Baby To Green

Ways to reuse school supplies

2010-09-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

I hate wasting school supplies. Those broken crayons, filled notebooks from last semester, and the empty pens can really add up to a lot of trash if you don't get creative. Here are a few ways to reuse or repurpose some of those useless school supplies.

Broken crayons = Toddler crayons Preheat your oven to 250 degrees. Line a mini muffin pan with mini muffin liners. Place broken crayons bits into the liners. You can sort by color or make rainbow crayons. It's up to you! Place the muffin tin in the oven for 10 minutes. When the crayons are melted, remove the tin and let the crayons cool completely. You can pop them in the freezer for an hour or so to speed things up. You can also pour the melted wax into candy molds to make shapes or into ice cube trays for a different shape. I find the mini muffin shape is great for little toddler hands since it is big and chunky and easy to grip.
Empty pens can be used to store tiny craft beads for your budding crafter, to mark spring seedlings in the garden, and as craft sticks for preschool art projects.
Use old notebooks for science projects! Use the paper to make papier-mâché projects. Shred the old notes and look up "how to make paper" online. I also use the cardbaord front and backs for toddler art projects like a painting canvas, cardstock, and ornaments.
Broken or too short pencils make excellent wood compost for your spring garden!

Happy reusing!

Does your community encourage recycling?

2010-08-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

My community is very lucky to not only have free recycling, but residents actually get REWARDED to recycle through RecycleBank. It's a great program where you earn points based on the weight of recyclables collected. You earn 2.5 points for each pound recycled. RecycleBank also offers electronics recycling so all those old gadgets don't end up in a landfill. The points can be traded in on their site for gift certificates, store discounts, and coupons. They have everything from groceries to restaurants to clothing. It's really a great program that rewards people for doing the right thing!

In my community they only offer this program for paper. Our plastic and metal recycling profit is turned over to our local government and they use it to keep our taxes low (another great way to encourage recycling).

Does your community reward your recycling efforts? I have heard you actually have to PAY for recycling in some places. Is this true? How does it work in your area?

I'm back from outerspace.

2010-07-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

Goodness it has been a stressful and exhausting few months. I'm glad that my family is healthy, happy, and all around boring again.I am especially glad because it lets me get back to my routine - blogging being a large part of that routine.

So, it is HOT here in New Jersey. I think all of July was one giant heat wave. I have been a slacking Greenie because I have had our air conditioners running non-stop for about a month now. Luckily, they are new models which have energy saving settings and automatic shut off. I haven't seen much difference in the electric bill, so I think we found a decent solution to beating the heat.

The plus side of all this heat is that my veggie garden is exploding with fresh produce. I have tomatoes and cucumbers filling up my kitchen. I am actually going to pickle some cucumbers this year! I'm very excited to try it and see how they turn out. The tomatoes barely make it past the front door before they are gone. I rinse them off, slice them and eat them right off the cutting board. Fresh tomatoes may be my favorite food in the world.

So, I am working on ideas to change an area of my home into the designated daycare area. I am trying to find eco products to do this. If you see anything adorable, green, and available, let me know!

It's so nice to be back, I hope to "see" you all around again!

Winners!! I have winners!!!

2010-04-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to ChildOrganics.com for sponsoring this very useful and green giveaway of Extreme 18x Laundry Soap. Our winner was #14 - Cindy!

Cindy said... I commented on the blog here: http://childorganics.blogspot.com/2010/03/guest-post-motherless-motherhood.html#comment-form

Congrats Cindy!

And the lucky winner of a fun and fabulous shirt from WestMamaDesigns is #11 - Goddess Amaunet!

Goddess Amaunet said... I would love one of her born at home shirts! Either for my little one on the way that better take after her older sister with no complications homebirthing, or one for the older sister who is 2 years old! :)

Kimberly really doesn't make anything I don't love and some even the cuttlefish is growing on me. LOL
I am bias though, I have at least three of her items already!

Congrats Goddess!!

I will be in touch with both of you today to get your info! Thank you all for entering!

I can't get into that summer state of mind

2010-04-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

The weather is just starting to turn here and all the trees and flowers are in full bloom. I am a planner by nature, so I jump ahead and start thinking of our summer weekends and how we plan to fill them. We are lucky that we live only 45 minutes from the ocean, so we visit fairly often during the hot summer months. My mind drifts off to seeing the dolphins each morning at sunrise (yes, NJ has dolphins!), spending hours building sandcastles with my son, and reading a good book while hubby takes our son in the ocean for a swim.

This year though, I cannot conjure up those lovely images, because I am haunted by these instead:

ICK! The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Before plastic made its way into our everyday lives, there was still garbage in the oceans. But that garbage was mostly biodegradable. Plastic does not biodegrade, but when exposed to sunlight it photo-degrades, breaking down into smaller and smaller particles and finally breaking down into “nurdles”(tiny grains that are the building blocks of most modern plastics). Nurdles soak up waterborne toxins like pesticides and cooling agents. Then the nurdles are consumed by filter-feeders at the bottom of the food chain and these toxins make their way up the food chain and onto your plate. So, yes, you drink that crap. And yes, you eat it too. Revolting, isn't it?

So, what can we do to help clean up this mess that we all made? The most important thing we can do is STOP USING PLASTIC. Stop using plastic grocery bags, stop buying plastic bottles of water, juice, and soda. Take action: write companies who package their goods in plastic and urge them to use earth friendly packaging instead. Recycle as much as you possibly can. Pick up litter on the road, at the park, in the parking lots, and on vacation. It will eventually find its way to our water and the only way to stop it is to stop our dependence on plastic and clean up after ourselves.

Green Gal Pick: WestMama Designs Review and Giveaway!!

2010-04-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to introduce this next Etsy shop to all of you. WestMama Designs is an ADORABLE little shop that features all sorts of earth and people friendly apparel and gifts.

Kimberly kindly sent Miss C a 100% organic cotton t-shirt in her unique giraffe design. WestMama Designs uses only non-toxic inks and people friendly materials. Kimberly cares about the people behind the materials she chooses in her shop.

Onto the review of this cute t-shirt. First thing that I noticed is that this t-shirt is SO SOFT. It has a silky, light feeling to it. The color is beautiful. It is a muted orange that is ideal for a boy or a girl. But, what really impressed me about this shirt was the unique design. At first glance, you see a giraffe, but then you notice that the giraffe has stars for spots. I think it adds a touch of whimsy to this children's shirt and makes it special. Miss C loved her giraffe shirt and kept growling at it (she isn't so great with animal sounds just yet, haha). This shirt is nice and light, so it is perfect for layering in the spring and fall when you aren't quite sure what the day will bring. It also works great for summertime, because the light soft material is so breathable.

WestMama Designs caters to a natural parenting crowd. She uses phrases and images that tie us to our earth and one another. Here are a few that I know the more "crunchy" crowd would love:

I had the chance to talk with Kimberly and get some insight on her business and her inspirations.

How did you get your start in green clothing and accessories?

I have always been a creative person and for long time wanted to start a business on Etsy. After my daughter was born I knew I needed a an outlet for my creativity to help combat my ppd. Act of going green was a no-brainer for me. It is very important to me that the product I use treat people and the earth kindly. It's that simple.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration comes from my immediate environment. Often my back yard or my son's interests. The Bird and Tree design is from a dogwood in my back yard. It is the lone tree back there and brings me a lot of joy. I also want to create items that are different from the mass produced gender specific stuff.

