Keep it Real

Fruit Fly Don't Bother Me!

2010-09-29T10:51:00.001-04:00

It's been a wonderful year for fresh produce around here and I have not seen the bottom of my fruit bowl in months. I made a successful fruit fly trap early in the summer and haven't had to deal with the pesky little things until recently. I had dumped the trap thinking that fruit fly season was over only to have them return in full force. I'm about to go and make another batch, but thought I'd share my recipe here first.

Fruit Fly Trap

one small mouthed jar or bottle

cider vinegar

dish soap

Fill a portion of the jar or bottle with the vinegar and add a few drops of the dish soap. I'm not sure if it matters, but my sister-in-law swears by Dawn, so borrowed some from my mom and used it last time. This time I'm using my biodegradable, all natural stuff and will let you know if it makes a difference. Don't mix the soap in or anything, just let it drop. Place the jar near your fruit source and watch the little buggers collect at the bottom.

Apparently the vinegar draws the flies in and the soap creates a change in the surface tension of the liquid, causing the flies to fall in and drown. I have heard that this will also work in a bowl if you cover it with plastic wrap with small holes poked in the top.

Have you ever tried this before? Do you have any other tips to share?

It's a Boy!

2010-09-18T15:06:00.001-04:00

Born on Friday, September 10, Wystan Thomas is finally here. The labor was surprisingly fast and the recovery has been much easier than expected. We're all doing very well and I'm especially happy with the way that Leif is adjusting to his new role as Big Brother.

There is so much love surrounding a new baby. We're doing our best to soak it all up and to enjoy this special time as a family.

Mid Summer Realization

2010-08-02T10:10:00.000-04:00

image via thewheatfield on etsy

With July spent mostly away from home, and with new baby arriving in just over a month, it seems like August is a great time to hunker down and enjoy the precious summer that remains. You know, before life gets upended again. Are you finding time to slow down and enjoy?

Organic Eating in New York

2010-06-28T17:07:00.002-04:00

If you live in New York State and want to learn more about the organic farms in your area, check out the NOFA-NY website. It's full of information about both certified and non-certified organic farms in your area in addition to all kinds of great links and resources.

A Better Cup of Joe

2010-06-24T12:21:00.004-04:00

via babble.com

While at the library last week I picked up a copy of Christopher Kilham's Whole Food Bible. It's been an interesting read and is perfect for life with a 3 year old because it's read and absorbed best in small sections. Yesterday I read the section on beverages and wanted to share some important and new-to-me info about coffee. Being about 7 months pregnant, I've gotten used to starting my morning without that glorious brain fuel that regular coffee is. I now spend most mornings fueling up on water and juice, but every now and again I'll order a decaf somewhere and think that I'm getting a real treat. Turns out I should just be buying my own decaffinated beans and brewing it at home again.

According to Kilham, the process that is most often used to extract caffeine from coffee beans uses the toxic solvent methylene chloride. While most of the toxic substance is removed along with the caffeine, residues remain. Back in the mid 80s the FDA stopped the use of methylene chloride as an additive in hairsprays because it caused cancer in animals, but here we are today still drinking the stuff in our decaf coffee.

What's a coffee lover wanting to avoid caffeine to do? Spend a little more and get the good stuff. Yep, there are methods that remove caffeine from coffee without toxic solvents. A process called the Swiss Water Process uses water to remove 97% of the beans' caffeine and then runs that water through a carbon block filter to remove it without removing the flavor. The water is then added back to the beans before they're dried. A process called the CO2 method has a much more scientific technique that I don't quite understand using carbon dioxide to extract caffeine from moist beans several times until it reaches a point where it is deemed to be 99.9% caffeine free. Both of these methods result in decaffeinated coffee that is solvent free.

While we're on the topic, and as an obvious side note, organic and fair trade coffee is always best. Unlike some products that "require" few pesticides, coffee beans are grown in areas that are heavy on the pests and therefore get sprayed a lot. Additionally, the dioxin that is used to bleach most coffee filters is one of the most toxic cancer causing agents around. Better yet, forgo the energy sucking coffee maker and use a french press or take it strong like the Italians and go for espresso!

Where to find clean decaf (if you know of other brands, please share):
Longview Coffee Company
Equal Exchange
Coffee Bean Direct
Summit Coffee

If you really want to feel good about your decaf (or regular) coffee purchase, visit the Just Love Coffee Store and help our amazing neighbors as they continue on their journey to adopt two young boys. All of the coffees listed at Just Love are 100% fair trade and help to unite orphans across the globe with their forever families here in the US.

p.s. Decaffeinated teas are processed the same ways, so don't think you're safe there either (bummer, huh?).

Capitalism - The Root of Our Economic and Social Problems

2010-06-22T16:06:00.001-04:00

What's wrong with Capitalism? Everything! If you haven't seen this yet, I encourage you to add it to your queue and give it a watch. My favorite (if you can call anything so frustrating favorite) parts were actually in the extended footage, so be sure to take the time to watch those as well. If you're like me you'll leave the couch with renewed convictions and freshly inspired to make some serious lifestyle changes.

Dumb Luck or the Best Idea EVER

2010-06-16T10:53:00.000-04:00

I don't actually remember planting the small patch of strawberries that started outside our kitchen door. It must have been right before Leif was born because the patch has been getting bigger and bigger every year since. Regardless of what I remember, it was the best idea EVER. We've enjoyed picking fresh strawberries for breakfast every morning and are putting them on salads for lunch - it's going to be a sad day when the berries stop coming.

When I worked in the gardens at Mackenzie-Childs (if you don't know about this place, check the link - it's pretty unique) I was in charge of the vegetable and kitchen gardens. The kitchen garden was located right behind the restaurant and was full of herbs that smelled so good. Ever since that summer, I've been thinking that putting the herbs next to the place where they are used is such a smart and obvious idea. I'm thinking that a perennial herb garden just might have to replace some of the more traditional flowers on the other side of our kitchen door. I'm going to start with the obvious (and those that I already have): basil, cilantro, parsley, fennel, dill, thyme and chives. I tried some sorrel at the local farmer's market and loved it (it's surprisingly citrusy and delicious) and I'd also like to get my hands on more lavender. Do you have any other perennial favorites to suggest?

Loads of Laundry

2010-06-03T09:58:00.001-04:00

Thanks to a challenge from my sister-in-law, one of my Earth Day resolutions was to stop machine drying Leif's diapers (yes, he's 3 and still needs them...). Jodi promised to make me a really great clothes line to replace the really lousy and long one we'd had in the back yard for too long. He chose the wood, made some cuts and thanks to his busy schedule, it's still sitting in a pile by the shop. Faced with a full drying rack and a load of wet but clean diapers, I did what I had to do and strung up a new line. The location is not great - it's closer to the road than it is to the house, but for now it works and has kept me from having to use that energy sucking, heat producing dryer.

A few interesting laundry links:

Can you believe that line drying is banned in many places around the country?

Thanks to Project Laundry List, you can calculate your energy savings here.

And have you tried making your own laundry powder yet? My latest batches have been made with Dr. Bronners bars and I'm in love.

DIY Upside Down Tomatoes

2010-06-01T08:08:00.003-04:00

Ever since the blight killed all but one of our tomato plants last summer, I've been wondering how we'd avoid the same fate this year. I knew it would probably involve containers, but until last night, I still had no solid plan. Thanks to this post at Dinosaur Dry Goods and a NY Times article, I'm sold - they're going upside down.

I'll admit, I saw the silly commercially made bags around last year and didn't know what to think. Apparently most tomatoes grow well this way and the tops of the containers can be used to plant the basil and cilantro that are inevitably going to be pared with them. I love the idea of creating my own hanging baskets out of the old plastic planters that have been building up in my garage for years. I'm going to get my tomatoes started today and will let you know how it goes. Until then, here are some photos from around the web for inspiration...

the photo that sparked my interest via this post

all in a row via this post

a pretty version via this post

a similar plan, but upside up via this post

Safer Sun Protection

2010-05-28T07:23:00.000-04:00

via islandbreath.org

It has been HOT and sunny around here, feeling more like mid summer than mid spring. We've been spending a lot of time outside and it's been especially hard to keep Leif clothed out there. We all know that it's best to cover up and to stay out of the sun during peak hours, but when you can't do that, sunscreen is obviously the next best solution to over exposure. The latest Environmental Working Group newsletter featured this 2010 Sunscreen Guide and I urge you to check it out before stocking up for the summer season.

If you don't want to take the time to sift through all of the information in the guide, at least check out their recommendations for the best options here. Their Hall of Shame is also worth a peek - some of their picks were pretty surprising.

Scenes From a 3rd Birthday

2010-05-27T14:04:00.003-04:00

It's been a busy and fun week with lots of birthday preparation and celebration. We partied for 2 days straight - on Tuesday with the friends we made up north and yesterday with family at home. As I was up at 5:45 on Tuesday, prepping fruit for Leif's pre-museum breakfast party, I couldn't help but think back to all of the early morning preparation that my mom would do to make life special for us. From her I've learned to start from scratch, do it myself, and that less is always more except for when it comes to food - then you want lots of variety and plenty of it.

I was too busy to snap many photos, but here are a few highlights from our birthday festivities:

a lemon blueberry muffin breakfast cake with banana ice cream for the party with friends

visiting the Sesame Street stoop at the Strong Museum of Play (which we all loved)

the long requested (raw carrot) "cake shaped like a dinosaur with blueberries, lollipops in the frosting and 5 birthday candles" - the kid knew what he wanted

chasing bubbles and relaxing before dark

And We're Back!

