wrap up: {chelsea farmer} {eco friendly} {gifts} {handmade} {horsefeathers} {inspirational} {jewelry}

sunday, aprill 22 is earth day, one of my favorite reasons to celebrate! this year, consider doing something to make our earth a more beautiful place. maybe plant a seed, clean up a road or install more energy efficient appliances! check out earthday.org to learn more about what you can do to help mobilize the earth!

one: a wearable planter – $30
two: organic shopping bag – $33
three: eco-friendly travel mug – $45
four: organic vegetables sign – $34.95
five: mineral eye shadow – $12
six: small dog bed – $68
seven: organic tote with lace – $26
eight: 3 hanging planters – $120
nine: the earth is alive – $15

wrap up: {april 22} {earth} {earth day} {eco friendly} {energy} {go green} {handmade}

If you’re looking for ways to upcycle or use materials you already have at home this holiday season, there are endless possibilities for gift ideas. Clothespins are versatile, and you may already have them around your home. Here are three sweet and simple gift ideas using clothespins – perfect for stocking stuffers or Secret Santa at the office.

Make Photo Gallery Clip Kit

example by SmoothPebble via sfgirlbybay

Wall photo galleries with wire and metal clips are quite popular, but you can make your own with clothespins and twine. Packaged neatly in a small drawstring bag, this gift is both useful and resourceful (see top photo).

Cut your twine to the length you would like – mine is about 1 yard. Tie the ends in a loop for hanging, and knot them tightly.

Air Plant Planter

This project is quite simple – all you need is an air plant, a plastic container, and clothespins. I suggest using a short container, such as a yogurt cup or any plastic container about two inches tall. This is a wonderful opportunity to reuse plastic. If you don’t have one short enough, you can always cut one down.

Pin the clothespins to the edges of the cup, all the way around. Place the air plant in the center of the pins. That’s it!

Decorative clothespins

Clothespins can also be used as desktop organizers, and are useful on calendars and cork boards. Use calligraphy to label clips for days of the week, tasks, and names.

Or, you could cover the clips with adhesive fabric, felt, or decoupaged paper. Hot glue flat thumbtacks to the backs of the clothespins to be used on cork boards as organizers. The possibilities are endless!

Out to find ways to make life simpler, Ashley is tackling life one DIY project at a time. Learning as she goes, she also spends her days writing Indie Pretty Projects and creating for her Etsy shop.

wrap up: {clothes pins} {crafts} {diy} {eco friendly} {holiday} {ideas} {recycle} {reuse}

is anyone else fed up with plastic wrap? every time i gently tear off a new piece it inevitably get’s stuck to itself and i think to myself, ‘is this really the best solution’?

i was so excited to run across these reusable food storage wraps in the latest issue of whole living. a new, less wasteful leftover-storage solution- finally! abeego’s washable hemp-cotton squares use beeswax and plant extracts to cling to the edge of bowls and keep food fresh. genius!

wrap up: {beeswax} {eco friendly} {food storage} {simple living} {wraps}

This week I had the unfortunate occurrence of a broken garbage disposal, and it seems to be beyond a normal jam. The end result is  trapped food and muck that has quickly made an unpleasant scent in my kitchen. I normally use ice cubes and lemons to clean and refresh my disposal, but with broken blades, I had to get more creative.

I’ve always heard of baking soda and vinegar as great sink basin and faucet cleaners, but had considered them for inside the drain. If you find yourself with a broken down garbage disposal, give this technique a try – you will need:

- 1/2 cup baking soda

- 1 cup of vinegar, microwaved on high

- 1/2 gallon of hot water

First, dump the baking soda into the disposal drain. Pour in the cup of heated vinegar, and let the effervescent chemical reaction take place for about five minutes. Follow up by pouring the hot water down the drain. You may find that you need to repeat this process.

If muck persists, you can further clean the disposal out with a bottle brush, sponge-tipped if possible (note: turn off the power supply to the disposal before sticking anything down there). Until the disposal is repaired, it may be nearly impossible to clean it 100%, but baking soda and vinegar have a great deodorizing effect that I noticed immediately.

You can continue to use just these two common household items to keep your sink clean:

- soak a towel in vinegar and wrap it around your faucet overnight to remove grime buildup in the morning

- make a paste with baking soda and water; spread it around your sink and scour with a sponge. Rinse with warm water mixed  with a splash of vinegar

- keep 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water in a spray bottle for daily sink touch-ups and wipe-downs

- sprinkle a little baking soda down the drain daily to absorb any unpleasant odors

Out to find ways to make life simpler, Ashley is tackling life one DIY project at a time. Learning as she goes, she also spends her days writing Indie Pretty Projects and creating for her Etsy shop.

wrap up: {all natural} {clean} {cleaners} {disposal} {diy} {eco friendly} {kitchen} {simple living}

did you know that tomorrow is earth day? it might be my most favorite holiday! in honor of our mother earth, i put together a little collection of eco-friendly handmade goodies.

clockwise: organic orange chocolate chip cookies (yes, please!), organic french macaroons, organic green tea, recycled cloud earrings, recycled half diamond pillow, bamboo sweet tea ruffles dress

in other noteworthy earth day news:

- plan an earth day party
- shop eco friendly goodies
- read about earth’s embrace
- check out this print: everyday is earth day!

do you have plans for earth day? xox

wrap up: {earth day} {eco friendly} {handmade}

{rooster pull toy, felted wool owl toy, montessori baby toys, owl friends peg rack}

with questionable materials being used in so many toys today, many moms are choosing to go all au naturel. if your looking to make the switch, NaturalKids etsy street team is here to help! they are a group of sellers dedicated to creating natural products for children, and they make everything from toys to utensils to clothing (and more)!  they work with natural materials from the earth, such as wool, cotton, silk and wood. visit the NaturalKids etsy street team site to learn more about their mission, or start browsing their selection on etsy!

interested in advertising on going home to roost? click here to learn more!

wrap up: {children} {eco friendly} {etsy} {kids} {natural} {natural kids street team} {toys}

 
you may remember one of my favorite authors and blog friend, victoria klein from 27 things to know about yoga? well she’s back again! this time, talking about the importance of sustainable living in another book that’s part of the good things to know series. as i’ve read my fair share of ‘how to be green’ books, i can say first hand that 48 things to know about sustainable living is delightfully different than the norm.  she busts myths, sets ground rules and teaches you how sustainable living is easy, affordable and more fulfilling than living a life blind to the importance of sustainability. she then continues with 48 ways to integrate planet-friendly habits into your life that are easily understood and attainable. with resources galore, there’s no one from the advanced eco-conscious to the beginner that won’t come away with life changing information.

you can visit victoria’s website to learn more about her and her latest book plus how to purchase it, as it would make the perfect gift for someone this christmas… or for yourself!

i’m also so excited to say that victoria has also been kind enough to offer a book for a giveaway!

 
share with us in the comment section the ways in which you live a more eco friendly life.  you may ‘enter’ as many times as you like by commenting once for every sustainable act you take.  you have until sunday december 12th at midnight to enter, and the winner will be drawn randomly on the following monday.  you’ll have 48 hours to claim your prize, good luck!
 
About Victoria Klein

Victoria Klein is a freelance writer, photographer + creative dabbler. Her 2nd book, 48 Things to Know About Sustainable Living, was released in October 2010. Her 1st book, 27 Things to Know About Yoga, was released in July 2010.

wrap up: {book} {eco friendly} {gift} {giveaway} {green} {sustainable} {victoria klein}