Tuesday, May 11, 2010

A little change goes a long way.

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 10:27 AM


It's amazing how changing one small habit can have such a large impact on the environment. I have to admit I have been guilty up until recently of going through quite a large number of plastic water bottles a month even though we have a water filter at home. Yes I know it's a terrible thing to think where these bottles end up and the damage they cause to the environment which is why I decided to switch to a reusable water bottle instead.

There are many reasons to ditch the plastic bottles aside from their effect on the environment. Using and re using these bottles have some effects on your health as well. Plastic bottles contain BPA which leaches out during everyday use. High levels of BPA have been linked with infertility, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. You are probably wondering just how much exposure are you really getting from a water bottle. Does it matter? Even the smallest amount of exposure can create long term health issues so why risk it?

You have alternatives and you should definitely explore them. There are many reusable water bottles out there for sale. One alternative is a SIGG – Swiss Engineered Water Bottles . These bottles are made out of a single piece of pure taste neutral aluminum. Another option is the Wellness H2O bottle. This bottle is made of LDPE (low density polyethylene) plastic, which is BPA-free.

Here are few other suggestions:
Blue planet: www.blueplanetwater.com/q&a.html
Biota : www.biotaspringwater.com
Born free: www.newbornfree.com
Klean Kanteen: www.kleankanteen.com

So why not ditch the plastic bottles once and for all and do something good for yourself and the environment?

 

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Monday, May 10, 2010

What is in your food??

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 11:51 AM


I know most of us probably do not want to think about where our food is coming from but now a days with all these food borne illnesses it's important to understand how your food is grown and where it comes from. Will this make a difference in the food choices you make? Who knows it might not make a difference at all but at least you will be a little more informed about the growing practices and the places your food is coming from. Sadly enough we have been brainwashed by society to buy cheap and in bulk with no regards to where the food is coming from and how it is produced.


So how can you make an informed decision before you head out to your nearest shop in bulk store and stock up on all that processed food and pesticide contaminated produce?? Here are a few suggestions!


1. Find out what is in season before you buy it. Make sure you buy produce that is in season otherwise you have to wonder where this is being shipped from and how it is being processed to maintain its freshness. Here's a link to find out what's in season: http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/eatseasonal/.


2. Buy from your local farmers market when possible. Not only are you buying directly from the food source but you are also helping the local economy.


3. Go Organic! Organically grown food is grown without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and fungicides which have been linked to cancer and many other diseases. (You can find out here ( http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php) which fruits and veggies have the highest levels of pesticides).


4. Grow your own. If you have the time and the space how about starting your own small garden? Start with something small and manageable. Do research on the types of things that grow well in your area. This is doable even if you live in a small apartment or don't have a backyard. Container gardening is a great option for these types of situations ( http://containergardeningtips.com/) as well as an aero garden.


If you want to learn more about where you food comes from you can check out the following links:




 

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Thursday, May 6, 2010

A story telling shoe!

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 12:15 PM


These cute Eco friendly Scooter Bee shoes for babies are designed to tell a story. Lined with bamboo velour fabric, these little story tellers are PVC free, latex free, chloride free, dioxin free and phthalate free. They have wrap around straps at the top of each shoe with a picture of an animal or a plant. Parents can use these pictures to educate their children on the particular animal/plant and their contributions to the environment.


The shoes adjust to thickness and width and are great for pre walkers and first time walkers.


Want to get your little one a pair?

Visit Kate's Caring Gifts http://www.katescaringgifts.com/index.html today!

 

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Green Cleaning

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 7:48 AM


There are so many ways you can clean around your home without having to use harsh chemicals or without having to spend money on organic cleaners. Look around your kitchen and I am sure you probably have the following items: White vinegar, baking soda, salt, and lemons. All of these things have multiple uses around the house.


White vinegar is great for killing bacteria, germs and mold. It can be used as a fabric softener when mixed with 1/2 cup of water as well. Want to get rid of rings in the toilet?? Guess what.. three cups of white vinegar poured in the toilet and three poured into the tank once a week will clean that up in no time!


