Mindful Momma

A Conversation about Parenting in a Digital World

Raise your hand if technology and "screen" time for kids is an issue at your house? Yep, that's what I thought! Technology comes at our kids in so many ways - cell phones, laptops, tablets, game consoles, television....they truly are growing up in a digital world! As a parent it can be very challenging to find the right balance between allowing technology and limiting it. 

Join me for a Twitter Party

I am working with FamZee to co-host a Twitter party on the topic of parenting in a digital world, along with my good friend Lori from Groovy Green Livin and Monique from My Digital World. FamZee has developed a phone app to help parents keep track of their family's cell phone usage and ensure safety.

This will be a great opportunity to ask those questions that run through your head like: "What age is appropriate for a smart phone?" and "When should I let my child have a Facebook account?" and "How many hours a day of digital time should I allow?"

Twitter Party Details

Topic: Parenting in a Digital World

Time: Tuesday, March 5, 2-3 pm EST (11-12 pm PST)

Panalists: Famzee @FamZee, Lori @GroovyGreenLivi, Monique @InspiredMomma and me @MindfulMomma 

Hashtag: #MobileFam

TweetGrid: Use this TweetGrid link to make it easier to follow the conversation http://ow.ly/i7lDe 

Prizes: Random participants will win the following prizes:

• Two $50 gift cards to Amazon.com
• Family prize pack of coupons and a Stonyfield water bottle (prize valued at $50),1 gift card from Barnes & Noble and 1 gift card from Amazon.com- combined value $100.00
• ALL winners get a FamZee Premium FREE for 12 months 

My two tween boys love to play games and watch videos as much as any other kid so I am looking forward to this discussion. I hope you will join me! Please RSVP to let us know you will attend!

What are your concerns and questions about parenting in a digital world?

(Disclosure: I received compensation from FamZee to co-host the Twitter party.)

Secret Scents: What is Hiding in Your Scented Products?

Artificial Fragrances Contain Allergens

You've been buying them forever - the lotion, the deodorant, your favorite shampoo. These products may be serving a purpose in your life but they've got a secret that you might not be happy about. Most conventional personal care, cleaning and perfume products contain artificial fragrance. You may have even seen the word "fragrance" on the label of a product you have at home. What you probably don't know is that fragrances can be made up of over 100 different "top secret" chemicals. And many of these chemicals trigger allergic reactions as well as other harmful effects in sensitive people.

Reformulated Tide and Other Changemaker Stories

Lori's Tide Petition Brings Change

Last February my friend Lori who blogs at Groovy Green Livin started a petition asking Proctor & Gamble, the makers of Tide to remove the cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane from its laundry detergents. The petition went viral and garnered almost 80,000 signatures. Less than a year later, Proctor & Gamble has agreed to reformulate Tide products to reduce levels of 1,4 dioxane to below 25 parts per million!

This is such an excellent example of how a regular person can be a changemaker by simply reaching out and sharing an idea with their community. It can be as easy as starting a petition or organizing a group in your neighborhood. It can be as simple as educating your friends through Facebook and Twitter. It can be as big or as small as you want it to be.

Do You Want to Be a Changemaker?

As many of my loyal blog readers know, I've been championing safer chemical laws for awhile now. Last spring I had the opportunity to go to Washington, DC and be part of a Stroller Brigade to support the Safe Chemicals Act. I even got to go to the Senate office building and meet with both of my Senators! It was such a thrilling feeling to be part of a big rally on Capitol Hill pushing for much needed change in our chemical laws!

If you had asked me when I was a younger if I thought I was the activist type, I would have said no way. Sure, I had participated in a few marches for causes I believed it but I still didn't consider myself a true activist. What I didn't realize is that you don't need to live and breathe a cause to be an activist. We can all be changemakers in many small ways.

Lobbying for the Safe Chemicals Act in Washington DC

Someone pinch me. I never thought I'd have any reason to enter the United States Senate buildings on Capitol Hill but this past Tuesday, I had the chance to meet my Minnesota Senators - Senator Al Franken (yes, the former SNL actor and writer) and  Senator Amy Klobuchar to talk about the importance of the Safe Chemicals Act and thank them for their support. Martha from Learning Disabilities Association Minnesota joined me as the other half of the Minnesota delegation!

We were there for the National Stroller Brigade organized by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families as a way to bring national attention and support to the important cause of updating our sorely outdated Federal chemical laws with the Safe Chemicals Act bill introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. Needless to say, I was thrilled to be part of the event and to get a tiny taste of what it's like to be a lobbyist!

Over 200 of us met on the Capitol lawn for a press conference where Senators Lautenberg and other supporters spoke:

Then we marched down the street to the Senate office buildings so we could meet with our Senators:

And finally, it was incredibly fun to spend time with my green blogging buddies, some of whom I met for the first time and others who I don't see often enough:

(Shane from EnviroBooty, Diane from Big Green Purse, Lori from Groovy Green Livin, me and Anne from Flour Sack Mama)

Have you ever lobbied your members of Congress or marched for a cause?

 

Join me for the Safe Chemicals Stroller Brigade!

