Sweet Greens

My family spends a ton of time outside in the sun every week. With this said, we are huge fans of hats, sunglasses, shade umbrellas, and swim shirts. However, it is impossible to protect all of your skin, all of the time — this is why sunscreen is so important.

Finding a sunscreen that will protect your body from the sun without hazardous chemicals that penetrates the skin is vital. What good does it do to use a sunscreen to prevent skin cancer only to find out that it causes other cancers and disrupts hormones? Lucky for us, Environmental Working Group has done a great job putting together their 2010 Sunscreen Guide, giving you access to the information that you need to pick the sunscreen that is right for you and your family. You can download a sunscreen guide that will tell you which ingredients and products to avoid here.

If you are still using conventional sunscreen on your family, now is the time to switch. If you are unsure whether or not, your sunscreen is safe, look it up here. Believe me, you will be surprised! And before you buy another sunscreen, find the best of the best here.

What is your favorite sunscreen?

A few years ago, I would send Eben to a gardening camp during the summer, which was fantastic. However, I really enjoy the time that he and I get to spend together, so I want to stick closer to home and plan summer activities that we can enjoy every day together.

We do have a few camping trips on the calender, which is always good fun. Also, we are seriously considering a eco-tourism trip to Costa Rica. And Eben’s grandmother and favorite cousin are coming to town for a two week visit in June. Does it get any better than that?

The rest of the summer I want to spend growing garden goodies, hanging out at the beach, reading books under a big tree in the park, and creating memories with Eben. We are still making our list of ideas for the summer.

Are there any summer activities that you think we should definitely add to our calender? Do you have anything eco-friendly planned for the summer?  Or, your go-to summer plans? We would love to hear them and possibly add them to our list! Once we are finished making a summer plan, I will share our calender.

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Herbs are easy and fun to grow, good for your body and give all of your meals that special touch. You can grow herbs almost anywhere and in a small space too. Herb gardens are a lot of fun to create with your children and make fabulous gifts too! You can make your own easy organic herb garden in just a few shorts steps, read on to get started.

What you will need:
– several assorted flower pots
– organic potting soil
– organic fertilizer
– organic herb seedlings

1. Pick a Pot or Several:
Choose one large 16″ pot or several smaller pots for your herb container garden. Make sure your pot has holes for drainage or is deep enough to add a layer of small rocks in the bottom.

2. Pick and Plant your Herbs
Plant small herb plants approximately 4″ apart in organic potting soil (if planting in one large container). You may need to thin the plants as they mature, (just use a pair of tweezers)! My favorite herbs to plant are dill, cilantro and mint.

3. Pick a Spot
Place your containers in a spot on your porch, patio or windowsill that is bright, but not in direct sunlight.

4. Just add Water
Water your herb container garden weekly or when the soil dries out. Add organic fertilizer once the plants begin to mature.

5. Enjoy
Simply snip and enjoy your own fresh organic herbs all season long.

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Today’s Earth Day Giveaway Week goody is sponsored by Zutano and it is a fun one! Zutano is giving away a $100 shopping spree to one lovely reader!

What can you get from Zutano for $100? You could purchase a dress, a short sleeve wrap onesie, a pair of leggings, a kimono, and a hat! Or, you could pick up a blanket, a receiving gown and a pair of footies! Wow. Essentially, you can get five different mix and match pieces of your baby — and their is a collection for both a newborn boy or girl!

These 100% organic cotton Zutano baby basics make dressing a newborn a breeze and they come in a sweet selection of designs! The fabrics are super soft, cozy and perfect for baby’s first months of life!

Hop over to Zutano and check out their organic newborn baby boy collection or organic newborn baby girl collection, then leave a comment below. This giveaway ends on May 3rd – please invite your friends and family!