Smart Family Tips

Green News Updates

Beth — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:57:58 +0000

There are several green news bits I wanted to share with you.

The Story of Cosmetics

Some time ago I wrote about Annie Leonard’s, The Story of Stuff. In this video, she follows the path our stuff makes from idea to product in the store. It does a great job of making us aware of just how many resources it takes to create and ship all of the stuff we consume. She recently completed a new project called The Story of Cosmetics. One of the focus points of this blog is the number of chemicals we are exposed to from everyday products. If you’re at all interested in what’s invading your body, this video is a must-see.

BPA in Receipts

The Washington Post reports that the Environmental Working Group found BPA (bisphenol-A) on “40 percent of the receipts it collected from supermarkets, automated teller machines, gas stations and chain stores. In some cases, the total amount of BPA on the receipt was 1,000 times the amount found in the epoxy lining of a can of food, another controversial use of the chemical.” Visit the Washington Post for the full article.

Robert Redford and the Killed Climate Bill

Robert Redford is ticked! Check out his article titled, It’s the Opportunity, Stupid! on the Huffington Post where he rails against the senators who blocked the Climate Change Bill.

Gulf Oil Spill Myths

The Daily Green has collected a list of 15 Gulf Oil Spill Myths and explained them in this article.

What green things have you been thinking about this summer?Similar Posts:

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Greener Back to School for Kids and Adults

Beth — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:49:34 +0000

Thinking about greener ways to go back to school isn’t just for kids. Most adults use many of the same kinds of supplies that kids use in school. We may no longer need crayons, but we all use paper and writing utensils and scissors and tape. We all eat lunch and need some way to carry our gear around.

I’ll be writing about ways to green your back-to-school purchases in the coming weeks and I’ll include items for adults as well. We’ll look at school and office supplies as well as green backpacks and messenger bags and briefcases.

But for now, a few general tips:

One of the best ways to be greener with your supplies is to buy less. Take a thorough stock of what you already have and then organize those supplies so they’re easy to find. If you have something at home that will work, don’t feel pressured to buy something new just because it’s on a list.

When you do purchase new, go for products made from recycled materials and avoid chemicals whenever possible. Pass on PVC and BPA. The easiest thing to do is look for products that say they are BPA and PVC-free. If they don’t say it, they probably have these chemicals in them.

Also consider buying things that will last. You can pick up a backpack for $5 at some stores, but is it really worth it if it has to be replaced several times over the course of one school year? Why not buy one quality bag that will last? You may end up spending less money in the long run and for sure you’ll end up creating less waste.

Stay tuned for product suggestions and reviews. If there’s anything in particular you want me to focus on, please email more or let me know in the comments.

Photo Credit: Merelymel13Similar Posts:

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Coupon Sherpa Goes Greener

Beth — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:27:33 +0000

Most people interested in saving the planet are also interested in saving money. Coupon Sherpa, mega coupon site, has gotten even greener with their Eco-Frugal Life Guide. The 105 page PDF guide includes green tips and information on a variety of topics. Best of all, it’s free!

I’ve taken a look at the guide and believe it will be a useful tool to help people become a little greener in all aspects of their lives. Check it out and snag some coupons while you’re there.Similar Posts:

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Positive Parenting Solutions Online Review Part 1

Beth — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:33:48 +0000

This post will kick-off the review series of Positive Parenting Solutions Online. Why a series? I want to review the product as I use it and implement it. When I was investigating this program I was frustrated by some of the online reviews I came across. I mean no criticism to the writers themselves, but after reading the 1-2 paragraph reviews, I kept wondering, “Will this program help us?” I decided the best way to find out was to give it a try, but I’m choosing to try it out publicly so that you will be able to decide if this is something that might be helpful to you.

First, some background

Most of you know that my husband and I have twin daughters. They are currently 4 years old and will turn 5 in two months. They will begin kindergarten this fall.

Until the beginning of this summer they were in a private preschool program that we were happy with. The sudden shift from daily structured activity to summer at home with some, but far less, structure and “entertainment” than they were used to has been a bit difficult for all of us. We’re adjusting, but it occurred to me that I could use some help.

