TreeHuggerz Blog

Happy New Year 2009!

2009-01-01T01:56:00.000-08:00

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
~Oprah Winfrey

2008-12-24T01:06:00.000-08:00

Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold!

~ Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com

Happy Father's Day 2008!

2008-06-15T02:12:00.000-07:00

By Anonymous

4 years: My Daddy can do anything!
7 years: My Dad knows a lot…a whole lot.
8 years: My father does not know quite everything.
12 years: Oh well, naturally Father does not know that either.
14 years: Oh, Father? He is hopelessly old-fashioned.
21 years: Oh, that man-he is out of date!
25 years: He knows a little bit about it, but not much.
30 years: I must find out what Dad thinks about it.
35 years: Before we decide, we will get Dad's idea first.
50 years: What would Dad have thought about that?
60 years: My Dad knew literally everything!
65 years: I wish I could talk it over with Dad once more.

Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com

Happy Mother's Day 2008

2008-05-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon

Photo courtesy of Morgufile.com

Happy Holidays 2007

2007-12-25T04:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
~Washington Irving

Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com

Happy Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-21T21:37:00.000-08:00

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,
but the parent of all the other virtues. ~Cicero

Back To School 2007

2007-08-27T01:58:00.000-07:00

This week we'll join the ranks of the back-to-school crowd. DD is 5 and starting virtual public school. I'm feeling excited but also a bit nervous about this new adventure. Even though she will be taught at home, we are a part of Connections Academy in Oregon and our first day of school is August 29th. This was a compromise between her father (public school) and I (unschooling). I'll give my feedback as we progress through the school year.

ATTENTION:
Toy Recall from Mattel -there are issues with lead paint and magnets

TreeHuggerz Archives
School Shopping: Less is better for your wallet and your kids

Back to School Clothes Shopping

TreeHuggerz Freebies
Connections Academy
Virtual public school that only costs an internet connection. All course materials are provided. If you qualify they may even provide a computer. Not available in all states, see web site for current information. DD is starting kindergarten through Connections Academy this year in Oregon.

Project Gutenberg
Free ebook downloads, many available in over 50 different languages and in various formats, including audio. From classics to fairy tales to text books you'll find something to interest every member of your household. Volunteers and contributions needed.

International Kids Space
A non-profit educational organization for kids of all nations. It's a link-free site with creative activities for children 13 years old and under. Contributions are always welcome and can be done via Helping.org.

Update -July 2007

2007-07-29T15:40:00.000-07:00

After a break from the internet in general and a battle with a computer virus, I'm back to the blog. This posting is all about arts and crafts. As a mother and caregiver for a Grandma with dementia, I'm always looking for fun activities everyone can enjoy. The homemade clay recipe below is full of texture and a creative activity for kids over 3 years of age.

Sand Clay

2 cups sand
1 cup water
1 cup cornstarch

Mix in a pot over low heat until thickened. Allow to cool and mold as desired. This is not an edible clay. Decorate with treasures from the beach. Air dry for a day or two. Finished projects can be painted.

New TreeHuggerz Articles
Tips -Inexpensive Craft Ideas For Kids
Herbs -Tasteful Tarragon

TreeHuggerz Freebie
33 Interesting Craft eBooks -Free download in a zipped file. Must have a PDF reader to view them (also free) and can be shared with friends. Many have ideas for gifts and a few projects suitable for kids.

Sampling of the titles:
Homemade Air Fresheners
Making Homemade Paper
Natural Plant Dyes: Dyeing Wool
Trash Art
How to Make Homemade Cat Food

Happy Father's Day 2007!

2007-06-16T01:16:00.000-07:00

I felt something impossible for me to explain in words. Then, when they took her away, it hit me. I got scared all over again and began to feel giddy. Then it came to me... I was a father.
~Nat King Cole

Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com

Herbal Soap Making Question

2007-06-16T00:50:00.000-07:00

While going through feedback for TreeHuggerz, I found an email from S. who is looking for herbal soap information. Her question and my response are below. Since I don't make soap, my answer is more the result of online research than personal experience. If any of you talented readers have recipes or tips to share, please comment on this post.

