Kids

Do Your Part: Rent, Swap, and Share – Anything!

If you’re looking for a way to swap, rent, and share what you have directly to other people – it’s now easier than ever. This new way of doing business is the perfect way to Do Your Part to reduce waste and be thrifty!

Take a look at this.  Say you’re getting away and want to rent a house for a day or even a month.  I could browse the pictures of this beautiful living room one day…and be sitting in it the next! AirBnB.com is an easy to use hub for linking home owners with travelers who want anything from a one night getaway in New York City to a longer stay in a mountain cabin.

The same goes for the car you own.  RelayRides.com hooks up drivers in need with car owners. You can see what’s available where you are and check out the price per hour, day, and week.  That’s a smaller example of a bigger success story. ZipCar.com allows thousands of drivers to access cars at any time across the country.  Now, think of all the things that are just sitting around your house that someone else would like to use. It could be video games, books, or a designer purse. Swap.com is one place to go to swap what you don’t want for something you do. Your options are absolutely endless.

And, anyone with children knows just how quickly they outgrow clothes.  ThredUp.com lets you earn credits for gently used clothing you no longer need. Then, use those credits to shop for the children’s clothing you do want. Getting more use out of the things we already own is an important way to Do Your Part. Utilizing technology to help make it happen also makes it easier than ever before.

 

 

 

 

By |Getting Around, Green Living, In Your Home, Kids, Save Money & Resources|0 Comments
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Best Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA

What are the chances you are buying and bringing BPA right into your own home? Probably pretty good and there is reason to be concerned.  BPA is linked to everything from developmental problems to infertility. Do Your Part and reduce your exposure today.

BPA can be found in plastic food containers.  Any time you buy foods or liquids in plastic check the bottom. Avoid plastic marked number 7 because it usually contains BPA.

Another way BPA gets into your house is in canned goods.  The chemical is used in the liner of the cans and can  actually leach from the liner into the food itself.  Seek out cans labeled “BPA-free” or choose food items packaged in safer materials.

Glass and ceramics are safer materials.  Use them to heat up foods in the microwave to avoid any risk of BPA leaching into your foods.

Many baby bottles and pacifiers used to be made with BPA. Now, many manufacturers have changed this but it’s still important to look for baby products labeled BPA-free.

And, be careful how you handle certain store receipts. BPA shows up on receipts printed on thermal paper. If you can make an outline with your nail..it probably has BPA on it.

And don’t forget about those reusable water bottles. You want those to be BPA-Free too.  bottom line? Reducing BPA exposure is an important way to create a healthier home for you and your family. Do Your Part to make sure it doesn’t contaminate your food, your body, or our planet.

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Concentrated Juices Will Save Money and Resources

Does your family go through several cartons of juice each month or dozens of juice boxes? The problem is that both can create a lot of waste. Instead, Do Your Part and buy concentrated juice.  You’ll create less trash and you’ll even save some money.

Concentrated juices simply mean that the water has been taken out. Then, you rehydrate it at home by adding a few cans of water.
So, one can can produce the same amount of juice as a much larger jug of juice. The concentrated varieties also take less energy to store and ship because they arrive without all the extra water.  And, its packaging is easily recyclable.

It’s also more economical. You’ll save about a nickel on ounce.  And that adds up.  If someone in your home drinks 12 ounces of juice a day – you’ll save more than 200 dollars a year. You’ll save even more if you swap out juice boxes for concentrated juice you can put into a reusable container. If your child uses one of these a day, you’ll save more than a hundred dollars a year. Plus, juice boxes a tricky to recycle and will be tossed into the trash at most schools.

Do Your Part when shopping for juice. You can go easy on the planet and your wallet by making a few better choices.

By |Food & Entertaining, Green Living, Kids, Save Money & Resources|2 Comments
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A Kids Craft To Bring Crayons Back To Life

Here’s an easy, craft idea that will help your kids understand the power of reusing things. It’s a way to Do Your Part and get more life out of your stash of broken crayons.

All you need for this project are:
•  Old pieces of crayons, wrappers peeled off
•  Aluminum tins to melt the crayons
•  A candy mold, soap mold, candle mold, or muffin pan (optional)

First, pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees. Then separate the crayons by individual colors or other combinations of your choice and place them in the aluminum tins. Next, put the tins in the oven for about 10 minutes. Once the crayons are melted, remove the tins. If you’re using a mold, pour the melted wax into the selected mold, otherwise let the tins sit on a flat surface to harden. You can also put the molds in the freezer to cool down faster.

And there you have it. Crayons that are brand new to the kids and perfect for art projects. It’s another easy – and creative way – to Do Your Part with the youngest members of the family.

By |Green Living, Kids, Save Money & Resources, Vacations and Staycations|0 Comments
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Clutter Busters Before the Holidays Hit

Got clutter? Are you like me and determined to make some room before the holidays hit? Do Your Part as you sort, organize, and get rid of all that stuff you no longer want or need. Instead of sending it straight to the landfill, you can do some good with all of it and you might even make a few bucks in the process.

