Just wanted to take a moment (finally) to let you know that our little girl was born at home on September 8, 2011! Yes, it’s taken me 6 weeks to get this announcement out to you; sorry about that! We are all happy, healthy, and only a little sleep deprived! Needless to say life is crazy and if you haven’t noticed, I will be taking a short break from writing on my blog.

In my absence I do hope to have several guest bloggers writing interesting content for you to read – stay tuned!

In the meantime, here are a few photos of our new family, her birth slideshow (below), and birth story for you to read. And some of my previous articles on midwives, homebirth, and natural childbirth.

Have any of you birthed at home or with a midwife? Leave a comment and share!

shortly after birth

big brother loves his sister!

us with our midwife

our new family, taken about 3 weeks after birth

We hired a birth photographer to document our special moment and we couldn’t be happier with the results!

• Sneak peek at some photos (if you just have a minute)
• Birth slideshow set to music (if you have a few more minutes)

Curious about midwives and homebirth? Read some of my previous articles on the topics:

• Demystifying Midwife-Supported Natural Childbirth Part 1: Misconceptions and Facts About Midwives
• Demystifying Midwife-Supported Natural Childbirth Part 2: Safety
• Demystifying Midwife-Supported Natural Childbirth Part 3: Who Chooses Midwifery Care?
• 8 Ways Midwives Promote Safe Childbirth
• How to Have a Natural Childbirth

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• Demystifying Midwife-Supported Natural Childbirth Part 1: Misconceptions and Facts About Midwives
• Movie Review: The Business of Being Born

Well look no further; I’ve found a couple books that will provide great information to your older child about home birth, breastfeeding, baby wearing, and co-sleeping.

Welcome With Love

Welcome With Love by Jenni Overend and Julie Vivas tells the story of a family on birthing day, awaiting the home birth of their newest member. This book will be a welcome addition to read to your older children to prepare them for the sights and words that accompany a home birth.

Included throughout the story are many aspects of birth that are common with home birth and that are probably not shown in books depicting birth in a hospital.

• What you might see during labor (mom going for a walk to help labor along, mom leaning on dad during labor)
• What you might hear during labor (mom making loud noises every few minutes)
• A midwife comes to the house to assist the birth
• Mention of items that midwife brings (oxygen in case it’s needed)
• Illustration of birth scene which involves nude mother standing and leaning on dad, baby’s head emerging from mom with midwife ready to receive the baby, other children looking on behind midwife
• Illustration of mom on knees (nude) holding baby, umbilical cord still attached and placenta not delivered
• Illustration and discussion of breastfeeding
• Whole family co-sleeping by fire

What Baby Needs

What Baby Needs by William Sears, M.D., Martha Sear, R.N., and Christie Watts Kelly shares information meant for older siblings about what the new baby will need when they arrive, which are the same things that child needed as a baby. The book provides a page of notes at the beginning for parents and caregivers which I found very helpful. One helpful tip was to refer to the child as the “older brother/sister” instead of “big brother/sister”.

The book also has a page at the end of the book that contains information about attachment parenting as well as several resources (websites and books).

Here’s how the book shares the “Five Baby Bs” of attachment parenting tools:

• Birth bonding: Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding are mentioned as well as illustrated.
• Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding is mentioned as the way babies eat and is shown with a lovely illustration. They also mention baby getting mommy’s milk from a bottle if mommy is away.
• Baby wearing: Also discussed is how babies need to be held and one way is by using a baby carrier. There are three illustrations showing baby wearing and two of them show the dad wearing the baby!
• Be flexible with sleeping arrangements: The book illustrates a baby sleeping in a co-sleeper near the bed because they need to be close to Mommy’s heartbeat.
• Belief in value of crying: A baby’s language is crying and it’s mentioned how important it is to respond quickly to a baby’s cries.

The book also has small boxes on some pages that share ways for the older child to become involved and help or that help the older child bond with the baby.

