Teaching Our Children to Go Green

Climate change is one of the most discussed issues in our society today. Human activities is one of the causes of this change. The good news is that many of us can help in our own little ways to bring it under control by following some simple steps. When we live light on the earth, we are also saving money at the same time. Going green is an effective method that enables us to be more environmental friendly. When we go green, we are helping to save this lovely planet for our children's future and our grandchildren and their generation will be thankful for that.

Going green as parents/adults will definitely make a change but teaching our children/young ones to go green will make a greater and long lasting impact on our planet. Raising  green children will teach them to respect the environment and it's resources. It is good to start when they are young because the formative years of a child's life is the most important time to provide him with learning activities.

Here are some easy ways to help our children go green.

 * Teach them to Turn off Lights and appliances when not in use. Electronic appliances, even after switching them off still continues to consume energy. Teach the children to turn off lights, television,  etc. before leaving the room.

 * Turn off the water while brushing or showering.

* Say NO to food wastage.

*Start an organic garden. Kids loves getting dirty and getting dirty with can be so much fun. A good way to teach them about going green is by starting their own organic garden. This helps them understand the preciousness of natural resources and they also feel the sense of accomplishment. Allow them to help out in tending the organic garden everyday (eg watering the plants). If  you don't have a garden, planting a container herb garden  is a good idea.

  Reuse. Always learn the habit of reusing what you've got. Children will appreciate this virtue when it's passed on to them.

Teach them to give to others what they are not using. Children grow at a very fast pace. Most often their clothes, Shoes, Toys, etc are barely used. These items are still good and can still be good to others. Instead of trashing them, we are making others smile. Teaching them the benefits of sharing and caring for others will make them better adult.

What other tips do you have? Please share.

Contigo 20 oz. West Loop with AUTOSEAL® Technology - Holiday Gift Guide (Review and Giveaway)

"It is now Contigo or no other water bottles around my house". This was the house-hold rule I made after using my first Contigo product "Contigo Autoseal - Madison Water Bottle". Since then, I have become a fan and I'm so thrilled to have another opportunity of reviewing  another product from Contigo.

The Contigo® West Loop Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug with AUTOSEAL® technology keeps your favourite holiday drink hot for up to six hours. AUTOSEAL® self-sealing lid technology offers press-to-sip drinking and automatically seals between sips making it spill-proof and leak-proof – there are no lids to remove and no spouts to open. The West Loop is also top rack dishwasher safe. Throw some instant coffee packs or tea bags in the mug to make the perfect gift.

The amazing Cucumber

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc. 

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber.  Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?  Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

 4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds?  Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long.  The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool?  Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite.  Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache?  Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.  Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge?  Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes?  Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge?  Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa?  Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints?  Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel?  Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake?  Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

Pass this along to everybody you know who is looking for better and safer ways to solve life’s everyday problems.


This information was in “The New York Times” - “Spotlight on the Home” series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

Reasons Why Organic Beef is Better for You

Going green was one of the best lifestyle changing decisions we made some years ago before the birth of our first child. We had lots of reasons to go green and to raise children who will  also be environmental friendly. This decision affected our lifestyles positively and most especially the things we eat. We buy locally produced crops, fruits and vegetables from our local organic farmers and our meat/dairy products are bought from farms/ranches that take care of the environment because they raise their animals in an ethical manner.

While I still like to eat organic natural beef, I'm amazed at the type and quality of meats that are being produced everyday by industrial farmers. Their animals are fed antibiotics,GMO feed and other artificial drugs, the bovine human growth hormone, etc. Ranch raised are clues that the animals were raised in a more human way. They are not confined but spend time out doors in the fresh air. Their livestocks are raised traditionally, humanely and sustainably to produce the finest tasting food in the world. All their animals are raised outdoors or in deeply bedded pens. If you still enjoy eating your meats, especially now that the holiday/festive seasons are drawing near, why not try switching over to cattle that are all vegetarian fed and you can not only notice the quality and taste of the natural meat but you are also helping to support a healthier environment.

Here are Some Reasons Why Organic Beef is Better for You

1.  Natural beef  is healthier for you and your family. Animals raised organically are not allowed to be fed antibiotics or artificial drugs. They are also not allowed to eat genetically modified foods.

2.  Switching to natural beef can help keep our environment clean. They are raised in a healthier environment, fed organic feed and often eat a wider range of nutrients than those raised in factory farms.

3. Natural beef is more tasty. Organically raised animals have been shown to be significantly healthier and tastier  than their factory counter parts.

I'm wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday. Happy Thanksgiving.

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