Super(Natural)Momma

Pediatricians Call for Better Protection for Littles

2011-04-26T04:35:00.001-07:00

(Reuters Health) - The U.S. is not doing enough to protect kids from exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals, pediatricians said in a new statement released today.

The policy paper from the American Academy of Pediatrics explains that a law meant to inform the public about the risks of different chemicals, and to give the government the right to intervene to keep dangerous chemicals off the market, has largely failed to achieve those goals.

And, writes Dr. Jerome Paulson, part of the AAP's Council on Environmental Health, the consequences of that may hit kids the hardest, and in unpredictable ways.

"Children are not little adults," Paulson, of Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., told Reuters Health. "Their bodies are different and their behaviors are different. That means that their exposures to chemicals in the environment are different, and the way their bodies (break down) those chemicals are different."

Kids may be especially vulnerable to chemicals during important periods in development, when their brains and bodies are changing quickly, Paulson added.

He said the goal of the report is to include the voice of pediatricians in current discussions about the need to update the Toxic Substances Control Act, passed in 1976 with the intention of protecting the public against exposure to hazardous chemicals.

That law has only been used to regulate five chemicals or types of chemicals, Paulson writes.

That's because it gives the companies that make chemicals an easy out, according to the report, not requiring them to research chemicals for safety before those chemicals go on the market.

And without safety data, the Environmental Protection Agency can't prove that any of the 80,000 chemicals used in the U.S. are risky enough to require regulation.

Paulson said that even without more stringent laws on chemical use, the lack of information about just how risky different chemicals are makes it hard for people to avoid those potential risks.

"The reality is, we live in a chemical world, and some of them are benign and some of them aren't, and we don't know" which are and which aren't, Paulson said.

"It makes it impossible for us to understand what people should do to try to protect themselves or their children."

Noting recent surges of concern about bisphenol A in baby bottles and flame retardants, Paulson said that "we can't really deal with these kinds of issues one chemical at a time. We need a better system for screening chemicals before they're introduced into the marketplace, trying as best we can to identify ones that could be problematic ... while at the same time monitoring those that do come on the market."

Michael Wilson, who studies chemical policy at the University of California, Berkeley, said he was "thrilled" to see the new policy paper and that "it's a powerful statement, it's overdue and also timely."

Two weeks ago, New Jersey senator Frank Lautenberg introduced for the second time a bill that would reform the Toxic Substances Control Act.

"The problems that we're experiencing today that are very concrete problems ... all of those problems are going to broaden and deepen in coming years," Wilson, who is not connected to the AAP's council, told Reuters Health.

A spokesperson from the American Chemistry Council told Reuters Health in an email that the chemical company representative agrees that the Toxic Substances Control Act needs to be updated, and that the chemical industry is also working with the government to protect kids' health through other means.

Reform of chemical laws would "send a whole new signal to the industry" that the health impacts of its products, especially the impacts on vulnerable babies and kids, are just important as their function and price, Wilson said.

Then, the council pointed out, companies would have incentives to produce safer products, instead of having incentives not to measure health and safety risks at all.

SOURCE: bit.ly/c7DozH Pediatrics, online April 25, 201

My Go-To-Works-For-Everything Bread Recipe

2011-04-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

I make this recipe weekly. One batch will yield a small loaf and some burger buns or dinner rolls. I use my bread machine's dough cycle. If you don't have one, proof yeast, mix dough, and rise once. Then skip to ****

Set out 1 1/4 cups of milk, 2T of butter, and 1 egg. Allow them to come to room temperature.

Add these ingredients and the following:

Scant 1/4c honey

1tsp kosher salt

3 1/2 c whole wheat flour

1/2tsp yeast

When cycle completes, remove the dough.

****

For loaf, shape and place in loaf pan. For round (hamburger) buns, roll and cut with a cutter or canning jar ring. For hoagie rolls or hotdog buns, roll and cut with a sharp knife into rectangles. Shape dinner rolls by hand. You get the picture.

Let rise one hour. May be frozen at this point.

Bake on 350 until golden.

Repost: Naturally Sweet and More Thoughts

2011-04-25T04:18:00.001-07:00

A little over a year ago, I wrote this post:

I've been trying to reduce the amount of refined sugar we eat. I cut out devilish HFCS, but the yummy white stuff isn't angelic either. I'm trying to save it for occasional treats like birthday cake or other special desserts.

For more everyday-type baked goods (muffins, quick breads, etc) I replace oil with applesauce and reduce sugar by 1/3 to 1/2. If I'm leaving out brown sugar, a little added molasses maintains that warm sweetness. I sometimes use honey, depending on the recipe.

For breads, I always use honey.

Popsicles, yogurt, and oatmeal are sweetened with fruit purees or juice.

I usually don't sweeten my coffee, but I had an itchy tooth for a sweet cup this morning. I glanced at my sugar bowl, then opted for a drizzle of real maple syrup. Oh My Goodness. It is delightful! Try it!

Here's a list of sweeteners in pure form that I've tried:

Honey- Remember, if you buy local, you get great allergy protection! And for a touch of fun, check out my adorable new-to-me vintage honey pot!

Maple Syrup- The real stuff. Pancake syrup is sketchy. This is one of those things you probably want to buy organic...many brands contain formaldehyde. Gross. Did you know that maple syrup has more calcium than milk? For use in baking, sub 1c maple syrup and 1/4t baking soda for 1c sugar and reduce liquid by 3T for every cup used.

Fruit Purees- Applesauce is easy, but be adventurous! Purees have the added benefit of moisture, so you can replace oil or egg yolks in baked goods.

Fruit Juice- Juice is sweet on it's own, and concentrate is even sweeter. Many commercial concentrates are stripped of any nutrients, so I recommend making your own by bringing juice to a boil and simmering until reduced to 1/4 the original amount.

Edited to add: While minimally processed, fruit juice concentrates are high in fructose.

Molasses- Made from cane juice and high in calcium, potassium, and iron.

Sorghum Syrup- Sorghum cane juice, boiled down. Even if you don't buy organic, it has a low instance of pesticides because the cane is naturally insect-resistant.

I used to tout agave nectar, but I've been reading some sketchy things. Consumers are led to believe that it is some natural wonder, pressed from the leaves of the agave plant. Apparently, it goes through about the same level of chemical processing as HFCS. I will try to dig up some article links for you. For now, I'm looking for sweeteners whose processing involves no more than boiling.

I wanted to bring the subject up again after learning more about agave and fructose. Studies continue to show that fructose in large quantities poses health risks. The majority of agave sugars are converted into fructose during extensive processing. The end product--bottled agave nectar--is equally processed and contains as much fructose as HFCS! Not exactly a healthy option.

Seriously Cute Fluff

2011-01-24T09:37:00.000-08:00

Just a shameless plug for my friend Laura, who makes diapers too cute for words and lots of other great green stuff for her shop, MamaMade on Etsy. This particular diaper is a Very Baby, which is my favorite newborn fitted.

Kitchen Gadgets I'm Loving #2: Misto Oil Mister

2011-01-20T10:07:00.001-08:00

These have been around for forever, but I can't imagine not having one...actually, I have two. Traditional cooking sprays contain propellants--usually propane or isobutane. There is risk of food contamination, not to mention the waste created by the cans themselves and their manufacturing process.

I keep one Misto for olive oil. That one is for spraying pans for cooking or directly on food (eg vegetables prior to roasting). The other holds vegetable oil for greasing baking pans.

Would a Misto (or two!) make your life easier and greener?

Kitchen Gadgets I'm Loving #1: Microwave Popcorn Popper

2011-01-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

Ok, so buying new things is not necessarily eco-friendly. I especially try to avoid buying things that have a single purpose. The example that strikes me is a gadget I once saw designed to cook stuffed jalenpeno peppers on the grill. Really? How often do you do that that you need a separate thingamajig? But I digress. Every once in a while, I stumble across something that not only makes life easier but also replaces something less healthy or less earth-friendly.

My family loves popcorn. What's not to love? It's a yummy, quick, whole grain snack. Unfortunately, we were totally dependent on the microwavable, pop-in-bag variety, which is loaded with it's fair share of problems:

-It's wasteful: Each plastic-lined paper bag comes wrapped in a plastic bag, and those are stacked in a cardboard box.

-It's not healthy: Microwave popcorn is loaded with artificial additives and hydrogenated oils.

-It's toxic: That plastic lining that touches your snack? BPA. Ugh.

Enter the Microwave Popper from Sur la Table.

This clever gadget contains no plastic parts. The popper itself is glass; the lid is silicone with metal mesh. You chose your favorite variety of corn and pour the kernels into the popper...No Oil Required. If you like the flavor of butter, you can add a pat to the lid, and it will melt over the corn as it pops. Yum.

It's just as easy as popping in a bag, and the result is so much better. And at the cost of a few boxes of popcorn, it's a bargain.

I Miss You.

2011-01-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Way more than you miss me. Really. While hackers, babies, and life have gotten in the way of my blogging, I've honestly fallen off the wagon a bit when it comes to lifestyle. Something about this blog held me accountable. How could I make suggestions I don't live by? I miss blogging, this is true, but even more, I miss SNM. Her. Me. I usually don't make much in the way of resolutions. I simply like to view January 1 as a fresh start. A realignment of sorts. Time to stop putting off, brushing off, slacking off. Time to remind myself who I want to be and take steps to become that person. So, I'm back. I'm not going to resolve to post with any certain schedule or number of posts, but I will post. Because I enjoy it. And what it makes me :)

Better Blueberry Muffins

2010-07-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

My girls and I went blueberry picking with a friend today and came home with just under a gallon of perfect, organic, warm-from-the-sun berries. Of course, we couldn't do a thing when we got home until we made some muffins! I dug out my grandma's recipe and made a few adjustments to make them just a bit healthier. Don't get me wrong, these are still a treat, just not too bad ;)

Preheat oven to 375.

Whisk together in one bowl:
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/3 cup date sugar (or 1/2 cup white sugar)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder (make sure it's aluminum-free!)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Mix in a second bowl:
1 1/2 sticks butter, melted
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
scant tablespoon lemon zest (optional)

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones until just incorporated (don't overmix). Fold in 1 cup (or more!) fresh or frozen blueberries.

Spoon in to paper-lined or well-greased muffin cups. Bake 20 minutes for regular muffins or about 14 for minis. This recipe made me 12 standard and 16 mini muffins...DELISH!

Canning: Homemade Pasta Sauce

2010-07-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

You asked for it! Making and canning your own pasta sauce is easy peasy. Use any recipe you like. I recommend a simple one--tomatoes, veggies, and herbs. Simple recipes are more versatile...you can use one for pasta, soups, chicken parm, meatball subs, etc, and just gussy it up as needed. Mine contains tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, parsley, carrots (for sweetness), salt, pepper, and just a touch of date sugar. It's organic and refined sugar-free. You can use canned or fresh tomatoes. Fresh ones will need to be peeled, which is done by cutting an "x" in the skin on the bottom and dropping in a pot of boiling water, then an ice bath. Canned ones save you this step, but don't forget that the lining of cans contains BPA. I think the perfect solution would be to self-can some whole, peeled tomatoes. Hmmm. Add that to my list :)

Make your sauce according to the recipe. While hot, ladle through a funnel into sanitized canning jars. Wipe the rims with a clean cloth, place lids on top. Screw on rings. Place jars on a canning rack in enough boiling water to cover the tops of the jars by at least an inch. Process for 30 minutes (for altitudes up to 1000ft). When your jars cool, the button on the top of the lid will depress, indicating a good seal. If one of your jars doesn't process properly, cool it and freeze or use within a couple of days.

GIVEAWAY: Stylewipes!

2010-07-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

My friend Heather recently starter her own WHAM business, Stylewipes. I immediately thought of how cute these sylish cases would be for holding cloth wipes on the changing table...so much cuter than my unplugged warmer or a plastic tub.

Even if you use disposable wipes, wouldn't changes be a bit more fun with a Stylewipes box? You want one, don't you? :)
On Monday, July 19, we'll randomly choose one winner who'll get a large Stylewipes case, custom made in the fabric of her choice.

Here's how to enter.

1. Follow this blog and comment.
2. Become a fan of SNM of Facebook, comment.
3. Become a fan of Stylewipes on Facebook, comment.
4. Leave a comment sharing your favorite Stylewipes fabric.
Dont' forget to leave me your email so that I can contact you if you win!

Good Luck!

