I just discovered it's Thursday today, not Wednesday!! So my Redux Wednesdays started on the wrong day!! I feel like a fool and just wanted you to know. Redux Wednesdays will actually be on Wednesdays...not Thursdays...starting next week!
And the post I wrote for tomorrow will have to be saved for Monday, because you all know what tomorrow it...Vinegar Friday!!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Something old is something new
I'm starting something new today -- Redux Wednesdays where I'm going to be recycling blog posts. Since they get buried under the weight of so many other posts, I decided to give some of my most informative posts new life. While I might polish them up a bit, or change links, etc., they are basically being posted in their original garb.
So, welcome to Redux Wednesdays! I hope you enjoy your visit.
So, welcome to Redux Wednesdays! I hope you enjoy your visit.
Redux Wednesdays -- A greener way with peas
We live in a preservative-happy culture. Chemicals and preservatives are everywhere. Does that mean you have to spoon-feed them to your precious little one? Absolutely not!
Even celebrities have jumped on this bandwagon. In a Good Housekeeping article a year or so ago, Gwyneth Paltrow was quoted as saying, "When I'd read about what pesticides do to small animals, I thought, Why would I expose my child to that?...I just want my kids to be as healthy as they possibly can. And I feel like eating well is the best start for living well."
People magazine reported last year that Tori Spelling made all of her own baby food for daughter, Stella.
And let's face facts, folks; Paltrow and Spelling aren't pureeing peaches because of the cost factor! But that is another benefit for those of us on budgets! I picked up a small handheld baby food grinder at a garage sale for 25 cents! Brand new! I don't even have to plug it in, which gives me a couple extra green bonus points!
But don't just grab a handful of peas or a bunch of ripe grapes and start grinding. Age-appropriate foods are important. Stick with Stage 1 food for babies under 8 months of age. This will ensure less chances of allergic reactions. Most experts recommend not giving solid foods to babies under 5-6 months old and starting with cereals, followed by vegetables and fruits, meats, egg yolks (NOT egg whites!), and ending their first year with cheese and plain yogurts during the last couple of months.
Breast milk (or formula, if you must) can be added to foods as you puree them to give them the runny consistency necessary for babies starting out on solid foods. Don't store the pureed food for longer than 48 hours in the refrigerator. However, you can freeze portions by filling an ice cube tray and popping the frozen meals into containers for easy access.
An excellent website for advice and recipes on making your own baby food can be found at wholesomebabyfood.com.
One last thought on going green and healthy with a grinder or mini-blender...shop for local produce! Visit farm markets and look for organic foods.
Of course, it would be more convenient to just drive down to the store and pick up a jar or two. But, as I like to say...who said being a parent was about convenience. To quote Kermit the Frog, "It's not that easy being green."
Keeping it green,
Hana
Photos courtesy of Anna Cervova and Teodoro S Gruhl
Homemade baby foods are the best choice for your baby and for the environment! Eliminating the waste produced by boxed and jarred baby foods definitely qualifies you as a green parent/grandparent/caretaker. And eliminating the chemicals and preservatives in your baby's diet qualifies you as a smart one.
Even celebrities have jumped on this bandwagon. In a Good Housekeeping article a year or so ago, Gwyneth Paltrow was quoted as saying, "When I'd read about what pesticides do to small animals, I thought, Why would I expose my child to that?...I just want my kids to be as healthy as they possibly can. And I feel like eating well is the best start for living well."
People magazine reported last year that Tori Spelling made all of her own baby food for daughter, Stella.
But don't just grab a handful of peas or a bunch of ripe grapes and start grinding. Age-appropriate foods are important. Stick with Stage 1 food for babies under 8 months of age. This will ensure less chances of allergic reactions. Most experts recommend not giving solid foods to babies under 5-6 months old and starting with cereals, followed by vegetables and fruits, meats, egg yolks (NOT egg whites!), and ending their first year with cheese and plain yogurts during the last couple of months.
Breast milk (or formula, if you must) can be added to foods as you puree them to give them the runny consistency necessary for babies starting out on solid foods. Don't store the pureed food for longer than 48 hours in the refrigerator. However, you can freeze portions by filling an ice cube tray and popping the frozen meals into containers for easy access.
An excellent website for advice and recipes on making your own baby food can be found at wholesomebabyfood.com.
One last thought on going green and healthy with a grinder or mini-blender...shop for local produce! Visit farm markets and look for organic foods.
Of course, it would be more convenient to just drive down to the store and pick up a jar or two. But, as I like to say...who said being a parent was about convenience. To quote Kermit the Frog, "It's not that easy being green."
