Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 to show appreciation to our Earth’s environment, bring awareness to issues that may threaten it, and celebrate ways we can help protect it.  I love Earth Day.  My daughter claims Earth Day is “Mommy’s favorite holiday”; I just love her.  Not quite my favorite, sweetie……….although, it comes in at a close second to Christmas. 

I look forward to this holiday, not because of any big parties or festivals that I have planned to attend.  I hate crowds, so no big festival for me.  And it falls on a weekend, so no school activities, such as helping out at the paper drive, will need to be attended.  I love it because I know that we, as a group, are acknowledging that we need to take actions towards helping our planet’s soil, water, air, and inhabitant's health. As corny as it sounds, Earth Day should be every day in my opinion.  At least, it is for my family.  It has become part of our everyday living. 

But my now more relaxed, planet friendly manner wasn’t so relaxed as it is today.  I remember when the whole “green” movement was in full force and was sweeping across the country a few years ago.  Let me tell you, I was gung-ho.  If I read it was “green” and helped the environment, I bought it. And buying greener products meant more green out of my pocket.  Also during that time, I was learning about all the pesticides and antibiotics in our food, what CAFOs were, and the chemicals in shampoos and such, that I went on a frenzy being careful only to buy the healthiest food possible and choosing personal care products that did not put harmful chemicals in our bodies.  I gained all this knowledge and I wasn't afraid to use it!

I was driving myself and everyone around me crazy.  My husband began calling me “voodoo lady” -----don’t laugh because he was serious (in a loving kind of way).  I was working harder, but not smarter at this lifestyle change I was making for us.  No wonder I was overwhelmed.  Then one day, I had this “Aha” moment.  I realized that I didn't have to do the "being green" and also do the "keeping our body's free of contaminants" seperately, as my mind was processing it as to be.  It was all encompassing, meaning as I choose items for our home and bodies, made with natural products and not man-made chemicals, buying organic food produced locally and raised humanely, and becoming knowledgeable about living sustainably, it will ultimately be healthier for the planet. Once I figured that out, I became more relaxed, and I began taking baby steps in making change in our lives.  

There are hundreds of ways to be mindful about the resources we use.  I admit, I can get a little over the top with ideas when it comes to protecting the planet (remember voodoo lady?).  Some of them I can implement and have, and others I can’t, and that's okay.  Again.....it's all about the baby steps.  I will continue to go about my day making choices that I can feel good about.

Here is a small list of changes I have made over the past few years:

·         Composting— there are many things that can be composted and not thrown into the trash

·         Recycle plastic, glass, and paper

·         Reuse glass jars for spices, leftovers, or anything else that needs to be stored

·         Grow my own herbs and dehydrate them

·         Make my own dishwashing detergent

·         Make my own hand soap

·         Make my own laundry soap

·         Buy as much organic food as my budget allows. 

·         If it isn’t organic, it’s at least GMO free and free of artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors. I have contacted companies asking questions about their products too.

·         A lot of our food is homemade and unprocessed.  Also, it saves on throwing away excess packaging.  And............it tastes better anyway.

·         Make my own spice blends.  No MSG in our home.

·         Every few months, I go to my local recycling center to turn in old textiles, such as holey socks, torn towels, stained clothing

·         Our newly installed rain barrel allows me to water all my container plants without turning on the hose

·         Shop resale stores

·         Donate gently used items

·         I have been known to throw a killer of a garage sale.  One garage sale netted me enough money to purchase a chest freezer so we could purchase meat from a local farm. 

·         Make my own almond milk on a weekly basis, and dehydrate the remains for almond meal

·         No harmful fertilizers on own lawn.  We had children and pets running it that yard!

·         Turn off the water while brushing teeth

·         Buy Recycled paper products, such as toilet paper

·         Grouping errands together to save on gas and less wear and tear on the car

·         Using our legs for walking and riding our bikes as forms of exercise

·         Visit the library to check out movies and books

·         Waste free lunches

·         Make my own cleaning products

·         Use natural and homeopathic remedies

·         Recently replaced all of our appliances for energy star ones

·         Buy “safe” personal care products or make my own, such as deodorant

·         Recycle all of our electronics

·         No buying of bottled water.  We have reusable water bottles.

·         Repurpose items, such as making a necklace from an old T-shirt 

·        Refusing to buy items just because they are on a clearance rack, or I think I am getting a good deal.  Do you really need all that stuff in my house anyway.  If I don't need it, then I don't buy it!

·         Use cloth bags when shopping.  And if I forget to bring them, I make sure I recycle the plastic ones. 

Now multiply my little actions by the billions of people on this planet, and we will ultimately affect the planet and its resources, just by the choices we make.  I would like to think we do so already.

