Snow Shoveling Tip

While reading an article on tips for snow shoveling, I noticed they suggested spraying your shovel with a lubricant to keep the snow from sticking. Good idea, but for those of you desiring an option that's not petroleum based: how about some cooking spray or olive oil? Look, I'm no snow shoveling expert but I do remember my days growing up in Michigan. A fresh pile of snow is oh so tempting. Along with being easier on the earth, these are gonna be a lot easier on the taste buds too. Just a thought.

Organic carrots washed in chlorine

My original post on this subject was back in November. It took an email and a little phone tag but I did finally speak with someone in the corporate office concerning chlorine on our organic carrots. Well, they do in fact wash the carrots in a solution of water and chlorine. The amount of chlorine is "the same as that in your tap water". Did I mention I filter my tap water...

Seems they do this for obvious reasons; to kill any potential bacteria on the carrots. Other than that, nothing else is used on them. There are no colors or preservatives used and I specifically asked if they put preservatives in the packaging. The answer, "no".

I also asked about the white residue and the answer is as follows: if the white residue is dry, your carrots are drying out. However, if it's a slimy white residue your carrots are going bad and breaking down. You need to toss those out or return them for a refund if the package is within the "use by" date.

Both scenarios have happened to us. I have to say, I like my Raleigh readers idea: just buy whole fresh carrots dug out of the ground and peel and cut them yourself.

Now you know.

Buy American Made

When you mention eco-friendly or green gifts, most people of organic cotton clothing or items made out of 100% recycled materials. Well, let's step out of the box for a minute. We all know buying a locally made product is easier on the environment because it doesn't have to be shipped thus burning less fossil fuels. However, if you can't buy handmade gifts from artists in your hometown, consider simply buying American made(or from whatever country you reside in).

When out shopping, I was happy to find many gifts and stocking stuffers made right here at home in the USA. Considering our present economic state, it also encourages me to know my purchases are helping to support the American worker.

Here's what I found:
Greeting cards
Soy candle with lead free cotton wick
Stone coasters
Magnetic fridge note pad
Gum
Hand sanitizing spray
And believe it or not, a CHAIR! And this one was far less expensive than it's designer counterpart that had to be shipped from far away.

Look around-American made products are everywhere!

Green Gift Wrap Ideas

I shared with you last week some ideas I picked up from my friend Julie. Well here’s a few of my own environmentally friendly gift wrap ideas.

Does your office have any office supplies their tossing out? Corporate discards are what I like to call them. An office I’ve worked for was no longer using a certain size box for shipping and were getting rid of the leftovers. They asked if I’d recycle them and of course I scooped up every single one of them along with giant envelopes that were no longer in use.

The boxes are solid white with no writing or logo. Perfect.
The giant envelopes, as you may be able to tell in the photo below, are not made of paper and while studier, are not recyclable. However, they were going to get thrown out so they might as well get used beforehand. This also saves me from driving anywhere to buy wrapping and keeps me from consuming yet one more item. The tie on this gift was used on a gift given to me. No need for a tag because the giant "G" makes it clear.

My daughter received a birthday gift this year in a cardboard box. All the shipping info had been painted over with pretty hearts. This is a great way to re-use a box and use up any leftover wall paint you may have. Remember, the only way to dispose of paint is to dispose of it dry. The easiest way to do that is to use it!

My nephews are getting their gift wrapped in a black shoe box. How lucky for me that the gift is in a turquoise, black and white box and I have a black shoe box and just happen to have turquoise and white tissue paper left from a gift given to us. No, I am NOT re-gifting to my nephews…I’m only re-wrapping. And trust me, they DO NOT care.

What else? Oh, instead of fancy ribbons that in most cases can’t be recycled, you can use (for a girl of course) a stretchy headband. Decorate it with a pin and the gifts keep multiplying while the wrapping stays green.

In some cases I just skip the ribbon and paint or draw on the box.

Another benefit to all this green wrapping is it saves you a whole lotta green. How much have I spent on gift wrap this year? NADA! How many trips to the store have I made for gift wrap? NADA! How much gas have I used driving to the store for gift wrap? NADA! Ok, that last one may be a bit unfair since I have certainly done my fair share of driving, but you get the idea.

May you have a GORGEOUSLY GREEN holiday season!

Recyling Gift Wrap

With the holidays upon us and the days of unwrapping gift close at hand, you may be wondering what to do with all that paper? Here are some tips on what can be recycled and how. This should also help you as you choose wrapping for the gifts you give.

Recycle the following with chip board (light cardboard-cereal/cracker boxes:
Hemp and raffia tie
Craft bags
Wrapping paper, gift bags/tags & cards without wax, shiny, metallic, or glossy coatings
Butcher paper
Newsprint art paper and newspapers
Shoe boxes

Can be recycled with plastic bags:
Soft plastic wrapping. Like all those tiny bags that cords and toys come in. At the recycling center, I was told any plastic wrapping that DOES NOT crinkle loudly or stiffly. Good rule of thumb.

Here's one you may not know could be recycled with aluminum drinking cans:
Aluminum foil and aluminum foil pie shell tins!

This should help keep the holiday mess a little more on the GREEN side-have fun!

Eco-Friendly gift wrap II

Well my daughter and I had a great time at the eco-friendly gift wrap party hosted by my friend Julie at Whole Foods. Most of the class was spent making origami boxes which turned out beautifully-thanks for all the gorgeous paper Julie! I must admit though as a busy working mom, I didn't find this a practical solution for my holiday gift wrap dilemma. Sydney, however, was back at it the very next morning making boxes for her friends. Maybe I could hire her... I did walk away with some other practical and green ideas for gift wrap. Here you go:
-Use shredded paper for packing
-A scarf tied around a box makes an additional present and "gift wrap"
-An old book can be used as a box for a small gift by cutting out a box shaped section within the pages. You'll have to cut down through many pages to make the hole deep enough for your gift but with the proper tools this shouldn't take too long or be dangerous (kids, leave this one for Mom or Dad).

I'll have some of my own ideas online for you as well. Happy wrapping.

Eco-Friendly gift wrap

For those of you interested in Green Gift wrapping this holiday season, fear not! Amidst the bubble wrap, cellophane, nylon ribbon, and glossy gift bags, there is hope! My friend Julie will be showing us in Atlanta how it's done during a workshop on Saturday, Dec 6. I'll be sure to take good notes and have some of my own ideas to share with you as well. So stay tuned.

American Soldiers

Here's an idea worth passing along:
When you're sending out your holiday cards this year, include one to the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Remembering our soldiers; now that's just a good thing to do! Have a restful and thankful holiday season!

Chlorine on your carrots?

I just received this email from a reader in the Triangle area:

"The small cocktail (baby) carrots you buy in small
plastic bags are made using the larger crooked or
deformed carrots which are put through a machine which
cuts and shapes them into cocktail carrots. Most
people probably know this already. What you may not know
and should know is the following: once the carrots are
cut and shaped into cocktail carrots they are dipped
in a solution of water and chlorine in order to
preserve them (this is the same chlorine used in your
pool) since they do not have their skin or natural
protective covering, they give them a higher dose of
chlorine. You will notice that once you keep these
carrots in your refrigerator for a few days, a white
covering will form on the carrots, this is the chlorine
which resurfaces. At what cost do we put our health at
risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables which
are practically plastic? We do hope that this
information can be passed on to as many people
as possible in the hopes of informing them where these
carrots come from and how they are processed. Chlorine
is a very well known carcinogen. Please let us make
this information available to as many people
as possible. If you care about your family and friends,
pass it on."

Well, I pulled the organic baby carrots out of the fridge and shot them a quick email. The corporate offices weren't opened yet to take a call and I'd like to have something in writing if possible. Will let you know what I find out as soon as I hear back.

