Modern Hippie Mag » Jeanne Blaisdell

The Very Best of Dining Etiquette – Fabkins

Jeanne Blaisdell — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:00:58 +0000

“Hey Mom, I’m eco-friendly!” my 10 year old says to me as he wipes his mouth off on his sleeve. “Very funny, now use your napkin!”, I retort.

Beach Bound

Though we haven’t used paper napkins in a while, my boys sometimes just seem to find their clothes an easier option. So now that I’ve discovered Fabkins, using a cloth napkin is a little more fun. These adorable, 100% certified organic cotton napkins come in bright colors with upbeat embroidered designs reflecting kids interests, making mealtime manners a possibility and of course, reducing unnecessary waste at the same time. Each of mine have their own Fabkin with a unique design from the Beach Bound and Extreme Sports collection and wouldn’t think of letting the other brother use it. Other styles include Prima Ballerina, Garden Friends and African Safari.

What I like most about Fabkins is the size – trimmed down a bit and perfect for smaller hands, mouths and laps. It’s also great for the lunchbox, traveling and for a place-setting-to-go. It can even double as a place mat and the tag has a line to write the child’s name. By simply adding a Fabkin to a waste-free school lunch, you can save around $250 and eliminate 67 pounds of waste every year. Now that’s something to smile about…so now…Use your Fabkin!

Jeanne

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). Find The Green Samaritan on Facebook, follow on Twitter @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.

The Very Best of Dining Etiquette – Fabkins is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Summertime Tips to Keep Practicing the 3 R’s

Jeanne Blaisdell — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:00:05 +0000

Already halfway through summer and our routine is out the window. And as I try and be creative with activities we can do to keep us busy during these long, hot, hazy days while we take a break from the traditional Three R’s of school – I don’t want to take a break from the 3 R’s concerning our environment. Here are a few ways to keep on practicing these important principles this summer.

Reduce:

With trips to the neighborhood pool and bigger trips to the beach or other vacation places, be aware of the additional waste that can be created. What can you bring along to avoid another juice pouch or water bottle being purchased and disposed of? Do we really need to buy all those trinkets in the gift shop that ultimately are lost or broken by the time we get home? Must we purchase another big plastic float that rips before we even get it in the water?

Photo by Meral Akbulut

Reuse:

As nice as it is to have new items to break out for the summer season, again is it necessary? What do we have that can be reused? While it was very tempting to discard last year’s bug box still containing what looked like the remnants of the final catch (yuck!), a quick rinse with water and white vinegar restored it to almost new condition. What can we pass on to a neighbor that we no longer use and where can we purchase pre-owned summer wear and gear to give it another chance. Local consignment shops, Ebay, Freecycle, and Goodwill are all great places to give and receive.

Recycle:

Traveling can often present challenges to recycling efforts especially when there seems to be no collection bin around. Remember to bring reusable mugs and cups to avoid the chance of a rogue aluminum can or plastic bottle hitching a ride. If traveling by car, have a recycle bag on hand to collect your own items and recycle the next time you see the opportunity, or as crazy as it may sound, save until you get home. With air travel, be prepared for the responsibility of properly recycling as well. For other quick tips when you are on the road, review Making Environmental Choices from the Environmental Protection Agency.

And for creative recycling craft ideas, check out AllFreeCrafts.com, KinderArt, and Kaboose to keep the 3 R’s going for indoor fun.

So even though we may be out of our routine for the carefree days of summer, if we fail to remember our 3 R’s – that plastic soda bottle and trinket will still be around long after the amusement park, pool, or museum closes….and that won’t be any fun at all.

Jeanne Blaisdell

Summertime Tips to Keep Practicing the 3 R’s is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Product Review & Giveaway: Truth + Beauty = Modern Minerals

Jeanne Blaisdell — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:00:03 +0000

Over the last several years there has been a huge shift to the use of mineral make up. Having made the switch about seven years ago, I can’t imagine going back to a liquid foundation.

