I bought the Green Toys Sand Play set along with the Green Toys Tugboat and my little one likes both of them. Just like all other Green Toys products, this sand play set is very durable and safe. I really admire its durability because sand toys take a lot of beating in the hot summer sun. This one seems to hold pretty well and should last a long time. The older kids can use this to build sandcastles, dig a mote and then push their tugboats around in the mote. With the Green Toys Dump Truck, they can also remove the excess sand after creating the mote. The Green Toys Sand Play set comes with a sand bucket, shovel, rake and sand castle mold.

This set is advertised for kids aged 3 years and above and sells for a very good price. Like I mentioned before, the first time you look at it – you will see how strong it is. It feels like the plastic used is of a very thick gauge and will not crack easily. I love the gender neutral colors and solid construction. As these are designed to last, you can also give them away to friends and family with kids after you are done with them. No need for them to head to the landfill like other cheap quality sand play sets that are made in china. The color on these toys will hardly fade even after many uses.  Building castles and digging for buried treasures are two activities I always loved when I was a kid. I wish this sand play set was available back then.

Click here for today's (January 19, 2012) low price for the Green Toys Sand Play Set on Amazon. Discounts change every day, so check out today's price now!

What Users Of The Green Toys Sand Play Set Are Saying?

• “This set is gorgeous, the pail has a strong and cool-looking rope handle.”
• “What a relief to find something besides the cheap plastic junk you normally find in a local retail store.”
• “This set is the best! It is extremely durable. Exactly what I was looking for.”
• “I can’t say enough good things about this sand pail set. Great quality and durability. Its so well made!”
• “This is a fantastic sand play kit! The Green Toy range is absolutely first rate and environmentally friendly to boot.”

Parents and Grandparents are really liking this Sand play set for their kids and you should get one too!!

Interest in eco-toys or toys that are free of harmful chemicals has grown exponentially in recent times due to the non-stop string of recalls of toys that are manufactured overseas, especially in china. Parents like me are naturally concerned about the safety of these toys are sold at big box stores like Walmart and Target. A company by the name of Green Toys has led the trend towards making child safe toys with eco-friendly manufacturing practices. All their products are made locally in California and they use only 100% recycled milk jugs and are BPA-free, phthalates-free and PVC-free. I recently bought two of their products and my kids love them. The eco-toys that I recently bought are the Green Toys Tugboat and Green Toys Sand Play Set. Both of these eco-friendly products are dishwasher safe. So you can literally toss them in your dishwasher after a day at the beach or let your kid play with them during bath time.

 The Green Toys Tugboat – Safe for babies as young as 6 months old

 Even though Green Toys sells the Tugboat as a bath toy, its practical use is well beyond the bathtub. The Tugboat can be used at the beach, on the kitchen floor or in your backyard inflatable kiddy pool. This Tugboat is safe for babies as young as 6 months old and the older children just absolutely love it. While I am making dinner, I will fill a small bowl with water and let my little one play with the tug. She absolutely loves it and this frees up sometime for me to fix dinner. The best thing about this is that I know she is safe and right there for me to keep an eye on her.

In the bathtub, this colorful tugboat floats great. It has a wide scoop that lets the kids scoop and pour water. The only issue that I see with this wonderful toy is that it cannot be taken apart. I like to clean all bath toys once in a while otherwise the leftover water with soap scum starts smelling. To get around this small issue, I simply create a mild eco-friendly bleach solution and completely submerse the tugboat in it. I will usually let it soak for about half an hour and then put the tugboat in the dishwasher for a thorough clean and rinse to get rid of any bleach residue that may still remain on the toy.

Click here for today's (January 19, 2012) low price for the Green Toys Tugboat on Amazon. Discounts change every day, so check out today's price now!

Michael Tseng of San Francisco, CA has come up with a new product called the PlateTopper that will easily convert your regular dinner plates to airtight food storage containers. You do not have to deal with plastic wrap and tin foil anymore to keep your food fresh. Al you need to do is get a PlateTopper.

