4.19.2008







mod*mom earth day giveaway :: 10 earth-friendly lifestyle books

i have a degree in environmental science + i'm very concerned for the earth + our children's health + future, so i'm so excited to introduce my readers to stephanie uliano + her earth-friendly lifestyle book gorgeously green:
"When I had a little baby, I started to really wake up to the pollution in + around my home. Nothing was more important than providing the healthiest environment I could for the impossibly helpless little bundle that I carried around 24/7. Mercifully, many of us have recently become aware of the horrific childhood dangers of pesticide + insecticide use in + around the home + many moms now eschew the use of toxic cleaners. We are also beginning to realize that we can raise much healthier, happier children on organic food. A collective conscious is burgeoning + we cannot afford to let up for a minute.

I love that we can teach our children to have enormous respect for Mother Earth + what she gives to us. We can encourage them to become stewards of our gorgeously green planet so that we will see a new generation of compassionate + caring individuals who inherently know that everything is interrelated.

Many schools are now including environmental programs into their curriculum + our kids are tapping into a plethora of great, positive eco-information online. I firmly believe, however, that it all begins at home with the small details: explaining why its important not to waste paper, getting our children to sort out the recyclables + think about how each item can be re-used, conserving water + energy + watching something edible grow, even if its in a small planter on a window sill. These are things that your children will thank you for in years to come. Show your children how to “be the change."

resources:

the environmental protection agency is a great resource for so many family issues.
from air pollution to water quality, to asbestos, lead + mold abatement.

epa’s children’s environmental hotline 1-877-590-KIDS

healthychild, healthyworld

children's environmental health network

kidsforsavingearth.org

healthyschools.org

toysafety.net

national resources defense council what's in your tap water?

to enter to win a gorgeously green earth-friendly lifestyle book, tell me in the comments, what can/do you do to lead a more earth friendly lifestyle?
include your email address + url, before midnight, mother's day may 11

*use the little envelope icon below this post to share this with your friends.
subscribe to my feed + daily email updates to get mod*mom sent to you.

giveaways

by ~mod*mom~ at 19.4.08 ©

237 Comments:

I can (and will) buy a house close to my husband's office so he can bike to work everyday. Yay.

emilygcraig@hotmail.com

By  Emily, at 4/20/2008 1:25 PM  

WoW! I'd love to read her whole book. The website has great information.

at_boltATyahoo.com

By  Anne, at 4/20/2008 3:59 PM  

Oh, I can follow the advice in this book and watch Oprah (haha, it's true). We'll be riding our bicycles now that it's warming.

By  Anne, at 4/20/2008 4:01 PM  

I can use reusable shopping bags every time I shop (I keep forgetting them in the car, errrr).

Mommie
mommie{at}mommieshome.net

By  Mommie, at 4/20/2008 7:38 PM  

One of many things we have done (that's not mentioned above) is switching to cloth napkins, kitchen washcloths and diapers. There's no need for a paper towel when you have scads of cheap kitchen washcloths--they wash easily and don't get thrown out!

clarinetpower AT gmail DOT com

By  La Rêveuse, at 4/20/2008 7:56 PM  

I recycle every day. Plastics, papers, cardboards, cans, etc. If we all pitch in, the world will be a better place to live for all of us.

By  RoyalCheryl, at 4/20/2008 9:47 PM  

We walk to school, use cloth grocery bags and eco-friendly cleaning products at home! Next, I'm working up the courage to start line-drying my sheets and towels instead of using our clothes dryer -- wish me luck!

By  Bonggamom, at 4/20/2008 10:14 PM  

We joined a CSA for the summer! Use cloth bags, eco-friendly cleaners. We are learning to be a little more green everyday!

By  Jenn, at 4/20/2008 10:56 PM  

Hello! I pledged at the beginning of this year that our family was going to take steps in helping the environment. We have turned down the temperature of the hot water tank and take shorter showers. Each family member now has their own refillable water bottle. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

By  windycindy, at 4/21/2008 12:05 AM  

Hi Mod*Mom, I love recycling, but re-using things is even better - so for example I swap baby and kids clothes with other mums, and any clothes that are too worn can be cut up and re-purposed for toys, craft activities or even just cleaning cloths! Hardly anything goes into landfill at our place!