What is your favorite item in your shop?

It is hard for me to pick a favorite. I'd say my bird and tree shirt is up there.

My little bird card set, because they were inspired by a great late winter day in Oregon.

And my cuttlefish because I LOVE cephalopods.

What are you hopes for your business over the next five years?

My hope is that I'm still in business. That my products are in more stores locally and that I can earn enough income to stay at home with my kids as long as possible.

Well, I for one, certainly hope that WestMama Designs sticks around because the quality and caring behind each item is certainly going to make this shop popular for any baby presents I need to buy!

WIN IT!

Kimberly has generously offered to host a giveaway for one LUCKY Baby To Green reader! The winner will get to choose a shirt in the size and style of their choice!! What a great prize!

To enter each entry must have an email address in the comment or visible in your public profile. No email address = no winning. Each comment is worth 1 entry into the drawing.

Mandatory Entry: You must be a follower of Baby To Green via Google Friend Connect and you must become a fan of WestMama Designs On Facebook. After we are all friends, leave a comment saying that you will be our friend forever! That counts as your mandatory first entry.

Extra Entries (only after Mandatory Entry has been entered):

Fan me on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment with your Twitter ID.

Follow WestMama Designs on Twitter and leave a comment with your Twitter ID.

Tweet this ONCE per day and leave the permalink in your comment. "Win an organic tee from @WestMamaDesigns and @Baby2Green http://bit.ly/bcSS3J #eco #giveaway"

Go to WestMama Designs Etsy Shop and pick one item you LOVE and come back here to tell me what it is.

Become a follower of WestMama Designs Blog

So that is at least SEVEN chances to win. Be sure to pay attention on Twitter and Facebook. I may or may not be giving out bonus entries throughout the week.

Deadline for entries is Friday, April 23th at noon Eastern Time. All entries will be checked and any entry that doesn't qualify will be removed before the drawing. The winner will be drawn via Random.org for fairness. Winner will be notified and has 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond, a second drawing will be held.

Disclaimer: I did receive a sample product for review.

This does not affect the review of this product. I was not paid for this review and the opinions are mine and mine alone.

Soap Nuts and Extreme 18 Laundry Detergent Review and Giveaway from ChildOrganics.com

2010-04-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

Erica over at ChildOrganics.com generously offered to let me review Soap Nuts and the Extreme 18X Liquid. I am always looking for ways to keep my laundry routine earth friendly, so I was very excited to try our both the Soap Nuts and the Extreme 18X.

First, I tried the Soap Nuts. Soap Nuts are the most natural way to do laundry. These funny looking little fruits are eco-friendly, biodegradable, hypoallergenic, unscented and highly effective. I think they are super easy to use. You just tie them into the teeny little muslin bag and toss them in the wash. This same little bag of Soap Nuts can be used for 4 - 5 loads of laundry or diapers.

When the diapers came out of the washer, they smelled like NOTHING! Which is perfect for us. I loathe artificial fragrances and cringe when I wonder what it takes to make chemicals smell like flowers. Scary stuff.

The Soap Nuts left the diapers clean, residue free, and soft. Just what I want for a cloth diaper routine -- easy to use, rinses clean, and all natural. Perfection.

The Extreme 18X is a concentrated liquid version of Soap Nuts. Just 8oz does 96 he loads! Can you imagine how efficient it is? It is great for the earth because it is all natural and it is so concentrated that one small bottle that can be recycled later can do up to 96 loads. I just used a 1/2 teaspoon in my washer and the laundry came out perfect. The results were just as wonderful as with the Soap Nuts.

WIN IT!

Erica has generously offered to host a giveaway for one LUCKY Baby To Green reader! The winner will get an 8oz. bottle of the Extreme 18X! That is enough for 96 he loads!!

To enter each entry must have an email address in the comment or visible in your public profile. No email address = no winning. Each comment is worth 1 entry into the drawing.

Mandatory Entry: You must be a follower of Baby To Green via Google Friend Connect and you must be a follower of Child Organic's Blog. After we are all friends, leave a comment saying that you will be our friend forever!That counts as your mandatory first entry.

Extra Entries (only after Mandatory Entry has been entered):

Fan me on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment with your Twitter ID.

Tweet this ONCE per day and leave the permalink in your comment. "Win Extreme 18X from ChildOrganics and @Baby2Green http://bit.ly/aL18H4 #clothdiaper #giveaway"

Go to ChildOrganics.com and pick one item you LOVE and come back here to tell me what it is.

Become a fan of Child Organics on Facebook.

Stop by Child Organic's Blog and comment on any post.

So that is at least SEVEN chances to win. Be sure to pay attention on Twitter and Facebook. I may or may not be giving out bonus entries throughout the week.

Deadline for entries is Friday, April 23rd at noon Eastern Time. All entries will be checked and any entry that doesn't qualify will be removed before the drawing. The winner will be drawn via Random.org for fairness. Winner will be notified and has 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond, a second drawing will be held.

Disclaimer: I did receive a sample product for review.

This does not affect the review of this product. I was not paid for this review and the opinions are mine and mine alone.

Winner of Sew Natual AIO!

2010-04-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

And the winner is Vanessa! Vanessa will get to choose a Sew Natural AIO in her choice of color and size! Congratulations Vanessa! I am sure you will love your diaper!

Thank you all for entering and be on the lookout for more giveaways this week!!

Sorry for the VERY slow posting

2010-04-05T05:46:00.000-07:00

We had a family emergency last Friday that has left us all very thankful, but very stressed out. My father in law fell from a ladder onto his neck and head. He has a broken back, neck, sternum, ribs, and foot. Life is a bit chaotic to say the least, but he will be fine after some serious physical therapy and some rest.

Thank you all for hanging in there this past week. I have been a bad blogger.

I have a few posts to put up today and then hopefully back to my regularly scheduled posting.

Earn 5 Bonus Entries into the Sew Natural Cloth Diaper Giveaway!

2010-03-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

Hello friends of the Earth! In honor of Earth Hour (which just so happens to be this Saturday evening) I am giving away FIVE BONUS ENTRIES into the Sew Natural AIO Giveaway.

Just go to www.EarthHour.org and read about all the magical things that can happen if we all do our part and unplug for an hour. Sign up for the pledge and come back here to Baby To Green. Go to the Sew Natural Diaper Co. AIO Giveaway post here and tell me how many days, hours, and minutes were on the ticker when you left the site. Write that answer FIVE TIMES in the comments and you have your bonus entries! Make sure to write on the Sew Natural post, not this one. Also be sure to complete the mandatory entry or no additional entries will count.

So, Happy Earth Hour folks. I hope you have a fantastic hour spending time with family and friends in a simple but amazing way!

Growing Your Own Fruits and Veggies

2010-03-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

I am really interested in starting a real veggie and fruit garden this year. I think it would be a great way to cut down on our trips to the produce store (which is a 10 minute car ride once a week) and save us some cash (we typically spend about $20 - $25 on fresh fruit and veggies a week). I think fresh veggies are much more nutritious than those sitting on store shelves.

