Moai Mamas Literary Group is a supportive community of women--with or without children--who believe that awareness & connection are vital in caring for ourselves, family, friends, society, animals, plants and mother earth. We come together through our shared love of learning, discussion, and taking positive action towards a more equitable and compassionate society.This year we … Continue reading moai mamas literary list 2023
After a morning hike with friends and an emotional interaction with my child after school (I'll blame pre-teen but it's life long), I was desperate for glucose to feed my tired brain and give me a little dopamine bliss. So, although the real issue is that I was/am probably dehydrated, I prefer telling myself the … Continue reading vegan pancake cookies… for dinner
Getting older often means aching backs, loss of balance and bunions but we can change this! Zero drop and barefoot shoes that combine the ancient wisdom of nature and our ancestors with the benefits of modern technology can help! *Featured picture is from Barefoot Ted's footwear company Luna Sandals.* Although a lot of the zero-drop, … Continue reading shoes for better posture, balance, and foot health
The benefits of positive affirmations, goal setting, small steps, brain dumps, to-do lists, meal planning, habit tracking, routine creating, and schedule making are repeated and extolled by successful people and backed by research. Who has time to do and keep track of all these things?! After years of trying many different systems, I created a … Continue reading live our best life with simple daily intentional journaling
Goal setting, mind dumps, to-do-lists, schedules, habit tracking, quote collections, book reading notes, affirmations, and creative musings all need a place to be recorded. Although there are now a multitude of ways to record things digitally, sometimes good old fashion paper is needed. Maybe I'm just showing my gen x age by living one foot … Continue reading eco-friendly spiral notebook journals
Are you an environmentalist who also loves homes, like me? Wish you could visit all the eco, sustainable homes in the Denver Metro area? The first Saturday in October New Energy Colorado sets up a tour so that you can visit a selection of "green" homes in person. If you don't live nearby or cannot … Continue reading sustainable “green” home tours
I was thinking that all learning (and goals) can have two different directions but only one destination. We can learn by following what is going right/well or we can learn by doing the opposite of what doesn’t work/isn’t going well. Either way, we can only learn (or achieve a goal) when we know what we … Continue reading thoughts on learning
When I built our eco-friendly, energy-efficient home in Denver, it was with the intention of adding solar and buying an electric car. At the time there were only a few fully electric vehicles on the market. The Tesla X was a dream both in features and in price (about $120K at the time). We settled … Continue reading electric all-wheel drive vehicles reviewed
Sometimes the way I learn best is from others. Recently a friend sent an email to a large group with a lovely note inviting us to join her for a long birthday weekend of skiing. Fun! After sending the note, my friend realized she forgot to include the dates. She then sent a new email … Continue reading email communication… 5 lessons learned
For my neighborhood newsletter, I was invited to write about the sustainable house I designed and built. It seemed a little too presumptuous to write about my own house. Instead, I started writing a list of all the "green" features that one might include in a new home or a remodel, like triple-pane windows and … Continue reading does eco-friendly living really make a difference?
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. NOTES AND REFLECTIONS cravings Tolle advises us to notice our cravings instead of immediately giving in to them. However, without the craving for food, water, shelter, and connection, we would not seek out those things that sustain our lives. When scientists have blocked dopamine and cravings, mice die … Continue reading the power of now
These books are recommended by the members of the Moai Mama's book discussion group as a way to get us out of our limited thinking and ideas: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn A Wrinkle in Time We will continue adding to this (currently short) list.
