Our Green House Blogs

Farm Fresh Fridays: Easy Peasy Snap Peas

Farm Fresh Fridays: Easy Peasy Snap Peas

Posted by Sonya on Jul 6th 2018

One of the things I love about farmers markets is the ease of introducing my kids to different types of produce with free samples that I can feel great about!  This week I was reminded of that when one of the organic farmers had open containers of snap peas that they urged customers to try. Seriously, what could be an easier side dish than a handful of raw snap peas! If your kids are the kind that insist on some sort of sauce (back in my nanny days, I took care of 2 that insisted ketchup went on *everything* including cantaloupe...), a dollop of ranch dip or hummus pairs nicely. But, if you want to jazz up those peas just a tad, these crunchy, lemony snap peas take just a few minutes to throw together. The longest step is de-stringing the peas, which, honestly, is something I'd never done before this summer. Ingredients: 1 lb snap peas 1 lemon 1T avocado oil (or olive oil or butter) salt  Preparation Steps: De-string your peas Zest and juice the lemon Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once it's hot enough (a drop of water sizzles), add your oil. Place peas in the pan and toss to coat them in the oil. Let them sit for 15 seconds before stirring again. Stir a couple more times, roughly every 15 seconds, just until heated through. The goal is warm, bright green peas. This took me just over 2 minutes. Transfer peas to your serving dish, add the lemon zest and a pinch of salt then toss to evenly distribute. What do you think, is it necessary to de-string your peas? What is your favorite way to eat snap peas - tell us and others in comments below!!
Corporate Baby Gift Basket - 7/5/18

Corporate Baby Gift Basket - 7/5/18

Posted by Sonya on Jul 5th 2018

This week our featured is a Corporate Baby Gift Basket to celebrate the client's new baby Girl. This organic baby gift basket included: Custom Gift Basket - Brown Chipwood Organic Stuffed Toy Puppy - Made in the USA Our Green House exclusive Organic Baby Bib - Pink, Organic Pink Swaddle Blanket Singles Organic Short Sleeve Onesie 0-3 months - Tofu Our Green House exclusive Organic Baby Knotted Hat - Pink, 3-6m Organic Baby Sleep Sack - Forest Friends - Poppy, 0-3m Charcoal and Light Pink Ribbon and, of course, a handwritten note card congratulating the new parents on the arrival of their sweet baby girl. check out all of our inspirations
Made in the USA: Happy 4th of July!

Made in the USA: Happy 4th of July!

Posted by Sonya on Jul 4th 2018

Made in the USA - This July 4th we want to share a fun video from Indigo Wild, one of our vendors, that features their factory in Kansas City. In their own words, it's a, "place where our process is more like recess - sans monkey bars, tether balls and jungle gyms. A place where we can skip to my Lou and bust out the juju. A place that is laced with sage blessings from ceiling to floor, mixing room to front door. And you'll find that no machines are harmed in the making of our products." You may know Indigo Wild by their essential oil scented Zum products. From soaps and lotions to facial products, candles and cleaning supplies, so our office always smells amazing! They're the type of company that is always pushing the limits, trying new and crazy things. The kind of place that fights hard for the causes it believes in, with a vengeance. Indigo Wild's products are all vegetarian, and mostly vegan and gluten-free. They strongly believe in using natural products.  Their list of "dirty words" (products they will NEVER use) is a list we can get behind! Don't forget our discount code is good through July 10th.
Mindful Mondays: Get Outside!

Mindful Mondays: Get Outside!

Posted by Sonya on Jul 2nd 2018

Welcome to Mindful Mondays! Every Monday we're going to be sharing quick tips and reminders that focus on your self-care. Today, get outside - into your own backyard or a local park. Take 10 minutes to quickly ground yourself and simply be present. Some suggestions once you're out there: Kick off your shoes and lay on the ground: feel the grass between your toes and notice the firmness and stability of the earth below you. Pay attention to where your body is connecting to the ground and the sensation of the sun warming your skin. Look up at the sky and let your mind focus on the clouds. What images can you find in their formations? Close your eyes focus your attention on the sounds surrounding you.  Do you hear birds singing? Children playing? The wind rustling the leaves in the trees? Take some deep, centering breaths and draw your focus to your sense of smell. What scents waft your way? Freshly cut grass, roses around the corner, a distant bbq, damp earth from a nearby sprinkler? Roll over, open your eyes and watch the miniature world of insects. Marvel at their tiny industrious lives. Take a few more deep breaths and stretch as you get back to your feet. Hopefully this quick break brought you a sense of peace and rejuvenation.
Make your Own Gift Basket -  6/28/18

