This is what is coming out of my 4 year old’s mouth this evening. Lovely.

Raising kids is never easy. Raising green kids can be even harder. Coming this summer is a great book by a good friend of Clementine NW from Itsabelly Concierge, Melissa Moog and her co-author Jennifer Lo Prete that will help you start out making eco-friendly choices from the beginning.

Itsabelly’s Guide to Going Green with Baby is the first book to provide a simple resource for evaluating eco-friendly baby gear and to learn more about organic and natural family living. We offer mom-tested product reviews and tips to raising a healthy baby and creating a happy planet. The founders of Under the Nile, gDiapers, TheSoftLanding.com and Earth Mama Angel Baby provide insight on why choosing organic and natural baby products is important to creating a healthier lifestyle. Going Green with Baby features personal product recommendations from eco-minded moms Jennifer Lo Prete and Melissa Moog. Jennifer is a writer and mother of two that has long practiced green living. Melissa is mom to a toddler, writer and the founder of Itsabelly Baby Concierge, a premier baby planning agency that specializes in going green with baby.

I am really excited for this book and can’t wait to share it with all of you!

Ugh. Is there anyone that actually likes doing laundry? This has really been on my mind lately since I am thinking of trying cloth diapers with this little one expected in July. I tried them with my oldest son and it didn’t work out, for several reasons. I was too chicken to try with my second son. Now this is the last one and I am thinking of all those disposable diapers going into the landfills and all that money wasted on them! Which brings me back to the laundry. I hate it anyway and to add more on top of that! I think it might be worth a shot though…

Ways to Green Your Laundry (without too much trouble):

• Buy commercial laundry detergents that are more eco-friendly. Some brands to consider are Bi-O-Kleen, Seventh Generation, Ecover, Life Tree and Earth Friendly Cleaner. These are vegetable-oil-based without synthetic fragrances.
• Castile soaps like Dr. Bronner’s also work great, although it would be wise to prep your clothes before switching from detergent to soap by washing them initially with 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar for a full load to prevent yellowing. Adding 1/4-1/2 cup baking soda is also useful to prevent build-up of soap.
• Add 1/2 cup washing soda to wash cycle will act as a booster for heavily soiled clothes.
• Add 1/2 cup baking soda to rinse cycle to deodorize and brighten clothes.
• 1-2 cups of vinegar added to the rinse cycle will act as a fabric softener.
• Use cold water to wash and line dry when you can. Always use cold water to rinse.

A really great article to check out for more in depth information is at The Green Guide.

What are you doing today?

• Have you shared the importance of recycling with your kids? Make an art project using recycled materials.
• It’s also TV Turnoff week! Use this to discuss energy usage and find fun things to do together during times when you might normally use the tv or computer.
• Try taking the bus, walking, or biking instead of driving a car.
• Compost! Buy a compost bin or start a worm bin. Collect food waste (another important lesson in consumption) and garden waste for healthy compost for your yard.
• Going shopping? Take a reusable bag! Whether it’s the grocery store, mall, local boutique, etc. using a reusable bag will cut down on waste, some of which is not recyclable anyway, and some stores even give a discount! Don’t have any? Most craft stores have plain canvas bags that would be fun for kids to decorate.
• My personal favorite: a nature walk! Walk around your neighborhood, go to a local state park, find a guided walk near you. Use this opportunity to show your kids great reasons to reduce, reuse, recycle!
• Educate yourself on the issues and use that knowledge when voting. Oregon’s primary is still coming up! Make your voices heard!

There are some great ideas out there. Even if you just do one!

It’s almost here! This weekend there are so many great activities to choose from to celebrate Earth Day
with your family!

Earth Day started with an idea in 1962 by Senator Gaylord Nelson. The idea was to put the environment into the political limelight through a huge grassroots protest over the state of the environment. Nelson thought to use the great energy of the anti-war movement and infuse it into the environmental movement. By the time of the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, 20 million people were involved in their local communities due to the spread of the spontaneous grassroots organization. Now more than half a billion people participate in Earth Day activities each year.

Will you be joining them? Here is a sampling of activities from the Portland area:

Sat., April 19: City Repair Project presents “Dance of the Dinosaur,” a festival with music, food, kids’ activities and 150 vendors and educational booths, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. at Overlook Park, N Fremont St. at Interstate Ave., Portland. Free. www.cityrepair.org

Sat., April 19: Join Shift to Green, a 12-mile bike tour of Portland businesses taking steps to reduce global warming. Registration is at 9:30 a.m.; tour starts at 10 a.m. from EcoMotion, 1625 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland. Tour winds through inner Portland, visits five businesses and concludes at City Repair Project’s Earth Day celebration at Overlook Park in N Portland. $10 suggested donation covers t-shirt/food. Details at www.sierraclub.org/power2change/oregon/more/events.asp

Sat., April 19: Earth Day celebration at People’s Food Co-op offers workshops, tours, music (”scratchy vaudevillian 20’s and 30’s vocal jazz”) and free organic cotton tote bags while supplies last, noon-4 p.m. at the co-op, 3029 SE 21st Avenue (between SE Division St. and Powell Blvd.). Free. www.peoples.coop

Sat., April 19: Friends of Trees and SOLV will lead volunteers in weeding, mulching and watering newly-planted trees and plants, 9 a.m.-noon on the riverbank at Willamette Park, SW Macadam Ave. and Nebraska St., Portland. Free. To volunteer or find out about other events related to Earth Day: 503-282-8846 or www.friendsoftrees.org

Sun., April 20: Oregon Zoo presents “Party for the Planet,” Includes games, crafts and polar bears playing with Boomer Balls and ice blocks. Environmental film festival begins at noon (see listing below); additional film charge applies. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland. Requires Zoo admission; $6.75-$9.75. www.oregonzoo.org.

