Green Child Magazine Holiday 2012

Routines GCM Annual

Holiday Gift Guide!

Everything You Need to

Celebrate the Season Sustainably Holiday 2012

Actress

Kellie Martin

on Parenting & ROMP 1

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Features Holiday Traditions

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Have a Relaxing Holiday

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Keeping Expectations in Check

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Give Safer Toys

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Holiday Gift Guide

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Avoid the Eczema Winter Blues

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Give Back This Holiday Season

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Encouraging Positive Self Image

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GCM Talks with Kellie Martin

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New Year, New Traditions

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Image by Oksana Tunska

In Every Issue EcoFab Eco Craft Look, Listen, Read What’s in Season Nutritional Nuggets Anni’s Kitchen Ask Green Grandma Your Green Child

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greenchildmagazine.com3

Publisher & Editor

Amity Hook-Sopko

Creative Director Amanda Hearn

Columnists

Kathy Scoleri Sandy Kreps Karen Lee Deborah Long Mellisa Dormoy Jennifer Roberge Jessica Martin-Weber Mayim Bialik Ayo Hart Charise Rohm Nulsen Stephanie Moram

Image by Andreas Wonisch

Anni Daulter Louise Goldberg, RD, CSP, LD, CNSC Hana Haatainen Caye

Contributors

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from our publisher & editor What do you remember most about the holidays of your childhood?

For me, it’s the simple things like helping my grandmother open her mail and hang dozens of Christmas cards around the doorways of her living room. Even today, when the holiday cards arrive to my own mailbox, I cherish the familiar handwriting of my relatives, delight in the photos of how our friends’ children have grown, and smile through those detailed and sometimes awkward (which makes them perfect) family newsletters.

I can’t help but wonder what my sons’ holiday memories will be. Will they be as etched in their mind as clearly as I can recall how my cousins and I would inhale our Christmas dinner and then beg the grown ups to eat faster so we could open presents? Or how the crisp air and crunchy leaves felt hiking around our family’s farm until we found the perfect tree? Or the way my mom never failed to declare each year that it was “the prettiest tree ever”?

(cover background)

When you think back, you realize it was the people around you who made the holidays special. Not because of a ‘thing’ you got or gave… and certainly not because the floor was vacuumed, the mashed potatoes were perfectly whipped, or nobody spilled cranberry sauce on the tablecloth.

When my wise friend Lynn Colwell talks about the holidays, she always reminds us, “people are more important than things.” And when you look at it from that perspective, it makes what some people consider to be a stressful season… a whole lot simpler.

Happy Holidays!

Amity ON THE COVER: Bradford Rogne

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EcoFab

Once you select the perfect ecofriendly gift, it's time to wrap it without creating a bunch of waste.

When DIY gift wrap isn't an option, these sustainable options are sure to dress up any gift.

Gift Tags Reusable Fabric Gift Tags (Set of 6) $16 at Green Planet Parties

Gift It Green Reusable Fabric Gift Boxes $14 at Gift it Green

Seed Tags Plantable gift tags (Set of 10) $8 on Etsy 6

Reusable Bags USA-Made, Reusable Fabric Gift Bags $4 - $14 at VZWraps

Furoshiki Reusable Fabric Gift Wraps $16 at Chewing the Cud

Ribbon Natural Sinamay Mesh Ribbon $6 at Eco Party Time

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DIY Tutorial

Paper Leaf

Holiday Wreath!

By Karen Lee

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Materials:

Instructions:

• 10-12 Toilet Paper Rolls or 4-5 Paper Towel Rolls • Hot Glue Sticks • Hot Glue Gun • Tissue Paper or Ribbon

1. Cut each toilet paper tube into 3-4 pieces.

2. Arrange the “leaves” into a circular pattern around a plate and then hot glue the pieces one layer at a time, until you reach the desired thickness. We think that three layers is just right!

3. Use tissue paper flowers or ribbon bows to add depth and pop of color to your wreath.

4. Keep this wreath out of the weather and enjoy your upcycled masterpiece!

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Photo by Denise Herrick Borchert

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Holiday Traditions through the eyes of a

few of our favorite natural moms

Mayim Bialik

Actress & Author of Beyond the Sling

Holiday Memories My fondest memory of Chanukah is probably my mom’s latkes. Chanukah is full of candles burning and dreydl and chanukah gelt (chocolate), too, but the smell of frying potatoes and onions really says “Chanukah” to me.

Celebrating Sustainably One thing we do is to not go nuts with pressure to buy presents. We have no protocol for each other so there’s no standard to keep to. We don’t participate in 8 nights of gifts, and we usually give our boys things like a book, or maybe one small toy. To eliminate contributing to the consumer machine that is the holiday season, we bake for family and give baked goods in reusable containers.

For agents and managers and publicists and assistants, I resist the urge to buy gifts and instead make donations to meaningful charities in need of start-up funds.

Meaningful Lessons We make sure to emphasize the historical aspects and lessons of bravery, faith, and tradition that Chanukah has at its core. I guess that helps our kids understand how much of a “nongift-centered” holiday it is, since it’s about so many other things for them.

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Jessica Martin-W

Writer & Speaker, The Le

Holiday Traditions For the last several years our family has participated in The Advent Conspiracy. Choosing to have a big Christmas in terms of giving to others, we keep our gift giving to a minimum and focus instead on how we can make a difference long term.

For our family, the experience of giving to others builds memories that far outlast a pile of presents. Some of our favorite resources for giving back are Living Waters International and Kahiniwalla.

Holiday Memories Growing up, my family delighted in becoming “secret Christmas Angels,” selecting a family going through a difficult time or in need. We’d leave a package every night on their door step all through December leading up to the 24th.

I have so many fun memories of planning and executing the whole thing every year... including the time I almost got caught by the family as I was dropping off the box and running away. I got so nervous, I ran into a pole! My brother still teases me about that.

Celebrating Sustainably

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Using found objects and scouring thrift stores, with a dose of creativity, some of our favorite gifts in the family were created by repurposing materials. They cost nothing but time and love. We share our desire for items made from natural materials and that we are a plastic-free

family with grandparents, letting them know we’d prefer a membership to the science or health museum over a collection of branded plastic items.

Our food is sourced mainly from our local farmer’s market, eating local and in season fresh foods, reducing emissions required to get our food to us and we prepare most of our food ourselves. Every year we use less and less wrapping paper and wrap in play silks or fabric bags.

The Reason for the Season Children can become overwhelmed and overstimulated by a pile of gifts. But they will engage and recall for years about the simplest experience.

I love the holiday season, experiencing and interacting with our children has helped me appreciate the joy in a single piece of dark chocolate, the tiny cold hand clutching mine as we totter on skates, the confident and warm smile of my teen sharing a sandwich and a blanket with a member of the street community in our area, and the anticipation of opening one of twenty-four tiny envelops every day.