2010-05-21T14:50:00.003-04:00

After a couple of trips and A LOT of packing, unpacking, cleaning and re-organizing, we are finally getting settled back into our home. Sleeping in our own beds and spreading back out is great, but the best part right now has been returning to my gardens. I'm a frequent transplanter and am just beginning to see the blossoms I've been waiting patiently for. Here are a few photos from past seasons (these are the ones I'd look at in Februrary thinking, "it's just a few months" and "we're almost there").

None of these are blooming quite yet, but again, we're almost there!

Upcycled T Shirt Rugs

2010-05-12T07:54:00.001-04:00

via the design llama

If you're like us you've got drawers full of old t shirts that you don't wear but can't bear to give away because they came from this concert or that charity run or your old high school team or the dentist who did your braces or whatever (why does everything come with a t shirt?).

I got tired of looking at the sorry old t shirts stacked in my drawers and last spring I decided to do something about it. I had seen enough rag rugs to know that there must be a way to make something useful and I was right. This tutorial will show you everything you need to know about how to cut your t shirts, create your yarn and make a pretty rad rug. I chose to crochet mine like the example here, but I've seen some nice ones that are knit and even some that are shaggier.

I used different colors, but ours looks a lot like this one

I wish I had a picture of ours to share, but it's at the other house and I can't find even a glimpse of it in our huge file of digital photos. Maybe I can snap one while we're home this week and add it later. I'll be posting less frequently for the next couple of weeks while we slowly move out of this house and back into our home home. We're all looking forward to the move and to resuming life there.

Raw Carrot Cake is Delicious

2010-05-11T09:46:00.002-04:00

I know I posted a link to this the other day, but raw carrot cake deserves a post of its own. I've been thinking about what kind of kid-friendly cake to make for Leif's birthday at the end of the month and was intrigued by this recipe the first time I saw it. It calls for no added sweeteners and is basically just a bunch of chopped dried fruit and carrot. The best part about it (and the clincher, really) is that it can be easily formed into just about any shape you can come up with. Leif has been asking for months if his birthday cake could be made in the shape of a dinosaur. He also wants blueberries and 5 candles on top, which he will happily tell you if you ask how old he is. Oh, and a present with two blue bows on top - they're simple requests and I'm working on making them happen.

We loved our trial run with this recipe and only made one adjustment - the frosting. Jodi and I both agreed that carrot cake needs cream cheese frosting, so I left out the cashews and used cream cheese, agave syrup and a little bit of orange juice to make a just-sweet-enough frosting instead.

Mmmmm...

Motherhood

2010-05-10T10:58:00.002-04:00

Making the decision to have a child -- it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. -Elizabeth Stone

Japanese Rose - a gift from my guys

Yesterday, while Leif was napping, I read this sweet tribute to mothering and had a good cry. Many of us share these thoughts but few of us have the time or talent to put them into words. Check it out.

Mother's Day Weekend

2010-05-07T10:07:00.002-04:00

Mother's Day, 2009
Two grandmas and the kid who doesn't know how lucky he is to have this

It's my 3rd Mother's Day and I'm finally starting to feel like a real mom and not just a 29-year-old girl who's pretending to be one. Jodi's final day of classes is today so all of his final projects have to be wrapped up by 4:00 this afternoon. He still has a few exams, but it looks like we just might have a weekend spent together. This comes just in time for Mother's Day. Now I just have to decide what I want to do. Normally I'd enjoy a great breakfast followed by time spent out of doors but they're calling for snow on Sunday.

Hmmm....

What are your Mother's Day plans looking like this year?

Not Your Grandma's Chocolate Pudding*

2010-05-06T08:13:00.000-04:00

I don't know much about the raw food movement, but I do know that I love to try new recipes and am a sucker for hidden ingredients. Last year I had a small obsession with trying recipes from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook. Friends and family were treated to meals or desserts and then asked, "Can you guess what the secret ingredient is?". I was hiding sweet potatoes in hot chocolate, spinach in brownies and cauliflower in just about everything. Eventually I ran out of home made purees and haven't done much deceptive cooking or baking since (though my family is still wonders what I've got up my sleeve when they eat with me).

via a similar recipe at the sweet blog, Lovely Morning

I've been very straight forward with my cooking lately, but last night I couldn't help myself. I was reading my new issue of Mothering Magazine and came upon a recipe for something called raw choconana pudding. I'm not normally a pudding lover, but when I saw a whole avocado and half a banana in the recipe I was hooked. I quickly whipped up a batch and it was DELICIOUS. Leif loved the stuff and even Jodi, who is a pudding lover with a very sensitive sense of smell, didn't notice anything but the coconut as being different. I followed the recipe's recommendation to serve the pudding in layers with plain yogurt and nuts and it was yummy with and yummy without. Here's the simple recipe:

Raw Choconana Pudding

1 avacado

1/2 a ripe banana

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup honey or agave syrup

1 Tbsp coconut oil

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine in a food processor or blender and serve.

That's it - super simple, fairly healthy and a great intro to raw "cooking". I've been meaning to try this recipe for raw carrot cake and thought it would be a winner on Leif's birthday at the end of the month. Maybe I should give it a trial run this afternoon...

Find more raw food recipes (with photos) here.

* Actually, this is the kind of recipe my grandma would have enjoyed. She too was a lover of avocados and a sucker for secret ingredients.

Keeping our Planet and our Souls Intact

2010-05-05T09:39:00.001-04:00

Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul

-Edward Abbey*

via Environment Canada

Lately I've been seeing a lot of products claiming to be biodegradable and compostable. I am thrilled that so many industries are feeling pressured to offer more earth friendly products, but I can't ignore the false understanding that these products can bring to consumers. Biodegradable and compostable products only break down appropriately under the right conditions. They usually need exposure to oxygen and microbes, two important elements that are lacking in today's landfills. Buying certified biodegradable or compostable plates, diapers, plastic cups or sneakers only helps if you can send them off to a large scale composting facility. Sending them off to the same old landfills isn't completing the cycle and doesn't yield the intended outcomes. You can learn more about this issue as it pertains to plastics here.

So what can a regular person do to contribute to the solution rather than the problem? Here are some tips and ideas that we try to keep in mind. I'd love to hear your comments, ideas and suggestions too.

- Forget about disposable convenience products and re-discover the not-so-inconvenient originals

- Donate or sell stuff that you no longer want through freecycle, ebay or your local domestic violence shelter

- Remember that even old stained and ripped fabric is accepted at your local SPCA where they turn it into bedding for homeless pets

- Support your local thrift shops and find unique treasures that someone else was kind enough to donate

- Before making any new purchases, ask yourself, "How long with this last, and what will become of it when it's finished?". If the answers disturb you, consider finding an alternative.

- Challenge your family to reduce the amount of trash you produce through re-use, composting and recycling (remember that if you don't buy that packaging, you won't have to dispose of it later)
- Reduce first, reuse next and then recycle

I've found that striving for a sustainable life means living a less expensive and more fulfilling one. We can't do everything all at once, but we can all make informed decisions and take deliberate steps in the right direction.

*I lifted this great quote from a Vermont based business that is committed to educating the public about the principles of cradle to cradle purchasing and appropriate "disposal" (with this model nothing is actually wasted). Check them out here. Read more about the cradle to cradle principles straight from their source here.

Sand Art

2010-05-04T07:42:00.002-04:00

We're all running on empty with colds and a nasty case of finalsitis, so a trip down vacation memory lane seemed like a good idea. Looking at old pictures is a great reminder when I'm feeling sick, broke and tired that life wasn't always and won't always feel this way!

These cute photos are Jodi's artistic interpretation of my 21 week pregnant belly 3 1/2 years ago. We were honeymooning on Maui and I was actually wearing that bikini. I'm 21 weeks in now and am dreading my first step back into a bathing suit. The water I'm looking forward to, but the bathing suit? Not so much.

It's May Day!

2010-05-01T08:54:00.000-04:00

As a child this meant a visit from the May Fairy and lots of flower picking and crafting for Mom, Grandma and others. I'm going to introduce Leif to that magical little family tradition today.

Find a pretty May Day flower basket tutorial on Design*Sponge (these are the kinds of things my mom would whip up).

Let's All Go Fly a Kite!

2010-04-30T09:11:00.001-04:00

I take Leif to story time at the local library every Tuesday and this week's theme was kites. The kids all made their own cute but unusable kites to take home. Leif had so much fun running around with his kite that yesterday when the wind was whipping, I promised him a trip to the park with a real one. We waited for Jodi to come home and headed straight to the sandy beaches of our local state park where our big kite had plenty of room to do its thing.

via bigwindkites.com

The next time we go we'll try making one of these first. Click on the link to watch a great tutorial on kite making that is simple enough to pull off with regular household materials (they even suggest making the tail out of plastic bags) and with the help of a child. The tutorial comes from a 30 year strong free kite making program called, "20 Kids, 20 Kites, 20 Minutes" at the Big Wind Kite Factory in Molokai Hawaii. Check out the Big Wind Kite Factory's website to view their quirky selection of handmade designs.

Restoration Inspiration

2010-04-29T07:52:00.000-04:00

When Jodi finally wraps up this school year he's planning to take a couple of weeks to (carefully) remove the horrid 1950s era, asbestos ridden gray tile in our dining room and hallway. We bought a cheap rug last year to cover the stuff and to keep Leif from picking at the broken tiles, but restoring the old pine underneath will be so much better.

I'm hoping for a floor like this one. The furniture, blackboard and all that natural light would be nice too...

via A Room Somewhere

Relief

2010-04-28T10:57:00.000-04:00

We recently hit the 20 week mark which puts us at the half way point in this pregnancy. It's been an eventful start with a scare at 10 weeks that led to extra appointments with the midwife and the discovery of blood clots in or behind the placenta. I did what no mother should ever do and Googled my symptoms which led to plenty of worry about worst-case outcomes and a feeling that I shouldn't let myself become too attached to this growing baby inside of me.

