Happy weekend, friends! This morning, Jayson and I laced up our boots and started the day with a 3-mile mountain hike, one of those crisp, quiet mornings where the air smells like spring and everything feels just a little more alive. Along the way, we gathered some moss that had blown off the trees (don’t worry, we only collect what nature’s already released!) to use in our yard. It’s such a beautiful, grounding way to bring a little bit of our hike back home.
And speaking of green things… the Watauga County Farmers’ Market kicks off tomorrow, and we’re planning to make a full day of it! Jayson is bring along his Barebones Harvesting Bag for fresh local produce! After, we plan to visit a few of our favorite farm stands (we need eggs for Easter!), and then heading out for either a long hike or a scenic bike ride (depending on how ambitious we’re feeling post-market cinnamon roll!).
There’s something about spring weekends that feel like permission to slow down, soak it all in, and reconnect, with nature, with each other, and with the rhythms that feel most nourishing.
Here are a few green things that might inspire you to do the same:
🧺 The Pajamas So Good I Wear Them to Brunch Yes, I said brunch. These Forever French Baby pajamas are buttery soft, effortlessly cute, and absolutely lounge-to-lifestyle approved. [Read the post →]
🚐 Eco-Friendly Travel Must-Haves My go-to travel companions? A compact refillable first aid kit and the best plant-based wipes. Whether we’re hiking or RVing, these are always in my bag. [Read the post →]
🥜 Sustainable Snack Night with SunButter Nut-free, delicious, and perfect for low-waste snacking—this post includes simple, planet-friendly recipes you’ll love. [Read the post →]
🌸 10 Sweet Ways to Celebrate Spring as a Family From garden projects to backyard brunches, this post is full of easy, meaningful ways to enjoy the season together. [Read the post →]
As the world turns greener, I hope your weekend includes something fresh from the earth, something joyful with the people you love, and a little time to breathe it all in.
Until next time! xo, Sweet Greens
P.S. Do you have a spring ritual, favorite local farm stop, or weekend adventure planned? I’d love to hear what’s growing in your world—just hit reply!
There’s something magical about the arrival of spring. After months of gray skies, chilly mornings, and bundling up, the season of sunshine and fresh blooms always feels like a deep breath of yes. It’s the time of year that calls us outside, reminds us to slow down, and brings a little more color (and joy!) back into everyday life. Otherwise known as time to celebrate spring!
Whether your kids are grown, you’re enjoying grandkid cuddles, or you’re simply planning weekends with your favorite people, spring is the perfect season to reconnect—both with nature and each other.
Here are a few of my favorite simple, soul-filling ways to make the most of the season together:
🌷 1. Visit a Local Flower Farm or Botanical Garden
Pack up a picnic, grab your camera, and spend an afternoon wandering among tulips, daffodils, or wildflowers. Soak in the color, breathe in the fragrance, and let spring do its thing. We have a lovely little farm near us called Harvest Farm, and their flower section is to die for! I can’t wait until they reopen (they were hit hard by Hurricane Helene!)
🧺 2. Host a Backyard Brunch
Think French toast casserole, fresh fruit, and a pot of coffee on the patio. Whether it’s a quiet Sunday with the family or an open-door invite to friends, there’s something so special about sharing a meal under the spring sky. This is our go-to weekend activity in the mountains! We fire up the Timber Stove and cozy up together!
🐝 3. Start a Simple Garden Together
You don’t need a big backyard to enjoy the magic of growing something. A few herb pots on the porch or a little raised bed can become a family project full of learning, laughter, and life lessons. Bonus: kids of all ages love digging in the dirt. We are starting our first garden here in the mountains, it’s coming along slowly, I can’t wait to share!
🎨 4. Make Nature Art
Collect leaves, petals, and twigs on a nature walk and create a pressed flower frame, homemade cards, or just a beautiful spring collage. It’s a fun way to mix creativity with the outdoors—and a great screen-free weekend activity. Years ago, Eben and I made leaf art (leaf prints and leaf alphabet animals) and they were a huge hit!
🥾 5. Plan a Spring Hike or Nature Scavenger Hunt
Head to a local trail or park and create a fun list of things to find: a bird nest, a blooming tree, a buzzing bee, a feather. Turn it into a gentle competition or just enjoy wandering together with eyes wide open. Sidenote: Do you remember when I use to do the Valentine’s Day thrifted book scavenger hunt for Eben?
🐣 6. Celebrate a “No Plans” Day
Pick a Saturday or Sunday, cancel everything, and just be. Pajamas till noon, board games, banana pancakes, a walk around the block, or a nap in the sun. Let spring’s easy rhythm guide you. So, this one might be my favorite, I’m a huge fan of just being lately, In fact, the slogan for Banner Elk where we live is BE (as in Banner Elk/but really the point is, just BE!)
