Composting for Dummies...

Big update... after the imbalance that produced a cat pee smell in the beginning... and the clunking that made my mom almost trip the house alarm when she babysat (After she solved the mystery, she told us our "emulsifier" was acting up! It sounded like someone was rolling bowling balls down the stairs) we finally got our first batch our (odor free by the way) compost for our garden. The whole family helped in the filling & spreading.

Not quite the Cleavers, but we are definitely the Ks. Making our first huge step to our eco friendly quest.

Let the skeletons fall where they may...

Let's see... I've been tagged to share 6 random things about myself...

1. I wear black, white & gray almost exclusively when I am out. (This was not the most illuminating tidbit... most people know this.) However, when I am at home, my lounge clothes & pajamas are pink.

2. My vanity ALWAYS gets me in trouble. In 1981 I almost died from a horseback riding accident where I was bucked and trampled during a lesson with my trainer. How does this relate to my vanity? That morning I insisted that I wear my cowboy boots and cowboy hat even though I was studying English riding. (I looked like Nancy Wilson from Heart...getoutofhere... I was HOT! My white tube top and Sergio Valente jeans!!) My mother refused. I pitched a fit. We compromised by mom allowing me to wear my boots and I agreed to wear my steel reinforced riding helmet. You get where I am going... the boots made me get trampled and the helmet saved my life. (And my outfit was cut off my paramedics!!)

3. I start sobbing whenever a child is hurt in a movie. Did you see me during March of the Penguins? Bawling!!

4. My name was supposed to be Roxanne. Since my mother chose Bridget's name, my dad got to choose mine. My mom refused because she thought kids would tease me by calling me the name of a popular squirrel.

5. When eating a hamburger I dip my burger in the ketchup. Genetic defect- my cousin Ron and I agree.

6. I completed two marathons because someone told me I couldn't finish one.

I feel good. Like I just went to confession. Can I just use this instead?? :)

Green Festival at Navy Pier

Loved it! Our trek into the festival was amazing. I have so much information to go through it is insane. have to give you the highlights though... those things that stuck out in my mind as uber-fabulous!

The highlight was literally bumping into a vegan, gluten free bakery- G Free V. Now for those of you that don't know that one of my kids has an allergy to milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts & barley (and dogs & cats) you have no idea what a revelation this is! For almost 5 years I have not been able to have a birthday cake & now I can. As well as pastries, candies and bread! Now we can eat cake when the other kids are eating cake at parties or events. For parents of allergic kids, this is HUGE!!!

My favorite ecosmart fashion maven, Jessa (owner of Pivot Boutique) inspired me to join C3- the Chicago Conservation Corps where you can take environmental action as far as you want. Sidebar- did you know that Pivot has online sales now? They launched last week & now our out of town or busy friends can shop online when they need just about anything. If Jessa doesn't have it, she can refer you. Trust me- she is my go-to for everything eco friendly! And she is fabulous!

Learned a ton from Code Pink- Women for Peace. Now, I have never been a political person (although Fahrenheit 911 did spiral me into the voting booth to get rid of W) but I am against senseless war that perpetuates the silly notion that the USA can stick their nose in any one's lives, governments and pockets whenever they feel like it.

Purchased an awesome, organic, soft pink "recycle love" T from Holy Cow that is soft & fashion forward. Justin & gang were friendly & informative (and you just know I was the 4596th person to approach their exhibit).

For another day- I had my aura read & it was mind-blowing and painfully accurate... blogging on this later complete with visuals!!

Ever lick the bowl when you've been stirring some yellow cake mix? Don't say no.... I know you have! Well, we stumbled upon a fantastic soy ice cream- Temptation Ice Cream that literally is the best thing I have ever had. Ditch the gourmet red bean and blah blah blah... ditch the familiar B&J, even ditch the homemade jobs that you literally can taste the vanilla beans. This is it. The vanilla was rich and satisfying... the chocolate tasted like a fine Swiss milk chocolate bar- smooth and irresistible. Here is the catch & Andy put it best- no weird after taste! When he didn't have that familiar pasty taste of his tongue, Andy went back and inquired. They have 6 natural ingredients versus the numerous other things that even Soy Delicious uses. We're hooked!!

Heidi was manning the booth for A Cooler Planet - ultimately my favorite place for all eco home goods & more. Sidebar- did you know it was Heidi & Krista who turned me on to EcoMom Alliance? They are so approachable and knowledgeable... if you haven't gone into their place on Roscoe yet- you should. I know, I know, we say "if I only had the $ I would do this & this..." Well, we aren't the Gettys either. We just stop and think before we make purchases of any kind. When we forget, it makes a bigger impression on us and we do it differently next time. That is progress to me.

