Make your Christmas cards with a lot of love!

It’s that time of the year again…one way to take the stress off of giving cards is to have your children get involved in the creation process!  Warm up the oven, throw some cookies in, and sit down at the table to make some special memories. This is easy and fun for the whole family!

All You Need:

• Glitter
• Old Christmas Cards
• Glue Sticks
• Stickers
• Washable markers and crayons
• Magazine clippings
• Poster board
• Paints
• Sewing buttons
• Laminate
• Scissors
• Old and New Photographs
• Christmas Spirit!

Ribbon will embellish any card with a personal touch

One of my favorite things to do is take out old Christmas cards that I received the previous year, cut out the front picture or maybe even use the inside script, then paste it to a square, star, or heart-shaped piece of poster board.  Then add in the details with features such as, a snowman sticker, a ribbon at the top, or Merry Christmas written in glittery silver and gold!  The sky’s the limit on creativity!

Recycle old Christmas Cards for a Green Christmas!

Your little picasso will love painting that snowman for Grandmother

Old and new photographs can also make a greeting card more personalized for family members that live far away!  Take out your glue stick and paste it on the front then laminate for that sheer effect.  Then decorate your card with all the bells and whistles.

Making cards as a family promotes family unity

This is a great family tradition that your kids will look forward to year after year.  Turn on a little Christmas music and dance while you work to spark your creativity!  Not much of a dancer?  There’s always those cookies that are baking in the oven to sweeten the mood.  The important thing is your together, your doing something for others, and your in the Christmas spirit!  All that’s left is to slip them into the mailbox as a treat for friends and family.

Let your kids place them in the mail to get a feel for giving!

Blogger Laurali Star can be found on her blog, Charming Laurali Star, and on her site, The Damsel in the Attic, where she sells handmade and vintage clothing and accessories.  Another fab way to help reduce, reuse, and recycle!  Check it out!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

Bill sets out healthy foods on display to begin making butterfly food art

The end result: Beautiful and nutritious butterfly snacks!

I had the chance to chat up Bill and Claire Wurtzel on the phone recently and discovered a whole new world of happy as we discussed how to add healthy food choices to your child’s classroom menu, how to make fun food art, and the great love story of Bill and Claire!  All you need:

• Imagination
• An array of healthy foods set out on display
• A willingness to teach and do
• An Open-Heart and Mind

The Love Story:

It turns out, love can be duplicated at breakfast!

Congratulations to Bill and Claire for celebrating their recent 5oth anniversary!  They are a warm and kind couple with a good cause that they want to share with the world.  Funny Food originated in the kitchen at their home in Manhattan, N.Y.C.  On Sunday mornings, Bill would make breakfast for Claire then create art couture from toast, fruits, eggs, and nuts all in hopes of getting a good laugh out of his wife.  About five years ago Claire prompted Bill to take pictures and the New York Times published them on March 2nd, 2011.  From love story to food story, Bill and Claire now have an up-coming Funny Food Book which will become available April 2012.

Healthy Food Workshops:

School Workshops 10-4

Bill and Claire have a message that they hope reach First Lady Michelle Obama in their quest for combating childhood diabetes and obesity as as getting children to eat a well-balanced breakfast.  Together they have visited New York City schools that have high rates of childhood obesity promoting interactive, hands on learning for kids.  They hold workshops in which they display nutritious breakfast from the different foods groups.  Claire, an educator, speaks up about nutrition while Bill models breakfast in his quirky, funny food way.  I was so inspired by my talk with them that I hope to transpire their ideas to Pinellas County Schools in Florida.  Want to make a difference?  Download copies and print copies to pass out at your next PTA meeting.

Bill Wurtzel's Anthroplum created for Green Halloween!

Let kids get creative by setting out a tray of pre-cut nutritious food shapes for art creation!

Take a pita and crack a smile! Who says you can't play with your food?

Take a pita, crack a smile, throw some eggs on top of her head for a funny hairstyle!

Take eggs and yolk and a lot of imagination to make a peggquin scene!

Make sure your toast is gluten-free or whole-wheat for a healthy alternative

Bill’s Background:

Bill Wurtzel is a renowned guitarist and art director.  He improvises breakfast like a jazz solo!  Check out his musical abilities at Bill Wurtzel.

Bill places his love of jazz in this musically inclined Bosc Player!

Panjo

Granddaughter Daniela:

The proud grandparents mentioned their little granddaughter Daniela a few times and since she lives right next door, its the perfect time for Bebop to make her breakfast too!  She gets in on the breakfast action by creating her own works of art.  Check it out and then prep your counter for foodie fun with your own kids!

Bebop Bill made this for Granddaughter Daniela for a healthy dessert

4 year old Granddaughter Daniela Weis making her own art!

4 year old Daniela's fruity doll art!

Yummy, healthy food art kids just love to design

You do the cutting, let your kids create the art!

Daniela made this scary face for Green Halloween! Good job!

