OC Family Green Mom

Reflections from the ICU

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:18:00 GMT

I’m in ICU with my dad – for another day, too many that I don’t want to count right now.

It’s not a place either of us ever wanted to spend much time, but here we are at the moment.

We are waiting on tests and tests and more tests, and the bottom line is “we still don’t know”.

I’ve been a little serious lately so thought I’d lighten up a little and share a few more light-hearted insights (okay, they’re not all light-hearted but I’m trying) from the past few days:

Hospitals with free wi-fi rock. It’s a life saver when you spend the entire day in a hospital room. It’s also turned our ICU room into a makeshift office, with hubby and I on our computers getting some actual work done. Being productive is good and takes my mind off things so I don’t just sit and worry all day.
Solitaire is very relaxing. I’m becoming addicted to the Solitaire game on my iPad. For whatever reason, the mindless activity is very soothing to me. It’s comforting and engaging and super addicting.
Don’t go on Facebook when you are sitting in the room with a loved one who is in critical condition. Of course I still do – sometimes as an easy way to update family and friends and other times, just to pass the time and see what everyone else is up to on a beautiful summer day. The problem is that posts that I normally tolerate become completely annoying – like what my friend had for lunch or someone complaining about waiting in a long line at Starbucks. But then I remind myself that these people really have no idea what I am going through. They are just going through life as normal just as I was before all this started.
I really have the best friends ever. Just today, I have had three separate offers to take my kids all day. And other offers to watch the dogs, go grocery shopping, bring dinner over or just texts to see how I’m doing. My friends and neighbors truly are incredible. Someday, I hope that I can return all the favors, and love and support and then some.
Man, the ICU is a noisy place. There are always alarms and beeping and things going on. To give us a break from all that noise, I’m playing music. I have decided that Miles Davis somehow makes everything seem better. My Dad and I both love jazz and a little “Kind of Blue” (in my opinion, the best jazz album of all time) is very soothing - I know it is to me and although I can’t be sure, I hope to my Dad too.
And most important, never ever take your health for granted. The cliché “at least you have your health” is something we say all the time but don’t think about much, but in the end, it’s really the only thing that matters. If you have it, you can handle almost anything that life throws your way.

A very wise friend just said to me "Remember, it's all part of the journey, his and yours. Live through every minute no matter how hard, you will need the experience again." They were the perfect words at the perfect moment and so true.

So for now, we sit and wait, unsure of the outcome, but comforted by a little jazz, some mindless games and the love and support of family and friends. I’m so thankful for those things.

A summer of ups and downs

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:53:00 GMT

It’s been a pretty crazy summer so far. I feel like I’ve gone into hiding – been absent from blogging, twitter, and the social media (and the just plain social) world. When I look back on the past couple of months, it's kinda of unbelievable how the summer has unfolded so far.

Summer began on a high with a relaxing, romantic trip to Sonoma - just me and hubby. We went to celebrate our 15-year wedding anniversary. We stayed at a beautiful B&B, rode bikes, went wine tasting, and generally just relaxed and enjoyed our first alone time in way too long.

Toward the end of the trip, summer took its first down turn, when my sister called to let me know that our brother had passed away. It was totally unexpected. He was only 36. Aaron (my brother) is actually my step-brother, but you kind of lose the “step” thing after twenty five years of being siblings. Aaron had been a diabetic from the age of 12. Unfortunately, the disease had taken its toll on him over the years and he died in his sleep.

After the initial shock we made plans to gather together to celebrate his life. There was one service at his current home in Colorado (where he was living with his mom) and a second in California at my house. It was a great celebration, reuniting family and long-lost friends. I think there was even a mini high school reunion in my backyard that day. It was a nice celebration of his life and gave comfort to the family. Rest in peace AC.

Around this same time, my father-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer. Fortunately, the cancer is now surgically removed, resolved, and he’s cancer free. We are happy to have some good health news this summer.

After the emotional ups and downs of these two events, we were looking forward to our long-planned and much needed vacation. Hubby and the kids and I took off for two weeks to explore the East Coast and discover a bit about our nation’s history. We visited Washington DC, Philadelphia, and New York City. It was a fantastic trip.

Unfortunately, events at home took another downturn while we were on vacation. My dad began to become sick again. I’ve written before about the health problems my dad had earlier this year – a tumor in his brain. But just before he was going to have surgery back in March, the tumor completely disappeared along with all of his symptoms. Some kind of miracle we thought.

We now know the cancer just temporarily went into hiding and is back with a vengeance. Now, we begin his road to recovery all over again.

Only this time, it’s harder…much, much harder.

Right now, because of the location of the tumor, my dad’s memory lasts all of about two minutes. Anything that has happened recently (like getting sick again), he can’t remember. So he wakes up every morning basically thinking “what the hell is wrong with me and how long has this been going on?” Each day, we patiently answer his questions, and try to reassure him that we are going to begin treatment soon. And then we do this again, and again and again. Oh, and then we do it again.

We have developed coping mechanisms like a “daily reminder” page, a daily journal, and distraction. Because of his health condition combined with the memory loss, he needs care full-time and well, right now that care giver is me.

As I’ve mentioned before, I already have two full-time jobs – mom and business owner. I’m sure you can see where this is heading. But before it leads to a complete physical and mental breakdown for me, I’m making some changes in my life. Exactly where this will all end up, I’m not totally sure. Right now, we are just taking it one day at a time.

And on most days for me right now, that involves talking with neurologists, oncologists, endocrinologists (in a weird twist of fate, my dad has now developed diabetes too), physical therapists, and home health nurses. I’m also preparing carb-controlled meals, monitoring blood sugar levels, administering insulin, and reassuring my dad hundreds of time each day about his condition and the possibility of treatment.

So, all of this is just to say, I’m still here but my blogging activity will probably be a little sporadic. Also, my topics may take some twists and turns as well – possibly covering things like care giving, cancer, diabetes, memory loss, or the amount of waste in hospitals – lots of material there.

Right now, we are just moving forward - one day at a time, sometimes even one hour at a time, but we are moving on and going to imagine better days ahead …

A more sustainable Fourth of July

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:04:00 GMT

Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love the warm weather, neighborhood block parties, barbecues and fireworks.

