Mugs Save Trees! and a #Giveaway!

This week is NBCUniversal's Green is Universal "Green Week".  To spread awareness this year they are bringing to life the idea that you don't have to do a lot, to do a lot, with their “Mugs Save Trees” promotion.  You can do your part by using reusable cups and mugs whenever possible.  Not only is it better for the environment but it's better for you too!  Most throw away plastic cups contain icky chemicals and the paper ones are coated in layers that make them a less than favorable option as well.  Plus, who doesn't look great with a trendy cup in their hand!

Nick Offerman can't hear you!

To join in the fun simply head over to the Green is Universal facebook page and submit a photo of yourself with a reusable cup or coffee mug.  When you do you'll be entered to win a Green is Universal coffee mug signed by favorite NBCUniversal talent (I saw Nick Offerman on there.. I need his mug!!!). Additionally, one grand prize winner will be chosen to win a trip for four to Universal Hollywood!

Zachary Levi making some noise!

If you live in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago, you can participate in another great aspect of "Mugs Save Trees" with free coffee and reusable mugs.  Each day during Green Week, Green is Universal will serve free coffee to savvy consumers like you in either the Green is Universal-branded reusable travel mug, or in you bring yourself to designated coffee carts and shops. If you don’t have one, don’t worry! Green is Universal will also distribute free coffee with seed paper sleeves that you can plant at home or the office. (See locations here!)

The fun doesn't stop there, use the entry form below for your chance to win a $25 NBCUniversal Gift Card so you can buy your own mug, or whatever else tickles your fancy at the NBCUniversal store!

FCC Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for this post - enjoy!

Way to go ChicoBag! Plus Giveaway!

Some time ago ChicoBag announced that they were the sole defendant in a lawsuit files by three of the largest plastic shopping bag companies.  They claimed that ChicoBag had "irreparably harmed" their business.  Just a thought, but isn't that the nature of change?  Things come, and things go... right?!

It appears that the companies had issues with some statements found on the ChicoBag site:

• “A reusable bag needs only to be used eleven times to have a lower environmental impact than using eleven disposable bags.” Source: EPA
• “Only one percent of plastic bags are recycled.” Source: EPA
• “Somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year.” Source: National Geographic
• “The world’s largest landfill can be found floating between Hawaii and San Francisco. Wind and sea currents carry marine debris from all over the world to what is now known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This ‘landfill’ is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and thousands of pounds of our discarded trash, mostly plastics.” Source: National Geographic
• “Each year hundreds of thousands of sea birds and marine life die from indigestible plastics mistaken for food.” Source: L.A. Times

You might notice that ChicoBag was not the creator of these statements!  According to the announcement, this information has been used in hundreds of publications, and among those, ChicoBag is one of the few who provides sources for the facts they use.

In a press release on September 13, 2011, ChicoBag announced that the lawsuit (which lost 2 of the 3 complainants when ChicoBag challenged the companies to back up their claims) has been settled, with the support of thousands of citizens.

As a result of this settlement, the public will be better informed of the statistics on single use plastic bags and Hilex Poly plastic bags will now feature the statement “Tie Bag in Knot Before Disposal” in an effort to prevent windblown litter.

I love *love* my ChicoBags.  I have plans to take several to the upcoming ABC Kids Expo with me.  I will be gathering all sorts of materials during the expo and I don't like lugging around unnecessary baggage.  I know that my ChicoBags will work great.  To share the love, ChicoBag has provided me with a bag to share with you!

Be sure to do both of the mandatory entries (the first two)!

FCC Disclaimer: I was provided the product mentioned for review. All reviews are my own and honest opinions.  Review & Ad Information, Giveaway Guidelines

Save Money and Swap - ThredUp Review & Giveaway

We have three small children who are constantly growing out of their old clothes and into the next size up.  Unlike some lucky people, we don't have a source for hand me downs (that would be so amazing!)  With three kids, clothing gets expensive and it seems like a bit of a waste since they seem to change sizes every 9 months or so.  Buying second hand has long been a great option for parents of all budgets, it's simply smart shopping, but who has the time?!  Thanks to a new internet based company, everyone does!