 Tseng has been modifying and refining his design for the PlateTopper for years and the design has come to a point where keeping food fresh is just child’s play now. Literally! Using a simple mechanism, the PlateTopper creates an airtight suction seal on the plate that will keep your food fresh and tasting good for days. All you need to do is press the PlateTopper over your food in the plate and this will create an airtight seal. To take the food out, you just need to lift the pull tab to release the airtight suction seal. Take you food out and put the PlateTopper back on to reseal. Take a look at this video to see how easy it is.

Currently, the PlateTopper comes in five color choices – Lime green, Light blue, Red, Clear and Dark blue. I personally prefere the clear ones as it would let me see the food inside the plate.

Tseng is taking orders for the PlateTopper, here.

SLS free toothpastes are those that do not contain the hamrful chemical called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). Toothpastes that contain this chemical are known to cause painful canker sores and chapped lips. Perioral dermatitis (tiny red bumps around the mouth) are also a common side effect of SLS. With growing awareness about the chemicals that are added to toothpastes, more dentists are recommending the usage of SLS sodium lauryl sulfate free toothpaste that do not contain cocamidopropyl betaine, pyrophosphates, bleaches and other strong flavors. Here is a list of SLS free toothpastes that are safe for daily use.

Rembrandt Premium Whitening Mint SLS free Toothpaste with Fluoride SLS and surfactant free Extra gentle for people prone to canker sores Strengthens teeth enamel Helps eliminate canker sores Convenient 3-pack - you will never run out
Sensodyne ProNamel Mint Essence SLS free Toothpaste Reduces acidity in mouth as this toothpaste is pH neutral (7.2) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate free toothpaste Microhardens tooth enamel to help protect against the effects of acid wear Excellent in preventing flaking scalp Protects against wear from acids in wine, acids in soda and fruit acids
Squigle Enamel Saver Mouth Friendly Sulphate Free Toothpaste Made from birch and beech trees Made in USA No preservatives added No artificial colors added Fights bad breath, gum disease, tooth cavities and plaque
Tom's of Maine SLS Free Toothpaste - Clean and Gentle Care, Peppermint with Fluoride & Toothpaste free of sodium lauryl sulfate Peppermint taste will leave your breath feeling fresh Made from natural flavor oils Uses an ingredient that is obtained from licorice root (glycyrrhizin), which is very gentle and replaces SLs for foaming action
Xlear - Spry Flouride and Lauryl Sulfate Free Toothpaste Sugar free toothpaste Fights plaque and tooth decay Highly recommended by dentists Contains Xylitol which will cool and sooth your mouth after use No more fuzzy teeth syndrome
Burts Bees All Natural SLS Free Toothpaste, Whitening without Fluoride Clinically proven to improve dental hygiene and health Contains calcium and phosphorous to aid in building stronger and better teeth Made from cranberry extract Proanthocyanidins found in cranberries help prevent plaque See your teeth whiten in 2 weeks
JASON Natural PowerSmile All-Natural Whitening SLS free Toothpaste Cruely free- No testing on animals performed Sodium Lauryl Sulfate toothpaste Contains Perilla Seed Extract that helps prevent tartar Whitens teeth with 3 natural whiteners - Bamboo, Calcium Carbonate and Silica Excellent peppermint taste

Also checkout Sulfate free shampoos

If you have not heard about the bad effects of chemicals like Glyphosate that are commonly used in popular lawn weed killers like Roundup, then you should read about the birth defects caused by Roundup and the toxicity evaluation of Glyphosate herbicides. In short, the chemical weed killers that you may be using to kill weeds are not safe for humans. The companies that manufactures these (like monsanto) have known for years that they are dangerous for humans, but their greed and money power has convinced regulators and law makers otherwise.

Here is a list of some organic and natural weed killers that are safe to use and will affect the human body, environment or the soil in any bad way.

