Cool People In The Community: Beyond Birth

Interview with Brandon Ryan, author of The Emotional Struggle

I met Brandon Ryan through our site. Like so many of you out there, he has enjoyed CoolPeopleCare and all the great things we have to offer. Much like us, he has a story to tell. He wrote us with these words:

My name is Brandon Ryan, I am twenty three years of age. And I am the author of a book called The Emotional Struggle, which speaks of my life journey with Cerebral Palsy and my everyday struggle and fight against depression and suicidal thoughts. I typed The Emotional Struggle with the first finger of my left hand; it has taken me three years to finish and publish my story. I am writing because I'm interested in your staff running an article on my book/life. I think that it would be good for people of all walks of life to know that no matter how hard life gets, there is always a way out and that there is hope for the future.

With that, I instantly set up an interview. We love to hear people's stories. We all have them. Some may seem more trying than others, but we all have some story to tell; we all have a story that deserves telling.

Interview with Brandon Ryan

What inspired you to want to write this book?

Well, my mom always told me that I should take a stab at writing. I'd tried the college route and that didn't seem very satisfying to me. My heart just was not there. I wanted to give myself to something that wouldn't feel so much like a job or burden. Most people dread getting out of bed every morning, and I'm not saying that I don't, but I like the fact that every day is a chance for me to help someone through their day. You know there are so many people today who are in pain - whether it be emotional and/or physical. Every sixty seconds someone tries to take their life, and more times than not it's because they feel alone or life is just becoming way too hard.

I've been there and some days I'm back in that place, but I believe that pain, in a sense, brings us together and lets us know that we are not alone in this world. So really what inspired me to write this book is the fact that people learn and grab onto hope in stories, so what better thing to do than write mine?

Can you tell us a little about your condition? Were you born with Cerebral Palsy or did it develop as an infant?

Yes, I was born with this condition. I was a premature baby - my mom always tells me that I just wanted to come out! Cerebral Palsy mainly occurs when a baby comes out the opposite way (on their stomach) and often it deals with a hemorrhage of the brain. I have heard of some people who are diagnosed later on in life with this condition, but mainly it is through the birthing process.

How have you taken this second chance at life to help make a difference in the world around you?

Well, as I answered in the first question, I believe that we all have the same struggle, and we are all looking for someone or something to cling onto to. Some of the most powerful words in the human vocabulary are "Me too." Everyday I find ways that I can share my story with people. It may be a TV interview, radio interview, a simple email or even the everyday conversations that spring up from handing out a business card. So I'm am always looking for a way to share the hope that I have with people, to let people know that life does not have to be a burden; it can be beautiful again, you just have to be willing to do what it takes to work through the pain.

If there’s one thing you could tell people about life, what would it be?

You don't have to live this way; you don't have to live with pain. It does not define your life. I don't care what you've been through, what you've done, or what your spiritual beliefs are. If you're an agnostic or atheist or taoist. I don't care. I believe in the love and redemption of Jesus Christ and he loves you no matter what you have done. I'm not hear to preach, or convert anyone to believe in my world view. You have a brain, so use it. Figure out what you believe for yourself. I am simply here as a messenger, to give hope to the hopeless, to help the oppressed see that there are people in this world that care about them. I don't care how bad your life gets at any given moment - you can work through the pain and you will make it out. Suicide is never the answer; life is a gift. Let's stop walking through our lives bitter at the cards we were dealt and let's start walking as wounded healers to help someone else in their pain, as we to learn to heal also.

Also, I'd encourage anyone that reads this, to read "The Emotional Struggle", because you will find yourself somewhere in my story and the stories of others. the last thing that I want to say is that I'm here if you would like to share you story with me. I'm here to listen.

About The Author

Brandon is learning to enjoy life, to breathe out the everyday stress of life and breathe in the hope that can be found when we choose to look closer. He loves coffee and tea, and reading a new book. He's a dreamer and warrior and now writes books and blogs to give himself to the people who need it the most. He would love to hear from you at blrredeemed@hotmail.com.

Love In A Big World - Are You For Real?

How can we show Love in a BIG world?

