I found myself using the dreaded toxic options ‘for special occasions’ until a friend recommended Nine Naturals. With four simple ingredients, both my husband and I found a satisfactory alternative to chemical land. The product is sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, BPA-free, triclosan-free, DEA-free, petrochemical-free and contains no artificial chemicals, dyes or synthetic fragrance. It’s nice to know that what you wash off in the shower isn’t contaminating the water supply or otherwise harming the environment too.

Everyone’s chemistry is a little different but I hope this might at least be a common replacement for your more nuclear options. Admittedly, the research is inconclusive thus far on both the effect of aluminum (which blocks sweat from reaching surface of the skin and can promote both cancerous and non-cancerous cell growth in breasts by affecting estrogen levels) and parabens (concentrations of which are found in breast tumors). However, research was inconclusive on smoking once upon a time too. Go with your gut.

INGREDIENTS: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Non-nano Zinc Oxide, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

For example, this fantastic patterned wallpaper done in a powder room by Kate Coughlin Interiors.

Accented with inexpensive pops of orange and some great vintage sconces, it’s elegant and pulled together.

She accomplished the same thing in this dining room with a simple but chic blue geometric pattern. For less expensive fabric options, check out Sultan Pepper in Sapphire and Mazing Grace in Aqua at Loom Decor. Notice the rest of the room is a basic white – focus is on the wood and blue accents from the fabric, china and artwork.

And ladies, it doesn’t need to be Canton china. Antique and junk shops are great places to find inexpensive ceramics to compliment your fabrics.

By keeping wall color simple, you leave your options open and save money. It’s easy for you or an inexpensive local hire to slap on a coat of Benjamin Moore Decorators White. A halfway decent job will look fabulous.

Inspiration can come from anywhere – your favorite dress, a scarf or a life saving flotation device, as in this Loom room inspired by Americana:

White washed walls create a blank canvas for punchy fabrics like Foxy and the Hound in Red with a grounding print like April Showers in Cherry.

For some fall inspiration, check out this closet of rich, cozy plaids and neutrals in Ralph Lauren’s new Alpine Lodge collection.

Loom channels this warmth with patterns like Big Zig, Great Scott – Latte and La Crossed in Birch, all available now.

Loom makes it so simple to do. It’ll look like you spent a fortune for the experts but you can take all the credit!

From Inkslinger’s post, “Healthy Stuff examined 179 garden hoses, gloves, kneeling pads, and tools, and found that over 70% of those tested had chemical levels of ‘high concern.’ There were phthalates, flame retardants, and bisphenol-a (BPA) in hoses; heavy metals in garden tools; chlorine in gloves, and lead all over the place—some 30% of the products contained levels above 100 ppm, the federal threshold for children’s products, and over half contained PVC, a plastic that frequently leaches its own set of pollutants.”

Read the full post here. In short, try these tips:

- Don’t store your hose in the sun & let it run for a bit before using it to clear out the old water that has absorbed a lot of the chemicals contained in the hose.

- Try to buy a natural rubber hose and gloves made of natural materials (no plastic or rubber components).

- Use gloves made of stainless steel (less likely to contain lead) or unpainted wood.

And for the love of peat, write your congress person so these toxic products are at least labeled if not banned!

California’s Prop 65 requires products sold in the state that contain one of 800 harmful chemicals to contain the label “a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects and other reproductive harm.” This is not required for products sold out of state though. We have a long ways to go but the swiftest way to affect change is with your wallet. Don’t buy this junk and let the companies know why you’re not purchasing the toxic tools they sell.

Happy Gardening!

The EWG recently added to it’s Dirty Dozen list. These are the items you’ll want to buy organic due since the pesticide exposure outweighs any health benefits:

1

Apples

 

2

Celery

 

3

Sweet bell peppers

 

4

Peaches

 

5

Strawberries

 

6

Nectarines
– imported

 

7

Grapes

 

8

Spinach

 

9

Lettuce

 

10

Cucumbers

 

11

Blueberries
– domestic

 

12

Potatoes

 

+

Green beans

 

+

Kale/Greens

 

The following have lower levels of pesticides:

1

Onions

 

2

Sweet Corn

 

3

Pineapples

 

4

Avocado

 

5

Cabbage

 

6

Sweet peas

 

7

Asparagus

 

8

Mangoes

 

9

Eggplant

 

10

Kiwi

 

11

Cantaloupe
- domestic

 

12

Sweet potatoes

 

13

Grapefruit

 

14

Watermelon

 

15

Mushrooms

 

Happy Summer!

