Monday A La Mode: October 21, 2013

I hand pick the news, products, websites and more that I believe will interest MMC readers most and compile it all into one easy to read weekly post.

Go to work on Monday morning with something to talk about!

Subscribe to this blog by email in the right sidebar and you'll receive each new post in your inbox.

This week on Monday A La Mode...


What Not to Eat...

You've probably seen the "Dirty Dozen" list of fruits and veggies you should avoid unless organicly grown. But I found a new list this week that's very interesting! Click here to read what eight different experts said was the one food they would never eat, compliments of EatLocalGrown.com. 

Speaking of That...

If you haven't visited EatLocalGrown.com before, click here to go to their home page, where you can find out where to buy locally grown food in your area, share with others where you get your locally grown food, and more. It's a pretty fantastic project that works better and better the more people participate.

Back Up...

Just in case you haven't seen the "Dirty Dozen" list I mentioned above, it is an annually updated list from the Environmental Working Group of the 12 foods that retain the highest amounts of dangerous chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Even if you can't always grow your own or buy organic, avoid these items unless organically grown! 

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Cherry Tomatoes
4. Cucumbers
5. Hot Peppers
6. Grapes
7. Imported Nectarines
8. Peaches
9. Potatoes
10. Spinach
11. Strawberries
12. Sweet Bell Peppers

Click here to visit the Environmental Working Group website where you can download the Dirty Dozen as well as the Clean Fifteen or learn how to get them on your phone or tablet. You can also sign up for their email tips, make a donation, or see the results of all of the foods they tested. 

Earlier this month I promised more info about Breast Cancer Awareness. I found a great site to share with you! I hope you learn lots and have as much fun as I did with their site. They are doing a great job for a great cause...

• Loving the cute buttons and sayings from the non profit Feel Your Boobies Foundation! Click here to like their fb site Feel Your Boobies Foundation or click here to download one of their awesome badges. Share the badge on fb or twitter to be entered to win a free t-shirt.

See the bottom of this post for a great set of directions that will tell you how to feel your boobies properly, also from feelyourboobies.com!

• Be aware of the common symptoms of breast cancer and never hesitate to seek a professional opinion if you are concerned. Early treatment carries a far higher success rate! Possible symptons include:

1. Unexplained redness of the breast.
2. Pain or itching of the breast.
3. Breast swelling or enlargement.
4. Thickening of the breast's skin and ridged or dimpled skin.
5. Swolen lymph nodes in the armpit or just above or below your collarbone.

 That's it for this week's Monday A La Mode. Now, ladies, go feel yourself properly! 

Monday A La Mode: October 7, 2013

It's time for another edition of Monday A La Mode. I've got some interesting stuff for you this week from all around the web. To see more great links, click on the Monday A La Mode tab at the top of the page and see a clickable list of all of the previous editions. 






Bee Helpful:

• Sign this petition from MoveOn.org, asking Lowe's and Home Depot to stop selling plants that have been sprayed with chemicals that poison. The dalarming decline in the bee population could actually mean the end of life as we know it.   Click here to sign now! While there, sign up for their newsletter and recieve email notifications of future petitions.

Quinoa: Love it or hate it? 

• The things we will debate! Apparently there are some who want to be heard loud and clear on the topic of hating quinoa and it has actually been said that quinoa is part of a government conspiracy! Personally I love that their is a healthier, lower carb alternative to rice and pasta and I like the texture better than rice, too.Do you love quinoa or do you agree with the haters?    Click here to read more about this surprising debate.

Child Health Day:

• National Child Health Day is today, October 7th. What changes have you made recently with your child's health in mind? What efforts do you make on a regular basis? What one thing would you recommend to other parents as a critical step in protecting a child's health? Join other moms who are posting short videos on YouTube.com today about how going organic and GMO Free have effected the health of their children. 

Wierd but True: 

• Forget summer love and think fall love! Click here to read about all the reasons you are more likely to get some love this time of year.  Suddenly, I am looking forward to cooler weather even more...

And Just for Laughs:

• Urbanization keeps bringing people and wild animals into closer proximity, sometimes with saddening results. The fox in this video, however, has actually become an attraction at a Swiss golf course. Apparently more people are showing up for an afternoon of golf because they want to see the ball-snatching fox everyone is talking about!

That's it for this Monday! Remember, I love to hear from you! Don't forget to leave your comments below and share this with your friends so they can join the conversation. And have a great week!

Monday A La Mode: September 23, 2013

I hand pick the news, products, websites and more that I believe will interest MMC readers most and compile it all into one easy to read weekly post.

Go to work on Monday morning with something to talk about!

Subscribe to this blog by email in the right sidebar and you'll receive each new post in your inbox. 

This week on Monday A La Mode...

I love stats...

• WhatsYourHealthy.com is a site sponsored by Aetna. While I am in no way promoting Aetna, you'll find some great info here and even some interesting stats, like the survey results below. I've given up fast food and sweets except for the rare treat. Where would you fall on this survey?

Cool new product...

• Chick Beer is a exactly what the name implies. According to their site, 25% of beer drinkers are women, so these "chicks" designed a beer with women in mind and they donate 5% of profits to women's charities.See more of their story and find out where you can buy it at http://chickbeer.com.

Farm fresh...

• 'Tis the season for apples and pears. If you don't have your own fruit trees, don't be afraid to ask neighbors for a bag. Often the fruit falls to the ground and rots because families can't possibly eat it all. You're bound to find plenty of fresh ripe apples and pears at farmer's markets right now, too. Ask your grocer for local and know that you can get it elsewhere if they don't carry local. If you wonder where to find local produce in your area, check out www.localharvest.org.

How can you argue with this...

• Global warming continues to sneak up on us. This surprise is scary but a little cool at the same time. An ancient forest has been exposed by melting ice. Check it out by clicking here to see the full article, complete with pics, on yahoo news. 

Coming soon...

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October. You are likely to be inundated with pink. But, hey, it's just another excuse to flaunt pink, right? Next week's Monday A La Mode will include a list of great ways to support Breast Cancer Awareness online, as well as helpful links for more information on prevention and early warning signs.

I'd love to hear your comments or questions on any of these issues. Share your opinion below. 

And if you love Monday a la Mode, please share this post using the buttons below. Have a wonderful week!

Subscribe to this blog by email in the right sidebar and you'll receive each new post in your inbox. Find a list of links to all current and past Monday A La Mode posts by clicking the Monday A La Mode tab at the top of the page.

Monday A La Mode: July 22, 2013

It's that time again! What's new and now? What info will green moms appreciate? If I come across I share it here each week. Here's what we have this week...

Get this Subscription:

• My daughter received a gift subscription to World Wildlife Fund's kids magazine. I find that I enjoy it as much as her! In this month's issue, they posted a link to their online climate report. It's organized into tabs so it's easy to navigate and is great for all ages. Click here to see for yourself and maybe even get a subscription for your kids.

Contest Alert:

• Glass Dharma is choosing finalists this week for their #midsummersip photo contest. If you participated by tagging your Instagram and/or Twitter photos of your glass straws, you must still send your Twittter handle or Instagram name to cn (at) glassdharma (dot) com to be considered as they are choosing finalists. My daughter and I had a great time with this contest!

Money Saving Tip:

• Ever wonder whether you actually save money when you turn that thermostat up then down? What's the best temperature for your a/c? Should you turn it off while you are at work? I found an article that answers these questions! Click here to read it now and save on those summer power bills. 

That's it for this Monday. Have a happy week! And don't forget to share this with your friends using the Twitter and Facebook 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!