Easter is just around the corner and that means Easter-crafting with the family is a definite must! This three-part DIY Easter craft series will show you how to create great crafts using leftover and recycled materials around the house.

Part III: Easter egg paper mache basket 

The three R’s – reduce, reuse recycle- are central to this themed craft that saves big on money in Easter shopping and waste in commercial packaging.  This version is biodegradable if you stick to simple newspaper and you don’t end up with a million cheap plastic Easter baskets in your home!

What you need:

1 cup of flour

1 ½ cups of water

A bowl

A balloon

An old newspaper/crepe paper/old wrapping paper/leftover party streamers etc…

What to do:

1)     Mix together the flour and water into a paste and set aside.

2)     Blow up your balloon to a desirable basket size.

2)     Rip or cut strips of paper (recyclable material of choice).

3)     Prepare for a big mess! Dip your strips and paper pieces into the flour paste mixture, gently whip the excess and start creating the shape of your basket.   Put on several layers to ensure sturdiness of your baskets.

4)     When you are finished and it is completely dried you can pop the balloons, clear out the pieces and fill with your Easter goodies!

The best part of this craft is that you can really let you and your child’s personality shine while getting more use out of the so-called “garbage” around your home!  After all…

One mom’s junk is another mom’s art craft right?

>>>Do you have any Easter craft tips? Share below. 

To make one cotton t-shirt:

1/2 lb of chemicals are used

Cotton plantations account for more than 10 per cent of pesticides and 25 per cent of insecticides in the world

These chemicals are among the most harmful on the planet and many are carcinogenic

Bamboo grows like a weed!

-Bamboo is a type of grass and is the fastest growing plant on earth

-It grows up to one meter a day and reaches full maturity in three to four years

-Bamboo requires no fertilizer, pesticides or irrigation and does not need to be replanted

(A property known as bamboo kun,  naturally keeps germs, fungus and odours away and eliminates the need for pesticides during cultivation)

- Bamboo species can be found in both cold and hot tropical climates. Europe and Antarctica are the only continents without native bamboo.

Bamboo heals the environment:

- improves soil quality by consuming high levels of nitrogen from the dirt

- improves air quality with high absorbency of carbon dioxide and its capacity to produce 35 per cent more oxygen than other types of forest

Fun Facts:

-Young bamboo shoots are edible and good for introducing babies to bitter tastes since they are semi-sweet and contain many nutrients

-Bamboo is used in both Chinese and Indian medicines for healing infections and calming respiratory diseases.

-Bamboo holds several cultural significances in East and South East Asia, being mentioned in ancient legends and still used today for gardening, building shelters and eating

Related ethicalDeal:

Protect your baby and the environment with 48%-off organic, ultra-absorbant Shoo-Foo bamboo cloth baby diapers $26 for 2 -OR- $48 for 4 (March 21-27)

About the author:

This information is adapted from Shoo-Foo, an eco-friendly bamboo product company that strives to reduce our harmful ecological footprint. Their brand is committed to providing quality products for modern consumers who care for the environment and live a healthy lifestyle. Shoo-Foo stands for soft & comfortable: for the consumer –  for the planet.

Easter is just around the corner and that means Easter-crafting with the family is a definite must! This three-part DIY Easter craft series will show you how to create great crafts using leftover and recycled materials around the house.

Part II: toilet paper & paper towel roll bunnies

There are a million uses for your old paper towel and toilet paper rolls in the craft world and they’re all so awesome and simple.  Today I will show you how to transform a roll, and leftover craft paper into cutesy little Easter bunnies.  Something nice and simple to get into the spirit of things with your kids and with minimal mess to-boot!

What you need:

Paper towel roll cut in half, or toilet paper rolls

Pink, white and red scrap paper (card envelopes are used here)

Glue stick

Scissors

Black marker

Stapler (not required but it helps keep the ears in place)

What you need to do:

1)    First cut the pink paper to the shape of your roll and glue and cover, you will be left with a cute, pink plain roll.

2)    Cut a little red triangle for the nose and glue to the center of the, soon to be, front of your bunny.

3)    Take the white paper and cut two larger ear shapes.

4)    Take the pink paper and cut two smaller ear shapes for the insides of the ears and glue together.

