I do, I need a new freezer.
Or rather, I need A chest freezer. I sold our old one a while back, it was too old for me, I want a newer, smaller, more energy efficient one. And today is pay day so I now have enough cash saved up to buy the freezer of my dreams.
Well, almost. I really dream of those beautiful upright freezers with fancy shelves but I don't have the available space or money for one of those so I settled on a $258 (after tax) GE chest freezer from Home Depot. The perfect size and price.
But, I'm greedy and I want to save even more money!
So I am bidding on a 10% off coupon for Lowe's on eBay - Home Depot accepts Lowe's coupons. It will cost anywhere between 0.01-$2.00 for the coupon once it closes tomorrow but will save me $23.80 bringing the price down to $231.88 after tax.
I then took a look around for discounted gift cards and found a $242.55 Home Depot coupon on Cardpool that I got for $223.15 - another 8% saved! This will pay for the freezer completely and leave me with $10.67 that I can put towards building supplies for the coffee table I'm working on! I would have had to buy them anyway!
And to top it all off I got 1% back from MrRebates for my Cardpool purchase and another 1% back from PayPal for using their card to buy my gift card. That's another $4.46 in savings right there! In the end I will get my $258 freezer for $208.02. Not too shabby especially since I had the $258 saved!
Choosing Safe Body Products
Have you heard of the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database? The Environmental Working Group has put together a database of thousands of cosmetic products; shampoos, conditioner, moisturizer, makeup, fragrance, toothpastes and sunblock. The database lists the ingredients of each product and gives them a rating 0-10 with 0 being absolutely safe and 10 being... well, you might as well just roll in petrol! Priceless for those of us trying to keep our homes and families as chemical free as possible.
I'll take one of the most popular baby washes out there as an example:
Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash
If you look at the rating overall and see that it's a 4 you might think that that's not so bad for a rating out of 10. The problem though is that that 4 is an average of each ingredients rating. If you look a little closer you'll see that there are many questionable ingredients in the 'baby safe' product:
Fragrance - rating: 8 Neurotoxicity, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Miscellaneous
Peg-80 Sorbitan Laurate - rating: 5 Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns
Quaternium-15 - rating: 6 Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns (FORMALDEHYDE), Use restrictions
Cocaminopropyl Betaine - rating: 5 Allergies/immunotoxicity, Ecotoxicology, Contamination concerns, Use restrictions
Sodium Laureth Sulfate - rating: 4 Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns
Tetrasodium EDTA - rating: 2 Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses
Now, I don't know about you but I don't want something known to be a neurotoxin, organ or immunotoxin anywhere near my child, let alone allover him.
So, what's a concerned mama to do? Take a look under the Babies & Moms tab and choose shampoo. You will find that every baby shampoo in the database is listed here, starting with those with a 0 rating. Our favorites are California Baby Shampoo and Bodywash and Earth Mama Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash. Neither has any ingredients over a 2 rating and those with 2 ratings are not things I am concerned with i.e. a lot of plant extracts etc are not good to use excessively but I have no issue personally with twice a week exposure to say Aloe Vera extract or Sweet Orange oil. While a bottle is more expensive than say Johnson's a little bit goes a loooong way. Our first bottle of California Baby shampoo lasted us well into P's second year! It was well worth it!
But don't stop there, why not take a look at all the other body products you use too. If something isn't listed take a look at the ingredients and search for anything you can't pronounce. How do your's stack up? Is there something you thought was 'safe' or 'natural' that really isn't? What do you plan to replace it with?
6
comments
Labels:
healthy home
Labels:
healthy home
Still Going Strong!
I posted over a week ago about how I was challenging myself to not use the dryer and am proud to announce that I have only had to use it once in the past two weeks! DH's work shirts needed to be dried quickly but other than that, all air dried! Can't wait to see if it makes a difference on our gas bill!
Do you line dry? Have you found that it does make a difference in your gas or electricity bill?
Do you line dry? Have you found that it does make a difference in your gas or electricity bill?
1 comments
Labels:
frugal,
healthy home,
healthy planet
Labels:
frugal,
healthy home,
healthy planet
BabyLegs Giveaway!!
I'm giving away two pairs of BabyLegs each to two lucky readers. That's FOUR PAIRS! I have over 20 of them sitting, waiting for a new home and they've waited long enough!
There are a few ways to enter:
** Leave a comment and let me know what you would most like to read more about on my blog? I'm always looking for new ideas!