Keeping it green,
Hana
Photos courtesy of Anna Cervova and Teodoro S Gruhl
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
How sweet it is
Well, both groups put on weight, which was to be expected. There was a difference, though. According to a report in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the people drinking the fructose-infused drinks had more visceral fat. Visceral fat clings to organs and raises the risks of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Plus, people suffering from type 2 diabetes tend to have more visceral fat. This group also had higher levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower insulin sensitivity. Hmm.
What does this mean? Quite simply, it means we need to watch our consumption of the culprit -- high fructose corn syrup (not to be confused with the corn syrup you buy for baking). HFCS, like aspartame, has been associated with the formation of new fat cells -- isn't that something we all need?! It also tends to increase your appetite.
It wasn't until the 1970s that we started seeing the rise in the use of HFCS. At that time, white sugar (which presents its own set of problems) was being pushed aside in lieu of high fructose corn syrup. By the mid-80s, sodas were packed with it. Today, nearly everything seems to have it in the list of ingredients. Many people dismiss the effects consuming so much HFCS has had on us as a population. But when you look at the facts, it is hard to write all of this off as merely a coincidence.
Consider that back in 1970, the average person in the United States consumed one-half pound of HFCS yearly. Today, we are downing about 60 pounds each per year! Now, with that in mind, take a ride over to Walmart or somewhere similar and look around you -- I can guarantee you will see many more obese shoppers than were around four decades ago. And if you surveyed the group, I bet you would be astonished by the number of those with type 2 diabetes.
Of course, there are other factors; I'm not denying that. Our sedentary lifestyle, the invention of the remote control, and our busy schedules that have us driving through fast food restaurants way too often, certainly contribute to the problem. Especially since nearly everything we inhale on the go, from buns and breading to condiments and sodas is packed full of high fructose corn syrup.
My husband and I got into a bit of a debate over the issue of children and soda. I am adamant about kids not drinking it. Period. A few weeks ago, I looked out my office window and noticed my husband walking across the yard with our five-year-old neighbor boy who was drinking a can of Coke...a can of Coke my husband gave to him! I was appalled. Thus, the debate.
But Bill is now seeing things my way due to the research I did on high fructose corn syrup. He grew up drinking Coca Cola. That was in the 50s and 60s, however. It was during a time when a bottle of Coke was just six to eight ounces...and kids drank one soda. There were no unlimited refills and no one was supersizing anything. His argument that he never got fat drinking soda as a child somehow does not hold water in light of today's sodas.
So, what makes HFCS such a bad thing?
First of all, high fructose corn syrup is a highly refined, artificial product and is, in no way, the same thing as white sugar, despite the claims of the HFCS advocates. In order to convert corn starch into fructose and glucose, a whole bunch of chemicals are needed, two of which have been found to leave minute quantities of mercury in the finished product! Wow. And then there is the problem of the glutaraldehyde, a synthetic fixing agent used in the manufacturing process of HFCS and is toxic. Perhaps most disturbing is the research that has been done that shows that HFCS goes directly to the liver where it sends out signals to store fat! Hello. Are you getting that? The results are elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Ouch. Other research has linked it to lowered chromium levels, which may be a cause of type 2 diabetes. Did you notice how many times diabetes has been mentioned here? I wonder why.
So how does the FDA get around all of this? Well, apparently, as long as the glutaraldehyde never actually touches the syrup, HFCS passes as a "natural" substance. Of course, with the government, there is always a way around things. With food manufacturers putting pressure on the powers that be, don't expect HFCS to go away anytime soon...after all, HFCS does not get freezer burn the way sugar does and it is easier to transport in tanker trucks. It also has a long shelf life and is effective at keeping foods from becoming dry. Oh, and let's not forget that, thanks to federal subsidies and trade policies encouraging farmers to grow more corn, it is also cheaper than sugar.
So, there you have it. The government's not going to help us out here, folks. We have to do all we can to eliminate high fructose corn syrup from our family's diets. That means reading labels and buying from companies who are not putting this crap in their products. But don't make the mistake of replacing HFCS with an alternate artificial sweetener. That's a whole other subject!
Sorry for the rather long post here. I have just been wondering about the problems with high fructose corn syrup and thought I would share what I have learned with the rest of you.
Keeping it healthy,
Hana
Photo courtesy of Petr Kratochvil
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Homework, research papers and tests, oh my!
MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR
How to Find the Perfect Study Area in Your Home
By Hana Haatainen Caye
The new school year has arrived and parents like you are scrambling to pick up book bags, notebooks, number two pencils and other necessities to help their kids succeed this year. Whether you have a little one heading off to kindergarten or a nervous teenager entering high school, you face another challenge other than buying the right school supplies. It’s a challenge that perhaps you haven’t thought about. Where will your child do his or her homework?
If your older children have already established study habits that include being sprawled out on the floor in front of the TV, it is time to re-examine the importance of having an area in your home that is conducive to studying.
Monday, August 30, 2010
bumGenius 4.0 giveaway
Surprises
When is the last time someone really surprised you? I would love to hear your stories.
I was surprised last Tuesday morning when my son-in-law called me to tell me he was taking my daughter to the hospital because she was in labor.
That's not possible, I thought. She's two weeks early and, in our family, we always go late!
Well, not this time. Six hours later my beautiful grandson was born. Despite the fact that he was face up and the delivery required four hours of pushing on the part of my daughter, she opted to keep it natural and did not use drugs of any kind to help her endure the pain. As a result, Lincoln was bright-eyed and alert, right from the start.
I was surprised last Tuesday morning when my son-in-law called me to tell me he was taking my daughter to the hospital because she was in labor.
That's not possible, I thought. She's two weeks early and, in our family, we always go late!
Well, not this time. Six hours later my beautiful grandson was born. Despite the fact that he was face up and the delivery required four hours of pushing on the part of my daughter, she opted to keep it natural and did not use drugs of any kind to help her endure the pain. As a result, Lincoln was bright-eyed and alert, right from the start.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
A grandma's lap
In light of the birth of my second grandbaby on Tuesday, I thought this quote would be the most appropriate for this weekend:
"Few things are more delightful
than grandchildren fighting over your lap."
-- Doug Larson
Friday, August 27, 2010
Vinegar Fridays
TGIVF!
It's been a fun week! I love giveaways, and this one was really wonderful. Thanks to all the sponsors who added such great gifts to the prize package. And thanks to all of you who made this first year an amazing one. Congratulations, again, to Nicole Olcese, the winner of the first annual blogiversary giveaway!
Somewhere along the line this year, Vinegar Fridays was born. On this particular VF, I thought we'd address some mood issues, since this is a tough time of year for many. Whether you're sending your little one off to kindergarten for the first time or missing your teenager who has headed off to college, the empty nest, even if it's just for a few hours a day, can take some adjusting to. Of course, September brings on renewed grief, anger and anxiety for many struggling with the memories of 9/11.
On a personal note, my husband died on September 10, 1989 after a flash fire/explosion due to negligence on the part of Neville Chemical Company. Ninety-eight percent of his body had third degree burns on it and he lived for twenty-three hours in that state. For many years after that, my Septembers were wrought with panic attacks and depression...results of post traumatic stress disorder. I endured a few weeks of nightmares each year and eventually had to go on Ativan to help me through it. If only I'd known about the miracle of vinegar back then.
It's been a fun week! I love giveaways, and this one was really wonderful. Thanks to all the sponsors who added such great gifts to the prize package. And thanks to all of you who made this first year an amazing one. Congratulations, again, to Nicole Olcese, the winner of the first annual blogiversary giveaway!
Somewhere along the line this year, Vinegar Fridays was born. On this particular VF, I thought we'd address some mood issues, since this is a tough time of year for many. Whether you're sending your little one off to kindergarten for the first time or missing your teenager who has headed off to college, the empty nest, even if it's just for a few hours a day, can take some adjusting to. Of course, September brings on renewed grief, anger and anxiety for many struggling with the memories of 9/11.
On a personal note, my husband died on September 10, 1989 after a flash fire/explosion due to negligence on the part of Neville Chemical Company. Ninety-eight percent of his body had third degree burns on it and he lived for twenty-three hours in that state. For many years after that, my Septembers were wrought with panic attacks and depression...results of post traumatic stress disorder. I endured a few weeks of nightmares each year and eventually had to go on Ativan to help me through it. If only I'd known about the miracle of vinegar back then.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
And the winner is....
Nicole Olcese of State College, PA.
Nicole's prize package includes:
Angel Baby Kit from Earth Mama Angel Baby.
Signed Peacock Print from Petite Paintbrush.
Lemongrass Soap (3.5 oz.) and Vanilla Lavender Body Oil (2 oz.) from As I Am Naturals.
Organic cotton onesie (0-6 mos.) and Bamboo pants (0-3 mos.) from Green Baby Clothing Company.
100% Pure Lipgloss from Leaf & Bud Naturals.