5)    Take ears and glue/staple to the back of the paper roll in the desired bunny ear position of your choosing.

6)    Then simply draw on your bunnies little face and whiskers and you’re done!

Super easy and super cute so go ahead get the kids in on it and have a blast!  Use up all you’re left over craft paper, wrapping paper whatever you have.   I think that a lovely polka dot bunny would be even cuter than my creation!

About the author:

Eschelle Westwood is the author of Mumfection.com and young mother to two wild and hilarious boys. On her time off you can usually find her up to her elbows in diapers and dishes; but you can also find her on Facebook and Twitter!

Easter is just around the corner and that means Easter-crafting with the family is a definite must! This three-part DIY Easter craft series will show you how to create great crafts using leftover and recycled materials around the house.

Part I: eco-friendly paper plate bunny

Every year, at every birthday party, I am left with mountains of disposable plates. I am a lover of re-using things and not letting anything go to waste so naturally — I save them all.   Easter is one of those lovely times where I get to start making a dent in my crafting plate stash by making the ever popular and super-simple eco-friendly Bunny plates!

What you need:

Paper or disposable plate

White, pink and red scrap paper

Black marker

Scissors

Glue stick

Staples (optional but helps secure the ears better than a glue stick)

What you have to do:

1)    Cut a large triangle from the red scrap paper and glue to the center of the plate.

2)    Cut out large ear shapes from the white paper, and cut a smaller ear shape from the pink paper. Glue the pink on top of the white.

3)    Glue or staple the bunny ears to the top of the plate (Tip: fold one for cute flopsy look)

4)    Get creative and draw on your bunny face with the black marker and voilà!  Paper bunny plate is complete!

Remember to have fun with it! Let the kids go crazy with colours and make silly faces.  Create memories not perfect duplicates or works of art.

Connect with your little ones, smile, laugh and have a really lovely Easter everyone!

About the author:

Eschelle Westwood is the author of Mumfection.com and young mother to two wild and hilarious boys. On her time off you can usually find her up to her elbows in diapers and dishes; but you can also find her on Facebook and Twitter!

Nowadays all you hear about is how people are using coconut oil in every aspect of their cooking . With its high smoke point it has quickly become a household staple, and that is awesome!

But coconut oil is so much more than just an ingredient in your food; it can have so many amazing benefits to you around your home and even to your budget! I am going to share five ideas from my bag of tricks!

Coconut oil lipgloss:

You can use coconut oil straight from the jar to soften your pucker but if you’re feeling a bit luxurious, use the following recipe. It is really simple to make and is great wrapped as a gift!

Ingredients: 

4 tbsp of coconut oil

4 tsp of beeswax pearls or granules

5-10 drops of essential oil (optional, read here for types of oil: Cream Conundrum)

Method:

1. Using the double boiler method combine both the coconut oil and beeswax over boiling water, adjust the temperature to keep it at a low simmer.
2. Stir until they have melted together. Take off the heat and stir in your essential oil (if you have choose).
3. Let the waxy liquid cool then separate into containers of your choosing.  Go to a large craft store such as Michael’s if you are looking for several options. I also suggest recycling your old lip gloss containers.  I have a few from the body shop that I use to refill then I keep the rest in one large container.

Coconut oil homemade sunscreen:

This looks like the most complicated recipe in my arsenal but even it is super simple.

Ingredients:

1 oz. of beeswax pearls or granules

½ cup of Shea butter

½ cup of coconut oil

4 tbsps of zinc oxide powder

Method:

1. Once again using the double boiler method, combine beeswax, Shea butter and coconut oil over low boiling water until they have melted together.
2. Once melted take off the heat and mix in the zinc oxide powder until completely combined.
3. Let cool, then put into a container of your choosing, in this case I like to use a glass heremes clamp jar. But a mason jar or any other glass jar would work just was well, again re-using old sunscreen containers is also an awesome idea!

(Note: coconut oil can usually be found in your local health food store along with the rest of the ingredients.  You can find zinc oxide powder, Shea butter from your local drug store as well) 

Coconut oil for your hair:

This is the main reason why I have a tub of coconut oil in my bathroom.  I put it in my hair every night, ensuring to work it from root to tip and tying it in a bun or braid overnight.  In the morning I wash my hair as normal and it results in lovely, flowing locks with my crazy curls quenched.  It is a super simple way to use it, requires no special treatment or preparations just massage into hair.

