Posts tagged ‘Square One Organics’
SQ1 Loves EWG
Thanks to Environmental Working Group scientists for putting together these easy-to-use tips on how to read labels on personal care products. Check out the new video below:
It’s the mission at Environmental Working Group to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment. EWG’s Skin Deep database gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from everyday exposures to chemicals. Their staff scientists compare the ingredients on personal care product labels and websites to information in nearly 60 toxicity and regulatory databases. Now in its eighth year, EWG’s Skin Deep database provides you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings for a wide range of products and ingredients on the market. At about one million page views per month, EWG’s Skin Deep is the world’s largest personal care product safety guide.
SQ1 Loves Children’s Books!
Thanks MOCHA for this great list of children’s books that talk
about food allergies. All of these now can be found at the Northbrook Public Library.
MOCHA (Mothers of Children Having Allergies) is a group of parents sharing information and supporting each other. The 350+ Chicagoland members make up an amazing organization that does so much to advocate for kids with food allergies. Thanks again for making this happen, MOCHA!
Love these books? They can also be found on Amazon.com – don’t forget to add some delicious SQ1 Superfoods to your cart before checking out!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
I hope your Thanksgivings were full of family, friends and fabulous food! Our day was a double celebration. We had a Birthday party and Thanksgiving all on the same day.
I just can’t believe my twins are 11, so amazing and so crazy at the same time. Moments like these make you stop and reflect on how far we have come since 2001 and what is left to do.
Regarding food, we have come a long way to raise aware on issues like, BPA plastics, the importance of recycling, why organic food is important for infants and kids, quinoa, superfoods and the benefits of gluten-free. As any parent will tell you, there really isn’t a finish line and there is always something else to be done. Many times major change starts with baby steps and this year I was so impressed by three important strides.
First, the documentary Carbon Nation, which everyone in my family watched twice. It is so well done, so easy to understand and most important, very inspiring and uplifting. Watch it to the very end because they give action steps that you can take. I love action step #5, which says raise your kids allowance when they help reduce the utility bill. Here is a link to order a copy. http://www.carbonnationmovie.com/ Stocking stuffers for my family members for sure!
Second would have to be Prop 37. 
While it did not pass in November, it is an important step to raise awareness and get the conversation about labeling food into the mainstream. Gary Hirshberg is the CEO of Stoneyfield Farms and a passionate advocate for labeling food. Here is a link to his new E-Book – Label it Now. http://www.stonyfield.com/blog/2012/01/03/label-it-now-what-you-need-to-know-about-genetically-engineered-foods-new-ebook-release/. Check out what he has to say on the topic. I have watched his interviews and read his writings on the topic. You have to love a CEO with a strong moral and social compass.
Finally, I must applaud the amazing and tireless work done at the many food depositories all over the country. If you follow us on Facebook and twitter, you know we do all we can to support The Oak Park Food Depository and The Greater Chicago Food Depository. The fact that child food insecurity in this country is 26.7% in unacceptable to me and that is the reason why SQ1 is involved whenever we get a chance. Feeding America, through its network of food depositories feeds 37 million Americans a year, has a public policy that is based on the values and a mission that together, we are working to ensure that:
- No child is at risk of hunger
- Food banks are well stocked to help those in need
- Families have a solid foundation by having access to nutritious food
- People can get help during hard times
Looking for a great gift idea? Check out this gift catalog https://secure.feedingamerica.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=GiftCatalog
Superfriend of the Month: Margie Teller
Margie Teller has a successful career as a trader, 
but her philanthropic work and worthy cause has us calling her SQ1′s September Superfriend of the Month. Margie’s daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed with diabetes when she was just 18 months old; In 2002, she founded Friends for the Cure, a fundraising group to support research and educational programs for the American Diabetes Association, where she also serves as a board member.
The mission of the Friends for the Cure committee is friends and family united; raising funds to find a cure for diabetes. Proceeds of Friends for the Cure events benefit The American Diabetes Association, who is at the forefront of the fight to prevent, treat, and cure diabetes.
What better way to raise funds than a party with the motto “no stiffs allowed”! Friends for a Cure made a conscious effort to have their parties be FUN events, like no other fundraiser. There are no speakers, no sit-down dinner….it is meant to be a celebration of how far we’ve come since Rachel was diagnosed 15 years ago. Ready to get your ticket and participate in this fun event? Purchase them here.
