Thanksgiving is a great time to get eco-friendly and if you’re looking for ways to green it up this year, follow these simple tips!
1. Use local products
To go green this Thanksgiving, use local products. Go to Farmer's markets to get fresh produce that was made locally. Get your desserts homemade from a local vendor instead of from a supermarket.
2. Use all of your leftovers
If you have too much food, let some of your guests take food with them. Whatever you do, don't let any food go to waste. Serve leftovers in creative ways, such as a turkey salad for lunch the next day.
3. Use recycled products
Avoid using paper products that aren't recycled. Purchase all recycled paper products, if you need to have disposable plates and cups. Otherwise, use regular plates and cups that can be washed, so you don't produce any waste.
4. Conserve Energy
Keep your thermostat at a reasonable setting. If you normally keep your temperature at 74 degrees, try reducing it a few degrees on Thanksgiving. This will conserve energy. If you have a fireplace that has never been used, get it cleaned and use it. You'll avoid having to use other energy sources.
For additional green tips, baby safe products, natural baby care and other environmentally safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Avoid Traffic
If possible, start your trip a day earlier and/or return a day later to avoid heavy traffic. When a car is stuck in traffic its fuel consumption rate can be double the rate at steady cruising speeds.
- Go Hybrid
If you can, leave the SUV at home and drive a hybrid or fuel-efficient conventional car instead. In addition to consuming more gas, SUVs emit up to four times more carbon than the most efficient hybrid. If you don’t own a hybrid, consider renting one. If you’re traveling solo, flying is actually better than driving any car—regardless of the distance traveled.
- Fly Coach
First-class seating requires twice the space of coach and therefore produces twice the amount of carbon emissions per passenger, so always choose coach. Next, minimize the length of your trip, carbon-heavy takeoffs, landings and ground operations by flying non-stop, or the most direct route.
- Get on the Bus
No matter how many people are traveling with you, a bus is a great alternative for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. A couple traveling by bus, for instance, generates between 50 and 75 percent less carbon than flying or driving (especially on trips under 500 miles). Bus fares are often cheaper than airline tickets, and many now have similar amenities.
Mom's are naturally concerned about what comes in contact with their babies, so here's the skinny on the essential oil blends that our cloth baby wipes soak in:
Are the essential oils included in your kit safe for my baby?
Both lavender and chamomile are well known for their calming effect and their skin care benefits and offer the added benefit of a wonderful fragrance. One of our moms actually puts a dab of the lavender and chamomile blends on her wrists every day in addition to the few drops she soaks her clean washable baby wipes in!
Are the essential oils a problem for sensitive skin?
We recommend only a few drops of the essential oils in the clean and dirty tubs. The water dilutes the oils resulting in a extremely mild solution for natural baby care with none of the unnatural or potentially irritating chemicals that are found in some disposable baby wipes.
For answers to other frequently asked questions and environmental baby products, visit our website at http://www.bottoms-up-baby.com
Yak About It!
That’s exactly what customers and fans of the Bottoms Up All-In-One Kit did last Thursday, helping our reusable baby wipes product finish in the lead in Yak About It’s “Daily Yak Poll.”
Every day, two new products created by independent inventors and entrepreneurs are featured on YakAboutIt.com and compete for consumer attention, purchase and the glory of being the “Most Yakable.” Besides having the opportunity to purchase either product, you can learn about the story, the inventor and the random facts that gave life to the products.
We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity of being featured and would like to thank all of our supporters for helping us win the highly coveted titled of “Most Yakable”!
For additional information our cloth baby wipes and green baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
I had my children a long time ago and while there was definitely a movement afoot towards a more natural way of birthing, it had not reached critical mass by any means. Many of us were given drugs to induce or intensify labor and opted for pain relieving anesthesia as soon as it could be administered. Since we launched the Bottoms Up reusable cloth baby wipes product, I've learned alot about what today's moms are concerned about. Yes, they're concerned about cloth baby wipes and non toxic baby bottles and baby products that are safe for the environment. But they're also concerned with how they bring their babies into the world, the actual process of giving birth, before all the products are purchased.
