Go Green

Stop Freezing Your Food in Plastic

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:52:00 +0000

Ditching the plastic habit for food storage can be very tricky, especially when freezing food. While there is less of a health hazard freezing food in plastic vs heating food in plastic there is still the environmental impact to consider. Plastic food containers have become a convenience factor for many families resulting in our landfills being clogged with plastic bags that are used once maybe twice.

What is stopping people from storing their food in something other than plastic?

Common Myth #1 - "I can't put glass in the freezer because when it thaws it will shatter"

Freezing food in glass is perfectly safe! In fact it is safer from a health perspective than freezing your food in plastic. Don't overfill your containers and when defrosting your food make sure you do so slowly. Don't throw it in the oven or douse it with hot water as sudden changes in temperature could cause the glass to break. Pull your food out the night before and place it in the fridge to defrost.

Common Myth #2 - "I need to wrap my food in as many layers as possible to prevent freezer burn"

Freezer burn is caused when air is in contact with food. The key to preventing freezer burn isn't triple layering your food in plastic wrap or using special freezer bags. You simply just need to make sure that the food is exposed to as little air as possible and you can do this without having to use plastic.

Storing your food in something other than plastic can be easy (and cheap) if you follow these simple tips and product replacement suggestions.

Food Storage Tips

- Repurpose glass jars to store sauces, stews, chili and beans.

- Replace plastic wrap with natural wax paper which you can compost afterwards.

- Buy in season produce and freeze yourself rather than buying frozen foods in the off season.

- Look for glass storage containers that are on sale, looking for a variety of sizes.

- Repurpose the bags frozen foods come in (ie: frozen fruit) to freeze other foods.

- Freeze leftovers (ie: fruit) on a tray prior to putting into a glass container to ensure you can separate when you need a handful.

Food Storage Replacements

Ziploc Perfect Portions - Use your frickin hands and then wash them!

Saran Wrap/Plastic Wraps - Natural wax paper

Ziploc Bags/Freezer Storage Bags - Glass containers that are easily resealable so you can grab portions out and then close again

Plastic Containers - Glass containers

Switching away from plastic probably won't happen over night. We are still working on it ourselves. Keep in mind that while you are making the switch that if you are still using some plastic to store your food make sure you do not use plastic marked with #3, #6 or #7.

Have you stopped using plastic to store your frozen food? What is your favourite replacement product?

Related Posts - Check them Out

Replacing GMO Foods

Baked Beans - Tossing the Can

Buying Bulk....and Not the Costco Kind

photo credit: Noah Sussman via photopin cc

Eco-Friendly Potty Training Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:27:00 +0000

We day time potty trained B over a year ago, which was an extreme exercise in patience. Of course on the day I am are running late for work he decides to poop on the kitchen floor and hallway floor and the stairs! We went into the process not knowing a thing about it other than what I had read online and in a book but what we did know is that we wanted it to be as eco-friendly as possible.

1. Skip the pull ups and go straight to underwear or cloth training pants. Pull ups will mean you will be generating waste for longer and prevent your little one from feeling the wetness in time to stop it and get to the bathroom. Cloth training paints are a good option for a little bit of protection but still allowing them to feel wetness.

2. Look for second hand potty training accessories. We didn't bother with the little potty and went straight to the potty seat on the big toilet. This way we only had to buy the seat, not the potty and then the seat. Once a week wash your seat with a 50/50 mixture of hot water and vinegar.

3. Teach your child 'if its yellow let it mellow' for pee at home. Stress the 'at home' part with them so they don't get in trouble for not flushing at school. Doing this will save 1.6 gallons of water each time they pee which over the course of 1 year would add up to over 4500 gallons of water saved.

4. Toddlers have been know to take a million times more toilet paper than they require. I use B's fascination with counting to my advantage and get him to count out one-two squares to use. Now he only takes the 3 squares and isn't wasting toilet paper. Also, it is way less for me to clean up when I walk into the bathroom and there is toilet paper in the toilet, hang over the edge of the bowl, down onto the floor and up into the garbage can.

5. Chances are if you potty training you are doing a lot more laundry. If you don't get to it right away it can sometimes be hard to get the pee smell out, especially with some of the softer pajama material. An easy way to get rid of the smell is to strip the item with this simple recipe.

6. Instead of candy and plastic toy rewards for potty success look for options you already have around the house. We had a ton of stickers that we get in mailers or birthday party grab bags so we used those for rewards (1 for pee, 2 for poop). Big rewards could also be activities like going to the museum or local farm.

What eco-friendly potty training tips do you have?

Related Posts - Check them Out

Hidden Water - Part 4

The Chapter After Breastfeeding

Green Mommy Guilt

Eco-Challenge Results: Spring Cleaning

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:34:00 +0000

This last month I have cleaned things that I have never cleaned before. Things I guess that I have never really thought about...like floor vents. I vacuum them when I am doing the carpets but I rarely pull them right up to actually wash them.

The best way to wash your floor vents is with a mixture of hot water and vinegar. I soaked them right in the sink. If you have metal vents then don't leave them in for very long (1 minute) or else any areas that are no longer coated will rust.

Baseboards were scrubbed, window screens were taken out and washed in the shower. That little spot on the front loading washing machine door where the film builds up....scrubbed that away. I also spent a good deal of time in our 3rd bedroom/office AKA the place things go when we don't know where else to put them. I'm cleaning it up bit by bit in hopes that one day we will actually be able to keep the door open. I started to shred all of our sensitive documents that I have saved through out the year. I put them in a brown bag out in the garage beside the compost bin. Every time I put something in the bin I add a handful of the shredded paper which helps to keep the compost stink away in the warmer months.

Spring cleaning isn't just about dusting and scrubbing, it is about decluttering things and your life. That pile of things you have to sell, the pile that has been there for years. What is the "cost" of it taking up space? Will it save you stress if you just list it on Freecycle or donate it? We have these large rocks in our garage that have been there for 5 years. We keep talking about how they are worth money and we should sell them but we don't know what price to list them at. 5 years they have sat in our garage taking up space and the reality is that it will be easier to just put them up online as 'you want them come and get them'. Even easier would be putting them at the end of our driveway with a Free sign on them. They are going up online next week so we can free up the space they are taking up and so someone else can use them for what they are intended for.

I still have lots more to do but am well on my way to completing a good thorough spring cleaning.

Do you spring clean every year? What do you focus on?