Why Boycotting BP Stations Isn't the Answer

2010-06-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

Due to recent environmental catastrophe that is the Gulf Leak, people everywhere are declaring their disdain for BP. They plan to demonstrate their anger by boycotting BP gas stations. Unfortunately, this will do little to nothing to the petroleum giant. Instead, it causes major damage to small business owners. Most gas stations are independently owned. That small local BP station is someone's livelihood. Furthermore, only some of BP's petroleum is used for gasoline. The majority goes to other petro proucts...the ones that are everywhere in the day to day lives of most people. How many petroleum products have you used today?

-Your shampoo bottle, maybe even the shampoo in it
-Your toothbrush
-Your lotion
-Your make up
-Your lip balm
-Your travel mug
-The peanut butter jar
-The bag you put your sandwich in

and it's only 9am. You haven't even left the house.

Yes, we're angry at BP. We want them to pay, and they are. But the only way to really send the message that we've had enough is to reduce our reliance on petroleum products. The more we use, the more they drill.

It's a tough change. Petro products have infiltrated our lives. Make better choices where you can, and demand alternatives where they don't exist. We live in a capitalist country, right? You are the consumer, the driver. Each time you buy a safer product, you are sending a message to the petroleum industry.

"Lactivism"

2010-06-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

Today, a friend posted a link to this story on Facebook. In a nutshell, Mom is at a baseball game with the family, sitting in the nosebleeds. Newborn needs to nurse. Mom moves up into an empty row even farther up. Security comes over, tells her she can't be there. Offers family restroom. Mom is livid. Calls media. Lactivists Unite!!! Boycott the Rockies! Their Sponsors! Major League Baseball!

My immediate reaction:

stories like this tick me off. and not for the obvious reason. i think she's blowing this out of proportion. i have a feeling security came over and said that the section was closed, to which she replied that she was there to nurse. they told her there was a family restroom. not because they didn't want her NURSING there, but because they didn't want her nursing THERE. she had obviously felt uncomfortable nursing in her seat, so they offered an alternative. had she been nursing in the seat for which she had a ticket, i doubt there ever would have been an issue.

i get seriously ticked off when lactivists get all up in arms over stuff like this, twisting it to fit the bill. it makes us all look like angry nutjobs :(

No woman should ever be asked to breastfeed in a bathroom. But I see this as an uniformed male security guard offering what he thinks is a helpful alternative. Like I said, mom clearly wasn't comfortable nursing in her crowded seat. Instead of accusing this man of being a discriminating bully, we should be focused on educating the general public about breastfeeding in a peaceful, non-accusatory manner. They don't know what they don't know...ya know? I bet this guy feels like a total jerk. Who hasn't been a similar position. Has there never been a time when you were ignorant about something and put your foot in your mouth? Did someone take you aside and kindly inform you of your mistake, or were you accused of being a bad person?

I am a breastfeeding mother. I support breastfeeding mothers. I get furious as hell when a nursing mother's rights are truly violated. I am woman, hear me roar. I would attend a nurse-in in a heartbeat if I thought a mother had been the victim of discrimination, but COME ON ladies! Let's quit looking for reasons to roar!

Did security have the right to ask that woman to leave a closed section? Yep. If she's not allowed to be there, she's not allowed to nurse there.

Are mothers who feel the need to nurse in the lounge of a restroom lesser breastfeeders? No way.

I nurse with a cover. Am I bringing shame to the name of nursing? Give me a flippin' break.

Let's rally behind moms, however they choose to nurse. Society makes it hard enough...sometimes I think over jealous lactivists only hurt their cause. We're so much less likely to be taken seriously if we go around being Judgy McCriticals and looking to start something.

I'm just sayin'.

I'll leave you with this 100% true and relevant story.

It was October. I had a one month old. I took her with me to the airport to pick up my mom, who was visiting from the west coast. While sitting in the car in front of Baggage Claim, Sweet E began to cry. She was hungry. I took her out of her car seat and began to nurse her in the driver's seat. Airport cop pulled up. "Lady, no parking here." "I'm waiting for someone." "No waiting, move along NOW." "Okay, just a second, I'm nursing my newborn." "Put your kid in the car seat and move along NOW."

I was pissed. I had to put my crying baby back in her seat and make a lap around the airport, listening to her shriek with hunger. I cried with her. But the signs said no waiting. I was chancing it, and I was wrong. I pulled into the garage, parked, and nursed my baby. THE END.

Now, I could be wrong about this particular case. If I am, I'm truly sorry. But there are dozens of others just like it, and I have to wonder what actually went down.

**currently editing to add more thoughts.

Recycled Post: Bug Protection

2010-05-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

Originally Posted July 08

When I heard that a friend wasn't using any bug protection for her 5 month old because her pedi had recommended holding off until 6 months, it reminded me to post my rave for California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent Spray. I'm one of those people who's blood is particularly attractive to mosquitoes and the the like. I've been using the CABaby stuff on myself as well as MJ, and it works great for both of us. I also have their Citronella Sunscreen and like that as well. Neither of these products contain DEET, so they're safe to use on babies of any age. Other companies make similar essential oil products...I know Burt's Bees is one.

Warning: Digression Incoming

This takes me to a recent blurb in Parent's Magazine. I have a free subscription, but I don't know why I read it. It usually finds some way to annoy me each month, most recently with one-sided pieces on cloth diapering and circumcision. This month's issue contains an article on the topic of summer insect protection:

"Apply an insect repellent containing DEET to your child's exposed skin--avoiding face and hands--before the child goes outdoors. The AAP recommends using a product that contains no more than 30% DEET. Don't use DEET on babies under 2 months old.

After your child comes indoors, wash the treated skin with soap and water. Avoid products that combine sunscreen and insect repellent because you could expose your child to excess DEET when you reapply every couple of hours.

For extra protection, apply a repellent containing permethrin to clothing, shoes, and sleeping bags. Permethrin is a virtually nontoxic chemical that kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other bugs on contact. Spray items outdoors, and allow clothing to dry before wearing it. Don't apply permethrin directly to the skin."

Let's tackle the DEET first. Avoid the face and hands. Don't use more than a 30% concentration. Don't apply to babies less than 2 months old. Wash it off as soon as you're inside. Don't overexpose. Yeah, this sounds like good stuff! Here's more:

DEET is a toxic compound, partially absorbed into the bloodstream, and associated with dermal and neurological reactions. Several cases of toxic encephalopathy (brain damage) associated with the use of DEET in children have been reported in the medical literature. Generalized seizures have also been temporally associated with the use of DEET.

And Permethrin? "Virtually nontoxic?" How's this sound:

Permethrin, like all synthetic pyrethroids, is a neurotoxin. Symptoms include tremors, incoordination, elevated body temperature, increased aggressive behavior, and disruption of learning. Laboratory tests suggest that permethrin is more acutely toxic to children than to adults.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified permethrin as a carcinogen because it causes lung tumors in female mice and liver tumors in mice of both sexes. Permethrin inhibits the activity of the immune system in laboratory tests, and also binds to the receptors for a male sex hormone. It causes chromosome aberrations in human and hamster cells.

Permethrin is toxic to honey bees and other beneficial insects, fish, aquatic insects, crayfish, and shrimp. For many species, concentrations of less than one part per billion are lethal. Permethrin causes deformities and other developmental problems in tadpoles, and reduces the number of oxygen-carrying cells in the blood of birds.

Permethrin has been found in streams and rivers throughout the United States. It is also routinely found on produce, particularly spinach, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, and peaches.

A wide variety of insects have developed resistance to permethrin. High levels of resistance have been documented in cockroaches, head lice, and tobacco budworm.

I'd call that pretty darn toxic. And the most widely read parenting magazine is encouraging people to use it for their babies. Nice.

The Dirty Dozen/ Clean Fifteen

2010-04-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

The EWG list of produce with the highest instances of pesticides has been revised for this year. There are quite a few changes from the last list.

Here are the "dirtiest" fruits and veggies...the ones you really should buy organic:

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes

And these items tend to be "cleaner," that is, have lower amounts of residual pesticides.:

1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangoes
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potatoes
15. Honeydew

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2010-04-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

I just placed an order for cedar garden beds. They'll be installed this weekend! It's something we've been planning/hoping to do ourselves, but planning and hoping doesn't get it done, especially when combined with laundering, mowing, playing, and all the other constant -ings.

I'm so giddy about this is a bit silly :)

I'm planning a bed for veggies and another for a cutting garden, which has always been a dream of mine. I haven't completed my list of veggies yet, but you can bet there will be bell peppers...i just spent $6 on TWO organic peppers...yikes! We also plan to plant 4ish blueberry bushes this year.

I'm dedicating my garden to my late grandma and hoping she left her green thumb to me when she went to heaven.

I Feel Pretty!

2010-04-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

What do you all think of the new look? Next step is getting down to business with the post tagging. Oh, how I wish I'd done it along the way!

Nuke It!

2010-04-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

Eco-conscious families seem to have a multitude of conflicting arguments about microwave usage, each one as valid as the others. I myself have mixed feelings about the ol' nuke box...it boils down to this for me:

Cons:

Microwaves are appliances. They are just one more thing--and not at all necessary one--that will end up in a landfill.

They cook food using radiation. Determined to be safe? Yes. A little creepy still? Yep.

They make it easier, and therefor more tempting, to eat processed convenience food.

But I have one. Here's why:

It came with my house.

I don't stand directly in front of it when it's in use (which is often majorly inconvenient).

Sure, it's easier to cook processed junk, but it's also easier to reheat my leftovers and pre-(home)cooked meals.

It uses less energy to thaw/reheat/cook than my stove top.

It uses less energy indirectly during summer months, because my stove and oven make my house hot, which makes my air conditioning work harder.

So, what are your thoughts on microwaves? Do you have one? Do you use it often? Do tell!

The Great Sling Debacle

2010-03-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

I've been avoiding talking about all the sling stuff in the news, frankly because it annoys me. ONE TYPE of sling (the bag sling) is being recalled, and it's one that was exposed as dangerous years ago.

Babywearing is a wonderful thing. It soothes and comforts babies. It promotes bonding. It allows mom to hold her baby and still go about other things...like chasing toddlers. Like anything in life, it needs to be done with common sense.

1. Do not cover your baby's nose and mouth with fabric. There, don't you feel enlightened?
2. Do not position your baby in a position in which you would not normally hold him. (Like in a u shape across your belly)
3. Make sure you feel secure. If something feels off, adjust and reposition.

Used properly, most slings are perfectly safe. But if you don't feel comfortable using them, here's a list of alternatives:

-Wraps (ie Moby, Maya, homemade)
-Soft Structured Carriers (Ergo, Beco, Bjorn, Snuggli)
-Mei Tais (Babyhawk, homemade)

A few closing tips from SNM:

Don't put your baby face first in a sleepsack.
Don't put your baby in a Bumb0 on the top of the refrigerator.
Don't let your baby practice handstands in the excersaucer.

The Story of Bottled Water

2010-03-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

Almost exactly two years ago, I urged you to watch a short documentary, The Story of Stuff. If you haven't seen it yet, I'll urge again! It is really a great commentary on our country as consumers. I think about it just about every time I'm about to make a major purchase.

The folks behind The Story of Stuff have created a new must-watch doc, The Story of Bottled Water. If you're a follower of my blog, chances are you aren't a bottled water drinker...unless of course "bottle" refers to your stainless steel reusable vessel. Still, take the time (it's just a few minutes) and watch.

Go ahead, I'll wait.

Good, wasn't it!

Now, share your thoughts! I really thrive on hearing from you. Seeing your faces up there----^ is what motivates me :)

Naturally Sweet

2010-03-22T05:49:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to reduce the amount of refined sugar we eat. I cut out devilish HFCS, but the yummy white stuff isn't angelic either. I'm trying to save it for occasional treats like birthday cake or other special desserts.

For more everyday-type baked goods (muffins, quick breads, etc) I replace oil with applesauce and reduce sugar by 1/3 to 1/2. If I'm leaving out brown sugar, a little added molasses maintains that warm sweetness. I sometimes use honey, depending on the recipe.

For breads, I always use honey.

Popsicles, yogurt, and oatmeal are sweetened with fruit purees or juice.

I usually don't sweeten my coffee, but I had an itchy tooth for a sweet cup this morning. I glanced at my sugar bowl, then opted for a drizzle of real maple syrup. Oh My Goodness. It is delightful! Try it!

