I haven't posted here in forever, so for the sake of simplicity, I'm directing anyone who cares to follow over to my most active (but still somewhat neglected) blog Here Comes Trouble. See you on the flip side.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Sunday, January 22, 2012
A new look
I'm resurrecting this blog and giving it a new look. It's been a long time since my last post. A lot has happened. Jesse is 4 now, and doing fabulous. He still has his PDD-NOS diagnosis, but quite honestly, the vast majority of people wouldn't know there was anything "different" about him. He's a talkative, active, happy little boy. And we've added our sweet baby boy Quinn to our family. He was born this past March. He started out a very easy, laid back baby, but has recently developed into an active, not-so-easy-yet-still-happy almost toddler. I love him to pieces. We've also moved..."home" is now my parents new house. We're keeping it warm until they move home from Qatar. We're not sure when that'll be, but we're saving for a down-payment for our forever home, which we're hoping to buy whenever they decide they miss the cold weather. In the mean time, I'm going to keep trying to "go green" and reduce the toxins my family is exposed to in and around our home.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Calgon take me away!
I could have used an escape from my life this past week...or at least on Wednesday. Our hot water heater conked out and started spewing hot water in our basement. Not good. Our basement isn't exactly your typical unfinished storage area type basement. It's completely finished. It has our family room (which includes our office area and Jesse's therapy space), a large 1/2 bath with a laundry closet, and a large storage room. Even though there wasn't a ton of water, and the flood was caught relatively early, there was still a fair bit of damage. All the flooring has to go, except for the storage are (that remains to be seen). The aspenite that was damaged needs to be replaced, and some of the dry wall has to go as well. The basement needs to be repainted throughout.
While we were planning on redoing the basement with new flooring and paint within the next year, we weren't planning on it this soon. Luckily, insurance will cover all but a $500 deductible. But they'll only pay to replace what was here, or something comparable in cost. So that means carpet and vinyl flooring. We were hoping for something like hardwood or cork and ceramic tile. But that's just not going to be in the card, cost-wise. So the flooring guy who showed up today suggested we go with laminate for the family room (a high quality laminate, that is...it really does look a lot like hardwood) and fiberfloor for the bathroom. Fiberfloor is apparently made of fiberglass. It's good in that it's affordable, easy to install, doesn't require glue, and is nearly indestructible. I'm having a difficult time finding info on its safety profile though.
***sigh***
I so wish I could go with hardwood and tile.
As for paint, I'm determined to go with no/low-VOC paint. I haven't heard great things about durability, however. Hopefully we'll find something that works out well.
On a positive note, I'm hoping this will help us kick off our home renos that we've been planning on doing for a while now.
While we were planning on redoing the basement with new flooring and paint within the next year, we weren't planning on it this soon. Luckily, insurance will cover all but a $500 deductible. But they'll only pay to replace what was here, or something comparable in cost. So that means carpet and vinyl flooring. We were hoping for something like hardwood or cork and ceramic tile. But that's just not going to be in the card, cost-wise. So the flooring guy who showed up today suggested we go with laminate for the family room (a high quality laminate, that is...it really does look a lot like hardwood) and fiberfloor for the bathroom. Fiberfloor is apparently made of fiberglass. It's good in that it's affordable, easy to install, doesn't require glue, and is nearly indestructible. I'm having a difficult time finding info on its safety profile though.
***sigh***
I so wish I could go with hardwood and tile.
As for paint, I'm determined to go with no/low-VOC paint. I haven't heard great things about durability, however. Hopefully we'll find something that works out well.
On a positive note, I'm hoping this will help us kick off our home renos that we've been planning on doing for a while now.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
A soft place to rest his sweet head....
Thanks to a very resourceful friend (you know who you are!) I'm finally getting a safe, healthy pillow for Jesse bed! It's made of shredded latex rubber with an organic cotton cover. It's naturally antibacterial, hypo-allergenic, and dust mite resistent. It's also machine washable! If you want one, go fast! The store I'm getting it for is going out of business. It's www.kidbean.com
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Another drive-by post
I've been horrible about updating this blog. We've been so busy this past month with doing the autism training and working on hiring a home therapist for Jesse, that most everything else has fallen by the wayside. Hopefully I'll catch you all up soon! We've been working on some things related to this blog...mostly focusing on our food and personal care products. I will definitely try to update more this weekend!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Quick update!
I don't have much time right now, but I thought I'd add a quick update.