I also think it would be a GREAT learning project for my kids and my daycare kids. My problem is that I have a crazy schedule and not often a ton of time to work on a veggie garden. So if I incorporate it into my daycare curriculum, the kids will remind me that we need to take care of our plants! We also have lots of critters that like to steal my veggies. I do not have any sort of green thumb.

Considering that many seed catalogs offer $25 off your first order when you receive their catalog in the mail, this makes for very cheap or free fruits and veggies for your family! I really love Burpee and Gurney's because they offer great descriptions in the catalog on exactly how and where to plant your seeds for the best results. While I am browsing, I need to find some flowers and plants that attract bees. Very important!

I plan on making raised beds in the backyard so that the kids and the dog don't trample any seedlings. I hope to find some cedar wood or pine that is not pressure treated so I can build it (well, so my Dad can build it).

Do you garden? Are you into fruits, veggies, or flowers?

The Sew Natural Diaper Giveaway Has Been Extended!

2010-03-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

We are extending the Sew Natural AIO diaper giveaway until NEXT Wednesday March 31, 2010 at noon EST. Get you entries in!!!!!

Spring Greening!

2010-03-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

I LOVE spring cleaning. Opening the windows and letting fresh air in soothes my soul. Plus, it seems to be the one time a year that everyone participates in chores. I can ask the hubby to do just about anything in the name of spring cleaning and it gets done. Its almost as if spring is the nag instead of me.

Since I use a lot of cleaning products this time of year, I tend to make my own to save money and make sure that my dog and my family are healthy and safe. Today, I want to share my simple "recipes" for eco and budget friendly cleaners.

Abrasive Cleanser (use in place of toilet bowl cleaners and tile cleaners) - Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 3 tablespoons of Kosher salt in a small mixing bowl. Sprinkle the mixture onto counter tops, tile, or into the toilet bowl. If you need more cleaning power, add enough water to make a paste. Put the paste onto the surface to be cleaned let it sit for a few minutes. Then scrub with a damp rag.
Mildew/Grease Remover (use in place of kitchen and bathroom spray cleaners) - Buy an empty spray bottle (I bought mine at a dollar store). You can fill this bottle with equal parts of vinegar and water or equal parts lemon juice and water. I use lemon juice and water for my stove top and bathroom and kitchen counters, and the vinegar on windows, mirrors, and glass.
Disinfectant (use instead of bleach) - 4 cups of water, 5 tablespoons of dish soap, and 50 drops of tea tree oil. This works great on door handles and toys!
Oven Cleaner - Make a paste off baking soda and water and apply to the inside of your oven. Let it sit at least 8 hours (I let mine sit overnight) and in the morning, scrub off buildup. Finish off with a clean wet rag for a spotless interior!
Floor Cleaner - I use an eco-friendly commercial dish soap and warm water on my tile floors. For my hardwood floors, I use a rag dampened with vinegar and water. I only do this about twice a year. The rest of the time I sweep, vacuum, or spot clean with plain water.

What do you use during your spring cleaning?

Winner of the Fridge-It Odor Absorber Giveaway!

2010-03-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

Lisa (Garner5) is the winner of the Fridge-It Six Pack from Innofresh!! Congrats Lisa!

Thank you all for playing! Stay tuned for more awesome giveaways!

Green Gal Pick: Sew Natural Watch Me Grow One Size Pocket Diaper Review and Giveaway!

2010-03-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

Chrissie over at Sew Natural Diaper Company was kind enough to send me one of her fabulous Watch Me Grow One Size Pocket diapers to review. As you all know, the majority of my stash is pocket diapers and I really do love them. I was so thrilled to try out the white Watch Me Grow that I washed it that night and had it on my daughter first thing in the morning. Notice the morning bed head (no, her hair is not in pigtails - it is stuck that way from the hairdo the day before):

As you can see, the Watch Me Grow diaper fits my daughter very well. I really love that it is a trim fitting diaper and I was even able to put jeans on her that day. It is not only trim enough to fit under jeans, but it also is trim in the crotch area. I like that in a diaper because it means it is more comfortable for my baby. Some diapers are ridiculously wide and I think that can be really annoying in a baby who is learning to walk, crawl, or run.

On the smallest setting with lovely crossover buttons:

(Chrissie is changing the name over from DewDrops Handmade)

One the largest setting:

Inside:

The trimness doesn't affect performance a all. This diaper held up to a 5 hour span when daughter fell asleep on her bedroom floor one afternoon. I usually worry when I don't change her right before a nap, but I didn't have to stress at all with the Watch Me Grow. She woke up with a very heavy diaper, but she was dry, her clothes were dry, and her carpet was dry. Yay!!!

I love the this fits from 8 pounds all the way up to 28 pounds. That is great on the wallet (especially since these diapers are priced at just $16 a piece -- great price for a reliable pocket) and the earth! The inner absorbent layer is Sew Natural's ROBIN tri-fold insert. This insert has six absorbent layers of bamboo french terry and 3 layers of cotton velour. I have some of the velour inserts and they are S-O-F-T soft.

Chrissie was kind enough to answer my obnoxious questions and it really makes me love small mom businesses even more.

What got you interested in cloth diapers/cloth diaper making?

I always knew that I would cloth diaper my children. Initially I began with just prefolds and covers - I was already overwhelmed with making clothes, blankets, and enjoying our first baby to really think about actually making the diapers myself! When I found out we were expecting our 4th I knew I was going to need to restock our diaper stash so I decided I would make my own. I have gone through several trial diapers to end up here and I'm constantly working to make my pattern better.

What inspired the new diaper design?

The new diaper design was inspired by the fact that I want people to understand that cloth diapering is EASY, and I was hoping to make it as painless as possible! I used to avoid AIOs because they take so long to wash and dry, it completely defeated the purpose to me. So I incorporated some new fabrics developed by Wazoodle Fabric company designed specifically to increase the effiency of diapering! I think that the new diaper brings the trimness and ease of a disposable and the practicality and eco-friendliness of cloth diapering together nicely.

What do you hope for your business in the future?
I really hope that I can continue to grow my company, so that in 5 years when my youngest enters kindergarten it can be a full time job for me. Eventually I would love to open and fabric/sewing store here. . . but for now I have babies to raise!

WIN IT!

Christine has generously offered to host a giveaway to one LUCKY Baby To Green reader! The winner will get to choose a Sew Natural AIO in their choice of color and size!

To enter each entry must have an email address in the comment or visible in your public profile. No email address = no winning. Each comment is worth 1 entry into the drawing.

Mandatory Entry: You must be a follower of Baby To Green via Google Friend Connect and you must be a follower of Chrissie's Blog at Naturally Sewn. After we are all friends, leave a comment saying that you will be our friend forever!That counts as your mandatory first entry.

Extra Entries (only after Mandatory Entry has been entered):

Fan me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment with your Twitter ID.
Tweet this ONCE per day and leave the permalink in your comment. "Win a @SewNaturalDipe AIO #clothdiaper from Sew Natural Diaper Co. and @Baby2Green http://bit.ly/cvUSrR"
Go to Sew Natural Diaper Company's Etsy shop and pick one item you LOVE and come back here to tell me what it is.
Follow Sew Natural Diaper Company on Twitter and comment with your Twitter ID.
Stop by Naturally Sewn and comment on any post.

So that is at least SEVEN chances to win. Be sure to pay attention on Twitter and Facebook. I may or may not be giving out bonus entries throughout the week.

