ThrivingLife.co
  • THRIVE Life
  • Lazy Green Mama
  • About

THE REUSABLE SNACK BAG AND SANDWICH WRAP TUTORIAL

8/28/2013

2 Comments

 
Lesley, our fitness and Etsy expert is back with perhaps the best tutorial I've ever seen.  She poured her heart into this one folks, who is going to join me in making a set of these?  Granted, I'm lucky enough to have two Rugrat Design snack bags that we use ALL.THE.TIME!  Perfect for on the go snacking :)
Picture
__ For those of us with school age children….the time has come….summer is over and it is time for back to school. There may have been tears (theirs or your own) or there may have been celebratory moments (again, theirs or maybe your own too!) Regardless of how it happened….it happened….the school supplies were purchased, first day of school outfit selected and laid out, teachers and schedules assigned and just like that- the 2013-2014 school year began. Along with those supplies, book bags, “perfect shoes” and the coolest styles comes the lunchbox. And that is where the subject of this month’s entry begins….

If you’re reading this blog- it means you are at least partially green. If you were looking for the “How to fill the landfill ASAP” blog- you’re in the wrong spot. So- back to that lunchbox. In packing daily lunches for my daughter I was determined to do my part to be a little more green. I went a tad crazy seeking the perfect lunchbox.  My daughter is carrying a Goodbyn lunchbox this year and so far I pretty much have a crush on the thing. Truly.

In addition to this lunchbox, we use reusable sandwich wraps and snack bags instead of ziplocs, foil or saran wrap when I pack lunch and snacks. We also use a reusable drink bottle instead of juice boxes. Since I can’t tell you how to make a drink bottle, you’ll just have to go to Target to get one of those bad boys. But, as the woman behind Rugrat Design. I CAN tell you how to make the reusable wraps. So I will do that. That’s right, I’m telling you how to make something instead of sending you to my shop to buy it. Aren’t I nice!? For those of you who don’t sew or don’t want to- then just head right over and do your shopping and I’ll happily make it and mail it to you :)

So, shut up already Lesley and tell me what to do. OK. I hear ya!

With no further ado….THE REUSABLE SNACK BAG AND SANDWICH WRAP TUTORIAL This is my first tutorial and therefore I request your patience as it may be a tad wordy. But I promise you, at the end, you will have a reusable snack bag and sandwich wrap and you can send stylish and green lunches for your Rugrat (or yourself!) Goodbye waste…hello style!



_This tutorial will result in 1 reusable snack bag and 1 reusable sandwich wrap.
Click here to shop Goodbyn lunchboxes
Picture

Read More
2 Comments

Cheap & Effective Foaming Soap

8/14/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
This is one of those things that I've been doing for so long that I forget it's a good idea :)  So, just in case you're still buying foaming soap dispensers and/or using full strength shower gel, let me help you save some money!

Materials:
  • Shower gel.  I prefer to use Dr. Bronner's soaps because it's perfect for hand washing, shower gel, baby wash, face wash...and in a pinch:  shampoo & toothpaste!  In this pic I'm using Lavender which is my summer scent as it's a natural bug repellent.  My husband's favorite is the classic peppermint... it's OH-SO-TINGLY and refreshing!  
  • H2O.
  • Foaming soap dispenser.  If you don't have one, no problem.  Just go buy a foaming soap from the store (Bath & Body Works has a nicely shaped one).  Once you finish with the contents, simply peel off the label, rinse and reuse.
How to:
Fill 1/4 with shower gel and slowly add water until it reaches the top.  

That's it!  Kind of embarrassing if you've been buying foaming soap all this time and/or using full strength shower gel, eh?

What's your favorite shower gel scent?

Picture
0 Comments

10 Healthy Easter Basket Fillers

3/6/2013

3 Comments

 
Picture
When it comes to Easter baskets, there are some things that must not be changed:  gourmet jelly beans (no generic or jumbo ones for me!) & a Reese's peanut butter egg.  Those two things will keep me fishing through the plastic green grass with a smile on my face all day long!

However, the rest of the traditional Easter items NEED TO GO.  Forget the waxy tasting chocolate crosses and bunnies!  Forget the foil wrapped eggs.  Dear me, puh-lease leave out the marshmallow peeps.  The malt balls and speckled eggs, meh...

Let's raise a generation of kids who covet their SMALL amount of high quality chocolate* (here is where I back-track and snub Reese's...do as I say, not as I do) and get giddy over the healthy treats found in their Easter baskets!

*I recommend heading to your local Aldi for the best selection of chocolates.  It's one of life's great perks that the local "budget" grocery store is originally from Germany and therefore full of reasonably priced German chocolates!


Lazy Green Mama's 10 Healthy Easter Basket Fillers Recommendations:

  1. Fruit "Squeeze-y" Packs.  We love ALL brands of these treats!  Some of them are technically baby food, but if you don't tell your kid, they'll slurp them down and ask for more.  For the most budget friendly options, look in the applesauce section of your local grocery store.  There are many economical brands... just make sure they don't contain high fructose corn syrup!
  2. Annie's Bunnies!  What's more perfect than an Easter bunny delivering bunny crackers?  Yum!  Just be sure to buy yourself some too :)
  3. THRIVE yogurt bites.  If you've ever tasted the Gerber Yogurt melts...well these are NOTHING like those!  They are crunchy squares of creamy goodness.  The best part is... when the yogurt rehydrates (in your mouth), the live enzymes come back to life... hello healthy bacteria!

Shop THRIVE Yogurt Bites
4.   THRIVE peaches.  I used to crave gummy peach rings and then feel REALLY guilty  
because I have low impulse control and would eat the whole bag. However, eating these PURE freeze dried peaches with 98%+ of the nutrient content as fresh = no guilt or stomachaches!

