It’s finally getting warm around here which means it’s time to go shoe shopping. Both kids need new summer sandals and I thought it would be fun to pull together some cute, eco-friendly shoes for summer. Summer camp is around the corner so it’s time to get prepared with sandals, flip flops and swim shoes.
It may be time to order shoe labels for each child too. Those sticky shoe dots are invaluable when it comes to finding your kid’s shoes in a pile. I rely on them and thankfully had them in my kid’s shoes when I accidentally took someone else’s home recently from the gym. (Can I call it pregnancy brain?). I like the sticky labels from KiddoTags, the shoe dots stay on well and there are a lot of cute ways to customize them.
What else is on your shopping list for summer? It’s Earth Month so I’m trying to be aware of my shopping purchases and make eco-friendly ones when possible.
Disclosure: I received KiddoTags to help facilitate my review. The customizing options are great and I let my four year old help pick out her own special sticky label clothing tags. They have some great value packs to get your family ready for camp. All opinions shared here are my own.
Who is ready for some spring fashion? I look outside and there are still little pockets of snow on the ground. The forecast is calling for yet more snow and I’m just done. Done looking at grey skies, done with the piles of snowy hats and gloves and done waiting for warmer weather. It’s time to look ahead to spending the summer at the beach, under a brilliant blue sky, while I enjoy my kids running around in the warm sun.
Chevron is such a huge trend, why not at the beach?
On my list of things to be “greener” about is my choice of clothing. While a lot of my kid’s clothes are either shopped at a local consignment sale or made from organic cotton, I haven’t done a great job myself of finding eco-friendly clothing on a regular basis. Part of the reason is it’s a little confusing. Is it more important to choose eco-friendly fabrics, or choose companies that focus on reducing their carbon footprint through greener manufacturing processes? Recently I was asked to take a look at Albion Fit, a company that combines these two goals.
Albion Fit is a small, family owned company from Utah that makes women’s fitness and swimwear. For someone like me who basically lives in a swimsuit for the month of July, I loved the idea of finding a more eco-friendly swimsuit. I was in luck as I had trouble deciding which bathing suit I wanted to check out myself.
My swimsuit choice, since July will be just 4 weeks post-partum for me!
The clothes are made in Guatemala, in a fair-trade, family owned manufacturing facility that provides scholarship opportunities and fair compensation for all workers and their families. Things you can feel good about when you shop here, either online or in their new flagship store in Salt Lake City. There are tops and bottoms perfect for a yoga class, or for lounging around on a Sunday. If you are a tennis player, the skirts are adorable.
The yoga wear assortment is beautiful, either for a class or for lounging at home.
I’m excited to offer one of my readers a $100 gift card to pick out their own swimsuit or fitness outfit from Albion Fit. Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter below. Contest will be open until 3/30. If you just can’t wait for the giveaway to end, you can get $15 off any order of $50 or more. Use code: randomrecycling15
For months there has been an ongoing debate in our house about our next car: SUV or Minivan. As our family grows, I wanted to make the leap to the flexibility of having a third row. One, to give the kids some breathing room in the car. Two, to give me the space I need to carry a stroller and hit Costco at the same time. We needed to decide on buying a minivan or an SUV. The choice was not an easy one. I asked for advice on my facebook page and got a great response.
We have spent the last couple months test driving cars to decide what will work for our family. We drove the following: Ford Explorer Sport, Ford Flex, Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna.
Minivan versus SUV
I have to admit I’ve been the big hold out when it comes to driving a minivan. Someone could certainly quote me on saying, “NEVER” on more than one occasion. Then I drove one and I realized there were a lot of benefits of driving a minivan for a soon to be family of 5.
Pros
Ease of the automatic doors
7-8 passenger capacity
Grows with our family
Storage room
Good gas mileage
More room in our garage since the doors don’t swing open
Cons
It’s a minivan
Large size
Honda Odyssey doesn’t offer All Wheel Drive
Pros (Ford Explorer Sport)
It’s not a minivan
Super comfortable to drive
Felt very safe driving in a rainstorm
Cool interior and exterior design
Cons
Height made it difficult for my four year old to get in
Heavy doors were a safety concern
Lower gas mileage
5 passenger option since we needed the middle row to be captain’s chairs
Less storage than the minivan
Both the Ford and the Honda had awesome back up cameras. The Toyota Sienna camera was super small in comparison. I really like this safety feature since my kids are often running around outside, and their toys/bikes/shovels/etc. tend to migrate to the driveway.
