Yesterday afternoon while Annabelle napped and my husband biked, I sat down to work on my application to become a leader of a local parenting group. Completing this application will likely take me a month or two as there is much reading, reflection, and answering of questions. One of the more valuable questions on the application simply asks why an applicant wants to become a leader. In a roundabout way, I explained that participating in the group offered me great hope and support when I was a new parent and that it encouraged me to make decisions, as a parent, that resonated with what my heart was telling me to do.

But, as I thought about my answer, I remembered the earliest months at home with a newborn. Gosh, it wasn’t easy. My husband and I lived without sleep (though even in our most delirious states still managed to smile and be grateful for the helpless baby who needed us). I remember feeling so afraid the day he returned to work from his week at home; now, caring for a newborn was my responsibility for at least 8 hours out of the day. Within a few days, I adjusted and came to love spending time with my baby; however, once I got the hang of changing diapers, soothing a crying baby, and managing our home, I wished that I had someone to talk with, commiserate with, and gain some insight about my role as a mother and how my previous life roles were changing.

In a sense, I sent my hope out into the universe; I was searching for co-workers, friendship, and a community where I belonged. Shortly thereafter, another full time mom invited me to attend a breastfeeding support group and a babywearing meeting. There I met many new and veteran mothers who not only enjoyed discussing how to soothe a crying baby and talk about whether or not my baby was eating enough, but who genuinely cared to help out an amateur mom, like myself. The best part of meeting these women was that I came across advice and encouragement about child rearing and nurturing a family that “felt” right to me.

I imagine that many religious people consider prayer to be the way to communicate their hopes, intentions, and desires to the universe, or a higher power. Having experienced many trying times in my life (as we all do), I have found spirituality and the ability to turn within myself to be so comforting and worthwhile. Early in my pregnancy, my provider informed me that my HCG levels were low, which suggested that I had an ectopic pregnancy and would eventually miscarry. My heart broke. Becoming a mother had long been a dream of mine, and I was devastated that I might be losing my baby. I read and read to learn more about my possible medical condition, but I have to tell you that none of the knowledge I acquired was comforting; it was only at night or while taking walks by myself that I was able to quiet myself and feel any peace. My heart spoke to something greater than myself and I felt hope.

Whatever our beliefs are in this life, we can feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, and perhaps even better guided if we are able to send out our intentions. When my father was suffering from cancer, I attended a group who helped me visualize and send healing energy to my dad; my hope was that he would not feel any more pain. A few days later he passed away. Admittedly, his passing and the events surrounding it can be interpreted in so many ways. The way I choose to see things is that my hopes for my father were answered.

Because Green Mamma is a place where I come to talk about parenting and the environment, let me bring this post back to it; there are so many folks on the internet and all around the world who care about working towards a healthier planet. Being able to reach our goal, collectively, to care for this earth and make it a livable place for generations to come, is possible, I think; although it is my opinion that such a goal would be more attainable if each and every day those of us who are working on behalf of the earth simply quiet our minds and express our hopes, wishes, and intentions for it. At the very least, such an exercise helps with focus, and when are focused, we can achieve most anything.

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Okay, so I have a strange neurosis regarding floor cleanliness and not wearing shoes indoors. Sometimes I even wish I were Asian so I could simply tell people that they have to remove their shoes because it’s a cultural thing. My husband looks a bit like Keanu Reeves, so I guess we could lie . . .

Anyway, to read more about my obsession with clean, green, and healthy floors, go on over to 5 Minutes for Going Green and read “Shoes Off!”

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What’s your family’s bath time ritual?   Are you a go-it-aloner or do you love to share shower time with your kiddos?  To read more about my family’s bath time bonding, stop on over at API Speaks to read my cobathing post.

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Inspired by my new Nikon camera, this week’s gratitude post is about light. Most of us are familiar with phrases like “shed some light”, “let there be light,” and “keep in the sunlight.” One of my favorite quotes about light was written by Edith Wharton: “There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” Light is thought to be a symbol of creation, truth, understanding, generosity, altruism, life, purpose, and hope, and that is only naming a few. In photography, light is technically important for letting the camera achieve an image that mimics what the eye sees.

What I love about taking photos is that it helps me to notice beauty wherever I go. Throughout my day I find my eyes searching for color, shape, form, texture, and more, and then, I think about whether or not such a photo would be taken in good light.

Of course, there are times when my eyes and mind notice something beautiful and I forgot or have no access to my camera. When this happens, my husband is quick to remind me that our experiences are what matter most. “Make a memory,” he says. So here are a few memories, or rather, moments from our everyday where I notice beauty and make an imprint upon my mind:

At daybreak, I see

a slumbering baby nestled next to her dad

fog hovering over purple echinacea

runners and bikers with the roads to themselves

and deer grazing on wild grass

At midday, I see

red, blue, green, silver, and bronze cars crowding local plazas

Annabelle excitedly waving her arms, dancing to hip hop in the backseat of my car

ducks basking in the sun and waiting for generous visitors

and shadows cast on purple echinacea

At 5 o’clock when the sun softens, I see

neighbors returning home from work

my husband and daughter weeding our vegetable garden

mosquitoes leaving their mark

and smoke rising from summer barbeques

At dusk when lights go out, I see

the outline of Toby’s tail as he walks across our bed

tall trees swaying outside of our windows

laugh lines on my husband’s face as he watches Jon Stewart

and a busy toddler fast asleep, my baby once again.

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Now that Annabelle knows how to scoop and pour (and I’m learning my way around the kitchen), we’re spending more time together whipping up yummy treats. I follow a K.I.S.S. culinary philosophy (perhaps my greatest fault as an environmentally minded mamma), and tend to be one of those people who follows package recipes, spicing things up a bit with an added ingredient here and there.

Here’s how to whip up your own batch of pink banana nut pancakes–pink because we’re girly girls who wanna have fun.

Ingredients

3/4 cup Arrowhead Mills Organic Buckwheat Pancake/Waffle Mix

2 tbsp. canola oil

1/2 cup organic soy, rice, or whole milk

1 mashed banana

1/4 cup sliced almonds

vanilla

food coloring

Recipe

1. Combine pancake mix, canola oil, vanilla, milk and food coloring in a bowl. Stir until mixture isn’t lumpy.

2. Mash banana in a separate bowl. Stir into mixture.

3. Add almonds. Stir.

4. Fry pancakes (yes, even I know how to do that!). Garnish with almonds.

Serves 2.

Annabelle pours pancake mix into bowl.

She adds milk.

And a few minutes later, we have our girly pink banana nut pancakes. Yummy!

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For the second time in a week, I’m sending you over to my friend Melody’s web-site. Melody is a passionate advocate for homebirth and natural parenting, is a maternity and birth photographer, and is the director of Birth Matters in Northern Virginia. Everything I know about homebirth and the history of birth in the United States I owe to Melody, who often refers to herself as an information junkie (yes, she is one smart mamma too).

Recently, the AMA (American Medical Assocation) and ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology) made resolutions against homebirth. I remember visiting Melody one afternoon and listening to her frustrations over the misinformation about homebirth that is prevalent in our media and national medical associations. Since having seen Ricki Lake’s The Business of Being Born, I had some understanding and insight as to why Melody was so angry that a woman’s right to choose how to birth was in jeopardy of being violated. On some level, I personally relate since 2 ob-gyns I visited while I was pregnant practically laughed at my birth plan and 1 ob was more than happy to direct me (an outrageous patient?) to the care of the midwives at his practice. Thank goodness he did!

Well, after a long wait, the American College of Nurse Midwives responded. To see what they said, go here. And for more in-depth and better informed commentary on the ins and outs of homebirth, go visit Melody. She’s definitely the homebirth expert in my neck of the woods.

