I describe my very effective plan of action here, it works for all laundry items that have mildewed:

Hope it helps!

Photo credit: Shane @ www.environmentalbooty.com

This past weekend I had the great pleasure of seeing the new animated film EPIC (released today). My nine year old daughter and I traveled to Manhattan for the “green carpet” premiere with the team from Energy Star. I am in the middle of the above photo along with some of my online and IRL friends… Shane at Environmental Booty, Lori at Groovy Green Livin, Diane at Big Green Purse, and Leigh Ann of Green 4 U. I simply adore these ladies!

It’s always exciting when a new eco themed movie comes out and it is especially exciting when it is geared towards kids and families because that is the future. With climate change and other environmental issues bearing down on us we all need to find the inspiration to band together to fix our planetary problems. EPIC is actually about that very thing…coming together to save the world. Who better to bring that message to than children?

I absolutely ADORED this movie. I laughed, I cried, and I was mesmerized by the images and story. My daughter loved it as well and is saying it is her second favorite movie of all time (after Wreck it Ralph). I don’t think I have ever seen  a more beautiful animated movie actually.  Blue Sky Studios and director Chris Wedge did a fantastic job creating a fantasy world hidden within our own world.

The story centers around Mary Katherine or M.K as she is called. Her mother has passed away and she goes to live with her father, a man she hardly knows. Their relationship is strained because he is a reclusive professor who has dedicated his life to the discovery of a race of tiny beings that he believes live in the forest surrounding his home. His dedication has left little time for family and his daughter does not understand the obsession that is causing their estrangement. This all changes one day when she chases the family dog into the forest and runs across one these beings…the Queen, who is in grave trouble and must rely on a human for help.

M.K. is transformed and finds herself the same size as these tiny beings and she is in the middle of a great battle between the forces of good (warriors called the Leafmen and all those they protect) and the forces of evil (Boggans and their leader Mandrake). The Queen and her Leafmen want to defend and protect the forest, the eco system, and all the creatures who call it home. The Boggons want to destroy it and live in the decay. It is here that she meets Nod, a rookie Leafmen warrior, Ronin, the leader of the Leafmen, a valiant snail named Grub, and a lovable slug named Mub. Together they join forces to save this tiny world and find a way to return M.K. to her father so she can tell him he was right all along.

So obviously it has a strong eco message. It does a great job of making the case that the world of nature is another fantastical world to explore and that we need to protect it. It needs to be a team effort. It also has great messages about coping with loss, relating to your parents and family, and finding new people to call your family and friends. Another aspect that rocked were all the celebrity voices. Beyonce as Queen Tara, Colin Farrell as Ronin, Aziz Ansari as Mub, and Christoph Waltz as Mandrake were all perfectly cast and made the movie extra special.

It was just amazing, amazing. amazing. And what was even more amazing is that some of us bloggers attending the event got to meet and chat up some of the stars afterwards!!

Here is a snippet from Colin Farrell after he was asked if the movie’s eco message had inspired his participation:

This is me on the environmental warpath, absolutely.  There’s no doubt that there’s a message that’s inherent in the script just by the representation of the beauty of nature and the minutia of nature and the simultaneous fragility and strength of nature.  So, that’s all inherent in the script.

So, to respond to the script, I think you’re responding to those ideals.  But, no, it’s just a case of meeting Chris and his team and really seeing the visuals and just loving the story and loving the world.

And as Chris said, if anyone can come out of this with a moment’s more pause for thought than they would have had before it or if kids want to go out and pick up a rock and see what lies underneath it and put the iPad down for five minutes, happy days, you know?

Chris Wedge, Colin Farrell, and Amanda Seyfried. I am 3rd from the right.

And a snippet from director Chris Wedge:

The idea behind the movie was that we would go to a place that seems familiar to us, but we would see the magic inside of it.  And when I wanted always to get in touch with that from an emotional perspective, I thought about the times that I just walk into the forest, whenever I’m by myself, and just stop and listen and just feel it, because you can feel the presence of some kind of nature power going on all the time.

There’s a little movie going on with the squirrels that are chasing around and the things are growing out of trees, and it’s always happening, and you can feel the presence of that.

And, look, we’ve done a very stylized version of a magical forest here, but if it generates some more kind of respect for that in kids, if they think, wow, maybe if I walk out there, I’ll see this, because I am taking perspectives and showing you that, sometimes, it looks just like it does to us, right, you’ll see evidence that this is happening.

So, my hope was that a kid would go out and see like, wow, those birds making all that noise, that’s not just a sparrow chasing a crow away from its nest, it’s Leafman and Boggins that are fighting, that would be it for me.  There’s magic out there that we just don’t pay attention to.

I felt that both of these thoughts were beautiful and deep and had to share. All of the celebs were friendly and fun (and drop dead gorgeous – if you’re into that sort of thing). The way Chris Wedge spoke about the movie and the message made me fall in love with it even more AND want to see it again (which we will!) Colin Farrell was very deep and thoughtful. Amanda Seyfried is even more gorgeous in person if that is possible. Aziz Ansari and Chris O’Dowd (below) were hilarious. I am a big fan of Aziz’s and I was delighted to find that he and I share a love for an older movie that no one else in the room had even heard of, Flight of the Navigator. It was a childhood fave for both of us.

