This is the way we wash our clothes so early Monday morning

Did you know that your clothes dryer is most likely the second most expensive appliance you run in your home? Of course, the refrigerator takes the prize for the biggest energy user, but if you're using your dryer, it's vying for some attention here as well.

“Drying Clothes” by Helen Allingham

Do you remember this song:

Here we go 'round the mulberry bush,
the mulberry bush, 
the mulberry bush.
Here we go 'round the mulberry bush, 
so early Monday morning.
This is the way we wash our clothes,
wash our clothes so early Monday morning.




Monday has long been the traditional day to do laundry. Yes, laundry was done once a week. On Mondays. Never on the weekends. And certainly not on Sundays.

Today, I dried two loads of laundry in the dryer. It's not that it's not perfect weather for line drying. The problem is the little fuzzy things falling from our oak trees. The month of May is a mess around here. Just as I get used to hanging my laundry out on the clothesline again, the oaks make it impossible to do so for a few weeks. Between the long fuzzies and the layer of green dust that settles on everything, there's no way I can hang my laundry outside. During these weeks, much of my laundry will hang from indoor clotheslines in the basement. But today, there was just too much, so I tossed it in the dryer. 

In order to make sure my dryer is running efficiently, I cleaned the lint filter before running it. I also did a quick extra spin of the laundry in the washer. That way, it's just a bit less wet when I put it in the dryer. Then, I throw in 6 wool dryer balls to help separate the clothes and cut down on drying time.

Of course, I do not use any fabric softener, and I sure hope you're not using it either! Instead, I added 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle in the washer. Between the vinegar and the dryer balls, there really is no need to load up my laundry on toxins that can lead to cancer and a host of other ailments.

Okay, back to some aides in making line drying a bit easier. 

I recommend wooden clothespins with springs (versus the straight kind, which can snag your clothes).




Retractable lines (for indoors or out). I love my retractable clothesline. It only crosses my lawn when I need it and disappears when I don't. They are perfect for bathrooms and laundry rooms, too.

Note: For permanent clotheslines, make sure you walk up and down running a damp washcloth along the line to wipe away any dirt before hanging your clean laundry on it.

 
Another must-have for me, is my spinning carousel rack. I have two of these and use them to hang my underwear, bras, camisoles, hankies, etc. I use these year round for the items I never put in the dryer. By not heat drying your intimate apparel, you extend its life dramatically. 


An added bonus with the carousel racks is that you can grab them and bring them in quickly if it starts to rain. Plus, you can put your older, more worn out undies in the inside of the circle and 'hide' them behind your girlier, fancier panties. :-) Love it!

Choosing the right hangers is important, too. Metal hangers can rust with wet clothing. Plastic hangers are often a good choice, but be careful of the dreaded 'hanger marks' on the shoulders of shirts and sweaters. I prefer the slim velvet hangers, which are also great space savers in the closet.

All this talk of hanging stuff outside is making me long for June when the air will finally be free of flying fuzzies!

Happy Monday!

 

This Mother’s Day, give moms the right to know what’s in the food we feed our kids

Click here to sign the Conceal or Reveal Petition.

What if it's not such a happy Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is just two days away. For many, it's a time to celebrate their moms and grandmas. Others celebrate the wonder of being a mom. But what about the other women... those whose moms and grandmas are no longer with them. Those who longed for children, yet remain childless. Or how about those who once knew the wonder of a child, but whose arms are now empty? What about the mother of a prodigal they've not heard from in years? Sometimes, mothers sit alone all day because their adult children are just too busy to bother with them, even on a day that is set aside to honor them.

Yes, Mother's Day is a time for celebration for many. But it's also a time of great pain.

After giving up a baby for adoption in 1980, I knew the agony of empty arms.

After losing my own mother in January 2013, I know that grief that occurs as I pass the Mother's Day display of cards at the grocery store. 

So, yes, I understand a bit of what others might be feeling. But compared to the pain some of you live with on Mother's Day and beyond, I am clueless. What I don't want to be is insensitive. So, when you see my Mother's Day greetings here on the blog and on social media, know that they come with a prayer for all of you who are hurting. Empty arms are the most painful of all.

Love to you, dear one, 

And then, she was gone

Throwback Thursday. Hmm. Today, I'm not going to recycle a post. Instead I'm going to travel back through my memories to the mid-70s. 

