Happy Holidays 2007

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
~Washington Irving


Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com

Happy Thanksgiving 2007

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,
but the parent of all the other virtues. ~Cicero

Back To School 2007

This week we'll join the ranks of the back-to-school crowd. DD is 5 and starting virtual public school. I'm feeling excited but also a bit nervous about this new adventure. Even though she will be taught at home, we are a part of Connections Academy in Oregon and our first day of school is August 29th. This was a compromise between her father (public school) and I (unschooling). I'll give my feedback as we progress through the school year.

ATTENTION:
Toy Recall from Mattel -there are issues with lead paint and magnets


TreeHuggerz Archives
School Shopping: Less is better for your wallet and your kids

Back to School Clothes Shopping


TreeHuggerz Freebies
Connections Academy
Virtual public school that only costs an internet connection. All course materials are provided. If you qualify they may even provide a computer. Not available in all states, see web site for current information. DD is starting kindergarten through Connections Academy this year in Oregon.

Project Gutenberg
Free ebook downloads, many available in over 50 different languages and in various formats, including audio. From classics to fairy tales to text books you'll find something to interest every member of your household. Volunteers and contributions needed.

International Kids Space
A non-profit educational organization for kids of all nations. It's a link-free site with creative activities for children 13 years old and under. Contributions are always welcome and can be done via Helping.org.

Update -July 2007

After a break from the internet in general and a battle with a computer virus, I'm back to the blog. This posting is all about arts and crafts. As a mother and caregiver for a Grandma with dementia, I'm always looking for fun activities everyone can enjoy. The homemade clay recipe below is full of texture and a creative activity for kids over 3 years of age.

Sand Clay

2 cups sand
1 cup water
1 cup cornstarch

Mix in a pot over low heat until thickened. Allow to cool and mold as desired. This is not an edible clay. Decorate with treasures from the beach. Air dry for a day or two. Finished projects can be painted.


New TreeHuggerz Articles
Tips -Inexpensive Craft Ideas For Kids
Herbs -Tasteful Tarragon

TreeHuggerz Freebie
33 Interesting Craft eBooks -Free download in a zipped file. Must have a PDF reader to view them (also free) and can be shared with friends. Many have ideas for gifts and a few projects suitable for kids.

Sampling of the titles:
Homemade Air Fresheners
Making Homemade Paper
Natural Plant Dyes: Dyeing Wool
Trash Art
How to Make Homemade Cat Food

Happy Father's Day 2007!

I felt something impossible for me to explain in words. Then, when they took her away, it hit me. I got scared all over again and began to feel giddy. Then it came to me... I was a father.
~Nat King Cole

Photo courtesy of Morguefile.com

Herbal Soap Making Question

While going through feedback for TreeHuggerz, I found an email from S. who is looking for herbal soap information. Her question and my response are below. Since I don't make soap, my answer is more the result of online research than personal experience. If any of you talented readers have recipes or tips to share, please comment on this post.

Question:
"...would love some helpful hints in incorporating herbs into soap making...have a niece with eczema and she desperately wants to find some thing natural that will help...so do I...how can I add and get the full benefit of chickweed/marigold into a soap?"

Answer:
From what I've found online, it pays to add essential oils in addition to finely powdered, dried herbs. If you like a bit of texture and visual interest in your soap, then throw in some dried marigold petals.

Soap Making Resources:

TeachSoap.com - The Soap Making FAQ on this site is fantastic and you can ask the expert, Anne-Marie, your questions if they haven't already been answered.

WaltonFeed.com - These are old-fashioned soap recipes that I thought you might like.

Soap Recipes - Free recipes and directions condensed from Elaine White's book, 'Soap Recipes: Seventy tried-and-true ways to make modern soap with herbs, beeswax and vegetable oils.'

Zenda's Homemade Soap and Beauty Recipes - Lots of helpful tips in addition to recipes.


New TreeHuggerz Articles
Indoor Organic Herb Garden
What You Need To Know When Planting A Tree

Happy Mother's Day 2007

Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.
~Lin Yutang

Photo courtesy of sxc.hu

TreeHuggerz New Articles
Make an Easy and Elegant Birdbath
An English Cottage Garden

TreeHuggerz Freebies
Check out the following links for organic savings online and by coupon.
Organic Coupons
Coupon Craze
Mambo Sprouts

Happy Earth Day 2007

There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth.

We are all crew.
~Marshall McLuhan, 1964

The TreeHuggerz archive has some ideas on how you can celebrate Earth Day everyday! Currently we have a list of 96 small things you can do to go green.

New TreeHuggerz Articles
Tips -Free Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Herbs -How to Plan an Herb Garden

There are three new TreeHuggerz Cafe Press items showcasing original art by my daughter, age five. Her colorful butterfly family design is perfect for your little one.