Deadline for entries is Wednesday March 24, 2010 at noon Eastern Time. All entries will be checked and any entry that doesn't qualify will be removed before the drawing. The winner will be drawn via Random.org for fairness. Winner will be notified and has 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond, a second drawing will be held.

Disclaimer: I did receive a sample product for review.

This does not affect the review of this product. I was not paid for this review and the opinions are mine and mine alone.

Mabel’s Labels BlogHer ‘10 Contest

2010-03-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

The following is my entry for the Mabel’s Labels BlogHer ‘10 Contest. Electrical storms are going to wipe out the Internet (perhaps forever). You have one day left to write about your passions. What do you write about?

Thank you to anyone out there left reading. Reading and writing online have allowed me to learn and share in ways that I never thought possible. I will miss my friends, some of whom I have never and will never meet in person. That does not diminish your impact and importance in my life. I love you. I've learned to truly love from the inside out because of the internet.

So, love. Toast to your friends who you can meet for dinner. Kiss your husband who throws his socks just next to the hamper. Snuggle your children who give you a headache every single day. Laugh at how insane your in-laws are. Smile at the mail carrier. Offer a drink and a word of thanks to the man repairing your air conditioner. Grab a bag and help the neighbor carrying groceries. Give your dog the belly rub he has been waiting weeks for.

Show someone everyday that you appreciate them. No one knows what will happen today, next week, or this year. But, you can be sure that everyone around you knows that they are loved, appreciated, and important.

Don’t get caught up in the blur of everyday. Take time for the people in your life. It is far too easy to go through life on auto-pilot. Make your actions deliberate. As my mom always says -- the days are long but the years are short. Never let a day pass without loving fully. Every moment is a time to love.

Green Gal Pick: Fridge-It Odor Absorber Review and Giveaway CLOSED

2010-03-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

As everyone knows -- diapers stink. In my home there are a LOT of diapers. My daughter uses cloth diapers which I keep in a pail liner inside a regular trashcan until it is washing time. But, I also have my own home daycare and most of them uses disposable diapers which end up in my trash can each day. Needless to say, by the end of the day my hallway STINKS. Since I do not use chemical air fresheners and the weather isn't quite warm enough to open the windows and let some of the stink out, I am stuck with a stinky house until the end of the day when I can take out the trash and wash diapers. I knew that there had to be a green way to control odors inside the home without spraying toxic chemicals to cover up the smell, but I couldn't find anything for a long time. Then I saw Innofresh's blog.

As I read, I realized that their line of eco-friendly, fragrance and chemical free line of activated carbon odor absorbers was exactly what I needed. Another huge plus, these are made right here in the USA. Which makes them greener because they do not have to ship from halfway around the world. I do not use chemical cleaning products in my home for the safety and health of my family, my dog, and my daycare children. A find like this was something I needed to have ASAP! Unlike other products that just mask odors, their activated carbon odor absorbers actually eliminate the odors by absorbing and neutralizing - so the odor is permanently eliminated - not just covered up like other "air fresheners." So I contacted Bruce over at Innofresh and he generously offered to send me some of their awesome odor absorbers to review.

So once I received the odor absorbers, I out them to the ultimate test -- well my daycare kids did. I stuck one at the bottom of the garbage can and put in a fresh bag. Within an hour, there were 5 soiled diapers in that can. For the first time, I could walk through the room without smelling anything at all! I also clipped one to the lid of my daughter's diaper pail. That pail sat for 3 days before I washed the diapers and there was no odor in or around the pail. Usually I have to take the pail down into the basement each night and store the dirties down there until washing, but not anymore!

Since I love to put things to the test, I also put one in our fridge, freezer, and my husband's lunchbox. My fridge stinks like onion because I use a lot of onions and garlic when I cook. And that old box of baking soda just isn't cutting it anymore. Nothing is worse than putting butter on your bagel in the morning and your butter tastes like old onion -- ICK! My freezer had that lovely smell of freezer burn -- at least I think that is what it is. I'm not actually sure what freezer burn smells like. I wanted to see how long it would take to remove the odors from the fridge, freezer, and lunchbox. I clipped these absorbers in at 8 in the morning and by lunchtime the odors in all three locations were completely gone. I was amazed.

Now, if only I could get my dog to wear one on his collar...

BUY IT!

You can buy Innofresh Odor Absorbers directly through their website or use their site to find a retailer near you. Use coupon code BK409B to receive an automatic 10% discount on purchases made on line at www.Innofresh.com This coupon code must be entered into the required coupon field during checkout.

WIN IT!

Bruce over at Innofresh generously offered to give a FREE six pack of FRIDGE IT cubes to one lucky Baby To Green reader!

To enter each entry must have an email address in the comment or visible in your public profile. No email address = no winning. Each comment is worth 1 entry into the drawing.

MANDATORY ENTRY:
Leave a comment telling me your "stinky" story. Make me smell the stink people.

Extra Entries (only after Mandatory Entry has been entered):

Tell me the closest retailer to you where you can buy Innofresh products.
Follow me via Google Friend Connect on the sidebar and leave a comment.
Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment with your Twitter ID.
Follow Innofresh on Twitter (say hi to Bruce while you are there!) and leave a comment with your Twitter ID.
Tweet this ONCE and leave the permalink in your comment. "Kick stink to the curb with @Innofresh and @Baby2Green #eco #clothdiaper http://bit.ly/cd9ZXa"
Friend me on Facebook and leave a comment with your Facebook name.

So that is at least SEVEN chances to win. Be sure to pay attention on Twitter and Facebook. I may or may not be giving out bonus entries throughout the week.

Deadline for entries is Wednesday March 17, 2010 at noon Eastern Time. All entries will be checked and any entry that doesn't qualify will be removed before the drawing. The winner will be drawn via Random.org for fairness. Winner will be notified and has 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond, a second drawing will be held.

Disclaimer: I did receive Innofresh products for review.

This does not affect the review of this product. I was not paid for this review and the opinions are mine and mine alone.

Green Gal Pick: Flip One Size Diaper System Review

2010-03-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

Another new style of diaper that I tried out recently was the Flip One Size Diaper System from Diaper Junction. Bryana at Diaper Junction generously offered to send me the Flip system in Ribbit to try out.

When it arrived, I was so anxious to try it out. First thing I noticed was that it is a one size snap diaper -- HUGE PLUS! I love one size diapers and I love snaps. Snaps are my preference because they do not snag on other diapers in the washer and dryer and they hold up much better to frequent use.

Next thing that I noticed was the Stay Dry Insert. It has a moisture wicking suede material on one side to go against baby's skin which is great because I like when my daughter feels dry. It has another 3 layers of microfiber to keep that moisture contained. The Flip is VERY easy to put together. Just 2 quick tucks and the liner is in place and you are ready to diaper baby.

If you prefer natural materials, the Flip offers an organic cotton insert as well. They also offer a disposable diaper insert for the times when cloth just isn't an option.

I love the fit of this cloth diaper because it is trim, which is rare in almost any cloth diaper. My daughter wore this diaper for 3 hours without a single leak! She put it to the ultimate test by having a massive would-be blowout as well. I say would-be blowout because the Flip contained the entire mess. No pulling inserts out or fastening velcro laundry tabs. Just rinsed off the solids and threw the entire thing in the diaper pail. With the Flip, you can also just replace the insert and reuse the cover! How great is that?