What about Baking Soda? What can that be used for? Believe it or not the sodium bicarbonate can clear up clogged drains. I don't know about you but this is a biggie in our house due mostly to my hair washing! Just dump a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of white vinegar a few times down your drain to fix the problem. Need to clean your microwave? Boil 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a mug with water inside the microwave and then simply wipe the gunk off without having to do any scrubbing!


Have some lemons laying around? You can easily use them to scrub your dishes by cutting them in half and sprinkling some baking soda on them. Lemons can also be used as a natural furniture polish when combined with olive oil ( one cup of lemon juice for every 2 cups of olive oil).


Need to get rid of some of those salt bottles you've had for years hiding in the back of the pantry? Put them to good use! Sprinkle some salt in the laundry starch to keep the iron from sticking to your clothes. Rub it on cups and mugs to remove nasty coffee and tea stains.


These are just some of the ways you can move away from using toxic household cleaners while saving yourself a few bucks as well.


Have any other tips you want to share? Feel free to leave a comment and let us know!

 

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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Rev Abs Day 2

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 8:41 AM

Today is day 2 of the Rev Abs 90 day journey. My body is sore from the day before so I was a bit glad that today's workout focused mostly on the abs. It was a pretty good ab workout which also incorporated weights in a few of the exercises. Overall it was a bit less hectic than the first day but still intense. Can't wait to see what awaits me tomorrow!

 

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Monday, May 3, 2010

Dandelion Classic Organic Crinkle Bear

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 12:13 PM


I have to say that this Organic Crinkle Bear by Dandelion is probably one of the cutest and softest toys I have seen! My husband ordered it for our son a few weeks ago so he would have something to chew on. He loved it! The texture is very soft and the head makes crinkle noises whenever he grabs it which is why we think he loves this toy so much.

Overall it's a great toy and not too expensive. You can get one for as little as $9.00 on Amazon. Great buy!

 

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A few Updates!!!

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 8:20 AM


I've been absent for a while dealing with some family issues but now I am back. I wanted to give a few updates on the deodorant and no poo experiments! First off the deodorant still works wonders and actually works much better than any commercial deodorant I have ever used. Only one slight issue.. the aluminum from the baking soda killed my skin! It completely tore it to pieces so now I am on the hunt for an aluminum free baking soda to mix up a new batch.


The No Poo experiment didn't go so well. The baking soda did not work well with my hair at all. It literally made it dry and somewhat sticky. I tried using a bit less of it but it still did not work well with my hair. I was actually doing much better with the warm water rinses. I figured I needed to find an alternative as well so I decided to use Dr. Woods natural almond scented soap as shampoo instead. It does not contain any harsh detergents and all the ingredients are natural. So far it has been working well for me and the smell is great. I have also been using organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil for my hair as conditioner. This is again all natural so there are no harsh ingredients to strip your hair of it's natural oils. This is a wonderful alternative to conditioner and the smell is wonderful as well!


 

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Friday, April 16, 2010

The hair is holding up!

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 8:32 AM


I had some serious mixed feelings about my hair this morning. I did a quick warm water rinse yesterday before I start the baking soda/apple cider vinegar routine. My hair held up pretty well without any hair products and no shampoo. However I had no idea how it was going to hold up overnight. I kept thinking my hair is going to be a lovely mess tomorrow and I will have to put something in it especially since it's supposed to rain. Well I woke up this morning not knowing what to expect and it wasn't as bad as I had thought. It is still holding up well without any hair products and no shampoo. I am starting to notice a bit of dryness but it's not enough to make my hair frizzy so I'm not too concerned. Here's hoping it doesn't go downhill once the baking soda/apple cider vinegar routine begins!

 

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Corn starch Diapers!!

