Stimulating the Economy Just Got Easier

Hooray! We have a new shopping cart. Since many of our followers do not have Paypal accounts, we have made the switch to a shiny new cart that will hopefully make it easier than ever to purchase your Happikins.

Our little company is growing rapidly, so please continue to spread the word about making the switch to cloth napkins. We are so grateful for your support and are thrilled that so many moms are concerned about making earth friendly choices. Together we can make a difference.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Go Go Garden

I am thrilled the Obama's planted a garden at the White House. It sends the right message that we can all, green thumb or not, have the experience and connection of growing our own food. We started a garden a few years ago for the kids so they could have the experience of tending to the earth and I love watching the food grow!

We have a few weeks left before we start our plantings so I'm still putting together a plan for what we're going to grow this year. Our tomatoes did great last year, I had so many at the end of the season, I was able to can them and have homemade sauce all winter. I'm going to experiment with some heirloom varieties this year and I hope to have equally successful results. I can't wait.

I am also in love with My First Organics growing kits. You can choose from a variety of seeds such as tomato, beans, squash or lettuce and let your little ones get in on the growing action. What I love most about these kits is that we're teaching our kids about food from seed to table. Contrary to popular 4 year old belief, food is not grown in the grocery store.

Have fun planning and planting your vegetable garden. While you're at it, plant a blueberry bush or try your hand with a strawberry container.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Trying to stay organized

I'm not sure if I have spring fever, but I'm finding it increasingly hard to focus these days. I've had to rely heavily on my to-do list so I don't let anything slip through the cracks. Tomorrow I'm going to clean my office, cut some of the beautiful daffodils outside to flower my desk and light a candle to see if I can find my work mojo.

Here's a few tips I can't live without to help balance my roles as mom, wife, biz owner, and good citizen:

-Organize with MomAgenda: great day planner that lets you easily organize tasks and to-do's.
-Take the time for meal planning: I sit down every Sunday and plan meals for the week. I save money on food shopping and don't have to worry about "what's for dinner tonight."
-Switch to green tea: I still have my morning cup of joe, but switched to green tea for my afternoon pick-up. Since I work at night, I have a cup of decaf green tea after the little ones have gone to bed so I can make it through the rest of the evening.
-Center with yoga: I feel more patient and balanced when I make it to yoga at least a couple of times a week. It's not easy to carve out time for myself, but I cherish this time. Namaste.

Let me know if you have any good tips to share about staying organized as you juggle multiple roles.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Huge Waste

I'm not sure why they even print phone books any more. I can't remember the last time I cracked one open to look for a number or business name--have these people heard of the internet? These books actually account for up to 10% of all landfill waste!

We just received another delivery of these wasters and I decided to take them directly to the recycling center. On the way to the car, my neighbor told me she had books to recycle, so I took hers to save on gas. On the way to the recycling, I picked up my daughter from preschool and a friend mentioned she was headed to the same place. I gave her our books which collectively filled her car trunk. It was a funny chain of events of people making conscious choices. Better yet, I found this site so you can opt out of delivery all together.

Do whatever you can to make small changes in your daily life to help reduce waste. Or, find other cool uses for things that would typically go in the garbage, like this clever couch I found on printnomore.com.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Spring is in the Air

The last few days have been warm and sunny. The buds are starting to form on the trees and my yard is peppered with lovely daffodils. These early days of spring are so revitalizing. I love to wake up in the morning to the song of birds outside my window. It makes me happy to just think about it!

You can help birds feather their nests with the lint from your dryer. Instead of throwing this fluff in the garbage, just leave a pile in your backyard and the birds will know what to do with it! This is also a good time to clean and fill your bird feeders with fresh bird seed so you can enjoy our winged friends for the rest of the season.

Take a moment to stop and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of these early spring days. Think about other ways to use our "garbage" before tossing in the can and help care for our beautiful planet.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Happi Mama

Every mom has moments when their child says or does something that warms her heart. I get these daily when my 2 year old refers to every napkin, paper towel, or kleenex as a Happikin, and heaven knows we have our share of messes. I know most moms get the warm and fuzzies when their wee ones say I love you. For me, I love that my little guy gets what I'm trying to do.

If we start teaching our kids about making smart choices early, we'll be learning from them as the years go on.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Thanks to House Elves

I love it when my parents come to town. It seems like the few days they are here, my laundry gets done, my floors are swept and all the beds are made. This happens when they aren't here, but the fact that I am not the one doing the chore, makes it all the sweeter.

