Your kid may not be ready to give up his LEGO collection, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start eliminating plastic from your everyday life. Wondering how to make it happen? It’s easier than you think! From buying in bulk to swapping out your plastic straws, these 29 ideas on how to reduce plastic waste will start you on a better path today.
2. Bring your own bags to the grocery store (this includes your own smaller reusable bags for fruits and veggies).
3. Buy in bulk when you can, and bring your own containers. Remember to weigh the containers before checking out so the cashier can accurately ring you up.
10. Stop using bath and body products with synthetic microbead exfoliants and opt for either natural exfoliating ingredients like scrubs with nut/seed exfoliants like St. Ive’s, or sugar scrubs.
11. Know your plastic recycling codes and what your town does and doesn’t recycle. Upcycle what your town can’t recycle: plastic containers and bottles are great for craft/paint projects, puzzle/game piece storage or bath toys.
12. Compost at home to cut down on the amount of trash bags you use.
13. Switch to compostable, eco-friendly trash bags like these.
14. Keep a set (or two) of utensils/reusable straws at work, in your purse, in your diaper bag or in your car, so you don’t have to use disposable utensils when you’re out and about. PS: Chopsticks take up a lot less drawer/bag real estate, and you’d be surprised how many things you can eat with them!
15. Join your local Buy Nothing Group (or start your own) to pay it forward and snag gently-used goods. We love these groups especially for the baby and toddler phase when it's easy to get inundated by plastic toys and gear.
17. If babe loves the food pouches, but you hate the waste, research where you can recycle them via Terracycle. You can even start a collection site of your own.
18. Buy toilet paper and paper towels that are wrapped in paper instead of plastic.
19. Better yet, ditch the paper towels altogether. Use old rags or towels.
All that inside air starting to feel a little . . . stale? Whether you’re trying to green your space and purify your air with houseplants, looking for flowers for someone special or want to become a member of the plant-of-the-month club, we’ve hand selected a few of our favorite sources for plants and flower delivery, directly to your door. Read on to check them out.
Whether you’re looking for a trio of plants or one big parlor palm, Bloomscape delivers the right plant directly to your door. Choose your plant online: you can filter by collection, light needs, care level, pet friendly and more. Plus they offer 24-hour advice from the Plant Mom to help you choose and maintain the perfect indoor plant for your space. You can also choose the color of the pot when ordering. Shop specific categories like the easiest indoor plants or pet-friendly plants.
The Sill ships plants directly to your door with care card and online access to answer questions about finding the right houseplant for you. They offer a nice array of orchids along with popular houseplants, and they even offer faux plants for people who just can't even with the living thing. You will also find botanical gifts including art and bath products, including adorable things like a Botany Cross Stitch Kit for the true plant nerd in your life. In addition, The Sill offers a monthly plant subscription where you receive a new potted plant each month! Prices vary.
We love the idea behind Plantgem, the online plant retailer working with farmer-florists to bring artfully curated seasonal collections of unique and on-trend plants to the home gardener. Shop their shipping now section to find ideas for Valentine's Day or give an IOU and go for the garden kits that come with 15 young plants—3 plants of 5 different varieties—that take the guesswork out of planting a harmonious garden (they ship in March).
Looking for fresh, festive arrangements that are anything but FTD? The Bouqs is your new favorite service. Whether it's for the holidays or you want to order up from their birthday line, you'll find the right flowers arriving fresh to your loved one's door. You can also find floral subscription boxes to keep things fresh!
If you’re looking for a fresh floral arrangement delivery that isn’t average, Bloomsybox has got you! Just shop the arrangements and select your delivery date, flowers are shipped within 2-4 days of being cut and arranged to guarantee your blooms look great. Want to level up? You can sign up for a floral subscription service and get flowers every month! They also have a small-but-wonderful selection of potted plants and orchids.
This tried-and-true floral delivery service has some cool features you might not have noticed before: they have an array of affordable house plants, tons of flowers and gifts and even botanical gifts based on birthdate/astrological sign.