Related Posts - Check them Out
Switching to Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Bugs and Insects
Spring Cleaning

Stripping Your Clothes Without Chemicals

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:16:00 +0000

GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER

If you are a cloth diaper user you know that every once in awhile you have to strip your diapers to get rid of build up and banish smells. The same can be said for your clothing...a lot of "stuff" can build up on clothing and it can be hard for detergents to get rid of them completely. The worst offenders seems to be white deodorant marks, sweat smells from working out (damn you spin class!) and urine smell from potty training.

Stripping your clothes can be really easily and will ensure that your clothes stay stink and residue free.

1. Fill the sink with a mixture of 50% hot water, 50% white vinegar.
2. Add a few drops of tea tree oil.
3. Let everything soak for 30 minutes.
4. Scrub any areas where there is residue buildup. I used an old toothbrush.
5. Allow to soak for another 30 minutes.
6. Rinse with hot water and squeeze out any excess water.
7. Wash in washing machine as per normal.
8. Hang to dry.

Have you ever tried to strip your clothes? Were you successful?

This post contains Affiliate links that when you use them help to pay for this blog.

Related Posts - Check them Out
Babywearing turned Toddlerwearing
Potty Training (babies really should come trained)
Hidden Water - Part 2

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Bugs and Insects

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 03:52:00 +0000

With spring arriving we are all starting to think about dusting off the patio furniture and getting outdoors more. But with spring comes bugs and insects. Most people will turn to chemicals to get rid of them and probably do not realize that you can have the same, or even better results by getting rid of them using natural non-toxic methods. The best method in every single case is to prevent them from even being attracted to your outdoor spaces or coming inside your house. Check out these helpful tips that are sure to keep you pest free this summer.

Ants

I have battled ants several times, both inside and outside of the house. If you have them and want to get rid of them follow these steps. To prevent them from coming back follow these simple tips.

Flies

Flies aren't scary but they can be annoying. To prevent them from sticking around try planting mint, sweet basil and bay leaves to repel them.

Fruit Flies

The BEST way to get rid of fruit flies is to suck them up with your vacuum. No it does not stop the problem but it sure as hell is a lot of fun chasing them around the house with an evil laugh. When you are done playing around you need to get rid of all sources of food that are attracting the fruit flies, making sure to wash your kitchen compost container, garbage can, recycling bin, counters and floors using hot water and vinegar. Next you need to make a Fruit Fly Shot (TM).

What you need: 1 clear shot glass, apple cider vinegar, dish soap, evil laugh (optional)

Directions: Fill the shot glass with apple cider vinegar, add a few drops of dish soap (1 do 3-5), sit back and watch the suckers fall in.

Mosquitoes

One of the best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to make sure you are not creating an environment that will invite them in the first place. Keep standing water to a minimum or move it as far from your sitting areas as possible. If this isn't possible then ditch the chemical ridden citronella candles and torches and fill your garden with these plants that will repel mosquitoes: natural citronella, cedar, lemongrass and lavender. Or keep a herb garden close by with these mosquito repelling herbs: rosemary, peppermint, basil and thyme.

Wasps

::insert terrified look here:: I do all I can to prevent wasps from coming anywhere near our house but I am never successful because we do use our outdoor area a lot. Wasps are attracted to bright colours, scents like perfume and food. Minimize all of these and you reduce your chances of wasps showing up. You could also make a fake wasp nest out of newspaper (like paper mache) and hang it outside when you are out there. Wasps won't come within 20 feet of another nest so this could be a great deterrent! Another natural option is to purchase a glass wasp trap or make one out of an upcycled plastic pop bottle.

What you need: 1 2L pop bottle, knife, tape, jam or honey, water, dish soap

Directions: Cut the top off of the bottle, fill the bottle half full of water, add a few drops of dish soap to the water. Coat the neck of the bottle with the honey or jam and invert it into the bottle and tape the neck into place.

What are your tips for getting rid of bugs and insects naturally?

Related Posts - Check them Out
Kicking Toxic Air Fresheners to the Curb
Meet Bumble Bee AKA Vapmore MR-100
Spring Cleaning

Switching to Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:42:00 +0000

Walking down the laundry aisle can not only be a sensory overload but also incredibly confusing. Normally turning to a label is the first step to picking a non-toxic product but with laundry detergent it is not that simple because not only are companies not required to list ingredients on the label but they don't even have to tell you if you ask.

Pay close attention to the Tide label. It reads "Ingredients include biodegradable surfactants (anionic and nonionic) and enzymes". Doesn't sound scary right? They even say biodegradable so that has to be good for the environment right? But what does it really mean? What is in Tide Liquid Detergent (HE)? Sodium Borate, Disodium Diaminostilbene Disulfonate, Fragrance, Alcohol Ethoxylates, Ethanolamine, Diemthicone, Alcohol Ethoxysulfates, Laureth-9, Linear Alkybenzene Sulfonates, Polyethyleneimine Ethoxylates, Surfactants, Enzymes, Diquaternium Ethoxysulfates, Sodium Cumenesulfonate, Liquitint Blue, Diethylene Glycol, Penetic Acid, Protease, Amylase, Mannanase, Pectinase, Sodium Formate, Formic Acid, Calcium Salt, Ethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Fatty Acids, Water.

Well that is a bit more than just "biodegradable surfactants and enzymes".

What about the Tide Free and Gentle Detergent? The label reads "Solvents, Water" but what that really means is that the following ingredients are in the product: Ethanolamine, Anionic Surfactants, Alcohol Ethoxylates, Sodium Salt, Alkyl Benezenesulfonic Acid Monoethanolamine, Benezenesulfonic Acid, Alcohol Sulfate, Alcohol Ethoxylates, Solvents, Enzymes, Alcohol Denatured, Water

There are several alternatives to the mainstream laundry products that contain less harmful ingredients and actually disclose them to the consumer. Ecos Free and Clear - Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (coconut-based surfactant), Sodium Coco-Sulfate (coconut-based surfactant), Cocamidopropylamine Oxide (coconut-based surfactant), Phenoxyethanol (preservative), Methylisothiazolinone (preservative), Equisetum Hiemale (Horsetail Plant) Extract.

We made the switch several years ago from Tide to Ecos (by the way of a few other brands) and have never regretted our decision. Our detergent performs better than Tide and I don't feel like our clothes are coated in chemicals or that their smell is over powering. Things don't need to smell like "something" to be clean! There is also a serious difference in cost. 1.47L (32 loads) of Tide is $13.99 or $0.44/load vs 6.21L (210 loads) of Ecos is $15.99 or $0.076/load.

The biggest reasons I hear for why people have not made the switch - even when they know the mainstream product is toxic - is because they don't know if the environmentally friendly product will work. Some do and some don't so it can be trial and error. I would recommend containing the company and asking for a sample if you don't want to jump all in and try something new.