By incorporating traditions from other winter holidays and other cultures, we’ve broadened our perspective to appreciate the global community more and connect by allowing the gift of the Christ child to inspire us to make a difference in the lives of those that need it most.

Sharing that with our children grows such a deep appreciation for the gifts we have in each other.

Photo by Kelli Durham

Weber

eaky Boob

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Ayo Hart

Founder, Dolphin Organics Holiday Traditions I grew up in a multicultural family and celebrated several holiday traditions. As a child, I enjoyed receiving Hanukkah gelt because it was one of the few times I was given my own money.

Overall, I just remember feeling so lucky that my family celebrated for what seemed like weeks.

Between Hanukkah with my grandparents, Christmas with cousins, and Kwanzaa with my progressive parents... we had family and friends over nearly every day or evening. Some of my best childhood memories are from the holiday season.

Giving Back Each year, we adopt a family from Friends of Karen. We go holiday shopping for the family, and the girls really enjoying picking out items on the wish list of other children. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss with my children how simple these little ones’ wishes really are ie. A new backpack, mittens, etc. During Hanukkah, my girls get to choose where we are going to donate what we have collected in our Tzedakah box.

Celebrating Sustainably My husband’s family celebrates Christmas in grand English fashion. I know there is a certain joy the children get from tearing through gift wrapping, but it was disheartening to me to watch all the shiny, glossy paper go straight to large trash bags each year. I have finally convinced them to wrap gifts in comic strips and other recycled paper.

Everyone laughs at me, but I refuse to use gift tags. I simply write names directly on the gift

wrap. I will also often save those holiday bags and any nice heavy wrapping paper that makes its way in for use the following year. I’m super excited that this year my in-laws agreed to only one present per adult. I’m not a Scrooge, really!

Perhaps just a minimalist when it comes to the holidays.

What It’s All About The beauty of the holidays, like all of life, is that it becomes what your family decides it will be.

When my children and niece and nephew were younger, the day after Christmas they couldn’t recall exactly what they received under the tree.

The ripping paper, shouts of joy, empty boxes strewn everywhere and inevitable tears were a blur.

What they did remember was the funny joke from their Granddad or how the room smelled when Nan called them in for dinner. It’s funny how children aren’t really born to desire and demand much. They basically seek food, shelter and love from us from birth. They happily coo when someone smiles at them and usually respond more to a human face than a toy.

Somewhere along the way, we cross our wires and replace our time and undivided attention with toys, gizmos and gadgets. Pretty soon, if their time with toys outweighs their time engaging with family, our little ones start associating these material things as a major part of their happiness. Sharing conversations, laughs and dreams can be so powerful for a family. I keep a journal for my girls, and every year I wrap the book and remind them that they are the greatest gift I have ever received. Now that they are reading, I love listening to them read their journals and reminisce about the year.

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Play to Your Heart’s Delight Play is an essential part of a child’s healthy development. Through playing, children mimic the world around them. By simply playing with a doll, they build the skills to grow into a nurturing, responsive person who interacts comfortably with those around them.

Dolls are also a way to introduce the concept that we don’t all look the same. While children treasure having a doll that looks just like them… it’s a mind-opening experience to care for and play with dolls that have different skin tones and features.

That’s one of the many reasons we love beautiful handmade Tansy Dolls. Not only do they celebrate the beauty of all children – with freckles, scars, or glasses – each doll is made from all-natural materials. You know these dolls won’t off-gas or create a harmful breathing environment for your child.

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Created by three work-at-home moms, Tansy Dolls was highlighted by Toward the Stars, an online marketplace that promotes girl empowerment, for their trailblazing Women

of History dolls.

And these moms don’t just design dolls for little girls. “We also support boys who play with dolls, and we want to help normalize this in our society.” On their site you’ll find handmade, all-natural toys for every child.

Boy dolls, girl dolls, fairies, elves, and even cupcakes and felted animal friends. You can also order special custom dolls from them where you can choose the skin, eye, and hair color to make a special friend for your little one that is truly unique.

Tansy Dolls is a heart-centered company that cares about giving back. “The curly hair we use on our dolls comes from Be Sweet Yarn, a company that creates jobs in South Africa to give artisans the confidence and the means to support themselves and their families.”

Be sure to enjoy their store, www.tansydolls. com to be inspired by the beautiful dolls they create. Tansy Dolls would like to give Green Child readers 10% off of all their purchases this Dec with the coupon code BEGREEN

Advertorial

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Look Listen Read The Trees of the Dancing Goats

by Patricia Polacco

As the main character’s family enjoys their Hanukkah preparations, they discover their Christian neighbors are ill at Christmas time. The family cuts a tree and decorates it for them, and the neighbors thank them with a carved menorah. A feel-good story to introduce your child to how other families celebrate the holidays.

Santa Claus Is Green!

by Alison Inches

In the spirit of Christmas giving, Santa shows kids how to give to others while giving back to the Earth. Simple things like turning the tree lights off during the day and before bedtime, wrapping gifts in newspaper, and making decorations and presents for one another rather than buying new.

Printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, this silly story is full of fun tips and ideas on how kids and families can celebrate a green Christmas.

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Super Healthy Cookies

by Hallie Klecker

Who doesn’t love a homemade cookie during the holidays? In Super Healthy Cookies, mouthwatering taste meets stellar nutrition in 50 recipes free of gluten, dairy, soy, and refined sugar. Rich in nuts, seeds, whole grain flours, and natural sweeteners, each and every recipe packs a healthful punch with big flavor and loads of antioxidants, fiber, healthy fats, and plant-based vitamins and minerals. A fun gift for your healthy mama friends.

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“Gimme, Gimme”

How to Manage Your Child’s Holiday Gift Expectations

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Image by Selah Photography

By Sandy Kreps

The holidays are upon us… the season of gifts and “gimme’s.”

All around us, kids are encouraged to reveal their wishes of candy, gingerbread cookies, and overstuffed stockings next to shiny new bikes/game systems/toys-of-the-year, complete with giant bows on top.

Whether for budgets or a desire to live a less cluttered lifestyle, parents everywhere are looking for ways to cut back. Without spoiling the fun and fantasy of the holidays, how can you reasonably manage your child’s expectations?

Here’s how to have a simple, yet meaningful holiday with kids: 1. Good communication is key. Using opportunities daily to teach your values to your children can preserve the excitement of the holidays while keeping realistic expectations. If your children know you don’t approve of violent video games, they won’t be surprised when Santa doesn’t bring one. Be firm and honest with your reasons for not following along with the crowd: “John’s parents make decisions they feel are right for their family, and Daddy and I make decisions we feel are right for our family. While our answer on X is no, we do enjoy saying yes to other things we know you’re wishing for.”

2. Children need to learn how to make choices, prioritize, and deal with disappointment. Consistently giving in to a child’s gimme attitude can morph into selfishness and a sense of entitlement.

