One Part Sunshine

Hey Charlottesville! Here’s your chance to recycle those old socks!

We want your socks! 🧦
We’re partnering with Smartwool until May 2 to collect your unwanted socks for their Second Cut Project. Smartwool will then take the socks, grind them up, and turn them into new products, which keeps them out of landfills. Free up some space in your sock drawer - ends May 2 - ✨clean✨ socks please (any brand).

Are you new to at-home or online learning? Are you giving homeschooling a try? I posted a list of tools and tips to help you create a nurturing and peaceful learning environment for your child. As a homeschooler for the past ten years, I am no stranger to the challenges of learning at home, and I am sharing some of my hard-earned wisdom with you at http://onepartsunshine.com/at-home-learning-tools/

At-Home Learning Tools - One Part Sunshine In these uncertain times of Covid and quarantine, many families are finding themselves in unfamiliar territory with online or at-home schooling. As a homeschooler for the past ten years, I am no stranger to the challenges of learning at home. Whether you have made the switch to homeschooling or your...

A thoughtful gift idea for the nature lover in your life. https://www.bewildandfree.org/naturejournal

Nature Journal Course - Wild + Free This special offer includes a 14-week Nature Journaling course featuring Kristin Rogers' content and instructional videos from the Wild + Free bundles, along with printable worksheets, and step-by-step instructions.

Do you want to get rid of all of your nonstick pots and pans? Check out my shopping guide with all of my favorite cast iron, stainless steel and stoneware bakeware and cookware options. Just in time for the holidays!

One Dragonfly Can Eat 100s of Mosquitoes per Day: Keep These Plants in Your Yard to Attract Dragonflies! This is why dragonflies are some of the best predators to keep mosquito populations low.

Old Christmas trees can help local wildlife!

I can’t wait to try this!

How to Make DIY Beeswax Wraps as an Alternative to Plastic Wrap Learn how to make homemade DIY Beeswax Wraps as a smart, cost effective and zero waste alternative to plastic wrap in your kitchen.

Should I Flush It? Most Often, the Answer Is No We asked wastewater management experts about what’s safe to dispose of down your toilet or sink. Their answer: Not much.

Asbestos alert! Check out some safer art supply options at http://onepartsunshine.com/10-eco-friendly-non-toxic-art-supplies-for-kids/

Advocacy group says Dollar Tree brand crayons tested positive for asbestos School is just around the corner for many children in the U.S. and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group has released a report on what school supplies parents might want to avoid getting for their children.

I am loving this food-grade iPhone case from . They have interchangeable back plates and are free of BPA, lead and phthalates. My husband has been using one for six months and it still looks brand new. Check out my post on less toxic phone cases at https://goo.gl/d7JxP3

Do you tend to hand your baby or toddler your iPhone to entertain them? Are you worried about the toxins that are lurking in your phone? Check out these six safer (and beautiful) iPhone cases to help minimize your child's exposure to toxins.

Is Your iPhone Poisoning Your Baby? Safer iPhone Cases to Minimize Baby's Exposure to Toxic Chemicals - One Part Sunshine At nine months old, my daughter was intent on getting her hands on anything that is not appropriate for babies. My cell phone was her biggest obsession. According to HealthyStuff.org, researchers evaluated the level of toxic chemicals in 36 different cell phones and found chemicals of concern in eve...

I just put together the ultimate less-waste dining out kit. for wrapping up leftovers. My own utensils to cut down on disposables. snack bag for storing it all and for even more leftovers. Find beeswrap here https://amzn.to/2MUeHBM and snack bags here https://amzn.to/2ObjuAd

Loving this face sunscreen! It is tinted so it does not go on white. I use this as my sunscreen, foundation and moisturizer. It smells great and it has the top rating on EWG’s Skin Deep database. https://amzn.to/2NON7Hm

I finally tried Bees Wrap! This is a great natural alternative to plastic wrap and aluminum foil. And they sell a large size perfect for wrapping homemade loaves of bread. https://amzn.to/2MUeHBM

What are your thoughts on breadmakers? I bought one yesterday. I’ve hesitated in the past because of the non-stick surface. Plus it just feels more real to make bread by hand - but I never have the time for that. I loved waking up to a fresh loaf though.

Created edible flower butter for our nature club. I combined softened butter with chopped pansies, radish flowers and cilantro flowers and then chilled. The kids loved it!

Just turned 40 cups of black raspberries from our garden into jam, syrup and cobbler! The excess is going into the freezer because I’m still too nervous to can things.

With Mother’s Day only a week away, I thought I would post a list of gift ideas for moms who love nature and the outdoors. This post is in no way a hint for my husband and children (did that sound believable?). If you know an amateur naturalist or someone who loves hiking, gardening, nature art and photography, reading about the outdoors, or just being outside, then read on. I made sure to include ideas that are no-cost and low-cost. I also tried to include gifts that are eco-friendly and don’t involve purchasing more stuff.

Gift Ideas for the Naturalist Mom - One Part Sunshine With Mother's Day only a week away, I thought I would post a list of gift ideas for moms who love nature and the outdoors. This post is in no way a hint for my husband and children (did that sound believable?). If you know an amateur naturalist or someone who loves hiking, gardening, nature art and....

The Best Air-Purifying Houseplants According To NASA [INFOGRAPHIC] Way back in the glorious year of 1989, NASA researchers published a Clean Air study based on the work they’d done trying to figure out the best way to purify air in space stations. Knowing that astronauts are locked up in a tiny space with recycled air, they needed a solution to

Love these ideas! I have been reusing plastic pots that were given to me but I’m eager to try the newspaper pot idea in the future.

7 Ways to Start Seeds Without Plastic | Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Frequently the line between gardener and environmentalist becomes blurred. We plant pollinator gardens and build insects hotels to give smaller creatures a

The same should be true of all purchases. Choose goods that are high-quality and built-to-last rather than cheap, disposable junk.

Never Look at Clothes the Same Way Again How many clothing items are in your closet? Multiply that by 7.4 billion.

Homemade prickly pear lemonade. Looking to nature and the garden to supply us with everything we need.

Want the coffee without the plastic? Check out my recommendations for four great coffeemakers that brew your coffee without plastic. When plastic is exposed to heat, it degrades more quickly and releases toxins such as BPA and phthalates. You can avoid these nasty chemicals by choosing coffee makers constructed of glass and/or stainless steel.

Plastic-Free Coffee - One Part Sunshine If you are anything like me, you need a little boost in the morning, especially after a sleepless night with a cranky toddler. And the last thing you want to do is worry about scary stuff in your coffee. Conventional coffee makers and Keurig machines have a great deal of plastic in them. When you ex...

I’m going to attempt to reduce my plastic intake this year. If I try to go plastic-free, I know I will fail so I’m making my goal reasonable. Anyone else planning to go plastic-free?

Go Plastic-Free in 2018 (or Close to It) If you’ve arrived at this blog, you’re probably aware of the plastic pollution problem so I won’t spend time discussing it. You can read recent news on that here, here and here. Instead, I’ll discu…

What world would YOU want?