There are only 2 days left to enter for this wonderful giveaway. Here is what I need from you for your entry to be accepted:
tell me what you did for Earth Week
tell me about a Nature's Gate product you enjoy or are interested in
either post a comment with the above information or email it to me along with your contact information to thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com
subscribe to my blog (if you haven't already done so) (if you wish to not receive emails, you can opt out of the emails at any time and still be a subscriber)
The above details are necessary for your entry into the drawing to be accepted. You also have the opportunity to have multiple entries if you do any or all of the following:
retweet this giveaway and send me the link to your tweet at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com (worth 5 extra entries)
repost this giveaway on your facebook personal page (worth five extra entries)
For some years now, whether or not this off shore wind farm was going to be built was heavily disputed. On one hand, it is a great step closer to less reliance on fossil fuels as a means for energy. However, to those living on Martha's Vineyard this wind farm off the coast is a sore subject. Who wants their beautiful view of the ocean to be taken away with large wind mills? Of course, there is also the economic factor. With the construction of the large wind farm, real estate is going to plummet. It's very interesting. I recommend learning more about its benefits since the government decided it would pursue the construction of it.
I, for one, have always been for this and am glad to see that it's going to be built.
Here is a great post about why the importance of breastfeeding is not only a health issue but also a substantial environmental issue. As noted in Cherise Udell's posting:
...artificial baby formula production, distribution and consumption pollutes our land, air, and water and sucks up substantial natural resources – and as a result has a HUGE ecological and carbon footprint. For example, every year in the US, over half a million women formula feed their babies from birth. If just these mothers breastfed for a full year (with solids introduced after six months), these resources would be saved:
2.5 million pounds of paper
25 million pounds of metal
27 million gallons of milk, requiring 465 million pounds of dairy feed to produce
6 million gallons of oil for production, transportation and refrigeration
135 million pounds of carbon dioxide produced by the use of those 6 million gallons of oil
This is a good quick read. This new "finding" is nothing new...it's precisely what Al Gore spoke about in is research and last documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth".
After a wild weekend in the outdoors (wild due to the three children on site), I've been struggling all morning with what to write about in regards to our weekend. There are SO many things to say about yet another fabulous trip to the desert with friends and family. The desert, in one word, is breathtaking. Its ability to withstand the harsh, challenging climate and lack of water instills a strong exterior. However, once you experience the desert and get to know more about its ecosystem, you begin to see its fragility. It is definitely a place to be revered.
As difficult as it was, and always is, to say good bye to the desert due to my deep love and respect for it , I couldn't help but think about the condition of our campsite where we spent the majority of our time.
Set up against...literally...sandstone cliffs, our little camping area was decorated with every sandstone hue imaginable, plants and little lizards, with smooth pockets carved out of the mountain from water and wind erosion...just enough for our little ones to explore and crawl through. It was BEAUTIFUL.
However, the ground with which we stepped in every direction and where our babies played was littered with leftover debris from the thousands of previous campers. Not to mislead you in any way, I must say that upon seeing it it wasn't like you could see garbage all over the place. But once you got out of your car and walked around a large communal area where there was clear evidence of large campfires, you could see small pieces of broken glass, rusty old nails, and pieces of metal EVERYWHERE. It was a tragic sight, to say the least.
So in an effort to ensure a safe environment for our children, and to begin to instill good environmental ethics on our wee ones, we began to pick up the glass shards and rusty nails and throw them in trash bags to haul out with us at the end of our trip. (And when I say us I mean my friends Jessika and Brandon because they were kind enough AND have a truck bed...you guys rock:)
Although I know that the site of our weekend getaway was in better shape when we left than the way it was when we found it, I still can say that it's a far cry from where it needs to be. So what I want to leave with you all is this:
Please please please practice environmental ethics when you go camping this summer. Remember the Leave No Trace Principles you learned as a child (or as an adult like me). Take into consideration your lasting affects on the environment and what you are leaving for your children and your children's children to see and experience. It's easy and you can even make it a fun activity for children to be involved in! My son LOVED to help remove an old campfire by throwing the rocks in other directions. Make it a goal to do something good for the environment and the earth while you are knee deep experiencing the beauty she has to offer.
Just a little over a week left to enter the Nature's Gate Free Giveaway. The winner for this giveaway will get to choose their choice of two products from the "Classics" collection.
