Recycle Christmas Cards

Now that the new year is here, we'll all be taking down our Christmas decorations. When taking down your cards, don't throw them away - send them to:

St. Jude's Ranch

Recycled Card Program

100 St. Jude's Street

Boulder City, NV 89005

St. Jude's Ranch is a non-profit organization that provides a safe, nurturing home and therapeutic residential treatment for abused, abandoned and neglected children.

At St. Jude's Ranch, the children remove the fronts of old Christmas cards and place new backs on them. They sell the cards to raise funds for the ranch. Cards are accepted until February 28, 2010

Resolution time - make it last

This is the time of year when we all start thinking about our New Year's resolution. This year make one that will really stick.

The first thing to think about is what you really want to change. Don't make it too broad. Choose something specific but attainable.

Instead of saying "I'll lose weight," choose "I'll walk 30 more minutes per week." Or maybe "I'll only eat dessert on weekends."

Instead of saying, "I'll save more money," decide to cut back on one coffee at the coffee shop and save that money. Have a special place to put the money and actually put in the $3 it would have cost you to buy the coffee.

If you want to keep in touch with friends or family, choose to make one call or write one letter or email per week.

Whatever your resolution is, take it in small steps and chances are you won't be kicking yourself by February 1.

One of my resolution is to post one blog each week. You can help me by making comments or sharing stories.

Happy New Year!

Green Christmas Shopping

To make your holiday a little more green, there are easy ways to make a difference when shopping.

Buy gifts made in the U.S.A. This is easier than it seems. Some of our favorite companies include Turner Toys, Green Toys, Fractiles and Slinky. Surprisingly, there are still many toys made in the U.S. You can also find clothing made in the U.S.A. Try American Apparel.com for basics like T-shirts, The Cat's Pajamas for pjs, Michael Stars for clothing, or go on a website like Nordstrom.com and type in USA in the search.

Make sure toys are PVC free. PVC is dangerous for your child's health and for the environment. When possible, opt for wooden toys without toxic paints or stains.

When buying bath or body products, be diligent. There are so many fantastic bath and body items made here and many of them are also organic. Try California Baby (not just for babies) and John Masters Organics (they even have a dog shampoo called "Dogpoo").

It's still early. Take some time and you'll make a positive impact on the environment while making a lasting impact on your loved ones.

Raising healthy children

We all want to raise healthy children. The question is, where do we start?

1. Fuel your child. A body uses food as fuel. Not all fuels are equal. Fill your child's day with healthy meals and snacks to keep their bodies running at its best. Try to cut out sugar where you can, and get plenty of fruits and vegetables in their system. Whole grains also give long lasting energy. Check product labels. Go back to basics. A good way to get healthy snacks in your kids is to have them always handy. At the beginning of each week, cut up fruits and vegetables and put them in a container in the refrigerator. Make this the "free" container. When your child needs a snack, let them pick something from the container.

2. Get moving with them. When you take your kids to the park, play with them. Your children want to play with you. They want to know that you want to play with them. It will help get you healthier and help your kids' self esteem.

3. Don’t overschedule their day. We go from school to soccer to karate. You know how it goes. Remember kids need routine, but they also need down time. They need time to be creative and time to relax. Even when their day is filled with fun things to do, it's stressful to be scheduled from morning to night. Don’t do this to your kids. Children need a break too. Make sure there is some down time during the day to just relax. Also, let them be in control of parts of the day. Let them decide sometimes what to wear, where to go, what to eat. It will help them become more creative, independent thinkers. You may also need to teach them how to relax. Let them have some quiet time each day to read, take a nap, or just be alone with their thoughts.

4. Don't be afraid to be silly. Children are naturally silly and love to see you giggle with them.

Try some silly activities they're sure to love. Act like animals. Choose an animal and act out their personalities. Have tickle time, dancing time, running time. Throw out your inhibitions and laugh! Once you get started, you may find it hard to stop.

5. Limit media time. Kids have so many media options now. There's TV, computer, Wi, cell phones, text messaging and more. Make meal times media free. Have meals as a family as often as possible. Also, turn off all media 30 minutes before bed. As great as all this media is, it can be extremely stressful also.

