tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63045297487407688792024-03-13T14:09:09.799-07:00Living Simply in a Complex WorldYou can't take it with you! So don't kill yourself working to buy it all. This blog examines the necessities vs. the luxuries in our lives. I hope to dispel common myths regarding things we "must have" to live happy productive lives. I will also continuously be discussing my adventures as I live and work in Southern California without a car. That's right! First myth debunked: You actually can live in LA without a car!Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-29884236179407251152011-10-31T21:42:00.000-07:002011-10-31T21:42:21.293-07:00Win $50 at No Sugar Added<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DHMuhdVKHBr7pzW4Xr-lygVEX5bvFnHBI0r6lBeg_BsjrBT2Q41zx-yIpi3zy3GFru8Gjir3P5rLSr1JttWt4_9gstRyziNOMD5nZAirKmll8qL-kp-X2tXGyFrPtolz70f1EPli7AFF/s1600/nsa+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DHMuhdVKHBr7pzW4Xr-lygVEX5bvFnHBI0r6lBeg_BsjrBT2Q41zx-yIpi3zy3GFru8Gjir3P5rLSr1JttWt4_9gstRyziNOMD5nZAirKmll8qL-kp-X2tXGyFrPtolz70f1EPli7AFF/s1600/nsa+logo.jpg" /></a></div>
Peachy Keen Birth Services has teamed up with the most awesome all-natural family boutique, No Sugar Added, to give you a chance to win a $50 gift certificate!! read more here: <a href="http://peachykeenbirth.com/blog/2011/10/30/win-a-50-gift-certificate-to-no-sugar-added/">http://peachykeenbirth.com/blog/2011/10/30/win-a-50-gift-certificate-to-no-sugar-added/</a>Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-7839032197562802722011-08-05T21:00:00.001-07:002011-08-07T20:13:32.623-07:00Breastfeeding: A Childless Woman's Perspective<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRVkQxE7FDBl9OYbqcoDbunNwlDEcJDS6gpwzj_NLvmVgkFL7a9q7u-KCL7QpywhY3nNkdfzB73zuJ1Q2TKHKdqTksWigOPizsHutSACh4k5XP36heY_Dhl3QaIxM2SMO5gtwD5bCUep7/s1600/picasso-breastfeeding.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRVkQxE7FDBl9OYbqcoDbunNwlDEcJDS6gpwzj_NLvmVgkFL7a9q7u-KCL7QpywhY3nNkdfzB73zuJ1Q2TKHKdqTksWigOPizsHutSACh4k5XP36heY_Dhl3QaIxM2SMO5gtwD5bCUep7/s200/picasso-breastfeeding.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maternity by Pablo Picasso</td></tr>
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</div><div>DISCLAIMER: Please do not read my avid support of breastfeeding as a judgement against those who choose not to. My primary objective is to normalize breastfeeding in our society!</div><div><br />
</div><div>This week the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (<a href="http://www.waba.org.my/">WABA</a>), and breastfeeding advocates in more than 170 countries worldwide are celebrating World Breastfeeding Week (<a href="http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/">WBW</a>) for the 19th year with the theme <a href="http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/pdf/wbw2011-pr.pdf">"Talk To Me! Breastfeeding: a 3-D Experience"</a></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">When we look at breastfeeding support, we tend to see it in two-dimensions: time (from pre-pregnancy to weaning) and place (the home, community, health care system, etc). But neither has much impact without a THIRD dimension - communication!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="bubblegreenr" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/images/green-bubble-r.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; float: left; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 19px !important; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 19px !important;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Communication is an essential part of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding. We live in a world where individuals and global communities connect across small and great distances at an instant's notice. New lines of communication are being created every day, and we have the ability to use these information channels to broaden our horizons and spread breastfeeding information beyond our immediate time and place to activate important dialogue.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="bubbleoranger" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/images/orange-bubble-r.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; float: left; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 19px !important; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 19px !important;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">This third dimension includes cross-generation, cross-sector, cross-gender, and cross-culture communication and encourages the sharing of knowledge and experience, thus enabling wider outreach.</span></blockquote><div>As a childless, and therefore not nursing, woman, this issue may not seem to pertain to me. Though, WABA’s call to action is to reach beyond the borders of nursing moms and health care professionals, and include traditionally uninvolved parties. Supporting breastfeeding is EVERYBODY's job! </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca5sKFY5x6sNiqb3rsh4TODljk7CfonXUlZ2sevVA68aDEfAErzmlTMa9rKspwrfzjbKYGfNUIJL4Q4cTqmn8xx2y68jDlzSn-ZhZSX3bKvqqPbvnTdR0RqjjG7q-iEQXP51w8ypDZPIM/s1600/bf+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca5sKFY5x6sNiqb3rsh4TODljk7CfonXUlZ2sevVA68aDEfAErzmlTMa9rKspwrfzjbKYGfNUIJL4Q4cTqmn8xx2y68jDlzSn-ZhZSX3bKvqqPbvnTdR0RqjjG7q-iEQXP51w8ypDZPIM/s1600/bf+logo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Living Simply</b></div><div>There is nothing more organic, natural and whole than human milk for your human babe. So, if you are into simple living, breast isn't best, it's the only option! Also, there is no better way to save a boatload of cash than breastfeeding your baby for the first few years of her life. Especially now that the Affordable Care Act requires the following to be covered by insurance without a copay, coinsurance, or deductible:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> </span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;"><br />
</span></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;">Comprehensive lactation support and counseling, by a trained provider during pregnancy and/or in the postpartum period, and costs for renting breastfeeding equipment. -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines/">Women's Preventive Services: Required Health Plan Coverage Guidelines</a></span></blockquote><div>Insurance will pay for pump rentals, lactation consultants, and maybe even breastfeeding classes. That means that exclusively breastfeeding mamas will spend $0 on nourishing their baby. <br />
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</div><div><b>Education</b></div><div>The ability to swim is instinctive in most mammals. While swimming comes naturally to some, others require more education. But we all possess the innate ability to keep ourselves afloat. Generally, if one takes swimming lessons, and learns proper techniques, she can swim like a champ! Likewise, breastfeeding comes easily to some women, while others find it to be one of the biggest challenges of being a new mother. Just because it is supposed to be natural and instinctive, does not mean one can't benefit from education and support in the art of breastfeeding. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Unfortunately, this education is not readily available in a lot of hospitals. While you would hope that nurses working with first-time mamas would be super educated in the art of breastfeeding, this is not always the case. If you are interested in furthering your education in the art of breastfeeding, find a certified lactation counselor. The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (<a href="http://www.iblce.org/">IBCLC</a>) is the global authority that determines the competence of practitioners in lactation and breastfeeding care. <br />
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La Leche League has been supporting nursing mothers for more than 50 years. You can attend a local LLL meeting or use their extensive online resources! All LLL leaders are experienced mothers who have breastfed and have been specially trained by LLL to help moms with all aspects of breastfeeding. They are also available by phone whenever you have breastfeeding questions or concerns.</div><div><br />
</div><div>But education doesn't end with breastfeeding moms. Western society at large needs to be exposed to and educated about breastfeeding. When kids are taking reproductive health classes in high school, they need to be taught about the functionality of breasts and the benefits and normalcy of breastfeeding. They need to understand their bodies in order to appreciate their power. </div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciPDoA8IgeA6fhVlrK724h6htrlxrzxoKIld_LgkwdweeLplqpgSGJnNxTDL4khrt6FgIZWCIDs4yOw0w4P2nGdvXIMBLMF7fiXiTZeVHj0r7YH74zU-ZlDODDHGfdm9Q3q52G6L9QQUZ/s1600/CezanneBreast-Feeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciPDoA8IgeA6fhVlrK724h6htrlxrzxoKIld_LgkwdweeLplqpgSGJnNxTDL4khrt6FgIZWCIDs4yOw0w4P2nGdvXIMBLMF7fiXiTZeVHj0r7YH74zU-ZlDODDHGfdm9Q3q52G6L9QQUZ/s200/CezanneBreast-Feeding.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Hortense Breastfeeding Paul by </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Paul Cézanne<br />
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</tbody></table></div><div><b>Exposure</b></div><div>As was the case with overcoming previously held social taboos, we must bring breastfeeding out into the open in order for it to become a social norm. The idea that nursing in public is somehow immodest, indecent, obscene or gross is completely absurd. First of all, if you have issues and can't handle seeing a mom nourish her child, perhaps you should examine why that is. Because you are the one with the problem, not the nursing mom. If you are not willing to examine your own issues, there is an even simpler way of dealing with it: LOOK AWAY! NOBODY IS FORCING YOU TO WATCH!!!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>There are many reasons why people claim to feel "uncomfortable" around breastfeeding, and I would like to discuss and respond to them all. However, since there are so many I will just leave it at this. If you have a problem with seeing a woman nurse her child, you are wrong and you need to fix your issues. This is not a matter of opinion. It is just truth. Women have the right to nourish their children in whatever way shape or form they deem is best. In most states, legislation affirms a woman's right to breastfeed her child in ANY location where she is otherwise permitted to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to breastfeeding.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-XjNlmn7127h2LAOjqRjJ1gzEBBIQs83oK7cbMecmtzUgTTMLUg_tWujwDJGJIeLxcWsn0cGsiV9Oy7Q76j9fM1ncKrH0ol9Rppq1N7zifXqaoT8XHtwE1iITmUPPWoN3aIcZgMe-RW0/s1600/1392128004_1279202dfe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-XjNlmn7127h2LAOjqRjJ1gzEBBIQs83oK7cbMecmtzUgTTMLUg_tWujwDJGJIeLxcWsn0cGsiV9Oy7Q76j9fM1ncKrH0ol9Rppq1N7zifXqaoT8XHtwE1iITmUPPWoN3aIcZgMe-RW0/s320/1392128004_1279202dfe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breastfeeding at the Cloisters, NY</td></tr>
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</div><div><b>Lactivism</b></div><div>Are you a lactivist? Well, you should be! Here are a few events that will be taking place this month;</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/wfnationalnursein">Whole Foods Market National Nurse-In</a></b> </div><div>This protest was made necessary after a mother was harassed by employees for breastfeeding at her local Whole Foods. The purpose of the nurse-in is to convince Whole Foods Market to publicly and officially support the healthy and natural act of breastfeeding within their establishments by providing a nondiscriminatory environment for families who choose to breastfeed and by adopting a global policy to ensure such an environment. Visit the <a href="http://wholebabyfoods.blogspot.com/">Whole Baby Foods</a> blog for more info.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><a href="http://www.biglatchon.org/">Big Latch On</a></b><br />
On Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 10:30am local time in locations across the USA and beyond, nursing mothers will gather to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and try to break the world record for the most women breastfeeding simultaneously! I will be offering my support locally at <a href="http://www.nosugaraddedshop.com/">No Sugar Added</a> in Claremont, CA.<br />
