Thrifty Thursday: Earthfare Edition

There are a couple of great deals at Earthfare this week:

First off,


Plus, this week's Take the Boot Challenge Coupon: Free Crackers! Bring your crackers with hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup and trade in for a FREE box of Earthfare Organic Cracker Rounds. (valid until 5/17/11, see website for coupon)

Organic Rolled Oats .99/lb.

GoodBelly Probiotic 2/$6
    $1/1 Good Belly Product and/or B1G1 (sign up and get coupons emailed to you)

Kashi Go Lean Crisp, assorted varieties 2/$6
     $1 off coupon (Mambo Sprout booklet), use 2 and get 2/$4!)

Late July Chips BOGO ($2.99 for 2, these are AMAZING!)

Plus, thanks to Frugally Farming Family (which list other Earthfare sales for the month, the one's listed here are just my top picks) here are other things to remember for saving at Earthfare:

• 5% Discount for educators (Including Homeschoolers) with I.D. or other records to prove you are an educator
• EBT is accepted at ALL Earth Fare stores! Even if you are struggling financially, you can still use your EBT to purchase healthy foods! Combine it with the Earth Fare coupons and sales for maximum use of your EBT dollars!
• Thursday from 4-8pm Kids Eat Free! Minimum purchase of $5 for Adult. Also, maximum of 2 take home meals if children are not present!

Mother's day is fast approaching...

Why not give mom some eco-love this mother's day? Here are some ideas, from homemade to gifts from the not so crafty crowd, that your mom and the planet are sure to love.

1. a recycled newspaper bouquet in a recycled glass "vase" (mason jar, dressing bottle, etc.)
2. homemade organic sugar scrub in a recycled glass jar
3. handmade mosaic garden stones
4. Make a charitable donation to a cause your mom is passionate about
5. for the not-so-crafty: Treehugger.com's Green Gift Guide for Mothers Day

What are you doing for the mom in your life? Can't wait to hear all your wonderfully eco ideas!

Top 5 ways to Green your Sprout-friendly Mardi Gras Celebration

Mardi Gras (shrove Tuesday, fat Tuesday, pancake Tuesday) is today, the day before Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Parties and parades (as well as pancakes) have long been associated with this celebration; so what's a eco-parent to do? Celebrate of course!

1. Start the day off with organic, local pancakes (if your in the greater Columbia area check out Anson Mills!)
2. Create your own mardi gras beads by stringing colorful bottle caps on a string or get fancy with this recycled silk scarf necklace
3. Raid the recycling bin for a cereal box or two. Cut out mask shapes (be creative!) and let your sprout have a blast with paint, markers and any random craft items you may have (be sure to let these dry in time for #5!)
4. Cook and enjoy vegetarian gumbo & rice with your little sprouts (yummy recipe here)
5. End your day with a King cake (hide a berry or bit of chocolate in the cake instead of a plastic baby to avoid BPA, phthalates and neurontoxins)...the sprout with the surprise gets to lead the "parade of masks" to bed!

Enjoy your Fat Tuesday... and consider doing a carbon fast for Lent (check out this calender for information!)