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Welcome New Sponsor: ecoSTORE Green Cleaners

September 29, 2010 4

I am very excited to announce my first sponsor, ecoSTORE – please join me in welcoming them. I have talked about ecoSTORE before both here and here and you will remember that ecostore is a New Zealand based company that offers plant-based and mineral-based household cleaning products, that are free of toxic chemicals and will help you reduce your carbon footprint. Their products are available through the Midwest at Meijer Stores and also online at ecoSTORE USA. “No Nasty Chemicals” is the foundation that ecoSTORE is built on. ecoSTORE has been building on that foundation for over 15 years and their goal is to help reduce the overall negative impact of our everyday living practices on the environment. ecoSTORE only uses biodegradable ingredients that break down efficiently and harmlessly. Their products help reduce the number of toxic chemicals that enter our water supply and ecoSTORE offers refill options and bulk sizes in many of their product lines, to lessen the amount of packaging. Their product line consists of over more than 100 products that are all manufactured to the highest environmental and sustainability standards.

If you haven’t had a chance to try ecoSTORE, give them a try. I highly recommend the front loader laundry powder, pure oxygen whitener and a Sweet Greens family favorite the lemongrass soap.

Have you tried ecoSTORE’s products? What are your favorites?

Have a Lovely Weekend + A Few Green Things

September 24, 2010 0

Hello Everyone. How was your week? We are getting ready to leave early this morning for Key West. We are going to be camping at Bahia Honda State Park for a three day weekend getaway. Bahia Honda offers some of the best snorkeling and white sand beach combing in Florida – I can’t wait. Eben is excited to snorkel at the Looe Key National Marie Sanctuary, where we will be able to see Elkhorn and massive Star coral – hopefully a sea turtle or two! We also plan on renting Paddle Boards (doesn’t it look fun?) and relaxing for the entire weekend.

How about you, what are your weekend plans?

While I pack my snorkeling gear, here are a few green things that I have been wanting to share with you:

– This reminded me to take a time for the little things and I smiled.
– Have you seen this week in pictures, it is fantastic!
– I love to watch the rain hit the ocean.
– Could you live in a tiny apartment?
– OMGoodness, handfuls of baby owls? Yes please.
– Do you like Turquoise and Red together?

Have an amazing weekend, I can hardly wait to see you on Monday.

xo,
Sweet Greens

ps: If you haven’t already, don’t forget to enter the La Alicia handbag giveaway.

photo credit

5 Steps to a Good Night’s Sleep – You Deserve it

September 24, 2010 0

sweet dreams

I slept in this morning – one hour past my alarm clock to be exact. It was nice. I was roused from a dream by a grunting little pug. As I lay in the darkness staring at the dark abyss above me, I started thinking… Since we spend almost a third of our lives sleeping, the bedroom should be the most important place in our homes. Sometimes it can be hard to achieve this, here are my favorite ways to transform your bedroom into your haven.

1- Our bedrooms should be quiet, minimalist and the least trafficked room in the home. When decorating, choose soothing colors in shades of blues, browns, grays or greens. Choose a bedroom on the back of the home or furthest away from busy roads or distracting outside lights.

2- Choose side table lightening that is dim and if you like to play music in your bedroom – stick to tranquil, soothing and quiet music – especially at bedtime.

3- Bedrooms should always be free of televisions and computers since the electromagnetic fields can make a person feel irritable and agitated.

4- Remove all plants from your bedroom area since they release their carbon dioxide at night – removing the oxygen from the room. You want to be able to breath deeply and freely all night long.

5- If possible choose an organic mattress, sheets, pillows and bedding. Breathing hard toxic chemicals all night long will not promote a healthy rest.

Choosing to transform your bedroom into a relaxing oasis will allow you to have a better nights rest while living a full and long life.

ps- Making sure that your one year old Pug doesn’t grunt you out of a dream, is a tip I need to learn. {wink}

How have you transformed your bedroom into a haven of sleep and comfort?
What tricks do you use to get a good nights sleep?

5 Healthy Habits for Healthy Green Kids

September 23, 2010 2

Have you ever wondered how healthy your child really is? Here are my top 5 questions to ask yourself about your child’s health?

1- Is my child getting the proper nutrients he/she needs every single day?

Eating a diet that is well balanced and whole is essential for the health of your child. Children especially need the proper nutrition since it directly affects their immune system, mood, weight, energy levels and brain and body functions.

2- Does my child get enough physical activity?

This question is especially important if your younger children go to a school that no longer has recess and P.E. and for children who are in middle and high schools. Exercise and physical time is important as it helps to make healthy habits that will last a lifetime and it’s fun too!

3- Is my child stressed out? If so, does he/she manage it correctly?

Everyone experiences small amounts of stress in their everyday life – that is normal. If you child is overloaded with many small stresses or even large stresses this can affect their overall health. Signs to look for may include; trouble sleeping, stomachaches, nervousness and anger.

4- Does my child drink enough water?

Hydration is an absolute when it comes to a healthy child. Making sure that your child is consuming enough water when they are away from you at school all day is tough. Send your child to school each day with a reusable BPA free water bottle full of fresh water. Encourage your child to drink the water and to refill the bottle throughout the day. Proper hydration is necessary for energy, digestion, immune functions and staying hydrated can chase away those nasty headaches.

5- Does my child get enough sleep on a regular basis?

There are recommended amounts of sleep for all age levels. Making sure that your child is getting enough sleep is essential for their overall health and well being. Sleep gives the body time to repair itself and helps to relieve stress. If your child has a hard time sleeping there are certain herbs and homeopathic remedies that may help them. Eben has always done well sleeping in a room that is completely dark – with heavy thick curtains and something for white noise – he prefers a the feel and sound of a fan blowing on him.

How do you keep your children healthy?
Which of these are challenges for your children?
Which of these are you spot on?

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Happy Autumn – Can it Make you Sick?

September 22, 2010 0
Today is the first day of fall – how time flies. In south Florida, the weather is more like a warm summer day, than a crisp, cool fall one. For a lot of you, autumn makes the turning point between the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter. This is definitely a part of living in the west that I miss – dearly. I will savor every second of autumn when I am in Washington at Cascadian Farm next week.

Did you know that the seasonal change can cause the respiratory system to have issues such as cough, asthma and even pneumonia. At least this is what Chinese medicine has always said. Chinese medicine also states that drinking plenty of fluids, eating soups, practicing breathing exercises, eating sour foods and remaining calm and relaxed can help you to avoid these illnesses during this transitional period.

What do you think?
Does the change in seasons effect your respiratory system?

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