SAVED BY THE SUN.....WHEN Will We Wake UP?????

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/solar/

My apologies for being super busy on Earth Day and not doing a proper entry that day on Earth Festivities and the like! Next year, I'll be on that way in advance!

Fittingly, the other night I stumbled across an amazing NOVA program called

SAVED BY THE SUN.

If you follow the link above, you can get to their site and read all kinds of information on solar power! I highly recommend you watch this program with your family on OPB. Nova is FANTASTIC programming! You can even watch their programs ON LINE!!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/

The following paragraph taken from this link:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/solar/about.html

"Other countries are pursuing solar power with far more gusto than the U.S. NOVA travels to Germany, which despite not being known for sunny weather, has become a solar mecca. By offering cash incentives, the government has encouraged many citizens, from city dwellers to a pig farmer, to put up solar panels. Astonishingly, Germany is now on track to produce 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. By contrast, the U.S. gets only 1 percent of its energy from solar and wind power. However, there are those, including Vijay Vaitheeswaran, energy correspondent for The Economist, who fear that Germany's expensive program could ultimately be hard to sustain."

Also, check out this amazing information about Kramer Solar Field in Kramer Junction California!! This is QUITE amazing to me! Read all about "Power From the Sun" at this link:

http://www.powerfromthesun.net/chapter1/Chapter1.htm

Here is another fantastic informational link to follow:

http://www.ecomall.com/biz/solarcat.htm

Largest Solar Park Opens in Germany! Read about it here:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/largest_solar_p.php

TELL CONGRESS TO BRING BACK 40% SOLAR TAX CR EDITS!!!!

http://www.ecomall.com/activism/suntax.htm

"A patch of 100 square miles of open space covered with efficient solar panels such as in Nevada, where sun rays are powerful, could generate all the electrical power needs of the United States." - National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Think Before You Pink!!

http://www.honeybeegardens.com/natural-cosmetics/products/cbnl.html

I am desperate to find a totally new cosmetic line to use. I mainly use lipstick, mascara and a little green or brown color on my eyes. Check the above link to HoneyBee Gardens for some great products!!!

In my research with even so-called “natural” products, I am finding the parabens and such that I am trying to completely eradicate from my use! I have found parabens in the Body Shop lipsticks as well, which is shocking & disturbing to me, since I believed that they had gone “natural” a while back. While their products DO contain natural ingredients, there are still hazardous chemicals being put into the cosmetics for its preserving action and preventing microbial growth in cosmetics.

I did a google search on “cosmetics WITHOUT parabens” and I came up with this link http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/Resources.html

PLEASE check out the links they have provided there!!

Good luck and send me any comments on any of the products if you have in fact tried any of them! I will be posting my product findings as soon as possible!

Dangers in Pretty Packages......

I sometimes stop by the Dollar Store to pick up my favorite Dollar Store item: the superconvienient Doggy Poop Bags. They are plastic, but this is the one thing I'm not sure how to change...I have to have the plastic to pick up the poop! It's the perfect size for little doggy doodys and are the best buck a girl with a dog could spend. I sometimes stop and smell the lotions and see if there really is a deal in there that can't be beat for a buck other than the fabulous PB's (Poop Bags!). I recently bought these really yummy smelling girly lotions, thinking I would keep one for myself, give one to the daughter, and one to my mom or a friend...Well, the boyfriend pointed out that there are some pretty scary ingredients in my lovely girly lotion!

The specific culprits of concern are:
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
Please Follow These Links!!!

CANCER CAUSING CHEMICALS!!!!

Again, I am brought back to my research and realizations about the fact that I really have to change my consuming habits, read labels, and only patronize businesses and companies that are trying to NOT kill me with their cosmetics and foods!

I really do hate waste, but what I have decided to do is to dispose of the lotions inside and clean the little containers out and use them for tacks, paper clips or other art findings and things....

I'm thinking about starting to make my own lotions. Actually, the boyfriend has made me some body lotions in the past....I am going to have a little conference and I'll get a recipe for you!

Until next time, READ YOUR LABLES!
RESEARCH and KNOW WHAT YOU'RE USING!!!

How To Prepare a Healthy Balanced Menu

Found at http://nutrition.about.com/od/diets/ht/samplemenu1.htm

From Shereen Jegtvig,Your Guide to Nutrition.FREE Newsletter.
Here is one example of how to prepare a healthy, balanced menu for an entire day.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 10 to 30 minutes per meal.

Here's How:
Breakfast: one cup strawberries, one-half cup low fat cottage cheese with one tablespoon of sunflower seeds. One slice of whole grain toast.

Midmorning: one small apple, eight walnuts, two ounces lean sliced chicken breast.

Lunch: three cups salad consisting of dark green lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and tomatoes with two teaspoons of walnut oil, two ounce organic beef patty served on a whole grain roll.

Mid afternoon: six ounces of tofu, one and one-half cups carrot sticks, one tablespoon of pumpkin seeds.

Dinner: one-half cup whole wheat spaghetti with one-forth cup organic marinara sauce and two ounces ground turkey. Two cups cooked green vegetables such as asparagus, spinach or broccoli drizzled with two teaspoons flax oil.

Evening Snack: six whole grain crackers with one ounce sliced cheese and one small apple.

Tips:
Drink at least six to eight glasses of water per day.
Choose whole grain breads and cereals.
More How To's from your Guide To Nutrition
Updated: February 11, 2007

Interview: Al Gore explains how you can fight global warming

Here is a good place to start on researching global warming and the ideas in regards to living one's life as responsibly as possible. I will be having a movie night soon with Al's movie "An Inconvienient Truth". For more information, you can visit this site http://www.climatecrisis.net/

WELCOME to my new blog for healthier living ideas and for a movement toward a simpler, more sustainable, conscious lifestyle.

The recent pet food recall really got me kicked into "activist" mode. I've always been one to want to fight for justice - and now, I'm waking up to the seriousness of what's in not only our animals' food, but our food, cosmetics, you name it, there's something bad in it! So, I'm seeking out healthier alternatives and simpler living, and if we all do the same, we CAN make a difference. I hope that even in your busy life, you will take the time to do your own research and make up your own mind about what you are willing to do for yours & your families' health and peace of mind. Please feel free to send me links and ideas to share. I plan to grow this resource page and share it with everyone! Please help me spread the word and send the link to anyone you believe will have an interest in these areas! I'll be working hard on my end to do my part and I hope you will too. Find places to shop, places to eat that are better for you and the planet. A lot of little steps make up a lot of distance, and it's obvious that we have a long way to go.....