I am not a big fan of filter water pitchers as they are more expensive to run than under the sink units on a per gallon basis, and their filtration efficiency is usually less than stellar. However, after much research we found one that really works, and let’s face it, there are circumstances like a college dorm of apartment where any other kinds of water filter is just not practical. Plus if you like chilled water, the pitcher stores handily in the refrigerator. This is a great gift to anyone who wants better tasting water and is perfect to take to ones dorm room.

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/pitcher-waterfilter.html

If you have ever traveled on a dark country road or had the power go out on you will appreciate the notion of a LED wind up flashlight that will be there for you in emergencies forever- or at least the next 20 years. We gave these flashlights out as gifts to our staff a number of months ago and during a recent bad storm the power went out in our offices. Imagine trying to use a bathroom when it was pitch black! Our staff just whipped out those flashlights and we were all set. This is just one of those useful things that everyone should have around and with no batteries being used they are eco-friendly to boot.

http://www.greenandmore.com/eco-friendly-flashlights.html

One of the most creative and tiniest humidifiers I have seen in recent months is one which does not have a water tank of its own but relies on a standard water bottle. This teeny humidifier can easily tuck into your over night bag for travel or sit unobtrusively on your desk top. One of our staff sits with this humidifier on her desk and swears by it. A perfect gift to oneself or that member of your family who tends to get sinusitis or has sinus problems.

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/portable-water-bottle-coolmist-humidifiers.html

When in doubt give someone a green gift certificate as a gift and they will have great fun exploring our GreenandMore.com web site which has an amazing selection of delectable green gift items. We have given these gift certificates to relatives for wedding gifts with great success. Of course I am prejudiced as they feature my animal and nature photography work from a safari tour I went on a couple of years ago.

http://www.greenandmore.com/giftcertificates.html

Most of the time when we get presented with an inexpensive air purifier, they test out to be “cheap and ineffective” and an utter waste of money. Not so with the Hamilton Beach True Air Allergen Reducer, this is an ideal travel or desk companion being the size of a large clock radio. This small air purifier has a couple of things going for it other than its astonishingly low price. Firstly, it has an effective filter while not being pure Hepa passed our efficiency tests with flying colors. Put simply, this little air purifier does a good job at filtering out allergens and manages to be quiet as it goes about its work. And to make matters better for the frugal consumer you can vacuum its filter and prolong its useful life considerably. The filter will not last forever but you should get a plenty of years out of it and given the price, I think that is a very fair deal. Buy one for yourself and as a gift for that allergy sufferer in your family.

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/hamilton-beach-allergen-reducer-04383.html

During the work week, I sleep underneath a Willow Quilted Down Blanket and enjoy the lightness that it affords. At some point during the Winter, I turn to a heavier weight comforter of some kind, but most of the year this light down filled blanket allows me to sleep comfortably without over heating. The workmanship details on this down blanket are excellent and the quality of the down is top notch. It is not our lowest priced blanket - which is my only grumble, but setting aside that one caveat, this is a beautifully made product which if you are looking for a lighter weight but quality down blanket, you cannot go wrong with this one.

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/quilted-down-blanket.html

I have long been a fan of Royal Pedic mattresses and when a customer of ours cancelled a custom order recently, I nobly said I would take this mattress into my own home for our guest room. I am not the only Royal Pedic bed fan in our household and my husband grumbles whenever he is asked to sleep on anything else- so be warned this can spoil you forever. I am always amazed why people rush to buy new cars every three years but keep their mattresses until it has ruts, lumps and bumps and they wake up feeling bruised in the morning.So recently, I took possession of the Royal Pedic quilt top mattress which is the most popular in the Royal Pedic line. I worried that it might be too hard, given I was used to the pillow top version. I confess to being pleasantly surprised. I gave the mattress a test run on my aching back and was transported to mattress heaven. I could feel that whichever way I moved on the mattress was immediately responsive and if I turned over, the latex immediately regained its original shape. I decided it was the perfect place to do my stretching exercises instead of the floor and you will not be surprised to learn that after stretching I fell deeply asleep until my husband found me several hours later. I can recommend this mattress without hesitation; sleeping well gives you a whole new attitude to life and this mattress will do it for you.

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/royal-pedic-mattresses.html

The Electrolux Pronto cordless vacuum is one of those little extra vacuums that is so handy to have around the house when you want to do a quick pick-up without using a full size vacuum. It is one of my favorite accessories and I love it because it is very light and I most often use it as a stick vacuum although it does come apart so you can use it as a cordless handheld vacuum. Be clear, this vacuum cleaner does not do as good a job as a regular vacuum. However, for cleaning up crumbs off the kitchen floor or in cases of unexpected guests arriving in 15 minutes, the Electrolux Pronto can come to the rescue. It is the vacuum I use on a daily basis while waiting for my cleaning lady to do that deep cleaning that she does so well. This is also an ideal vacuum cleaner for the college dorm room where perfection is not required, but any clean up would be welcome. The dust collection cup is by its very design limited in size and can get clogged up if you get too ambitious and push this vacuum beyond what it was meant to do- and trust me I have pushed it. But all in all, I like the Pronto and have given it as a gift to family and friends which in itself tells you something.

http://www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/electrolux-pronto.html

On a recent trip to England I smiled when I saw my sister hanging her clothes outdoors, the way my family has been drying their clothes for centuries. From her perspective it saves energy (6% of your energy bill) over drying them in the dryer (yes she does have a dryer!), the clothes last longer, and they smell better having dried outdoors. So it might seem like a very retro thing to do, but amazingly outdoor clothes lines are selling up a storm. Of course condo owners and apartment dwellers cannot take advantage, but for those of you who live in more rural areas - try it you might like it!

http://www.greenandmore.com/clothes-lines.html

I swear that this is one of those items which if you knew existed and you had a concern for the environment you would instantly use. These biodegradable trash bags which are available in trash, kitchen, and cat litter box sizes, degrade in about 90 days instead of hundreds of years. It is such a simple living fix to make - just store up so you always have some at hand. I am thinking of making up some ‘green baskets’ for holiday gifts and as mundane as they sound, biodegradable trash bags will be in the basket!http://www.greenandmore.com/biobag-kitchen-compost-and-lawn-care-bags.html