For additional event details, please visit www.FriendsForTheCure.com. Join Friends for the Cure on Facebook and Twitter
Q: Marge, tell us a little bit about Friends for a Cure and how this exciting event came about.
A: Friends for the Cure was started by a group of colleagues and friends in response to my daughter Rachel’s diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 18 months. This is our seventh event to raise both awareness about this terrible and epidemic disease and money for research for a cure. We hope to surpass the 2 million dollar mark with this year’s gala.
Q: How and why did you come to your current position at Friends for a Cure?
A: I have seen the effects that this disease causes on a daily basis: Seizures, high and low blood sugar, injections, blood tests….It has become a very personal mission to me to find a cure so I have chaired the event since inception.
Q: How has working with Friends for a Cure impacted your life and what about your job brings you the most joy?
A: You never know how people are going to react during a crisis. I am very lucky to be surrounded by a group that rallied around us when we needed them most and have made this cause their own. Diabetes could have been a very isolating disease, but we have never felt alone because so many people have been in our corner helping us work towards a cure.
Q: What’s the one thing that you now know that you wish you knew when you were growing up?
A: To never sweat the small stuff.
Q:What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
A: Never ever let fear of failure scare you away from trying something new.
Q:What is your biggest accomplishment?
A: I have two: Getting to the top of a field (trading) that people always said was a man’s world. And raising my daughter to be a wonderful and healthy young woman (she’s 17 now!)
Q:If you could say something to the next generation what would it be?
A: That it is very important to be resilient. Anyone can navigate life when things are good, but there are ALWAYS bumps in the road and true character is defined by how you handle adversity.
Superfriend of the Month: Elizabeth Kaveny
Each Month, we’re putting a Spotlight on a Superfriend. Elizabeth was named one of Illinois’ “top lawyers” in both plaintiff’s and personal injury law and professional malpractice law. Additionally she has also been named one of the top 50 Illinois Women Lawyers by the Chicago Magazine’s Super Lawyer Section. However, it is Beth’s work with Mercy Home for Boys and Girls that has us name her our Superfriend of the Month. Check out the exclusive SQ1 interview below!
Q: Ok, Beth we get there you are one of the top lawyers in Illinois, but tell us a little bit about Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. How and why did you come to your position at Mercy Home?
A: I had a wonderful upbringing with a family that loved me and supported me in everything I did. I have been given a wealth of opportunities. Not so for many young people, including hundreds right here in our own City of Chicago. I wanted to give back to our community and work with a charity that was truly making a difference in the lives of young people. After looking into many wonderful charities with women’s boards in Chicago, I learned about the Leader Council of Mercy Home. Mercy Home provides children in need with a safe home, with people who care for and love them, and with the ability to see and reach for a future, none of which they had prior to coming to Mercy. What could be better?
Q: How has your work with Mercy Home impacted your life and what about your work with Mercy Home brings you the most joy?
A: The young people at Mercy Home give me more than I give to them. They give me perspective and an appreciation for how wonderful my life is and has been. Both the staff and the kids at Mercy Home never cease to amaze me with their capacity to love and be loved. What brings me the most joy is learning of the service projects that the kids at Mercy Home do for others. Every year, they present the Mayor of Chicago with service books showing all the work they have done to better the lives of others. I think of them as being in need, yet they somehow manage to focus on others who are less fortunate and even more in need. They remind me that no matter who you are, there will always be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Q: Being one of the top lawyers in Illinois and also a mother of four must mean some serious juggling. What gets you through your family life and work?
A: It is serious juggling and I have never been all that coordinated frankly. Fortunately, I have a top notch support system both at home and at work, which I would be lost without. Heck, I am lost a lot even with them. My most commonly uttered words: I am supposed to be where???? As with most of us, my children are what gets me through. When I get home and see their little faces, everything else fades away. When things get crazy at home, I admit sometimes its their sleeping little faces that take us all back to ground zero.
Q: What was your life like pre-parenthood?
A: Ooh, do we really want to go there? FUN. Chicago is a wonderful city to live in as a young, single professional girl. Good friends and Good times. We worked hard and played hard. Shopping, softball, traveling, golf, parties, dancing, even skydiving (yes, I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane on more than one occasion).
Q: If there was a movie about your life what would it be called
A: That’s an easy one. WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO BE??? Philosophically, I think we all need to ask ourselves that question sometimes. But with a schedule like mine, its just a question I ask every day.