Botany Box is a curated succulent or cacti box with four easy-to-care-for plants that can be purchased online for direct delivery. The plants come pre-planted and arrive at your doorstep, ready to bring a burst of energy and color into your indoor spaces.
For ease of use and fast service, 1-800-Flowers always ranks in the top, but their bouquets aren't always the most custom or unique. Their plant selection is top-notch, especially for affordability! You'll find houseplants like the popular Money Tree and the impossible-to-kill Snake Plant along with blooming bulbs, seasonal plants and more.
While succulents might be having their moment, we know the bonsai are going to make a surge in the plant world with everyone at home. Bonsai Boy offers a slew of options in all price points from bonsai trees under $30 to beginner-friendly options like our favorite, the Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai tree.
Beyond the usual dozen long-stemmed roses, UrbanStems has uber-cool arrangements (with succulents!), flower subscriptions and plants. Or go right to the goods and shop their Valentine's Day collection.
If you know a toddler, then you’ve heard of CoComelon—the #1 kids channel on YouTube with a gazillion subscribers (chances are you’re one of them!). We love CoComelon for its oh-so-catchy tunes and adorable characters—it’s “edutainment” at its finest! Big news: CoComelon Toys from Jazwares has dropped its latest line of toys to learn, play and sing along with. Just like the series, these toys are in seriously high demand, so we’ve put together a list of the hottest new CoComelon Toys from Jazwares, based on your kiddo’s favorite CoComelon tune!
Hot tip: Shop now, because these coveted CoComelon Toys from Jazwares are sure to sell out quickly! (Not to mention… you want to ensure they have time to make it to you with all the shipping issues going on… ) Ready? Go forth, shop, and bring the world of CoComelon to life for your favorite tiny bean this holiday season!
If They're a Fan of Yes, Yes Vegetables
Deluxe Interactive JJ Doll
Press JJ's tummy to activate sounds and hear songs! When it’s time for JJ to eat, the peas “disappear” from the spoon when you feed him!
Welcome to Melon Patch Academy! The deluxe playtime set includes a table, cot, chair, easel, and teacher Ms. Appleberry to create a real school setting!
If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.
Got a huge list of family and friends to shop for this year? If you’re looking to not break the bank this holiday season, our list of gifts for $25 and under is here to save the day. From soothing bath bombs for moms to LEGO kits for kids, our list of gift ideas has a little something for everyone—on the cheap.
Always a popular choice for holiday gift-giving, this LEGO set is a 3-in-1, which means your master builder can make a T-Rex, a Pterodactyl or a Triceratops.
It’s like Connect Four with an edge—literally. Drop your tokens into the different sides of the tower, using the corners to trick other players. The first one to create a line of four wins!
Not only are each of these made with essential oils and Epsom salts, but when you buy from Thistle Farms, you are helping to support healing for women who are victims of addiction, prostitution and trafficking.
Forget about gingerbread, OREO’s Holiday Chocolate Cookie House is this Christmas’s new must-have sweet treat activity.
Instead of the typical gingerbread walls, OREO’s holiday house has chocolate cookie pieces. The kid-friendly kit also comes with pre-made icing, OREO Cookies, OREO Mini Cookies, candy jewels and fruit-flavored gummies.
The only thing your fam needs to bring to a house-making session is imagination. Decorate this cookie-covered house with icing-drawn shingles, stripes, patterns, or a full-on candy door. The holiday house also comes in a mini version, too! The smaller-sized 8.5-ounce kit comes with pre-baked cookie sheets, pre-made icing, candy jewels and mini OREOs.
If you can’t wait until Christmas Eve to decorate a candy-covered house, you can find the full-sized edible OREO cookie house at Walmart for for $13
There’s nothing worse than grabbing the last diaper or using the final food pouch when you know you can’t get to the store anytime soon. Thankfully, Uber Eats is stepping in to help parents in a big way.
As of Nov. 1, Uber Eats has launched its’ first ever baby and kids hub! Available at the tap of a button, parents can now shop a huge catalog of baby and kids items from buy buy Baby, Bed Bath & Beyond, Honest, Yumi, Lalo, Little Spoon, Nyssa and much more.