ThredUp is a clothing swap website where you group items by size and stuff them as packed as you can into a flat rate box that is shipped to your door by the company.  Once you've loaded up your box you simply list it with a general description of what's in the box.  Then all you have to do is wait.  When someone selects your box you print a label right from the site and have your mail carrier pick it up the next day, all at no cost to you.  Simple as that.  In exchange for your box you will get the opportunity to pick a swap box, and if you have a box that is in high demand (low supply sizes) you can earn $2-$4 per box.  When you pick your swap box the cost is $5 + shipping ($15.95 total)

I purchased my first box last week and I was so pleased to have 8 1/2 new outfits for her for under $2 a piece.  You can't beat that!  L loved receiving a special box of clothes just for her, full of her favorite colors and lots of dresses.  She was all too happy to show them off too!

While I was browsing boxes I saw everything from Nike shoes to books, dress clothes to gently used toys.  If it fits in the box, you can be fairly certain that someone will be listing it.  It's not all for kids either!  I've seen "mommy boxes" full of novels, candles, adult clothes, home decor and more.

Speaking of other things, there is a great Halloween swap coming up from September 15 to October 15.  You'll be able to list last year's costumes and find some new ones without spending the high prices you see at the stores.  Our children love costumes year round.  We keep a tub of them in the closet and they are constantly playing dress up.  This would be a great chance to swap for new ones.

I admit that I was a bit skeptical when I first signed up for ThredUp.  The concept was great, but I wasn't sure that I'd get quality items.  It took a bit of browsing to find a box that sounded right for us, but I'm glad that I waited until I saw just the right box.  I know that not every box will be amazing, but the average box contains 15 items and at $15.95 a box, that makes for some affordable clothing even if they aren't Sunday bests.  We're very happy with our box and I am looking forward to shipping out a box soon and picking some more boxes for the kids!

If you've swapped with ThredUp I'd love to hear your experiences, and if not, head over, sign up and get $10 towards your first box.  This is a limited time special offer, so act quickly!

This promotion is now over!

Our winner, as chosen by Random.org, is #10 Crystal.  Congratulations!

Want a box on ThredUp?  Enter below for your chance to win a box!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry in order to have it counted.

This entry is mandatory! If you do not do this, your other entries will not count!

Follow our blog and join ThredUp, or let me know if you are already a member.  Comment and include your email address (so that I can reach you if you win) and the words "Live Green" somewhere in your comment.

Want more entries?

*Follow EFFBlog & ThredUP and tweet this giveaway! Please tweet, "Save money by swapping kids clothes @ThredUP  Enter to win a box @EFFblog http://bit.ly/1jtGb1 #giveaway" Comment with a link to your tweet. Tweet daily for more entries!

*Like us on Facebook, The Eco-Friendly Family & ThredUP

*Add our Blog Button to your blog or web page. Leave a link!

*Tell others about this giveaway on your blog or other social media sites (message boards, Facebook, etc!). Leave a comment with a link. One entry for each way you share!

and as always, Good Luck and Enjoy!

US Only. Giveaway ends August 23rd.  I'll use random.org to pick a winner. I will email the winner. If I do not hear back within 48 hours a new winner will be picked.

FCC Disclaimer: All reviews are my own and honest opinions. I was NOT provided any products or credits for this review.  Review & Ad Information, Giveaway Guidelines

Recycle, and earn gear!

Yes, you read that right!  There is a great program called Recyclebank that rewards you for recycling.  If you're like me, your area might not have that amazing incentive yet, but no fear - you can earn points online too for the products you buy, referring friends and various other awesome promotions.  I used 10 points last month to get a coupon that saved my husband and I $6 on our date night dinner bill!

If you'd like to see Recyclebank brought to your community, there are even forms you can use on their website to submit to your local government and trash service.  Imagine how much people in your area might recycle if it were offered curb side with incentives (as if helping the planet weren't enough)!