By  Lark, at 4/21/2008 1:12 AM  

We replaced almost all (I just can't give up my 150 watt reading lamp) of our lightbulbs with CLFs. We purchased reuseable bags from our local store and keep them in our trunk. We recycle almost everything--paper, glass, metal, food waste. I'd love this book to learn how to do more to save our environment.

By  kate5405, at 4/21/2008 2:40 AM  

Would LOVE to win this!

We cloth diaper and are WORKING on reusable grocery bags (when I remember them!!) and recycling more. I also Freecyle a ton of stuff. That counts for something, right? :)

By  Megan@SortaCrunchy, at 4/21/2008 4:37 AM  

I love this - my daughter (11) wrote a series of posts last year about earth-friendly practices. I'd love to read this with her. Thanks for offering! I'm hosting three contests. Stop by!

By  Kelly - PTT, at 4/21/2008 5:58 AM  

It really all starts from re-thinking everything you buy.

We buy things in bulk, and recycle all the packing material, and don't buy products that can't be recycled. Buying better quality lasts for longer and we also repair is something breaks, instead just getting a new product.

We don't buy paper napkins, kitchen towels, wipes or paper plates etc. If I forget my grocery bag home, it's ok, we always reuse the plastic bags - we don't purchase trash bags, we use the free ones from grocery store.

I would love to win this book!

By  Katja of skimbaco.com, at 4/21/2008 6:29 AM  

I wanna get more on the wagon about using reusable shopping bags.. I have one but I need a few more especially for trips to the Commisary.

I am running a bloggy party right now too with tons of prizes! Come check us out!
http://www.sevendogsandababy.com

By  angelaandconnor at gmail.com, at 4/21/2008 6:38 AM  

I am all about doing the "little" things--conserving water/elect (my kids always say to each other if the water is on too long that they're wasting water--they're 2 &4), reusable bags, natural cleaning products, using the backs of paper my husband brings home from a class he teaches for artwork..

By  Jules, at 4/21/2008 6:49 AM  

What an awesome book.

By  We are THAT Family, at 4/21/2008 7:03 AM  

For the past 9 months or so, we have been using cloth napkins, reusable bags, cloth diapers, making a compost pile and a garden, and many other things to be more green... not because it's popular or cheaper but because it's our duty to take care of the Earth the way God gave it to us.

By  jenna, at 4/21/2008 7:12 AM  

I can buy a house close to my husband's office so he can bike to work everyday.

By  Timster, at 4/21/2008 7:34 AM  

Hi My husband reuses the plastic grocery bags to take his lunch in.I use them at times for garbage bags.I am sure there is so much more for me to learn.
Thanks!!!

By  Nina, at 4/21/2008 8:42 AM  

I asked my neighbor for her newspaper so I could recycle it for her. She was just throwing it away.

By  Hélène, at 4/21/2008 8:54 AM  

Gosh..we do so many things! One of our newest things is joining the CSA, shopping local, smaller retailers (as opposed to Wally World), buying organic, cooking(as opposed to convenience foods). Our latest quest is environmentally friendly, organic health care products. We found one wonderful sunscreen...Badger brand...that is the only one where I knew every ingredient. And it smells wonderful! We use homemade scented castille soaps now and an organic shampoo. Life is good....

By  jenniferi716, at 4/21/2008 9:10 AM  

I really do need to stop buying plastic water bottles.

By  Keara, at 4/21/2008 9:31 AM  

Compost and use less in every aspect of your life.

By  hetz-junk, at 4/21/2008 9:41 AM  

Gardening (organic style), not using paper napkins, no paper towels, cloth diapers and hopefully solar panels as soon as we can afford them ... many little things and planning for some larger items.

By  Tanya, at 4/21/2008 10:25 AM  

I cram all three kids in the back seat of the prius.

By  melonkelli, at 4/21/2008 10:28 AM  

My biggest things is to cut down my driving a lot. I'm always looking for ways to change, so I'd love to read this book.

By  Ginny, at 4/21/2008 10:36 AM  

I am replacing our high-watt light bulbs with low ones. I am trying to composte. I recycle. And I can't remember the last time I bought clothing off the rack and not from a "recycling" environment.

By  Jenna, at 4/21/2008 10:38 AM  

Hi mod*mom---I didn't realize that was your degree...very cool.

