Posted on Jul 22, 2011 | Tagged in: shopping , news , education , economy
Make a “green” impression on your kids this fall with planet-friendly (non-toxic) school supplies. Not only will it be a conversational icebreaker with their new classmates, but many of the eco-friendly options are super stylish, too. Follow these simple green shopping tips and get started shopping.
Try not to buy backpacks made of nylon or “new plastics”, especially PVC/vinyl. Instead opt for bags made from recycled materials or natural cotton or materials such as hemp.
Choose biodegradable pens. These corn-made pens disintegrate completely about a year after they are thrown away and can be found for just $2 each at online retailers such as www.grassrootsstore.com .
Send lunches in reusable food and beverage containers. Pack lunches in Wrap-N-Mat, cotton and non-PVC-vinyl–lined bags or BPA-free snack containers. These items are now widely available and easy to find at many local retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart.
Don’t send prepackaged beverages. Opt for BPA-free, reusable water bottles such as Sigg or REI. We’ve all seen the horrifying commercial that states “enough plastic water bottles were thrown away last year to wrap around the planet 3 times!” That says it all.
Buy recycled when available. Kleen Earth scissors have black handles that are made from recycled plastic and the Post-It company now has an entire line of recycled sticky notes available at most office supply stores.
Avoid toxic adhesive paste. This glue is a parent and student favorite. Coccoina sticky paste (aka glue) is made of potato starch and works on paper and fabric. And best of all, it is solvent-free and smells like almonds! Although not as easily available as some of the other suggestions, Coccoina can be purchased at popular green online retailers such as www.greendepot.com .
Start your green shopping at bulk supply retailers such as OfficeMax and Staples - all of which offer notebooks made from recycled paper and many other eco-friendly supply solutions. And, for those not-so-easy-to-find items, online retailers such as www.greendepot.com can be a one-stop solution for the rest of your needs!
Posted on Jul 06, 2011 | Tagged in: shopping , news
As a self proclaimed crawfish critic, I often venture out to the local cook-off in hopes of finding something a little out of the ordinary. And, I’m not impressed by heat alone, which seems too often to be the only differing factor.
But, at a recent backyard cook-off, I found a pleasantly delicious and surprisingly different batch of mudbugs. And, to avoid tainting the competition, I will avoid divulging the teams’ identity, but I will share the secret – because you will definitely want to try this one at home!
Posted on Jul 27, 2010 | Tagged in: shopping , family , events
Nearby Willowbrook Mall will host “Shop ‘til You Rock”, a teen-targeted day of live music, games, prizes, great deals, and even a teen (ages 13-19) modeling competition, on Saturday, August 7 from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The “Shop ‘til You Rock” mall tour features live music from “Stereo Skyline” and activities that range from getting a “rock star” make-over to trying out the Just Dance video game. Sponsors include Pepsi Refresh Project, Hot Topic, Just Dance, GameStop, Kodak, and Fusion Model Management, and very popular teen actress and singer Demi Lovato (Disney’s “Camp Rock” and “Camp Rock 2”) is also associated with the mall tour.
Located just down the highway from Towne Lake at the southwest corner of SH 249 and FM 1960, Willowbrook Mall offers hundreds of shops and places to eat. You can shop for the best, or just take a rest and enjoy the air conditioned comfort of Willowbrook’s beautiful indoor mall setting. Willowbrook Mall is just another of the great and conveniently-located amenities of Towne Lake!
Posted on Jul 23, 2010 | Tagged in: shopping , entertainment
There’s great music planned this summer, from now to the end of August at the Trader’s Village Summer Concert Series and a great shopping experience, too! With over 1,500 shops and dealers spread over 105 acres, the Trader’s Village is open Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 a.m. to dusk, and the concerts begin at noon both days under the covered 50,000 square-foot Gray Expo building.
The concert series’ music ranges across all genres, from the fun Island music of Kelly McGuire to the blues of Luther and the Healers to the Latino sounds of Mango Punch. The shopping variety is diverse and includes shops selling army surplus, vinyl records and turntables, dealers offering great garage sales, and more. To beat the heat and rest your feet, you can enjoy drinks and food at the many food stands located around the village.
Traders Village is located at 7979 N. Eldridge Rd., and for more information on Trader’s Village and the Summer Concert series, you can call 281-890-5500, email houstoninfo@tradersvillage.com or visit TradersVillage.com.
