Happy Earth "Mama" Day!

Dear Mamas,
Since today is Earth Day, I am feeling inspired to share some thoughts on "green living". As a "Natural Mama", I try to keep our planet in mind everyday, wheather it is using canvas bags when grocery shopping, using natural household cleaners (that are home-made and non-toxic), carpooling or recycling. I encourage you to look at your own lifestyle and see where you are also being a "natural mama" or where you can make a change. In a future blog I will be giving you recipes on how you can make your own household cleaners!

Some ideas: Carpooling with friends to the store or school, always keep your canvas bags with you for grocery shopping, walk when you can instead of driving, keep a recycling bin (and use it!), have a toy/clothes swap with friends or donate them to a charity, keep plants in your house to better your air quality, watch your electricity usage, take shorter showers, make your own baby food and buy as little packaged/canned/jarred/processed food as possible.

Check out http://www.treehugger.com/ for endless ideas, articles and more on "being green".

A final thought: The Sanskrit word "Ahimsa" means "to do no harm" or "to avoid violence". This can be applied to many aspects of life - do no harm to others, to animals, to the planet or ourselves. This harm, which can be physical or mental, should be avoided at all costs.

Love your self, love your family, love your life...