Currently, our branch is still decorated with a valentines day theme, as that is the last holiday we sort of celebrated. Plus, hearts are pretty! <3

Another use of a branch can be to store things you actually need to use on a regular basis. Jewelry for example:

This is a small portion of the jewelry collection which my mother and I have together accumulated over the years, mostly things that are shiny and pretty, but also heavy and outdated, or perhaps just not practical with any of our current outfits.

'Branching' is an easy way to bring a litle bit of nature into your home. Its simple, people always admire it, and its a way to show off the personality of a person (or a room!) in your house.

PlEaSe NoTe: this can get really fun.. Grab a small can of spray paint from your hardware store, and paint the branch any color you want! Decorate the tips with glitter, or perhaps press a few faded silver or bronze sequins on for a little extra flare. The possibilities are endless, and its a super creative & environmentally concious way to warm up your home.

Get the kids (or adults!) to make some stamps out of leftover bottlecaps and scraps of felt.

<---- Like so!

Create the profile of a bunny rabbit, or little egg shaped circles which can later be dotted or striped. Spring flowers, sunbursts, and whatever reminds you of the celebration of warmth can be easily made.

Use a hot glue gun to secure felt or rubber to the tops of bottle caps, and with a gentle hand, press the shapes onto hollowed out eggs, greeting cards, or anything else!

Ants: Use a damp sponge to wipe cabinets & sprinkle with 6 to 8 drops of  peppermint or citronella essential oil. Additionally place 3 to 5 drops of the same oil on windowsills, doorway cracks and in the corners of cabinets under the kitchen sink. The strong concentrated scent should make them wary of continuing their journey to your cereal shelf.

Centipedes, earwigs, silverfish: They like to hang out in areas that collect moisture such as basements, garages and cabinets that house plumbing fixtures. So place several drops of peppermint, eucalyptus or citronella essential oil in areas surrounding such things. You can also add about a teaspoon to your natural cleaning solution when you're cleaning or wiping down surfaces near the ground.

Cockroaches: These disgusting little creatures DON'T DIE, and the only thing they seem to be good for is entertainment for my cat, who used to chase them through the shampoo bottles of one of our previous homes. (Mmm, lil extra protein for kitty) Regardless, try sprinkling a mixture of washing soda and sugar in dark areas where roaches like to hide, it should help veer them off. But avoid this method if you have children or pets...Cockroaches are gross, if they're really bad just get them out and consult an exterminator.

Mice: They can be cute and fuzzy! But when you're reaching for a coffee mug at 7 am and one scampers by your sight of vision to hide behind a teapot, you're probably not in the mood for cute and fuzzy. Place sprigs of fresh peppermint between pantry items in your cabinets, or make a solution of 2 cups water and 3 teaspoons of peppermint essential oil and spray it wherever you find mouse droppings.

Mites and weevils: Ew. Place a few whole nutmegs in flour containers.

Other insects: Hang a big "Bugs be Banished!" sign at your front door by placing loose bay leaves in kitchen cabinets or wherever else you find evidence of unwanted pests.

Sprinkle essential oils onto cotton balls, and stash away in the corners of your home, or car. Keep in mind, peppermint keeps you alert, lavendar calms you down, and warm cinnamon or nutmeg tones are nice for a subtle background in a kitchen or large living area.

The Beacon Food Forest project is already underway, and plans to take up 7 acres of space, just 2.5 miles from downtown Seattle.Their mission is to inspire their community to “gather together, grow our own food and rehabilitate our local ecosystem.”

Additionally, the Forest will provide free, healthy fruits and nuts which may be otherwise unaffordable to families, but are stellar for a healthy diet.

The final date for opening the Edible Forest to the public is unclear, but if this project succeeds, the future of urban cities, and the American diet has the potential to change for the better.

Professor Tom White, author of In Defense of Dolphins: A New Moral Frontier; agrues that dolphins are curious about humans and do nothing but seek contact with us. They cause no harm, so they must be more like us than we know.

Pieces from the Declairation include:

• Every individual cetacean has the right to life.

• No cetacean should be held in captivity or servitude; be subject to cruel treatment; or be removed from their natural environment.

• All cetaceans have the right to freedom of movement and residence within their natural environment.

• No cetacean is the property of any State, corporation, human group or individual.

• Cetaceans have the right to the protection of their natural environment.

• Cetaceans have the right not to be subject to the disruption of their cultures.

