Create a Dream Wall in Your Child's Bedroom

If you have a collection of postcards from your travels and museum visits in a box, it's time to whip them out for this amazing purpose: to create a 'dream wall' in your child's bedroom. I came across this simple yet extremely thoughtful idea at pi ' lo where the writer explains:

"We have a dream wall in the boys bedroom. Every night before going to sleep we pull a postcard out of a felt gift bag and tape it up on the wall. The idea is to dream about the image, and if we all learn a little bit about art history along the way, even better."

I think this would be a wonderful bedtime ritual for parents and kids, and amongst couples as well. Sharing or reflecting on travels and experiences, enriching each other with new knowledge while promoting interconnectedness, creativity and dreams.

End Animal Dissections with Knitted Science

As a vegetarian and animal lover, I am opposed to the use of frogs, rats, rabbits, pigs, earthworms and any other creatures being used for dissection to teach students biology. So, when I came across this knitted frog from Etsy shop The Crafty Hedgehog, I thought it would be the perfect alternative to the real thing.

Artist Emily Stoneking hand knits these 'Knitting in Biology 101' frogs from a silk/wool blend, and their innards are needle felted by hand with 100% wool.

She also fashions other faux dissections including: rabbits, pigs and rats.

Now, if only we could get schools across the globe to make the switch from flesh to fabric...

Thank You

I just wanted to take a moment to give everyone who voted for Petite Planet in the Homies a really heartfelt thank you! Petite Planet did not make it to the finals, but I read each and every one of your comments in the voting section, and I am truly honored that you took time out of your lives to vote for my blog! Thank you so much for your support and readership!

Recycle Your Christmas Lights at the Oregon Zoo!

The Oregon Zoo is offering visitors a super sweet deal! Through January 3rd, 2010, you may drop off your old holiday light strings at the zoo to be recycled and receive a coupon for a free piece of fudge from the zoo store. The Oregon Zoo is offering this convenient recycling service in an effort to encourage people to switch to using energy efficient LED lights next holiday season -- by getting rid of their energy guzzling old-fashioned Christmas lights!

Be sure to plan your lights recycling venture with a visit to Zoolights!

About Zoolights:

"ZooLights, a local holiday tradition, is both brighter and greener this year. The winter festival now features nearly 1.25 million lights... The zoo has been using LEDs for its ZooLights displays since 2000, and continues to add more each year, replacing its conventional bulbs. This year, zoo officials figured they would encourage the public to make the switch as well [via their lights recycling program.]"

For those who don't live in Portland, visit Earth911.com to enter your zip code and find a location near you which recycles holiday lights!

How to Recycle and Reuse Your Wrapping Paper!

In spite of your best green efforts, you may have ended up with a pile of wrapping paper after Christmas! Don't worry! There are several fun things you can do with your gift wrap to keep it out of the landfill! From fashioning a nativity scene to brushing up on your origami skills, click here for several ways to recycle and reuse your wrapping paper!

Apartment Therapy Suggests '11 Ways to Take a Moment for Yourself'

Amidst all of the chaos, product pitches, and inundation with shiny decor and larger than life Santas -- I think it's really important to set aside some time for yourself this season -- even if it's only momentary. After all, Christmas is a holiday, right?

Apartment Therapy features 11 Ways to Take a Moment for Yourself, and I love this article! A few of my favorites are:

• How to media fast -- which will also help conserve electricity -- and is a practice I maintain year round!

• How to meditate in the bath -- hopefully the in-laws won't be bothering you if you're in the bathroom!

• 10 Ways to Chill out at Home -- plant herbs, cultivate silence, enjoy some music...

Everyone deserves to unplug and unwind during this festive season which all too often turns stressful and complicated! I hope you all get to indulge in some peaceful R&R.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with 'this much' joy!

Olivia feeds a Reindeer at The Oregon Zoo!

This morning, Olivia fed a reindeer (really, it was an elk for those who are going to be sticklers!) Now we know the reindeer will be strong and full enough to fly all night to deliver gifts with Santa!

Our Real, 'Dancing' Christmas Tree -- and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree!