I've gotten rid of my plastic cutting boards! Yay! I found a pair of Canadian maple wood cutting boards at Costco for about $15 total. They're really nice!
I'm also in the process of getting rid of all of my canned goods. No more BPA! Only problem is, what do I do with it all? I want to donate it, but then, am I passing the buck? I feel bad! But then, food pantries WANT canned goods, right? Oh, the dilemma!
I also got my Frontier co-op order from The Mamas co-op. Really awesome stuff! I got some organic fruit and veggie wash, some Earth Mama Angel Baby body wash/shampoo for Jesse, some natural deoderant for myself, some non-toxic make-up, some Kiss My Face toothpaste and hand soap for Jesse, and lot of other good stuff. I also got my EcoNuts natural laundry detergent. I'll have to take a picture later to show you.
I also just placed another order with Lands End for an organic cotton blanket for Jesse's bed. Until the end of today, you can get 25% off one item with free shipping. The blanket that would have cost $90 only cost me $60.
In other news, I still haven't gotten around to finishing Jesse's wool mattress protector. I have to figure out what to do with it. I'll probably just cut it to the size of the mattress and hem over the edges. I'll definitely post pictures when it's done!
I've gotten rid of my plastic cutting boards! Yay! I found a pair of Canadian maple wood cutting boards at Costco for about $15 total. They're really nice!
I'm also in the process of getting rid of all of my canned goods. No more BPA! Only problem is, what do I do with it all? I want to donate it, but then, am I passing the buck? I feel bad! But then, food pantries WANT canned goods, right? Oh, the dilemma!
I also got my Frontier co-op order from The Mamas co-op. Really awesome stuff! I got some organic fruit and veggie wash, some Earth Mama Angel Baby body wash/shampoo for Jesse, some natural deoderant for myself, some non-toxic make-up, some Kiss My Face toothpaste and hand soap for Jesse, and lot of other good stuff. I also got my EcoNuts natural laundry detergent. I'll have to take a picture later to show you.
I also just placed another order with Lands End for an organic cotton blanket for Jesse's bed. Until the end of today, you can get 25% off one item with free shipping. The blanket that would have cost $90 only cost me $60.
In other news, I still haven't gotten around to finishing Jesse's wool mattress protector. I have to figure out what to do with it. I'll probably just cut it to the size of the mattress and hem over the edges. I'll definitely post pictures when it's done!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Avoiding BPA
Getting back to the Top 10 Ways to Detoxify, I thought I'd pick something that's relatively quick and easy. So here's to #4: Avoid plastics with Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A, or simply BPA, is a known hormone disruptor. According to Toxic Nation, studies have linked low-dose BPA exposure with such effects as: permanent changes to genital tract; increase prostate weight; decline in testosterone; breast cells predisposed to cancer; prostate cells more sensitive to hormones and cancer; and hyperactivity. You can watch the CBC's documentary The Disappearing Male for a more in-depth description of the effect BPA (and other chemicals, such as phthalates) are having on our world.
The first step in ridding your home of as much BPA as possible is to identify which items in your home contain BPA. It is used to make polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers, plastic food wrap, and epoxy resins that are used to line metal cans for food. Look on the bottom of your polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers. If they are labelled with recycling symbol #7 they may contain BPA. The BPA in these containers leaches from the plastic, particularly when the container is heated, or when the plastic becomes scratched.
One common source of BPA in the homes of young families has been plastic baby bottles. Early on, I stocked up on Avent bottles to go with my Avent Isis hand pump. All of it contained BPA. When Jesse was just a few months old, a report was published linking BPA to adverse health effects. Stores in Canada then voluntarily removed all BPA-containing baby bottles from their shelves, and many stores offered refunds on BPA containing bottles. I returned all of ours. Since then, the federal government has taken steps to ensure that baby bottles no longer contain BPA. You can find out more information about Canada's BPA regulations here. If you need to use formula, or give your child breastmilk in a bottle, there are now many BPA free plastic baby bottles on the market, or you have the option of using glass baby bottles. I'm personally a fan of Born Free bottles. They have both BPA free plastic and glass options. They are quite pricey though. If you're on a tighter budget, you might want to try the Evenflo glass bottles. They're quite good, and a fraction of the cost of Born Free. (And they have the added benefit of fitting on Medela and Ameda breast pumps.) When your child moves on to a sippy cup, stainless steel is a great option. We like the Safe Sippy. It's much less breakable than glass for your kiddo on the move.
