tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47809796931957452382024-03-17T01:46:48.350-04:00Going Green in IndyStanding for slower living and faster bedtimes.Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.comBlogger965125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-91153130466866399102015-09-07T06:52:00.000-04:002015-09-07T06:52:00.273-04:00Harvest Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRA7KwhGqBDJ5N4Bya1gLaQ2NHZK378L16fbA_XpfLHEtdSyCfpNoXYuPqaW6oxnTFQ1ahvSC8L3c73n5ZZmCCX2BmciFhR6qH6G3OMnsgWVHtrwX6ulTaq2he8946S1RaYZNZf1vU2AZ/s1600/harvest-prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Please be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance, And none can say why some fields blossom While others lay brown beneath the harvest sun. Take hope that your season will come. Share the joy of those whose season is at hand. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, Their choices in life no more easily made. And give. Give in any way you can. Give in every way you can. Give whatever you possess. Give from your heart. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for the size of your harvest than for how it is shared, And your life will have meaning And your heart will have peace. " Anonymous 17th Century Sermon" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRA7KwhGqBDJ5N4Bya1gLaQ2NHZK378L16fbA_XpfLHEtdSyCfpNoXYuPqaW6oxnTFQ1ahvSC8L3c73n5ZZmCCX2BmciFhR6qH6G3OMnsgWVHtrwX6ulTaq2he8946S1RaYZNZf1vU2AZ/s1600/harvest-prayer.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
<br />Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-27257465245834248002014-12-04T07:03:00.001-05:002016-10-29T18:23:31.764-04:00Fresh Artistry Meal Delivery Service Launches in Indy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePUpMSsU057rKHCEEAriafqSyonytKpnhXmtpU1ZlT1I3ILbPip_zvaaY4_4TfgL8QM3ZTnsFWaBkZGfDmUT-rJt9DdJZReVhBW16ZZbOoxWFmselsMsrzFtnfACYUiJCmpL5zF7FpzM/s1600/fresh-artistry-indianapolis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePUpMSsU057rKHCEEAriafqSyonytKpnhXmtpU1ZlT1I3ILbPip_zvaaY4_4TfgL8QM3ZTnsFWaBkZGfDmUT-rJt9DdJZReVhBW16ZZbOoxWFmselsMsrzFtnfACYUiJCmpL5zF7FpzM/s1600/fresh-artistry-indianapolis.jpg" width="320" /></a>As a working parent, I love convenience at dinner. But more importantly I want to feed my family freshly prepared food.<br />
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That's why I was excited to preview the <a href="http://www.freshartistry.com/" target="_blank">Fresh Artistry</a> service and the new family plan that is launching in Indianapolis tomorrow (Dec. 5).<br />
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Did the food look good? Absolutely. Was it tasty? Yes. But the most impressive part? It was ready to go and directions written in a way my 9 year old could make - and plate - a "fancy meal" for our family. I'm sharing with you the chef's own words and some insights on the program this week at <a href="http://momhat.blogspot.com/2014/12/fresh-artistry-indianapolis.html">Mom Hats & More</a>.<br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-59800898888717734332014-11-21T06:32:00.001-05:002014-11-21T06:32:32.472-05:00Free e-book Friday: Essential Oils & Natural Living<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F5KYA5Q/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00F5KYA5Q&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=HW5OH7W2626KWPFR">Essential Oils & Aromatherapy Reloaded: The Complete Step by Step Guide</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00F5KYA5Q" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-46317292635986696152014-11-16T09:15:00.001-05:002016-10-29T18:25:17.065-04:00Amazing smoothie for pumpkin lovers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV1p_ftuWZho4Gu8Ak2PueGx5C2w5j1ALBcfxfGgiP2aNwlEIkiEf4c-ZbczCDxS932TPzTZhI6C1KL2MRvW_At1GdWhJUNjhgajGr9DDwRY1Qj6SeHa6bBNtmgbtV0ei7VtWCggihtOC/s1600/pumpkin-smoothie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Amazing smoothie for pumpkin lovers | Recipe uses essential oils | Going Green in Indy" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFV1p_ftuWZho4Gu8Ak2PueGx5C2w5j1ALBcfxfGgiP2aNwlEIkiEf4c-ZbczCDxS932TPzTZhI6C1KL2MRvW_At1GdWhJUNjhgajGr9DDwRY1Qj6SeHa6bBNtmgbtV0ei7VtWCggihtOC/s1600/pumpkin-smoothie.jpg" title="" width="240" /></a>One rule about cooking with Girl Scouts: Make sure you are watching what they're doing.<br />
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Suddenly, I was stuck with three opened, partially used cans of canned pumpkin after Tuesday's cooking experiment of <a href="http://going-green-mama.blogspot.com/2014/11/get-moving-energy-journey-girl-scouts.html" target="_blank">Pumpkin Pie in a Cup.</a> And with two kids at home, several games and practices on the schedule, and a sick husband, I was pretty short on time.<br />
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My solution? Make a breakfast smoothie.<br />
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<b>Amazing Pumpkin Smoothie</b><br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
1/2 cup canned pumpkin<br />
1 1/2 cups milk or vanilla almond milk<br />
2 drops <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004O25QX6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004O25QX6&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=YHU6VNHQUWFRQOR7">cassia essential oil</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004O25QX6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TYXZ9I/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007TYXZ9I&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=2MHA6TIUWIMDWTTK">cinnamon essential oil</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B007TYXZ9I" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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2 scoops <a href="http://mydoterra.com/247260" target="_blank">vanilla TrimShake</a><br />
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<b>Instructions</b><br />
Mix ingredients in blender. Add ice and blend to desired consistency.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: This post does include affiliate links, in case you need a source for those ingredients.</span></i><br />
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<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script>Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-90635523267434060572014-11-14T06:58:00.000-05:002014-11-14T06:58:37.563-05:00Free e-book Friday: Clean Eating Ideas<div style="text-align: left;">
I have fallen off the diet wagon. Work stress, hectic schedules with physical therapy and kids activities, and a sick husband has made things quickly fall apart. And I don't just mean the house.</div>
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Far too often than I care to admit, I've gone to grab for candy or other quick-energy but unhealthy choices. And I'm paying the price. I feel sluggish and tired. And just plain miserable.</div>
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So I'm redoubling my healthy eating efforts. I found this great video to get me started, that outlines easy ideas for planning snacks and lunches for the office.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/al_rR4_VqQw" width="400"></iframe>
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<span style="text-align: left;">But I'm also doing research and reaching out for new inspiration and ideas for cleaner eating. This week's Free E-book Friday focuses on ideas and recipes for clean eating, whether you're new or seasoned at this.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O062AU8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00O062AU8&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=ACWH55VIKBSQQIEU"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00O062AU8&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=goigremam-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00O062AU8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O062AU8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00O062AU8&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=ACWH55VIKBSQQIEU">Clean Food Diet: Avoid processed foods and eat clean with few simple lifestyle changes </a></div>
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Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-81739880054088525222014-11-12T06:39:00.004-05:002015-07-16T07:09:52.001-04:00Get Moving on our Energy Journey (Girl Scouts)Our Junior Girl Scouts are going to "Get Moving" on their energy journey this winter. As a leader I admit it's sometimes been tough transitioning the journey leader guides into something manageable, enjoyable and not like school.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0884417336/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0884417336&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=7NEKGI53JCKYKILE" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Get moving on our Junior Girl Scout Energy Journey - talking about exercise, energy balance, nutrition and more" border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0884417336&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=goigremam-20" height="320" title="" width="320" /></a>This week, we formally kicked it off with a talk on "people" energy and energy balance - calories in and calories out.<br />
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<b>It's About Balance</b><br />
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We found a great starting point on <a href="http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/togethercounts/module3.cfm" target="_blank">Energy Balance 101 lesson plans</a> from Discovery Education. The girls learned about calories and energy, then discussed how to figure out how much exercise it would take to balance out extra treats.<br />
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Because I'm very sensitive about weight issues, we also talked about ways our body uses energy without formally "exercising" - everything from watching TV (breathing, heart beating, etc.) to walking between classes to even sleeping, noting that some actions use more energy than others.<br />
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The girls learned about label reading too, and calculated how much energy they were going to take in with their Thanksgiving-themed snack (Pumpkin Pie in a Cup). I'll note that the recipe in the lesson plan did not go over well, as it seems it wasn't sweetened enough for the girls' tastes. I'd adapt it this way:<br />
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<b>Pumpkin Pie in a Cup</b><br />
Mix in a cup:<br />
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (note: a can serves about 3 girls)<br />
2 tablespoons marshmallow creme (or more, to taste)<br />
2 tablespoons whipped topping or whipped cream<br />
cinnamon and/or pumpkin pie spice<br />
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Serve with graham crackers.<br />
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<b>Balancing Out Our Snacks</b><br />
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After the girls snacked, we "balanced" the energy and playfully learned about stress management by playing our family's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UEUS6G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001UEUS6G&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=ITDNEHRT3OZVSQM2">Yoga 4 Kids Board Game</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001UEUS6G" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Lots of giggles happened while the girls tried to learn yoga poses, and several girls made comments at the end of the meeting about how relaxed they were,<br />
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We also launched a steps contest. Each girl got an inexpensive pedometer and were asked to <a href="http://www.nourishinteractive.com/nutrition-education-printables/243-children-family-healthy-goals-color-walking-count-your-steps-activity-trackers" target="_blank">track their steps daily</a> until the next meeting. The winner would get a prize. I have to chuckle that they all started working on their steps immediately, and one mom shared on Facebook her daughter was making laps around the house!<br />
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<b>Badge match-up: </b>Get Moving! Energy Journey, Staying Healthy steps 1, 2, 3, Simple Meals step 5.<br />
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<i>How do you teach your kids about fitness, nutrition and energy? Share your ideas or questions below!</i><h2>
Looking for more Girl Scout ideas? Visit my new scout leader resource site, <a href="http://useresourceswisely.com/" target="_blank">Use Resources Wisely. </a></h2>
Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-5262803622433133932014-11-07T06:35:00.000-05:002014-11-07T06:35:09.805-05:00Free e-book Friday: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!Need a little inspiration without spending hours on Pinterest? This week's free e-books feature focuses on DIY gift ideas for Christmas, Hanukkah and other gift-giving needs.<br />
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<b><i>And don't forget to check out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LU473G4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00LU473G4&linkCode=as2&tag=momhats-20&linkId=T7FQNSCRJGTGYYBM" target="_blank">Cherie Lowe's Keep the Happy in Your Holidays</a>. <a href="http://momhat.blogspot.com/2014/11/keep-happy-in-your-holidays-it-starts.html" target="_blank">Read my review here before you buy.</a></i></b></div>
Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-20206189906766825822014-11-01T10:10:00.001-04:002014-11-01T10:10:21.558-04:00Girl Scouts: Get Out the Vote (New Outdoor Badges)Girl Scouts in the 21st century has always disappointed me in the limited number of outdoor experiences compared with when I was a girl. Yes, I was blessed to have a leader who was taking us backwoods camping by seventh grade. But there simply weren't the badge options - or that visible opportunity - for girls these days, unless you had a leader who enjoyed the outdoors.<br />
<br />
That is slowly starting to change.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRWVEr6Fjz2_3-dVhI0dLs_XJf6-qYHWQ8scXy8zHqziUkWRgUFnlBvyB2wkIXHmnFY4xKBgLDGUldmgcVYXIKmM1NEfVTaaLHnf8-kSPciYkS_9bliTgUTT_TT3HnwnurbGVE58RZvo/s1600/Girls-Choice-Badge-300x300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Girl Scouts can vote on new outdoor badges through Nov. 30, 2014" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRWVEr6Fjz2_3-dVhI0dLs_XJf6-qYHWQ8scXy8zHqziUkWRgUFnlBvyB2wkIXHmnFY4xKBgLDGUldmgcVYXIKmM1NEfVTaaLHnf8-kSPciYkS_9bliTgUTT_TT3HnwnurbGVE58RZvo/s1600/Girls-Choice-Badge-300x300.png" title="" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Girl Scouts is adding one new badge for the Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior levels. Girls can take this <a href="http://bit.ly/1sS9nBA">short survey</a> and help Girl Scouts of the USA choose the theme: outdoor environment, outdoor survival or outdoor recreation.<br />
<br />
This survey runs through Nov. 30, 2014. You can vote as often as you like! The badge topic with the most votes wins!Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-57898211435377395112014-10-31T09:41:00.000-04:002014-11-01T09:51:23.195-04:00Free e-books Friday: Christmas and Holiday Season Since the weather outside is supposed to be frightful, I thought I'd share some free e-book readings to get you in the mood for the <i>next </i>set of holidays:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN04AU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004JN04AU&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=UNG4LDVPXG2FWBDA" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B004JN04AU&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=goigremam-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004JN04AU" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OHML39Y/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00OHML39Y&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=3ZHVOXE6LRXDJ552">Favorite Christmas Cookies</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00OHML39Y" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FW6W8J8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FW6W8J8&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=TDFTQ2CVHFX535IZ">Homemade Christmas Gifts: 14 Gift Ideas & DIY Home Decor</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FW6W8J8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ICSFA3E/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ICSFA3E&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=L6CZYYDNYMWLLSFM">The Perfect Pie: A Handbook for Pie Lovers</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ICSFA3E" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ICSA0J8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ICSA0J8&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=NTDUFCDEIZVFJYJS">Mrs. Claus' Christmas Cookies: Make Impressive Holiday Treats</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ICSA0J8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ICSF8PE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ICSF8PE&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=LWCVGSPLIZ3KEM7F">Holiday Dinners: Recipes, Articles and Equipment</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ICSF8PE" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004JN04AU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004JN04AU&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=TZO6TWEEBEA72BL2">Gingerbread Houses</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004JN04AU" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0094MMWPG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0094MMWPG&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=FFLM5ULGIF6CQEMB">Craft-Less Bundle: Easy, DIY, Budget Gift Ideas for Men and Boys & Greeting Card Gifts for Kids, Teens and Adults</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0094MMWPG" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P2YO6MC/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00P2YO6MC&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=6Q56BJSLJDZBEXS5">Decorating for Christmas: Your Guide To Simple, Fun and Inexpensive DIY Decorations and Crafts for Christmas</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00P2YO6MC" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H6UARMI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00H6UARMI&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=MUOYF6SKWXVBSNBJ">A Paleo Christmas - Quick, Easy, and Delicious Paleo Recipes For The Holidays</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00H6UARMI" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
</ul>
<div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LU473G4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00LU473G4&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=ZT4LYOKC4EPVMUG4" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00LU473G4&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=goigremam-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00LU473G4" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Need more ideas?
I'm also excited to be part of the launch team for The Queen of Free's newest e-book -<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LU473G4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00LU473G4&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=ZT4LYOKC4EPVMUG4">Keep the Happy in Your Holidays: 21 Ways to Save Time, Money, and Your Sanity This Christmas Season</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00LU473G4" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. (It's not free today, but a mere $1.99 at Amazon.)<br />
<br />
While I've worked hard the last few years to NOT have <i>additional </i>lingering debt after the Christmas gift-giving season, I'm always on the lookout for new ideas to save money without sacrificing our traditions. Check it out!</div>
Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-44502356844348481482014-10-30T07:00:00.002-04:002014-10-30T07:00:57.640-04:00Nut-free, gluten-free, homemade-free? Options for School Parties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfxZSQusJyPA6YBTjUyeH-x3pVXH6Q7aD_9iAs0YPLYHbnO2VyY6MHP5q2IGB0l0U5ElVXZaurlr3_FwEp3rSb_8BOfjvkV2xDMW_aav62Udl56Sd_MxOBVkFIzoG-Two3bztqHvnO7G6/s1600/glutenfree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Gluten-free, Nut-free, Homemade-free? Options for Halloween Parties at School" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfxZSQusJyPA6YBTjUyeH-x3pVXH6Q7aD_9iAs0YPLYHbnO2VyY6MHP5q2IGB0l0U5ElVXZaurlr3_FwEp3rSb_8BOfjvkV2xDMW_aav62Udl56Sd_MxOBVkFIzoG-Two3bztqHvnO7G6/s1600/glutenfree.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
The e-mail request on the surface seemed simple enough. The room mother still needed treats for the goodie bag for the class Halloween party.<br />
<br />
And then I got to the end of the message.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Also, please make sure none of the treats include peanuts (SEVERE peanut allergy) and 2 kids are gluten free!</blockquote>
<div>
Wow. That moment gave me pause. Because while I've learned to adjust to my child's friends' food allergies in real life (play dates, parties, etc.), I had no idea what to do in a classroom setting. And it was even made worse by a school rule that said no homemade treats.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At one of our local stores, I scoured product after product for ideas that might satisfy both requirements. I learned quickly that there is no labeling standard for nut-free or gluten-free products. I even asked a store employee, who asked two other employees for ideas. They just looked at me sadly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you're in the position of searching for last-minute party bag treats as I was, here are some ideas to get you started:</div>
<div>
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<div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://myglutenfacts.com/halloween/usa/" target="_blank">Gluten-free candies</a>: </b>A list of many gluten-free and gluten-friendly candies. So apparently not all candy is off the list.</li>
<li><b>Non-food items:</b> Personally, I'm opposed to spider rings, stickers, plastic toys and any other item that can clutter up my home. But think about pencils, glow sticks for trick or treating, Play Dough or other ideas.</li>
<li><b>Carmel apples</b></li>
<li><b>Mandarin orange fruit cups </b>decorated with a jack-o-lantern face on the top.</li>
<li><b>Rice Krispy Treats</b></li>
<li><b>Popcorn balls</b></li>
<li><b>Clementines </b><a href="http://school-bites.com/healthy-halloween-treats-12-nut-free-school-party-ideas-that-kids-and-parents-will-love/" target="_blank">decorated as a jack-o-lantern</a></li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.momables.com/nut-free-halloween-school-treat-ideas/" target="_blank">Grape "Eyeballs"</a></b></li>
</ul>
<h3>
Have other ideas for gluten-free, nut-free celebrations? Please share them below!</h3>
</div>
Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-26032749768600910002014-10-28T06:58:00.000-04:002014-10-29T07:04:39.780-04:00Skinnygirl Cocktails: Mix Up Your Celebrations<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IWTWL5S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IWTWL5S&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=CFNIPUWKLGA2C7SZ" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00IWTWL5S&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=goigremam-20" /></a>Drinking beverages of any caloric kind tend to leave me with guilt the moment they hit my lips. The caloric count. The carbohydrate count. Not to mention alcohol and what it might do to lower my guard against other foods going in my mouth.<br />
<br />
That's why I was excited to check out Bethenny Frankel's latest book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IWTWL5S/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IWTWL5S&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=F4GL43AZAAYWI6F5">Skinnygirl Cocktails: 100 Fun & Flirty Guilt-Free Recipes</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00IWTWL5S" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
<br />
I'm loving the everyday and not so everyday ideas for celebrating with your friends.<br />
<br />
Here are a couple of ideas for toasting with your friends, particularly as we celebrate the upcoming holidays:<br />
<br />
<h3>
For Halloween parties</h3>
<h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Dz3i5hy9Tuub4iAif2w3g3a4GMv0hFrMr1LuzLoqFTVXU2hDdUar4KDf1ynirCh_Oqk-1evJSayPErz5gC09jV76iDHk96K052SoU41-D56-LjBj-0vWsYSe79VotddY9w1Vihi0NWfl/s1600/SpecialOccasion_WhiteCranpireBloodMartini_v2__026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="white cranberry martini | Skinnygirl cocktails" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Dz3i5hy9Tuub4iAif2w3g3a4GMv0hFrMr1LuzLoqFTVXU2hDdUar4KDf1ynirCh_Oqk-1evJSayPErz5gC09jV76iDHk96K052SoU41-D56-LjBj-0vWsYSe79VotddY9w1Vihi0NWfl/s1600/SpecialOccasion_WhiteCranpireBloodMartini_v2__026.jpg" height="320" title="" width="213" /></a></div>
White Crampire Blood Martini</h4>
Serves 2-3<br />
16 ounces Skinnygirl White Cranberry Cosmo<br />
1 1/2 ounces vodka<br />
1/2 cup frozen backberries<br />
black licorice twists for garnish<br />
<br />
Combine the Cosmo, vodka and blackberries in a blender and blend until smooth. Strain into chilled martini glasses. Garnish with black licorice.<br />
<br />
<h3>
For Christmas parties</h3>
<h4>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nwLVEALeddV2oSlU9ZqQK5QtYxrtxr3u4ImxrCzRFkcqcHBtAJ4PXF7XxrGxiK7_HBeV_n1z6Yw0GEtWL-AMNu2Ca_nE6iZtbgakBT7Sl7lPx3KqZ-amfb3aUxYZFN6g-wmJi-GfU3Ml/s1600/Holiday_PeppermintMartini_033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="holiday peppermint martini | Skinnygirl Cocktails" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nwLVEALeddV2oSlU9ZqQK5QtYxrtxr3u4ImxrCzRFkcqcHBtAJ4PXF7XxrGxiK7_HBeV_n1z6Yw0GEtWL-AMNu2Ca_nE6iZtbgakBT7Sl7lPx3KqZ-amfb3aUxYZFN6g-wmJi-GfU3Ml/s1600/Holiday_PeppermintMartini_033.jpg" height="320" title="" width="213" /></a>
Peppermint Martini</h4>
5 ounces Skinnygirl Bare Naked Vodka or other vodka<br />
splash of peppermint schnapps<br />
splash of club soda<br />
Mini candy cane, finely crushed, plus 1 short peppermint stick for garnish<br />
<br />
Combine the vodka and peppermint schnapps with ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Rim a martini glass with water and the crushed candy. Strain the drink into the glass and garnish with the peppermint stick.<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Recipes copyright © 2014 by Bethenny Frankel. From the book SKINNYGIRL COCKTAILS by Bethenny Frankel, published by Touchstone, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Photos © 2014 by Lucy Schaeffer. Printed by permission. </b><br />
<br />Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-79633424905633012632014-10-26T11:00:00.000-04:002014-10-26T11:00:00.746-04:00Seed sale - Seed Savers ExchangeNeed an excuse to stock up for next spring? Seed Savers Exchange has a number of 2014 season heirloom seeds and organic seeds at <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/onlinestore/50-off-2014-Seed/" target="_blank">50 percent off.</a> While it's a somewhat small selection, it's a way to stock up on tomato, cucumber, flower and other seeds at a reasonable price. Seed starting is just around the corner!Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-32389920184111934272014-10-25T21:34:00.000-04:002014-10-25T21:34:06.153-04:0020 Free E-books to Try: Slow Cooking, Paleo, Clean Eating and MoreFree E-books available on Amazon today. Check them out and post what you think!<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GYHFB7K/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GYHFB7K&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=UYWOXD56V7NVVBH5">50 Christmas Slow Cooker Recipes: Delicious and delectable Dishes for this holiday season</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00GYHFB7K" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A5X2MUS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00A5X2MUS&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=EH6QWEDGJBIPPZR6">35 Recipes For Slow Cooker Soup, Slow Cooker Stew and Slow Cooker Chili (The Slow Cooker Meals And Slow Cooker Recipes Collection Book 2)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00A5X2MUS" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KAPXNDQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00KAPXNDQ&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=BZHT5C7UFBGX77XH">Your Favorite Foods - Paleo Style Part 1 and Paleo Slow Cooker Recipes: 2 Book Combo (Caveman Cookbooks)</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00KAPXNDQ" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009YJXM80/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B009YJXM80&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=SXKSDCUJIEISYBSJ">Slow Cooking Heaven: Farmhouse Kitchen Recipes - Top Recipes From The Slow Cooking, Healthy Eating Cookbook</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B009YJXM80" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </li>
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Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-38932404052545782372014-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-23T06:43:04.291-04:00Wordless Wednesday: Memphis Near the Zoo - Awesome Upcycling Arch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtBJ861ni0rylG3qo-lWOU8UUKW0wgXqxgfKXfpuhFFnyCPABLv3rEy1gbHNhOG6GryBMfohecFDDiWXyL4uQ8COA2e8auqGjHvvr2SykC9-wCbOxKat_gXFOucvdBLF6fXD0AbyiwCzw/s1600/20141012_113110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtBJ861ni0rylG3qo-lWOU8UUKW0wgXqxgfKXfpuhFFnyCPABLv3rEy1gbHNhOG6GryBMfohecFDDiWXyL4uQ8COA2e8auqGjHvvr2SykC9-wCbOxKat_gXFOucvdBLF6fXD0AbyiwCzw/s1600/20141012_113110.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-76380789897321324572014-10-17T11:29:00.000-04:002014-10-17T11:29:00.130-04:00Helping Haiti: Lessons in Love, Jewelry and Making a Difference<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNHL9dJTk3LuNvRdTkBKGR07YW6ffkN4eGXHBaopoBJwgxOHhG_9Ov4oXrJnAE4weE_f-t80MW5m01Ywz2HGXU620d9-2mjSKRKLmfXvDxkQHm8xFbPptG_767WcaXXREUaVAwXkehlWe/s1600/20141005_112426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Helping Haiti: Our Junior Girl Scouts' jewelry badge project earned enough to sponsor two students for a year in Haiti." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNHL9dJTk3LuNvRdTkBKGR07YW6ffkN4eGXHBaopoBJwgxOHhG_9Ov4oXrJnAE4weE_f-t80MW5m01Ywz2HGXU620d9-2mjSKRKLmfXvDxkQHm8xFbPptG_767WcaXXREUaVAwXkehlWe/s1600/20141005_112426.jpg" height="400" title="" width="300" /></a>Never underestimate some cast-off jewelry and a bunch of fourth-grade girls.<br />
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This is the story of how trash became treasure and a life-changing moment for some girls in Indiana and in Haiti.<br />
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What started as a <a href="http://going-green-mama.blogspot.com/2014/09/can-piece-of-jewelry-change-world.html" target="_blank">simple project for our Junior Girl Scout Jeweler Badge</a> became an act of love and a major fundraising effort for scholarships for children at our mission church in Haiti.<br />
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Yes, our girls learned about creating unique designs from unwanted necklaces, but they learned more. They learned about how seemingly small efforts can build together and make a difference.<br />
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Our assignment? Design a necklace for yourself and one other person (meeting two of our badge requirements, one to make a piece of jewelry, and the other to make one to share.)<br />
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I was floored when one girl asked if we could sell them for Haiti. And even more so when the rest of the troop agreed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vFQhotlK0wsz4saWn8TZCrJNY3dd_PwKeAWN0_b_T3y_BiTVEiBPORfVk-Dtbw27W1ZlYMButrByVtg9AkiviMmHYrSGvpwJBMOOD2qFKs4nRfCFNTIEsrgUScg9QK5rxGJgN_QOIOiB/s1600/20141005_083505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="upcycled necklaces for our Junior Girl Scout Jewelry Badge" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vFQhotlK0wsz4saWn8TZCrJNY3dd_PwKeAWN0_b_T3y_BiTVEiBPORfVk-Dtbw27W1ZlYMButrByVtg9AkiviMmHYrSGvpwJBMOOD2qFKs4nRfCFNTIEsrgUScg9QK5rxGJgN_QOIOiB/s1600/20141005_083505.jpg" height="240" title="" width="320" /></a>What began as a simple scrapbook paper and Modge-Podge project became a whirlwind of activity. Nearly 200 necklaces were created for a sale to benefit our Hearts for Haiti program, which in part provides scholarships for children to attend school.<br />
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The girls started with a dream: Raise money for Haiti.<br />
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And then it grew.<br />
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Inspired by their idea and business lessons from another <a href="http://going-green-mama.blogspot.com/2014/09/meeting-ember-arts-business-lesson-from.html" target="_blank">jewelry company that helps out disenfranchised women in Africa</a>, the troop set pricing, learned about marketing (as in, no we don't need a website for a one-time sale, but there are better ways to spread the word), and set a business goal.<br />
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They dreamt big.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTsV5Al_svgUO6LlcFB2vzQWJ0W0KhzN-gjJ2ii0v-09W5FzdMPAGUJVtM1xF6UconBttFCEbUpBpdglP8VpzECagJiteeGECoFRr0PGN2ornft6Rn_1fLr03dWBTgwedu9-RD3qXJWio/s1600/20141005_083250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hearts for Haiti fundraiser" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTsV5Al_svgUO6LlcFB2vzQWJ0W0KhzN-gjJ2ii0v-09W5FzdMPAGUJVtM1xF6UconBttFCEbUpBpdglP8VpzECagJiteeGECoFRr0PGN2ornft6Rn_1fLr03dWBTgwedu9-RD3qXJWio/s1600/20141005_083250.jpg" height="300" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was a reach, but we hoped to sell enough necklaces to raise enough for three scholarships for students in Haiti. Our eye-opening moment: A year's tuition was a mere $300 compared to American standards. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJRVx2bdhbUI6n87XzTnDl6EX73PX7JGd9mvQXj0qPmyK2JH8IzNrIM7o60911f6CV38suqmd41RfGaUbnTPbsOS1kjk3h0mZOFFv4V3nbTHlFEhMOstJ8Mwk9LEN3P05D19Uu85-rSMJ/s1600/20141005_083323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="jewelry fundraiser for hearts for haiti scholarships" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJRVx2bdhbUI6n87XzTnDl6EX73PX7JGd9mvQXj0qPmyK2JH8IzNrIM7o60911f6CV38suqmd41RfGaUbnTPbsOS1kjk3h0mZOFFv4V3nbTHlFEhMOstJ8Mwk9LEN3P05D19Uu85-rSMJ/s1600/20141005_083323.jpg" height="300" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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We didn't quite make the full three scholarships, but we were inspired. And inspired others. Tens and twenties were dropped in the donation jar and as the church service times passed, our goal reached higher....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSApL05A47d9hdF0V7vojLGYSUr1w40XzUPC10vbZISFXucY37el9iHASI-1eN1M3yIOgj4SZIKovGH5ax6Fqo6mfFLwmBqdgCt1GZwS5noa6RIvgYj8wvKKYKEsVY9iRjnNmidYUaAmC/s1600/20141005_191346+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSApL05A47d9hdF0V7vojLGYSUr1w40XzUPC10vbZISFXucY37el9iHASI-1eN1M3yIOgj4SZIKovGH5ax6Fqo6mfFLwmBqdgCt1GZwS5noa6RIvgYj8wvKKYKEsVY9iRjnNmidYUaAmC/s1600/20141005_191346+(1).jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Four services later, these girls raised more than $700 - allowing for two students to attend school worry-free for a year. We're proud. But we're even prouder of the kids in their class, when the results were announced at school, who want to something too.Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-3919337161242648842014-10-16T10:23:00.002-04:002014-10-16T10:23:21.488-04:00Disconnected. What Being Offline Reminded MeLife without blogging, or social media, or even cell phone service. Yes it can be done!<br />
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Imagine how we lived without it. But recent moments have reminded me just how truly dependent we have become on those technologies.<br />
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I took an unplanned pause from blogging recently due to a major, unplanned project at work (read: ebola crisis communications). I told my kids that "Mommy has homework to learn about a yucky disease." My unscheduled moments were spent learning everything I could about the disease and developing a communications plan that was a flu epidemic plan on steroids. And I hadn't even touched the employee no-show issues before I left for fall break. So far, we'd been blessed to not have a case in the Midwest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboV_a1Fss_P8O7L5rsq8zgCKnCT0Wj5yK_k8796qpYQyfLx4zyj5JiAcdcd1mkB67VipzcJ1fH7-4D0B9gNo93o5DOnw_htPUlsTmJ9EEDQBELIYofzoMZyxMggi4n9ILR4dirU7IIrWx/s1600/smartphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Disconnected: What being offline reminded me" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboV_a1Fss_P8O7L5rsq8zgCKnCT0Wj5yK_k8796qpYQyfLx4zyj5JiAcdcd1mkB67VipzcJ1fH7-4D0B9gNo93o5DOnw_htPUlsTmJ9EEDQBELIYofzoMZyxMggi4n9ILR4dirU7IIrWx/s1600/smartphone.jpg" height="320" title="" width="235" /></a>While blogging admittedly takes time to do, what I didn't anticipate was the drop in my "social" social media use, too. Instead of checking out my friends' latest escapades and connecting with them online, I refocused my attention to the social media use of work. And I learned it's tough disconnecting completely once you've trained your brain that way. On Fall Break, I sent the disaster coordinator and media manager a text about the second ebola patient, to which I was reprimanded to go back to vacation. And here, I thought a 48-hour media blackout on my part was completely remarkable.<br />
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It's taken me some time to re-adjust to a life without relying on the Internet and my smart phone. On day 3, we got a group text on an update on a crisis. Immediately I responded with "What do I need to monitor." And I am so glad I was re-reminded to unplug and go back on vacation.<br />
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It wasn't until day 5 until I could get on Facebook - to post some of my kids' pictures - without having the gut reaction of "There's activity on the work page; I need to check it" as I react multiple times a day. I am blessed to work with colleagues who are more than capable of filling in on customer service and other concerns in my absence, and I need to trust them.<br />
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My moment of realization, though, was on our return trip home. My husband, a loyal Royals fan for decades, was tracking Game 4 on his ESPN app while I drove. KC was one out away from the World Series. And Sprint service cut out. For a long 30-minute drive, my husband sadly stared at the red X at the top of the bars and waited. No text updates from his parents. No way to call them. Nothing but wonder.<br />
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And that's when it hit me. Just a few short years ago, we would have caught the scores on the radio when they came on, or saw the headlines later. Or, like my 6-year-old does each morning, ask another person "Did we win? What was the score?"<br />
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We don't always have to be recording the moment, or getting an app to track the moment. Sometimes, we can just connect with the moment. Just us. In person. Enjoying it all with our senses.<br />
<br />Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-42154169845739588502014-09-29T07:00:00.000-04:002014-09-29T07:00:01.519-04:00Learning lessons from Cub Scout PopcornThis year, we've embarked on a new adventure: Cub Scouts.<br />
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After five years of being drug to his sister's Girl Scout activities and three years of the Tag Unit at Girl Scout camp, my little guy is bent on being a Boy Scout. </div>
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Who could blame him? Add the fun of Girl Scouting with Zoom Zookas (or whatever they're called), more campouts and archery, and I have one excited Tiger Cub.</div>
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He came home one day from school telling me that Cub Scouts "camp out on the football field and the basketball court and the baseball field and the soccer field and eat popcorn."</div>
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Ahh. Popcorn. The bane of my existence.</div>
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<a href="http://trails-end.com/?scout=0f7fe4a4993a3f5&utm_source=Sales%20Application&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Scout%20Email%20-%20Support%20my%20Scouting%20Activities" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://give.ppbsa.org/popcorn/images/index_clip_image002.jpg" height="85" width="320" /></a></div>
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Note that I hadn't fully recovered from the disaster of last year's cookie sales, where the co-leader and I, along with our daughters, were stuck with weekend after weekend of cookie booths picking up the slack of the rest of the troop. I literally dreamed of cookies for eight weeks.</div>
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And now we had two kids in scouting. It made me feel more like this:<br />
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The reality is our financial situation means that if we want to participate, we're going to have to pimp popcorn. And it's not a simple sell, even with the world's cutest Cub Scout (not that I'm biased).</div>
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However, I have a little guy who is quite motivated. If we hit the goal, he earns enough in his account to go to Cub Scout camp instead of just Girl Scout tag units next summer. Oh, and apparently there's a prize for that level of a bow and arrow too.</div>
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You have to work to make dreams reality.</h3>
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My Tiger Cub is learning that goals aren't always easy to achieve. He walked his street yesterday, only to sell $10 worth of popcorn. He sells at the church popcorn booth after many services, and gets more "no's" than "yes's." </div>
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Cuteness may help, but it doesn't always get your way.</div>
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My Tiger Cub isn't always eager to go out, but he's learning that if we wants to make camp and this bow and arrow happen, it's going to take work. Not just mom taking a sheet to the office, but actual work on his part.</div>
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And at 6 years old, that's not a bad lesson to learn.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">And yes, my disclaimer, if you're truly without a Cub Scout to help, we'd be happy to assist! <a href="http://trails-end.com/?scout=0f7fe4a4993a3f5&utm_source=Sales%20Application&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Scout%20Email%20-%20Support%20my%20Scouting%20Activities" target="_blank">Here is the order link.</a></span></div>
Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-68296281744943648782014-09-28T14:06:00.003-04:002014-10-16T12:04:05.467-04:00Paying It Forward - A Note of Thanks<div style="text-align: center;">
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I want to say Thank You. Thank you to each of my readers who've followed our family's journey the last few years. And THANK YOU (large caps intended) for each of you who have helped my in-laws.<br />