** Follow Living, Loving, Learning Naturally over there ------> and leave a comment
** Follow my business Nature Nurture on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know that you did so!
Give away closes a week from today, 6/1/11 at 12pm CST. I will choose winners using a random number generator :) I'll email the winners with the choice between boy and girl pairs, or one of each (it could get complicated if I list out every kind I have!) and then send their surprise BabyLegs off to them! Open to US residents only.
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Labels:
giveaways
Labels:
giveaways
Menu Plan 5/23-5/30
It's almost pay day! Good thing too because I think I only have about $20 left to spend on groceries. Fortunately I have already paid for our big meat order that we pick up tomorrow, our freezer is looking a little sad! I ordered lots of grass fed beef, pastured pork and chicken breasts and 3 dozen pastured eggs!
Monday 5/23 - grilled organic chicken breasts on top of romaine from the garden. Potatoes and green beans from the garden on the side. I think I might marinate the chicken using this recipe from Our Best Bites
Tuesday 5/24 - breakfast for dinner - organic English muffins and/or toast, pastured eggs (poached for me and fried for the boys, or scrambled. Sigh lol) and fruit. I have stray English muffins and pieces of bread floating around that fridge that need to be eaten!
Wednesday 5/25 - Bolagnaise made with grass fed ground beef with organic whole wheat pasta
Thursday 5/26 - Beef and black bean tacos (I use 1lb beef, 2lbs beans), homemade tortillas, sour cream, tomato, lettuce and cilantro from our garden!
Friday 5/27 - Sunday 5/29 - dinner at the ILs! YAY! I will contribute some cinnamon rolls to the mess of yummy meals we're sure to be eating!
Monday 5/30 - leftovers from the ILs. Love that.
Looking forward to a weekend of swimming, playing and eating with my in-laws and all the cousins visiting from Dallas!
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Labels:
food,
meal planning
Labels:
food,
meal planning
Frankenfood
At least 80% of all processed foods in the United States contain one or more hidden genetically modified (GM) ingredients. Corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn flour and corn meal, canola oil, soy lecithin, tofu, soymilk, soybean oil, 'vegetable oil' (usually a corn, soy or canola mix), corn starch, artificial sweeteners, sugar UNLESS 'cane sugar', margarine, alfalfa, corn and soy fed livestock... Kelloggs, Post, Nestle, Enfamil, Similac, Dannon, Land O' Lakes, Yoplait, Kraft, General Mills, Quaker, Lean Cuisine, Stouffer's, Pam; the list of ingredients, brands and foods containing GMOs grows daily.
Gentically modified organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) foods contain DNA that has been altered and/or added by scientists. This DNA does NOT otherwise exist in nature in these crops. The DNA can be altered to do nearly anything and can contain genes from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals and even humans.
The method used to create these organisms i.e. GM corn, soy or canola, means that most, if not all GMOs contain antibiotic resistant genes. These genes are used as 'marker genes' and are attached to the DNA being inserted into the organism. The organisms are then tested and exposed to high levels of antibiotics. If the organism does not die when treated with antibiotics it has been successfully genetically modified. There have been no studies on the long-term health effects of these genes but some scientists believe consumption of these genes encourages gut bacteria to become antibiotic resistant.
Two thirds of all GE crops contain genes that make the plant 'Round-up Ready'. They have been genetically engineered to be resistant to Monsanto's Roundup herbicide. Sounds great doesn't it? Now they can spray the crops and only have the weeds die. But now the weeds are also becoming Roundup resistant making it so that MORE Roundup needs to be used and/or other chemicals are being added to the mix. The idea behind this modification was that it would mean less herbicides would need to be used on our food. But the opposite is now true. Furthermore, studies have shown Roundup ready foods to negatively effect the health and infant mortality rates of rats, rabbits and mice. Rats fed GM corn developed liver lesions and indication of toxicity. Rabbits fed Roundup ready Soy experienced altered liver enzyme production and rats fed Roundup ready canola were 12-16% heavier, possibly due to liver disease or inflammation. In fact, in these studies, virtually every organ including the testicles, of all animals studied, showed changes from GM diets.
Crops are also being altered to produce the Bt toxin; a gene extracted from bacteria that makes crops pest resistant. Scientists and corporations promoting the crops have maintained that it poses no health risk and simply breaks down in the human gut. A recent study done by the University of Sherbrooke in Canada however detected the toxin in the bloodstream of 93% of all pregnant women tested, 80% of fetuses and 69% of non-pregnant women tested. The toxin has also been found in trace amounts in the gut of livestock fed GM corn. A study done by Dr Lou Gallagher - an epidemiologist from New Zealand showed that rats fed the Bt toxin experienced organ and system damage (especially to the liver and/or heart) with elevated bilirubin levels, had ovaries half their normal weight, enlarged spleens and white blood cell counts 35-40% higher than normal indicating immune function alteration. The Bt toxin is also suspected of killing sheep, cows and chickens that accidentally ingested excess GE corn and may also play a role in Bee Colony Collapse.