I recently stumbled across the trailer for a documentary that offers women an insight into the U.S. hospital system and the "Business of Being Born", which is the title of the movie produced by Rikki Lake and has been referred to "The Inconvenient Truth of Childbirth."
I don't know if I'd do anything differently, times were different in the late 70's/early 80's, but this film offers a different perspective than was prevalent back then. It's worth a peek for all us soon-to-be Grandmas!
The 25 cloth baby wipes included in the Bottoms Up All-In-One Kit are sufficient if you generally buy one container of disposable wipes per week and you do laundry every other day. The wipes are made from high quality terry cloth and are available for purchase à la carte in quantities of 25.
They're easy to use:
The cotton baby wipes are soft, 100% natural and require no drying after being washed. After a machine wash, simply re-soak your reusable baby wipes in the Clean Wipes Container, along with one inch of water and 4-5 drops of the Clean Baby Wipes Essential Oil Blend solution before using them again.
They're great for other purposes:
What’s great about the wipes is that they can be used for anything! Yes, cleaning your baby’s bottom is their primary purpose but consider snagging an additional set of wipes and using them for cleaning around the house, or after snack or meal times. Our wipes are a great way of saving money and the environment from excess waste.
For additional information on our baby safe products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
If you have a fruit tree, organic garden, or a local farmers market that you like to frequent, now is the time to preserve your fruits to make them last throughout the winter. Freezing, canning or making jams out of fruits that are available now, are great ways of saving money, reducing waste and making the most out of your garden and local shops.Freezing
Freezing is the simplest way of keeping excess fruit from going to waste and there are many different ways to freeze them! Some fruits freeze more effectively than others, but the best way to eat them after freezing is to make a frozen fruit smoothie!
Preserves
Jams and preserves can be made with the help of pectin, sugar and glass jars. While the process takes a lot of work, the pay-off is great when you're able to stuff your friends' and families' stockings with a homemade eco-friendly gift.
Canning
Canning is a bit more complex, but can help you keep fruit (and even some vegetables) for up to 1 year, if this method of food storage safety is done correctly. Some fruits and vegetables must be pre-cooked for best results and others are okay to be canned raw with syrup. When you're done, use food storage labels to indicate the date of preparation or expiration.
For additional green tips, ideas for green baby gifts, natural baby care and improving the environment, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
When spending the day out, we suggest taking a minimum of 8-10 cloth baby wipes with you, along with both the Clean wipe and Dirty wipe travel bags. Here are tips for using the travel bags:Clean Travel Bag
- The clean travel bag is waterproof and has a drawstring to tote your clean, fresh, damp baby wipes while out traveling with your baby. It comfortably holds 15 wipes and can be wiped clean after use
- The fresh wipes should be given a good squeeze before being placed in the clean bag. That way, they’re moist as opposed to sopping wet and won’t add a lot of liquid to the bag
Dirty Travel Bag- The dirty travel bag is waterproof and designed to carry your soiled baby wipes while 'out & about' or traveling with baby. It comfortably holds 15 cloth baby wipes and is practically a hands-free storage of those dirty baby wipes!
- The dirty bag comes with a Nylon Mesh Bag Insert, so you can easily drop those soiled baby wipes in the wash when you get home
For additional green tips, baby safe products, natural baby care and other environmentally safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Though many people gear up to work on their gardens and yards in the spring, fall is actually an ideal time for yard work. Here are a few ideas for bringing your garden to life this fall:
Compost leaves:
Falling leaves are beautiful to look at but may seem like an inconvenience when planning your garden. Instead of bagging the leaves and leaving them out with the trash, consider collecting and composting them to create nutrient-rich, organic soil that will be ready for use by spring time.
Fertilize organically:
When preparing your soil for next year, add organic, slow-release fertilizers that will help enhance your soil over time. These fertilizers are made of natural materials, contain vital nutrients to help your plants grow, and prevent plants from getting nitrogen.
Plant trees:
By fall, the summer heat waves are gone and rainfall is usually more plentiful. Take advantage of the season by planting new trees, bushes and flowers. They have a greater chance of surviving than they would if they were planted during a hotter season. Choose species native to your area, as well as those that are drought and pest resistant, and can grow in the kind of soil and amount of sunlight available on your property.