TreeHuggerz Freebies
10,000 Thoughts - Send and/or receive good thoughts.
Urth.tv - Social networking with an eco theme.
Divine Caroline - Women's online community where you are encouraged to participate in what matters to you and your life.

My Blog Log Giveaway

This contest is courtesy of Broc at Existential Ventures.com. You must join his community at MyBlogLog to enter and he has other ways to earn more entries, like posting about his contest on your blog. The winner will be randomly chosen once his MyBlogLog community reaches 500 members. At the time of this post, there are 69 members.

The prize is a Canon Photo Printer Pixma iP1700, valued at $49.99

The photo above is an example of the printer, not an actual photo of the prize.

Best of luck to all who enter!

Check out Five for Fighting

Watch an online music video or upload one to help raise money for charity. Five for Fighting

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AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

Lavender Love

Spring is almost here and it's time for new beginnings at TreeHuggerz. One new addition is the Lavender Love company as an affiliate. From essential oils to pet toys they have a vast selection of products for your home. Cooking with lavender is something I'd like to try and their selection has given me inspiration. Culinary lavender, Herbs de Provence (7 herb blend includes lavender) and teas are available for adding a gourmet flair to your recipes. Please enjoy the article below from lavender expert, Jenny Bishop. She has some good ideas on how to use lavender with whole grains.

New TreeHuggerz Articles
How Patience and Faith Can Create A Happy Wallet For You
Top Six Natural Energy Boosters

Cooking with Culinary Lavender
by Jenny Bishop

Have you tried whole grains with culinary lavender? Whole grains are making a comeback, and their advantages in terms of health and environmental conservancy are well known. However, to many palates accustomed to refined flour, whole grains seem tasteless and heavy. By using our Culinary Lavender, you can create healthy, satisfying meals that taste - and smell - delicious. Adding Lavender Lemon Pepper or Italian Seasoning with Lavender to your whole grains is the key to making nutritious meals that your entire family will love.

Why are Whole Grains So Beneficial?

Natural grains consist of three parts - the germ, the bran, and the endosperm. White rice, flour, and other refined grains are made by processing endosperm and discarding the bran and germ. The endosperm consists almost entirely of starch, while minerals, vitamins, proteins, and other healthy substances are found in the bran and germ. Although the endosperm has a milder taste and softer texture, adding culinary lavender to whole grains makes them just as appealing as refined grains - or even more so!

Using Culinary Lavender to interest your family in whole grains is also environmentally friendly. Nearly one third of every bushel of grain is discarded in the refining process. By using whole grains, you are extending the usefulness of every acre of grain that is planted.

What does Culinary Lavender Add to Your Meal?

Culinary Lavender looks and smells wonderful, but it also does more than just make whole grains more appetizing. Culinary Lavender has been known since Roman times for its soothing and healing properties. A pinch of Italian Seasoning with Lavender in your rice can relieve dizziness, or some Lavender Lemon Pepper mixed with whole grain flour for a fish batter can ease the pain of headaches as well as tasting great.

How Can I Use Culinary Lavender with Whole Grains?

Here are some suggestions for using Culinary Lavender while cooking with whole grains:

· Add Italian Seasoning with Lavender to homemade whole grain pastas, or use it to spice up your spaghetti sauce when cooking store bought whole grain pasta.

· Bake whole wheat breads with a touch of Culinary Lavender, to add a hint of alluring flavor to your loaves.

· Sprinkle Lavender Lemon Pepper over your stone-ground whole grain grits in the morning.

· Make a spicy topping for your whole wheat bread using a mixture of garlic, olive oil, and Italian Seasoning with Lavender.

· Use whole grain flour mixed with Lavender Lemon Pepper as a batter dip for fried vegetables, fish, and chicken fingers.

· Crush some Culinary Lavender with raw sugar, and sprinkle it over your whole grain oatmeal for breakfast.

About The Author
Jenny Bishop teaches many culinary classes with the use of culinary lavender and is one of the judges for the Lavender Gourmet Recipe Contests hosted throughout the year by Lavender-n-Things. For free lavender recipes visit www.lavendernthings.com.

Happy Valentine's Day 2007

Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time,
destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.
~Author Unknown

Marlo Quinn Company Update

Marlo Quinn is closed for business, apparently since February 1, 2007. I found out yesterday morning and have been cleaning up my links all over the web. There don't seem to be any details and the site is GONE. There is a rumor of the company being bankrupt posted in one of the MySpace Groups but there is no way for me to verify that at the moment. Marlo Quinn was a young business but I really felt they had the potential to be a profitable enterprise.

 

If you are owed merchandise or refunds from the Marlo Quinn Company, please go to the website below.

They have information on how to file complaints and offer an opportunity to tell your story.

http://www.freewebs.com/marloquinnproblems/