• Cetaceans are entitled to an international order in which these rights, freedoms and norms can be fully realized.
• No State, corporation, human group or individual should engage in any activity that undermines these rights, freedoms and norms.
• Nothing in this Declaration shall prevent a State from enacting stricter provisions for the protection of cetacean rights.

This declaration also reaches out to Whales, who like dolphins, have language (sonar), complex cultures that vary from group to group, and even differ in their use of tools/surroundings from pod to pod. After intensive studying, their brains prove to be very complex; like humans, chimps, and elephants, dolphins and whales join the very small group of animals who have the ability to recognize their own reflection.

Also according to White, “They can do things with their biological senses that we cannot achieve with our most advanced technology. Some say they have the ability to heal. Some claim these beings are telepathic. Others go further and say they are highly advanced spiritually and have a wide range of psychic abilities.” Could dolphins be a key to our future? Obviously it's not certain. But it can't hurt to protect them...just in case.

• Go to an organic spa! Up in New England, they're not so hard to find. Look for the places that are more hidden from the public. It may cost a little more, but it will likely be worth it.
• Go on a hike. Make sure to bundle up if its still extra cold in your area. If trails aren't open yet, just take a walk near a body of water with a destination in mind. It may still be a little cold, but you'll likely find ways to stay warm. ;)
• If you're lucky enough to be in an extra-warm area, go on a camping trip! Theres nothing more romantic than roughin it out together. Even better...if you ARE in a colder area, build a fire and bring lots of blankets!
• If you'd prefer going the more traditional route, book a reservation at restaurant that specializes in local or vegetarian food. Or make a nice dinner at home!

***Note: Remember, soy candles last longer! So pick a few up tonight!

Good Luck ;)

2.)79% of cut flowers come from Equador and Columbia. (Can a rose get jetlagged?) Ask if your flowers are local.

3.) Yay for Formaldehyde! This scary chemical can be found in the bits of foam that sit at the bottoms of your arrangements of flowers. Ask just to have them cut, then go the extra mile and plant them in some dark or pebbles yourself.

4.)18 karat gold lasts forever, but is it worth it? Every ring produces EIGHTEEN TONS of arsenic, cyanide, and mercury-laced waste. Maybe opt for silver...its usually more flattering anyway.

What you'll need: old newspapers, water, seeds, cheesecloth or a thin rag, immersion blender.

SIMPLY: Shred old newspapers, mix with water, blend until lumpy, gray, unappetizing consistency. Wrap in rag, wring out excess water, press in seeds (about 2 teaspoons of seeds for every sheet of newspaper). Roll in balls, or press into cutely-shaped ice cube trays (these can be purchased at any dollar store), or an empty egg tray. Leave to dry. Make sure they dry quickly, as otherwise they may start to sprout on their own.

Package back in egg trays with a ribbon for a perfect present.

**Note: If following the above recipe, your seed bombs will turn out a muuuch lighter color than these pictured. They should dry into a heather gray.

If not, we say better gettur' done now, rather than run into CVS or Walgreens on the night of the 13th with all the other sorry men and women who waited till last minute, hmm..

1.) Did you know that 25% of all seasonal cards sent are Valentines? Thats a lot of paper. Try sending an e-card, most of the time they're free, and theres no need to pace up and down the stationary isle at the grocery store! Plus, who wouldn't want to watch an animated puppy dog drag a box of chocolates across the screen? Again, and again...and again...

2.)Buy a used picnic basket. Call it 'vintage', and leave a note tied to the stem of a (insert favorite flower here), saying to promise many romantic picnics once it gets warmer out. One more reason to look forward to spring!

3.) Sometimes love and war do cross paths. In this case, they do with something called a flower/seed bomb. They're sold all over the place here in Western Mass, and can probably be found in any sort of novelty shop, or gardening store. Perhaps even at Target! The gum-ball sized "bombs" can be thrown anywhere to create a spray of wildflowers.

4.) This is one of my personal favorites: Alphabet flash card valentines. This has the potential to be really corny, or really sweet, its all up to what kind of Valentine your recipient is. The idea is to take a deck of flascards, like so:

Then paste over the original words and pictures with photographs or pieces of moments or memories from your relationship. Tie with a ribbon, and Voila!

5.) Hey, and maybe you don't have a person to buy flowers for, make promises to, or write love notes to, thats okay! This holiday doesn't have to be just about commercialistic lover-lovey-love; consider buying a lil something for the one who will always show you love, unconditionally. A new hemp woven bed, a new catnip toy, or just a bone. They won't care, they understand that it's the thought that counts.

To my Valentine, Holly <3

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