Merry Christmas!

This is one of my favorite times of the year… When we take a break from our normal routines and focus on our families, friends and our faith. It is also a time to reflect on all the wonderful things that are going on in our lives, and to be grateful. I have been very blessed with my family and friends and I appreciate the opportunity to share with each of you through my blog and thank you for sharing with me.

Learn to Be Thankful for What You Already Have by Jim Rohn

Is thankfulness a survival skill? Perhaps most of you would respond with, “No, Jim, thankfulness is not a key to survival,” and I would tend to agree with you. Most of us have probably already solved the necessary problems of survival, gone beyond that and are now working to achieve our desires. But let me give you this key phrase, “Learn to be thankful for what you already have, while you pursue all that you want.” I believe one of the greatest and perhaps one of the simplest lessons we can learn in life is to be thankful for what we have already received and accomplished.

Both the years and the experiences have brought me to where I stand today, but it is the thankfulness that opened the windows of opportunities, of blessings, of unique experiences to flow my way. My gratitude starts with my parents who raised me, gave me an incredible foundation that has lasted me all of these years and continues with the mentors that I’ve met along the way who absolutely changed and revolutionized my life, my income, my bank account, my future. I am also very thankful for the people, the associations, the ideas, the chance to work and labor, and to produce results; all of that has brought me to this place, to this weekend. I’m grateful for it all.
What a unique opportunity each one of you here has, so many of us; representing different countries, nations and cultures, to appreciate the uniqueness of our own experiences that has brought us all here, together, for these three days to learn new skills and sharpen old ones. For the countries we represent, we have freedom and liberty. These are extraordinary times, about 11 years ago the walls came tumbling down, in Germany, and it started a wave of democracy and freedom like the world has never seen. We as a country and as a world have so much to be thankful for. Always start with thanksgiving; be thankful for what you already have and see the miracles that come from this one simple act.

Now thankfulness is just the beginning; next, you’ve got to challenge yourself to produce. Produce more ideas than you need for yourself so you can share and give your ideas away. That is called fruitfulness and abundance. Here’s what I think fruitfulness and abundance mean: to go to work on producing more than you need or yourself so you can begin blessing others, blessing your nation and blessing your enterprise. Once abundance starts to come, once someone becomes incredibly productive, it’s amazing what the numbers turn out to be. But to begin this incredible process of blessing, it often starts with the act of thanksgiving and gratitude, being thankful for what you already have and for what you’ve already done. Begin the act of thanksgiving today, and watch the miracles flow your way.

Is Our Tap Water Safe?

This week, I ran across two sources that are raising concerns and asking "Is Our Tap Water Safe"?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has announced new drinking water research and a searchable guide to help us with answers. EWG has the only nationwide database of drinking water test results. The information is so important -- and unique -- that The New York Times asked to use it in reporting its current series on what's wrong with America's drinking water.

Charles Duhigg of The New York Times also revealed unsettling news about the nation’s water supply: Here is a portion of the article and some surprising things found in tap water. Click here for full report.

"It’s not as clean as you might think. An analysis of federal data from the last five years revealed that more than 20 percent of the nation’s water-treatment systems have broken provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the standards enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency. The result? As many as 19 million Americans are sickened each year."

Here are nine unexpected things the EPA found in our water:

Arsenic - A naturally occurring element found in soil and minerals, arsenic is used as a pesticide and wood sealant. Ingesting high levels of arsenic, Madame Bovary can tell you, is deadly. At lower levels, over longer periods of time, it can darken skin and spur corns and warts. A carcinogen, arsenic can increase the risk of skin, liver, bladder and lung cancers.

Uranium - The element Iran insists on enriching despite howls from the U.S. and other Western nations, it is also used in helicopters, airplanes, armor, fertilizer and household items like certain microwaves. After it's mined and processed, some of it is released back into the environment in waste material, called mill tailings. Large amounts of uranium can lead to kidney disease and cancer, though naturally occurring uranium is much less radioactive.

Radium - This radioactive metal has been used to treat cancer, for scientific research and in instrument calibration. Everyone is exposed to low levels of the substance, but higher levels are found near uranium mines, coal-burning industries and sometimes in drinking water that comes from wells. Radium can cause anemia and cataracts. At high levels, it is a carcinogen, causing increased bone, liver and breast cancer.