Coconut oil body lotion for eczema and dry skin:

This is another super simple, straight application for coconut oil.  I often have patches of dry irritated skin and I find that coconut oil is instantly soothing and lacks the perfumes and chemicals that will irritate my sensitive skin.

Coconut oil diaper cream:

Another easy, apply-as-is tip: I used a dab of coconut oil instead of Vaseline to pamper my babies’ bottoms because it is all-natural — just the way I like it. It spreads very easily, won’t irritate their supple skin and leaves them smelling even better than they already do.

Do you have another use for coconut oil or ethicalTip that you would like to share? Leave a comment below. 

Related ethicalDeal:

Save up to 50% off your choice of organic, virgin coconut oil from Naked Coconuts

$6 for 16 oz. OR $12 for 32 oz. (up to $21.99 value)

VANCOUVER         VICTORIA         TORONTO

About the author:

Eschelle Westwood is the author of Mumfection.com and young mother to two wild and hilarious boys. On her time off you can usually find her up to her elbows in diapers and dishes; but you can also find her on Facebook and Twitter!

At ethicalDeal, we want to help you make greener choices for everyday living.
If we can fair-trade your next coffee trip, detoxify your cleaning regime or introduce you to some healthy lunch options, we are a few steps closer to achieving our mission of making green mainstream.

Our team has compiled some great tips from industry experts on everything eco-living from cooking tonight’s dinner with local, sustainable foods to planning your next holiday getaway with eco-travel advice.

What company helps you live a healthy green lifestyle? Tell us and we’ll introduce them to the ethicalDeal community. Here’s to green living made easy and fun!

Click to download here

]]> http://ethicaldeal.com/blog/2013/02/discover-tips-to-easy-eco-living-with-ethicaldeals-2013-guide-to-green-living/feed/ 1 http://ethicaldeal.com/blog/2012/10/5-last-minute-halloween-costumes-you-dont-have-to-buy/ http://ethicaldeal.com/blog/2012/10/5-last-minute-halloween-costumes-you-dont-have-to-buy/#comments Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:04:11 +0000 admin http://ethicaldeal.com/blog/?p=2806 Reuse, reduce and recycle your way to a hip Halloween costume this year! By ethicalDeal guest blogger Visnja Milidragovic. 

Avoid the dollar store! Here are some top-notch, clever, and easy-to-make costumes for Halloween. Making your own Halloween costumes by finding stuff around the house can save you quite a bit of money –  if you’re extra creative, you can even go green! Reuse, reduce and recycle your way to a hip Halloween costume this year!

All you need to make these costumes are items that you are very likely to find in your house.

You can be a paper doll!

You will need: poster board and felt markers, and scissors.

1. Lie down on the poster board and have a friend trace your body with a pencil.
2. Use the trace lines to draw a simple clothing design – a dress, pants and a shirt.
3. Draw “tabs” (as in the photo above) on both left and right sides of each piece of clothing. Make sure that the tabs are as wide as your limbs.
4. Colour in the paper clothes and then cut out the pieces.
5. Feel free to make accessories – like a purse – with the left-over poster board.
6. A great way to wear these (otherwise-unwearable) paper clothes is to put on a belt and then tape the clothes to the belt. If you want to “wear” a purse, tape it to your watch.

You can be an ancient Greek!

You will need: 1 flat bedsheet and a few sheets of paper towel.

1. Make a head wreath a. Tear off paper towel (roll out enough sheets so the length can go around your head) b. Twist the paper towel and tape down. c. Place it around your head and tape it together to form a wreath. Feel free to decorate, as you wish.
2. You’re smart – you don’t need instructions on how to wrap a sheet around yourself.
3. Ta-da!

Vous pouvez être un chef de cuisine!

You will need: An apron and a piece of blank white paper. (Since we all have a kitchen, this one should be easy.)

1. Just grab an apron, and carry around the obvious: a spatula, a whisk, and a rolling pin.
2. Then make your chef’s hat by rolling the piece of paper so that it fits around your head; tape it together. (Tip: if it doesn’t fit, tape together 2 pieces of paper to lengthen the paper.) You can also watch this video to see how to make a chef’s hat.