Replacing other BPA containers in your home is also fairly easy. You can replace your BPA containing water bottle with a BPA free plastic bottle, or go with stainless steel yourself. You can also replace your plastic food containers with glass. If they have plastic lids, ensure they are made of a safe plastic (I'll get to this later). You can also make sure the lids do not touch your food, and don't place them in the microwave or dishwasher. And it should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway - don't place them in the oven either, since they'll melt.
As for canned foods, you'll want to avoid as many of those as possible. Use fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, rather than canned. They taste better and are better for you. Many soups can now be found in juice-type boxes. You can find many sauces now in glass bottles. Beans can be bought dried (and as I found out last night, they're quite easy to prepare!) Or, if you can find them in your area, use Eden Foods BPA-free canned goods.There are so many options out there!
And since BPA isn't the only harmful chemical found in plastic, I thought I'd throw this in here too. Care2 has a handy little chart of the different plastics, what they are, and how they compare (bad, OK, good). Read it, take note of it, and make sure you check any plastics you bring into your home.
If you're looking to replace plastic food and beverage containers, check your local stores to see what they have. I've found great success at Canadian Tire for glass food containers. I also check Green Baby Bargains daily as they often sell Safe Sippys and other safe food and beverage containers for children at greatly reduced prices. Life Without Plastic has a great selection of various plastic alternatives. They ship from both Canada and the US, so you can avoid paying customs fees for these. If anyone knows of any other great options, please let me know in the comments section and I'll add it in.
The first step in ridding your home of as much BPA as possible is to identify which items in your home contain BPA. It is used to make polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers, plastic food wrap, and epoxy resins that are used to line metal cans for food. Look on the bottom of your polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers. If they are labelled with recycling symbol #7 they may contain BPA. The BPA in these containers leaches from the plastic, particularly when the container is heated, or when the plastic becomes scratched.
One common source of BPA in the homes of young families has been plastic baby bottles. Early on, I stocked up on Avent bottles to go with my Avent Isis hand pump. All of it contained BPA. When Jesse was just a few months old, a report was published linking BPA to adverse health effects. Stores in Canada then voluntarily removed all BPA-containing baby bottles from their shelves, and many stores offered refunds on BPA containing bottles. I returned all of ours. Since then, the federal government has taken steps to ensure that baby bottles no longer contain BPA. You can find out more information about Canada's BPA regulations here. If you need to use formula, or give your child breastmilk in a bottle, there are now many BPA free plastic baby bottles on the market, or you have the option of using glass baby bottles. I'm personally a fan of Born Free bottles. They have both BPA free plastic and glass options. They are quite pricey though. If you're on a tighter budget, you might want to try the Evenflo glass bottles. They're quite good, and a fraction of the cost of Born Free. (And they have the added benefit of fitting on Medela and Ameda breast pumps.) When your child moves on to a sippy cup, stainless steel is a great option. We like the Safe Sippy. It's much less breakable than glass for your kiddo on the move.
Replacing other BPA containers in your home is also fairly easy. You can replace your BPA containing water bottle with a BPA free plastic bottle, or go with stainless steel yourself. You can also replace your plastic food containers with glass. If they have plastic lids, ensure they are made of a safe plastic (I'll get to this later). You can also make sure the lids do not touch your food, and don't place them in the microwave or dishwasher. And it should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway - don't place them in the oven either, since they'll melt.
As for canned foods, you'll want to avoid as many of those as possible. Use fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, rather than canned. They taste better and are better for you. Many soups can now be found in juice-type boxes. You can find many sauces now in glass bottles. Beans can be bought dried (and as I found out last night, they're quite easy to prepare!) Or, if you can find them in your area, use Eden Foods BPA-free canned goods.There are so many options out there!
And since BPA isn't the only harmful chemical found in plastic, I thought I'd throw this in here too. Care2 has a handy little chart of the different plastics, what they are, and how they compare (bad, OK, good). Read it, take note of it, and make sure you check any plastics you bring into your home.
If you're looking to replace plastic food and beverage containers, check your local stores to see what they have. I've found great success at Canadian Tire for glass food containers. I also check Green Baby Bargains daily as they often sell Safe Sippys and other safe food and beverage containers for children at greatly reduced prices. Life Without Plastic has a great selection of various plastic alternatives. They ship from both Canada and the US, so you can avoid paying customs fees for these. If anyone knows of any other great options, please let me know in the comments section and I'll add it in.
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