Green Living | TheSuburbanMom

Green Your Baby Care Routine With The Honest Company

November 30, 2012 By jen 3 Comments

If you are still stuck on the notion that all “green” products are plain Jane or even ugly, get that out of your head. Gone are the days when buying products that are good for the environment means sacrificing style or comfort. Thanks to trendsetter and business mom Jessica Alba even your baby’s tush can be downright cute while being 100% non-toxic and chlorine-free, naturally biodegradable and made from sustainable, plant-based materials.

There is a fundamental desire that comes with motherhood to protect our children from… well everything. While I have always considered myself to be eco-conscious, like many new moms I found that passion on hyper-drive the moment I learned I was pregnant. Suddenly my instinct to protect the planet extended to researching ways to protect my family from harsh chemicals and needless waste. Goodbye cleaners I once used regularly, hello vinegar. Goodbye regular fruit and veggies, hello organic. The list goes on…

Apparently, I am in good company because Jessica Alba co-founded Honest Company after the birth of her daughter when that same feeling led her in a search for something better. She went so far as to develop a company to help other mothers too.

The result is diapers made plant materials – no petrochemicals that are super-duper cute. Seriously, the cute factor is reason enough to check out these diapers. Oh and one of my biggest pet peeves, patterned diapers under white bloomers — Honest Company even makes all-white diapers. Genius!

Honest Company Diapers Wipes Free Sample

Honest Company also offers products to clean your home and your baby that are also plant-based and free of harsh chemicals. As an added bonus, Honest Company products are only available by mail, which means everything is delivered to your door. I could get used to that.

In addition to being better for you, Honest Company is dedicated to making the world a better place through its charitable giving program that donates time, money, and product to Baby2Baby.org - a non-profit that supplies families in need with essential baby gear and clothing for children up to age 12.

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.

Honest Company Diaper

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Honest Company. The opinions and text are all mine.

3 Steps To Cut Down On Party Trash

June 21, 2012 By jen 92 Comments

Trash day in my neighborhood makes me sad. Driving down the street, I see house after house with giant piles of senseless trash. Those homes that have obvious recyclables sitting by the curb make me especially unhappy. Not to mention those with toys and home goods that are still 100% usable (don’t worry, when I see those I rescue them!).

My family of four, including a baby in disposable diapers (yes, I know), produces only a single bag of trash each week. Often that bag isn’t even full, just stinky. That’s it. But we regularly overflow two bins of recyclables weekly. It can be done, without much effort I might add.

I was recently challenged by Glad to throw a party taking the One Bag Challenge – filling only one bag of trash from the party. I was psyched to take on the challenge to show that it can be done. Learn more about the One Bag Challenge and Glad’s commitment to bettering the environment here.

With summer upon us I invited the neighborhood gang to celebrate with some water fun in the back yard. To really showcase the success of the challenge, I invited everyone – 24 kids and 20 adults. Yep, I decided to take a One Bag Challenge for party of 44! Yes, that’s right I decided I could host a party with 44 guests and only produce a single bag of trash.

Want to cut down on your party trash? Follow these three simple steps:

Step 1 – Use sustainable and biodegradable partyware. Not only is it good for the planet, but it is totally chic too. Out of all my party prep, my dinner plates received the most compliments — go figure! I served my guests on bamboo plates from Bambu. If only I was a composter, all of my plates, cups, silverware and napkins could have gone into a compost pile… Someday.

Glad One Bag Challenge Step 1

Step 2 – Decorate your space with reusable decor. For my party I decorated with leis that served as party favors and reusable tiki torches. (Notice a theme here?) The decor was also budget friendly, I picked up the leis at Target $1 for two.

Glad One Bag Challenge Step 2

Step 3 – Make sure your recycle bin and trash bag are in plain sight. To encourage people to recycle, I placed my recycle bin right under the table. No it isn’t pretty, but it reminded people. (Although I still went fishing in the garbage after the party for stray recycleables.)

Glad One Bag Challenge Step 3

So, of course, the question remains… Did I meet the challenge? Of course I did! One bag with room to spare! If it wasn’t so stinky, I would have put it in my kitchen and kept adding to the bag. I could have crammed a lot more into my Glad bag, it was made for stuffing full. But alas my husband made a face when I suggested this possibility. Oh well, I guess this week we will be putting two bags by the curb. But neither one will be totally full!

