Fun Freetime: Let's Go Chipper

Earth Day is a world-wide support day for environmental protection. It began in 1969 when John McConnell, a peace activist, proposed a day to celebrate the environment and Earth's beauty. It's a great time to think about environmentally-friendly activities and ways to learn.
The Let's Go Chipper app is an all-inclusive, eco-educational series for children two to eight. eBooks, movies, coloring activities, and more playfully engage children while teaching about nature and the environment.Chipper prepares kids for camping, hiking, and outdoor fun just in time for summer. Visit Let's Go Chipper in iTunes to download the app or www.letsgochipper.com to learn more.

Green Activities: Taking a Trip to the Dump

Earth Day is the perfect time to teach our kids about living a responsible, eco-friendly life.  Want to make this year's Earth Day celebration memorable to your kids?  Plan a trip to your local dump or landfill.  Before you dismiss this as a crazy idea, think about it.  Do your kids know what really happens to trash after it goes in the bin, is taken to the curb and hauled away?

What better way to explain the impact of our actions than by showing the end result?  Most communities have some version of a landfill, and it often includes a homeowner area for recycling and disposal.  Once your kids see the mountain of trash that most landfills have, they'll have a strong mental image of why it's important to recycle and re-purpose whenever possible.

"Teachers use this technique every day - we demonstrate a concept using visual aids.  Parents do the same thing when teaching their children to walk and talk.  Children learn a great deal by watching and observing," said Claire Haas, Vice President of  Education, Kiddie Academy.

Claire offers the following tips for an educational trip to the dump:

1. Collect recyclables around your home before you take the trip.  Allow your children to place them in the proper containers at the recycling center. 

2.  Play a gross game of I-Spy.  Pick out and identify some of the items you see in the trash containers or in the garbage piles.  Talk about how they could have been recycled or re-used.

3.  Point out the trucks and other equipment used around the landfill.  Even the youngest kids will enjoy watching them.  Talk about the jobs done by the workers and the trucks.

4. Review how the items at the dump are sorted.  For examples, metals are usually kept in a special bin, as they are easily recycled.  What other items are separated?  Talk about why that may be.

5. Read books related to recycling before and after your trip.  A few to consider: Why Should I Recycle? by Jen Green and The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle by Alison Inches.

For more eco-friendly family tips and ideas, check out the Kiddie Academy Family Essentials blog at www.kafamilyessentials.com.

Family Event at Whole Foods Mishawaka Indiana

Whole Foods Market Mishawaka invites the Michiana community to join them for a family style Chicken Pickin’ on Saturday, March 23. The much-anticipated store is excited to mingle with its new community before the grand opening on April 10th. Whole Foods Market, Inc. will be holding the event in the new store parking lot, located at 4230 Grape Rd. Mishawaka, IN 46545. Chicken will be provided by the store’s exclusive vendor, Pine Manor Farms, located in Northern Indiana. A three dollar meal will include chicken, two sides and a drink (vegetarian option will also be available), with all proceeds going towards the Michiana Family YMCA. Attendees can expect live music by local musicians the Goldmine Pickers, games and prizes (including a $100 gift card!). For more details concerning the event, please “like” Whole FoodsMarket Mishawaka on Facebook. 
 

When:            Saturday, March 23 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

                          Rain date: Sunday, March 24, updated on the Facebook page

Cost:               $3, all proceeds will benefit the Michiana Family YMCA

Where:           4230 Grape Road

                          Mishawaka, Indiana

 

 

About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM) is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company's motto “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s nearly 60,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 14 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2010, the company had sales of more than $9 billion and currently has mo

Holiday Humor: Regifting Tragedies

 CouponCabin.com recently conducted its annual awkward gift giving survey. A few main takeaways:

- 39% of U.S. adults have re-gifted an item, in-line with 41% who said the same in 2011.
- It’s fairly easy to get away with re-gifting, or perhaps re-gifters are rarely confronted; less than one-in-ten (8 percent) of those who have ever re-gifted said they have been caught doing so.
- Expired BBQ sauce, a jar of hemorrhoid pads and a used fanny pack top the list of most awkward gifts this year.

Sometimes it can be hard to tell whether or not an item you receive is, in fact, a re-gifted one. Nearly one-third (32 percent) have, to the best of their knowledge, received a re-gifted item. This is down slightly from the 35 percent who said the same in last year’s survey.

“Re-gifting can be a savvy way to save money on holiday gifts as long as it’s done with care,” said Jackie Warrick, President and Chief Savings Officer at CouponCabin.com. “Make sure the gift is appropriate for the person you’re giving it to and all signs of its previous gift status, like cards and wrapping paper, are removed. With a little bit of foresight, re-gifting can help offset the ever-growing holiday gift list.”

