I’ve been meaning to share this fun and creative baby gift we received - a recycled gift after my own heart!

So, save up those cereal boxes & recycled ribbon. Ask your friends their nursery color scheme and you can paint it to match. Just roughly cut the letter of choice out of several layers of thin cardboard. Glue together, paint, then add a ribbon for hanging.

E’s letter “E” is hanging proudly on his closet door.

Growing up in the South, sweet tea was a mainstay. A cold drink on a hot day. Or a cold drink on a cold day. Didn’t matter the time of year, we almost always had sweet tea around.

My mother-in-law introduced me to sun tea recently - a GREAT way to stay even cooler by not boiling water on the stove. Just throw your tea bags in a full pitcher of water….

…Then, cover the pitcher to keep the bugs out and sit out in the sun to steep. Add sugar, if desired, and Ahhhh! So refreshing!

I just came across this tutorial at Tried and True for handmade market totes using mesh laundry bags. Super easy and practical - use them at the farmer’s market and even the regular grocery store for your produce!

I’ve been wondering about whether I could make something similar using some of the mesh bags that oranges or avocados in bulk come in - taking this project one step further by recycling. I’ve read that such bags are good for making a toy caddy for bath, too. So creative.

Before my son was born, I requested as many organic items as possible for him to wear and play with. I also planned to use cloth diapers, but also was realistic and didn’t invest too much until my hubby and I gave it a go.

The diapers (we’re using these) were easy enough to use (they’re alot better these days). It was the laundering that was so frustrating. It seemed that I had to wash the inserts two, sometimes three, times to clean them thoroughly. Had I found a Green Fail in my efforts to be more eco-friendly? Needless to say, I had enough laundry in my life with a newborn and three washes didn’t seem very eco-friendly. I went on a little cloth diapering hiatus.

I did some more research and asked some cloth diapering friends for advice. There is alot of information out there and I think the individual has to go through some trial and error before making any decisions. Fast forward to month three of living on one income and I’m increasingly looking for ways to save. I was ready to give my cloth diapers a go again.

At this point I only have enough cloth diapers for daytime use every couple of days. I finally gave one friend’s suggestion of using the sun to dry the inserts after one wash. I was not optimistic, but low and behold it worked.

One wash + sunshine = clean diaper!

All of a sudden I remembered that we used to line dry our laundry when I was a child (must have blocked it out since it was a chore back then). The laundry always smelled so fresh and clean. I think not only has this convinced me to commit more to the cloth diapers, but also to air dry more of our laundry and save on some energy costs as well!

Definitely NOT a Green Fail!

One of my “projects” as we try to sell our house is the never-ending project of cleaning out. I do this often anyways, taking fairly regular trips to the Salvation Army. One “to-do” that I’m just now crossing off my list is getting rid of old electronics - an old laptop, cell phones, palm pilot and ipods. There are many organizations that accept donations of items like these to be refurbished. I have mailed old phones to nonprofits like these before.

I was excited to recently find that Best Buy takes many items like these, plus small and large appliances, regardless of where the item was originally purchased. You can recycle 3 items a day for free (with some exceptions, and depending on the state) and I’m happy to not have to worry about the contaminants from these items in the ground and water. I’m also saving on postage to mail them and the extra steps of having to package them for shipping. For those items where there is a fee (i.e. laptops and some TV monitors), you receive a Best Buy gift card to use in the store.

Not a bad deal and a great way to clean-out in an earth-friendly manner.

As I watch my son roll around on the floor, put EVERYTHING in his mouth - from toys, to the the furniture leg, to my fingers - I can’t help but think even more about the toxins that surround him. My hubby and I have worked really hard over the last 5 years to incorporate more and more environmentally friendly practices into our daily routine. But a little one certainly puts things into perspective even more.

We want him to be able to play in nature and not worry about what he is breathing, or the fish he might one day catch with grandpa. We want him to be able to play at home and not worry about what chemicals he might be ingesting from the cleaning products we use or toys he plays with. Of course this is easier said than done, but I am a firm believer that baby steps can lead to bigger steps - and lifelong habits.

On one of my mommy reads, Rookie Moms, they just posted this great video that paints a picture about where toxins show up for our kids as compared to 100 years ago. Don’t get me wrong. I much prefer to live today than 100 years ago, however, I think I can always learn and grow and make healthier choices.

Take a look…

A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.

I am always on a mission to live with less - to donate items we no longer use and try not to fill the space with something new. An uncluttered life is less stressful for me (and easier to maintain).

One of the new things I’m working on is living with less in the kitchen - just as I’m learning to cook more and eat even more local food. Aside from less stuff - gadgets, unused appliances, etc - I realize that much of what is available in the grocery store creates trash due to the packaging. Besides recycling as much as we can, I’m trying to “think before I buy” at the store, and even avoid the aisles that offer so many processed choices that also include a lot of packaging.

This means more fresh items and cooking from scratch. More produce, more shopping at farmer’s markets, more farm shares. And once our son is a year old I intend to have our milk delivered so those glass bottles can be reused again and again.

This all means living without some items that I have become accustomed too. This challenges me to create a new “normal” for our family. So, since I’m the one bringing on this challenge, I have one specifically for me. Although I switched to only fair trade coffee a year ago, I plan to eliminate my daily coffee intake over time (can’t go cold turkey because daily headaches don’t jive well with parenting an infant). I assume I’ll still enjoy a cup from time to time, but hopefully I’ll buy less of this product, therefore creating less waste and also relying less on caffeine.

What are you learning to live with less of?

Junk food? New clothes? Driving unnecessarily? Would love to be inspired by you!

I’m always looking for ways to declutter items that are not used, take up too much space or do not multi-task. I wish I had realized before registering for so many items 5 years ago how certain gadgets just clutter up your kitchen more than they “save time”. For one thing, I’d rather chop my garlic or use a microplane than use a garlic press, which I found difficult to clean.

Making this Home recently made me consider whether the space hog Salad Spinner was a necessity. I gave their suggestion - using a dish towel to dry lettuce - a try, and it worked just as well. I’m saying farewell to the salad spinner and hello to freed up shelf space in my cabinet. Hooray!

It’s outdoor season with windows (and sometimes doors) flung open to let in the fresh air. Here is a non-toxic way to repel insects where they tend do show up most often - on the picnic table, porch, or even inside in the kitchen (or if you’re like us, the bathroom), just in time for your holiday weekend gatherings.

• Mix equal amounts water and vinegar in spray bottle.
• Spritz in water resistant areas where ants are common.

You’re done!

Most importantly, though, is to remember those that have lost their lives in service to America, and to thank those who have and are serving now.

Crafting a Green World is calling April “Stash-Busting Month” in honor of Earth Day on April 22. What great inspiration for using what we have to create something fun and clean house. They have challenged us to not buy any new supplies or tools during the month of April.

While my projects often are created around this concept, I do still buy more stuff sometimes. But this month, I’m going to stick to making cards or other creations using only materials that I already have on hand. What are some projects you’ve created using what you have?

Some of my favorites…

• Pantry clean-out Care Package
• Gifts Tags from Christmas cards, wrapping paper and leftover ribbon.
• Serving tray from a cabinet door, old hardware, and leftover paint samples
• Easter Egg dye from old silk ties
• Chunky crayons using broken Crayolas
• Crafty Kid Box from my craft stash clean-out
• Reuse tissue paper

I love using what we already have to make something new. It’s a fun challenge, and keeps less clutter from entering our home.