The first one is called the Smokey Amp! Beloved across the globe by guitarists – the company that makes the Smokey Amp, claims that it is the most popular guitar amplifier in the world! Take one empty cigarette hard pack and jam it with some electronics and a speaker and you got the Smokey Amp! Plug your electric guitar into the input port and you’re ready to go. It’s actually pretty loud for its size. The volume is controlled by the volume knob on the guitar. There is also an out port that you can use to hook up to speakers – the Smokey Amp acts as a pre-amp! Love it! It makes the perfect gift for the guitarist in your life. It beats lugging around even a small regular amp. Just throw it in your case and you’re ready to jam anywhere. Moss Envy sells it for $33.00. Click on the pic to buy it.

This next product is perhaps the crown jewel of eco-geekiness! The zenith of sustainable-nerddom! Introducing the Solar Array Backpack from Voltaic! The Array Solar Backpack both carries and charges your laptop. It’s like having a spare laptop battery! It will also charge cell phones, tablets and digital cameras. The front solar pocket is removable and can be attached to other bags for convenient charging.  Besides charging all your electronics, it has 1,500 cubic inches of storage space, a padded laptop sleeve, integrated phone pouch and plenty of other pockets. It’s also made with recycled PET (soda bottles),which is waterproof, lightweight and UV resistant. This bag definitely turns heads. Be prepared to field questions and take compliments. We suggest you have some Moss Envy business cards on hand ready to pass out.  Find this at www.mossenvy.com for $389.00.  Click the pic to buy!

I’m a big fan of Eco-Armour’s Shaving Foam and Body wash. I love it’s ingredient list, I love how it smells and I love how it feels on my skin and how it leaves my skin feeling. I really feel like it lays down a nice (natural) lubrication for shaving – any part of your body. My personal favorite is the Eucamint scent. It’s invigorating – great to wake up to in the morning!

I have serious plastic bag guilt… so any thing that can help me and/or my family use less of them is awesome. I make my son’s lunch most days and LOVE using our SnackTaxis! Fun/cute fabric on the outside, easy to clean nylon inside, closes with velcro. Sandwhic size and snack size is pretty much all I need to help create a waste free lunch for the kiddo.

When ever I walk into my bathroom, I am greeted with the pleasant scent of cedar and mint thanks to my Sunleaf Natural’s Reed Diffuser. Sunleaf’s line of soaps, diffusers, and candles are made right here in Minnesota. Most reed diffusers cut their oil with a thinner so the oil wicks up inside of the reed… Not this stuff – it’s pure 100% essential oil, which means it’s too heavy to wick up inside the reed, so for a burst of scent you can turn over one reed or all of them. Throw away your synthetic chemical sprays and get into the real stuff!
My bed… my bed is outfitted with most Moss Envy treasures! My wife and I sleep on top of one of our Savvy Rest Serenity Organic Latex Mattresses – Medium, Soft, Soft. On top of that we’ve got the most amazing wool filled cotton covered deluxe Topper for some added softness. Then I top it all off with one of our shredded latex pillows. The mattress is simply amazing! I know I am not polluting my air or body with chemical flame retardants and synthetic off-gassing crud… the Serenity is certified organic through and through. Natural latex holds its shape over time, so I don’t have to worry about creating a trench where my body meets the mattress. Healthy, supportive, long lasting, and comfortable! But that wasn’t enough… we like it really soft and cushy, so we added 4 inches of plush goodness in the form of a topper. Pressure points are things of the past – we feel like we’re floating! I love the pillow because it allows me to adjust its firmness and move around what’s inside. This is very important for me because I am a combo sleeper – I switch from my side to my front. I need it to be flatter when I’m on my front and fuller when I’m on my side. This has been the only pillow that I have ever owned that morphs to fit my needs.

Last but not least, being the outdoorsman that I am – I have one of our AM/FM/Weatherband Radio/Solar/Crank Powered Flashlight/Cell Phone Chargers in my camping gear! It allowed me to ditch three different pieces of gear for one… and if you’ve ever tried to pack a backpack for a weekend hike, you know that every bit of space and weight counts. About two years ago, we narrowly missed a tornado while camping. I will NEVER go out into the wilderness again with out it!

As provocative as that may sound, my effort to entice you back to my blog is innocent enough. Our store may be fun for the children who visit us daily, but the adults who grace our door also enjoy discovering the offerings of our local and global artists. Who knew you could craft beautiful and whimsical jewelry from knitting needles. Yes, I said knitting needles. Or that a nut from the floor of theEcuadorianRain Forestcould be transformed into colorful jewelry pieces as well. The jewelry in Moss Envy has diverse and glamorous offerings for all our customers.

