B00AFU6252 EBOK (43 page)
Authors: Jessica Alba
Materials
Sunbrella or other outdoor-appropriate fabric
Lots and lots of marine-quality rope
Plain wood pirate ships (you can find these on Etsy or in craft stores)
Mini-framed canvases
Nontoxic craft paint
No-VOC poly finisher—for this project we used Vermont Natural Coatings PolyWhey Exterior Wood Finish because we knew the pirate ships had to withstand the stormy seas or at least life outdoors in Los Angeles!
How-To
1
We pulled off the play set’s original green awning. Using screws and a staple gun, we replaced the awning with white fabric that was reminiscent of a ship’s sails.
2
Next, we wrapped the legs of the playhouse and the sides of the ladder in rope for a nautical touch. Just tie off the ends—no glue required.
3
Meanwhile, the kids got to work painting the wood pirate ships and mini–framed canvases we’d bought. We limited the color palette slightly, to keep things bright and under-the-sea themed (aquas, purples, pinks—Honor’s favorites!), but otherwise basically let them go wild.
4
Once the masterpieces had dried, we coated everything with the poly finish and let that cure.
5
Last, we screwed four pirate ships to the top of the swing set and one to the top of the playhouse, then hung the mermaid-themed mini–canvases inside.
Most of our backyard is covered in eco-friendly turf because in California, water restrictions make keeping a lawn unsustainable. So we don’t have a lot of space to properly garden, but I still wanted a way to teach Honor about how plants grow and how you have to nurture and care for them with water and sunlight. Enter the wall garden! You can fit it anywhere you have a sunny spot. It’s very low maintenance, and it looks fantastic. We put an herb-filled one by the kitchen—I love stepping out to snip some fresh herbs when I’m cooking!—and filled another with begonias and succulents to decorate our outdoor dining area.
Materials
Vertical planters (I used Florafelt planters, but you can also repurpose rain gutters, wood pallets, vintage boxes, and all sorts of other things to make your own planters)
Organic potting soil
Seeds or plants of your choice (I mixed herbs in one and succulents in another)
How-To
1
Hang your planter on the wall and fill each pocket or planting space with a small amount of organic potting soil.
2
Add your plants or seeds and water well.
3
Water regularly; during hot weather, most plants need an inch of water per week from you or from the sky. Depending on what you’ve planted, you may need to add a small amount of organic fertilizer and compost to keep things happy. For more gardening tips and ideas, visit
organicgardening.com
.
Honor loves to pick a few sprigs of oregano or basil when we need it!
Every day on The Honest Company blog, our team gets busy posting healthy recipes, arts and crafts projects, easy entertaining ideas, outdoor adventures, and other fun activities for you and your kids. Check us out at
blog.honest.com
and join our community! Here’s a sampling:
Our latest DIY projects, clockwise from top left: a daily gratitude jar; healthy pasta recipes; a creative chore chart; an edible container garden; make-your-own nontoxic pet cleaner; and outdoor entertaining ideas (below).
Now on to the Rest
of Your Honest Life
While you’ve finished the book, your Honest Life is just beginning. I hope you feel inspired to live a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle that is true to you. One where you can:
Eat (organic) meat
Wear makeup and hair products that perform
Use (eco-friendly) disposable diapers
Enjoy nontoxic items beyond the cream and the beige
. . . all the while, never sacrificing quality, performance, style, or fun.
I
N FACT,
I feel like we’re at the start of an Honest Revolution where we are redefining the whole idea of “being green” and working to change the world into a place where we aren’t constantly faced with a series of trade-offs. (Shampoo that washes your hair
or
is carcinogen free? Paint that comes in the colors you want
or
smells like toxic soup?) Instead, we get a series of trade-ups: ways to make life easier and better, while also being healthy and doing good for the planet.