I enjoyed the experience thoroughly and it meant a lot to me to get that behind the scenes look and have to have the glitz and glamour of being at the premiere as a movie lover and now a huge fan of this particular movie. Many thanks to Energy Star for the opportunity! Please check out the reviews from other attendees over at Big Green Purse.

Side note: There is still time to join Team Energy Star and submit your children’s stories about how they conserve energy in the home for a chance to win lots of great prizes. Open until May 31st!

Disclosure: My trip and expenses were covered for this event. I am not being compensated nor am I obligated to share my thoughts about the experience and movie, I just really want to!!

Even though it isn’t the greenest pursuit, I love travel. It is just one of the ways in which we can connect to our planet and come to love it in all its wondrous variety…by exploration! So even though travel might increase our carbon footprint it is one of those things that I happily forgive because I really do believe that you protect what you care about and exploring your city, county, state, country, and world can be part of that. As long as you do so mindfully, with some planning, and with a careful eye to wastefulness I heartily endorse hitting the road (or the skies) with your kids. They won’t care to protect what they don’t know intimately.

One of my favorite methods of travel or maybe my absolute favorite (because I hate flying) is travel by recreational vehicle (RV). I started traveling by RV when I was just a toddler because my mother, Aunt, Uncle, and grandfather all used to travel around the midwest participating in horse shows and competitions. The easiest and most comfortable way to bring the family along was by RV, or motorhome specifically. It was very much like bringing home along with you. For holidays such as Memorial Day or the 4th of July we would also hit the road and park at various camp sites where we would camp, explore, and swim in local watering holes.

Here is the interior of the motorhome I spent 100s of hours in as a child (same as above photo), I still get a warm fuzzy feeling of pure happiness when I look at it! I would sleep on that couch (it pulled out) with my little brother. I would sit in the passenger seat and play with the CB radio while my grandfather drove us around the countryside. I would play cards with my grandmother and my cousins at that dining table (bottom left) and eat her homemade tuna egg salad sandwiches. It made for many perfect summer adventures and memories.

Taking an RV for long weekends and holiday weekends is actually a quite perfect way to go.

• Stress free. You are taking “home” with you.
• Affordable. No $ spent on hotels or airfare.
• No sleeping on the ground in a tent, you have a nice comfy bed and a place free from critters.
• Kids sleep better in a familiar place with their own pillows and blankets.
• It is easy to plan a getaway on the spur of the moment.
• No fast food or eating out because you have a pantry and kitchen.
• Power supply for gadgets such as computers, blenders, and food processors.
• A comfy place to retreat when you want to rest.
• Toys and other personal items are easy to take along with you.
• On board bathrooms, no pulling over to stop every 5 minutes!
• You can take pets with you.
• Can get one you drive or one you tow behind the family truck or SUV.

We took many planned, longer trips in the RV but we also took spur of the moment trips. One summer we drove the RV a few hours north to Chillicothe, Ohio to see an outdoor play called Tecumseh. You sit in a outdoor amphitheater and watch the story of the legendary Shawnee leader as he struggles to defend his sacred homelands in the Ohio country during the late 1700′s. There are cannons firing, guns shooting, horses riding past you and it really feels as though you are there, living it. The show is several hours long so rather than driving home late at night we just parked at a nearby camp ground with RV hookups and we made a mini vacation of it. My childhood was filled with trips like this, big and small. It made me relish the coming of summer and our upcoming adventures.

Here is a photo of me with my mother, grandmother and younger brother on one of our many RV adventures. He was just a baby so I would have been about 5 years old.

Eight or so years later, nothing much has changed (below), except the RV is bigger… me, my grandmother, and brother.

I will always treasure those memories and these pictures. They were some of the happiest times of my life. I am regretful now that my own kids haven’t done as much RVing as I did. We are going to have to change that…

For more info check out Go RVing on Facebook | Twitter: @go_rving | Instagram: @gorving

Disclosure: I was compensated for writing this post about my RV adventures, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

These issues aside though we do have some serious issues facing our water supply. The quality of the water flowing through our homes has been on the decline. How can it not be since the quality of our air, soil, and environment in general is on the decline? There are an ever-increasing amount pollutants working their way into our lives that pose a serious challenge to water treatment facilities and they are having a difficult time keeping up. Existing infrastructure may be aging and the city budget may be getting tighter, exacerbating the problem. This is why most municipalities use chlorine in their water treatment plants because it is a highly effective and cheap solution to the problem. It is an inexpensive disinfectant that will kill bacteria and other microbes found in the water.