To start using the new hub, just open the Uber app and tap “Baby” under categories or drop the baby emoji in the search field. In addition to supporting parents everywhere with daily needs, Uber Eats is also supporting Baby2Baby by providing families in need with basic necessities with a $200,000 donation, including rides to help transport items.
To sweeten the deal, Uber Eats is offering users $20 off a $60 order from buybuy BABY, Yumi, Lalo and Little Spoon when you place an order from Nov. 1-10.
Teaching your kids about conservation and the environment is a lot more than just recycling, but it doesn’t have to drastically alter your lifestyle either. There are dozens of small things that families can do to go green, and many of them have the added bonus of saving you money! Read on for simple ways to help your crew help the planet.
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1. Pick up trash. Bring along a spare plastic bag or two to pick up wayside recycling or garbage on walks around the neighborhood.
2. Carry reusable totes. Cut back on landfill-clogging plastic (and to save money if your city charges for bags!). Stash a few in your car and a folding one in your purse.
4. Buy secondhand. You can find kids' clothing, furniture, home accessories and art from the antique market, from a Facebook marketplace, garage sales or Craigslist. Not only will you be consuming fewer new products, but your stuff will have a story.
9. Use smart bulbs. If your kid needs a night light, make sure to use an LED light. It can be on all night without taking nearly as much energy as a conventional light.
10. Dispose of old paint and electronics the responsible way. Check with your city's garbage pick-up provider to see if they have days or drop-off sites. Most Goodwill stores accept these items for recycling.
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11. Use reusable/refillable water bottles all day, every day! You'll help decrease the amount of plastic clogging our oceans and landfills.
12. Buy rechargeable batteries. If you decide to go with regular batteries, make sure to recycle them properly.
13. Quit using paper towels to clean. Cut up old bath towels and tee shirts for cleaning instead.
14. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
15. Leave the car at home. Chose one trip a day to bike or use public transportation.
17. Buy in bulk. Buy from the market's bulk section to avoid unnecessary packaging. Do you really need individual containers of olives or cheese sticks when you can buy in bulk and pack it yourself?
18. Take an hour or less and switch all your bills to paperless.
19. Save plastic to-go containers and make mini-greenhouses for starting seeds.
20. Check the family car's tire pressure once a month. Having the right amount will increase gas mileage by three percent (woot!).
21. Put your computer to bed. Plan on stepping away from the keypad? Switch your computer to “sleep” mode to save energy.
22. Tote your own refillable coffee mug. Many coffee shops even charge less for patrons who bring their own mug.
23. Load up the dishwasher. Also, don’t worry about pre-rinsing. (Note: this doesn't work as well with old appliances!).
24. Avoid products with palm oil. Rainforests are still being destroyed in order to produce palm oil. It's found in everything from chocolate to shampoo. Read more here.
25. Use coffee grounds in a compost pile or under acidity-loving plants like azaleas.
26. Designate one glass per day. Instead of grabbing a new cup each time a kid needs a drink, assign everyone a cup each day.
27. And speaking of compost ... If you don't have space or yard to start your own, see if your city offers a composting program or try and start one at your kid's school.
28. Share your old magazines with friends or doctor’s offices. It's always a good idea to black out your address first. And if no one wants them, recycle them!
29. Use cloth napkins instead of paper. Not only will you save trees but you'll look extra fancy.
30. Buy reusable snack bags. You won't have to buy plastic bags for months, if not years.
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31. Sell old cellphones. All they're doing is taking up space in your desk drawers. You can send them to usell.com for cash.
32. Add some green. Houseplants are natural air filters, so grow one in your kiddo's room!
33. Dry your clothes in the sunlight or air. Even if they still need to "finish" in the dryer, you'll save electricity and gas by letting natural elements do half the job.
34. Cut up plastic six-pack rings! You probably heard about this when you were a kid but it's still a problem and it's an easy thing to do.
35. Talk to your kids about why going green is so important. You'll be creating future conservationists!
39. Consider the rain garden: a garden designed to help filter run-off from parking lots. Many schools are creating these in medians and edges of parking lots.
