A few weeks ago my 21 month old started sticking her legs through the crib rails and getting them stuck. It's amazing how well olive oil works for a stuck knee! So, it was time to make the change from the crib to her big girl bed. NOT an easy decision. Having her in the safety and well, let's face it the lockdown of that crib was great!
When I had purchased the crib mattress and sheets it was all organic and actually pretty easy to find. I assumed it would be that way with her mattress now, but I was so wrong.
I was in the market for a twin mattress for her toddler bed, so I went to the local mattress store to see what organic options there were. NONE. Not one. How is it possible that they do not carry any organic mattresses in a mattress store?? Really?
Ah the internet. I went online to start the search. It was a nightmare. I found 2 places in my area that sell organic mattresses........if I wanted to spend a mortgage payment to get one. I was blown away. I just was looking for a TWIN mattress.
After a ton of searching and reading reviews I found the mattress. It is from a company called Naturepedic. www.naturepedic.com They specialize in organic baby and children's mattresses. They are certified organic. The mattresses are organic cotton fabric and filling. Non-toxic fire protection. Waterproof surface.
I went with the Organic Cotton Ultra Twin Mattress. It was $599. Way less than the $2300 - $3000 I was quoted with the other mattresses. Oh, and I ordered it from Babyage.com and received free shipping! YES!
The mattress is wonderful. Even taking it out of the packing it didn't have any "odor" making me feel better right away. I paired that with the organic sheets and my little one got in her big girl bed the first night and said, "it's comfy Mommy". She has been sleeping wonderfully on her new mattress.
I feel great knowing that she has a big girl mattress that is safe for her to sleep on and it wasn't highway robbery to get it.
AH...now if I could just get past the fear of her being able to get out of her bed in the night!
Till next blog............
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Anti-paper (Almost)!!
I had an "AHA" moment one day while I was cleaning the mirrors in my bathroom with my vinegar/water mixture. Why am I using paper towels for this??? This is such a waste, there has to be a better way.
I had started using Marcal Small Steps recycled paper products in my house, which I love, but do I really need to be wasting paper to clean mirrors and surfaces in my house? Do we really need to be using paper napkins for dinner? The answer is a resounding NO!
For cleaning I discovered microfiber cloths. They could be the best thing ever! I use them for cleaning everything! Mirrors, counters, shower tiles, any and all surfaces in my house. They seriously clean so much better than paper towels. The mirrors in my house clean so much better and easier since I started using them and there is no waste. I Put them in with the wash and they are ready for the next project. They are amazing for dusting too, without using any cleaner.
I actually went into my local Big-Lots and saw them one day. Since they were $1.00 each I thought, "Why Not?". Even if I hated them it cost me a couple bucks. Well, I ended up going back and buying about 10 more.
It also hit me one night as I was putting dinner on the table and getting the paper napkins that this was also a waste. I remember my Mom used to say that we used the cloth napkins for company or for special occasions but paper for regular meals . Well that's garbage, sorry Mom. Why not use them every meal? Why on earth do we need to waste paper? Even if I am using recycled paper products. The answer is we don't have to. I went out and bought some cotton napkins and that is what we now use. I throw them into the wash and there you go. To me it feels a little bit fancier each meal, since I grew up thinking that, but I also feel like an idiot for wasting so much that really didn't need to be.
I still buy paper towels, but the three pack of Marcal I buy now lasts for months. I use it basically to pat down meats and seafood before cooking, which you really don't want to use a anything else for.
It's funny, once again I find myself feeling like I am living in my grandmother's shoes. Back then they used to use old cloths and shirts because money was so tight you really had to, now I do it to be better to the environment and stop being so wasteful. In the end, oddly enough, it does end up saving me money as well. Go Figure!
Till next blog......
I had started using Marcal Small Steps recycled paper products in my house, which I love, but do I really need to be wasting paper to clean mirrors and surfaces in my house? Do we really need to be using paper napkins for dinner? The answer is a resounding NO!
