http://blog.sprout.mn Sprout | Buy Green - Save Money Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:35:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Yes, Sprout.mn is sadly closing shop. But we'll still be out there...in a metaphorical way. The idea behind this little Poladroid journey was that Sprout—a friendly symbol of everyday green—is everywhere you look in the Twin Cities. The miles of bike paths, the organic seasonal fare at our restaurants, the vintage ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=3147 In honor of MN Fashion Week, I've been stopping in at some of favorite clothing and accessory shops (poor me that it's part of my job). Just had to show these adorable coin purses made from recycled materials that I stumbled upon at Fast and Furless Vegan Boutique; a couple of ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=731 Welcome Liz! Our first guest vlogger! Known to her fans as the Kitchen Pantry Scientist, she's a blogger-scientist-garage band singer who, in her own words, is "culturing more germs than ever" as a mom of three. We love that her blog encourages parents to open up the pantry and stir up some practical ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=3061 Here's what I miss about New York City: the mom-and-pop convenience shops on every corner, where you could buy a sandwich or a candy bar while having a nice chat with the guy you knew behind the counter. So when Guse Green Grocer—a new family-run neighborhood grocer at 46th and Bryant—opened last ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=2600 Walk into LUSH at the Mall of America and be ready for your senses to go into overdrive. Every handmade cosmetic in this shop is made from fresh, organic, vegetarian ingredients. And I find it utterly entertaining to read the product names and what's in 'em: like the "Honey I Washed the ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=2415 I'm so sick of all the waste that's invading my mailbox. How many versions of the same catalogs and sneaky credit card offers can one address take? According to the Do Not Mail campaign, junk mail in the United States accounts for one-third of all the mail delivered in the world. ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=2289 Back on the bike? Next time you're in East St. Paul, scope out the Sibley Bike Depot. This volunteer-run, not-for-profit bike center supplies refurbished two-wheelers to metro bikers, staying true to their mission of empowering people to use this sustainable mode of transportation. They offer a number of cool programs, including earn-a-bike, ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=2431 I've been shopping for a little birthday princess with a wild imagination—the kind of kid who invites an entire kingdom of stuffed animals to her bedroom for tea and crumpets. A gift I knew both she and mom would love caught my eye at Peapods, a St. Paul shop known for its ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=2982 It's not everyday that the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, and the Empire State Building stand in total darkness. But they did this past Saturday, along with millions of other people and institutions around the world, for Earth Hour—remember our post from last Friday? And while my own humble EH party didn't quite ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=2950 Just back from five days of Arizona heat and bright blue skies. Camping, hiking, swimming, kayaking, fishing—Lake Havasu is an active outdoor lover's paradise, with four beautiful national wildlife refuges within driving distance. And at night: Such beautiful sunsets... Even though my vacation is over, it helped coming back home to ... http://blog.sprout.mn/?p=2832