I’m a studier at heart and I’ve read more parenting books than I’d like to count. I’ve also looked into some parenting courses, but haven’t been able to find enough information on any of them to see if they would be useful for us. Recently, I read the book, Courageous Parents, Confident Kids: Letting Go So You Both Can Grow and Amy McCready, founder of the Positive Parenting Solutions Program, was a contributor. I liked what she had to say in the book and I began looking into her program. The website has lots of glowing testimonials, which is good, but I couldn’t help but wonder if there were any dissatisfied customers. I couldn’t find any online. I did read a few blog posts, but they were very general and didn’t give me enough information about whether or not it would be a good match for us.

Ultimately, I decided to give it a try. Before I made the purchase, I emailed Amy McCready to let her know that I planned to buy the program and conduct a review-as-I-go series on Smart Family Tips. I wanted her to be aware and also to assure her that I would write honestly about our experience with the program without giving the entire program away. She responded in under a half an hour and answered a few of the questions I had about the course. In the interest of full disclosure, I will tell you that she offered 3 months of access to the program at no charge so that I might be able to implement and review it properly. I accepted this offer and assured her that if it worked for us, we would be purchasing the online course at the end of the 3 month period.

So, why do I want to work through an online parenting course? Are my kids out of control? Am I losing my mind? Not yet. Partly, I’m doing this because I am an information gatherer. I like to learn and I like to have options. And, we are having some issues lately with tantrums and back-talk and “convenient” helplessness. I want to see if an online program can really help. I think others might want to know if it can, too.

We’ll begin the program this week and I’ll provide weekly updates of our progress and my assessment of the program here on the blog.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to answer them. I hope you enjoy this journey with me and my family and I hope your find it helpful.Similar Posts:

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Site Updates and Links

Beth — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:54:50 +0000

Site Updates

I’ve been reorganizing the site a bit lately with more streamlining to come. I’ve cleaned up the categories and reduced them to mere fraction of what they once were. I’m hoping this will make navigating the site a simpler task. I’ve listed the main categories in the navigation bar, so that by clicking each topic link, you’ll go to a page that lists all of the posts within that topic.

The new categories are

Chemicals: Anything related to toxic chemicals in food and products.
Do Good: This category covers posts featuring do-gooders or ways that we can all do more good in our daily lives.
Environment: Recycling, Reusing, Simplifying, Saving Electricity, Reducing Consumption — if it’s green, it’s here.
Food: Sustainable food. Eating organic, growing your own, farmer’s markets, avoiding pesticides, GMOs and more.
Reviews: A wide range of reviews from green products to money saving products to parenting products. And of course, books. I do love books.
Roundup: Often I find posts and articles from around the web that I’d like to share with you. I collect these in a “roundup.”

If you’re reading this by email or RSS, please click over to the site and let me know what you think.

Upcoming Review Series

For those of us who have children AND care about the environment, I think there’s nothing more important we can do than to raise our kids to be decent and kind human beings who are responsible and compassionate. As such, good parenting is important to me. I’m going to begin a series in which I review the Positive Parenting Solutions Online program. I plan to review it as I live it in hopes of providing all of you with a truthful and helpful assessment of the quality of the program. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post for more information on this.

I realize that many of you are not parents and that for you, this series may not be of much interest. Because of this, I’m limiting the review posts to once a week, so there will still be content posted that’s relevant to everyone.

Now the links. . .

Cheat Sheet for Growing Organic Food Without a Garden from Healthy Child, Healthy World

Weekly Challenge: Shop Healthy from True Food Movement

How to Stock a Natural First Aid Kit from Simple OrganicSimilar Posts:

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Bike Your Way Green

Beth — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:44:13 +0000

I like to ride my bike, but I don’t do it as often as I’d like. I’m also fascinated by bike culture (I think I always have been) and find myself wanting to know more about what makes a “good” bike, what all the components are, why some people love certain saddles over others. The environmentally friendly aspect of biking makes it even more appealing. Biking is catching on lately — not just the Lance Armstrong serious racing kind of biking, but the everyday commuting kind. People wearing street clothes and business suits are giving up cars in favor of bikes.

I’m intrigued.

