Yes, Halloween is only weeks away. Perhaps you are all set with decor, candy and costumes. But if you are like me, there are still costumes to buy, pumpkins to carve and decorations to hang. My daughter is so excited that she wants to buy a pumpkin every she sees one on display. This year we will make our official trip to the organic pumpkin patch the weekend before Halloween. Carving will happen two days before the big night. Last year my daughter was old enough to enjoy the season and we carved our pumpkins way too early and they imploded by the time October 31st rolled around. This year I'm considering purchasing as many eco-friendly Halloween decorations as possible. And recycling things we have around the house for seasonal decor. I have a couple ornate Victorian looking candelabras which I'll spray paint black paint to make a centerpiece in the dining room. I'll be cutting out black construction paper silhouettes of black cats and spiderwebs from construction paper and then toss it in the recycling bin afterward. I've also found a few eco-friendly Halloween decor and party items that help to reduce waste and support fair trade labor. Solar Pumpkin Light, $9.45 at The Vermont Baby Store A sun powered light for your pumpkin. Forget the unsafe candles that contain nasty fumes. This solar pumpkin light is also more economical than battery-operated light too.

If you are like most families, just because it is a day to celebrate Protecting Our Planet and trying to make positive changes in our lives so we use less energy, water and create less waste, pollution and carbon does not mean you have extra time to do an Earth Day Activity with your kids.

Here are a few quick and easy ways you can celebrate or talk to your kids about Earth Day that you can fit into Dinner-time or at your house without extra supplies, or buying a planet or going anywhere.

We know the earlier we involve our kids and talk about being a responsible steward of the Planet and our house, kids will learn and want to help save money and help to Protect the Planet and natural resources.

Here are a few Easy ways to talk about Earth Day and a few simple things your family can do to help save money and save water, gas, energy or waste without spending a dime, or making much effort or big time commitment.

Pick a few items that you believe your family can do and let your kids be in charge one of the new ideas. Start Dinner off by telling your kids that today is Earth Day which is celebrated April 22nd every year around the world. Tell them about it, why is it important- things like by paying attention to how much water we use, the lights, and garbage we throw away makes a difference to how much money we spend every month and to our Planet.

Talk about how walking or biking places or using less chemicals, pesticides helps the Earth and animals. Discuss at Dinner ways your family can make a difference and plan to take 15 minutes after dinner to put an action into place.

Here are a few ideas:

Take a Walk or Bike Ride to a Nearby Park or Store- talk about how you cut down on gas use and money

Take a peek at these extra special letterpress birthday cards. The perfect finishing touch for a special gift for a child's birthday. Letterpress cards are special enough for keepsakes in a memory book or scrapbook. We love the substantial feel of the paper and the delicate hand-printing effect left by an artisan crafted letterpress card. You can also give these cards guilt-free as many of the letterpress cards are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.


We absolutely adore the letterpress collection from "Hello Lucky!". Located in San Francisco's SOMA district, Hello Lucky! was founded by sisters and best friends Eunice and Sabrina Moyle in Eunice's garage. Hello Lucky's cards are sold in Anthropologie, Kate’s Paperie, and Liberty of London. These sock monkey cards are just too cute, perfect for the little monkey's next birthday! www.hellolucky.com

--

Earth Day is a great day to teach your kids about the Earth and ways to protect it by participating in an Earth Day Event or planting a Tree or flowers, making a craft out of recycled materials or figuring our ways your family can conserve energy, water or waste. We have many ideas of Craft Projects that use Recycled Materials, Planting Ideas and more. We also have links to great Earth Day information and educational Coloring Books.

Remember, if you miss Earth Day on the 22nd, any day is a great day to do a project that educates and helps to protect the Earth.

Ideas for Earth Day:

Go Clean Up a Nearby Park or Beach

Take a Nature Walk

Plant a Tree or Garden

Learn How to Garden without Harsh Chemicals

Start Recycling

Make a Craft out of Recycled Materials

Make a Family Plan to Save Water and Energy- Make Checklist

Save Water and Energy

Earth Day is celebrated April 22nd.  This is the 38th year the US celebrates the Environment and looks for ways we can help protect our environment and the planet. 

Events are scheduled at parks and schools around the country

Dyeing Easter Eggs is a tradition that actually dates back several centuries.  Many of the traditions revolving around Easter eggs relate to Christianity and are a symbol of "new life."

This year, rather than buying an egg dyeing kit, that most people purchase to make brightly colored eggs,  consider the method people originally used and choose natural foods and materials to color your eggs.  In today's economy, this is a sensible decision as well as a health-oriented decision.  Many egg dyeing kits contain coloring additives that can possibly cause health problems.  

Naturally dyed eggs take a little longer to absorb colors but the results are beautiful and the colors softer.  There are two methods for dyeing hard-boiled eggs.  The Hot method is done by coloring the eggs while they are boiled into hard-boiled eggs.  The Cold method employs the use of already "boiled" solutions that you have allowed to cool for use when dyeing eggs with children. Both methods involve boiling separate solutions for each color.  Whenever I dye eggs naturally, I usually chose only three or four colors to simplify things.

How to get Colors when Dyeing Naturally:

Want a fun idea to make Valentines Special without giving your kids or yourself a belly full of candy and sweets?

Serve Fresh Fruit that is cut into hearts with a Tablespoon of Melted Dark Chocolate Chips (1 Tbsp per person).

Your kids will gobble up the fruit and love dipping it into the heart healthy dark chocolate.

It is just enough of a treat but a much healthier option.  Perfect for dessert or even after lunch snack.

To Make:

Cut up bananas and/or strawberries (or other fruit) into slices

Use a small heart shaped cookie cutter to make shapes or use a pairing knife to make the shapes by hand.

Put dark chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and cook until just melted (most microwaves have a melt setting for chocolate).

After Chocolate is cool enough to eat, serve with fruit and a small fork or toothpicks.

Enjoy!  This is also a perfect little Valentines treat for you to enjoy by yourself or with your family.  I prefer to enjoy after the kids go to bed!

Does Your Child need a bag to collect all of his Valentines and Goodies on Valentine's Day for school or a party?  Let the kids help you make this super cute and easy Valentine's Bag in a snap.<br clear="all">


<strong>Need:</strong>
•    Paper Bag- Colored or Brown Bag
•    Colored Foam or Construction Paper
•    Scissors
•    Glue Stick
•    Markers
•    Ribbon or String (Approx. 8-12 inches)
•    Hole Punch

<strong>What to Do:</strong>
•    Take the Top of the Bag and fold the 2 corners in to make a point at top
         (while bag is flat and laying down)
•    Now Fold Over the Top of the Bag, to make an envelope-type flap.
•    Cut a  1.5 inch Slit in center of front of bag, to accommodate the Point of the flap and keep bag closed.
        To strengthen this cut, you can attach a piece of foam or paper to the front or inside of bag, making a  slit in this attachment also.
•    Make a Hole with punch on the back side edges of the bag.
•    Thread String through holes on both sides and tie off, removing excess string.
•    Decorate the Bag with foam or paper, attaching pieces with glue stick.