For additional green tips, baby safe products, natural baby care and other environmentally safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Abe's Market is the very first distribution partner for the Bottoms Up reusable, washable, cotton baby wipes kit and boy oh boy are we glad they are! Abe’s Market is "the online marketplace for great natural products." They connect buyers seeking amazing natural products (like our eco friendly baby wipes) with the people (like us) who make them, eliminating the need to search the Internet - you can get all your natural product buying done in one place - Abe's Market!Plus, at Abe’s Market you have the unique opportunity to learn the story behind the products – straight from the products’ creators, which goes WAY beyond what you can find on a label! You can even chat directly with the sellers and get answers to your questions and feel good about the products you are bringing into your home.
And beyond that, they're getting us exposed to some super duper, real live mom bloggers who are giving our product a big thumbs up! Thank you Abe's and MrsMogul! How long the essential oil bottles last depends on the number of baby wipes used per day and how frequently the container solutions are changed. Our rule of thumb is that the bottles included in the all-in-one reusable baby wipes kit should last approximately 4 to 6 months.
To get the most out of each bottle:
Use about 4-5 drops of the clean essential oil blend for the Clean Wipes container, along with one inch of water for soaking the 25 baby wipes. Change the solution periodically, and be sure to thoroughly rinse the container with warm soapy water before adding new solution.
- The Dirty Wipes container should contain 2 inches of water along with 4-5 drops of the Dirty Wipes essential oil blend. Most moms have a wash load going every other day and if that's your laundry schedule, change the dirty wipes solution with every new wash, or at least twice a week.
For additional tips on using our cloth baby wipes, green baby products and other environmentally safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Autumn is the perfect time to clean your house from top to bottom before the cold winter season locks you inside. Toss out the conventional cleaners and try whipping up some of your own non-toxic, eco-friendly versions.Start by stocking your green cleaning kit with baking soda, vinegar, lemons and reusable cloth baby wipes. There are so many uses for baby wipes. Use yours in place of one-time-use paper towels.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is an excellent green cleaning product to use throughout your home, especially in the kitchen. It's also food-safe and has no odor. Baking soda is mildly abrasive, yet it can't harm your surfaces, whether they're linoleum or expensive imported Italian marble. When mixed with warm water, baking soda is also great for removing stains from clothing.
Vinegar and Lemons
Vinegar and lemons can often serve the same purpose, but lemon has a much nicer scent. Try boiling vinegar or lemon juice in the microwave to rid away any persistent smells. Vinegar and lemons can also be used as all purpose cleaners for your bathroom, kitchen, walls and floors. You can also slice a lemon open and use it as a natural air refresher.Once you get these basic green cleaning products, roll up those sleeves and get started on your Fall cleaning!
For additional green tips, baby safe products, natural baby care and other environmentally safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
As moms or babysitters or grandmas we've all changed one of "those" diapers and we know what a challenge they can be! Well, we've got good news for you! Because they're a soft cotton terry cloth, Bottoms Up Baby Wipes have more "traction" than those smooth disposable baby wipes, which makes the clean up process more "efficient."
Here’s how easy it is to use our reusable baby wipes for this kind of diaper:
- Use the front of the diaper to do the "heavy lifting" part of the clean up
- Finish the job with our natural, eco friendly baby wipes
- Place the dirty baby wipes into the mesh bag insert in your dirty wipes container
- Next time you do laundry, grab the mesh bag, loosen the drawstring and toss it in the washing machine
- When the wash is finished, pull out the clean wipes and put them into a fresh container of clean essential oil solution and use them all over again!
For additional tips on using our baby wipes and other green tips, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Halloween is an excuse to be someone else for a day. Hiding behind that ever impressive costume allows people to really cut loose and gives great reason for throwing a party. This year, make your Halloween get together a greener shindig by serving your guests only the best!
1. Serve high quality treats. Serve Fair Trade goodies along with organically made chocolates and candies. Skip bite size sweets packaged in plastic bags that produce waste and clog our landfills. Instead, fill bowls with organic and homemade sweets.
