2 Can't-Miss Organic Easter Basket Ideas

Spring is here!  And Easter is right around the corner.  Need some healthier alternatives for the Easter Bunny to bring?  How about Allison's Gourmet Organic Vegan Chocolate Bunny?  Allison's is offering Easter goodies this year that look ridiculously good.  Oh  how I'd love for the Easter Bunny to bring me...uh...my son some of these. 

Fresh Organic Carrots with the stems.  Every year the Easter Bunny leaves a bunch of carrots for my son along with the chocolate and a couple of toys.  He seems to appreciate the carrots the most!  Get them from your local Farmers' Market.

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Fridge Binz: Vegetarian's Best Friend

Do you have expensive organic produce rotting in your refrigerator because you can't find it?  Or you don't use it because you don't see it and then find a shriveled up mystery vegetable a few weeks later and remember that recipe you meant to try.  I do this all the time, I spend a fortune on organic produce only to let it go bad which is expensive and wasteful.   I hate throwing away organic food, don't you?

Well not anymore.  I discovered these amazing refrigerator organizers called Fridge Binz and they completely solved this problem.  My fridge used to contain big clumps of produce jammed in.  It was just a big green pile and I'd have to rummage through it searching for whatever it was while things were going bad at different rates.  Now I have my produce totally organized and NOTHING has gone bad for a good two weeks.  This is huge.

I warn you, these things become addictive for a while until you get all your stuff organized, you'll want several.  I found two locally, then I realized you can also get them online at stores like The Container Store and Amazon.  They come in all different shapes and sizes to fit your needs.

They are fantastic for juice enthusiasts.  I have one for all my juicing produce--this makes an enormous difference in my juicing routine, cutting down time.  I just pull out that bin, draw right from it while I'm juicing, then return it to the fridge when I'm done.  It's so much easier than rooting around for each thing.

My refrigerator is so beautiful and organized now, my obsession migrated to my pantry.  The bins are interchangeable from fridge to pantry, but I like the bins with the lip for the fridge and the bins with the handles for the pantry.  I have really deep shelves in my pantry that are not practical at all.  These bins help so much with keeping things under control and making food accessible when it wasn't before.

If you have children, you can designate bins for them, they would be great in a roommate situation or you can keep special dietary needs separate from other food--gluten free for instance.  There are so many ways to use these.  I wish I could organize everything so easily.

I think these pay for themselves very quickly in terms of conserving food that would have otherwise been thrown out.  You might also eat a lot healthier if your produce is right there in front of you and easy to get at.  They are BPA free and a fabulous invention, find them HERE on Amazon (click on INTERDESIGN under the product title to see more of their stuff).

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Tape Sculptures

Tape is an interesting commodity around our house, my son is completely fascinated by it and can go through an entire roll of packing tape in one sitting.  So I hide it.  It doesn't work, he inevitably finds it and  creates his own brand of artwork with mixed media and a heavy emphasis on tape including his own version of sculpture.  It's always been that way, I'm not sure quite what it's all about, but even at the store, he asks for tape.  I do indulge him sometimes, I love to see his creativity in action, but at $3-4 a roll, it adds up and I don't care for the waste. When I saw these tape sculptures by Mark Jenkins, I thought, maybe I should give in to this more often.

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LivingHomes New C6 Eco Affordable Home

LivingHomes has just introduced their newest home, the C6.  It's a more affordable option, with all the modern appeal that is so fabulous in their other homes.  That, and it's eco friendly, certified LEED Platinum.  At 180K, you get three bedrooms, two baths and great design.  I would LOVE to live in one of their homes.  This particular project was part of a collaboration with Make It Right, a non profit founded by architect William McDonough and Brad Pitt to help out with the devastation following Hurricane Katrina.  A portion of C6 proceeds will go to Make It Right.  Find out more and see photos of the interior HERE.

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GIVEAWAY: Garden of Life Kid's Probiotics

In Their Words:

Probiotics are living microflora that play a critical role in maintaining good health by supporting normal bowel function and a healthy immune system.^†
Probiotics maximize the benefits of a healthy diet by supporting normal absorption and assimilation of nutrients in the gut.^†
Certain probiotic blends help support normal gastrointestinal balance of good and potentially harmful bacteria.

How is Primal Defense^® Kids different from other probiotic formulas?

• Primal Defense^® Kids contains a 4 billion^** live cell count of four species of beneficial probiotic cultures.
• It contains a unique Bifidobacterium blend with the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii, that supports healthy intestinal epithelium lining integrity, the front line for the body's defense system.^†
• Its three species of Bifidobacteria: Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis and Bifidobacterium longum, are all found in a healthy child's digestive tract and have all been clinically studied in children, as has Saccharomyces boulardii.
• Primal Defense Kids is made with organic banana so your child will enjoy taking it.

To Enter Giveaway, just go HERE and leave a comment.  Additional entries available too.  Good Luck!

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All Weather Must Have: Smart Wool V Neck

If you don't already have some Smartwool tees, you are missing out.  I love these for camping and travel specifically, but they are fabulous for everyday life.  They regulate body temperature, they don't get funky when you sweat--this is awesome for traveling when you are dealing with a limited wardrobe selection.  Even more if you are backpacking and every piece has to be uber practical.  And practical they are--but they are also super cute.

Check out the flattering lines on this v neck.  I love it for layering and just wearing by itself.  This under my down vest has been a staple for me, I want one in every color.  It's feminine and functional and perfect for more activities than I can name.  A definite staple and necessity.

Smartwool also recently came out with some patterned tops that give you more fashion options--they're fun.  Check out this stripey zip collar top.  I love the color and pattern, it's nice to see this energetic top.  Both tops would serve you well year round (this stuff is awesome on summer nights too).  I find that Smartwool tops can run a little small for me, normally I'd wear a medium and I tend to size up to large while on bottoms I remain a medium.  Find these cute tops and more HERE on the Smartwool website.

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Barleans Vegan Omega Swirl Delicious

Want a quality Omega supplement that actually tastes good?  Barlean's Vegan Omega Swirls are delicious, too delicious.  I don't know about you, but I find even the vegan omegas somehow have a fishy taste and they're kind of hard to get down.  I could never find one I liked until now.  And not only that, but my six year old loves it (in a different dosage, check Barlean's website for child appropriate does).  I am totally sold on this product and this will be my new source for EFA's.

Omegas or EFA's (essential fatty acids) are found in fish, walnuts, seeds such as flax, hemp and chia, and leafy greens and most of us tend to run deficient.  Omegas are a necessary supplement, I believe and I really limit my intake of supplements, preferring to get my nutrition from quality organic food.  However, deficiency in omegas can lead to mental fog, depression, hyper activity in kids, lack of focus, dry skin, and other maladies.  Barlean's is a family owned business located in the Pacific Northwest and they are known for quality and freshness.  They have a wide variety of oil, so if you are looking for a vegan option, make sure you check the label.

It's not the greatest idea to get your omegas in capsules unless you really trust the company, liquid is generally better to avoid rancidity.  Barlean's is known for freshness, and they back up their product.  I would trust them with capsules, but I prefer the swirl formulas, why not enjoy a little treat?  Also, kids can easily swallow it, whereas I would never give my son a capsule for fear of choking.  The Swirls are sweet, but sugar free, sweetened with xylitol which is known for being good for your teeth.  I can't believe I found a yummy flax oil, now I don't have to remind myself to take it, I look forward to it.  Strongly recommended!  Find it HERE.

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