Here's a list of sweeteners in pure form that I've tried:

Honey- Remember, if you buy local, you get great allergy protection! And for a touch of fun, check out my adorable new-to-me vintage honey pot!

Maple Syrup- The real stuff. Pancake syrup is sketchy. This is one of those things you probably want to buy organic...many brands contain formaldehyde. Gross. Did you know that maple syrup has more calcium than milk? For use in baking, sub 1c maple syrup and 1/4t baking soda for 1c sugar and reduce liquid by 3T for ever cup used.

Fruit Purees- Applesauce is easy, but be adventurous! Purees have the added benefit of moisture, so you can replace oil or egg yolks in baked goods.

Fruit Juice- Juice is sweet on it's own, and concentrate is even sweeter. Many commercial concentrates are stripped of any nutrients, so I recommend making your own by bringing juice to a boil and simmering until reduced to 1/4 the original amount.

Molassas- Made from cane juice and high in calcium, potassium, and iron.

Sorghum Syrup- Sorghum cane juice, boiled down. Even if you don't buy organic, it has a low instance of pesticides because the cane is naturally insect-resistant.

I used to tout agave nectar, but I've been reading some sketchy things. Consumers are led to believe that it is some natural wonder, pressed from the leaves of the agave plant. Apparently, it goes through about the same level of chemical processing as HFCS. I will try to dig up some article links for you. For now, I'm looking for sweeteners whose processing involves no more than boiling.

There are other things out there that I want to try (especially date sugar!). I'll be sure to let you know what my results are.

It's Consignment Sale Season!

2010-03-19T11:32:00.001-07:00

There are so many things I love about spring, and a good consignment sale is one of them!

Today I scored:

6 dresses (three with matching tights or leggings)
1 skirt
2 sets of jammies
1 shirt
1 pair of shoes
1 pillow case dress made from a vintage hand-embroidered, hand-tatted case
5 wooden puzzles
1 toddler computer game
2 art smocks

...all for around $60.

Everyone knows consignment shopping is cheap, and most know that it's a great way to reduce waste, but did you know that previously-loved clothing is safer? Yep. We can't all buy organic handmade clothing all of the time. But commercial clothing made in China (or wherever) has lower levels of toxic chemicals after it's had years to off-gas.

So search the local paper for a sale near you, load up the reusable bags, and shop shop shop! Your wallet (and therefore your husband), your kids, and the earth will be glad you did.

A Word About My Giveaways

2010-03-19T11:23:00.001-07:00

I felt the need to clarify something for my readers. Every product I have reviewed on my blog is one that I went out (or clicked) and purchased. I have never received one thing free for reviewing or giving away, and I don't want to. I don't ever want to feel "paid" to give a good review. If I say I like it, I do. Sometimes, I like something so much that I write to the company and ask if they'd consider giving an item to one of my readers...you know, share the love.

So there you have it. My reviews are straight up from me. Nothing free, nothing paid. That's just not the point of my blog. For product review blogs, that's great. But this is more of a helpful hint blog with an occasional "Oooh! I love this! Want one?" thrown in. I like giving away free stuff :)

A Quicky Update of the List Variety

2010-03-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

I have so many posts in the works right now, but I thought I'd let you know what's going on in the life of SNM these days. Details, pictures, and fun to come :)

- I got my deep freezer! Woohoo, Yippee, and Yay! Well, I don't HAVE it yet, but it's waiting for me to pick it up.
- We've had some days warm enough to hang laundry. I'm planning a new clothesline so I can hang more.
- Easter baskets for MJ and E are almost complete...and not a corn syrup-y chick or strand of plastic grass in sight. Wait 'til you see the delightful goodies.
- My dear grandmother passed away last month. I got so many wonderful handmade and vintagey things from her home to remember her by. This has inspired a bit of a dining room make-over, in eco-friendly fashion, of course.
- MJ and I picked out some bulk wildflower seeds to fill our yard with local color. Can't wait to plant!
- Along those lines, I'm planning out my first real veggie garden.
- I've been baking. Bread. And lots of it.
- Materials are gathered for our hand-made Easter decor. The peanut and I have some serious crafting to do!

The first hints of Spring never fail to bring on a new surge of Green Motivation! I've got a newly renewed passion and desire to be SuperMommy/Domestic Goddess/Eco Warrior. I can do it, right?

Oh! How could I forget!?! SNM blog is getting a MAJOR makeover. It's going to take a few weeks, but I'm super-stoked :)

GAP Demin Event

2010-03-12T11:56:00.000-08:00

This weekend, when you bring old denim to the GAP, you get 30% off the purchase of new denim. The old stuff will be upcycled into eco-friendly insulation for homes!

Oh, the Irony!

2010-03-08T16:31:00.000-08:00

Consumers who want to know just which chemicals are lurking in their stuff can surf right over to healthystuff.org. What was once a great website for checking toys, now covers all sorts of household items. I check it occasionally just to see if a suspect something sneaked into my home. Imagine my dismay (and shock) when I found this onesie on the list of worst kids' items. It's irony at it's best and sad because my Sweet E got this every one as a gift...and wore it.

Test results show that it contains high levels of both lead and arsenic. Sad.

My Book List: Pregnancy, Birth, Babies

2010-03-03T05:18:00.000-08:00

My friend Jana recently blogged about her favorite books for moms. She inspired me to share my own list of favorites.

I truly believe that it is near impossible to read an entire book and agree with every point. You need to think for yourself. Read a few, find what resonates. This is especially true when it comes to baby books. Why blindly follow some sort of "plan" written by an author who doesn't know you or your baby?

There is a popular book called Babywise. The premise is that it will make your baby sleep longer at night by following a strict schedule during the day. Sadly, moms who completely buy into Babywise follow a schedule written by an author rather than their baby's cues. This means that hungry babies are being made to wait to eat; tired babies are being forced to stay awake. The Babywise plan has actually been linked to malnourishment and failure to thrive. Do some research...it's all out there.

Mommas, you have a gift more powerful than any book...your intuition. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it! I've heard so many moms say things like, "I'm so sorry, baby. Just 20 more minutes!" or "It just kills me to hear him cry!" Feed your baby, pick him up, hold him, rock him. Babies are only babies for a short time. When he's older, you'll wish you had rocked him to sleep more instead of standing in the hall listening to him cry. That's a promise. You don't get this time back.

That said, many moms have had success by taking a few of the book's pointers and using them in a way that suits the individual baby.

::Making an effort to steer this away from a parenting post and back to a book post::

Okay, here are some books that are on my shelf:

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Simkin et al
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Jack Newman
The Baby Book by Dr. Sears
Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp

and just for fun

Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. She's laugh-out-loud funny, in a brutally honest kind of way.

Read. Enjoy. Think. Make educated choices. Don't do things just because it's what your friends do. If that's really what you want and what works for you, great. But arrive at that decision yourself. I think if you do your due diligence, you just might decide that the "way it's always done" is seldom best in our day and age.

Spread the Word, Get a Gift!

2010-03-02T12:24:00.001-08:00

I have a Flip and Tumble bag for you! Yes, you! Want it? Here's how.

1. Tell your friends about SNM.
2. Ask them to follow the blog (and become a facebook fan if they're on FB!).
3. When you've recruited 5 followers, post here and let me know who they are.
4. First 5 posters will get a Flip and Tumble bag! Don't forget to leave me your contact email!
6. I'll also draw from the pool of new followers and give out two more bags!

Why am I so desperate for followers?

A bigger fan base= More giveaway opportunities! Come on, Share the Love!

Green (Literally!) Air Purification

2010-03-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

A website dedicated to reviewing air purifiers (you know, those expensive, ugly, power-hungry appliances) recently combined results from four studies (NASA and Wolverton) to determine the best houseplants for removing toxins from your home. Turns out, a small plant (6") per 100 square feet of your home can significantly lower the amounts of these common household toxins:

-carbon monoxide
-nitrogen dioxide
-formaldehyde
-ammonia
-benzene

Here are the leafy super-cleaners, starting with strongest purification power:

1. Areca Palm

2. Lady Palm

3. Bamboo Palm

4. Rubber Plant

5. Janet Craig Dracaena

6. English Ivy **potentially poisonous if ingested**

7. Dwarf Date Palm

8. Ficus

9. Boston Fern

10. Peace Lily **potentially poisonous if ingested**

11. Aloe Vera **potentially poisonous if ingested**

12. Spider Plants

13. Chrysanthemum **potentially poisonous if ingested**

14. Heart-Leaf Philodendron **potentially poisonous if ingested**

15. Mother-in-Law Tongue/Snake Plant

One trip to Ikea and just $75 later, my house has it first round of air purifiers--in cute pots of course! The plants were much more affordable than those at the home improvement store. Ikea also has a wide variety of decorative pots. I chose simple neutral ones because I wasn't sure for which room each plant was destined. :)

A few of our new leafy friends

I still need to add more to get to that 6"/100sq ft sweet spot, but I'm happy to be on my way. I'm also pleased with the element the plants bring to my decor!

[My apologies for leaving out the link to my source...fixed!]

My Cloth Diaper Wash Routine

2010-02-26T09:08:00.000-08:00

1. Empty pail into washer. Toss in pail liner.
2. Add 1c vinegar
3. Cold Rinse
4. Add detergent (currently Green Mountain Baby--it was on super clearance at Kroger)
5. Hot Wash with a Cold Rinse
6. Additional Cold Rinse every other time
7. Hang Dry in warm weather or Tumble Dry Medium

Clean Fluff!

Traveling with Cloth

2010-02-25T05:04:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in a post last week that Sweet E was in disposables on our recent trip to California. It's not because traveling with cloth is difficult...I've done it many times (including two in cloth at Disney World!). Sadly, the new airline baggage restrictions have made it tough to fly with my diapers. They take up a lot of space...I usually pack a small duffle just for dipes. I didn't want to spend $50 to take my diapers, so disposables it was. BUT, if you have room in your suitcase or are taking a road trip, cloth diapering is a snap.

* Like I said, I like my diapers all together in one place, like a duffle bag. If you're road tripping, a laundry basket is perfect for the job. Diapers can be organized and right where you can see them.

*A nice, big wet bag is a must. This replaces your diaper pail. I love my extra large from Leslie's Boutique so much that I ordered one for dirty clothes too. When MJ has stayed at Giggy's house, my mom is amazed that the cute zippered bag does not smell in the least.

*Take a smaller wet bag or two for the diaper bag for outings, just like you would at home.

Now, if you're gone more than a couple of days, you'll have to wash your diapers at some point. I bring a tiny jar of detergent with me. If you're staying with family, hopefully you can use their washer and dryer. If not, bring a roll of quarters for hotel laundry or laundr-o-mat.

[NOTE: It has been said that public machines contain residue of heavy detergents and dryer sheets. I believe this is very true, however, one wash won't hurt your diapers, especially if they are natural fibers. Microfiber can be a bit more finicky...You know I can't stand the stuff.]

If you're lucky, you'll find a new HE machine with more options, like a pre-rinse and additional rinse. This is AWESOME, because it will save you a couple of bucks from not having to run those cycles alone. For the sake of this post, let's say you aren't so lucky. How you wash your diapers is kind of a judgment call. If they aren't super-soiled, you can skip the cold wash. You'll have more stains, but they'll be just as clean, and you can sun out those stains at home. You can also also rinse the diapers first to save a buck on that first wash. Again, it's totally up to you.

1. Cold wash, no detergent (use pre-rinse instead if available, or rinse by hand, or skip)
2. Hot wash with detergent
3. Cold wash, no detergent (use additional rinse if available or skip entirely.)
4. Dry on high. In my experience, public dryers do not run as hot as mine at home. If I don't dry on hot, I need like 4 cycles...and that's ridiculous.

Using cloth diapers on the road isn't much different from doing it at home. Do it once, and you'll never go back!

Two Ingredients, 1 Hour, 5 Meals

2010-02-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

One way I've been trying to stretch our dollars is to make the most of the meals I prepare.

- I always make enough to have leftovers for lunch
- If possible, I double the recipe and freeze or freeze smaller portions for quick lunches
- I think of ways to use the ingredients for other meals, like leftover spaghetti for a pasta bake

One of my favorite recipes is one for Roasted Butternut Squash and Sausage. I saw a recipe somewhere that inspired it, but I can't cite it now. It doesn't really matter anyway, I always take a recipe as more of a guideline than something to be strictly followed. Anyhoo, it's super simple:

Ingredients

two big butternut squash (or three smaller ones)
sausage of your choice (i like preservative and nitrate-free organic chicken apple)
one sweet onion*
olive oil*
balsamic vinegar*
herbs (optional)*
pure maple syrup (optional)*
brown rice*

*I'm assuming these ingredients as pantry staples in my "two ingredient" count.

