It’s true: tap water is better for you than bottled water. We’ve all been totally brainwashed- most companies are completely unregulated, and are nothing more than city water put into plastic landfill clogging bottles. The xenoestrogens in the plastic cause breast cancer. So kick the bottled water habit, and drink it from the tap. If you’re out and about all day, buy a reusable stainless steel bottle from Kleen Kanteen
And check out this video!!! The Story of Bottled Water
Ask Holly: Magazine Recs?
Hi Holly,
I love your website- thank you for all of your easy tips and ideas. I really want some new reading material, but it seems like all of the magazines I read push processed food…can you give me some recommendations?
Bernice C.
Grand Rapids, MI
Hi Bernice-
Absolutely! Here are some of my favorites:
Kiwi Magazine
Body & Soul
Natural Solutions: Vibrant Health Balanced Living
That should get you started! Thanks for writing.
Holly
Breastfeeding Could Save 900 Babies a Year
If 90% of women in the US breastfed their infants for the first 6 months of life, it could save the lives of 900 babies a year, and save 13 BILLION dollars in health care. These findings were just published in the journal Pediatrics. Get involved in spreading the word about baby’s most important food. Support new moms who are breastfeeding with your time, running errands, doing laundry, cooking dinner. If you have experience breastfeeding, encourage her by offering tips on what worked best for you, and ask her how you can assist her. It can be a challenging and frustrating time for a mom who thought it would just “come naturally” but this is often not the case. Studies show that women have the most success when their partners are supportive and they have a community of loving guidance surrounding them.
CSA Time!
Spring is here, which means it’s time to sign-up for a CSA! CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and when you sign-up to become a member of one you are paying your local farmer for a share of the farm. It is the best of all worlds. Your money goes straight to the people growing your food, you eat locally grown and in-season foods, and you’ll eat tons more vegetables than you ever thought possible! It usually works something like this: You pay upfront for the whole season so the farmer has the money he needs to grow your food. Then once a week you’ll either go out to the farm to pick up your “share,” or you’ll pick it up at a designated drop-off location in your city. Week after week we are amazed at the bountiful veggies in our share, and we look forward to using new recipes and getting creative with some things we’ve never even heard of! It really adds variety to your meals, and takes the guesswork out of grocery shopping. Ever had one of those moments when you’re standing in the produce section of the supermarket thinking, “I know we need to eat more vegetables, but what should I buy?” Never again. Visiting the farm is a great field trip for city dwellers, and I believe it’s really important to teach our children where their food comes from. In fact, studies show that when children are involved in the process of growing vegetables, they eat more!
Feeding a baby Goat on our recent visit to Green Gate Farms
There’s something special about being able to thank the people who plant, care for, and harvest the food you put in your body. This is in stark contrast to conventionally grown supermarket food that has been flown in from thousands of miles away and been touched by countless hands and machinery. Also, when you break down the cost of everything you receive in your box each week, you’ll discover that belonging to a CSA is less expensive than shopping at the store.
Ready to find one in your area? Here is a database of CSA’s around the country. Visit www.localharvest.org for more information.
Personalized Puzzle Stool
I was on a gift hunt for my toddler and wanted to give him something that was useful, would last, and keep his attention for more than 2 seconds. I did lots of research and decided to get him a wooden stool with his name carved in it as a puzzle. (He’ll need it soon enough to reach the sink to wash his hands and brush his teeth!) I scoured the internet for one that was handmade in the U.S. with sustainable wood, and painted with non-toxic paint. I found the perfect stool! It is sturdy and functional, and very beautifully handmade.
He loves it! He really enjoys seeing his name in letters, taking it apart, putting it back together, and most of all, climbing on it!
Everyone who has seen it has asked for information on where I bought it, so I thought I’d share with you too. We all know someone who could use one of these.
It came from Cubby Hole Toys. I heard from the owner that they have been making them for about 30 years now and are now doing stools for kids of kids who have them!
I’m so glad to have found such a great family owned, made in the USA, safe toy making company.