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<b>In Closing</b></div><div>To all of you nursing mamas out there, I offer my undying support of your decision to nourish your babes the natural way!! </div><div><br />
</div><div>To mamas who were or are unable to nurse, I can only encourage you to seek out as much information and professional help as you possibly can. Your OB/GYN and even your primary care physician may not be the best sources of help, try a lactation consultant or La Leche League. I understand that some moms have genuine medical issues that prevent them from making enough milk for their babes, but there is always donor milk! </div><div><br />
</div><div>To everyone else, I encourage you to do what you can to support breastfeeding moms in your community. When you see a mama nursing in public, use it as a teachable moment with your kids, whatever their age. If you are still around when she is finished nursing, approach mom and thank her for setting such a great example for the community at large and commend her for her thoughtful decision. Every time I have done this, I am always greeted by a warm, yet sometimes surprised, smile!</div><div><br />
</div>Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-67416767348874256372011-05-09T22:30:00.000-07:002011-05-10T09:37:34.097-07:00Homemade Baby Food: One More Reason I Love My Mom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_y4dpwI7jPFwYAk8aoEOFIAt6DJkrSAiyDrzQMB2CXpQ8EV59IynSq2PF-01Kf2C2VDZMwW-hjXP6BWPglQci3V2DSDO0hIeNkG3oU03deLOnOlrqLqRL9gKES4cCwSCoYuY_0xKh3MB/s1600/fam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_y4dpwI7jPFwYAk8aoEOFIAt6DJkrSAiyDrzQMB2CXpQ8EV59IynSq2PF-01Kf2C2VDZMwW-hjXP6BWPglQci3V2DSDO0hIeNkG3oU03deLOnOlrqLqRL9gKES4cCwSCoYuY_0xKh3MB/s320/fam.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>My parents adopted me when I was 5 weeks old. They are my real parents in every sense of the meaning (except genetically). The woman who gave birth to me was only 17 when I was born, and did not breastfeed me. <br />
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I can understand how breastfeeding a child that you are relinquishing could be heartbreaking. Though, I wish I could have had the benefit of the customized nutrients and immunities that only she could give me. My mom tried to breastfeed when they got me, but was unsuccessful. Breastfeeding resources for adoptive moms were limited if not non-existent in the late 70s. But at least she tried!!<br />
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</div>Despite the fact that I was never breastfed, my parents say that I was a very healthy baby. I believe that my good health was primarily due to the fact that my mom made all of my baby food in our kitchen at home. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I recently asked her what led her to the decision to make my baby food. She said the main reason was that it was better for me than store-bought baby food. She didn't base this decision on any scientific studies or professional opinions, just the common sense that whole foods were better than processed ones. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The secondary reason was the high price of jarred baby food. She said, "You ate A LOT and it would have gotten really expensive if we had bought baby food from the store. You really ate A LOT. I'm sorry. Let's just say you were a good eater." Oh, my funny mommy.</div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAns8w7-l25sQrpe9mQq6mK0Z0X-RoCPQBLqwutFy-KKkEPFqCpDm0oYsswN2OsmJus2ohzvPhWwjc6u7hzwSLgjinBDzVmlzZ6xXLvK43td4OXOrhSUF6lWZxBd3e5aBz8qWAOJLvzJA/s1600/baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAns8w7-l25sQrpe9mQq6mK0Z0X-RoCPQBLqwutFy-KKkEPFqCpDm0oYsswN2OsmJus2ohzvPhWwjc6u7hzwSLgjinBDzVmlzZ6xXLvK43td4OXOrhSUF6lWZxBd3e5aBz8qWAOJLvzJA/s320/baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wasn't starving! That's for sure!</td></tr>
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She explained that every Saturday, while Dad was doing yard work, she would set up my playpen in the kitchen and crank up the radio while she made my meals for the week. She cooked a variety of fruits, vegetables and meat and then put them through a food mill which she cranked MANUALLY, thank you very much. She put my food in ice cube trays, which she then froze. Later, she would put all of the frozen baby food cubes into a freezer-safe tupperware container. When it came time to feed me, which sounds like it was a fairly frequent occurrence, she would simply defrost a cube or two.<br />
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The idea of Natural Parenting is moving outside the crunchy granola circles and gaining momentum in the mainstream. Combine that with the state of our economy during recent years and it is easy to see why more and more parents are choosing to make their babies' food at home.<br />
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Not surprisingly, this increase in the popularity of homemade baby food has been met by a myriad of products designed to make the process easier. Here is a run down of some of the baby food products on the market right now. They all have the same function, that is to turn whole foods into mush so your baby can consume them. Some of the more expensive ones claim to have options for different textures (blend, puree, chop).<br />
<ul><li>Manual Food Mills ($8-50) - These are operated by hand, but when you consider the fact that most of the food you will be milling is soft, it won't take too much muscle.</li>
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000067Q6J&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002F9MUL6&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<ul><li><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0038JE5S8&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></li>
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<ul><li>Electric Baby Food Processors ($25-$90) - These work much faster than manual mills and require little to no effort on your part.</li>
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<ul><li>All-In-One Steamer/Processor Combo ($60-210) - These electric units have a steamer to cook the food and a processor to mush the food, further simplifying the process of making baby food. Most units also have the added feature of being able to defrost and reheat the baby food. Some have the ability to sterilize pacifiers or anything else that fits and needs to be sterilized. Also, most are dishwasher safe. Some are sold as a package that also include a rubber scraper, portion freezers (like ice cube trays), and storage containers.</li>
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While the all-in-one products can seem to make things easier, there are more cost-efficient alternatives. Chances are, you already have everything you need to start making baby food. But if you don't, I believe that you can get started for less than $20. Visit your local thrift store or 99 cent store. You will easily find a basic steamer (the metal kind that fans out), ice cube trays, and freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. If you don't already own a food processor or blender, you can purchase a small single serve blender for less than $15. <a href="http://moodeals.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6695&zenid=3867656b09b805a7d439fdcd099c7434">MooDeals.com</a> has the Hamilton Beach blender (seen below) for less than $12.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001MSGYSG&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><br />
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There are several benefits to making your own baby food, including saving money, saving the environment and giving your babe the most nutrient-rich food available besides breastmilk. As I have already mentioned, the cost of store-bought baby food is ridiculous. It's just food that has been pureed, but somehow it costs up to 4 times more than "adult food". There is nothing special or better about baby food from the grocery store.<br />
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In fact, store-bought baby food has added water and starchy fillers. My mom never added chemically modified food starch to my applesauce, but Gerber adds it to theirs so they can charge you more money for less nutrients. Makes a lot of sense, right? When you make your own baby food, you can be assured that your baby is getting the most out of every bite she takes.<br />
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And then there's the planet. By the time a baby is 12 months, she will have consumed an average of 600 jars of baby food. Multiply that by the 4 million+ babies born in the United States every year. Where the heck do all of those jars go? Food packaging in general is a huge source of waste in this country, but you can make a tiny dent in the waste, by avoiding those thousands of jars and making baby's food at home.<br />
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Read this awesome article by the <a href="http://cspinet.org/reports/cheat1.html">Center for Science in the Public Interest about baby food.</a> It's long, but the Intro summarizes it pretty well.<br />
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When I told my mom about some of the all-in-one baby food makers on the market, she was impressed at the fact that they existed, and even admitted that they could make the process easier. But she said that even if they had been available when I was a baby, she still would have done it the way she did.<br />
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There is one ingredient that my mother included in every batch of food she made for me, and it cannot be found in any jar of store-bought baby food: LOVE!!Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-62204409452532531922011-05-03T17:16:00.000-07:002012-04-05T00:22:53.146-07:00Why I Stopped ShavingCall me a hippie. Call me gross. I am a mammal. And mammals are supposed to have hair. So, I guess the question is: Why did I ever START shaving in the first place?<br />
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I stopped shaving more than a decade ago, and have saved thousands of dollars in the process. When you consider the cost of water, shaving gels, razors, razor burn creams, and the like, hair removal is clearly an extremely costly practice with few benefits.<br />
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When I was a young teenager, I could hardly wait to start shaving my legs. Not necessarily because I wanted smoother, prettier legs, but more because it was something that grown up ladies did. At first, I did not mind shaving, and I certainly enjoyed the benefits. One of my favorite things about shaving was the way it felt when I got into bed. My legs felt so smooth and silky against the soft linens.<br />
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It wasn't long before I realized that these so-called benefits of shaving were extremely short lived. As soon as I got cold and got goosebumps on my legs, there would be stubble. All of the careful work of shaving my very long legs was made pointless in mere seconds if the bathroom was too chilly when I got out of the shower. And even without any external environmental stimuli, my legs didn't stay smooth for very long before the hair grew out enough to make stubble.<br />
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And then there was the issue of ingrown hairs. As a person with naturally curly hair, I am constantly dealing with ingrown hairs. Shaving only makes it worse. <br />
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It was sometime toward the end of high school when I cut my shaving down to once a week, usually a day when my legs would be seen by the general public. I was a cheerleader and played varsity softball, so I had to wear a short skirt or short shorts at least once a week for most of the school year. But when I went to college, shaving became an even rarer occurrence. This can be directly attributed to two things. First, I was suddenly financially responsible for myself and everything I needed, including razors. Second, my wardrobe changed drastically when I went to college; I stopped wearing short skirts and shorts, except on rare occasions.<br />
