Lets talk travel mugs... again x

 

OK so have been 'off line' for a while but here we are back and blogging. No promises that I will get in more than one a week but that is my plan for now. Some new and updated reviews in the pipeline. We will bring back our Dublin Events Page and launch a London Events Page too... but for now lets talk travel mugs and me!

Not all that long ago I jumped on the travel mug band wagon. It was the boring silver type with a black lid. It did the job right but it didn't look all that me, I love a little colour in my life. So recently it broke, I recycled it and got super excited about getting a new travel mug.

I spotted these gorgeous ceramic travel mugs in Urban Outfitters around Christmas time. One of those things I should have just got there and the patterns are adorable. I thought that I would shop around a little more but nothing topped these until I was in good old Oxfam and found a simple but funky ceramic travel mug. Buy of the year I reckon... It's just like these ones only its plain white with a red band and a red top, seeing I'm trying a little to move away from pink and bring red back into my wardrobe its perfect, a little retro or something...

The first time I posted about my travel mug I gave you the math so here it is again

The Math –

If I got 1 take away coffee a week (and well let’s face it, it’s usually three) for a whole year I have saved by using my travel mug between 52 – 156 paper cups, and 52 – 156 plastic lids from ending up in landfill.

I also urged everyone who hasn't got themselves a good travel mug to do so and this little change in your life could make a big difference to our earth. It's a change I made a year ago and I haven't looked back just re-styled that's all :)

You can buy a huge range of travel mugs from Urban Outfitters online at www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/gifts-+amp-novelties/mugs/icat/mugs/

Angi xxx

Mama Loves an Eco-friendly Christmas...

Christmas can be such a wasteful time, that is not what it is all about at all... over the next few weeks I will try to post a few of my favourite tips for keeping it green this Christmas, to get the baubles rolling here are a couple of pics that have given me a little inspiration this festive season....

I absolutely love love love this, combining the silver candle holders and adding pine cones, so simple and so effective, a perfect table centre piece.

This is so subtle and cute, I adore it because it doesn't scream CHRISTMAS it whispers Christmas ever so quietly.

I'm loving the red and white tea set, very candy cane and the baubles make a cute way to serve delicious chocolate or fudges on Christmas day!

I found this image at www.furniturehomedesign.com

Pop over to this site for and endless list of amazing eco- ideas, I just love it, so inspirational! I think this particular tree could be great in the garden and wouldn't it be pretty if tea lights were placed at the end of each branch instead of lights... ooh magical!

Loads more Christmas to come soon...

Love the Yummy Mummies and The Jestestting Babies

xxx

A fabulous weekend at Peas and Pods

Last week I posted about Peas and Pods Market in the Dublin Food Co-op. It was my first time going to the market but I can say that I will be back the next time, no questions asked.

What a totally brilliant day, I do not even know where to being maybe by recounting the chilled and relaxed atmosphere that oozed from the markets the moment we walked in. I went in with a friend and her son and we really had no idea what to expect.  The market is located in the Dublin Food Co-op which in itself was a wonderful experience, Katie and I picked up some tasty organic food for ourselves and the babies and we were both really impressed at how reasonable the prices were, they beat Tesco any day!

I was blown away by the market stalls belonging to different mothers with different ideas from eco-friendly baby products and birthday decorations to hand made booties, shoes and clothing. It was quite inspiring to see so many mothers with their own businesses managing to be successful and do such a wonderful job at parenting.

There were so many activities for toddlers and children. Amelie and her friend Hugo began with a sing-a-long lead by the gospel choir all of the favourites, twinkle twinkle, row row row your boat and some new ones too, the choir were singing in aid of Bernardos and it was great to see the little ones having such a great time and supporting a well-deserved charity at the same time.

After a lunch break and some delicious pizza’s Amelie had a try at getting her face painted, after just a minute she was squirming away so I gave up and took her to an activity she would enjoy a little more. A baby dance and music class where she got to have another dance and make a lot of noise with different instruments.  

