Tag: eco-friendly

10 Ways to Live Sustainably

Growing up with my parents was a real eye opener. It wasn’t until later when I had my own child that all the things I did in my youth would later transfer to my role as a parent. Sometimes the most difficult lessons to learn isn’t until later on in life; rather, it’s through all the experiences you gained while growing through your own process.

My dad came from a farming and medical family so everything he learned was through hard labor and a thriving dedication to have food on the table. What he taught me in growing my own food to learning how to increase the harvest every year has helped me tremendously in my adult life. My mom came from a diplomatic family, and being resourceful and thorough taught me to be more conscientous and mindful of my choices.

We can all make choices in our daily lives to live more sustainably. But what does it really mean to live a sustainable life? We live in a world where convenience comes a close second to personal freedom. And while convenience is necessary in most instances, it is through these conveniences that we tend to forget how wasteful everything can be. If you look at worldwide pollution, you can see how wasteful this world has become. We live in a plastic world full of convenient and unnecessary packaging of products. And while we can get practically anything shipped to us from around the globe, we should really stop and think how much of these products affect our lives.

I fall prey to convenience as well as the next person. It’s easy to grab a bottled water at Starbucks or order takeout every day. Who doesn’t like convenience? But it’s exactly through these mundane acts that lead up to unnecessary waste and pollution.

Before the end of the year, let’s look at some ways our actions can impact less waste around the world, and most specifically in our community.

10 Ways to Live Sustainably:

1- Start at HOME – Find at least 3 things you can do to eliminate extra waste in your home. Small steps can lead to a bigger impact: 1- You can reduce your carbon footprint by buying a water filtration system instead of buying single use plastic water bottles. 2- Set a timer for showering to reduce your water consumption. Experts suggest at most 5 minute showers are enough for the average household. 3- Check your refrigerator and pantries for food before grocery shopping. It’s easy to forget we bought those extra bags of potato chips or those containers of strawberries that are hiding in the back of the fridge. Do a food checkup to determine what you really need and eliminate food that your family will not likely eat.

2 – Sustainable WORK PLACE – Whether you have your own office, work at home, or sit in a tiny cubicle, there are many ways to do sustainable acts at your work place. Choose reusable water bottles that are insulated for extra cold or hot beverages, walk to work or carpool as often as possible, and put in recycling bins in the offices/buildings and encourage people to recycle their aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles. See if management will allow other ways of recycling such as paper recycling, ink and toner recycling, and so forth. Check out Plastic Free July for more inspiration: https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/resources/solutions/

3 – Do a WHOLE house audit – There’s no such thing as a perfectly sustainable house. If you live in a house, you’re going to use electricity, water, gas, and any other utility. But do you want to know how to reduce your utility bills? Try a whole house audit to find out where you can reduce, or eliminate unnecessary usages: https://earth911.com/home-garden/home-energy-audit-basics/

4 – Start a GARDEN – Gardening is truly one of the easiest ways to reduce waste and improve your carbon footprint. You don’t have to live on a 10-acre farm or have a green thumb. You can start a space-saving garden with planter pots or find a small patch in your backyard. Start off with starter plants to get your gardening groove going. Easy to grow plants are herbs, seasonal vegetables such as radishes, carrots, and beans, and small or dwarf citrus plants. Once you’re accustomed to growing your own food, you can escalate your skills by growing from seeds and propogating your plants. Find out your planting zone for best crop results: https://www.almanac.com/what-are-plant-hardiness-zones

5 – Reduce PLASTIC WASTE – While plastic has many benefits, they can also cause detrimental damage to our planet. You’ve probably already heard and seen plastic pollution waste in our oceans, our landfills, and even in your neighborhood. Single-use plastic waste is buying and using a product that can not and should not be reused, or more importantly, they are made to last through only one use. Their life cycles are tremendously long and do not break down easily. Plus the danger of microplastic leaking into your containers can be a health risk as well. You can reduce your plastic waste by bringing your own beverage containers at coffee shops, buy loose produce instead of ones already packaged, and bring your own reusable grocery bag or tote. These are all simple and effective ways of reducing plastic usage.

6 – Start a SCHOOL ECO CLUB – Young children have bright futures and big ideas. Give them the opportunity to help their planet by starting an environmental club. Whether it’s in elementary school, middle school, high school, or even college, kids can benefit by learning how to take care of the environment and teach others the same concepts and skills. A great place to start is with Grades of Green (https://gradesofgreen.org/who-we-are/), a non-profit, education and project based program that helps schools around the world become more eco-friendly.

