Join Team ENERGY STAR and you can help protect the planet by saving energy.

Epic which will arrive in theaters Memorial Day weekend, helps teach kids an important environmental message that, “Protecting the planet is cool.” 

Epic the upcoming 3D movie, “tells the story of an ongoing battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and the forces of evil. When a teenage girl gets magically transported into this secret universe, she must band together with a heroic team to save their world… and ours.”  It is based on William Joyce’s children book The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs. You can visit the Epic Trailer to learn more!

Team ENERGY STAR has also partnered with Boys and Girls Club of America and PTO Today and integrated themes from EPIC to help bring awareness to young people.  At Team ENERGY STAR website, you’ll uncover energy-saving activities the whole family can do at home, including an ENERGY STAR home check-up, an activity booklet and a chance to win more exciting prizes, courtesy of LG Electronics USA.

Chances are you and your family care about these topics and choose to make a difference in your home and community already. So spread the word about Epic!  If you are you a blogger, you have an additional opportunity to participate! Visit the Big Green Purse blog to find out how to get involved in this amazing event.

Get EXCITED!  Sign-up at the Team ENERGY STAR site and be sure to see Epic in theaters May 24^th.

Discloser: I will receive 4 tickets to see Epic for writing about this inventive and eco-focused movie. 

This pattern of thought intrigued me.  I have been active most of my life, but things shifted when I had children and my focus was fully on them and not myself.  Therefore, I haven’t got around to losing my baby weight (it’s been six years). This is further complicated because I have developed some bad habits like eating off my children’s plates, sitting on a bench to watch them while they play at the park and spending too much time in front of my computer.

I enjoy having curves, but it is getting a little ridiculous.  I decided to get out of the house and start going to the gym again, because I had been trying to do it all by myself at home with little progress.  I signed up for a gym near my house that offers many different classes like Zumba, Boot Camp, Spin and Yoga.

After trying out the classes, I found that I have fallen in love with Yoga.  I have several Yoga videos and have enjoyed following along at home, but going to the class was different.

The class at my gym is offered at night and the Yogini (female instructor) turned off the lights.  The studio borders an empty parking lot with a rock berm on the side still covered with snow. There are no distractions and it feels private and peaceful.  With the small amount of light that trickled into the windows from the parking lot lights, I could practically envision the Snow Monkeys in the Himalayas just outside.  This was accompanied by meditative Yoga music playing and we hadn’t even started class yet.

It didn’t occur to me that having lights off would allow me to participate uninhibited and really push myself deeper into the poses.  I realized that this was what my body needed-movement.   It was as relaxing as a spa day with the fulfillment of working-out.  This class was the perfect healing time, that as a busy mom, I really needed.

As I have found the “thing” I enjoy doing the motivation has come with little effort.  This is a far cry from the mornings, I use to get up and go for a jog.  Unfortunately, the snooze button and the warmth of the covers had a strong pull on me.   This battle of trying to be consistent tugged at me and I would feel guilty about not following through and it would lead to feeling burdened and that would lead to less follow through and on it would go until I stopped all together.  And that made me feel even worse.

The natural endorphins, self-esteem and desire to do something healthy for myself were inside me all along.  I forgave myself for taking so long to get moving again and I filtered my thoughts to focus on encouraging myself.  Feeling better about me has spilled over into all other parts of my life.  My life is not perfect, just a little more balanced.  And although nothing I have said here is necessarily new, Yoga helped bring out the missing piece that focuses on me without sacrificing any care for my family or those around me.  The weight loss may have started out as my goal, but fixating my expectations on that has diminished because I feel better in my own skin already.

So be encouraged that you can fall in love with exactly the right thing to get you moving.  Add in smarter nutrition and you too will be on your way to the ideal YOU!

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste.”

Namaste (The light in me sees the light in you).

Photo:M.Magoo

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” -Helen Keller

Happy New Year from Modern Eco Life.

This morning, we became aware of the Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Project and my children and I got right on this simple but meaningful way to contribute to the Newtown community.

My children are in Kindergarten and the sadness that happened on December 14, 2012, has weighed heavy on each one of us. Making these snowflakes has helped us feel like we can make a small difference by adding to this effort to brighten the new school halls for the children who deserve so much comfort. Anyone can take part in this effort and making a difference at any age matters!

Join the effort:

From the Connecticut PTSA – Please help the students of Sandy Hook have a winter wonderland at their new school! Get Creative!! No two snowflakes are alike.

Make and send snowflakes to Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514, by January 12, 2013

Support:

The Sandy Hook Fund – Created by the Connecticut PTSA, to support the ongoing needs of the community.

Tribute:

Respecting the memory of those who lost their lives, contemplate bestowing meaningful and kindhearted gestures to others this time of year in their honor.

Our hearts grieve over this terrible loss and our prayers are that healing and peace would cover the community of Newtown.

I created small accordion style thankful books for each of my children out of scrap supplies at home. The best part was sitting down with each one individually to have them capture on paper what they were thankful for. If you want to create a meaningful opportunity to interact with your children, another idea is to make a family garland of gratitude.

Right now, with uncertain economic times and other fears that hold our attention, it is a nice reminder this time of year for us as moms to focus on the great things we are blessed with.

If you have been hearing more and more about GMO’s it is probably because it is a hot issue in California. Coming up on November 6, 2012 – Prop 37, a state ballot measure, known as the Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Initiative will be up for a vote. It is important because it could pave for the way for how manufactures must lists genetically modified (GM) ingredients in food.

Since there is not a complete list of products that contain GMO’s it is hard to know if the food we are eating is GM. Currently, the only way to be sure that food is free from GMO’s is to buy organic, but cost and availability can often impact this choice for many families.

80% of all processed foods contains GMO’s

If going completely organic is not an option, then learning about what foods are considered high-risk can help assist you in determining what foods should be purchase organically grown.

“High-Risk Crops (in commercial production; ingredients derived from these must be tested every time prior to use in Non-GMO Project Verified products (as of December 2011):

• Alfalfa (first planting 2011)
• Canola (approx. 90% of U.S. crop)
• Corn (approx. 88% of U.S. crop in 2011)
• Cotton (approx. 90% of U.S. crop in 2011)
• Papaya (most of Hawaiian crop; approximately 988 acres)
• Soy (approx. 94% of U.S. crop in 2011)
• Sugar Beets (approx. 95% of U.S. crop in 2010)
• Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash (approx. 25,000 acres)

ALSO high-risk are animal products (milk, meat, eggs, honey, etc.) because of contamination in the animal feed.” – Non-GMO Project

According to the Grocer’s Manufactures Association, 80% of all processed foods contains GMO’s. To give you an idea of GM foods it includes: baby food (biscuits, formulas), baking mixes (pancake, cornbread, cakes, pie crusts, cookie), bread (english muffins, buns), cereal & granola bars, breakfast cereals, chocolate & candy, drink mixes, dessert toppings, condiments, oils, dressings, salsa, cookies & crackers, energy bars, spices, grains, pasta, heat and serve meals, sauces, frozen pizza, microwave popcorn, chips, soda, soup & stews and vitamins. And this is not a comprehensive list, just items that contain some of the ingredients listed above.

Your best defense is to educate yourself. Unless the products are labeled NON-GMO or Organic, then GMO ingredients could very likely be present.

This is a hot topic for the new school year. At Modern Eco Life, we recommend reducing your carbon footprint in small ways everyday. Here’s how we started.

First we got a non-toxic reusable lunch bag. We got Pack-It and it works great! It stays cool for 10 hours and it folds nicely in the freezer to get ready for each day.

We also recommend getting reusable bags to replace plastic baggies.  ReUsies or stainless steel are our top picks. We chose the stainless steel box by Onyx since the double-decker design is space saving too.

Be sure to bring your own utensils and cloth napkin. We love People Towels! They have amazing variety and they are made of organic cotton.

Doing this you will be treating yourself and the planet to a nicer lunch each day you strive for a waste free lunch! Bon appetite!

I am still singing it in my head!  The final week of the Go Green Get Fit Challenge I was in Disneyland with my family.  Wow, did we do some walking!  It was the best work-out ever!  We walked all day everyday for six days straight.  We spent over ten hours a day in the park…walking…eating…watching…riding…and walking some more.  It was 94 degrees everyday.  It was sunny and hot.  Between the walking and the heat, the weight literally melted off.  It was the perfect way to finish this challenge.  This challenge has been a great way to make life long changes. 

Special thanks to Healthy Home Magazine and EcoMom Alliance for hosting the 2012 Go Green Get Fit Challenge and to our presenting sponsor, PlanetShoes.com.  It was an amazing event!

Earth Mama Angel Baby

Earth Mama Angel Baby sent out a gift set worth $25 to the Go Green Get Fit Participants.  It included:

• 1 box Mama-To-Be Tea Sampler
• 1 1oz New Mama Bottom Spray
• 1 1oz Happy Mama Spray
• 1 50ml Calm & Clean Hand To Toe Wash
• 4 samples each; Angel Baby Bottom Balm, Natural Nipple Butter and Organic Milkmaid Tea

Their products are so wonderful that it was difficult to pick my favorite part.  Last night for a treat, I made a cup of Earth Mama Angel Baby tea and sprayed the Happy Mama spray on my pillow to feel pampered and relaxed after a long day. 

I use the Angel Baby Bottom Balm on my kids minor cuts and where ever their skins needs a little extra soothing.  I use Earth Mama Angel Baby wash every bath-time and love I the 50ml Calm & Clean Hand To Toe Wash for travel.  That way I do not have to rely on hotel soaps when we are away from home.

I appreciate Earth Mama Angel Baby products!  I only trust the best products for my little ones skin and Earth Mama Angel Baby delivers every time!

This event has been a time of getting healthy and discovery.  I have discovered that I am allowed to change my mind, take a day off and even eat a cookie with my kids sometimes.  I am also allowed to take time for myself and focus on my own health. I have found that working out and doing activities with my children are the most wonderful way to accomplish my goal of getting fit.

I do not plan on stopping this program when it ends in two weeks, because it has become my healthy new habit!  I have enjoyed reading the other Green Bloggers articles and learning how to incorporate what they have learned into my own routine.