Speaking of glamour, just spend 5 minutes at the cosmetic counter with one of our in-house makeup artists, and you can go from “ho hum” to “hubba, hubba.” Forgive the antiquated 50’s reference; I haven’t had my coffee yet. And speaking of coffee, there’s always a cup of fresh Peace Coffee brewing in back room of the store. We love it so much for ourselves; we now sell several varieties of Peace Coffee beans for your morning pick-me-up. So if you hear a strange and somewhat irritating sound or smell a warm rich aroma wafting through the air, it’s just one of us grinding beans and making a great cup of Fair Trade coffee.

Now available at Moss Envy

All that talk about hot coffee reminds me why we Minnesotan’s love our coffee. It’s because we spend most of the winter months trying to thaw out. As easy as it would be to go to that “whining about weather” place, I will look at the positive side of tundra living. Such as our rich hand and face creams that smell like the plants of summer. Soft mittens hand crafted from luxurious reclaimed wool; plush wool bed toppers that you can get lost in, a good book to curl up with in front of a fire, to name just a few. There’s even a solar crank radio that has a weather station to warn us of the next impending blizzard. Ooops, went to the “W.A.W.” (whining about weather) place. Sorry.

Even though this may not have been the “hottest” b.l.o.g. (note my anachronism for blog in title) written, we do have a store full of gift ideas to keep you and yours, warm and glamorous through another harsh and bitter Minnesota winter (ooops, did the W.A.W. again). Better go grind some beans, looks like it’s gonna be a long winter…(ooops).

Next blog will focus on decorating our homes with the flair of an artist.

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Help support Moss Envy – a company that is trying its hardest to do the right thing!

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Ask any owner of an independent, local store what some of their favorite experiences are when they are on duty, and I will bet my employee discount they will include the daily interactions with their customers. Every time we hear the door chime or your voices as you step across the threshold, there is a shared anticipation by the employees as to how our greeting will be received and how we can make your visit a pleasant experience. With a “Mom & Pop” store there are no scripts, no strategies, and our greetings are usually based on our own personalities. I can almost hear the cringing that goes on behind me from the register when I am having an exceptionally exuberant day. But much to my relief, customers usually cut me a little slack when I all but droll over their beautiful children and babies. I’m a seasoned Grandma, what can I say…?”

That brings me to a question and an observation I have been pondering during my breaks. Where are all these gorgeous babies coming from?! And how did they know we are all about babies and kids? If you doubt this, stop by and check out the extensive and safe offerings in our “Award Winning” baby and children departments. Waiting for baby? Our Moss Envy “baby registry” can fill that nursery safely. Tethered to home a little? Go on- line to: mossenvy.com for a taste of how exciting and varied your choices can be.

Granted, I am a little hyper aware right now, with the birth of a recent granddaughter. These days, most baby girls that visit the store look just like her. And sure, being a constant presence in my precious 11 year old grandsons’ life makes me Uber kid friendly. But seriously, the store as of late has been filled with the most delightful little customers a retailer could hope to serve.

With our newly created “Busy Box” in hand we are prepared to free-up our parent customers to browse or take a cat nap on one of our Organic Latex beds. We’ll even sit (well, that would be me) on the floor with your children surrounded by rolling crayons, safe toys, and big picture books. On several occasions our front desk has rivaled the Louve in its offerings of displayed original Crayola art.

As I reached for the door handle to lock up the other night, I could read backwards through the glass our message to the public that we are “Pet Friendly.” All of us at Moss Envy are pet lovers/owners and know they are truly our other babies (Yes, we have a great pet department, too!). However, as memory serves, I also spent many a shopping experience chasing my little ones through store aisles while sheepishly smiling at a less than amused store owner. Hum, maybe I will suggest we add to the door “Kid Friendly” too…

Next month’s blog: Something for Adults.

I dived head first into the world of retail in 1969 and have kept my toes in the changing tide of retail for over 40 years. There were many years I was up to my neck in the fascinating world of retail sales. But it wasn’t until Tina and Ryan opened an eco-friendly store, who’s approach to supply and demand is dedicated to offering local and globally responsible products, that I realized I still had much to learn.

Exciting times, but what did I know about the “Green Movement” other than recycling? Fortunately our store doesn’t believe in spreading “green guilt,” so the process to educate myself about options for earth friendly living has been fun.