There is too much noise, too much hype. TV, music, magazines vie for my attention, trying to make me believe that being happy is all that matters. I need to get quiet so I can hear what my heart is telling me. Then I need to listen... to walk in step with each beat. I must laugh when I need to laugh and cry when I need to cry. No more games. I want to know myself and let others, especially my children, know me. That only comes with time - slowing down - being honest about the joy and the pain. Being real.

Quick Tip:
Journal. Write down your thoughts and feelings. Don’t edit. Just let it flow.

Definition:
Love In A Big World is being changed by love; making a positive difference by choosing to love.

Read:
The Velveteen Rabbit
by Margery Williams

Talk:
Which of your stuffed animals was/is real to you? Why?

Act:
As a family, perform an act of service. Beware: acts of service are contagious!

About the Author:

Tamara Batarseh, Executive Director of Love In A Big World (LBW), is a singer/songerwriter/performer with over fifteen years of performance experience. She is co-founder of LBW and has been the creator of the organization’s programs and materials. Batarseh has recorded two albums, written LBW’s character education curriculum, trained LBW’s performers, and performed live for thousands of kids.

Green Vacations Part 2: Where to Stay and What to Do

It is summer and if the kids being out of school isn't an obvious sign, I'm sure your vacation jitters are kicking in. Whether it's the a vacation to the beach, the lake, the golf course, the amusement park, or international destinations, make it COOLER this year. Whether your vacation is just a short drive away or halfway across the world, this guide will give you a few quick tips to make sure your journey is a bit greener.

In Part One, we talked about how to get where you're going. Now that you've arrived, here are some tips on where to stay and what to do.

Where to Stay:

There are many options out there for eco-conscious travelers, everything from green hotels to low-impact eco-tours. Try to stay close to where most of your activities will be located to reduce travel impacts while at your destination.

Green Hotels – Environmentally Friendly Hotels is an organization that rates hotels from 1 to 7 green trees (instead of stars) based on how many out of 29 different green attributes (including composting, towel and linen washing procedures, gray water and recycling) the hotels meet. Just type in your destination in the search box and browse the results.

Eco Lodges – Worldwide EcoLodges is a directory for mostly small, off the beaten path lodges all over the world. Often these lodges offer private or small guided tours, support local businesses and hire local labor.

What to Do:

Many vacation/tourism activities have large environmental impacts. If you are looking to reduce these, here are a few ideas of what to do, and what you might want to avoid:

Use non-motorized tours such as bike tours, walking tours, or geographically unique activities (surfing, hiking, sightseeing, etc…).

Support locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, merchandise stores and gift shops. Avoid easily recognizable national or international chains even though they are familiar and convenient.

Look for activities that immerse you in the local culture. Not only will this enrich your experience, but the stories you bring home will be much more entertaining.

Avoid that expensive helicopter sightseeing ride and the "Back to Nature ATV tour."

So now that you're there, have a place to stay, and know what to do, a few questions remain: How will you get around? And what else should you know?

Check back in the next few weeks for some very 'green' answers to these vacation-related questions!

About the Author:

In Memory Of...

What have you and your family done in memory?

Memorial Day is a national holiday to commemorate those who lost their lives in battle. In our "5 Minutes of Caring" today, we talk about visiting a memorial cemetery today. Here is what my family did yesterday in honor. We decided to take our little girl to a local memorial statue to talk some about remembering those who have gone before us.

Walking to the memorial statue

Words of inspiration

When, Who & Where

Cool People In The Community: More Than Just Fashion

"...I reached a point where I had to stop complaining about environmental issues and start doing something about it." - Laurel, Ecology

Many organizations seek to change the world... why, we are one of them. Many people think of us tree-huggers as dressing in worn down clothes, maybe in a hippie drag, or with dread locks. Not so any more! Eco-mindedness has met fashion in the newest addition to Nashville, Tennessee's upscale Green Hills. Ecology seeks to change the world, but the goal is to inspire people to look good while doing it.

Below is an interview I had with founder/ owner, Laurel Staples. Her words say best what the mission of this store shows.

Interview With Laurel of Ecology

So tell us a little bit about what your store is out to accomplish?

