TreeHuggingLunatic.com

Are you ready? The information I’m going to tell you about next has the potential to change your life in amazing and wonderful ways. Or, on the other hand, it may reinforce that nagging suspicion you have that I am, in fact, a lunatic.

Curious? I want to tell you about my personal experience with a concept called the Law of Attraction. The idea is that by focusing your attention on certain thoughts and feelings, you can design your life to be everything you desire, whether it’s greener technologies, living off-the-grid, world peace, or a fat bank account.

The law of attraction is not a new concept; it’s been around for ages, although it did recently gain a lot of attention through a movie called The Secret. While I really enjoyed that movie, I was already familiar with the concept. I had heard about it from a college friend of mine years ago.

My journey into these ideas began in 1999, when my friend introduced me to a special meditation tool that’s related to these ideas. At the time, I had worked for the same company for ten years, and I felt frustrated. I used the meditation tool to focus on a better situation. Within weeks, I had landed a job closer to my home that paid over $20,000 more than my previous job. I realize this is a very big claim, yet I assure you I am not exaggerating. I may be a bit off-the-wall, but I am honest to a fault.

I have had many other experiences implementing the law of attraction since then, and I am not the only person my friend has helped. In fact, he started a personal development company to help others with these concepts, and he became well known for helping people have success with these principles. Now, he is internationally known as an expert in the field. His name is Bob Doyle, and he was featured in the movie, The Secret.

Yes, it’s fun to name drop! I admit it! But I actually do have point to make. I just got a look at a new release of his program, Wealth Beyond Reason 2.0, and it’s fantastic! For years, I have admired the abundance of material he has put together on the subject of attracting the life of your dreams. He has audio files, videos, books, meditation tracks, interviews, tutorials, and more! He explains the quantum physics that make the law of attraction work (it’s not all just new age quackery, after all!), along with practical techniques, exercises, and real-life experiences.

While I have consistently found value in the material every time I’ve used it, the one thing that I felt had been a drawback for me was that feeling of being overwhelmed by it all.

With this new release, he has the content organized into a full online course that walks you through the material step by step. I really like this because I tend to get excited about this stuff, and then I jump around from resource to resource, unsure if I missed something important. For example, I’m very good at visualization, but I think I missed the information about overcoming resistance. Missing key ingredients can have a big impact on your success with these principles. The new release also tracks your progress, so it helps keep you on track with each lesson or exercise.

I know these concepts work, and I know the material Bob has assembled is outstanding. With the new release of his program, I also see that he’s organized the content into an excellent online course. I just checked the cost, and right now through February 7, 2009, it’s only $227. After that, the price immediately returns to $347!

I believe even the higher price is worth it, and he does offer payment plans and a guarantee. But I wanted to make sure I told everyone about it now, while it’s $120 off.

By the way, does it sound like I’m a walking commercial? I’m actually sitting while I type this, but I admit to sounding like an advertisement. The fact is, this material has worked for me, and if you’re drawn to the subject, I truly believe it will make a difference for you, too. So that’s why I’m raving about it so much. However, here’s that “honest to a fault” thing I was telling you about: I want to be clear that I did sign up for the Wealth Beyond Reason affiliate program years ago when I started having so much success with the principles. So if you follow my link to the program, I get some kind of credit for that—I don’t remember what since it’s been so long since I signed up for it—but I’m sure it’s something good! (If you want to check out the details of his program without my getting any credit, just Google Wealth Beyond Reason.)

So, I ask you again… Are you ready?

Click here to check out Wealth Beyond Reason 2.0

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

Should I blog tonight? All work and no play makes for a dull Tree Hugging Lunatic…

Why is it that hippies like tie-dyes? Is there any scientific reason for it? I realize I’m making a broad generalization here, but seriously… it’s been my experience that the majority of the people I’ve met who call themselves hippies like tie-dyed clothing.

I do actually have a theory about it. (Yes, of course I do!) I think that people who are relaxed and down-to-earth (a.k.a. hippies) are in touch with their artistic sides. Tie-dying stuff is an easy way to be creative, and wearing tie-dyed clothing is a cool way to show off your creativity to others.

