Lilolu

Mother Daughter Book Club

The other night we had our first official Mother-Daughter Book Club meeting.  The girls seemed so excited to see each other and that just made me so happy.  I have to admit, Bella and I had a hard time staying interested in Gynger Pye and we didn't finish the entire book but knew enough about it to contribute to the discussion. Perhaps I should rephrase that...Bella contributed to the discussion...quite a bit. Though she had so much to say, I could tell she was nervous because she kept pulling on a scarf she was wearing.  When she wasn't pulling on her scarf she was pulling on her shirt.  Wow, her clothes were all stretched out by the end of the night.  I didn't mind...I was just so pleased to see her so happy.  There's nothing like seeing your child completely happy in his/her element. 

 

  

We are hosting the next meeting so Bella was able to choose the next book.  She decided to go with Roland Wright: Future Knight by Tony Davis.  She's so excited to read something really funny but there is only one problem...Wolfie wants to read it too.  I'll have to check the local library to see if there's an extra copy.  

Has your child read this book?  What did he or she think about it?

Turn Old Phones Into New Trees

Recycling cell phones can contain hazardous chemicals such as cadmium, lead and mercury. Unless properly recycled, these chemicals could make their way from landfills into our soil and into the water we drink and air we breathe.

PlantMyPhones recycles with partners that adhere to a no export, not landfill policy that ensures that hazardous materials are not exported to third world countries and that no materials end up in land fills.

PlantMyPhone recycling partners are ISO 14001 certified.

For more detail on how PlantMyPhone recycles, please click here.

Planting Trees Helps Our Planet Fight Climate Change

On average, each tree planted in the humid tropics absorbs 50 pounds of carbon dioxide every year for at least 40 years, amounting to one ton over the course of the tree's lifetime.

Tree cover also reflects solar radiation back into space and facilitates the evaporation of water into the atmosphere, increasing cloud formation. (Clouds help cool the planet by reflecting incoming solar radiation.)

How PlantMyPhone Trees Are Planted

Award-winning nonprofit organizations specializing in agroforestry projects—which restore depleted lands and boost the agricultural productivity and incomes of indigenous peoples in some of the poorest parts of the world—plant the actual trees

PlantMyPhone trees are planted in 12 tropical countries: Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Burundi, Senegal, Zambia, India, Philippines and Haiti. Species include Cocoa, Coffee, Banana, Orange, Cedar, Teak, Mahogany, Oak, Acacia, Eucalyptus, Laurel and Leucaena.

I'm sure many of you have old phones hanging around.  So, I hope you take the time to check it out.  Happy day, everyone!

Organic Garden

 

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining and the air smelled so fresh I couldn't get enough of it.  It got me thinking about the organic garden we want to grow this spring.  Anyone who knows me knows I DO NOT have a green thumb.  First things first, I asked my husband not to use his usual fertilizer on the grass.  I really don't mind if we have crabgrass or dandelions.  Maybe he'll find an alternative product.  Some suggestions for him would be great.  

We started our compost pile, which thrilled Bella.  Now, about the actual garden, I'm not sure if we should make a raised bed or just dig out a designated area.  After that should I plant each type of seed all at once or maybe, lets say, some lettuce at first then the rest of it a few weeks later?   My goal is to not let much go to waste.   Well, I guess I have some research to do.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  

I hope you are all experiencing a sunny day.  Will you be starting a garden this year?  

Walmart Gift Card Winner (Closed)

 

Congratulations to:

Jessie C said...

I love Olay products, great quality and reasonable price.  Thank you for the gift card giveaway!

Jessie, you will be receiving an email from me shortly.  Thanks to everyone who participated!

Our True Heritage

 

The cosmos is filled with precious gems.

I want to offer a handful of them to you this morning.

Each moment you are alive is a gem,

shining through and containing earth and sky,

water and clouds.

It needs you to breathe gently

for the miracles to be displayed.

Suddenly you hear the birds singing,

the pines chanting,

see the flowers blooming,

the blue sky,

the white clouds,

the smile and the marvelous look

of your beloved.

You, the richest person on Earth,

who have been going around begging for a living,

stop being the destitute child.

Come back and claim your heritage.

We should enjoy our happiness

and offer it to everyone.

Cherish this very moment.

Let go of the stream of distress

and embrace life fully in your arms.

This poem is from "Call Me By My True Names" The Collected Poems of Thich Nhat Hanh.

 

Walmart Gift Card Giveaway (Closed)

The other day I received a lovely package from Olay through MyBlogSpark.  It was the new Olay Total Effects Body Wash - Deep Penetrating Moisture, one of the newest additions to the line.  They say it can help your skin look visibly younger with an appearance that's more resilient to aging.

Total effects is suppose to go beyond cleansing to deeply moisture and fight 7 signs of aging all over your body by helping to improve elasticity, relieve dryness, deeply moisture, brighten dull skin, even skin tone, smooth dry skin and minimize the appearance of dry lines.

With jojoba butter and VitaNiacin, Olay Total Effects Body Wash - Deep Penetrating Moisture can help you get soft, smooth skin in one shower, improved elasticity in one week, and young-looking, radiant skin in one month. Proven effective in fighting multiple signs of aging, the exclusive VitaNiacin formula helps rejuvenate and beautify your skin while improving the condition of the skin´s moisture barrier. 

  

So, I've been using this new body wash for three days, so far.  It smells great and my skin does feel very soft.  As a matter of fact, I haven't felt the need to use any body lotion afterwards. You can try a free sample of the Olay Total Effects Body Wash by clicking here.

Walmart Gift Card Giveaway

Olay has also offered one of you the chance to win a $10.00 Walmart gift card.  To enter just leave a comment below. U.S. residents only (sorry international friends). 

This giveaway will close march 7, 2010 at 8:00 pm eastern time. The winner will be randomly picked by Random.org. Good Luck!

 * I received product for sole purpose of reviewing from the company or the pr firm representing the company mentioned.  No monetary compensation was given for this post.  Opinions in the post are my honest opinions and are not influenced by the reception of product.  Giveaway item is provided by the company or pr firm representing the company mentioned in the post.

What!! Genetically Engineered Alfalfa!!

 

The USDA just released a draft of its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Genetically Engineered "Roundup Ready" Alfalfa.  If we don't speak up now, they WILL approve its commercial use.  Monsanto, won't stop until they contaminate or control all of our agriculture!

So you're probably thinking, "well I really don't eat alfalfa whether it's organic or not." Organic alfalfa is important to organic farming, as a nourishing animal feed that's also a nitrogen-fixing soil enhancer.  If GE alfalfa is introduced, contamination of non-GE plants (that means organic too) WILL HAPPEN.  Since alfalfa is fed to dairy cows and other livestock, organic dairy and meat will be at risk! 

We know what happens when GE seeds get planted...remember the GE soybean seed?  This creation has DESTROYED the lives of many farmers.  If you're not sure what I'm talking about then watch Food Inc. or do your research.  It's just not right!

In their EIS, the USDA states "There is no evidence that consumers care about GE contamination of organic alfalfa."  WHAT!!  I know many of you out there DO care. Most of us are just not plugged in to what is going on.  So, I am spreading this information because I am SO TIRED of being Monsanto's guinea pig.  

Your voice DOES count.  Tell the USDA to protect organic food and farmers from GE contamination, and NOT TO APPROVE Monsanto's GE Alfalfa.  Submit a comment even if you feel it's too late.  We need many voices to fight this one.  Please, please, please help.  Summit comments online to the USDA directly.