Peel the squash and scoop out seeds. Dice into bite-sized chunks. Cut sausage and onion about the same size. Toss in a baking dish, reserving some squash. Drizzle with olive oil and season with herbs if you choose. I fly by the seat of my pants and make this a bit differently every time. Place the reserved squash in a pan of it's own. Roast both pans on 350 until squash is soft, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare brown rice.

Remove the pan of just squash. Drizzle the Squash and Sausage with balsamic vinegar (and a tad of pure maple syrup if you choose), and return it to the oven, under the broiler, for a few minutes. This will allow the vinegar to reduce a bit an the veggies to caramelize.

Here's what you've got:

1. Dinner- Balsamic and Maple Glazed Squash and Sausage over Rice

2. Baby Food- Puree that plain squash and freeze in ice cube tray. Don't wash the food processor yet...>>>

3. Pasta Sauce- Put leftover squash and onion with all the pan goodness (vinegar, herbs, etc) in your food processor and pulse. Freeze two cups for a delicious sauce to serve over whole-wheat bowties. Keep the rest in the food processor for...>>>

4. Soup-Add a touch of vegetable broth (or water if you don't have it) to the puree and blend until it has a soupy consistency. Serve for lunch or freeze for later.

5. Rice pudding- Spoon leftover rice into ramekins. Microwave 1C Milk until warm. Stir in 1T honey and 1/4t cinnamon. Beat an egg in a separate bowl and temper with a bit of the warm milk, then mix together. Pour custard over rice and bake in a 1" water bath in your already-hot oven for about 45 minutes, or until set.

Viola. All I bought was the squash and sauasage, and look what I have to show for it!

Another Budget Post

2010-02-23T04:54:00.000-08:00

A long while ago, I wrote about some comments I've gotten. People have told me they'd love to be greener and healthier, but they don't have the time or money.

Yes, making these changes does take a bit more time. Our society has become one of convenience. It takes about 4 seconds longer to measure a scoop of oatmeal than to open a packet. It takes 15 minutes longer to make your own pasta sauce (coming soon!), It takes 10 minutes longer to hang clothes on the clothesline, and 3 minutes longer to start a load of cloth kitchen towels. All of those little increments add up, and when a mom feels she's already in the red for time, it can be a bit discouraging. Instead of looking at these accruing minutes as time lost, just look at it as an overall lifestyle change. There are plenty of days when I wish for just 20 more minutes, but I've never once considered sacrificing the things I mentioned for those minutes. The extra time it takes to do these things is time spent outside or cooking with my daughter...things many moms are in too much of a hurry to do.

As far as the money goes, I'll reiterate: Going green will SAVE you money. One of the major pieces of the puzzle is consuming less. The consumables I've given up (paper towels, disposable diapers, etc) are things I no longer have to buy. Cleaning supplies? Not on my grocery list.

I've saved so much money by buying second hand. A fun little anecdote for you: I recently had to take inventory of the items in our house for insurance purposes. When calculating for insurance coverage, you use replacement value--that is, what it would cost today to buy a similar item--not what you paid. The inventory was a fun little revelation of my thriftiness. Nearly all the big items in my home are second hand, antique store or garage sale finds, or scratch and dent. I simply don't pay full price for things. So for each item, the replacement cost was far and above what I actually spent. I hope I never have to replace these things though; their charm and character cannot be duplicated.

I do spend more money on buying organic. What goes into my family's bodies is just not something I'm willing to compromise. BUT, I think the grocery budget balances itself when I also refrain from buying expensive packaged and prepared items.

Although I've always felt my green ways save us money, I've had to kick the savings up a notch. My husband recently started a new job after being laid off. The new job is wonderful, but comes with a substantial pay cut, forcing me to evaluate every dollar I spend. So I'm meeting a new challenge head-on: Be Green, Be Healthy, Be Thrifty. I know I can do it. I hope you'll read along with me as I try!

Follow and Become a Fan!

2010-02-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

I have had several cool companies offer me awesome stuff for giveaways when I reach 100 followers and/or Facebook fans. I can tell you're reading, so click that button!

When I reach 100 fans, I'll host 5 days of Giveaways!

Tell your friends!

Bargain Alert! Hanna Unders

2010-02-22T13:40:00.000-08:00

Through Sunday, underwear is on sale at Hanna Andersson. Hanna is my absolute favorite place to buy new kids clothes, and the Unders are a favorite item. They are made of organic cotton in a kid-friendly style with flat seams. I'm not a fan of bikini cut on toddlers...these have a nice, low leg and high rise. Unders also come in a training style with extra layers of cotton for catching small accidents.

Hanna Unders are somewhat pricey, so snatch 'em up while they are on sale!

McMonia

2010-02-22T05:36:00.000-08:00

Year ago, the FDA decided that it was okay to add "meat filler" to ground beef. Problem is, the filler, made from various parts of cow, was often infected with salmonella and other bacteria. A brilliant scientist (or team of them) came up with a way to "sanitize" this filler. Ammonia. Yep, the patty on your McCheeseburger contains ammonia. So does much of the ground beef you find at the grocery store. Disgusting, no? Even more infuriating. What is going on with our country that this is deemed an acceptable food? The more I read, the more turned off I got. So much so, that I have given up ground beef. It's not really a leap for me; I'm not much of a red meat eater. If I must have it for some reason, I'll order it from the local farm in my CSA.

Here's a link to the US patent for the device that treats meat with ammonia. A quick G00gle search will tell you everything you want to know.

Just another reason that I'm making a huge effort to use only "clean" ingredients when I cook.

The Dirty Dozen- Cosmetics

2010-02-19T07:21:00.000-08:00

I've told you about the Dirty Dozen fruits and veggies, but here's a list of twelve things you should avoid in your health and beauty products...and why.

I'll admit, I'm pretty terrible about remembering the why. I'll read up on a particular substance and make the decision to avoid it, but I can't back that up with a reason if someone asks me. I like this handy little cheat sheet for a quick reference. I plan to tuck a small version in my wallet so I can sneak a peek when standing in the beauty aisle.

Hope you find it helpful too!

Disposable Diapers Suck.

2010-02-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

When I first wrote about cloth diapering, I mentioned these benefits:

5. Better for snugglin': They're soft, comfy, and super cute
4. Better for the wallet: $250 for multiple kids v. over $1500 for one kid in 'sposies
3. Better for the Earth: fewer diapers in landfills, eco-friendly production
2. Better for the bum: No Leaks, No Rash
1. Better for her health: No harmful chemicals against my baby's tush!

I feel like I might not have emphasized that "no leaks" part enough. Most parents of tiny ones will tell you that newborn poop has a way of escaping the diaper. This is simply not the case with cloth. I have had to change Sweet E's clothes due to a diaper leak four times in her whole five months. Guess what? Three times were in the last six days, when she was in disposables while we were out of town. The other was when she was in a 'sposie in the hospital with flu.

Not a coincidence, folks. Any cloth-diapering mama will tell you the same thing.

I'm so glad to be home to my diapers!

And the Winner is...

2010-02-10T04:59:00.000-08:00

#41 MrsEAM!!!

She said:
My DD isn't ready to sleep limb-free, but she's definitely outgrown her swaddlers! This would be a great stepping stone for us!

Email me at mjsmomma07 at gmail to claim your Woombie!

Redraw for non-response---#16 Erin!

You Are What You Eat

2010-02-05T05:10:00.000-08:00

I've been paying very close attention to the things that I eat. Until now, I'd been very selective about what I feed my toddler, but not nearly so choosy for myself. I decided that needed to change. I stared by refusing to buy things that had ingredients I wouldn't find in my kitchen (monoglycerides, anyone?). But then, If what I'm getting has such simple ingredients, why not just make it myself?

This has led me to a new post idea, "The Replacements." I'll take an item I used to buy and find a healthier, greener replacement. Most of the time, it will be a recipe, but I'll occasionally replace with a store-bought product. I'm all about the homemade...

1. It's healthier (I control what goes in)
2. It's greener (Again, control of ingredients, less packaging, manufacturing, shipping)
3. It's cheaper (Budgets are tight these days!)

...BUT, there are times when it's just not practical. Pasta is the first example that comes to mind. I love the idea of making my own pasta. I dream of seeing oodles of noodles piling up on my counter as I turn the crank on a gorgeous stainless steel gadget. Then I wake up. I'm not sure how I'll fit in a shower today. Fresh pasta isn't gonna happen, ya know?

So I need your input. What store-bought item can you not live without, even though you know it's not the best choice?

GIVEAWAY: The Woombie!

2010-02-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

My little E is a swaddle junkie. She loves the cozy confinement of a swaddle. Long before she was ready to sleep with limbs free, she outgrew traditional swaddle blankets, and I worried about developmental delays from being tightly wrapped at an older age. So how could I keep her from startling herself awake while still giving her a little wiggle room? Enter the Woombie.

This adorably peanut-shaped sleeper met all my needs. Keeps E's arms contained? Check. Let's her move them around? Check. Fits her long leggy frame? Check.

It's now on my mommy-must have list.

The Woombie comes in three styles. Original, Deluxe, and Winter Fleece. A tighter "Lil' Houdini" Woombie will join the line-up in a few weeks.

Want one? The folks at KB Designs are giving one away to one Super(Natural)Momma reader. Here's what you need to do:

1. Leave me a comment telling me why you want a Woombie.
2. Become a follower of my blog, comment to say you did.
3. Become my fan on Facebook...another comment!
4. Join the Woombie Group on Facebook...comment 4!
5. If you have a blog, post this giveaway and put your link in a comment for a bonus 5th chance.

It's that easy. I'll pick a winner randomly from comments at 10am on Thursday, February 11.

Good Luck!

Countdown

2010-01-29T09:44:00.000-08:00

I'm leavin' on a jet plane, but stay tuned for my very own giveaway when i get back Tuesday!

Everyone Loves a Giveaway!!!

2010-01-28T05:13:00.000-08:00

Almost as much as I love the Ergo Baby Carrier. I have several baby carriers, but my Ergo is by far my most versatile. I can wear my toddler or my infant...even when she was a newborn. In fact, I wore baby E in the Ergo for three straight days at Disney World. She even rode the rides in it!

My friend over at Once Upon a Baby is hosting an awesome giveaway...one lucky momma will score an Ergo carrier! So scoot on over and enter...I know I did!

Applesauce

2010-01-25T11:34:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick recipe tip: Substitute an equal amount of unsweetened organic applesauce for oil when baking. You'll want to reduce the amount of sugar too, as apples are naturally sweet. The result? Less fat, less refined sugar, a serving of fruit. Good Stuff!

Bargain Alert!

2010-01-02T07:12:00.001-08:00

I found Flip and Tumble reusable bags on clearance at Caribou Coffee...just $4.50 each! I got three. :P

I love these bags. They have a flat bottom, unlike my Chico Bags, and a long enough strap to fling over a shoulder. I want more!

ETA: I should have been more clear...these were in my local Caribou Coffee store.

Blog Changes

2010-01-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

You've no doubt noticed the new look of the blog. It's still a work in progress! One of the things I've added is a list of labels to make post-hunting easier if you're looking to read about a certain topic. I'm still going back and tagging all of my old posts. It's quite a task, but I should be finished in a couple of days. I hope you like this feature!

Farmers' Co-Op

2010-01-02T06:34:00.000-08:00

I finally joined a local Farmer's Co-Op. I've been wanting to join for over a year, but didn't pull the trigger. I got an email last week offering $5 off the annual membership fee...it seemed like a sign. I'm really excited about it for several reasons.

1. The Goods

Locally grown organic produce
Eggs from happy chickens (until I get my own!)
Honey, jams and more
Locally raised, grass-fed meat
Artisan breads and cheeses

2. All of the above delivered to a central location for pick up

3. "The Farmers' Pick"

This is a pre-selected assortment of produce, based on current crops. It costs less than picking and choosing your own produce, but perhaps my favorite thing about it is that I don't pick. I'm excited about the prospect of a box of mystery fruits and veggies. I can't wait to see what I get and plan recipes accordingly. I think it will make all of us more adventurous in our eating. We've paid for the whole box, so I'll find ways to serve every healthy morsel!

