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be my Green Valentine

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Why is it so hard to be green and frugal on holidays?  I go to Target and see all these cute things–they say love, joy, happy–BUY ME!  The candy section is brimming with all my favorites–in pink and red–but wait, I still have candy from Halloween!  I need a eli-pen for buying cute!

I also need a plan for how to share my love for my family and friends!  This is where I am:

For the sweet treat lover:  a box of hot chocolate, chocolate raspberry yogurt, Chobani just came out with some new flavors, a family dessert–this year I’m going to make a heart shaped ice cream cake and let the kids add their own toppings of hot fudge and strawberries.

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For the frugal romantic:  giving the same card–corny but my husband and I enjoy reading and seeing how our loves has grown from “I love you so much, you are the most important thing to me” to “I love you so much, you are the most important thing to me because I know I can count on you–no matter what!”  It shows the evolution of a love affair. (yes this is my 1st Valentine’s Day card from my husband–before he was my husband.  In the words of my daughter, “I didn’t know paper could live that long.”

For the plant lover:  instead of cut flowers consider a plant.  A tiny rosemary tree for the dining room table, potted herbs–I love basil and tarragon for salad dressings in the winter.  Or check out this list. (insert link to your recent post)  A mint plant is wonderful for making tea (and they even have chocolate mint plants).  For the frugal friend you can grow celery or beet greens.  (But you’ll need to start today!)

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For the homemade gift lover:  A water bottle cozy made from a felted sweater.  This is super easy–just use the arms–no sewing just cutting–for a no frills cozy.   I added a felted flower but you could easily sew on beads, stitch a heart or add ribbon.  This cozy is my version of Holly.

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This year I plan on sending e-cards, saving on paper and postage.  I’m going to have my kids make a heart garland with words of gratitude to decorate our home through Easter.  I’m looking for natural/green ways to show that we care for each other and the earth . . . not just on February 14–but all year-long.

How do you show your “green love?”  I would love to hear your ideas.

Be Blessed.

 

 

Bedwetting 101 or not quite Potty Trained

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My husband had a great idea to clear out the linen closet and found an old vinyl table-cloth and a raggy old sheet and jokingly said “is this an heirloom?”

My reply was matter of fact and sincere.  “No, it is for when the kids wet the bed!” and I kept working.  He reminded me that our kids are WELL past the bed wetting stage and I reminded him of:

  • our move
  • illness . . . to many to list
  • too many late nights in a row
  • too many hours in the pool
  • Kindergarten (first week)
  • 1st grade (first week)
  • a new therapist (new demands and another personality to deal with)
  • a developmental milestone–like learning how to ride a bike or swing by pumping your legs

My kids have all had their share of stress induced bedwetting.  So I found an awesome solution.

An old vinyl tablecloth and an old sheet.  If you cover the mattress pad with the table-cloth–it prevents the mattress pad and mattress from getting soaked.  (IN THE EVENT OF FLU–THIS IS AN GREAT WAY TO JUST CLEAN ONE LAYER OF PUKE OFF OF THINGS :-)

  • clean up is easier (1 sheet and wiping off the tablecloth)
  • it is portable (like for the cabin or a hotel room)
  • it is discreet!
an old sheet and table-cloth

an old sheet and table-cloth

So those of you who are following my not-quite-hoarding issues–I took this final picture AND threw out the tablecloth and cut the sheet up and used it for cleaning the deck!

Do you have a great solution to a common kid problem?  I’d love to hear it!

Be Blessed.

I’m linking up here!

How to Choose a CSA

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May’s contribution to Green in 356 with Emily at Live Renewed.

Green in 365 series

This is Day 120 of the Green in 365 series!

By Renee from Joyful Mom

I miss my mint. I miss my tomatoes, my chives, my apple trees, pear trees and . . . well you get the idea. In my old house I didn’t have a huge garden but over time I figured out what grew well and what my family ate. I was blessed to have an awesome Farmers Market that was open on Wednesday and Saturday, to supply me with incredible local food.

When we moved I left with mint in one hand and a lilac bush in the other.

Choosing a CSA That's Right for You

Photo by Andy Roberts/Flickr

I had my work cut out for me–we moved in May. I had a house full of boxes and we were all feeling displaced. I decided that we would put down “new roots” in a very literal way. I went to Home Depot and purchased a 4 x 4 garden bed.  The kids had a great time filling it with bags of organic soil. I found a organic plant sale . . . it was a start.

Continue reading . . .

I’m linking up with Claire–she is awesome!  Check out her blog here!