Weather’s warm and I haven’t wanted to blog lately. But we have been busy… exploring gardens, local hiking trails, wading streams, finding wildlife, and scoping out gorgeous flowers.

This is not a book I would typically review here but It has been so helpful to me I thought I would. A couple months ago I started running again.. after over a decade long hiatus. When I did take it up again I was wearing Skechers Shape-Ups and at first I liked the extra work that the shoes seemed to heap on my calves but then my feet and legs started to hurt badly after each run. After I was forced to take several days off due to this I decided to go to the library and see if they had any running books and low and behold this baby jumped off the shelves at me. If there is a way to make running even more natural, then this is the way… Barefoot Running.

It first goes into how the author was badly injured while roller blading and how he could not run anymore without great pain. Not being able to run, when you are a runner is hard to explain but it is kind of like a druggie not be able to get his drugs. Bad analogy I know but running gives you an all natural high that has no equal. Run in the morning and you can be riding a natural high all day long. Its an amazing mood booster.

Anyway the author found that he was able to run again by running barefoot. The book contains all the research he has done on this subject since and he makes quite a compelling case. Right from the beginning many natural parents opt to buy their babies soft sole shoes because so many pediatricians tell us that it is better for foot health if their feet can feel and grip the surfaces they are walking on. We see first hand how they walk like Frankenstein when we put heavy, clunky shoes on them. Yes, they eventually learn. We all do. But there is certainly some compelling evidence for why barefoot is better.

Now that said I am not running barefoot now. I still prefer some sort of shoes so I jumped on the minimal shoes bandwagon and got some shoes that are as close to barefoot as you can get while still having the outer protection of a shoe. It hadn’t escaped my notice how popular these types of shoes are getting either. The primal/paleo diet crowd have been fans for awhile and their idea is that barefoot shoes bring us closer to the caveman days. One of the primal blogs I read has a header photo of the blogger wearing the shoes I opted to get… Vibram Five Fingers sprint shoes, in bright blue.

Yes, they look a little strange but they are VERY comfortable. You can hike in them, run in them, swim in them… just about anything. You feel close to being barefoot and yet they are sturdy and offer a lot of protection. Many other runner’s have stopped me to ask me if I am having knee pain wearing shoes with no support but I just explain that my feet are meant to be natural shock absorbers. Our feet have lots nerve endings, fewer only then our hands and genitals, and the reason for that is because they sense our environment and automatically make needed adjustments so that we step with care. Shoes can mess that all up and even weaken our feet because we aren’t using them the way we should be.

My husband laughed when I bought these shoes and then purchased a second pair of Shape-ups for himself. He laughed even harder when he saw me wearing them to the gym (yeah they look kind of silly, I admit that) but now he has been dropping hints that the Shape-Ups aren’t so great for his own workouts. If only I were a “told you so” kinda gal. And they do get a lot of attention at the gym and from other runner’s but its good attention.

This book has a lot of good info in it and it supports the general idea that we really do have a super computer (our body) at our disposal that can help us take each step in a healthy and safe way. But we are putting padded shoes on our super computer consoles kind of like putting boxing gloves on before we type. It makes a good case for barefoot running and just going barefoot more often in general… adults, kids, even the elderly who seem to have balance issues as they get older. Also has information on the spiritual and sensual aspects of going barefoot as well as exercises to get you ready and advice on cold weather running (think snow on the ground). There is something for everyone. I highly recommend it.

Exposing our kids to nature and outdoor play is pretty easy if you live in a rural area. My first kiddo was raised for five years mountainside in Arizona with hundreds of acres of state land all around us. Our biggest concern was not making sure he got acquainted with Mother Nature but rather making sure Mother Nature’s wondrous rattlesnakes didn’t bite him and that he didn’t fall down an abandoned mine shaft. Then we moved to a working farm in Ohio and my kids (two by then) loved that. But after my cancer and all that drama we ended up moving to the city and have been here ever since. I love both environments equally but sometimes it is a bit harder to make sure my kids get that time they need to do nothing but wander around in nature and explore all that Mother Nature has to offer by way of all natural entertainment. Playing in a small front or backyard just isn’t the same thing. As with anything, you just have to think outside the box. Here are some ideas:

Equip Them for Nature Observation – Give kids adventuring gadgets and they will put them to good use. Binoculars, a magnifying glass, telescope, microscope, bug houses, etc. All these make it incredibly fun for kids to explore every blade of grass they come across, to analyze things on a cellular level, and to explore the stars as well. Some of these things can be pricey and I believe in getting quality equipment, not the cheap kiddie versions. But if you check out Craigslist, eBay, and local yard sales you should be able to find these things second hand.

Play Parks & Natural Parks – If you are lucky your city may have natural play spaces. Regular parks with swings and slides are fun and all but that isn’t nature either, not really. Natural play spaces are are still wild with tress, vegetation, streams, and rocks for kids to climb and play on. We have a couple of these in Columbus and they are lots of fun. There are also some parks here where side trails take you to creeks and areas where downed trees make great places to play. We visited one of these this week in an old quarry. Ended up hiking 3 miles that day and my 5 year old had a blast. Your city Parks and Recreation web page should be bookmarked and used often! If your city doesn’t have one, consider making one yourself.. other parents would greatly appreciate info on all the great places to play.