The Farmers' Pick this week includes Lettuces, Florida Citrus, Swiss Chard, Sweet Potatoes, Snap Peas, Avocados, and Popcorn! I have three days to plan my menu before I pick up my box of goodies on Tuesday...Fun!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

How are you resolving to be more "green?" Let's inspire each other!

The New Year 50 and Resolution

2009-12-29T06:27:00.000-08:00

I got this great idea from my friend over at Valley Girl Has Baby, Goes Crunchy. The idea? Get rid of 50 things from your home between now and January first. Of course, try to keep them out of the landfill at the same time. Upcycle, recycle, donate. You'll start the year off right!

Who's with me?

I'm resolving to write one blog post a week. I really do miss the blog. Maybe I need to give it a new look to give me some motivation. What do you think?

A Vent

2009-08-11T06:35:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, our air conditioning went out. It was horrible. It's just far too hot and humid right now to be without it. By the time it was fixed yesterday, it was nearly 90 degrees in our house. But that's not my vent. My complaint is with a/c repair dude.

Dude comes over, checks out the unit, and tells me the problem is that some sort of critter chewed the wires. He the proceeds to lecture me as I hold my near-two year old on one hip, carefully avoiding my enormous belly. The dog runs circles around us. Dude says,

"You know, you really need to have poison around the perimeter of your yard and in problem areas. In this case, it would have saved you $400."

Seriously, dude? We LIVE here. This is our YARD. Where our dog and kids will play. $400 saved at what cost?

I say, "I was just thinking I'd find something to encase and protect the wires. I'd rather not use poison."

Dude replies, "I guess that would work. But poison is very effective."

I couldn't believe it. Does he go from house to house with this recommendation? Do people listen? I plan to call the company today, now that I've cooled off, both physically and emotionally. Sure, I'm a bit crunchy, and I don't do poison. But this was an asinine suggestion to make to ANYONE, no?

Just Four Wheels in Our Driveway

2009-07-08T06:51:00.003-07:00

I have to catch up on some of the changes we've made in the last few months, and this is a big one...we are officially a one-car household! One of our cars needed some repairs and, in the meantime, was just sitting in our driveway. We quickly realized that we could live with out it...we only needed one car. But which to sell? We had the fuel efficient small wagon (which i LOVED) and a bus of an SUV. Seems like an easy choice, but it wasn't. My husband is very tall, and we are about to have two in car seats. The wagon was too small. We put the seats in the SUV and found that it actually didn't have room for Daddy when the seat was behind him either. I'll never understand how auto makers can build cars that are so friggin' huge and have no room. I'm sorry we ever got that SUV.

The solution? Trade them both in for something that meets our every (almost) need. We now own a Ford Freestyle (now the Taurus X) crossover. Part wagon, part SUV, it's just the right size for us. Lots of room up front, and two captains chairs in the middle that slide forward and back. We love the console in between for separating squabbling siblings and corralling their stuff. The third row is pretty much full-size (so much better than the old SUV), and not only folds flat to disappear, but it also folds backwards, for things like tailgating and parade watching out the back! The third row also has LATCH for carseats, should we be so lucky to add to our family.

The downside? Not so fuel efficient. But now that we do more carpooling and bike riding, we feel we help that a bit. Maybe someday there will be an even better option for us.

A Surprise Use for Vinegar

2009-07-07T04:36:00.000-07:00

By now we all know that vinegar is great for a plethora of things. I discovered a new use this weekend, and it surprised me a bit.

I have to start by sharing a funny story. The holiday weekend started with a birthday party for friends' little girl. Her dad loves to tease me about my green ways. He was talking about some of the work he'd done in his yard, including pest control, and said "Don't worry, Renee. It's all made of vinegar." :) I'm sure I talk about vinegar the way the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding talks about windex. It really is an amazing thing. So tease all you want, it's funny because it's true!

Anyhoo, today's use for vinegar? Taking the sting out of sunburn. Of course, you're better off not getting the burn in the first place, but if it happens, some vinegar in a spray bottle soothes!

Better Than Jell-O

2009-07-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

Marlee is currently sick with croup, and doesn't seem to want to eat anything that's not cold and smooth. Jell-O seems like an obvious choice in times like these, but I was a bit put off by the ingredients list:

INGREDIENTS:
Sugar, gelatin, adipic acid (for tartness), contains less than 2% of natural and artificial flavor, disodium phosphate and sodium citrate (control acidity), fumaric acid (for tartness), yellow 6, red 40, BHA (preservative).

I decided to attempt my own version. Here is my ingredients list:

1 package kosher/vegan gelatin
3 cups Vruit brand juice
[Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Peach Juice, Carrot Juice, Cucumber Juice, Celery Juice, and Spinach Juice (Water, Juice Concentrates); Natural Flavors, Vitamin C, Beta Caroten]
1 cup water
frozen (or fresh) organic blueberries

Mix juice and water (I only did this to cut sugar content). Pour one cup juice in a large bowl and sprinkle gelatin on top. Let sit while you bring remaining juice to a boil. Pour the hot juice over the cold juice and gelatin and stir, about 3 minutes. Pour into a 13x9 pan and add blueberries. Chill until set, about 3 hours. Cut into squares or with cookie cutters.

Want a comparison?

Jell-O /My Version

Sugar 19g /12g
Protein 0 /1g
Potassium 0 /175mg
Vitamin A 0 /100%
Vitamin C 0 /100%
Iron 0 /2%
Calcium 0 /2%

Delicious!

(I'll post pictures tonight!)

MJ's Green Big Girl Room

2009-06-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

We've been putting together a new room for Marlee so that it frees up the nursery for the new baby. Oh wait, I don't even think I told you I'm having another baby! See, that 's what slacking will do to you. I'm due September 29 with another baby girl...We're calling her "Slim," but that's another story for another post.

I've definitely taken the environment into concern when decorating Marlee's room. Some things are not in the budget for me (like organic or vintage quilts, which i REALLY wanted), but I have been able to take some steps that make her room a little greener.

1. Antique Market finds- I purchased an antique dresser, vintage chandelier, and lots of accessories at antique/flea markets. Every thing you buy used (like antique stores, garage sales, craigslist, etc) keeps it out of a landfill and prevents the need to have something manufactured. I think it's the biggest thing you can do.

2. Low VOC paint- It's readily available now in any color you could want. All the major paint lines offer low VOC options.

3. Sensibly manufactured new stuff- We bought a set of small bunkbeds and mattresses at Ikea. They have responsible manufacturing and business policies, so it's a good choice when you have to buy new. Not to mention it's kind on the wallet!

Pictures coming soon!

Wow!

2009-06-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

What an overwhelming response in just a few hours...just the motivation I need! I'm already pondering my potential post for tomorrow. Thanks for kicking me in the pants!

Renee

Anyone Still Reading?

2009-06-19T06:36:00.001-07:00

I'm just curious. I need to get on it!

We Wrote, They Listened

2009-01-22T03:37:00.000-08:00

Here is an excerpt from a letter from members of the House of Representatives to chair Henry Waxman regarding CPSIA.

The emails, letters, and phone calls we have received from constituents about the unintended consequences of certain provisions and deadlines in CPSC's implementation plan now number in the thousands. Many involved in CPSIA's creation were passionate to improve the safty of our children's products, but surely no one expected or wanted to drive thousands of home-based and small businesses out of operation and turn thousands of Americans into surprise victims of a brutal recession. For example, it seems obvious to us tha t the hand-knitted sweaters and homemade hair bows sold by artisans on eBay are highly unlikely to endanger children's health.

The situation is urgent. On February 10, in less than three weeks, these tiny toy producers will be out of business. Their products, regardless of innocence and safety, will have to be removed from store shelves and the websites of their home businesses.

You have urged the Commission to deal with the problem by issuing new guidance. Regrettably, the kind of modifications to existing requrements needed to prevent a broad collapse of home-based businesses may take months to achieve. We are advised that even if the CPSC devotes full staff attention and moves at the most expeditious speed, it will be unable [to] issue the necessary guidance prior to February 10 without violating Federal rulemaking requirements.

Meanwhile, there is no evidence that these micro-producers are doing anything wrong or endangering anyone, and we believe there is no reasonfor them to suffer a dvasating economic blow simply because their government cannot find a way to help in time.

Thanks to ZRecs for keeping us up to date.

Let's Get Personal Part II: The Diva Cup

2009-01-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

If you haven't been here for a couple of days, you might want to read the post below first.

Here is a post I wrote for another blog on my experiences with The Diva Cup.

The Diva Cup has changed my life. When I first heard of it 15 years ago, I was immature enough to think it was nasty. Now I wish I'd had it all this time. Seriously, life changing.

When I was first prescribed birth control at 13, it was for relief of cramps, not sex (obviously). At the time, my doctor suggested something called "the Keeper." It was similar to the Diva cup...I think it's Canadian. He explained how cramps are worsened in some women by tampons and pads, which actually contain a chemical that makes you bleed more and cramp more (gross, right?). I was 13. It was nasty. I took the pills. My cramps continued, and I got an Rx for Percocet. I took it four days a month to even deal. Doctors said it would be better after I had a baby.

Flash forward 15 years. I get pregnant. Researching cloth diapers turns up good info on feminine products. Just as bad for you, just as bad for the environment. I take in the information, but don't really think much of it. Have a baby. 4 months later, my period is back, and bad as ever. I call my new midwife, and ask if she can get me and Rx for Percocet. She says, "Have you tried a Diva Cup? It can really help if you have chronic cramping." Seriously? I figure, everything is pointing to the fact that I should try this thing. So I order one.

Now I've had it for two months, and I want to build it a shrine. Not really. But this thing is awesome. On my worst crampy day, I took two Advil and was perfectly fine.

*no more buying tampons
*no more health risks associated with tampons or pads
*only think about it twice a day
*SO comfortable. one day, i completely forgot about it until the next morning!
*better for the environment (had to throw that in there :))
*NO MORE CRAMPS! (Well, almost)

I hate to think that I've been plaguing my body for 15 years with chemicals that had such a terrible effect on me, then masking it with pain killers. Yuck.

There are of course other healty, eco-friendly options, like sea sponges or cloth pads. This is just what's worked best for me.

If you are thinking of trying a Diva Cup, just know that there is a learning curve. Expect to take a few days getting the hang of things. Don't give up...you'll be glad you stuck with it! I ended up having to cut off the stem to make it comfortable for me. Lots of women do this, but try it first to see what works for you.

Let's Get Personal

2009-01-17T08:29:00.000-08:00

Alright, girls. It's time for a personal post. This one is about Aunt Flo, the visitor, the crimson wave. More accurately, it's about how you deal with the unpleasant monthly occurrence...your period. For most of us growing up, we were presented with two options: pads or tampons. Tampons were scary at first, but then we learned they can give us freedom, and we weren't so scared anymore. I'm here to put a bit of that fear back in you. Sorry.

Here's the thing: Tampons are not so healthy.

Of course, there's Toxic Schock Syndrom, or TSS. That's the fine print warning that's on every box. We all know about it. It can be deadly, but it's really rare, right. Sure.

Next up come dioxins. Dioxins are an after-effect of the bleaching process. Tampons are bleached because...well...bright white just seems cleaner. Truly, this is the only reason. It's marketing. The FDA has looked into the presence of dioxins in tampons twice. Once in 1988 and again in 1994. Both studies found the amounts to be very low. However, the latter year also saw another FDA study that proved that dioxins, even in trace amounts, can lead to immune suppression, reproductive problems and hormonal disruptions. Two university studies point to a link between dioxins and endometriosis.

Can you find a tampon without dioxins...yes. A few manufactures make unbleached cotton tampons. Be careful, though. Unless they are organic unbleached tampons, they are made with pounds of pesticides, and that's another topic entirely. Gross. And don't forget, even organic unbleached tampons won't eliminate your risk of TSS, though they will lower it.

Pads don't pose a risk of TSS, but they are bleached and contain dioxins. Of course, they don't pose as much of a threat outside your body.

Then there's the environmental catastrophe. The average woman throws away 275 pounds of tampons, pads, and applicators in her lifetime. That's a lot of trash. Everything we flush is fished out by a skimmer net in the sewage treatment process. From there, it heads to the landfill.

Fortunately, there are alternatives that are better for you and better for the environment. I'll highlight these tomorrow, and leave you thinking about this post today. My chocolate chip cookies are ready and calling my name. :)

Drain-O? Drain-Whoa!

2009-01-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

We all rembember from making that volcano in elementary school that baking soda + vinegar = a frothy explosion.

