Snow, snow, go away… January 14, 2011

This winter has been pretty brutal where I live. It’s been freezing cold since December 1st and we’ve had two snow storms so far – one took us days to dig out of. When your only sources of transportation (along with a stroller) are feet, subway and bus, that means there’s some afternoons stuck indoors. I’m always on the lookout for fun activities that will keep my 3 year old happy on blustery days and keeping it “green” is always a plus. After all, you can only bake so many muffins!

Here’s some things we’ve tried and plan on doing soon. Have any more great links to try out? Let me know!

Photo from Flickr by Helen207

Recycled Crayons

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade play dough and dye

Make your own play dough and make your own food based food coloring to brighten it up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade butter

Homemade butter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make your own paper houses

Make your own paper houses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make your own simple doll clothes

Make your own simple doll clothes

 

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!

DIY Aquarium June 1, 2010

Check out this adorable and very clever, homemade aquarium that Made By Joel put together. I’m on the lookout for a great box so I can make my own!

Photo from Flickr by Paul Davidson

A “Green House” for my Green Girl December 18, 2009

My daughter turned 2 years old this week and leading up to her birthday, I looked all over for a doll house. Most are geared for 3 year olds. I didn’t want to get her something too simple that she’d grow out of soon and then feel the need to replace it with a more sophisticated one  later.

So here’s what I did instead!

I bought this Plan Toys Modern Furniture Set, which is made from all natural organic recycled rubber wood, but left out a few pieces in the doll house due to its size.  My thinking is that these pieces are ones that a child of any age would enjoy playing with. There’s two additional sets pictured – the Plan Toys Doll House Nursery and the Plan Toys City Casual Family of Four.

The house itself? Well it’s pretty “green” too since it’s from a recycled box. If there comes a point later on where she wants an actual doll house, I didn’t add a simpler one to a land fill and saved some money along the way. I’m really hoping Green Girl lives up to her name and continues to like this one though!

I know all of you have great imaginations! What have you recycled into toys for your little ones?

The eco-classroom for back to school August 14, 2009

Go on over to Eco Women today where list some ideas of what your new child’s teacher may love that’s cluttering up your closet.

Giveaway – Greening your “joe on the go” the Etsy, eco-way May 28, 2009

This giveaway is now over – Congratulations to Beth@Smart Family Tips, Kim Townsend, and Jessica.

The winning comments are:

Here is your sequence:

 3
 8
15
Timestamp: 2009-06-05 16:57:09 UTC

Because one of the winners did not respond, I had to have Random.org choose another:
Congratulations Greentechmama!

Here is your sequence:
18
Timestamp: 2009-06-09 16:46:18 UTC

Please note that one of them comments was my own so this was not counted in numbering the winning comments.

I've mentioned Etsy on this blog a few times now. It's the best place to find a hand made items by talented individuals. There's clothing, jewelry, household items, knitted and crocheted items - the list goes on and on. Eco-Etsy is where sellers use recycled materials for their craft. It's amazing what they come up with. You really need to check them both out if you haven't already.
One of my "Trying To Be Greener" reader's is a "green" Etsy crafter there. She and her husband, Zach, created Hobocamp Handmade in 2004. Melissa is the head seamstress and crafty scientist who works on creating everyday things a little bit cuter, and a little bit greener, by using recycled and vintage fabrics and anything else she can get her hands on. They've just had a baby and have started to design green baby items, too. Melissa also has her own blog, too.
Lucky you! Melissa is offering a coffee cuff made from recycled and vintage fabrics to 3 lucky readers! What a great way to protect your hands, save cardboard, and make a really great eco-statement!

		
		

			

				
			

			

				
			

			

				
			

			

		


You can enter a total of 5 times – leave a separate comment for each entry.

Leave a comment on this post for your first entry saying which coffee cuff you'd love to win. Only one comment per person will count as an entry.
Subscribe to Trying To Be Greener or let me know if you’re already a subscriber.
Spread the word on Twitter with a link to this post.
Give this post a Stumble.
Blog about this contest on your own site.

