December Simple Swap: Green Gift Wrapping

We all want to live healthier, more intentional lives, but sometimes it seems overwhelming and daunting to take even small steps toward our ideals because there are so many steps before us.


Simple Swap was born out of a desire and passion to encourage other women on journeys toward living healthier, more inspired, intentional lifestyles through implementing one simple swap per month. 




Each swap will:

1. Take 30 minutes or less to accomplish

2. Be inexpensive to implement or boast overall, long-haul {health} savings


3. Focus on improving health/eco-friendliness, being good stewards of our resources and/or fostering a creative and intentional life.

Some weeks, all three will be accomplished in 30 minutes or less!

The beautiful and creative Robin from Diet Coke on the Rocks already made her December Simple Swap of Green Gift Wrapping! Check it out!


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We haven't bought wrapping paper for our Christmas gifts since G was born; that's right -- we are going on holiday season number four without buying pretty papers that make what's beneath the tree look so inviting.

But that doesn't mean we've sacrificed beautiful and creative wrapping; in fact, we've done just the opposite. We've revved up our creativity and in that found beauty in by not buying any new wrapping papers.

Here's how we've done it:

Green Gift Wrapping Idea 1

When we have forgotten our canvas bags while shopping, I almost always ask for paper bags in lieu of plastic. Aside from being great take 'em and leave 'em totes when bringing dinner to a friend or dropping off goods on a doorstep, paper bags make fabulous wrapping paper and give the givers of gifts a creative way to package their presents.

My boys, for example, love to decorate the insides of a paper bag I've cut at the seams and then wrap up presents in their home-made beautiful wrapping paper.

Aside from saving money, recycling and exercising their creative juices, it's a really personal way to decorate a gift for a loved one.


Green Gift Wrapping Idea 2


Maybe you're thinking something more sophisticated? Newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and any other text-heavy print are perfect for a simple seco-friendly black and white wrapping motiff.



Simply take the most text-heavy sections and wrap up the gifts. Cut thick strips of newspaper and fold over the strips to make a bow to adorn the top.

We're trying this gift wrapping for the first time this year, and I'm so psyched to recycle our reading as well as make it into something beautiful!

Green Gift Wrapping Idea 3 

We've made it a point every holiday to save cheery bags, still-usable tissue paper and bows and ribbons that are in great shape after being disassembled. We keep everything in a Rubbermaid box in the basement and pull it out when we need to wrap.

I've also found that cut evergreen bushes, as well as fresh-cut holly berries and scavenged pine cones arranged together are great replacements for bows.

So how do YOU Green Gift Wrap? Take a picture or write about it and link up for a chance to win an entire recycled gift wrapping kit from Green Girl Gift Wrap. Included in the winning set that will be delivered in time wrapping before Christmas:

(1) pack of Snowman gift wrap

(1) pack of Red Curves Gift Wrap

(1) pack of Red Gift Wrap

(1) pack of Red/Gold Snowflakes

(1) pack of Blue Diamond gift wrap

(1) pack of purple Stripe gift wrap

(1) pack of Wedding gift wrap

(2) Large gift bags

(2) Medium gift bags

(2) Small gift bags

(2) Packs of tissue paper

But link soon!


We're closing the linky at midnight Thursday, Dec. 15 so the winner will get her kit in time for Christmas. 






{No purchase necessary. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents who are 18 years and older. The link will close on December 15th at 11:59pm and the winner will be selected randomly Dec. 16, 2011 from the link up pool. Green Girl Gift Wrap is only providing the giveaway items; I have not been compensated in any way or gifted with any product to talk about GGGW}.

October Simple Swap: Inspiration to sack the plastic bags

This month's Simple Swap is to exchange the plastic bags for quality reusable canvas bags while grocery shopping. {Need details? Check out the step-by-step guide to making the swap.}

Reducing our plastic exposure seems daunting, but it's so worthwhile for our health, our environment and even the neatness of our homes.

Swapping out plastic bags for canvas is really one of the gentlest baby steps in cutting down on plastic consumption -- it's something very easily implemented, as my Simple Swap co-host, Robin, demonstrated during her swap.

Here's some extra inspiration from women who juggle multiple kids and manage to bring the canvas with during grocery shopping adventures:

Ginny Marie shares how she used to cringe when her mother brought reusable canvas bags to the grocery before it was more of a social norm.

