It's been a 2 year search that has FINALLY ended! It seems that I've yearned for an energy saving front loader washing machine forever. My washer and dryer are about 20 years old each and, needless to say, are not energy star appliances nor do they begin to even think about being eco-friendly users of resources. I've held on to them because of the cost prohibitiveness of purchasing new sets. ( I also often wonder if the use of new appliances such as these would offset the energy needed to manufacture them.)

Last week, in one of my regular searches of Craigslist.org, I FINALLY found a great used set! I was able to purchase the washer, dryer and 2 drawer stands for much less than the price of the brand-new washer! The set is 4 years old but in great condition. The previous owners are moving from their house to an apartment where they will be unable to take the appliances. Now, in combination with my soap-nuts and washing with cold water, my washing will be much less resource consumptive and a whole lot greener!

My old set is being given away free to a mother of 5 children who needs them badly. This is a great cycle! Anytime we can reuse instead of purchasing new, it's a great cycle. We save resources, energy and keep chemicals out of the environment. We work to create a better Earth for everyone!

PopTopLady $55.00

Soap Nuts

I just tried a great new product~SOAP NUTS! Soap nuts are a totally natural product for washing clothes and they're actually NUTS! I used them for the first time yesterday and my clothes have
never come so clean! My white clothes are WHITE! NOT just a rumor of white! I used 4 nuts for 3
loads of clothes! The shells will go in our planter with the mulch. NO detergent pollution. NO
plastic container. GREAT product! What's not to love?


From Treehugger.com:

We find these little nuts interesting (and also wonder who discovered them) but apparently you can use them in your washing machine in lieu of detergent. SoapNuts are the shells of a seed from trees grown throughout India and Nepal. These shells give a soapy substance when they come in contact with water (the seeds are discarded) and it’s said that 1kg of the nuts can wash 100 loads. Simply pop 6-8 shells in the cloth bag and throw them in your washing machine – these will last about 3-4 washes. Your wash will come out clean, but without a smell, so if you like the scent of clean clothes just add a few drops of essential oil to the wash beforehand. SoapNuts can also be used for other things as well, like washing windows, cars or pets. When the shells have been used to their full extent just throw them in the compost pile. Thanks for the tip, Michael D.! Via ::Groovy Green

There are many places you can find online where you can find soap nuts for sale and prices vary. They're well worth the price and are, for us, less expensive than the laundry detergent we were using. I LOVE THEM!

Help save the planet. Everything you do with eco-consciousness helps. How about this print on recycled paper by ilikeapplejuice?

Lonely Forest Planet Print

ilikeapplejuice $30.00

Making News

Millions of people stared at the TV in horror as a Florida girl stood helpless against a group of bullies who damaged her hearing and caused other severe injuries as they held her hostage and forced her to endure 5 severe beatings and taped themselves beating her. They were hoping to post their abhorrent behavior on YouTube and MySpace. The victim's crime? Ostensibly posting "trash talk" on MySpace.

In my wildest imagination I can't reconcile a world in which such behavior is acceptable let alone worthy of advertising?

Parents of teens we need to be vigilent! While our children are taller and older looking, they're still vulnerable and physically haven't fully grown the neurological connection to FULLY understand behavior/consequence.

To the greatest extent practicable, we have a duty to know what our children are doing online. We MUST DEMAND to know their passwords to all accounts whether or not we plan to peruse their accounts. LISTEN to their conversations. TALK to them. KNOW where they are.

Hopefully, throughout the course of their childhoods, we've regularly discussed behaviors that are and are NOT acceptable in our families. PERIOD.

Tune in to their moods. Are they suddenly not associating with the same people? Why? LISTEN, don't talk. Check in with guidance counselors if you have a concern. Teachers and other school personnel can usually give you important information.

ALL of the girls in this situation were harmed. The victim will likely be tormented by this event for the rest of her life. Hopefully, after the girls perpetrating the beatings fathom what they've done they will be too. Not to the extent that it ruins their lives but to the extent that they will apologize to their victim and teach their children to behave entirely differently.

These girls all need a lot of help and a lot of love.

What Comes First?

