Sprout's Green Family

#EcoMonday Earth Day History 101

2013-04-22T07:59:00.000-04:00

Every year on April 22 we celebrate Earth Day - a day set aside to think more seriously about our impact on the earth and a day to pledge to make changes that will decrease negative impact. It is a day that hopefully will incourage changes that will last the whole year and become part of our daily lives. The first Earth day was in 1970 to bring attention to environmental issues and make them a priority on the federal level. Not only did this first event bring together supporters from all walks of life, it did what it's founder intended and then some - the EPA was created and the Clean Air,Water and Endangered Species Acts were established. Now in it's 41st year, Earth Day has grown into an international event and one that is as closely tied to community initiatives as it is to politcal agendas and is now even more broadly celebrated as economical issues have come into play.

Here is a history of Earth Day from Earthday.org:

The idea came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media; persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair; and recruited Denis Hayes as national coordinator. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land.

As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. "It was a gamble," Gaylord recalled, "but it worked."

As 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995) -- the highest honor given to civilians in the United States -- for his role as Earth Day founder.

As the millennium approached, Hayes agreed to spearhead another campaign, this time focused on global warming and a push for clean energy. With 5,000 environmental groups in a record 184 countries reaching out to hundreds of millions of people, Earth Day 2000 combined the big-picture feistiness of the first Earth Day with the international grassroots activism of Earth Day 1990. It used the Internet to organize activists, but also featured a talking drum chain that traveled from village to village in Gabon, Africa, and hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Earth Day 2000 sent world leaders the loud and clear message that citizens around the world wanted quick and decisive action on clean energy.

Much like 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community. Climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community all contributed to a strong narrative that overshadowed the cause of progress and change. In spite of the challenge, for its 40th anniversary, Earth Day Network reestablished Earth Day as a powerful focal point around which people could demonstrate their commitment. Earth Day Network brought 225,000 people to the National Mall for a Climate Rally, amassed 40 million environmental service actions toward its 2012 goal of A Billion Acts of Green®, launched an international, 1-million tree planting initiative with Avatar director James Cameron and tripled its online base to over 900,000 community members.

Happy Earth Day and let your thoughts and energy on this day be continued all year long!
*~ Sprout ~*

Purify your indoor air naturally with plants

2013-02-03T21:47:00.000-05:00

Many of us spend so much of our day indoors - especially in the winter time. It is obvious that the air indoors is not as "fresh" as outdoors but do you know that there are many chemicals and toxins that prevent us from getting really fresh air indoors? Synthetic materials release many volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) into the air - chloroform, ammonia, acetone and formaldehyde, just to name a few. These toxins are found in almost every item in the home from furniture and carpet to cleaning solvents. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top five threats to public health (1). On their website, the EPA also states: Children are more susceptible to air pollution because they breathe a greater volume of air relative to their body weight. To make matters worse, schools tend to be at a higher risk of poor indoor air quality because they can have 4 times the occupants as a regular office building for the same amount of floor space and generally less maintenance making air quality in schools an area of a particular concern.(2)

Poor indoor air quality can lead to or contribute to a host of problems including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, sinus congestion, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, respiratory infections, allergies, and asthma (3). If you already suffer from any of those symptoms, entering or residing in a room with poor air quality can cause you to become more sensitive to allergens, dust, and VOCs. Learn more about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) at the EPA's website: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html

So...What do we do to control or reduce indoor air pollution and improve air quality? Grow Plants!

Plants remove air-born toxins through tiny openings in their leaves called stomata as they absorb carbon dioxide then release oxygen in a process called photosynthesis. Plants also emit water vapor that creates a pumping action to pull contaminated air down around a plant’s roots, where it is also converted into food for the plant. This was studied in the late 1980s by NASA, lead by Dr. Bill Wolverton, and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) when they researched to find ways to purify the air for extended stays in orbiting space stations (4). The conclusions of the study not surprising proved that the plants did clean the air but what was groundbreaking was that the plants also were greatly successful in reducing the high levels of toxins found in closed environments (sealed buildings) - the study showed that many houseplants remove harmful elements such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air. Formaldehyde is used in many building materials including particle board and foam insulations and can be found in furniture, carpet and drapes. Additionally, many cleaning products contain this chemical. Benzene is a common solvent found in oils and paints. Trichloroethylene is used in paints, adhesives, inks, and varnishes.

The advantage that houseplants have over other plants is that they are adapted to tropical areas where they grow beneath dense tropical canopies and must survive in areas of low light. These plants are thus ultra-efficient at capturing light, which also means that they must be very efficient in processing the gasses necessary for photosynthesis. Because of this fact, they have greater potential to absorb other gases, including potentially harmful ones. Dr. Bill Wolverton highlights the NASA / ALCA study as well as the best plants for removing toxins in his book, "How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office".
I highly recommend this book if you are interested in the study and want to learn more about the cleaning abilities of houseplants.

Bamboo Palm

Based upon Wolverton's book, here are the TOP 10 plants most effective in removing:  Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Carbon Monoxide from the air:

Bamboo Palm - Chamaedorea Seifritzii
Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema Modestum
English Ivy Hedera Helix
Gerbera Daisy Gerbera Jamesonii
Janet Craig - Dracaena "Janet Craig"
Marginata - Dracaena Marginata
Mass cane/Corn Plant - Dracaena Massangeana
Mother-in-Law's Tongue - Sansevieria Laurentii
Pot Mum - Chrysantheium morifolium
Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum
Warneckii - Dracaena "Warneckii"

These plants are all pretty common and can be found at your local florist or plant store.

Wolverton recommends having two or three plants in 8- or 10-inch pots for every 100 square feet of floor space to successfully remove toxins and provide enough fresh air for living comfortably. An average living room size is 16'x16' (5) which is 256 square feet - this would require about 5-7 medium sized plants to adequately reduce indoor toxins, based upon Wolverton's study. You may think this is a lot, but if you choose larger plants or plants with larger leaves, you can effectively reduce pollutants with fewer plants.