Lenae discusses how she rescued her canvas bags from the depths of the closet and found sanity in decluttering.

A new friend at Lecsmiscellany divulges how she's actually found canvas bags easier while toting groceries and kiddos.

Feeling inspired now but need a little extra incentive?  Craft Culture Boutique has graciously offered to give one person who makes the October Simple Swap this 100 percent recycled cotton extra large tote in the Love Birds print and another bag in the print of her choice!

So capture a picture of your swap, share your story of the swap {or the story behind the swap or why you wanted to attempt the swap}, link back to this post and then link your October Simple Swap post up here! {And maybe go and give a virtual high five to others who have linked.}

Lastly, as an added bonus, Craft Culture has graciously extended an offer -- when you purchase three bags, you'll receive a fourth bag of your choice for free! Simply contact the ladies via their Etsy shop, mention the code CCOCT2011 and they will set up a custom order for you so that you get four bags for the price of three. 

{No purchase necessary. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents who are 18 years and older. The winner will be selected randomly Nov. 1, 2011 from the link up pool.}

October Simple Swap: Bagging Plastic Sacks

** October winner is Lecs'Miscellany! **


We all want to live healthier, more intentional lives, but sometimes it seems overwhelming and daunting to take even small steps toward our ideals because there are so many steps before us.


Simple Swap was born out of a desire and passion to encourage other women on journeys toward living healthier, more inspired, intentional lifestyles through implementing one simple swap per month.


Each swap will:
1. Take 30 minutes or less to accomplish
2. Be inexpensive to implement or boast overall, long-haul {health} savings 3. Focus on improving health/eco-friendliness, being good stewards of our resources and/or fostering a creative and intentional life.

Some weeks, all three will be accomplished in 30 minutes or less!

The beautiful and creative Robin from Diet Coke on the Rocks will make the Simple Swap first each month so as to show ease and perhaps sometimes another way to implement a Simple Swap. Check out Robin's October Simple Swap for more ideas!


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October Simple Swap: Bag Plastic Sacks


In our house, we try to limit our plastic consumption, use and exposure in an effort to

1. improve health
2. decrease clutter within our house
3. support environmental wellness

I know that reducing plastic exposure sounds overwhelming -- after all, so many of our household items are plastic!

But, by taking baby steps, making one Simple Swap per month, the journey to eliminating plastics or simply decreasing the amount in your house, is so doable and so worth it.

Remember, plastics often contain some pretty gunky things -- like BPA, a chemical that is known to cause health issues. Plus, plastic that ends up in the landfill will definitely outlive all of us -- and that's a lot of space taken. So ANY effort we make to reduce our plastic consumption is beneficial in so many ways.

One of the very first steps we took in decreasing our plastic use centered around ditching plastic bags at the grocery store or any other retail shop, swapping them out for canvas totes.

We decided to make this our first step for a few reasons, number one being this:

Gah! So ugly! So unhealthy! Nothing to love there!

*Shudder* I couldn't take much more of having our front hall closet overrun with bags. Couple that with the health and environmental reasons, and we couldn't think of a reason why we wouldn't make the attempt.

We gathered out plastic bags and hauled them off to the recycling bin at Target, and we bought some canvas bags ...

and we pretty much forgot about said canvas bags the first few shopping trips out simply because we were not in the habit of remembering to remove them from their spot in the closet and bring them along.

So we bought a few more high-quality ones and strategically placed them in vehicles, the front hall closet, the hooks by the back door, the stroller compartments  -- anywhere we thought might give us easy access to reusable bags when we needed them. {And with pretty canvas, high-quality bags, you can actually put them on hooks in the hallway because they are quite visually appealing, unlike ugly plastic bags that would stick out like a sore thumb.}

So simple, clean and so much healthier!

And we found success mostly.

Once I discovered canvas bags that were pretty and durable -- bags that are accessory worthy like the ones Craft Culture Boutique is giving away to one person who makes the October Simple Swap -- I had a much easier time remembering to use them, too.

I sport this bag around almost everywhere.  Love it!

Yes, plastic bags have a way of sneaking into our home and overtaking spaces, but they do so much less quickly now.

And now that it's habit to grab reusable bags, we rarely even think about it.

So are you ready to cut your plastic exposure in a really painless, simple way?

