Sweet Greens | Your Earth Friendly Guide to All Things Green + Eco Friendly

Kids DIY: Simple Organic Pinecone Birdfeeders

2013-05-22T10:46:00.000-04:00

Our backyard is a huge nature preserve and one of Eben's favorite spring time activities is to sit on our patio and watch the birds darting in and out of the trees. After a few days of minimal visits from our feathered friends, we decided to entice them to visit our backyard more often. We grabbed a couple of pinecones from the front yard, a huge scoop of organic nut butter, some baker's twine and a bowl full of organic nuts and seeds and headed outside to make them a little treat. This craft only takes a few minutes, however it combines everything that children love - getting their hands dirty, having a little snack, making something fun and nature. Read on for the full directions and enjoy an afternoon making simple, spring organic pinecone birdfeeders for your backyard.

What you will need:

pinecones
baker's twine
organic nut butter
organic nuts and seeds
scissors

Step 1: Add the Baker's Twine
Simply tie a piece of baker's twine around the pinecone near the top. This would be the perfect time to reuse a large piece of ribbon, string or yarn that you have lying around the house.

Step 2: Add the Nut Butter
Roll the pinecones in nut butter until it is completely coated, you can also use a knife - Eben decided to dig right in and use his fingers and hands to get the nut butter into every nook and cranny.

Step 3: Add the Nuts and Seeds
Then, he rolled the nut butter covered pinecones in the nuts and seeds until the entire surface of the pinecone were completely covered. He even pushed a lot of pieces into the folds of the pinecones for added hidden bonuses.

Step 4: Hang It
Pick a place in your backyard where you have seen birds visit before. We hung out pinecone birdfeeders next to our regular birdfeeder hoping that it would easily attract our friends.

Step 5: Listen and Watch
After we hung our feeders, we sat on the our patio and waited for the birds to arrive. We had a delightful afternoon watching the birds nibbling at our pinecone birdfeeders!

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This organic pinecone birdfeeder DIY was featured in this month's issue of Green Child Magazine, grab your copy here or download it on iTunes here.

Twelve

2013-05-15T08:31:00.000-04:00

Today is a very special day - it is the birthday of my favorite person in the whole world, Eben. 12 years ago today my life was forever changed and has been better in every single way possible. Eben can always make me laugh, teaches me new things everyday and always has a hug waiting for me. I am very thankful that I get to share my life with this amazing person. He is my sunshine, my inspiration, my heart. He is the best thing that I have ever done in my life - my masterpiece.

Happy Birthday, Eben - I love you to the moon and back!

Ecocentric Mom Box Review + Mother's Day Coupon Code

2013-05-08T14:35:00.002-04:00

As part of my partnership with Ecocentric Mom, I will be receiving one of their monthly subscription boxes for review each month. So fun! When I found this month's box waiting for me with my mail - I was super excited, kind of like it was my birthday. Eben loves it too - he immediately wants to sift through all of the goodies and pick out something fun to try!

If you are interested in giving Ecocentric Mom Box a try - you can get a 10% discount on any subscription with the coupon code ECOMOM10. Wouldn't this be a perfect Mother's Day surprise!

If you were a member this month, this is what you would have received:

#1: Natures Gate Rice Bran Facial Moisturizer
Free from harmful toxins including phathlates, artificial fragrances, mineral oil, parabens and petroleum. I really enjoyed trying this out, so yummy and refreshing.

#2: Good Green Bar
I loved this gluten-free, vegan wellness bar made from dehydrated super foods. I threw it in my yoga bag for a great post workout snack!

#3: Linwoods Super Food Blends
These are also gluten-free and vegan and are perfect for sprinkles
on your morning yogurt, cereal or your dinner salad.

#4: Biotin Shampoo, Condition + Body Wash
These are also made by Nature's Gate and are super yummy - I have really enjoyed using them.

#5. Fryefly Organic Serenity Tea
Tea is my thing - so I was excited to try the 100% certified organic herbal tea. I enjoyed the flavor and these are perfect for packing in my handbag for on the go.

#6: Nature's Kick Honeystix
Eben loves Honeystix, so he immediately confiscated these - I had to get them back and give them to him as a little treat when we are driving home from school. These would also be fantastic to keep in your handbag for that afternoon tea on the go.

