Monday A La Mode: August 5, 2013

Welcome to this week's Monday A La Mode, where you can see what's new and happening in the green mom world without spending hours on the internet. Here's what I found this week that may interest you. Hope you enjoy! 

Lovin' This Blog...

• DIY Inspired  is a great resource for do-it-yourself project ideas! Not only are there tons of tutorials, you can submit your own ideas for upcycling, repurposing, etc. Check it out at www.diyinspired.com and, while you're there, let her know that you are visiting from MMC. 

In the News...

• Jamie Oliver, renowned burger chef, has seen his campaign against McDonald's finally make a difference. The chain has announced that they are changing their hamburger recipe and will no longer be using "pink slime" as a filler in their patties. Go Jamie! Check out some of the great recipes and blog posts on his website by clicking here. 
• The EPA has approved higher levels of Monsanto's RoundUp and other chemicals on food grown for human consumption. Now more than ever, it is important to buy local and organic or just grown your own! To find local organic farmers or to buy non-gmo seed, visit www.LocalHarvest.org by clicking here.
• In Iowa, a judge has stopped the opening of horse slaughter plants that planned to open today. A temporary measure, the permanent ruling will be determined by the outcome of a pending court case. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is attempting to reinstate a prior ban on horse slaughter in the United States. For more info on the issue and why many are opposed, watch the video below or visit the Humane Society's information page by clicking here. 

 

Check Out This Contest...

• If you are in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina, enter your favorite original salad recipe for a chance to have it published and win prizes valued at up to $250! Click here for more details and to enter on SCNow.com. 
• Green Apple Supply, founded in 2010, offers a variety of affordable green products. The company has just launched a  new website to make green shopping choices easy and affordable.  To celebrate, they are giving away a $25 giftcard. Click here to enter to win! To visit their site, click here. Their are lots of great items on the site and I'll be ordering some things myself after we finish moving. Check it out!
  
  
  

Quote of the Week...

• "Organic farming has been shown to provide major benefits for wildlife and the wider environment. The best thing that can be said about genetically engineered crops is that they will now be monitored to see how much damage they cause." - Prince Charles

That's everything for this week. Have a great Monday!

I love to read your comments. Let me know what you like, how you feel, and if you have any suggestions for Monday A La Mode. Did you learn anything?  If you like this article, please share with your friends using the buttons below for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google. 

To see previous Monday A La Mode posts, click on the Monday A La Mode tab at the top of the page.

Monday A La Mode: July 15, 2013

Another Monday is upon us and that means it's time for the 3rd edition of Monday A La Mode. This Monday is a special day at my house. My stepson is officially a teenager today. Yep, that's right, thirteen years old. So first and foremost I want to wish him a very happy birthday!

And now, let me share some of the things I discovered recently...

IN THE NEWS...

• Trayvon Martin's killer has been acquitted to the shock of most of the nation. What do you think of the verdict? The best news article I've seen on this and the one which most accurately mirrors my own viewpoint is from Mother Earth News. Click here to read the article. 
• If you don't already subscribe to Mother Earth News, give it a try. You will receive a single daily email from them.

DID YOU KNOW...

• Shea butter is in many bath and body products as a moisturizer, but it happens to be good for many skin conditions as well. Try a sugar scrub or bar soap that contains a good amount of shea butter to help with eczema, psoriascis, or rosacea. I tried a sugar scrub and spent a great deal of time analyzing the ingredient list to find out why my eczema cleared up while using it! The best way to make sure a product contains more than just a trace of the ingredient is to make your own. Speaking of making your own...

YOU MAY WANT TO READ...

• The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Natural Beauty Products - You may not want to follow these recipes exactly and some of them require too many ingredients to justify making a small batch just for yourself, but this is a great guide to get you started. Most of the recipes are super easy to adjust to make them into just what you want! 
• As for fiction, I was reminded recently of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which is (in my opinion) one of the greatest books ever written. It's sheer simplicity is part of the wonder. I bought a first edition of this book as a gift for my son for Christmas 2012. He told me last week that it was the best gift he got last Christmas and is now a prized possession. If you haven't read it, I recommend an immediate trip to the local library!
• The August issue of Real Simple Magazine features seven centenarians. Great inspiration for keeping healthy and active and a great reminder to enjoy life, some of these seniors workout more often than I do and have more active social lives too! All at 100+ years old!

