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Raw Watermelon Cakes Recipe

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Wow…confessions of a mom who is definitely plugged in.

Today I am doing a different sort of spring, but it still much needed…cleaning. I am cleaning out my virtual workspace…my computer.

I think like MANY people nowadays it seems my life is organized on a computer. I work from home on my computer, I make phone calls from my computer (Skype), I pay my bills online, I use an online daily planner, I shop online for the most part, I have thousands of digital pictures filed away, and because since I try to keep things waste free around here I keep digital receipts and records.

Every few months my puter starts to run sloooow so I need to do a cleaning. So today I did some virtual filing, updated my daily planner, moved a TON of data to a removable hard drive, and I installed Norton 360 2.0. I tried another virus/spam software program for a year and I returning to Norton, especially now that the 360 version is out. So far it is awesome. It cleans up the data with the PC Tuner and gets things moving faster, it stores all my passwords, personal info, and credit card numbers so I work faster and of course it protects my computer with their awesome firewall.

I think it is important to have good protection for your computer if you shop and work online. I would hate to think about lost I would be if all my stuff was gone. Which by the way won’t happen with Norton’s either because it backs up your data for you. So now I have double protection becuase I use an online back-up service too, called Mozy. The MOST tragic thing would be if I lost my pictures…that has happened before. Pictures AND picture slide shows.

In addition to that I made some iTunes playlists and I uploaded some parenting audios to my iPod so I will have plenty of fresh listening material for my vacation in 3 weeks. If I haven’t already mentioned we are spending nearly 2 weeks in Florida. 

Okay back to cleaning…

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I was interviewed recently by the mom shopping expert Chele at Moms Love Shopping and it is now available for listening here. We talked about the plastics habit, inverse quarantine and the book Shopping Our Way to Safety, and I shared the 7 questions you need to ask yourself in order to shop green. You MUST go and listen to the interview but here is the cliff notes version of my seven tips:

1. Do I really need and want this - can I get by without it? Sometimes the answer might be to STOP shopping.

2. Is it made from renewable, or nonrenewable resources? We are always going to want to choose renewable resources where we can. Also, no renewable resource are used to ship items around the world so shopping locally is VERY helpful and it supports your local economy.

3. Is it made of recycled materials and is it recyclable? Buy products that come in containers you know you will be able to recycle later on.

4. Can it be maintained and repaired? Or is it one of those products that once it breaks you pretty much have to throw it out and buy new.

5. Could I borrow, rent or buy it secondhand?

6. Is it overpackaged? It is wrapped in plastic and then wrapped again a cardboard box?

7. Can it be reused?

I hope you enjoy the interview…thanks Chele for asking me to come and chat with you!

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TGIF! Have an awesome weekend everyone!

Woot! This week I was named as one of TreeHugger.com’s favorite greens of the week! They are a huge blog (the big daddy of green) with a huge readership so I am honored. You can see their banner with my blog in it at the bottom of this post.

I received a very useful link from a new Twitter friend this week which I think nicely sums up the ways you can reduce waste. I especially like #8.

Vanity Fair has done it again. Another awesome green issue! Last year I wrote all about their feature article which took on anti-global warming liars lobbyists. This year they took on my all time most despised company on this planet…Monsanto. The article was pretty scathing too. Monsanto, for those that don’ t know is a chemical company. They make Round-Up weed killer and they genetically modify (GM) seeds and patent them. The article talks much about how they have a huge network of spies that haunt farmlands to see if anyone is using their seeds without paying for them. They bring lawsuits willy nilly even if there is no proof and seek to bankrupt the farmers guilty or no. They even sue farmers who have had the misfortune of having GM seeds blow onto their land from nearby crops. Let’s not even get into how WRONG it is to be able to patent a seed…a living biological organism that they did not invent and could not replicate even if they tried.

Monsanto is also the company that makes rBST, the growth hormone given to cows to make them produce milk at hyper speed. It is dangerous and unhealthy for the cows and many think it is dangerous for us. In fact these products are banned in Europe. Well, Monsanto is suing companies that advertise that they do NOT use rBST…they don’t think it is fair. They are also going state by state lobbying to get laws passed that ban milk companies from labeling their milk hormone free. This company is EVIL and they control much our country’s food supply. Scary stuff!

I also enjoyed an article from Rachels’ Democracy and Health News about how the attitude that economic growth outweighs environmental harm is biting us in the backside as we have exceeded many of Earth’s ecological limits as of now. This was VERY interesting:

 About six months ago, the United Nations Environment Programme’s fourth Global Environmental Outlook Report (GEO-4) concluded that we humans presently require 22 acres per person to support our global average lifestyle — but, the report said, Earth has only 15 acres per person available.

In other words, we have already exceeded the Earth’s “carrying capacity” — it’s capacity to “carry” (or support) 6 billion humans. And the human enterprise is poised for a massive spurt of economic and population growth — expected to raise our numbers to 9 billion by roughly mid-century and to double the size of the human economy every 23 years.

