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4 Great Ways to Enjoy the Magical Power of Aloe Vera

September 30, 2014 2

aloe

by Briana

I have been using aloe vera very for many years now. I was first introduced to this amazing plant by my grandmother who was the queen of all things natural – she knew all of remedies that always seem to work. Now most of us know that aloe vera can sooth the painful sunburns that we all dread, but that isn’t the only thing our friend Mr. Aloe can do! Here are some other great ways to make use of it – read on to check them out.

1. For Your Beautiful Face
Back in my teenage years I didn’t have the best of skin. I had a lot of breakouts and my skin was very oily. My grandmother came to my rescue! She told me to use aloe vera as a facial mask, so one night I gave it a try. I took a chunk of aloe from the plant and I rubbed it all over my face, yes it is a bit slimy but I experienced amazing results! It also helps with your happy lines (aka wrinkles).

2. Drink It
If you’re having some tummy problems, aloe vera can help. Aloe helps with your digestion and gets rid of those unwanted toxins. Use with caution because aloe vera is a super laxative – however, when used in moderation your tummy will be feeling better in no time.

3. For Your Scalp
Aloe has been known to treat dandruff and help sooth an itchy scalp. Your everyday dandruff products can be very strong in smell and many of them are loaded with harmful chemical and toxins. I remember growing up my dad used Selsun Blue, I could smell it from across the hall! Instead, grab some aloe to relieve your scalp naturally.

4. For Minor Cuts
Aloe vera can also help heal minor wounds such as a cut or a graze, although it is not recommended for deeper more serious cuts. If you fall off your bike or if your child has a small scrap on her knee, avoid the squinting and the ouch! And rub on some aloe vera.

Do you have other ways that you use aloe vera? We would love to hear!

Green Child Magazine: Build a Recycled Fairy Bridge with Your Child

September 29, 2014 1

Fairy Bridgeby Jennie

Fall is the perfect time to get creative outside with your children. For the fall issue of Green Child Magazine, I created a simple recycled fairy bridge that will have your child embracing their wonder of the magical world of fairies. Grab a few simple supplies from the recycling bin and craft closet to get started, then head outside to bring the fairy bridge to life. You can check out the instructions above (you can click on the photo to enlarge it) – then, grab your free subscription to Green Child Magazine and check out the fall issue too!

Have a Lovely Weekend + A Few Green Things

September 26, 2014 0

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Hello, Friends! How are you doing? How was your week? Busy? Laid back? Anything fun and exciting to report? Any fun plans for the upcoming weekend?

I am ready for it to cool off just a little bit here in Florida, just enough so we can start eating dinner outside on the patio! There is something about eating outside that just makes any meal taste better. Do you agree? It is one of my favorite things about fall time in Florida. In fact, I should probably spend a little time cleaning our patio – it could use a good scrub down!

While I get to cleaning the patio, here are a few green things to take you into the weekend:

– I will have to keep an eye out for this caterpillar! He is super cute but super poisonous!
– These top 45 hikes in the west are making me crave the west coast!- THIS is why I must own chickens in my lifetime.
– These activists are biking across the U.S. and only eating out of dumpsters.
– Eat healthier and donate to those in need at the same time.

I hope you have a lovely, cozy weekend! I will see you back here on Monday, I miss you already!

xo,
Sweet Greens

You Can Be a ‘Green Parent’ Too! 3 Simply Steps to Get You Started!

September 24, 2014 0

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by Amanda

As you may already be aware, green parenting has fast become a new trend. Even though many of us have been on this band wagon for a long time, celebrities as well as people of all walks of life are now taking steps to not only reduce their carbon footprint but their kiddo’s as well. Hooray! Green parenting can be achieved through a series of simple thoughtful changes. There are endless ways you can do your part but we’ve put together a few expert tips on how you can easily reduce your baby’s carbon footprint starting today. Here’s a list of a few of our favorites:

1. Breast is Best
It’s not like you need to hear another beneficial reason to breastfeed but know that it is the ultimate green source of food for your baby. The milk you produce will be environmentally friendly because it doesn’t need to be processed, packaged and shipped to the shops, unlike formula milk.

2. Say YES to Hand-Me-Downs
Like with most things, the main carbon and environmental impact of clothing and furniture is in its production. Taking hand-me-downs from friends and family or getting clothes from charity shops extends the life of a garment and diminishes its carbon impact. Additionally, by using second-hand cribs, high chairs, strollers, etc. you will extend the life of that object and negate the need for a new one to be created.

3. Be Smart with Washing/Drying
We all know that kids, especially babies, are incapable of staying clean for longer than five minutes. However, start being more considerate of how often you are changing their outfits and make sure that the washing you do is unavoidable. Something else to consider is drying your clothes outside on a line or inside under a fan when possible as the tumble dryer uses enormous amounts of energy and adds a big chunk on to baby’s carbon footprint.

One of the best things you can do as a parent is to create eco conscious children. Talk to your kids from a young age about the importance of a low-carbon lifestyle and explain your reasoning. They will grow up to follow your example and pass the message on to future generations!

4 Simple Tips for Saving the Bees With Your Family

September 23, 2014 1

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by Beth

Bees are essential in the production of so many of our foods which depend on bees for pollination. As bee population declines, prices of many foods are going to rise and their availability is going to drop, which makes a green lifestyle more difficult for all of us!

“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.”

― Albert Einstein

How can you help the bees? If everyone were able to take these small steps it could make a big difference to the struggling bee population:

1. Plant a garden that’s bee hospitable.
•  Plant a variety of flowers that bloom from early spring to late fall. Some types of bees are more active at different times of year, so make sure your garden always has something to offer!
• Flowers with single petal blossoms are more accessible to bees than flowers with double petals so focus on the singles.
• Blue, purple, and yellow flowers are most appealing to bees.
• Plant wildflowers, especially ones that are native to your area. This will help support the bees in your area that evolved to visit those species of flower.
• Be more weed-friendly.   Flowering weeds are native flowers too! Dandelions especially are a great early food source for bees. If you let a corner of your yard freely grow dandelions or clover you’ll have a lot of happy bees.
• Use organic fertilizer and steer clear of chemical pesticides. The last thing you want to do is poison your bees, of course.

2. Make a nest habitat.
A neat and pristine yard leaves no place for bees to make a happy nest. If you leave a brush pile near your bee garden, bees will have a place to nest near a convenient food source. There are also good tutorials available online for making bee posts, bee hotels and other homes for solitary bees. How fun would that be for the family?

3. Check out your local farmer’s market.
Local made honey is almost always of a better quality than store bought honey. Some store bought honey is mostly corn syrup. And if you’ve moved to a new area, eating local honey can help prevent you from developing new pollen allergies. By buying local you not only get a better product, you support the bee population in your area. It’s good for everyone!

4. If you’re feeling adventurous…
Try beekeeping yourself! Obviously this isn’t going to be for everyone, or even most people. However, small scale beekeeping can support your local bee population, give you a new source of income, and be a very unique hobby.

Though you might be a little shy of bees at first, it helps to realize how beneficial bees are to humans, animals, and the environment, and they are not typically aggressive. As kids, I’m sure we got stung because we were barefoot and didn’t watch where we were going, and most adults get stung because they panic and swat.

Bee Tip: Use your breath to blow a bee away instead of swatting to avoid hurting it.

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Bees just want to live their lives, and as they do, they help us grow our crops. Do your part to help the bees!

 

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