How to Make a Recycled Birdfeeder

To end off the week, we thought we would share another great way for kids to be creative this summer. Below is creative and eco-friendly way to make your own birdfeeder!

What you will need:

• A clean empty bottle (2 Liters or more)
• Permanent markers or paint
• One or two skewers or unsharpened pencils
• String or wire
• Scissors or craft knife
• Bird food :)

How to:

1. Cut holes around the bottle - make sure they are large enough for birds to come in and out. You can leave flaps of plastic towards the bottom for the birds to rest on.
2. Decorate your bottle with the markers or paint - make it colorful so it looks great in your backyard :)
3. Stick one or two skewers at the bottom as another place for the birds to rest.
4. Punch a hole in the cap of the bottle and add a loop of wire or string so it can be hung from a tree.
5. Add the bird food and enjoy the chirping birds eating in your own backyard :)

We hope you and your family enjoy this green bird feeder all summer long :)

Quick Kid Friendly Recipe (:

Kids are always asking for fun things to do in the summer. Instead of having to take them somewhere to be entertained, let them have fun right at home!

This is a super easy, no bake, dessert that your kids can do all on their own - all you have to do is get them the bowl from up top :)

What they will need:

• 12 Oreo cookies
• 1/4 cup milk
• 8 tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter
• A spoonful of honey

Have them crush the Oreos in a bowl. Then add the rest of the ingredients and mix until it is all combined. Let them roll the mixture into balls and/or any fun shape they desire. Add sprinkles as a decoration. Refrigerate on a plate for a least 30 minutes.

Enjoy this tasty treat with your family - your kids will be so proud they did it all themselves :)

Bedazzle Your Shoes!!

Can you believe we finally made it to the summer season? If you are lucky enough to live in a warm state like California or Florida, you’re no rookie, but for the rest of us, we have finally approached the sweet summer air.

Now that summer has arrived, your children need to turn the television, video game, and computer off and celebrate the season. Encourage your children to decorate a pair of flip-flops. This exciting, crafty activity will have your children up and running for days.

So… ready to paint those nails and put on some sandals?

What You Need:

1. new or old pair of plain flip-flops
2. hot glue gun (care not to burn yourself!)
3. Various decorations for example, ribbon, fabric, rhinestones, beads, or any recycled item around the house.

What To Do:

1. Lay down an area of newspaper where you will be decorating your flip-flops.
   
2. Make sure your flips-flips are clean and ready to be bejeweled.
3. Now that the flip-flops are clean and ready to go, have you child get a sense of what she/he wants the decorated flip-flops to look like.
4. If the glue gun is hot enough- start gluing! Let your child’s imagination prosper.
5. Once you are done gluing, have your brand new decked out flip flops lay out for an hour.

Its time to slip on your J-41™ outdoor comfort shoe’s and allow the memory foam footbed to engulf your feet! We hope you enjoy you’re J-41™’s and your children’s jazzed up shoes!

How To Make A Recycled Vase

One of my favorite ways to decorate the house is with fresh flowers. There is nothing more beautiful than to watch flowers you've bought grow in your own home. As a way to end our "going green" week, we thought we would share a way to make an eco-friendly and reusable vase.

What you will need:

• A rinsed out milk carton (any size)
• Wrapping paper of your choice
• Scissors
• Double stick tape

How to:

First, cut off the top of the milk carton. An easy way to do this is to completely open the top, then cut down and around. If you want, you can make a cool rim (zig zags, wavy, etc.) Make sure to leave the bottom half at the height you want. Discard the top. Wrap the wrapping paper around the entirety of the vase and stick it on with the double stick tape. Fill it up half way with water, and add your favorite flowers. Voila! There it is - your very own recycled, reusable vase!

Have a great weekend and don't forget to check back next week!

Got an old Vinyl Record kicking around the house that you no longer listen to? Don’t waste it, recycle it into a trendy, super cool bowl. Serving bowls are crucial item is most households. Whether your serving your own children or guests, this vinyl record bowl would be a perfect, eco-friendly, yet chic bowl to eat from. Also, this would make an awesome gift for the music lovers. They are so funky, yet incredibly simple to create.

Here’s how you do it…

You will need:

• A Vinyl Record
• A heat proof metal bowl
• Oven mitts
• Baking Sheet
• Oven

How to:

1. Preheat the oven to around 200-250 degrees (low low temp).
   
2. Place the metal bowl upside down in the oven.
   
3. Gently place the vinyl record on top of the bowl - be sure that the record is centered on the metal bowl. Set the timer for about 5 minutes.
   
4. After 5 minutes, check on the record (it may need another minute or two). When the record starts drooping down, put your oven mitts on and remove the metal bowl and record. Immediately place the diminished record into the metal bowl. With only about a minute to do so, use your hands to shape the softened record to the form of the bowl.
   
5. Have the album air off for a few minutes. Once the record cools, remove it from the metal bowl, and there you have it! Your very own Vinyl Record Bowl. Isn’t it just awesome?

My vinyl record bowl sits right on my coffee table. This always reminds me of our need as a whole not to just very carelessly consume and toss the un-worthy, we can make use of these items in a fun, yet easy way!

