1/2 Price Nourishtea

Right now on Pure Citizen you can pick up 100 Gram Organic/Fair Trade/Kosher Loose Leaf Teas for only $4.50 a container. 

That's 40 cups of tea for only $4.50. You can't get that in the grocery store. If you pick up 2 or more teas, they'll throw in 100 Tea Filters for free. Love it. Steal this deal while you can!




Photo Credit: Nourishtea

Mamapedia:Re-Pac $24 Voucher For Only $12! As low as $10!!

Have I mentioned that I love Mamapedia!? ;)

Today, you can pick up a $24 voucher to Re-Pac for $12. These bags are a great eco-friendly alternative to using plastic baggies. They are also a great gift idea. I love that they have a lifetime warranty. Can't beat that! Oh, wait, yes I can! 5% of your purchase goes towards a school of your choice.  Use the code EASTER10 to save 10%. If it's your first purchase, use the code MOMS2 to save $2




Photo Credit: Re-Pac

Happy Earth Day!!

Celebrate by making a commitment to change at least 1 thing in your lifestyle to better the environment. Post your commitment to inspire others. While you're at it, here are just a few great websites that are full of very useful information and ideas. Feel free to tell us your favorite go to sites!

The Earthday Network

Earth 911

Mother Earth News

Treehugger

Grist



Photo Credit: SolStation.com

FREE Starbucks!

Even if you aren't a coffee drinker you are sure to love this deal: Free Tea and Coffee from Starbucks to celebrate Earth Day!

What's the catch? You have to use your own mug. Just go in to any Starbucks location tomorrow-Friday, April 22 with a travel mug and they will fill it with brewed coffee or tea-iced or hot for free! If you don't have one, but have time to enjoy your drink in house, tell them this and they'll give you one to enjoy while you're there.

Water Bottle Planters

I recently volunteered to help out at my daughter's school for their Earth Day celebration. I didn't know what I was in for, but it worked out great. It turns out, that the station they had me at was right up my alley. I would be helping kids plant tomatoes in self watering pots made from used 20oz water bottles. I thought it was such a great idea, I wanted to share it with you. I think these would be best for starting small plants and seedlings...although I think this could easily be used with a 2 Liter soda bottle as well.

Step 1:

Cut your water/soda bottle(s) in half. You can make your top half (the part you drink from) as long as you want, but it will need to sit without tipping over in the bottom half.

Step 2:

Plant your seed or seedling in the top half of your bottle. Having the cap is not important as the opening at the mouth of the bottle will water your plant.

Step 3:

Fill the bottom half of your bottle with water and place the top half (mouth down) so it sits in the bottom half. Put it in a sunny spot and watch it grow! Replant as needed.

Pure Citizen: Get Acquainted

If you aren't familiar with Pure Citizen, you should familiarize yourself with them. They are a great company that give a percentage of every sale to different non-profit organizations. They only promote eco-friendly, organic, fair-trade, etc. companies and products. They get together with a variety of companies and run sales that last a few days at a time.

For example, Right now you can pick up a Sigg Reusable Water Bottle which are BPA-Free, Phthalate Free, and have an eco-friendly liner. You can pick up a 33.8oz bottle for only $12.50! Not bad...

 

You can also pick up great last minute deals like this great Giraffe Cosmetic Bag from Apple & Bee made of 100% Organic Cotton

Photo Credit: Sigg Water Bottles and Apple & Bee

Mamapedia:Ana-K Eco-Friendly Products $20 Voucher For Only $10!

I love this deal! Until tomorrow, April 19, you can pick up a $20 voucher to Ana-K for only $10 at Mamapedia.com! Ana-K is a great company that emphasizes the importance of organic, eco-friendly products for children. Grab this deal while you can!

What In The World Is Kamut?

I got in touch with Bob's Red Mill-an employee owned company often known for their grains. I knew them from purchasing TVP which I have used on several occasions. One thing I love about them is that they have what I can only describe as a "General Store Appeal." I could easily pictures their products lining the wall to wall shelves behind the cashier's table of an old town general store. I wanted to be able to try something new and share it with all of you. so when I got the opportunity to try it, I couldn't resist.

The company has over 400 items in production include a good variety of organic and gluten-free. Indeed, looking through their catalog myself, I was a amazed at the variety of items they had. I browsed through trying to decide what I'd like to try. This was difficult. I decided to go with Apple Strawberry Granola, Organic 7 Grain Pancake & Waffle Mix, and the Organic Kamut Berries. I had never heard of anything called Kamut-let alone a Kamut Berry so I had to try it.