So while the weather is cold and we are spending more time indoors, think about the air quality and consider adding a few houseplants to give you a little fresh air indoors.

Sources:
(1): http://www.epa.gov/
(2): http://www.epa.gov/region1/communities/indoorair.html
(3): http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html
(4): Download and read NASA's study: Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement, 1989
(5): http://www.dimensionsinfo.com/average-living-room-dimensions/

Easy #Halloween Monster-mallow Treats

2012-10-24T08:19:00.003-04:00

It's the MONSTER_MALLOWS!

I recently did some online searching for fun, quick, easy ideas for Halloween treats to try something new - there are so many great ideas from every creative corner... I found tons! I saved all my favorite ideas to my Pinterest board (check it out here: http://pinterest.com/sprout5/halloween/ ) then revisited the ideas with my kids to decide what to make. The loved the decorated marshmallow creatures and it fit my requirements of quick and easy (and very few ingredients / needs).

Here is how we created them: We purchased large marshmallows, a tube of decorating frosting and some food safe markers. I had some left over colored fondant (I always have a stock in the freezer!) and rolled some small balls to use for eyes plus we used cheerios which are always on hand as well. We "glued" the eyes on with a generous amount of icing (used the small circle tube attachment on the frosting tube) and placed the Cheerios over the icing so the icing pushes through the center of the Cheerios. We used fondant as well to make eyes on some and used black food-safe markers to dot the eyes. The rest of the facial features were also drawn on with markers. This was a 20 minute activity so it was the perfect time frame for 3 and 6 year olds and when we were done, we had a pile of fun monsters treats for Halloween!

These monsters can be used to top cupcakes, cake, or cookies and make excellent pops by simply sticking a lollipop stick in the bottom.

Note - for better performance of the markers, let the marshmallows sit in the open to dry slightly on the outside. If the marshmallows are too soft, it is harder to draw a line. Also, don't press too hard with the markers. Storage: keep them in a closed container until ready to eat.

Enjoy!
~Sprout

Purchase these items to make your own:

Reuse your old socks - make #Halloween Sock Spiders!

2012-10-10T08:24:00.003-04:00

Green Halloween Craft Idea: Sock Spiders!

Do you have single socks or worn-out socks taking up space in your closet or dresser? For some reason, I have a mound of these and even though I use them for cleaning - they just seem to multiply! Since I have a lot of black socks, I thought I would reuse them and create "Sock Spiders" to use as Halloween decorations. This past weekend, we walked over to Michael's Craft Store and purchased some black pipe cleaners and what my son calls, "googly eyes" then came back and collected all those socks. We stuffed the end of the socks with other socks or old ripped t-shirts (you could use cotton, paper or tissue) and folded the open end of the sock over the whole thing and tucked it into the open end. Then we poked through the bottom with 4 pipe cleaners to form the legs. I sewed the end of the folded sock top to make a smooth bottom. My son stuck the googly eyes onto the top then I pulled some thread through the top using a needle and hung one over the doorway to the kitchen. They turned out so cute! We can use these every year now AND I got rid of all those lonely socks! Way to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!!

If you have black, purple, red or brown socks that have patterns or colors on them. you can have some fun - here is a sock spider using argyle socks!

If you make your own recycled Halloween decoration, please share by posting a comment and if you have a photo, please send it to me and I'll post it here!

Thanks!
Happy GREEN Halloween!

Want more Green ideas? Go to http://greenhalloween.org/`

Feel Better with Natural Cold Care #ecowed

2012-09-26T08:04:00.001-04:00

Feel Better Naturally!

It's that time of year again... cold and flu season. Protecting yourself against the inevitable by getting enough sleep, eating right and reducing stress never seems like enough when you get sick... So I thought I would share five great natural remedies that will help you get by and make you feel better - NATURALLY.

1. Boiron Coldcalm
Take Coldcalm at the First Sign of colds! Coldcalm temporarily relieves cold symptoms such as sneezing, runny rose, nasal congestion and minor sore throat. It is a homeopathic medicine that works naturally and is Fast-acting when taken at the onset of symptoms. Coldcalm does not have side effects, drug interactions, or contraindications, and does not just "mask" symptoms This is a Non-drowsy formula and is regulated as a OTC (Over the Counter) drug by the FDA. Amazon's current price is an unbelievable $8.25 for a 3-pack plus you can save even more by signing up for "Subscribe and Save". Click here to buy now
Boiron Homeopathic Medicine Coldcalm Tablets for Colds, 60-Count Boxes (Pack of 3)

2. Ricola Cough Drops
Great tasting. Naturally soothing and refreshing. Ricola Sugar Free Lemon Mint throat drops combine refreshing, natural Lemon Mint and Ricola's delicious mixture of Swiss alpine herbs. For over 75 years, Ricola has been making pleasant tasting natural herbal products for natural relief of the discomfort due to sore throat and minor irritation due to coughs, hoarseness, dry throat, and loss of voice. Ricola is nature's way of calming coughs and soothing sore throats. This item is also offered through Subscribe and Save from Amazon - Ricola Cough Drops, Natural Herb , 21 Drops (Pack of 12)

3. Bioron Chestal Cough Syrup
Chestal Cough Syrup is an effective homeopathic cough syrup that naturally brings relief to a wide array of coughs. Safe and natural, with no side effects, Chestal treats all kinds of coughs, does not interact with other medications, does not contain stimulants, non-drowsy, great honey taste, honey and sugar base soothes the throat. I like it because it tastes great and works well!

4. Traditional Medicinals Tea
Nothing is more soothing than a cup of herbal tea - especially when you are sick. Traditional Medicinals has an incredibly great line of organic teas that are highly effective, taste great and even are produced with solar power! Try this sampler that includes Throat Coat, Echinacea Plus, Breathe Easy, and Gypsy Cold Care varieties. This is also available by the case (of 6) with Subscribe and Save to save more:
Traditional Medicinals Seasonal Herb Tea Sampler 16-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

5. Nature's Way Echinacea Supplements
Echinacea herb supports the Immune System and promotes general well-being in cold and flu season. Echinacea (comon name is Purple Coneflower) grows wild in the midwest, and was used by Plains Indians more than any other herb. Echinacea supplements are a great preventative measure to help boost your immune system before you get a cold, but it may also help during a cold as well. (Please discuss this with your doctor before taking) Amazon also offers this item through Subscribe and Save!