What I personally really loved was that there was no mention of feeding the baby formula at all! This was important to me since we exclusively breastfeed and I wanted a book that exclusively shows breastfeeding/breast milk. As you know, this is hard to find in most baby books. (In the notes section at the beginning of the book the author encourages you to change the text to fit the choices you make in your family.)

**********************************

What home birth, natural birth, breastfeeding, baby wearing, co sleeping books have you found? Please leave a comment and share with us!

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I’ve written before about the toxic chemicals in some personal care products:

• Is Your Sunscreen Helping You or Hurting You?
• 11 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Hand Soap and Sanitizer and Safer Options for Your Family
• Does Your Toothpaste Have These Dangerous Ingredients? Plus Natural Toothpaste Options
• Safer, Natural, Non-Toxic Shampoo for Adults and Children
• Skin Moisturizer Ingredients to Avoid, Plus Some Great Natural Lotion Options

The Story of Cosmetics

To get a quick story about this, watch this 8 minute video. You may be surprised at what you learn.

If you can’t see the video, click here.

The Safe Cosmetics Act

It’s up to Congress to close gaping holes in the outdated federal law that allows cancer-causing chemicals in baby shampoo, hormone disruptors in fragrance, and lead in lipstick. That’s what you get when you have a $50 billion industry that’s practically self-regulated.

What can you do?

• Visit the SafeCosmetics website.
• Learn more about the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011.
• Ask your Representative to support safe cosmetics. (It takes less than a minute to do.)
• Read labels and start buying safer products for you and your family.
• Look for my upcoming article where I will share easy ideas for replacing two common cosmetic products with simple things at home.

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• Loving Naturals Sunscreen Review: Organic, Safe Sunscreen for Babies, Kids, Adults

In my recent article on the new 2011 Sunscreen Recommendations from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), I mentioned that I chose to buy Loving Naturals sunscreen. I thought I would let you know what I think of it, in case you are wanting sunscreen recommendations.

Why I Purchased It: Great Ingredients

I chose it  based simply on the great list of ingredients. Hint: Even though the EWG provides a great list of sunscreens, I think you should still look at the list of ingredients. Some of them still contained too many chemicals for me. Loving Naturals sunscreen had a great list of basic ingredients:

• Non-Nano Particle Zinc Oxide (24.8%) (Active Ingredient)
• Grape Seed Oil
• Organic Sunflower Oil
• Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides (derived from Coconut Oil)
• Soy Wax (Non-GMO)
• Organic Sesame Oil
• Organic Plum Kernel Oil
• Candelilla Wax
• Organic Cocoa  Butter (Fair Trade)
• Organic Hemp Seed Oil
• Organic Macadamia Nut Oil
• Organic Cocoa  (Fair Trade)
• Organic Green Tea
• Salt
• Water

What Else is Cool About It?

Loving Naturals sunscreen is SPF 30 and blocks both UVA and UVB rays. In addition to those standard sunscreen qualities, Loving Naturals sunscreen is also Certified Organic, Cruelty Free, and Vegan.

The bottle also contains a “born on” date and an “expires on” date. On my bottle those dates are 18 months apart.

Application

Loving Naturals sunscreen has a thin consistency and a little bit does go a long way! Start with a little bit at a time, especially if you want to avoid the white skin tinting. Yes, it does leave a white tint, but you may be able to eliminate most of it if you work at rubbing it in. I think that’s pretty common with natural sunscreens and nothing that really bothers me. Despite all the oils it contains, it is not greasy. It is also not smelly. Also, be sure to shake the bottle well before each application.

If you do want to avoid the white skin tint, Loving Naturals now makes CLEAR sunscreens (although I have not tried them).

But Does it Work?

Loving Naturals sunscreen worked great for us! I put some on my 4 year old son’s face and arms as we were playing on the beach in April. After 2-3 hours there was absolutely no pink at all on him. I was very happy with the results.

What About the Water?

Loving Naturals sunscreen states on the front of the bottle that it is water resistant (not waterproof). Even though we have not used it in water situations, I would be cautious about water use and reapply often. It also states that it retains SPF after 40 minutes in water and to reapply after swimming, sweating, or after 1-2 hours.

