Earth Friendly Halloween Tips= Hallowgreen!

Stay up to date on the latest posts. Subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

 

With Halloween just a week away.. Try visualizing through the orange and black and incorporate a little green this year!

Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without all the candy…there are a few things you can do to minimize your childs exposure to all the sugar and not to mention HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup).

A lot of parents worry these days about taking food from strangers but it’s really no different than taking candy from a stranger- so, why not make those infamous popcorn balls or freshly baked cookies to hand out. You could get really ambitious and decorate them Halloween themed….AND if you have lots of time you could pipe eco messages onto them! Now wouldn’t that be fun? ; ) You could even do carmel apples…mmm…my fav! Apples are in season and would be a great alternative-especially, if you don’t have time to dip them and stick them. A lot healthier than a piece of candy. Whatever way you celebrate Halloween either by going to a church function or going door to door- you could always have great fun with your family by making your own! Yes, make your own candy kits are available! You can make your own gum, chocolate, and gummies – The gum kit would probably be best for this holiday as it yields up to 50 pieces of gum! The other two kits can be a learning activity for your children on a rainy day as they do not yield enough to pass out.

Opt out on buying the traditional big market candy and purchase organic or Fair Trade. October is actually Fair Trade Month. What better way to celebrate Halloween by supporting Fair Trade. Go with the idea of reverse trick or treating in that your kids pass out Fair Trade candy to educate others about Fair Trade cocoa. Our health food store carries Yummy Earth organic lollipops and I also know that Trader Joe’s has a their own version of organic lollipops. You can usually find Fair Trade chocolates at health food stores as well.  You can buy them online from Global Exchange OR check out Kate’s Caring Gifts (check out the Acai chocolate bites- they sound so yummy!)

Another great stop for organic candy is www.naturalcandystore.com Right now, if you order over $50 or more you get a free Eco-Bag (pictured)!! At Natural Candy Store their motto is “All the FUN without the FUNNY stuff”!

What about the costumes?! Try browsing the thrift stores or local consignment shops for a costume- a lot times costumes are worn only once and you’re bound to find a great bargain! Go back to basics and put something together with the items you have available in your home- use the imagination. For example- you could dress your child up as a ghost using a sheet, Hippy (my favorite), a farmer, or 80’s rocker. Maybe even, a cowboy or cowgirl! You get the idea, get creative. Check out these recycled costumes at the daily green.  This is also a must see- find out what this pregnant mom did using her belly as a costume- now, that’s putting on the eco-thinking cap!

I always wanted a handmade costume growing up and one of these days I’ll find the time to do so for my kids…so don’t forget you can always use a great Halloween costume pattern and sew one up. If you do- consider using organic, fair trade, felted wool (recycled) fabrics! Remember, the idea is to repurpose and use reclaimed items. There so much more pizzazz to a homemade costume than a storebought one- plus all those unnatural fibers and plastic are not good for the planet and can be toxic. 

Instead of using those plastic pumpkins to collects all the treats and goodies- send the kids off with a pillowcase, a bag made from old bedsheets or clothes or eco friendly bag (you know the ones you’re currently using when you grocery shop)  Growing up, my brother, sister and I always had a pillowcase and we weren’t the only ones! Bring back the pillowcase and phase out the plastic!!! Try to steer clear of plastic all together during this holiday.

Think locally when purchasing your pumpkin to carve out and use up the insides to make a pie! When we were kids we couldn’t wait to roast the seeds and eat em’ up! Delicious. Also, I think carving out eco messages, the recycling symbol, the earth, on your pumpkin would be eco-fabulous. How about the candles you’ll use to light up your Jack-O-Latern…go with soy, beeswax or vegetable based. When decorating have your kids help- they’re always imaginative when using items from around the house. A plastic bag could be turned into a ghost- cutting out some cardboard and using them as grave signs or painting (with non-toxic paints, of course!) the cardboard and turning them into pumpkins! It’s all about having fun with it!