In the past couple of years, the green movement has definitely gained momentum. Cars have been designed and enhanced to become more fuel-efficient. Building construction is following new LEED guidelines. Organic food is more readily available in grocery stores and restaurants. But the apparel industry is oddly lagging behind the times. The industry still continues to move forward using poor methods of manufacturing and sketchy business ethics. The use of pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers to grow crops used for fabric has an enormous negative impact on the environment that most consumers aren't fully aware of.

And that's because "conventional" cotton, as they call it, is one of the most chemically dependent crops grown these days. A USDA study in the year 2000 revealed that eighty-four million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on cotton in the U.S.A. alone. And only a small percentage of these chemicals sprayed on crops actually do their intended job of killing insects. The rest of it gets absorbed into the air, the soil, the water, and eventually into ourselves.

The alternative is organic cotton. The difference between organic cotton and regular cotton is that organic cotton is grown without the use of these pesticides, herbicides or other harsh chemicals.

Although organic cotton is probably the most common choice for “green” clothing, other popular sustainable materials include hemp, bamboo, Tencel, recycled materials and surplus fabric.

Our goal at Ecology is to (1) educate consumers about the negative environmental and social impact of manufacturing regular clothing, and (2) provide them with an alternative. Eco-fashion retailers and designers are now abundant and thriving in the fashion capitals of the world. Ecology's goal is to make that trend more wide-spread by carrying all of the top designers of eco-friendly and sweatshop-free fashion. At Ecology, we seek to set a positive example by advancing collective responsibility and improving the world we all share.

What drove you to open this store?

Environmental awareness and education had always been a part of my life growing up in Nashville, but a few years after I graduated from Vanderbilt, I reached a point where I had to stop complaining about environmental issues and start doing something about it. I realized while working in Kentucky that there was no outlet to buy either eco-friendly or American-made/sweatshop-free clothing.

I got to the point where I stopped purchasing anything from the mall and would only buy recycled clothing from consignment stores. But my options were pretty limited. After much research, I realized that there was a market for green clothing and there were enough designers already on board with the concept to be able to open a store. I decided to move back to Nashville and fill the niche market here. Everyone deserves an option when buying clothing and this store provides a good one.

How is your store different than just a fair trade store?

Most of the clothing that we carry is actually produced right here in the USA by designers with a parallel sustainable mission. This way, the clothing is guaranteed to be sweatshop-free. If the clothing is not made here, it is made in sweatshop-free factories overseas where the workers are paid and treated fairly.

But when you think about fair-trade or eco-friendly clothing, your first vision might be something along the lines of a natural-colored, stiff smock of some sort. Or when you envision USA made clothing, you might think of tough working clothes. But what we carry at Ecology is eco-fashion, with an emphasis on the fashion part of it. Eco-fashion is clothing that fits right into your lifestyle and your wardrobe, whether is designer dresses, business attire, casual knits or whatever else you can think of. There are no specific “eco-fashion” trends, because now that eco-clothing retailers and designers are abundant, consumers can almost find any style they want.

So what sets us apart from a fair trade store is that we carry designer clothing and accessories that are made with environmentally sound fabrics and materials.

How would you encourage people to promote change in their community through fashion?

The bottom line is, become aware of your shopping habits.

Start making an effort to look for and buy eco-friendly products, including organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and recycled materials when you go out shopping.

If you are a price-sensitive shopper, as many of us are, consider shopping in consignment stores and buying recycled clothing, which is eco-friendly as well. This way, you are not directly supporting sweatshop labor, your clothing is still stylish and inexpensive, and you're benefiting a local store and in turn, the local economy.

I don’t expect anyone to completely alter their normal shopping routines overnight. What I challenge them to do is to start thinking about your everyday decisions as a consumer. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself the following questions: > *Is this product made in a sweatshop?
> *What material is this product made from?
> *Is there an eco-friendly alternative to this product that I could purchase?
> *Do I truly need this product or do I just want it?

This will help you get on the right track to become aware of the choices you make and perhaps start changing them. It's people like us who need to be the leaders in the green movement. We are the ones who are responsible for facilitating the changes that are needed to keep this planet inhabitable. So I encourage everyone to take the time to gain more of the knowledge you need to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

What is your long-term goal with this store?

Down the road, I hope to open more stores and increase awareness as far and wide as possible. For now, I just want to make this one store work. That’s simply it.