A quick review of the benefits of a mineral based cosmetic:

It feels great. Light and airy allowing your skin to breathe.
It blends in much nicer than a liquid eliminating that makeup line around the face.
It doesn’t smudge or leave a trail behind on your clothes (or anyone else’s).
Because it’s mineral based, ingredients like alcohol, dyes, perfumes, talc, preservatives are eliminated.
It can actually help your skin look better because it is not clogging up your pores.

While I have tried many good brands in the past, I recently connected with a new company, Modern Minerals. Founder Diane Read was kind enough to send me a few samples so it was nice to learn and experience her product first hand. There were up front reasons why I was willing to try out Modern Minerals. All products are produced without any chemical preservatives and fillers and with real ingredients that are sourced from the earth. Below is a list of ingredients they avoid:

Artificial Colors: Also known as aluminum lakes or dyes and can be recognized by letters FD&C.

Artificial Fragrances: Some of the chemicals used to create synthetic fragrances are derived from petrol products. Phthalates have been found in some synthetic fragrances. Studies have linked phthalates to possible developmental & reproductive issues as well as asthma, liver and kidney issues. Phthalates, DBP, BBP, DEHP are now banned in Europe.

Bismuth Oxychloride & Cornstarch: Can irritate skin, clog pores and show fine lines.

Micronized Minerals & Nanoparticles: These smaller particles present a greater likelihood of inhalation for those concerned about respiratory issues.

Synthetic Parabens: (Methyl, Propyl, Ethyl, Butyl): Often used as to extend the shelf life in cosmetics. Studies have linked parabens to health concerns.

Petroleum Products & By-products: We prefer to omit them entirely and use natural ingredients that truly hydrate.

Now that’s all fine but how does it perform? In order to give any loose mineral based makeup a real chance, you need to use a good brush. I found MM applied very nicely and with a soft glow that gives my skin an even healthier look. With a strong range of base shades and an earthy and elegant eyeshadow palate to choose from with yummy names like Godiva, Tiramisu, Haiku and Storm, Modern Minerals performs as well, if not better, than other brands I’ve used. I personally prefer a pressed version so was also glad to hear that they are introducing that option as well.

In terms of packaging, glass is preferred for their liquid based body products and the plastic containers for the make up is recyclable. And the price is very competitive with eye shadows at only $10.

Here’s your chance to win five brand new full size eyeshadow colors for summer which include:

Daydream – nude pink with flecks of gold
Tiramisu – the ultimate neutral for everyday
Haiku – rose gold shimmer
Hera – bronze shimmer
Godiva – soft & rich brown, perfect for or brows

Note: To be eligible you must be a Modern Hippie Mag subscriber receiving our updates via email, or RSS, Facebook fan, and/or Twitter follower (tell us your Twitter name in your comment below).

(Complete the following in separate comments below for more chances to win!)

1. Visit ModernMinerals.com then leave a comment below telling us your experience with mineral makeup.

2. Follow Modern Minerals on Twitter, @modernminerals.

3. Show that you like Modern Minerals on Facebook.

4. Tweet this: {Giveaway} -Truth + Beauty = Modern Minerals http://ow.ly/24VgQ @modernminerals #mmmakeup

(Tweet often but don’t forget to add #mmmakeup to your tweet so that we can keep track!)

More details:

Open to U.S. entrants only.
Recipients chosen at random using Random.org.
Won something in the last thirty days? Last month’s winners are ineligible for this giveaway.
Giveaway ends 12 midnight EST, on Tuesday, July 13, 2010. Winner will be announced on Wednesday, July 14, 2010.
Winner will be contacted via email and/or Twitter. You will have 48 hours to respond at which time another winner will be randomly chosen.

Big thank you to Diane and Modern Minerals for sponsoring this giveaway!