On Monday we had the routine 20 week ultrasound and though we chose not to learn the sex of the baby, we did learn that the blood clots are gone and the placenta and baby are both looking great. As someone who finds it easy to criticize the medical industry's treatment of pregnancy and childbirth, I have to admit that I was so thankful to have the technology available to determine the problem and to monitor its progress.

Now that we've put that issue to rest we're on to some serious name brainstorming. We have a girl name pretty well decided on using family names that we love, but are having a tough time with the boy name. When we had Leif we used most of our favorites, not knowing if we'd ever have another boy to name (he's Leif John Henrik - John is my dad's name and Henrik is his dad's middle name). It all sounds very Norwegian and is fairly unique which makes it a little hard to follow. What names would YOU suggest for Leif John Henrik's little brother?

Pet Rocks

2010-04-27T14:20:00.004-04:00

Inspired by Maya's stone dolls, we took on a similar project at Grandma's house over the weekend. Leif spent most of his time concentrating on completely covering each stone - not what I had in mind, but he enjoyed it.

During a lull in the activity I quickly painted up a little penguin who has now become a treasured "friend". Leif looks out for this guy and loves putting him to bed. I had to draw the line when he wanted to take him into the tub. It's only tempera paint - we would have lost him.

Who says kids need fancy toys?

One More Reason to Love Wegmans

2010-04-26T10:59:00.000-04:00

Front and center parking for expectant mamas - it really is the little things that make all the difference.

Thank you, Wegmans!

We Have a Winner!

2010-04-23T11:02:00.000-04:00

First off, thank you to everyone who committed to making a change (or 2 or 3 or 10) in an effort to make this world a better place. Let's face it, winning shoes is great but improving your own life and inspiring others to do the same is pretty rewarding too.

I was most impressed by the variety of ideas shared and have to say that many of them have inspired me to make further changes in my own life. I had to laugh when I read Emily's commitment to switch to family cloth - NOT because the concept is funny, but because I was going to post about it as an idea for inspiration and I let my mom and her friend talk me out of it thinking that it was "too far out" and would scare people away. It's something that we haven't started yet, but that I've been thinking about. With a cloth diaper pail right next to the toilet it really couldn't get much easier to make the transition. So, Emily, thanks for making that idea seem more normal!

On to our winner....

It took some time to do the figuring and sorting, but we were finally able to separate the entries and I let Leif randomly pick our winner. Congratulations and a new pair of shoes go to Angela who wrote:

Today I'll be sewing a stack of cloth napkins and a bunch of kitchen towels. My mom always brings me a huge bag of paper towels when she visits, and while I appreciate the gesture I can't stand the waste. For the second entry how about this blog: http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com

I encourage everyone to check back and look through the comments from the original give away post for the great ideas, links and inspiration.

It's Earth Day - What Are You Going to Do About It?

2010-04-22T08:20:00.014-04:00

Still needing some inspiration?

Watch Earth Days online at PBS.org and learn about the history of the modern environmental movement in America. Unlike some documentaries that work mainly to expose problems, in Earth Days the focus is on the progress that's been made and the people who have shaped our environmental policies and consciousness.

Negligence is described as doing the same thing over and over even though you know it is dangerous, stupid, or wrong. Now that we know, it's time for a change. Negligence starts tomorrow.

-William McDonough and Michael Braungart

Cradle to Cradle

Cultivate a Healthy Home

2010-04-21T08:17:00.002-04:00

photo via apartment therapy

I've seen many articles in magazines, etc. talking about how to create a healthy and safe home environment. They usually focus on the obvious or the commercial (wash your vegetables and buy that new "green" cleaning line put out by Clorox). Those aren't the kind of tips I'm looking for. I wanted some real advice so I did some research and found a great article at Healthy Child Healthy World titled, 10 Minute Healthy Home Makeover. Sure, some of their suggestions are common sense, but most of them dig a little deeper and provide some real information.

If you've got more than 10 minutes and want to go further, here are some great links to check out:

Do it Yourself

-A recipe for making your own Febreeze inspired odor killer

-Got a family member in diapers? Make your own wet wipes

-Learn about which house plants do the most to improve indoor air quality

-Make your own non-toxic cleaning supplies

-Bookmark this resource and check the toxicity of your kids' toys

-Try one of these recipes and make your own all natural deodorant

-Stop buying shampoo and give this plan a chance

-Give an old can new life by turning it into a kitchen compost pail

Products Worth Considering

-Because sometimes elbow grease is hard to muster - check out this Eureka steam cleaner

-Swap out your plastic Tupperware for American made glass containers from Anchor Hocking

-Natural and organic sunscreen from the makers of Badger Balm

Don't forget to enter to win a free pair of Aurora Shoes. See this post or scroll down for more details.

Reusable Produce Bags

2010-04-20T08:33:00.001-04:00

Our local CSA farm at the Ithaca Farmer's Market

I think we all understand the need for reusable shopping bags, but one thing I've been meaning to do for a while now is make my own lightweight and reusable produce bags. I did some research and found a few great tutorials along with some shopping resources for the non-crafters among us (although, let's face it, this project can be about as easy as it gets).

Patterns

1. Simple pattern using mesh fabric and a sewing machine (sewing can be done by hand too)
2. Slightly more involved pattern using sheer curtain material and string (requires a sewing machine)
3. Simple but time consuming tutorial involving cotton and appliques (cuter, but slightly less practical)
4. Interview with Betz White including a a PDF pattern for stamped muslin bags (cute and practical by the lady who has published books on repurposed sewing projects)

Ready Made

1. Simple muslin bags, 6 for $12 on Etsy
2. Cute American made organic cotton bags, $11-$13 each
3. 6 pack of mesh bags with a stuff sack, $12 on Etsy
4. Canadian made cotton mesh bags, $5.70 (CAD) each

I'm going to get to work on a set of bags this afternoon using a sheer curtain that I bought and hacked apart for a silk screening project last fall (that's another story, but if you're interested you can find a tutorial here). I think I'll keep it simple by leaving out the draw strings and adding enough length for a big top knot.

Let me know what sustainable changes you plan to make in honor of Earth Day and enter to win a free pair of Aurora Shoes. Check this post or scroll down for more details.

An Earth Day Give Away

2010-04-19T11:53:00.017-04:00

Thursday is Earth Day. Now, around here we try our best to make environmentally conscious decisions every day, but there is something to be said for observing our yearly reminder to step it up a notch. This week I'll be sharing tips, crafts and ideas inspired by my own thoughts about what it means to live green. I'm also excited to use this opportunity to host an amazing give away sponsored by the very local, Aurora Shoe Company.

Aurora Shoes are an excellent model for environmentally responsible consumerism. Aurora Shoes are made with pride in Upstate New York using only American sourced materials. This means a lot in an age where most products are assembled under sub-standard or unregulated working conditions using materials that are often produced in even less desirable conditions. All of these materials and products travel great distances to finally make it onto the shelves of American shops where the shipping, import taxes and marketing costs result in products whose pricing does not reflect their quality.

At Aurora Shoe you pay for what you get: high quality materials, superior craftsmanship, serious comfort and a solid guarantee. You can see the Aurora Shoe production process for yourself by watching this video, filmed by a local newspaper about a year ago.

Not only are Aurora Shoes an ethical purchase, they're also a renewable one. Many of us walk in a way that causes the soles of our shoes to wear unevenly. Aurora Shoe is one of the only companies I know that encourages customers to not buy new, but to re-sole instead. This simple act gives new life to each well loved pair and saves materials, energy and a trip to the landfill.

In honor of Earth Day, the Aurora Shoe Company has generously donated one pair of shoes (any color, any style) for the very first Keep it Real give away. To enter, leave a comment on this blog between now and 6pm on Thursday, April 22nd. Comments should answer the following question:

What is one long-term change you can make today to contribute to a healthier planet?

The emphasis is on making a change today that you'll carry into the future. I'll give you one entry per commitment to change and certainly encourage you to come up with several. Bonus points and one additional entry per person if you share a website, blog or article that offers eco-friendly inspiration. On Thursday I'll collect all comments and will randomly select one winner to post on Friday.

If you read this blog or know me personally, then you already know that I have a family connection with the Aurora Shoe Company and that I write for their company blog. This does nothing to change the fact that I have owned and loved these great shoes for more than a decade before my family had anything to do with them!

This give away is now closed, but we welcome you to keep up with the Aurora Shoe Company by visiting their website and blog.

Happy Friday

2010-04-16T14:34:00.000-04:00

Have a great weekend!

Simple and Healthy Home Made Ice Cream

2010-04-15T09:13:00.003-04:00

via thekitchn.com

With the nicer weather Leif has been asking for ice cream (I made the mistake this winter of telling him that it's a summer food). I've been making frozen smoothie and juice pops, but this recipe looks like a great way to satisfy all of our ice cream cravings. Can you believe that creamy bowl of goodness is nothing more than a blended frozen banana? You can bet we'll be trying this tonight. Check it out for yourself @ the kitchn.

Update: We made the ice cream, it looked just like the photo above and it was delicious on its own but even better with a few chocolate chips thrown in. I did have to re-freeze for a bit after blending to let it set up for scooping. We're going to be making this one a lot!