saint frances: a fictional comedy about womanhood limitless: a documentary on women and running game changers: a documentary on the science of food and athletic performance expedition happiness: young german couple and dog travel across US, Canada and Mexico*also on netflix walk with me: thich nhat hanh ending the vicious circle of negative habits how … Continue reading inspiring movies
These books are recommended by the Moai Mamas book discussion group: deep work: rules for focused success in a distracted world A Course in Miracles Made Easy Eastern Body, Western Mind The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel von der Kolk Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Wild Feminine by Tami Lynn Kent If Women Rose … Continue reading non-fiction book list
written word, book in hand...* library* borrow* purchase used* purchase new written word on a screen...* library* kindle* scribd spoken word...* library* audible* scribd main ideas (cliff notes) written on a screen...* scribd main ideas (cliff notes) spoken...* scribd snapshots* blinkist Do you prefer reading books with paper pages but cannot get one into your … Continue reading reading options for different learning styles and needs
moai mamas - booklistbook discussion 6:30-7:30pm* Share, " I felt joyful today when.... "* 2 minutes each for initial thoughts* Book discussion* 2 minutes each for final thoughts Jan 6- Intro to meet each other Jan 13- The Power of NowJan 20- The Power of Nowhttps://eckharttolle.com/power-of-now-excerpt/read my reflections here Jan 27- I’ve Decided to Live … Continue reading moai mamas book list 2022
Episode 1: USAhttps://youtu.be/YMIF5r_eaRo Episode 2: Italyhttps://youtu.be/sgCd2gOY6xM Episode 4: Costa Ricahttps://youtu.be/oBhkN1MCRFM Episode 5: Japanhttps://youtu.be/PE4dCyi71O0 Episode 6: Greecehttps://youtu.be/erSmSrLeIvQ Episode 7: Cubahttps://youtu.be/bMEzRiSi0VM Episode 8: Russiahttps://youtu.be/N-V7bhPKGy8
The Art of Living: Loma Linda, Californiahttps://youtu.be/QT-SzdvaAIM The Art of Living: Japanhttps://youtu.be/D18P7duyZ6Q The Art of Living: southern Swedish town of Vittsjo https://youtu.be/13cFpcdbPxU The Art of Living: Ikaria, Greecehttps://youtu.be/GP4ouNyTd0I The Art of Living: Sardinia, Italyhttps://youtu.be/hI2To-KeGBE The Art of Living: Nicoya, Costa Ricahttps://youtu.be/zxemFU8NHK0
Need new socks for work, walking, running, hiking, skiing, biking... life? Want a healthier sock for your healthier lifestyle, ones made from natural materials instead of polyester plastic? Look for organic cotton and ethically sourced wool socks that come in every height, color, and style you can imagine. The perfect healthy and eco-friendly sock is... … Continue reading naturally healthier socks
The silly way my mind works is that if I learn something, I think everyone has learned the same thing. Not surprisingly with this crazy thought process, I am often shocked when people act contrary to what I have learned and put into action. This is the case with sodas. Every time I see someone … Continue reading the gift of peace on earth
bamboo "lego" building bricks from once kidsKnow a kid who loves legos? Instead of more plastic legos, try bamboo legos that work with their existing legos. The noncolored bamboo blocks can be painted by the child. Why try bamboo "lego" bricks instead? Did you know that 400 billion plastic blocks have been produced? The plastic … Continue reading gifts for creative kids, free of plastics and toxins
The human species is a marvel. There are a few who take on the challenge to see how strong the human species really is when the body, mind, and spirit work together synergistically. They break world records in the process. The following documentary movies won't get you down about the state of our world but … Continue reading inspiring movies about the strength of the human species
salt seasoned salt black pepper red pepper flakes olive oil soy sauce plant-based mayo nutritional yeast plant-based butter plant-based sour cream cooked beans cooked chickpeas vegetable or bean chili veggie soup or stew broccoli & dairy-free cheeze salsa hummus tofu tempeh mushroom sauted onions sauted raw onions roasted garlic raw garlic mushroom gravy taco toppings: … Continue reading nutritious, delicious potato toppings
Wednesday night is potato night at our house. One dinner that my child loves to eat is the fun potato waffle. There are many delicious-sounding versions online but are all too involved for me. The bonus of my potato waffles is that they are easy, quick, and don't make a big mess, which is perfect … Continue reading one ingredient potato waffle
Need a holiday, housewarming, hostess, wedding, college, birthday gift? Want to give something original that is also useful and eco-friendly? These are a few of my personal favorite home items that also make unique gifts. who gives a crap 100% recycled, soft, 3-ply toilet paper wrapped in fun, colorful paper with humorous text is plastic-free, … Continue reading surprising and useful gifts for a healthier, more sustainable home
Grandmas are queens of showing their love by pushing offering their delicious, but unhealthy, foods our way. Although we appreciate and enjoy grandma's homemade offerings of love, let's modernize the idea. To show our love and appreciation for family, friends, teachers, colleagues, employees, ourselves (am I the only one who buys my own gifts?) and … Continue reading unique food gifts for healthier people and planet
Gift-giving is a lovely way to show appreciation and create connections with others. It seems it has gotten a bit out of hand these days and often contributes to plastics in our waterways and oceans, use of fossil fuels to ship from foreign countries, and clutter in our homes that both stresses us out and … Continue reading eco-friendly gift giving
Easy, healthy, and sweet but free of processed sugar, these oatmeal cookies are a great stand-in for breakfast and snacks. Make ahead of time for travel, sports, camping, lunches. ingredients:1. bananas (ripe and freckled, not black)2. oats (quick or old fashioned)* optional extras to add... nuts, nut butter, fresh blueberries, fresh apple chunks, cinnamon, pumpkin … Continue reading 2 ingredient healthy oatmeal cookies
After spending months doing some big-time decluttering, I've moved into a new plan. Each day I find 5 items to declutter. Even though it seemed difficult to find 5 items quickly, I still see a lot of clutter. Ugh. What is left? It's all the small stuff! Stuff I often ignore. Not today! Today I … Continue reading 5 random items decluttered today
Home is where it all starts. A home that is healthy, happy, and beautiful sets us up to create healthy, happy, beautiful lives beyond our homes. The following books have and continue to inspire me to take action towards creating a home that opens up space for enjoying time with others and having more time … Continue reading 10 books to inspire a healthy, happy, beautiful home
Did you know that most pre-cut Christmas trees are heavily sprayed with chemical pesticides? Bringing these trees into our homes means bringing chemicals into our homes and supporting farms that pollute our air and water with chemicals. Learn more here. If you decorate your home with an indoor tree this December, which greener, more eco-friendly, … Continue reading 7 ways to green our christmas trees
Strolling by homes decorated for the holidays can bring surprises and joy. They change the ordinary to something special. In the name of bringing cheer, we often get caught up in overusing our precious resources… time, money, and fossil fuels (for energy, plastics, synthetic materials). This year, let’s make the holidays extra green by creating … Continue reading December outdoor holiday decor for a natural, simple, beautiful aesthetic
For years I wanted to declutter but never seemed to get past a junk drawer or closet. I signed up for classes, watched movies, and even made mantras to try and motivate myself. The breaking point was when I got fed up and tired of spending all my time picking up, cleaning up, organizing, and … Continue reading What finally motivated me to declutter and the simple solution that made it happen!
We want and need time with others for our health and wellbeing. Dinner and drinks at a restaurant are great (good food, no cooking, no clean up) but aren't always possible (thanks, covid) and aren't always healthy (thanks, breadbasket and wine). The following are healthy, outside the restaurant, ways I've enjoyed connecting with friends and … Continue reading 14 fun and healthy ways to connect with friends and family, beyond the restaurant
Want to know if you live near a major air polluter that could significantly increase your cancer risk? ProPublica has done the research. Read their report to learn more and enter your address to see if any hot spots are near you. The Most Detailed Map of Cancer-Causing Industrial Air Pollution in the U.S.By Al Shaw and Lylla … Continue reading Find out if you live near a source of cancer-causing industrial air pollutants
Ok, you've probably heard of a loofah sponge, also spelled luffa, for exfoliating in the shower but guess what?! I prefer to use a loofah sponge in the kitchen. Loofah sponges make the coolest kitchen sponges! Fun fact. Did you know that the loofah is actually a gourd (similar uses to cucumbers and squash) that … Continue reading The coolest kitchen sponge you’ve never heard about!
