Brandon's World

wordless wednesday

2010-08-04T17:04:00.001-07:00

berry picking

2010-08-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

we decided to go out to the north fork, a first for this summer. it was one of those not too hot days here in manhasset so we thought it would be fun to go berry picking (not to mention good for brandon to learn where food comes from). blueberries (my favorite!) and blackberries were in season. unfortunately, the berries were sprayed but i just cleaned them a little extra when we got home :) we got two baskets full which lasted a while. me and brandon ate the berries plain or in our morning cereal and andrew made a yummy berry pie!

ode to the 3rd trimester

2010-07-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

Hello daytime naps, swollen feet and fingers, back aches, shortness of breath, stretch marks, bathroom visits every hour, severe nesting

Goodbye toes, goodnight sleeps, moving at a normal speed

Cousin Julie's Visit

2010-07-31T18:08:00.000-07:00

earlier this month we were lucky enough to host cousin julie. she had a wedding to attend in NY and made a week stay of it. brandon had so much fun with her, and i had so much fun sleeping till 9 every day!! (thanks jules :)) here are some pics of our adventures.....

the beginning of the week was raining so we got to bring julie to our favorite museum (LICM)

Julie and Brandon's first lobster!

27 weeks

2010-07-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

hello third trimester, good bye feet (see you in 3months!!!!!)

wordless wednesday

2010-07-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-21T14:53:00.000-07:00

this year andrew and i were both of for the entire weekend!! the three of us spent an afternoon at the beach, we went on friday afternoon so it wasnt too crowded :) then i had to work friday night (i know i said i was off the whole weekend but for some reason fri night was not counted) then sat we went to cousin stacey and rob's house for a bbq. it was tons of fun and nice to get out and talk with people our own age! next year though there will be a lot more babies there ;) the rest of the weekend was just spent relaxing with eachother...something we dont get to do very of

ten.....

soaking up the rays

lunch break

i think thats cheating!

preggo cousins (due 1 month apart!)

a night in montauk

2010-07-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

Montauk is one of my favorite places (the other being fire island, so hope i make it there next month!). it is located on the very tip of the south fork of long island and is one of the few places left on the island that is not overly populated. there is a small town with lots of shops and a few restaurants. the best part is of course the miles of (free) beaches. we stayed one night, just made the off season price of $105 a night (the upcoming weekend would have cost a whopping $257 a night for the same room!) there was a pool and we were right across the street from the beach. im so glad we decided to go, it was so relaxing and we got to spend some invaluable family time together :)

the view from our room

brandon relaxing on our deck

cloth diapering a toddler

2010-06-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

i am still cloth diapering brandon, though i probably should be potty training him (he does pee pee before tubby every night :)) but he is getting too big for a lot of the one size diapers we use. i think he is an average size 2 1/2 year old. he still fits into 2T, sometimes 3T. anyway it didint occur to me that one day he may grow out of the one size diapers i have been stocking up on over time. our stash mostly consisits of bum genius. they are relatively inexpensive and have great inserts adn a suedecloth liner, which i find easier to remove poop from (though we have been using bummis liners with much success!). however, when on sale i like to try other brands. right now the bg's are laying on brandons hips and he tends to complain that they are uncomfortable. however our happy heineys, fuzzi bunz and knicker nappies still fit him comfortably. though all three have microfleece liners, they have been holding up well against brandons deadly poops! they remain stain free, although they do pill, brandon doesnt seem to mind.

although i have never used one size happy heineys, fuzzi bunz or knicker nappies cloth diapers when brandon was smaller (we started off with snap-ez and fuzzi buns (sized) hand me downs) they have worked well for us as long as i can remember!

conveniently my cloth diapering go-to source is having a fluff friday give away on happy hieneys....check it out for your chance to win!

just click on the button on the side of my blog to get there.....

brandon on his 2nd birthday in his almost too small green mountain one-size diaper

Happy Fathers Day

2010-06-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

Luckily andrew had off this year for fathers day and was able to celebrate. i worked the night before so he got to spend the whole day with brandon. when i woke up brandon and i gave him our presents....a blender (cause daddy like to make his protein shakes) and a small silicone set of ice cube trays (one that was small enough to fit in our always overflowing freezer!)

after presents we went to eat dinner with my dad, annie and bryan at smokin al's.....i almost forgot how good that place is!! yummy :)

mommy...piggys driving the car is funny!

i tried...

2010-04-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

....to post easter pictures but blogger is not cooperating with uploading photos. since i have soo many pics (we took welll over 150 pictures throughout the week!) to post, im going to have to try another time......

but for now i will leave you with a belly pic :)

15w4d

im the worst

2010-04-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

sorry for the broken promise....i will try harder to post more :)

When Brandon gets a hold of the camera....

2010-04-06T17:44:00.001-07:00

....you never know what you will see!

just shy

2010-04-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

of my second trimester!!!

i am starting to feel like myself again but if i push too hard i am exhausted. kind of what happened this week with a gruesome work schedule and a floor full of very sick children!

looking foward to the holidays....didnt get any pics from passover but will post passover/easter soon....hope everyone has (or is having!) a good holiday!!!

Brandon being Brandon

2010-03-27T05:21:00.000-07:00

Daddy: Brandon, you dont look too good, do you feel ok?
Brandon: yes
Daddy: Are you sure you dont feel poopie?
Brandon: i dont feel poopie, i feel pee-pee.

gotta love him :)

many apologies

2010-03-26T14:49:00.001-07:00

for disappearing like we did! So much was going on late last year that i just needed to take a break. but we're still here! and ready to start blogging full force again :)

in case you have been wondering whats going on.....just a few things have been missed ;)

1. andrew and i are officially mr & mrs (or more appropriately dr & mrs)
2. i went back to school for my masters
3. brandon has grown wonders and has really matured into a little boy who loves to express himself
4. i now work part-time! 2 days a week!!
5. we are expected a second baby in october!!!

I think those are the major things.....doesnt seem like soo much was going on since ive been gone, now does it?!

Promise to write soon.....

2010-02-18T05:52:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wendesday

2009-09-23T04:38:00.003-07:00

L'Shana Tova

2009-09-23T04:38:00.001-07:00

s
andrew carving the turkey. (i swear the picture was straight...oh well maybe i will fix it :))

cousin stacey keeping brandon entertained

Brandon playing with his cousins

busted, lol

Our new favorite port....

2009-09-23T04:30:00.000-07:00

...Port Washington. its only 5 minutes away and is a beautiful town filled with miles and miles of stores and of course a huge port! here are some pics of the under 12 fishing competition and us just hanging out!

visiting cousin maxine

2009-09-23T04:16:00.000-07:00

sorry we had some techincal difficuties :)

During labor day week (the weekend was spent at work for both of us!) we went to visit cousin maxine. it was maxine and brandon's first time meeting. i think they hit it off pretty well :)

Knock, Knock...

2009-09-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

...we're here! sorry, just been a little busy but boy has september flown by! i started school again so a lot of my time is going to studying embryology-yuck, a lot of time is going to working-yuck, and the rest is for brandon-yay, sorry but that doesnt leave much time for my blog! but i am here to post a few pics from some fun things we have done since summer has ended. hopefully when school is over, and the wedding is complete, i can dive back into blogging like i used to. oh well, enjoy for now :)......

His World

2009-08-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

Life from Brandon's perspective....

Our Entry

2009-08-25T05:46:00.001-07:00

for brandon to be famous. well among cloth diaperers anyway. we entered a photo here in hopes to make it into the real diapers associations calendar! wish us luck....

i was hoping for a more recent picture but it had to be horizontal and for some reason most of my pics of brandon in cloth diapers are vertical. oh well i will have to keep that in mind for next year. btw, our title is "giddy up"!

i love fire island

2009-08-22T05:22:00.001-07:00

because....

there are no cars

there are only a few buildings

there are no roads, only boardwalks

the beaces are never too crowded

you can only get there via boat

it is the most beautiful, unindustrialized, beach community i have ever been to and it is right here on long island :)

oh, and how can i forget.....

because i love coming off of the boat and seeing all of the wagons!

the outside

2009-08-22T05:08:00.001-07:00

of our apartment!

we are it the biggest apartment, with 6 floors but brandon will tell you we are on floor 'doo'

the swingset in front of the apartment across the huge lawn!

the rest of our mini playground

i dont know if you can see from this pic but this is a garden one of the residents made in front of her apartment. she added pinwheels in with the flowers and it has now become one of brandon's favorite places. we call it the pinwheel garden :)

and brandon's other favorite thing about the new apartment.....

the perfect size-i can go down by myself- slide!

wordless wednesday

2009-08-05T05:45:00.000-07:00

The new apartment....

2009-08-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

i have some new pictures of the place to post. well the inside of it anyway....outside will have to wait....

only a small part of brandons HUGE room!

wordless wednesday

2009-07-29T18:00:00.001-07:00

its been a while....

2009-07-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

...since i have blogged about our cloth diapering adventures.

most recently i have discovered an awesome diaper called gro baby. the diaper consists of an outer shell (which come in really nice, bright colors) and an insert that snaps right into the liner. the insert should be changed after the baby is soiled but the liner is good to go! it is suggested that 3 shells per day will be required for the system. this also means that less diapers have to be packed in that oh so tiny uncloth friendly diaper bag! oh and i forgot to mention, the inserts, which is the part that comes in contact with the baby is organic!

now for the good part......kellys closet is giving away two gro baby diapering systems!!

if you enter to win, good luck and if not.....good luck to me :)

our dinner

2009-07-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

Sun
unfortunately i had a wake to go to on sunday..but thankfully andrew cooked for us :)

sauteed shrimp and veggies <--- mush, onions and peppers

Mon
burger night! i marinated chop meat in worchester sauce and mustard and served them with melted swiss, sauteed mush and onions. with a sald on the side

Tue
chicken and pasta from the blog hop!
(sorry i cant link directly to the blot but now there are way too many links so you will just have to search through them yourself, if you find anything good, let me know!)

i used too much paprika though, oops :)

Wed
the best dish so far!
baked mahi mahi topped with zucchini, tomatoes, onions and feta cheese. soo good..mmmm.

Thurs
andrew and i both worked :( so brandon had dinner at grandmas....

Fri
i used fresh pizza dough that i bought from stop and shop (hopefully one day when i get my kitchen aid i will make my own dough!) and topped it with tomato sauce, cheese and al fresca turkey sausage. served with a salad

Sat
we went to a BBQ and had tons of yummy food that i didnt have to cook!!

We borrowed grandmas camera....

2009-07-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

and went to the petting zoo!

The animal farm petting zoo takes in all sorts of animals that the government shelters cannot handle. they also take in old pets that owners do not want anymore. the layout was very nice, all of the animals had very large cages and had lots of room to run around. the areas were very clean and there were tons of staff there to pick up old feed containers and baby bottles (for the animals). they also allowed many birds to roaom free. and they had free pony rides! but brandon was too small :(

i finally have some pictures of what we have been up to. brandon had a blast feeding the baby goats and chasing the chickens that were not cooped up! it is so nice to have a place where brandon can just let loose and run around :)

tired mommy from chasing a wild baby!

whoa look at all those goats!

i guess this one doesnt want to play!

Read the lables...

2009-07-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

...of your favorite foods to see what you are really eating; you may be surprised. Sorry about the food kick that i am on, but i have been cooking a lot and becoming more aware of what we are eating.

When i go grocery shopping i read all the labels. some of the foods that i used to love are filled with chemicals and preservatives because they are easy to make. it is so much better to make your own food so that you know exactly what goes into it. if you are a working mom like me, make bulk food on your day off and serve leftovers!

i only buy whole foods, meaining foods with one ingredient, or foods made of things that i know. no more meats with polyhydrowhatever, just simple ingredients. for example, here are the ingredients found in al fresco chicken sausage:

SKINLESS CHICKEN MEAT,WATER,SEASONINGS(TURBINADO SUGAR,SALT,ONION AND GARLIC POWDER,DEHYDRATED ONION,BASIL,PARSLEY,NATURAL GREEN ONION FLAVOR),ROASTED GARLIC,IN A NATURAL PORK CASING.

and its yummy!

so think about what you will be eating and feeding your family and i promise you will feel better..... :)

Blog Hop

2009-07-22T05:49:00.000-07:00

This blog hop features recipes from over 500 blogs! if you follow the links below you will never have to think of another meal to make ever again!

Here is my contribution

Honey Roasted Red Potatoes serves 10

Ingredients:
2 pounds red pototaes, quartered
2 vidalia onnions, sliced
1/4 cup melted butter (or smart balance :))
2.5 teaspoons honey
2.5 teaspoons dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat over to 375
Spray baking sheet so potatoes do not stick
Place potatoes in a single layer and top with onions

In a small bowl, combine butter, honey, mustard and salt and pepper.
Pour over potatoes and onions

Bake for 35 minutes or until tender.
Stir halfway through cooking time.

*for quicker potatoes, microwave potatoes first and then brown them in the oven*

our dinner

2009-07-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

Since moving to the new apartment (pics still to come, promise, once i find my camera!) we have been having a family dinner together every night that i am off (which will be more often when i am working part time!). though lately i have been waking up early to cook so that we can have a family dinner. So instead of normal people who plan there meals in advance, i have decided to re-cap our meals for the week. i am doing this becuasue 1. i am not a planner and 2. i would like to have a record of our meals in case i am stumped one night and 3. because it is fun :)
so here we go....

Sun
grilled chicken with home made honey mustard sauce
sweet potatoes pan sauteed with fresh corn and onions

Mon
Organic turkey ground meat Chile (well everything was organic except for the seasonings) over brown rice with a sprinkle of cheese and a dallop of low fat sour cream on top. and a salad.

Tue
pepper shrimp over a yummy salad

Wed
we ate out! at ikea....lol. they have really good swedish meatballs.

Thurs
chicken sausage with peppers and onions over brown rice

Fri
andrew was working and brandon was at his grandmas :( so no dinner together

Sat
chicken breasts stuffed with spinach and feta cheese
potatoes and olives cooked in crushed tomatoes and seasoned with garlic, oregeno and s&p.

wordless wednesday

2009-07-15T05:22:00.001-07:00

update....

2009-07-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

...we are almost officially moved in to the new apartment!! we seem to have conveniently forgot the vacuum :), a few books, my 5ft cactus and some other randon things that i havent really missed....i do however, surprisingly miss my vacuum, this place could def use a quick clean!

in the move i have managed to lose my camera, the wire for the camera charger and my toenail clipper (thanks goodness we have three clippers for brandon!). i may just have to use this as an excuse to buy a new camera :)

andrew is still orienting. he seems to love the ER. his hours are still manageable, but when orientation is over.....idk......
so, i have asked my boss if i could work part time. i think it looks like a yes :) i cant explain how excited i am to be able to work AND stay home with brandon.

let's hope all this good luck keeps on coming, and i promise to update more as soon as i have my camera!! post without pictures are just so, well you know, blah.

Happy 4th of July!!

2009-07-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

This 4th of July we decided to join Aunt Oxy and Uncle Doug at the cabin in PA. The morning of the 4th we had a yummy breakfast and the diner in town. We then went out on the boat. It was Brandon's first boat ride :).....

...and daddy even let him drive!!

When we got back, and while the boys were cooking dinner....

brandon and aunt oxy were planting sunflower seeds.....

and watering them :)

Then we built our s'more making bonfire

and before brandon fell asleep for the night...he found the stash of fireworks!!

(that face is priceles ::grin::)

Then the grownups had some fun with the fireworks.....

We hope that everyone else had as fun a 4th of july as we did!!!!

Doctor in Training

2009-06-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

Just about moved in...

2009-06-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

almost all of our things are in the apartment. however, we are still trying to find a home for all out stuff! it is hard downsizing :) but is definately worth it. Andrew doesnt have to commute anymore...he just has to walk across the lawn!! the commute for me is much closer as well although i never had to fight traffic. there is a nice toddler playground, or pahk and brandon says! right outside. thre is also a tennis court and basketball court. and you can reserve a piece of the garden and grow whatever you want. i think i will try to grow some vegetables soon! overall we love the new apartment. i promise to post some pics as soon as i can locate my camera and the charger at the same time!

Mommys little monkey....

2009-06-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

we are a bit busy...

2009-06-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

just a few things...decided to brighten up the blog but i hope to personalize it soon....we are moving so things have been a bit chaiotic but we are going in the right direction (we are moving to student housing in manhasset) just a few short miles back to the island ::grin::

oh yeah, and happy birthday to me. i am 28 and could have never imagined my life being so fulfilled right now. i love you andrew for being by my side every step of the way and i love you brandon for showing me true happiness.

Baby carrier update

2009-05-27T04:42:00.000-07:00

So after i researched a few baby carriers on line, we opted to go with.....datada ::drumroll::....the butterfly II by becco.

the moby was just too complicated for us. also it required assistance to carry a baby on your back, which is what i was most interested in.

i then researched the mei tei carriers and realized that mei tei is a type of baby carrier and not a brand name...oops. there were so many to choose from, side carrying, back carrying, upside down carrying <-- just kidding :) anyway, it was very overwhelming.

i did however end up stumbling upon the butterfly II. it had great reviews, it is easy to use, it is compact for traveling and most importantly, it is comfortable!! i love it and i think that brandon does too :) they come in beautiful designs but tend to be pricey (but you pay for what you get, right!) btw, it also has an infant insert and hold up to 45lbs!!!! and has the ability to be taken off and say switched to dad, or from back to front without even taking the baby out!! awesome.

not the best pic of me...but i think you get the point :/

We've got georgia on our minds.....

2009-05-26T04:58:00.000-07:00

...because we were just there :)

We went to georgia to visit grandma, uncle rich, julie, jessie and brandon. we had soo much fun. we went for walks every morning and had yummy homecooked meals every night. unfortunately, the weather wasnt so great so we never got to swim :(

our major accomplishment: both brandon and daddy made our flight a success!! andrew got over his fear of airplanes and brandon was the perfect traveler :) here are some pics.....

daddy and half of brandon on the airplane!

family pic at the aquarium

brandon playing with cousin julie!

cousins

Man of Few Words

2009-05-17T04:53:00.000-07:00

at 16 months Brandon's vocabulary has grown extensively...we are up to about 10 words!!

his favorite word is still dada. he point out dada in family photos and can spot his dada miles away! (no more hiding in department stores for daddy!)

brandon also loves bubbles and balloons, what baby doesnt! he can pronunciate bubbles very well and when he sees a balloon he yells out some combo of baba and bubble. it is super cute!

he calls all dogs geogia (which sounds like ge-ge) because that is the name of grandmas dog and he knows that all dogs say oof.

grandma and georgia

a few of his other words are:

fih (fish)

mama

up

du (duck)

ba (ball)

Brandon can also show you where his belly is and his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. soo cute.

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-12T18:08:00.000-07:00

I hope that everyone had a great mother's day!! i know we sure did :)

andrew let me sleep in (i cant even remember the last time i slept until 10!) and then woke me up with my favorite breakfast, blueberry pancakes!!!

I then got some really great presents....some organic coffee, a soy candle, and some homemade CDs.

The best part of mother's day is that i got to spend it with the loves of my life, and my mom and grandmother. it really was an amazing day. and it really is amazing being the mom of a beautiful, smart, talented, loving, perfect son!

wordless wednesday

2009-05-06T05:38:00.001-07:00

sorry i cant ever just post one pic :)

Great Cloth Diaper Hunt

2009-05-05T05:16:00.000-07:00

Like i really need another excuse to go online.... but i found this really fun great cloth diaper hunt.

basically, participating websites hide a diaper icon (that looks a little like an owl) and some, not all websites give clues to help find the icon.

you can be placed in drawings for prizes based on how many icons you find. there are aslo extreme icons which tend to be harder to find but yeild better prizes.

So....if you like games and you like cloth diapers, check out the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt!!

Update

2009-04-27T05:44:00.001-07:00

on our toothbrushing adventures....

we are still using the JASON toothpaste, although i hope to buy medela as soon as it runs out but brandons toothbrush has been replaced with daddys much cooler electric toothbrush :)

i guess i will have to buy him is own....rechargeable, of course!

Caught it!

2009-04-27T05:39:00.001-07:00

the last of the sun, that is. unfortuantely i had to work through this beautiful weekend. I was totally bummed that i missed all the sunshine and brandon at the park and whatever else him and daddy did (no pics :( of their adventures).

so i made myself wake up at 3 on sunday and andrew, brandon and i went to the park to play and have a bbq. it was soo much fun!!! here are a few pics....

Interested in ....

2009-04-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

the Moby Wrap.

the cloth diaper whisperer (the blog from kellys closet<--the site where i buy most of my cloth diapers) just did a week feature on the moby wrap and it really caught my interest. (i even entered to win one, buy with almost 1000 entries it was a long shot!) they are not too expensive, for a wrap, and i was hoping some readers owned one and could tell me their opinion....

i had bought the peanut shell for brandon and used it up until about 7months old. it worked really well for naps and grocery shopping but then he got too big to be comfortable in it. the moby wrap however looks as though it would hold him comfortable on my back....

my plan is to use it for our vacation to georgia. i think it would be helpful in the airport and also to minimilize lugging the stroller around throughout the vacation (carrying around the huge britax carseat will be challenging enough!)

anyway, i know i am rambling, but i am really interested in other moms (and dads :)) experience with the wraps....

Spring Holidays

2009-04-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Passover!!

This passover was celebrated at cousin beth's house. aunt marilyn and uncle howardbought brandon a sound book that he decided to read during the seder. the noises the booko made were a nice edition to moses' tale of freeing the jews. brandon also tried his first piece of matzoh. he said it was yummy :)

Brandon and Grandma during the seder

Brandon dancing with Hank Williams Jr

Happy Easter!!

For easter we celebrated at grandma pattys and pop pops. we all decorated eggs and then hid them for brandon and allie to find. they did an excellent job finding eggs and putting them in the baskets....soo cute (and what they didnt find, the dogs ate! oops) we all ate yummy food and then got our presents from the easter bunny. allie and brandon got bubbles (among other things) and they had a really fun time playing.

Ready to go egghunting!

Got one!

Love it....

2009-04-10T16:54:00.000-07:00

i know that i blogged about this already but we really love our glass bottle cozies. they really protect the bottle, and brandon can through pretty good :)

here is a pic of brandon and his cozied baba

Busy Busy

2009-04-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

So much is going on over here!!

andrew is graduating in one month!! i cant believe that he is finally going to be a doctor. if anyone deserves to have their dreams come true, it is someone like andrew, a hard working, caring and compassoinate person.

we are getting married in december. december seems so far away, but according to my vendors i am very far behind in my planning. so far we got my dress, the bridesmaids dresses, the photographer, and of course the wedding site. we still have a ton of more work....and a ton more money to spend. sheesh.

and.....we are buying our first house!!!! we are hoping to buy in western suffolk becuase i think in the long run we will both be happier there.

wish us luck!!! and if my posts are dwindling, i hope that you all understand why :)

Random Picture Challenge

2009-03-30T17:46:00.001-07:00

First Day Home

random picture challenge

Brandon is....

2009-03-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

......officially walking!! He gets up on his own and runs for a hug. He is so cute. :)

wordless wednesday

2009-03-25T05:22:00.001-07:00

Random Picture Challenge

2009-03-24T05:15:00.001-07:00

Chelsea over for dinner with her husband to visit Brandon

Random Picture Challenge

first pic in third folder with the color brown

Spring Cleaning

2009-03-24T04:57:00.000-07:00

its that time of year again. the accumulations of a winter indoors need to be cleared out for a new season. i am extremely excited for the warm weather this year, being that brandon is a little older and i think he will enjoy it more. anyway, andrew had been of for the past few weeks and has really gotten thing organized.....

Andrew putting up the door frame

Both of our pantrys are looking very organized these days....

We do however have much more cleaning to do. over the next few weeks we (well i guess by we i mean i, it is my turn after all) will be tackling these rough spots......

Yay For Andrew

2009-03-21T05:17:00.000-07:00

Andrew will be doing his residency at North Shore Manhasset. we get to stay in NY. Yay.

Random Picture Challenge

2009-03-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

Theo my dog, sleeping on the most comfortable spot he can find. he's got the life.....

random picture challenge

first pic in feb 2009 or 1st folder

that is not of your children

Right down the Middle

2009-03-16T16:22:00.000-07:00

seriously, i am split right down the middle with the new line of hair products i tried. beecuticals was on sale at drugstore.com (remember that buy one get one free sale i mentioned). i bought the shampoo and opted for a free conditioner, even though with my past experiences, i doubted the conditioner would work. boy, was i in for a surpise!

i really do not like the shampoo. for some reason i feel like i have to use a ton of it for my hair to be clean. it also weighs down my hair....but maybe that is becuase i use a ton of it. heh. but anyway, i really dont like it, and for the cost, i will not buy it again. my plan is to stick with the avalon organics volumizing shampoo that i love.

however, i love love love the conditioner. it works perfect. i only have to use a little bit and my hair is manageable. no other conditioner, aside from the traditional ones i have used, have been able to calm my curls. i am so excited that i finally found a conditioner that works!!

and best of all....

this line is organic, fair trade, biodegradable, sustainable, cruelty free, paraben and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate free.

Brandon is....

2009-03-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

....about 14 months old now.

he has been standing on his own for a bit but has just recently stood up without holding onto anything. it really is the cutest thing, he is so proud of himself! he has also been taking a few steps. he is getting better and better as the days go by, he even walked on his own to the coffee table just the other day.

as for speaking he has yet to say more than three real words but can have an endless conversation that only his cousin allie understands. however, he still loves to yell out dada repeatedly, i also get my share of mamas but the other day i swear he was at my legs and he said "up" i picked him up and was rewarded with one of his priceless smiles.

every day just keeps on getting better....

Weekend Getaway

2009-03-09T05:41:00.000-07:00

andrew and i were finally off for a whole weekend together!! we decided fri morning that we should go somewhere. i have never been to rhode island so i chose to go there. we went to newport and were pleasantly surprised at how nice the town is. newport is filled with historic buildings dating back to the 1700s as well as colossal mansions on the shores. it has the countrys oldest library and synagogue. all of the architecture, including the cobblestone streets were amazing. not to mention that it was about 60 degrees outside!!! here are some memories from newport.....

andrew checking out the local real estate (i will take the mansion on the shore please!)

there was a petting zoo right near the hotel, how could we resist?

he slept the whole 3hour trip home

Here is my Random Picture Challenge.....

2009-03-04T14:28:00.000-08:00

a lazy weekend morning. in bed.

Fun

2009-03-04T14:17:00.000-08:00

i like wordless wenesday because every week i get to share a random picture. i have tons of pics and i thought it would be a great opportunity to post some of my memories. i also like blogs. i find myself reading random blogs (they are usually linked to websites i visit often) some people can really articulate themselves and some people amaze me by being so crafty. anyway while browsing blogs i found one with a great idea and invited myself to participate :)

wordless wednesday

2009-03-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

Our Glass Bottles are Saved!

2009-03-03T04:27:00.000-08:00

back before brandon was a curious and strong minded toddler i bought him glass bottles. they were more eco-friendly and safer for the baby. however, once brandon learned how to throw things, we were in big trouble. i know that those bottles (we bought the evenflo bottles) are strong but brandon is stronger and baby and broken glass dont go well together.

i was about to put them away when i found an evenflo bottle cozy. what a great idea! they are easy to put on, and they stay on, and can be washed separately from the bottle. they are also grippy which helps brandon be able to feed himself with the heavy bottle.

i am not sure how eco-friendly the cozy is, but i know that i am being eco-friendly by still being able to use the glass bottles!!

Great Deals...

2009-03-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

....at drugstore.com

Right now drugstore.com is having a sale buy one get one free or buy one get one half off all sorts of fun things. i bought stuff for brandon, cleaning supplies, shower supplies for me....and i only spent $50 and saved $40!!! you cant beat that :)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-25T06:50:00.000-08:00

The New Fuzzi Bunz are coming...

2009-02-18T05:03:00.000-08:00

...and we couldnt be more excited.

Fuzzi bunz are one of the original pocket cloth diapers. they work great and have snaps, which are our favorite. the only downfall is that they only came in small, medium or large. even more annoying is that brandon has been between sizes for over a month now.

but now fuzzi bunz is coming out with a one size diaper. hoooray. they are already on back order and havent even come out yet! yikes. but as your loyal blogger, i have found a site that is providing a fuzzi bunz give away!

just click here. follow the rules, and good luck!!!!

So far this year....

2009-02-15T05:14:00.000-08:00

i thought now was a good time to reflect on the positive and negative steps i have taken this year so far towards becoming a healthier and more environmentally friendly person.

lets start with the positives:
1. i started running and working out again.
2. i cloth diaper full time
3. i never use paper towels anymore and rarely use napkins
4. i buy organic/natural anything i can (including makeup)
5. all my paper products are recycled
6. i began sewing
7. all of my cleaning products are natural
8. all of my personal care products are natural (except my conditioner, i still cant find a natural one that can tackle all of my curls)
9. i am going back to school

and now some negatives:
1. i still take the elevator to my floor at work
2. i drive more than i should
3. i have not been saving as much money as a should
4. i take long showers (not as long as andrew though)
5. my compost is sitting idle

my goals for the next few months:
1. start a garden
2. revive my compost
3. walk to the stores more
4. spend more time outstide as the weather continues to get nicer
5. open the windows more
6. line dry my laundry
7. spend less money
8. handmake more things (esp for the upcoming wedding!)
9. get an outside toy for the backyard for brandon...a sandbox or a slide or something
10. make more homemade things

Give Away.....

2009-02-14T07:07:00.000-08:00

Green to grow welcome home set give away here!

Green to grow is a company owned by mothers who pride themselves in bottles that are BPA free. Not to mention the bottles are really cute!

The give away is a $55 value + free shipping!
GOOD LUCK!!!

For my Aunt M.....

2009-02-14T05:29:00.000-08:00

If you didnt hear the news.... The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was signed into law on December 19, 2007, as Public Law 110-140. As part of this Act, the incandescent light bulb will be phased out of the U.S. market beginning in 2012.

Sounds good right? i mean CFLs (compact flourescent bulbs) use less energy to light a room (average savings is $180/year) and are produced with a respect to the environment. However there is one problem....every one of these CFLs contain mercury. oops looks like someone overlooked that little fact. these light bulbs are also said to lead to headaches, seizures and certain skin conditions (though i could not find any reliable sourse for these claims)

Lets see why do CFLs even require mercury to produce light......
Compact fluorescent bulbs are made of glass tubes filled with gas and a small amount of mercury. CFLs produce light when the mercury molecules are excited by electricity running between two electrodes in the base of the bulb. The mercury emits ultraviolet light, which in turn excites the tube’s phosphor coating, leading it to emit visible light.

And our next question should be: why are incandescents less efficient than CFLs?
Unlike compact fluorescents, incandescent bulbs produce light by heating the metal filament inside the bulb. When electricity passes through the filament, its temperature rises to 2,300 degrees Celsius, with the heat causing the filament to glow white-hot and emit light. But only 5 to 10 percent of that electricity is transformed into visible light. “In an incandescent bulb, much of the electricity is used for heat, which is not efficient,” Leslie says. “Fluorescent lights use electricity to do much more than heat a solid object.”

You can read the full article here.

If you are still not sure how you feel about these mandatory CFLs here is a story that may help you decide:

As reported in an April 12 article in the Ellsworth (Maine) American, Brandy Bridges had the misfortune of breaking a CFL during installation in her daughter's bedroom. It dropped and shattered on the carpeted floor.
Aware that CFLs contain potentially hazardous substances, Bridges called her local Home Depot for advice. The store told her the CFL contained mercury and that she should call the Poison Control hotline, which in turn directed her to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The DEP sent a specialist to Bridges' house to test for mercury contamination. The specialist found mercury levels in the bedroom more than six times the state's "safe" level for mercury contamination, 300 billionths of a gram per cubic meter.
The DEP specialist recommended Bridges call an environmental cleanup firm, which reportedly gave her an estimate of $2,000 to clean the room. The room then was sealed off with plastic, and Bridges began gathering finances to pay for the cleaning. Reportedly, her insurance company wouldn't cover the costs because mercury is a pollutant.

This is how we....

2009-02-08T04:49:00.000-08:00

...brush our teeth.

now that brandon has a few chompers of his own, i have really been searching for a more natural dental regiment. i know i have posted comments before on toms toothpaste and other natural brands. i have recieved a few suggestions from some of you and really appreciate them , but i think we finally figured things out!!!

for me:

i use a preserve toothbrush that aunt jessie stuffed in andrew's stocking (i stole it :)). these toothbrushes are made out of recycled yogurt containers and are comparable to a reach toothbrush. i like them.

as for toothpaste, i finally found one that doesnt have that wierd taste that most of the natural ones do. it is called the natural dentist. it contains no sls or any derivitive, it is minty, and it is whitening! i love it! (btw, i buy it at drugstore.com)

for brandon:

i picked up a red cross (profits from the sale go to the american red cross) infant to toddler toothbrush set. i like it. it comes with a cute stand and brandon can use it himself! i did find out that they make preserve jr toothbrushes so that is what we will try next.

for toothpaste we are using earths best by jason toddler toothpaste in strawberry and banana. brandon really likes it but maybe next time i will try something that is mintyso brandon doesnt associate brushing his teeth with dessert!

an alternative...

2009-01-27T14:20:00.000-08:00

to cloth diapers is nature babycare. although i wish that i didnt have to have an alternative i have come to find that some people are not as into cloth diapers as i am. when the baby is with andrew, at daycare, or with andrews parents, i have to put him in disposables. i wanted to stay eco-friendly so when i fell upon babycare diapers i was pretty happy.

nature babycare diapers were invented by a swedish mom who was devastated by bulid up of traditional disposable diapers. her diapers are made out of 100% renewable materials and are chlorine, TBT and fragrance free. they are made by using green technology and the material that touches the babys skin is corn based (instead of the traditional oil based). nature babycare also produces wipes are made of wood from sustainable eco-managed forests and they are compostable!

best of all, they work great. i havent had any issues with leaks (which i have had with huggies-which i did not buy!). the only thing to be weary about is that they run small. brandon has been in a size 4 for a while now, though, according to the manufacturer, his 22lbs should fit in a size 3.

you can purchase these diapers at: amazon, babiesrus, target, and diapers.com

Attempt #1.....

2009-01-22T22:26:00.001-08:00

....not so good. so i finally had the time to pull out my new sewing machine and play a little. the playing part was really fun but then i decided to make something. it was only craft #2 in my book S.E.W so i thought it couldnt be too hard. granted, i skipped over craft #1 because who wants to make tea towels?? i dont even drink tea! well maybe i should have used it to practice. i dont know if it is my measuring or cutting skills that need work but my attemp at a sewing machine cover failed miserably. it was so small that the only thing it may be able to cover is my toaster!! hey thats not so bad of an idea! oh well, i will try again, but i will be a while until i can post something and regain the skills that i havent used since the 6th grade. im sure it will come back to me...until then i am going to practice cutting a straight line!

For the love of water....

2009-01-21T13:59:00.001-08:00

When my uncle and cousin were here for the weekend, we took brandon to the aquarium. we have been to a few museums on long island and when we vacationed in philly but we have never been to the aquarium!!! the atlantis marine world in riverhead had a pool with stingrays that slithered up the side walls to be fed and it had a cage where you could go under water with the sharks!! brandon and i did that.....just kidding :) we had tons of fun though!

btw, check out brandon's shoes...they have crabs on them :)

Loved it

2009-01-16T11:50:00.000-08:00

Organic Bath Company cleansing wash is great! it is Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate Free which is unbelieveably hard to find, even in products that are natural. It is also paraban and petroleum free. it meets all my criteria health-wise, and it also works great. it does not leave a filmy residue, it has substance to it, and i feel clean after i use it. it also comes in four different scents:

White Tea

Pomegranate Fig

Honey Chai

Lavender Vanilla

I have tried the pomegranate fig (it was ok, not my favorite scent) and the lavender vanilla, which i love. it is a warm scent, i love it for the winter. i look foward to trying the rest out and i hope that all of you like it as much as i do. it runs $8.49 for 41.2oz, which i dont thinkn is too band and you can buy it here, along with other great green products.

Hurry, Hurry

2009-01-15T06:45:00.000-08:00

Sorry i didnt get this to you sooner, but i stumbled upon this website late last night. the website is called green baby bargains. it was started by two moms who are also sisters and they feature one green baby item for sale per day. last night they were selling a pair of super cute shoes, one in boy style and one in a girls style for $16 each (orig $36). They are called Pedoodles eco-friendly shoes. the eco-friendly part is that they are made from leather scraps and the soles are made from recycled materials. I checked this morning and the sale is extended until unil 11:59 am. so hurry up and get a pair!

My Minky

2009-01-15T06:37:00.000-08:00

just in case anyone was concerned, i got a blueberry minky!!! yay!!! they were on sale at my favorite online diaper store. sorry i never posted it, as i have come to learn that blueberry diapers rarely go on sale. anyway, this is the one that i got.

the green tye dye one and the red one with the orange snaps were both sold out....oh well, guess i will have to wait until there next sale. humph

Happy Birthday Brandon!!!

2009-01-14T07:44:00.001-08:00

Wow, i cannot believe that a whole year has passed since my baby was born. From the moment i laid eyes on him, i was in love. i could not believe that i (with a little help from andrew) created such a perfect little creature. as the months passed, he amazed me even more. he was so interested in his surroundings, so loveable towards his family and i dont mean to brag, but so smart! i dont know what i thought life was before i met my son, but he has brought me fulfillment in ways that i never thought possible. i love you brandon, and i thank you for just being you.

The Best Christmas Present Ever....

2009-01-07T18:51:00.001-08:00

is my new sewing machine!!!

I cant wait to use it and i promise to post all of the fun things i make!

I hope you are all as excited as i am :)

Don't Throw out those Holiday Cards....

2009-01-07T08:44:00.001-08:00

.....and Dont recycle them either!

Send them to St Judes Ranch!!

Like any other responsible recycler, after the holidays are over i throw my holiday cards in with the paper recycling. but this year (thanks to erin) i have found a better way to recycle these cards.

If you mail the cards to St Judes Ranch at

St. Jude's Ranch for ChildrenCard Recycling Program
100 St. Jude's Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

the kids remove the fronts and replace the message from aunt dotty with a new recycled back! they then sell these new cards for $8. You get 10 recycled greeting cards and most importantly, an opportunity to help rescued abused, abandoned and neglected children.

St Judes Ranch accepts any greeting card so hurry up and send yours in....they only accept the cards until February 28th.

Also, if you want to buy the recycled cards you can by contactingSt Judes Ranch via:
Email cards@stjudesranch.org
Phone 1-800-492-3562 or
Send your request and donation to:St. Jude’s Ranch for ChildrenATTN:
Donor Office
P.O. Box 60100
Boulder City, NV 89006-0100

HO,HO, HO Merry Christmas!

2009-01-05T18:58:00.000-08:00

Santa was very generous this year! we celebrated christmas at grandma and grandpas house with all the aunts and uncles and cousin allie. we ate lots of good food and had tons of fun just being together. Here are some of the memories:

I love you cousin allie!

What a big boy walking with grandpa!

Santas still scary even if it is just uncle doug!

Twas the night before christmas

2009-01-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

We had a quiet christmas eve at the apartment with grandpa bruce and grandma annie. we had a yummy lasagna (my first attempt with a homemade sauce, and it came out pretty good!) and amazing homemade cookies from grandma annie....here are a few pictures:

Happy Hanukkah

2009-01-05T18:22:00.000-08:00

The holiday season was a blast. It was Brandons first Hanukkah and first Christmas. He got soo many gift, enough outfits to clothe queens county, and enough toys to entertain the entire city! but most of all, we enjoyed the time we got to spend with our family.

We celebrated hanukkah at our house with great grandma and grandpa, and all of the cousins. we had a great dinner, grandma kathy always makes the best brisket and we had lots of latkes!

Love you great grandpa couple!

opening presents with my cousins
eating some dinner with uncle bryan
the toy mommy and daddy gave me
(an all wooden, hand-crafted, non-toxic painted wooden pushtoys with clacking alligators-hey, i had to preach green somewhere!)

My all time favorite toy....a rock and roll ernie!!!

(thanks grandma patty and grandpa arty!)

Its been a while....

2009-01-05T18:12:00.000-08:00

Sorry about that. but as one of my many new years resolutions, i will keep this blog updated regularly. i decided to not only share new green ideas that i stumble upon, but also to use this website to keep everyone updated on brandon. so check up regularly and i promise you wont be disappointed :)

ps isnt it amazing what you can find on the internet?

Go For the Real Thing

2008-11-22T06:53:00.000-08:00

With christmas steadily approaching there may some question as to buy a real or a fake christmas tree. If this is the question in your mind, please choose the real thing.

Here are some reasons to buy a real tree:

-Real trees take in carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases and release fresh oxygen into the air.
(each year, an acre of Douglas fir trees can absorb 11,308.7 lbs of carbon dioxide)
-Christmas tree farms help sustain the rural economy and provide jobs
-Recycled trees have been used to make sand and soil erosion barriers and been placed in ponds for fish shelter.
-Growing Christmas trees provides a habitat for wildlife

And here are some reasons to avoid a fake tree:

-Made from nonrenewable petroleum to form a type of plastic called PVC
PVC production causes carcinogens as a byproduct. Also, to make the PVC needles on artificial trees more flexible and life like, the manufacturers use lead and other additives that have been linked to liver, kidney, neurological, and reproductive system damage in lab studies on animals. some of these trees even come with warnings regarding what to do if you come in contact with the tree. well then how are you supposed to decorate it??
-Artificial trees are not recyclable or biodegradable
-If one catches fire, it releases toxic fumes
-Many artificial trees are made overseas, so there is no benefit to the local economy. 85% are from china, which reminds me of another incident with lead....

If you are thinking that chopping down a living tree seems lik the most environmently unfriendly idea, you are mistaken. It's important to remember that it is not about how many uses you can get from your tree… but has more to do with what the tree is made of, and what effects it has on the environment when it is created and destroyed (well if it is plastic then it is never really destroyed, rather it is just sitting in a dump somewhere)

I love nice smelling stuff...

2008-11-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

But i dont want to spread around harsh chemicals.

so like the sucker i am, i fell for some creative advertisement and bought a scented powder that can be used to make cloth diapers smell nice, freshen up linens and be used on the carpet before vacuuming. After i spend $8 on a container (dont tell andrew how much it cost!) i realized it was made with only two ingredients: baking soda and essential oils. i am such a sucker.

anyway, now i have an $8 container to add baking soda to and any essential oil i choose. it only requies a tiny amount and it a safe alternative to febreeze and those carpet powders. also, instead of using my $8 plastic container, you could use one of those metal confectioner sugar containers which would be more eco-friendly, and cheaper i am sure....

Totally unrelated to anything, but...

2008-10-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

i love the fall

and i love my brandon

life is good.

My new Grocery List

2008-10-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

i was browsing through some articles in a parenting magazine and found an interesting idea. the author called it the 80% 20% rule for saving money, i think it is also healthier.

so heres the deal, 80% of groceries should be foods in their most basic form. for example, whole mushrooms vs sliced mushrooms (more for saving money) or individual ingredients to make soup instead of buying canned soup. way less salt = healthier, and you get to add more of your favorite ingredients!

the other 20% can be anything else.

pretty neat idea, huh

Hated it

2008-10-14T17:49:00.001-07:00

i tried both tom's natural toothpaste and trader joes brand natural toothpaste, and both tasted like minty cardboard. gross. maybe i am too accustomed to traditional toothpaste to accept such a different flavor. oh well, i guess i will just have to deal with the sodium lauryl sulfate until a better toothpaste comes out....

Cloth Diaper Review

2008-10-05T08:46:00.001-07:00

so it has been a few months that i have been cloth diapering, and i thought it time that i posted a reivew of what i have found so far. though i have tried many brands, i have only used pocket diapers.

these are my favorites, in order from favorite to least:

1. bum genius.

these diapers are the best. they are one size, so they grow with baby, and you only have to buy one! they also come in organic, which i just bought as a second (a second is a slightly altered diaper that is still functionable, for a reduced price). i will let you know how they are. i have about 4 of these so far, and have had no problems. also, because they are one size, i can put them on the biggest size and overstuff them to use them as an overnight diaper. additionally, the liners are made of suedecloth, which is my preference. the poop usually slides right off of this material, and brandon seems to be sensitive to fleece, so suedecloth is a great alternative. the only downside to the bumgenius is that they are velcro. i find that the velcro sticks to the inserts in the wash, even when it is adhered to the diaper's laundry tabs. also they dont come in prints, but they do have new colors! these inserts are also the most absorbant (along with whammies, which can also double up on themselves!)

2. snap-ez

these diapers are handmade by a SAHM and her daughters. the quality of each diaper is exceptional. they fit brandon great, where as most sized diapers tend to be snug in the legs. they also come in in-between sizes such as chubby medium and skinny large. you can also choose the material for the liner (microchamios, microfleece, or suedecloth) and they come in really fun patterns for the diaper and the liner, such as monkey pirates and turtle stars! the downside: they are sized and they are a little pricey. each diaper is about $20 (more for the patterned) and brandon will grow out of them. however, i stocked up on them when snap-ez had a second sale.

3. mommy's touch

i like these diapers because they have a pocket opening in both the front and the back. the manufacturer says the purpose is to allow the liners to agitate out in the wash, but i like it because i can gauge how wet brandon is from the back and the front! they also come in really cute prints and are one size. you can also choose whether you want velcro or snap. however, the liner is always fleece. also, there are a ton of snaps and i dont think i have figured out the right way to put the diaper on. oh well, they dont leak, and brandon doesnt seem to mind.

3. baby kangas

these tied for third place. i really like them. they are a one sized diaper and much easier to figure out that the mommy's touch. they also only come in snap but only in solid colors, and microfleece liners. the liner is thin, breathable, and non-leaking, so that makes it better then most. also, the pocket is on the outside, closed by a zipper, which means the liner cant slide out and i can assess the wetness from the outside. they too only come in solid colors and run about $18 each. i bought one second and have had no problems. they also wrap over themselves in the smallest size and they look soo cute!

these are my not so favorites, from best to worst:

1. fuzzi bunz

i know these get rave reviews from most people, but i really dont like them. the fit is so-so. they are always tight on the legs, maybe it is the odd position of the snaps. brandon is still in a size small, barely but the medium are way too big. they also only come in microfleece and solid colors. the plus size is that they are always available as seconds or gently used.

2. happy heineys

these come in super cute patterns, okay only one super cute pattern, and that is the cow print. this is the only reason i bought it. the new version is also one-size. but they were expensive, $19 and the microfleece liner (the only choice) pilled the first time i washed them. they also only come with velcro, and the velcro is huge and sticks to everything in the wash! also, the liners dont absorb well. i do like that the liners are contoured though.

These are the six varieties i have tried so far. being that i like four of them, i doubt i will try any new ones.

although brandon, okay i, want a blueberry regular or minky with snaps in one size, hint hint.

they are expensive ($30, ouch) and i dont want to buy one but brandon, okay i, really like the green tie dye minky one. its groovy lol!

it was okay: trader joes refresh conditioner

2008-10-05T08:40:00.001-07:00

so i tried out trader joes conditioner (havent tried the shampoo) in citrus scent. it smells delicious but only works so-so. the detangling aspect is not the best. i have very curly hair, and lots of it, so it would be a challenge for any conditioner to detangle my hair!

so my mission continues....

Fall Fun

2008-10-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

yesterday allie and brandon went apple and pumpking picking! allie loved her apple! and brandon loved playing with the giant pumpkins! well giant compared to him! we had tons of fun and cant wait until we get to wear our costumes!!

yay for fall

Reducing Theo's Carbon Footprint

2008-10-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

So, we all know that dogs poop and that as a responsibe dog owner without a backyard, i have to pick up theos poop daily. in my past life i used to use all of my old plastic bags to pick up his poop. but now that i dont have any plastic bags i had to find a new alternative....

i thought about a pooper scooper, but i did not want that dirty thing in the house, especially with brandon getting around the way that he does. besides, they are made of plastic

i found a great alternative....

Bio Bag Dog

these bags are compostable (i am getting my $20 compost tomorrow yay) and they are made from corn and not polyethylene.

Love it: burts bees soap bark and chamomile deep cleansing cream....

2008-09-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

i used and fell in love with burts bees soap bark and chamomile deep cleansing cream. i was looking for a natural face wash that would not dry out my skin or irritate it. this product is it. the chamomile scent is soothing, and my skin feels soft and refreshed after usuing. best of all, it is natural.

a note from burts bees: your skin is your largest organ, and what you put on it gets absorbed into your body. In fact, studies show that 60% of the ingredients you put on your body get absorbed into it. Synthetic chemical ingredients with a potential human health risk can have potentially harmful effects. It's enough to make you think twice about letting your skin and hair soak up these synthetic ingredients.

Have you noticed my sidebar

2008-09-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

i hope you have all noticed the fun additions to my page. my sidebar is filled with ecofriendly yumminess that i have found while surfing the web. let me explain the new additions.

so lets start from the top, i changed my profile picture. we took that pic at wantagh state park on labor day weekend. i tried to get a full family shot, but i mostly only got myself. there are better pictures, but since this is my blog, i decided to post the one of me!

just for fun: brandon crawling around at wantagh park

after that, i listed all the blogs that i like to read. i know that i have linked a few in some of my posts, but now they are all neatly and alphabetically arranged. keep looking for more additions as i find more blogs to add. if you want yours on the list, hit me up!

next, i have a few links posted under eco-friendly websites
the first website i found is called free rice. on this website, you can take quizzes in such topics as art, chemistry, english, language learning, and math just by clicking change subject. the more answers you get right, the more grains of rice that are donated by the UN world food program. so learn some fun facts, seem more interesting at a dinner party, and most importantly feed the poor!

the next link is one i have posted before, but i though it important enough to add to my side bar. this link brings you directly to the click website, as i like to call it. all you have to do is click where they tell you to, once you have reached the website. there are also other tabs on the top of the webpage where you can click for other causes. you should click them all. and the best part is that there is a store, with really cool stuff that once bought will donate to one of the causes. dont be surprised if some of you see your christmas presents from the website!

another really cool website is called freecycle. its an entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, visit the website and find your community! i also found a really neat website call ideal bite. this website gives you ideas for green living. there is also a tab where you can submit your own ways of being green. they also sell merchandise that is ecofriendly. additionally, there is an emial sign up so that you can get green advice emailed directly to you!

the last coolest website ever, or at least that i have found so far is tree hugger this website is amazing and it is filled with great advice interesting artcles and so much more. i hope that you enjoy it as much as i do!

CO2 Stats calculates the greenhouse gas footprint of visits to your web site, based on locations of your visitors and servers, computer types, window and monitor sizes, local fuel mixes, download sizes and times. then based on this information, every month they purchase Green-E certified Renewable Energy Certificates to offset your site's CO2 footprint. Users can inspect your certificates and other environmental statistics by clicking on your CO2Stats badge. sounds pretty neat huh? and the best part, you dont have to do anything. excpet click

here to get your own!

then i got this really cool badge. just by adding a badge to your blog, you can offset 350 pounds of carbon. 350 pounds of carbon is like flicking off 100 lightbulbs for a day. Or going two full weeks without your car! the best part? i offset all of that carbon in the name of brandonjonathansworld.

then i have the plastic bag counter. it is an nice reminder that i am not part of that waste. because dont forget, every piece of plastic ever made is still here. lets not let them make anymore. no demand = no supply.

and finally, i have an igogreen tip of the day. i replaced my old green tip of the week with a green tip of the day. i was ready to go greener faster!

i hope you enjoy and learn and get green. any websites that anyone else favors, let me know, ill add it to my sidebar!

ps. dont forget to check out the way bottom of my page. there are some fun self-explanitory things down there too!

I am so Excited

2008-09-15T16:27:00.000-07:00

that NYC is green!

I got two things in the mail that really excited me.

the first:
Fall 2008 Electronics Recycling and Clothing Donation Events

at Forest Park Bandshell (walking, well far walking, distance from my house!)
I can finally get rid of all the crap i have accumulating! yay NYC. we also get rewards....a $5 gift card to best buy for the electronics and a tax-deduction reciept for the clothes. i have no idea what to do with the tax deduction, good thing my brother is an accountant :o)

the second: this is the best one:
Fall 2008 Compost Givebacks. Unfortunately, there is not one close, though they promised one at the brooklyn/queens border soon, though still not walking distance. We will go to the Bronx.

this is why i am so excited:
~i was not sure if i could compost in the city. i was worried about rodents, but apparently it is okay.
~there are huge compost sites in the bronx and staten island, again, yay NYC
~and the best part $20 compost give aways (while supplies last) to make our own compost! they even provided a list of compostable greens and browns! i will be there the day it opens. Sat oct 4th 0800. rain or shine! Ew, wet compost, lets hope for sunshine!