You’re a busy mom. You have a lot on your plate, from work to kids’ activities to family relationships. There are tantrums, meals to prepare, daily needs, and so much more that make parenting extremely challenging. In short, it’s not always easy to recognize proper parenting techniques or have the patience you need to get through your day. What’s the solution? Consider meditation. Countless studies reveal the powerful effect of [...]
As parents, we always want the best for our kids. The best food. The best clothes. The best education. You name it! But when it comes to their health, we should always go two steps further in making sure our decisions are well-founded. Given the fact that there are numerous health threats even at home, it's our job to make sure that our kids are able to lead healthier lives [...]
The decision to have kids is something that no one should take lightly. Child-rearing is a huge responsibility that demands a lot of adjustments from you and your partner. After all, your parenting has lifelong consequences for your child. Basically, your task is to mold the little ones into productive people who contribute significantly to their communities. Because of this, choosing the right school for them is naturally a major [...]
My awareness of the importance of eating organic, as-natural-as-possible foods has increased in the last few years. The dilemma of this awareness is being torn between choosing more expensive groceries or compromising what I put in my body. It can be hard to remember that the benefits outweigh the costs when they come in the form of long-term health I can't see, versus the immediate, visible hike in my grocery bill. [...]
Non-stick cookware cleans very easily and some health-conscious cooks appreciate that it requires less cooking oil than uncoated varieties. But the convenient cooking surface comes with potential risks when it is used with high heat. At temperatures exceeding 500 degrees Fahrenheit, the synthetic fluoropolymer coating in Teflon non-stick cookware begins to break down and release toxic perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) into the air. The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested how quickly [...]
Minimalism as a counter-cultural movement has been increasing in recent years. Perhaps you've jumped on the minimalist bandwagon and are happily downsizing, reducing your consumerism, and creating less waste – all of which gift you with more time and energy to enjoy the most meaningful things in life. But now it's time for Christmas. If you've recently begun converting to a more minimalist lifestyle, the holidays present a formidable challenge [...]
With the holiday season upon us, eco-conscious folks look for ways to prepare their homes for an eco-friendly holiday. Wanting to reduce your carbon footprint is something that can be done all year round, not just during the warm weather seasons too. So, with a few small changes, you can make a difference and be a good steward of the environment. Christmas lights LED lights are not only beautiful inside [...]
Is it true that polyester fleece clothing is a huge contributor to the problem of plastic in our oceans? —Mickey Walton, Seattle, WA We’re all familiar with the issue of non-biodegradable plastic debris (shopping bags, soda bottles, fishing nets etc.) clogging up our waterways and making its way out to sea—sometimes accumulating in huge “gyres.” But what you might not realize is that even if you are responsible about recycling [...]
Autumn provides ample brown material for composting, and turning food scraps into fertilizer gives you everything you need to get a jump start on soil enrichment before the frost sets in. Whether you are already skilled at composting and want to make the most of the nutrients you save or are just starting out, the results can make a major difference in the health of your lawn or garden. Fall [...]
Any tips for how to make my Thanksgiving greener and less wasteful this year? —Melissa W., Boston, MA Ah, Thanksgiving! For many of us, it’s the favorite holiday because it revolves around togetherness and inclusiveness and preparing and eating our favorite foods—and usually doesn’t include any overt commercialism. But just because you don’t have to buy and wrap gifts doesn’t mean Thanksgiving is necessarily green, although there are lots of [...]