If you can’t be at home on election day, you still have the right to vote by absentee ballot, wherever you are and wherever you’re from. Without an easy-to-use information portal, the process can be confusing– you need the appropriate forms, instructions, deadlines, and contact info for your hometown.

Thankfully, someone has done all that for you. Now, all you need to do is type in your zip code and you’ll be given all the information you need. You’ll be sending in your ballot in no time!

Go Green

Being environmentally friendly does not have to be expensive or incredibly time consuming. There are some easy and cheap ways that you can take to help the environment.

The first one that I recommend is doing away with those nasty little plastic grocery bags. Invest in some super-cool reusable bags like “Go-Again Bags.”  At less that a buck a bag, these are definitely worth the money.  I can buy 2-3 weeks worth of groceries for a family of four and use only ten of these bags.  (Side note: You would be astounded at the number of plastic bags that make their way onto the roadside every single day…)
Plastic bags consumed this year:

Another way to help is to shop in bulk. If there is a Sam’s Club or Costco in your area they offer memberships on a yearly basis. Shopping in bulk save’s on packing the product and reduces pricing. Even though you are paying more up front, you are saving more in the long run and helping the environment.

In the same vein - buying bulk - look into finding a local meat processor and buy your organic beef in bulk.  It’s very cost-effective… plus it’s healthier!  Find a local meat processor and you won’t be sorry.

Another way to help is to shop for fresh produce at a local farmer’s market or fresh produce stand. Instead of buying fruit and veggies from the local grocery store that gets their product from far away, you are supporting local farmers.

Also, try to cut down on products used around the house. I would suggest investing in some good recycled fabric dish towels or something similar for cleaning. Also for dinner time get some recycled fabric dinner napkins. The less paper towels or napkins you are buying the better.  Thrift Stores and garage/estate sales are a great place to look for cool vintage cloth napkins and dish towels…

Green your cleaning a little by looking into some earth-friendly cleaning supplies.  I highly recommend Mrs. Myers and Dr. Bronner’s. They have the sweet ethics and the ultra-yummy smells like Basil and Peppermint.

Overall, it is easy to make a few adjustments around the house and in your life that can make you more environmentally friendly. Who knows… maybe your friends and neighbors will see what you are doing and catch on. Plus, if you have kids you will be setting a great example for them to follow!

Autumnal Equinox

Today is Monday, September 22nd: or the First Day of Fall: or the Autumnal Equinox.

The word equinox derives from two Latin words meaning “equal night.” It is one of only two days in the year (the other being the vernal or spring equinox) when the sun is directly perpendicular to the equator, resulting in exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. The sun rises at the South Pole today for the first time in six months. In the northern hemisphere it’s harvest time.

In the United States and the rest of the northern hemisphere, the first day of the autumn season is the day of the year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward. This day is known as the Autumnal Equinox.

A common misconception is that the earth is further from the sun in winter than in summer. Actually, the Earth is closest to the sun in December which is winter in the Northern hemisphere.

As the Earth travels around the Sun in its orbit, the north-south position of the Sun changes over the course of the year because of the changing orientation of the Earth’s tilted rotation axes. The dates of maximum tilt of the Earth’s equator correspond to the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice, and the dates of zero tilt to the Vernal Equinox and Autumnal Equinox.

The reason for these changes has to do with the Earth’s yearly trip around the sun. For part of the year the Earth’s North Pole points away from the sun and part of the time toward it. This is what causes our seasons. When the North Pole points toward the sun, the sun’s rays hit the northern half of the world more directly. That means it is warmer and we have summer.

Anyway, Happy Fall and Happy Autumnal Equinox!

Herbal Medicine Cabinet

Many traditional medicines have their origins in herbal remedies. As studies continue to validate the benefits of herbal medicine, more and more people are choosing to augment or even substitute herbal remedies for traditional medicines when it comes to minor aches and pains.

These safe, effective, dependable, time-tested herbs deserve to be a staple in your home-care kit. Used carefully, they offer some of nature’s best qualities for many minor afflictions and often at a fraction of the cost of stocking your medicine cabinet with synthetic antibiotics. Because some pharmaceutical antibiotics have adverse side effects, many consumers are happy to find herbal alternatives, a task that’s even more economical if your garden hosts some of these herbal helpers. For any prolonged condition or serious ailment, keep in mind, a trip to see your health-care provider is a must. These are just some of the herbalists’ favorites.

1. Echinacea: I prefer the tincture over tea or capsules because it goes to work more quickly. Echinacea is an immune booster and if you feel yourself beginning to catch a cold, start a regime of it for a few weeks: it will either shorten the duration of your cold or stop you from getting sick.
2. Aloe Vera as a gel or buy a plant. Each is just as effective for burns and other types of skin ailments.
3. St. John’s Wort: It has been used in Europe for decades to treat depression, and according to studies it does so as effectively as many drugs on the market today. When used as an oil it is also good for burns and deep cuts.
4. Nettles: Good to take as a tea, nettles can be used to treat pollen allergies, but should be taken as a preventative rather than as a cure.
5. Cayenne Pepper: This herb is very warming, and some people actually sprinkle it in their socks and mittens in the winter to help stay warm. It can also be used to relieve muscle tension and pain that is caused by rheumatism, as well as provide relief for menstrual cramps.
6. Chamomile: It can help with insomnia, but did you know it is also good to take when you have a cold or the flu? It can even help to combat infection.
7. Peppermint: Peppermint tea is one of the best remedies I know of for an upset tummy. Also, if you are trying to reduce your morning caffeine intake, peppermint can be a great substitute as it is a natural stimulant.