I'm working at Manheim Community Swimming Pool. My friend, Deb, and I are checking memberships, paging guests, answering phones, and chatting... endlessly chatting about our lives. We are good friends. Graduation from high school took her to Wheaton College in Illinois. A couple of years later, I was gone, too, eventually settling in Pittsburgh. Once we stopped returning to our summer jobs at the pool, we lost touch. I missed Deb, however. We wrote letters, exchanged an occasional phone call, and then, communication ceased. We were on different paths which, sadly, never crossed again.

If it weren't for social media, I wouldn't know anything about Deb's life. As it turns out, we reconnected last year on Facebook. What a joy that was. But it was also surprising, in many ways, for Deb had taken a totally different route than me. 

No longer the conservative Christian who grew up in a small Lancaster County town, Deb had converted to Judaism. She was also deeply in love with her partner, Martha. At first, her profile picture was unrecognizable to me. She'd changed.

But then, I thought, I'd changed, too. Gone was the insecure teenager who lacked confidence of any sort. My profile picture didn't resemble me much, either... I was no longer the 105 lb. skinny, pimple-faced girl of my youth. Had we passed each other at an airport, we would have done just that -- passed each other without an ounce of recognition on either side.  

The changes in Deb's life fascinated me. I really wanted to hear her story. Perhaps more than I'd ever wanted to hear someone's story before. I wanted to know all about who she was now. We planned to meet sometime this summer. I couldn't wait.

This morning, I learned, once again, that life is fleeting. One minute we're here and the next... well, we're not. That was the case for my friend, Deb, on Monday. She traveled from Cleveland to North Carolina to attend a funeral. On Monday afternoon, she was driving when, too late, she spotted a car stopped in front of her on the road. In an attempt to miss hitting the other car, she swerved into the path of a dump truck. The head on collision cost her her life. 

My questions will go unanswered. All I do know is that this vibrant woman is gone from this earth. From her obituary and the many FB tributes, I've learned how loved she was. Here are a couple of lines from her obit:

Debra lived her life with gusto and was passionate about experiencing adventure, new places and new people. She loved many activities including scuba diving, riding motorcycles, singing in choruses, sports of all kinds, and music.

Deb, my heart aches for the opportunities missed. Your life was full and mine, somehow, is less so because you are gone.

Godspeed, my friend. Godspeed.

Hana

Debra lived her life with gusto and was passionate about experiencing adventure, new places and new people. She loved many activities including scuba diving, riding motorcycles, singing in choruses, sports of all kinds, and music. - See more at: http://obits.cleveland.com/obituaries/cleveland/obituary.aspx?n=debra-louise-dunkle&pid=174799112#sthash.OQCqMwMY.dpuf

A bit of craftiness for Mother's Day

Disclosure: I received product and/or compensation in exchange for this sponsored post.

Years ago, I fell in love with Blue Mountain Cards. The poetry and graphics spoke to my heart. My dream was to one day have my poetry featured on some of their cards.

Flash forward to 2015. I'd still love to have my poetry featured on some of their cards. Theirs is a name I trust. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to receive an email last week inviting me to take part in a Mother's Day promotion. Of course! I was especially touched by these words: "I love the thoughtful way you approach things on your blog which is why I am reaching out!"  

I was introduced to the Blue Mountain website and the wide range of products available. For the purpose of this post, however, I'm focusing on printable features for Mother's Day. I printed out a few things, including a coupon book my granddaughter, Laura, can give to her mom. The coupons are good for things like help with the dishes or yard work, cleaning up the bedroom, and even a hug and an "I love you." Perfect coupons for my little six-year-old.

I also chose some coloring pages for Mother's Day. There were options to personalize them, so I chose to do that with one of them, adding an "I love you, Mommy!" to the top of the page. I decided to let Laura personalize the other one in whatever way she chose.

Here are some pictures of Laura hard at work at creating her masterpieces, and shots of one of the coloring pages.

I was pretty impressed by a six-year-old's talent... especially with the Monach butterfly. 

After she was done with coloring the pictures and putting her autograph on the coupons, the ball was in my court. I wanted to create something to display her artwork. I entered the craft store and, for close to two hours, I perused the aisles, looking for inspiration. Finally, I made my purchases and headed home.

Last night, I put together this display:

Then I danced around the living room saying, "Look how crafty I am!" I was caught up in my own awesomeness! 

