Lead in Holiday Decorations

As many people decorate for the holidays there is something to be cautious about. LEAD! If you have toddlers who put everything in their mouths this is especially troublesome. Most Christmas decorations are made in China and are more than likely to contain lead. This is especially true of holiday lights. I have lights that even have a tag saying they contain lead, apparently IKEA sells lead-free lights! Or I found some at Environmental Lights.com I know children want to help decorate and join in the fun but be sure they wash their hands extremely well after they have touched ornaments, lights, your artificial tree(which is why a real tree is better), a nativity, or whatever else you have to decorate that may contain lead and God knows what other harmful chemicals. Homemade ornaments made of natural materials like cotton, wool or felt are safer for children to handle. Pine cones in a bowl work well for us and it keeps children busy placing them one by one! Even better if you have a tree outside to get them from. I gathered several bags of them a few years back and have been using them every year! A very eco-friendly option. Now go decorate and see how creative you can get!

Reiki Healing

If you are familiar with alternative treatments, you may have heard of Reiki. It is a Japanese technique used for various types of healing which can be done by a Reiki practitioner or you can even learn self healing. A simple explanation is that hands are placed on or just above the body in various positions to move ki(energy) to facilitate healing. Reiki was discovered over 100 years ago Dr. Mikao Usui of Japan and made its way to the United States in the 1960's. These ideals were added later to add spiritual balance and enable the client to accept they can heal from within themselves. . "The secret art of inviting happiness The miraculous medicine of all diseases Just for today, do not anger Do not worry and be filled with gratitude Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people. Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer. Pray these words to your heart and chant these words with your mouth Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind The founder , Usui Mikao I received my first session from Reiki Master, Catalina Rivera, who has been practicing for 13 years and studied Reiki in Santiago, Chile. I wasn't sure what to expect at a session so I laid on the table and relaxed in my comfortable clothing, kept my eyes closed and ready to accept any and all healing. As she began to place her hands on me I felt a feeling of warmth and energy at the same time. I grew more and more relaxed throughout the session and even fell asleep. When I awoke I felt alert and clear headed with a deep feeling of relaxation. Everyone will feel different. I didn't have any major aches or pains the day of the treatment so more of an overwhelming feeling of calm and good health is what I felt. It seemed to last for a couple days. I would highly recommend trying Reiki and learning more about it. It is used in many hospitals now for cancer and pain management. If you want to learn more about Reiki you can hear Catalina speak at the November 7th Holistic Moms Meeting at the Oyster Bay Community Center in Oyster Bay, NY from 7-8:30. She can also be reached at catita79@gmail.com Photos Courtesy of Photo Bucket

National Costume Swap Day is Saturday October 12th but Beware of Toxic Costumes!!!

If you still have not figured out what your child will be for Halloween, you can swap last years costume for another at National Costume Swap Day this Saturday October 12th. This is a great way to recycle last years costume without spending money. Some costumes only are worn once, unless you are my daughter and like to dress up in them year round! If you do opt to buy a costume or swap, be aware of what kind of fabric it is made from especially if it is plastic. The off-gasing of chemicals in plastic/vinyl/PVC masks or other parts of the costume disrupt a young child's endocrine system and are extremely toxic. Natural fabrics are much safer for costumes. Making your own costume is even better. Some costumes have fabrics, glitter and accessories which can be irritating to children's skin and may even contain LEAD or is stuffed with who knows what "fillers" to make puffy animal costumes. Here is one option for a fairy or a knight. Whatever your child dresses up as, keep them safe! To find a Costume Swap near you go to Eco Mom Alliance.

Most Makeup Geared for Kids is Toxic, Choose Safe Makeup!

Kids should remain kids in my book. As they get older they will want to do what Mommy does. I found this includes getting into your makeup bag! My toddler likes to put on my lip balm and one day I found her with my lipstick all over her face. Luckily I can feel confident that ALL of my makeup is non-toxic thanks to the research I have done through EWG's Skin Deep. I carefully chose all of the makeup I wear by first researching ingredients for toxicity. Most people do not realize that even the majority of the makeup geared towards kids is made with harmful ingredients. Some of these ingredients are even carcinogenic. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is working towards changing guidelines for safer makeup and cosmetics. Luckily there are a few companies who are making organic, non-toxic products that are safe for you and your little girl in case she decides to mimic you. One company is Luna Organics. The products are made in Maryland and their standards comply with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Another is Pure Poppet. They are based in Australia as well as Orla and Maeve. If your little princess decides she wants to be a princess this Halloween or any other time of the year, please use caution and make sure she is wearing makeup that is safe.

Keep Ticks off of Pets Naturally!

We have 3 very furry dogs. An American Eskimo, and 2 Pomeranians who all shed and love to play in the grass. Unfortunately there are ticks where we live. Thankfully we have been able to keep the ticks from latching onto the dogs for nearly 2 years with the help of an All Natural Shampoo and Conditioner and occasionally using Flea and Tick drops. Summer is nearing its end and I have not seen a flea or tick yet! We buy our products from The Only Natural Pet Store online. The link to the online store is to the right on this page. Their Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Shampoo and Conditioner is what we have been using. In addition to the occasional Natural Defense Squeeze On which contains various oils such as peppermint, cinnamon and lemongrass. We used this in the spring when the ticks seem to attack the most and did not have one get at my dogs! Instead of using the toxic products to keep fleas and ticks from biting your four legged friends, I highly recommend these products instead. I feel much safer letting my children touch the dogs with these natural products.

"Green" Centerpieces (with a Purpose)

Here is the link to a Guest Blog which posted on July 16, 2013. The Sweet Christian Bride. You can apply the concepts of "Green" centerpieces to any event from a wedding, engagement dinner, family reunion, anniversary dinner, holiday dinner...the list goes on!

Is Toxic Triclosan hiding in your hand soap???

Washing hands is extremely important for toddlers and babies as well. When I am out I use my Clean Well hand wipes or sanitizer that is non-toxic. Sometimes I forget and need to wash my hands and use the soap from the restaurant or wherever we happen to be and regret it later. I sit in the car with a headache and finally remember that the smell from my hands is what is giving me a headache. The scented, chemical ridden soap that I used on myself and maybe my child is what is making me ill. The toxins of fragrance are bad enough but would you believe that there is a toxic ingredient hiding in hand soaps that causes endocrine problems? That ingredient is Triclosan. It can cause a whole host of issues from interfering with muscle function to interfering with thyroid regulation. What is even more frightening is that triclosan was first registered as a PESTICIDE!!! It apparently was even added to lunch boxes, socks and even toys! It is thought to be antimicrobial but is doing more harm than good. Read more about triclosan. Some manufacturers are phasing it out of their products but others will still use this dangerous chemical until it is officially banned by the FDA. Research is currently being done...so they say. For now, check your soap and avoid products that claim to be antimicrobial unless they state that they do not use TRICLOSAN.