Top Things to Look for in a Non-Toxic Landry Detergent

1. Plant based rather than petrochemical/petroleum based

2. Free and Clear - no need for fragrance and dyes!

3. Concentrated formulas - they use significantly less water in their manufacturing process

4. No animal testing

5. Ingredients listed on the label!

If you are looking to make the switch consider these brands - Ecos by Earth Friendly Products, Eco Nuts, Seventh Generation

Why did you make the switch or if you haven't, what is stopping you?

This post contains affiliate links that help pay for the costs of this blog.

Related Posts - Check them Out

Switching Hair Care Products

Kicking Toxic Air Freshener to the Curb

Dove Body Wash - Greenwashing

Eco-Challenge: Bring on the Spring Cleaning!

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:24:00 +0000

NO MORE WINTER!!! Can we all just take a moment to throw some fists in the air for that? Now if only it would stop snowing and co-operating with all the spring time plans that are in my head!

This month is the perfect month to focus on deep cleaning and getting things in order for the warmer weather. Sadly, this time of year can be one that is the least green for a lot of families with the use of toxic cleaning chemicals and throwing things no longer needed in the garbage.

The Plan (must.find.motivation)

* schedule pickup for things already marked for donation

* find a home for stones from garden

* make own carpet cleaner

* clean baseboards - yep I put it out there so it means I have to do it

* clean out the car

* clean.all.the.things

Looking for the March Eco-Challenge results? Yah, so am I. I'm not sure who stole March from me or my drive to do much of anything but I would like it back please. Stay tuned for a wrap up later this month.

Related Posts - Check them Out
Green Cleaner Reviews
Spring Cleaning
I'm the Green Reaper

Simple Tricks to Make Composting Successful

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:17:00 +0000

Each Wednesday I drive through our neighbourhood and see lots of bags of garbage and blue bins but it is not common to go an entire street without seeing a single green bin. Even with the ease of a city compost program people are still not buying in and participating. The most common reason I hear is because it is "gross". Yep it can be, but it doesn't have to be if you follow these simple tricks.

City Compost Program

* Make sure the kitchen bin is the appropriate size for no more than 3 days worth of material

* Line your kitchen bin with newspaper or buy the compost bags

* Use leftover take out paper bags in kitchen bin

* Add newspaper or a coffee tray to the bottom of your green bin to prevent sticking

* In the summer consider using a bin liner to contain smell

* In the summer add shredded paper or newspaper to the top every day

* Rinse once a month on the lawn and then allow to full dry

Backyard Compost

* Line the bottom of the compost with straw, twigs plant stems to aid in ventilation and drainage

* Secure your bin so animals can not get in through the bottom and top

* Stir! Stir! Stir! on a weekly basis. I always found a garden fork did the best job

* Maintain the ration of 1 part "Green" to 1 part "Brown"

* Keep shredded paper (a "Green") on hand to add to your bin if it seems wet

* Stop adding material into the bin 6 weeks before winter if you live in a cold climate. This will allow your compost to heat up and decompose faster instead of freezing and stopping the process over the winter.

* Create a second bin that you add to over the winter or stockpile organics indoors.

Of course the best way to prevent the ICK factor with composting is to reduce the amount of organic waste that you product in the first place.

What are your tricks to ensure composting is easy and not gross?

This post contains affiliate links which helps me pay to run this site.

Related Posts - Check them Out
Conducting a Waste Audit at Home
When the Holidays keep on giving
Vermicomposting

Top 5 Re-Uses for Egg Cartons

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:25:00 +0000

I have an embarrassing amount of egg cartons under our kitchen sink. I have been saving them up for a few years hoping to find an alternative use for them so I didn't have to recycle them. While recycling is easy and diverts them from the landfill it is not the best solution. The best solution would be to not buy eggs in a carton at all but that isn't exactly practical. If you eat eggs you are going to end up with some sort of carton and through some research and supreme craftiness I have found some awesome re-uses for them.

1. Give them to your local CSA or egg farmer for re-use

As long as the cartons are clean the majority of CSA's and egg farmers will take the cartons from you so they can re-use them. This allows the cartons to be used multiple times and save the farmers money because they do not have to buy new cartons.

2. Give them to your local school, church, Girl Guide/Scout group for crafts

Schools and groups are always open to accepting free art and craft supplies. Egg cartons can be used to make cute crafts or as containers for art projects (paint, glue, glitter etc).

3. Store your holiday ornaments safely

Smaller ornaments can easily be broken if stored loosely in boxes. You can use an egg carton to store your ornaments safely. Plus they stack neatly in a box!

4. Make crafts with your kids. Caterpillar, alligators, oh my!

I'm about 99% sure everyone made a caterpillar out of an egg carton as a kid. We upped the ante and made an alligator over March break. Not something a toddler can do on their own since it involved sewing an egg carton but it was fun to do together and he now has a spot on the bookshelf in B's room. Instructions

Other crafts from Pinterest: Knights, Counting Activity, Monsters

5. Turn them into campfire starters

Last summer there was a great discussion about home made campfire starters on my Facebook page.The focus was on the chemicals that can reside in lint. To minimize this don't use fabric dryer sheets and buy your clothes second hand.

Instructions

* Melt wax in a double burner on the stove. Use leftover non-toxic wax instead buying new.

* Put the egg carton on a baking sheet or something you can wash afterwards...the hot wax will soak through the egg carton

* Stuff each section of the egg carton with your dryer lint (NOT belly button lint)

* Put a piece of string or lead free wick in the center of each piece of lint (this WILL drive you crazy trying to get it to stay in the right spot)

* Pour the melted wax over each piece of lint, filling the cup.

* Allow to dry and then take the whole carton with you camping. Just rip of the number of starters you need (we use 1 or 2 per fire).

How do you use up your old egg cartons?

Related Posts - Check them Out
Upcycled Valentines
Rethinking One Time Use
Focusing on the 3R's

Kicking Toxic Air Freshener to the Curb

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 01:04:00 +0000

Joe is pretty sure that the previous owner of our truck owned a dog who was always wet. I don't notice it because he chooses to cover it up by attaching Febreeze air fresheners to the air vents. It is very hard for me to even be in the truck because of how strong the Febreeze is. I can even smell it on B's clothes after he has been in there only a few short minutes. If I can smell it on them, just imagine what they are breathing in. The Febreeze tag line is "So you can breathe happy", but breathing in toxic chemicals does not make anyone happy.

