Welcome to Bugs and Brooms!

Have you seen this little gem: http://www.gardeners.com/Kitchen%20Compost%20Crock/13006,default,pd.html?  This is a kitchen composter that is supposed to stop the stink often associated with indoor compost.  I must admit, I have been considering a fancy composter to cut back on the odor especially since morning sickness has caused me to ‘turn up my nose’ to composting. 

I currently just use a large bowl with a lid that we collect all of our scraps in and then take the bowl out to the main compost bin when it is full.  But, after months of endless scrap collection my bowl is, well, disgusting!  I have washed and washed and used vinegar and baking soda and, I am sure you get the point.

I am starting to handle the morning sickness a little better but I just can’t bear to open that bowl!  Poor hubby has to deal with all of the scraps when he comes home from work and that also grosses me out since scraps often sit around all day waiting to be added to the ‘bowl’.  Anyway, I will continue to investigate the kitchen composters on the market and may ask for one as my Christmas present - I will keep you posted (or composted..)! 

Tags: Gardening, Green Living, Simple Living by
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My last post discussed how conservatives can be environmentalists.  That discussion was initially started by a post at Tall Grass Worship that prompted some questions about conservatives views on current policies and the presidential candidates.  I am attempting to address each of the issues that we are all facing this historical election year but I don’t have all the answers.  I am just hoping to have some great discussion about what is important to all of us and how those personal opinions will affect our decisions in the voting booth.  Although I am currently leaning one way, there are still several weeks before the election and who knows what will happen between now and then.  Ultimately, the American people will decide who is the best choice and we should all support that person whether we vote for them or not.  There are just too many issues and uncertainties for us to continue to be divided.  We all do want the same thing - a better place for all of us to live - and we can work together to make that happen.  I know that I may not be thrilled with the outcome of the election but I believe that both candidates are good people who want the best for our country - they just see different paths to that improvement.  No one is perfect - we just have to pick the person who we think will do the most for our country.  Now, on to the topic for the day…..

Energy (especially drilling) - I want to make it clear that I am not an expert on energy or the economy but based on recent events, I don’t think anyone is, including the so-called experts. 

This has been a really hard one for me to get my arms around.  I was TOTALLY opposed to more drilling in this country (and I do mean TOTALLY).  That is until a friend called me recently in tears.  She had no idea how he was going to put gas in her car to get to work.  She is a single parent and she works hard but she cannot get ahead.  She has 2 teenage children to feed and care for, she lives in a run down (ok - terrible) house, drives an unreliable car that is constantly breaking down, and she and her children eat terrible food because they can’t afford anything better.  She has no idea how she will heat the house this winter.  She does have support from family and friends including myself – we have chipped in to help her - but it is not enough.  And she is only one of MANY, MANY people in this country who are struggling.  And gas prices don’t just affect us at the pump – it is link to EVERYTHING including shipping and manufacturing of goods, etc.  Petroleum is used to make many products and the increased costs are always passed onto the consumer.  

I struggle with our country sending ridiculous amounts of money ($700 billion each year) to foreign countries to buy oil.  Some of those countries hate us (even though we are often the first country to respond with aide to others in crisis).  Yes, we need alternatives and new technologies (wind, solar, CNG, biofuels, etc) but I haven’t seen much evidence of those technologies yet.  Other countries that provide the US with oil are switching to natural gas and will just send more of their oil to us - of course, for a nice profit.  People in this country are hurting and the price at the pump is a major source of stress for many of them. 

Ok.  I know.  They should use public transportation or ride their bikes.  Well, unfortunately, many more places don’t have public transportation than those that do.  And many people commute more than 10 miles one way to their jobs (not to mention dropping off and picking up kids along the way).  We need to get there but we aren’t there yet.  And in the meantime, people need some relief as soon as possible!  Until we get the technologies in place (that are affordable for every person - not the very expensive hybrids, etc.) we need to do something.  And I also realize that drilling will not be the cure-all that we wish for but neither will conservation right now.  There is no immediate, substantial relief for this problem.  BUT, I do not think we should just sit back and wait for technologies to be created to solve our problems when we have no idea how long it will take to develop and implement those technologies.  At least we could see some relief in the future, even if that relief is a decade away.  And just another thought on this, if we had allowed drilling several years ago, we would already be reaping the benefits.  Do we want to risk doing nothing at this point?  Again, I am, in general, opposed to more drilling, but until we have legitimate, workable alternatives, I think drilling may be our only option for oil independence and lower prices.  I also think that just making the way for drilling to happen will help with pricing - it goes back to supply and demand.  If more is in the supply chain or going to be added to the supply chain, prices will drop.  Maybe not significantly but every penny helps right now.