SAVE YOUR MONEY...

• Never buy air freshener again! Instead, simmer one or more of your favorite scents in water on the stove. Use a fan to spread the scent if you need. For starters try lemon peel (save the peels from lemons you've used) and cinnamon. If you have a stubborn odor you need to get rid of, add a few spoonfulls of baking soda to the pot.
• Later, pour the cooled mixture into a spray bottle and use in any specific areas, like bathrooms or pet areas. Remember this mixture may not keep long, depending upon what's in it.
• If you use soap nuts for your laundry, save the used ones! I keep a container on top of the dryer for mine. When you have a few cups of them, simmer in water on the stove and strain the resulting liquid into a spray bottle. You have a great multipurpose cleaner! Use it on countertops and stoves, on dishes, or on floors. 
• If you haven't tried soap nuts for laundry, I find I save a ton versus store bought detergents. Click here to see more info on soap nuts and/or buy your own.

I REALLY ENJOYED...

• The Joys of Simple Life is a blog written by Mai Songalia and I really enjoyed reading her post this week titled "Five Inspirational Quotes to Remind You Why Money Isn't Everything." I don't want to spoil it for you so I won't say more. Just click here to read it for yourself.

APPS TO TRY...

• I'm doing a lot of physical conditioning lately but sometimes I just don't have time to drive to the gym for strength training. Enter Sworkit, an app that lets you enter the time and type of workout you want. You can choose to have sound or not, workout for as few as five minutes, and choose cardio or strength. The app guides you through exercises and times you. 
• Then try the Runtastic Heart Rate app to measure your heart rate after (or before) your workout. Yes, your phone can measure your heart rate! You hold your finger over the camera and flash for just a couple of seconds.I love it!

WHAT IS THAT...

• If you've heard a lot about fracking lately, but wish you knew the facts, watch Gasland 2, a documentary series on HBO. See the trailer below and go have a great week!

GASLAND 2 HBO trailer from JFOX on Vimeo.


Don't forget to leave your comments or questions below. And if you like this post share it with your friends via the Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ buttons below. 

Monday A La Mode

As promised previously, I've got some interesting tidbits to share with you that I've discovered recently. So here's the dish for today -


IN THE NEWS:

• The President of the United States will be speaking at 1:35pm EST on Tuesday, June 25, about his new plan to address climate change. Don't miss this! See the video he released below.

MOVEMENTS TO FOLLOW:

• What is slow food? Put simply, it's the opposite of fast food. Learn more about the Slow Food movement and join Slow Food USA as well as your local chapter. My local chapter has potluck dinners and other meetings, as well as our own facebook page and website. While you can donate as much or as little as you like, I joined Slow Food USA via their $5 challenge. Check it out by clicking here. 
• Moms Across America is organizing 4th of July marches against GMOs in America. For more info or to join Moms Across America, join a march, or even organize a march in your town, just click here. 
• The Story of Stuff is an online community of problem solvers that lets you weigh in on issues that matter to you. Take a stand for a "sustainable and just planet" while you participate in study programs, sign petitions you support, or just keep up with current issues. Join by clicking here. Watch the video below about bottled water in our National Parks and then head on over to sign their petition to stop National Parks from selling bottled water by clicking here. 

FRUGAL RECIPE ALERT!

• You may know that I am feel strongly about food being wasted. I believe in checking the fridge for leftovers and fresh food that's near spoiling before I plan a meal. For a great way to turn leftover rice into a sweet treat (there's also a savory option if you prefer), click here to try this recipe for calas, a traditional cajun snack that used to be sold by street vendors in New Orleans. 

LOW CARB REAL FOOD RECIPE:

• No guilt here! This recipe is great for your low-carb diet and it's all made from scratch. Remember to buy all of your ingredients locally if at all possible! Click here to get Rachel Ray's recipe for Lamb Burgers on Fennel Salad. 

DID YOU KNOW...