Over the course of my future blogs I will introduce you to products whose functions would have been viewed as fodder for science fiction movies in the 50,s and 60,s. I look forward to sharing the fun we have in the store together and with our customers. We believe in building relationships, not sales. The success of our surrounding community and neighbors is a responsibility we embrace and promote daily.

When I was in grade school, all those years ago, we were constantly told that if we practiced our 3 R’s, reading, writing, and arithmetic  (yup, I see it too, only one of those words starts with an R), they would help us to succeed in the world. Well, I have been studying the new 3R’s introduced to me by this new generation of earth caretakers, Recycle, Reuse and Reduce, and I think we’re on to something…

Use your smart phone to see where this QR code takes you!

1. QR Codes! QR codes (like the one to the left) are like UPC bar codes, but in a square shape – and instead of using a red laser line scanner to pull up a long number that relates to a product, it uses your smartphone’s camera to read the QR code and translate that into (most often) a website link. You’ll find the QR code over there on the left by Moss Envy’s front door. When you use your phone’s QR Code reader to interpret the code, it zaps you over to a YouTube video that I created as a virtual video welcome mat. We also beginning to utilize QR codes throughout the rest of the store. At the check out , you can snap a QR code that leads you to the sign up page for our e-newsletter. You can find out deeper information on some of our products by utilizing this cool technology. Sometimes, our customers like to be able to find out more about a product without the intrusion of a customer service associate. They can also bookmark the information for later browsing, reading, and researching. QR codes can be generated for free at sites like qrstuff.com, goqr.me, and (my favorite) Google’s URL shortener goo.gl.

Say HI to MEVA!

2. Online Virtual Artificial Intelligence Customer Service Agents! We’re really proud of MEVA! MEVA is an acronym for Moss Envy Virtual Assistant. She has been programmed with hundreds of answers to your Moss Envy related (and more) questions. The architecture/service is from a company called mycybertwin.com. Anyone can create a cyber twin for recreational or business purposes. We’ve modified ours to attempt to answer questions about Moss Envy and our products. She doesn’t always get it right, but you’ll be surprised by how much she does know… and the more that you talk to her and ask her questions, the more she will learn.

3. Text Message Marketing: When it comes to reaching out to our customers, e-mail is a constant… but, at an open rate of 20% or so at best, it can be disappointing.  Which is why we’ve begun to experiment with text messaging marketing… how does a 90 plus percent open rate sound? A text message blows away traditional e-mails when it comes to actually reaching your list. All you have to do to sign up is text the word MOSS to 545454. It’s that easy! You’ll get our BIG SUNDAY DEAL along with occasional update about sales, events, and important happenings at Moss Envy.

Now, go with me on this mini-journey. You have had a long day at work. You come home, take a bath, put on your PJs, watch some TV, and decide to retire early to do some reading. You escape to your bedroom, light a candle next to your bed, and start reading that novel that you’ve been waiting to sink your teeth into. About 15 pages in, your eyelids start to droop, and you begin the half conscious, half un-conscious battle. As you give into sleep, you pull the covers over your body and slip into dreamy time. What you didn’t notice is that when you bundled up, the corner of your blanket landed above your candle and caught on fire.

Luckily for you, however, your mattress didn’t catch on fire, but resisted igniting due to the fire retardant chemicals present in your mattress. Chemicals that “protect” you with names like antimony trioxide, ammonium polyphosphate, boric acid, decabromodiphenyloxide (DBDPO), melamine, and vinylidene chloride.

Yeah. It’s great that mattresses are designed and regulated by our government  to give you time to escape in the very rare instance that your mattress catches on fire.  This piece of legislation was introduced in January of 2005, and became a national law on July 1, 2007. It mandates that all consumer mattress be made flame proof, in such a way that they can withstand an open flame blowtorch for 70 seconds and not ignite for a period of 30 minutes afterwards.

Reports on how many people per year are saved from mattress fires due to these measures range from 21 to 330. Regardless of which number you accept, double or even triple that… the number pales in comparison to the U.S. population of approximately 311 million who are put at some level of risk from sleeping in toxic chemicals. This is not just speculation. There is ample evidence to cause concern. Here are just a few articles in support of the danger posed by these chemicals:

• Environmental Health News Article
• Scientific American Article
• Doctor’s opinion

A majority of the population is unaware of the chemicals in their mattress and have no idea that their choice of mattress could be compromising their health.

