End of Year Stock Take

At Green Eyed Frog we are doing our end of Year Stock Take today so please bear with us.

My son has been roped in to help with a bribe of extra pocket money but he doesn't yet know how much - I've told him it depends how hard he works... As he only has an attention span of a fly it won't be much! He is at that age when you only get a few grunts every so often and his favourite phrase is "its so booooring" - he even has the T-shirt. Apparently they all go through this phase which lasts approximately 2 to 3 years and seems to be a boy thing.

The joys of Parenthood...

Dreaming of a White Easter?

I didn't think that we would get so much snow at Easter. We have been spending the Easter Break on the North Norfolk coast at the Cottage, getting things ready for the start of the holiday letting season. Its been snowing non stop for three days now and the children absolutely love it. We now have 3 snowmen in the garden and 3 very excited children. Our youngest has not seen snow like this before and has been rolling around in it.

There was even snow on the beach, although when I tried to take a walk the other day I was nearly blown away and had to make a hasty retreat.

We have yet to see what tomorrow will bring but the children are hoping for another white morning with more snowmen to build.

Product of the Month - March

March's product of the month has to be the Paper Potter Gift Set. Its nearly Easter and everything is growing in the garden. Its the ideal time to start making your own seedling pots out of old newspapers with the wooden Paper Potter. This lovely gift set includes a pack of Fair Trade flower seeds grown in South Africa and presented in a jute drawstring bag.

Organic Toiletries for Mothers Day

Mothers Day is just round the corner and isn't it early this year?

We have a wonderful new collection of organic toiletries that would make an ideal gift for any mum or grandma. Our Kristin Bailey Collection offers an organic range which is kind to your body and the environment, uses the highest quality ingredients and our organic soap is even finished by hand. In addition, many of the ingredients are sourced from community projects in developing countries.


At Green Eyed Frog we offer the choice of:

• Sweet orange and ginger soap which smells divine;
  
• Wild Honey & Lemon Soothing Bath Essence to soften the skin and sweeten your mood;


• Lime & Grapefruit Energising Body Wash with a tangy, refreshing aroma.

Why not give someone you love an organic toiletries treat and team it up with our lovely selection of jute bags.

Bed Linen & Towel Sale

Check out our bed linen and towel SALE. We have limited stock remaining of bedlinen before the new Fair Trade shipment arrives in a few weeks. Our supplier for the lovely organic towels has now stopped trading so we have just a few left in stock at discount prices. New stock from Gossypium will be arriving soon.

Organic Cotton Bath Sheet now only £15.

Product of the Month - February

February's product of the month is the Simply Soaps Organic Toiletries Gift Box - Romance. Valentine's Day is soon approaching and this lovely gift box of organic goodies is just the job.

A real treat in organic decadent luxury for the one you love. One hand made soap bar; relaxing bath oil and hand made bath salts all presented in an attractive recycled cardboard giftbox. Only natural and organic ingredients are used.

These lovely boxes are made in the wilds of rural Norfolk and are priced very modestly at £11.99.

What is the difference between hessian and jute?

A customer contacted me recently and asked for some hessian bags. As a child growing up on a farm, my father used hessian sacks for the wheat and barley and animal feed. So I thought I needed to find out more...

According to Wikipedia the term Hessian or Brurlap in the US, refers to the use of a coarse woven fabric for soldiers uniforms in the German state of Hesse. It is usually made from jute or hemp and allied vegetable fibres and often used to make sacks and bags to ship goods like coffee breans. It is breathable and thus resists condensation and associated spoilage of the contents. It is also durable enough to withstand rough handling in transit.

Wikipedia goes on to say that Jute is a ligno-cellulosic fibre that is partially a textile fibre and partially wood. The fibres are off-white to brown, and 1–4 meters (3–12 feet) long and often called hessian. Jute fabrics are also called hessian cloth and jute sacks are called gunny bags in some European countries.

So after reading all about it - A jute bag is the same as a hessian bag, burlap bag or a gunny bag.

Jute Shoppers - Long Handles

Our latest new bag has just arrived and is now in stock. These jute shopping bags are so popular I decided that I would try the long handled version. Its great for taking to the shops, folds up small and can be worn over your shoulder. They are only £2.99 and are fairly traded from India.