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 8:04 AM


While browsing the formula aisle at my nearest Duane Reade store I came across a brand of baby products I had never seen before. It's an eco friendly company called Nature Baby Care. They have all sorts of products, from diapers, to wipes, to diaper trash bags and disposable biodegradeable bibs. I was very impressed with the packaging and the list of ingredients used in their products. Particularly corn starch. Their diapers have a chlorine free pulp to help with absorption, a backsheet and distribution center based on corn, as well as chlorine free cellulose in the diaper. This all sounded great but I thought to myself these diapers must cost a fortune compared to the regular ones. To my surprise they were about the same price. Fifteen dollars for a pack of 36 diapers. I immediately grabbed a pack of size 2 ( 12-18lbs) and a pack of the baby wipes.

I was very excited to give these a try once I got home. I opened up the package and the first thing i noticed is their texture. They have a completely different texture than regular diapers and are much thinner. I was skeptical because my son does pee a lot and when he poops.. oh boy HE POOPS!! Well we decided to go for it and once I tried to put the diaper on I realize they were a bit snug. I thought for a moment I had grabbed the wrong size but I didn't. These were clearly a size 2 but they seemed so much smaller. I had a hard time putting the diaper on due to the fit but once it was on it we were ready for the test! About 30 minutes after the diaper went on we had a major poop explosion. I was terrified to check his diaper because normally with other diapers the poop leaks out of the side and its a mess! Well no leaking here!! The diaper held up very well!! Needless to say I am a fan and will be buying these diapers from now on. The only drawback is the sizing. I would suggest buying a size bigger to be on the safe side.

 

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

Prepping for Baking Soda Part 2

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 8:20 AM




I've noticed that as the day progresses my curls are getting tighter. This is a good thing!

 

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Prepping for the Baking Soda Wash!

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 7:04 AM

Normally around this time of the week I would've reached for my trusty bottle of shampoo and conditioner and begin my hair care routine for the day. Wash, rinse, leave in conditioner and sometimes mousse depending on the weather. Since I am embarking on the No Poo journey this morning I rinsed out my hair with just warm water and nothing else. I rinsed it out for about 4-5 minutes and combed through it while it was wet. I was removing any excess hair product and gunk that might be stuck in my hair from the previous wash. I finished rinsing my hair and paused for a second and thought to myself.. should I dare leave the house today with absolutely no products in my hair??? Not even the leave in conditioner??? I decided to go for it. I reached for the towel, patted my hair dry and that was the end of that. It felt nice to not have to stand there and waste 10 minutes putting crap in my hair. I left for work with my hair still a bit damp and with no idea how it would look once I got to the office. On my way to the office I thought about stopping to pull out the mirror just to check what was going on but I decided against it. I figured if I wasn't getting any funny looks from the people around me then how bad could it be? Then again this is NY and people are used to strangeness.

I finally arrive at the office and decide to go see the results of the warm water rinse and no products and to my surprise it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My curls are still there and my hair is not a complete ball of frizz!!! I was pleasantly surprised and happy. I am not quite sure how it will look tomorrow but for now I will just rejoice in the fact that at least today was a success. Now that the hair is gunk free or somewhat gunk free I will be trying the baking soda/apple cider vinegar wash on Sunday. I will post the results of that as well.. Hopefully they will be just as good!

 

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Let's Detox!!

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 11:14 AM


In addition to the No Poo experiment we have also decided to embark on a 4 day Detox journey starting next week. I know 4 days doesn't sound like much but it is all part of a month long process of creating major changes in our bodies as a whole. We are beginning with a detox, followed by a clean diet and a detox exercise plan. On the first week we will be preparing our bodies for the 4 day detox. Three days prior to the detox we will be focusing on eating whole grains, vegetables, fruit, fish, and chicken.