The solution is not without its own problems though and sadly we are left to wade through the evidence on this one ourselves and scramble to do what we can to save ourselves from the “cure” inflicted upon us my our cities and townships. The sad truth is that chlorine is hazardous to our health. When chlorine is added to water supplies it mixes with other chemicals in the water and forms compounds that can trigger free radicals and cause a number of health problems. We end up with chlorine in the water obviously but also some byproducts, most notably Trihalomethanes (THMs). THMs are used in other industries as solvents and refrigerants and they are known environmental pollutants. They are also considered to be carcinogenic.

Researchers of late have linked them to rectal, bladder, and breast cancer. In fact women with breast cancer have 50-60% higher levels of these THMs in their fat tissue than women without breast cancer. The American Journal of Public Health has declared that “up to 2/3 of the harmful effects of chlorine are due to inhalation and skin absorption while showering.” The Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that “food allergies and the rising rate of new allergies were both associated with chlorine exposures from various sources.” We all know how food allergies have skyrocketed in the last couple decades. Can it be the chlorine in our water supply???

In addition, breathing in the steaming chlorinated air (think showers/baths) can affect your lungs and bronchial tubes. Here are some other problems that chlorine in your water can cause besides the higher risk of cancer (as if that wasn’t enough).

• problems with circulation
• lung and breathing problems
• increased asthma attacks
• thyroid problems due to blocked iodine receptors

What  we drink certainly matters so I completely understand the need for clean drinking water and the gravitation to bottled water. Yet it is such a waste (environmentally and economically) and it does not address the fact that we are still being exposed to the toxins we are trying to avoid every day as we shower, bathe, and brush our teeth. Chlorine in city water and its byproducts are absorbed through the skin and inhaled into the lungs each and every day unless we take steps.

So what can you do to avoid the exposure? As much as it might seem like you are giving in to consumerism and big business by buying water filtration products they actually do protect us from a serious hazard. If you can afford it, it is advantageous to use them and there are solutions for a variety of budgets.

Whole House Filtration

The broadest line of attack and the best option is to get a whole house water filtration system like those sold at Hydrocare USA. All the water coming into your home is filtered at the source so the tap water in your kitchen is safe for drinking/cooking and the water you bathe with and brush your teeth with is also filtered and safe. The above mentioned company is one of the most reasonably priced sources for this kind of product. According to a certified independent lab test they remove 99% removal of Chlorine and they also reduce lead, mercury, THMs, VOCs, and other chemical nasties all without a loss in water pressure. Their basic unit sells for less than $500 and the replacement filters, which are good for 6-12 months, sell for $79. All in all a very reasonable price for the health benefits you are reaping. For those worried about fluoride, Hydrocare also has another unit that will remove 90% of that as well. Compare their units and benefits here.

If you have well water you may be not have to worry about chlorine and its byproducts but you too may want to consider a whole home filter. Well water can have a distinct and off putting smell and it can leave your tubs, sinks, and toilets rusty and discolored. Ground water can also be contaminated by local environmental pollutants and runoff and a whole home filtration system can help with that.

Other options include…

Under Sink Filtration Systems

These are great if you want to avoid wasting resources on bottled water. These units fit under your sink and they filter the water you use to drink and cook with. They are relatively cheap, usually anywhere from $100 to $300 and you need to buy replacement filters every few months. The downside is that these do nothing to filter chlorine and other contaminants from our bathing water.

Portable Water Filters

You are no doubt familiar with the water pitchers you can buy that filter a couple quarts to a couple gallons of water at any given time. Brita and ZeroWater are two big brands that make these. They are great if you have a very limited budget. The downside is that you constantly need to refill them and you go through filters quite fast which can be pricey in the long run and wasteful since they are made of plastic.

Bath/Shower Filter Attachments

If you have an under the sink filter or a portable one for drinking water you may also try to piecemeal a whole house filtration system by buying a shower head that filters water or a bath ball that does the same. I highlight some of those options in an earlier post about Harmful Effects Of Chlorine. While they are nice to have on hand if you don’t have the option to buy a whole house system they don’t work as well usually. They require frequent filter replacement, and in the case of the bath balls they take several minutes to do their job which can be inconvenient. They also do nothing to filter the water you use for drinking and cooking.

I am happy to see how affordable whole home filtration is becoming. We currently rent and haven’t wanted to invest in a system for someone else’s home so we have a piecemeal system going on currently. When I hear about the latest research into chlorine and its byproducts though I wonder if that is not a mistake in the long run. With a whole house filtration system available for under $500 I think the price has finally come down to a place that makes it worth the investment, even if we are renters.

Which of these options have you taken advantage of to reduce your family’s exposure to chlorine, THMs, and other chemical nasties in the water supply?

As the infographic below demonstrates though, there are other issues to be considered. I eat meat and eggs and I do not believe that it is ethically wrong to do so. Yet I also believe that that food animals should be given the best lives and healthiest food possible. Animals raised in factory farms are often kept in unsanitary, unhealthy conditions and they are given foods that they were never meant to eat. They become sick and diseased as a result and their short lives are filled with pain and discomfort. My choices either support that or they support the opposite…animals raised free and healthy. I know which I choose, how about you?

