HeatherKatsoulis.com

I am lucky, blessed, really.

Each day I

• wake up to the sweetest alarm: my almost 4 year old daughter
• enjoy a calm, un-rushed healthy breakfast with my whole family at the dining room table
• work from home on my dream career: children’s photographer
• am grateful for free part-time childcare from my parents and mother-in-law
• eat a natural, whole foods, vegetarian dinner with my whole family at the dining room table
• relax in my cozy home
• read stories and snuggle with my daughter
• go to sleep next to the love of my life in an always cozy bed

In addition, each Wednesday is family day with Jim and Syna.

Each Friday night is date night with my husband. (We’ve been together for 19 years.)

Each Saturday is family date night with Jim and Syna.

Each Sunday is family breakfast with my dad’s family (whoever decides to show – 4-15 people)

I have nothing to complain about. Truly. And I worry about others. Most of the world doesn’t have it nearly as good as I do. I feel extravagant, even when I appreciate what I have and do what I can to minimize my impact on the planet.

We’ve downsized to 1 car, we got rid of cable television, we compost our food waste (and it’s most of it since we’re vegetarian) and recycle to the extent that our family of 3 “throws out” 1 grocery bag of trash per week, we telecommute, we used cloth diapers for our daughter, we bring our own reusable bags to stores and purchase items with limited packaging, we switched our heating system to a high efficiency solution, we shower every other day… We’re conscious of many of our decisions.

And yet we use so much. We have so much. We are never even uncomfortable. We have heat in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, food available 24/7, constant electricity, transportation, money, instant communication devices, we’re safe. Even on the coldest/hottest days, if I travel, I walk 30′ outdoors to my garage protected car, start it up, turn on the heat/air and I’m comfortably on my way.

It has long been my belief that to truly help others I must start with myself.

To put the world in order, we must put the nation in order.
To put the nation in order, we must put the family in order.
To put the family in order, we must nurture our personal life.
To cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right.
- Confucius

But it doesn’t seem like enough when I have so much. And, really, it’s all by luck I ended up being born into my situation.

“There is no way to happiness; happiness is the way.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

How do I stay happy when I am aware of so much suffering?

In the states, the day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. This year, take it easy; spend time at home relaxing with family and friends. Read more about the international campaign to curb consumption, Buy Nothing Day.

Also check out ☃ Simplify the Holidays for more ideas to help create a fun, festive, relaxed winter holiday season.

And if you’re looking for thoughtful personalized gifts to share with your loved ones, try some Homemade Gifts.

Then wrap them responsibly with Reusable Bags/Cloth Wraps. Each year billions of plastic bags end up as litter; reusable bags, such as furoshiki can help reduce the impact to our environment. Its versatility allows you to wrap almost anything regardless of its shape or size.

Have a wonderful winter!

Thanksgiving is all about family and food. Most families have recipe traditions that have spanned generations, and everyone looks forward to sharing the feast. Vegetarians and vegans can feel left out when those recipes have meat in them, and the cooks may not know what to make that will be cruelty free as well as satisfying.

The good news is that most of the side dishes on the Thanksgiving table are naturally meat free. Vegans usually have fewer traditionally made choices because of cream, milk or butter, but there are really tasty and readily available substitutes at most chain grocery stores.

Below you’ll find delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving menu with highly rated recipes including main dish, sides and desserts.

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Pot Pie
substitute turkey with Chik’n Strips
and No-Chicken Broth for chicken stock
the veg safe frozen pie crust I use
with Vegetarian Apple "Sausage" Stuffing
or
VeganYumYum’s Thanksgiving
Seitan Roulade with Chestnut Stuffing

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Vegetarian Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Green Bean Casserole
Boston Market Butternut Squash
Turnip and Carrot Mash
Le Sueur peas
Corn Pudding
Pumpkin Eggnog Pie

Vegan Beer – Vegan Wine – Vegan Liquor

OK, I’m a little more than irritated right now. I’ve had SIGG reusable water bottles for years – one for each of our family members. When I bought them, I was totally aware that their liners were made of a proprietary epoxy. I was totally aware that people had asked about BPA in the liner and that their response was that they conducted 3rd party testing and found that NO chemicals were leached from the liner. This was good enough for me.

When I found out there was BPA in the liner I was not surprised. I was glad they made it public and that they offered replacements, which, to be honest, I think was going above and beyond for their customers considering what I have already stated. BUT, I took them up on it.