Seriously, though, don't you love this? Here's what I did:

• I found this $70 printed canvas on a 75% off end cap at Michael's. It wasn't until it was hanging on my wall that I realized the image is of the earth! How marvelously unplanned was that?
• After painting it black, I glued the 36" strip of wood to the canvas, adding the three wooden letters to the top. The L is for Laura, and the M and R are for her little sisters, Marley and Robyn. Since Robyn is only two months old, her spot on the canvas will be blank for awhile. But two-year-old Marley will be thrilled to see her own work up there. She loves to color, maybe more than anything else. However, it was Laura and me who created this project, so for now, the artwork is all Laura's. Her mommy can switch things around once she has it hanging on her own wall.
• Finally, I glued the tiny fabric-covered clothes pins to the wooden strip. I found these in the dollar bin. How cool is that?! 

After letting the glue dry overnight, I hung up Laura's pictures and coupons. I think this will make a spectacular Mother's Day gift for my daughter. What do you think?

It's simple, relatively inexpensive, and something that will be used for years to come.

In the meantime, I'm going to spend some time checking out the eCards, etc. on BlueMountain.com. I encourage you to do the same.

The folks there are kindly giving away a one-year membership to BlueMountain.com to one of you (valued at $19.99) Who will it be? Just comment below on what makes your mom special or what makes you an awesome mom and, using Random.org, I'll choose a winner on Mother's Day (May 10th). 

Open to everyone 18+. Winner will be announced here on Sunday and will have 48 hours to respond before an alternate winner will be chosen. If you would prefer to receive an email, please include it with your comment.

Good luck!

$500 Disney Gift Card Sweepstakes!

Celebrating Mother's Day with MPM 

and a $500 Disney Gift Card Sweepstakes

Where will this magic take you? 

Big thank you to all the fabulous co-hosting blogs: Memoirs of a Clueless Woman, Our Piece of Earth, PictureIt Creations, How Does Your Garden Grow?, Kelly's Lucky You, The Main Street Moms, An Organised Life, Flour On My Face, A Medic's World, Simply Sherryl, The Mommy Nest, Jenns Blah Blah Blog and The Lovebug Collection. Make sure you stop by and say hi! 

Since I know many of you are planning Disney vacations this year, I decided to participate in this giveaway just for you! I have high hopes someone in the Green Grandma community walks away with this fantastic prize. But you can't win if you don't enter... so enter away! And good luck!

Sweepstakes Rules: Ends on June 3, 2015. Open to valid residents of the US and Canada only, ages 18+. Void where prohibited by law. Only one entrant per household may enter. 
​

Magical Mother's Day Sweepstakes ​

Sweepstakes is not associated with Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest or Instagram in any way. Blog participants are not responsible for prize delivery. For questions concerning this sweepstake or to be sponsor in an upcoming MPM Network event, please email teri@mompoweredmedia.com.

$150 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Thanks for joining us in this $150 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway! 

I don't know about you, but I can always use a few extra bucks. Tax time hit hard this year in our house and after my husband's heart attack in February, our medical bills started piling up. Finances. Ack!

That's why I'm happy to be a part of this giveaway because one lucky entrant is going to have $150 to spend on necessities or luxuries... your choice. What a nice choice that will be!

Now for the giveaway!  

One lucky winner will receive a $150 (USD) Amazon Gift Card. 

Entry-Form

One entrant per IP address/household. 18 and up only. Void where prohibited. Winner will be chosen via the Giveaway Tools form and will have 48 hours to claim theiar prize once emailed. Giveaway ends 5/17/2015 at 11:59pm ET. 

Vinegar Friday! Cleaning the yuckies out of your dishwasher

TGIVF!

It's Vinegar Friday!

Today, we're talking dishwasher. As in dirty dishwasher. When is the last time you actually cleaned your dishwasher?

What do you mean 'cleaned?' you ask. Don't I clean it every time I run it?

Unfortunately, no. Every time you run your dishwasher, you dirty it up a bit. Food scraps cling to the drain and, if you've taken the time to notice, it simply isn't sparkly anymore. 

Since it's Vinegar Friday, you probably already know what I'm going to tell you. But here goes:

Every month or so, after you empty your dishwasher, pull out the bottom rack and reach in and clear the drain of all those yucky food scraps that have accumulated since the last time you cleaned it. You do realized they not only lay there breeding bacteria, but they also can clog the drain and affect the way your dishwasher cleans your dishes. Eww.

Now grab your distilled white vinegar and pour one cup into a glass container and place it upright (of course!) on the top rack. Oh, and don't forget to put the bottom rack back in the dishwasher. I don't want someone tripping over it or something.

Run the empty dishwasher through a cycle with hot water. I know it seems wasteful, especially in areas where water usage is restricted, but it is important to keep your machine operating at its full efficiency. Maybe in those areas, you might want to cut back to doing this every other month or so.