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I suppose there was a certain amount of laziness involved when making the decision not to shave. I am almost 5'11" That's 71 inches. My legs are 35 inches long. They are like tree trunks and it takes at least 40 minutes to shave them completely (and carefully). A simple cost/benefit analysis easily concluded that shaving was not a necessity in my life.<br />
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My husband has never had a problem with my hairiness. And I trust him, because he is always very honest about things he doesn't like. Unfortunately, he is a minority in this respect. Most men would be shocked and disgusted if their partners did not engage in regular hair removal. Though, if body hair on a woman had been a sexual deal-breaker for men throughout history, we wouldn't exist as a species.<br />
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I hate to say it, but men expecting women to shave is completely sexist! UNLESS, the man is willing to shave the same things he expects a woman to shave. I understand that a shaved leg or armpit looks better and feels better, but the same would be true of a smooth man, right?!? <br />
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Regarding the removal of body hair around your pubic area, I refer you back to my opening statement. We are mammals. We are supposed to have hair. The hair down there is part of a beautifully designed self-cleaning system. Please read the monologue <em>Hair </em>from Eve Ensler's <em>The Vagina Monologues. </em><br />
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I will admit that shaving one's pits does help control odor, but if that was reason enough to shave, why don't men do it? I will tell you why! I have often wondered when and why women began shaving their legs and pits. Recently, I did some research and found <a href="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/625/who-decided-women-should-shave-their-legs-and-underarms">a few answers</a>. The jazz age ushered in new fashions that included sleeveless dresses. In 1915 an ad in<em> Harper's</em> <em>Bazaar</em> featured a woman with her arms over her head revealing shaved armpits. The ad claimed that new fashions combined with modern dancing made it necessary to remove underarm hair. Later, as skirts got shorter, women were told by fashion magazines that they now needed to remove their leg hair as well.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I shave on occasion. My legs get shaved 4-6 times a year and my pits get shaved 1-4 times a month depending on how hot it is. Every time I shave my legs, I put my best sheet set on my bed and enjoy that fabulous feeling of freshly shaved legs against 800 count Egyptian Cotton. I'm not advocating for everyone to stop all hair removal. But for those of you ladies out their who think they HAVE to shave, maybe this will make you think again.<br />
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I want to hear from you! Are there other non-shavers out there? Are you completely disgusted at the idea of NOT shaving? Feel free to comment anonymously! I want to know what you think!Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-44874130420773493912011-04-29T10:01:00.000-07:002011-05-09T22:20:59.414-07:00Do You Drive Like That Around Your Kids?Before I start, just wanted to point out the new share button on the left side of this page above the "About Me" section. Now you can share your favorite posts with friends on facebook and twitter!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZC87BQehzjit2rqdmvSUkOK8BrMtWm0SNJg3P1PVr6pewy2uUAOABAb6OoMGvMT2Ti9Eal6DKZ-woPyhOyK8d6wr7RD1xsB3ugRAd7kB1hMTBh-nBv9o9ZgNL4IT-itHm4jfxG2fbBPt/s1600/stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZC87BQehzjit2rqdmvSUkOK8BrMtWm0SNJg3P1PVr6pewy2uUAOABAb6OoMGvMT2Ti9Eal6DKZ-woPyhOyK8d6wr7RD1xsB3ugRAd7kB1hMTBh-nBv9o9ZgNL4IT-itHm4jfxG2fbBPt/s1600/stop.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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No one follows the rules of the road anymore. <br />
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Before you get all defensive, take a moment and really think about it. Can you honestly say that you obey ALL the rules of the road, ALL of the time? If you answered yes, I still don't believe you.<br />
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As most of you know, I ride a bicycle as my primary form of transportation. I put myself at great risk on an almost daily basis by sharing the road with hundreds of distracted, tired, lazy, careless and just plain stupid people. And I'm not talking about my fellow cyclists.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanootnQNtMB3T6inrbes2FnOLkll513Vt3166OM-mEt_dk328b28NB46tkjndZOq7Luls14PvfXOXFIk1cfIbdrnHvg8805eZlDkDrKp4mK5wrdWyMm5TFlV7pZAFDS27nKkR2FcrUuyF/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanootnQNtMB3T6inrbes2FnOLkll513Vt3166OM-mEt_dk328b28NB46tkjndZOq7Luls14PvfXOXFIk1cfIbdrnHvg8805eZlDkDrKp4mK5wrdWyMm5TFlV7pZAFDS27nKkR2FcrUuyF/s320/bike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Driving is not a right. It is a privilege. When you obtain a driver's license, you agree to abide by the rules set forth by the state in which you are driving. They are not rules that are meant to be followed some of the time, or when cops are around, or when you feel like it. They are meant to be followed ALL THE TIME!!!<br />
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Do you drive like that around your kids? Is that how you want other people to drive around your kids? Is that how you want your kids to drive? These are just a few of the things I say to people when they almost hit me with their cars. In order to ask these questions, I chased a woman down Foothill Boulevard for a mile after she came within inches of hitting me one day last year. <br />
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She seemed shocked that I confronted her, and explained that she hadn't seen me and that she was sorry. I asked her if those words would make her feel better if someone said them to her after hitting <em>her</em> daughter. Because I didn't think my husband or parents would be very comforted by them. I told her she would have been <em>really</em> sorry if she had hit me, or killed me. How can you be so sorry about it, when you could have so easily prevented it? <br />
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Two and a half years ago, I was hit while cycling in Pasadena. I was on my way to meet my husband about a mile away. I was not wearing a helmet. The car was only going about 15 mph. I was thrown face first into the middle of the street.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudcVfjbQCZ4k4A8D2t8qmmf2kCJyM6y1Ge_5i0pP_tkLTwtAL93f9M9U9wvubONpZPBCHokDkYC5OqLDNY8bx2JGnIaImspo77xdj1XhdFFa3QvhTO6KryECqMCvjyIruRajOUyv7zNkR/s1600/bike3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudcVfjbQCZ4k4A8D2t8qmmf2kCJyM6y1Ge_5i0pP_tkLTwtAL93f9M9U9wvubONpZPBCHokDkYC5OqLDNY8bx2JGnIaImspo77xdj1XhdFFa3QvhTO6KryECqMCvjyIruRajOUyv7zNkR/s320/bike3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8hpGaslTr-4T193AmSJO7kWIJX6uUxp_2JvvQ_wkqKI2qTuChPo1RK4Sh5Q0JOauE14Kwbo_IVY5ox-ZAyA3G7Ho2HlCdwUlKPRng5oqzEoK4-_a6EvJOutsYh76xiJi9Ia3kSO6kZih/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8hpGaslTr-4T193AmSJO7kWIJX6uUxp_2JvvQ_wkqKI2qTuChPo1RK4Sh5Q0JOauE14Kwbo_IVY5ox-ZAyA3G7Ho2HlCdwUlKPRng5oqzEoK4-_a6EvJOutsYh76xiJi9Ia3kSO6kZih/s320/bike.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm_PGjVlJw2M3VbG2sBVad9uX1QQKUYlQVnlzEE3EDh8IJ4i_ixnfDdQz3r3imYAWdZjdlnYggfBlHF32MnmH4oELUbDmICI7mRR1fm6TiZRWWyLLkykK4zPFfvscpflDdFPBs1vVFyBY/s1600/bike4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm_PGjVlJw2M3VbG2sBVad9uX1QQKUYlQVnlzEE3EDh8IJ4i_ixnfDdQz3r3imYAWdZjdlnYggfBlHF32MnmH4oELUbDmICI7mRR1fm6TiZRWWyLLkykK4zPFfvscpflDdFPBs1vVFyBY/s320/bike4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzM7Z5XHSVIA9n132UBywsEog7MS0oDZBi86yTJ32q4l7HwYJeSUb2uGPGs4autmoDBL7xLNzC8CJBvGKluTN5CZhpHMCks-hGHuyrHUpB3LRGi5D_wI5-UVm2CrOI8PV1BTDFA6Xuot_p/s1600/bike5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzM7Z5XHSVIA9n132UBywsEog7MS0oDZBi86yTJ32q4l7HwYJeSUb2uGPGs4autmoDBL7xLNzC8CJBvGKluTN5CZhpHMCks-hGHuyrHUpB3LRGi5D_wI5-UVm2CrOI8PV1BTDFA6Xuot_p/s320/bike5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb57W0VkTZ-doma3DtvDBHOEmyYoRCrugeB9T8yBBx4NdaMzIRBN2jhBieuc-yBCBjaOV7qVBQGcNFp-T4sY9_KB9uAhnuROHqqI92JR5LyX4mIWeNQKmopdUtUf5GkDotsBAzB1NyuX8F/s1600/bike6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb57W0VkTZ-doma3DtvDBHOEmyYoRCrugeB9T8yBBx4NdaMzIRBN2jhBieuc-yBCBjaOV7qVBQGcNFp-T4sY9_KB9uAhnuROHqqI92JR5LyX4mIWeNQKmopdUtUf5GkDotsBAzB1NyuX8F/s320/bike6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After that accident, I didn't ride for almost a year. It took a few months to physically recover, but it was the psychological scars that prevented me from riding. I felt utterly betrayed by humankind after the driver who hit me sped away and several other drivers drove around me while I was lying in the street. After a lot of time and a very cautious transition, I bought a new bicycle AND a new helmet and began to ride again. I have never ridden without a helmet since then. And I make it a point to proselytize for driver and cyclist safety. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I want to address some of the most commonly ignored rules of the road. They might seem simple and harmless little violations, but it really doesn't take much to seriously injure someone.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><u><strong>Distracted Driving</strong></u></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are all aware of the real dangers that distracted driving poses, and yet everyday I see several people on their cell phones while driving. Is there a phone call or text message that is worth causing an accident and potentially injuring or killing yourself, your loved ones or anyone at all, for that matter? I don't think so.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Unfortunately, distracted driving can occur even when using wireless technology like bluetooth. Simply having a conversation distracts you to the point where you are not 100% focused on the task of driving. And when you are behind the wheel of a vehicle, that is the only task that matters.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Coming To A Complete Stop</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Red lights and stop signs are signals for drivers to STOP. Always. Even if you are turning right. While you are allowed to turn right against a red light, you are only allowed to do that after you have come to a complete stop and have yielded to pedestrians and cyclists.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And then there is the matter of where to stop. You are supposed to stop before the first white line you come to, not in the middle of the crosswalk! If you can't see intersecting traffic, you are still supposed to stop behind the first white line. Then you should slowly move forward to spot where you can see intersecting traffic.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Using Turn Signals</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It amazes me how many people ignore this one. It is essential to safe driving as it lets everyone know what you are planning to do. It takes so little effort, and has such obvious safety benefits. Just turn your damn blinkers on, people!</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Speed Limits in School Zones</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The speed limit in school zones is 25mph. Obey it. Its just that simple. I don't care where you are going or when you need to be there, it is your responsibility to plan accordingly. SLOW DOWN in school zones!</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Yielding to Emergency Vehicles</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's common knowledge that you have to pull over to the right when an emergency vehicle has its lights and/or sirens on. That's where the common knowledge ends. I have observed that several people think that you do not have to stop, but rather, drive slowly in the far right lane. Another common misconception is that you only have to pull over when the emergency vehicle is travelling in the same direction as you. You must pull over and come to a complete stop when an emergency vehicle is approaching from ANY direction.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Yielding to Pedestrians</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You must always yield to pedestrians. ALWAYS!! Most intersections have crosswalks, whether or not there are painted lines on the street. When you see pedestrians standing at the corner waiting to cross the street, you are supposed to STOP and let them cross. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> It is NEVER okay for a car to be in the crosswalk when there is a pedestrian there. You must wait until both of the pedestrians feet are out of the street, before driving through the intersection.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Yielding to Cyclists</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When you get behind the wheel of an automobile, you are strapping yourself to a potentially deadly weapon. You are relatively protected by a seat belt, a steel frame and a completely enclosed space. Cyclists are completely exposed and vulnerable, and they deserve your respect and consideration.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cyclists have just as much right to be on the road as you do. Cyclists are allowed to ride in the center of the lane when: they cannot safely ride against the curb, when they are passing parked cars or when they are travelling at the posted speed limit. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Keep in mind that cyclists are using tons of muscles all over their bodies to propel themselves, while you are using a couple of muscles in your right leg to control the gas pedal. Once momentum is lost for a cyclist, it takes a lot of work to regain it. Don't make cyclists yield to you. I am constantly forced to slam on my brakes because some jackass wanted to shave a few seconds off his commute by NOT yielding to me. BTW, slamming on one's brakes while cycling can be extremely dangerous.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In general, just slow down and be respectful of the people with whom you are sharing a road. Have patience. How much are a few seconds worth to you? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><u>Helmets</u></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cyclists of all ages should wear helmets when riding. A helmet CAN prevent serious brain trauma and even death. I was extremely lucky that I was not more seriously hurt in my accident. My right eye socket has permanent damage and is noticeably different from the uninjured eye. If I had been wearing a helmet, my facial injuries may have been prevented. My mom cried when she saw me after my accident and my dad had a hard time looking at me. No one wants to see their child (even an adult child) hurt or in pain. <br />
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Think about that, the next time you let your child, spouse, roommate or friend ride without a helmet. In most states there are laws requiring children to wear helmets. While I am not a fan of laws that infringe on our personal freedoms (seat belts, helmets, etc.), it is still the law. Parents have a responsibility to teach their children respect for the law of the land in which they live. No one forces you to live here, you choose to. That choice implies an agreement to abide by the rules. So abide.<br />
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And if the law isn't enough to get you to comply, then just use an ounce of common sense! It is obviously safer to wear a helmet!<br />
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<strong><u>In Closing</u></strong><br />
Please drive safely and obey the rules of the road. Your kids spend 16 years watching how you drive. Lead by example. Be the kind of safe driver you would want them to be. Drive as safely as you would if every cyclist or pedestrian you pass was your child, spouse or best friend. <br />
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For all of my readers of faith, you should employ the WWJD method (or similarly faith-appropriate sentiment) every time you get behind the wheel. For everyone in general, drive the same way you want people to drive around your kids. Be respectful, courteous, and patient. It takes such little effort and has endless benefits!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
And the next time your kid gives you crap for having to wear a helmet, please feel free to show them my accident pictures!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000DZF6WO&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1426307616&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002Q85OOG&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002LSU33S&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000J555RY&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001QXBORI&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div>Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-35747332679173928572011-04-22T22:25:00.000-07:002011-05-09T22:22:13.456-07:00Simple Living Doesn't Have to Mean Boring Living <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JqzHL-Lapw29xiyh3eRuDeI6NFnI8kknbzokFYuMI3mpB6MBOQZTU8-FZE0RbOc49KERtGHwl6TYYYY9ssL7KqbaRMb4T5YLxWPAoYi9Ekt_bsvFiXpDRdIxkHtAqXNu7XJ_b9PY1XCL/s1600/cab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JqzHL-Lapw29xiyh3eRuDeI6NFnI8kknbzokFYuMI3mpB6MBOQZTU8-FZE0RbOc49KERtGHwl6TYYYY9ssL7KqbaRMb4T5YLxWPAoYi9Ekt_bsvFiXpDRdIxkHtAqXNu7XJ_b9PY1XCL/s320/cab.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goldstar.com/events/los-angeles-ca/cabaret-2.html"><span style="font-size: small;">Tony Award-Winning musical <em>Cabaret </em>at The Met Theatre</span></a></td></tr>
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Living on a limited budget does not mean that one cannot enjoy the finer things in life. I have been known to spend the equivalent of one month's groceries on a single night of indulgence. Though, I still never pay full price for ANYTHING! Last summer, I saw <em>In The Heights</em> four times in two weeks, which cost me a total of $194 (less than 50% of the tickets' face value!)<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0016CGNZM&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1423445813&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002N79ADG&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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Of course, those nights of extreme indulgence are few and far between, and in the meantime my aesthetic appetite needs to be appeased. Contrary to what many might believe, there are several ways to enjoy the arts for little or no cost!<br />
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<a href="http://www.goldstar.com/company">Goldstar</a> is an invaluable resource for art lovers on a budget. <a href="https://www.goldstar.com/join?p=F432802RB">Sign up for free</a> and get <a href="http://www.goldstar.com/events/browse/90013">discounted</a> or <a href="http://www.goldstar.com/events/browse/90013?max_price=0">comp (free) tickets<span id="goog_2026293455"></span></a> to a myriad of events in your area. <a href="https://www.goldstar.com/join?p=F432802RB">Goldstar</a> helps people get out more to enjoy live entertainment, like theater, comedy, sports, music, performing arts and even things like wine tastings, sushi making classes and rodeos. Their website is easy to navigate, the service is reliable and service fees are low and fair. Yes, there are service fees, but they range from only $2-$5. The service fees can be on the higher side for comp tickets, but ultimately you still pay far less than full price! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG5UNw6oiL0VJyax5dlxvRsb2sqnhm6GewrzTmHfBr7aXltvm51PQoSGnPxk6__Pjy6MnLRzJBNfyZsc3NGXectHys94qVnne5NNZMlQDB07BABAmvQqGGzZykS1zIAaB_eFikfwId6XU/s1600/burn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG5UNw6oiL0VJyax5dlxvRsb2sqnhm6GewrzTmHfBr7aXltvm51PQoSGnPxk6__Pjy6MnLRzJBNfyZsc3NGXectHys94qVnne5NNZMlQDB07BABAmvQqGGzZykS1zIAaB_eFikfwId6XU/s320/burn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.goldstar.com/events/los-angeles-ca/burn-this-2.html"><span style="font-size: small;">Lanford Wilson's modern classic <em>Burn This</em> at the Mark Taper Forum</span></a></td></tr>
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But wait, there's more!! After you sign up for Goldstar, you can tell all of your friends about this great new money saver you have found. For every friend that signs up, you earn a $1 credit towards service fees. This means your comp tickets can truly be complimentary if you have earned enough credits to cover the service fees. There is no limit to the number of friends you can refer or the credits you can earn.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG_wYCggVukp8UVrUW1COu9dAm0cN_FB0uNtU2q494PL-OvIMDygqIu-dCFnNZc1bAHUxKFZILQGUrgfgxeb1TiESKHa6FCblH-hZWJvVFwiu8MbN-BFwxqZH6nUQCzT8lFiGHC-dl6ib/s1600/autry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG_wYCggVukp8UVrUW1COu9dAm0cN_FB0uNtU2q494PL-OvIMDygqIu-dCFnNZc1bAHUxKFZILQGUrgfgxeb1TiESKHa6FCblH-hZWJvVFwiu8MbN-BFwxqZH6nUQCzT8lFiGHC-dl6ib/s320/autry.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>The next Goldstar event my husband and I will be attending is <a href="http://www.goldstar.com/events/los-angeles-ca/the-autry-celebrates-earth-day-sustainable-living-in-the-west.html">"The Autry Celebrates Earth Day: Sustainable Living in the West"</a>. The Autry celebrates Earth Day with a museum-wide festival designed to inspire simple changes for a healthier planet. Drawing on Native cultures and traditions, this family-friendly event includes local environmental groups, community organizations, and hobbyists offering practical tips on how to get started on an Earth-friendly path. The day also includes tons of live entertainment geared towards children and adults, including storytelling, music and film as well as Kid's Planet activities, lectures and demonstrations.<br />
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Full price tickets are $11, but Goldstar is offering comps with a $3.75 service fee per ticket. If eight of my readers sign up for Goldstar, our field trip to the Autry National Center will be completely FREE! <br />
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Make sure you check out this website today! <a href="https://www.goldstar.com/join?p=F432802RB">Goldstar</a> has been an invaluable part of my life for more than five years, and its time to share the savings!! Sign up today!!<br />
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Goldstar serves the following cities and surrounding areas:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Atlanta</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Baltimore</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Boston</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Chicago</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Cincinnati</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Dallas</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Houston</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Las Vegas</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Los Angeles</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Minneapolis- St.Paul</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">New York</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Orange County, CA</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Phoenix</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Portland</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Sacramento</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">San Diego</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">San Francisco</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">San Jose</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2026293496">Seattle</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goldstar.com/join?p=F432802RB">Washington, D.C.</a></li>
