DIY Sunscreen Recipe ½ cup olive oil ¼ cup coconut oil ¼ cup beeswax 2 tablespoons shea butter 2 tablespoons zinc oxide (high quality) Optional: a few drops of non-citrus, baby friendly essential oil Directions: In a double boiler (or a jar in a pan of water over low heat) melt the oils, beeswax, and…
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How to protect yourself and your family from toxins in beauty care products It was a gift. The perfect little blue and white bottle of “Gentle! For Bebe!” baby shampoo in its foam pump bottle. I used it on my baby for two years before I thought to check if it was safe. It was…
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What’s the truth about organics? Simplified. Here’s what people say: “It’s too expensive.” “Well, I eat some things organic.” “My doctor says organic isn’t proven to make a difference.” “I just want my kids to eat!” How can I eat organic on a budget? I’m not going to lie. Eating organic on a budget is…
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DIY baby wipes & bum spray recipe from The Green Mama Make a little spray bottle for on the go, take your cloth wipes and pre- soak them, or make disposable baby wipes by adding the baby wipe mix to an unbleached, paper towel roll cut in half or a to flushable cloth- diaper liners….
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Green Juice Recipes What we don’t need when juicing is a bunch more sugar, what we do want is readily accessible vitamins and minerals. That means the juice should be at least 60% dark leafy/ 40% other vegetables and fruit. 60% leafy jean can mean kale, spinach, cucumber, celery, cilantro. 40% can include apples, pear,…
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As January draws to a close, many of us have let our resolutions fall by the wayside. But if there is one goal that it pays to keep up on throughout  the year, it’s banning the clutter that goes along with family life. From birthday party goodie bags to “can-we-please-get-this” moments-of-weakness at the thrift store,…
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Why does finding healthy paint matter? Paint and finish don’t just add colour to a room or a new baby crib, they can also release smelly, irritating, and toxic substances into the air. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that paints and finishes are one of the top culprits in polluting our indoor air and…
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How does a person write a book?   There are as many answers to that as books, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to learn from looking at the writing process. Indeed, there is much to learn and share and thus I was thrilled to take part in the #MyWritingProcess blog tour. It’s…
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Traveling abroad with a family: keeping safe, having fun, and doing it “green”. I have found that traveling and living in the developing world has been one of the greatest gifts of parenting for my family. While it was for the “greater good of my children,” that I first decided to pack my little girls up and spend the winter in Guatemala, I quickly realized the most immediate benefits were my own happiness.

Doing less may actually do more for children’s celebrations

My own child was still a baby when I got invited to the birthday of the little neighbour girl turning six. Until that day, I hadn’t thought much about this new generation of birthday parties. Like most parents, I didn’t go to kids’ birthday parties until I had kids. When I was little birthday parties were simple affairs: my brother, sister, and myself eating a cake that my mom made, with one present to open afterwards.

You are a teacher or school administrator and you want to go green but aren’t sure where to start? The answer is probably right in front of your eyes: the soap next to the sink, the bottle of bleach for spraying down the tables, the window cleaner in the cabinet.

You are a childcare provider and you want to go green but aren’t sure where to start? The answer is probably right in front of your eyes: the soap next to the sink, the bottle of bleach for spraying down the tables, the window cleaner in the cabinet.