Popeye’s Right On!
SO that’s what makes Popeye so strong! A recent Swedish study proves Popeye right and shows us why the leafy vegetable makes us stronger – and SQ1 is proud to serve 100% organic spinach. Tests on mice showed that nitrate, a compound found in high quantities in spinach, boosts the production of two proteins key to muscle strength.
The nitrate used “was equivalent to a human’s consumption of about 200 to 250 grammes of spinach a day, so it’s a very easily obtained amount,” one of the researchers at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Andres Hernandez, told AFP.
“Well, it is if you eat spinach. For people who don’t eat their vegetables it will be more tricky,” he added.
They found that the mice that had been on consistent nitrate had much stronger muscles, the greatest effect being observed in the extensor digitorum longus muscle, which extends down the tibia, and the flexor digitorum brevis muscle of the foot.
Continuing their study, the researchers then discovered that the nitrate mice had a higher concentration of two different proteins in their muscles, which is assumed to explain the greater muscle strength.
The findings are published in the Journal of Physiology.
So there you have it, Popeye was right on the whole time! Get your little ones started on Spinach at 10 months old. If they learn to love the taste right away, you will have veggie super-eaters!
SQ1′s Froze Organic Spinach Puree is…
- A Super Food for Brain, Heart, Bones, Skin, Eyes and Immunity
- An Excellent source of Vitamin C, A, E, Folate and Magnesium
- An Excellent source of phytonutrients
- A two ounce Square One® serving provides 330% of your child’s RDI of vitamin A, 30% RDI of vitamin C, 35% RDI of vitamin E, 50% RDI of folate and 45% RDI of magnesium.
SQ1 Superfriend: Miss Lori!
Each Month, we’re putting a Spotlight on a Superfriend. This month we are thrilled to feature Miss Lori. She has a passion for children and performance. Miss Lori has a focus as an entertainer, teacher, and writer to unite families together through her artistic contributions. In 2005, already a mother of 3 and a celebrated performer, Miss Lori founded her company, The CAMPUS Inc, now known as Miss Lori’s CAMPUS.
Children and families across the country have fallen in love with Miss Lori’s boundless energy, passion and commitment to the development of young minds and bodies. Her ability to foster creativity and imagination is a gift to treasure for many years to come.
Check out this exclusive SQ1 interview with Miss Lori, and don’t forget to SMILE 
Miss Lori, tell us a little bit about how and why did you came to your position at WTTW and misslori.tv?
I was selected as the first ever live host for the PBS Kids Preschool Block after a Nationwide search of over 1500 contenders. I started airing interstitials on the National Broadcast in 2006. Then in 2007 through my company Miss Lori’s CAMPUS, I released my first CD, iparenting award winner Music ‘n Movement TOGETHER and immediately began touring. The National feed didn’t want to combine my reading talents with my singing prowess, but Grace Winston at WTTW PBS Kids Chicago did. She and I met, as many mothers do, in the park with our kids. I was coming from performing a Miss Lori’s CAMPUS concert and she was just a few days away from starting her job at WTTW. She had goals and I had ideas. It was a match made in heaven! Summer 2008 we launched our first tour, The Great Food Fan Van anchored by my original 2 hour concert style musical AWESOME Health. When the Summer ended our enthusiasm was just beginning, so we crafted a second tour Readers are Leaders dedicated to literacy, and anchored by my Playstory Time content including my original interactive story series, Little Miss Lori Adventures in Five Year Old Living. We partnered with The Chicago Public Libraries and toured from October to April alone, and picked up The Great Food Fan Van tour from May through September. Even though my role on the National Feed came to an end in 2009, WTTW and I just kept rolling long. With the two tours I am performing around 70 concerts a year on average with WTTW PBS Kids. All of the shows are free, and none of the shows would be possible without the support and sponsorship of companies like Square One Organics. Community, that’s what we are all about. And that’s what I am about on MissLori.TV too. I launched my blog in the middle of all of these tours back in late 2007. It was first known as Miss Lori’s B.etter L.iving O.ptions G.uide. I would muse about my concerts, parenting, social issues. That work and my presence on TV caught the attention of Jill Asher head of SV Moms Blog which owned Chicago Moms Blog. She chased me for 6 months, anxious for me to become a contributor to the feed. I was so busy with my company my role on PBS and of course being a mother to three kids, but she impressed upon me that it really was my duty to my community. (Yes, guilt works.) But I am forever indebted to her for welcoming me into this World of New Media and social influence. What a thrill! What an amazing time of personal empowerment we are living in. My blog grew so much that I needed to break it off from my Miss LorisCAMPUS.com site and give it its’ own space renaming it Musings From My Mininvan parked at MisLori.TV. I loved the Minivan title because it so clearly described my life. With my kids growing and getting more involved in, well, everything, plus all of my tour performances, I did everything in my minivan but shower. But as often happens my community chose the title they wanted to know me for, and MissLori.TV rose to prominence, overshadowing my descriptive self title. It made sense though because the concept of my blog grew and involved during this time as well. I realized with all that I was doing I wasn’t merely an entertainer or a social media marketer, I was a Marketainer. And with that Marketainment my goal is to help brands and campaigns masticate their information so that they can better reach the families they are targeting. And that’s exactly what I have done for brands like Tropicana, GM, Quaker, 1800Baskets, Nintendo, Gatorade, ReadingEggs.com, Cricket Wireless and more.