 

Tara also points out that the greening need not stop at dual-paneled windows – a green household can help you lose weight, feel better, live longer and hopefully avoid diseases like cancer and other plagues that are caused by exposure to toxins and unhealthy living. This doesn’t mean you need to give up your favorite foods. On the contrary, try making them with only fresh, unprocessed ingredients. Organic fruits and vegetables really do taste much better than ones that have been genetically modified and sprayed with pesticides. Nothing is better than a cocktail with fresh mint picked from your own plant on the windowsill or back porch. Having your own little kitchen herb garden also means you’ll never run out of fresh basil or cilantro for guacamole. That’s reason enough for me.

Happy Earth Day!

As an alternative, we love these 100% organic mats by Under the Nile, which are handmade with leftover scraps from their clothing collection. It’s an efficient use of what would otherwise be wasted fabric and your little munchkin’s tummy time will be chemical-free. At $35, it’s cheaper than the average toxic foam mat. Thanks to Beth for sending this story along!

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has petitioned the FDA to also review other known carcinogens contained in the caramel coloring that companies like Coke and Pepsi use. This isn’t the caramel you make from sugar on the stove. As CSPI explains, the caramel color in soda is made by reacting sugar with ammonia and sulfites. At high temperature and pressure, these chemical reactions form 2-methylimidazole and 4 methylimidazole, which “in government-conducted studies, caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice or rats.

No thanks. I’ve got my bkr full of H₂O.

photo credit: Jorge Bach, CSPI

Lead is a neurotoxin and potentially carcinogenic. Thanks to Charlotte in Paris for pointing out that one of my favorites, Burt’s Bees tinted lip shimmer, does in fact contain lead. Blisstree lays it all out here noting that the Burt’s lip shimmers tested contained between .43 and 2.24 parts per million of lead. The average of the 400 lipsticks the FDA tested was 1.11 ppm. Among the top offenders were Cover Girl – Maximum Red, Revlon – Red Velvet and The Body Shop’s Garnet. For a full list, see below.

This is a reminder that we must all train ourselves to remember that “natural” means nothing. Naturally occurring chemicals can also be harmful. The best way to avoid ingesting these toxins is to read ingredients and do the research for yourself. The EWG skin deep database isn’t perfect either – do pay attention to the level of data contained and take ratings with a grain of salt. Vaseline for example is rated a O even though it contains petrolatum.  The Daily Green has a good guide on buying nontoxic lipsticks.

Coastal Classic Creations repeatedly comes up as a good nontoxic option but I have yet to try it. I’m still a recovering gloss addict.

Have a brilliant idea for nontoxic lipstick, gloss or tinted balm? Send me your favorites!

List of lead-laden lipsticks tested by the FDA:

^a Lipsticks selected are 20 of the same brands and shades analyzed by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=327¹¹)
^b Lot numbers embossed or printed on lipstick cases or end labels.
^c Results are for total lead content determined by FDA’s validated method [Reference 1].
^d Reported in units of µg Pb/g in Reference 1.
^e Combination of several lots.
^f Result not used for determining average value of lead content by FDA’s validated method.
^g No shade number on lipstick.
^h No lot number on lipstick.
 

FDA Analyses of Lead in Lipsticks – Expanded Survey

The following results for lead content in 400 lipsticks were obtained by Frontier Global Sciences, Inc., under a contract with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The lipsticks were purchased from retail stores between February and July 2010.

Initial Impressions does hard to find, heirloom quality work – not just on baby items, but wedding gifts and linens too. This charming Irish linen baby bib caught my eye. It’s so refreshingly elegant.

They also have cute, customizable stroller toys, monogrammed bibs and burps. 

Your little prince or princess will love these mini-arm chairs - more attractive than the average kid seat and just the ticket for your toddler to feel like they are part of the party.

 The Cutest Things has great burp cloths. You pick the ribbon, font and thread color.

Preppiest monogrammed clothes ever found at Buds n’ Branches, including this reversible  monogrammed Jon Jon. 

The ubiquitous Tiffany silver baby cup has always been a tradition in our family and never goes out of style. We actually use our cups - the more dents, the more character they have (and they look divine lined up with orange roses in them). Thirft/antique stores also sell old silver cups, which would be chic monogrammed with a new babe’s initials too.

You might have fun making something like this for your little person out of your old buttons or you can buy one on Etsy here. 

What baby isn’t ready for their own monogrammed Lily Koozie?

 Finally, these letter pillows from Serena and Lily are great for spelling initials or your message of love!