Etsy Necklace Inspiration

2010-04-14T10:09:00.012-04:00

Even when we're on a tight budget, it's hard to fight the urge to start each spring with some new and colorful accessories. I wear this simple necklace inscribed with Leif's initials every day and love it (thanks again, Mom!), so I decided to give Etsy a look and see if anything else hit me. Here are a few of the hand made necklaces that I liked:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RedChair

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KentonBeadworks

http://www.etsy.com/shop/luxedeluxe

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DeniseJewelryDesigns

http://www.etsy.com/shop/beqi

Having a hard time choosing just one, somehow my necklace shopping led to bead shopping and it hit me - why choose one necklace when for the same price (or less, in my case) you can make a few of them? So I got excited and ordered four strands from this great shop. They arrived in the mail yesterday and now I'm daydreaming about all of the possibilities.

Decisions, decisions...

Home Made Wheat Crackers

2010-04-13T14:32:00.002-04:00

I used to make crackers using a recipe from a well known recipe book for babies and toddlers. Leif and I both thought they were pretty tasty and the whole process was easy. Over time I guess I forgot about them and we slowly started buying our crackers again. I justified it by buying the organic ones, but have recently slipped into buying the regular generic boxes at the grocery store. I realize that in the great scheme of things, eating a few preservatives is no big deal BUT I do feel good knowing that I have the ability to make something better for my family when I choose to.

So I got inspired, looked for another cracker recipe and found this post from May 2008 Los Angeles Times. The article, titled, Crackers? They're a snap! includes lots of helpful tips and a few recipes for different types of crackers. I chose the basic "thin wheat" cracker, the author's answer to the classic Nabisco Wheat Thin. I'm saving the "4-seed snappers" for my other kitchen which is better equipped to chop seeds than this one.

The recipe begins with a simple and sticky dough that's quick and easy to put together.

Next you knead the dough with lots of flour, roll it very thin and brush it with an egg wash before slicing or cutting it into cracker shapes. I went with small squares, but I'd recommend going bigger as mine took some time to transfer. The egg wash makes the crackers sticky and difficult to work with but they're crispier and glossier with it than without.

The end result was a huge batch of tasty crackers with a nutty flavor and a good crunch. I can imagine making several variations in the future - cinnamon and sugar, parmesan cheese and sesame seeds would all be great dusted on top before baking.

My only addition to the recipe's instructions might be to poke each cracker with a fork before baking to minimize the pillow puff that occurred in some of my later batches. I can't say that I'll make these crackers every week (that egg wash really made them a pain to cut and transfer) but the recipe is definitely worth adding to the rotation.

On a side note, I walked into my 300 degree pan and gave myself my first pregnant belly burn while making these. My mom had done the same thing decades ago when she was pregnant with one of us and to this day she talks about how she soothed the burn with a cut raw potato (slice the potato and press the fleshy part onto the burn as soon as possible and for as long as possible). Well, I tried it and must say that it works - it's a little pink, but no blisters or soreness. Thanks, Mom!

Healthy Home Made Snacks for the Whole Family

2010-04-12T13:37:00.003-04:00

I've been meaning to whip up some doggy treats ever since we adopted Lulu from the local SPCA almost 2 years ago. She has never been a biscuit lover. In fact, when we went to pick her out, the floor of her "room" was littered with little doggy treats. They had little openings where you could slip a treat through so the dog would come closer and you could get a better look. She'd just let them drop and leave them there. We all know that Chips Ahoy can't compete with homemade chocolate chip cookies, so I thought that maybe like me, she was just holding out for the good stuff.

Flash forward 2 years and I finally took the time to find a recipe and whip up a batch of what I imagine are just peanut butter cookies minus the sugar.

I used this recipe from Bullwrinkle.com and she loves them. In fact, we saw a lot of dogs over the weekend and they all loved them. The ingredients list couldn't be simpler and they came together very quickly.

Kept in a glass jar, they've stayed moist and smell so good that if I didn't have a peanut allergy, I would have tried one by now.

Give them a shot and check back tomorrow when I'll tell you about our cracker making adventure...

Anticipation

2010-04-09T09:43:00.002-04:00

Happier the eve than the holiday itself -- Japanese proverb

I found this list* of Japanese proverbs in high school and copied it into my collection of quotes, poems and other wordy bits that I loved. The list includes many others, but the proverb above struck me as the most true. I have always loved the anticipation of a holiday, an event or a season more than the main event itself. For me it's all about the preparations, the emerging signs and the daydreaming. That's why I love spring.

The weather isn't always great, but the signs are all there and they point to warm weather, soft green grass, shady trees and lots of time spent outside enjoying the fresh air.

Once summer actually hits, the heat and humidity have me daydreaming about fall - it's all about looking forward, I suppose.

This year I'm making an effort to think about the future a little less and to enjoy the moment a little more.

* Other favorites include: "to live long keep a cool head, warm feet" and the classic, "the naked man never mislays his wallet".

Following Her Heart

2010-04-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

As a person who strives to create a lifestyle that is healthy for myself, my family and our environment, I love the message that my friend, Lindsay shares in the video clip below. She's starting a new business based on eco-friendly yoga wear and has created this video to apply for funding from the Chamber of Commerce. Give it a look and see if you love her idea as much as I do.

Home Made Stain Remover

2010-04-07T13:33:00.004-04:00

Today's tip comes from my smart and frugal sister-in-law who has a couple of active kids and knows a thing or two about stain removal. She shared her recipe for home made stain remover several years ago and I've been using it to successfully remove food, grass, blood and even ink from my clothes ever since. The recipe is as simple and inexpensive as you can get and I promise you'll never have to go back to buying your

Shout/Tide/Oxy whatevers again.

Find an empty spray bottle and dump in a whole container of hydrogen peroxide. Add about a tablespoon of dish soap, give it a swirl and you're done.

This mix can't really touch old set-in stains, but it's fun to watch it attack the new ones - organic stains like grass, fruit and blood cause the peroxide to foam up. You can literally spray it on, give it a quick scrub and come back to find the stain gone.

I love it and you will too.

My Other Job

2010-04-01T10:41:00.005-04:00

I opened my little blogger dashboard this morning to find a great little surprise: this wonderful Aurora Shoe review by Amy, writer of the blog, Progressive Pioneer (which I read daily and love).

A great shot captured by my artistic mother

As you might know, I do a little freelance work blogging and copy writing for the Aurora Shoe Company which my brother, David has been running for the past year-and-a-half.

If you know Aurora Shoes, then you can imagine how difficult it might be to sell them online. The shoes are a huge hit locally where we can see them in action and trust our friends who tell us just how comfortable they are and how well they wear. That's hard to convey on your company's website to total strangers. Of course we're going to say that Aurora Shoes are the best, and the most comfortable, and well made - what company doesn't say those things? So we found ourselves with a challenge: how do you create the same friendly trust and regard that we have here, on a larger scale?

Leif loves them too

Our creative (or not) solution was to work through the blogging world. We created a company blog where we can let the world see what locals know to be true about our shop, our employees and our products. We've also begun to think about how other bloggers can help to spread the word by sharing their thoughts about our great shoes. It's simple strategy that we hope will lead to lead to a growing awareness about this small company and the really great shoes that the Aurora Shoe Company has been producing for the past 20 years.

Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs

2010-03-30T14:40:00.000-04:00

This afternoon, when Leif wakes from his nap, we're going to dye some Easter Eggs. I've been dragging my feet on the Easter preparations which makes me a little sad, since it was one of my favorite holidays growing up. My mom always did such a great job making the holidays feel magical and I want Leif to have that too. With Easter just a few days away, it's time for me to step it up and make some magic.

Image via curbly.com

Looking for an alternative to the grocery store's dye kits, I set out to find a good resource for natural dyes. What I found just may be the coolest looking Easter eggs ever.

Image via curbly.com

Follow this link to learn how to make these beautiful eggs using all natural ingredients. I only hope that ours turn out half as cool as these did.

Powdered Milk - It's Not Just For Faces

2010-03-29T17:41:00.000-04:00

I would hate for you to think that there aren't other great uses for powdered milk. Here's my (only) other favorite use for the stuff: homemade yogurt. I love this recipe from Mother Earth News. I make mine in a 70 oz. Bubba Keg thermos and it always turns out great.

www.getyourbubbakeg.com

Can you imagine using this thing for coffee?

Natural Skin Care

2010-03-25T11:59:00.008-04:00

The last time I talked about natural beauty products I wasn't quite ready to tell you what I thought about my face care routine. I've been testing a few things on pregnant skin and didn't want any hormonal issues to be messing with my results. Now that I'm settling into the 2nd trimester and feeling much more like myself, I feel safe in making a few recommendations.

image via meyenberg.com

Powdered milk is the best face wash I've ever used. It worked when my mom convinced me to try it in college and it works just as well now. I wish I could remember why I gave it up (probably got lured by some corporate advertising) but I'm back and loving it. Milk naturally exfoliates and softens the skin. It also leaves behind a bit of moisture which feels so much better than squeaky clean skin. I'm using a hormone free goat's milk now, but any powdered milk will do. Just put about 1/2 a teaspoon into the palm of your hand and add just enough water to make a thick paste. Give it all a good rub and then rinse as you would with any cleanser.

Image via desertessence.com

JoJoba Oil is my new natural moisturizer of choice. If you're like me, then the thought of rubbing straight oil into your sometimes oily skin is a little scary. I've tried using coconut oil and olive oil as facial moisturizers in the past and felt like they caused break outs, so I was especially wary of yet another oil. As promised by countless sources, including my favorite, acne.org, jojoba oil is great for all skin types. It mimics the skin's natural sebum and helps to balance oil production.

Image via wellsphere.com

Vitamin E is known for its antioxidant and anti wrinkle properties. Because jojoba oil absorbs so well, I sometimes feel like I should be doing a little more around my eyes which are starting to wrinkle. When I think of it I'll break a Vitamin E capsule and mix it with a bit of jojoba and then dab that around my eyes. It leaves a greasy and almost sticky sheen, so I only do this at night. I've also used Vitamin E mixed with jojoba to treat Leif's dry and rashy cheeks and chin after he's eaten too many acidic foods. I rub it in before bed and by morning his skin is clear.