The only bummer about the Honda Odyssey is it isn’t offered with All Wheel Drive. Living in New England it would be a great option and I’m surprised they still don’t offer it.
As someone committed to living a sustainable lifestyle, some people are surprised I already drive a small SUV (Ford Escape). We love the car and plan to keep it as our second car. We walk into town often to do our shopping and neither my husband or myself use a car to commute to work. Since our cars don’t get too much use, I’m ok with driving an SUV that uses more gas than an average car. Thankfully there are so many new eco-friendly engine options for cars, including the Eco-Boost engine on the Ford models.
So, have we decided? We are nearly certain it will be the Honda Odyssey for us. I think with a new baby, this will just make life a little easier. This will be our third Honda and we are just used to the brand. I would love for the Ford Explorer to be the upgrade to our Escape when the time comes that she needs to be replaced. It is an awesome car and I was sad to turn it in after I drove it for a few days. My friends were surprised when I said a Ford was “cool.” Times have changed and it really has been modernized with the technology details inside and the great driving comfort it offers.
I loved being able to Sync my iphone with the Ford Explorer as soon as I got in.
Which camp are you in? Camp Minivan or Camp SUV?
Disclosure: I was provided Ford vehicles to test drive. This in no way influenced my opinions shared here.
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/team-minivan-randomrecycling.jpg430690eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2013-03-14 10:13:452013-03-14 10:13:45Minivan versus SUV? Comparing the Honda Odyssey to the Ford Explorer.
Have you ever been confused about the rules about nonstick pans? Can you use them or not? For a long time I’ve tried to avoid using them, but when you are cooking eggs there really isn’t a great alternative. There are a bunch of new “healthy” alternatives to the old Teflon pans many of us grew up with. You want to look for PFOA and PTFE-free pans, which means is doesn’t release the same cancer causing toxins that Teflon releases when scratched.
Below is a collection of well priced green pans that offer the ease of nonstick cooking. Most have either a ceramic coating or a Thermolon coating.
Oh, and if you have an old non-stick pan that is really scratched, get rid of it. Don’t pass it along. It’s one of those items that shouldn’t be passed along to a new home. You can also extend the life of nonstick pans by using silicone cooking tools and a Silpat Non-Stick Baking Mat.
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/nonstick-pans-to-love-randomrecycling.jpg10011500eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2013-03-07 14:12:332013-03-07 14:12:335 Green Non-Stick Pans to Love
In two weeks I’ll be enjoying some time away from home at Blissdom, one of the bigger blogger conferences of the year. It kicks off blogger conference season for many people and one of the few things on the “must-pack” list is business cards. Whether you are a new blogger or a veteran, business cards are key for handing out to new contacts and businesses. Today I’m partnering with 123Print.com to offer you $250 worth of products, including business cards, to get you ready for a blog conference. Not a blogger? Use the giveaway to order fun product labels for food gifts, order baby announcements, office organization supplies and more. And yes, 123Print has recycled business cards to choose from.
If you are creating your blogging business cards for the first time, what you should include? Here is my list of what to include and what is optional.
Your Name
Blog Name/Tagline
Email Address
Blog Website Address (skip the http:// part, and make an effort to ditch the “blogspot.com or wordpress.com portion)
Blog Facebook Page Address
Twitter Handle
Pinterest, Google +, Instagram address are all optional
Phone number is optional
Personal Photo is optional, but helpful for others when they meet hundreds of people at a conference
QR code with a link to your media kit is optional.
It’s important for your card to highlight your personal brand and what makes you unique. However, you don’t want it to be cluttered. White space is golden so people can make notes on the card to refer back to when they are at home sorting through their collection. Also, skip the swirly lettering that is challenging to read. Make the card creative, but user-friendly.
