Fall comfort food on Vinegar Friday

TGIVF!

The weather's growing a bit cooler... at least in the evenings... here in Western PA. I've spent the past several days in a cottage in the beautiful Laurel Highlands and it's been downright chilly at night! Which made me think about fall comfort food. So I thought it would be a good time to share a recipe from my book, which is perfect for this time of year. 

Enjoy!

 

Photo by Jiri Hodan

Green Grandma's Slow-cooker Sausage and Apples

1 lb. smoked sausage, sliced or cubed

1 apple, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 medium to large Mayan or Vidalia onion, cut in large pieces

4 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

4 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

3 Tbsp. brown sugar (adjust to taste)

2 Tbsp. honey

Toss ingredients in a large bowl and transfer to slow cooker. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.

This is good served over rice and/or with freshly baked bread with apple butter. Yum.

Keeping it yummy with vinegar,

Hana

For more delicious recipes and lots of helpful tips, order a copy of Vinegar Fridays from Amazon.com or Lulu.com (now at a special discounted price).

7 Embarrassing Signs You Have Gone Green

I love my guest bloggers! Today's guest post is a humorous look at being green.

 

7 Embarrassing Signs You Have Gone Green

T-shirt available at AbesMarket.com

Some people live life with the motto of ‘go big or go home’; and when you choose to go big, you really do go big. But that is okay, especially when it comes to being green. Sometimes the things we do come off as a tad eccentric for those who are not on the same green wavelength, it’s cool bro, we know. Here are 7 shamelessly embarrassing signs that you have gone green and gone big:

• I brake…: Not only do I brake for animals. I brake for insects, road kill, trash and old Coke cans. And by brake, I mean braking on my bicycle because frankly the family SUV is killing the environment. BRB… just saw a candy wrapper on the bike trail. 
• Trash: You should have played football. You intercept every trash throw like it’s the winning play in the Super Bowl. Whoa buddy, where do you think you are putting that Coke can? *Quickly whips out recycling bag out of back pocket* There ya go. 
• It’s cool bro: Who said going green means you have to become a hippie, man? There is something that happens to all of us when we choose the greener path; our vocab matches that of Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused or the grocery bagger at your local food market. “You just gotta keep on livin’, man. L-I-V-I-N.” 
• Lectures: You know you are riding the eco-friendly train when you find yourself telling the mailman about the new recycling program you started for the neighborhood and 14 minutes later you realize he has moved onto the next block. Oops. 
• Gift Giving: Re-gifting has a new meaning. Recycled products that are earth friendly and wrapped in recycled paper, brown bags or old newspapers, it’s trendy. Or at least you keep telling yourself that. 
• Facebook: Your Facebook statuses are news articles on global warming and quotes from your favorite green philanthropist group. Your cover page is a photo of the Earth and your friends come to your page to find out the latest green initiative in their city. 
• I heart EARTH: You don’t know how it happened but your closet has become the Mecca for ‘I heart EARTH’ and ‘Green is the new Black’ t-shirts. At least you look good in green! Of course, there is nothing wrong with owning 12 shirts that support your favorite green cause and there is nothing wrong with throwing the peace sign to someone who almost runs you over on your bike because you stopped to pick up cigarette butt. It’s all good man, just keep L-I-V-I-N'   G-R-E-E-N. Embarrassing or not, embrace that inner green nerd!

Author Bio

Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, parenting, child care, babysitting, nannies, etc. She welcomes your emails.

RIW -- A whitening alternative to bleach

Awhile back, ecoSTORE USA sent me two products to review. The first was a Honey and Almond shampoo which I loved. I loved it so much that I strayed from my no poo routine for the summer.

The second product was their Pure Oxygen Whitener, a safe alternative to bleach. It is made from mineral salts and plant-based ingredients derived from citrus and coconut. Sounds good already, right? The purpose of this enzyme-free product is to whiten whites and brighten colors without any harsh chemicals. After dissolving in water, it releases pure oxygen which goes to work eliminating stains without doing any damage to the color or strength of fabrics. Of course, the same cannot be said about chlorine bleach!

