See entire November 23, 2011 newsletter including guest schedule and videos

I went back and forth about how to start this newsletter. Giving thanks? Thoughts on making your Black Friday green? Amazing feedback from the last newsletter? Giving thanks won but I’ve covered them all.

It is Thanksgiving tomorrow and I have sooooo much to be thankful for that at some point, it might sound like a bit too much. Let me give it a try anyway. Do you have any idea how grateful/thankful/appreciative I am for each and every one of you? For your comments? Your feedback? Your support? Your belief in the mission and vision of Mrs. Green? I would count the ways if I could. Every day I wake up with the belief that I am supposed to be Mrs. Green and that I am supposed to be doing everything I can to make our world a healthier place. Every comment, every “like”, every share, every “I believe in you,” every “great newsletter, great show, great Facebook post” keeps the energizer going in the bunny. Every day I give thanks because you are there and because you care. There are days of doubt and questioning – what do you think you are doing? Who made you the big green expert? And then that phone call or email or text or even face-to-face message shows up – you are Mrs. Freakin’ Green and just keep doing what you are doing. And so I shall.

My family, my friends, my green team, my sponsors and advertisers, my followers on FB, twitter, blog and my listeners – thanks for making the wheels in this green bus go round and round. Keep me focused, keep me challenged and keep me engaged. And I will keep being thankful for all of it and for all of you. Happy, blessed, joyous, and wonderful Thanksgiving to each and every one of you!

Making your Black Friday Green

Where the heck did the phrase Black Friday come from anyway? Who made that one up and why? How come it is, in fact, the biggest shopping day of the year? Well, I found out it’s actually a good thing. According to one source: “Black Friday, in its current usage, refers to the fact that this one day has a reputation for putting retailers “into the black.” In the world of business, being in the black means you’re making a profit. And if you’re not making a profit on the busiest shopping day of the year, you’re probably doing something wrong.” I get it and I still wish we could change it. Don’t you like green better? As in the money is flowing, the grass is greener because we are on the other side, because we have a green light brightly shining telling us to go and the worst is behind us? Oh well, I am not taking Black Friday on – yet!

There are, however, some really important things we can do to make it green. Think “buy local” in every way you possibly can. For your gifts, for your gas, for your dining out, for your health, wellness and beauty products, for a new camera, for your books, for your pets – all for the health of your community. Maybe you can only pull off a 10% shift. If that’s 10% more than last year, hats off to you! Be creative and make it 20 or 30%! Maybe your prolific reader family member would rather get three times as many books from a used bookstore like Bookmans than one new book. Maybe your best friend hasn’t eaten at the newest locally owned restaurant or hasn’t been treated to a great massage from your miracle worker. Maybe someone you love would be delighted to see some gift certificates from Goodwill. Want to really stretch? Maybe you could give your son or daughter or sister or brother a check-up for their heating and cooling from someplace like Temco Air Environmental? A tune-up for their VW at Chapman? And if you REALLY want to make them happy, an overnight stay at Miraval????

Disclaimer? Nope. Everyone I named is connected with Mrs. Green’s World in some way. And there are some supporters who I didn’t mention so I don’t lose you. This is my way of thanking them at this special time of reflection because if truth be told, without them Mrs. Green would have gone away a long time ago instead of flourishing, growing, inspiring!

Feedback from the Tribe on School Lunches

Wow comes to mind. I have never received this much feedback on a single topic. Just thought it would be fun and fabulous to share with you what some of YOU had to say. I am not sure where I am going to be able to take this school lunch issue but just raising awareness and getting people fired up did my heart good.

“Freakin’ AMEN sister! Timely article…I was just debating how a Bosco stick could be considered lunch. What the hell is a Bosco stick, you ask? It’s a cheese-filled bread stick that is generally dipped into more processed cheese when it is eaten. I swear that Ohio school children must eat at least one a week.

It isn’t like I don’t love a cheesy carbohydrates, but DANG. Just looking at them causes me to gain weight, become sluggish and amp up my ADD.

So, aside from the Crusades, what else is new with you? We’re wrapping up a kitchen project here and I was thinking of you while I was Freecycling and Craigslisting (verbs?) all of our former kitchen stuff. Love, love, love your newsletters and videos and I’m thrilled to see that Jeannette will be on the show soon. Two of my favorites on one show! Hope all is well – Love to you!” — Lisa (first show guest on Mrs. Green – The Original Bag Lady)

“Love it, Gina! I read the article when you posted on FB, and I love your response. Amazing what drives this country, isn’t it?” — Debbie – TriSports

“I so agree with you about this. Kids eat what they become accustomed to eating.  What’s happening about this locally? How can I help?” — Kate Maguire Jensen, University of Arizona (Kate – I am working on this one – stay tuned.)

“First, let me say I loved and hated your newsletter. I always love how you keep us informed of topics we truly need to understand, however, this topic of trying to improve the foods our kids eat at school agitated ME just as it did YOU. Nutrition should be our focus.. that is if we truly care about our children… our future as Americans. But NO, it has to boil down to large companies dumping huge amounts of money into the DEBATE solely to keep their specific products in our school lunches. Their objective: making money. Maybe they could use those dollars to improve the products they market to kids… I know, silly thought, eh?? And yes my son grew up eating spinach, broccoli, apples, and fresh peaches. And the majority of school days I packed his lunch! I do believe the movement towards better nutrition for our children begins at home. My son learned to eat veggies and fruits because it was part of our family’s regular diet. But if we cannot convince parents to provide nutritional foods for their kids at home (yet another topic of agitation), school lunch may be the ONLY vehicle for some kids. Really, are we truly having serious debates over this?????? …..” from a mom in Tucson. — Cathy Rankin Temco Air Environmental

“good rant” — Linda Gee

“For many years I have expressed concern about school lunches and always heard ” but the children won’t eat if not served these foods.” Too bad, they will eat when hungry. I was just having a conversation concerning how adult friends complain because they need to lose some pounds——–guess I’m too polite or else have found they really do not want advice. Stay away from fast food joints and plan healthy meals at home. It really is simple.” — Eileen

“Great article on school lunches. What a battle. I am sure in your research you also saw that this generation of kids will be the first to not outlive their parents because of health challenges.” — Theresa Bankert

Thanks for caring, thanks for sharing, thanks for letting me know you are out there!