More Information

For more information about Loving Naturals sunscreen, visit their website: LovingNaturals.com

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• 2011 Sunscreen Recommendations: Safer Options for Fun in the Sun

I’ve had a hard time in the past trying to find a pair of active wear-type shoes that are easy to put on, comfortable, look nice, and go with everything – until now. Three months ago I found and purchased my first pair of kigo curv shoes (lower case intentional); they are perfect for me! While they seem to be even more perfect for those who REALLY like outdoor adventure such as hiking, canoeing, and running, I am a simple (pregnant) mom who has found these shoes to be essential to my wardrobe.

In a testament to how much I love them, I even have nice “kigo curv” tan lines on my feet, since these are the only shoes I have been wearing since I bought them over 3 months ago! Are you curious about them? Read on!

Flat Shoe – Better Posture

By being as close to barefoot as possible we can maintain the best posture, which is important any time but especially during pregnancy. A flat shoe promotes a more natural body position/alignment, similar to being barefoot. Any amount of heel lift can throw off posture. To illustrate this point, I want to share with you an entertaining video made by Patton Gleason of the Natural Running Store. (And if you don’t think a video about flat shoes and posture can be entertaining, then you’ve never witnessed the skills of Mr. Gleason!)

If you can’t see this video, click here.

Comfort

Looking at the simple, flat styling of the kigo curv you might wonder about their comfort – especially if you are used to thick shoes with lots of padding. But the moment I put them on I could feel their natural comfort. They have a removable insole that provides enough cushion while maintaining their flat profile. Adding to their comfort is the super flexible and thin (1.5mm) rubber outsole.

The more you wear them the more they seem to mold to your foot, almost like a second skin, creating a shoe that is just for you.

Styling

With a Mary-Jane style, the kigo curv is designed especially for women. I think they look great; a bit outdoorsy wilderness and city casual all in one. I have received several compliments on them and am happy to recommend them to others looking for this type of shoe.

They come in six color combinations. Being so practical, I chose the grey with white stitch so that I can wear them with anything – and I do! I wear them with shorts, skirts, crop pants, and jeans.

Fit

The kigo curv does run small. On the company website, they even recommend you select a pair that is ½ to 1 full size larger than your normal shoe size. I typically wear a size 7 in every pair of shoes I own, but I did end up purchasing a size 8 in this shoe (they do not make half sizes). Find the right size for your foot and you will be a happy camper!

Easy Use / Easy Care

The kigo curv is easy to put on and take off, thanks to a fixed webbing loop on the heel. The shoe is also water and stain resistant (EPA approved) and the EVA insole is removable and anti-microbial. For as much as I wear them, I really haven’t noticed any extreme dirtiness. Looking at the pictures I’ve shared, you can see what they look like after three months of wear. You could just use a wet cloth to wipe them down.

Non-Slip Grip

Nobody wants a slippery shoe, especially pregnant women! The kigo curv’s rubber outsole has non-slip grooving as well as a protective rubber toe cap. This is especially nice when having to make a quick dart after your toddler or walking on wet surfaces.

Eco-Friendly

To me, the icing on the cake for the kigo curv is knowing that the company is eco-friendly. Their shoes feature post-consumer composition, including water-based adhesives, recycled nylon lining, and non-toxic dyes. They also have CYCLEPET uppers, which means plastic jugs are cleaned, broken down, and woven into strong, soft fabric. How cool is that!

For packaging, there is only minimal tissue and a downsized recycled box; only what is necessary to protect your new shoes.

Price

The kigo curv shoes retail for around $70, which is reasonable considering you may need just this one pair of shoes! If you check out the Natural Running Store (below) they do have periodic discounts.

Where to Purchase

I bought my kigo curvs from the Natural Running Store. They provide fast shipping and great customer service. If you “Like” them on Facebook, you can find out about special discounts that are offered periodically.

