Bottle Cap Magnets

For decades years I have been saving bottle caps. I don’t know why. When I was a little girl I would make “pies” for my dollhouse with salt dough and a bottle cap as the pie tin. Hmmm. I like this idea from Better Homes and Gardens.

Green Mama: Book Review & Giveaway

Green Mama: The Guilt Free Guide to Helping You and Your Kids Save the Planet

by Tracey Bianchi

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and I thought it would be fun to play around with the whole “green” theme with this book review and giveaway. A couple of weeks ago, Zondervan sent me a nice big box of Green Mama to review. I couldn’t resist having a big giveaway at the same time!

Green Mama is a book that will help you figure out ways to be more “green”. In other words, be kind to God’s creation.

The author, Tracey Bianchi, begins with a tale of how she went from being a thoughtless consumer to being a environmentally friendly mom living in the suburbs. I was slightly shocked by the mention of marijuana in the Introduction, but I realize that was the story of then – not now.

I am not a “tree hugging liberal.” Did I say that? I am what a lot of people would call “crunchy”. I took the quiz on Facebook and yes, it confirmed that I was indeed a “Crunchy Granola Mama”. Whatever that means.

• I am a vegetarian
• I cook nearly everything from scratch
• I gave birth at home
• I homeschool my kids
• I prefer herbal remedies to traditional medicine
• I have come to loath frivolous purchases
• I used cloth diapers
• I love camping in a tent and cooking over a campfire so much that I think I could just live in one forever
• I have a small organic garden
• I compost nearly everything I can

On the other hand, I really am just a regular mom. I live in a regular house in a neighborhood in a small town. I have regular kids. I live a pretty ordinary life. The reason I was interested in reviewing a book on how to be green was that even though I do not believe in global warming and I don’t think we need to control whether people drive SUV’s, I do believe that God has entrusted to us His creation to care for until He returns. So what does the author of Green Mama have to share with us? Bianchi encourages moms to do something. She says:

This book does not demand impossible changes for your life. You do not have to compost every banana peel, ditch your microwave, or convert to organic gardening to make a difference (although these definitely do help) You do not need dreadlocks or a hemp handbag. Instead, let’s look at the simple solutions that make the biggest differences. Like this one: Americans toss 60 million of those plastic water and beverage bottles into our landfills everyday. There is a cheap, family-friendly, and even money-saving solutions for this plastic problem: Drink froma reusable bottle. You can do this.

While you may not agree with everything in this book or feel that every idea is perfect for your family, you are certain to find many ideas about how you can be a better steward of this earth we share. Near the end of the book, Bianchi asks this question: “Am I part of the plan?”

This is a painful question, mostly because I think the answer is yes. The escape plan looks something like this. I start seriously considering what is truly important in my life. I limit what I own and need and want. I make educated decisions on what I buy and who I buy it from. I take the time to invest in renewable energy sources, limit my water use, turn off a few lights, and get some canvas bags. I teach my children that wrapping paper is not from the North Pole, and I take them outside on Christmas Eve to find a star. I teach them that Jesus loves them not for what they have but for who they are. I pray as often as I can about the harsh realities of this world… Becoming a Green Mama means we live in a way that honors God and other moms… So Green Mamas, be empowered. God is behind you and in front of you, and what is left of his glorious creation is all around you. Hug your kids, hug your friends, hug a tree; and you will help another mom across the world do the same. This is to live wisely and well. Green Steps:

1. Plant a tree.
2. Find responsible recyclers
3. Pray.

Bianchi discusses everything from how to understand the “eco” language (What does natural mean anyway?) to celebrating the real meaning of Christmas. She will help you with the “I Want More” syndrome that seems to affect Americans everywhere. She will give you practical tips on how you and your family can be kinder to this earth. She will make you think.

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If you would like a chance to win a copy of Green Mama by Tracey Bianchi, all you need to do is comment below! I have 10 of these books to give away! You must comment on the original post not on Facebook to be eligible to win!

Want Extra Chances to Win?

1. Comment below.
2. Join our Facebook group.
3. Follow us on Twitter.
4. Mention this on your blog.

Mention what you did in the comments below and you’ll get an extra chance for each one! Winner will be announced on March 31, 2010! Good luck!

Reusable Sandwich Box

I just found this really neat way to reuse a milk jug and get a reusable sandwich container all at the same time!