The Present Alternative

For my children’s birthday parties we give them a choice. They can allow all their friends to bring presents, or they can request no presents and go to the store to pick something out for themselves. They always opt for the latter. You feel great because it means fewer toys to keep track of, no thank-you notes, less items going to some landfill, and less of a hassle for all the parents.

How to “sell it” to your kids? Just take them to the toy store first to get ideas for their special present. My daughter just got her first scooter this way.

Does this mean that family members don’t give presents? Of course not! We only do the no-presents thing for the big birthday party event.

For older kids, you can even have party goers make a donation to your child’s favorite charity. Let your kid decorate a collection “bowl” from an old yogurt or milk container. Then, party goers can make their donations at your event. Sounds really granola, but we’ve seen so many kids love this!

On invitations, the old, “no presents required” phrase doesn’t cut it instead try the following:

“Please, we request no presents and will not have a “present-opening” at the party. Every year we give the kids a choice - presents or they can go to the toy store and pick something. They always opt for the latter and we think it benefits everyone!”

OR

"Please, we request no presents and will not have a “present-opening” at the party. NAME OF CHILD has made a collection bowl for NAME OF CHARITY, and is accepting cash donations at our event. Go to: WEBSITE ID FOR CHARITY to find out more."

Happy Gums, White Teeth, and Fresh Breath in no Time!

We don’t know about your schedule, but with jobs and kids, the last thing we have time for is tending to our pet’s oral hygiene. We found a super fast, simple, and natural way to take care of all this. Of course, you’ll need to consult with your pet’s veterinarian before starting any treatment.

There are many products that you can simply add to the pet’s drinking water. The products provide protection from plaque (some work better than others; we use an all-natural product). As an added bonus their breath also improves. It is super fast, inexpensive, and reduces the risk of having to put your pet under general anesthesia for a doctor’s teeth cleaning.

Both my cats have gum disease. I started adding a few drops of the product to their water bowl each day (which only takes a couple seconds in the morning) and am happy to report that on each doctor visit the cats’ teeth and gums receive a clean bill of health.

When I told Beverly about it she was excited because she was able to eliminate the chore of convincing Mieke her teeth should be brushed. She uses an old milk jug to make a solution that lasts her 40 lb dog about 2-3 days. This takes her about 10 seconds 2-3 times per week. Now she can focus on getting her young kids’ teeth brushed rather than the dog’s!

Got Acne?

If your cat or dog is suffering from a rash or acne on its chin first go to your veterinarian to rule out mites or an infection. It could just be your pet’s ceramic water/food bowls. Many pets are allergic and simply switching to stainless steel bowls clears up the problem! Amara’s vet suggested the switch for her cat and his chin cleared up right away.

No More Cat Litter in Your Bed

If you have long-haired cats and are tired of kitty litter being tracked around the house (or in their fur), consider a kitty litter with larger pellets. Heavier pellets are less likely to be carried (and deposited) throughout the house. I don’t know about you, but finding cat litter in my bed is not acceptable.

Another reason to consider the pellet-style of liter is that it is significantly more environmentally friendly – the brand I use is made from recycled paper and is biodegradable in landfills. Now my cats could have Al Gore over for coffee.