Burnout Weed And Grass Killer For Lawn/Garden Use 100% non-toxic weed & grass killer Organic herbicide Smells Great - clove scent No worries about dogs and children playing after spraying this product
Bradfield Horticultural Vinegar 20% acetic acid content Will kill weeds within a few hours No dangerous chemicals easily kills Canadian thistle & other hard to take out weeds Eco-friendly way to kill weeds
Nature's Avenger Organic Weed and Grass Killer Citrus oil based herbicide 100% non-toxic weed & grass killer WSDA listed herbicide Kills weeds fast and is a non-selective herbicide
WeedPharm natural weed killer Natural non-selective weed killer food grade with an active ingredient of 200 grain vinegar (20% Acetic Acid) Used by many New Jersey schools for spraying on school grounds Fast acting and kills weeds sooner than others
Sure-Gro Organic Weed, Grass & Moss Killer 100% organic lawn weed killer Non-selective foliar spray Kills broadleef weeds and most grasses Fast acting and kills weeds within an hour

* weed icon image  – courtesy of D H Wright on flickr

Finally, there is now an easy way to stop getting those Yellow Pages directories at your doorstop. The Yellow Pages Association, an association of Yellow Pages publishers in U.S and Canada, has rolled out an updated version of their opt out site at www.yellowpagesoptout.com. The updates to the site have now made it more easier than before to opt out of getting these books. If you have been in the habit of tossing these books in to the trash bin, then please act now and help save some trees.

I have had absolutely no need for these phone books at all like since ever. I have always looked up numbers and addresses on the web and more recently I have been using my smart phone a lot. I have shredded many of these books (at least 3 per year) and tossed it into my compost bin. I’ve always wondered why are these being delivered to me when I have no use for them and I keep wondering if people still use them. My guess is that a fairly large number of people are probably still using it for these directory publishers to still be in business.

I went to the Yellowpages optout site immediately after I heard about the new features on it. Signing up and saying “NO” to every publisher in my area was a breeze. Remember to click on the confirmation email you receive after signing up or your account will not get activated. You go in and enter your zip code. This will bring up a list of publishers in your area. You can choose whose books you want and opt out from the rest. The publishers receive this updated information every night and will accordingly update their recipients delivery database.

While I was on the opt out site, I browsed around and found some interesting facts about yellow books.  Check it out.

Every fall, i have tons and tons of fallen leaves in my yard, garden and open space. I have been collecting these leaves using a leaf blower vacuum and putting them in my backyard compost bin. Dry leaves bring the “brown” part to a compost bin and add to the overall nutrient content of the finished compost. I also ask my neighbor to give me the leaves and twigs that he collects on his property. He uses a WORX Trivac to collect the leaves and mulch them fine. This year he gave me a total of 20 trash bags full of leaves that were converted to mulch. His mulch was fine and i immediately added it to my compost bin. I have two leaf blowers that i own. I bought the first one after reading this Troy-Bilt TB4BP Gas Backpack Leaf Blower review and it works great. I used this backpack gas blower when i was hired for fall cleanups of some big properties. The second leaf blower i own is a 3-in-1 combo unit and can blow leaves, vacuum them and also mulch them. It is the Toro 51599 Leaf Blower Vacuum and this was a gift from my cousin. The Toro 51599 reviews are great and is very useful for the yard work in my house.

What Are Heavy Metals?

You may remember this from your chemistry classes in school. Heavy metals are those chemical elements which have a high relative atomic mass. They have a specific gravity greater than 5.0 and are considered to be poisonous to many living organisms like humans.

The most common heavy metals that are present in our diet are Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead and  Mercury. Lets take a look at each of them to see how they enter our bodies and the bad effects they have on our health.

1. Arsenic – Source, Toxicity And Exposure

Arsenic comes in two forms – Organic and Inorganic. Inorganic Arsenic is known to cause cancers and is a common carcinogen.

