Got Milk?

I had an absolutely wonderful time last night at a local coffee shop with some mom friends I don't get to hang out with much. We are all on the whole "wanting to be better moms" kick (who isn't?) and in particular, we're trying to figure out this whole "health" thing: what to prioritize financially, time-wise...that whole schpeal (I learned that word in my English minor classes at Taylor Univ, I'm sure!) Anyway, my friend Emily buys raw milk from a local farm and was telling me about it. Owen seems to be allergic to milk, so our whole family has been trying to do rice milk only for about 6 months. I have heard some about raw milk from my friend Liana who is also on a serious food journey because of her own health concerns. SO, this morning I was talking to the boys about the milk thing and possibly buying a half share of this cow. That led to a conversation because Kole, I think, said he didn't want to drink milk from a cow's butt, or something like that! I reminded them about when they were babies and that milk doesn't come from there but rather from a mom's breast. The same goes with the milk we drink coming from a cow's breast. I then told them that we could actually go see these six dairy cows and that Emily actually gets to milk the cows. Braden got this (distressed? grossed out? confused?) look on his face and said, "I don't want to touch a cow's breast." I thought you might like a chuckle this morning!

One more way we're trying to go green (my Shaklee plug)

I'm glad when some things become "cool." Like social justice. Or adoption. Or going green. I mean, if people's hearts aren't in it, then I can see where my logic breaks down, but I think Donald Miller talked about this in Blue Like Jazz (I'm not about to go find the book and figure out where!) in regards to social justice. At least causes are being taken up and things--positive things--are being fought for in positive ways. I feel this way about "Going Green." I am not sure living in Indiana (the 49th least green state, only behind West Virginia) would have allowed me to become enlightened with the importance of living more with the earth in mind if it hadn't become trendy. (well, except for the Holy Spirit, so I guess I could have figured it out, it just would have taken more quiet listening, something I'm really trying to work on!) And I'm so glad I have become more of a student in this area. Our plans to have a compost pile and (please, Lord, don't make me!) a clothes line, my (valiant and heroic) efforts to avoid processed snacks and begin making more and more things from scratch, cloth diapering, our true garden (for the first time), awareness of the energy we're using, and recycling are all things that feel right and I'm happy about...all things that I'm not sure how involved I would have become if Christians and nonChristians alike hadn't become more aware of the Earth.

Shaklee is one such green attempt for me. (I TOLD YOU GUYS I WAS GOING TO BE JUMPING ON MY SOAPBOX ABOUT IT ONE OF THESE DAYS! IT'S BEEN ON MY TO DO LIST TOO MANY DAYS TO NOT BLOG ABOUT IT THIS VERY MINUTE!) It is an amazing company that WAY before it was trendy became intentional about the Earth and how they were impacting it. It was in the 1960's when Dr. Shaklee first developed an organic cleaner (made from coconut and corn derivatives) to clean almost anything you can imagine (and keep feas away from your dog, and mosquitos away from your children, AND use as bubble bath....the list goes on and on (think Windex in My Big Fat Greek Wedding....,except this stuff is for real!)) Anyway, I started using the biodegradable, natural cleaning products this winter, I think, and was so convinced, I started recruiting people I cared about. Then, my neighbor one day said I should have an open house since I believe in it so much...so now I'm a distributor, too.

Seriously, you guys. If you guys are into the green/natural thing, this company is great. Feel free to check them out at http://www.shaklee.com/. Or ask me any questions you have. There are more expensive options and REALLY affordable options, so talk to me if you're interested. In the meantime, I'm going to leave you with "5 ways to go green" from Shaklee:

1. Clean Up Your Cleaning Products

Some conventional cleaning products can contain questionable chemicals like phthalates, butyl cellosolve, sodium hydroxide, ammonia, or formaldehyde. Why would you endanger your health or the health of the planet with harsh chemicals and toxic substances when you can choose natural and healthier alternatives?Switch to Get Clean®. Get Clean offers choices that are safe, nontoxic, and natural, and they work wonderfully. Many Get Clean products are formulated using sustainably sourced ingredients from natural sources, like activated enzymes or biodegradable cleaning agents derived from corn and coconuts. When you welcome Get Clean products into your home, you’re not exposing your family to many of the dangerous chemicals found in conventional cleaners.
A great way to start is with the Get Clean Starter Kit—everything you need to clean your home. To order yours, contact your Shaklee Distributor, Danielle Black, at daniellenblack@yahoo.com or order directly at www.Shaklee.com, using Danielle’s e-mail when asked about a referral, or call 1.800.SHAKLEE.

2. Start Using your Dishwasher!
Using the dishwasher is actually better for the planet than washing dishes by hand. The average energy-efficient dishwasher uses just 4 gallons of water per cycle, saving nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year compared with hand washing—as well as $40 in energy costs and 230 hours of washing time, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.Make sure to use a phosphate-free detergent. Phosphates spur algae blooms and are a major source of water pollution.Get Clean Dish Wash Automatic Concentrate is one of the first phosphate-free automatic dish wash detergents. (By the way, this contradicts what Dr. Sleeth says in his book "Serve God, Save the Planet"--an absolutely amazing book, but I did read that a new study just came out by the EPA, so that must be the discrepancy!)

3. Ditch the Anti-bacterial Hand Soap

Triclosan, a common ingredient in antibacterial soap that kills microbes, ends up in our water sources and, at specific levels, is acutely and chronically toxic to aquatic life. Moreover, overuse of antibacterial and antimicrobial soap can help create antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which may weaken the effectiveness of currently useful antibiotics. Antibacterial soap doesn’t offer any better protection against illness than vigorous hand washing with plain soap and warm water.

Get Clean Hand Wash Concentrate is a great antibacterial-free alternative. It’s soap free, pH balanced, hypoallergenic, and has biodegradable surfactants.

4. Bring your own bag
Okay, we’ve all heard this one, but it’s true. Neither paper nor plastic is the ideal choice. Paper is accepted in more recycling programs, but only approximately 20% is recycled, and most bags can end up in landfills. Plastic bags not only can take a thousand years to decompose and but use up nonrenewable resources. The best choice? Bring your own reusable bag. A sturdy, reusable one can take the place of hundreds or maybe even thousands of single-use bags over its lifetime.
Get Clean offers lightweight, sturdy, reusable shopping bags in a bright green color with the Get Clean logo, so you can spread the word while you shop.

5. Buy from Socially Responsible Companies

Use your consumer power to support companies that are environmentally responsible and offer products that are safe for you and the environment. Shaklee has a long history of environmental responsibility, including introducing one of the first biodegradable cleaners in 1960.Shaklee is the first company in the world to obtain Climate Neutral™ certification and totally offset its greenhouse gas emissions.

Okay, there's my plug. I promise to TRY not to talk about it on my blog every again! OH! And the picture to start this entry off is the neighbor girl, Kole, and Owen cleaning the nasty, grimy, left out all winter sand table with Shaklee cleaners. I love that they can clean and lick their hands (okay, that would be gross, but you get the point) and I don't have to worry!!!