Walk This Way
January 28, 2009 | 2 Comments
What are you doing?,
This I said, to my ten year old son as he sashayed across the kitchen floor.
“Walking like a fancy woman billionaire“, was his reply.
But of course.
These kids crack me up.
Earlier, there was this.
Blissed Out About Blissdom
January 27, 2009 | 4 Comments
Originally posted at I’m Going to Blissdom Y’all
Have you heard about Blissdom?
It’s a blogging conference for women – and thanks to Mom Masterminds, I’m going!
I’m excited. Totally excited.
This will be the first conference of its kind that I’ve ever attended. While I’ve been to large business conferences before (the last time, I was wearing an 8 month old Ilana in the sling. It was so much fun and she was a huge hit!), this is the first blogging conference I’ve been to.
In the past the price was a bit steep, or the venue so far that I would have to fly, or I couldn’t get childcare, but with this everything dovetailed nicely.
Blissdom is in Nashville this year, which is a comfortable 4 hour drive, all highway, from my home here in Atlanta. The kids will be with their Father that weekend (and it’s a short one and a half day conference). The price was affordable (the swag beckoning… lol!), and mostly the idea of meeting some of my favorite and much admired bloggers (like Stephanie of Adventures in Babywearing and SimpleMom) just pickles me tink.
Not to mention the opportunity to learn some awesome stuff about improving my blogging strills!
But I don’t want to be selfish and keep it all to myself.
That wouldn’t be very bloggy of me, would it?
So I want to know what YOU want to know.
I’ll be blogging live and Tweeting live and taking lots of pictures (and hopefully borrowing a video camera from someone – Mom are you reading this? LOL! I didn’t get the video camera in the divorce agreement!) and tons of notes.
I’m an avid note taker, but instead of just typing and jotting down what is interesting to ME, I want to give my note taking some purpose and try to answer questions from YOU.
If you were going to be there, what would you ask, and of whom?
Take a look at the line up of speakers and sessions.
And let me know below what your top questions are. I’ll listen hard and do my absolute best to find the answers, ok?
And be checking back here and here on Friday and Saturday, February 6 and 7 for my answers.
Mom Masterminds is sponsoring me.
Anyone interested in sponsoring my wardrobe? 
The CPSIA and You
January 26, 2009 | 6 Comments
[Note: The screaming you hear in my intro comments are my daughters playing together in their room!]
This week on the show I spoke with Jennifer Vetere, co-owner of a small, local handmade business for babies, toddlers and their moms at Made By Moms.
No doubt you’ve come across blog posts or news stories about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).
Just What Is the CPSIA?
According to Jennifer,
The act, in a nutshell, states that all objects intended for a child 12 or under to use must be “final product, component tested” for lead.
This means that every component in the final product must be tested to meet requirements — the lowest cost I’ve found (at an actual lab) has been $75 per component.
This translates into costs ranging from $375 for a bib to over $600 for one of our Take-Me-Too blankets — quilts wouldn’t even be feasible, as there are usually quite a few fabrics that go into them.
This cost wouldn’t be a burden for a company who manufactures 1,000 of an item, but I make (perhaps) ten blankets or bibs in a line before moving on to my next one.
The worst part is that it covers ORGANIC fabrics — so even my certified-by-the-GOTS Harmony Art blankets would have to be tested.
In addition to hand crafted items, used items for kids will be affected by the CPSIA. Jennifer states:
This act doesn’t just affect handmade, however, it affects our second-hand stores and libraries as well.
Come February 10th, anything that has not been tested becomes a “hazardous material” and banned from sale, trade, or gift.
Libraries with children’s books are face with the option of either a) defying the law and accepting they might be liable for penalties, b) destroying their books or c) testing every children’s book in stock.
According to http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322:
General Counsel of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that would require public, school, academic and museum libraries to either remove all their books or ban all children under 12 from visiting the facilities, beginning on February 10.
“I sincerely doubt that Congress intended to require libraries to be subject to this law, but if Congress does not act soon, libraries across the country will be forced to remove books from the shelves, rather than keep them available to serve the educational needs of our nation’s children.”
