Easter presents a problem for many parents, especially natural moms and dads. This annual event often means Easter baskets full of chocolates, candies, and other sweets that are sure to send your child on a week long sugar rush. You cannot go into a conventional store this time of year without seeing all of the goodies. Who isn’t even momentarly tempted by those adorable little marshmallow puffs shaped like little chicks? Well, acually cute as they may be I am not tempted but I will take a second look at those little coconut nests with jelly beans in them.

So what is a natural mom to do on Easter Sunday? Well, luckily one of my favorite online stores, the Global Exchange has quite a few Easter options for you to choose from:

Kid’s Easter Basket – The ultimate fair trade easter basket for kids of all ages. This is a hand woven kaisa grass basket filled with chocolate Easter eggs, a handknit Easter pin (choose either a bunny or a chick), two Divine Milk Chocolate bars, a bag of Dagoba Chocodrops, a gift box of egg shaped chocolate covered brazil nuts, a handknit Easter bunny ornament from Peru, three Artbar chocolate bars, and a wooden bunny pencil sharpener, hand carved and decorated with natural dyes.

Fair Trade Easter Action Gift Pack – Each bag is filled with the following goodies: a 12 piece chocolate Easter egg gift bag with an adorable bunny or chick pin, one Global Exchange dark medallion, one Global Exchange two-piece chocolate creme filled confections, chocolate covered brazil nut gift box, peace Papel Picado (traditional Mexican party streamers), 12 fair trade Easter action coloring post cards.

Make Your Own Chocolate Kit – This all inclusive kit includes: Fair Trade cholcoate with certified organic cocoa butter, cocoa powder, confectioner’s sugar, starter crystals, a temperature indicator, paper candy liners, instructions, and the rainforest story of chocolate. Each box makes eight ounces of dark chocolate!

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San Francisco’s city council voted Tuesday (March 27, 2007) to become the first U.S. city to ban plastic bags from large supermarkets to help promote recycling. Under the legislation approved by the city’s Board of Supervisors, large supermarkets and drugstores will not be allowed to offer plastic bags made from petroleum products starting in six months. All of this is being done to reduce the amount of plastic bags being consumed and ending up in our landfills and to encourage recycling. Since the city estimates that they use 181 million grocery bags every year this move represents a huge environmental movement. Thumbs up San Francisco!!

Perhaps now is the time to be proactive yourself and stop using plastic bags. It is really not that hard to convert to reusable bags, especially when there are so many stylish options out there. When I made the move to reusable grocery bags I decided to buy a dozen sturdy canvas totes and then I used iron on tranfers to decorate the bags with cool environmental graphics. There are also some great options available at one of my favorite online stores…ReusableBags. Just check out the market basket pictured here…gorgeous AND eco-friendly.

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Minerals work synergistically with vitamins to regulate hundreds of essential functions within the body. Like most vitamins, minerals come from the world around us. Our bodies are not capable of producing them so we need to aquire them through a combination of supplements and food.

You may wonder why we just can’t get them ALL from food but things like soil erosion, chemical fertilizers, and poor crop management have all contributed to a depletion of minerals in the soil, which translates to fewer nutrients in food. You will likely need supplements to pick up the slack. So which minerals do you need the most?

Iron – It is a cofactor in energy production and it plays a central role in transporting and storing oxygen and in creating a healthy immune system.

Chromium – It enhances the function of insulin, a vital hormone that regulates blood sugar. It also plays a positive role in bodies suffering from obesity, arterial plaque buildup, glaucoma, and elevated cholesterol levels.

Magnesium – This mineral is required for more 300 functions in the body. It supports muscle and nerve function, a steady heartbeat and blood pressure, immunity, healthy bones, energy production, and protein synthesis.

Zinc – It is necessary for more than 300 different enzyme functions and a strong immune system.

Education is the number one priority in this country, yet we have seen more and more deterioration of schools in the last ten years, than any other time in history. 

