Toys boats! But can you say it three times fast?

Wooden boats are such a classic toy. Perfect during summer in the lake, beach or pool. And just as fun in the bathtub when the cold weather hits. We've found two Oregon shops that offer some great handmade options for wooden toy boats. You'll just need to provide the water.

First up is Tweet by Willow Baus from West Linn. Her wonderful wooden sailboats have been making the internet rounds lately (love the different sail choices). But it's the toy rowboats we're especially taken with right now. They're big enough to fill with dolls or shells and pull along behind as you wade. Made with non-toxic finishes (beeswax and orange oil) and loads of original fabrics.

For a little more action, we love the rubber band powered boats from Portland's Wood Toy Shop. Wind up the paddle and watch them zip across the water. These boats are made from hardwood--much of it reclaimed scrap material--and finished with mineral oil.

Sailboats and rowboats $16-18 at Tweet by Willow Baus
Rubber band boats $15 at Wood Toy Shop

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Frilly summer style

Everything is cuter on babies. Little baby toes, little baby noses, little baby bums...you get my point. So instead of dressing your little girl in shorts or a skirt this summer, highlight her adorable baby booty with a pair of Ruffle Butts. These ruffled bloomers slip over a diaper for instant girly style. Top them off with a coordinating swing top, layer them under a dress or pair them with a simple t-shirt. And Ruffle Butts are 100% cotton and machine washable (the latter is a must in my house).

$17 at Northwest shop Sugar Babies

GIVEAWAY! We have a Ruffle Butts outfit (bloomer and shirt) of your choice from Sugar Babies to give away to one lucky reader! To enter, visit the Sugar Babies site and leave a comment on this post telling us what makes the Swiss Dot Embroidery bloomers unique. Leave additional comments as bonus entries if you subscribe to our feed, follow us on Twitter, are a fan on Facebook or have one of our new buttons on your site. Be sure to include an email address, blog link or other form of contact. Contest closes July 17th at midnight PST. Winner will be chosen at random. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Official rules. Good luck!

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Happy little pea twins

It's pea season 'round here and my family has been happily nibbling on fresh pea pods all week. Love those tasty little buggers!

You can have their green goodness around all year long with the clever peas in a pod pillow from Portland's Frolic Design. Two plush peas zip into a 16" pod, making a unique accent pillow for a nursery or child's bedroom. The pod is available in a variety of linings or you can request a custom fabric for that extra dash of coordination.

The best part is that the handmade peas with their felt eyes double as soft toy balls for toddlers. Making this one pillow that's good for more than just a pillow fight.

$23 at Frolic Design

EVERGREEN DISCOUNT! Save 10% off your order (less shipping) at Frolic Design when you note "evergreen" in the 'message to seller' during checkout. (A refund will be posted back to Paypal account.)

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A custom cocktail of organic oils

I bought Sophie Uliano's book "Gorgeously Green" last year and found it jam packed with helpful hints on simple ways to go green. One of my favorites is ditching those pricey facial moisturizers and making your own organic moisturizer using organic Jojoba oil and other essential oils from Oregon's Mountain Rose Herbs. (She gives several recipes depending on your skin type.)

I have oily, acne-prone skin and the mere idea of using an oil seems counter-intuitive. Yet it has been extremely effective and less irritating than most lotions. In fact, Jojoba oil has become my go-to product. It absorbs quickly, has a long shelf life and immediately eliminates dryness and flaking. I have used it on everything from my legs after shaving to my baby's cradle cap.

The most cost effective way to guarantee the finest organic ingredients for your custom moisturizer is to order your oils in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs. They even have cute little amber glass bottles for storage. Since bulk oils make several years supply of moisturizers, I suggest giving them as gifts. Or invite your friends over for a night of facials and DIY moisturizers.