We had a magical experience cutting down our Christmas tree at Sauvie Island Farms this holiday season. Olivia picked out our tree without hesitation, and with complete confidence that it was the best tree in the entire world. When we opted to shake and bale our tree, she laughed as it shimmied wildly on the shaker, and I told her it was dancing a jig because it was so happy she picked it to come home with us. Every morning she looks at the tree in our living room as says, "I picked our tree, and it was so happy it danced!"

Once you've thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of your Christmas tree, don't forget to recycle it! Learn how to recycle your Christmas tree here! I also wrote another detailed article on Christmas tree recycling you can check out here!

CHRISTMAS CRAFT: Make A Snow Globe out of a Baby Food Jar!

The magic of the winter season is so sweetly encapsulated in snow globes -- which are loved by kids and adults alike! Desmond at Inhabitots wrote a post on how to make a snow globe from a recycled baby food jar and it's a quick and easy craft families can make together and marvel at! Click here to learn how to make one to really 'shake up' the holidays!

Please Vote for Petite Planet in The Homies!

Hi Readers! Ohdeedoh is currently running a contest called 'The Homies' to recognize and honor the best home blogs! Petite Planet has been nominated in the Kids at Home category and I would be ever so grateful if you would cast a vote and leave a comment to help promote Petite Planet to win The Homie award!

Click this link here to vote for Petite Planet! Thank you so much for your readership and support -- it really means the world to me!

Modern, Green Gingerbread House Sweetens the LA Real Estate Market

Now this is what I call a sweet pad! Feast your eyes on architect and LEED AP Kristina Hahn Atelier's Cake Study House 09! See what every square inch is made of by visiting my post on this mini-masterpiece at Inhabitots!

Craft TuesDIY: Make an Eco-Friendly Nativity Scene out of Wrapping Paper!

Lisa is on vacation, so in place of one of her original crafts, we're highlighting this cool eco-friendly nativity scene made from recycled wrapping paper and a few household items! Click here to see the entire tutorial on bringing the story of Christmas to life via some ingenuity and resourceful green crafting!

And as we draw nearer to Christmas, be sure to re-visit Lisa's craft on making your own eco-friendly wrapping paper with magazines and shopping bags! As a last minute fun activity for all the kids in the house (including the grown-up kids) make this super easy juice carton gingerbread house! Don't forget to add some festive final touches with these holiday votive candle holders made out of recycled baby food jars!

Happy crafting!

12 Days of Green Christmas: Haba Nativity Set for Kids

I am wrapping up my 12 Days of Green Christmas posts by featuring this adorable Haba Limited Edition Wooden Nativity Set! It's great to deck out the house with Santa, elves and Christmas folklore galore, but I think it's also vital to familiarize children with the real meaning behind Christmas -- the birth of Jesus Christ.

Nativity scenes can be very fragile and breakable, but I really love this Haba Nativity Set because it is kid-friendly and may be enjoyed without worry by children who want to interact with the pieces. Made in Germany, it includes 18 wooden pieces crafted of beech wood and finished with beeswax.

I'll always remember the nativity scene my mom displayed in our house every Christmas, and while it was indeed delicate, we would pick up baby Jesus and re-position the manger animals and three kings until our heart's were content!

Interacting with the figures in a nativity scene is a wonderful, hands-on way to teach kids about the story of Christ's birth. It's no longer some esoteric story -- it's easier to explain and understand when the characters can fit into the palms of their little hands.

5 Ways to Have an Eco-Friendly Christmas!

Please head over to Momversation to read my 5 Ways to Have an Eco-Friendly Christmas! No step taken to reduce your environmental impact this season is too small, and I provide countless easy ways to deck the halls in a deep shade of green!

12 Days of Green Christmas: LED Glow Lights

These awesome Glow Lights from Land of Nod put the 'fun' in functional! What kid doesn't want a cool night light to provide a little extra security during the night? And after all of the holiday lights come down this season, the colorful glow from these LED nightlights will enable the festive spirit to live on year round!

