5 Eco-Friendly Ideas for the Fall

The temperatures have cooled off. The leaves have started to turn orange and yellow colors. The garden is slowing down a bit. The warm Summer months have ended and we have entered a season of rest. Summer months are usually filled with lots of outside time, family travel, and just more activities in general. When the weather become cooler, we stay inside, we warm up together under a blanket and watch a movie, and we rest during the Winter. Here are some of the eco-friendly ideas we are implementing this Fall.

1. Upgraded Water Filter System

I finally decided to upgrade our old Brita water pitcher filter to a more robust and purifying system like the Berkey water filter system. I also purchased the fluoride and arsenic filters to help us to have the most pure water we can have in our home. I have been wanting this water purifying system for a long time and am so excited to finally have it setup and in use.

I chose the Big Berkey size, which is perfect for our family of 3. This provides enough water for at least one day. I can tell a subtle taste difference in the water between the old Brita water pitcher filter and the Big Berkey water filter system. I'm glad our family finally made this investment in more pure water.

2. Canning More

I have been canning homemade apple butter for a few years. I've canned some other vegetables, like peppers, in the past, but really have not gone outside this comfort zone. This year, after my parents brought me 4.5 boxes of homegrown, organic apples from their back yard, I had to venture out to try new recipes. In addition to the apple butter, I canned sliced apples and apple jam. It was not as hard as I imagined it would be.

As the Summer growing season wraps up and there is an abundance of harvest, I want to try my hand at canning vegetables like tomatoes, green beans, and salsas.

3. Using Our Food Storage Supply

Being prepared for an emergency situation, whether natural or man made, is something that is very important to me. I feel like there have been so many natural disasters this year. It is good to be prepared for those. I try to keep a short term food supply in the deep freezer, regular freezer, pantry and downstairs in the laundry room. Our laundry room has a huge storage closet. I purchased a few heavyweight plastic bins with locking lids to store dry goods. The plastic bins help to protect them from any critters or bugs.

One of the things I have not been as good at is using our short term food storage supply. Therefore, this is on my list for soups, stews, and crockpot meals as I use the beans, grains, and frozen meat.

4. Thrifting

I have been so surprised at the amount of nice and high quality items that I have been able to find at thrift stores. Initially, I got into thrifting because I was not able to find an older style of jeans at one of the popular jeans stores, but I found them at a local Goodwill. I knew the exact style and size that fit me so well. I found that style at thrift stores. Since I started thrifting, I have bought lots of adorable decor items for the home, stuff for the kitchen, and wooden toys for my son. Don't be afraid of the thrift store!

5. Drive Less, Walk More

Even though our neighborhood does not have sidewalks and we do not live in an area that has a lot of shopping and restaurants close to us, we still try to walk as much as possible. There is a little shopping center about one mile away. When I need something from one of the stores there, I will take my 3.5 year old in our BOB jogging stroller and either run or walk there. We also try to combine trips to store that are close so we are not driving from one place to another. Taking a toddler in and out of a car seat multiple times is hard enough! My son is at the age now where he can walk quite a bit and I take advantage of that.

These are 5 eco-friendly ideas that we are implementing for the Fall. Some of them we were doing already, but want to kick it up a notch.

What are some eco-friendly things your family is doing this Fall??
 

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Matching Swim Diaper and Hat [review]

Swim diaper have become more popular over the past few years. These are the reusable swim diapers, which also make great covers for disposable diapers. Swim diapers can be used whether you cloth diaper or not. Swim diaper let pee through, but contain poop. They prevent big saggy bottoms that can happen with disposable swim diaper. And of course, they come in adorable prints! Snug as a Doodle Bug offers matching swim diapers and swim hats.

Snug as a Doodlebug Swim Diaper and Hat      

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest. 

The Good	The Not So Good
Great fit with sized swim diaper	Hat available in one size
Great fit with stretchy fabric

I first discovered the Snug as Doodlebug Etsy shop when I was looking for a toddler sleep sack. I reviewed one sleep bag and then purchased a second one with openings for feet. I love Snug as a Doodlebug sleeping bag and would highly recommend them. Sheri started offering matching swim diaper and swim hat. I had an opportunity to review!