#7. WEXY Biodegradable Snack Bags
These fun biodegradable snack bags are BPA free, recyclable and reusable too! They come in an assortment of fun graphics - perfect for your child's lunchbox.

#8. 7th Heaven 100% Natural Face Mask
I love a good face mask and this one is vegan and organic too! What a great way to pamper yourself after a long day of work.

#9: Boring Goats Goat Milk Soap
I love goat milk soap, it is so creamy and refreshing. This particular goat milk soap comes from a family farm located in Oregon. Fantastic!

#10: Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
We use this to substitute for butter or oil in our baked good. I also use it as a deep-moisturizing mash for my hair a couple of times a month.

#11. There was also an assortment of coupons for these particular products included in the box, including a Frego (plastic-free food storage) $5 gift card and a Bamboo Bailey (eco-friendly and recycled product emporium) $10 gift card.

Full Disclosure: As an Ecocentric Mom Team Blogger, I receive monthly subscription boxes for review. All of the opinions expressed are completely my own. Affiliate links appear in the post.

DIY: Upcycle Flower Pots Into Gardening Kit Gifts!

2013-05-07T10:22:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day is quickly approaching and now is the perfect time to gather your children to make fun gifts for mom and grandma. Eben wanted to have creative control over the gifts that we will be giving to his grandmothers this year for Mother's Day. Both of them enjoy spending time outdoors, so he thought that giving them the gift of gardening would be apropos. This project is an easy undertaking, and when all is said and done, you have a cheery gift for kids to give any special lady in their lives for Mother's Day. You most likely already have all of the supplies you need to make this offering in your garage and craft closet. Jump over to Inhabitots to learn how to make these sweet upcycled flower pot gardening kits!

5 Sustainable Ways to Add Storage and Cut Clutter in Your Child's Bedroom

2013-05-07T08:08:00.002-04:00

Right now we live in a large 3-level townhouse with 3 bedrooms and bathrooms. Next week we will be moving into our new much smaller home that is 2 bedrooms and bathrooms. While downsizing is super exciting to me - I am concerned about storage, especially in Eben's bedroom. He has so many small trinkets, art supplies, LEGO pieces, books, and other fun kids stuff. I want to reuse the pieces of furniture that we already own in any way possible. Here are solutions that I have implemented into his current bedroom and some ideas that I will be designing into his new bedroom to make the most of the space.

#1: Floor to Ceiling Shelving
Eben already has this amazing IKEA Expedit Bookcase - and we adore it! The mister and I jumped up and down for joy when we measured the wall in Eben's new bedroom and it fit perfectly. Eben is an avid readers for almost all of the shelves are packed books. However, I am hoping to downsize his book collection slightly so we can use some of the shelves to display his favorite keepsakes.

#2: Under the Bed Storage
I always feel like the storage space under the bed gets ignored. We have been using large sliding bins with lids under Eben's bed as a dresser for his socks, pajamas, swimsuits etc; While this has been working out, I really want to utilize the entire space under his bed. Since he is ready for a new bed, I would love to find something that is elevated with more build in storage underneath. Then, he won't need a dresser and it will free up more floor space in his room.

#3: Stacking Storage Bins
We have three of these fantastic Sortera stacking bins from IKEA in Eben's closet right now. They were designed to house recyclables in the garage - however, they are perfect for storing LEGO pieces. Since Eben has seriously over a million LEGO pieces, we are thinking of adding 3 more of these bins to the bottom of his closet to store all of the LEGO pieces. They are easy to slide out and since the lid comes off, they make clean up time a breeze.

#4: Top of the Closet Bins
The top of the closet can become a waste land of anything that your child throws up there that doesn't fall back down! We purchased large fabric bins and were able to get 4 of them to fit perfect side by side on the shelve. They are tall and deep, so they fill the shelf up exactly and this is where we store all of Eben's stuffed animals. Since he doesn't play with them often, however they have sentimental value to him, it's a great way to store them, keeping them off of the floor or cluttering up the bed.

#5: Rethink the Closet
Eben's new bedroom has a much larger closet which is great - except for the fact, that he doesn't have a ton of clothes. He wears a uniform to school - therefore he only needs a handful of outfits for the weekend and special events. We plan to remove the doors from his closet and transform it into his office space. We have a 6' slim desk in my office right now, that won't fit in my workspace at the new house. However, it will fit perfectly inside of Eben's new bedroom closet. We plan to hang all of his clothes at the far end of the closet, giving him the rest of the closet space to organize his art, photography, computer and animation supplies. We are very excited about this idea, because at first we were worried he wouldn't have space for his creative endeavors.

