We have had a really fun and enjoyable weekend. I got to spend it with people I love and we had lots of our favorite foods. The pace was slow and I was able to savory every second. Even got to see a movie with my Dad, my hubby, and my youngest son. We saw Wrath of the Titans. We just don’t have enough of these weekends!

We dug out the bunny decorations and fake grass we have used for years. The Easter Dinner table was set…

And we were ready to eat! Shortly after I snapped the picture below, my youngest son completely filled his plate with carrots, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli. That is all he ate. Considering all the other good stuff on the table that is pretty darn weird!

As is customary for us on Easter, we had prime rib. Nom, nom.

For dessert we had organic, primal carrot cupcakes with creamy dreamy, cream cheese frosting. The recipe came from Make It Paleo. YUM!!!!! And they are so healthy… carrots, coconut flour and coconut oil, nearly a dozen pastured eggs, cream cheese, dates, and pure maple syrup.

How was your holiday?

When Easter rolls around the the eco conundrum that all green families face is what to use to dye or paint the Easter eggs. Actually the bigger dilemma for me is the fact that I buy nasty, factory farmed, bleached white eggs to make the dye job easier but we consider the paint/dye as well. Since my beautiful pastured brown and green eggs won’t dye well (we’ve tried) we buy the conventional white ones for this endeavor and we don’t eat them. Some day we may get around to trying to blow the yolks out so we can reuse the eggs but until that time we use one of three ways to get eggcellent color.

Dying Easter Eggs With Natural Homemade Food Dyes

Most people color their eggs with store bought egg kits that contain dyes made from petrochemicals, but in times past eggs were colored with plant materials found in nature. It’s fun to get back to the basics!

To dye eggs with natural coloring put raw, white-shelled eggs in a pan and cover with water and a teaspoon of white vinegar. Add your coloring agent and bring to a boil and then let the eggs simmer for 15 minutes. Rinse and allow to cool.

You can also hard boil them first and then fill glass jars with water and the coloring agent, putting the jars in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and then stirring. Then allow the eggs to sit in the jars overnight.

For pink and red colored eggs use cranberry juice, beets, or raspberries.

For yellow eggs use saffron or tumeric

For purple eggs use red wine.

For blue eggs use red cabbage leaves or blueberries.

For brown eggs use grape juice, rosehip tea, or coffee.

For orange eggs use yellow onion skins.

Dying Easter Eggs With Natural Store Bought Dyes

Our favorite natural egg dying kit is Eco Eggs (see above photo).  Gorgeous no?

The dyes are made using natural plant, fruit, and vegetable extracts. It includes three natural dyes (orange, blue and purple), a color chart for creating 6 colors, and instructions for coloring eggs.

Coloring Easter Eggs With Natural Plant Based Paints

This is the route we went this year and we turned to GLOB Natural Paints, which is an old favorite of ours. Specifically we used the Glob All Natural Paint Pigments Set. You can use them for egg painting as well as regular painting and even tinting natural play dough. The set has four colors.. basil, lemon verbena, pomegranate, and berry blue. The powders are all crafted from fruits, vegetables, flowers, and spices. Just add water and you have paint. They even smell like the yummy foods/plants used to make them!

The eggs in the top photo are what we ended up with. I think for more perfect photo worthy eggs the Eco Eggs dye is better but for kiddie fun the Glob paints are tops. My kids had a blast mixing the paints and then hand painting their eggs. We also like the marbled look.

How will you dye your eggs this year?

Leading up to Valentine’s Day you are likely to read articles about gift ideas, ways to make it magical, or perhaps what candy and chocolate is the most ethical and healthy. You don’t typically see articles about what to do if your kids came home from school with a metric ton of candy and sweets and you don’t actually have the heart to confiscate it. That would be me. I don’t buy any Valentine’s candy his time of year. Not a single piece for me or the kids. When we have to send the kids to school with Valentine’s we either make our own cards or go with ones that have little toys, bookmarks, or pencils instead of candy. But it is understood that when they come home from school they are going to have a paper bag full of Valentine’s Day booty. Since they don’t get candy very often I don’t worry so much about it, but then again I don’t dismiss it either.

Valentine’s candy is actually pretty bad for our children’s health. That is the just the truth of it. It is loaded with immune suppressing sugar and other junk ingredients like artificial dyes and additives. Consuming all that candy is literally putting their immune systems under a form of attack and during a time when they are already vulnerable… few sunlight hours available, activity can dwindle, and cold and flu bugs are going around like party favors.

If you want to get creative and trade the candy for money or other treats go right ahead. That actually worked with my youngest son this year. My daughter would not be swayed. Rather than let it bug me I just decided that it is a grand opportunity to teach my kids how to take care of their bodies after they have had a lapse in judgement. Giving them insight into how their body works when we eat junk and how we can nurture ourselves in the aftermath is just as important in my mind as teaching them about healthy eating. They need to know how to heal themselves when their healthy habits take a detour.

