Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to take a moment today to say "Merry Christmas"!

It has been another busy year and one filled with growing children and new discoveries.  I am hopeful that you have a blessed Christmas, one that is not measured by material gifts alone, but by those who surround you on the day of the birth of Jesus Christ.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!  



Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.

Sustainable Saturday - Book Review: No Impact Man


I don't think I could have intentionally picked a better book to end the year with as we think about goals for our lives for 2012. 

No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process is written by Colin Beavan who is a self proclaimed environmentalist.  I have referred to him as an overnight environmentalist, however at the same time many who say they are experts in the field have not gone as he has in lifestyle changes.

Colin Beavan and his family, wife Michelle and daughter Isabella for one year, living in New York City, challenge themselves to live as sustainably as possible.  We are not talking about shopping at Whole Foods and buying environmentally friendly cleaning products, but complete, intentional, lifestyle overhaul.  The idea that we should think about what the earth can productively offer not just what we want in that moment.  The idea that Convenience means more time to work instead of taking care of our families.  We as a society are so focused on where we are going, not what we are doing right now!

The year begins with the goal of reducing trash.  Self proclaimed "take-out junkies" have a tough habit to quit.  They successfully reduce their trash including their 2 year-old daughter's disposable diapers (transitioning her to cloth).  They then reduce and practically eliminate motorized transportation of any kind including elevators (they live on the 9th floor of their apartment building), with the exception of Michelle's office which resides on the 40th+ floor of a building.

The family then moves to eating Sustainably.  After some research, they determine that all their food must come from within 250 miles.  This short distance radius means that they will become vegetarian and since they have no stockpile or deep freeze full of food from the past seasons, they will eat only vegetables and fruits that are in season.  At one point, Colin refers to himself as a 1950s housewife who cooks and bakes to sustain his family.  He talks about how different the food industry is in Europe and how fresh markets are the norm.

From the Sustainable eating phase, they move into much more challenging goals such as purchasing nothing new (used is allowed), reducing all waste (including toilet paper), cleaning products (they make their own), and eventually turn off the electricity in their apartment.  This means no refrigerator, no washing machine, no dishwasher, etc.

Overall the book speaks to the great emphasis that we have on Consumerism in the United States.  Early on in the project, the family gets rid of their television.  Colin's wife Michelle is addicted to reality television.  They determine that the television is the enemy in the living room that feeds consumerism by the plethora of commercials or ads that we are exposed to everyday.  We are a society that thrives on disposable goods of every kind from paper products to appliances with life expectancies of only 5 years . . . then off to the landfill.  Colin talks about how scarce fresh water will become in the coming years and the overall impacts on the environment and Global Warming.

All I can say is what a absolutely inspiring book.  While I found myself at times laughing at Colin's discoveries, such as his realization that Organic produce travels many times farther than regular produce.  That local farmer's, even though they may not have the USDA Organic Label, are many times producing animals or crops in an truly Organic way.  These are discoveries that we have made over the years in our personal quest to live and raise our children in a environmentally friendly way.

This book really makes me believe that we can all be doing so much more.  What an inspiration as we move into 2012 and as my family thinks about what we want to accomplish this coming year.

There is also a DVD:  No Impact Man which is a great accompaniment to the book.  I read the book first and then my husband and I watched the DVD documentary together.  It profiles Colin, Michelle and Isabella on their journey through the year long project.



DVD:  No Impact Man

As the news stories go: "Colin Beavan is a liberal schlub who got tired of listening to himself complain about the world without ever actually doing anything about it" Thus, in November, 2006, Beavan launched a year-long project in which he, his wife, his two-year-old daughter and his four-year-old dog went off the grid and attempted to live in the middle of New York City with as little environmental impact as possible. The No Impact project has been the subject of stories in the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, and many other national and international news outlets. Beavan has appeared on The Colbert Report, Good Morning America, Nightline, The Montel Show, and all the major NPR shows. He speaks regularly to a wide variety of audiences, is frequently quoted in the press and consults to business on the intersection of sustainability and human quality of life. 


Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.

DIY: Christmas Card Boxes


This is a craft idea I learned many years ago at an Advent Craft Night at our church.  These Christmas card boxes are a great way to create an ornament, a small gift box or advent boxes.  It is also a way to reuse old Christmas cards!

The instructions:
  • Tear or cut card in half. 
  • Overlap front of card over back of card and draw a line to create a square.  Do the same for the back of the card and cut along line.  (Note:  Cut bottom square 1/4" smaller on all four sides than top square.)
  • Using a ruler, draw a line from corner to corner on the inside of the card.
  • Fold card from each corner to the center of the "X".
  • Unfold card.

  • Fold card up to crease you just created on all four corners.
  • Repeat on all four corners.
  • Unfold card.
  • Fold card up to original crease on opposite side corner.
  • Repeat on all four corners.
  • Unfold card.
  • Cut along line created by the folds.  You will stop cutting once you reach the corner of the box.  (This will be visible by the lines created when you folded the card in the previous steps.)

