Personal Care Products - Health Tips from EWG | Environmental Working Group

I haven't finished reading "The Body Toxic" yet...but to continue discussions on my intention to be a more informed consumer, here are some great tips for reading personal product labels.

Know The Ingredients in your Personal Care Products - Health Tips from EWG | Environmental Working Group

I'm in the process right now of finishing all of the personal care products that I currently have in the home and my intention is to purchase organic/natural replacements when I finish the products I still have. As of today, I've only had to replace my face-lotion. It was slightly traumatic shopping around for a new lotion as I've been using Aveeno Face Lotion for over 10 years.

I've replaced my
Aveeno Positively Radiant Lotion - Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3%), Octinoxate (7.5% Octyl Methoxycinnamate), Octisalate (2% Octyl Salicylate)
Inactive Ingredients: Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Behenyl Alcohol, Benzalkonium Chloride Solution, Benzyl Alcohol, BHT, Bis Phenylpropyl Dimethicone, Butylparaben, C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate, C13 14 Isoparaffin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Ethylparaben, Fragrance, Glycerin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Isobutylparaben, Laureth 7, Methylparaben, Mica, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polymethylmethacrylate, Propylparaben, Silica, Steareth 2, Steareth 21, Titanium Dioxide, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid

With

Aubrey Organics Sea Buckthorn & Cucumber with Ester-C Moisturizing Cream INGREDIENTS: Coconut Fatty Acid Cream Base, Organic Aloe Vera, Topical Ester-C®, Organic Rosa Mosqueta® Rose Hip Seed Oil, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Canadian Willowherb Extract, Cucumber Extract, Aubrey's Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E), Organic Shea Butter, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Cucumber Distillate, Lavender Water.

I've highlighted some of the potentially harmful ingredients in these two products....well actually only in the Aveeno product because the Aubrey product doesn't contain one that I'm aware of. There are 4 different paraben products in the Aveeno lotion.

What is a paraben and is it potentially harmful?  Here's a good over-view From Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraben   
The verdict is still out, however, I think there's enough evidence for me to decide that I would like to avoid putting parabens on my body. 

Specifically I found this to be interesting: 

Sun exposure

Studies indicate that methylparaben applied on the skin may react with UVB leading to increased skin aging and DNA damage.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! 
There's methylparaben in the Aveeno Positively Radiant lotion. Lotion that I've been putting on my face for 10 years in hopes that it would help me become and then remain positively radiant.  It contains methylparaben...an ingredient that may increase skin aging and DNA damage when reacting with UVB rays?

So Aveeno-  is that the beauty of science + nature?

A 4oz bottle of the Aubrey Organics lotion costs about $2.00 more than the 4oz bottle of Aveeno. 

That's an extra $2.00 I don't mind spending. 

Styrofoam Recycling this Saturday in Madison

Do you have any styrofoam sitting around the house?   You know...that pesky white packaging material that you can't seem to throw away because you know it will never break-down and "return to nature".
Bring it to the Madison city transfer station, 121 E. Olin Ave on Saturday March 26th from 9am-1pm and it will be recycled/reused by Uniek Inc., a Waunakee picture frame and wall decor maker! They will be collecting the block-type styrofoam but not the packaging peanuts. 

If you have packaging peanuts sitting at home you can drop those off at UPS stores to be re-used or crumble them into the bottom of your potted plants when planting to use instead of rocks for drainage.  

link to the Styrofoam Recycling Story: 
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/environment/article_40b2b2e8-5481-11e0-b197-001cc4c002e0.html

Goings on in Madison

Tonight is the River Alliance of Wisconsin's Wild and Scenic Film Festival.  The films begin at 6:30pm at the Majestic Theater downtown Madison.  I've been to the past two festivals and the films are always inspirational and entertaining, plus proceeds go to the River Alliance.  Check out this year's selection here.  Wisconsin River Alliance
Enjoy a beer and a chance to win some door-prizes during the show!  We will be there!

I'll be boarding a jet-plane to Colorado this weekend for some snowy fun, but, for those who are left behind here are several opportunities to entertain yourself.

CANOECOPIA- at the Alliant Energy Center.   If you are in the market for new spring toys, go purchase that new Stand-Up-Paddleboard or a new paddle for your kayak or do some browsing of all the newest gear!    If you are not interested in spending loads of money, there are presentations through the day ranging from Wilderness First Aid to Yoga for Kayaking to Stories of Paddling in New Zealand or Paddling the Yukon River. It costs $10.00 to get into CanoeCopia but once you are in, all presentations are free.  Plus you can get a beverage and some nachos for the shows. mmm...nachos.

Last year Mike and I watched the film- Tales of the Last River Rat featuring Kenny Salwey. He is back this year and will be presenting his film Saturday at 2:30pm and 3:30pm and also Sunday at 12:30pm.
Kenny Salwey has lived close to the land on the Mississippi river and is an expert trapper, fisherman, hunter and herb collector.   He is an author, woodsman and river guide and I think he would get a long quite well with my father.   BBC-Natural World-Mississippi, Tales of the Last River Rat
The film is beautifully put together and would get even those who love winter the most ready for spring.


Bike-O-Rama- at the Alliant Energy Center Arena Building. Looking for a new bike?
My sister bought her bike at Bike-O-Rama last year and got a great deal!  Bike-O-Rama is free to enter and right next to CANOECOPIA so you can hit both with one stone. BikeORama

Madison Rally for your Rights-Tractorcade
Farmers will be joining the rally on the square this Saturday around 12:00-noon and they're bringing their tractors!  I think it's obvious that our rural communities will be hurt by the cuts Scott Walker is proposing to education, BadgerCare and the Buy Local Buy Wisconsin program.  Come out and join them to help support the working and middle class families in Wisconsin.  When you're done rallying in solidarity with our local farmers, please remember to support them by continuing to buy local!!   I wonder if Joel Salatin will fly in and join the party....