2. Skip on the processed junk food. Make cookies with high quality ingredients like local eggs, raw sugar, nuts, and organic chocolate rather than picking up highly processed cookies made of refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Try serving naturally flavored water and organic apple cider in place of sugary beverages.
3. Make it spooky with a greener decor. Skip petroleum based candles and add glow with high quality, eco-friendly soy candles. Use pumpkins, apples, hay stacks, leaves, old bed sheets (for ghosties) and homemade recycled paper for your decor rather than plastic inflated pumpkins or skeleton heads.
4. Make use of all pumpkin parts. After carving a pumpkin, make sure to save the seeds. You can bake them and serve this tasty treat for your party guests to enjoy.
5. A green party can be just as fun as those that aren’t. Makes sure yours is by having a fun pumpkin decorating or costume contest. You and your guests can also tell scary stories, watch scary movies, or play scary music to entertain yourselves. Try a fun healthy game of bobbing for apples that everyone is sure to enjoy!
For additional green tips, baby safe products, natural baby care and other environmentally safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
The essential oils included in the Bottoms Up All-In-One Kit are well known for their calming effects, their skin care benefits and offer the added benefit of a wonderful fragrance. Plus, the oils are safe and easy to use!
Easy to use:
Add an inch or so of water to your clean wipes container along with a few drops of the clean wipes lavender and chamomile essential oil blend. Add your clean wipes and they’re ready to use!
- In the dirty wipes container, add a couple inches of water and a few drops of the dirty wipes tea tree and lemon essential oil blend. Soiled baby wipes can soak until wash day!
Safe to use:
- The clean oil blend contains lavender and chamomile which are both renowned for their calming effect and skin care benefits. Their anti-bacterial qualities and fragrance makes them perfect for soaking the fresh wipes.
- The dirty oil blend contains tea tree and lemon oils which are safe to use when diluted in water with your reusable baby wipes. We do not recommend applying either essential oil blend directly onto the skin; however, they are perfectly safe when used as directed.
For additional green tips on natural baby care and baby safe products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
In less than two weeks, children and child-like adults will dress up in costumes and wander the streets trick-or-treating for candy. This Halloween, encourage your family and friends to “go green” when celebrating this year. Here are simple tips that anyone can follow!
DECORATIONS
Think green before you break out the orange and black decorations. Natural items like pumpkins, gourds and corn husks are inexpensive, festive and can be tossed in the compost pile after the holiday to minimize waste. Reusable decorations that can be used from year to year also help save money and reduce waste over the long run.
COSTUMES
Start scouring your home or your local thrift store to find great costume ideas and supplies. Think about what you can put together from the items you already have around the house (wrap recycled cardboard in aluminum foil to make wands, swords or tiaras; or make a cape for your princess or wizard out of an old pillowcase) instead of buying new.
TREATS
Stock your treat bowl with organic, natural treats instead of the standard commercial fare to reduce kids' exposure to chemicals and preservatives. There are many eco-friendly candies to choose from—from organic chocolate to organic lollipops—that are available online and from local organic grocery stores. These organic candies will satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your health, and they are produced using methods that don’t damage the environment.
COLLECTING TREATS
Instead of using a plastic bucket or pail, give your kids a reusable grocery bag or pillowcase for collecting candy. When your kids are done collecting treats, store it away for use next year. If you let your kids sample candy while trick-or-treating, keep reusable baby wipes handy to clean their hands.
WALK OR CARPOOL
Rather than drive to other neighborhoods to take your kids trick-or-treating, stick close to home this Halloween and walk from house to house to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution. If you are attending a Halloween party, use public transportation or ride your bicycle. If traveling by car is really the only way to enjoy Halloween with your family or friends, try carpooling.
For additional green tips, ideas for green baby gifts, natural baby care and improving the environment, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
New babies – and adventurous toddlers - create lots of laundry! The Bottoms Up kit does not require any extra washing and actually, requires no drying at all!
Follow these simple tips for cleaning the wipes and containers and make your life easier by using our eco friendly all-in-one baby wipes kit!Once you have used the cloth baby wipes, loosen the drawstring and add the mesh bag of dirty washable baby wipes straight into the washing machine with your next load of wash. Your reusable baby wipes will come out fresh and clean.
