Jennie Lyon

Jennie is a green lifestyle writer and founder of Sweet Greens, a blog which focuses on simple, fun ways for families to go green together. She is also the green lifestyle writer for Cascadian Farm. She lives on the treasure coast of Florida with her fantastic husband and amazing ten year old son. When she is not writing about all things green, she enjoys paddle boarding, thrift stores, family hikes, books, the beach, succulents and a fantastic cup of tea. You can also find Jennie on Sweet Greens Facebook Fan Page or on Twitter @SweetGreens.

HOW TO: Make a Sponge Ball Water Toy

by Jennie Lyon, 05/08/12

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HOW TO: Make a Jedi Light Saber from a Pool Noodle

by Jennie Lyon, 04/13/12

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HOW TO: Make Organic Non-Toxic Bathtub Paints

by Jennie Lyon, 04/11/12

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HOW TO: Make Confetti Filled Eggs

by Jennie Lyon, 04/04/12

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HOW TO: Make Non-Toxic Finger Paint for Creative Kids

HOW TO: Make Non-Toxic Finger Paint for Creative Kids

Do your kids love getting their hands dirty? You won't cringe if they're creating something colorful and fun with finger paints. But forgo expensive store bought finger paint that are typically filled with toxins and synthetic colorants - after all, your kids could easily put those paint-covered fingers in their mouths. Instead, make your own eco finger paint using non-toxic, safe, organic ingredients - the DIY art supply will be better for the environment and won't harm your child if he decides to taste it. Read on to learn how to make easy DIY finger paint for your budding artist today.

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HOW TO: Make Organic Sweet Pickles with Your Children

HOW TO: Make Organic Sweet Pickles with Your Children

Finding fun ways to get more vegetables into your children's diet is always great. Especially, when those vegetables taste so yummy, children will be begging you for another. Sweet Pickles fit this bill - not only are they fun to eat, they are a super fun way to spend a spring morning with your children. Read on to learn how to make your own organic sweet pickles with your little ones.

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5 Healthy Shamrock and Rainbow Meals for St. Patrick’s Day

5 Healthy Shamrock and Rainbow Meals for St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner and it's a holiday that is all about shamrocks, rainbows, leprechauns and fun! Since it's a fun holiday to celebrate with your kiddos, start the day off by setting a leprechaun trap and then plan shamrock green snacks and meals for the rest of the day. Your little lucky charms will look forward to devouring these yummy organic green themed meals, read on to learn my 5 favorites for a very happy St. Patrick's Day!

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HOW TO: Go Geocaching with Your Children

HOW TO: Go Geocaching with Your Children

If you are looking to get your family outside this spring for a little exercise and fun while using their brains at the same time - give geocaching a try. Geocaching is a sport that is similar to a modern day treasure hunt. However, instead of using an old map and searching for an X, you use a GPS device, a set of coordinates and provided clues to find the booty. While you won't find a buried treasure chest heaping with gold and jewels, you and your family will find a cache of treats hidden in an eco-friendly hiding space. Sound like fun? Great, grab your kiddos and read on to discover the rules, etiquette and how to get started with your first geocaching hunt.

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HOW TO: Make Recycled Bottle Cap Valentine Magnets

HOW TO: Make Recycled Bottle Cap Valentine Magnets

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and one of the sweetest parts of the holiday is making DIY cards with your children. The very idea behind giving Valentine's Day cards is to tell your friends how much you like them and it's a holiday where creativity always shines through. And making unique DIY Valentine's using recycled items is super easy, affordable and fun. This year, my son and I decided to make fun Valentine magnets for his friends using bottle caps. It's an easy craft, and one that many kids can do entirely on their own, (younger children will need help with the hot glue). Plus, my son had a blast finding tiny pictures to use. Read on to learn how to make these simple, recycled bottle cap magnet Valentines this weekend.

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Celebrate the Upcoming Change in Seasons with Groundhog Day

Celebrate the Upcoming Change in Seasons with Groundhog Day

According to North American folklore, on February 2nd, Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his burrow to predict the upcoming weather. If the groundhog comes out of his burrow on a cloudy day, he will leave the burrow signaling that spring is almost here. But if he sees his shadow and retreats back into his burrow, the legend says we can expect six more weeks of winter weather. Despite a mostly cloudy day in the Northeast, Phil saw his shadow this year so it looks like winter will keep dragging on. Read on to learn everything you need to know to discuss and celebrate Groundhog Day with your little ones.