At this time of enormous economic upheaval, where more families than ever are using our
library system, this is an unconscionable decision to force them to make.In addition, second hand retailers face the same situation. Test, be liable or stop dealing in second-hand children’s articles like clothing, toys and cribs. Again, at a time when families are relying on the cost savings of places like the Salvation Army and Goodwill, this is unfathomable.
Jennifer continues:
I hope to raise awareness as to how much this will devastate many stores, artisans and small businesses throughout the United States. Many people devoted to green living are reliant on small-scale manufacturers to supply organic, quality, safe cloth diapers, bibs, blankets and clothing — these same people will be at a loss when the government’s good intentions backfire. Come the 10th, I won’t be able to sell, trade, donate or give away my stock — it will have to go right in the garbage, something that stabs me right in the heart.
February 10th has been dubbed “Bankruptcy Day” because of the number of children’s product retailers and manufacturers who will be forced to close their doors.
photo credit: shortfatkid
photo credit: imcountingufoz
Are #5 Plastics Safe?
January 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment
EarthTalkTM
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk:
It seems like more products are being packaged in #5 rather than #2 plastic today, and my local recycling agency won’t take #5. I’ve also heard that #5 plastics are more toxic, which concerns me more than the recyclability issue.
Which plastic is the better choice?
– Janice Shaffer, Chillicothe, MO
Polypropylene, which is marked with #5 inside the “chasing arrows” symbols on the bottom of plastic containers, is a lighter-weight plastic resin commonly used in dairy and deli packaging. Some companies have chosen this lighter plastic because it has a lower environmental impact to produce and transport.
High density polyethylene (HDPE), which is marked with #2, is a stiffer resin used to package cleaning products and also some dairy products. The most widely used resin type for consumer food products is polyethylene terephthalate, or PETE, which is marked with #1 and used for soda and water bottles.
According to Consumers Union’s “Greener Choices” website, all three of these plastics are considered safe for their original use, though any of them can leak toxins when reused repeatedly. And all three can be recycled, though a lagging market leads some recycling locations to limit what they’ll accept. There is also concern that widespread plastics recycling encourages more use of plastics, and that efforts would be better spent getting consumers to buy fewer plastic-encased products. Some even criticize the chasing-arrow labeling system for implying a higher level of recyclability than is presently available.
Why is a lighter-weight plastic better? According to dairy company Stonyfield Farm, their #5 one-quart yogurt container uses 30 percent less plastic than a #2 cup. Since it takes less material to make a thinner container, it reduces the amount of resin that needs to be manufactured. Stonyfield estimates that the use of #5 over #2 prevents the manufacture and disposal of more than 100 tons of plastic per year.
But savings comes from more than manufacturing. The heavier #2 plastics require more energy to transport. It’s not only getting the yogurt from Stonyfield’s plants to your store, but also getting the containers from the plastics manufacturer to their dairies. In fact, the company cites a packaging study by the Boston-based Tellus Institute which found that 95 percent of the environmental costs of packaging lie in production and less than five percent are associated with disposal.
According to the website Earth 911, a national directory of recycling outlets, the best thing consumers can do is to choose items with less packaging and buy in bulk when possible. So the next time you reach into the dairy case, grab the quart or gallon-size yogurt instead of the single-serving cups. Then, make sure you recycle only the allowable plastics so you don’t contaminate the lot. While recycling is important, it may be okay to landfill a product’s packaging if it was created with an environmentally responsible plan.
Besides seeking alternatives to plastic packaging, consumers can affect overall plastic use by supporting legislation that would require manufacturers to take back their plastic packaging, which would encourage “cradle-to-grave” practices. Further, you can support legislation that mandates more use of recycled plastic content, which would reduce the overall amount of virgin plastic produced in the first place.
CONTACTS: Stonyfield Farm’s Earth Actions, www.stonyfield.com/EarthActions, Consumer Reports’ Greener Choices, www.greenerchoices.org; Earth 911, www.earth911.com.