Bubble Bar and Bath Bombs from Lush, located in South Hills Village in Pittsburgh, PA.
Congratulations, Nicole!
Please send an email to greengrandma@comcast.net with your mailing address.
Nicole's prize package includes:
Angel Baby Kit from Earth Mama Angel Baby.
Signed Peacock Print from Petite Paintbrush.
Lemongrass Soap (3.5 oz.) and Vanilla Lavender Body Oil (2 oz.) from As I Am Naturals.
Organic cotton onesie (0-6 mos.) and Bamboo pants (0-3 mos.) from Green Baby Clothing Company.
100% Pure Lipgloss from Leaf & Bud Naturals.
Bubble Bar and Bath Bombs from Lush, located in South Hills Village in Pittsburgh, PA.
Congratulations, Nicole!
Please send an email to greengrandma@comcast.net with your mailing address.
Last chance to enter!
Picture from the Leaf & Bud Naturals website
Well, this evening the winner of our first blogiversary giveaway will be chosen! Will it be you? Not if you haven't entered yet. Entering is fun and easy...just check out Monday's blog to find out how to enter.
I just love the prizes that have been donated! And the companies and individuals who chose to participate are at the top of favorites list!
For instance, Leaf & Bud Naturals, a Canadian company, is donating a luscious 100% natural lip gloss. Leaf & Bud Naturals has a really cool website where you can learn a lot about why you should choose natural skin care products and avoid the toxins found in most commercial products. I love how they boldly state that you don't need to read the label...they've already done it for you!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The prize package just keeps getting better!
I enjoy networking. Meeting people who share a common purpose is invigorating and motivating. That's how I felt a couple of weeks ago when I attended a local green festival. The best part was meeting new people and talking about their products.
Some of the people I met that day decided to join in the celebration of the blog's 1st anniversary by donating products. How fun is that?
When I met with the lovely ladies at the LUSH Cosmetics booth, I expressed my enthusiasm over the shampoo bar my daughter bought for me from them back in May. I LOVE this shampoo bar!! It lasts forever, rinses so clean and makes my hair feel really healthy. Plus, because it's a bar, there's no plastic bottle needed. Wonderful!
Some of the people I met that day decided to join in the celebration of the blog's 1st anniversary by donating products. How fun is that?
When I met with the lovely ladies at the LUSH Cosmetics booth, I expressed my enthusiasm over the shampoo bar my daughter bought for me from them back in May. I LOVE this shampoo bar!! It lasts forever, rinses so clean and makes my hair feel really healthy. Plus, because it's a bar, there's no plastic bottle needed. Wonderful!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Happy News!
I'm so happy to announce the birth of my grandson
at 12:55 today!
Welcome Lincoln James!
More giveaway details
Speaking of the Skin Deep database, it's really an awesome tool when you're wondering whether or not the cosmetics or skincare products you're using, or thinking of buying, are safe. The rating system and explanations help you to make educated choices for you and your family. They're not selling anything, so you can trust them to be accurate and fair...which means you can trust the products from Earth Mama Angel Baby to be safe for you and your baby!
Monday, August 23, 2010
The celebration continues...
Another perfect way is to remind you of the giveaway that is happening right now on Green Grandma!! I will use Random.org to choose one lucky winner on Thursday evening. You have until 5 p.m. EST to enter the contest.
Qualify to win this amazing prize package by visiting each of the participating companies' websites and letting me know (via comments on the blog or on Facebook) what your favorite products are on each. Think about it as virtual window shopping...and then pass the list on to your loved ones for future gift buying. Oh, and if you're not already a follower of the blog and a "liker" on FB, sign up so you can qualify. If you don't have a Facebook page, but you're a follower here, just let me know when you post your comment and you'll be entered as well. Twitter followers earn extra entries by retweeting the giveaway posts as well.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
A special Vinegar Friday
TGIVF!!
I'm especially excited about today's Vinegar Fridays' post and most of you know why...it's Green Grandma's very first blogiversary!! One year ago today I gave birth to this blog with my very first post. Since then, we've covered a lot of ground. While some similar blogs stick to single topics, such as cloth diapers, safer chemicals, breastfeeding, etc., I chose to broaden my topic base. Sometimes I focus on pregnancy and infant care, sometimes on natural and safer cleaning and household products, sometimes on healthier living, and occasionally I share a bit of my heart. I've been challenged by some with the question, "What does this have to do with being a green grandma," and I've tried answering them as tactfully as possible. So for any of you who have asked a similar question after reading one of my, or my guest bloggers' posts, here's the explanation.