6. Above all, make sure they know you love them. Tell them every day why they are special.

Recipe of the week

We will start posting a seasonal recipe of the week. Hopefully you will be able to sit down and enjoy it with your family. This will help you use some seasonal things that you can buy locally.

Enjoy!

This week's recipe : Cauliflower Bake

Bechamel sauce

1 1/2 C milk

3 T butter

2 1/2 T flour

sea salt

nutmeg

Cauliflower mixture

1 head cauliflower

2 eggs

3 T butter

1 C grated parmesan

1/2 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1/4 C breadcrumbs

For sauce: Combine milk, butter and flour in saucepan; bring to a boil, then simmer and cook, stirring constanly until sauce is very thick (about 15 mins). Season to taste with salt and nutmeg. Remove from heat.

For casserole:

Steam cauliflower until tender, let cool. When cauliflower is cool, remove all excess moisture. Finely chop cauliflower or blend. Beat eggs in a large bowl, add sauce and mix. Stir in cauliflower.

Spray olive oil spray on the inside of a 2 quart baking dish, pour in bread crumbs to coat the dish. Put cauliflower mixture into dish and bake for 40-45 minutes. Let cool to unmold.

Time to tune up your furnace

Now that the cold weather is knocking at our door, it's time to get your furnace tuned up. If you have an electric furnace, you could save 335 pounds of carbon per year; 252 for gas according to The Green Book. This will also save you money on your electric bill and help to keep your house cleaner. To find a qualified company near you, just go online and type in heating and air conditioning and your city. You should get some search results or at least yellow pages.

In addition, for each degree you turn down your thermostat, you save about 1 percent on your heating costs and carbon emissions generated by your furnace. Think about turning your heater down at night, and when you're not home, turn it off completely.

Halloween Safety

Halloween is a fun holiday for both kids and adults. Make sure it's a safe one by following some simple safety tips.

-have small children trick-or-treat only accompanied by an adult.

- if older children go trick-or-treating, make sure you know their route and what time they'll be back.

- make sure children know not to eat any candy until it's been inspected by an adult at home. In addition, give your children a good meal before they leave to help them resist the temptation to eat their candy before they get back.

- carry flashlights, glow sticks, or put reflective tape on costumes.

- use face makeup rather than masks, which can obscure vision.

- make sure children know never to enter a house or car for a treat.

- confine the family pet and make sure they have on a collar.

Happy Halloween.

Car wash tip

As you know, you can save time and water by taking your car to the car wash. However when you take your car in, please remember to check your child's car seat before you leave. Occasionally when cleaning your back seat, your child's car seat can come unlatched from the car whether it attaches with a seatbelt or lower latch connectors.

Age appropriate chores for children

We sometimes wonder, should our kids be doing chores? Or if they are, should they be doing more or fewer chores? We all want to raise responsible adults, right? So when is it too early to start chores, and what is appropriate?

Children 2-3 years can start chores. Most kids this age will actually be excited to help out around the house. For this age group, appropriate chores might include:

Dusting with help

Putting laundry in hamper

Help making their bed

Put dishes in the sink (or on the counter)

Pick up toys and books

Kids 4-6 years old are still usually excited about learning new skills (chores included) and can help by:

Helping put away groceries

Help clearing or setting the table

Watering garden

Help feeding pets

Putting away toys

Somewhere around 7 or 8, your child might start to be a little less enthusiastic about doing chores, but they'll have a greater sense of independence. Allowance may help with getting them to do their chores. They can:

Make their bed

Clean their room

Take out the trash

Fold and put away laundry

At age 9-12, preteens can handle increased responsibility. They can handle more difficult chores.

Load/empty dishwasher

Operate washer/dryer

Help wash car

Rake or sweep leaves

Set table

Vacuum

As our kids reach their teens, they're capable of most chores. Although it may be a little more difficult to get them to help out at this age, both because of their busy schedules and their willingness (or unwillingness) to help, chores should be a required thing for teens. In addition to everything listed above, some ideas are:

Mow the lawn

Shovel snow

Wash the car (especially if they're using it)

Clean their own room entirely

Prepare meals

Starting chores at any age helps our kids become responsible and really able to grasp what it's like to run a household. It also helps lighten the parents' load as kids get older.

