The EcoChic

To Spray or Not To Spray – That is the Question!

For 15 months we chose not to use a diaper sprayer out of pure frugality – I didn’t see the need to spend any money when our ‘system’ for dealing with poop was still working.  Then one fine day a Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer (thanks Diapers, Etc) showed up in my mailbox and I HAD to give it a try.  I immediately assumed my gender neutral position and decided that I could install this simple piece of plumbing equipment, right?  Neither hubs or I are incredibly handy but the diaper sprayer came with all of the pieces and simple, easy to follow instructions to install. 

I stepped into the bathroom and conducted a test – I turned off the water supply from behind the toilet and flushed to see if the tank emptied as the directions said it would.  Then I flushed again, and again – HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!  We’ve feared for months now that we may have had a slight leak in the toilet (house was built in the 80′s and the bathrooms are ANCIENT!) – this confirmed my fear.  We’ve talked for months about completely over hauling both bathrooms to make them a little more modern (and a little less Florida Grandma style) but we are stingy with our money and keep putting it off (OK – we’re lazy)! 

So for weeks this beautiful diaper sprayer sat in a basket above the toilet waiting for the day I would fix our leak.  Oddly enough about a month later we experienced another leaky situation – our kitchen sink sprung a leak that needed to be repaired immediately!  When talking with the repairman (who happens to be a family friend) I asked about the other leaks in the house and how difficult it would be to fix those while we’re at it.  So one fine summer day we finally got all of our leaks repaired – and a new kitchen sink to boot!  He was even kind enough to install my lovely diaper sprayer for me – which according to him “took him seconds to install.” 

The Aftermath:

Now I have a diaper sprayer that still sits peacefully in the bathroom waiting to be used.  It’s installed but it rarely get’s used – at least to the capacity I would have anticipated it being used.  There are two issues that arise really:

1. My daughter RARELY poops at home!  She is at a babysitters house all day and LOVES to poop at her house.  She will honestly hold in her poop all weekend when she is home with us so she can poop at the sitters.  It’s actually not a bad problem to have – afterall no one really enjoys poop do they?

2. FORCE!  The force behind the diaper sprayer is actually incredibly strong.  It seems like everytime I use it I struggle to keep the water IN the toilet – leaving me with a wet messy bathroom to clean up.  This is actually a ”Like” and a “Dislike” – the extra force really helps remove that sticky nasty in-between solid poop. 

I guess I’m a “No Spray” girl - we normally use flushable liners in our diapers, especially if she’s been holding it in for a while.  That way most of the poop can be removed with a simple plop into the toilet.  Then whatever is left gets rinsed off in the sink (and yes, I’ll sanitize the sink when I’m done) before I put the diaper in the dirty pail.  Maybe if we had started with the sprayer in the early days of easy, breastfeeding poop it may have come in handy.

Diapers, Etc:  I realized after doing some homework on Diapers, Etc that they are actually a local company – they are located in Lutz, FL.  They sell a variety of cloth diapers, diapering accessories and an assortment of organic and eco-friendly baby products.   

BUY IT:  Want to buy your own diaper sprayer and judge for yourself, visit Diapers, Etc.  The Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer sells for $43.99 – add a few new cloth diapers to your order to be eligible for free shipping on orders over $75.

WIN IT:  Want to win your very own Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer – compliments of Diapers, Etc.?  To be entered to win you MUST leave me a comment below telling me how you handle the poop in your house – do you spray, dunk, swish, etc?  Be sure to tell me WHY you want to win a diaper sprayer in your comment and leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. 

BONUS POINTS:  Earn one extra bonus point for each of the following – leave a comment for EACH bonus step you complete. 
1. Twitter Love to @TheEcoChic, @DiapersEtc, and @EcoChicParties
2. Check us out of Facebook – and if you ‘Like’ what you see then ‘Like Us’
3. Tweet about this giveaway including a link back to this post. 

RULES:  Winner must be over the age of 18 and a resident of the continental United States.  Giveaway will close on September 15th, 2010.  Winner will be contacted using the email address they register with and must confirm their winnings within 48 hrs of notification.  Prize is provided by Diapers, Etc. 

Disclosure: In case you didn’t realize it already – Diapers, Etc. provided me with a Knickernappies Diaper Sprayer for review.  Your results may vary and you may fall madly in love with your diaper sprayer.  Either way - show a little love to Diapers, Etc because they are nice people. 

