There are many ways to green your wardrobe, and here are seven ways get you started. Your lust-worthy green wardrobe awaits!

There are a few affiliate links in this post for products that will help you live a sustainable life via your wardrobe.

1. BUY ORGANIC

You shop for organic food and read all the labels, which is great, but that non-organic t-shirt you buy is laden with pesticides that run-off to the same lakes and streams as the pesticides from our non-organic produce, damaging many ecosystems in the process.

So look to buy organic clothing. Online is the easiest place to start for now, but slowly bigger retail stores are producing lines made with organic cotton. Patagonia uses 100% organic cotton for many of its styles, and it was noted as the number 10 fastest-moving company in phasing in more sustainable synthetics in other categories.  H&M has an organic section in their stores – just ask the sales associate to point you to it. Alternative Apparel has organic cottons for their amazingly soft jerseys – I love their tees – and Aventura is a personal long time favorite for a wide array of organic and sustainable clothing choices. See a few of my favorite picks over the years.

2. BUY VINTAGE

Yes, that mysterious and beautiful yet sometimes dusty shop you walk past and never go in IS worth checking-out! You never know what you’re going to find. Along with recycling something that had a previous life, and saving it from the landfill, you have a great conversational piece to talk about.

3. BUY CLASSIC VS. TRENDY

Buying a well-made (although often more expensive) piece such as a trench coat is a much better choice than a jacket that you’ll get tired of after one season. Following the trends each season is fun -I’ve definitely fallen victim to it – but buying pieces that are well made and fit well, is always the more sustainable option. These are the pieces you will wear season after season and perhaps some day pass-down to someone you love.

Things to consider when buying pieces that will last:

– Always choose a classic silhouette in jackets and choose a basic color like black, navy, camel and brown. Leather jackets are always going to be in fashion and perhaps pick your favorite statement color (mine is red) for a little excitement.

– When you find a pair of jeans that make you feel as good as they look, buy them and stick with them! They will last for years to come, will fade perfectly and you get to rack-up tons of memories in them. My oldest pair of jeans is a vintage pair of Levis’ – care of my Dad.

– Stock-up on and relish in those amazing cashmere sweaters that will keep you warm for years to come. They can be belted, tucked into skirts, and worn over leggings with a great pair of boots. Have fun styling your favorite sweater!

– Color is so important and it’s all about knowing what works for you and knowing what you won’t get sick of. I’m always in black, and have a hard time leaving it, but it works for me and I feel great when I have it on. What colors are you drawn to?

– Consignment shops are no longer the thing you don’t share with your friends. Bring your friends along – you never know what amazing designer pieces you’ll find! If you have some cute designer pieces that you never wear, bring them in to sell and trade. Search your city for a consignment shop near you.

4. STOP DRYING YOUR CLOTHES

80% of the energy used in the life of your clothing is produced during the customer “use phase”. That’s a fancy way for Life-Cycle scientists to say that when you wash and dry your clothing it uses more energy than it takes to grow and manufacture the garment to begin with. So HOW you care for your clothing is really very important. If you can, wash everything in cold water (with biodegradable detergents of course, I love Seventh Generation!) and PLEASE consider against machine-drying your clothes. Instead hang them or lie them flat to dry to save energy… and money.

5. REUSE & RECYCLE

It seems like an innocent thing to take your unwanted clothing to the Salvation Army or Goodwill, but our second hand clothing represents a HUGE global commodity and a problem to overseas clothing and textile manufacturing industries that have been decimated by our overwhelming supply of used clothes. People in the developing world are losing their local cultural craft and artisan jobs, as our cheap second hand clothing floods their markets. Support your local designers and Fair Trade cooperatives when you see them.

Clothing swaps are a good alternative to exchange unwanted clothing and it’s no longer weird – it can be a lot of fun! Find an existing clothing swap in your area or start your own with your friends over wine and yummy organic food.

It wasn’t too long ago that we mended and repaired our clothing when a moth gnawed a hole in it or we found a tear. The act of mending and sewing is actually therapeutic, like many craft activities that are losing their power in our racing-speed digital media world. I often give my things to my dry cleaner for repair and they’re happy to provide this cheap and efficient service.

6. KNOW WHERE YOUR CLOTHES COME FROM

Do you know where your clothing was made? Have you looked at the little takes and thought about what country and laborers you are supporting? Your shopping choices determine whether you support a local designer in your community or country or an artisan in a developing country. At the very least, we should all care to look at clothing labels before we make a purchase, this way you can begin to think about supporting businesses that share your values. For example, if you value women’s labor rights, show your support by buying indigenous accessories from a women’s co-op. If you value a thriving local economy, support local designers in your community – you may even make a new friend!