Keeping the Baby Wipes containers fresh – both the clean and dirty containers – is easy: rinse them thoroughly every time the essential oil solution is changed. Periodically, the containers should be washed with warm soapy water to assure complete cleanliness.
That's really all it takes to keep the cotton baby wipes and containers clean, so start using yours today!
For additional tips on using our green baby wipes and other environmental safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Preserve our natural resources by following these tips which save water, electricity and paper.
Open windows: If the temperature is warm outside, regulate your inside temperature by opening up windows. Fresh air will also rejuvenate you and your entire household.
Water your garden with your leftovers: If you have leftover water from cooking, use it to water your plants outside instead of throwing it down the drain.
Check for leaks: Check your windows for insulation leaks and your faucets for water leaks which can waste electricity and water.
Use biodegradable cups and utensils: For parties and snack time, keep a stash of biodegradable plates and utensils handy. For smaller children, consider using chemical free baby products such as non toxic baby bottles to store beverages in.
Reusable napkins: Consider setting out reusable napkins that you can wash whenever you have a snack or meal. This will drastically cut down the costs of having to constantly buy one-time use paper napkins.
Reusable baby wipes: If you have small children, consider using eco friendly baby wipes, cotton baby wipes or cloth baby wipes over disposable. Doing so will benefit your wallet, your baby and the environment by reducing excess waste in our landfills.
Use the right light bulbs: Use "green" light bulbs such as compact fluorescent and Energy Star bulbs.
Use both sides of the paper: Encourage your children to use both sides of the paper when doing their homework assignments.
For additional green tips, baby safe products, natural baby care and other environmentally safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
The innovative, unique Bottoms Up Baby Wipes All-In-One Kit has many benefits for your baby, the environment, and your wallet! We’ve listed a few below:
1. Bottoms Up Baby Wipes are better for our planet
Bottoms Up Baby Wipes are the eco-friendly, green way to clean your baby's bottom. Our cloth baby wipes are 100% cotton and chemical-free, and because they are re-usable there is no excess garbage being sent to landfills.
2. Bottoms Up Baby Wipes are better for your baby
Bottoms Up Baby Wipes offers chemical free baby products that are free of the chemicals commonly found in disposable baby wipes (like Benzoic acid, butylene glycol, parabens, phenoxyethanol, tartaric acid, propylene glycol). Our eco friendly baby wipes only use
natural essential oils (Lavender & Chamomile blend and Tea Tree & Tea Tree Lemon) and water.
3. Bottoms Up Baby Wipes will save you money
Compared to buying disposable baby wipes, the Bottoms Up Baby Wipes All-In-One Kit can save you over $400 in the first two years of your baby's life.
4. Bottoms Up Baby Wipes are convenient
The Bottoms Up Baby Wipes All-In-One Kit was designed by a mom for moms to make a "system" that fits seamlessly into your already busy schedule. Just add the 100% cotton wipes to your laundry and take buying baby wipes off your grocery list!
For additional tips on using our safe baby wipes and other environmental safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Going green at school isn’t just about student involvement. This October for Children's Health month, teachers can learn how to make eco-conscious choices in the teacher’s lounge and when designing lesson plans by following these simple tips.
Share your mini-fridge: Consider sharing a mini-fridge with the teachers down the hall instead of having your own private refrigerator that soaks up extra electricity. Use food storage labels on your items to avoid waste and for added food storage safety
Keep your grades online: Online grade books save paper and invite parents to take a more active role in evaluating student performance
Drink Fair Trade Coffee: Introduce Fair Trade Coffee to the teachers’ lounge for an eco-conscious, humanitarian pick-me-up
Bring a mug or glass to school: Instead of pouring coffee or water into a styrofoam cup, bring your own mug or glass to school which can be washed and reused over and over again
Use recycled paper: All teachers go through a ton of notebooks and papers each year, so using recycled paper and then recycling all your files after the year is over will positively impact the environment
Insulate doors: At the end of the day, slide draft guards under your door to insulate the room and keep energy consumption down
For additional green tips, ideas for green baby gifts, natural baby care and improving the environment, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