Now, you'd think that would be good enough. And maybe it is. But if you want to take it one step further in the cleaning/deodorizing arena, there's one more step. This time, I want you to grab your baking soda. If you're like me, it's not one of those little yellow boxes, but rather a monster bag of baking soda from the big box store. We use a lot of baking soda here.

Sprinkle the baking soda onto the floor of the dishwasher, close it up, and punch in the short cycle button (or turn to it on the dial). That's it. Your dishwasher will be so clean, you'll want to show it off when company comes over. Seriously. 

I wish I'd taken before and after pictures, but I didn't and it's not that time of the month yet. 

Keeping it green and clean with vinegar,

For more vinegar tips, check out my book, GREEN GRANDMA'S VINEGAR FRIDAYS.

Free wood chip mulch delivered to your house? There’s an app for that!

Image by Lilla Frerichs

Spring is the time when many of us are out buying mulch to spread around our trees and bushes. Wouldn't it be nice to have that mulch delivered directly to your door for free? Well, thanks to a Kickstarter program, that's now a possibility.

When we use wood chip mulch, it helps hold moisture and adds nutrients back into the soil. That means less watering.

I was contacted about this new Kickstarter project and decided to back it enthusiastically. Why? Because it not only provides the simplest way to request a load of free wood chip mulch, but it also saves diesel fuel and keeps mulch out of our already overloaded landfills. It's a win-win. 

Mark Russell, I.S.A. Certified Arborist and the project's founder explains:

Since 1997, I've delivered mulch across the city to the dump sites, all the while knowing that I was passing people who would love it. The problem was the inefficiency of tree services maintaining their own separate in-house mulch request lists. I realized that we needed one centralized list for maximum efficiency. So we built Phase One and people love it.

The Free Mulch app from AboutTrees.com is the fastest way for clients to get their mulch. It saves the tree service time and fuel, and for every connection the app makes, it prevents the needless waste of an average of two to five gallons of fuel, and keeps 12-30 cubic yards of valuable material out of the landfill!

Check out the Kickstarter project here and sign up for a load of free wood chip mulch here. 

This is a seriously cool thing, don't you think? It gets two green thumbs up from me.

Oppose the Dark Act!

 

Click here right now to urge Quaker to join us and support mandatory FDA labeling of GMOs!

Bad Air Quality Can Harm Your Heart

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

 If you've been following the blog for awhile, you'll know that my husband had a heart attack on February 1st. Of course, since then we've been looking into causes and risk factors. The following article is about something I never realized before: how bad air quality can affect your heart.

You need air to breathe, and you are inhaling and exhaling it every moment of your life. If you are taking pollution into your lungs and body every time you take a breath, it can take its toll on your health. Bad air quality can lead to many ailments, including lung problems, asthma, cancer, and heart disease.

Symptoms of Heart Disease

Heart or cardiovascular diseases are caused by blocked blood vessels that reduce blood-flow to your brain, heart, and other body parts. The heart is made up of valves designed to open and close easily when all systems are healthy. If vessels and valves are unhealthy, it can be a life-threatening situation. Some signs to look out for include, but are not limited to:

• Chest pain
• Pain in jaw, throat, back, neck, and/or abdomen
• Inability to take deep breaths
• Numb, cold, or painful sensations in arms or legs

Poor Air Quality

When air is contaminated with particulates and pollution, it can travel through the blood and into the heart. When this occurs, swelling and malfunction of this crucial organ may occur. Other problems pollution can lead to include thickening or the arteries and high blood pressure. Air may be polluted due to:

• Factories
• Wildfires
• Cooking without enough ventilation
• Traffic emissions
• Poor ventilation in buildings

Steps to Take

There are steps you can take to reduce your chances of developing heart disease due to poor air conditions. You can change some of your existing habits and develop new ones that are healthier for your cardiovascular systems. For example, you can do your part to reduce pollution by using your car less. You can:

• Use public transportation such as the bus or train.
• Carpool with friends, co-workers, or family members.
• Plan your errands so you can do everything in one trip.
• Ride your bicycle.
• Walk, run, or hike to locations you want to reach.
• Trade your gas-hog vehicle in on an energy-efficient model.

