A bum choice?

Cloth nappies or disposables? Like most parents, most of us have a strong view one way or the other.

I think there's a place for both, and it doesn't have to be a black and white choice. My circumstances over the past few years have changed, and so has my choice of nappy for my children. So as a new mum with 1 baby, it was easy to choose cloth nappies. Now I have 2 children and am working again, I have to admit to finding eco disposables easier.

So I figure the most responsible thing to do is choose the greenest disposable I reasonably can. Nature nappies have easily been my fave. They're made from biodegradable materials and 100% chlorine free. And from a practical angle, they don't leak - hurrah! Plus I can buy them on the high street (Boots, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco). If you're pregnant or have a newborn, give them a go. Find out how to get a free sample (size 1).

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Crafty gifts & homeware - April offers

Those crafty people over at FromBritainWithLove.com have come up trumps with 2 great offers for April.

Get 20% off at The Green Gables by quoting FBWL20 at checkout - paper bunting (see pic above), art prints, handmade gifts using local and recycled materials with a vintage feel and a lot of love.

Get 15% off at Ochre & Ochre by quoting FBWL at checkout - organic and natural homeware,  including fine linens, kitchen textiles and hand made gifts.

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Up to 80% discounts from Ethical Superstore

Ethical Superstore is having a clearance sale with some amazing discounts. All sorts - fashion, organic groceries, green cleaning products, gadgets, jewellery and baby/child products - take a look.

Definitely worth stocking up for birthday (or even Christmas?) presents!

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Party bags - ideas that don't cost the planet

I'm starting to get the hang of party bags. Easy, cheap and as eco as possible - that's generally the plan.

Now depending where you see yourself sitting on the green spectrum, you might consider the totally green thing would be no party bags at all. After all, they encourage kids to expect 'stuff', they use up resources and they cost money! But I think with a bit of careful planning, it's possible to minimise their environmental impact.

Here's some ideas - gifts that are easy to recycle, or designed to last.

For more inspiration, read 'Birthday Party: Games, Food, Invitations, Party Bags'

1. Bags
   Decorate plain brown sandwich bags with handles - a simple design, cut out pictures from used wrapping paper or simply each child's name. If you prefer something that is a gift in itself, how about a hand-made fabric bag? The photo shows some made by my friend Ange. Ideal for girls to keep nick-nacks, or for boys to keep small cars, marbles etc.
2. Plant a seed.
   During the party, get kids to fill pots with soil, label their pot, plant a seed or bulb, and water it. Add it to their party bag to take home.
3. Popcorn
   Cheap, fun, easy. Make a paper cone or use paper bags, and fill each with home made popcorn (organic if you prefer). Should keep fine if made the day before the party and kept in air tight container.
4. Books
   Buy 2nd hand from Amazon, charity shops etc. Small books are ideal - Mr Men, Ladybird Classics, or small board books for toddlers.
5. Biscuit
   Any type - even a plain old Rich Tea will do. Just add kids' names or simple design using icing/cake decorations. Or get kids to do their own during the party.
6. Cooking Kit
   Cookie cutter + Recipe (try CBeebies) + Cake Icing.
7. Eco bag fillers
   See The Green Familia's list of eco party bag websites. Some lovely little toys - maybe more pricey than the usual fillers, so go for quality rather than quantity - and add a big slice of cake to the bag.
8. Recycle, Reuse
   Don't waste too much time coming up with original ideas - recycle someone else's! Try forums such as The Green Parent and Money Saving Expert - Green & Ethical MoneySaving.
9. Happy Green Earth
   This company deserves a special mention - cute little gifts, biodegradable or recycleable - from 70p.
10. Good Luck Wishes
    How about a virtual gift? Nicola Baird, author of Home Made Kids, suggests giving 'Good Luck Wishes' which are activated by something the kids need to look out for on their way home, like someone on a zebra crossing.

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Win £100 to spend on organic products

Just stumbled across So Organic's website. First off, the thing that caught my eye was the chance to win a £100 voucher to spend on organic cosmetics, skincare and baby products by subscribing to their newsletter. You've got to be in it to win it, as they say...

They stock a good range of reliable green brands - Weleda, Lavera, Green People - and they go to great lengths to provide information about each product, including ingredients, how to use, reviews etc.

They also have loads of free samples (organic make up, skincare, baby stuff, etc) so you can try out new products (see terms - you need to order paid goods to get the free stuff). Plus a tempting refer a friend deal where you get £5 for every mate you tell about the site.

Definitely worth taking a look.....