So, today I received my replacement credit for 3 bottles. Yes, I too had been wondering about it as it took a while. But I figured they had a lot of requests to handle. I could be patient for a new bottle. I went to order new bottles. They were selling out as I was texting my husband to find out which he wanted. I guess everyone got their emails today. I called customer service. Their mailbox was full. I’m sure with plenty of complaints.

OK, as to why I am writing this post:
SIGG, a responsible, ethical company is getting shit for a pretty minor issue. Does an actual “good” company deserve this kind of treatment and consequence? I really don’t think so.

· SIGG makes a well designed, good looking, environmentally friendly, reusable, 100% recyclable product.

· For the last 90 years, corporate headquarters have been based in the charming village of Frauenfeld Switzerland (not China) where SIGG employs (pays well and trains well) about 60 dedicated people. “With nearly a century of Swiss expertise and craftsmanship, we take tremendous pride in the quality of our product,” claimed Steve Wasik, SIGG Switzerland CEO.

· SIGG bottles are manufactured in an ecologically-friendly environment and are 100% recyclable after their very long lives. In fact, most SIGGs in Europe are still being used 10-20 years after purchase.

· SIGG is a proud member of this organization committing 1% of all sales to environmental causes. “1% For The Planet” is an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging our resources to create a healthier planet.

Mission: To facilitate a massive
“Thank You Michelle Obama for
Planting the White House Kitchen
Garden campaign.” We need letters
from young people (and people
young-at-heart) who appreciate
the First Lady’s commitment to
healthy food and healthy citizens!

More info at: TheWhoFarm’s Thank You Michelle Obama Project.

Check out how the White House organic garden is growing:

The White House Organic Garden
Michelle Obama dug up a patch of the South Lawn to plant a vegetable garden, the first at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II. There will be no beets – the president does not like them – but arugula will make the cut.

Skip the Meat One Day a Week

Or better yet, become a weekday vegetarian. I’m not expecting everyone to give up meat all together. If you enjoy meat, eat it. All I’m asking is that you look into what you’re eating, how it effects the planet and it’s inhabitants, and to consider making a small change with a big impact.

“According to a report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent – 18 percent – than transport. It is also a major source of land and water degradation.”

more

“One day is for amateurs. Grist is your resource for making every day earth-tastic, and this year we’re offering an exclusive free download of our award winning book, Wake Up and Smell the Planet. All you have to do is register for a Grist account (also free!) between April 9-23. Not enticey enough? You’ll also be entered for a chance to win tickets and airfare for two to the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, TN June 11-14.”

[via grist.org/screwearthday]


This post is entered in the Squidoo Earth Day Contest for the chance to win some great eco-friendly/organic products from Chartreuse. Check ‘em out.

“The time for “small steps” is long past. It’s time for people to wake the hell up.” David Roberts

Your kitchen is full of natural dyes. Common food items such as red cabbage, onion skins, and coffee can be used to transform plain white eggs into colorful Easter gems. Kids will especially love discovering all the different colors they can create – let them experiment using hard-boiled eggs and bowls of cold dyes.


Here you can learn how to stencil eggs, marble eggs and fill eggs with chocolate: Natural Egg Coloring

Also, check this video out:

The White House Organic Garden
Michelle Obama dug up a patch of the South Lawn to plant a vegetable garden, the first at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II. There will be no beets – the president does not like them – but arugula will make the cut.


and a related site:
The New Victory Garden
You’ve heard of the Victory Gardens and rationing during WWII and how vegetables grown at home helped families and the war effort. Now, amidst a bleak economy and mechanized, nutrient and soil depleting agribusiness, many people are thinking about growing some of their own veggies but are unsure of how to get started. This site aims to be an inspired guide to resources in starting and maintaining a bountiful organic garden for any level of grower throughout the year.

So, this week has really been full of insight from a number or resources.

I first watched What Would Jesus Buy, a serious docu-comedy about the commercialization of Christmas.

Then, I read The City that Ended Hunger, an article about a city in Brazil recruited local farmers to help do something U.S. cities have yet to do: end hunger.

excerpt
‘“I knew we had so much hunger in the world,” Adriana said. “But what is so upsetting, what I didn’t know when I started this, is it’s so easy. It’s so easy to end it.”

Adriana’s words have stayed with me. They will forever. They hold perhaps Belo’s greatest lesson: that it is easy to end hunger if we are willing to break free of limiting frames and to see with new eyes—if we trust our hard-wired fellow feeling and act, no longer as mere voters or protesters, for or against government, but as problem-solving partners with government accountable to us.’

And today, I came across this video,

I am so into the slow food movement, new organic Victory Gardens, and just plain old slowing down in this culture.

Now, how can I make this my life’s work?