Oh lovely Great Apes

Just for starters, the taxonomic group described as Great Apes include chimpanzees, bonobos gorillas, orangutans and oh yeah, humans (but that's a different post for a different day). There are many sanctuaries, rescue programs, rehabilitation units and conservatories established but one I wanted to bring some light to is the Great Ape Project. This organization is an international organization that aims to defend the rights of the non-human great primates.

According to Wikipedia, The Great Ape Project (GAP), founded in 1993, is an international organization of primatologists, psychologists, ethicists, and other experts who advocate a United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Great Apes that would confer basic legal rights on non-human great apes: chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans. The rights suggested are the right to life, the protection of individual liberty, and the prohibition of torture.

According to GAP's website "[t]hey have complex social structures, learn to communicate through sign language and to use the computer with the reasoning of a seven-year old child. They can recognize themselves in the mirror and other animals or people in photos....Gorillas’ emotion is something easy to notice. In zoos, after a while they stay alone, they get depressed and do not accept anymore company, neither other gorillas nor other species. In wild life, several females had already been found carrying their babies who died from a illness during a lot of days. They face the death of a close relative with much sorrow.

An example listed is "Kanzi was raised in Language Research Centre of Georgia University and understands 5 thousand words in English, the majority spoken words, not gestures. She knows how to make fire cutting branches and putting fire with matches or lighters and her favorite hobby is computer games."

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Great Apes information according to the World Wildlife Fund:

Common Name: Bonobo, dwarf chimpanzee, gracile chimpanzee, pygmy chimpanzee
Location: Central Africa
Population: Estimates range from 60,000 to fewer than 5,000 individual

Common Name: Sumatran orangutan
Location: Northern Sumatra
Population: Approximately 7,500 individuals in the wild

Common Name: Bornean orangutan
Location: Borneo
Population: Central Bornean = 38,000; NW Bornean = 3,000

Common Name: Eastern lowland gorilla, Grauer's gorilla;
Location: Central Africa
Population: Unknown; may have reached 17,000 at one time

Common Name: Central chimpanzee
Location: Central Africa
Population: Up to 115,000 individuals

Common Name: Mountain gorilla
Location: Central Africa
Population: Approximately 700 individuals

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Support the remaining great apes of the world through the following organizations:

Donate items from Center for Great Apes Wishlist

Become a chimpanzee guardian

Travel to East Africa with the Jane Goodall Institute

Donate towards Gorilla protection

Adopt an infant Gorilla, Charles, a group of mountain gorillas, or other gorilla adoption kits.

Purchase a fun chimp, orangutan or bonobo kit.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

More Sugar Snap Peas Please

Courtesy of an hour at Rowes Produce Farm in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

There are two foods that I can eat well past my comfort threshold: the first being fresh picked blue berries -- I can't stop no matter how much my tummy hurts -- and the second being fresh sugar snap peas; the latter being much easier on my digestive track. Fortunately for me, my husband and I live one expressway exit from a huge U-Pick Pea/Strawberry/Raspberry farm. As always the priority is peas on the first trip and strawberries on the second as the seasons not-so-conveniently overlap.

Monday we made our first trek out to the fields. We only had an hour to pick before closing and had a sleeping baby boy. We scurried to pick pods right next to the car and when that resource became wilted we took turns going out deeper into the fields. Fortunately little Samuel woke up, with a shriek none the less, and we plucked him up and all headed out into the field. I breastfed my son and then took over picking as I am quite the picky pea picker -- must be taut, rotund, succulent and sealed, otherwise the peas have mold, are dry or too small to enjoy. Before we knew it we had our peck and were ready to head home. Before reaching the car my husband managed to fill both hands with strawberries from the next field as I reminded him that technically it truly is "all you can eat" -- hey they even advertise it!!

And that being said, we spent five dollars and had enough peas to freeze several cups (shelled this year, as I have learned...), steam several cups and eat more than I can count. Tonight's dinner was a fabulous concoction of summer vegetables on brown rice with Marsala sauce and chickpeas -- ahhh!! I love summer!!

Adagio Tea - Sooo good!

Delicious!!! Addictive!! Tea always brings me joy, but today my spirit is innumerably lifted. I cannot believe that I have finally found an herbal tea that I want to drink during the summer. Not only do I want to drink it during the summer, but I want to drink it during the day - hot! It's just that tasteful. It smells like heaven and fills your chest with its robust essence. While I have listed my favorite Adagio teas, today the Blood Orange is my favorite.

Blood Orange Tea
A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices that brews up a mouthwatering cup of herbal tea. Entirely caffeine free, it holds a special appeal for kids and sweet-toothed adults. Yet contains no sugar or other sweeteners. The flavor is all natural, emanating from orange peels, hibiscus flowers, apple pieces, rose hip and safflower. Highly addictive; Please proceed with caution!

Chamomile
The finest chamomile flowers in the world come from the Nile River Valley of Egypt. Considered a remedy for all ills by the ancient Egyptians, this golden herb remains a modern favorite to promote calm and relieve anxiety. When steeped, these fragrant blossoms smell of freshly cut apples and produce a rich, golden cup with superior flavor. This caffeine free herbal infusion is delicious served with honey.

Peppermint
Dried peppermint leaves to make a minty, refreshing drink that is highly satisfying both hot and cold. A native of the Mediterranean, peppermint leaves were often used to crown luminaries in ancient Greece and Rome. It continues to be revered for its refreshingly light aroma, as well as its natural, caffeine-free taste. If you have yet to try gourmet peppermint tea, you'll be pleasantly surprised by its superior flavor.

If a man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty - Japanese proverb

Sugar cravings connected to insulin-resistance, low Serotonin, low-fat diets?

"Food cravings mean that the body has its signals mixed up. When we are exhausted or blue, we have low blood sugar and/or low serotonin, and the body signals the brain that it needs a pick-me-up. This signal causes a sugar craving or carbohydrate craving.

Serotonin is our basic feel-good hormone. If serotonin is low, we feel sad or depressed. And hormonal imbalance or weak digestion can lead to low serotonin. Unfortunately, sugars and simple carbohydrates release a short burst of serotonin — we feel good for a moment, but soon return to our low-serotonin state — then crave more sugar and simple carbohydrates. It’s a downward spiral.

If you eat a low-fat diet in the hope of losing weight, you unintentionally make the problem worse. If, like millions of women, you have eaten a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet for many years, or followed fad diets, the odds are good that you have become at least partially insulin resistant."

-WomentoWomen.com
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The Secrets of Serotonin, Revised Edition: The Natural Hormone That Curbs Food and Alcohol Cravings, Reduces Pain, and Elevates Your Mood. Author: Carol Hart, PhD

According to Dr. Hart:

"Serotonin has a powerful effect on the brain: enough and you feel great; too little and you may binge on food and alcohol, get a migraine, suffer from insomnia, or become depressed. In fact, millions of people take prescription antidepressants every day to compensate for their low serotonin levels, without knowing that changes in diet and lifestyle may be all they need to improve their mood.

This revised and updated edition features the latest research on serotonin, including:
*The link between yo-yo dieting and serotonin deficiencies
*How serotonin is connected to eating disorders
*Why migraines and depression are far more common among women than men
*Serotonin's role in relieving irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other chronic pain conditions."

---- Secrets of Serotoin cited on Google Scholar

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Cravings chart according Naturopathyworks

If you crave this...	What you really need is...	And here are healthy foods that have it:
Chocolate	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Sweets	Chromium	Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, calves liver, chicken
	Carbon	Fresh fruits
	Phosphorus	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, grains
	Sulfur	Cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
Bread, toast	Nitrogen	High protein foods: fish, meat, nuts, beans
Oily snacks, fatty foods	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Coffee or tea	Phosphorous	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes
	Sulfur	Egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables
	NaCl (salt)	Sea salt, apple cider vinegar (on salad)
	Iron	Meat, fish and poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Alcohol, recreational drugs	Protein	Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts
	Avenin	Granola, oatmeal
	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
	Glutamine	Supplement glutamine powder for withdrawal, raw cabbage juice
	Potassium	Sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, seaweed, bitter greens
Chewing ice	Iron	Meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Burned food	Carbon	Fresh fruits
Soda and other carbonated drinks	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Salty foods	Chloride	Raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt
Acid foods	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Preference for liquids rather than solids	Water	Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Preference for solids rather than liquids	Water	You have been so dehydrated for so long that you have lost your thirst. Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Cool drinks	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
Pre-menstrual cravings	Zinc	Red meats (especially organ meats), seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables
General overeating	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables
Lack of appetite	Vitamin B1	Nuts, seeds, beans, liver and other organ meats
	Vitamin B3	Tuna, halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds and legumes
	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
	Chloride	Raw goat milk, unrefined sea salt
Tobacco	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green and red fruits and vegetables

