Safer Nail Polish

I say safer, because if you really don't want toxic chemicals on your nails, which in turn can leach into your body, then don't put ANY nail polish on.

Sadly, even the least toxic polishes still have some stuff in them that I would prefer not to put in my body if given the choice.  However, there are events that would require a bit more dressing up, and nail polish is a necessity, toxins and all.

For those events, I have found a brand of polish, Honeybee Gardens, that is reasonably priced ($7 a bottle), can be removed with simple rubbing alcohol from your medicine cabinet and dries quickly.

I have two colors so far in the polish, a bubble gum pink called Valentine (not pictured) and Goddess, a frosty plum (pictured below)

I've been using these polishes exclusively for about 6 months.  They work well for me and it was an easy transition to this brand from standard nail polish.  However, I have found that the longer you leave this polish on, the harder it is to take off.  When I mean "harder to take off" I mean it takes me a good 15 minutes to get the polish off my nails instead of about 5 with standard polish.  It does state this on the product label as well.

Overall, its been a good transition for me to a less toxic product.

I did come across another brand of less toxic nail polish called Aquarella, but it was more expensive and dictated that you needed their brand of polish remover to get the polish off.  Maybe at some point I will give that brand a try....as for now, Honeybee Gardens polish works just fine.

Natural Deodorant Update

Back in November last year, I made the switch to homemade deodorant.  Its worked pretty well for me.  There was an adjustment period that I went through since it is deodorant and not anti-perspirant.....It took a while to get used to having wet armpits now and then.  And if I would have a particularly stressful day, I would begin to get a little "stinky" about the time I was on my way home from work, ugh.

Surprisingly, its only been 11 months since I started using homemade deodorant and I've only had to make 2 batches of the stuff - it really lasts a long time!

My husband tried it a few times, but it didn't seem to be strong enough for him - he was stinky by afternoon.  I did play with the ratios of the ingredients on the second batch thinking I could make it more potent, but it didn't seem to work as well.  I cut back on the amount of coconut oil in it too, but I don't think that helped much either.

A few months back i found a website, Bubble & Bee Organics, that makes a non-toxic deodorant.  Looking at the ingredients list, its almost the same.  I had purchased a stick of it for my husband to try, since I was having trouble concocting a homemade deodorant that would work for him.

He tried it, but wasn't impressed.  So, it sat on his dresser for a few more months.  

And a week ago, I saw it and got curious (nevermind, that I was getting low on my homemade deodorant and was brainstorming new ratios to try on the next batch)

So I used it.  It had a very bright lemony smell, which I didn't mind.  

It worked pretty good!  Actually, it worked better than my version!  Ha!

I think I'm over trying to figure out the correct ratios - Bubble and Bee apparently have it right.  I've been converted.  I've been using this ever since.

UPDATE (5/10/2013) - Still using this wonderful Super Pit Putty from Bubble & Bee Organics.  I recently discovered that after applying the deodorant to my underarms, if I would rub the product into the skin and make sure it got smeared all over my armpit equally that completely stopped my random "stinky" moments.  Since making the switch to natural deodorant, I find that I don't sweat nearly as much as I used to when I first started (unless I just went for a 5 mile run, obviously) if I even sweat at all.  My hubby is still using conventional deodorant, but I have just found a new concoction to try on him.  Its a mixture of grain alcohol and Tea Tree Essential Oils sprayed on your pits.  It came recommended by another guy.  Stay tuned for the results!  :)

Wait a minute, what side are you on Monsanto?

Monsanto, a biotechnology company has contributed over $4.2 million dollars to try to defeat the upcoming vote on Labeling GMO foods in California (Proposition 37).

But according to the advertisement below, they are in support of labeling GMOs in the United Kingdom.

Uh, what ?

Here's the advertisement, taken from Monsanto's own website in the UK:

Monsanto's Advertisement

Baby Wipes

I recently came across a list of natural/non-toxic baby wipes that a young mom had put together and posted. It was such a plethora of great information, I thought I'd share.  She lists several different brands of baby wipes,  attributes AND how to purchase/find in stores.

A wealth of info for mommies, all in one convenient place!

Here's the link: click here

Just FYI we use the California Organics brand - and are very happy with them.  My only gripe with them is that HEB runs out of them on occasion and they are not flush-able.  Other than that, they are great!  And they make great makeup remover cloths too!

Diet Soda

Scary...

This was a very unsettling article I recently read via the Organic Consumers Association.  

Stop Syngenta's Insecticidal 'Bt' Genetically Engineered Corn

Four Reasons to Avoid Non-Organic Corn and Processed Foods Containing Corn or Corn-Sweeteners:

1. GMO "Bt" corn produces its own insecticide. It kills bugs, bad bugs and good bugs alike, including beneficial insects like honeybees, ladybugs and butterflies.

2. Inhaled Bt has caused severe allergies in farmworkers while GMO Bt corn pollen has reportedly killed peasants in the Philippines. Besides setting off serious allergies in farmworkers inhaling Bt, in 2003, five people living around Bt corn fields in the Philippines died and dozens became ill with fever and respiratory, intestinal and skin problems. Subsequently, 38 individuals had their blood analyzed and all were positive for antibodies specific to Cry1Ab, suggesting an immune reaction to genetically engineered Bt toxins.

3. GMO Bt corn livestock feed kills animals. In 1996, Syngenta abruptly terminated a US Bt corn feeding study after four cows died in two days. Later, Syngenta paid a German farmer 40,000 euros in partial compensation for dead cows, decreased milk yields, and vet costs incurred during authorized field tests from 1997 to 2002.

4. More than 80% of women and their unborn children have GMO Bt toxins in their blood! Most Americans probably have no idea how much corn they're eating, but with all the high-fructose corn syrup, corn oil, and food from animals raised on corn, it's little wonder that so many of us have GMO Bt toxins coursing through our blood.

Please, encourage everyone you know to stop eating non-organic corn and help get this stuff banned - or at least labeled!

There are already 16 different GMO Bt varieties of corn cultivated in this country - even though many other countries ban Bt crops. Now, Syngenta wants another approved.

Stop Syngenta's Insecticidal Genetically Engineered Corn!

Support Proposition 37 - Don't give away the right to know what's in your food