Jeanne Blaisdell

Product Review & Giveaway: Truth + Beauty = Modern Minerals is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Fore! Ideas to Green Up Your Golf Game

Jeanne Blaisdell — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:00:39 +0000

With tournaments abounding, summer vacations and extra daylight for outdoor activities, golf is in full swing so here are a few ideas to consider to green up your game along the way.

1. If you want to play a truly “green” golf course, look into The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. This is an award winning education and certification program to help golf courses to protect the environment and preserve the heritage of the game. Search the directory to locate an eco-friendly golf course in your area.

100% Recycled Polo Shirt

2. Skip the traditional polo and consider one made of recycled bottles. It’s true, 8 Bottles offers a comfortable, 100%post-consumer recycled performance polo made from PET bottles. For every 8 bottles saved, a shirt is made thus the name. Since there are no additional dyes involved the shirt comes in only one color – a light green reflecting the color of the bottles it is made from. I ordered one for my husband and it’s a nice, well-made shirt. Shipping was fast and the packaging was all recycled and recyclable which was much appreciated.

Dixon "Earth" Golf Balls

3. It’s estimated that over 300 million golf balls are discarded every year. Though I do not have personal experience, I’ve read good things about Dixon Earth‘s eco-friendly golf ball. Unlike other balls which are made of harsh heavy metals like tungsten and lead, the Dixon Earth core is made up of a polymer that is 100% renewable. The other components of the ball itself can also be recycled into other products and the packaging is made from 100% recycled material. Even better, the company gives a $1.00 ball for ball credit towards the purchase of Dixon Earth golf balls for every Dixon ball recycled in a Dixon Golf Recycle Center located at a participating retailer. They will also give a $0.50 ball credit for any other brand of golf ball recycled in a Dixon Golf Recycle Center. Here’s a past article from Golfers with some commentary on the performance of the ball.

photo 8bottles

4. Take the Green Golfer Pledge through Golf and The Environment, a partnership with US Golf Association, The PGA and Audubon International by committing to specific actions such as:

Voicing support for the environmental efforts undertaken at your course.
Using trash and recycling receptacles appropriately and encourage others to do the same.
Purchasing environmentally-friendly products for the game.
Encouraging others to learn about the benefits of environmentally responsible management on the course and in their community.

So get out, green up and get your environmental golf score on par.

Jeanne Blaisdell

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). Find The Green Samaritan on Facebook, follow on Twitter @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.

Fore! Ideas to Green Up Your Golf Game is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Help me Make a List for Summer Fun – 4 Ideas to Get Started

Jeanne Blaisdell — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:00:14 +0000

I love summer and having the boys at home but there are times when I’m racking my brain on what creative new activities we can throw into the mix of our traditional summertime fun. After all, there are only so many museum visits, lemonade stands, movies and days at the pool we can deal with! And I refuse to go to the mall. So as the last day of school is quickly approaching, I’m making my list in advance to help me through those hot, muggy days when all else escapes.

Here are a few thoughts to keep the fun going and the boredom away:

Letterboxing – A real life treasure hunt may await you right in your own neighborhood or city. Letterboxing is an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming “treasure hunt” style outdoor quest. Check out this site for how to get started and to search for boxes in your area. We have not yet done this but really look forward to trying this out and making our own rubber stamp out of those used school erasers.

iStock image

Back Yard Camp Out- Here’s a last minute idea on a nice summer night. If you have one, set up a tent or get creative and make one out of sheets. Maybe even just sleep right under the stars and do a little gazing. My phone has the Google Sky Map application so when I hold the phone up to the sky, it show s and identifies the specific constellations. And on June 26th, it’s the National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Backyard Camp Out to encourage all of us to connect with family and friends i n the great outdoors. Register your family or group, get ideas and upload photos afterward.

