Boxsal

Picnics will never be the same again...thanks to Boxsal. Seriously badass picnic boxes complete with compostable dinnerware and utensils. Choose between a boombox, briefcase, or a paint-by-number portrait for some picnic fun.

Matchstick Garden

Everyone can play with these matches! Tear out a matchstick, plant it tip first in soil and you’ll soon have your own lil garden.

Bonsai

Check out this Atomic Bonsai: No-Maintenance Tree! It's a 3-D sculptural puzzle kit perfect for those without a greenthumb. This no-maintenance cardboard greenery does not require watering or pruning!

Made from 100% recycled paper and non-toxic ink.

Wooden Utensils

Picnic and Party Perfect, wooden utensils add a sleek touch to any event or outing. I'm already trying to think of an event to plan where I can put them to use! You can get some at Anthropologie, but I always seem to entertain larger crowds, so bulk from Ecoware is better for me. A better deal too! "Sorry Anthropologie!"

The ones pictured above are letterpressed. But plain ones are just as charming!

The Little Experience

Calling all crafty kids! The Little Experience brings BIG FUN with their oh so fun craft kits for all ages!

When mr. red is old enough, I am definitely getting him the "Build-It Rocket Kit"!

The Little Experience is an award winning quirky English craft kit company designing unique kits for children to make and do.

All of the products boxes are printed inside, so they can be recycled to make something cool. Even the mini kit packaging can be recycled into a coloring sheet! This adds a totally new dimension to teaching children about the value of recycling.

Kauzbots

Robots for a good kause! Purchase a cute and cuddly KAUZBOT, and 10% of the retail price is donated to the kauze close to that robot’s heart.

Each Kauzbot works for a different Kause. The leader of the Krew - Kelvin (pictured), helps Hearts of Gold, enhancing the lives of homeless moms and their children.

So go out and get your Kauzbot today...It's for a great Kause...Or simply just beKause!

Snack Taxi : GIVEAWAY

Happy Earth Day! So let's start the day off with a little green. snackTaxi offers reusable bags for a happier planet! Simply use them as you would any other ziplock plastic bag for sandwiches and snacks, without all the waste! They're a homebased family business that's helping out the earth...one bag at a time!

EXCLUSIVELY COOL JUST FOR YOU! GIVEAWAY
The very cool owner of snackTaxi, Erin Kelly-Dill, thinks you're all cool too! So she has an exclusively COOL Giveaway just for our COOL PICK readers! She's giving away a Sandwich Sack & a Snack Sack to one lucky cool person! So simply leave a comment below to enter.
You have until midnight 12:00am (PST) on May 1, 2009 to enter!

Instructables

Instructables is an awesome site that basically instructs you how to do anything. Perfect for DIY'ers and people who'd rather create things themselves rather than go out and buy it. My personal faves are:
Reuse/Remake Crayons - since all moms know there are always crayons lying around that need some resuscitation
Mug Brownie - do we really need an excuse for chocolate?
Rainy Day Tissue Box Guitar - Fun, quick and easy indoor entertainment to cure cabin fever

Lunch Sacs

We think handmade is very COOL! So when we found out about Print*Paper*Pattern*, we knew we had to support them! We love their fair wage/fair labor reusable cotton lunch sacs! The red robot one is my personal fave! So ditch the plastic or paper lunch bags and give your lil one's a green alternative! Check out her other cool bags, art and stationery as well!


EXCLUSIVELY COOL JUST FOR YOU!
Founder and Creative force behind Print*Paper*Pattern*, Rebecca Peragine, thinks you're cool too! ONE COOL PICK readers get 20% off their order! Just enter coupon code COOL09.

Frustration-Free

Ok, I confess that I haven't unwrapped all of "mr. red's" toys gifts yet. We're trying to span it out, so when he's really in need of some rainy day entertainment, I've got some secret weapons handy.

Ok fine, the truth is, I just can't bear another hard plastic clamshell case, with plastic bendy bindings, and wire ties that are impossible to get off, while our very impatient toddler melts down cause we just can't open the darn packaging to release the toy fast enough. My restless tot and sore fingers just can't take any more torture.

So God Bless Amazon. They recently launched Frustration-Free Packaging - an answer to every parents' prayer! Designed to alleviate "wrap rage," they use recyclable boxes that are easy to open and free of excess materials. The product itself is exactly the same - they've just streamlined the packaging.

It's on a pilot run for now, with only around 19 products in beta. So please support this so they'll continue it and add more to their Frustration Free Line!

Of course I find this out AFTER the holidays. So here's a Frustration Free Start to 2009.

Fold School

Let's kick it Fold School. Did you or your little ones get any huge gifts this past holiday? Perhaps a ride-on train set for your little monster or a big plasma for your big monster? Well huge gifts usually mean huge cardboard boxes as packaging. So what do you do with all those boxes? Fold school is a COOL site that instructs you on how to make COOL kids furniture with all those darn boxes you're not using. We think Fold School is So Cool.

Wine Not?

It's Christmas Eve, so you're on your way to the holiday festivities, and you pick up a fabulous bottle of wine for the party. STOP! Your wine can't just go naked! And like everyone else, you're trying to be green, so how do you dress your wine in style and still be kind to the planet? Well Green Lifestyle expert, Danny Seo, has a very COOL solution. Grab your newspaper and wrap away!

Simply wrap two sheets around a bottle and tie a ribbon around the neck of the bottle.Cut strips of newspaper from the top of the paper to the top of the bottle; the more, the better. Curl each strip with scissors and voila!

Very Cool. Happy Holidays!

Oh Christmas Tree

In the spirit of keeping things not only festive this holiday season, but COOL and creative as well, here's some inspiration. Take a look at these unusual creations of the ever popular christmas tree.

Note to self: I want the Plywood Christmas Tree. (and the modern living room to go with it!)

Cardboard Wreath

Keep your holidays "green" with an eco friendly wreath. Made from 100% recycled cardboard, this wreath is not only perfect for your front door, it's also great for the planet.