We found 81 results tagged with "home life"
9 Articles
9 Articles found
Fool-Proof Ways to Prepare Delicious Veggies For Your Family
There is a misunderstanding that I think we as moms have (unfortunately) come to accept, and that is: “kids don’t like to eat vegetables.”
Age Appropriate Tips to Get Your Kids Cooking
Sometimes it can feel like it’s more trouble than it’s worth to get our kids in the kitchen with us. If they are little, we worry about them making a big mess or hurting themselves.
Energy-Efficient Home Heating Systems
Learn about newer, more efficient, and — dare we say — exciting home heating systems are becoming more widely available for people replacing their heating system or building a new home.
Pitching In Around the Neighborhood
In an increasingly busy world, people are experimenting with new ways to redefine the word “community.”
Take Time to Slow Down
Slow living is all about being more present in the moment.
Great Snack Ideas for Kids
Do your kids love to snack? Great! Shape up your child’s snacking habits with these helpful tips.
Stocking a Natural Kitchen
Take a step toward bringing health and wellness into the very center of your home.
Natural Home Cleaning
Choosing environmentally friendly alternatives keeps your home healthy and also helps the earth.
Composting: Good for Plants and the Planet
Composting is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to create beneficial mulch.
72 Challenges
72 Challenges found
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Log on
Crave the coziness of a hearth fire but worry about environmental impact? It may surprise you, but some artificial logs beat out real ones by a long shot when it comes to eco-friendliness. Yes, there are now options available that let you have your flame and love it, too. Today, challenge yourself...
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Clean out your fridge
Refrigerators have a way of collecting stuff that doesn’t get eaten. It’s important to remember that most foods have a shelf life even if they seem to last longer. This is especially true of condiments, which often spend far more time in your refrigerator than they should.
Today...
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Knowing Your Neighbors
Start a neighborhood directory. Getting to know your neighbors even a little can help promote community, connectedness and safety. A neighborhood directory is a great place to begin. Team up to compile a list of current contact info you can share to organize neighborhood events and use in case of...
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Bring a bucket to shower
How much cold water is wasted while you wait for your shower to warm up? Up to five gallons, according to some sources. That’s plenty to water plants or gardens with—and it’s soap-free! Today, challenge yourself to bring a bucket into your bathroom and start saving your not-so-gray pre-shower...
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Need a new toothbrush?
The American Dental Association recommends that adults replace their toothbrushes every 3-4 months for maximum effectiveness against decay. Children's toothbrushes need replacing even more frequently – every two months on average—because kids often press harder during brushing than do adults and...
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Eat outside
There’s a reason many cultures around the world are oriented around outdoor eating: Supposedly when one's senses are enlivened, all the others are too (including taste).
Now that the weather's warming up, this weekend challenge yourself to dine al fresco. Here are some tips for enhancing your...
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Don’t leave a paper trail
Replacing paper towels with reusable cloths is a great way to spare trees – and an easy one. Today, challenge yourself to replace paper towels with cloth napkins, tea towels, sponges, rags – even cloth diapers. Cut up old white bath towels and t-shirts. Washable microfiber wipes are a good new...
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Protect your family from lead
Lead poisoning is still an issue around the country, affecting homes, schools, and anywhere old paint, ceramics, vinyl lunchboxes, miniblinds, and toys exist. Before calling in the proper authorities --- EPA's lead abatement site is a good place to start -- you can perform a preliminary test on your...
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Reduce on all fronts
Dusty dumb bells, ab cruch contraptions, and a pile of broken-down jogging shoes – who doesn’t have relics of workouts past haunting them still? If your home is stuffed with workout equipment and fitness gear you’ve never used or that is past its prime, it’s time to clean house. Today, challenge...
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Prime your playlist
How about some new workout playlists for the new year? Think about what kind of music brings out your best in you - from the meditative thrum of Indian chanting for yoga to the empowering beats of rock music. Today, challenge yourself to create a playlist for every active occasion that motivates...