Raindrop Collection Contest – Even though it’s rainy, get ‘em outside provided there is no lightning and it’s safe. Have your kids gather up as many containers or recylables as they can to collect rain. Then measure or by sight determine who collected the most. Of course, don’t toss the water but save for that dry, hot day to come. If you haven’t yet installed a rain barrel, this might be the way to start and the kids can help you fill up with their collected drops!

Shopping Spree at the Used Bookstore – With a few hard earned dollars or even with prize money from the above contest, let your kids have at it and pick out a few used books or games. With this handy directory, you can search for stores in your city and when you are traveling too. Better yet, visit your local library and get them their own card if they don’t have one yet. Rather than going straight home, stop by a park, nearby creek or any outdoor venue to enjoy and squeeze in some additional summer reading.

This is just to get me started. What green, outdoor and eco-friendly ideas do you have? Please share and I’ll continue this post giving “nods” to your creativity.

Jeanne Blaisdell

Help me Make a List for Summer Fun – 4 Ideas to Get Started is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Cleaning Up Your Dry Cleaning with The Green Garmento!

Jeanne Blaisdell — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:00:11 +0000

We all have to do it…gather up dirty “dry clean only” garments and head off to the neighborhood cleaners every week or so. To help you clean up your dry cleaning dilemma, here’s a hit list of things to consider:

Perchloroethylene or PERC – While organic cleaners are not on every corner just yet, be aware of the associated risks with PERC, the major cleaning solvent which is now considered a “likely human carcinogen”.
Process – Don’t be shy. Ask your cleaner about their process for cleaning. Do they use a wet or CO2 technology which is safer than PERC? Check this directory to see if you have an eco-friendly cleaner in your neighborhood.
Hangers - Hang on to those hangers and return back to the cleaners.
Plastic bags – Did you know that 300 million pounds of single-use plastic dry cleaning bags end up in the landfill every year? Did you also know they can be recycled along with the plastic shopping bags? Consider adding that to your recycle list.

Green Garmento

Better yet, invest in your own dry clean garment bag to avoid the plastic mess altogether. The Green Garmento is a winner! I purchased one to try out from The Ultimate Green Store for $9.99 and it’s absolutely great. The bag fits nicely in the hamper to collect your clothes so all you need to do is pull out and you are bagged and ready to drop off. Then it converts to the garment bag upon pick up. There is a plastic sleeve on the front for an ID tag and I also have instructions on how to use the bag. What a relief not to have to unwrap and deal with the plastic. Best of all, my dry cleaner loves the bag too!

Though my dry cleaning, and perhaps yours as well, will never totally go away, we can strive to purchase clothes that do not require dry cleaning in the first place. And for those items that do, at least we can be a little cleaner in the process.

So clean up your dry cleaning and enjoy!

For your chance to win a Green Garmento:

In a comment below choose your color – blue or green.
Follow The Green Garmento on Twitter, @GreenGarmento
Follow me on Twitter, @greensamaritan.
Fan The Green Samaritan on Facebook.
Tweet this: {Giveaway} Clean up your Dry Cleaning! http://ow.ly/1WGSd #garmento @modernhippiemag

More details:

Open to U.S. entrants only.
Recipients chosen at random using Random.org.
Won something in the last thirty days? Last month’s winners are ineligible for this giveaway.
Giveaway ends 12 midnight EST on Wednesday, June 23rd 2010. Winner will be announced on Thursday, June 24th, 2010.
Winner will be contacted via email and/or Twitter. You will have 48 hours to respond at which time another winner will be randomly chosen.

Jeanne Blaisdell

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). You can follow her @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.

Cleaning Up Your Dry Cleaning with The Green Garmento! is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Respect Your Mother – Remember Your Manners with Ecominders

Jeanne Blaisdell — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:00:34 +0000

With so many different actions we can do to lessen our impact, EcoMinders can help us remember those various things. Ecominders are easy-to-use, removable and reusable stickers with three lines designed especially for home, school & kids and office use. Printed by a leading sustainable printing company and using eco-friendly inks and papers, a portion of profits also goes back to 1% for the Planet.