The trouble with the American Diet

Check out this article in the New York Times.

Op-Ed Contributor - Big Food vs. Big Insurance - NYTimes.com

If you haven't already, please educate yourself on healthful habits for your family.

Companies we like

We have a few favorite companies who have good products and green initiatives.

Aveda - Aveda has great skin care products made with natural ingredients and they use 100% wind power to make their products.

Seventh Generation - If you have to use disposable diapers, this is one of the companies to look for. Their diapers are chlorine free and they also have many other household products. They help their employees reduce their carbon footprint and plan to obtain LEED gold certification.

Whole Foods - This grocery store chain is the largest seller of organic food in the country. They also have recycle and compost programs at their stores and don't carry any genetically modified foods.

Niman Ranch - One of the largest problems facing our planet is the production of meat for consumption. Niman Ranch knows that people want meat, but they go about it a different way. Their cattle are never given antibiotics or hormones, fed all organic feed, and are allowed to graze in a pasture all day.

Patagonia - also a wind-powered company, Patagonia finds ways to recycle and reuse when making their clothing. They have a recycled-soda-bottle fleece and print their catalogs on 40% recycled paper.

Local produce delivery companies - There are tons of them out there. Local companies that purchase local, organic produce and bring it to your door. This is not only convenient, but saves carbon emissions. They're delivering to everyone at once as opposed to each consumer getting in their car and going to the store.

Remember to support local businesses when you can. It helps your local economy and the planet.

Thoughts for the day

Be gentle with the earth; be kind to your loved ones; be friendly to people you don't know. Just think what a difference we could make if everyone did this today.

Raising a Reader

Fostering a love of reading can start in infancy. You can help your child gain an excitement about words and reading. Try some of these steps to help your child get on their way to a life-long love of books and reading.

- Go to the library. Get your child their own card and let them pick their own books, even if you pick a few for them too. Many libraries have summer programs to get kids reading when school is out. Also check out story time at the library. It's always fun to hear a story read by someone new.

- Include your child when you read. Ask, "What do you think will happen next," before turning a page. Some of the answers you get will be priceless.

- Keep books in the car. You'll have them in case you have some free time before you get back home, or your child can look at them and "read" them alone while you drive.

- Become a narrator. Describe what you're doing during the day to your kids beginning when they're infants.

- Read everyday things with your child.

- Give books as gifts.

- Make books part of your day EVERY day.

Scrubbly bubbly clean sink

After finishing the dishes at night, our new way to clean the sink is to pour in baking soda and scrub with a half of a lemon. The lemon makes the baking soda bubble and help clean the sink, and it leaves a fresh scent.

Why can't I sleep?

We all know the feeling; you go to bed and your mind starts racing, keeping you awake for hours. I usually start to think, "okay, now I'm going to sleep."

There are many factors that weigh in when it comes to poor sleep habits, but some of them can be changed or improved by us.

*To begin with, alcohol, caffeine and tobacco all can all affect sleep. Try to stay away from these things after lunch if you're having trouble sleeping at night.

*A regular sleep schedule can help dramatically. It may not sound appealing to get up at the crack of dawn on a weekend, but it will actually help your overall sleep pattern.

*Television and computer screens both stimulate brain activity. Turn them off an hour before you try to sleep.

*Fast-paced music increases heart rate. Doctors say you'll sleep better and longer if you listen to soft, relaxing music an hour before bed.

*Turn your clock and other lights away from you. Even the illuminated numbers on your clock can be enough light to disturb your rest.

*Temperature can be a big factor too. Most people want to be snuggly and warm when they sleep, but being overheated can actually bring on nightmares (also a handy tip when it comes to getting your kids to sleep). Keep your home cool at night and don't sleep too bundled up.

Hopefully by trying some of these tips you're in for a better night's sleep soon.