In terms of organizing business cards, I had success with packing small snack size zippered bags for each day of the conference. At the end of each day, I added the cards to a bag. When I wanted to go back and find a card it was easier for me to remember when and where I met them, and then refer back to that day’s bag. Second, people I know pack a large binder ring and a hole punch. They punch the cards daily and add them to a ring. For more blogging tips, you can follow my Pinterest board here.
Giveaway time! Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Contest is open until 3/12. US residents only. Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim their prize.
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.png00eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2013-03-06 10:18:592013-03-06 10:18:59123Print.com $250 Giveaway! Perfect for Blog Conferences
This summer, I’m going to spend a lot of time with my baby carriers. With baby #3 arriving in June, and a summer vacation planned for July, those baby carriers are a must have. We don’t need much for the next baby, but I am interested in the Onya Baby Outback carrier. It’s good for hot weather so I think it may be perfect for the beach. I’ll need my hands free while my other two fishes play in the water!
It is amazing how popular babywearing has become today and rightfully so. It keeps everyone happy – baby, mom, siblings. The convenience of having your hands free and your baby content makes the daily tasks of mothering much more manageable. I am excited to have partnered with Thanks Mama to give away the Onya Baby Carrier to one reader so that you and your little one can savor the joy and convenience of babywearing as well! In addition you will get $50 to spend on anything you please – cloth diapers, potty training pants, wooden toys, bedding, baby care items, or nursing essentials, to name a few. Thanks Mama online baby store features a selection of twelve baby carrier brands, among them the versatile Onya Baby Carrier. The unique feature is that it doubles as a baby carrier and a baby seat for when you are out and about. It comes in beautiful, modern colors and two different materials. The soft cotton is suitable for most situations and climates and the rip-stop nylon with mesh lining is perfect for hot weather, hiking, and active outdoor enthusiasts.
Our Favorite Features of the Onya Baby Carrier:
Can be used as a baby carrier and chair harness, perfect for travel
Padding at the leg openings for baby’s comfort
Can be worn on the front or back
Attached sleeping hood that can be tucked away
Available in either soft cotton or rip-stop nylon depending on your lifestyle and needs
Purchase: You can purchase the Onya Baby Carrier at Thanks Mama. Use code CARRIER for 15% off!
Win It! Thanks Mama is generously giving away the Onya Baby Carrier (winner’s choice based on availability) and a $50 gift card to Thanks Mama store to one winner.
Special thanks to AnaB Social for hosting this giveaway. Huge thanks to Thanks Mama and all participating bloggers as well! Giveaway ends March 13th at 12:01 am, open WORLDWIDE, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below (see directions on how to enter here). Thank you!
Disclaimer: AnaB Social, Eco-Babyz, and all participating event bloggers are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. All opinions shared here are my own, this is not a sponsored post.
Sustainable fashions have come a long way. Eco-friendly clothing and accessories are on trend, colorful, and easier to find through the help of the Internet. I use to think of “green fashion” as an oxymoron. Everything always seemed so bland and itchy. There were more items to say no to than YES! As a former retail buyer, I love finding new fashion lines that do something to reduce waste and create something people actually want to buy. Relan Bag is one such company that I happen to spot at Whole Foods one day.
Imagine all those billboards used to promote the latest theater showings in Times Square. They often end up in a landfill somewhere once the run is over. Relan is able to come in and repurpose the vinyl into handbags, totes and accessories. The product is cute, but also helps eliminate a giant waste stream.
I have the Tony Tote and one of the things that jumped out to me was the material used for the bottom of the bag. Since I have little ones, I often have to put my bag on the ground when we are getting in and out of the car. The material is super durable…turns out they use recycled rubber tires. My tote may become one of our beach totes this summer since it can hold up when we sit in the “wet sand” area. If only that would save me from the spilled sippy cups inside…
I think you all would love to see what Relan Bags can create. For the giveaway, I want you to check out their store and let me know which item is your favorite. When you want to make a purchase, you can work with the Relan team to suggest a color family for your item. The final item does depend on material availability, but it’s pretty cool to say you have a one of a kind tote.
The winner will get the entire package in the photo above: the Dandy Tote, Makeup Bag, and Makeup Brush Bag. Enter the giveaway through the Rafflecopter below. Contest ends on February 9th at midnight. Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond. Good luck!