I know, you're probably wondering the same thing I was: What in the world is a Kamut Berry? As it turns out, Kamut is a grain similar to wheat which is believed to have come from Ancient Egypt. The word itself stems from the Hieroglyphic term for wheat. The berry is the kernal. I couldn't wait to try it for myself, so I was excited when my products came in the mail.

The first thing I tried out was the Apple Strawberry Granola. It was just the right combination of fruity and crunchiness. It was definitely a family pleaser. Next up was the Organic 7 Grain Pancake Mix. While I'm a big fan of grainy pancakes, my kids are not, so when they tried and loved these, I was very happy. We all loved them. They were just the right amount of graininess. I went by the recipe on the package the first time around, but on the second round, I added cinnamon (I like adding stuff to my pancakes).

I took a little time to figure out the best way to cook the Kamut Berries. Many of the recipes I found were for a salad, but I wanted something different. I decided to reference the Bob's Red Mill website for a recipe. They have a recipe listed there for Kamut Berry and Orzo Pilaf, so that's what I went with. I added a little more garlic and some green peas to the recipe and changed the chicken broth to vegetable broth, but otherwise kept it the same. I was very pleased with the result (and so was the family). The Berries reminded me of a corn kernal so I can see why it would be great in a salad.

The only negative thing I can say is that you should be prepared for the prep time as they need to cook for about 45 min (when soaked overnight-slightly longer if not soaked first) prior to creating your recipe.  As you remember that's coming it's no big deal. I can't wait to try it again in different ways. It's a great find.

Want to try these great items for yourself ???

I am happy to say that Bob's Red Mill is going to sponsor a giveaway. We will be giving away the same package I recieved:

1-Apple Strawberry Granola

1-Organic 7 Grain Pancake & Waffle Mix

1-Organic Kamut Berries

The gieveaway ended Friday, April 22 at 11:59pm EST.

Photo Credit: Gluten Free Registry and Better Than Broke

Get FREE Admission on Celebrate National Public Gardens Day

Apparently Friday, May 6 is National Public Gardens Day. In honor of this, Better Homes & Gardens Magazine is giving out coupons for FREE admission to many of your favorite Botanical Gardens throughout the US. Head to their website for your coupon good for 2 FREE Admissions and a full list of participating gardens.

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

Subscription to National Geographic Little Kids for as little as $5!

Now through Monday, April 18 you can pick up a subscription to National Geographic Little Kids for as low as $5! Here's how: The subscription price is $10 (which is not bad anyway), but if you haven't purchased from Mamapedia before, you can use the coupon code FRIENDS5 to save $5! If you have, you can still save 10% by using the coupon code EASTER10.

You can also still pick up the Grounds For Change deal while you're there through 12pm EST tonight.




Photo Credit: Mamapedia.com

Restaurant.com $25 Voucher for only $2! Now through Thursday, April 14

Just in case you missed this weekend's deal for 70%, now through Thursday, April 14 you can pick up a $25 Voucher for only $2 at Restaurant.com. That's a savings of 80%! All you need is the code STEAK. Even if you don't think you'll use one, pick up one as a gift. They don't expire.


Logo Credit: Restaurant.com Facebook

Mamapedia Deal: $20 for $40 Worth of Organic Coffee Products from Grounds for Change

Now through Friday on Mamapedia you can pick up a $40 voucher for Grounds For Change for only $20. Use the coupon code EASTER10 to save an additional 10%!

Grounds For Change sells 100% Fair Trade Organic Coffee, Teas, Hot Chocolate, and Chocolate Bars.


Photo Credit: greenamerica.org

Restaurant.com $25 Voucher for $3!! Through Sunday, April 11

Now through Sunday, April 10 you can pick up a $25 Voucher for only $3 at Restaurant.com. All you need is the code PLATE. Even if you don't think you'll use one, pick up one as a gift. They don't expire.


Logo Credit: Restaurant.com Facebook

Arbor Day Foundation: 10 Trees for $10

Here's a great deal from the Arbor Day Foundation.

Right now, you can get 10 trees for purchasing either a 6 month or a 1 year membership. The cost is $10 for 6 months or $15 for a year. They give you over 10 different package options (which will vary depending on where you live). You can also choose to give the trees as a gift or donate them to a National Forest in need of reforestation. Take advantage while you can. I'm not sure how long this deal will last.


Photo Credit: Arbor Day Foundation

Can You Recycle Your Pizza Box? The Answer May Surprise You...