And what will I be doing on Earth Day, you might ask?  I will celebrate it quietly.  I may spend time outside gardening, go for a walk with my family, take a bike ride to a nearby park, or make a healthy meal for friends and family.  One thing I know for sure is that I will spend a moment remembering to be mindful about the actions I take as I go about my day; on Earth Day, as in every day. 

Happy Earth Day!

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs



Photo by Lisa Fulsom

In my quest in making mindful choices in my life, I decided this year to forgo the fizzy-neon colored pellets to color Easter eggs........instead, using all natural sources to color them.

I wanted to make a dry run of this before our annual egg-dying event with the family on the day before Easter.  I decided to use the following to color my eggs.  I put the ingredients for the color I wanted into each cup.  I also decided to use brown and white eggs, to see how much of a color difference I could achieve.  I didn't want to use too many different food sources, so I stuck with the 5 simple ingredients. 
 

Egg Color	Natural Colorant
Yellow	1-2 tsp. Ground Turmeric Powder
Purple	2 tbsp. Grated Beet/ 2 Tbsp. Chopped Red Cabbage
Green	1-2 tsp. Ground Turmeric Powder/2 Tbsp. Chopped Red Cabbage
Blue	½ c. frozen blueberries/2 Tbsp. Chopped  Red Cabbage
Orange	2 Tbsp. Ground Paprika
Pink	2 Tbsp. Chopped Cabbage

After the eggs were cooked, I placed them in a bowl of ice water.  I brought the pot of water that I used to cook the eggs back up to a boil.  Once the water was boiling, I used it to fill all the cups with each of the ingredients above about 2/3 full.  Then I added about a teaspoon of white vinegar to each cup.

Once the eggs were cooled, I added them to the different dyes.......and waited.  I learned this is not a quick process.  Concerned that the eggs were out of the refrigerator too long, I put all the cups of dye with the eggs in them in the refrigerator.  About two hours later, I checked the progress, and to my surprise, many of the eggs were dyed to a color of my liking. I took them out of the dye, and let them dry. 

Other than the time it takes to dye the eggs is a bit longer, I am so happy with the results.  The orange color was on the coppery brown side, but the blue and green color were very subtle and pretty. The pink colored egg came out as a soft pink. The brown eggs didn't give much of a color change, other than deeper shade of brown and gold, so I think the next time I will just use all white eggs.  The kids thought it was pretty cool that they were going to dye eggs using other food, so I told them to think up some foods we could use when we dye eggs on Easter Eve.

I am glad that I decided to be mindful about what methods to use in dyeing Easter eggs this year. 

And the bonus is I had zero waste:  the water I used to cook and cool the eggs went into watering my container garden outside, and the leftover dye and food wastes to make the dyes went into the compost.  It was a win-win situation in my book! 

Strawberry Chia Smoothie

Strawberry Chia Smoothie

This recipe is a quick and healthy start to your day. 

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 cup kefir, plain

1 cup strawberries, frozen

2 tsp soaked chia seeds

Add ingredients into blender.  Blend until smooth.  Enjoy!

Being Green on St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner. On March 17th of every year, everything from as far as the eye can see will be shrouded in a tint of green. Hair, food, clothing....you name it, and it will be green. But have you ever thought about celebrating the holiday "being green"? Meaning, we can still celebrate the holiday, but on a more eco-friendly manner.

Since the number 7 seems to be a "lucky" number, here are seven suggestions for families to observe the holiday that keeps within your healthy lifestyle.

Wear Green!
You can still wear something that is a shade of green. If you truly want to be "green", wear clothing that is made from organic or sustainable sources.

Decorate Naturally
Instead of decorating the house in items, such as balloons and streamers that you are going to throw in the trash after the day is done, opt for more natural decor. Bring the outdoors in by surrounding yourself with eye-popping plants in various colors of green. Basil, mint, ferns, and even shamrock plants, called oxalis, can be dispersed around the house. Place a wooden bowl filled with green apples on the kitchen table as a centerpiece. Surround candles with green lentils.

Plan an Irish Inspired Meal
If it is too much trouble to make three meals that are inspired by the Green Isles, plan just one. For breakfast, serve Irish tea, organic eggs with Irish butter, and skillet potatoes. For lunch, eat your greens. A big salad filled with spinach, various lettuces, broccoli, snap peas, and anything else green should do the trick. Once everyone is home for dinner, serve up some corned beef and cabbage, or Irish stew with Irish soda bread. Did you know that in rural Ireland, it was common to make bread using baking soda rather than yeast? If you want to make authentic Irish soda bread, find a recipe online that uses only four ingredients.......flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk.

I was in search of a kid-friendly dessert without that added artificial colors and found a lovely cupcake called Lucky Vanilla Cupcakes from blog, Sprinkle Bakes. My family loves pistachios, and the little, chocolate horseshoe decorating the top of the cupcake is simple, yet celebratory of the holiday.