You might decide to try and ration the candy so they don’t go crazy and eat it all at once but that is actually not a good idea. Let them eat up all the candy. It just extends the immune suppressing abilities of all that junk so it’s best to get it gone and start the healing. Whatever they don’t eat that afternoon/evening might even magically disappear. Give me the rest of that candy and I will take you to a movie on Saturday morning, deal?

Here are some other ways that we give our family an immunity boost after gorging on candy. These tips work for Valentine’s Day or any candy centric holiday (ie Halloween and Easter).

Broth – Once that candy is gone we go into a week long spree of nourishing, nutrient dense, broth based soups that are heavy on the veggies, garlic, onions, and ginger. My dutch oven get a mighty workout all week long.

Hydration – The drink of choice after Valentine’s is good old fashioned water and I make sure it is alkaline as well. No natural juice, smoothies, or sweetened teas right now, just water.

Fermented Cod Liver Oil – Very nutrient dense and helps boost immunity and sleep. This brand is especially good because it is fermented, unheated, and it retains the natural vitamins and enzymes that are destroyed in the processing of many other brands.

Garlic - It has strong antiviral and antibacterial properties and can help ward of illness. I will often use an entire bulb in our soups after we have had excessive candy exposure.

No White Stuff or Grains - Sugar is one of the white things to be avoided but also white rice and flour. Make pancakes with coconut flour or give them a cereal of just chopped almonds, pecans, pine nuts, and shredded coconut. It is especially important not to eat any white stuff after a candy binge but grains just convert to sugar in the body too so it is best to avoid them.

Ginger - Ginger warms you up so fast you think you might be having a hot flash. That is of course why it works so well. It raises your body temperature and fights off viruses and prevents them from replicating. It is also anti-inflammatory and it supports our immune system.

Elderberry - This amazing herb is an anti-viral and it helps to fight viruses by warming your body temperature. It also has strong antioxidant properties that boost the immune system. You can make your own or you can buy it in the form of Sambucol.

Exercise – Take the kids out for evening walks, dance while you do chores, and go on some weekend hikes. Exercise boosts immune function.

Whole Foods Vitamins – Give your kids vitamins sourced from whole foods (ala apples, mango, etc), not one with synthetic ingredients.

Plenty of Rest – After an event like Valentine’s Day we send the kids to bed earlier so they can get plenty of rest… their little bodies need it. All week long they are required to hit the sack an hour earlier than usual and this gives their immune system a chance to recover from the shock of all that sugar.

How will you keep your kids healthy after Valentine’s Day?

Feel that love in the air? Yes, Valentine’s Day is around the corner. After Halloween I think Valentine’s is my fave holiday because it’s all about ooey gooey love in all its forms. This could be love for your partner, love for your kids, love for your extended family, or love for your friends. We don’t celebrate love enough in my opinion so heaven forbid we let the official love holiday pass us by without celebration.

This of course does not mean we have to give in to the mainstream and rather commercial version of the holiday. We can choose to go minimalist and keep it simple or we can give the day our own green twist. We can say “I Love You” without great planetary cost. Here are some ideas.

Go Local – If you plan to buy a gift or go out to eat try a local place close to your home. Save that trip to Paris for your second honeymoon. Try a small mom and pop restaurant for dinner and you will be surprised how good the service is. A store with wares sold by local artisans will ensure a unique, lower impact gift. Celebrate Valentine’s and help support your local economy.

Gift Experiences Rather Than Stuff – Instead of shiny baubles and aftershave why not give the gift of fun? Get a gift certificate for mystery dinner theater, an opera, a cooking class, Disney on Ice, movie tickets, or the like. If your partner loves art get season passes to your local art museum and make it a goal to have a date night there once a month. If your kids love paintball, buy tickets for the whole family so you can enjoy the first Big Game Day come spring. Nothing says love like bruising each other with paintballs. Stuff ultimately means less to us than happy memories so get out there and make some together.

Go Non Toxic – Perfumes, flowers, bubble bath, lotions… all the mainstream stuff is smelly and potentially toxic. No, seriously. Valentine’s is no time to expose the loves of our lives to dangerous chemicals!  If you want to get your partner something along these lines go for natural, organic ingredients. Check out Juice Beauty, Pangea, and your local Whole Foods for some better options. You might also want to try love themed essential oils for a healthier “scent”.

For kids skip the toxic nail polish and lip balms, there are much better options. HoneyBee Gardens and Piggy Paints have pink/red colors that are safe and perfect for Valentine’s. Looking for USDA Certified Organic Lip Balm? Try All The Better To Kiss You With.

Flower Power – Flowers should also be grown without chemicals if you have to have them. A better option would be decorative blooming branches so that they can be used all year long. You could go also with a houseplant that will clean your indoor air and decorate your home year round. A lucky bamboo plant is a nice option for loved ones. Also a Feng Shui Tree is a lovely twist on the flowers/plants theme.

Healthier Sweet Stuff – For chocolate go Fair Trade, organic, dark (70% cacao and above), and raw if you can swing it. The stuff they sell in the Valentine’s isle at your local grocery is CRAP. Don’t eat and don’t gift it. Try Buddha Chocolate, my new personal favorite! Another good option is Equal Exchange chocolate bars. Both offer salty, dark chocolate that is ethical and to die for. Gnosis chocolate is certified raw, vegan, organic, and kosher.