Day Trips – If you don’t live close to any great adventuring spots consider making more frequent day trips to places that do. We often visit covered bridges, local farms, fishing holes, waterfalls, and all sorts of great stuff that may be anywhere from 20-90 minutes away. We just pack a bag of snacks and drinks and off we go!

Certified Wildlife Habitat – See if you can turn your backyard into a certified wildlife habitat. You may need to add some food sources and places for animals to raise their families but it was a lot of fun for us to do this at one of our previous houses.

Camping & Backpacking – Not everyone likes to do these things but it is worth it to do it anyway… for your kids. You can pick up second hand gear and try to get into this slowly… maybe one night here and there. Backpacking day trips are another great way to get out and ease into camping. Kids can help carry their own gear, prepare dehydrated foods beforehand, and learn survival skills like identifying edible plants and treating drinking water. Parents and kids alike may get a kick out of pretending they are living off the land and then pretty soon you won’t have to pretend anymore. It is a dream of mine for my family of five to hike the Appalachian Trail together in few years. Just waiting for my youngest to get a few years older! What could be better than a 6 month long through hike with your kids?

Books About Nature – Reading about adventuring in nature can be just what a family needs to spur them into action. For kids perhaps books like Treasure Island, The Swiss Family Robinson, the Little House books, or the more modern Gaia Girls series. For adults… A Walk in the Woods and Hiking Through. The latter book was written by a man who decides to through hike the Appalachian Trail after his wife dies. It was such an emotional and inspiring look at nature as a healer and making the most of the time we have with our loved ones.

Feng Shui – If you recall, I am a big Feng Shui enthusiast. I like teaching my kids about the concepts of it because it incorporates a lot of nature into the decor of your home. Colors of nature are represented in different rooms, materials have to include those from all elements… earth, water, fire, metal, and wood. It really teaches you to to be more aware of nature.. the colors, the materials, the delicate balance, and how nature itself can be a healer.

Celebrate the Wheel of the Year – You may already celebrate the conventional holidays like Christmas and Halloween but you can also celebrate the 8 Sabbats or festivals most often associated with pagan traditions. They are closely tied to nature because they follow the seasons. Just this past week was Beltane. It is sandwiched between Ostara (Spring Equinox) and Midsummer (Summer Solstice). All these holidays have related stories that can be shared with kids and nature activities that they can do. And if you feel weird about celebrating pagan holidays just remember that they were here first. Ostara was co-opted by Christians and turned into Easter. Samhain was turned into Halloween, etc. Kids won’t mind having even more holidays to celebrate and technically you are celebrating some already… just under a different name and maybe a slightly different date.

Your turn. What are some of your favorite ways to encourage city kids to embrace Mother Nature?

The beauty industry is mammoth in size. They make billions each year selling to women the idea that beauty comes in a bottle. They tell us we need anti-aging miracle creams, moisturizers that will return our skin to the youthful state of our childhood, and numerous products that hide all our imperfections. And yet if they really worked why would women be so desperate to try the newest, greatest product on the market? Most of these products have us chasing after an illusion and worse yet they are usually harmful to our health. I am not dying to look good. Are you?

What the beauty industry does not want us to know is that the junk from their products may actually be a big contributor to why we are unhappy with the way we look. For one, they spend millions telling us we don’t look good UNLESS we use X, Y, or Z. Second, their products can make us sick with their cancer causing ingredients or the harsh  chemicals can aggravate our skin and make it look worse than it did before. I know that I did terrible things to my skin as a teen by wearing so much make-up and using so many different “beauty” products. Friends used to call me Barbie when I was a teen. It wasn’t so much because I had bleached blond hair and blue eyes, it was because I wore waterproof theater make-up. I could walk through a monsoon and my make-up would still be flawless. But after years of wearing that heavy make-up my skin looked so terrible I HAD to keep wearing it… or so I thought. I also wore contact lenses because I didn’t like the way glasses looked. I wore them so much that that the whites of my eyes turned red. An eye doctor told me I needed to stop wearing contacts immediately, possibly forever, or risk permanent damage to my eyes.

It was only when I had kids that I finally put things into perspective. I knew I didn’t want my babies to be harmed by industry’s that put profit above health and yet for years I did not care if I poisoned myself. Now though I had to be an example. I wanted my kids to see someone who made healthy choices. My big basket of beauty products left the building and they never returned. I haven’t worn any make-up more than a handful of times in over 10 years. I also don’t use hair sprays, gels, lotions, or antioxidant elixirs. And yet I love my skin. I think it has not looked as good or felt as good as it does since I was very young. Oh I still have visual imperfections and scars left over from abuse as a teen. I have surgical scars on my face, neck, stomach, and abdomen thanks to numerous surgeries. But despite all that, I see healthy skin again. Here is what my beauty regimen consists of now.

