BED BUGS RUN WILD IN NYC, ECO-SAFE KILLER!

In case you haven't heard....there is a major problem with BED BUGS in NYC!!! They have been at the Empire State Building, Nike Town and Bloomingdales according to the reports I've seen. My husband has overheard several people on the train talking about how they are in peoples offices as well. I have told him not to put his bag on the floor and be on the look-out not to bring any home with him as they may stow away in his bag!!! Usually you find them in hotels at the edge of mattresses. More info on BED BUGS.

I did happen to be looking at one of my favorite eco-friendly home improvement websites, GREENDEPOT.com and they carry a safe bug spray. I don't even want to know what they are using to kill the bugs in the city. Soon the city could be overrun by pesticides from getting rid of these bugs. I had roach problems in my NYC apartment years ago, (everyone who has lived in NYC has seen a roach or many, they even live on Park and Madison Ave!!) I used Boric acid and tried not to let the exterminator in if I could help it. In case you see bed bugs and happen to carry one home from a hotel, use a safe alternative. There is even a BED BUG REGISTRY to see where they have been spotted in the US. Travel carefully and keep your family free of bed bugs!!

Offset your travel with Carbonfund.org

Recently we traveled back to Los Angeles for business and pleasure! The thought of it made me feel a little guilty since its not the "Greenest" thing to be flying. While on the plane I read about Carbonfund.org

You can easily enter your travel info and it will calculate how much you can donate to offset your flight. For instance, we traveled from JFK airport in NY to Burbank, CA. It calculated that we should donate $8.91 per person. Sounds simple enough!! You can also choose how the money should be allocated. You can offset other things like SUV's, parties, homes, and gifts.

The goal is to be CARBON NEUTRAL, check out the definition on Wikepedia. Other things you can do are plan to run your errands at the same time. You can get your groceries, drug store, post office and other shopping done in one day if possible. The waste of gasoline and cost adds up if you don't plan accordingly. Or maybe it makes more sense to do your shopping online instead of driving far across town for just a few items?? Think about it. Offset your lifestyle NOW!!!

Clean your Reusable Bags to avoid germs!!

What a busy summer!! In case you have not heard, the CA ban on plastic bags did not go through. There is still hope though!!! This brings me to an important point, CLEAN YOUR REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS.


Since we have had such a busy summer, I can't remember the last time I had cleaned mine. My husband used one to gather tomatoes from the garden. A few got mashed so one day of rotten tomatoes in the bag smelled like it had been there for a year! Thus, I thought maybe it was time to wash ALL of our reusable bags. Somehow we have so many!!! Cold on the gentle cycle and air drying seems to work great!! Remember to keep them in your car or carry one in your purse or backpack....think of the fishes in the sea!!!

PVC in school supplies to be avoided

Oh the joys of back-to-school shopping!!! It was such a production finding the right items to start the school year.

Did you know that most items contain the endocrine disruptors "phthalates" which is found in PVC. Please parents, do your research before you buy some plastic item which is harming your child. Here is a handy BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE.


Now time to get your kids ready for school with the knowledge that they have the safest school supplies!!

Organic or Oeko-Tek or Green Cotton clothes, sheets, towels!!!

When I found out I was having a baby I decided to go on a mission to find only organic clothes for Brooke during the first 6 months if possible. I did have some non organic items that were too cute to resist, but I did wash them several times. My reason for concern...cotton is sprayed with pesticides, not good for humans or the environment.

Last summer I did find quite a few options from Gerber Organics, Nordstrom Organics, Hanna Anderson, The Gap, and several items such as organic blankets, bedding and bibs from other popular stores like Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby. I've even noticed that the sizes of environmentally friendly clothes are going beyond 9 months and even into adult sizes. As I sat recovering from food poisoning a few weeks ago, I lounged in my Hanes Organic sleepwear that is available at Walmart!!! Who knew!! Garnet Hill catalog has dresses and other items that are organic or made from Green Cotton. Hanna Anderson has clothes that are Organic or Oeko-Tek Standard 100 certified.

I thought to myself, my clothes are going to be in direct contact with Brooke, so maybe I should have a few organic items to wear around the house or at least something that has been washed so many times that the pesticides would definitely be untraceable!!! I even purchased organic sheets for our own bed as well as towels for Brooke. I know this may sound a bit extreme, but organic has become our way of life in ALL areas. Why not when Target and Walmart carry organic items that are affordable to EVERYONE!!! The popular store in LA called "The Little Seed" has a line for Target now!!! Almost every retailer now has at least a few items that are organic for newborns. So the next time you buy something made of cotton, BUY ORGANIC!!!

BPA in Coffee makers, go for the French Press

Most people can't get going without their fresh cup of coffee. I was never really an everyday coffee drinker until my last trimester of pregnancy. I only had one cup and felt a little guilty at that amount, but I justified it because it is Organic Starbucks Roasted Blend that we buy from Costco. Did you know that coffee is the second most pesticide ridden crop next to cotton??? Therefore Organic is best if you drink coffee regularly. I have been trying to give it up now and went 4 days, today I had coffee!

Around the time I began my coffee indulgence, our coffee maker broke. My husband mentioned that if there was BPA in baby bottles(now banned) and microwave plastic containers, why would we drink coffee from a plastic coffee maker. Then I googled the topic today. Apparently it is hazardous, especially to pregnant women. Last summer we went to Ikea and found a french press for 20 dollars. We have used it EVERYDAY since last summer and are in need of a new one because the mesh is fraying along the edges and coffee grounds get in the coffee now so we double strain it. They do make ones that encase the edges of the mesh plunger, just need to figure out which one to buy now. That would require a trip to the mall to see one in person and get just the right one! Hopefully we will find the time soon. Maybe this is a reason to give up coffee and get my pearly whites back??

What seafood is safe???

With the BP oil spill going on way too long, it makes one wonder how it is going to impact the seafood industry. A few weeks ago we traveled to the Pittsburgh Zoo and happened to see a new exhibit that featured information on seafood. It showed what was good to eat, good for the environment, etc. We were really surprised to see that and they even had pocket handouts from seafoodwatch.org to help you decide what seafood you should eat.
This information may change now that the BP oil spill is wreaking havoc on the Gulf.

I was watching a nightly news program over the weekend and happened to see that a fisherman was asked by a company he sells his seafood to, if they could market his product as "being from TEXAS"!!! Ok, the fact that I saw this on the news and furthermore that companies are permitted to do this tells me that we can't trust where our food comes from. If you have seen Food Inc, you know why to buy organic and not trust what officials say all the time. I don't know about you, but I would not eat something from anywhere near the spill. Seafood is what I'm concerned about primarily. What if there are farms in the area??? The well water supplies??? There is bound to be so much more devastation than we see at this moment. Very sad.

A few weeks ago I mentioned a movie Crude and how the people in Ecuador were sickened by oil on their land. My fear is that this could happen in Louisiana. I wouldn't let my baby girl, who is now standing, trying to walk, and has her top teeth coming in go anywhere near a hazardous area or eat any food that may be in question. In my opinion, you can't be too safe. Now that my baby is keeping me so busy that finding time to blog is difficult, I need to keep her health number one priority. If that means we are extremely choosy about our seafood, that is what we must do. What officials may say about safety, I don't always believe. Call it mothers intuition or a hunch, but I wouldn't eat a fish or shrimp from the Gulf or anywhere near there. Alaska and the Northeast are where I will get my seafood until further notice.


photo © Daniel Steger
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