I had a chuckle today when I came home from a meeting, only to find that my own bed, which I haphazardly made in a rush out the door, was perfectly folded with pillows fluffed and lined in tidy rows. It brought to mind what it would be like if I had a little house elf like Dobby from Harry Potter who was responsible for daily chores. Oh, to dream.

I am usually on my hands and knees after the kids go to bed each night trying to scrape whatever has been dropped, flung, or stuck to the floors and walls throughout that day. When my parents are here, I'm on the couch, glass of wine in hand, and actually relaxing. Ahh, thank goodness for parents and house elves. It's wonderful to have some extra hands.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

A Better Way to Wipe

It wasn't too long ago that I had two little ones in diapers--yea, you got it, diaper changes around the clock. Luckily, I'm down to just one who hasn't mastered the art of the potty, but diaper wipes are still one of the biggest waste factors in our household.

After an excellent tip from one of my favorite people on the earth and fabulous mother of five, I've fallen in love with washable flannel wipes by Bum Genius. I've gone from using 3+ wipes per change, to zero, zilch, nada. It's wonderful, I also purchased yummy Honey Chunks Soap for sensitive skin, which you just drop into a spray bottle with a cup of water, spritz the flannel wipe and voila--squeaky clean buns!

The best part of this new diaper wiping system is there are no chemicals. The soap doesn't have any Sodium Laureth Sulfates and is super gentle on soft parts. We used to struggle with rash issues every time I changed commercial wipe brands. We've been using the flannel wipes for almost two weeks and not a single red spot. Hooray--we're reducing waste, diaper rash and chemicals which makes mama happi.

Sometimes its the small changes, like switching to cloth napkins, that can have the biggest impact. Take a close look at where you stumble and make some earth-friendly adjustments.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

New Law Could Hurt Small Businesses

You know I'm a mom of 3 small children and there is nothing more important to me than their safety and well being. I'm concerned about lead contamination from many of the toys and products that are imported from China and other countries but I want thoughtful legislation that targets potential problems, not a blanket "solution" that downs the little guy.

There is a pending new law set to go into effect on February 10, 2009 that could crush homemade and small toy and clothing companies. Basically, H.R. 4040 The Consumer Protection Safety and Improvement Act(CPSIA)will require testing for any products designed for little ones under 12. Although well intentioned, required testing for all products will bury small businesses and make the dream of mompreneurism a stretch for most. As a point of argument, most small business owners, especially mompreneurs, are personally invested in their products and want to ensure the highest and safest standards possible, so this seems redundant.

So get informed on this issue and please, please sign the petition to amend this legislation before it brings many of the wonderful children's products on the market to a hault. Help save Happikins cloth napkins!

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

When Someone You Love is Sick

Everyone reacts differently when you get the news that a loved one is sick. My brother-in-law is fighting for his life with brain cancer. The individuals in our family circle have taken the news in their own, unique way.

My brother-in-law is handling each moment with patience and grace. I haven't heard a complaint from him once. I was reminded of his strength after I found myself complaining for hours about my broken toe when a jar fell on my foot. Clearly I have some growing to do.

My sister-in-law has started channeling the extra stress, frustration and grief into beautiful pieces of art. She'll sit for hours with her beads making colorful creations that she hopes to sell to raise money for his care. I've snapped a pic of the bracelet she made for me. If you're interested in one for yourself, you can email me. They are $30 and the money goes directly to Jamie's medical expenses. The bracelets are made from Swarovski crystals and sterling silver hardware--sparkly and lovely.

My husband and I got busy when we heard the news, (other than the toe whining incident) and are creating a NPO called OneDollarOneLife that is intended to help raise money for Jamie and other people who are fighting cancer. The concept is simple--a lot of people can have a big impact for just a buck each. We're testing the concept to see how far a dollar can really go. Can it save a stranger's life? Can it save a loved one? Can it save your own? The site will go live in early 2009.