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Our family’s efforts to go green coincided with my discovery of the famous Fly Lady, an on-line personal assistant who works day and night to guide folks living in CHAOS (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome) to a life of order, organization, routine, and an environment that is clutter free. As I’ve mentioned time and time again to you, readers, greening my life and decluttering our home emerged while I was pregnant and nesting. Luckily, I became well acquainted with eco-friendly ways to dispose of our clutter, selling and giving away our belongings on Craig’s List and Freecycle. I decluttered with such enthusiasm that my husband once dreamed that I had freecycled pictures of our newborn! (No, I never freecyled pictures of my own daughter, but apparently I was getting rid of so much stuff that my husband worried that I might freecyle him and our daughter).

What I have noticed since decluttering our home and implementing a routine (even loosely followed) is that I manage to accomplish more–much more than I ever imagined possible. Creativity flows for me when my sink isn’t full of dishes, toys aren’t scattered all over the floor, and the laundry is tended to daily. I am (prepare yourselves for a confession) one of those people that thrives on external order, and it is my feeling that when my home and world are (or seem to be) in order, I am better prepared to manage the inner workings of my life.

Greater still, than being able to manage one’s personal life, I think, is having the energy to do something about chaos in the greater world. Over the years, being the do-gooder that I aspired to be, I have learned that there are many, many causes out there that need attention. Many people want to contribute, on some level, to making a difference, and one way or another, folks usually find a purpose or cause that they live for. Focusing on a single cause or two, though, makes it more likely that one’s efforts can be channeled towards real change that means something for the world.

My present causes include working (and writing) to protect and care for the earth’s environment, and to be a domestic do-gooder who raises a family that is mindful of the planet’s health, as well as the well-being of people all over the world. Regarding my first cause, the environment, my hope is that my children’s generation will be able to walk outside and not have to pick up garbage off the side of the road. Littering, pollution, and all things contributing to global warming will be in decline; our children will revere the earth and each other. Yes, I have a dream.

Getting the earth’s climate in order is no small dream. It is tempting to be pessimistic and list all of the ways our environment is going to h*** in a handbag. But I belong more to the school of “the glass is half full,” and so instead, here are a few thoughts on order and harmony as I see it manifest in our environment:

I notice order and harmony when I see. . .

a cloth diapered baby

yard composts

high heeled ladies and oxford soled men cycling to work

stay-cationers

vegetable gardens

groceries in cloth bags

used book stores

the Goodwill

clean roads

farmers’ markets

stream and water monitoring

recycling centers

green blogs, growing, growing, growing with crunchy, practical green thoughts

A small victory for me, as an environmentalist, was noticing that our local YMCA implemented a recycling program by simply taping “RECYCLE” signs to several former trashcans. Over the past few months, each time I visited the Y, I left a comment about there not being a recycling effort in place and how I would love to participate in setting it up. While no one ever contacted me to help with set-up, I can’t tell you how happy I was to walk past the new recycling program that is underway at the Y.

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Happy Friday green readers! As an alternative to my weekly green friend of the week post, I am introducing a quick green linky post where I direct green folks like yourself to green goodies around the web. This week, I am asking folks to think about topics ranging from fish manging on dead skin to using honey as an alternative medicine for wounds. So, here we go:

1. Fish Pedicures. As a follow up to my post about giving yourself a good karma pedicure, I thought I’d see what folks think about the new fish spa pedicure in which people pay for Garra Rufa, or Doctor Fish, to nibble away at the dead skin on their feet. Spas that employ Garra Rufa to eat customer’s foot skin have been open in Turkey, Japan, Umag, Croatia, China, Hainan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia for several years; recently John Ho started offering a fish spa treatment at his salon Yvonne Hair and Nail Salon here in Northern Virginia. According to Ho, the hot water in which Garra Rufa thrive does not support plant life so the fish learned to thrive on available food sources, like dead skin. As someone who cares about animal rights, I feel somewhat weary about the idea of a fish pedicure becoming a widespread trend; at the same time, I am curious as to what the pedicure feels like, how sanitary it is, and whether or not the fish are happy to feast on all that dead skin. What is your opinion on fish pedicures? Would you consider a fish pedicure?