    • Fold up sides along the crease created by folding the card until you get to the edge of the top/bottom of the box, then fold in the sides to create the box.
    • Repeat on the opposite side.
    • Once you have folded up the two sides to form the box, fold over the other two sides to finish and secure the box.
    • Repeat all the steps to create the bottom of the box.

    • To make box into an ornament punch two holes on one corner of box.  Thread ribbon thru box and tie.
    To see more DIY ideas from Saving Family Green, check out Sustainable Saturday - DIY Fleece Hats & Scarves for Kids (& Adults)!  

    Originally posted by Saving Family Green in December 2010.

    Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.

    Sustainable Saturday - Preparing for a Green Christmas

    As Christmas is fast approaching and only two weeks away, many of us are thinking about decorating our homes or purchasing gifts for loved ones.

    Here are a few ideas to lessen your impact on the environment this holiday season:

    Consider a Living Tree - Our local stores have trees which you can purchase, have in your home for the holidays and then plant in your yard at the end of the season.  While we have yet to go this route at our house, the idea is definitely one we want to use in the future.

    Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree - There is actually a National Christmas Tree Association which explains the benefits of real trees.  Real Christmas Trees are biodegradable and can be reused or recycled.  To learn about the many ways the Real Christmas Trees are being recycled and reused in communities nationwide, you can follow the links here 

    LED Holiday Lights - Over the last few years, LED lights have come down in price and there have even been incentives offered by popular retailers like Home Depot for you to "turn in" your old lights in exchange for a discount on new LED lights.  They conserve energy, last longer and are cool to the touch! 

    Recycle gifts - At my office we do a White Elephant gift exchange.  Interesting things happen when you re-gift something, but every year I am amazed at how one person's junk is another person's treasure! 

    Make gifts from scratch - One of our favorite holiday gifts to give, is homemade items.  This year we have made a Children's Tie Fleece Blanket for my niece (my children's cousin), Fleece Hats and Scarves for my children and niece, sugar cookies for teachers, friends and family and I have grand plans to make both of my children holiday aprons to give to them as Christmas gifts (we love to bake at our house)! 

    Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.
     

    Whole Foods Market® - This Week's Hot Deals (Ohio)



    These prices are valid from December 7 thru December 13.

    You can read all about the current coupon deals available in both the whole deal and available to print online here.

    Sales appear to be regional or even by State. Please confirm with your store their coupon policy as some stores will allow you to use one manufacturer coupon + one Whole Foods coupon per item.

    UPDATE:  Whole Foods (Dublin) is no longer accepting stacked coupons due to a change in store management. 


    One Day Deals!    


    TBD
    This Week's Hot Deals!
    TEXAS Large Red Grapefruit
    5 for $5
    Reg. $1.99 ea

    CALIFORNIA Navel Oranges
    Brighten winter meals. Try segmenting them into salads, or slice and roast with salmon or pork chops.
    (8-lb bag)
    $5.99 ea
    Reg. $7.99 ea

    CALIFORNIA Organic Bunched Carrots
    2 for $3
    Reg. $2.49 ea

    PRODUCT OF CANADA Wild-Caught King Salmon Fillet
    Holiday favorite! Drizzle with fruity olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, then sear or broil. Previously frozen.
    $15.99 lb
    Reg. $19.99 lb

    FARM RAISED IN GREECE Euro Sea Bass (Branzini)
    $8.99 lb
    Reg. $10.99 lb

    FROM OUR BUTCHER 93% Lean Ground Beef
    Ground fresh daily for juicy burgers and tender meatloaf. From cattle raised on a vegetarian diet;
    no antibiotics or added hormones.
    $4.49 lb
    Reg. $5.99 lb

    FROM OUR BUTCHER Beef Chuck Roast or Stew Meat
    It's the season for melt-in-your-mouth pot roasts and stews. From cattle raised on a vegetarian diet, with no added hormones and no antibiotics ever.
    $4.49 lb
    Reg. $5.99 lb

    FROM OUR BUTCHER Bone-In Pork Loin Chops
    In Regular or Quick Fry.
    $5.49 lb
    Reg. $6.99 lb

    SIGG Water Bottles
    In select varieties.
    (0.4 Liter)
    $12.99 ea
    Reg. $16.99 ea

    IN-HOUSE COOKED Roast Beef
    In assorted flavors. From our Prepared Foods Department.
    $9.99 lb
    Reg. $12.99 lb

    DE CECCO PastaIn select varieties. (16 oz)
    BUY ONE, GET ONE
    FREE
    Reg. $2.79 ea

    FROM OUR CHEESEMONGERS Organic Cheddar
    Perfect addition to your holiday cheese platter!
    $9.99 lb
    Reg. $13.99 lb

    SOUTH OF FRANCE  Bar Soap
    In select scents.
    (8 oz)
    $4.99 ea
    Reg. $5.99 ea

    AMAZING GRASS Green SuperFood Energy Bars
    In select varieties. (2.11 oz)
    $2.19 ea
    Reg. $2.99 ea

    DIVINE CHOCOLATE Chocolate Bars
    (3.5 oz)
    2 for $4
    Reg. $3.19 ea

    Valid in our Washington, D.C.; Marlton and Princeton, New Jersey; Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia stores. Certain items may not be available in all stores.

