TOMS Shoe Update and An Easy Step for Greener Living

So when I got the e-mail on Friday that TOMS had re-stocked their supply of canvas shoes, I thought, "Awesome! I am going to get the gray ones." (My brain isn't very complex you see. I think in simple terms.) Anyways, the e-mail had been sent out less than a hour before I was making the purchase. I went to TOMS site, clicked on the gray shoes, saw that my size was in stock, added them to my cart, and somewhere between page loads they went out of stock... BUMMER! But I happily settled on getting the olive color instead to go with my green fasination.

Here is what they will look like.

I am pretty stoked about them coming in, so that I can check one more item off my 101 List.

On to the next topic of discussion. I have been seeing that Reynolds now has Recycled Aluminum Foil in stores now and since I only use it on rare occasions (Well, more than usual recently since my oven is smaller that the one on my nieces' toy kitchen and most pans don't fit inside.) I haven't needed to buy any lately.

But I was curious as to how "recycled" it really was. So I had the Mr. google it for me last night (while I laid on the floor watching the boob tube doing nothing productive and enjoying the fact I had yesterday, today, and tomorrow off work).

Here is what we/he found. It is taken from Reynolds website, but it all sounds pretty legit to me and I will probably be picking some up the next time I need aluminium foil.

What types of aluminum are used to create Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum?

Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum is made from post-consumer and post-industrial aluminum.

Examples may include:

• Post-Consumer – stadium seats, automobile components, cookware, gutters and siding
• Post-Industrial – scraps from industrial cable

What are the environmental benefits of buying Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum?

There is an 80 percent reduction in the amount of energy used during the process of turning recycled material into foil, compared to making the foil from new, also referred to as virgin, materials. Manufacturing and buying recycled-content products create a circle, or loop, that ensures the overall success and value of recycling. The process also produces fewer emissions, including greenhouse gases, and reduces the amount of landfill waste.

Is the packaging also made from recycled or materials which strive to reduce impacts on the environment?

Yes, additional features include:

• Paperboard – Made from 100 percent recovered paper that is diverted from the solid waste stream, collected, separated, cleaned and recycled for use
• Printing Inks – Reynolds uses water-based inks on packaging

Has anyone bought any of the new Reynolds wrap or TOMS Shoes before? I would love to hear what you think of them.

Pictures from www.toms.com and www.reynolds.com.

TOMS Shoes

While I don't own a pair of TOMS Shoes....yet....I am a huge supporter of what they do. I wanted to share a little more information about them with you all.

This is all from their website.

One for One

One for One

TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about. The TOMS One for One business model transforms our customers into benefactors, which allows us to grow a truly sustainable business rather than depending on fundraising for support.

Why shoes?

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:

• A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
• Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
• Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.

One for One is spreading

TOMS has also inspired other companies to implement a One for One model. Ralph Lauren sells co-branded Polo Rugby TOMS, giving a matched pair with every pair sold. Element Skateboards has issued limited edition TOMS + Element shoes as well as a One for One skateboard. With every skateboard purchased, one will be given to a child at the Indigo Skate Camp in Durban, South Africa. It is TOMS’ hope that as our One for One movement continues to grow, more and more companies will look to incorporate giving into what they do.

Our Story

In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers.

Since our beginning in May 2006, TOMS has given over 600,000* pairs of shoes to children in need, through the purchases of caring customers.

*As of April 2010

There are the shoes I want. They will be mine soon...hopefully!

Does anyone have TOMS shoes? What are your opinions on them? Have I mentioned that it has been too cloudy to get ok pictures of my planting projects or that my baby book came in and I read the whole thing already? No, well...both are true.