Kids & School

Though my kids are really good about placing items in the recycle bin and turning off the water when they brush their teeth, the lights seem to be off in their heads sometimes when leaving the room and well…turning off the lights so the “Grip it & flip it” sticker was especially useful to place above our switches.

I gave my husband the office pack to take to work to include “Be more green turn off your machine” and the “Save a tree use less of me!” for the bathroom stalls. That one obviously got some attention there.

Great idea by founder, Allison Shaewitz, who claims a “CFL light bulb” went on in her head after the birth of her first child. Concerned about all aspects of his new world, she felt that she needed to do everything possible to make sure it stayed in the best shape possible for him and future generations. Thus the birth of Ecominders to help us all, young or old, to incorporate the best choice possible. Ecominders makes it easy for everyone to Stick to Saving the Planet!

For your chance to win a set of Ecominders you must do one of the following:

1. Visit Ecominders.com then leave a comment below telling us how Ecominders can make a difference in your life.

2. Follow Ecominders on Twitter, @ecominders.

3. Show that you like Ecominders on Facebook.

4. Tweet this: {Giveaway} Remember Your Manners with Ecominders http://ow.ly/1KRQe via @modernhippiemag @Ecominders

More details:

Open to U.S. entrants only.
Recipients chosen at random using Random.org.
Won something in the last thirty days? Last month’s winners are ineligible for this giveaway.
Giveaway ends 12 midnight on Thursday, May 20th, 2010. Winner will be announced on Friday, May 21st, 2010.
Winner will be contacted via email and/or Twitter. You will have 48 hours to respond at which time another winner will be randomly chosen.

Big thank you to Ecominders for sponsoring this giveaway!

Jeanne Blaisdell

Respect Your Mother – Remember Your Manners with Ecominders is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

End of School Teacher Gift Ideas

Jeanne Blaisdell — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:00:09 +0000

May is here and school is almost out! What to do for those wonderful teachers who spend such critical time with our children. Here are a few ideas to help bring a smile to an educator’s face while being kind to our environment as well.

Words from the Heart

Take the time to let the administration of your school know how much you appreciate your teacher. Send a note to the principal about something kind she or he has done for your child. Make sure you give the teacher a copy!

Book It

Select a book or two with an earth-friendly theme that can be used in the class. If possible, have all the children sign as an extra special memory. The Great Kapoke Tree, Faces of the Earth, and Little Green Books are a few possibilities.

Keeping It Clean

Purchase a refillable natural hand sanitizer or soap container. Peel the labels off of the bottle and decorate it with scrapbooking stickers and ribbons.

“Go To” Gifts

Teachers need a little fun time too! Gift certificates to restaurants and movie theaters are wonderful treats for educators who rarely get to treat themselves to lunch out or a matinee!

For Nature Lovers

Encourage educators to investigate their local parks and green spaces by giving them local trail books and field guides. Include these items with bird feeders, an assortment of seed packets, or a gift certificate to choose a tree at a nursery.

Vote for TOTES!

Re-usable tote bags are great gifts for everyone….not to mention the environment! Many retailers carry a variety of trendy packable totes. You can even purchase totes at the craft store ready to be personalized by the kids. Totes are a great substitute for paper wrapping and gift bags!

Farm Charm

Surprise your favorite teacher with a basket of fresh produce from your local farmers market. Include a sweet treat along with a set of recipe cards.

High Tech To-Go!

Data storage devices are great gifts that allow teachers to transport less paper back and forth between school and home. Not only do they come in a wide variety of colors and designs, but they are very affordable!

The Gift of Time

Share your time and talents with your child’s class. Give the teacher an hour off by teaching a special lesson while she enjoys a cup of coffee and her favorite book. If teaching is not your talent, offer to help her organize a project, clean the classroom or decorate a bulletin board. You can even bring her a home-cooked lunch to enjoy while you take the class to the cafeteria!