So maybe I’m full of veggie bologna with this theory. (It’s happened before.) But honestly, I do believe that it’s very important to be in touch with your creative side.

I’m writing this blog while I’m sitting on a floor pillow in a Japanese tea room-inspired alcove in the fabulous Safehouse Coffee and Tea in historic downtown Griffin, Georgia. I came here tonight because I’m a member of the Artisans’ Guild of Griffin, and we meet here every Tuesday night.

Sometimes, we have an artist present some special craft technique or related information; sometimes we just hang out. It’s quite common to see people drawing, or writing, or playing music here. And it’s completely expected that there will be smiles, and hugs, and fabulous coffee.

They actually roast the beans on site and grind and press them to create the most aromatic, savory coffee around. After you’ve tasted it, you’ll understand that, to the team here at Safehouse, coffee and tea are art forms.

I joined the Artisans’ Guild a little over a year ago, and I’m so thankful for the impact it’s had on my life. I love the connections I’ve made with so many cool, artsy people, and I feel so much better when I release my inner artist by doing something creative. If you haven’t tried something artistic lately, I highly recommend it. You don’t have to show anyone the finished product if you don’t want to. But the process itself can be very cathartic.

In addition to my “day job” as a web designer, in the past year I’ve enjoyed making handcrafted jewelry, beaded “floss-style” bookmarks, the t-shirt/mug/canvas bag designs you see plastered all over the TreeHuggingLunatic.com site, along with various other creative endeavors. Shoot, I’ve even enjoyed tie-dye!

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

We all know that a good Tree Hugging Lunatic is going to choose Earth-friendly options whenever possible, right? Well, today I’m going to tell my little story about my lovely bathtub drain. (Hint: It didn’t used to be so lovely.)

Yes, I admit it. We had a slow drain. In the past, I might have been tempted to use those harsh drain chemicals to clear the clog, but not anymore! Like any good Tree Hugging Lunatic, I knew I needed to at least research my green options. Turns out there’s no need for that nasty stuff after all. Here’s the simple technique that worked for me.

STEP ONE: First of all, pull out the gunk that you can get to. I’m not telling you go rent a drain snake from your local hardware store; just take the cover off the drain and use some long needle nose pliers and/or a wire coat hanger to pull out the gunk that’s in reach. If you don’t know how to take the cover off, it’s worth it to learn. Some drain covers use a simple screw in system; others may require you remove the overflow plate. If you’re not sure, you may want to Google and/or ask for help with this step. I admit that I needed help learning how to remove our drain’s cover; but now that I know how to do it, it’s very easy! Also, I admit that I tried the remaining steps without removing the drain cover first, and I didn’t get the results I wanted, so don’t skip this step!

STEP TWO: Put some baking soda in the drain. I used about a half cup. You want a generous amount, but not so much that you have to pack it into the drain.

STEP THREE: Add about a half cup of vinegar to the drain next. It will start to bubble as the vinegar reacts to the baking soda.

STEP FOUR: Let the baking soda mixture set for about ten minutes while you boil a pot of water. Then slowly add the boiling water to the drain.

Once I followed all the steps in order, my drain worked perfectly! A tubful of water completely drained before I could finish drying off! Ah, happiness is a clean drain!

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

I live in the country, and I love it. Okay, I’m not crazy about the lack of nearby vegetarian restaurants and other progressive outlets, but the peace and serenity is awesome!

About ten years about, my husband and I bought a little fixer-upper in the middle of a great plot of land. We’ve made a lot of progress on the rustic little house, and we let a lot of the land go natural. It’s beautiful here, and I’m so thankful.

We’re not off-the-grid at this time (I hope someday we will be…), but it definitely feels like we’ve unplugged from society when we’re at home. Before this, we lived in a little one-bedroom apartment right in the city of Atlanta; so while I know it’s not as large as a lot of homesteads out there, our 23-acre spread feels like a sanctuary.

It truly suits me, as I don’t think I could ever be happy in a suburb. While I can appreciate a quaint neighborhood with sidewalks and tree-lined streets, I abhor the cookie-cutter developments that have no personality and no old growth trees. I think that’s why I’m so amused by the humorous quote by Bill Vaughan that captures this ironic element of our society: “Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them.”

