This is Day 314 of the Green in 365 series! By Renee from Joyful Mom, Contributing Writer Here I am: 6 weeks away from Christmas, and I don't quite have a plan! How does this happen every year? Last year I downloaded a "six weeks to the perfect Christmas planner" and did not use it. I looked at it - each and every day. For me, all that planning and boxes to check off, that system to enjoy the holidays... did not create joy. So here I am. No plan. The best part of not having a … [Read more...]
Organizing Soccer Clothes {Green in 365: Laundry}
This is Day 284 of the Green in 365 series! By Renee from Joyful Mom, Contributing Writer Life and laundry was so simple when it was just my husband and I. A weekly load of whites, a load of darks and sheets/towels. I could have the chore of laundry completed in just a few hours. How I long for those days now! With the birth of my first son, laundry was a increased by the cloth diapers. He was born in August so he really didn't wear more than a diaper and those gowns to sleep in--he … [Read more...]
Upcycled Office {Green in 365}
This is Day 256 of the Green in 365 series! By Renee from Joyful Mom, Contributing Writer I'll be honest - I love flipping through the pages of a Pottery Barn catalogue. I like looking at all the different rooms on the pages and imagining what I might do in those "perfect" spaces. Then one day it dawned on me that it wasn't about the perfect spaces... it was everything in those pictures had a "home". My desire wasn't to have a perfect looking home - my vision is for … [Read more...]
Planning for Canning {Green in 365}
This is Day 222 of the Green in 365 series! By Renee from Joyful Mom: Last summer I had some grand ideas about canning! After all, I had a long history of canning within my Polish community growing up - I was the youngest girl and my hands were the perfect size for cleaning all of the small mouth jars! I loved my role as chief bottle washer and the accolades that I received from all the women. So as an adult I thought that it would be a natural progression in my "being … [Read more...]
Simple + Birthday = Green {Green in 365: Celebrations}
This is Day 183 of the Green in 365 series! By Renee from Joyful Mom As a kid I loved my birthday! A cake and ice cream! A simple celebration of my birth. I am continuing that simple celebration with my kids as well. For their birthday they get to: pick out the cake, pick out dinner, and pick out a fun family activity to do. My husband has also starting taking the kids out to breakfast on the weekend nearest their birthday - he came up with that sweet idea and the … [Read more...]
Packing Food for Road Trips & 6 Bonus Travel Tips {Green in 365: Summer}
This is Day 155 of the Green in 365 series! By Renee from Joyful Mom Our family travels! We don't go to exotic places but we are always on the move exploring/learning/growing as a group! Sometimes we are gone for a few weeks at a time and sometimes it is just a day trip . . . but I always pack my own food for traveling. This is why: 1. Less Waste Our family typically buys in bulk, it makes sense for us to package our own snacks in the correct amount for each child. My 11 … [Read more...]
How to Choose a CSA {Green in 365}
This is Day 120 of the Green in 365 series! By Renee from Joyful Mom I miss my mint. I miss my tomatoes, my chives, my apple trees, pear trees and . . . well you get the idea. In my old house I didn't have a huge garden but over time I figured out what grew well and what my family ate. I was blessed to have an awesome Farmers Market that was open on Wednesday and Saturday, to supply me with incredible local food. When we moved I left with mint in one hand and a lilac bush … [Read more...]
How to Make a Living Centerpiece {Green in 365: Spring}
This is Day 92 of the Green in 365 series! By Renee from Joyful Mom: When my son was just an infant a Mom friend came over to visit. She looked with wide eyes at my very small table with a center piece of freshly picked flowers in a thrift store vase, resting on a hand embroidered doily--"you will NEVER be able to have a table like that when your kid gets older!" That moment stayed with me. It worried me. Would I really need to give up a simple yet beautiful table when … [Read more...]
Upcycle the 1930’s – Cafe Curtains {Green in 365: Spring}
This is Day 64 of the Green in 365 series! Note from Emily: As your decluttering around your home, keep your eye out for things you can repurpose around your home and give new life to in a meaningful way the way Renee did. I love her curtains! By Renee from Joyful Mom I like to keep pretty things--quilts too many for the number of beds in our house, linen table runners, doilies, and the old fashion card table coverings... did I mention the tea-cup collection? I have … [Read more...]
Green in 365: Green and Frugal Valentine’s Day Gifts
This is Day 37 of the Green in 365 series! Written by Renee Baude, Contributing Writer. Welcome, Renee! Why is it so hard to be green and frugal on holidays? I go to Target and see all these cute things - they say love, joy, happy - BUY ME! The candy section is brimming with all my favorites, in pink and red, but wait, I still have candy from Halloween! I need a epi-pen from buying cute! I also need a plan for how to share my love for my family and friends! Here are a few … [Read more...]
