I’ve jumped in head first. Have you? Pinterest is my new hobby aka time suck. I’m spending A LOT of time finding really cool things and in the process discovering great sites that I might not otherwise come across. I have so many ideas for boards that my head is spinning. Today I created a board for Eco Valentines Crafts with Kids.  Let me know if you have any good craft projects to add to the board (or any of the boards).

One of my favorite pins is 10 ways to cook quinoa. It has more protein per ounce than meat!

Don’t know what Pinterest is?

Don’t let that stop you. Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Let me know if you’d like an invite-you need one to join.

If you are a Pinterest newbie HERE are a few tips to get you started. If you are a Pinterest veteran HERE‘s a post that will make you laugh.

I’m really having fun following so many of you. I’m amazed at the number of creative ideas out there. So let’s connect on Pinterest. Come and find me and I’ll follow you back.

Are you on Pinterest? What do you think so far?

There are so many exciting things happening in the green blogosphere. The news ranges from the new USDA nutrition standards for school lunches to a study showing drinking red wine in moderation could reduce your risk of breast cancer.

I’ve been jet setting around the web over the past few weeks and wanted to share a few of the places I’ve landed.

Climate Change

Climate change is a growing concern throughout the world.  In an effort to take action and inspire others to join in, the mighty women of the Green Moms Carnival collectively joined voices to speak out and share what we’re doing to fight climate change.  My post, Four Resolutions to Fight Climate Change, is included among the many other suggestions for fighting climate change.

Wintery Weather

Snow and ice has made an appearance in many parts of the world.  Many conventional snow and ice removal products contain toxic chemicals. These nasty chemicals could end up tracked into our homes on the bottom of shoes and boots. They could also end up in our yards, on our sidewalks and in our waterways once the snow and ice begin to melt.

Thankfully, there are a few ways to keep your driveways and sidewalks clear of snow and ice without using toxic chemicals.  Click HERE to read more.

Ready to Abandon Those Resolutions?

If you need that little extra push to help your resolutions stick, hop on over to the J.R. Watkins Clear Conscience Blog for a few tips to keep you motivated and on track for 2012 and beyond.

Reuse and Repurpose

The saying goes: “One person’s trash may be another person’s treasure.” We live in a use-and-toss society where most of the time we don’t give a second thought to using an item once and then tossing it. If we stopped before tossing we might realize that some of those items that seem ripe for the trash can be repurposed into something completely different for our own use. That trash could become our own treasure.

There are so many creative ways to reuse and repurpose everyday items we find in our homes. Head on over to Healthy Child Healthy World for this week’s round-up of posts on repurposing and reusing. I’m honored that my post, 3 Creative Ideas for Reusing and Repurposing, was selected as the Blog of the Week.

Have yourselves a very groovy green weekend! Any big plans?

[Photo used under Creative Commons from Luis Argerich/Flickr]

The saying goes: “One person’s trash may be another person’s treasure.”  We live in a use-and-toss society where most of the time we don’t give a second thought to using an item once and then tossing it. If we stopped before tossing we might realize that some of those items that seem ripe for the trash  can be repurposed into something completely different for our own use. That trash could become our own treasure.

Why repurpose or reuse?

Repurposing something is different than recycling. Recycling is the process  by which old goods are re-manufactured, allowing them to be turned into new products. Reusing or repurposing is taking a product that’s already in existence and lengthening its life by using it for something new.

Reusing can help keep our earth healthy and green.

• Reusing something keeps it out of an overflowing landfill.
• Reusing conserves natural resources.
• When you reuse a product you consume less. This will ultimately save you money over time.
• Reusing a product reduces your health risks. In most cases, an item already in circulation has  off-gassed its harmful VOCs (that “new” smell).

Many of us are already in the habit of using reusable bags when we head out to the market. This is a fantastic step in the reusable direction. There are many other ways to reuse a product. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Toilet paper rolls for planting seedlings

No need to buy peat pots when you can make your own biodegradable pots out of something you already have in your home — toilet paper rolls. Cut the rolls in half and fold in the bottom of the roll as shown above. Add soil and seeds and you have your very own peat pot.

Wooden clementine box for stuffed animal or doll bed

We go through a lot of clementines in our house and they usually come in a wooden crate to prevent the fruit from being crushed. If you have a few of these crates lying around they can be repurposed into an adorable little stuffed animal or doll bed.

Empty glass jars repurposed for storage

Empty glass jars can be repurposed into storage containers for nails, screws, bolts and other hardware. Different sized jars can also work well for food and spice storage.

What have you repurposed?

[Photo used under Creative Commons from Girl in Gear Studio, How Can I Recycle This/Flickr]

Unseasonably warm weather in the northeast makes it hard to fathom that the holidays are fast approaching. Many of us look forward to the time off from school and time together as a family-that is until those dreaded words are spoken: “Mom, I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”

It’s like nails on a chalk board and the scenario is the same time and time again. After the words are uttered I spend the next  few minutes suggesting all the incredible options available: “you could build something with one of the 12 marble sets in the basement, or how about working on one of our 300 puzzles?”-but of course none of the suggestions are worthy of their time.

My three boys (ages 8, 9 and 11) thankfully enjoy cooking and doing crafty projects,  so this vacation we will be well armed with plenty to do.

Here are two holiday crafts to keep us all sane and entertained:

Ojo de Dios or God’s Eye

This craft comes from western Mexico and is symbolic of the power of seeing and understanding that which is unknown and unknowable.  I have been making this simple decoration since I was a kid. Once my kids get started we usually end up with many.

What you will need:

• 2 small sticks, fairly straight and approximately 5″ long OR 2 popsicle sticks
• Scissors
• Yarn made from recycled materials (multicolored yarn works best)

Instructions:

1. Cut off a long piece of yarn.
2. Cross the sticks at the center. Tie them together with the end of a piece of yarn, making an X, but don’t cut the yarn off .
3. Take the yarn and wrap it over and around one stick, then over and around the next, over and around the next, and so on. Keep doing that until the color is used up.
4. Tie a different color yarn onto the old one with a tight knot.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 until you almost reach the end of the stick.
6. Tie the end of the yarn in a knot around one of the sticks. Make a loop if you plan to hang the decoration.

Hang them on your tree or all over your home.

Reusable Gift Bag Craft

We are always looking for alternatives to conventional wrapping paper. Reusable bags make fabulous gift bags that will hopefully be reused again and again. For this craft we take plain beige reusable bags and make them much more festive. It’s a great way to add a personal touch to a holiday gift.

What you will need:

• Plain canvas reusable bags. I bought mine at a local craft store in a beige color.
• Fabric markers

Instructions:

Now that my kids are a little older I have them sketch their design on a piece of white paper. Once they have done that they are ready to go.

Looking for more to do? Healthy Child Healthy World has some great eco-craft options to give as gifts.

Do you have any crafty holiday ideas to share?

[Photos used under Creative Commons by Rikkis Refuge, Carissa Rogers/Flickr]