See Your Doctor

You can also do your part to keep your heart healthy by taking good care of your body. It’s important to pay attention to possible signs of heart disease. You should get regular checkups, and if you notice warning signs, make an appointment to see your physician. There are some red flags that need immediate attention, however. You need emergency medical attention if you:

• Faint
• Have trouble breathing
• Experience chest pain

If you live in a polluted area, do your best to improve the quality of your air. You can create a healthier environment inside your home by using an air purifier, making sure you have proper ventilation, and having an air quality specialist assess your home’s air.

 

Stella & Dot gives back during Autism Awareness Month

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, I invited my daughter, Bethany, to share a bit of info about the company she works with and what they're doing to help spread awareness. Plus, she's offering a great giveaway!

Hi Green Grandma fans! 

I know it's been a while since you've heard from me. You may know me as Green Grandma's daughter, Bethany, and also as a guest reviewer on the blog. I am a stay-at-home mom to an adorable little four year old boy named Lincoln and recently became a Stella & Dot stylist. This has been an amazing journey since I started back in October and I would love to share with you a little bit about a great foundation and fundraiser Stella & Dot is a part of.

Inspired by a father and a son, HollyRod Foundation was formed in 1996 by actress, Holly Robinson Peete and her husband former NFL quarterback, Rodney Peete. The HollyRod Foundation is dedicated to providing help and hope to those living with autism and Parkinson’s disease.

In honor of Holly’s father, Matthew T. Robinson Jr., HollyRod partnered with the Center for Parkinson’s Research and Movement Disorders at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California to establish The HollyRod Compassionate Care Program with the mission to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s. The program provides patient services including physician consultations, speech and swallowing evaluation and treatment, physical therapy, counseling services and ambulation aids to those who have little or no healthcare insurance and limited financial resources.

After Holly and Rodney’s eldest son, RJ, was diagnosed with autism, HollyRod’s mission expanded to provide support and resources to families also affected by an autism diagnosis. Like Parkinson’s, autism can decimate families physically, emotionally and most of all financially. HollyRod introduced the “Give the Gift of Voice” campaign in 2010, providing tablet computers and specially-designed apps to help give a voice to those without. 50% of children living with autism have extreme difficulty learning to speak, 25% of them never will. While these individuals may not be able to speak, they have much to say and through the “Give the Gift of Voice” campaign, they can now make their voice heard. It is our commitment to continue this program so that every individual living with autism has a voice. HollyRod is currently developing plans to create The HollyRod Autism Network at California State University, Northridge, a unique constellation of autism resources, services, and one-one-one support, all with a family-centered focus.

Stella & Dot has partnered with the HollyRod Foundation by giving all net proceeds of the sale of their autism awareness bracelets to the help those living with autism. 

Here's the good news... I want to give a bracelet to one of you! 

Just enter below on the Rafflecopter. You must be 18 or older to enter. US and Canada. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before an alternate winner is chosen.  Contest ends at midnight on April 29th so you still have time to order a bracelet in April if you don't win one. Of course, they make great gifts, so go ahead and order one anyway. If you win, you'll have one for you and one for a friend, knowing all along you're supporting a great cause.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

I could not be more proud to be associated with such a great quality, stylish and (honestly) addictive brand. I actually don't think I can do them justice so I invite you to check out this great video! And if you want to learn more about how you can earn some great Stella & Dot products by hosting a trunk show or becoming a stylist, or you simply want to shop, contact me via my website by clicking here.

TBT -- A question for Earth Day

Earth Day 2015 has come and gone. But that doesn't mean it's time for us to stop caring for the earth or start coming up with ways to live greener, more earth-friendly lives, right? For today's Throwback Thursday, I want to share just a bit of a post from Earth Day 2013. Perhaps it will spur you on. After all, everyone needs a little prodding now and then, don't you agree?

Photo by Green Grandma

On Earth Day this year, I resolve to ________________.

 

So, how would you complete that sentence? Is there anything you've been doing that hasn't been particularly earth-friendly? Perhaps you're still using too many paper towels (rags work just as well). Are you a cloth diapering mama who's gotten lazy and been using way too many disposables? Have you been forgetting your reusable bags too often when you go to the grocery store? Are you still using fabric softener (GASP!)? Are you tossing your sheets into the dryer when you could let the sun and breeze dry them just as easily (and much more fragrantly)? Are you driving when you could be walking? Have you been tossing cans and plastic bottles into the trash can at work where there's no recycling, rather than taking them home with you and putting them in your own recycling bin? Are you throwing away paper instead of taking it to a paper recycling collection bin in your community? Are you still cleaning with toxins when vinegar, lemon, and baking soda work just as effectively?

 

Remember to keep it green... for you, for your family, for future generations, and for the earth.