Tetrachloroethylene - Used in dry cleaning and for metal degreasing, this chemical usually evaporates when it meets water, soil or air, but high exposure can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea and unconsciousness. Women who are exposed to high levels of tetrachloroethylene may have menstrual problems and even spontaneous abortions. It is also believed to be a carcinogen.

Lead - Houses built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes than newer ones. Because hot water dissolves lead more easily, people who live with older plumbing should never drink hot water from the tap. Kids who drink lead-tainted water above the legal limits are at risk for physical and mental development problems. In adults, lead can lead to high blood pressure and kidney trouble.

Prozac, Birth Control, Makeup, Shampoo Along with deceased goldfish and incriminating evidence, it turns out Americans like to flush their drugs and personal care products down the toilet, too. These substances leave the toilet (or bathtub and shower) and end up in our waterways. In fact, most of the waterways the EPA tested had pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in them."

To learn more, go to the EWG's online guide . You can find out what is in your tap water (my zip code wasn't updated yet), consider water filtration at home and find out what the government is and isn't doing about water safety.

Consumer Reports: Two Thirds of Chicken's Carry Bacteria

A new study by Consumer Reports shows that two thirds of store-bought chicken was contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria. These numbers are actually better than two years ago when eight out of 10 chickens were found to contain pathogens like salmonella and campylobacter. Consumer Report will publish the new study in their January 2010 issue.

Here is an excerpt from Consumer Reports' article...

"Consumer Reports has been measuring contamination in store-bought chickens since 1998. For our latest analysis, we had an outside lab test 382 chickens bought last spring from more than 100 supermarkets, gourmet- and natural-food stores, and mass merchandisers in 22 states. We tested three top brands—Foster Farms, Perdue, and Tyson—as well as 30 nonorganic store brands, nine organic store brands, and nine organic name brands. Five of the organic brands were labeled "air-chilled" (a slaughterhouse process in which carcasses are refrigerated and may be misted, rather than dunked in cold chlorinated water).

Among our findings:

Campylobacter was in 62 percent of the chickens, salmonella was in 14 percent, and both bacteria were in 9 percent. Only 34 percent of the birds were clear of both pathogens. That's double the percentage of clean birds we found in our 2007 report but far less than the 51 percent in our 2003 report.

Among the cleanest overall were air-chilled broilers. About 40 percent harbored one or both pathogens. Eight Bell & Evans organic broilers, which are air chilled, were free of both, but our sample was too small to determine that all Bell & Evans broilers would be.

Store-brand organic chickens had no salmonella at all, showing that it's possible for chicken to arrive in stores without that bacterium riding along. But as our tests showed, banishing one bug doesn't mean banishing both: 57 percent of those birds harbored campylobacter.

The cleanest name-brand chickens were Perdue's: 56 percent were free of both pathogens. This is the first time since we began testing chicken that one major brand has fared significantly better than others across the board.
Most contaminated were Tyson and Foster Farms chickens. More than 80 percent tested positive for one or both pathogens.

Among all brands and types of broilers tested, 68 percent of the salmonella and 60 percent of the campylobacter organisms we analyzed showed resistance to one or more antibiotics."

This again shows the importance of cooking chicken to 165º F and making sure that raw juices do not come in contact with other food. It also makes a strong case for organic with the organic chicken found with considerably less bacteria than traditional store brands. Here are some quick tips when cooking chicken... try to minimize exposure on surfaces, label and seperate cutting boards for meat vs. produce and use hot water and a natural safe disinfectant to clean all surfaces.

Food Inc. Encore Showing at the Farm

If you weren't able to make it to Food, Inc., or if you loved it and want to see it again and invite a friend...

GO TO THE FARM FOR AN ENCORE SHOWING!

• Trader's Point Creamery
• Friday, December 4th, 8:30 pm
• Movie Night on the Farm - Food Inc.
• absolutely free!