No matter who people are buying gifts for this holiday season, re-gifting and awkward gift moments are likely to happen. When asked what was the most awkward gift they have ever given or received, a random sampling of U.S. adults said the following:

*Bag of dog food. I have a cat.
*Belt buckle. Not a belt, just a buckle.
*A boyfriend of one month bought me an engagement ring that I turned down.
*Three expired bottles of barbecue sauce.
*A giant box of condoms from my mother, who said she didn’t want grandchildren any time soon.
*Handcrafted green leather purse shaped like a teapot.
*Jar of hemorrhoid pads.
*Single, plain white dishcloth.
*Gift card with zero balance on it.
*Picture frames with other people’s kids in them.
*Glow-in-the-dark handcuffs.
*A pair of hockey goalie gloves, but I don’t play hockey.
*A once-live jellyfish in a glass container with hardened liquid.
*A used fanny pack with a boot print on it.
*My good friend gave me a framed picture of her and her husband.

Survey Methodology:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Coupon Cabin from November 27th - 29th, 2012, among 2,249 adults ages 18 and older, the 2011 survey was conducted online from November 3-7, 2011 among 2,574 US adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About CouponCabin.com
CouponCabin.com offers the broadest selection of high-quality, guaranteed-to-work coupons on the web. With online coupon codes, printable in-store coupons, grocery coupons, local deals, free samples and more, CouponCabin.com is the ultimate one-stop-shop for coupons of every variety. Consumers can also be the first to know about the best coupon deals available with CouponCabin's Newsflash, a constantly updated and innovative new feature with dozens of breaking offers each and every day. Shoppers have saved nearly $350 million since CouponCabin's foundation in 2003, and the average user saves $19 in just 80 seconds. With Newsflash, customized email newsletters, mobile apps for iPhone, Android and iPad, downloadable browser savings alerts and exclusive coupons, shoppers will never miss out on a great deal with CouponCabin.com

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World Wisdom: Green Halloween

Green America’s new Green Halloween® program has partnered with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and product partners to host over 70 events at zoos and aquariums nationwide. Green America is also sharing tips on providing healthy and sustainable treats for trick-or-treaters and nearly 200 free costume swap events have also been planned across the country until Halloween.

For additional information about check out Green Halloween’s “Boo at the Zoo” events. You can also find information about Halloween costume swaps in your state and additional tips on how to set up your own swap.

Green Halloween’s product partners include: Honest Tea, Larabar, Stretch Island Fruit Co., Endangered Species Chocolate, UNREAL™, Plum Kids™, Applegate, Cascadian Farm, Surf Sweets, Bitsy Brainfood, Brainard's Natural Remedies, Glee Gum, Kiwi Magazine, and CelebrateGreen.net.

Some major “Green Halloween®” events include:

* Washington, DC, Smithsonian National Zoological Park “Boo at the Zoo”
* New York, NY, Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society “Boo at the Zoo”
* Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens “Boo at the LA Zoo”
* Chicago, IL, Chicago Zoological Society - Brookfield Zoo “Boo! at the Zoo”
* Detroit, MI, Detroit Zoological Society “Zoo Boo”
* Denver, CO, Denver Zoo “Boo at the Zoo”

If you can’t find a Green Halloween-sponsored event in your area, you can organize your own swap or learn about greener treats and “Treasures” online. These DIY suggestions will save resources as you recycle items you already have on hand into fun Halloween treats for your little ones.

Elizabeth O’Connell, campaigns director, Green America, said: “There are many ways that families can do their part to reduce excess and unhealthy consumption around Halloween. Green Halloween provides easy and family-friendly ways to help families celebrate green, as well as opportunities to participate in fun, eek-o friendly events, at zoos and in the community.” 

Green Halloween aims to reach out to children, parents, and educators to demonstrate how to celebrate Halloween in a more environmentally-friendly, socially-responsible, and healthy way

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems

Green Games: Bin It!

One of the challenges of recycling is the question: Am I really making a difference? The answer is yes, but often consumers don’t experience the tangible results of their recycling efforts.

Plastics Make it Possible®, a campaign dedicated to helping educate consumers about how plastics can be reused and recycled, has set out to show consumers how their efforts are making a difference. 

Plastics Make it Possible recently teamed up with Recyclebank® to launch BIN IT! 2.0 - a fun (and addictive) game that challenges consumers to recycle common household plastics. Players toss virtual plastics into a recycling bin while dodging obstacles such as animals and tricky breezes.  

