EDTA & Phosphate reduction begins

Hello,

My name is Bwings and I can read ingredients now.

 9-5 - Dolly Parton {Bwings Production}

Welcome to this delightful Monday morning. Hope everyone had a pleasant weekend. Mine was roughly uneventful. However, I did receive my first eco-friendly phosphate related phone call from the grocery store. I had sent Asmerus off to purchase more laundry and dish detergent. I left him with very little details and he phoned to inform me that he had recovered an inexpensive phosphate, edta free detergent that was biodegradable (all are after a given number of days or weeks) with recyclable packaging. It wasn't my usual detergent so we have yet to find out if I'm allergic. 

We also went through the process of finding (but not yet purchasing) cloth diapers. It's not as simple as that you see. Our daughter is potty training and we want cloth diapers that are like real underwear. Similar to pull ups, just eco-friendly. It'll save our wallet from bleeding out as well as reduce our waste and thus our footprint on the eco-system. Not only that, but even with her very few accidents, the garbage can still smells like urine most mornings. YICK! It'd be nice to just throw cloth diapers in the wash at the end of the day and have a clean fresh smelling house in the morning.

How was your weekend? Post a comment, tell me what you do in life to improve your own lifetime experience. Even if it's something as simple as taking a bubble bath late at night. ;) The point is living life to the fullest and finding what makes you happy and healthy.

That is all from me for today.

Your friendly neighborhood hippie mom.

To PVC or not to PVC ..

Hello,

My name is Bwings and I can't make up my mind on PVC

Rubber duckie you're the one, you make bathtime...oh so controversial. There was a time when a rubber duckie was an accepted friend in your tub. Now he is the site of so much disagreement. First he is made out of PVC which (depending on it's texture) is likely laced with phthalate plasticizers. Then you don't even want to get me started on his moldy interior. yick

As a rule the softer the plastic the more toxic it may be. It's complicated though and sometimes I think just getting rid of all plastic altogether would be far easier than trying to determine the toxicity of each individual item in my home.

So what to do? Honestly I have as of yet to form an opinion here. This is largely why I have taken so long to post today. I knew the topic would be PVC and I really don't know what to do.

However, there are some small changes one can make.

1. There are organic rubber toys available for purchase that are so tender and chewie for our toddlers mouthes. These toys also have available options where the duckie can come apart (childproof) and be washed in the dishwasher. Solves that embarrassing interior problem our pal used to have.
2. The shower curtain, sure the off-gas is the only PVC you really need to worry about unless you have a child who chews on it. But why not spring for a vinyl curtain on the inside and a fabric one on the outside. Both of these are machine washable and will save your wallet. You simply wash them 2-4 times a month rather than replacing them with new ones every few weeks. You might think spending $1-$5 a month on curtains isn't that bad. But just think. You could be saving yourself almost $60 a year!!!
3. Bottles have symbols on the bottom. Learn what they mean. Use only 1,2 or 5 for consumption. I won't tell you why here for it's in depth. But learn what you're putting to your mouth.
4. NEVER MICROWAVE IN PLASTIC!! If you absolutely must, at least use a microwave safe container. Even those may leach though. It's always safer (if you're concerned) to just microwave on a dish without the plastic wrap or plasticware. 
5. If you don't want to get the organic toys a rule of thumb is the harder the toy the lower the phthalate plasticizers. Not always the case but often enough to count.

Mostly just keep yourself informed. Don't take for granted that what you're buying is good for you. Remember we are the beta testers for most products as they don't test on humans extensively....it's sort of illegal ;)

They didn't used to know x-rays were bad in high amounts, or bad for fetuses. They didn't realize the nuclear bomb would leave adverse effects on those around after an explosion.

Never assume, be a wise consumer.

That's all for this post as I'm still completely undecided on PVC's myself. I will be changing my shower curtain on the next paycheck. Not just because of the PVC but because a machine washable non-toxic shower curtain just makes sense ;) $60 a year that I can use towards organic toys. I kid, but that's certainly a fair amount of money. 

So for now this is an undecided opinion from your friendly neighborhood hippie mom. 

My current table of facts

Hello

My name is "Bwings" and I like tables and charts!

"I Wish These Were Brains"

I encourage all to do your own research and form your own opinions. These are just some of the chemicals I am researching and my findings so far. Also it is fair to note that in table format I have to summarize. I will make later posts regarding each individual item. For now, this is the wrap up for todays post.