About the Author

Laurel Staples was born and raised in Nashville, TN. Environmental awareness and education was always a part of her life growing up, but it wasn't until 2007 that she decided what part she would play in the Green Movement. After graduating from Vanderbilt with a mechanical engineering degree, Staples moved to Kentucky to work at Lexmark designing laser printers. On the side, she opened an art gallery, and then a clothing and art boutique. Not satisfied with fulfilling her dreams on the side, Staples sold her businesses, quit her engineering job and moved back to Nashville in 2007 to open an eco-friendly men and women’s apparel store named Ecology. Ecology is Nashville’s first and only sustainable boutique that is 100% dedicated to organic materials, fair labor and fashion-forward thinking. Staples’ store sets an example of social and environmental responsibility and shows what one person can do to make progressive “green” changes in this world.

Forgiveness - Saying 'I'm Sorry'

Forgiveness is the key to happiness.

Have you ever apologized to your kids? Maybe you're thinking, "No way! Why should I do that?"

Think about it. Try as you may, you are not the perfect parent. Even though you try to be patient, you lose your temper when you have to tell your kids five times to turn off the TV and come to the dinner table - among other things. Although parenting is a superhuman job, we parents are human. We need to own our mistakes and tell our kids we're sorry. Children are quick to forgive. And their forgiveness is sweet to our soul.

Read:
Under the Lemon Moon
by Edith Hope Fine

Talk:
Whom do you need to forgive? Why?

Act:
Write letters (or draw pictures) to people you need to forgive and/or people to whom you need to apologize. Be sure to name the wrong and how it made you feel. Then extend your forgiveness and/or apology. If appropriate, mail these letters. Then talk about how writing these letters made you feel.

About the Author:

Tamara Batarseh, Executive Director of Love In A Big World (LBW), is a singer/songerwriter/performer with over fifteen years of performance experience. She is co-founder of LBW and has been the creator of the organization’s programs and materials. Batarseh has recorded two albums, written LBW’s character education curriculum, trained LBW’s performers, and performed live for thousands of kids.

Green Vacations Part 1: Getting There

It is summer and if the kids being out of school isn't an obvious sign, I'm sure your vacation jitters are kicking in. Whether it's the a vacation to the beach, the lake, the golf course, the amusement park, or international destinations, make it COOLER this year. Whether your vacation is just a short drive away or halfway across the world, this guide will give you a few quick tips to make sure your journey is a bit greener.

Getting There:

Driving
If you are driving, here are a few helpful hints to save money on gas, and saving gas means reducing your emissions:

Check your tires – properly inflated tires can increase fuel efficiency by 3%.

Go easy on the gas pedal and the brakes – Leave the lead foot at home. Accelerating and braking at controlled, slow(er) speeds can save you money in gas (up to 30% bettr efficiency!).

Use the 1-minute rule – If you are going to be idling for more than 1-minute, you’ll save gas and emissions by turning the car off.

Use cruise control – Works the best if you are using it at highway speeds (it is said that the most fuel efficient speed is between 55 and 60 mph).

Pack light – If you can fit everything your family needs inside the car, scrapping the need for your roof rack, you can decrease drag and increase efficiency by as much as 10%!

Air Conditioning – AC is best to use while traveling at highway speeds, but for cruising around town, roll the windows down, turn off the AC, and enjoy the smells and sounds of your surroundings.

Flying
If you are flying to your destination, there are multiple ways to either offset or reduce your environmentally harmful emissions.

Purchase offsetting carbon credits – There are numerous organizations from which you can purchase carbon offsets that will match your carbon emissions by supporting clean energy alternatives like wind, solar, and biomass power, reforestation projects, and projects to increase efficiency where it is needed.

Fly full – Though comfort is always in issue on airplanes, flying during those busy times will help cut the emissions for which each individual is responsible. Recently, a major airline flew a plane from Chicago to London with only five passengers! The flight used 22,000 gallons of fuel; consequently the CO2 output of each individual was 43 tons (45 times more than it would have been if the plane were full).

So now that you know how to get there, a few questions remain: Where are you going? Where will you stay? What are you going to do when you get there?

Check back in the next few weeks for some very 'green' answers to these vacation-related questions!

About the Author:

Compost: Uses

Compost: Week Twelve

You may already have compost and if you do, CONGRATS! This cold weather and damp conditions seem to be slowing my pile down pretty significantly. I added some fresh grass to hopefully get the temperature up. Hopefully I will be able to do some of these things in the next few weeks. Please share how your composting process is going.

Uses For Compost

• Great for containers and potting, but some other elements may be needed for enhancement.
  
• Landscape raised planters
  
• Fill in around plants, shrubs and trees as you plant them.
  
• Mix into your garden soil as you prepare the soil.
  
• Add to crops or your home garden.
  
• If you get really excited and want to make sod, compost is great for that.
  
• If you have high levels of compost, add it prior to adding mulch.
  
• Mulch for your garden.
  
• Poor soil conditioner.
  
• Fertilizer for just about anything.
• Helps breakdown erosion from water and wind.
  
• Balances soil pH.
  
• Compost Tea for those hurting plants - by mixing your compost with water, you offer a quick nutritional boost to any struggling plants.
  

Check out a neat video about how compost helps your soil.

In the Series
Week One - Compost: Getting Started
Week Two - Compost: Winter Time
Week Three - Compost: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Week Four - Compost: Enhance Your Compost
Week Five - Compost: Enhance Your Compost II
Week Six - Compost: Couldn't Hurt
Week Seven - Compost: Crisis Control
Week Eight - Compost: The Smell Of Dirt
Week Nine - Compost: All The Extras
Week Ten - OFF
Week Eleven - Compost: Beyond Your Backyard

Cool Moms In The Community: Washington Changes The World From Home

Here's an interview with a mom who truly is making a difference that starts at home.

The following is an interview I had with Stacy Lewis of Mama-Om, her personal blog that is gaining great hype in the parent world. With gratitude, love, and peace she inspires her own family and seeks to bring families into community with each other. Her inspiring words surely will touch any person's life, as she shows how simple it is to save the world!

Visit her each Wednesday for talk on gratitude!

Interview with Stacy Lewis

When I was a kid, I wrote stories and poetry all the time. My inspiration seemed to be anything and everything! I didn't write for most of my adult life until I became a mother in my early thirties. Now, my inspiration is to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the people around me.

For the Mama-Om blog, I am inspired to write in a way that shows we don't have to parent alone or in ways that compromise our hearts. Plus, parenting is really funny!

How has being a mom helped you to make a difference in the world around you?

I remember very clearly in the first days of my son's life feeling as though my heart had exploded. I was wide open to the world, and I remember thinking, "I have to find it. I have to find the connection between motherhood, peace, and community. I know it's here."

There are many variations on the phrase "peace begins within," and motherhood has allowed me to develop practices around this. It may seem slightly backward, but this concept is what helps me make a difference in the world - from keeping my cool and connecting with my kids during the day to helping mothers in public situations to examining the effects of my everyday actions on the world at large and aligning my actions with my values. When I feel centered/clear/calm, I am much more able and inspired to give.

What is your favorite part about being a mom?

Being able to honor daily what it means to be human and laughing dozens of times a day - when I'm not too tired! Or, even when I'm tired.

How do you remain inspired through the day-to-day happenings as a mom?

What inspires me is the thought of raising children who can listen to their own inner guidance, express themselves and work with others in a peaceful way, and who enjoy life!

But there always comes a saturation point where I feel too frazzled, too irritated, and too tired to even make the kids a sandwich! I take this as a major sign that it’s time to recharge and re-strategize. Recharging usually involves spending some time with friends, meditating, being with my husband, or writing. Re-strategizing usually involves remembering all those things I've fallen out of the habit of: getting outside every day, showing respect for my children, giving them hands-on projects, seeing friends. I recently wrote a post about this.

How do you and your family seek to make a difference in the world?

We seek to understand, and truly feel, how all things - people, animals, plants - are connected. In addition peaceful communication and compassionately connecting with other people, our family spends as much time outdoors as possible, in our garden, at the ravine near our house, on the beach, or even just walking through our neighborhood.

We notice the things living around us (the ants, the mushrooms, the berries and birds) and see how things change over time. If my son wants to pick dozens of berries instead of one or two, I say, “Let’s leave some for the birds.” We catch and release wasps who wander into our home, pick up worms stranded on the sidewalk, and have had burial ceremonies for our kitchen spider and a mouse killed (but not eaten) by our cat.

As my children age (they're currently both under five), we will explicitly explore why we recycle, compost and conserve, but for now I focus on showing them nature at work and modeling behavior that respects life itself.

Some of the things we do regularly to lighten our impact on the earth:
* Recycle and compost. I love my worm bin and the kids do too!
* Buy entirely organic foods.
* Support a local farm through a CSA program.
* Use canvas bags not only at the grocery store but at other stores as well.
* Reuse produce bags or not use them at all.
* Use stainless steel water bottles, glass tupperware, and reusable sandwich wrappers.
* Use the kids' bathwater to water the garden (in the summer).
* Dry our clothes on the line in the summer and use high-efficiency laundry appliances.
* Practice elimination communication (EC) and use cotton diapers and wipes.
* Give away stuff on Freecycle and PaperBackSwap and to local charities.
* Reduce our online shopping because of the packaging and shipping costs/waste.

Get Outside

Get outside and enjoy SPRING for a few more weeks!

Have you been outside lately? I don't mean just for a walk from the bus into school. Do you spend time outside drinking in the sunshine and admiring the flowers? That question reminds me of a great story, a family favorite. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson tells the tale of a young bull who'd rather sit under a tree and smell the flowers than bullfight. Ferdinand was grateful for the simple pleasures of nature.

What about you?

Last week I started working in my garden. As I dug in the dirt removing the weeds, I discovered snails and worms that I quickly showed my kids and their friends. These findings sparked the interest of my five year old daughter. It wasn't long until she and her friends were digging in the dirt with me. They found an old box and transformed it into the little creatures' habitat.

Soon they had a collection of live snails and earthworms. My daughter delighted in her new pets. They slept in her room and joined us at the breakfast table. She couldn't wait to spend more time looking for additional members of her dirt-loving family. Like Ferdinand, my daughter knows how to enjoy nature.

Now I'm not suggesting that you dig up your back yard, but I do challenge you to go outside. You can do many of the things you'd usually do in the house outdoors - eat, read, nap, talk. Or you could do something more adventurous - go for a bike ride, shoot some hoops, take a hike in the woods, skateboard in the park, play hide-n-seek. Whatever you do, get outside! Enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of Spring.

About the Author:

Tamara Batarseh, Executive Director of Love In A Big World (LBW), is a singer/songerwriter/performer with over fifteen years of performance experience. She is co-founder of LBW and has been the creator of the organization’s programs and materials. Batarseh has recorded two albums, written LBW’s character education curriculum, trained LBW’s performers, and performed live for thousands of kids.

Test Your Home for Radon

It's important and easy to check your home for radon. A quick (and free) test is the best way to know if you're home has high levels nearby. And, this article by Malinda Moseley shows you how simple the whole thing can be.

My experience with home radon testing was easy and almost effortless. Here's how I did it:

Step 1:
I read the 5 Minutes of Caring for January 10, 2008.

Step 2:
In doing some research on how to purchase a home radon test kit, I came across the Tennessee Office of Environmental Assistance's Radon Program. I called the toll free number and left my name, address, and phone number on the voicemail. The recording said that I should receive my free radon test within three weeks.
Note: The first three times I called, the voicemail was full. A good indication that this was a popular thing.

Step 3:
I finally received my free home radon test kit in the mail. It took a bit longer than 3 weeks (more like 7 weeks). In fact, to be honest, I had completely forgotten about it. The test kit was free so I can't complain. I also got a packet of helpful information on radon with the test kit.

Step 4:
The test had very specific instructions, which is a good thing as it helps with accuracy. However, I wasn't expecting it. For example:

Test kit must be placed in the lowest area of the house that is used.
All windows and exterior doors must be closed for at least 12 hours before conducting the test.
Test should not be started when severe weather is predicted. (This postponed me doing the test, actually).
Must be placed 2 to 6 feet from floor.
Must be at least 3 feet from windows, doors, or vents.
Must not be near a heat source.
Must not be in a kitchen or bathroom.

All of these stipulations are needed, I understand. However, that left me with few options on where to put it.

Step 5:
In further reading the very specific instructions, I saw that you can actually go online to see the animated test kit instructions. I decided to give it a look. By the way, there are also pictures on the actual kit that show you how to do the test.