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Dye eggs differently
Color us confused: Although the FDA has weighed in on FD&C Red Dye #40 and declared it safe, anecdotal claims abound that the dye causes health complaints in children and adults alike. Why risk it? When you’re coloring your Easter eggs this year, challenge yourself to experiment with richly hued...
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Dine in
Cozy, romantic, and satisfyingly healthful – what could be sweeter than dining in? Eating more meals at home not only promises less chance of overdoing it on fatty, processed, or caloric foods, it also saves you money (not to mention reducing waste in terms of takeout packaging and car use). Today...
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Covet Mother Hubbard’s cupboard
Ever fantasize about eating your way toward a truly empty pantry? If that’s what it takes to start fresh, why not give it a try? Something about a full fridge and pantry whets our culinary imagination, but a bare cupboard can also be inspirational when it comes to cooking and meal planning. (Hint...
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Make your own laundry detergent
Commercial sudsy stuff can cost 30 cents per load – or more, depending on brand and outlet. Homemade, on the other hand, can run as little as 3 cents! Best of all, when you make it yourself you control the ingredients, which allows you to aim for better home air quality, less paper packaging waste...
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Make old thinking new again
Rags, washcloths, mops, diapers…the list of things that we once reused and later made disposable is long and contentious. Trying one of these old-yet-new-again products raises the question: Can you make a difference without sacrificing your own comfort, convenience, or hygiene? Today, challenge...
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Eradicate radon
Do you have a basement? Then take note: The EPA estimates that one in every 15 American homes has elevated levels of radon, the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the US. This colorless, tasteless gas occurs naturally from uranium decays in soil and water, and tends to move up through cracks in...
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Share the harvest
Have fruit, nuts, or veggies growing in your yard? Come time to harvest, you’ll probably have too much to eat yourself. Here’s one way to reduce your “cookprint”: Challenge yourself to ask a local school, volunteer organization, or soup kitchen to help you harvest your bounty – and bring home...
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Cook with a friend
Covet a pal’s luscious lasagna or divine dahl? Invite her over for dinner – hers, that is. She can teach you how to make the dish step by step – and you can return the favor. Today, challenge yourself to invite a friend over to make a feast. Make cooking a special bonding ritual.
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Sanitize your sponges
Ever find yourself wishing you could scrub your sponges? Here’s a better idea: microwave them or run them through the dishwasher. In 2007, the Agricultural Research Service (the principle research agency of the USDA) did a study comparing how many pathogens, yeasts, and molds were killed by various...
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Make leftovers into salad
Green beans, Brussels sprouts, leeks…the list of veggies that can be transformed from hot, dinner side dishes into delightful, lean salads is long and varied. Today, challenge yourself to make a little extra at dinner tonight and save your leftovers for salad. When you wake up tomorrow, quickly...
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Turn kids into cooks
Make stocking stuffers tasty! Small packages of natural and locally grown gourmet foods make great stocking stuffers and miniature gifts. Today, challenge yourself to think outside the standard gift box and put these natural goodies on your gift list. Some ideal items include: honey, syrup, jam...
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Solar-power your car battery
Here’s a way to let the sunshine in: Portable solar battery chargers can be used to power 12V engines in cars, motorcycles, trucks, boats – even RVs and mowers. As with other solar technologies, they use the power of the sun to build electrical voltage. Sometime this week, challenge yourself to...
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Spend a quiet evening
Instead of reaching for the TV remote or other electronic media, tonight challenge yourself to read, talk, walk, or just sit companionably quiet. You’ll be surprised how rejuvenating it is to be alone with your thoughts or share some mellow conversation.
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Learn to love lentils
With fiber, protein and little fat, lentils are a great substitute for meaty meals. They're easy to cook and most varieties don't even need soaking. Today, challenge yourself to whip up a dish that includes lentils.
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Simplify the sides
Why not make your next meal easier by simplifying your side dishes? A healthful and basic way to prepare veggies is to roast them – think winter vegetables like potatoes, yams, carrots, turnips, peppers, and squash. Today, challenge yourself to keep your side dishes simple by adding one to the menu...
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Host a green screening
Want to raise environmental awareness, hang out with friends, and watch a good movie all at the same time? Tonight, challenge yourself to invite people over for a “green” movie night.
