avatar by on August 10, 2010   •   29 Comments Personal Growth You

8 simple habits for longer-term natural living

Making green and eco-friendly choices in our everyday lives is not an easy task. To live a green life for the longer term, we need to make green living a lifestyle. When we start living a more natural life on an daily basis we damage the environment less and benefit our bodies and souls more. And as we adopt more ways to live naturally, we train our minds and bodies to be happier that way.

Here are a few simple but powerful ways I have adopted a more natural lifestyle. They’re mostly ways to calm the mind and the body, and they contribute to long term health. And why do I think these really contribute to long-term health? I picked up most of these ideas from my dad, who continues to lead a healthy and happy life, one that I am incredibly grateful for.

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avatar by on July 12, 2010   •   21 Comments Shopping Well Spending Wisely Your Family

10 Ideas to Make Money Matter Less

I’m on maternity leave from June 11 to July 16: The following is written by green and frugal living columnist Maya Bissineer of Memetales.

I saw a lot of people grow up with very little money. Yet they were some of the happiest people I have ever seen.

They were fiercely passionate about their careers and competitive in nature. They were certainly comfortably rich, but money was not the first thing you noticed when you saw them.

Once we make enough money for ourselves and put some away for the future, it’s time to focus on other things — the things that could bring you real happiness that money alone can’t buy. If you have enough money and you are still spending all your time thinking about money, then something is wrong.

Here are some things we all could focus on to make money matter a little less.
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avatar by on June 21, 2010   •   124 Comments Kids: Developing Character Shopping Well Spending Wisely Your Family

How to potty train your infant

Since this post is about potty training, I am forced to use the words poop and pee to differentiate between the kinds of body waste. So consider yourself warned before you continue reading this post….

My youngest turned two last month. She has been completely diaper-free (nights, naps and travel included) for over six months. She was completely potty trained by the time she was a year old. It often surprises people when I say this — or when they watched my one-and-a-half-year-old drop her pants and run towards the potty when she had to go.

Everyone is curious to learn about how I trained my kids, so here it is — my approach to potty training, some simple beliefs, and how I think you can potty train your young child too.
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avatar by on May 19, 2010   •   22 Comments Kids: Developing Character Your Family

Use storytelling to inspire kids to go green

A while ago I wrote about how to use storytelling to inspire frugality in our kids.  I apply the same storytelling techniques to teach my kids about the importance of being green and friendly to the earth. Some things work and some don’t, but over time, I’ve developed a system that works quite well.

Going green and being aware of the environment should be instilled deep into the hearts and minds of our kids. When better to start to instill these values than when our kids are young and we’re their biggest influence?  So, start early and put a green voice in their heads with these fun ideas.

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avatar by on April 7, 2010   •   26 Comments Shopping Well Spending Wisely Your Family

10 Ways to Recycle Your Technology and Manage E-Waste

It’s amazing how much technology, gadgets, memory sticks, wires, and batteries we all have these days. We all are accumulating more e-waste than we are able to handle, and it’s time to make a conscious effort to get it under control.

I am extremely guilty of not keeping electronic waste to the minimum at my home. Over the past two years, we have thinned down everything in our home, including furniture, clothes, and toys, but the electronics still seemed to pile up.

Finally, I am making a conscious effort to manage the e-waste in our home.

Here are some ideas I have gathered.

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