This is due in part to the consistent and often times unnecessary reorganization of schools; change in curriculum; and, most importantly, oversized classrooms which thwart the educational process.
Add to this peer pressure, gang related incidents and violence; neither of which is conducive to the learning environment. Therefore, the question: “Is homeschooling right for your family?” happens to be a valid one.  Let’s explore some of the issues you need to consider about homeschooling.

Is it cost effective for you to homeschool your child? Depending upon your city, you may be able to avail yourself of the many materials needed either through your local school, community or library. Studies have shown that homeschooled children show far better results that attending regular schools.  If both parents currently work outside the home, it’s likely one of you will have to quit your job to home school.

Teaching your child at home, while in a comfortable and non-threatening setting, allows the child to work at his or her own pace. However, keeping up with the curriculum standards is important as well.  A great deal has been mentioned lately regarding the amount of time a child spends from the moment they awake until they finish their homework at night.  It is estimated they put in more than 10 hours a day. Homeschooling can alleviate the stress of traveling to and from school and lack of sleep, to a more relaxed learning environment wherein the child will be able to rest easier, and retain most of which he or she has learned.

While homeschool is a decision the entire family must make, since one parent will have to stay home every day to ensure their child’s educational progress is on track; there are other things to consider as well. If there are other children a parent has to care for, it may be difficult to conduct learning sessions, and may require bringing in someone to care for the siblings every day.

Testing is another consideration.  This also depends upon state regulations and test requirements, especially if the child is going to college.  Check with your state’s educational policies to determine what tests if any have to be conducted and under what conditions. You may want to look into online schools your state may have so that this concern will be addressed.

Finally, you and your family must sit down and thoroughly go over all of the necessary items you need; if homeschooling is affordable for you; if you have the time, patience and commitment to see it through; and be willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary for the sake of your child.  Once you have answered all of these questions, you can then answer the next question with certainty: Is home schooling right for your family?

If you want more information about homeschooling check out the NatureMoms Homeschool Resource Center

So what’s in your pillow? For a better night’s sleep you may want to try a pillow with a natural fill. The synthetics like polyester�that you find in conventional pillows draw on non-renewable resources and can be more hospitable to allergens. The chemicals can also lead to headaches. So try a natural fill and even organic if possible.

A quality pillow can cost anywhere from $40.00 to $250.00 but if you take care of it…it can last a decade. Here are some of your options:

Goose Down – This is one of the softest fills available and is optimal for people who sleep on their stomach. You can care for this pillow by exposing it to fresh air and sunlight several hours a month. You can also usually machine wash on a gentle cycle and tumble dry along with a towel on low heat.

Organic Cotton – Cotton is a good option but it does tend to compress over time. Machine wash on gentle in cold water. Tumble dry with cool air and throw in a dryer ball or tennis ball to break up clumps. Because cotton is easy to clean it is less prone to mildew and bacteria.

Organic Wool – This fiber offers firm support and it is also a natural insulator and helps regulate body temperature. Throw it in the dryer for a few minutes with a dryer ball or tennis ball to renew the loft. Freshen in direct sunlight and open air for several hours a month and use a vinegar/water solution to spot clean.

Natural Latex Foam – Natural latex pillows are molded and they conform to the contours of your body. Dust mites find it inhospitable and mildew cannot thrive in it. It is a healthy alternative for many allergy and asthma sufferers. Hand wash with warm water and a mild soap. Press with a towel to dry and keep out of direct sunlight.

Hulls – Sleeping on buckwheat hulls can help relieve muscle tension but it can take some time getting used to. Since hulls are irregularly shaped, air circulates around them and dust mites and microbes have a hard time taking root. Look for a “triple cleaned” label to ensure that dust mites and mold have been removed. To clean, remove the hulls from the pillow and rinse in a tub of cool water. Lay out to dry. Machine wash the empty case in hot water twice a month.

After you select your perfect natural pillow make sure to cover it with a zippered protector made from tightly woven organic cotton. When placed under your pillow case it blocks allergens as effectively as vinyl alternatives without exposing you to toxic chemicals.

Here is an organic wool pillow that may be a good option for you…

Sweet dreams!

[tags]pillows, organic, wool, sleep, asthma, allergens, natural latex, hulls, cotton[/tags]