Sources of Arsenic

• Chicken can carry arsenic if the chicken were fed a diet that contained arsenic.
• Wines can be a source of arsenic if the grapes, that they were made from, were sprayed with pesticides containing inorganic arsenic.
• Sea food like fish sometime contain inorganic arsenic. Fishes can absorb arsenic directly into their bodies from the water they live in.

Health Effects Of Arsenic

Arsenic exposure can have severe health effects.  Here are some known problems associated with exposure to inorganic arsenic.

• Irritation of the intestines, lungs and stomach.
• Increased risk of lung cancer, lymphatic cancer, liver and skin cancer.
• Infertility and miscarriages.
• Brain damage.
• Reduced productions of RBC (Red Blood Cells) & WBC (White Blood Cells).
• DNA damage.
• Exposure to high levels of Arsenic can lead to death.

2. Mercury – Source, Toxicity and Effects

Unlike Arsenic, the organic form of mercury is more hazardous. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified mercury chloride and methyl mercury as possible human carcinogens.

Source of mercury in the human diet

• The main dietary source of mercury is from fish. Methyl mercury in the sea binds to the proteins in fish tissue.
• Dental amalgam fillings.
• Commonly used brand name food products that use high fructose corn syrup like products made by Quaker, Hershey’s, Kraft  and Smuckers. This press release from the institute of Agriculture and Trade policy talks about a study which confirms this.

Health Effects Of Mercury

• Exposure to high level of Methyl mercury can lead to permanent brain and kidney damage.
• Can cause personality changes, deafness and muscle incoordination.
• Damage to stomach and intestines.

To read in detail about possible health effects of mercury, read this public health statement on Mercury from the Agency of Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry.

3. Cadmium – Source, Toxicity And Effects

Sources of Cadmium in the human diet

• Drinking water in some countries in known to have low concentrations of Cadmium.
• Internal organs like kidneys and livers of certain species of oysters, scallops and mussels.
• Crops that were grown on cadmium polluted soils and fertilized with rock phosphate derivatives and sewage sludge.
• Cigarettes can contain different amounts of cadmium depending upon the brand. It depends on where the cigarette manufacturers are sourcing their tobacco. Now is a good time to kick the nasty habit smoking.
• Fish and shellfish.
• Food containers that are colored with cadmium pigment and can leech into the food that is stored in the container.

Health effects of Cadmium exposure

• Severe irritation of the stomach leading to vomiting and diarrhea can sometime result in death.
• Kidney damage.
• Long term exposure to cadmium causes fragile bones and decreased bone strength.

4. Lead – Source, Toxicity and Effects

Lead is probably the more common metal that is associated with heavy metal poisoning and toxicity. All the recent news about the presence of lead in kids’ toys have helped create public awareness about the dangerous effects of lead.

Sources of Lead in the human diet

• Even though the US has banned the use of lead solder, canned foods made in some other countries can still have lead solder along the seams.
• If you love Mexican food then you need to watch out for prepackaged foods imported from Mexico. Tamarind, Chili and Candies from Mexico have been known to contain some lead.
• High acid foods that are stored in containers that use ceramic to hold the fold inside. This ceramic could contain glazes with lead. This lead can easily leech into high acid foods.
• Drinking water in houses with lead pipes – It is best to let water run for a while before drinking from the tap. This will ensure that any lead from the pipes that may have seeped into the drinking water is gotten rid of.
• Cigarette smoke can contain small traces of lead.

Health effects of Lead exposure

• Long term exposure to Lead can affect the nervous system.
• Lead can lead to Anemia.
• Brain and kidney damage.
• Pregnant women may have miscarriages
• Affects sperm production in men.

How Can you protect yourself from heavy metal toxins like Arsenic, Mercury, Cadmium & Lead

Given the fact that these heavy metals enter our bodies through some very commonly used foods, you cannot completely avoid exposure to them. You can and should try your best to keep your exposure to a minimum.