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Our large medical expenses, coupled with the struggle to keep our children in parochial school, means we have very little left, if anything, at the end of the month. However, our in-laws, who live on a very limited income, have it worse.<br />
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Because of YOU - those people who have ever clicked on an <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=UZ6CHD3NF3NAM4NV">Amazon</a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />affiliate link - we were able to replace a needed appliance for them, something that would have been unthinkable to do before.<br />
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Thank you. You made a difference.Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-42410702808382407032014-09-20T07:22:00.000-04:002014-09-20T07:22:05.259-04:00Meeting Ember Arts: A business lesson from Uganda for our Junior Jeweler badgeJewelry can be pretty, but it can also have meaning and make a difference. That's the lesson we shared with our Juniors at our last Girl Scout meeting.<br />
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The girls have found meaning in their upcycled projects, which we are selling at our church next month to support the much-loved Haiti ministry. Our fourth-graders have been passionate about this cause, which in part supports educating girls such as them, and they are thrilled to<a href="http://going-green-mama.blogspot.com/2014/09/can-piece-of-jewelry-change-world.html"> take their big idea </a>and see it to completion.<br />
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<a href="http://emberarts.com/store/images/1820/cuff.jpg?250,250,3,100,100,3422392940" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Ugandan paper bead jewelry from Ember Arts" border="0" src="http://emberarts.com/store/images/1820/cuff.jpg?250,250,3,100,100,3422392940" height="320" title="" width="213" /></a></div>
At the same time, I'd gotten a pitch from a company called Ember Arts, which <a href="http://emberarts.com/about/story/" target="_blank">empowers Ugandan women</a> by allowing them to have a jewelry business and a market in the United States. They <a href="http://emberarts.com/retailers/" target="_blank">sold them locally</a> in a shop in Kokomo, Indiana, but also have an <a href="http://emberarts.com/store/" target="_blank">online component to their business</a>.<br />
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The timing was beyond perfect. We shared with the girls what jewelry looked like from another culture - instead of just showing a picture from the web or in a book. We shared the stories (some sanitized) of the women who were escaping poverty and war and simply wanted a better life for their families. The girls could not wrap their heads around the idea that hard labor could earn a person $1 a day - or that they themselves, had they been born in Uganda, might be sharing the same fate of hard labor instead of schooling.<br />
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Their response? "Can we help them too?"<br />
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Perhaps in time we can. But for now, we are sticking to learning their lessons and sharing our knowledge with others.<br />
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Next week, we begin our "business side" of the fundraiser and learn how to make paper beads similar to what the girls admired at our last meeting. The girls compiled questions for Ember Arts - everything from how the beads are created to how to the business is run. (After all, our girls are going to be marketing their own work and setting prices for their sale.)<br />
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I was touched that we got a personal letter back that we're sharing with the girls next week:</div>
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Dear Girl Scouts,<br />
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Isn’t it fun getting all dressed up and looking pretty? Don’t all young ladies love following fashion trends and wearing all of the latest styles?<br />
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Well, I know I do. But did you know that some girls, all around the world, don’t have closets full of the prettiest clothes, and jewelry boxes brimming with accessories? Some girls have barely any clothes at all, and their families struggle to make enough money to pay for things like food, homes, and education.<br />
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At <a href="http://emberarts.com/" target="_blank">Ember Arts</a>, we don’t think it’s ok that only some of us to get to go to school, and wear pretty clothes, and have nice homes, but that other people don’t get to have those things. That’s why we are working hard at creating jobs for women in Uganda, Africa that will enable them to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeMz0V4vFF7P9qSLoKHzSE_G2oxZspsmBSz8kVo4GGCHuAt0e-cN28f35zlcS52KVl2w2Mg9gVY_Vykjb-xADQ23NeG1bXhTFNbtV5ibHtYSclboGi7H3Aboq-z60j671I5ymnbJs2COt/s1600/stella_with_fam_2-1024x680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Junior Girl Scouts Jeweler badge and Global Action Award: Meeting women who create jewelry in Uganda to lift themselves out of poverty." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeMz0V4vFF7P9qSLoKHzSE_G2oxZspsmBSz8kVo4GGCHuAt0e-cN28f35zlcS52KVl2w2Mg9gVY_Vykjb-xADQ23NeG1bXhTFNbtV5ibHtYSclboGi7H3Aboq-z60j671I5ymnbJs2COt/s1600/stella_with_fam_2-1024x680.jpg" height="212" title="" width="320" /></a>How are we helping these women in Uganda? Well, Ember Arts gives women jobs crafting beautiful handmade jewelry. We buy the jewelry from the women at a very fair price and then we sell the jewelry to lots of people in the United States.<br />
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This business began seven years ago when a man named James took a trip to Uganda and met women who worked in a place called a rock quarry. These women would sit in the hot sun all day long pounding big rocks with a hammer to make smaller rocks and gravel. This was very hard, tiring work, and the women were paid less than $1 a day.<br />
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James knew that these women were beautiful and talented and had amazing dreams. All they needed were better jobs that would pay them well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57UeuTc9gNOsT8UHWsenThac7AieQWjXYlULH5Ds3OlhYfCW8dIh1QlsOF0XssmyGW6JJ5t5IRF50kA4Wppraa-bLIMbh4DOOLgBEDBZT8NDoQLaBBn-YmwZoU55m3XNK7ogDg6wghBtp/s1600/emberinstagram-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Junior Jewelry badge: meeting women jewelers in Uganda." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57UeuTc9gNOsT8UHWsenThac7AieQWjXYlULH5Ds3OlhYfCW8dIh1QlsOF0XssmyGW6JJ5t5IRF50kA4Wppraa-bLIMbh4DOOLgBEDBZT8NDoQLaBBn-YmwZoU55m3XNK7ogDg6wghBtp/s1600/emberinstagram-10.jpg" height="320" title="" width="213" /></a></div>
That’s how Ember Arts started. Now, we employ 28 Ugandan women and a couple of men, and together they make hundreds of pieces of jewelry every month. With the money they make from Ember Arts, they are now able to buy clothes and food, to live in nice homes, to send their children to school, and to pursue dreams like starting their own businesses and going to college.<br />
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The jewelry these women make is really unique and special. Every piece is made by hand using recycled paper. We also use other materials like wood, seeds from trees, and glass beads the women buy from the market, but the paper beads are definitely the highlight of every piece of jewelry. The women cut pieces of paper into very skinny, long strips and then they roll up those strips into circles, ovals, or cylinders, and then they cover the paper with something like glue. As you can probably imagine, every bead takes a long time to make, but the women now have lots of practice and can make the jewelry very efficiently. About every two months, the women ship hundreds of pieces of jewelry in big boxes to the United States where they are sold.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9K4f8i88dY7-1PgFqeEXNkcL6347L5WQui16IjgELIpOfy3m-bONI3pnBdAv4bex2TjzMlA0EsA0Tz17tdd9M0viLnBOXlGsgMGSKlpHd2usHuNi10Wp_3tO_WnBUwViL58LqQFNSWp0/s1600/Emily-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Junior Jeweler badge and Global Action Award: Meeting Emily, a jeweler in Uganda who has helped empower women there." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9K4f8i88dY7-1PgFqeEXNkcL6347L5WQui16IjgELIpOfy3m-bONI3pnBdAv4bex2TjzMlA0EsA0Tz17tdd9M0viLnBOXlGsgMGSKlpHd2usHuNi10Wp_3tO_WnBUwViL58LqQFNSWp0/s1600/Emily-2.jpg" height="212" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