Washing and drying was a breeze. I just washed with my other diapers and the insert came out perfectly clean and stink free and I hung the Flip cover to dry. The weather is finally warming up so I am excited to line dry the Flip. I know it will dry quickly outside which is great for us.

I think that the Flip system is a great was for someone to try out cloth diapering or a great alternative for vacations when many cloth diaperers use disposables because they may not have a washer available. It offers lots of great options for everyday use and it is a very affordable and easy to care for system!

BUY IT!

You can purchase your own Flip Diaper System at Diaper Junction!

Check out Diaper Junction's 30 Day Test Drive as well. It is a great program that lets you try out a variety of diapers RISK FREE!

Disclaimer: I did receive one Flip cloth diaper in Ribbit for review. This does not affect the review of this product. I was not paid for this review and the opinions are mine and mine alone.

Green Gal Pick: Cutey Baby Modern Cloth Diaper Review

2010-03-07T07:07:00.000-08:00

When I was asked to have my daughter test drive the new Cutey Baby Modern cloth diaper, I was super excited. I was excited because I have never tried an AIO diaper. I was always put off by the drying time and I also felt like it would be really hard to keep an AIO clean because of all those layers that you can't see. I just see traditional AIOs as a HUGE energy waster because many take two drying cycles or more.

We had the chance to try out the Big Pink Dot Cutey Baby and it is ADORABLE.

The Cutey Baby Modern cloth diaper is much, much different than a traditional AIO. The first thing I noticed was how soft the outside of the diaper was. Not like a PUL feeling, but more like cotton. It was really nice. Then I opened the diaper and saw that it was velcro. Now, velcro is usually a minus for me in the cloth diaper category because I have had a ton of velcro diapers make diaper chains in the washer, pull at my other diapers and snag the material, and the velcro wears really, really fast and makes some diapers almost useless after just a few months. But, this diaper is different because the sticky part of the velcro comes off for washing! How smart is that?

The inner of the Cutey Baby has a stay dry, moisture wicking material to keep baby dry and comfortable. It also has a large cutout in the middle of the diaper that you don't normally see. This helps to keep messes inside the diaper and also allows the inner part of the diaper to float out during a wash and dry to get really clean and dry super fast.

The adjustments for size are on the wings of the diaper. Just a simple snap system to make it a custom fit for your baby. My daughter is a teeny tiny thing at 19 pounds at 17 months, so I adjusted it to the smaller setting and it was a great fit.

So after using this diaper consistently for two weeks now, I have to say that I love it. I hate when it is dirty because it is absorbent (lasts through my daughter's 4 hour naps), soft, easy to use, and so cute. A lot of great ideas went into this diaper and it shows because it is truly a different diaper that works without fail time and time again!

BUY IT!

You can purchase your own Cutey Baby Modern Cloth Diaper on Amazon.

Disclaimer: I did receive one Cutey Baby Modern Cloth Diaper for review. This does not affect the review of this product. I was not paid for this review and the opinions are mine and mine alone.

Thirsties Diaper Cover Review

2010-03-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

Thisties is the first cover I bought to go over fitteds. I had heard great things about the Thrirsties brand and it was a VERY affordable cover. I paid about $9 after a coupon code for this cover which I think is an excellent price for such a quality product.

The PUL is soft on the outside and the laundry tabs and velcro are strong, which means no diaper chain in the washer. My favorite part of the Thirsties diaper cover is the inner leg gussets. My daughter is a skinny little thing and has chicken legs to match. So any other cover would not cover her diaper the way a Thirsties does. I have not once had a leak with this cover and it still looks brand new despite that it is the only diaper cover I own and it gets washed very frequently. I also love that this cover dries in about 5 minutes outside and about 10 hanging inside.

Perfection in a cover. In fact, I am so pleased with this cover that I never bothered to buy another cover in the past year! I strongly suggest you get yourself one of these covers (well, not yourself, but your kid) because the quality and price are just the beginning of wonderful things about this cover!

Kissaluvs Marvels One Size Fitted Review

2010-03-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

I recently purchased a bunch of diapers and I had a free Kissaluvs Marvels One Size Fiteed added to my order with a code. Score on a free diaper! I chose the Mocca Swirl print shown below for my daughter.

I have been using this diaper for about a month now and I have to say that it is a great fitted. After countless washing and dryings, it is still super soft. Not to sound weird, but every time it comes out of the dryer, I rest it against my cheek because that warm, soft bamboo velour fabric just calls to me. I wish I had a pillow that was as nice as the inside of that diaper. Or maybe it's just because I do my diaper laundry at night and I am generally very tired by the time I start putting the diapers away. Either way -- it feels like heaven.

My girl is tiny -- just 19 pounds at 17 months -- so I snapped down the rise for her and was happily surprised that it didn't make the diaper super bulky like other fitted snap downs do. I put girl down for a 4 hour nap and she woke up without a leak. She is a belly sleeper, so this is a good test for a diaper in our house.

I was also very happy with the drying time. I think the microfiber inner core helps cut down on the time it takes to dry which is a huge plus for me since I usually line dry in the warmer months.

All in all, this is a solid fitted diaper to own. My only hangup is the price -- $24.95 for a fitted made with microfiber and bamboo is hard to justify since you can find all natural fiber fitteds for the same price. I think that if the price was a bit lower, I would actually pay for one of these diapers.

Cloth Diapering 101

2010-03-02T06:36:00.000-08:00

This will be the first of many cloth diapering lessons here at Baby To Green. I understand how overwhelming it is the first time you look at a diaper shop online. The types of diapers, the materials of diapers, and no one diaper fits the same as another. It can be confusing, exhausting, and annoying at times. I will be taking questions in the comments or email them to me at babytogreen@gmail.com. I will try to answer what I know and if I don't know, I will find someone who does!

Today I will be focusing on the types of diapers and a breakdown of costs. As a general rule of thumb, man made materials are cheaper than natural materials. There are pros and cons to both. Make sure to read directions on every piece before you wash or dry it. No two diapers are cared for the same.

Diaper Covers
Covers go over certain types of diapers to give them a waterproof outer. Covers can range from $10 to $100+ depending on what material you choose. Covers come in PUL, fleece, or wool. They close with snaps, velcro, drawstrings, or even fit on like pants would.
Examples: Thisties covers, fleece or wool longies or shorties

Prefolds
Prefolds are the most basic of cloth diapers and the most affordable. Prefolds are rectangular shaped diapers that has 3 sections length-wise. The outer 2 sections usually have 4 layers of material and the middle absorbent section has up to 8 layers of material. Prefolds must be folded and secured with a Snappi or pins and require a diaper cover.

Flats
Flats are similar to prefolds, but have just one layer throughout. These work great as liners, doublers, burp rags, and even to put under baby during a diaper change.

Fitteds
Fitteds are diapers that are shaped like disposables. They close with snaps or velcro and, have elastic at the legs to contain messes. Fitteds require a cover. They can be inexpensive or very expensive depending on which material you choose.