We may decide to forgo candy altogether and take the family out for local artisan ice cream made with cream from grass fed cows. I LOVE our local foods community here in Ohio!

Give Greener Cards – You can really send clever messages inside e-cards so if you can go that route, do it. While getting a physical card is always fun, we end up with feeling as though we have to keep it and do we even look at it the other 364 days of the year?

For kids you can always buy recycled Valentine’s Day cards or make your own with recycled materials for your own kids and for them to pass out at school. You could even save valentines from previous years and reuse them. Who will know? If your kids insist on giving out treats, stick a Valentine’s smencil or a Yummy Earth Lollipop to the recycled valentines.

Go Vintage – It’s green to reuse old stuff so finding a vintage gift for your sweetie is totally earth friendly. Perhaps the wife would like some vintage Pyrex or Fire King mugs. The hubby might enjoy antique fishing lures or a well loved tackle box. Kids’ stuff isn’t always safe when it is old so perhaps some vintage inspired toys like these wooden sailboats or a rag doll.

Hopefully this post gives you some eco ideas for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

Easy Canvas Prints saved me some dough by sending me a 16×20 canvas wrapped print of my choosing and that fits into my gift giving “plan” quite nicely. I knew immediately what photo I wanted to see mounted on canvas… a Fall photo of my youngest kiddo that I have fallen in love with.

This beauty….

was turned into this…

The photo of the print is a bit dark. I hate using a flash when taking pics of Christmas lights because it drowns them out. It came out lovely though. The ordering process was quick and painless and the shipping was fast. Perfect!

Is there really any greater gift, than the gift of health? No, not likely. Being healthy and fit takes us a long way on our journey to happier lives and it helps to ensure we are around to share our lives with our loved ones. It gives us greater energy and happiness. It keeps us young.

You may need gift ideas for loved ones who consider themselves gym rats and fitness enthusiasts or you may want to encourage someone who wants to be. Either way these gifts are perfect for those who want to prioritize fitness and greater health. Some I would consider “green” in their design or materials and others I have added because they are high quality and designed to last, even if they are not technically green. Enjoy!

Shoes – There are many brands of green and/or minimalist shoes out there so if you want to buy shoes for your loved one you may want to do your homework and see what they like and what they use their shoes for. Some good ones to try:

• Green Silence – Running
• Vibram Five Fingers – Running, Walking, Hiking
• Kayland Zephyr W – Hiking, made with coconut shells
• Cushe Women’s Shucoon-MJ – Trail shoe made with 100 percent organic cotton, 70 percent recycled lycra, and 60 percent recycled jersey.

Garmin Forerunner – Most fitness nuts want to track their progress and compete against their own times. This nifty device is considered one the best tools to do that. It tracks your distance, time, pace, and heart rate. Works for running, walking, hiking, cycling, cross country skiing, and even windsurfing. Also has GPS. This is on my wish list for sure!

Mp3 player and Headphones – Whether at the gym or outside the workout goes mush faster and is much more enjoyable when you have tunes to listen to. You ideally want something small for fitness though, like the iPod nano or the shuffle. Both clip onto your clothing! Don’t forget the eco headphones to.

Sustainable Workout Clothes – Workout clothing that is ‘environmentally conscious’ is widely available now. Some of my faves include:

• SmartWool Foothills Full-Zip Sweater
• Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks
• Champion Women’s Eco Fleece Closed Bottom Pant

Eco Yoga Mat – Got any yoginis in the family? Well, then an eco friendly mat will be perfect. Most conventional mats have some toxic nasties in them and there are a few options now that are healthier for us and for the planet. Try the Gaiam Eco Reversible Yoga Mat (Peacock). Non toxic TPE, no PVC or latex, eco conscious company.

Gym Bag – Anyone who hits the gym a few times a week will need a bag to cart around all their stuff… swim suit, change of clothes, towel, toiletries, mp3 player, headphones, heart rate monitor, water bottle, etc. I have the Gaiam Everything Fits Recycled Gym Bag and it is roomy enough for all my stuff, has a pocket for wet stuff, and has a rope band on the bottom for holding a yoga mat.

Mountainsmith Approach 3.0 Recycled Backpack – Great for day hiking and backpacking AND made of recycled materials.

Tubbs Women’s Frontier Snowshoe – Man oh man do I want these! High quality, affordable, snow shoes.

Fitness Books: If your giftee happens to love fitness and reading then perhaps you could incorporate both pursuits. You might try a Winter Trails book specific to their state or an athletic memoire like Becoming Odyssa or Hiking Through.

This particular craft uses recycled cans so if you drink anything out of cans you are in luck, you have what you need. If not, you can likely get some pretty easy via Freecycle or from family and friends.

For a ghost, paint the can white with non toxic paint, and use a black marker to make the eyes and mouth. Use the tab to tie some string to it for hanging and use a bit of ripped cheesecloth above the can to blow eerily in the wind.