7 – EMPOWER Yourself – If you encounter people who scoff at you bringing your own lunch instead of ordering takeout, or argue that global warming is a hoax, then it’s time to empower yourself. Fact-based data is one of the best ways in proving your stance, but you can also tell people to look around their own environment to see that waste and pollution is all around us. You can make your own choices in how you want to be more environmentally aware and in turn, help others understand the need to do so.

8 – Say NO to extra packaging – If you walk into a local grocery store you’ll most likely find fruits in plastic packaging, vegetables wrapped in plastic, and bags upon bags of convenient foods. It makes me sad when I see vegetable wrapped in plastic, because they are most likely shipped from somewhere far. Do we really need our cucumbers to be wrapped in plastic or bell peppers jammed inside a plastic container? We can easily pick our own fruits and vegetables in the produce section, and in doing so, it tells stores and manufacturers we don’t want our fresh produce to be unnecessarily wrapped. Be sure to bring your own cloth produce bags for fresh fruits and vegetables, and bulk bins whenever possible.

9 – UPCYCLE What You Have –  As consumers we have the power to choose what we want to buy and which brands to support. As convenience goes, it’s easy to throw something out and buy a new item the next day. But before you throw something out, think whether it can be upcycled. Upcycling is a form of repurposing what you have to give it a second or third life. Clothing are easily upcycled and swappable. For instance, you can turn your old t-shirts into tote bags and cleaning cloths. Other ways of upcycling include turning milk cartons and plastic containers into seed starters, or paint them to hold pens and pencils. If you’re a skilled crafter, you can upcycle old furniture into something new. You can find many things to upcycle if you just look around your house. For more upcycling ideas, be sure to check out Pinterest.

10 – RECYCLE and DONATE – The last resort to living a sustainable life is to recycle and donate what you have. Recycling isn’t always the best option, but it is one of the options to living a sustainable life. Check your local municiple to see where recycling centers are and find out what you can recycle there. You can also donate your gently used goods for others who might need them. The best places to donate your items are at school fundraiser drives, thrift stores, and non-profit charities who usually end up giving your donations away for free instead of selling them.

Living a sustainable life doesn’t mean giving up what you love. It’s about making responsible and conscientious choices that benefit yourself, your home, and the planet. Start with these simple 10 ideas and soon you’ll find other ways to increase your sustainability efforts.

*photos courtesy of Earth911.com

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

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Easy Eco-Friendly Tips for School

One the most fun things about going back to school is shopping for school supplies. You walk into a Target or any other school supply store and there is a dazzling array of notebooks, pens, pencils, and school bags. You skip down every aisle and see all the new princess or Star Wars themed pencil cases showing off their bright gowns and galactic spaceships. You breathe in the fresh scent of newly pressed lined paper, and your fingers itch to touch the backpacks lined neatly up high on the shelves. Everything you see at the store is tempting and a true escapism to what every child in the world wish they could have.

But before you grab a handful of pencils and notebooks and rush down the lanes to stock up on lunch fixings and afterschool snacks, take a step back to think of what your student really needs for the new school year. One of the easiest ways is to check your school or school district’s School Supply List, which can be found on their websites. These supply lists are merely suggestions, and oftentimes they are to fill a classroom throughout the school year.

It’s tempting to want to buy your children a new backpack, new binders, and new clothes. Whether you’re on a tight budget or not, it’s essential to reuse what you already have to reduce excess waste that just clutter our landfills. Plus, oftentimes last year’s school items work perfectly well, even with a few scratches. If they’re completely un-reusable, then remember to take extra care of their new school supplies so they can reuse them the next school year.

Here are ideas for easy and eco-friendly habits for the school year:

– Reusing backpacks or school bags: most backpacks are well made to withstand many years of use. Check for zippers, pockets, and lining in your backpacks/school bags. There shouldn’t be any large holes on the bottom of your bags especially if your child carries a school computer inside it. Ease tough zippers by rubbing wax over them. Stitch up loose seams. And give the backpack a good cleaning before school starts.

– If you must buy new, try to invest in high quality products that can grow with your child: these will most likely last several years as long as your children don’t abuse them. For instance, a high quality backpack from North Face, or Adidas can last several years. Some brands will even replace and repair their backpacks at no charge. Other high quality items should include laptops, student desks, headphones or wireless earbuds, calculators, and bookshelves. Other everyday items should include stainless steel reusable water bottles, binders, and sturdy lunch containers.