Zzzzz

Windows made easy and green

After doing a little research, we have come up with our favorite way to clean windows. There's always the old standby of vinegar and water, but I don't like the smell. We did a little research, used some different products and our favorite product made my Shaklee called Basic H2. It has no VOCs, no chlorine bleach, no phosphates, nitrates or borates, recyclable packaging, biodegradable surfactants, and contains sustainable natural ingredients. You mix this product with water to make several different household cleaners. The window cleaner takes only a couple drops of cleaner mixed with 16 ounces of water. They also sell a window cloth, which works great especially for inside the house. So here's what we do.

For windows inside, mix Basic H2 with water, spray on windows, and wipe horizontally with the window cleaning cloth.

For outside, fill a bucket with water, add your H2 and use a sponge (we found a compostable sponge made of natural cellulose at Trader Joe's) and get the windows very wet to clean the dirt and grime from them. Then use a squeegee to get the majority of the cleaner off. Use a dry towel and use vertical strokes to complete the drying.

Notice we use horizontal strokes on the inside, vertical on the outside. That way, you can tell if there are any streaks which side they're on.

These tips will get your windows looking cleaner and brighter in no time.

Diagnosing Childhood Asthma

When our son was three months old, he suffered from RSV, which turned into bronchiolitis. The doctor told us what to watch for to make sure it isn't childhood asthma. There are two types of asthma, allergic and nonallergic. When your child is five or older, there is a breathing test that can be performed to measure the speed and amount of air moving in and out of the lungs. In younger kids, we need to rely on symptoms.

We were informed that chronicity is the best way to determine if your child has asthma. If your child has trouble breathing one time, it may never happen again. If your child has frequent coughing or respiratory infections (pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis) they should be evaluated for asthma.

Some ways to tell if your little one is having trouble breathing according too William Anderson, M.D., an allergy and immunology specialist, are

Rapid breathing 0 children should breath around 20-25 times per minute.

Retraction between the ribs is a sign of airway narrowing.

Wheezing or whistling sounds when a child exhales.

Frequently a child who has asthma at a young age will outgrow it and have no further trouble as an adult.

4th of July Safety

Ahh, fireworks! They're so enamoring. The California State Fire Marshal has the following tips to keep your 4th safe.

*Always read directions

*Always have an adult present

*Use fireworks outdoors only and never near dry grass or flammable materials

*Keep a safe distance

*Light one at a time

*Never point or throw fireworks toward people

*Have a bucket and hose handy

*Never attempt to relight or "fix" fireworks

*Never carry fireworks in your pocket

*Do not wear loose fitting clothing when using fireworks

Also, as this is one of the busiest weekends of the year for camping, the following are some campfire safety tips from the US Forest Service

*Build campfires away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, rotten stumps, logs, and dry grass.

*Keep plenty of water handy and a shovel for throwing dirt in case your fire gets out of control

*Keep your fire small

*Be sure your match is out and break it before throwing it away

*Never leave a campfire unattended

*Drown the fire with water, stir the remains, add water again. Move rocks in case there are burning embers underneath them

*Feel all materials with your hand and make sure no roots are burning.

Using these tips will help to keep you safe for the 4th of July. The fun part is up to you.

Happy Independence Day

Making your own cleaning products

So many of the cleaning products on the market have dangerous ingredients in them. We thought we'd give you some ideas on making your own products out of safe ingredients.

For the sink try baking soda, add just enough dish soap to make a paste, and use a half of a lemon as a scrubber. This will leave your sink smelling great too.

On wood try a mixture of white vinegar and olive oil.

Remember that vinegar is a disinfectant - you can use it on almost any surface. If the smell bothers you, add a few drops of an essential oil.

To clear a clogged drain use 1 cup baking soda followed by 3 cups of boiling water.

No more worries about keeping the kids away from the cleaning supplies.

Feeding your kids

Although ultimately your child will decide what to eat, you can help him start healthful eating habits by providing wise selections.  Children know how much they need to eat, but they don't know what kids of food to eat.  

Children should have 6 servings or bread or grains daily, 3-5 servings of vegetables, 2-4 servings of fruit, 3-4 servings of milk, and 2-3 servings of protein.

