Mindful Momma

Writing for J.R. Watkins Naturals Clear Conscience Blog!

Today I've got some fun news to share: I've got a new writing gig with a natural products company called J.R. Watkins Naturals. Have you heard of them? I bet you have - because they've been around for a really long time - the company was founded in 1868! They are also from Minnesota - making them a local business for me!

Watkins products run the range from cleaning and home care products to personal care products to natural seasonings and extracts - including their famous vanilla! You've probably noticed the apothecary-style packaging  - I love the "old-fashioned" look of their products!

In order to add a little excitement to this well-established brand, the company decided to start a new blog called the Clear Conscience Blog to provide news and information about natural living to their many loyal customers. They chose 3 bloggers to write for the blog - and I am thrilled to be one of them! My first post - Easy Tips for Sustainable Snacking - was published today and an introductory Q&A post ran earlier this week. 

Writing with me are 2 other incredible bloggers: my friend Lori from Groovy Green Livin and Elizabeth from Beauty Bets. I hope you will check out the Clear Conscience blog - I think you'll like what you see! 

(Full Disclosure: J.R. Watkins Naturals is compensating me for my work.)

Taking Action for Safer Chemicals

Most of you following my blog know that I'm pretty passionate about the need to overhaul our nation's outdated chemical policies. I've been helping out on the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families campaign for about 9 months now - trying to raise awareness about toxic chemicals in everyday products and gather support for a really good solution - the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 - that we need Congress to pass ASAP!

Today I posted on the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families blog about how fall feels like the perfect time to get engaged and involved in a cause that is close to your heart. In that spirit, we are asking people to take our Fall into Action for Safer Chemicals pledge. The pledge is basically a commitment to do what you can to keep your family safe from toxic chemicals. When you sign the pledge we will send you a weekly email with easy tips and actions to make it easier to follow through on your commitment. It's that simple!

Will you join me and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and take the pledge?

(image credit: nick see via flickr)

Bamboo Bottle Company Makes Stylish, Insulated, Glass Bottles

Given a choice, I prefer to drink water out of a glass container. Glass doesn't leach harmful chemicals like plastic, it adds no flavor to the water like metal sometimes does and I just like the way it feels.

That's why I'm groovin' on this new glass bottle from the Bamboo Bottle Company. The glass part is encased in a pretty bamboo sleeve, so it's safe from breakage. Here are some of the other things I like about this bottle:

• Insulated and heat-tempered - so it keeps water cool and tea hot!
• Uses just a little bit of plastic - BPA-free of course!
• Comes apart easily for cleaning.
• Super stylish - and it looks good next to my laptop!
• The company partners with 1% For the Planet, Native Energy and Green Merchants Alliance.

There is one big drawback though - it's heavy. This is not a bottle you want to bring on a hike. Rather it's perfect for keeping at the office where it can sit pretty on your desk and feed you cold (or hot) liquids whenever you need them!

(Full disclosure: I was sent a free sample by the Bamboo Bottle Company)

Easy Homemade Granola Bars

It was our turn to bring team treats last weekend for both Drew and Liam's soccer teams and my husband decided to make homemade granola bars. People were pretty shocked that we brought homemade treats - and even more surprised to learn that John made them!

Instead of following a recipe, John winged it using ideas from the Healthy Snacks to Go eBook and the recipe for Go Bars in my book. They turned out so well, I decided to write up a recipe based on what he remembered doing. But of course, I couldn't just leave his recipe alone - I had to doctor it up a bit for myself!

The point is that homemade granola bars are surprisingly easy to adapt. Substitute your favorite sweetener, whatever nuts, seeds or dried fruit you have in the house....you get the idea! Here's the recipe I ended up with. Use it as a base to make whatever kind of granola bars you like best!

Do you ever bring homemade snacks as team snacks? Do you have a favorite recipe you would like to share?

(Full Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.)

(This post is linked up on Real Food Wednesday over at Kelly the Kitchen Kop and Your Green Resource at Green Backs Gal - check them both out for even more great real food and green living ideas!)

Pear Tree Greetings - Eco Friendly, Personalized Holiday Cards {Giveaway!}

If you are an eco-minded type like me, it can be hard to justify sending paper holiday cards through the mail every year. But it's such a nice tradition - and I certainly love to be on the receiving end! Fortunately, some companies are now offering recycled paper options - so you can send your holiday greetings without the eco-guilt.