Why buy a product that contains natural ingredients (plus dozens of other stabilizers, thickeners and chemicals) when you can head straight to the source? Cheap, easy and completely natural, these ingredients have replaced and out performed everything I've tried before. They're yet another example of the formula that seems to be proving itself to be true everywhere: simpler is better.

When Life Gets in the Way

2010-03-24T22:41:00.000-04:00

After being away from the computer for a week, I thought I'd finally get a chance to sit down and write a new post. I put Sesame Street on for Leif, and thinking that I had at least a 1/2 an hour, I sat down at the computer. It wasn't long before I heard the sound of liquid hitting the floor. I ran to the kitchen to find this: a collander full of cereal being filled with milk. I guess he didn't see the holes.

Obviously, the milk spill is gone, but you get the idea.

Maybe tomorrow I'll have something important to write about...

Sunshine!

2010-03-17T13:02:00.000-04:00

Outside for a few days. Catch you later!

Home Made Muesli

2010-03-12T17:07:00.001-05:00

This one falls into the why did I not do this sooner? category. I LOVE muesli. And the packages at the grocery store are always so small and expensive. Turns out it's simple to make and you can't screw it up. Here's what I used, but really, anything will work.

Simple Muesli

raw oats

dried and chopped fruit (apricots, cranberries, dates and mangoes)

chopped raw nuts (almonds)

raw seeds (sunflower)

Make sure everything big is chopped into small pieces and then mix it all together.

Store in an air tight container.

Enjoy your muesli hot or cold (I like cold best) and feel satisfied knowing that you made a healthy and inexpensive breakfast.

If you like having a bit more direction, check out this very similar (and well measured) recipe.

Baby Shower Gift Inspiration

2010-03-10T10:44:00.002-05:00

I've spent the morning searching Etsy, looking for inspiration for a friend's upcoming baby shower. I like to make baby gifts myself and always find great ideas on the internet. Here are a few of my favorites:

Thanks to the amazing properties of wool, these hand knit wool slippers are perfect for babies year round. They'll keep little feet warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

via Handknit Hugs

Easily the cutest and safest looking teether I have ever seen.

via Little Sapling Toys

This cute wet bag definitely tops our throw-it-in-a-grocery-bag method for dirty cloth diapers!

via The Pat-a-Cake Baby

Obviously not a great shower gift, but so cute for after baby arrives.

via Chichiboulie

A little local love - everything Silk Oak makes is adorable.

via Silk Oak

Safer CFLs

2010-03-09T16:15:00.001-05:00

Remember my paranoia about breaking compact florescent bulbs (mercury contamination, etc.)? Well, apparently I'm not the only conflicted and concerned consumer. Enter the Armor Lite by ClearLite. The Armor Lite bulbs are created without the use of mercury. More importantly, they also encapsulate the bulb's glass with a "flexible eco safety-coated shield of SX-4000" making harmful breakage a non-issue.

Images via clearlite.com

I don't know how the shells will affect the recycling of these bulbs, but I'm glad that at least one company is working to address the mercury issue.

Nurturing the Budding Artist

2010-03-04T11:11:00.001-05:00

When Leif was very young, a forward thinking friend's mother gave us this book. I love the author's philosophy and agree that art, especially in the early years, should be more about the process than the final product. It's all about exploring with textures, colors and methods and allowing the creativity to flow.

So yesterday I realized that we hadn't done anything artsy in a while. I pulled out the book and quickly found a recipe for paste paint:

1 cup flour

3 cups water

food coloring or tempera paint (we used food coloring)

Put the flour in a saucepan and slowly add the water while whisking. Bring it to a boil on the stove and feel free to add a bit more water if you want a thinner paint.

Once the texture is set, pour into jars and add your coloring. I stuck with the primary colors, thinking that simpler was better at this age. Here they are cooling under Leif's supervision.

The end result was pretty satisfying. Leif loved mixing the colors and with the amount we made, it looks like he'll have enough paint to keep us busy for many, many mornings.

You can find MaryAnn Kohl's book, First Art; Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos here. For more thoughts about how to nurture your child's creativity (and much more) I recommend the book, You Are Your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin Dancy. You can find that Waldorf inspired book here.

Seasonal Beauty

2010-03-01T11:44:00.000-05:00

So today is the first day of March, and this means that spring is right around the corner. By around the corner, I really mean that it will still be about a month before we can stop wearing our winter jackets and a month and half before we can stop worrying about snow. Feeling like spring never comes fast enough, I planted a few hyacinth bulbs a couple of weeks ago.

Yesterday we came home from this beautiful winter scene

to find this!

To learn about forcing bulbs, check out this article at savvygardener.com

Self Imposed Challenge of the Day

2010-02-26T11:26:00.000-05:00

My sewing machine has been stored away since before Christmas, but today I'm going to pull it out and attempt to make a cute bag for my turquoise loving sister who turns 22 in a few days. Her party is tonight, so the pressure is on to produce something quickly. Let's see if Leif can keep himself happily busy so Mama can do the same!

I enjoy making my patterns up as I go (at least that's what I tell myself - I'm really intimidated by actual patterns) but these are a few bag plans that I would love to take on some day:

Buttercup Bag via Made By Rae

The Weekender Travel Bag by Amy Butler via Sew Mama Sew

T-Shirt Bag via Martha Stewart

As I was searching for inspiration I also stumbled across this free pattern for a bra purse. Yep, it's made from an actual bra. I don't think I'll ever be attempting this one, but it was just too good to not share!

Check us out @ Mama Goose!

2010-02-25T14:36:00.003-05:00

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review the Ergo baby carrier for our favorite local shop, Mama Goose. You can read my review to see what I think of our Ergo carrier (it's all love), but I'm going to use this space to tell you more about our family's love for the Goose.

Jodi and I first discovered Mama Goose when the Ergo website listed it as a local retailer. We couldn't believe our luck when their cute little shop happened to be a block away from our Obstetricians' office. We would leave appointments and then walk down the street and see what treasures the little consignment shop had to offer that day. I can't tell you how many outfits, toys and books we brought home before Leif was even born. We bought our Ergo baby carrier at Mama Goose and it was even on the suggestion of a Mama Goose staffer that we chose to purchase Mother Ease diapers. As the first of our friends to have a child, I can't imagine how we would have navigated all of those baby prep decisions if we didn't have the support and expertise of Mama Goose to rely on.

We were more than excited to see Mama Goose expand into its new location on State Street in Ithaca, and we still do most of our shopping there. We scored a great wooden train set for Leif's Christmas present this year and have to say that most of his wardrobe has come from Mama Goose as well. We feel good about everything we buy at Mama Goose - whether it's gently used toys, clothes and shoes for Leif or locally made, fair trade or organic gifts for the other babies and kids in our lives. It's feel good shopping at its best and we're so glad we live near enough to get into the store as often as we do!

And, just in case you were wondering, and in the spirit of keeping it real, I have to say that I have no formal relationship with Ergo (or Mama Goose). I'm just a very satisfied customer!

Real and Natural Beauty Solutions

2010-02-24T11:25:00.009-05:00

Image via Gomestic.com
I have been experimenting a lot with various natural beauty treatments in an attempt to phase out some of the chemical ridden stuff in my shower and medicine cabinet. I'm not quite ready to tell you what I think of shampoo-less hair washing or my edible facial cleanser and moisturizer - mainly because I haven't made up my own mind about them yet.

I can tell you that I love using coconut oil as a body cream and that olive oil makes a great lip moisturizer. When we spent a couple of weeks picking olives in 2005, we'd squeeze one open any time our hands felt dry and would rub the green goodness all over. If you don't mind a slippery tub, olive oil mixed with sugar and a few drops of essential oil also makes a body scrub that rivals any scrub you'd find for sale.

Italian beauties waiting to become expensive hand pressed olive oil

For more natural beauty tips, I'd love to send you over to Simple Organic where Amy from Progressive Pioneer shares her favorite beauty products that are simple and can be whipped up with little effort in the kitchen.

Snow Big Deal

2010-02-15T18:37:00.001-05:00

When we moved north this fall we worried about what living in a "snow belt" might be like. Luckily, it hasn't been crazy at all. We get snow all the time, and the bay we live on has frozen over completely, but we've only had to dig the car out a couple of times. If it's going to be cold (and it has been!), I'd rather have snow than not.

Organic Lollipops

2010-02-09T11:51:00.000-05:00

These are the yummiest lollipops I have ever tasted and they are organic! No artificial colors, real fruit extracts and if that isn't enough to sway you, they're Kosher. We aren't huge lollipop people, but Leif has become obsessed with them (the mango flavor is his favorite).

www.yummyearth.com

I'm not advocating sugary treats like lollipops for every day consumption. BUT, when you really want something sweet, or your kid FINALLY poops on the potty, they're better than the alternative!

Potato Stamped Valentines

2010-02-08T19:31:00.003-05:00

Today we spent some time making potato stamp cards for Valentine's Day. I had never tried it before, but knew enough about the concept to give it a go. I carved hearts into a few small potatoes (this was much easier than anticipated) and made a paint out of cornstarch, water and food coloring.

Leif and I stamped some small home made cards together. He had so much fun and kept saying who each one was for. "This one is for Grandma! This one is for Lani and Brian!" - so sweet. I wasn't sure if he'd be ready for a project like this, but I'm so glad we did it. Now we just have to address and mail them all...

Home Made Tortillas

2010-02-06T20:51:00.001-05:00

Remember this bread recipe? Well, we've come up with another great application - flour tortillas! It was a last minute decision when I saw that we were out of our usual store-bought burrito shells.