Question:
"...would love some helpful hints in incorporating herbs into soap making...have a niece with eczema and she desperately wants to find some thing natural that will help...so do I...how can I add and get the full benefit of chickweed/marigold into a soap?"

Answer:
From what I've found online, it pays to add essential oils in addition to finely powdered, dried herbs. If you like a bit of texture and visual interest in your soap, then throw in some dried marigold petals.

Soap Making Resources:

TeachSoap.com - The Soap Making FAQ on this site is fantastic and you can ask the expert, Anne-Marie, your questions if they haven't already been answered.

WaltonFeed.com - These are old-fashioned soap recipes that I thought you might like.

Soap Recipes - Free recipes and directions condensed from Elaine White's book, 'Soap Recipes: Seventy tried-and-true ways to make modern soap with herbs, beeswax and vegetable oils.'

Zenda's Homemade Soap and Beauty Recipes - Lots of helpful tips in addition to recipes.

New TreeHuggerz Articles
Indoor Organic Herb Garden
What You Need To Know When Planting A Tree

Happy Mother's Day 2007

2007-05-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.
~Lin Yutang

Photo courtesy of sxc.hu

TreeHuggerz New Articles
Make an Easy and Elegant Birdbath
An English Cottage Garden

TreeHuggerz Freebies
Check out the following links for organic savings online and by coupon.
Organic Coupons
Coupon Craze
Mambo Sprouts

Happy Earth Day 2007

2007-04-21T02:08:00.000-07:00

There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth.

We are all crew.
~Marshall McLuhan, 1964

The TreeHuggerz archive has some ideas on how you can celebrate Earth Day everyday! Currently we have a list of 96 small things you can do to go green.

New TreeHuggerz Articles
Tips -Free Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Herbs -How to Plan an Herb Garden

There are three new TreeHuggerz Cafe Press items showcasing original art by my daughter, age five. Her colorful butterfly family design is perfect for your little one.

TreeHuggerz Freebies
10,000 Thoughts - Send and/or receive good thoughts.
Urth.tv - Social networking with an eco theme.
Divine Caroline - Women's online community where you are encouraged to participate in what matters to you and your life.

My Blog Log Giveaway

2007-03-30T03:36:00.000-07:00

This contest is courtesy of Broc at Existential Ventures.com. You must join his community at MyBlogLog to enter and he has other ways to earn more entries, like posting about his contest on your blog. The winner will be randomly chosen once his MyBlogLog community reaches 500 members. At the time of this post, there are 69 members.

The prize is a Canon Photo Printer Pixma iP1700, valued at $49.99

The photo above is an example of the printer, not an actual photo of the prize.

Best of luck to all who enter!

Check out Five for Fighting

2007-03-26T12:06:00.001-07:00

Watch an online music video or upload one to help raise money for charity. Five for Fighting

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

Lavender Love

2007-03-03T01:36:00.000-08:00

Spring is almost here and it's time for new beginnings at TreeHuggerz. One new addition is the Lavender Love company as an affiliate. From essential oils to pet toys they have a vast selection of products for your home. Cooking with lavender is something I'd like to try and their selection has given me inspiration. Culinary lavender, Herbs de Provence (7 herb blend includes lavender) and teas are available for adding a gourmet flair to your recipes. Please enjoy the article below from lavender expert, Jenny Bishop. She has some good ideas on how to use lavender with whole grains.

New TreeHuggerz Articles
How Patience and Faith Can Create A Happy Wallet For You
Top Six Natural Energy Boosters

Cooking with Culinary Lavender
by Jenny Bishop

Have you tried whole grains with culinary lavender? Whole grains are making a comeback, and their advantages in terms of health and environmental conservancy are well known. However, to many palates accustomed to refined flour, whole grains seem tasteless and heavy. By using our Culinary Lavender, you can create healthy, satisfying meals that taste - and smell - delicious. Adding Lavender Lemon Pepper or Italian Seasoning with Lavender to your whole grains is the key to making nutritious meals that your entire family will love.