– Clothes swap: do a clothes swap with friends and relatives of similar ages and sizes. Your kids are bound to outgrow their clothes when they’re young, so investing in more expensive clothing can get costly. Host a clothes swap with others to help reduce waste and to refresh your children’s clothes each year.

– Reusable items: we all know kids will inevitably break things. But we don’t have to keep buying new items for them each time something breaks. Invest in reusable items that wouldn’t mind a few dents and scratches, such as water bottles (see my Mermaid Straw water bottles for a special 15% off discount), binders, pencil cases, lunch bags, and lunch containers. The items should be made from recyclable materials such as stainless steel and silicone.

– Carpool/Walk to school: if you live within walking distance then by all means walk to school. Gather some friends/classmates and walk to school together. Walking daily or even a couple times a week builds a healthy body and reduces vehicle usage on the roads. In fact, living car-free can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2 tons of CO2e per year compared to a lifestyle using a car.

– Bring your own food: that school cafeteria pizza might look tempting, but it’s not actually very healthy. School food is okay once in awhile, but consuming them every day of the entire school year isn’t a healthy choice. While some schools throughout the world seeks high quality, local, and fresh food for their students, most schools still rely on mass produced lunch items. If you have to rely on school meals, try to get their salads or check the lunch calendar to see what’s offered for lunch. You can always pack some healthy snacks for school and eat when you get home. Because school meals aren’t very appetizing (but only fill the need to eat), most foods get thrown away thus creating unnecessary waste.

– Buy in bulk: sometimes buying bulk items can be a blessing, while other times it can be wasteful. Buying bulk items that you need on a regular basis cuts down on trips to the market, and package waste such as plastic wrapping and multitude of boxes and containers. If you find a great deal but just won’t use all of the items, consider sharing them with others or create a co-op of grocery with friends and relatives.

– Make your own clothing/school items: this might be a challenge but making your own clothes can be fun, economical, and eco-friendly. You can use premade patterns sold online or at fabric stores, or you can create fun and unique t-shirts by adding embellishments on them. Another fun and eco-friendly DIY is making school bags and pencil holders with heavy and colorful fabric.

– Grow your own food: this is one of the easiest ways of reducing your carbon footprint and living a healthy lifestyle. Plus, you are in control of what you grow and eat at home. You can grow food easily in planters, raised bed, or straight in the ground with some good soil. Fast growing food include peas, radish, carrots, and greens such as spinach and kale. You can also “re-grow” food such as cabbages and onions by sitting their cut bottoms in shallow water. They’ll regrow fresh leaves and scapes that can be enjoyed on a daily basis. Get your kids involved by giving them their own garden area so they can learn and grow along with their plants. When you grow easy, seasonal food in your garden, you will never go hungry.

Read here for: 10 Ways to Get Kids to Enjoy Gardening.

This school year, invest in helping to keep our planet clean, our bodies healthy, and our minds sharp and strong.

* Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through the clickable links could provide affiliate commission.

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

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An Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift List

It’s been a crazy and hectic few months for me, but I promised an updated Environmentally friendly holiday IDEA list so here it is. Wishing everyone peace, joy, and great health for 2023!

ECO-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY GIFT LIST AND IDEAS FOR 2022:

Many of us are scrambling and looking for possible gift ideas on the internet, in stores, and even creating some by hand. Whatever your holiday gift season plans are, make sure to include some eco-friendly ones this year. With plastic pollution and just overall waste throughout the world, we can all do better to improve the lives of our health and the health of our planet. Below I’ve listed some unique brands/products/ideas that are eco-friendly and give back to charities as well. 

1 – Plaine Products: A sustainable brand started by two sisters who were devasted from seeing the destruction made by plastic. They created products that benefit people, nature, and help reduce the rising damages of plastic use and production. Their products include natural and organic hand sanitizers and beauty products. Simply return your used bottles and dispenser pumps back to the company and they’ll handle the rest. Reclamation of empty containers is a big step in helping reduce plastic in our world. 

Right now you can save 25% off through December 9, which is more than the usual 20% off you’d get with my Ambassador code. Please use code: GIFT25 when purchasing through this link: https://www.plaineproducts.com/ref/Suzan%20C./

These make wonderful gifts for families, teachers, and friends. You’re helping them, yourself, and the environment.