2. Hollywood Vaccination Debate. Amanda Peet apologized on Good Morning America for her negative comments in Cookie Magazine, in which she called parents who choose not to vaccinate their children “parasites.” On GMA, Peet emphasized that she is not an expert, that she is an actor, and that the public should “go to the experts” for advice regarding vaccinations. GMA covered Amanda Peet’s comments and stance regarding vaccinations by juxtaposing her with footage from an interview with Jenny McCarthy, who spoke with GMA for her Green Our Vaccines rally, which she lead in Washington, D.C. Whether or not you agree with Peet or McCarthy, based on Peet’s interview on GMA, I agree with her stance regarding whether or not parents and other guardians should vaccinate based on the opinions of celebrities. Many parents consider their child’s pediatrician the most qualified expert to help them determine their child’s medical care; at the same time, other parents are not convinced that their pediatrician is the most qualified individual to make choices in their child’s life (especially those in which an unknown x-factor, like mercury, can be life changing). A great read for any parent hoping to learn more about vaccinations and vaccine schedules is The Vaccine Book by Robert Sears. What I love about The Vaccine Book is that Sears offers a course of action for all parents based on their concerns with vaccinations; our family is following Sears’ alternative vaccine schedule.

3. World Breastfeeding Week. Last week I ran this post highlighting awesome boob coverage around the net. This week, I recommend that folks check out Creative Kismet’s boob cookies and breastfeeding art. She is an especially talented artist, and if you can’t tell, I’m among her fans. Go on over and see for yourself.

4. Save at the Pump. Check out Jenn’s post about surprising ways to save cash at the pump. My favorite tip is that keeping your car clean and light will help cut costs each time you fuel up (a perfect excuse for me to indulge my habit of cleaning my car each week). I love being green and clean, and an added bonus is being able to save dollars!

5. Bee Alternative to Antibiotics. Laura over at We Don’t Buy it just shared this post about how her son’s leg wound (from a biking collision with a fire hydrant) is being cared for with a honey treatment. To read more about her research on honey and its healing abilities, go here.

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Photo credit: Melody Yazdani Photography

One of my favorite photographers is my friend Melody Yazdani, a professional photographer and full time mamma living here in Northern Virginia. Yesterday, Melody snapped beautiful photos of our Montessori group while we were on a butterfly, insect, and bird expedition at a local garden estate.  So, go on, indulge yourself in some delightful visual beauty. Go on over to Melody’s Xanga site. You’ll thank me for it later.

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If you’re a busy mamma or lady like I am, devoting time to personal care isn’t at the top of your list. Lately, my morning beauty routine adds up to pulling my hair into a ponytail and, if I’m lucky, sweeping bronzer onto my cheeks. For me, choosing between a happy toddler with a messy mamma versus a fussy toddler with a well groomed mamma, I tend to take the former unless there’s another set of hands around to help me out.

Since my beauty care regiment is just about nil, I sometimes feel like I a) look the neighbor’s teenage daughter (without makeup on, people think I am 16), or b) look like I haven’t slept in days (months, years, who’s counting?). And when it comes to my hands and feet, I usually ignore the idea that they’re intended to be attractive and that my hands are better suited for changing diapers and writing and that my feet are wonderful resources for getting me and my entourage from point A to point B.

Still, I am a woman, and every now and again, I pray for pretty feet. With a toddler in tow, getting to the nail salon for a pedicure isn’t as easy as it used to be. And beyond any logistic issues I have in finding the time and money for a pedicure, popular nail care products are not among the healthiest of personal care items; in fact, pre-natal care professionals usually recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers avoid receiving manicures and pedicures because of the alarming chemical ingredients in nail care products. According to Christey Hadley, a staff writer for Babyfit.com, pregnant mothers should take precautions when selecting nail care products and salons. She writes:

Many nail products contain formaldehyde and toluene, which in small doses can cause moms to feel dizzy or nauseous, but in large repeated exposures have been linked to birth defects. There are many polishes and products available which are both formaldehyde and toluene free. Ensure that either your salon or room where you paint your nails is well-ventilated or that you wear a mask to defuse the fumes.