Summary

Whether you are a true outdoor adventurer loving to hike, climb, and paddle your way through challenges to reach great happiness, or a mommy adventurer tackling those day-to-day challenges that test your skills and also bring great happiness, you can appreciate these shoes. In fact, you will forget about these shoes once they are on. And isn’t that the point? You shouldn’t be worrying about how your shoes will handle your adventures, you should be ENJOYING your adventures to the fullest!

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EWG recently released their 2011 Sunscreen Guide, which provides a handy way to find your sunscreen and see its rating, as well as find the best and safest sunscreen for your needs.

New FDA Rules on Sunscreen

At first it might seem like good news has finally arrived: after 33 years of deliberations, the FDA has finally issued sunscreen rules. But looking closer, EWG feels the rules do not do enough to protect us from the sun and instead caved to industry. Dangerous ingredients are still allowed and UVA protection standards are not on par with the strict ones in Europe, making it hard for customers to differentiate between mediocre and superior products.

What Would I Buy?

EWG lists 134 beach/sport sunscreens (out of 1783) that earned their best rating. Some of the sunscreens in that list still contain lots of “chemical” sounding ingredients. Here are a few of the top sunscreens that I would personally choose for myself and my family: (This list has changed from last year.)

• Kabana Skin Care Green Screen: Made with only EIGHT organic (86% certified organic!) and natural ingredients.
• Badger: They also have a lip balm and face stick.
• Loving Naturals: They also have a vegan sunscreen.
• Caribbean Solutions: It’s also biodegradable.
• Doctor T’s Supergoop! Quickstick SPF 30: Convenient size, easy to use for babies and kids.
• Goddess Garden Baby Natural Sunscreen: Although they have others for kids and face, I would choose the baby one.
• Aubrey Organics Sports Stick Unscented: The sports stick version seems good to me!

You can easily shop for these items and more in my Amazon store!

What Did I Buy? Loving Naturals!

I purchased Loving Naturals and have been very happy with it! I will write a more detailed review in the near future.

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Personal Care Myths and Facts

Do you think that if products are sold at stores they must be safe? Do you think that the government prohibits dangerous chemicals in personal care products? Do you think that what’s applied to the skin doesn’t enter the body? The answers may surprise you. Read more about it on Enviroblog’s eight personal care myths and facts.

Dangerous Ingredients to Avoid in Lotion and Moisturizer

Here are some of the dangerous or harmful ingredients I avoid in moisturizers.

• Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum: Used in many moisturizing products these products coat your skin like plastic, which clogs pores, interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, and creates a build-up of toxins. They also slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging, and are a suspected cause of cancer and disruption to hormonal activity. Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product. Any product that contains mineral oil may be contaminated with cancer causing Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.
• Propylene glycol, propylene oxide, polyethylene glycol*: Derived from petroleum, this is the main ingredient in anti freeze and a common ingredient in many moisturizers and lotions. It has been connected with kidney and liver damage in scientific testing.
• Phenoxyethanol: Phenoxyethanol is becoming more common as companies use it to replace parabens. The FDA has warned that phenoxyethanol can cause shut down of the central nervous system, vomiting, and contact dermatitis. It can also be listed as 2-phenoxyethanol which, according to a data sheet from Oxford University for this chemical, is “Harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. May cause reproductive defects. Severe eye and skin irritant.” 
• 1,4-Dioxane*: Petroleum-based cosmetics and skin care products are found to contain cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane. To avoid 1,4-dioxane, read ingredient labels and avoid any of the 56 cosmetic ingredients that can contain the contaminant, including “sodium laureth sulfate*” and ingredients that include the clauses “PEG,” “xynol,” “ceteareth,” and “oleth.”
• Parabens*
• Synthetic Fragrance*
• PEGs*
  
• Artificial Colors
  

*I have described the following chemicals, and the concerns with them, in my articles on toxic ingredients in hand soap and sanitizer and/or safer sunscreen.

What Lotions Are Safer to Use?

Finding a safer lotion  has been hard to do; even the ‘natural’ ones often still contain questionable ingredients. Here are a few of the best options for lotion and moisturizers that I have found, for adults and children too.

