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Living Simply: Revisiting Your Relationship With Money

posted by Mama Hope | March 17th, 2009 in Frugality

My personal decision to live my life oriented more toward voluntary simplicity and less materialistically, was influenced by the inspirational books I’ve read. I thought I’d share them with you!

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In an update to concerns over the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, the CPSC is considering exemptions that will hopefully rescue the US handmade industry from certain doom.

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My Books Are Coming!

posted by Mama Hope | September 17th, 2008 in Natural Health

It’s been a long time since I’ve bought books. I constantly have at least a dozen books checked out from the library, and I never truly have enough time to read them, but I glean pearls of wisdom that I can, betwixt nursings, calls for “the next homeschool assignment,” bumps and bruises, kisses and lately [...]

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Making “baby steps” is a phrase sometimes used by the “light green” movement in defence of green capitalism and consumerism. But if we’re still continuously consuming, will that be enough to make a difference? Or is the marketing of consumption, even green consumption, ultimately still a part of the end?

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The Ethics and Morality of Buddhism

posted by Mama Hope | July 6th, 2008 in Spirituality

One of the central aspects of Buddhism, in my experience, is the manner in which it deals with ethics and morality in a very logical, driven manner. It’s easy to see how the teachings of Buddhism appeal to the West, partly because they do relate to a universal morality that is also taught in Christianity…

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George Carlin Inspired Me to Give Up My Stuff

posted by Mama Hope | June 23rd, 2008 in Eco-Minimalism

by JustDerek
Rest in peace, George Carlin. You managed to teach your lessons while giving people a whole lot of fun and laughter. I think I was still a teenager when the implicit message from my favorite George Carlin routine first began to sink in. Want to learn the real lesson of the Three R’s? [...]

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I am human. -or- Earth Day ate my baby bouncer!

posted by Mama Hope | April 28th, 2008 in Eco-Minimalism

…Having just written a well-researched piece on “The Three R’s” of green living, I was of course beholden to my mantra to avoid buying new wherever possible. This means not rushing off to a big box store every time you have a new idea for a gadget. “But I want it now!” said my pioneering shopping spirit. Once it gets hold of an idea it is like hell on wheels…

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The First “R”: 5 ways to be a better green parent

posted by Mama Hope | April 22nd, 2008 in Environment

I recently discussed “The First R” of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” triad and its origins, but what would all the theoretics be without some good, practical ideas? Here are 5 ideas to start with when trying to reduce and enjoy a simpler more sustainable life.

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The Origins of “Reduce, Reuse, Recyle”

posted by Mama Hope | April 22nd, 2008 in Environment

We’ve all heard the phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recyle,” and seen the pretty logo with the three green arrows that represents the triad. But how many of us really follow any but the Third “R” — recycling our trash and sleeping soundly thinking we’ve done our part?

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