</ul><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0010DRYSM&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000005KOH&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001ASBSO8&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-59137417908373331012011-04-18T20:24:00.000-07:002011-05-09T22:22:50.305-07:00Diapering Our Way to a Better Planet <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxglLguHvr_I2EORlH6k5XOwtQZbfcqhTVbb4aK7FEoygaJb3q7AiSQcasvJ0sRIrZcnpG-3VEmmM1C-scdqjG6NnLrMvN4fUVioBGOFEGgclWQLSjMdkqjLdKiMSBwH2JrF3C0sS6Jp7/s1600/diaper+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxglLguHvr_I2EORlH6k5XOwtQZbfcqhTVbb4aK7FEoygaJb3q7AiSQcasvJ0sRIrZcnpG-3VEmmM1C-scdqjG6NnLrMvN4fUVioBGOFEGgclWQLSjMdkqjLdKiMSBwH2JrF3C0sS6Jp7/s1600/diaper+logo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Cloth Diaper Change in conjunction with the anniversary celebration of Claremont's premiere natural baby boutique, <a href="http://www.nosugaraddedshop.com/">No Sugar Added</a>, is happening this Saturday, April 23, 2011.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> As a local sponsor of <a href="http://greatclothdiaperchange.com/">The Great Cloth Diaper Change</a>, and since Earth Day is fast approaching, I decided it would be a good opportunity to discuss cloth diapering. My goal is not necessarily to convert every reader to cloth diapers. Rather, I hope to educate people about the viability of cloth as an option. <br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004I4ZHMA&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004I4ST5C&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004O3STOI&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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Cloth diapers have changed exponentially since I wore them 30 years ago and they have never been easier to use. Upon starting my research for this article, I was shocked and a bit overwhelmed at the copious types of cloth diaper options. There are all-in-ones, hybrids, pocket diapers, prefolds, and many more! However, it doesn't take long to form an opinion about which kind is best for you. Each type has specific features and conveniences that appeal to almost every mom.<br />
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Of course, the most common roadblock for people considering cloth, is the unpleasant task of cleaning the diapers. However, this part of cloth diapering has never been easier. I was amazed to find a brilliant product called biodegradable diaper liners. It is a roll of material that visually resembles a dryer sheet, but it is made of biodegradable materials. Just place the liner in the cloth diaper before you put the baby in. When it's time to change, you simply pick up the corners of the liner and conveniently place it (and your baby's deposit) into the toilet to flush. This eliminates the need to dunk diapers in the toilet to rinse them out.<br />
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Laundering diapers does take some time and energy, but can be worth it, when you consider the benefits of cloth. Also, diaper services still exist and will do the dirty work for you. In Los Angeles, we have a few organic diaper services including <a href="http://www.blessedbums.com/">Blessed Bums</a> and <a href="http://www.luludew.com/">Luludew</a>! Both have the added bonus of setting aside diapers just for your baby, so you get the same ones every week. This can give you the peace of mind of knowing that only your baby has worn those diapers. And, Luludew diaper service is less than $20 per week!<br />
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<strong>Cost</strong><br />
Of course, it can be more convenient to be able to dispose of every diaper you remove from your baby, but there is high price to pay for such a convenience. As a nation we spend more than $3 billion on 18 billion disposable diapers every year! A baby can easily use 8000+ in the first 2-3 years of life. While it is certainly possible to spend more on cloth diapers, than on disposable diapers, the opposite is usually true. All things considered, cloth diapering is usually much less expensive than disposable diapers. If you make your own cloth diapers, or buy them secondhand, you can save even more!<br />
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The graphs, below, show the average cost of several different diapering options. The following was assumed to calculate costs: 8 diaper changes per day, and 3 disposable wipes OR 1 reusable wipe per change. When calculating cloth costs, I assumed 1 flushable/ biodegradable diaper liner per change, unscented dye-free detergent, 50 reusable cloth wipes, 5 wet bags, and 30 all-in-one cloth diapers. I did not include the cost of laundering the cloth diapers, because water and energy rates are too variable for me to do a decent national analysis. I did, however, include the cost of an $80/month diaper service in one category. The costs listed are the total cost to diaper one baby/child for two and a half years.<br />
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The first graph shows the costs of two categories of disposable diapers and wipes. The first is a basic, no frills, bleached, scented, cheapest you can find diaper and wipe. The second is a more "eco-friendly," undyed, unscented, partially biodegradable diaper and wipe.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBkLYZP-swDwtimwzEDLuVmaRrt1-H21xzmXyvKs9pakJ20uApRQ8CqxqfEufaBIAWrJfnbJjzZB0rhAEyDrLRjtGgU02oV12sSpqZsbAUMO6lcui4_LYPf6AOq1QnIpQboRGC0dr7zkX/s1600/costs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBkLYZP-swDwtimwzEDLuVmaRrt1-H21xzmXyvKs9pakJ20uApRQ8CqxqfEufaBIAWrJfnbJjzZB0rhAEyDrLRjtGgU02oV12sSpqZsbAUMO6lcui4_LYPf6AOq1QnIpQboRGC0dr7zkX/s400/costs.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The second graph shows the cost of four different cloth options. Online w/ Service: purchased online plus the cost of diaper service. Local: Purchased locally at a non-chain store or boutique. Online: purchased online. Secondhand: previously owned or you make your own diapers and wipes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhognJ6NWfyI7JCCPP_obYGsjoS0TfMuxCSsukIe0rV98WX3MLp_5VZdhD4kGR8zNfYgdjjggY8p08EaNskYR7Cbay5isxXwMNNOEFMxHCQ6mJsISqV7k0iJgzjwrUmcx7FNwknJdNniWsY/s1600/cloth+cost.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhognJ6NWfyI7JCCPP_obYGsjoS0TfMuxCSsukIe0rV98WX3MLp_5VZdhD4kGR8zNfYgdjjggY8p08EaNskYR7Cbay5isxXwMNNOEFMxHCQ6mJsISqV7k0iJgzjwrUmcx7FNwknJdNniWsY/s400/cloth+cost.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Cloth diapers offer even more saving possibilities if you plan to have more children. If you think ahead and buy gender neutral cloth diapers, you can use them for your subsequent babies. If you don't or can't use them for subsequent babies, you may still be able to save money. <a href="http://www.nosugaraddedshop.com/">No Sugar Added,</a> a natural baby boutique in my beautiful city of Claremont, California, has a trade-in program, in which they offer store credit to customers who bring in "slightly-loved" cloth diapers.<br />
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<strong>Environmental Impact</strong><br />
Studies are varied regarding the comparative environmental impact of disposable versus cloth diapers. Though, common sense can go a long way when making your decision on how to diaper. <br />
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70% of a disposable diaper is made from trees. Unless you are spending extra money on eco-friendly diapers, you can safely bet that the trees responsible for making your disposables were not sustainably harvested. 30% of a disposable diaper is made of synthetic petroleum based plastic, which is very much non-renewable. The manufacturing of disposables also negatively impacts the environment. There are several dyes, scents and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drmomma.org%2F2011%2F04%2Fchemicals-in-disposable-diapers.html&h=d3b78">chemicals</a> used in disposable diapers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAE4D_ehS4Lr2KKFg-KKHg2Og3dgDSpAgO0UyldNoN4nYtRJqtD0HuRj-YN6Jgr0qToLynKu4PQP86PngUvKla3qnxtoxGy6SkhVBtsHFQm4qAMpLDWZBCJcKXexnME_wfjaqyr_CKZy7q/s1600/landfill.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAE4D_ehS4Lr2KKFg-KKHg2Og3dgDSpAgO0UyldNoN4nYtRJqtD0HuRj-YN6Jgr0qToLynKu4PQP86PngUvKla3qnxtoxGy6SkhVBtsHFQm4qAMpLDWZBCJcKXexnME_wfjaqyr_CKZy7q/s1600/landfill.bmp" /></a></div> And then, of course, there is the most obvious impact of disposables: we throw them away. Ah, that magic place: "Away..." After all of the time and resources it takes to make, a disposable diaper is used for mere hours before excrement is snugly entombed in its undegradable plastic and dumped, primarily in landfills, where it sits for hundreds of years.<br />
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<strong>Health</strong><br />
There are several obvious reasons why cloth may be healthier for your baby. As I mentioned earlier, most disposables are bleached, scented, and contain synthetic petroleum based plastics and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drmomma.org%2F2011%2F04%2Fchemicals-in-disposable-diapers.html&h=d3b78">chemicals</a>. So when you use disposables, your baby is constantly exposed to those things for the first 30 months of life.<br />
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Here's something you may not know: It is illegal in most states to put human waste in trash bins for collection. Did you know that you are supposed to dump the poop out of disposable diapers into the toilet before you dispose of said diaper? It's true! Sewage belongs in the sewer, not in your garbage can.<br />
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<strong>What Now?</strong><br />
Like I said at the beginning, I am not suggesting that everyone needs to exclusively use cloth diapers. Many families use both cloth and disposable depending on the setting (home or away) or time (night or day). I am a big supporter of parents making decisions that are best for their families. I can't tell you what is best for you, but hopefully I can open a few eyes to alternative options.<br />
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I want to hear from you! Please share your experiences with diapers. What factors did you consider when deciding what method to use? If you exclusively use disposables, did you ever consider cloth? Would you consider cloth in the future? <br />
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Have a wonderful Earth Day! Hope to see you Saturday at <a href="http://www.nosugaraddedshop.com/">No Sugar Added</a>!Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-31625912071740958622011-04-10T23:46:00.000-07:002011-05-09T22:20:28.574-07:00Living Simply Magic: Making Something Out Of Virtually Nothing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqWjXr8ErEmwOjArv5pzfEM34zvCdmHoPkDuxAPXIWox3X7rsU6_TtMBklPEpLSv_p3IWHnwzt_WF0fwl97ryuzo_UFeW8w-Vj8xd0eQk3anCVeuW3OD6NXZuac_y2__n3apxNnBAp3M0/s1600/table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqWjXr8ErEmwOjArv5pzfEM34zvCdmHoPkDuxAPXIWox3X7rsU6_TtMBklPEpLSv_p3IWHnwzt_WF0fwl97ryuzo_UFeW8w-Vj8xd0eQk3anCVeuW3OD6NXZuac_y2__n3apxNnBAp3M0/s320/table.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sundays at the Living Simply home are the one day when we can spend an entire uninterrupted day together. We love going to the farmers market in the village and then Fresh & Easy to do our grocery shopping for the week. I usually try to plan our meals for the week, so we know what groceries to get. But I never plan for Sundays. Sunday is the day when we make sure we have finished all of our food from the previous week, so nothing gets wasted.<br />
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This morning, I looked to see what we had left. I was greeted by slim pickings: no leftovers, just 1lb ground beef, carrot & celery sticks, an onion, eggs, bacon, a small piece of angel food cake and 4 slices of stale bread. We always keep staples in the pantry, like rice, pasta, pasta sauce, flour, sugar, cereal, etc. But we were still left with very limited resources. I momentarily ignored the need to plan our meals for the day, french-pressed my morning coffee, and turned on PBS for our Sunday morning cooking shows!<br />
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<a href="http://www.lidiasitaly.com/">Lidia</a> was in the middle of making something when I tuned in. She was putting carrots, celery and onions in a food processor. Then she added pancetta, and I thought, <em>I wonder if she's making bolognese? Bolognese!!! Of course!!! </em>It turns out she was making stuffing, but the seed had been planted. I had almost all the ingredients I need to make a kick-ass bolognese sauce! <br />
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I have never attempted to make bolognese, but I know what the basic ingredients are, and decided I would take on the challenge. We picked up the few remaining necessary ingredients (basil, garlic, cream) when we went shopping. We found artisan rosemary bread & organic berries on clearance at Fresh & Easy. (FYI- Fresh & Easy reduces the price on food items that are about to expire. If you are planning on using the item the same day, it can be a wonderful way to save money.)<br />
