Unless...

 
Surprisingly, people often ask me...
Why I use cloth diapers on my child instead of disposables.
Why I am still nursing my daughter even though I am back at work.
Why I use reusable bags at the store, and glass containers instead of plastic Tupperware.

Well, I recently stumbled across this video. It's only 4 minutes and worth a watch. But this explains WHY I have made those choices for my family.

The world is not a safe place for our children...or us for that matter. EVERYTHING has toxins in it. Things that our babies put in their mouths, eat, inhale. Unfortunately the government can't keep up or turns a blind eye. That's why we need to advocate for our children. No one can do it but YOU. Your child depends on you to make those choices for her.

We are destroying our planet.We put so much garbage into landfills and so many chemicals into the air that our ozone layer and natural resources are becoming depleted. Global warming is real and it's not going away. People are increasing their carbon footprint and many don't care. Convenience has trumped health and social responsibility.

But  we can all do something about it.

The reason I like this video so much is because of the message. Yes, the world is a scary place full of toxins, and it may seem daunting and nearly impossible to keep all of them away. But that isn't an excuse to do nothing. I am not perfect by any means and I am the first one to admit that my home and lifestyle are not completely toxin free. Because to completely uproot your life to avoid toxins is hard. But slowly and surely I am working on it! And all it takes is one person to change one thing to start the process of living clean. Or a life event that makes you realize that if the world wasn't such a toxic place maybe things would be different (how exactly DID I "get" PCOS?)

That's why I write this blog and that's why I share my beliefs with others. I don't ever try to push my views on others (and I hope people don't ever feel like I am!) but rather I try to educate. Because if I help just ONE person change ONE thing then maybe they will convince someone else to change one thing. And so on. And hopefully someday the world will be a safer place for all of us. But without being educated about the scary truths in today's world nothing will ever change.

After all, as one of my favorite children's book says:

                             

It's not all that hard to make simple changes in your life. Some might work for you and some might not. And that's ok. The important thing is to remain educated. Pay attention to what you are bringing into your home. Even if you change one thing a month or year it's better than nothing!

Here are some small changes we have made that are do-able:

•  Replace household cleaning products with "green" options. 

Don't be fooled by brands like Seventh Generation and Method that claim to be green. While they are safer, they still contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. The best bet is simple cheap options like vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide! 

Some good recipes:
Vinegar and peroxide disinfectant
Homemade dishwasher detergent
Homemade bleach alternative

• Using cloth diapers 

Don't believe this is worth your time? Check out this post.

• Use certified organic cosmetics 

Again, don't be fooled by products that claim to be organic. Many companies still sneak in chemicals that are not organic! I am saddened to hear that Burt's Bees (one of our favorites) was recently purchased by Clorox :( I really hope this does not change the integrity of the products, but it doesn't look good. We have recently started using California Baby products in addition to my favorite CJs. I also just started using Dr. Bronner's which i really like for us! It is reasonably priced too!

•  Use reusable bags while shopping

This is a no brainer. Keep a few in your car and you will always have them. Who doesn't have at least 2 or 3 of these lying around? And those plastic bags you get if you forget your reusables? You CAN recycle them! Wegman's, Walgreen's and other stores have places where you can recycle them. Just don't throw them out!

• Switch to glass

We are currently in the process of replacing our plastic tupperware with glass. While not the cheapest switch, if you look for deals or do it  little at a time it isn't bad. And tupperware isn't cheap either so why not just go glass? Even if it is BPA free, every time you heat up plastic  it leaches out harmful chemicals into your food. No thank you! We like Wean Green lunch cubes. These are awesome! On Black Friday I got a whole set for very cheap! I use them for our lunches (no plastic bags!), in the fridge, freezer, and will eventually use them for baby food when I start making it for Charlotte.

• Try soap nuts (or another option for detergent)

Laundry detergents are notorious for harmful chemicals, dyes, brighteners, etc. All of these things get on your skin AND in our water supply. No thank you. There are plenty of options for detergents that work great and last forever that wont break the bank. Planet, Tiny Bubbles, & Soap nuts are my favorites. Planet is available at the Lexington co-op and Feel Rite. We bought a gallon in August and we are STILL using the same container. And we do a lot of laundry between 3 people and diapers. I use Planet on the diapers and Soap nuts on the other clothes.

According to http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/soapnuts.html:

Soap nuts are found in both the eastern and western hemispheres, but are native to India and Nepal. They have recently become a popular environmentally friendly alternative to chemical detergent, and are a gentle option for those with allergies to chemicals in regular detergents. They have traditionally been used as an expectorant, and in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema and psoriasis. Soap nuts contain saponin, a natural detergent. The soap nut shell absorbs water and releases the saponins which circulate as a natural surfactant in the wash water, freeing dirt, grime, and oils from clothing. 

Soap nuts last forever! They are cheap, natural, and make your clothes smell fresh and clean without buildup or residue! I highly recommend trying them out!


Again, remember, even products claiming to be natural have cancer causing chemicals. Check out this article about Tide Free and Gentle. There is also a good recipe for homemade laundry soap. I used to make my own but I liked Soap nuts better. Just personal preference!

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What do you to say to the New Year's Resolution of "Going Green?!" I challenge everyone to try to make just one change to your life and see where it takes you! I hope no one thinks I am being preachy with this post. (Then again it is my blog and I am allowed to write what I want, right?!) :) You can choose to read and see what I have to say or not. I will never try to push my beliefs on anyone, just try to educate because I am passionate about what I believe in. I hope that by sharing my passions that I might help change a mind or two. If I help someone make a small change in their life then I feel successful! Thanks for reading, as always!

Love and Laughs,

Danielle