Made by OXO, Glow Lights are cool to the touch, and since they are powered by energy saving LEDs, there's no need to change a bulb for the lifetime of the light! With a price point of $2.99 each, you can purchase enough to illuminate the entire route from your tot's room to your own! (ha ha)

12 Days of Green Christmas: Give the Gift of Reading via a Library Card

Don't underestimate the power of giving a child his or her very own library card as the perfect stocking stuffer! Olivia has loved books her entire two years on the planet, and going to check out new books at the library is by far one of her favorite pastimes.

I'm sure libraries differ in their rules and guidelines for how old you must be to get your own card, but if you have a toddler who's too young to make the cut, make them a library card out of an old grocery store saver card or a card you no longer need that's just taking up space in your wallet -- (I'm not talking Visa or Mastercard here). Slap a plain white sticker over the card and decorate it to resemble your own authentic library card. Your child will feel so special and empowered carrying it to and from the library!

And borrowing books instead of buying them is a great lesson to teach kids on the path to living an eco-friendly lifestyle!

12 Days of Green Christmas: Sweetie Petite Doll Kits

I absolutely love these aptly named Sweetie Petites doll kits from The Red Thread. Mimi, Molly, Daisy and Ginger would make perfect stocking stuffers, and delightful inhabitants of new dollhouses little ones may be receiving this Christmas!

From the designer:

Sweetie Petites doll kits contain all you need to make a Sweetie and her little friend: printed fabric panels, stuffing, ribbon loops and sewing instructions. Each one has her name printed on the back and a little note for her new owner.

The design of these cute little dolls has been influenced by vintage and Japanese kawaii styles. They appeal to girls of all ages from toddlers to pre-teens and even adults who like to collect fun and quirky things.

So sweet! I want them all!

12 Days of Green Christmas: Charitable Contributions

Not sure what to get for the person who has everything? Nothing! In lieu of gifts for those whose cups runneth over, contribute to a charity in their honor and get involved in the true meaning of the holiday season.

Here are some wonderful organizations to support with donations:

Trees for Change - $35 buys the planting and care of a native species tree in a U.S. National Forest that has been destroyed by wildfire.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Any amount of money will help further research to treat and heal children with cancer and catastrophic illnesses. Donate here.

*Note: Donate your holiday cards, and all-occasion cards to St. Jude's Ranch Recycled Card Program through February 28, 2010!

Ronald McDonald House Charities - Ronald McDonald Houses enable families to stay together while their sick child receives treatment at a nearby hospital, while helping families address their health care problems and needs. Donate here.

Sarver Heart Center - Having lost both parents to heart disease as a child, my mom supports the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center, where research and advancements are being made to help prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. If you donate to a cause close to the gift recipient's heart or personal history, it will be a truly moving gift. Donate here.

12 Days of Green Christmas: Creature Teachers Apparel from Tiny Revolutionary

I love Tiny Revolutionary clothing, as you can see from my previous posts here, here and here, and their latest collection -- Creature Teachers -- would make sweet green gifts for animal loving tots this holiday.

Available as organic cotton one-piece rompers, organic cotton tees or thermal hoodies, the line features animals including an elephant, giraffe, koala bear and cows... and also a bee, to impart inspirational lessons. The giraffe reaches for the stars, the bee 'beelieves' in magic, the koala embraces love... etc.

All Tiny Revolutionary apparel is responsibly crafted with organic cotton and water-based inks, and the company is big on charitable contributions from their proceeds via their Tiny Bucks Program, making an offering from this adorable collection a holiday gift with meaning.

12 Days of Green Christmas: Wooden Camera for Saying "Cheese!"

"Say cheeeezzzz!!!!!!!" Those are quite possibly the two most spoken words in our family. (A pediatrician asked me what the difference was between your first child and your second child -- I said, "I don't know." He said, "About 3,000 pictures."

But, knowing our photo snapping kin, everyone will get equal coverage. We've no doubt passed on our affinity for photography to Olivia, and this sweet wood camera which features a movable lens, see-thru view finder and nylon cord, would be a treasured green, heirloom quality gift. It is made in the USA from New Hampshire hardwoods that were destined to be firewood, and finished with natural, food grade tung oil.

