Mommy Goes Green

For the past several weeks, I’ve had many companies and PR agents ask if Mommy Goes Green was planning to do anything for Earth Day.  I’ve responded a few times that “every day is Earth Day around here” (with a smile).  Unfortunately, many people only recognize Earth Day once a year and that day is today - it’s the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

One of the best things about Earth Day is all of the freebies, discounts, coupons and sweepstakesthat encourage people to try new eco-friendly products or services – that hopefully will become their new favorite!  Last Sunday, I posted a bunch of Earth Day Freebies and on Tuesday, a list of home and garden deals.  I’ve taken advantage of them this week and purchased some new makeup, cleaning supplies, personal care products and lawn care products that we’ve been wanting to try – and tell you about.

Starting tomorrow, Coupon Craze will be posting over 100 offers planned to go live exclusively for Earth Day.  I’m not sure what to expect, but you know I’ll be heading over there tomorrow to see what’s on sale.  According to Coupon Craze, green retailers are still relatively new to the coupon industry so offers tend to have less fine print than coupons in other categories. For example, many of the coupons don’t have a minimum spending requirement, which means you’ll can save whether you spend $20 or $500.

WIN IT!

In the spirit of “Going Green for Free”, Coupon Craze is offering our readers some great prizes!

• 1 Grand prize winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to their choice of either Origins or Patagonia!

• 3 winners will get a $50 credit in their name to CarbonFund.org to help them offset their carbon footprint. You can use the credit to balance out the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions you cannot reduce. For example, $50 of CarbonFund.org credit is equivalent to 5 metric tons of CO2 or:

• More than 5 roundtrips from Los Angeles to New York
• Approximately the emissions an average American passenger vehicle emits in a year
• Over half the emissions from the average American home’s electricity use

You can enter in any of the following ways:

• Leave a comment telling us your money saving tips for being green mama! 
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen.
• Retweet this contest.
• Become a Facebook fan.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

Leave your comment by Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Contest open to all U.S. and Canadian residents, ages 18+. We will choose 4 winners, at random, and notify them by email. Privacy Policy.

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.

There are a lot of green books out there.  Even a lot of green books by moms, for moms.  I have not read many.  I pick them up, scan through them and often find that there is not much I haven’t already heard or read and am not compelled to read past the first couple pages. 

So, when I picked up Green Mama: The Guilt-Free Guide to Helping You and Your Kids Save the Planet, I wasn’t confident that I’d be spending much time reading it.  But after reading the Introduction, just nine pages, I immediately emailed the author, Tracey Bianchi, and told her that her story resonated with me!  It is my story.  One mom where one moment forever changed her view of the environment and with hope that it may change your view, too.

While I can’t share with you every line of the book that I nodded my head in firm agreement, laughed or learned something new, there are two concepts that define this book that you will find interwoven throughout.

GUILT-FREE

“All of us will create our own unique version of a more sustainable life.  The exact details largely depend on how committed we are to this movement, the time and energy we have to implement changes, where we live, and what is most important for our own family.  Every mom can create her own unique definition of green.”  I love this because it truly gives each person the freedom to make the changes in their life that they are able to based on their current lifestyle and needs.   What matters is that you do something.

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT

Tracey heard a sermon at her church where a pastor spoke about all the little ways we steal every day.  “He defined steal as simply taking more than your share of the resources. There are a limited number of resources in the world, and when we take more than we need, simply put, we are stealing from others.  We can do this in a variety of ways – financially, socially, and environmentally. By pillaging the earth for more than our share, we break the eighth commandment.”   This point generates a whole new conversation about the Creator and caring for creation – Tracey calls it ‘stewardship’.

If you are looking for some great suggestions on becoming a green mama – and including your kids in the process – this is the book to get.  No guilt, just an honest trip down “Green Mama Lane”.

WIN IT!

We are giving 3 readers the book, Green Mama: The Guilt-Free Guide to Helping You and Your Kids Save the Planet !  You can enter to win in any of the following ways:

• Leave a comment telling us how you create your own unique definition of green. 
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen.
• Retweet this contest.
• Become a Facebook fan.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

Leave your comment by Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Contest open to all U.S. and Canadian residents, ages 18+. We will choose 3 winners, at random, and notify them by email. Privacy Policy.

