Fanny Pack, A Donkey's Dream Come True

When I first realized I needed a Fanny Pack to help with (peacefully) training JuJu the donkey, I thought about most people my age with kids... and how dorky they probably feel in their mini van carrying diaper bags instead of sexy handbags. I be-moaned my new dorked out stage in life publicly on my facebook status and was miraculously rewarded with the CUTEST vintage fabric handmade fanny pack ever from artist/writer/crafter Autumn Wiggins!
YAY! Let the non violent, reward heavy, totally hip fanny style donkey training begin!!!

My first Fanny Pack goal was to get JuJu the donkey to lift her hooves for me - this is so I can start the ritual of cleaning them for good hoof health, and for later trimming. I cut up a pear as a super special treat and filled the fanny pack with it. The fanny pack makes it fast and easy to reward the donkey WHILE she's doing what you asked instead of after, or too late for the donkey to understand which 'thing' it did right.

I have never done this with a horse or donkey before, and was learning from watching youtube videos and reading the Donkey Companion book... there was also no one around to show the little nuances to this trick so if you are an expert you will notice I was standing backwards (but it did work). I simply relied on JuJu's past experience of most likely having done this before & the fanny pack full of treats.

I have been spending alot of time rubbing JuJu down in a sort of "show and scratch" game i call "Itch and Scratch", where she shows me where her itches are and I scratch them - this has made it so she doesn't mind me touching her legs to begin with.

For doing hooves, I say the word "HOOF" as a cue, I begin to lift her leg and as she starts to lift it up in my palm I hand her treats from the Fanny Pack. I also hand her another treat from the F Pack while she stands letting me hold her hoof for a while... so that she understands she will need to stand for a longer time eventually while I clean the hooves - the treats are to help her build up good feelings about this activity with me and it certainly works... she started pointing to her legs after asking me to lift them so she could get more pieces of F Pack pears!

Success!

Oh FANNY PACK... hells yeah, you are my savior! Seriously.

Thank YOu SOoooooo much Autumn for the fabulous, functional, eco and easy to work with Fanny Pack! You rock!

Xoxoxox

My Healthy Holiday Wish List

It's still so much fun to make that holiday list of gifts I wish I could get... of course over the years my tastes have changed and I no longer use the JC Penny catalogue as my point of reference. :) I have gotten totally eco, organic & health oriented with my longings - not to mention most of my holiday wishes are for things I really do need rather then just a treat. (Except for the organic lingerie...but honestly I need some new undies too!)

1. Diamond Organics Macrobiotic Sampler Box! Mmmmmm... Here's what is says: "A friendly introduction to macro specialties like burdock root, daikon radish, fresh ginger, garlic, winter squash, fuji apples, assorted pears, and more. We top this off with fresh-cut cooking greens such as collards, kale, baby bok choy, and dandelion, plus shiitake mushrooms and parsley." You can buy sampler boxes, pre made meals, tofu, and other organic groceries HERE.

2. Home Health Test's Mineral Check! With the economy in a bad slump I can't afford to check my health the way I really need to, and these home health tests are actually less expensive then a doctor appointment, they use real lab tests, and the mineral check is very important for making sure I don't have deficiencies related to Celiac Sprue.
Here's how it works: "MineralCheck is a safe, easy-to-use, and reliable screen that uses a small self-collected hair sample (requires a snip of hair) to measure your mineral and toxin levels. This non-invasive and inexpensive screen provides you with the accuracy of a laboratory analysis without leaving the comfort of your own home. The test specimen is mailed to a laboratory and within 7-10 working days of receiving your sample, a lab analysis with your results is sent directly to you. There is no extra charge or fee for the lab report." They have bunches of tests including diabetes, allergies, STD's, and hormonal balance - go HERE to check it out.

3. Organic Sherpa Bunny Set By Clare Bare! It could be cause it's amazingly creative, it could be cause it's awesomely sexy, and it could be cause it is SO cold out and it looks so warm and fuzzy... or maybe cause the model has a tiny boobies just like me!?! But I want this organic lingerie cause it's the coolest shit I have ever seen & I love Clare Bare. Here's what it says: "This set is from Clare Bare's limited edition holiday collection. The fabric is super warm and fuzzy stretch organic cotton sherpa, lined with organic cotton on the inside. The top is a princess seam bralette with silver eyelet lace up detail in the front. It is elasticated for a snug fit. There are dusty rose velvet bows with amazing abalone shell buttons that have anchors engraved on them. The corset (tummy warmer) is probably the most comfortable one you will ever wear- my model can attest to that! It laces up the front with organic cotton cording, has velvet and abalone shell button details, and silver suspender snaps to clip on to your thigh highs..." HERE is where you can buy it!