What suggestions do you have for adding more storage and reducing clutter in a child's bedroom?

photos via here, here, here, here, here, here.

How to Make Organic, Vegan Strawberry Shortcake for a Refreshing Dessert

2013-05-06T13:35:00.001-04:00

Strawberry Shortcake is such a lovely and refreshing dessert to serve during springtime and summer. It's a real crowd pleaser, and it satisfies your sweet tooth while also incorporating a healthy serving of fruit into the indulgence. My recipe for strawberry shortcake is vegan and free of artificial colors and flavors. This particular Strawberry Shortcake is similar to a sweet biscuit covered with luscious strawberries and toppings! You can kick-off the fun by taking your kids to your family garden or the local organic farm to pick strawberries. Then come home and make these yummy organic, vegan strawberry shortcakes together.

Have a Lovely Weekend + A Few Green Things

2013-05-03T15:00:00.000-04:00

Hello, Friends! How was your week? What are you up to this weekend? We are having a beach party for Eben's 12th birthday. We are having it a little early so his best friend - who lives a few hours away can attend. We are super excited to spend a laid back day at the beach celebrating our favorite person! It has been raining all week long - however, we woke up to bright blue skies and sunshine. See, Eben even has a positive effect on the weather. Ha! While I gather up the beach toys, towels and cupcakes, here are a few green things I thought you might enjoy:

- Discover what may be killing our honeybees.
- Just another reason to be vegetarian, rat meat passed off as lamb!
- I really love and admire Target's School Library Makeover Program.
- Ugh. Mom's backing agricultural biotechnology powerhouses like Monsanto!
- Wondering why eco-fashion is so expensive?
- 6 Mother's Day gifts that give back!
- I am a huge fan of silly foods. You?

I hope you have an amazing and sunny weekend - I will see you back here on Monday.

xo,
Sweet Greens

How to Grow an Herb Garden in Eggshell Planters

2013-05-01T14:30:00.000-04:00

Now is the perfect time of year to plant a small garden with your children. We have enjoyed all types of gardening in our home throughout the years -- however, my son is always happy to make a simple herb garden with me. The only necessary supplies for this recycled herb garden are an egg carton, egg shells, soil and seeds! It's an easy project that your children can do entirely themselves and it's a great learning opportunity as well. Your kids will 'dig' the entire process -- from creating the garden, to watching it grow to harvesting the herbs and using them in their favorite meals. Gardening is also a great way to teach children the life cycle of a plant, and it instills in them a sense of pride when they watch their own garden grow.

How to Make Vegan Mini Avocado Cheesecakes

2013-05-01T14:26:00.001-04:00

Avocados are so nutritious, versatile and delicious in everything from tacos to salads to chocolate pudding! We decided to give making raw cheesecake a try - using avocados as the star ingredient, to replace the standard cream cheese that is typically used to make cheesecakes. If your family loves avocado, you will definitely want to try out this healthier version of a classic dessert. It is simple to make since there is no cooking involved, and the recipe instructions are so easy that my son was able to make the entire cheesecake himself. You can grab the one-page printable recipe here and read on to learn how to make raw, organic, mini vegan avocado cheesecakes in minutes. They're the perfect sweet ending to a meal, or a yummy afternoon snack!

Have a Lovely Weekend + A Few Green Things

2013-04-26T17:59:00.001-04:00

Hello, Friends! How was your week? Mine was crazy busy! It started with me hosting an Earth Day Twitter Party with Balance Bar and just kept rolling from there. We like busy weeks - busy weeks are good!

This weekend, we are going to spend the majority of it packing for our move. We are so excited for yet another chapter of our lives, we can barely stand it! However, tomorrow we are sneaking away for the day to meet family for lunch, followed by a night celebrating Eben. He has been on fire lately - he brought home a report card with all A's, 2 B+'s and 1 B. Then, today while swimming in the intracoastal with friends, he saved two little girls from being swept away in a rip current. We are very proud of him, he is truly amazing!

