Potty Training Our Son Part V

I was determined that our son be potty trained sooner rather than later. During the course of our potty training efforts he had in fact used the potty to pee every so often and we even got him to poop on the toilet once, but our efforts were met with inconsistency. I knew that our son was perfectly aware of when he had to go to the bathroom. He did have some interest in using the toilet on and off for the past six months. During that time I offered him a reward, a piece of organic chocolate (I tried … Continue reading

The Pets Blog Week in Review for March 31 – April 6

I had to take a couple week hiatus from Week in Review duties while I tended to family affairs. However, I’m happy to be back to bring you this recap of what Aimee and I wrote about last week on: Monday, March 31 A client with awesome cats sparked Aimee musing about the awesome one in her life. (An “awesome one” being any pet that just has that everything about them. That soul connection.) Aimee discussed who the awesome one was in her life. (You have to read the blog to find out who.) Tuesday, April 1 I had made … Continue reading

Organic Training

I call it “organic training” — those tricks your pets learn without much effort on your part. You don’t have to practice; they just happen. Moose — my shepherd mix — is great with organic training. I’ll be the first to say that he isn’t the world’s smartest dog. When I first brought him home to foster, he didn’t answer to his name (Coyote)! When I accidentally found a name that he would respond to (Moose), we stuck with that. He learns well by example. Lally already knew how to sit when Moose joined the family. By watching her, he … Continue reading

The Eat Clean Diet

The Eat Clean diet is one that has gained popularity over the years. The main idea is to choose foods that are unprocessed. It is always a good idea to speak with a doctor before starting a new diet. What is the Eat Clean Diet? The Eat Clean Diet is different from other diets because it encourages a lifestyle approach that includes healthy eating and exercise. The main idea is to avoid foods that are “unclean”. In general, this means people who choose the Eat Clean Diet are consuming whole foods and avoiding processed foods that contain artificial flavorings, artificial … Continue reading

Business Profile: Sugar and Spice

I want to introduce you to Sugar & Spice. Sugar & Spice is a brand new business that sells all natural body scrubs, lip balm, organic soaps and homemade vanilla. What makes this business special is the focus and the vision of the owner. If you read Proverbs 31, you will see that the “virtuous woman” did many things to earn money from home. It is my desire to train my daughters to be stay-at-home moms that know how to help with the family finances! Not only that, but it’s a great way to train them to make, save and … Continue reading

Apple Cider Vinegar for Digestive Health

Until I found out how well organic apple cider vinegar worked for a variety of ailments, I was the type of person who had over-the-counter and herbal remedies for just about everything. Due to the stress of being a single parent and lifestyle factors, I’ve always suffered with digestive problems and had probably spent thousands of dollars over the years on antacids, and various natural supplements. They’d help a bit, but nothing actually did the trick. Although I’ve been on a tight budget since my divorce, I decided to change my diet. Searching online I found a wealth of information, … Continue reading

Positive Reinforcement and the Power of Distraction

I try very hard to be a positive reinforcement trainer with my dogs, and not a negative reinforcement. Some days it works better than others. When we’re out walking, I’ve got a constant stream of chatter going — encouragement and praise, mostly, though sometimes, I also just talk to them about what they’re doing. If the dogs are doing something right, I tell them. It’s when the dogs are doing something wrong that I sometimes run into trouble. Lally is generally easy to correct. A light tug on the leash or saying her name is enough to get her attention … Continue reading

A List of 10 Green Celebrities

I have blogged about green celebrities such as Woody Harrelson and Robert Redford in the past, but here is a list of 10 more actors and actresses that are doing their part for the environment: 10. Alicia Silverstone Silverstone has a LA house that is equipped with solar panels and she has an organic vegetable garden out back. A long time vegetarian, she has also worked with EcoTools to create a beauty product and bag line made of hemp and other recycled material. 9. Will Ferrell Oh sure he’s funny, but Ferrell is also serious when he supports the National … Continue reading

Green Celebrities: Woody Harrelson

Another celebrity that was green years before it was cool is Woody Harrelson. Harrelson has long been a supporter of the legalization of hemp. In fact, he was arrested in Kentucky back in 1996 for planting hemp seed. He eventually won the case even though the state law didn’t distinguish between industrial hemp (used for things such as clothing) and marijuana. Harrelson also scaled the Golden Gate Bridge with the members of Earth First! to protest the harvesting of redwood trees. He was the subject of the 2003 documentary Go Further, in which he traveled the U.S. in a biodiesel … Continue reading

Dogs Are as Smart as Toddlers (When it Comes to Hand Signals)

Two different studies recently took a look at how well dogs learn and understand hand signals. The first study (from Eotvos University) tested dogs against two-year-old children and three year old children. Testers used a variety of gestures like finger pointing, elbow pointing, and leg pointing to help the kids find a favorite toy… and help the dogs find tasty treats. Both the dogs and the two-year-olds had no problem with the majority of the gestures. Pointing with a knee gave both groups a little trouble, as did an arm pointing one way with a finger pointing a different way … Continue reading