I went in search of the product MSDS and it is hard to find. It is not on the Febreeze website, but rather you have to go to the parent site of Proctor and Gamble. If a company has nothing to hide then they will put all information on a product right where you can buy it. Sadly, the 'New Car Smell' MSDS isn't going to do you any good as rather than be open about what is in this product P&G has chosen to hide behind the guise of proprietary information on their fragrance blend which they say is 100% of their product. The Vanilla MSDS gives a bit more of a break down including the following chemicals:

Benzyl Acetate - Formed by the condensation of benzyl alcohol and acetic acid. It is often used in fragrance blends because of its strong jasmine smell. It may case adverse health effects and has an exposure limit.

Ethyl Acetoacetate - May cause adverse health effects and is flammable.

3,7 Dimethyloctan-3-ol - An artificial flavour additive that is flammable, can cause serious eye damage and is toxic to aquatic life.

Vanillin - Synthetic vanilla used in place of real vanilla. May cause eye and skin irritation.

"So you can breathe happy" I don't think so P&G.

We have now replaced Joe's Febreeze car air freshener with a homemade non-toxic air freshener. It doesn't just mask odours it absorbs them. The jar fits into any cup holder including the one's you find in the doors so it is easy to find a spot for it. Just shake it up every few days to keep it fresh and replace every 6 weeks.

Making your own air freshener

What you need
1 small mason jar
3/4 cup of baking soda
5 drops of essential oil (flavour of your choice)
Small piece of breathable fabric (I picked burlap because I had some on hand)

Step 1: Scoop baking soda into the mason jar. You want it to be about 1/4 full.

Step 2: Add essential oil to the baking soda. I used peppermint.

Step 3: Cut a small round piece of breathable fabric that will fit in the place of the lid. I used burlap but you could also use lace. Use whatever you have on hand.

Step 4: Fumble with getting the lid on for about 15 minutes and think about hammering it into place but then my magic get it to screw on evenly.

Step 5: Nailed it.

This post contains Affiliate links

Related Posts - Check them Out
Switching Hair Care Products
Dove Body Wash - Greenwashing Extraordinaire
Replacing GMO Foods

Eco-Challenge: Go Green Get Healthy

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 02:58:00 +0000

I'm sick. Again. In fact I have been sick on and off since the fall. I think B and I are in a vicious cycle where we just keep giving it back and forth to one another. So far this year I have had the flu, a double eye infection, a cold sore and a throat infection. When I get sick I don't usually take medication but instead drink plenty of fluids, rest and look for natural remedies, which means I am sick for longer than the average person who takes traditional medication.

Being fit and getting the proper nutrients is the best way to proactively fight off any illness. Last year I was in shape and felt good. Then the summer came, bootcamp ended and I just couldn't get back into the swing of things at the gym, even though I still went each week. Slowly life took over and my nutrition started to drop off too (drastically). It is amazing how much work it takes to get fit and how quickly you can ruin it. I am disappointed in myself that I let it go so easily but am committed to getting back on track.

This month I am going to stop being reactive and start being proactive.

March's Eco-Challenge

* Eat 1 green smoothie every day
* Increase daily protein intake 80 grams
* Start taking L-Lysine and Vitamin C daily
* Research other essential vitamins for both B and I
* Workout at least 4 times a week - 2 of which must be resistance training
* Go to bed by 11:30 on work nights (only this late due to night time potty training)
* Takeout food only once per week

How do you proactively fight off illness? If you do get sick do you rely on medication or natural remedies?

Langley, Politics and Tears

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 03:03:00 +0000

I planned to post about March's Eco-Challenge today but my heart is breaking and I feel like I owe you an update on Langley. As you may know, earlier this year an Eastern European government signed a bill to ban adoptions by Americans. There is a lot of political BS behind it, and I won't get into it because it is not what really matters so I would rather not focus on it. What does matter is the hundreds of thousands of kids that live in orphanages and institutions. The family working towards bringing Langley home is American, so there in lies the complication and my sorrow. Today more bleak news came that has caused a halt to all fundraising efforts for those affected orphans who do not have families working to adopt them. We hope that their government will have a change of heart and reverse his decision or at a bare minimum that he will allow children with special needs to continue to be adopted by American. This is Langley's only chance. The chances of him being adopted by a local family is beyond remote. His family in America is hanging in there, praying, fundraising like crazy (if you are in PA and love baked goods let me know), all in the hopes that this isn't the end.

It just can't be.

Kids are not pawns. Kids are not disposable. Kids deserve loving families. Kids deserve a chance at life.

Over the last year you have helped us raise over $6300 for Langley's adoption. Some of you have asked what will happen with that money. It will stay with Langley and his family until we know for sure that there is no hope for American adoptions in in his country. Then Reece's Rainbow will begin the gut wrenching task for re-allocating the funds to other waiting kids in other countries. Any money raised that went into Langley's families account directly will stay with them if they decide to adopt from another country.

Please continue to pray for a sustainable resolution to the orphan crisis. Pray that government will put aside their differences and allow Americans to continue to adopt children with special needs. Pray for special needs programs and services to be put into place in Eastern Europe so families can be supported and keep their children rather than having to give them up in the first place.

Pray for Langley and Evie and all the other children affected by this.

If you live in Canada the country is not closed to you. Langley's region is not open to Canadians but there are other regions that are. If you are homestudy ready consider adopting someone special and help save their lives.

Eco-Challenge Results: Replacing GMO Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 04:51:00 +0000

This month has been filled with research and frustration. I found lots of replacements to the foods we eat that contain GMO's but actually finding them in store has been near impossible. I spent over an hour at the grocery store for what should have been a simple trip. Instead I found myself walking up and down the same aisles over over again scanning the shelves for the product names I had written down. We did hit our target of 5 foods switched though and will continue to find alternatives until we feel we have everything covered.

There were a lot of questions on how we determined what we would tackle first. There were a few things we considered but in the end it came down to the items we were out of and needed replacing. We also each decided to find 1 replacement for a "treat"....which we did but were completely unable to find either in an actual store. In fact I'm not even sure that my replacement is available in Canada at all.

Replacing your foods with GMO free alternatives is HARD. I struggled doing these 5. I would find what I thought was an alternative, get it home and realize that it was not one....or at least that I couldn't 100% confirm that it was GMO free.

Products I could not find: Nature's Path Organic Toaster Pastries, SunCups, PC Organics Mac & Cheese, Spectrum Organics Margarine, Nature's Path Honey Raisin Bran.

Pasta Sauce

I went into this knowing I wanted to find a replacement for our go to Ragu pasta sauce because B loves pasta. Simply Natural was what I chose and while the taste is fantastic the price is ridiculous. 5.49 for pasta sauce??? COME ON. I'm just not even sure I can justify that. So we may just buy it for B and then go back to Ragu for us. This summer I am going to attempt to make and can my own.