Here are some ideas for adding a bit of green to the red, white and blue this year:

Recycle - If your neighborhood has a block party, volunteer to collect and recycle all the bottles and cans. Have trash and recycling bins clearly labeled and placed side by side for the best results. I’ve found over the years that if people have to walk to two different locations for trash and recycling, well, it doesn’t quite happen.

Ditch disposable plastic - If you are hosting a smaller party or barbeque, consider reusable plates, utensils and table cloths instead of disposable plastic, which will be sitting around the landfill for at least the next one hundred Fourth of July celebrations. Or, if the party is too large for reusables, try compostable plates and cups made from corn and even utensils made from potatoes instead of plastic.

Reuse decorations – save and reuse your Fourth of July decorations. Our neighborhood hosts a bike parade for the kids every year. It’s a big hit, here’s a pic of the starting line from last year:

For four or five years, my kids have used the exact same decorations and found new creative ways to apply them to their bikes. Each year, we take them off and box them up until next year’s contest. Here is what the finished product looked like last year.

The fifth use must have been the charm, because after many years of believing she was a shoe-in and losing, my daughter actually won the contest last year.

Last, but not least, a not so fun, suggestion...

Avoid fireworks –I love fireworks displays as much as the next person, but I’m going to be the party pooper and tell you that there is a down side to those beautiful firework displays. Fireworks contain a variety of chemicals, many of which are toxic to humans and animals. From the gunpowder (usually a mixture of charcoal, sulfur fuel and potassium nitrate) used to launch them to the metallic compounds that provide the color, fireworks contain radioactive, carcinogenic or endocrine-disrupting substances that seep into the soil and water. Now, isn’t that a bummer?

The good news is that there are some alternatives on the horizon. In 2004, Disney began using compressed air instead of gunpowder to launch fireworks at Disneyland, reducing the issues of smoky particulates in the air and perchlorates in the water. Researchers are also developing alternative propellants that use nitrogen-rich materials in place of perchlorates, but those will not be available for a few years.

If a fireworks show is part of your plan, enjoy them without guilt – they would be going on whether you were there or not. But please don't buy or set off your own fireworks – they are not safe, they pollute and they are illegal in most neighborhoods in California due to the fire danger involved.

To get in the spirit, here’s my favorite picture from last year’s holiday (This isn't my dog, but he makes me happy and gets me in the mood for an awesome holiday weekend).

Happy Fourth of July!

Greener sunscreens that won’t leave you red

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:57:00 GMT

Just in time for summer, The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released its 2010 Sunscreen Guide. Alarmingly, this study found that 92 percent of brand name sunscreens either don’t sufficiently protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals, or both.

Ultimately, the best defenses against harmful UV radiation are protective clothes, shade and timing. But I can’t see this going over well this summer: “No kids, we can’t go to the beach with your friends. We have to wait until after 5pm because that is when the sun’s rays are not as harmful. And you have to wear your long shorts, rash guard and a hat.” Um, yeah, that’s not going to work - so, sunscreen is a must for this fair-skinned family.

The choice for us is to find safer, more effective sunscreens. That starts with choosing a mineral-based sunscreen, which is generally safer than a chemical one.

The problem with chemical sunscreens is that, well, they use chemicals to protect our skin from the sun - chemical compounds like avobenzone, oxybenzone, and octyl methoxycinnamate. These chemicals absorb the light rays rather than deflecting them, with the majority of them only blocking one kind of the sun’s rays (either UVB or UVA). In order to block both types of rays, most chemical-based sunscreens have to use many different types of chemicals. Often the chemical particles are very small, called nanoparticles, which are small enough to penetrate the skin and enter the blood stream. Young children’s skin is especially sensitive to these chemical allergens.

The other type of sunscreen is mineral-based sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which are minerals that deflect the sun’s rays. So, unlike chemical sunscreens that absorb the sun’s rays, these sunscreens form a physical barrier to protect your skin from absorption. Look for sunscreen with at least 7% zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for broad spectrum protection. One thing to watch for with mineral sunscreens (just like chemical sunscreens) is micronized particles - look for mineral sunscreens with mineral particles larger than 100 nanometers.

Another issue with mineral sunscreen is a symptom my son likes to call “ghost-face.” Basically, because the mineral creates a barrier on your skin, it doesn’t absorb the way chemicals sunscreen do. So, the lotion can create a white effect on the skin. If you are going for the golden brown look (well, you probably don’t care much about sunscreen anyway), this may not be the choice for you. As for me, I just blame my intensely white skin on the sunscreen rather than my complete lack of tan, so it works just fine for me.

There are a number of safe, effective mineral sunscreens on the market. You just may have to look beyond the big brands to discover alternatives like UV Natural, Soleo Organics, Miessence, Badger and California Baby. These brands can be found in health food stores, online, and even in some traditional drug stores.

More sunscreen tips:

The majority of sun damage occurs before the age of 18, so it’s important to keep kids protected from too much sun exposure.
Apply sunscreen frequently - more frequent applications protect even better than a high SPF rating. Try to coat on the sunscreen 20 minutes before sun exposure and then reapply every two hours at a minimum.
Stick to SPF 15-50. SPF 15 blocks 93.3% of UV rays while SPF 30 blocks 96.6%. Any SPF higher than 50 is misleading.
Apply generously – many dermatologists recommend using a full ounce on sunscreen (an amount that would fill a shot glass) if you are applying to your face and body. Most people use about half that amount.
Broad-spectrum is crucial. Look for broad-spectrum products that filter the UVA rays that penetrate to the dermis, causing damage that may show up years later. There is no FDA requirement for sunscreen to block any UVA rays at all, so read the label and buy carefully.
Include anti-oxidants - With sun exposure, free radical formation is inevitable, but damage to your skin can be minimized with the use a topical Vitamin C or anti-oxidant product at night, especially after a day in the sun. Also look for mineral sunscreens that are high in anti-oxidants like green tea.
Avoid sunscreen with Vitamin A (added to 41% of all sunscreens). An FDA study indicates that a form of vitamin A, retinyl palmitate, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions
Prevent sun damage now and later - The UVB (burning) rays are 1000x stronger than UVA rays, while UVA (aging) rays are 1000x times more prevalent than UVB rays. So when it comes to sunscreen your rule of thumb should be: to prevent burning wear a lot, to prevent aging, wear it all the time.