Something I always wonder about is serving size.  According to WIC, we should give our children one tablespoonful of each food for each year of the child's age (a 5-year old should have 5 tablespoons of vegetables and 5 tablespoons of rice) and let them ask for more if they're still hungry.

A serving size for bread, grain or cereal is roughly 1/2 cup;

for vegetables a serving size is 1/3 - 1/2 cup raw or cooked;

one serving of fruit is 1/2-1 small piece of fresh fruit, or 1/3-1/2 cup canned fruit;

3/4 cup is a serving of milk (or 1 ounce of cheese);

1 1/2 ounce (3TB) is a serving of meat or fish, 1/2 cup is a serving of vegetable protein (lentils, tofu, peanut butter.)

How to treat Injuries

School's almost out and the kids will be playing outside more.  Be sure to have first-aid supplies on hand just in case.  Bumps and bruises are sure to happen, but what if it's more?

For scrapes and cuts - usually they'll stop bleeding on their own, but if not, apply gentle pressure for 20-30 minutes.  Clean thoroughly with soap and water, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment, and cover with a dressing.  If the cut is deep, visit the hospital or doctor to see if stitches are necessary.

Ankle sprain - ice it and wrap in an elastic bandage and make an appointment with the pediatrician.  If the swelling is significant, visit the E.R.

If there's something stuck in your child's ear - try getting it out using gravity.  Have your child or use tweezers to gently take it out.  Do not put any tool into your child's ear.  If it's an insect, try tilting your child's head so the insect is upward.  Then pour mineral oil or olive oil into the ear and try to float the insect out.  Do not try this for anything else - only insects.  If these don't work or your child still has pain, seek medical advise.

Blisters - cover a small blister with an adhesive bandage.  For large blisters, cover with a plastic-coated gauze pad that allows the blister to breathe and absorbs moisture.

For bumps, bruises and strains - rest the area; ice the area for 20 minutes every 2 hours; compress with an elastic bandage, but don't do it too tightly; and elevate the area is possible to improve circulation and reduce swelling.

Getting rid of junk mail

Each year the average household in America receives 1.5 trees' worth of junk mail.  42% of timber harvested nationwide ends up as pulpwood for paper.  Just think of the resources we could save if everyone reduced just their junk mail each year.  Visit www.41pounds.org to sign up for their service.  They do all the leg work and stop your junk mail for five years.  It costs $41, but is well worth it.

Another good resource is yellowpagesgoesgreen.org.  Visiting this site can get rid of the unwanted yellow pages that end up on your doorstep.

Keeping your family well during flu season

Of course the easiest way to keep our families well is to wash our hands frequently.  This isn't always as easy as it sounds, but try to make sure you wash both your own hands and your child's hands before food preparation and eating.

There are a few ways to help boost the immune system to help keep them well too.

First, avoid things that can suppress the immune system.  Excess sugar (8 Tbsp or two cans of soda) can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by a whopping 40%.  In addition, 

obesity can slow the immune system.  Be sure to keep you and your family at a healthy weight.

Secondly, boost your child's immune system.  Serve lots of fruits and vegetables and foods rich with Omega 3.  

Try starting the day with a smoothie filled with fresh fruit, yogurt, flax seeds or hemp seeds, and you can even add a serving of vegetables.  Cauliflower is easy to hide in smoothies; just cook it and put it in the refrigerator.  Then when you're making your smoothies, add a little cauliflower.  You won't be able to see it or taste it.

For dinner, make a tortilla soup with lots of vegetables.  You can put almost anything in it; just start with tomatoes (canned or fresh), carrots, onion, garlic and jalapenos (optional).   Then you can add zucchini, celery, whatever you like.  Cook all the veggies together until they're cooked through, then puree.  Serve with cheese, sour cream and tortilla strips (plain or fried).  This will be an antioxidant-packed day for your family.

You can also add flax or hemp seeds to muffins for extra Omega 3s.

Keeping the immune system healthy will help keep your family healthy.

Car wash

Good news!

It is actually much better for the environment to take your car to get it washed rather than doing it yourself.  By washing your car in a commercial car wash, you can save up to 100 gallons of water.  Many car wash businesses recycle rinse water and use significantly less water per wash.