I received the swim diaper and hat in orange with a tiger print trim. For my 3 year old slim son, I selected the Large size. The rise on the diaper is high, so that should fit my son through the rest of this year. The size also allows me to place an insert inside to provide extra protection.

My favorite feature of the swim diaper is that the fabric and the trim are stretchy. This allows me to get a great fit on him and provides him comfort while he is moving around and playing.

I would like to see cross-over snaps for children that are on the slimmer side. Though the diaper fits my sons pretty well as is.

The hat is actually a swim hat. The outside is the same material as the swim diaper and the inside is a mesh lining for breathability. The hat can also be cinched down for smaller heads by adjusting the cord on the outside. This is a great feature!

The swim hat fits ages 1-10 and extends to 23". At 3 years old, the hat already fits pretty snug on my son. He does have a slightly larger head though. I would like to see the hat offered in multiple sizes like the swim diaper.

Over the winter, I have been taking my son to the indoor pool at our gym. He has been wearing the swim diaper with a regular sized cotton insert. I dress him at home, so the insert provides protection while we drive to the gym. Over top of the diaper, he wears swim shorts. If we were at the beach, I would probably let me go in just the diaper.

Choose Snug as a Doodlebug for adorable, matching swim diaper and swim hat!

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Life Tire Gauge [Giveaway]

We travel in a car on a daily basis. Even as a stay at home mom, I usually leave the house 1-2 times per day. I am always thinking - what would happen if my 2.5 year old son and I got stuck someone on the road? Not only do I have to take care of myself, but my son also. For emergency car situations, I try to be prepared. I have a 72-hour kit in the back, plus water and extra clothing. I also like to have tools on hand in case we are stuck inside a car and cannot get out.

Digital Life Tire Gauge is a great tool to have inside your car. It is small enough to fit in the glove box, in the pocket behind a seat, or placed with other tools in the trunk. This 10-in-1 tool have many functions:

• digital tire gauge,
• window hammer,
• seat belt cutter,
• LED flashlight
• screwdriver, and
• several tools like a serrated knife, scissors, etc.

Enter below for a chance to win a Life Tire Gauge.

Please use the Giveaway Tools entry form. Open to US only. All entries will be verified. Duplicate, incomplete and invalid entries will be deleted. 

Giveaway

Life Tire Gauge ($49 RV)

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are honest and are my own. All Natural Katie is not responsible for companies/sponsors who fail to ship the prize.

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Personal Water Filter for Camping/Hiking/Surviving [Review]

Every year, I go through a period of updating and supplementing my emergency preparedness kits. While I have had a kit in my car for a couple of years, I needed to add a bag for my toddler and add a bag to my husband's car. I also went through our 72 hour kit and added some necessary emergency items. One of the most important items in an emergency is having clean water. While you can store as much potable drinking water as your house will allow, having potable water while you are on the go is a different story. This is where water filters come in. A personal water filter is a pocket sized water filtration device that filters up to 1,500 liters of contaminated water without any added taste or chemicals.

Life Defender Water Filter       

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Ultra light, pocket sized, no moving parts	Plastic body could break during a fall
High waterborne bacteria/protozoa removal rate	Instructions contain grammar mistakes

The Life Defender Water Filter is a small, pocket sized personal water filter that you can take with you on-the-go or slip it into your bag (any bag). The water filter is ultra light - 2.1 oz. I really like that the filter is compact and light weight. I can even through it in my diaper bag or stash it in the glove box of my car. The plastic material is what makes the filter so light weight, though I would worry about the plastic cracking or breaking if the filter fell on something hard.

The water filter claims to filter to a market leading 0.1 microns with a 2.5 times higher flow rate (450 ml/min) than other leading brands. The filter removes 99.99999% of waterborne bacteria and removes 99.9% of waterborne protozoa through a chemical free hollow-fiber UF membrane with industry leading edge coconut shell activated carbon for superior filtration down to .01 microns. This means that you still get superior filtration with a higher flow rate in a pocket sized filter. Life Defender also claims to filter up to 1,500 liters of contaminated water without adding any taste enhancers or chemicals. This is very important to me. For a small investment, I can use the filter for quite a bit of time.