beauty counter* dew skin tinted moisturizer (zinc spf)* supreme cream (glass jar) rms beauty* "un"cover-up (glass jar + metal lid)* lip2cheek (glass jar + metal lid) eir nyc* surf mud pro sunscreen in a stick (plastic-free)* lip balm (zinc spf) mineral fusion (denver) evanhealy* whipped shea butter with olive leaf (for extra dry skin/climates) hanahana … Continue reading Healthier Facial Products
"Sustainable fashion is a movement and process of fostering change to fashion products and the fashion system towards greater ecological integrity and social justice." - wikipedia The opposite of sustainable fashion is fast fashion. "Fast fashion is a term used to describe a highly profitable and exploitative business model based on replicating catwalk trends and high-fashion designs, mass-producing them at low cost." - wikipedia … Continue reading Top sources for sustainable women’s clothing
White interiors can be bright and inviting or drab and uninviting, depending on how you style them. From the cold climates of Scandinavia to the warm weather of the Mediterranean, there are cultural styles that elevate the white interior. While they all differ in degrees, they often share these common elements:1. white walls, ceilings, trim2. … Continue reading How To Create Inviting White Interior Styles
Being free of any social media accounts, Pinterest, Houzz, and Zillow had become my online warehouses for beautiful pictures of homes. Lately, however, I've noticed they are a little too "staged" and too "fish-eyed" for creating a cozy feel that brings me into a picture. For those inviting, more "lived in" home scenes that you've … Continue reading My Favorite–Unconventional–Online Sources for Beautiful Home Inspiration
No bandwidth for coming up with meals but don't want to go out and don't have the funds (yet) for a personal chef? Wanting something delicious and full of fiber to support those mini microbes but easy, quick, and more nutrient dense than popcorn and a banana? Check out these cool companies creating healthy meals … Continue reading Healthiest Meal Delivery Companies
Are barefoot shoes good for kids? Read here. Vivo Barefoot* athletic and casual footwear for kids and adults* sizes: EU 20-39* company: london, england* made in ethiopia* 20% off first order through rich roll podcast) xeroshoes* sandals & athletic shoes for kids and adults* sizes: 12 kids-4Y* company: broomfield, colorado, usa* made in china shamma … Continue reading 14 barefoot, zero-drop, minimalist shoe brands for kids
Pure bred, designer, and rescue dogs, black, brown and white dogs, big dogs and little dogs, we love all kinds of dogs, but especially green dogs! There’s a lot of love for dogs in my urban Denver neighborhood! This is evident during the dog walking hours in the evening when we can see all the … Continue reading 5 ways to love our dogs green!