Soles 4 Souls

Tom P. sent in a comment regarding Recycling Old Sneakers:

"As Nike's global record often makes me cringe I would also suggest finding out more about an organization called Soles4Souls. I found out about them through various races that I have recently run. They accept any type of shoe and have many donation locations. In the Atlanta area you can drop shoes off at Foot Solutions stores."

Thanks for your comment Tom. I checked out Soles 4 Souls and it seems like a wonderful program. Because we are currently collecting athletic shoes in any condition, I did want to make sure that was appropriate for their use. I have an email into them and look forward to hearing back.

Thanks again for the lead. Keep those comments coming everyone!

Whole Foods Events

Grocery prices aren't going anywhere fast and neither are the additives in our food. So if you haven't gone on a Whole Foods Value Tour, now's the time. You'll tour through Whole Foods and just may be amazed at how far your grocery budget can go. Worried about your blood pressure? A free blood pressure screening and diabetes class is being given by a health care professional from North Fulton Regional Hospital. Check out the calendar and sign up for a class. These classes are being held at Harry's Farmers Market (Whole Foods) in Roswell, GA. Things are about to get busy for the holidays, you owe it to yourself to do something good for you.

Kids and Sugar

So by now our kids have been on a sugar high for almost a week since Halloween. Could be longer if you include the pre-Halloween festivities and "sampling" of candy days beforehand. Yes, The Everyday Organic lets her kids go trick or treat and yes, they eat candy. HOWEVER, we have our limits and nothing prides me more than hearing my kids say after one or two bite-sized pieces, "I've had enough". Instead of just throwing it out and considering all that trudging up and down hills for not, we save it for a nobler purpose. I stash it away for a few weeks and over the Thanksgiving holiday, we make candy houses with graham crackers and frosting. The Halloween candies make great decorations for the houses and there's a greater variety of color, size and texture than there would be if I had to go out and buy candy for the houses. I have some great tricks to share with you so stayed tuned. In the meantime, stash that candy away where no one can find it.

Whole Foods Events

Grocery prices aren't going anywhere fast and neither are the additives in our food. So if you haven't gone on a Whole Foods Value Tour, now's the time. You'll tour through Whole Foods and just may be amazed at how far your grocery budget can go. Worried about your blood pressure? A free blood pressure screening and diabetes class is being given by a health care professional from North Fulton Regional Hospital. Check out the calendar and sign up for a class. These classes are being held at Harry's Farmers Market (Whole Foods) in Roswell, GA. Things are about to get busy for the holidays, you owe it to yourself to do something good for you.

GOOD FOR YOU HOT COCOA

GOOD FOR YOU HOT COCOA

Sugar-free is all the craze right now. Unfortunately in many products, sugar is simply replaced with artificial sweeteners making it an even less desirable choice for The Everyday Organic. Here’s a sugar-free recipe you can feel good about. Chocolate and Honey-two yummies for yo’ tummy. Enjoy!


4C Milk
4 TB Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (use good quality-alkaline free cocoa powder)
Salt
Vanilla Extract
Honey

In a medium saucepan, gently heat 4C milk, add 4TB cocoa powder, 4 dashes of salt, and 4Tb honey. Wisk the ingredients together and heat until steaming. Makes 4 Servings.

© 2008 The Everyday Organic

Farmers Market w/the kids

Check out what one reader has to say about her recent trip to the farmers market...

"We took the kids to our local farmers market today and had a blast. I bought the most delicious apples – tasted just like off of Grandpa's tree. They were, get this, $0.99 a pound and so crisp and juicy. I paid $2.22 for THREE apples at the grocery store yesterday. What the store sells is garbage in comparison to the farmers market. Go if you can and take the kids. They will love the samples!"

Views from the Mackinaw Bridge

Mackinaw City, Michigan

Food Storage

Pam in Grove City, PA recently wrote in with a question on eliminating plastic. She liked the paper sandwich bag idea but needed further options. She has a friend who is breast feeding and needs a plastic free option for storing breast milk.

Good question. Way back when then milkman came door to door, milk was delivered in glass bottles. Glass is an excellent alternative. I use empty pasta sauce bottles to store everything from homemade soup to salad dressings and croutons. They work well in the fridge or freezer (leave room at the top for expansion if putting them in the freezer). I store cereal and trail mix in these jars too and put them in the pantry. Because they're glass, they run through the dishwasher time and again with no worries of them "breaking down".

If you don't have food grade glass jars you can use, you can also purchase canning jars new at the store.

Hope this helps Pam. Keep those questions coming.

FREE CLASS AT WHOLE FOODS

COME ONE, COME ALL!

Thursday, October 23 6-7PM Harry's Farmers Market at 1180 Upper Hembree Rd in Roswell (click here for directions).
THERE'S STILL SPACE AVAILABLE FOR THURSDAY'S CLASS!
The Everyday Organic is YOU ... Everyday Advice for Organic Living

So you’re going organic! Now what? I promise to help guide you through the process of ‘going organic’ by offering some easy tips and everyday advice. Including my list of “the cheapest changes” you can make for your new natural lifestyle. Join me on October 23 as I shed some light on organic eating and living! Space is limited so please register by calling 770-664-6300 or emailing Jennifer.smeth@wholefoods.com

Eco-conscious hotels

My Dad and Susan stayed at an inn up North this weekend. Sitting next to their soap in the bathroom was a note encouraging them to TAKE THE SOAP. Yes, the hotel encourages guests to take their soap with them. Once used and left behind, it is only fit for one place...the landfill. Instead, they'd rather their guests take them back home and use them up! So the next time you're traveling, remember to TAKE THE SOAP! Another Easy Go Green!

Autumn Hill Nursery

I want to thank Nancy at Autumn Hill Nursery for all of her help. Our flower boxes were in need of fall plants and Saturday was the day! I was with my sister and she suggested we check out Autumn Hill. Nurseries (as opposed to Supercenters) are a great place to find plants a bit off the beaten path, if you know what I mean. The thing I really appreciated was Nancy's suggestion to save money and dig up some of my existing plants and shove them in there. The "dig and shove" method, sounds simple enough for me AND FREE! Thanks Nancy. I'm quite pleased with my flower boxes. Check 'em out...

Dixie Fern in the back, Marmalade Heuchera-Coralbell in front (the lettuce lookin' thing), a few pansies on the sides, and Creeping Jenny that I "dug out and shoved in" hanging over the front.

Bottled Water

A good friend of ours, Kevin Humphrey, is the founder of Miracle Streams bottled water. Not only does he sell, “the best water I’ve ever had” according to our 9year old daughter (and we agree), he promotes education as well. Ever bottle of Miracle Streams carries on the label information on significant contributions of African Americans in our history. As our daughter likes to call them, “black facts”. To make a good thing even better, part of the proceeds of Miracle Streams go directly to the Food for the Hungry Foundation. This organization helps feed children in Ethiopia.

"Our water originates deep in the pristine aquifers of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where it passes through miles of sand and gravel that filter the water naturally, giving it a crisp, fresh taste. This water is never stored in open reservoirs or trucked from other sources. We are proud to offer water that is chlorine free and quality tested for over 90 organic and inorganic chemicals." Miracle Streams

After two years of working and waiting, Miracle Streams is on the shelves of Whole Foods! Congratulations Kevin!

We all buy bottled water, so why not buy the best bottled water you’ll ever have!

Ghiradelli Chocolate DOES NOT use milk from China!

What a RELIEF! Ghiradelli Chocolate Chips are the only chocolate I use in my family-famous muffins. Yesterday the latest news on the melamine in Chinese milk was the concern regarding chocolate candy imported from China...our candy is made in China. Who knew? Even if you read the label on the candy, the uncertain part is while your candy maybe made in the USA, it doesn't necessarily mean all the ingredients are from the US, or Belgium, or wherever you like your chocolate made. So it dawned on me I have NO idea where my beloved Ghiradelli gets its ingredients.

