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Blog: The CoolMom Blog is an easy way to be a part of the conversation on tips for reducing your carbon footprint with families. Please share your ideas and comments. Thank you!
Eliminate vampire power
Replace 5 light bulbs with CFLs
Toxics vs. Global Warming- Competing or Mutual Priorities?: In a press conference on January 27, the newly released Environment Washington report, Dirty Energy's Assault on our Health: Mercury, was highlighted. The press conference and report discuss the affects of toxic emissions coming from coal fired power plants.
From Old to New, Sport Jersey to Tote Bag: Kids collect so many t-shirts and jerseys from their activities and sports. They wear them for a few months, then outgrow them or move on to the next sport. Save one or two special shirts by turning them into tote bags that you or your kids can continue to use.
From Old To New, Citrus Peel to Garbage Disposal Deodorizer: Freshen up that smelly garbage disposal with some citrus peels. No need to purchase any store bought product. Just use leftover peels. Any citrus will do.
Fishermen destined to eat tofu if acidification of Puget Sound continues: In a Seattle Times Letter to the Editor, I wrote about the acidification of Puget Sound and its impact on our way of life in the Puget Sound Area and its very real implications for our ocean inhabitants and the fishing industry. I thought it pertinent to repost here on our CoolMom Blog.
From Old to New: Conventional Toilet to Dual-Flush: Make that toilet stop using up all that water. Convert your conventional toilet to a dual-flush toilet! It's easy, it's not expensive, and it saves you money!
Community Gardening is Sustainable Gardening: It’s April, and CoolMoms is naturally thinking of food. Aren’t we all? Even in an area like Seattle that has a bounty of good, local, seasonal food, February and March can feel pretty bleak. Well, April’s still not that great, but it has the decided advantage of nurturing our imaginations as we prepare garden beds, start seeds, and put our first starts in the ground.
Earth Day Celebrations: Many of us celebrate Earth Day every day. Share your stories on how you celebrate Earth Day on this day and the other 364 days out of the year by posting a comment here.
CoolMom Director Thinking Outside the Car: Travel along and experience the ins and outs of carbon-less miles as Director, Terri Glaberson walks, bikes and takes mass transit throughout the month of May. Help her raise over $2,000 by pledging your support.
Living Outside the Car: Happy May, CoolMoms! Since it’s Think-Outside-the-Car month, I’ve been doing just that. Read along and ponder this question: What cultural fixtures would have to be moved, adjusted, or rebuilt to put us back on our feet and reconnect us with so much of what we miss as we wiz along the roadways?
From Old to New: Dish Towel to Lunch Sack: Japan has been on my mind for the last month. The tragic earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster had me worried about my own family who live there and the millions who were affected, but there are happier Japanese inspirations right now too.
From Old to New: Stained Tablecloth Transformation: Don't know what to do with that stained Tablecloth? Can't give it away, so why not use it as part of a fun summertime kids' project and transform that stained tablecloth into a festive outdoor tablecloth!
From Old to New: Summer Party Edition!: Did you fill your water guns with paint and make your summer party table cloth? see previous Old to New post. Now that you’ve got the linens taken care of, here is a list of other ideas for reusing old things at your next summertime party!
Conserving Water Beyond the Movement: I’m sitting on my deck thinking about two things. One is that I need to water my vegetables. The other is water conservation, CoolMom’s July focus. I’m glad CoolMom is focusing on this issue because it seems to me that it has yet to make it into the public consciousness the way, say, recycling has.
Old to New: Drier Lint to Campfire Starters: My family is not one of those families who jump at the chance to sleep under the stars…on the ground with the dirt and bugs…maybe even snakes. However, once a year we do spend a week camping in the summer. Honestly, perhaps what we do is better termed glamping, as it always includes the presence of glamorous accoutrement such as a toilet and a hot shower.
North Seattle CoolMom trip to the Recycling Center: Recently, several CoolMom families showed up on a beautiful sunny afternoon at the Waste Management Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville to partake in a host of lovely smells emanating from the mountain of recyclables inside a large warehouse.
Vote YES on Proposition 1: Our families deserve to have safe economical means of transportation that doesn't have a large carbon footprint. Vote YES on Proposition 1.
From old to new: Halloween Edition
In Motion & Walk to School Month
Walk to School Day: On October 5th Daniel Bagley Elementary School celebrated International Walk to School Day by using those two feet for walking!
From Old to New: Sweater to Hat!
Holiday Gifts Without All That STUFF!: Join the conversation on what you are doing for this holiday's gift giving. Read this exchange between two CoolMom friends and please share your ideas by posting a comment below.
Holiday Gift Ideas: Holiday Gift Ideas without all the stuff!
West Seattle In Motion Update: The results of West Seattle In Motion are in and they are fantastic! Here is a report from the West Seattle In Motion Team.
New Year's Resolutions: This Bainbridge CoolMom reduced her consumption by making a *New Year's Resolution to cut back on what, how and when she purchased items. You may learn some helpful lessons from this Cool Mom!