With the recent video release, Food Inc. is back and has many in Indy talking about it again. Trader's Point Creamery is the perfect example of real local, organic food and it is appropriate that they are hosting Food Inc. at their farm. I am looking forward to making Friday a fun family night and hope to take home Trader's Point Creamery's egg nog I have heard so much about.

"You know, I don’t even talk about in the film [Food Inc.] whether GMOs are good for us or bad for us. But what I find so amazing is Monsanto saying we can’t feed the world without [their genetically modified seeds], but then they’ll do everything possible to stop you from knowing they’re in your food…. Shouldn’t your product speak for itself?"

Robert Kenner, director of Food Inc.

Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner Tips

Thanksgiving Dinner and "healthy"... three words that are usually not paired together. How many of us remember huge Thanksgiving dinners with traditional turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and pies, pumpkin pie, apple pie, sweet potatoe pie. I remember eating so much (because it was all so good) and then feeling so full that all I wanted to do was take a nap.

Although we will be having Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends and all pitching in, I am hoping to make a few healthy changes this year...

First, consider supporting locally grown food. We will receive a wonderful assortment of locally grown organic produce from Farm Fresh Delivery. Farm Fresh Delivery is like a year-round farmer's market delivered direct to our door. It is a great way to support local farmers and it is very convenient. You can also look for locally or regionally grown food in your local grocery or visit Gatewoods Farm, located on Route 216 in Noblesville, for local produce and amish baked goods.

Second, consider adding a healthy twist to traditional recipes by swapping a few simple ingredients. Here are a couple suggestions I found...

* substitute skim milk or butter milk (butter milk has probiotics for healthy digestion).
* substitute 100% whole wheat or whole grain bread in stuffing recipes. Or consider quinoa, which is not only a complete protein but also an excellent source of magnesium, a mineral that’s often deficient in people with hypertension.
* a lighter version of sweet potatoe casserole... substitute pecons for the topping instead of marshmallows.

Here is a healthy alternative to store bought pie crusts

Pecan Nut Crust from AllRecipes.com
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups ground pecans
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup sugar (I recommend raw sugar)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions:
1. Stir together ground nuts, cinnamon, and sugar. Mix in melted butter.
2. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch, deep-dish style, pie pan. Chill the unbaked crust in the refrigerator for about 30 to 45 minutes.
3. Place pie crust on a cookie sheet, and position on the middle rack of a preheated 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. WATCH it carefully, as nut crusts burn easily; they DON'T have to turn black to taste burnt! Cool completely before filling.


Click here for a complete Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner meal plan with recipes.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Environmental Working Group Reports School Cleaning Products Making Children Sick

More and more families are making natural/safe choices when purchasing cleaning products for our homes. But a recent report by the Environmental Working Group reveals that our children may be at risk at school and that school cleaning products may be making our children sick.

Here is a portion of the EWG Report....

"Cleaning Supplies Can Contaminate Classroom Air
Ordinary school cleaning supplies can expose children to multiple chemicals linked to asthma, cancer, and other documented health problems and to hundreds of other air contaminants that have never been tested for safety, a study by the Environmental Working Group shows. Laboratory tests done for EWG found that a typical assortment of cleaning products released 457 distinct chemicals into the air.

EWG’s findings come at a time when childhood asthma and many childhood cancers are on the rise.

Lax labeling requirements mean that schools often don't know what they're purchasing. Many would be alarmed to learn that when used as directed, Comet Disinfectant Powder Cleanser, a product commonly used in both schools and private homes, released more than 100 air contaminants, including chloroform, benzene, and formaldehyde." Click here for full report.

Unfortunately, many schools are unaware of the danger to our health from many chemicals present in common cleaning products and even in some "greener" products. Current laws do not require manufacturing companies to test products for safety prior to releasing them for sale to the public. This is why it is so important to chose a company you can trust and who will not put profit before the safety of the consumer. As parents, we should work with schools to find all natural/safe cleaning products from trusted companies. Then, contact our local, state and national elected officials and let them know we expect them to put children first and protect them legislatively.

Junk Food Ads Directed at Kids

A recent study by the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior exposes what most parents already know... The Food Industry is targeting children heavily for unhealthy junk food ads. Researchers at the University of California Davis analyzed the type and frequency of food advertising on Saturday morning and weekday afternoon television for both English and Spanish American television programs.