7. BUY LESS, STYLE MORE

It almost pains me to say this, but it’s true, buying less can help us realize that 1) there are more important things than fashion and 2) you can do a lot with very little. Accessories like shoes, belts, bags and jewelry all can be used to spruce up your wardrobe. Going through my Mom and Aunt’s closet has always been fun, and with a little creativity you never know where you’ll find your next favorite dress!

The post How to Green Your Wardrobe first appeared on BonBon Break.

20 Quick and Easy Fall Recipes

1. 1. Pumpkin Buttercream Frosting – Wine and Glue
   2. Caramel Apple Poke Cake – Wine and Glue
   3. Caramel Apple Dump Cake – Wine and Glue
   4. Apple Cider Margaritas – Wine and Glue
   5. Apple Cider Mimosas– The Cookie Rookie
   6. Apple Snickerdoodle Muffins – Cooking Classy
   7. Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower Gratin – An Edible Mosaic
   8. Broccoli and Cauliflower Cheese Bake – Noshing with the Nolands
   9. Bang Bang Cauliflower – That’s So Michelle!
   10. Browned Butter Apple Bread – BonBon Break
   11. Coconut Pumpkin Thai Soup – Droolworthy
   12. Warm Maple-Dijon Brussels Sprout Salad with Pecans – An Edible Mosaic
   13. Butternut Squash and Smokey Bean Salad – Betsy Life
   14. Maple Walnut Cheesecake Truffles – An Edible Mosaic
   15. Sweet Potato and Lentil Chili – Damn Delicious
   16. Sweet Potato Gnocchi – Pinch of Yum
   17. The Perfect Fall Cheese Board – The Pioneer Woman
   18. Brown Sugar Clafoutis with Pears – Orangette
   19. Apple Sharlotka – a family favorite from Smitten Kitchen
   20. Slow Cooker French Onion Soup – Damn Delicious

These are just to get your motor started! We have 3 other posts that will wet your whistle for fall:

• 50+ Fall Soup Recipes to Warm Your Soul
• 50+ Beautiful Casserole Recipes
• 31 Days of Easy Dinners

…and of course, we have collected everything fall for you from Halloween and Thanksgiving inspiration to more fall recipes. This is a REALLY fun area to peruse. We hope these quick and easy fall recipes, crafts and activities help to connect, simplify and inspire your life.

FIND MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS IN THE KITCHEN

The post Easy Fall Recipes on Our Bucket List That We Can’t Wait to Make first appeared on BonBon Break.

I am not a burger lover, but after the Good Apple and I read this recipe in Cook’s Illustrated we had to try it out. Now the burger is good. Great local beef combined with butter (Yes, this is not low cal. You ARE eating a burger. Come on now.),  pan-seared and then finished in a 350-degree oven. Juicy? Yes. Great flavor? Sure. However, it is merely a vehicle for this…

This sauce isn’t just for burgers and the Lil Miss couldn’t get enough of the “Num Num”. Please make sure you make enough to avoid any bodily harm.
Here it is ladies and gentlemen, our adaptation of the infamous sauce (and I bet you have most of these ingredients in your fridge or pantry)

Print

Pub Sauce Recipe

Go ahead and double this recipe because your crew will want more of this pub sauce for their burgers, fries, grilled chicken and more!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword bbq, gluten free, kid-friendly cooking, sauce

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 102kcal

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup mayo
• 2 tbsp soy sauce use GF tamari to make this gluten-free
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp chopped chives
• 1 tsp ground pepper
• 1 tsp garlic minced

Instructions

• Mix all of the ingredients together in a mason jar and shake it up until thoroughly mixed.

Nutrition

Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 270mg | Potassium: 17mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.2mg

And yes, I made extra, but not quite enough according to the peanut gallery. Well go on, make some! Your family and friends will thank you.

This post contributed by  Val Curtis on January 1, 2013.

The post The Ultimate Pub Sauce Recipe first appeared on BonBon Break.

Every year, I love to make something with the kids to give to Dad for Father’s Day. Sometimes its so hard to come up with ideas though! This is a list of 8 activities for Father’s Day!

I personally love the bookmarks for a book lover! And the father in this house used to be a drummer (back in the day) so we’ve made him some little tin can drums too!

See those, and 6 more, fun ideas for Father’s Day by clicking below!

ABOUT JAMIE:
Jamie learned to be a hands on mom by creating activities, crafts and art projects for her three boys to do. As a former marketing manager, Jamie needs the creative outlet to get through the early years of parenting with a smile!