Photo from the WSPA.

With the effects of global warming becoming more noticeable, it’s very important to be environmentally conscious. Fortunately, there are many opportunities available to save money and help the environment. Green mortgages are one of these fantastic opportunities.

What is a Green Mortgage?

Green mortgages are special types of mortgages and are backed by the government; these mortgages are also known as energy efficient mortgages. These mortgages will help you have a home that’s more energy efficient; you get to borrow money for the sole purpose of making your residence more energy efficient.

Benefits of an EEM

One of the benefits of obtaining a green mortgage is the fact that you can upgrade your house. You will be able to purchase high-quality, energy efficient devices and items that you might not have been able to purchase normally. An EEM makes these upgrades a real possibility. Anything from insulating windows to eco-friendly HVAC systems can be used to upgrade your home.

Another benefit of getting an EEM is the amount of money you can save. Upgrading your home to an energy-efficient residence will help insulate your house more effectively. This will help you save money on heating and cooling. Energy-efficient HVAC systems and tankless water heaters will also allow you to save a lot of money because they are very efficient. Almost every item you use to upgrade your house will save you money, so a green mortgage has many benefits.

Green mortgages give you the ability to make your home very energy efficient. This will increase the value of your home.

Overall, homes that have become energy efficient with help from an EEM will be insulated and comfortable during every season, and the cost of utilities will be a lot lower.

How EEMs Help the Environment

Green mortgages help the environment in several ways. Homes that use a lot of energy because their appliances and HVAC systems aren’t energy efficient will cause larger amounts of pollutants to be released in the air. Energy is produced by fossil fuels, but using these fuels causes carbon dioxide and other gases like nitrogen to pollute the air.

Energy efficient devices drastically cut the consumption of energy, so a lot less pollutants are released into the air. Furthermore, energy efficient homes use less energy, so less of the Earth’s resources have to be procured. Green mortgages make homes more energy efficient, so these environmental benefits come as a result.

How to Obtain an EEM

If you’re looking to get an EEM, you must find a mortgage lender who can give you one. First, you need to know how energy efficient your home currently is and what improvements should be made. You can’t choose what should be upgraded; you need to have an Energy Rater come to your house. They will thoroughly check your home out, and rate it. A HERS report will be made, and what improvements you can make will come from that report.

EEMs have many advantages for people, their homes, and the environment.

A new Costco membership OR renewal plus some freebies is only $55.00. I am all over this one personally. I have been going with a friend and using her membership for the past couple years but this has increasingly become a hassle and we would like one of our own. We like to buy bulk coconut water, coffee, and rechargeable batteries there mostly but they also have lots of organic offerings.

Laptop Lunchboxes – One of our all time favorite lunch/bento boxes. We have four of them. :)

KidCraft Wood Toys – Trains sets, sandboxes, dollhouses, puppet theaters and lots of other good stuff. My daughter has the Glitz & Glamour Dollhouse and it is very high quality and will last for many, many years.

Slyvan Products - Great for homeschool or for summer learning. We have used (and enjoyed) several of their products in years past.

Sprout Non Toxic Nail Polish – Conventional nail polish has all sorts of toxic nasties in it so I always try to buy safer, non toxic versions for my daughter. Sprout is one brand I have not tried yet but perhaps today is the day to order some. :)

What do you think? When you have a limited budget can you justify the purchase of a hybrid over a regular sedan with great fuel economy?

A guest post by Sam Peters

Even though my husband set me up with an amazing aromatherapy massage and seaweed wrap for Mother’s Day, he insists that all he wants for Father’s Day is the laughter of his little girls. Sweet sentiment, but he’s still getting gifts. I went to my daughters for their ideas: my youngest insisted that we get him a tiger and my oldest swore up and down that he told her that he wanted a tuutuu, bless her little lying heart. My girls are a trip.

My husband, the father of the year in my opinion, who takes time off work to be a room “mother” with me and tosses a football around out with my daughters calling them Lil Namath and Lil Montana deserves a something extra special on the day designed to honor him. I’ve been busy choosing between a wide variety of great gifts that don’t dent the earth and suit his personality.

Recycled Golfballs

Dixon Golf out of Tempe, AZ produces an eco-friendly line of balls called Dixon Earth. The balls are 100% recyclable. Dixon pays for returned balls. Sustainability informs everything that this company does, they encourage their employees to carpool to work and have outfitted their manufacturing facility with LED lightbulbs and low-VOC paint. Dixon even encourages golfers to go after that sliced ball by providing up to a $6 return for a dozen used golf balls.

Animal Adoption

Even though my daughter insists there is room for a tiger in the treehouse out back, I believe the laws in our jurisdiction against the keeping of exotic animals prevent her dreams of tiger ownership from becoming a reality. As a compromise, I found that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) offers the adoption of endangered and threatened animals. On making a donation we may help protect and symbolically adopt a tiger or a three toed sloth or a host of other animals. Donations go to support WWF’s mission to prevent threats like poachers, deforestation, and global climate change from impacting the biodiversity of the planet.