Kiwi Mag did a feature post on eco-friendly Halloween crafts-very eco-cool (pictured)!

For the most part, do your best to think green! Every little bit counts in limiting your impact. You can still save the planet and have fun too! Have any eco-tips for Halloween? After it’s all over don’t forget to come back here and tell me what you did!!  Happy Halloween.

Happy WW~ I’m 18 Mos. today!

Ecosafe Trash Bags, A Review!

Let’sGoGreen.biz sent over a 13 gallon kitchen trash size bag box as well as a 33-gallon lawn and leaf size box for review. When you consider how many plastic bags go to the dump every year and only 3% percent are recycled….you may want to switch from the standard trash bags! It takes over a thousand years for a regular trash bag to biodegrade in a landfill. Ecosafe trash bags only take 18-24 months! How impressive is that? What I loved about them is that there sturdy and strong. I have to be honest…I thought they would be weak and break apart easily. That was not the case at all. The only thing about them is they don’t have a drawstring like I’m used to but that is something minor. I used the kitchen size bags till they were gone and after a few days of taking out the trash it really doesn’t make a big difference drawstring or not. Really. Once you get used to something it becomes like clockwork. They’re also green in color and not your standard white- which I found to be more appealing. White just seems so blah- and sad! Green made me feel good about using them since I knew that they’re biodegradeable. Satisfaction indeed. With the fall here many of us are starting to rake the leaves up (don’t forget to save some for the compost bin)! Using the 33-gallon trash bags makes the job more worthwhile because the bag and the leaves are a great combination of biodegradeables- even lawn clippings. No matter what you’re using them for Ecosafe, ECO RULES! My hubs really likes them too. He was a skeptic but quickly changed his mind after several lawn mowings and yard clean-ups!

Right now, Let’sGoGreen.biz is having a sale on these fantastic eco-friendly bags! They have a 15 ct. box priced at $2.49 and a 180 ct. box  priced at $28.29 (sale prices). You don’t want to miss out on the sale so get your Ecosafe trash bags, today! AND- for being a faithful reader if you enter “FRIEND” at the checkout you’ll get 25% off. That’s a huge savings. What are you waiting for- green up your trash can and the landfills!! The landfill gods will thank you!

 

Stay tuned – a giveaway  will take place for the 180 count Ecosafe Tall Kitchen Bags!!!! Don’t miss out. 

Pregnancy Update: 16 wks./4 mos!!!

Okay, so I’m almost halfway there! At this point the Morning Sickness has subsided…I still get a little nausea every now and then but it’s NOT like it was. Basically, if I don’t eat every 2 hrs. or so I’m doomed and if I eat to much acidic foods or sugary foods before bed- that can make me feel ill in the morning. Other than that, I’m feeling great about the pregnancy! Phew.

I had an appointment with my midwives last week and heard the baby’s heartbeat…tears came to my eyes. It’s so reassuring for me- especially after feeling so AWFUL. Knowing that the baby is okay makes me feel so much better. There are four midwives at Sacred Entrance and I get to see each one of them. It’s nice because I get a different perspective and they each have their speciality.  We discussed my nutritional habits and what tests were necessary…or that I wanted to opt out of. Like, the AFP! Being that, I’m planning to have this child regardless of a disability or disease, I do not find it to necessary to go through all the testing- nor do they. Besides, I’m having a Level 3/4 ultrasound with a Perinatologist (Ultrasound Dr.) and that covers all of what they screen for in an AFP/Amnio test.  Also, I’m not a high risk pregnancy.  I’m only going to have one ultrasound and I’ve made the appt. for Nov. 18th! We’re very excited about it as we will find out the sex- that is, if the baby allows! Dr. Platt’s ultrasounds are pretty extensive so I trust that if there was anything wrong it would come up during the visit. He is also a very respected Dr. in Los Angeles and has high ratings. I will continue to pray for a happy and healthy baby. With Tristan I had 2 ultrasounds because my dates were off (my fault) and they thought he was going to be big- but after I realized what I had done- instead of relaying the first day of my last period- I gave them the last. OOPS.  So, I had to also do the glucose test for diabetes because again they were thinking huge baby. Nope, that wasn’t the case. Thank goodness. Although, Tristan was 8 lbs 3 oz. Not huge…but not small either.

