I have kids, and so it probably goes without saying that I have paper. Notebook paper. Computer printer paper. Construction paper. Wrapping paper they’ve saved from gifts because it’s “so cool” and they “might want to make something with it.”

I’m all about creativity. I am. But I am somewhat less about creativity when an hour’s silence means I walk into a scene where my kids have decided to “play school” and write reports… for all twenty stuffed animals and dolls attending. And when they clean out school cubbies and bring home sheaves of completed work. Sometimes it looks like The Great Tree Massacre happened up in one of their rooms, and then what? Do I let them keep each and every masterpiece (taking up space, increasing clutter) or do I throw away the mess under cover of darkness (bemoaning the wastefulness of it all)?

I’ve done both. Frankly, I’m not happy with either choice.

So I’m thinking about ways to cut down on our paper consumption. Apparently I can do away with envelopes via Letterfu—which is very cool—but I couldn’t tell you the last time I sent a paper letter, so that may not be saving us much paper.

I’m also eying this little set, thinking that perhaps the kids might enjoy recycling their own paper into… more paper.

Something has to change. What are your great ideas for taking iddy biddy steps to reduce paper waste?

It’s been a pretty exciting start to the year, ’round here, and the hits just keep on comin’. We’re very pleased to announce that you can now purchase Idbids Kits online at Ty’s Toy Box, where they’ve just unveiled their brand new Idbids Store.

Ty’s has blazed the way when it comes to e-tailing of the characters kids want, and we’re thrilled to have Scout, Lola and Waverly added to their offerings. And it looks like the excitement is mutual!

And with Ty’s handling internet orders, that should free up our resident Wonder Women for other things, right? I know I’ll be waiting with bated breath to see what sorts of fabulousness they’ll come up with, next. (No pressure, ladies. Just iddy biddy steps, that’s all!)

A few weeks ago I let you know that Idbids founders Sarah Alvarez and Debbie Smith were finalists for the 2009 Wonder Women in Toys awards, and I’m so excited to be able to report that they won for the Green category!

Of course, we already knew they were wonder women, but it sure is nice to have it recognized by others.

In honor of this auspicious occasion, I have a few suggestions for our wonder women:

1) Wear a tiara as part of your everyday apparel. Make it an iddy biddy step by fashioning it out of items you find in your recycling bin, of course.

2) Order new business cards, listing your title as “Green Goddess.” You know you want to.

3) Have Scout, Lola and Waverly refer to themselves as your Small-But-Mighty Superhero Sidekicks.

4) Everywhere you go, be sure to ask if they have valet parking for your invisible jet. If they say no, tell them that’s fine, you’ll just park on the roof.

Congratulations, ladies! You are the rockingest wonder women I know!

I’ve just been bursting to tell you about this one, for a while now, and finally got the go-ahead to blab.

Idbids has teamed up with The Nature Conservancy to make your iddy biddy steps make an even bigger biggie big difference. Don’t know about TNC? Check it out:

The Nature Conservancy was founded a long time ago – in 1951! They’ve worked really hard over those years to protect our friends’ habitats all over the world. The work they’ve done has protected more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide. And they also operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. In the air, on the land and in the sea – just like the Idbids – The Nature Conservancy is working to make our world a better place. And now, you are too!

Purchase any Idbid, and now you can redeem a secret code online (doesn’t that sound awesome and mysterious?) and select how you’d like to help the Idbids’ friends.

Scout would like you to join TNC’s “Plant a Billion Trees” campaign; Lola wants you to “Adopt an Acre” with TNC; and, of course, Waverly hopes you’ll opt to join the effort to “Rescue the Reef.”

Whichever program you choose, you’ll be helping replenish our world, and making a seriously “biggie big” difference along with Idbids and The Nature Conservancy.

Now that is a perfect match!

I’m one of those holiday grinches who tends to believe that Valentine’s Day was made up by Hallmark (bah, humbug), but with kids I sort of feel like I don’t really have the luxury to opt out. Valentine’s Day is a big deal in elementary school, you know. Or so my children keep reminding me!

This year I’m committing to taking a few iddy biddy steps towards making our holiday involvement as eco-friendly as possible. For example: I’m thinking those boxes of characters cards from the store are probably not the greatest green choice. Ahem.

I’m loving all of the suggestions on how to Go Green on Valentine’s Day from Reader’s Digest Canada (I know, I was surprised, too), but my favorite is definitely the idea of using biodegradable seed paper. The kids could cut out hearts and write “PLANT ME” on them! It fulfills their need to give out a little something to everyone, and my need to feel like we didn’t just add to the landfill. Perfect.

(And, hey, if my husband reads that article and decides to get me some organic flowers and Fair Trade chocolate, well, that just makes it a family effort, right? Right.)

When Idbids founders Sarah Alvarez and Debbie Smith set out to create a children’s toy that would help get kids excited about taking good care of our planet, they weren’t doing it for the accolades. They were doing it because it matters to them. (And also because they’re awesome.) (I’m not paid to say that; I just totally want to be them when I grow up.)

But, hey, if a bit of praise happens to come along… well, that’s quite alright, too.

Playthings has announced the 2009 Wonder Women in Toys Awards finalists, and wouldn’t you know it—Sarah and Debbie are finalists in the Green category. Congratulations, ladies!

About the awards:

The awards, presented in partnership with Playthings magazine since 2005, honor women of notable achievement or growing influence in fields directly associated with children’s toys and entertainment.

Winners will be revealed at their big gala in a couple of weeks. I’m not sure I can take the suspense!

Oh, and Sarah, Debbie? It’s probably too much to expect an invisible jet, I guess (there are a lot of categories they have to award, after all), but I’d definitely hold out for the magic lasso. Seriously. You deserve it.

Okay; maybe I was a little hasty in my last post. Maybe when I’m snuffling and sneezing and dripping and miserable is not the right time to consider whether or not I’d be willing to give up my box of Kleenex.

It’s possible. I’m just saying.

So, a few days passed and I started feeling better. Hooray! And what happened after I was feeling better? Well, I happened upon this post at BlogHer about eco-friendly handkerchiefs! It also includes a link to a great review at Grist about how to select the most eco-friendly of traditional disposable tissues, if you’re not ready to give them up entirely.

This either means that I really have my finger on the pulse of important green issues of today, or that a lot of people have colds (and guilt) right now. Either way.