Head over start your very own Recyclebank account and start earning.  They actually happen to have a really awesome promotion going on right now for Earth Month, called the "Green Your Home" Challenge.  For this challenge Recyclebank is encouraging people to take one small green action a day and rewarding them for it.  It's so easy to do (I'm already over 100 points!)  In addition to featuring simple steps you can take toward a healthier, greener lifestyle, Recyclebank will post a challenge each day this month offering opportunities to earn points.

Not only will your points earn you access to awesome discounts and deals, the highest scorers at the end of the month (April) will win some fantastic prizes!  How would you like the chance to win 1 of 100 prizes, or better yet the grand prize of a green kitchen makeover worth $18,000 just for making your home a healthier place?  Yea, I'll take that!  Some of the prizes include a suite of energy efficient LG Studio appliances (including a refrigerator, dishwasher and LCD flat screen TV).


So what are you waiting for?!  You've got nothing to loose, and a lot to gain - and potentially win some amazing prizes!  Have fun with Recyclebank's Green Your Home challenge!  Good luck!

Favorite Eco-Friendly Tip?

This one is for you!  We all want to live a little more green and healthy.  What is your favorite/best eco-living tip?

Add your tip to the form below, and when there are enough entries I'll post some of your favorite tips!  Please feel free to enter more than one.

It can be related to baby, home, work - anything!  We'd love to know how you make a difference.

Pura Stainless

I am a bit addicted to my reusables.  I love reusable bags and bottles and I seem to collect all types of them.  I have some I love, some I hate and some that are just okay.  Today I want to tell you about one of my new loves, Pura Stainless bottles.

Pura Stainless features an entire line of reusable food grade stainless steel bottles from large 2 liter adult sizes all the way down to bitty 5 oz baby bottles.

I want to talk more about their 5 oz (& 11 oz) bottles, one of my favorite parts of the line is their Pura kiki series.  The Pura kiki series is a line of infant and toddler bottles that will grow with your little one.  It works with a nipple or sippy spout (Pura branded) and also with several popular brands like Dr. Brown, Born Free, Avent and Think Baby.  Parents are always looking for safe options that work - and Pura kiki fits that bill.




These bottles/sippy cups come in a variety of colors and in a shape that is easy to hold.  There are no plastic parts with the Pura kiki system.  The entire bottle/ring is stainless and the sippy spout, nipple and lid are all silicone.  Though there is no internal lining (not needed with this food grade steel), the inside has been electro-polished and sandblasted to ensure a completely smooth surface - making it easier to clean.

Speaking of no plastic to contaminate, the adult bottles do have a safe plastic lid but no plastic actually touches your drinking water.  You can see the construction of the cap on the right is designed to keep your drink from ever coming into contact with plastic (yay!).  The adult bottles come in 2L, 1.2L, .8L and .6L - in a variety of colors.

Need more reasons to love Pura?  How about the fact that they are covered by a limited lifetime warranty.  Their warranty covers leakage, bottle deforming dents, manufacturing defects or other failures that occur during normal use.  As they say "We do not cover failures due to the bottle being dropped off El Capitan, sucked into a chipper or run over by a semi nor do we cover worn, scratched or chipped paint. Our warranty is designed to ensure that if you use and care for your bottle in a reasonable manner it will be the last water bottle you ever purchase."  That's saying something!

Head over to Pura, take a look around and keep your eye out here too, there just might be something special to come in the days ahead!

FCC Disclaimer: I was provided the product mentioned to review. All reviews are my own and honest opinions. Review & Ad Information, Giveaway Guidelines

Put your gutters to work!

Something we've been interested in for a while is a rain barrel.  We put of getting one because they can be a little pricey, but recently Sam's Club had the one we've been eying on sale for around $60.  We took that chance to grab one.  If you recall, we also purchased our composters there for a great price.  I highly recommend checking clubs stores for these types of items!

So back to the rain barrel.  We fell in love with this Algreen Rain Barrel.  It's a nice simple design that blends in with our home (they come in other colors too I believe).  It also has a fun planter in the top to further help integrate it to your outdoor decor.

When we started thinking about using a rain barrel the main questions of what is it, how does it work are somewhat straight forward.  It collects water from your gutters and you can use that for watering, etc.  Most have a spigot at the bottom from which to collect water.  Some have a hose attached to make it a bit easier to get to, but it's the same concept.