People thought manufacturing eco-diapers in cute patterns and creating effective nontoxic products would be impossible. But it wasn’t—we did it!—and neither is this. Honest Living is so simple that once you start doing it, you’ll wonder why life wasn’t always this way. Food tastes better because it’s fresher and more flavorful. You have more energy because you’re getting all the nutrients you need and free of all the bad stuff. Your skin clears up, and your natural beauty shines through. Getting dressed (you and the kids) becomes fun again because your closet is streamlined and you’ve honed your own personal sense of style. And every space in your home is a healthy, organized reflection of who you are, what you love, and how you want to live.
Friends, this is just the beginning.
Because the more automatic your Honest Living habits become, the more benefits you accrue. It’s about the little stuff—like fewer squabbles in the morning over what to wear because you figured it out the night before . . . which means more time to giggle and play mermaids and pirates with your kids (okay, maybe that’s just what we do at my house). And it’s about peace of mind because you can stop worrying about the health and safety ramifications of every meal you serve or products you purchase. Now, your family gets to enjoy that delicious dinner or awesome new toy—guilt free.
What can you do to make today amazing?
Actually, living guilt free is a huge part of the Honest Life. Because you know you’re doing the best you can, you’re letting yourself off the hook for the rest. We all are—me included.
“Perfect” is the enemy of good, and it’s also the enemy of honest, because there’s no such thing as the perfect wife, friend, mom, or sustainable and nontoxic environment. So let’s reject those labels and standards and recognize that some weeks we’re patching it together the best we can—but we don’t judge ourselves. I’m not saying that living the Honest Life will keep you in some happy bubble where you never, ever sweat the small stuff. But if you cut yourself some slack and stop expecting yourself to be perfect all the time, then at least a bad day is just one bad day and nothing more.
Now that you’ve read the book, started making your own changes, and are living the life, your next step is a big one: taking what you’ve figured out about the Honest Life and sharing it with your family and friends, especially other parents. Not in a preachy way, but because you know it might make their lives a little bit easier, more fun, and healthier, too.
I hope you’ll keep in touch and share with me what you’re learning and making in your Honest Life.
Go to
Honest.com
and join our forums to trade tips and recipes, post questions—really, to share anything that’s on your mind!
These types of communities were indispensable to me as a mom-to-be and brand-new mom and still are to this day. I’m excited for everyone living the Honest Life to come together and create an inspired Honest Community.
When you’re talking to people about the lifestyle changes you’ve been making, keep it positive! It’s so much better to promote what you love than to bash what you hate.
.
If you have all of these on hand (or on speed dial), you’ll be more than prepared for any little dramas the day may bring.
1
WHOLE FOODS AT EVERY MEAL.
That means vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans (legumes), and lean meat—all organic, when you can manage it.
2
SOMETHING SWEET,
whether that’s dark chocolate or a homemade fruit pop (see
this page
).
3
NONTOXIC CLEANSER, SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, AND LOTION.
To keep your skin clean and hydrated, without the nasty stuff.
4
MASCARA, LIP GLOSS, CONCEALER, AND A CLEAN TINTED MOISTURIZER WITH SPF.
To pull off your 10-Minute Face.
5
SCARVES.
My go-to layering piece that pulls together any outfit, hides stains, and can be endlessly customized (color! pattern! size!) to suit your style.
6
A GREAT NONTOXIC ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER.
To keep your house clean—but also healthy.
7
AN INSPIRATION BOOK OR FILE.
To track all your design ideas for your home.
8
A WELL-PACKED DIAPER BAG.
Don’t forget the change of clothes! (See
this page
.)
9
“ME” TIME.
Changing your life one nontoxic carpet tile at a time—while juggling your busy mom and work schedule—isn’t always easy. Make sure you leave time to recharge, whether that’s a glass of wine with dinner or a rocking GNO (Girl’s Night Out). A happier mom = a happier family. Honestly.
10
AMAZING FRIENDS.
Sharing inspiration, finding community, and loving a healthy life together is what this is all about.