Life often gives us gentle (and not so gentle) reminders that our time here is not guaranteed. So, make the most of each moment, tell your family and friends that you love them and do your part to care for our earth so others tomorrow can enjoy it the way we do today.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

I'll Have a Green Christmas

Did you know that on average, we increase our waste over 25% between Christmas and New Year's? I'm not surprised with all the greeting cards, wrapping paper, boxes, bows, decorations and everything else we "treat" ourselves to during the holiday season. Christmas is my favorite time of year and I consider myself an elf in training, but want to do so more thoughtfully this year. Here's some ideas to green up your Christmas:

-Send digital greeting cards. I sent mine via Smilebox and I also love MyPunchbowl's ecard.
-If you just can't go digital yet, please recycle the cards you do get or make a scrapbook with the photos you receive.
-Think of creative ways to wrap or beautify gifts or recycle wrapping paper. I used to be embarrassed when my mom would save the paper, now I think she was brilliant!
-Think of items that can be reused--turn that cookie tin into a compliment box for the kids or hang the wine bag from a door handle to temporarily store little things that need to be returned to its place.
-Replace old-fashioned lights with energy efficient LED lights. We bought some that will supposedly continue to work even if one bulb goes out. Crossing fingers.

So Ho, Ho, Ho, and Merry green Christmas to you all.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Vegetarian Meal Planning for Carnivores

One of my biggest challenges as a mom is healthy, easy meal planning. The monotony of planning three meals, two snacks a day for the next how many years is daunting. Add a twist--I’ve gone back to my vegetarian (I still eat fish so is this technically pescatarian?) roots while the rest of my family remain carnivores. Ahh, the dilemma.

My new favorite cookbook is Dr. Weil’s, The Healthy Kitchen. It’s easy, practical and everything we’ve tried has tasted great so far. My husband and kids are NOT into anything with tofu (I’m trying to sneak it in, but it’s not working) so we are eating a lot more fish these days to satisfy their need for meat.

A friend recently introduced me to the site GoVeg and it has a ton of great information and recipes. Beware, unless you’re ready to make some lifestyle changes with your eating, don’t visit the site. It clearly demonstrates the cruelty animals endure, which is the primary reason I’ve decided to keep the pork off the fork. Actually, did you know that pigs are smarter than most 3 year olds!? Yikes, that’s scary because I have a 3 and 2 year old at home and they don’t miss a beat. My all time favorite book is Charlotte’s Web, so that’s all I have to say about that—poor Wilbur!

Being a mom is a tough job as it is, but it’s even more difficult when you try to navigate the sea of chemicals, hormones, fillers, antibiotics and other garbage that pollutes our food supply. I hope we’ll reach a point of mass awareness for the issue so we can have a solution that is less destructive and healthier for us all.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Reduce, Recycle, Regift

As the hustle and bustle of the holidays begins, it’s time to take stock of what we have before we bring any more in. With three kids in different stages and interests, our playroom often looks like a toy store that has just been ransacked. I typically have the kids fill a laundry basket with unwanted items (that won’t be handed down) and donate them to Goodwill.

Since there are so many families struggling this year, I’m coming up with a new strategy to reduce the clutter, recycle unwanted items and regift in time for the holidays. The kids will still go through the playroom and choose unwanted items, but I’m going to group them, along with unwanted clothes by age and gender and put it on Craigslist as a gift basket. My hope is to put a personal spin on helping another family out this year and make it easier on them, especially since little girls, size 3 are usually interested in dollies, dress up and play food, all of which we are giving away and might be on another’s wish list.

Hopefully we’ll be able to clean out our clutter and help other children have a memorable holiday at the same time. Our unwanted clothes and toys will be put to good use and not left on “The Island of Misfit Toys,” aka the landfill.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Ramblings of a Maniac

It must be in my DNA but every time I have guests (which by the way is often)I go into hyper-drive clean freak mode. Rationally I know my house will never be as tidy as I'd like it to be, or will my loved ones judge the status of the abode, but I still find myself in a state of panic and frenzy.

As hard as I've tried to control this clean freak inside, it still manages to scratch and claw its way out of me. My husband, after nearly 10 years of marriage, has finally figured out a solution--he removed the kids from the situation.

Tonight, as I was scurrying about preparing for our Thanksgiving guests, he took the 3 kids on a daddy date. You know what? The kids had a blast! I cranked the tunes, poured myself a glass of wine(yes, I was drinking it with my rubber gloves on)and got on my hands and knees to get rid of that dirt that never seems to go away.

Although still frantic, I was able to focus on the task at hand and keep my cool, well, kind of, but I'm working on it!

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Mama's Wish List

The past few years, my husband and I have opted to buy trees and finish our landscaping in lieu of purchasing gifts for one another at Christmas. This year however, I have my eye on a few dandies! You know you're getting old when this is what your wish list looks like...

