Who: Meriweather Field Gear

What: Frost River Lunch Bag

Where: Meriweather Field Gear – $25

Why We Love ‘Em: Guys take their lunches to work too, yet there aren’t many “manly” options out there. As much as we might love a Rebel Green tote, a Tiffin set, or a Planetbox, they might not exactly inspire the boys to pack a lunch for the road. So, we can see how a guy might go the take-out route in lieu of toting pink polka dots to the office, or say, his wife’s Lululemon bag which we literally just witnessed on our way into the office…

But he may think twice with Meriweather’s Frost River Lunch Bag. Handmade in Duluth, Minnesota from an all-weather, waxed canvas, these bags are built to handle the roughest of jobs sites be that a construction site, a classroom, or the boardroom. Add a no-nonsense leather closure and you’ve got a bag that puts the ‘man’ in lunch tote and might make a trip to the office feel a little more adventuresome.

Who: Eva Solo – Denmark

What: Table Grill

Where: Amazon – $295

Why We Love It: It feels like summer here in Boston so we have got bbqs on the brain! This hot compact hibachi-style grill is perfect for those of us who enjoy a moveable feast. It’s designed with portability in mind so you can take the sweet taste of the grill to the beach, the park, or your own backyard. Winner of 7 design awards, it features an all-natural porcelain base with stainless steel inserts, and a teak trivet–all of which, save for the trivet, are dishwasher-safe!! Amazing, right? Now, if it only fit in our bike basket…

Note: when grilling, be sure to use FSC Certified or Rainforest Alliance SmartWood approved charcoal or eco-briquettes to avoid the toxins found in conventional charcoal.

Who: Catamount Glassware – Bennington, VT

What: Catamount Glass Microwave Popcorn Popper

Where: Mighty Nest – $19.95

Why We Love ‘Em: Mmmmm, good old-fashioned microwave popcorn without all of the waste (can you say bag inside a bag inside a box?) or the chemicals. All you need is this glass popper, kernels, butter, (yes, a wee bit more effort than opening a bag and popping it in the microwave) and your favorite movie.

Why give up the convenience of a prepackaged bag of corn? Well, recent studies suggest that microwaveable popcorn could be harmful your health. Microwaveable bags are coated with perfluorinated compounds (PFC’s or specifically PFOA’s) to keep the contents from sticking to the outside. PFC’s have been linked to lowered immune response to vaccinations in children (see: JAMA and PBS Newshour) and the EPA (seriously, our last acronym!) has identified them as a “likely carcinogen.” Oh, and there’s the fake butter, diacetyl, which when inhaled, has been linked to the rare type of lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans. Not good.

But, the good news is that you can have your microwaveable popcorn and eat it too thanks to this clever glass popper from Catamount Glass. Perks include less waste, less money spent, and tasty popcorn just the way you like it–a little cajun seasoning please! Simply pour kernels–purchased in bulk, of course–into the glass container, drop in a dollop–or two–of butter onto the silicone melting lid, and microwave for 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Easy peasie. And clean-up is easy too. The heavy-duty laboratory glass is flame, oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe.

And hats off to Catamount Glass for switching over to organic, lead-free inks to lower their carbon footprint. Not only are these inks safer, but they also take half the time to dry and can cure at lower temperatures to further reduce energy consumption during the manufacturing process.

Who: David Mayhew for Design House Stockholm – Stockholm, Sweden

What: Whale Tongs

Where: MoMA – $25 in bamboo
Design House Stockholm $50 in jamjuree wood

Why We Love It: Former lighthouse keeper and officer in the British Merchant Navy, David Mayhew was inspired by the flukes of a whale’s tail for the design of these graceful, handcrafted tongs. Made from renewable bamboo or jamjuree wood, the simple design features a clever magnetic hinge that pulls apart that allows you to use the two parts separately or in unison. Plus, it makes it easier for cleaning purposes and when it comes time to stow them away, the two parts nestle nicely together for streamlined storage. Smart.