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When we returned home from shopping we made a simple yet tasty brunch of eggs and bacon. Then we started to prepare dinner! As usual we used bread leftover from the previous week, to make croutons for the next week. If you have never made your own croutons, you are missing out. They are so easy and delicious. Just cut bread into small cubes, pour about 1 tablespoon of melted butter per slice of bread over the cubes and toss. Sprinkle salt and garlic powder to taste and toss again. Put the bread cubes on a cookie sheet and place in oven preheated to 400. You will know when they are done, usually 10-15 minutes. They get darker and your house starts to smell wonderful.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXp8u_CV_KzZsWlG49C_InYM8lSzKK0O8kQKhgtzeV0W52iQQ5q-2O-GZ2CBJ89XGgGkqvhTErI2BNeZfxlYehkILnnR08WLsA1kQYxg1tbI2yvR_IGHGOI5q-8dIUC0qEWcRwlzeq7g2/s1600/croutons.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXp8u_CV_KzZsWlG49C_InYM8lSzKK0O8kQKhgtzeV0W52iQQ5q-2O-GZ2CBJ89XGgGkqvhTErI2BNeZfxlYehkILnnR08WLsA1kQYxg1tbI2yvR_IGHGOI5q-8dIUC0qEWcRwlzeq7g2/s320/croutons.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade Croutons, Before & After Baking</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The base of the sauce is pretty easy and can be made in bulk, so you can freeze some for those busy days when you just don't feel like cooking.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Bolognese Base</span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 lb ground beef (crumbled, browned & drained)</div><div style="text-align: center;">4oz Italian sausage (crumbled, browned & drained)</div><div style="text-align: center;">4-6 strips of regular bacon or 4 oz of Pancetta (crumbled & cooked, SAVE THE FAT)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup diced carrots</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup diced celery (peel strings off for best results)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup diced onion (sauteed til soft in 1-2 tablespoons of bacon fat)</div><div style="text-align: center;">3-5 cloves of garlic, crushed or finely diced</div><div style="text-align: center;">6-10 basil leaves, finely chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">salt & pepper to taste</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup heavy cream (DO NOT SUBSTITUTE, the cream is the glue that holds the sauce together)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">All of the above ingredients (except cream) need to be put through a food processor or blender. I processed the meat first, set it aside, then processed the veg. Then I mixed them together. You can process the ingredients however you want, but I found the way I did it to be ideal. After you have mixed the meat & veg in a large bowl, add the cream and stir it in. The base is now complete! It is not the most visually appealing concoction (Mr. LS lovingly called it meat paste), but it is a necessary part of the journey to an amazing bolognese. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1HpFWgC9YIqI87Y9TGbn6sSzB1dTafhv8axDPRvziJPe_8we0_OH43BJOM-h6FdNWZclpjptSr19GziDKRFXqiJymYBxBcZKbsa2eeV0IVbsZ48xfOytTuI-BZP3VG473-ay2k5fXIqH/s1600/meatpaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1HpFWgC9YIqI87Y9TGbn6sSzB1dTafhv8axDPRvziJPe_8we0_OH43BJOM-h6FdNWZclpjptSr19GziDKRFXqiJymYBxBcZKbsa2eeV0IVbsZ48xfOytTuI-BZP3VG473-ay2k5fXIqH/s320/meatpaste.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolognese Base<br />
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</tbody></table>Once you have the base completed, you may freeze it and use it at a later date. Or you can finish making this sauce and enjoy it right away! To complete this sauce, all you need to do is dump the base in a large skillet and add some basic pasta sauce (pomodoro or marinara). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzxWlkbo4VSxNwW7TJUfcqeInX3OlVx0YBDp0oraWFrO9-3oJAZe2gbtcWnR_QqsqvpbyZRywRgEWVzJn7r' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
I used about half of a 25oz. jar, but you could use more or less, depending on your tastes. Stir over medium high heat until it bubbles. At this point, I added more cream, but you don't have to. Once the sauce is heated through and bubbling, remove it from the heat. There is very little water left in this sauce and it will reduce down to a very thick mix, too thick to be a good pasta sauce. It's finished! toss with your favorite pasta and then spoon a little more on top for good measure! If you want to get fancy you can garnish with fresh basil and parmesan.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczM5TXnZKWIJ_87gLFpkqVT6hL338q8813xC9ttlKibwF775Fg1pxc-EKumtlyJV9Rh0KkC2nj576TnMysmCpVF1S99NSSp32WP0ZG6ZLxUomnbobhyKAPDoe9n3jGUJEX-9aYVgBH-Zx/s1600/pasta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczM5TXnZKWIJ_87gLFpkqVT6hL338q8813xC9ttlKibwF775Fg1pxc-EKumtlyJV9Rh0KkC2nj576TnMysmCpVF1S99NSSp32WP0ZG6ZLxUomnbobhyKAPDoe9n3jGUJEX-9aYVgBH-Zx/s320/pasta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If you have any room left in your tummy after this delicious meal, I suggest something light for dessert. We shared a fresh and cheery springtime treat thanks to those berries that were on clearance. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE2kKGYmeLhOiuJNd7SOFQEceySVomrUfA_KMH6MrZ57aOQevLSfm6Voe_NStg6fobTHgdnL0yv5F353mwVmIBeIuOdWQ5rzcJr4TvCb0M0jQTJDI1_2umP-8Yc-97Uj4jiP8XfguKdVf/s1600/dessert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE2kKGYmeLhOiuJNd7SOFQEceySVomrUfA_KMH6MrZ57aOQevLSfm6Voe_NStg6fobTHgdnL0yv5F353mwVmIBeIuOdWQ5rzcJr4TvCb0M0jQTJDI1_2umP-8Yc-97Uj4jiP8XfguKdVf/s320/dessert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Spaghetti Bolognese has been a favorite of ours for many years, and I am so upset that I waited so long to try to make it myself at home. Don't make the same mistake I did, try it this week!Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-57983992810407030112011-04-07T12:57:00.000-07:002011-05-09T22:23:56.357-07:00How to Get Publicity For Less Than $1.50<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdZfmI5Dlu5K7zFoQpo5Txv2Nf-xqg4mqn2lBQTBCMTZYDZnVmo1OQjegVdoMnJq7iTiyANkMYzPYObpS3x4gTQT8e-c9AXcNDW2b7SAKYGZC0fUn8TlG_7_RB088stdr8onKdUsPZOBJ/s1600/flowerlogo+circle2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdZfmI5Dlu5K7zFoQpo5Txv2Nf-xqg4mqn2lBQTBCMTZYDZnVmo1OQjegVdoMnJq7iTiyANkMYzPYObpS3x4gTQT8e-c9AXcNDW2b7SAKYGZC0fUn8TlG_7_RB088stdr8onKdUsPZOBJ/s200/flowerlogo+circle2.png" width="188" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Last fall, I started a new business venture and new life journey as a <a href="http://www.dona.org/mothers/index.php">birth doula</a>. It is such amazing work, and I love every minute of it, but marketing myself and my services is hard work!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lisiinacowo-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001CKYN5A" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />I recently became aware of an opportunity to sponsor <a href="http://greatclothdiaperchange.com/">The Great Cloth Diaper Change.</a> which is being held locally in conjunction with the anniversary celebration of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thevillagedoula?ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=169010476482290">No Sugar Added </a>(a local natural baby store). I wore cloth diapers as a baby, and I'm so happy to see that they are making a comeback! The requirements for being a sponsor include: a donation of cash to cover expenses or a prize for a raffle drawing and "goodies" to go in 100 goody bags that will be distributed to participants. This sounded like such a great idea, but I have no marketing budget, so I wondered if I could pull it off. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I decided to donate a gift certificate for the raffle and coupons and breastfeeding cards for the goody bags. "What is a breastfeeding card?" Glad you asked. It is a small card displaying the text of CA civil code section 43.3 which states in part "...a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private..." Its a wonderful thing to have on hand as a breastfeeding mom.</div></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kBNfYQOsW-E0LpPrvjbXUveV5coirENfzOXtni64t5MI2MO93PRNRKB04PsQnRX3SkGwQlFpkIHjtcJAD65Cc5Vhl4djWZGMXQfw2IdIo1ThbHuIfntWApYuuLY_gLhZk1gZeCgdGHKi/s1600/bf+card+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kBNfYQOsW-E0LpPrvjbXUveV5coirENfzOXtni64t5MI2MO93PRNRKB04PsQnRX3SkGwQlFpkIHjtcJAD65Cc5Vhl4djWZGMXQfw2IdIo1ThbHuIfntWApYuuLY_gLhZk1gZeCgdGHKi/s320/bf+card+pic.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breastfeeding Cards</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I was then faced with designing and printing all of the these things! The designing part wasn't difficult, as I have <em>some</em> graphic design experience. But the potential prohibitive price of paper and printing was posing a problem, given my budget of almost nothing. I needed a strong cardstock or thick paper for the gift certificate and BF cards, as well as some nice paper (preferably undyed and recyclable) for the coupons. I decided to print at home, hoping I had enough ink left in my printer.</div><br />
As I mentioned in my very first post, I am not a big fan of shopping at big chain stores and I purchase secondhand goods as much as possible. I decided to make the round of local thrift stores to look for paper for this project and asked my mom if she wanted to join me. She seemed so confused when I told her what I was shopping for, commenting that she didn't think that thrift stores sold paper. I assured her that one can find almost anything at a second hand store, including paper.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUTv1Y8kJKkrmnPEl8so3YVzG3mCDs0QvloRIxej1KfnxKYGhnHOUOqrImAATomXXb83LT9ciEA6lTS3lBpGCsZBn_fRjE2duIoRNdRr90OHyqRF_wRXTvIG-k5p72gQPVUTwCmfdDMTB/s1600/paper+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUTv1Y8kJKkrmnPEl8so3YVzG3mCDs0QvloRIxej1KfnxKYGhnHOUOqrImAATomXXb83LT9ciEA6lTS3lBpGCsZBn_fRjE2duIoRNdRr90OHyqRF_wRXTvIG-k5p72gQPVUTwCmfdDMTB/s200/paper+pic.jpg" width="200" /></a>The very first thrift store we visited had a small, ugly, journal type book with the most beautiful papyrus-like paper inside. There were 52 sheets of 4x6 paper; enough to make 100 small coupons for the goody bags. And, it only cost 49 cents. After a little more searching at the same store, I found a never-used 8x8 scrapbook with 20 pages of heavy cardstock, which cost me 99 cents.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_6WNQiqRi5nbsdDGj-_CSG5MmWC9Z3__USW00AOcKWjIf_9HGKORcdIFEvJsnF6t6f7iU0yKIQO9rgKzEZ_PTn4d5JW66R3IKwYnAXurS1WSB4oPk5KbjBR5AlVjZhYUHrDHMAJyGYxq/s1600/coupon+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_6WNQiqRi5nbsdDGj-_CSG5MmWC9Z3__USW00AOcKWjIf_9HGKORcdIFEvJsnF6t6f7iU0yKIQO9rgKzEZ_PTn4d5JW66R3IKwYnAXurS1WSB4oPk5KbjBR5AlVjZhYUHrDHMAJyGYxq/s200/coupon+pic.jpg" width="150" /></a> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, for only $1.48, I purchased all the paper I will need for this project! </div><br />
I designed the BF cards small (2x2) so I could fit 9 on a single page of cardstock. They came out great, but now I am debating whether or not to laminate them. It is definitely an added expense, but durability would benefit the pass-it-on nature of the card. Hmmm. That's a tough one. Any thoughts? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Unbinding the little book of paper took patience, but wasn't too difficult. After creating a custom page size on my printer, and a few trial runs with scrap paper, I successfully printed 100 beautiful little flyers with coupons to go in each of the goody bags!<br />
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At the end of the day, I felt so proud of myself. I spent less than a day and $1.50 to launch the biggest marketing campaign my little business has seen yet!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001CKYN5A&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B002HY1OPC&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001OI0YWG&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3owGO2GTOBeRVwFsfO6koaAQp2sn_4yvUV2KRI7TNPfc_uPBU3K95ftqavFeghlBQS1Lw9KKKjhGK0-kltpw9fao-4zGzf-4GiwufasUFLHLy3uhEXJacFIHGOprUGudcMbrPwWjNHPE/s1600/diaper+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0040IWMO0&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001VDYF7Y&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0043BNSNI&fc1=EFE6EE&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=ECF3E9&bc1=269B09&bg1=269B09&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div>Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-63343056328455921182011-03-31T00:55:00.000-07:002011-03-31T14:56:46.396-07:00Living simply and INTACT! Genital Integrity Awareness Week March 28- April 2 2011<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBFAA_WLbbOX-6skQihMib2O_5aQDp1gzGoe9oM0JhV0ehOqus0QcxFVAromwPNLCSkHhS6PYKl1KVVBSVJ8KywCMRm6bU25PnrizqgOXHDpwJnHyh7D0rPD3OdRw8_T4aUhUTL2cHuFJ/s1600/circ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXBFAA_WLbbOX-6skQihMib2O_5aQDp1gzGoe9oM0JhV0ehOqus0QcxFVAromwPNLCSkHhS6PYKl1KVVBSVJ8KywCMRm6bU25PnrizqgOXHDpwJnHyh7D0rPD3OdRw8_T4aUhUTL2cHuFJ/s320/circ.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Genital Integrity Awareness Week 2011</td></tr>