Why are Whole Grains So Beneficial?

Natural grains consist of three parts - the germ, the bran, and the endosperm. White rice, flour, and other refined grains are made by processing endosperm and discarding the bran and germ. The endosperm consists almost entirely of starch, while minerals, vitamins, proteins, and other healthy substances are found in the bran and germ. Although the endosperm has a milder taste and softer texture, adding culinary lavender to whole grains makes them just as appealing as refined grains - or even more so!

Using Culinary Lavender to interest your family in whole grains is also environmentally friendly. Nearly one third of every bushel of grain is discarded in the refining process. By using whole grains, you are extending the usefulness of every acre of grain that is planted.

What does Culinary Lavender Add to Your Meal?

Culinary Lavender looks and smells wonderful, but it also does more than just make whole grains more appetizing. Culinary Lavender has been known since Roman times for its soothing and healing properties. A pinch of Italian Seasoning with Lavender in your rice can relieve dizziness, or some Lavender Lemon Pepper mixed with whole grain flour for a fish batter can ease the pain of headaches as well as tasting great.

How Can I Use Culinary Lavender with Whole Grains?

Here are some suggestions for using Culinary Lavender while cooking with whole grains:

· Add Italian Seasoning with Lavender to homemade whole grain pastas, or use it to spice up your spaghetti sauce when cooking store bought whole grain pasta.

· Bake whole wheat breads with a touch of Culinary Lavender, to add a hint of alluring flavor to your loaves.

· Sprinkle Lavender Lemon Pepper over your stone-ground whole grain grits in the morning.

· Make a spicy topping for your whole wheat bread using a mixture of garlic, olive oil, and Italian Seasoning with Lavender.

· Use whole grain flour mixed with Lavender Lemon Pepper as a batter dip for fried vegetables, fish, and chicken fingers.

· Crush some Culinary Lavender with raw sugar, and sprinkle it over your whole grain oatmeal for breakfast.

About The Author
Jenny Bishop teaches many culinary classes with the use of culinary lavender and is one of the judges for the Lavender Gourmet Recipe Contests hosted throughout the year by Lavender-n-Things. For free lavender recipes visit www.lavendernthings.com.

Happy Valentine's Day 2007

2007-02-13T21:18:00.000-08:00

Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time,
destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.
~Author Unknown

Marlo Quinn Company Update

2007-02-04T03:58:00.001-08:00

Marlo Quinn is closed for business, apparently since February 1, 2007. I found out yesterday morning and have been cleaning up my links all over the web. There don't seem to be any details and the site is GONE. There is a rumor of the company being bankrupt posted in one of the MySpace Groups but there is no way for me to verify that at the moment. Marlo Quinn was a young business but I really felt they had the potential to be a profitable enterprise.

If you are owed merchandise or refunds from the Marlo Quinn Company, please go to the website below.

They have information on how to file complaints and offer an opportunity to tell your story.

http://www.freewebs.com/marloquinnproblems/

Happy 2007!

2006-12-31T23:22:00.000-08:00

Northern Lights Photo Courtesy of Stock.xchnge

Here's to the days of good will, cold weather, and warm hearts.
~ New Year's Toast

Happy Holidays 2006

2006-12-25T03:45:00.000-08:00

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
~ Calvin Coolidge

Happy Thanksgiving 2006!

2006-11-23T02:50:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings.
~ J. Robert Moskin

Enhance Your Beauty, Naturally

2006-11-13T23:14:00.000-08:00

Your friendly neighborhood webmom is now a Marlo Quinn Consultant!

Marlo Quinn offers natural-based bath, body and skin care for the entire family. All of our products are 95% natural and above. Our formulator is quality tested and assured, as well as natural, botanical, organic and vegan certified. You can rest assured that our products are made fresh and overflowing with the highest quality natural butters, waxes and oils. We believe that you have the right to know what you are putting on your skin, all of our products include full ingredient disclosure. Marlo Quinn never uses animal testing of any kind.

