Exercise of the Month - August, Part 2

             This is the modified "monkey deadlift".   With a "monkey" on your back, hinge forward from the hip, (placing your hands on thighs for extra support) until you feel a stretch in your hamstrings.  Stand up using your glutes and hamstrings.  Keep your back flat and abs engaged throughout.   

Exercise of the Month - August Part 1

         I call this move the "Monkey Squat".  If you've got a few monkeys around the house, enlist them to be your personal trainers and count out your reps.  My monkeys love doing these moves (which usually makes me do more than I would do on my own).   With this extra weight on your back, you should place your hands on thighs for extra support.   Place feet hip width apart, hands on thighs.  Lower body, sitting back, keeping weight in heels.   Raise body by sqeezing glutes and quad muscles.

Eyelash Envy

I have a problem!  I have "Eyelash Envy".   Everytime a new mascara comes out at the drugstore, I am convinced that it will be "The One".  The One that makes me look like the model on the package, The One that won't clump together, flake off or smell funky (Sheer Cover smelled super funky!).  I know full well that the models have false eyelashes, professional make-up artists, photographers and photo editors.  Even so, I buy the new mascara thinking that it will somehow fulfill my lash fantasy (Revlon Lash Fantasy, btw: 2 step application and ended up flaking under my eyes by the afternoon).  CoverGirl Exact Eyelights was supposed to bring out the natural beauty of my hazel eyes (blah blah) and Rihanna said it would make my eyes "4X brighter".  I'm not sure they were brighter...how do you measure eye brightness? Well if I can't believe Rihanna, can I believe Drew Barrymore?  I decided to take the risk and see if CoverGirl Lash Blast would "max out each lash" and remain smudge proof.  Well, I thought I'd share  a picture since, so far, this is my favorite.  (It's kinda scary, beware.  Maybe I could have smiled eh?) I still want to try Maybelline's Stilettos mascara to see if I can "grasp each lash" to get "provocative length".  I'll keep you posted.  Meanwhile, please let me know if you've found "The One".  (See why I don't really fit in at the composting workshops?)

Planting with Jason

Yesterday, I remembered to  s l o w  d o w n.  I bought a beautiful urn planter and plant to put by our front door to welcome visitors.  I think I could have re-potted it in 15 minutes, so when Jason (4yr) asked if he could help, I thought "this is gonna get messy and consume the better part of the afternoon".  But...how could I resist such a teachable moment to spend with my precious son.  It was so enjoyable to work with him and see his enthusiasm while shoveling dirt and filling up the water can and making the world a little greener.  

Suburban Kids Go To The Farm

I took the kids to the Heritage Farmstead Museum last week so they could experience life before TV, washing machines and ChickFilA.  It was a great (hot) trip and well worth the sweat.  The Farmstead docent took us on a tour and introduced us to basic chores children would have done over 100 years ago.  We did laundry, ground corn to feed chickens, milked a "cow", gathered apples and firewood, beat rugs, churned butter, planted corn, rode in a covered wagon and then played in the water down at the creek.  Avery said she wished she could do laundry, by hand, all day.

www.heritagefarmstead.org

Butter as Health Food? Yes! ; )

I was reading a copy of Mother Earth News the other day and it had an article about butter.   I have always preferred real butter to any other yellow mass of goo in a tub, but I had no idea how many types of "real" butter there could be.  It turns out I have been using the substandard, mass processed type, not realizing that it would be better if the milk came from organic, grass fed cows during the months of May-September.  I also errantly believed butter was made from cream and fat, and that was that.  Oh no, it can be so much more if it comes from said cows. The butter from these cows have CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), higher level of antioxidants and both Omega-3 & Omega-6.  Yes, butter as health food!  Anyway, I bought some today on a quick trip into Sprouts and spread it on a piece of bread as soon as the yogurt and half and half were safely refrigerated.  YUMMY!  It was so... buttery (I know, really helpful description).  It was rich and spreadable and golden and nutty and, well... so wonderful I don't think I can go back to plain ol butter.    http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/butter/pasture/ 

http://www.motherearthnews.com

"What do you mean...'crunchy'?"

I use the term all of the time to describe someone who is very, ya know, "granola", or somewhat of a tree hugging  Birkenstock wearer.  Apparently, it's not a very well know way of expressing  it because several of my friends have asked, "what do you mean, 'crunchy'?"  So I thought I'd explain myself better.  You'll never catch me letting my hair color and style grow out naturally and I don't do prairie skirts.  But, I'm kinda crunchy, more like the chewy type of granola bar.   If I can recycle something into my town recycling program, I will.  But I still forget to bring my reusable bags to the grocery store. I compost all of our household produce waste, but have very few plants to use it on.   I buy most of my groceries at Walmart, but look for organics.  Are you getting my drift?  I want to do more for the environment and for my family's health, and in fact, I am doing more than I was last year.  These small simple changes will affect the environment and my family's health for the better, but there is a deeper reason and motivation.  There is a spiritual development when you care for others; when you take care of what you have and practice good stewardship and moderation.  I have a tendency toward consumerism and consumption, but I want to grow in consciousness, thoughtfulness and contentment.  Little by little I am changing, so, I'm crunchier...but still wear lipgloss.