Follow hands on : as we grow on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Google+ | Instagram

 Click to see more from Hands on : as we grow or the Playroom

The post Father’s Day Ideas: Activities for Kids to Do for Dad first appeared on BonBon Break.

Well now, the berries are here again! We have been taking full advantage of berry season whether it is at the grocery store snatching up a 1/2 flat of Skagit Valley berries or at the Farmer’s Market eating up  delicious Tri-star and Seascape strawberries that we just can’t seem to get enough of in those little hands and mouths that I adore.

In years past, I have grabbed blackberries from our “berry orchard” (read: wild berries) at the end of our driveway and frozen a few gallon bags for over the winter. We are such berry lovers that they are always gone by mid-December and I am always promising myself we will gather more “next year”. 

Throughout the years, I had always been envious of the families that served fresh berry preserves the whole year through while I was buying jar after jar at the store. Growing up in So Cal didn’t include spending summer days making jam, so I never had it in my repertoire of skills and figured it was beyond me…the same was true with vegetable gardening.

Since I tackled the later with a garden for four, I figured I could dive into jam (doesn’t that sound fabulous?). My one reservation was dealing with a huge boiling pot of water and hot jars while I have a curious 5-year-old and a VERY squirmy almost 2-year-old who, um, interact a lot these days.

Last summer, one of my dear friends was raving about freezer jam. “It is SOOOOO easy”. She is sooooo right! Here is the recipe I used and the Lil Man could help. No heat! I imagine this would be wonderful for those of you who live in places where the temps are soaring as well. 

Let’s talk safety for a moment. First and foremost, make sure your jars and lids are CLEAN. I like to throw mine in the dishwasher on the “sterilize” cycle right before I use them. If this is not an option, place them in boiling water for 5 minutes and then place them in a clean dish rack to cool. this method will allow the jars to be held in the fridge for a couple of weeks or in your freezer for up to a year. Once you open the jar, use it within two weeks. In addition, this method will not kill E. coli. Make sure you wash and sort your fruit well.

A note about the recipe. As I looked at various recipes online and in my 4 preserving books (yes, I have them and read them. I just haven’t dove into the process yet, but I am getting there). I liked this recipe because it had considerably less sugar in it. This is the recipe on the Ball Real Pectin container. It is a keeper and alterations are highly frowned upon when making anything in a jar that you are going to keep over time. Trust the professionals. Also, I highly suggest buying the batch container. You can make as much or as little as you want at a time and save the rest for later. Good thinking Ball!

Print

BERRY FREEZER JAM

Makes 6 - 8oz jars of jam  

Helpful Supplies: Potato masher or hand mixer (the hand mixer is GREAT for the blueberries) and a flat-bottomed bowl for mashing / mixing fruit.

Course Breakfast, Side Dish

Keyword gluten free, kid-friendly cooking, seasonal recipes

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 60

Calories 34kcal

Ingredients

• 6 - 8 oz clean straight-sided jam jars with lids
• 5 cups crushed fruit single berry variety or mix & match
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons Ball Real Fruit Pectin Instant Pectin

Instructions

• Wash fruit and prep. This means remove stems, hull strawberries - if you want to get technical. Make those berries look pretty.
• Place berries into flat-bottomed bowl, one layer at a time and mash, mix, practice a little anger management. Pulverize that fruit using your potato masher or hand mixer. (said with a *smile*)
• In a separate bowl, mix sugar and pectin.
• Add fruit mash to pectin/sugar mixture and stir for 3 minutes.
• Ladle into clean 8 oz jam jars and cover. When filling jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace to allow for food expansion during freezing. Let stand for 30 minutes and use immediately or freeze.

Notes

THAT IS IT!!! DONE! BERRY JAM!! It is good for 3 weeks in your refrigerator or up to a year in your freezer. To defrost, just throw 'er in the fridge. Really, that is it.

Nutrition

Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 18mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin C: 7.1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Now for the taste test….

EASY PEASY!!! Now it is your turn. Try it out. Seriously, you can do this! The taste of this jam will make it so you never buy a jar of jam again. Fruit from a local farm. Jam made in YOUR kitchen. Low sugar. Save a ton of money. Incredible over-the-top “Mom this tastes like our yummy strawberries from the garden” flavor. Are you sold yet?

Now you can do make freezer jam with Strawberries, Peaches or Pears, Raspberries, Blackberries,  Blueberries or  Cherries. If you use peaches, add 3 tablespoons of lemon juice to prevent browning (Ew!).

Make it even EASIER…

Is it possible? Yes. As you gather that amazing fruit in flats over the summer. Clean it, process it, freeze it. Then when you need some jam, make a few jars. No need to have 40 jars filling up your freezer (or to HAVE 40 jars for that matter).

