Kids’ bath times are usually wet ‘n wild.  Kiss My Face has tapped into children’s love of animals with a fresh line of bath products aimed to keep those fun-loving monsters clean, green and eco-conscious. With 2-in-1 shampoo & conditioner, foaming shampoo & body wash, detangler, bubble wash, lip balm and soap — every product is free of artificial colors and fragrances, parabens and SLS.  Included are natural ingredients such as: organic green tea extract to protect against sun damage, nettle to stimulate hair growth and tea tree oil to kill germs.

Each product package ties into an endangered species — such as Walter the Whale, Peter the Panda, Tina the Tortoise, Edna the Elephant or Chi Chi the Chimpanzee.  Kids can learn more by visiting the bubbly, safari-themed website @ kissmyface.com/kids/

find the goods @ kissmyface.com

Not long ago, about the same time we learned that dark chocolate and wine (in moderation) aren’t so bad for us after all, the “healthy cocktail” craze started to gain some traction. I noticed this especially in New York, where every neighborhood boasted an upscale, trendy vegetarian bistro (not restaurant, mind you) with mood lighting, European club music and a list of specialty organic cocktails, like the Pomegratini or the Himalayan Blossom.

Now you can make your own fruity, “smart cocktails” with Modmix’s range of organic fruit and herb mixers. Try the new Wasabi Bloody Mary Mix, containing organic sun-ripened tomatoes, or order the Lavender Lemon Drop, Pomegranate Cosmopolitan, Citrus Margarita or French Martini. Hey, if you’re going to make a cocktail, you might as well make it a smart one and add some healthy antioxidants to the equation, right?

Modmixbeverages.com

• Look out! Gustav Becomes Category 3 Hurricane Off Cuba – reuters
• Is New Orleans Ready for Another Storm? – livescience
• An avid moose eater. Green? Probably not…. Sarah Palin on the Environment – huffington post
• No word on whether or not it was ‘full’.  Disposable Diaper Breaks Fall, Saves Child’s Life – ap/myway
• There’s nothing on the radio anyway… GM to Offer Radios With USB Ports for Music Players – msnbc
• I don’t know what this means…Stella McCartney’s New Deer Head Backpack is Perfect for Carrying a Deer’s Head – ecorazzi
• I think I was just about due for a new one…New Giant Clam Species Discovered – bbc

I may be a little late on the calendar on this one, but I still have to ask, why do they call this time of year “the dog days of summer”?  I would think “dog days” would connote a bright, shiny, clean-air day providing the best platform for outdoor activities, be it chasing a squirrel or sunbathing on the patio – not smoggy, hot, oppressive conditions that promote shedding, scratching and air conditioning.

Then again, in a presidential election year like this,  the “dog days” can indeed be oppressive and unpleasant, with negative ads, repetitious chest pounding and finger pointing creating more hot air than a Bermuda high or two malamutes in heat.  The pack has now been reduced to the “wise old dog” and the “young energized pup.”  Pretty much a question of style and perception since they’re both politicians.  Being a young pup myself I can see the value of an energetic, well-groomed candidate with good manners.  The older guy appears to be losing some fur, seems a little nippy and may be just a little too set in his ways…well anyway, the fur is gonna fly.  Of course, as in any dog fight, my money is usually on the younger hound in any long, drawn out fracas.

I don’t know if you’ve ever touched seaglass but its smooth surface feels quite soothing.

Check out Cornwall UK-based artist, Kate Laity’s beautiful, handmade sterling silver jewelry made from two recycled materials — seaglass and silver, as well as her beaded butterflies and forged silver rings.  The designer’s cool collections are flavored by a fusion of the windblown natural beauty of her native West Cornwall, and her background and family heritage as a blacksmith.

glasswingjewellery.com

Love it! 100% organic cotton, hand-printed t-shirt with a message I can get behind.  A creation of Brooklyn-based artist, Jen P. Harris.   All Black Sheep Heap packaging is made of recycled brown paper grocery bags. Jen also make some sweet eco totes.

A portion of the proceeds from the Avant-Gardener Series go to NYC green garden orgs like 6/15 Green.

Buy stuff from real people.

$20 @ blacksheepheap.com

• This is going to be interesting…Obama Blasts Bush’s ‘Failed Presidency’ – msnbc
• Watch for a drop in supply…Drivers to Continue Conserving Gas, Even as Prices Fall – rueters
• Bureaucrats and political hacks control the future of our wildlife.  Bush Changes to Endangered Species Act Called Bad Science – yahoo! news
• Blasphemous is a great word. Museum Defies Pope Over Crucified Frog – reuters
• Blasphemous! (video) Katy Perry Auctions Off Her Breasts for Charity – ecorazzi
• Sneak up and aim ahead…Fly’s Brain Senses Swat Threat – bbc
• The 10 Most Shameless Product Placements in Movie History – cracked.com
• What I Did on My Summer Staycation – nytimes

The world is one big skatepark.  Shred on the eco friendly side of the street on this downhill slider from Comet.  ‘Biopop’ construction features 4 plys of maple with hardrock maple veneer from FSC harvested timber, e2e cross-linking soy resin (no petro-chemicals here), triaxial hemp fabric, sustainable bamboo core, hot pressed one deck at a time.

Find a skatepark near you @ skatepark.com.

get the board for $69 and the whole rig assembled for $169 @ cometskateboards.com

If you’re like me and your sweet tooth is out of control, then you’ll dig Kookie Karma’s wholesome yummy snacks.

The LA-based bakery is churning out tasty treats free of preservatives and common food allergens like gluten, corn, soy, dairy, butter, sugar, baking soda, eggs, casein and wheat. Kookie Karma uses only fresh, raw and organic ingredients like lemons, figs, cherries nuts, carob and chocolate.

Try the Holistic Chocolate Chip or the Raw Lemon Fig, which the company says tastes like a Fig Newton, only healthier. (All of their products can be ordered on their website.) If you’re into raw foods or if you’re health conscious, vegan, gluten intolerant or simply love gourmet food, then you should try them.

more @ kookiekarma.com