• According to a recent article from Reader's Digest, before WWII all crops were organic. Farmers had not yet begun to use pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. To read the complete article online, complete with a slide show, click here. 
• Recycling is great, but repurposing is even better. Before you throw anything in the recycling bin, think about how you might be able to re-use it and save a little money in the process. Example: Plastic containers filled with sand, salt, rice, etc., make great dumbbells! Fill two matching containers and weigh on a food scale or bathroom scale (depending on the desired weight) to be sure they are even. Remove any labels and use a permanent marker to write the weight on the outside of each. This is great for any container that has a handle or is small enough to wrap your hand around including 20 oz drink bottles, dishwasher or laundry detergent bottles, and cooking oil bottles.



Tea Tree Oil

• Tea Tree Oil is kills bacteria and fungus naturally so it's a great ingredient for homemade bath and skincare products. Bonus: I love the way it smells! Also look for it in organic or natural store-bought products as a natural alternative to chemical anti-bacterial agents. Other natural anti-bacterials include honey, thyme, lavender, rosemary, peppermint, orange oil, lemon oil, grapefruit oil, and lemongrass. 
• There is an easy and natural way to clean the inside of your microwave. Fill a microwavable bowl with a solution of half vinegar and half water. Microwave on high for two minutes. Next, dip a sponge in the same solution (be careful, it may be hot) and use it to wipe away the grime. 

I love to read your comments. Let me know what you like, how you feel, and if you have any suggestions for Monday A La Mode. Did you learn anything?  Please share with your friends using the buttons below for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google! Thanks!

D is for Do-It-Yourself

My great friend and an amazing blogger, Shai, is back as a guest on Mama Making Changes! I've said before, I'm just not the artsy, creative type. I have to rely on my friends for craft ideas! Shai, however, is a true artist. Enjoy this genius DIY post and then head over to thank her by visiting her site. The link is at the bottom of the post.

So far in my blog life, I’ve written about cloth diapering, no’pooing, baby wearing, healthy eating, container gardening, and a plethora of other awesome but often irrelevant topics, depending on who’s reading. This post can apply to anyone who can hold a needle and thread, and/or owns duct tape!  This project is absolutely NOT a necessity…but it sure is fun to make.

Besides, you can turn yourself into a superhero. Raise your hand if you’ve always wanted to be Wonder Woman?

Thought so.

Here’s what you need:
Old t-shirt you don’t need/want
Silver Duct Tape
Colored Duct Tape (optional, but fun!)
Stuffing of some sort (magazines, newspaper, quilt batting, fabric scraps…I used a bit of each)

Eco-Conscious Status: Somewhat. The duct tape isn’t the most biodegradable thing on the planet, but neither are the contents of ‘real’ dress forms. You may also already have duct tape lying around the house. If you repurpose the stuffing, and shirt, and save the money/gas/shipping/packaging/footprint of a ‘real’ dress form, then I’d call it a good choice! It’s also personalized to your form, so you save on alterations (which saves on thread and material, in the end).  Add all of that together and I think you’re on the eco-friendly good end with this project.

And here’s the easy peasy tutorial:

1. Put on shirt, and have a friend wrap the duct tape around you, over the shirt. Take a picture which accidentally focuses upon your feet.

2. Keep going, but try to make the rows as even and un-bunched as possible. Go all around the shirt, bottom to top, at least two times. We did two because I knew I would do extra layers with the colored duct tape later. 

3. Stand in super hero stance, like a goofball, and let your best friend take humiliating pictures of you.

4. I didn’t get a picture of us in action on this one, but you can get the point. Cut straight up the back, including the old shirt. Be careful doing this – we almost cut my dress and I would have had to drive home in my birthday suit. True story.

5. Tape the seam back up, tape up the holes, and then cover in duct tape/marker as you see fit. Again, the last part is optional. I just figured if this thing was going to be around awhile, I might as well use it to display my top-secret X-Men status. 

Voila! Dress form! You can stick it on a pole (umbrella stands work great, I hear) and fill it with caulk to hold it in place, if you wish. Mine works for me as is, as I rarely make anything that needs to fit my hips. Have fun! 

