Nothing pains me more than using disposable baggies when packing snacks and lunches! Too many times they are just tossed into the trash after one use.

When the creator of Snackaby reusable bags reached out to me, I jumped at the opportunity to review her environmentally friendly products. The idea of never throwing away plastic baggies made me smile! I think baggies are such a waste of money and they are horrible for the planet!

I received a sandwich bag and a snack bag to review. My son and I are always on the go, so I just throw snacks inside and close the Snackaby with the Velcro closure. Since they are wipe-able and washable, I do not even hesitate to throw fruit or vegetables inside. They wipe clean and can also be washed on the top rack of your dishwasher!

In addition to being stylish, here are the reasons I think Snackaby are a great investment:

• Fabrics are environmentally friendly and do not contain plasticizers.
• You can reuse them over and over again! No more wasting money on disposable baggies.
• The design is durable, they can easily be wiped clean (inside and outside).
• They are dishwasher safe (top rack only) so no need to worry about them not being clean or sterilized.

Since it’s back to school time, make sure you stop by the Snackaby Etsy store! There is a variety of patterns to choose from. Snackaby is offering The Unemployed Mom readers free shipping! Use code “SHIPFREE” when you checkout!

Make sure to follow Snackaby on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

* Disclosure: Thanks to Snackaby, I was provided a reusable sandwich and snack bag for review. No other compensated was received. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you didn’t already know, today is Earth Day! I know there will be some who hear the term and roll their eyes, but I think this day is very special. Today is a day to teach our children about taking care of the planet. There are ways to involve your family and make this day fun. Kermit was wrong, it IS easy being green!

In the past, I shared 15 money saving green tips. Many of these do not cost a dime, instead they could possibly save you money!

Below are some ideas how your family can contribute to Earth Day. I would love to hear your suggestions in the comments!

• Carpool to work.
• Take a reusable mug to Starbucks and enjoy complimentary coffee and tea TODAY!
• Take a walk with your family.
• Pick up trash in your neighborhood.
• Clean a local park.
• Plant a seed, flower, or tree.
• Use reusable bags at the grocery store.
• Make a bird feeder for your backyard.
• Stop using harsh chemicals, instead opt for natural solutions.

B Kind 2 Earth Day is a collaborative effort between Nickelodeon, The National Wildlife Federation, TheMotherhood.com and bloggers across the country. The goal is to “encourage people to promise to do at least one earth-friendly action on April 22, 2011 — and beyond.” Bloggers representing their respective state are asking readers to pledge to do something for the earth today. I am one of the lucky bloggers representing the state of Florida.

I encourage you to visit the B Kind 2 Earth Day Facebook page and click “like”. Also, share your ideas on their wall. By doing this, you are pledging your support. Even though these suggestions may seem small, together, we can really make an impact!

Happy Earth Day!

Switch off your lights for one hour to celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 8:30 pm (local time).

At that time, lights will switch off around the globe and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

What else will you do to make a difference? Will you be participating?

Although this may seem small, together our actions add up.

For more information, visit Earthhour.org.

We loaded our Radio Flyer wagon into our car and headed to the Leu Gardens Annual Plant sale over the weekend. This was our first visit to Leu Gardens and it definitely won’t be our last! Such a beautiful place. I cannot believe we have never been considering it is only a few miles from our home.

We spent several hours there just taking in the beauty all around us and browsing the selection of herbs, vegetables, trees and flowers for sale. To say we came away inspired is an understatement, take a look at this creation we made from our plant purchases.

Just kidding. I took that photo yesterday at The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. You’ll see more of Disney’s amazing topiaries on my Wordless Wednesday post this week.

Below is a preview of our gardening project from the weekend. In addition to our Leu Gardens purchases of herbs, vegetables and lavender we also planted several citrus trees (navel orange, Meyer lemon and pink grapefruit). Hopefully, we can keep everything healthy and thriving! The citrus blooms smell incredible!

Last Spring, I blogged about creating an organic container garden. Since then, I have learned valuable lessons along the way and feel confident with our container garden. We have successfully grown a variety of peppers (banana and bell), lettuce, tomatoes (Roma, cherry and yellow boy) as well as herbs (basil, rosemary, mint, and cilantro). We tried growing vegetables and herbs from seeds; however, had a much higher success rate with the organic seedlings that we planted.

For those eager to start a container garden but not sure where to begin, this blog is for you!

How do you get started with planting a container garden? What is necessary?

