A Story of Hope to Close Out 2009

When I heard this NBC News story about young Zach Wilson, I couldn't help think of Ben Stein's words about teaching kids that "if they are fortunate enough to have extra time or extra money, they can help out at the old age home or at the local animal shelter." This one boy helped at a shelter, and it led to a pet food bank - the only one of its kind in Florida. Food banks are in communities nationwide for people, so why not for pets?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Learn more about the Central Florida Animal Pantry.

Imagine if there were Zach Wilson's in every community in America, how even more a wonderful a place it would be.

Have a happy, healthy, humane 2010 filled with hope and joy.

Happy New Year!

Very Best Wishes from Eco.Logical.Mom!

Safer Cosmetics for Kids

According to a study by the Environmental Working Group, children are exposed to an average of 61 different chemical ingredients every day, and 27 of these ingredients have not been found safe for children by the government or the cosmetic industry's expert safety panel.

Gaps in health protections leave children exposed to potentially harmful ingredients when their developing tissues and organs are sensitive to chemical damage. Children's skin is 30% thinner than an adults', on average, and can absorb greater amounts of chemicals from the skin surface. They breathe in more air (and air contaminants) relative to their weight than adults, and the blood-brain barrier that helps block chemicals from penetrating brain tissue is not fully formed until a baby reaches 6 months of age.

Top Four Tips:

1.Use fewer products and use them less frequently.
2. Don’t trust the claims. Check ingredients.
3. Buy fragrance-free products.
4. Visit cosmeticsdatabase.com.

Check the Parent's Buying Guide released by EWG. It provides recommendations on choosing safer products for your children.

Happy Birthday to Me (Again?)

I'm finally done celebrating my birthday. Well, it is almost 2010! On a very cold, blustery night, why not take a culinary trip to Mexico?

My friend treated me to a belated celebratory dinner at Pancho's Burritos in Westwood. To drink, a non-alcoholic strawberry margarita.

Vegetarian enchiladas. Your eyes aren't deceiving you - that is sour cream. But tofu sour cream! They offer soy cheese as well, but they were out that night. Sob.

Treating each other to a meal at a local restaurant is one of my favorite gift exchanges. Restaurants employ so many workers - cooks, servers, busboys, dishwashers, suppliers and so on. It's a great way to support the economy without going to the mall and buying a clutter gift. Spending time with my friends and sharing great conversation is the best gift of all.

Visit Pancho's Burritos, 20 Jefferson Avenue, Westwood, NJ, or check out their New Milford location (which I prefer atmosphere-wise) on 214 Main Street.

Flashback to my budget travels in Mexico, including my yummy vegan eats. Oh those grilled vegetable and pineapple fajitas!

Take a Breakfast!

Breakfast is a very important meal time for the entire family. Sometimes we skip it, or eat junk food instead of enjoying a nutritious and yummy meal!

Here is a list of great breakfast ingredients for the entire family:
- Natural fruits: jazz it up by making fruit salads, or cutting slices of apples with peanut butter.
- Granola and milk: great source of iron, fibers, calcium and vitamins. A great option is homemade granola bars.
- Fruit and yogurt smoothies: so delicious!
- Eggs: can be prepared in so many different ways. Organic eggs are a great source of protein.
- Whole grain bread: with cream cheese, or homemade jelly....definitely a family favorite.
- Milk, soymilk, yogurt or fruit juices: make your drinks count as sources of good nutrition!

Enjoy the Holidays, and experience pleasurable breakfast time with the family!

Post-Holiday Wrap-Up

Still blissfully avoiding the mall. On the news, I saw some people were lined up at 6 a.m. outside stores Saturday. On a cherished day off from work, I won't be lined up anywhere at that hour. Repeat after me America, "it's not a bargain if you don't need it." On a chilly, rainy day, I was tucked inside with the candles, a book, comfy PJ's, a Golden Girls marathon (oh, those St. Olaf stories!), napping, dreaming, resting and rejuvenating - just what the winters are for.

I did acquire one thing. Can you believe this was by the dumpster when I went to bring out my recycling? I rescued it from a cruel fate in a landfill. It will look charming with pansies come springtime.


Brunch time! The Rutherford Pancake House has heavenly vegan breakfast offerings, but it's a bit out of the way, and eating at home is much more economical.

I do miss a number of things as a vegan, but scrambled eggs isn't one of them. Think of those battery cages. Try a tofu scramble instead. Saute an onion, add diced tofu and whatever veggies you have on hand, and season with turmeric, garlic powder and salt and pepper. Add vegan cheese if you have it, and it rivals almost any omelette.


Didn't slave away in the kitchen for hours. These tasty raspberry turnovers from Pepperidge Farm are delicious with a cup of coffee.



I was highly tempted to go back to bed Sunday, but with unseasonably warm temperatures, the park was calling my name. Fellow blogger and friend of animals Chessbuff at On Loving Animals shared his charming photos of Van Saun Park in Paramus, New Jersey. Here are a few of mine.

Magical bridges invite you for a leisurely stroll...



None other than George Washington is reported to have drank from the above spring.

Local groups like the Bergen County Historical Society connect you with the past. Check out their events page.

Doesn't this look like a lovely picnic spot? All that's missing is a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee in the winter (make that lemonade come spring and summer).

The Shelter Our Sisters' Pathway to Self Sufficiency. I was proud my friends and coworkers donated clothing swap leftovers to benefit this worthy group.

True for all...people and animals.


This hill, when snow covered, provides endless fun for kids with sleds, as it did in my youth.


In this CBS News story on nostalgia, Lemoyne College psychology professor Krystine Batcho observed that when something brings back memories, people are more likely to focus on people than items. "The things that people are most nostalgic for in their growing up years were simple things like having dinner with Grandma...or going camping -- as a family... Even if it's just getting together to have a simple meal, getting together to pray or whatever those experiences are that bring a family closer to one another." Something to remember during these trying economic times. People, not possessions, the soul remembers.

Visit your local park. Bring along a paper, a great book, your grateful dog, loved ones or just yourself.

Christmas Surprise

I have the best husband and family and friends ever.

Seriously!!

Marc spent over a month leading up until Christmas organizing a massive Christmas surprise for me.

He contacted all the family and friends he could come up with the contact information for. He set up a gift registry at Williams-Sonoma and had everyone send the gifts *ie support* to our friends house along with notes of encouragement. On Christmas day he made me wait to open a jewelry shaped box from him until Tom and Jaime showed up. When I opened it, there was a note inside that took me on "The Amazing Chase." Tom and Jaime stayed with the kids and Marc and I wandered through the neighborhood finding clues and deciphering codes. Tom met me with a embroidered chef's coat *Yay!* and my final clue. We headed back to the house and there were all the gifts lined up in front of the tree. I was blown away by the love and support everyone showed me. I am well equipped now to begin this wonderful journey I never thought I would actually be taking. I definitely got choked up reading everyone's wonderful notes. I cannot tell you how much it touched me to have everyone do that for me. My husband is the best husband in the world and I don't know how I got so lucky as to find him on my first *and only!* try at marriage. I appreciate his thoughtfulness and his complete and total support of me in this endeavor and I am so thankful he made that initial contact with the school. Thank you to everyone who participated in my wonderful, best Christmas EVER, surprise!!!!

The Bowls Are Coming!

Ahhh football! Love it. Are you planning to watch the games? Or hosting a party? How about trying one of our favorite dips! Not too filling (in case you are having a big meal after) and each has its own personality. Something that you can make ahead and, a big must for me, not take up stove or oven space. I like to serve something with some pizazz. Not the hackneyed clam, crab or onion dips... I think we've had enough of them.... but some others we really like around my house.

The first I posted a while back- a nice spicy eggplant dip. Delicious. You can find it HERE. But it takes a tad more time to prepare than you may wish to spend. The others are simple to make and can be made a day ahead- in fact I've found most dips are better the second day, haven't you?

Happy New Year everyone and Happy Bowl watching!