Other GMO Free Alternatives: Eden Pasta Sauce (also supported Prop 37), Whole Foods, PC Organics.

If you can't find anything that is a reasonable price then you could look to make your own with fresh organic tomatoes or you could buy organic bottled tomatoes and use them to make your own sauce.

Soy Sauce

Kikkoman soy sauce is very easy to find and probably one of the more popular brands. Sad that it is full of GMO's. We have replaced it with San-J soy sauce which is GMO free and certified by the Non-GMO Project. There is a significant price difference between the two products (almost double) so that is something to consider when making the switch. We don't go through a lot of soy sauce so the extra cost is negligible to us.

Other GMO Free Alternatives: Eden Tamari Soy Sauce (supported Prop 37), Whole Foods.

Nacho Chips

The best kind of Doritos are a toss up between Bold BBQ and Cool Ranch. Joe came home from the store that we pick up our CSA basket up with a GMO free replacement to the traditional Cool Ranch Doritos. Bonus - they supported the Prop 37 bill in California.

Other GMO Free Alternatives: Garden of Eatin'

Grape Jelly

We have a grape jelly addict in our house and sadly another on in the making. I have tried to steer in towards the superior blueberry jam but he is not buying what I am selling. So if the boys are going to eat it, I guess the best alternative is to give them a GMO free product. I found Crofters Grape Jelly on a complete fluke. I walked into the organic aisle and it just jumped out at me. I remembered seeing the name from the Non-GMO Project website so I bought it.

Other GMO Free Alternatives: I don't know of any others.

Brown Baked Beans

I posted earlier this month about how much I loved making my own baked beans vs buying them canned. I totally didn't think through this process! I planned to make chili this weekend and since I add baked beans to my recipe I realized I would have to make those in advance before making the chili. So now what would take a few hours is now a few day process! Still worth it though. If you haven't made your own yet you need to do it.

Other GMO Free Alternatives: Eden Foods (Supports Prop 37), Whole Foods, Shariann's Organics

Even though this challenge was tough I still plan to keep looking for alternatives and slowly converting our food to GMO free. If you decide to tackle this challenge remember that just because a company has one or even several products that are GMO free, it does not mean that all their products are.

Resources for going GMO Free
Greenpeace Shoppers Guide
Non GMO Project
Supporters and Opposition of Prop 37

Days Like Today

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:58:00 +0000

Living a green life isn't easy but there are some days that are so rewarding and you go to bed knowing that you made a difference. Then there are days like today where I stand in the grocery store with my produce free balling it in my cart to avoid using plastic bags and everything around me is in slow motion. Looking down and reading a label...what is in this again? Is it certified 100% organic? Is that a real certification or a fake made up certification? Glance up and I see no one around me in the organic aisle and I realize that I have been alone for awhile. I stood there with my mind going to mush as I tried to find the GMO free products I had on my list. Trying to rationalize in my head that having to spend $5.49 on a jar of GMO free pasta sauce is worth it. Why am I having to pay 400% more for pasta sauce just because it is free from GMO's? How will that ever encourage anyone to pick healthier and safer options of themselves and their families? Is this why I am alone in this aisle?

photo credit: greggavedon.com via photopin cc

As I get to the checkout all I can hear around me is "Do you need plastic bags?" "Yes". I only heard 1 person say No. This is a hard pill to swallow. It makes me wonder if all the work I am doing to live lightly is making any impact at all. In just 1 hour today I saw at least 50 people counteracting the efforts we are making. I'm not giving up. I'm hopefully that the sacrifices, struggles, research and frustrations will make it easier for others to follow the same path. But on days like today I'm saddened that the people behind me in line smirked to one another at my produce rolling around plastic free on the checkout conveyor.

Do you have days like I did today? What gets you through?

KIND Bars are KINDa Awesome

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 02:44:00 +0000

Several months ago this arrived at my door.

You can't fully see everything that is included but KIND sent me 3 different varieties of clusters and 4 varieties of bars to try out.

The Bars

Around 3PM every day I get a craving for sweets. I don't know what it stems from...maybe something deep inside of me longing for recess snacks (my Mom only gave us the good stuff in the afternoon). I try to always take something to work with me to prevent me from making that long shameful walk to and from the vending machine. For months I was able to throw a KIND bar in my lunch bag to help get me through the afternoon. The Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew and Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio were my favourites.

Ingredients in Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew Bars: Mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts), dried fruit (cherries, raisins, cranberries), sugar, honey, non GMO glucose, palm kernel oil, crisp rice, cocoa powder, chicory root fiber, soy lecithin, vanilla, whole milk, salt, sunflower oil. VITAMINS: Vitamin A (Vit. A Acetate), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate).

Ingredients in Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio Bars: Mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios), mixed fruit (raisins, pomegranate, blueberries, apples, plums), honey, non GMO glucose, crisp rice, apple juice, sugar, vegetable glycerine, chicory root fiber, soy lecithin, citrus pectin, natural blueberry flavor. VITAMINS: Vitamin A (Vit. A Acetate), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate).

Let's be clear. KIND bars are NOT protein bars. They are not meal replacements. For me they are a healthier alternative to a chocolate bar or sugar filled granola bar. If you want even less sugar check out their low sugar line.

The Clusters

I eat greek yogurt a few times a week and to reduce the amount of sugar I eat I always get the plan variety. It's boring. A great way to add some flavour and texture to it is to add a 1/4 cup of the KIND clusters. My favourites were the Vanilla Blueberry and the Peanut Butter.

Ingredients in Vanilla Blueberry Clusters: Whole grains (gluten free oats, brown rice, gluten free oat flour, buckwheat, amaranth, millet, quinoa), evaporated cane juice, flax seeds, chicory root fiber, canola oil, vanilla extract, molasses, blueberry puree, apple puree, plum puree, apple juice, glycerine, sea salt, Vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate), citrus fiber, citrus pectin.

Ingredients in Peanut Butter Clusters: Whole grains (gluten free oats, brown rice, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa), evaporated cane juice, peanut butter, soy crisp (soy protein isolate, tapioca starch, calcium carbonate), peanuts, whey protein, canola oil, sea salt, Vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate).

The KIND Clusters are a great way to get whole grains into your diet. You don't eat these like a cereal but instead add them to yogurt or grab a handful for a snack.

The Clusters come in a plastic re-sealable bag. Do not throw the bag away when you are done with it! Wash it out and use it again. I am using ours to store fruit in the freezer.

KIND is not your average food company. They founded the KIND Movement which the emphasis on people doing unexpected acts of kindness for each other. I know you are no stranger to doing good for others. I saw it with the success of Random Acts of Kindness for Langley. I urge you to check out the KIND Movement and participate. It's easy...just participate in the monthly mission.