Sweet Treats

If you look at my husband’s dental chart, all of his teeth are sweet teeth. Shari’s Berries has an amazing line of chocolate covered strawberries and delicious cookies  available to be shipped right to your door, including some super cute strawberries dipped to look like baseballs, footballs, and basketballs for Father’s Day!

Homemade

My girls decided to collect and recycle pretty paper they received throughout the year. The paper makes great handmade greeting cards, but they decided to use it to make a sweet little scrapbook full of collages of their favorite memories with their dad. So far the book includes learning to ride bicycles, playing hide and seek, and my husband flexing his muscles. They think it’s hilarious!

My girls and I plan a great Father’s Day in addition to the gift giving. After a pancake breakfast, we’re going to go on a long family hike on a nearby trail. We look forward to lavishing him with praise and pampering. Hope your holiday with your husbands and fathers is a great one!

Anyway my purse is actually in pretty decent condition. Its part of my dedication to minimalism that I carry a very small purse. It only has room for a wallet, phone, keys, and my Sony Walkman MP3 Player pretty much. Sometimes I might carry a pen. I can tell right away if I am carrying excess stuff because it begins to bulge and look funny thus indicating I need to go through it and declutter. I own two purses/handbags total and both are tiny. They are also both thrift store finds. It works for me. I never have a hard time locating anything in my purse. :)

As you can see the only items that did not belong are the receipt, the business card from the awesome guy who recently fixed my 12 year old’s iPod Touch, a movie ticket stub (Oblivion – which was okay but not great), about $1.30 in spare change, and two mint candies from Olive Garden. I forgot they were in there and they were slightly melty.

Even though it was an easy job I am feeling rather accomplished now on this great day of purse cleaning. How about you? If you clean out your purse and write a blog post about it or if  you share a photo via social media leave a link below!

The big C. Cancer.

I have quite a bit to say about cancer actually because it became a big part of my life 6 years ago next month. I clearly remember the moment when they told me it was cancer that had been making so sick for he previous months. I was so relieved to finally KNOW why I was so sick that I think my doctors thought I was not facing up to facts. I had stage three cancer for sure and they feared that it might have spread to my liver. I went under the knife knowing that I might wake up to hear that it had and my cancer would be fatal. The news was ultimately good though. They removed a large section of my colon and most of my lower lymph nodes but since I was so young they were optimistic that I would be able to fly through chemo and put the cancer chapter behind me.

It wasn’t so easy in real life though. I was lucky to have a fantastic support system and I was lucky that I did not need to work to survive and take care of my three kids, one of whom was just a baby. Every day I was so grateful for what I had and the people in my life because every day I sat next to people (in treatment) who didn’t have these things. I saw who folks who had to work 40 hours a week while undergoing chemo or end up jobless and thus without insurance for their care. I saw others who had to leave treatment altogether because they no longer had the money or insurance for it. It made me so angry that only people of means could get the care they needed. You hear certain politicians talking all the time about how everyone has access to healthcare in this country regardless of means. In actuality they mean that everyone has access to emergency healthcare. A chronic disease does not apply. I found out I had cancer and I had options. Many, many others do not.

These days I have a lot to say about cancer organizations, what they do, and where the money goes. I have a lot to say about whether or not they are actually looking for a cure or a way to keep the disease atm machine alive and kicking. No matter what side of the fence I am on though I cannot deny that they do try to provide better access for those without means. They try to provide screening for those that cannot afford it and that they have a place to stay while going through their ordeal and that they have rides to get there and back. I sat alongside many people helped by organizations like these.

One of these is The American Cancer Society. They turn 100 years old this year and have played a role in nearly every cancer research breakthrough in recent history. What impresses me most though is all that they have done and continue to do to help those with limited means.

American Cancer Society Goals

• Continue to ensure lifesaving cancer research gets funded.
• Undertake a historic research study called the Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) that will help us understand how to prevent cancer and save lives. The goal is to enroll at least 300,000 adults from various racial/ethnic backgrounds from across the US by the end of this year.
• Make sure that people facing cancer have the help they need, like a free place to stay during treatment and a ride to get there.
• Keep fighting for everyone to have access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air and more.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

It’s incredible to think that we spend about a third of our lives in bed. This makes it all the more important to ensure you get a good night’s sleep every night, aiding your mood, attention levels and appetite for the next day. However, if you’re struggling to drift off or stay asleep, then it’s time to rejuvenate your sleeping space. Here are a few tips to go eco and help create a healthier you and a healthier planet, so you can sleep easy:

1.) Perfect Furnish:

De-cluttering over-crowded surfaces is a great way to freshen up your bedroom. To still create a warm, cozy feel adorn your room with light, comfortable furnishings, such as upcycled blankets, throws and rugs, and re-cover cushions using spare materials. A softer, clear bedroom will mean a clearer mind, allowing you to shut off more quickly at night. You’ll be sleeping like a baby again in no time.