You can put this oozing wonder to work on your clogged drains. Just unscrew the stopper if applicable and remove any hair or other nasty trappings that are right on the surface. Then shake baking soda into the drain. You may need to pack it in with your fingers. Then pour in the vinegar. Let sit for several minutes while the magic happens.

(I recommend skipping the lava red food coloring. This can have an adverse effect on your porcelain ;))

I Made Yogurt!

2009-01-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

I've been dying to try the recipe for yogurt on Crockpot365. Yesterday, I got the chance...It turned out great! I've decided that using the Crockpot was actually kind of silly, and more a a gimmick for this blogger. It could have been done just as easily in a pot. You only use the pot to heat the milk. Here's how I would do it:

Heat 8 cups (1/2 gallon) of whole milk on the stove until it boils, then let cool. Milk should be warm, but not hot (like you could stick a finger in it and not burn yourself). Heck, I imagine you could do this in a microwave. Scoop up two cups of the warm milk and put into a bowl. Wisk in 1/2 cup live active culture yogurt. This is your starter. The next time you make yogurt, you can use some of your first homemade batch as a starter. Pour the mixture back into the pot of milk and wisk it all together. Put the pot in a warm place (I used my oven, not turned on) and let sit for 8 hours. You've got yogurt! This comes out the same consistency as store-bought organic whole yogurt, but thinner than brands like Yoplait.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you the benefits of making your own yogurt. First, the cost savings. Homemade yogurt boasts a 25 cent/ounce cost savings over the store-bought stuff...that's real! Then there's the lack of plastic tub. Finally, a healthy alternative that you can dress up and flavor as you wish.

I flavored mine by adding 2T vanilla and 1/4 cup agave nectar to the whole batch. Then I separated into smaller batches and flavored with fruit purees. Finally, I poured individual portions into baby food jars (scored these on Freecycle) for ulimate convenience.

From left to right: Blueberry, Peach, Cherry, Raspberry....Yummy!

This recipe makes so much that I also made frozen yogurt and yogurt popsicles.

Fruit Purees

2009-01-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

My next post is going to mention fruit puress, and while I was writing, I decided they deserve a post of their own.

I always have freezer bags filled with cubes of different fruit purees. They're very nice to have on hand. They're perfect for stirring into plain yogurt, oatmeal, pancake mix, and more! Sometimes I even mash frozen cubes with a fork and MJ eats it like a granita. Yum. Each little bit really packs a punch: A whole peach yeilds about 2 Tablespoons of puree. Stir into 1/2 cup yogurt, and your kid just ate a whole peach! That's one serving you can check off for the day.

Fruit purees are not only a great way to get some fruit into your kids, they can also save you from unhealthier choices. Here's an example:

This compares a packet of instant oatmeal to plain instant oats prepared with skim milk and strawberry puree. It takes no longer for a mom to whip up. Just nuke the oats with the milk and stir in a cube of puree. It will melt into the oatmeal, adding fruity goodness and cooling it to a kid-friendly temp. Voila!

What if your kid eats breakfast in the car or at daycare? Skip the Eggos and stir some fruit puree into homemade pancake mix...I add some flax meal for bonus nutrition! Make the pancakes and freeze 'em. Thirty seconds in the microwave on the way out the door, and junior gets a serviving of fruit disgused in a portable breakfast treat.

Yet another use for fruit purees in my next post. I can hardly hide my excitement!

Trip to Target

2009-01-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

Target has that cool annual home decor section that takes up the space between christmas and summer. They have several great eco-friendly things--like organic bamboo sheets and sustainably harvested wood accents. They even had a few organic toys at the end of one aisle.

When I was checking out, I experienced a first...no plastic bags for four people! The first lady asked for all of her things to be stacked in a single paper bag, the second had only one item and said she didn't need one, i had my own, and the guy behind me loaded his canvas bags onto the belt before his loot. It was so great! On the downside, when lady #2 said she didn't need a bag, the cashier pulled her single item out, handed it to her, and threw the bag in the trash. Sheesh. I came thisclose to saying something.

More CPSIA

2009-01-07T06:08:00.000-08:00

I've been saving a CPSIA post as a draft for weeks, adding to it when I could find spare moments. Then I came across a post on another bloggers site, and she says everything I wanted to. Here's some CPSIA info from Sarah, author of My Charmed Life.

"Safe" at What Cost?

You know what keeps me up at night? Well yes - two fussing four month olds - but what do I lie in bed and think about after they are again sound asleep? What interrupts those precious few minutes of peace I get each morning in the shower and hangs over my head like a dark cloud for the rest of the day?

Five letters. CPSIA. Implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act begins on February 10. Sadly, most of the general population has never even heard of it. Many of those who have heard of it may assume it's a good thing - with a name like that, how could it be bad? We want safer products, right?

This legislation is troubling on so many levels. It will have a severe impact on my business to be sure, but it also affects me generally speaking as a parent. I love my children, they are my world. Of course I want to protect them. The original intent of the CPSIA was likely just that, to protect our children from harmful substances such as lead and phthalates. Somewhere it got off track, way off track, and now I firmly believe it will do more harm than good.

The CPSIA comes after a year which saw recall after recall in the toy world, largely involving toys imported from China which contained dangerous amounts of lead. As written, the CPSIA requires that each and every children's product (the definition of which is VERY broad) be subjected to costly third-party testing and issued a certificate of compliance with stated levels of lead and phthalates. Products which do not have this certificate of compliance will be treated as banned hazardous substances. Even inherently lead-free items such as unfinished wood and unembellished fabric are subject to these requirements. Simply stated, under the CPSIA, products will be treated as hazardous until they are proven otherwise.

The cost of compliance will simply force many small businesses and artisans who produce small runs of handcrafted items out of business. The vast majority of these products are safe and ironically, in many cases, were intended to provide an alternative to the questionable, mass produced, imported children's products on the market. It's hard to imagine how the new law will be enforced, but the penalties for non-compliance are stiff.

Raising kids in today's economy is not easy and I like to save money where I can. This past fall, I went to a local kids consignment sale. The sale was held in a large warehouse and everything from clothes to highchairs, toys to baby carriers and more was available at a fraction of the retail cost. I was able to purchase two enormous bags of clothing for my kids, along with a couple of puzzles for around $150. These clothes will make up the bulk of their wardrobes for the year. Included in the haul were many items that look just like new and several complete outfits for my daughter (Gymboree, no less) with the tags still on them. Kids outgrow their clothes so fast, particularly in the smaller sizes, that many hardly get worn at all. It makes sense as a budget-conscious mom to take advantage of this fact, right?

Being that the twins are our last children, we had planned to sell some of their gently used things as they are outgrown. Clothing, bouncer chairs, furniture...these things aren't cheap and recouping some of their cost would certainly help us down the road. You'll find parents reselling items on Craigslist, eBay, at yard sales, consignment sales and the like. This is about to change. The CPSIA is retroactive. This means that any selling of children's products currently in existence is about to become illegal. Billions and billions of products will become contraband literally overnight. They will have to be destroyed because they cannot legally be sold. Imagine the environmental impact.

There will be no more consignment sales, or bargains to be found on kids items at thrift stores and yard sales. We'll have no choice but to shop retail, from products produced by manufacturers who are large enough to incur the required testing. Undoubtedly that cost will in turn be passed onto the consumer. Poor selection at a higher price, just what we need in an economy that already finds many on the verge of bankruptcy.

Is there hope that this legislation can be amended before it is too late? I wish I knew. There are efforts underway by the handcrafting community to bring attention to this issue, but time is growing short. In an article published in Friday's Los Angeles Times, only one of six children's thrift stores contacted had even heard of the law. Many parties who will be deeply affected have yet to learn of those five little letters: CPSIA.

You can read the entire law here.

You can read my previous post, which includes links to help you contant your senators and representatives here.

Bottom line, CPSIA needs some tweaking to save handmade toys, consignment stores, work-at-home moms, our budgets, the environment, and everything else in danger if the law passes as written.

Resolutions?

2008-12-31T08:20:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a list of resolutions for the new year. Many of them concern kicking my eco-awareness up a notch. What sort of things are on your list?

(If it's not on there already, keeping up with Super(Natural)Momma and leaving lots of comments should be :))

A Prettier Pouff

2008-12-31T08:03:00.000-08:00

I recently ordered this cotton bath pouff from Me Me's Knits on Etsy. It's lovey and luxurious...who decided rubbing plastic mesh all over your skin was a good idea? Best of all, it's machine washable, so you can use it forever and ever :)

I love it so much that I ordered some extras to keep on hand for guests...they can use it and take it home. At just $3.50 a pop, it's a nice inexpensive touch.

What's Your Eco-Footprint?

2008-12-30T10:31:00.000-08:00

Take this quiz. I got a 74, which makes me an eco-ally. The quiz pointed out my eco-shortcomings: I need to audit my house for energy efficiency and make necessary repairs, and I'm too reliant on heat and a/c. The latter is a big issue for me. I like to be comfortable in my home. The summer is easier, because we have a wonderful attic fan and shade trees, but I can't stand to be cold. We don't have a fireplace, so we depend on our heater. I guess I need to work on this!

Cold and Flu Season

2008-12-29T06:47:00.001-08:00

I'm happy to say that so far my family has survived flu season without incident (knock wood). An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...Here's what's been keeping us healthy:

- Herbal supplements - echinacea, elderberry and other immune-boosters

- Lots of handwashing

- Cleaning and disinfecting with my usual vinegar and TTO

We've all had a bit of minor congestion, but we're taking it in stride. We haven't yet reached for the medicine yet. Instead, we're treating the symptoms with these natural remedies:

- Essential oils. A blend of eucalyptus and other soothing oils with water sprayed on pillows aids nighttime breathing when congestion is at its worst. I put some full-strength oil on a cloth and hang it in MJ's crib. The same oil blend is fabulous in a bath or shower.

- The Neti Pot. The ancient remedy really works! You use it to pour saline into one nostril and it comes out the other...bringing out all kinds of nastiness. Gross? Yes. Effective? You bet.

- Garlic oil. When congestion leads to earache, garlic oil to the rescue! It will even stop an infection before you call the doc for antibiotics.

- Hankies. Skip the paper tissues for a more eco-friendly version. They're so much gentler on your nose too! I've got a fun handkerchief DIY project coming up...stay tuned :)

Green is Healthy

2008-12-16T06:01:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that making changes to benefit the environment also benefits your family, and vice versa. No Impact Man reports on a new study from Indiana University which shows that a greener urban landscape makes for healthier kids.

Lush Drops SLS and Plans to Open Store Near Me!

2008-12-15T10:20:00.000-08:00

Lush Cosmetics recently announced that their popular soaps and shampoos will no longer contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or SLS. SLS is a synthetic surfacant that breaks surface tension and allows water to mix with oils, which makes soaps and shampoos foam. Though suspicions linking SLS to cancer have been disproven for now, we do know that it can cause serious eye problems and skin irritation. Traces have even been found to build up in our organs.

Losing the SLS makes Lush fantastic, healthy, ec0-friendly products. They use natural ingredients and minimal packaging.

I'll be stopping by the new store opening in a mall near me to pick up a shampoo bar, which I'll definitely review here. Each shampoo bar saves 3 standard size shampoo bottles!

Well done, Lush.

Are Homemakers Not PC?

2008-12-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

I caught up today with a college hall-mate on facebook. She asked what I was doing, and I told her that I stay at home with Marlee. Her response? "What?! I'm so disappointed in you. That's backwards, old fashioned, and anti-feminist. I can't belive you're the same girl I sat with in women's studies class."

Excuse me? There is nothing backwards about wanting to raise my child myself. About wanting to make a warm, loving home for her to grow up in. If anything, I feel empowered by the whole thing. Different strokes I guess.

I also got thinking about the word "homemaker." I much perfer this to "stay-at-home-mom." It's a more accurate description of what I do. I'm not a mom who stays at home. I work for my family, making our house a home. I like it, and I'm going to use it from here on out. I can only guess that the word disappeared for being un-PC.

I just wanted to toss it out there and see if anyone has come across this kind of mentality or has thoughts on it.

Cloth Diaper Giveaway!

2008-12-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

Check out the awesome cloth diaper giveaway on Baby Rabies.

