My Special Place

I believe that everyone needs some time to themselves, especially mommies! This might be a bit selfish (some have told me that it's healthy though), but I've always made some time for just me. If I've always tending to people or things around me, at some point, I'll crash, and it's just better for everyone when I prevent that by taking time out to tend to Me!

My "special" place (for quiet/alone or regrouping time) is actually at the gym! I can't seem to get alone time in my house! This gives me an extra motivation to exercise, to get my body and my mind in better shape! I can have at least 20 minutes on a machine to get my legs going but to refocus my mind -- often I pray, and some times I just try to sort through all the different ideas in my head.

Photo Credit: Image: Boaz Yiftach / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Cold - Flu - Allergies?!? = Yuck

This month has been a bit of a blur of tissues, coughing, sneezing, Nyquil, and major sinus issues. The sickness hit us around Thanksgiving and finally is easing its grip on us! No amount of handwashing kept the bug away. I think the little one caught it first, and then it was passed around -- I have a strong hunch that once someone started to feel better, the virus mutated and attacked again because my husband and I had the hardest time trying to shake it! We went through a bottle of apple cider vinegar, and I even tried "Sovereign Colloidal Silver," which according to the man at the health food store, is a natural sort of antibiotic...still trying to find out more about that! Anyways, I sure hope we've done our time for feeling yucky this cold/flu season!

ecoSTORE Review

I'm trying to learn more about these chemicals which I use, and I wrote about toxic chemicals here, more often than not, and figure out how to replace them with healthier options so that our lives and health won't be so easily compromised. A representative from ecoSTORE asked if I'd review a couple of their products, and it was only then that I googled (or swagbucked) the various ingredients found in my main-stream baby product versus the ecoSTORE product. It was disheartening, but it makes me want to learn even more about what I'm putting on my skin or on my baby's skin.

I realize there are several companies like ecoSTORE who have 100% organic or non-toxic products, and I want to thank them for propelling me to investigate "household chemicals" more.

Maggie at ecoSTORE allowed me to choose two products, and I received the Sleepytime Aromatherapy Bath and the Baby Nappy Balm (ecoSTORE is based in New Zealand!). One thing I really appreciate about the products is that I can understand and recognize the ingredients; I can see that there's Eucalyptus Globulus Oil in the SleepyTime Bath -- and you can definitely smell that too, which I do like! Both products worked just as well as the mainstream products did, and I honestly did feel much better about using these 100% organic products, with No Nasty Chemicals, on my sweet little girl.

Taken from their website (and it's backed up with other resources I found online --http://www.ecostoreusa.com/nonastychemicals.aspx

No Nasty Chemicals™

Of course ecostore products do contain chemicals - after all even water is a chemical. We just do everything we can to eliminate the nasty ones. Here's a list of some of the chemicals we avoid and why.

NO toxic petrochemicals

• overexposure to petrochemicals can contribute to health problems like skin irritations, eczema, allergies, weakened immune system (children with developing immune systems can be even more susceptible), chronic fatigue, endocrine system upsets and even cancer
• many petrochemicals persist in the environment and do not biodegrade
• petrochemicals are an unsustainable, non renewable resource

No Enzymes

• Synthetic enzymes are widely used in laundry products.
• They are effective at breaking down proteins and fat stains on clothes.
• Using enzymes means you can wash in cold water and you don't need as many harsh chemicals.
• We believe the downside of using synthetic enzymes in laundry products is more significant.
• If residual enzymes are trapped in your clothing/sheets/underwear they are up against your skin day and night.
• They can be reactivated by sweat and moisture - and start doing the job they were designed for - removing fats/protein - on your skin and potentially causing allergic reactions or other health complications.

NO Optical Whiteners

• These make clothes appear whiter and brighter by absorbing UV light and reflecting to make whites appear bluer.
• In order to work they need to stay in your clothes after washing.
• ecostore does not use optical whiteners because we believe they can cause an allergic reaction with your skin when exposed to sunlight.
• They also do not readily biodegrade and are toxic to aquatic life.

NO synthetic perfumes or dyes

• Dyes are generally used to make a product look more appealing.
• Perfumes are added to disguise odours and to impart a pleasant scent.
• In 99% of instances the colours and perfumes are not functional.
• We don’t use these ingredients as they are a common trigger for those who are chemically sensitive.
• They are almost always made from petroleum.
• They do not readily biodegrade and are toxic to fish and mammals.
• We use ingredients like lemon verbena in our cream cleanser or certified organic Eucalyptus oil in our laundry liquid and wool wash – as it not only gives a fresh clean smell to your clothes it is also an active ingredient.

NO Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

• SLS is a surfactant which is widely used in cleaning detergents and body care products, including toothpaste, shampoo, flowing soaps and shower gels and dishwashing liquid.
• It imparts foam and viscosity; it’s also a strong detergent to remove soiling. It strips oils and fats efficiently.
• We do not use this ingredient in our products because we believe that if SLS is absorbed through the skin then penetration can include systemic tissues such as the brain, heart, spleen and liver.
• SLS in your hair products could be increasing the rate of skin absorption of other chemicals used – like detergents, preservatives, fragrances and colour additives

NO Phosphates*

• These stimulate excessive growth of plants and algae in our waterways
• Phosphates can build up and endanger aquatic life
  
  *Analytical analysis may sometimes reveal minute traces of phosphates in some of our products. We never add phosphates but some of the raw materials used in production can contain very low levels of phosphates.
  During the processing of certain raw materials by our suppliers, phosphates are used to aid production i.e. soften water. Unfortunately some phosphate is then chemically bound into the final product, which is then supplied to our factory as a raw material. For example when using our laundry powder there may be a tracel amount of phosphate present during the wash cycle. This would be no more than approximately 0.1 grams which is significantly lower than many leading supermarket brands.
  Even though we have very low levels of detectable phosphate, we are always reviewing ingredient options with the aim of eliminating the phosphate content.

