Why Anti-bacterial Cleaners and Soaps Are Very BAD!!!!

Most moms, especially new moms, are a little over protective when it comes to protecting their young against germs.

While this makes sense in theory, using anti-bacterial soaps are actually bad for the environment and the greater good of man.

Here's a quote I found online:

"In general, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial products harm beneficial microbes as well as harmful ones. Remember, not all bacteria is bad! The use of antimicrobials may cause resistant strains of microorganisms and that's bad for everyone. Warm soapy water remains the simplest anti-bacterial treatment.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/organic-parenting/microban?click=main_sr#ixzz12jSXuI2s

and yet another from Web MD:

In three separate studies, the researchers showed that the chemicals -- triclosan and triclocarban -- have potential to affect sex hormones and interfere with the nervous system. They also may become suspects in the search for causes of autism.

Read More: http://children.webmd.com/news/20080529/safety-debate-on-antibacterial-soap

Now unfortunately, I have had to cut out my trips to bath and body works. Once my favorite store, they are full of these offensive products.

What is safe?

Alcohol based cleansers for your hands.....and for a "green" solution - Try Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizer (which is alcohol free! safe for little ones).

This choice is also economical as the label boasts that a spritz nets you 4x more uses per ounce than regular gel

www.cleanwelltoday.com

This moms is your lesson for the day. Quite shocking but very true!!

Tell me: Will you eliminate these from your home?

For you Mama!

Today's post is dedicated to the Mama, as we need to take care of ourselves as well!

Someone who works in the beauty industry once told me "a woman uses 30 products before she leaves the house".

That got me to doing some serious thinking.
My first thought was - no way!

And then....I counted based on my morning routine:

1.soap

2.shaving cream

3.shampoo

4.conditioner

5.body cream

6.deodorant

7.acne cream

8.face repair cream

9.facial moisturizer

10.hair gel

11.foundation

12.blush

13.concealer

14.mascara

15.eyeliner

16.eyeshadow

17.lipgloss/lip moisturizer

18.hairspray

19.handcream

20.perfume

- So it was not quite 30 but my god - 20! It's a wonder I make it out of the door!

Every one of these products has chemicals in it. So does your toothpaste, mouthwash, clothes, etc.

Kind of blows your mind, right? No wonder cancer is rampant and on the rise.

Today's post is dedicated to trying to take the above list and make as many of them as I can be "all natural choices".

Here are some suggestions on easy swaps:

Hand/body cream: Yes to Cucumbers - Completely Cooling Body Butter

Skin care prodcuts - Have to admit how this one got started.....Kate Gosselin apparently leaked that she uses Ole Henrickson products which you can click here to buy. (Apparently the eye cream is botox in a jar!)

After some research, I found out his products are almost all natural but are definitely paraben free.

Lip Gloss/Moisture - Kiss My Face lip gloss and or Burt's Bees wax for lips.

Hair products- I started using Aveda after I got a strong recommendation from a friend. Turns out that all their ingrediants are NATURAL!!! Bonus!

Forget about the perfume, do you really need it? Not only is it expensive but it's chemicals sprayed on your skin and being absorbed directly into your body. Save it for a special occasion I say!

Hope you consider your morning routine and try to make your choices as healthy as possible!

Love, Mama

Green Your Halloween!!

Greetings Moms!
I think most of you will agree that Halloween is as big as - or bigger- than Christmas when you have kids!
If you want to "green" your Halloween check out some awesome tips from Healthy Child Healthy World - click here!

Now, I will admit that although the costumes are probably full of chemicals I do still buy them, although I try to limit the face masks and paint.

I do try to recycle costumes, pass on, take from others......and I will definitely hand out "good candy". I've been an adapter of pure chocolate in my house as of late. It is just a coco bean - grown on the earth - no dyes no added chemicals and no sticky-take-the-enamel-off-your-teeth worry (like fruit snacks), so I think I will be giving that out as well as maybe some Trader Joe's all natural treats. Boy, will I be popular with the kids!

Muahahahahahahhahaha. Happy Haunting!