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5 Ways to Save Money for Your Child’s Education Today

5 Ways to Save Money for Your Child’s Education Today

It costs a lot of money to raise children and one of the largest expenses that your family will encounter will be for higher education. Starting to save for college when your children are young is essential since it's such a large expense. There are many great ways to save for your child's education - ways that are easy, affordable and will make sending your child off to college an easier process. And when your child does go off to college, the steps that you took today will allow your child to focus on their education, not how they are going to pay for it. The key to saving for your child's education is to start when they are born. Read on to learn the five ways that my family is saving money for my son's college education, and getting started on your own savings today.

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5 Educational and Artsy Apps for Creative Kids

5 Educational and Artsy Apps for Creative Kids

Most likely your family has at least one smart phone or tablet in your household. This means that your child most likely has used many different apps for entertainment. Many apps that are marketed towards children do not infuse education into the fun. However, there are many great apps for children that are educational, artsy and creative. Read on to learn 5 of my son's favorites - all of which have a focus on the arts.

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7 Thrifty Ways for Families to Save Money and the Planet

7 Thrifty Ways for Families to Save Money and the Planet

You will most likely find both saving money and saving the environment at the top of your 2012 New Year's intentions list. In fact, these are at the top of my families own list. When it comes to saving the environment, it comes almost naturally when your family is focused on saving money. And since there are many ways that you save a little green while saving the planet at the same time, it's a win-win for your family and the environment. Read on to learn my seven favorite ways to save money while helping the planet at the same time.

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5 Upcycled Cold Weather Clothes for Eco Kids from Etsy

5 Upcycled Cold Weather Clothes for Eco Kids from Etsy

It's that time of year when bundling your child up before they head outside is a must. Super cold days means you want to wrap your child up in warm and cozy outdoor wear that is also eco-friendly. One great place to find a stylish selection of coats, hats, mittens, and scarves that are handmade and eco-friendly is Etsy. There are many great Etsy shops with a focus on sustainability - making it easy to pick the right outerwear to keep your children warm all winter long. Read on to see my top picks for sustainable outdoor clothing to keep your little one cozy this winter.

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HOW TO: Organize Your Child’s Bedroom for the New Year

HOW TO: Organize Your Child’s Bedroom for the New Year

Yesterday was a chilly day in South Florida, so we stayed home and did some winter cleaning. First on our list, organize my son's bedroom. At first he moaned, however once we started getting all of his toys, books, clothing and collectibles organized he smiled and said, "Wow, Mom! Organizing my bedroom really was a good idea, everything looks so nice!" That is one of the nicest things a mom can hear. Getting your child's bedroom organized is perfect for making your child's toys easy to find, play with and put away, which in the long run means less broken toys or torn books hitting the landfill. Read on to learn how to get your child's bedroom completely organized in an afternoon.

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7 Healthy Family New Year’s Resolutions for 2012

7 Healthy Family New Year’s Resolutions for 2012

2012 has arrived. Have you and your family made any new year's resolutions? Living a healthier lifestyle is one of the most popular resolutions, and it can be one for the whole family to tackle. But don't think your resolution has to be a chore, it can actually be a lot of fun. The key is to make resolutions that are attainable, fun and don't take a lot of time. Read on to learn the top seven healthy new year's resolutions that I will be making with my own family, and you'll see that getting healthy as a family is much easier than it may seem.

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HOW TO: Upcycle Holiday Cards into Puzzle Thank you Cards

HOW TO: Upcycle Holiday Cards into Puzzle Thank you Cards

Once the holidays have come and gone, the last remembrance of the holiday may be all of those holiday cards that you received. It can seem easy to toss them into the recycling bin or stash them away in a drawer. However, upcycling holiday cards into something new and fun is always a good idea. One of the best ways that I have found to upcycle holiday cards is by using them to make jigsaw puzzle thank you cards to send to friends and family. Your child's friends, cousins and other recipients will love receiving a thank you card puzzle. This super-simple craft will keep your children entertained for an afternoon during winter break, read on to learn how.

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7 Eco-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with Your Children

7 Eco-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with Your Children

Today is the first day of Hanukkah, so take a moment to plan a few eco-friendly ideas for your eight festive nights. Hanukkah is all about celebrating our freedom and spending time together as a family. You can have a super-special, festive Hanukkah without spending a lot of money and or leaving much of an impact on our environment. One of my favorite things about Hanukkah is that it is a very traditional holiday that can be enjoyed in a very simple manner. Read on to learn my 7 favorite ways to celebrate Hanukkah with your children that are simple, fun and eco-friendly.

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