Where I live in rural Ohio I would be rich if I had a nickel for every time I have had someone tell me that my environmental concerns need to take a back seat to economic growth. Talk about short-sighted.

And in unrelated news I am a big fan of Homemaker’s Mentor and just wanted to shout out about their April homemaking lessons. The one on sewing simple curtains for your home is awesome.

Lastly, I wanted to say thanks to all the readers that have been emailing with requests about specific topics. I LOVE that so keep it up. I have many posts coming up that were specifically requested and don’t forget if you ever want to give me a day off and write for me…just contact me.

Have a great weekend everyone! Mine will be spent spring cleaning my 2.5 acres in central Ohio and planting in the garden.

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We are already starting to collect pictures and ideas for our Spring Slideshow! The last one we did was in the summer.

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In previous posts I believe that I have discussed my dedication to the ideals of attachment parenting. AP parents everywhere are no doubt exicted by the changes occurring within Attachment Parenting International. They have a new look and many new resources available to parents that want to parent with connection and attachment.

Attachment Parenting International (API), a non-profit organization that promotes parenting practices that create strong, healthy emotional bonds between children and their parents, has several exciting changes they would like to announce, including:

• A newly redesigned web site and new logo at Attachment Parenting.org
• Attachment parenting worldwide support forums
• Parent Education Program - a comprehensive series of classes for every stage and age of child development from infancy through adulthood
• A new book based on API’s Eight Principles of Attachment Parenting by API co-founders Lysa Parker and Barbara Nicholson which is expected to be available this summer
• A series of podcasts, webinars, chats, and forums with API Advisory Board members and other supporters of AP. Future events are scheduled with Dr. Bob Sears, Dr. James McKenna, and Kathleen Kendall Tacket. Check out the events page for more information.

These are just a few of many exciting things going on at API. I hope you’ll stop by and check it out for yourself.

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TGIF! Have an awesome weekend everyone!

I will continue spending lots of time with my oldest son who is on spring break. We have been doing crafts projects, going to the movies, going bowling, and I think we are going to the zoo today if I can swing it. While at the movies I fell into a pothole and sprained my ankle which now has a golf ball size lump on it. But to cheer myself up I got my spring/summer haircut early. I hacked off my shoulder blade length hair…2 inches or so in length on the top and so short in the back they practically shaved it. I am loving it.

But on to all the good stuff I have to wrap up the week….

As the number of parents that refuse vaccinations for their children grows we can only expect to start seeing more and more of these type of articles. The article discusses how non vaccinating parents are putting everyone at risk and how laws that allow them to refuse vaccination are foolish. Aka we should be FORCED to vaccinate in their opinion. One person in the article calls those that do not vaccinate “parasites”. The fear mongering is starting.

I came across two cool homeschool resources:

Virtual Field Trips -  This web site has organized virtual tours. All the educational research, site navigation and step-by-step instructions will turn web browsing into a goal-oriented educational experience. For instance if you want your child to see the Louvre (who wouldn’t) but you can’t swing that ticket to France this site gives you step by step instructions for navigating their web site so your child can get a mini-Louvre experience. Try it out…it is pretty cool.

Family Road Trip- Wow! How fun is this? This homeschooling family just embarked (this month) on a one year road trip to see America and learn all about American history. They bought a motor-home, packed up their family, and hit the road. On their blog they will share how  they homeschool on the road and specifically what are learning about  American history…complete with lesson plans and activity suggestions. I am green with envy!

Book Reviews - I have updated my book reviews page to include easy links to all the book reviews I have done on this blog. Be sure to check that out and be prepared for MANY more book reviews over the next month or so. I have an overwhelming stack of books to be read.

Green Coupon Code Roundup

Isabooties- Get some cool new vegan, soft sole shoes for your babies just in time for Spring. Use code “Springtime08″ for 15% off all orders through April 15th.

GreenNest - LOTS of green living gear for the home including some new products for baby…like natural rubber pacifiers and Born Free bottles. Save $5 on a purchase of $10 or more with coupon code: EARTH

And now for the winners of the used books and the Skinny Songs CD from last week. I picked the winners with random.org. If you are on the list email me with your address. Thx!!

Comment #16 - Eileen - Shopping Our Way to Safety by Andrew Szasz

Comment #28 - Bebemiqui - Fast Food Nation

Comment #6 - Sarah - How to Eat Like a Hot Chick by Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent

Comment #30 Danielle S. - Diaper Changes

Comment #32 - Carrie - Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens

Comment #8 - Cindi - Skinny Songs CD

Comment #16 - Eileen - The Right Words at the Right Time

Comment #26 - Ghislaine - Crazy Sexy Cancer

Congrats everyone!!

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Now is your chance to tell me exactly what you want to read about on this blog. I have set up several choices for you to choose from (as many as you like) and the most important part is the text box at the end…tell me specifically what YOU want to read about. Thx!!!

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