2.) Go Green:

Potted plants placed around the room will circulate the air and help to reduce stuffiness. Fresh flowers will also emit uplifting light scents, deodorizing the room naturally without the need for chemical aerosols and sprays, and will certainly brighten up the look of your bedroom too.

3.) Smart as Paint:

Decorating your bedroom with soft, neutral tones will help instill a sense of calm and tranquility into your sleeping haven. Consider using natural, non-toxic paints, which don’t produce harmful, pungent fumes and so are better for the earth and you.

4.) Good as New:

Before you chuck out that dusty old bedroom dresser or table, why not give it a quick coat of pure wood oil, or some colored natural paint? This will give your vintage piece of furniture a great visual lift and a whole new lease of life, adorning your newly spruced room.

5.) Mattress Matters:

The best way to ensure a good night’s sleep is to have the best and comfiest bed, so your body can stretch out and relax as you sleep. Mattress Online offers some fantastic eco-friendly mattresses, such as cooling organic cotton. Natural mattresses ‘breathe’, reducing the amount of harmful toxins inhaled from regular processed, synthetic mattresses. These can help to reduce some respiratory problems, ensuring your soothing sleep is a breath of fresh air.

Making some eco bedroom-friendly changes will make a big difference to your sleep, health and well-being. These are just a few ways to help you snooze while you help the environment, so the rest is up to you.

Just sharing another amazing ebook bundle. This is one is super focused…it is all about fertility.

I have no need for it personally because my baby making days are long behind me but I think I would have loved to have this resource way back when. If you struggle with fertility, and a lot of people do, then it has lots of info for you. Even if you are super fertile (like I am/was) there is still lots of great info on being healthy before you get preggo and on healthy childbirth. It’s a great collection so be sure to check it out!

A guest Post by Sam Peters

I get invited to a lot of baby showers and that means I buy a lot of gifts for new moms. I think it’s really important to give eco-friendly gifts—better for the baby, mom and the environment.

To buy eco-friendly baby shower gifts always choose items:

• • ·  made from 100% natural materials that are chemical free, or

• • ·  made from recycled products, or

• • ·  that are Fair Trade products, or

• • ·  that are reusable or recyclable.

Most baby shower gifts fall into three general categories: practical, sentimental, or something for mom. Here are some suggestions and guidelines for finding eco-friendly gifts in any of these categories.

Practical

New moms to be often register for practical things like bottles, strollers, and baby monitors. Shopping for something off the registry is courteous and always appreciated. Go eco-friendly when you can. For example, choose something like clothing. Often the eco-friendly choice is higher quality—and frankly, more expensive—so mom will appreciate the upgrade.

Always look for fabrics that are 100% natural, chemical-free fibers. For toys, stay away from plastic and synthetic materials and opt for wooden or other natural materials. Another great gift idea is natural baby skin care products that are gentle for babies and great for the environment.

Sentimental

Sentimental gifts are a good choice if you have a close relationship with mom or she already has most of the necessities. Everyone always coos over handmade blankets, hats and at baby showers. These are a great eco-friendly choice because, of course, you have control over the types of materials you use to make them.

High quality books are a wonderful choice that will be used time and time again for years to come. Select books with particular meaning to you, or from this great list: Building Baby’s First Library: 25 Must-Have Books. Be sure to write a personal note on the inside cover with the date.

Personalized gifts are always a hit at baby showers. You can go with a classic gift like an engraved silver baby spoon, or add personalized embroidery to onesies or blankets.

Something for mom

Sometimes, a gift for mom is the way to go. Consider things like reusable nursing pads, a breast pump, comfortable all natural PJs, a baby care book, or a basket of all natural spa products to pamper herself.

Gift certificates for a massage or spa service will remind her to take care of herself which many new moms forget to do. Another great idea is giving her a gift card for a healthy meal delivery service that she can use after the baby is born when she’s going to be too tired to cook for herself.

What if mom isn’t into eco-friendly?

While it is important to look for eco-friendly baby gifts, you also want to respect what mom likes and values. Be sure to consider these questions:

• ·  Is she registered? If so, consider buying something off the registry.

• • ·  Does she have other children? If so, she likely has some staples of parenthood already.

• • ·  Is the baby a boy or girl? If the mother doesn’t know, or isn’t telling, you’ll need to stick with gender neutral gifts.

• • ·  Has mom picked a nursery theme yet? If so, you might look for something that coordinates.

You don’t want to force eco-friendly on her so if she’s not into cloth diapers, by all means, don’t give them to her. You don’t need to give bags of pampers either though. Instead select something like onesies or bedding, based on the answers to the questions above, where you have lots of great eco-friendly options.

When it comes to gifts I am all about the experience rather than “the stuff”. In fact, unless it is vintage Pyrex or Le Creuset I think I would rather not have to find a place for new trinkets, gadgets, or other products. I try to live with simplicity and minimalism in mind. I am constantly decluttering and pairing down. Accepting gifts that I don’t absolutely need makes me a bit anxious. It makes me that way because I am worried about where I will keep it (whatever it is) that is out of the way and I am worried that if I ultimately decide NOT to keep it, I will be wracked with guilt. I appreciate the thought and I adore you for trying but stuff just doesn’t push my happiness buttons.

