The Green Parent

As a green parent, you spend a lot of time taking care of your kids, your home, and your planet. How much time do you spend taking care of yourself? I know it sounds impossible, but it’s totally worth it to carve a few minutes out of your busy schedule to grab a little “me” time whenever you can. Here’s how to do it green:

Get Relaxed: There is no better way to relax then to turn of the lights and take a few deep, cleansing breaths. And you can revel in the knowledge that you’re saving the planet’s energy as well as your own. Take it one step further by lighting some soy candles or soy votives to set the mood without the eco-guilt brought on by petroleum-based candles. (Of course, vegetable-based candles are more expensive then their petroleum-based counterparts, but I’ve found some great deals on wholesale soy candles online and at my local health food store.)

Get Hydrated: Don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to quench your thirst, refresh your skin cells, and help your body get rid of any nasty toxins you may be carrying. Skip the expensive and eco-trashing bottled water and drink filtered water straight from the tap.

Get Clean: Give yourself the spa treatment. Try an invigorating exfoliating scrub made from a cup of organic sugar, a teaspoon of olive oil, and a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Got a few minutes for a dip in the tub? Try a natural eco-soak made from a couple of tablespoons dried lavender, a half-cup of honey, and a half-cup of whole cream. Too much hassle to get all of these eco-ingredients together? Try the Eco-Me Natural Body Kit. The kit comes complete with all of the loofahs, essential oils, and jars you need to give make your own eco-spa kit. When it’s all gone, just replenish your supplies by reordering the essential oils, reuse your old jars and you’re good to go.

Get Beautiful: Research shows that taking a few minutes to perk up your appearance can help lift your mood throughout the day. Brush your hair into a new style (or in my case, just brush it), put on your favorite duds, or swipe some makeup across your face. Check out mineral makeup, for beautiful cosmetics that are free from nasty chemicals, parabens, phthalates, petroleum, dyes, and fragrances. Can’t afford mineral makeup, you say? Well, you’re in luck…that’s today’s giveaway!

Enter today to win a $40 gift certificate from Affordable Mineral Makeup.  Choose from their huge selection of colors, styles, and products and pick the ones that work best for you. (I’ve got my eye on their Coconut Organic Lip Balm!)

Here’s how to enter:
* Blog about this giveaway
* Use the ShareThis Button below to spread the word about The Green Parent
* Tweet about today’s contest!
* Join the Green Parents Forum to share ideas with other parents trying to go green
* Subscribe to The Green Parent via RSS or Email.
* Become a Fan of The Green Parent or join The Green Parent Blog on Facebook.
* Subscribe to The Green Parent Channel on YouTube
* Tell a friend (or two or three) about this contest. Make sure they let me know in the comment box that you sent them. If their number is chosen, you’ll both win the prize

After you’ve done one of these things, leave me a comment below telling me what you’ve done. That’s it, you’re entered. Do as many of the things above as you’d like and leave a new comment for each one. The more you do, the more times you’ll be entered. Need more info? Check out the official rules here.

The winning comment number from Radom.org:

Here are your random numbers:

24

Timestamp: 2008-09-03 10:52:51 UTC