Cleaning your floors - The Ecofriendly Way

Let's face it, your floors are important and your kids and pets are all over them! Winter is approaching and you'll be spending more time in your house and on your floors - so how do you keep them clean and your family safe?

My BFF sent me this link to an ecofriendly, chemical free floor cleaner that can be purchased as a kit at Beth Bath and Beyond (love that store!)

Anyway, I checked it out and it appears that this company has been around since 1919 and they boast a chemical free hardwood floor cleaner as well as sealants if you need to finish your floors.

Here's some literature direct from their website:

http://www.mybonahome.com/home.html

Bona waterborne floor cleaners are safe for floors, families, and the environment. Bona's specially-developed non-toxic formula also limits the harmful effects of downstream pollution.

Bona waterborne finishes have no toxic fumes and low VOC's so they are healthier for your family, pets, and the environment. In addition, there is no need to vacate your home during the finishing process due to fast dry times and easy water clean-up. This Swedish waterborne technology highlights the true beauty and elegance of the wood and provides the ultimate in durability. It, too, is GREENGUARD certified for indoor air quality

Not only are they good for your family, but they are also kind to the environment. That's win-win!

If you are shopping at your local Target and can't get to a Bona store - remember that Method is always another alternative for your floorsl. I have used this and it works and smells quite lovely.

Method- See here

And there is always the vinegar and water combo that you can spray on and wipe off
(see directions here: http://cleaning.lovetoknow.com/Vinegar_to_Clean_Hardwood_Floors)

Next up- safe carpet cleaners! Check back soon. I am researching now!

Healthy Ice Cream

It's been a hot one, and I have been on vacation, so I apologize for the lack of new posts.
However, while I was out and thinking about enjoying some good ol' fashioned ice cream this week, it occurred to me that ice cream could be really unhealthy if you don't read your labels.

I did a bit of research and found this on a blog called Natural News:
Some pretty frightening sounding chemicals like caroxymethyl cellulose, butyraldehyde, and amyl acetate are additives in some commercial ice creams. How about some diethyl glycol -- a cheap chemical used to take the place of eggs, which is also used in anti-freeze and paint removers.

Aldehyde C-17, flavoring for cherry ice cream, is an inflammable liquid used in dyes, plastics, and rubber. Piperonal, used in place of vanilla, is a lice killer. Ethyl Acetate, a pineapple flavor, can also clean leather and textiles.

Unfortunately, this doesn't work out to be like any natural substances like lemon that can be both eaten and used as a powerful cleaner. Ethyl Acetate's vapor has been known to cause chronic lung, liver, and heart damage.

There are quite a list of other unsavory ingredients littering many of today's most famous grocery store ice creams. Here are just some of them: Mono and diglicerides, disodium phosphate, benzyl acetate, mono stearate, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, polysorbate 80, potassium sorbate, modified corn starch and soy lecithin.

Now, just because most of these additives are on the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list by the FDA, doesn't prove they aren't harmful and besides, the real question is: Are any of these ingredients desirable or even necessary to an originally wholesome treat? Remember, the FDA does not require ice cream makers to label all of their ingredients. Oh, boy.


So, now that I took the fun out of ice cream for you- what's a girl to do.
Well, just stick with these brands:

Breyers - remember those commercials circa 1980 (polysorbate 80?) Well read the ingredients on Bryers- milk, cream, sugar, cocoa - really isn't this how it SHOULD be?

Trader Joe's Brand Ice Cream a.k.a Joe Joe's Ice Cream is very good!

Horizon makes an organic brand (the same people who make milk) so if you want to go that route, I am sure you won't be disappointed.

Finally- Haagen Daz does a "take five" ice cream that literally has just five ingredients (again, that is all you NEED to make ice cream!) I have bought this on more than one occasion and was not disappointed.

Now go forth and enjoy!

Blown away! "The Unhealthy Truth"

Robyn O'Brien has written a book called "The Unhealthy Truth" and she also has a web site that you can read here. Basically, she is all over the food industry and notes the shift began in 1994 to put crap, crap, crap in our food supply to satisfy food production quotas. Very very scary stuff.

