Is your child's school joining the green movement? If not, maybe you can help nudge them along.

I was so thankful this year when my son's elementary school finally decided to offer email notices, for families who opt for them. I mean, my son was coming home with piles of paper fliers each week. This is not only good for the planet, but it's good for keeping my desk neater at home.

As you work with your child's school and it comes time to make some changes (understandably, public schools tend to be a little slow on change), why not suggest greener changes?

I was in the grocery store this weekend and the guy ringing me up asked me if I wanted my items bagged in paper in plastic.

I told him paper.

He asked, Are you sure?

I was sure I wanted paper (Cafe Sheri also says no to plastic bags) -- besides, I use the paper bags to recycle my paper products in my apartment.

But it made me wish I had my re-usable tote bags with me. Because the truth is, even paper isn't entirely eco-friendly.

Now those clothes are really old!

Photo by amybuddy45

We just returned from a big, fancy family wedding, and my daughter Roxane looked like a doll. There's not much more adorable than a big bow on the back of a little girl's dress, but this get-up was also pink and white seersucker with a scallop-edged collar and tiny flowers on the bodice.

And the best part: It was free. The designer dress, which cost a pretty penny at the store, was a hand-me-down from Roxie's older cousin.

Passing or swapping clothes through the chain of family and friends is nothing new,  of course -- kids grow out of stuff so fast, and we'd all rather not fork over the cash, especially right now -- but it's also planet-friendly.

Photo from Wrap-N-Mat

Finally, after months spent training myself to bring reusable bags to the grocery store, I was ready to tackle the next plastic culprit in my home: sandwich bags.

Photo by BobMariah

Kiss without chemicals!

No one wants to put chemicals on their lips. Green by Nature lipstick is my new favorite, but if you're into making some homemade balm, I've got a recipe for you.

Crazymom080787 with her two sons

Whether you're making your Mother's Day wish list or considering what to buy your own mom for Mother's Day, why not make a Green Mother's Day out of it?

CafeMom Crazymom080787 has some great environmentally conscious Mother's Day ideas to share.

Photo from Target

When I got off the subway last night, I saw it -- the Loomstate for Target ad up on the wall. Um. How could I forget? Loomstate, which I normally cannot really afford, has taken their eco-friendly practices and clothing and shared them with the mega-store. Yep, 100 percent organic cotton, with prices starting at $14.99, for both men and women. Love it!

Can I just be transported to exactly where this model is...in her cute plaid dress?

Check out a few other styles....

Feathering the Nest, amazon.com

Interior designer Tracy Hutson is a member of the design team on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," and she's a mom of two boys.

Her new book is called Feathering the Nest: Tracy Hutson's Earth-Friendly Guide to Decorating Your Baby's Room. I spoke to her to get some of her green-living, budget-friendly tips.

Here's what she had to say about pulling together an eco-friendly nursery.

William P. Wright, Sharon Cohoon, via Sunset

Love this lovely eco garden shed, designed by Washington gardener Lisa Phipps using mostly recycled materials, spotted over at Sunset, and further explored on their blog Fresh Dirt.

WOOD :: METAL

GLASS :: STONE

The Earth makes such lovely things. Thank you, Earth.