I will be sharing more about our move in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, here are a few green things I thought you might enjoy:

- Getting married this summer? How about a bridal gown that dissolves when you are done with it?
- I find it so sad that many children no longer play outside!
- This dad is the coolest ever - he designs his child's lunch bags every day!
- OMGoodness, I am having a housewarming party like this when we move. Except zero waste!
- 50 gorgeous tree houses from around the globe.
- Looking to cut back on the junk in your diet - start here.
- I am totally craving healthy seven layer dip. Bring it on!

I hope you have an amazing weekend full of sunshine and fun. I will see you back here on Monday!

xo,
Sweet Greens

30 Day Juice Detox Completed! We lost 50 lbs!

2013-04-24T08:10:00.001-04:00

Hello, Friends! The 30 day juice detox is officially over - while, we initially thought that we would do a 60 day cleanse, it didn't work out that way. We have been contemplating moving our family and over the weekend - everything started to come together. We found a home in a neighborhood (it's closer to friends, family and school) that we have always loved and signed the paperwork! We will be moving mid-May. To celebrate, we decided to break the fast and went out to dinner - the mister and I shared.

I thought that it was going to be a big deal for me - it really wasn't. I have to admit, I wish that I would have stayed on the fast longer. We have still been drinking our juices for breakfast and lunch, then having a small healthy dinner. It is going well, I started to workout again (for the first time in 1 month!) and I don't feel stiff or sore. However, I have already gained back 5 lbs! I knew this would happen though - and that is alright too. I plan to continue eating super clean and working out - so hopefully everything will stabilize.

Overall, this has been an amazing experience, I really learned a lot about myself and I feel stronger and healthier. I want to do the juice detox every 3 months - so I will be doing it again at the end of July.

Have you ever tried a juice detox, what did you think?

Happy Earth Day 2013 from Sweet Greens!

2013-04-22T14:53:00.000-04:00

Here at Sweet Greens, we celebrate every day as if it is Earth Day! Living a green lifestyle is something that we do everyday of the year - protecting the planet for generations to come. Sweet Greens has always been about the simple, fun steps that you can take everyday with your family to live a more sustainable lifestyle. I urge you to consider your family's impact on the environment today and put small steps into place to live as green of a lifestyle as you can!

Today after school, the mister, Eben and I are going to spend the afternoon cleaning up our favorite beach! This has become an Earth Day tradition for us - and an activity that we do all year long as well. We feel that every step that we can take to living the most sustainable lifestyle possible is key to the preservation of our planet!

How are you spending Earth Day 2013?

P.S. Thank you to everyone who joined me at the Balance Bar Twitter Party today! It was super fun.

BLOG CARNIVAL: What Does Earth Day Mean to You? How Will You Be Celebrating?

2013-04-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

I am very excited to have been selected to write the main post Cascadian Farm's first blog carnival and it’s right in time to celebrate Earth Day and I look forward to reading everyone’s contributions. To get you started, here is what Earth Day means to me and how I will be celebrating this year.
Earth Day to me is just another day that I can teach others to be aware of the decisions that they make in their every day lives. I like to use the day as a platform to educate others that when we consume more resources than our Earth can provide, we risk depleting her of all of them. I feel that it is our responsibility as Earth’s inhabitants to make choices that are sustainable for our environment and by doing so; we can live in harmony with nature for generations to come.

My family spends every Earth Day working on a community service project. We are avid lovers of the outdoors and spend almost all of our free time either sailing, snorkeling or paddleboarding in the ocean or walking on our favorite local beaches. In previous years, we have participated in many different types of environmental cleanups. This year, we are partnering with a local conservation group to help clean-up the beach at our Nature Conservancy Center.

Want to hear from other green living bloggers? Check out these Earth Day posts below.

Marianna: What Earth Day Means to Me
The Pistachio Project: Why My Family Does Not Celebrate Earth Day
Green 4 U: Earth Day is a Holiday in Our House
Mom Always Finds Out: 10 Easy Ways to go Green at the Grocery Store
Don't Mess With Mama: Don't Judge Me If You See Me Dumpster Diving
Simply City Life: Come On and Celebrate the World
Natural Intuition

What does Earth Day mean to you? How will you be celebrating?

Sweet Greens Hosting an Earth Day Twitter Party with Balance Bar

2013-04-22T08:30:00.001-04:00

Hello, Friends. Happy Earth Day! I am excited to partner with Balance Bar to share their commitment to Rainforest Alliance. Today I will be co-hosting a Twitter party with Balance Bar sharing tips on green living, eco-friendly products and gluten-free living too.