My knowledge of Nature's Gate comes from ten years of shopping at natural food markets. They have been a constant in the natural living departments and for 5 years now, a constant in our home. Living in a dry climate, I noticed my skin needed much more moisture than in other climates. I found Nature's Gate unscented body lotion for dry skin to be the absolute BEST lotion I have ever used. It's all my 2 year old has used that actually keeps his skin feeling soft, smooth, and moisturized. When he was an infant, and as many of you know from your own experience, his skin was so sensitive that even if he bathed every other day with out soap, his skin was still too dry. He developed dry patches that looked uncomfortable. After trying a plethora of organic baby moisturizers, I decided to try what I was already using on my own skin and voila! It worked!!! I highly recommend this product.
Anyways, back to the details of this giveaway...below is what I need from you in order for your entry to be accepted:
tell me what you plan to or already have done for Earth Week
tell me about a Nature's Gate product you enjoy or are interested in
either post a comment with the above information or email it to me along with your contact information to thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com
subscribe to my blog (if you haven't already done so) (if you wish to not receive emails, you can opt out of the emails at any time and still be a subscriber)
The above details are necessary for your entry into the drawing to be accepted. You also have the opportunity to have multiple entries if you do any or all of the following:
retweet this giveaway and send me the link to your tweet at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com (worth 5 extra entries)
repost this giveaway on your facebook personal page (worth five extra entries)
Happy Earth Day! I wasn't sure what to write about for this momentous day because there are a million possibilities. So I've decided to keep it simple. What are your plans for today? Park and I have decided to celebrate Earth Day by exploring the outdoors. We are going to spend as much time today and over the next handful of days as we can learning about what nature teaches us, playing in the grass and in the sand, running around and smelling the beautiful spring flowers, breathing in the fresh air and sleeping under the desert sky.
So I will share some photos with you (with many more to come following our weekend outing) to hopefully get you inspired to do the same. Enjoy!
I find this an interesting article to read. If you are a regular at Whole Foods, this is good information to be aware of. I'm sure most are already aware of this. It still doesn't stop me from shopping there. Being an aware consumer, no matter where you shop, it vital.
There is nothing like a wonderful giveaway on my blog to kick off a very green Earth Week! My new giveaway is from none other than Nature's Gate, a company dedicated for over 30 years to creating and improving products made from nature for you. The winner for this giveaway will get to choose their choice of two products from the "Classics" collection.
My knowledge of Nature's Gate comes from ten years of shopping at natural food markets. They have been a constant in the natural living departments and for 5 years now, a constant in our home. Living in a dry climate, I noticed my skin needed much more moisture than in other climates. I found Nature's Gate unscented body lotion for dry skin to be the absolute BEST lotion I have ever used. It's all my 2 year old has used that actually keeps his skin feeling soft, smooth, and moisturized. When he was an infant, and as many of you know from your own experience, his skin was so sensitive that even if he bathed every other day with out soap, his skin was still too dry. He developed dry patches that looked uncomfortable. After trying a plethora of organic baby moisturizers, I decided to try what I was already using on my own skin and voila! It worked!!! I highly recommend this product.
Anyways, back to the details of this giveaway...below is what I need from you in order for your entry to be accepted:
tell me what you plan to or already have done for Earth Week that will help our planet remain "green"
tell me about a Nature's Gate product you enjoy or are interested in
either post a comment with the above information or email it to me along with your contact information at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com
subscribe to my blog (if you haven't already done so) (if you wish to not receive emails, you can opt out of the emails at any time and still be a subscriber)
The above details are necessary for your entry into the drawing to be accepted. You also have the opportunity to have multiple entries if you do any or all of the following:
retweet this giveaway and send me the link to your tweet at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com (worth 5 extra entries)
repost this giveaway on your facebook personal page (worth five extra entries)
Today marks the beginning of our Earth Week or "National Environmental Education Week" and to launch it off properly, I thought I would write about one easy and simple way I found to conserve water in our homes.
It's called a "Toilet Tank Saver", it costs only $3.49 for one and it can be installed in any toilet. It was so easy to "install". First, you fill the water saver with tap water to the fill line. Next, you flush your toilet so all the water out of the tank drains. Then, you place the water saver into the tank so that less water is needed to refill the toilet tank. Although this may seem like all too much of an easy task to make a difference in water usage...it actually will be saving our home up to 2 1/2 quarts of water with every flush. Just think of how many times we flush our toilets each day. That is A LOT of water saved in one year!!!