“Study after study has documented the adverse health effects of food advertising targeting children and adolescents,” they wrote.

The study found that nearly a third of commercials on children’s networks were for food, compared to a fifth during programming for a general audience. The majority of these (70 percent) were for foods that were high in sugar or fat. Adolecent teenagers are not exempt and continue to be targeted with over 50% of advertising for fast food restaurants.

In addition, the researchers found that for every nutrition-based public service announcement, there were 63 advertisements for food products.

Parents can't wait for the food industry to get a concious... self regulation is not working. What can parents do to counteract these unhealthy junk food ads? #1.. Educate our children about the importance of a whole food diet and healthy lifestyle. Teach them that advertisers are financially motivated to lure them into using their products and their goal is to hook you as a regular/long term user. #2 Reduce or eliminate tv viewing and promote a positive influence on our children.

Lead in Face Paint

Halloween is considered one of the top holidays for kids of all ages and dressing up isn't just for the little kids anymore... My neighbor takes great pleasure in dressing up every year and giving trick-or-treaters a fun scare. This year I even had a few parents come dressed up while escorting their kids from house to house.

I love to see the different costumes and how cute the kids are but this year I couldn't help but think of all the kids and parents who had their face painted and may be exposed to lead and didn't even know it. A couple days ago the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released a report about lead in face paint. Unfortunately there is a lack of safety regulations in the cosmetics industry in the U.S. It is scary but the report found lead, a neurotoxin that has been removed from gasoline and more recently many toys, in all 10 samples of face paint tested; there weren't any metals listed on the product ingredient label and 6 of the 10 products also contained Nickel, chromium, and cobalt which can trigger skin rashes with subsequent exposures.

Unfortuntely, this is not an isolated problem. Recent studies have also found lead in lipstick and again the problem is a lack of safety regulations in the U.S. cosmetic industry. Teenagers can be at a higher risk for exposure because they may be experimenting with make-up and re-applying often throughout the day. However, women of all ages are being exposed to chemicals and toxins in our cosmetics every day, leading to potential health risks like birth defects and cancer.

What can we do? First, tell your Congressional Representative to "Give the Cosmetics Industry a Make-over!". Join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and sign the petition for Congress.

Until safety regulations are in place, avoid commercial face paints by making your own. Also, select safe chemical free cosmetics for every day use or that special night out for you and those you love and care about.

Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season Boost Your Immune System

Taking optimal care of our health and following some simple steps can help us stay healthy during cold and flu season. The key is to boost our immune system and keep it strong... here are a few simple guidelines:

*Wash your hands. This will decrease the chance of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth and other people. Avoid antibacterial soap, which actually does more harm than good, and use a pure, chemical-free soap.

*Eliminate sugar and processed foods from your diet. Sugar consumption has an immediate, debilitating effect on our immune system and can be hiding in places we may not expect like ketchup, fruit juice, jelly, etc. Read the labels and be conservative during the upcoming Halloween season.

*Optimize your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked as a likely cause of seasonal flu viruses. Getting an optimal level of vitamin D in your diet and supplements will help you fight infections of all kinds.

*Boost your immune system naturally. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day and supplementing our diets by taking a natural whole food multi-vitamin for adults and children, and other immune building vitamins can reduce the chance of getting sick and shorten the duration when we do.

*Use Natural Antibiotics. Garlic is known for it's natural antibiotic properties and works like broad-spectrum antibiotics against bacteria and viruses in our body. Unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics, garlic does not appear to lead to resistance and will not depleat the good bacteria in our digestive tract. For children too young to swallow pills, you can crush the garlic and add it to applesauce or other soft food.

*Add Probiotics for their immune building benefits. Our immune system begins in our colon and requires a higher percentage of good vs. bad bacteria. We can increase food sources of probiotics by eating yogurt, sourkraut, buttermilk, kefir and supplement by taking a high quality, guaranteed delivery probiotic supplement.

*Exercise. Your immune system needs good circulation in order to perform at its best for you and exercise also reduces stress.