For a bat, paint the can black and use white marker or paint to make eyes. You can also use googly eyes. Use orange paint to write the word Boo. Black wings can be made from paper, painted cardboard, or foam and then be glued to the can. Remove the tab to make the mouth appear open and use a hot glue gun to connect a string of some sort for hanging.

These can be stored after Halloween is over and used for subsequent years too. Happy crafting!

Came across this awesome nail polish set today and had to share. Nail polish is IMO one of the nastiest products you can buy but several companies are now marketing non toxic nail polish and this is good news for moms of little girls who love to wear nail polish. This particular nail polish is made by one of those companies (Keeki Pure and Simple) and I LOVE that they have bundled Halloween sets, the Franken-Keeki Gift Pack. I want one for myself! The green is awesome although they call it Sour Apple Slushie and the black is Midnight Snack. My daughter can testify to the fact that the name is just as important as the color. ;) Although not in the Halloween pack, the Sugar Plum Nail Polish is an awesome purple color that would be great for Halloween too.

The Candy Corn Gift Pack has Lemonade, Marshmallow, and Orange Sorbet.

These nail colors have no parabens, phthalates and other nasty ingredients. They are also gluten-free, toluene-free, vegan, made here in the US, and never tested on animals.

Anxious for Halloween yet?

Related: Ditch the Nail Polish Nasties

Mother’s Day has become yet another commercial holiday were you are encouraged to buy people “stuff” they don’t need. Of course I am not going to to complain about ANY day where moms get some extra props and receive gifts from a loved one who may get her Mothers Day flowers at FTD or any other thoughtful presents. I just think we need to think a little about the woman on the other end of the gift a bit more. A green mom especially might be more sensitive to all the unnecessary waste associated with these holidays. Flowers won’t last and they may have been doused in chemicals. Fancy lotions might have a bad rating on the Skin Deep Cosmetics database. But if you take into consideration what a green mom values, and what type of gifts they would actually use… then you can come up with a few sure fire ideas.

Mother’s Day is About Love Not Gifts – You may find that no gift is required at all. Time and love can be gift enough. This can be accomplished with homemade cards, a nice breakfast cooked by someone else than mom, maybe a movie, a bike ride, a walk in the park, etc. It might also be a good day to break out those season passes to the zoo or a local museum. The gift of time is low impact and very meaningful. Mom’s day doesn’t have to be about elaborate gifts.

The Gift of Service – I know this mom would really appreciate gifts of service rather than physical gifts and yes, I have read The 5 Love Languages. For moms like me a great way to say I love you would be to give me a break from my duties by cleaning the house, cooking meals, and letting me have a day off. A gift can still be worked in there with a certificate for cleaning or childcare services. Some moms might also like a gift certificate for day spas and massage parlors. Services are more eco friendly usually, than accumulating stuff.

Previously Loved Gifts - Green moms usually don’t mind used items. Most times you will find we LOVE thrifted and second hand finds. Perhaps Mother’s Day might be the perfect time to shop that antique mall that she loves to visit and buy her some antique table or bed linens, a Jadeite mug like those she collects, or some other vintage treasure she is sure to love.

Something To Make Mom’s Job Easier – I know that some moms bristle at the idea of getting a vacuum or some other cooking or cleaning gadget for Mother’s Day but green moms usually are not among them. This is closely related to gifts of service… if it makes our lives easier it is a good gift, period. The idea of an iPad or a smart phone is lost on me but a Vita-Mix, a Kitchenaid Mixer with a dough hook, or glass refrigerator dishes… those will make my daily life easier and they make good sense.

What do you think? What gifts will be the biggest hit with green moms?

This year I had it in my mind that I was going to try and dye Easter eggs using our GLOB natural botanical paints. Only problem was I could not find them in all the stuff I have not yet unpacked in our move. So when I came across the Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kit, I opted to just use that. The dyes are made using natural plant, fruit, and vegetable extracts. It includes three natural dyes (orange, blue and purple), a color chart for creating 6 colors, and instructions for coloring eggs.

It was VERY easy, which I love. First you have to decide if you want to hard boil the eggs or blow them. I opted for the latter although I haven’t done that part yet. The colored eggs are chilling in the frig until I decide to tackle that. You just pour the 3 dyes  and a 1/2 cup of warm water in 3 glass cups and drop the eggs in to start the process.

Right away I noticed that this “green” product could be even greener if the dyes came in small paper bags instead of plastic containers that look like the ones you usually find lip balm in. My daughter confiscated these to put little beads in but they will still likely end up as garbage so that seems like a waste. But moving on…

The color chart that comes in the kit advises you on how long to let the eggs sit for the desired color. Some you need to let sit in one color followed by a little time in another to mesh colors and create another color altogether. The standard colors (purple, blue, and orange) were vibrant and beautiful. The mixed colors were only so-so. The green for instance was nice enough but not as green as I would have hoped. The brown did not work out at all so we ended up throwing it in all three dyes and got a dark burgundy instead. The yellow came out nicely and was the easiest to dye… only 3-4 seconds in the orange dye followed by a quick rinse.