I whipped up a quick batch of the master recipe (we were due for more) and rolled it out immediately. I went as thin as I could and then quickly cooked them up in a lightly oiled pan on medium heat. They take less than a minute on each side (flip when it starts to bubble and lightly brown) and that's it. I didn't think to stop and take a photo, but they looked just like this:

Photo via Imagelicious

I filled the tortillas with yummy veggie burrito deliciousness and we gobbled them right up. Jodi says it's the best meal he's had in a while (not sure if that's a straight compliment or not). Either way, they held up better than the ones we buy at the store and they were so easy and inexpensive. There's one more product we can cross off the shopping list for good!

Shame on You, Dirty Dozen

2010-02-02T16:54:00.001-05:00

Photo via Low Impact Living

If like me, you understand the importance of organic eating, but your wallet doesn't always want to cooperate, then you need this handy printable list of the best and worst conventionally grown fruits and vegetables from the Environmental Working Group. When you consider that we are bombarded by chemicals all day every day (yes, even those of us who do our best to avoid them) then it pays to learn all that you can and prioritize.

Oh, and if you have an iPhone, they have an app for that - of course!

In Time of Silver Rain

2010-02-01T10:31:00.001-05:00

by Langston Hughes In time of silver rain

The earth
Puts forth new life again,
Green grasses grow
And flowers lift their heads,
And over all the plain
The wonder spreads
Of life,
of life,
of life!
In time of silver rain
The butterflies
Lift silken wings
To catch a rainbow cry,
And trees put forth
New leaves to sing
In joy beneath the sky
As down the roadway
Passing boys and girls
Go singing, too,
In time of silver rain
When spring
And life
Are new.

This is one of the first poems I ever loved. With February only beginning, reading this poem feels like a breath of fresh air.

Searching for the Real J.D. Salinger

2010-01-29T12:00:00.002-05:00

What really knocks me out is a book, when you're all done reading it, you wished the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.

The Catcher in the Rye

I would have loved to have known Holden Caulfield. Salinger, not so much, but definitely Holden.

Images via amazon.com

If you want to know more about the real J.D. Salinger, I highly recommend the three books shown above. He was an eccentric and interesting guy - not someone I'd care to make friends with, but definitely someone worth reading about. I wrote my senior thesis on the published works of Salinger and found myself both disgusted and intrigued by the realities of his life and personality.

Think of this as a window of opportunity to learn more about the author before the rest of his unpublished work is released.

No Fracking Way

2010-01-28T11:43:00.004-05:00

Image via shaleshock.org

Have you heard about they controversy surrounding horizontal hydrofracking? I am no expert on the topic, and only heard the term for the first time this fall. If you are from New York and care about the safety of your drinking water, your milk and your wild fish and game (that one's for you, Lauren) then I suggest you check out some of the links I've compiled.

As you'll see, New York and neighboring states sit atop a huge rock formation called Marcellus Shale. This formation is one that has been targeted by drilling companies as it is believed to contain a huge amount of untapped natural gas. The gas companies and Governor Patterson would love to collect the gas and the profits that come with it, but many experts and local citizens are understandably concerned about the implications.

Photo via nywellwatch.org

Image via Citizens Campaign for the Environment

As a resident of this area, I have a very strong reaction to the information I've found. Living in a rural and agricultural community, clean water is essential to the health and economy of our area. Those of us who live off of the municipal water system have enough to worry about with water pollution from run-off pesticides and natural fertilizers (read: cow manure) infiltrating our wells. Clean water is something we should all have a right to. Horizontal Hydrofracking is not safe enough.

Stop the fracking, New York and protect your citizens!

Like I said, I'm still learning about fracking. So many people have so much more to say about it. Please consider checking out the following links to learn more about this important issue.

Newsweek article dated August 20, 2008

New York Times editorial dated October 16, 2009

Planet Green article dated October 17, 2009

Shaleshock Action Alliance website

NY Well Watch website
Hydrofracking Fact Sheet via Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Real Fleece Outerwear from Ibex

2010-01-27T11:10:00.002-05:00

We've been making a serious effort to get outside more often with our little guy. With cold weather returning (we had a brief "warm" spell), I can't help but think about our winter outerwear.

This year Jodi decided that he needed a new winter jacket. Having finished reading this book, which talks about the downfalls of polyester fleece and poly blends* he sought out a jacket made from natural materials. After a few internet searching sessions, he came across Ibex, a company co-founded in 1997 by a Vermont sheep farmer.

Photo via Ibexbuzz.com

Ibex operates out of White River Junction, Vermont and prides itself on offering high quality wool products using sustainable methods. Ibex has consumer-friendly policies (their product guarantee is about as good as they get) and they exude a wholesome aura - they plant a company garden and allow pets in the office.

This is the jacket that Jodi bought and loves. His is a dark gray color. It's simple, comfortable and warm.

There are so many reasons why wool is better than synthetic fleece. I have more to say, but will leave the rest for another post so that Ibex can have their moment in the spotlight here!

* Synthetic fleeces and synthetic/wool blends don't biodegrade and can't be recycled, so they end up in landfills when their life-cycles are complete. In addition, synthetic fleece is harmful in its creation and abrades over time, leaving small particles to be inhaled and consumed by those of us who wear it.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit to having absolutely no affiliation with Ibex. We're just satisfied customers who want to spread the good word.

Home Made Laundry Soap

2010-01-26T11:53:00.002-05:00

Photo via Live Laugh Love

One of the little pleasures in my life is finding a way to get around "the system". It drives me a little crazy to think about all of the chemicals and packaging that come along with so many of the products we "need" to buy.

One of the products that I've been loving to replace is laundry soap. A year or two ago, my mom came across a recipe for liquid laundry detergent that she shared with me. I made the stuff a couple of times, but found it a little too involved to keep up with. Looking for a better solution, I found this recipe at DIY Natural for powdered laundry soap and have found it much easier.

Photo via Baileys Home and Garden

The soap works great, even on diapers, and is best when made with natural soaps. I tried using the recommended Fels-Naptha the first time, but found the chemical smell to be too much for my sensitive nose. As far as I can tell, any soap will work, so use what you've got or what you prefer.

Satan Finally Responds to Pat Robertson

2010-01-25T11:19:00.000-05:00

There is absolutely nothing funny about the tragedy in Haiti, but I do love this response to Pat Robertson's absurd commentary. Check out the witty letter, published in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune from Satan (actually, Lilly Coyle of Minneapolis) to Robertson.

Enjoy.

Be Out There

2010-01-21T09:46:00.000-05:00

Leif's first sled ride!

I know we're guilty of staying inside too often - especially when the air inside is much warmer than the air outside. Now that Leif is old enough to enjoy the snow, I'm going to have to suck it up and get out there. My sister-in-law just sent this great link to the National Wildlife Federation's new campaign, called Be Out There. Check it out and consider making the pledge to get yourself, your pets and your kids outside more often!

Celebrating 3 Years of Marriage

2010-01-20T14:28:00.000-05:00

Marriage isn't mutual ownership. It should be an act of trust in each other's good sense and good intentions. If a marriage is an expression of respect, then it can add grace to love.

Hugh Prather

If You Can Remember

2010-01-15T09:10:00.001-05:00

This is posted on my fridge. It's a great reminder when things get hairy...

If You Can Remember

If you can remember that it takes three of my steps to equal one of yours;
If you understand that I must view life at an eye level three feet below yours;
If you can touch my life with your faith, without taking away my need for self-determination;
Then I can grow, learn and become.

If you can remember that it takes time for me to gain the experience in living you have already had;
If you can understand that I can only relate to those things which have meaning on my levels of maturity;
If you can let me take a step of independence when I can, instead of thrusting me out or pulling me back;
If you can touch my life with your hope, without destroying my sense of reality;
Then I can grow, learn and become.

If you can remember that it takes courage for me to try again after failure, just like you;
If you can let me find my own path when I want, instead of choosing for me the way you think I should go;
If you can touch my life with your love, without taking away the space I need to breathe;
Then I can grow, learn and become.

Marti King for the Montessori Foundation

Compact Flourescent Bulbs - The Great Debate

2010-01-14T00:26:00.004-05:00

A Bright Idea with a Dim Future?

Image via a great article you should check out at greenzer.com

We replaced many of our household lightbulbs with compact flourescents a couple of years ago. With all the talk of energy savings and a longer life-span, it seemed like a good idea despite the higher cost and the funky glow. Now that my mom has confessed to breaking 3 this year (even she is not sure how this happened) I'm starting to question the practicality of this switch.

Did you know that the mercury contained in compact flourescent bulbs is released when the bulbs break and requires specific cleaning procedures? My mom didn't, and I'm not sure if I would have known either. My mom did what she would have done with any other lightbulb - she picked up the big pieces and then vacuumed up the little stuff and went on with her day. She didn't realize that she was dealing with a hazardous waste (also not used to having to read the fine print on the back of her lightbulb box). How many people out there are like my mom, trying to do the right thing and unknowingly exposing themselves and others to the toxic mercury contained inside each bulb?

Worried for my mom and my family I did a little research and have found myself more confused than ever about which way to go. According to an article at Popular Mechanics titled, Compact Flourescent Bulbs and Mercury: Reality Check, my mom and others like her have little to worry about. According to the article, Russ Leslie at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute claims that “Though it’s nothing to laugh at, unless you wipe up mercury [without gloves] and then lick your hand, you’re probably going to be okay.”

We all have different ideas about what it means to "probably be okay" so I looked further and found the US Environmental Protection Agency's recommendations for the clean-up of CFLs. Take a look for yourself and see what you make of the directions. It sounds like broken bulbs on hard surfaces are not such a big deal, but don't break them on your rug or any other fabric and expect a safe clean-up.