The more complicated question we asked ourselves was how best to hook it up.  I would like to share with you what we decided to go with.

Flex-A-Spout!  This stuff is easy to use and very forgiving.  It also comes in several colors to match your downspout.  The first thing we did was set our barrel up where we intended to use it. We set then bent the Flex-A-Spout into a shape that would work for attaching the downspout to the barrel.  Flex-A-Spout is much like a bendy straw.  It's very simple to use.  We had our helpers there so that we could easily see and mark where we would need to cut the downspout.

Once we knew where to cut (and because of the Flex-A-Spout, even this part is forgiving), my husband took to it!  He cut the top first and then his second cut was made below the level of the barrel's overflow spout (which is near the top of the barrel).  You just want it below it for gravity to be able to do it's job.

Once cut you can simply slip the end of the Flex-A-Spout that fits your downspout to over the upper cut end (we added a couple of screws for security - but that is not a must) and simply set the other end on the top/screen of your rain barrel.

Here you can see how we attached the overflow.  We would have used a hose of some sort, but the store didn't have one at the store that would fit over the overflow spout (it's the same size as the orange piece you see sticking out there).  My husband picked up a couple pieces of hard pipe and ran it right into the existing piece of pipe that we left - voila, done!  Also notice that he used silicone to cover the hard/sharp edges of the cut downspout.  We have 3 small children and wanted to be sure no one got hurt.

I also want to mention that we left the piece of downspout at the bottom intentionally.  We wanted to be able to reattach the downspout in the winter (freezing) months when we will empty the barrel and store it.

That's it!  All installed.  That very night we had a huge downpour and our 50 gallon barrel was full.  Now I just need to put something in the planter.  Any ideas?

Paper towels are so yesterday!

Paper products can be terrible environmental offenders. From the use of virgin pulp, the manufacturing and the worst - the disposal. When it comes to household paper products, they are all disposable. What an awful waste of a tree.

One easy change for you (and big change for the environment!) is replacing your paper towels with fabric ones. Not only is it better for the environment, it's better for your wallet and cleaning. Cloth cleans so much better.

There are so many options when it comes to these. There are beautiful unpapertowels that many vendors sell. Some even snap together so that you can put them on a roll like traditional paper towels.  They come in a variety of colors and styles and many vendors will even make them custom to your taste.

However, if you're like me, you can't afford to outfit your kitchen with spendy paperless towels.  Not that I wouldn't love some.  It's just not something needed right now.

So what did I do?  Well, one day while at the store I spotted a huge rack of 18-count washcloths (Mainstays from Wal-Mart).  They were a measly $4 a pack.  For $8 I have 36 perfectly usable and scrubby cloths to use to tidy up my house.  They work well, wash well and I couldn't be happier with them.  Especially since they were so affordable.  I store mine under my kitchen sink for easy grabbing.


And look, even my kids like them ;)

When I'm done cleaning I toss them in with my regular laundry.  If you like to keep things a bit more tidy (or if you like accessories) you can even get one of these great kitchen wetbags to store them in until laundry day.

Regardless of what you choose to get, you'll love the switch from paper towels.

Have you made the switch?  I'd love to hear what you think and if you purchased unpaper towels, what brand you recommend.  It might help someone else choose.

Go green with a plan and easy steps...

Thanks to Marcal Small Steps!

Marcal Small Steps has set up a great "Marcal-endar" for April.  Each day offers up an easy green tip to get you up and on your way to living healthier and more sustainably.

With easy tips like bringing a reusable bag to the store and turning off the lights when you leave the room, how can you go wrong?

Click the picture, print out your own calendar and get started.  Slow and steady wins the race!

Speaking of small steps.  What are your tips on living healthy and green?  What tip was shared with you that made the biggest impact on your thinking, wallet, the environment?

Eco-Friendly Kitchen Makeover

We love our little home but it has a few things that we'd like to change.  One was our kitchen.