This is the ideal time to eat more fresh and organic food. The popularity of Organic food and buying locally produced food has increased recently. As the general population continues to learn the ill effects of dangerous chemicals that are used in products that we use everyday, the importance of Organic and chemical free produce will only grow. Organic crops and vegetables are grown in healthy soil and no chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used. So there is very minimal chance of heavy metals entering the plants through the soil. There is virtually no extensive post harvest processing in producing organic food, so you can be sure that they have not been exposed to any chemicals. Your organic fruits are not waxed to make them look brighter and more attractive.

You need to be very careful while consuming seafood. Wild caught fish like salmon, cod, pollock and tilapia will be low in mercury than their counterparts raised in a farm. Also, avoiding predator fishes like shark is a good idea. The predator fishes have way more mercury in them than the smaller fish.

If you are a smoker, it is never too late to quit. This will greatly reduce exposure to some heavy metals.

photo credit: Horia Varlan

Related Blogs

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• Researchers Find How Arsenic Exposure May Lead to Cancer | Natural …
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Have you ever looked at your electricity bill and wondered “Huh, am i really using all this electricity? I can’t believe it!”? You may have not known this, but  you may only be responsible for about 70% of that electricity bill. The remaining 30% could be  all your electric equipment sucking electricity even when you are not using them. The electricity used by them when not in use is probably only a small amount, but the number of electronics that we all buy and the fact that they are connected to the grid 24×7 adds up to a substantial amount of electric energy being wasted for nothing. This energy wastage goes by  many different terms like vampire power, phantom load and standby power sucker.

Here are examples of some common electronic equipment, that we use in our daily lives, wasting energy when not in use.

• Television – The idiot box is probably the biggest culprit when it comes to sucking unnecessary power. Almost all modern day manufactured televisions have a “standby” mode where your TV is not actually turned off. It is just in a waiting mode, so that when you press on the remote it will immediately come back to life.
• DVD players – Like TVs, DVD players are also on standby mode when plugged in and not being used. Most DVD players will have a lit screen displaying either the time or the mode that it currently is in.
• Computers and Computer Monitors – I hate it when i am driving on the road and can see computer screens in buildings displaying screen savers. Why cant people just turn off their computers and computer monitors when not being used? Are you unplugging your laptop after you turn it off? Laptops will continue to charge their batteries even after they are turned off but when still plugged in. Make sure you are switching off your computer monitor after you turn off the computer otherwise the monitor just goes to a standby mode.
• Cell Phone Chargers and Power Adapters – Your cell phone charger and power adapters (like for laptops) are using power even when they do not have a device plugged into them. So if you are not charging your cell phone or using a device that needs the power adapter,  just unplug them.
• Microwaves – They make our lives so much easier by heating up our food in minutes. They display time on a digital display and usually have a lighted screen. The screen is lighted and time displayed even when you are not using the microwave oven. This is unnecessary and a total waste of electricity. How many clocks does one need in a house?
• Stoves – Like microwaves, stoves also have a digital display and a lighted screen that is using electricity even when the stove is not turned on.
• Hand-held vacuum cleaners – The constant charging of hand held vacuum cleaners is also using electricity. Even though they are handy and ready to use when you need them, the constant charging takes up a substantial bit of electricity.

Steps you can take to stop/reduce unnecessary sucking of electricity

I have always wondered why cannot the electronic manufacturer come up with a way to stop this unneeded sucking of power? After all it is something that they designed and manufactured. Cant they figure out a way to just not use any electricity when the device is not being used? or can’t they at least give a “complete off” switch so that we turn them off manually?

The most easiest solution to save money and stop unnecessary usage of electricity would be to unplug devices and equipments that are not being used. Plug them into an electric outlet only when need be. Using of power strips is a good idea for TVs, DVRs and DVD players as they are all probably being used at the same time. You can turn off one switch that controls the power strip and in turn automatically control power to each of those devices. The best option would be to use the Smart Power Strip LCG5 for energy savings and surge protection. The smart power strip LCG5 is an extremely useful device that will cut off power completely to devices not in use. It also provides protection from sudden power surges and voltage fluctuations.