In a panic, I get online and pull up their website. OH, THANK YOU! There they have it, on the front page "Ghirardelli Chocolate Company does not purchase, import or use any milk containing products or ingredients from China in any of our products."

WHAT A RELIEF! Thank you Ghiradelli! Eat on Chocolate Lovers!

Organic Facial

There has been quite a buzz about my organic facial. Seems Riverstone has found a true market here in Atlanta. The latest question has been, "who did you see?". I saw Tricia at Riverstone and I would highly recommend asking for her. She took her time, explained what she was using but didn't fill the peaceful setting with lots of conversation. You know what I mean. Enjoy!

The ABCs of Going Organic!

There’s a lot of talk out there about food additives and how they’re affecting our children. I’m not a doctor or a scientist, so I won’t get into the particulars. But if you’ve decided to go organic and are wondering where to begin, I’ve got some help for you. It’s the ABC’s of Going Organic.
ALWAYS READ LABELS
Have you ever wondered if a package says “10% real fruit juice” what the other 90% is? "Natural”, “contains real fruit juice”, “no artificial color” are marketing phrases and can distract us from reading the label to find out what actually IS in the product. In our house we have a complete ban on artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, added hormones, antibiotics and hydrogenated oils! With that said, the only way to know if it's in our food, is to Always Read the Label. And if I don’t recognize an ingredient, I’ll research it. Google and I are good friends. I usually check with more than one source to avoid biased opinions.

About a year ago I picked up a package of sausage and thought “Wow, I didn’t know these were hormone and antibiotic free”. I was ready to put it in the cart when I turned it over and realized that while it was hormone and antibiotic free, it contained sulfites to preserve it. No thank you!

BETTER CHOICES DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
When you can’t make absolute changes, make better choices. Many people quit the whole concept all together because they think it has to be “all or nothing”. I can’t tell you how many x’s people ask me, “so are you totally organic?” Uh, NO.

Look, I do the best I can. I have the same constraints on my time, money, and resources that you do. I'm not a celebrity with money to hire chefs and we don’t live in sunny California where the growing season is all year. That’s why we’re The Everyday Organics – we do the best we can everyday, each day and one day may be better than another. So, If you can’t make the absolute best choice, making a better choice is still beneficial.

For instance, if you can’t purchase all organic fruits and vegetables, at least avoid the “dirty dozen”; those fruits and vegetables known to be high in pesticide residue according to The Environmental Working Group.

Every step toward the best option is a step in the right direction.

CHANGE CAN BE GRADUAL
Instead of dumping the entire pantry out at once, make gradual and steady changes. Why create resistance if you don’t have to. With our family, I started with what I considered the worst offenders: hormones and antibiotics. We ate meat or dairy at almost every meal so that was a big one. I began buying milk from cows not treated with BHT, hormone and antibiotic free meats, and organic eggs from chickens that are cage free and also not given growth hormones or antibiotics. All of which will proudly be labeled on the package!

The next step was buying organic fruits and vegetables and from there, I've been making changes in the pantry. I introduce 1-3 new foods a week to give us time to adjust. We've learned to enjoy the transition, laugh along the way, and give ourselves some slack. So for those of you who want to take this organic thing a step at a time, permission granted!

Enjoy the journey and remember we are Everyday Organics!

Natural Curly Hair Solution

On Wednesday, our baby turned 13! Does it seem like yesterday when we brought her home?...not really, but it's certainly been fun. However, one of the challenges we've had along the way is HAIR. Oh my gosh, this girl was born with hair enough for three people and on top of that, it's as curly as a corkscrew. Let's just say in 13 years, we've spent our fair share of time and money trying to tame those locks. And being The Everyday Organic, chemical solutions were a NO-NO!

Since she was approaching her 13th and 7th grade can be an oh so self-conscious year, I new it was time for some aggressive action. I had a list of salons I'd been saving for awhile. I grabbed the list and got online. As soon as I opened the Urbanbella website, I knew this was it. They claim to be specialists in curly, kinky, wavy hair. THAT'S US! I can't remember how I originally found Urbanbella so if it was one of my girl's out there, I O U!

Fulton County was thoughtful enough to give the kids an early release on Sydney's birthday so that would be the perfect afternoon for a visit to the salon. After school, we headed to Buckhead for lunch at Golberg's deli (YUM!) and then around the corner to meet Giselle at Urbanbella.

We had a 2hr. reservation and no overbooking here ladies. If your appointment is at two, you'll be seen at two. How revolutionary is that? Oh, one note, when you book your appointment, you'll be asked to give a $50 deposit on a credit card. Different, I know, but don't be put off. Just reserve your spot and go.

We meet Carol, Giselle's assistant and she takes Sydney back to wash her hair. Now, if you're like me, it always matters how adults service your kids. We've all been places where people seem put off to be working with kids or on the other hand treat them like their adults and that doesn't work either. Not here. Carol was gentle and kind and explained to us both everything she was doing and why. Like why she was washing her hair 4x-YA, 4 times...to get all the old product out. How many salons will take the time to wash your hair 4x. Seriously, she probably used an entire bottle of shampoo. But Carol was cool about the whole thing and not once did I feel like a bad mom who's daughter's hair was uncared for. Thank you Carol!

After four shampoos with non-sudsing shampoo (that's right, no sodium lauryl sulfate), a detangling conditioner,and a deep conditioner it was Giselle's turn. She worked her magic trimming and shaping. Then we tested products to see which gave the best curl. We found it! I know right now you want me to tell you what it is. You know, everyone's hair is different so what works for Sydney might not work for you. Stay with me though.

All the time Giselle explained the what, when, why, and how of everything she was doing so when we left we would know exactly what to do. Now moms, you have to really appreciate this next one. Instead of pushing me to buy all 6 or 7 products she used, she suggested we start with one and finish the products we have at home. Then come and add a few more. WOW! Her emphasis was on technique versus the exact product. Now don't get me wrong, products matter-good quality, as natural as can be product. But, I didn't feel pressured to buy theirs or condemned cuz' we're using "those". From all of us on a budget, thank you Giselle!

After two hours, we were ready to go. Sydney's hair looked great, she had a smile on her face and the confidence of looking good and I felt well equipped to help her continue with her new routine. I had to hug Giselle when we were done. I was so grateful. Honestly, how often do you walk into a salon a stranger and have to hug your stylist when you leave? Now pick up that phone, dial 404-255-5022 for Urbanbella and tell them The Everyday Organic told you to call Giselle. Remember, I want to see your before and after photos. See Sydney's after photo below.




These pictures were taken this morning, two days later, which is the true test for any hair style and routine. Forgive the forced smile on missy's face. It was 6:45 and somebody was still a bit grumpy...her hair was looking good though!

Free Makeup

Purify Your Products Party

How aware are you of the ingredients that are in your cosmetics, skin and hair-care products? Are you reading the fine print on the back of the bottles? Well there’s no time like the present to start! Come to a Purify Your Products Party and Whole Foods will help you sift through your beauty products and point out ingredients that you want to be aware of! They'll even swap products so you’ll leave with some “cleaner” items for your beauty routine. Space is limited so call 770-664-6300 to reserve your space today! Tuesday, September 16, 5:30-6:30.

Swap is limited to two products per customer.

And you can bet The Everyday Organic will see you there! Another Easy Go Green!

Class at Whole Foods

The ABCs of Organic!