Un-Petroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly

I have been using Un-Petroleum jelly for years as a multi-purpose skin moisturizer and protectant (it’s a great alternative to petroleum jelly).

Ingredients: Castor oil, coconut oil, beeswax, castorwax, soybean oil, tocopheryl acetate and tocopherol (vitamin E). Made without petrolatum, parrafin, mineral oil, or artificial fragrances. Hypo-allergenic. No animal testing.

• Moisturize and soothe dry skin. I put in on my feet, especially on my dry heels, right before bed. I put a pair of socks on to keep it from getting on the sheets. Just overnight there is much improvement. I also use it as a lip balm.
• Protect baby from diaper rash. I have used this on my sons diaper area when needed. I use it plain and when he’s had rashes, I add some liquid chlorophyll to some and spread that on the rash. It helps heal the skin.

It can also  be used to remove eye makeup and to prevent chafing and windburn. You can buy Un-Petroleum jelly on Amazon.com.

Organic Body Scrub

Several times a week I use a body scrub that contains salt and oils. Not only does this exfoliate skin, the oils also help keep the skin moist; I don’t have to use much lotion, if any at all. You can find many great organic salt scrubs on Amazon.com, like this one from Anthology pictured on the left. Its ingredients are: genuine, premium Dead Sea salt, natural pacific sea salt, organic soybean oil, organic coconut oil, natural gmo-free tocopherols (vitamin E), organic peppermint essential oil, organic lemongrass essential oil.

Badger Balm

Badger Balm is a great family-run company in New Hampshire that makes safe and effective products, including several lotions for babies, kids, and adults. (You may remember me mentioning that they make a great sunscreen.) The ingredients in their products are the best, and it is reflected in their excellent EWG rating. Here are a few of their many products:

• Baby Balm: Certified organic, this balm can be used for dry skin, diaper rash, cradle cap, or a baby massage. Ingredients: Extra Virgin Olive Oil; Cera Alba (beeswax); Castor Oil; Essential Oil of Chamomile; CO2 Extract of Calendula.
• Everyday Moisturizers: Available in Creamy Cocoa, Nutmeg and Shea, and Vanilla Coconut.
• Fresh Citrus Body Butter: Another great option for a skin moisturizer.
• Badger Healing Balm: Great for extremely dry and cracked skin.

They have many other types of balms including ones for anti-bug, sore muscles, headache soother, sleep, stress soother, foot balm, clear mind, sunburn, and even yoga and meditation. Check out all the Badger Balm products on Amazon.com.

Mambino Organics

Mambino Organics has a great line of skin and body care products featuring simple plant-based, environmentally sustainable, certified organic ingredients sourced from family owned organic and fair trade farms in various parts of the world. The products are free from fragrances, emulsifiers, and petroleum based ingredients and are Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, and GMO Free. Some moisturizing products include:

• Little Bottoms Diaper Ointment Ingredients include: organic olive oil, organic calendula officinalis flower extract, organic plantain leaf, apricot kernel oil, candelilla wax, organic coconut oil, organic shea butter, organic palm oil, meadowfoam wax, organic jojoba oil, organic rosehip oil, vitamin E, organic oat, neem oil.
• Oh Baby! Belly Butter
• Moisture Me Body Toning Oil
• Youth Glow Omega Face Complex

Their other products include body wash, lip balm, nursing balm, and scar repair. You can buy Mambino Organics products on Amazon.com.

Nature’s Paradise Organics

Nature’s Paradise Organics has a Certified Organic product line that include many body creams and lotions. Their products are 100% chemical free and contain no parabens, phthalates, preservatives, fragrance, propylene glycol, or petroleum. They are also cruelty free and Vegan approved. Their baby products are also Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Wheat Free.

• Baby Organic Moisturizing Lotion: Coconut lotion ingredients: Water, Organic Jojoba oil, Organic sunflower oil, Organic Liquid lecithin, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Organic Coconut oil, Organic Shea butter, Organic Coconut extract, Organic Clarified Lemon Juice
• Baby Organic Diaper Cream: Ingredients: Organic Shea Butter, Organic Sunflower oil, Organic Sesame Oil, Organic Soy Bean Oil
• Baby Organic Massage Oil:
• Body Organic Lotions: Coconut lotion ingredients: Water, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Organic Coconut Extract, Organic Liquid Lecithin, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Clarified Lemon Juice, Organic Argan Oil.
• Body Organic Creams: Vanilla cream ingredients: Water, Organic Shea Butter,  Organic Arrowroot Powder,  Organic Vanilla Extract, Organic Liquid Lecithin, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic  Jojoba Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Clarified Lemon Juice, Organic Argan Oil.

Miessence

Miessence (Moore Organics) also carries some moisturizers with great ingredients:

• Tropicana Body Milk: I tried a sample of this lotion and it was fabulous! Ingredients: aqua, certified organic aloe vera leaf juice, certified organic cocos coconut oil, certified organic shea butter, sclerotium rolfsii, natural coconut extract, bitter orange fruit extract, non-gmo lecithin, Non-GMO Xanthan Gum, certified organic rosemary leaf extract, Jasminum grandiflorum
• Intensive Body Cream
• Nourishing Hand Cream
• Balancing Moisturizer
• Baby Barrier Balm
• Belly and Breast Balm
• Baby Lotion
  

Always Read Labels – Even For ‘Natural’ or ‘Organic’ Products

Many toxic ingredients are still in products mislabeled natural or organic. The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) released a study of personal care products claiming to be “natural” or “organic” and some of the leading brands were found to contain 1,4-dioxane. Products certified under the USDA National Organic Program did not contain this toxin.

Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) created a huge database of cosmetics chemicals and ranked them, giving them a hazard score. On their site, you can:

• Enter specific chemical names to find information.
• Look up a specific product and see its ingredients.

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What About Cost?

I would guess that most parents who choose disposable diapers choose a brand mainly for cost and therefore choose a mainstream disposable brand. Whether parents aren’t sold on the merits of a natural disposable diaper or the presumed higher cost keeps them away, Seventh Generation diapers are probably not found in the majority of households with babies.

But if cost has kept you away in the past, I have found a way to save big money on Seventh Generation Diapers and wanted to share it with you.

How To Get Discount on Seventh Generation Diapers

The popularity of Seventh Generation diapers is increasing; I have seen them available in more and more locations, from Target stores to those small natural sections of grocery stores. But if that is where you buy your Seventh Generation diapers, you are paying too much! I have seen packages range in price from $12/pack up to $17/pack, depending on the store.

Here’s how to get them cheaper:

1. Buy them by the case (four packs) on Amazon.com. Just by doing that the price drops to $10/pack ($39.99/case).
2. Sign up for Amazon.com’s Subscribe and Save. By having a case automatically ordered every so often (you choose the frequency) you save 15%, bringing the price down to $8.50/pack ($33.99/case).
3. Sign up for Amazon Mom. With this free membership you save another 15%, bringing the price down to $7/pack ($27.99/case).

Bonus: There is free shipping for Subscribe and Save!

Let’s do the math:

We just went from $12/pack to $7/pack, for a savings of 42%! (If you currently pay $17/pack, you can save 59%!) Don’t you just love Amazon.com!

I grabbed some quick numbers from Target.com to compare size 4 diapers:

• Luvs case of 96 diapers for $16.99=$0.18/diaper
• Seventh Generation case of 120 diapers for $27.99=$0.23/diaper
• Pampers pack of 27 diapers for $8.99=$0.33/diaper
• Huggies case of 108 diapers for $36.99=$0.34/diaper

As you can see, this discounted rate is even better than most mainstream diapers!

My Thoughts

I have been getting our diapers at this discounted rate for quite awhile now and it’s been great! Now that my son is potty trained during the day we don’t need as many diapers, so I changed the frequency of delivery. Even if the frequency isn’t exactly right, you can order more anytime and update the next shipment. It’s so easy! And I usually get my diapers in a few days.

How To Purchase

Simply click on Seventh Generation Diapers to take you to the Amazon.com product page. Seventh Generation Diapers are also listed in my Amazon.com store in the ‘Diapering’ category.

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And now we are nearing the season of stuff. How many of you are gearing up for “Black Friday”, just waiting to go out and buy more stuff? Before you do, I’d like you to take a few minutes to think about all the stuff we have. And chances are, we ALL have too much stuff.

Do we ever stop and think about our stuff? Where does our stuff come from? What is the impact on the planet? Why do we keep buying more and more? Are we happier now that we have so much stuff? The answers may surprise you.

We have more stuff, but less time for the things that make us happy. ~Annie Leonard

Great Video: The Story of Stuff

Here is a great video about the Story of Stuff, by the same people that did The Story of Bottled Water I mentioned earlier this year. Hosted by Annie Leonard, the video is well done, very interesting, easy to follow, and highlights the BIG impact that stuff we buy has, not only on our planet but on our lives. Even though it’s about 20 minutes long, it’s WELL worth watching. If you can’t watch it now, come back and watch it as soon as you can.

(If you can see the video, click here.)

Another Great Video: The Story of Electronics

They just came out with another video called The Story of Electronics. This 7 minute video is equally interesting and really highlights the problems we may not even know or think about regarding electronics. It explains how electronics are created with ‘planned obsolescence’ (they are designed for the dump), how it started, and what we can do about it.

(If you can’t see the video, click here.)

Life With Less Stuff: Achieving the Work Life Balance

I hear all the time about ‘work life balance’. People want a better balance between working (which maybe they don’t love) and enjoying life (play). Now that you’ve watched the videos, do you see how buying less stuff fits in with achieving a better work life balance? If you had a smaller car, smaller house, less clothes, toys, and gadgets, you could work fewer hours (or work at a job you love that may not pay as much). And you could have more time for what makes you happy, whether that’s spending more time with your kids, parents, friends, working on a hobby, or traveling. Doesn’t life with less stuff sound better?

What Can We Do?

After watching the videos, you may be wondering what you can do. I’ve compiled a few quick thoughts below. If you have any more ideas, please leave a comment and share!

REDUCE

Buy less stuff! Before making a purchase, stop to think how long you might own that item. Is it really something you need? (Or just want?) Learn to RETHINK your purchases.

• Kids: Kids don’t need as much stuff as we may think. Think about how many toys or clothes they have and how much they really need. The holidays are coming up; this might be a good chance to practice buying less stuff. If you exchange gifts, consider giving them fewer items. Or instead of gifts, perhaps purchase a family membership for the zoo, children’s museum, or other family activity that you can all enjoy together, like going to a play or musical.

• Adults: We have too many clothes, shoes, gadgets, and toys also. Many people get new cars and gadgets quite often, well before the old ones have quit working. Do we really need 10 different purses? Or the latest phone as soon as it’s released? How about REDUCING the size of vehicle you drive or house you live in? The next time you want to buy something, RETHINK.

REUSE

Buying gently-used clothing and toys saves natural resources in creating the material, processing it, and transporting it. If you regularly use disposable items during your day, find a way to provide a reusable option instead.

• Kids: Many of my son’s toys and clothes were given as hand-me-downs, borrowed from friends, or purchased used (from a garage sale, Craigslist, eBay, or a resale store like Kid to Kid or Once Upon a Child). There are even many used sports equipment stores out there, like Play it Again Sports.

• Adults: There are many things that can be purchased used on Craigslist or eBay. Some resale clothing stores are Plato’s Closet, Clothes Mentor, and many others. Avoid disposable items as much as possible; invest in some cloth napkins to use again and again, reusable coffee cups, etc. Use the library, borrow books from friends, or visit used book stores (like Half Price Books) instead of always buying new.

When you are done with your gently-used clothing, donate it to a charity, give or loan to friends who can use it, sell at a garage sale, or sell to a resale or consignment store.