The real kicker in all this, as if this weren't all enough, is that Monsanto and other biotech companies have patented these seeds and genes and now have a strangle-hold on small and not so small family farms. While they do not force farmers to buy and use their seed, they offer no forgiveness to those that end up with their non-GM crops cross pollinated by neighboring GM crops. This is considered theft under their patent laws and Monsanto can and has sued hundreds of farmers leaving them with hefty legal bills and fines. Most of these farmers cannot afford such things and eventually lose their farms, houses and livelihood to something they could not control. The wind. And Monsanto.
So why is all this allowed? Why doesn't the government fund any real, unbiased studies on the TRUE safety of these organisms? Why don't they take the studies that have been done seriously? And why are these ingredients not labeled? Money and politics. Monsanto have their hands in the pockets of nearly every government agency in the US. Former employees of Monsanto can now be found working in the Supreme Court, FDA, USDA and EPA just to name a few. While they may not be currently employed by Monsanto, most, if not all of these people still have stocks in the company and other similar companies. These people and their agencies are supposed to protect our food, health and environment but are instead making money off GMOs without any regard for their impact on the world.
This needs to stop. Americans need to know what they're eating. But what can we do?
Fight for stricter labeling laws. Nobody WANTS to eat GE food. Nobody would if they knew what it was! Most people don't even know they're eating it! Europe has very strict labeling laws in regards to GM ingredients and I noticed a lot of GM free labels in Australia, even on store brands, it can and is done elsewhere!
Vote with your pocketbooks. Buy GM free or 'non-GMO'. As a rule organic products are required to be GM free - whether or not the USDA enforces this? I don't know, but it's a good place to start. Read labels. If something contains corn, soy, canola or sugar besides 'pure cane sugar', it is likely genetically modified. Buy organic alternatives or look for brands that say they are GM free. Because it is not required by law you will not find any brand that notes which ingredients ARE GM but you will find brands that are proud of being non-GMO; The True Food Network and Non-GMO Project have created great 'Non-GMO Shopper's Guides' for those looking to avoid Frankenfood and support GM free brands. I also found this website quite helpful in distinguishing what is and isn't safe to eat. Millions Against Monsanto - Organic Consumers Association is another wonderful source for all things GM free.
If you're interested in knowing more about what's in the food you're feeding your family I urge you to watch Food Inc., The Future of Food, King Corn and any other food documentary you can find. Netflix has all of these and many more.
Do some research. Get angry. And get this rubbish out of your house. It has no place in our diets!
Growing What You Need
That's my ultimate goal; to grow all, or almost all, of the vegetables we eat
While I was outside picking my green beans the other night I wondered what the heck I was thinking when I planted FOUR bean plants for the three of us.
Did it not occur to me that the beans on each plant grow at different times and rates? So I had, I think, 6 beans to pick that night? They are in the fridge for a couple days to see if we can get a few more to join them for a meal! There may not be many of them but aren't they pretty?
Zucchini on the other hand, I have no shortage of. My fridge is still full of them! It's a good thing they're tasty! They have slowed down a little for the moment. I don't blame them, I have been removing squash borers from them almost daily. Fortunately, so far at least, I have caught them all when they were pretty small so not too much damage has been done. I am looking forward to the late summer planting, the squash borer moths don't seem to be around then.
We have 6-8 tomato plants that are coming along nicely. All of them have at least a few baby tomatoes on them - the cherry tomatoes are going nuts! I read a little last night on pruning to encourage fruit production so I gave that a shot and removed the 'suckers' that grow between the stems and the main trunk.
Our peppers are all doing well though we have no idea what each one actually is. The mystery is all part of the fun. Right?
And my single romaine lettuce? He's looking wonderful. Notice how all the leaves are missing from the bottom; we ate them. Love that you can pick what you need and they'll just keep on growing!
So, with everything growing nicely on its own right now I'm starting to think about how we would grow enough to feed us. I think that the following summer plantings would be adequate for the three of us to have going at any given time;
- 8 roma tomato plants, 4 slicers and 3 cherry tomato varieties
- 12 green beans
- 6-8 peas of different varieties
- 4 romaine lettuce, 4 swiss chard and a couple of rhubarbs for jam making
- 3 zucchini, 3 yellow squash plants - next year I will cover these to protect them from borers
- 2 or 3 eggplants - I hear they are very productive
- 5 colored bell pepper plants
- 2-3 cucumbers
I so wish we could grow corn but the logistics of planting it at a certain time to avoid GM contamination from other corn in the area is just a bit too much for me!
