The Green Familia

Guest Post: Keeping Your Pet Fit and Healthy

Brenda — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:51 +0000

Pet owners generally regard their dog, cat or other companions as members of the family. Just as parents strive to make sure that their children stay in excellent physical shape, those who own pets are concerned about keeping their beloved animal as fit and healthy as possible. Like human health, pet health is a complex interrelationship of several factors that pet owners need to keep in mind.

The Importance of Observation

Pay close attention to your pet’s behaviour and habits, so that you can detect any problems as early as possible. Obvious warning signs to watch for are trembling limbs, vomiting and choking, but even minor changes, such as an increase in lethargy, can be an indication that something is wrong. Also be vigilant and notice if your pet appears to be limping or is injured in some other way, since pets, of course, must communicate through actions rather than words if something is seriously wrong. A lack of appetite or a sudden loss of weight should also raise concerns. Remember that treatment with pet meds is often more successful if a condition is corrected before it has had a chance to worsen.

Diet Considerations

Obesity is a leading cause of many degenerative diseases in pets. Although these diseases will often not arise until the pet is older, it is essential to prevent excessive weight gain from the very beginning so that debilitating conditions have less opportunity to develop. Regular veterinary visits will help you to know if your pet is at an appropriate weight; you can also perform periodic checks yourself. For dogs, bodyweight checks include such items as feeling the animal’s rib cage. If it is not easy to locate the ribs themselves, this may be an indication that the pet is overweight.

Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations about the type and amount of food your pet should consume. This obviously varies by type of animal. Less well known is the fact that even for the same animal, calorific requirements can change over time. It is especially important to control your pet’s weight as old age approaches. If your pet is gaining weight, reduce the amount of pet food offered by a small percentage and closely monitor the results.

The Importance of Exercise

Exercise is a vital consideration for overweight pets, but in fact all pets need daily exercise in order to stay healthy. Cats may become more active if you lure them into chasing a ball of wool, while dogs will benefit from a daily walk or jog. Even playing with your pet in the park or a backyard can be highly beneficial.

How Pet Medicines Can Help

Recent years have seen huge advances in the area of pet meds. Aging dogs, for example, can now be treated with canine arthritis medicines that allow them to enjoy their daily activities far more. Diabetes in dogs and cats can also be treated very successfully with medicines. Pet owners should not assume, however, that the only use for such medications is to remedy existing disease. For example, preventative pet medicines are essential in order to keep your pet from suffering from a variety of parasitic infections.

Fairtrade Footwear from Earth & Wear

erica — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:52 +0000

Earth & Wear are an established online retailer selling fair trade and ecologically sound clothing and accessories. They are the main UK outlet for No Sweat a fair trade footwear brand and they also sell a range of Amazon flip flops.

I like these Olive & Black No Sweat Hi Tops which would be great to wear from spring through to autumn. They sport a black rubber sole and toe section with a matching black tongue and stripe down the back. This contrasts nicely with the dark green canvas. The No sweat “solidarity” logo is featured on the side. They’re also available in black and white and they’re priced at £35 per pair.

Looking ahead to better weather, or if you’re lucky winter sun, these Amazon Flip Flops are great for warmer days or just round the house. The Amazon Flip Flops are manufactured in Brazil from recycled tyres. They’re designed to be comfortable, anti-allergic and provide excellent grip. This Tupi style of sandal is available with a range of different strap colours. They’re priced at £20.

Guest Post: Ways the Whole Family Can Save Money

Brenda — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:14:58 +0000

Living within a budget can be tough, especially if you’ve got kids in the house. There may be times when you can’t stretch your budget far enough, at which point you may need to look into ways to save money or generate more income. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to make your money go farther.

One of the first things you should do is look at your spending and find ways to cut. This may be as easy as eating out less or spending less on movies and other entertainment. If these cuts aren’t enough, you may have to dig deeper and try to find ways to cut spending on necessities.

One way to do this is to use price comparison websites. Such websites can help you find cheap property insurance or a better deal on car insurance. You can also use price comparison websites to find cheaper deals on Internet, phone and television service.You can also use these sites to get better interest rates on your savings account or to find the best rates if you are considering refinancing your mortgage.

You don’t necessarily have to make any cuts in these areas to save money. Perhaps you already have cheap property insurance. You still may be able to save money but raising your deductible or by bundling you automobile and property insurance together. You also may be able to save money, even hundreds of dollars a year, by bundling TV, phone and Internet services with the same company.