5.  THRIVE organic granny smith apples.  Slightly tart with a major crunch.

6.  THRIVE sliced strawberries.  You will never crave gummy snacks again.

7.  THRIVE whole strawberries.  If you're inspired to make your basket a tad fancy, dip these in chocolate.  The Easter bunny will earn his/her first raise!

8.  THRIVE bananas.  My kids favorite.  They would eat an entire can of these if I left them out.  I'd love to see their faces light up to have their OWN entire can to gobble.

9.  THRIVE organic raspberries.  The taste of a summer ripened raspberries, without turning to mush or mold in 2 days.  In my house, we taste one, pucker with joy and promptly pop another one in.

SHOP THRIVE fruits
10.  BOOKS!  While I don't want my kids to think Easter is a time for oodles of presents, it is the perfect time to balance out the food goodies with an age-appropriate book or two.  I love the idea using books to teach the miracle of Christ's resurrection or science books about eggs (my kids are getting the gorgeous book, "Whose Egg?" by Lynette Evans) . For more ideas, head over to my family blog, KoskersIdlewild, to see my top choices for toddler/pre-school books.
Picture
Picture
All links in this post are Affliate links, so I earn a tiny commission if you purchase through my links (embedded in the photos).  Thank you!
3 Comments

Dad's Wooden Toys Review & Giveaway

7/2/2010

30 Comments

 
Picture
When you’re in the market for an eco-lovin’ baby or kid gift, your first idea is probably a wooden toy.  Simple, elegant, beautiful wood.  It’s my weakness.  I once cancelled a Spring Break trip (which I couldn’t afford) to Florida in exchange for building a wooden bed frame with my dad.  My dad has a dream woodshop.  I think my husband wanted to move next door just for the woodshop.  Needless to say, along with a top-rate music education from her Grandma, Zel will be skilled in woodworking at a very young age.  Lucky girl (luckier grandparents).

I found Dad’s Wooden Toys on Etsy when I was looking for gift ideas that fit with my goal of buying green gifts.  I’m in love with the simple designs and clever poetic descriptions. 

(Please click “Read More” for the product review and GIVEAWAY!)


Read More
30 Comments

Step WON

5/9/2010

4 Comments

 
 Do you feel it?  The pressure to be all things to all people at all times?  I do. 

Mamas, let's make a pledge to ourselves to take things one step at a time.

I'm starting this blog with quite a few "aces in the hole".  (ooo... I like writing within quotations almost as much as I love writing within parentheses!).

So, I'm gonna start with a topic I've been asked to explain many times:  CLOTH WIPES.

CONTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT LADIES!

Yes, cloth wipes are the easiest way to green up the output process of your wee ones.  (Ha!  I just came up with that- "output process"!  I feel clever.)

If you already use cloth diapers, this will be an easy addition for you!  The wipes go right in the diaper pail.  If you use disposable diapers, this is a way to be a little greener, a little healthier for your baby and a little more confident around any tree-hugger friends you have.

For the first 8 months of my baby's life, I found a zen-like joy (only slightly exaggerating) in folding the wipes accordion style after washing* them and then placing them in my Prince Lionhart wipe warmer (hey, now they sell one with bamboo wipes!  glad they jumped on the band wagon!).  Just remoisten the little sponge thing every day and your wipes are always the perfect moistness and a pleasing temperature. 

Now that my baby is a little hardier, I'm relishing the freedom to be a little lazier with my wipes.  I toss them into the dryer (ok, sometimes I line dry them, but only sometimes!) and then stuff (emphasis on the helter skelter here.  no folding allowed!) them into the unplugged wipe warmer. 

Now, if you aren't a cloth diaper mama, you may be a little squeamish about the idea of having to wash poop (that word makes me smile).  If that's the case, no biggie... use disposable wipes on those diapers and cloth wipes for all the others!  If you want to go all-out and use the cloth wipes for everything, I've been really pleased with the bumgenius bottom cleaner
that I received as a baby gift.  I spritz a little on the dirty bum and everything wipes cleanly off.  One 4 oz. bottle has lasted a LONG time!  However, once that runs out, I'm gonna fill the bottle with ye ole H2O and a squirt of Dr. Bronner's (I'll let you know how that goes).

As for the cloth wipes.  I really like these thin unbleached flannel squares.  I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to make your own flannel wipes, but come on... this is MY blog!  I have also tried cloth wipes that are more terry cloth (bumgenius brand, though they don't seem to be for sale online anymore).  These are great as washcloths, but too thick for a wipe.

What do you think?  Do you already use them?  Will you try?

*How I wash:  I wash my wipes with the cloth diapers.  1. cold rinse; 2. hot wash with 1/4 the amount of detergent (Dreft or any free & clear); 3. extra cold rinse.  If you don't wash cloth diapers, throw the wipes into the washer for a cold rinse before adding whatever else.  The wipe-to-skin contact is brief, so let's not over think the detergent!
4 Comments
    Thrive LGM Sale Prices!

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture


    Lazy Green Mama

    Promote Your Page Too

    RSS Feed


    Categories

    All
    Birth
    Bravelets
    Cheap & Creative
    Cloth Diaper
    Etsy
    Fitness
    Food
    For The Baby
    For The Earth
    For The Home
    For The Kids
    For The Mama
    Get Outdoors
    Giveaway
    Life
    Medley Acres
    Oils & Herbs
    Preparedeness
    Shelf Reliance Sale
    Thrive Basics
    Thrive Dairy
    Thrive Fruit
    Thrive Grains
    Thrive Life Team
    Thrive Meals
    Thrive Proteins
    Thrive Vegetables

    Grab my Button!

    Lazy Green Mama

    Archives

    February 2015
    August 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010


    Header/Button designed by South of Sheridan

    Image Credits: IStock

    Share
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.