Book an online party today! Marvel's Webstore: http://www.marloquinn.com/marvel

Treehuggerz on Squidoo.com
25% of all TreeHuggerz Squidoo revenue goes to OxFam America. If you don't already have a lens, they are free and easy to create. Check out our lens and join the Green Web Group for treehugging lenses.

TreeHuggerz News
New articles on the tips and herbals pages.
Treehuggerz secondhand store is closed for renovations. I'll post here when it's back up and open for business.

TreeHuggerz Freebies
Share your photos or download those you like for free from the following websites.
Free Range Stock
Morguefile.com
Stock.XCHANGE

A big thank you to all customers, visitors and supporters! You are very much appreciated.

Enjoy a Recycled Halloween

2006-10-21T02:35:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite time of year and Halloween is still a time for "dressing up". The best costumes of my childhood were the times we made our own. One of the funniest was when my sister and I made ourselves into Martians. I must have been about 13 years old and my sister 11. We wore matching track suits that zipped to the chin. Used foil for our antennae which were stuck into our hair. Finally, we covered our faces and hands with green food coloring. While on our trick or treating rounds, one gentleman even took our picture to add to his collection of outstanding costumes. The only problem was that undiluted food coloring stains the skin. Unfortunately, we were faintly green for days!

Have a safe time and use some of the links below to spark your creativity while saving money and natural resources.

New TreeHuggerz Articles:
10 Alternate Energy Sources to Live Well With Global Warming
Planting Herbs in the Fall
Small Things You Can Do Everyday has been updated.

Halloween Ideas Using Recycled Materials

Make your own costume Ideas including some for chair users
http://www.robinsfyi.com/holidays/halloween/costumes.htm

Family friendly eco-Halloween Hike in Wisconsin
http://www.bongnaturalistassociation.org/

Bleach Bottle Cat
This project uses spray paint. However, a better alternate would be nontoxic acrylic paint.
http://www.craftown.com/halloween/craft27.htm

Cat crafts for children, many suitable for Halloween.
http://stepbystepcc.com/animals/cats2.html

Plastic Tub and Grocery Bag Ghost
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/sackghost.html

Egg Carton Pumpkins
http://crafterscommunity.com/index.php/248

Make Your Own Mummy Costume
http://www.craftown.com/halloween/craft4.htm

Paper Sack Pumpkins
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/stuffed_paper_sack_pumpkins.htm

Apple Head Witch Dolls
http://www.craftown.com/halloween/craft53.htm

How to Make Tempera Paint
http://www.eggtempera.com/paint.html

How to Make Poster Paint (kid friendly)
http://www.kidsturncentral.com/crafts/crecipe6.htm

Crafting Tips: Please use an all-purpose acrylic craft paint that is water-based and nontoxic for your painting needs. Tempera paint (egg-based) works well on porous surfaces and is a better choice environmentally speaking. Just say no to spray paint.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

2006-10-07T00:21:00.000-07:00

57% of homeless families identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness. (The United States Conference of Mayors, A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities: 1999, December 1999, p. 39.)

That is just one of the many statistics about how domestic violence affects communities, not just the abuser and victim. Wear a purple ribbon to show support for victims of domestic abuse this month. Read the article below and donate to or volunteer for a crisis center in your community. As a former crisis-line and shelter worker I can say that education about abuse is important to both the victim and abuser, not to mention the public. Please use this month to erase some of the myths that exist in your own mind concerning violence in the home.

*******************
Domestic Violence and Women
By Kadence Buchanan

Every single day a number of health care professionals have to encounter an incident of an abused victim turning to them to request help. But even of you are not a trained professional you should be familiar with what domestic violence is and what it can do to victims. Then you will be better prepared to react correctly in case you encounter such an unfortunate incident. Helping the victim regain a sense of control over his or her life should not be your responsibility if you are not a trained professional, but being informed can sometimes save a victim from keeping everything within and self-destruct.