I’ve come across a few bike sites lately that I’d like to share with you. Most of them feature beautiful photography of both setting and the bikes themselves. Be sure to check them out when you have the time

Ecovelo: Alan and his wife, Michael, have chosen to go “car-lite,” meaning they use bikes as their primary mode of transportation, though they do still keep a small car in their driveway for use in times of illness or travel that doesn’t lend itself to biking. It’s fascinating to read about their day-to-day lives on bikes. They also provide plenty of wonderful photos and reviews of bikes and components, as well as biking news. I’m hooked on their site.

Let’s Go Ride a Bike: Another new favorite. Trisha, who’s based in Nashville, and Dottie, who’s based in Chicago, make biking look beautiful. Their blog is all about biking with style, often in heels, never in spandex. Like Ecovelo, there are wonderful photographs. There’s also a handy How-To section for those interested in getting started with bike commuting.

Rowdy Kittens: Tammy Strobel’s blog is more about living simply than specifically about biking, but there’s a lot of great information there. In an effort to simplify their own lives, Tammy and her husband sold their cars and now go everywhere by bike. Tammy’s also written a wonderful ebook called Simply Car-Free: How to Pedal Toward Financial Freedom and a Healthier Life that will teach you how to save money and get started riding more and driving less. It’s a bargain at only $9.95 and includes a money-back guarantee.

I’d love to know in the comments if you ride a bike and if so, what kind of bike do you have?

Photo Credit: Marc oh!Similar Posts:

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What Is Wrong With High Fructose Corn Syrup?

Beth — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:04:51 +0000

High fructose corn syrup is one of the main ingredients in almost any processed food. You’ve probably heard nutritionists and environmentalists say it needs to be avoided. There’s a popular commercial running on television involving two mothers at a birthday party laughing about all the hype and insisting that in moderation, high fructose corn syrup is a “natural,” wonderful thing. It should be noted that this ad is sponsored by the Corn Refiners Association.

So what’s a person to do? Believe HFCS is evil and try (possibly in vain) to avoid it, or roll with it and accept the fact that it’s in nearly every factory made product we consume?

I’ve done some digging and hopefully what I’ve found will help you make more informed choices for you and your family.

The Primary Question

Is high fructose corn syrup worse for us than sugar?

The Answer

We’re not sure. Some studies have been conducted, but many have been deemed flawed or not comprehensive enough. For sure, more research needs to be done.

Email Blunders

Beth — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:38:12 +0000

Hi Folks,

I have no idea why Feedburner seemed to randomly send out a post from May about National Biking Month. I’m not sure what went wrong. Hopefully the next post you receive in your inbox or in your feed reader will be more time-appropriate.

Stay tuned and thanks for your patience.

BethSimilar Posts:

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Safe and Effective Sunscreens 2010

Beth — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:01:31 +0000

Last year’s post on Safe and Effective Sunscreens is one of the most popular on this site. It highlights the results of the Environmental Working Group’s sunscreen study. My goal was to look through their recommended options to find the most readily available and inexpensive sunscreens. EWG has just come out with their newest sunscreen study for 2010. Sadly, only 8% of all sunscreens tested made it onto the approved list and they are all expensive.

There are several reasons why only 8% made the cut this year. One is a concern about the safety of Vitamin A in sunscreen products and the possibility that it actually increases our risk of skin cancer. Another reason relates to the effectiveness of sunscreens. EWG has found that effectiveness claims are rarely as they appear. It’s entirely possible that the sunscreen you’ve been using doesn’t have the protection you think it does. Read the full study yourself for all the details.

EWG has also created a helpful tool that allows you to input your sunscreen and then receive feedback about its ratings. You can try out the tool below.

A note about naysayers: Every year after the release of EWG’s sunscreen study, the internet is abubble with claims that EWG’s report is in error, that poorly rated sunscreens really do work, aren’t dangerous, etc. If you check the sources of these claims however, they almost always come from the sunscreen industry — either companies who manufacture the very sunscreens that were rated poorly or other businesses that have a vested interest in certain sunscreen products performing well in the market. As such, I tend not to trust these arguments. I will say that I am not a scientist and I am unable to break down EWG’s study to find gaps. I do believe, however, that the sunscreens they recommend are safe. While they are also expensive, I’m willing to err on the side of caution here. The primary method suggested by EWG for reducing harmful sun exposure is to cover up. Wear UV protective clothing, wear hats, stay out of the sun during peak daytime hours if you can.

10 Safe and Effective Sunscreens From EWG’s 2010 Study

You can view the full list here.

