We love to  play games in this house or uh… couldn’t tell ya by this post on educational games, or this post on eco theme board games? Until my kids can give me a run at Gin Rummy, Hearts, or Bonco then board games do the trick.

For MANY months now the favorite for my kids has been The Farming Game. Mom was getting mighty board with it and I thought they might never find a new favorite. I hate to even say that since it is an awesome game that teaches the concepts of farming, farmer’s markets, and food value and it is great for teaching math at many levels. But playing it over, over, and over… can wear on you.

But no worries, they have found a new favorite and this one I can see us playing for a very long time. No doubt the weekend tradition that will be with us all winter will be a couple rousing games of Wildcraft and I am THRILLED because I love this game as much as they do. In fact I am thoroughly convinced this is the coolest game ever… no seriously… coolest EVER. This purchase was well worth the money, even if it was a [...] Continue Reading…

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Do you feel that yet? The dry winter weather that gives you chapped lips and uber dry skin?

In the winter, the air gets very dry and cold, and forced-air heat can make the air inside our homes uncomfortably dry. That kind of desert-like air can be hard on our bodies, drying skin and mucus membranes, making us more susceptible to colds and other respiratory ailments. Super-dry air can also damage the structure of your home, causing cracks in drywall and gaps in floor joints (dryness causes wood to shrink). And the static electricity is just plain annoying.

Increasing the humidity in your home makes it feel warmer (remember how much hotter the summer weather seemed when it was humid?). A house that feels warmer means you won’t be as inclined to turn up the thermostat, thus saving on energy costs.

So how can you humidify your home without purchasing a humidifier? There are economical ways to increase your home’s humidity. Here are some ideas and tips for moisturizing your house.

1. Re-think your laundry routine.

-Vent your dryer inside. I mentioned this a few weeks back and boy does it ever work!! Not only does it make the house more moist (foggy windows [...] Continue Reading…

When I think about what I want my kids to get out of all the time they spend playing I realize that beyond learning and creating I also want something more for them… enchantment, magic, adventure.

To this day one of the most magical play moments I recall as a child was when I was about 8 years old. I was on an overnight trip, staying in my grandparents motor home. We were at a horse show where my grandfather and my Aunt were competing in the barrel races. While I was interested in watching them compete I was not so interested in watching the other 100 or so contestants so I had to find some way to occupy myself.

My brother and I decided to create a fairy and gnome village using sticks, leaves, branches, and nuts that were in the wooded area next to the arena. We made little huts, cottages, general stores, and a whole fairy/gnome world with our own rules and stories. I still remember how delightful and enchanting that day was. I was very sad to leave my fairy world behind.

That is probably why I have a soft spot for play that involves woodland creatures and little people AND [...] Continue Reading…

One of the first steps in moving towards any greener, more sustainable lifestyle has to be the step where you ditch chemical cleaners and start using cleaner, greener options. It is my number #1 recommended step in fact because everyone has to clean house and by using green cleaners we make our homes and our planet safer.

Its not always an easy switch though. We may get used to using harsh cleaners like Clorox or Windex and using something more mild like baking soda and vinegar seems like more work. I know when my husband quit his old job that took him out of town all but a few days a month and he was around to do some cleaning, he was kinda baffled by my cleaners. He kept asking how do I clean this up with no paper towel and no cleaners? I would point to the cleaning cabinet and you would have thought it was empty by the look on his face. What was he to do with spray bottles, peppermint Castile soap, vinegar, baking soda, and ripped up towel remnants?

For his sake, and my own, I usually try to keep a couple non homemade green cleaners on hand so [...] Continue Reading…

I guess I need to start watching Dr. Oz. Love the guy but since I don’t watch much TV I never catch his show. He has got to be one of the most awesome MDs out there AND he is on mainstream TV sharing his important knowledge. He is one of the reasons I started drinking green smoothies… he and Kris Carr that is. I saw them on Oprah making green juices and since I had cancer, just like Kris, it really hit home with me. At the time I was on medication that made my throat swell if I drank anything colder than lukewarm but as soon that was out of my system I started drinking those green smoothies.

Well, I missed the Rocco sensation. Apparently this meat loving cowboy was advised by Dr. Oz to go vegan for 28 days and the results were miraculous. It was especially timely for me since I went out of town with my kiddos this weekend and my hubby stayed behind. I went to my parents house and made vegetarian and vegan meals for them. No meat was eaten ALL weekend in that house and my dad and brother are total carnivores. [...] Continue Reading…