2 – The Non-GMO Project: A grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and building the non-GMO food supply, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. Your purchases support their ongoing efforts to bring awareness and help other Non-GMO verified brands: https://store.nongmoproject.org/

3 – EARTHDAY.ORG: A non-profit organization that supports and sponsors campaigns and companies that help protect the environment and people. Their products are organic, renewable, and circular: https://earthday-store.com/

4 – Mercari: While this isn’t truly an eco-friendly company, they do however sell gently-used products ranging from clothing to school supplies, to vintage items. Buying gently-used products helps the circular economy and environment to reduce your carbon footprint: https://mercari.com

5 – National Parks. Parks desperately need your support year round. The beauty of nature is within us and all around us. It’s our sole duty as humans to preserve nature as much as possible. Most parks rely on donations throughout the year for upkeep and to keep land, animals, and people safe. Consider making donations to your local or national parks: https://www.nationalparks.org/

6 – Swap-Outs: We all have some gently used clothing, toys, or cookware at home. Instead of buying new ones this year, host a toy swap out party where friends and family can bring their gently used toys to exchange for other ones. This way, these toys will be loved and appreciated again.

7 – Beesponsible.com: A company dedicated in educating and helping bees and bee farms around the world. Bees are incredibly crucial in helping the pollination and production of certain food on our planet. Visit their online shop for more info: https://www.beesponsible.com/

8 – Happy Earth: A sustainable, organic, and charitable company that plants trees, fight climate change, and help clean up trash with every purchase. Their products range from clothing to reusables to lovely organic blankets. Right now you can save an extra 20% off online with code: EVERGREEN. Visit their website for more info: https://www.happyearthapparel.com/

9 – Grades of Green: a student-led non-profit program dedicated to educate, bring awareness, and reward students and schools for their environmental efforts. This award winning program is worldwide and provides necessary education for schools and communities on saving the planet. Consider making a charitable donation to help their program: https://gradesofgreen.givingfuel.com/general-giving

10 – Gardener gifts: Gardening is one of my true loves in life. Being out in nature and with the plants around us helps us recharge and replenish what is lost in our soul. Whether you’re a beginner or an avid gardener, you can always find something for the gardener enthusiasts in your life. Visit your local gardening center to help local farms and chat with expert horticulturists to get ideas for your yard and garden!

Wherever you are in life right now and whatever plans you make for the holiday season, remember to give back to the planet as much as possible. We can all do our part in helping our planet be cleaner and safer for everyone.

Have a safe, healthy, and peaceful holiday season!

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

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What We Learn From Our Planet Loving Kids

*** Stay tuned as I’ll be announcing the winner of the Plaine Products Hand Sanitizer Set!

When it comes to caring about certain things in our universe, look to the children first. You can ask them what their favorite animal is, or their favorite color, or even their favorite food and they’ll immediately go into a lengthy diatribe of why they love that particular thing. But ask them if they love their planet, you’ll most likely get a quick head nod. Add in the fact that the planet is full of nature such as flowers, butterflies, and dolphins, and you’ll immediately get an enthusiastic smile.

Earth Day was on April 22 and many schools across the world celebrated and honored Mother Earth. Students from kindergarten to middle school were able to learn something about the planet and what we need to do to preserve it. I was talking to a couple of kindergarteners and one in particular came up to me and said with a toothy grin, “Happy Earth Day! You must reduce, reuse, recycle!.” How precious is that? All I could think of was wow, a child as young as 5 or 6 years old was so enthusiastic about saving the planet. Did she understand what those words meant? You bet I asked her and we got into a brief one-sided conversation – with her mostly telling me what she thought the words meant. I knew her classroom was learning about Earth Day, but for someone as young as her to really understand the meaning and to practically preach about protecting the environment was quite a delight!

Kids are pretty amazing and unique. Through all my years of working with children, there is rarely a day where I don’t meet an amazing student. And through all the difficulties of raising children or even teaching them, if you open your eyes and ears to what they say and do, you’d find that kids are truly the heart of our future.

But why are children more interested in helping the environment than adults? As an adult, I recall my childhood where I learned about the environment and the planet from mostly my parents and a few teachers. Children are like sponges and they’ll soak up whatever is around them, be it good or bad. When I talk to my Green Team students about the environment, most of them have a general knowledge of what they should do. And most of the time, they are interested to learn more and to do more. That is what amazes me the most – the fact that they actually want to do something progressive in helping the planet.

