Mindful Momma

Safe Cosmetics Act Introduced + More Chemical News

Just thought I'd share some of the things I've been working on lately for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and Inhabitots. There's lots of news about chemicals - both exciting (new legislation introduced!) and scary (BPA exposure has been underestimated). Read on....

Safe Cosmetics Act Introduced - An updated version of the Safe Cosmetics Act was introduced in the House of Representatives last Friday. Read all about it in a post written by Mia Davis of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, over on the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families blog.  Then be sure to click over to the action page where you can send a message asking your representative to co-sponsor this important bill! Let's get carcinogens and other nasty chems out of our cosmetics and personal care products!!

Chemical Exposure Linked to Breastfeeding Problems - Chemicals lurking in products we use everyday like sippy cups and non-stick pans, may affect a woman’s ability to breastfeed, according to a research review published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Read the rest of my post over at Inhabitots.

Link Between Chemicals and Autism - Scientists and environmental health experts warn that the rapid increase in autism rates is due in part to exposure to toxic chemicals. Pregnant women, fetuses, babies and young children are especially vulnerable to these toxic exposures. Read the rest of my post over at Inhabitots.

BPA exposure underestimated -  Exposure to the toxic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) has been underestimated because prior studies looked at single exposures rather than the steady exposure humans receive through food packaging. Read more about this study released by the University of Missouri.

What are you doing to limit your exposure to toxic chemicals?  If you need some ideas, here's a list of Top Tips to Keep Toxic Chemicals at Bay I wrote for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families.

{Image firkirbaz's photostream via Flickr}

Remodeling Update: Investing in a Vacuum with a HEPA Filter

As you may already know, we are in the midst of a big remodeling job around here. And remodeling means dust. Lots of it.

To try to combat the dust and keep as many toxins as possible from floating around and accumulating in our house, I decided to buy a vacuum with a HEPA filter. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate-air. These specialty filters force air through a fine mesh and capture the very fine particles that are often missed (and blown around the house) by regular vacuum cleaner filters. They are popular for reducing allergens in the home but are also important for removing lead dust and other toxic particulates like PBDE's and other flame retardants.

Not wanting to spend all summer researching vacuums, I did some quick investigation and discovered that the most critical attribute for a HEPA filter vacuum is that it has a sealed filtration system. This ensures that all dust is forced through the filter instead of escaping through openings in the vacuum. I also learned that it is equally important to wet wipe and mop your house to really bust all that bad dust!

I ended up buying an Electrolux Nimble HEPA Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner.  I got it at Target, on sale for $250 (from $299). It has sealed HEPA filtration system, with washable filters that minimize replacement costs and claim to capture 99.97% of dirt, dust, and allergens in your home. I have to wash the filter once a month but that's easy to do and much better than having to buy new filters and bags all the time.

Do you have a vacuum with HEPA filtration? How do you like it?

A Peek Inside Juice Beauty (+ Free Product!)

One of my favorite parts about reviewing sustainable products on my blog is introducing you to the people behind the companies.  When I agreed to review Juice Beauty, I realized I had never even heard the story of how the company began and had no idea who started it.

So I did some digging and learned that there is quite an amazing woman behind Juice Beauty!  Founder and CEO Karen Behnke started the company not long after she was pregnant with her first child at 40 years old. As is true of so many of us when we are pregnant, we become intensely aware of every little thing we put in and on our bodies.  Karen was shocked to find a dearth of safe, effective, organic beauty products on the market so she decided to create her own. And after a successful career running health and wellness companies, turning to the organic beauty business was not much of a stretch.

She started out by hiring seasoned product developer Melissa Jochim to help her create the product line. Together they worked to develop products that would feed the skin from the outside in. Instead of the typical water-base, Juice Beauty products are made with an organic fruit juice base that is naturally loaded with antioxidants, essential vitamins, phytonutrients and powerful hydroxy acids. All Juice Beauty products are made with a minimum of 85% and up to 98% USDA certified organic content. They also have a collection of products that are completely USDA certified organic (meaning they can sport the USDA seal on the label). I appreciate that they are very transparent about what is in their products. The website has a helpful FAQ section explaining the difference between organic and natural, certification information and much more.

The company is green in more ways than one. They source from many local, organic farmers and use solar energy in their production line. Product packaging uses recycled paper and other eco-conscious components.

Sound good so far? Watch this video for a peek inside Juice Beauty to learn more about this very cool company:

 

 

Now for a little bit about the products I have tried....

Juice Beauty is especially known for their anti-aging and mature skin products. I have purchased (and loved!) the Antioxidant Serum in the past and was happy to receive a sample of the new Stem Cellular Repair Moisturizer to try. It's actually made with the stem cells of fruit plants which apparently help repair skin and promote new cell growth. It's super rich and smells divine. I'm loving how it moisturizes my super-dry skin. Watch the product video for the inside scoop about how the product works and how it is made.

