Mindful Momma

Eco-Parents Event in Linden Hills this Wednesday!!

Calling all Twin Citians (Minneapolitans, St. Paulites, Suburbanites, alike)!!  Here's your chance to come out and have a little eco-friendly fun this week!!  The Linden Hills Equipment's group is hosting a party at a brand new art gallery in Linden Hills. 

I will be there doing a fun little make-n-take project from the book and signing copies of my book, Practically Green!! 

Healthy snacks will be provided by Linden Hills Co-op and it wouldn't be a party without some sustainably produced wine!!  And don't worry, you don't have to be a member of the group or even a parent to come.  This party is open to everyone!

Wednesday, December 2nd

7:00 - 9:00 pm

Galleri M

4404 Abbott Avenue, S

Minneapolis

Hope to see you there!

Sharing

Hi!  I'm back!!  I really didn't plan to drop off the face of the blogosphere for 10 days, but apparently that's what happened.  We were in Madison, WI for an action-packed week that included a book signing at Orange Tree Imports, a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner (I was in charge of the desserts and they were delicious but not particularly green OR healthy!), plenty of exercise - running, walking the dog, throwing the football, swimming...and a couple of games of Parcheesi.  Every time I thought about writing a blog post....well, I think I just needed a break.

Thanks again for all the love and support for my book launch!  The virtual book launch party was a scream!  I'm actually kind of happy that it ended up happening on my blog instead of on Facebook - I think more people were able to participate.  All the winners have been contacted and I just sent a batch of prizes out myself today...so keep an eye on the mailbox if you won something! 

There were so many interesting and creative 'Practically Green' tips from the party - I want to share a few of them with you.  This is the season for sharing, right?

• In our neighborhood, we have created an e-mail list of moms and a wikispaces page so that we can pass along clothing. This has saved us all a ton of money on kids clothes, coats and costumes. (Eliza @ Urban Homesteader)
• For my kids I have: Turned onesies into T-shirts - Pulled elastic out of pants to make the waist larger and turn into capri's (for my daughter, not my son!) - Covered flowers on my daughter's old shirts with abstract squares (scraps of fabric sewn on) for my son. (Andrea @ Bringing Basics Back)
• I haven't bought a disposable coffee filter - ever and I'm a serious coffee drinker. When I was given a larger automatic coffee maker I bought a reusable gold coffee filter for it. The coffee grounds are composted or sprinkled in my potted plants or directly in my garden. (Lisa @ Condo Blues)
• I have a "birthday party box" of re-usable plates, cups, and utensilsthat I bring out for each kid's birthday. It all goes into a rubbermaid container so it's easy to clean and store away for the next birthday that rolls around. (jj24)
• One of our latest green stints was the birthday party we threw for my 8 yr-old daughter. We hired a naturalist to take us (kids and parents too!) on a tour of wild edibles and medicinal plants in a local park. It was very educational and entertaining. We gave out clay pots and organic mint plants, among other eco-friendly items as favors (no plastic trinkets or baggies).(Laureen)
• My favorite green cleaning tip is to mix baking soda and castile soap in an old squirt bottle(like catsup), and then squirt that under the toilet rim. After 5 minutes, follow with squirts of white vinegar - it makes the remaining baking soda fizz and remove grime. Then flush. (Jennifer @ The Smart Mama)
• Like pretty much everyone else, I use a lot of vinegar and baking soda. But most of all? I just under-clean. A little dirt is good for the soul. (The Raven)
• I use baking soda for my kids' shampoo lately and made a huge effort to use less sunscreen this summer and use coconut oil instead when I could. (Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship)
• I make homemade chicken soup in large batches, freeze them in reusable containers, and take those to work instead of using individual containers of soup. (Melissa)
• My husband started spooning out his yogurt from a large (2 lb) container each morning into a smaller reusable container to bring to work. (Shanna @ Devarim)
• Eucalyptus works great if you have animals to keep fleas and ticks off. (Amalia)
• I'm a big fan of opening windows (when it's not allergy season for us) to air out rooms and the house, periodically. (Pop and Ice)

{image from meg l's photostream via flickr}

Practically Green Book Launch Party Day #5: Wearing Green

Boy this week went fast - I can't believe it's the last day of the party!  Thanks so much for all the practically green tips you've shared.  I'm mighty impressed with what some of you have been up to!!

