Halloween is big on fun but, unfortunately, it’s also big on unhealthy traditions and waste. Many moms and dads worry about the impact of this holiday on the health of their kids and the planet.

And for good reason.

Almost $6 billion a year is spent on costumes, candy, décor and other accessories, most of which are made from unhealthy, unsustainable materials, by people who may not be paid living wages or treated fairly. Most of the stuff – what isn’t consumed – winds up in landfills.

And scary news about high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, lead laden accessories just fuel parent’s concerns.

But our goal is to show families that it’s easy and affordable to keep the fun, while losing the unhealthy, un-Earth-friendly traditions. It’s not about telling parents how they should celebrate – it’s about inspiring them to make choices that make sense to their families, their budgets and their schedules. And when many families make healthier and more sustainable choices for Halloween – taking even the smallest of steps – big impacts can be made for the short and long term.

Here are a few of the “spooky statistics” that might fuel your desire to help change the way you celebrate Halloween:

• One in three trick-or-treaters born today will develop diabetes.
• One-third of America’s trick-or-treaters are overweight; 17% are considered obese.
• Today’s trick-or-treaters have a life expectancy that is shorter than their parents.
• 1 in 13 trick-or-treaters suffers from food allergies.
• Coco beans used for chocolate that are grown in full sun (as opposed to shade) are susceptible to disease and therefore require heavy doses of toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
• The chocolate industry has engaged in the use of child slaves and other unethical treatments of growers.
• Store-bought costumes, makeup and accessories may contain phthalates, lead and other toxins.
• One test of multiple brands of face paints found detectible levels of lead in all of them. (According to experts there are NO safe levels of lead).
• Over 6,000 synthetic chemicals are used in the processed-food industry. Most Halloween “treats” are processed.
• A 2004 study with 1800 three year old children found that behavior measurably improved after a one week diet without preservatives and artificial colors and dramatically worsened on the weeks they were given preservatives and artificial colors (present in most Halloween candy).

For more “why’s” of Green Halloween^®, click here.

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.

If your considering converting to the organic food movement, here are a few things to keep in mind when you hit the grocery store.  Always look for the USDA Certified stamp, sticker, or symbol.  Keep in mind that meats will have this too.  The meat section of the supermarket often has chicken and cow meat that is hormone free and the animal is fed only pesticide free food to sustain life.  I would also suggest converting a little at a time, instead of all at once so that it wont be such a shock to your lifestyle.  The kiddies have to get used to it!  Make it fun for them too.  Make colorful veggies into caterpillars or artwork, you can find many recipes here on Green Halloween!

Buying organic foods from your local farmer's market is a safe bet!

Blogger Laurali Star can also be found on The Damsel in the Attic and her blog.

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.

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What is Green Easter?  It is the opportunity to take one of your favorite holidays and turn it into something that aids in fueling the Earth with eco-friendliness!  Sounds green to me!  To polish up the offer even more, Earth day is only two days away so why not get started now?  Get your green on and let’s go!

Creative Kismet Free Downloadable artwork!

Click here to get it!

The Easter Egg Hunt.  Teaching your children to appreciate Earth and nature is part of the appeal towards getting them to join hands in the future.  A fun way to get kids involved is to set up an Easter egg hunt outdoors.  Most families already do this anyways so why not get creative?  Nocturnal animals come out at night so grab your flashlights for a p.m. egg hunt.  If your familiar with the animals hiding out in your own backyard, make it into a fun scavenger hunt as well.  Not a night owl?  Have the kiddies rise early on Sunday morning for a little fresh air on the water.  Take a kayak or canoe out to one of your favorite local haunts on the local river or ocean.  Once there, set up a fun hide and seek with the eggs. Last year, I took my daughters to an island favorite and we even saw a real Easter bunny!

Tip: If you opt to head out on the water Easter morning, you may be better off taking the plastic eggs because bugs usually inhabit the islands and backwoods and would go after your real eggs before the kids have a chance to discover their hiding place.  Be sure to remember where you hide them so that your not leaving anything behind that could harm an animal.

Recycle your Easter Basket.  In my last blog post I showed you how to renovate an Easter basket into an enchanting garden.  There are other uses too.  I asked my 9 year old daughter, Chloe, for tips on this very topic and the first thing she admonished is that the plastic ones could be used for a barbie doll pool!  I don’t typically buy the plastic ones but on the occasions when someone else in the family buys them, this is a great use instead of a great waste.  Great tip Chloe!  Another use is for decorative touches around the house, like holding washcloths, magazines, or even to carry cleaning supplies if large enough.

Sweet Treats.  As green moms we want our kids to eat healthy and its one of the main reasons co-founder, Corey Colwell Lipson, started Green Halloween.  If we don’t want our kids downing a bunch of sugar on Halloween then we certainly don’t want them doing it for Easter either.  After all, the Easter bunny does eat carrots, not candy!  If your looking for a sweet treat, try out one of our fabulous sponsors at Surf Sweets.  They offer an array of organically sweetened jelly beans and gummy candies.   If you want to sweeten the deal a little, go fondue style with either organic cheese, caramel, or Fair Trade melted chocolate that is dark and full of antioxidants.

It’s all about the eggs.  You can either choose to use the plastic eggs that can be reused every year or go with organic, cage-free eggs bought from your local farmer.  If you choose to go traditional by coloring your own eggs, look for kits that use natural dyes like Eco Eggs Natural Easter Egg Colouring Kit.  If your feeling creative, make your own natural dyes with grape juice, blueberries, beets and more.

