5 iPads for Autism

I have a brilliant idea!!

I want to get 5 iPads into the hands of non/pre-verbal autistic children... and more if I can.

How?

Well, let me back up a tiny bit and tell you were I got the idea... It stemmed from my frustration with the system. I was using my blog as a rant... aka cheap therapy!! But as I typed those words, I started to get this idea... let's do a fundraiser to raise the funds for an iPad for Sahara.

But, I am not a self-serving person... so I started to think bigger, let's ask for more donations than what we personally need. Let's get enough to fund 5 additional iPads for other Autistics... Imagine the empowerment you would create in those lives!!

Hence the birth of the Sahara's Voice fundraiser.

Well, we posted the fundraiser 5 days ago and have raised $162 so far... while that is awesome!!! I want to keep it rolling.... please share this page with everyone you know... let's show the world what it means to pay it forward!!

Please remember a bunch of little things can add up to be a huge thing!!

If you have a company, consider donating in the company's name. The company will be acknowleged on our blog, twitter, facebook and in press releases.

Here are some links of interest:

iPad GIVES VOICE TO AUTISTICS

Extensive list of iPad applications for people with autism

Expressive application

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National School Lunch Week Is A Farce

IF "Healthy school meals contribute to academic achievement and more productive days in the classroom", then why does the same organization making this statement offer processed, over priced non-nutritional garbage to our youth for lunch?

It is national school lunch week, and I am disgusted with the contents of our lunch selections. This week alone the menu consists of:

Monday:

Cheese Nachos or Hot Dog

Seasoned Corn

Assorted Fruit (not fresh)

Milk

Tuesday:

Johnny Marzetti or Texas grilled cheese

Tomato Soup

Assorted Fruit

Milk

Wednesday:

Pancakes w Sausage or Asian Vegtables w Rice

Hashbrown Patty

Assorted Fruit

Milk

Thursday:

Chicken cheese burrito or Cheesy Bread

Seasoned Green Beans

Assorted Friut

Milk

So, I am not a nutritionist and I do have so much more to learn about this topic. However, It doesn't take a dietitian to see that these lunches are full of complex carbohydrates. Certainly, most of this menu is tainted with high fructose corn syrup, pesticides, preservatives and artificial ingredients. Where is the real food? The fresh fruit and vegetables? A good source of protein?

Is it no wonder our children are struggling academically and socially? Yet alone, they are faced with childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes at higher rates than ever before. As they face a depletion of essential nutrients their minds, bodies, and emotions are suffering. I once read an article that said it would cost the parents $4 per lunch to provide a lunch like I am advocating...

There is no way a parent is going to shuffle out $20 per kid per week for lunch, right? Maybe or maybe not... I can't answer that.

But, I am not so sure that a healthy lunch would cost that much. I am not sure where they get there numbers... I spend probably half of that amount on fresh foods for lunches per child per week. (which is still less than the amount I'd be spending if I were to purchase their lunches from the current school cafeteria menu.) Knowing that the companies providing lunches would purchase in bulk, I don't know how they come up with these numbers.

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Personal Hygiene... At What Cost?

Since yesterday’s post was about shaving legs and arm pits, I thought it would be appropriate to blog today about Deodorant… Good personal hygiene is an important habit to teach our children, but at what cost?

At some point along our wellness journey, we began to question ingredients in the products we put on our body… and reconsidered how we approached our personal hygiene. For instance, did you know that it only takes a few seconds for anything that touches your skin to be absorbed into the blood stream; aluminum, propylene glycol, parabens...

There has been medical research conducted about breast cancer and aluminum in deodorants. Several sources stated that there was a study conducted that concluded that 18 out of 20 breast cancer tissue samples had parabens in them. With that said, I cannot fathom why more people do not question the common use of these ingredients.

Young girls seem especially vulnerable to me… with their overexposure to hormone laced foods and the seduction of marketers to use these girl products laced with questionable ingredients.

I know, I know… You are thinking, “Oh my God, this tree hugging hippy has stinky arm pits and it going to tell me to embrace my natural self!” Let me reassure you, that is not the case. My point simply is, read the labels and make an educated decision about what you put in and on your body. Be proactive even about what you are putting under your arm pits close to your mammary glands.

