic focus organic blog you and I have a chance to bring home a soft cuddly 100% organic t-shirt with a cool new design for Free. So swing on over to Focus Organic and give Swell Foop some fooping good attention and who knows you might just have something else to celebrate this Valentine's Day.

I’m A Swell Foop are You? Organic Cotton T-Shirt Giveaway 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 100% Rayon from Bamboo Bath Towel 460 GSM-2pc-Coffee Sale Price: $30.88   Eligible for free shipping!

ThinkBamboo 70/30, 535GSM Rayon from Bamboo Hand Towel - 5pc Aquamarine Sale Price: $29.88   Eligible for free shipping!

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

After all the excitement of gift opening is done what do we do with all that used wrapping paper? Well in the spirit of eco-friendliness and originality I have come up with a few fun ideas for re-using wrapping paper - even better than composting the biodegradable wrapping paper - trust me...

1. Make a huge wrapping paper pile and have everyone jump in it while singing Silent Night, at which point the crotchety neighbor next door calls the police to have you arrested. Good family fun - everyone gets matching black fingerprint fingers.

2. Shred it all up punch holes in your walls and stuff it full - the added insulation will make your home more energy efficient. Plus the process of punching holes in the walls makes for a lively stress reliever perfect for family get togethers.

3. Make three ten foot balls of used wrapping paper and roll it around your back yard until you set the world record for largest snow man. Use the temporary fame and status to educate the world on the merits of reusing gift wrap.

4. Gather all your neighbors and have everyone spread their shiny reflective foil wrapping paper out across all the streets and roof tops - then connect them to The Grid where it will provide enough energy to power everyone's christmas lights for 3 years - not to mention allow Santa to fly his new eco-friendly XL3000 Turbo Electric Sleigh back to the North Pole.

5. Ball up each piece of wrapping paper and have a family gift wrap fight. It doesn't serve an eco-friendly purpose but it sure is fun to pepper uncle Dave with his own gift wrap - a little pay back for giving you socks for Christmas... again.

6. Incinerate it making sure to collect the toxic fumes and ash in large insulated balloons that will float up into the atmosphere where the heat and pressure will cause an unexpected chemical reaction which releases oxygen and absorbs enough of the carbon emissions in the world to end global warming. (Hey it's my blog I can make stuff up if I want)

6 1/2. Sort all the paper into piles - Re-use, Recycle and Compost. Yes it is boring and that's what everyone else tells you to do but at least you aren't getting arrested, punching holes in your walls, getting frostbite while setting a world record, illegally paving city streets, getting an eye poked out with flying gift wrap, or playing with toxic fumes and ash.

If you have more fun ideas for what to do with your used wrapping paper leave a comment below. Have fun this holiday season and have a blast with your gift wrap!

6 1/2 Things to Do With Used Wrapping Paper is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies