Welcome to The New Homemaker!

Diary of a New Homemaker
for Friday, February 5, 2010

What's on the needles?

So glad you asked! I've taken up my crafting again in earnest after a couple of years of lackluster inspiration.

Newest Article

Boxed Wine: A Green Option for the Holidays

There are no bottles in these boxes of wine -- just wine and the plastic pouch that holds it. It's a great "green" option for holiday parties. Boxing instead of bottling wine saves half the shipping weight (and associated carbon emissions) and keeps the product fresher longer. Photo: BotaBox.

ear EarthTalk: Apparently boxed wine (instead of bottled) is becoming all the rage for environmental reasons. What are the eco-benefits of boxed wine over bottled?
--Justin J., Los Angeles, CA

With more and more wineries offering organic varieties to lower their eco-footprint, it’s no surprise that they’re looking at the environmental impacts of their packaging as well. The making of conventional glass bottles (and the corks that cap them) uses significant quantities of natural resources and generates considerable pollution. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the process of manufacturing glass not only contributes its share of greenhouse gas emissions but also generates nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and tiny particulates that can damage lung tissue when breathed in.

A Seasonal Taste:

Visit to the Art Musuem

ost people don't think of taking young children to an art museum. Children like to be active, so how could they possibly enjoy standing around and looking at paintings? With a shift in thinking and some advance planning, parents can find lots of excitement for their kids within the walls of an art museum. Lynda Hannan reports, "We had a nice visit to the art museum. I was surprised that at the kids' ages (4 and 1 1/2) it went as well as it did. This activity was fun for John and me because we rarely are able to do something more adult like this with the kids."

A Taste of the Family Section:

All The Right Moves

Most people think yoga is just about relaxation and flexibility. Sure, after a busy day of working, shopping, and taking care of the kids, yoga is the perfect way to unwind. Practicing yoga is even a great way to tone and strengthen your muscles for better performance in sports. But can practicing yoga help your bedroom performance?

Yes indeed, says yoga instructor Jacqui Noelle-Greaux. As well as appearing on the Better Sex Through Yoga video series (available on www.bettersexthroughyoga.com), Noelle-Greaux is the author of a companion book by the same name (Broadway Books December 2005). "Try doing yoga before your honey comes home from work and see how yoga can get you centered, de-stressed and in the mood for love," she says. "Developing a loving connection to your partner is a great reason to practice yoga. This kind of energy is truly contagious."