There are all sorts of shades of green when it comes to Christmas trees – here’s how the choices stack up.

NOT GREEN #1: Artificial trees you use for just a few years. Not only is this a waste of money, but resources too. Most artificial trees are made of some sort of plastic and imported from China, hitting you with a double ding (plastic and emissions).
NOT GREEN #2:  A Christmas tree from a non-local farm that’s been driven miles to get to your area – local is better.
NOT MUCH GREENER: Artificial trees you use for years and years. If you …read more

One of the other blogs that I write is a natural beauty blog. While looking for something beauty-related to write about for today, I found this Spice Block by Domestic Aesthetic.
It’s made from recycled wood and it’s a very unique accessory for the kitchen. I keep my Kosher Salt in a little glass bowl close to my stove. Twice I’ve knocked the little glass bowl to the floor. What a mess - glass everywhere. That would never happen with this gorgeous piece.  It’s a tool that is also art.
This spice block is so sexy, we want to store our jewelry in …read more

I love the idea of my dogs working for their treats. Though they don’t get them often (they’re so small that too much extra food could cause weight gain), but they’re very excited when they hear the rattling of the treat bag. I bet I could make them even happier with something like this:
Made of high quality kraft board, the Amazing Treat Machine uses a tennis ball and an empty plastic water bottle filled with treats. That’s it. Your dog learns (pretty quickly, I’d imagine!) to drop the tennis ball into the top of the constructed box, and when it …read more

The Huffington Post has a nice little poll up about green birth control.  Actually, birth control is just not all that green. As the poll points out, no one is recycling condoms (obviously – and PS don’t try), the birth control pill may release excess estrogen into the water supply, and while copper IUDs may be the eco-friendliest of all, few women use them.

I’ve thought about this before because pill packets especially the heavier plastic ones have always bugged me. They seem like they’d make the pill the least eco-friendly birth control option, but the Huffington Post piece points out …read more

When I began painting classes and had assignments to paint foliage in the scenery around me, looking at it in different lights, I realized there were many shades of green.  These also changed with sun and shadow, time of day and season.
If you’re involved in any crafts that include the green of nature, you’ll find it fascinating to study the different shades.

trees
bushes
grass
flower leaves
fields of grain
pastures & meadows
swamps & marshes

Sometimes your green variations will be very realiztic and follow nature’s course.  For other occasions, you might be more dramatic.  Much depends on the effect you want to achieve and the medium …read more

In the current frenzy to be cool  “going green” in homes, schools and communities, are we teaching youngsters (and adults) global warming lies?  Schools are “green” this year and youngsters report in class discussions how their parents are practicing or not practicing energy and earth saving tactics.  (Big Brother?)
Do we have the correct data or simply what politicians and those making money from the big industry of environmental and global warming wants us to know?  Are scientists, who present data that disproves the theory of global warming (and this group is growing), discredited and even lose their jobs because they’re not …read more

Here is an April roundup from the Health and Wellness channel. Enjoy!
There is something for everyone (breastfeeding or not) in the mix of the Breastfeeding 1-2-3 highlights from April 2008:
Free Pattern for Sewing Your Own Crew Neck Over-the-Head Baby Bibs
Judge Denies FLDS Request to Keep Mothers with Nursing Babies
World Health Day 2008: Protecting Health from Climate Change
Breastfeeding Basics Checklist for a Good Breastfeeding Latch
Gentian Violet and Grapefruit Seed Extract as Thrush Remedies
Breastfeeding and International Travel
Top Five Breastfeeding Interviews
And from Kristen at Lively Women…
April is STD awareness month
Resources for organizing your office and your life
Tap water vs bottled water whats safer …read more