Go here to subscribe to E! Environmental Magazine
Create Your Own Tribe
January 24, 2009 | 1 Comment
One of the biggest challenges many of us face is finding like minded moms to hang out with. I call this “finding your tribe” and think it’s so important in order to be really happy in motherhood. It doesn’t mean that all of your friends have to be exactly LIKE you, but it does mean that you have to have mutual respect for each other and an appreciation for each other’s strengths. 
Something crossed my desk the other day that I thought was pretty cool. It’s called Moms Meet and is a brainchild of KIWI magazine and Earth’s Best Organics. They are looking for “Mom Ambassadors” to start moms groups in their local areas.
This sounds like a great way for women to meet other likeminded invididuals in their community, and especially other moms who are devoted to learning and growing and becoming more informed in their choices.
If your tribe hasn’t found you yet, you can always create one.
A Book of His Own
January 24, 2009 | 3 Comments
When I was little, my parents had a book made for me that featured my name and my best friend and pet’s names.
I thought it was the coolest thing ever, and practically wore the thing threadbare. In fact, I still have it somewhere. It was very special to me.
Frecklebox asked me if I would tell you about their personalized story books, posters and coloring books and I jumped at the chance to get one.
I asked them to send a personalized book to my 7 year old son Julien, who struggles a bit with reading. When he opened the package, his face totally lit up. It took him a minute to “get it”, but once he did he was positively thrilled.
He feels like a celebrity.
This is him reading his very own personalized book.
I’ve never seen him learn a new book so quickly as he is learning this one.
This book has a nature theme and features the child’s name written with autumn leaves, clouds, ladybugs, flowers, shells, rocks, birds, and stars.
They say every person’s favorite sound is the sound of their own name.
I think it’s true.
p.s. That’s spy gear around his chest
Visit Frecklebox to see their entire line up of personalized books for kids.
Review: Bio-Enviro All Natural Organic Enzyme Cleaner
January 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment
I got this product ages ago from Bio-Enviro and have just now gotten around to writing up a review about it.
But I have been using it faithfully for a couple of months now.
Bio-Enviro is a highly concentrated, organic enzyme cleaner that can be used for multiple purposes around the home and garden. It’s also biodegradable.
It contains purified water, coconut oil and palm kernel oil, glycerin, enzyme blend, peppermint oil, neem oil, wintergreen oil, d-limonene, and citronella oil.
I LOVE the way the stuff smells! I’ve tried plenty of natural cleaning products that smelled terrible, and I figure this is an important thing – after all, you clean several times a day so a nice smell makes things a little more tolerable.
The company claims that because of the essential oils, it is a natural but repellent. I haven’t noticed that effect, but perhaps it has to be applied neat in order to work that way – something I haven’t tried. They also say that it’s effective against mold and fungi, which makes sense considering the addition of the essential oils.
I’ve used Bio-Enviro for all types of cleaning around my house including:
- Toilet cleaner (I put a tiny squirt right into the bowl then swish)
- Spot cleaner for laundry (a teensy drop on stains before washing)
- Laundry detergent (when I was out of my homemade stuff, I just squirted it right in)
- All purpose kitchen cleaner (about a tablespoon in a spray bottle of water)
- Floor cleaner (I just spray it on trouble spots before mopping)
Because it’s so concentrated, it’s cost effective when broken down to cost per use. If you buy the gallon size of concentrate, the final mixed product ends up around .50 a gallon.
Visit the Bio-Enviro site to see their entire line of products, which includes Bidets and LED light bulbs. 
Homemaker’s Done List
January 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Remember my Homemaker’s To Do List from yesterday?
I’m pretty stoked that I actually got most of that stuff done and a whole lot more since. I was feeling a little overwhelmed, but today we’re having gorgeous, sunny 60 degree weather. The doors are open, and I’m doing a little spring cleaning.
Here’s the damage.
- Start the beef broth in the slow cooker.
- Start new batch of kefir.