You may say that you’ve been sleeping on a chemical filled mattress for years – decades even – and haven’t noticed any health ramifications. I also know that I try to eat organic food, I am aware of the ingredients list of the products that I rub on my skin, and I don’t use chemicals to clean my house. My family and I take reasonable precautions to avoid potentially hazardous substances. Are we perfect? Of course not. Do I keep myself and my family away from all potentially harmful substances? I’m sure I don’t. BUT, if there is a risk that any of these chemicals might trigger a degenerative disease, I’d rather avoid them and find alternatives. Fifty years ago, asbestos was used in construction materials. Today, the law requires that specialists in protective gear remove the same asbestos. Fifty years from now, what will we be saying about the synthetic chemicals in mattresses? So what can you do? Do you have a choice?

FORTUNATELY, YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE! A choice in mattresses that will contribute not only to your quality of restorative sleep, but do so without exposing you to the use of synthetic and potentially harmful materials. The flame proofing of your mattress can be safely achieved by non-chemical, inert, and even organically certified materials.

Our most popular mattress – the Serenity by Savvy Rest – gets its flame resistance from simple, organic wool. Regular wool that is safely harvested from sheep raised on organic farms is quilted between layers of organic cotton. This allows the Serenity to pass the government’s stringent open flame testing and keeps you safe from your mattress bursting into flames. Organic wool/organic cotton is utilized in the casing that envelops three layers of natural, botanical, and supremely comfortable (and durable) latex rubber!

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? Hopefully, by you reading this, I have helped remove the first barrier to getting you in a healthier mattress – simply knowing about them. You can’t make an informed choice if you don’t know you have one. Done! The second and third barriers are timing and money. Perhaps you just bought a mattress and it doesn’t make sense for you to buy a new one right now… but with every passing day we get inevitably closer to needing a new mattress. The time will come! For some people, the hardest barrier to overcome may be financial. Right now, our popular queen size Serenity Dunlop Latex Mattress costs $2299. However, take into consideration the durability of natural latex. Unlike synthetic polyurethane based foams, it does NOT readily break down, forming an impression or trench where your body lays. All of Moss Envy’s latex mattresses carry a 20 year warranty and will most likely out-perform their warranty period. Think about how many mattresses most people buy over the course of 20 years… at least two, maybe three.  When purchasing with sustainability in mind, you are often paying more up front for a quality product that will serve your needs longer. An organic latex mattress from Moss Envy is a long-term investment in your immediate comfort and health!

BUT IS IT COMFORTABLE? I don’t care how sustainable or healthy a mattress may be – it has to be comfortable and serve your needs as a sleeper. Savvy Rest’s Serenity mattress is designed to be completely customizable, providing a proper fit for your particular body type and sleeping style. Visit Moss Envy to work one on one with our  mattress experts to choose the firmness of each of the three layers of natural latex. We can also accommodate two sleeping partner’s individual needs within one mattress.

RESEARCH IT, TRY IT, BUY IT! We encourage you to do your own research and come to your own conclusions when it comes to the important decision of choosing a mattress. I believe that by choosing to sleep on one of our own Serenity Mattresses – I have positively impacted my health and my future wellness.  Not to mention… It’s so darn comfortable! However, don’t just take my word for it… Read some of the reviews that our Serenity Mattress is garnering (follow the link and scroll down) or come in to Moss Envy and see for yourself!

1. Set the mood with this sensual Palmarosa and Geranium scented candle – blended from 100% beeswax and essential oils. The enchanting aroma promotes relaxation and sparks desire! Support your health, well-being, and spike the sexiness level in your bedroom. A natural and renewable resource, beeswax is the purest and least processed of all candle waxes. Exceptionally long burning and naturally aromatic, beeswax candles burn clean and soot free, emitting air-purifying negative ions. Click the image to purchase.

2. This is not only a gift, but an EXPERIENCE! This anthology of intimate, emotionally explicit, yet accessible poetry is culled from classic works of poetry, literary and erotica journals, and unpublished poetry. Passionate Hearts celebrates the joys of sexual connection and expression throughout the life of a relationship, from early courtship to mature love. These poems awaken desire and reveal the mysterious power and beauty of sexual sharing. Take turns selecting passages to read out loud and with each turn remove an article of clothing… we dare you to make it past four poems! Click the image to purchase.

3. This Comforting Vanilla Aromatherapy Massage oil will help transform your home into a private spa – or a romantic hideaway. Contains 100% pure vanilla CO2 extract and skin nourishing grapeseed, sweet almond, apricot kernel and vitamin E oils. Massage on your own skin to surprise your lover with glistening glint to your skin or lay your lover down, pour a generous helping into your hands, rub to body temperature, and deliver the best smelling rub down in lover history! Click on the image to purchase.

Combine all three and be prepared for an unforgettable experience!