Grab your camera, take some pictures of your swap, write about your experience and then link up.

As mentioned, someone who links will win two reusable canvas bags from Craft Culture Boutique -- this 100 percent recycled cotton extra large tote in the Love Birds print and another bag in the print of her choice!

If you're drooling over the designs at Craft Culture {like I am}, Victoria and Kimberly have graciously extended an offer -- when you purchase three bags, you'll receive a fourth bag of your choice for free! Simply contact the ladies via their Etsy shop, mention the code CCOCT2011 and they will set up a custom order for you so that you get four bags for the price of three. 

{No purchase necessary. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents who are 18 years and older. The winner will be selected randomly Nov. 1, 2011 from the link up pool.}

*This post is linked with The Green Resource over at Sorta Crunchy.*

Share the Love: Sprout Change Diaper Review and $50 Willow Store Giveaway

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! CONGRATULATIONS TO MARGARET {number five}, as she was chosen as winner. She has 24 hours to respond to my email and claim her prize.**

One of the biggest challenges we've come across during our journey into cloth diapering has centered around finding a diaper that accommodates the way our babies have rapidly changed shape and morphed into unique sizes from month to month and year to year.

While we expected we'd have to experiment with fit and size from year to year, we didn't anticipate just how many brands of sized and one-sized diapers we'd filter through before finding the right fit for each age and each stage and each differing body type.

All of that said, I really wish we would have discovered the Sprout Change Diaper when it was first introduced by mom entrepreneur Catherine Bolden several years ago, as she developed the diapering system to not just grow with babies through all their many months as well as years, but she made the diapers so that they could offer a really custom fit with the many unique changes in shape or size our little ones experience.

The Sprout Change Diaper {like the Sprout Change Training Pants we absolutely adore} isn't like a normal one-size diaper, most of which often just adjust in the rise and in the waist, offering multiple snaps to accommodate growth in height and width.



Sprout Change Diapers actually adjust to give a custom fit by allowing mom or dad to tighten or loosen the elastic in each leg as well as around the waist.


I'll show you {on Brown Bear because the toddler wanted nothing to do with being a diaper model any time I tried; it's like he's got a mind of his own or something.}



The diaper shell, which is reversible and lined with a Sprout Change Organic Cotton Insert, fits both my thin, 33-pound preschooler {who doesn't actually need them but was willing to be a guinea pig tester for a few brief moments} and his stocky, 32-pound toddler brother, demonstrating how the diapers not only grows to fit different sizes but also different shapes.

Whenever number three comes along, we'll surely be investing in a few more Sprout Change shells and inserts so as to eliminate buying multiple size diaper covers that often cannot give a custom fit.

In addition to liking the custom fit, I also like that the Sprout Change Diapering system was designed for easy use.

Simply lay the insert inside the shell, adjust to your little one's size and snap shut. It's one of the more simple diapers, aside from all-in-ones, to use as there are not a lot of bells and whistles. Once the diaper is adjusted to baby's size, it's only a matter of switching out the inserts at each change because generally the shells are able to be used multiple times, which is something my husband really liked.



Messes are generally restricted to the insert, though I experienced a time when my toddler went through a growth spurt and needed double inserts inside the shell to ensure the shell wasn't soiled.

Overall, I've really liked our Sprout Change Diaper, and I'm looking forward covering a new little baby bum sometime in the future with these diapers.

How about you? Would you like to win your own Sprout Change Diapers?

Or maybe something else from the Willow Store, like Sprout Change Training Pants {LOVE them!} or Forever {paperless} Towels or Soap Nuts?

The Willow Store is again giving away a $50 Gift Certificate to one of my friends here! {So generous!!}

Simply share with us what you would use your $50 to buy and why after taking a peek at all of the green, organic goodies at The Willow Store. Be sure to leave a correct email address!

Want an extra entry?
* Tweet: I'm hoping to go #green w/ a $50 gift card from #TheWillowStore & @HyacynthW for #clothdiapers & other must-haves http://bit.ly/qDlCtK. {Don't forget to leave a comment for your extra entry.}

EXTENDED: I will randomly choose a winner Friday, August 12 at 9 a.m. CST. Best of luck!