We have tried many natural deodorant products, none of which really met our personal hygiene needs. That is until we tried mineral salts and pure water. It is 100% natural and eliminates the bacteria that cause that unseemly odor.

Yep, it really is as simple as that; mineral salts!

No, I am not selling a product nor do I get kickbacks for endorsing this… right now, it is the obvious solution to this issue... Not only does it eliminate odor and avoid questionable ingredients, but it is more economic as well.

*Try Thai Crystal Deodorant or make your own solution.

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Money Saving Tip #6: Go To The Movies For Free

I know I haven’t posted any new money saving tips in awhile, but this one is just too good to keep to myself!

Yesterday.. I popped onto twitter to read some of the inspirational quotes before the dinner time crunch. I noticed ColumbusMovies posted a free ticket code for a complimentary prescreening for the new movie SHORTS.

AMAZING, RIGHT!?!?

Here’s the Bottom Line… there was no catch!

This is what we did:

1. Follow ColumbusMovies on Twitter.

2. When you see a post for a complimentary screening, enter the promo code in the link on the twitter post.

3. Print how many tickets you need. (Up to four)

4. Arrive early to the theater (the press and first come are served first).

5. Enter stadium 30 minutes prior to show.

6. Relax and enjoy the show!!

If you don't live in the Columbus vicinity... try finding a similar link in your area!

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Hydrating Your Body Without Draining Your Wallet: Money Saving Tip #5

The best water of choice is artesian— complete with salts and minerals of the earth.

Lourdes (natural artesian water from France) is considered a miraculous water source and widely recognized as Holy Water among Catholics. This Holy Water has been known to cure sicknesses… I assume this is in relation to artesian water having all the electrolytes the body needs to maintain health. The chemical compounds of artesian water are most conducive with the chemistry of the human body. No wonder it is deemed miraculous.

However, when you are on a budget (and most families these days are), artesian water can be costly. If you ordered Lourdes water online it would cost approximately $132 per 1 1/3 gallon! (OUCH!)

Other artesian water sources that most people are familiar with are Fiji, Evian, and Perrier. You can expect to pay well over $1.00 for a 12 ounce bottle. However, some may argue that obtaining clean water with all the vital electrolytes necessary for the human body may be worth the extra cost.

We consume, as a family of four ,over 15 gallons of drinking water per week. That is over $150 per month just for water… again, if you are on a budget, this is difficult to manage.

If you opt out of the artesian water industry and go for spring water you can expect to pay near $1.00 per gallon. Although, that seems to be a more reasonable price, I do not think you are paying for quality. In order for a label to read ‘spring water’ it only needs to contain 10% spring water. As for the other 90% my best guess is it is probably from a municipal source.

But, even if you make this compromise you are still spending nearly $60 per month for 10% spring water. You end up paying 100% more than the water is really worth. If you read some labels closely the will even say ‘from a municipal source’. In this instance, you end up paying almost $.75 per gallon for something you could get straight from the tap. (That doesn’t make logical sense.)

While depriving the body of the essential electrolytes found naturally in the water extracted from deep within the earth, we compromise our health. Is that really worth it? I cannot answer that question for you— that is a personal decision you will need to make. I do know that in our current economy many families are faced with financial cut backs and unfortunately sometimes that means eliminating things that are good for us.

Another option is to purchase a filtration system for your home. This will purify the water from harsh chemicals like Chlorine which is commonly found in home drinking water. When we moved into our current home, we went from well water to city water. I was astonished that our water straight from the tap smelled like a pool.

Your body absorbs during a 10-15 minute shower the same amount of chlorine you would consume in 8 – 8 ounce glasses of city water. Prolonged exposure to chlorine has been said to cause skin and eye irritation, lung disease, and even cancer.

Other contaminants removed through a filtration system are mercury, lead, and pesticides. Although a whole house filtration system is ideal it, too, can be costly— costing thousands of dollars. A quick cool shower is the best way to reduce toxic exposure without a filteration system.