Step 6:
After 12 hours of doors and windows being closed, I opened the test. I filled out the required information on the test: start time, temperature in the room, etc. Then I stuck the foam filter in the provided envelope and hung it up. In my case, it added lovely charm to the dining room light fixture.

Step 7:
After three days, I took the test down, removed the foam filter, and sealed the envelope. I finished filling out the required information and put it in the mail.

Step 8:
Two weeks later, I went online and typed in my test number (the number that was located on my test kit) and got my results. It was very easy. We passed!

Step 9:
A few weeks after that, I received my test results in the mail. My Radon Test Result was = <0.3 pCi/L.
Note: "The USEPA states that test results in this range are for all practical purposes equivalent to the radon levels found in fresh air."

I highly recommend doing a home test for radon! It was easy to do!

Beyond Your Backyard

Reach beyond your backyard and into the community!

We have been talking at great lengths about composting. This week I wanted to help bring you beyond your own backyard. Much of what we talk about on CoolMomsCare is about family and community, so today we are going to discuss ways you can get out into the community in relation to your compost.

The EPA offers a resource to people where they can find the regional and state composting programs in their community. The list is helpful, but it is also important to find communities that support what you are doing and what you support.

In Nashville, for example, there are such organizations as Go Green Nashville offer workshops and how-tos on composting. Metro Beautification does the same through various efforts.

One thing we have all realized in doing anything new is that it's easier when you're not doing it alone. Today, reach out to an organization that helps to support something that you are doing at home as encouragement in your compost journey!

Tell us about a Composting Event you have been to.

Because Cleaning Up is Everyone's Business

Keeping our communities clean is a family affair!

Last weekend, CoolMomsCare participated in a Neighborhood Cleanup with Metro Beautification in Nashville. This was a rain date, as the week before the ground was mushy and the weather was not conducive to cleaning up trash. We had a few responses but really were not sure how many people would show. All in all, we were THRILLED with the event and will be doing more just like it. So, if you missed out on this one, we will have another one, but you do not need a scheduled clean-up to help keep your community clean. Teach your kids how critical it is to pick up litter and do it on a regular basis.

Thanks to everyone that came out to help us! Thanks to Nashville Public Works, Metro Beautification, and their entire team. Thank you especially to Lawrence from Metro for his help, directions and good humor!

Here are some pictures from our clean-up as a part of Great American Clean Up at Shelby Park in Nashville.

Summer Time's Comin'

Make plans for summer.

School’s almost out for the summer. What do you have planned? Without school, you have at least an extra thirty-five hours of time each week, unless, of course, you’re old enough and going to be working a full-time job. I know you don't want to waste that time sitting in front of a screen. Use your time wisely. Here are a few ideas:

Be active!
Practice your favorite sport. There are a lot of sports camps where you can learn to perfect your skills. Or maybe you could find a new activity, like bike riding or trail running. You can exercise with your friends. Have a good time and stay fit!

Read for the fun of it!
Visit your local library or your favorite book store and discover what types of stories you like best. Sci-fi? Pioneer? Mysteries? Journey to another planet. Meet the Queen of England. Answer questions about life as a Mayan warrior. Get lost in a book!

Volunteer!
Whether it's helping at the local animal shelter, teaching younger kids at summer camp or traveling to another country on a mission trip, there's a lot you can do to give to others. For ideas, check out the bulletin board at your local community center or place of worship. Or find other volunteer opportunities at CoolPeopleCare.

Try something new!
Have you ever wanted to learn how to play the guitar, speak Spanish or make a cheesecake? Well, here's your chance! Make a list of things you'd like to do, and then do it! You've got plenty of time to try. And your friends and family will probably thank you for your efforts in the kitchen.

Please send me stories about the great things you’re doing. Enjoy your summer... and remember to Love In A Big World!

About the Author:

Tamara Batarseh, Executive Director of Love In A Big World (LBW), is a singer/songwriter/performer with over fifteen years of performance experience. She is co-founder of LBW and has been the creator of the organization’s programs and materials. Batarseh has recorded two albums, written LBW’s character education curriculum, trained LBW’s performers, and performed live for thousands of kids.