For cleaning I discovered microfiber cloths. They could be the best thing ever! I use them for cleaning everything! Mirrors, counters, shower tiles, any and all surfaces in my house. They seriously clean so much better than paper towels. The mirrors in my house clean so much better and easier since I started using them and there is no waste. I Put them in with the wash and they are ready for the next project. They are amazing for dusting too, without using any cleaner.
I actually went into my local Big-Lots and saw them one day. Since they were $1.00 each I thought, "Why Not?". Even if I hated them it cost me a couple bucks. Well, I ended up going back and buying about 10 more.
It also hit me one night as I was putting dinner on the table and getting the paper napkins that this was also a waste. I remember my Mom used to say that we used the cloth napkins for company or for special occasions but paper for regular meals . Well that's garbage, sorry Mom. Why not use them every meal? Why on earth do we need to waste paper? Even if I am using recycled paper products. The answer is we don't have to. I went out and bought some cotton napkins and that is what we now use. I throw them into the wash and there you go. To me it feels a little bit fancier each meal, since I grew up thinking that, but I also feel like an idiot for wasting so much that really didn't need to be.
I still buy paper towels, but the three pack of Marcal I buy now lasts for months. I use it basically to pat down meats and seafood before cooking, which you really don't want to use a anything else for.
It's funny, once again I find myself feeling like I am living in my grandmother's shoes. Back then they used to use old cloths and shirts because money was so tight you really had to, now I do it to be better to the environment and stop being so wasteful. In the end, oddly enough, it does end up saving me money as well. Go Figure!
Till next blog......
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Favorite New Shaving Products
This is just a quick blog to share my favorite new shaving products. The first is Kiss My Face Moisture Shave. This wonderful shave cream contains no Parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates or phthalates. It also has no artificial colors, preservatives or fragrance. I LOVE this shave cream.
The other is a new razor I found. It is actually a disposable, which I would normally not recommend. It is called Bioshave. The handle of the razor is made of a plant-based biodegradable material. The packing is made from post-recycled cardboard, even the printing ink is vegetable based. How great is that! A biodegradable razor.
I used these two items together and got the best shave I have ever had.
Till next blog....
The other is a new razor I found. It is actually a disposable, which I would normally not recommend. It is called Bioshave. The handle of the razor is made of a plant-based biodegradable material. The packing is made from post-recycled cardboard, even the printing ink is vegetable based. How great is that! A biodegradable razor.
I used these two items together and got the best shave I have ever had.
Till next blog....
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Garden!
As I was covering our garden tonight to protect it from the Malathion that the city sprays for mosquitos (we are on a call list since we have an organic garden and do not want any chemicals effecting it) , I thought what a perfect night to blog about it.
Since my daughter started to eat food I have feed her only organic. I do not want her to consume hormones, pesticides or anything else that is not suppose to be in our food. I feed our family this way exclusively, but it all started with my daughter.
Being responsible for shaping the way my daughter eats and making sure those items are clean and healthy is Huge! It comes with a much higher grocery bill. It also means driving 30 minutes each way to the only Whole Foods in town to find all the organic and hormone free products to feed us.
My husband and I came up with an idea, why not dedicate some of our yard to start an organic garden?
We went online and did a ton of research. We found the best way to do the beds, bought a ton of organic seeds and got the beds ready for the experiment.
I've always grown my own herbs and tomatoes, but this was so much more. We weren't really sure what we were getting ourselves into but thought, why not? If it fails we just continue the way we are. But if it works we will be able to feed our family healthy things from our backyard.
The worst part of the garden in the beginning is the waiting. Did we just dig up half the yard and make these beds for nothing? Will anything sprout?
They did! Oh boy did they. It seemed like everything started all at once and we were thrilled. We planted everything that we eat and because it was that perfect time in Florida, the cold spells are gone but the insane heat hasn't hit yet. It all grew. Then the heat hit and we realized that some of the things we planted, like peas and lettuce, are our winter crops. We are learning!
Then came the bugs. How do we control the bugs that are eating our plants? We aren't using pesticides so now what. Our research brought us to a ton of information on what natural things to use to fight off bugs and what plants and flowers to plant in or around the beds to keep certain bugs and critters away. Amazing!! There is a planting strategy! You would also be amazed at what garlic, cooking oil and dish soap can do to ward off bugs! Imagine, things that won't harm the environment and hurt my child that can ward off bugs? Without Pesticides? What a novel idea!