I've been replacing our household cleaners with natural, non-petroleum based cleaners and also replacing our lightbulbs with the energy saving ones.

This is an awesome book and I would love a copy for a friend!

By the way--stop by and see the one I'm hosting for the Bloggy Giveaways...you probably already know and like the store...

By  Mama Luxe, at 4/21/2008 10:43 AM  

We recycle, use cloth bags, use CFL blubs, buy in bulk, garden, raise chickens for meat & eggs (all organic feed), have switched to all natural & organic cleansers, etc.

Thanks for the give a way!

By  Mom 2 To Boys, at 4/21/2008 11:00 AM  

I cloth diaper! We recycle, too.

By  Qtpies7, at 4/21/2008 11:05 AM  

Get my entire family involved in ways to go green by making it a contest

By  kaylee8, at 4/21/2008 11:10 AM  

I use recycled grocery bags.

By  Audrey, at 4/21/2008 11:33 AM  

we freecycle and shop thrift stores!

:)

ndisilvio at gmail dot com

By  Niki, at 4/21/2008 11:44 AM  

I graduated with an Environmental Science degree too. Although I do tons (recycle, compost, use canvas bags for shopping, natural soaps, try to buy locally) I still feel there is SOO much more I can be doing.

By  Karmyn R, at 4/21/2008 12:01 PM  

Yay! I'm not entering, I just want to say thanks for joining the carnival!

Don't forget to link back to the master list of participants at http://www.bloggygiveaways.com.

Thanks! Melanie

By  Bloggy Giveaways, at 4/21/2008 12:06 PM  

We do everything we know to do but it seems like every day, we learn a little more. That's great...
I would love to read this book!

By  Misty, at 4/21/2008 2:04 PM  

Another great giveaway! Besides recycling and using earth friendly products, I think donating things is important. I take clothes and household items to Goodwill and magazines and books to the library.

By  One La Costa Mom, at 4/21/2008 2:16 PM  

I use reuable grocery bags, shop vintage lots, and walk to most places I go to here in the city.

By  cheaperthencheap, at 4/21/2008 3:01 PM  

We recycle.

By  Paige, at 4/21/2008 3:51 PM  

I loved this book too! Dont enter me as I already have it...but one of the others will really love this book!

One thing I love is that my son already has more knowledge of the environment than I did at his age...which is a good thing. He is always keeping me in line and making sure we make better choices for the 'venerment'

By  Kelley, at 4/21/2008 4:32 PM  

We find ways to recycle and reuse whatever we can. Instead of recycling magazines (which is better than throwing them in the trash) I donate them to the library's book store which is even better because someone else can read them and the library sells them for a quarter each so they make money.

By  Suzie G., at 4/21/2008 5:23 PM  

We recycle and are participating in a CSA.

By  The Mommy, at 4/21/2008 6:32 PM  

Not only do I use re-usable bags, recycle, turn off the water when I'm not using it, etc. but I also blog about it! (www.racheariel.typepad.com)

By  racheariel, at 4/21/2008 6:43 PM  

Things my family does to be more green - use our car less, NEVER use our gas guzzling truck, recycle, compost, grow a garden, pack "naked" lunches, use reusable grocery bags. We are adding more measures as we learn them.

Thank you for doing this giveaway.
Tiffany Rosson

By  Tiffany Rosson, at 4/21/2008 6:50 PM  

not sure, i would really like to figure out how to move the recycling bin closer to the kitchen and out of the garage - think i would recycle more if it was more convenient

By  Ebie, at 4/21/2008 7:04 PM  

we recycle
jen at whitty4jen@yahoo.com

By  Our Home Schooler and Jen, at 4/21/2008 7:29 PM  

There are a lot of things we do to lead a green lifestyle. Something I feel very strong about is eating locally and organically.

We do the reduce, reuse, recycle; cloth diapers, cloth mama pads, cloth napkins, compost, lots of gardening, homemade natural cleaners and so forth.

By  Erica, at 4/21/2008 7:42 PM  

I've been using solid shampoos and conditioners to save on packaging!

By  Christy, at 4/21/2008 8:18 PM  

we recycle everything we can and reuse as much as possible!

By  stampedwithgrace, at 4/21/2008 8:19 PM  

We do cloth diapers and wipes, and we recycle! I'm all about being green!