Pear Tree Greetings is one of those companies. Nearly all of their greeting cards are printed on 100% post consumer recycled cardstock. That includes photo cards! They even have a special section of recycled holiday cards that include recycled paper envelopes. Even better? You can personalize them with your own message.

Afraid that recycled paper looks less than fabulous? Have no fear - the samples they sent me were proof of the durable cardstock and excellent photo quality. And they have lots of lovely graphic designs to choose from. See for yourself by visiting their website.

How would you like to send out some personalized Pear Tree Greetings cards this holiday? The company is offering a $100 gift certificate for personalized holiday cards to one lucky Mindful Momma reader! For a chance to win, please leave a comment on this post letting us know which Pear Tree Greetings style is your favorite. For additional chances to win feel free to do the following (please leave a separate comment for each thing you do!):

• Like Mindful Momma on Facebook
• Follow Mindful Momma on Twitter
• Sign up for my RSS feed or email
• Like Pear Tree Greetings on Facebook
• Tweet about the giveaway using @PearTreeGrtngs in the tweet.

That's 6 chances to win per person. The giveaway will run through midnight central time on Friday, September 30th, 2011 (you must have a U.S. mailing address to win). Good luck!!

(Full Disclosure: Pear Tree Greetings is providing both the winner and myself with $100 product gift certificates. Also - I just signed up to be an affiliate of Pear Tree Greetings. If you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. Thank you if you do!)

The winner is Betsy from Crafty Garden Mama. Hope you love your customized holiday cards!

Guilt-Free Lunch Box Treats

Do you remember the anticipation of opening up your lunchbox at school, wondering what yummy treat might be inside? I do - vividly! Lunch was my favorite subject - a chance to chat with my girlfriends and relax for awhile before heading back to class. And I was so excited to find a homemade cookie or maybe an Oreo for dessert!

Well, I'm not big on Oreos but I am willing to give my boys a little sweet treat in their lunch, along with all the healthy stuff. Something not too junky but still great tasting! Here are some ideas that work for me:

• Homemade cookies - Our favorite PBOC cookies are always the number one choice!
• Organic & natural cookies - For store-bought cookies, Matt's are the best substitute I've found for homemade. My boys also like Barbara's Snackimals (love the 2 new flavors - double chocolate and peanut butter) or Annies Bunny Grahams. And for a healthier version of Oreos - try Newman O's (the ginger creme and peanut butter are our 2 favs)
• Granola or cereal bars - There's a recipe in my book for Go Bars - an easy homemade, no-bake granola bar. My boys also like Z-Bars but I don't tend to buy them very often.
• Fruit & nut bars - We recently discovered Orchard Bars - all natural energy bars made from fruit, nuts & seeds - that come in 5 flavor combos. They are SO good - and different from anything else I've seen on the market.*  We also love Matt's Dutch Apple or Raspberry Fruit Bars - yum!
• Trail mix - Buy it in bulk or mix up your own combo of nuts and dried fruit with Sundrops, carob chips or chocolate chips mixed in for fun.
• Fresh fruit - Give them something special like mango, fresh pineapple or raspberries and they'll forget all about dessert!
• For more healthy treat ideas, check out the Healthy Snacks To Go eBook from Katie at Kitchen Stewardship. It's chock full of yummy ideas!

*If you are interested in trying Orchard Bars, here's a great deal: 2 bars + free shipping for only $2.50.

Do you include dessert in your child's lunch box? What do your kids like best?

(Full Disclosure: I received free samples of Orchard Bars and Barbara's Snackimals - in exchange for my honest opinion. I am also an affiliate of the Healthy Snacks To Go eBook.)

Easy Dryer Sheet Alternatives

How is it that we have come to rely so heavily on putting a sheet of heavily scented paper in our dryer every time we do the laundry? I did a little research and discovered that scented dryer sheets were an invention of the 1970's as a way to deliver fabric softeners more effectively.  Today, we know that scented laundry products contain toxic chemicals and even known carcinogens. Don't you wish we had left the dryer sheets behind with the pet rocks and the purple shag carpeting?

Fortunately, there are safer ways to scent, soften & reduce static in your laundry if you so desire:

Scent:

• Toss a lavender sachet into your dryer. You can easily make your own or buy them on Etsy but I admit to buying them from Trader Joe's occasionally.
• Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a reusable cloth in the dryer.