With ecoSTORE USA's Pure Oxygen Whitener, there are NO NASTY CHEMICALS! Just this bunch of eco-friendly ingredients: Carbonates (simple mineral salts), Sodium percarbonate (oxygen producing whitener), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Citrates (from citrus), Highly biodegradable surfactant, Natural citrus oil.

Of course, something can look good on the label, but be a total disappointment once it's put to use. So what are my thoughts on this product, and would I buy it?

For the most part, I really like the whitener. I experimented the first time I used it by washing one white bath towel and then hanging it up beside another white bath towel. The difference was noticeable. Since then, I've used it numerous times with my whites and some light colored laundry. The power dissolves easily in the washer. While my husband doesn't seem to see any difference in the laundry since using this product, I continue to see one. It's not dramatic, but it is enough to make me want to continue to use it. At only $7.95 for a 35 oz. container, I think it is a good deal.

When discussing it with my husband today, he did suggest that the product might be more effective if we actually followed the directions to allow the clothing to soak overnight, rather than running the load all the way through. I am sure he's right.

For me, the bottom line is how environmentally-friendly a product is, provided it works. I think the Pure Oxygen Whitener works well enough to give it my two green thumbs up. Indeed, it is not as effective as chlorine bleach, but using it is not going to fill your lungs with toxins! Pretty sure that makes it worth it. Don't you think?

Reviewing it for you,

Hana

Election year... turning my jeers into cheers

Photo by Peter Griffin

This morning, as I was thinking about the upcoming election and the political ugliness that is all around us, I realized my thought processes were all wrong. Rather than hating this time of year (which I tend to do because of all the political ugliness), I started to be grateful for it. Why? Because I should be. And, if you're living in a free country, so should you. After all, we have the freedom to decide for ourselves which issues mean the most to us, and then, we can vote accordingly. Do you know how incredible that is? Do you realize how many people around the world would kill for that opportunity? And have done so? And have died for it?

Oh wait, we don't have to travel to other countries for that, do we? Here in America, our own fellow countrymen did just that. They died so we could have this freedom. So, who am I to gripe about it?! Please forgive me for my self-centered obsession.

Do I like the political ugliness? Not at all. Do I enjoy the bickering? Absolutely not.

But, I relish the opportunity to pull the levers that best represent my views and my ideals, don't you?

Today, especially, on the 11th anniversary of that hideous day in our history, I am thoughtful of this whole process. The process of deciding what each one of us believes is best. Your opinions might be different than mine, but in the end, we probably agree on one thing -- we're happy to be living in a time and place where we all have the chance to vote. 

God has blessed America. I pray that, in some way, America blesses God. 

Please take the time to watch this brilliant commercial and pause to remember.

Playing the hand I was dealt

Jim and me on our honeymoon June 1981

I like to play cards... especially games that involve a little bit of luck along with a little bit of strategy. While we all have some control over the game with the strategies we use, unless we cheat, we have no control over the hand we're dealt.

Life's a bit like that too. Sometimes you're dealt lousy hands and it's up to you to make the cards work for you. 

As I've mentioned other times on the blog, September 10th, today, is the anniversary of my husband's death. Jim was killed in 1989 in a chemical flash fire where he worked. With third degree burns on 98% of his body, he lived a horrific 23 hours at the burn unit at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh. He was 34. I was 32. Our children were 7 and 5. 

He died at 1 a.m. on a Sunday morning. I clearly remember driving home from the hospital (yes, I drove. It was one thing I had control over as my life was falling apart around me) dreading the task of telling my children their daddy was dead. 

I crawled into my empty bed and slept for a few hours before the phone rang around 7 a.m. It was my friend, Trudi, who was devastated by the news. I remember trying to comfort her, assuring her I would be okay. She was the first of many for whom I did that. No one had to worry about me, because I would be alright. I was strong. I was resilient. I was a Haatainen girl after all, and we had the right genes. 

A couple hours later, I walked into my daughters' bedroom and sat down on the bed to do what no parent should ever have to do... I told them their daddy was dead. Even now, as I write those words, tears flow freely. It was one of the worst moments in my life. I can see Jessi's sweet little face... her confusion. Her tears. And Bethany's staunch resolve... she didn't cry about it until 9 years later. I had my challenge laid out before me. My cards were dealt.