I'm really not that worried about my mom and her 3 improperly cleaned up mercury spills. She's probably been exposed to more than she should have, but she's fully developed, otherwise healthy and now that she knows what she's done, she'll never let it happen again. I am however, pretty concerned about this issue as it applies to my son and any of our future fetuses or children. Knowing that mercury is most damaging to them I'm not sure if I really want to be taking that risk. Sure we're saving energy, but there's something terrifying about the thought of accidentally sprinkling mercury dust around my home when my child and future children are developing. And I have to admit, knowing that she used her vacuum and inadvertantly spread mercury all through the house, I get a pretty worried just thinking about all of the exposure we've had visiting my parents all the time.

I'm also pretty concerned about where all of these bulbs are going to end up when they finally do burn out. Will people utilize the household hazardous waste programs that exist near them, or will they toss them into the trash and send them off to the landfills, where they'll break in the trash compactors and slowly contaminate local water supplies?

I have a lot of faith in people wanting to do the right things in this world, but I'm accutely aware of the ignorance that perpetuates so many of our social and environmental problems. If I have any message to share in this post, aside from urging you to read the information that's out there and decide for yourself, it's this:

If you are not ready to dispose of the end products properly, then don't make the switch to compact flourescent bulbs. Considering the end result before starting something is always a good method, and one that we could all do a bit more of.

Now you know what I'm thinking. What do you think?

Making Pasta the Real Way

2010-01-07T13:34:00.010-05:00

Dino DeLaurentis making pasta via LIFE.com

If you have access to a pasta maker (or even if you don't) I highly recommend giving homemade pasta a try. Last night my friend Megan and I, along with my 2 year old who pretends to be Julia Child ("Mama, I'm Julia. You be Jaques"), whipped up a quick dough and made linguine for 6. The pasta is lighter than the dried box variety and is so much fun to make. We let the little guy to most of the work, so that should give you a clue about how easy it can be.

Photo via bakesourdough.com

You can find a basic recipe here, but I encourage you to branch out. Whole wheat pasta comes immediately to mind, but adding herbs and spices would also be nice. Or maybe just a lot of black pepper to make pasta carbonara with. Or what about chocolate pasta with a sweet mascarpone sauce? My mouth is watering. Is yours?

Photo via simply-natural.biz

Having made pasta several times now, it's hard to believe that my first attempt was less than a year ago. You can read my friend, Kristin's post about our experience here. I'll have to tell you more about Kristin later. She's pretty serious about keeping it real (poke around on her blog and you'll see what I mean).

Is Your Tap Water Safe?

2010-01-06T08:58:00.003-05:00

Photo via bu.edu

Leave it to the Daily Green to confirm your worst suspicions. Monday's post linking chlorinated water to Cancer is just one more example of why we should rely on our own intuition rather than the findings of lobby ridden political organizations. When I hear the term "safe levels" associated with any chemical, my first thought is, "safe for who?". As with most un-natural products, as time goes by, we're bound to find that today's "safe levels" will become tomorrow's mistakes. If only I ran the FDA...

A better motto to live by: if it doesn't smell natural, look natural or taste natural, then it's probably bad for you, period.

Intelligent Parents Doing Stupid Things?

2010-01-05T08:12:00.002-05:00

Photo by Hugh Kretschmer for TIME

I recently came across an article entitled, The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting at time.com. It struck a chord as I've been thinking a lot about how to balance my protective instincts with my rational understanding that kids need to learn the most important lessons on their own.

The article, written by Nancy Gibbs, points out some of the most rediculous examples of "helicopter parenting" and exposes them for what they are - the actions of a generation of parents who are letting their fears rule their actions when it comes to making decisions that affect their kids.

This kind of irrational fear is the same force that is behind so many of the decisions that people make every day. Pick up any magazine or turn on the tv and you'll find all kinds of advice about how to further separate yourself from the natural world and a healthy life balance and rhythm, all in the name of self-improvement. It's a crazy world, full of people who aren't really thinking for themselves and I don't want to be a part of that.

Homemade Bread Made EASY

2010-01-04T12:53:00.004-05:00

Do you love fresh bread but lack the time or dedication to make it regularly?

It really doesn't get any easier than this no-knead bread recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day via Mother Earth News. We've been mixing up the basic starter recipe (I substitute whole wheat flour with no issues) and have been using it for all kinds of things. It's always ready in the fridge for a quick loaf of bread, pizza dough, cinnamon buns, etc. Our favorite application, and probably the fastest one, is for making naan (it's not just for Indian food!).

Check out the article and recipe and enjoy the fresh baked goodness!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T15:05:00.001-05:00

Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt, via flickr

This photo looks as peaceful as I'd like to feel right now. We're pretty busy with last minute holiday crafting, baking and visiting. I thought I'd pop in and wish a quick "Merry Christmas" to everyone who takes the time to read this little blog. We're looking forward to a festive holiday and I hope you are too!

Love Birds

2009-12-18T09:07:00.004-05:00

When we were planning our January wedding I enlisted the help of my mom and sisters to make hundreds of bird ornaments to hang from our centerpieces. We decorated the entire hall with nothing more than twigs, birds and candles. It was very simple and pretty.

We've been using them as Christmas decorations ever since.

Congratulations and best wishes to my sister, Katie and her boyfriend, Chris, who got engaged in Boston last night! Katie, when you need hundreds of handmade decorations, you know I'm here to help!

Home Made Holidays

2009-12-17T10:17:00.003-05:00

Last year I asked my wood loving husband to make our little guy a play kitchen. I had seen some cute ones and thought maybe he could whip up something rustic and simple. I was floored when he showed me this:

He used live edged oak and walnut, both from fallen trees that he found and had sawn up. The walnut came from our yard - it fell during a wind storm the year we moved in. The sink is made from a curved pipe and a dog dish. The knobs and burners are sliced branches.

It's been almost a year, and he still "cooks" in his kitchen every day. I'm pretty jealous of his countertop - wouldn't that be cool in a real kitchen?

The Windowfarm Project

2009-12-15T09:13:00.007-05:00

As a conventional organic gardener, I think canning and freezing are great, but isn't fresh food so much better?

Photo via flickr

Check out the Windowfarm Project at windowfarms.org to learn how you can supplement your meals by growing fresh fruits, veggies and herbs year round. The Kickstarter project, founded by Britta Riley and Rebecca Bray, is a grassroots effort to put homemade hydroponic vegetable farms in windows throughout New York City and beyond. The group was recently featured in Ready Made Magazine and is working to develop themselves as a non-profit organization.

Photo via flickr

Plans are are free and available on the group's new website. The materials needed to create a window farm are cheap and as you can see, largely recycled. For those who are not inclined to tinker with plastic bottles and tubing, the group promises that kits are coming soon.

image via windwofarms.org Photo by Sydney Shen

I'll leave you with a snippet from their website:

The Windowfarms project broaches both immediate urban agriculture goals as well as a far-sighted shift in attitudes toward the green revolution. We are both starting a windowfarming craze in cities worldwide and hoping to accelerate the pace of sustainable design by having ordinary citizens think of themselves as innovators...

Few other projects provide opportunities for such direct personal involvement, make this productive use of existing construction, or so directly target urban dwellers estranged from agricultural issues.

I find them to be beautiful, functional, and pretty inspirational. What do you think?

The Christmas Tree Debate

2009-12-11T09:11:00.005-05:00

The Real Deal vs "Old Fakie"

Photo via flickr

Growing up, our family flip flopped. We'd cut a huge tree one year, buy one the next and then haul out a sad, short old artificial one the year after. I think that with four kids, my parents just went for convenience.

Since moving out of my parent's house, cutting and decorating a real Christmas tree has become my guilty holiday pleasure. I love the smell of the pine and the glow of the lights, but some years I just haven't been able to justify the death of a tree for my (brief) benefit. I know that this is silly - they grow them for this purpose, but it still feels wasteful to me.

Photo via zimbio.com

I saw a TV special once where they showed the Rockefeller Center tree from start to finish. Apparently they send scouts out to scour the country and find the most perfect looking pines. This one was in a family's yard. The family talked about all of their great memories with the tree and showed old photographs with Gramps posing with the tree as a young boy. It had sentimental value. They were still excited to send it to New York.
I wonder, do they miss it?

photo via escobarshighlandfarm.com

Wondering if we should consider going fake to spare innocent carbon reducing trees, I did some research and found my guilt to be misplaced. I read several articles, but this one was my favorite (when the writer starts out comparing trees to breasts, you know you've got something). The greenest option is, as you would expect, to buy a live tree and then plant it. Buying from a local tree farm is second best, but still guilt-free shopping.

Oh, I feel so much better!

How Safe are Your Products?

2009-12-10T11:53:00.004-05:00

Do you ever wonder if your shampoo is going to give you Cancer?

Now that I have a child, I think about that kind of stuff all the time. Though it's become a bit controversial, I trust the findings of the Environmental Working Group's website called the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database.

I discovered this website recently and was surprised to find that many of the products I'd carefully chosen for my family were not as safe as they had seemed. For example, my Herbal Essences shampoo is no safer than my 2 year old's Burts Bees wash (great to know after using it for 2 years almost exclusively). Other finds were not so surprising: Self tanners are terrible as are the most common sunscreens (stay away from Coppertone!). Regular body lotions are also pretty awful, with many containing ingredients that have been known to cause Cancer.

The website makes it clear that they evaluate products based on the ingredients contained in them, and not the products themselves. They are also careful to say that an individual's reaction will be based on their level of exposure to the ingredients and their individual susceptibility. Like every other resource out there, the Cosmetic Safety Database offers useful information. As consumers, it's our job to educate ourselves and then use our own brains to figure out how to apply it to our lives.