Safe Toys for Christmas/ Great Toys in Danger

2008-12-10T17:08:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, I'm really hoping "Santa" brings Marlee some high-quality, safe, handmade toys. It's always a touchy subject with family. I don't want to be rude or ungrateful, but I also don't want another plastic toy that is 1. Loaded with chemicals 2. Noisy and overstimulating 3. Cheaply made so it will end up in a landfill and release said chemicals for eons. I generally approach the subject by asking people not to get her anything with noises or lights. That pretty much rules out the toddler section at most toy stores. I also created a wish list at one of my favorite toy sites Oompa.com. I sent an email with links to handmade toys at Etsy. I guess I can report back in two weeks and let you know if my tactics worked. How are you handling requests this Christmas?

When shopping for your little one or after the gifts are unwrapped, you can check the safety of specific toys at HealthyToys.org. It measures levels of lead, arsenic, mercury, and other toxins in toys, bottles, toddler dishes, and more. I check nearly every toy before opening the box.

As I mention, my ideal toys are handmade with love and care. Sadly, those toys are in danger.

In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public's trust. They were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small part, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. Almost every problem toy in 2007 was made in China.

The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008. Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number.

All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational toy manufacturers to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each toy have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and update their molds to include batch labels.

For small American, Canadian, and European toymakers, however, the costs of mandatroy testing will likely drive them out of business.

* A toymaker, for example, who makes wooden cars in his garage in Maine to supplement his income cannot afford the $4,000 fee per toy that testing labs are charging to assure compliance with the CPSIA.
* A work at home mom in Minnesota who makes dolls to sell at craft fairs must choose either to violate the law or cease operations.
* A small toy retailer in Vermont who imports wooden toys from Europe, which has long had stringent toy safety standards, must now pay for testing on every toy they import.
* And even the handful of larger toy makers who still employ workers in the United States face increased costs to comply with the CPSIA, even though American-made toys had nothing to do with the toy safety problems of 2007.

The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of toys that have earned and kept the public's trust: Toys made in the US, Canada, and Europe. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade toys will no longer be legal in the US.

If this law had been applied to the food industry, every farmers market in the country would be forced to close while Kraft and Dole prospered.

How You can Help:
Please write to your United States Congress Person and Senator to request changes in the CPSIA to save handmade toys. Use the sample letter or write your own. You can find your Congress Person here and Senator here .

The Wagon...

2008-12-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

Here's proof that we all fall off now and again:

MJ and her friend Pruett eating Cheetos that are not natural, organic, or homemade :)

"Winter Skin" Remedy

2008-11-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

Every year around this time, my skin becomes a dry, itchy mess that no lotion can cure. I'm feeling relief this year with a simple sugar scrub.

Sugar Scrub

1/4 cup sugar
Olive oil
Essential Oil (optional)

Put sugar in a small bowl and gradually add olive oil until mixture has a thin paste-ish consistency. If you like, add a couple drops of EO for aroma therapy.

Apply at the end of your shower, rubbing in a circular motion. Air dry or pat dry with a towel. Enjoy your silky skin all day!

I really wish I had been using this on my belly when I was pregnant. It feels like it would be good stretch mark prevention!

"MotrinMoms"

2008-11-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

UPDATE #2: More about this on Digg. And a (fairly lame) Response from Motrin!

UPDATE: The Motrin website is down...maintenance or the work of angry moms? I guess we'll see! Can't hide from us though...here it is on youtube. There are lots of of mom response videos too.

Click this link and watch the ad at the corner of the screen. It alternates between two, and while I don't love the one for Children's Motrin, I especially loathe the one about babywearing. This ad is unbelievable offensive.

Babywearing is not a silly fad made to inflict pain and make you "look like an official mom." It has been "in fashion" for centuries. It is not "supposedly a real bonding experience." It IS a bonding experience, especially in the first weeks. And, if you have the right carrier for you, it doesn't hurt a bit. I still wear my nearly 15 month old, and I can go hours with her in my Ergo without being uncomforable.

If you are interested in the benefits of wearing your baby, check out thebabywearer.com.

To share your opinion with Motrin, click "Ask Us" on their site. You can email or request a representative call you.

Things I Buy Organic and Why: Part One

2008-11-14T05:01:00.000-08:00

The "Dirty Dozen" Fruits and Vegetables

The U.S. Department of Agriculture found that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others. Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., have developed the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables, below, that they say you should always buy organic, if possible, because their conventionally grown counterparts tend to be laden with pesticides. They cost about 50 percent more — but are well worth the money.

Apples
Cherries
Grapes (imported)
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Raspberries
Strawberries
Bell peppers (I've seen these for as much as three times cost! You can bet they'll be in my garden for this very reason.)
Celery
Potatoes
Spinach

Buying organic doesn't make much of a difference with fruits and veggies whose skins we don't eat.

Bananas
Kiwi
Mangos
Papaya
Pineapples
Avocado
Corn
Onions
Peas

Here are some other veggies that don't consistently contain a high amount of pesticides:

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Asparagus

So there you have it. No need to break the bank. Just pick and choose where you go organic.

Going Green, The Economy, Consumption

2008-11-11T05:03:00.000-08:00

I got an email from a reader I don't know. Kristen, mom of 3 says:

I figured [your blogging] had slowed down because of the bad economy. I thought saving money must be winning out over going green. I want to do green things, but I can't afford it.

Not so, Kristen! If anything, I'm more happy than ever about the changes I've made. My effort to consume less means I buy less. The only thing I spend more on is organic foods. Even there, I only buy organic where I feel it's really necessary (oooh, that will be tomorrow's post :)).

I got a Target coupon book in the mail the other day. I was excited, but flipped through it to find that all the coupons were for things I no longer buy!

Some examples:

Paper goods- I don't use paper towels, kleenex tissues, disposable diapers, wipes, etc.

Cleaning supplies- This used to be my favorite aisle...seriously. The only commercial cleaner I buy today is OxyClean.

Packaged foods- I still buy some, but I've cut WAY back. The majority of my shopping is done around the edges of the grocery store. [I apologize for what the previously said. My husband thinks he's funny, randomly editing my posts if I walk away from the computer.]

See what I mean? If I could just get my garden off the ground this spring, I'll be in even better shape!

Another place we've saved money is eating out. We still love to do it, but we've cut back because it usually means food that's not so good for us.

I've always liked to shop flea markets, and we've kicked this up a notch, looking for used things where we can, like at consignment stores or on craigslist.

Going Green = Consuming Less = Spending less.

Are You Still Here?

2008-11-09T04:47:00.000-08:00

I've been a bad blogger lately--on all my blogs. I really want to pick this one up again. Let me know that you're here and still reading. Are there any particular topics you'd like to hear about?

A Perk to Cleaning Naturally

2008-09-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Marlee opened the cabinet under the bathroom sink while I was brushing my teeth this morning. I jumped to get her out of it and realized...nothing under there can hurt her! Not that I want her eating baking soda (a serious bellyache), but what wonderful peace of mind to know my baby won't find anything toxic in my house!

NY Senator Nearly Hits, Then Curses Cyclist

2008-09-18T11:11:00.001-07:00

He picked the wrong cyclist. Read it here.

Cleaning Mattress and Pillows/ Eco"Febreze"

2008-09-18T11:11:00.000-07:00

To freshen fabric, try this eco-safe, DIY recipe:

Fill a standard spray bottle with water
Add 6-8 drops Tea Tree oil
and 6 drops Essential Oil (your choice!) or
3 drops Fragrance Oil

Spray fabric until damp and allow to air-dry.

I did some fall deep cleaning yesterday and thought I'd pass along my tips for cleaning mattresses and pillows.

Vacuum the mattress with your vac's upholstery attachment
(Flip and rotate while you're at it :))
Spray mattress and pillows with the concoction above. You want your mattress upholstery to be good and damp, but not wet to the foam. You can wash any spots with your homemade all-purpose cleaner if necessary.
Put pillows, two at a time, in the dyer on high heat for 30-45 minutes. This will kill any lingering dust mites.

PVC: The Poison Plastic

2008-09-13T06:25:00.001-07:00

This is clever and cute :)

What IS on my Grocery List?

2008-09-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Jana, for bringing attention to this question. It reminded me that the point of my blog isn't to boast my accomplishments but to help others on the path to living healthier and greener :)

Grocery shopping has been tough for me. I stay at home with our one year old, and Michael works from home...that means three meals a day (and snacks!) for three people. That's a lot of cooking! For obvious reasons, I was tempted by "convenience foods." I've remedied that situation by planning and preparing ahead as much as possible. My freezer is my sous chef (at least until I get the energy star deep freezer I'm pining for).

It's filled with pre-measured quantities of chopped vegetables, purees, broths and wine. For easy freezing, use these tools: An ice cube tray (1 cube = approx. 2Tbs), a muffin tin (each "muffin" = 1/2 cup) and/or mini muffin tin (1/4 cup). Freeze, pop 'em out, store in freezer bags (which you wash and reuse...right?)
I also cook once for two meals...Last night's beef stew recipe was doubled, then half of it frozen.
Another favorite shortcut: Prepare batter for muffins, quick breads, etc. Pour into loaf pan or muffin cups and freeze. When frozen, wrap unbaked bread and store unbaked muffins in freezer bags. When you want a batch, drop them back in the proper pan and bake.
A similar trick works for casseroles, etc. line the dish you'll use to bake with foil, leaving plenty of excess. Pour in your leftovers (like my stew) or assemble your casserole. Wrap your excess foil over the top and freeze. When your dinner is frozen, remove your "brick." Now your dish/pan is free for use. Just unwrap your brick and drop it back in when you're ready to resurrect it.

To answer your question and prove it CAN be done, here's this week's menu (Monday-Friday) :

(note: I am currently obsessed with tweaking the recipes in the Deceptively Delicious cookbook)

Breakfasts:

1. Scrambled eggs with "hidden" cauliflower, toast, fruit
2. Oatmeal flavored with your choice of fruit puree
3. Pumkin french toast, fruit
4. Oatmeal again
5. Green (read: spinach puree) Eggs, toast, fruit

Lunches:

1. Sanwiches, Veggie chips (had these already), fruit
2. Vegetarian Rice Balls
3. Meatball Soup
4. Homemad Mac N Cheese with butternut squash puree
5. Chili

Dinners:

1. Spaghetti and Salad
2. Beef Stew over Brown Rice
3. Turkey Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus
4. Black Bean Burgers, Corn, Salad
5. Chicken Quesadillas

Snacks:
Carrot Applesauce muffins
Zucchini Bread
Fresh Fruit and Cheese
Whole Wheat Crackers with Almond Butter
Plain yogurt flavored with fruit puree

You can do it! It takes some getting used to, and I still fall off the wagon, but I don't feel bad about the occaisional Chick-Fil-A when I know I feed my family well 99% of the time!

Progress on the Grocery Front

2008-09-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

I just had to give myself some props for my latest grocery trip. The only packaged foods I bought were whole-wheat crackers, Panko bread crumbs, and canned beans. This is major progress for me!

MAJOR RAVE: Medicine Man Ointment

2008-09-07T06:21:00.000-07:00

At a local arts and crafts festival yesterday, I bought some goodies from Pretty Baby Naturals. They sell all natural soaps, lotions and potions. One of my favorite finds is Medicine Man Ointment. Made with tea tree oil, neem oil, aloe, and healing herbs, it's antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral.

About an hour after I bought it, I was so glad I did. I was on the lookout for a quiet spot to nurse MJ and found a tree stump in a shady area. Not 30 seconds after sitting down, I felt like acid had been poured on my feet. The stump was rotten and home to a massive colony of fire ants. My mom had been standing in front of me to shield me for a bit of privacy, and she was bitten too. I jumped up and ran away (baby still on breast, which, looking back, is pretty funny). My sister had helped us get all the ants off...fortunately, none had gotten MJ. Our feet were red, swollen, and felt like they were on fire. I remembered the Medicine Man, fished it out of my bag, and slathered my feet...INSTANT RELIEF. It was truly amazing.

Later that afternoon, I went back to the Pretty Baby booth and bought two more tubes. This will replace Neosporin and the Benadryl pen in my medicine cabinet and diaper bag. Natural and it works better than conventional methods? You know I love me some of that!

Buy some. You'll thank me later.

TV Commercials Promoting HFCS

2008-09-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

Have you seen these?

HFCS Ad 1
HFCS Ad 2

I especially like the corn logo at the end. They might as well say, "It's corn. It counts as a vegetable serving."