*Deal with stress effectively. When we are overwhelmed by stress, our bodies are less able to fight infection.

*Get plenty of good quality sleep.

Following these simple guidelines will keep our immune system in optimal working order so that we are far less likely to get the infection to begin with. However, if we do, our immune system will be able to fight and recover from the infection or virus more effectively.

Flu Vaccines and Thimerosal

Conversations at water coolers, coffee shops and social networking sites are all a buzz about who has the flu, how many kids are out in your school and whether you and your children are going to get the flu/H1N1 flu shot. There are a lot of opinions but here is an interview with Dr. Kent Holtorf, doctor and infectious disease expert, on Fox News talking about the risks of the flu shot, the lack of testing and that he would not give the vaccination to his children. Dr. Holtorf says the H1N1 vaccine has 25,000 times the level of mercury proven toxic if it was in food or water. Here is his interview:



Dr. Oz took the flu shot on his show, however he also disclosed that it is mandated because of his employment. In another interview, he disclosed that his wife and children will not be taking the vaccine.

If you decide to vaccinate, ask your doctor about thimerosal (a common preservative and known neurotoxin) and ask for thimerosal free vaccinations. The children’s flu vaccine contains 12.5 mcg of mercury. According to the National Vaccine Information Center, this level of mercury is not considered safe for persons weighing less than 275 lbs. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention urged vaccine makers to remove thimerosal because of potential neurological damage.

I believe it is a personal choice to vaccinate but I will be abstaining from the Flu Vaccine for myself and family.

Kid-Safe Chemicals - EWG Needs Our Support!

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) sent out an action alert to all their supporters asking for our help to "turn up the heat" on their effort for Kid-safe Chemicals.

Here is a snapshot from what the EWG sent out...

Tomorrow, October 6, we meet with leading scientists, policy experts, and business leaders for a historic conference to explore fundamental changes to U.S. chemicals policy, which EWG has been advocating for years. We will begin an intense, important, long-overdue conversation with key stakeholders about the steps needed to modernize our broken federal toxics law.

Watch our historic toxics policy conference online. You can join us by watching our conference livestream on (or after) October 6 and reading our blog updates throughout the conference on our Kid-Safe Chemicals site.


Please forward this on to your family and friends and let's tell Congress and the chemical industry that it is time we put children first and make positive change!

We are more powerful together: Ask 10 of your friends to sign our toxics petition.

Together we can send a powerful message to our representatives.

The Future of Food

What do we really know about "Genetically Modified Food (GMO)"? What will be the safety and long term affects on our food, our families and future generations? It is important for all of us to be aware and when possible, vote with our purchasing power for food that is grown naturally and safe. After watching The Future of Food, what is your opinion of GMO foods? Please share your thoughts and opinions.

White River Clean Up 2009

This coming weekend my family will join over 1,000 volunteers to find trash in and around the White River in Hamilton County. We have been participating in the White River Clean Up for almost 10 years. We started when my daughter was in Girl Scouts and now we work with the local Boy Scouts. Last year we found some big items... including tires. Participating in the White River Clean Up is a great opportunity to work along side our children in our local communities.

Steve Schwartz, founder of White River Rescue and owner of Schwartz's Bait and Tackle on the White River in Noblesville, has a better idea than most people on the health of the White River. Steve believes we have greatly improved the White River by making garbage dumping unacceptable. However, Tim Stottlemyer with Noblesville's Wastewater Utility feels that the next challenge deals more with problems that cannot be seen. Rain washes unseen soaps and harmful chemicals into streets and storm drains and then into our streams and local waterways. These unseen chemicals are not only an issue for the fish and wild life but also the health of everyone who enjoys the recreation on the White River and other local waterways.

If you would like to come out to help, organizers are meeting at the Moose Lodge at 950 Field Drive in Noblesville and hours are from 9 am to 3 pm. If you cannot help, I hope you will make safe choices when buying home care products and reduce chemicals in and around your home.

Most importantly, responsibly dispose of unwanted chemicals... including household cleaning products, pesticides, oil and old paint at the Household Hazardous Waste Center at 1717 Pleasant St., Noblesville.

Green Vacinations?