For more homeopathic children's remedies, check out my past post:
http://sprout5.blogspot.com/2010/06/top-5-homeopathic-natural-remedies.html

Have a great week and Be Well!
~ Sprout

Get a Free Kids Konserve Reusable Lunch Tote!

2012-09-14T00:41:00.001-04:00

Annie's Homegrown has teamed up again with Kids Konserve to help eliminate lunchtime trash at school! They are giving away One free 100% recycled cotton Kids Konserve reusable lunch sack is available with TWO PROOFS OF PURCHASE from any of the following companies’ eligible items: Annie’s Homegrown (any item), Honest Kids (8-pack carton or 64oz. bottle), Seventh Generation (disinfectant sprays and wipes), OR Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt (yogurt 6-pack or 4-pack, or Squeezers). Products must be purchased between August 1, 2012 and October 31, 2012.

If you have more than one kid you can get up to 3 free bags (as long as you have 2 receipts / barcodes for each bag)!

All you have to do is go to the following weblink, fill out the form and send along with the TWO required proofs of purchase per lunch sack in the form of an original receipt with products listed or a physical cut-out of the UPC barcodes from any TWO of the above qualifying packages, to: Annie's Lunch Sack, 1610 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710. Offer good in U.S and Canada only. Limit three lunch sacks per household or address. Must be 18 years or older. Supplies are limited to 15,000 bags. Offer expires October 31, 2012 or while supplies last. Allow 8-10 weeks for delivery.

http://www.annies.com/backtoschool

What products are eligible?
You'll need to purchase any TWO items from the following companies’ eligible items: Annie’s Homegrown (any item), Honest Kids (8-pack carton or 64oz. bottle), Seventh Generation (disinfectant sprays and wipes), OR Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt (yogurt 6-pack or 4-pack, or Squeezers). The two items can be from the same company as long as they are qualifying items.

Need to buy these products: Click below.

Stock up the pantry with these organic deals!

2012-08-21T07:34:00.000-04:00

Organic products make far less impact on the Earth as no synthetic pesticides fertilizers or antibiotics are used and no chemicals are added to the food afterwards. It means less pollution in your world and in your body. Organic goes further towards giving you what nature intended--clean, pure, and real food. Amazon.com offers hundreds of great organic products at fantastic prices, especially small bulk items to fill your pantry in preparation of the new school year!

Here are a handful of products at some amazing prices to get your school year off to a great start:

Nature's Path Organic Mesa Sunrise Cereal, 10.6-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6) only $14.22 - grab this now while supplies last!

Annie's Homegrown Organic Vegan Fruit Snacks Variety Pack 24 Pouches only $12.91

Earth's Best Kidz Organic Apple Sauce Cup, 6-Count 4-Ounce Units (Pack of 6) $18.35 when ordered thru Subscribe and Save

Cascadian Farm Organic Chewy Granola Bar, Chocolate Chip, 6-Count Boxes (Pack of 6) $21.03 when ordered thru Subscribe and Save

Barbara's Bakery Puffins, Peanut Butter & Chocolate, 10.5-Ounce (Pack of 4) only $13.76 when ordered thru Subscribe and Save

Get a FREE sample filled tote plus more back to school deals at Drugstore.com

2012-08-14T22:10:00.001-04:00

Drugstore.com has some great promos going on right now that are not to be missed!

Save more when you buy dorm-room and back to school essentials like pens, markers, batteries and more. Click here to see the best deals:
Save up to 50% on Back to Campus basics at drugstore.com! Offer ends 08.31.2012.

Another great deal:
Save up to 40% on Tide laundry detergent at drugstore.com! Offer ends 09.30.2012.

By far the best is their sample filled tote FREE with any $40 purchase in the sports and nutrition department. Stock up on Balance, Zone and Cliff bars - perfect for on-the-go meals for you and your students! Optimize your workout with sports nutrition samples that include nutrition bars and protein and performance supplements! Offer ends 08.31.2012 or while supplies last. Click here to shop for eligible items to get your freebie now:
Get a free sample-filled FRS tote ($40 value) with any $40 purchase in the sports and nutrition department at drugstore.com! Offer ends 08.31.2012 or while supplies last.

Don't miss out on these great deals - And if this is your first purchase on Drugstore.com, New Customers – spend $50 at drugstore.com and get free shipping + a $100 Restaurant.com gift code! Offer ends 12.31.2012.

or: New Customers – spend $25 at drugstore.com and get free shipping + a $50 Restaurant.com gift code! Offer ends 12.31.2012.

Little Miss and Mr Steel Waterbottles new at Amazon

2012-08-05T18:01:00.002-04:00

We love the Little Miss and Little Mr. characters and books by Roger Hargreaves so I was so excited to find that Amazon.com is now selling these adorable steel water bottles! These 20 ounce durable bottles are stainless steel and include a carbiner to attach to backpacks. Steel water bottles reduce the need to purchase disposable containers and can be reused many many times. The steel is not only durable, but helps to keep beverages cool longer. But most of all, who can resist the adorable designs of these bottles! Amazon's prices are also right on the mark - similar water bottles range in price from $14-18 but if you are an Amazon.com Prime member, you get free shipping!

Here is more of the collection - get yours today and send your kids to school with some personality!

Amazon's Back to School Event - don't miss these deals!