It is now 23 years later. Somehow during that time, the cards got shuffled and re-dealt again and again. There have been lousy hands, just okay hands, and some pretty darned terrific hands. I'd like to think I've played them well.

Through it all, Jesus was at my side, comforting me, cheering me on, and chastising me when I started to play the wrong card or simply skipped a turn. He was my coach and my hero. Most of all, he was my friend. 

Did I ever question him on why this happened? A thousand times. I yelled at him, screamed at him, shook my figurative fist in his direction. But I always knew it was okay to do that, because he was God, after all, and he could take it. When I was done with my rant, he would gently nudge me to let me know which card to play next. What a gentleman. 

Even so, I struggle every single year when this anniversary rolls around, although I must admit, the past few years have proven to be easier and easier. Watching the man I loved die one of the most brutal deaths imaginable is something I will never get over completely. The sight and smell of burnt blood dripping off the sheets into puddles on the floor overtakes me still at unforeseen moments. I suffer with little snippets of it from time to time. I believe that is God's way of protecting us when we're faced with horrendous realities, for if I'd grasped it all 23 years ago, it surely would have killed me.

Time moves on. Life continues. Change occurs. 

Shuffle the cards. I'm ready for the next hand. I can only hope I'll play it well.




For more about this story, read:

Tears in a Bottle
Recycling Memories

The wisdom of Mr. Rogers

If the day ever came when we were able to accept ourselves and our children exactly as we and they are, then, I believe, we would have come very close to an ultimate understanding of what "good" parenting means. 

It's part of being human to fall short 

of that total acceptance -- and often far short. 

But one of the most important gifts 

a parent can give a child 

is the gift of accepting that child's uniqueness.

-- Fred Rogers

The World According to Mister Rogers

Important Things to Remember 

Vinegar Friday -- No pooing once again

Photo by Petr Kratochvil

TGIVF!

A few months ago, two different companies sent me shampoos to review. One I didn't like at all and the other one I loved. So much so, that I used it regularly and got out of my no pooing habit. Well, last week, I returned to it and I am now going through that not-so-lovely adjustment period. 

The first two days were great and I was a happy camper. But then the third day arrived. Forgetting that I wasn't supposed to wash my hair yet, I hopped in the shower with my baking soda and vinegar and did my no pooing routine without thinking. My hair dried, but felt yucky. Oh yeah, I remembered, I did it wrong. Sigh.

So, I'm suffering through these days/weeks so I can get back to caring for my hair the natural, and inexpensive, way. It will look good again... eventually!

If you're curious as to what no pooing is, or how baking soda and vinegar are good substitutes for shampoo and conditioner, read my initial post about this unconventional method of hair care: No Pooing -- it's a family affair.

In the meantime, I'm starting off my Vinegar Friday in the shower with my vinegar. How are you starting off yours?

Keeping it green with vinegar,

Hana

P.S. I dedicated an entire chapter to no pooing in my book, Vinegar Fridays, available at Lulu.com and Amazon.com. And now, through midnight 9/7, get 20% off at Lulu.com with the code CITHARA20.

Greening the nursery

You know I love my guest bloggers! Why? Because they give me a break while providing you with useful information. Today's guest blogger is currently the resident writer for BadCreditLoans.org where she researches the best way for people to pay off their debts without damaging their credit. In her spare time, Kay Winders enjoys freelance writing, gardening and the beach. Today she's sharing her thoughts on the impact bad choices can make on the environment and your family's health when it comes to setting up your baby's nursery.

 

How to Green Your Baby's Nursery

Your baby's nursery should be a safe and comforting place for him to learn and grow. Yet most nurseries are rampant with toxic materials and harmful chemicals found in the wood of furniture, the plastic of toys, and the fibers of clothing, linens, and flooring. Each represent lurking dangers to your baby's current and long-term health -- not to mention the health of the planet.

