The pause that refreshes... 01/22/2011
Years ago, my mother wrote a vocal warm-up for a Woman's Retreat focused on BREATHING. The lyrics strike a chord with me and frequently are swirling through my mind: The pause that refreshes... It's time that I make it official. This blog is ON PAUSE until I am refreshed (ie: not working and if I find space in the balance between motherhood/pregnancy/marriage/etc). I love the topic of being green and have many exciting topics that I want to write about, however I can't commit to that right now... For example, today we outfitted our play area with repurposed milk crates that make perfect storage cubbies for the enormous amount of TOYS in this house! In the meantime, I am active on my personal blog and you can find me there: www.koskersidlewild.blogspot.com BREATHE!  6 Comments WINNER: the inspiring eco-mom from Life Under a Blue Roof! Congratulations Shayne!Ok mamas. Are you beginning to feel the post-Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas crunch? If you're like me, you have visions of being immortalized in family photo albums with flawless skin, timeless clothes, and a constant smile. If you're like me, you currently have Rudolph's nose, have more than your share of blemishes, and smell like...ummm... let's not go there. Please enjoy the following review written by my sister, Marianne, and giveaway hosted by Etsy crafter: PICNIC BASKET CRAFTS. Some problems are solvable :)  Headbands that will (almost) cure headaches 11/18/2010
I have my fair share of headaches right now because I just started a NEW JOB! I had the opportunity to take a long-term sub position for a local school counselor and couldn't pass up the chance to earn a little extra dough before bambino #2 as well as trying on the whole WORKING MOM routine. After 3 days of work, I can say that it feels really good to be back in my professional role, Zel has already grown a lot in terms of not being the center of attention and learning to share, and that I cherish my few hours with her even more than before. I can also say that given the choice (ie a world where money doesn't exist), I'd choose to stay home with my little dumpling. But, it's only been THREE days, so I'll report back to you later! For now, I'm aghast to tell you that I haven't been lazy or napped or read a novel ALL WEEK! ahem... Side note: my new coworkers probably think I'm a freak 'cause one of my first "get-to-know-you" questions is always: "so what are you serving your family for dinner tonight?". I mean, I had trouble getting a healthy(ish) dinner on the table when I was home, now I'm COMPLETELY AT A CULINARY LOSS! Thank goodness this job is just about the length of my 2nd trimester. My family would have starved during the exhausting 1st trimester! Ok, so you want to know WHO WON THE WHAT A HOOT HEADBANDS? Many thanks to the talented Lauren who has patiently waited for this contest and now for results. Thanks to everyone who entered. I have SO many more awesome giveaways and ideas for this blog... stay with me... it'll come :) Out of 18 entries (Mary Beth had to comment twice and so I counted her 1st one for the entry :)... LUCKY NUMBER SIX won the cornucopia of WHAT A HOOT HEADBANDS! WAIT ONE DOSH GARN SECOND... KATRINA AGAIN!?!?! She won my last contest! Oh, my sister is going to be leaving me a LONG voicemail of complaints (she's entered EVERY contest I've hosted and never won!). Oh well, good things come to those who wait :) What A Hoot Headbands Review & Giveaway 10/27/2010
Initially, this was a PAMPER THE MAMA giveaway (which occurred in September), but as many of you know, someone got “knocked up” and so now I am debuting this Etsy line during my pregnancy reveal. And truly, it’s a perfect fit. I am not one who is complimented on my cuteness or trendiness. I’d love to be trendy, but then I’d have to shop and I don’t like to shop (which is why I rely on my fellow bloggers to point me in the right direction and save me the trouble!).  Since I am the main photographer in the house, I rarely have pics of myself. So, I enlisted the help of some goons…er… friends to pose with the headbands. Let’s just say that one of them might have kept her headband because she loved it so much (and I love her and was happy to share).
As you (probably, you faithful readers, you!) know, I'm expecting BAMBINO #2! I'm about 13 weeks along and looking forward to the end of that nausea... any day now... . The pregnancy is SUCH a different experience from my first. With my first, I was so excited and thankful to be pregnant, that each pregnancy symptom was seen as a blessing, an affirmation of my pregnancy. I am trying to keep this perspective, but more often than not, I find myself thinking "thank goodness this is my LAST pregnancy" (hubby will be scheduling a certain procedure soon after the healthy arrival of #2). Pregnancy is HARD... and it is the best gift in the entire world. I thank God that I am a woman.
