The Soft Landing Blog

The guys in my family have responded with equal shock and dismay after watching me drink coffee from my double-walled stainless steel mug, “Why are you ruining the ultimate beer mug with your coffee?!”  

It may sound strange, but I enjoy sipping from a heavy duty mug that keeps my coffee hot – even without a lid!  My husband insists that he get to use it for his frosty beer too – and I’m willing to share, but he has to put in a reservation ahead of time.  And it’s only available in the evenings

Our Favorite Features

• Its double wall design keeps drinks cold and hands comfortable, while preventing condensationThe air pocket created by the stainless steel double wall keeps cold drinks cold, and hot beverages hot
• Brushed exterior, polished interior and a large comfortable handle make it handsome and comfortable
• Skip disposable plastic cups and go eco-friendly
• Holds a hearty 15oz and measures 6″ H x 3″ W
• Dishwasher safe

This mug can survive any beating Dad can dish out!  It’s the perfect Christmas gift and will be 30% off during our 2-day Holiday Specials on Coffee and Tea Mugs from 11/16 through 11/18.  Use code “christmas116″ at checkout.  Not valid with any other offers.  While supplies last, no rainchecks.

And Now for the Giveaway

It’s time for more Twitter Tuesday fun!  Today we’re giving away a RSVP Stainless Steel Mug to one lucky winner via a live giveaway on Twitter at 3pm EST and another via 2nd Chance Drawing here on our blog.

How to enter our live giveaway via Twitter (#TuesGiveaway)

1. Follow us on Twitter @thesoftlanding
2. We’ll send out a contest announcement on Twitter at 3pm EST, and you’ll be entered automatically when you copy/paste that announcement and re-tweet it.  Our tweet will look something like this:  “RT to WIN: @thesoftlanding is giving away XYZ to the 50th person to tweet this!” (the tweet will be sent out right at 3pm EST and will not look exactly like this one – so be watching on Twitter)
3. The lucky tweet(s) will win!  We’ll notify everyone by tweeting the winner(s) Twitter ID when the contest ends.  Please check our profile page at http://www.twitter.com/thesoftlanding.com for updates
4. The winner(s) will contact us at info@thesoftlanding.com with their full name and shipping address to claim their prize
5. If you’ve won in the last 30 days, you will not be eligible to win today

*NOTE* Please be considerate of others by keeping your Twitter entries at a reasonable level (2-3 tweets).  That way everyone will have a chance to enter

How to Enter the Blog Contest

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to our Twitter Tuesday Giveaway today, because you can enter here on our blog too for a chance to win another RSVP Stainless Steel Mug!  Simply leave a comment right here on this blog post by midnight on November 12, 2009.  One entry per person. Open to all blog readers worldwide!

Filed under: Giveaways, Reusable Bottles for Adults, Safer Materials, Shopping Guides, Stainless Steel, Twitter Tuesday | Comments

I’m honored to be featured as Dr. Greene’s Perspectives blogger this week for a brand new, updated series on Toxic Plastic!

Here’s our schedule of topics for this week:

Monday:  A little background on why I left nursing to research endocrine-disruptors found in food storage, baby teethers and toys

Tuesday: What is BPA?

Wednesday: What are Phthalates?

Thursday: What is PVC?

Friday: How to Avoid BPA, PVC and phthalates

We’ll be offering all of these new updates and how-to’s in a downloadable format soon, so you can take it with you to share with friends and family members who need a little more convincing

Filed under: Ask TSL, Bisphenol-a, Buzz, PVC, Phthalates, Toxic Chemicals | Comments

2009 brought an amazing number of new BPA-free products to the market, so we’ve updated our BPA-free Sippy Cup Guide. You can find the complete list with background info on bisphenol-a on Squidoo (you can easily print the page for shopping trips on the go).  Be sure to let us know if we missed any of your favorite BPA-free sippy cups and we’ll add them!

Filed under: Safer Sippy Cups, Shopping Guides | Comments

Folks are ditching plastic containers by the droves and stainless steel has become the trusty standby.  Kids Konserve was at the forefront, providing common sense products before the shift even began.  So today we’ll be giving away one of their most versatile products – the round stainless steel container with BPA-free lid.

Our Favorite Features

• Its perfect 8oz size can handle many different kinds of food: tuna, pasta, chicken salads, veggies, pretzels, grapes, strawberries, yogurt, applesauce, crackers and more!
• Heavy duty non-toxic plastic lids keep food fresh and well-contained
• High grade stainless steel is made to last longer than typcial plastic containers
• Dishwashwer safe for serious convenience

Kids Konserve just released the Nesting Trio too, which is a set of three stainless steel containers of various sizes.  It’s a fantastic way to be sure you always have the perfect fit on hand!  But don’t rush out to buy them just yet, because we’ve included all stainless steel containers in our Christmas Specials.  You can save a whopping 30% on everything from Nov. 9 – Nov. 11!