RECYCLE

While it may seem like the easiest step, many of us under-recycle and some people don’t recycle at all. Even if it is a bit more inconvenient for you, I encourage you to seek out your local resources for recycling and DO IT!

• Kids: Start early teaching kids the importance of recycling.

• Adults: Don’t forget to buy products made from recycled materials. Paper towels, toilet paper, printer paper are just a few of the many items made from recycled materials.

Benefits of Living With Less Stuff

In case you need more reasons to buy less stuff, here is a list of seven benefits of living with less stuff, as seen on Zen Family Habits. (My favorites from the list are less time cleaning and more open space.)

More information:

• The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health-and a Vision for Change by Annie Leonard
• Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything by Daniel Goleman

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

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Dangerous Ingredients in Mouthwash

To demonstrate the types of ingredients in mainstream mouthwashes, let’s look at a couple examples:

• Listerine Advanced Citrus: Rating a 5 on EWG’s cosmetics database, here are the ingredients: Active Ingredients: Eucalyptol (0.092%), Menthol (0.042%), Methyl Salicylate (0.060%), Thymol (0.064%). Inactive Ingredients: Water, Alcohol (21.6%), Sorbitol Solution, Flavoring, Poloxamer 407, Benzoic Acid, Sucralose, Sodium Benzoate, FD&C yellow no. 6, FD&C red no. 40.
• ACT Cool Splash Spearmint: Rating a 6 on EWG’s cosmetics database, here are the ingredients: Active Ingredients: Sodium Fluoride (0.05%) (0.02% w/v Fluoride Ion) (Anticavity) Inactive Ingredients: Water, Alcohol (11%), Sorbitol, Poloxamer 407, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Flavor, Sodium Phosphate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Saccharin, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Disodium Phosphate, Calcium Disodium EDTA, Green 3, Yellow 10.

Are you starting to recognize the names of these ingredients? They are in many mainstream products so you will see them over and over again. As you read that list, do you even KNOW what many of those ingredients are? That’s often a good rule; if you don’t know what they are or can’t pronounce them, don’t buy it.

Natural Oral Care / Gum Health / Mouthwash for Adults

There are some great options for natural oral care out there. Here are a few options:

• Dental Miracle is a dental powder product that you add to other toothpastes during brushing. It can also be used as a gargle and as a soothing agent for specific areas that are sensitive and painful. It’s made of extremely beneficial herbal ingredients to protect and promote gum health. It is certified Vegan and there is No Animal Testing, No Animal By-Products, and No Animal Cruelty. You can buy Dental Miracle on Amazon.com.

• Peri-Gum is a liquid tincture made with cayenne pepper and six other herbal extracts and essential oils, known by herbal health authorities for their ability to improve oral health. It promotes gum tissue circulation and rapid healing. Since it is a mouthwash concentrate, add a few drops to water and then swish it around your mouth. Peri-Gum is animal free and has been awarded the vegan seal. You can buy Peri-Gum on Amazon.com.

• Miessence has a good mouthwash as well; it got a 0 rating on the cosmetics database (which is the best you can get). When you look at the ingredients you can see why; it is mostly made from essential oils.

• JASON Natural Cosmetics has a few types of mouthwash that get a 1 rating on the cosmetics database, specifically the NutriSmile, PowerSmile Super Refreshing, and the Sea Fresh Biologically-Active.

Make Your Own Natural Mouthwash

I have done this in the past and it works great. Most recipes call for essential oils. Here is the recipe I used:

• 2 drops Peppermint essential oil
• 2 drops Myrrh essential oil
• 2 drops Tea tree essential oil
• 4 oz. distilled water

Mix all ingredients in a clean bottle. Before each use, shake the bottle to mix ingredients. Swish an appropriate amount of the mixture in your mouth after brushing your teeth.

For the bottle, I would recommend using a glass bottle (instead of plastic); something with a twist off top is nice. I had an empty Kombucha bottle and that worked well.

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

[This article contains affiliate links that may support Parentingtips365.]

©2012 Parenting Tips 365. All Rights Reserved. This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.

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