8oz organic Jojoba Oil $13 at Mountain Rose Herbs

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Fun in the Sun Roundup

There is an adage in the Pacific Northwest that the summer sun is only guaranteed between Independence Day and Labor Day. So we are bringing you some of our favorite local products as we kick off the official start of the season of fun in the sun!
	A must-have for fun in the sun is gear for those trips to to the local pool to cool off. Forget about disposable swim diapers and give these reusable Fattycakes cloth swim diapers from Lil Adi a try. You can layer them under a swimming suit but they're cute enough to wear alone as well. $15 at Lil Adi (discount below)
	Sun protection is a must but kids hate having their fun delayed while sunscreen is being applied. With UPF clothing like these rashguards from Outside Baby, you can cut down on the whining and get on with the playing. This is where form meets function for the summer. $30 at Outside Baby
	Don't forget that all important hat! This super cool sun hat from Mama Runs With Scissors can be worn in this cowboy style or unsnap the brim for full sun protection. And it's available in a multitude of prints so you can pick the one your little guy will love to wear. $33 at Mama Runs With Scissors (discount below)
	With fun in the sun often comes bugs. Stop those mosquitos from ruining your fun day with this all natural, DEET-free bug spray from Bienella. Made from essential oils, this spray is safe for kids and even pets. $15 at Bienella
	Our family has a summer tradition of enjoying a picnic dinner on Sunday nights. And one thing that is critical to a succcessful picnic is a waterproof blanket like this one from Mambe Blanket Co. Soft fleece on one side and durable, waterproof nylon on the other makes this the ideal outdoor blanket. $49 at Mambe Blanket Co. (discount below)
	Another key to summer sanity is a daily stroll around the neighborhood. For all you who love your BOB jogging strollers but want to protect your little rider's legs from the sun, check out these clever stroller covers from Shady Feet. $25 at Shady Feet
	Let's face it, even the hottest days in the Pacific Northwest tend to start and end on the cooler side. Keep a jacket handy with this Eco Backpack Jacket from Our Globo. Made from eco-friendly, recycled materials, this water and wind resistant jacket converts to a backpack in seconds. And a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Sustainable Schools Initiative. $35 at Our Globo (discount below)

EVERGREEN DISCOUNTS!

• Lil Adi - Mention Evergreen Moms in the notes to seller section at checkout and save 10% off your order. (Discount will be refunded after purchase.)


• Mama Runs With Scissors- Mention Evergreen Moms in the notes to seller at checkout and save 20% off your order of $25 or more. (Discount will be refunded after purchase.)


• Mambe Blanket Co. - Save 15% on your order with the code RC8.


• Our Globo - Save 15% on your first jacket and 20% for two or more. Just go to the Buy Now page, click onto the button at the bottom of the page that reads "GOKids Click Here", then type is user ID : goglobo and password: livewise.

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It's not summer without frozen treats

Summer just wouldn't be complete without popsicles and ice cream. I can't even count the number of childhood memories I have of being out on sunny deck, arms sticky with drips.

If you're trying to avoid the high-fructose corn-syrup and other yuckies in the store-bought treats, making your own is a great alternative. Seattle-based Tovolo has a nice line of BPA-free popsicle molds that make homemade pop making good-looking and easy. My favorite are the shooting star pop molds, but you can also choose from the classic rounded or rocket pop shapes. Fill them with juice or yogurt, stick them in the freezer, and, voila! Popsicles! My kids love layering different juices to make multi-colored popsicles or adding in tiny chunks of floating fruit. Leftover yogurt gets spooned right into the mold, making tasty yogurt pops for pennies.

For ice cream sandwiches, try the Tovolo ice cream sandwich molds--also BPA-free--in stars and hearts or very cute farm animal shapes. DIY ice cream sandwiches let you stray from the usual chocolate-and-vanilla into all sorts of tasty combinations. (My favorite: peach ice cream on gingersnaps.) And I appreciate how easy it is to sub in soy yogurt or soy ice cream for my dairy-allergic daughter, so that her treats look just like the other kids'.

Popsicle molds $10 at Amazon
Ice cream sandwich molds $12 at Amazon

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Sun hats with style

Seriously, how cute is this sun hat? I mean, COME ON!

Okay, now that I've composed myself, I'll tell you a little bit more about these adorable sun hats from Jamie Rae Hats. As the mom of a fair haired child, I know the woes of delicate scalps and bald looking pictures well beyond the first year. Jamie, a stay-at-home-mom, had the same challenges and was frustrated with the boring hat options for kids. So she came up with a unique, comfortable and oh-so-cute style with these flower adorned cotton hats. You can choose the color of hat and style of flower for a custom look for your little one. Sun hats just don't get any cuter than this!

$26 at Jamie Rae Hats

EVERGREEN SPECIAL OFFER! Free shipping on your order from Jamie Rae Hats with the code PRINTS.

GIVEAWAY! We have your choice of sun hat from Jamie Rae Hats to give away to one lucky reader! To enter, visit the Jamie Rae Hats site and leave a comment on this post telling us which hat is your favorite. Leave additional comments as bonus entries if you subscribe to our feed, follow us on Twitter, are a fan on Facebook or have one of our new buttons on your site. Be sure to include an email address, blog link or other form of contact. Contest closes July 11th at midnight PST. Winner will be chosen at random. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Official rules. Good luck!

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