Author Bio: Shai is a mom, student, artist, and blogger. Her popular blog, The Vagabond Studio, is full of healthy recipes, upcycling ideas, and inspiring posts about her thoughts on everything from parenting to peace, green living to green businesses. Head on over to check it out and maybe leave a comment, here on this post or on a Vagabond post, to let her know you love it and thank her for posting on MMC!

B is for Bags

Click here for a full list of my posts and a list of participating blogs in the 2013 A to Z Challenge!

Aren't bags convenient? Bags allow us to carry more, stay organized, contain loose or small items, and more. But are we using them responsibly? What could we change to be a little more eco-friendly?

Think about how many different ways we use bags each day:

• Is your makeup in a bag?
• Do you keep special jewelry in little jewelry sacks?
• Did your groceries come home in bags?
• Do you buy packaged products that come in bags?
• When you buy bulk, like oats or rice, do you scoop it into a bag? Store it in a bag at home?
• Do you store food in bags?
• Do you carry a handbag or shoulder bag?
• Is your gym bag packed and ready to go at a moment's notice?
• If you are in school, do you carry a book bag?
• When you pack your lunch, do you put it in a bag?
• Do you use gift bags?

I'm sure you can think of more! They're everywhere! Did you know that in the U.S. alone, nearly 100 billion plastic bags are trashed every year, even though most are recyclable? If you choose paper bags whenever they are available, you will be surprised how much they will hold, resulting in your using fewer bags, but what about the trees used to produce them? Of course we could and should use our own re-usable shopping bags, but we don't always remember to take them with us. 

Re-use your plastic or paper bags! Use them to line trash cans, carry your lunch, sort recyclables, pack clothes and other used items for donation, store raw fruits and veggies, or line your garden or flower beds (with paper bags) to hold back weeds. See how many times you can re-use the same bag! 

Gifts that are difficult to wrap in paper, can usually be wrapped in fabric! Try a colorful bandana or other piece of fabric, knotting the four corners on top. Use a round piece of fabric and secure it on top with a ribbon or a strip of colorful fabric. This is actually a great way to upcyle clothing that has seen better days! Just cut it up for gift wrap! You can also use old tees to make shopping bags like the one at left. Get directions by clicking here!

When choosing backpacks, handbags, and other similar bags, materials matter! Many are made from petroleum-derived products and are not easily recycled. Choose bags made from recycled materials and then donate them when you are finished with them. Recycle them again if and when they become unusable. Organic cotton is always a great eco-friendly choice (and easily washable), but a Lily Bloom bag made from recycled plastic is too! 

What other ways do we use bags? What tips can you add for using bags more responsibly?

DIY Earring Display

Tonight I am honored to offer you a guest post by one of my favorite bloggers! I'm really not the very good at coming up with creative project ideas, but I actually love DIY. When it comes to ideas for do-it-yourself, I search other blogs to get project ideas. But in a recent survey on MMC, you my readers said you'd like to see more posts on this subject, so I am honored to you a guest by one of my favorite bloggers, Shai from The Vagabond Studio. Enjoy!

Confession: I have a slight earring addiction. 

Many of these are picked up at Earthbound when they’re on clearance, and nearly all of the bronze/metal dangly ones were picked up as ‘maybe’ sets for the wedding (I wound up wearing pearls, go figure). I never wear them, though, because I can either a) Never find the match b) Forget they exist or c) Find it too much of a pain in the tush to dig through my jewelry box to find something. So... I made this! 

I just painted an old frame ($1 at a thrift store), and hot glued a section of a huge lace curtain (whole curtain was also $1 at the thrift store, and I still have most of it left) to the back of the frame. Voila! Done and done. In the photo below, you can see the glasses display frame I made a few months ago for my glasses collection. This would also work well for sunglasses (mine are all prescription glasses in an insane variety of ridiculous colors), and even hair clips for little girls! Hurray for upcycling and organization at the same time! ♥

Author Bio: Shai is a mom, student, artist, and blogger. Her popular blog, The Vagabond Studio, is full of healthy recipes, upcycling ideas, and inspiring posts about her thoughts on everything from parenting to peace, green living to green businesses. Head on over to check it out and maybe leave a comment, here or there, to let her know you love this post!