Balance Bar's new dark chocolate line is made using 100% certified Rainforest Alliance cocoa - they are gluten-free and so yummy! We received a package of assorted Balance Bar's that included; Dark Chocolate Peanut, Dark Chocolate Coconut and Dark Chocolate Crunch and they didn't last long! Interested in trying Balance Bar for yourself? Join us for a live Earth Day Twitter Party today, Monday 22nd 2-3 p.m. EST.

We will be sharing eco-friendly, green and gluten-free living tips and tricks from a team of specialists including Rainforest Alliance members and eco-friendly bloggers!

Follow @BalanceBar @RnfrstAlliance @RandomRecycling @EcoBabyMamaDrama and @SweetGreens on Twitter and use the hashtag #GreenBalance to tweet your eco-friendly questions to our team of experts! Every time you ask a question or use #GreenBalance it is a chance to win great prizes.

Official rules: To be eligible to win, participants must follow @BalanceBar and the co-hosts and participate during the Twitter chat hour using the hashtag #GreenBalance. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected at random from eligible participants.

Good Luck! I hope to see you there!

Ettitude Bamboo Sheet Set Giveaway

2013-04-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hello, Friends! Today's giveaway is perfect for spring - one lucky reader will win your choice of twin, full, queen or king sized bamboo sheets from Ettitude! Yay!
When it comes to making your sleep haven - the first place you should start is with your bed! Choosing a mattress and bedding that is free from toxic chemicals and pesticides is essential. Ettitude offers a great sheet set made from the rapidly renewal resource, bamboo. It's a great choice for families and one that you will be happy that you made.

Ettitude was founded on the simple idea that all home and family essentials should not only be practical but also be unquestionably safe, Eco friendly, beautiful, and convenient. In addition to bamboo sheet sets, Ettitude has a vast selection of bamboo comforters, duvet covers, crib sheets, pillows, mattress protectors, and towels to name a few.

My favorite features from the Ettitude Organic Pure Bamboo Sheet Sets:

Great assortment of colors (white, sand, coffee, gray, aubergine, blue nights)
Equivalent to around 1000 thread count in cotton, luxuriously soft and silky!
Naturally antibacterial, great for sensitive skin and allergies
Wicks sweat away from body, cool in the summer, warm in the winter
Made from bamboo, a pesticide free, sustainable, and rapidly renewable resource
100% biodegradable
Oeko-Tex Standard 100
Easy care - cool wash, line dry

Good Luck and Sweet Dreams! Giveaway ends on May 14th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Sweet Greens is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment - all opinions are my own.

Have a Lovely Weekend + A Few Green Things

2013-04-19T17:31:00.000-04:00

Hello, Friends! How are you? It has been a tough week - and our hearts are with everyone in Boston. Hang in there and stay safe!

Today marks Day 27 of the juice detox and I am down 18.5 pounds and feeling great! It has been fun shopping in my own closet - I had a ton of clothes that are my current size, so I haven't had to buy anything new. The mister has lost 30 lbs, is feeling great and his hands have almost completely cleared up. Yay for juice!

Eben is home from school today - we spent the morning in the urgent care thinking that he had strep throat. The test came back negative, so hopefully it is only a sore throat. I am hoping that he will wake up tomorrow feeling better!

This weekend will be pretty laid back, we don't have any real plans - it mostly depends on how Eben is feeling. I want to finish up work so I can watch a movie and snuggle with my little guy. While I do, here are a few green things to take you through the weekend:

- I love Barefoot Books and they are giving away an Earth Day Collection!
- I want to live in this microgreens apartment complex.
- I am a huge sucker for houseplants - these 5 are odd!
- Target is giving away reusable bags with a $40 sustainable coupon book on Sunday morning.
- We really do living on such an amazing, beautiful planet.
- What is fast fashion doing to our planet! Such a shame.
- Oh I can't wait to make this licorice via Salted and Styled with Eben! It's one of my favorite treats!

I hope you have a safe weekend - I will see you back here on Monday.

xo,
Sweet Greens

The Green Vinyl

2013-04-19T16:51:00.000-04:00

Hello, Friends! This post was sponsored by and wasn't written by me. Thank you for supporting the companies that help to run Sweet Greens!

