Curiously Awesome

I have a bunch of green kids in my house and I couldn’t be more proud of them!

Kids these days need to be taught to be aware of how EVERYbody impacts our environment – including them! Let’s face it. We all need to do our part to lessen our impact on the environment…and it is wise to begin teaching this to children as soon as possible so that they will grow up with this mindset. Our environment is everyone’s responsibility and everyone needs to do their part.

My daughter would love this messenger bag that I found at Fresh & Green. This is just one of many items that are available that are especially made for young people. In fact, this website offers a complete line of products that are designed to help parents teach their children about how important it is to “go green.”

This is a very affordable way to buy the items that you and your family are wanting and needing, yet still do it responsibly for the environment.

Check this site out!

Resolve not to resort to processed foods as food prices rise!

Protein:

Protein can be difficult to buy on a budget. Some items will be out of reach, but you can still find tasty meat for low prices.

Season and marinate your own meat.  Buy chicken with the bone and skin on.

Consider replacing meat with a protein substitute a few times a week.

Grains:

Buy less-processed grains.  Buy plain brown rice instead of boxed rice mixes. Buy larger containers of oats instead of individual packets of instant oatmeal.

Buy bread items when they’re on sale and freeze any extras.

Beverages:

Put a filter on your tap instead of buying bottled water.

Make your own coffee at home and make it special at home instead of splurging on coffeehouse drinks.

Single-serving snacks:

Instead of buying individual bags of snacks, buy a bigger package and divide it up into smaller servings yourself.

General tips:

Buy Generic

Buy bigger containers and boxes to save some money. Compare unit prices to make sure you’re getting the best price.

Stock up on non-perishables.

Use coupons only for items you would usually purchase.

Cook at home instead of going out.

Anyone with school-aged kids knows how much organizing is involved in managing their daily lives once the school year begins. Multiply this by more than one child and it can get out of hand quickly.

I, myself, am an organizer at heart. In fact…I am never more personally satisfied than when I am restoring or establishing order in SOMEthing. Lucky for me I have lots of kids to manage and organize! They keep me very busy.

We are a homeschooling family, and you might be amazed at my schoolroom. The only way to keep this room easily used by everyone is to keep it managed and well organized. Labels are an important part of this. I have decided that this is the year that I finally get to own my very own DYMO Labelmaker. It will be heaven, I tell you!  My schoolroom is going to be perfectly and extensively labeled so that everything will be easily located by anyone who is looking.

Anyone who enjoys organizing will enjoy their site. It’s full of tips and advice for managing the busy back-to-school time. I found many great ideas that I can’t wait to try! Not only do they have great back-to-school suggestions, but I also found other ideas for the kitchen, the craftroom, and much more. Check this site out!

Are you having a hard time stretching your grocery dollars during the current economic downturn? You’re not alone. Here are a few easy guidelines to follow for finding healthy foods.

Make your own coffee, buy fruits and vegetables that are in season, it’s fine to replace meat with protein sources like eggs and beans once in a while…but no matter how tempting it is, always avoid the fast-food drive-thru window.

Plan ahead, shop for sales and try out generic or store brands. These methods can save a lot of money.

Fruits and Vegetables:

Produce is not too expensive if bought in season. Buy fruit or vegetables by the bag instead of individually. If the produce you want isn’t in season, buy canned and frozen fruits and vegetables.

You might try growing your own vegetables also. A great way to get fresh fruits and vegetables is to plant a vegetable garden, or even a few plants in a pot.

NEXT: Protein and Grains done the frugal way

I find it very interesting that marathon runners don’t develop many forms of cancer. The hypothesis is that they are able to avoid these illnesses because they sweat out toxins on a daily basis that might otherwise make them sick. There is a new report out that outlines the benefits of sweating by a Biochemist from Germany.

There are many health benefits of Infrared Home Saunas. Those that engage in regular and significant sweating (either by exertion or by sauna) will benefit and experience superior health.

For a brief overview of this, please see the information contained in Sex in the Sauna.

I know I, personally, feel better after having worked up a sweat during my daily cardio exercise. There’s just something energizing and rejuvinating from a good sweat! Do you find this true as well?

Health experts are at last warning women to stop using perfumes and products containing heavy fragrances during pregnancy. The chemicals in these cosmetics causes cancer and fertility problems for the unborn children.