A company called New Resources Group sells other unique home utility parts that will help your home reduce energy used and conserve water. Check out their web site here to see all of their products available and order your toilet saver today! The earth will thank you for it:)
Hello everybody! For those of you who didn't know already, HGTV is giving away their Green Home in Massachusetts along with a brand new vehicle and $100,000 and the sweepstakes begins tomorrow! It is SO beautiful, and SO green! Go to HGTV's web site by clicking on the title to my post or here for more information for rules regarding the sweepstakes.
(photo taken directly from www.hgtv.com)
It's SO beautiful...whoever wins is going to be in heaven in that gorgeous eco-conscious luxury-green home.
The Sprout Pouch Baby Carrier as a means of Psychological Growth in Human Infants-Toddlers: A Baby Sling Review
A mother once told me that slinging your baby was one of the best things you can do for your child. The connection and physical contact between a mother and child is vital to their physical and psychological growth and has positive outcomes of interpersonal relationships with their caregivers. After having a baby of my own, I too agree with this statement. Wearing my son in a baby carrier from days old until today has been one of the most important actions I’ve taken as a mother to promote a happy, healthy, connected, nurtured and loving little boy.
According to the web site of William Sears M.D. and Martha Sears, R.N.,
1. Sling babies cry less. Parents in my practice commonly report, "As long as I wear her, she's content!" Parents of fussy babies who try babywearing relate that their babies seem to forget to fuss. This is more than just my own impression. In 1986, a team of pediatricians in Montreal reported on a study of ninety-nine mother-infant pairs. The first group of parents were provided with a baby carrier and assigned to carry their babies for at least three extra hours a day. They were encouraged to carry their infants throughout the day, regardless of the state of the infant, not just in response to crying or fussing. In the control, or noncarried group, parents were not given any specific instructions about carrying. After six weeks, the infants who received supplemental carrying cried and fussed 43 percent less than the noncarried group.
Anthropologists who travel throughout the world studying infant-care practices in other cultures agree that infants in babywearing cultures cry much less. In Western culture we measure a baby's crying in hours, but in other cultures, crying is measured in minutes. We have been led to believe that it is "normal" for babies to cry a lot, but in other cultures this is not accepted as the norm. In these cultures, babies are normally "up" in arms and are put down only to sleep – next to the mother. When the parent must attend to her own needs, the baby is in someone else's arms.
2. Sling babies learn more. If infants spend less time crying and fussing, what do they do with the free time? They learn! Sling babies spend more time in the state of quiet alertness . This is the behavioral state in which an infant is most content and best able to interact with his environment. It may be called the optimal state of learning for a baby. Researchers have also reported that carried babies show enhanced visual and auditory alertness.
The behavioral state of quiet alertness also gives parents a better opportunity to interact with their baby. Notice how mother and baby position their faces in order to achieve this optimal visually interactive plane. The human face, especially in this position, is a potent stimulator for interpersonal bonding. In the kangaroo carry, baby has a 180-degree view of her environment and is able to scan her world. She learns to choose, picking out what she wishes to look at and shutting out what she doesn't. This ability to make choices enhances learning. A sling baby learns a lot in the arms of a busy caregiver.
3. Sling babies are more organized. It's easier to understand babywearing when you think of a baby's gestation as lasting eighteen months – nine months inside the womb and at least nine more months outside. The womb environment automatically regulates baby's systems. Birth temporarily disrupts this organization. The more quickly, however, baby gets outside help with organizing these systems, the more easily he adapts to the puzzle of life outside the womb. By extending the womb experience, the babywearing mother (and father) provides an external regulating system that balances the irregular and disorganized tendencies of the baby. Picture how these regulating systems work. Mother's rhythmic walk, for example, (which baby has been feeling for nine months) reminds baby of the womb experience. This familiar rhythm, imprinted on baby's mind in the womb, now reappears in the "outside womb" and calms baby. As baby places her ear against her mother's chest, mother's heartbeat, beautifully regular and familiar, reminds baby of the sounds of the womb. As another biological regulator, baby senses mother's rhythmic breathing while worn tummy- to-tummy, chest-to-chest. Simply stated, regular parental rhythms have a balancing effect on the infant's irregular rhythms. Babywearing "reminds" the baby of and continues the motion and balance he enjoyed in the womb.
SLING TIP:
The womb lasts eighteen months: Nine months inside mother, and nine months outside.
What may happen if the baby spends most of his time lying horizontally in a crib, attended to only for feeding and comforting, and then again separated from mother? A newborn has an inherent urge to become organized, to fit into his or her new environment. If left to his own resources, without the regulating presence of the mother, the infant may develop disorganized patterns of behavior: colicky cries, jerky movements, disorganized self-rocking behaviors, anxious thumb sucking, irregular breathing, and disturbed sleep. The infant, who is forced to self-calm, wastes valuable energy he could have used to grow and develop.