Other uses for this easy peasy berry jam:

•  ice cream topping
• use instead of syrup on pancakes (truthfully, this is how we go through it!)
• throw it in a blender when you are making margaritas (Did I just say that? Yes I did.)
• add it to plain yogurt to lower the sugar content
• toss a little into your smoothies to sweeten them up
• make oatmeal jam bars
• bake fish or chicken with a little on top ( I am thinking salmon with some blackberry jam…)
• add a little vinegar and make an incredible salad dressing

CONTINUE READING IN THE KITCHEN

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The post Easy Peasy Berry Freezer Jam first appeared on BonBon Break.

I love my small island, I truly do.  However, sometimes I wonder if I am missing out on mainstream America.  Luckily, my husband grew up in New York City and his parents still live in Manhattan.  So, we make it a point to have lengthy visits in the Big Apple – plus my mother-in-law is an artist, intellect, and a great finder of the next best thing.  In this case, she found Grapefruit Brûlée (AKA Grapefruit Brulee for those searching without the special characters).

This past January, I got a phone call describing this seriously expensive (when eaten out) and yummy breakfast item that involves a grapefruit, sugar, and a flame torch.   How expensive might you ask?  Try $7 for half a grapefruit!  Crazy, but apparently, well worth it.

My husband’s response, “Let’s feel extravagant and blowtorch some grapefruits ourselves!  How hard can it be?”  At our island market, grapefruits were on sale for 2/$3.00 (and on an island, food is expensive).   Made at my home, Grapefruit Brûlée costs about $1.50 and I can have as many as I want (maybe even 6 servings in one sitting).

Caramelized sugar on grapefruit – delicious!  And you (or your sweetie) get to play with fire!

Print

Grapefruit Brûlée

You will need a blowtorch and a serrated spoon.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword easy breakfasts, gluten free

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Calories 98kcal

Ingredients

• ½ grapefruit
• 1-2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions

• Cut the grapefruit in half crosswise.
• Sprinkle 1-2 Tablespoons of sugar over the top of the ½ of grapefruit.
• Light the blowtorch, hold it close to the sugar on the fruit, and move it over the top of the fruit.  It is important to keep the flame torch moving so that you do not light the skin of your grapefruit on fire.
• When the sugar is bubbling and has turned a brownish color, turn off the torch and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 1415IU | Vitamin C: 38.4mg | Calcium: 27mg

We tried both sectioning the grapefruit and leaving the grapefruit sections intact before pouring the sugar on the fruit and using the flame torch.  For taste, the non-sectioned grapefruit is best.  For eating ease, the sectioned grapefruit is better.

 This piece was written by Sharalyn Lehman and photos were taken by Val Curtis exclusively for Bonbon Break Media, LLC.

Some other recipes you might enjoy:

Delicious & Fluffy Gluten Free Dutch Baby Recipe

Gluten Free No Bake Key Lime Cheesecake

Easy Peasy Berry Freezer Jam

The Ultimate Pub Sauce Recipe

Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

Would you like to submit a recipe to BonBon Break? Check out our BonBon Break Reader Recipes Submissions

The post Grapefruit Brulee first appeared on BonBon Break.

Some of these are for those of you who are cookie experts and there are others in there that are perfect for the baking-challenged folks out there (like me!).

We would LOVE to see and hear about your favorite cookies as well! Leave a link in the comments or tag your Instagram photos with #bonbonbreak.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Share YOUR favorite Christmas cookie recipes with us! You must log in to join. Recipes show up in random order.

The post 150+ Christmas Cookie Recipes first appeared on BonBon Break.

PLEASE FIND MORE FUN CHRISTMAS INSPIRATION HERE

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The post Gingerbread Men first appeared on BonBon Break.

Continue Reading

ABOUT DAISY: Daisy is an avid cook, baker, and self-taught photographer. Through her blog, Daisy’s World, she hope’s to inspire her readers to make delicious gourmet recipes that are simple and easy

to make. Follow Daisy on Twitter and Pinterest.

CONTINUE READING IN THE KITCHEN

The post Santa Hat Brownies first appeared on BonBon Break.

Let’s determine why NOT to be scared.

Butter. Sugar. A little Cream. What have you got wrapped up in it? 15 minutes and $2?

I have $2. I also have 15 minutes.

If it fails, it fails. I’ve spent $2 on less inspiring ventures. I bet you have, too.

