We all know that eating seasonally and locally  benefits the environment (less trucking, less forced growing, less pesticides), but it also benefits our taste buds AND our pocket books. Eating what is in season simply tastes better and is often much cheaper than buying something out of season. The fruits are juicier, sweeter and down right tastier, the veggies are crisper and more flavorful…and our entire community benefits when we buy local, in season produce. So, whats holding you back? Perhaps its the knowledge of what exactly is in season in your area during any particular time of the year. Well we pulled together some resources to help guide you…Bon Apetite!

Fruits and Veggies, More Matters. org has a comprehensive list of fruits and veggies by season. Click here for full lists.

The CUSEA (Center for Urban Education about sustainable agriculture) publishes a seasonal chart for fruit and vegetables. Click here for full chart information.

So what’s fresh now?? Here is a sneak peek…

VEGGIES: Brussel Sprouts, Burdock, Corn, Eggplant, Okra, Ginger, Sweet Potatoes, and Tomatoes

FRUITS: Asian Pears, Figs, Grapes, Kiwi, Melon, Mulberry, Nectarines, Pears, Pomegranates and a few other more rare fruits.

Real Simple Published a Spring guide to what’s fresh (we are just getting to the end of spring, but most of these yummy fruits and veggies are still ripe and delicious!). A sneak peak at one of their highlighted veggie…

Eating Well published a great article with recipes for seasonal fruits and veggies for spring! Check out these yummy ideas, click here for full article…our favorite…Avocado Corn Salsa!

As a southern CA girl, born and raised at the beach, I have always admired the strength, athleticism and pure guts that surfers posses. I played around on the small waves at Old Man’s Beach (Tourmaline) when I was little, and was even convinced to ride with my dad at Blacks once or twice, but by no means do I consider myself a surfer…as much as I would like to. So when my husband told me about an entry from Laird Hamilton’s blog, I was seriously interested. That man is a legend, after all, probably the best big wave surfer of all time, and an incredible athlete all around. I started reading through the blog, and this particular entry- which happens to be the one my husband told me about- is pure genius if you ask me. Laird follows some simple, but disciplined, rules when it comes to eating. All of which play a huge roll in his insanely fit body. Here is a link to the entire entry, LairdHamilton.com but just to get you hooked, here are a few of my favorite rules…

Rule #4- Eat Real Foods

Be wary of any food that has been created by humans rather than nature. The ingredients on the labels of processed foods, such as the average cracker or potato chip, are mind-boggling. If I don’t know what it is, it’s not going into my body.

Rule #7 Listen to Your Body

Cravings have a bad reputation because they’re often related to sweets, but I think they’re the body’s way of indicating that it’s looking for something. Listen to your body to figure out what the craving really means. If my body wants sugar, I eat fruit, such as papaya or pineapple, instead of candy or doughnuts.

Rule #8- Dont be Thrifty.

People say that buying quality food is too expensive, but then they’ll go out and buy giant plasma TVs. So you’re eating like crap but you’re staring at a nice screen? I don’t understand that logic. Instead, budget so that you can spend a little more money for better food. In particular, be sure to upgrade anything you eat on a regular basis. If you have coffee every morning, for instance, buy the best beans you can find. Or, even better, drink espresso. It contains less caffeine than drip coffee, delivers more antioxidants, and isn’t as acidic.

Looking to fill your lil one’s easter basket with something other than candy this year? Here are some great ideas for adorable, useful and all natural “treats” to make Easter more than just a precursor to cavities….oh and they are all under $15!

Organic Carrot by Under the Nile.

Organic Knit Teething Rattle by Miyim.

Bunny Stroller Toy

Its been a tradition for as long as we all can remember- dipping those hard boiled eggs into the vinegar smelling, hand staining dye to get just the color or tie-dye effect you wanted. The problem is, most kids like to lick their fingers- especially when there are fun colors all over them…and most egg dyes are FULL of toxins…
Here are some alternative options to the traditional dyes, which are all made from natural pigments and wont harm your lil one as they continue to “taste” each color.

Eco Kids eco-eggs coloring kit. Made using natural plant, fruit and vegetable extracts. This kit includes three natural dyes (orange, blue and purple), a color chart for creating 6 colors and instructions for coloring eggs. Bonus - printable activity sheets, eco-eggs creature cutouts and how-to video available on our website.

Martha Stewart tells us how to make our own dyes from fruits and veggies!

I am SO thrilled to have found Amy Butler…an amazing designer who somehow seems to capture the energy and sophistication of a beach bungalow all the way from her design studio… in the midwest! Of course she travels the world for inspiration, but her style is so perfect for that beachy casual trend, that I can’t help but want to order everything from towels to wallpaper! And what’s even better- she uses all organic and eco friendly materials…stomping the concept that “eco friendly” design is boring or drab!

Here are some of my favorites…

Organic Bath Towels

Organic Beach Towels

Organic Bedding Sets

Headed out for the weekend? Maybe to the beach…you will definitely need one of these!