Whether you are at the beginning of your organic journey or are a seasoned traveler, we all run into questions along the way. Jennifer Fuller, founder of The Everyday Organic, promises to help guide you through the process of ‘going organic’ and will offer some easy tips and also answer questions like – why should you “go organic”? How do you “go organic”? How do you know what isn’t good for you? Join us on September 13 from 10:30-11:30am as Jennifer sheds some light on organic eating and living! Space is limited so please register by calling 770-664-6300 or emailing Jennifer.smeth@wholefoods.com
Harry's Farmers Market at 1180 Upper Hembree Rd., Roswell, GA 30076

Goodbye Plastic Sandwich Bags

Ok, I told you at the beginning of the month I was on a quest to get rid of plastic in the kitchen. I admitted to having a few hold outs and if you're a mom who makes school lunches everyday, you can imagine the sandwich bag dilemma. And they zip so nicely too.
Well here we are the last day of the month and I FOUND THEM! Waxed paper sandwich bags! A box of 60 by Natural Value costs $2.69 at Whole Foods and depending on where you buy those plastic ones, that could be more or less than what you're used to. But when you consider these bags are non-toxic when incinerated, landfill safe, and not even bleached...it's hard to justify perpetuating our plastic addiction.
So, brown bag warriors, fret no more. The Everyday Organic has found your answer: Unbleached Natural Wax Paper Bags to the rescue.
An Easy Go Green!

What to do with leftovers?

Whenever we finish a jar of pasta sauce or honey, I run them through the dishwasher leaving them clean for either the recycling bin or re-use in the kitchen. When I make salad dressing (remember, if you make your own, you’re guaranteed no yuckies…), I store it in a small empty jar. The larger ones are great for storing soups either in the fridge or the freezer. When putting them in the freezer, remember to leave room at the top for expansion. Glass is a great storage option in the kitchen. You can easily see what you have without removing the lid, it washes easy and you don’t have to worry about it melting in the dishwasher or the microwave. Re-using glass containers. An Easy Go Green!

Which Spa Facial?

After reading about my organic spa experience, a reader asked me which facial to get. I neglected to mention in my earlier blog, that the facials are CUSTOM designed for your skin type. I actually asked the same question when I was making my appointment. The director told me that all of the facials are custom designed for each client and they wouldn't be able to suggest any specifics until they see my skin. OH Honey, that's the only couture thing I've ever had in my life! I'll take it!!

Whole Foods Value Tour

On Tuesday, I headed to Whole Foods for their Way to Shop, Value Tour! They want to show people how organic eating is affordable. The tour is only an hour long, moves fast, and ends with a goodie bag!! Jennifer Smeth, the tour guide, is very easy going, gave some good suggestions and is open to answering your questions. I highly recommend taking some time out for this one. It’s only open to 12 people at a time so please register quickly. The last one for the month is scheduled on Thursday, August 28 from 6-7 at Harry’s on Upper Hembree Road.
Have Fun!

Organic Spa

UNFORTUNATELY AS OF JANUARY 2009, RIVERSTONE SPA WILL BE CLOSING. I left this blog so you can read what a phenomenal visit I had with Tricia Schofield, Esthetician. As of January 26, 2009 you will be able to find her at Bliss Spa inside the W Hotel in Buckhead. I will see you soon Tricia!!


Back in June, my sisters gave me a spa gift certificate for my birthday. This wasn't for just any spa, this was for and ORGANIC SPA. I couldn't wait, but had to...at least until school got back in. I wanted this to be a totally relaxing kid free experience without any rush to get back. The first Friday of the school year. PERFECT. I had made my appointment and was ready to go!

I arrived 15 minutes before my scheduled time and was greeted to a friendly spa manager, tranquil surroundings and peaceful music. AAAHHHH, I could already feel the stress evaporating. I was offered tea or water and asked to fill out a brief bio. Within minutes I was back in the dressing room, being given a locker for my clothes and a robe to wear. Once the manager left, I wondered to myself, "I'm getting a facial,why do I need a robe?". Huh,I figured just go for the whole experience.

I walked out to a more intimate waiting area where I sat before a beautiful rock water fall. Within minutes Tricia arrived and introduced herself. She walked me down the hall to a room filled with soft music, pleasant aromas, and beautiful linens. I knew this was going to be delightful. The bed was even designed for fabulous back relief. I needed that.

My facial begins. And this was no ordinary facial. It was one hour solid of gentle cleansing, steaming, masks, and moisturizing with natural organic products. Lavender, Tea Tree Oil, Oatmeal, Yogurt, Rose, and even dehydrated vegetables. OH MY GOSH. It was FABULOUS! While one mask was on, Tricia massaged my shoulders, neck and my upper back. Ohhhh, so THAT'S why I needed to wear a robe. While another mask was doing its magic, she massaged my hands and arms with oil and put my hands in warm mitts. Fabulous!

Once my facial was complete, Tricia quietly left and gave me time to re-enter the conscious world. I was so relaxed I could barely talk but as I was checking out, I did learn Riverstone Spa is quite a rarity. It's believed to be the only full service spa and salon using organic products in the state of Georgia. And it's only 10 miles from my house. Lucky me! I cannot say enough about this facial. Oh, and if your cost conscious like me, it is WELL worth every dollar! I had debated between getting a facial or a massage but left feeling like I had both. Thanks Tricia!

ENJOY!

Food on the road

When taking a dish to someone’s house, it isn’t practical to ride in the car with a glass dish sitting on top of a glass bowl. So what to do then? Well, it’s inevitable you still have a few plastic bags finding their way into your home. Bread bags are a good example. Instead of immediately tossing them in with the recycling, give them one more use. Save them for when you take your food on the road. Slide the bowl or plate in the plastic bag and tie the end in a knot or seal it with a rubber band (plenty of those come on organic produce). You’re ready for the road. Then when you’re done, recycle the bag. An Easy Go Green!

Chocolate Pudding

It was the first day of school so I thought a nice homey dessert after dinner would be a great treat. We don't have dessert every night so it's a big deal...let alone something homemade. Doesn't chocolate pudding sound good? It's comforting and cool...since it's still a blazing 95° here. Well, there's a vegan recipe for chocolate pudding I've been wanting to try. It uses Tapioca starch as the thickening agent. I had everything on hand believe it or not: soy milk, tapioca starch, cocoa, sugar, and vanilla. Let me tell you, for all of you who LOVE rich, creamy, chocolate pudding, this recipe is NOT for you. ICK ICK ICK. We tried. We all did. It looked good but when you put the spoon in, it was more like Jello instead of pudding. Lindsey got a kick out of it and said "it looks like blubbler!" Sydney nicely said "it's ok Mom, thanks for trying". My husband kept trying to get it down. I could tell they were so disappointed. We all paused and then I said "get the ice cream sandwiches". Fortunately we had a few left and that saved the night. So there, I saved you the trouble. Stick with the real thing and use organic ingredients. Just keepin' it real.

Wrap up plastic

In my quest to go green in the kitchen, the 1st to go was that roll of plastic wrap. I remember pulling off the last bit and saying “No more. This is the last plastic wrap I’m gonna buy”. So how to cover those dishes? Well, I use plates to cover bowls of leftovers in the fridge. When I have half a piece of fruit or an onion to save, I just place it cut side down on a small saucer. Different than what we’re used to but it works just fine. In fact, I like it better because you can stack one plate on top of another, multiplying the space in the refrigerator. And who doesn’t need more fridge space? An Easy Go Green!

WHERE to recycle?

Last night we were at school meeting Lindsey's teacher-yes, it's that time again already here in the South. One of the mom's said, "I saw your recycling video! But you didn't tell me where the recycling center is."
THAT would've been helpful. Sorry gang. I think I was just so thrilled to have successfully uploaded the video the very first time around. Anyway, back to where to recycle. Here goes: I tried several sites and RecyclingCenters.org was the easiest to use. You enter your zip code or choose to search by state. I will tell you though, from there you will have to sort through a bit of information. When I tried it both ways, I was given recycling centers near me but also over an hour away. It isn't quite as zip code or city specific as you hope. However, it will give you the information you need. So just be patient and take a minute or two to locate a center near you-really that's all it takes. Please if you know of a more user friendly site, let me know.