By  CanCan, at 4/21/2008 8:34 PM  

My husband and have started a garden, this year will be our second. We get lots of vegies from it! We compost. And I have purchased reuseable bags for grocery shopping. I also use organic cleaners from Shaklee to clean with. Taking one step at a time.

By  Jennifer, at 4/21/2008 8:47 PM  

we garden, use reusable grocery bags, take and give hand me downs...
taradawnrobertson at hotmail dot com

By  Tara, at 4/21/2008 9:03 PM  

we recycle plastic bags by using them as planters!
we've currently got a tomato garden hanging from our sun porch ceiling & growing upside down!

By  Laura, at 4/21/2008 9:13 PM  

ive been hanging my clothes out to dry, recycle, and have been making more informed/environmental purchases at the store.

By  JNM, at 4/21/2008 9:13 PM  

We're making the switch from plastic grocery bags to bringing our own to the store. Its not much, but its a start.

By  Debbie#3, at 4/21/2008 10:18 PM  

I recycle paper, plastic, cans, just about everything I can.
digicat@sbcglobal.net

By  carolsue, at 4/21/2008 10:18 PM  

I cloth diaper my kiddos.

By  Dawn, at 4/22/2008 3:35 AM  

We recycle (which has cut our garbage down from 5 bags a week to 1!) and we cloth diaper, and this spring I'm going to learn a little more about composting so I can start (maybe I'll get down to 1/2 a bag of garbage a week!)

Fizz
fizzledink AT gmail DOT com

By  Michelle, at 4/22/2008 3:48 AM  

I drive a Prius, line dry my laundry, use cloth bags, to name a few.

By  louiseb130, at 4/22/2008 4:44 AM  

I recycle and use the bags also to take lunches to work and for everything that I can possibly think of. I also recycle and freecycle to keep items out of our landfill.

Nora
neneelynn@yahoo.com

By  Anonymous, at 4/22/2008 5:43 AM  

After all the rains go away (I live in the Pacific NW) I'm going to put up a clothesline. We already recycle everything. We are beginning to not eat out as much.

By  Mya, at 4/22/2008 6:39 AM  

I've done all my spring cleaning with natural cleaners.

elkmeese (at) yahoo (dot) com

By  frugallm, at 4/22/2008 6:51 AM  

I take my own bags to the grocery store, recycle and we have our own composting bin going.

By  K.Cleaver, at 4/22/2008 7:35 AM  

We don't use papertowels, we use rags that are washed, we recycle, and we use newspapers for glass and mirror cleaning. The book would help with more ideas!

By  Laura, at 4/22/2008 8:38 AM  

I recycle.

By  quiltingreader, at 4/22/2008 8:42 AM  

Hi,
I think 'becoming green' has to do with awareness, of conciously growing and realising the earth is a breathing, living thing, just like we are.
So, if I can embrace a child, cuddle my cat, and hug a tree, I can have warm feelings toward mother earth, and thank her for
letting me stay with her.
tantedanny@hotmail.com

By  Anonymous, at 4/22/2008 9:17 AM  

We have started buying only organic, grass-fed beef from small family farms!

By  Barb J., at 4/22/2008 9:30 AM  

Cloth diapering is our most recent and biggest step!

Thanks!
Tamara (AK)
mrshuntinak AT msn DOT com

By  Anonymous, at 4/22/2008 10:45 AM  

I recycle, compost, drive a hybrid Prius, buy local. We used cloth diapers, and DH bikes to work in the summer (a little too cold for that in Montana winters!... it's a 16 mile ride one way!) and carpools the rest of the year.

That book looks AWESOME!
elizabethwickland (at) gmail (dot) com

By  Elizabeth Wickland, at 4/22/2008 11:32 AM  

I've been using my reusable grocery bags instead of plastic. Great giveaway!

By  Cindy, at 4/22/2008 11:34 AM  

I try to buy local, and I hang my clothes to dry.

By  dwarzel, at 4/22/2008 11:48 AM  

I just hung my clothes out to dry, only wash in cold water, only use reusable bags, and am sending a son off to college to major in Env. Science!
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail(dot)com

By  Debbie, at 4/22/2008 12:25 PM  

I'm letting my eight year old daughter set up a recycling system for our home. She's thrilled.