So far I have:
- sowed seeds for 2 more romaine lettuces and 3 swiss chards
- planted another 8 bean seeds and a handful of snow peas
- added 2 eggplant plants to the garden - they take a LONG time to get going so we bought the plants already started
- planted a couple cucumber plants - they seem to go crazy so I am thinking this will be enough since we won't pickle them or anything
For the late summer/fall planting we will add spinach, broccoli (does anyone know how to get it to actually grow the brocolli?), cauliflower, carrots, (small) potatoes, beetroot and bell peppers to the mess and see how those go!
I would love to be able to eat from our garden instead of the store, I think it's a reasonably attainable goal, don't you? Do you try to grow what you eat also? How is your garden doing this spring/summer?
While I was outside picking my green beans the other night I wondered what the heck I was thinking when I planted FOUR bean plants for the three of us.
Did it not occur to me that the beans on each plant grow at different times and rates? So I had, I think, 6 beans to pick that night? They are in the fridge for a couple days to see if we can get a few more to join them for a meal! There may not be many of them but aren't they pretty?
Zucchini on the other hand, I have no shortage of. My fridge is still full of them! It's a good thing they're tasty! They have slowed down a little for the moment. I don't blame them, I have been removing squash borers from them almost daily. Fortunately, so far at least, I have caught them all when they were pretty small so not too much damage has been done. I am looking forward to the late summer planting, the squash borer moths don't seem to be around then.
We have 6-8 tomato plants that are coming along nicely. All of them have at least a few baby tomatoes on them - the cherry tomatoes are going nuts! I read a little last night on pruning to encourage fruit production so I gave that a shot and removed the 'suckers' that grow between the stems and the main trunk.
Our peppers are all doing well though we have no idea what each one actually is. The mystery is all part of the fun. Right?
And my single romaine lettuce? He's looking wonderful. Notice how all the leaves are missing from the bottom; we ate them. Love that you can pick what you need and they'll just keep on growing!
So, with everything growing nicely on its own right now I'm starting to think about how we would grow enough to feed us. I think that the following summer plantings would be adequate for the three of us to have going at any given time;
- 8 roma tomato plants, 4 slicers and 3 cherry tomato varieties
- 12 green beans
- 6-8 peas of different varieties
- 4 romaine lettuce, 4 swiss chard and a couple of rhubarbs for jam making
- 3 zucchini, 3 yellow squash plants - next year I will cover these to protect them from borers
- 2 or 3 eggplants - I hear they are very productive
- 5 colored bell pepper plants
- 2-3 cucumbers
I so wish we could grow corn but the logistics of planting it at a certain time to avoid GM contamination from other corn in the area is just a bit too much for me!
So far I have:
- sowed seeds for 2 more romaine lettuces and 3 swiss chards
- planted another 8 bean seeds and a handful of snow peas
- added 2 eggplant plants to the garden - they take a LONG time to get going so we bought the plants already started
- planted a couple cucumber plants - they seem to go crazy so I am thinking this will be enough since we won't pickle them or anything
For the late summer/fall planting we will add spinach, broccoli (does anyone know how to get it to actually grow the brocolli?), cauliflower, carrots, (small) potatoes, beetroot and bell peppers to the mess and see how those go!
I would love to be able to eat from our garden instead of the store, I think it's a reasonably attainable goal, don't you? Do you try to grow what you eat also? How is your garden doing this spring/summer?
Working With Preschool Packs
I love love lurve 1+1+1=1: Tot School. It's filled to the brim with learning games and activities to do with kids of all ages! Everything we have tried off their website so far has been a hit with Mr. 3
I printed out the 'Transportation Preschool Pack' yesterday and P got straight to work with it that afternoon, did almost everything in it and kept asking for more! Preschool Packs cover all sorts of important skills in a way that appeals to kids; tracing, letter writing, matching, sequencing, coloring, number and letter recognition and more. I can't wait to try more of the packs out over the summer while we are home more together.
I did however find that after a few minutes on the first activity he would start to lose interest. So I took an idea from the blog and pulled out one of our old cookie sheets. I don't know what it is about cookie sheets but having his own little space to put everything really helped him focus on each task
The Toy Store and Fireman packs are next on our to-do list! What will you try out? If you have a little one not yet a 'preschooler' take a look around at their activities for younger kids, they're great too!
I printed out the 'Transportation Preschool Pack' yesterday and P got straight to work with it that afternoon, did almost everything in it and kept asking for more! Preschool Packs cover all sorts of important skills in a way that appeals to kids; tracing, letter writing, matching, sequencing, coloring, number and letter recognition and more. I can't wait to try more of the packs out over the summer while we are home more together.
I did however find that after a few minutes on the first activity he would start to lose interest. So I took an idea from the blog and pulled out one of our old cookie sheets. I don't know what it is about cookie sheets but having his own little space to put everything really helped him focus on each task
 |
| Lots of pieces! |
 |
| Matching cars with their shadows |
1 comments
Labels:
learning,
Tot School
Labels:
learning,
Tot School
My Line-Drying Challenge
I've been having a lot of fun the last week or so challenging myself to NOT use our dryer. I grew up without a dryer so I am generally a washing line supporter but I am also generally lazy.
We had to line dry our clothes in Australia and I kind of enjoyed hanging it all up, there's something oddly calming about it. The problem for us is that our HOA doesn't allow washing lines (earth haters) - a shame because I could get towels dry in an hour here in Texas! Instead we have a couple drying racks from IKEA.
Those bad boys are only $20! SO much cheaper than the drying racks you'll find other places, like Amazon and much better quality, bigger too.
I won't know if this little challenge is saving us any money for a while yet but I imagine it will take a few dollars off our gas bill.
Line drying is better for the environment as well as your wallet. They say it will make your clothes last longer too; tumble dryers are tough on fabrics though the sun can fade colors too. All our clothes are dried inside so that doesn't really come in to play for us. On the upside, the sun can also help remove stains from clothing and diapers! I also love the smell of line dried clothes!
I don't love the crunch of line dried clothes though. If your clothes and towels are a bit crunchy after line drying try adding vinegar to the rinse cycle or simply throw them in the dryer for a quick air fluff, that's what I do. Loving it so far! I haven't used the dryer in a week!
We had to line dry our clothes in Australia and I kind of enjoyed hanging it all up, there's something oddly calming about it. The problem for us is that our HOA doesn't allow washing lines (earth haters) - a shame because I could get towels dry in an hour here in Texas! Instead we have a couple drying racks from IKEA.
Those bad boys are only $20! SO much cheaper than the drying racks you'll find other places, like Amazon and much better quality, bigger too.
I won't know if this little challenge is saving us any money for a while yet but I imagine it will take a few dollars off our gas bill.
Line drying is better for the environment as well as your wallet. They say it will make your clothes last longer too; tumble dryers are tough on fabrics though the sun can fade colors too. All our clothes are dried inside so that doesn't really come in to play for us. On the upside, the sun can also help remove stains from clothing and diapers! I also love the smell of line dried clothes!
I don't love the crunch of line dried clothes though. If your clothes and towels are a bit crunchy after line drying try adding vinegar to the rinse cycle or simply throw them in the dryer for a quick air fluff, that's what I do. Loving it so far! I haven't used the dryer in a week!
2
comments
Labels:
frugal,
healthy home,
healthy planet
Labels:
frugal,
healthy home,
healthy planet
Ditching Disposable Pads and Tampons
OK, I'll admit it. I apologize to those who know me in real life and didn't want to know what I am about to tell you.
I use cloth pads aka. 'mama cloth'. Have for a couple years now. Haven't bought feminine hygiene products from the store in... forever. Saved a ton I bet!
I'm sure you're all wondering what the heck cloth pads are. They are essentially the same as a Kotex or Stayfree pad they're just made out of cotton flannel, hemp, microfiber, bamboo and PUL instead of plastic and chemicals.
The next question is probably WHY? Right? Why on earth would you do something so... disgusting!?!
Because I'm 'crazy'!! No. Because I LOVE them. And that's saying something, I HATED pads but was never quite comfortable with tampons for all day every day use. Now I'd never go back! Most of the issues I had with pads were not to do with the shape or the protection they offered but with what they were made of! Since switching to mama cloth I've noticed a few different things:
** My period is shorter and less painful. It used to be 6-8 days with 3-4 days of heavy bleeding and some pretty awful cramping for those heavy days. Now it's 4-6 days with 2, maybe 3 days of moderate bleeding, only 1 of those I'd consider 'heavy'. There is talk around the interwebs of why this is. Some (OK, a lot of people) think that the 'super absorbent' chemicals in pads and tampons actually are so absorbent they literally PULL the blood out of your body causing heavier bleeding and cramping. I can see how this would be true; those same chemicals, also found in disposable diapers can cause severe burns and rashes if they come into contact with skin, they really do draw moisture out and into them keeping 'baby feeling dry'.
** I don't itch. No, I don't have some kind of weird... *ahem* rash. Generally. I'll be honest and say that after a week of wearing plastic pads my lady parts would always be a bit raw and itchy! The edges of the pad would irritate my skin along with just generally sitting on plastic 24-7 and I would literally end up with diaper rash! Not any more though!
**My bathroom smells better! TMI? maybe. But I know you've all noticed that smell that comes from a pad or tampon sitting, even for a morning, in a trash can in your bathroom. And then your lucky husband gets to take it outside! Or at least mine did. Let me tell you that *that* smell is not normal. I had always assumed it was. That's why manufacturers add all those perfumes, right? That smell is actually created by the mixing of chemicals, plastic and bodily fluids. There is no such smell with mama cloth. Sure, they will get stinky if you leave them sitting in the sun for a month, and blood does have a metallic smell to it but as a rule if you have them in a wetbag in your bathroom until wash day, you won't know they're there.
**We have more money! Always a good thing. I used to go through a (big!) pack and a half of super pads a month, plus liners and the odd tampon for swimming. And I would usually run out half way through my period too of course. What does a pack cost these days? I've no idea but I know that for anywhere between $50-100 you can get a fairly good mama cloth stash (depending on how often you mind washing) that will have you sorted for years to come. AND I never have to run to the store (or send my husband) because I ran out!
So, what are my favorites?
I've tried a few different brands of cloth pads and the Swaddlebees Stay Dry Cloth Pads are definitely my fave! They are available in three sizes; suited for heavy to light days and even postpartum with lots of different colors and prints to choose from! The backing is waterproof (PUL of course but doesn't have the breathability issues plastic pads do) and they even have little wings with snaps to keep them in place though most of the time I don't even snap them.
And best of all? they really do 'keep you dry'. The top of them is a soft fabric that wicks moisture through to the core, half the time I can barely tell if it's... been used or not.
These are one of the more expensive cloth pad options at $9.95 a piece but they're well worth it. There are lots of other kinds out there though so if you're interested definitely take a look around or, feel free to comment and ask!
I would say I have 10-12 pads in total, enough to go a couple days and nights in between washing. I throw them in the diaper pail with P's overnight diapers until wash day and wash them all together. When I no longer has any diapers to wash (we're almost there!!) I'll just keep them in a wetbag and wash with towels or anything else we can wash on hot. A lot of my friends do the same.
When I go swimming right now I use ORGANYC Tampons
that are 100% cotton and chemical free. They actually work really well, I had the pleasure (?) of using them at the beach in Australia and am happy to report that no sharks were seen so they mustn't have leaked. Too far? lol
My next purchase though is going to be a Diva Cup
which I hope to use during the day and also for swimming.
So, as you can see there are lots of different 'feminine hygiene' options beyond just disposable pads and tampons. Don't believe me about how awesome they are? Give them a shot. The friends I have that have switched have wondered why it took them so long to do so!
I use cloth pads aka. 'mama cloth'. Have for a couple years now. Haven't bought feminine hygiene products from the store in... forever. Saved a ton I bet!
I'm sure you're all wondering what the heck cloth pads are. They are essentially the same as a Kotex or Stayfree pad they're just made out of cotton flannel, hemp, microfiber, bamboo and PUL instead of plastic and chemicals.
The next question is probably WHY? Right? Why on earth would you do something so... disgusting!?!
Because I'm 'crazy'!! No. Because I LOVE them. And that's saying something, I HATED pads but was never quite comfortable with tampons for all day every day use. Now I'd never go back! Most of the issues I had with pads were not to do with the shape or the protection they offered but with what they were made of! Since switching to mama cloth I've noticed a few different things:
** My period is shorter and less painful. It used to be 6-8 days with 3-4 days of heavy bleeding and some pretty awful cramping for those heavy days. Now it's 4-6 days with 2, maybe 3 days of moderate bleeding, only 1 of those I'd consider 'heavy'. There is talk around the interwebs of why this is. Some (OK, a lot of people) think that the 'super absorbent' chemicals in pads and tampons actually are so absorbent they literally PULL the blood out of your body causing heavier bleeding and cramping. I can see how this would be true; those same chemicals, also found in disposable diapers can cause severe burns and rashes if they come into contact with skin, they really do draw moisture out and into them keeping 'baby feeling dry'.
** I don't itch. No, I don't have some kind of weird... *ahem* rash. Generally. I'll be honest and say that after a week of wearing plastic pads my lady parts would always be a bit raw and itchy! The edges of the pad would irritate my skin along with just generally sitting on plastic 24-7 and I would literally end up with diaper rash! Not any more though!
**My bathroom smells better! TMI? maybe. But I know you've all noticed that smell that comes from a pad or tampon sitting, even for a morning, in a trash can in your bathroom. And then your lucky husband gets to take it outside! Or at least mine did. Let me tell you that *that* smell is not normal. I had always assumed it was. That's why manufacturers add all those perfumes, right? That smell is actually created by the mixing of chemicals, plastic and bodily fluids. There is no such smell with mama cloth. Sure, they will get stinky if you leave them sitting in the sun for a month, and blood does have a metallic smell to it but as a rule if you have them in a wetbag in your bathroom until wash day, you won't know they're there.
**We have more money! Always a good thing. I used to go through a (big!) pack and a half of super pads a month, plus liners and the odd tampon for swimming. And I would usually run out half way through my period too of course. What does a pack cost these days? I've no idea but I know that for anywhere between $50-100 you can get a fairly good mama cloth stash (depending on how often you mind washing) that will have you sorted for years to come. AND I never have to run to the store (or send my husband) because I ran out!
So, what are my favorites?
I've tried a few different brands of cloth pads and the Swaddlebees Stay Dry Cloth Pads are definitely my fave! They are available in three sizes; suited for heavy to light days and even postpartum with lots of different colors and prints to choose from! The backing is waterproof (PUL of course but doesn't have the breathability issues plastic pads do) and they even have little wings with snaps to keep them in place though most of the time I don't even snap them.
And best of all? they really do 'keep you dry'. The top of them is a soft fabric that wicks moisture through to the core, half the time I can barely tell if it's... been used or not.
These are one of the more expensive cloth pad options at $9.95 a piece but they're well worth it. There are lots of other kinds out there though so if you're interested definitely take a look around or, feel free to comment and ask!
I would say I have 10-12 pads in total, enough to go a couple days and nights in between washing. I throw them in the diaper pail with P's overnight diapers until wash day and wash them all together. When I no longer has any diapers to wash (we're almost there!!) I'll just keep them in a wetbag and wash with towels or anything else we can wash on hot. A lot of my friends do the same.
When I go swimming right now I use ORGANYC Tampons
that are 100% cotton and chemical free. They actually work really well, I had the pleasure (?) of using them at the beach in Australia and am happy to report that no sharks were seen so they mustn't have leaked. Too far? lolMy next purchase though is going to be a Diva Cup
which I hope to use during the day and also for swimming. So, as you can see there are lots of different 'feminine hygiene' options beyond just disposable pads and tampons. Don't believe me about how awesome they are? Give them a shot. The friends I have that have switched have wondered why it took them so long to do so!
11
comments
Labels:
frugal,
healthy planet
Labels:
frugal,
healthy planet
Paper Towels - A Necessity?
Let's face it, in this economy a lot of us are cutting back and budgeting more to help our families get by. Every little bit helps, right?
But do you know what baffles me? I keep reading about people scrounging together their last few dollars... and even pennies to buy their weekly 'necessities'; food, gas and disposable products; toilet paper, diapers, wipes, paper plates and paper towels.
Say what now? paper towels are a necessity (I'm not going to touch the sposie diaper/wipe issue today lol)? one that people actually buy with money they could otherwise spend on say food or bills?And something people actually 'have to run to the store' just to get because 'they're out of paper towels'?
Take a deep breath. I'm going to tell you something completely astounding.
Six years ago, before I moved to the United States, I didn't know what a paper towel WAS. I had never seen them anywhere besides a public restroom and even that was rare! I moved here and found that everyone, including my husband, seems to be addicted to them! (and he STILL cries about the lack of paper towels in our house!) Do you know what they're made of? Do you know how much of a waste of trees, oil, energy and hard earned cash they are? Even if you get them free after coupons they're still a terrible waste of resources.
Here's what you can use instead:
Cloth napkins for our face and hands at dinner. Or even washcloths. You can get a pack of 18 for roughly $3-5 at almost any big box store. Wash them with your towels.
A small plate for small snack items or sometimes even a cloth napkin. Wash said plate. You have to do the dishes anyway.
A sponge, dishrag or tea towel for wiping off the counter or mopping up spills. All of these can also be washed and reused.
And if we're feeling the bacon love one weekend we will use a recycled brown paper bag to catch the grease. Or some people keep a roll of paper towels exclusively for that purpose, they last months that way and save you a ton! We use a jar to catch all other fats...
But do you know what baffles me? I keep reading about people scrounging together their last few dollars... and even pennies to buy their weekly 'necessities'; food, gas and disposable products; toilet paper, diapers, wipes, paper plates and paper towels.
Say what now? paper towels are a necessity (I'm not going to touch the sposie diaper/wipe issue today lol)? one that people actually buy with money they could otherwise spend on say food or bills?And something people actually 'have to run to the store' just to get because 'they're out of paper towels'?
Take a deep breath. I'm going to tell you something completely astounding.
Six years ago, before I moved to the United States, I didn't know what a paper towel WAS. I had never seen them anywhere besides a public restroom and even that was rare! I moved here and found that everyone, including my husband, seems to be addicted to them! (and he STILL cries about the lack of paper towels in our house!) Do you know what they're made of? Do you know how much of a waste of trees, oil, energy and hard earned cash they are? Even if you get them free after coupons they're still a terrible waste of resources.
Here's what you can use instead:
Cloth napkins for our face and hands at dinner. Or even washcloths. You can get a pack of 18 for roughly $3-5 at almost any big box store. Wash them with your towels.
A small plate for small snack items or sometimes even a cloth napkin. Wash said plate. You have to do the dishes anyway.
A sponge, dishrag or tea towel for wiping off the counter or mopping up spills. All of these can also be washed and reused.
And if we're feeling the bacon love one weekend we will use a recycled brown paper bag to catch the grease. Or some people keep a roll of paper towels exclusively for that purpose, they last months that way and save you a ton! We use a jar to catch all other fats...
Are paper towels a 'necessity' in your home or have you gotten rid of them too?
5
comments
Labels:
frugal,
healthy planet
Labels:
frugal,
healthy planet
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Do you remember our vegetable garden just five weeks ago?
We got back from New Zealand last Tuesday. It was about 7pm by the time we got home and we were all dragging a bit. I looked out the back window and just laughed. I ran out to the back of the yard suddenly excited to be home. I've never had such success with squash!
My fridge is full of yellow squash and zucchini! P and I whipped up a couple loaves of zucchini carrot bread yesterday and I made a zucchini potato bake last night for dinner but I have more coming! What are your favorite zucchini or yellow squash recipes?
We got back from New Zealand last Tuesday. It was about 7pm by the time we got home and we were all dragging a bit. I looked out the back window and just laughed. I ran out to the back of the yard suddenly excited to be home. I've never had such success with squash!
My fridge is full of yellow squash and zucchini! P and I whipped up a couple loaves of zucchini carrot bread yesterday and I made a zucchini potato bake last night for dinner but I have more coming! What are your favorite zucchini or yellow squash recipes?
3
comments
Labels:
gardening,
healthy home,
recipes
Labels:
gardening,
healthy home,
recipes
Headed In A New Direction
I don't want to live in Texas.
I don't want to live in the US.
I want to live in the (somewhat) little Australian beach town I was born in and walk everywhere, swim often and be healthier.
My husband knows this. We went to a bank today to see what it's like getting a home loan down this way. We have a bit of work to do. I know it could be anywhere between 2 and 10 years before I get my dream, depending on family obligations, how the business does etc. But we have something to work towards. We are determined to kill our debt so we have the extra money to cover an Australian (or New Zealand, if hubby won't budge on living in NZ) home loan.
Until then I have to find a way to dig myself out. Over the last few weeks I have realized that my general lack of motivation and happiness at home is because I am living somewhere I do not like living. Somewhere I feel I don't fit in. The lifestyle is not for me. I have a huge, beautiful house and I love my family dearly and will go anywhere they are, but, it's just not HOME.
How do I work around this? I don't know. I am going to have to think on it. I think I will start by making my house, more like home. You should see the suitcases we're dragging back to Texas tomorrow! ;) we might have to buy a new one...
I don't want to live in the US.
I want to live in the (somewhat) little Australian beach town I was born in and walk everywhere, swim often and be healthier.
My husband knows this. We went to a bank today to see what it's like getting a home loan down this way. We have a bit of work to do. I know it could be anywhere between 2 and 10 years before I get my dream, depending on family obligations, how the business does etc. But we have something to work towards. We are determined to kill our debt so we have the extra money to cover an Australian (or New Zealand, if hubby won't budge on living in NZ) home loan.
Until then I have to find a way to dig myself out. Over the last few weeks I have realized that my general lack of motivation and happiness at home is because I am living somewhere I do not like living. Somewhere I feel I don't fit in. The lifestyle is not for me. I have a huge, beautiful house and I love my family dearly and will go anywhere they are, but, it's just not HOME.
How do I work around this? I don't know. I am going to have to think on it. I think I will start by making my house, more like home. You should see the suitcases we're dragging back to Texas tomorrow! ;) we might have to buy a new one...
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