clean

We love our kids. But in our love, are we showering them with one too many things? And other than possibly encouraging materialism, are we also reducing their attention spans (which can set them up for disappointment down the road)?

Your floor squeaks, your cupboard shelves whirr and when you sit on your couch, it tends to speak out. What are we talking about? A home overladen and overburdened with one too many toys. As parents, we want the best for our children in every way. But is buying them every new toy that hits the shelves a good idea?

Kitchens are supposed to be clean, hygienic and somewhat sunny in health and disposition. Is your kitchen matching up to this lovely picture or is it, in fact, harboring hidden and deadly bacteria and germs?

What begins as retail therapy may end turning you into a shopaholic with too many things, too little money and a whole lot of stress.  To de-stress, start with de-cluttering your life, desk, home, and all things big and small.

As your garden plan evolves this spring…or as you continue to sow…or at whatever stage your garden is, be sure to leave some room for a few beautiful, edible garnishes! There are dozens of edible flowers you could sow, and not only are they beautiful, but they add a vibrant pop of color to any summer dish – sweet or savory. Also, adding flowers to your garden – vegetable or not – is helpful to attract and support pollinator populations.

As humans, we have a tendency to consume, discard, and repeat. Too much taking without giving back can (and does) reap dire consequences. For instance, cutting down a forest full of trees for lumber without planting new trees can cause major soil erosion, and it takes away from the animal habitat.

Today I'd like to share with you 7 ways you can give back to the Earth and the environment. We live in a massive circle of life and when we are given such bountiful gifts of love and life it is wise to keep that circle moving.  Here’s how you can do your part:

Many New Year’s resolutions involve eating better. But with such a lofty goal, it can be hard to know where to start. Fortunately, just a few simple changes make stepping in the right direction easy. This list, organized starting with the easiest steps to implement, makes cleaner eating accessible no matter what.

Castile soap is one of the simplest, cleanest types of soap available on the market and can be used for a wide variety of things. Originally from the Castile region of Spain, castile soap is made from olive or vegetable oil and sodium or potassium hydroxide (depending on whether it is in bar or liquid form). Popular brands of castile soap include Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile and Kirk’s Original Castile, though many varieties can be found in stores.

We’d all love to imagine that pantry pests don’t exist. Spotless grocery stores and clean, sterile kitchens in advertisements make it easy to pretend for a while. But at home, no matter how hard we try, things creep in that we’d rather not have there—especially when we’re storing natural foods that aren’t heavily processed and packaged.

When flu season arrives, many people around you will start to get sick. Normally, you’d head to the nearest store and stock up on antibacterial gels and sanitizing wipes, but this could be a mistake. Studies show that these items offer no more protection than a traditional (non-antibacterial) soap-and-water hand-wash. Furthermore, many can create scenarios that actually lead to health problems down the line.

Someone I know swears he catches fewer colds than most adults because he ate dirt by the handful as a child. Maybe he’s right, who knows, but it’s not necessary nor recommended that anyone test his hypothesis at home.