Generally, the mission of any business is encompassed by their ability to provide customers with solutions that best satisfies their needs and earn their trust through consistency. Once it manages to do that, a business can start focusing on becoming more eco-conscious. This is most apparent in the printing industry. Taking time to create sustainable solutions without losing out on quality can be very time consuming and costly, but if you want to raise the bar on reducing, reusing, and recycling, develop something that is less harmful for the consumer and the environment as a whole.

The world does not need more non-biodegradable plastic. Although it can be unavoidable, we should take steps to decrease its use. Signazon, a sign printing company has taken action to offer an alternative to vinyl - their EZ-Stick material. It is available in vinyl and fabric, and it is biodegradable and recyclable. The green benefits don’t stop there. This patented material also is free of PVC and phthalates, which can be toxic. This means that they can be safely applied anywhere.

The product-focused benefits of using EZ-Stick also go a long way. The low tack adhesive on it does not damage the surface or leave a residue, and it can be repositioned and applied hundreds of time without losing its hold. Also, if you prefer to use fabric, this adhesive is equally as effective. As long as it is a flat surface which does not have any pores or air bubbles, it can hold on any surface for up to 5 years, which is another benefit of using them. Not only are they durable, they are eco-friendly.

Signazon’s EZ-Stick provides great potential for reduction of vinyl consumption and waste. This material option can be selected for wall decals, wall signs, window decals, and all quantities of custom stickers. Since these are all popular products, the potential quantity of vinyl unused can contribute to a smaller ecological footprint from the printing industry. EZ-Stick is really a miracle product.

Food Crush: Wee Bee Honey Naturally Raw + Made in Florida

2013-04-18T14:29:00.000-04:00

Right before the mister and I started our juice detox, we switched over to raw honey. We found a naturally raw honey that is made locally here in Florida - in fact, it is made only a few miles from our home. We had to give it a try - it's made by Wee Bee Honey, an American family owned and operated opiary, with generations of beekeeping - since 1892.

Wee Bee Honey promotes organic methods of raising bees and utilizing essential oils instead of pesticides. Have you had raw honey? Oh my goodness - you haven't had honey until you've had raw honey! It is amazing, the overall flavor, scent, color, and texture is fabulous - I could (and have) eaten it by the spoonful!

I can't wait for this juice fast to end so I can have a spoon of Wee Bee Honey in my morning tea. So, I ask again, have you had raw honey? Do you love it too?

P. S. Did you know that raw honey has been used for centuries to improve poor digestion, oral health, allergies, burns, wounds and scars? See, I told you it was amazing!

7 Simple Surprises to Show Your Family You Care

2013-04-17T11:36:00.001-04:00

It can be too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and forget to take time out to celebrate our families. I like to keep my love for my family fresh on their minds by planning simple surprises throughout the year. These surprises don’t take a lot of planning or money, but they become the memories that my family will have forever, jump over to Applegate to check them out!

Juice Detox Day 24: 9 Important Things I Have Learned

2013-04-16T11:54:00.002-04:00

Hello, Friends! Welcome to day 24 of my juice detox. Wow! What a journey this has been, it has definitely had it's ups and downs. There hasn't been a single day so far that I haven't wanted to EAT! However, some magical things have happened over the past 24 days and I thought you might be interested to hear about them:

#1: I Can Do It
I have to admit that when we started this process, the thought of consuming nothing but juice for 30-60 sounded easy. Wrong! This has to be one of the most difficult things I have ever done. However, whenever I think that I really can do this and have for the past 24 days, I pat myself on the back.

#2: I Won't Drink Caffeine Again
I am done with caffeine - even though I only drank a cup or two of coffee everyday, I was really addicted. Even on day 24, I wake up thinking about my morning cup of coffee. Going through that 2 week headache to get off of caffeine was brutal, I am not going back.

#3: Bread is NOT my Friend
I have had a lifelong ~~love affair~~ obsession with bread (gluten). Before this detox, I would have told you that my favorite food was bread. The problem, bread doesn't feel the same way for me that I feel about it. Whenever I eat bread, I experience bloating, belly aches, head fogginess, aching joints, depression and weight gain. Frankly, I am tired of it and would say that I am most definitely gluten intolerant - I will be going 100% gluten-free after this detox is finished.

