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Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

Have a Lovely Green Weekend + A Few Green Things

October 14, 2010 0
Hello Everyone.

How was your week? We are taking a long weekend and heading for the hills of North Carolina. We decided it would be fun to hit the road and drive to Autumn – since Autumn doesn’t come to Southern Florida. So, Mr. Sweet Greens rented a cabin in the woods, complete with fireplace and hot tub – by dinnertime tonight, I should be snuggled up with Eben in front of a roaring fire, reading spooky stories.

Mr. Sweet Greens has planned the entire weekend – here is a rundown. We will be attending the 33rd annual Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, because who wouldn’t want to see a Woolly Worm race? Do you remember Woolly worms? I loved them as a child.

We also plan to spend a morning at the Boone County Farmers Market – because it is one of our favorites and everyone needs a little fresh bread and cheese to nibble on, right? There is a visit to the local pumpkin patch and apple orchard, to pick goodies to bring home with us. And I am certain there is a long nature hike, a trip through a corn maze, a hayride with hot apple cider and caramel apples in our future. Yay!

While I lace up my hiking boots, here are a few things that I have been meaning to share with you:

– Looking for a yummy salad for Thanksgiving dinner? You’re welcome.
– I think I will transform our bicycles into art – with these cool shelves.
– I love, love, love this cardboard zoo.
– This has to be the perfect preschool.
– Do these Superhero pajamas come in my size?
– Eben and I made these yesterday, they are too yummy!

And don’t forget to enter to win a fabulous brooch from Lil Fish Studio.

What do you have planned for the weekend? Are you doing anything fun to celebrate Fall?

Have a lovely green weekend, I miss you already!
xo,
Sweet Greens

Green Toys: Eco-Friendly Toys For Children Giveaway

October 13, 2010 10
There is a lot of concern over the materials used to make children’s toys, especially ones made using PVC. PVC contains phthalates that are added as plastic softeners and also considered carcinogens by the EPA. Phthalates are also suspected as endocrine disputers that can affect hormonal activities in laboratory animals.

Our children put their toys in their mouths and snuggle them close to their faces – this alone is the perfect reason to find a green alternative. Green Toys, Inc. is a California based toy company that is a leader in the safe and environmentally responsible production of toys. All of their toys are made in the U.S.A. locally in California. Since the toys don’t have to travel long distances overseas, all of their toys have a smaller carbon footprint. Their toys are made from 100% recycled plastic milk containers which saves energy and reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The toys are packaged in recyclable corrugated boxes that are free of twist ties, plastic and cellophane.

Green Toys, Inc. has a beautiful line of classic toys that holds up against the roughest kids. My favorites are the indoor gardening kit and the recycling truck. I love the recycling truck because it is the perfect way to introduce the tiniest of tots to recycling and the gardening set is a great toy to share your love of gardening with your children. We received the gardening set from Green Toys, Inc. and Eben is so excited to be able to garden in his bedroom window.

Green Toys, Inc. is giving ONE of my amazing readers, a Green Toys Eco Saucer. This classic toy will bring hours of fun outside for your little ones this summer.

How to Enter:

1. Visit Green Toys, Inc. then leave me a note telling me which toy is your favorite.

2. Subscribe to Sweet Greens.
3. Complete this form.

Contest ends May 25th @ 12am EST. Winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator and will be announced the following day.

* Update: Winner:: Jen Morringelli. Congratulations.

Earth Friendly Etsy – Lil Fish Studios: Brooch Giveaway

October 13, 2010 1
This week’s Earth Friendly Etsy giveaway will add a little style and class to your fall wardrobe. Isn’t it fun to add new pieces of jewelry into your collection during the changes in the season? Lil Fish Studios is a beautiful shop full of nature inspired home decor and accessories. Lil Fish Studios is located under the poplar and pine in rural Minnesota and was created by Lisa Jordan. Lisa is giving a lucky reader a birch bark and wool brooch. This brooch is handmade using felt that has been fitted into a frame that she made from birch bark. The birch bark was cut from a branch that had fallen in her yard. The back of the brooch is covered in felted garment wood. If I won this brooch, I would wear it everyday in the fall!


Lisa is drawn to natural materials, wool, wood and stone – but has a fondness for vintage buttons! Lisa uses only recycled or sustainable materials in all of her creations. Wool from sweaters and coats is turned into felt, buttons are snipped off thrifted garments and bark is harvested from the trees that fall in her woods. How lovely is that?


Lisa is inspired by nature – she literally lives in the middle of the woods, so she is surrounded by what inspires her to be creative everyday. Lisa lives about 30 miles from town, so she only shops a couple of times a month. She has a large veggie garden and a makeshift greenhouse – made from recycled materials. Lisa life is by definition: sustainable.

When Lisa isn’t creating beautiful pieces for her shop, you will find her watching her four children run wild in the sun, covered in mud and catching bugs and frogs. Or she may be snuggled up with one of the lovely animals on the Jordan Homestead. Lisa loves to cook, incorporating wild foods into the weekly menu and on a quiet Saturday morning, you may find her laying on her belly in the woods – taking photographs of moss and mushrooms.

Rush over to Lil Fish Studio and pick up something special for yourself or someone you love. Make sure to check out her lovely ornaments – wouldn’t they look adorable on the Christmas tree this year? And leave a comment to enter to win!

*You can also share on Facebook, Twitter, Technorati, Digg, Stumble Upon or Kirsty for another entry – just leave a seperate comment. I will pick a winner on November 3rd.

ps: Do you have an Etsy shop? Would you like to be featured? Email me at mysweetgreens at gmail dot com.

** Update: Winner: FloatingInk. Yay! Congratulations and thank you to everyone for playing.

A Special Week Just For The Kids

October 13, 2010 4

Since summer will be starting soon for so many children, this week I am going to feature some how to projects, green tips, recipes and giveaways just for the them. Make sure to stop by to enter to win fabulous giveaways that your children will go wild for, learn how to make your own recycled crayons, get ideas for great green summer activities and finish the week off with a great cold treat.

I hope you have a great summer planned for your little ones. Honesty, I can not wait until May 29th (the last day of school here). I look forward to having the entire summer to spend with my little guy – I am counting down the days. 

photo via flickr

Night Owl Paper Goods – Ghost and Bat Plushies

October 13, 2010 0

Do you remember the super sweet Owl Plushies from Night Owl Paper Goods? Guess what? Just in time for Halloween – they now have Ghost and Bat Plushies and they are adorable! Handmade by local artisan, Lori Nichols these one of a kind sweeties are made using repurposed and thrifted materials.

Wouldn’t these make a fun Halloween gift?

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