    Check out even more Whole Foods Market deals by visiting Healthy Life Deals. 

    Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.

    DIY: Children's Fleece Blanket (Christmas Gift Idea!)

     
     
    Two years ago, my children received "child size" fleece tie blankets for Christmas from my Aunt. They are the perfect size for our 3 and 5 year old to curl up on the couch on a cool winter day. Looking for inspiration for a Christmas gift for our new niece and my children's cousin, my daughter and I made a "child size" fleece tie blanket.

    We started with a little over 1 yard of two different coordinating fleece fabrics. We trimmed the fabric. Then we measured in 5 inches from each side and cut 1/2 inch strips around the entire perimeter of the fleece. We removed the four corners (5 inch x 5 inch) and then began tying knots joining the two different pieces of fleece together.


    My daughter and I worked on this project together. I cut the fabric and she did the majority of the ties adjoining the two pieces of fleece.



    The end result is a really cute and soft fleece blanket that we hope our niece and cousin will really enjoy.


    Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.

    Whole Foods Market® - This Week's Hot Deals (Ohio)



    These prices are valid from November 30 thru December 6.

    You can read all about the current coupon deals available in both the whole deal and available to print online here.

    Sales appear to be regional or even by State. Please confirm with your store their coupon policy as some stores will allow you to use one manufacturer coupon + one Whole Foods coupon per item.

    UPDATE:  Whole Foods (Dublin) is no longer accepting stacked coupons due to a change in store management. 


    One Day Deals!    


    The One Day Deal tomorrow is a 5lb box of Satsumas from California for $4.99!
    This Week's Hot Deals!
    Hot Deal!

    $2.29 365 Everyday Value® Dark Chocolate Mini Chunks, White Chocolate Chunks, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or Organic Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
    Use $2/1 Whole Foods Coupon available in store
    Total:  $0.29 for a bag of Chocolate Chips!

    CALIFORNIA Meyer Lemons
    (1-lb bag)
    $1.99 ea
    Reg. $2.99 ea

    CALIFORNIA Organic Kale
    $1.99 ea
    Reg. $2.49 ea

    MEXICO Blackberries
    (5 oz)
    2 for $4
    Reg. $3.99 ea

    PRODUCT OF USA WILD-CAUGHT Raw, Shell-On Shrimp
    Tender, succulent shrimp, ready to be cooked in your favorite soups, curries and pastas. Previously frozen.
    26/30 count
    $9.99 lb
    Reg. $12.99 lb

    FROM OUR BUTCHER Bone-In Beef Rib Steaks and Roasts
    Great choice for the holidays, and so tender you don’t need a marinade.  From cattle raised on 100% vegetarian feed; no added hormones and no antibiotics ever.
    $10.99 lb
    Reg. $13.99 lb

    FROM OUR BUTCHER BONELESS, SKINLESS Chicken Breasts or Cutlets
    Easy meals begin with this tender white meat.  Air-chilled for best flavor.
    $4.99–$5.99 lb
    Reg. $6.49–$7.49 lb

    CALIFORNIA EARTHBOUND FARMS Organic Mixed Baby Greens
    These young, delicate greens make the tastiest holiday salads. Try them tossed with chopped walnuts, goat
    cheese and more. (5 oz)
    $2.99 ea
    Reg. $3.99 ea

    FROM OUR BUTCHER St. Louis-Style Pork Spareribs
    $4.49 lb
    Reg. $5.99 lb

    FROM OUR CHEESEMONGERS Snofrisk Goat Cheese
    Made in Norway exclusively for Whole Foods Market.
    $11.99 lb
    Reg. $15.99 lb

    IN-HOUSE COOKED Roast Beef
    In assorted flavors. From our Prepared Foods department.
    $9.99 lb
    Reg. $12.99 lb

    BONNE MAMAN Preserves
    In select varieties.
    (13 oz)
    2 for $5
    Reg. $4.49 ea

    Q GINGER Ginger Ale
    (750 ml)
    $3.99 ea
    Reg. $6.39 ea

    IMAGINE FOODS Organic Soup
    In select varieties.
    (14.5 fl oz)
    2 for $4
    Reg. $3.19 ea
    $1/1 Whole Foods Coupon available here 
    +
    $1/2 Manuf. Coupon available here
    $1/1 Manuf. Coupon 10/16 SmartSource Insert
    Total:  FREE - $0.50 each (if your store allows stacked coupons)

    HIMALAYAN INSTITUTE Neti Pot Starter Kit
    $26.99 ea
    Reg. $29.99 ea

    NATURTINT Hair Color
    In select colors.
    (5.4 oz)
    $13.99 ea
    Reg. $17.99 ea

    PAMELA’S PRODUCTS Gluten-Free Cookies
    In select flavors.
    (7.25 oz)
    2 for $5
    Reg. $3.79 ea

    Valid in our Washington, D.C.; Marlton and Princeton, New Jersey; Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia stores. Certain items may not be available in all stores.

    Check out even more Whole Foods Market deals by visiting Healthy Life Deals.