2012-08-01T08:21:00.001-04:00

Amazon.com's Back to School Event has everything they need to furnish dorm rooms, stock up on school supplies, dress kids in style and more. You will find a wide selection of offers in clothing, books, electronics, musical instruments, books, supplies, storage, and other stores. Amazon has all the greatest products at the best prices and quick shipping to get you ready for the new school year! Check out these links for all the best deals and make sure you get everything on your back to school or end of summer lists:

Here are the links:

Shop Amazon - Back to School - K12 School Essentials

If you can't go organic, at least choose these "Clean 15" healthy foods

2012-06-19T08:21:00.000-04:00

The Environmental Working Group just released it's 2012 "Clean 15" list of fruits and vegetables with the lowest pesticide contamination. With the economy as it is today, many people feel that organic produce may not fit into the budget and are buying more conventional items. The good news is this list of Clean 15 items will allow you to safely eat produce and not blow your budget. We grow our own as much as possible on our balcony in NYC (like the peas in the photo to the left!) but I admit that we have been buying more conventional produce lately so sticking to this list will help.

For more info, read this article from The Huffington Post.

Here is their list:

Clean 15™

Lowest in Pesticide

1Onions

2Sweet Corn

3Pineapples

4Avocado

5Cabbage

6Sweet peas

7Asparagus

8Mangoes

9Eggplant

10Kiwi

11Cantaloupe - domestic

12 Sweet potatoes

13Grapefruit

14Watermelon

15Mushrooms

Source: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

Get a Free Green & Natural filled goodie bag from Drugstore.com

2012-06-13T22:03:00.002-04:00

Get a free sample-filled tote ($40 value) with any $30 purchase in the green and natural department at drugstore.com! Offer ends 06.30.2012 or while supplies last.
Help save the environment by carrying this Nordic Naturals tote and get a TON of samples when you spend $30 in our green and natural department. The samples come from top natural brands like KIND, Seventh Generation, Yes to Carrots, and more! Offer good while supplies last so hurry on over to Drugstore.com now and fill up your cart with Green and Natural products.
I just received my order and was surprised to see how many samples (some full sized!) were in the tote bag... 4 different fruit/nut type bars (Kind, Zone-perfect, Luna and Nogii), shampoo and conditioner, a full sized bar of De-Lux rosemary-mint soap, samples of hand lotion and vitamin drink mix... lots of goodies!

* please note that this offer is only good while supplies last; only one offer per household may be redeemed. Offer will automatically be placed in your cart once you have reached $30 of items from the Green and Natural department but you need to click the link above (first lines of this post) to activate the promo or click here.
Enjoy!

More great GREEN deals:
Save 20% on babyganics at drugstore.com! Offer ends 06.29.2012.
Save 20% on Method hand wash at drugstore.com! Offer ends 06.29.2012.

Circle of Moms Top 25 Eco-Friendly Mom

2012-05-23T22:43:00.000-04:00

I am in the running for Circle of Mom's Top 25 Eco-friendly Mom's! Thanks so much to whomever nominated me! The contest is open until June 13 and anyone can vote once a day until then. If you get a chance, please click on the badge above and vote - and vote again every day if you can. I'm very honored to be ranked up there with so many other great Green Moms. Circle of Mom's is a fantastic network for cyber-savvy Mom's - it's a great place to find answers to any question, discuss just about anything and connect with other Mom's. You can find out how other parents are getting their infants to sleep through the night, when to potty train, how much TV to let them watch and what the most recommended products are. So stop by today - if you are a Mom and not a member, join now, it's free! Circle of Moms Top 25 Eco-Friendly Mom's

Thanks! - Sprout

#EarthDay - Growing Green: Get your garden ready for spring

2012-04-21T11:30:00.000-04:00

Start your Garden this Earth Day Weekend!
The recent warm spell across the country has prompted many to start thinking towards summer gardens and itching to start spring planting. The most important requirements for starting an organic garden are fertile soil, quality organic seeds, proper timing and adequate temperatures, sunlight and water.

Soil: An great eco-friendly alternative to peat moss for planting and potting soil is a coconut fiber growing media. Traditionally used peat moss is extracted from peat bogs that take thousands of years to form and years to recover and therefore is not a renewable resource. Coconut fiber is a renewable resource, made from the husks of coconut and is very suitable as a soil additive to increase aeration and water retention. It is also light weight so it is perfect for roof gardens and large containers. I found this great product on Amazon called CocoFiber - it is a dehydrated coconut fiber brick that when placed in a bucket with water expands to fill the bucket. Since I have a totally containerized garden, I used it recently to amend my potting soil to improve aeration and water retention. It also makes a great mulch! Check it out:

Coco Garden cocofiber is a completely renewable resource made from 100-Percent natural recycled fibers of the coconut husk. Cocofiber's micro sponge effect dramatically increases the water retention of soil and improves aeration, ensuring optimal root growth and maximum water and nutrient uptake for lawn grasses and container and garden plants. Cocofiber is excellent for use as a seed starter, planting seedlings and transferring plants. Can be added to dry soil conditions to improve water retention and also for soils high in clay to improve aeration and root growth. Coco Garden compresses its cocofiber into a convenient light weight package that expands several times its size when placed in water. When compared to conventional potting mixes compressed cocofiber lasts longer, requires significantly less packaging material and has a lower shipping weight and volume which greatly reduces its impact on the planet.

Seeds: Choose organic seeds as they were produced without the use of chemicals. My favorite organic seed companies are Botanical Interests and Burpee (who sell both traditional and organic). Since I plant only in containers (since I do not have a yard), I really like the Botanical Interests Container Garden Collection. This collection is a lot cheaper than buying individual packets and have enough variety to grow a vibrant garden in a small area! This makes a great gift as well (Mother's Day, maybe?!). The seeds are all veggies, herbs and flowers that will do well in shallower growing conditions or containers - Lettuce, Cilantro, Basil, Chives, Radish, Carrots, and Peppers.

Burpee has a wonderful selection as well and you can purchase both seeds and ready to plant established root stock (and they will ship at the correct time for planting in your zone). http://www.burpee.com/organic-gardening/

If you want to get started early outdoors, start with cold hardy plants like radishes, peas, lettuce, broccoli, beets, spinach, parsely and other leafy greens.

