Little Green Lives

low waste living, permaculture, homeschooling in the Pacific Northwest

Zero Waste Kids Birthday Party

LIVING SIMPLYsam Jennings12 Comments

We just celebrated Theo's 6th birthday and enjoyed our second zero waste birthday party. Honestly with just a little extra thought and planning it truly is possible to host a great party and produce zero garbage. Here's how we pulled it all together. Lets be the change we want to see in the world and start a trend for zero waste birthday parties.

Our Eco Kitchen Renovation on a Budget

sam Jennings3 Comments

With limited funds, the kitchen was the one room in our new home we decided to prioritize for a little renovation. With a head full of Pinterest inspiration, but with a limited budget and a passion for eco-friendly alternatives the challenge was on the create a space we loved. We just love it and are excited to share it with you.

How to adopt a slow living perspective in your home and motherhood routine.

sam JenningsComment

Adopting a slow living family lifestyle can be done by identifying moments or activities during each day to which we give our full attention. Whether it’s cooking a meal from scratch, sitting enjoying a pot of tea, immersing ourselves in kiddie-led craft, or simply walking together hand-in-hand enjoying a conversation. These moments offer us a way to stay grounded, to be in the moment, and also find inner peace. And what mama doesn’t need a little extra Zen at times? When we slow things down, we gain a deeper appreciation of the simple things."

How to go Green at the Hair Salon

sam JenningsComment

It had been one whole year since my last haircut. Can you believe it, I finally the reached the point where it came down to self esteem rather than vanity. It was time to act.

 But I hesitated. Maybe eco warriors aren't supposed to do hair colouring. After all hair salons might be in the beauty industry, but truthfully there is nothing beautiful about the amount of waste produced by them. 

I'm striving to live a life of intentionalism, where I'm mindful about the products I use, the clothes I buy/wear, the food that we eat and how it's packaged. So where does hair care fall into all this? Is it possible for a zero-waste striver to have a guilt-free cut and colour? The answer is yes,here is how!

Zero waste arts and crafts supplies for kids

sam Jennings17 Comments

Over the last year our family has worked hard to reduce the quantity of garbage produced, We bulk buy our dry foods, use material bags for all other foods, utilise capsule wardrobes, own minimal toys - but until recently our arts and crafts supplies have been my guilty secret. Oversized boxes and draws housed every variety of paint, glitter, pen, crayon and sticker imaginable. I feel more than a little guilty when I think about the quantity of arts- and crafts-based garbage we have produced during the last five years: my once weekly trips to the Dollarstore to top up on supplies a distant and regretful memory.

 So is it possible to apply a zero waste attitude to kiddie arts and crafts supplies? The answer is absolutely, and here is how!

How to keep Christmas simple, reduce stress, expense and garbage, and have yourselves the best Christmas ever.

LIVING SIMPLYsam Jennings1 Comment

Living a very simple, minimalist life is our goal for 2017.

This year I asked all family members not to buy the kids any gifts (toys/books/games) this Christmas. They don’t need anything and in fact already have too many toys. The sheer volume of stuff overwhelms and distracts them from creative play. Plus I spend my days picking up their blocks and Legos and train tracks. If I had $1 for every time this week, I’ve stepped on or put away Sky or Marshall or one of their paw patrol cronies! 

It’s most definitely not my desire for my little people to go without. The truth is, I only want to maximise the experience for them. Just shifting the focus from all the gift-giving to a one of Christmas as a magical day and event.

5 benefits of a capsule wardrobe: Could you live with 30 items of clothing, including shoes!?

LIVING SIMPLYsam Jennings14 Comments

When you have less of something you come to value, enjoy and respect what you do have. Keep only the clothes you love, those that fit and make you feel good. Get creative with different combinations. Become a regular at local thrift stores. Discover new looks. Trade items with friends or upcycle. Not only is it a great move for the environment but you WILL feel the change in your daily life. Here is how.

A beginner's guide to zero waste living for busy mums

LIVING SIMPLYsam JenningsComment

When you take the garbage and recycling out each week do you ever get a nagging feeling about the quantity of garbage your family produces in just one week?

Does the idea of your family producing less waste sound interesting? Inspiring even? Maybe you've heard of the Zero Waste movement which is getting big attention in the media and are feeling a little intrigued?

You want your kiddies to appreciate nature and you want to be a positive role model for them, teaching them how they can evoke change and help protect the environment? 

If you answered yes, yes and yes, but aren't sure how and where to start this post is for you.