In case you didn't know, Juice Beauty makes mineral and fruit based cosmetics as well as skincare. They sent me a 4-pack of Organic Kisses - mini reflecting lip glosses in four fabulous colors. Made with fruit oil extracts and mineral colors, they are nicely moisturizing with a light glow of color that I love!

Interested in trying Juice Beauty organic skin care or cosmetics? I've got a deal for you! Get a free full-sized Green Apple Repair Mask (use Code: MINDFUL at checkout) or Green Apple Hydration Mask (use Code: MOMMA at checkout) with any Juice Beauty purchase! (codes are valid through July 7th, 2011). You can find Juice Beauty products in Sephora stores, Whole Foods Market and many other locations. Check to see if there is a store near you.

Have you tried any Juice Beauty Products? Leave a comment and let me know your faves!

Healthy Alternatives: Naturally Nora Cookie Mix

My boys love homemade cookies and I love making them. My go-to cookie recipe is peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chip and when I make a batch, they don't last long.

When I was approached to review a new line of boxed, all-natural cookie mixes from Naturally Nora, I almost passed because I couldn't imagine that a boxed cookie mix would be any good. But considering the fact that I can never keep up with my kids ability to gobble up cookies, why not try a quick and easy mix that claims to taste like homemade?

So I agreed to give Naturally Nora cookie mixes a test ride. We tried both flavors: Marvelous Chocolate Chunk and Spectacular Sugar Cookies. Each package contains a powdered mix with a pretty simple ingredient list. The sugar cookies are made with unbleached wheat flour, sugar, confectioners sugar, natural vanilla flavor, salt and baking soda. No artificial ingredients, colorings or preservatives. You provide a stick of butter and 1 egg.

My only problem with these mixes came with the actual mixing. The directions call for stirring the mix by hand but I found the mix to be so stiff that I actually used my hands instead of a spoon to get it thoroughly mixed together. Not a huge problem, but it made for messy hands.

The true test came when the cookies came out of the oven. Did my boys like them?  Absolutely! Not quite as much as my homemade cookies they said (thank goodness!), but way better than the packaged variety I sometimes buy to fill in the gaps.

Will we buy them again? I'm thinking yes! Naturally Nora cookie mixes are a good alternative for when you want the taste of homemade but need something faster. In our hectic lives, every minute counts, right? Naturally Nora mixes are available at select Whole Foods Markets, Target stores and other grocery stores. Find out if they are available near you!

Have you ever tried a boxed cookie mix?

(Read more Healthy Alternatives posts here.)

Remodeling Update: Historical Treasures!

Our house was built in 1898, long before the types of house insulation that are popular today were invented. When my husband did the demo of our 3rd floor, he found a bunch of old magazines that were used as insulation in the walls. How well do you think these papers hold up against a Minnesota winter? No wonder our heating bills have been so high all these years!

And look at all fun treasures he found underneath the floorboards:

 

Did you notice the pin-up girl playing card? Or the Licorice candy cigarettes?  How about the advertisement for the Daisy air rifle? There were also lots of old candy wrappers (Stark bars, anyone?), a ton of marbles and even an old lighter (the small metal tube underneath the Daisy ad).

And my favorite, the tag from a germicidally treated mattress....

Don't you wonder what lovely chemicals they treated that mattress with? Wonder if they are any better or worse than the flame retardants they put in mattresses today?

Have you ever found any cool artifacts in your house? Did you keep them or put them back? (We're planning to put ours back in a box under the new floorboards!)

Jambu Footwear is Adventurous and Eco-Friendly

Lookin' for some new summer sandals or some sporty shoes to take on vacation?  Take a look at Jambu Footwear - a line of fun, comfy shoes with an eco-friendly angle that makes them all the more appealing.

The goal of the women behind Jambu Footwear was to create a line of shoes for adventurous women who are also mindful of the environment. Eco-friendly attributes include:

• Outsoles made with partially recycled compressed rubber
• Vegan collection made with animal-friendly materials
• Packaging made with 100% recycled material (and fully recyclable after use)
• Nicely designed shoe boxes that are reusable as keepsake boxes

Jambu Footwear sent me a pair of sandals from their vegan collection in the cherry-mesh style.  I've been wearing them all around town and love how comfy they are! The velcro ankle strap makes it easy to get them on and off in a flash. My only complaint is that they are a little bit sweaty in hot weather but I feel that way about pretty much anything that covers my toes in the summer.

Would you like to win a pair? Try your luck with the Jambu Haiku Sweepstakes on the Jambu Facebook page. Just imagine yourself on a fun adventure, wearing a pair of comfy Jambu shoes and write a Haiku about it. If I were to buy another pair I would go for these Touring sandals.  What pair would you pick?

Inspired Dinner: 3 Customizable Kid-Friendly Meals

It's been awhile but I'm back with another Inspired Dinner post! This one's about making a meal that everyone in the family will actually eat. Anyone with little mouths to feed knows that this is no small task!