So what does push my buttons? LIFE. Living life.

It may sounds simplistic but I am a simple gal. I love to experience new things and make memories. For that reason I would much rather have that gift card to AMC Theaters rather a gift card to Old Navy. I would much rather have a voucher for ziplining than I would a new purse.

For $25 or less I can dance the waltz, ride into the sunset on a horse, or try my skills with a sword. For $25 or less I can stuff myself with sushi, treat myself to bubble tea after my workouts every day for a week, or maybe even step into a kickboxing ring. And that is just this week. Next week I might have a whole different lineup of adventures to choose from. How so?

When Nerd Wallet asked moms what they would like to get for Mother’s Day under $25 I decided to go with a Groupon gift certificate or an actual Groupon deal purchased for me as a gift, ether would make me happy. Why? It’s easy really. Groupon allows you to try something new (food, entertainment, life skill, spa experience, etc) and support a local business (also very important to me). I don’t have stuff cluttering up my house and I have something fun to do…a new memory to make and treasure. I am also somewhat of a Groupon junkie already.

I took a quick look at what is available in my locale and saw these opportunities (all for $25 or less):

A haircut and highlights
Seafood dinner for two
Kickboxing classes
A mani pedi
Sushi
Yoga classes
Ballroom dancing classes
Frozen Yogurt
Bubble Tea (Love!!)
An evening of bowling
A canvas painting class
Horseback riding lessons
A fencing lesson
A vegetarian dinner
More sushi… cannot go wrong with sushi

As I said, good food, good fun, or just some special pampering and me time. It is all available with a Groupon gift card.

What you rates higher for you? Physical gifts or experiences?

#1 – Compost. Tea bags compost beautifully in your garden or compost bin. Simply add them to your compost heap and let nature takes its course. If you have rosees you can also break open the bags and spread around the base of your bushes. Roses LOVE tea!

#2 – Under eye soother. Used tea bags, particularly chamomile bags, can be cooled and placed on achy, puffy eyes for a wonderful soothing relaxant. Works great to soothe pink eye too.

#3 – Use on sun burns. Peppermint tea bags are great for sunburns. Let them cool and then place the bags on the burnt areas. You can also place the bags in your bath water and soak!

#4 Dry Poison Ivy. Use a wet tea bag to rub on affected areas and allow to dry. This helps dry the area out so that it can heal faster.

#5 – Use on cuts and razor burn. Used tea bags are also great on cuts and bruises. You can use any variety but green tea, peppermint and chamomile have good soothing qualities.

#6 Scented sachets – If you like strong, fragrant herbal teas then open the bags after brewing and spread the contents on newspaper to dry. Add the dried tea to homemade perfume/potpourri sachets.

#7 Add to potted plants. The bags can be added to pots just above the drainage layer at the bottom. They will retain water allowing you to water less and they will leach valuable nutrients into the soil for the roots.

#8 Clean house. You can rub tea bags on mirrors and windows to get rid of hand prints and smudges. Tea can also be used to clean the toilet. Just give the bags a second soaking in the loo and 30 minutes later, scrub as normal. No chemicals!

#9 Soak smelly feet – Add multiple tea bags to some warm water and soak feet for 20 minutes. Perfect for when the kiddos play outside all day with no socks on!

#10 Hair conditioner – Re-soak your tea bags in some warm water for 10-20 minutes. Use that water to do a final rinse of your hair. This will condition it and make it super soft.

Do you have any creative reuses of your own to share?

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time then you know I am a big time movie fan. My first job was at a movie theater (which I then became manager of) and this was by design because a job perk that I got to see as many free movies as I wanted…me and unlimited friends and family. For years I saw just about every movie released. I often think it would be nice to get a movie theater job again because movies have become so expensive. Heck, I would gladly take on a part time job picking up popcorn and mopping up sticky soda pop if it means I get tons of free movies again. I have been cleaning up snot, puke, and other gross stuff as a mom for years. That would be like a vacation.

For me it is all about the story. Movies transport me to another world and I get to live someone else’s exciting, dangerous, and inspiring life for a couple ours. I love my own life too, don’t get me wrong, but ever since I was a kid I have just loved living in the fantasy worlds created in books and movies. I have already started my mental list of movies that I absolutely must see this summer and at the tippy top is the animated eco film called EPIC. I am sure it will be the block-buster movie of the summer for families.

It looks to be the ultimate in story, fantasy, and fun while also having a hugely important message about the environment and stewardship. We have to get messages like this across to kids in a way that really reaches them and resonates with them. It is getting harder to do with all the distractions that abound today but I think this movie will accomplish it. If I can pair my love of movies with my passion for environmentalism AND take my kids along for the ride…well sign me up for opening day!

