Because natural isn't always possible — or easy.
Posted in Going Green on Dec 31st, 2009
After almost four months of writing this blog, I’ve decided I need to put my money where my mouth is — literally. It’s December 31, the last day to donate to charities if you want to write off those donations on your 2009 taxes. In past years we have supported wonderful charities such as Memorial [...]
Posted in Eating Healthy, Food, Going Green, Health on Dec 29th, 2009
I hung up on my mother this weekend. Childish, wrong, silly, I know. On Christmas Day we had dinner at her house. On each of the kids’ plates there was a large — and I do mean LARGE — puke green Grinch lollipop. My mom’s neighbor is one of those holiday bakers that I can [...]
Posted in Consumer Packaged Goods, Environment, Going Green on Dec 28th, 2009
Although I buy used things most of the year and even for Christmas, too, my husband feels strongly that Santa shouldn’t be cheap, and needs to worry a little less about the environment at this time of year. Unless Santa has unearthed something super-cool on eBay like the retired Little Tikes doll-size salon — he [...]
Posted in Environment, Going Green, Recycle, Reduce, Reuse on Dec 24th, 2009
Ever drive around on December 26? You’ll see bags and bags and BAGS of garbage. The amount of trash we produce grows exponentially during the holidays. What’s in most of those bags? Wrapping paper and cardboard packaging. But the front of your house doesn’t have to look like a trash heap. The reason: Most of [...]
Posted in Health, Illness, School and education, toddlers on Dec 23rd, 2009
My last blog post is getting record readership. And it’s spawning a ton of emails and Facebook posts. People say they felt defensive reading it. They say it was harsh against working moms. They say it has the ability to fan the flames of the Mommy Wars. I stand by the post. When I wrote [...]
I arrived at my local kid class center a few minutes early. I was doing a makeup. I usually go to the class during the day. This was an early evening makeup, though. Immediately, I saw him: The little boy lying on the floor in the corner. His eyes glassy, his nose snotty. He was [...]
Posted in Environment, Going Green, Reduce, Shopping on Dec 21st, 2009
I am a freelance journalist. I have been since October 16, 1999. My income is based on my good ideas, talent, and a little luck. There’s one more component, too: The kindness of relative strangers — the editors, producers, and project managers who give me assignments. That’s why, every year, I take the time to [...]
Posted in Emotional development, Favorite Things Friday, Play, Siblings on Dec 18th, 2009
Here in New York we’re hearing rumors of a giant, paralyzing (yes, a newscaster actually used that word) snowstorm coming our way. Giant. I think I am in the minority when I say I am actually really excited about it, even though I haven’t done any Christmas shopping yet except for what I’ve bought for [...]
Posted in Eating Healthy, Food, Health on Dec 17th, 2009
This week the New York City health department launched what has become a popular YouTube clip. In it, a man gets ready to guzzle some soda. When he pours it into a glass, globs of fat drip out instead. He drinks it anyway, which makes for good video. The point, of course, is to gross [...]
Posted in Environment, Going Green on Dec 15th, 2009
You may have missed it with all the Tiger Woods news, but this month, leaders of more than 115 countries are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark to discuss climate change. If you didn’t miss it, you may be wondering why you should care. If you’re like most people, the details of the meeting are a little [...]