If You are Going Use Dye, Use Dye from Natural Sources
Every time I see a food item that is brightly, neon colored, I cringe. We have become a nation of people that are so used to our food being glaringly colored, that we don't twice about what is in that color. I have fallen victim in years past to putting drops of green food coloring in my child's milk for St. Patty's day; we all have....but not anymore. These food dyes are not found naturally. They are made using petroleum (yes, I said it....just like the stuff we fill our cars with) and are banned in many other countries due to the increased risk of cancer, behavioral problems such as ADHD, asthma, and other conditions. Companies like India Tree and Chocolate Craft Kits produces food dyes that are derived from plant extracts, so you can still have a bit of color.

Celebrate the Day in Music and Books
When my children were younger, I would go on-line to my local library's website and request books relating to the holiday. It's free, and my kids would get excited to see the basket full of books in the living room for Mom and Dad to read to them at bedtime. They always liked the books with stories about leprechauns behaving mischievously.

Fill your house with Irish music. Again...check out the CDs at the library that will provide your house with hours of Celtic melodies.

Have Fun With the Kids Doing Easy, Economical Activities
You can pretend that a leprechaun lost his gold in the house and hide coins for the children to find

Talk to your children about the colors of the rainbow and build a "healthy" rainbow using fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, oranges, kiwi, and grapes. For clouds, you can use homemade whipped cream

Dance to Irish music

Make "green" goop. Dissolve a couple of drops of natural food coloring in 2 cups of water. Add 6 cups of cornstarch and stir. The kids can spend hours playing with this stuff!

Go outside and look for four leaf clover.

Cut a green pepper and use the edge to dip into non-toxic green paint to make "shamrocks". Display the artwork as part of your St. Patrick's Day decor.
 
Go See a Parade
Many cities around the United States celebrate the holiday by having a St. Patrick's Day parade.

There are many of things you can do to fill your day with Irish inspired activities that are economical and eco-friendly. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

CHEWY CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BITES

Photo by Lisa Fulsom


While packing my children's lunches each day, I also include a mid-day snack their teachers allow them to eat in class. Their teachers request a healthy, messy-free snack that is quick to eat while the child is doing their schoolwork. Well, for a mom who tries not to purchase processed, individually wrapped snacks, I usually include oranges, sliced apples, grapes, nuts, sliced carrots, or celery sticks. 

While researching new recipes, I found one by Green Living Expert and TV host, Sara Snow, in her book, Fresh Living. She named them Energy Sustaining Breakfast Bars, but I just call them chocolate granola bites because we don't eat them just for breakfast. These bars are very easy to make, packed with nutrition, and can be popped into a reusable container to have as a mid-day snack. 

Chocolate Granola Bites (aka Energy Sustaining Breakfast Bars) 
 
 2 ½ cups old fashioned organic quick oats
½ cup ground flax seed
¼ cup organic dark cocoa powder
½ cup natural peanut butter
½ cup honey (preferably local)
½ spirulina (blue green algae rich in antioxidants-found in a supplement section of any natural food store)
½ to 1 cup hot water

Stir ingredients together. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Add mixture into loaf pan and press it evenly into the pan. Place in freezer. Once frozen, cut into bite-sized squares. Keep in freezer or fridge.

How to Save Money Buying Healthy Food

et's

Let's be honest. I love Whole Foods. From the neatly lined produce to the wonderful scent that envelops you when you walk through the doors, I love every moment I am in the store. I ask for Whole Foods gift cards when family ask me what I would like for my birthday or Christmas gifts. And to be honest, I have even checked their job openings to see if there would be an opportunity for me to work there. I am currently a stay at home mom, but my youngest will be heading off to middle school next year, so I thought I would eventually find a part time job to keep me busy during the day. Their motto to support the earth and its people speaks volumes to me. But I digress…..because my feelings for Whole Foods never used to be like that.

A few years ago was when I began researching the food industry and realized that I have to take the health of myself and my family into my own hands, I knew I could walk into Whole Foods and feel safe. I was safe from the chemical preservatives with acronym names like MSG, BHA and BHT; safe from artificial colors that make everything it touches look like a Technicolor dream; and safe knowing many of the companies that make the kind of food within this store's walls also practice ecological responsibility. But every time I walked into the store, I would walk out angry. I was angry because I knew this was the food that I needed to feed my family, but I couldn't afford it.