Got Toys?
I’ll start with the stuff that takes up the most space and will drive most any parent out of their mind – all those toys! The list goes on and on from stuffed animals to tea sets to baby dolls and hot wheels. Many times, our kids get tired of their toys well before those toys are worn out. Don’t dump them in the trash – donate them so other kids can have a special holiday. Places like Goodwill would love to take your toys this time of year.  So would certain children’s school programs and the Salvation Army. It is difficult to make money on used toys but consider selling some of the bigger toys such as tricycles and doll houses to consignment shops specifically geared towards kids. I’ve had great success selling items on Craigslist too.

Got Gadgets?
Are cell phones, tablets, or gaming devices on your shopping list this year? Don’t let the old gadgets go to waste just because a newer version is on the market. Selling these devices is a good (and oh-so-easy!) way to earn some money with items you no longer use. NextWorth is one online site which will buy back your gadgets for top dollar. They’re even offering a 10% bonus for all iPods this season. Even major companies such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy are participating in electronic trade-in programs this year where you can gift cards in return for your items. Go to the bottom of this post for a complete list of resources.

Got Clothes?
Are your closets jam packed with clothes that you and your family no longer wear? Don’t let them take up valuable space when they could go to someone who wants or needs them. Many well cared for clothes hold a lot of value and can be sold to other parents in consignment shops or online sites such as eBay. If you’re looking to donate them, consider Goodwill, Salvation Army, battered women’s shelters, or Dress for Success programs.

No matter what you have, there are ways to Do Your Part with all of it. It could be helping a family in need, keeping valuable materials out of our landfills, or earning a few dollars while getting a longer life out of what you have in your home. Now that’s the perfect holiday gift for our planet!

Electronic Buy Back Programs:

Gazelle

Amazon

Best Buy

NextWorth

Target

Costco

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Pine Cone Bird Feeder

There’s no need to go out and buy a bird feeder when you can Do Your Part and have a lot more fun creating an all natural one!

Today, I’m working on this ideal kids’ project with Tess. Here’s all we need:

-Peanut butter
-Bird seed
-Pine Cones
-Knife
-Scissors
-Scraps of Ribbon or Yarn

Take your string and and tie it to the top of your pine cone. Leave room to attach it to the tree. Spread the peanut butter on the inside and outer parts of the pine cone. Roll the pine cone in the bird seed and sprinkle it on top and hang on a tree! Then, enjoy watching all the birds enjoy their treat.

By |Around The Yard, Green Living, Kids|0 Comments
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Green Halloween Costume Swap

Who says Halloween has to be unhealthy? And who says healthy can‘t be fun? Green Halloween® is about making Halloween happy and healthy and about creating community traditions we can all be proud of.

What is Green Halloween?
Green Halloween® is a non-profit, grassroots initiative striving to create healthier, eco-friendlier holidays– starting with Halloween. Launched in Seattle in 2007 by a mother of two, the nationwide movement, now a program of EcoMom Alliance, is all about educating and inspiring communities by showing how easy, affordable, and fun it can be to factor our earth and our health into our daily choices.

To read all about Green Halloween and find fun events near you, visit GreenHalloween.org. You can learn how to get involved locally, sign up for the super nifty newsletter, and get fab DIY costume ideas, recipes, upcycled décor how-to‘s and more. There‘s even a trick-or-treat bag design contest for kids!

So forget orange and black. With upcoming events in cities across the U.S., this community initiative is adding much-needed green to Halloween. It‘s a scream!

Green Halloween In Charlotte, NC

Get your Halloween off to a “Green” start at Charlotte’s Green Halloween Costume Swap on Saturday, October 8th. Don’t buy new this year – save some money and help green our community by swapping out your children’s gently used costumes. If you’re not in Charlotte, you can also visit www.greenhalloween.org to find a location near you.

Hosted by Natural Luxe and Atherton Mill and Market, this is a great opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint and support your local farmers and vendors. We will have goody bags filled with great discounts and offers from our sponsors for the 1st 50 swappers to arrive. 

Green Fact from Use Less Stuff – If half the costumes kids wear each year were swapped, we could reduce the annual waste by 6,250 tons, equivalent to 2500 mid-size cars!

Drop off costumes until October 5th  at the following Charlotte locations.

Keller Williams Realty SouthPark – 2115 Rexford Road 704-602-0400

Belly Elan – 9816 Rea Rd – Shops at Blakeney 704-544-3226

Eco-licious – 1916 Commonwealth Ave 704-966-7030

Atherton Market – 2104 South Boulevard – Open Tuesday 3 pm – 7 pm Wednesday 9 am – 1 pm and Saturday 9 am – 2 pm

The deadline to submit costumes is October 5th. Feel free to contact Jennifer with Natural Luxe at 704-904-2535 or naturalluxe@yahoo.com with any questions.