Let me break it down for you:
Green -- I care about the incredible creation God has entrusted to us, His children. While I am not a part of any huge environmental activist groups, I am doing what I can to encourage others to make common sense choices in their daily lives that will be beneficial to the environment.
Grandma -- Aha! Here's where the broader spectrum of my blog comes in. As a grandma, I care about more than just the environment. I care about products that can harm children (and adults, as well). I care about marriages, about emotional issues, about health...the list goes on and on and so do the topics I cover. My goal is to touch your lives in some way with each posting. If I have made you laugh, cry, get angry, toss something in the recycling bin instead of the trash, choose organic and natural products, start using cloth diapers, or tell someone you love them, I have achieved my purpose. Oh, and if you've reached for the vinegar instead of the Windex, that's an added bonus! Which brings us to today.
I'm especially excited about today's Vinegar Fridays' post and most of you know why...it's Green Grandma's very first blogiversary!! One year ago today I gave birth to this blog with my very first post. Since then, we've covered a lot of ground. While some similar blogs stick to single topics, such as cloth diapers, safer chemicals, breastfeeding, etc., I chose to broaden my topic base. Sometimes I focus on pregnancy and infant care, sometimes on natural and safer cleaning and household products, sometimes on healthier living, and occasionally I share a bit of my heart. I've been challenged by some with the question, "What does this have to do with being a green grandma," and I've tried answering them as tactfully as possible. So for any of you who have asked a similar question after reading one of my, or my guest bloggers' posts, here's the explanation.
Let me break it down for you:
Green -- I care about the incredible creation God has entrusted to us, His children. While I am not a part of any huge environmental activist groups, I am doing what I can to encourage others to make common sense choices in their daily lives that will be beneficial to the environment.
Grandma -- Aha! Here's where the broader spectrum of my blog comes in. As a grandma, I care about more than just the environment. I care about products that can harm children (and adults, as well). I care about marriages, about emotional issues, about health...the list goes on and on and so do the topics I cover. My goal is to touch your lives in some way with each posting. If I have made you laugh, cry, get angry, toss something in the recycling bin instead of the trash, choose organic and natural products, start using cloth diapers, or tell someone you love them, I have achieved my purpose. Oh, and if you've reached for the vinegar instead of the Windex, that's an added bonus! Which brings us to today.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Another anniversary
A whole year has gone by since my first post. Wow. That's hard for me to believe. In that year I've learned more about environmental issues, chemicals, healthy parenting, cloth diapering, vinegar, etc. than I ever thought possible. I've tried passing on this information to all of you along the way.
The idea for this blog sprouted from a seed planted by my cousin, Kelly. I nurtured it and protected until one day, while I was hanging cloth diapers on the clothesline, it burst forth from the soil of uncertainty and let me know it wasn't a maybe, it was a have to be. My friend, Heather Desuta, provided me with the wonderful logo you'll all come to associate with Green Grandma. I highly recommend her work, if you find yourself in need of a graphic designer.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Beguiled
Today is our anniversary. I have been married to my wonderful husband, Bill, for 19 years, so I think it's only appropriate to post something lighter today. Perhaps a poem I wrote for him quite a few years ago. It's a silly poem and every part of it is intentional, so if you decide to critique it, know that I understand the word 'thee' is no longer used...like I said, everything's intentional.
Beguiled
by Hana Haatainen Caye
You sleep
you snore
you dream awhile
My husband
lover
my best pal
I wonder who it is you see
with eyes closed tight
in private dreams
Then once or twice
I see a smile
across those lips
that once beguiled
a widow,
young,
(too young for you!)
You came along
when I was blue.
You made me laugh
You saw my smile
across these lips
that once beguiled
a man too old
(too old for me!)
I shake my head,
“How can this be?”
That you were
always
in my dreams…
and I in yours
or so it seems.
So as you sleep
and as you snore
your dreams don’t matter
anymore
‘Cause I have you
and you have me
It’s me you love
and I love thee!
Happy anniversary to my beloved.
Hana
Photo by Hana Haatainen Caye...taken at our favorite getaway spot: Willow House Cottage in Latrobe, PA
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
A mosque at Ground Zero
I, personally, am tired of being told that Muslims are peace-loving people and that Al Qaeda is an extremist group that holds different views than the majority of Muslims. Really?
Well then, let me ask you this: Why is it that Christianity is not tolerated in most of the Muslim countries and that violating the law by proclaiming Christ results in torture, imprisionment and/or DEATH? Are all those countries ruled by Al Qaeda? Where is the tolerance here?
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