- Make new batch of kombucha. – Almost done. Brewed the tea, put it in the glass jar, but don’t have any white sugar. Will grab some from the store.I’ve tried making it with Sucanat before and it got moldy – my sister Lisa aka MsFit, is the Kombucha Queen, and she said the same thing happened to her. So I’m not taking a chance this time of killing my scoby!
- Do Wahm Wednesday post for Natural Moms Talk Radio blog.
- Send out “No Fluff” marketing newsletter for work at home Moms.
- Write guest posts for Schmoozins.
- Sweep kitchen floor (outsourced to kitchen staff)
- Wash breakfast dishes (outsourced to kitchen staff)
- Oversee Math and Social Studies with the boys
- Call the Larabar people about a refund on that huge box of Peanut Butter Larabars I just bought from Whole Foods that have been recalled.
- Fold 3 loads of laundry currently hanging on drying racks
- Wash my bed sheets
- Pray they dry before bed
- Or drop them off at the laundromat dryer on the way to gym and pray they are there when I come back to pick them up
- Write and send 3 thank you cards. Almost done. Wrote one, now just have to go to post office for stamps. But not leaving house just for said stamps, so must wait.
- Go to gym for Butt & Gut at 5:00
- Have celebratory brownie in bed Can I hear an Amen?
Since it’s so nice today, it’s been all about cleaning and cooking. Here is my “done” list.
I:
- Hung out load of laundry outside for a change!
- Put beef stock made yesterday into glass jars to freeze
- Shook the kefir a little
- Started beef stew in slow cooker
- Washed two loads of laundry, folded two loads of laundry
- Cleaned behind sofa
- Straightened bedroom and living room
- Did read aloud with boys
- Checked math work
- Did history and Bible study with boys
- Prepared oats for overnight baked oatmeal
- Made new batch of homemade laundry detergent
- Blogged about my 3 year old
- Solved Trojan hack on one of my blogs, with the help of the fantastic Scott at MomWebs hosting, which rocks, and to whom I probably owe my firstborn child for all the times he’s saved my sites.
- Vacuumed kitchen and living room
- Re-organized homeschool supplies
- Organized kitchen pantry
- Unpacked books and wiped clean, placed on bookshelves
- Scrubbed crayon unsuccessfully from coffee table
- Cleaned wooden shelves in kitchen
- Moved a piece of furniture and reorganized desk
- Did all the usual things like make breakfast and lunch, wash dishes, sidewalk chalk with Sadie, etc.
- Twittered. And Twittered some more.
Now, before you go thinking I’m this Caroline Ingalls-y everyday, I’m not. The busy homemaker urge strikes occasionally. And one must strike while the iron is hot, no?
And it’s only 4 o’clock yet!
3 Year Olds Are a TRIP, Ok?
January 22, 2009 | 3 Comments
Here is a picture I snapped yesterday of 3 year old Sadie throwing packaging material from a box I too temptingly left lying around the house.
All around the apartment.
I just couldn’t stop her.
See the glee? She was moving so fast, all the pics I took were blurry just like this one.
This is living, no?
3 year olds are a TRIP.
Whoever coined the term “Terrible Twos” was a little premature. 2 doesn’t hold a candle to 3. Can’t even touch it.
I know I’m not alone in this sentiment, because this page on my site that talks about typical behavior of a 3 year old child gets an insane amount of traffic each month.
I love 3.
I never know what is going to come out of her mouth.
For instance, the other day we were in the tub and she starts telling me all about her husbands. There were 6 or 7 of them, I lost count, each with very unique, multi-cultural sounding ethnic names.
I asked her about the first one.
Mom: “Is he handsome?”
Sadie: “No. He’s not fancy.”
Mom: “Is he nice?”
Sadie: “Yes. He is very nice.”
Mom: “Ah. That’s what’s important.”
She doesn’t listen to a word I say.
Obedience? What’s that?
It’s impossible to get mad at her, nonetheless.
Discipline goes out the window with a 3 year old, it seems. The only way I can get cooperation is by not doing something she wants until she does something I want. And then she says,
“O-KAY! FOINE!”
or,
“What-EVAH!”
And I struggle not to giggle. The other kids say, “Don’t talk to mom like that Sadie.”
