How to live like every day is Earth Day

In honor of earth day I wanted to share some of the things me and my family do daily to be "green" and also our goals to improve our lifestyle  and health as an Eco friendly family.

Simple ways to be Green:

1. Always turn off lights, tvs, radios and computers when not using them
2. Unplug all electronics when not using them. We unplug our coffee pot , toaster, cell phone chargers etc because even if they are off they are still using energy. (this will save you money too)
3. At night we try to use candles for light when we can
4. The obvious :RECYCLE ! Recycle paper, plastic ,glass, grocery bags, batteries , electronics, clothes and furniture(remember ,donating to organizations such as Goodwill is still recycling !)
5. Use plastic reusable containers for food instead of one time use bags

6. Purchase items that has the least amount of wrapping. Individually wrapped food items are convienant but extremely wasteful ! Buy a large bag/box of the product and divide it up yourself with reusbale containers (cost plus world market has fun reusable food containers in awesome colors and patterns)

7. Try to buy local products as much as possible. It helps out your community and supports the small businesses. Look for small business owners that use recycled product too! There are several in Denver , Colorado and on Etsy.com 

8. Try some DIY projects up cycling clothes, furniture, hair accessories and more instead of buying something new

9. Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth and take quick showers. Be conscious when using water. It is precious !!

10. One I learned from my oldest sister : use cloth napkins. They can be easily washed, you won't have to keep buying them and they look nicer too! Try making them from old scraps of shirts, materials , cloth bags...

11. Use natural products on your baby. Check the labels for harsh ingredients and chemicals. Baby skin is so sensitive and new! I use Burt's Bees bath products but there are several brands. I also use scent free products because I don't think babies need to smell any different. That "baby smell" won't be there forever so enjoy it ! :) 

Things we want to work on to improve our lifestyle and health :

1. Set out a large bucket on our balcony to catch rainfall to use as water for our plants
2. Buying more local products including homegrown produce that is pesticide free
3. Buying more organic food items (they are becoming more and more accessible and the prices are getting more reasonable (Auntie Anne's organic food products are always on sale at Target and are delicious ! Try the aged cheddar macaroni and cheese )
4. Substitute eveyday cooking and baking items with healthier alternatives :whole wheat flour, applesauce instead of oil or sugar , avocado oil instead of butter, Greek yogurt instead of canola oil, brown rice instead of white rice, low fat or fat free milk, cream cheese, cheese etc
5. Eat more raw fruits and veggies and incorporate more protein in our diet
6. We are going to try using cloth diapers to save on waste and money. Next Sunday I am taking a free cloth diapering 101 class at a store called GIggling Green Bean (a "green" store) on Tennyson street in Denver , Co .( I will be posting what I learn at this class!) 
7. Keeping processed food to a minimum and making things from scratch when I can. (snacks, baked bread, soups etc)
8. Drink more water! In Denver everyone knows how dry it is here. My hair , skin and lips are always dehydrated. Keeping a reusbale water bottle filled with water near by reminds me to drink up ! Drinking Water or milk instead of sugary juices!
9. Using more natural cleaners and soaps especially on the baby things. (check out my Pinterest  for some great DIY home cleaning products using natural ingredients ) 
10. Carpooling more to work! No need to all take separate cars when you're headed to the same place
11. Using public transportation when possible
12. Use reusbale cups ! Bring your own coffee mug to the coffee shop so you don't have to waste paper cups (some cafes give you a discount for bringing your own cup!)

Try making a physical list of  the things you want you and your family to  improve on. Remember to love your body and treat it well and to treat our mother Earth with respect and love. We only have one home so lets do what we can to keep it.

Gaia

(the Greek goddess , mother of all things)

Mother Earth