Screen Al Gore’s, “An Inconvenient Truth,” or “March of the Penguins,” or “Erin Brockovich,” or “Koyaanisqatsi”...
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Get fit during a flick
Lots of us spend time on the sofa watching holiday movies this time of year. That doesn’t mean you have to remain sedentary for two hours! Today, challenge yourself to incorporate push-ups, sit-ups, or treadmill time into the equation, either mid-film or during intermission.
_Always consult a...
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Be a worker bee
Want to move more during this season of rich foods and leisurely parties? Get to work. Running a household requires stamina – especially if you choose the right jobs. Today, challenge yourself to help your hosts with the hardest housework (e.g. vacuuming, raking leaves, shoveling snow, taking out...
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Start a new family tradition
Though we all enjoy good food and good company during the holidays, lots of families also welcome a yearly football or soccer match. Today, challenge yourself to add fitness to your family’s celebration Some ideas:
• Team up for ultimate Frisbee, football, soccer, or basketball.
• Go alternative...
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Delve into decorations
It’s that time again: Whatever your holiday box contains - ornaments, menorahs, or mkeka mats - holiday decorating is a spirited way to get moving and get your home feeling festive. Today, challenge yourself to tackle one ambitious decorating task, from hanging lights and dressing trees to...
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Home-bake your presents
There's something about receiving gifts that have been baked from scratch - they taste delicious and they're thoughtful too. Today, challenge yourself to look at your holiday shopping list, singling out the people you suspect would really appreciate home-baked goodies. Then, identify a healthy...
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Wrap it up...responsibly
Discarded newspaper, comic strips, clean used aluminum foil, notepaper...there are many ways to wrap a gift attractively without using new paper. This weekend, challenge yourself to create the ultimate reusable gift-wrap box. Here are some tips to get you started:
• Fill the box with scraps like...
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Install a shower shutoff
Surprise: There’s a simple button that can snap off your shower spigot flow while you lather up, saving gallons of water! Who knew? And models like the Rain Saver Inline cost less than $10.
Today, challenge yourself to trek to the local hardware store and buy one of these nifty devices. Then...
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Bake a naturally sweetened cake
One way to make your next cake a little less processed and more wholesome is to use natural sweeteners, like evaporated cane juice and honey, instead of white sugar.
What is evaporated cane juice? It’s the first juice squeezed out of the sugar cane stalk. It is generally 50% less processed than...
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Props to you
Crave an impromptu yoga, Pilates or strength workout but have no props? No problem. If all that’s standing between you and an at-home workout is a dumbbell, block or stretchy band, you can improvise safely and get a great workout to boot.
Today, challenge yourself to do an impromptu...
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Lose the shoes
When you take your shoes off before entering your house, you keep your carpets cleaner. Plus, you avoid tracking-in outside pollutants, which can potentially lower your indoor air quality.
This weekend, challenge yourself to set up a system for reducing the transfer of outdoor pollutants into...
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Drain naturally
Is your sink clogged up again? Instead of using toxic products to drain it, try a homemade baking soda and vinegar mixture instead. Today, challenge yourself to create a list of alternatives home solutions. That way, the next time your sink does back up, you'll know just what to do. Here are some...
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Respect your sleep space
The National Sleep Foundation says stimulating devices like TVs, computers and workstations have no business in our sleeping quarters. And where kids are concerned, the American Academy of Pediatrics backs them up, calling healthy bedrooms a “media-free zone.”
Today, challenge yourself to...
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Infuse your water with flavor
First it was vitamin-enhanced, flavored water. Now herb- and fruit-infused water is all the rage. These refreshing concoctions elevate water from ho-hum to hooray (they’re a great choice for parties or showers, too).
Today, challenge yourself to make some homemade infused water. Here are some...
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Preserve your produce
The great thing about preserving fruits and veggies is that it allows you to enjoy your locally grown, seasonal favorites out of season. This weekend, challenge yourself to learn how to preserve your favorite produce. Then, make the effort to do it. The National Center for Home Food Preservation is...