Another big difference for me is geography. With pregnancy #1, I lived in Oregon. I attended a prenatal yoga class and met other like-minded women. I seriously considered going to the gorgeous birthing center in town, but then opted to let my family practitioner deliver my baby in the small, rural hospital where my husband worked. I was so supported. It was so intimate. It was a wonderful birth experience. Everyone who worked with me during my labor and delivery read my birth plan and followed it. In fact, when I was pushing and ask my Doctor for some pain medication, he calmly waited for the contraction to stop and then asked me if I meant it and explained my very limited options. A very unique experience in our western world of trying to control labor and delivery with medications, metal devices, beds... I am very thankful. Now I live in rural NW Pennsylvania. I love it here. But I do not love the corporate hospital or the lack of options pregnant women have. In fact, every woman here has 2 options: Use the hospital and get whichever OB is on-call OR .... what... OR WHAT? The first few months of my pregancy were filled with that question. You cannot have an easy labor and delivery if you are not comfortable with your surroundings and the people supporing you... I HATE the hospital here. I HATE the fact that I might have met the doctor who will be supporting me, or I might not. Then Tara's book arrived... I have now hired a midwife and am excitingly preparing for a home birth! Below is the review I wrote months ago when I finished reading this book (the first time). Hello! Have you given up on me? My apologies for dropping off of the planet for the past 2 months. I have the BEST REASON EVER... We are expecting BABY #2! It's been 3 months and I still can't quite believe it myself, but come April, we will be welcoming a new son or daughter to our pseudo-homestead. We are very excited! And I am VERY tired! Since something had to give during my first trimester when my activity level matched that of a sleep walker, I decided to take a break from blogging. I owe a HUGE APOLOGY to the companies who expected a product review & giveaway last month. However, that means I have some GREAT products to pitch to you in the very near future! Speaking of great products, remember the Legare File Cart? Well, someone DID WIN and that someone is #1: Benita (who covets their bookcase). How cool that #1 was chosen by random.org!? Congratulations Benita and thanks to everyone who entered. Side note: I'm going to have to switch my comments so that they only post online after I've approved them. It's a bummer 'cause I like to know that my readers can see each others comments, however, for every real comment I get, I get 5-10 spam comments. It's uber annoying! Note from Julie, the LGM: Hello readers! I've been feeling under the weather and am impatient to be back to normal because I have a bunch a great product reviews & giveaways for you! I was contacted by a reader who wanted to contribute an article on biodiversity. I've been lamenting about the lack of content on LGM, so I was happy to post this article. Thanks Kori! “In other environmental issues we tell people to stop something, reduce their impact, reduce their damage,” states US Ecologist Gary Nabhan in a recent interview. Nabhan is a ethnobotanist/gardener whose promotion of biodiversity has caught the attention of many over the years. He is known for his work in biodiversity as an ethnobotanist. Since <a href=” http://www.garynabhan.com/books.html “>Coming Home to Eat</a> was published in 2001, the local food movement has ignited, causing a worldwide green epidemic. Over the past few years there has been a dramatic rise in the number of organizations and businesses that have contributed to the promotion of sustainability through conservation. The Earth Day Network has been playing a large part in bringing conservationist and green enthusiasts together, sharing ideas and discussing new ways to support the planet. Other large organizations and non-profits like Doug Band and the CGI (Clinton Global Initiative) have been working on successful emission reduction projects in the San Francisco Bay area. While climate control has continued to worsen, collaborative and individual acts are vital for any successful green campaign. As human beings, we’re constantly told to reduce our carbon footprint, consume less unhealthy foods, and spend less time in the shower! But let’s take a minute to step back and look at this from a different perspective; one that Gary Nabhan strongly suggests. According to The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, only about a quarter of crop diversity is left and that a dozen species now gives 90% of the animal protein eaten globally. In accordance, just 4 crop species supply half of plant based calories in the human diet. Nabhan suggests that eating foods that are home-grown will have a greater impact on sustainability for our planet as a whole. Otherwise known as “eat what you conserve,” is a well-established theory in that by eating the fruits and vegetables that we are attempting to conserve/save, we’re promoting the granular dissemination of various plant species. Agriculturist Marco Contiero also mentions that “biodiversity is an essential characteristic of any sustainable agricultural system, especially in the context of climate change.”[1] According to Conterio’s theory, this would suggest that as individuals we tend our own crops/plants, and should make sure to purchase localized farm products at supermarkets and groceries. In the end, this condenses export/import reliance, thus reducing our carbon footprint. Nabhan and Contiero’s theories both rely profoundly on an action oriented approach at conservation and sustainability. With an abundance of green movements following Earth Day 2010, organizations and individuals have taken a stronger following to expert opinions like the ones demonstrated by both of these highly influential agriculturalists. So remember, as the fall season approaches, be sure to visit your local farmers marketing to purchase your fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, as eco-conscious individuals, don’t hesitate to stop the next time you drive by a yard stand with fresh crops. Promoting biodiversity and localized farming is a crucial piece of the conservation puzzle. Legare Furniture GIVEAWAY 09/07/2010
 Last month while researching GREEN PRODUCTS FOR THE HOME (ever notice that my reviews/ giveaways go along with a monthly theme?), I stumbled upon Legaré (which means “connect or join together” in Italian. Consider yourself more worldy and go eat some pasta!) and reached a new level of covetness (I make up words. Deal with it.).