Who: Lostine – Philiadelphia, PA

What: Colorblocked Balloon Cutting Board

Where: Anthropologie – $128-$248

Why We Love It: So yes, paying $248 for a cutting board is a bit excessive, nonetheless, we are ‘pining’ for these colorblocked cutting boards (sensing a DIY project is in order). These high quality boards have that heirloom quality–like they were found in an old farmhouse beneath a fresh baked loaf of bread. Meticulously handcrafted in Philadelphia from locally sourced Sycamore trees, they are colored with a food-safe milk paint that gives it that yummy hand dipped feel. The final finish is a food-safe mineral to protect the integrity of the wood.

If you are will to splurge on one of these eye pleasing boards, they are certainly worth displaying whether on the wall or as a serving board. Built-in leather handles and cut-outs make hanging easy–helps with drying too!

Who: Rebel Green – Milwaukee, WI

What: Free Bird Bad Habits Lunch Tote

Where: MightyNest – $21.95

Why We Love It: “Bad Habits are Disposable Good Habits are Reusable” is a good motto to live by, and this reusable lunch tote from Rebel Green makes it easier to embrace good habits like skipping the brown bag at lunch time. Made in the USA from 100% organic cotton and printed with low impact inks, this cheeky tote is great for lunches on the go for kids or grown-ups. Pair it with a reusable cloth napkin for added ‘green.’

Who: Suki Cheema – London, UK

What: City Wall Throw

Where: Design Within Reach – $298 $178.80

Why We Love It: Suki Cheema, a former print designer for Diane von Furstenberg, is celebrated for his globally inspired textiles and blending traditional weaving techniques with rich colors and inspired patterns. Taking cues from the brick-and-mortar fort walls built by the Maharajas, the City Wall Throw features a patchwork of patterns in black and white that would be right at home in a modern, casual, or traditional living space.

Cheema works with local artisans in India to execute his designs (the Indonesian collection of throws is our favorite – still trying to track down the Taquile Black/White Throw – love). The City Wall throw is handwoven of 100% cotton with all-natural dyes.

Who: KeepCup – Fitzroy, Australia

What: KeepCups Reusable Mugs

Where: Amazon – $10+

Why We Love It: New Year’s Resolution No. 4: Embrace reusables. Santa was good to us this year and dropped this fabulous little to-go cup in our stocking making this resolution a breeze. The easy-slide spout and sealable top keeps spill to a minimum and the color combinations are just fab! If given all the options and if can’t find combination that delights, design your own custom cup at Keepcups.com.

Your neighborhood barista will appreciate that the cups come in standard coffee shop sizing and fit with their machines, so whether an espresso, latter, or americano is your drink de jour, there is a cup to fit. For those who are creatures of habit, simply mark your preferences on the embossed silicone band and hand it to your barista.

Made from lightweight, BPA-free plastic and silicone they are dishwasher safe, microwaveable, and splash proof.

Who: Core Bamboo – New York, NY

What: Mortar + Pestle

Where: Macy’s – $24.99

Why We Love It: In this fast food world we live in, it’s good to take a step back and celebrate the ritual, the flavors, and the health benefits of a home cooked meal. As food critic, Mark Bittman, will attest, it doesn’t necessarily take much longer to prepare a thoughtful meal and you may find the ritual of cooking to be quite satisfying, more so, perhaps, than the meal itself.

Maximize flavor by grinding whole spices, fresh herbs, garlic, and more with this functional, durable, and colorful mortar and pestle. A traditional tool with a modern pop, it’s hand-crafted from 100% organically grown bamboo and comes with all the benefits of this fast-growing plant–it’s naturally antimicrobial and it’s one of the strongest yet lightest materials around. Core Bamboo uses food-safe water based adhesives, natural oils, and lacquers made from natural cashew trees.

Who: IZOLA – New York, NY

What: Izola Numeral Toothbrushes

Where: Amazon.com – $9.61

Why We Love It: Who says you can’t buy a toothbrush just for its looks? These lovely toothbrushes are made from renewable bamboo and go perfectly with any bathroom decor. Coordinating toothbrushes is just too precious and no longer solely designated to the pages of a magazine.

Each toothbrush has a numbers engraved on it which serves as a useful reminder about when its time to replace your toothbrush (it’s Q4, so on to brush No. 4!) or to designate one to housemates or guest so you’ll know whose is whose. You’ll dentist would certainly approve.

Also loving Izola’s new Practice Conservation Laundry Bag due out soon–it’s got with the instructions for eco-laundry care conveniently printed on the side.