Tips on how to donate hair

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:09:00 GMT

One day a few years ago, my daughter came home from school and said that she wanted to donate her hair. It was pretty long at the time, so after a few more months of growth, she cut it off and donated it. As soon as she cut it, she decided that she wanted to grow it out and donate it again.

Now, it’s a couple of years later, and she just cut and donated it for a second time. On the way to her haircut appointment, I asked her if she was nervous. She looked at me like I was crazy. “Mom, it’s only hair,” she said. And she’s right. A little hair is not much to give to those who can use it. I also think of it as an ultimate form of reuse of something that would (if cut off in small increments) just be put in the trash.

So, we cut off her hair and donated it for a second time – and since we have some experience now, I thought I’d share some tips. The requirements of each program vary slightly, but in general here are some things to keep in mind:

Hair donated must be from 8-12 inches (length varies slightly for each program – check out the program you wish to donate to before cutting hair.)
Wavy or curly hair is fine. You can just straighten the hair to measure.
Hair should be freshly washed and completely dry, without any styling products.
Hair cannot be bleached, permanently colored or chemically treated. (This is why kids are great candidates for donation)
Hair may not be more than 5 percent gray (probably rules me out I’m sad to say)
Hair must be in a ponytail or braid before it is cut. It should be sectioned off in 2-6 ponytails depending upon length and thickness.
Make sure each ponytail or braid is tightly secured with rubber bands. Hair that is loosely wrapped tends to become loose when shipped, making it unusable.
Go to a good stylist who knows how to cut hair for donation (and anyone cutting off that much hair deserves a great haircut).
Place the ponytail or braid inside of a plastic bag, and then place the bag in a padded envelope and mail.

Organizations that need donated hair:

Locks of Love - the organization most people think about for hair donation, this non-profit provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children (under age 21) suffering from long-term medical hair loss. Most of the children who receive wigs through Locks of Love suffer from an autoimmune disorder called alopecia areata.

Pantene Beautiful Lengths - Partnered with the American Cancer Society, they make real hair wigs for women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments.

Wigs for Kids - a much smaller nonprofit than Locks of Love, this organization was founded by a hairdresser when his niece was diagnosed with Leukemia. Wig for Kids has been serving children suffering from all types of hair loss since 1980.

My daughter chose Pantene Beautiful Lengths because she wanted her hair to go to someone diagnosed with cancer. Hair is a personal donation, so I wanted her to be able to choose where it should go.

And, best of all, she loves her new summer cut too:

Ten things to try really hard not to buy again

Mon, 24 May 2010 13:56:00 GMT

I am a member of an organization called Green America (formerly Co-Op America). They have a wealth of resources for going green, including some handy lists, like “Things you should always buy green” and printable wallet-sized tip sheets I carry in my purse like the “Safe Seafood Wallet list” and “What to buy organic”.

Another list they created is called “Ten things you should never buy again”.

As I mentioned in a previous post, now that I’m older (and a little bit wiser) I don’t like the word never much anymore. It’s just a bit unrealistic. I do like this list though and I wanted to pass it along - but I am going to call it “ten things you should try really hard to not buy again”.

On that list are the following:

Styrofoam cups – After my kids and I participated in a couple of beach cleanups, I couldn’t agree more with this one. There was Styrofoam everywhere. Small pieces, large pieces, and everything in between. It was never-ending. It was also disgusting. My kids and I pledged right then and there to never use Styrofoam again. Since then, with a couple exceptions, we have managed to do it.

How to: Avoid the dreaded #6 plastic (polystyrene) by eating less fast food and not taking home leftovers. Admit it, they sit in your fridge for a few days anyway and then you toss them – but if you really can’t stand to waste food, order less or bring your own containers with you. You can also easily avoid Styrofoam coffee cups by bringing your own travel mug. Coffee tastes better, stays hotter, and you get a discount at most coffee places by bringing your own.

Paper towels – I would say just use sparingly. I do have a roll next to my sink – it’s made from recycled paper and it sits on the counter for months. Paper towels come in handy occasionally, but for the most part, we almost never need them.

How to: I recommend Skoy cloths - they are awesome. This sponge/towel hybrid lasts forever and virtually eliminates the need for paper towels. Also, I have a drawer in the kitchen where I keep a bunch of old, clean wash cloths. Any time the kids need to wipe their hands or wipe up a quick spill, they grab one of those and then toss in the hamper. It’s super easy and saves money too.

Chemical pesticides and conventional household cleaners – Few items expose your family to more toxicants than this category. Not only is it better for the environment, it’s much better for your health and the health of your family to steer clear traditional chemical-based cleaners.

How to: You can use items like baking soda and peroxide that you already have at home to clean your house. You can also ward of pests with ingredients like borax, lemon and peppermint. If you would rather buy than make your own, there are hundreds of eco-friendly cleaners and pesticides on the market that do the job without exposing your family to harsh chemicals.

Toys made with PVC plastic – I’ve written about the dangers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), commonly called “vinyl” before. It is used in commercial plastic wraps and salad dressing bottles, shower curtains, and also (amazingly) kids toys, backpacks, lunch bags, and binders. PVC contains phthalates (softeners needed to make the plastic bend) and they have been found to interfere with hormonal development. The production of and burning of PVC plastic releases dioxin, a known carcinogen, into the atmosphere. It’s bad for our health and bad for the environment.

How to: To avoid PVC in school supplies, check out the Center for Health Environment and Justice’s (CHEJ) Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies, which lists the most common back-to-school supplies made out of toxic PVC and suggests safer PVC-free products in over 20 product categories.

Other items on the “try really hard not to buy again” list include:

Bleached coffee filters
Over packaged foods and other products
Teak and mahogany
Higher octane gas than you need
Plastic forks and spoons

I like this list because not only is it easy, avoiding these products can have a big impact on the health of your family and the environment. Check out the full list and some additional recommendations here.