Once you have purchased your herbs whether they be in dried, tincture or tea form, store them in a cool dry place.

Lovely Monarch

There is something in the air today. There is something amazing taking place right over our heads!

Every fall, a magical event takes place in the animal world. Perhaps traveling over your own head right now–or clustered by the hundreds in a nearby tree–the annual monarch butterfly migration to Mexico is underway. By instinct alone, the butterflies go to the same mountains that their ancestors left the previous spring. Somehow, they find a place in Mexico that they’ve never seen before.

The butterflies are born knowing everything they need to survive, so we look on with wonder:

How do the monarchs know when to go to Mexico?

How do they know which way to fly?

How fast, how far, and how high do they travel?

And how do they know when they have arrived–at a small speck on the planet where none has ever been before?

Since the monarch butterfly migration burst into the public consciousness about a decade ago, it has come to exemplify the wonders, and the mysteries, of migration.

Each spring millions of monarchs fly north from their winter colonies in Mexico, and lay eggs on milkweeds in southern states. These butterflies die in a few weeks, but their offspring fly to breeding areas in the northern United States and Canada.

After two to four more generations, monarchs begin the great airborne trek back to small refuges in the mountains of central Mexico. There they gather in massive numbers on fir and pine trees at elevations of 10,000 to 12,000 feet. One hectare (2.5 acres) of trees can house feathery orange clumps containing 25 million to 70 million butterflies. Overall, the population of the Mexican refuges has reached an estimated 400 million!

Read more about they why and how behind this amazing event at The Why Files

Here is a great website to track all kinds of fundamentals in the migration of Monarch Butterflies: The Learner dot org

Praise God for His sacrifice!  Praise God for Jesus!  Praise God that I will never die…

The story of Christ’s birth is a subversive story of an upside-down kingdom. It’s a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love that is still changing the world to this day. So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists. And when it’s all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling that we somehow missed its purpose.

Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again by turning our focus back to the birth of Christ? What could happen to your family if this focus was celebrated in loud, bold and totally unexpected ways? What if you could actually trade your season of stress for a season celebration and unbelievable memories with your friends and family? What if all of this could save a life at the same time? It can.

Welcome to Advent Conspiracy

Dirt is Good

Why Dirt is Good

The greatest concern amongst child development experts is increased ’screen time’ in the 4 to 6pm timeframe - traditionally the time when school-aged kids would once have been involved in outside play. Instead of playing outdoors kids are spending their free time indoors. Years of scientific study by child health experts shows that playing outdoors is an essential part of a child’s learning and development.

Getting dirty through constructive play is how children learn and express their creativity. It also helps them to stay healthy by encouraging them to exercise and bolstering their immune systems.

A study has found evidence that bacteria common in soil and dirt could also improve people’s spirits.

According to the research, the action of Mycobacterium vaccae on the brain is similar to that of some commonly used antidepressants.

The bacterium, which is related to the microbe that causes tuberculosis, appears to work by stimulating the body’s immune system. This, in turn, prompts certain cells in the brain to produce more serotonin, a hormone associated with feelings of wellbeing.

“These studies help us to understand how the body communicates with the brain and why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental health,” said Dr Chris Lowry, a neuroscientist at Bristol University who carried out the research.

“They also leave us wondering if we shouldn’t all spend more time playing in the dirt.”

The finding follows separate research by other scientists into the impact of bringing children up in “overhygienic” conditions.

They found evidence that exposure to a wide range of common microbes in early life helped to promote healthy development of the immune system.

Without such exposure, the immune system seems more likely to mistake the body’s own cells as invaders and launch attacks on them. This could be one of the mechanisms underlying the surge in conditions such as asthma and eczema.

So go play in the dirt already… it will make you feel good!

Recyle Your Stuff!

Our landfills are accumulating waste at a rate of 2 to 5 lbs of trash per person per day. Over our lifetime, the total would be staggering. But we can help to reduce this waste by reusing and recycling certain items. It’s a very small, virtually no-cost way of doing our part and helping our environment.

So you have a television, a basket full of old batteries, a broken cell phone…  Do you really want to just throw them out?  These things are recyclable and it’s easy to find a Recycling Center.  Just add the words for what you want to recycle and then type your zip code into the following handy-dandy locating tool, and voila!  You are on your way!

Recycling involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent the waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air (from incineration) and water (from landfilling) pollution by reducing the need for “conventional” waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste management and is the third component of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” waste hierarchy.

Recyclable materials include glass, paper, metal, textiles, electronics (cell phones, computers) and plastics.