I believe that we can drill responsibly (at least I hope) so that we don’t destroy the environment (anymore than we already have anyway).  Both presidential candidates agree that we should drill but they also agree that we should use clean energy and renewable resources too so I don’t think they are that far off the mark.  Their timing of actual strategies may be different but I think that their philosophies are pretty close.

I am not sure how either candidate will pay for their plans – tax payers will already have to cough-up an enormous amount of money to cover the financial crisis that our country is facing not to mention the national debt that desperately needs to be resolved.   And I know that the other candidate wants to have a lot of hybrid cars on the road in the next few years but if people can’t afford them at their current high prices, that isn’t likely to happen (unless he is going to give them away – that would be REALLY nice – just kidding).  But, if we can stop sending so much money out of this country for foreign oil, we can use those funds for research and development of energy alternatives – and we are talking about 700 billion dollars each year going to the cost of foreign oil!  

The democratic candidate has also proposed a windfall profits tax which, for many reasons I do not agree with.  I will cover this in a post on the economy but just to sum it up, businesses of any kind will always pass on increases in their bottom line to the consumer.  So, the price at the pump will go up to help companies pay for the tax – more money out of people’s pockets.  If companies don’t pass on the cost (including taxes) they will reduce production (and we know what low supply means in a high demand market – higher costs to the consumer).  The other concern I have with this is that windfall profits tax can be applied to ANY industry and do we really want to go there in this country?  What about farmers who make big profits?  Just an example to think about.  This country has grown and thrived in a free-market enterprise.  Yes, there is corruption and problems that must be addressed but I don’t think we want to become a socialist country – that is a very slippery slope.  But I DO think that we should reward those who do use clean energy!

Palin’s ideas on ANWR - I have no idea.  I have never been there and I don’t understand the impact.  But, she has.  She has lived her entire life there and is probably in favor of it based on her, and other Alaskans’ experiences.  But McCain is opposed to drilling there which is a plus in my opinion since I only support drilling as a necessary evil until alternatives are implemented and because I think that refuges and preserves should be left untouched if at all possible.  I would also like to add that Palin has proclaimed September to be energy efficient month in Alaska and the details can be found at this website: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/energy_conservation.php.  There is also a link on this site to a list of Energy Saving tips which include many of the things that I and my environmental friends try to do to cut back on our own personal use of energy.  Palin is definitely not perfect and neither are any of the other candidates, but I am glad that she is supporting and encouraging energy reduction in her home state.  We all have to start somewhere.

There has been A LOT of talk about the “drill baby, drill” comment and it has become a huge political catch phrase.  I want to first emphasize that this was not Palin’s comment though she does support drilling.  The words came from Michael Steele and were then repeated by Rudy Giuliani at the RNC. Somehow, like everything else these days, those words have been attached to Sarah Palin.  I don’t think that those words meant that we should go out and start recklessly drilling and destroying the land and the environment in order to get more oil for oil companies.  Basic economics of supply and demand would require more oil availability to bring the prices down.  

And I am concerned about the bigger picture.  Has anyone seen what Russia is up to?  Until we get better forms of energy in this country, I do not want to add Russia to our list of countries that we depend on for oil.  That is just scary considering that countries recent actions.

Ultimately, I think we should drill (though I hate it) to provide some relief to families right now or in the near future.  But I think this is just a temporary band aid.  I think that Boone Pickens has the longer term answers and I hope that both candidates will review his proposals.  You can see the Pickens Plan for yourself at http://www.pickensplan.com/index.php.  But there are many, many conservatives who are against it (just as I was and still would be had my friend not shared her personal situation with me - and don’t get me wrong.  I hate the price of oil and it’s impact on other products but I can still afford to put gas in my car and food on my table.  That is not the case for many in this country)!  There are also liberals who are for it.

I will be addressing the economy in an upcoming post.  I think that our energy problems, our economy problems, and our environmental problems are heavily linked but I can’t cover everything in one post – it would take forever.  I am sure this post will spark some interesting conversation and I encourage comments, suggestions, and ideas on this one because I do not have all of the answers and getting the facts has been pretty hard.  Let’s work together to see what the best solutions are and then we can encourage our politicians on all sides to step-up and be responsible and accountable.

Tags: Green Living, Politics, Simple Living, Voting, nature by
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As most of you know, we live ‘out’.  I don’t really consider us very rural since we do have neighbors around (though none that we can see) and a great park just down the road for Lake Monroe.  But my critter stories have revealed that we are not living in a downtown or suburban location.