Recycling in 10 seconds

In case there is still some confusion on how this whole recycling thing works, I thought I'd let my nine year old show you how it's done. Consider yourself challenged!

Morningside Farmer's Market

This Saturday, we headed out to the Morningside Farmer's Market in Virginia Highlands. We go to Alon's bakery all the time so imagine our delight when we discovered the Farmer's Market in the parking lot right across the street. All the stands there sell certified organic produce. There's even a hog and cattle farmer selling grass fed beef and antibiotic free pork.

I have to say there is a feeling of pride when you walk down the street with others who appreciate locally grown veggies. There we are with canvas bags in hand and mouths watering. Our dollars are ready to be spent supporting local farmers and buying produce grown with care.

While there, I learned Japanese cucumbers grow up making them easier to weed and I would imagine a great option for us city dwellers with less space for gardening. We tried Sungold Tomatoes and loved them but ended up buying the Jelly Bean variety. I have to say both have more flavor than any cherry tomato I've ever had. The bunch of Basil we bought is out of this world! When we got home, I just stuck it in a glass of water on the counter. It looks just like the Food Network in here. We had it on our sub sandwiches that night and what flavor! It's so fresh, I just tear off a leaf and eat it just like that.

Of course, I cannot forget to mention Miss Gloria. A wonderful lady who enjoys people. She has a little table and umbrella set up with paper and paints to keep your little ones busy while you shop the stands. Thanks Miss Gloria.

Though it's a bit of a drive from Alpharetta, it was well worth the adventure and my family highly recommends the Morningside Farmer's Market as a must see for your family. Enjoy!

Saturdays Year Round from 8:00 am to 11:30 am
1393 N. Highland Ave Atlanta GA 30306 • 404.313.5784

Bye Bye Plastic!

This year I decided to get rid of all plastics in our kitchen. Not an easy task. In fact, I still have a some hold outs. However, I was successful in eliminating quite a bit. This month I’ll be sharing with you tips on going green in the kitchen. Here's one to get you started:

The easiest thing to do is go buy a stainless steel water bottle. They're easy to clean, keep your water cold, and you won’t have to worry about what number plastic it is. These have been perfect for the girls’ lunches. To compete with the convenience of traditional water bottles, you can buy multiple stainless steel bottles and while one is in use, the others are chillin’ in fridge ready to go. An Easy Go Green!

Fabulous Coleslaw

Well, the stuffed cabbage leaves didn't turn out so well. I guess I didn't boil the cabbage leaves long enough before I stuffed them. Even after being in the oven 30 minutes, they were still a bit tough. However, I used the other half of the cabbage and made coleslaw and it was FABULOUS! The whole family loved it. Here's the recipe:
COLESLAW
2 C Cabbage (cut thin and then rough chopped after that to make it easier to eat)
1 Carrot (I shredded it with a vegetable peeler and then rough chopped the strips)
1/4 diced Vidalia Onion
The Dressing:
1/2 C mayonnaise (in the South, we love Duke's)
1 TB White wine vinegar (you can use plain white vinegar or rice vinegar instead)
2 tsp evaporated cane juice (or sugar)
1/2 tsp celery seed

Toss the veggies together, mix the dressing and then toss the veggies with the dressing. FABULOUS! It tasted great as soon as I made it and the next day so this is a great make ahead recipe. Enjoy!

Atlanta Farmers Markets

Here is a current list of farmers markets in Atlanta. Take a field trip and enjoy what's out there...

Decatur Farmers Market

Wednesday's 4pm-7pm
Open Year-Round Location
We have moved to the
Bank of America parking lot
163 Clairemont Ave.
Decatur, GA 30030 at the corner of Commerce Dr. and Church St.

Atlanta State Farmers Market - 404-675-1782
16 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, GA 30297
At 150 acres, the Atlanta Market is considered one of the largest of its kind in the world. It features a garden center, wholesale and retail activities, and is a major marketing hub and distribution point for fresh produce in the Southeast and throughout the country. The Atlanta Market also has a restaurant, welcome center and USDA Federal-State office.
Open: All year

Farmers Market at Spruill Gallery - 770-394-4019 - Spruill Gallery
4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA
Open: August thru December - every Wednesday - 8 am to 1 pm

Green Market at Piedmont Park - Piedmont Park, 1071 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta
Open: Saturday mornings, mid-April through mid-October from 8 am - 12 pm.

Morningside Farmers Market - 404-444-9902 - 1393 North Highland Ave., Atlanta, GA
Open: Saturday Mornings - 8 am – 11:30 am during end of April through December.
Accepts WIC Coupons

Your Dekalb Farmers Market (and recycling center) (404)377-6400
3000 E. Ponce De Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030

At the intersection of E. Ponce De Leon Avenue and Laredo Drive, 2 miles inside of I-285 off of Exit 40 (E. Ponce De Leon).

The Decatur E7 Marta Station is also located nearby.

Opening Hours
Store: 9am - 9pm
Business Services: 8am - 5pm

Alpharetta Farmers Market

Today our family headed out to the Alpharetta Farmers Market. It's in "downtown" Alpharetta. Being a lover of the real downtown, Atlanta that is, I feel a bit odd using the term "downtown" to describe a few cross streets 5 miles from my suburban home. At any rate, that's where we went. We showed up around 12:30. Since they close at 1:00, we had half an hour to mingle about before they started to pack up. Now, we're just getting started with our farmers market up here so it doesn't take long to cover the 15 or so booths currently participating. However, it is well worth your time. The kids love it. I was so proud of Lindsey when she chose and organic brownie for her treat of the day over a snow cone made of ice and colored sugar syrup (odd item for a farmers market).
We mingled around, made a few purchases of fresh produce and made note of items for a future trip (organic olive oil and home grown honey). As one farmer was packing up, he held up a huge cabbage and asked me "do you eat cabbage?" I quickly responded, "SURE we do". He handed it to me and said "here have a cabbage". Thank you! Instead of lasagna, I think I'll be making stuffed cabbage leaves this week. Note: when going to the farmers market, stay until closing time. You never know what a farmer would rather leave behind than cart back. It was a fun morning.

Step #10: Enjoy!

Congratulations, you made it to step #10. Now that wasn't so hard was it? Remember, organic living is supposed to make our lives richer by giving us a healthier body to work with. It feels good knowing you’re more in control of what you’re consuming. I think you'll be amazed at how your family will continue to adapt and thrive as you enjoy your new Everyday Organic Lifestyle. © The Everyday Organic

I forgot to read the label...

Ok, I admit it. I forgot to read the label. We were at the organic food store-you know the one, and I saw their brand of organic peanut butter. Normally I buy natural peanut butter from the grocery store down the street. Their store brand choice only has peanuts and salt. Ok, so it's not organic but it's all natural and only $2.50 a jar.

Back to the organic peanut butter. So I notice it's $2.56 and I think "wow, that's the same price as the non-organic brand at the other grocery store. Wonder how they can do that". Put it in the cart, buy it, bring it home.

A few days later, I open it and all of us are amazed at how creamy it is. Even my husband made a comment. Ya, what gives? The natural peanut butters usually take a bit more muscle work to blend back in all the oil that seperated. I turn the jar over and read the label. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. The ingredients say: oganic dry roasted peanuts, organic PALM OIL, organic pure CANE SUGAR, sea salt. NO WAY. NO NO WAY. PALM OIL? What? The peanuts aren't oily enough.

