So, hey! I'm pretty darn excited to share with you the latest edition of Green Child Magazine. As a relatively new mom who's trying to keep life eco-friendly, I love this resource -- heck, I read it when I was pregnant (it has lots of great tips for mamas-to-be, as well). Back when I started looking to contribute my writing to different magazines and such, I saw this one and thought...well, I wouldn't even let myself truly think the words, but it was more of a feeling of "I wish I could be cool enough to write for them." (I mean, they've interviewed Mayim Bialek and Kelly Martin!!!!!!!)
Well, guess what. I'm officially cool. (In my mind. ;-)) Check out the piece on pages 25-26.
I KNOW, RIGHT?!?!
This is how it all went...
A little while back, I started writing for Kaia, another online magazine that I L-O-V-E (which also happens to be for people who want to learn tips on living greener, among other awesome topics). Well, long story short, Kaia and GCM have become sister publications. I was asked if I would mind doing some product reviews for GCM since I've got a little one to use as a guinea pig test subject ...for helping me with the trials. Green products for the baby + free + writing = one happy mama.
Let me just say that the fact that this first piece is about animals makes me ecstatic. Dave and I are such huge animal lovers, it's only appropriate that my first piece with GCM would be animal-friendly. I happened to see a list of topics for the upcoming magazine and mentioned to Amity that I'd be happy to write any of the topics (but that an animal piece would be awesome 'cuz I'm weird like that). Apparently, the piece had just fallen through so it would be a big help if I could write it. Whuh?! Write a fun piece AND help out? Sign me up!
So, that's the story of my writing for some awesome online magazines. It's fun to flex the ol' brain muscle (wait...the brain is a muscle, right? Just one?), research and write about things that interest me, and to share them with the world through some very positive, socially-responsible publications. Win-win, all around!
By the by, I also love the tips for attempting to maintain harmony among siblings (I'll need this some day!), suggestions for instilling a love for the outdoors and tons more. And, can I just say -- I'm craving an arugula salad with strawberries SO BADLY right now. (Any salad with strawberries is aces in my book.)
Oh, and if you know of anyone who might like to advertise with this publication, feel free to email us at media@greenchildmagazine.com. It's a great place to be!
Why do you think we try to make a concerted effort to "green" our lifestyle?
Why do you think we check our consciences before buying meat? (Don't get me wrong; we buy meat. We just prefer to buy from folks who treat the animals humanely and with the respect and honor that they deserve. Believe me, mentally we're borderline vegetarian; in reality, we just can't make that jump yet.)
Why do we hear at least twice a month in our household someone sadly repeat, "Humans weren't meant to go this fast." Or "If it's going to storm, should I check the food in the garage now or will that scare the cats out if they're already settling in?" (That's not our cats ; it's the stray cats we wish we could take in, or at least get spayed/neutered and maybe find a nice home for.) Or "Animals are so much more in touch than humans" or "kinder than humans" or "more thoughtful than humans." Or "Good, Hadley, yes. Beardslee is your brother. We love him. We treat him nicely. We don't pull his fur or ears or tail. We pet him with an open hand. Good boy, you love your boys, don't you?"
It's because we're animal lovers. Luhvahs. Lovahs. Whatever. We love animals!
We're not (I don't think!) the crazy people who wear cat sweatshirts and give up human interaction for the sweet snuggliness of our boys. But we do cherish them for their uniqueness and for what each of them bring to the family. We had three fur babies before we had Hadley, and they taught us SO much about parenting that has helped us with our "human" buddy.
And this doesn't just go for cats, although they happen to hold a monopoly in our household. We grew up with dogs, and I have some experience farming with cows (hate calling them cattle), and in general both have a deep-rooted compassion for furry and feathered creatures of all shapes and sizes. We both often shed a tear over roadkill, and if we have to drive past it several times a day it deeply affects us.
Dave's a donator. If he feels strongly about something, he puts his money where his mouth is (and, although he works in the fancy-schmancy world o' news, he by no means has an excess of the green stuff...I promise you). So, he donates to a couple of animal shelters.
His brother was raised with a similar love of animals; they, too, have three kitties to call their own. They donate their time, too, to an awesome place called Spring Farm Cares in Clinton, NY. It's called an "animal sanctuary" -- a place where animals aren't killed just because they happen to have a particular number attached to them. I love that it's a sanctuary, especially for the horses, who are unable to be adopted out due to age or other ailments. A place for a horse to live out its days in a caring, healthy environment and with hospice (yes! Horse hospice) when needed is an incredible thing, indeed.
So, when Dan and Tara came up with an idea to have a run to benefit the sanctuary, I was uber proud. As things moved forward, bureaucratic red tape and other issues popped up, but always remembering the animals and what they deserve, they stuck out their chins and continued on. With further evolution, I was glad to hear that the run had become a run/walk -- so, yay, I could sign up and even drag a stroller-ridin' baby along to support them!
If you live in the Mohawk Valley area and are free Saturday, May 4th, please consider signing up for the Spring Farm Cares Run/Walk for the Animals. You can find out more on their Facebook page or simply register directly at www.runwalkfortheanimals.com. Early birds who sign up before April 1st pay a registration fee of $20 (and get a nifty, free T-shirt...or, if you don't want the tee, let the money go back as a donation!).