To find alternatives to these products and lots of other eco-friendly options that are not on this list, please visit my website, BuyGreen.com, a company that is Green America certified as "approved for people and planet". You can also follow me on Twitter @buygreen and @ocgreenmama or fan us on Facebook.

Getting over tissue guilt

Mon, 10 May 2010 21:43:00 GMT

I’m sick. And I hate being sick.

First, when you are a mom, you are never really sick. Sure, you might feel sick, but other than that, your life involves none of the other signs of sickness – the laying in bed, reading, resting, generally taking care of yourself. Nope, life pretty much goes along as usual – work, shuttling the kids around to practice, homework, dinner, dishes, laundry, oh and eventually there is bed.

And by then you are exhausted, but you check your email, do a little work, hear the dryer buzz downstairs so feel like you have to go fold those clothes, get back in bed, remember you haven’t updated your blog in way too long, write a quick post, and finally, eventually go to sleep. But, maybe that’s just me.

Another thing I really don’t like about being sick is the tissue guilt. When I get a cold, it’s not just a little bit of stuffiness. I go through about a box of tissues a day.

And I feel really bad about it. It’s wasteful – it creates tons of trash. So I feel guilty, but still, I just grab tissues until the box runs out and I have to find a new one. I know, I could probably get some handkerchiefs or try these reusable tissues and wash and reuse them, but really, it seems a little gross to me. And did I mention that I’m already tired and sick and cranky, and way behind on laundry anyway so filling up a hamper with hankies just doesn’t sound appealing.

So, in the spirit of my new lease on life, I’m going to release myself of tissue guilt. I only get sick a couple of times a year, and I’ll make up for it in other ways. Maybe I could even compost those tissues. Oh, I never thought of that, now there’s an idea, hmm….

Okay, before I start researching tissue composting to see how long they would take to break down in my backyard composter, I’m going to admit that I’m tired and go to bed now. Thanks for letting me rant. I'm feeling better already.

So what do you think? Am I crazy for feeling guilty about using too many tissues? What are some of the choices that you make that you know aren’t the best for the planet but make your lives easier?

Reflections on forty

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 08:39:00 GMT

“And I’m going to be forty.”
“When?”
“Someday”
“In eight years.”
“But it's there. It's just sitting there like this big dead end.”

These lines from one of my favorite movies, “When Harry Met Sally”, have been swimming around in my head for about twenty years now. I’m not sure why, but I have always had an internal count down to how many years I have left until I turn forty.

But now, it’s not someday, or in eight years, or even in two years. It’s now. And you know what? It’s okay. Sure, I see the wrinkles and lines and at times, it’s hard. But at the same time, I look in the mirror and I don’t see a forty year old. I remember what forty-year old people looked like when I was young and maybe it’s just a huge perspective change, but I don’t think I look like that. And I definitely don’t feel like what I thought forty would be.

I have been reflecting a lot lately on the past ten years of my life. It’s amazing how fast it’s gone but also how far I’ve come in that time. The last few years of my thirties were especially challenging and I’m ready now to leave them behind and enter my forties with a new lease on life. There are some things from my thirties that I want to leave behind, never to be heard from again. But there are also some valuable lessons that the experiences of last ten years have taught me. These are the lessons to take with me into the next decade.

I leave behind the word never. You know how it goes when you are younger – “my kids will never act like that” or “ I will never do that”. Life throws a lot of curve balls. I’ve learned the hard way to never say never. I take with me some more realistic goals to strive for, but an understanding that things may not always work out as planned. “Plan B” is not a bad thing – sometimes it’s even better.

I leave behind a bikini ready belly. It’s okay, it never was that great anyway. What I take with me, an appreciation for stretch marks and two nine pound plus babies who are growing into beautiful little people.

I leave behind a job in corporate America and a steady paycheck. I gained my own business, stress over how to juggle it all, but the knowledge that I really can do anything I set my mind to.

I leave behind some of my innocence and naivety when people I trusted did not have my back. But I gained some super-powered resilience and the ability to truly find forgiveness in my heart.

I leave behind many of my expectations of what life would be like when I got older. I take with me a good therapist and an appreciation for the relaxing effects of a great bottle of Cabernet.

Unfortunately, I leave behind many wonderful people - good people who left this world too soon. What I take with me is gratitude for good health and a deep appreciation for the people I love.

I leave behind some friendships that were good for a period of time, but no longer serve a purpose in my life. I also leave behind any guilt for not working harder to continue these relationships. I will take with me a recognition of and appreciation for the people who continue to bring peace, love and joy to my life.

I leave behind my inner critic and take with me instead, my inner cheerleader. And I’m sure that I will have to remind myself of this daily, but I will do it.

There are so many valuable, life-altering lessons learned from 30 to 40, I wouldn’t want to go back even if I could. I’m here to tell you do not fear, turning 40 isn’t a dead end after all. In fact, it’s really a new beginning. I’m excited now to see what the next ten years will bring.

Earth Day Hooray

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:08:00 GMT

The first official Earth Day was in 1970, so this year (like um, many people I know) Earth Day turns the big 4-0. Gosh, and she doesn’t look a day over 32, right?

Originally celebrated on the first day of spring (the March Equinox), it is now celebrated on April 22, the more widely recognized date.

It’s a great day to celebrate with kids. Here are some ideas for getting in the Earth Day spirit with the family.

Local Orange County events:

Check out Discovery Science Center – At the Discovery Cube, Earth Day is celebrated all week. They have hands-on activities, movies and demonstrations throughout the week and special events each day. Click here to check out the schedule. I will be speaking on April 21st and the 24th so if you come check it out on those days, stop by and say hello.

Participate in a beach cleanup – There are beach cleanups every weekend. To find one in your area check out saveourbeach.