EPIC is a 3D CG adventure comedy that reveals a fantastical world unlike any other. It is made by the same geniuses who brought us ICE AGE and RIO (which we all adore) and it tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who strive to keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, who want to destroy it. A young girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe and she teams up with an elite band of leaf warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world…and ours as well. This film stars Beyoncé Knowles, Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Christoph Waltz and Amanda Seyfried. It comes out May 24th.

Team ENERGY STAR is currently running a promotion (much like they did last year) to get kids excited about energy efficiency and they are doing a clever tie in with EPIC. They are hoping to help kids associate their own actions to save energy with protecting the planet, just like the heroes in the movie. Maybe they won’t find themselves in a fantastical world where they have to fight alongside leaf warriors but their actions DO matter. They DO make a difference. They can do their part at home, every day. This ENERGY STAR initiative is really about empowering kids (and families) to protect the climate and reduce pollution with easy, money-saving actions.

So how do you get started? Well, you probably already care about these issues and are working towards energy conservation as a family already. To join ENERGY STAR though and make it a focus this summer, visit their web site and download all the interactive materials they have for us, including a nifty Action Kit and a Home Check-Up list. Children are also encouraged to share their energy-saving stories. If they decide to do so then they will become eligible to win some great energy-saving electronics that further reinforce the message that saving energy can change the world.

So are you ready to make it a team ENERGY STAR summer and see the movie EPIC as a family? I know we are!

Watch the trailer below…

DISCLOSURE: I will receive four tickets to see EPIC in exchange for writing about this amazing initiative.

Families with small children especially battle them because little slices of orange, apple cores, and banana peels don’t always make it to the compost or garbage bin right away. Sometimes in the warmer months we have to set up several homemade fruit fly traps in different rooms but MOSTLY we have to deal with them in the kitchen, where the fruit lives.

It has begun. This morning, after spending most of the weekend out of town, I discovered a melon that had gone bad. As in ooze dripping onto the floor bad. Fruit flies were having a wild party. Within 10-15 minutes I was able to wrangle those rascals into a jar and with just a few items around the house.

Homemade Fruit Fly Trap

You need:

Mason jar
Vinegar (I use ACV or rice vinegar)
Paper – A single piece folded/wrapped into a cone
Fruit – a single piece of really ripe fruit (I used a chunk of apple)

First you need to get rid of any over ripe fruit and thoroughly clean up any resulting mess. You have to take away their food so they will want to go into the jar. After that is done add the vinegar and fruit to the jar and then insert the cone, narrow part down. The fruit flies will be attracted to the vinegar/fruit and will make their way down into the jar but will not be able to get out. They will either drown or you can walk the jar outside and release them. Hope this helps!

Baby powder, baby lotion, baby oil, diaper cream…think about all the products marketed to moms of infants. Many times moms come to believe they absolutely need to have on these on hand. We need them at home, we need them in the diaper bag, we need little travel sized versions stuffed among the diaper cake at our baby shower. It is a huge money making racket for unnecessary products. Unfortunate really because that money is needed elsewhere in most budgets. Even worse though is the fact that these products may not be the safest things to be slathering all over your baby’s skin. In fact, they may be downright toxic.

Online this week I saw a tidbit about a company I have talked about oodles of times previous. According to this news site the FDA suspended the license of Johnson & Johnson for one of their plants. Now surely they have not been permitted to be selling unsafe products for babies right? Actually yes. This article highlights a problem found in 15 batches of baby powder.

Kamlesh B Shende, FDA joint commissioner (drugs), said: “There were unacceptable levels of ethylene oxide, which is a trigger for cancer. Ethylene oxide was being used to bring down microbial load in the powder by sterilisation. But it was found that there was ethylene oxide residue in the talcum powder, which is primarily used on infants. In light of this, we have suspended the licence.”

I cannot find many other sites reporting on this so I can investigate the validity of the claims but this is not a new issue. I already wrote about a some unsavory things found in baby shampoo and bubble bath. You probably already know how bad talc is and talc is in most baby powders. Our government is attempting to make these consumer products a bit safer but they are super slow and they don’t go far enough. Not even remotely far enough. We as consumers have to boycott chemical cocktails disguised as baby products.

You don’t even actually need baby powder. If your baby’s skin is too moist then let them go diaper free for awhile or try cloth diapers, which keep them dryer than paper diapers wrapped in plastic. You can also make your own baby powder.

Homemade Baby Powder Recipe

1 1/2 cups Arrowroot Powder
1/2 cup powdered rose petals or powdered chammomile flowers (organic)
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup white clay, powdered (can also use rice powder)
10-15 drops lavender or chammomile essential oil (optional)

Sift all ingredients together into a mixing bowl, add the essential oils and mix well. Transfer to a shaker style container for easy use. I like this stainless steel powdered sugar, cocoa shaker. Alternatively you might also use a sprouting lid and a mason jar.

You and your baby can do without most of the conventional baby powders. Either avoid them altogether or try the DIY route. To the health of your family!