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.

I don’t know about you but sometimes getting dinner on the table every night is the most stressful part of my day.  It’s not the 2 kids, the messy house or the lengthy ‘to do’ list, it’s trying to put together a healthy, quick meal – at the last minute.  I don’t spend enough time planning for our family meals so we usually end up eating late because I spend too much time combing cookbooks looking for something compatible with what’s in the fridge and pantry.

I’m exactly the kind of mom that The Six O’Clock Scramble was created for.  It’s an online menu planner helping you to create a weekly dinner plan.   Once you choose the recipes you want to prepare, a grocery list is generated and you can shop once for all the ingredients you’ll need for the week.  This helps to eliminate multiple trips to the grocery store, pizza deliveries, and trips to the nearest fast food joint.

The creator of The Six O’Clock Scramble, Aviva Goldfarb, has taken meal planning one step further by creating SOS! The Six O’Clock Scramble to the Rescue: Earth-Friendly, Kid-Pleasing Dinners for Busy Families, a cookbook with over 300 recipes that take 30 minutes or less to prepare, with less than 10 ingredients per recipe.  One of my favorite parts of the cookbook is that its organized by season, I was first introduced to this concept when I read the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.  At it’s simplest form, you cook with ingredients that are currently in season meaning they are fresh and less expensive.  It encourages you to eat local as you can find in-season ingredients at your local farmer’s market, co-op grocery store or farmstand. 

Each season begins with a 5 week menu and a glossary of recipes with the amount of time it takes to prep and cook the meal.   Individual recipes include nutritional information, flavor boosters (additional spices to add), and side dish suggestions.  There are great tips throughout the cookbook including:

• how to let your kids get their hands dirty in the kitchen
• 20 creative ideas for school lunches
• healthier Halloween snacks
• tips for freezing meals
• 10 best dishes for potlucks
• safest seafood for kids

For simple suggestions to be more eco-friendly in the kitchen, pick up a copy of SOS! The Six O’Clock Scramble to the Rescue!

WIN IT!

We are giving 1 reader the new cookbook by Aviva Goldfarb,  SOS! The Six O’Clock Scramble to the Rescue: Earth-Friendly, Kid-Pleasing Dinners for Busy Families !  You can enter to win in any of the following ways:

• Leave a comment asking the author, Aviva Goldfarb, a question.  Suggestions include: kids in the kitchen, recipes, eating seasonally and locally, planning meals or eating organically.  We’ll compile the questions and she’ll be responding to them in a future post.
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen.
• Retweet this contest.
• Become a Facebook fan.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.
• Follow Aviva Goldfarb on twitter.

Leave your comment by Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Contest open to all U.S. residents, ages 18+. We will choose 1 winner, at random, and notify them by email. Privacy Policy.

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.

Stubby Pencil Studio is one of our favorite resources for unique, eco-friendly gifts for children.  It’s also a great place to pick up quality choices for your Easter baskets.  Here are a few fun finds:

Washable Markers – I know Kate, the owner of Stubby Pencil Studio, has searched high and low for eco-friendly markers.  So far, these are the best she’s found.  They are non-toxic, made in the USA, and manufactured with 25% recycled plastic.

Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops – we tried these out months ago and totally agree, they are YUMMY!

Sparkle Star Crayons – These multi-colored, star shaped crayons are made from 100% recycled crayons. 

Wooden Bead Necklace – I’m always leary of buying cheap jewelry for my daughter as it’s often found to be tainted with lead.  This wooden necklace relieves my fears as it’s painted with non-toxic nitro-cellulose paint tested and found to be safe for children and non-polluting in natural water sources.

Envirosax Animal Planet Bird – I love Envirosax and this bird bag for kids is adorable!  It would make a great reusable Easter basket.

Wooden Harmonica – every child loves playing the harmonica.  This wooden one is painted with non-toxic nitro-cellulose paint tested and found to be safe for children and non-polluting in natural water sources.

WIN IT!

CONTEST CLOSED – Congratulations to the winner, Lori from Massachusetts!

