The follow statement is from Derek Sivers in his awesome 3 minute TED talk on “How to Start A Movement” that I just caught (you can view at http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement.html).  Not everyone has to, or needs to be a leader.  Finding a cause or action to follow and/or believe in is important, it helps to define our own lives and give it more meaning.  Building the momentum for a message or movement by bringing others along for the journey is powerful.

About Ron Finley, I love following super cool people who have a positive, no nonsense, worthy message.  If you are interested, you can check him out at RonFinely.com and be sure to watch his TED talk.

I have been a long time follower of Jamie Oliver and Alice Waters as well, among others including a number of artists.  Would love to hear who you choose to follow.

We have a small toaster oven, and I often forget to use the convection, but no more.  Because convection ovens use a fan to drive heat rapidly from source to food it cooks it 20-25 percent faster than a conventional oven.

Whether you are packing a lunch for your kids as they go back to school, or just packing your lunch to go to work, it is easy to grab the Ziploc bag rather than finding a reusable container.  However, today, go with the reusable.  Imagine if every household opted for this.

This is a little bit of a re-run, as we’ve already had a change of buy reusable snack bags, and pack your lunch, but it is always a good reminder.

If you do end up using a ziploc, consider reusing it again, and be sure to recycle it when it needs to be disposed.

Personal touch is a wonderful thing.  Holding a hand is an intimate gesture that connects two people by more than just words.  While holding a hand could take on many meanings, today, I am writing about it more for support and care.

If you cannot physically hold someone’s hand, send your support in another way, to someone who could use a little extra love today.  Or if your the one who needs the hand-holding, don’t go it alone, be courageous enough to seek someone’s hand to hold.

The great thing about herbs is that you do not necessarily need much room, and you can grow many indoors or out.  They add great flavor to your dishes and provide a number of health benefits.

Add a little spice in your life and grow some herbs.  It’s cheap, easy and you can’t get any more “locally grown” than your own abode.

Many farmer’s markets sell starter herbs or visit your local nursery where can buy seeds or already growing herbs.  Be sure to ask what type of sunlight the herb prefers (I have lost several attempts of cilantro to bright sun, something they do not love!).

Food is essential to our lives, and has great value.  When shared, it takes on a wonderful meaning.

Whether it is handing a healthy bar or apple to a homeless person, sharing some cookies with a neighbor, enjoying a picnic with friends or family, inviting someone new over for dinner, or donating food to a food bank.  Sharing food is such a positive feel-good exchange for both the giver and receiver.

By the way, furry friends count too!!

Your home is in many ways a reflection of yourself.  De-cluttering anything is your space can be a stress reliever.  So today, get that nuisance off your back, clear out that closet that has been bothering you and improve the Feng Shui in your home so there is room for more good things will be able to flow into your life.

While I am no psychologist, I can speak for myself in how much music influences me mentally, emotionally and even physically. The influence may be negative or positive and music taste is quite personal, but we are looking for the good.  So today, find or remember a song that simply makes you feel motivated for the good, and listen to it – over and over if you like and preferably at full volume ;).

Please share your choice!

I hope to be getting back to yoga tonight, where honoring your body is paramount.   Regardless of yoga, it is easy to forget what an amazing gift we have been given with a body that is quite frankly, a miraculous vehicle to be given in which to fulfill our life.

Honor it today and be grateful for all that is does for you.

From a collection of articles I read, the normal setting is really for heavily soiled dishes, light wash should cover you for most washes.  The difference is in the length of the cycle and number of tub fills/drains (a typical light wash may be about 80 mins, 3 tub fills, Normal being 1 1/2-2 hrs, 4-5 tub fills).  In most cases you should be good with the light wash, so give it a try today and save on water, energy and money!