Never have I put more time, care and attention into the products I was slathering onto my body daily than when I was pregnant. The idea that my body was no longer my own - that it was growing this tiny seed of life that relied on me to grow - was enough to make me ditch my toxic beauty drawer in search of more natural alternatives. And even though I'm no longer pregnant, the idea of returning to my former ways after relying on such healthful products makes me cringe. Naturally (ha! pun!), I've gathered up 10 of my favorite finds to keep you fresh, pampered and - most importantly - safe. Happy pampering, mamas! --By Erin Loechner

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I live in a loft, so I don't have a place for a larger garden. Thus, if I want plant life around me in the spring and summer, I must use planters. The good thing about using planters is you can move them around and change them out as your needs/tastes desire. Plus, you can also customize them with paint, decoupage and more. I'm personally going to be decorating my porch this summer, and I needed some ideas for planters, so I pulled together what I believe is a great collection that's sure to inspire your inner grower. Click through for 7 creative ways to garden this spring! - By Amy Anderson

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MS

1) Program Your Thermostat

Give AC a rest when you're away for even a few hours. Set programmable thermostats to kick in half an hour before you return home unless you have heat-sensitive indoor pets. Cranking the thermostat to penguin-worthy temperatures won't cool the house faster, since AC works at full throttle until a set temperature is reached. With every degree you lower it, cooling costs increase by about 7 percent.

2) Unplug When Possible

Give small appliances a break whenever you can. Computers, cell phone chargers, and other electronics often continue to use power -- and radiate heat -- even when turned off. To simplify, plug items into a power strip that you can use as a master switch.

3) Get Better Bulbs

Incandescent bulbs put more energy into generating heat than light, so replace high-use bulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They burn cool and bright with only a third of the power required by incandescents.

4) Use Your Fan Smarter

If recent design trends are any indication, even those of us with itty-bitty yards or no yards at all have a thirst to plant. With spring on its way, the terrarium craze has hit design blogs and catalogues alike, catering to those of us who crave a little more green in our lives. But I, like anyone, like a garden of easy, and I believe wall planters provide a great, no-fuss solution for this! They're perfect for those homes that don't have a ton of space -- and they go a long way in exuding a springtime feel year-round. I've rounded up some gorgeous finds to inspire your springtime gardening! Click through for 7 trendy indoor gardening solutions! - By Nicole Balch

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Why let it go to waste?London Fashion week was "on a roll" Monday, featuring models prepped for a bathroom emergency. For her autumn/winter 2013 show, Scottish designer Louise Gray included rings, bracelets, and broaches made from toilet paper on the roll. Think that's bizarre? Check out these 5 odd but totally useful ways to recycle toilet paper rolls.

My friends, I have found one of the most awesome sites on the face of the planet: Ikatbag. In particular, I love Lier's cardboard projects. She's the mother of three children and is constantly making them fun toys using recycled materials. I hope to be that kind of mother when I eventually have children. Also, she is totally supporting my theory that a kid would rather play with the box something comes in than the toy itself...and it's so awesome when the box becomes the toy. Click through the slideshow to view 7 awesome cardboard creations for you and your kids to make together! - By Amy Anderson

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We've been cloth diapering for 15 months. I'd never go back! I know cloth diapering is not for everyone, but it has worked great for us. I think one of the reasons a lot of people end up quitting it is they don't jump in with both feet. Of course disposables are easier, and if you're only using a few cloth diapers here and there, the laundry probably feels like a nuisance.

I also think it feels really, really overwhelming before you start. It took me almost 3 months to work up the courage to get going! But I've never looked back, and I know we'll keep using them until Cullen, our little one, is ready to try potty training (gulp).

We'll also continue to use this same set of diapers as long as they last, to use for any future babies.

So if you're considering diving into cloth diapering, or already have and are struggling, here's a mini -- yet totally complete -- guide to everything you need to know.



Here are 5 tips on cloth diapering:

1.) Storage
Instead of storing cloth diapers in a hanging wet bag, put them in a regular trash can. We

Feeling Overwhelmed with Protecting Your Children from Toxins? Why You're Not AloneI am a green and frugal living blogger. My blog is all about taking baby steps toward going green, while saving money at the same time, to benefit your family's health and to protect the environment. I believe that making small changes in our lifestyle and our homes will lead to big lifestyle change over time, and that those changes will have a positive impact on our family's health.

But often, while doing research for an article, the headlines start to glare and shout at me and tell me that I'm not doing enough, that I can never do enough to truly protect my children from the onslaught of toxins and chemicals that threaten their health and well-being on a daily, even minute-by-minute, basis.

Headlines like these:
Pesticide in Soap, Toothpaste and Breast Milk - Is It Kid-Safe?
Many Baby Bath Products Contain Carcinogens, Report Finds
U.S. Regulators Lack Data on Health Risks of Most Chemicals

As I read, the anxiety builds up in me. My heart starts to beat faster, I