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Plan Your Wedding with the Environment in Mind
July 7, 2008, 6:24 pm
Filed under: Earth Friendly Campaigns and Products, food, health and beauty, organic gifts, weddings and celebrations, world concerns | Tags:

Many couples are now planning to tie the knot with Earth-friendly celebrations and the wedding industry is adapting to their wishes.  There are all kind of ways to have a green wedding without sacrificing the fun, elegance or style you want. 

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something………..green?
 
Here’s some ideas:
 
Consider a daytime outdoor wedding and reception-no electricity or lighting and you won’t have to decorate two spots or travel from one place to another.
 
Choose locally grown products especially local flowers and menu items,  Eco-Chic Weddings .  Suggest glass bowls of seasonal fruits or candles instead of flowers. 
 
Ask the hard questions – such as “Where does the food come from?  How is it raised or produced? A good caterer will be happy to answer your questions and work with you.
 
Serve smaller food items maybe tapas-style which will also save you money.  Better food but less because most people don’t want huge portions anyway.  Left over food can be donated to a local charity or food bank too.
 
Buy recycled paper for your invitations and skip the save-the-date cards.  You can email your guests using a free wedding web site.  This can be a great alternative to sending out traditional paper invitations at all.
 
Plan favors that are useful after the wedding like little jars of raw honey.  Opt for creative centerpieces like framed photos or soy candles instead of lots of flowers. Set up charity favors to a favorite charity of your choice and print out a small card to communicate this too guests.  
 
When it comes to what you and your wedding party will wear, there are no rules other than the ones you make yourself.  Vintage or “gently” used dresses are a great find whether they come from a shop or your mom or sister’s closet.  Some dresses even come in eco-friendly fabrics such as silk, organic cotton, bamboo or hemp.  Grooms have been renting tuxedos for years which are the best of “reuse”. If your suit or dress needs to be cleaned, consider an environmentally friendly dry cleaner.
 
Set up carpools for attending guests and pick an eco-travel honeymoon.  Check out a special Green Travel Report for ideas    
 
It is important that a bride and groom feel good about their decisions.  If you can’t do everything, that’s totally all right.  Pick and choose how green to be.  Do what YOU can.  Even the small steps make a big difference.
 
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Natural Cough Relief
June 17, 2008, 9:32 pm
Filed under: Earth Friendly Campaigns and Products, health and beauty | Tags: , ,

I have a minor cough from a summer cold and was looking for something holistic to help me through while it runs its course.  I tried this tea recipe that is not only natural but reliable for coughs.  It contains thyme for chest congestion, honey to sooth the throat along with sage and vitamin-C-rich lemon.

Pour hot water over 2 teaspoons of organic lemon rinds, 1 teaspoon of sage and 1/2 teaspoon of thyme.  Use either dried or fresh herbs.  Add the juice of 1/2 lemon and a tablespoon of honey. 

You can drink 2 or 3 cups a day for cough relief.  I think it helped clear my sinuses too.   A good shot of Irish Whiskey might help too:)

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Large Belly Equals High Risk for Alzheimer’s
June 11, 2008, 1:08 am
Filed under: Weight Loss, food, health and beauty | Tags: , ,
A recent study predicts that a potbelly in middle age will more than triple your  risk of senility later. This large study pinpoints a new link between obesity and Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Researchers found that obese people who carried most of their weight in the abdominal area in their 40’s were 3.6 times more likely to develop dementia and even more shocking was that people who are just over weight with large tummies were 2.3 times more likely to be at risk for forms of senility later.  With moderate exercise you can reduce belly fat and a healthier lifestyle can reap big benefits later.  Visit everydayhealth  or the National Women’s Health Information Center to learn more about proper weight loss.
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High Blood Pressure and Exercise
June 3, 2008, 9:11 pm
Filed under: Handling Daily Stress With Meditation and Mental Focus, Weight Loss, health and beauty | Tags: ,

 High blood pressure is basically an increase in the amount of blood pumped by the heart. It is a condition in which the force of blood against artery walls is too strong.  Over time, high blood pressure can damage the arteries, heart and kidneys and can lead to heart disease and stroke.  It is generally defined as a blood pressure reading greater than 140 over 90.  Factors such as heredity, obesity, smoking and emotional stress are thought to play a role in why  a person has high blood pressure.  Physical activity reduces blood pressure.  Physical activity also helps you manage your weight, but being active will lower your blood pressure even if you don’t lose weight.

 You will need a pedometer, a heart rate monitor or some other “feed back device”.  Also good shoes, comfortable clothing, sunscreen, water bottle, a watch, a hat and a good attitude.

 
Step 1   Walk – walking is cheap and the most efficient use of time and money when trying to lower your blood pressure.  Swing your arms as you walk and keep your head up.  Be sure your back is straight and your abdomen is flat.  Point your toes straight ahead and walk with a long, easy stride that doesn’t strain you.
 
Step 2  Walk Daily – walk at least 30 minutes a day everyday.
 
Step 3  Walk Briskly – aim for a 15 minute mile.
 
Step 4  Pick other activities -jogging, rowing, dancing, swimming, cycling, rollerblading, circuit training are all activities that will give you an aerobic workout.  By varying the routine you fend off boredom.  If you stick to walking then add some hills or uneven terrain occasionally.
 
Step 5  Set Goals – set goals for yourself by using your feedback device.  For instance, you might want to use a pedometer and increase your steps everyday or try to walk a route a little faster each day or week.
  If you get a little perspiration going you’ll know you’ve hit your goal of getting your heart pumping.  The key to exercising to lower blood pressure is persistence, variety and pushing yourself.  Remember that regular vigorous exercise also helps you lose or maintain your weight, builds strong bones and  lowers your risk of diabetes and heart disease.
   According to the American Heart Association  cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Start slowly if you have not been physically active for awhile.  Remember that people who do not exercise are more likely to develop high blood pressure than people who do exercise. 
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What To Do With Old Medications?
May 30, 2008, 12:55 am
Filed under: Earth Friendly Campaigns and Products, health and beauty | Tags: ,

For years, we just flushed them down the toilet and never thought twice but now such cities as Las Vegas and many others are finding traces of numerous drugs in their drinking water!  Antibiotics, hormones and mood stabilizers are tainting the drinking water supply of millions of Americans.

These medications also find their way into our nation’s waterways that support many species of fish and other wildlife.  What to do with old medications is a serious question.

*Don’t flush unused medicines.  We used to be instructed to do so but not anymore.  It could adversely affect the environment and your health.

*Crush solid medications and dissolve them in water:dilute liquid medication in water.  Then mix, the solution with kitty littler, sawdust or another material that a child or pet would be unlikely to get into.  Place it in a bag that you seal shut and put in the garbage.

*Get answers from your pharmacist.  Ask your drug store for more tips on proper disposal of prescription medications and whether your pharmacy accepts unused medications.  Sometimes, your state or town will have a collection day or program in place for unused medications or old prescriptions.

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