Based on the findings from this site, along with my own experience, I would like to recommend the following products as safe and useful:

Badger Balm Lip & Body Balm (yum!)

California Baby Aromatherapy Bubble Bath (it's not just for the kiddos)

Earth Mama Angel Baby Pregnancy Pampering Kit (they also make wonderful and completely safe baby products)

Aquarella water based nail polish (because regular nail polish is about as toxic as you can get)

I haven't yet found a lotion that I feel good about, so we've been using a jar of coconut oil. We have to warm and melt it in our hands first, but it works just as well as anything and smells delicious!

Check out your products at the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database and see what you think.

Face Stamped

2009-12-08T14:04:00.006-05:00

This is why we should all buy non-toxic toys from companies we trust...

He was working so quietly. I should have known...

Thank you, Melissa & Doug!

Not a Cup, But a Cow

2009-12-07T16:38:00.002-05:00

What do you buy for the person who already has everything?

How about buying for someone who has much less instead?

Heifer International helps families around the world achieve self-reliance through the gift of livestock and training. Their mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.

Here is a brief history of the organization, taken from their website:

A Midwestern farmer named Dan West was ladling out rations of milk to hungry children during the Spanish Civil War when it hit him.

“These children don’t need a cup, they need a cow.”

West, who was serving as a Church of the Brethren relief worker, was forced to decide who would receive the limited rations and who wouldn’t – literally, who would live and who would die. This kind of aid, he knew, would never be enough.

So West returned home to form Heifers for Relief, dedicated to ending hunger permanently by providing families with livestock and training so that they “could be spared the indignity of depending on others to feed their children.”

Dan West's idea has now changed the lives over 8.5 million people

In 1944, the first shipment of 17 heifers left York, Pennsylvania, for Puerto Rico, going to families whose malnourished children had never even tasted milk. Learn about the cowboys who brought cows and kids together. Why heifers? These are young cows that haven’t yet given birth – making them perfect not only for supplying a continued source of milk, but also for supplying a continued source of support. That’s because each family receiving a heifer agrees to “pass on the gift” and donate the female offspring to another family, so that the gift of food is never-ending. This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for over 60 years. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 8.5 million people in more than 125 countries.

Heifer International will even help you create a card to accompany your gift. Please consider giving the gift of livestock this year. It's more than a gift, it's a solution.

Natural Flea Control

2009-12-04T11:19:00.009-05:00

I hate to admit it, but it looks like our dog, Lulu might have fleas. We can't see any, but she's been scratching a lot, so it's time to do something.

I know many dog owners who regularly use the reliable, chemical based flea control systems (you know, the ones with marketing budgets large enough to put out TV commercials). We're not fans of pesticides, especially in or around our home, so we're trying a different approach.

After consulting with this book I sliced a couple of lemons, poured some almost boiling water to cover, and then left it to sit for 24 hours.

Now I just have to give Lu a bath and then massage the strained liquid into her fur.

According to this article at eartheasy.com, fleas dislike the taste of garlic and brewer's yeast and will stay away from dogs who consume them. They have other recommendations too, but this sounds like a good place to start. I'll let you know how it goes...

Please consult with the article before trying any of our plans with your pets. Amounts vary based on the size of your dog and the treatments for cats are very different (garlic is toxic to cats, for example).

Real Beauty

2009-12-03T16:24:00.006-05:00

Photo via NOW.org

Who doesn't love the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty ads? I've never understood how people were supposed to believe that any product could make them look like Halle Berry in the Revlon ads. Even Halle herself doesn't look that good.

So I was happy to come across this article, titled Point, Shoot, Retouch and Label? from the New York Times. According to the article, a 47 year old French mother and Parliment member named Valérie Boyer has proposed a law that would require all digitally altered photographs used in advertising to be labeled as retouched.

The article includes a picture of Boyer, and I can assure you she's not just some bitter slouch looking to stick it to the pretty women of the world. She's on a mission to put some truth back into mass media advertising. The issue is pretty controversial (read the article to see what other pros think about it) and a law like this wouldn't solve all of the problems associated with the media and body image, but it seems to me that it would be a big step in the right direction.

Note: I'd love to upload the video on this page here. Not sure how, but it's a must see!

Alternative Holiday Shopping

2009-12-03T09:44:00.010-05:00

Every year around this time the local churches pass around a box full of beautiful handmade items from around the world. They sell them at the local craft fairs and during coffee hours after church services during the advent season. I always find a few treasures and then get on the website to see what else is out there. This year SERRV is celebrating its 60th year of "eradicating poverty where it resides by providing opportunity and support to artisans and farmers world wide".

I bought this Indonesian pin last week. I haven't decided if I'll give it away or keep it for myself.

Here's how SERRV describes their work:

Our work encompasses more than just buying and selling.
We offer prepayments so our partners can sustain their business.
Create new designs so they can build their markets.
Teach new skills so they can develop their craft.
Provide grants so they can expand their resources.

We support equal rights for women.
Guide sustainable development.
And of course, pay a fair wage.

For 60 years, we have worked on behalf of the world’s Artisans and Farmers. One of the first alternative trade organizations in the world, SERRV is a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (formerly IFAT) and a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF).

This just went into my shopping cart. One of those church ladies snatched it up before I could!

And this - genius!

SERRV items are unique and I always feel good about my purchases. It's a win-win-win!

Bac Away

2009-12-02T11:51:00.004-05:00

photo via lesliebeck.com

Recent studies have shown that cinnamon essential oil is antiseptic and that even at low concentrations, it is effective in killing several forms of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Read about cinnamon and other essential oils at the Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog.

Winter's Secret Beauty

2009-12-01T11:55:00.006-05:00

Snowflakes are amazing. It's not often that we see them looking so perfectly shaped and independent of each other.

Today we enjoyed our first snowfall of the season. There's something magical about that first dusting of snow. It always fills me with wonder.

Did you know there is actually a Field Guide to Snowflakes? It's written by physicist Ken Libbrecht, who also authored The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty. The science behind snow is fascinating and the pictures are stunning.

Re-thinking Capitalism

2009-11-30T22:54:00.006-05:00

Photo courtesy of RollingStone.com

"You don’t have to be the best of the best. Just do what only you can do." -Jerry Garcia

I've always thought that for all it has brought us, capitalism is mainly a vehicle for greed and corruption. I'm obviously not the only person who feels this way.

Check out this article , entitled How Much Can we Give for All We Get? to put the above quote into perspective. Published by green@work magazine, the article is written by Cradle to Cradle authors, William McDonough and Michael Baungart.

I am loving the way these guys think.

Negligence Starts Tomorrow*

2009-11-30T22:12:00.009-05:00

This book is changing the way I understand the concept of sustainability. The book's authors, William McDonough and Michael Braungart present a new paradigm for industry, challenging us to move forward with only ecologically intelligent design. They argue that natural is not always better and that synthetics, when produced and recycled correctly, will be the materials that save the earth. The ideas they share about separating "biological nutrients" from "technical nutrients" make a world of sense and challenge many of the eco products being marketed today.

The book is actually made from a recyclable plastic and though it's a bit heavy, even this lover of real things can't argue with the logic presented in its physical design.

Though the authors promote a person-made world, they use nature as the grounding inspiration for how the world should work. It's a book that poses problems, but that also offers innovative and reasonable solutions. Change in industry is never easy, but the ideas presented in Cradle to Cradle are mind expanding, for sure.

*This is my husband's favorite quote from the book. He's the one who introduced me to it - he's taking a design class and this book is the only required reading.

Squeaky Clean Fruits and Veggies

2009-11-23T19:50:00.008-05:00

It seems like there's always a new use for vinegar. While visiting my mom, I learned a very useful one. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and use it to clean your store bought fruits and vegetables. Vinegar kills bacteria and breaks down the waxy layer that is common on fruits like apples. Spray it on, scrub it in (if skins are tough) and rinse.

Simple, cheap and effective!

Marriage Equality - Will Phillips Keeps it Real

2009-11-23T14:06:00.012-05:00

Have you heard about the 10 year old who respectfully refuses to recite the Pledge of Allegiance because our country does not provide "liberty and justice for all"? He's been ridiculed by fellow students but hasn't backed down on. It's nice to see a kid who's confident enough to take a controversial stance and parents who support him.

Way to go, Kiddo!

See Will's CNN interview here.

Nearness to Nature

2009-11-20T11:35:00.006-05:00

Nearness to nature... keeps the spirit sensitive to impressions not commonly felt and in touch with the unseen powers. - Ohiyesa

Note to self: Get off the computer and get out there!

Clotheslines are Beautiful

2009-11-19T14:38:00.006-05:00

The line drying controversy was news to me.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Visit the Project Laundry List website to learn about the movement to restore everyone's right to air their clean laundry.

Things that are Real

2009-11-19T11:45:00.014-05:00

This is a brief list of the embrace/avoid list around here.

real ...................................................not

wood..............................................particle board

glass..................................polycarbonate

wool...........................................acrylic
multi grain...........................................wonderbread
All Things Considered.............................RushLimbaugh Show
love for country/religion despite flaws..............blind allegiance
flipping the pages of a book....................flipping the channels on tv
breast milk ..........................................formula
cloth ...................................................disposables

It's about tuning in, being aware and striving for truth and purity.

This is What Starting a Blog Feels Like

2009-11-19T11:23:00.004-05:00

This is me four years ago.

My husband and I were visiting some of his extended family near Oslo. Our host, Tor, took us to his friend's farm to pick plums and to swim in the fjord. Not knowing what a fjord was, I brought my suit and went along. The water was deep and the "diving board" was nothing more than a steel beam that wiggled with every step.

It was scary but I knew that if I didn't jump in I'd regret it.