You can be Rosie the Riveter

You will need: a red bandana and a dark blouse. Seriously easy!

via miss-drea.deviantart.com

You can be … creative and lazy!

You will need: 1 light-coloured T-shirt you can write on and a permanent marker.

via themetapicture.com

About the author:

Visnja Milidragovic is a passionate communicator specializing in new media and writing for the web. When not exploring (and living!) the tension between virtual and face-to-face interaction, she can be can be found inventing and sharing new ways to feel good both on the inside and out. She also blogs, pins, and tweets.

photo courtesy of Because I am a Girl

Today is officially the International Day of the Girl, as declared by the UN General Assembly in December of last year. Spurred by the efforts of Plan Canada’s Because I am a Girl campaign, its existence is crucial to eradicating gender inequality and lifting people out of poverty in some of the poorest nations on the planet.

Why girls can change the world

Girls hold the key to a brighter future – not only for themselves, but for their entire communities. Girls who are educated, nourished, and protected can share knowledge and skills with everyone around them, leading to empowerment and positive change. It really boils down to the butterfly effect, which dictates that a single, minor change can lead to major changes on a much greater level. For a clearer understanding of this concept, check out this great video on The Girl Effect.

Put simply: An investment in a girl has the strongest return on a global scale. To learn why, check out these resources to find facts, stats, and background info on why child marriage, poverty, and limited access to education stand in the way of girls’ success and ultimately the success of the entire world.

Half the Sky: turning oppression into opportunity

Inspired by journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s book of the same name, the Half the Sky Movement is spreading like wildfire to ignite the change necessary to end the worldwide oppression of women — which they describe as the defining issue of our time.

Watch the bone-chilling documentary trailer featuring celebs, public figures, and activists Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Meg Ryan, and Eva Mendez.

Power to the people

Want to participate? Then start by speaking up via social media! Today, make sure to tweet #dayofthegirl and share videos, stats, infographics, etc. with your fans and followers across various platforms!

Erica Leibner is a freelance writer & communications coordinator with a profound love for all things eco chic and animal friendly.  A fan of vegan food trucks and pleather pants, she loves to highlight forward thinking, socially responsible Canadian companies through her work. Check out her website  and see what she’s up to on Twitter and Pinterest .

Want to purchase clothes for your kiddos that will make you feel good, too? Believe 
it or not, cute, eco-friendly and ethical clothing for kids does exist!

Sure, kids get dirty. A lot. They also grow through clothes like crazy. But that’s no
 reason to sacrifice the quality or the integrity of the way their clothing is made.
 Investing in eco-friendly clothing for your little ones is not only good for the 
environment, it’s good for them too! For example, choosing clothing made from
 organic cotton means avoiding absorbing the poisonous chemicals that go in
to the making of non-organic cotton. Buying eco-friendly also implants the idea of
 being green into your kids’ minds at an early age. Tell them where 
their clothing came from, what it’s made of and why it matters. Before long, the 
issue of the environmental health will be something important to them too.

The following look features ethical and eco-friendly pieces for your little ones. Keep them warm, cozy, and cute this fall in this environmentally friendly get-up.

Cate + Levi Dog Hat – $35


This soft and adorable hat is made of reclaimed wool and lined with eco-fleece for zero itchiness. Perfect for both boys and girls, check out the rest of these hat 
designs from husband and wife designer team Cate & Levi.

Dabbawalla Kids Fast Track Backpack – $40


This cute backpack was designed for fun and function, specifically for use as a pre-
schooler’s first backpack. There is room to pack lunch, toys, and treasures as well as 
specially designed pockets for toting crayons and pencils. The backpacks are made 
from eco-sponge neoprene, a machine-washable fabric that cushions and insulates 
and is certified free of lead, PVC, BPA, phthalates and over 100 other potentially
 harmful substances.

Frugi Boys Gilet – $70

Keep him warm in this practical vest for kiddos on the go! The Frugi gilet features a
 soft, quilted flannel lining and a detachable hood.

Kite Kids Check Shirt  - $40

Western-styled and beautifully cut, the Kite Kids Check Shirt is made of 100% organic cotton from
 Turkey. It features brown cord trims at the inside of the back yoke and collar as well
 as natural coconut buttons.