And Now for the Giveaway

It’s time for more Twitter Tuesday fun!  Today we’re giving away a Kids Konserve Round Stainless Steel Container to one lucky winner via a live giveaway on Twitter at 3pm EST and another via 2nd Chance Drawing here on our blog.

How to enter our live giveaway via Twitter (#TuesGiveaway)

1. Follow us on Twitter @thesoftlanding
2. We’ll send out a contest announcement on Twitter at 3pm EST, and you’ll be entered automatically when you copy/paste that announcement and re-tweet it.  Our tweet will look something like this:  “RT to WIN: @thesoftlanding is giving away XYZ to the 50th person to tweet this!” (the tweet will be sent out right at 3pm EST and will not look exactly like this one – so be watching on Twitter)
3. The lucky tweet(s) will win!  We’ll notify everyone by tweeting the winner(s) Twitter ID when the contest ends.  Please check our profile page at http://www.twitter.com/thesoftlanding.com for updates
4. The winner(s) will contact us at info@thesoftlanding.com with their full name and shipping address to claim their prize
5. If you’ve won in the last 30 days, you will not be eligible to win today

*NOTE* Please be considerate of others by keeping your Twitter entries at a reasonable level (2-3 tweets).  That way everyone will have a chance to enter

How to Enter the Blog Contest

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to our Twitter Tuesday Giveaway today, because you can enter here on our blog too for a chance to win another Kids Konserve Round Stainless Steel Container!  Simply leave a comment right here on this blog post by midnight on November 5, 2009.  One entry per person. Open to all blog readers worldwide!

Filed under: Food Storage Containers, Safer Materials, Stainless Steel, Twitter Tuesday | Comments

We love Christmas and we’re celebrating in big style this year!  We called a family meeting and hatched a plan to offer you 8 weeks of healthy Christmas savings with a little added bonus – FREE Shipping Fridays throughout November and December!  You’ll find a unique code on the homepage of our store each Friday morning.

We’re offering a HUGE 30% discount on various styles of eating  gear, toys and gift certificates.  Each weekly code is valid from Monday through Wednesday.  Download the whole schedule now to plan for your shopping needs! Just click on the image below.

Filed under: Buzz | Comments

Organic cotton + Canadian Maple wood = a truly chemical-free teether by RiNGLEY!  The original RiNGLEY teethers have been such a hit with babies, that the company  recently introduced two new designs to their teething arsenal: the Ball and the Junior.  Both boast a new velcro features which allows you to remove the cloth and throw it in the washer without the wood teether!

Our Favorite Features

And Now for the Giveaway

It’s time for more Twitter Tuesday fun!  Today we’re giving away a RiNGLEY Natural Ball Teether to one lucky winner via a live giveaway on Twitter at 3pm EST and another via 2nd Chance Drawing here on our blog.

How to enter our live giveaway via Twitter (#TuesGiveaway)

1. Follow us on Twitter @thesoftlanding
   
2. We’ll send out a contest announcement on Twitter at 3pm EST, and you’ll be entered automatically when you copy/paste that announcement and re-tweet it.  Our tweet will look something like this:  “RT to WIN: @thesoftlanding is giving away XYZ to the 50th person to tweet this!” (the tweet will be sent out right at 3pm EST and will not look exactly like this one – so be watching on Twitter)
3. The lucky tweet(s) will win!  We’ll notify everyone by tweeting the winner(s) Twitter ID when the contest ends.  Please check our profile page at http://www.twitter.com/thesoftlanding.com for updates
4. The winner(s) will contact us at info@thesoftlanding.com with their full name and shipping address to claim their prize
5. If you’ve won in the last 30 days, you will not be eligible to win today

*NOTE* Please be considerate of others by keeping your Twitter entries at a reasonable level (2-3 tweets).  That way everyone will have a chance to enter

How to Enter the Blog Contest

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to our Twitter Tuesday Giveaway today, because you can enter here on our blog too for a chance to win another RiNGLEY Natural Ball Teether!  Simply leave a comment right here on this blog post by midnight on October 22, 2009.  One entry per person. Open to all blog readers worldwide!

P.S.   Watch for a HUGE announcement about our 8 weeks of outrageous Christmas Shopping Specials this coming Thursday!  Friday will mark our first special, so get ready to make quick work of your non-toxic Christmas Shopping.  Here’s a little preview for you

Filed under: Baby Teethers, Safer Materials, Twitter Tuesday, Wood | Comments

Have you ever wondered if it’s okay to wash plastic food containers in the dishwasher, even if they are BPA-free?  That’s a great question that requires a two-part answer, because not all plastic containers the same . . .