How has your work impacted your life and what about your job brings you the most joy?
My work is my life, along with my kids. But everything that I do has been inspired by, or is for them. Music ‘n Movement TOGETHER! was actually born from a need to find a program for my son to express himself and celebrate his early gross motor skill development. He started walking at age 9 months, so docile music classes were completely out of the question. What is now my CD started as a 45 minute program for mothers and their activated children like mine. All three of my kids have performed with me live, as well as on my CD, DVD and self produced interstitials. They advise me about lyrics and story content for Miss Lori’s CAMPUS, but they also contribute to my posts on MissLori.TV. We are like the black Partridge family, and that makes my work priceless to me. I get to entertain, educate and inspire my public all while working through or alongside my kids. What could be better?
What gets you through juggling your family life and work?
Keeping my eyes closed! When people ask me how I do what I do in a day, I tell them I just close my eyes and keep moving. I live life as though I don’t have a choice. I don’t get to collapse under the weight of stress or commitments, I have to keep going. And that’s just what I do. It isn’t very pretty, most of the time, (Please don’t come to my house!). My minivan is a trough, my purse is a catch all, my calendar is a blurr, but the results make it all worthwhile. I have children and company that I am wildly proud of. That’s everything.
What was your life like pre-parenthood?
Before children I lived an 8 show a week existence. I started performing live theatre at age 9 and never stopped, from coast to coast. Heck, I didn’t stop even when I was pregnant! I found out that I was having Skyler while I was in the middle of my run of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at The Goodman Theatre with Harry Lennix. Believe it or not Former Vice President Al Gore, his wife tipper and Former Mayor Richard Daley and his wife Maggie, were some of the first people I told because they were in attendance at my show the day I found out! Yeah, I guess my life has never really been average.
If there was a movie about your life what would it be called?
Sybil. Oh wait, that’s already been used. The truth is my life has sooo many layers, layers that my public don’t get to see. Although I try to give a glimpse or two through MissLori.TV, relating some of my underbelly experiences in a way that hopefully helps others. So, even though I am known for my SMILE in truth my life sports every emotion and facial expression. So maybe “Eyes Closed, Heart Open; Miss Lori Unplugged”.
It’s Summer! What’s Cookin?
It’s officially summer! Almost. You know I think that cooking is such a great activity to do with your kids! As the days heat up, cool down with these yummy recipes: Mighty Mango SUPER Smoothies made with SQ1 mango and quinoa!
1 (2oz.) Square One Organic Mango cup, frozen 
1 (2oz.) Square One Organic Quinoa cup, frozen
½ cup frozen organic fruit (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or peaches)
1 cup Vanilla Rice DreamÒ rice milk
Run frozen mango and quinoa cups briefly under warm water to loosen. Remove foil and pop mango and quinoa into blender container. Add remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth.
Yield: 1 ¾ cups
Variation: Mighty Mango Melon SUPER Smoothie
Substitute ½ cup organic cantaloupe or watermelon chunks for frozen fruit. Reduce rice milk to ½ cup and add ½ cup Rice DreamÒ organic vanilla non-dairy frozen dessert.
Tips for Leftovers: Smoothie Popsicles
Spoon any extra smoothie mixture into 3-oz paper cups. 
