Join Us
Not a member yet?
Register it's FREE and see all the family friendly businesses!
Membership is Free
Click to register
Login:
Password:
 
Forgotten Password?
Parents, tell us your favorite fun places! Click here!
List your kid-friendly business FREE! Click here! List your event FREE! Click here!

Moms, Dads and Kids is the Only The "Little Black Book" for busy families in Alberta. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please click on the Balloons to share your favorites with us!

Back

June is Very Green

June is when the tree leaves burst open, finally spring is here! Green is the new Black, I thought I would share some amazing research, tips and ideas on how going green can be fun. June is also a time to Thank Dad for all he has done to be your mentor and teacher. Fathers day is Sunday June 15th.

I am finally getting to plant my flowers with my three year old, who knows where the seeds will grow.

If you have a favorite Green Business, tip or lesson, please share it with us. We want to know how moms are making a difference in keeping our planet healthy? Let us know

Happy Planting,

Kimberly

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reality Check!

I am not really losing my mind. The other day I was sure I had taken out a "sidekicks pasta" for dinner. But couldn't find where I put it. Two days later when I was putting the laundry into the dryer- low and behold I found the "sidekicks" crayons, paper, slippers and a sand pail in the dryer.
Imagine that, they needed to be dried not cooked.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Green is the new Black!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eating outside somehow soothes our souls! Spills don't matter, kids are allowed to run around during eating and babies can use their fingers.

Green Picnics:

Take nothing from nature other than photos, leave nothing but footprints.
Find one of your wicker baskets to pack things in - feels a bit like Red Riding Hood. Bamboo plates
Use old fashioned, washable table cloth & napkins.
Real cutlery works best - did you know 40 billion utensils are tossed in the US every year.
New alternative is bamboo plates & utensils. Bamboo regrows. View here to view.
Mom's love wipes, but what about taking a few wet face cloths in a baggie and some tea towels or check out bio-degradable wipes from Seventh Generation. Great disposable diapers that are good for sensitive bums. My son used cloth or these.
Use either stackable containers or try Wrapnmat, to see wrapnmat.

folding wrap

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Green Birthday Party Ideas

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Evites is a great easy way to send out invitations and track replys. Check out the many different cards on thier site by view here. I have used them a number of times and there is no cost.
Did you know latex balloons are bio-degrade balloons; it takes about six months vs. latex balloons. Check package or ask before buying.
What about paper lanterns for those children who might have latex-allergies. And their reusable.
Cakes - Dr. Oetker has an organic cake mix that is amazing and available at most local grocery stores.
Use a book of matches vs. a disposable lighter which are a big environmental weight.
Loot bags: instead of plastic bags which end up in the garbage, and toys that break or no one remembers, what about some of these ideas where you do not need a bag. A packet of seeds and trowel, custom printed T-shirt that they painted or made at the party, custom made CD of or a popular CD age appropiate, crayons, pencils and pack of drawing or craft paper wraped in ribbon can always find a use. Call a store after a holiday, ask for a discount on a seasonal item that you could incorporate into your party theme.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Favorite Place - "Moms the Word"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

kidzoneNeed a summer hair cut, but can't get children to sit still?
One of our moms favorite places is Beaners Fun Cuts. Soon to be 11 locations across AB. Kids reign and parents enjoy the comfort of 'guilt-free' noise! Kids sit on coin-operated rides: a hippo, horse, duck, dog, or choose a cool Barbie jeep or motorcycle. Adults can get their hair cut while Kids play in the ballroom or for older kids who want to play Sony Playstation. 'Adult' chairs are great for the 'little' ones who want to sit on Mommy's knee while getting a trim. Styling station have TV's playing one of the newest videos. If you go to St. Albert be sure to say Hi to Celia.

They provided me this tip for Pony Tail(s) and Braid(s) which are very popular with girls and Mom's. They're easy to do and they keep hair out of the child's face. However, wearing these styles can also damage your child delicate hair. Elastics that are not coated or 'ouchless' are made from rubber that will pull and break the hair shafts. When you put hair in a pony tail(s) or braid(s) try to use a coated rubberband, soft knit pony "O"s, or a soft cloth hair scrunchie. Try not to use clips or bows too often as they tend to break and crease the hair. View here to find a location near you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mom's We need YOUR HELP!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Green Business... We have just added A category in our publication that is All about Businesses that are Green. Please email us your favorite family friendly green business so we can include it in The "Little Black Book" for busy families. We will compile a list and share it with our readers in our book & website. Tell us.

If you are a business is one of the many promoting Environmental Products, Services or Information, contact us so we can learn more about you.

Kimberly Shick-Puddicombe

Mom, Fun Finder, Publisher

P.S. Our List is growing, but we learn more when we have more moms sharing, so if you loved this article, can you please pass it on to 3 of your favorite friends? They will receive great tips, affordable cool places to go, and they may even lose their Boring MOM Status when they sign up at Moms Dads and Kids Thanks a million!

Please note I found some of these ideas from a book called Green for Life, by Gillian Deacon.

Join Our Team! kimberly@momsdadsandkids.com