My kids want to give a shout to the Polar Bear who represented the Sierra Club! OK, they not only love you but they'd like to hang out with you soon. I think you have made 2 lifelong Sierra Club members in them. (Sidebar- sorry for little one head-butting you in the chachees.)

More to come as I sift through all my new mags and paraphernalia (most printed on paper you can turn into flowers!!) amazing & wonderful!

Chicago Smart Green Families

So it began with a summer camp saga for kids... if you don't already read my blog on Chicago Moms Blog you may not know the drama...

I actually witnessed grown people camping out for 2 days (in tents my friend) to enroll in the Cultural Center's summer camp program. This after having lunch with a couple who probed about what camp the kids were and the moms and the questions and the drama... deep breath.

So I went searching. I googled. I went to my favorite search engine ever Hakia. Why couldn't I find the go-to-guide for green families? I needed a summer camp and I needed it fast.

Deep breath, glass of wine.

OK, I ended up so frustrated at 2am that I started one. Chicago Smart Green Families. Yeah, it's a long name but it says what I needed to say. I had toyed with the idea of starting a network for some time. So much good progress that the city is making, that families are making. I guess I wanted to connect to that good energy and grow.

And if you haven't guessed I like to pave my own way. I want my children to grow knowing basic human values instead of how to be a pirate (yes, this is actually a summer camp course in addition to super hero- no judgement.) My kids are super imaginative so that is not the area where we are building skills. My journey with green living is their journey.

My 4 yr old gave me ways of saving on plastic storage bags yesterday. We are making progress. So the group will host summer play dates to re use everyday items to make usable art, perform organic gardening at the Edible Garden at the Farm in the (Lincoln Park) Zoo, and focus on the science of environmental living. All in the park. All for free.

Join us... it won't be mainstream. It will be uber-casual & fun. Check out the calendar & we'll see you there.

My Cup Runneth Over...

has anyone seen the Diva Cup? You know the one that resides along the personal hygiene shelf at Whole Foods? I saw it and entertained the idea for a couple nanoseconds, but then visions of white pants and embarrassing exits came flooding (pardon the pun) into my mind. I was transformed back into a pre teen girl who wasn't getting the hang of this thing yet... (have I yet?)

Considering that I was born into a family that called their menstrual cycle “the curse" would I expect to have a healthy outlook? I am not sure how I learned about such things. From a magazine of my older sisters where they used terms I didn't understand and what I thought were innuendos I'd never learn. Things were never talked about. I remember looking at the products at the store so quickly as if looking at them in depth meant I had an “unhealthy obsession”. If I recall those days, I would have to admit I'd think that I'd burn in the lake of fire... I think that is how Sister Carolyn put.

So in those moments where it seemed that no one was in Aisle 12, I'd look at all the products... what do they all do? What is the thing with OB? Remember those? Do they still have them? To this day I do not know a living soul who uses/used them. Okay, have I ever asked? Heavens no.

Enough about my neuroses... back to the Diva Cup... I can't resist finding out if it works. My eco friendly sense wants me to try but can I really get out of my comfort zone? It is a healthy thing to do things that scare you into growing and evolving. I like to say those things sometimes, but I don't always live them. Just writing about the subject. Something so taboo for my family, for me. I am getting there.

The mommy confessional

Happy Mother's Day Folks! I am delighted to say that I went out last night, had a fabulous meal with friends & woke with the best answer to a mild hangover I have ever had... breakfast in bed served by 2 smiling little faces singing Happy Mother's Day to the tune of Happy B-day... heaven. After syrup soaked kisses, I sipped coffee, cleaned my plate and snuggled back into my warm, toasty bed. Now I know why my mom always requested breakfast in bed for any special occasion. Life like a queen!!

I consistently joke every Jan. 1 that I already lost my eligibility for the Mother of the Year award. Consistently I do things that are so dense that I could not possibly imagine telling other people. But I'll tell you... just today. Like a confessional for the matriarch. (Settle down for a tangent about to begin...)

Here a big one... go ahead & laugh about it. Out loud if you need to. I am fully aware how idiotic it is, but in the haze of new motherhood I had no idea. Destiny chose our pediatrician & only afterward did we find out he was a sleep expert. So after reading his book & finding out the "answer" to our sleep questions, we followed it religiously. I drank the punch.

Coming home from Gymboree my then 1 yr old would sometimes fall asleep in the car (a no-no says the good dr.) and I was so petrified that he wouldn't stay asleep if I picked him up that I would sit in the car in the driveway and just wait for him to wake up. I even think I held my breath at times. I never relaxed, I sometimes brought a snack. Oh yeah, it happened more than once. After the allotted 45 minutes it takes to have good sleep (I recite verbatim) he would wake to the semi-horror of being in his car seat (still) and I would sigh a sense of relief. "Ha ha... don't have to work on that nap! Boy am I smart!" DING DONG!