All In Ones (AIO)
All in ones are the closest to disposables. They are fitted as a regular diaper, close with velcro or snaps. They have an inner layer of suede cloth or polar fleece to keep baby dry, an absorbent core, and a waterproof outer layer. AIOs are great for dads, grandparents, and babysitters because they are very easy to use. AIOs start at about $15 and go up to $30.
Examples: Kissaluvs Marvels AIO and BumGenius 3.0 AIO

Pocket Diapers
Pocket diapers are the mash up of the diaper world. They are a contoured diaper much like an AIO or fitted. They have an outer PUL layer that makes the diaper waterproof and an inner layer of suede cloth or polar fleece that keeps the baby feeling dry. In the back or middle of the inner layer, there is a pocket where you stuff in your choice of absorbent material. You can find inserts made of microfiber, hemp, bamboo, Zorb, or cotton. You choose how much absorbency you need. Pocket diapers run from $15 to $25 and most come with an insert and a doubler or booster.
Examples: Happy Heiny Pocket Diapers, Apple Cheeks

Hybrid Diapers
Hybrids are the new kid on the block. They bring together disposables and reusable. There is a reusable outer PUL cover that contours a disposable (or washable) soaker pad. Some companies offer biodegradable diaper inserts, some offer cloth inserts.
Examples: Flip system, GroBaby System

Next up in Cloth Diapering 101 -- Materials used in cloth diapers. Remember to send any questions to babytogreen@gmail.com or post it in the comments section!

So Fun! My 1st Blog Awards!

2010-03-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

I would like to thank Jess from Life With Boo Boo and Bug for giving me these fun awards! Jess is so sweet and has a very fun blog, so check her out!

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award and insert a link to their blog.

2. Pass on the award to about 10 other bloggers who you recently discovered and think are great!

3. Contact the other bloggers and let them know they have been chosen for this award.

4. Say 7 things about yourself.

Ok, seven facts about me:

1. I have frostnip on 3 toes and as soon as it drops below 60 degrees, all those toes are numb. I never told my mom when my feet were wet in the snow and now I am paying the price.

2. I am supposed to run a half marathon in the fall but I have not started training yet.

3. I am still not sure exactly what I want to do when I grow up.

4. I hate to nap. I'd rather just go to bed early.

5. I am a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding this fall and it is my first time as one! So excited!

6. I am a homebody. I really hate to get dressed up. If I can do it in sweats I am happy.

7. I hide my cookies from my kids. And my ice cream. And candy. I am not good at sharing.

I also got the Sunshine award from Jess! Isn't she the best?

The rules are:
-Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
-Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
-Link the nominees within your post.
-Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
-Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award!

Here are the awesome bloggers I am nominating for these fun awards:

A Mom Writing
Le Petit Owlet
Mommy Is Green
Tic Tac Dough
Etsy Cloth Diapers
Eco Friendly and Frugal
Crazy For Cloth Diapers
Mad Boastings of a Cheapskate Mom
Punk Rock Mama
Tiny Reader

Sparkling Green

2010-02-25T11:19:00.000-08:00

Many people wonder if eco-friendly cleaners are as effective as their standard chemical counterparts. In my experience, yes.

Growing up, my mother always used typical household cleaners. Lemon scented dust spray in an aerosol can, bright blue glass cleaner, floral scented carpet powder, and scrubbing cleanser with bleach in the toilets, were standard for our Saturday morning chores. In college when I lived in the dorm, I did not clean with any sort of product. Honestly, nothing got dirty under the mounds of clothes my roommate and I had strewn about on the floor.

Once I moved into my first place with my future husband, I was suddenly in charge of buying household products. I had never had that responsibility before. For the first year, I bought what was familiar to me, what my Mom used when I was growing up. Honestly, there wasn't much else to choose from. Green wasn't "in" yet. I noticed that I had started to become lightheaded when cleaning the bathroom. Then I realized that we didn't have a window as I did in my childhood home. I got around this by spraying the cleaners, leaving the room for a while and going back once the smell had faded.

But then, we had a little one -- a furry baby that we called Tyson. After we brought him home, we spoiled him rotten. He was a sweet puppy with a love of chewing on table legs. I did a quick search online and found that plain old vinegar would stop him from chewing on our furniture. In my search I came across a great website about raising a dog without harsh chemicals.

I morphed into an overprotective mama right away. I did away with the rock salt we had once used to keep our walkways ice free, I stopped using the store bought cleaners and powders that promised to "clean" my home by using toxins. I found simple recipes online that used vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and borax. I did this for quite a while. These cleaners really worked, but I wanted something to really cut the grease in the kitchen or something to offer a great smell when I was done cleaning.

A few months later, I went to a nearby concert (Arlo Guthrie, and yes I am only 27 years old. My father and his siblings LOVE him) with my extended family and they were giving out samples of this environmentally friendly all purpose cleaner, Sun and Earth. The next morning was a Saturday, my typical cleaning day, so I went to town with the Sun and Earth All Purpose Spray Cleaner. And I was in love. The smell of this cleaner is AMAZING. It smells like oranges exploded in your kitchen, but instead of a messy orange covered kitchen, you have a sweet smelling, grease free, clean kitchen. Even the most tree-hugging person on Earth can use this cleaner. Sun and Earth does not test on animals, it is a vegan product, gluten-free, soy-free, casein-free, no tree nuts, and no peanuts. And on top of its amazing performance, incredible smell, natural and Earth-loving ingredients, it is reasonably priced. Yup, it costs exactly the same as the chemical cleaners at my grocery store. Actually, a little less than the top name brand all purpose cleaners.

Sun and Earth has a full line of cleaning products. They offer laundry detergent, stain remover, biodegradable dryer sheets, fabric softener, floor cleaner, glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner, dish soap, dishwasher detergent packs, handsoap, and all the reusable cleaning mops, cloths, and bags that you could ever need. You can order direct from their site if needed, but most of the stores I have been in over the past year carry Sun and Earth products.

Now I have to admit that I have bought 7th Generation and other natural cleaning products when I saw a good deal, but I keep going back to Sun and Earth products. I think that it is the smell that keeps bringing me back.. Even my 3 year old comments on how good it smells whenever I clean.

So take some time next time you shop to check out the natural cleaning products. There are so many on the market now that I am hoping that the mainstream brands will suddenly become the off brands. Only we can make this happen by using our purchasing power to show what we want stocked at our stores.

I Am Afraid of Wool

2010-02-23T10:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am a wool virgin. I fist assumed it would be scratchy. Then I pondered how to care for wool. I have no idea how to lanolize anything, no idea how I would wash a wool diaper cover, or dry one, and how long my kiddo could wear said diaper cover. I don't know the difference between shorties and a soaker. I have no idea what felted wool means or if it is very different from knitted wool. To be completely honest, I have never used a fleece cover either. Just a regular PUL cover. I want to change, but I am afraid!!!

I want a cooler option for Miss C this spring and summer. I'd prefer a natural fiber that breathes. They don't look scary. In fact, they are adorable. I am dying to get my hands on one. But I am afraid of the investment because I am sure that somehow I will ruin it.

Can anyone assure me that a wool diaper cover is NOT scary? I'd love to hear about your wool experiences!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2010-02-22T11:12:00.000-08:00

I am so looking forward to getting out in the warm spring air and playing in the dirt. I have big plans this year for a raised organic fruit and veggie garden bed in the yard. We will see if this actually happens, husband and I tend to make big plans and are not always the best at following through when it comes to home improvements.