(Love that.)
She has learned how to swear.
“Stinky poo poo butt fite!” (fart)
Reserved for the worst possible offenses.
Like someone laughing when she wasn’t trying to be funny.
I am getting a glimpse of the woman she will be.
Putting up with nobody’s crap.
She is very particular about the music she listens to in the car.
When I start up the engine, it’s:
“Turn some moosic on!”
Then she tells me what kind she’s in the mood for. Sometimes down to the individual track.
“I want Bluh! (Blur)” or, “I want Code Pway” (Coldplay) or maybe it’s the Beatles or whatever, but she knows.
Then, she makes faces in the rearview mirror to match the mood of the singer. And insists that I look, and tell her if she’s nailed it.
When someone dares to try to speak when she’s in the mood to talk, she screams:
“Doo-yen! (Julien) You in-ter-wup-ten!”
She’s been fully potty trained for over a year, pee and poo, day and night, yet lately hits the potty only about half of the time.
And when she does, she screams from her small green plastic throne for me to come and wipe her.
Something she mastered a year ago, mind you.
Three is two steps forward, one step back.
After 4, I know this. So I can just enjoy her and not worry too much about all this 3 year old stuff.
I love 3.
Real Food Wednesday: Healthy and Fast Food
January 21, 2009 | 3 Comments
The ladies at Cheeseslave and KellytheKitchenKop host this meme weekly, where they discuss their real life real food tips and ideas.
This week’s theme is Healthy Fast Food, otherwise known as “It’s 5 o’clock and I haven’t a clue what’s for dinner“.
Here’s what I do when I want to avoid eating out, offering something packaged or otherwise inferior in nutrition, but am short on time.
- Cheese Quesadillas – Make with sprouted tortillas and raw cheddar cheese, and served with homemade salsa.These take less than 5 minutes to get on the table and the kids love them.
- Breakfast for Dinner – Free range eggs scrambled or fried in grass fed butter with potatoes pan fried in coconut oil and butter.I get my 6 year old daughter to chop the taters for me so things go faster.
- Cheese, Apples and Crackers – This snack was invented by my mom. She would snack on tart apples sliced thinly (with a teensy dash of salt!), pepper Jack cheese and Triscuits.My version of this is sliced Gala (my favorites – and kept the salt!) apples, blocks of raw cheese, and sprouted flax crackers or Ry-Vita.We just had this today for lunch. It’s super easy and fast but quite filling, and seems to satisfy all your cravings. The apples are sweet and salty, the crackers crunchy, and the cheese is creamy and provides some fat and protein.
- Quick Burgers & Kraut- I fry up some burgers (from grass fed ground beef or buffalo) and serve them with Bubbie’s sauerkraut (which I always keep in my fridge because I can’t seem to find time to make homemade lately).We serve our burgers without buns because my youngest is wheat allergic and I don’t think the older kids would like the taste and texture of GF buns, but they like them just fine this way.
- Fried Rice – I shared my recipe on my post about cheap eats. I cook rice more days than not so I almost always have some leftover rice in the fridge.I cook it with whatever veggies I have on hand, along with a couple of real eggs and plenty of coconut oil. The kids always ask for seconds on this one, and it takes minutes to prepare.
- Larabars – When all else fails, Larabars are a lifesaver. They are truly the only healthy “granola” bar out there, at least that I’ve found, are are on the Weston A Price Shopping Guide listings under Snacks. They have no isolated soy protein or sweeteners or other pseudo-healthy ingredients. They’re grain free so my youngest can eat them. They’re simply raw fruit and nuts smushed together, and taste delicious. I try to keep these in my purse or in the car or pantry for emergencies. I recently purchased a box of these at Whole Foods, in the peanut flavor, and lo and behold they’ve been recalled because of possibility of the peanuts being contaminated. The company is issuing a refund so it’s all good. I’ve had to beat the children off of them in the meantime, lol!
Dinner doesn’t have to be complicated, especially with kids. Now I’m not cooking for a man anymore so your mileage may vary. LOL!