Several evenings over the past week or so have given us a touch of nature.  We have been spending time in the garden each afternoon weeding and watering (I know, lots of rain until recently and now we are having the drag the water hose to the garden to make sure our veggies survive the heat) and just checking on the progress of our plantings (good news to report later on).  When the mosquitoes overtake us, I bring DD indoors and start getting her ready for bed.  DH has interrupted our routine several nights!  He comes tiptoeing into the house, whispering urgently for us to follow him back outside.  These adventures have given us some great scenes of deer crossing our fields as they leave one area of dense woods for another.  We have had to put up some ‘protection’ for our garden in the form of garden stakes and caution tape, in an effort to keep our lovely deer from munching on our tender vegetables.  We have already had a couple of corn and bean plants meet an early demise thanks to our foragers. 

But the other night was something extra special.  I had just gotten DD out of the tub and was rocking her and telling her stories while she cuddled for warmth under the oversized towel.  DH came in the house in his usual navy seal approach.  I resisted his pleas to go outside again because DD was naked and the mosquitoes truly love her (I mean LOVE).  But he was practically pleading and I caved.  I wrapped DD tightly in the towel hoping that no skin was exposed.  When we got outside we were treated to an incredible display of youth!  Two fawn (twins) were chasing each other in circles while their ever watchful mother observed and snacked on the newly mowed hay!  The two deer were jumping high into the air and running at top speed while throwing their heels high into the air!  It was beautiful to watch these young, spotted animals play so happily!  And they, and their mother, didn’t seem to care that we were watching.  And this play lasted a good 10 minutes!  What a wonderful priviledge to see something so wild and free and right out our front door.

DH and I have seen plenty of wildlife in our travels (especially when we lived in Colorado - mule deer were everywhere and you didn’t have to drive very far to see Elk and Big Horn Sheep).  But DD is young and her nature observations have been limited to zoos and nature preserves.  At least until we moved here. 

I am so thankful that she can experience this environment and learn to appreciate it at such a young age.  What a wonderful way to teach her to appreciate her world and to care for it - she sees it thriving and she wants to jump in and enjoy the fun.  She would have just ran over and joined in the game of chase that these little fawn were playing.  I hope that she always has the opportunity to see nature at its best and purest.  I hope she has a lifetime of watching nature and the world around her in all of its beauty.  I hope that she will always want to jump from my arms and run to play with the deer….

Tags: 'Farm life', Family and Friends, Gardening, Parenting, Simple Living, nature by
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I have been more than a little remiss about keeping up with my own No Trash Challenge.  It is not that I have totally blown the plan but I certainly had a couple of weeks that were not worth of discussing (or I was just too embarrassed to admit to the carnage)! 

The main problem that I faced was the preparation for our yard sale and the subsequent cleaning out that ensued.  I won’t bore you with all of the details but it wasn’t pretty!  And the sad thing is, when the yard sale only brought a grand total of 4 customers over 2 days, we gave up.  We packed the clothes back up and took them to Goodwill.  I had a gazillion books that I had accumulated over the years and we donated those to the Monroe County Public Library.  And there are still things in the garage that need to be taken to Goodwill or other charities or given away to friends and family.  But, we have made a significant impact on our clutter and just have a few more things to go through before we can claim victory!

So, I haven’t been able to get down to one container every 2 months but I am still managing one per month (with the exception of the yard sale, clutter clear out, garage organizing garbage).  But I am still determined to do better and we are working on other improvements in our waste generation such as our compost bin.  No longer does our food waste go in the trash - we now have a large container next to the kitchen sink that is used to collect all scraps (with the exception of meat - we try to keep it out of the compost to prevent rodents from moving in).  We are still working to reduce our packaging by buying in bulk, not using plastic bags for every single item, and by reusing as many containers as possible (laundry and dishwashing, etc.).  We have also converted to bar soap for shampoo and bath which will eliminate those plastic containers that we have routinely purchased for personal hygiene.  And DH got a new, double-edge, safety razor for Father’s Day (though back ordered so it didn’t arrive until last week) that will last the rest of his life and only requires the blade to be changed once in a blue moon.

Anyway, that is our update.  I will start doing monthly posts on this instead of weekly (which hasn’t happened in a while anyway)!  And I am still planning on some cool prize drawing for those that are participating so jump in if you want to give it a try!  There are several other posts on ways that we have cut back on our trash that you can read about - just see the links on the Challenge post!