Children hear they can have anything and everything they want. It’s your job as a parent to clue them into reality. Encourage children to prioritize their wish lists. When they bring you that long list, ask them to choose the top one or two things they really want. If Santa stops at your house, explain to younger children that Santa likes to focus on the gifts they want the most (he DOES have a lot of kids to please, after all!) But don't ignore the rest of the list. Discuss each item to find out the why's behind the wishes -- understanding why a child wants something can help you find out their true desires, and it's often not about the "stuff."

3. Set limits up front about what kids can expect on Christmas morning. Consider the want/need/wear/read approach -- each kid gets one thing they want, one thing they need, something to wear and something to read. While you can't control what other people give your kids, you can set the expectation of what they'll get from you.

4. Emphasize gratitude. Even when children are disappointed, it’s important for them to learn how to be gracious recipients.

Expressing gratitude so others’ feelings don’t get hurt is a must-have skill, and it goes beyond the pouty-faced "thank you."

Teaching kids to be genuinely gracious and thankful for all they have can go a long way to helping them understand the concept of "enough," particularly when there are so many people who don't have anything.

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5. Highlight the rewards of giving. Nothing lifts a child’s disappointment more quickly than giving a heartfelt gift to someone else. Shifting the emphasis from receiving to giving helps children see the exchange of presents from a different perspective.

Kids love picking out gifts for other people. In addition to helping kids thoughtfully choose gifts for friends and family, choose a charity, toy drive, food pantry or other group and lend a hand.

6. Make a "family wish list" together and be sure to include non-material wishes—such as taking a walk in the snow or drinking hot cocoa by the fire. These wishes can be granted through “coupons” when it comes time to open gifts, or woven into the weeks surrounding the holidays to extend the celebration beyond one "special" day.

7. Focus on the "magic" of the season -which does not come from lots of toys.

Get past the gift grab by making new holiday traditions. Make time for listening to seasonal music, baking treats, making decorations or crafting simple gifts for friends and family. It doesn’t just save money—it makes memories. Focus on activities you can do together as a family, instead of focusing on what gets unwrapped Christmas morning. You're free to create any tradition you want, so be creative. It could include a walk on Christmas morning, attending a special concert or a lazy day at home. These are the things they remember and talk about year after year -not the toys that were under the tree.

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Green Child Magazine’s

Holiday Gift

K Him

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Guide

Kids

2 1 0 2

Her

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Kids True Smartphone jChews are 100% BPA free silicone Smartphone teethers that babies really want to sink their teeth into. $15 at Jellystone Designs

ZooLEY Teether Adorable, certified organic cotton and untreated, naturally antibacterial Maple wood from Ringley! $25 at Ringley

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Stacking Xylophone An intuitive twist on a classic, this creation is sure to be a hit! $30 at P’kolino

Puzzlin’ Pals Eco-wooden animal blocks with old-world style! $36 at My Sweet Muffin

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Vroom Vroom Dart + friends combine magnetic wooden blocks and wheels to encourage the imagination with endless possibilities for racing fun. $38 at Tegu

A Best Friend These soft and lovely dolls are fun and encourage pretend play. $22 at Amazon

Mr. Roboto This fun handmade wooden robot is finished only with linseed oil & love! $30 at ROMP

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iWood Laptop chalkboard for creative kids. $50 at treehouse kid and craft

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Feeling Froggy Drainable, wall-mounted bath toy scoop! $35 at Boon

Ice Cream Please!

Pretend play doesn’t get more fun than this ice cream shop! Enjoy hours of fun with your little one by “trying out” their creative ice cream concoctions! $100 at Wonderworld Toys

No Holes Allowed!

100% Natural rubber bath toys are safe and perfect for little ones. This set of 3 will not take on water! $30 at The Natural Baby Co

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Just Like You Your little one will love wearing his or her plushies & dolls in this trendy mini carrier! $25 at ERGObaby

Glub Glub Dive down deep with this fun & colorful submarine bath toy! $15 at Green Toys

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Inspired by her children and her understanding of Montessori and Waldorf methodologies, Jessica Perkins developed Mama May I with the belief that children learn through practical life skills and play. These handmade learning toys blend the best of design and developmental psychology to offer a unique “learning through play” experience.

Scavenger Hunt!

Add a little adventure to a crisp winter day with a Nature Scavenger Hunt.

Cup + Ball 32

An old-fashioned Ball and Cup game that leaves you wanting “just one more try.” Just make sure Dad keeps it to a friendly family competition.

Advertorial

Magical Rainbow Shoot for the Rainbow. These colorful arches can be used as a puzzle or as tunnels for trains and cars. They can be incorporated with traditional wooden block sets to add some architectural detail or elaborate the landscape. The included balls create a game of “croquet” from the archways....a great toy for all ages.

Little Details Improve memory, inspire story-telling and open-ended play with the Little Details Play Set. Set up a wooden still life scene to draw in the enclosed moleskin.

GnomeMan’s Land Peek inside this little wooden slider box and you will find all the tinkerings needed to create, play, and explore the corners of your little ones imagination.

A classic, little people, open-ended toy, with Gnome Man’s Land the only limit is your imagination.

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Her

Protect Her in Comfort

Belly Armor’s cotton micro-fleece and satin with RadiaShield® fabric protects from harmful radiation while she snuggles up to read, work, or play games on an iPad, laptop or phone. $109 at Abe’s Market

Stylish Mama Organic cotton, vegan “leather,” chemical free! $169 at Canopy Verde

Pamper Her Pink Grapefruit Giftbox Collection $35 at Good Clean Soap 34

Skin Food These raw, natural cosmetics will have your lovely lady’s skin glowing and looking better than ever before with nourishing ingredients no toxins! From $25 at RMS Beauty

She Shines!

Earthy and eye-catching necklace made from brown orejero seeds, bombona and acai seeds. $95 at Irma Guzman Eco Jewelry 35

Him Off The Grid Give the gift of selfsufficiency. With the option of charging from the sun, wall, or car, the Escape Power Pack keeps you as on or off the grid as you choose. The perfect addition to your camping supplies or preparedness gear. $200 at Abe’s Market

Make Your Mark Or at least help him make his - these beautiful pens are made from reclaimed wood with true history. $68 at Allegory Pens

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Into The WIld Solar portable battery pack with flashlight and lantern! $25 at Amazon

Hot Papa!

Get eyewear for your guy, and give sight to a person in need with TOMS One for One program. $139 at Toms

Time Machine Spice It Up Treat the men in your life to some spicy goodness with this rub gift set. $24 at Abe’s Market

Never need a watch battery again, the Citizen Eco-Drive harnesses the power of light and converts it into energy. $425 from Citizen

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Trinkets & Stuffers Safe + Sound

Give your little one peace of mind that their best friend will be well looked after in the wash. These heavy duty bags will protect the most precious of friends! $15 at BabiesRUs

Mitts On! These organic baby mitts come in fun prints that will entertain baby and fill Mom’s need for style! $22 2-Pack at Guava Kids

Relax The sophisticated blend of essential oils found in this Sleep Blalm will help relax your mind and drift off into a restful, worry-free sleep.

