BP Scarf ad email 1 01 Eco Mothers Day: Fair Trade Spring Scarves

Flowers of the Afternoon Scarf from Ten Thousand Villages

As a mom, I always look forward to spending Mother’s Day with my family.  Quality time together (no screens, no overly busy schedule) means much more to me than any gift they may decide to get me.

When it comes to green Mother’s Day gifts, my husband knows better than to let them buy something just for the sake of having a gift.

So if there’s something I want, I drop obvious hints.  (See previous posts about Irma Guzman Eco Jewelry.)

For the gift ideas we’re highlighting for our Green Mother’s Day guide, we’re only selecting items we’d drop hints for ourselves.

The Spring Scarf Collection from Ten Thousand Villages definitely makes the list.  We especially love this fresh, feminine scarf, Flowers of the Afternoon, from Asha Handicrafts.  In Sanskrit, Asha means “hope.”  And they’re spreading hope with the work they do empowering artisans throughout India.

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PANCAKE 0018 Host a Pancakes and Pajamas Party in Eco Friendly Style

Pancakes are yummy day or night, and this healthy party theme is a hit for more than just sleepover celebrations.

Anni Daulter is back with another green party theme from her new book, Naturally Fun Parties for Kids.  Today we get a peek at an eco-friendly party with flour sack races, and where the main attraction is a huge stack of whole wheat pancakes and lots of healthy toppings.

This idea came to Anni after a friend told her she thought her daughter was too young for a sleepover party.  ”I suggested the kids come to a morning party dressed in PJ’s (as if they had spent the night), have pancakes and other morning treats, and enjoy a high-energy gathering, without the sleep deprivation that often comes with a full sleepover party.”

Have Flour Sack Races + Make Healthy Donuts

Every kid loves to race! Line them up and take turns and make sure each child has plenty of hopping room, as to not fall and hurt their racing neighbor. Your mark, get set, GO! The kids love to play this game over and over!  No prizes for the winner, just good old fashioned fun! [click to continue…]

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Marbella earrings2 Start Dropping Your Mothers Day Hints Now   New Styles of Eco Jewelry from Irma Guzman

"Style Your Spring" Look Book

Ok, here’s what I’m doing as soon as this post goes live…

1.  Create a Pinterest Board with an obvious title — something like, “What I Really Want for Mother’s Day.”

2.  Pin several pieces of Irma Guzman’s eco jewelry, including the price, since most of what I love is in the $20 to $40 range.

3.  Leave my laptop open (to that board) before dinner and ask my husband to look through the pins for a recipe.  It’ll take some clicking around for before he realizes that’s not the recipe board…I’ll let you know how it goes icon smile Start Dropping Your Mothers Day Hints Now   New Styles of Eco Jewelry from Irma Guzman

Our favorite eco jewelry designer, Irma Guzman, has done it again with her newest series of Look Books.  She really shows how just one piece of jewelry can add instant, earthy style to an outfit.

This month, Irma is introducing us to the tagua nut.  Also known as “vegetable ivory,” it is a seed that comes from the Phytelephas Macrocarpa palm tree that grows in the tropical rainforest of South America. [click to continue…]

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SPRING EGG 0102 Host an Eco Friendly Easter Party   Complete with Natural Egg Dyeing

Spring Party Setting from Naturally Fun Parties for Kids

Whether your child has a Spring birthday to celebrate… or you want to create an extra special Easter egg dyeing experience, Anni Daulter’s new book, Naturally Fun Parties for Kids, is sure to inspire you with ideas you never considered before.  In fact, reading through this book Anni wrote with Heather Fontenot, there are more party themes running through my head than I’ll ever be able to host!

This guide to naturally fun parties is not only beautiful – with original photography by Tnah & Mario Di Donato bringing Anni and Heather’s visions to life – it covers EVERYthing.  Each theme includes a timeline for creating the party elements, detailed information on how to make unique invitations, instructions for handmade decorations (using items you have on hand), descriptions for fun activities, and clear recipes for amazing seasonal food.

Anni and Heather really make it easy to host a gathering that looks like Martha Stewart lent a sustainable hand.

The book doesn’t come out until March 21st, so I’m delighted to tell you that Anni has agreed to give our readers a sneak peek by guest authoring a three-part series on her original and brilliant eco-friendly party concepts.

So here’s Anni’s first installment… it’s all about making your Spring or Easter egg dyeing party naturally fun!

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Waste Free Lunch with Againbags

Since our boys started school, we’ve done our best to pack waste-free lunches. They’ve used stainless steel water bottles all along, but for packing food, we’ve experimented with everything from BPA-free plastic to stainless or glass containers.  I’m fairly certain that – unless for a field trip – we haven’t sent a plastic baggie to [...]

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EcoMonday Giveaway – Style Essentials Mineral Makeup

It’s been a while since our last Eco-Monday Giveaway, but today’s from Lisa D Liguori is a big one! She’s the organic beauty expert behind Style Essentials.  You’ve read her advice on safe skincare before.  This week, Lisa is spoiling us even further by giving away a mineral makeup foundation, finishing powder, and a kabuki [...]

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Exquisite Eco Jewelry Made from Pumpkin Seeds

I’m not sure what I love more about eco jewelry designer, Irma Guzman — the fact that her designs are affordable, unique, and eco-gorgeous… or that her Lookbooks are simple enough to help even the most fashion-challenged woman look like a green style goddess. Over the next three months, we’re partnering with Irma to highlight the [...]

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The 2012 Eco Baby Shower Gift Guide Is Here

Introducing our 2012 Eco Baby Shower Gift Guide! We’re excited to share this resource for amazing green gifts. A word up front… If you’re looking for musical, flashing toys, you won’t find them here.  We believe baby really only needs mommy’s milk and a lot of love. But a few fun, green tools to make [...]

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Under the Willow – A Charming Shop for Eco-Friendly Soaps

With all the press about one detergent company’s “free and clear” product that actually contains cancer-causing chemicals, even mainstream consumers are now on the lookout for truly eco-friendly soap and laundry options. It’s situations like these when reading labels really matters. And so does finding a company you trust. I met soap and cleaning expert, Carrie [...]

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Green Valentine’s Day Gifts for Nature Lovers

Know we how we love gifts that aren’t stuff?  Well, here’s one we fell “Otterly In Love With.” The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) offers a year round line of Green Gifts that are easy to give and can make a real difference. This line is perfect for Valentine’s Day because gifts start as low [...]

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