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A Week Flies By – Then You Get Four More

June 13, 2012 1

Taven, my nephew has been with us for eight days. This means that we have spent the past eight afternoons at the beach! This also means that Monday night when I was laying in bed, all I could think about was how quickly eight days goes by and how much we will miss him when he leaves today. 

Taven took to the ocean like a fish out of water, he and Eben have spent hours this past week face down at reef snorkeling. And when the visibility is low, they have enjoyed paddleboarding, bodyboarding, and building sandcastles. Then, every evening when we get home, they beg me to let them swim in the pool before dinner. When it comes to energy – Eben has meet his match. And he has been in heaven spending time with someone his age who also shares his passion for the ocean.

Yesterday, as we spent our last day at the beach together, Taven told me how much he loved spending time with us in Florida. He also said that he wished he could stay longer and when it was time to leave the ocean, I had a hard time getting him out. He kept saying that he had to soak up as much as possible, because it may be a long time before he saw it again. I sent my sister a quick text telling her how much fun he was having.

Then, I received a text back. “Want me to change his flight?”

My immediate response was “YES!” Lucky us, we were able to make arrangements that will allow him to stay with us until July 13th – 4 more weeks! This means that I will have two children for 5 weeks total. How great is that? Taven will be going on a week long sailing trip to the keys with us for the 4th of July and he will also turn 13 while he is here. Hooray for summer vacation surprises!

Have you had anything unexpected and fun happen to you this summer?

7 Simple Ways to Make Your Beach Day Eco-Friendly

June 11, 2012 0

With Taven, my nephew visiting, we have spent literally every single day of the past week at the beach. I have been spending a lot of time noticing how eco-friendly or NOT eco-friendly people are when hitting the beach. The garbage cans at the entrance to the beaches are always packed or overflowing with tons of garbage. This made me think it would be a great time to review my seven favorite simple ways that you can green your trip to the beach, read on.

#1: Plan Ahead
We go to the beach every single week, so planning ahead comes second nature to us. Planning ahead is really easy, simply pack your lunches, drink and snacks for the day from home. Skip stopping at the grocery store to stock up on the typical beach food items (chips, candy, drinks). If you pack your lunch from home, you can bring a much healthier menu and skip all of the packaging garbage. If we are packing a lunch that includes side dishes, for example; coleslaw or salad, we will pack the lunches in our divided, reusable containers and utensils.

#2: Follow the RulesĀ 
Following the rules at the beach is very important to us – and it is super surprising how often we see people not doing it. When you arrive at the beach, stop for a moment to read all of the posted rules and signs. This should be just common sense but follow the rules of the beach. If the signs say to stay off of the dunes, reefs, and protected surrounding grasslands, please do so. Also, be very aware of turtle and bird nests – if an area is marked off, there is a reason for it – stay out. The beach is a wonderful place and we are very lucky to be able to spend our time there, however, if people choose to ruin our beaches, wildlife and oceans because they can’t follow the rules, we may not be able to enjoy them in the future.

#3: Speak Up
Number three goes hand in hand with number two. If you see someone climbing on the dunes, standing on the reef or bothering sea turtle nests, you should speak up. You don’t have to be outright rude or confrontation – instead try our approach. We calmly walk or swim over to the individual and say in a kind, inquisitive tone “Did you know that when you stand on the reef, it kills it?” Or, “Did you know that the dunes are there for a reason and you aren’t suppose to climb on them?” Or, “Do you realize that is a turtle nest that you are bothering?” If we get any resistance or the person doesn’t stop what they are doing, we will then tell the lifeguard (if the beach is guarded) or we will alert the local authorities.

#4: Choose Quality
When it comes to purchasing beach gear, choose quality items that will last. Even if you are only taking a beach vacation, skip purchasing the cheap chairs and umbrellas. Instead, pack a super comfortable blanket to sit on and don’t forget the family hats. And don’t buy a cheap, non-recyclable Styrofoam cooler, instead pack a large collapsible reusable one or even a couple of smaller reusable insulted bags. And when it comes to buying beach toys, choose quality over quantity – it doesn’t make sense to buy those cheap toys that will break the first or second time your child plays with them. When Eben was little a set of metal measuring cups would keep him entertained all afternoon.

#5: Skip the Paper + Plastic
Forgo bringing paper napkins or plastic water bottles, baggies, or cutlery to the beach. All of those toxic plastic items are just wasteful and many blow away or get left behind on the beach, only to make there way into the ocean. Instead, go back to step 1 and plan ahead so that you have reusable napkins, reusable water bottles, reusable food containers, and reusable cutlery with you.