The photo above is not edited so those are the true colors we ended up with. Quite nice I think. ;) The really dark burgundy egg is actually a brown egg so that is why it is so dark. I wasn’t too keen on buying the nasty white factory farm eggs for this project but hopefully we will be able to keep these for years to come when they are done. Our local farm fresh eggs (brown) just didn’t take the dyes, with the exception of the purple. You can dye quite a few eggs with this kit and even refrigerate leftover dyes for future use, at least we did.

Anwyay that is our experience with this product. How do YOU keep Easter on the eco-friendly side?

Easter products are hard to miss when you stop by the store these days. From plastic grass to cream filled chocolate eggs, the stuff is everywhere. But if you eschew all that plastic crap and you don’t particularly want your kids to have all that processed sugar what do you? Well, to start you need to pass by those prepackaged Easter baskets and make your own. It’s easy!

Here are some ideas on what you can add to make your child’s Easter basket natural, eco friendly, and most important… fun and memorable.

The Stuffing:

Shredded paper – A few weeks before Easter have your kids do some watercolor painting each day. What kids wouldn’t want to paint everyday? Use some of their creations to shred and line their easter baskets with. They will be colorful and planet friendly.

Real Grass – Growing your own grass is not hard. Find a container that will just fit inside your Easter baskets and line it with a few inches of soil and a generous sprinkling of grass seeds. Just keep the conatiners under a sunny window and water daily. Once you have a few inches of grass you can tuck them inside the baskets and fill with treasures.

The Sweet Stuff :

Dried Fruit – Raisins, dates, apples slices, peaches, apricots, cherries, blueberries, and strawberries are some kid favorites.

Lara Bars – We love Key Lime Pie.

Raw Vegan Chocolate Brownie Bites – They are quite yummy!

Organic Fruit Strips – You can make your own in a dehydrator or buy some from Archer Farms.

Chocolate covered nuts.

Trader Joe’s Yogurt Star Cookies – My kids like these and they remind me of Circus Cookies but without many of the unsavory ingredients. These are actually colored with blueberry powder.

Non Food Treats and Treasures:

Art Supplies – Beeswax crayons or Eco Stars, natural paints, a crayon roll, or other groovy supplies for budding artists and crafters.

Homemade play dough

Seed packets

Small games or puzzles (like the ones from Haba)

Paper Dolls – I like these dolls from Eeboo and these paper bunnies as well.

Clothing – For little girls now may be time to sew up a cute pillowcase dress for spring/summer. Boys (and girls too) might enjoy a cape.

Tegu Blocks – In the the groovy new pastels colors. My kids LOVE these.

Books – Some good books for spring include The Daring Book for Girls and The Dangreous book for Boys. Also Anna Banana: 101 Jump Rope Rhymes.

Gift passes to local play museums, amusement parks, movie theaters, or other fun places your kids like to go. This year we got indoor waterpark day passes for each of our kidlets. ;)

The possibilities are endless. What will go in your child’s Easter basket this year?

It may seem as though it should be inconceivable during this time of year, what with all the personal and oft times spiritual significance of the holidays, but too often we get consumed with shopping and planning that we forget to be present with our family this time of year. Here are some ways to help us remember to live in the moment and simply ENJOY our time together.

1. Have a pj party in front of the TV and watch Polar Express.
2. String together some popcorn and cranberries for a garland.
3. Take a walk in the woods after a good snow.
4. Go sledding.
5. Take a drive to see the neighborhood lights.
6. Read a good seasonal children’s book every night.
7. Listen to an audio book together.
8. Bake cookies.
9. Make handmade gifts for extended family.
10. Write letters of gratitude together and remember all you have to be thankful for.
11. Grab a candle and take a moonlit walk in the neighborhood.
12. Listen to Christmas carolers sing live or on the radio.
13. Visit your local zoo for zoolights.
14. Put a blanket on the floor and play a board game.
15. Visit a food bank or homeless shelter to make donations or volunteer.
16. Go on a horse drawn carriage ride.
17. Pull out a card table and put together a winter puzzle.
18. Make a snowman.
19. Use watercolors and paintbrushes to paint the snow.
20. Have a hot cocoa party.
21. Go to the library for story time.
22. Go see a toy train exhibit.
23. Do some holiday Mad Libs together.

24. Make a gingerbread house.
25. Gather ingredients for homemade potpourri or a strewing table.
26. Sit by a fire in your backyard.
27. Make a yule log.
28. Feed the birds.
29. Visit an art museum and have everyone sketch their favorite winter landcape.
30. Make homemade ornaments.
31. Make paper snowflakes or paper chains.
32. Make coloring activity baskets to take to the children’s hospital.
33. Have a week of candlelit dinners.
34. Make a snow fort using snow brickers.
35. Paint some pine cones for the tree.

Christmas can be a budget breaker for many families but it really doesn’t have to be. My husband and I are so conditioned that we now scour Craiglist, eBay, and our local thrift stores before we buy just about anything these days. We have come to HATE paying full price for anything when we know we can get such good deals and we can knock out our Christmas shopping list during a good estate auction or two. Just recently we bought a NIB wrought iron canopy bed for my daughter off of Craiglist, a microscope for homeschool off a local college student, and my husband picked up a large terrarium set-up w/stand and lights at an auction, for my son (well actually for a bearded dragon).