Most Reusable Bottles and Dishes are Dishwasher Safe

Many plastic containers are specifically intended for reuse and are usually clearly marked.  The dishes in this category come from two main categories:

• Heavy duty everyday reusables (dishware, utensils, baby bottles, sippy cups, etc.) are dishwasher safe and will withstand heat and detergents for many years.  Some examples would be Frostware and Preserve Everyday Tableware
• Take and toss style reusables are dishwasher safe but don’t stand up well in the long run, so keep an eye on them and recycle them when they begin to warp.  Some examples would be Nuby Wash or Toss and Gladware Food Storage

Some Food Containers from Grocery Stores are Not Dishwasher Safe

Most yogurt, cream cheese or peanut butter containers are made from polypropylene (#5) which is great in regard to the absence of toxic chemicals.  But many are made with very thin plastic walls that just won’t hold up when exposed to dishwasher heat and detergents.  You’ll have to be the judge:  if the plastic container is too flimsy and ends up warped, it’s probably not meant to be reused.

Also be careful to check your take out containers, as most are made from a firm polystyrene plastic (#6) that looks and feels an awful lot like polypropylene.  You’ll never want to reuse these containers and you should even consider using your own on-the-go containers instead.  An easy way to check for polystyrene is to look for a lack flexibility in the container.  Polypropylene will be slightly squeezable.

Don’t Forget to Wash Them on the Top Rack

Always place plastic dishes on the top rack to reduce heat exposure and hand wash large dishes that won’t fit up top. And while we’re on the topic of heat and plastics, we don’t recommend microwaving plastic at all either.

Filed under: Ask TSL, Food Storage Containers, Polypropylene, Safer Materials | Comments

Okay, so maybe a discussion of lunch containers doesn’t seem exciting at first glance – but if you’ve been in the position of trying to find that perfect fit for your child’s healthy lunch, then you know how frustrating it can be.  Laptop Lunches was the leader in bringing bento-style lunches to American families and now they’ve updated and upgraded!  The new 2.0 System has many improvements, but our favorite is the option to add an extra set of Bento Buddies containers.

Our Favorite Features

• Bento Buddies 2.0 can be used on their own directly inside a lunchbox or inside the Bento 2.0 outer container for additional configurations
• Great for busy days when you need an extra set of clean inner containers
• A lid for is included for each container (yeah!)
• Great array of sizes:  small = 2″ x 1.5″ x 1.5″, medium = 3.25″ x 2.75″ x 2″, large: 5″ x 3.25″ x 2″, extra large: 6.25″x 5″ x 2″

And Now for the Giveaway

Congrats to our winners! @abitnerdy won via Twitter and strangedaze won via 2nd Chance Giveaway!

It’s time for more Twitter Tuesday fun!  Today we’re giving away a set of Laptop Lunches Bento Buddies 2.0 to one lucky winner via a live giveaway on Twitter at 3pm EST and another via 2nd Chance Drawing here on our blog.

How to enter via Twitter (#TuesGiveaway)

1. Follow us on Twitter @thesoftlanding
   
2. We’ll send out a contest announcement on Twitter at 3pm EST, and you’ll be entered automatically when you copy/paste that announcement and re-tweet it.  Our tweet will look something like this:  “RT to WIN: @thesoftlanding is giving away XYZ to the 50th person to tweet this!” (the tweet will be sent out right at 3pm EST and will not look exactly like this one – so be watching on Twitter)
3. The lucky tweet(s) will win!  We’ll notify everyone by tweeting the winner(s) Twitter ID when the contest ends.  Please check our profile page at http://www.twitter.com/thesoftlanding.com for updates
4. The winner(s) will contact us at info@thesoftlanding.com with their full name and shipping address to claim their prize
5. If you’ve won in the last 30 days, you will not be eligible to win today

*NOTE* Please be considerate of others by keeping your Twitter entries at a reasonable level (2-3 tweets).  That way everyone will have a chance to enter

How to Enter the Blog Contest

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to our Twitter Tuesday Giveaway today, because you can enter here on our blog too for a chance to win another set of Laptop Lunches Bento Buddies 2.0!  Simply leave a comment right here on this blog post by midnight on October 22, 2009.  One entry per person. Open to all blog readers worldwide!

Filed under: Giveaways, Kids Cups, Dishes and Utensils, Lunch Gear, Twitter Tuesday | Comments

Tupperware is one of the most recognized names in food storage, which explains why we are consistently asked whether they use BPA in their products.  There is no short, simple answer to this question, but Tupperware does provide some information to help us sort through their products.