Just $6 at Badger 38

Oh Yes! What’s better than chocolate? Organic, fair trade chocolate with a caramel cruch, that’s what! $4 at Equal Exchange

Yummy!

Who doesn’t love food? We adore this lentil soup idea (among others) form the creative minds at Wean Green. See more on their blog!

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Pets

Balanced Diet Or at least your pup can pretend with these fun veggie shaped toys! $40 for the whole set at P.L.A.Y.

Super Cat Digestion supplement for cats in fun shaped chews! $16 at Abe’s Market

Hemp Bone 100% natural hemp stripe bone toys are stuffed with hypo-allergenic, eco-friendly fillers. $10 at Harry Barker 40

How Will You Green Your Holidays?

For the past few years, The Nature Conservancy has focused on turning Cyber Monday into Green Gift Monday. This year, they still want to turn Cyber Monday green, but they're launching a holiday-season-long campaign to encourage consumers to celebrate a little greener. The Green Gift Holidays site is full of tips on how to “rethink the holidays,� from DIY gift ideas to how to choose a more eco-friendly Christmas tree.

Visitors are encouraged to share their own tips as well.

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Good for Goodness’ Sake

Give Back this Holiday

Do you remember the inspiration behind Oprah Winfrey’s “Christmas Kindness South Africa” in 2002?

yourself what an authentic — a REAL Christmas would mean to you?

She was 12 years old, and her mother told them they didn’t have enough money for Christmas.

In Oprah’s words, “Just when I started to accept there would not be a Christmas, three nuns showed up at our house with gifts for all of us.

There was a turkey, a fruit basket, some games, and for me they brought a doll.”

It’s Needed – Even in the U.S., you don’t have to look far these days to see someone who could use a hand up (as in hand to help up, not a hand-out). But worldwide, well over half of the population is without electricity or running water. Makes the fight over a $2 waffle machine seem pretty pointless, doesn’t it?

“I remember feeling that I mattered to those nuns, whom I had never met. And what it meant that they had remembered me.”

“I wasn’t forgotten. Somebody had thought enough of me to bring me a gift.”

The story is beautiful in itself. But the fact that so many years later, she was inspired to pass that joy along to 50,000 school children and orphans in South Africa… it reminds us how we never know the effects one small act of giving can have!

It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of the holidays. We’re busy with gifts to buy, trips to plan, and parties to attend. When the overwhelm, consumerism, and violence of Black Friday shoppers set in… the best remedy is a peaceful, meaningful holiday.

So what do you hear when you stop and ask

Why Give Back?

It’s Good Karma – When you give with an open heart, you’ll always end up with more to give. Giving creates the flow of good things coming right back to you. And it just feels good.

It Sets a Good Example – If you’re a parent, one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do with your child is let them choose a cause to donate time or money to. Kids are naturally caring and generous, but you have to encourage it to keep them that way.

How To Give Back

Growing up, our parents made Christmas giving a priority – choosing a family in need to buy gifts for or volunteering to help deliver holiday meals. Our grandmother gave all year round – donating dolls to charity, quilts to church raffles… everything from attending fund raising events to sending us down the street on Sunday with a plate of food for an

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Give Back this Holiday elderly friend. I have a feeling we’ll never even know the extent of her giving, but she always said, “You can’t out-give God.” The Gift of Your Time Giving doesn’t always mean money. There are plenty of ways to make a difference by volunteering your time. Getting involved will reward you in ways that writing a check and dropping it in the mailbox just can’t do.

• Plan a good deed of the day or week • Volunteer at your local animal shelter • Sing Christmas carols or visit lonely patients at a hospital or nursing home • Shovel someone’s sidewalk • Let your children choose how they’d like to donate their time

…Or you can give in lieu of presents Most likely, your gift list includes more than one “person who has everything.” Rather than another gift certificate, find out what cause they truly care about and donate to it in their name.

Companies like TisBest are making it easier to give charitable gifts. You make the donation, and your recipient chooses which charity receives the money.

Give Anonymously Set aside some money to bless others in need, and when the time comes, do it as anonymously as possible. This might be something like leaving double the tip for an excellent server… or buying Christmas dinner groceries for a family in need. Our boys love taking dollars and change to put in the donation boxes outside the cat and dog rooms at our local Humane Society.

Other popular and easy to give charity gifts are…

Gifts That Give Back If you love shopping, you’re in luck. There are more than enough ways to give gifts that really matter.

TreePeople’s Holiday Tree Dedication Program supports efforts to plant and care for trees in mountain forests and park woodlands that have experienced devastation from fires, neglect or other natural causes.

You can give presents…

Malls, churches, and many office buildings have Angel Trees or organizations like the Operation Christmas Child or the Salvation Army that collect gifts for kids, elderly, or families who need help during the holidays.

You can choose your recipient by name, gen44

der, or age and let your children help pick out the gifts for your special Christmas “angel.”

Other organizations offer ways to donate gently used toys and books. If you go this route, make sure the items are clean and in good condition.

Make sure these kids get the message: You Matter.

Heifer International provides livestock and training to families around the world.

Nest works to change the lives of women in developing countries by providing small business loans and education for a lifetime of selfsufficiency.

For the animal lover on your list, consider supporting your local shelter or The World Wildlife Fund Species Adoptions.

The Nature Conservancy has several environmental charity programs. One of our current favorites is Plant a Billion Trees.

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GCM Talks Parenting and Mo with Actress & ROMP Owner

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ore

Kellie Martin Actress Kellie Martin has always seemed at home on the screen… but talk to her about motherhood, and she just lights up with a joy that is positively infectious. It’s hard to tell who is learning more about life these days – Kellie, or her daughter Maggie (age 6).

they start to sprout do we realize what she’s done!

Kellie chats about parenting, gardening, and how she was inspired to take over the online toy store, ROMP, when it nearly closed down last year.

Kellie: Maggie harvests the fruit, herbs

GCM: What has your daughter taught

you about life?

Kellie: I’m a type A person. Love to be

in control. Even with pregnancy, I realized that my life would change in a major way.

Maggie has taught me to roll with things, having a child is beautiful chaos. I take each day as it comes now and find joy in the little things. Being in nature, picking my daughter up from school and cooking for my family far outrank anything work-related these days.

GCM: We hear you have a garden.

Does your daughter help out with it?

Kellie: Our garden is fantastic! We started it to teach Maggie that food comes from the earth, not from the grocery store. Maggie loves being a farmer. She actually plants seeds when we’re not looking, only once

GCM: Tell us about other family hob-

bies you have... cooking together as a family? If so, what is your favorite thing to make? and vegetables for me to cook. But mostly she loves to bake. She loves measuring out ingredients and kneading dough. We love making hummus and baking cookies together. Other hobbies we enjoy are hiking with our yellow lab, and we are currently reading the second installment of Harry Potter.