Recycle your e-Waste - Orange-based All Green Electronics Recycling is hosting e-waste collection sites throughout the week in Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Tustin, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Irvine and Orange. Check out their website for the time and location near you. Residents can bring any old electronics, including computers, ink cartridges, televisions, calculators, telephones and any other small items to be recycled. All Green dismantles all electronics to harvest raw material for resale, to prevent electronics from creating toxic waste in landfills in the U.S. or abroad. For more information, visit www.allgreenrecycling.com.

Check out events at OC Parks – Check their website for events throughout the week including the Green Expo at Mile Square Park this weekend.

Other suggestions for celebrating Earth Day at home:

Pick up trash around your neighborhood, at your school or at the park.
Plant a tree, or flower, or even a house plant – all absorb CO2 and produce oxygen.
Make crafts with the kids using reused materials – you can find instructions for making a milk carton bird feeder, cereal box magazine holder, aluminum can pots, and many more at Kaboose.com. Even more Earth Day crafts can be found at Enchantedlearning.com.
Make your own recycled paper - a great activity to do with your kids. An interesting experiment for moms too.
Play Earth Day themed games online – A few to check out are the Clean up Your World Game, and the Earth Day Fun Center.
Talk about water conservation – go to Getwise for kid’s activities and teacher resources for learning about water conservation.
Get your kids involved in recycling – recycling is a perfect, age-appropriate activity and something that kids can do themselves and see a real impact.
Read Earth Day themed books with your kids. My blog post title comes from one of my son’s favorite books from when he was young. Oh, how many times I read that book, it’s practically memorized.

The most important thing you can do on Earth Day and every day is to be a good role model for your kids. Our children look to us to set an example. If we really care about kids, we will take better care of Earth. After all, our kids will be around much longer than us to see the results of our actions.

It really is just good old filtered tap water

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:27:00 GMT

One thing I never leave the house without is my reusable water bottle. I have many, but my trustee favorite is the classic stainless steel Klean Kanteen 27 ounce bottle.

Sometimes people give me strange looks as I drink from it and other times, they just come right out and ask what they are thinking: “What have you got in there?” They say it with a smile (and sometimes even a little wink) like you know, I’m hiding something. Really?

Now, I’m not going to claim innocence and say I have never put anything other than water in my reusable water bottle. There was that ill-fated attempt to sneak Bloody Marys into the pool at the Desert Springs Marriott. (Word to the wise, don’t try it. Those security guards don’t mess around). But really, that’s on a weekend getaway with no driving and no kids. On a Wednesday at 2:30 when I am picking up a carload of kids from school, or at 5:00 when I’m dropping my son off at baseball practice, I do not in fact have alcohol in my reusable bottle. Okay, glad we go that straight.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve spent a lot of time in San Francisco lately, and I’m pretty sure that no one there would ask me what is in my water bottle. Over half the people I saw walking around the city were toting their own reusable bottle. It was Klean Kanteen heaven and I loved it.

But here in Orange County, a mom walking around every day with a stainless steel water bottle is still suspect. I look forward to the day when it’s not. I’m encouraged by the fact that I no longer get the bewildered or annoyed looks from cashiers when I bring my own bags to the store. That's because more and more people are choosing reusable shopping bags. I look forward to the next step, when we all put down our plastic water bottles and hit the tap.

For more on the problem with bottled water and why you should make the switch to tap water, I highly recommend this video, The Story of Bottled Water. It’s worth the eight minutes to view. It’s a pretty compelling argument.

Recently, a company called Lifefactory (which makes glass baby bottles) came out with a reusable glass bottle for adults. It’s safe, non-leaching, unbreakable and best of all, just like plastic water bottles, it’s see-through.

This just might be my solution until the time (I hope in the not so distant future), that carrying around a reusable water bottle will be as common in Orange County as say, talking on your cell phone loudly in public. It will just be the norm rather than the exception.

What do you think? Do you carry a reusable bottle or are you still stuck on plastic? If you are still using disposable bottles, why can’t you give them up? Is that possible that reusable bottles can be more common in Orange County than disposable ones or am I living in a dream world?

Good news found on your trash can

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:57:00 GMT

As I went to pull my trash bin from the street to my backyard a couple weeks ago, I found this attached to it:

In case you missed it (which, judging from the amount of these flyers that my family and I picked up off the ground on our walk that evening, quite a few people did), I wanted to share some of the highlights.

Waste Management (which serves more than 25 million residential customers across the United States), continues to expand their list of recyclable items. Here are some of the recent changes:

Waste Management now accepts all number plastics (1-7) for recycling! This is big news. In the past, only No.1 and No. 2 plastics were recyclable in most residential recycling programs. Now, all numbered plastics can be placed in the recycling can.
Waste management now recycles plastic bags! Although eliminating the use of plastic bags is one of my primary goals in life, somehow these ubiquitous little suckers still end up at my house. I used to save them and make a special trip to the grocery store to recycle them. Now, you can bundle them up together inside one of the plastic bags and toss them in your recycling bin. Great news!
Shredded paper can be recycled. Due to the small size of the paper, this often cannot be recycled. Now, if placed in a bag and tied up, Waste Management will accept it for recycling.
Paint cans (completely dried out) and aerosol cans (completely empty) are accepted. If you need to throw out paint or aerosol cans with liquid still in them, do not put them in your trash or recycle bin. Instead, make a trip to your nearest hazardous recycling center. For a list of Orange County hazardous waste disposal centers, click here.

For more information about how to recycle virtually anything, you can also check out earth911.com.

A thing of beauty in San Francisco

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:49:00 GMT

I’ve spent quite a bit of time in San Francisco lately and although I wish it was under better circumstances, there aren’t many places I’d rather be.

I have loved San Francisco since childhood. Born and raised in Northern California, the city was magical to me as a kid. Going to a show, a museum (the Exploratorium was my favorite), Pier 39 or Union Square, it was all good to me. Family trips, field trips, shopping trips for back to school or prom – there was always something exciting to do in the city.

Today, I still love San Francisco. One of the big reasons I love it so much is that when it comes to going green, the city just gets it right. San Francisco is home of some of the world's most innovative environmental legislation and initiatives. From the creation of the first large scale urban collection of food scraps for composting in the country, to the compilation of a list of “SF Approved Products” that are better for our health and environment, the city is on the forefront of the green movement.