Another way to save money is to do as much as you can in terms of maintenance and repair around the house. Learning to clean your own gutters, make minor plumbing and car repairs and to do your own painting can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year.

For a family that’s got two jobs and a couple of kids in school, gas for the car may be a major expense. One way you can cut down on this expense is to do car pooling or car sharing. If you’ve got more than one car, park it and try to work out a system where everyone can get to work and school in one car in the same trip. You can also try to set up carpools with coworkers and parents of your kids’ schoolmates to cut down on trips.

If cuts aren’t enough and you need to make more money, you can try selling your household goods through a garage sale or at a flea market, similar to a British car boot sale. Clothes, working electronics, sporting goods and furniture are all good possibilities for such a sale. If you don’t like the idea of interacting with people, you can always sell online through an online classifieds service.

Holistic Essentials from Ayurveda Pura

Jo — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:08:45 +0000

Holistic Essentials is a new Ayurvedic skincare range from Ayurveda Pura formulated to the true principles of Ayurveda, the ancient holistic health system of India.

Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to health through a method that comprises diet, Yoga, massage, detoxification, herbal remedies, and meditation. The term Ayurveda is taken from the Sanskrit words ayus, meaning life or lifespan, and veda, meaning knowledge. Ayurveda is prevention oriented and treats the root cause of a disease rather than just the symptoms and in certain instances Ayurveda has been found to improve not only a person’s health, but also their well being, behaviour and state of mind.

In Ayurveda, everything in the Universe, including you, is made up of five elements: fire, water, earth, air and space. The unique combinations of these elements form three body-mind types (Doshas): Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each of us has one or more dominant Doshas. The secret of good health and radiant beauty is to identify and balance your specific Doshas.

In line with the core principles of Ayurveda, Holistic Essentials contains products for these three body types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. You can discover your body type by completing and submitting the short questionnaire on the Ayurveda Pura website here.

Drawing on years of Spa experience, the Ayurveda Pura range was developed by a team of Ayurvedic and skincare experts, led by Dr Deepa Apte, a fully qualified Indian medical doctor, a qualified Yoga teacher (specialising in Hatha Yoga and the Sivananda tradition) and a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.

Ayurveda Pura is a range that offers the essence of true balance and the newly launched Holistic Essentials products will help to beautify you externally and enhance your inner wellbeing in a manner tailor-made just for you. The products are expertly prepared by hand in the UK with only the purest natural ingredients, free of SLS, artificial perfume, parabens and petrochemicals, and animal products.

Design an Electric Renault Twizy and Win £9,000 off University Fees

Jo — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:07:12 +0000

Electric cars can be both fun and affordable and can offer students and younger drivers a safer method of getting around than two wheels,

Renault is giving one lucky student the opportunity to win£9,000 off their university tuition fees if they come up with a winning design for the new Renault Twizy, the 100% electric, two seater car that is due to hit UK showrooms in April. It is capable of up to 50mph and full charge takes three and half hours providing a range of up to 60 miles.

The competition is open to current Higher Education students as well as Further Education students making the step-up this autumn. The winner of the first prize will receive enough money to cover their tuition fees for a year. The second prize is a weekend for two in Paris, with the third prize winner taking home £250 in French Connection vouchers.

To promote the competition, Renault will be visiting four campuses around the UK with a Twizy:

University College London – Mon 13th February

Birmingham City University – Tues 14th February

Manchester Metropolitan University – Thurs 16th February

University of Glasgow – Fri 17th February

If you are a student, or know of a student with design flair, visit www.designatwizy.co.uk to download a template of the car, and get started! The closing date for submitting entries is 20th February and students can enter as many times as they like. Full entry details, including terms and conditions, are available on the website here.

A Renault-appointed judging panel, including the brand’s own Senior Vice President, Corporate Design, Laurens van den Acker, will whittle down all of the entries to find their top 10. It will then be up to the general public to cast their votes via Facebook to find the lucky winners who will be announced on 16th April 2012.

British buyers have already been pre-ordering their own trailblazing all-electric Twizy on www.renault-ze.com. There is a choice of three trim levels from just £6,690, plus monthly battery hire from £45 based on 4,500 miles per year, over three years.

So get designing and good luck!

Guest Post: Living Room Design Ideas – How to Make Small Spaces Work

Brenda — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:04:20 +0000

Many homes can offer you limited space for the living room. This is an important area in the home and provides a place where the family can come together to relax and socialise. It is important to design small spaces effectively so that you feel comfortable and can enjoy your surroundings.

Fortunately there are many ways in which you can maximise the space in your living rooms. This can help you to create dynamic rooms that look great and work well as sociable living areas.

1. Open up Spaces with Mirrors

Mirrors are a wonderful way to brighten up rooms and create an illusion of space. By positioning mirrors opposite windows you can make the most of the natural light in your living rooms. This is ideal if your room tends to be a bit dark and gloomy during the day.

The great thing about mirrors is that they really do work to open up rooms and make them feel more spacious. They don’t cost very much money either and you can buy a great range of mirrors in home stores. This can includes large mirrors to go over the fireplace or smaller mirrors to hang in alcove spaces.

2. Limited Colour Palettes

Too many strong colours in a small room can be overwhelming. This can make rooms feel more cramped than they really are. When you are decorating small living spaces it can be a good idea to choose a limited neutral colour palette. By using a light, plain colour for the large areas (carpets, walls and seating) you can create a feeling of more space.

You can always then brighten up the room a bit by choosing colourful drapes, paintings and cushions. A colourful rug can also be a great way of creating an accent in your rooms and this can be placed under your coffee table in the centre of the room.

3. Scale Down Furnishings

Try not to cram too much furniture into small living rooms. This can make the room look smaller and feel very cramped. You do need to measure the space you have available before you go out shopping for any furniture. Avoid wide sofas that have oversized arms and padding. Opting for something more streamlined can help to conserve space.

Choose narrow cabinets that can be pushed back against the wall for some additional storage and display space. Magazine racks can be tucked out of the way to keep papers organised. Nesting table sets are also very useful space savers.

4. Open Shelving

Open shelving creates a modern feel to rooms and also provides a way to display your books and ornaments. This can help you to create an organised, uncluttered feel to small spaces. If you have alcoves this open shelving can be a great way to make the most of these recessed spaces.

There are many different styles of shelving available. Wooden shelving is very traditional and can complement traditional homes. Glass shelves are also a good choice to help maximise on the feeling of space and suit contemporary homes.

This guest post was written by Hannah Ward who writes for the TH Services Blog on all aspects relating to home improvements and DIY.

TGF Rated Review: Jack n’Jill Children’s Toothpaste and Brush

erica — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:57:44 +0000

What is it? Jack n’ Jill toothpaste and toothbrush.

Who is reviewing it? My 4 year old son.

Set Up It’s an all natural, hypoallergenic toothpaste with organic ingredients, and with packaging that’s minimal, recyclable and BPA Free. It’s a similar story with the toothbrush as it’s made of primarily from cornstarch, so that it’s biodegradable and recyclable.

In Use The cute design of the toothbrush was popular from the outset. It’s easy for a young child to hold and use. My son has been using it for a few weeks now and it’s still looking good.

The first time he used it, my son found the taste a little strange, I think because he is used to minty toothpastes. However, since then it’s been popular and having tasted it myself I can say that it’s a pleasant strawberry taste (there are other flavours available too).

Any Negatives None. I haven’t tried recycling the toothbrush yet so can’t comment on this aspect. You need to snap off the head and compost the body of the brush. The bristles are made from nylon which is recyclable, but you’d need to check in your are to see whether their are local facilities for this in place.

Price and Availability Both products are available online with the toothpaste priced at £4.99 for 50g and the toothbrush at £3.49.

Overall A good quality toothbrush and toothpaste that my son has enjoyed using.

Rating 5/5

Blanket Boxes at Myakka

erica — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:55:30 +0000

I’m always drawn to pretty or unusual boxes and chests when browsing in antique or home furnishings shops. It can be difficult though to find reasonably priced items that combine quality with ethical concerns. So I was very pleased to stumble across Myakka with their ranges of furniture from a single fair trade supplier in India.

This Hathi Blanket Box has a lovely design with good proportions and a sweet elephant motif. It’s made from solid sheesham hardwood(Indian rosewood). Mounted on neat bun feet, this chest has a traditional metal latch and a hinged lid with a retaining chain for easy access. It measures 85 x 45 x 46 cm and is priced at £229.

If you’re after a simpler look, how about these Thaket Blanket Boxes. Again these boxes are made from sheesham hardwood, but come with chunky plinths and sturdy ironwork hinges. These fair trade blanket boxes are capable of providing good amounts of storage with 2 sizes available. Prices start at £99 and there’s a reduced price available when you buy two.