A filter on the kitchen faucet or even a Britta Picture Filteration System can be well worth the investment. You can economically purchase a 10 cup picture for $21.99 after a $10 coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond. Each filter is good for 100 gallons and is less than $8.00 to replace. With the cost of city water averaging .02 cents per gallon our family can safely consume and cook with filtered water for $1.20 per month plus filter costs.

I am currently looking into how to replace those electrolytes we are missing from true artisian water. I am sure that maybe even supplementing this charcoal filtered water with a bottle of Evian would help... But this seems to be the best economic choice and a step in the right direction towards clean drinking water.

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Money Saving Tip #4: Shop Smart While Buying More Organic and Healthy Foods

Managing a healthier home may seem overwhelming when embarking upon this new lifestyle. When we started changing the foods we ate, I used to argue it was too expensive to eat all organic and healthy food. Now I have learned to shop smarter. Here are my top 10 ways to save money while shopping organic:

1) Buy only what you need by creating a week’s menu. Check the pantry and refridgerator for what is on the menu for the week and make your list accordingly. This will prevent purchasing more than you need and result in fewer things ending up in the garbage from spoilage.

2) Freeze left over's- they make great snacks, lunches or meals for those busy nights.

3) Buy bulk or a share from a local farm. If this is too much product for you look for another family to share the food with.

4) Comparison shop. Take an afternoon and go to the stores you purchase from and find out which one has the better deals on specific products. (This might surprise you.) Use the flyers that come in the mail to see what is on sale, even the regular stores will advertise which organic or natual products are on sale.

5) Take cash. Only commit to spending the allotted amount with you. This will force you to stay on the list and within budget.

6) NEVER shop hungry. I sometimes wonder if that is why they have those tasting stands. The customer comes in hungry looking for samle and ends up purchasing more than the intended... it is all about marketing.

7) Give the children their own list. This will give them something productive to do while learning life skills (instead of impulse shopping for you).

8) Avoid processed foods. These foods are have with no true nutritional value. Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables instead.

9) Don't wash produce before storing- that will increase the rancidification process.

10) Get coupons. Yes, there are coupons available for healthy foods too.

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Money Saving Tip: Use Caution When Selling Something On Internet Classified Sites

A couple of years aso I was distributing a wellness product on different internet classified sites…

I had a woman submit an offer via email, she claimed her sister had cancer and she just knew that this product was what would help her. She pulled my heart strings. I was so excited because I was going to make a nice profit and help someone in the process.

She used phrases like, “Bless you” and I thought, “A Christian wouldn’t dupe me, right?”

Well, when I received the money gram – it was for twice as much as the purchase price. I contacted her to see if she was purchasing two. She said no, that the difference was for her delivery guy. He would be in Columbus in a few days. I was instructed to cash the check, keep my portion, and give her employee the balance as cash when he picked up the product.

I went to Wal-Mart and they told me the money gram was legitimate, I went to the bank and they said it looked legitimate, and within a week the money was available in my account! I was so excited!

In the mean time, I received another check. This time it was for $2000 more than the purchase price. This purchaser said, “My secretary made a huge mistake… instead of cutting you a new check, cash it, and when my associate picks it up just give him the difference in cash. “

I took this check to the bank— excited that the first cleared, but cautious enough to inquire that I was concerned about with being a victim of fraud… The banker said it looked real and again within a few days the banker personally told me that it, too, cleared; I had all of this money in my account. Excluding the portion they needed back I was ahead quite a bit. With a special needs child at home this money was huge for a struggling family.

After the banker said that the money cleared I paid car payments, utilities, and had a small portion left. That night I sent my husband out for ice cream to celebrate… and then the check card bounced! The bank said that both checks were fraudulent and the money was removed from our account.

Remember, the bank had originally cleared them as legitimate, but now was saying ‘oops we made a mistake you are a victim of fraud’.

Now, you would think that would be covered by some type of bank insurance, but it was not. I was responsible for the money I spent (I paid bills with it and didn’t have that money to repay the bank).