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Relan-Bag-Giveaway_RandomRecycling1.jpg23463128eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2013-01-31 14:18:042013-01-31 14:18:04Does This Look Like a Walking Billboard to You?
One of the questions I get the most is “where did you buy that?” I decided to pull together a list of some of my favorite eco-friendly shopping sites, plus some of my favorite books for further reading. This will always be available as a page in the menu bar. Please let me know if you have any questions about the products/companies listed on this page.
The Butterfly is my favorite Urban Canvas project.
Ever notice how excited kids are to play with a box instead of the toy that came in it? There is just something magical about cardboard boxes and a child’s imagination. Urban Canvas brought these elements together to create a line of design oriented art projects using recycled cardboard. The line of art projects is designed by a mom of three who has a background in interior design and art education. She also had children who loved the cardboard box as much a my two kids. Urban Canvas just launched this year and I love their commitment to using sustainable materials, very little packaging and creating a project that eventually can be recycled.
The train set is appropriate for ages three and up.
Want to try out an Urban Canvas project with your kids? Or maybe give one as a gift? You can get 25% off using the code: COOLTOY. If you buy one now, you can also snap a picture of the finished project and enter it into a contest. All entries will get another Urban Canvas toy. You can also buy these projects in a few local retailers, including Henry Bear in the Boston area.
To celebrate the holidays, Urban Canvas is also going to give a lucky reader their choice of an art project! Take a look and see which one you like; there is also a note about the appropriate age for each project in the details. Contest is open to US residents and runs until midnight 12/22. a Rafflecopter giveaway
As we start to decorate our home for the holidays, I’m trying to be mindful of the products we choose to use and display. There are so many whimsical (and cheap) plastic holiday decorations in the stores, it’s easy to get caught up in buying them. This year I’m trying to keep our holiday design space simple and healthy. For us, that means no toxic smelling candles, no synthetic fragranced lotions and excess plastic decorations. This year it will be a lot more glass, fresh pine boughs and cranberry filled vases.
As a mom, and the shopper in our house, I am responsible for creating a healthy home. I try to educate myself by learning which ingredients to watch out for, and which products might pollute the air in our home. With two little ones in the house, I want to make sure the air we breathe is as clean as can be. Did you know many laundry and dishwasher detergent release fumes into the air that can create a toxic environment for your family? Once you start learning about this stuff, it’s really hard to go back.
I recently tested out The Honest Company line of products and they fill my need to buy green products for our family without breaking the bank. There are so many questionable ingredients from the brands we grew up with and trust. We are lucky to have new companies join the movement to offer a healthier choice for our kids. Jessica Alba started The Honest Company once she became a mom and questioned some of the ingredients commonly found in kid’s products. She did something about it and created options that are safe, but also work. I’ve tried so many green products over the years and there is nothing more frustrating than realizing the item you spent extra money for doesn’t even work. No one of the “green” mindset wants to be wasteful. I want the products in my home to be effective, but hopefully pretty!
Madison loved her special body wash!
I make a lot of exceptions for other things around the holidays, like more TV time to watch holiday favorites and loads more sweets than usual. At least if I can keep our environment at home less toxic, that will give us all a head start on staying healthy this holiday season.
The Honest Company was started by a mom and a dad who, like many modern parents, were increasingly worried about products made with questionable chemical ingredients. But the alternatives they found were often expensive, inaccessible, bland, or ineffective. In response to this clear need for something better, they created The Honest Company to ensure that parents (or anyone for that matter!) could easily find natural and non-toxic eco-friendly products that are beautiful, effective, and affordable. From customized product bundles to diapers and wipes to an ever-expanding line of cleaning and personal care products, you can find everything you need at Honest.com and have it delivered directly to your front door. Give it a try! Click here to become a member of The Honest Company community and start your free trial today.
I love to hear your feedback and comments. Stop by and visit Facebook, Pinterest orTwitter for more conversation! Or get posts delivered via Email or RSS Feed. Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Honest Company. The opinions and text are my own.
https://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.png00eroachwellnesshttps://emilyroachwellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Emily-Logo-header-1.pngeroachwellness2012-11-29 10:01:002012-11-29 10:01:00Making Eco-Friendly Choices Even During the Holidays
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