Make your Own Gift Basket - 6/28/18

Posted by Sonya on Jun 28th 2018

This week our featured Make your own Gift Basket is this modern grey gift tote that welcomes a new baby boy to the world. organic baby gift basket included: Custom Gift Basket - Grey Lamb Side Snap Tee with Grey Stitching (from our exclusive "Our Green Baby" line) Organic Baby Blanket - Mid Grey Organic Muslin Wash Cloth Set - Hedgehog Charcoal and another Oatmeal Ribbon and, of course, a handwritten note card with a loving message welcoming the new baby to the world Just so you know - The Make your own is an easy to use 4 step proccess  Select your basket  choose your items  choose your ribbon  write your gift note The gift will be all wrapped up and sent directly to the new mom or dad. Remember to check out our inspiration page of custom gift baskets so you can get some really cool ideas.  
Grass fed Steak & Organic Blueberry Salad

Grass fed Steak & Organic Blueberry Salad

Posted by Sonya on Jun 27th 2018

Grass Fed Steak One of my favorite things to do each summer is weekly trips to my local farmers markets. I love challenging myself to base our meals mostly, if not entirely, on those super fresh and local ingredients. Last week both of the markets I frequent held their opening days and on Tuesday one of the things I picked up was a big bag of mixed organic greens; Tatsoi, Mizuna, and a third Asian variety whose name escapes me at the moment. My family tends to favor romaine and baby spinach but the farmer offered me a taste of the Tatsoi and I was hooked. I had a grass-fed London Broil marinating in the fridge and a pint of fresh local, organic blueberries so once I returned home, I turned on the grill and set out to combine these into a delicious salad. The bite of these greens compliments the sweet blueberries and creamy feta. I added some crunch with thinly sliced celery and chopped walnuts. Since the steak was already marinating, this dinner came together pretty quickly. While it was grilling I washed and chopped the other ingredients and quickly blended up the dressing. Dinner was on the table in 30 minutes. Ingredients: 1 lb London Broil (I prefer grass-fed beef from a local farm) 3 garlic cloves, chopped 2 tbsp olive oil 1/4 cup coconut aminos (or soy sauce) Juice of one lime 1 pint blueberries, organic, divided 1⁄4 cup balsamic vinegar 1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil 6-8cups mixed Asian greens 2 cups celery, thinly sliced 1⁄4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped 1⁄4 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced Preparation Steps: First, the marinated steak: Add garlic cloves, olive oil, coconut aminos, lime juice and steak to a gallon size ziplock bag. Seal. Shake. Marinate in fridge for 2-6 hours, flipping the bag over once or twice during marinating time. Before cooking, let meat come to room temperature. Next the salad: Heat grill to medium. Remove the grass fed steak from bag and place on pre-heated grill. Cook each side for roughly 6 minutes for medium cooked (this will depend on how thick your steak is, I always keep an instant-read thermometer nearby so I can assure the desired temp.) Once cooked, take the steak off the grill and cover. Let it rest for 5 minutes then slice against the grain into thin strips. I then cut those into bite-sized chunks. To make the dressing: In a blender or food processor, add half a cup of blueberries, the balsamic, olive oil & salt; process until combined. Between 4 plates, evenly divide the greens, celery, cooked steak, walnuts, blueberries, onion and feta. Pour dressing over the top & finish with freshly ground pepper Enjoy and Share this recipe with a friend :)
Do You Really Need Organic Baby Clothes?

Do You Really Need Organic Baby Clothes?