Have you tried KIND products? If you haven't would you pick them up to try?

MisLEAD Support and Lead Poisoning Protection

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 04:16:00 +0000

My friend Tamara is the Executive Director of Lead Safe America Foundation (LSAF) and she is making a documentary film called MisLEAD: America's Secret Epidemic. Tamara is a Mom from Portland Oregon and her children have lead poisoning. Her film educates parents about lead safety and lead poisoning prevention and through her nonprofit, Tamara is working to raise money to finish her film. I just pledged and became a backer of MisLEAD because I believe Tamara's message is one that we all need to see. I believe that the dangers of lead are still very real and that through education we can protect ourselves and our families.

Do you want to help a great cause and win an awesome grand prize of a case (12 jars) of assorted natural honey from Marshall's Farm in Napa Valley (value $120)? This isn't any regular honey either! This honey is used in many famous restaurants including The French Laundry!

To become eligible to win, ask your friends and family to pledge or make a donation (using one of the links below) in support of LSAF and MisLEAD. All pledges are tax-deductible (in the US) and will help to finish this important film. There will be 2 grand prize winners and other prizes as well! The grand prizes go to the individuals who:

1. Get the greatest number of pledges/donations by March 3rd 9:35PM PST

2. Get the greatest value in pledges/donations by March 3rd 9:35PM PST.

You do not have to make a pledge to be eligible but if you do make a pledge it does not count towards your total. It can however count towards a friends! Ask your friends and family to make a pledge...any amount makes a difference...even $1! Have them send your name with their pledge AND that they found out about this contest on my blog (use code JnJ). This will add pledge numbers and amounts to your total increasing your chances of winning one of the grand prizes.

Pledges - done via KickStarter - will only be "cashed" if the project successfully meets its fundraising goal.

Donations - done via Hope Mob or PayPal - are taken at the time the donation is made, regardless if the fundraising goal is met and will go to help finish the film.

Please consider helping Tamara fund the rest of this important film. Remember it doesn't have to cost you a thing if you can not contribute financially at this time. Share via social media and to your family and friends and have their contributions count towards you winning one of the grand prizes!

Thank you for helping to educate others on the dangers of lead and preventing lead poisoning!

Unjunking Our Junk Food

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Junk food is delicious. 9 times out of 10 if you ask me if I want junk food or something healthy I am going to go for the junk food. Because it is awesome. But with that deliciousness comes a lot of ingredients that are terrible for you. It is easy to ignore because seriously who wants to stop eating junk food all together? CRAZIES.

It turns out that junk food doesn't haven't to be all bad. There are alternatives that allow you to indulge in moderation and not be taking in all those terrible ingredients. My copy of Unjunk Your Junk Food is a huge asset when looking for tasty alternatives to the traditional junk food. The book explains what ingredients are bad for you, which to steer clear from completely and which are okay in moderation. Then for each junk food they offer an alternative. For both the junk food and the alternative they point out what makes the product good/bad and all the nutritional information. Even if your favourite junk food is not covered in the book you will learn tips that you can apply to any other food.

My friend Sam also got a copy of the book and she made an excellent point about the size of the book. It is small enough that you can put it into your purse and take it with you to the store so you have all the information you need right with you when you are shopping. Such an important tool to have when you are navigating the sometimes confusing organic aisle. So many choices, some that you have never heard of before, and they are not all created equally. This book will help you navigate those aisles and pick the treat that works best for you.

As part of our Eco-Challenge this month we are working to rid our food of GMO's. We will be using the book to help us make smarter choices when we crave junk food. Joe has agreed to try Nature's Path Organic Toaster Pastries in place of his Pop Tarts. I'm going to be looking for Sun Cups to replace by beloved Reece's Peanut Butter Cups.

With chapters covering chips/dips, icecream/frozen treats, cookies, chocolate, cakes/dessert, granola bars/snacks, candy and drinks you are bound to found a load of healthier alternatives to what you are currently eating.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of Unjunk Your Junk Food and starting down the path to healthier options for your cravings. I know it would be better to just not eat this stuff at all but been there, tried that and those peanut butter cups just keep me coming back!

Have you found any alternatives to the traditional junk food products?

I received Unjunk Your Junk Food for free but was not required to do a review. I opted to review it because I think it is awesome and it is helping us look for GMO free alternatives. All views expressed are my own.

Upcycled Valentines

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 20:44:00 +0000

I've been going through our craft items and boxes of items to upcycle for a few weeks now looking for ideas for B's valentines cards for his classmates. I knew I wanted him to be involved in making them so I asked him to draw on a piece of recycled paper so I could incorporate it into the design. I then cut the drawing into little hearts and made sure that each valentine got at least once.

The base of the cards is leftover cardstock from B's baptism. It had 'Thank You' printed on it so I just cut around that to make the little cards. I cut hearts from old Christmas, Birthday and Valentines cards that I had saved. I also used old envelopes...it is actually the perfect time of year to re-use red envelopes from any Christmas cards you received!

I eliminated as much waste as possible from this project so I used every cut out heart twice. Once for the inside and once for the outside. Whatever I didn't use I put back into our craft bucket for re-use at another time. I'm not making envelopes but if I was going to I would make them myself from scraps of leftover paper or envelopes.

Tips for Upcycling your own Valentines

* Look at what you have first and build your design around that

* Envelopes work well for cutting hearts. You can even use one's from bills or junk mail

* Don't worry about making them identical, I love that no two are alike!

* Keep scraps from other projects in a central spot so you can easily access them

Other Upcycled Ideas

* Cut a heart in cardstock, rip old pieces of tissue paper and glue across the back of the heart hole.

* Form a toilet paper roll into a heart. Use to make painted hearts on a piece of paper.

* Collect little rocks with your kids and then paint hearts onto them.

* Turn toilet paper rolls into cute heart covered owls

* Use leftover organic Hallowe'en candy to make an editable card

Did you and your kids make your own valentines this year? What did you make? If you didn't make your own what stops you from doing so?

Baked Beans - Tossing the Can

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:12:00 +0000

For as long as I can remember I have eaten Heinz baked beans. I have always thought about making my own because homemade always tastes better but canned beans are just really convenient. Last summer when I looked into which products we eat that contain GMO ingredients I noted that Heinz beans are on the list of those that may potentially contain GMO's. It is most likely related to the pork in the beans and their inability to determine if the pigs being used eat GMO free feed. So I decided to take the leap and make our own.