Domestic violence is characterized as a pattern of coercive behaviors that may include repeated battering and injury, psychological abuse, sexual assault, progressive social isolation, deprivation and intimidation. Someone who is or was involved in an intimate relationship, with the victim, might perpetrate these behaviors. According to official data from law enforcement units and medical institutions, gender plays an important role in dynamics of abuse. Over 85 percent of reported victims of domestic violence are women and most perpetrators are men. Moreover, domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women of all ages and the leading cause of injury to pregnant women and ladies between 18 and 44 years of age.

On the other hand, domestic violence is also known as "partner violence or spouse abuse" since experts recognize that also men may be abused in intimate relationships. In addition, many of today's societies report domestic violence incidents between gay or lesbian partners, since this type of intimidating behavior is not a characteristic of a specific sexual orientation. Physical assault, sexual abuse, threats against person, creating stress and psychological damage to children or loved ones, destruction of home or personal property, are some of the most common cases reported as examples of domestic violence incidents.

Unfortunately, although extremely common, domestic violence is considered an extremely sensitive subject that victims do not easily report and thus it remains confined inside the particular territory of a family's neighborhood or even walls. Some of the most common domestic violence myths include that it is a behavior pattern indicative of particular economic and social groups; it is a marital problem; victims will never speak of what they are experiencing; it is associated with alcohol or drug abuse; and that violence can be handed down from one generation to the next.

In fact, research indicates that violence may be a learned behavior, particularly from observation, however all men who are violent do not have histories of violence in childhood. Very interesting is the fact that unmarried partners and those who are separated or divorced have higher rates of abuse than those who are married. Additionally, rate of domestic violence vary little between economic and/or cultural groups. Finally, while studies have shown that alcohol and/or drug addiction and violence frequently coexist, they are not resulting from each other and that violent behavior will not end unless professional treatment and adequate interventions address both problems; the substance abuse and the violent behavior.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Women's Health, Cooking, and Women

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan

*******************

New TreeHuggerz Articles
Eating Can Be An Adventure - Keep It Interesting, Simple, Healthy and Fun
Aromatherapy Travel Insurance - Essential Oils For Your Journeys

TreeHuggerz Freebies
Hope For Healing.Org has free brochures available for download in PDF format. This organization is Christian-based with many resources, both on and offline, for victims of assault.

National Domestic Violence 24/7 Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
Hotline advocates are available to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals to agencies in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 140 languages through interpreter services.

Feminist Internet Gateway: Domestic Violence Resources
This is the most comprehensive online listing I've come across.

Light A Million Candles

2006-10-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

The innocent victims of Internet child abuse cannot speak for themselves.

But you can.

With your help, we can eradicate this evil trade.

We do not need your money.

We need you to light a candle of support http://www.lightamillioncandles.com.

We're aiming to light at least One Million Candles by December 31, 2006.

This petition will be used to encourage governments, politicians, financial institutions, payment organisations, Internet service providers, technology companies and law enforcement agencies to eradicate the commercial viability of online child abuse.

They have the power to work together. You have the power to get them to take action.

Please light your candle at lightamillioncandles.com or send an email of support to light@lightamillioncandles.com.

Together, we can destroy the commercial viability of Internet child abuse sites that are destroying the lives of innocent children.

Kindly forward this email to your friends, relatives and work colleagues so that they can light a candle too.

Homestead September Anniversary Special

2006-09-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

Try Homestead for FREE!

I wanted to let you know about Homestead Technologies. For sometime now, Homestead has powered my website, ensuring I'm always connected online. Why Homestead?

- Award-winning web design software
- No design experience or HTML required
- Web hosting and personalized domain name
- Great customer support
- Shopping Cart Available
- Photo and Clip Art Library (my personal favorite)
- Templates
- Only in September - Packages start from $4.99/mo

Take advantage of Homestead today! You can build your website free for 30 days. Sign up before October 31, 2006.

Click here to start your free trial.