{P.S. In keeping with Facebook policy, I may not give an extra entry for liking The Willow Store on Facebook. However, if you'd like to show your support of a wonderful, eco-friendly, mom-owned business and say thanks to Catherine for offering such a second generous giveaway, you could head over and give them a thumbs up}

The Willow Store is a gracious sponsor of this space. I received a complimentary Sprout Change Shell and three inserts for review. My opinions, as always, are mine and mine alone.

Green Living: Counting {organic} Sheep {An organic mattress review and organic pillow set giveaway}

**This giveaway is now closed. Johanna was chosen by random.org as the winner. **

I totally get why people count sheep when they have trouble falling asleep now.

Because way back before bedding manufacturers started dumping toxic materials into the mattresses we love to sink our tired bodies into, I think bed crafters must have used wool as a soft padding atop beds.

OK, I don't actually know that for certain, but I can tell you, if our ancestors did make mattresses from wool, they were onto something.

Because even though it smells a little like a {very clean} barnyard in our room when we slumber with slight scents of wool in the air, our {moderately} new natural latex mattress and organic cotton and wool quilted topper are so very comfortable.

And I can rest much easier sleeping atop of our natural, toxin-free bed.

We began researching organic beds a few years back after reading quite a few articles citing the chemicals and cancer-causing toxins that are used to manufacture mattresses.

And quite fraknly, it made me queasy to think about the gasses that were being emmitted from most of the mattresses we've ever owned.

Although, our older mattress actually was made before current laws regarding flamability were set, so we have one that has much lower emmissions than most of the newer mattresses that meet the flamability standards.

{Flame retardant mattresses contain boric acid, which is a known reproductive and developmental toxin. And you don't even want to know what compounds are found in the memory foam used in so many mattresses on the market -- think chemicals that cause birth defects as well compromise the nuerological and immune systems.}

It didn't take reading too many more articles before we began exploring organic and natural bedding options.

But, alas, John, our financial manager, deemed most of the mattresses to be too expensive. He said we'd have to save for quite awhile before we could afford one.

Plus, he'd said, there was no way he was dropping a few thousand dollars on a mattress he couldn't even try in person, as most of the organic bedding companies we'd found were based in other states.

But we began socking away money for one anyway because I expressed how strongly I felt about the situation.

We were both plesantly surprised to discover North Shore Bedding in Highland Park, Illinois -- just a short drive south on the expressway -- carried several brands and styles of organic and natural mattresses.

Brett, the owner of North Shore Bedding, welcomed us into his showroom, and he answered all of our questions as we plopped down atop all of the natural mattresses.

As we discussed what we were looking for, Brett suggested the WJ Southland Organic Charles Mattress.

While I liked many of the natural mattresses {some priced much more reasonably than others}, John really liked the Charles Southland.

So we took the plunge, and we bought our first king-sized {hey, we co-sleep with the kids!} non-toxic, natural fiber/materials mattress.



And honest to goodness, my only slight charge against the mattress is that it faintly smells like a { again, very clean} sheep is hiding in our bedroom.

{For the record -- a sheep is way better than a chemical plant fuming gases.}

It's comfortable, breathable, soft yet sturdy, spacious and wonderfully natural.

John agrees, as he prefers a soft-yet-moderately firm mattress.

Brett offered to sell the mattress to us at cost in exchange for reviewing it, so we did not pay full price.

However, in hindsight, our bed is worth every penny because its toxin free and we sleep so very well on it.

Our organic cotton/wool blend topper can also be flipped to extend its life span. Because the core of the matress is made from pure latex, I anticipate that it will actually last longer than many of the mattresses made of other less durable {and toxic} materials.

I appreciated our experience with Brett at Northshore Bedding, and I feel comfortable recommending not only the mattress but the store to friends looking for a new mattress. {NSB does have regular mattresses, and Brett says he will ship any of the mattresses to a customer.}

Brett was very generous with us, and he's also extending generosity to one of my blog friends!

You can win TWO queen-sized Natura Organic Cloud Contour Pillows {valued at $238} and rest easy knowing your head is resting against natural, organically grown fibers!




If you'd like to win TWO Natura Organic Cloud Contour Pillows, simply leave a comment saying why you would like to win.

If you'd like extra entries in the giveaway, you can become a fan of North Shore Bedding on Facebook or Tweet about the contest once. Please leave a comment {and your Twitter handle} for each so as to gain your extra entries.