Sat., April 19/Sun., April 20: “Seeds of Science: A Look at Sustainability in the Food We Eat and Grow” at Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. both days. OMSI is at 1945 S.E. Water Ave., Portland. Admission: $9-$11. www.omsi.edu/visit or 503-797-6674.

SOLV IT Earth Day Activities: Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism (SOLV) has organized over 100 Earth Day clean-up activities from Cathedral Park in North Portland to the South Waterfront area. You can choose from tree planting, litter pick-up, invasive plant removal, school yard landscaping, trail maintenance and watershed renewal, among other options. Saturday, April 19, 9:00am to 12:00pm http://www.solv.org/programs/solv_it.asp#sitelist

Has anyone actually started their spring cleaning yet? I haven’t, but I really am going to do it this year! Especially now that I have found a few good recipes to try out. Hopefully you have amassed all of your main ingredients and are ready to put them into action! Here are a few simple recipes to get you started:

All-purpose cleaner

• Combine 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar, 1/2 tsp liquid soap (castille soap) and 3/4 cup warm water into a spray bottle. Shake to blend. For bigger jobs: 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar, 1/4 cup liquid soap and 2 gallons of warm water in a bucket. Stir to blend.

Glass/Window Cleaner

• Combine 1 quart warm water with 1/4 cup white vinegar and 2 tbsp lemon juice into a spray bottle. Shake to blend. You can also use just apple cider vinegar to get the cleaning properties of vinegar with a nice scent.

Crayon Mark Remover

• Parents should always have this tip handy! It is so simple too, yet I have yet to use it since I learned about it, so you’ll have to let me know how great it is!
• Rub area with toothpaste and a damp cloth. For use on walls (do not use on non-vinyl wallpaper), floors, counters, cabinets, and furniture.

Hand Wash Disinfectants

• Get rid of those alcohol based hand sanitizers! The EPA recognizes that soap is a legitimate disinfectant, why shouldn’t you? Look for vegetable oil based soaps wherever you shop.
• Tea tree oil is antibacterial and antifungal. Put 10 drops of tea tree oil to 4 ounces of liquid castile soap into a pump container. Be sure not to ingest orally. Discontinue use if there are any signs of an allergic reaction.

That should get us off to a good start! I will add more in the coming weeks as well. Please not that I did not include any recipes with Borax. Borax is toxic, particularly to children and pets.

Did You Know?

• 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism
• 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum
• 67 children are diagnosed per day
• A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
• Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double in the next decade
• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism

All of this information is simply incredible to me. That’s why I am very fortunate to know a woman that is dealing with autism in her own family, that was able to let me know about Autism Awareness Month! World Autism Awareness Day was on April 2nd and there continues to be events throughout the country during the whole month of April.

• The Autism Society of America has teamed up with Pump It Up. Bounce for Autism events around the country. You can find out more information and register online at www.bounceforautism.org . For Portland area mamas, there will be an event at the Beaverton Pump It Up on April 11 from 4-6pm. Check it out!
• The Autism Society of Oregon is having their annual walkathon on April 13 at Oaks Park. Take the whole family to support and encourage children on the autism spectrum disorder, then stay buy a discounted ride bracelet! Go to www.autismwalkathon.com for more information.
• Autism Speaks and Athletes Against Autism have come together for several events to promote autism awareness. The San Francisco Giants game on April 11, The Chicago White Sox game on April 13, The Fresno Grizzlies game on April 18, The Seattle Mariners game on May 7. For more information on these and other events sponsored by Autism Speaks click here: Events .

There is a lot of information out there, here are some of the best resources we have found to learn more, support our local community, and support our global community:

www.autismspeaks.org
www.autism-society.org
www.tacanow.org

The new Spring Robeez have arrived! We have some of the cutest styles for both boys and girls! I love the new Guitar styles in blue and pink. Very rockin’! Check them out and let me know what your favorite style is.

See a color, style, or size that you would like to see Clementine NW carry? Let us know!

Robeez is committed to safety. Their designs are pediatrician recommended, while the leather is tested to the most stringent international safety standards. They don’t use any Azo dyes, no heavy metals, no banned substances, and only use water-based tanning agents and dyes. They use independent testing to maintain high environmental standards. They also have a great charitable giving program supporting infants and children around the world called Robeez Heart & Sole Program.

my baby boy was born. I can’t believe that it has already been two years!

On April 3, I woke up early having some contractions. I thought this was great as I never really went into labor on my own with Joseph and ended up with a c-section. Plus he was already overdue. They continued to progress throughout the day and by that night I thought we were ready to go to the hospital. I was not very far along at all, but they wanted me to stay anyway. Luckily I didn’t have to be hooked up to the monitors yet. I made it to a whole 6-7 cm and then got stuck. There were some things the doctor didn’t like and we ended up with another c-section.

Ah well, it was all worth it in the end. Baby boy came into the world on April 4 at 8:35pm. He was huge! And perfect. All 9lb 12oz of him!

Off to bake a chocolate birthday cake…

of why I love to live in Portland! It is the first day in a while that the weather warmed up and the sun was shining. We still have a bit of a swamp in the front yard, but the backyard is drying out nicely. The boys and I spent all day running here and there, but tomorrow we are going to get outside and play! What are your favorite activities for a nice sunny day? What are some of the things you long for during those cold winter days?

Here’s some of what we enjoyed today:

• Playing with our shadows
• Went on a walk around the neighborhood
• Looked for all the animals we could find on our walk
• Made “leaf pets”
• Wore sandals!
• Examined all the colors we could see in our yard

Wherever you are, let’s all think warm Spring thoughts!