Gifts the Keep Giving

Donate to a teacher’s favorite charity, PTA or community organization in their honor. You can even gift a favorite book to the school or public library. Zoos and science centers also run programs where you can honor someone by providing enrichment toys and treats to the animals. The possibilities are endless and will be appreciated long after the school year ends.

That’s A Wrap

When wrapping homemade goods and gifts for anyone, think re-usable! The variety of inexpensive totes, decorative containers and fabric gift bags is truly inspiring. Think outside the box…and the wrapping paper!

So whatever you choose, think resourcefully to help teach your children (and teacher perhaps) well!

Jeanne Blaisdell

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). You can follow her @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.

End of School Teacher Gift Ideas is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Earth Day Savings from Caroma – High Efficiency Toilets

Jeanne Blaisdell — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:00:48 +0000

Shop & Save Tip of the Week: 50% off Caroma High EfficiencyToilets

In honor of Earth Month, here’s a little something that will not only save you some cash but also that priceless resource of water. Caroma, (@caromausa), a leader in high efficiency toilet (HET) technology is now offering 50% off the list price of their dual flush toilets until the end of May so read on to find out more.

Caroma Caravelle

Caroma dual flush toilets include two buttons for flushing; the half flush which uses 0.8 gallons per flush (gpf) for liquid, and the full flush which uses 1.28-1.6 gpf (depending on the model) for solids – compared to 3.5 gpf or more for traditional high-flow toilets. Caroma toilets boast the lowest water consumption in the market today and come in a variety of stylish modern designs beginning at $450 on up.

Caroma was the first to develop dual flush systems. Their HET toilets are high-performance, and extremely environmentally responsible. Committed to water conservation technologies for 70 years and remaining dedicated to promoting sustainability, Caroma continues to collaborate with high profile environmental organizations such as Global Green and the EPA.

Though I do not have personal experience with this product, I like what I hear and we are looking at the Caroma models since it’s time to replace our toilets. (And if we purchase one, I can do quite the review with two boys and a hubby in the house!) So if you are in the market too, click here to receive your OneFlush 50% off coupon via email and search for information on all participating stores in your area.

And if 50% of the 238 million toilets in the U.S. that are high-flow were converted to a dual flush toilet, 1.4 trillion gallons of water could be saved per year! Now that’s real savings.

Jeanne Blaisdell

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). You can follow her @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.

Earth Day Savings from Caroma – High Efficiency Toilets is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.

Fun, Eco-friendly Clementine Art Supplies

Jeanne Blaisdell — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:00:03 +0000

In between bugs, balls and bouncing on the trampoline (and OK a few light sabers, dragons and dinosaurs), my boys enjoy drawing and painting when galactic or prehistoric inspiration hits them. So I was glad to discover Clementine Art and try out their certified non-toxic, all natural paint.

Natural Paint

As an art teacher for many years, Clementine founder Diana Mercer became concerned about just how “non-toxic” the art supplies really were. So she rolled up her sleeves and started making play dough and paints from natural ingredients in her kitchen. Using simple ingredients – all listed on earth friendly packaging – her line now includes modeling dough, markers and paints.

With six paint colors in the box, I found them to be beautiful, rich earth tones of green, orange, brown, yellow, red and black. The paint was creamy and odor-free. Even with the lids off the jars for two days, (oops), the paint did not dry out and was as good as when we opened them up. And with splatters on the wood floor…and face… and fingers, clean up was easy with a damp cloth. (Did I mention I had boys?)

So if you are looking for a more natural and non-toxic alternative for your children’s art supplies visit Clementine to learn more about their products and where to buy.

Jeanne Blaisdell

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). You can follow her @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.

Fun, Eco-friendly Clementine Art Supplies is a post from Modern Hippie Mag your online resource dedicated to hip, healthy conscious living & environmental sustainability.