Timing and temperature:
Certain plants require a minimum temperature for seeds to sprout and some plants are killed by frost and freezing. The best way to find out approximate dates for planting outdoors is to first consult the USDA Plant Hardiness Map, which was just updated earlier this year. The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature.

Next, based on the hardiness zone you live in, determine what plants you can start outdoors and which ones you should start indoors. One of my favorite resources for listing what do in your garden when, broken down by zone, is Organic Gardening's Gardener's To-Do-List - http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/gardeners-april-to-do-list. Sign up for their mailing list and you will get a monthly update on what garden tasks you should do that month.

Whether you start your seeds indoors or out, keeping your seeds moist until sprouting is important. I usually mist my indoor seeds/sprouts with a squirt bottle every couple of days or when the soil is dry. The same thing should be done outdoors with a garden hose if it hasn't rained enough - but water gently so you don't disturb the fragile sprouts.

So for Earth Day this year, do something good for the earth and good for you by planting or getting seeds started. If you need supplies, check out Amazon's great selection of garden equipment and Earth Day Specials:

#Ecomon Post: Recycle Containers to start your Seeds!

2012-04-16T08:09:00.000-04:00

Reuse household trash to start your spring sprouting!

A few nice warm sunny days in the early spring is all it takes for many people to start itching to plant or start seeds. I got my herbs started several weeks ago as I am impatient to have fresh basil again! If you have a sunny window it's easy to grow herbs and start many seeds indoors. You don't even need to have fancy pots or specialty "seed starting" boxes or kits - there are many things you can reuse to start seeds - here is a short list:

plastic jugs (like half-gallon milk jugs) - just cut the top off and pierce a few small holes at the bottom; you can also use the top part as a scoop for your dirt! No waste here!
yogurt cups/containers
egg cartons - perfect for seedlings that you plan to transplant outdoors
egg shells - when using eggs for cooking, gently break only the top part of the shell with a sharp knife to keep most of the shell in tact, wash it out well, let dry. These are also perfect to start seeds then they can be planted - shell and all! into your outdoor garden
cans - any cans like empty coffee cans, cleaned out food cans, even soda cans - just make sure to punch holes in the bottom for drainage
take out coffee cups
you can even create little seedling pouches by making soil balls using old shirts, cut into small circles or squares, then place dirt inside and enclose bundle by tying with string or twine. Cut a small area out and plant seeds.
To keep the soil moist to promote better seedlings, reuse your plastic bags or zip lock bags - I find that old zip lock bags (large or small) work really well to create a mini-greenhouse by fitting them over the top of planters
You can also get creative and decorate your containers - get the kids involved - have fun!

What ideas do you have for reusing containers for gardening? I'd love to hear from my readers so leave comments below.

Thanks and Happy Gardening!

~Sprout

Grab Bag Giveaway! Ends 4/22

2012-04-14T18:28:00.005-04:00

Since I have not been good about keeping up my blog lately, I am offering another giveaway to bring my readers back! This will be a quick, easy giveaway so enter now and enter often - and spread the word around!

The prize this time will be a grab bag filled with samples of many brands (mostly for women and mom's)... see photo for included items. I'm cleaning out closets this weekend so I'll include any other great samples I find! Many of these samples I have received multiples of, some are items that I don't use so instead of throwing them away, I feel it is better to "recycle" by giving them away!

How to enter:
Mandatory - You must follow me on GFC (Google Friend Connect) or Networked Blogs - please leave a comment below stating that you do with your email address to contact you if you win.

Giveaway ends Sunday 4/22 at midnight EST. Winner will be selected by random.org.

Extra Entries (each one = 1 entry unless otherwise stated):

Follow me on Twitter (@sprout5) - leave a comment with your twitter name
Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment below with your post address (tweet once every 6 hours only - don't want anyone ending up in Twitter Jail!) Sample Tweet: @sprout5 Grab bag #Giveaway!ends 4/22 enter now: http://sprout5.blogspot.com PLS RT

Like Sprout's Green Family on Facebook and leave a comment on this blog... feel free to write on my wall too!
Sign up for my email newsletter (on right sidebar) - leave a comment stating you did along with your email address
Follow along on Networked Blogs (if you used GFC as your mandatory entry) - leave a comment stating you are with your profile name
Follow me on Blog Frog - leave a comment stating you are with your profile name
Follow me on Pinterest - leave a comment stating you are with your profile name
Comment on any other Sprout's Green Family post (see right sidebar for posts and labels lists) and leave a comment telling what you commented on (1 entry per comment)
Refer a friend! Have your friend sign up to follow Sprout's Green Family on GFC and leave a comment with your friends GFC name - worth 2 comments!
Purchase anything from Sprout's GREEN Store and leave a comment tell what you purchased - worth 6 extra entries!!! (just leave 6 separate comments stating what you purchased and number each one)

Winners will be chosen from the comments and randomly selected using random.org. All comments will be reviewed for compliance and winners will be notified by email.

Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this giveaway or review of product - this is just me trying to boost my blog by giving away free stuff! If you have a product you would like me to review and/or have items to giveaway, I am more than happy to discuss with you - please contact me by email

Thanks much!
~* Sprout

Here are a few great deals not to miss this month:
Clearance on Leapster2 games! Get up to 40% off on select games. Offer valid now through April 30th!
Free Shipping on Accessories for LeapPad, Leapster Explorer, Tag and more! Excludes accessory bundles, batteries and battery recharger packs. Not valid for App Center purchases. Use promo code ACCESSORY.

How to Green your indoor air! #NLAM #landarch

2012-02-27T00:23:00.000-05:00

Many of us spend so much of our day indoors - especially in the winter time. It is obvious that the air indoors is not as "fresh" as outdoors but do you know that there are many chemicals and toxins that prevent us from getting really fresh air indoors? Synthetic materials release many volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) into the air - chloroform, ammonia, acetone and formaldehyde, just to name a few. These toxins are found in almost every item in the home from furniture and carpet to cleaning solvents. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution as one of the top five threats to public health. On their website, the EPA also states: Children are more susceptible to air pollution because they breathe a greater volume of air relative to their body weight. To make matters worse, schools tend to be at a higher risk of poor indoor air quality because they can have 4 times the occupants as a regular office building for the same amount of floor space and generally less maintenance making air quality in schools an area of a particular concern.