For the final day of the party, I thought we should talk clothes.  I'm not what you would call a clothes-horse but I do love using clothes to express my personal style. And if money were no object, I'd be buying sweaters from Edun, Loomstate jeans and fashion-forward tops from Loyale.  But I don't own any of that stuff.  Much of my clothing comes from consignment shops, with an occasional splurge on a pretty organic cotton dress from Birch Clothing like this one that I wore to my local book signing party:

 
Practically Green has a whole chapter on low impact clothing but it's not all about buying new. There are so many ways to green your wardrobe without spending a bundle.  If you didn't already catch it, check out my recent post about 5 Fun & Affordable Ways to Green Your Wardrobe. 

But let's admit, getting your hands on some hip, eco-fashion would be kinda fun, wouldn't it?  How 'bout a little something for the kids?  Baby Star, a design-savvy, eco-minded company based in Portland, is offering up a piece from their new organic denim collection to one Mindful Momma reader.  Choose from the boys jeans, the flared girls jeans or the adorable jean skirt. Makes me wish I had a little one again.

Last, but not least, I've got 2 copies of my book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making to give away!  From all the smart, practically green tips that have been coming in this week I think that some of you could have written your own books about green living.  But for anyone who does get their hands on a copy, I hope it inspires you to try something new!

For a chance to win please share a practically green tip about greening your wardrobe.  The contest is for one day only, ending at midnight, central time on Friday, November 20th.  (only one entry per person please and you must have a US shipping address.)

Thanks SO much for making my virtual book launch party so much fun!!

Miss Muffet was the lucky winner of organic denim from Baby Star!!  And Andrea & Kim each won a copy of Practically Green!

Practically Green Book Launch Party Day #4: Ditch the Disposables

Paper towels, wet wipes, disposable razors, plastic baggies, throw away cameras, even disposable toothbrushes....disposable products seem to have really hit their peak.  Sure disposables are convenient, but at what price?

Switching from disposables to reusables is an easy way to have a positive impact on the environment.  And it will probably save you money too.  My book, Practically Green, has a ton of ideas for ways to reuse instead of dispose.  One of them is switching to cloth napkins instead of paper.  It's easy to get into the habit of using paper when you have small kids....but I say, ditch the paper and use pretty, cloth napkins instead.  A few more items in the wash isn't going to kill you.  The book includes instructions for how to make your own cloth napkins, using fabric scraps or quilters quarters (also known as fat quarters) from the fabric store. 

But if sewing is not your thing, check out these gorgeous organic cotton napkins from Mika & Bu.  They are embroidered with adorable little designs and are perfect for home or lunchbox.  I've got 2 sets of 5 napkins to give away - one set of Twig and one set of Jet- to 2 lucky Mindful Momma readers!   The company is also offering a discount - buy one set of 5 napkins, get one set free!  Just use the code MINDFUL at checkout to receive the discount. (good thru 11/30/09)

Another impactful way to reduce waste is to stop using plastic baggies for snacks.  I know all too well how hard it can be to go anywhere without snacks in hand when you have little kids!  But it need not be a wasteful affair. Using a durable, reusable snack bag instead of plastic bags is just the ticket.  My book shows you how to make your own snack bag out of a napkin and a pretty ribbon but I've also got a snack bag giveaway for those of you who are not the crafty types.