NO Chlorine

• as a result of chlorine production and use, many highly toxic organochlorines have been created which can persist in the environment for decades.
• many orgnanochlorines are known endocrine disrupters, some mimic oestrogen and are linked to certain cancers.

NO Ammonia

• an irritant that can affect the skin, eyes and respiratory passages
• adds nitrogen to the environment which can be harmful to plants, fish and animals

NO TEA, DEA or MEA

• Triethanolamine, Diethanolamine or Monoethanolamine are ammonia derivatives
• they are thought to have hormone disrupting effects
• they are possibly carcinogenic when combined with nitrates present in other products

NO parabens

• Parabens are chemical preservatives used in skin care, hair care and cosmetics to stop mould by preventing normal biological activity.
• Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl and Butyl parabens were found to be mildly oestrogenic which means they have the ability to mimic female hormones in your body when applied to the skin
• Parabens occur in so many products that they could have a cumulative effect

NO propylene glycol

• This ingredient can be irritating to the skin

You can follow ecoSTORE on Twitter and on Facebook. Their products can be purchased online (with free shipping on orders over $25) and also at Meijer (one of my favorites!) and Duane Reade.


****This is not a paid post. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Maggie at ecoSTORE who provided the products for the review.****

Thoughtful Healthy Living - Coconut Oil

Healthy living does not happen by accident -- it often takes time, research, and understanding to make those steps to better, healthier living.

And coconut oil is something that I've recently been introduced to -- thanks to a nutritionist -- and am excited to incorporate into our diet. Coconut oil is very new to me because I've grown up with the idea that vegetable and canola oils are healthy options. Little did I know that these processed oils are actually overly heated and processed so much that the oil became rancid and full of harmful free radicals; even though "vegetable" and "canola" sound harmless and healthy (thanks to excellent marketing), they've been over-processed (heated, deodorized, etc.). According to a nutritionist I spoke to, the best options for oils are ones that are cold-pressed (not overly heated) and/or organic, like tallow (which I know nothing about!), coconut oil, unrefined sunflower oil, and olive oil.

From what I've found online, people rave about the benefits of coconut oil. Some take straight coconut oil (or add it to a smoothie) to lose weight! Others see the health benefits for the heart, liver, and immune system. Since I'm just a newbie, I'll have to wait and see! What do you think about coconut oil?!?

Oh, and later on this week, I'll be hosting a giveaway for Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil -- be sure to come back and enter!

Pedia-Lax® Fiber Gummies Review and Giveaway!

Introduced in 2009, Pedia-Lax® Fiber Gummies, are a daily fiber supplement made just for kids by Fleet®, a trusted brand for digestive health for more than 100 years. Intended for children ages 2-11, Pedia-Lax® provides up to six grams of fiber daily (3 gummies). It's sugar-free, and tastes like other gummies, and I've had a quite a few fruit snacks recently!

Pedia-Lax® Fiber Gummies has been awarded the influential PTPA Media Inc.’s Seal of Approval for excellence in family products.

Now through November 30, 2010, visit www.fibergummies.com to enter the Pedia-Lax^® Fiber Gummies “Keep Kids Moving” sweepstakes for a chance to win one of six prize packages, including a $1,200 gift certificate to the online bike store www.Bikes4Families.com , Nintendo Wii’s and other great games/activities!

Also on ther website, you can get tips on incorporating more fiber into your family's diet and also some easy-to-make recipes!

Buy It!
Suggested retail price is $7.99 for a bottle of 60 gummies; available at Target and Walgreens, also online and other drugstores, supermarkets and retailers nationwide. For more information and to get a $1.00 off coupon, visit www.fibergummies.com or www.facebook.com/fibergummies.

Win It!!
You can also win a bottle of Pedia-Lax® Fiber Gummies by sharing how many servings of fruits & veggies you/ your children get each day! This is required and must be done before extra entries count! As always, please leave your email address with each entry.

Open to US only.

EXTRA ENTRIES!

You can do any of these for an extra entry. Make sure to leave a separate comment for EACH thing you do, along with your email address.

1 - For ONE extra entry, Follow me via Google Friend Connect.
2- For ONE extra entry, Follow me on Twitter.

3- For ONE extra entry, Follow Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies on Twitter.

4 - For ONE extra entry, Be my Friend on Facebook.
5- For ONE extra entry, Like Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies on Facebook
6 -For ONE extra entry, Subscribe to my blog via email.

Contest ends at 10pm EST on Sunday, October 24, 2010 when I will draw a winner at random. PLEASE leave your email address in your entry. I will notify the winner, and s/he will have 36 hours to respond!

****This is not a paid post. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Robin Leedy & Associates, on behalf of Pedia-Lax® , who supplied the products for the review and giveaway!****