According to these commercials, HFCS is "fine in moderation." Many things in life are fine in moderation. Problem is, there is nothing moderate about American consumption of HFCS. It's in nearly every commercial product we buy...even a loaf of bread. Go ahead, check your labels. Then look up the dangers of HFCS. I planned to list them, but frankly, I don't have enough time in my day. Folks, HFCS is bad for you. No question about it. Educate yourself, don't let TV do it for you.

A couple closing tidbits.

1. Watch this while you're at it, just for fun.
2. How do you pack a popsicle on a picnic?

Dr. Seuss for Nursing Moms

2008-08-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Would you nurse her in the park?

Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a Boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?

I would nurse him in the park,
I would nurse her in the dark.
I’d nurse with or without a Boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.

Can you nurse with your seat belt on?
Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse her `till she’s full!

Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and feed the group?
It makes her healthy strong and smart,
Mommy’s milk is the best start!

Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse her in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse her in the rain.

As for those who protest lactation,
I have the perfect explanation.
Mommy’s milk is tailor made
It’s the perfect food, you need no aid.

Some may scoff and some may wriggle,
Avert their eyes or even giggle.
To those who can be cruel and rude,
Remind them breast’s the perfect food!

I would never scoff or giggle,
Roll my eyes or even wiggle!
I would not be so crass or crude,
I KNOW that this milk’s the perfect food!

We make the amount we need
The perfect temp for every feed.
There’s no compare to milk from breast-
The perfect food, above the rest.

Those sweet nursing smiles are oh so sweet,
Mommy’s milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can’t be beat.

I will nurse, in any case,
On the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I’ll meet her needs, I’ll always try.
It’s not about what’s good for you,
It’s best for babies, through and through.

I will nurse her in my home,
I will nurse her when I roam.
Leave me be lads and ma’am.
I will nurse her, Mom I am.

Help...I'm Addicted to Cloth!

2008-08-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my addiction isn't so bad as some people's, but MAN, I LOVE me some cloth diapers. We used disposables the week we were in Canada, and Michael and I both kept commenting on how much we missed MJ's cloth. I never realized how scratchy and stinky 'sposies are! In addition, cloth diapers are so damn cute! The last time I posted on this subject, we were using exclusively BumGenius pocket diapers. After a few months, my luck with these turned bad. I had terrible repelling issues with the microfiber and had to perform voodoo to keep them build-up free (disclaimer: most people never have this problem...must be my water). Since then, I've switched to natural fiber (cotton, hemp, bamboo) prefolds and fitteds and covers. My favorites are GreenSprouts. Come on...these are cute, right?

Fortunately, there's a site called Diaper Swappers where you can buy/sell used diapers. I sold all my BGs for enough money to pay for my entire stash of GreenSprouts! I'm slowly selling off all but my favorites because I went a bit overboard trying new things. ;0

I love cloth diapers so much that one of the things I look forward to most with a new baby (no, this is NOT an announcement!) is a cute little newborn fluffy butt. Yes, I have a problem.

If you have been considering trying cloth...do it! You won't regret it for a moment.

Free BPA Free Bottle

2008-08-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

Click Here to claim your free bottle from Medela. :)

Breastfeeding on Sesame Street

2008-08-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

This is from a 1977 episode of Sesame Street. I think it's so sweet.

Video: Buffy explains breastfeeding to Big Bird.

Back from Canada!

2008-08-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

Wanted to let you know that the bug suit was great. Marlee only wore it in the evening when the bugs were really bad. The rest of the time, I used the California Baby repellent. I applied it morning, lunchtime, and before bed. She only got two bites the entire trip, both on her scalp on the first day (I sprayed her head after that). I, however, am covered in bites because I wasn't nearly so diligent about myself.

So, two thumbs up for Bugabear's suit and California Baby spray!

The Ultimate Mosquito Protection!

2008-07-23T04:54:00.000-07:00

No chemicals here! We're going to protect Marlee on our upcoming trip to Canada with this Mosquito Suit, custom made for us by Bugabear on Etsy.

A New Puff in Town

2008-07-02T15:04:00.001-07:00

I've had a few moms ask me about a more natural alternative to Gerber Puffs, which are full of HFCS and ingredients I can't pronounce (not to mention expensive!). I used to recommend organic crisp rice cereal or oat o's (my fave: Joe's Os from Trader Joes). Problem with those is, the rice is tiny and not great for training little fingers, and the Os don't dissolve.

Michael and I have enjoyed snacking on Pirate Booty for years, but I just recently discovered Fruit Booty and Veggie Booty!

Compare ingredients.

PUFFS (sweet potato): Rice Flour , Whole Grain Oat Flour , Wheat Starch , Wheat Flour , Sugar , Sweet Potato Powder , Tri- and Dicalcium Phosphate , Natural Flavor , Annatto Extract Color , Mixed Tocopherols - for Freshness , Zinc Sulfate , Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate - Vitamin E , Electrolytic Iron

VEGGIE BOOTY: Corn Meal, Rice, Soy Flour, Rice Flour, Corn, Sunflower and/or Rice Oil, Salt, Spinach Powder, Evaporated Cane Juice, Broccoli Powder, Kale Powder, Carrot Powder, Cabbage Powder, Parsley Powder, Calcium Carbonate (Baking Soda), and Sea Salt.

FRUITY BOOTY: Corn Meal, Organic Soy Flour, Sunflower, Rice and/or Corn Oil, Evaporated Cane Juice, Peach Juice, Mango Powder, Maltodextrin (from Corn), Safflower Oil, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Paprika Extract. Contains Soybean Ingredients.

SIMPLY BOOTY (VEGAN): Corn Meal, Rice, Contains one of the following: Corn, Rice and/or Sunflower Oil, and Sea Salt.

Simply Booty is sugar free. The Veggie variety has less sugar than puffs. The Fruity Booty has about the same amount of sugar, but it comes from evaporated cane juice rather than HFCS.

All three are bite-sized, yummy, and dissolve quickly. I wish I'd found these when we were in the Puffs stage!

**I've been informed that Gerber Puffs are now sweetened with sugar, not HFCS. This must be new, as the can I bought MJ a few months ago definitely had HFCS. Anyone have a can to check for me?**

A New Month

2008-07-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

It's July first...what eco-friendly/healty life goals are you setting this month?

For the W Family:

One outdoor can of trash (Should be especially easy because we're traveling)
No fast food. This one is easy for me, tougher for Michael.
Michael is going to bike instead of drive to the gym.
We're eating two vegetarian dinners and two fish dinners per week.
We're making a stronger than usual effort to reduce electricity usage. Kind of a game.

Share your goals for July!

Vaccination Horror

2008-06-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

When Marlee was born, Michael and I made the decision together to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended immunization schedule. I was well aware that the topic was controversial, but (in a manner so unlike me) I just went with it...because it's the way it's done. I know, I know, SO not me. As the months have gone on, I've done a bit of reading. I decided that I will selectively vaccinate MJ going forward. She's breastfed and stays home with me, so I'm very comfortable in this decision. That's not the point of this post though. It's just background.

I went to the pediatrician to pick up her immunization schedule to compare what she's had to the schedule I've planned so that we can move forward. Here's what I discovered.

The AAP recommends HIB at 2, 4 and 6. She had it at 2 and 4. One missed vaccine. I've chosen to do HIB on schedule...when would this mistake have been found if I didn't start digging?

Then there's HepB. When MJ was just hours old, the nurse came in and said, "We're taking her to the nursery for the Hepatitis B vaccine." I said, "No, thank you. We'll do it at her first pediatrician appointment." I didn't want my baby stuck with anything her first day of life (I also declined Vitamin K injection). So when we took her to the doc at 3 days old, she had her first HepB shot.

Had I given any thought to this at the beginning, she would never have had that shot or any others of that particular vax until age 12. I'm not sure why my baby is vaccinated against a disease that is contracted through sex or shared needles. Granted, she's not in my sight 24 hours a day, but I'm thinking we're okay on this one.

Here's what is making me sick. Not only has she had this vax, which I personally see as unnecessary, she's had too many doses. Her doctors office uses both a 3 and 4 injection series. There was some confusion, and she was given the 3 series then the 4th from the other series.

I am so upset with myself, there are not words. Each appointment, I signed the form acknowledging the shots my baby was getting. I signed that form, not knowing what it meant. I assumed that the doctors and nurses were doing what was best for her.

I pride myself on the fact that I'm very well educated in many aspects of raising my child. How did I let this happen? How did I not know what she should get at each appointment? How did I not know which vaccines were absolutely necessary? What they contain? Which brands are considered safer? Which brand are they using? What are the risks? What are the benefits? AGH! How did I not educate myself about something as important as foreign substances being injected into my child?

The point of this entry is not to judge anyone for adhering to any particular schedule. It's just to urge you all to learn a bit about vaccines. Go to each appointment knowing what shots your baby should be getting, and make sure those are the ones she gets.

An interesting parting factoid: As children, we (my generation) got 18 vaccines. Children today get 50.

Win a BabyWearing Stash!

2008-06-27T10:23:00.001-07:00

Click here for contest from Along for the Ride.

Just When You Thought Disposable Diapers Couldn't Get Nastier

2008-06-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Check out this new one from Pampers.

These totally gross me out.

Zucchini Bread

2008-06-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

I was looking for a yummy snack for MJ to replace the occasional cereal bar. I've been trying to eliminate processed foods, and the bars I bought were chock full of sugar (natural organic fruit sugars, but sugar just the same). I found a few recipes for zucchini bread, combined and tweaked them, and came up with my own. It's a hit...she loves it!

1 1/2 cups each all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind (I'd leave this out for pickier eaters)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup blue agave nectar
3 cups shredded zucchini (about 3 medium)
1 cup shredded carrot (about 2 medium or 1 large)

Preheat oven to 350 and coat two 8x4 loaf pans with cooking spray. Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients (including veggies) in a larger bowl. Add the dry to wet and stir until just combined. Bake 45 minutes to an hour until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before slicing.

I froze individual slices so that I can toss in the diaper bag for a quick snack when we're out an about.

Bug Protection for Baby

2008-06-22T18:27:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I'm making up for the lack of action with a plethora of posts!

When I heard that a friend wasn't using any bug protection for her 5 month old because her pedi had recommended holding off until 6 months, it reminded me to post my rave for California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent Spray. I'm one of those people who's blood is particularly attractive to mosquitoes and the the like. I've been using the CABaby stuff on myself as well as MJ, and it works great for both of us. I also have their Citronella Sunscreen and like that as well. Neither of these products contain DEET, so they're safe to use on babies of any age. Other companies make similar essential oil products...I know Burt's Bees is one.

Warning: Digression Incoming

This takes me to a recent blurb in Parent's Magazine. I have a free subscription, but I don't know why I read it. It usually finds some way to annoy me each month, most recently with one-sided pieces on cloth diapering and circumcision. This month's issue contains an article on the topic of summer insect protection:

"Apply an insect repellent containing DEET to your child's exposed skin--avoiding face and hands--before the child goes outdoors. The AAP recommends using a product that contains no more than 30% DEET. Don't use DEET on babies under 2 months old.

After your child comes indoors, wash the treated skin with soap and water. Avoid products that combine sunscreen and insect repellent because you could expose your child to excess DEET when you reapply every couple of hours.

For extra protection, apply a repellent containing permethrin to clothing, shoes, and sleeping bags. Permethrin is a virtually nontoxic chemical that kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other bugs on contact. Spray items outdoors, and allow clothing to dry before wearing it. Don't apply permethrin directly to the skin."

Let's tackle the DEET first. Avoid the face and hands. Don't use more than a 30% concentration. Don't apply to babies less than 2 months old. Wash it off as soon as you're inside. Don't overexpose. Yeah, this sounds like good stuff! Here's more:

DEET is a toxic compound, partially absorbed into the bloodstream, and associated with dermal and neurological reactions. Several cases of toxic encephalopathy (brain damage) associated with the use of DEET in children have been reported in the medical literature. Generalized seizures have also been temporally associated with the use of DEET.

And Permethrin? "Virtually nontoxic?" How's this sound:

Permethrin has been found in streams and rivers throughout the United States. It is also routinely found on produce, particularly spinach, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, and peaches.

A wide variety of insects have developed resistance to permethrin. High levels of resistance have been documented in cockroaches, head lice, and tobacco budworm.

I'd call that pretty darn toxic. And the most widely read parenting magazine is encouraging people to use it for their babies. Nice.

CFL Legislation

2008-06-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

This video recently sparked a debate in my family. Watch it and share your thoughts. I'm saving mine for a while to force some of you to de-lurk and speak (comment) :)