• Seedlings and/or Seeds
• Containers & Planting Supplies
• Soil
• Plant Food
• Water

Seedlings and/or Seeds: Determine what you would like to grow in your garden. I spent a small fortune on organic seeds and seedlings because the thought of growing all my produce was exciting. Realistically, I should have tried planting a few items to see what grows best in my environment. Also, if using seeds pay attention to the planting instructions (time of year to plant, how deep in the soil, how many seeds to sow, climate, amount of direct sunlight, watering, etc.).

Containers: Have a variety of containers to plant in. If you are handy, you can make planters. The main thing to keep in mind is drainage. Make sure your containers have holes so water can drain properly. If they do not, simply use a drill and put a few drain holes in the bottom. Be creative when it comes to containers, you do not have to spend a fortune on pots.

Planting Supplies: If planting seeds, use small stakes to identify what you have planted. Popsicle sticks work well, use a permanent marker to indicate what you have planted and place them inside your container. You will also need a small spade for the soil and gardening gloves.

Soil: You will need an abundance of potting soil/mix, especially if using large containers. If you do not make you own soil or compost, there are a variety of products that can be purchased. We selected Scotts Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix because it was one of the few organic mixes available and it has worked well for us.

Plant Food: This was something we did not use initially, but my parents visited about 3 months after we started our gardening adventure and said “your plants are hungry”. They have a lot of experience with gardening, so we quickly took their advice! Sure enough, we purchased some Miracle-Gro Organic Choice All Purpose Plant Food and started feeding our plants regularly (every 2 weeks) and the results are amazing!

Water: Make sure to water your garden regularly. We are currently watering once per day; however, during the hot Florida summer months we do water more frequently.

How Long Until I Have Vegetables & Herbs? This answer is not simple, it all depends on whether you planted seeds or used starter plants. Cilantro is the only herb I had success with from seeds and it did not take long to grow (a few weeks actually). I used organic starter plants for my basil, rosemary and mint because I didn’t want to wait. All three have continued to grow like crazy.

As for vegetables, it seems like our various peppers and tomatoes have new growth every day! It has taken a long time to get to this point (8 months to be exact) but it is very exciting to see the vegetables getting bigger and riper every single day. The plants did produce a few vegetables last year, but the plant food has really made a difference in quantity and size!

Basil Tip: I have learned to pinch the flowers off of my basil so it becomes more bush like in appearance. Also, the more basil I use…the better it grows. Seems crazy, but it’s true. Also, we accidentally broke some off while covering our plants during freezing temperatures. We placed those sprigs into a cup of water, let it grow roots and then replanted.

Other: Keep in mind, the initial investment (seeds, plants, containers, soil, plant food, etc.) can be expensive; however, there is nothing more rewarding than producing your own vegetables and herbs. If something doesn’t survive, do NOT throw out the soil, instead reuse it and attempt to grow something else.

Also, you will probably have insects, snails and/or worms that attack your plants. Check on them often, we had a tomato worm that literally ate 75% of a tomato plant in a matter of hours!

These photos were taken on the first day we planted our container garden (May 2010).

And here is our garden now, 8 months later…

]]> http://theunemployedmom.com/2011/01/19/how-to-start-a-container-garden/feed/ 2 http://theunemployedmom.com/2010/06/08/simple-green-naturals-review-giveaway/ http://theunemployedmom.com/2010/06/08/simple-green-naturals-review-giveaway/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:04:10 +0000 The Unemployed Mom http://theunemployedmom.com/?p=5932

This contest is closed. Congratulations to Jackie!

I do not like to willingly bring dangerous chemicals into my home. Despite the fact I have used harsh cleaning products in the past, I now know they are not safe or necessary. Too many companies use brand messaging to make people think their unhealthy products are fine to use, but we must be smarter consumers. There are safer options for our families and for the environment.

With that said, I had the privilege to test 7 full size samples from Simple Green Naturals household cleaning products made from 100% naturally derived ingredients. Prior to receiving the shipment, I had never used Simple Green products. Once my box arrived, I was eager to start cleaning and reviewing. Here is a little background information on the naturals line:

• 100% natural ingredient sources
• Biodegradable formulation
• Never tested on animals
• Full ingredient disclosure
• Internationally scientifically-accepted ingredient names
• Natural scents are IFRA compliant and made of 100% natural essential oils and plant extracts.
• 100% recyclable PETE plastic bottles with 25% + post-consumer content, printed with soy inks
• Natural versus naturally derived (learn more here)

Below is my review of each bottle as well as some important product information.