While there is a variety of child-rearing theories, attachment researchers all agree on one thing: In order for a baby's emotional, intellectual, and physiological systems to function optimally, the continued presence of the mother, as during babywearing, is a necessary regulatory influence.
4. Sling babies get "humanized" earlier. Another reason that babywearing enhances learning is that baby is intimately involved in the caregiver's world. Baby sees what mother or father sees, hears what they hear, and in some ways feels what they feel. Carried babies become more aware of their parents' faces, walking rhythms, and scents. Baby becomes aware of, and learns from, all the subtle facial expressions, body language, voice inflections and tones, breathing patterns, and emotions of the caregiver. A parent will relate to the baby a lot more often, because baby is sitting right under her nose. Proximity increases interaction, and baby can constantly be learning how to be human. Carried babies are intimately involved in their parents' world because they participate in what mother and father are doing. A baby worn while a parent washes dishes, for example, hears, smells, sees, and experiences in depth the adult world. He is more exposed to and involved in what is going on around him. Baby learns much in the arms of a busy person.
5. Sling babies are smarter. Environmental experiences stimulate nerves to branch out and connect with other nerves, which helps the brain grow and develop. Babywearing helps the infant's developing brain make the right connections. Because baby is intimately involved in the mother and father's world, she is exposed to, and participates in, the environmental stimuli that mother selects and is protected from those stimuli that bombard or overload her developing nervous system. She so intimately participates in what mother is doing that her developing brain stores a myriad of experiences, called patterns of behavior. These experiences can be thought of as thousands of tiny short-run movies that are filed in the infant's neurological library to be rerun when baby is exposed to a similar situation that reminds her of the making of the original "movie." For example, mothers often tell me, "As soon as I pick up the sling and put it on, my baby lights up and raises his arms as if in anticipation that he will soon be in my arms and in my world."
I have noticed that sling babies seem more attentive, clicking into adult conversations as if they were part of it. Babywearing enhances speech development. Because baby is up at voice and eye level, he is more involved in conversations. He learns a valuable speech lesson – the ability to listen.
Normal ambient sounds, such as the noises of daily activities, may either have learning value for the infant or disturb him. If baby is alone, sounds may frighten him. If baby is worn, these sounds have learning value. The mother filters out what she perceives as unsuitable for the baby and gives the infant an "It's okay" feeling when he is exposed to unfamiliar sounds and experiences
In addition to the many benefits to baby wearing, Sprout Pouch’s baby slings are also super cute and stylish. The fabrics are made from 97% cotton and 3% lycra so they feel very soft to the touch. They come in a variety of colors and patterns so there is something to catch every eye. And even better, you can purchase one at a reasonable cost. A baby carrier to use for 2 years that’s practical, beneficial to your child, stylish AND for only $58.95? What a steal!
Sprout Pouch’s slings can be used for children age’s infant through toddler. There are three different ways to carry your child depending on their age.
According to Sprout Pouch, the first way to carry your child is:
For new babies:with sling folded in half edge-to-edge, make a cozy hammock for your babe - place her bottom first between the layers.
The second way to carry your child is:
For wee-ones:after baby gains head control, try sitting him up in the sling where he can see the world. Fabric remains folded edge-to-edge with baby in the envelope between the layers.
And the third way to carry your child is:
For hip-huggers:(6 months to toddler) your bigger baby will ride in comfort and style at your side. Unfold the fabric and bring the lower seam to the back of her knees.
Sprout Pouch’s slings for carrying babies are a must have item for parents and caregivers with small children. Carrying your babies, especially through to their toddler years, promotes less crying, more learning experience, regulates babies’ systems by stimulating them psychologically and physically by “reminding” them of the womb, and is practical and convenient. Thank you to Sprout Pouch for letting us review their wonderful product. We will be using it for more days to come!
Bridget James (author) of The Curious Case of Mommyhood
Just 2 days left to enter the sling giveaway! This one is extra special as I am a true believer in the benefits of baby "wearing". The giveaway is for a beautiful sling to carry/wear your child in from Sprout Pouch. (see below for giveaway details) Your baby can be carried/worn anywhere from infant age up to toddler years.
Although my son is almost 2 and tall for his age, I continue to carry him in our sling. I still take my sling everywhere with me just like I did when he was just weeks old. I keep one sling in my car, one in our house, and my husband even has one and uses it!