From Old to New: Household Items to Fitness Equipment: To help you with your New Year's Resolution to become fitter. Here is an idea that might help you meet your goals and not cost you a bundle in gym fees or equipment.
Urban Farm Handbook Challenge: CoolMom is helping promote the Urban Farm Handbook: City-Slicker Resources for Growing, Raising, Sourcing, Trading, and Preparing What You Eat. 40% off of The Mountaineers Books with code.
What CoolMom Means to Me: We recently asked some of our members what CoolMom means to them. Here is one member's response. We would love to hear from you. Please share what CoolMom means to you in our comment section.
Want to save the planet? Work less and spend less!: Finally a good excuse for putting your feet up and watching the laundry dry.
Coal Action Alert: We need you in helping stop Coal Exports! Learn how you can take action today.
Earth Day for Kids: Want something cool to do for Earth Day? Come to the Olympic Sculpture Park on Saturday, April 21 from 10-3 for Earth Day for Kids.
Earth Day Pouches by Kids
Community Power Works
Seattle Passes Resolution-Against Coal Export: Kimberly Christensen, North Seattle CoolMom, testified in front of Seattle City Council encouraging the Seattle City Council to pass a resolution opposing the development of coal-export terminals in Washington state.
Plastic Bag Ban Starts Today: Seattle's ban on single-use plastic bags goes into effect today!
More Than 300 Tote Bags Donated!: FamilyWorks Food Bank staff are overjoyed to receive an abundance of tote bags to share with their clients.
Community Supported Veggie Starts: Cascadian Edibles offers a new type of CSA - one that supplies urban farmers and home gardeners with plant starts.
Coal Train Derails in Tri-Cities: Can you imagine if this had happened at Carkeek Park? Or downtown by the stadiums? Or on the trestle bridge crossing over the Ballard Locks? We must continue to say "no" to coal exports!
Insurance for Cyclists: The Better World Club, which offers perks like the AAA but without the constant lobbying for cars and highways, now has a plan for cyclists. Read their press release here!
Babes on Bikes: Sightline's photo essay shows kids strapped into some fun bike seats and offers great tips for commuter-biking with your children. CoolMom Madi Carlson and her sons are featured cyclists. Madi recently helped organize the "Kidical Mass" portion of the Wallingford Kiddie Parade to help other families visualize biking with their children.
Planet: Home Festival July 21st: Get your green on! July 21st is the date for Sustainable Northeast Seattle's 3rd annual Planet Home sustainable living festival, an urban country fair!
Yes, there is a class for that!: Bike Works is now offering a wide array of classes to help you learn to safely bike with your family. In addition, you can try out different types of bikes and bike seats for children and bike alongside the experts at the Kidical Mass family bike rides!
Green Burials: If you care about the health of the earth while you are alive, you can extend that care after your death (or the death of your loved ones) as well.
A Ray of Hope: On Sunday, the New York Times printed this thoughtful article about why we have to have hope that we can still effect change.
Acting Against Coal in the Northwest: Between the negotiated closure of the TransAlta coal plant in Centralia and the current movement to stop the proposed coal export terminal in Bellingham, Washingtonians have been hard at work trying to make their state coal free. Across the country, they are joined by other voices calling for an end to coal mining, burning and export.
Bag-Free for One Month: How are consumers behaving now that the plastic bag ban has been in effect for one month? King 5 investigated and found out that it's been a pretty easy transition. CoolMom wants to know how it's going for you!
Wow! Washington Organics Week: Tilth Producers of Washington hosts weeklong campaign to connect consumers with Washington Organic products & growers
Washington Sports a New EV Tourism Corridor: Innovators in Central Washington have found a creative way to lure eco-conscious Seattleites across Cascades: Build an electric vehicle tourism corridor.
Clean Energy Road Trips: We're always on the lookout for something fun and educational to do with the kids. New clean energy plants in the Northwest offer the chance to learn about alternative energy production AND have a family trip at the same time. And if you happen to drive an electric vehicle, you can make use of Washington's and Oregon's new highways of electric goodness.
Washington Green Schools Summits!: Students and educators from Seattle-area green schools are encouraged to attend the first annual Seattle Green Schools Summit on October 23rd. Clark County green schools will hold their second annual summit on November 6th. Get inspired to grow your school's green program!
It's Costume-Swapping Time!: The Green Halloween movement has been gaining momentum in the past few years, from fair trade candy to organic pumpkin farms to second-hand costumes. Now there is even a National Costume Swap Day! This year, it's October 13th (but don't be held back by a date). CoolMom Elizabeth Ralston shares her secrets for holding a successful costume swap.
Yard Waste or Landfill - Does It Matter?: Do you know the connection between green waste and climate change?
Walking School Buses in West Seattle!: Over the past year, CoolMom has been teaming up with schools in the West Seattle Community to reduce car pollution and decrease carbon emissions through the implementation of Walking School Buses.
WSB safety guidelines: Walking School Bus safety guidelines.
Mom Turns to Biking and Becomes and Force for Change: This [empty] box was too big to fit in my friend's car so I transported it for her!

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