This makes sense given that cancer, ADHD, and Autism have all been on the rise since this year.

If you don't have time for the book and can just do one thing.....read this list and make a switch.
If you can - read the book, I intend on getting it as soon as possible.

She's a mom, just like us and she has a video here!

Here's her list of the "one thing you can do now":

Instead of:	Choose This!
Cheetos	Fritos or Natural Cheetos
Fat Free Miracle Whip	Original Miracle Whip
M&M's	Chocolate Chips
Lenders Blueberry Bagels	Lenders Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
Hawaiian Punch	Minute Maid Fruit Punch
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese mix-yellow	Kraft Macaroni and Cheese mix – White Cheddar
Duncan Hines Devils Food Cake mix	Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake mix
Prepackaged noodles with powder mix	Bag of noodles with butter/olive oil
Prepackaged mix of rice	Bag of plain rice with salt/spices added
Lowfat Ice Cream	Original Ice Cream
Strawberry Ice Cream	Vanilla Ice Cream with your own toppings!
Blue Yogurt	White yogurt – add your own toppings

Got a school aged kid who snacks - try this list:

Swimming in a Sea of Goldfish

Step 1: Replace the multi-colored goldfish (you know, the green, red and orange ones!) with the bright orange goldfish

Step 2: Replace the orange goldfish with the uncolored version or pretzel versions

From Chips to Dips

Our kids loved chips and I hated to deprive them. But I just couldn’t stand to see them crunching those fluorescent orange deep-fried chemical compounds every day after school.

Now we occasionally have a bag of chips as a special treat, but mostly my kids dip crackers, rice crackers, or pretzels into ketchup, mustard, yogurt, or honey. Sure, there are chemicals in their dips, too, but far fewer than if they scarfed down a bag of chips. Remember, it’s not a perfect world—but it can be a better one! I can also dream of the day that they ask for carrots and celery sticks to crunch on instead of chips, can’t I?

Make your own Snack Packs (and get your kids to help!)

Step 1: Tell your kids why you’re not buying the prepackaged versions anymore: too many chemicals and you love your kids too much to feed them that.

Step 2: Get creative and make your own snack packs. Enlist the help of your kids. I tried to mix four healthy choices into the bag, making the fifth one the bonus feature! For example: 1) raisins, 2) nuts (if you can swing it in an allergy-free house), 3) some pretzels, 4) some little crackers (from a box with a short list of ingredients that you can pronounce) and for 5) maybe a chocolate chip or two (or if you’re like me and hate throwing out food, you may want to use up the candy-coated cereal here or the M&Ms you still have or the yogurt raisins that you didn’t realize were coated in rBGH-laden dairy).

Step 3: Make a dozen or so little bags—with your little ones helping—and stash them for the week. Done! Quick, easy, and no chemicals. Give yourself a hug!

The Clean 15 & The Dirty Dozen

Hi Peeps!
Great video find today - lead by Dr. Weil - who really rocks.
We all know eating organic is expensive and tricky so I found this guide to be awesome.
And, if you aren't on board with organic yet- listen to what he says about how pesticides are found in your tissues!
It'll make you a believer!

Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen Video is informative and quick! Check it out here!

Get the Lead Out!!

If you, like me, are trying your best to eliminate unnecessary chemicals in the lives of your children, then you will be amazed to read this article.

Posted on the AOL homepage today - it seems that those lovable bouncy houses are laden with LEAD. The article goes on to state that California is suing the manufacturers for having what is described as a lead count dozens of times past the federal limit and that they pose a significant threat to our children.

I do notice a very artificial plastic like smell when I am around one of these.

Really makes you think twice about using them ever again. Or at least- LIMIT your usage.

I wonder if business will suffer at the over-priced bounce play places.

Tell me : will you consider this next time you have the opportunity to play in one of these??!!

Plates and Cups and "Good recycle numbers"

Borrowed this poem from Parents Magazine.

5, 4, 1 and 2 ....all the rest are bad for you!

(Keep above - toss the rest!)

A few of my friends and I were discussing plates, cups and general feeding items for our kids.