5 Must Needed Green Items

This summer we wanted to focus on being green... while saving some green($)! Luckily your cute J-41™ shoes your wearing are made from partially recycled rubber, and the packaging is 100% recycled... so your already on the right track! Its so easy to forget the little ways to stay green on a day to day basis, but think about how it effects your pocket. Something as simple as using a reusable water bottle every day vs buying a bottle of water on your way to work- your saving an average of $10 a week and 5 plastic bottles, just by using a reusable water bottle. You can even get a discount at Starbucks™ if you bring you own reusable mug! Get on board and start saving both mother earth and your green!

1. Buy yourself a pair of J-41™'s. Made of partially recycled rubber, these Eco-friendly shoes will have both your feet and the environment thanking you!
2. Thermos/Mug/Water Bottle: I told you this was going to be easy. Having a trusty water bottle, thermos, or mug that you can carry around and fill up with water or coffee at various establishments will cut down on phenomenal amounts of waste over the years—especially if you drink as much water/coffee as I do.
3. Tote bag: Put an end to the paper or plastic eco conundrum once and for all—get yourself a reusable tote bag and don't let either pile up in landfills.
4. Clothesline: Our culture dictates that convenience and expedience come first?hence the clothes drier being a staple of the American home. But it shouldn't be. Why pay for and suck down electricity (or fork over a bunch of quarters at the Laundromat), when you can dry your clothes for free? Sure, it might take a bit longer, but using a clothesline is cheaper and greener.
5. Smart Strip: These handy surge protectors will stave off the effects of vampire power—how plugged in appliances drain electricity even when turned off. Smart strips vary in affordability, with some models priced as low as $14.95—and the savings in electricity will more than make up for the cost. These are a must for any green home.
6. Water Filter: Combine this with numero uno, and you'll never have to buy bottled water again. This is one of the most important items every environmentally conscious soul should own—it turns your tap into an endless fountain of fresh tasting water, and cuts the waste out of your water.

What are you doing to stay green? Leave us some feedback, we would love some tips from you! Have a great day!

Exercise Tips For The Less Active

Exercise to most of us is more a chore than something to do for fun. Here are some tips that will help motivate you to keep up with your exercise before those extra couple of pounds creep up on you. (They really do help!)

1. Slip on your Jambu™'s! These women's comfort shoes provide your feet with a comfort haven due to their Memory Foam Footbed™. This will give your feet the needed comfort so that you can workout extra long!
   
2. Don't get intimidated by the prospect of a daily exercise regimen. You don't have to run a marathon. You need only get your body moving each day. Once you tone your muscles, you'll naturally find yourself wanting to do more challenging workouts.
   
3. Reframe the way you think about exercise. Begin to think of each workout as a gift you give to yourself instead of just another "should," "ought," or "must."
4. Make sure you enjoy your exercise program. Some people like classes. Some people don't. Choose what's right for you so it becomes something you actually look forward to.
5. Make sure your workout is convenient. Schedule it for a time of day when you typically feel the most energetic. Have your gym bag packed and ready to go by the door or in the car.
6. Make your workout weather-proof. If you run or walk outside, get the right workout gear so weather conditions are never an excuse.
7. Make sure you're doing it right. One reason for wanting to quit exercising is injury or pain. Check with your doctor before you start an exercise program so you know you're safe in the workout you choose. And check in with trainers, too, if you're working on equipment at the gym or trying a new sport.
8. If you're having a low-energy day, tell yourself you have to exercise for only ten minutes. That will get you moving, and once you're in the exercise groove, you'll usually want to finish your workout.
9. Go with friends. Start a group for walking, running, or training. The camaraderie (and peer pressure) can do wonders for your daily motivation.
10. After a really good workout, write a few notes in your journal about how good you feel. Use it as a reference the next time you don't want to begin.
11. Start with small goals. If you want to run for 30 minutes, for example, start by walking fast. When you can do that, make a goal to spend those 30 minutes running for one minute, walking for one minute. When you build on these smaller goals, you'll be running in no time. And you'll give your confidence a boost, too.
12. Recognize that some days it will be easier to exercise, and some days you'll have to struggle through the workout. This has to do with a lot of factors, including mood, hormones, the glass of wine you had last night...Take the pressure off by understanding the fluctations. And exercise anyway.
13. Try behavior modification tapes.
14. Use a visible reward system. The effects of exercise are cumulative and long-term, so sometimes it helps to see your results on a daily basis. After each workout, put a big red star on the calendar as a symbol that you completed the day's workout. Take photos of yourself every month in your workout gear so you have a visual record of your results, too.
15. Get to the bottom of your exercise aversion. For women, if it's the run-of-the-mill gym you can't stand, try a women-oriented fitness center, such as Curves. This is a fast-growing fitness phenomenon, and many women feel like their workout becomes a 30-minute vacation--like a girls' night out at the exercise machines.
    
16. Be gentle with yourself. Take a day off at least once a week. And if you do skip a few workouts, don't beat yourself up, but do get right back in the routine. The fewer consecutive days you skip, the more likely you'll be to make your workout a lasting gift you give to yourself.

We hope that these help you boost your self esteem, help you stay with your workouts, and achieve that body that you've been waiting for!!!