Kumon Blog Hop – Kumon Poetry Challenge in Celebration of Earth Day – Win a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
If you read my blog, you'll know I don't do a lot of giveaways or contest. But, for St. Patrick's Day, I had dinner with some friends I hadn't seen for quite awhile (old day care friends), and both families were raving about Kumon, the world's largest after-school academic enrichment program. We haven't used Kumon, but the two families both talked about how much the program had helped their kids and also that the program encouraged good citizenship. The parents volunteered that the program really gave their kids great focus and confidence. In any event, the following Monday, I received an email ...
Getting the Lead Out – Folk & Herbal Remedies
Healthy living often includes considering natural or herbal remedies for getting and/or staying well. I've blogged before about how I have been growing and drying my own herbs for use in teas, tinctures, salves and other applications. However, several commonly used traditional and folk remedies have been found to contain lead. Some are contaminated with lead from the manufacturing process or soils. Some are made of lead or lead salts. For example, greta is a traditional Mexican folk remedy commonly used to treat children’s stomach ailments. But, greta can contain as much as 90% lead, and can poison children, instead ...
Cleaning up indoor air quality – VOCs & paint
Indoor air quality is important to our health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are consistently higher indoors than outdoors, with some VOC concentrations up to 10 times higher indoors. Some scientists believe that indoor pollutants are 1,000 times more likely to be inhaled as compared to outdoor pollutants because we spend about 90% of our time indoors, our activities put us near sources of indoor air pollutants, and indoor emissions are partially trapped inside buildings. Household cleaners, scented products, and paints and coatings contribute to indoor air pollution. Although emissions from paints and coatings ...
Has Universal Pictures’ The Lorax forgotten the lessons learned? #Loraxwashing
My last blog post was about Universal Pictures' The Lorax and how hope will change the world. I was actually optimistic that the new movie would inspire more people to change their worlds. I was optimistic that the movie The Lorax would reach more people with an uplifting environmental message. But, a recent article by Mother Jones has crushed that optimism. According to the article, The Lorax has over 70 launch parties, including many not so environmentally friendly products, such as standard fuel injection engine Mazda SUV, Pottery Barn Kids, dispoable diapers and more. Wasn't one of the more compelling messages in ...
Lessons from The Lorax: Hope Will Change The World
I was so excited when I first learned that Universal Pictures was releasing Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. My kids and I saw the trailer in a movie theater, and they were excited too. Why? Because they were familiar with the tale, since I have repeatedly read it to them. Dr. Seuss' The Lorax is oft read environmental children's book in our house. And then, I was approached to be part of a compensated blog tour in support of Universal Pictures' Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, and I was even more thrilled. Rarely do I get to participate in such activities for a variety of reasons. As ...
Eco Friendly and Frugal Ideas for Easter Egg Hunts
Easter is fast approaching and with it, the all important Easter egg hunt. Well, all important if you are a kid. For me, a mom trying to be green, Easter presents a quandry. Those plastic Easter eggs are pretty much are designed to hold small plastic items that will shortly be tossed - not something I want to support. My kids don't go much for real dyed eggs for the hunt - they have been brain washed for a toy and candy filled Easter egg hunt. But as much as I don't like plastic toys, I also don't want to go the ...
Eggfantastic – Non Toxic Natural Dyes For Easter Eggs
In my quest to be an eco fabuous, glam green goddess of motherhood, I attempted to make natural dyes last night for our Easter eggs. I had read an article in The Green Guide about making natural dyes, and also had an article pulled out of last year's Country Home about natural dyes for Easter eggs. So, I decided to make hard boiled eggs and natural dyes. With my darling children. It started off with the typical questions from my 5 year old, "Mom, why does an Easter bunny leave eggs? Why isn't it an Easter chick?" Trying to skip ...
Recent Articles from The Smart Mama
Kumon Blog Hop – Kumon Poetry Challenge in Celebration of Earth Day – Win a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
If you read my blog, you’ll know I don’t do a lot of giveaways or contest. But, for St. Patrick’s Day, I had dinner with some friends I hadn’t seen for quite awhile (old day care friends), and both families were raving about Kumon, the world’s largest after-school academic enrichment program. We haven’t used Kumon, but the two families both talked... [Read More]
Getting the Lead Out – Folk & Herbal Remedies
Healthy living often includes considering natural or herbal remedies for getting and/or staying well. I’ve blogged before about how I have been growing and drying my own herbs for use in teas, tinctures, salves and other applications. However, several commonly used traditional and folk remedies have been found to contain lead. Some are contaminated with lead from the manufacturing... [Read More]
Cleaning up indoor air quality – VOCs & paint
Indoor air quality is important to our health and wellbeing. Studies have shown that concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are consistently higher indoors than outdoors, with some VOC concentrations up to 10 times higher indoors. Some scientists believe that indoor pollutants are 1,000 times more likely to be inhaled as compared to outdoor pollutants because we spend... [Read More]
Has Universal Pictures’ The Lorax forgotten the lessons learned? #Loraxwashing
My last blog post was about Universal Pictures’ The Lorax and how hope will change the world. I was actually optimistic that the new movie would inspire more people to change their worlds. I was optimistic that the movie The Lorax would reach more people with an uplifting environmental message. But, a recent article by Mother Jones has crushed that optimism. According to the... [Read More]
Lessons from The Lorax: Hope Will Change The World
I was so excited when I first learned that Universal Pictures was releasing Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. My kids and I saw the trailer in a movie theater, and they were excited too. Why? Because they were familiar with the tale, since I have repeatedly read it to them. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is oft read environmental children’s book in our house. And then, I was approached... [Read More]
For Those Over 40, Higher Levels of BPA in Urine Linked To Obesity
For those over 40 years of age (including this author), a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in urine are associated with obesity, abdominal fat and insulin resistance. The study looked at 3,390 Chinese adults over the age of 40, and concluded that BPA was positively associated with generalized... [Read More]
We’re killing birds with our bottle caps
I’ve blogged before about the horrific impact of disposable plastic on our oceans – from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to animals stuck in plastic soda rings. Well, now, we’ve got one more thing to consider – bottle caps. Yep, those plastic bottle caps are killing birds. Why? Because birds eat those plastic caps thinking they are food, and then starve when... [Read More]
Subscribe to RSS or Follow me on Twitter!
Source for essential oils and more:
