Sometimes having to let go comes when we least expect it. Read about the petty theft I recently experienced and the resulting message of resiliency. Turns out we have more help in dealing with ‘stuff’ than we may think.
Also in this Summer ACP Enews – a favorite and refreshing beverage idea for staying hydrated during the hot months AND a tip on saving $ on your energy bill. Stay cool and stay clear! Read all about it.
Summer is the season in which we celebrate the sweetness of life. Appreciating even the little lifts that come our way can do a world of good – especially in these stress filled times. The latest issue of ACP Enews is filled with fun and creative inspiration from an egg yolk surprise to a cool new product to a mini art gallery with a mission you’ll love. Stay cool, stay smiling and stay clear! Check it out here.
The latest ACP Enews includes segments about: Sam Cooke’s timeless A Change is Gonna Come; a gifted Earth loving artist from Boulder, CO; the latest from EWG and three vignettes about the neighbors on my floor. Wherever this time finds you – now more than ever, it’s SO important to find ways to share your story. To listen. To act. To offer help. To find the humor. To embrace change. And to come from a clear place – one that is based on understanding and compassion. Stay safe and stay connected! View here.
Nature is a continual source of inspiration for us especially in challenging times. We can tap into its energy, its wisdom, its beauty 24/7. Clouds remind us that life is all about change. Relish each moment and trust that something wonderful will unfold again. Read my latest Enews to learn more about this featured cloud and the global interaction I enjoy with fellow cloud enthusiasts. PLUS: Know someone who could use some cheer? FREE photo note card to the friend of your choice; and an easy recipe for these in home cooking days. Stay well and remember to enjoy the view! Go to April Enews.
“Fan mail from some flounder?” A one liner from my youth that never fails to bring a smile to my face. It also serves as a reminder that messages do matter – especially ones of gratitude. Click here to read my latest Enews and its dedicated message about the power of cultivating gratitude in your home and in the world.
Whew! Lots of bad news going around these days. But there’s plenty of good stuff, too. Starting with a recent cover from The New Yorker, I talk about tending the garden that is your heart. I also share a personal story about my Dad and suggest a way that you can focus your good energy and really make a difference in the world. I even threw in a little green tip on mighty arugula. Take a moment and read the June issue of ACP Enews.
Here’s to making it a good news day everyday!
Illustration by Tom Gauld courtesy of TNY.
Here’s a repurpose opportunity that you’ll want to know about. Mother Nature Network shared an article a few days ago about the amazing results being achieved by Wands for Wildlife. Since first putting out the ask in 2017, thousands of folks around the globe have donated used mascara wands so they can be repurposed and used at the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge. How cool is that?! In addition to receiving used wands from individuals, the program has also gotten donations from TV show make-up departments and new, discontinued wands from cosmetic companies. That’s clear, community spirit at work!
Photo Credit: Baby Opossum gets a cleaning. Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.
You may know of the hazards of BPA coated receipts but I’m guessing most of you DON’T know that they cannot be recycled. That’s right. NO tossing them in your recycle bin. If that’s not motivation to nix receipts altogether I don’t know what is. Especially when you get those two foot long ones popular at pharmacies and big box stores. That thermal coating that harms your skin also means it has to go in the garbage. Talk about waste. What can we do? There are some calls to action. Green America has a petition going to get the CVC giant to expand its digital receipt options and start using plain paper for printed ones – more on that below. And this month, CA became the first state to propose a bill that requires all businesses to provide receipts electronically as the default starting in 2022. They got rid of plastic straws so I’m optimistic. On the home front: skip the slip whenever you are given the option. The IRS accepts digital receipts so don’t fear the audits. If a paper receipt is the only option, don’t stockpile them! That tends to be one of the biggest causes of paper clutter. ONLY keep receipts for big ticket items like furniture and appliances and keep those in a labeled manila envelope. If there is a user’s manual for your purchase, tape the receipt to the inside of the front cover. In addition, take a photo of the receipt and keep in a digital folder. This is especially a good idea for jewelry, laptops and artwork.
TAKE ACTION: Producing CVS’ notoriously long receipts takes over 35,000 trees and enough energy to power 84,800 refrigerators every year. The pharmacy’s receipt production emits 44 million pounds of CO2 and produces the same amount of solid waste generated by half a million people every day. The phenol coating makes them unfit for recycling, adding even more waste. CVS receipts have been tested and found to have BPS in their coating, which poses health risks for workers and customers. CLICK here to sign the petition to Skip The Slip.
One of the oldest known distilled oils, cedarwood has a surprising myriad of benefits to bring into your home. If you’ve stood in the presence of these magnificent trees, you already have a sense of how fresh and reviving it feels to breathe in that air. One of the sacred trees used in clearing ceremonies, cedar has antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Our brain loves it. It’s restorative and calming at the same time. Grounding and uplifting. It can relieve arthritic pain, clean your counters and renew the scalp. HOW TO USE: A little bit goes a long way. Whether you distill or add to shampoo or lotion, a drop or two will do it. Always use authentic essential oil from a trusted source. Tip: When diffusing, I like to blend Cedarwood with Bergamot and Lavender. Like a walk in the forest, it provides the perfect ambiance for putting up the Christmas tree and enjoying the holiday spirit year-round. See my Resources Page for essential oil and diffuser source suggestions.
What do Air Wick, d-CON and Sani-Flush have in common? They are just a few of the 30+ power brands produced by the humongous conglomerate known as Reckitt Benckiser (RB for short). I’m focusing on Air Wick today as, once again, I am incensed by their continued false ad campaigns. Inspired by the latest blast by Truth in Advertising, I did some more digging. I wanted to know how a product that contains Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, Hexyl salicylate and a chemically derived camphor was getting away with it. Easy. They don’t list the ingredients on the label. None of their products do. Instead, they refer you to their website where you’ll find all the ingredients conveniently entitled “fragrance components” – wow. What’s more, RB has the nerve to claim that their Air Wick products “help people lead healthier lives” – really? I guess they’re counting on consumers ignoring the product ratings from EWG (Environmental Working Group) which has given every one of Air Wick’s 104 products a D or an F (scale of A to F) with warnings like: “Potential for skin irritation/allergies/damage; acute aquatic toxicity; nervous system effects.” So here’s my annual Buyer Beware reminder: There is no regulation for the terms fragrance, natural or pure. Branding pros can slap that on a label with no accountability. When in doubt, avoid anything with the word fragrance. Ditto the word scented. Never buy anything that doesn’t list the ingredients on the label. I use authentic essential oils daily and have for years but whether it’s oils, herbs or supplements – know your source and use wisely.
A Clear Place 