Every piece of jewelry is very unique and some of them are very complex designs. The women who make the jewelry get most of their ideas for designs from a woman named Emily. Emily used to live in California and worked as an artist. She now lives in Uganda and spends all of her days helping people pursue their dreams and teaching them artistic skills.<br />
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Apart from Emily and the 28 women who make our jewelry, we have a staff of eight people here in the United States who do all of the work that it takes to actually sell the jewelry. We do everything from attaching tags to the jewelry, to updating our website, to making lots of phone calls to stores. We sell most of the jewelry wholesale, which means we work with big stores, and sell them a lot of jewelry at one time at a cheap price, and then they usually raise that price and sell the jewelry in their own store. Each piece of jewelry has a different price, and that price is determined by how the piece was made, what it was made out of, how long it took to make, and how popular it is with consumers. Basically you just have to put a lot of thought into how much you want to price your jewelry and you also have to be willing to work through trial and error to see what works best.<br />
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I think it is so admirable that you all are venturing on your own projects with making jewelry and supporting other people. How blessed your ministry in Haiti is going to be because of your efforts.<br />
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Here are a few things that you should never forget while working on your project: even small actions make really big differences in the lives of other people; be as creative, unique, and true to yourself as you can possibly be when it comes to creating your art; know that everyone has a dream, and when you do something nice for someone, raise money for them, give them a gift, or just say nice things to them, you are fueling their dreams and giving them lots of joy and hope.<br />
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I wish you the best of luck on your jewelry making project! Thank you for supporting Ember Arts!<br />
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Love,<br />
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Kimberly and the Ember Arts familyRobbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-49874398752040282182014-09-16T06:58:00.001-04:002014-09-16T06:58:10.581-04:00Can a piece of jewelry change the world?Jewelry to me had always been about frills. An extra layer of stuff (one that admittedly was pretty low on the must-buy list.)<div>
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But the last few weeks have made me wonder: Perhaps jewelry can mean a little bit more.</div>
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The backstory: My daughter's Girl Scout troop is earning their Jeweler badge. The girls unanimously wanted to earn it, and I admittedly had squirreled away supplies of donations of leftover items the last couple of months.</div>
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I introduced the first project, an upcycled necklace, and let them know they could make as many as they wanted, but they could only keep one. Their response: "Could we sell them for Haiti?"</div>
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Within an hour we had designed more than 100 upcycled necklaces, which were donated to church for our Hearts for Haiti ministry, a cause dear to these girls.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the upcycled necklaces made by my daughter's Junior Girl Scout troop. Funds from the sale next month go to our church's Hearts for Haiti ministry.</td></tr>
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But it didn't stop there. As we later talked about jewelry, what it symbolized and what it was made from, I shared some stories and jewelry from Uganda that I recently received from <a href="http://emberarts.com/" target="_blank">Ember Arts</a>, a company that works with jewelry artists in Uganda to create upcycled jewelry with paper beads that are just gorgeous. As I shared the story of some of the artists - some of whom used to earn $1 per day in hard work - the girls' response was "Can we help them too?"</div>
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Maybe jewelry in itself doesn't change the world. But perhaps the stories behind them can change hearts.</div>
Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-24336110153076446272014-09-06T13:36:00.002-04:002014-09-06T13:36:52.724-04:00Introducing Light of the World Seed & Tea Co.I'm proud to say we've planted our own seeds of change.<br />
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This morning, my children - inspired by our school and church's commitment to a community in Haiti - announced the formation of their new company: Light of the World Seeds and Tea Co. This local business is proud to offer hand-harvested seeds and loose-leaf peppermint tea as a benefit for the Haiti ministry.<br />
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<b><i>I'm</i></b> inspired. Inspired that they came up with this idea. Inspired that something as small as leftover seeds could make a difference for families miles and miles away. Even if it's a short-lived effort, I love the love for our fellow man that was behind it.<br />
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Right now Light of the World has the following seeds to share for a donation to the Hearts for Haiti Ministry: chive, dill, bok choy, asparagus beans and peas. Cantelope is coming soon (still drying).<br />
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If you're interested, please send me an email at goinggreenmama@gmail.com.Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-55635303071870395662014-09-05T12:20:00.000-04:002014-09-05T12:36:00.716-04:00Failure is an OptionLetting your child fail is a difficult decision. No parent wants to deliberately allow their child to do so. But perhaps we should.<br />
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Tonight, I am watching my daughter audition for <a href="http://indysocialmediamoms.com/review-shrek-musical/" target="_blank">Shrek the Musical</a>, in a local production. We watched the musical this summer for a review for Indy Social Media Moms, and she fell in love with the story and the characters. And when we learned a small group was producing Shrek on our side of town, she jumped on the opportunity to audition.<br />
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My daughter has a will. I was worried about the way.<br />
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We managed the issues of cost (the group asks for parents to contribute financially to the production, rather than fundraise) and schedules (we had committed to sports at school, but found a way to make it work.) My daughter even decided that trying out - and winning a part in Shrek - was worth the loss of a birthday party, seeing her brother's games and other sacrifices she would make the next 10 weeks. She picked out a song - the school's song of the year - and I found a copy of the CD at the public library for her accompaniment in the tryout.<br />
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This morning, we practiced in the car. And while she's in tune (one point over her mother), she certainly doesn't have the power in her voice. She was drowned out time and again by her little brother.<br />
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Tonight, I will watch my daughter audition, full knowing that she only has about a 50 percent chance of the part (based on the number of tryout slots). Full knowing that her voice isn't as strong as her possible competition for a role (more so for Fiona than for the Wicked Witch, her #2 choice). Tonight, I could very much watch my daughter pour her heart into something she wants, knowing that she could very well fail.<br />