*images courtesy of Amy Butler

**to find a retail location near you click here

With the day of love just around the corner, and obnoxious valentines commercials and paraphernalia everywhere you look, it is so refreshing to find unique, creative and completely doable valentines ideas. Whether its for you little one’s 4th grade class, or a couple’s dinner party, these valentines will be sure to make just about anyone feel LOVED.

Inchmark Blog posted these adorable matchbox valentines! I LOVE the functionality of them (fill them with your favorite little candies) and the personality you can add with quirky paper and personalized names or initials. My favorite by far is the one with the hand drawn doodle by a very talented little one!

Twig and Thistle, another great blog, shared this great idea to print bags on your home ink jet printer. Personalize your valentines bags with a custom message, names or design. Get creative with colors, and messages…pulling turqoise in with hot pink, red in with pale pink and mint green in with magenta.Fill them with mini sugar cookies or snicker doodles!

I know, sounds like a joke right? Or maybe you think I have gone waaaaaay to green and now see a long muslin cloth as a fabulous spring trend. But seriously, I made my way over to the apparel section because I needed some new Toms ( I know I know, not everyone sees Tom’s shoes as fashionable…but I live at the beach, and I simply LOVE them)…and a slinky, slubby tee caught my eye. It had a really nice fit, an incredible hand feel, and came in muted colors (which I love)…so I peeked in at the price assuming it would be consistent with the brand it completely emulated, James Perse, and was beyond thrilled to see that it was $12.99! I figured I HAD to try it out…take it home, wash it, wear it…really test it. Honestly until now I have found it literally impossible to find an organic line for adults that is both beautiful and reasonable…so, I bought the tee, washed it, wore it, washed it again and I am SOLD! Who makes this fabulous find??

Threads 4 Thought Here are some of my favorites from their site…

Solid Romper $35

Slub Jacket $88

Basic Scoop Tee *the one from whole foods $12

Entity Top $34

About Threads For Thought

“Style is an attitude; it is more than what we wear.

At Threads for Thought we use sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton and polyester recycled from plastic water bottles to create clothing that is comfortable, beautiful, and socially conscious; then we donate a portion of our proceeds to charity.  What we wear is as important as what our clothes are made of, and where and how they are put together.

Eric Fleet and Leigh Ivan founded Threads for Thought in 2006 while they were still in college.  Our foundation is their belief that we should be responsible world citizens and positive contributors to a sustainable future.  We create clothing from sustainable materials, build factories that respect their employees, sell clothing that is affordable, and pursue quality above all else.

Style can’t be traded for sustainability, nor can sustainability be traded for style.  At Threads for Thought we know that neither is exclusive, and work to lead the world in both.”

Since the majority of the country is under a few feet of snow, and out here in California we finally are getting some winter weather (well, its drizzling and 60 degrees today)…I figured it’s time for some yummy organic treat recipes to warm you up! Try these simple recipes to cozy up at home with the family, all organic and kid friendly of course!

Homemade Organic Hot Cocoa

1 cup organic dry powdered milk

Organic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Original recipe courtesy of Simply Recipes- we adapted it slightly to ensure it’s organic and kid friendly:)

Mexican Rice Tortilla Soup

image courtesy of fatfreevegan.com

Recipe courtesy of Organically Raised Cookbook

I am often asked where to look for baby name inspiration or ideas. Of course there are the standard answers- Baby name books, websites and of course within your own family. But I like to tell people to think outside of the box…and here are some of my ideas.

1. Kids catalogs (especially Pottery Barn and Serena and Lily). Yep, thats right, on nearly every page of these catalogs are at least 1 child’s name featured in a nursery, playroom, on a backpack or a towel. These are great ways to get ideas for current, popular names.

2. Your favorite movies. There are often characters with unique names and personalities that might spark your interest. I always reccomend you go to your favorites first, then start looking into the old time favorites like Sound of Music, Gone with the Wind and more.

3. Books inspired by kids, especially cook books. Many of these cook books will name their recipes after children…take Organically Raised for instance. Some names associated with recipes are Kael’s Mexican Rice Tortilla Soup, Poppy’s Three-Cheese “Fancy” Panini, Austin’s sun-dried tomato wheel pasta with fresh basil…, or Bodhi’s favorite english broccoli-and-cheese quick quiche.

4. Look at names from other cultures on sites like Name Berry or look into the meaning of names for extra inspiration on sites like Name Meanings

We are just loving the work of Ida Pearle! A life long New Yorker, she has studied the arts since she was small. Her incredibly unique style somehow perfectly captures the emotion behind movement, the amazing imagination that has yet to be confined in a child and the simple purity in what makes them happy. I seem to get lost in her art…like I would in a good book.

Here are some of my favorites…

The seasons…I am loving the four all together or even choosing just one based on when your little one was born!

For the little girl in your life…

And the little man…

And just for fun…these are great for the playroom. They offer such amazing energy and happiness!