We can certainly learn a lot from kids. As an adult, we usually tend to just brush off their comments. But if we truly want to learn from what children can offer then we must listen to their words. Below I’ve listed some suggestions on how to talk kids about the environment and get the conversation going.

  • Teach by example. Children can learn by emulating what we do so it’s important to show them that we also care about the environment.

  • Ask open-ended questions. Start the conversation going on how they feel about their planet.

  • Make suggestions. Suggest to kids how to care about the planet. Examples would be to plant more trees or start their own garden at home, or pick up trash around their neighborhood, or make signs around their schools to raise awareness of climate changes.

  • Allow kids to use their own creativity on how they want to help the planet.  Kids can offer great ideas of their own that we can apply to.

  • Give them the right tools. Have age appropriate books about helping the planet as well as any authentic online resources. Companies such as The Environmental Working Group: www.ewg.org and Keep America Beautiful: https://kab.org/  are great sites to start with.

  • Volunteer with local or statewide environmental groups. Depending on the ages of your children, there are many great non-profit organizations they can volunteer for.

In the end, our children are our future and the future of what our world will be. Kindness to others and the planet is the overall achievement we should all try to reach for.

*photos courtesy of kidsgardening.org

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

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Earth Month GIVEAWAY with Plaine Products!

All through Earth Month (April) I will be highlighting some wonderful brands that are doing good for the planet and people. With the rising awareness of climate change around the world now is a great time to support companies who are giving back to the planet. My own personal journey to switching out single-use plastic to more sustainable materials has truly opened my eyes to just how much single-use plastics we have gone through in my household. My family has also gone through the journey with me and I am constantly growing and learning new concepts, ideas, and companies that are helping the planet.

***Please read through to the end for details on how to enter and the official rules.

Today, I’d like to highlight one of the best eco-friendly company in the US: Plaine Products. Plaine Products is an all-natural, environmentally friendly, sustainably packaged beauty and health products brand. Founded by two sisters who personally experienced the devastation of plastics and waste, they decided to form a new eco-friendly brand focused entirely on reducing waste. At Plaine Products, you have the ability and control in how you use and dispose your products. With the opportunity for consumers to buy a refill bottle and send old bottles and caps back, this circular recycling opportunity ensures your products are always reusable by you.

PLAINE PRODUCTS ARE:

  • Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicone, and palm oil

  • Blended with whole essential oils (instead of synthetic fragrance)

  • Vegan and non GMO ingredients

  • Designed to biodegrade

  • Baby safe and hypoallergenic

  • Cruelty Free, Leaping Bunny certified

  • Free of single-use plastic

  • Carbon Neutral

In collaboration with Plaine Products, I am hosting a GIVEAWAY during Earth Month. The prize will be a Hand Sanitizer gift set (1- 16oz and 1- 2.5oz) sent to the winner. Please read through to the end for details on how to enter and the official rules.

OFFICIAL ENTRY:

1- Subscribe to my blog: www.happymomblogger.com (this is a must-do)

2- Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/scgmama and Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/happymomblogger. (You can follow me on both or at least one platform.) In the Comments section (of this blog post), enter your social media handle (example: @happymomblogger, etc.)

3- Follow Plaine Products on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PlaineProducts/  and Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlaineProducts (follow on both or at least one platform).

4- Like my Giveaway post on Instagram and/or Twitter.

5- Tell me what you can do to help the environment (on Instagram or Twitter). Be sure to tag me and Plaine Products.

EASY AND DONE! GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!

Contest Disclosure:

Giveaway starts on Monday, April 12 and ends on Friday, April 23 (12 am PST). Contest is hosted by Happymomblogger and sponsored by Plaine Products. Contest is open to residents of US only. 18 years and older please. Only 1 contestant per household please. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of prize. Any violation of the rules will deem your entry as disqualified. Contest and prize is not associated with WordPress, Instagram, and Twitter and they are not held responsible. One winner will be chosen at random at random.org. Winner will be contacted via Instagram or Twitter, depending on your entry and winner has 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be selected. Happymomblogger and Plaine Products are not held responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged products but will do everything possible to make it right. No purchase necessary to win. Void where prohibited by law.