Often times, Park doesn't want to be seated in a cart while we make our rounds throughout the grocery store. A sling is super easy and so convenient to use because I am able to carry him on my hip just like mothers always do only no hands are necessary! And when he falls asleep in the car, I can easily transfer him into the sling where he continues to snooze while I happily do my shopping (this is truly my favorite for obvious reasons). And sometimes, Park just wants to be close to his Momma....:) Since I have always carried him in a carrier, the seat in a cart always felt awkward to the both of us. When he sits in our sling, he is almost at eye level with me and we can chat together while we go about our business. Slinging, carrying, whatever you want to call it...is the most natural way to go about your daily tasks as a mother when you have little ones around. Women all over the world for thousands of years have done the same. And best of all, it is SO convenient!
So down to the details of this giveaway...below is what I need from you in order for your entry to be accepted:
tell me some of the benefits to carrying your child in a sling Sprout Pouch lists on their web site
subscribe to my blog (if you haven't already done so) (if you wish to not receive emails, you can opt out of the emails at any time and still be a subscriber)
either post a comment or email me your contact information at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com
The above details are necessary for your entry into the drawing to be accepted. You also have the opportunity to have multiple entries if you do any or all of the following:
retweet this giveaway and send me the link to your tweet at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com (worth 5 extra entries)
repost this giveaway on your facebook personal page (worth five extra entries)
There was a few other points from the Utah Moms for Clean Air Conference I attended last Saturday that I really wanted to tell you about. The first speaker, Jaron Hansen, PhD and Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at BYU, pointed out that the three main contributors for air pollution in the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys (and I'm assuming in general anywhere in the US). These are:
diesel fuel emissions
other motor vehicle emissions
wood burning
And on the topic of wood burning, he noted a generous program called The Wood Stove Changeout Program through the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) that I found quite intriguing. Apparently, if you are living in an area that qualifies for the program, the government will give you up to 30% or $1500 to change out your old stove and replace it with a much more efficient one that emits 70-90% less pollution into the air. I thought that sounded like a really great idea for those of you who either primarily heat your homes with a wood burning stove or for those of you who just like to light a fire for the ambiance. I know in the past we have!
What a fantastic way to get some of the gunk out of our air by using the incentive for you to replace your old stove with a brand new one! If purchasing a new stove is not in your budget, there are other ways to reduce the pollutants you put into the air with your current stove such as always cleaning out the ash in the stove and making sure to burn only dry, seasoned wood instead of wet wood. You can find out more details to this program and other ways to ensure you are doing all that you can to reduce the pollutants you put into the air by checking out the following sites below:
Following the news of more snow yesterday, Park and I decided it was important to document this year's first flowers in our yard just in case they didn't make it through the storm.
Park LOVES flowers. He oooohss and ahhhhhss whenever he sees them...a reaction he most likely got from his Momma:)
There he is running over to the flowers saying...Oooohhhh!
And ahhhhhhhhhhh!
Now if I could just get him to stop kicking the flowers. I have to keep telling him to begentle with the flowers. He is such a boy!
Have a great day,
About 6 months ago, I wrote a post about Dr. Wakefield's research on the MMR vaccine. I highly recommend watching this video discussion between Dr. Wakefield and Dr. Mercola about his research. It's very interesting.
One week left for another wonderful giveaway on my blog. This one is extra special as I am a true believer in the benefits of baby "wearing". The giveaway is for a beautiful sling to carry/wear your child in from Sprout Pouch. (see below for giveaway details) Your baby can be carried/worn anywhere from infant age up to toddler years.
Although my son is almost 2 and tall for his age, I continue to carry him in our sling. I still take my sling everywhere with me just like I did when he was just weeks old. I keep one sling in my car, one in our house, and my husband even has one and uses it!
Often times, Park doesn't want to be seated in a cart while we make our rounds throughout the grocery store. A sling is super easy and so convenient to use because I am able to carry him on my hip just like mothers always do only no hands are necessary! And when he falls asleep in the car, I can easily transfer him into the sling where he continues to snooze while I happily do my shopping (this is truly my favorite for obvious reasons). And sometimes, Park just wants to be close to his Momma....:) Since I have always carried him in a carrier, the seat in a cart always felt awkward to the both of us. When he sits in our sling, he is almost at eye level with me and we can chat together while we go about our business. Slinging, carrying, whatever you want to call it...is the most natural way to go about your daily tasks as a mother when you have little ones around. Women all over the world for thousands of years have done the same. And best of all, it is SO convenient!
