Wondering why an ecoblogger has written this post about plastic-free Walt Disney World Resort souvenirs? If you know me or my website, you know that I am a big Disney fan. While this may seem incongruous with an eco-friendly lifestyle at first glance, I assure you it is not! In fact, I was inspired to start Eco Friendly Mama by the Disney film WALL-E. You can read all about that in my mission statement. I’ve also blogged and posted to social media about the efforts Disney is making to become more eco-conscious, such as their use of paper straws at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, and sustainabil ..read more

As you may have heard already, we are currently in the midst of an annual celebration that has historically been called National Hispanic Heritage Month. Before we get into celebrating the two Latinx eco heroes you’ve come here to learn about, I want to address the name of this month first, as there is some controversy surrounding the title. Recently, there has been a shift away from using the term “Hispanic,” which has a European origin and some racist connotations, in favor of the term “Latinx,” which more accurately reflects the diverse Latin American origins of the peoples and cultures me ..read more

With strawberry season in full swing here in Southern California, we’ve been seeing sweet local strawberries pop up everywhere for sale. On roadside fruit stands, at grocery stores, and in menus of restaurants that feature locally sourced ingredients. So when our preschool announced a field trip to go strawberry picking at Tanaka Farms, an organically-grown family farm here in Southern California, I signed us up immediately! Please note that this post was originally written in 2019, before the COVID pandemic. We recently did their strawberry picking tour again, so I have added additional info ..read more

You’ve probably heard the term FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Maybe you also know YOLO (You Only Live Once). But do you know about JOMO – the Joy Of Missing Out? JOMO is an acronym I learned not too long ago, and I think it perfectly describes what the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant to me, and perhaps many of you as well. As we approach March 13th, which for me personally marks the one year anniversary of my world shutting down due to the Coronavirus outbreak, I’ve been reflecting on how life has changed during this time in quarantine, and on the positives that can be drawn from th ..read more

By now you’ve probably seen Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet to speak at a Presidential Inauguration in United States history and first ever National Youth Poet Laureate, recite her original work, “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 20, 2021. Her words were powerful and moving and so wise beyond her years.   The perfect tribute to democracy, to hope, and to the future.   And maybe you have seen her Super Bowl commercial where she performs another of her poems, “Chorus of Captains,” which honors three frontline workers – educator Trimaine Davis from L ..read more

If you’ll be making a roast turkey for the holidays, or any time of the year really, don’t throw out those bones afterwards! They can be “upcycled” so to speak into a delicious and easy turkey stock, with plenty to use or freeze for later. (This turkey stock recipe could also work for chicken bones, beef bones, and probably pork bones as well. The basic concept is the same, and the freezing method is exactly the same as well.) Bone broth is thought to have many health benefits, and is even better when you can make it yourself using organic ingredients and plastic-free cooking accessories. Reg ..read more

With the holidays fast approaching, I though I’d share some of my favorite places this year to get gifts from. While I always favor giving an experience rather than a material good, this year is a bit different due to the COVID-19 pandemic making safe experiences outside of your home hard to come by.   Instead, I’ve come up with this list of shops that make items that are eco-friendly, handmade, small batch, sustainably sourced, organic and/or natural products. Most are local small businesses, many are female-owned, and some even have a charitable angle as an added bonus!   So if yo ..read more

With Thanksgiving coming up and schools closed the entire week, I thought it would be fun to show you how easy and eco-friendly it is to make a DIY veggie stamp for your kids to make art with! (If you’ve read my post about making a Gratitude Gourd for Thanksgiving, you know I’m all about using farm produce as a family-friendly activity lol.) All this really takes is having some extra vegetables or fruits around the house. They can even be scraps from your cooking! If you’re making mashed potatoes or candied yams for Thanksgiving dinner for example, cut off the ends of the potatoes and let the ..read more

This is 2020, and it’s a weird year to say the very least. There is so much we have missed out on or lost because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Time with loved ones. Travel. Experiences indoors in poorly ventilated rooms. Meals made by – and cleaned up by – other people.   What is there to be thankful for? A lot as it turns out. If you are reading this, it means you are still alive, which is a wonderful and lucky thing. I have friends who have lost dear ones because of COVID-19. We are alive, and even if we can’t celebrate Thanksgiving in person with our loved ones, if we are lucky they a ..read more

Typically, we know what we’re doing on Halloween night. We’re taking the kids trick-or-treating in our neighborhood and handing out treats by the fistful to everyone who rings our doorbell. Well, this year being 2020 is anything but typical, as you’ve undoubtedly already figured out. With COVID-19 cases potentially about to rise once again, and my family already practicing social distancing for over 6 months now, we will definitely not be celebrating Halloween the usual way this year. But, it’s still possible to make Halloween a special and fun time while staying safe. And it’s still possible ..read more