Also, remember to unplug all these devices and especially the stoves and microwaves when you are on a holiday or out for an extended period of time.

photo credit: functoruser

You can perform a Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit to help identify the areas in your house that may responsible in inflating your utility bill. Here is a DIY 8 step energy audit guide to help you cut down on your utility bills and help the environment at the same time. All you would need is a pen and a piece of paper and get ready to take a tour of your own house.

A DIY Home Energy Audit Guide

1. Insulation Check

Almost all newly constructed homes should have insulation in the walls by the builder. If your house is a little older, then you might want to make sure that your walls are wells insulated. To do this, remove a switch board and take a look to see if you can spot any insulation in the wall. Please make sure to turn off the electric mains before you do this.

Also take a look at your attic. See if you have at least one foot of insulation in your attic. Anything less than a feet is less and may not be insulating well. You would need to add more insulation in that case.

2. Inspect All Windows

Windows are an important feature in any house. It allows natural light into the house and brings in fresh air. But it can also be a source of air leakage and drafts. Check your windows to see if they are loose. If they are loose then adding a little weather stripping will help tightening them. Take a look at the window molding to identify cracks. You should caulk cracks in the molding so that it is perfectly sealed. Lastly, check the glass panes to make sure they are sitting tight. For single-pane glasses, covering with plastic sheeting can help keep the heated or cooled air in.

3. Inspect All Doors

Just like windows, doors can also be a big source of leakage. Look closely at your doors, especially the ones opening to the outside, to check the seal. The seal has to be tight and you should not see any outside light coming in through the edges of the doors when they are closed. If you do see light coming in then you can add some weather stripping to tighten the door seal. Caulk any cracks that you may find between the walls and door frame.

4. Check HVAC Ducts

Check for gaps and cracks in and around the joints of your heating and cooling system. Use good quality duct tape to completely seal the cracks in these ducts.

5. Thermostat Setting

Get a programmable digital thermostat, it is worth spending money on. It will take out the guess work and set the temperature of the house to exactly what you want it to be. The non-digital ones are hard to read to get an accurate temperature reading, you end up just guessing what the temperature is.

Make sure to set the thermostat temperature down by 5 – 10 degrees when you go to bed or when you plan on being out of the house during the day. One good tip that i once received from a friend was that to turn up the thermostat in the morning, after waking up, for about half – to one hour and then turning it down for the rest of the day. The heat would be retained during the day and you will be comfortable. The same can be done when your air conditioner comes on during the hot summer days.

6. Check Fireplace

Skip this step, if you do not have a fireplace in your house. If you do then check that your fireplace flue is closed when you are not using it. Also make sure that the flue has a tight seal. Some people just do not use their fireplace because they don’t like it much. Such folks should consider to just seal the fireplace using some board insulation.

7. Water Heater Temperature Setting

If you have a really heater that is more than 15 years old, consider buying a new energy efficient water heater. The new ones are way better, less bulkier and use energy efficiently to keep your water heated. You may even qualify for some government rebates when you buy an energy efficient heater.

Make sure the temperature on the heater is set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the perfect temperature setting as it will ensure that the water coming from your shower is warm enough and small children (and sometime yourself) do not get burned when they turn on the hot water tap.

8. Check The Outside Switch Plates

Leakage can occur at your outside switch plates too, so make sure to check them for gaps. If there are gaps along the sides of the switchboard, buy some foam gaskets and put them behind the switch covers.

Following these eight steps will help you cut down your utility bills to a large extent. Be smart and turn off lights, Television, Computers and other electronic equipment when they not in use. Make sure to check out the smart power strip LCG5 for energy savings and surge protection.

photo credit: brendan.wood

photo credit: brendan.wood