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Easy Eco-Friendly Spring Basket Full of Creative Fun for Kids

April 6, 2012 0

This year I filled Eben’s spring basket with gifts that would get his creative juices flowing. Want to take a peek?

1. The Thousand Villages Basket
I received this basket years ago and decided to use it as Eben’s basket this year. Ten Thousand Villages has tons of baskets to choose from, here is one similar to mine. 

2. Green Shredded Paper
Yesterday, I received a package in the mail and this was the protective packaging that they used inside! Isn’t it perfect – green and all! In the past years, I have shredded those Scholastic book order forms that Eben’s brings home from school – they are bright and colorful!

3. Artterro Art Kits
I will be doing a review of these new Artterro Art Kits. I am excited to see the creations Eben will comes up with when he opens the wire and bead kit. And the bubble wand kit just seems like the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.

4. Stubby Pencil Studio Art Supplies
I am quite smitten with the new Jellyfish sketch book, eco highlighters and colored pencils from Stubby Pencil Studio. Since Eben gets stung by jellyfish ALL OF THE TIME, we sometimes call him Jellybait – he will get a kick out of the sketch book.

5. Assorted Books
I love to pick up gently used books from the thrift store, this years picks include a fun National Geographic joke book, along with a couple of other fun titles. The books are always Eben’s favorite part of the basket.

6. Natural Candy
Eben loves Jelly Belly’s, but I don’t buy them because of the artificial colors. However, yesterday I happened to find these Jelly Belly’s Superfruit Mix with 100% of the colors and flavors coming from the fruit in the jelly beans. Fantastic!

Do you surprise your kiddos with an Easter or spring basket?
What eco-friendly goodies do you put inside? 

Hello, Spring! + Terrariums are My Favorite!

March 20, 2012 0

Hello, Friends! Welcome to the first day of spring. Spring puts me in the mood to make small terrariums to place in every single room of our home. I find them to be absolutely delightful! Don’t you agree? We have made terrariums before, however I am in love with this one made from a recycled apple juice jug! Isn’t it fantastic? I love terrariums so much, I have a board on Pinterest dedicated to nothing but terrariums and succulents. 

What recycled glass items have you used as a terrarium?
I would love your suggestions.

The 3 Best Eco-Friendly Non Toxic DIY Laundry Cleaners

March 8, 2012 0

Yesterday, we talked about the five simple ways your family can go green today and number three on the list was by green cleaning your home. I received several questions asking how to make your own non toxic laundry cleaners that actually work. I wanted to share the ways that I keep our laundry super green and clean by using some great eco-friendly laundry cleaner recipes and also a handful of tricks too, read on to get started.

1. Bleach Alternative:
Whites should be white – however, it can be tough to get your whites, white and bright without bleach. There is an eco-friendly solution, give my bleach-free alternative a try.

What you will need:

  • 1 Cup Hydrogen Peroxide
  • 3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
  • 15 Cups Water

You can either add this directly to your whites in the washing machine or put it in a spray bottle to pre-treat your clothes before adding them to the wash.

2. Stain Treatments:
Stains are my least favorite part of doing laundry, so having a strain remover that works the first time is essential. Here are my two favorite stain treatments, one for grease stains, and one for harder to remove stains – such as blueberries.

What you will need:

  • For Grease Stains:
    • Chalk: Yes, it true, chalk is an excellent grease remover. Keep a stick or two in your laundry room and then rub it on any grease spots – the chalk will absorb the grease stains and it washes out of the clothing during the wash cycle. 
    • For Hard to Remove Stains
      •  Dish Soap + Glycerin: Give a mixture of equal parts dish soap and glyercin a try on those hard to remove stains. Simply apply the mixture to the stain, it works like a charm.

    3.  Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent:
    There are many great recipes out there for making your own laundry detergent. In fact, I have been meaning to share a step-by-step tutorial on how to make the one that I use. (Look for an upcoming post!)

    What you will need:

    You simply mix the washing soda, baking soda, Borax, and Dr. Bonner’s Castile Soap. You have to continually stir the mixture until you get a moist detergent – just don’t stop stirring too quickly or you will be left with a large, hard clump that will be impossible to use. It should crumble easily.

    Do you have your own favorite non-toxic homemade laundry cleaners?
    I would love to hear your suggestions.

    photo credit

    Green Certified Chico Beach Waterfront Cottages in Washington

    February 27, 2012 0

    I am a huge fan of the west coast – it is a beautiful part of the country and if it had a warmer climate, I would definitely live there! If I ever get the urge to move back I would love to check out these waterfront cottages in Silverdale, Washington. Chico Beach Cottages is a pocket community has 2 and 3 bedroom cottages ranging in size from 1536 to 1764 square feet.

    Chico Beach Cottages are BuiltGreen 4-Star and Energy Star certified giving them a low operating cost with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. The cottages come equipped with solar panels and the homeowners will enjoy a community car-charging station.

    It seems like such a quaint little community, where you would definitely get to know your neighbors! I love the look and feel of the community and it’s on the water – it doesn’t get better than that.

    It reminds me a lot of our home and neighborhood in Fort Collins, Colorado – just scaled down a lot.

    What do you think, would you live in a tiny home community?

    + The Cottage Company, LLC
       206.525.0835

    Sweet Greens is on Pinterest – Join Me!

    February 9, 2012 0

    Hello, Friends. Are you on Pinterest? If so, you already know how addicting it can be. I have been busy pinning some of my favorite green things. Here are some of my green boards that you may enjoy: Recycled DIY Projects, Terrariumd + Succulents, Party’s Here!, Wooden Pallette Projects, I Live By and For the Sea, and Dogs are Love. I will be adding more pins and boards every day, I hope to see you on Pinterest too!

    + Follow Sweet Greens on Pinterest

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