Natural Living in the US

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Angelia Frenzel, aka Angel, mixes up a batch of fresh Eco-Me Body Scrub right from her kitchen. Angel is 5 years old and already knows that natural products are safe and healthy. The best part of Eco-Me is you mix it fresh at home with pure ingredients and mix and remix and save money each time! For more information visit: www.eco-me.com

www.DrMomOnline.com My kids love to play “work out” with me while I’m doing my home resistance training/weight training routine. Although they can slow down the process with their funny antics, I figure the laughter is a good abdominal work out for ALL of us! (Good for the soul, too right?!) For lots of health, nutrition, exercise, fat loss, and natural parenting tips visit www.DrMomOnline.com and request your free Wellness Report. You can also find me at www,DrMomOnFacebook.com

If you or someone in your office suffers from allergies or chemical sensitivities from toxic cleaning chemical, maybe it’s time to consider using eco-friendly cleaning products. These are easy and safe to use with cleaning powers equaling any other manufactured cleaning chemicals.  A lot of household cleaning products contain harmful toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, phenol, ammonia, ethanol, butane, propane to name just a few. It is a known fact that these chemicals have adverse impact on our health and environment. People that suffer from allergies or chemical sensitivities are even more than likely to suffer from exposure to these toxic chemicals. Natural cleaning products as mentioned below can be found everywhere and are very economical.

Microfiber Clothes

Microfiber is a cleaning cloth made of polyester/nylon that enables you to clean almost everything with just the cloth and warm or hot water. They eliminate the need to carry around different cleaning chemicals for different uses. These cloths are a great alternative to cleaning with chemicals. It can be used to remove smudged dirt, stains and grease just by applying water to it. It can also be used to scrub dirt in appliances, cleaning of interiors of cars, glasses and windows. Apart from the fact that this cleans better than any other cleaning cloth, it is also better for your health, the environment and your wallet.

Microfiber Mop

Again, this is similar to your conventional mop. However, it is made of the same materials as the microfiber cloth and instead of applying chemicals to mop the floor, you only need to apply water to obtain the same level of cleanliness as using mop with chemicals if not better.

Vinegar

Vinegar is popular and extremely effective as a cleaning and sanitizing agent. It is economical and harmless to humans. Cleaning with vinegar is another smart way to avoid using harsh chemicals.  It is good for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, getting rid of lime deposits and for cleaning grout due to its level of acidity. In terms of cleaning, vinegar is multi-purpose. You can use to clean kitchen surfaces, mirrors, glasses and even appliances such as microwaves.

Baking Soda

Next to vinegar is Baking Soda as a natural cleaning agent. Baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) as the name suggest can also be used for cooking. It’s economical and non-toxic.

Citrus Oil Solution

This is another powerful cleansing agent that is additive free. Citrus oils are not only good for cleaning but can help in getting rid of odour from a place. It can be used a degreaser because of its solvent properties. You can clean just about anything with this solution from degreasing your cooker to removing stains from carpets and clothing. Citrus solution can also be used as natural insecticides and pesticides at homes or in your offices.

However, if you feel you need help or a cleaning company to clean your office or homes with natural products and you are based in the London area, why not give Citywide Cleaning Service a call on 020 8507 1623 or log on www.citywidecleaning.co.uk. We are a London based Cleaning Company providing quality cleaning services, commercial cleaning, contract cleaning, domestic cleaning, home cleaning, school cleaning, residential cleaning and End of Tenancy cleaning services at competitive rates.

The information in this text is offered by Citywide Cleaning Services – a reliable London Cleaning Company providing office cleaning service, domestic cleaning service, contract cleaning service and commercial cleaning services in and around London areas.

To find out more about our cleaning and facilities management services, please visit http://www.citywidecleaning.co.uk

www.HealthySchoolDaysMenu.com Here’s a simple example of a super easy way to start the day with a nutritious, healthy breakfast. Loaded with fresh fiber, protein and healthy fats – made in about 90 seconds! Dee-lish! For more healthy recipe ideas for the entire family, check out www.HealthySchoolDaysMenu.com . For all your nutrition, exercise, weight loss, natural parenting, and current health news, visit www.DrMomOnline.com – remember to request your Free Wellness Report while you’re there!

Everybody knows that an all-natural diet is a healthy diet. It’s no coincidence that what’s good for you is also good for your dog and cat. It’s also no secret that – aside from the buzzwords – most people don’t know enough about what “all-natural” means.

 

We are surrounded by eco-friendly, holistic catch-phrases: all-natural, free-range, green, organic. However, most of us don’t look beyond the words on the label to understand exactly what they are paying for when opting for these newer, healthier alternatives. Natural foods – simply stated – are those that contain no artificial additives or preservatives. When you and I are shopping at the grocery, this is what we are finding in our natural foods aisle. Are the rules the same when it comes to our pets?