***Be sure to check out my Ambassador Codes tab for an extra 20% off!

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com/blogs/in.php?id=storm

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Eco-Friendly February Tasks

Can you believe it’s already February? Last year seemed like the longest year and yet it also flew by so quickly! With February already in full swing, there are lots of things we can do this month to kick start our goals for an environmentally friendly New Year!

VALENTINE’S DAY– Yes, yes, I know most people think this holiday is a marketing ploy, and I gotta admit, brands probably make tons of money for this holiday. Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, I think it’s a fun tradition to begin or continue with your children. The colors of Valentine’s Day is quite festive – reds, pinks, lavenders, and even blues. But how do we make this holiday more eco-friendly? Candy wrappers are bound to be thrown into the trash along with other plastic and not so easily recyclable items. Here are some tips to keep it eco-friendly:

  • Send e-gift cards. This might seem less sentimental, but you don’t have to send gift cards to only your significant other. You can send them to your friends, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, teachers, and the list goes on! Electronic gift cards are fast and don’t require any shipping via mail or using those pesky unrecyclable plastic cards.

  • Purchase locally grown flowers or from family-owned farms. Locally grown flowers require less carbon footprint to ship and flower farms owned by small families usually have more unique and fresher varieties.

  • Try making a vegetarian feast for Valentine’s Day with these dishes: – Exotic mushroom pasta by using oyster mushrooms, Shitake mushrooms, or Enoki mushrooms. You can find the more exotic versions at Asian grocery stores and natural grocery stores. – Heavenly Layer Dip, which uses red tomatoes, red bell peppers, sour cream, light shredded cheese, olives, and strawberry jam (or any berry flavored jam). – Chocolate covered fruits such as chocolate-covered strawberries, peaches, mangoes, or any other unique fruits.

  • Most children love to be spoiled on Valentine’s Day! Gift them with homemade heart shaped cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries and mangoes, and a special trip to a local zoo or museum (if they are open in your area).

CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR – This year is the Year of the Ox so it’s important for those born under the Ox sign to be especially aware. Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is a huge celebration every year. But with the pandemic and safety concerns in mind, families might have to celebrate with only their immediate household. Traditionally, there are parades, firecrackers, and huge family and friends gatherings, so you would have to see what your state, country, and city have restrictions on. To make it eco-friendly this year, here are some tips:

  • Red envelopes are traditionally given to children or unmarried young folks. It’s still okay to give cash as cash is a recyclable and reusable commodity.

  • Celebrate the traditions of Chinese Lunar New Year by reading books. There are some great books that children can read to learn all about this holiday. Include books with pictures to make them more festive.

  • Decorate with paper decorations. Red is the traditional good luck color for the new year. You can find paper decorations at specialty Asian stores to decorate your house with.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH – During Black History Month, it’s a great way to teach children about historical and iconic leaders who helped change the world. Purchase books with pictures that can be read every year.

VEGANUARY – The month of January was to celebrate Vegetarians and Vegans. But we could still continue with this tradition through February. Try to include at least one vegan or vegetarian meal during the week. Vegetarian dishes are fairly easy to make and don’t have to be just salads. You can make vegetarian pasta, vegetarian soup, and vegetarian tacos. Reduce the amount of animal protein to up to 3 times a week. Meat production is one of the largest polluters in the world and one of the biggest hidden pitfalls in carbon dioxide consuming our planet.

CAMPUS CLEAN UP – Depending on where you live and the safety protocols at your school, you can host a campus cleanup day. With the permission of the school principal, teacher, or an environmental club, pick a day where students can go around the school campus to pick up trash and or/pick weeds. A campus cleanup day promotes environmental awareness of trash and how students can help keep our schools and communities clean. Be sure to wear gloves while doing the cleanup.

SPRING PLANTING – With the spring season sneaking upon us, now is the best time to start your indoor seed planting. When you plant your own vegetables and fruits you get the full quality of your bounty and children can learn the growing process from seed to harvest to eating them! Easy plants for children to grow include: Peas, beans, beets, carrots, radishes, and sunflowers. Planting your own garden also helps with cleaning the atmosphere, reduces carbon footprint, and promotes healthier eating. Start by planting the seeds indoors and then transplant them outdoors when it’s warmer.

Start off the year with a goal to be more environmentally conscious in everything you do and buy. Take small steps if you’re just starting out and soon you’ll become an advocate for the planet!

*photo courtesy of Arbor Day Foundation, Food&Wine magazine, KidsGardenNews

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

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