Poor indoor air quality can lead to or contribute to a host of problems including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, sinus congestion, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, respiratory infections, allergies, and asthma. If you already suffer from any of those symptoms, entering or residing in a room with poor air quality can cause you to become more sensitive to allergens, dust, and VOCs. Learn more about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) at the EPA's website: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html

So...What do we do to control or reduce indoor air pollution and improve air quality? Grow Plants!

Plants remove air-born toxins through tiny openings in their leaves called stomata as they absorb carbon dioxide then release oxygen in a process called photosynthesis. Plants also emit water vapor that creates a pumping action to pull contaminated air down around a plant’s roots, where it is also converted into food for the plant. This was studied in the late 1980s by NASA, lead by Dr. Bill Wolverton, and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) when they researched to find ways to purify the air for extended stays in orbiting space stations. The conclusions of the study not surprising proved that the plants did clean the air but what was groundbreaking was that the plants also were greatly successful in reducing the high levels of toxins found in closed environments (sealed buildings) - the study showed that many houseplants remove harmful elements such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air. Formaldehyde is used in many building materials including particle board and foam insulations and can be found in furniture, carpet and drapes. Additionally, many cleaning products contain this chemical. Benzene is a common solvent found in oils and paints. Trichloroethylene is used in paints, adhesives, inks, and varnishes.

Bamboo Palm

These plants are all pretty common and can be found at your local florist or plant store.

The added benefits of Valentine's Day flowers

2012-02-15T08:07:00.000-05:00

Flowers that clean the air and warm the heart!

Giving flowers on Valentine's day is a long held tradition as a token of love, friendship and thankfulness and Roses are the most common flower given on this holiday. But there are 2 other flowering plants that deserve more attention as a true sign that you really care - about the air you breathe....

The Florist’s mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium) is readily available all year round and did you know it is also proven to help clean the air in your home or office? Potted florist's mums are one of the best flowering or seasonal plants for removing formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia from the atmosphere - three chemicals found in every home to some degree. Mums also help to increase humidity levels in a room especially this time of the year when most homes fall well below the recommended humidity levels of 35-60% because they have a high transpiration rate (the rate at which water evaporates from a plant's leaves).

Mums are also very long lasting - potted mums can bloom continuously for about 6-8 weeks (way longer than your average cut roses that only last for 4-5 days in cool conditions). Mums are very easy to care for too: just keep them in a cool location in a bright room and keep the soil slightly moist. They prefer being near bright windows, but keep them out of direct afternoon sun and heaters as the heat will age the blooms quickly. They will thrive in room temperatures of 60-65 during the day, 45-50 at night but they will do ok in a room slightly warmer. If it gets too hot, the flowers will wilt and the plant becomes susceptible to mold. To keep your blooms coming, cut the spent blooms and new buds will appear.

Mums come in a great variety of colors, shapes and styles. They come in all shades of red, pink and purple as well as yellows, oranges and white. There are single petal varieties (looking more like daisies) to multi-petal resembling little pom-poms to lacy, fluffy types.

Did you know according to Fung Shui principles, chrysanthemum’s bring laughter and happiness to your home? Another added bonus to bringing home mums!

Another great potted flowering plant that is extremely effective at removing harmful chemical vapors is the Gerbera Daisy, commonly known as the African Daisy. The gerbera daisy is on NASA's list of indoor-filtering plants, which can help improve the quality of the air in your home - the are rated as the top flowering plant to remove formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia from the atmosphere, and they help to increase humidity levels. These cheerful flowers come in a variety of colors from deep reds to pale pinks, from brilliant orange to soft yellow and white.

Gerbera Daisies are easy to care for - just keep them moist but not soggy and locate them in bright sunlight but away from heat. Cut the spent blooms and new buds will appear soon - a potted Gerbera Daisy can last all winter long! Put them outdoors in the spring and they just might last even longer! They prefer indoor temperatures between 60-70 during the day, 45-55 at night. The biggest culprit of their untimely death is root rot so do not overwater! Give them a light watering about 1-2 times a week.

You can also purchase large Gerbera Daisies as cut flowers - they look best simply by themselves (maybe with the addition of some simple greens) and you can go with a single color or mix it up for added cheerfulness. Remember that cut flowers don't last as long as potted plants, but sometimes a colorful bouquet in a tall slender vase is just the perfect thing for the office or dining room table. Just a few Gerbera Daisies can go a long way too, since they are larger flowers so if you are in pinch, you can really get more bang for the buck with these beautiful flowers!

Gerbera daisies can mean innocence, purity, and cheerfulness.

So next time you are at the florist, think about purchasing a plant that is not only colorful but really shows that you care with flowers that last long AND purify the air. Stay tuned... I am doing a very extensive post about plants and clean air soon!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Giveaway Winner! Plus enter more Low Entry giveaways...

2012-02-14T08:06:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all who entered the Green Flash Drive Giveaway! I really appreciate gaining new followers and the continued exposure from those who already follow me.

Our winner is:
Comment #10 - April from Frugally Green Mom

I have notified April by email. Thanks again for following and look out for more giveaways soon!

I would also like to thank fellow blogger, Tight Wad in Utah for the awesome giveaway linkup - many of my new followers came from that site. Be sure to continue to visit their site for more great giveaways to enter!

Thanks again and have a great GREEN day!
~ Sprout

Share Memories and Save 40% this Valentines week

2012-02-10T08:25:00.002-05:00

Don't miss out on this fantastic deal from Shutterfly - 40% off photobooks until February 16! Shutterfly makes it so easy to create a beautiful memory book in a snap! They now have so many styles, colors, backgrounds and embellishments that you can easily create a personalized scrapbook quickly! Parents, Grandparents, relatives and loved ones LOVE getting photo books - they make the perfect gift any time of the year but with 40% off, now is a great time to share your love this Valentine's Day! I just created a cute birthday book for my daughter and it shipped very quickly! I sent one to my Mom as well since she lives so far away.