GCM: We were delighted to discover

ROMP and the products you carry especially the classic style, low-tech toys. We also believe in no-battery toys to help foster creativity and independence in kids. How have you seen that to benefit your daughter?

Kellie: I have a very creative kid. She can

make a toy out of anything. She actually gathers sticks, rocks and leaves from the backyard and spends the afternoon (with the yellow lab, of course) playing make-believe. The huge benefit of having her grow up around open-ended toys is that Maggie never gets bored.

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GCM Talks Parenting and More with Actress & ROMP Owner

Kellie Martin

GCM: How important is sustainabil-

ity when you choose toys? Is there anything surprising or shocking you learned while researching toys?

also love a new product called castle blocks and finally, these sweet pups. All of these items are made in the USA by small independent artisans. Love it!

Kellie: I’m shocked by the amount of high-

GCM: Our readers love inspiring

tech gear mainstream toymakers try to sell to kids. Children’s development is the same as it’s always been--their brains have not changed even though computers have become a big part of our world. Wait as long as possible before introducing computer games and high-tech toys to your child, because there’s no going back!

Long before I took over, ROMP had been a great place to find unique toys made by small companies in the USA and Europe. I think it is essential to teach your children to take care of their things and care of the earth. It’s better to have fewer but better toys--toys that they will pass on to their children. This will sound strange, but I know a toy is safe/well-made by the way it smells. I love getting a box of wooden toys and opening it up in the office. These toys smell wholesome, clean, and fresh.

words or lessons from moms. Care to share a gem with us?

Kellie: I find kids inspiring. I love their

innate curiosity and love of life. If you let them guide you, you are in for some pretty awesome adventures. My daughter (my little guru) inspired me to make our lives simpler and richer. Organic foods, eating together as a family, tending a garden, not over-committing to too many activities, watching a spider build a web. Having a child made me slow down and pare-down.

That’s really good for the soul.

GCM: How will your family enjoy the

holidays this year?

Kellie: We usually keep the holidays

very mellow because ROMP is hopping at the holidays. We stick close to home, and I do a ton of cooking and baking!

GCM: What are your top holiday

gifts this year?

Kellie: My favorite toy of all time 48

is the wood camera, so that is my top gift for ages 1-5 years old. I

Items available at ROMPstore.com

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The next L.E.A.N. Start Workshop begins January 17, 2013!

Register now for just $59! mandybanderson.com/leanstart-greenchild

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All It’s that time of year again. Ho-ho-ho and mistletoe! We’re supposed to be merry. But – with baking and cleaning and wrapping and decorating and shopping and socializing to do – who among us doesn’t have a day (or more) when we think Ebenezer Scrooge just might have been right in the first place?

It doesn’t have to be this way. During the holiday season, more than at any other time, less really can be more. So pour yourself a cup of tea – or maybe a glass of wine – and consider our five tips for a kinder and gentler holiday season.

1. Remember why we do this. Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another winter celebration, we do so to remember that miracles happen. That even on the darkest nights of the year, we can light a candle and share the light. The rituals that we observe are meant to en50

hance this celebration, not eclipse it. So whenever you feel your chest tighten with anxiety, breathe through it and remember what really matters.

2. Get everyone in the family involved in the celebration. Even very young children can be included in spreading holiday cheer.

Thanksgiving, with its focus on the abundance we enjoy, is a wonderful springboard to the holiday season. Keep that sense of wonder going! Go through closets and donate items you haven’t used during the year and other items you don’t need. Have the children go through their toys and books to choose items to give away to others who are less fortunate.

3. Give in ways that matter. Make other kinds of charitable giving a family affair, too. For older children, choose an affordable sum of money and tell each child that

l is calm...

keeping the holidays simple but meaningful

by Grandparents.com Senior Editor, Deborah Long you will make a donation to the charity of his or her choice. Tell them they’ll need to research the charity online and explain to you what it does and why the mission is important to them. If multiple donations aren’t in the budget, then ask each family member to recommend a charity, and then vote on where the money will go this year.

Younger children might enjoy sponsoring an animal at a shelter or rescue facility.

Some facilities provide adoption photos and online updates, too.

4. Choose clutter-free gifts. Giving thoughtful gifts to remind folks how much we love them can be a beautiful part of the season.

Think “outside the box,” literally and figuratively. A handmade item—whether it’s a knitted scarf, homemade truffles, a framed photo, or a recording of a favorite story— can be used and cherished. And experiential gifts, like a trip or lessons, won’t take

up space and will open the recipient’s heart and mind.

5. Clear the calendar for fun. Carve out some time for family togetherness and spend it making memories. This is the most valuable gift you can give one another. Baking and decorating cookies together is a favorite holiday tradition for many families. But you might also try making your own gift wrap, using newspaper or brown paper bags and whatever art supplies you have on hand. Or snuggle in with popcorn and a stack of holiday movies on DVD. The important thing is that everyone is sharing the experience.

Deborah Long is a Senior Editor at Grandparents.com. Her best advice from a grandparent?

“Books are your friends! They can take you places you couldn’t get to any other way and introduce you to people you couldn’t otherwise meet, so treat them with respect!”

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Make Your List & Check it Twice‌

Give Safer Toys this Holiday

By Katherine Scoleri

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Each year parents are faced with the influx of new toys coming into their homes for the holidays. Conscious parents looking to find toys that are safer and make less of an environmental impact sometimes don’t know where to turn and become overwhelmed. It’s true you can’t control every toy that enters your home, but you can use these tips for your own toy shopping… and perhaps pass the information along to relatives who might be asking what to get the kids.

Why Should It Matter?

Unfortunately there are risks sometimes with toys that people don’t consider. Toys like costume jewelry for kids or cheap toy cars, can be laced with lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury and other dangerous metals that are harmful to their health while they grow and develop. Kids are much more vulnerable to the effects of chemical exposure at this stage of their life.

In February of 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act adopted the ASTM F973-07 levels for antimony, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, chromium standard, which limits levels of those chemicals in toys.

This may have passed. but that doesn’t mean that all toys are safe. The act didn’t incorporate the inclusion of Bisphenol-A or PVC, so we still need to be conscious when we shop.

Why are these chemicals in toys? Plastics, fabrics and paints can contain a variety of substances in order to make them durable, flexible, or flame resistant. Sometimes it’s the byproduct of manufacturing process which can also be a great hazard to the people creating the products as well as disposal into the environment.

How Do I Find Safer Toys?

It can seem overwhelming, but there are many ways to shop for safer toys. There are several things you can look for when you start.

