Lucky Tree Bags, the GoodEbag

A close friend recently launched her eco-friendly grocery bag line right here in Charleston. The beautiful chocolate brown bags are stylish & sturdy. From an organizer's perspective they create order in the trunk, folding up neat and flat. From a "green" perspective, the message is clear. RE think it! With messages printed on the bag, designed to make us think while inspiring us to do better.  My favorite part are the cute side pockets made especially for a pot of herbs or your natural cleaning products. Right now the bags are available at Expressions Art & Framing on Daniel Island (next to Publix). 

Thrifty Thursdays - Lentil Soup

During these tough economic times I though I would reserve Thursday's blog topic for green, healthy ways to save some cash. Here is a great recipe for a yummy soup I just made for the kids. Not only is it healthy & hearty, but it is an inexpensive meal. I bought all the ingredients at Whole Foods, but made sure I got the generic 365 brand to save money.

Lentil Soup:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 carrot sliced in discs

Saute the above till the onions are clear then add the below ingredients and let simmer 45 minutes or till lentils are soft

• 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
• 1 cup dry lentils
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• dash of thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• dash salt
• can of diced tomatoes

Croutons:

Take a small loaf of fresh bread, slice thinly, toss in a bit of olive oil and sea salt, bake till crispy. 

Serve soup with croutons and parmesan cheese on top.... Enjoy!

Money Saving Tip: Eating Vegetarian is a great way to save money!

Louie's Kids Yoga-thon

Don't forget to head down to Marion Square this weekend for the Yoga-thon benefiting Louie's Kids. The event will take place on Saturday October 11th from 12-2 pm. Join the yoga community for 108 Sun Salutations to fight childhood obesity. Interested in participating or donating? Check out the web site, www.louieskids.org

Tips for minimizing your paper work!

Here are a few tips to keep the paper stacks to a minimum:

1. Only let paper touch your hands once. File it, shred it, or recycle it RIGHT AWAY!

2. Keep your files within reach so you can easily file what you must keep. 

3. Reduce your junk mail at  www.greendimes.com

4. Email companies who send you catalogs and tell them you prefer to shop on-line

5. Sign up for on-line bill pay and e-bills

6. Have a file for every member of the family and purge them on recycle day

7. Stop all of the unwanted credit card offers from arriving at your doorstep at www.optoutprescreen.com

GOOD LUCK!

Neecy Designs

Who knew I had a neighbor who can not only can make a killer scone but can sew absolutely anything! Well Neecy, of Neecy Designs, can! Today I was given a sneak peak of her latest designs. A fabric covered head-board, side tables made of salvaged materials then covered in chic fabric, fabric wall-hangings, and pillows galore. I have included some pictures of her designs. She is local and does custom orders as well. Interested? Stay tuned for her contact information....

Charleston Green Fair Today

Don't forget to check out the Charleston Green Fair today from 12-6 pm in Marion Square! Green products, information, and sustainable restaurants will be featured at the event. Fun for kids as well. Find out how to be more environmentally aware in Charleston.

Another Waste Free Lunch Box

Check out this great lunch box from Kids Konserve. It is completely waste free. The system includes a sandwich sack, 2 stainless steel containers, a stainless water bottle,organic cotton napkin, and sack to carry it all. Their web site is full of ways to decrease waste and protect the environment. If you have ever been to lunch at your child's school you know how much gets mindlessly tossed in the trash. This is a great way to get kids involved in conservation, let them set the example in the cafeteria. Knowledge is power!

DIY modern storage cans - UPDATE

I am still working out the kinks so be kind....

Here are some pictures of the  first cans I made today. I still need to add ribbon to the pink one, but part of me likes the simplicity. I will attempt the larger cans tomorrow. Stay tuned for more pictures....

Aluette’s Cafe - Organic local food

This past week I had the joy of going to lunch with a dear friend of mine. Living downtown she always knows the best places to eat. Most of the time they are tucked away and off the beaten path. So on Thursday we heading down Reid Street to Aluette's Cafe. A tiny peach building is the home of an absolute gem. Think local, organic, healthy, yummy food with a touch of soul. The cafe was packed at noon, so I suggest getting there early for lunch. They do have an outdoor patio so now that fall has arrived it would be an ideal spot to dine. 

P.S I was especially inspired by the voter registration forms placed right by the door, just in case you need one....

Modern DIY Storage

As you know I love new and innovative ways to store things. Recently I came across these great DIY storage cans on Design Sponge. I thought I would give them a try with some beautiful paper from Lesesne on King Street. The shop located on upper King has a beautiful selection on modern paper that will work perfectly. If you have not been in and love stationary it is the place to shop. Yummy candles, beautiful table linens, and lovely paper all in one shop. I will keep you posted on the storage cans as the project progresses. 

Updates on Lap Top Lunches and Meal Exchange

Here is the low down on the Lap Top Lunch Box and my neighborhood meal exchange. First of all I love the Lap Top Lunch. Zero waste and because the compartments are on the small size the kids eat everything I pack. Having 5 compartments also promotes variety. I can pack a fruit, veggie, snack, and sandwich. Best of all the kids love them. One more plus is that they are flat and keep their backpacks flat minimizing the bulk. 

Now onto the meal exchange. Three weeks of meal exchanging has proved successful and fun. We have all tried new foods and the kids have learned they like the unexpected. The exchange has saved time, money, and energy. Cooking once instead of three times has freed up time to spend with family and decreased my stress. My goal has always been to simplify and this fits right in. If you are interested in the details let me know. 

Upcoming Show at the Real Estate Studio

Bloom' in Art Party to Benefit Art Programs in High Need Schools

On November 7th, 7-10pm, Bloom' in Art will host a party at The Real Estate Studio, 214 King Street, to benefit art programs in local high need schools. 

The mission of Bloom' in Art is to "grow local artists" while donating a portion of the proceeds to art programs in local schools. This traveling art show, featured in the Post and Courier,  will have the work of local painters, potters, textile artists, and jewelry makers on display. It is a great way to purchase art while supporting local schools. Light food and beverages will be served. 

The Real Estate Studio, 214 King Street, Charleston. Friday, November 7th, 7-10pm. 

Yummy EVO Pizza

Before heading to the Hootie and the Blowfish concert a few weeks ago we checked out Evo Pizza up in quaint Park Circle. Yummy! We started with a plate of olives and local summer squash with feta cheese. After enjoying the salad and olives we moved on to the pizzas. Not only was the crust the perfect thickness but the cheese was so fresh! Great friends, local beer, and pizza what could be better? Alright, the concert was icing on the cake, or should I say topping on the pie.

My Neighborhood "Meal Exchange"

In the triangle of homes in my alley way lives three families totaling 6 adults and 8 kids. We have decided to experiment with taking turns cooking dinner three nights a week. On each night one family will prepare enough food for all three families, thereby cooking once instead of three times. Not only will this save on trips to the store and time, you will save on energy as well. We met for tea and picked a menu for a month of meals. Basic guidelines were also set: meal must be ready by 5 pm, healthy and organic, and dietary restrictions to respect. I will keep you posted on how it goes, so far so good, my meal was delivered across the fence promptly by 5:00.

Lap Top Lunch Box

The mission in my home is to simplify everything, from the laundry to the lunches. I recently purchased the Lap Top Lunch Boxes for my kids. I love how everything is contained in little compartments and minimizes waste. All of the containers and the bag are free of phthalates, lead, PVC, and BPA.  This is a test run so I will keep you posted on how they work for my kids. Any thoughts or reviews let me know....