Los Angeles Area Resource for Eco-Friendly Parents

Tea Party

Valentine's Day doesn't have to only include adults. Make your day special by including your kids and friends for a fun-filled afternoon.

Gather a group of your friends with kids and plan a Valentine's Day tea party. Bake some treats or grab some biscuits, have the adult tea set and children tea set on hand, gather the fixings like your favorite Organic tea, milk and sugar and start brewing. (Stuffed animals also work as great company if there are more chairs than children!)

Roses are Red...

And Toxic!

While picking up a bouquet of flowers for your special someone this Valentine's day can seem harmless and a thoughtful thing to do, you may not realize most mainstream floral arrangements have been grown in unnatural conditions, by under-paid workers, and in toxic means through pesticides and genetic modification. When you take a long whiff of that beautiful rose, you are probably inhaling more than just the distinct fragrance.

Have no fear! You can still provide lovely flowers this Valentine's day through healthy and environmentally-thoughtful means. Most farmers' markets have flowers for sale by growers practicing safe and possibly organic growing techniques. CaliforniaOrganicFlowers.com delivers arrangements and their flowers are grown in California by sustainable means. Lily Lodge is a local Hollywood shop also offering Organic varieties of flowers.

A Romantic Evening for Two, Even without a Sitter

A romantic evening for two is not quite as it was when your little ones were still a twinkle in your eye. So you can try all the usual tricks: put the kids to bed a half hour early, cook two meals, one for the kids and one for both of you after the kids are sleeping, or of course, spring for a sitter. In my experience though, it's as if the little stinkers know something is happening without them, so bedtime takes longer and you become more anxious for when "your" time will start.

My recommendation is to go business-as-usual and have dinner as a family and the normal bedtime routine. Instead, set aside a special dessert, a glass of wine, a movie and any sexy-you-know-whats for later and plan a later night and to be a bit sleepy the next day. It will be well worth it.

Stuffed Animal Swap

Chocolate Dipped Fruit

It's Valentine's Day and who doesn't like a sweet treat? It's ok to indulge, especially since chocolate has health benefits...or so I tell myself. Let your kids and family in on a little chocolate fun by making chocolate dipped fruit.

You'll need about 12 oz of Organic Semi-Sweet chocolate, Organic White Chocolate if you desire, wax paper, toothpicks and several small pieces of fruit to dip. Try fresh pineapple, strawberries, bananas, grapes, cherries and mango. Put the chocolate in separate heat-proof bowls and warm two pans of water. Bring the water to a simmer and turn off the heat. Place the bowls of chocolate into the hot water and stir the chocolate constantly. Put a toothpick in your fruit, dip the fruit in the chocolate and lay it out to dry on wax paper.