Mama's got a new Bag of tricks!

We are all trying to be environmentally responsible with our shopping bags, but are you having a hard time organizing the bags themselves? I would love to introduce you to an Austin company that has invented the first system of reusable shopping bags! Real Simple magazine has just called it the "smartest system!"
Blue Avocado makes 3 different kits of shopping bags for all three of the different purposes we need:

• Hauling (shlepping bags)
• Ventilation (produce bags)
• Insulation (cooler bags)

All of the bags actually fit together into one kit when you're finished using them for the day. And their site says, "...by using a BlueAvocado pod instead of plastic bags you avoid 200 plastic bags and 9.5 lbs of CO2e if you use the bag for a whole year. That's the equivalent of NOT driving 11 miles."

I think these bags are just the cutest! And I love how they organize back together into a neat little package. I am so impressed!

So... here's a question. How do you remember to take your bags with you when it's time to go grocery shopping? Blue Avocado has some tips on this here. Feel free to tell us your own tricks in the comments!

House hunting in the Bay Area

I just wanted to provide a quick update to all of my loyal readers and to also apologize for not posting more frequently! The last couple of months have been quite an adventure!
I took my kiddos back home to spend Christmas in Oklahoma with my family whom I hadn't seen in 2 years. We had a wonderful time! It was great seeing my brother and sister and all the nieces and nephews again. I just wish I could go back more often!
Since returning to the Bay Area it seems we've been on a non-stop roller coaster ride house hunting. It's been fun but I'm hoping that we actually find something soon. We've been renting for over a year now and it will be so nice to finally find a place that we can call our own again!
I will keep you all updated on the progress. We are going to view some more homes this weekend. Until then... I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the New Year!

Don't Forget to Vote Today! ...and then grab a free coffee at Starbucks!

Just a reminder to everyone that today is Election Day! Get out there and Vote if you haven't already! I Did!
Also did you know that several businesses are offering FREE perks to those wearing an "I Voted" sticker? Now, there’s no excuse not to vote!
Big businesses like Starbucks (coffee), Ben & Jerry’s (ice cream), and Krispy Kreme (star-shaped doughnuts with red, white and blue sprinkles) are handing out tasty treats!
Will you take advantage of the freebies?

Green Goes with Everything

Sloan Barnett, the Green Editor for KNTV here in San Francisco, has just released a new book. It is packed with common sense and sass, product picks and practical tips, Green Goes with Everything; Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet is a must-read for anyone who wants to be green AND clean, and for everyone who wants to take simple steps to safeguard the health of their family and our wonderful blue planet.
According to Barnett, human beings are saturating their bodies, their children's bodies and their homes with noxious waste, pathogens and carcinogens. This book is divided into seven clean-it-up chapters full of solid information and helpful tips aimed at greening different areas of your life, such as how to best filter household water. Barnett's well-written environmental call-to-arms is passionate and authoritative; her findings correlating childhood illnesses with ordinary-and highly toxic-cleaning supplies is alarming.
This book is a must read for anyone who cares about the health of their family and our wonderful planet!

I'm a Living Green House Party host!

Because I was among the first host finalists to set up my Living Green party online, I was confirmed as a host and will be receiving a free party package to share with my guests shortly before the party. I can't wait to spread the word by inviting my guests to my party, where fun and affordable ways to create an eco-friendly home will be center stage.

On October 4th, I will gather friends and family to discover how to “live green” with loads of simple, affordable help from Better Homes and Gardens and Green Works.™

My party is just a couple of weeks away. All across the country hosts are planning their Living Green house parties. I'm sooo ready to have a great time at my Living Green House Party!

Using the Library is a great way to go Green!

Did you ever think that using the library would be a "green thing" to do? Can you imagine how much paper we could save by using this community resource instead of buying all of the books that we read? Most of us buy a book, read it once, and then let it sit on our bookshelves for years. Reading books from the library is a great way to save resources and be green!
The library that I use, here in Sunnyvale, CA., actually has some books that have been used to an incredible extent. There are hundreds of books in their collection that have been checked out more than 100 times! They also have dozens of books that have been checked out more than 200 times, and one book that has been out more than 300 times! It's a rare book that can take that much wear and tear without being rebound at some point to be kept from falling apart.
If you're curious as to which book was out more than 300 times, it is "If Tomorrow Comes" by Sydney Sheldon. A close runner up is "C Is for Corpse" by Sue Grafton.
The library is also a great place to find several "green titles", offering advice on everything from how to travel, cook and garden green, to making your house and workplace energy-smart.
I'm currently reading "Green This! Volume One" (greening your cleaning) by Deirdre Imus, and "Green Babies, Sage Moms" (the ultimate guide to raising your organic baby) by Lynda Fassa.
So, if you haven't already gotten a library card, why not get one? It also makes for a great place to take the little ones on an outing, and find free movies to check out as well!

How to Raise a Healthy Child, In Spite of Your Doctor

I just ran across a wonderful book today! How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor Dr. Robert Mendelsohn, renowned pediatrician and author advises parents on home treatment and diagnosis of colds and flus, childhood illnesses, vision and hearing problems, allergies, and more. PLUS, a complete section on picking the right doctor for your child, step-by-step instructions for knowing when to call a doctor, and much more. I encourage every mom to get this book! Chapter 7 is not to be missed!
He teaches that a Fever is one of our body's defenses against disease. Here is one of his quotes "Measures to reduce temperature, such as drugs or sponging are worse than unnecessary; they are actually counterproductive!" Fever reducing medicines can actually cause liver damage. We want to work "with" a fever.
Another great resource is the book titled The How to Herb Book (it's a wonderful book to have) Learn how to use onion juice for an ear ache! We do not need to depend on antibiotics for ear aches!
I recommend these two books as must haves for every home library!