That explains it. They added palm oil and sugar which means there are less peanuts so they can sell it so inexpensively. I'm going back to my other grocery store next week for the $2.50 jar of peanuts and salt.

So don't feel bad, even veterans at label reading get tired and slip.

Oh, did we eat the peanut butter? Ya, and I have to say, it tasted really good...

Step #9: Experiment

Since I was a kid, I refused to eat yogurt. I didn’t like the taste or even the smell of it. However, after reading over and over again how good it is for you, I decided to really give it a try. I tasted several brands and found one the whole family absolutely loves. I make a smoothie almost every morning with plain yogurt, frozen fruit, a banana, and raspberry jam (made with fruit only no sugar added). I had never heard of almond butter until a few years ago. I love the nutty taste on warm toast. It is now a favorite standard in our house. So go ahead, don't be afraid...try it, you might like it.
© The Everyday Organic

Step #8: Educate Yourself

Read. Read. Read. The information is out there but it won’t come looking for you. However, thanks to the internet, the information is literally at your fingertips. Whenever I find an ingredient I don’t recognize or understand, I jot it down and look it up before buying anything with it. Compare your findings with several sources to ensure accuracy and always consider the source to avoid biased opinions.
© The Everyday Organic

Organic cotton? Not exactly...

We're headed to a party tonight and as I was ironing my white linen pants, I thought "I wonder who's gonna ask, 'so are your clothes organic cotton?'". A simple "no" isn't gonna fair well with The Everyday Organic fans so, here goes: "My budget doesn't allow for organic clothing just yet. Until then, I do the best I can by wearing clothes made from natural fibers such as this linen for instance. In addition, I NEVER have my clothes dry cleaned so my desire for clean pressed linen isn't destroying the ozone layer either." You see, it really can be easy being green.

Purchase clothing made from natural fibers and stay away from chemical dry cleaners. Another Easy Go Green!

Step #7: Value Overall Health

We need to value our overall health and well-being. In the United States, 15% of children are obese according to the American Obesity Association. At the same time, anorexia is still a great concern. This is evidence that overall, we have conflicting and unhealthy beliefs about eating. We should love and respect ourselves enough to care for our bodies from the inside out. As parents, we have to model good habits for our children; from eating healthy, exercising, and more importantly not complaining about our bodies, but caring for them. Live a life of moderation versus one of extremes (I'll have to credit my Dad for that advice-thanks Dad!).
© The Everyday Organic

Step #6: A Better Choice

When you can’t make absolute changes, make better choices

I'm not gonna lie to you, organic eating has been financially challenging for our family. There are times when we simply can't afford the organic option. Many people quit the whole concept all together because they think it has to be “all or nothing”. If you can’t make the absolute best choice, making a better choice is still beneficial.

For instance, if you can’t purchase organic fruits and vegetables, at least stick to buying what's in season and locally grown. That way you know you're getting the freshest produce available. Avoid the “dirty dozen”, those fruits and vegetables known to be high in pesticide residue according to The Environmental Working Group. That list includes: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. And by all means, avoid buying non-organic produce imported from countries without strict pesticide guidelines-if you're not sure, I wouldn't buy it.

Here's an example of making a better choice:
You really want a soft drink. Instead of reaching for your traditional diet cola filled with artificial sweeteners, a better choice would be to drink the full calorie version sweetened with corn syrup. Better yet, is to avoid the high fructose corn syrup in regular soda and choose a drink sweetened with evaporated cane juice with no caffeine. Even better still, is to opt for a drink of all natural fruit juice and filtered water. Every step toward the best option is a step in the right direction.

Step #5: Less is More!

Less is More! No artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or preservatives EVER!

Our “foods” today are riddled with artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. Many ingredients we can’t even pronounce. Ingredients who owe their existence to laboratories and chemical reactions versus dirt, water and sunshine.

Did you know that even refrigerated biscuits have food coloring in them? I didn’t either. Makes you wonder what color those white fluffy biscuits were before they added Red #40.

Here's a recap on the "more" you would do better without:
Artificial Preservatives: Sulfites, Sulfates, Nitrites, Nitrates, BHT, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

Artificial Sweeteners: Saccharin, Splenda & Aspartame. Sorbitol, Manitol, and Xylitol are sugar alcohols-there is a bit of controversy on these. I'll let you decide. As for me...I'll pass on those.

Food Color: FDC # any

Hormones: rbGH

Partially hydrogenated oils

We may not be able to fully control what's in the food we eat at restaurants, at someone else's home, or unfortunately at school, but we can decide what stocks our own refrigerators and pantries.

Why We Don't Recycle

Yesterday I made "Baked Beans" in the Crockpot. YUMMY-must share recipe in another Blog. They were a big hit with the family. I used canned pinto beans and I confess, I threw the cans in the trash. I am not a big fan of recycling cans in the summer because ants here in the South can be a REAL nuisance. However, my conscience immediately got the best of me and I pulled them back out. I rinsed them and in the process, my finger grazed the sharp edge of one can and I cut my finger. OUCH! Pause...continue cooking as all moms do.

Later that night, I reached in my purse for something and caught that finger in the same spot and re-opened the wound. OUCH again!

Funny a small cut can cause so much pain. I said to my husband, "this doesn't help the cause of recycling any. If I had left the cans in the trash I wouldn't have cut my finger. Now I could get an infection, lose my finger and never play tennis again. All because I recycled a few cans".

Ok, so I'm exaggerating but it is those moments of irritation and inconvenience that do stop us from acting on our good intentions. I say all this to say, YOU my friend are not alone. There are Everyday Organics all around you trying to fight the good fight against needless waste. Hang in there, your efforts are not in vain. Recycle On!

25 Minutes and Counting

The first thing to run through my mind this morning as I opened my eyes was, "It's Thursday, I can WATER THE PLANTS!" I practically fell out of bed, then threw my hair in a pony-tail and snuck out the door while the rest of the gang slumbered away. Somehow I managed to get flip-flops on.

AAAH I love that time of day. I took a deep breath of fresh morning air and then surveyed the job. According to my county's water restrictions, I had 25 minutes to water everything in sight. Yikes!

I started with the Leyland Cypress since they're the only privacy we have on one side-can't lose a single one of those babies. From there I moved to the Holly Bushes, Laurel, Clematis, Peach tree, Hostas, and oh ya...the flowers on the patio.

That was alot to get done in 25 minutes and have ya noticed they cut the water pressure? I saw an announcement online yesterday congratulating my county for 20% less water use. Ya, that's cuz you decreased the pressure 20%. Hey, I wonder if our water bills will be 20% less...let's not push it.

GARAGE SALES!!!

It’s Garage Sale Season Again!!

Think about this: every time we buy something from a garage sale, we’re keeping that item from hitting the landfill. Not only that, each item we buy second hand, instead of new, prevents yet one more of that product from being manufactured and shipped to a retailer.

So get out there, hit those garage sales and save the Earth!

Another Easy Go Green!

Step #4: Introduce 1-3 new foods per week

Making fewer changes at once will make it easier to stick with your new healthy lifestyle. It will also make it easier on the budget.

Where did I start? With the things we consumed the most of. At the time, it was milk and meat so I started there. Then moved to fruits and vegetables and then to snacks and condiments (still not perfect on those). As far as body products, well, that's a work in progress I'll tell you. Bit by bit we are getting there. The job market hasn't helped our healthy endeavors either but little by little we continue to make progress. Oh ya and green cleaners you make yourself are CHEAP and easy so nothing should stop you from that. I have a spray bottle with 1/2 water and 1/2 white vinegar. I use that for anything I would have used window cleaner for. Baking soda is what I use to scrub the sinks and toilets. Pour in some vinegar after to disinfect and you're good to go.