Connection! While listening to Molly Carmel's podcast with Michael Moss, I had an ah-ha moment when she said that the opposite of addiction is connection. Although she didn't explain it further, I wanted to explore what it meant to me. Looking at the opposite of addiction as connection. Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com … Continue reading The Opposite of Addiction
I LOVE learning but paper bound books have always conspired to put my brain into nap mode. In high school a friend would call and ask what I as doing. "Reading biology," I'd say. The she would reply, "You mean napping?" I'm not sure how I passed AP Biology. I definitely did not read all … Continue reading Podcasts and Audiobooks to Inspire Healthier, More Purposeful Living
Concocted from a science lab to look like stuff we need and want, I'd say plastic and processed sugar are just FrankenMonsters. Can we agree that neither promote health and wellbeing? Even so, we love them just the same. Now that we've come to rely on them, it is really tough to ignore their siren … Continue reading Two FrankenMonsters: Plastic and Processed Sugar
You are creating an energy efficient home and of course you want clean, dry clothes but a big gaping hole in your wall (called a dryer vent) doesn't fit into your airtight plan. What to do? Hang clothes outside or inside to dry. Install your dryer with a vent outside of your building envelope (garage, … Continue reading Drying Clothes in an Energy Efficient Home
My favorite online resources for everyday products that are more sustainable, eco-friendly, zero waste and plastic-free: earthheroThis site has a lot of sustainable and waste-free products but many of their products do include plastic. Orders usually only take a few days to arrive. Free shipping if you order at least $50 in products. I like … Continue reading eco-friendly online shops
Looking to brighten your home home with just the right lights? Shopping at just one lighting store or one online venue may be easiest but looking around will pay off both in style and cost. Isaac Sconce from Schoolhouse is one of my favorites that I used in our hall and stair landing. The following are … Continue reading Best Places to Find Unique Lights You’ll Love
Finding gorgeous and comfortable seating for the living room, without toxic flame retardants, use to be a difficult and ridiculously expensive task. At one point I considered buying wood chairs with leather sling seating and no cushions to avoid the chemicals but, they looked terrible for napping! In the last few years, many furniture stores … Continue reading Low Chemical Homes Deserve Low Chemical Furnishings!
Three homes? Everyone? Maybe you are maintaining three beautiful homes, maybe you can barely afford the mortgage and taxes on one home or maybe you rent and the landlord maintains your home. If each and every one of us maintains three homes, what three homes am I talking about? If we think of homes as … Continue reading We Each Maintain Three Homes
We are talking range hoods, btw. I am obsessed with houses, health and the environment. So, this morning I open my Clever email from Architectural Digest and enjoy the dopamine pleasure of viewing the minimalist, white and bright interior pictures of Matthew Frost's home in Los Angeles. Ah, so dreamy! The dopamine quickly turns to … Continue reading To Hood or Not to Hood
What?! Why would anyone wash their hands with detergent, it's so harsh! We use detergent in the dishwasher and washing machine but who on earth would use it to wash their hands? Did you know that most commercial "soaps" are actually detergents? Crazy, right? Hand washing "detergents" can come in both bar (Dove Beauty Bar) … Continue reading Are You Washing Your Hands with Detergent?
What we make healthy, makes us healthy. A greener kitchen is healthier for us, our family, friends and the air, water, and soil that gives us life. Reducing, reusing, recycling are great ways to green our lives. Another is simply replacing items we currently use for healthier options. These 6 replacements at our kitchen sink … Continue reading 6 Easy Swaps to Green Your Kitchen Sink (No Vinegar Involved)
White, black, grey, navy blue and wood cabinets are trending in popular design pictures. Two tone kitchens are still trending. Farmhouse kitchens--from modern to traditional--continue to entice. Marble, quartz and soapstone love have replaced granite. Open shelves still looking good (but from an early adopter, my goodness they sure have an affinity for dust). However, … Continue reading The kitchen trend few are talking about…
Indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air quality. Why? Every product used to build, furnish, wash, clean, moisturize, and more have the potential to emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds). According to the EPA, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some … Continue reading Detoxify 1/3 of Your Life In One Easy Step
We are strong women and who work to be our best and healthiest selves. We eat organic food, sleep on an organic mattress and use organic feminine products because we want to reduce our toxic load to live a long and incredibly vibrant life. So, naturally, we want to have the healthiest underwear that is … Continue reading Healthy Organic Underwear for Women
Shhhhh, don't tell anyone but I'm not perfect... sometime I end up dollar-voting for the candidate that is convenient and cute. Yes, it's true. I admit it.
Ah, Spring! The grass is green, the leaves are unfurling, the birds are singing and the WEEDS are in bloom! Why, why can the tulips and daffodils not proliferate at the same breakneck speed as the dandelions?! Sigh. I suppose we'd have to start calling them weeds if they did. Anyway, while some may love … Continue reading Blasting weeds with a shotgun?!
Jen Grauer 