My husband is a general contractor and we love watching DIY, HGTV, Planet Green (there are some great green building shows!) and like things.  One thing that I cringe at is how much waste goes along with most renovations.  Thankfully my husband is amazing (okay, so I'm biased!) and he recycles and keeps and reuses as much as he can from his job.

When it came to our own kitchen, we didn't want to go crazy with cost and we certainly wanted to keep it as eco-friendly as possible.  We decided that a coat of paint would do the job, kind of!


Here you see our kitchen BEFORE.  The cabinets are dark and while you can't tell it from this picture, they were the only thing in our home with that wood tone.  They really stood out, and not in a good way.

We decided to go with white cabinets to brighten up the room.  Here's our supplies list!

1 can of white no voc primer

1 can of white low voc semi-gloss (easy to clean) paint

trim (he added this to the ends of the cabinets to give them a little more detail)

moulding (for detail up top)

hinges (old ones were brass & matched nothing - they will go to the Habitat ReStore)

We also bought an over the range microwave to give us some more counter space (and appeal to future buyers).  It was always a shuffle to fill plates an prepare dinner with no room by the stove.  Our old microwave will also be getting a new home :)

We only had about $100 in materials, excluding the microwave.

We washed the cabinets down with some gentle soap and water.  My husband took of the doors, hinges, knows and pulls.  He gave everything a couple coats of primer and a few coats of paint (what we bought was plenty).

It took a few days to get all of the coats done and to allow time to dry.  We also needed time to install the microwave and paint and put up all of the new trim/moulding.

The moulding required a saw, but he had it all measured up and cut out in no time.

Here's the result!  We love it :)

I know that remodeling in general isn't the most eco-friendly thing but sometimes you need a change.  We were able to get a completely new look for very little investment and environmental impact.

If we had gone the typical route (which was totally out of the question!) there would have been new cabinets (more materials), disposal of our old cabinets (what a waste!) and getting everything from there to here, then here to there and who knows how many chemicals in the new products and process.

All in all I think it was a great success.  We love our 'new' updated kitchen.  It's much brighter and welcoming.  The finish is easy to clean and we couldn't be happier with it.  I hope that this is helpful to anyone who might be considering a kitchen renovation.  With a little help, old and unloved can turn into new and adored :)

Why the deer love us - and yours can too!

First off, thanks to Amanda for letting me guest blog on her awesome site. I have never seen so much great eco-info all in once place. I try to be as green as I can, taking into consideration cost and practicality. But happily, there more ways to save than to spend while being eco conscious. I’m here to tell you about one of them my husband and I do.

Composting. Sounds messy and gross, but actually it can be a lot of fun. And it’s a real conversation starter - “Oh, please don’t throw your food away. Put it in this bowl on our counter. We save it and throw it outside in our bin.” You should see the looks we get. But most of our friends become really interested once we start telling them what we plan on doing with all our “trash” outside. I’ve had people actually save things like egg shells (which are wonderful for compost) from their kitchens to give to me when I visit. It can be a little awkward accepting food scraps at first from friends - you want to assure others you are not homeless or in desperate need of a meal - but it’s become wonderful to get and know they feel like in a small way they are helping the environment too.

My husband and I first started composting after seeing a really cute bin in a Williams Sonoma catalog. Too bad the thing was like $200 to throw food and leaves into. We passed and ended up finding one in Home Depot for around $50. It was a cinch to put together, like a little house with 4 plastic sides and a pop up lid. Since it was summer, we started to fill it with our grass clippings and old food.

However, we live in a really windy place, so one night we heard a huge bump against our house and both looked at each other in horror. Racing outside, we found… nothing. The bin had blown away. All the way down to our neighbors home where it smashed up against the side of her house. Grass clippings everywhere. We picked it up, silently praying she wouldn’t come out and ask what on earth we were doing. The next day, we stuck iron stakes all around it. It’s never moved since.

We plan on using the compost for our garden this summer. We live in a rocky soil area, so having soil rich in nutrients will help tremendously with plant growth. In other words - everything we put in the ground dies. Or is eaten by deer.

