The giveaway is over and the winner has been randomly chosen by Rafflecopter.

Congratulations to reader Natasha H.!!

Special thanks to everyone who participated, and to Headline Shirts for making this giveaway possible. There will be plenty more giveaways to come, so don’t give up yet!

Looking for some cool tees for the summer?  Well you’ve come to the right place!  I was recently given the opportunity to try a t-shirt from Headline Shirts in San Francisco.  There is a wide selection of humorous designs on their website, and the t-shirts are super soft and comfy, with that unique vintage feel.  Shipping is fast, and they charge a flat rate of $5 for any size order within the USA, or $10 for international orders.  Not bad!

I LOVE that it comes shipped in compostable packaging!  (as shown above)

Now, it’s your turn to score a FREE t-shirt from Headline Shirts!  Simply enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.  There are many ways to earn multiple entries, which means more chances for you to WIN!  The giveaway will start on June 19, 2012 and end at midnight on June 30, 2012.  Winner will receive an email from me with a special one-time code to use at the Headline Shirts online store.  The code will be good for 1 free t-shirt of your choice and free shipping.  Thank you for your participation and GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This weekend we celebrated my daughter’s 6th birthday with a (Lorax theme) strawberry picking party at Tanaka Farms in Irvine, California.  Guests enjoyed a tractor ride around the organic farm and sampled fresh vegetables during the tour.  At the end of the tour, all of the kids picked fresh organic strawberries to eat – and a container to bring home.

Here are some of the vegetables that were sampled: carrots, yellow string beans, green onions, sweet corn, and strawberries of course!

There were rows and rows of organic strawberry plants.

After we finished picking delicious strawberries, it was time for the party!  For lunch, there was coldcuts, cheese, and rolls, as well as an antipasto salad.  There was a candy buffet filled with naturally colored chocolate candies, home-made candy dots on paper strips, organic chocolate graham bears, all natural mini marshmallows, whole grain cheddar goldfish crackers, and rock candy sticks in orange, yellow, and light blue!  Naturally colored yellow chocolate mustache lollipops were displayed as centerpieces on the tables.  Saving the best for last…. homemade cupcakes with naturally colored buttercream frosting and truffula tree cake pops (also naturally colored).

I know many of you are interested in planning a Lorax themed party, so I will post lots of pictures to give you ideas for your own event.

 If you decide to use my ideas or borrow my pictures, please link back to my blog.  At the end of this post is a list of where I purchased supplies, and I will post “how-to” pictures of the supplies that I made soon!

DiY HAPPY BIRTHDAY bunting/banner

DiY felt mustache utensil holder

DiY mustache straws and mini mason jar sippers

Faux/artificial grass runner

Naturally colored yellow chocolate mustache lollipops (the kids loved these!)

DiY utensil holders with bamboo utensils

Natural/Organic/Healthy Candy Buffet

Homemade truffula tree cake pops with naturally colored royal icing

Where to get your supplies…

Gingham fabric (to make tablecloth): Fabric Direct

DiY Truffula Tree tissue paper poufs: coming soon!

DiY HAPPY BIRTHDAY bunting/banner: coming soon!

Artificial faux grass runner: Lowes

Folding tables: Walmart

DiY chocolate mustache lollipops:  coming soon!

Orange plates: Party City

Yellow napkins: The Webstaurant Store

Bamboo utensils:  The Webstaurant Store

DiY felt mustache utensil holder: coming soon!

Mini mason jar sippers: Acme Party Box (set of 12)

DiY mustache straws: coming soon!

Apothecary candy jars: ebay and Save-On Crafts

Koziol Babell White Tiered Tray

Lime Green White Polka Dot Cupcake Baking Liners

Tree trunk wood slice: Save-On Crafts

Truffula Tree Cake Pops & Cupcakes: coming soon!

Naturally colored chocolate candies by Sunspire: LuckyVitamin (I separated the colors from the mixed packages.)

Rock Candy Sticks:  Nuts.com

Organic chocolate graham bear cookies: 365 Whole Foods

All natural mini marshmallows: Whole Foods

Butter rolls:  Cream Pan in (Old Town) Tustin, California

Whole Grain cheddar goldfish crackers by Pepperridge Farm: grocery store

Sparkly 6 candle by Spritz: Target

My daughter is turning 6…. and is obsessed with all things Lorax.  So, we are hosting a Lorax themed birthday party for her and some friends at a local strawberry picking farm.  I’ve been busy planning everything from little felt mustache utensil holders to tissue paper truffula poufs.  Did I catch your attention yet?  Check back next week for pictures from the party, or sign up for my newsletter to receive an email when new things have posted.

***If you’re going to use my pictures or ideas, please link back to this blog!***

Here’s a sneak peak…….

You could not, would not, want to miss

A Lorax birthday party as cool as this!

And the 2 winners of the Sensibles eco-friendly compostable lunch plates giveaway are…..
(randomly chosen by Rafflecopter)

Storm D.

Shelly R.

Check your inbox for an email from me!

Congratulations to both of you, and thank you to everyone who participated.

Stay tuned for some more fun giveaways!

Now that the warm weather is here, it’s time for outdoor BBQ’s and graduation parties!  I always cringe when I have to use a plastic or foam plate while at a party.  And when planning for a party, shopping for eco-friendly disposable plates can become quite expensive.

