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When Winter, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, was found trapped with her tail badly damaged, she was not expected to survive. This is her miraculous story, from her rescue to learning how to swim again to her unprecedented success using a prosthetic tail:
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Going green isn't always easy. Trust me, I know. But, for families (like ours) I believe that "going green" is an ongoing process of educating ourselves, as best we can.
That's why, I'm excited to share with you some very useful information and also a terrific family of green products, that makes it a little easier for families (like mine) to turn over a new leaf, courtesy of the earth-friendly folks at SCOTT Naturals™.
I'm a frequent visitor (as well as member) of the Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) and have found their website to be a really great source of information on helping my family go green, one step at a time.
At least, for our family, it isn't always easy going green and I believe that being aware of the ways in which we may be harming our environment is an ongoing process of educating ourselves, as best we can.
Then again, there is such a thing as a little too much information, right?
That's why, I was very happy to receive their Healthy Home Tips for Parents email series and wanted to share 10 really easy tips and quick articles on fighting pollution that folks (like me) can use, every day!
My kids have been counting down the last school days before summer vacation since...um...February and they just canNOT wait for the days when we can hang out in our backyard, swim in our pool and not worry about homework, or having to take showers, every night, for that matter.
We got a taste of some very warm weather in late April (hit 90's here in Jersey) and then, soon after all the winter clothes were put away, it got cold again.
Good thing. I'm SO NOT ready. Because the girls need new bathing suits and the boy (he's 10) is very fair-skinned (like his dad) and, no matter how heavily I slather on the sunscreen, he always comes home feeling a little, you know, crispy.
I recently was contacted by the makers of a new organic sunscreen and thought it was time I put Vivesana to the test.
Earth Day is just around the corner -- seriously, spring couldn't come fast enough here in Jersey -- and I wanted to share some information on great opportunities to teach kids about saving energy and the environment.
Just in case you're like me and need to know about this sort of stuff waaaaaaaaay ahead of time :)
[This giveaway has ended: Thank you so much for visiting our Holiday Open House - WE HAVE OUR WINNERS - CONGRATULATIONS REBECCA and ZOE LEE!!!]
Welcome to Day 3 of our Holiday Picks & Giveaways 2008(November 24 - December 1) sponsored by some of the most awesomely generous brands I know, who have graciously agreed to provide some really cool stuff for Her, Him, the Grandparents...okay, isn't it time we ALL put the WIN back into the winter holidays and made re-gifting a rule?!?
Seriously, I've got some really great stuff to share with you.
Our kick-off giveaway drew 170 responses -- Holy Craps! -- what a great way to celebrate the beginning of Thanksgiving week!
Raising 4 kids (we'll have two teenagers in the house, this year) my
husband, Garth (not his real name) and I are trying (really hard) to remember to take back the holidays and keep it as stress free as...well...you know, we've got a little something for everyone and giving away some pretty cool stuff, too:
My picks, product features and blog posts, as always, are advertorial free. No one is paying me, to talk about their product. It's just some really nice stuff that I thought you guys would like, too.
This week, I'm away in L.A. on mommyblogging business (yeah, I don't know how that happened either) but, some really nice folks have sent along great tips and cool new websites to share with you (yes, YOU!) and today, it's all about the easy ways in which we can shop smart AND go green in the kitchen!
One of the many joys and tribulations of being a parent is seeing the excitement on your child's face as he (or, she) opens a present on...well...any gift-giving holiday or milestone that requires remembrance, really.
Yep, she will soon figure it all out, look forward to and begin reminding you of...WHATEVER...months in advance.
Especially, when they begin to grow (really, it happens so fast) and understand that childhood celebrations are truly the best of times to, you know, get stuff.
Unless.
You have really evil parents (like mine) who insist on getting their grandchildren something really loud, or totally too complicated and requires about a bazillion batteries.
Don't even get me started on toy packaging and how the kids (and I) can never seem to open the darn things, without getting the paper cut from h-e-double hockey sticks!
Now, you know - some toys can really, really bug me - so, when Mini-me received Dynafly and wanted to know how to turn it on, you can just imagine our surprise when it took me all of 10 seconds to show her how it works!
"Just crank it up, baby!"
Actually, Dynafly was already charged up enough for 15 minutes of play - 1 minute of crankiness equals 15 minutes of power to the bug - but, she giggles as she's wound...oh, and so does Dynafly!
Now, this bug is cool - the toy, too - as she's taken to calling her new bedtime friend, "Bugmaster Flash!" developed by See Toys - See stands for safety, ecology and economy - and she's eco-friendly, too:
"The introduction of self-sustainable SEE toys carries an important message of responsible living to our youth. The toys engage children on a variety of levels to teach them that green living is not only a necessity, it can be fun too."
Dynafly has four pose-able arms, flexible antennae and a move-able head and her big, buggy eyes light up with six super bright white LED lights (really, nearly blinding her human sisters, brother and anyone else foolish enough to look, when calling out their name) while her movable fiber optic wings burst with colorful lights and her tail glows red.
Mini-me's having some sleeping issues - like, NOT being able to...in the dark...and without keeping her sisters up...for most of the night - so, Bugmaster Flash HAS proven to be the ultimate campout buddy and a wickedly useful night light!
The Dynafly is designed for children 5 years and older - it's been over a week and we are she is still playing with it - and is available in 4 colors - black, green, blue and purple - each with yellow accents.
Suggested retail price is $29.99 and is available for purchase - along with Dynashark, Dynadolphin, Dynatiger and Dynacar - at www.seetoys.com.
Dynafly is the most expensive of the 5 (the other toys range from $19.99 to $24.99) and it may seem a bit much, to some...uh...like, my husband...Garth (not his real name) but, all I had to do was remind him of a few things:
How we've shelled out for batteries (disposable and rechargeable) over the years
His having to go through the house and turning off ALL the lights left on, all the way to the bathroom
Mini-me's NOT afraid to go to bed and perhaps we can ALL start getting some sleep
Any questions, see above
[cue: trumpets sound and angels singing]
Nope, Mini-me's holding onto this toy (read: no re-gifting, required) and it does NOT bug us in the least!
Okay, so why This Full House? Right, so it's a blog about 6 people (3 teens, 1 tween and 2 totally uncool parents), living in a 7 room house (yep, at the same time!) in New Jersey (YES! On purpose!) and boy do we have stories, enough said. Feel free to visit with us over at our main blog my about page, but mind the killer dust bunnies -- THEY BITE!!!
FEEL FREE TO UPDATE YOUR FEED AND/OR VISIT OUR MAIN BLOG TO SEE NEW POSTS, WE'LL KEEP THE PORCH LIGHT ON FOR YA!