Speaking of which, the deer often stop by our home to look into the compost bin. I will forget to shut the lid and they can smell it. So I’ll see them prance across our lawn and the next thing you know there’s a small herd all gathered round eating out of it. Because it’s illegal to feed the deer, we really should keep it closed. (Sometimes I feel bad when they look skinny so I “accidentally” keep it open. I love deer.)

Composting creates it’s own natural heat to break down the food and organic material you throw in. We try to avoid tossing in things with pesticides or any type of chemicals, because it affects how the soil feeds the plants later on. Also, don’t put in things like meat, fish, plastic, metal - because, um, well metal and plastic don’t break down, and meat and fish make it stink. And rot. So unless you’re a fan of maggots, meat stays in the trash.

There are surprising things you can put in, like dryer and vacuum cleaner lint. Hair - both human and pet. (We put cat hair from when we clean up the couches, but I pass on human hair. Weirds me out.) Coffee and tea grounds, and wax paper. There is a bowl on our counter where we throw in the food scraps during cooking, and keep them until it’s full. Sometimes one of us will forget to empty it and when I wake up in the morning it causes me to search throughout the house looking for the animal that died. That only happens after a few days of putting things in though. It was amazing to me the amount of food scraps we just tossed. Even though it still bothers me when we find something in the fridge that went bad a month ago, at least it can be used to help us have more soil.

Being eco friendli-er doesn’t have to be hard, or costly. It can pay off later on when things you would have tossed out anyway save you money on buying expensive dirt. It’s little changes that can make a big difference in your life and the world around you, and you just might end up having the most popular house on the block - according to the deer anyway.

----

Hey, Amanda here!

I just wanted to give a great big thank you to Diana for this great and entertaining post :)

Please head on over to her blog for more great posts on a range of topics, product reviews (giveaways too!) and more!

Always forgetting your reusable bags? Do you have Bagnesia?

Ditch it with this cute kit that reminds you to Grab Your Bags.

I love reusable bags. I think everyone should use them :) I've talked about them before, but I love any chance to do it again!

I am actually pretty good at remembering my bags, but it's not quite the same story with my husband (not even close). I was very pleased to have a chance to try out this great little reminder kit.

It includes a reusable shopping bag (to get your goodies in), a door hanger & steering wheel wrap (to remind you to bring them), a little mini clip (to snap your bag onto something or put it on your key chain as another reminder!) and little storage bag to stick it all in :)

I think it's really cute and for anyone wanting to put an effort into remembering their bags, a really useful tool. Plus it's only $15! I've seen bags that cost more than that :)

The only concern I had was that I was the safety of something on my steering wheel. I'm a bit of a worrier. I did find that putting it on the bottom of my wheel doesn't bother me or come into contact with my hands (as opposed to up top and center).

I also think that the door hanger is a great idea. Put on the door and the bright color stands out as you go to leave the house, reminding you to Grab Your Bags :)

The bags in this fold up super tiny (perfect for tossing in a purse) and are actually quite large when opened up. They measure approximately 18" X 16" and will hold up to 40 lbs (comparable to 2-3 plastic shopping bags). They are made out of a lightweight washable & water resistant nylon.

Something else that I like about the bag is that the name is cute. "Bag-ne-sia" is written on them and it just seems like something people can remember. If that gets more people to use reusable bags, that's good in my book :)

They also offer produce bags. I haven't tried them, but they look great :) They measure 13"x16".The ladies at Bagnesia would like for you to always remember your bags, so they are offing one lucky reader a reminder kit!

----Update! We have a winner!----
The giveaway portion is over :) Thank you to everyone that participated!

Congratulations to Christina's Cookies! Enjoy!

Here's your Chance!
Please leave a separate comment for each entry in order to have it counted.

This entry is mandatory! If you do not do this, your other entries will not count!
Visit the Bagnesia website and tell me something you learned, or a product you would like and why. Include your email address and the words "Live Green" somewhere in your comment.

Want more entries?

*Follow us and tweet this giveaway! Please tweet, "Win a reusable bag reminder kit from @bagnesia & @EFFblog http://bit.ly/1jtGb1 #ecofriendly #eco #green" Leave a comment with a link to your status. Tweet daily for more entries!