We now have a beautiful 60' x 6' garden filled with squash, zucchini, green beans, carrots, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, tomato, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, all kinds of peppers, blueberries and tons of basil, sage, rosemary, dill and parsley. We also have a Meyer lemon, mango and grapefruit tree. There is a avocado and clementine tree started also!
The garden is work but it is also so rewarding. The produce we grow tastes so much sweeter and fresher than anything I buy, but the best part is seeing my daughter grab something right out of the garden and eat it. I have the peace of mind of knowing exactly what went into and on it and it saves our family money at the same time.
I still make my weekly drive to Whole Foods, but the list is alot shorter when I go!
Till next blog......
Since my daughter started to eat food I have feed her only organic. I do not want her to consume hormones, pesticides or anything else that is not suppose to be in our food. I feed our family this way exclusively, but it all started with my daughter.
Being responsible for shaping the way my daughter eats and making sure those items are clean and healthy is Huge! It comes with a much higher grocery bill. It also means driving 30 minutes each way to the only Whole Foods in town to find all the organic and hormone free products to feed us.
My husband and I came up with an idea, why not dedicate some of our yard to start an organic garden?
We went online and did a ton of research. We found the best way to do the beds, bought a ton of organic seeds and got the beds ready for the experiment.
I've always grown my own herbs and tomatoes, but this was so much more. We weren't really sure what we were getting ourselves into but thought, why not? If it fails we just continue the way we are. But if it works we will be able to feed our family healthy things from our backyard.
The worst part of the garden in the beginning is the waiting. Did we just dig up half the yard and make these beds for nothing? Will anything sprout?
They did! Oh boy did they. It seemed like everything started all at once and we were thrilled. We planted everything that we eat and because it was that perfect time in Florida, the cold spells are gone but the insane heat hasn't hit yet. It all grew. Then the heat hit and we realized that some of the things we planted, like peas and lettuce, are our winter crops. We are learning!
Then came the bugs. How do we control the bugs that are eating our plants? We aren't using pesticides so now what. Our research brought us to a ton of information on what natural things to use to fight off bugs and what plants and flowers to plant in or around the beds to keep certain bugs and critters away. Amazing!! There is a planting strategy! You would also be amazed at what garlic, cooking oil and dish soap can do to ward off bugs! Imagine, things that won't harm the environment and hurt my child that can ward off bugs? Without Pesticides? What a novel idea!
We now have a beautiful 60' x 6' garden filled with squash, zucchini, green beans, carrots, watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, tomato, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, all kinds of peppers, blueberries and tons of basil, sage, rosemary, dill and parsley. We also have a Meyer lemon, mango and grapefruit tree. There is a avocado and clementine tree started also!
The garden is work but it is also so rewarding. The produce we grow tastes so much sweeter and fresher than anything I buy, but the best part is seeing my daughter grab something right out of the garden and eat it. I have the peace of mind of knowing exactly what went into and on it and it saves our family money at the same time.
I still make my weekly drive to Whole Foods, but the list is alot shorter when I go!
Till next blog......
Friday, August 5, 2011
My Kitchen Overhaul
Standing in my kitchen one day I had a moment, maybe a little breakdown. I realized that there was too much plastic in it!! I was using entirely too many plastic products to cook, handle and store my families food.
I had just switched my daughter's BPA free bowls to stainless steel ones and I use stainless steel salad forks and little coffee spoons for her but what about the rest?
I have come to realize that plastic, even BPA free isn't exactly safe, let alone to be around the food my family eats. Looking around my kitchen I see spatulas, mixing bowls, dish drainer, tupperware and so much more all PLASTIC. While they have taken the BPA out of children's items I don't recall seeing these items marked BPA free, they are just full blown plastic. Since I am now of the mindset of no plastic this was horrifying!
I am a foodie so my kitchen is gadget central! I am sure that the many gadgets I have as well as the "as seen on tv" items I also have aren't exactly made of the safest materials.
So started the purge. Out with the plastic, in with the glass and stainless steel.
My pretty mixing bowl sets of lightweight plastic, replaced by glass. The lovely Williams Sonoma spatulas, replaced by wooden ones like my Mom had. The strainers set that used to fix nice and neatly together, replaced by a stainless steel set. Etc. Etc. All replaced with either glass or stainless steel. I even realized that the holder for my kitchen sponge was plastic, replaced by stainless.
The funny part is that the stainless and glass items are actually less expensive than the plastic items I was replacing. Thankfully!!
Then there is the cookware. Not so inexpensive to replace, but something you really have to think about if you are using non-stick pans.
Non-stick cookware contains many chemicals, one of which is Perflurooctanoic Acid or PFOA. This is a chemical that when the pan is heated up can leach into the food you are cooking. Especially if the pan has scratches where the teflon coating is coming loose. The companies that make the chemicals and pans of course say they are safe and cannot enter the food, however a recent study showed that 95% of american men, women and children have the chemical in their bloodstreams.
Some of the listed effects from the chemical is cancer in the liver, pancreas, testicles and mammary glands. There is also increased miscarriage, thyroid problems and it is attributed to low birth weight in newborns. Yes, if you use it to cook while pregnant it can leach into your fetus. Nice huh?
Your best bet is to get a couple pots and pans, baking pans too, that are not non stick and use olive oil or butter.
Think about this. If you were to marinate something in tupperware, cook it in a non-stick pan using a plastic spatula, that's alot of chemicals going into to ONE meal. If you do that everyday, for all meals, what is going into you and your families bodies?
Do it yourself. Go into your kitchen, open the cabinets and drawers and take inventory of how many plastic and non-stick items you have.
Till next blog......
I had just switched my daughter's BPA free bowls to stainless steel ones and I use stainless steel salad forks and little coffee spoons for her but what about the rest?
I have come to realize that plastic, even BPA free isn't exactly safe, let alone to be around the food my family eats. Looking around my kitchen I see spatulas, mixing bowls, dish drainer, tupperware and so much more all PLASTIC. While they have taken the BPA out of children's items I don't recall seeing these items marked BPA free, they are just full blown plastic. Since I am now of the mindset of no plastic this was horrifying!
I am a foodie so my kitchen is gadget central! I am sure that the many gadgets I have as well as the "as seen on tv" items I also have aren't exactly made of the safest materials.
So started the purge. Out with the plastic, in with the glass and stainless steel.
My pretty mixing bowl sets of lightweight plastic, replaced by glass. The lovely Williams Sonoma spatulas, replaced by wooden ones like my Mom had. The strainers set that used to fix nice and neatly together, replaced by a stainless steel set. Etc. Etc. All replaced with either glass or stainless steel. I even realized that the holder for my kitchen sponge was plastic, replaced by stainless.
The funny part is that the stainless and glass items are actually less expensive than the plastic items I was replacing. Thankfully!!
Then there is the cookware. Not so inexpensive to replace, but something you really have to think about if you are using non-stick pans.
Non-stick cookware contains many chemicals, one of which is Perflurooctanoic Acid or PFOA. This is a chemical that when the pan is heated up can leach into the food you are cooking. Especially if the pan has scratches where the teflon coating is coming loose. The companies that make the chemicals and pans of course say they are safe and cannot enter the food, however a recent study showed that 95% of american men, women and children have the chemical in their bloodstreams.
Some of the listed effects from the chemical is cancer in the liver, pancreas, testicles and mammary glands. There is also increased miscarriage, thyroid problems and it is attributed to low birth weight in newborns. Yes, if you use it to cook while pregnant it can leach into your fetus. Nice huh?
Your best bet is to get a couple pots and pans, baking pans too, that are not non stick and use olive oil or butter.
Think about this. If you were to marinate something in tupperware, cook it in a non-stick pan using a plastic spatula, that's alot of chemicals going into to ONE meal. If you do that everyday, for all meals, what is going into you and your families bodies?
Do it yourself. Go into your kitchen, open the cabinets and drawers and take inventory of how many plastic and non-stick items you have.
Till next blog......
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