Ingredients List

Here is another link for an ingredient list to print out and put in your wallet or purse when buying products. You don't have to memorize them all, and after awhile of reading labels, you will recognize the stuff you don't want in there right away.

http://thegreenguide.com/doc/94/goodbadugly

They also have some buying guides for other products and household items, it's a good place to start your research when shopping, even for shoes :)

http://www.thegreenguide.com/products/

Hey Culligan Man!

Has anyone noticed that the big water cooler bottles are a #7 plastic? I'm pretty sure that's the worst one AND they are reused so the more they are used the more leaching of chemicals. What?! seriously? People do this? Anyway my sister-law's good friend took the matter into her own hands and called a bunch of drinking water supply companies to see if they cared about their customers health. From what I understand they don't. So here is a list of resources for safer water and filtration systems. This list is courtesy of Cody Chiropractic in Cary.
www.nontoxic.com
www.waterfiltercomparisons.net/WaterFilter_Comparison.cfm
www.advancedwaterfilters.com
www.aquasanastore.com
www.purwaterfilter.com
www.freedrinkingwater.com
www.waterfilter-usa.com
So you see there are some safe alternatives out there, let's vote with our dollars, shall we.

Stinky Greenies

We all know that natural deodorants for lack of a better word...stink! I decided to conduct a little experiment today since I have been using the Tom's of Maine Lavender Deodorant and while it's probably okay for ladies that glow, it just doesn't quite do it for me. So Gorgeously Green recommends Dr Hauschka's roll on, but much as I try I just can't fork over $19.99 for something that goes in my armpit. She has a couple other recommendation that I will probably try at some point they are, Erbavia, Herbal Magic, Aubrey Organics, and Tom's of Maine for men, if you need more info on those call me. But I decided to go to the Health Food Store and just pick their brains. The very helpful lady at All Ways Healthy basically told me what I already knew...Natural deodorants just don't do the job that we have come to expect, especially since they are just deodorants, not, antiperspirants. She recommended two brands that actually have repeat purchases and those are Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Floral Deodorant and EarthScience either Lichen or Tea Tree Lavender. The Thursdays isn't totally "clean" it rates a #5 on the cosmetics database but it does not contain aluminum which is rather toxic, but it does contain "fragrance" which is why it only rates a #5, still not too bad, better than a #10. It comes in a roll-on. The Earth Science Deodorant rates a #1 (for those who haven't checked that out yet, that's very good, 0 being the lowest) and is a solid. So to test my two new purchases I applied one under each arm then hooked up the bike trailed and hauled to kids on a 27 minute bike ride to playgroup(It's ride a bike to work or play week too), ran around with the kiddies till noon, then hauled them back home, wearing a windproof jacket, did some cleaning, raked out the lettuce garden and planted some herbs and Swiss Chard, and finally put the kids to bed. I figured a day in the life was the best way to check for stink. And for the results.....(sniff sniff).....The Thursdays isn't the freshest, it's not as bad as the Tom's and probably on an average day you could get away with it, the floral scent isn't exactly exactly horrible, but kind of stale if you know what I mean. The Earth Science on the other hand I'm pleasantly surprised with, I can't smell anything, I'm tempted to ask my husband if he can, but really I can only put the poor man through so much :) Anyway I might try some others after I'm through with these, but I think I will be sticking with EarthScience for a bit, we'll see what happens in the dog days of summer. Just keep in mind this is only one girls opinion and everyones body chemistry is different, but like I said I'm not one of those lucky glow girls who don't even use deodorant! like Julia Roberts and my totally cool sister-in-law :)

All this got me thinking though at some point, in order to make an impact and work towards a better future for our kids, we will have to sacrifice something. I am so used to having my cake and eating it too, we are just a consumer culture and really at some point it has to stop, why is it so hard for use to give up our creature comforts? When I listen to myself hem and haw about it and make excuses, I sound like my 2yr old whining for a Popsicle. Seriously though before I get on my global warming rampage, I just want to say that we have to start giving some stuff up in order to make a difference, I think that the Earth and our children's future is worth it, don't you? I know natural deodorants won't save the planet, but it's the mind set I'm talking about, I have to be willing to give up those comfortable things because in the long run they are harmful to me and to all of my friends and family, I'm not saying be a stinky Greenie, but take a look and what you consume in a day, or week or whatever, and see if there is any place to cut back. So my quote for the day....Be the Change you want to see in the world - Gandhi (courtesy of Sophie Uliano)

That's a Wrap

Mother's Day is coming up and I was just thinking about wrapping, and how much waste wrapping paper and bows and ribbons and all that packaging stuff creates. I know it looks nice but really everyone just rips it all off in like 2 seconds and off into a landfill it goes. So I got this tip from Sierra Club on Furoshiki, which are a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that were frequently used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. (wikipedia)
furoshiki.com/techniques.php#basic_wrap

Anyway looks interesting and I'm willing to give it a try maybe with some organic cotton napkins, or scarves, or baby blankets, tableclothes, um bandanas or something. I've been looking for a way to address the issue of the boys birthdays coming up and the bags and bags of garbage we throw out afterwards, so this sounds like some creative problem solving!

I can hear some of your eyeballs rolling in the back of your heads, thinking I'm a nut and so much work, blah blah blah, well I said I would try it and well see how it goes. :) Anyone have a better suggestion?

Hard Habit to Break

Did you know that paper waste contributes one third of all land fill waste? That is just way too much! Plus:

• One million trees would be saved if every U.S. household replaced just one 250-count package of virgin fiber napkins with 100 percent recycled ones.
• 544,000 trees would be saved by replacing a 70-sheet roll of virgin fiber paper towels.
• 424,000 trees would be spared by replacing a 500-sheet roll of virgin fiber toilet paper
• 170,000 trees would be saved by replacing one 175-count box of virgin fiber facial tissue.

source earthtreat.org

Is it that hard to stop using paper towels? Well we are about to find out! I raided my bag of things to be donated to GoodWill and found suitable fabrics to make napkins and rags. I made a 12"x12" template out of cardboard from the recycling bin, so I don't have to measure each square that I have to cut, traced them with one of the kids water soluable markers and started cutting. When I couldn't get a full 12"square I made smaller squares to use for face cloths for the kids and rags. I still need to find a sustainable cute basket to put them on my counter in, but I'm sure if I search hard enough I can find something in my house to Reuse! Oh old sheets are a good idea too. You can certainly edge your 12" square for nice looking table napkins, or get someone to do it for you (I'll help you if you are in the neighborhood!) I seriously urge you to take on this challenge with me, or at least buy recycled paper products, everytime you use a paper towel you are cutting down trees. I don't mean to sound like a tree hugger or a crazy activist but this is sooooo important!! Just try what have you got to lose. Seriously if you need help and want to bring me some old stuff to cut up for you, I'll do it!