The difference between canned and homemade is remarkable. I can't even put into words how much better they taste. It is like baby food vs adult food. I used this recipe and did not make any alterations. Obviously the key to replacing a product that contains GMO's is to make sure that what you are using to make the homemade version also does not contain GMO's.

I didn't find it was time consuming to make my own beans either. It is quick and simple to soak the beans over night and then assemble in the morning before work. The beans will be ready when you get home from work. In total it was 10 minutes of my time to prep the ingredients to go into the crock-pot. Completely worth it! This recipe made enough for 2 adults and 1 toddler for dinner and enough leftovers for another 3 meals.

An added benefit to replacing canned beans with homemade is reducing our exposure to the BPA that lines the cans.

What product have you replaced with homemade? Have you tried making your own beans?

Eco-Challenge: Replacing GMO Food

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:23:00 +0000

I think most people want to eat better but the problem is that it is not always easy. There are just so many options to pick from. Organic vs Conventional, Local vs Foreign, Fair Trade, and now GMO Free. That is a lot of things to consider when trying to pick a single item. Multiply it but what you normally buy in a week and it can almost be too much to even start. But here's the thing....I may not always buy organic and I don't always buy local but I absolutely want to be buying GMO free everything.

I have analyzed our food and know what contains GMO ingredients. Over the next month I am going to be finding replacements for at least 5 items on our list. It is going to take some research because products with GMO ingredients are not labeled. To add one more layer of complexity I am going to try and make sure I do not select replacements from companies that actively tried to defeat Prop 37, the GMO labeling initiative in California.

Anyone want to join me this month? What is the best GMO free product that you have found?

Eco-Challenge Results: Fixing my Toe with Apple Cider Vinegar

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:08:00 +0000

For the last month I have been soaking my toe in apple cider vinegar to help repair it. I was supposed to soak it for 30 minutes twice a day but let's be honest who has time to sit around soaking a toe on a work morning? Not me. So instead I only soaked it at night. And I will be honest, some nights I forgot...like probably 10 of the 31 nights. Towards the end I started doing straight up apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball in hopes that it would accelerate the process and make up for the 10 nights I had missed. The only difference I saw in using it directly on my toe and not mixed with water is that it turned my nail slightly yellow. So that kind of sucked.

This treatment method is supposed to cure any nail issues in 30 days. Since I didn't do it twice a day I'm thinking that it will take twice the time. So while my toe is not completely fixed I do feel like there is a difference. My nail feels and looks stronger. The new nail that is growing looks "normal". I plan to now use the cotton ball method for 10 minutes each morning and then soak for 30 minutes each night for the next month.

What do you think? Do you think that it is working?

Flat Rock Cellars - Going Beyond Organic Wine

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:49:00 +0000

I love wine. One of the best gifts I have ever received was a handpicked case of wine made up from wines all over the world from all different vineyards.I loved exploring each bottle and falling in love with new vineyards. Last year I decided to dig deeper into local wines and particularly organic wines. That proved to be more difficult than I thought as there is not a lot of organic wine available at our LCBO. Perhaps it is due to lack of demand or as I recently learned it may also be that winemakers are moving away from organic wine, for environmental reasons.

In October I had the pleasure of touring Flat Rock Cellars in the Niagara Region. I was really impressed with their sustainability initiatives so I asked the owner Ed why he doesn't make an organic wine. It seemed to me that if they are spending their efforts focusing on environmental practices surely they would produce an organic wine! His answered surprised me.

Wine grapes are very prone to pests so winemakers need to take measure to protect their vineyards. For organic vineyards they use copper sulfate as a fungicide. The problem with copper sulfate is that the copper leaches into the soil, contaminates local waterways and can have an adverse effect on fish and livestock populations. Because it is affecting the soil it can negatively affect the health of the wine crops. For this reason Flat Rock Cellars does not make a true organic wine. They have other practices in place that they confidently say they are being more responsible using a synthetic fungicide than if they use copper sulfate and produced a certified organic wine.

Perhaps when looking for a sustainable wine the choice doesn't have to be organic vs non organic. There are so many other factors that should be considered. How are the grapes farmed, how is the wine made, how is the wine bottled.

Crop Management

Traditionally vineyards use chemical pesticides and insecticides to protect their crops. It is cheap and it is easy. Looking for successful alternatives takes time, patience and research. Flat Rock Cellars uses multiple sustainable techniques in the place of chemicals:

- Compost is made from old grapes and spread on top of the soil to prevent weed growth

- Pheromones are used as an insecticide

- Radishes are planted to naturally break up the soil and allow water to easily penetrate

Production Process

Like any product the way in which it is made can have a major impact on how sustainable it is. The resources to produce any product make up a significant portion of its overall footprint. I think for that any product you purchase it is important to look at how it is made. Not just what goes into it but how it is taken from raw material to finished good.

When you first walk into Flat Rock Cellars you will not see the tanks hovering above you but rather they are below you. Flat Rock Cellars uses a gravity fed system that eliminates the need for pumps and therefore reduces the amount of energy required as their transport their wine through the production process. Such a simple change to make but overall a massive impact on the carbon footprint of their wine.

They have also implemented the following practices:

- Geo-thermal system for all heating and cooling that has reduced energy emissions by 80%

- Barrel rooms are built underground to allow for natural heating, cooling and humidity control

- Wine making equipment and barrels are sterilized using ozone instead of toxic chemicals, resulting in only water being the byproduct of this process

- Waste water used on site is treated using a natural organic and mineral bio filter

Cork or Screw Top

Gone are the days of a screw top meaning a cheap wine. Does the choice of cap make any difference in the wine. NO! (see Ed's funny video explaining). But there are environmental difference. There are chemicals in corks ( 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), and/or 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA)) that leach into wine. When it comes to champagne those that still use cork only do so after the wine has aged. They bottle the champagne and close it with a crown cap. When it has aged they replace that crown cap with a cork. This practice just creates more waste! Flat Rock Cellars chooses to eliminate this unnecessary waste by keeping their bottles closed with that original crown cap.

Winery Management

It is one thing to grow your crops responsibly and engineer sustainable practices for your wine production. It is another thing to ensure that your entire process, including your retail outlet and office space is sustainable. When Flat Rock Cellars was built they put their retail space up on stilts resulting in no foundation being required. If they ever decide to move they can remove the stilts and easily return the land to what it was before they go there.

I'm so grateful to have found Flat Rock Cellars. Ed's goal is simply to make his vineyard healthier than it was the year before. I feel comfortable with drinking their product even though it is not organic because they have so many other practices in place that in my opinion go well beyond any organic certification. My advice to anyone looking for a sustainable wine is to get out there! Visit local vineyards, talk to winemakers, tour production facilities. ASK QUESTIONS. You just never know what gem you may find.