Soften:

• Add 1/2 cup of baking soda in with your detergent in the wash cycle. Baking soda is a natural water softener.
• Vinegar is also popular for softening laundry. About 1/2 cup in the fabric softener container should do the trick.
• Soak a cotton cloth in your favorite eco-friendly fabric softener. Squeeze out any excess liquid and toss in the dryer.

Static:

• Dry synthetic fabrics separately from natural fibers as synthetics tend to create more static cling.
• Throw a dryer ball or a tennis ball into the dryer to help eliminate static. I love these handmade, wool dryer balls from Etsy!*
• Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Don't worry, your favorite shirt won't smell like a pickle - the vinegar smell dissipates in the wash!

Do you use dryer sheets or have you come up with an alternative that works for you?

*Brooke from matchstickgirl on Etsy just emailed me and offered a 10% discount on her dryer balls - just use code mindfulmomma at checkout! I'm buying some, how about you?

Notes: Healthy Child, Healthy World is talking about laundry this week. Check them out for more green & healthy laundry tips! Also check out the weekly Your Green Resource round-up of green tips and solutions - I linked up this post over there too.

PBOC Cookies

What's a PBOC cookie? Why Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, of course! Also known as my family's favorite homemade cookie.

Why do I like them so much? They are made with 1/2 white whole wheat flour and 1/2 all-purpose flour, plus a bunch of whole grain oats. Add in some natural peanut butter (the kind with no added sugar) for protein and high-quality chocolate chips and you've got a satisfying cookie that is practically healthy!

Why do my boys like them so much? They taste incredibly delicious!

PBOC Cookies*

1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup chunky peanut butter

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup white whole wheat flour (or whole wheat flour)

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 cup chocolate chips (or carob chips)

Mix dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and put aside. Beat butter and both sugars together until smooth. Mix in eggs, one at a time.  Then add peanut butter and vanilla and mix well. Add dry ingredients in two batches, mixing well after each addition.  Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls onto un-greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

*Mindful Momma recommends organic ingredients whenever possible.

 Do you have a favorite, almost-healthy cookie recipe? Please share!

Little Me Tea - An Organic Tea & Juice Blend for Kids

Milk or water? That's the big choice our boys get for beverages most days. Plus a little bit of orange juice in the morning if they want.  Occasionally it's nice to get a special drink though. Sometimes we make homemade soda in our SodaStream and when we are at a party or out to eat, we do let them have a caffiene-free soda as a very special treat!

Recently we were sent samples of a new special drink to try - something healthy enough that I'd be comfortable serving it every day. Little Me Tea is a blend of organic, caffiene-free tea and pure fruit juices.

What's great about Little Me Tea?

• Very low sugar - an 8-oz serving contains only 7 grams of sugar - compared to 26 grams in an average 100% juice beverage.
• Tea is full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals.
• Certified USDA Organic.
• Acerola berry juice provides a whole food source of Vitamin C.
• Packaged in environmentally friendly, BPA-free Tetra Pak cartons.

Best of all - it tastes fabulous!! Drew and Liam gave both flavors, tropical and grape two thumbs up!

Little Me Tea is available in select Whole Foods Markets and online.

(Full Disclosure: I was sent free samples of Little Me Tea in exchange for me honest opinion.)

Healthy Afterschool Snacks

"Can I have a snack?" That's the first thing my boys ask when they get home after school. They are always ravenous - often begging for something sweet, although they usually want a substantial "power snack" as well. It can be a challenge to find something healthy and filling that doesn't take a lot of effort to make. Here are a few things that go over well at our house:

• Toast or graham crackers with peanut or almond butter
• Cheese & crackers
• Small burritos or cheesy tortillas - I don't typically buy frozen snacks, but Evol sent me some snack-sized burritos that you heat in the microwave. My boys loved them! Of course, making your own is not hard either.
• Healthy cookies - Our favorite: peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chip.
• Fresh fruit  - I keep a large bowl of fruit on the counter at all times.
• Yogurt parfait - Layers of yogurt, fruit and granola - always a fav!
• Smoothies - My 11 year old makes them himself, using fresh or frozen fruit and yogurt or homemade kefir.
• For more healthy snack ideas, consider the Healthy Snacks To Go eBook from Katie at Kitchen Stewardship. It has recipes for snack bars, muffins, smoothies and much more!

What are your favorite after-school snacks?

{image credit: pinkhippodesign via Flickr}

(Full disclosure: Evol sent me free product to try and I am an affiliate of the Healthy Snacks To Go eBook.)