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Crazy Like A Fox

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I may be crazy, but I’m thinking about doing this challenge. I think it would be a really good habit to get into. Anyone with me? Anyone? Bueller?

**Photo from Happy Foody

February 15, 2008 | Filed Under Green Living, Health | Leave a Comment

Oh Sistah

Look where my little man popped up yesterday! I was honored to have my photo of Charlie featured in Shutter Sisters’ Daily Click. If you haven’t already, check out their site that just launched, featuring gorgeous photos taken by women.

February 15, 2008 | Filed Under Bloggy Friends, Flickr Goodness | Leave a Comment

Over Yonder

Playing over here today…come visit.

Oh, and happy love day to my lovah!

February 14, 2008 | Filed Under NWI Parent | Leave a Comment

What We Are Doing

Lotus over at Sarcastic Mom sent out a challenge recently, for everyone to take time to pick up trash around their neighborhood and look at changes we can make in our own habits and households to help keep nature beautiful. This would not normally be too big of a challenge, but with the sub-zero temps we’ve been having I decided to let nature fend for itself this week. Since I can’t sacrifice my nose or toes to pick up trash at the moment (but in a few weeks–litter, you better be scurrred), I decided to still participate in the challenge and post about what we as a family are doing to make every decision count.

We haven’t always cared about recycling or living green, and honestly we sort of thought it was a lost cause. Why bother? We’ve also been really anti-Hollywood since leaving Los Angeles, so the whole green celebrity trend did not help matters. Slowly I started feeling convicted…am I participating in squandering this beautiful gift (our planet) that God gave us by not going out of my way to make it better? We’re stewards over our money, our children, our bodies…and as I now believe, the Earth. While finances prohibit us from getting crazy about things (no hybrid GMC’s in my future), and we’re still on the fence about this whole “humans are boiling the Earth” stuff, there’s not really anyone who could deny that taking care of our planet while we’re on it is spiritually and humanly important.

So, what can we do? We’ve been card carrying members of natural health for quite some time, so getting the rest of the chemicals out of our bodies was an easy place to start. We buy organically when possible, we are building up our collection of reusable grocery bags (great post about them here, and reviewed at Mama Speaks here and here), and are working harder and harder to get the chemically processed foods out of our diets. Picky eaters make this tricky…not gonna lie. But it’s important to us to support those companies that contribute these types of foods (including local farmers, I can’t wait for the summer veggie co-op) so that they can become more widely available and cheaper. Also because red food dye makes my kids wild beasts, and that evil stuff is in everything!

We have also gotten almost ALL harsh chemicals out of our home (the last man standing right now is the toilet cleaner!), which is really no small feat when you still want the products to clean the gunk really well. Purchasing online is the way to go when you live outside the city (i.e. next door to farm mecca) and it’s too dang cold to go shopping anyway. We buy our cleaning products from Good Earth and Method, and when you plan ahead to purchase enough to last you a while your shipping is usually free. Once again, the benefits are not only that our house is free of these toxic things, but we’re supporting companies who are doing the same. And that matters.

Recycling is something we’re getting better at, but are still very green (badump bump) about. We’re experts on separating the cardboard (we’ve got it good, our recycle pick-up takes everything, and doesn’t make us break anything down!), but the plastics, etc. are a whole other animal. I’m hoping as soon as the weather isn’t trying to kill us that we’ll be setting up our own recycling station in the garage. I can’t wait for that, actually! We’ve begun purchasing mostly recycled paper products for those paper items we do use, and are working to get rid of the plastic water bottles (hello Nalgene, you saucy minx). If we can support companies who reuse and reduce waste by purchasing their recycled products, then we feel better about those disposable things we have to consume (I won’t be giving up paper towels any time soon).

Lastly–the baby area! We use only natural skin care on the kids (actually on our skin as well), and it’s almost all from Arbonne. We also use Seventh Generation diapers and wipes, purchased for less from Diapers.com. I can’t get myself to do even MORE laundry than my boys already create, so cloth diapers are not an option right now. Seventh Gen makes diapers from recycled materials, so at least we are helping in the re-use department. We also like the fact that the diapers are not bleached–another place chemicals are introduced to our little ones’ booties and bodies.

Writing it all out makes me feel better about the direction we’re headed, and seriously folks…if we can do this, anyone can.

I wanted to participate in this challenge to spread the word that even normal every day people can make small changes to clean up this planet we’re on, without turning the environmental issues into a pseudo-religion. You don’t have to have money to recycle, and often times buying recycled products would simply re-allocate funds that you were already sending in a different direction. Give it some thought, think about the planet as a gift, and join us in keeping it beautiful!

Peace.

For a great list of links to get you started taking your first bite out of this elephant, read Mama Speaks’ list here, or peruse our awesome Eco-friendly category in all its glory right here.

February 12, 2008 | Filed Under Bloggy Friends, Green Living, Mama Speaks | Leave a Comment

Time To Listen

I wrote about something near and dear to my heart over at Mama Speaks today. Take a gander.

February 11, 2008 | Filed Under Autism, Mama Speaks | Leave a Comment

Right Now

That’s just wrong.

Thank God for a roof over our heads and a furnace that works.

February 10, 2008 | Filed Under Randomness | Leave a Comment

Interpret Me

Take a quiz and see what you create, here.

February 9, 2008 | Filed Under Randomness | Leave a Comment

Love Thursday: Mom

Last summer we had our annual vacation in San Diego (with my whole family), and as always my mom planned a “theme” party. One year it was Paris, another was a July 4th Patriotic theme, and last summer it was “Tiki”. We all donned hideous tropical outfits and leis, and carried on with various cheesy crafts (“It’s not a party without a craft!”–Mom). We made name tags and had a contest which was kooky (and I won, suckas), but even more fun was drawing tattoos on everyone. We had blue and pink tattoo pens and took turns drawing various designs and words on each other.

When it was my 5yr old’s turn, I asked him what tattoo he wanted me to draw. He thought for a moment, looked at his uncle’s skull and crossbones, looked at his aunt’s flower, and said, “I want you. Draw “Mom” for me and make it pretty like you.”

And then I died.

And when I picked myself back up I drew the sweetest tattoo ever.

For more Love, go here.

February 7, 2008 | Filed Under Love Thursday | Leave a Comment