The idea of Green Vaccinations has been popping up in the news lately and there is an increased awareness of potential risk factors and possible links to vaccination complications. One factor may be that in 1983, the CDC vaccination schedule from birth to six years totaled 18 vaccines. Today, it’s 50 - that is a big jump! View the complete vaccine schedule for 2009 here: http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/2009-schedule.htm.

This issue has caught my attention and here are a few things to consider when preparing to immunize your child:

*Discuss with your doctor which vaccines are necessary for your child. We are all different and one size doesn't fit all.
*Avoid immunizing when your child is sick or recently recovered from an illness.
*Consider boosting your child's immune system before, during and after the immunization by providing a healthy balanced diet, eliminating or reducing sugar and increasing natural whole food supplements.
*Do not give your child a vaccine containing thimerosal. Insist on thimerosal-free vaccines. Those on the CDC routine immunization schedule should be thimerosal-free. Those not on the routine schedule, including the flu shot, typically contain thimerosal. If you give the flu shot, a thimerosal-free version may need to be special-ordered by your pediatrician.
*Always ask for and review the vaccine’s package insert. Read the section on ingredients so you know what is in the vaccine and ask your doctor any questions. Check for the following potentially harmful ingredients, which are called adjuvants: aluminum, antibiotics, and formaldehyde. Additionally, if your child is allergic to monosodium glutamate (MSG) or eggs, let your doctor know, and check the package insert for these ingredients. Note that all flu vaccines and the MMR vaccine contain egg protein.
*Some recommend one vaccine per visit. This may require multiple office visits, but giving one at a time (such as one vaccine per month) reduces any complications from the interaction of multiple vaccines. It will also help you identify which vaccine caused a problem if there are any adverse reactions.

To find natural health care professionals and resources in your area, visit http://www.integrativepeds.org/

FOOD, INC. In Local Theaters

FOOD, INC. is being held over in local Indianapolis Theaters for Another Week! if you haven't had a chance to go see it (like me), we are in luck. Landmark Theatres will be showing "Food Inc." for another week. FOOD, INC. is a must see for everyone who cares about what we eat, how it is grown and buying local. Whether you are new or a long time supporter to buying local, sustainability, food miles, or supporting and knowing local food growers, this is a movie for everyone. I will be taking my children this weekend and look forward to reinforcing buying local and similar concepts.

• "Food Inc." is playing at Landmark Keystone Arts Theater (Keystone at the Crossing)tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Landmark.aspx today through August 20.
• Current showtimes are 4:15 and 9:45 pm
• The film is rated PG, and has a running time of 1 hr 33 min.

For more information about the film, go to www.foodincmovie.com/

Juicing - Healthy and Fun with Kids

We bought our family a Jack Lalanne juicer and it has been a huge hit! I am always looking for new ways to introduce fruit and veggies into our diet and the juicer does that in a fun way for the kids. My son, who has traditionally been the pickiest eater of my kids, was the biggest fan initially but now it is a daily request by all the kids. They love it and I know they are getting extra fruits and veggies in a fun way. I even sneak in veggies in sweeter fruits and they don't suspect a thing. Here are some of our favorite recipe's, please share yours...

handful strawberries
1 apple
1 small carrot

handful strawberries
handful raspberries
pineapple

carrot
fresh ginger
apple

carrot
cucumber
fresh ginger
apple

Organic Chemical Free Gardening

I think one of the hardest places to eliminate chemicals for a busy mom is in the flower bed! I stopped using chemical weed prevention on my flower garden a couple years ago and I admit it has made my hobby a little harder to keep in line. Last year my husband teased me that I had a weed garden instead of a flower garden... the ratio of weeds to flowers was taking over. However, eleminating chemicals in our gardens and on our lawns is a growing concern among green moms. Healthy Child Healthy World is one of the leading advocates for organic chemical free gardening and shares that some of these chemicals have been linked to childhood illnesses including cancer. I admit it is difficult not to give in to using chemicals, especially when removing weeds manually can be so time consuming. However, I am excited to say there may be a safer solution that will not only save me time but save my back as well. Call your local garden center and ask for organic corn meal, a safe alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers. The Rocket Weeder I purchased last year and a good layer of mulch will also help me stay on my path of organic chemical free gardening... safer for my family and the planet. I'm looking forward to a relatively maintenance and weed free season without the traditional chemicals of the past.