-vintage-style, ruffled half-apron
-2008-2009 momAgenda Desktop day planner in Marine (I cannot live without this organizer!)
-Matcha beginners kit with tea bowl (this tea is supposed to be loaded with all the good stuff and is used in Japanese tea ceremonies)
-natural aromatherapy bath salts

There is definitely a theme brewing here--all things to help me relax, stay organized and healthy in 2009. I hope you put things to stay well on your wish list also.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Holiday Wish List

This year, we are paying more attention to what Santa brings to our house. I don't want to overdo it and I want the kids to appreciate the gifts they do receive.

I did some research about eco-friendly toys and found Sprig, a company that makes great adventure vehicles. What makes these toys so cool is they are made from recycled wood, reclaimed plastic and are kid-powered instead of battery-powered.

I'm still on the prowl for environmentally friendly princesses, but haven't had any luck yet. Let me know if you find anything. Santa's definitely going green this year!

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Avon Walk For Breast Cancer

My girlfriends have raised over $67,000 for breast cancer research through the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I am so inspired by their effort, I have committed to join them this May in Washington, D.C. to walk 39 miles in two days!

My very creative friend has designed fun and fabulous tees as part of the Pink Pacers (yes, that's what the team is called) fundraisers. You can order your own and help support the cause. Walk on, Pink Pacers!

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Bring Your Own

Now that I’m seriously committed to dumping the plastic bag habit, I’m starting to add cool bags to my collection so I will never need another plastic one. For the record, I have enough plastic Target bags saved to line every trash can in my house for ten years, ok, maybe not ten years but I do not need or want another!

A friend recently shared this cool blog called The Green Bag Lady where you can download free patterns for either a produce bag or tote. You can even check out her video so you can learn how to sew directly from The Green Bag Lady herself. I have a ton of fabric scraps in my attic from leftover house projects that will now be put to good use and encourage you to do the same.

I’ve also found some wonderful bags online that I want to add to my collection. One of my favorite sites, Ecoist, even plants a tree whenever you buy a bag! I love the colorful, recycled rice bags. They are hefty enough to carry a big load and look great—win, win!

I also love Envirosax. They have adorable designs and come in a cool pouch (you know I love pouches) so you can carry the bags with you and always have a stash on hand. I leave bags in my car now so I’m prepared even for impromptu errands. They even have adorable designs for children so they too can can play a role in eliminating plastic bag waste.

There are a ton of affordable, stylish options for reusable bags. This is an easy change that really counts.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

What To Do With Your Pumpkins?

I just read a great blog post from A Southern Accent about recycling pumpkins. It's got some great ideas that I want to share.

The best thing to do is compost your leftover pumpkins, but if you aren't composting yet, check with your local yard waste removal & recycling department to determine if they accept pumpkins for pick-up. Some cities have their own local composting instead of heading to the landfill. Lack of oxygen in the landfills prevent the pumpkins from breaking down at the normal rate so even though they are biodegradable, pumpkins still create a lot of waste. Our local Whole Foods held a "Smash It, Don't Trash It!" event to help expose the problem and teach more about recycling and composting.

So, if you're pumpkins are starting to get a little yucky, think about other ways to dispose of ol' Jack other than the garbage can.

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly

Green Cleaning

I've been looking for an all-natural stain remover that stacks up to the bleach pen and Shout. With three small kids, I definitely have to have a stain solution so I can recycle clothes to my youngest son and still have them looking great.

Well, I think I've found an alternative. I tested the Pocket Charlie on one side of my son's shirt stained with chocolate and juice (I know, I know but it was Halloween!) and the other side of the same shirt with Shout. Guess what? There was no difference, both products totally removed the stain. In my book, Pocket Charlie was the clear winner because it worked just as well and it's clean, green and safe. I'm eager to test other Charlie Soap products especially since its a fellow North Carolina based company.

Now that I have an effective alternative for stain busting, I'll share some of my other favorite green products:

-Seventh Generation Dishwasher and Natural Dish cleaner
-Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent
-Mrs. Meyers Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner (the lavender smells amazing)
-Mrs. Meyers Liquid Hand Soap (again, big fan of the lavender scent)
-Vinegar or just plain lemon juice & water solution for hardwood floors & windows

Just look on the label of a non-green household product and it will scare the socks off you. I don't want all those chemicals in my house!

Be smart. Be bold. Be happi.
Molly