There is a ton of crap out there, and if you put it in the microwave or dishwasher, you are doubling your exposure to bpa and other chemicals because the heat causes it to seep out.

I personally use a set from IKEA that safe mama posted about a very long time ago.

Click here for her post!

Now if your kid is character crazy.... have no fear Zak designs has you covered.

Zak boasts the following

Each and every Zak product meets or exceeds all state, federal and international regulations regarding PVC, BPA and Lead contents and are unquestionably safe. Parents can be assured that any Zak children's product featuring artwork of today's most popular children's characters contains no BPA.

I am not suggesting that our government is the best source to trust but at least I feel better about their products - than someone that I have not heard of. They have a "commitment to child safety" philosophy so I might check them out.

Keep in mind that dollar store items often have lead in them and goodness knows what else.

I ban those from my house.

So, it's Friday, get out your stuff, check the recycle numbers and dump anything that is questionable.

Write soon....see more info here!

New! Johnson's Natural Baby Shampoo and Wash!

Special Sunday Edition!

I was perusing the safer child products in my local Target and passed this one up but then came back to it. See, Johnson's and Johnson's has been selling paraben soaps for years and years so they are banned from my house. But, I noticed a slight change to the packaging and noticed only THESE products were in with the rest of the organic products so I picked one up and read the ingredients (which is a mom's best defense).

Johnson's is now putting out 98% natural products that are more cost friendly than a California baby or Burt's Bee's wash. They have a baby shampoo and a head to toe foaming wash as well as lotion. (4.99 for 10 oz)

Upon reading the labels, I learned that there are no parabens (yay), or dyes but I do wonder what some of the other items in the product are. There is also "fragrance" which is not necessary since my kids emit a natural sweet scent - especially when cuddling and being good.

The packaging (the bottles) claim to be made out of 60% post-cosumer recycled material and they encourage you to recycle.

My heart is warm.

These products will be used this evening and I'll let you know how they perform but so far they had me at "no parabens".....

I am off to do some research on sulfates because I believe I heard that these were "not good" and I am assuming that it's the 2% that is not natural.

If you want more info on these products click here.

I am glad that a big huge conglomerate company like J & J is finally doing something smart and responsible. I just hope that more follow!

Happy Sunday indeed!

Ketchup and Maple Syrup = Big Ticket Items!

A few years back, my husband I bought new appliances for the kitchen. Our purchase included a new refrigerator that dispensed water right on the fridge door. Fast forward a couple of years and another kid later and my husband joked, "We bought the wrong refrigerator, what we should have got was one that dispensed ketchup and maple syrup on the fridge door! Think of all the money we would save opening and closing that door and how much of a time saver it would be!"

He joked, but he was absolutely right, we use a ton of both of these items.

A wise woman I once worked with told me - "Going organic is expensive and time consuming, so just look at your most used items and go organic there for starters". Very wise and smart advice and I hope my readers can think about this. If you can't afford to go organic or if you just don't seem to have that option in your local supermarkets, then just sit down and make a list of the big ticket items in your house and start there!

For me it's these things: milk, apples, bread, ketchup and syrup.

So, let's get down to it - ketchup first.

There are options. Heinz makes an organic ketchup but it is pricey and not easy to find. Trader Joe's makes one as well but I would be lying if I said it tasted the same. My kids poo-poo'd it long ago and it's not even the right color. But, now that product labels are pushing healthy eating, this caught my eye - Hunt's Ketchup says right on the label - No High Fructose Corn Syrup. Cue the enlightening music. What's this? Hunt's - which is a pretty decent ketchup and not to mention easy on the wallet- just took out this one horrible ingredient! There was much rejoicing in the supermarket aisle that day for me! And Hunt's may be happy to know, they have a new customer!

Second big ticket item in my house- maple syrup. Or, fake maple syrup - given that Aunt Jemima is really just manufactured chemical crap. I had to think about this one long and hard. The only way to get the chemical free stuff, from what I have seen (but please correct me if I am wrong) is to buy pure maple syrup and that my friends has about 892 grams of sugar per half of teaspoon :-) (I am kidding of course, it's more like 50 per teaspoon) but oh my god, it's delicious. I prefer Camp's Pure Maple Syrup - and they make an organic version as well. If you read the label (which I do religiously now) it's quite amusing and it says this : maple syrup. Ha ha ha!