That toboggan my kids are on in the above picture… $10 at a yard sale!

Here is a quickie list of some things that you should look for second hand on your local Craigslist or at thrift stores:

Do you have items to add?

The core idea is to pick a modest amount of money like $100 and spend no more than that on the holiday. This allows us to slow down the pace of Christmas, make it more about time with loved ones, and less about rampant consumerism. Of course the book has a very slight religious bent (it is about Christmas after all) but this secular mom found it very good as well. I was actually raised in a home that celebrated no holidays and for several years after I started my own family I kept it that way. If I could avoid the money sucking holidays that have no religious significance to me, then why not right? Well, as my children got older it became apparent that you do it for the kids. Still, no reason to go all crazy and put ourselves in debt… or even in financial discomfort every year. The holidays became for us a tradition of time spent with family and modest gift giving.

This book came a little late to try the $100 thing because alas I have already spent that on just one of my kids. BUT I am not sure I would change that because we already travel a path of voluntary simplicity throughout the year and the kids don’t get a whole lot of gifts outside of Christmas and birthdays. I don’t have any guilt about what I spend this time of year. We have always kept it within reason and we pay cash for everything we buy. Some of our splurges for this holiday season are really gifts that will last all year long. I bought season passes to the zoo, the science museum, and the conservatory. I also bought tickets to a Ballet for my two oldest. The gift of time together can’t be undervalued.

That said though, I think this book has some WONDERFUL ideas for gift giving while keeping it under $100 and I am making a mental checklist for this year and next. The author, Bill McKibben, talks about using your skills or learning new ones to make gifts by hand, things like learning to make soap. My husband and I discussed this and we have some skill building plans in place so that we can make more stuff for ourselves, not for holidays but in general. The idea of making our own gifts is a bonus.

Another thing I valued in the book was the history lesson about Christmas and how it has come to be the holiday of excess that it is today. It was very interesting. If you happen to buy this book at some point, you could even re-gift it during the holidays and perhaps get another in your family on board with creating a new Christmas tradition that is more about celebrating life and your time with loved ones and less about consumerism and excess.

Above: My daughter is playing with her Spellmaster by Tag Toys

Is Christmas on the brain yet? Every year parents hear about toy recalls and the latest toys to have failed safety inspections and expectations. Tighter regulations passed but that ultimately ended up meaning we had fewer options and the huge corporations making the toys typically recalled got free passes to go about business as usual. Cause you know… safety legislation is too tedious for mega corporations to deal with. From lead paint recalls to small parts that pose a choking hazard, we have to be careful when buying children’s Christmas presents. Here are some tips for buying safe toys:

1. Go for toys that are free of toxic chemicals. Many plastic toys contain or are made from PVC, a potentially harmful form of plastic. PVC contains dioxin, which is a toxic chemical implicated in breast and other cancers. Many action figures and other small figurines are made from PVC – in fact, they are often simply called “PVC figures.”

2. Avoid plastic altogether. If all the acronyms and chemical names overwhelm you, or if you just don’t trust plastic, avoid it. Wood, bamboo, cloth, porcelain, and glass are safer toy materials. Checker and chess sets, unpainted wooden cars, trains, marble runs, doll houses, and baby toys are just some of the many wooden options available. You can always paint these items yourself with safe paint. Dominoes and other games with pieces made from porcelain are virtually unbreakable. Glass marbles and other sturdy glass items make good toys as well. You can get MANY of these items second hand too, making them a double green whammy purchase.

3. Look for toys that are made in America or Europe. If you want eco-friendly, organic, safe toys, they will come from the USA or Europe. Toys made in China may or may not be okay, but your best bet for eco-friendly, organic toys are not manufactured in China. That means German made Haba may be preferable to Melissa and Doug.

4. Look for locally made toys. Many communities hold fairs and festivals where craftspeople sell their creations. Handmade, wooden toys and safe, lead-free ceramics and jewelry are common at these fairs. Many of these vendors also have sites online. Etsy is an online marketplace for the same folks.

5. Stay away from small, detachable parts. The sewn-on eyes and plastic noses of stuffed animals could be swallowed by small children or babies, and pose a choking hazard. Any toy that has small parts that may come loose is not necessarily safe.

6. Quiet toys are better for your children’s health. Noisy, loud toys can damage hearing, and grown-ups can find them very annoying! Some sources say that there are children’s toys capable of producing sounds as loud as a jet plane, and toys with sirens, horns, and sound-emitting battery toys can all damage hearing in children and babies. If it bothers your ears, it’s not good for your kids. And is a toy that does all the work for the child the best toy for their brain development? No. Their mental health will benefit from simple toys without bells and whistles.

7. Sturdiness is paramount. If a toy is going to be ridden or sat upon, make sure it’s stable. Also note the shape – does the seat back rise in the back to provide support? Could clothing or skin get pinched easily between moving parts?