Tags: 'Farm life', Consumerism, Frugal Living, Gardening, Green Living, Simple Living, Simple and Green by
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It has been a few days since my last post.  I have been struggling with time management for the past week: trying to entertain DD, keep my house going, work in time for homeschool, chores, fun.  Blogging is a great way for me to stop for a few minutes and get my thoughts down on paper.  I have started a list of topics that I want to write about but the list gets longer instead of shorter.  I work to try to balance my responsibilities to family and still have a few moments in the day to come here and write about things that are happening in my life and/or things that are important to me.  I have not found the balance, yet.

So why can others seem to manage this so well and still maintain their homes, families, etc.?  And some do so under enormous stress and family crisis.  How can I squeeze in 20 minutes (or less) to blog, read my blogroll, clean house, do laundry, cook, play with DD, instruct DD, spend time with DH, take care of pets, etc., etc., etc.?  This morning, I spent 2 hours (that’s right, 2 hours!) of my day reading blog posts and making a few simple comments.  Yes, it has been a few days since I checked-in with my favorite writers but still - 2 hours?  Good grief!  And that was before DD woke up - there is no way I could have spent 2 hours on the computer while she was awake.  Of course, I didn’t get anything else accomplished and, trust me, there is plenty to do around here.

But what do I really want to accomplish each day?  I want to spend time with my daughter, maintain my home so that it is comfortable (no, not spotless or ready for the next cover-shoot of Martha Stewart Living - have you seen my house?).  But I also want to learn about how I can improve our lives, improve the world around us, and take steps to do that - and that, takes time.  I want to spend time in my garden, preserving food, learning to knit and sew, and I want to have time to read!  I love to read but I seem to only be able to read a paragragh at a time (usually when I sneak away to the potty)!

What about the computer?  Well, there is email to check, blogs to read, posts to write.  Maybe the weather, the news, etc. (though I rarely look at either of these).  Then there is the phone.  I am not a big talker - at least not over the phone, but there are days when I haven’t spoken with friends in ages that I spend too much time on the phone.  My daughter is quick to remind me that it is time to ‘get off’ when she tries to take the phone away from me, covers my mouth with her small hand, or, as a last resort, starts whining (that eventually leads to crying if I don’t respond quickly enough).

The technology age was supposed to make life more simple for all - give us more time to do the things  that we really wanted like spend time with family.  But I don’t think it has worked that way.  Yes, we can stay in ‘touch’ with friends and family that are far away much easier than the previous generation but do we spend so much time staying in touch and updated that we lose sight of the real purpose?  I know, at least for me, my computer and telephone are not much better than the television for many others.  I spend too much time on it reading the latest on peak oil and climate change when that time (at least for me) should be spent reading to my daughter or playing hide and seek.  Yes - I do do all of those things now (I spend countless hours reading books with DD as well as many other wonderful things).  Probably more than most since I stay home.  But does that fact make it ok that I take advantage of the few spare moments that I can grab to ‘play’ on the computer or catch up on the happenings of friends in family?  Well, probably.  I mean simplifying your life also means building new relationships and nurturing old.  But I am struggling with this - a lot.  Should I spend my spare time posting to my own blog about things that are important to me or reading other’s blogs?  Not to mention all of the other things that consume my day.

I know that many of you have found that balance that I am seeking and I am sure it will come to me in time.  I look at Green Bean and her eloquent posts about simple things like benches and I am reminded that time doesn’t stand still for anyone.  I can spend hours writing words on my computer that may or may not be read by anyone but that time does give me some sense of pleasure.  I marvel at Crunchy’s ability to balance her life and find time for posting very serious, inspiring, educational, and entertaining information in the midst of her hectic life.  And I hope to find that balance for myself - soon. 

This was actually a post about 2 topics: blogging being very time consuming, and the not too time saving technology that has transformed our lives.  Any suggestions that you have for how I can find balance my own desires to be the best wife and mother that I can be and still post meaningful information on my own blog would be greatly appreciated.  Time is precious.  We only have so much.  I want to spend each moment living my life to the fullest.  When I am gone from this earth, I don’t think people will remember me for my blogs or anything really.  But I hope my friends and family will know that I loved them and that I tried to use my time wisely to be the best person I could be - my computer certainly won’t know that I am gone. 

Tags: Community, Family and Friends, Gardening, Homeschooling, Parenting, Simple Living, Simple and Green by
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We went to the drive-in last night to take DD to see the new Disney/Pixar movie Wall-E.  I was a little concerned the first 15 minutes or so - there were few words and those were in a techno-robot dialect making it difficult for little ears to understand.  DD busied herself playing with my phone and I hoped that the words would start flowing from Wall-E and grab the attention of my imaginative toddler.  And, so it was.  She became entranced with Wall-E, his romantic interest Eve, and his best friend - a lovely cockroach (she is familiar with roaches as I have ranted about in previous posts, but I digress).