Business, clubs, activities, friends, chores, errands children? I think we'd all agree that our children are first in our lives compared to these other demands of our time. Do they know that? Tonight I was working on a bag while my son was nearby talking to me about something. As I worked I looked at him occasionally and muttered, "Uh huh" a couple of times. We finished the conversation and he left the room. I don't remember about what we were talking.

That bothers me. As soon as I realized I really didn't know or remember what had been discussed I felt alarmed. I missed a golden moment. My son is almost 18! If you know anything about teenagers you know that conversations are sometimes rare. It can be a real treat to actually have a conversation that doesn't include a teen rolling eyes, huffing and sighing in disdain or snorting.

I try to remember to drop what I'm doing and be totally engaged with my family when they're talking to me. I don't always do well. At the time I believe I'm multi-tasking but I really am not if I forget the most important thing that has transpired during my burst of efficiency.

If you've never heard Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle". Listen to it or look up the lyrics. I need to sing that song more often.

The Value of Losing

My son has participated in a competition called "Future Problem Solving" as a part of the "gifted" program in our school system for the past 6 years. My daughter, now a college student, and my son have learned immeasurable skills as a result of their involvement with this program. Each has been on teams who have gone on to compete in International Competitions (the highest level) and they've both placed in the top levels there. My point is, my son is used to winning.

Too used to winning as it turns out. He's been a part of the same team for all of the years of his involvement. This year, the team turned down several opportunities to practice. Their decision, in part, was based on a complacency of their skills and talents and a definite over-confidence in their ability to "sweep" the competition.

I believe it is easy for us all to gain an over-confidence in areas of our lives. For these kids, this choice turned out to be one that lead to their not even placing in the top 5 groups in their categories. They were are deeply disappointed and surprised. Their failure to obtain a place in the International competion was the addition of one word in their writing: fair. Quite a coincidence.

While enjoying ice cream on the way home, one of the team members stated that perhaps they SHOULD have practiced. Perhaps their absence of practice was a factor in their "failure" (as they saw it). Well, YEAH!

To me, that revelation alone made the experience far more valuable than it would have been if they'd won. I'm actually very happy then, that they lost.

What did they learn? They learned that if you want to remain at the top you have to work at it.
Life is like that, isn't it? What a fortunate lesson to learn at this young age. Hopefully, it will be a lesson that they will never forget. A successful life takes effort. We can't rest and take what we've achieved for granted. If we do, we stand a great chance of falling. The way down can be brutal.

Baby Reagan 1lb. 6 oz. Mom and Dad need words of encouragement

Reagan was born 10 weeks early. She's a little over 1 month old now and has contracted an infection which she's valiantly fighting.

LucidDreamDesigns asks that we leave comments for the parents to read each morning before they go to the hospital.

A few moments of your time to help this family during a very difficult time.http://reaganoliviawinslow.blogspot.com/2008/03/reagan-olivia-winslow-1-pound-6-ounces.html If you comment, please convo me for a 10% discount on any item in my store. Good until Reagan is able to leave the hospital.

Giving Is a Wise Idea

heatherfuture: Pauline Gets a Tan $80.00



Heatherfuture, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5559647, just posted a thread in the Etsy Etc. thread wanting to feature random acts of kindness in her blog. Her entire blog is being devoted to random acts of kindness and Pay-It-Forwards. What a wonderful bright spot we all have a chance to create for someone. Every day. Without a reason. Happiness for no reason!

What an opportunity we all have to teach our children about empathy. Looking for people with small needs or maybe just for no reason and anonymously creating a moment of happiness. Just a chance to do something for no reason other than to create happiness! Is there something better to teach our children?

Children can learn by our example the happiness that can come from just being nice! It doesn't even have to cost money. Is there an elderly person in your neighborhood? Take cookies or offer to read a book together. Who, living around you might be lonely? (NOTE: I DO NOT ADVOCATE SENDING CHILDREN INTO OTHER'S HOMES ALONE.)

What if your neighbor woke up one morning and the newspaper and some muffins were waiting on the porch? What if someone came home to find the leaves raked? what if...

What if we took these small opportunities and our children saw us in the act? What if we invited them along? What if they learned to care for others instead of taunting them? What if?


Read the exciting blog about random acts of kindness and get inspired. Invite your children along for the excitement! http://etsyactsofkindness.blogspot.com/