*Follow Bagnesia on Twitter, leave a comment

*Follow our blog and post letting me know that you are :) (right side bar)

*Become a member of our new Green Living Community, leave a comment letting me know.

*Join our new email newsletter (right sidebar) for notices on special events coming up for the blog.

*Put the EFF Blog Button on your blog sidebar or web page. Leave a link!

*Become a fan of the EFF blog on Facebook, leave a comment.

*Become a fan of Grab Your Bags on Facebook, leave a comment.

*Post about this giveaway on your blog or other social media. Leave a comment with a link.

and as always, Good Luck and Enjoy!

US Only. Giveaway ends February 12th. I'll use random.org to pick a winner. I will email the winner. If I do not hear back within 48 hours a new winner will be picked.

FCC Disclaimer: I was provided the product to review for the giveaway (My husband has remembered the bags on more than one occasion, I call success! Thank you!). No money or other perks were given. All reviews are my own and honest opinions. For more information about this blog please look here. For giveaway guidelines please look here.

Reuse, Reuse, Reuse!

Children and babies seem to have so many cute buyables. Sometimes needed, sometimes not, but I think many of us end up with some from time to time.

Buying tons of new plastic items isn't very eco-friendly. That's where companies like Children's Orchard come in!

Children's Orchard is America's finest resale/retail boutique. They featuring brand-name, top quality, gently used and new kid's clothing, toys, furniture, equipment, books and accessories!

They also pay cash for your kid's gently used clothing, toys, furniture and accessories.

Children's Orchard is having an event right now where you can go to their Facebook page, join and then let them know what you do to live green. The entry with the most 'like' votes wins a $500 shopping spree.

I have entered and you should too! I have really enjoyed reading the current entries, it's a great way to find more ideas on how we can all do a little more :)

If you feel like it, I would love you vote too :) Just look for the eco-friendly family logo by my entry.

Click here to go to their Facebook page and enter for yourself! Good luck!

Lunch Time :)

I want to talk for a moment about packing lunches :)

If you have kids in school (or even if you don't) you may have seen on the news the problems with nutritional lunches in schools. Here's an article that touches on school lunch content by My Optimum Health.

The only way to truly know what your child is eating is to pack a lunch (Check out this other article by My Optimum Health for some great tips and guidelines.)

For me, packing a lunch seems like a good idea and doable. The question for me then turns to what do I pack my child's lunch in. Thankfully I have until next August to figure this out for sure :)

I do know that using an endless assortment of plastic baggies isn't an option. Foil isn't either. So what am I to do?

I came across this product by Kids Konserve.


Pictured above is their Waste-Free Lunch Kit. It sells for $40. It includes everything you would need to pack a lunch; a recycled cotton sack, cloth napkin, stainless steel beverage bottle, food kozy and two stainless steel food containers.

I have not used this product, but I love the idea of it. I love that it seems simple, straight forward and easy to use. Also, when ordering from their site, you can easily add more items from the same ordering page (extra containers, lids, etc.)

For a more economical version, there is this. The Snak Pak.
This looks like it would be perfect for getting started, a younger child, or someone who has already purchased a reusable water bottle. It sells for $22 and comes with a cotton draw string bag, cloth napkin, food kozy, stainless steel food container and recycled aluminum name tag.

One other thing that I would like to mention on their site, that I just adore, is this reusable Party Pak. It would be *perfect* for every teacher to have one (or more) of these. If I were a teacher, I could totally see loving this, putting all of the dirties into a bag and running my dishwasher when I got home. No fuss, and no waste. (Thought I do wish that it came with napkins).

Come to think of it, this would be great for any parent that has birthday parties/holidays/etc. at their home. Great for the kids to eat off of :)This is BPA, Lead & Phthalate Free and made from 100% recycled plastic yogurt containers! The kit sells for $55 (there is a smaller 12 serving version) and contains 25 each: 7" plates, 16 oz. tumblers, and forks, knives & spoons. All in 3 cotton drawstring bags.