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Dim the lights
Low lighting uses less energy and prolongs the bulb’s lifespan. You can save on energy expenses by installing and using dimmer switches whenever possible. Today, challenge yourself to add installing a dimmer on one light fixture to your to-do list. Then schedule a date to do it.
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Create a sacred space
One way to escape the stressors of modern life is to set up a special corner in your house where you can indulge in a moment of meditation or quiet contemplation. Set up a small table and fill it with whatever inspires you – aromatic candles, photographs, special objects. Today, challenge yourself...
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Return to a simpler time
Sometimes, modern life and the technologies that support it are actually a step back when it comes to clean living. Here are some tips for living the old-fashioned way:
• Grow your own food
• Walk, bike, take the train or bus to work
• Set personal/family limits on TV, computer, and phone...
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Upgrade so-so sewing skills
If a button is beyond you and your wardrobe’s the worse for it, get yourself a needle, thread, and thimble and go at it; you may surprise yourself. Although many of us never graduate beyond reattaching buttons, challenging yourself to refurbish clothing will make you feel terrific.
_(When...
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Get it done with one
Some household and beauty products can be used for a variety of needs. Some ideas:
• Essential oils can function perfumes or as bath salt fragrances
• Honey is ideal for both baking and as a moisturizing facial mask for dry skin
• Vinegar does double duty as a salad dressing ingredient and a...
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Get bold with mold
If commercial products and chlorine bleaches don’t appeal to you as healthy mold killers (and why would they?), think about mixing your own product. The next time you clean your house, challenge yourself to give one of these easy recipes a try:
• Several spoonfuls of tea tree oil in a spray bottle...
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Rethink your kids’ lunches
Have you ever analyzed the nutritional value of what your kids eat every day? In the next 24 hours, reevaluate the contents of your kids’ lunch boxes and see if you can make some healthier substitutions like fruit, veggies and dip, or whole grain snacks.
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Save when soaping-up
Concentrated soaps, like dishwashing liquid and laundry detergent, come in many sizes. Oftentimes, the packaging isn’t about how much of the product you’ll use per washing; it’s related to how much the soap has been diluted. Bigger isn’t better. The next time you’re buying liquid detergent...
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Purify your pantry
Are there tempting snacks in your pantry that undermine your healthy eating goals? Or maybe there are unhealthful ingredients like refined white flour, white sugar, and saturated fat. Today, inventory your pantry, keeping an eye out for any items that could be substituted for healthier options. Make...
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Freshen up your spice rack
Did you know that dried herbs and spices have a shelf life? As they age, they lose a lot of their color and flavor. Depending on whether they’re whole or ground, herbs and spices can last anywhere between six months and two years. This weekend, clean up and organize your spice rack. It might even...
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Decide on diapers
Many eco-minded people assume that cloth is the greener choice when it comes to diapers. Not always so: Depending on your location, your local landfill situation, and many other factors, disposables may actually use less energy.
While disposables fill our landfills and often contain harsh...
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Go with glass
Some plastics contain known toxins, including phthalates and bisphenol-A, among others. We think it’s time to give glass another shot, especially the shatter-proof kind. A bonus – glass food containers work great in the microwave. Today, challenge yourself to take inventory of your plastic food...
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Hem away your day
Tall folks aside, most of us spend considerable amounts of cash hemming and tailoring too-long trousers. Shortening pants is a useful skill and a solid building block for more complicated tailoring. Plus, being self-sufficient feels great. Since sewing clubs are springing up in cities nationwide...
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Inspect your cutting boards
When was the last time you examined your cutting boards? Disinfecting these frequently used cooking surfaces is a necessity. What are the best practices? Some tips:
• Use separate boards for handling meat and veggies/breads
• Wash with hot soapy water after each use
• Handle tough stains with...
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Start a scrapbook of family recipes
Collecting family recipes puts you in touch with your history. It’s also a great way to preserve a food legacy for your children and to get in touch with people you might not have talked with for a while.
This month, challenge yourself to identify people in your family who might have access to...
