A handy list of “green” summer links July 9, 2010

At the moment, the temperature is 101° F outside and it’ll be the same for tomorrow. I’m really not into these hot temperatures – what can I say, I’m more of an “Autumn kind of girl”.

Here’s a list of some handy sites to help get you through the summer months of heat, sun, and “mom, what else is there to do????” on those lazy days of summer:

• SafeMama’s 2010 Safer Sunscreen Cheat Sheet
• A natural alleviation for sun burn
• SafeMama’s 2010 Safer Bug Repellant Cheat Sheet
• The Soft Landing’s PVC-free pools and toys list
• The Soft Landing’s PVC-free Pool Cover List
• BPA-free ice pop molds here, here, here, and here. Let’s not forget some great homemade recipes for them too!
• A great list of some do it yourself, “green” summer toys
• Some nice lists of summer reading books for all ages
• Some great, “green” summer games that you can put together with object found around the house

Keep cool everyone!

Photo from Flickr by Tibchris

DIY “green” toys that spark the imagination June 11, 2010

Since my daughter was born two-and-a-half years ago, my “going green with baby” focus has changed with her age. First it was all about safe BPA-free baby bottles, then the same for teethers, sippy cups and unbreakable plates and cups. The Soft Landing and Safe Mama were amazingly helpful in these areas and saved me a lot of internet searches for the safest products out there.

Right now, the focus is all about fun, fun, fun. Imaginative play is what it’s all about these days and I find myself thinking often of what I can do to make it exciting and new. The challenge is seeing if I can make it a little “green” while saving a a little “green” too.

The first thing I did was make a doll house out of a box.

Then I made a stove and oven out of an old box.

If you’re feeling more adventurous and want to make a more elaborate kitchen, try this link for some other ideas.

Afterward, I filled up her kitchen with felt food to play with. Why go for the plastic ones when you can make your own! Here’s a great list of free patterns so you can sew your own. If your sewing skills have seen better days, then have a look at Etsy where you can buy all kinds made from very crafty individuals.

Here’s a really easy one I made that anyone can do – spaghetti with sauce!

Of course, you can always recycle some containers from your own kitchen.

And let’s not forget the always popular playhouse out of an old box — who didn’t do that when they were a kid?!!! It’s pretty simple to do but if you want some instructions, try here.

My next project is a super easy, very “green” aquarium that Made By Joel posted a few weeks ago.

Check out all his ideas — they’ll keep both you and your children busy for months!

Getting arts-and-craftsy the eco-way! May 14, 2010

I do my best to be as “green” as I can be (which, believe me, does fall short sometimes – hey, no one’s perfect). But I also like to save a penny here and there too. My daughter is almost 2 1/2 now and she’s really into art supplies, like crayons and water colors. It made me think – “What else is out there to help fuel some creative, artsy juices?” I found “greener”, “safer” options over the traditional, but many of them were costly and adding on shipping made them even pricier. What’s a “Frugal Green Girl” to do? Make them herself, that’s what!

Here’s some interesting links for making your own art supplies. I haven’t tried them all but they look promising. If you give any of these a try, leave a comment and let us know what you think! Some of the recipes call for food coloring. Since none of these finished products are meant to be eaten, you can use traditional ones. However, if you’d like to go a more natural route, check out this link for one and see here and here for where you can buy it.

• Homemade Playdough
• Make your own paper
• Recycle your old crayons into new crayons
• Homemade fingerpaint
• Make your own glue
• Ooblick (don’t ask – just check it out!)
• Homemade glitter
• Salt dough clay
• Make your own water color paint

Photo from Flickr by loves dc

Have some fun testing your Eco-IQ January 16, 2009

Have some fun today and test your Eco-IQ.

Oh, and have a good weekend too!

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