But in addition to the large-scale initiatives, there are also thousands of small things like this display that I ran across in a food court by UCSF. It was so breathtaking, I had to whip out my iPhone and snap a pic.

It takes something that we talk about, blog about and write about (but the majority of the population still does not quite get) and conveys it in a way that is clear, simple and direct.

I love this so much that I wish it was in every food court, park, school and public building in the country. If it was, think of how much landfill-waste could be diverted to the compost facility or recycle center. It would be awesome.

So here’s this green mom’s dream: a fool-proof waste center like this in every business, public building and home in America. It could happen. I have seen the promised-land, and it involves color coordinated waste bins, poster board, glue, and empty food containers. It's a beautiful thing.

A great big dose of perspective

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:33:00 GMT

I’ve spent A LOT of time in hospitals in the past couple of weeks, and it’s changed my perspective in many ways.

The whole journey started just over two weeks ago with a late night phone call from my sister. “There’s something wrong with Dad” she said. These are words you do not want to hear during late night phone calls.

The problem was that my Dad was starting to forget things, simple things like phone numbers or directions. He had made an appointment to go the doctor, but called my sister because he didn’t know how to get there (even though he had just gone to see the doctor last month). My sister thought that was strange but gave him directions. The next day, he called again and said he didn’t know where the office was. We decided that my sister (being closer in proximity to my Dad) would drive down the next morning and take him to his appointment. After some initial tests at the doctor’s office, they admitted my Dad to the hospital. That’s when I decided to hop on a plane and head up to Northern California.

From that point, the week was a whirlwind – my sister and I trailing along behind ambulances as they transferred our Dad from hospital to hospital to try to get some sort of answer to what was wrong. After three hospitals, multiple MRIs, bone marrow extracts, lumbar punctures, blood tests, and a PET scan, we still don’t have an answer.

What we know is that there is something in my Dad’s brain that shouldn’t be there, and despite all the tests, doctors still don’t know exactly what it is. As the neurosurgeon said to my Dad yesterday, “You have something wrong with you but I’m here to fix it”. Although I’m frustrated that we still don’t know, those simple words from the doctor were very reassuring.

The next step is a craniotomy and biopsy of the tissue from the tumor in his brain. When I heard the word craniotomy, this is pretty much the image that flashed through my mind:

As it turns out, this is something that sounds a lot scarier than it really is. Of course, when I pointed this out to my Dad he said, “Well, easy for you to say, it’s not your brain”, followed by his trademark chuckle because he cracked himself up. His memory may be compromised at the moment but sense of humor, thankfully intact.

Soon he will be back in the hospital for surgery and we will head back to the neurology floor at UCSF (thankfully, one of the premier neurosurgery centers in the country). Having spent four days on that floor already, I can tell you it’s a life altering experience.

I saw people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. I saw a family huddled outside their aging mother’s room, tears in their eyes as the discussed the possibility of transferring her to a nursing home because she couldn’t care for herself anymore. I saw a young woman with a shaved head and 6-inch scar encircling her ear, shuffling around the floor of the hospital with the help of a walker, with her mom on one side and dad on the other. I saw a pregnant woman with a young child at home camped out by her husband’s bedside as he was recovering from another surgery to remove yet another tumor.

It’s just one of those experiences that puts life in perspective. In the end, the health of you and the people you love is really the thing that matters. All the other stuff (the daily trials and tribulations we spend most of our time focusing on) isn’t all that important. For a type-A person like me, it’s a powerful lesson.

So, we are moving on to the next chapter with anticipation of a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan. Although I’m scared, I’m hopeful for a good outcome for my Dad. He has been healthy and active his whole life, so I’m looking forward to getting him back to hiking and golfing and dog-walking and all the things he loves to do. I am hopeful, my family is hopeful, he is hopeful. We are keeping it all in perspective.

I struggled with posting such a personal story, especially one that is still ongoing, but in the end, decided to share it. First, I’m hoping there are other people out there who have experienced similar things and may be able to provide words of encouragement or advice. I sure could use it. Or, maybe my story will help others who have or may soon face similar challenges. Also, with this going on in my life right now, it’s hard to muster up the enthusiasm to write about the importance of say, using a reusable shopping bag (which of course I still believe in doing, but if it doesn’t always happen, life goes on, you know).

Cleaning up the beach feels good

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:39:00 GMT

Last weekend, my kids and I participated in a beach cleanup in Seal Beach.

It was our second cleanup with the Save Our Beach organization. Both times, I have been extremely impressed with the organization of the clean up effort and dedication of the volunteers who run it.

There were hundreds of participants in Saturday’s cleanup. We filled eight dumpsters with trash (not to mention the recycling that was collected separately) just in one day! And the most amazing part, you can go out again this weekend and find just as much.

It’s a never-ending process, but an important one. Every piece of trash collected on the beach is less that washes out to sea, to potentially be eaten by sea life or end up in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (that double-the-size- of-Texas island of trash floating in the Pacific).

The best thing about a beach cleanup is that it’s such a hand-on activity. It’s something good that you can do for the earth that is specific and measurable. We don’t have many opportunities like that.

Also, if you sign up and register before this Friday, February 26th, you can qualify for Disney’s “Give a Day. Get a Day” promotion. Clean up the beach for a few hours, get a free ticket to Disneyland. You can’t beat that.

My kids worked so hard that day – crawling down between the rocks picking up pieces of plastic; Styrofoam (and Styrofoam, and Styrofoam, and even more Styrofoam); empty bottles and cans; chip bags and other food wrappers; a few random items like balls, hubcaps and kids toys; and lots of cigarette butts. They never once complained. I was one proud momma.

At some point into our day, my son looked up at me and said “It’s unbelievable how people treat the earth.” Later on my daughter asked “Mom, can’t we do our own cleanup every time we go to the beach? We can just bring our own bag and gloves, right?” And that is worth so much more than a ticket to Disneyland.

Here's my Whrrl about our beach cleanup. Click anywhere on the story below to see it.

More check-ins at Beach cleanup

Do you know where your food comes from?