#4: I was a Sugar Junkie
Do you see a trend here? I don't think I was as obsessed with sugar as I was with bread - but it's close. Since sugar obviously isn't adding anything to my diet, I will be eliminating it as much as possible. I will be switching to Stevia for baking and am just going to skip the candy and sweets. I think my headaches may have also had to do with sugar-withdraw.

#5: Clear Brain is Nice
Before this detox, I definitely used food to deal with any issues in my life instead of facing and dealing with them head on. Not eating really gave me time to think of problems when they came up instead of stuffing the problem with food. The mister and I have come to a handful of decisions that we have been avoiding for quite some time. While the decisions that we will be making in the next couple of months are going to be hard, we know that they are necessary for our family and in the long run we will be healthier and happier too!

#6: I like Fruits and Vegetables
Before this detox, I would say that I enjoyed fruits and vegetables - however, I wasn't making a big enough effort to include them in my daily routine as much as I should. For example, I would reach for a sugary treat in the afternoon over a piece of fruit. We have been cleaning out our refrigerator, freezers and pantry so that when we are finished, we will only have whole foods in our home, even for snack time. We will be continuing to have juices with our normal diet too!

#7: I Can't Wait to Exercise Again
I have only been doing yoga during this detox, because I am not taking in enough calories to workout hard everyday. Not to mention, during this time my body is healing and I wouldn't want to exercise during this process. However, I am really looking forward to getting back to my daily workout routine. Since I have already lost 17 lbs - I think working out will be even more enjoyable without the extra weight.

#8: Supporting the Mister is Super Important
The real reason that I started this journey was for the mister. I love my husband and he is my best friend. I found myself constantly worrying about his weight, cholesterol and hypertension. I knew that the chances of him giving a juice detox a try would be impossible if we didn't do it together. I also knew that he was craving a chance, that he wanted to revamp our diet so I thought that if we did this together - we would both come out on the other end better for doing it!

#9: It has Effected Eben in a Positive Way
Eben is very laid-back and wasn't really fazed by the fact that we weren't going to be eating for 1-2 months. We talked to him about our reasons for doing it, that we wanted to clean up our diets and that he would be included because we would be eating clean as a family. At first, I didn't think he even cared, however the other day at Whole Foods, I told him he could pick one "treat", he choose a vegan coconut smoothie from the juice bar. I stopped him and said, you can get anything (even a cinnamon roll), he looked at me and said, "What?! Do you think I want to be unhealthy?" I was shocked, but he had a point - I was really proud of him. I have also noticed that he hasn't been asking for dessert every day after dinner. Big changes over here at Casa de Sweet Greens.

Have you ever completely revamped your diet? I would love to hear about it.

photo via pinterest

Have a Lovely Weekend + A Few Green Things

2013-04-12T13:54:00.002-04:00

Hello, Friends! How are you doing? How was your week? Eben has a couple of days off from school, so we have a long weekend upon us. Yay! I don't think there is anything better in life than family time - it is my favorite! We are planning to spend most of our time sailing, hanging out at the beach or taking long bike rides.

Plus, I would really like to hit the farmer's market this weekend, we need more vegetables for our juice detox. It is now Day 20 - and I have lost 16 lbs and the mister has lost 26 lbs. I feel great and I think my favorite part so far has been how clear my mind is - and the fact that I have felt more optimistic lately! I am positive that I can make it to the end of the month!

While I run off to soak up my family, here are a few green things you might enjoy:

- Eco-Friendly family companies made in the U.S.A!
- I am inspired by these DIY gardening hacks. Watch for Projects here soon!
- OMGoodness, It's National Grilled Cheese Day! I am dying for one - may be the first thing I eat!
- A new bill would make fresh, healthy foods available to more people. Fantastic.
- A $36 wedding gown made from 10,000 recycled bread bag clips and it's cute!
- Which is your favorite from these 101 simple pleasures to boost happiness?
- Antibiotics in organic apple and pear farming!? Ugh - this one is killing me.
- Affordable bamboo housing floats when it floods.
- I can't wait to have spring (or in this case summer) rolls again soon!

I hope you have an amazing weekend - I will meet you back here on Monday.

xo,
Sweet Greens

How to Make Organic, Vegan Fudge in 10 Minutes!