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Greenify your kitty litter
Millions of tons of clay cat litter end up in city landfills each year. Plus, the clay is harvested through strip mining. Thankfully, there are now biodegradable, compostable, septic-tank and corn-based options that take the stink out of your litter’s environmental performance. The next time you...
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Lighten your load
If you’re concerned about the environment and water usage, it may be time for a new clothes washer. According to Energy Star, a newer energy-efficient washer can save you about $550 in operating costs over the course of its lifetime due to its lower energy and water usage. Today, challenge...
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Spring clean your media storage
Recycling your CDs and DVDs is as easy as contacting the Compact Disc Recycling Center of America. Currently sponsored by several CD/DVD manufacturers, this organization runs recycling centers and even provides collection boxes if you need to mail them – and it’s all free! Now that you’ve gone MP3...
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Fit in knitting
Who hasn’t watched a knitter calmly sitting for hours on a plane or in a queue, creating something homemade and lovely? Recently, knitting is enjoying a renaissance, and classes and social groups abound. Challenge yourself to learn this meditative and useful hobby.
(When logging progress for...
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Water your garden right
Gardens are gorgeous - and potentially a waste of water. However, there are ways to conserve this valuable resource and enjoy your garden at the same time. It just takes planning.
While watering your garden this weekend, challenge yourself to find ways to reduce your water consumption. Here are...
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Organize your cupboards
When was the last time you reviewed you cupboards? Are there things in there that you’ll probably never use? Today, challenge yourself to take stock and organize your cupboards. Put aside unused items for your local food bank.
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Have a greener outdoor summer party
Outdoor summer entertaining can have a carbon footprint. However, there are a few easy ways to lessen your impact. When you entertain outside this month, challenge yourself to:
• Use a natural gas grill instead of charcoal
• Turn off unused indoor lights
• Use regular dishware, napkins...
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Start a scrapbook
Not just for new moms and school kids anymore, scrapbooking is an ideal way to cultivate a passion or memorialize the people, places, and events you cherish. This weekend, get creative and start your own scrapbook. Share what you’re doing with everyone here.
_(We’ve given you 2 days for this...
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Create a sleep-friendly space
What could be more essential to wellbeing than sleep? In the next 24 hours, make your bedroom more sleep-friendly by identifying - and eliminating - anything that interferes with a good night’s rest.
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Grow an organic garden
Seeds and starter plants raised without pesticides and herbicides make sense if you’re going organic. And they’re readily available at garden supply centers. This spring, if you’re planning on gardening, challenge yourself to learn about organic options and use them instead of conventional ones...
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Turn off your TV
Besides leaving you free to take a walk, meditate, read, cook or socialize, a TV-free life means you save energy and feel like you did something truly rejuvenating. This week, join people across the country during “TV Turnoff Week” and challenge yourself to find other ways to entertain yourself in...
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Make family time happen
Sometimes it’s important to reassess our schedules and our commitment to family life. If you’ve been feeling like you don’t have enough quality time with your loved ones, challenge yourself this weekend think about ways you can better organize your time. Then make an effort to get together and do...
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Try “slow laundry”
Ever heard of the “slow food” movement, which emphasizes the enjoyment and preparation of foods? Well, here’s a slight variation on that theme. Slow laundry aims to get more people line drying their clothing to conserve energy. And then there’s the benefit of slowing down in general. Life is more...
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Clean up your cleaning products
The great thing about natural cleaning products is that they don’t contain harsh chemicals that float in the air after use or get washed down the drain. Make an effort today to research your options. Plan on replacing your current supply of products with natural ones when you run out.
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Clear a closet
Clutter prevents you from finding things and it can also cause stress. This weekend, take some time to organize one of your messiest closets.
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Plan a week's worth of dinners
Incorporating natural foods into your daily meals takes some effort and thought. That's why it's a great idea to plan ahead. When you know what you're eating every night, you can have grocery lists ready for shopping trips. And, you can stock foods in your pantry for every meal on your menu...
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Turn off the TV at dinnertime
Research suggests that people who watch TV during meals consume more calories than those who don't. Tonight at dinner, turn your TV off and make an effort to talk to your family. Or, simply savor your delicious meal by focusing on every bite.