Dish Washing Liquid: The fresh squeezed citrus smell is light and lovely. This liquid suds up nicely and easily cut through tough grease left in my frying pan from Buffalo Burgers. Best of all, it is not harsh on my skin like other dish washing liquids I have used, it is extremely gentle. Hands down, this will be a regular dish washing liquid that I use going forward. I hope Simple Green creates a similar product for the dish washer.

Liquid Hand Soap: The scent of this soap is herb garden and it smells incredible. Best of all, it is effective and does not strip the skin of natural oils! I keep this liquid hand soap sitting on my kitchen counter and use it constantly to clean my hands. In all honesty, my hands have not been dried out and cracked since using this soap. The product I “used to use” contained an antibacterial components which kept my hands dry and cracked. Needless to say, that “other” brand will not be purchased again!

Multi-Surface Care: Another great smelling product that is effective at cleaning hard surfaces such as counter-tops, tables, walls, fixtures and appliances. This product is easy to use, just spray and wipe with a clean damp sponge, cloth or microfiber. Another great plus is that this product is green seal certified!

Bathroom Cleaner: Finally a safe bathroom cleaner that is designed for use on soils such as water borne minerals and soap scum that are commonly found in the tub, toilet and sink. The product is easy to use and contains no harsh chemicals. Simply spray, mop or wipe onto a surface and scrub if necessary. The scent is rosemary mint and leaves your bathroom looking and smelling fresh and clean! This product is also green seal certified.

Glass & Surface Care: This glass and surface spray works well without the use of ammonia or alcohol! I have a glass top desk that my son touches constantly so this glass spray is used regularly. It is extremely effective. I also love that it is also rosemary mint scent so when I clean the bathroom mirror, it blends with the bathroom cleaner scent. This is another green seal certified product.

Floor Care: This is a convenient product to use after meals to clean up the food my toddler dropped on the tile. This is a safe and effective cleanser for laminate, porcelain tile, slate, finished wood, linoleum and more. This product is easy to use. Just spray onto sections of the floor and damp mop up, or wipe up with a microfiber pad. This product leaves your floors smelling great and incredibly clean! This is another green seal certified product.

Carpet Cleaner:  My house does not have carpet so my husband used this to clean the carpet inside our sports utility vehicle. There were black marks from my son’s stroller wheels and this product worked like a charm to remove the stains. The website also states it “is a very effective and easy to use product for spot cleaning all colorfast and washable carpet, rugs and upholstery. This product is easy to use and fast acting”. My husband gave it two thumbs up and said it worked very well.

I am very pleased with Simple Greens Naturals products. They have all worked very well and I recommend them. The scents are incredible but please note, they are subtle and not overbearing whatsoever. I cannot stand opening a door and being knocked down by fumes. You do not have to worry about strong smells with Simple Green Naturals.

Want to win the products I just reviewed? Simple Green is going to give one lucky reader 7 FULL SIZE bottles to try! Just leave a comment telling me which product you are most excited about trying and why.

For additional entries, do the following but leave separate comments letting me know (this will allow you additional chances to win).

• “Like” The Unemployed Mom’s Facebook Fan Page. If you’re already a fan, thank you very much! Just list your name below and indicate that you are.
• Post this giveaway as your facebook status and encourage your friends to enter.
• Comment on another post at The Unemployed Mom then let me know you did in the comments section of this blog.
• Follow @Unemployed_Mom on twitter and retweet this contest (you can use the convenient green retweet button).
• Follow @simplegreennews on twitter.
• Subscribe to The Unemployed Mom’s RSS feed and let me know you have. Already a subscriber, thank you. Just indicate that you are in the comments.
• Have a Blog? Follow The Unemployed Mom and leave a comment that you are a follower.
• Have a Blog? Blog about this contest and leave the url of your post. This is worth 5 extra entries.  Make sure you leave 5 separate comments. (example “blogged extra entry #1″, “blogged extra entry #2″, “blogged extra entry #3″, etc.).
• Have a blog? Add The Unemployed Mom to your blog roll and let me know you did. This is worth 3 extra entries! Make sure you leave 3 separate comments. (example “blog roll extra entry #1″, “blog roll extra entry #2″, “blog roll extra entry #3″, etc.).

The winner will receive:

• One 32 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Multi-Surface Care
• One 24 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Bathroom Cleaner
• One 24 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Carpet Care
• One 32 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Glass & Surface Care
• One 16 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Dish Washing Liquid
• One 24 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Floor Care
• One 16 oz. bottle of Simple Green Naturals Liquid Hand Soap

Random.org will select a winner on June 18, 2010. U.S. residents only. Winner will be contacted via email and has 48 hours to respond. If no response is received, random.org will select another winner.