 

In a sense, yes. Our dogs and cats are just as vulnerable to the negative affects of artificial food supplements as you and I are. These can lead to a number of negative health issues that will affect your pet’s quality of life. However, when it comes to a pet’s diet, “natural” usually also means “species specific.”

 

Although many pet food manufacturers probably have good intentions and stand behind their products, the ingredients in mainstream dog foods seem to indicate that quality can suffer in the name of profits. A quick look at what goes into most commercial dog and cat foods, reveals a make-it-cheap mentality that can cause negative effects on your pet’s health. Many manufacturers use “4D” meat in their pet foods. “4D” is a category that includes meat that comes from diseased, down, dying and dead animals. These ingredients are then combined with grain fillers to create the cheapest products possible.

 

“4D” meat may seem utterly unpalatable to you and I, but your dog has a digestive system that can handle less than optimum meats. However, like most pet owners, you probably want more nutritious ingredients going into your dog’s meal. As far as grain fillers go, your dog and cat have no need for these things in their diet and are not benefiting from them in any way. Add a nasty mix of sugar, salt, cancer-causing chemicals and preservatives; cook any remaining nutrients out, and you’ve got yourself a standard can of dog or cat food. Is there a better way?

 

There are a number of alternatives for your pet that are healthy and species specific. A species specific pet diet is one that is geared to match your pet’s nutritional needs, without negative or superfluous ingredients. For instance, your cat is a carnivore. Your cat needs meat and meat only. There is no need for you to pad your cat’s diet with grain and vegetable fillers. For dogs, an omnivorous diet is more appropriate, but most commercial foods are high on filler and low on important meat proteins and fats. Some pet owners are choosing to feed their pets an all natural, species specific diet, by cooking for their pets: creating homemade meals just like the ones they are cooking for themselves and their family members. For some owners, this might be a great alternative, but many find that this path is time consuming and difficult. Luckily, there are now a variety of all-natural pet foods available from suppliers who are dedicated to providing pets with species specific diets. 

 

The Trippet company sells a variety of great dog foods that make species specific considerations a high priority. Trippet Duck and Salmon Tripe Dog Food gives your dog a great combination of meaty protein and lots of Omega 3 fatty oils. Their Trippet Green Food formula incorporates plant nutrients in combination with the digestive enzymes that allow dogs to metabolize them. Tiki Cat has a number of great all-natural cat food solutions such as Tiki Cat.. Both are full of the protein your little tiger needs, without excess fillers and flavors.

 

Always ask your vet when you are considering changes to your pet’s diet. Chances are you’ll find that fresh, natural, healthy food is as important to your pet as it is to you.

Amanda Parrish from the San Francisco green home store Spring shows us the options for less toxic cleaning. Original story here: faircompanies.com

The parent-child relationship is at its most challenging when your child inhabits that wildly unpredictable phase that is often termed as ‘adolescence’ or ‘the teenage years’. Parents and teens go through a lot of ups and downs and encountering frustrated teenagers and equally frustrated parents is not an uncommon sight. Many parents feel as if they are dealing with complete strangers when interacting with their teens and they are at a loss as to the best way of connecting meaningfully with their teenage child. This becomes all the more difficult when parents are routinely subjected to the slamming of doors on their faces, disrespectful and cheeky back-talk and a judgmental attitude on the part of their kids.
If you are a parent who identifies with these parent and teen situations, the best way to react is to be objective and look within yourself first. In the first place, is some particular trait in you triggering a violent response from your child? Do you truly empathize with the problems of your child? Do you even know what problems your child encounters on a daily basis or are you relatively alienated from the life that your child leads? If you are ignorant of your child’s daily activities, have you made any serious effort to rectify the situation or have you just shrugged it off and decided to think about it later?
When answering these questions, honesty is essential. By being truthful, you might find the solutions to these problems within yourself and won’t need to take any professional help to reach a state of understanding and mutual respect with your teenage child. Parents need to realize that during the adolescent years, the teenage child is grappling with the world her or she lives in. She is neither completely an adult nor is she a child and a perfect balance is very difficult to attain. This is an age when the child has to deal with so many different issues and that too, on her own. Some amount of anger and rebellion in the parent-teen equation is only natural and should not surprise or disappoint you as a parent. There are certain things that you can do, however, that will lessen the trauma and create a better rapport with your teen.
First on this list is being a good listener. How many times do we get angry when others do not listen to us? Why, then, do we become inattentive when our child is narrating something that is apparently important to him/her? Is it because we think that we can get away with it or is it because we consider their issues too trivial for serious consideration? What you as a parent need to realize about your children is that their life and their problems are very overwhelming to them. Adult or not, you need to accord them the dignity of being a rational human being and treat them in a respectful manner. There are lots of parents who have unimaginably busy schedules which make it difficult for them to talk to their teenage children daily and find out what is going on in their lives. For such parents, delegating quality talk-time on weekends to their children will go a long way in establishing a great parent and teen sensibility.
The next thing that you need to remember is not to be emotionally affected when your teen hurls a scathing comment at you. If you react in a similar manner and become abusive, you will lose the trust of your child forever. This does not mean that you become a punching bag and take whatever comes your way. You just need to be firm and cool when your child is being particularly insulting and state that such behavior will not be tolerated in your vocabulary of the parent-teen relationship. As for your personal feelings, you need to understand that what makes your children so audacious is their certainty of your support, no matter what they say.
There are a large majority of parents who do not make their kids feel secure. They are over-critical and judgmental about their children. This can lead to terrible consequences with the teenage child. Not only is there a serious possibility of your teenage child being rebellious and moody, he may start rejecting every idea that you put forth. Teenage children need large doses of encouragement and approval from their parents for their personal growth and you need to be aware of this when interacting with them.
You also need to introspect and analyze your ways of expressing your anger or frustration. Do you lose control and give vent to excessive language or gestures when you are angry or hurt? Perhaps your teenager has observed these traits in you and unconsciously internalized them. If this is the case, then it is time to acknowledge the fact and try to bring about a change in yourself before you try and correct your susceptible teenager. This can also be a wonderful method to establish great comfort levels in the parent and teen relationship.
However, you also need to understand that certain situations rightly provoke anger in your teenage child. Rather than indulging in the blame game at this juncture, you should talk to your child and discuss the other alternatives that could have helped to cope with the situation better. This kind of discussion will help your child probe the choices that were available to him or her and deal with similar situations in a more matured manner. It will also help to cement the parent-teen tie and cause your child to look upon you as a benign guide who is always ready to stand by him or her.
Another sensible move on your part would be to assign your teenager with responsibilities and give them more control over their lives. Having the power to take personal decisions is extremely valuable to the teenage child and most of them will use it wisely since they do not want their parents to be disappointed in them. Of course, if you have serious reason to mistrust your child, this is a step that you have to re-consider. In most cases, though, the teenage child will appreciate your treatment and trust and behave in a manner that will make you proud as a parent.
These are some small steps that can transform the relationship between parents and teens into something that is incredibly precious and beautiful. What you ultimately need to remember is that thoughtful parenting during the teenage years will go a long way in developing great adults who will always look upon parents as their friends.