Where are my Playbus cookies Mummy?

Went into the local Coop yesterday and found some organic, fair trade chocolate chips. Great, exactly what I need to bake the cookies for Little Darling's birthday treat on the Playbus. This had already been postponed from last week due to bus problems so I had no excuse.

At 11pm last night went to the fridge, after fighting with the Tax Return, to find that it had no eggs. Oh dear, I couldn't make his choc chip cookies - hopefully he will have forgotten by the morning and mummy can go and buy some.

Little Darling was up early at 7:30, a miracle for him. Where are my Playbus cookies mummy? Mummy felt really guilty and assured him that they would be there for snack time. After dropping him off at Playbus poor mummy rushed to the local farm to get eggs, rushed home, made cookies, put them in the oven and packed up the orders to take to the Post Office - all in record time and arrived at the bus just in time for snack.

Little Darling after wolfing down choc chip cookies and chocolate crispies brought in by another birthday boys frantic mum, was then sick in the soft play centre on the bus. Poor Mrs Playleader then had to clear it up. I decided to make a quick exit with Little Darling in tow!

The Dreaded Tax Return...

If only I had done it earlier and not left it until the last minute. Why do they make Tax Returns so difficult to understand. I have even been on two courses at our local Tax Office and its still clear as mud. Fortunately I just send the accounts off to our accountant and he comes up with some magical figures.
And then its the VAT return to do...

Why is running a business so difficult sometimes?

Product of the Month - January

January's product of the month is the bamboo handled recycling storage bag. In January we pack away the Christmas decorations, childrens toys and have a general tidy up after the Christmas and New Year festivities. These jute storage bags are just the job.

They provide a practical storage solution and are made from jute, lined with polyethylene and have strong bamboo handles. They will hold up to a months worth of newspapers or a floor full of toys! Attractive enough to keep in any room in the house. Versatile, durable, cost effective and completely bio-degradable, there is little to rival jute.

We also use the bags for storing vegetables, the weekly shop (you can fit a couple in a shopping trolley) and for taking the parcels to the post office. I'm sure there are lots of other uses too such as carrying laundry, storing clothes etc.

A break at the North Norfolk Coast

We are now at the cottage in Mundesley, North Norfolk having a welcome relaxing break after the hectic Christmas rush. The weather is lovely and, although cold, we have been for some bracing walks along the sandy beach. The children have been looking for shells and drift wood and we even managed to drag the 10 year old away from SKY TVs 24 hour Simpsons.

Paul and I have also been tidying, cleaning and working in the garden in readiness for the next guests. I started cleaning the oven and at first thought it wasn't too bad but after 3 hours of scrubbing gave up exhausted. Thats the problem when you don't use chemicals, its takes a lot of elbow grease. If any one knows of an oven cleaner that is ECO please let me know!

Rachel

Product of the Month - December

Thought I would start a Product of the month to link in with our featured products on the web site.

December is the Paper Potter. This ingenius little garden tool can make small seedling pots out of newspaper in a matter of minutes. Its a great gift for Grandad and will keep them amused Christmas afternoon before falling asleep in the chair. Any newspaper can be used however the tabloids are more colourful! Its been a popular line in the shop this year. Just fold strips of newspaper round the wooden former and then push into the little cup. Hey Presto - you have a little pot.

Its Time for a Break!

Wow, its been so busy for the past 6 weeks that I haven't been able to do anything other than pack orders - it seems like 24/7. My husband Paul and my friend Claire have been a great help with the orders and now its time for a break. Our last posting date for Christmas delivery is tomorrow so its now slowing down and not so manic.

Thanks to all Green Eyed Frog customers and I hope you visit again in the New Year.

Rachel
xx

Bad Back

I have been suffering from a bad back and its been agony. Probably caused by the car accident I had a couple of weeks ago. It seems to have got worse after the birth of each of my three children and the youngest was a big baby.

Green Eyed Frog has been handed over to Paul, my husband, who I'm sure is managing fine... until I can sit at the computer for longer than 20 minutes. I wonder what I will find in the stock room when I get back on my feet!

Rachel

School Holidays - Kids activities that don't cost the earth.