Indy Baby and Toddler Expo

If you are looking for something to do this weekend... stop by the Indy Baby and Toddler Expo on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday April 26th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. I will be there helping other moms and dads learn about some of the common chemicals found in our homes. If you attend, please be sure to stop by and say hello (booth 204 by the Daddy area). http://www.indybabyexpo.com

Earth Day in Indy With Kids

Tomorrow is Earth Day and has been a focus for our family all month. We have been checking out books at the library and planning Earth Day meetings/activities for Boy Scouts and my son's preschool. It is a great month to take advantage of the many opportunities to share Earth Day in Indy with kids. Your local library is a great resource to find books and movies on recycling, water pollution, organic farming and local food and much more. Here are some books we checked out: 50 simple things kids can do to recycle by Earth Works Group; Water Pollution by Rhonda Lucas Donald; Do you know where your food comes from? by Neil Morris; Endangered Planet by David Burnie and for your preschooler, 10 things I can do to help my world: fun and easy by Melanie Walsh.

If you are looking for some local activities for Earth Day in Indy, here are a few to check out...

Celebrate Trees! Arbor Day Friday, April 24th at the Indiana State Museum. Learn what trees do for us and what we can do for them. Live demo's with Tim Womick of Tree Family, Johnny Appleseed and special guest Rupert Boneham of Survivor. www.indianamuseum.org

Free Indianapolis Earth Day Festival – Saturday, April 25th from 11 am – 4 pm. Learn more at: http://www.earthdayindiana.org

Earth Movie – coming out Earth Day April 22, 2009. Check local listings (may be select theatres only) http://disney.go.com/disneynature/earth

IMAX Under the Sea 3D – showing for a limited time. http://www.imax.com/indy/films/underthesea3d.htm

Indiana State Museum – Footprints Exhibit. http://www.indianamuseum.org/footprints

Earth Hour - Vote Earth With Family Fun

Tomorrow night people around the world will "vote earth" by participating in Earth Hour 2009. Many cities have pledged to turn out the lights but just as important, is the number of families that participate with their children. What are you doing for Earth Hour? I think the event is a great way to have some family fun and teach our children the importance of making good choices for the planet. Here are a couple family fun ideas to do in the dark for Earth Hour...

*flashlight tag
*hide and seek
*a family walk
*watch a movie in the dark
*eat a late dinner by candle light
*play a board game or cards by candle light
*invite family & friends over for a "Earth Hour" party

What ever you decide to do tomorrow night... I hope you will turn off the lights between 8:30 and 9:30 pm. Also, encourage your children to visit Earth Hour Kids, a special website just for kids. Then, make a plan to "vote earth" every day.

Sugar Detox

On my recent vacation I took along several books and although I didn't get as much reading time in as I anticipated... I did make it through a couple books. Unlike many of the beach bound, I was not reading a novel. Instead, I took the opportunity to catch up on several new releases on health and self improvement.

One I highly recommend is The Sugar Fix by Richard Johnson. On the flight to the Dominican, I was reading the March issue of Natural Health Magazine and was surprised to find an article on "Sugar Detox" including information from Richard Johnson's The Sugar Fix. An interesting coincidence since I had packed both publications in my carry on for the flight. The overall message is that we are taking in too much sugar.... mostly in the forms of table sugar and high fructose corn syrup. I have already adopted many of the recommendations like reducing sugary drinks like soda pop and juice, eliminating white flour and opting for whole grains and choosing no sugar added whenever possible. However, I was surprised to find that on closer examination of items in my pantry and refrigerator, I found high fructose corn syrup in things I wouldn't have suspected... pickles, ketchup, barbecue sauce, etc. According to The Sugar Fix, some experts believe the increase of sugar in our diets may be contributing to more than excess weight by increasing our risks for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and more. So, I will be taking a closer look at all my food labels from now on and searching out more natural, whole food ingredients.