Sun Dried Tomato Dip
Adapted from Cuisine At Home

Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
6 ounces plain yogurt
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained
1/3 cup shallots, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon

Crackers or bagel chips

Method:
Blend cream cheese, yogurt, sour cream, tomatoes, shallots, lemon juice, zest and salt in a food processor until smooth. Fold in parsley and tarragon, then chill for at least 1 hour.

Smoked Bluefish Paté
From Open House Cookbook by Sarah Leah Chase

 Ingredients:
1 pound smoked bluefish, skinned and flaked (I use whitefish)
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 red onion, minced
1/4 cup chopped dill pickle
2 tablespoons capers, drained
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons cognac

Method:
Beat fish, cream cheese and butter in a bowl. Add other ingredients but do not over beat. Some texture is desired. Cover and refrigerate several hours. Serve with crackers. Makes about 3 cups.

Smoked Salmon Spread
From Barefoot Contessa, Family Style

 Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon horseradish, drained
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
1/4 pound (4 ounces) good quality smoked salmon, minced

Method:
Cream the cheese until just smooth. Add the sour cream, lemon juice, dill, horseradish, salt, and pepper, and mix. Add the smoked salmon and mix well. Chill and serve with crackers or toasted baguette slices.

While Many Americans Were at the Mall...

I was nowhere near it. I spent a relaxing day off from work browsing local thrift shops, eating a cozy lunch with my parents, and hanging out with their rescue doggy.

I passed by the This-n-That Thrift Shop in Hillsdale, so I popped in. They were having a 50% off sale. These tea lights were just 25 cents!

Snow boots, half off were $4.50. Super cute with my $5 C.A.T.S. Resale Shop jeans, my new white romantic top from Beautiful Little Secret, and...

the Cameo I eyed at Revived Attire (just steps away from This-n-That). It was still there. Yeah! Just $4. I also scored these hardcover books at the C.A.T.S. store for $1 each. Their combined retail value, $50! I just can't get into ebooks. I don't want to curl up with a Kindle.

Lunch time! On a blustery December day, PJ Finnegan's in Westwood was packed.


Want to peek inside?


When I step in here, I feel like I'm transported back to Dublin.


I would have loved to linger over a pint of Magners cider. Too bad I was the driver. I don't drink often, so I figured, best not. Safety first!


Vegetarian and vegan options are few. I asked for a vegetarian plate sautéed in olive oil and onions and garlic. Love the woodsy, fragrant rosemary. My kind of pub grub! The plate: $7.50.


How I adore books, and music. I can't imagine my world without either.


The shopping I did this year? Charitable gifts for residents in need and food for a church pantry, and 12 holiday cards for $1 from Our Thrift Shop in Westwood. I also made charitable monetary donations and tipped my mailman, although I don't have much mail. That's it!

It's easy to think maybe Lucy on A Charlie Brown Christmas was right: "Christmas is a big commercial racket. It's run by a big Eastern syndicate, you know?"

It's not about being Scrooge-like. It's about rejecting this ridiculous societal pressure to spend ourselves into debt and to think showing someone you care about them means buying something. "I love you" doesn't mean sending relatives, friends and sweethearts to the mall. I got a card and a small gift from someone last Christmas, but the thoughtful sentiments on the card meant more than any gift. I still have that card.

My loved ones and I agreed no gifts this year, and we couldn't be more relieved. If we want something, we can buy it ourselves. Why is our economy so dependent on people buying gifts, many of which are unwanted and that many cannot afford? We'd rather do non-material things: go out for a nice, reasonable meal at local restaurant or see a film at the town cinema, both of which support the economy just as much as some sweater purchase. Even more frugal, spending time at the park with the dog when the temperature allows or sharing a meal or a cup of tea at home.

Cate from Budget Confessions says, "One evening right before Christmas, we get into the car (prepared with warm clothes and hot chocolate), turn on some Christmas music, and drive around our favorite neighborhoods looking at lights." Love it! These simple, pleasurable moments are what the holidays are all about to me. The gifts are best left for those in need and children.

Enjoy the seaon!