Next Tuesday, May 22nd, I will be in Washington, DC rallying for safer chemicals. Will you join me - either in person or in spirit? We'll be gathering on the U.S. Capitol lawn at 9:30am, with a press conference starting at 10:00. After our "stroll" will will be meeting with members of Congress to ask them to pass the Safe Chemicals Act, legislation that would take meaningful steps to protect American families from harmful chemicals.

As many of you know, I have done a lot of work for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families over the last year or so. This cause is so important to me because I don't think we should have to worry about toxic chemicals in the products we buy and use every day.

If safer chemical laws are important to you, please join us - either at the event in Washington, DC or online using the Twitter hashtags #StrollerBrigade and #SafeChemicalsAct and by linking to Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families on Facebook and Twitter.

Event Details 

When: May 22nd, 2012 – 9:30 AM

Where: U.S. Capitol Lawn, Washington D.C.   

Between Constitution Avenue NE and 1st Street NE   Senate side of the East Front Lawn of the Capitol.

What:  Press conference at 10:00 AM, “Stroller Brigade” and meetings with Members of Congress to follow.  

To register please sign up here: RSVP for Safe Chemicals Brigade 

Hope to *see* you there!

 

Americans are Watching for Progress on the Safe Chemicals Act - Tomorrow!!

Just a quick post to let you know that tomorrow is a huge day for the safety of our kids and the American public! The U.S. Senate will hold a hearing to discuss the Safe Chemicals Act, a bill sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). We desperately need this major overhaul of our outdated chemical laws to keep toxic chemicals like BPA and formaldehyde out of products we use every day!

The hearings begin tomorrow (Thursday, November 17th) at 10:00 am EST.  They will be streamed live and if you want to watch, just visit the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Facebook page tomorrow morning for the link! Safer Chemicals and many of their partner organizations will be live-Tweeting and posting on Facebook during the hearings.


Wouldn't it be nice to shop without worrying about toxic chemicals in products? If you agree, please jump on Facebook and Twitter tomorrow and join in the conversation! On Twitter, please use the hashtag #SafeChemicalsAct in all your tweets for maximum impact. Here are a few suggested Tweets for you to use:

Visit the @SaferChemicals FB page for live coverage during the #SafeChemicalsAct hearings Thur 10am EST  http://on.fb.me/t9oZms

Moms will be watching this Thurs at 10am EST as the Senate discusses the #SafeChemicalsAct. http://bit.ly/rCMGgB

Hearing on #SafeChemicalsAct Thursday, Nov. 17^th at 10am EST. Call your Senator and let them know you want #saferchemicals!  http://bit.ly/vY0vCh

Thanks for your help making toxic chemical reform a reality!

(Credit for photo of recent Stroller Brigades for safer chemicals: Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families)

Taking Action for Safer Chemicals

Most of you following my blog know that I'm pretty passionate about the need to overhaul our nation's outdated chemical policies. I've been helping out on the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families campaign for about 9 months now - trying to raise awareness about toxic chemicals in everyday products and gather support for a really good solution - the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 - that we need Congress to pass ASAP!

Today I posted on the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families blog about how fall feels like the perfect time to get engaged and involved in a cause that is close to your heart. In that spirit, we are asking people to take our Fall into Action for Safer Chemicals pledge. The pledge is basically a commitment to do what you can to keep your family safe from toxic chemicals. When you sign the pledge we will send you a weekly email with easy tips and actions to make it easier to follow through on your commitment. It's that simple!

Will you join me and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and take the pledge?

(image credit: nick see via flickr)

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}

Working for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families!

When I started this blog well over 4 years ago I had no idea where it would lead.  But as time went by and I became more and more invested in green & healthy living, it became clear to me that I wanted my blog to be a stepping stone to a career in this field that I care so much about. 

Things have worked out pretty well in that regard - I consider myself lucky!  First, the opportunity to write my book virtually landed in my lap.  Granted it was a ton of work with less than a ton of pay, but I am so proud to be the author of Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making!!

Now another great opportunity has come my way.  I recently started working for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, writing blog posts, articles, fact sheets and helping with social media campaigns.  In case you're not familiar, Safer Chemicals is a non-profit coalition dedicated to passing laws that protect people from toxic chemicals in everyday products.  Specifically, they are focused on getting Congress to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) - the nation's primary law regulating chemicals in consumer products.  It is terribly outdated and does more to benefit chemical manufacturers than it does to protect Americans.

It's important work and I am excited to be involved with it.  One of my first assignments was working on a campaign urging President Obama to make cancer prevention a priority for President's Day. I also wrote a tips post filled with a bunch of ways to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in everyday life.

If you are interested in the cause, please consider following Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families on Facebook and Twitter and subscribing to our blog.  We'll keep you updated on current news (like recent news about Walmart banning a toxic flame retardant), the latest research (toxic chemicals in pregnant women) as well as compelling personal stories about how toxic chemicals effect our lives.

You can also support the cause by becoming an individual coalition member (no cost to you and you will only receive occasional emails) and most importantly by signing our petition to President Obama asking him to protect us from cancer-causing chemicals.

Of course, I'll still be posting here at Mindful Momma too.  Hope to see you in both places!

P.S.  I have to thank Janelle from Healthy Child, Healthy World for letting me know about this job opportunity.  Thanks Janelle - you are a great connector!