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:45:00 GMT

Unless you grow it yourself in your backyard, the answer is probably a resounding no. I always thought I had a fairly good idea. But last weekend, I watched “Food Inc.” and realized I only knew a small part of the story. The movie had a profound effect on me and has totally changed how I look at food.

"Food Inc." is packed with information and made me ask questions like: Why can we can get ripened tomatoes year round? Why is it that a bag of chips costs less than a bundle of carrots? What is the reason that many chickens are never exposed to sunlight? And who on earth ever thought it was a good idea to feed corn to fish?

It was tough to watch at times but ultimately, I found it pretty inspiring. Knowledge is power and with more knowledge, I can make better decisions.

There is a great summary at the end of the movie that describes what we can do as consumers to make better food choices. Here are the suggestions that appear one by one on the screen:

Buy from companies that treat workers, animal and the environment with respect.
When you go to the supermarket, choose foods that are in season.
Buy foods that are organic.
Know what’s in your food. Read labels.
The average meal travels 1500 miles from the farm to the supermarket. Buy foods that are grown locally.
Shop at farmer’s markets.
Plant a garden (even a small one).
Cook a meal with your family and eat together.
Everyone has a right to healthy food. Make sure your farmer’s market takes food stamps.
Ask your school board to provide healthy school lunches.
The FDA and USDA are supposed to protect you and your family. Tell Congress to enforce food safety standards and re-introduce Kevin’s Law.
If you say grace, ask for food that will keep us, and the planet healthy.

It’s a great reminder that as consumers, we can vote to change this broken system. We get the chance to exercise our vote three times a day. For more information and suggestions of what you can do, visit Take Part.

I hope that everyone makes time to see “Food Inc.” Please see it for you, see it for the people you love and see it for the planet. Remember “you can change the world with every bite.”

Two-year old logic and global warming

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:54:00 GMT

Have you heard the news: it’s snowing back East? Oh my gosh, it’s snowing…in the Northeast…in February. Can you believe it?

In the middle of this week's storm, climate change naysayers are declaring that this storm in one region of one county totally disproves climate change. It’s people like Senator James Inhofe who constructed an igloo in Washington, DC and posted a sign reading "Honk if you heart global warming." It’s Senator Jim DeMint who tweeted "It's going to keep snowing in DC until Al Gore cries uncle." And you better believe that Fox News has jumped all over it, with story after story that totally distorts the facts to fit their agenda.

It’s hard for me to believe that some of this is even real. I mean, really, it’s ridiculous. It’s like me looking up at the night sky and saying “Well the sun must have gone away because it’s dark outside.” It’s two-year old logic, but there are people lapping it up and it scares me.

Now I realize that this is a particularly harsh storm impacting millions of people. I'm not trying to make light of it. But the climate change deniers are totally missing the point. As Giselle Barry from Repower America points out “Extreme weather is climate change! Not only does "Snowpocalypse" not disprove global warming, it actually matches scientific predictions that climate change will increase extreme weather events of many kinds, including heavy snowfalls in regions like the Northeast.”

The fact is that climate change is a very complex issue. It will lead to more temperature extremes, both cold and warm. And I don’t remember Al Gore ever saying that it would never snow again ever. I’m quite sure that’s not what hundreds of years of scientific evidence and study predict.

This clip from Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show is genius, and sums it up best. As usual, a little dose of humor makes me feel so much better:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Unusually Large Snowstorm

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Last minute Valentine cards for kids

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:05:00 GMT

As usual, we are scrambling at the last minute to get our Valentine cards together for school. I always think I’m going to be that mom who has everything planned and organized well in advance, but somehow, I never seem to get there. This year, I totally forgot that Friday is a school holiday, so our Valentines cards have to be ready for Thursday’s class party.

If you are a last-minute like me and you’ve run out to the store to find that everything is sold out, why not try making Valentine’s cards? And you can spend nothing and use only things that you may already have at home.

We did just that tonight. The kids and I rummaged through the house and found all our extra colored paper, stickers, markers and stamps and gathered them together. Then, we printed a few labels on the computer (the “to, from” part of the card), and cut them into rectangles. Using scrap paper, we made larger colored rectangles cut slightly larger. The kids glued the labels on the colored paper scraps. Then, they addressed and signed each one and decorated with stickers, foam cutouts, stamps and markers. It got a little messy, but was a great exercise in creativity for the kids.

Finally, we hole-punched the cards on one side and tied each one with curling ribbon to a Trader Joe’s organic lollipop.

It took about an hour to make our Valentines using only materials we already had at home – no waste, no cost! Okay, I did have to run out and buy one extra box of Organic Lollipops from Trader Joe’s because we only had one box in the pantry. So I spent $3 on 58 Valentine’s for both classrooms. Here are the results:

They turned out cute I think. And best of all, not a plastic goody bag or cheap plastic trinket to be found.

Go green for Valentine’s Day

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:23:00 GMT

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. I didn’t always enjoy this “Hallmark holiday”, even once I actually had a Valentine. But my attitude about the holiday changed about ten years ago when hubby and I decided to ditch the traditional Valentines’ day route and started our own tradition. Every year since, we avoid the hassle and expense of going out (reservations, overpriced wine, finding a sitter) and instead stay home. He cooks while I get the kiddos in bed early. Then, we pop open a great bottle of champagne (the kind that would be unaffordable at a restaurant but is reasonable at the store) and enjoy a gourmet home cooked meal with candles and the good china. No gifts either – our dinner, champagne, and time alone is our gift.

But if you are in the market for something for your sweetie, here are a few suggestions to make your gift a little greener:

Organic Flowers –when you touch or inhale the scent of non-organic flowers, it is likely that you are exposing yourself and your family to harmful chemicals. Pesticides and other toxic chemicals used on flowers also affect the health of farm workers and florists. Keep everyone pesticide-free by purchasing organic and in-season flowers. Some sources include California Organic Flowers, Organic Bouquet, and Local Harvest.