The story was about a lone robot left on earth to single-handedly clean up the landfill that the planet had become thanks to the endless consumer habits and unsustainable living practices of its previous inhabitants - humans.  The human race had to abandon their once beautiful and life sustaining home in search of other planets to ‘take-over’ and destroy and were still searching for a place to plant some roots after over 700 years in space. 

What is worse is that the entire population had become even lazier, more gluttonous, and more waste generating than their ancestors when they left the earth.  Overweight, eating liquid food, moving around in high-tech wheelchairs and being waited on 24 hours a day by robots only continues to create a society that doesn’t understand the consequences of their actions.  They don’t even know what plant-life is as they just veg day after day on their luxurious spacecraft!  We didn’t seem to learn anything!!

Fortunately, some robots on this mammoth inter-galactic cruise ship, were created to visit other planets in search of some sign of life - Wall-E’s love interest, Eve, is one of those robots.  Wall-E takes the earths’ trash and compresses it, little by little, into small cubes which he then uses to show his creative side.  But he also collects items that interest him and keeps them in his ‘home’.  On one of his clean-up routines, Wall-E finds a small little plant that he adds to his collection.

But enough about the plot of the movie.  It is cute and has a great message - check it out with your children.  But I really don’t know if people will ‘get it’.  I mean, it wasn’t like the earth was completely wiped out - we just went away for several centuries on a high-tech vacation.  Do we really believe that we will be able to do that?  Honestly, my own family thinks I am losing it - they have even asked if I am going to come home one weekend driving a Volkswagen Van!  I just laugh at them and say ‘maybe’.  Does it get good gas mileage? 

Many people don’t believe in global warming.  Ok.  But shouldn’t we still live responsibly and take care of what we have?  Shouldn’t we teach our children and grandchildren that life is precious in all forms and that everything we do has consequences that we may not be able to see right away?  I know that I don’t want to leave my daughter with a dried-up, lifeless planet.  I don’t want to keep adding to the problem with mindless consumerism and unsustainable living practices. 

I really wish this movie would have been released earlier.  It has a similar message to An Inconvenient Truth and Affluenza but it is presented in an easy-to-see format for those who just don’t believe we are making a big mess of the earth.  Although it is a children’s movie, it should really hit home with adults.  Maybe this animated movie will show a few viewers that we have to change our habits.  If not to save the planet, just to do what is right.  They go hand-in-hand.  And one person doing the right thing can have a big impact.  Everything takes baby steps and has to start somewhere.  For my family and my community, it starts with me!  It starts with YOU!

Tags: Community, Family and Friends, Frugal Living, Green Living, Homeschooling, Parenting, Simple Living, Simple and Green by
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Since I started this blog, I have found some very inspiring and mind blowing fellow-bloggers on the scene.  Most have been blogging for a while and really know their stuff.  My blog was not focused on any particular issue - I wanted it to be a general blog that covered the happenings in my life.  Strangely, it has taken on a mind of it’s own with the primary focus being on green and sustainable living.  The main reason for this is my admiration and support of those superhero green bloggers out there - I spend a lot of time writing posts in support of their challenges and projects.  And, as a side-note, blogging is VERY time consuming - more on that in a later post. 

So the latest challenge out there is by Crunchy Chicken.  I have actually signed up for several of Crunchy’s challenges including The Diva Cup challenge and others (one involving bodily fluids that I am not brave enough to write about yet)! 

This particular challenge is ‘Keep Yer Cool - Save the Earth, Skip the A/C June - September 2008′!  That’s right!  It is going to be a super hot summer and we are going to sweat like pigs!  I mean stinky, stinky sweat!  Of course, I am cold natured so this won’t be too terrible for me BUT, DH is a furnace and LOVES his A/C!  And DD is the same.  We co-sleep and I am in the middle of these 2 furnaces!  Even in the dead of winter these two are HOT, HOT, HOT!  And not the sexy hot either (well, DH is sexy hot - oops, I digress)!  Where was I? 

Oh yeah.

In honor of this challenge, I have committed to turning up our thermostat to 80!  This could be a serious problem in the relationship department - men and women usually don’t agree about money and the temperature - but I am going to give it a try!  If a battle ensues, I will relent to 78 but only on extremely hot days or when DH seems ready to bolt!  DD will be fine - she likes to strip done to her skivvies anyway!  OK, she likes to run around butt naked like all of her fellow toddlers!  