There are many ways to make your nursery safer for your baby and for the environment. Here are a few ways that you can green your baby's nursery:

Use Non-Toxic Paints

Many paints have a high number of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are both harmful to your baby's health and to the environment. Even paints that have low VOCs can contribute to health problems such as cancer, kidney and liver damage, and neurological disorders. VOCs can also continue to have an impact long after the paint has been applied (for many, many years).

When painting your nursery and selecting painted furniture, be sure to select a paint that does not contain VOCs. There are many online retailers that sell paints that are safe for both baby and the environment. They are often a bit more expensive, but the cost is worth the protection.

Install Natural Flooring

Carpet is treated with a number of chemicals that can be harmful for your baby -- especially when she starts crawling and is up close and personal with the floor on a regular basis. Laminate and some hardwood floors are also treated with harmful chemicals.

Replace these types of flooring with a natural product instead. Bamboo is a great choice, as it is a sustainable product and -- if not treated with a sealant -- is all natural and contains no harmful chemicals. Otherwise, just be sure to investigate the chemicals used in the creation of any material you choose, and avoid plastic or composite materials. 

Buy Real Wood Furniture

Most furniture on the market today is made of composite materials -- meaning that it is a blend of wood (or even just wood particles or sawdust) and glue, resin, and other harmful chemicals. This furniture emits toxic gases that can negatively impact the health of your baby. Of course, these chemicals are also terrible for the environment.

Choose real wood furniture that is not treated with chemical sealants or stains. Try to select sustainable wood products, such as bamboo. Hard woods take many years to grow, and buying furniture made of these woods contributes to the depletion of valuable forestland. 

Choose Safe Bedding

Conventionally manufactured mattresses and bed linens are treated with harsh dyes and chemicals to preserve and protect the fabric. These can irritate the skin and lungs and contribute to long-term health problems such as allergies, eczema or even more serious conditions such as cancer. They also contribute to the destruction of water supplies, soil, and ecosystems.

Choose an organic mattress and bed sheets and blankets that are made of sustainable fibers that are not treated with harsh dyes or chemicals. Again, bamboo is an excellent choice. This sustainable plant can be used to create a wonderfully soft fabric that is safe for your little one and the environment. Hemp and organic cotton are some other good choices.

Purchase Safe Toys

Finally, plastic is a toxic material -- a risk to both the health of your family and the environment. It has been linked to a number of health problems, and has a very destructive impact on the environment. You should avoid it wherever you can, but especially in your children's toys.

Opt for toys made of natural fibers, wood or metal. Make sure they are not treated with dyes, chemical sealants or harmful paints. Choose organic and sustainable materials when possible.

Greening your baby's nursery is an important step in helping protect his health now and in the future, and it's an important way to help protect the environment. It may take a little extra research or a bigger budget to accomplish, but the benefits will be well worth it.

Did you green your baby's nursery? Tell us how in the comments.

DoSomething Team ENERGY STAR Challenge

Who's up for another contest? This one is for the kiddos, however, and doesn't have anything to do with luck. I've teamed up a group of bloggers for EPA's Energy Star program and am making a contest available to all the of kids in the GG community. The program is designed to recognize kids for what they are doing to save energy, as well as inspiring other kids and their families to get involved in energy efficiency.

The contest is pretty straightforward. Kids who submit an essay about saving energy to the Share Your Story page and then click on the DoSomething Team ENERGY STAR Challenge immediately become eligible for a number of prizes, including:

• The new Lorax DVD, which will go to the first 100 kids to submit essays
• 25 winners will receive ENERGY STAR qualified electronics products donated by LG Electronics, including computer monitors and televisions, smart phones, and mouse scanners
• Top winners will also be featured in New York's Times Square on the LG billboard
• Some of the winners may have a chance to participate in ENERGY STAR day in October with EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson 
• All kids who submit an essay will receive a certificate of appreciation from EPA Administrator Jackson

In addition to entering the contest, kids can join Team ENERGY STAR by visiting the website where they will get 

easy-to-download educational and interactive materials, such as a comprehensive Action Kit, the ENERGY STAR Home Check-Up, a Lorax activity booklet , Energy Efficiency Games, a Lorax mustache-making kit and more!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Do Something (one of the largest organizations in the U.S. for teens and social change) have joined EPA in this effort by running their own Team ENERGY STAR Challenges. More than 150 Boys & Girls Clubs have signed on to participate and win prizes donated by Samsung Electronics. Prizes for Do Something’s Challenge have been donated by LG Electronics.

Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR

Team ENERGY STAR is part of a multi-year EPA campaign, Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR, developed to engage Americans of all ages in saving energy, money and protecting the environment with ENERGY STAR. Millions of people are getting involved, joining their neighbors in this grassroots movement to help protect the climate by saving energy. Visit the website and see how people and organizations all over are making a difference with ENERGY STAR by viewing EPA’s ENERGY STARs Across America map.

As far as the contest goes, this is a great opportunity for  parents to learn a lot about what your kids know (or don't know) based on what they produce. The "essay" can be a written story; a photo essay; a video, a slide show a drawing, or any other way they want to show what they have learned about energy efficiency, provided it can be uploaded to the ENERGY STAR story page here. Kids (or their parents for them) can submit the story any time between now and September 17. Prize winners will be announced by October 10.

Longing for the days after 9/11

Public Domain Photo: Library of Congress

Please do not take this the wrong way, but I long for the days following 9/11 when we were under attack by terrorists and not each other! When we were fellow Americans and not identified by race, gender, faith or political affiliation. When prayers were being said and no one was threatening to sue over it. When we acted as if we truly were free. Free to express opinions. Free to share our faith. Free to weep openly. Free to help a stranger. Free to care. That's what defines those days in 2001 for me... caring. We cared more about each other than we did about our own personal ideologies.

This election year is becoming one of the nastiest ones ever. And I, for one, am sick of it. I'm sick of the ugliness. It used to be just the politicians' nastiness that we had to deal with. Now, with social media, it's everywhere. Friend against friend. Brother against sister. Church member against church member. PLEASE make it stop!! At what point did we become so intolerant of each other? And no, I'm not about to go into a rant about tolerance. It's just that those screaming loudest about tolerance are some of the most intolerant people I know. Give me a break!

Here in America, we're a nation of many different beliefs, ideas, dreams, lifestyles, etc. That's what adds color to our country. Yes, there are times when we must take a stand for what we believe in. But do our stands have to be so darned ugly? For me, I know that the moment someone starts yelling or condemning others is the moment I stop listening. Your Facebook posts demeaning others will not change my mind about an issue. However, a reasonable conversation might. If you listen to me, I will listen to you. But if you start out by insinuating that I am an idiot, the possibility for a dialogue is done. It just won't happen.

Like I said, I long for the days following that tragic, tragic time in our history. The days of embraces. Of shared grief. Of camaraderie. I guess I'm just living in a dream world.

Sharing my political views,

Hana

A reflection about labor (not the birthing kind)

Photo by Jiri Hodan

Today, I am feeling oh so grateful for the men and women who have forged a path for us to be able to work in the fields we choose. Some people choose to stay in jobs they despise, or are forced to do so, yet others are fortunate enough to do work they love. Years ago, after being treated quite badly by a boss, I made the decision that I would never again stay at a job I hated. And I haven't. That means I've quit a couple of jobs along the way, but in the end, I found this wonderful career of mine I wouldn't trade for anything. I am one of the fortunate ones. 

Some of you are stuck in jobs you don't enjoy, and because of the current economic crisis, you'll stay there for now. My hope is that someday you'll find your way to a job that brings you joy.

And, sadly, there are many of you who want to work but simply can't find a job. Today, I am praying for you and for your families. After all, it must be tough to celebrate Labor Day when there is no labor to be found and empty cupboards that epitomize that problem daily. You are in my heart, dear ones.

Whatever your state of employment is, I wish for you a day of peace. Put your worries aside for a day and celebrate the labor you have now, had in the past, or will have in the future. Work is a good thing. And today is a day to recognize that.

Happy Labor Day, my friends,

Hana

For another look at Labor Day, read last year's post: Labor -- a God-given purpose

There is always hope

“Hope?” he says. “There is always hope, John. New developments have yet to present themselves. Not all the information is in. No. Don’t give up hope just yet. It’s the last thing to go. When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.”
 

― Pittacus Lore, I Am Number Four