On top of that, the bank was charging ME for submitting a fraudulent check and the bouncing fees were accruing for all the items that I thought I was paying for with real money. My husband’s paychecks were being absorbed and we were growing further and further in debt to the bank. I finally closed the account to stop the fees from accruing.

Thank God I didn’t give them the cash or the products!!

Since this happened I get about 1 solicitation a month from different people about making a purchase for a product I no longer sell… but that doesn’t stop these people… they don’t care who they hurt... they are crooks.

LESSON LEARNED: Never do business with someone you don’t know, especially someone from online classified sites… IF they are unwilling to pay you in cash or via pay pal, you are being scammed. This is real, protect yourself!

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Money Saving Tip 2: Bulk It Up

We no longer buy a lot of processed foods. After we reclaimed our ability to eat from nature we denied the cheap foods laced with gluten, casein, high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes and preservatives. The problem that came with this lifestyle was it hit the pocket book and hit it hard.

One afternoon I went to several stores with the mission to price check. I found that although each store is really competitive in their pricing, that some products are way off the mark. For instance, a jar of Better Than Bouillon Bouillon at Giant Eagle was $2 MORE than the local health food chain, Whole Foods. Yes, I was surprised too.

Recently, I have taken an interest to the bulk section of the stores. Rice flour, dried beans, quino, brown rice, raw sugar, cereal, herbs, spices and other staples are in this section. I don’t know why I never explored this option before, but I have started saving loads of money with some planning.

I used to buy canned beans weekly. Whether for a steamy pot of chili, Mexican night or hidden in the GFCF mac-n-cheese, beans are an easy source of good protein. Although, a can of organic beans only costs just over $2.00, when you are using beans several nights a week that can and does add up. For the same amount of money, I bought a pound of pinto beans and black beans in bulk over a month ago and we are still using the same purchases. I have saved well over the amount invested and the bottom of the container is nowhere near.

We have switched our bread of choice to rice bread, but the cost, again, is enormous in comparison to a loaf of white bread. The cost difference is about $2.28 per loaf…. Ouch. For that amount, I can buy a pound and a half of brown rice flour and make my own. The other ingredients are also staples in the home (some of which, yep, are bulk).

What about meats? If you consume them, buy bulk. Ask the butcher to cut it down to portion size packages. They will do this at no extra cost. Fruits and veggies… well, don’t bother. You’re better off buying what you need on a weekly basis to prevent poilage.

Not only can you save money buying bulk, but you can increase your pantry’s stock at relatively good prices. Buying more at a time equals fewer trips to the store—saving you time and energy—something every mom is looking to do one way or another. I have come to the conclusion that bulk and dry may just be one answer to some of the pocket book tragedies of today’s economic challenges.

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Money Saving Tip 1: Coupons for the Health Conscious

I recently started using coupons and I was amazed at the amount of money I could save! On my first two bi-weekly shopping trips I saved $65 and then $80. That was a $145 saved the first month with coupons alone. As I surfed the net I realized I have a long way to go in order to capitalize upon this fine art, but I think I am well on my way.

The first challenge I was able to overcome was finding coupons for GFCF and organic items. Firstly, I contacted each company I regularly buy from to request coupons. I included my name and address with each contact. I was astonished when I actually received some coupons in the mail. There are plenty of companies that let you sign up for an e-newsletter and in turn will send you coupons as well.

Visit Frugalliving.about.com for a list of some of these companies. Other web-sites that offer e-coupons for organic and GFCF foods are:

Nature’s Oasis

Mambo Sprouts

Lifestyle Markets

Delicious Living

Whole Foods has a coupon book published by Mambo Sprouts. You can get one at the cash register. The only down side to that is the coupon HAS to be used at Whole Foods, which doesn’t double coupons. But it is still money back in your pocket.

The Sunday paper is a hit-n-miss for the health conscious and those on a special diet, but you can still find some useful coupons there. I still cruise through the regular on-line coupon sites and am able to find coupons for several items that we can use. Some of the sites I have found useful are:

Slick Deals

Coupons.com Be sure to click on the RSS Coupons button on the tool bar as well.

Smart Source

Happy Saving!!

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