By  WorldsGreatestMommy, at 4/22/2008 12:52 PM  

I've been doing so much for quite awhile now. I use cloth bags when I go shopping. If I forget those, I don't take a bag at all. Besides, I never buy too much. I also recycle so much stuff around the house. Glass jars can be reused to store other foods. I clean with natural products. They smell great and don't make me cough. Thanks.
Heidi
sweet_soul_sistermi@yahoo.com

By  Miss Heidi, at 4/22/2008 12:59 PM  

We use an eco-friendly dry cleaner that uses CO2 instead of chemicals to clean our clothing. We also recycle, use reusable bags for shopping, use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, keep our cars tuned up and tires inflated to conserve gas, buy locally and organically whenever possible, run the dishwasher and washing machine for only full loads, take shorter showers, turn the water off while brushing our teeth, purchase all of our electricity from wind and solar power and anything else we can do to reduce our carbon footprint.

By  Dawn, at 4/22/2008 1:14 PM  

Reusable bags at the grocery store! Every time!

By  Scarlett, at 4/22/2008 1:31 PM  

recycle

By  susan1215, at 4/22/2008 1:51 PM  

We have a one glass a day rule. It saves so much space in the dishwasher so I am running it less! The kids are great about just rinsing their cup quick when they want a new drink.

By  PS, at 4/22/2008 2:13 PM  

* use reusable grocery bags
* use reusable produce/bulk bags
* recycle everything that is possible
* water my plants with cooled water from boiling veggies etc.
* use baking soda and vinegar as cleaning products

anne_c_taylor@hotmail.com

By  Anonymous, at 4/22/2008 2:15 PM  

recycle and clean up the roads

By  mverno, at 4/22/2008 2:29 PM  

recycle and clean up the roads

By  mverno, at 4/22/2008 2:29 PM  

REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE!!!

Amanda
dakotakaylee@comcast.net

By  Anonymous, at 4/22/2008 2:53 PM  

I truly believe that being green is about small changes we all can make that together, make a big difference. Things like flushing "selectively", showering WITH your partner (which can also be lots of fun), using fabric shopping bags, biking instead of taking a car, using a bath towel more than once between washes, put a two liter bottle of water in your toilet tank (so you use less water per flush). All really little things, but they all add up. :)

Hope to hear from you, as this is one book I'd LOVE to add to my library. :D

tdyandt@artbytd.com

By  TD Yandt, at 4/22/2008 3:07 PM  

I use baking soda and vinegar to make most of my cleaning products, we use very little chemical cleaners.

use cloth shopping bags

recycle everything because our city requires it

use the bath water to do the laundry, wash the laundry at night and always hang to dry.

we have a system where when you flush the toilet clean water comes out of a tap so you can wash your hands the drained water goes into the water tank for the next flush

By  jojoebi, at 4/22/2008 3:38 PM  

We bike to baseball practice and recycle practically everything. I want to be green and gorgeous :)

By  chanelireli, at 4/22/2008 4:13 PM  

STOP EATING DEAD ANIMAL FLESH.

By  Anonymous, at 4/22/2008 4:18 PM  

I use a crystal for deodorant

By  demmi, at 4/22/2008 4:19 PM  

I would love to start using the natural cleaning products. I haven't ventured out that far. We try to recycle what we can!

By  Christi, at 4/22/2008 4:40 PM  

recycle

By  susan1215, at 4/22/2008 5:28 PM  

something I would like to do is start using cloth diapers!

By  Tiff, at 4/22/2008 6:43 PM  

What a great giveaway!!

We recycle everything possible right down to the toilet paper rolls. We also use cloth grocery bags and have enviro friendly light bulbs. The list goes on and on. I LOVE to recycle, we have at least recycle cans throughout our house. LOL

Please stop by and visit our contest if you have time.
http://weirdstuffinmydesk.com/?p=41
racoo. smith at gmail. com
Thanks and have a great day!

By  Rachel, at 4/22/2008 6:44 PM  

We recycle everything... I don't mean throw it in the recycle bin. I take old clothes and turn them into dresses, purses, pillows, etc... we purchase much of our food in bulk to cut down on containers, we reuse almost every container, reuse foil and ziplocs, shred paper for packing reu