No additives, no crap, just right out of the maple tree. I had to struggle with this a bit - given the high sugar content - but I do believe the following : if it comes from a tree- how bad can it be?

Poetry readings coming soon.....

New Brand Alert! Bubble and Bee

During my sampling of free products that I promised to share with y'all...I came across a brand I had never heard of and I did a little research for you. www.bubbleandbee.com is a new-to-me organic brand that I am sure will explode. It's up and coming so you, my reader, are going to be very "on trend".

The two products I have from these fine folks are:
Pit Putty Deodorant Stick (show of hands, how many of us heard that regular deodorant may or may not cause breast cancer? hmmm, that's a lot, well maybe we take the guess work out and use this!)

The other product I was lucky to get is a 100 % Organic Bug Spray!

Now I haven't seen these in stores yet, so check the website for buying these products if you are interested. The packaging is adorable...so I am sold!

I am testing it out the deodorant during our heat wave this weekend so stay tuned for a review!

Toothpaste Thursday

Today I was lucky enough to come across a wide variety of free sample organic products. (Don't fret or be envious, I am going to share it all with YOU- virtually of course :-)

Today I am going to focus on the toothpaste, because well, not much has excited me since the arrival of my first ever passport!!

Our lovely friends at Burt's Bees make an organic, all natural toothpaste - not just for you but ALSO SPECIFICALLY targeted for KIDDIES! YAYYY! Lollipops and sunshine all around!

So, let me tell you about the two products I sampled today:

For Mama:
Burt's Bees Natural Toothpaste- Multi care with fluoride - peppermint flavor.....
It was in a word - groovy. I spoke to a few "green" folk and they highly recommend that as an adult, you use a fluoride toothpaste - because well none of us wants that "not-so-fresh-feeling" and we want to keep and retain both our teeth and our friends!
Retail price for this is about 5.00 but please visit the site for a 1.00 off coupon or a free sample.
Yay, we love BB!

For Kiddies:
Burt's Bees Natural Toothpaste for Kids - Fluoride Free- berry bee flavor (with plaque fighting cranberry extract)
Comment from the six year old - "I like it!"
Face from the three year old - not so thrilled but didn't gag, throw up, attempt to run or leave the scene, he did continue brushing so me thinks he'll get used to it and over it and use it.

After all, I've read up on the Spongebob and Barbie Toothpastes and those folks are putting DYE IN THE TOOTHPASTE. Seriously people! How does the FDA approve this crap????!! I'd love to be a fly on the wall in one of those meetings!

Now, you might be asking- Green & Healthy Mom- Where does one purchase this and are there other options?

Why of course I have that answer, or it wouldn't be Toothpaste Thursday. (Also I love that they have a whitening formula!)

Click here to find out where Burt's Bees Products are sold.
Click here for Tom's of Maine alternatives (taste test pending, check back next Thursday!)

Enjoy!

Recall alert!

Dangerous chemicals in tween jewelry!

Click here!!!
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jVwU1ju0oUHJIcQI9t7NyTLkBZcAD9GUC2LG0

Today's Topic : Pajamas! Did you know this...

Sometimes I will hear something and kind of ignore it - because if we really sit down and review every single thing that has chemicals or is dangerous, we can go quite nuts.

But this one seems to be a re-occurring theme that just keeps popping up and I had to stop and address it.

Flame resistant pajamas - which are a must if you have an infant- are bad for your kids!
As the article here puts it (click now)....why would we put our kids in something to sleep for 12-18 hours awhile it's emitting a chemical that their tiny lungs are breathing in?? I am totally paraphrasing but I am really angry that I've gone out of my way for these types of pajamas to learn that they are dangerous!!

So, what's a mom to do? Natural, cotton, organic pjs that are SNUG fitting are the alternative.

I am kind of sad because it takes the fun out of some of the pjs we own, but it's totally not worth it.

What will you do? Heed the warning or push it out of your brain?