So down to the details of this giveaway...below is what I need from you in order for your entry to be accepted:
tell me some of the benefits to carrying your child in a sling Sprout Pouch lists on their web site
subscribe to my blog (if you haven't already done so) (if you wish to not receive emails, you can opt out of the emails at any time and still be a subscriber)
either post a comment or email me your contact information at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com
The above details are necessary for your entry into the drawing to be accepted. You also have the opportunity to have multiple entries if you do any or all of the following:
retweet this giveaway and send me the link to your tweet at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com (worth 5 extra entries)
repost this giveaway on your facebook personal page (worth five extra entries)
Today I had the pleasure of attending my very first Utah Clean Air Conference in Orem, Utah. Along with Utah Moms for Clean Air, other sponsors of the event included Intermountain Health Care, the American Lung Association of Utah, Utah Valley University, College of Science and Health, Breathe Utah, and Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. With a star studded group of speakers in the field of medicine, science, economics and Moms, I was able to learn so much more about the physical dangers of our air quality. As grim, devastating and shocking the information on air quality and health affects was today, I did learn of some possible solutions to improve these issues. One very important solution is to educate others. Another is by contacting our elected representatives and requesting further discussion on implementing steps to cure the toxic air. After this winter's poor air quality and following today's discussions, I am forced by moral obligation to no longer sit back and ignore the issues we and our children are faced with. It is our time as mothers to work as a joined group and demand justice for clean air!
Are you all with me? I know I know, it seems like such a large task to take on. But really, it isn't. It is easy, and it begins right here...by educating the public. Here are some interesting facts I learned today that might convince you otherwise:
Did you know that little tiny embryos are exposed to air pollution in utero from the air the mother breathes during pregnancy? Blood samples were taken from the umbilical cord of recently born babies immediately following birth and it showed a 50% increase of chromosomal damage. Chromosomal damage is what leads to types of cancer, leukemia, brain damage (therefore lower IQ's), asthma...and the list goes on. Basically, we can say (and as quoted by Brian Moench, MD and President of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment) that we are what our grandparents inhaled. Furthermore, our great grand children will have damage to their systems due to the bad air we are breathing today. Not fair right? Right.
Did you know that from the moment a baby is born, it is contaminated with over 200 chemicals in our air that are proven to cause health problems? Crazy huh? Our poor children...it's just so UNJUST!
As Cherise Udell, the Founder and President of Utah Moms for Clean Air said so well, it is our moral imperative to do something about our air quality. We can no longer accept that the toxic air on average shaves off 2 years of our children's lives and increases their chance of a lifetime struggle with asthma. It is no longer acceptable that our children have no choice in the harmful affects of our air on their brain development and lung and heart health. It is no longer fair that we are forced to stay indoors because the air we breathe outside can make us sick, increase our chances of congestive heart failure, lung failure, and mortality. There are many things we can do to improve the quality of air we breathe. Please see the web sites below for more information on what you can do to ensure we breathe clean. The steps are easy...as long as you are willing to sacrifice your time to educate yourself on the matter.
Thank you for listening. If you have any interest in joining Utah Mom's for Clean air, go to their web site. They are also on Facebook and Twitter for more information and support.
Today, I officially became a new member of America's "buy in bulk"or "buy in large unnecessary quantities" consumers...actually, what I mean is that I officially became a member of Costco. Or as my friend Ginger likes to call it the "$10 Dollar Store" because everything is, on average, $10. It's true! And although I said it would be "years" before I would succumb to doing so, I am rather confident that it makes economic and ecological sense for my family. And here is my reasoning:
By purchasing in large quantities, I am removing trips to the grocery store or market for refills on everyday items (examples include diapers, eggs, toilet paper, juice, chips) This in turn saves on gas.
By making less vehicle trips to the store, I am removing emissions from our air.
The items I purchased ARE cheaper purchased in bulk versus purchasing in the stores. And I can prove it. One example is my favorite salsa at Whole Foods costs $3.99 for 16 oz. At Costco, I got 30 oz. of the salsa plus a 16 oz. tub of 3-bean dip for $5.99. I also got a package of Huggies Size 4 200-ct. diapers for $40. This is better for the price per diaper than anywhere else I have seen.
I definitely couldn't find everything I needed so it isn't a "one-stop" shopping experience but I know that in doing so, I can make my grocery store trips bi-monthly instead of weekly. I'm so excited! Plus, I got a ridiculously large over the top super family size tent for our camping trip in a few weeks for only $129!!! It's perfect for our entire family, including our furry members.