GreenEdge Denim Boys Coast Skinny Jeans – $113

GreenEdge is a great brand and the first American-made premium eco-denim for children.
Their jeans are made from certified organic cotton grown and milled in the USA, and 
they pride themselves on their sustainable production process. This five-pocket 
jean was designed with the theme of the environment and features an embroidered
 pocket design representing mountains and ocean waves.

TOMS Ash Be The Change Youth Vegan Classics – $38

Kids are never too young to make a statement. As printed on the shoe,
 kids inspire others to “be the change you wish to see.” Not only are these shoes
 vegan-friendly, the upper is made of pesticide-free cotton. The shoe also has a 
canvas insole for comfort and durable cup sole for flexibility and protection.

About the author:

Angela Moorer is an eco-fashion blogger, online marketing consultant, Bikram yogi and TV-enthusiast. Check out her blog live hi up  and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

photo by Genevieve Blanchet

Packing healthy school lunches for your child can be challenging. You probably don’t have a lot of time to make elaborate lunches, but being creative, planning and prepping ahead can make the task much easier.

When making healthy school lunches, the main goal is to avoid nutrient-depleted foods. These are processed and enriched flours found in most breads, crackers, and cereals. It’s also a good idea to stay away from bad fats like hydrogenated canola oil, safflower, soy and cotton oil, and also avoid artificial colourings and dyes, artificial sweeteners, MSG, nitrate, high‐fructose corn syrup and other chemicals.

Instead, focus on non‐processed food as nature intended. These include grass‐fed meat, pasture poultry, wild fish, free‐range eggs, non‐homogenized dairy, organic or local fruits and vegetables, sprouted legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains, cold pressed olive oil, unrefined sea salt, raw honey, maple syrup and molasses.

Make planning healthy school lunches fun and educational

Getting your children involved in the preparation of their school lunches helps them take responsibility for their health. You can teach them about nutrients in their food, and how important it is to make a balanced lunch with protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates, while at the same time making it yummy!

Before going shopping, sit down with your child with pen and paper and create their school menu. List four or five items in each of the following categories:

Main Dish

Sandwiches on whole grain bread

Soups or stews in a thermos

Baked chicken drumstick

Rice and lentils

Side Dish

Carrots and hummus

Green bean and cherry tomato salad

Cheese wrapped in a lettuce

Snack

Homemade muffin

Homemade granola

Homemade whole grain waffle or pancake

Aunts on a log

Fruit

In-season fruit

Berries and cream

Apple and sunflower butter

When this is done, all you have to do is to mix and match one item from each of the four categories using your child’s choices. From this menu, you create your weekly shopping list.

Healthy shopping tips

Unfortunately, we don’t always have time to bake, cook or prepare our own healthy snacks. Here are some ideas from your supermarket – again, be careful to read food labels:

Raw nuts

Dry fruits, unsulfured with no sugar added

Hummus with whole grain bread

Fresh fruits or dates

Toasted nori strips

Unsweetened apple sauce

Time-saving tip: when preparing dinner, cook more vegetables, grain or meat and mix the leftovers into a salad with homemade dressing for a balanced lunch!

Kid-tested recipes to try

Quick Roasted Potato, Corn and Sausage Salad

This recipe can be assembled in less than five minutes if you are using leftover vegetables and meat from dinner. It’s delicious cold or warm.

Ingredients

1 cup roasted vegetables  (potatoes, bell peppers, carrots, squash, etc.)

½ cup organic corn or green peas, cooked

Slices of sausages, or organic turkey pepperoni

Dressing

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

½ tbsp honey

Method

Place the vegetables and meat in a large bowl. In a small bowl whisk the oil, vinegar and honey. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.

Aunts on a Log

Ingredients

Celery sticks

Sunflower butter

Dried cherries

Method

Spread the inside of celery sticks with sunflower butter and garnish with dried fruits!

About the author:

Geneviève Blanchet is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. She blends Asian tradition and modern western nutritional science with the wisdom of healing herbs. She is passionate about eating fresh, seasonal and nutrient-­rich food and would like to share what she’s learned with you. www.lepetitchou.ca.