The best way I know to satisfy the whole family without being a short-order cook is to let everyone customize their meal with toppings.  Check out these 3 customizable kid-friendly meals that go beyond the standard taco night:

Custom Curry

My husband and I are huge fans of curry but for a long time I didn't make it because I thought the kids wouldn't like it. Then I read about Starter Curry on the blog Dinner: A Love Story.  It's a very mild curry with chicken and apples. My boys loved it!

Since then, I've taken our curry meals much further while still keeping it totally mild and kid-friendly. Now I add all sorts of vegetables - basically whatever we've got around. What makes it fun is the toppings!

• chopped cashews, almonds, peanuts or pecans
• dried apricots or dates
• raisins, craisins or currants
• unsweetened coconut

And of course, a bottle of hot chili sauce is always on the table for those who dare!

Peanut Noodles

We make peanut noodles quite frequently and I've tried a number of different recipes for peanut sauce over the years. As long as you have peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic and either vinegar or lime juice you are good to go!  Here is a recipe from my latest, favorite cookbook The Family Dinner by Laurie David:

Peanut Sauce

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup soy sauce

2/3 cup warm water

3 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon honey

3 tablespoons white (rice or wine) vinegar

Mix all sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Pour over cooked pasta. Pile the pasta on a big platter or bowl. Put the toppings on the table and dinner is served! (I've added some additional toppings that were not in the Family Dinner recipe):

• chopped peanuts
• diced cucumbers
• diced apples
• sliced scallions or red onion
• limes, cut into quarters
• sliced cabbage
• chopped cilantro or mint
• shredded carrot
• raisins
• diced red peppers
• hot sauce!

The Family Dinner recipe does not call for any added meat but we often add cooked chicken to our peanut noodles.  Just say YUM!!

Fish Tacos

Tired of traditional beef or bean tacos? Try fish tacos instead. My boys love 'em!

We start with cod or tilapia (I prefer cod myself) and marinate it in a simple vinaigrette of oil and lime juice, maybe with some cumin and garlic added for flavor. (here's a recipe from Epicurious for Baja Fish Tacos that is pretty similar to what we typically do) Then we saute up the fish, prepare the toppings and we're ready to eat!

Topping ideas:

• diced tomatoes
• mango 
• avocado
• feta or queso fresco
• chopped scallions or onions
• chopped cilantro
• shredded cabbage
• shredded lettuce

Fresh corn tortillas work best for fish tacos but if your kids prefer flour tortillas then be sure to have them on the table too!

Have you tried customizable meals with your family?  What are your favorites?

{Image and Recipe Credit:   Peanut Sauce recipe from THE FAMILY DINNER cookbook by Laurie David and Kirstin Uhrenholdt, Peanut Noodles image by Maryellen Baker, p. 129, Nov. 2010, Grand Central Life & Style, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.}

(this post is linked up to Fresh Bites Friday on Real Food Whole Health and Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop)

6 Eco-Friendly Stuffed Animals from Etsy

Next time you need a lovable, hugable gift for a little person in your life, consider making the trek to Etsy rather than the nearest big-box toy store. A quick search using the terms "eco" or "green," plus "stuffed animal" brings a tempting array of eco-friendly animals of all shapes, sizes, and species. Materials of choice for these handmade critters are recycled yarn, upcycled sweaters, eco-felt, and lots of love! See for yourself and you may never buy toy-store plush again...

Come meet the rest of these eco-friendly cuties on my post over at Inhabitots...

Let the Remodeling Begin!

NEWS FLASH: We have launched into an epic remodel of our 100+ year old house! One that's been in the planning stages for over a year now. One that's got so many details it could drive a seasoned project manager mad. One that has me both excited and crazed at the same time.

Now that we have a huge hole in our roof, I'm thinking it's official. For better or worse, this project has begun! I'll be doing some updates along the way to highlight some of the eco-friendly features of our remodel and also talk about some of the compromises we're making along the way.

No, our house won't be LEED-certified green but we're doing the best we can with our limited time, money and resources. 

For starters my husband has taken on the not-so-glamorous job of demolition. It's saving us some bucks and also allowing him to tackle some extra repairs and fixes that he's wanted to take care of for a long time. Check out John and the boys peeking out of our 3rd floor!

 
 What exactly are we doing?

• A completely new exterior using James Hardie fiber cement siding
• Spray foam insulation for the entire house (major eco-points for this!)
• A brand new roof
• New windows on the 2nd floor (we've already replaced the 1st floor windows)
• A new front porch - similar to what was originally on the house.
• Totally remodeled 3rd floor bedroom - complete with a new bathroom created in a brand new dormer off the back of the house!!

Here's a peek at our 3rd floor bedroom after demolition. Apparently, this room was a playroom once which explains the brightly colored striped floors that were underneath the carpet.

And look - footprints!

Have you done any remodeling lately? If so, were there any eco-friendly aspects to it?  Any recommendations for specific products or things that worked for you?