 Then I came across Sensibles compostable disposable plates.  They are not only friendly for the environment, but your wallet too!  Currently, they are available at Alice.com:

40 count lunch plates  - $2.73

85 count lunch plates – $5.63

Sensibles are made from 100% recycled material.  They are compostable, microwaveable, and soak resistant.  Compostable items are preferred over strictly biodegradable items, because when these plates break down, they release valuable nutrients into the soil, aiding the growth of trees and plants.  The best part is that the plates are made in the USA!

I was surprised by how lightweight the plate was, but it was sturdy and strong too.   Plus, it’s so much easier to throw this plate in the compost pile, rather than the dishwasher.  Guilt free!

So I had to put these plates to the test with some homemade chili – no salt added by the way…

Looks good doesn’t it??

It WAS good… and here’s the plate to show for it.

As you can see the oil didn’t seep through to the bottom of the plate.  I must say that the plate is well made – I attempted to push my fingers through the bottom (figuring it would go right through) but I failed.  The plate was strong enough to prevent breakage, even after a chili dinner.

Recently I was asked by Sensibles to try out these new eco-friendly plates.  I’m a sucker for anything “green” really…. but I love these plates so much that I am hosting a Sensibles giveaway!  2 lucky readers will each receive a 40 count pack of Sensibles compostable plates!

Use the widget below to enter.  There are MANY ways to earn entries (some of which you can do daily), and the only 2 requirements to enter are:  LIKE  the Sensibles facebook page and LIKE The Left Coast Mama facebook page.  Both links are listed below in the widget, and you must check them off after you complete the task to earn your entries.  The other options are not required, however they will earn you more chances to win!

I will be using Rafflecopter to host this giveaway – it’s much better than “eenie meany miney mo”  The giveaway will start on May 9, 2012 and close on May 21, 2012 at 12:01am EST.  Winners will receive their prize by mail. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Have fun and good luck!

Here’s a fun event for mothers, grandmas, their kids…

On Saturday, May 12th at 3pm and 4 pm, Pottery Barn Kids stores are hosting Mother’s Day Doll Tea Parties!  Mothers and grandmothers are invited for special tea-time with their children.  Put on your finest and bring a favorite doll or teddy bear in for an afternoon of refreshments, stories and more.  RSVP required, so reserve your spot today.

Go HERE to locate the nearest Pottery Barn Kids store!

We love Annie’s Homegrown products!  If you purchase their products too, then here’s a great Mail In Rebate offer for you!

Receive a FREE one year subscription to Organic Gardening magazine with the purchase of ANY 2 Annie’s products.

Pick up 2 boxes of Annie’s Homegrown mac and cheese for a couple bucks, submit the rebate, and you’ve got a pretty good deal!

Hurry, offer ends May 31, 2012 – while supplies last.

Healthy Slice & Bake Cookies

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup white cane sugar
5 tablespoons canola oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1.  Whisk flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.  Set aside.

2.  Beat sugar, oil and butter in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high until smooth.

3.  Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until smooth.

4.  Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined.

5.  Divide dough into 2 and mold into logs.  Wrap with plastic wrap and freeze just until firm, about 45 minutes.

6.  Preheat oven to 350F.

7.  Remove one roll of dough from the freezer and let stand at room temperature for 5 minutes. Unwrap and slice crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, turning the dough a quarter turn after each slice to help keep the cookies round.

8.  Place 1/2 inch apart on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

9.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  (The longer you bake them, the more crisp they will be.)

10.  Remove and transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

You can make both cookie logs, or leave one in the freezer for a rainy day.

It’s very kid friendly, and so yummy!

The next step is to ice them.  I always use the basic royal icing recipe from Wilton, which consists of white powdered sugar (I use the organic one from Whole Foods), Wilton’s meringue powder, and warm water.  You may choose to make it from raw egg whites or egg whites powder instead.  I’m sure I will give that a whirl one of these days…

To create the colors, I used the natural liquid food colors from Chocolate Craft Studio.  They are made from all natural ingredients and work great!

You can spread the icing across the cookies or pipe it on with a pastry bag.  The kids enjoy “drawing” on the cookies with the icing using the pastry bag.

The recipe was adapted from one that I found at Eating Well.

Take your kids on a nature walk to gather some fresh leaves and flowers,

and then use them to “paint” a picture!

You will need:

a small pail of fresh leaves and/or flowers

newspaper or a couple magazines

hammer

watercolor paper (or printer paper)

paper towels

Gather some fresh flowers and leaves.  Try to find colorful flowers, and make sure the leaves are soft, not thick hard leaves.

Then, put your newspaper pile on a hard surface and lay the watercolor paper on top.  We used printer paper for this project, but watercolor paper will absorb more of the “plant juice” paint.

Lay all of the flowers out on top of the paper.  You may also choose to use one at a time, because they may shift and slide around on the paper.

Cover the flowers with a paper towel and start hammering them.  Watch your fingers, kids!

You will see the flowers start to bleed into the paper towel (and your paper as well).  Feel free to lift the paper towel to see how it’s going under there!

Once you’re done hammering, remove the paper towel and peel away the flowers from your paper.

After you remove all of the smashed flowers and leaves from your paper, you are left with a beautiful masterpiece!

*Results will look even better on watercolor paper.