Glad One Bag Challenge Success

Quick Giveaway – Ends June 25

How would you like a party pack filled with everything you need to host your own One Bag Challenge Party? You would? Fantastic! Glad wants to help by giving one lucky reader a party pack to get you started with the right tools. In the party pack you will find Glad trash bags (but just use one), the awesome bamboo partyware, a yummy scented soy candle and Green Works spray for easy clean up. Just add guests, a little decor and some food and ta-da instant summer fun! Good luck!

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. *** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure – I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Glad and received a One Bag kit to facilitate my review, a kit to give away, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

10 Easy Ways To Green Your Routine Today

April 27, 2012 By jen 1 Comment

Although Earth Day is an excellent opportunity to shine a light on things we can do to protect the world we live in, the effort to live a more sustainable life with less waste should be ongoing. This month, I shared tips for recycling and organic eating, and limiting chemicals in the home. For my final post in partnership with Scott Naturals, let’s look at 10 things you can do to green your routine today.

I promise, this is a painless list that you really can do. And best of all, many of these steps will actually save you money.

Test Drive Scott Naturals. If everyone in the U.S. took the 4-Week Test Drive and swapped their paper products for Scott Naturals (made with recycled fibers) we would save 2,000,000 trees. Wow. That’s a major impact.
Recycle. Just do it. Make it habit and recycle. If you already do (props to you), research ways to recycle other materials that aren’t part of curbside pick up – like batteries and styrofoam.
Eat Organic. You don’t have to switch everything right now. Start with the Dirty Dozen veggies and go from there.
Use Homemade Cleaners. Say no to cleaning with unnecessary chemicals. Slash the cost of cleaning supplies and make your own cleaners from safe products like vinegar.
Use Reusable Bags. Put a stash in your car, carry a compact one in your purse — whatever you have to do to remember them. Once it becomes a habit, it will be like grabbing your car keys. (Bonus: Target and CVS offer discounts to shoppers with reusable bags!)
Buy Secondhand. Kids out grow clothes in a flash, so save your wallet and landfills by buying secondhand. When you are done, resell your kids duds or donate them to charity. Let’s get more life out of those threads!
Reuse “Trash” For An Art Project. I love crafting with upcycled materials. Toilet paper rolls, ribbons saved from packages, cut up cardboard boxes – the possibilities are endless. Look for recycled craft ideas on Pinterest.
Buy Products/Packaging Made From Recycled Materials. Complete the recycling cycle by supporting companies that create products and/or packaging with recycled fibers.
Switch To CFL Light Bulbs. Stop using incandescent bulbs. I know CFLs are more expensive, but because you don’t have to replace them as often and they use less electricity, you will save money on addition bulbs and your electric bill.
Wash Laundry In Cold Water. Did you know, 90% of the energy needed to wash a load of laundry is used for heating the water. Switch to cold water and you will drastically reduce your energy consumption saving you money too.

There’s my challenge to you. Take these 10 painless steps toward being more green. The planet will thank you.

Disclosure – This series of posts was brought to you by Scott Naturals, however, all thoughts, opinions and tips are my own.

Green Living ~ Limiting Chemicals In The Home

April 19, 2012 By jen 11 Comments

Earth Day is nearly upon us, and it is the perfect time to make a new (or renewed) commitment to green living. This month I partnered with SCOTT Naturals™ to share ideas about small steps families can take to make their homes more green and lessen their impact on the planet. In previous posts I share tips about recycling and organic eating, this week let’s take a look under the kitchen sink.

One of the first things we do when we learn a baby is on the way is baby proof the house, including locking down cleaning supplies. Of course, we want to protect our babes from accidentally getting into chemicals. But if those chemicals are so harsh that we have to lock them up, should we really be cleaning surfaces that our children come into contact with them? Think about it, if it isn’t safe for baby why is it safe for us?

Instead of ordinary cleaners, the easiest switch is to move to “green” cleaners now available everywhere. There are tons of brands that offer green cleaners for counters, floors, laundry, bathrooms, etc. I like Method, Seventh Generation and Green Works. These cleaners a great first step. They are typically plant-based and eliminate many of the harshest chemicals. But I am thrifty, and green cleaners come with a price tag. Plus, even green cleaners aren’t perfect – they are still chemicals.

Homemade cleaners

To really go green, what about making your own cleaners with products that are so safe you can eat them? I know some of you are thinking that I have gone totally granola, but I promise it is easier than you think. You don’t have to make all of your own cleaners, just try one. For example, I have completely eliminated floor cleaners from my home. I switched to vinegar and water. It cleans just as well, it’s cheap and I know it is 100% safe.

Floor Cleaner: 1/4 cup vinegar in a half bucket of warm water.