I’m opting out of the sugar test as well as the midwives said that I’m not exhibiting any signs (yeast infections, high protein in urine…etc.) for it. After we discussed the tests that we felt weren’t needed…my midwives were very concerned about nursing Tristan after pregnancy. We discussed my health before Tristan after Tristan and the weight I lost (10bs) from breastfeeding. They’re worried that tandem nursing could deplete my system of essential vitamins and minerals and think it would be in my best interest to wean him off before the baby arrives. Not to mention that I live in a ”depleting environment”- the desert. Honestly, I completely agree and so does the hubs. With all the depletion of vital nutrients from the 1st Trimester this pregnancy and last…it doesn’t seem like the right thing to do. They gave me plenty of tips to do start doing to boost those vital nutrients in case Tristan hasn’t weaned but even then they think I should continue this regime for baby and me. It makes sense. My body may not be able to cope. Breastfeeding has definitely affected my nourishment now- I’m always hungry, I get headaches from being dehydrated and after nursing Tristan sometimes it will bring on naseau. So, as of that week- and I had started this before I was pregnant anyway- we only nurse at night time. Soon, that will be the last to go and hopefully the weaning process with be a success. During the morning sickness I had given up on that because I didn’t have the energy to distract him. Now, that I’m feeling better I can distract him and give him lots of hugs and kisses. He knows it’s coming. We talk to him about it all the time and definitely try not to make it about the baby. We just tell him he’s going to be a big boy/brother and will not need to nurse.

Anyway, I have somewhat of a baby bump going but not much yet (no pics until I’m bigger, LOL!)- I’m sure I’ll start to pop in the coming weeks. I’m starting to feel kicks- “pitter pats” is what I call them and it’s been such a joy to experience them. Brings and instant smile to my face. I didn’t start feeling movement with Tristan until after 20 wks. so this is neat to be able to feel them earlier on. I’m almost back up to my normal weight pre-pregnancy with Tristan which was 120-125…I’m at 115. I don’t really have any cravings for anything special- sometimes certain things sound better than others. Onions bug me a little bit right now- they don’t usually- but right now I stay away from them. I can pretty much eat anything and everything. I had sushi the other night- it was fried…and boy it was it delish!  It was spicy – tuna in the center with eel wrapped around it. May sound gross to some but it’s yummy….it’s called a 911 roll. My bro got me hooked on them. I love Teppan-Yaki dinners. Miso soup, and their salads with ginger dressing- superb! I’m not a huge fan of raw sushi- California roll is about as far as I go! Can you tell, I’m hungry????

Either way boy or girl we have names picked out but it’s a secret for now until we find out the sex!!

I signed up to win a waterbirth tub @ Natural Mom’s Talk Radio and you should too, if you’re a homebirther like me hoping to have a waterbirth! Keeping my fingers crossed on that one!

I encourage you to watch a video over at www.MyBirthMovie.com – if you don’t have Quicktime you won’t be able to view it- but you can check out www.BirthSanctuary.com and click on Birth Center and these are videos from the midwives I see.  Bonded Beginnings is a good one! They’re all good but that one is informative of waterbirth! 

We have a winner…

The winner of the Miessence products (Lip Balm & Deodorant) is Veronica G. – this giveaway was also posted at Natural Moms Talk Radio! Thanks to all those who entered… a little over 150!! Wow!!! And- A big thanks to Natural Moms Talk Radio for posting the review & giveaway. :) If you haven’t entered the Belly Fish Nursing Pillow Giveaway- you really should! It would make a great gift for the holidays or for any nursing mother!!! Have a great weekend.

Next Page »