My Confession

For Lu's end of the year party, I was assigned to bring in sausage. This morning as I was carrying in the crock pot trying to keep them warm, I thought, "I wonder how many people are gonna ask, think, or assume these are all organic, hormone/antibiotic free sausages". OK, I did it. I went to the store and bought the 2/$5.00 sausages and you can tell by the price, they weren't organic. I confess. It's hard enough to feed my own family organically let alone a classroom of 9 year olds who will be eating colored donuts at the same time. I'm sorry if it seems hypocritical but let's remember we are striving to be Everyday Organics so we do the best we can each day...even if it's not perfect.

AAAAAAAA, I feel much better now!

Oh ya, one more thing: I did eat some...

Against School Policy to Recycle

Sounds ridiculous doesn't it? It's the end of the school year and I was in volunteering with all the last minute details. I heard a teacher say "I'm going to throw these out" as she holds up the largest three-ring binder I have ever seen FILLED with paper. I said, as I was chocking in shock, "Can I recycle those?". Ya, it was said: "I wish I could give these to you, but it's against school policy." I can't believe it. What ARE we teaching these kids? All I can think this does is create more wasteful Americans? And you know, if it's against school policy to give retired curriculum to a parent, fine, YOU recycle it. But no, it's much easier to throw it in the trash.

Well, that's ok though b/c next year, I'm ALL over it. They're either gonna love me or hate me. By the way, I have a meeting set up with the mayor of my city on Wednesday. One of the things I will be addressing is why we can't get .3 mile (yes, just 3 tenths of a mile) of sidewalk completed on my street so we can actually walk somewhere and leave our cars parked. Alright, enough griping. I'll save that energy to get things done!

Recycle Old Sneakers

I finally took our old sneakers to be recycled. I have had them in a bag at the bottom of the recycling bin for longer than I'd like to admit. Then again, we are EVERYDAY organics not PERFECT organics-right? So yesterday I headed down to the science academy filled with pride and determination that these shoes would not be hitting the landfill. Only I was met with disappoinment. I was told the athletic company who used to accept them no longer does and therefore the science academy had nowhere to deliver them.

Bummer! That's a step in the wrong direction. Surely that can't be. So today I do a Google search and find an article from 5-9-08 about Nike's Re-Use a Shoe program. YEAH! I immediately called the science academy to let them know "Nike is recycling shoes, you can start your program again!" Not sure what they'll do with that info but I'll follow up next fall.

Anyway, back to our old tennis shoes-yours too. Nike will take:

• Athletic shoes only (any brand)
• No shoes containing metal
• No cleats , No dress shoes
• No wet/damp shoes

Since the program started, they have recycled over 20,000,000 shoes and have created 250 sports surfaces with the ground up shoes. See Nike Grind for more details. It's pretty cool.

If you live in the Atlanta area, you can drop them off at Nike Town at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead. If your dropping off more than a bag full, you need to call ahead and give them a heads up. For other locations in the US, visit the Nike Re-Use a Shoe site. I did my research and seems even in a big city like Atlanta, this is the only gig in town for recycling old sneakers. I'm sure that will change in the future but until then, may you hear a little voice inside reminding you to be an Everyday Organic before tossin' those old stinkies in the trash.

Learn more about Nike Grind

Step #3: Start with changes no one will notice

Personally, I find no difference in taste between conventional milk and the organic brands. Organic meat and eggs, if anything, taste fresher. Without mentioning the changes, my sister cooked organic meat for dinner one night. Her whole family loved it and her husband asked, “where did you buy this? It tastes great!” Organic fruits and vegetables taste fresh and are full of flavor. So when going organic, start where there will be little or no protest...with foods that taste the same or better without added "stuff".

Where to Buy Meat

I started asking questions about the meat I was purchasing. Was you know where the ONLY place I could find organic meats? The more questions I asked, the more I was convinced...perhaps it was the only place. However, more and more mainline grocery stores are carrying organic meats. If you wonder about it, just ask one of the workers in the meat department. If they can't answer your question, that's not the place where you wanna be buying your meat. And honestly, the prices are about the same in all the stores I've seen so I buy it where I'm at. I do buy most of it at Whole Foods though b/c I know they have a high turn-over and that makes me feel the meat is fresher.

Fortunately there are many milk options out there even for those of you who drink non-dairy milks (almond, rice, soy). With soy-milk, look for those that are made with non- GMO soy beans. That means they were not genetically modified. That just sounds disgusting doesn't it? The companies that use non-GMO soy beans are proud of it and will make it clear on their packaging. Again though, read the ingredients here too. Many milks have sugar in them to make them taste good. All I'm saying is, just know what your eating & drinking. Hormone and antibiotic free cow's milk and chicken eggs are readily available also. Let me know if you have any questions.

What's in Your Chicken?

Alright, so here's the thing: The first thing I did was start buying meat, milk, and eggs that were hormone and antibiotic free. Remember though, if it's pre-packaged meat, you MUST read both the front and back. If it doesn't say it's hormone and antibiotic free, it isn't. Now double check to make sure the ingredients just say: chicken, or beef or whatever you hope your buying. If it says "Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics. No Hormones Administered, No Artificial ingredients" you are off to a good start. But double check. Oh look, the back of this package says in teeny tiny print, "all natural chicken broth ingredients: chicken broth, salt, and flavoring." FLAVORING. What are you flavoring it for? Doesn't it already taste like chicken? Why don't you chew on that one 'til tomorrow.

Step #2: Gradual & steady changes

Go easy on your family at first. You could go and dump the entire pantry in the trash all at once, but you may be met with more opposition than necessary. Perhaps a kinder and more effective approach would be to start out by eliminating the worst offenders. May I suggest anything red or blue that didn’t grow on a farm. Yes, that would mean all those rainbow colored crackers and “fruit” chewy snacks with no fruit. Once the family gets adapted to the first few changes, make a few more.

The Everyday Organic Step #2: Make Gradual and Steady Changes. Just like with any other big change, you may find you are more successful if you tackle it bit by bit. The thought of throwing everything out at once and heading to the store to stock up on organic foods was overwhelming. I was on a tight grocery budget already. We had no choice but to transition in phases and it turned out to be for the best. Years later we continue to be "cleaner" eaters and have figured out how to creatively stretch the grocery budget to include organic foods.

Low-fat Shmo-fat

Congratulations! It's been one week since you've decided to make some changes. How'd it go reading labels? We'd love to hear your reactions when you read the ingredients in some of that "stuff" we call food.

One more thing about reading labels before we move on. In our society we are conditioned to read two things on a label: fat and calories. If it's low in both, we consider it a winner. NOT SO FAST! Hopefully this week you have realized there is a lot more to a label than fat and calories. There's a lot more to food than fat and calories. Many "low-fat" foods are filled with yuckies (as we call them in our family). These extras are in there so you don't miss the fat. Think about this: the less fillers, preservatives, flavors and colors a food has, the cleaner it is. This makes it easier for your body to process, utilize, and eliminate. Food is fuel and we need to fuel our bodies kindly and effectively.

Red #40 Makes White Fluffy Biscuits

We've been talking this week about reading food labels. Here's one for you: did you know that most refrigerated biscuits have food coloring in them? I didn't either. Makes you wonder what color those white fluffy biscuits were before they added red dye.

Reader Disagrees

I was challenged by one of my readers in regards to my mentioning Xylitol as an artificial sweetener to avoid. She said, "Xylitol is listed as an ingredient in many organic foods". Yes, it is.

Ok, first let me say I have elaborated and perhaps corrected the information listed under artificial sweeteners. Sorbitol, Mannitol, and Xylitol are sugar alcohols and I suppose considering them "artificial" or "manufactured" is one's own opinion. However, you do the Google search...and don't just read the info from the dentists promising you little or no tooth decay from these sugar substitutes.