The desire to be a good grandparent is overwhelming, given the uniqueness of the relationship between grandchild and grandparent. If you wish to improve your skills as a grandparent, or merely garner ideas of how to best interact with your grandchild, here are a few hints and tips:
It is not always good to talk. Many advisors may suggest you try and talk to your grandchild, but unfortunately this creates a difficult atmosphere where a child often feels they are subject to some kind of interrogation. While the idea of sitting and talking deeply with your grandchild is understandably attractive, it has to happen naturally. Instead of expecting a rapport to already be in place, you can instead encourage the child to interact with you in other ways, such as playing together or making something. The conversation that happens during activity has two fold benefits; it is natural, and therefore the feeling of interrogation is minimized, and it also helps create a bond and level of communication that can be returned to.
Think like a child. Although it may be awhile since you have tried to do so, the best way to interact and develop a relationship with a child is to try and put yourself in their mindset. Try and ask yourself what children like, what they require, and how are they best stimulated. Your favorite hobby is probably not theirs, and the best way – particularly with young children – to bond is to see the world through their eyes. Encourage them to suggest activities, and provided these activities are safe, try and go along with them. This will help build a relationship between you and your grandchild, and they will associate you with fun, pleasant things.
Be aware of their likes and dislikes. Young children are particularly fussy when it comes to food, and while it is not advisable to roll out the ever popular junk food when your grandchildren come to stay, it is a good idea to remember their particular likes and dislikes. If they have a particular hatred of, for example tomatoes, write this down and don’t try and force them to eat tomatoes. Just remembering their little foibles will go a long way – but remember, children change their minds quickly, and what was flavor of the month the last time they visited may now be hated. Just roll with the punches and acknowledge this – admittedly frustrating – quick mind changing is just part of being a child.
Engage, do not preach. A sure fire way to make a child dislike your company is to preach to them – and not just in religious terms. Telling a child the benefits of healthy eating or the importance of exercise is not your job; it is their parents. Instead, make your role with the child fun and engaging, an authority figure who has the fun of not actually having to hand out discipline. Where necessary, chastise or inform them, but keep it short and succinct.
Find an activity just for the two of you. A huge benefit to being a grandparent is that you have more time than you did with your own children, and more free time than the child’s parents probably have. It is therefore a good idea to find an activity that you and your grandchild can do together, something that becomes ‘your’ thing. Ensure it is something the child wants to do and you can do happily, and thankfully you will be better prepared to make time for this activity than most. Indulge in this chosen activity often, and soon the relationship between you and your grandchild will blossom.

www.outpostnaturalfoods.coop Hungry for dinner? Not Much time? Here’s a gluten free OR whole wheat pasta recipe with tuna, lemon & capers. Outpost Natural Foods – big enough to meet your needs, small enough to meet your neighbor! filming by Diana Sieger music by the Subcontinentals