Certified Scuba Diver

My husband and I escaped the cold of the Midwest last week with friends to enjoy sun and beaches. The weather was beautiful and although it was hard to be cut off from from home... it also brought us closer to more simple pleasures. While my husband was excited about scuba diving (his new passion which it appears has surpassed his love of golf), I on the other hand was looking forward to relaxing by the beach and reading. However, things turned out differently... After completing a 2 day scuba diving class, I got certified (my open water dives were in the ocean!) and then we went diving the next 2 days with a group and the Dive Master at our resort. I got in 8 dives total... not bad since I was adamant going into the trip that I would just be happy on top of the water snorkeling. However, I have to say the view below is just amazing! I think it makes us think about the awe of nature and how we are all connected by our actions. The beauty of the ocean is breath taking but some warn that we may be risking that beauty through the choices we make not only in the ocean, but at home. Many are taking responsibility to protect coral reefs. We can learn more from NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program: Things You Can Do. I hope by making smart choices at home and supporting conservation groups working on our behalf, I will be able to enjoy my new hobby under the water for many years.

Kid Safe Chemicals Act - Sign the Declaration

Show Congress we are watching and sign the Kid Safe Chemicals Act Declaration at http://www.kidsafechemicals.org/ . If you want a reason why, watch the video on the site.

The Will Steger Foundation

I received an invitation to attend the "Get Down & Give Back Gala", Febuary 7th 2009 at the Atlas Grill & Clubroom in Minneapolis, MN. The event is a call to action with all proceeds benefiting the Will Steger Foundation. You can learn more about the event and buy tickets at http://www.getdowngiveback.org/ . Although I can't attend, the invitation reminded me to look at Steger's website and see what was new. If you haven't heard of Will Stegar, he is known for his many polar expeditions and efforts to raise awareness of the growing environmental challenges. He has been tracking changes in the Antarctic for many years and most recently in 2007 began to share his experiences with teachers, students and families through the website http://www.globalwarming101.com./ Possibly more important than the times he has appeared before Congress, internationally or the many awards he has received, is the awareness and inspiration he has brought to the younger generations.

Looking for something to do with your family this winter... log onto http://www.globalwarming101.com/ and learn about Will Steger's expeditions to Baffin Island and Ellesmere Island. Then, get ready to follow the upcoming expedition by the Will Steger Foundation partners' John Huston and Tyler Fish as they head to the North Pole for the first American unsupported ski expedition on the Victorinox North Pole 09 Expedition.

Make sure you get connected on http://www.globalwarming1010.com/ by registering for future newsletters and find out how you can take action at home in your community.

Green and Healthy Resolutions

I have been procrastinating making a list of goals for the new year. Then last weekend I attended a new year training conference and one of the topics was on setting, writing down and tracking your goals. I started thinking about how I could bring this idea home for my family to set "green and healthy resolutions". I am constantly trying to balance teaching my children to make "healthy choices" and allowing them some of the "not so healthy" pleasures of childhood. So our first family goal is to make sure we are eating a colorful diet of fresh raw veggies and fruit every day. Second, I am trying to get all of us to drink more pure water every day. I recently read where we should all be drinking 1/2 of our body weight in ounces of pure water every day. Then, we are adding a few "green" goals as well.... Making sure we are all turning off the lights when we leave a room, unplugging phone chargers and appliances when they are not being used and we bought a space heater which allows us to keep the furnace temperature down and just heat the space we are in. We can't do everything but we can all do something. If you and your family have other ideas, please feel free to share things you are doing in your home to make green and healthy choices for the new year.

Happy New Year!

I can hardly believe that we are in 2009. The Fall just flew by and even the holiday season almost seems a blur. I have really enjoyed spending Christmas with our family and friends! We have played cards, gone to the movies and rented movies (Bedtime Stories, Seven #'s and Mama Mia), stayed up late and slept in late. This year we had a big Nerf Christmas; my husband and the boys have shot Nerf guns all over the house - they have had a lot of fun! We went to Michigan for Christmas with our families, had friends (adopted family) in from Florida and Chicago and more family stay with us on their way up from Florida back to Michigan. It has been a great holiday - it has just flown by so fast! The kids are not ready to go back to school and I admit, I am wishing we had a few more days too.