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20% discount! Cool organic clothes for busy mums

Need comfy clothes for your yoga or Zumba class, or just for wearing at home, but feel your tracky bottoms have seen better days? Asquith London is offering Green Mummy readers an exclusive 20% discount from its new spring range of stylish bamboo and organic cotton lifestyle/sportswear.

Alice Asquith set up the company back in 2002, and now sells her outfits, tops and trousers  everywhere from the 5 star Mandarin Oriental hotel chain to exclusive pilates boutiques.

Prices start from £25 (before discount), so treating yourself won't break the bank.

To get your exclusive 20% discount, simply type GREEN20 in the promotional code box when you order at www.asquithlondon.com

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Cruelty free cosmetics

Like many mums, I have 1 or 2 make up essentials to hide the wear and tear, the bags under the eyes, etc.

If you're anything like me, you slap your make-up on in the small windows of opportunity in the morning. Maybe you whip the mascara out on a crowded train carriage to work - or you tempt fate with an attempt to put lippy on while a distressed toddler with yoghurt hands pulls on your best dark trousers.

Anyway, as I have less and less time to add sparkle in the mornings, I'm trying to buy better quality cosmetics. Ideally organic and cruelty-free (lots of companies meet both criteria). So I was chuffed to find someone else has done the research - BUAV's free download contains a list of ethical cosmetic companies - see 'Little Book of Cruelty Free'. Time for a new mascara methinks.

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10 tips for (mostly) free toys

You can do toys on the cheap, and keep it green.

Here's my tips for toys that won't cost a packet, and make the most of recycling, reusing and borrowing.

1. Toy Swap. I do temporary swaps of bags of toys with friends and it works a treat. Your little one will be delighted with the 'new' toys, and will enjoy getting their 'old' toys back.
2. Car boot sales. I can't resist them. Best toy bargain? Toy pram for 25p. 
3. Freecycle. I can't help myself and check this site most days. Latest acquisition was a Playmobil castle with play figures - absolutely free! Items get snapped up quickly so keep your eyes peeled.
4. Charity shops. 'Nuff said. They're a goldmine of cheap toys just waiting to be loved all over again.
5. NCT Nearly New Sales. They're popular, and with good reason.
   
6. The great outdoors. Get your wellies on! Nothing beats fresh air, and a run around in the park, woods, or garden. Need inspiration? Check out Nature's Playground and Green Crafts for Children.
   
7. Netmums. Just discovered I can get free kids' stuff in my local area. And give away/sell my own. It's dead easy to advertise items, I put up 3 items at the weekend with my 18 month daughter messing about on my lap.  
8. Gumtree. See Gumtree Free postings
9. Libraries. When my kids are fed up of their toys, it's time for a trip to the library. My little boy loves choosing books for himself and his sister, and putting them in the machine to scan them. There's not a toy library near me, but you might be lucky. 
10. Rubbish. Think Mr Maker. Collect toilet rolls, yoghurt pots, boxes, ribbon, any bits that a child can transform into a robot/castle/rocket/etc. Pasta shapes, paint and string? You've got a princess bracelet. Keep bits in a shoebox and rainy days will never be the same again.

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What's for tea mum?

Please mummy, can I have my favourite tea in the whole wide world? Waffles with tuna, cheese sprinkles and peas. Please mum!

Just been watching Big Fish Fight on Channel 4. I've relied on old faithful tinned tuna as a handy standby for the kids' meals for too long. Time to change my fishy habits. It's impossible to ignore how wasteful tuna fishing is (even if you buy the better brands - see Greenpeace's Tuna League Table), I'm going to try and branch out and try different fish that are more sustainable.

First off, Jamie Oliver's fish fillets with lemon sole or plaice. Just insert the word 'party' before 'fish fillets', and the children should go for them - hook, line and sinker.

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Pegs, pegs, pegs

Can't get enough of them. I first got a pack when I got my own place years ago, thanks to mum, always one for practical gifts! For years, I used them just for hanging out the clothes (no tumble drier bills). Then a lightbulb moment! I realised I could use them for clipping all sorts of food bags.

So now, everything from pasta, coffee and cereal, to peas in the freezer, means food keeps better and longer so less waste.

Such a humble little thing, but sometimes it's the little things that can make life that bit easier.

Came across these cool recycled pegs by Ecoforce, who have a bucketload of ideas for what you can do with pegs. Submit your own suggestions and they'll publish them. You can buy them in high street supermarkets too. Take a look at their picture gallery - who said pegs can't be stunning?

Image: Ecoforce

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