We will be avoiding the following foods:

Dairy and eggs, Butter and mayonnaise, all types of grains, certian fruits and vegetables such as oranges, orange juice, corn, creamed vegetables, animal protein: pork, beef, veal, sausage, cold cuts, canned meats, frankfurters, shellfish, vegetable protein: soybean products (soy sauce, soybean oil in processed foods, tempeh, tofu, soy milk, soy yogurt, textured vegetable protein), nuts and seeds: peanuts and peanut butter, oils: shortening, processed oils, salad dressings, and spreads, drinks: alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and soft drinks, sweeteners: white and brown refined sugars, honey, maple syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and evaporated cane juice
and condiments: chocolate, ketchup, relish, chutney, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce.


It seems like a lot to cut out but this is necessary in order to prepare the body for the liquid detox that will follow. I will be posting our progress with the detox as well as my progress with the No Poo!

 

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

No Poo???

2 comments Posted by Unknown at 11:35 AM


No I am not referring to actual poo. I am talking about no shampoo! Yep that's right no shampoo!! I have decided to give up using chemically infused shampoos all together!!


So why did I decide to go shampoo free??


While shampoo "cleans" your hair it can also remove all the oils your scalp naturally produces. These oils help keep your hair soft and shiny which is why sometimes we notice that our hair looks so much better a few days after we have washed it. Most shampoos also contain harmful ingredients such as mineral oil, which is a byproduct when gasoline is distilled from crude oil, and Sodium lauryl sulfate, which is synthetic chemical regulated as a pesticide. Sodium lauryl sulfate can be drying and harsh for the hair and causes eye irritation ( that explains the burning sensation we feel when it falls in our eyes!), allergic reactions and even hair loss. The mineral oil is added to provide an artificial coating on the strands of the hair which in turn make your hair look shiny. Mineral Oil is not quickly absorbed into the scalp so it remains there and blocks the release of natural oils. This creates a greasy cap in your scalp which requires more shampoo to remove. So you see it's a vicious cycle. You make your hair dependent on something that might not necessarily make it healthier in the long run.

With this being said I am beginning my journey into the No Poo world today since it will be the last time my hair was washed with so called organic shampoos. So what will I be using instead of shampoo??? I will be following a simple recipe of Baking Soda wash with an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse. Ok before you cringe at the thought of putting vinegar in your hair let me state that the smell of SMALL amounts of apple cider vinegar do not remain in your hair if thoroughly rinsed out. Why Baking Soda? Because baking soda gently clarifies hair from chemical buildup. Why Apple Cider Vinegar? Because Apple Cider Vinegar detangles the hair follicles, seals the cuticle, and balances the hair’s pH balance.


How exactly will I be mixing these? Here's how!


One tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water

One tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to one cup of water


Mix the baking soda and the water in a bottle (shake) and pour over your head like you would with a regular shampoo. Massage into your scalp for a few minutes and then rinse off. If you have thick or long hair you might need two tablespoons. However too much baking soda can dry your hair so test it out and see what works for you.


Once you have rinsed off the baking soda, mix the apple cider vinegar with water in a bottle ( shake) and pour over your head. Leave on for about a minute or two and rinse off. If you tend to have oily hair by nature then you might not need to use too much Apple Cider Vinegar.


There you have the simple recipe! Will this work wonders for my hair??? Who knows!! But I am willing to give it a shot and see.


I have attached a picture of my hair as it is right now after being washed today.







 

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Our Journey

0 comments Posted by Unknown at 11:02 AM


Welcome to my blog! I decided to start this blog because I realize my family and I need to make some lifestyle/health changes now that we have brought a little life into this world. We have always considered ourselves an earth conscious family who try their best to live green and purchase organic products. However I recently realized after having a baby that there is so much more we can be doing not only to help the environment but to better our health and our lifestyle. We want to make sure our little boy grows up understanding how to make the most out of the natural resources the earth provides for us and how important it is to have a growing respect for those resources as well. I realize this will not be an easy task due to the massive amount of non friendly overly commercialized products that are so readily available to us but it is something we have committed ourselves to following.

In this blog I will be documenting our experiences with organic foods, organic baby products, do it yourself concoctions and many other things. So feel free to join us as we embark on this journey to Walk With Mother Earth..

 

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