Two important subjects to bring to everyone’s attention before you officially start your weekend.

The Green Crusaders

I was given the opportunity to review The Green Path Comany’s PDF version of the first in a series of The Green Crusaders: The Filaments see the Light.

The Green Crusaders are a group of Eco-superheroes who are dedicated to teaching families about simple ways to lead more earth-friendly lives. Our series of short stories, written for children ages 5 – 10 years of age, centers around Recycle Mycle, Hydro Hannah and Kilowatt Karlos and their sidekicks Plastic Mastiff and Eco-Ally.

Since my 6 year old spent the night at Grandma’s last night and my 4 year old is still crashed out, I read thru this book by myself as I sipped my morning coffee.  The Filaments are an unknowingly wasteful family, but with the help of the Green Crusaders they are put on a greener path.  It was a fun quick read, almost storyboard in fashion, I could totally see this being made into a Saturday morning cartoon! Actually better yet a series of commercials geared towards kids.  Oh I’ll hush what do I know of writing books, cartoons or commercials?  As you can see from the sample I pulled the illustrations are absolutely amazing, too!!

The last pages also include a pledge sheet, a checklist, and a fact sheet for kids to commit to going green.  The book is available on CD for viewing on your computer or printing. I am not sure of the CD format, but the standard .pdf format I received was typical scroll thru which is not so kid friendly, IMO.  I would love to see this presented in an e-publication, flip book fashion.

If you’re looking for a green weekend activity for the kids grab up this CD!

$500 from EcoStore USA: Clean and Simple!

EcoStoreUSA is giving away a $500 Gift Card just for using their Lemon Cream Cleanser! Grab some of this awesome cleaner, with no nasty chemicals and a video camera.  Just 30 seconds of cleaning and creativity can land a $500 Visa gift card in your hot little hands… now that’s my kind of cleaning!

Check out all the details on Ecostore USA’s Blog. May as well go over to their Facebook Fan Page and become a fan now, since that’s where you will post your video. Besides, they’re always doing exclusive giveaways for their Fans, so that’s double incentive!

Now, anyone have a video camera I can borrow? Have a great weekend!!

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

Green Up your weekend: Book Review & $500 giveaway

Chloe & Abby 2008

Chloe & Abby 2008

So, time to take a little step away from green business and get into the holiday season.  We decorated our Christmas tree over the weekend.  The kids had fun putting all the ornaments on while I scrambled to grab the more delicate decorations from their grasp.  We did multi-colored LED lights and that angel hair stuff… not really my style, but the kids loved it and it’s still pretty.  I’ve been grabbing boxes of candy canes here and there, my son, Sebastian, putting his up top out of the Chloe & Abby’s reach.

This is our first Christmas in our new house which is really kinda neat!  We’ll make cookies and fudge and my husband will be home from working in Texas, wanting his favorite Champagne Shrimp Pasta. It will also be my first Christmas since my best friend, Dez passed and a time to reflect on memories of my grandparents, also recently passed.  It’s a season that really gets mixed with emotions and memories. Through every memory, the Christmas tree stands… in the living room, witnessing the good and the bad… the happiness and sorrow.

I was given the opportunity to read the book “A Tree’s Christmas” by James Andrew Bowen over the last two nights.  A short childrens’ (tween) book written about a family’s Christmas, narrated by the Christmas tree.

The summary (from the site):

Did Anne dream this story of the talking Christmas tree, or could it be real? You must decide for yourself. The story starts when a love-filled family’s Christmas in the country is over. The Christmas tree’s decorations are gently removed. Anne, her dad and their dog, Lucky, take the tree outside and lay it down in the snow-covered garden. That night, to the amazement, surprise and delight of the trees around the garden, the Christmas tree begins telling the exciting story of its wonder-filled adventures inside the family’s home during the Christmas season. All night, the trees listen as the Christmas tree tells its stories, and then…

“A Tree’s Christmas” will inspire children of all ages to appreciate anew the wonders of a family Christmas, and how the tree, at the center of it all, can play an even more meaningful role in the celebration than anyone can imagine. And, as the Christmas tree tells of its adventures, readers will come to understand the importance of leading a rich, full life that makes a difference – no matter what others say.

It’s a story that can be told over and over every Christmas, for generations to come, and still have genuine meaning for all who read it.

This book was such a sweet story to read during the holiday season.  Written so innocently from the perspective of a tree that is trying to understand traditions and human lives it has been brought into during the last season of it’s own life. This will be a definite read to Chloe and Abby in a couple of years (they’re still a little too young) and my son may like it if they make a video game out of it! LOL! He’s just not the voluntary reading type, but what can you expect from a 13 year old boy… he didn’t even want any part of the picture I took!

So, if you’re looking for a great Christmas book with a different twist on the holiday, you may want to purchase “A Tree’s Christmas” and reflect on your family from the angle of the tree.  Enjoy!

Post from: Eco-Office Gals

A Tree’s Christmas: Book Review