🌱 7. Volunteer at a Community Clean-Up
Spring is all about renewal—and giving back to the planet is a beautiful way to model kindness and responsibility for younger generations. Bonus: fresh air + feel-good energy = the best kind of day. We have been spending our weekends doing exactly this BECAUSE = Hurricane Helene! 🙁
🧁 8. Bake Something Seasonal Together
Lemon bars, carrot cake, berry muffins… spring baking is light, bright, and often a little messy (which is part of the fun!). Wrap up extras in reusable cloth and drop them off to neighbors or friends. I love to bake and try to squeeze it in at least a few times a month! Up next, a coconut cake (hello, Ina Garten!) for Easter! Yum!
🚲 9. Take a Family Bike Ride
Whether it’s around your neighborhood or along a local greenway, biking is such a joyful way to explore together. Pack water bottles, wear layers, and stop for ice cream or a treat along the way. We LIVE for biking in the mountains. The fresh air, beautiful scenery, quietness, it’s perfection!
☀️ 10. Just Sit Outside Together
No agenda, no phones. Maybe it’s morning coffee on the porch or a glass of lemonade in the afternoon sun. These are the quiet, golden moments that often become the most cherished memories. Need I say more?
Spring reminds us that life doesn’t have to be big or busy to be beautiful. Sometimes, the simplest things—sun on your face, laughter around the table, the scent of lilacs drifting on the breeze—are the ones that fill your heart the most.
Wishing you a season full of fresh air, light hearts, and all the sweet moments you can gather. 🌸
💬 What’s your favorite spring tradition or family activity? I’d love to hear how you’re welcoming the season!
Spring is in the air, the daffodils are blooming (not up here in the mountains…yet, and Easter is just around the corner—which means it’s time for egg hunts, sweet treats, and pastel everything! But let’s be honest: the holiday can also come with a lot of waste—plastic grass, disposable baskets, candy wrappers, and decorations that get tossed after one use.
The good news? You can still have a beautiful, joyful Easter while keeping it eco-friendly. With just a few simple swaps, you can cut down on waste, support sustainable brands, and create memories that are as good for the planet as they are for your family. 🌎💚
Here are some of my favorite ideas for hosting an eco-conscious Easter celebration—fun, festive, and green in every way.
🌿 1. Choose Reusable Easter Baskets
Instead of buying cheap plastic baskets that fall apart after one use, opt for something sturdy and reusable that you can bring out year after year (or repurpose throughout the house).
✨ Eco-Friendly Basket Ideas:
Woven baskets made from natural fibers like seagrass or bamboo
Fabric-lined storage bins or canvas totes
Small wooden crates (which can be reused for toy storage or decor)
Recycled felt baskets—adorable and earth-friendly
You can even thrift baskets and paint or decorate them for a fun family craft!
🌱 2. Skip the Plastic Grass
We all know that neon plastic Easter grass is… not great for the planet (or your vacuum). Instead, fill baskets with:
Shredded recycled paper or kraft paper
Fabric scraps or scarves
Colorful yarn remnants
Or better yet—nothing at all if your goodies are pretty enough on their own!
🥚 3. Dye Easter Eggs Naturally
Forget the synthetic dye kits—natural egg dyeing is fun, non-toxic, and beautiful. Bonus: it’s a great hands-on activity for kids (and adults!).
🎨 Try These Natural Dyes:
Red cabbage = blue
Turmeric = yellow
Beets = pink
Onion skins = orange/rust
Spinach = green
Boil your chosen veggie or spice in water with a splash of vinegar, then let the eggs soak to create soft, earthy tones.
🐣 4. Fill Their Baskets With Earth-Friendly Treats & Treasures
Skip the individually wrapped plastic-heavy candy and go for better-for-the-planet alternatives:
🍭 Better Easter Basket Fillers:
Chocolate bunnies or eggs from fair trade or organic brands (look for foil-wrapped only!)
Homemade cookies in beeswax wraps
Wooden toys or handmade plush animals
DIY play dough in reusable jars
Flower seed packets or mini garden kits
Books or puzzles from local or indie shops (or the thrift store – my favorite!)
A cute reusable snack bag filled with trail mix or dried fruit
You can also make homemade coupons for things like a nature walk, picnic, or movie night—memories over material things!
🐇 5. Host a Low-Waste Egg Hunt
Ditch the plastic eggs and use reusable alternatives instead:
🥚 Sustainable Egg Hunt Options:
Fillable wooden eggs (paint them yourself!)