Happy Holidays!

The Eco.Logical.Mom Team wishes our readers, families and friends Happy Holidays!

Our New Year's Resolution is Raising Kids with an Eco-friendly Attitude! We invite everyone to be part of it by participating in our last Eco-Giveaway of 2009.



Eco.Logical.Mom and gDiapers are giving away a gDiapers Sweet Bundle, a $99 kit that includes everyday g's 6-pack of little gPants plus your choice of a case of gRefills or 2 packs of gCloth inserts.

gDiapers are breathable and combines the best features of cloth and disposable diapers. Plastic-free biodegradable gRefills keep babies dry and happy, so they’re less likely to get diaper rash.

Become Fan of Eco.Logical.Mom on Facebook by January 9, 2010 and be entered to win this fantastic gDiaper set! The winner will be announced on January 10, 2010.

Good Luck!


"Sweet Bundle" provided by gDiapers.

Dear Wisconsin Parents...

Check our column on MilwaukeeMoms.com!

We are very excited to be part of this great publication. MilwaukeeMoms.com is a division of The Journal Sentinel.

Happy Holidays

Eco.Logical.Mom Team

Cheers to the Season

It's winter! Let's celebrate the winter solstice over a piping hot pot of tea.


How does Alice's Tea Cup sound?

A pot of organic ginger orange peach tea, $6. Lavender Earl Grey was a close runner up. Soy milk is available here. I adore drinking tea out of a charming cup. This one almost rivals Hyacinth Bucket's Royal Doulton with the hand painted periwinkles!

A hummus sandwich served with greens, $8. You can do half a sandwich and soup for $13. That night's vegan variety, black bean.

Vegan scones! Other vegan varieties included vegetable and blueberry oatmeal, $3 each.

Just mind their nice dishes, you don't want to be as jittery as poor Elizabeth.


Visit Alice's Tea Cup, 102 W 73rd St. (between Amsterdam Ave. and Columbus Ave.), New York City. Nearby: Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History, and the New York Historical Society. Traveling in NYC? HopStop gets you around town.

Happy Winter!

Kid Powered Truck

This is a very cool kid-powered adventure vehicle. Made from eco-friendly sprigwood, a recycled bio-composite material, it comes with battery free lights and sound!

Kids can pick from three play modes: search with lights only, no sound; rally - engine rumble sound and lights; or adventure - lights and themed adventure sounds.

Manufactured by Sprig Toys, can be found at Amazon.com

Super Powered Antioxidant Açaí

Have you heard about Açaí? It is a very rich fruit coming from Brazil, loaded with vitamins, iron and calcium. Açai can be found in specialty food stores in the US (check WholeFoods, in the frozen food section). It makes a very delicious meal, ideal for breakfast and mid-afternoon snacks.

By the way... Açaí is a Portuguese word, and it uses a letter that we don't have in English. It looks like a c that has a little squiggle underneath, "ç", which indicates that the letter should be pronounced like "s". Açaí also has an accent on the "i", which means that you should emphasize that syllable. The word is actually quite easy to pronounce, “Ah-Sigh-EE”!


Here is a authentic recipe from Latin America!
- 400 grams of açai pulp.
- 1 banana.
- Juice of 1 orange.
- Honey or sugar, if needed. Try it without sugar first!
- Granola

Mix all the ingradients using a blender, except the granola, until the mixture has a smooth and creamy consistency. Serve immediately in bowls while cold. Add granola as shown in the picture. Yummy!

Low calorie diet can cut cancer risk

Foodies, beware! Cancer could be just around the corner if you don’t watch not only what you put in your mouth but also how much.

Being a small eater can help you live longer, show studies on fruit flies and animals. But a new study finds it can also help you avoid malignancies and even heart disease.

Researchers from University of Alabama grew precancerous lung cells in a laboratory and then exposed the cells to glucose, a common component of human diet. The team varied the level of exposure of the cells to glucose. Theresearchers then grew the cells for a few weeks.

After some time, they noticed that healthy lung cells that were exposed to lower levels of glucose lived longer than those to normal levels.