1. Lectures, Cheryl M. Deroin, NMD, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Spring 2003 (healthy food recommendations)
2. Benard Jenson, PhD, The Chemistry of Man B. Jensen Publisher, 1983 (deficiencies linked to specific cravings and some food recommendations)

Consuming wisely

So you don't want to live in a cottage full of antiques, but you can't stand the thought of perpetually buying useless knick-knacks and window coverings just to make your house a home? You like modern appliances, tvs and decor but feel guilty about the buy-buy-buy mentality? You want your children to be covered in cute, stylish designs without supporting sweatshops and international child exploitation for profit of big companies? Do not fear, you are not doomed to a life of sheet-dresses and expensive independently made household items. No one will dare to call you cheap with these master eco-friendly guidelines; and remember frugality is the new chic!

Rule #1: Buy used
First and most obvious is to stop the cycle of consumption -> waste -> consumption -> waste by using products that are already in circulation. Someone already paid the big company a profit by purchasing directly; why pay them again for a new item? My belief is that while I don't want to be the one supporting the corporation directly via my purchasing dollar, I'd rather not boycott an already-purchased item only to have it tossed in a landfill. I get it, I'm still promoting the product through viral advertising, so-to-speak, but in the practical picture I feel it's a fair option. Easy options for buying used are yard sales, local ads and consignment shops --- which brings me to rule #2, support local vendors.

Rule #2: Buy local
In relation to Rule#1, I prefer to buy not only used but local - and many times both. I am typically happy to purchase from a consignment shop as I know my money is going to both an individual and supporting a local business all while redistributing used products. Sometimes, like in the case of produce, you simply cannot buy used - how strange would that be! If I need to buy something I prefer to buy it directly from the source, skipping the money-grubbing middle man and giving the full profits to the laborer. Such is the case for farmers markets, local direct farms and fruit stands, U-Pick facilities and local distributors who sell produce to locally owned shops such as co-ops.
If I need to buy a quick gift or other item, which most appropriately should be new, I try to support independently owned shops such as local bookstores, "freelance" jewelers and other home-made arts and treats.
Lastly, worst comes to worst, I try to buy from a chain that is headquartered in my state and provides local jobs. Living in Michigan this means shopping at Meijer vs. other competitors. It's a spectrum of ways to purchase local, all of which support local economy and prosperity.

Rule #3: Fix - don't replace!
Parable of the day:
Recently one of my son's favorite stroller toys started to sing like it was under water - time for new batteries! Upon unscrewing and unsnapping we were annoyed to find that it did not take standard batteries as suspected but multiple specialized watch batteries (3 to be exact!). After finding the appropriate batteries, we realized that it would nearly cost the same to purchase a new toy than to replace the batteries. My first thought was, "Might as well just buy a new toy" but then my conscience immediately bopped me on the head and I realized this was probably an evil scheme to promote multiple purchases (lol or not). Still, we purchased the batteries, it ended up costing slightly less, and I felt a whole lot better.