Happy Green Easter!

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.

Valentines’ Day is right around the corner and you may be wondering how best to celebrate this holiday ‘o love while keeping your mother (Earth) in mind.

Fear not, fellow greenies, loving your sweetheart and your planet can go hand-in-hand when you think outside the conventional V-Day box.

Here are a few pointers:

Cards – Traditional Valentine’s Day cards are made from virgin trees. Now that’s not spreading the love. Instead, choose cards made from 100% recycled or tree-free stock, or make your own from similar materials. Want to create something truly unique? See below for inspiration.

Gifts – Top gifts for Valentine’s Day include chocolate, jewelry, flowers and lingerie. You don’t have to go the conventional route just because you want to stick to tradition. Look for gifts that are made sustainably and ethically and remember that sometimes the greatest gifts are free and don’t require wrapping.

Activities – Just about any game or activity can be tweaked for Valentine’s Day. To green it up, use reused, reusable and recycled materials or find activities that don’t require “stuff” at all. Or, put a little sexy fun into the idea of “reducing” by cooking dinner with your sweetheart sans clothes and, in lieu of a card, use body paints to illustrate your love for your partner. A body poem will definitely earn bonus points.

Our top ten picks:

We made this whimsical “card” out of an old pair of scratched reading glasses. (The glasses slide into the recycled paper “case.”) We’ve also made cards out of mint tins, lids, boxes and more. What do you usually throw away that might be re-purposed? Your love will love your creativity and effort.

Go sexy and sustainable with lingerie made from bamboo, organic cotton or other soft, eco-fabulous materials. Check out Cosabella, Urban Fox and Sweet Skins. If you happen to live in Europe (or your sweetheart does), you’ll both go ga-ga over G=9.8 and Green Knickers.

Why do we love chocolate? Let us count the reasons… the luscious taste, the aphrodisiac affect, the health benefit. But the conventional chocolate industry has some dirty little secrets you can learn more about here. Look for organic, Fair Trade, and bird-friendly options available in all shapes, flavors and price ranges. (For a limited time when you purchase a copy of our book, Celebrate Green! you can add a box of Sjaak’s organic, Fair Trade chocolate at no cost except for shipping! Click here for details.)

Ah, roses. The quintessential symbol of blooming love. To keep your symbol green this year, look for organic or VeraFlora Certified and Fair Trade options. Choosing an eco-bouquet is a gift to the Earth and to the farmers who grow and prepare the flowers because conventional flowers, such as roses, may be doused with up to 1,000 times more chemicals than conventionally grown food. Look for florists selling locally grown flowers or contact Organic Bouquet

If you’re thinking of giving the gift of glam, consider artisan made jewelry that is hip and eco-friendly. We love Smart Glass (in photo) made from re-purposed glass and Green Karat’s responsibly indulgent jewelry made from recycled metals and gems.

Pamper your partner and the planet with sustainable luxuries for the body. Vintage Body Spa makes organic and Fair Trade confections for the skin, so eco-yummy you’ll want to eat it. We especially love their line of chocolate body polish (pictured) and shea butter lotion.

When giving the gift of wine, look for locally produced organic or biodynamic wine with sustainable real cork stoppers. We’re fans of Cooper Hill and Badger Mountain. Where to buy? Check your local grocery or even big box store or better yet buy direct from a winery near you. (Here’s an idea, how about taking your sweetheart on a V-Day tour.)

Celebrate your love this V-Day with a gift basket filled with ethically sourced, all natural, organic and chemical-free romantic goodies such as Good Clean Love’s oils and body butters, Earth Erotic’s phthalate-free “toys,” a 100% beeswax candle from Big Dipper Wax Works, and a DIY booklet filled with coupons redeemable for a massage, a movie, a love letter, and a dinner for two.

No matter what gift you’re giving, if you’d normally consider wrapping it, don’t. Instead, make your gifts fashionably fun by dressing them up in fabrics such as the one pictured above by Bobo, or make your own from fabric remnants or silk or cotton scarves. Or do away with wrapping all together and hide your gift/ gifts (adults love a good treasure hunt, too!) or wrap your gift in what your love really wants – you.

Several studies have shown that philanthropy creates a chemical reaction in the brain similar to food, drugs and sex. So, if you want to create that warm-a-heart glow this V-day it could be as simple as making a charitable contribution or donating your time to a worthy cause (something you can do along side your love). Consider non-profits that are in line with your partner’s values and passions. Go to Just Give for ideas on where to start.

Want more ideas on how to celebrate green this Valentine’s Day and beyond? Visit Lynn & Corey at www.CelebrateGreen.NET

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.

On Valentine’s Day, when we’re enjoying the chocolate given to us as gifts by the people we love, most of us are not aware that there’s a side to chocolate that’s not too sweet.

That’s why Green America has launched a National Week of Action, February 4-14, 2011, for screenings of the film The Dark Side of Chocolate.

During the week of action, Green America is also asking us to send a special Valentine’s Day card to Hershey’s CEO, David West, asking him to “have a heart”, eliminating child and forced-labor by shifting to Fair Trade Certified cocoa. Further, Green America has a similar online letter-writing campaign, asking Hershey’s to commit to sourcing 100% Fair Trade Certified cocoa by 2012.

What Fair Trade Certified chocolate means:

• Chocolate was produced without human trafficking and without forced or child labor
• Chocolate was produced under standards that protect environmental and human rights.

To get involved in the cause, gather friends and family together to host a screening of the The Dark Side of Chocolate. Get your screening kit here.

Blogger 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.