Posted by Melissa McKee on Jun 25th 2018

I was scrolling through my Instagram feed the other day when it occurred to me - babies are everywhere! At least in my social circle. Everyone I know is posting pictures of new babies, ultrasound photos, baby showers, pregnancy pics, sibling shots… it’s enough to make you cry if you are sentimental about that sort of thing. With a baby in the house myself, my emotions run from sentimental to slightly insane, so tears could flow at any moment. Anywayyyyy... point is I am struck by this general theme of pure unadulterated LOVE in these photos. It’s to be expected, I am sure, but it’s an emotion that smacks you in your face more than when you are looking at let’s say - pictures of someone’s breakfast. You don’t even need a filter for these pictures because love just radiates its own filter on them. All these expecting parents, wanting the world for their new babies. Everyone goes about it in their own way, but they all want The Best, The Safest, The Proven, The Sleep. Oh, they might not know about that last one yet, but they will all want The Sleep, give them time. As an expecting parent, I think I spent more time reading Amazon reviews more than any other type of literature (which I know is a very loose definition of literature). Typing questions into google like “3 car seats in one row Honda Pilot” and getting lost in pictures of other people’s cars that somehow aren’t covered in a fine orange dusting of goldfish. I frequently wished there was just a magical someone out there that could just find me exactly what I need and present it to me. I’d pay dearly to have back those research minutes. So, when research is pointing you in the direction of organic baby clothes and you are like “but why on earth do I need to spend even more money on something I am not sure is important”, I have come to your rescue (just this once) with some quick points that won’t leave you having to scroll through tons of reviews. You’re welcome. It won’t even take that long. Unlike trying to decide between different nursery themes, this choice is pretty easy. Newborns Have Delicate Skins with Great Sensitivity Newborns have extra-sensitive skin and that’s because it is thinner and has larger pores than adult skin, meaning that even the slightest irritation can inflame them. The synthetic material and the use of cheap elastic or closures can easily cause rashes just from contact. Plus those larger baby pores make it easier for their skin to absorb some of the harmful chemicals used in manufacturing most conventional baby clothes. Organic baby clothes, on the other hand, are usually made from 100% organically sourced cotton or sometimes other sustainable materials like hemp or bamboo. These natural plants produce a fabric that is extremely soft without the need for harmful chemicals and toxins. The breathability of organic cotton helps keep rashes at bay as well. Organic Baby Clothes Prevents Allergies Commercials and ads for natural detergents and plant-based baby care products like to tout “pediatrician recommended” or “used by doctors.” This is because babies in their early days are usually more susceptible to allergic responses. New studies are coming out all the time that simple things like the types of wipes you use can provide a gateway for later allergies. I’ve found, especially with sleepwear, that the more natural the material the fewer the rashes. Of course, I didn’t figure it out quite as fast with the first baby so the first kid is loaded with allergies. Sorry first kid. Subsequent children have benefited from my noticing it, though and they are allergy free with flawless skin. We can’t do everything right all the time as the world likes to remind us parents. Organic Baby Clothes Are Affordable & Cost-Effective Sometimes you do have that moment of sticker shock when you look at the price of organic clothes versus that entire set of store brand polyester baby clothes. Take a second, though, before dismissing the more expensive clothes because they seriously last so much longer. I have more organic clothes that have been passed down through three kids than a child could ever actually need and it’s because those natural fibers are stronger. Not being treated with toxic dyes and bleaches helps too. If you have any intention of passing down those pajamas or onesies I totally recommend spending more to get more use. It can be so easy to be overwhelmed with all the choices that becoming a new parent entails. While I cannot tell you which car seat combination will work for your car, I can tell you that choosing organic baby clothes like this new organic baby clothing line will provide your newborn with safe, soft and sustainable outfits from one kid to the next.
7 must have Summer Essentials

7 must have Summer Essentials

Posted by Pam Davis on Jun 24th 2018

It's here!!!  Summer has arrived.  We wanted to share some of our new eco-friendly finds that we think you won't want to be without.    Carry All Tote Bag This sturdy African basket will be your go to bag for literally everything.  Beach, play dates, farmer's market, and overnight trips. Not only will you love it, but you will be helping the women of Ghana empower their lives. $95.00   2.  Cucumber Spray As it starts to heat up outside, keep this natural cucumber spray in your fridge to spray your face as a cool down treat. Made in Massachusetts, you will also want to pack this essential item in your beach cooler. $10.99   3.  Zulugrass   A long time favorite of ours.  This African jewelry can be worn as bracelets, necklaces, and even hair ties.  Combine gorgeous color strands to find your exact personality and style.  Made from natural grass and blown glass beads this purchase gives back to the Maasai people of Kenya without disturbing their cultural Traditions Starts at $9.99 a strand 4.  Handmade Journal This beautiful journal is handmade by artisans on the Thai-Burmese border from naturally dyed organic cotton fabric. As you lay in your hammock or on your beach towel, jot down your dreams, wishes, and good thoughts. $26.00   5.  Farmer's Market Basket   Fill with bok choy, kale, radishes and beets!.  Generously sized, this is the perfect farmer's market basket.  When not at the farm, leave it for a catch all for toys, shoes, pet items or knitting supplies!  Beautifully handcrafted from elephant grass this basket is fair trade and unique. $56.00   6.  Wave Ring   A gentle reminder of the waves you love at the beach.  This beautiful sterling silver ring is simple and stylish. $14.00   7.  Lightweight Scarf   This airy breezy Scarf is perfect for summer with a vibrant blue reminiscent of deep waters. Made from Organic Ethiopian Cotton, this is fair trade and makes a great gift (for yourself) $56.00  
Love Us? Love Our Gifts? Enter to Win $100!

Love Us? Love Our Gifts? Enter to Win $100!