MACSAC ( Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition) CSA Open House. 
This Sunday from 1-4pm at the Monona Terrace.  This is a free opportunity to come meet local farmers that provide CSA shares!  Learn about your options for a CSA-share this year and sign up!  
This reminds me that Mike and I need to sign up for our CSA this year...before all the shares are taken. 
Don't forget that your Health Insurance Company might reimburse you for a portion of your share!  It's good for you and good for our local farmers! 

Saving Water

Last month, we were focusing on Saving Water. 
The average person in the US uses 80-100 gallons of water a day and most of that water is actually used to flush the toilet. 

Now, that's a lot of H2O! 

Here are a couple of things that can help reduce the amount of water going down the drain without spending  a lot of coin.   

Capture cold water from the shower that you would normally let run down the drain. 

- When you start your shower, capture the cold water with a bucket and place the bucket next to your toilet.  Next time you go to the bathroom, instead of flushing the toilet, pour your captured water into the toilet bowl (which triggers the toilet to flush).  You've just reused that shower water and saved a couple of gallons by not flushing your toilet!

We have just started using this trick-and it's surprisingly easy and hassle-free.  Visitor's might question the bucket of water next to the toilet...so feel free to share the helpful hint with inquiring friends.

-Here's another trick. When you start the shower, plug the drain and capture this water in the bottom of the tub.  Wash your delicate "hand-wash in cold water" items in the tub before your shower.  You probably have been putting that task off anyway...so you might-as-well reuse this water.  So go...and get after it before you jump into the shower in the morning.    You'll walk out the door with a nice sense of accomplishment, guaranteed! 

Convert your regular toilet to a low-flow toilet for free. 

The cheapest way is to install some sort of weight in the toilet’s tank. The weight will take up space and displace the water so less water is required to fill the tank. You could purchase a number of gadgets to do this or if you don't want to spend any money you can use a soda or 1/2 gallon milk container.  Fill the container about halfway with something heavy (rocks/marbles) and place the cap back on. Place the container into the water (in the tank of your toilet). Just make sure it’s not obstructing any of the components of the toilet. Ta'da!  You'll be saving water and money in no time! 

Check your toilet for leaks. 

So you're not sure if your toilet tank is leaking. Try putting a splash of food coloring in the tank.  If, next time you go to the toilet the water in the bowl is a that same bright blue or green, you have just discovered a leak.  A leak that is costing you money and wasting water.   Good work Sherlock...now go call a plumber!


Get an aerator for your sink faucet. 

Aerators reduce the water coming through the faucets by mixing it with air. The aerator separates a normal single flow of water into tiny streams of water and the water flow is reduced without feeling a reduction in water pressure.  Easy to install...and they're cheap!  Typically $1.00-$3.00.

http://www.google.com/search?q=faucet+airator&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=faucet+aerator&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=iH3&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbs=shop:1&tbo=u&ei=7Up1TcbeEMSblgeihOinAg&ved=0CD8QrQQ&bav=on.2,or.&fp=7e0c973786b8478e 

Time your showers
Do you know anybody who insists that it only takes them 10 minutes to get ready for work...and this includes a shower?  Usually, I've found that those people have a skewed perception of their abilities in the morning.   I have never made such a claim but I was curious to see how long I stood in the shower every morning.
I've recently moved the kitchen timer into the bathroom and I've been timing my showers.  I set the timer for 6 minutes and every time so far I've gotten out of the shower before the timer went off.
 See, there's no need to dilly-dally. 

Try it at home! 

If you have any other hints..I'd love to hear them.  The word on the street is that a low-flush toilet is one of the prizes in our Greener Faster Challenge!  

We Are Wisconsin

 

The weather should be better this weekend. 

Event Date: Saturday, March 5, 2011 - 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Taking place at:
Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, WI
Musical guests: MICHELLE SHOCKED and JON LANGFORD of the MEKONS
Speakers:
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
State Rep. Kelda Helen Roys
Kabzuag Vaj of the community justice advocates at Freedom, Inc.
Leland Pan of the Student Labor Action Coalition
Jim Goodman of Family Farm Defenders
Paul Soglin and David Cieslewicz
Matt Nelson of Color of Change
MCs Patrick Depula with Sarah Ben Manski
. . . additional speakers and music,TBA.
First they came from the public sector unions. And we stood up for the unions, because we knew the rest of us were next.

photo courtesy of:  http://wearewisconsin.us/

Environmental Impacts of the WI Budget

The drama continues to unfold in Wisconsin under our new Governor Scott Walker.   He announced the 2-year budget yesterday, and while there are deep cuts to education and local governments there are also substantial changes that will no doubt affect the environment.  Specifically, state mandated recycling programs would be eliminated under the new budget.  Well, I was tired of sorting my recycling anyway.  Thanks Scotty!

But seriously, I'm struggling to understand how making huge cuts to our public schools and programs (for the future) like recycling will quote "benefit our children and grandchildren." And as Scott Walker said in his Budget Address, "we need a commitment to our future, so our children don't face even more dire consequences than what we face today."   

How does completely eliminating a mandated recycling program that has been in place for 15 years affect any of us in a positive way? 

find more info here: 
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/environment/article_f397fd4a-4451-11e0-9e89-001cc4c03286.html