We are accepting gently used children’s costumes. For every costume you donate, you will receive a ticket to swap out for a new one. We will gladly take donations of costumes too and help you clear some space in your home!

Join us Saturday October 8th at Atherton Mill Market 2104 South Boulevard, Charlotte

From 10am – 12pm swappers who have donated a costume will be able to pick out a “new” costume, after 12pm the swap will be open to the public to select a costume. All costumes left after the swap is over will be donated to a local charity.

For the kids – Children between ages 1-13 can enter the ChicoBag 4th annual Trick-or-Treat Bag Design Contest.

 

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Top 5 Surprising Sources of Formaldehyde in Your Home

Have you heard about formaldehyde in pressed wood furniture – or in your flooring? They release the most formaldehyde in our homes – which is a leading cause of indoor air pollution. Do Your Part to track down other surprising sources of formaldehyde. Here are my top 5.

First up – nail polish. Formaldehyde is often used in them to act as a preservative and hardener. One solution is to pick polishes that are water-based and formaldehyde free.

Next – hair products. Formaldehyde is actually released from preservatives found in many personal hair care products.

Seeing the ingredients quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea formalin and methylene oxide on the back of any bottle should raise a warning flag.  So, just avoid them.

And, if you’re at a salon. Ask questions about what they’re using…especially if you’re getting a hair straightening treatment.

Source number three – bedding. So-called “wrinkle free” bedspreads, sheets, and pillowcases are usually loaded with chemical products which release formaldehyde which can’ be washed away. Opt for bedding made from flannel or cotton jersey.

Then, there is kids’ hard plastic dishware. Avoid ones made from melamine resin. One way to tell if it’s labeled not safe for microwaves.

And air fresheners come in at number 5. Formaldehyde is a basic ingredient in the popular brands. But you have many natural options including sprinkling baking soda in problem areas, airing out your home, or lighting a soy candle.

Formaldehyde causes all sorts of problems from asthma to cancer. When you Do Your Part to keep it out of your home and our environment we’ll all breathe easier.

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Save Money, Make Money on Kids' Clothes

If you’re a parent like me, you know how quickly kids grow out of their clothes and how soon we are shelling out money for even more. Instead of buying brand new clothes, Do Your Part and check out resale shops.

You can find name brands, trendy clothing and all kinds of accessories at national chains like this one that specialize in teen and young adult clothing. And, your kids can actually help pay for their stuff by selling some of the items they no longer wear.

There are other stores across the country which focus on clothes for younger kids. These are the perfect places to find smart deals on brand named, high quality clothing in even the smallest of sizes.

And it’s not just about the clothes. Why buy new when you can opt for like-swings, cradles, strollers and other gear for just a fraction of the cost?

Not only will you save and make money at resale shops – you will also help keep those items from going to waste in a landfill. What an important lesson in Doing Your Part to pass along to your kids.

To Learn More Visit:
Once Upon a Child
Plato’s Closet

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Stylish & Eco Friendly Footwear For Kids!

Doesn’t it feel like we are always buying new shoes for our kids? They outgrow them so fast and they usually end up in the trash can! If you want to feel better about your next buy, Terri has a few greener options for the family.

Payless Shoes has a new green line of shoes under the name Zoe & Zac. These shoes are made from organic cotton, hemp, recycled rubber and even water-based glues. The dyes used in them are metal-free. The elastic on some of the shoes are even made from recycled plastic water bottles. The best part is that every pair of shoes is less than $30!

If you are willing to spend a little more, Nike has a new eco-friendly shoe line called Considered Design. Nike makes them with earth friendly materials such as organic cotton and cork. The company hopes to have all their shoes made under these standards by 2011. Nike also has the Reuse-A-Shoe and Nike Grind programs. You can take your old shoes to certain drop-off locations or send them in. They’ll be ground up and turned into something new like an indoor basketball court.

New Balance also has eco-friendly options. It’s known as the “70 Collection” and 75% of the shoe are made from environmentally preferred materials. Recycled textiles are used in the laces, webbing and tongue. New Balance uses rice husk fillers in the outsole to reduce the amount of rubber needed. That means a lot less petroleum is used to make each shoe. The packaging of the shoe also uses less paper.

Keds are also popular for kids. They now have a new line called “Green Label”. Besides being made with 100% organic cotton, no toxic inks or dyes are used. They are manufactured with recycled rubber. Or check out a brand known as Simple Shoes. They are committed to finding more sustainable ways to make shoes. They use everything from recycled inner tubes to bamboo to make their shoes. They also have shoes to fit every foot with some very affordable ones!

And, here’s one last option for those who want to get more use out of the shoe they have. Get them re-soled! It’s is an inexpensive fix to get more use out of what you already have in the closet!

To Learn More Visit:
Payless Shoes
Zoe & Zac
Nike’s Considered Design
New Balance
Keds
Simple Shoes

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