Fabric or felt eggs
Reuse last year’s plastic ones and commit to using them year after year (I’ve been using the same eggs that I purchased when Eben was little, he’s 24!)
Hide real dyed eggs for a fun traditional twist (just remember to find them all!)
For extra fun, hide small nature treasures or write clues for a scavenger hunt. You can even turn it into a learning moment with a “nature egg hunt”—hide leaves, stones, or eco-themed prompts in your yard or local park.
🧺 6. Celebrate With a Sustainable Easter Brunch
We always celebrate Easter with brunch. Here are some fun ways we keep our Easter meal simple, seasonal, and earth-friendly. I hope they work for you, too.
🥕 Visit your local farmers’ market for fresh produce and pasture-raised eggs 🍓 Choose recipes with minimal packaging and compost your scraps 🥗 Serve on reusable dishware (skip the disposables!) 🕯 Decorate with fresh flowers, potted herbs, or hand-dyed cloth napkins
A backyard picnic or patio brunch with local food, sunshine, and fresh air? Yes, please.
🌸 7. Give Back With a Spring Clean & Donate Tradition
Easter is a season of renewal—why not use it as a chance to give gently-used toys, clothes, or books a second life?
Start a family tradition of spring cleaning with purpose and donating to local shelters or charities. It’s a great way to teach kids about generosity and sustainability.
🌼 A Greener Easter Is a More Meaningful One
The beauty of these ideas is that they don’t take away from the fun—they add to it. Making thoughtful choices and simplifying your traditions not only helps the planet, it creates space for slower, more intentional moments—and those are the ones that stick.
So this Easter, swap the plastic for something more sustainable. Keep the joy, lose the waste—and celebrate a holiday that’s good for your family and the earth.
💬 Have your own eco-friendly Easter tradition? I’d love to hear it—share it in the comments or tag me in your photos!
The weekend is here, and after a full week of work, I’m more than ready for a little adventure. Spring is slowly starting to show up here in the mountains—longer days, but the snow keeps creeping in! It’s such a hopeful time of year, and I’m ready for hummingbirds and leaves on our trees!
Eben’s back at school after a great spring break visit (why do I always miss him so much more after having him home for a week!) and now it’s just me and Jayson for the weekend. So we’re planning one of our favorite kinds of day trips—we pick a new town on the map, hop in the car, and see where the day takes us. We usually find a pretty trail to hike, pop into local shops or antique stores (we always find something quirky!), and cap it off with dinner at a restaurant we’ve never tried before. No agenda, no rush—just fresh air, togetherness, and discovery. 💚
Before we unplug and hit the road, here are a few green things to inspire your weekend (and week ahead!):
🍃 SunButter Snack Night Is a Thing Now Did you know SunButter uses way less water than almonds and recycles sunflower seed shells into turkey bedding? I mean—give that spread a gold star, right? This week, we had the best low-waste snack night with homemade energy bites, apple nachos, and even little DIY chocolate cups (yum!). Perfect for a road trip or lazy afternoon. Read the full post here →
🍃 A Tiny Beauty Detox (That Feels So Good) I want to encourage you to switch out your beauty products for cleaner, low-waste options. I shared some of my favorite swaps this week: refillable lip color, solid shampoo bars, and the cutest compostable deodorant that smells like citrus heaven. A little self-care, minus the plastic guilt. It’s a win-win!
🍃 New Find: Spring Seeds with Personality I’m thinking about placing a seed order from Hudson Valley Seed Co. I can’t stop staring at the artwork on their website. The seeds look amazing, but they’re also heirloom, non-GMO, and tell a story. I added their Calendula, Rainbow Chard, and a dreamy Bee Balm mix to my cart so far!
🍃 Quick Green Hack: Freeze Your Veggie Scraps! If you’re not composting (yet!), try this: keep a container in the freezer for onion ends, carrot peels, celery tops, etc. Once it’s full, toss it all into a pot for the best homemade veggie broth. Zero waste and so much flavor.
🍃 Just for Fun: The Most Charming Compost Bin Ever We have this bamboo fiber compost bin from Bamboozle under our kitchen sink. It’s so cute you could leave it out, but I’m a minimal countertop gal! If you’ve been dragging your feet on composting because your bin looks like, well… a bin—this might be your moment.
