Blog Posts by Mother Nature Network (mnn.com)

By Melissa Breyer, Mother Nature Network

The first Earth Day in 1970 led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species acts. We've come a long way in 42 years—green has gone mainstream and Earth Day has become a day to celebrate all things earthy. It's also become a day to celebrate freebies, coupon codes and sweepstakes. Here's a sampling of some of the promotions available.

• In true Earth Day spirit, Alternative Apparel has announced its "Buy a tee, plant a tree" initiative. Until April 22, they will have a tree planted for every item you purchase … in addition to a 20 percent discount.

• Caribou Coffee Company will reward sustainable coffee drinkers by offering free coffee to all customers who bring in a reusable mug on Earth Day.

• Target is giving away one reusable bag per customer on April 22; check at your store's guest service desk.

• Origins is offering a trade-in

By Melissa Breyer, Mother Nature Network

Sugar can be used to soften the kisser and to keep lipstick fresh.
The history of sugar is not a simple one. From ancient China to the colonies to Candy Land, sugar has been making its mark throughout time in myriad ways. The "white gold," as British colonists called it, has now reached mundane staple status for much of the western world, sitting in a five-pound bag in the pantry patiently waiting to be spooned into a cup of coffee or employed in a batch of cookie dough.

But that doesn't mean the coruscating carbohydrate can't be put to other uses. In a bind, regular table sugar can pinch-hit for a number of other concoctions, often times taking the place of more costly or possibly toxic solutions. Whether for health or beauty, in the kitchen or in the garden, here are a number of ways you can put this versatile ingredient to work.

1. Soothe your babe
According to a study in Pediatrics, babies who were given a one-to-four sugar-water solution (directly into the mouth or administered on a

By Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network

Bride getting food from a food truck.

Looking for a creative way to incorporate that "something new" into your wedding? How about hiring a food truck?

Many couples are foregoing traditional wedding dining and instead opting for food trucks to cater their big day. They say it brings something unique to the event that highlights their personal tastes as well as the local cuisine.

"We've been big fans of the food truck scene in Atlanta and elsewhere - their food is usually so creative, which was really important to me. And the fact that it's supporting a local business is a great bonus," says Martha, an Atlanta bride-to-be, who requested that her last name be withheld.

Some couples hire trucks in place of a buffet or sit-down dinner, while others simply want to keep guests happy between the ceremony and reception. Still, others schedule the truck arrive a few hours into the reception to provide late-night fare for guests who could use a pick-me-up after a night of

By Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network

Walking the dog.

Q: I just adopted a 6-month-old Labrador and everyone suggests that I walk her three times a day. I don't have that kind of time, and she seems fine just playing with her toys all day. How many walks does my dog really need?

A: I admire people who can complete a hectic day at the office, then hit the gym to exercise for an hour. For me, the perfect end to a busy day involves channel surfing with a cup of salted caramel ice cream and cuddle time with my dog Lulu. Alas, every vice has its price. No matter how many fun and fashionable colors I find, super stretchy yoga pants are not acceptable work attire at my office.

Also, I know from experience that a tired dog truly is a well-behaved dog. Neglecting those twice-daily walks has led to mischief in my home. Out of sheer boredom, Lulu chooses naughty activities that include - but are not limited to - chewing shoes, shredding dog beds and redecorating my bedroom with toilet paper

By John Platt, Mother Nature Network

It's been said that music calms the savage beast, but the right music can also awaken someone who has, in effect, been slumbering.

The new documentary "Alive Inside" shows the transformative power of music as several elderly dementia patients are given iPods loaded with their favorite music. The previously unresponsive seniors quickly start to tap their toes, swing their hands, and, incredibly, start having long discussions about their passion for music and its role in their lives.

In the following clip from the film, a man named Henry - who normally sits quietly in his chair, hunched over, barely speaking - comes alive after listening to music. Asked about his favorite music, he starts talking about Cab Calloway, and even starts to sing some of his favorite songs:

By Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network

Mad dog

As a child, Ranjan Avasthi was once bitten by the family's German shepherd. His parents responded quickly by separating the two, bandaging his wounds and gradually reintroducing healthy interaction with the dog. Fast-forward a few decades. Dr. Avasthi, an M.D., now has a wife, child and his very own German shepherd mix.

His toddler may be a bit young for cautionary tales, but Avasthi fully understands the risks and rewards of kids and pets sharing a household. As a doctor who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry, he has seen kids transform in the presence of pets. He also knows that kids will be kids.

They love to grab ears, pull tails and simply rub pets the wrong way. While cats and dogs reside in roughly 84 million U.S. households without incident, accidents happen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly half of the 800,000 medically treated dog bites each year involve children,

By Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network

Diet pillsJust like the hairstyles of celebrity dieter Oprah Winfrey, more than a few appetite-suppressing drugs and dietary supplements have come and gone over the years - mostly gone due to dangerous side effects. Let's not forget that not all that long ago, straight-out amphetamines were doled out to long-haul truck drivers and members of the military, not to mention those looking to shed a few excess pounds. And how can we forget good old Fen-Phen? TrimSpa, baby?

And then there's Qnexa, a weight loss "cocktail" pill (it's a combination of two existing medications, one of which is used primarily to treat epilepsy) that recently - and controversially - secured an overwhelming endorsement from a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee. If the experimental anti-obesity drug is given the final stamp of approval by the FDA in July, Qnexa will be the first new prescription weight loss drug to hit the market in 13 years. (The last was

By Melissa Breyer, Mother Nature Network

Toothpaste

Toothpaste may be one of the more taken-for-granted products that we put in our mouths. It's not a food product so it gets less scrutiny than, say, Diet Coke and Twinkies. But if you brush your teeth two or three times a day, that's 730 to 1,095 times a year. Toothpaste isn't meant to be swallowed, but with that many brush-and-rinses annually, it's safe to assume that at least a smidge of toothpaste will go down the hatch. Probably not enough to worry about, but it's interesting to know what's going in our mouths.

Ancient toothpastes included ingredients such as ox hoof ashes, burnt eggshells, crushed bones, oyster shells, powdered charcoal and bark. Modern ingredients aren't quite as poetic. What are we using to keep our pearly whites their healthiest today? The following is a combined list of ingredients (many of them overlap between products) found in three leading toothpaste brands: Colgate Total Toothpaste, Fresh Stripe; Aquafresh