Back to housewifery,
your friendly neighborhood hippie mom.

EDTA - the silent killer

Hello,

My name is "Bwings" and I'm an EDTA whore!

Step 1 in my move towards a cleaner, greener lifestyle was research. Step 1 will remain an ongoing activity of course but one does not go blindly into a change of lifestyle.
Step 2 was to make a list of some of the key things we'd want to change and finally Step 3 would be moving towards changing them.

Today I made a list of key chemicals or issues that I felt were concerning. I formulated a table. The columns were a) chemical b) source c) alternative d) problems {I will find a way to upload this later}

EDTA is one of those overused chemicals. It increases mercury in fish and thus in those eating fish. As much as I may be a vegetarian not all my friends are. Alas I have placed this on my "let's see what we can do" list.

Parabens are chemicals that have been linked to breast cancer and it went quite a bit higher on my list.

These two chemicals are often found in your cosmetics and shower supplies so I thought they were a good place to start.

So while taking my shower this morning I began reading the ingredients of all our products. I was fortunate to find no Parabens (these are described as any ingredient ending in "aban". Of course I'd have still looked further but that's the foundation) however I discovered just how right the books were on frequent EDTA use!

In my bathroom alone I found EDTA in 1 of 2 shampoos {herbal essences}. 1 of 2 conditioners {again herbal essences}, 2 of 3 body washes {both Dove but not Nivea} and all my daughters bubble bath selections! I already know it to be in my hand soap and I believe it to be in my laundry detergent. So 3 out of about 15 products were EDTA free....that's all!!!

I am of the lower middle class group so admittedly I will finish off these products before replacing them with an EDTA (if I can find) free product. Of course had my products consisted of Parabans they'd have been gone daddy gone. Call me a hypocrite but as I've said before, I never claimed to be perfect, I'm just moving towards a greener lifestyle for my own health and well-being as well as for my family.

I am now off to clean out my cleaning supplies, PVC ridden toy box and inspect my household for other no-no's, your friendly neighborhood hippie mom.

Facts from fiction

Hello,

My name is "Bwings" and I am a modern Hippie. 

Silly Survey Sunday #36 Flowerchild

What does that mean to me? Well let's break it down.

A hippie is generally accepted as the pseudo-hippie. As a default people hear the word "hippie" and it brings to mind images of frail people dancing in a field with thin framed, rose lensed glasses. Painting on rocks and each other images of flowers and peace signs. Laying back enjoying the drugs that grow naturally all the while protesting anything and everything that can be protested. And doing so barefoot with long untamed hair bouncing as they prance.

Most of these statements do not suit me. I do have long flowing hair, it is not a statement, it is an expensive fashion accessory that my s.o. enjoys. I do enjoy running around barefoot and when and where possible I do so. I am a vegetarian and am always looking into what I'm eating and what it might do to my body. As of recently I am growing more and more concerned with what I use to clean my house, my daughter and my general surroundings. As I find out new scary facts I feel the need to further change my lifestyle. With each change I see myself quickly being categorized as a hippie. I'm not completely bothered by that although I worry some might categorize and diminish my knowledge to be that of a flakey flowerchild. I don't just accept data I search, research and occasionally my opinion has been swayed.
I don't hold by all the "go green" things and am not (as of now) excruciatingly anal.

I don't force my beliefs on others and offer facts for them to form their own opinions, but only to those closest to me or those requesting it.

I'm not perfect, my house isn't perfect, but I do what I can to get there. In short, I am human, I do not eat the flesh of the living. It is a choice I have made originally from a moral standpoint, but as the years go by it morphs into a reason of health in addition to the morals attached.

I welcome thoughts, opinions and facts regarding my postings, it is a free country, big brother isn't yet watching.


Your neighborhood hippie mom

First Post

This blog is under construction. This could take months with my 1 year old in the house. My priorities, as of late, are not in my internet or hobby life. My priorities are with my family, my daughter and her health and well being.

So what will this blog involve in the future?
That is quite easy to answer, a lot more difficult to complete. I intend to utilize this blog as an outlet for green speak and vegetarian discussion. I will never push my morals or values on anyone but I will always offer them out there for those who wish to listen and perhaps learn from my findings. I in turn welcome your feedback.

My daughter is climbing my lap requesting my attention. So until then I leave you with promises of a blog to follow.

Until then, live healthy and wise.

Bwings, your friendly neighborhood hippie.