Wherever your weekend takes you—across town, into the woods, or curled up with tea and a good book—I hope it’s full of fresh air, tiny joys, and green inspiration. Don’t forget to look up, breathe deep, and notice what’s blooming. 🌿
xo, Sweet Greens
P.S. I’ve been sharing more behind-the-scenes over on Instagram—pop over and say hi! I might even post a few snapshots from whatever hidden-gem town we end up in this weekend. 🚗🌄
There’s nothing better than cozying up for a sustainable movie night with your favorite people, snacks, and a feel-good film. But between plastic snack packaging, disposable cups, and excessive energy use, traditional movie nights can generate a surprising amount of waste.
The good news? You can reduce waste, enjoy delicious treats, and make your movie night more sustainable with just a few simple swaps! From eco-friendly snack options like Wiley Wallaby Licorice & Sweet Chaos Popcorn to homemade zero-waste treats, this guide will help you plan a sustainable movie night that’s better for you AND the planet. 🌎✨
♻️ Step 1: Choose Eco-Friendly Snacks
What’s a movie night without snacks? 🍿 Instead of grabbing conventional treats wrapped in single-use plastic, opt for sustainable, delicious alternatives that use better packaging and ingredients.
🍬 Wiley Wallaby Licorice & Drops
I’m a HUGE licorice fan, it’s my go-to candy! If you love chewy, flavorful licorice, you’ll love Wiley Wallaby! Their licorice is soft, chewy, and packed with flavor—plus, it comes in resealable, recyclable bags that help reduce waste.
🌿 Why It’s a Sustainable Choice: ✔️ Made with real ingredients (no high-fructose corn syrup!) ✔️ Resealable packaging reduces food waste ✔️ Available in mouthwatering flavors like Watermelon, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Classic Red
🍬 Try This: Pour a mix of Wiley Wallaby Licorice Drops and Wiley Wallaby licorice into a glass snack jar for a plastic-free, easy-to-share treat!
What’s a movie without popcorn? If you want a better-for-you, non-GMO option, Sweet Chaos Popcorn is a must-try! Made with real ingredients and no artificial flavors, it’s a guilt-free, sustainably made snack that still satisfies your cravings.
🌿 Why It’s a Sustainable Choice: ✔️ Non-GMO popcorn popped in coconut oil ✔️ No artificial flavors or colors ✔️ Available in delicious flavors like Kettle Corn, White Cheddar, and Peanut Butter Cup
🍿 Try This: Serve a mixture of several different flavors of Sweet Chaos Popcorn in reusable snack bowls instead of single-use bags!
👉 View the collection.
🍪 Step 2: Make Your Own Zero-Waste Movie Treats
Making homemade snacks is not only fun, but it also reduces plastic packaging waste and lets you control the ingredients. Here are some easy, eco-friendly movie night recipes you can try!
🥣 How to Make It: 1️⃣ Melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil in a heatproof bowl. 2️⃣ Dip Wiley Wallaby Licorice pieces into the chocolate, coating them halfway. 3️⃣ Sprinkle with sea salt or crushed nuts. 4️⃣ Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and let harden in the fridge. 5️⃣ Enjoy with your movie! 🎬
🥣 How to Make It: 1️⃣ In a small bowl, mix honey, cinnamon, and cayenne. 2️⃣ Warm the mixture slightly so it’s easy to drizzle. 3️⃣ Spread Sweet Chaos Popcorn on a baking sheet. 4️⃣ Drizzle the sweet & spicy mixture over the popcorn and toss to coat. 5️⃣ Bake for 5 minutes at 300°F, then let cool and enjoy!
🌿 Eco-Friendly Tip: Use a glass or stainless steel popcorn bowl instead of disposable ones.
🎥 Step 3: Make Your Movie Night Low-Waste & Cozy
Beyond snacks, here are a few extra tips to make your movie night more sustainable!
📽️ Reduce Energy Use with Smart Lighting
💡 Dim the lights or use LED bulbs to create a cozy theater feel while conserving energy.
🎟️ Pick an Eco-Friendly Movie
🎬 Watch a nature documentary like Our Planet (Netflix) or The Biggest Little Farm for an inspiring, sustainability-focused film.
🛋️ Use Reusables Instead of Disposables
🥤 Swap plastic cups for stainless steel tumblers. 🍽️ Use reusable plates & bowls instead of disposables. 🛋️ Snuggle up with organic cotton or recycled-fiber blankets.
Hosting a sustainable movie night is easier than you think! By choosing eco-friendly snacks, making zero-waste treats, and reducing energy use, you can enjoy your favorite films guilt-free while doing your part for the planet.
✨ Ready to plan your own low-waste movie night? Grab your Wiley Wallaby Licorice, Sweet Chaos Popcorn, and your favorite cozy blanket, and enjoy a greener way to watch movies! 🍿🎬♻️
💬 What’s your go-to sustainable movie night snack? Share your favorites in the comments!