The precancerous cells died in large numbers when their glucose exposure was limited.

The researchers speculate that this is because lower glucose levels decrease the activity of enzyme telomerase, which is involved in division of cells, and increased that of P16, a protein that suppresses tumour formation.

Trygve Tollefsbol, lead author of the study, said, “We were able to track the cells’ ability to divide while also monitoring the number of surviving cells. The pattern that was revealed to us showed that restricted glucose levels led the healthy cells to grow longer than is typical and caused theprecancerous cells to die off in large numbers. These results further verify the potential health benefits of controlling calorie intake.”

In a report in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, the researchers wrote, “Collectively, these results provide new insights into the gene mechanisms of a nutrient control strategy that may contribute to cancer therapy as well as anti-aging approaches.”

Moral of the story – exercise may keep your weight down despite binges on calorie bombs. But to ditch the big C, start counting the small C’s.

Source: http://www.littleabout.com/news/50798,low-calorie-diet-cut-cancer-risk.html
http://topnews.us/content/29022-study-links-restricted-intake-glucose-reduced-cancer-chances

Maine legislator wants cancer warning on cellphones

AUGUSTA, Maine — A Maine legislator wants to make the state the first to require cellphones to carry warnings that they can cause brain cancer.

Democratic Rep. Andrea Boland of Sanford says numerous studies point to a risk and she plans to present her proposal to Maine legislators in January.

Boland herself uses a cellphone, but with a speaker to keep the phone away from her head.

(THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Don Heupel)

At issue is radiation emitted by all cellphones. There's little consensus among scientists that the phones pose a cancer risk, but some scientists suggest erring on the side of caution.

Cellphones carry warnings in some countries, although no U.S. states require them.

The Federal Communications Commission contends all cellphones sold in the United States are safe, as does the industry.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5izqz4Rx_Qmi_3CjiqU4QCGT_dtLA

Christmas Collections

It's Christmas week so I thought it would be fun to show you some of our ornaments, collections and decorations. My camera is old... excuse the poor photos. 
Santa Baby, can I please have a new camera? Been an awful good girl....

We live in Florida, love all things pertaining to the ocean, so our tree has a lot of sea-related ornaments. Such fun. We try to add to it each year.
I have collected Santas of all kinds since I was a child and several of the red ones pictured here belonged to my mother. Mixed in with both the red and blue Santas are Schaller's gift givers, now distributed by Radko. Each one opens up and there is room inside to place a very small gift. For those of you who would like to know more about gift givers, HERE is their fascinating history.

I made the Santa on the right many years ago. Looks like he's had too much punch! That's a Radko on the left; he's actually a pull toy, if anyone dared!

The blue Santas are all Schaller/Radko Gift Givers. The red ones are a mixture of Gift Givers, antiques, a nutcracker and even a little Santa Limoges.

The bowl on the left contains my mother's old ornaments; you can still see the flocking on them. The tree on the right was made by an elderly woman for my mother...back in the 50's and she got her ornaments from HER mother, who was a miniature collector. I have a pair. I treasure them and continue to be impressed with her patience to work with such tiny ornaments. They stand about 12 inches high.

My daughter brought me the adorable snowlady a couple years ago. I love her. And I made four of the needlepoint stockings. Can you tell which ones?

My sister made the Santa on the left. Isn't she talented? The tree on the right is a Radko tree. Many years ago, the Radko people offered a new ornament every month and if you bought all twelve, you got the tree and the topper. If you look carefully you can see each month; back to school is on the lower left.....you can see books hanging from an old schoolhouse. It depicts September of course. Difficult to see in a photo, but it is fun to look at.

Merry Christmas to everyone!!!
"Tis the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial fire of charity in the heart"

Washington Irving

Happy Hanukkah!
… and May This Festival of Lights bring Blessings upon you and All Your Loved Ones for Happiness, for Health, and for Spiritual and Material Wealth, and May the Lights of Chanukah Usher in the Light of Moshiach and a Better World for All of Humankind.
Hanukkah blessing