I hope you enjoy this design as much as I do!

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

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You’re probably aware that mayonnaise is made primarily from vegetable oil and egg yolks. As educated consumers try to cut egg from their diets, they’re often faced with tasteless sandwiches or question marks floating above their heads. Well, lament no more!

If you’re trying to maintain a more compassionate, earth-friendly diet, I’m here to help you out of this quandary.

First of all, I absolutely love a product called Vegenaise®. It contains canola oil, filtered water, apple cider vinegar, brown rice syrup, soy protein, sea salt, lemon juice, and mustard flour. And it tastes like a premium brand mayonnaise (minus the suffering and agricultural runoff)!

I can get Vegenaise in the health food area of my local supermarket or in my local health food store. The manufacturer is a great company called Follow Your Heart. I’m sure to blog about their cheese as well at some point, but in the meantime, here’s a link to the Vegenaise page on their website. Also, here’s a link to where you can buy the Vegenaise at VeganStore.com.

And for those of you who like the sweeter sandwich spread sometimes referred to as whipped salad dressing, may I recommend a tasty little product called Nayonaise® by Nasoya. It’s another palette pleaser, with no de-beaking involved.

Now your sandwiches don’t have to suffer (and neither do the animals).

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

I think this is a pretty obvious lesson, but it’s still worth mentioning. In order to be an authentic “Tree Hugging Lunatic,” today’s lesson is to make sure you take time to appreciate nature. The awe that’s inspired by a beautiful, natural setting can be used to connect more closely to your spiritual roots, or just to keep in mind what all the Tree Hugging is for.

I’m also going to share this design with you. It includes beautiful artwork by Christina Savino and the following quote by Robert Louis Stevenson: “It is not much for its beauty that makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanates from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.”

I love this design. I’ve shown it here in a pillow, but it’s also available on canvas bags, t-shirts, mugs, etc. I hope you enjoy it, too!

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

Today is a day of change. We watched the inauguration and Mr. Obama’s first speech given as President, and I have to say, I found it to be exceptionally moving. I realize I’m probably one of thousands of bloggers out there blogging about the inauguration of President Obama today, but it seems so monumental, I have to indulge:

Here is one of my favorite parts of his incredible speech:

“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.”

An interesting fact I learned was that a typical inauguration in the past has had about 400,000 attendees. This one had an estimated 1,400,000. I think the fact that we had about a million more people attend the inauguration than usual really says something about how America feels right now. I think most of us feel that we are ready to turn this country around. I think most of us feel this new leadership is going to make a difference for our country. I think most of us feel this day marks an exceptionally significant moment in our country’s history.

I was on Twitter periodically today, and I saw many others’ reactions as well. Most people I followed seemed as moved as I was. Most people I followed seemed happy to embrace this change.

By the way, while I was on Twitter, I noticed that Mr. Obama also has a Twitter account. Naturally, I clicked to follow him. It was a pleasant surprise that within the hour, he had also decided to follow me. I guess his inauguration day wasn’t quite as busy as one would assume. I sent him a message letting him know I liked his speech and assuring him he could contact me anytime if he ever needs help running the country.  

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

Today is the day we celebrate Martin Luther King, Junior’s birthday, and as we celebrate the advancement our society has made in racial acceptance, I think it’s a good opportunity to talk about a subject that’s been on my mind lately.

Have you ever heard someone make a racist, sexist, or otherwise offending joke and others laughed at it because it was easier than taking a stand? I hate that! People need to know when something truly ain’t cool. I know there are times when the offending joker is a client you need to treat carefully or an otherwise nice person using bad judgment and you don’t want to or can’t afford to risk alienating them. But even if you can’t show your full outrage, you can at least groan as you lightheartedly say, “I can’t believe you said that! That is so offensive!”

I think it’s important to teach our children about speaking up when we hear injustices and also about avoiding stereotypes and negative jokes in general.