Good luck! These products retail for around $3.99 each and in my opinion are worth it.

Simple Green Naturals samples were received for review; however, the opinions expressed are my own.

Everywhere you turn, you read or hear about another product that is hazardous to your health. Could there be a connection between the rapid number of people being diagnosed with cancer and other diseases? I am starting to believe so!

From deodorant, plastic cups and now sunscreen, it’s difficult to make a safe decision. My only question is why doesn’t the government have higher standards? Seriously, if we know certain chemicals are dangerous or have long-term ill effects, then why not ban them?

A twitter friend (@stresslessmomma) and fellow blogger shared this site: Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. It’s a terrific resource for greener health and beauty options. After reviewing the information, I am definitely making some changes! Take a look and let me know if anything took you by surprise…

This weekend my family planted an organic container garden. My husband and I both grew up around gardening, but we do not have a lot of space. We thought on a much smaller scale and decided to plant some vegetables and herbs that I use regularly. Also, I reviewed my grocery receipts and realized I have been spending a small fortune at Whole Foods JUST on organic fruits and vegetables (seriously, at least $50 per week)!

Ok, so perhaps I became overzealous picking out seed packets and grabbed more than I should have. I will be returning a few because I’m not so sure how carrots, turnips or peas would grow inside a pot. I decided to keep the squash, cucumbers and zucchinis, so we’ll see how they do.

I was thrilled to see how many organic gardening products are available (Miracle-Gro Organic Potting Mix, Organic Seeds, Organic Seedlings, etc.). I also found containers made from recycled materials at bargain prices (thank you Big-Lots)! One of our experienced container gardening friends gave us organic pepper seedlings that she grew and lots of advice (thank you Eugenia Essentials)!

All in all, it was a great family project that will teach my son to love the soil and what it provides. Too bad he was napping while my husband and I played in the dirt, but my dog sure got into it! To see additional photos, click here.

I involve my toddler in green living practices by having him put items into our recycling bin. He gets excited when he sees an empty paper towel or toilet paper holder, he likes to use them as tunnels for his cars. Ultimately, he knows once he is finished using his imagination, he gets to place the cardboard into the recycling bin. He then becomes so proud and claps at his accomplishment.

Our next green project is making a potted garden and growing some of our favorite vegetables. I am excited for him to witness food growing and not just being brought home in a canvas grocery bag. Although I’m sure he will think of the activity as another fun way to play in the dirt, the lessons that will be taught are invaluable!

I stumbled upon these fun Earth Day Crafts for kids and must admit, some of these ideas are adorable and seem fairly easy. These are a great way to have fun and teach our children about recycling at the same time.

What green activities do you involve your children in? Please share in the comments.

Happy Earth Day!

I have been introduced to a company called Seed Power by a fellow blogger and friend Jennifer at HipAsIWannaBe. Seed Power is sponsoring a few lucky ladies for BlogHer ’10 in NYC, so this is my entry for consideration. I honestly wouldn’t be writing about this company if I didn’t believe in their products or philosophy. After doing a little research about Seed Power, I will be purchasing some of their products on my next trip to Whole Foods.

I felt a connection to Seed Power just from reading their  ”story“.  I never really put much thought into the dangers of chemicals until I was pregnant. That was when I officially became a greenie and eliminated harsh chemicals from our household. It made me think, if it is dangerous to my unborn child then how can it be safe for my family and our four legged friend?

Funny thing is, that was my “ah ha” moment about being environmentally friendly. It was during my early pregnancy when I started a green movement at the company I was employed at. The group was called “Generation Green” and the focus was to educate people on how to reduce their carbon footprint. I organized a team of 15 employees and our work began (coordinating green education seminars, purchasing eco-friendly mugs and eliminating styrofoam from our offices, staring a car-pooling effort, organizing a community effort to clean a local park, and sharing green tidbits on a regular basis). I could feel that same level of passion just from reading about Seed Power which is why I am so excited to try their products.

Also, being a wine enthusiast I love the fact Seed Power uses the natural byproducts of the wine-making process for their products! They recognize the health benefits of wine and have carried that into their 100% natural products. Their seedology is,

“Everything begins with a seed. It’s a fact that a single seed contains all the nutrients that enable life. When you look inside a seed, it’s packed with elements that provide incredible skin health benefits. Our seeds are rich in Vitamin E, a powerful skin care rejuvenator. They also provide multiple forms of antioxidants and beneficial essential fatty acids. It’s all inside these tiny seeds – the essence and power to create a healthy life.”

Have you tried Seed Power yet? What are you waiting for?