So here’s to sweating and Keepin’ Your Cool Naturally!  Just think of all the money we will save by keeping that thermostat up! This one’s for you planet earth!!  And if want in on the fun, just click on the banner and post a comment!  The more the merrier!  I mean, the smellier (or would that be more smelly?) the merrier…

Tags: Frugal Living, Give Back, Green Living, Money Matters, Simple Living, Simple and Green, co-sleep by
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I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about my life and my life’s purpose.  Honestly, I seem to have lost my joy somewhere and I am having a hard time finding it.  There are many reasons that have brought me to this point but what can I do to recover and see the real  beauty in the things around me again? 

I am a huge fan of being grateful for what you have:  Let’s face it, if you are in this country, the US, you have it made compared to people living in undeveloped and even developing countries.  And, even if you think you are at the bottom of the food chain, you should take another look around.  How many people do you know or know of that have cancer or some other terrible disease?  How many people do you know that have enormous financial burdens to the point that they are consumed with worry?  How many people do you know who live in poverty every day and don’t have any idea where there next meal will come from?  Maybe you have some similar problems but you can always look around you to find someone who is in more desperate circumstances. 

The sad reality is that we all get caught up in our own problems.  And yes, these problems are real and they often seem enormous to us - at least until we take a step back and look at the big picture.

For me though, something is missing.  I am not referring to financial independence - I gave that up several years ago to be a stay-at-home mom.  I am also not talking about the materialistic things that I don’t have - those things don’t really matter to me.  I have never been a big spender, I don’t like to shop (I know, strange for a woman), and I don’t really care what the Joneses think about what type of car I drive or the house that I live in.  What seems to be bothering me is my lack of belonging; my lack of community involvement; my need to be around and with people and the fact that I now spend most days with my daughter (not complaining - I love every minute of it) and the occasional phone call from distant friends and family to keep me connected.

Most of my ties in TN have already been severed.  Not by my choice.  That is just how things often happen when people aren’t together on a regular basis. 

Of course, moving away from any place that has been ‘home’ for a while leaves one feeling a little lost.  There is a huge adjustment period.  This is true for everyone even if the move is returning to your own hometown after being away for a few years.  Things change.  People change.  Time does not stand still or wait for anyone.

I know that a lot of people can move around without all of that emotional stress and that has been true for me, in the past.  But now, I am struggling.  I am just a very socially driven person - I really need to fellowship with others on some frequency.  OK.  Maybe needi is too strong.  I mean, how did homesteaders deal with living ‘out’ and not seeing anyone but immediate family for weeks and even months?  It wasn’t like they could load up in the family minivan like many rural families do today, to head to the city park for a play date!  Of course, they did get together regularly for celebrations, deaths, and TO HELP each other with projects and gardening.  They also had regular socials that included food, fiddles, and dancing.  Does this type of living still exist?  I suppose with the Amish.  But I don’t think I can be Amish?  Can I?  Or maybe in other countries?  Maybe those tribes in Brazil that have never been contacted? 

I am involved in some moms groups that have provided some contact with adults recently.  They have some wonderful events and activities that I enjoy.  But I haven’t really clicked  with anyone.  And I am not a big ‘MOMS Night Out’ person.  I like being home in the evening with my husband and daughter.  I don’t think we have enough family time as it is - maybe it is because DH works so much?  Hum?

So what is a girl to do?  With all of my research on improving my health and well-being, as well as that of my family, I have made some minor changes.  You know - organic foods, all natural personal care products, etc..  All of these things seem to have many common and mutual turf.  I have found that people living simply are also living green and vice versa.  The same is true for folks living frugally; simplicity is one of their dear friends.  And us green folk, well, unless we are are arguing amongst ourselves about things like overpopulation (you know, breeders vs. non-breeders), are mostly living simple and frugal lifestyles.  Many of these groups have very similar beliefs (no, not religious beliefs) with an occasional philosophical difference. 

So, where does that leave me?  Oh yeah.  I was considering moving to Brazil, right?  Is that an option?  Probably not.

So that leaves me right here in Bloomington, Indiana with no family, no real friends yet, and a deep longing to feel connected again.  I need to feel wanted and needed by someone other than my DH and DD (not that having them want and need me is a bad thing - far from it)!  I just need a sense of purpose.

I have looked into volunteering in the community but that is almost impossible with a toddler (unless you get a sitter - not really into sitters either especially when I barely know a soul here).  I spend time at the library but you can’t really chat at the library.  You know - SHHHHH!  And park play-days aren’t very good places for bonding - too busy making sure the little dumpling isn’t jumping from the top of the play-set!