As of today, Tupperware lists the Rock ‘N Serve™ and Vent ‘N Serve™ storage and microwave reheating containers as being made from polycarbonate, which uses bisphenol-a (BPA) as one if its main building blocks.  The full list of products includes:

• Ice Prisms: Bowls, Pitcher & Tumbler Set
• Kitchen Duos
• Microsteamer
• Microwave Cooker – Oval
• Microwave Luncheon Plate
• Quick Chef Base
• Sheerly Elegant Line
• Tumbler Bouquet & Pitcher Set

And while they’re careful to point out that “polycarbonate is NOT used in Tupperware baby bottles or toys,” they devote a whole section of their website to defending the use of BPA, even linking to the chemical industry’s website singing the praises of the BPA.

Bisphenol-A has been an approved substance for use in food contact products for decades. Governmental regulatory agencies around the world, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada, the European Food Safety Agency, the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency and the Japanese Ministry for Health, Labor and Welfare have all approved the material. Over the last ten years, other scientists have raised concerns over the substance, including the amount which migrates out of the products during heating. These governmental agencies have reconfirmed the safety of the material during this period. Tupperware also has conducted migration studies of bisphenol-A from its products using independent testing laboratories, and found the migration levels to be within acceptable levels, as specified by the Governmental regulatory agencies.

On the strength of the repeated governmental scrutiny that polycarbonate has had, Tupperware continues to believe the material is safe. However, as Tupperware has the highest regard for the safety of the consumers of its products and the functionality of these products, it will continue to closely monitor this scientific debate and research the best materials for use in its products.

So while we’re thrilled to see some straightforward answers for consumers, we’re still hoping Tupperware will take a cue updated research findings and look for an alternative to polycarbonate.

P.S. If you can’t afford to switch out your Tupperware for safer food storage options right now, be sure NOT to take their advice on microwaving:

Q: Is it safe to microwave in Tupperware® products?

A: Yes, Tupperware® products that are intended for use in the microwave, including products made from polycarbonate, are safe for such use.

Filed under: Ask TSL, Baby Dishes and Utensils, Bisphenol-a, Food Storage Containers, Kids Cups, Dishes and Utensils, Toxic Chemicals | Comments

Have you ever wondered about the safety of the plastic wrap used by grocery stores for cheese and meats?   It looks like the same type of plastic wrap that most of us use at home, right?  And we’ve learned that the major plastic wrap brands (Saran, Glad, etc.) are made from low density polyethylene (LDPE, #4) which is considered a safer plastic.  But with a little digging, you’ll quickly find that most of the plastic wrap used by supermarkets is made from a PVC based plastic (#3), not to mention the styrofoam tray (#6) its sitting in!  This type of plastic wrap is often referred to as “cling wrap” or “food wrap film” and is more durable, airtight and moisture resistant.

We’ve discussed the woes of PVC a lot over the last two years, but how does it affect our food as a plastic wrap?  In order to be soft and stretchy, PVC requires a plasticizer – many of which are toxic to humans.  The Mindful Momma explains why we should be concernced:

These PVC-based cling wraps contain a liquid plasticizer called DEHA (Di-ethylhexyl).  While the FDA considers it safe for food use, numerous studies have confirmed that DEHA can leach out of plastic wrap and into food. Since DEHA is a possible human carcinogen that affects the liver in particular, it might be a good idea to avoid it.  Foods like cheese and deli meats are of the most concern because they are capable of absorbing higher quantities of DEHA.  Also, vinyl chloride, the main building block of PVC, is a known human carcinogen.  Apparently, there’s a lot of controversy about whether plastic wrap is really harmful or not, but my feeling is – stay on the safe side – especially when kids are involved.

Avoiding PVC food wrap isn’t easy.  The best way to start is to ask your butcher to prepare the cuts of meat you want and wrap it in paper.  Most butcher or freezer paper is coated with wax or polyethylene which are better alternatives. As for blocks of cheese, look for packages with Ziplok style closures, and plastic packages that have been heat-sealed, because most of these bags are made from polyethylene.

Of course the best way to locate PVC-free food is to purchase fresh ingredients from farmer’s markets or through Community Supported Agriculture programs.  Also some natural food store don’t wrap all the produce in plastic, and use paper wrap and bags instead.

A few additional eco-friendly paper wrap options you can suggest for your local grocery store or use at home are Green Wacks Earth Friendly Food Wrap and Papercon EcoCraft Natural Freezer Paper.

Filed under: Food Storage Containers, PVC, Toxic Chemicals | Comments