Alright, now that we have that cleared up, I want to applaud my reader for knowing what is listed on the ingredients label. GREAT JOB! This also serves as a reminder to us all. Even if an ingredient is used in products sold by a store who is leading the way in organic foods, it doesn't mean it's best to consume. You still need to decide for yourself. Remember how Saccharin (Saccharine) and Aspartame were all the rage, and then what happened? Ya, it took many years for us to wake up, but we did and now look? Those are on the "no-no" list of many health conscious industries. All I'm saying is be careful and don't just run with the masses. Think about what you're eating and how things are made. If it's manufactured, you oughta' think twice or maybe three times before you consider it the miracle we've all been looking for.

Brownies visit Recycling Center

This afternoon I saw a Brownie troop at the Recycling Center. You Go Girls! You should have heard the enthusiasm in their voices. I couldn't help but smile and giggle myself. Hats off to their troop leaders for spending the afternoon doing something so worthwhile. Troop leaders, if you're out there reading, we'd love to hear from you. And if your Brownie or Girlscout troop is so inspired to do the same, let us know what you learn.

"Sugar-Free"

How many times have I heard friends or even family members (NOT those living in my house) boast that the product they just consumed was sugar-free. As if that's something to be proud of. Ok, it's sugar-free. Fabulous, you read the front label generated for marketing purposes only. Now let's turn the container, box, jar, whatever OVER and read the list of ingredients on the back. Yes, it is in small print so you hopefully won't read it. What's listed there? On your sugar-free "foods" you're right, you won't see sugar listed but what will you see? Anything you don't recognize, can't pronounce, manufactured in a lab? I think we would all agree food is supposed to be grown in the ground, not concocted in a lab.

What not to eat

When reading those labels, you might be wondering "so what am I looking for?" You're not the only one. Recently my mother said to me, “Ok, give me a list of what I’m not supposed to be eating.” Here you go Mom:

*Preservatives: Sulfites, Sulfates, Nitrites, Nitrates

*Artificial Sweeteners: Saccharin (also spelled: Saccharine), Sucralose (in Splenda), Aspartame (in Nutra-Sweet and Equal), Sugar Alcohols (some would argue these aren't artificial and my sister argues "how am I supposed to sweeten my coffee?"): Sorbitol, Mannitol, Xylitol
(While I realize some of these "sweeteners" are controversial, I choose to avoid anything created in a lab.)

*Artificial Flavors

*Food Coloring: FDC # any

*Hormones: BGH or rBGH (added/injected growth hormones)

*Partially hydrogenated oils

Step #1: Begin Reading Labels

Have you ever wondered if a package says “10% real fruit juice” what the other 90% is? Don’t assume because the package says “natural”, “contains real fruit juice”, “no artificial color” that it’s a wise choice. Those phrases can distract us from reading the label and finding out what actually is in the product. I remember picking up a package of sausage and thinking “Wow, I didn’t know these were hormone and antibiotic free”. I was ready to put it in the cart when I turned it over and realized that while it was hormone and antibiotic free, it contained sulfites to preserve it. Yuck, no thank you. Had I not taken 10 seconds to turn the package over and read the fine print, we might have eaten that. The extra little time it takes to read labels is well worth the effort.

The Everyday Organic Step #1: Begin Reading Labels
Start by taking a few minutes right now and read some of the labels (front and back) of products in your pantry and fridge. The more confusing, the less likely you'd want to be putting that in your body. More on this through next week.

10 Steps to Organic Eating

All right, so I'm always asked "how do you start?". I was talking to a friend the other night and she has intentions to eat organically but has no idea how to even start.

So I thought I'd share with you the steps I took when converting my own family to organic eating. We progressed gradually and have stuck with it for years. Now, are we "completely organic" as some call it? We are Everyday Organics; meaning, we do the best we can each day and try to make wiser choices if for some reason we can't make a perfect choice.

Over the next 10 weeks, I'll share with you a new step each Saturday. That way you can start a new week with a goal in mind. I welcome your thoughts, comments, & questions. Happy Eating!

Recycling at school

I told Ms. Neal how the girls were mortified that all the concert programs were gonna get thrown out and they ran through and picked them all up for recycling. She told me Mr. Jackson, another teacher at the school, is very passionate about recycling. I made a note to myself to contact him in regards to getting that entire school up to date with the very simple and only responsible option: RECYCLING!

An Easy Go Green!

Tuesday night as we were leaving the school concert, we all noticed a bunch of programs still on the seats. Then we noticed someone from the cleaning crew starting to throw them away. Yikes! The girls ran through the room, weaving through the parents, and collected every last one of those things. They brought them home and put them where they belong: in the recycling bin. An Easy Go Green!

5 months since plastic wrap

It's been at least 5 months since I've used plastic wrap. The last time I ran out, I said "that's it. No more". I use plates on top of bowls to keep leftovers covered in the fridge. If we have an apple or onion cut that needs saving, I just put it cut side down on a small plate and it's fine. An Easy Go Green!

Green Floor Cleaner

"Oh my gosh, your floors are so shiny! What do you use?" No, that's not the lead in a floor cleaner ad. My girlfriend came over today for lunch and as soon as she walked in the door, that's what she said. Imagine her surprise when I told her all I used was white vinegar and water. Ya, about 2C of vinegar in 2 gallons of water and WA-LA clean, shiny wood floors. I'd like to take credit for that discovery but when we moved in, I asked the installer what to use and that's what he told me. Sounded good to me: it's easy, cheap & most importantly, non-toxic! An Easy Go Green!

An Easy Go Green!

At work there was a stack of unused, unfolded boxes in the front hall. They were brand new but no longer needed by our office. Seems they were going to...get this...THROW THEM AWAY! Knowing my passion for recycling-yes, I do walk by the trash can and pull paper out and put it in the recycling bin-they did give me a chance to rescue them.

I saved all 85 boxes from the impending doom. What a relief. Now what to do with all these boxes?

Ah Ha! School! I marched in the school with one box folded to show the size and a stack underneath my other arm. I felt like a peddler from the past. Within 10 minutes they were gone. You'd be surprised what those teachers will use. Keep them in mind whenever your office gets rid of office supplies. They can even use envelopes or stationery with old letter head on it. I've seen companies bring in old company manuals emptied of the contents for the teachers to reuse the binders. An Easy Go Green!

Enviro-Friendly Printers

Well you wouldn’t think it would be so difficult to find an environmentally friendly printer, would you? I mean it's not like I live in the boon docks. I live in Atlanta. Most places I called were just silent on the other end. Soy ink? Vegetable based ink? 100% post-consumer product, what’s that? Oiy!

I decided to call some paper companies near me. Found one that recycles 10,000 tons of paper sludge a year. I figured they could help or at least lead me to someone who could.

Sure enough, I got two leads for printers and a basic education on the story behind vegetable based inks. Seems they use 5% linseed oil by-product and the other 95% is still pertroleum based. That’s the only way to get the ink to dry. However, a soy based ink is 80% soy and a much better option.

I was overjoyed when one of the printers could match my color choice with soy ink and was able to print on 100% post-consumer card stock.

Just keep in mind that soy based inks are a bit lighter and you may want to consider a heavier font but overall, I am totally pleased and proud of my new business cards.

Rain Barrel Easter Basket

Today as we were leaving Whole Foods, a lady was having a rain barrel loaded into the back of her SUV. I commented, "Oh you're getting a rain barrel, how exciting!" She replied, "I already have one and love it. This is a gift for my son. It's going to be his Easter basket this year". What a FABULOUS idea. As the hatch of her SUV was lowered, we happily noticed it was a hybrid. Yeah!