But after deep thought and while reading Circle of Simplicity by Cecile Andrews, I have decided to start a Simplicity Study Group in Bloomington.  I checked out the simpleliving.net website and discovered there was not a group in Bloomington.  My original plan was just to join a group already in progress - no luck on that one.  So I just started one myself.  Yeah for me!

I am not sure if anyone will join me but I really hope so.  I am even hoping to have some part of it online for those who want to participate outside the Bloomington area (if anyone wants to).  My next few blog posts will be focused on this group and the process outlined in the The Circle of Simplicity.  If you want to join in, just send me an email or add a comment to this post.

Let’s see what we can do together to improve our own lives as well as the lives of those around us.  Not to mention the positive impact we can have on our wallets and the world.  Just a few of us really can make a difference.

Tags: Circle of Simplicity, Community, Family and Friends, Frugal Living, Green Living, Simple Living, Simple and Green, Simplicity Study Group by
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I know - what a freaky title!  But it is TRUE!  If you are using regular cosmetics of ANY kind, even the high-end, expensive, department store kind, you are probably applying petroleum to your body.  In fact, the Environmental Working Group found that at least 22% of cosmetics contain 1,4 dioxane, a petroleum derived contaminant.  The EWG also determined from their research that 1,4 dioxane may be present in up to 57% of  baby soaps, and 34% of all body lotions.  But that’s not all for this particular chemical: it can be found in up to 97% of personal care products.  And, in the case of lipstick, you may be eating POUNDS of it during your lifetime!  Now that is a little gross!

1,4-dioxane is just one chemical that is used in our personal care products.  There are many, many more and often, these items are not even listed as an ingredient.  Yep - that is an OK thing to do! 

But back to my gas story: most cosmetics and other personal products like soap and shampoo contain petroleum!  With gas at astronomical prices and continuing to climb upward everyday, plus the fact that petroleum is a probable carcinogen, you might want to consider a new way to make yourself look good!

Hundreds of chemicals are used in the manufacturing of these products that have never had any toxicity testing performed on them.  The chemicals that have been tested have undergone short term studies based on single use or application which probably will not do harm (but who knows for sure since there is no testing documented on some of these ingredients).  But continued use over extended periods of time may be a problem.  The problem with personal care products, including soap, shampoo, deordorant, toothpaste, makeup, lotions, etc., is that there are no regulations that govern them.  The FDA is just too busy trying to protect us from problems in drugs and our food supply that adding personal care products to their load isn’t possible. 

So, we consumers are left to try to figure it all out for ourselves.  Not an easy task considering the enormous amount of products on the market and the wide variety of ingredients they contain.  Have you read the ingredients on some of these things?  You really need a PhD in chemistry to understand what you are using and that isn’t very practical for most of us.  And who is to say if these are really bad for us?  Some of the ingredients are suspected to cause skin irritation, cancer, allergies, immunological diseases, neurological diseases, and reproductive problems to name just a few.  But if they were REALLY a problem, why would they be on the market?  It goes back to the fact that cosmetics and other personal care products are not regulated.  That allows manufacturers to include anything they want in the mix.  That is not good news for us consumers.

I have been doing some research on all of this trying to figure out what personal care products I should use personally but also what is best for DH and, more importantly, DD.  Research has shown that the skin is absorbent and chemicals can pass from the skin into the bloodstream.  There is a lot of information on the internet to help guide you in your purchases but the saying, don’t use it on your skin if you can’t eat it, should be the standard test in selecting your products.

The Green Guide has some great articles that list the top 12 ‘dirty’ ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products.  Just to help you with your own shopping, here are those top 12 from the Green Guide (and you can get a wallet size card of this list of bad boys to take with you here:

1. Antibacterials
Overuse of antibacterials can prevent them from effectively fighting disease-causing germs like E. coli and Salmonella enterica. Triclosan, widely used in soaps, toothpastes and deodorants, has been detected in breast milk, and one recent study found that it interferes with testosterone activity in cells. Numerous studies have found that washing with regular soap and warm water is just as effective at killing germs.

2. Coal Tar
Coal tar is a known human carcinogen used as an active ingredient in dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams. Coal-tar-based dyes such as FD&C Blue 1, used in toothpastes, and FD&C Green 3, used in mouthwash, have been found to be carcinogenic in animal studies when injected under skin.

3. Diethanolamine (DEA)
DEA is a possible hormone disruptor, has shown limited evidence of carcinogenicity and depletes the body of choline needed for fetal brain development. DEA can also show up as a contaminant in products containing related chemicals, such as cocamide DEA.