1. California Baby SPF 30 + Sunscreen Lotion 2.9 oz – $17.99 ($6.20/ounce)

2. California Baby SPF 30 + Sunblock Stick – No Fragrance, .5 oz – Pack of 2 for $25.98 ($25.98/ounce)

3. Soleo Organics All Natural Sunscreen SPF 30+, 5.3-Ounce Tube – $24.50 ($4.62/ounce)

4. All Terrain AquaSport Performance Sunblock, SPF 15, 3-Ounces – Pack of 2 for $20.28 ($3.38/ounce)

5. Badger Sunscreen for Face & Body SPF 30 2.9 oz – $15.99 ($5.51/ounce)

6. Jason Natural Products Sunbrellas Chemical Free Sun Block 4 oz. – $11.21 ($2.80/ounce)

7. JASON NATURAL PRODUCTS, Earth’s Best Baby Care Chemical Free Sun Block SPF30+ – 4 oz – $13.58 ($3.39/ounce) [This is the one we use for our kids]

8. Loving Naturals Organic SPF 30 Sunscreen Zinc Oxide 4 Oz. UVA/UVB Vegan – $19.75 ($4.93/ounce)

9. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 Suncreen Cream UVA Protection with Mexoryl SX, 1.7-Ounce Tube – $25.98 ($15.28/ounce) [I use this one for my face]

10. Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm SPF 15 3.5 oz. – $27.90 ($7.97/ounce)

EWG has also created a Hall of Shame that lists 8 popular sunscreens and explains the problems with them. Be sure to check out that list.

I hope you’ve found this post helpful. If so, please spread the word by sharing with the people you know.

Photo Credit: Pink SherbetSimilar Posts:

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How To Make the Most of Craigslist

Beth — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:49:59 +0000

Years ago I used ebay a lot. Mostly for selling, occasionally for buying. In the years since, ebay’s fees have gone up, and the stuff I have for sale has gotten bigger — kids’ gear and toys are rarely small. Because of the size of these items, shipping isn’t a good option. That’s when I started using Craigslist for buying and selling.

I’m by no means a Craigslist expert, but I have learned a few things since I started buying and selling kids’ stuff there. Here are some tips:

If You’re Buying

♦ Plan in advance. If you know you want to give your kids a ride-on John Deere Gator for their birthday in September, start looking a few months in advance. This way, you’ll have plenty of time to watch the Craigslist ads and wait for the right deal.

♦ Take someone with you when you go to look at an item. I like to believe that the world is a safe place, but it just makes sense to take a friend when you’re going to a stranger’s house.

♦ Be prepared to pay cash for the item when you go to look at it. But don’t be afraid to walk away if it’s not exactly what you want.

♦ It’s okay to ask the seller if she’ll take $xx for the item, but don’t be a jerk about it. Most of the time people will take a little less, but sometimes they won’t. Decide on the maximum price you’re willing to pay before you get there.

I’ve bought quite a few things for my kids on Craigslist. For larger toys and playsets, it makes sense to avoid paying full-price for a new item, especially if it’s something the kids are likely to out-grow. It’s also good for the environment to reuse an item that’s already out there, rather than buying, and therefore causing more production of, something new.

If You’re Selling

♦ Do a search on Craigslist for the item you will be selling. See if there are others already listed and compare prices, age and condition of the item(s).

♦ Clean it up before listing. Clean items are more appealing and are more likely to sell.

♦ Be as detailed as possible in your listing. Include photos. Disclose and photograph any problems — it will save you a lot of time later.

♦ Be honest. The person who contacts you first gets first dibs.

♦ Ask a fair price, but be willing to haggle a little.

♦ Providing a phone number in the listing makes things move along more quickly. I always use the anonymous email option, but do give my cell number.

In General:

Buy quality products (used or new) and take care of them. If you do, you’ll get a good return on your money. We recently sold a Power Wheels Barbie Jeep, a Peg Perego John Deere Gator and a BOB Revolution Duallie stroller. In each case, I was able to get well more than half of what I paid for each item. It was a good deal (compared with buying new) for the buyers and a good deal for us.

I’d love to know what tips and suggestions you have for buying and selling with Craigslist. Tell us about them in the comments.

Photo Credit: David M HepburnSimilar Posts:

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