Manufacturing Origin Many toys are made in China. After the recent onslaught of recalls in toys a few years ago (and continuing recalls) parents have been more aware of shopping for toys not made in China. It’s not saying that all toys made in other countries are bad. But buying toys made locally has a positive effect on the economy, reduces the carbon footprint (think of all the overseas shipping you saved), and many times are smaller companies who put strict limits on testing. A perfect example is the company Green Toys who create all their toys here in the US and they are all created from recycled milk jugs.

When you can manage it, buy toys made in the USA or locally.

Trusted Retailers Now that we do much of our shopping online, there are plenty of stores that only carry ethically made toys. With a little investigating, it’s easy to see that these online shops vet the toys they carry to make sure they are free of toxic chemicals. These “green” online shops are run by families just like yours.

They want nothing less for their own children and grandchildren, so their standards are as high as yours. Some of my personal favorite places to shop for toys are MightyNest, a family run business here in the US. They investigate every company and product in their shop with a scrutiny that mirrors my own. I can trust my purchases with them 53

Give Safer Toys this Holiday every time. I also love The Glass Baby Bottle and My Little Green Shop for baby toys, natural gifts and unconventional presents for kids such as safe sleeping bags without flame retardants or art supplies. Wherever you like to shop online, investigate their standards and ask questions.

Most shop owners are more than happy to tell you what you need to know.

Online Tools There are a couple of ways to do a little research before you shop. These tools are the answer to everything but they can help a little bit with toy buying as well as monitoring the toys you already have.

HealthyStuff.org is an organization that tests many children’s products including toys. You can search by brand or toy name and find what toxic chemicals or heavy metals have been detected such as lead, bromine, chlorine, arsenic and mercury. You will be surprised at what you might find! HealthyStuff.org also tests household products like cell phones and car seats. It’s a site to keep on your radar this holiday season.

Consumer Products Safety Commission’s website might seem like a no-brainer when it comes to checking into toy safety but even toys deemed safe can be recalled later on without you knowing about it. You can subscribe to the Children’s Products feed with a newsreader or have a digest emailed to you weekly by submitting your email address. You can choose what recalls you wish to receive and select the infants/child recalls to keep up with toys and kids products. You can also search the database for past toy recalls.

Katherine Scoleri is the Editor, Writer and Mom behind SafeMama.com, a website she started in 2007 to help parents get a handle on finding safer products for their families without spending too much time online.

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Avoiding the Eczema-Winter Blues

By Jennifer Roberge Cold little fingers, runny noses…and eczema?

For many children, winter means dryer skin and often eczema. The most common type of eczema can leave kids with red, inflamed, itchy, dry patches of skin. While eczema can affect children any time during the year, it is often worse when the temperatures drop and the indoor heaters start pumping out warm, dry air.

How can you help manage your child’s eczema?

Identifying your child’s specific eczema triggers helps you control - and in many cases - eliminate it. With winter in full swing, we’ll concentrate on cold, dry air as a trigger.

Here are some ways to help manage eczema during the winter:

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Use a humidifier to beat the dry air. While multiple units around the house are ideal, one

unit in the child’s bedroom is effective. Don’t forget to change the water every day. Stale water is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, which can further aggravate eczema.

Just add oil. Let the skin soak up some extra oil as often as possible. Add it to the bath, just after a bath, and mixed with your favorite non-toxic creams as a daily full body moisturizer.

First try a small patch test to check for any possible skin reactions. Some beneficial oils for eczema are: virgin coconut, jojoba, hemp seed, emu, and olive oils. Raw, unrefined, shea butter, while not technically an oil, can be melted down easily in warm bath water.

Go beyond topical application and consider fish, flax, and borage oil as supplements for added moisture and omega fatty acids all year long. Oil does a body good!

Wrap them up. For extra nighttime moisture,

try dry wrapping. If your child will allow it, heavily moisturize the areas where the eczema is the worst with an oil/cream combo and cover the areas with cotton or bamboo bandages or clothing. Try covering hands with mittens or socks. Your kids probably won’t like it, but when our son sees the improvement in his skin the next morning, it’s not as hard to convince him to wrap up the next night. You may have to do this for several nights to see significant changes.

want to avoid it at all costs. Also, take care to remove wet clothing as soon as possible, which can cause chaffing and irritation.

Protection from the elements. Just before heading outdoors, apply a heavy, oil-based balm or try unrefined shea butter in a thick layer on skin that will be exposed when heading outdoors.

Choose clothing carefully. Wool can be extremely aggravating and itchy for sensitive skin, as are most synthetic fibers. When possible opt for cotton or bamboo.

These tips should help keep eczema at bay, but if you find your child suffering from eczema all year round, you’ll want to consider other possible triggers such as: food allergies or sensitivities, environmental and indoor allergies, and detergents and soaps.

Dress your child in layers, so items can easily be removed to prevent overheating. Sweat is an instant irritant for my son and is one of the most common eczema triggers, so you’ll

Jennifer Roberge is a work-at-home mom of two and the founder of The Eczema Company, which offers specialty clothing and natural, non-toxic skin care for eczema.

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What’s In Season |by Louise Goldberg RD CSP LD CNSC

You may think there’s no way any fruit or vegetable could withstand the cold outside this time of year; however, there are still a few plants and trees that are sturdy enough to produce little treasures for your eating enjoyment.

potato by Chrissi Nerantzi

Pears Pears can be a sweet snack eaten raw or gently cooked but they can also be incorporated into savory dishes just as well. There are many varieties ranging from the crisp Bosc to the buttery Comice and all are a great source of Vitamin C and packed with fiber. 1 medium pear contains 6 grams of fiber for only 100 calories. I challenge you to

find a breakfast cereal that can say that!

For more pear recipes like the one below, check out USA Pears.

Potatoes Potatoes have gotten a bad rap for being high in fat, sodium and having no nutritional value. That reputation is more related to how we’ve processed and what we’ve added to them, like potato chips or a loaded baked potato. Would you be surprised to find out that potatoes are actually a good source of potassium, vitamin C, B6 and even some iron? You don’t have to do much to make them tasty and keep those health benefits.

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What’s In Season

Sautéeed Bosc Pears

This simple, tasty pear recipe was created by Chef Jamie Lauren of Absinthe Brasserie and Bar in San Francisco and cookbook author Mollie Katzen. If you can’t find Bosc pears at your local grocery store, red or green Anjou pears also work well.

Ingredients: • 2 Tbsp butter • ¼ tsp cinnamon • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg • ¼ tsp ground allspice • 6 Bosc USA Pears, peeled, cored, and quartered • Juice of ½ lemon (about 3 Tbsp) • 1 ½ cup vanilla yogurt or frozen yogurt • ½ cup chopped, toasted California walnuts Directions: To prepare pears, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in spices and cook for 30 seconds or until aromatic. Add pears and cook for 15 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in lemon juice.

Serve with nonfat vanilla yogurt or frozen yogurt and top with walnuts.

