Editor’s note: The following post was originally published on Green and Clean Mom. “Green & Clean Mom can inspire you to try a little harder, be a catalyst for change and to offer you some new tips and news on how to be the green, sexy and sassy mom…I know you are!”

What does it mean to be green? With snow covering the ground this time of year, it’s hard to imagine the color green! I asked my three year old Henry and he told me it was a color. Duh. A color with many shades. I looked out the window but all I see is white. Imagining the green grass I wonder,  can’t we all be some shade of green of this New Year?

I don’t profess to do everything “green”. I try to make everyday choices that I feel are safe for me, my children and for the environment. I recycle and try to not be wasteful with electricity. I unplug items that are not in use. I turn my SUV off when I’m not in it. Yes, an SUV! See, I’m not 100% Green but I am a shade and everyday this shade varies. I write this to show people that you can do something and be some shade of green.  Being Eco friendly and living a green lifestyle, buying organic and choosing natural toys – isn’t always easy, but it is possible.

Everybody can do something. You don’t have to do everything and you shouldn’t try or you’ll go crazy and be a zillion shades of who knows what color! Instead make choices that are good for you and your family and that make sense. Teach your little ones through examples. In my home my biggest “green” task is using everything non-toxic and natural. Cleaning products, personal care products, home care products and nutrition products. I green my home and my body as much as possible. I am, however, not perfect.

When it comes to going green and being some shade of green there seems to be so much pressure (trust me I know). The media loves this “go green” phrase and every other advertising or product has words that say green, natural, Eco or organic on them. Friends are being competitive when it comes to what brands they buy or who’s doing what. It’s enough to turn someone away. Even though I have a green website and it’s mostly all I write about, read about or research, I find it overwhelming. Just trying to buy a car that isn’t loaded with toxins is driving me crazy. It seemed less complicated four years ago when I was doing nothing but that’s just it. Taking the easy road because it’s less complicated and takes less energy isn’t the right thing. Neither is going over board and doing too much right away to overwhelm yourself or your family.

So where do you begin to go green and live a more Eco friendly natural lifestyle? What can you do that won’t make you go bonkers or just stop trying ? I’m going to tell you from my point of view and having gone too far and doing too much too soon, what I advise. I wish I could have read an article like this and had a place where I could begin. With New Years on the horizon this seems fitting and perhaps these tips for buying organic and going green will help you with some resolutions.  Maybe I would have felt less out of control and confused if I had read an article helping me learn about how to go green and live a more Eco friendly natural life style.  With all the pressure from friends, family and media to be more earth friendly and buy this, drive this, don’t do this, it’s hard to know where to begin.

Guess what?  The canvas is blank and it is your canvas to paint anyway you like with as many shades of green as you please. That’s the best part, there really is no competition and each family is a unique as a painting. My advice: sit down and figure out what is going to work for your family now and what your priorities, obligations and motivations are. How can you work going green into your life for five minutes each day? Sit down, grab a piece of paper and write down the following:

1. What do I want to teach my kids about sustainability and being Earth friendly?

2. What products do I use in my home that are toxic? List personal care products and cleaning products.

3. What foods can our family make switches to that are hormone free and healthier? Can we garden or could we afford to start buying locally?

4. What jobs can I give our family members to cut down on energy or waste (Maybe have a child in charge of turning off the lights or rinsing out the recycling)?

5. When it comes to driving, can our family car pool or walk more? Is it possible to save on gas and have our children choose one activity verses three (Maybe you’re child would be interested in helping you decide how more errands can be accomplished with less driving)?

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