Start the School Year Toxin Free
When it comes to parenting, protecting your kids is undoubtedly the most important job. As the little ones get ready to go back to school, now is the perfect time to ensure they’re set up for a successful year ahead. Sure, it’s important to stock up on school supplies, find just the right backpack and snag those back-to-school bargains while you can, but sometimes keeping your children safe goes beyond making sure they’re ready for their first day. To truly set your kids up for success it’s important to keep their health in mind. Kids are resilient, but keeping them safe from toxins is a responsibility that falls squarely on your shoulders. While dealing with the whirlwind of prep that comes with the first day of school, take a moment to consider how to guard your lovable little booger...
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Côr Thermostat: A Smart Home Heating and Cooling System
Sponsored It has always been a priority of mine to have our home be as “green” as possible. One thing that I have wanted to add to our house for quite awhile is a smart heating/cooling system so that we can ensure we are not wasting any energy. With the summer heat upon us, I felt like it was the perfect time to install a new thermostat, and I choose the Côr Thermostat. The one thing that made me select the Côr Thermostat was that our family could customize our heat or air conditioning directly from our smartphones. Gone are the days of worrying about whether or not I turned off the air conditioner before leaving home for the day. Now I can adjust the temperature before returning home to have the house be at a comfortable temperature for...
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From Tree to Table: Sweet Desert Dates
Sponsored Many families are unaware that the Imperial and Coachella Valley is one of the most important farming regions in the state of California. Recently, I went to visit the area to learn more about the farmers, the produce that is grown and how the area is on the cutting edge of preserving water in the farming industry. During my visit, I made a stop at Hadley Date Gardens where I was given a unique opportunity of getting to learn how dates are grown, harvested and packaged for families to purchase. When I arrived at Hadley Date Gardens, the first thing that caught my attention was the beautiful date palm trees. The family owned and operated business has been growing dates for over 70 years. The owner of Hadley Date Gardens, Herb Keck, was there to greet us upon...
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Keeping Your Produce Fresher Longer
This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Rubbermaid® I have a huge outdoor garden where I grow fruits and vegetables and every week I go to our local farmer’s market to get organic and the freshest produce available for our family. The only struggle with purchasing produce from farmer’s markets is that it does not last as long as the produce filled with GMO’s & chemicals in our local grocery stores. I have been on the hunt for a solution to helping make our weekly produce stay fresh throughout the entire week, and I finally discovered it with Rubbermaid’s FreshWorks Produce Saver. Since we were spending the weekend in Carlsbad this past weekend, my husband made a stop at one of our favorite local farm stands in Oceanside called Cyclops Farms. Since we were not going to bring the produce...
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Ecology Center 2017 Summer Farm Lab Camp
Farm Lab Campers will dig deep into food and farm life in the season when the garden really comes alive. Activities include seasonal planting, chicken care, compost exploration, fort building, eco-crafts, and harvesting and cooking from the garden. All activities at The Ecology Center Farm Lab Camp revolve around our core initiatives of GROW, WATER, EAT, and MAKE. Taking place on a 1-acre teaching facility nestled next to a 28-acre organic farm, campers will have an unparalleled view of the farm process and what it means to grow from seed-to- harvest. Summer Farm Lab Camp Session 1 Ages 5-6 June 27-30 // Tue – Fri, 9 am – 1 pm Eco Farm Lab Camp Session 2 Ages 7-9 July 18 – 21 // Tue – Fri, 9 am – 1 pm Eco Farm Lab Camp Session 3 Ages 7-9...
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Tips for Successful Raised Bed Gardening
Sponsored in partnership with Kia When my oldest son developed severe food allergies, I turned to food to help heal his overactive immune system. I found that by feeding him a plant-based diet with all organic produce that his allergies decreased, and he had fewer anaphylaxis reactions to food. The only downside was that feeding a family of five a diet rich with organic food was very costly, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I went to The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano and got information on how to start growing organic produce for my family in our backyard. I had my husband tear out most of our grass in the backyard, build raised beds, and we got started on what we now call “The Barone Farm.” Over the years, I have successfully been able...
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Play for Free on Tuesdays at Irvine Regional Park’s Farmers Market
Every Tuesday morning, Cecile Wight takes her two active boys to the Irvine Regional Park playground to burn off their energy and buy produce at the Irvine Regional Park’s farmers market. Not only does Cecile cleverly hide the vegetables in the dinners she makes for her kids, but she also juices for a friend who has cancer. Best of all, Cecile loves how vibrant the market fruits and vegetables taste. “You can tell the difference when the produce is fresh.” Cecile buys most of her produce from the Ray Ranch stand because the family run farm is certified organic. While packing bags and weighing, Cathy Ray offers advice about how to use various fruits and vegetables in recipes and tells stories about her sixteen years of farm life with her six kids. “I like selling heathy, organic fruits and...
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Finally! GMO-Free Affordable ‘Natural’ Yogurt
Sponsored I make my kids a fresh yogurt smoothie every morning. It is a great way jump start their day with a glass full of nutrition. The best part about giving the kids morning smoothies is that I can sneak in things that they normally wouldn’t eat like kale, flax seeds, Goji berries, Chia seeds, and more. The only troubling issue that I have found with making their smoothies is finding a yogurt to add that is GMO-Free and uses natural ingredients, until now. I squealed with delight when I learned that Dannon – yes a major corporation has made a commitment to their customers by making a product that is GMO-Free and made with more natural ingredients. The best part is that the product is still priced affordable to fit into most family budgets at $0.55 a cup....
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Stand-up for the Right to Have Access to More Organic in the US
Sponsored One of my most important jobs as a mother is to ensure the food I am feeding my children is the highest quality available. I try to incorporate as many organic foods into our family diet and help to supplement the cost of purchasing organic for a family of five by growing backyard summer produce and doing a majority of my grocery shopping at local farmer’s markets. I am sure that parents like myself agree that we need more organic food available – not less and that we need the GRO Organic Check-Off program to help strengthen and support organic farmers in our community. Now, I am not one to ever be political, but when it comes to having access to organic foods to feed my children, I am going to stand-up and fight for it. I spend...
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Eliminate Pesky Household Odors
Sponsored Between my two boys and our dog, fighting household odors is always a challenge. My younger son plays football, and I always have to remind him to put all his gear in the garage to prevent stinking up the entire house. I have been looking for a natural way to eliminate household odors for quite awhile and haven’t been successful until discovering Fresh Wave. Fresh Wave is exclusively available at Target and features six different products; odor removing gel, odor removing spray, odor removing packs, fresh pod, candle, and laundry booster. The two products that I have started using and love are the odor removing gel and the laundry booster. The best part is that the product is made with all-natural ingredients, so I don’t have to worry about my kids being exposed to harmful chemicals. I have...
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