Green kids will love role-playing with their very own camera, and it's a wonderful companion which will stoke their imagination and broaden their perspective.

12 Days of Green Christmas: DANI Soy Wax Candles

I thought I'd sneak a green gift into my 12 Days of Green Christmas for the adults! There's nothing better than a delightfully fragrant room -- especially when you're entertaining during the holiday season, and DANI makes the most wonderful soy wax candles.

Available in a variety of scents, from fruity mango, pear or grapefruit to exotic plum flower and red clover, and everything in between: green tomato, blue chamomile, bamboo & birch, verbena mint, and much more -- DANI soy wax candles would also make ideal host/hostess gifts for holiday parties.

The candles are a combination of 100% soy wax with proprietary essential oils. They are comprised of pure, non-toxic, food grade ingredients which are free of paraffin, petroleum, pesticides and herbicides, and they contain no genetically modified materials.

DANI Natural Products are manufactured in Bend, Oregon with a commitment to environmental awareness. The line also includes soap, body lotion, shower gel, body butter, sugar scrub, hand crème and wash, bath soak, and home fragrance diffusers.

Reusable, Fabric Christmas Tree Wall Sticker!

A Christmas tree made of reusable, fabric wall stickers! Need I say more? This would look lovely in a child's room, or anywhere in the house! The stickers won't damage walls, and they are washable -- so not only may they be removed and reapplied year after year, they'll also always look good as new. No tree cutting or artificiality required!

12 Days of Green Christmas: Curious Chef Baking Set

I love buying green toys that double as real-life working tools... and the Curious Chef 17 piece Measure and Prep Kit seen above is the perfect accompaniment to any tot's play kitchen, but it may also be used to help mom and dad with cooking and baking once kids get older! The tagline for Curious Chef is "real kitchen utensils for small hands," and they are designed on a smaller scale featuring non-slip grips so budding chefs may easily get their bearings in the kitchen.

All plastic components in Curious Chef products are BPA free and all packaging is made of recycled materials. The set comes with the following:

• Large Poly Spoon

• Kitchen Timer
  

• 6-pc. Measuring Spoon Set: 1/8 tsp, 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1/2 tbsp, 1 tbsp

• 6-pc. Measuring Cup Set: 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 2/3 cup, 3/4 cup, 1 cup

• 3-pc. Prep Bowl Set

• Shopping List Pad

• Measure and Prep Sticker Sheet

Olivia is only 2, but she already LOVES helping out in any way she can in the kitchen... and I know most kids will enjoy getting acclimated with these handy tools to use during playtime and for getting down to the business of cooking!

12 Days of Green Christmas: Buckwheat Toddler Pillow from HoneyDumplings

Every parent knows that a really good night's sleep is an amazing gift. (I can't recall my last good night of sleep!) When I saw these sweet Honeydumpling buckwheat toddler pillows at Fawn & Forest, I let out an audible, "awwwwww!" How cute are these? And hmmm, maybe they'd help little ones sleep better so moms and dads can too!

These child-sized pillows are stuffed with eco-friendly fiberfill, wrapped in a quilted, buckwheat hull shell and then stuffed in a soft bamboo pillow case for maximum comfort. Buckwheat is naturally hypo-allergenic, mold-resistant and anti-bacterial, and the buckwheat shell is durable, water-repellent and long-lasting.

You can really up the ante on quality zzzz's and throw in Honeydumpling's organic cotton and bamboo blanket too! Night night!

Junk Mail Becomes Butterflies

I always thought caterpillars turned into butterflies, but when I saw these awesome winged beauties made from junk mail on Growing Up Green, I realized that butterflies may be born from an envelope as readily as a cocoon! What a simple way to turn an annoyance (junk mail) into lovely decor. I have seen butterfly chains sold in high end stores for a lot of money -- so to think you can make them yourself by upcycling mail and perhaps stringing them onto fishing line is brilliant... and green!