This Cantaloupe Skeleton was made especially for Green Halloween by Bill!

Look for Bill Wurtzel as we feature him in up-coming posts on Green Halloween!

Blogger Laurali Star can be found on her blog, Charming Laurali Star, and on her site, The Damsel in the Attic, where she sells handmade and vintage clothing and accessories.  Another fab way to help reduce, reuse, and recycle!  Check it out!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

When I think Earth, I think blessed!

In the month of November, its common to want to count our blessings in honor of Thanksgiving.  When you think about Earth, what comes to mind?  As a nature and green enthusiast, I think about how lucky we are that someone spoke up for the rights of the animals, our oceans, our parks, and the solidity of our way of life.  More than a decade ago, people weren’t aware and took for granted what beauty we possess on this beautiful planet.  We took for granted what we consumed and fed our children and we took for granted that the swamps, oceans, lakes, and parks would always stay pristine.  I propose that this Thanksgiving, you introduce your love of the planet into your feast!  This is a great way to pass down the wisdom of the ages to your children.  It’s easy!  All you have to do is write it down, mention it aloud, or simply invite changes into your meal for everyone to notice.  You can do this by using a free-range turkey, composting your scraps, or by using your green bags to buy your Thanksgiving meal this year.  You lead by example and trust me, your kids and other family members will take notice! Stay tuned for up coming tips on how to go green for Thanksgiving but for now, just be grateful to have gone green and look up the cheap skip bins, they are a great way to start recycling,  Skip Bins Brisbane and their system will then give you the best price for one of our skip bins in your area from one of our many trusted and reliable suppliers.  Your awareness reduces your carbon footprint on the planet.  Now that’s something to be grateful for!

Buy your Thanksgiving meal with a nifty green bag!

Consider alternative fuels to reduce your carbon footprint

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle bottles, newspapers, plastic bags, and more!

If you keep plants or plant a tree, expect clean air for years to come

Earth is really in the palm of your hands!

Be thankful that you decided to Go Green!

Blogger Laurali Star can be found on her blog, Charming Laurali Star, and on her site, The Damsel in the Attic, where she sells handmade and vintage clothing and accessories.  Another fab way to help reduce, reuse, and recycle!  Check it out!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

Trick or treat? Both! With scary foods and treats galore.

Have an up-coming Halloween party and don’t know what to make to feed your guests?  No worries!  Here are five scary foods and treats that are sure to monster rock the house down!

Scary Pear Heads:

Using Pears as your main ingredient makes for a fun and spooky treat!

Ingredients

Directions

1. Remove the stem from the pears. Using a wooden skewer, make a hole in the stem end of each pear. Insert a lollipop stick in each hole.
2. In a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt white chocolate. Let stand until cool. Dip the pears in the chocolate, turning to coat. Stand the pears up in a piece of foam or oasis. Let stand until set, about 40 minutes.
3. In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt the semisweet chocolate. Let cool for 5 minutes. Fit a small pastry bag with a #4 tip, and fill with melted semisweet chocolate. Pipe chocolate onto pears to create facial features. Let stand until set, about 10 minute

Be sure to use chocolate with Fair Trade on the label!  For more fun recipes like this, check out Martha Stewart online!

Swamp Juice:

This spooky drink will creep out any party goer...in a delicious way!

Ingredients

• FOR 8 SERVINGS:
• 1/2 cup small tapioca pearls (found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores)
• 100% natural food coloring
• 4 tablespoons organic sugar

• 8 organic gummy worms
• Seltzer water
• All natural lemonade
• 8 organic gummy worms

Instructions

1. MAKE THE EGGS: Bring 6 cups of water to a boil and add the tapioca pearls. Reduce the heat slightly and boil the pearls, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes.
2. COLOR THE EGGS: Divide the pearls, with the remaining water, between two bowls. Add 4 drops of food coloring (we used 3 drops of yellow and 1 drop of green in one bowl, and 4 drops of blue in the other) and 2 tablespoons of sugar to each bowl. Stir the mixtures, then allow them to sit uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and rinse the pearls with cold water.
3. ASSEMBLE THE DRINK: Spoon 2 tablespoons of pearls into each glass and drop in a gummy fish. Fill the glasses with seltzer water, then add a splash of lemonade. Place a gummy worm around a spoon as shown.

Be sure to get use one of our fun sponsors for your gummy candy at Surf Sweets!  For more fun Halloween recipes similar to this one, check out Disney Family Fun!

Pizza Mummies:

Little mummies for mommy and her little kids too!

 

 

Ingredients (choose organic whenever possible)

• English muffins
• Pizza sauce
• Black olives

• Scallions
• Red or green pepper
• Cheese sticks or slices

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350º F. For each mummy, spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce onto half of an English muffin (toast it first, if you like).
2. Set olive slices in place for eyes and add round slices of green onion or bits of red or green pepper for pupils.
3. Lay strips of cheese (we used a pulled-apart cheese stick) across the muffin for the mummy?s wrappings.
4. Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the muffin is toasty.