Do you get the ecoStore USA monthly newsletter?  Did you see who was selected as the August Mom Blogger of the Month?  ME!!!  Here is a copy of what they wrote about your’s truly:

Adorable. Smart. Fun. Sweet. Four words that describe our new friend Calley Pate! Mama of two children who is passionate about doing her part to be green and role model for her children how to take care of Mother Earth! Full-time working mom who obviously has a ton to balance like all moms and she does it like a pro! If you read The Eco Chic (and you should) you’ll learn all about cloth diapering, making trash into treasures, politics and so much more! If you follow her on Twitter you’ll for sure learn all about what cloth diapers to use, how to wash them (she uses ecoStore USA laundry soap), how they save you money and why they’re good for the environment.
 
We met Calley in NYC at the Green Soiree and immediately clicked; she really is adorable, smart, fun and sweet! We love her passion and love for the ocean, the environment, her family and now blogging! Keep up the great work Calley, you inspire us to do better!

Didn’t get their newsletter?  Click here to read more and subscribe to get upcoming newsletters in your inbox.

I had the honor of meeting Vice President of Operations, Lyne Appeal Downing, at the Green Blogger Soiree (hosted by the fabulous Safe Mama and 3 Green Angels) in NYC.  Lyne has wonderful energy and I really enjoyed spending time with her (and her team of bloggers – Sommer and Maggie – who work with her on different projects).  This was Lyne and I at the Green Affair party later in the week – excuse the poor picture quality – it was taken on my iPhone.

Earlier in the day while touring the city with @LoneK8 we stopped in the Duane Reed <one of the retail stores that sell ecoStore USA on the East Coast/New York area> drug store across the street from the hotel and I took this picture – this was the first time I’ve seen ecoStore USA products in a real life store!  I know - I get excited over the strangest things!  After talking with Lyne at BlogHer it was exciting to hear that she wants to see ecoStore USA products in retail stores all across the US in the next three years.  I would LOVE to be able to purchase them locally.

But until then – we can all get their great products online at www.ecostoreusa.com.  As always they offer FREE shipping on all orders of $25 or more and if you shop during their Back to School Sale you can save 25% off your order. 

Have you tried ecoStore USA products before? Which items are your favorite?  My favorites include their ENTIRE line of baby care products, their laundry detergent, and dog shampoos. 

Disclosure:  ecoStore USA was a sponsor of the Green Soiree <and provided us with product samples in our swag bags> and has sponsored The Eco Chic blog by offering products for review in the past.  Sometimes I even purchase my own product from them – I guess that’s because I really like their products!

It’s that time of year again – children across America are going back to school!  While many of us make the extra effort to ensure our children are healthy and living a green life at home; what are our schools doing?  Check out Eco Chic Parties and the #HealthyBack2School Twitter Party on 8/26/10 to learn more tips about going back to school with EcoMom.com and Dr. Alan Greene.   

Here are some areas where you can make a difference:

School supplies:
If you’ve looked at a school supply list lately they are littered with unhealthy and sometimes toxic requests.  The standard school supply list includes crayons, scissors, glue, paper, folders, binders, notebooks, paper, paper towels, hand sanitizers, cleaning wipes, and other items that are less than green.  Don’t feel like you have to be tied down to those lists – talk with your students teacher about the alternatives and be responsible with what you send in with your child. 

Here is my son’s school supply list for second grade:
Glue Sticks
Crayons
Scissors
24 pencils
2pks eraser caps
Markers
School box
2 boxes of tissues
1 roll paper towels
1 bottle of hand sanitizer
1 contianer of cleaning wipes
Notebooks, folders, copy paper, post it notes
1 box gallon sized zipper bags

Responsible alternatives and options:
Crayons – 1) Send in used crayons, we have a TON why not reuse them until they can’t be used again.  2) If you are buying new look for soy crayons which are healthier for your child and the environment.
Pencils – 1) We get pencils in all our birthday goodie bags during the year.  We found all 24 without having to buy anything new.  2) If you are buying new look for recycled or forest friendly manufacturers.
Tissues – 1) Buy recycled content. 2) If your teacher is really progressive suggest reusable ‘hankies’ and volunteer to wash them each week.
Paper Towels – 1) Buy recycled content.  2) Again, if you have a progressive teacher suggest reusable towels and volunteer to wash them.
Hand sanitizers/Cleaning wipes - Avoid products with Triclosan which are in popular antibacterial sanitizers.  WHY?  Triclosan is actually a pesticide and studies show that we should use them with caution.  Green and Clean Mom wrote a good article on some of the other options.
All paper products – Buy recycled content whenever possible. 
Gallon sized zipper bags – I’m at a loss on this one because I don’t know what they use them for – but I’m going to ask tomorrow.

A warning about PVC products: 
What is PVC?  Polyvinyl chloride – one of the many toxic plastics we should limit our children’s exposure to.  A tip for determining if a plastic contains PVC – look at the bottom for the recycling triangle.  If it has a number 3 inside the triangle there is a good chance that it is made from PVC and should be avoided.  Did you know that PVC is commonly found in lunchboxes, backpacks, rain gear, 3 ring binders, some kids shoes, and art smocks?  Want to find our more about PVC and how to choose products that are PVC-free?  Visit Healthy Child, Healthy World and the Center for Health, Environment & Justice for a downloadable guide to PVC.

School lunches:
It’s estimated that the average school age child generates 67 pounds of garbage each year from school lunch alone!  Help reduce this number by packing their lunch in reusable containers and lunch boxes.  Check out the Green My Lunchbox Campaign for a list of companies who sell products to help reduce your child’s waste.  Don’t forget the reusable bottles too.  And if your child really prefers the juice pouch try to implement a TerraCycle Brigade to upcycle the pouches.  TerraCycle even has a Brigade for Lunchables this year too. 

Other areas of concern:
Indoor air quality at the school.
Playground equipment and maintenance.
Pest control.
Cleaning supplies used in the school.
Art materials.
Outdoor air quality – implement no-idling policies for buses and parents.  

It’s no wonder that some parents choose to homeschool their kids!  While all this information may look quite daunting you have to be an advocate for you child.  One excellent way to make a difference is to volunteer with your schools PTA/PTO and/or Green Committee.  I approached the PTA last year about some eco-ideas and was appointed to head up the new green committee.  This year I’ve been promoted to Vice President of the PTA and I’m learning that we really can make a difference.  It may take a while to implement the changes but with enough parental involvement and a cooperative administration YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!   No one else is going to be the voice of your child – you have to speak up and let your concerns be heard. 

What steps have you taken to green your child’s school?  Have you had any success you would like to share?  Leave us a comment below.

I survived another First Day of School drop off today and now I’m ready to start my day.  My computer is ready and my POM Blueberry Smoothie is waiting for me – it’s just what I need on this rainy (sooooo much rain today) Florida morning. 

Recipe:

1 small bottle of POM Blueberry
1 cup of your favorite yogurt (I used Strawberry Stoneyfield)
Small handfull of ice

Add all the ingredients to your favorite blender and blend!  Now sit back and enjoy this wonderful treat – oh and did I mention it’s healthy too? 

What’s your favorite POM recipe?  I have 4 more bottles of POM Blueberry – what do you think I should make next?

Disclosure: POM provided me with samples of their POM Blueberry with the hopes that I would share some recipes with you all. 

As the summer starts winding down and school starting back tomorrow I’m still coming down off of my BlogHer10 high.  I realized I never got past my first impressions of my arrival day and there is so much more to share with you.  During our shared cab ride to the Hilton @DebMomof3 and I learned that we were both going to the Martha Stewart Blogger’s Night Out later that first evening (Thur).  We had made plans to share a cab ride over to the event since it was several blocks away from the hotel. 

After arriving back at the hotel from lunch – I visited the registration desk at BlogHer and was on a mission to meet up with one of my new Twitter friendshttp://twitter.com/royaldixie <AKA Maggie or Dexter’s Super Savvy Mommy>.  Maggie and I ‘met’ on Twitter through my EcoStoreUSA partership <more on that in an upcoming post>.  Maggie and I did finally meet up and chatted for a while before we decided to head off to the Martha party. 

Once we stepped outside to catch a taxi to the Martha party we realized there were about 30 or more other ladies standing in the same line.  As luck would have it a nice limo driver found us and took a group of us to the party in style – in a nice white strecth limo!  What a way to start off an evening of fun!  We all exchanged business cards and laughs on the short trip. 

Here is a slide show of pictures I took over the next hour while we were spoiled by Martha and her team.

While we all expected the party to be on the roof top as the sun set over NYC – the weather had other plans that threatened rain.  Instead of taking their chances with the rainstorm the party was moved inside.  The area was packed full of blogger’s and representatives from Martha Stewart.  There was something there for everyone including several wedding tables, crafting tables, food displays and samples, pet products, and my favorite Whole Living!   Whole Living <the new name of the Body & Spirit magazine> has taken on a new look with healthy and environmentally friendly articles.  It was nice to see the Martha Stewart ‘clean’ line of products that are all natural and free of toxic chemicals – they even list their ingredients on the back of the label.  <Thanks Martha and OmniMedia for giving me a sample of the ‘clean’ hand & dish soap – and more –  to try at home in our awesome swag bags.>  I was also blessed with a copy of the September issue of Whole Living to read on the plane home – I think I found a new magazine to fall in love with!  And since I’m trying to eliminate the ‘trash’ in my mailbox I just subscribed to the digital magazine for only $5 for the year!  What a bargin!

Unfortunately I begged Maggie to leave early because I didn’t want to be late for the Green Blogger Soiree <stay tuned for my next BlogHer post> hosted by Safe Mama.  We heard that we left the Martha party right before Matha herself appeared – and right before they drew the winners from their table of goodie baskets.  Like every other aspect of BlogHer, the Martha party moved so fast I’m sure I missed more than seeing Martha.  It all seems like such a blur now.

To see more pictures from the Blogger’s Night Out visit the OmniMedia Flickr page. 

Thank you Omni Media and Martha Stewart for inviting me to the Blogger’s Night Out and for the fabulous bag of goodies in which we were provided. 

And a special thank you to my sponsors who helped me get to BlogHer this year.  Franklin Goose, Bamboo Bums, and Teething Bling/Smart Mom Jewelry all sponsored me financially.  Lillunia LLC and Rockin Green Soap both purchased ad space that I used to help with my trip.  Eco Chic Parties accepts payment for some parties – and that money has been used for trip expenses as well.  Mommy Doodles is my one and only graphic designer and technical expert.  Melanie is AWESOME and always willing to help me (sometimes I even pay her) with my blog(s).  She even designed my awesome business cards for me!

In honor of Trash to Treasure Thursday, this week I’m super excited to bring you the latest and greatest news from TERRACYCLE!  In April, TerraCycle debuted Garbage Moguls on the National Geograpic Channel – a series of television shows that documented the zany antics of the TerraCycle crew as they develop new products from our garbage.

This Saturday, National Geographic will be airing the pilot along with three brand new episodes!  Set your DVR’s – plan a night in with friends – but don’t forget to watch Garbage Moguls this Saturday night.  The fun begins at 7pm ET as they replay the original pilot episode, followed at 8pm’s Pet Project, 9pm’s Fishy Business, and at 10pm pull an All-Nighter with the TerraCycle crew. 

Below is a clip from the 9pm Fishy Business episode where they Tom and Alby visit a plant in Ohio that turns 500 chip bags into a brand new trash can and pitch the idea to the Home Depot team in Atlanta. 

Be sure to join the TerraCycle preview party LIVE on Twitter from 8-11pm to win some great prizes.  Follow @TerraCycle and #GarbageMoguls to be a part of the live fun.  You can also follow along on Facebook and answer some trashy trivia questions.  www.facebook.com/terracycle

It’s my best friends birthday celebration so I may have to sneak onto my iPhone a few times to catch the action live – but shhhhh – don’t let her know!

The answer SHOULD be YES!  As I began planning for my #BlogHer10 experience I had originally planned on bringing the entire family along with me.  I researched NYC diaper services and had set up a batch of diapers to be delivered right to our hotel.

Over the past month our plans changed.  We were still planning our family trip to Disney (before our annual passes expired) but then the family was going in many different directions.