4. Real Goods All Purpose Survival Tool! I am completely enthralled with living as sustainably as possible- I have read tons of books, taught myself how to organic garden, dry herbs, compost, companion plant... I study how to make my own shoes, skin a rabbit, make a gravity fed spring well for a house, build a live roof... I can chop wood with an ax, build a fire, dry fruit in the sun, dye fabric with plum skins, make paint from poke berries & create just about anything out of nothing (cause it's in my Cajun DNA!) So, no further explaining needed why I am IN LOVE with this tool for only $20!!!
Here is all it can do: "Finally, an all-in-one camping tool. This heavy-duty steel tool is 8 tools in 1. It has a shovel, hammer, saw, hatchet, bottle opener, nail puller, and a wrench. Unscrew the built-in calibrated compass to find an emergency survival kit in a waterproof bag. Included are matches, fishhooks and line, nails and more. The one tool you'll need for camping, backpacking, gardening, or in your car for those unforeseen emergencies. Comes with a snap-on carrying case." Buy this awesome tool HERE!

5. REI Seattle Solar Camp Shower! Continuing with my survivalist & low impact theme from above, I have been drooling over these solar showers for nearly a year now... Here is what it says about them: "Enjoy a warm shower in the wilderness with this lightweight and packable five-gallon solar-heated shower bag...
*PVC-free black PEVA water reservoir is heavy duty yet lightweight for easy packing
*Black color absorbs heat to warm water in approximately three hours
*Five-gallon capacity equals 8 minutes of nonstop shower time; bag measures 26 x 18 inches
*Push-pull valve on hose is easy to use, allowing you to turn water off quickly
*Sturdy plastic handle offers convenient toting and durability; hanging strap is adjustable"

BUY IT for only $24.95 HERE!

NOW for my really BIG wishes:::

6. A HOUSE! That's right... my very own little eco hut in Marshall, NC that isn't moldy, isn't out gassing, no more landlady next door, and I can grow my own organic gardens, plant my herbs, have some chickens and attract wild animals. A house with good windows, passive solar potential, clean water, lots of land, trees, not right on the road, a creek, and a place to build a small fish pond. It doesn't need to be more the 600 Sq Ft... it can even have an outhouse!

7. MONEY! oh yeah, with businesses running into the ground, people losing their jobs, and nobody is shopping, the whole economic structure has collasped and has to be rebuilt new... in the meantime, where's the money for the bills gonna come from? Hmmm.

What is on your wish list? Share some of your eco awesome finds this season!

Eco Birthday Wish List

My 31st Birthday is coming October 5th and this morning I was making an eco birthday wish list in my head, which I decided to share so that ya'll can partake in these cool discoveries too! Strange but true, even though I own an eco fashion store I rarely ever buy anything for myself and don't have even 1/10 of the amount of clothes & undies as most people (men and women alike). I am a reluctant shopper... but here goes my eco gift discoveries:

1. Hot Organic Skinny Jeans! - These are not so easy to find since organic cotton is already so rare, but also the skinny jean style is totally on it's way out the door. I still love it, especially in this purple color by Good Society which are just like the ones I had in 8th grade except without the zipper sides. They don't really have my size in the dreamy unicorn purple (I wear a 24/25 and the smallest they have is a 26, although I would sport them anyway.) So, my slightly more realistic wish is for these blue ones in dark vintage.

2. Eco Panties! - This is something I can never have enough of! I have mostly American Apparel panties and a few Blue Canoe organic briefs, but the AA ones don't seem to last longer then a year before stretching out and being...well not too cute or even functional anymore. I found these perfect bamboo panties over at Bo Belly on etsy! They are affordable, simple, sexy and in sultry colors. Another fab etsy store with eco skivvies too is Louella Bloom - with perfect cami's and nighties that are in colors like black & magenta...a sort of dreamy unicorn magenta. :)

Then check out this vintage looking set by Brooke There, too cute to be true and made with soy & organic cotton! (You can get it with black trim instead of white depending on what look you are going for.)

...While keeping with this theme, I wouldn't mind having a pair of Urban Fox's eco thigh high stockings too (but those are a bit pricey even for a birthday)! They are so awesome though, don't you agree? But for the less expensive not eco fiber version go to American Apperal (pictured here), suuuuuper sexy warm wintery socks.

3. Another 'wife beater' tank! - I wear tank tops like crazy, I LIVE in them, I stretch them out like a cheap pair of AA undies... and I have been sweet on this "dig deeper" SKIN ON SKIN tank for almost a year now. This shop donates to charity, supports equality of all people, and uses organic cotton to make these hardcore sexy tanks. (If you happen to be gay, lez, or bi this shop has some really sexy slogan tanks perfect for you!)

...So now I realize I just want the affordable basics that will function for years in my life... well except for this really expensive fabulous beautiful fair trade winter coat in PURPLE!

YAY ... share your eco wish list in the comments, whether your birthday is coming or not :)