Insert one baby spoon to use as popsicle stick into each cup. Freeze until mixture is solid. Peel cup from popsicles and enjoy!
OR
Check out these cut popsicle molds from Land of Nod. They are BPA-free!
The Children’s Book Pairing with this recipe is Stella Luna by Jannell Cannon. On the SQ1 Children’s CD rock out to the Vitamin C and Porridg
Taking “Thyme” to Explore Sunset Foods & Lake Forest
I had so much fun visiting with the
Lake Forest crowd at Sunset Foods while I was serving up Square One Mango and giving out our fabulous goody bags with free SQ1 Spinach this past Sunday! I also enjoyed sharing some news of Bubbles Academy and children’s activities over at Gorton Community Center, and a Mother’s Day event not to be missed!
As I was in the Lake Forest store for three hours, it struck me that this store really caters to helping save time and enjoying life. This alone gives it a thumbs’ up in my book! There is a lot of buzz right now about Thyme in the Kitchen, which is certainly something unique being offered. What is this you may ask? These are cooking classes which Sunset is offering to help amp up one’s culinary skills….. Sign me up!! With any class, there is a fee, but in my mind worth the education and skills gained—Betty Crocker, Look Out!!
Mark your calendars for the following Lake Forest classes:
5/2: Seasonal Specialties
5/12: Reinventing Chicken Classics
5/24: Rubs and Marinades
* Details on each class are accessible on the Sunset Foods Website
Sunset helps save time in other convenient ways. It has a wonderful deli full of foods to go! You can find “Spa Cuisine” so you can eat super healthy. Also available at Sunset is Fish Fridays and Grilling Basics. You won’t have the chance to get into a food rut!
The town of Lake Forest has lots going on in May
All the amazing cooking Classes at Sunset Foods
A fun Mother’s Day event up the street at Gorton Community Center-Be sure to mark your calendars…Saturday, 5/12 from 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Bubbles Academy songs for kids, Mother’s Day craft, bake sale, plant sale, and more… Only $5.00!!
Superfriend of the Month: Parenthesis Family Center
Each Month, we’re putting a Spotlight on a Superfriend. this month we are thrilled to sit down with Kathy Kern, Executive Director of Parenthesis Family Center for an exclusive SQ1 interview! Parenthesis Family Center provides a wide range of parenting education and coaching, counseling, respite, and case management services focused on building strong families. We even got to talk with Kathy about the big fundraiser coming up! On Saturday, April 28, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., rain or shine, groupings of dedicated kitchen design buffs will be shuttling themselves to and from homes to participate in Parenthesis Family Center’s 27th Annual Kitchen Walk.
Kathy, tell us a little bit about Kitchen walk and how this exciting event came about.
Parenthesis needed a fundraiser. 
So, in 1985 one of the Board members suggested that a few members, who had just had their kitchens remodeled, open their homes for a tour. Thus began a 27 old year event that has become the largest fundraiser Parenthesis has ever had. Today, the event includes 10 amazing kitchens, special events in houses, and tons of information for those who are researching their own kitchen renovation.
1 day, 10 Kitchens, Endless Inspiration. Parenthesis Kitchen Walk.
Buy tickets at http://www.parenthesis-info.org.
How and why did you come to your current position at Parenthesis Family Center?
In 1982, I was working in a suburb north of Oak Park when my Director asked me to visit Parenthesis to learn about their drop-in program. 20 years later I found a job posting for Parenthesis, applied and was hired.
How has working with Parenthesis Family Center impacted your life and what about your job brings you the most joy?
I have always been a positive person, but working at Parenthesis has shown me what hope and joy can mean in the lives of persons who are working toward sustaining their families. It’s truly amazing what happens at Parenthesis. My most joyful moments are looking back over several years and seeing the positive growth in so many of our parents and children.
What’s the one thing that you now know that you wish you knew when you were growing up?
As a young child I was encouraged to take risks and that anything I wanted to do in life was possible. I now know how that thinking impacts a child for the rest of their lives. Never give up!
What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Finish your education. It took me ten years to get my BA and six more to get my first MA. The road was long, but so worth it!
What is your biggest accomplishment?
My family; they amaze me everyday.
If you could say something to the next generation what would it be?
Believe in the possibility and potential that is within all of us. Grow every day, learn something new. Be curious! Be joyful! The rest will fall into place.