This giveaway is open to US residents and will end on June 4, 2009 at 12 midnight, EST. The lucky winners will be chosen by Random.org and will be notified by email. If any winner does not respond within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Now you see it, now you don’t May 4, 2009

The other day I saw a commercial for Sun Chips by FritoLay. It was advertising how their bags will be completely compostable by Earth Day 2010. The bags will be made from polyastic acid, or PLA, and will compost in 12-16 weeks at temperatures over 55 degrees F, according to Tree Hugger. Tree Hugger has obtained a bag and will be checking these facts.

Compostable Sun Chips Bag Commercial

Please understand that I’m not advocating junk food here. What a great day it would be if everyone ate whole foods and not processed ones. But we know that foods like Sun Chips aren’t going away any time soon many products like these are consumed around the planet daily. This is at least a step in a better direction and perhaps it will prompt other companies to implement similar packaging with their own products.

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Can you hear me now… recycling? April 13, 2009

MSNBC is reporting today that the Environmental Protection Agency, wireless phone carriers, and CTIA (the wireless trade industry association) are all working together to help increase awareness of the need to recycle old cell phones in honor of Earth Day this April 22nd. According to the EPA, only about 10% of 140 million cell phones were recycled in 2007. Phones that aren’t recycled are often stored away or put in the trash where they end up in landfills, where toxic elements from them contaminate the environment. Eighty percent of a phone’s material can be recycled.

• AT&T  and T-Mobile have vowed to standardize chargers by 2012 for most cell phones. Thrown-away chargers generate more than 51,000 tons of waste a year.
• AT&T provides free shipping labels for the Cell Phones for Soldiers program, which recycles phones and uses the proceeds to buy phone cards for troops stationed overseas.
• Sprint offers customers a buy-back program and offers up to a $50 credit.
• T-Mobile’s “Huddle Up” program uses funds from recycled phones and gives grants to organizations that work with children.
• Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine recycled phone program, that began in 2001, takes usable cells and gives them to domestic violence awareness and prevention organizations around the country.

Before you use any of these programs for recycling, be sure to erase all information from the phone.

Photo from Flickr by Gaetan Lee

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Food just seems tastier when you make a mess. March 13, 2009

As of a few months ago, my husband and I started taking Eco Girl out to dinner occasionally. But believe me, it’s still a stressful situation of trying to keep her happy with food in front of her and hoping she lasts long enough in the high chair for me to at least get some of my food down before she wants to get up.

I’ve tried putting food on a napkin in front of her – of course that doesn’t last long. Off it goes onto the floor. But then a friend told me about these plastic sheets you can tape down to the table that act like a placemat that won’t move. The idea of it is great but I just don’t like using one more “disposable”. I tried to come up with a reusable option myself but then learned that The Soft Landing, one of my favorite sites for safer feeding choices, carries just what I’m looking for!

BPA and PVC Free Kiddopotamus Tiny Dinner Placemat

The BPA and PVC Free Kiddopotamus Tiny Dinner Placemat:

• is made of durable material.
• is eco-friendly and reusable.
• stays in place with seven strong suction cups.
• contains the mess with rimmed edges.
• scoop catches spills before they land on your child’s lap.

When it’s not in use, it rolls up into itself and fits perfectly in a diaper bag so it’s always available when you need it. Not only is it great for restaurants but it’s also really helpful when you’re visiting places where there is no highchair and your child is sitting on your lap and eating at a table.

Problem solved. Now there’s just the whole “table manners” to tackle!

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

So, be honest, do you recycle these? March 9, 2009

Take the poll below!

Ideal Bite really brought something to my attention the other day. I don’t recycle these. I’ve just never thought of it and have always just thrown them in the waste paper basket in the bathroom absentmindedly.

Photo from Flickr by Extremeezine

According to Ideal Bite, a family of four uses about 240 rolls per year. That’s a lot of rolls in one household. How about a town or state?!!!

So be honest readers, do you recycle your toilet paper rolls. Take the poll below!

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.