Look! I'm an ad.

Guess what boy I am in love with?




His name is Dreg and he's in this picture....

Can you tell which one he is?

:)

I want some Sadie Puffs!!!

How come you never see cool cereals like these in the grocery store?

Shame on me for not posting in forever....

I promise I'll get back to the blogger-thing real soon....

Email Satsang.....

(sometimes the truth comes out in emails to strangers)

......the more I reflect on *the stuggle & the good fight* the more I realize that one must continue to do what they feel compelled to do, yet not be brought down by it all.

we all have to do our part - keep our dedication but at some point you need to allow yourself the freedom from other people's ignorance and really just concentrate on YOUR journey.

I know I can sometimes get obsessed with *saving the world* and it takes a lot of time & energy to keep on spreading the word about good things and it can really drain me and I always have to remember to keep some of my zest - my life force - my energy - my spirit for myself so at the end of the day, I can still be Me in this body and not out of my mind.

How Much is That Doggie in the Window?

Well it didn't happen like that but we are officially dog owners!



Meet Tubbie! When I rescued him he was nothing but a ball of fluffy hair infested with fleas, ear mites and no concept of house breaking. The cute little shit-zu looking thing was a peeing machine ALL over my floor.

Hey I DID want to start cleaning more....

Now a week and over 200 dollars later, Tubbie is doing great and looks a lot different. He got a very short haircut from Doggie Styles in DuBois to get rid of the fleas. I let her use flea shampoo and then do another wash with regular.

Ahh...this dog has totally screwed up A LOT of the Natural Me Stuff I'm going for - He used un-natural products, got a vaccination for rabies so we could get him licensed, took a wormer, got chemicals in his ears and let me tell you, he does not eat like a vegetarian.

I will try my best to get him on the path to being a *natural me doggie*!!



Tubbie is making leaps 'n bounds in his house training - I take him outside a lot especially after he naps, eats or has an exciting playtime and when we get outside, I tell him to "Get Busy" and that's his cue to pee or poo.

Hey, doing that along with using a crate at night and when I leave are working super fast in hopefully someday bringing back my living room rug! It'll be a long time before we have that trust but we are definitely enjoying the little guy who I guess is a mix between and Labrador Retriever and a Lhasa Apso. Yes, it's an interesting mix isn't it!?!

So I'm not getting ANYTHING else done but we're having fun! If you want to hang out with The Tubernator ~ Look him up on Dogster.com

Return to My Inner Bitch

Wow ~ My last half 'a dozen posts have been so positive and happy - it was like I had forgotten how to point out all the BAD and NASTY CRAP.

Well, I have awaken at 3 am just to release....

This Week's Biggest Bitchings!!

New things that confirm we ARE in the age of darkness:

1. Our local pharmacist....And probably all pharmacies.

My man has not been feeling so great so he decided in suggestion of his doctor, to try a conventional prescription. I said "okay honey" but thought, "you aint gonna like them fool" and so as the story goes, he tried them and the Rx did NOT agree with him at all.

So he went back to the pharmacy with his minus one pill bottle of 30 pills to see if they would take them back or what he should do with them and do you know what that pharmacy lady told him to do?

"Just flush them down the toilet."

???? Just flush them ???? Down the damn toilet ???? Are you serious? These pills practically made my man hallucinate and just Flush Them Down?

Oh. Okay. Fuck the water supply.


2. Schools getting rid of chalk boards.

Someone sneezed and now the blackboards have to go. Schools everywhere are "upgrading" to dry erase white boards instead of the old school chalk 'n blackboard combo.

Schools without chalk and erasers..... so sad. I remember volunteering in grade school to go outside with the classrooms chalk board erasers and *slap* them together to get all the chalk dust out. We'd bang them all the sidewalk and the brick wall too under the breeze way at the little catholic school.

But that was before the new breed of kids came into the population who are allergic and asthmatic to everything in the air. Now as the overly-sensitive *outta control histamine* crew continues to grow, the chalk boards have to go.

So that all sounds "better" doesn't it. Well, as an environmentalists - no - it isn't. For a quick comparison: Chalkboards can be reused again and again with very little waste ~ erasers last forever, chalk is packaged in little cardboard boxes and the board itself can be washed off with plain water.

Dry Erase on the other hand although reusable has more negative features ~ the markers are chemical, packaged and created with plastic and the white boards must be cleaned with a chemical cleaner to get the marker off and keep the board looking fresh.

Great. We're removing a little dust from the school but adding more chemicals. That's educated.


3. L'oreal Sponsors Ovarian Cancer Research.

I happened to catch a glimpse of Extra today (you know the show that's up celebrity's asses all the time). Well, they were covering a story about L'Oreal and some chics from Desperate Housewives and some other models that were being so commended for their support in sponsoring more research in the avenue of women's cancer particularly ovarian cancer.

Oh wow. What great people. And what a good laugh too.

Honestly, dozens and dozens of studies are coming out on the connection of phthalates and cancer and it's estrogen disrupting factors and L'Oreal!?! is sponsoring ovarian cancer research? (i literally can't stop shaking my head) Now if you're not shaking yours, it's because you're not up on the knowledge that phthalates are not only found in plastics but COSMETICS as well.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking L'Oreal is NOT on the phthalate-free list of chemical-free beauty companies. I'm pretty sure they are not so I guess I'll just have to be sickly amused by the irony of it all. Nothing like good un-biased research taking place.



4. Don't Worry - I'm done. Really, isn't that enough for one day? I've been doing so good not screaming at everything....


Breathing in, I am feeling calm.

Exhaling.... I smile.

Who is Isabella??

Aren't craft shows fun?


Last weekend I did a little craft show & sold a handful of lotion bars, Recyclopes, aroma inhalers, blemish take out kits and some handmade tote bags ~ aren't they cute?



So how about I only snapped a few pictures before my digital camera totally wimped out on me and it's still not working!!! Bad time of the year too because pictures need to be taken daily ~ blog, store, products and I can't forget to snap some of the kid!! So I'm going to try to get some good batteries like NOT ones from dollar tree...



I'm almost at the point that I really need to rent two tables to fit all the Natural Me stuff on ~ the Karma Kards, freebie bags, info packets and I always like to take some consignment items too ~ if there's room :o) yep. next time I think we're gonna move up to a two table production!

Eco-Day in PA

Yesterday, I was so excited to get out and have a 1/2 day to myself ~ I drove up to St. Marys, PA to attend a women's workshop in environmental health...Very interesting. They had awesome speakers with great information! I wish I could've taken you with me - seriously - because today, I am having trouble recalling all the cool things I wanted to tell you about! And I didn't take a notepad with me because I am compulsive know-it-all and don't think I'll ever learn anything new. Ha!

Meet Mr. Terry Collins

Terry's into Green Chemistry and I learned a few new things about phthalates from this cool dude from Carnegie Mellon. In particular, he was talking about some interesting studies on the higher amounts of phthalates a pregnant woman is exposed to in relation to the size of her son's penis size. The more phthalates - the smaller the size.

Phthalates are found in cosmetics, perfume, plastics, bottles, hair spray and nail polish ~ ALL of the things I've avoided for years! So I'm sure my son will thank me for being an organic health natzi when he's older!

For more phthalate info - visit:

NotToPretty.org

ChemicalBodyBurden.org


Penn Future was well represented in Elk County on Saturday with Heather Sage & Steffi Domike - Both of their presentations were very powerful and brought it home ~ literally.

First is that we need to buy GREEN POWER! In Pennsylvania, we can choose where we want our electric company to buy our electricity. We DO NOT WANT our electricity to come from coal-fired power plants as they are dirty bastards and release MAJOR amounts of Mercury into the air which then goes into our streams, fish and water supply.

So plug into CLEAN electricity! You can do it online ~ Super Easy!

Just visit CleanYourAir.org and make the switch to green energy today! You'll be surprised at all the companies you can choose from! And my props to Heather for reminding us that the cleanest watt of energy is the one we don't use! So turn off some lights and that damn TV!!

Steffi is also the CHE-Penn Coordinator and she recommends the CHE website:
HealthandEnvironment.org





Other great highlights from the workshop include research from a doctor on certain chemicals that basically *F* with estrogen - plastics, phthlates, pesticides and artificial colors - and how they mimic or elevate estrogen and can all be factors in creating cancer and particularly breast cancer.

Representative Dan Surra ended the morning of lecture with a very fiery and fun speech. I have to say - I like this guy! He's an environmentalist and does his part at home with recycling and also pushes the eco-envelope down in D.C.
Dan didn't beat around the bush at all - he covered many interesting and controversial topics mentioning fluoride in drinking water, pesticides being sprayed around our water supply and what the heck was our problem with dandelions!?! He even dropped a plug about immunizations and the outrageous rage of autism today.

I love it when people get fired up - it means they are paying attention!



Live Clean ~ Live Green ~
Live as a Natural Me!!

Happy Halloween!!

I found my favorite Jack-o-latern!!!



Just Brilliant!!

Stop in the Name of Love!!

Before you break my heart.....


Wow! Look at that hair.
Look at that skin tone.
Oh - so - not - very -
um... Natural Me!!

Apparently, these pictures were taken long before I became the editor of the Natural Me Fun Note Ezine. Check out the Halloween issue!!



Oh my god ~ these pictures are so funny to me! I was dressing up to go work at a smokey lung clogging bar and I remember running late because I didn't realize how long it would take to get the brown makeup all over my face, chest, back, arms and even my hands! My permanently intoxicated boss was so impressed with my "Diana Ross" get-up that she didn't even mind that I was late and that I didn't wash any dishes all night in fear that my hands would come off!




You know even though I was covered in phthalates, I was still looking so incredibly HOT that night that I even got an Amish guy to hook up with me!!

Whoo hooo!
Happy Halloween!

Loving My Sister!!

Betsy!