I am also hoping to save a patch of dirt for my kids and my daycare kids so they can plant their own fruits or veggies and snack on them. I think it could be a great learning activity and also a very simple way to introduce organic gardening. I plan on having them start their seedlings in egg carton cutouts and we will transfer them into the ground once it is warm enough.

I am also starting to learn about composting. I have just started my research for what system will work best for us. It has to be very sanitary because we often have our children and my daycare children in the yard in the nice weather. It also has to be pretty tough because we have an 80 pound lab mix who loves to dig in the trash. I hope to buy a compost tumbler this spring and get to it. We have a fairly large amount of lawn, so we gets lots of clippings and leaves that would be perfect for composting.

Any composting tips would be GREATLY appreciated!

Green Gal Pick: A B Sea Baby

2010-02-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

A B Sea Baby has the most adorable baby clothing I have ever seen. With all this snow piled up outside my door, I am longing for the summer days I get to sit lazily on the beach -- well, in my case chase two rambunctious kids down the beach. Either way, it sounds blissful compared to this icy weather we have had lately. A B Sea offers all natural, organic, silk baby clothing -- that's right -- silk baby clothing in colors that will remind you of long, breezy summer days by the sea. Can you think of anything softer next to baby's skin than organic cotton blended with natural silk? Because I cannot.

The best part about A B Sea clothing is that they are a company that cares about our earth. They wrap and ship all orders in recycled material and their clothes are easy to care for which means using less energy. Just wash on a gentle cycle in cold water (yay for cold water washes!) and hang dry (yay for the breeze!).

Best yet is that silk is naturally wrinkle-resistant, hypoallergenic, and weather-proof. Which means these are great to carry along in the diaper bag for just about any outing. A B Sea's special blend of natural silk and organic cotton is perfect for weather all year round since the material breathes in the heat and holds warmth in the cold. Since their clothing is hypoallergenic it is safe for even the tiniest of babies. These clothes would definitely make an amazing baby gift to an expectant mother. They even have a registry right on the site.

This is the one I have my eye on for my little girl! Alexis (founder along with her mom Renee) wanted to let everyone know that right now everything in the store is on sale! So click over and check out their beautiful line of clothing for newborns up to 24 months.

Planning for My Little Guy's Birthday

2010-02-18T07:12:00.000-08:00

I am starting to plan for my little man's fourth birthday which is at the end of March. I am so excited to have a "real" party for my boy. All of his parties so far have been at home with just family members as guests. We decided to have his party at a local nature center that also has a petting zoo. This place is AMAZING. All of their animals are rescued or injured animals that they nursed back to health and all of the money for admission goes straight to salaries and supporting the wildlife there.

I am trying to do this as eco-friendly as possible. I want to get him some recycled or natural toys, but I find that after a certain age, there isn;t as much to choose from in the toy department. He is too old for plain wooden toys and I am trying to stay away from plastic as much as possible. I love Green Toys Inc. I am going to get him the Recycling Truck from here that is made from (what else?) recycled plastic milk jugs.

I am having a tough time finding other age appropriate games and toys that are "green." I also have to find some eco-friendly party favors to hand out. I was thinking of small pots, dirt, and seed packets so the kids can plant their own veggies when they are home, but I don't know how that would go over with the parents. I know I hate bringing home bags of junky plastic toys and candy, but I don't know if other parents actually like that sort of thing. I fear I may be in the minority.

Would this be appreciated or an annoyance once you got home from a birthday party? It is a recycled Cardboard House Kit from Green Party Goods. Problem with these are that they are $6.99 each. A little pricey when there are a dozen children attending.

What kind of ideas do you have for eco-friendly gifts and party favors?

New Reviews and Giveaways Coming Soon!

2010-02-18T06:22:00.000-08:00

We have some exciting green reviews and giveaways coming up in March! Some of our sponsors are already up on the blog, so check them out!

I will be reviewing Apple Cheeks Diapers, Goodmama Diapers, Bum Genius 3.0, Happy Heinys, Kissaluvs Marvel fitted diaper, Thirsties covers, and Nature's Love pocket diapers as well as other green products.

These are all brands that I have purchased myself and have had months of everyday use. These diapers have really been put to the test and I am so excited to share my experiences with you!

Make sure that you are a follower here, on Twitter, and on Facebook so that you get the newest updates and qualify for every entry into the giveaways!

Etsy Finds of the Week!

2010-02-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

I am an Etsy lover! It makes me think that I can do the things that these talented people can do. It lets me think that I live in a different time, when life was a slower pace, and shopping malls didn't exist at every major intersection. So, each week I choose a few Etsy finds and feature the shops that I love!

I am saving my pennies to buy myself one of these adorable handmade signs from The Homespun Raven. I think it would work perfectly in the room I use for daycare. It isn't too childish, but it is an actual learning tool. Perfect for a room that functions as a classroom each day and a family room by night.

I also really love this laundry sign. Though I can't see the diapers making it into the washer very often if this was the case here!

There are lots of seasonal signs, custom family signs, and everyday signs that are beautifully made. Tracy at The Homespun Raven has kindly offered our readers a 10% discount on any orders placed through her site when using the discount code BLOG, so head over and check out her site and her Etsy shop!

How do you shop green?

2010-02-15T07:22:00.000-08:00

I was out over the weekend and I noticed that most stores already have their Spring clothes out. I was window shopping all of the adorable baby clothes and I started wondering when more eco-friendly clothes with a decent price tag would be available to the masses. Target and Walmart already have some very affordable children's and baby clothing that is organic and I love that, but I don't always see it on sale there. I have to really search and even then it is only a few t-shirts or onesies. When will the big children's stores catch on?

We are fortunate to have a lot of hand me down clothing for my kids from family and friends, but we always need a few nicer outfits. I tend to check out our local children's resale shop first because they have a very large selection with a lot of items that are brand new and still have tags on them. The dressier clothes are generally in perfect condition, under $5 for the entire outfit, and just as adorable as the $45 outfit I can find at the mall.

I have yet to find an inexpensive baby or children's line that offers organic clothing consistently. I have a hard time plunking down $15+ for a t-shirt that my children will get food on the first time they wear it.

This adorable dress by Zah Organics is just $19 which I think is a pretty good deal considering it is certified 100% Organic cotton and uses only low impact dyes.

So, where do you buy your baby or children's clothing? Do you know of an organic or eco-friendly retailer with affordable prices?

A Green Community

2010-02-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lag in posting yesterday. We were all under the weather with a nasty 24 hour stomach bug. Once we were over that, we had to dig ourselves out of the 2 feet of snow that we were hit with. All in all, an exhausting day. Now, back to regularly scheduled programming...

I think our small town is a pretty green place to live. We have great access to public transportation, they offer a points based recycling program through RecycleBank as well as using the money they save on landfill fees towards keeping our property taxes low, they host community clean up day twice a year where they take all the items that cannot be disposed of in regular trash or recycling pickup and dispose of them properly, and they recently built a playground where most of the equipment was made from recycled consumer products.

But I feel like there is so much more our town and county can do to be eco-friendly. I am just at a loss as to where to start and who to turn to for help. I cane across HowGreenIsMyTown.org and I feel like maybe this site may be able to help me to know what questions to ask, but who am I supposed to ask?