So, I wrote Kids Konserve and they were super sweet in providing a discount code for our readers :)

Go to Kids Konserve
shop around
and use code: ecofamily for 15% off of your purchase!
code expires 12/31/09

I would like to mention that when I get a chance to try out one of these, I will update! I love the look of this product and I think kids would love it. (My son says it's cool.) :D

FCC Disclaimer: This is not a paid advertisement! I was not given any sort of compensation (money/product) for this giveaway. For more information about this blog please look here.

Bye Bye Plastic Bags!

So, I think we all know that it's best to use reusable bags.

Did you know that there are an estimated 500 billion bags used worldwide each year?

There are all sorts of bags out there. Compact bags, big bags, freezer bags, simple bags, fancy bags..... I think you get the idea :D

I personally use an army of grocery store bags that I picked up for $1 a piece. They hold a lot and have a solid bottom. The solid bottom is the reason I love these for groceries.

For all of my other shopping, I tend to bring along my prettier bags. I've gotten these from Kohl's, Target, Kmart (in their handbag section they have some cute totes!), online, etc. etc. Basically any cute/fun bag can be used :)

Did you know that the average family uses 60 plastic bags in just 4 trips to the grocery store?

I've known for some time that I wanted to write about this, so I went searching! I found the most fantastic bags. They are so fashionable, sturdy and built on great principle.

These bags are by Elbow Grease Designs and I am in love with this bag. It is so sturdy, but that's not even the beginning.
I got a knock at my door (thanks mail carrier!) and saw this package on my porch. It was a handmade (elbow grease!) mailer! I opened it up and there were the bags! Oh, so pretty! So excited!

Then I get to looking. The bag is sealed with what appear to be leftover labels, the tag is stamped on a piece of an old Crunch 'n Munch box and the invoice is printed on the back of an old letterhead. I "love" it! Oh and have I mentioned that these bags are made from old banners??!!! Honest to goodness, not one thing that arrived to my door was not repurposed. It was amazing.

Did you know that reusable bags hold substantially more than plastic bags?
The ones I use are of a typical size and hold 3-4 times more!

I have been using reusable bags for a while now and every time I went to the grocery store, I cringed at using plastic produce bags. I didn't when possible, but it wasn't always an option. So, I got stuck with them.

I did some asking around and came across these fantastic (and highly recommended) produce bags by AMK Designs.
I love these bags! They are sturdy, the hold a ton and they don't weigh a thing. I got compliments by the cashier and manager (she was helping my newbie cashier) my very first time using them!

They are so easy to use too. Toss in your fruit/veggies, pull the string and go. You can even wash your produce right in the bags and store them too.

Also, unlike other bags on the market, these come in adorable (you pick the design!) storage pouches that can clip right onto your bag!

So how would you like to win an Elbow Grease Designs grocery bag and a set of AMK Designs produce bags???

Oh and that's not all! If you make a purchase at AMK Designs and put "Amanda sent me" in the notes to the seller, she'll toss in some extra goodies!!!

----Update! We have a winner!----
The giveaway portion is over :) Thank you to everyone that participated!

Congratulations to luvlieK - Kelly! I hope you love your new bags!

Here's how to win!
Please leave a separate comment for each entry in order to have it counted.

This entry is mandatory! If you do not do this, your other entries will not count!
Post here and tell me what your favorite product is from Elbow Grease Designs and which storage bag you love from AMK Designs. Include your email address (if it's not on your profile) and the words "Live Green" somewhere in your comment.

Want more entries?

*Follow us and tweet this giveaway! Please tweet, "Bye Bye Plastic Bags! Win reusables! @EFFblog http://bit.ly/1jtGb1" Leave a comment with a link to your status.

*Follow our blog and post letting me know that you are :)

*Become a fan of the EFF blog on facebook, leave a comment.

*Post about this giveaway on your blog. Leave a comment with a link.

US Only. Giveaway ends December 16th. I'll use random.org to pick a winner. I will email the winner. If I do not hear back within 48 hours a new winner will be picked.

FCC Disclaimer: I was provided the product to review for the giveaway (Thank you to Elbow Grease Designs and AMK Designs. The bags are beautiful and of amazing quality!). No money or other perks were given. All reviews are my own and honest opinions. For more information about this blog please look here. For giveaway guidelines please look here.