40. Use calendars and greeting cards to make cool art.
43. Stop using bath and body products with synthetic microbead exfoliants and opt for either natural exfoliating ingredients like scrubs with nut/seed exfoliants like St. Ive’s, or sugar scrubs.
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44. Consider swapping out plastic toothbrushes fort thesebamboo toothbrushes. Use your old toothbrushes to clean grout and hard-to-reach places.
49. Consolidate your Amazon orders, people! Yes, we know you can get it it one day. But if you order several items you can request they arrive in one shipment instead of multiple boxes.
If you’re new to the world of finding someone to watch your baby, read and bookmark these interview questions to ask a babysitter. From their experience and certifications to availability and flexibility, these nanny or babysitter interview questions will give you a better picture of whether this is the right babysitter for you. You’ll also find helpful tips on how to conduct a babysitter interview.
Personal Questions
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These interview questions will help you learn more about the babysitter's personality and whether they meet your basic requirements.
1. How would you describe yourself?
2. What do you like to do in your free time?
3. Did you grow up around younger kids (siblings, cousins, neighbors)?
4. What is your availability? Do you have time constraints that would prevent you from staying later if necessary?
5. Do you have reliable transportation? What kind?
These interview questions will give you an understanding of how well prepared this babysitter is to care for your child.
17. The baby starts choking; what do you do?
18. You are getting ready to give the baby a bath when you smell smoke; what is the first thing you do?
19. You and the baby have been playing when you notice that she starts rubbing her eyes and crying. What do you think that means, and how do you respond?
20. The baby just had a blowout in his diaper. Explain how you handle it.
Interview Tips
1. Call the references your babysitter gives you.
Ask them questions like:
How well do you know the sitter?
Has he/she worked for you specifically as a babysitter? If not, what was his/her role?
Is he/she punctual?
Is he/she dependable?
How did he/she handle a difficult situation while caring for your child?
Would you hire him/her again?
What three words would you use to describe him/her?
2. Check out the person on social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and other social media sites are great ways to find out if the persona your babysitter is portraying to you is the one they portray to everyone else. Google is also a handy tool to find out the inside scoop on your prospective babysitter.
3. Discuss your expectations. Do you expect your babysitter to perform household tasks (folding laundry, doing dishes and taking care of light housework) while working for you? Do you have a strict eat & sleep schedule you want the sitter to follow? If so, communicate that during your interview. Having crystal-clear expectations will help you both as you gauge whether this is a match.
4. Request a trial run while you're home. Schedule a time for the babysitter to watch your baby while you're home. You can evaluate how the babysitter interacts with your baby, if they use common sense, how their diaper-changing and feeding skills are and their general demeanor and confidence with babies. It will also help you determine if your baby responds well to the sitter.
If you’re on the fence about loving Walmart, the company’s newest announcement may change your mind. In a new collaboration, Walmart is now the exclusive seller of Gap Home!
Gap Home is the first-ever home collection for the brand, and it’s more than affordable. It features over 400 items in the bedding, bath, tabletop and home decor categories. Best of all the line ranges from $15.88 to just $64.98––which means if your kiddos ruin something you won’t need to cry yourself to sleep at night.
The collection brings the classy and timeless style of Gap together with the affordability of Walmart. Most items offer neutral palettes that easily mesh with your existing decor, while also adding fun textures and patterns.
We love the line especially for young families who tend to cycle through items like sheets and pillows (we’re looking at you, children) quickly and as an option for those heading off to college.
You can shop the Gap Home collection now at walmart.com. As of now, the line is now available in Walmart stores.
The list of out of this world pool floats just keeps getting longer, and with Funboy’s new float, the party won’t stop.
The Giant Disco Dome Island Float ($299) has everything you need to float the day away. It accommodates four people and even has a spot to hang an inflatable disco ball (sold separately).
The inflatable floats 100’’ wide and 70’’ tall, comes with a perimeter grab rope and tether rope. You’ll stay cool thanks to the mesh sun shade and central mesh foot bath in the middle, while your drinks stay right-side-up in one of the four cup holders.