LITTLE HELPERS

Front-facing camera fans, rejoice! This hard-shell cover with a built-in arm extension helps you capture the perfect portrait anytime—without the extra equipment. $50, flipitcase.com.

Whether you need extra lighting in a kid’s bedroom or on the patio, turn to this cheerful cord-free, 10-inch-tall beacon with touch-sensitive switch settings. In eight colors. Transloetje, $99, shop. fatboyusa.com.

The lid attachments contain no plastic and are BPA-free.

This 100 percent stainless-steel bottle has interchangeable silicone tops that grow with your child from infancy to toddlerhood. $18, pura stainless.com.

The days are getting shorter, but that shouldn’t affect your exercise routine. Thread these LED-speckled laces into your sneakers for extra visibility during runs and walks. 4id Power Lacez, $12, amazon.com.

Written by

Tanya Christian

Photographs by

Philip Friedman

Always recycle them. Leftover ink can seep into the environment, and the plastic takes centuries to decompose. Many inkcartridge companies run recycling programs. (Check the relevant company’s website for mail-in details.) Or use the search tool at earth911. com to find businesses near you that accept old cartridges. Office-supply stores, like Staples and Office Depot, offer rewards for returning all types of empties.

After collection, the cartridges are generally made intootherproducts (such as new ink cartridges or clothing hangers), or they’re turned into energy to power homes and businesses. If you have an HP printer, check out HP’s Instant Ink replacement service. It detects when ink is running low and sends new cartridges along with a prepaid envelope for returning the used ones. Plans range from $3 to $10 a month.

Something else to consider: Epson’s line of EcoTank printers use a refillable ink reservoir instead of a cartridge, eliminating a lot of plas-

tic waste. —KAITLYNPIRIE