Let's just say I usually celebrate my May 1st birthday on the first Saturday of May, but this year I'm looking forward to use the day planting a seed with our son; a seed of compassion, responsibility and love. After all, why else would we work so hard at doing our tiny part to save the world if those who truly deserve a safe, wonderful place aren't considered? It is our job to do for the animals and children, for they cannot do for themselves.
Sorry for the preachiness. I just care a whole heck of a lot about this cause. Please consider coming. It should be an awesomely fun, positive day for all.
Yay, a positive post! (While I found my last post to be pretty invigorating, I have a feeling it might not have been the easiest or most fun read for you folks.) While looking over some of the cutouts that Dave and I found in our many, many old magazines for our New Year's collage, there was a noticeable trend to focus our attentions towards our house, our interests, our relationship, and ourselves. Boy, that must sound self-involved, but what it really means is that we would like to simplify our lives to what we "need," and throw back in a little more of what we "want," rather than what we found ourselves wasting a lot of time on.
So, this is one post in a series entitled "Positive Change." I'll be sharing my own goals towards positive change in my life, and hope to influence some positivity in some others' lives -- be it through my actions or maybe even by inspiring others who read megactsout to insight a little change in their own 2011 lives. :-) You never know, one kind word can reach a lot of people.
As you see from the title, this first Positive Change post is about volunteerism. As far as I'm concerned, volunteering is a win-win situation. The person volunteering gets new life experiences, a new perspective, and that incredible sense that you're not wasting the life you've been given. Simultaneously, the organization or individual that you're giving your time to (hopefully) gets something wonderful out of it, too. Yay, yahtzeeeee, everybody wins!!!
I've been involved with the Ilion Little Theatre Club for awhile. While I definitely volunteer my time there (I only got paid when I was the theater's cleaner -- but over 1/2 of the time I either couldn't track down the treasurer or I'd lose track of how many months I'd cleaned, so I just didn't request payment -- they're a non-profit, for cryin' out loud), I still don't consider myself a "volunteer." There are, at any given time, a dozen to two or even three dozen folks who give their time to not only put on pretty darn good shows, but to keep the place up and running. Being on the board, I don't feel as if I'm "volunteering" anymore. I more feel like it's my duty, an unpaid job that, while sometimes daunting and stressful, keeps on givin'. So, I guess you'd call me a volunteer at the Little Theatre, but I'd more say that I just feel responsible to help the place and its legacy going on.
For the past few years, I've joined my sister (and, at times, her darling husband) in volunteering at the annual Great American Irish Festival in Frankfort, NY. The first year, we were in Band Hospitality (there are some AWWWWESOME Irish rock groups); the next, we did tickets (nice to keep busy); last year, we took care of clean-up during the event (which was, admittedly, draining and disgusting). At the end of the weekend, a volunteer party is given for free, so, again, I don't feel much like it's volunteering since we get such an incredible perk, plus free admittance throughout the weekend.
In 2011 (and beyond), I'm hoping to add a new activity to my list of volunteering. I've always been a museum-goer; specifically, historical museums (although I do appreciate art museums nearly as much -- art, in my mind, IS history). As a kid, my mother knew this (and I'm pretty sure she was also as much of a history buff as I was), and for any summer trips that she planned, a stop at a state historical park or a privately-run museum was a must -- much to the chagrin of my stepdad and sister, who'd much rather hit the beach.
For example, I've been to the Adirondack Museum as much as I have Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame (which, if you're from this area, is a lot). However, one of our last family trips was, instead, a week at a cabin on Raquette Lake (in the Adirondacks). I spent it as would any moody 16-year-old who didn't have a friend along -- miserable and slouchy, while reading and re-reading "Walden." Depressing. One day, Mom shouted out the back door that anyone who wanted to go to the museum should meet her at the car in 5 minutes. Very unlike my mother. So, who, out of all of us shows up at the car? Mom and I. And, man, we had a blast. The good thing about museums is that, while their regular exhibits often stay the same, they have fascinating rotating "specialties." Purdy cool.
So, why all the talk about museums? Well, I contacted a very nice lady with museumwise.org who helped to point me in the direction of volunteering at a few possible local spots. I'm going to first attempt to get in touch with the folks at the General Herkimer Home in Little Falls. Being my grandfather's granddaughter, I know all too well who Gen. Herkimer was and his importance in the valley as well as in the Revolution. I love the fact that I get to live in the Mohawk Valley, with all its history just built in for the taking. (Not that we'll live here forever. But, I've always appreciated, regardless of current financial instability and downright depression in the area, the relevance and serious respect owed to the settlers, the Native Americans, the past events that make it known.
If they're not looking for volunteers for the summer (who knows, with our state's budget), I'll contact the Herkimer Historical Society to see if they'd like any free hands (literally), then work out to Cooperstown. I could see traveling once or twice a week throughout the summer to learn about how museum works and do whatever needs doing at the Farmers' Museum or the Baseball Hall of Fame. Makes me excited to think about it -- ahhh, gas prices. ;-)
I'm still considering whether or not I should do summer school again this year. There were plenty of cons to the job last year; the pros, honestly, were the money and the amount of hours I had to work in relation to the money. But, it would leave me with afternoons and a three-day weekend to volunteer at a museum.
Of course, I write this on a snow day, and it still seems to be coming down pretty hard outside. So, maybe I'm just excited to think about the summer. But, I don't think so. This should be interesting.