Players can accumulate up to 65 Recyclebank points with every plastic item made into the bin, which are redeemable for savings on products in more than 10 categories, including food and beverage, health, beauty, and home.

The products you readers recycle are being used to make a wide variety of useful products, from T-shirts to garden planters to furniture. 

Fun Freetime: Great American Campout

If you're trying to encourage your kids to become more eco-friendly citizens, consider participating in the Great American Backyard Campout,  is part of National Wildlife Federation’s “Be Out There” movement, which is designed to provide tools that inspire parents and children to spend time in the outdoors. This event, sponsored by Coleman, encourages families to enjoy being outside, and takes place June 23rd.

“Coleman stands for more than outdoor products – we are about the genuine connections and the memories made while families and friends enjoy themselves in the outdoors,” said David Allen, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Coleman. “Getting together in the outdoors is a great way for families to bond and it remains a positive, healthy and financially accessible escape from our busy day-to-day lifestyles.”

I know my family loves camping. Even if you don't have a lot of equipment, pitching an inexpensive pup tent outside - or just roasting s'mores around a campfire - is a great alternative to staying inside and watching TV.

To learn more about Coleman and Great American Backyard Campout, visit ColemanBackyardCampout.com or facebook.com/colemanusa.

Green Activities: Chimpanzee Movie

It's not every day that you can do something good for the planet while going to the movies, but Disney's Chimpanzee (released April 20th by Disneynature) lets you do just that. For everyone who attends during opening week, Disneynature will donate to the Jane Goodall Institute.

I really enjoyed the film. Tim Allen's narration provides just enough humor to be engaging, without detracting from the story. The way the story is told is amazing - and so is the story itself, a story that really brings attention to how complex nature can be. The sensitive scenes are tastefully done - such as the fights between groups of chimpanzees - so that kids aren't shocked or scared. My daughters (2 and 4) did get a little bit uneasy in a few scenes, but overall had no problem with the film. The movie was a little bit long for the two-year-old, but the four-year-old was just fine through the whole thing. Afterwards, she was able to articulate most of the story to her father, which is good - it shows that this film has a very wide range of ages for which it's appropriate.

Another big benefit is the wealth of information available on the Chimpanzee website. You can find age-appropriate educational (and fun) activities for Chimpanzee and the other films released by Disneynature.

If you're looking for a film that is both engaging and educational, I recommend Chimpanzee.

Disclosure: I received screening tickets to facilitate this review.

Fun Freetime: Green Valentine's Day

I had the opportunity to interview Avital Binshtock, Lifestyle Editor, Sierra magazine about eco-friendly Valentine's tips.

1) How can people drop the hint to their significant others that they'd like to go green this year for Valentine's Day? If your sweetheart usually buys you jewelry for the occasion, stop into an antiques store together to admire the vintage jewelry. Casually mention that you heard that manufacturing one new gold ring produces 20 tons of mining waste (a true fact) and that you'd love something, say, Art Deco from the 1930s. Another thing you can do is to suggest alternate transportation ideas for Valentine's Day, like taking a bus to get to your date, renting a bicycle built for two, or planning that old romantic standby, a long walk.

2) What if one's partner is resistant to trying more eco-friendly options? Act as a role model. If you're the one making a restaurant reservation, for example, choose a place you know has amazing food but still has plenty of organic, vegetarian menu options with locally grown ingredients. Your significant other will see that living green doesn't need to mean giving up pleasure.

3) What can couples on a budget do to be as green as possible? One idea is to make your own cards from stuff that would've otherwise been thrown away. You can also grow your own flowers and make a bouquet out of those to give (this one takes some planning, so you can start thinking about this now for next year). If your sweetheart loves being outdoors, plan a great hike and bring along a picnic accented by a lovely and affordable organic wine like Fetzer. Or just stay in!

4) What is your personal favorite tip that Sierra features? Great question. There are so many good ones. But I'd have to go with "Less is more." Basically, try to live more minimally and your life will be enhanced. That can apply to everything, but in the context of Valentine's Day, for example, that can mean choosing a simply wrapped chocolate bar over those frilly heart-shaped boxes filled with plastic and paper. For more tips, go to sierramagazine.com.

Disclosure: I will receive a complimentary copy of Sierra Magazine as a thank you for this post.

Fun Freetime: Trash Tycoon

Have you heard of Trash Tycoon, a fun new Facebook game? if you want to see a game centered around reusing and recycling, check it out. You can read my review here.