But then I came across a workshop at my local Whole Foods store that taught consumers how to save money shopping at Whole Foods. How could this be? Are they showing me how to spend less money in their store? Well, I signed up promptly, called my best friend and invited her to attend with me. The class was taught by Jennifer Windler. Her blog, www.healthylifedeals.com , spotlights deals for Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Target, and local stores in the St. Louis area, as well and notifying you of online deals and coupons. During the 2-hour class, we learned so many things from her, such as:

1. Understanding coupon lingo.
   
2. How to save money at Whole Foods even if you didn't have coupons
   
3. Where to find healthy coupons
   
4. How to organize the newly found coupons
   
5. And to know when and how to use coupons
   

I am totally impressed with Jennifer. I can always expect a weekly blog post from her about upcoming sales. I print off her weekly coupon match-up list, look at my coupons, and see which items I want to purchase and am on my way to the store. I am a little envious of her savings. She saves on average about 90% of her grocery bill using coupons and weekly sales. My savings on the other hand are a little smaller. Using the knowledge I gained in her class, I save on average $25-$30 every time I visit, which is a few times a month. But I am not complaining. I haven't reached her savings quota yet, but I think it's simply because I haven't nailed down how to effectively stockpile items for future use. But I am on my way. Also, I learned that many of the prices on items I purchase on a weekly basis are cheaper at Whole Foods because the demand for organic products is higher there. It's a win-win situation!

Jennifer has gained quite a following, too. She has over 2000 followers on Facebook, and she has been a guest many times on local news and radio stations teaching us how to save money while still eating healthy. So the next time you think you can't walk into a health food store because it is too expensive, think again. The knowledge she has given me has allowed me to feed my family very healthy foods on a budget. So not only are we healthier physically, we are now healthier financially.

If you are in the St. Louis area, be sure to check out the Whole Food's (in Town and Country) website at http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/townandcountry/ to see when Jennifer is scheduled to teach another class about couponing. It is worth every penny!

Advent Calendars

Today is December 1^st, and my 12 year-old son has already opened his first gift from his Advent calendar—it said, "Pick one song to download from iTunes© at Mom's expense" . He thought that was pretty cool!  And yes, he downloaded the song before heading off to school, so he could listen to it on the bus.

Advent calendars have been used for hundreds of years to count down or celebrate the days of Advent until Christmas.   I began using Advent calendars to help my children visually see how many days there were until Christmas; otherwise I would get the proverbial “how many more days until Christmas?” question on a daily basis starting on the day after Thanksgiving.  Advent calendars come in all shapes and sizes; some are fancy, while others are simple.  You can find them at stores to buy, or you can make your own.

When I began making the yearly countdown calendar, I wanted something that would be fun for the kids, but not break the bank.  Getting treats every day is wonderful for the child, but not so much on Mom’s pocketbook!  So I planned free and low-cost activities to do during the season.  In addition to the trinkets and activities, I wanted my children to understand the importance of giving to others.    

The problem I am encountering this year is that my children are getting older, and a trinket found in an envelope is not as exciting as it was in years past.  Let’s face it….as much as I want my children to stay little, they are growing up.  And in a blink of an eye, I am realizing we are spending less time as a family because they want to spend time with friends.  And before I know it, they will be driving and working and family time will be put on the backburner. 

How do you make a calendar for tweens or teens that would get them looking forward to the holiday and at the same time be able to provide family time?  I chose to make a calendar that included items such as activities that we could do as a family, volunteer opportunities, and treats interspersed throughout.  And when a treat is given.....I make them go find it, either in their stocking or under the tree.  If something was planned for a particular day, such as celebrating Christmas with extended members of the family, I would incorporate that into the calendar as well.  With a little creativity, some paper, ribbon, and clothes pins, you can make an Advent calendar for your family within one or two hours. 

Here are some ideas that are in my children’s Advent calendar. Instead of just listing the activity in the card for each day, I included wording to make it fun or have them figure out what to expect that day. 

For example:

·         “What is a winter holiday without ice?  Let’s go ice skating today.”

·         “We are blessed with a wonderful life.  Let’s bless others by going to buy toys for children who are in need.”

·         “Tonight is a night of lights and hot cocoa.  Be sure to wear your PJs.”   (We are going to look at Christmas lights.)

·         “The Tooth Fairy did not come last night, but there is some money under your pillow.”   (Chocolate coins)

·         “How many words can you make out of Merry Christmas? Let’s try to see after dinner”

·         “Pick one download from iTunes© on Mom’s expense.”

·         “Pancakes, bacon, and eggs oh my!  Put on your PJs because we are having breakfast for dinner.”

·         “Surprises are fun.  Go find one in your stocking.”

·         “St. Nick made a vist.  Enjoy your gift.”

·         “Our pets want to celebrate too, and some are in need of supplies.  Let’s make dogs treats, collect items for our furry friends, and donate them to a shelter.”

·         Today, it’s all about cookies, cousins, and gingerbread houses.  Today is the Cousin Cookie Bake.”

Be creative and have fun with it.  Merry Christmas!