Nail equipment that is not properly sterilized is another cause for concern for anyone thinking about prettying their feet with a salon pedicure. Since unclean nail equipment can lead to infection, ladies (and gents too) may think twice about walking into a salon to pamper their feet. The International Pedicure Association provides the following suggestions to ensure pedicure safety:

• The pedicure area, whirpools, and salon/spa looks clean
• Your feet are examined and health questions asked before the pedicure
• Instruments look clean and are disinfected
• Items that cannot be disinfected are disposed of after the pedicure
• Proper tools are used (most states do not allow a credo blade)
• Drill bits (if used) are disinfected (cleaned)
• Salon/spa has proper ventilation
• A laundered towel or new disposable towel is used on each client

A healthy and green alternative to salon nailcare is to do your own manicure and pedicure at home. Not only can a home pedicure be accomplished while your child is in the bathtub, but you can ensure that you are receiving a clean, green, and healthy pedicure that rivals any salon. Here’s how to pretty your feet at home.

1. Research healthy, cruelty free, and eco-friendly nail care products. While I do have my favorites, the best route for selecting personal care products is to learn what ingredients are in products you like to use or are willing to purchase. Awesome databases for researching personal care products and that provide information about ingredient concerns, whether or not ingredients are linked to cancer or other diseases, toxicity, sensitivity, and whether or not the company uses animal testing include the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database and SafeMama.com. Once you feel comfortable that a product is healthy for you, your child, the environment, and your budget, bring it home and get ready for your home pedicure.

Recommended Materials:

foot bathing tub (a deep dish tub will do)

t.p. or cotton balls

2 towels

polish remover

nail file and clippers

forest friendly nail brush

environmentally friendly: polish remover, foot scrub, foot moisturizer, and nail polish

2. Get ready. Set up your pedicure space. Make sure that all supplies and materials are on hand. I referenced Marie Claire’s perfect pedicure guide to help me prepare for my good karma home pedi, but feel free to adjust their recipe to your tastes. To begin my pedicure, I filled a 5” deep dish bucket with warm water and placed a hand towel at the bottom of the bucket. While Marie Claire suggests that you add epsom salt to the water, I chose to soak with water only.

3. Clean up your feet. Before soaking my tootsies, I removed the old nail polish with one of those green nail polish removers (remember, you researched yours) and some t.p., and then I clipped and filed my toenails.

4. Soak your tootsies. I soaked my feet for between 5 and 10 minutes. Meanwhile, I invited my 19 month old into the foot bath and let her soak her tootsies too. A shared foot bath with your kiddo can add up to a lot of fun and a few inches of water on your floor. Soak wisely.

5. Smooth ‘em and dry ‘em. If possible, select an earth friendly foot file to sand the soles of your feet. Since I am a daily runner, callouses build up on the balls and heels of my feet, as well as on my big toes. After you sand your feet, dry them. If you are interested in cuticle control, you may want to use the edge of a nail file to gently push the cuticles back. Exfoliate with an eco-friendly scrub and use a nail brush to clean the bases of your nails. I love the feel of exfoliating scrubs on my skin so I opted to scrub my rough ankles as well as my lower calves. Once you’re done exfoliating, rinse, rinse, rinse.

6. Moisturize. Remember that you did your research to find green and healthy nail care products? Now, pull out your clean, green, and healthy foot moisturizer and take a few minutes to rub it into your feet and calves. Let your skin soak up the moisturizer. Then, rinse away the lotion and dry your feet.

7. Polish it off. I am not a personal fan of polished nails because, as I said before, I really really dislike having to maintain pretty hands and feet. I consider the au natural look to be prettiest. That said, I know that after having done all that work, you’ll probably want to complete your pedicure with some color. Lucky for you, Marie Claire has a few wonderful tips on how to put polish on with ease and no mess. Read on!

Now that you have given yourself a home pedicure that is full of good karma, pat yourself on the back and brag to your husband and anyone else who will listen about your clean, green and healthy pedicure and all the money you saved yourself by staying out of the salon. Go ahead, you deserve it!

If you have clean, green, and healthy beauty tips, please share. You know I love to hear your thoughts.

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