What is your take on organic wine? Have you found a vineyard that goes above and beyond with their sustainable practices?

I was not paid to write this post. I toured Flat Rock Cellars as part of the Blissdom Canada conference and wrote this post because I truly believe in what Flat Rock Cellars is doing.

Dove Body Wash - Greenwashing Extraordinare

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 02:29:00 +0000

I'm sure you have seen the Dove Body Wash commercial where they do a little science experiment to show that other products are stripping your skin of moisture. They claim that their Dove product does not do this. Unfortunately, I have seen this experiment in person. Last fall I was at a Blog Conference where Dove was a main sponsor. As we ate our breakfast we were subjected to an in person demo of their body wash vs other unnamed body washes. The demo was the same as in the commercial. Take 1 glass container filled with water, add something that Dove says mimics skin and add body wash. Then shake shake shake your way to greenwashing.

At my table I think people were curious as to why I was enraged at the lies that were being thrown around the room. You see Dove claims that their product does not strip your skin of essential oils. Their little experiment results in the little discs placed in each container showing that it has been "stripped". Except for the container with the Dove product in it. It comes out looking very similar to what it looked like going in. What they don't talk about is what is really in their product. Because what is in there is are classic toxic ingredients that do in fact strip your skin of nutrients and moisture. That begs the question of what has Dove added back into their product to mimic the skins natural moisture and thereby allowing their product come out differently than all the others in their experiment? And how on earth can they claim that their product does not strip skin of its natural moisture?

I asked Dove that. I asked several times. Others at the conference (and at other conferences going on at the same time) RT'd me and tweeted Dove themselves. We did get a response asking for our emails so they could ask the chemist for an answer. That chemist was 20 meters from me yet I had to wait for an email from the company to find out what exactly is in their product to counteract the toxin that strips your skin. That email never came. It still hasn't come. Even after asking again for an answer.

Here is the list of ingredients in Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash. This is the product in the demo in the commercial and used at the conference I attended.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate - this creates foam which dissolves the oils on your skin and the water then washes away. In doing soil it strips your skin of its natural oils.

Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate - a synthetic detergent that is used for degreasing, cleansing and emulsification. It is known to dry out your skin and can cause irritation.

BHT - used as a preservative and can cause allergic reactions in the skin.Classified as a possible carcinogen.

Tetrasodium EDTA - helps you get a better lather but at what cost? It is made from formaldehyde and sodium cyanide.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine - a surfactant that dries out your skin

DM Hydantoin - a preservative that releases formaldehyde to kill off microorganisms

Methylisothiazolinone - a preservative that is a known irritant with links to neurotoxicity

Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate - a preservative (holy crap how many more do we need???) that is acutely toxic.

Stearic Acid, Tallow Acid - Vegan's beware....there are animal parts in Dove products

Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate - skin conditioning agent

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride - a skin conditioning agent that is on the Canada Designated Substances List

Guys, I'm tired. So very tired of companies pretending to be something they are not. Just be honest. "Hey guys, our new product is full of things you probably can't pronounce and aren't really needed anyways. But don't worry, we added some other stuff too to make your skin super soft. Just as soft as it would be if you didn't use our product and used something completely natural"

So I will ask again. Dove - what is in your product that is counteracting all the ingredients that dry out your skin? Do you really stand behind this product as your "best proven care"?

Fine, I will admit it. I love kale.

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:41:00 +0000

This month I have been participating in the #FoodNotPhood challenge hosted by Hol:Fit. The challenge involves 3 things that we have to do each day. Start the day off with a Green Glow Smoothie, drink half our weight in ounces of water and eat non processed foods. And thus begins my love affair with kale. I am new to this band wagon and it is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I think that new foods can sometimes be scary. How do you prepare it? Is it bitter and how do I counteract that? What does it go with? I say just jump on in with two feet and see if you like it. Try it in a variety of ways before you completely rule it out. It may just be that you don't like it raw but loved it cooked or that you can't stand it steamed but when roasted you could eat a ton of it.

Looking to try kale too? Here are some easy options that can get you started.

Green Glow Smoothie
Green Monster Smoothie
Kale, Pineapple and Almond Milk Smoothie
Kale Caesar Salad
Spicy Kale and Chick Pea Stew
Winter Lentil Soup

What new food have you tried lately that you surprisingly loved? Kale - for or against?

Helping Others to take the Green Path

noreply@blogger.com (Jen) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:39:00 +0000

We have all been there. At a party and the host is using disposable plates and cutlery. Our inner green diva screams as we stand there wondering what to do. Grab the plate and get some food, grab the spare plate we just happen to have in our purse (people do do this) or don't eat anything? I take it as an opportunity to educate and not preach I try to lead by example with own actions when it is my turn to throw a party. I show how easy it can be to use real dishes when hosting 30 people.

Convincing people to take the green path can be hard. Each situation is different. Some people need scientific evidence (Joe), some need to know that it is not going to cost them a fortune, some just want it to be easy. Not being easy is the #1 reason I hear why people do not make green choices. Wash 30 plates or throw 30 plates in a big black garbage bag? The latter sounds easier doesn't it? So I asked Joe. His reasoning is that he sees it as more work to go out and get 30 plates (from a second hand store) that can be reused at every party than it is to pick up paper plates each time we have a party.

What can be done to change that thought process? Joe's answer was not simple. He would need two questions answered.

1. Where will the plates, utensils and glasses be stored when not in use?

2. What is the cost difference between buying used plates to be reused and buying disposable. When would we break even and start to save money?

While this is just one small example of the struggles people can face every day it shines the light on why we often see people taking the easy route. For those of us already far into our green journey we often see the green choice as easy. Buy 30 second hand plates? Super easy! But to truly affect change in others we need to understand how these simple situations can see daunting to others. By helping people work through the process and show them that the green lifestyle won't always cost more money and won't take up all their cupboard space we can really help them to pick that green path more often.As each green solution is made it will get easier to make the next. Slowly over time there will be less need to justify each decision, less questions will be asked and it will become second nature to make the best choice.

photo credit: Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho via photopin cc

What can you do to help others?

* Leave your judgement at the door. Not everyone will be as green as you and that is okay.

* Lead by example. Show that being green can be easy and affordable.

* Be approachable. You want people to ask you questions so they can learn!

* Be supportive.

* Share examples of where you have saved money being green.

* Offer advice when asked but don't shove it down people's throats. You don't want people to pick the less green option on purpose just to piss you off (you know people will do this).

How do you help others pick the green path? Have you ever scared someone away from the green choice?