Be sure to use English Muffins that are whole grain and gluten free!

For more fun Halloween recipes similar to this one, check out Disney Family Fun!

Swamp Creatures:

Oooooey, Goooey Swamp Creatures that taste good!

 

Ingredients

• All natural/organic Macaroni and cheese
• Sautéed spinach

• Olive slices

Instructions

1. Mix up a batch of macaroni and cheese, then spoon it into greased muffin cups and bake until firm, about 25 minutes.
2. Let the creatures rest for about 10 minutes, then gently remove them from the tins. Place them upside down on a swamp of sautéed spinach and add olive slice eyes.

Be sure to use whole grain, gluten free pasta for the macaroni!

For more fun Halloween recipes similar to this one, check out Disney Family Fun!

Slivered Scream Beans:

Healthy and Scary at the same time!

 

Ingredients

• 1 pound haricots verts
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
• 1/2 Thai chile, thinly sliced
• Coarse salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black sesame seeds (kalustyans.com)
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Directions

1. Prepare an ice bath. Bring a 4-quart pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Add haricots verts, and blanch until vibrant green, about 5 minutes. Drain in a colander, and transfer to ice bath. Let stand until cool. Drain in colander, and thinly slice haricots verts on the bias.
2. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add garlic, and cook until just golden, 1 minute. Add ginger and chile, and cook for 1 minute more. Add blanched haricots verts, and cook, tossing, until heated through. Season with salt. Add sesame seeds and lemon zest, and toss to combine.

For more fun recipes like this, check out Martha Stewart online!

Blogger Laurali Star can also be found on The Damsel in the Attic!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

 

 

 

Meet the girls of Trash Mash-Up!  Bridget and Jessica McCracken are the brains behind this eco-friendly operation.  They reduce waste by taking refuse and transforming it into art and they love working with the community hands-on by creating theatrical productions that are based in the San Francisco area.  I had the opportunity to ask them a few questions recently and here is what they had to say about Trash Mash-Up, working together, and how they celebrate a Green Halloween every year!

How did the Trash Mash-Up idea and name come to be?

Both Jessie and I have been interested in theater and puppets since we were kids growing up in Michigan.  Our parents have always supported our creativity and encouraged us to give back to our community.  When Jessie moved to San Francisco in 2004 (I had been here since 2001), we wanted to establish a community based art project that built creative connections in neighborhood of need.  We saw a need for public space and parks to be fostered for children and families in the Western Addition.  Jessie and I both wanted to work with trash to discuss issues of consumption and environmental justice but in a way that was fun, creative and not didactic.  Trash Mash-Up brings all of these aspects together in a collaborative community art project.

The McCracken sisters: Bridget and Jesse

How do you like working together?

It is amazing to collaborate with my sister.  TMU is a family affair.  Our youngest sister, Kate and our parents, Bill and Louise are on our advisory board.  But it is Jessie and myself who are the teaching artists and Managing and Artistic Directors.  Being sisters we are able to communicate ideas easily and come for a similar art background, both having studied and worked for The Dell’Arte Company.  Although we share similar training, we each bring our own style and ideas to the table.

This little girl is all dressed up and ready for the show!

What is your favorite aspect of the business?

My favorite aspect is leading the workshops.  Theater and art improves students’ self-confidence, communication skills and builds empathy for others.  They transform the learning process. It is amazing the dramatic changes and positive effects of students collaborating in creative ways.  I am always surprised by their solutions and their ability to describe their process.

Recycle and Reuse seems to be the Trash Mash Up theme and we love seeing it turn into art!

What is Your future vision of the Trash Mash-Up idea?

We are hoping to bring Trash Mash-Up to communities across the United States and world.  We are working on revising our study guide in order to better assist the spread of creative reuse.  TMU has had the opportunity to mash it up in Costa Rica, New York, Portland, and even our hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  Jessie and I look forward to additional community partnerships from around the world.

Great costumes made from recycled materials to put on a show for diverse communities in the San Francisco area.

How do you plan on celebrating a Green Halloween this year?

Trash Mash-Up is thrilled to be apart of the Yerba Buena Garden Festival’s Halloween Hoopla : Dance & Parade for Kids. This is the 11th annual YBGF Halloween program and will featuring interactive performances and games for kids. The Unique Derique hosts, The Venezuelan Music Project plays live music, Preston folds origami and Trash Mash-Up will be creating masks, eco-warrior medallions, noise makers and a Trash Monster for the costume parade. Just before the hoopla ends, children under ten accompanied by adults are invited to parade in their Halloween finery!

Empowering the community through the arts!

Get in on the fun of Trash Mash-Up!  Here are the best ways to contact Bridget and Jesse:

Email: trashmashup@gmail.com

Website: http://www.trashmashup.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/trashmashup

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/TrashMashUp

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trashmashup/

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/trashmashup

Laurali Star can be found on The Damsel in the Attic!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.