#6: Choose a Responsible Sunscreen
Choosing an eco-friendly, natural sunscreen is not only good for the health of you and your family, it is also better for the environment. Even if you let the sunscreen dry before heading into the ocean or laying in the sand, parts of it inevitably will get into the ocean and sand. Choosing a responsible sunscreen is a must!

#7: Skip the Soapy Shower
After spending the day at the beach, it is perfectly fine to shower off before going home. However, skip sudding up or washing your hair in the beach shower. Even if you use a biodegradable soap or shampoo, most beach showers drain directly back into the ocean and the large quantity of soap or shampoo (biodegradable or not) can still harm the fish, invertebrates, marine life, and the delicate eco-system. Instead, quickly rinse off and save washing your hair and body for when you get home.

Did I miss something? How does your family make your beach days more eco-friendly?

p.s. You can see more photos from our week of beach days on my Instagr.am feed.

HOW TO: Make Your Own Eco + Safe Sidewalk Paint

June 6, 2012 0

Summertime is in full swing – the kiddos are home from school and ready for fun in the sun. I love any activity that will fuse my son’s love of art and the great outdoors – and sidewalk paint fits the bill. We enjoy it so much, we have been making it since my son was old enough to hold a paintbrush. If you have a sidewalk, cornstarch and natural food coloring, you have everything you need to entertain your kiddos outside for an entire afternoon. All of the ingredients are organic, so you don’t have to fret if your little one accidentally licks his fingers. And you’ll love that cleanup is a breeze – just grab the hose! Jump over to Inhabitots for my easy how to instructions.

How to Make Organic Citrus Mango Banana Ice Pops

June 6, 2012 0

We are in full summertime mode at Casa de Sweet Greens. Which means we are eating ice pops – lots and lots of ice pops. Most of ice pops that you will find in your local grocers’ freezer section are packed full of artificial colors, flavors and sugar. And the “healthy” ice pops are super-duper expensive and come in a lot of wasteful packaging. Instead, we are making our own batches of whole fruit ice pops using fresh, local produce that we purchase from our local farmers. Our first batch of the summer – organic citrus-mango-banana ice pops. They are creamy, refreshing. delicious and our first batch is almost gone! Read on to learn how to make these yummy ice pops this afternoon and you can click the print button at the button to print the instructions out too!

What you will need:

  • 1 whole organic mango
  • 1 whole organic banana (ours was frozen)
  • 1 organic lemon wedge sliver
  • 1 whole organic orange
  • 1 whole organic apple
  • agave nectar (optional)
  • blender or food processor 
  • ice pop molds or a ice pop maker

Step 1: Peel and Cut the Fruit
To give your ice pops a creamy texture, you will want to peel the fruit. Then, cut it into smaller chunks for easier processing.

Step 2: Blend the Fruit
Place all of the fruit chunks into a blender or food processor and blend well. If the fruit isn’t sweet enough you can add a teaspoon of agave nectar.

Step 3: Pour the Fruit
Pour the fruit mixture into your favorite ice pop maker or ice pop molds and freeze.

Step 4: Enjoy!
Enjoy a yummy, refreshing, healthy frozen treat!

Savvy Rest | Organic Wool Pillow | Review

June 4, 2012 0

Are you a hot sleeper? I am – especially in the summertime in Florida. Between the heat and the humidity, I have a hard time staying asleep. I will wake up several times throughout the night to flip the pillow to the cool side. Do you do this too? That was until, I received a set of standard organic wool pillows from Savvy Rest.

The mister and I have been testing them out for a few months, so that we could give you our overall opinion on the pillows. Our opinion in short – these organic wool pillows are fabulous!

Since wool is a natural insulator from both heat or cold it stabilizes your temperature. It also promotes moisture evaporation which is perfect for the humid Florida climate – allowing me to sleep all night long without flipping the pillow. Hooray!

I also feel very comfortable sleeping with my Savvy Rest organic wool pillows because they are toxic-free, I never have to worry about chemicals while we sleep. The mister is especially smitten with his wool pillow, he said that it his favorite on our bed. He likes the comfortable, firm feel of the pillow – and I am not sure if the pillow has anything to do with this, but the mister no longer snores at night! That right there is worth every penny!

Next, on our list is to replace our mattress with an organic version (saving our pennies!) When it comes time to make the purchase, I will be consulting Savvy Rest’s great section on their website to help me choose the right mattress (they also have videos!)

And, since Mr. Sweet Greens has a back injury (he likes a very firm bed) and I like a super-soft bed, I love that Savvy Rest can customize a bed that will work for both of us!

Savvy Rest has a great selection of organic mattresses, bedding, pet beds, and pillows – if you are in the market for new pillow or other bedding option, I would highly recommend them. 

Do you have organic pillows or an organic mattress? Have you noticed a difference in the way that you sleep?

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