Usage: The filter is easy to use. You just need your mouth and some water.

1. Place the bottom end in water.
2. Suck through the mouth piece to begin the water flow out.
3. After drinking, blow out water to keep the filter clean and prevent from clogging.

Storage: Throw out residual water and leave caps open to dry. Keep in a cool and ventilated place. Do not expose to the sun. The filter has a shelf time of 5 years after production.

Results: The caps were easy to remove, though I could see the cap connection breaking after repeated use. The water filter itself worked as expected. It takes a few sucks to get the water flowing. Basically, you use the filter as a straw. The water flows through the filter and into your mouth. The unit is made from plastic, so it seems a bit flimsy, but I like the light weight aspect of it.

Opportunities for Improvement: The instructions need to be proofread for grammar mistakes and misspelling. Though I could tell the gist of the instructions, for a $25 product, I would hope that the instructions are crystal clear. I would also like to see the manufacture date so that I know when the 5 year shelf life is up.

The compact size, ultra light weight and superior filtration abilities makes this pocket water filter a good investment for any prepper, hiker, camper or someone who just wants to be a little prepared for any emergency. I would like to see the instructions be more clear and the manufacture date be published. The filter itself works well. I feel that for the $25 cost, the filter should be made from sturdier plastic and the instructions be more clear.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and are honest.

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Camera Coat: Cute Camera Cover for Moms [Giveaway]

Stop throwing your expensive DSLR camera right in your purse or diaper bag! Cover it with a cute camera bag! Camera Coats are high quality, handmade covers that are the best travel accessory for your camera. Padded, splash-proof and functional, the functional camera cover for moms is a must have when on the go!

Enter below for a chance to win a cute camera cover and matching strap of your choice!

Please use the Giveaway Tools entry form. Open to US only. All entries will be verified. Duplicate, incomplete and invalid entries will be deleted. 

Giveaway

Camera Cover and Camera Strap ($70 value)

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are honest and are my own. All Natural Katie is not responsible for companies/sponsors who fail to ship the prize.

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Camera Coat: The Best Summer Travel Accessory [Review]

The summer vacation season is in full bloom! Families are going to the beach, Disneyworld, and visiting large and small cities. Of course, we all take our cameras with us. Lugging around a large camera bag can be cumbersome, especially when travel through airports or walking around a city or Disneyworld all day long. A camera coat is the best camera bag for travel and an adorable camera bag for women! A camera coat is a prefect DSLR camera cover - padded, splash proof, and functional.

Camera Coat - Allie Chevron        

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Durable, hand made design	Small buckle clip might be a challenge for bigger hands/fingers
Buckle clip to attach to camera strap
Sizing allows for better camera fit
Made in the USA

I was looking for a camera cover for my new DSLR camera and came upon Emily's business - cute camera bags! I was really intrigued by the fitted, padded, splash proof design of the camera coats. And that's exactly what they are, coats for your camera! The cloth cover protects my camera when it is in my purse, diaper bag or wherever else I have it stored. The camera coat also protects my camera when it is hanging on me as I am walking around taking photos.

Let me tell you why Emily's business is special. All of the camera bags are hand made by local and refugee women, mostly stay at home moms, with amazing sewing skills. You can really tell in the durability of the camera bag that I have been using on an almost daily basis for 2 months. Camera Coats also teamed up with a local non-profit TURN Community Service to provide employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. They tag, package, and ship Camera Coat products.

Basically, the camera cover is a padded cloth cover for my camera. The outside and the inside are both made with fabric. The outside fabric is a bit more rugged and the insight fabric is soft to protect the camera. There is a thick, heavy duty piece of Velcro to keep the cover securely on the camera. There are 3 pockets on the back: 1 larger and 2 smaller. The larger pocket is perfect for my business cards or the lens cover. The smaller pocket can hold extra SD cards. The bigger pocket could also hold a slim phone (no case).