So save yourself the work.  Take your car to be washed and use the extra time you saved for something fun.

Safety tips for Memorial Day weekend

A 3-day weekend - yeah!  It's the unofficial beginning of summer, so many of us will spend the weekend outdoors.  Just remember to be safe while enjoying.

Wear sunscreen all day, but follow the "Shadow Rule" -- if your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun's damaging rays are at their strongest and you are likely to burn.

Supervise young kids in the pool - ideally you should have one adult for every two children in the pool watching at all times.

Keep cold food cold, hot food hot, and refrigerate any leftovers within 2 hours.

Let's also remember what this holiday is about.  Send the troups a virtual thank you card at www.ourmilitary.mil/index.aspx.

Have a great weekend!!

Sleep training

We all wonder about the people who say, "Oh, my baby slept through the night at four months."  Well, some of us are actually lucky enough to get a child who sleeps through the night at a young age and continues (I am not included in these lucky ones.)

So what is sleep training, when do you start, what are the different methods, and will I ever get some rest?  Here are some suggestions that might help some of us get on the road to a better night's sleep.

There are certainly many different methods and each one may or may not work for you.   Each method strongly suggests that you start with a bedtime routine.  Whatever your routine is, try to follow it each evening.  This could be bath, books, bed or whatever works for you.  Here is a brief description of a few sleep training methods.

1.  Ferber - Developed by a pediatrician, this method is sometimes known as the "cry it out" method.  This method says you can teach your child to soothe themselves to sleep somewhere between 4 and 6 months old.  They suggest you put your baby to sleep awake.  Then go back at a predetermined time and soothe the baby, but don't take them out of their crib.  These periods of time gradually increase until your baby starts to be able to put themselves to sleep.  He also discourages babies sleeping with their parents.

Many people believe this method suggests you let your baby cry until they fall asleep.  The truth is, it encourages you to soothe the baby, just not to take them out of the crib.

2.  Sears - Dr. Sears says to follow your heart when it comes to baby's sleep.  Wherever baby and family are most comfortable is best.  He says there are disadvantages of letting your baby cry it out even for a few minutes, especially in the first 6 months of life, when night waking could be from a variety of reasons.

Dr. Sears suggests having a predictable and calming daytime routine as well (regular schedule for meals and naps, comforting days that aren't too busy.)  He also suggests "tanking up" your baby during the day to teach her that daytime is for eating and nighttime is for sleeping.

3. Weissbluth - Dr. Weissbluth has five components of his sleep method; duration, consolidation (interrupted sleep), naps, timing and regularity.  This plan requires you to look for baby's natural sleep cycles and follow them.  Putting your baby to bed awake is fine, but if he falls asleep while you're soothing him, don't wake him up.

In this method, you don't run to your baby as soon as he wakes or cries.  This way, you give your baby an opportunity to put himself back to sleep, but you're still there if he can't soothe himself.

4. Four S approach - This method begins with setting the stage.  Take your baby out of any stimulating environment; draw the curtains, put on soft music or have it quiet.  Then swaddle your baby.  The nice thing about swaddling is that young babies can't flail their arms and legs and wake themselves up.  After you get her swaddled, sit with her until you feel her relax (usually five to ten minutes).  Once she is swaddled and calm, she will likely be able to sleep.  If she gets fussy when you lay her down, she probably needs physical contact from you to soothe her to sleep.  This is when you try the "shush-pat."  Whisper shhh, shhh, shhh in her ear and pat her back at the same time.  Sometimes you will have to make the shh louder.  If she's crying, your shhh will have to be louder than the cry so she can hear you.  Don't jiggle or jostle her, just pat her back and shhh, shhh, shhh until she falls asleep.

Some other things you can try to get your baby down are nursing down (nurse the baby until they fall asleep), walking down, rocking down (hold your baby and rock or walk), and fathering down (hold your baby chest-to-chest with her head just under your chin.  Then you humm softly while you hold the baby tight.  Sometimes this works better with a man's low voice.

Remember that you know your baby the best, so do what's right for you and your baby.  Also take comfort in the fact that eventually, they will learn to sleep.  