Share the love this week and create your own memory book now!
Take 40% off photo books from Shutterfly.com with promo code BOOK40. Offer valid 2.9-2.16

PS - don't forget to enter my current giveaway: http://sprout5.blogspot.com/2012/02/giveaway-green-flash-drive-ends-212.html

Green your Tailgate - it's Superbowl Sunday!

2012-02-05T16:06:00.002-05:00

We are very excited for the Super Bowl game tonight here in NYC (go Giants!) and are ready for the festivities in a Green way! We won't be using paper plates and napkins - this party is stocked with reusable plates and cloth napkins. And of course, all bottles and cans will be recycled at the end of the game. For food, we have organic chips and veggies, homemade guacamole, organic/hormone free chicken wings and... local beer!

For more ideas on making your Super Bowl party or tailgate GREEN (no matter what color team you root for), then check out one of my favorite blogs on my favorite "Go Green" website, Practically Green: http://blog.practicallygreen.com/2012/02/superbowl-special-green-your-tailgate/

Oh, and don't forget to enter my current Giveaway... Green your files with a Eco-friendly 8GB Flash Drive! http://sprout5.blogspot.com/2012/02/giveaway-green-flash-drive-ends-212.html

Thanks and enjoy the Game (and commercials!!!)

*~ Sprout

GIVEAWAY - Green Flash Drive ends 2/12

2012-02-03T00:45:00.000-05:00

Going digital is the GREEN way to save, view and share documents. It saves paper (and trees) and ink as well as reducing paper waste (even if it does get recycled). You can take going green even further by using a Green flash drive to share and transport your documents with Centon's recyclable DataStick!

From Centon.com:

Centon's DataStick Green is a cost effective and environmentally friendly flash drive ideal for our planet.

Features

Environmentally friendly recyclable aluminum casing
Packaging made of 100% recyclable materials
1 Tree is Planted with every purchase through Plant A Tree USA or ChariTREE Foundation (Canada) - as indicated on the packaging.
Plug & Play USB flash storage
Works with Windows & Mac

Additional Details

Do the Math!

Over 50 years, one tree can equal $31,250 of oxygen, provide $62,000 worth of air pollution control and recycle $37,500 worth of water.

Environmentally Friendly

Most USB drives are made from non-environmentally friendly materials. Centon has changed our design from the ground up by using 100% recyclable aluminum and plastic!

Eco-friendly Packaging

The insert is made of 100% recycled material such as newspapers, magazines, etc.
Clamshell is 100% recyclable

Would you like to have Greener Docs? Why not win one to try out!

I am giving away 1 Centon DataStick Green 8GB Flash Drive...

How to enter:
Mandatory - You must follow me on GFC (Google Friend Connect) or Networked Blogs - please leave a comment below stating that you do with your email address to contact you if you win.

Giveaway ends Sunday 2/12 at midnight EST. Winner will be selected by random.org.

Extra Entries (each one = 1 entry unless otherwise stated):

Follow me on Twitter (@sprout5) - leave a comment with your twitter name
Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment below with your post address (tweet once every 6 hours only - don't want anyone ending up in Twitter Jail!) Sample Tweet: @sprout5 Green Flash Drive #Giveaway! enter now: http://bit.ly/y8b21X ends 2/12 PLS RT

Like Sprout's Green Family on Facebook and leave a comment on this blog... feel free to write on my wall too!
Sign up for my email newsletter (on right sidebar) - leave a comment stating you did along with your email address
Follow along on Networked Blogs (if you used GFC as your mandatory entry) - leave a comment stating you are with your profile name
Follow me on Blog Frog
Comment on any other Sprout's Green Family post (see right sidebar for posts and labels lists) and leave a comment telling what you commented on (1 entry per comment)
Refer a friend! Have your friend sign up to follow Sprout's Green Family on GFC and leave a comment with your friends GFC name - worth 2 comments!
Purchase anything from Sprout's GREEN Store and leave a comment tell what you purchased - worth 6 extra entries!!! (just leave 6 separate comments stating what you purchased and number each one)

12 Days of GREEN! Choosing a Christmas Tree

2011-12-12T00:07:00.000-05:00

Balsam Fir

Many people choose to have a Christmas tree this month and opinions about what type of tree is best are as varied as anyone can imagine. Many people argue over whether or not a fake tree is better than a real one...and is more sustainable because you can reuse it every year. Well, think about where the tree comes from and how it is manufactured and that will give you insight on which is better. The fact is that most real trees sold as Christmas trees are FARMED, just like many other crops and food sources and are planted every year. That fake tree is most likely made of plastic using petroleum, harmful chemicals and excessive energy to produce (most likely in China) and the fake tree often releases harmful toxins into your home even years after you open the box!
Here is an interesting statement from the National Christmas Tree Association:

MYTH #4: It's better to use a fake tree because you can re-use it each year.
BUSTED: That’s a very short-sighted perspective. According to research, most fake trees are only used 6 to 9 years before they’re disposed. Even if you would use one for 20 years or more, it will eventually be thrown away and end up in a landfill. And unlike Real Trees, which are biodegradable and recyclable, fake trees are always a burden to the environment.

For more myths and answers about Christmas trees, go to: http://www.christmastree.org/myths.cfm

Another commonly held belief is that a live, potted tree is better... well, it's a nice thought but more often than not, these trees, even when planted promptly after the holidays, do not live because they have either been exposed to drastic temperature and humidity changes or were not properly cared for. So is it worth it to buy a potted tree instead of cutting one down? If you keep it outside and partially bury the pot - possibly but then you miss out on having that Christmas Tree scent in your home!
More Christmas Tree Facts from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service:

Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.
There are more than 4,000 local Christmas Tree recycling programs throughout the United States.
For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring.
There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas Trees in the U.S., and over 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the industry.