We packed up last weekend and headed to Orlando – complete with our stash of cloth diapers.  My first trip to Disney with the baby we packed disposables, hybrids, and cloth because I really didn’t know HOW to travel with cloth diapers.  I found out quickly that it’s NOT much different than at home.  This trip to Disney I only packed the fluff!  The only time it was a little less than pleasant was the 3rd day (when my DD had held her bowl movements for 3 whole days) when she decided to poo while at the water park.  Thankfully cloth holds in the solids BUT the water parks are NOT known for having great changing stations.  In fact they down right SUCK! So on a small bench in the changing room I changed a gross, nasty, 3 day poop that had just been mushed in by a baby sitting in the pool!  Anyways – as gross as it sounds it was actually quite painless – after I changed her we walked across the room to the toilet and dumped the evidence!  FLUSH!  Stuff the cover in the wetbag and then back in the locker – now back to playing.

After our Disney adventure it was time to leave the DD at Camp Grandma/Grandpa.  I even left my mom the bag of dirty diapers – which she called to tell me were all clean again.  I’m sure like last time she won’t be able to figure out which insert goes with which diaper but that’s not really too important.  And like last time the snaps will sit in the bag unused while Grandma prefers the velcros!  The point is that Grandma does cloth diapers and is just as proud as I am about it.

Really – traveling with cloth diapers isn’t much different than at home.  But if you aren’t lucky enough to have a Grandma to do your diaper laundry check out these great tips for the Real Diaper Association’s (RDA) Travel Tip Sheet.  The RDA is still fundraising for their $3500 in 35 Days campaign to keep their Executive Director.  For more information on the RDA please visit them at www.realdiaperassociation.org.  If you like their tip sheet or any of their other work please consider donating to the $3500 in 35 Days campaign so they can continue to advocate for cloth diapers on every baby – all the time!  And if you join the RDA (as low as $25) you will receive a quarterly newsletter and a great button to show your support!  I’ll be wearing my button this week while at #BlogHer10!  If you see me don’t be afraid to “Ask me about cloth diapers!”

Today marks the 578th day of breastfeeding my little tot!  Well to be clear – I’m not actually breastfeeding her today because she is at Camp Grandma/Grandma while I am flying (yes – right now) to NYC for #BlogHer10!  But – we are still breastfeeding and my pump (Thanks Hygeia) is packed securely inside my luggage.

Many of you may remember the adventures I had while traveling to Miami for a week – without a tot – and without my handy pump!  I had a mommy moment while packing then and left the pump in my closet all alone!  Enter my introduction to hand expression and jokes from my hubby and friends!

There was a question as to whether I should continue to breastfeed when I returned or let her be weened since she had been off mommy milk for a whole week.  Two hours after our reunion she kindly asked for mommy – and I couldn’t say no.

Once again – I will continue to pump while away and I’ll let her decide if it’s time to ween or not.  It seems almost fitting that she would ween this trip because she is now 19 months AND my son weened while the hubs and I were vacationing in NYC over 6 yrs ago (he was 11 months – 3 weeks – and 3 days!).  It would be kinda neat to have NYC be both of their weening times.  But only time will tell – she is quite fond of our time together.

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week I just wanted to share my (continued) story in hopes that I can encourage you or someone you know to keep it up for as long as it is beneficial for you and your child – whatever age that might be.  While the WABA has their own 10 steps for successful breastfeeding I’m going to give you my modified list!

1.  Have faith in yourself, your body, and your baby – the rest will come naturally.

2.  Trust your instincts – and don’t ALWAYS listen to the ‘professionals’ (i.e., your doctors, nurses, friends, and family).  I remember with my son a nurse ordered me to have a mammogram for a cracked nipple and instruct me to quit nursing immediately! I’m SOOOOO glad I didn’t listen to that nurse and trusted my own instincts instead!

3.  If it hurts or doesn’t feel right ask for help – a certified lactation consultant should be available at your local hospital or birthing center.  Reach out and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

4.  The first month is the hardest!  You are emotionally and physically exhausted – don’t be discouraged in the beginning.

5.  There is nothing easier to do than breastfeed your baby!  No bottles to warm up, no formula to buy, nothing to mix, and no water needed!  Oh – and you can’t leave the milk at home if you breastfeed – one less thing to tote in your diaper bag.

6.  There is nothing more nutritious than mommy milk for your baby – it’s the perfect food for every age!

7.  It’s free!  Whether you have lots of money or no money – breastmilk is always free.  Sure you have to continue to eat a healthy diet but we should all do that anyways – regardless of our financial status.

