As I prepared my meal plan this week, I thought about how many places I buy my food. There is the local grocery store (which also does our home deliveries), Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Costco and the farmer’s market in our town opens up June 2nd. I got into this new habit of shopping after I became a stay-at-home-mom and wanted to get the best food at the best price. I don’t hit every store every week, but at least two a week. We spend a lot of our monthly budget on food, even with me traveling to all these different stores. As I think about life with three little ones four and under, I think I’ll have to make some adjustments.

I wonder what other moms are prioritizing when it comes to shopping locations. Is it price? Is it selection? Is it how fast you can get there and get home? Meal planning has helped me stay on top of what is actually in our freezer/refrigerator to decrease the amount of food wasted. Now I’m going to make sure my meal planning allows me to visit one big store each week, plus one local stop for additional produce for the weekend. When we started making smoothies our produce stash started diminishing awfully quick! If you have suggestions of how to streamline the grocery store process, I would love to read them in the comment section. 

On the menu this week…

Monday Meal Plan May 20

Sunday~ Homemade Waldorf Chicken Salad for Daddy, Hot Dogs for the Kids. Mom’s off duty and heading to Rice Barn for a spicy dinner and a meet-up with local bloggers for some pre-summer catch-up.

Monday~ Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday~ Date night after the Magic Beans Drool Baby Expo in Boston

Wednesday~ Homemade Chicken Nuggets, steamed green beans and a side of pasta

Thursday~ Pasta Fagioli (meatless meal) and a side salad

Friday~ Mixing it up with Pulled Pork Cemita, Veggie Rice and Guacamole

Saturday~ Pizza night is bumped to Saturday in case we get together with friends and need to make a bigger dinner. Did you catch my recipe post last week for our homemade pizza dough? I tried it with some whole wheat bread flour, but wouldn’t do it again. A little whole wheat is fine but it’s much better with mostly white bread flour.

Homemade Waldorf Chicken Salad

Homemade Waldorf Chicken Salad for Sunday night

What’s on your menu this week? Any great grocery shopping tips to share?

For more inspiration, see my past menus here, or the Pinterest board here, or OrgJunkie for a link-up of meal plans.

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.

photo-10

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.

Eco-Friendly Boy Shoes

Eco Friendly Boy Shoes for Spring
Eco Friendly Shoes for Girls

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.

photo-11

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.

Albion Fit Giveaway RandomRecycling

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 swimsuit Albion Fit

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.

Blousy Navy swim top Albion Fit

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.

graphite capri pant Albion Fit

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided product samples to help facilitate this review. This in no way influenced my opinions shared here.

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

Are you in the minivan camp?

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

Are you in the SUV camp?

 

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.

Ford Explorer Sport

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.

Ford Explorer Sport Interior

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.

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.

Green Nonstick Pans

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.

5 Green Non-Stick Pans to Love

 

What are your “must have” kitchen pans?
I’m sharing this post over at Your Green Resource.

Customized Mini Business Cards

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.

Customized Food Labels

 

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.

Organize Business Cards

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.

Business Card Giveaway

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I did not receive anything for this giveaway, just wanted to share with my readers as it’s a great value!

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
  • Fits babies from 15 to 45 pounds
Our Favorite Features of the Thanks Mama Store: 
  • Large selection of 28 brands of cloth diapers
  • Over 15 options of reusable potty training pants
  • Eco-friendly and non-toxic baby care solutions
  • Classic and modern wooden toys
  • Non-toxic mattresses for the whole family
  • Eco-friendly furniture for baby and kids made of rubberwood
  • Free shipping on all U.S. orders over $60 and Worldwide shipping rates available
  • Earn rewards dollars with every purchase

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. 

Relan Bag Giveaway at Random Recycling blog

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.

Relan Bag Tony Tote using repurposed billboard vinyl

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!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided a sample tote from Relan Bag to help facilitate this review. This in no way influenced my opinions shared here.

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.

~Emily

Green Shopping Guide Random Recycling

Babies/Toddlers/Mama’s to Be

ecomom® Official Site. Featuring a Huge Selection of Eco Friendly and Organic Products
Ecomom is one of my favorite sites. You can buy safe toys, BPA free dishes, toddler snacks and more from this shopping site dedicated to healthy living. I love it!

Isis Parenting (favorite local shop, but you can order online)

 

Earth Mama Special Earth Mama Angel Baby covers all your needs when pregnant, post partum and for your little one. Everything from special teas to diaper rash cream.
 

Delightful kids' projects delivered right to your door.  <See Sample Crates>Kiwi Crates come delivered right to your door. Awesome craft projects for ages 4+.

Abe’s Market has a wide range of natural products. Groceries, beauty products and more.

CleanWell My favorite hand sanitizer comes from CleanWell. It’s safe for the kids and their wipes are awesome after an afternoon at the playground.

This is where I order my vanilla beans from.

 

Favorite Blogs

~this is where I learn of the newest eco-friendly products/ideas.

Books

(click on the cover to see more details)


 

 E-books

Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods: Family Camping HandbookBuy Healthy Snacks to Go eBook Recipes OnlineSmart Sweets
Some favorites from Kitchen Stewardship that helped me learn about cooking with real food.

cover01-244x300
Click here to visit Simple Mom.

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

Good luck!