So although I bashfully admit to buying massive quantities of food and toiletry items that our family will take forever to go through, I really believe that this was a wise choice:)
Have any of you heard much about the dangers of natural gas extraction leaking into our water supply? A friend of mine posted this PBS (gotta love their research!) show on their facebook profile and I was stunned to watch it. I had no idea...and I have been a strong supporter of natural gas versus oil for a few years now.
I want to share this with you all. Click on the title to this post or here to view:
"Gasland" from www.pbs.org
Will the boom in natural gas drilling contaminate America's water supply? NOW talks with filmmaker Josh Fox about 'Gasland', his Sundance award-winning documentary on the surprising consequences of natural gas drilling.
Years ago when I was a nanny, my sister gave me some suggestions for implementing learning techniques into my job working with a three and four year old. She suggested I make name cards and place them on the object stated on the card. That way the kids would soon learn, by memorization, what the word of the object looked like. They then were able to understand how to read the word...and it worked within days!
So I did the same with Park over a year ago before he was about 1. It was fun, but I soon realized I had jumped the gun on that one...it was WAY over his head. The name cards remain, unless he otherwise tore them down. So since he has grown quite a bit since then, and is showing good signs of wanting to learn concepts such as these, I decided today was a good a day as any to work on the cards again. I placed a handful in his toy room where he tends to spend the majority of his time.
While these words don't seem the most age apropriate, I do believe strongly in memorization in understanding reading and language concepts. I think I will work on other words such as his name, our names (Mommy and Daddy:), love, dog, cat, etc. in the next couple of days when I can pull up some pictures to go with the cards.
I remark to myself and to others daily that I cannot believe how quickly the past 2 years of Park's life has gone. They grow SO fast. His growth has encouraged me as a mother to help him learn more and more everyday. What learning ideas/techniques do you suggest for toddlers?
Check out these adorable and creative ways to make "fun" food your kids will enjoy. I made the hot dog octopuses the other night and Park ate them right up!
A couple of months ago while making one of our many frequented Saturday visits to the Home Depot, we stumbled across a large group of parents with their little ones working on crafts. As we approached to take a closer look to see what was going on, a woman behind a table asked us if we registered for the day's craft activities. Although we hadn't, she explained to us that the first Saturday of each month the Home Depot puts on a children's workshop where, with the accompaniment of their parents, they learn to assemble and build little crafts. (lightbulb) I though what a wonderful activity for Dad and Park to do together (while I have Mommy time of course:) So we signed up for the next month's activities.
The first Saturday Park and his Daddy attended at Home Depot they built a stand for little cars, motorcycles, and planes. It was perfect timing as he was just really getting into those little motor vehicles and planes. They even gave him his very own worker's apron...I think it's so cute.
Then this last Saturday, Park came home with his very own butterfly house. ( I know, I've never heard of one either). So I decided to look into it some more since we love butterflies and here is what I found.
Today, we decided to paint Park's butterfly house in preparation of it's new home in our backyard. To see instructions to paint a butterfly house click here.
Although the instructions said to paint the house with bright colors (I'm assuming to attract the butterflies) we did not have any suitable paint but browns and greens. Even though this house is pretty much camouflage with the outdoors, I'm hoping that by placing it next to the vegetable garden and keeping a banana peel in it will attract our pretty winged friends.
Once the house is ready for its new inhabitants, all you need to do is care for the house from time to time. Instructions in caring for a butterfly house is here.
This little project was perfect for an afternoon indoors. We can't wait to get the butterfly house outdoors to see who comes! Now, if only it would quit snowing in Utah.
I admit that I am at a turtle's pace in learning about GMO's. My friends keep telling me that I HAVE to watch the documentary Food, Inc. (Click here to view the trailer.) This documentary explains factory farming, GMO's, nutrition, this countries ever expanding waistline, and et cetera. To this, with which I would explain my reasoning for not, is my fear for that if I know ANYMORE about corrupt food industry practices that I might just decide to boycott food altogether (or go bonkers).
To so many others, I have no doubt I am already regarded as "extreme" with my food practices, purchase choices, and my thirst for getting the right information out to those who are ignorant on the subject. My Dad has always liked to term me "earthy"...which I always laughed at in return. However funny, this term was chosen because my Dad doesn't know enough about the food industries' devastating practices and habits. After all, didn't Forbes claim Monsanto the company of the year?