I try to recycle as much as I can. Every other week, I carry my 3 or 4 containers of recycyling to the curb. I've done this for years and yet, after all this time, I am beginning to doubt what I think is recyclable. For instance it was several years before I found out that the plastic bottle caps on my water/soda bottles were not recyclable. So, all those years I thought my bottles were being recycled, they'd actually been tossed in the trash. Nice huh?

Also, I never knew that you couldn't toss pizza boxes in there either. Apparently the oils in from the pizza make it incompatible with the recycling process. This little tid bit of information came from a post called The Pizza Box Mystery on a website called Earth911. If you aren't familiar with the website, take a few minutes to check it out. There is a ton of great information regarding environmentally friendly lifestyles.

One of the features I love most is that you can find a recycling center for a wide variety of everyday items using their search engine. It's a great resource and I am happy to have found it. Oh! They even have an iphone app!  Hopefully from now on, all the items that end up in my recycling bin will actually be recyclable.

Whipped and Refreshing

I would have never thought I'd describe an ice cream as refreshing but I'm about to. I admit, I love ice cream. I like to think I'm a pretty healthy eater, but let me be honest, chances are, if there's organic or fair trade ice cream in my freezer, I'm going to eat it.

I got in touch Julie's Ice Cream because I've often wandered down the freezer section of the grocery store and past their pretty boxes and pints of organic ice cream wondering if they were good. I learned that Julie's has a sister (well, I should probably say brother) company called Alden's.

Most of the grocery stores in my area that carry Julie's, carries the more "novelty" items, so that's what I chose. I decided to try out their Ice Cream Sandwiches. They came 6 in a box so even my kids could enjoy them. The ice cream center almost had a whipped quality and it was just the right amount of sweetness to leave me satisfied without feeling guilty.  The kids even liked them more than the leading brands they've tried in the past. I wonder what their sorbet is like...

I wanted to give the kids another opportunity to help me review a product, so I kept them in mind when I picked out a container of Alden's Mint Chip Ice Cream. They've always loved mint and chocolate together, and I admit, so have I. The first thing I noticed when I opened the lid was that it didn't smell artificial or sugary-it smelled fresh. The first spoonful I tried was simply refreshing. The rest of the bowlful was just as delicious. I think I'm going to have to try out the Strawberry next. Yes, organic ice cream is a little more expensive than non-organic, but it's worth it-especially if you consider eating ice cream a treat.



Logo Credit: Julie's Organic Ice Cream
Image Credit: Better Than Broke

Ecover Does The Job

Awhile back, I wrote about my commitment to switching over to green products starting with cleaning supplies. One of the last things I needed to switch was my dishwasher detergent. I had been using one of the common brands in the form of the gel, but that stopped being effective for whatever reason. Then I switched over to the tablet kind which seemed to work fine, but it still wasn't eco-friendly.

I got in touch with the folks at Ecover having already been familiar with them from using their Toilet Bowl Cleaner (which not only works great, but also smells good!). I love that their products are plant based and that the bottle is 100% recyclable (yes, even the cap). I asked them to send me their Dishwasher Tablets so I could try them out. I received them along with Rinse Aid. I didn't have any expectations, I just hoped it would work. The box that the Tablets come in is made almost completely made of recycled material and even though the tablets are individually wrapped, the wrappers are completely recyclable. I am happy to say that they work great. My dishes have come out clean every time, so that I only use the Rinse Aid when my dishes are especially dirty. I just finished the box they sent me. I liked the product so much that I went out and bought a new box. Oh! Just so you know, the price of a box of Ecover Dishwasher Tablets is comparable to a "leading" brand so you won't break the bank making the switch!

If you are interested in checking them out for yourselves, head over to their website for their full line of product (and also where you can even find Material Safety Data Sheets for each product) You can also follow their blog which is full of great information or find them on Facebook.

Instructables.com

I've been trying to find a variety of ideas on composting so that I can find the one that will work best for both my yard and my family. I already  feel like I recycle more than I throw out but I'd like to throw away even less. The best way I can think to do this is to compost. It's better for the environment and for my garden. In my search, I stumbled upon a website called Instructables.com. The website is full of a wide variety of ideas that you can make yourself that range in difficulty and price. It just depends on what you're looking for.

While I haven't settled on one yet, I have found some great ideas. Click on the picture below to take you to the instructions I found using wooden palettes to construct your compost pile. If you're looking for something a little different, just search for it. I bet you'll find it.