New contest lets kids create help charity and the environment

Art contests for children are fairly commonplace. But what if you could take such a contest, make it benefit a charity that helps children, give the winners a host of fantastic prizes, and then have the whole thing also help the environment too? Some might say it’s an early lesson in community activism for some very lucky children.

For the second year running, reusable bag pioneer, ChicoBag (“javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” rel=”external nofollow” target=”_blank” href=”http://www.chicobag.com”>www.chicobag.com), is challenging children ages 1-13 to design bag art for their annual trick or treat bags that best captures “The spirit of a Green Halloween.” Last year’s contest proved so popular that the company not only sold out of the bags, but decided to expand the program this year.

By encouraging children to think about ways they can make their Halloween more “green,” such as carrying solar flashlights while trick-or-treating, and using reusable bags to hold their loot, the contest provides a launchpad for establishing eco-friendly habits that can last a lifetime. It certainly isn’t a bad idea to teach them how to minimize garbage that ends up in a landfill or eat healthy foods to avoid contributing to the obesity health crisis facing our nation; nor does greening their holiday minimize any of the fun.

While art contests are always a favorite with children, they also provide a forum for expression to kids who are starving for some right lobe stimulation, especially given the lack of arts funding in most school systems. The empowerment they get from creating “message art” can also have a profound affect on helping them realize that the world they will inherit is also theirs to shape.

This particular contest is in partnership with Green Halloween, a Seattle-based nonprofit grassroots community movement to create healthier and more sustainable holiday traditions. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Treeswing, a nonprofit organization that promotes healthy eating and lifestyle habits for children. Entries will be accepted from September 1 -October 24, 2009. Winners will be announced on Halloween, 2009. Visit www.greenhalloween.org/chicobag for details.

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The Art of Living Gallery explores the power of the creative process and the ways it brings joy and inspiration into the world. Get more helpful healing tips at: www.veria.com

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I am sick of useless doctor advise that only confuse me and make things worse.?
It's 3AM and I can't sleep because I keep thinking and being worried about my 5 month old baby. I don't know whats normal and whats not anymore. Everything seems to make her fussy and she is SO SO SO gassy and it gives her lots of pain and nothing is working to relieve her unless I keep holding her and comforting her. The problem with this is I returned to work (ONLY due to need of additional paycheck) and the daycare is not so great. Each lady has 3-4 kids to take care of and so many times I come in and find my baby sitting there ALONE crying it out (which I don't like)

I seriously at wit-ends and I don't know what to do anymore. She has been having diarrhea-like stools everyday for a long time now (3 weeks maybe?) doctor didn't say anything about it. She doesn't poo more than once a day but when she does it is VERY watery and sometimes boogery. I don't even know if its because of the rice cereal I have introduced in small amounts at 4 months. I will stop it for now to see if there is a change in her stool but what can I substitute instead since she is a very hungry baby and shows all the signs of being ready for solids? Should I give her strained apples or bananas or what?
She has ALSO been showing signs of teething since 3 and a half months. So I have been getting crying ALL day from her and not knowing whether its the gas or the teeth or something else. The doctor is NO HELP and I've got second opinions which was of no use because they don't even know her complete history. I just wish someone could tell me whats wrong with my baby.

She is sleeping almost thoroughly through the night now but sometimes wakes up crying from gas (I know because she's squeezing and kicking her legs and her fussiness is that of pain)

I wish I can quit my job and do everything right… and take care of her completely; but I need it for the time being and its tearing me apart.
I do breastfeed her as much as I can and I avoid all gassy foods (I'm currently on a healthy lifestyle diet in which I eat everything on the food pyramid in right proportions) So I eat a salad, fruit, protein, carbs, and one dairy serving so i doubt its from my diet.

My facts are all over the place but it's just that i FEEL like I AM all over the place. I don't even know where to start and sometimes I feel like im a horrible mother to my little angel.

She does laugh and play with I am with her and she can even play on her own in her chair or swing BUT when whatever it is botherin her comes back she starts being fussy and wants to be held. I give her teething rings but she hasn;t quite mastered the art of holding it to her mouth 100% teething gel only worsened the diarrhea.

Oh and she doesnt sleep during the day. and I know she IS sleepy becuase she rubs her eyes but something is bothering her (the gas? the teeth?) and not letting her sleep and at most she will sleep for like 20 minutes then wake up fussy. and at night she sleeps from 9-6 with some wakings that i try not to feed her and only comfort her to go back to sleep.

Sorry this question is all over the place but It's everything i'm feeling and I just want to know if its normal and like what should I do about the food and the diarrhea and the teething that has been going on for so long without any close sign of the teeth coming through. =/ Being a mother is SO hard, and it makes me feel guilty.