A few weeks ago, my Mom calls me up on the phone and says she couldn't believe the Oprah show on tv that day which discussed Michael Pollan's view on the western diet. She had no idea that such practices in the US were happening in order for food to get to our tables. I commend Oprah for getting this information out to the public who thankfully respect her enough to open up their eyes and take this information to heart.
Anyways, I will spare you more dialect regarding America's messy eating habits and Monsanto's GMO's...which I can promise I will be discussing in the future. Instead, my reason for writing this post was that I came across an article from the ever wonderful Dr. Mercola about European countries banning GM corn and knew I needed to share this with all of you. It can be viewed by clicking on the title of this post or here.
Here we go again...another wonderful giveaway on my blog. This one is extra special as I am a true believer in the benefits of baby "wearing". The giveaway is for a beautiful sling to carry/wear your child in from Sprout Pouch. (see below for giveaway details) Your baby can be carried/worn anywhere from infant age up to toddler years.
Although my son is almost 2 and tall for his age, I continue to carry him in our sling. I still take my sling everywhere with me just like I did when he was just weeks old. I keep one sling in my car, one in our house, and my husband even has one and uses it!
Often times, Park doesn't want to be seated in a cart while we make our rounds throughout the grocery store. A sling is super easy and so convenient to use because I am able to carry him on my hip just like mothers always do only no hands are necessary! And when he falls asleep in the car, I can easily transfer him into the sling where he continues to snooze while I happily do my shopping (this is truly my favorite for obvious reasons). And sometimes, Park just wants to be close to his Momma....:) Since I have always carried him in a carrier, the seat in a cart always felt awkward to the both of us. When he sits in our sling, he is almost at eye level with me and we can chat together while we go about our business. Slinging, carrying, whatever you want to call it...is the most natural way to go about your daily tasks as a mother when you have little ones around. Women all over the world for thousands of years have done the same. And best of all, it is SO convenient!
So down to the details of this giveaway...below is what I need from you in order for your entry to be accepted:
tell me some of the benefits to carrying your child in a sling Sprout Pouch lists on their web site
subscribe to my blog (if you haven't already done so) (if you wish to not receive emails, you can opt out of the emails at any time and still be a subscriber)
either post a comment or email me your contact information at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com
The above details are necessary for your entry into the drawing to be accepted. You also have the opportunity to have multiple entries if you do any or all of the following:
retweet this giveaway and send me the link to your tweet at thecuriouscaseofmommyhood@gmail.com (worth 5 extra entries)
repost this giveaway on your facebook personal page (worth five extra entries)
The other night I tried out a new non-meat recipe for Marshall and I. I think that the recipe comes from the Food and Wine magazine but not for certain. I attempted to track it down online but couldn't find this exact one. I did, however, find a million other recipes for the same dish that all look pretty spectacular. Since it was so tasty, with the husband in agreement, I knew I had to share it with all of you. (Btw, I substituted spanish rice for the quinoa since I didn't have much luck with the last dish with quinoa I made...sorry Mom) If you make it with quinoa, it is a gluten-free meal.
Okay so here it is:
I apologize for the horrible photo...I'm gonna blame the lighting on this one;)
Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers (serves 8)
2 Tbs. olive oil 1 medium yellow onion (I used sweet), minced (about 1 cup) 2 ribs celery, minced (1/2 cup) 1 Tbs. ground cumin (this added a unique flavor) 2 garlic cloves, minced (2 tsp.) 1 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 2-15 oz. cans diced tomatoes, drained, liquid reserved 1-15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained 3/4 cup quinoa (I substituted spanish rice) 3 large carrots, grated (1 1/2 cups) 1 1/2 cups grated pepper jack cheese 4 large red bell peppers
Note: I halved this entire recipe and it fed my husband and I for 2 nights...and we can eat a lot
1. Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and cook 5 min. Add cumin and garlic; saute 1 min. Stir in spinach and drained tomatoes. Cook 5 min. until most of the liquid has evaporated. 2. Stir in beans, quinoa (or rice), carrots, and 2 cups water. Cover, bring to boil. Reduce heat to med-low and simmer about 20 min. or until quinoa (or rice) is tender. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese. 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pour reserved liquid from tomatoes in bottom of baking dish. 4. Fill each half bell pepper with heaping mixture and place in dish. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover; sprinkle each pepper with 1 Tbs. remaining cheese (we used more). Bake for another 15 min. or until top is browned. Let stand for 5 min.