Fair Trade Chocolate - Traditional cocoa farming forces hundreds of thousands of children in West Africa to work under forced labor conditions on cocoa farms. Young boys are sold into slave labor and forced to work in cocoa farms, under inhumane conditions and extreme abuse. Kind of make’s that Hershey’s bar not taste so good doesn’t it? But when you buy Fair Trade chocolate, you ensure that farmers and workers receive a fair price for their product, helping them support their families and send their children to school rather than the field. Most Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate is also certified organic and shade-grown, which helps maintain the biodiversity of ecosystems, provides shelter for migratory birds, and uses far less energy than conventional farming. Yes, it’s a bit more expensive, but do we really need that much chocolate anyway? For eco-friendly chocolate, try one of these sites: Global Exchange, Equal Exchange, Dagoba Chocolate, and Coco-Zen (fair trade, organic and local – a triple winner!).

Eco-friendly Jewelry – Go for jewelry that is fair trade, responsibly manufactured, and made from sustainable materials. The good news is it’s also generally super affordable too. You can find jewelry made from recycled glass, like this line we sell at buygreen.com; handmade, eco-friendly bling at etsy.com; or, if you have a bigger budget, there is brilliantearth.com for ethical, conflict-free diamonds.

More Sustainable Love – After the champagne, flowers, chocolate and jewelry, there’s the umm…love…the best part of Valentine’s Day. And yes, there is in fact, even an organic line of personal lubricants – think of it as the “green” KY. The majority of personal lubricants on the market are made with petrochemicals and preserved with methyl and propyl parabens. But Good Clean Love personal lubricants are natural and organic so they not only feel good, but are good for you. I especially like this Cupid’s Travel Kit – would be a perfect Valentine’s gift.

So spoil your sweetie this Valentine’s Day with eco-friendly gifts that are not only good for them, but also the planet. Happy Valentine’s Day!

(Note: It's important to me to point out that none of the companies or products on this list paid me anything or gave me anything for free. Even my own company, BuyGreen.com - I don't get paid by them either (hee, hee), but maybe someday. These are just companies and products that I run across in my work and I enjoying sharing to help others find better, greener alternatives to traditional products.)

I can’t stand the smell of clean clothes

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:36:00 GMT

The other day, one of my daughter’s friends dropped off a bag of my daughter’s clothes at our house. For some reason, my daughter just can’t seem to come home with all of her clothes when she has a sleepover, or often lets her friends borrow clothes when they are at our house.

Like most times, I opened the bag, immediately caught a whiff, and stuck them right in the laundry. Were they still dirty? Did they have some awful smell on them? Am I a freak about germs?

Nope, it’s none of the above. I ended up washing the clothes even though some nice family already washed them for us – the reason is that I can no longer handle the smell of traditional chemical laundry detergents and fabric softeners. Once you get away from them, you will find that the smell is quite overpowering and you can’t go back.

Traditional laundry detergent, bleach, and fabric softeners are no good – for your family and the environment. As we strive to have clean, ultra-white, fresh-smelling clothes, we have inadvertently invited a whole host of toxic chemicals into our homes. We absorb these chemicals through our skin. In addition, those harsh chemicals are washed down the sink, entering the waste stream and contaminating our ground water.

Fortunately today, there are hundreds of eco-friendly products for getting your laundry fresh and clean. You can find them online and even in grocery stores and Target. Be sure to read the ingredient list and steer clear from the chemicals listed below and remember that “natural” does not necessarily mean eco-friendly.

Here are some things to keep in mind when buying detergents & other laundry products:

Do not use detergents or stain removers with phosphates (which are linked to lung cancer and damage our water systems).
Also steer clear of alkylphenol exthoxylates (APE's), linear alkylate sulforate (LAS) - both are known toxicants.
Do not use bleach with chlorine or sodium perborates. Chlorine gets into the waste stream and contaminates ground water. Use non-chlorine alternatives made from hydrogen peroxide or oxygen.
Do not use detergents with petroleum-based, chemical fragrances. Fragrances and harsh solvents like ammonia contained in some typical detergents and fabric softeners can trigger your allergies and asthma, and cause skin irritation.
Stay away from conventional fabric softeners. These are a skin irritant and also build up on clothing, making it look dull. They also lower the absorption of your towels and can leave a residue on your skin when you dry off. Yuck!

If you make the switch to eco-friendly laundry products, you will be surprised that your clothes can get clean without chemicals, don’t develop instant static cling without dryer sheets and are still soft without fabric softener. Really, we can have clean, fresh-smelling clothes without chemicals. And once you see how easy it is, you won’t want to go back either.

Check out the Go Green Expo this weekend

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:48:00 GMT

The Go Green Expo is this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event is open to the public on Saturday from 10-6 and Sunday from 10-5.

If you are just starting your journey to going green or even if you are well on your way, green expos and festivals like this are a great way to discover tons of green products, services, and information all in one place.

There will be over 300 booths and exhibits, interactive seminars and speeches (you can download speaker schedule). In addition to the Green Marketplace, there will be a screening of the film “Tapped” with a Q&A with the Director and Producer, Film Presentations by Blue Planet Film Festival, a rock climbing wall, yoga classes, and lots of demonstrations and hands-on activities. Tons of giveaways too – if you don’t already have a bunch of reusable shopping bags, this is the place to load up on them (for free).

For more information, go to gogreenexpo.com.

The rain should clear over the weekend and it’s a quick drive up to the Los Angeles Convention Center. Admission is just $10 for adults (which includes admission for both days) and free for kids under 12.

If you happen to go, stop by and say hi. We’ll be in booth 113.

If you can’t make this expo, here are just some of the many other upcoming Green expos in California:

Green Meets Green Expo – Del Mar, January 22-24
Natural Products Expo West - Anaheim, March 12-14. This is the premier event for healthy products. While it's primarily food (tons of samples - go hungry), there are also personal care and home goods. It's ranked one of the top 100 shows in the U.S. With thousands of vendors, wear walking shoes and bring some water. It's an all-day event with thousands of new products to discover.
The Green Festival – the mother of all green festivals and my favorite event of the year, organizers have just added a Spring show in San Francisco on April 10-11. The traditional fall festival will still be held Nov. 5-7. If you have never been to this show, it’s awesome – worth a trip to Northern California for sure.