That’s it! I use the same solution to wipe down my counter tops. It really works. You can clean your whole house with a few ingredients most of which you probably already have:

Vinegar
Hydrogen Peroxide
Rubbing Alcohol
Baking Soda
Borax
Washing Soda
Castile Soap (Dr.Brommers)
Dish Soap
Citrus
Olive Oil
Tea Tree Oil
Water

Not sure what to do with this list, head over to Pinterest to search for “homemade cleaners.” You will find a whole slew of recipes to clean your home.

Another way to green your cleaning is to use Scott Naturals paper towels made from recycled fibers. (Now available in Choose-a-Size to help eliminate waste – yay!)

SCOTT Naturals™ challenges you to take the 4-Week Test Drive – swapping your napkins, toilet paper, paper towels and flushable wipes for SCOTT Naturals™. Sign up at ScottBrand.com and pledge to accept the challenge. As added incentive, the state with the greatest number of pledges will receive a $50,000 donation to be applied to local conservation efforts. Another easy way one small step can lead to a big change.

I took the pledge, won’t you? Print these SCOTT Naturals coupons to help you get started.

Next week I will share another easy tip to live a greener life next week. Stay tuned.

Disclosure – This series of posts was brought to you by Scott Naturals, however, all thoughts, opinions and tips are my own.

Living Green – Tips To Organic Living

April 11, 2012 By jen 3 Comments

With organic produce, meat and other foods now available at most major grocery stores, going organic has become an easier way to be greener. In partnership with SCOTT Naturals™ last week I shared recycling tips. This week let’s look at eating organic. Like recycling, it isn’t about making an overnight overhaul on your entire life. Instead, it is about taking small steps that add up to a big change. In this case, eliminating chemicals from your family’s diet.

The big hang up for the switch to organic is that it comes with a price tag that isn’t necessarily budget friendly. (Although organic prices have certainly come down from what they were even two years ago.) For those on a grocery budget (myself included) selecting a few key items to buy organic is an excellent way to get started and make a difference in your family’s chemical exposure. Yes, going fully organic would be great, but even changing a few items you normally buy to organic makes a difference. You can choose organic anything, but for maximum impact consider the Dirty Dozen.

The dirty what?

The Dirty Dozen are the top 12 produce items that have been determined by the Environmental Working Group to harbor the most chemicals. You will notice that most of the items on this list are things you eat whole, skin included, hence the most residual pesticide left behind. If you are going to buy anything organic, let it be the Dirty Dozen:

apples
celery
strawberries
peaches
spinach
nectarines (imported)
grapes (imported)
sweet bell peppers
potatoes
blueberries (domestic)
potatoes
lettuce
kale and collard greens

On the other hand, the EWG also recognizes the Clean 15. These are the 15 produce items that have the least residual pesticide. Therefore, to help that grocery budget go ahead and enjoy conventionally grown versions of these:

onions
sweet corn
pineapples
avocados
asparagus
sweet peas (frozen)
mango
eggplant
cantaloupe (domestic)
kiwi
cabbage
watermelon
sweet potatoes
grapefruit
mushrooms

If you don’t buy organic, the EWG says that even though washing your conventionally grown produce won’t eliminate all of the pesticide residue on your produce, it will reduce your exposure. So don’t stop washing your fruits and veggies before eating them!

Although buying locally grown produce does not change the chemical impact, unless it is grown organically, buying local is another step toward greener living. Not only do you support local farmers, but you also eliminate the transportation impact. Plus, a weekend trip to a local farmer’s market is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. We regularly visit our farmer’s market where we find all kinds of product, crafts and other goodies to enjoy. Buying locally is green and fun!

While enjoying your organic and/or locally grown produce, wipe off those sticky fingers with SCOTT Naturals napkins. I recently swapped our regular brand for SCOTT Naturals as part of the 4-week test drive and no one in my family seemed to notice. (Which I take as a good sign from my picky family.) The napkins are made from 80% recycled fiber. That is how you complete the recycling cycle – by buying products made from the materials we recycle. (Oh, and I recycled the plastic bag packaging too.)

Made with Recycled Fibers

I took the pledge, and if everyone in my zipcode pledged to make the swap, 288 trees would be saved and there would be 40,571 more pledges for Florida. That’s a big difference in just four weeks! Take the pledge today at ScottBrand.com. Then print these SCOTT Naturals coupons to help you get started.

I’ll have more easy tips for you to live a greener life throughout the month of April. Stay tuned.

Disclosure – This series of posts was brought to you by Scott Naturals, however, all thoughts, opinions and tips are my own.