Naturalpath

Camping with kids may sound like a stressful idea, but it doesn’t have to be. Some input from everyone will help the trip run a little smoother right from the beginning. The best thing about camping with kids is that you don’t need special skills, just some life lessons. Some of my all time favorite childhood memories revolved around camping. I used to pretend I was an explorer and I called myself Tiffiana Jones, LOL. I would hike, look for animal bones, catch craw fish (and let them go), and generally have a good time roasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate. I ended up marrying a big camping buff and while we were dating we went on many camping trips with big groups of people…good times. Even the time when my hubby’s daft best friend sent me down and 4 wheel drive only trail in a rented Ford Explorer.

If you are new to camping I would pick up a book about camp sites, trails, and hiking places in your state. I have TONS of these kind of books, although most are specific to Arizona since that is where I lived most of my life. I am slowly building an Ohio collection.

Camping with kids is also a great time to teach them about nature and the wonderful things that are out there. Maybe a good first lesson would be about poison ivy/ oak. What it looks like, where it is, and why they should stay away from it. Also educate them about dangerous wildlife in the area…bears, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, etc.

Best known for cutting edge fashion and nightlife, Generations X and Y also set trends in healthy and green living. According to our friends at consumer insights firm The Intelligence Group and their free daily trend email trend

central, here’s what you can expect to see:

* Foodlogging

is food journaling…on speed. Bloggers record and share every detail about what’s touching their lips (think: 5 almonds, a spoonful of a friend’s ice cream). By documenting their diets to the extreme, bloggers feel more accountable and gain the support of readers. TC’s picks: KathEats.com and keep one of your own.

* RecycleBank offers households a real incentive to be environmentally responsible in the form of rewards based on the amount of materials they put in their recycling bins. Currently only available in select cities—so request service in your area.

* Changents.com connects like-minded individuals with lofty goals to change the world. Their slogan says it all: “Connecting innovators on the front lines of social and environmental change with people who want to help them.”

* Sam Sparro

– Sick of all the ‘80s tunes on your iPod? Download some of rising star Sam Sparro’s music to pump up your workout.

Ava asks: I was hoping that you could settle something for us, being scientifically-inclined and all. I recently participated in a heated discussion about hydrogen peroxide being converted into bioavailable oxygen when in a cream, as claimed by Karin Herzog skincare. Not only does this seem impossible to me (and in fact very harmful in the long run to the skin barrier), but I tracked down all the research that supposedly upholds these claims and it is completely, utterly bogus.

Here’s my question: Is there a way to deliver oxygen to the skin in the form of a cream? Is it beneficial? Could hydrogen peroxide break down in order to deliver oxygen to the cells of the skin, as Karin Herzog claims?

The Left Brain responds:
I suggest you read the thread that Ava provided (see reference below) because it contains an excellent explanation from Paula Begoun, the Cosmetic Cop, on why oxygen is a bogus ingredient in cosmetics. Meanwhile, here’s my take on the subject:

Homeschooling is one of the most misunderstood institutions in the world as we know it. Many people are misinformed by the powers that be, that homeschooling is not good for children. What they share are mostly myths and fallacies. When I had my first child I dreamed of homeschooling. I imagined studying world history with my kids as we actually traveled it…taking in the ancient pyramids of Egypt or the visiting the Colosseum in Rome. Well, it didn’t exactly work out like that. My oldest had many health problems and when it came time for him to go to school according to the public school schedule, he had so little socialization under his belt it was sad. I think I could count one hand how many times he had “played” with another child and have fingers left over. Since kindergarten is supposed to be about fun and games I decided to let him go to public kindergarten and live it up. He had a blast too. Then he wanted to continue going to public school which as you may recall from previous posts is not the same bed of roses and we will be homeschooling for second grade.

Did you suddenly realize that bikini season is just a few weeks away? Sweat it out with these workout tips from Amy Dixon, fitness columnist for Women’s Health:

“The great outdoors

looks much better than the back of your fellow gym goers head in spin class.” Try to do some sort of physical activity outside at least 2 times per week.

“Make at least 2 changes to your current program

,” urges Dixon. Working out 3 days a week? Add 2! Always on the elliptical? Try spinning or running outdoors. The body responds when it’s challenged—change your workout to see changes in your physique.

Kettlebells—traditional Russian weights

that look like cannonballs with a handle—require a mix of momentum, power, control and strength, so they’re perfect for sculpting abs, arms and hips. Have a trainer get you started—you won’t be disappointed with the results.

It isn’t called Spring Training

for nothing—check out Active.com to find a fall or winter event (like a mini-triathlon or 5k run) and start training now. Setting a goal is a great way to stay inspired.

Skeptical Susan says: In your story about cosmetics that really work, you mentioned all those products that don’t really do what they say. That made me wonder why don’t any of these companies ever get in trouble if they’re lying? I thought we had laws against false advertising.

The Right Brain retorts:
You’re correct, there are laws against false advertising. They vary from county to country but generally speaking for those laws to take effect someone has to initiate a challenge against the suspicious advertiser. That challenge can come from a consumer such as yourself, another company, or from an interested party such as a consumer group or governmental body.

Two ways to challenge

Regardless of who initiates the challenge, in the US there are two basic ways by which advertisements are “policed.” The first way involves taking the company directly to court because you believe you can show their advertisement is false and misleading. If the courts rule in the plaintiff’s favor, the offending company can be forced to stop specific advertising and they may have to pull recall product from distribution. In addition, the court can levy fines against the company if warranted. This is not usually the course that is followed because of the time and money involved in engaging the legal system.

A couple of recent stories have gotten me thinking about hypocrisy in the beauty industry. Certainly you’ve heard the news that the photos of the “real women” in the Dove Real Beauty campaign may have been digitally altered.  If true, this would seem hypocritical because they complain most companies use touched up models to sell their products while they do exactly the same thing except with chubbier, less attractive models.  Of course, the company is mostly denying it, but what else can they do? Close-up photographs of real people never look as good as ones that have been touched up.  Freckles, acne, wrinkles and age-spots don’t work in magazine ads.

Natural Hypocrites

The other story was one about the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) attacking “natural” companies for using raw materials that contain a potential carcinogen. It seems that companies like Jason Natural & Organic, Kiss My Face and Nature’s Gate Organic all use ethoxylated ingredients that have trace amounts of 1,4-Dioxane. The OCA believes it’s hypocritical to say you are natural, but still contain supposedly dangerous ingredients. While we disagree about the danger posed by trace amounts of 1,4-Dioxane, we can see the OCA’s point. It does seem hypocritical.

Have you been to the Beauty Brains forum? If not you’re missing a lot of great discussions. The forum is a place where you get to swap ideas, tips, and opinions on beauty products and pretty much any other topic you’re interested in. (If you need more see these 10 Reasons to Join the Forum)

So, head on over to the forum and let the others in the Beauty Brains community know what you think. Here is just a list of some of topics you can weigh in on right now.

The belief that green living is expensive is not always so. Sure there are some green products and processes that are very expensive, but green living does not always constitute a lot of money. There are MANY ways to live naturally and green AND save money.

Grow Your Own -If you love to get your hands dirty, starting a garden will save you enough money to go on a small weekend getaway by year’s end. With the price of food and gas today, if you have a garden you have your own fresh produce to cook with. A garden filled with herbs, grains, fruit, and vegetables will keep you from weekly trips to the store because you can make your own dressings, seasonings, and even items like bread, cookies and cakes. With a garden, your trips to the grocery store are limited to meat purchases and staples that you can’t make at home. Cut meat out of your diet and think how much more you will save. There is no need to run to the store and waste valuable fuel and time. Just go to your backyard with your reusable grocery bag and fill it up with fresh produce. Doing this is also a source of fun and exercise for the whole family.