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yesterday marked the 14th anniversary of the United States' criminalization of female genital mutilation (a.k.a. female circumcision). Although it was never a threat to a majority of girls in the States, <a href="http://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=tvihum/1/1/0&WAISaction=retrieve">a law</a> was passed affirming their rights to genital integrity, regardless of their parents' cultural or religious traditions. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This may be the one time in American history when congress defined and affirmed specific rights of female citizens, while failing to ensure comparable rights for their male counterparts. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I will not go into why or how circumcision became so rampant in the western world. I will only address why we as a country should stop circumcising our boys and dispel myths that say we should.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNGqC3j5HB5ER2MhpyDWv7evh8rMvBJETtpO9jztunC6dQhhJDEJR92Y7reftfKfd930bxm_wCwS_rRoTmUnoPaG8zCahDxOZx1Kba72RCelhYx5n3LUQjae4traHzKaMpfEu7FlHV_yN/s1600/baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNGqC3j5HB5ER2MhpyDWv7evh8rMvBJETtpO9jztunC6dQhhJDEJR92Y7reftfKfd930bxm_wCwS_rRoTmUnoPaG8zCahDxOZx1Kba72RCelhYx5n3LUQjae4traHzKaMpfEu7FlHV_yN/s1600/baby.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/pediatrics;103/3/686">American Academy of Pediatrics' policy on circumcision</a> clearly discriminates against males when compared to their policy on FGM, and yet they ultimately state that there is <strong>no evidence</strong> supporting routine neonatal circumcision. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The <a href="http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp039.cfm">American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's policy on circumcision</a> repeatedly calls it an <strong>elective procedure</strong> but also stresses that it is a decision that should be left completely up to the parents. (I find this very interesting, because if a parent brought their kids in for almost any other elective procedure, like, say, a nose job, the doctors and nurses would be shocked and dismayed and maybe even call CPS.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The argument that one should circumcise for hygienic reasons is ridiculous and could just as easily be used to justify female circumcision. Parents can very easily <a href="http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp039.cfm">learn how to clean</a> and care for their intact sons, just as easily if not more easily than learning how to care for a raw post-op penis that spends 24/7 in a dark, damp (and sometimes dirty) diaper.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Studies linking <a href="http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/info/HIVStatement.html">male circumcision and AIDS</a> are conflicting at best. The United States has one of the highest <a href="http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA/">rates</a> of male circumcision and also one of the highest <a href="http://data.unaids.org/pub/GlobalReport/2006/2006GR-PrevalenceMap_en.pdf">rates of HIV</a> infection in the developed world, suggesting that <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/12/04/us-aids-circumcision-idUSN0345545120071204">circumcision is not helping</a>. Conversely, <a href="http://www.circinfo.org/hiv.html#lies">Finland and Japan</a> have some of the lowest rates of circumcision and also some of the lowest rates of HIV/AIDS.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In a <a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2010/01/cut-vs-intact-outcome-statistics.html">meta-analysis</a> of statistics catalogued from 1989-2009, results are clear. There is a much greater likelihood of complications, including illness, infection, and death from circumcision than there is from keeping a baby whole and intact. Plainly, <strong>circumcising carries more risk than not circumcising</strong>. (Duh!)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Parents have two options when it comes to deciding whether to circumcise their newborn son; only one is reversible. That is to say, an uncircumcised boy can always decide to get circumcised later in life. Conversely, it is virtually impossible for a circumcised boy to decide to regenerate his foreskin. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I have personally heard doctors make the argument against waiting to let the boy grow up and make his own decision. They say that it is better to do it when the baby is young, so he won't remember it. However, there are some people who believe that we subconsciously retain memories from as early as in utero. If that is true, then it stands to reason we would retain some kind of subconscious memory of trauma in our first days earthside. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KU0UqcvM6MfUjM7U8yYg7lvnffhaBxnRsGBedoJLYteb9GYZeGHmNY5fhfG4Vf1ukpbqDq2nL1uCHb5e56RLjlkxxpjAiE0tyuCuVjQfmGx_yDp5Gm73_kfMzDd5Y40E3skWpBPdx7Ed/s1600/circ+restraint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KU0UqcvM6MfUjM7U8yYg7lvnffhaBxnRsGBedoJLYteb9GYZeGHmNY5fhfG4Vf1ukpbqDq2nL1uCHb5e56RLjlkxxpjAiE0tyuCuVjQfmGx_yDp5Gm73_kfMzDd5Y40E3skWpBPdx7Ed/s320/circ+restraint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Doctors also like to calm new parents by telling them that circumcision is not painful because local anesthesia is used. If it doesn't hurt, then why is it so important to do it "before the baby will remember it"? Also, talk to my husband about how much pain is actually still involved when local anesthesia is used. (He had a local for his vasectomy, and said he felt A LOT of pain.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I think that if we left it up to the boys to decide for themselves, there would be 99% intact males in this country. Why do I believe this? Because every intact man I know, is eternally grateful that he was never circumcised. While I have read or heard hundreds of stories of men who were forever scarred (literally and figuratively) by their parents decision to fundamentally change their sexual organs. And only 1% of intact males are faced with a medical indication for circumcision in adulthood.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Circumcision can cause permanent nerve damage, which may explain why adult males who were circumcised after becoming sexually active, report decreased sensation during sexual contact. I guess the bright side for men circumcised as newborns is that they never knew how good it could be, so they don't know what they're missing. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sex is one of the most basic, necessary, intimate, joyful human experiences we are blessed with in our short time on this rock. Take pride in giving your baby boy the opportunity to grow up to have a fulfilling and satisfying life in every way possible, including sexually! <span style="color: #03548d;"><span style="color: #03548d;"></span></span></div>Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-24292847205228012062011-03-23T12:07:00.000-07:002011-03-23T14:34:28.299-07:00A Day in the Life of Living SimplyI had a wonderful day yesterday after a pretty rough start, so I thought I would share! <br />
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I woke up feeling like crap. After an hour of yoga and a long, hot shower, I was finally ready to start my day.<br />
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8:30 a.m. Made coffee, then called mom to commiserate about cramps.<br />
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9 a.m. Made breakfast and read my BBC News app<br />
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10 a.m. Gathered everything I would need for the day, and put it into a bag that would fit on the back of my bike<br />
<ul><li>Business cards & marketing goodies</li>
<li>Client file</li>
<li>Notebook</li>
<li>A Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer (to lend to a client)</li>
<li>The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin CD(DONA)</li>
<li>Lavendar vanilla massage oil & room scent</li>
<li>Rebozo</li>
<li>small purse</li>
<li>heavy sweater</li>
<li>spare tube, wrench & pump</li>
<li>water & snacks</li>
</ul><br />
10:30 a.m. Left home and rode 9 miles to Chino Hills for Doula Appreciation Day at AquaNatal Birth Center<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJw_tunuMqp_3FVWKPyk31RHceHp_SqqebCSTebQYW3R3Wej6gvOu197TNJ-0jNO62V_nnM_LSCLkeuzs7xq8riBM33hV3nFo442uog-iNh2D8PudCEoz6_TNGO7VA3-KYGwxrX4A1Kyp/s1600/chino+hills+ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJw_tunuMqp_3FVWKPyk31RHceHp_SqqebCSTebQYW3R3Wej6gvOu197TNJ-0jNO62V_nnM_LSCLkeuzs7xq8riBM33hV3nFo442uog-iNh2D8PudCEoz6_TNGO7VA3-KYGwxrX4A1Kyp/s320/chino+hills+ride.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East End Avenue toward Chino Hills<br />
Photo by Living Simply</td></tr>
</tbody></table>10:50 a.m. Not even halfway through my ride and I feel 100% better! Physical activity produces the most awesome pain-relieving endorphins. (Not to mention that it was an utterly gorgeous, sunny yet crisp, Southern California day) How can you help but smile and feel well? <br />
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11:15 a.m. Arrived at AquaNatal Birth Center, where I met many wonderful women committed to helping mamas birth the way they want to!<br />
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1:45 p.m. Left birth center and rode a mile to catch a northbound bus.<br />
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2:10 p.m. Got off bus and rode 2 miles to my client's house.<br />
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2:20 p.m. Had my last prenatal meeting with clients before Baby B decides to come.<br />
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4 p.m. Left client's house & rode two miles to catch another northbound bus.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cdfn1MCwwxQgS30auXdp0MwJ1bCMNO7mSuye_eFJGOK1kER1B2yEPm7CHpuRrGj7-CK9XhHEY1AYqMCsQ75iP9Brdm0HS7HsYgy640ZFgSRJ1o6Meh7fbPUVi2keBOWOlnFieBlnYvjl/s1600/french+bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cdfn1MCwwxQgS30auXdp0MwJ1bCMNO7mSuye_eFJGOK1kER1B2yEPm7CHpuRrGj7-CK9XhHEY1AYqMCsQ75iP9Brdm0HS7HsYgy640ZFgSRJ1o6Meh7fbPUVi2keBOWOlnFieBlnYvjl/s200/french+bread.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French bread from Some Crust Bakery<br />
Photo by Living Simply</td></tr>
</tbody></table> 4:30 p.m. Got off bus and rode two miles to the Claremont Village to buy a loaf of fresh french bread from Some Crust Bakery to go with the baked penne with meat sauce I planned for dinner.<br />
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4:50 p.m. Rode one mile home to prepare dinner and spend time with my best friend in the world!<br />
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Halfway through my long ride in the morning, this song came on my shuffle and made me smile for so many reasons. It is such an appropriate song to describe my simple living philosophy. And, of course, you can't go wrong with a little Harry Connick Jr. in the morning!<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00136J99I&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lisiinacowo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00000J7SC&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><br />
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Song: Nowhere With Love<br />
Album: Come By Me<br />
Artist: Harry Connick Jr.<br />
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"In a way, I really don't know much at all<br />