Have you ever started something green in your community? How did you go about it? I would love to hear your success stories and ideas on how to help communities big and small become more eco-friendly!

Being Green When Dealing With Snow

2010-02-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

As another massive storm approaches the Northeast, I was thinking of all the chemicals and toxins used to deal with snow and ice. Rock salt, chemical deicers, and even snow blowers are terrible for the soil, water supply, and air. Rock salt and chemical deicers kill vegetation, ruin the soil, and contaminate our water. Snow blowers emit carbon emissions.

So what is an eco-friendly way to get rid of snow and ice? A trusty shovel and an able body. Or you can try a new Wovel. It claims to be an easier and more effective way to shovel and I have to say that I would love to try one of these! They actually look fun! If you are more of a gadget person, try looking into an electric snow blower. No emissions and if you have solar or wind energy they have very little impact!

Deodorant in the Dryer

2010-02-09T08:37:00.001-08:00

I recently borrowed my husband's gym bag as a makeshift diaper bag for a long day out. A bit of apple juice was accidentally spilled inside so I emptied it out, checked the pockets, and threw it into the washing machine. In a rush to get to bed, I tossed it into the dryer and headed upstairs.

I went into the basement this morning to wash a load of diapers and the basement smelled really nice -- which is odd because we live in a 100 year old house and nothing about our basement is nice. It is dark, damp, and smells musty. I start washing the diapers and wonder why it smells so good down there. I remove my husbands bag from the dryer and I am hit with an overpowering smell. The black bag is covered in some sort of white wax. And then it see it -- the empty stick of men's deodorant. Ugh.

The entire inside of the dryer is coated with melted deodorant. I have already wiped it out with dish soap and water, scrubbed it with a Magic Eraser, and thrown some wet towels in there on high to re-melt the deodorant. I think I got all of it out, but it still smells like a man's armpit (a clean armpit, but still an armpit).

I am air drying the diapers because I am afraid to ruin them. But I can't air dry all the laundry because I do not have enough room to hang it all.

Please tell me that some of you have done equally dumb things before!

How do you like this weather?

2010-02-08T05:40:00.000-08:00

I live in New Jersey and, as most of you know, we got a ton of snow this weekend. We came in at about 2 feet which isn't too bad, but I don't drive in the snow anymore (I totaled my car in the snow going 12 miles per hour when I was younger and I practically have panic attacks at the thought of driving in the snow now).

We made it through the weekend but only because I stocked up on new activities for the kids last week. I hit up the local dollar store and bought stickers, stamps, a giant coloring book (I think the pages were bigger than my daughter), brownie mix for some baking fun, and we recorded a few family movies to watch.

I will do just about anything to avoid playing Don't Break the Ice with my son. Don't get me wrong, I love games and I love to play them with my son but that game is awful. It takes 5 minutes and a few pinched fingers to set it up only to have him "break the ice" on his first turn (and he ALWAYS goes first). Ugh.

But now I am through my bag of tricks, the kids are hyper from being stuck inside all weekend, and I have my daycare here bright and early this morning (who will also probably be hyper from being stuck inside all weekend). So today I have a dance party planned and hopefully that will keep all the kids from climbing the walls today, or at least until naptime.

What do you do to keep the kids occupied when bad weather keeps you indoors?

I am a cloth diaper junkie

2010-02-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

I am addicted to the fluff. It is a true sickness. It started when my daughter was 3 months old. I needed to save money and wanted to stop throwing away a dozen toxic, chemical filled diapers each day. So I bought ten cheap diapers off of eBay and regretted it immediately. They were leaky and poorly made. I almost nixed the idea of cloth diapering all together.

But I took the advice of a friend and tried a quality (and pricier) diaper. I was in love. So I started researching different kinds and found the possibilities to be almost endless on what kind of cloth diaper you could dream up.

After a year of using cloth diapers, I have found that I am a fan of pocket diapers with snaps and aplix (cloth diaper speak for velcro). I personally prefer snaps because they seem to hold up better, but like almost any other dad, my husband prefers the ease of velcro and will not touch a diaper with snaps.

Keep checking back because very soon I will be doing cloth diaper reviews!

What is holdng you back?

2010-02-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

A previous version of myself thought it was too hard to be green everyday. I thought that dragging my recycling to the curb once a week and not littering was enough to help save the earth. I had no idea how unhealthy my daily life was for myself, my dog, and my husband.

When I was pregnant with my son in 2005, I started looking at EVERYTHING differently. I was disgusted by litter on the roads, infuriated by people who didn't recycle, and upset at the thought of what the earth would look like when my son was an adult. I was ashamed that we had just bought a small SUV and that we didn't do eco-friendly renovations to our home the previous year. I pushed past the guilt and anger and I decided to adopt a greener lifestyle by making small changes in my everyday life.

The first thing I did was start looking around my home. I looked at the products I was using to clean my home. As I read the ingredients (for the first time ever), I was horrified. No wonder I had to open the window in the bathroom or I became lightheaded when cleaning! It was toxic. I was "cleaning" my home by pouring poisons all over it. I did a quick internet search and found hundreds of easy, cheap cleaning alternatives. I now use vinegar, lemon juice, and regular dish soap and water for most of my household cleaning.

So, what is holding me back from continuing my green journey? Money. Ah, yes. We are not a wealthy family. We are typical young family who has a tight budget. I would love to eat all organic, wear all bamboo clothing, and live in a green dream home, but it is simply not in the cards, er wallet, right now. So we make small changes and hope that someday we can make the large changes we dream of.

What things do you do that are green in your everyday life? What is holding oyu back from doing the larger things to help the earth and your health?

About Me

2009-05-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

My name is Jen and it's nice to meet you!

I am a 27 year old mama to two amazing kids, Mr. M who is 3 years old and Miss C who is 7 months old. I am married to an amazing man and we have one cool dog who completes our family. I currently have the best of both worlds when it comes to working. I get to stay home with my babies, and take care of other people's babies, too!

Before having kids, I worked with kids. I was a preschool teacher and before that I was a nanny. Prior to the kid related work, I was working doing almost everything -- I worked at a couple clothing stores (Old Navy and Guess?), I waited tables at a couple of restaurants, and I worked as a medical biller for a few summers in college.

I met my husband at one of those restaurants. He was a bartender and I was a waitress. That was almost eight years ago and we have been together ever since.

We became parents in March of 2006 to a handsome little guy named Mr. M. And again in October 2008 to our beautiful little girl, Miss C.

Since having kids, I have been looking at the world around me in a much different way. I want to change myself and our lifestyle to much more earth friendly. I want to live the healthiest life possible for my family and our earth.

Since I am new to the green thing, I am always looking for ways to make green life easier and more convenient. Since I have a dog, a toddler and a baby, I am especially interested in products relating to children and pets! My husband works in the health and fitness industry so I am always trying to find earth friendly things to incorporate into his job.

My interests are:
~ family friendly travel
~ New or Unique baby and child products
~ "Green" or eco friendly products for children, adults, pets, or families
~ Health & fitness
~ Food (especially if it is made with real butter or loaded with chocolate!)

Join me on my journey to a tree-hugging lifestyle!

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I am a cloth diaper junkie

What is holdng you back?

About Me

Green Gal Pick: Fridge-It Odor Absorber Review and Giveaway CLOSED