How to Limit Your Child’s Exposure to 80,000 Toxic Chemicals

January 6, 2013 by Dagmar Bleasdale 12 Comments

I’ve been wanting to write about the very shocking numbers I learned about when I went to the Healthy Child Healthy World’s Moms on a Mission event in December.

It was wonderful to be in the same room with so many women who are just as passionate about green living, and when I hear these statistic I want to scream them from the rooftop and do what I can to get more people to realize the magnitude of the problem of toxic chemicals in our everyday life.

Limit Child’s Exposure to 80,000 Toxics

Here are just three facts:

There are more than 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the U.S — and none of them have been tested for children’s safety!

Babies are now born with 200+ chemicals in their body.

In the last 20 years, there has been a

400% increase in food allergies
300% increase in asthma
400% increase in ADHD and
1,500% increase in autism!

Coincidence? No!

Do you want to avoid those toxins but don’t know where to start? Here are a few tip:

[Read more…]

The Flu and Kitchen Hardware

January 4, 2013 by Dagmar Bleasdale 3 Comments

I haven’t been blogging for days because I’m still in bed with the flu. I fainted yesterday and hit my head on a bedside table, giving Don quite a scare. I feel a little better today and hope by tomorrow the chills are gone and my energy back.

Interesting how you all of a sudden want to take a walk in the sunshine when you can’t :)

I don’t even have new pictures to share, I haven’t really taken any since deciding that I’m not using Instagram like I used to for my blog posts.

[Read more…]

DIY Fun With Kids: Pinecone Bird Feeder

December 30, 2012 by Dagmar Bleasdale 7 Comments

Pinecone Bird Feeder

Are you looking for an easy DIY pinecone bird feeder tutorial? Here you go!

We made pinecone bird feeders at our last 4-H meeting, and it was a big hit with the kids and so easy.

And we learned something interesting: we’re doing birds a favor by feeding them in the winter. Birds need to eat all day in order to maintain energy to stay warm and to survive in cold climates.

Some birds have to consume as much as their body weight every day. At 5° F, a sparrow can only live without food for up to 15 hours.

So have fun with the kids and make some bird happy!

Pinecone Bird Feeder Tutorial

You will need these supplies:

Pine cones
Paper plates
Butter knife or tongue depressors
Smooth peanut butter (I’d buy the one with less salt)
Birdseed
Ribbon or yarn
Scissors
Little cups

Get a large clump of peanut butter on the paper plate for every participant or put some in a little cup.
Use the knife or wooden stick to spread peanut butter on the pinecone.

Fill the little cups with birdseed. Sprinkle the birdseed over the pinecone and roll the pinecone in the birdseed on the plate.
Once you are happy with your bird feeder, cut a long length of yarn or ribbon to hang the bird feeder.
Tie the ribbon around the pine cone near the top and tie a knot in the end of the ribbon.

We also made simple gift bags out of paper bags that we decorated with a stamp. Then we used a hole puncher to make a hole, and closed the bag with a ribbon.

Pin this for later!

Our birds gobbled up this feeder in a day. Time to make more!

You would also like this post: 15 DIY Animal Feeder Ideas

Green Living Gets Easier With the Chevy Volt Electric Car

December 24, 2012 by Dagmar Bleasdale Leave a Comment

I haven’t told you yet about the week I test drove the Chevy Volt electric car, the best-selling plug-in car in the U.S. We are still missing this zippy car!

Being a green living advocate, I couldn’t wait to drive an electric car for the first time.

The second the Volt got dropped off at our house, I fell in love with it — the no-fuss seats that are super comfortable, the quiet drive, and the Boss speakers that are such an improvement to what I have now. And the acceleration is amazing!

The best feature of course is that you can charge the Volt for about $1.60 to get 38 miles before you switch to using regular gas. [Read more…]

Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving

November 22, 2012 by Dagmar Bleasdale 1 Comment

I was itching to make my own table decor inspired by the Thanksgiving decorating ideas I posted yesterday.

Here is the result: pumpkins on candle sticks, candles I made, fall decor I had, greenery that was still nice from the centerpiece from Don’s party, silver kettles, a milk glass vase, and an earthenware bottle.

Took me five minutes to put together on a tray I lines with fake leaves so the design on it wouldn’t distract from the fall decor.

Wishing you a wonderful, memorable Thanksgiving!

Limit Child’s Exposure to 80,000 Toxics

Pinecone Bird Feeder

Pinecone Bird Feeder Tutorial

You will need these supplies:

Create a beautiful home on a budget!

Thank you!

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