Written on
March 12, 2009 by
SusanC
Every week or so we use this space to feature a recycled note or three from some of our favorite online sources. This week I stumbled upon this Happy Birthday Cake card from Renée Anne’s Etsy shop and fell instantly in love with the simple (and 100% recycled!) design.
From the seller:
Chocolate Birthday cake is my son’s favorite but this Happy Birthday card is perfect for just about anyone! It is blank inside ready for your personalized message. It features a print of an ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR painting designed and painted by me.
BEAUTIFUL, HIGH QUALITY 100% POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED card stock and envelope used.
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Written on
March 6, 2009 by
SusanC
Here are some of our favorite posts from around the greenosphere this week, to help start your weekend a bit greener.
Monday No Impact Man posted a sobering but important article about “the toxic mess left behind when Texaco withdrew from the Ecuadorian Amazon in the 1990s,” inspired by Joe Berlinger’s new documentary Crude.
Monday Earth 911 covered green office remodeling; thinking your office could use a green spacelift? Learn how to get started!
Tuesday Northwest Mom Finds featured adorable playhouse scavenger hunt cards from Blynken & Nod. Need a game to get your little runs outside? Northwest Mom Finds can probably help!
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Written on
March 2, 2009 by
SusanC
As Bummas graciously offered to give away two sets of their super absorbent and eco-friendly clothes for baby bums the world ’round, we have two! winners for this particular giveaway.
The first winner is… (imaginary drumroll, please): Commenter #12, Danielle!
And the second winner? Commenter #135, Amy H.!
Congratulations! ladies.
And a big thanks to everyone for entering!
Be sure to check back later this week as we’ll be featuring another great green giveaway for you to win!
An original 5 Minutes For Going Green post.
Have a great green product you would like to see featured on the site? Email me at 5minutesforgoinggreen(at)gmail.com.
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Written on
February 16, 2009 by
SusanC
This 5 Minutes For Going Green Great Green Review is brought to you by Pacific Northwest resident and new mom, Jenifer of Quarter Life Crisis. Read what she thought of her very comprehensive trial of Bummas, and then read on for details on how you can win a set for yourself!
When we found out I was pregnant with our first child last year, my husband and I decided early on that we were both committed to raising our baby as green as possible, which naturally led us down the predominantly-paved-in-plastic path to cloth diapering. When looking at the pros and cons of disposable versus cloth diapering, the decision to embrace the latter lifestyle was pretty much a no-brainer for us.
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Written on
February 5, 2009 by
SusanC
As winter drags on I find that one monotonous day seems to drag into the next with no escape. All the “green” hobbies of other seasons, such as gardening, hiking or going for a nice family bike ride, are much less practical, if not impossible, during these blustery days.
So, what should you do with all this extra time you find wasting away indoors?
Why not take up knitting?
At it’s heart, knitting is one of the most relaxing and rewarding crafts you can enjoy, not to mention incredibly green and sustainable if you stick with wool and cotton yarns (especially those dyed with natural dyes or handspun by one of the many wonderful WAHMs on the internet).
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Written on
January 28, 2009 by
SusanC
A few years ago I lived my life in 20 minute increments. Then I had to rest. Fibromyalgia and Asthma ruled my life. With 3 children, a husband and all the normal mess that life assures, my brain constantly told me that I wasn’t doing enough. But I simply did NOT have the energy to spare; it needed to go to things that HAD to be done, not things that I wanted to do like living a greener lifestyle.
I’ve since been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and eating a gluten-free diet has improved my quality of life massively. But I still remember the dreams I had, the ones that seemed so far away from my reality.
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Written on
January 27, 2009 by
SusanC
Every week we use this space to feature a recycled note or three from some of our favorite online sources. This week I thought it might be fun to feature envelopes only: creative and 100% recycled (and repurposed!) alternatives to standard letter carriers you can use to transport the smallest or largest of notes.
Below are some of my favorites (And please feel free to link to your own favorites in the comments, too!):
Romeo & Juliet Envelopes
Send a little Shakespeare mail to your favourite literature buff or teacher or student or Shakespeare enthusiast or actor or playwright or really anyone who likes to read or write!
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Written on
January 20, 2009 by
SusanC
This week’s Recycled Note Of The Week comes from Small Square Design and features a prominent kitchen appliance.
Exhibit: The Toaster Recycled Letterpress Card:
The only time I ever received a toaster as a gift was after I registered for (an awesome) one for our wedding, but apparently, “the retro toaster is a unique way of saying congratulations to someone, anniversary, graduation, new job, new house…”
Who knew? (Maybe you did!)
The listing above is for one A2 size letterpressed card, which also comes with one kraft color envelope. Both the card and the envelope are recycled, and both come packaged in a biodegradable clear sleeve.
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Written on
January 15, 2009 by
SusanC
I’ve been seemingly bit by the Valentine’s bug early this year, as I’m already finding myself strangely drawn toward hues of pink and red, shapes of all sizes and varieties that resemble hearts (admittedly not typically my favorite shape), or really anything that shouts “Hey! Valentine” with sugary sweet artistic lips.
It’s perhaps no surprise then, that I was smitten with this very romantic sea-dwelling shape, adorning this Heartopus card from Tofu Nutloaf’s Etsy shop:
From the seller:
Thea Heartopus is a rare freshwater cephalopod. It frequents deep, slow-moving rivers and lakes, and seems to prefer living near humans. It has been theorized that at least part of the Heartopus’s sustenance comes from human love vibes, although some scientists consider this theory bunk.
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Written on
January 12, 2009 by
SusanC
What better way to start the second full week of the new year than with a great review and giveaway for some helpful green home and beauty products?
This review and giveaway comes courtesy of Ecostore USA, whose eco-friendly, plant-based household cleaning products are as effective as the leading supermarket brands, and their body and baby care products are gentle on your skin, natural, and non-toxic.
From Ecostore’s website:
All of our products are made from plant and mineral-based ingredients, free of toxic chemicals that bring people closer to nature with non-toxic, environmentally safe solutions that also help to reduce our carbon footprint.
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