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Meet Our Newest Family Member: Olive the French Bulldog

November 22, 2013 0

We have been talking about adding a new member to our family since Lilly passed away a year and half ago. We knew that we wanted a French Bulldog – we love that they look similar to our beloved Lilly – however, are smaller and we have heard snugglier! English Bulldogs are the gentlest, sweetest dogs, however due to their size and flat faces, not necessarily a snuggle bunny, they get too hot!

We had been watching the adoption websites and Craigslist to see if even Frenchies had come up for adoption in our area. We knew that we wanted to either adopt one from a rescue or from someone who could no longer care for one. That is when I saw her – and while the photograph wasn’t good and we didn’t have a lot of information on her, the mister and I decided to go visit her on Monday. Eben was so ready to adopt her, he insisted that we take his $100 to put towards the adoption fee.

We took Noodles with us, in case we decided to adopt her – we had to make sure they were compatible (Noodles comes first!) – I knew immediately that she was the right dog for us. She is tiny, sweet, playful, super snuggly and Noodles likes her too! We are happy to have her home with us and we are working with her – she is terrified of stairs and cowers every time you pet her. She also had a super bad ear and skin infection and still needs some help with potty training – however,  she is healing up and learning quick! We think she is perfect and are quite smitten with her.

Do you love French Bulldogs? Do you have one – what has your experience been with yours?

Green Child Magazine: How to Make Upcycled Christmas Tree Ornaments

November 21, 2013 0

For the holiday issue of Green Child Magazine, I put together a quick easy upcycled craft to keep the kids busy this holiday season, Christmas tree ornaments. One of our favorite holiday traditions is making ornaments for the tree with our children. It’s even better when these ornaments are made using recycled and found items.

These simple recycled Christmas tree ornaments fit the bill and are super fun to make too. This would be the perfect craft to entertain the children while you are preparing Thanksgiving dinner – it will be ready to hang on the tree the following day! Read on for the simple how-to and get crafting with your kids.

Materials
•    Wooden ice pop sticks
•    Glue
•    Natural paint
•    Glitter
•    Stickers or found items
•    Scrap paper
•    Baker’s twine

Instructions:
1.    Glue 3 wooden ice pop sticks into a square shape – by adding a touch of glue to each corner.
2.    Paint the wooden ice pop square green – we used our favorite Glob paints!
3.    Immediately add glitter on top the green paint – allow the square to completely dry.
4.    Lightly shake the triangle so the excess glitter falls off. Then add the stickers, found items or paint ornaments on the triangle.
5.    Cut a scrap piece of paper for the trunk and glue it into place.
6.    Cut a scrap piece of baker’s twine into a loop for hanging your ornament on the tree.

You can sign up to receive Green Child Magazine on your iPad here or grab your FREE subscription here.

Cover photo via Green Child Magazine

7 Sustainable Gifts for the Green Gal on Your List

November 20, 2013 0

Have you started your holiday shopping? I haven’t either! I have been thinking of some lovely sustainable gifts that I would love to receive this year and thought I would share. These gifts are prefect for any green gal on your list.

1. If you want to add a little dazzle to her jewelry collection – give her these beautiful recycled falling leaves earrings from my favorite Boulder, Colorado jewelry line, Blue Hour Designs. Beautiful!
+ $34
2. If you think she deserves some peace and relaxation time – give her a set of fresh scented soaps from Biggs and Featherbelle. Then let her enjoy a nice quiet evening alone in the tub.
+ $12.99
3. If she is so thoughtful and sends everyone she knows thank you cards. She will be excited to show her holiday gratitude to friends and family with these stylish boxed Eco Isola Memeno note cards from Vickerey.
+ $ 16.00
4. If you want to help her reach her goals? First, give her a journal to write them down in. This silky-smooth eco-friendly journal from Vickerey fits the bill perfectly!
+ $13.95
 

5. If she is the type of gal who always looks her best -brighten up her day and her fingernails with the beautiful collection of organic nail polishes from Sante. My favorite color is Metallic Violet 10.
+ $15.00

6. If she always smells delicious and beautiful, treat her with solid perfumes from Burt’s Bees in yummy scents infused with orange, lemon, grapefruit and raspberry.
+ $10

7.  If she is a tea drinker this tea set from Rishi Tea is worth every last sip. You will want to wrap the tea pot separately as another surprise!
+ $40

Do you have favorite sustainable gifts to give to the gals in your life?

Travels with Gannon and Wyatt Series: Book Review and Giveaway

November 18, 2013 0


Eben is a huge book lover and avid reader, so he was excited when I surprised him with the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt book series written by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet as a gift on Halloween. He has been devouring the books ever since – he especially enjoys that the three books highlight the travels of twin brothers that are his age. The series so far includes Gannon and Wyatt’s travels to Botswana (released May 2014), Great Bear Rainforest (released October 2013) and Egypt (to be released January 2014) with more books coming soon.

Eben and I started the adventure from the beginning with the boys’ adventures in Botswana (which turned out to be our favorite). Where they find themselves on the adventure of a lifetime, an African safari. I found the characters to be great role models for kids, adventurous – yet well behaved. Eben liked the journal entry style of the books and felt a connection with Wyatt because he is more scientific, detailed in his journal entries and really thinks things through. The books even inspired Eben to pull out his own journals and start writing stories of his own! Hooray!

These books really appealed to Eben because both of the main characters are boys, However, I bet girls – especially girls that love adventure, would enjoy them too. These books are geared toward middle-grade kids and would make a great holiday gift for those young adventure readers in your life.

Want to win a set? One reader will win the entire Travels with Gannon and Wyatt series for your child’s library! Enter the giveaway below – the winner will be announced on Monday, November 25th!

P.S. You can also enter to win one of three Kindle Fires on the Travels with Gannon and Wyatt Facebook page in November!  

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Ask Sweet Greens: Best Eco-Friendly Live Alternatives to a Cut Christmas Tree

November 18, 2013 0

Question:
Hi Sweet Greens! I really would like an eco-friendly alternative for this years Christmas tree. I would love a tree that is alive and smells fantastic – I do not want an artificial one. What alternatives has your family used in the past? Thanks for all of your help. Happy Holidays! – Jennifer

Images Via Martha Stewart

Answer:
Hi Jennifer. Thank you for your question. This is a great one too, since there are so many different alternatives available right now. In the past, my family has used large potted trees, a trio of small potted trees, cut our own live tree from a local sustainable farm and have even used large house plants as trees. If you are flexible and interested in trying an alternative tree that isn’t living, I have also seen Christmas trees made of recycled wood, metal and even magazines. There are so many great alternative available!

Images via Blue Poppy and Martha Stewart

My personal favorite has been choosing a medium sized potted tree and displaying it on a low table or bench. I have used a bench in the past, which is perfect for stacking gifts under and around. I have also seen a lot of a medium sized live trees wrapped in burlap. 

How about you lovely readers – do you have any suggestions for Jennifer? Please leave them in the comments section below!

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