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Lemon and Oregano Roasted Potatoes

Potatoes have gotten a bad rap for being high in fat, sodium and having no nutritional value. That reputation is more related to how we’ve processed and what we’ve added to them, like potato chips or a loaded baked potato. Would you be surprised to find out that potatoes are actually a good source of potassium, vitamin C, B6 and even some iron? You don’t have to do much to make them tasty and keep those health benefits.

Ingredients: • 2 lbs red potatoes, quartered • 1 Lemon, cut in half • Olive Oil • 1 Tbsp dried Oregano • ½ tsp Sea Salt • Pepper to taste Directions: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a medium sized bowl, squeeze the juice from the lemon over potatoes.

Lightly coat with olive oil, then add the oregano and toss. Transfer to a 9 x 13 pan or baking sheet and lay potatoes flat. Sprinkle salt over potatoes and place in oven for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through to allow browning on both sides. Potatoes are done when they can be easily pierced with a fork.

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Nutritional Nuggets |by Louise Goldberg

Our 9 month old and 2 year old are on different feeding schedules and it is hard to actually get everyone at the table for a meal. I would love to sit down together as a family! Any ideas?

Remember that it is a process. Child nutrition expert, Jill Castle MS, RD, co-author of Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters from High Chair to High School (April 2013), says “Getting both baby and toddler to the meal table should begin as soon as possible. Just their presence is a good start!”

“They don’t have to eat with you (but eventually that is the goal), but sitting, talking, even tasting is progress. Remember, kids will follow your schedule, so just bring them to the table whether it’s for eating or just family gathering time. It’s a great way to get them used to the routine and atmosphere of family meals.”

What snacks can I pack for my kids that will last from morning through their after school activities?

Not being able to refrigerate the food may feel limiting but there are several nutritious healthy choices you can pack. Fresh fruits, dried or dehydrated fruits, raw veggies, 62

nuts, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, popcorn, brown rice cakes, their favorite dry cereal, shelf stable organic milk boxes (all kinds), pretzels with a small container of nut butter (or Sunbutter if your child has food allergies) to dip. Combining a carbohydrate with a protein will help fill them up for longer.

My kids are exposed to so many treats around the holidays. How can I keep them from overdoing the unhealthy foods without saying ‘no’ all the time?

It’s hard for adults too! If your child is very young, you may still have a bit of control and can choose what ends up on his plate.

For older kids, it is okay to talk openly with your kids about all the treats they will get offered. Advise them to look over all the choices and then select one or two of their favorite things or a little taste of several things.

Let them know it is still important to keep their bodies active and feeling good, even if it is a holiday. That being said, don’t hover over them or make them feel badly if they don’t always make the best choice. You can also offer a healthy meal or snack before leaving the house to make less room in their tummy for the treats.

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In Anni’s Conscious Kitchen with Conscious Family Living Lifestyle Expert, Anni Daulter

Welcome to Winter, where the trees are bare, fires warm the home and the cupboards are full of fall bounty. This is the time when families come together for shared meals and celebrations and when grandmothers pass down cooking traditions long held sacred in the family. What is amazing about having your own children is that you can start new traditions based on your own food philosophy and pass these down as your children grow through the years.

Sharing food and friendship is what this time of year is all about. Fostering an environment of cozy dinner parties with family and friends sets up an environment of sharing and community for your family, that translates into a 64

happy home and healthy lifestyle. These early memories of having others over to share in meal times, has a lasting impression on children, and inherently teaches them the value of food traditions and what it truly means to break bread together. My husband and I like our children to bake breads and muffins and make comforting soups to share with those in need during the holiday season. Our kids take time and care in wrapping holiday breads and labeling huge mason jars filled with soup to give to our local homeless shelter. This act of giving teaches our children a sense of gratitude for what they have and a generosity of spirit that can only be fostered with actions and commitment to the greater good.

Photography by Elena Rego

Anni is a C onscious Fam ily Living lifestyle expert, professional c ook, advocate of sustainable li ving and auth or of 6 books an d the new on line community, S acred Pregnan cy.

Fall Pumpkin Spiced Cookies & Rice Milk Ingredients: • 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour • 1 cup oat flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1/2 cup fresh or canned plain pumpkin puree • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter • 1/2 cup raw agave nectar • ½ cup pure cane sugar • 2 eggs • 1/4 cup coconut oil • organic confectioners’ sugar, for dusting Do it!

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (Recipe makes 12-15 cookies.)

2. In a large mixing bowl, blend together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice.

3. In a separate bowl, mix the vanilla, pumpkin puree, butter, agave and sugar. Mix well. Add the eggs, one at a time, then add the oil and blend together until smooth.

4. Slowly add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture until you create a nice soft dough.

5. Begin to roll out dough on a floured surface to about ¼ inch thick and either use cookie cutters, like perhaps a fall leaf, or drop into ball shapes, and flatten to ¼ thick on a parchment lined baking sheet.

6. Bake for approximately 15 minutes, until light golden brown. They should be chewy on the inside. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar and serve with rice milk.

In Anni’s Conscious Kitchen 65

Chocolate Orange Bread Ingredients: • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened • 1 cup granulated sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 tsp. vanilla • The zest of one orange • 1 cup buttermilk • ¼ cup candied orange peel, mined.

• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips Do it!

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and the orange zest. (Alternate between adding the buttermilk and the dry ingredients, mixing just to combine.)

4. Fold in the candied orange peel and chocolate chips.

5. Bake for 55 – 60 minutes, or until a tooth pick comes out clean.

6. Package your loaves up using brown paper and string, twine or jute. Make sure to label any allergen ingredients.

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In Anni’s Conscious Kitchen

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Chocolate Mini Mint Cookies

Vegan, gluten + nut-free, these cookies are the perfect dessert or gift!

By Stephanie Moram

Ingredients • 1/2 cup of coconut flour • 1/2 cup of raw cacao powder • 2 Tbsp of liquid sweetener (maple syrup, honey, coconut syrup or agave) • 4 Tbsp of coconut oil • 1 tsp of peppermint extract • 1 Tbsp of vanilla flavor (less if using extract) Directions 1. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl, and stir.

2. Shape the batter into cookie shapes.

You can use a cookie cutter, or a glass jar like I did to make mini cookies.

3. Place in the fridge until firm (about an hour).

4. Once firm, store mini cookies at room temperature, and they will still be hard to the touch.

Yields 12 mini cookies!

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The Gift of

Positive Self Esteem

Encouraging Your ADHD Child

By Mellisa Dormoy

Self-esteem starts in early childhood. A child receives both positive and negative messages from others around him depending on how well they fit into society. Because ADHD children are often perceived as being different and not fitting in, they often receive negative messages. These messages from adults and peers often evolve into negative self-talk we read about in many self-help books today.

Once this all-too-common downward spiral begins, ADHD kids often feel that they cannot do anything right.

ADHD Kids experience higher levels of stress in the school environment than most children.