Guest Post: Slashing Your Family´s Largest Carbon Footprint Contributors

Brenda — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:39:37 +0000

When we try to become more environmentally-friendly, many of us take such steps as buying organic foods, recycling waste materials, and encourage responsible consumption among our family members. All of these steps are certainly worthwhile and beneficial ones. But, for many of us, they do little to address the main sources that contribute to our overall carbon footprint.

As most carbon footprint calculators will readily demonstrate, there are certain lifestyle elements that disproportionately inflate the average person’s emissions. Among these are three areas where everyone can make a concerted effort to improve: airline flights, meat consumption, and energy use. A person who flies regularly, eats meat often, and is liberal with their energy consumption is likely to fall among the largest carbon footprint producers – even if they are green in everything else that they do. On the other end of the spectrum, a person who rarely flies, observes a vegetarian diet, and is conservative with the energy bill will likely find themselves among the most sustainable of Americans.

So your family can go a long way towards reducing its carbon footprint by eliminating (or at least by reducing) the contributions it makes in these three categories. Here are a few tips for accomplishing that:

Don’t Eat Meat At Family Meals

Asking the average person to completely give up their meat diet may be too much to ask. But it’s not unreasonable to eliminate meat products from family meals. After all, most of a family’s meat is generally consumed at a meal where the household members sit around the table and eat chicken, turkey, or beef. Even if you continue eating deli meat for lunch, becoming a vegetarian at such meals can vastly reduce your family’s total meat intake.

Stop Using Airline Rewards Cards

Some people have no choice but to fly regularly for business or personal reasons. But considering the tremendous contribution just one flight makes to your overall carbon footprint, it is essential that families work to eliminate those trips that aren’t rare or necessary. A great way to do this is by eschewing mile rewards programs that can provide your family with a free flight even when you don’t need one. Instead, you can figure out what is the best cash back credit card and then find more green-friendly no fee credit cards that better fit the bill.

Get A Smart Thermostat

Being frugal with the heat and the air conditioning is definitely a good way to start reducing your home energy consumption. But if you truly want to minimize your energy use you need to strive for the utmost in energy efficiency. You can do this by purchasing a smart thermostat that has the ability to automatically raise and lower the home temperature depending on the outside weather, the movement of people within the household, and even the daily comings and goings of you and your family. This can help you save a considerable amount of energy (not to mention money) in the long run.

These are just three of the many ways to reduce some of the major household contributors to carbon emissions. Whatever approach you choose, don’t forget the importance of meat, energy, and airlines flights when it comes to determining a person’s carbon emissions. By eliminating just these three sources, you can go a long way towards making your household a far more green-friendly place.

Image Credit: flickr.com/photos/ob8/4642303096/

JASON’S Pure Natural Calming Lavender Lotion for Mother’s Day

Jo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:21:38 +0000

Have you been wondering how to pamper your Mum on Mother’s Day? By the way, it is on Sunday 18^th March this year.

The healing benefits of Lavender are well known, and it has long been used in skin care products as a natural remedy for a large variety of ailments to help calm, soothe and balance the skin. JASON’s Calming Lavender Pure Natural Hand & Body Lotion is the perfect gift for every Mum. The hand and body lotion leaves the skin soft, smooth and supple for a youthful appearance whilst smelling of luscious Lavender. The Lavender aroma is known for its ability to help bring the heart and mind into balance.

Whether you’ve got a busy, working Mum who needs to unwind after a stressful day, or whether your Mother works hard around the house and needs something to revive her spirits and moisturise her skin, JASON’s Calming Lavender Pure Natural Hand & Body is just the thing to make her day.

Comprising a silky texture, this hand and body lotion will smooth and nourish the skin, leaving a light scent of gentle and luscious Lavender. Delivering deep and long lasting hydration to the skin, the Lavender lotion contains the key active ingredients of Vitamin C, E and Kukui Nut Oil promoting balanced skin.

The award winning JASON brand is devoted to using only natural resources. There are no artificial colours or animal by-products, the packaging is bio-degradable and packaged in recycled and/or recyclable containers and all products are certified vegetarian. The company has been established since 1959 when it was formed with the aim of distributing professional and natural beauty products to the Hollywood movie studios. It has now grown into a leading global brand for people who look after themselves and their families from head to toe the natural way.

You can purchase JASON’s Calming Lavender Pure Natural Hand & Body from their website here.