Baby Wearing Ireland were in attendance with a wide selection of slings to try or buy, I did spend a lot of time at their stall but it is a great reason to go to the next Peas and Pods Market. The next Peas and Pods Market will be held in the Dublin Food Co-op on the 3^rd of April. If you are looking for a really great day out, a chance to meet  some new people, eat some good food and have fun with your babies and toddlers!

Amelies face was painted by Elder Trindade, he was wonderful with the children on various ages and the face painting was brilliant, I got chatting to him and guess what he is on blogspot too so if you are looking for something different for your next party check him out!

www.eldertrindade arts.blogspot.com

 

Eco Friendly Tip # 3 – Goodbye Chemicals, Hello Lemons and Lavender

Chemicals are everywhere in the home, when it comes to cleaning it is so easy to go overboard and fill our cupboards with a different spray, gel or soap for every different problem We can become obsessed with disinfecting and sterilising everything.  How healthy can this be for our children? Older generations survived without all the chemicals and cleaning products in fancy, over engineered, heavily packaged plastic bottles and so can we. Here are a few tips to help you eradicate the chemicals from your home and make for a clean, green and healthy environment for your children to grow and play in.

There are some great eco-products on the market and I will dedicate a blog to some of the best ones available in Dublin soon. First I want to go back to the basics and give you a few hints on cleaning the home without chemicals. Baking soda and Vinegar can clean most things and are essential in keeping your home sparkling, lemons can help remove odours and essentail oils can give your home a lovely aroma not sure where to start? Read on for a few handy tips:

To clean chopping boards

Use a cloth and vinegar to disinfect and clean wooden chopping boards

To clean floors

I love to use my H20 steam cleaner on our floors. I give them a quick sweep and then fire it up. It uses steam (no chemicals) to remove dirt and even sterilise my floors. (Ok this isn’t exactly basic but I couldn’t leave it out)

To clean chrome

Use undiluted vinegar to polish clean and shine.

To remove fridge odours

Place 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda in an open container and leave it in the fridge, I also find a few slice of lemon left in the fridge does the trick too.

To remove grease stains in your clothing

Forget expensive satin removers full of chemicals you’ve never even heard of. Either add baking soda to the wash load or pre-treat the stain with a baking soda paste.

To clean counter tops and kitchen surfaces

Sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth, wipe and then rinse with clean water.

Use a couple of drops of lavender oil in water in a spray bottle as a last risnse on your bench tops for a pretty fragrance in your kitchen.

To clean mirrors and glass

Mix 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar with 1 & a half of water in a spray bottle, and wipe clean with paper or a dry cloth this works so well.

To clean aluminium

Use a solution of cream of tartar and water.

To clean silver

Use toothpaste instead of toxic sliver cleaner to clean silver it will come up really well. If you want to get a great polish on your silver try boiling water with a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda in a pan lined with aluminium.

To give your house a lovely smell

Trdae in the 'glade' and chemical infused home fragrances for some essential oils diluted in water I like tea-tree or lavander best. Fresh cut lavander looks stunning and also smells so much better than anythign you can buy in the cleaning isle in the store.

The Yummy Mummy and Jetsetting Babies Eco Friendly Tip # 2

Eco Friendly Tip # 2 – Toys that ‘never die’

I read a great book while on holiday in Australia on having a green mind when you go about your day to day living of your lives. The name and author has escaped me but I promise to find out ASAP and post it in to this blog. Basically the author talked about items in their lives which lasted, ‘things that never died’. These items were ones which once purchased once did not need to be replaced for a very long time, if you could re-use and re-use an item it’s carbon footprint in less than something that you only use once and dispose of. It inspired me to try and make as many of my belongings ‘things that never die’.