So the more GREEN option seems to be purchasing a cut tree from your local tree farm or in my case, the street corner or plant store. But now your decision is "Which type of tree do we buy?"
The following evergreen tree species or types are sold and grown in the United States for Christmas Trees and are thought of as the best for different characteristics.

Fir Trees: Common name (Botanical name)

Balsam Fir – (Abies balsamea) – Native to the northeastern United States, the Balsam Fir is named for the balsam or resin found in blisters on bark. The needles are flat, ¾” to 1 ½” long rounded at the tip and generally last long on the branches. The color is dark green with silvery cast. Balsam Firs have good form and are fragrant. Factoid: Balsam fir oil is an EPA approved nontoxic rodent repellent.

Fraser Fir

Fraser Fir – (Abies fraseri) – The combination of form, needle retention, dark blue-green color, pleasant scent and strong branches has led to Fraser fir being a most popular Christmas tree species. Fraser Fir has dark green, flattened needles with a medial groove on the upper side and two broad silvery-white bands on the lower surface and are ½ to 1 inch long. When crushed, the needles have a very pleasant woodsy scent. Factoid: Named for the Scotish botanist, John Fraser, who explored the southern Appalachians in the late 1700’s.

Needles of White Fir

White Fir or Concolor Fir – (Abies concolor) – Commonly found in the western/northwestern US, the White Fir has blue-green needles are ½ to ½ inches long. They have a nice shape, good citrus-like aroma and good needle retention. White Fir is named for its light-colored bark and the silvery or "glaucous" color of its needles. Factoid: In nature the White Fir can live to 350 years.

Douglas Fir branches

Douglas Fir – (Pseudotsuga menziesii) – Although not actually a fir, the Douglas Fir is one of the most popular trees for Christmas Trees. They are softer with 1” to 1 ½” flat needles and have one of the best aromas among Christmas trees when crushed. Douglas fir has a good conical shape (and often are sheared on the farm to maintain the "perfect" shape). Named after David Douglas who studied the tree in the 1800’s; can live for a thousand years. It is also the state tree of Oregon.

Pine Trees - Common name (Botanical name):

White Pine

White Pine – (Pinus strobus) – soft, blue-green needles, 2 to 5 inches long in bundles of five; retains needles throughout the holiday season; very full appearance; little or no fragrance; less allergic reactions as compared to more fragrant trees. Largest pine in Eastern United States; state tree of Michigan & Maine; slender branches will support fewer and smaller decorations as compared to Scotch pine. It’s wood is used in cabinets, interior finish and carving. Native Americans used the inner bark as food. Early colonists used the inner bark to make cough medicine. Good choice for families prone to allergies or sensitivities to fragrances. Caveat: Branching can be too dense for large ornaments. Needles can be too slippery and soft for heavy ornaments but it's soft appearance takes on an elegant appearance simply with just white lights.

Scotch Pine branches

Scotch Pine – (Pinus sylvestris) – Another common Christmas tree, the Scotch Pine is native to Europe and Asia and is predominant in Scotland. It is readily identified by its combination of fairly short, blue-green leaves and orange-red bark. It has stiff branches, stiff, dark green needles in pairs one inch long and holds needles for four weeks - needles will stay on even when dry which makes it very popular for indoor Christmas trees. It has open appearance and more room for ornaments and also keeps aroma throughout the season. The Scotch Pine was introduced into United States by European settlers. Factoid: Pinus sylvestris is the only pine native to northern England and is the National Tree of Scotland.

Spruce Trees - Common name (Botanical name):

White Spruce branches

White (or Canadian) Spruce – (Picea glauca) – Leaves (needles) are needle-shaped, and are often somewhat crowded on the upper half of the branchlets. Needles are usually 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, blunt at the tip and green to bluish-green in color. Crushed needles have an unpleasant odor but have good needle retention. As a Christmas tree, white spruce has excellent foliage color, short stiff needles and a good natural shape. Needle retention is better than some of other spruce species. Factoid: State tree of South Dakota.

Blue Spruce branches

Blue Spruce – (Picea pungens) – Color is dark green to powdery blue with very stiff needles, ¾” to 1 ½” long. The needles are 4-sided and have a very sharp point on the end. It is this point which gives the species its name "pungens", from the Latin word for sharp as in puncture wound. Needles are generally dull bluish-gray to silvery blue and emit a resinous odor when crushed; good form; will drop needles in a warm room; symmetrical; but is best among species for needle retention; branches are stiff and will support many heavy decorations. Factoid: State tree of Utah & Colorado. Can live in nature 600-800 years.

Don't Miss Cyber Monday's Biggest Deals!

2011-11-27T23:18:00.035-05:00

Amazon has the largest selection on Earth - and their Cyber Monday Deals are the best around! Because they sell just about everything, you can complete all your holiday shopping in one fell swoop, plus they make it so much easier to bargain hunt and find the best deals without leaving home! Make sure to check out their Lightning Deals, which are updated hourly to find really deep discounts on select items - but hurry - these items are only on super-sale for a limited time...
Amazon.com might be more known for books and music but some of their biggest deals may just be in electronics. Click here to go to Cyber Monday Electronics Deals.

Amazon also has some great deals on toys and games... Some of the great deals include 44% off select Lego Star Wars sets, up to 35% off Green Toys, 50% off select Hasbro Flash games, 50% off select Crayola sets and up to 55% off My Pillow Pets.

click here for all Cyber Monday Toy Deals

Click on any of the ads on this post to go directly to Amazon's Cyber Monday pages - there are just too many deals to list here!

Happy Shopping!!
~ Sprout

Don't Miss Amazon's BLACK FRIDAY Deals!

2011-11-25T09:40:00.000-05:00

Amazon.com has the largest selection of, well, just about everything AND some of the best deals around! They make it really easy to forget about the crowded malls, traffic, waking up at the crack of dawn just to get the best sales or going to a store then finding out they don't have the item you want... just stay at home and comfortably do all your holiday shopping at one place - Amazon.com!

Check out some of their Black Friday deals by clicking on any of the following ads:

Shop Amazon's Toys - Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals Week