Rule #4: Swap it out
Find people with similar items and swap! The easiest thing to do this with is clothes, especially children's clothes. However I've read numerous articles on women who come together with bags of clothes, shoes (ew or ok?) handbags and other items they are simply bored with in hopes of making an equal swap for something "new". No money involved and you fulfill that inner tugging for something new. Other benefits? Less "boring" items end up in landfills, unless you donate - and cheers to you!; less money handed over to Wal-Mart, Old Navy, Gap, Macy's and the list goes on; plus you feel good about seeing someone else get excited over your items - remember as long as you contribute quality items, the reciprocal feeling of "giving" will warm your heart :)

Rule #5: Trade it up (yes people still do it)
Okay so maybe this is a lot like swapping, but it's a different point I want to make. I have had GREAT success with this method. About a year ago my husband and I moved into a home from a condo as we were expecting our first child. Our small quantity of furniture did not come even close to filling one room little alone a whole house! We didn't have any extra money to spend after pouring all our money into moving, closing and basic necessities (light bulbs). Specifically we had one entire empty room. The plan was to trade. Our home had appliances and we brought some appliances from our condo. We took our non-necessities and extra items and made propositions to friends and family members (Craigslist works too - ask my brother who sought a mountain bike for end tables). The result? We traded a refrigerator for an old set of leather sofas. They were definitely used, scratched by cats, marred by dogs, a little stained but overall BEAUTIFUL and very comfy!! Besides being free, the best part was the lack of guilt when our kitties started using them as a scratching post :)

Rule #6: Recycle
Pretty straight forward; if you bring in something new, recycle (or donate or sell) something old.

Rule #7: Watch waste with a creative eye
The opposite end of #6, look at everything you go to trash with a creative eye. Can you use it? Can someone else use it? Can the recycling plant use it? You'll be surprised how little "trash" you really have each week.

Rule #8: Find joy in non-mass produced items
We needed a toy chest as our living room was a scattered mess! We first looked at Ikea because of the low cost but while shopping at Treasure Mart (a household item consignment shop) during the Ann Arbor Farmers Market we found a beautiful, old, hand-made cedar chest in nearly perfect condition. We squealed with delight! It cost us $15 more than the Ikea version, but what a small price to pay for something so beautiful, used and made with such love. My husband was tickled and full of grins with his find; I told him that he finally understood nesting as opposed to filling-up-your-home-with-boring-yet-practical-devices. He gleamed.

Rule #9: Create/produce/grow your own

• Garden/Sow-Harvest
• Craft/Create
• Sew/Knit/Crochet
• Invent
• Cook/Bake/Jar/Can/Preserve
  

Don't take the easy way and drain your spirit; do it yourself and glow in your successes!

Rule #10: Invest wisely
When you do need to make a purchase, invest with your heart and your head. Make sure its something that will bring you ambiance not just aesthetics. Shop for quality products that save energy and require minimal replacement. Surround yourself with things you love - not just the first things you see. That is how you accumulate stuff and slowly drain your money away.

Happy savings equal happy shopping!

My sweet little lamb

Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight
With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed

Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight
Bright angels beside my darling abide
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast

Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight
With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed

Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight
Bright angels beside my darling abide
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast

Currently Reading..or trying to with a baby!

My favorite Etsy purchase ever!

My little Monkey Man

To me, the beginning of wisdom is that we are, at once, both divine and primate.

-- Earon S. Davis

Homemade Baby Food

VS:

According to Wholesome Baby Food there are many benefits to making your own baby food, a couple of which are listed below:

1- Making your baby's food homemade gives you total control over what is put into your baby’s food; you know it's free of additives that a tiny tummy simply does not need!

2- You take extra steps to ensure only high quality foods are selected for your baby. Do the commercial baby food companies put this much love and care into their jars?

It is also economical! Imagine how much you are paying for the jars, packaging, labeling, marketing, shipping, stocking....the list goes on. Anything in "individual" sizes are more expensive. Imagine how many portions you can make when preparing the food yourself! For more information on preparation and storage of baby food visit WholesomeBabyFood.com

Here is a list of a few different babyfood prep links:

Mango and Blueberries

Avocado and Lentils

Papaya and Pears

Carrots and Peas

Quinoa and Buckwheat

Remember that breast milk is best and that for the first year babies should consume the primary portion of their calories and nutrients from breast milk or infant formula. What's great about homemade solid-purees is that they can be diluted with breast milk (and some fresh cases formula too!) and frozen for later use.