8. Research the safety tests. There are various governmental agencies that monitor toy safety. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be searched online for toy recalls and other safety information. But in my mind stay away from mega corporations like Mattel and Fisher Price and you are already half way there.

Check out the Green Christmas Gift Guide for some recommendations if you opt to buy… just remember that second hand and handmade are greener all around if you can swing it. BUT you may not find my #1 top pick for Christmas in second hand stores because I doubt people give these up after they purchase… the Wildcraft Herbal Board Game. We heart this game!

My daughter was due for a new costume for Halloween this year. She told me in advance that this year she was going to be a “Love Fairy”. I am not sure exactly what this means but she wanted something pretty and frilly, preferably in pink, with a heart wand. The folks at Sarah’s Silks delivered with a lovely silk costume that is part princess, part fairy, and oh so lovely.

Essentially these costumes use playsilks to make costumes worthy of creative play and they use natural, earthy materials as well. So many conventional costumes are made of plastic based polyester and they are often itchy and uncomfortable. We have had store bought fairy costumes before and they almost never last much beyond Halloween because they are not fun to wear and they get destroyed easily. This costume from Sarah’s Silks will last for a long time and it is completely comfortable to wear. Silk is very sheer and delicate looking but is actually quite durable and will last for years of creative play if cared for properly. They can be washed with mild soap and water and then hung to dry.

My daughter’s costume is a princess dress-up, a cone hat, and a heart-shaped wood fairy wand with a silk streamer. Her first run as a Love Fairy was this past weekend at a Halloween party we attend every year. She floated along granting love wishes and accepting candy as payment. It was quite precious and I think the thing I love MOST about costumes like this is that children get to create their own “story”. She didn’t dress up as a trademarked character that she must imitate. She got to create her own persona, her own imaginary world, and her own story. In that sense these costumes are similar to toys. They open a doorway to creative play. This particular “toy” will surely be a part of our lives long past Halloween. I look forward to meeting princesses, fairies, pixies, elves, gypsies, and all other manner of fabulous folk in the future…

]]> http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/10/11/sarahs-silks/feed/ 1 http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/09/20/a-magical-and-green-halloween/ http://naturemoms.com/blog/2010/09/20/a-magical-and-green-halloween/#comments Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:00:23 +0000 Tiffany http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/?p=5106

My favorite holiday is just around the corner… Halloween! Every year I see more and more retailers offering products that are reusable and natural instead of the disposable plastic Halloween junk at big box stores. This year has been no exception.

Of course my BEST tip for a green Halloween is to buy used. Thrift stores are packed this time of year with trick or treat baskets, Halloween decor, and second hand costumes. We use the same stuff again and again to decorate and celebrate Halloween and my kids usually wear the same costumes for 2+ years. Everything stays in good condition because we package everything carefully and store it in the garage each year.

In searching for a costume for my 4 year old this year… I went to Magic Cabin for ideas. Here are some of my fave picks:

The Countdown Calendar:

A felt wall hanging featuring a spooky felt house with 30 little pockets for treats…

Halloween Wax Candle Rolling Kit

Each kit contains twelve square sheets of sweet-smelling beeswax in rainbow hues or autumnal colors, plus 6 yards of wicking and detailed instructions with decorating ideas. You’ll find everything you need to make 12 straight-sided or 24 tapered candles for yourself or to give as gifts.

Nyokki Halloween Plant Pet:

LOVE these! Let imaginations “grow” along with any hairstyle for their pets. Each 2″ egg-shaped ceramic pet come with soil mixture and rye grass seed that sprouts green “hair” in about 2 weeks (nyokki means “grow” in Japanese).

Lyra Face Paint Pencils:

With a few lines here and there, your child’s shining face becomes a cat’s or a clown’s or a scary witch’s. Sets of 6 vivid Theater Pencils have wood casings to keep fingers clean, and nontoxic oil pigments that go on easily. Easy cleanup with soap and water.

Zid Zid Kids Masks and Capes:

The machine-washable, 100% cotton capes have an animal design on one side, reversing to a big metallic star for superhero and other make-believe exploits. Masks are full of detail and printed on sturdy cardboard.

Click here for other Green Halloween ideas… candy, treats, parties, decor, etc.

Wohoo! Yesterday was my birthday. I am the big 3-3 and it was a grand day. My request for birthday watermelon instead of birthday cake was honored and actually really enjoyed. Birthday cake is soooo boring… but a birthday watermelon. THAT is special. It also makes for a good laugh when you notice that someone misspelled “Birthday”.

Here is to a VERY good year!

Green Fishing Gear – While I think fishing is rather gross, my husband and oldest son LOVE to fish. I want them to enjoy themselves but not at great cost to our environment. These SAFE Angling Kits are ready to fish kits loaded with all the tackle you need to start “green” fishing. Every kit is packed with lead-free weights, biodegradable molded lures, circle and cam action hooks. Plus, you’ll find an illustrated knot tying guide, fishing and stewardship tips, and instructions (with photos) on how to use everything in your kit.