The other day, my little boy made some “stupid” joke or something similar—I don’t recall exactly. But I remember saying to him, “Why don’t you make jokes about how great others are instead of cutting them down?” He proceeded to imitate Mommy with the hand opening and closing like a person talking while he said in a high-pitched voice, “I’m Mommy. I’m so great; I’m so great…”

I laughed with him but explained that he was actually mocking me. I suggested he call me, “Mommy the Magnificent.” (Do I have an ego, or what?!) He groaned and used a voice typically reserved for responding to parental reminders to complete unpleasant chores as he said, “Mommy the Magnificent…”

I called him on the tone of voice and suggested he use a delightful, happy voice. I demonstrated by calling him, “Ethan, the Excellent,” in my best royal announcer voice—you know, the one that announces visitors to the royal ball right before the trumpets blare. He laughed at my silliness.

I giggled with him as I made my point: “You know I was being silly and making a joke, but deep inside, it felt a little good, didn’t it?” He admitted it did. “Well, that’s the way it is with negative jokes, too. People may know you’re being silly and just making a joke, but deep inside, negative jokes can make people feel a little bit bad. He seemed to really understand my point, and I felt proud of my parenting skills.

Then he asked, “Can I go play video games now, Mommy the Magnificent?” (Okay, you can call me Mommy, the Manipulated…)

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier

The temperature is going to be in the teens tonight in rural Georgia, and I’m not a cold weather person. Fortunately, my husband, Michael, has a fire going in our woodstove, and I just enjoyed a hot shower.

While showering, I was thinking about how much I love my soap. It’s Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap in the almond scent. I use it primarily for washing my hair, but it has many other uses as well. (The label specifies 18 in 1!) The most common uses are body-washing, household cleaning, laundry, and brushing teeth.

There are so many things to rave about with this product that I should assure you I’m not getting any payment for this endorsement! (Okay, the link here does go through my Amazon Affiliate account, but you know what I mean!) Here are a few of my favorite points about this product:

• It’s made of all-natural, pronounceable ingredients such as water, organic oils, and natural fragrance.
• It’s made in the U.S.A.
• It contains no detergents or foaming agents.
• It’s certified organic by the Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) program.
• It’s 100% biodegradable, so it’s better than putting synthetic chemicals or antibacterial soaps into your septic system or your municipality’s wastewater.
• It’s not tested on animals.
• It’s certified Fair Trade by the Fair for Life program through IMO (Institute for Marketecology).
• It’s packaged in a bottle made with 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic.
• It’s 100% vegan.
• It cleans really well and smells yummy!

As if all this weren’t enough, the package is covered is small print with Dr. Bronner’s moral messages such as, “We’re all one…” I may not necessarily espouse all the same beliefs, but I love the concept of promoting one’s faith and philosophy in an overabundance of fine print on a product label.

The soap comes in several different scents. Apparently some people absolutely love the peppermint scent, while others find it a little strong and overly tingly on one’s sensitive areas! My strong preference is for the almond scent. It is a soothing scent that could easily be associated with special, homemade baked goods.

In my case, the scent quickly brings to mind wonderful memories of using it to bathe on a hot summer’s day while visiting my parents at their lake house. We would lather up and dive into the lake as a refreshing summertime bath.

Of course, as a responsible tree hugger, I should mention that I have since learned that anything you wouldn’t drink should not be added to a natural water source, and even Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps have had labels warning, “Don’t drink soap!”

In my research, I found a few sources that explained that, even though this soap is a favorite companion that many use while camping, it’s best to keep all soaps and other wastewater at least 200 feet from all lakes, streams, and rivers, etc.

One reason for this is that soap residue may contain ingredients that can spur unnaturally increased algae growth. While some algae is a good thing, too much can cause problems such as increased populations of disease-causing microorganisms.

So when you’re camping (or living off the land as an extreme Tree Hugging Lunatic), just carry the water from its source to where you’d like to clean up, at least 200 feet away. Sanitizers are also a good option when camping.

I’m sure I could say more (like buy locally when possible), but I think I’ve covered this topic fairly well. Besides, my happy summer memories are behind me now, and I need to go sit by the fire and warm up.

Respectfully Submitted,
Kelly Palmatier