Posted by Sonya on Jun 23rd 2018

It's So Simple to Enter our Giveaway! Follow us on Instagram Tag 3 friends on our Giveaway post ♦ ♥ Earn a Bonus entry by using the form on the right to sign up for our emails! ♥ ♦ Drawings held on the 15th of each month Entries for July 2018 drawing close July 14th at 12pm EST Good luck! ?
Why Gender Reveal Parties Are So Popular

Why Gender Reveal Parties Are So Popular

Posted by Pam Davis on Jun 3rd 2018

The popularity and acceptance of gender reveal parties by expectant parents and their loved ones has continued to soar over the years. What’s the buzz about? How has this phenomenon that was barely known over a decade ago become a part of our culture in such a short time? Gender Reveal Parties: How Did It All Start? Looking back, it seems to have started around summer 2010. Google Trends had previously reported no interest of online searchers in the concept. Ever since then, online searches have risen exponentially. The words Gender reveal party videos, gender reveal party ideas, and gender reveal gift ideas are now common. It is hard to tell when the first gender reveal party was held. We know that 2015 was the explosive year that saw it gaining popularity. Why So Popular Today? If you’ve experienced what it means to be an expectant mother or father, you’ll probably be able to relate to the excitement.  This has kept gender reveal parties trendy right from the first creatively inspired celebration. Now, consider the fact that the time we began to hear of gender reveal coincided with the early days of the growth of social media.  You will see the significant role that social media and the internet, has played in the growth and popularity of these parties. Influence of Social Media on the Popularity of Gender Reveal Parties Today, you’ll find over half a million videos on YouTube alone about gender reveal parties. The growth of social media also gave expectant parents the ability to easily and quickly share their good news with the rest of the world.  When gender reveal parties started popping up, social media soon helped this trend spread like wildfire. Even though these parties are a purely American concept, the popularity today has spread to other countries of the world like Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Although not everyone is a fan of this concept, the popularity is expected to continue ballooning exponentially. We can relate to the happiness and excitement of parents when learning about the sex of their baby. Gender reveal parties provide an opportunity to celebrate this exciting moment with the people we love. If you would like to bring some creative gifts, check out our selection of gender reveal gifts.
Gender Reveal Gifts

Gender Reveal Gifts

Posted by Pam Davis on May 28th 2018

The new trend for expecting parents is the ever popular Gender Reveal Party.  It took an afternoon of brainstorming, and as a result, we came up with the perfect Gender Reveal Gifts. Baby Gift #1- Our first Gift is an Organic Bear (made in USA) with Pink and Blue outfits. Baby Gift #2 - Our second box includes our own exclusive organic hats in pink and blue.  We encourage that you donate the  second hat or give it to a friend.   Baby Gift #3 - A gender neutral organic baby blanket makes a great addition.   Check out our inspiration page to find customer's build your own basket creations so you can create your own Gender Reveal Gift!
Pregnancy Gift Basket - Make Your Own Gift Basket of the Week: 5/10/18 -

Pregnancy Gift Basket - Make Your Own Gift Basket of the Week: 5/10/18 -

Posted by Sonya on May 10th 2018

This week our featured Make Your Own Gift Basket is this charming gift tote for a newly pregnant mom to be. (or mom to bee) This eco-friendly gift basket for the expectant mom included: Custom Gift Basket - Bee Tote Organic Natural Remedies - Calm Tummy Mouth Spray All Natural Stretchmark Oil Organic Herbal Tea - Mama Pregnancy Natural Pregnancy Belly Butter Morning Sickness Remedies Felted Purse - Elephant Pink, Coral, Strawberry, and Light Pink Ribbons and, of course, a handwritten note card with a loving message congratulating the pregnancy and encouraging her to enjoy the journey.
Gifts That Give Back: Sock Edition

Gifts That Give Back: Sock Edition

Posted by Melissa McKee on May 9th 2018

Gifts that Give Back.  If you follow Our Green House (on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest), you know we are all about encouraging everyone to take small steps that make a positive impact on our planet and our people, especially children. When we stumbled on these Conscious Socks we knew we had found a like-minded company that we just had to spotlight. Not only are the socks themselves organic, vegan, and fair trade, but each purchase gives back to a cause - like “socks that feed children” or “socks that plant trees.” They’ve taken an item that everyone needs and uses and turned it into something that creates awareness, looks and feels awesome AND gives back. These adult-sized organic socks that give back are a perfect addition to any make your own gift basket. Check out our site to see what we have to offer and let us know which cause you stand behind in the comments!   Add the socks to Custom Made Gift baskets to make a unique gift that everyone is going to literally love. Getting a basket full of meaningful gifts is a special way to show you love them.