Today my little sister & I finally got to hang out!

We chilled at her house and did a little Feng Shui Rearrange at her house. It was the longest amount of time we've spent together in a long time ~ the boys played nice and so did we.... Amazing!

That picture was taken when I was pregnant at our grandparents 50th Anniversary Party!

My Grandpa Tony passed away just a few months later.

Missing You Chico!

My Mom and Dad.




Ayden took pictures of his mom and dad!

Amazing what his parents look like from
his 3 foot 3 inch eye-view!

I think we look great without heads!

Starting a Sticker Chart for Good/Bad Behavior

Well, the time has come to start a chart. I guess I realized something new needed to be incorporated into our daily routine when his first day at the new semester of Story Time was a ...ummm ....disaster. Really, he did laps around the room, avoiding me and my "be quiet" requests and then he kicked the teacher during the monkey/alligator song when the alligator goes SNAP. It was crazy for both of us.

I think it's normal for a 3 year old to be somewhat oblivious to his mother at times but, for his own safety when we are out, Ayden needs to start listening a little better so Dad & I came up with this chart....


There are 4 columns: Clean Up, Eat, Listen, Out and the Out column is divided into when we are outside, out at the store or out at storytime/playgroup.

The concept of the chart is to reward Ayden's good behavior with stickers and many words of praise and to work towards a weekly goal of being good and then we celebrate on Sunday when he gets to pick a prize out of the Prize Bag! This is also a great opportunity to learn the days of the week.

To address the negative behaviors of not listening and running off, we were just giving him some Time-Outs but now along with the Time-Out, he'll also get an X on his sticker chart so he can SEE his bad behavior.

Ayden is responding SO WELL to the chart! I've seen a major improvement at Story Time and overall listening. He is eating better which means he is playing less with his food - he's always eaten good, but when he was done eating, he would start massaging the food onto his face or throw it on the floor. Sometimes I would let it go, I mean, I DO KNOW how good yogurt can feel on your cheeks! But it is time to be a little less rude at the table as far as throwing food at your mum. grrrr...

Other things I did to help our outings to the library & Story Time were to talk with him right before we go in and I have him sit on my lap as we sit on the floor. Yes all the other moms are in their chairs as I am on the floor with my little guy but that's what works for us. We just went yesterday and his teacher commented on how great he is doing. Sigh of relief! Although during the monkey/alligator song, she did look "prepared" to block any 3yr old kung fu kicks - just in case.

We also dropped out of a few other things because we really need more time at home and a much more relaxed schedule.

This gives us more time for independent play like making homemade play dough with flour, salt and water. Just mix the 3 together until it feels like clay.

In this picture we added turmeric for a nice yellow color! Next time I think we will try to make green with kelp or spirulina!

Great Day at Parker Dam!!


Mommy, Daddy & Ayden spent the afternoon at our local state park and WE HAD A BLAST ~ a nice quiet relaxing outdoor and full of negative ions to rejuvenate our souls kind of blast!!

We took a nature hike and collected acorns, colorful leaves, little pine cones and say many dragon flies and a really big spider. We took home the goodies from the woods and made a collage. Ayden also discovered moss!

Sissy Salsa!!!



The fans love it but personally I think it's a little weak ~ too sweet ;o)
Pretty proud of myself for successfully canning for the first time!
I think I over-boiled the jars though, I was waiting for them to seal in the water but they don't seal until they come out of the water and start to cool and then ~ pop ~ they seal and you have canned :o)

Whatcha Eatin'??



Just went shopping and I'm stocked up on all of my favorite things:
Ginger Brew
Organic Applesauce & Yogurt
Smart Bacon!!!
Lots of fruits & veggies

There are lots of essentials too:
Rice bran for Ayden
Fresh stock of homemade salsa (on top of Brita water)
Ready to eat cut-up watermelon
and did I mention Smart Bacon!!!

I'm IN LOVE ~ the salty greasy fake meat ~ so sinful ~ so wonderful to indulge in... I know, I know....processed soy foods are a poor excuse for getting your protein but what's a Veggie to do??

NO WAY am I eating this...

Huh. Canned Hunting in my back yard. Rathmel Run
Who knew? Well actually my girl Jan from the DTEGC ~ she told me about it a long time ago when I feature the Stop Canned Hunting website in a Fun Note Ezine. I didn't even know this place existed even though I had passed a sign for it a hundred times....

Hunting is serious business in western PA ~ just ask my uncles.
I think if you do eat meat, wild meat is typically healthier
than factory farmed flesh. I guess. Of course, I'm not sure if hunting preserves use antibiotics or hormones. I bet they use some hormones ~ to get those Big Racks that the guys & gals pay Big Bucks to shoot. Seriously, check out the prices!

If you've never heard of canned hunting or hunting preserves,
here's a website with more info on why they suck.

So, to end this post with something that doesn't suck at all and is quite wonderful,
check out my newest, most favorite musicians:
Follow No Trends

Be sure to listen to their music stream from the website.
They are AWESOME!!!!