8. It’s better for the environment – nothing is artificially manufactured, packaged, or shipped to get your baby this perfect food – and there’s no waste!

9.  Yes, even daddy and caregivers can participate.  That’s my breastpumps were invented!  And don’t be scared of those either – you’ll get the hang of it.  It’s worth it!

10.  Lastly – because your baby deserves the very best!  And the breast really is the best!

How many days have you breastfeed your baby?  What problems or misconceptions are you dealing with?  Do you know where to go for help?  Let me know – I can point you in the right direction.

PS – I’m a working mom and I have to travel from time to time without my baby.  If I can make it 19 months I have faith you can make it to your own personal goal!

Giveaway alert! Details on how to win your very own Yum Yum Soy Candle & Room Spray at the end of this post.  Contest ended!  ECO-ngratulations Jen D!

Did you know that traditional paraffin wax candles are bad for your health and the environment?

Why paraffin is bad?

1.  Made from petroleum – thus increasing our demand for crude oil!

2. Paraffin contains up to 11 carcinogens that we shouldn’t inhale.

3.  Paraffin is not sustainable.

4.  Paraffin is not biodegradable.

5.  Burning paraffin can irritate your allergies and asthma.

Yum Yum Candle is a NJ based soy candle company who is helping reduce the impacts caused by our candle obsession.  We all love the way a room smells with the faint scent of your favorite candle.  Their candles are all made with soy or other natural vegetable sources and packaged in recycleable tin containers.  As I’m typing this I’m enjoying the fresh scents of a Peach Tea Smoothie - the perfect scent for a hot summer day.

Did you know?

- Soy burns cooler than paraffin?  This is a great benefit if you want to use the candles in the summer time – it will save on your AC bill because it will limit the temperature increase of your home.

-Soy is biodegradable.  When you are done with your candle any residue will biodegrade unlike petroleum based candles.

-Soy is a sustainable crop and if it were to leak into the Gulf it would NOT cause the disaster that we have today thanks to BP.

-If you spill a soy candle it was be cleaned up with soap and water – try that with paraffin!

Currently Yum Yum Candle sells a full line of soy candles (both in tin and glass jars), massage candles, room and linen sprays, reed diffusers, and coming soon – Yum E’Scentials – a full line of body care products.

Yum Yum Candle ONLINE:
Website/Store: http://www.yumyumcandle.com/
Facebook Fan Page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yum-Yum-Candle/65066981593
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/yumyumcandle

GIVEAWAY: Win a 7.5oz Yum Yum Candle in tin container plus one room & linen spray – scent of your choice.  To enter – visit Yum Yum Candle and tell me your favorite scent in the comments section.

Extra entries: Earn up to 5 extra entries each day.  Leave a comment below for each activity completed.
-Follow @YumYumCandle, @TheEcoChic and @EcoChicParties on Twitter – 1 entry for following all three combined.
-Like Yum Yum Candle, The Eco Chic, and Eco Chic Parties on Facebook – 1 entry for liking all three combined.
-Tweet about this giveaway using the following message – “Learn why you should use soy candles with @YumYumCandles & @TheEcoChic – Win your own candle set! Ends 9/15  http://bit.ly/duNYyj” up to 5 entries daily.

Rules: Giveaway open to all US residents over the age of 18.  A maximum of 5 entries per day will be accepted.  Giveaway will close at midnight (ET) on August 15th, 2010.  Winner will be selected randomly by The Eco Chic and prize will be shipped by Yum Yum Candle at the close of the giveaway period.  Winner will be contacted by email (so please ensure you leave your email somewhere in the entry form) at the close of the giveaway period.  Subject to change.

Disclosure: Thank you Yum Yum Candle for sending me a sample of your products for this review.

Every morning (afternoon and evening too) I flip through blog after blog looking to see what’s new in the world.  Looking to connect – looking for find people with similar interests.  One of my favorites recently has been tout-est-des-roses.  Sara Sophia and I met on Twitter and her writing is so beautiful – so poetic.  You know me – I’m not really a writer – I just blog!

Anyways – please go read her post from today “Crazy Hippie” and see why she is one of my favorite reads!  Her words have set the course for my day.   

“Like my gramma always said, pretty is as pretty does.” – tout-est-des-roses