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But failure is an option.</div>
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And those fears become very real in those moments before sleep. As I was tucking my daughter in bed, my daughter, with sad eyes, said, "Mom, what if I <i>don't </i>get a part?"</div>
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The very worry I had for her.</div>
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And I told her, "Just sing your best, and do the very best you can do, and your dad and I will be proud. And if you don't get a part? You can always try the Girl Scout program on theaterif you do want to learn more about acting, and we can try again another time."</div>
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That seemed to satisfy her. Knowing that her mom, who messed up a very bad rendition of Stand By Me for a musical tryout in high school, still turned out ok probably helped too.</div>
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It's OK to not be the star in every role. My daughter is an awesome chef at the age of 9. She's a less awesome kickball and soccer player. What kind of actress she does or doesn't become remains to be seen.</div>
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It's OK to fail. It's OK to be disappointed. Disappointments and failures will happen in life, and it's how we manage those that matters.</div>
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Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-73021311567433079462014-09-04T06:30:00.000-04:002014-09-04T06:30:02.668-04:00Treating Lice Naturally (No Chemical Lice Shampoo)This is the one post I hope you'll never have to use.<br />
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Last winter my daughter was distraught. She caught lice. And a couple of the girls were ruthless.<br />
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We went through not one but two rounds of the chemical lice shampoo in stores with no breakthrough. The darn things eluded us. And her scalp was the only thing affected. She cried whenever I'd pick her hair, as her scalp was raw.<br />
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That's when I wondered, Could we do better? Did we have to use a chemical shampoo that only seemed to hurt rather than help?<br />
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We sprung for a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HIBPV8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000HIBPV8&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=UDEP6NCFBOXS6CPM">metal, professional-use lice comb</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000HIBPV8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> online, as the plastic ones that came in lice kits didn't seem to help - in fact, they kept breaking. It was the best $10 we could spend.<br />
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We also treated her sensitive scalp and hair with essential oils. After doing some research, we ended up creating a blend of coconut oil with tea tree oil, lavender essential oil, euchalyptus essential oil and rosemary essential oil. We diluted it with the coconut oil and rubbed into her scalp and hair, then combed out any nits. We continued this every other day for a week, and we finally broke through!<br />
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Even now, we periodically do a check as a precaution - particularly after overnights and camping!Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-41890476609559816962014-08-26T07:24:00.000-04:002014-10-29T20:55:34.255-04:00Back to School Spa Party for Girl ScoutsBack to school mean added stresses; so it's time to destress with a girls-only <b>DIY spa party</b>!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxJAYKxdYTPz0VHhaXM4cA37YrOPzu_O2NPBPSrZYzuNSCopheSHWHGf3SH5-4_8D7_C6KAtgTKuQB5aRgHMW3cKlYXbOXsSm5dMjjvoc9bEvhnMmEnzunxrgxV3yUokl-8u4ziFeBIYR/s1600/diy-spa-party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="DIY spa party ideas for a sleepover party or Girl Scout troop meeting. Most items are simple to find in your garden!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxJAYKxdYTPz0VHhaXM4cA37YrOPzu_O2NPBPSrZYzuNSCopheSHWHGf3SH5-4_8D7_C6KAtgTKuQB5aRgHMW3cKlYXbOXsSm5dMjjvoc9bEvhnMmEnzunxrgxV3yUokl-8u4ziFeBIYR/s1600/diy-spa-party.jpg" height="240" title="" width="320" /></a><br />
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We treated the girls in our Junior Girl Scout troop to a back to school spa party for their first meeting. It was a low-key way to start off the year and subtlely talk about stress!<br />
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A back to school spa party can be as elegant (and costly) or inexpensive as your troop's budget allows. Here's what we planned for the girls - and most of the ingredients for our spa recipes came from our garden:</div>
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<li><a href="http://going-green-mama.blogspot.com/2014/08/scout-spa-day-test-diy-kids-facials.html" target="_blank">Banana facials with cucumber slices</a></li>
<li><a href="http://going-green-mama.blogspot.com/2014/08/scout-spa-day-test-diy-nail-soak.html" target="_blank">Nail soak</a> (no nail polish allowed at school)</li>
<li><a href="http://going-green-mama.blogspot.com/2014/08/scout-spa-day-test-make-your-own-cocoa.html" target="_blank">DIY cocoa lip gloss</a></li>
<li>Our family's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UEUS6G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001UEUS6G&linkCode=as2&tag=goigremam-20&linkId=K7WCMMUYPPK3CSUX">Yoga 4 Kids Board Game</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=goigremam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001UEUS6G" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
from home</li>
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Our troop kept the spa party low-cost without losing the experience; we used bandanas for head wraps to keep banana out of the hair; we took cucumbers and the dill for the nail soak from the garden. </div>
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We did treat the girls to a mini bottle of nail polish for their own pedicures if they remembered the Girl Scout Law. All told it was less than $15 for the meeting.</div>
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Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4780979693195745238.post-32609152293234933282014-08-24T08:25:00.000-04:002014-08-24T08:25:18.993-04:00Bug Fest is today!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMoLhkq7ryDlNNygvA1me6CZW0oHD8dyCMLLmyudAoUtUmR7fzNpfy9RE4qmlsaZ7AFEWYC5cNN54zKjRmTXvTwNPq3VAjA5Bi0NrPDoGfFbWhC_0s8tyZZpZ5XaMQZskI65vPvkK3loU/s1600/DSCF0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMoLhkq7ryDlNNygvA1me6CZW0oHD8dyCMLLmyudAoUtUmR7fzNpfy9RE4qmlsaZ7AFEWYC5cNN54zKjRmTXvTwNPq3VAjA5Bi0NrPDoGfFbWhC_0s8tyZZpZ5XaMQZskI65vPvkK3loU/s1600/DSCF0250.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGjUr0cQW9H1lbTrAkxNZN_TRkPrgWQa8DByOD5AIy_rG_74wLubZGjhnmi6MXo6tN_h8I1RKfmd0x7GtI9bewdNbalZdHjnDfTLDv7P-G_2zLMRcy7LTiLN0Mqeu2BDx9Pq2Fl8zX9H1/s1600/DSCF0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGjUr0cQW9H1lbTrAkxNZN_TRkPrgWQa8DByOD5AIy_rG_74wLubZGjhnmi6MXo6tN_h8I1RKfmd0x7GtI9bewdNbalZdHjnDfTLDv7P-G_2zLMRcy7LTiLN0Mqeu2BDx9Pq2Fl8zX9H1/s1600/DSCF0223.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf4QqbAQThuXm9A7_YYk8oCTS478Hh9Awt7oBzyj8_2V-wNtQ7ESNxgsk0qHcStrF-LMpCMVcbXKOf4sHXuyZCtCim4mhtuD2Bmi589ROyu9VfSg3GFlDi3mvQ5m2Grko7bhSnJc_GUU6/s1600/DSCF0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf4QqbAQThuXm9A7_YYk8oCTS478Hh9Awt7oBzyj8_2V-wNtQ7ESNxgsk0qHcStrF-LMpCMVcbXKOf4sHXuyZCtCim4mhtuD2Bmi589ROyu9VfSg3GFlDi3mvQ5m2Grko7bhSnJc_GUU6/s1600/DSCF0227.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Bug Fest is today at Southeastway Park (5624 S Carroll Rd., New Palestine, just southeast of Indianapolis). Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. The event is free but parking is $5. We went a few years back and the children truly enjoyed it!Robbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915194141694632310noreply@blogger.com0