The giveaway winner will be announced Sunday, September 26 at 9 p.m.

In the meantime, happy sleeping!

Full Disclosure: I only review family-friendly, natural products I use in my own home and would recommend to friends while having coffee or a playdate. We received this mattress at the wholesale rate in exchange for a review in which I vowed to give my 100 percent honest opinion of the mattress.

Living Healthfully: That's just Strawesome

It's not always easy being green.

We've been on a five-year-long journey in the making toward living a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

We've hit some major potholes (organic honey, anyone?), taken a few detours (oh, my goodness, dishwasher detergent!) and argued about directions (ever heard of family cloth in lieu of TP?) more times than I care to remember.

But I finally feel like we're at a place where we've collectively started embracing the green.

One small change at a time, we've made the switch to buying mostly organic foods, raw, non-toxic household cleaning and personal care products and eco-friendly, reusable items instead of items with a short household lifespan but long trash one. You know which items I'm talking about -- paper plates, plastic water bottles, plastic containers, diapers, drinking straws.

Drinking straws? Yup, this one was a new revelation for me, too, up until pretty recently when Daedre from Strawesome contacted me after she'd visited my blog and read about our efforts in sustainable, healthy living.

Daedre is a work-at-home mom and torch-working artist who makes beautiful, high-quality glass drinking straws. She offered to send me two straws to try and then said she would love to give a set of her straws to one of you, my friends!



We've been using her Strawesome straws instead of reaching for the plastic ones in the cabinet for a month now, and they have lovingly found a place in our every-day use because 1.) 2.5-year-old G insists on using them for every drink (the boy loves straws, and we use them often anyway)



and 2.) they are easy to wash (dishwasher safe!) and reuse. And I love that. I'm also quite happy to have eliminated using another plastic product, thus lessening our exposure to the toxins like BPA and phthalates, which are often found in plastics. And we won't be sending an entire box of straws to our local landfill every few months.

At first, I hesitated letting G. use glass straws (um, hello, he IS two!), but I've found first hand that these bad boys are really sturdy. The kid doesn't just use his straw for drinking; he also uses it as a fishing pole during lunch to catch "fish" [ice cubes] floating in his cup.

At any rate, we used them often for drinking and fishing, and we had no problems at all with breaking during his every-day use.

And it wasn't really G. I should have been worried about; rather I should have questioned my own care! I accidentally dropped his straw on the hardwood floor while trying to do too many things at once, and his straw broke into two pieces. (I was really, really tempted to blame this one on the kid, but I had to be honest.) I'm glad to say that even when the accident happened with his straw, the glass was so strong (made of borosilicate glass - same as Pyrex dishes) that the break was clean, and I didn't have to scramble to clean up shattered glass fearing little feet would be cut. Although, I will have to live with G. asking me, "Why you break my straw, mommy?" for the rest of eternity even after I promised to buy him a new one.

Daedre, however, came to the rescue after the great Straw Slaughter of 2010, and offered to send me a replacement if I simply paid for the shipping. Her company has a life-time guarantee against breakage. Ahhhhh. Sweet sigh of relief.


Simply leave a comment sharing why you would like to welcome a set of beautiful hand-crafted Strawesome straws into your home, and you'll be entered into a giveaway to win them. For extra entries you can ...
* Tweet about the giveaway by saying "Celebrate Earth Day! Enter to win 2 hand-crafted, beautifully designed glass drinking straws from Strawesome." and linking to this post and tagging my Twitter handle @HyacynthW.
* Become a fan of Strawesome on Facebook and let Daedra know which straw you like most and why.

Be sure to leave separate comments each time you secure another entry.

I'll announce the winner Tuesday, April 20 at 10 p.m. central time in hopes that the winner might get the Strawesome straws just in time to help the lucky person celebrate Earth Day by taking another step in going green and living healthfully.

As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was our foundation for healthy, Earth friendly living. But at least we're standing firm as we build the rest of the [green] house one little glass straw at a time.

**G.'s cup is, indeed, plastic, but it is BPA and phthalates-free, which is a requirement for plastic around this house.
Daedra from Strawesome sent me two decorative smoothie straws. I was not compensated for hosting this giveaway; I'm simply doing it because I love to share great sustainable living, eco-friendly products, and I like to support work-at-home moms' business adventures, especially when said businesses promote such beauty and sustainability.**