2013-04-12T13:54:00.001-04:00

Who doesn't love fudge? I remember begging my mom to buy us a piece of fudge anytime we came across it when I was a kid! And even if you're a vegan, you can still enjoy this super-yummy sweet treat -- you just have to get creative with the ingredients. While fudge is absolutely fun to eat, it is even more fun to make with your kids after school. This vegan fudge is so simple that it takes only 10 minutes to throw together, requires zero cooking and actually includes a serving of fruit too! Jump over to Inhabitots to learn how to make delicious no-cook organic vegan fudge in four simple steps!

Cookbooks vs. Pinterest? Which Do You Prefer for Organic, Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes?

2013-04-11T09:52:00.001-04:00

It's funny - every since starting this juice detox 19 days ago, all I can think about is food. At first I would find myself browsing my vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dessert recipe boards endlessly on Sunday mornings - completely torturing myself! But as time went by I found myself starting to pin more plant-based, healthy foods and less and less sweets! Small changes are good.

However, while I was browsing I looked up to see the vast array of colorful cookbooks on our media center. I began to wonder how the internet and websites such as Pinterest will shape the cookbook industry. The mister, who does the cooking in our household still uses several of his cookbooks on a weekly basis, but there are several that I purchased that hardly get used, because I find it much easier to catalog and access all of the recipes that I want to try on Pinterest.

So, I wondered what are your thoughts? Do you prefer a beautiful cookbook or Pinterest for recipes?

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Last year, I compiled a list of 5 beautiful cookbooks that I was coveting - to be honest, I still would love to have these cookbooks, even though I am a Pinterest addict!

photo via Pinterest

7 Fruits and Vegetables That are Easy for Kids to Grow in Their Garden

2013-04-11T09:24:00.001-04:00

Gardening is a fantastic activity that everyone in your family will enjoy, especially your children. It is the perfect way to spend several days a week working together outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Gardening is also great for instilling a sense of responsibility, cooperative learning and excitement in your child. Not to mention, when all is said and done, you are left with a beautiful bounty of fresh, organic foods that your family grew together -- and will enjoy eating together.

The key to getting your child super excited about gardening is choosing fruits and vegetables that are easy for them to grow. You want them to have a successful experience gardening, and it helps when the produce they are growing is relatively foolproof. I have planted many different types of fruits and vegetables with my son over the year and have found 7 items that are tried and true when it comes to gardening with children. Several of these plants can be grown inside (in a sunny window or patio), if you're a city dweller. Jump over to Inhabitots to learn the 7 easiest fruits and vegetables to grow this spring with your children -- and get planting!

5 Documentaries on Health, Wellness + the Importance of Eating Real Food

2013-04-09T17:58:00.002-04:00

I have been receiving a lot of emails and questions from friends and family wondering where we got the idea of doing a juice detox. It happened by accident really - a good friend of mine had sent me an email a few months back telling me that he and his wife had become juicing converts. When I finally found some time to sit down and check out his website, I found that his juicing revelation had all started with a documentary called Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. I didn't think much more about it after that. Then, one week I started to watch all of the documentaries on Netflix that related to health, wellness and food.

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead was one of my favorites! I also found 4 other documentaries that really had me thinking about my health and the health of my family. I started to chat with the mister about what I had learned while watching all of these documentaries. At first he was hesitant, then he was intrigued, so we watched some of the documentaries together. The next thing I know we are purchasing an Omega 8600 juicer, filling our fridge with produce and jumping right in.

During this 30-60 day juice fast, we have been purging our cabinets and are putting together a new way of eating for when we are finished. We are planning to eat a mostly plant-based organic diet, free of GMO's, and anything artificial - we will also be removing gluten (since I have major stomach issues resulting from it) and cutting our intake of poultry, fish and dairy to a minimum.

I thought you might be interested in learning more yourself, so I put together my 5 favorite documentaries that may inspire you to take your health into your own hands. We only get one life, and I think that we should live it to the fullest, healthiest, happiness potential possible. Here you go:

1. Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
2. Forks Over Knives
3. Food Matters
4. Average Joe on the Raw
5. Hungry for Change

How about you dear readers, do you have a life changing documentary to share? I would love to hear your suggestions.

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P.S. I remember the first time that the mister and I completely revamped our diets was after watching Super Size Me. That was about a year before I started Sweet Greens - it had a huge impact on the items that we purchased and was when we went fully organic!