Conserve in the bathroom

In America we use twice as much energy and water per person daily as anyone in the rest of the world.  Here are some ways we can all cut down on energy and water usage and save money too.

Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth or wash your hands.  Doing this will save 5 or more gallons of water each day.

When giving the kids a bath, put the plug in the tub when you turn on the water instead of waiting for it to get warm.  Just let the water run and once it gets hot, it will warm up the cold water.  Since the average bathtub faucet flows between 3 and 5 gallons per minute, the water savings can add up fast. (If you really want to save water, put a collection container in your shower to collect the water while it warms up, then water your yard or house plants.)

Make sure your light bulbs are energy efficient, they use only a third as much electricity.

Install water saving shower heads.

Try to flush the toilet less.  If you save just one flush a day, you'll save approximately 4.5 gallons of water (the amount of water the average person in Africa uses in a day).  Think about it the next time you blow your nose and put the tissue in the toilet.

By using these simple techniques, you'll also see the savings in your water and electric bills.

Help your kids get 5 a day

We all know that we should be getting five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.  However, that is not the easiest thing to do with kids.  Sure they like berries and bananas, but what can you do to ensure they're getting their share of produce each day?

First of all, keep trying new foods.  Especially if your kids are young, it can take up to 15 times trying a food to actually get them to like it (or even eat it).  Try putting things on their plate that they like, but also put a couple of new things on the plate too.   Make meal times fun, not stressful.

Make meals look fun (try shapes or patterns with fruits and vegetables).

Make smoothies or popsicles.  You can add cooked vegetables like cauliflower or beets into a smoothie without changing the consistency or color.  Fresh fruit popsicles are just as delicious as store bought.

Cook and puree spinach and spread it in sandwiches (even PB&J).

Add sweet potato or apple into baked goods.

Cook and puree carrots and add them to pizza (over the sauce, under the cheese).

Always remember to set a good example.  Kids that see you eating healthy foods are more likely to eat well themselves.

May is Melanoma Awareness Month

Melanoma causes most skin cancer-related deaths.  Protect yourself and your family by conducting a self skin exam to check for changes in moles and other blemishes on the skin.  Detection is the best way to catch skin cancer early and getting prompt treatment.

In addition, the American Association of Dermatologists recommends that everyone follow these sun protection guidelines:

• Avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun's rays are the strongest; 
• Seek shade whenever possible; 
• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher; 
• Wear sun-protective clothing and accessories, such as wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses; and 
• Follow the "Shadow Rule" -- if your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun's damaging rays are at their strongest and you are likely to burn.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you great mommies out there and your families.

Five easy ways to develop some green habits

It seems all of us want to do what's good for our families, our communities, and the environment.  With so many things going on a one time, moms can easily get overwhelmed.  

Here are five quick and easy suggestions for developing some green habits.

1.  Plant a garden.  It can be as small as a couple of recycled cans with herbs on your kitchen counter.  This also can help with picky eaters.  When they have to tend to their gardens, it's much more fun to try vegetables or herbs.  

2.  Choose paper bags when you go to the store.  They're a renewable and recyclable.   Even better, take your own cloth bags each time you shop.

3.  Buy local.  Try your local farmers market for produce and you might find some hidden goodies like baked goods, jams, maybe even a birthday gift.  This cuts down on emissions since your products don't have to travel as far to get to your home.  It also helps stimulate your local economy.

4.  Recycle.  Most neighborhoods provide a free recycling bin for their customers.  You can start small.  Try recycling just your water bottles for example.  This helps reduce waste and plastic bottles can be turned into a number of things including bark or new play structures for your local playground.

5.  Buy a reusable water bottle.  Speaking of water bottles, each year Americans buy millions of dollars of bottled water.  86% of these bottles end up in the trash.  What's more, the plastic used has BPA which can leach out and has been linked to certain types of cancer.  Using your own bottle saves money, your health  and the environment.

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Welcome to our blog.  Here you'll find useful information regarding babies, children, and making a difference in our world.  From environmental issues that affect the globe to issues that affect your home and family, you'll find it here.