4. 1,4-Dioxane
1,4-Dioxane is a known animal carcinogen and a possible human carcinogen that can appear as a contaminant in products containing sodium laureth sulfate and ingredients that include the terms “PEG,” “-xynol,” “ceteareth,” “oleth” and most other ethoxylated “eth” ingredients. The FDA monitors products for the contaminant but has not yet recommended an exposure limit. Manufacturers can remove dioxane through a process called vacuum stripping, but a small amount usually remains. A 2007 survey by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that most children’s bath products contain 10 parts per million or less, but an earlier 2001 survey by the FDA found levels in excess of 85 parts per million.

5. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde has a long list of adverse health effects, including immune-system toxicity, respiratory irritation and cancer in humans. Yet it still turns up in baby bath soap, nail polish, eyelash adhesive and hair dyes as a contaminant or break-down product of diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium compounds.

6. Fragrance
The catchall term “fragrance” may mask phthalates, which act as endocrine disruptors and may cause obesity and reproductive and developmental harm. Avoid phthalates by selecting essential-oil fragrances instead.

7. Lead and Mercury
Neurotoxic lead may appear in products as a naturally occurring contaminant of hydrated silica, one of the ingredients in toothpaste, and lead acetate is found in some brands of men’s hair dye. Brain-damaging mercury, found in the preservative thimerosol, is used in some mascaras.

8. Nanoparticles
Tiny nanoparticles, which may penetrate the skin and damage brain cells, are appearing in an increasing number of cosmetics and sunscreens. Most problematic are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, used in sunscreens to make them transparent. When possible, look for sunscreens containing particles of these ingredients larger than 100 nanometers. You’ll most likely need to call companies to confirm sizes, but a few manufacturers have started advertising their lack of nanoparticle-sized ingredients on labels. For a more complete discussion, see Screen Test: Reading the Micro-Fine Print.

9. Parabens
(methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, isobutyl-) Parabens, which have weak estrogenic effects, are common preservatives that appear in a wide array of toiletries. A study found that butyl paraben damaged sperm formation in the testes of mice, and a relative, sodium methylparaben, is banned in cosmetics by the E.U. Parabens break down in the body into p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which has estrogenic activity in human breast-cancer cell cultures.

10. Petroleum Distillates
Possible human carcinogens, petroleum distillates are prohibited or restricted for use in cosmetics in the E.U. but are found in several U.S. brands of mascara, foot-odor powder and other products. Look out for the terms “petroleum” or “liquid paraffin.”

11. P-Phenylenediamine
Commonly found in hair dyes, this chemical can damage the nervous system, cause lung irritation and cause severe allergic reactions. It’s also listed as 1,4-Benzenediamine; p-Phenyldiamine and 4-Phenylenediamine.

12. Hydroquinone
Found in skin lighteners and facial moisturizers, hydroquinone is neurotoxic and allergenic, and there’s limited evidence that it may cause cancer in lab animals. It may also appear as an impurity not listed on ingredients labels.

 And if you are wondering about the products you are using now, check out the database at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1.  Each product is giving a score based on how hazardous it is - this gives you the opportunity to choose your products based on your own comfort level with all of this research.  You can also view the ingredients that are considered hazardous for each product.  I love this site and have used it numerous times in my own search for shampoo, soap, and most recently, insect repellant for DD! 

Tags: Family and Friends, Green Living, Health, Miscarriage, Parenting, Simple Living, Simple and Green by
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When I first read about the Goods 4 Girls program that Crunchy Chicken started, I was a little confused.  I didn’t understand why Crunchy, in all of her green goodness, was sending reusable feminine hygiene products.  Nor did I understand why this was a project for foreign countries when we probably have the same issues right here in the US.

After reading the information on the official G4G website, I realized that there was a HUGE need for the program.  Here in the US, most schools have feminine hygiene products available to them on site.  The young girls that are benefiting from this program have nothing available to them.  They use whatever materials might be available including newspaper and old rags.  These materials are not exactly reliable and make attending school (or doing any other public activity) while menstruating almost impossible.

The sewn materials that are provided by G4G prevent any issues with religious or cultural beliefs and traditions.  This is very important - I don’t think a Diva Cup for young teenage girls would be accepted in a lot of cultures - similar to the concerns associated with tampons.  The program takes sewn pads from supporters and gets them to the girls in need.  This provides young women the opportunity to function normally, including uninterrupted participation in school.  And, these are reusable products that don’t result in waste! 

So visit the G4G site and get involved.  This is a great program that is changing the world one pad at a time!

Tags: Community, Green Living, Health, Simple Living, Simple and Green by
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