If there was ever a PERFECT {lazy} green furniture store… this is IT! Made from legally harvested bamboo or other eco-friendly MDF with low VOC emission adhesives, this furniture will blow your mind. As someone who has bought my fair share of IKEA furniture and becomes a sweaty sailor-mouthed monster when putting the furniture together (not to mention, have you ever tried to take that furniture apart… and then use it again? AHHH!!! Marriage Counseling becomes a necessity!), I am ecstatic over Legaré’s NO HARDWARE, easy to assemble and disassemble, locking design. Seriously, take a MINUTE AND TEN SECONDS to watch Suzy Sunshine put a desk together. I think she kind of dilly dallied, so I could TOTALLY DO IT FASTER! Plus, you can reverse most of their furniture for those freakish left-handers among us (HI MOM!)! (Please click “Read More”) City live vs. Country life 09/07/2010
This past weekend, we loaded up our wagon and headed to the big city (Pittsburgh). Side note: why is baby/toddler gear SO big! By the time we packed the pack-n-play and the stroller, we realized we had to leave the baby backpack at home... not to mention it would have been nice to throw the bikes and Burley trailer in. I see a minivan in my future ;) Anyway, we had a wonderful weekend with friends, however I was SO happy to return to the country where: - though I can't just walk out the door and promptly arrive at a huge playground, when we go to playgrounds, they are not COVERED in litter. Beer cans, food containers, paper, questionables... everywhere. It was a gorgeous playground, but close to downtown. It makes me sad that kids probably think it's normal. The playgrounds within a 15 minute radius of our house are PRISTINE! - there are not fireworks throughout the entire summer! We stayed at an apartment not far from the Pirates' stadium. Zel wasn't frightened by the fireworks, but wouldn't sleep through them either. The *#&@# Pirates shot fireworks off after the game for at least an hour and have long enough pauses between the sets to fool you into almost returning to sleep...then BAM... another round! Yes, I did get to eat Ethiopian and Greek food in the city and that was a TREAT! However, I was reminded that I'm a country girl and I love it!  Does a baby good? 09/02/2010
Dear fellow green(ish) mamas, I NEED SOME ADVICE! It’s been four days since my baby has stopped breastfeeding. I wasn’t sure how to wean and over the past few months just tried to be conscientious about only feeding her when she seemed to want it, not just because it’s our normal time. So, we were down to just the early morning feeding. A sweet cuddle and feeding and she would return to bed for an hour or two. However, this Monday she began to sleep until at least 6:30! SCORE! Since I had been hoping to make this a seamless transition, I decided to not offer her milk when she awoke and see what happens… nothing. She didn’t whine or grab my shirt or point. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, same story! Granted, I’m sure that if I offered it, she would snuggle in and greedily enjoy the feeding. There is nothing sweeter than breastfeeding. It has been such a gift. Ok, when she fed every 2 hours, it didn’t feel like a gift, but for the past 6-9 months, I have absolutely loved it. I should mention that my daughter will be 14 months old soon (September 8th). So…MY QUESTION: Do I need to feed her milk? What type? How much? I don’t want to be responsible for a vitamin deficiency or osteoporosis! It should be noted that other than a vanilla coffee creamer addiction, my husband and I do not drink cow milk. We eat dairy products, but the idea of drinking the substance designed for calves… does not appeal to us! We use soy milk on cereal and that covered milk’s main purpose in life. Thanks for taking the time to reply,  | Current LGM Giveaways:
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