ABOUT SUSAN: Thanks for asking. I’m Susan Whetzel. I am a wife to Jon, and a Mom to 4-year-old, Seven. We have a home in Virginia, in a small town in the mountains. We’ll never leave, I imagine. It’s where I was born…hard to see myself anywhere but here. I’ve been married for about 12 years now, and together since 1992. I know, I know. That makes me…old. Old-ish, anyway. I’m 36, in case you like to know those kinds of things. Somedays I feel older. Somedays, I wonder how I could possibly be in my thirties. I guess we’re all that way to an extent. It’s life.

You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

CONTINUE READING IN THE KITCHEN

The post Dark Chocolate and Salted Caramel Topped Shortbread first appeared on BonBon Break.

An added bonus? Just because I have a gluten allergy doesn’t mean I cannot indulge in a childhood favorite with my family. We tried this recipe with an All-in-one gluten free flour and it didn’t need any adjustments! It was just as good, if not better than the version I remember from the fair. If your batter starts to thicken up too much, just add a little milk or water to loosen it up. You want to make it easy to get those fun, swirly designs.  ~Val

You don’t have to wait until the fair rolls into your town to enjoy this deep-fried snack. Funnel cakes are so easy to make at home. Once the hot cakes come out of the fryer, coat them high with powdered sugar and keep plenty of napkins handy.

  CONTINUE READING IN THE KITCHEN

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MORE FUN CHILDHOOD FAVORITES:

• Browned Butter Apple Bread
• Kale Chips
• Sesame Noodles
• Ramen Pack Hacks
  

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The post Funnel Cakes first appeared on BonBon Break.

This time last year, I found out that gluten and I had been fighting a long battle over my body. After over $8,000 in tests and years of joint pain, depression, gastrointestinal problems, throat tightening and the constant feeling of a panic attack, my doctor suggested I try to cut gluten out of my diet. I did and it was like a black blanket was lifted off of my head. There is no other way to put it.

At first, I thought it was psychological; so I tried a friend’s AMAZING Boston Creme Pie. All of the symptoms came back. Ok, there might be something to this. I stayed gluten-free and created new recipes for my family, but I wasn’t completely convinced it wasn’t psychological.

Until…

One day I threw a handful of cereal into my mouth that I thought was GF. I knew immediately that it wasn’t because my throat started tightening up. I looked at the box, read that it had wheat and was convinced…finally. (Found out that I need to order potato vodka as well. Cosmos are an expensive treat.)

At first, I was grain free, but then I began to miss baking…and pancakes. After a lot of gooey, slimy, flat pancakes, I finally arrived at a recipe that had some height to it (perfect baking soda/baking powder combo) and an all purpose-flour / egg combo that doesn’t go gooey. Enjoy!

Print

Easy Gluten-free Pancakes

Makes approximately 16 -4" gluten-free pancakes.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword brunch, easy breakfasts, gluten free, kid-friendly cooking

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 462kcal

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cups Pamela's Artisan Flour Blend
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 3 1/2 tablespoons butter melted
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla
• 1 tablespoon butter to grease the skillet

Instructions

• Pour milk into measuring cup and add lemon juice. This will create "buttermilk" for you. Put it aside.
• Pour flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda into a large mixing bowl and whisk until blended.
• Turn medium heat on to warm up your skillet.
• Add milk to the dry mixture and whisk. Add egg, butter, and vanilla. Whisk until smooth.
• Using a silicone spatula, slide a very small amount of butter around the skillet.
• Pour 4" pancakes into the skillet. Flip once you see bubbles forming throughout, approx. 4 minutes. Let them cook for another 3-4 minutes and serve immediately.  Repeat steps 5 & 6 until all of the batter is used.
• Top with maple syrup, jam or eat them plain. They are THAT good.

Notes

I live in the Pacific Northwest and developed this recipe during the winter when our humidity levels are pretty high. If the batter seems too thick, add some more milk to get it to your desired consistency. Also, different flours will react differently. The reason I adore Pamela's is because it can be used at a 1:1 ratio. I have used others that require significantly more liquid. UPDATE: I just had to share that I switched out the sugar for brown sugar and OH MY WORD. SO tasty!

Nutrition

Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 762mg | Potassium: 393mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 710IU | Vitamin C: 2.9mg | Calcium: 280mg | Iron: 2.7mg

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Check out these other gluten-free recipes:

• Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins
• Delicious & Fluffy Gluten Free Dutch Baby Recipe
• The Ultimate Pub Sauce Recipe
• Gluten Free No Bake Key Lime Cheesecake

Don’t forget to visit our AMAZING

Gluten-free Kitchen Pinterest Board

This post was written by Val Curtis exclusively for BonBon Break Media, LLC

The post Easy Gluten-free Pancake Recipe first appeared on BonBon Break.