Back when I did a review of Graze Organic, they sent me a very generous package of products to try out.  I'd like to share the wealth by giving away a couple of the items that I did not use....A snack bag labeled surprise? (guess you could put anything you want in it!) and an extra large sandwich bag that says "because every bag matters", as well as 2 cute organic cotton napkins.  You'll love 'em!!

Would you like to win?  Just leave a comment sharing a practically green tip or two about ways that you ditch the disposables in your life!  The contest will run for today only (ending at midnight, central time on Thursday, November 19th) and I will use a random number generator to pick the winners. (Note: only one entry per person and you must have a US shipping address!)

Catherine and Shanna are the lucky winners of the set/5 organic cotton napkins.  Lisa from Condo Blues won the goodies from Graze Organic!

Practically Green Book Launch Party Day #3: Healthy Earth, Healthy Family

So many people I've met say that having children was the catalyst for their desire to live a greener and healthier life.  That's certainly true in my case, and is the very reason why I started this blog and wrote my book!

When your primary focus is on nurturing and protecting your little one, it can come as a bit of a jolt to learn that a lot of products designed specifically for babies can be harmful to their health.  Things like soaps, lotions and even baby bottles can contain chemicals that are linked with some pretty scary health problems.  And to make matters worse, a child's body doesn't detoxify as readily as an adults so the same chemicals can have a stronger impact. 

Many of the same ingredients that can cause human harm, wreak havoc on the environment after they swirl down the drain or end up in a landfill somewhere.  I find that protecting the earth goes hand in hand with protecting my children because I want to make sure the planet is a better place for my kids to live.  That's why I strive to buy safe, natural products for my family...or to make my own.

Practically Green has a whole chapter on Natural Body Care, not only to help you cull through the slew of information out there on toxic chemicals but also to point you in the right direction for purchasing safer products and show you how to make your own, homemade body care products (like the Chocolate Facial Mask I just posted about the other day!) 

Here's another sneak peek from the book.  Homemade, reusable baby wipes:

And now for the giveaways....

Earth Mama Angel Baby had donated a $25 e-gift certificate to one of today's readers.  In case you didn't know, all EMAB body care products are rated 'zero' on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, making them completely safe to use on your baby.  My personal favorite is the Angel Baby Lotion- it smells like a dreamsicle!

I've also got a copy of The Mom's Guide to Growing Your Family Green by Terra Wellington to give away.  I reviewed this book awhile back and it's a keeper! Lots of helpful information specifically geared toward growing families.

For a chance to win, please share a practically green tip that answers the question - What have you done to grow your family green? The giveaway will run today only, through midnight central time on Wednesday, November 18th.  (only one entry per person and you must have a US shipping address.) 

Good luck!

Christy is the lucky winner of the $25 e-certificate to Earth Mama Angel Baby and Katie won the book!!   

Practically Green Book Launch Party: Day #2 - Waste Free Lunches

Welcome back to the party!  Whether you're ready for it or not, it's time to talk about lunch. Have you packed a lunch today - for yourself or anyone else?  If so, was it full of plastic baggies and individually packaged snacks?  You're not alone if it was because frankly, that's what most people do. 

My book, Practically Green offers a bunch of suggestions for how to pack a waste-free lunch, as well as recipes for sustainable snacks - without the wasteful packaging and lively lunches - designed to appeal to kids and adults alike!  So next time you're packing that lunchbag, try a couple of these tips to try to make it just a little more sustainable:

 

Lucky for us, a couple of my favorite companies in the lunch-packing biz have offered up prizes for the party!

Lunchbots, a family-owned business in Northern California, makes reusable, stainless steel lunch containers and is giving away a Lunchbot of your choice.  Pick from the Uno, the Duo, the Eco or the Pico.  Having reviewed these in the past I can attest to the fact that they are durable and adorable.  My older son has his lunch packed in a Duo almost every day of the week!