When first buying toys for my daughter I realised that I had an opportunity for me to make eco-conscious purchases and buy toys that would ‘never die’. There are so many plastic bits and bobs out there that can be squashed, smashed and broken and so often there is a wooden alternative. If you purchase a wooded toy it will last the life time of your child, your children, friend’s children and even be passed down generations. (Dylan’s rocking horse is a great example, Tara’s husband found it in his Dad’s attic it looks great in their sitting room, works just as well as all the plastic rocking horses out there and not only did it not cost a cent it has close a zero carbon footprint .)

I find the ‘Melissa and Doug’ toys to be really good quality, brightly coloured educational and most importantly indestructible. Amelie loves her wooden toys. Now I won’t lie she has her share of plastic ones too but I find a little solace in my eco-conscious purchases and know that when she out grows them I can put them away for my children, grandchildren or great grandchildren to come, at best they will need a dust and a new coat of paint.

Amelie concentrating very had on her 'Melissa & Doug' stacking toy

There is a wonderful store in Stillorgan called Nimble Fingers. They are jam packed wall to wall with wooden and fabric toys for your kids. They are beautiful and reasonably priced. I can’t wait to get Amelie a doll house when she is a little older. You can even shop on line http://www.nimblefingers.ie/

Eco-Conscious Toy pointers

We all love to spoil our kids but before you rush to the shop to buy them all the newest and latest toys think about the following ideas, you might save a few bob and help out mother nature too.

-          Sometimes children will have as much fun with the pots, pans and wooden spoons do they really need a new toy, get creative around the house you’ll have fun and save money!

-          Swap toys with friends when your children get bored as opposed to buying new ones.

-          Put some toys away and bring them out again after a few weeks, it is like having new toys.

-          Raid the attic of your parents, who knows what you might find?

-          Second hand toys will only need a clean and polish and if you buy from a charity store you are giving back to your community too and helping those in need.

-          Buy toys made locally or by hand, check out your local craft markets.

-          Buy toys the will ‘never die’ made from wood or fabric

-          Donate old toys and books to a school, charity or crèche

-          Get outside and in touch with nature, far better than any toy you could imagine!

 Amelie gettig up close and personal with some of natures most beautiful toys at Adeliade Zoo

Dylan and Amelie having some fun in the park... They look like they could do with a few toys here

ha ha ha but they were actually having a great time this day enjoyng the grass and the birds they

were full of smiles, I promise!

Again, I completely plagiarised this term ‘thing that never die’ and will post the author

responsible for my inspiration as soon as I find the book again. It was a great read and clearly very inspirational.

With love,

Angi, Tara and the Jetsetting Babies

Eco Friendly Tip # 1 – Me & My Travel Mug

Eco Friendly Tip # 1 – Me & My Travel Mug

For Christmas I was very excited to open one of my presents and find a travel mug. I had wanted one for quite some time but had not gotten around to picking one up.  The main reason I wanted a travel mug was because all of those take away lattes had really started to eat at my conscience. I imagined the pile of paper cups, plastic lids and paper sugar packets getting higher and higher the landfill spilling over and toppling into pristine forests and crystal clear ocean (overactive imagination YES far from the reality NO. So every time I bought a cup of coffee to drink while doing the shopping or running errands it tasted a little bitter, even though there was nothing wrong with the coffee.

Now I simply pop into my favourite café (that sells fair-trade organic coffee of course) hand them my travel mug and I am on my way sipping a delicious guilt free latte. It stays hot for longer too so it means if you get distracted with a dirty nappy or a crying baby and the coffee gets forgotten you have a much better chance of still enjoying it warm instead of cold. I salute everyone out there who already has their eco-friendly travel mug and urge all of you who don’t to jump to the travel mug band wagon! If you are a Yummy Mummy who lives a hectic life this is a small, simple practical item that you will really enjoy and it’s great for the planet!

The Math –

If I got 1 take away coffee a week (and well let’s face it, it’s usually three) for a whole year I have saved by using my travel mug between 52 – 156 paper cups, and 52 – 156 plastic lids from ending up in landfill.

Check out www.kitchen cookware.ie and pick up your Travel Mug today!