And if you say that I'm simple, you're on the ball<br />
On the ball to say that I'm going nowhere<br />
But I'm going nowhere with love<br />
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They all say that I'm not impressive at best<br />
That's okay, I've got nobody to impress<br />
My impression is they'd rather be elsewhere<br />
Oh, I'm staying nowhere with love<br />
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Well, it's better to be happy in a cardboard shack<br />
Than to be alone in a castle<br />
All you get for your money is a heart attack<br />
I'd just as soon alleviate the hassle<br />
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Everyday I watch the go-getters go by<br />
Even they say that the ladder is much to high<br />
Why should I go high, I'm happy below there<br />
Right here in nowhere with love"Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-90362243174524591592011-03-20T20:19:00.000-07:002011-03-21T08:30:39.617-07:00Get Out Of The Car & Into Simple Living<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu9_DZlutykjNwi5p70QWuD3pd_Uq6rQwrQiN8tlr-DxiAz65ixA-kmY5A6F3lAtecLernepd1zv4nxllbbbjPpa_FnABuCe-gZfId9AlzmuuJBNlya_hyphenhyphenPvw839nCO55thyphenhyphenK4F7EdzPZ/s1600/Union+Station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu9_DZlutykjNwi5p70QWuD3pd_Uq6rQwrQiN8tlr-DxiAz65ixA-kmY5A6F3lAtecLernepd1zv4nxllbbbjPpa_FnABuCe-gZfId9AlzmuuJBNlya_hyphenhyphenPvw839nCO55thyphenhyphenK4F7EdzPZ/s320/Union+Station.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Los Angeles Union Station<br />
Photo by Living Simply</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><blockquote><b><a href="http://www.publictransportation.org/tools/transit-savings.asp">Rapidly Rising Gas Prices Give Public Transit Riders Highest Savings in Two Years</a></b><br />
"Using public transportation is the quickest way people can beat high gasoline prices,” states William Millar, president American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Los Angelinos can save more than $10,000/year when a two-person household lives with one less car. </blockquote></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">While most people in Los Angeles will tell you that it is impossible to live here without owning an automobile, I am here to tell you otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">First, let me be clear: owning an automobile is NOT a necessity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a convenience-providing luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides being stupidly expensive to purchase, use and maintain, autos add to the pollution stew that we have been cooking for the past century here in LA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they make you lazy. I know people who will drive less than a mile to buy a quart of milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just doesn’t occur to them that there are options beyond driving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I call these people Auto Addicts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Why not combine things you<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> have</i> to do with things you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i> to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, if exercise is important to you, save some money on transportation AND the gym membership by walking or cycling to the market to do your grocery shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking, jogging, cycling and taking public transport are great ways to save money and improve the health and economy of our community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fewer cars we have on the road, the less traffic and pollution there will be, and isn’t that better for everybody?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Utilizing public transport requires just a little bit more thought and time budgeting than using a car, and therefore many people don’t even consider it as an option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in this age of technology, utilizing public transport has never been easier!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smartphones have made it possible to have bus and train schedules available to you in an instant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Google Maps has increased the ease of surface travel in general, but it has completely revolutionized travel by public transport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0puJJd1pi9bbomFp_aDADhnEVrkBNzP5AdUa3lSXtVNjSLr0emQzZ1uQy3pp_GQMYIfTAYkAsbD-wMwa4e7NSNQEWypqjq_6tvQSsWxk4f00Vu34YJglwaFdf32tbldzM48aLIlw6gPyU/s1600/google+icons.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0puJJd1pi9bbomFp_aDADhnEVrkBNzP5AdUa3lSXtVNjSLr0emQzZ1uQy3pp_GQMYIfTAYkAsbD-wMwa4e7NSNQEWypqjq_6tvQSsWxk4f00Vu34YJglwaFdf32tbldzM48aLIlw6gPyU/s320/google+icons.png" width="240" /></a></div><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In addition to driving directions, Google Maps offers detailed walking, cycling and transit directions to one’s destination with options for departure/arrival times, mode of transit, and routes with the least walking or transfers. You simply click on the icon above Point A that applies to the type of directions you want.</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">(See Photo)</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">The most common argument I hear by Auto Addicts against public transport is that it takes too long. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not disagree more!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At rush hour, trains are always faster than freeways!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most commuter or express buses get you where you need to be in approximately the same amount of time as if you had driven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this reason, these routes are usually a little pricier (but still cheaper than driving).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Local routes can take a little longer to get from point A to point B, due to the increased bus stops and street traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this is not lost time!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Whenever you are on a bus or train, you can do so many things to conserve your time (things that are virtually impossible if you're driving).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, you can catch up on your emails or blogs, check your Twitter and Facebook feeds, read a book, do your homework, watch TV on your smartphone or close your eyes for a quick cat nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Just don’t forget to set an alarm, so you don’t miss your stop!)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJeRW86vbNL7AaFZvF4K2XgweYUOSEJDOC0u-R5N9-2jN1uInPl05oaU0YkmYVmAUF2oXhj19Gic5C_iQvAyonXhqeEQYECgguEjvLHEH5PJV3fcWJi707czFoGQNefhsn4-t0QgpYcDi/s1600/empty+bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJeRW86vbNL7AaFZvF4K2XgweYUOSEJDOC0u-R5N9-2jN1uInPl05oaU0YkmYVmAUF2oXhj19Gic5C_iQvAyonXhqeEQYECgguEjvLHEH5PJV3fcWJi707czFoGQNefhsn4-t0QgpYcDi/s320/empty+bus.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just another empty bus on this rainy Sunday!<br />
Foothill Transit Line 492<br />
Photo By Living Simply</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I understand that very few people will voluntarily opt not to own</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, even if you do own a car, it doesn’t mean you can’t set one day a week aside to utilize public transport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spice up your family “staycation” by charting a map with your kids and exploring your city by rail!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">And lastly, if you must drive, please be responsible about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all, yield to cyclists and pedestrians!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, please carpool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It breaks my heart when I am on a nearly empty train, riding down the middle of the freeway (which actually resembles a parking lot). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see so many cars, trucks and SUVs with only ONE person inside (and these are the people who have the nerve to complain about traffic).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the sake of everyone’s lungs and your pocketbook, please carpool!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<blockquote> </blockquote>Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6304529748740768879.post-2225523233012189362011-03-18T17:10:00.000-07:002011-05-09T22:24:35.805-07:00Living Simply, Simply Explained<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieko5lFpJRkHPXRCs61YW3nLzMzXJ4y2MxYHH0ZXZJfbEX3LN8_LNHmUXV1wIeo9z6FDl3S3h21vX7hJIrxfnRxABC08JyUxln8x2ATYCbrsOzKmEOzZeRO-Y1UqhnINYeMtiMMR4aWaYR/s1600/flower+child.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieko5lFpJRkHPXRCs61YW3nLzMzXJ4y2MxYHH0ZXZJfbEX3LN8_LNHmUXV1wIeo9z6FDl3S3h21vX7hJIrxfnRxABC08JyUxln8x2ATYCbrsOzKmEOzZeRO-Y1UqhnINYeMtiMMR4aWaYR/s320/flower+child.JPG" width="214" /></span></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love life! More specifically, I love my life! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As my husband and I navigated the first decade of our marriage, we learned how to simplify our life, thereby giving us time to enjoy it AND each other! We do not own a home or a car. In fact, we don't own much of anything, and what we do possess is mostly secondhand. The most monetarily valuable things I possess are my wedding rings. But even they are partially secondhand, as we used the diamond from my mother-in-law's engagement ring. 90% of my wardrobe is secondhand; (underwear and hosiery account for the other 10%). We do not have cable or a DVR or a video game system. I rarely shop retail, (and the list of retail stores at which I do shop is getting shorter every week). We do not have ANY credit cards. My own two legs are my primary source of transportation (I ride my bike everywhere, though trains and buses do provide an efficient and inexpensive supplement)! Together, we bring in between $20,000-$30,000 per year.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I fall asleep in the arms of my best friend every night and wake up there every morning. And I am HAPPY!</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We met in college where I was stage managing a production of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town." Mr. LS auditioned and earned the role of Howie Newsome. He also scored and played original music for the production. We became fast friends as we learned that we shared common ideals about how we wanted to live our lives as individuals. Interestingly enough, marriage was not in either of our plans. I believe the reason neither of us had ever planned to marry is because we thought it was unfair to subject someone to the "starving artist" lifestyle we were prepared to lead. We both appreciated the finite nature of our time in this world and we wanted to get as much out of that time here as possible.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The idea of simple living is not a new one by any means, but put into practice it was certainly new to us. Having been raised in a gluttonously consumptive society, the idea of leading a simple life seemed foreign, old-fashioned, and, at times, even impossible. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The key to this kind of simple life is budgeting, which forces one to examine what one <em>truly</em> needs. The more stuff you "need," the more of your time you have to sell, which results in less time to enjoy that stuff you "needed" so badly and less time to truly live. So we figured out what we need (food & shelter) and what luxuries we just wanted (TV, cell phone, computer, microwave, fridge, etc), and we sell enough of our time (doing stuff we love, btw) to allow us those things. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I lead a beautifully neo-bohemian lifestyle, rejecting the idea of private property, materialism and the pursuit of wealth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Viva la vie boheme!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am Living Simply.</span>Living Simplyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01387889409461227144noreply@blogger.com0