Kids Konserve, another awesome company dedicated to helping people go waste-free at lunchtime, is offering a set of 3 stainless steel lunch containers to one Mindful Momma reader.  These extremely practical containers are made from food grade stainless steel with a leakproof #4 plastic lid.   They are also offering a 15% off code for Mindful Momma readers.  Just use the code mindful at checkout anytime through 11/30/09.

If you'd like a chance to win, please leave a comment with a practically green tip for reducing lunchtime waste.  This giveaway runs today only, ending at midnight on Tuesday, November 17th.  (only one entry per person and you must have a US shipping address)

Come back tomorrow for more practically green tips and another chance to win!

This contest is now closed.  The winners are:  Betsy - who gets a LunchBot of her choice and Stacey who won the set/3 stainless containers from Kids Konserve.  (I will contact the winners directly.)

Practically Green Book Launch Party: Day #1 The Non-Toxic Home

Welcome to the party!! I'm SO excited about giving away all these prizes.  This is just the first of 5 days of giveaways so be sure to keep checking back each day to see what's new!

Today I want to focus on the importance of eliminating toxins from your home.  With the Million Baby Crawl campaign going on (and the Crawl to Action events coming up on Wednesday!), there has been a lot of focus on toxins lately - and that's a good thing.  Many people don't realize that the indoor air in a typical home has chemical contamination levels 2 to 5 times greater than outdoor air. 

One of the biggest sources of those toxic chemicals in homes is cleaning products.  Yes - the very products we are using to clean our homes can be extremely bad for us and for the earth as well.  There's a whole chapter on cleaning products in Practically Green with info on the types of chemicals you'll want to avoid as well as helpful tips for how to scrub your home the healthy way!

To help me celebrate the book launch, a couple of great cleaning product companies have donated prizes to get you started on your way to a non-toxic home:

Seventh Generation is giving away a Healthy Home gift bag that contains 7 full sized cleaning products in a reusable tote bag.  Pretty much everything you need to give your home a green, clean makeover!

EcoStore has generously donated a $25 gift certificate to their web store.  Check out their eco-friendly, plant-based household cleaning products as well as some really nice bath soaps (I can vouch for them - I've reviewed their products in the past).

For a chance to win, just leave a comment letting me know your practically green tips for cleaning house.  The giveaway runs today only - ending at midnight, central time on Monday, November 16th.  (only one entry per person please and you must have a US shipping address)

And the lucky winners are....Andie - for the Seventh Generation gift bag and Amalia for the $25 EcoStore gift certificate.  I will notify the winners directly via email.

Calling all Babies: Join in the Million Baby Crawl

Have you heard?  Babies everywhere are crawling to Washington to say "no" to toxic chemicals found in our homes. Seventh Generation, maker of safe, eco-friendly cleaning supplies is leading the way by sponsoring the Million Baby Crawl.  The campaign is intended to bring awareness to the problem of toxins found in commonly used household products and to DEMAND change in Washington! 

You can help by creating your own crawler (just takes a minute!) and spreading the word about the campaign.  And, if you live in Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, New York City or Burlington, VT, you can attend a Crawl to Action event on Wednesday, November 18th. 

I've been asked to participate in the Crawl to Action here in Minneapolis.  It takes place at Southdale Mall in Edina from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, next Wednesday, November 18th.  There will be plenty of cool activities and free samples:

Soapbox Photo Op area where Mom and Dad can capture their little activist taking a stand. All children will receive a "Say No to Toxins!" rally flag.

A sign-making station where participants can make their voice heard on their own custom sign.

The Crawler Computer station where you can join the community on www.millionbabycrawl.com.

Entertainment by local family-themed musicians and performers.

Appearances by local dignitaries and celebrities showing support for the cause.

A Crawl to the Capitol children’s area.

Rallying in support of Toxic Substances Control Act reform.

A Season of Change mural where you can make your mark in support of the cause.

A t-shirt- and baby-t-making station.

Educational information about creating a healthy home.

