You've heard of and most likely practice some recycling. But have you heard of upcycling? It's as the name suggests, using materials for the same or higher purpose tha n they were first used. First coined by William McDonaugh, a renowned architect,...
A baby's first bites of solid foods are thoroughly entertaining to watch. New flavors and textures provoke faces that are both adorable and incredibly funny. What's not so funny is that in some instances, there are invisible contaminants, fillers,...
I recently spoke with Julia Wasson of Blue Planet Green Living and she asked me what I think are the five most important things we can do to save the planet.
Saving the planet - let's just say, protecting the planet. I'd like to frame this whole...
After a long, cold winter, parents everywhere throw open the windows, soaking in the sunshine and spring temperatures, and utter the most thrilling four words in the parent lexicon: "Go outside and play!"
As you release your children out...
People spend about 90% of their time indoors where air quality can be 2-5 times worse than outside. If your home is like most, the indoor air is polluted with dust mites, allergens, formaldehyde, volatile organic chemicals, phthalates, and a large...
There's something indescribable about bath time: the way a small child looks glistening wet, the smell of his damp hair, the sound of giggles and splashing against the acoustics of ceramic tile. It's a bit enchanting.
I was immersed in the...
Hi, my name is Janet Milhollin and as Jenna's aide, mentor, and friend I can only scratch the surface when it comes to telling you about all the things Jenna and I have learned from each other over the last 17 years.
As one of six children, I credit my parents with always supporting each one of our individual skills, talents and interests. Two people who came from hardscrabble backgrounds, through example, taught me how to nurture and pursue my desires. As...
Somewhere in my mental library, amongst the countless chapters and shelves, is the memory of standing in the hospital with my dad. I had just become a sister. My life had changed, and it would continue to be shaped by this little girl we named Jenna...
Now that you've learned what upcycling is why it should be done vs. recycling how you can get involved in more of it happening and what some inventive companies are doing with it I've got a question for you: What's next?
All these wonderful...
Learning that your child has any kind of disability is difficult. It takes time to absorb the information that you receive from your specialists and to move forward the best that you can. I have tried to educate myself about autism by...
Salman Rushdie once wrote, "Books choose their authors, the act of creation is not entirely a rational and conscious one." In my case, I must agree with this whole heartedly. I don't sit down and decide what to write. Thoughts ran around...
I collect trash for a living. Not behind a truck, but behind a desk. Let me back up. My company takes what might otherwise be thought of as waste, and makes it in to new and interesting products. But that's not what I'm here to write about today. I'...
If you're like most average Americans, recycling has become a normal part of your life. At a minimum, you recycle your newspapers and aluminum cans, maybe your glass and plastic too, depending on where you live and what they accept. Definitely,...
Thank you to the Coonan family for sharing this story.
When all the calculations are tallied some adults believe it's more environmentally friendly to use napkins made of paper, others think linen and still others believe organic cotton. But the...
The long crying spasms of colic can be exhausting for parents and babies alike. Because babies with colic have been shown in some studies to have fewer species of beneficial bacteria in their intestines, researchers in Turin, Italy wondered whether...
I was disappointed to hear the results of a new study about vitamin D levels in our children. Researchers found that about 70 percent of U.S. children have low levels of vitamin D, a problem that puts them at higher risk for bone and heart disease...
If you think you may get pregnant in the next year, this may be the most important year to get a flu shot – and an H1N1 flu shot, when it becomes available. When pregnant, it’s generally best to avoid all medications unless the benefits clearly...
People used to be convinced that ulcer disease was caused by stress. The treatment of ulcers turned upside down when it was discovered and then proven that they were triggered by bacteria - it wasn't a psychological problem after all. What if babies...
Join me in support of California Bill SB 797. My three minute speech at the State Capitol starts 4 minutes into the rally video. Actress and environmentalist, Amy Smart speaks next.
Summer fun can lead to some accidental side effects. It's always best to avoid sunburns, but once in a while they happen to all of us -- no matter how diligent we are about limiting time in the direct sun and applying copious amounts for sunscreen....
I love roses, but I’m very concerned about the amount of pesticides used on commercially grown roses. Dr. Greene and I were at a LOHAS conference a few years ago where we met the good people from Organic Bouquet and found they share our...
How do you tell if your baby is allergic or intolerant to something?
Usually, you will not see a quick, visible response to a formula or food. Instead, you might see eczema or another skin rash, fussiness, loose stools, hard stools, or blood in...
To get an idea of how Feeding Baby Green may help your family, imagine your child a few years down the road, eating lunch at school. Most of her friends have snagged French fries or chips to complement their meals. Instead, your daughter reaches for...
In an effort to identify plants that can filter air in sealed environments, NASA spent 2 years testing common plants to determine the best natural filters. Check out the top ten list to find plants that perform the best in removing formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide, three common yet toxic contaminants that we regularly find indoors.