The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass - If Dad likes camping, hiking, and enjoying the great outdoors, then this annual pass might be just what he wants this year.

Garmin Forerunner GPS Watch – Not only is this watch awesome for hikers, backpackers, and campers it can be used to take the kids and do some Geocaching. We hope to start doing this very soon! Basically you use a GPS device to go on a high tech treasure hunt. Coordinates lead you to cache where treasures await (just put something in of you take something out) and sign the log letting others know you found the treasure! Thanks to one of my awesome blog readers for turning me on to this.

Beginner Beekeeping Kit – This kit is awesome for budding beekeepers and those who want their own organic honey. It comes with everything you need to start your first bee colony – a complete hive, wax, smoker and fuel, gloves (choose your size: M, L, XL), helmet, veil, brush, nails, assembly instructions and a “First Lessons in Beekeeping” book.

Books for Handy Manny - My husband isn’t much of a reader but he does love project books! Here are some good ones:

Kid’s Places to Play – Great projects and  instructions for treehouses, playsets, play houses, forts, sailboat sandboxes, and ramps for bikes and board.

Handy Dad: 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids – Readers are given all the directions they need to grab materials that can be found around the house or at the local hardware store and get to work banging up a sweet BMX ramp or half-pipe, building a tree house or tire swing, or throwing together a slip-and-slide or tie-dye station for an afternoon of fun. With plenty of color photographs, easy-to-follow instructions, and detailed illustrations,Handy Dad is chock-full of creative and inexpensive ways to keep kids (and dads) entertained for hours.

The Dangerous Book for Boys – No offense intended but do men ever really grow up? Yeah, they will like this book.

Enjoy these ideas? Have one of your own to add?

I don’t know about you but this time of year when I go to the store and see lots of plastic Easter grass, plastic eggs, and huge chocolate bunnies… it makes the environmentalist in me cringe? This is the big green mom conundrum… how to make holidays fun for our kids without leaving a large mark on our planet. Lucky for us though there are numerous ways to make Easter green without festooning our lovely planet with fake grass!

1. Give your children a decorative cloth bag with a set of child’s garden tools, seeds, or other gardening supplies instead of an Easter basket. You can put a few eggs in it with seeds and it can even contain “instructions” from the easter bunny asking your child to help plant spring flowers for bunnies and children everywhere to enjoy. Kids will LOVE getting a special assignment.

2. If you still want to go with a traditional basket, choose eco-friendly materials such as cotton, hemp, or jute. Or purchase hand-made, fair trade certified baskets that you can find other uses for after Easter (how about toy storage?). Thrift stores usually have baskets this time of year too (I know mine does)… used is better than new! Also, you can make your own Easter basket from materials around the house, such as hand-decorated bags, totes, wastebaskets, laundry baskets, etc.

3. Fill the Easter baskets with biodegradable, sustainable materials that can be composted, such as natural straw, hay, moss, or simply grass from outside. It is really easy to grow your wheat grass in the house, so start now to have some ready by Easter. You can also shred up the Sunday funnies or colorful scrap paper or shred some of those colorful catalogues and magazines that come in the mail. Kids won’t mind.

4. Make your own treats for the basket instead of buying the processed junk – make some raw cookies or brownie balls or dehydrate some fruit.

5. Re-use what you have. This is our secret weapon. We bought Easter stuff a few years ago from yard sales and thrift stores mostly and we keep it all in a box in the garage. This includes everything from plastic and ceramic eggs, baskets, and Easter decor. We even have an Easter egg wreath made using leftover Easter eggs from years past and a Christmas wreath we got at a yard sale. We made it about 4 years ago now and it is still one of my kids favorite Easter decorations. If you already have plastic grass, use it as a base for a centerpiece or a creative springtime scene.

6. Decorate using scrap paper and junk mail – cut out bunny shapes and string them onto colorful yarn, or cut out Easter shapes into a chain. You can also use leftover felt  or fabric scraps to make cloth eggs or to make stuffed bunnies. Cloth scraps can be used to make a decorative banner with felt letters thats says “Happy Easter”.

7. For your Easter feast eat bunny food. Serve cut vegetables, fruit, and maybe some dandelion greens in a green smoothie.

8. Dye eggs using natural easter egg dyes -mix a tablespoon of white vinegar per cup of boiling water and add onion skins (yellow), red cabbage (light purple), shredded raw beets (deep red), spinach (light green), coffee grounds or tea (brown), etc.

9. Get your eggs from a local farmer or urban chicken-keeper. If the eggs are brown, you can use eco-friendly paints on them instead of dyes. Also try blowing the eggs first so they can be kept for future years. Wooden eggs or knitted eggs are another good option as are some new Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kits that you can buy.

10. Fill your children’s Easter baskets with enduring sustainable toys (puzzles, cute games), a deck of cards, dominoes, bunny books, etc. Take your child’s personality into consideration rather than just giving the “usual” stuffed bunny and plastic trinkets. Then you can build a basket theme around your child’s interests.

All of these ideas will help reduce waste this Easter season while preserving the “fun”. What is your best green easter tip?