Sizing: The camera coats come in 5 different sizes to fit most cameras, since DSLRs come in different sizes. Check out camera coat sizes. I ordered a Large to fit my type of camera and it fits perfectly. The camera coat still fits with the tulip lens hood when it is in the backward position over the lens.

Usage: The camera coat has a large opening that closes with heavy duty velcro. A small buckle clip that allows the camera coat to be attached to the camera strap. I really liked the heavy duty buckle clip, though it might be a bit hard for someone with big fingers or hands to use because of small parts. The strap that is used to attach the buckle clip to the camera coat is durable, but I can see it wearing out after a while, especially if the camera coat is holding something heavier like a phone and dangling by the fabric strap off the camera strap.

My Thoughts on the Camera Coat: When clipped on the strap, the camera coat is easy to get on and off. I really like this! If it starts raining or I need to run after my toddler, I can quickly put the camera coat bag on the camera. Like I mentioned above, the camera coat fits my Nikon DSLR very well. The camera coat is adorable and love having it on my camera. Usually, I carry the camera hanging across my torso or in my leather backpack purse. I am confident that the camera is protected when not in use. The camera coat also makes a great pad if I need to put my camera down on a hard surface.

I also received a matching camera strap to complement my cute camera bag for moms. I like that Camera Coats also offering adorable camera straps that match the camera bags. This stylish mom must match! The camera straps are 1.5" wide. They are made from the same high quality, heavy duty fabric and are splash proof. The fabric wipes clean if you get something on it. The camera strap has a standard strap attachment.

My Thoughts on the Camera Strap: I like the thickness of the camera strap. However, I found that the length (24" long for fabric part) was a too short for the way that I usually carry my camera. The camera strap is designed to be worn comfortably around the neck or hang on the shoulder. I usually wear the camera across my body on one shoulder and the camera strap was too short for this.

I am a mom that loves to take photographs of her child and other babies and pregnant women. Whether I am running around with my toddler at the playground or I am photographing a client's new baby, I want to look stylish and adorable. Cute camera bags helps me to look stylish and to protect my camera investment!

Enter to win a cute camera bag and matching strap!

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

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The Best Running Belt [Review]

There have been many times where I need to take my keys or my cell phone (or even some cash) with me on a run. After borrowing my husband's running belt for a 15K race, I have wanted a belt for myself! I love being able to store a good amount of items and carry them on my hips. The Stealth Tech Running Belt can be used for running, hiking, exercises of any kind, and even like a modern fanny pack!

Stealth Tech Running Belt      

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Snug fit, no slipping or bouncing
Machine washable and dryable
Sports fabric stays dry

Stealth Tech Running Belt is designed to fit most smart phones and smaller phones, plus other items like credit cards, cash, keys, and other small items. The fabric is synthetic and has a good stretch to it, but also fits snugly over the hips.

Fit: The running belt comes in sizes from XS to XL and fits sizes from 0 to 16 for Women and 23-38 for Men. I ordered XS. My usual pant size is 2 and the XS fits very well. The belt is snug on my hips, but not too tight. The belt lies flat against the body. Running belts should fit snug so that they stay in place during the run.

Usage: Here is a tip about wearing and loading the running belt. You put the running belt on with the pocket openings on the outside. Load all the items that you intend to take with you, then turn the belt over so the side with the pocket openings is on the outside. Everything will stay in place!

The belt is super easy to wash because it can be washed in the washing machine and dried in the dryer. To prolong the life of it, I am going to let the running belt air dry.

My Thoughts: I like the fit of the running belt. My iPhone 5c fits very well inside (horizontally) and does not move. The key clip is useful because a key does move around in the belt, especially if the belt is fitting a little lose. I plan on using the running belt not just for running. When I am out with my toddler at a park or somewhere where I do not want to bring my purse, I usually bring the car keys, water bottle, phone, and DSLR camera. Most of the time, it is a juggling act to hold everything plus carry a tired toddler. I plan on wearing the running belt to store the car keys and the phone, along with anything extra like a credit card or cash.

Stealth Tech's Best Running Belt is a great accessory for running, outdoor activities, and travel.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and are honest. Reference ID: pm17a8e6855aeeeebe0b2e132f87a71a53.

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