Its only the second day of the School Holidays and what bliss. No more getting up at 7am to get breakfast, sort out drinks bottles, make sure the book bag has the right book in it and of course drive to the school and try to find a parking space. Its been quite peaceful in the Green Eyed Frog house in the early mornings. I have been getting up at a leisurely 8am hung washing out and doing over an hours work before the children even appear at 10am. I just get too tired in the evenings trying to fit all the household chores in, ironing for the cottage and catching up on voluntary work.

I have some ideas of things I'm going to do with the children that won't cost a fortune, are educational and hopefully they will enjoy!

Nature Trails
Take the children on walking trips in the town or country. We will be exploring the footpaths in our village. Now that my youngest is three he can hopefully walk for long enough before getting bored or tired. A list of things we will be taking:

• Binoculars - for looking at the local wildlife and identifying birds. My eldest son thought he saw an Eagle in the garden the other week!
• Usbourne spotters guides
  Very handy little books on wildflowers, wild birds and insects
• Digital Camera
  For taking photos of the bugs and creatures we may see
• Notebook and Pencils
  For drawing the insects and flowers and writing notes about them
• Blanket
  For mummy to sit on
• Water bottles

This all sounds very nice doesn't it but we have yet to go on our nature trail as its been raining too much. I'll let you know how it goes.

Rain, Rain go Away

Its been raining for so many weeks now and the flooding keeps getting worse. I wonder just how much of this can be attributed to climate change and global warming. Fortunately, in Suffolk we have been OK. Green Eyed Frog and family live on a high plateau which has been earmarked for a windfarm closeby so I know that the only flooding we are likely to get is localised on the roads as the water runs off the fields. I feel so sorry for the people who have lost their homes and possessions, I just hope that the water will soon subside and people can get back to normal and start repairing the damage.

Our cottage in Mundesley, North Norfolk, is close to a Beck and small stream. When it rains the water follows a path down the side of the house into the ditch at the bottom of the garden. Our holiday makers are having a very wet but enjoyable break at least they can still hook up to the internet and read the blogs!

A break between the rain at the beach in Mundesley!

Green Eyed Frog in Sunday Mirror

A few weeks ago the Sunday Mirror asked for some photos of our organic cotton string bags. We queued up for our copy of the newspaper the following Sunday but no bags were mentioned. Today we have had a growing number of orders for bags and have since found out that Green Eyed Frog were in todays Sunday Mirror. If anyone out there has a copy of the Sunday supplement with the 'bag' page please can you send it to me or scan and email across.

The first copy I receive will get a FREE string bag! (remember to include your contact details).

Eco Pre-School Awarded nearly £300,000

Fantastic News, we heard today that the local Pre-School I am involved with has been successful in £300,000 of funding to build a new, bespoke Eco building on the grounds of the Primary School. We are all over the moon and looking forward to being in our new building soon. Its taken over ten years to get this far. I'm looking forward to seeing the grass roof grow and attract wildlife, for the hemp walls to take shape and for our solar generated hot water and electricity.

I'm also hoping that I will be able to use the facilities for after school care for the children so that I can then get the opportunity to go on some of the 'green' Trade Fairs and conferences and maybe do some more training.

Working from Home and Being a Mum

My 3 year old son has been suffering badly from chicken pox all week so we have been confined to the house. There has been no swimming, no PlayBus and no Pre-School, even the garden has been out of bounds because its been so wet. Consequently, boredom has set in because mummy spends too much time on the computer sending emails, preparing orders and doing voluntary work trying to "make a difference" to the environment.

During a brief lapse of concentration after making lunch, I forgot to lock the fridge door! If you have normal, well behaved children this wouldn't be a problem however while I was busy trying to concentrate on working out 17.5% of 100 in a spreadsheet that wouldn't add up my darling child was raiding the fridge. He ran into the office, a huge grin on his face and yoghurt all over his hands and face. Forgetting the spreadsheet and instantly jumping up, I ran into the living room (maybe this has happened before) to discover pink Thomas Tank Engine yoghurt had been carefully spooned out of 8 pots and smeared all over the sofa and cushions. The cover is now in the wash and I hope it dries before mother-in-law comes over tomorrow to babysit!

Its not easy being a mum and working from home!

I later had to collect the children from school accompanied by a small child with a spotty face and pink yoghurt all over him. Fortunately it looked just like calamine lotion so not too many strange looks...