Free Seventh Generation product and giveaways.  

Please participate in any way you can.  Let's make some noise and demand change to keep our babies safe!!

Practically Green Virtual Book Launch Party!!

Hey everyone!  To celebrate the release of my book, Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making, I was planning to host a 'party' on my Practically Green Facebook page today.  But Facebook just threw a little wrench in my plans by announcing a new policy that prohibits the administration of any contests or giveaways on their site.  Yikes - was that bad timing or what??

Not to worry though.  I'm moving the whole thing over here to my blog instead.  It's still a party and there will still be prizes.  It's a virtual party - so you can come in your pajamas if you want - no one will know.  I just hope you'll stop by and say hello!!

How will it work?  Stop by Monday.  And the day after that.  And the day after that.  In fact for 5 days in a row, I will be posting a little tidbit from Practically Green along with giveaways for some really awesome eco-goodies!  All you have to do for a chance to win each day is to share some of your favorite practically green tips with Mindful Momma readers in the comments.  Oh, and each giveaway will run for one day only - so be sure to check back each day for more!  (And of course, I'll be using my handy-dandy random number generator to pick the winners so everything is fair and square.)

See you Monday!

{image of Chihuly glass by disneymike via flickr}

Green Books Campaign: Fresh - The Ultimate Live-Food Cookbook

 

Raw Food.  I've been intrigued by it for ages, but have never been quite ready to delve into it.  But when I was asked to be a part of the Green Books campaign and I saw the book Fresh - The Ultimate Live-Food Cookbookby Sergei and Valya Boutenko on the list of available books to review I decided that now was the time to take the plunge.

 

Well, I didn't exactly take the plunge. It's not like I went totally raw for a week or anything, but I did try out a couple of recipes and after trying them, I'm definitely ready for more!

 

I was pleasantly surprised with my first ever raw, garden burger made with almonds, carrots, onion and raisins along with a few seasonings.  Admittedly, I had trouble seeing it as a true replacement for a burger - but it was a great-tasting spread, perfect for eating with carrot sticks or crackers.  I also whipped up a green smoothie - with spinach, banana, apple and orange - and got a big thumbs up from my 9 year old!  We were all feeling pretty darned healthy after our meal!

 

What I like about this cookbook is that most of the recipes are quite simple and made with ingredients that are readily available.  Having a food processor and a high-quality blender are key though - you won't get very far without a couple of strong appliances!  And if you are serious about raw food, you might want to invest in a food dehydrator.  If you are not up for buying new, look for a used one on Craigslist - that's what I am planning to do!

 

The story behind the book is quite intriguing as well.  The authors, Sergei and Valya Boutenko are siblings whose parents put the whole family on a raw food diet to deal with numerous, chronic health issues.  Sergei was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of nine and after switching to raw foods, became cured of the illness!!  I've heard that eating raw can give you more energy and help you to feel more healthy overall.  I'm all for that but I personally can't see going completely raw at this stage in my life (with a whole family to feed!) but at some point, I'd love to give it a more serious go.

 

Meanwhile, I will continue to make more recipes from the book.  Here are a few that I am itching to try:

• Cashew Garden Burgers
• Romaine Pomegranate Salad (with avocado!)
• Golden Flax Crackers (made in a dehydrator)
• Cashew-Orange Thumbprints
• Pina Colada Bars (I'm a sucker for desserts!) 
• Almond Milk (mixed with dates - Yum!

My impression is that Fresh - The Ultimate Live-Food Cookbook is a really good place to start if you are interested in exploring the world of raw food.  It's pretty straight-forward and is not intimidating at all.  Are you on a raw food diet or have you experimented with eating raw?  If so, I'd love to hear about it - what are your favorite recipes and what works best for you? 

P.S. The book is printed in the United States on 30% recycled paper. 

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. The goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a  a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.  My book, Practically Green is being reviewed over at Gloria's Place. Please have a look!