With time you gain perspective and eventually wisdom I guess. It takes a while for me. No, I wasn't raised by wolves... but I had a strange-ish upbringing that colors, or stains rather, my perspective about childhood and parenting. Right after I was turned 1 my parents purchased and began running a drycleaning plant- very hands on for the whole family. My mom jokes that my first job began at age 2 opening safety pins. I made $1 for a box of 500. Good money for the early 70's! Mom comments that it kept me very focused and very busy. Very bloody too I may add.

(Start the violins) Having to literally work (or better yet perform) to obtain my parent's attention, and moreover their approval, shaped me as an adult and a mother. Everyone has a story. It might look different from mine and not involve playing in a dungeon to escape 125 degree heat or getting high on fur chemicals dripping on my head and hands as I play as a toddler, but it's all relative I figure.

Unconventional but loving. That's where I came from & that's where I am headed. So I make mistakes? I never plan on getting that award anyway. But the breakfast in bed makes up for it all.

EcoMom Alliance & Purple Asparagus

I had the most wonderful experience & had to share...

This Thursday I popped by A Cooler Planet to attend a meeting of the EcoMom Alliance. Just a fantastic group of women who want to make better, environmentally friendly choices for their families. Great discussion, good laughs and lots of information.

Did you know that Conscious Choice is affiliated with Gaiam? Or that you can check out the Slow Food Guide to Chicago for chefs who use local produce and organic foods? I had no idea!! From our discussion we made a couple changes- buying Organic Valley milk because it is purely sustainable, using the convection oven over the conventional oven, no plastic with chicken (how did I not know this??), added Plenty to our book list, and Ecover powder to the grocery list.

I learned so much form the guest speaker, Melissa Graham, owner of Monogramme Events and President of Purple Asparagus. When choosing fish, consult the Seafood Watch Guide for the best results. To learn more about pesticides (something I need to focus on because I am not good about cleaning fruit & veggies!!) head to your Shopper's Guide. We left the group with recipes and so much to think about.

1. Change a light... I think we all do this, right?

2. Drive more efficiently- don't idle, inflate tires (I know this is a pain but go to the gas station at Clark & La Salle where it is Full Service & ask them too. It's worth the tip you give!! :)

3. Shop local, fair trade & organic. (More to come on this... I am doing some research)

4. Use non-toxic products. Parabens are bad things... Check your beauty products too!

5. Reduce, Re use, Recycle & Rot- I love this!

6. Turn off & unplug devices. This is a task and you have to get used to it. Unplugging those items you aren't aware of that are still drawing energy- the coffee pot, the sleeping computer, the cell phone charger, etc.

7. Rethink your laundry plan- cold water folks! We switched and we don't notice a difference. And trust me, with 2 young boys we have stains all the time!

8. Plant a tree.

9. Reduce mom guilt! Check out www.nativeenergy.com

10. Play more! Connect with people, learn, think, grow!!!

Hello Old Friend...news from the Green Front!

what have I been up to? Hmmmm... well, to start I have fallen in love with a mulch. Hold onto your trousers, I haven't gone loony. I have gotten into spring baby. (And yes, I have been drinking wine at 4am due to some dental pain. LONG story!)

After chatting with Jessa from Pivot about my little spring projects, she told me about Greenmaker Building Supply. It was like Vegas for the green family. Paint, rugs, bug spray, gardening tools... all the goods of the typical hardware store but with a conscience (and a good price I must add!)

So I found my Miracle Mulch. I can't tell you how smart this is. It comes in the smallest brick (lightweight). Nothing like dragging those heavy bags of mulch. You know what I'm talking about...Then they break and you have chips & hairy parts all over. Not this one. Simple chunks that expand when soaked & voila! House Beautiful!

Easy to spread & perfect size for garden areas in the city. I just used an extra storage bin I had in the basement to soak the mulch square (it shows a wheelbarrow but who is going to store one of those in the city- not me!!) I would saturate it first & then kept adding a little water as I broke off the pieces and soaked them. I quickly wised up & had 2 storage bins soaking at the same time. When one was soaking, I was taking the mulch from the other & laying it down. Efficiency- That's me!

I did the whole front & back of the house around the trees & plants with about 10 bricks. Now don't get alarmed when you soak it & it gets a little reddish tint. It dries to a beautiful finished light cedar. Gorgeous & environmentally friendly.

And did I mention that it lasts for 2 years? Saves time, money & resources- LOVE!