12 Days of Green Christmas: Think Outside the Box with Intangible Gifts: Dance & Music Classes or a Zoo Membership

A great way to give a green gift is to make it a no waste, intangible offering that will no doubt provide immense joy to its recipient. My mom gives all of her grandchildren these types of gifts each year via dance lessons, music classes, and zoo memberships -- and the loveliest part is that these types of gifts last long after the initial wow factor of a physical present because they are activities that are frequently enjoyed.

Our zoo membership is priceless. You've read about many of our zoo adventures -- we practically use the zoo as our backyard, going there to play all the time. Olivia has also blossomed in her creative dance classes (shown with her cousin above), and we also adore our music classes!

So think outside the box (literally) this holiday season, and give the gift of enrichment to your loved ones!

Advent Calendar Made of Christmas Books!

I know we're already a couple of days into December, but I had to share this ingenious idea I saw at Babyccino -- a Christmas book Advent calendar! Instead of buying a disposable Advent calendar, wrap (in recycled or eco-friendly paper) one book for each day of Advent. You can find the complete list of Christmas books used in the Advent calendar at Babyccino, or simply use this as an excuse to start a library for your kids with books of all types and themes. To keep it green, buy secondhand, used books! What a delightful way to spend each day of Advent -- reading a book with your children.

12 Days of Green Christmas: Miniature Gourmet Play Kitchen

Shhh... don't tell Olivia, but the piece de resistance from Santa Claus this year is this amazing Educo Gourmet Play Kitchen! No more fashioning makeshift ovens out of pillows or pretending books are cupcakes for her! (Although, I love her imagination!)

We're delighted to have found this perfectly sized play kitchen to encourage her love of cooking and baking, and we know she'll serve up endless amounts of fun using it. Made of Baltic birch plywood and hardwood, this 30 piece cookery comes fully equipped with a cook top, sink, utensil rack, oven with a see through door, and play food galore!

I also love that it is a classic, timeless toy that may be handed down for generations. Kitchen play is adored by toddler boys and girls, and this is a toy that will make many a fond memory for years to come!

Craft TuesD.I.Y with Lisa Lopez: Make a Juice Carton Gingerbread House!

Kids love to decorate gingerbread houses, and my son especially loves eating all of the candy as he puts it on the house. But what I don't love are the expensive gingerbread house kits! I can never get them to assemble correctly without the walls falling down, and the icing is a mess. I definitely do not have the time to hand roll gingerbread and score it into walls, etc., so here is a very simple, eco-friendly way to make an adorable gingerbread house out of a milk or juice carton using graham crackers for the walls!

Materials You Will Need:

• Empty milk or juice carton, washed and left to air dry. You can also use small whipping cream cartons to make miniature houses too.
• Hot glue and regular glue. Sometimes the hot glue can melt the candies, but it works well for the graham crackers.
• Graham crackers
• Various candies and cookies of your choice: gumdrops, licorice, M&Ms, candy canes, you can even use cereal!
  
• Royal icing: for a simple recipe click here, and a bag for piping the icing onto your house.
  

Covering the Carton with Graham Cracker Walls:
If you have a milk carton that doesn't have a screw lid and opens from the top, simply glue the opening closed. Next, glue your graham crackers to the carton, covering all 4 sides. Use a knife to cut your graham crackers to fit each side -- be careful because they break if you press too hard. Don't worry about the top of the carton... this is the roof of your 'house' which may be covered with mini Oreos, Nilla wafers, or candy. You also don't need to cover the bottom of the carton, because it won't stand if you do!


The Roof:
Once you have covered the carton with graham crackers, use your glue (hot glue is best) to install your cookie and candy coated roof. Don't worry about any gaps where you can see the carton underneath, the icing and candy can cover them. Now you can begin decorating your house!


Decorate Your House:

Use your regular glue to affix the candy, the icing is meant purely for looks and to fill in nooks and crannies. You can make windows, doors... anything you want! This simple gingerbread house is a wonderful green activity for kids and it would be a real hit as entertainment at a holiday party. When you are finished decorating your house, glue your carton to a piece of cardboard and decorate that as well with trees, candy lanes, more houses -- the possibilities are endless!