1 lucky winner will get an Eco Easter Basket from Stubby Pencil Studio with over $60 worth of fun finds:

• Reusable rattan basket
• 6×9 Frogs Ecojot Sketchbook
• E-color-gy Washable markers
• Forest Choice Color Pencils
• 4 recycled cedar Pencils
• Soy Crayons
• Mary’s Softdough Rainbow Tub
• Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops
• Wooden Wind-up Bunny
• Wooden Dragonfly Spinner
• Pack of Color ‘n Kids Easter cards

You can enter to win in any of the following ways:

• Leave a comment telling us what your favorite Stubby Pencil Studio product is!
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen.
• Retweet this contest.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

Leave your comment by Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Contest open to all U.S. and Canadian residents, ages 18+. We will choose 1 winner, at random, and notify them by email. Privacy Policy.

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.

It’s THAT time again – music in stores, lights on houses, the smell of evergreen and pine.  Whether you wait for Thanksgiving to pass or not – the Christmas season has arrived and the shopping has begun.  Over the next several weeks, we’ll be highlighting great green gifts for your family and friends.

One of my favorite websites to shop for unique kid’s toys is Stubby Pencil Studio.  Mom and owner, Kate Rosenthal, stocks eco products for creative kids that are non-toxic and environmentally responsible.

This holiday season, skip the dollar bins – you never know what’s in those cheap products (check the ingredients, I often find phthalates, lead warnings or PVC) and pick up your kid’s stocking stuffers at Stubby Pencil Studio – all under $10 and much safer for your family.  Here are some of my favorites:

Holiday Smencils

Holiday Smencils- Grab these first, they were sold out last year!  5 limited edition gourmet scented pencils made from 100% recycled newspapers. Each Holiday Smencil comes packaged in its own (recyclable) Freshness Tube and come in 5 fun scents: Cinnamon, Sugar Plum, Candy Cane, Gingerbread & Sugar Cookie.  $6.50

Star Crayons- I can’t get enough of fun shaped crayons and your kids won’t either.  Each box holds 20 crayon stars in assorted colors and are made from 100% recycled crayons from the National Crayon Recycling Program.  Purchasing eco stars supports recycling education and employs people with disabilities.  $8.95

Monkey Pencils – Your kids will love taking these to school. 3 monkey pencils made from natural, chemical free rubber wood, and finished with non-toxic and child friendly colors.  $2.95

Star Crayons

YoYo- You can’t go wrong with a yoyo for any kid.  This classic yoyo is made from a wood called Ankudu and color is 100% lead-free, non-toxic vegetable dye and the lacquer comes from the sap of a rosewood tree.  $5.95

Envirosax for Kids- If you’ve been reading MGG long, you’d know that I love my Envirosax bags.  Now our kids can have one, too.  My daughter loves to put things in purses and bags and carry them around the house, to school and into the store with me.  Envirosax are a great way to introduce our kids to an eco-friendly lifestyle.  They come in 8 different designs.  $8.00

Color 'n Kids Thank You Go Set

Color ‘n Kids Card Sets – This is a great way to personalize notes from your kids.  All cards are printed on 100% PCW recycled stock and come with 6 colored envelopes: red, orange, yellow, lime green, green and blue. Cards measure 4.25″ x 5.5″.  Purchase 3 sets and receive a complimentary box of 24 vivid color pencils.  $7.95

Rainbox Softdough- Mary’s Softdough is a soft, non-crumbly modeling dough made from 100% food-quality ingredients. Completely non-toxic, this colorful tub of dough will last up to a year and provide hours of fun. An 18 oz. tub holds a rainbow of colors: red, yellow, green, blue and purple. Ingredients include flour, water, salt, cream of tartar, soybean oil, food coloring and sodium benzoate (a food preservative). $9.95

Made By Me Truck

Softdough Tool Set- No playdough set would be complete without tools to roll and cut the dough.  This 12 piece set includes a hardwood rolling pin and assorted cookie cutters: moon, star, sun, cloud, leaf, heart, frog, squirrel, butterfly, dragonfly, and turtle. $7.95

• Check out Stubby Pencil Studio and tell us what YOUR favorite products are!
• Follow us on twitter @mommygoesgreen and retweet this contest.

Leave your comment by Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 11:59PM PST.  Contest open to all U.S. residents, ages 18+.  We will choose 1 winner, by random, and contact them via email.  Privacy Policy.

 Congratulations to Sue for winning the shopping spree – enjoy!

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.