Green Smoothies – Hands down the biggest secret weapon in the natural beauty enthusiast’s arsenal is going to be a healthy diet. Green smoothies makes that as easy as pie. When I first started drinking them I noticed immediately that my digestion improved and my bowels moved more regularly. Frankly you don’t realize how irregular you are until you get regular… as in a visit to the bathroom almost after every meal regular. This is really important because this is how your body gets rid of waste and toxins. Shouldn’t you be helping your body take out the garbage? The second thing I noticed is that the cells of my skin seemed to plump up. They sucked in all that nourishment and water like they were botox injections. The skin LOVES green smoothies and all the antioxidants in them that protect against further damage. I also add greens powders to my smoothies so I can get a big boost of vitamins and nutrients. If you haven’t checked out my green smoothies recipe book, you should! I market it to parents who want to help their kids eat more greens but I drink the same stuff but perhaps with a higher greens to fruit ratio.

Dry Brushing - Ever heard of it? I had wanted to try it for years but never got around to it. Then after one of my personal inspirations, Kris Carr, mentioned it in her book Crazy, Sexy, Diet … I decided to try it. I went out and got a natural bristle brush meant for dry brushing and tried it that very day I started reading the book. Unfortunately it felt as though I was rubbing my skin off with low grit sandpaper. I went back to the book in a huff to see if I had missed something or if I was just a big baby. If I had continued reading I would have seen that Kris recommended using exfoliating showers gloves. That was MUCH better. It doesn’t exactly tickle but I wouldn’t say it hurts either. Anyway I have been using the gloves for 2 months now and WOW!!! As I sit writing this post I have been continually rubbing my arms.. smooth like a babies behind. My skin hasn’t looked or felt this good in forever.

Your skin is the biggest organ you have and it constantly regenerates itself by eliminating toxic and dead skin cells, as much as two pounds of this waste material each day. When your skin is clogged with dead skin cells and toxins that cannot be eliminated by perspiration, then your skin suffers. It needs air and sunlight so getting rid of excess waste through exfoliation is vital. In addition to exfoliating your dead skin cells and removing barriers to toxin excretion, dry brushing is also wonderful for lymph vessels and capillaries. This is why dry brushing should be done using strokes that go towards the heart, aiding in the body’s blood circulation. When you get out of the shower after dry brushing you feel amazing because your circulation has improved and then in a couple hours your skin looks and feels amazing. Dry brushing also massages the lymph nodes and gets them functioning better as well and they are a big part of our immune system.

Natural Products – I don’t use much by way of beauty products but I do have some solid lotion bars, a big tub of coconut oil, and magnesium oil. In general I find that I don’t need moisturizers and lotions with the exception of on my legs after I shave them but any of the three products I just mentioned help with that. I like to use coconut oil in my hair too but really only started to need that recently… after I start swimming in a gym pool.

Drinking Water – This is important for hydration and helping your body remove waste and toxins. Most of my water comes in the form of my 2 daily quarts of green smoothie but I also have a reusable water bottle on hand each day with pH drops and a lemon slice added to help alkalinize the water.

So there it is… pretty easy and minimal and yet the most effective I have ever come across.

What is YOUR preferred way to stay green and beautiful? Any tips to share?

We have had so much rain here in Ohio that it has made getting into the gardening spirit a bit hard. To make up for it I have been buying up indoor plants like crazy. I think my husband is worried we will be living in a jungle soon.

But I did add the first patch of color outside this weekend because I had a nifty new planter to put to work for us. I am not a fan of plastic and I have yet to get out and scope the auction scene to buy some clay pots so this pot was just what I needed. It is a recycled tire planter courtesy of Flat Tire Decor.

Now admittedly I would not put food or even one of my indoor (air quality) plants in one but I feel the same about plastic. For decorative plants and flowers they are a perfect fit and unlike plastic pots and planters you are recycling and finding a new use for something that would otherwise be considered junk. And you may know how I LOVE to recycle stuff for gardening purposes. All the planters are made from tires that have outlived their usefulness on the road. They are then converted into these baskets that can be used as planters or even for other household uses. On their web site they show them being used to hold firewood, decorative items, newspapers, cleaning supplies, fake plants, even produce. I opted to put it outside and provide a home for some lovely pink hydrangeas. We need to put a lot of work into our little city lot but that splash of color might just be what I need to inspire me. The tire planter looks pretty good IMO too. The one in the picture above is the Venice. It is a pretty good sized planter and the price tag is under $20.

In addition to these baskets (or planters) they also make welcome mats and shoes… again all from 100% recycled tires. Another plus is that these products are all made in the USA, Milwaukee to be exact. I think a $20 tire planter made in the US is a better deal than a $10 plastic planter made in China and the tire planter will probably last MUCH longer. Thats said it is not easy to let go of the fact that both are made with potentially toxic ingredients… hence the advice to not grow food in them.

What do you think? Would you use recycled tire products in or around your home?

For more info on these check out another review by garden blogger, Mr. Brown Thumb.