They often need hands-on interactive learning, are talkative and social, and need to move around to learn best. The school environment is not particularly conducive to this style of learning. Many of the messages they receive at school can also hinder high self-esteem.

Thankfully, there are therapeutic techniques that any parent can use to counteract negative 70

self-talk, help a child release stress and to feel happier. These include positive reinforcement, relaxation and guided imagery.

• Try to “catch” your child doing something good and compliment him. ADHD kids are often the first to offer a solution and always ready to jump in and help. When we begin to see the gifts in our children, our world and theirs can completely turn around. Positive reinforcement helps your child heighten his self-esteem because he begins to focus on what he is doing right, rather than constantly being forced to look at what he does “wrong.”

• Learn to laugh at life with your child.

Know being different can be fun and celebrated. Laughter reduces stress and produces endorphins; the “feel good” chemicals in the brain that makes us feel happier.

ADHD kids really give us the gift of helping us understand that not every

thing needs to fit perfectly into society’s mold. Not only do they push us out of our comfort zone, but also give us the gift of personal growth if we allow it.

• To release frustration and tension, teach your child simple relaxation techniques like deep breathing. Deep breathing relaxes the tensed body and the busy mind. It oxygenates the brain and relaxes muscles.

Breathing deeply and steadily is an immediate signal to the body that all is well.

Children who are taught this skill can use it as a tool when necessary to release tension and stress and better handle situations that come in life. In a relaxed state, they can better control their emotions.

• Guided imagery and positive visualization

tremendously help ADHD children to focus and channel their abundant energy in positive ways. These easy-to-use methods incorporate the power of deep relaxation while utilizing the active ADHD imagination. They can erase the old programming and negative messages ADHD children may have received. Using these techniques go right to the heart of the matter - the subconscious mind and help develop new responses and new positive ways of thinking.

As you shift your expectation and practice these steps, you’ll see your child’s self-esteem improve greatly. Most importantly, your ADHD child will be equipped with the tools he needs for developing a positive self-image and high self-esteem.

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Cultivating a Family Tradition for the New Year

New Year’s traditions for families are often focused on a meal or football. Our team felt it was time for a change! We came up with this beautiful idea to gather the family together to listen to each member’s goals and dreams. Each family member writes his or her hopes on piece of plantable seed paper and then plants the pieces together to literally cultivate a new future.

We asked one of our favorite contributors; Charise Rohm Nulsen to try it with her newly expanded family, and these are her thoughts!

As the holidays approach, I find myself thinking about the new traditions I want to begin with my family. Especially now that our family is complete with our two-year-old son and baby girl, I’ve focused on creating traditions that are simple, meaningful, and reflective of our values, which includes doing our best to be a green and natural family.

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The concept of making resolutions in celebration of the New Year is a difficult one to grasp for little ones. So this year, we are trying something new from the editors of Green Child Magazine: We will plant our resolutions on seed paper, watch them grow, and tend to them throughout the year. I can’t think of a more beautiful way for children to learn the concept of fulfilling a promise to yourself, as well the lesson that beauty often blooms in response to a commitment to both nature and one’s self.

To prepare for this activity, my son and I talked about things that make us happy. My two year old gave several responses that included cars and trucks, Dada, and our cat, Kaia. I drew some symbols to represent these things that brought him happiness, and we discussed how important it is to take care of the people and things that make us happy while he colored the symbols and added his own drawings to the paper.

After that, I wrote my New Years resolution down on a separate piece of seed paper, and we used a small pink heart made of seed paper to represent my baby girl’s sweet and loving self.

My son and I discussed how we had recently planted “baby grass” in our yard and remembered how Mama had to water it every day. We recounted how at first we couldn’t see any grass at all, but after taking care of it for a while, we witnessed the baby grass growing into strong and tall green grass.

I compared the grass growing process to our resolutions. We talked about how it can be a lot of work to take care of something and how amazing it is to see things grow. Although my son may not have understood everything completely, I couldn’t help but think about how this conversation would change and mature each year, and how I’m sure I would always look back on this first conversation with loving nostalgia.

I can’t wait until our seed paper blooms into beautiful flowers, and I especially cannot wait to see my son’s reactions as he learns to grow and care for this small portion of our natural world. I love the idea of paralleling our own actions with that of nature’s and pairing our own life cycles with the world’s smallest beauties as a teaching tool for our children. It’s such a wonderful way to pass down environmental values, encourage compassion for all living things, and connect our choices to the world at large. Nature is a powerful parenting guide, and I hope our nature based New Years tradition brings us continuous inspiration each year.

Charise Rohm Nulsen is the proud mama of one, with another on the way. Charise blogs at I Thought I Knew Mama - a window into the adventures of stay at home mamahood, natural parenting, and green and healthy living.

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Ask Hana Haatainen Caye

Tonya asks: I try to teach my kids to be green and not to be wasteful. But my family doesn’t respect my wishes and tends to use lots of wrapping paper every gift giving holiday. How can I change this? I feel like it’s sending mixed messages to my kids.

GG: Tonya, you’re touching on a subject that so many of us deal with, including me!

The first thing you need to do is relax. While each of us must do our part and follow our convictions to live greener lives, we have to accept the fact that not everyone is on the same page. Traditions are hard to break, and hard feelings are hard to recover from sometimes. You have to remember that relationships are more important over the holidays than some of our ideals, so it might be best to just leave this one alone.

That said, you can set an example by being creative with your gift packaging. While there may be mounds of wrapping paper heading off to the landfill, you can lessen the burden by using only recycled or repurposed paper and reusing gift bags. Or you can start your own tradition of placing gifts in reusable boxes that will be as treasured as sentimental ornaments in future years, especially if you let your little ones decorate them. Explain

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why you are skipping traditional wrapping to your kids, but avoid ‘demonizing’ others who still prefer shiny paper and ribbons. After all, they’re only putting the time into wrapping gifts like that because they love you.

Michelle asks: How do I avoid feeding my family foods that are genetically modified?

GG: Oh, how I wish I had a good answer for you, Michelle! Unless you move to another country where GMOs are illegal or must be clearly labeled, it’s nearly impossible to avoid ingesting GMOs of one kind or another. The best thing you can do is buy organic foods and look for companies that specify that they do not use GMOs. While GMO labeling is optional at this point, there are some signs you can look for when shopping for produce. If the fruit, vegetable or nuts have a PLU number (Price Look Up), check to see what the first number is. If it is a 4, it is conventionally grown and may, or may not, be genetically modified. If it is a 9, it is organically grown and you can be sure that it is non-GMO. Good luck in your quest for a GMO-free diet!

Hana Haatainen Caye is a wife, mother and grandmother who shares her passion for common sense greener and healthier living. Based on the most popular feature of her blog, Hana’s first book, Vinegar Fridays, is now available. Have a question for Green Grandma? Ask here!

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Your Green Child Lilith & Sabine

Connor

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Victoria

Elliotte Elizabeth

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