Not coincidentally, the natural health community has been warning about the cancer risks of perfumes in these cosmetics for over twenty years. It’s high time the general public is being cautioned. Hopefully they will listen and heed.

John McCain is wearing a Memorial Bracelets in memory of a 22 year old soldier who was killed in Iraq last year. McCain was given the bracelet by the soldiers mother a few months ago while he was campaigning in New Hampshire.

McCain wears the black bracelet in memory of the soldier and because of a promise he made to the mother that he would do everything in his power to make sure her son’s death was not in vain.

“It means any political ambitions of mine pale in comparison to the sacrifice that nearly 4,000 family members have made.” McCain said of the bracelet.

It’s not only presidential candidates that can wear memorial bracelets to honor fallen heroes. You and I can wear them as well. At memorialbracelets.com there are many different types and styles of bracelets available. You can choose to honor victims of terrorism, POW*MIAs, and military heroes who have fallen in action.

This is a worthy demonstration of support to fallen heroes and their families.

Can optimists really heal themselves? Can humor impact your health?

Research now tells us that the mind and immune system are connected and do not exist independently.

The way we perceive our health has a dramatic effect on our actual health. In a group of 3,000 heart patients who were asked to rate their health, those who said it was “very good,” had three times the survival rate of others participants who answered “poor.”

Pessimism is more deadly than congestive heart failure or smoking over 50 packs of cigarettes a year.

A study at the University of Texas found that people with a positive attitude about life could actually delay aging. This suggests that there are other factors at play along with genes and physical health.

Positive emotions might alter the chemical balance of the body. There is a connection between mind and body and our thoughts and attitudes affect physical functioning and overall health.

In other studies it has been determined that depressed people may be 42% more likely to develop diabetes. Researchers have also found that cancer patients who participated in a support group lived longer.

Our mind is a powerful weapon that we can utilize to defeat disease and live a long life!

If you are in the hospitality industry, here is something that will appeal to you as you strive to manage your business. Decision Logic is ready to help you and provide you with all of the restaurant software solutions you need to run a successful business.

Decision Logic provides businesses in the restaurant industry with management solutions that will help make operations not only streamlined but also cost-effective. Decision Logic will help you with the management of your inventory, the balancing of your budget, payroll management, and multiple levels of reporting as well.

Take a quick moment and visit their site to see for yourself how Decision Logic can assist you with your business. Their site is easy to navigate and you can request a free consultation as well.

Plastic never goes away although it eventually crumbles up into tiny bits. These bits of plastic enter the food supply and are passed from jelly fish all the way back up to humans where it is stored in their livers.

Every person who uses plastic has contributed to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Whether you throw litter on the ground or into a landfill…everyone throws away plastic and it ends up in the ocean and then back in our bodies.

Ways to Reduce Plastic in Landfills

Avoid Products that use Plastic

Plastic is convenient but the clear kind usually finds its way into our food. It leaves a film on anything that is wrapped in it and then we eat it.

Kick the Bottle Habit

One of the most wasteful products is individually wrapped bottles of water. This has lingered from the 1990′s fad for those pretending to be health conscious.

Recycle or Reuse Materials

Plastic can be recycled. Once you start recycling you will save money on trash bags. Many containers can be washed out and reused.

Choose Products with Biodegradable Plastic

Many plastic cups along with packaging peanuts are available in a biodegradable form.

Repair, Sell or Upgrade Gadgets

Buy used products when possible and sell your items when you no longer need them. Opt for products that offer replacement parts.

Recycle Computer Parts

If you must discard computer items, take them to an electronics recycler. Staples accepts old monitors, for a small fee. Goodwill accepts items that work.

Use Cloth Grocery Bags

Avoid bringing home plastic bags. Cloth bags are a great alternative.

Do Sweat the Small Stuff

The worst pieces of plastic are the tiny ones. These are what birds and fish mistake for food and eat and then can’t pass them.

Don’t Litter

Debris will persist for decades and humans leave enough of a footprint without adding insult to injury.

Clean up your Neighborhood Ponds

Many neighborhoods have small ponds containing water that is cleaner than their municipal water. These ponds are often teeming with fish and turtles that help keep them pure. Unfortunately these ponds are normally loaded with plastic debris. If we would take 15 minutes each week a lot of clean up could be accomplished.