Your Shower Curtain's Dirty BIG Secret

Vinyl shower curtains. No big deal, right? Most of us grew up with them, and for many they're just a basic part of a home. Even the smell is familiar. So by default they must be benign, right? WRONG. Absolutely, awfully, must-get-rid-of-it-immediately WRONG. I'm sorry, I don't mean to alarm you, really, but this is so important. Most often I recommend steady changes to my readers as they seek a cleaner, healthier life, but this is something that requires immediate action. That cute little flower shower curtain hanging in your bathroom has to go NOW.  Let me tell you why...

Unplugging the Plug

Noëlle loving her food

All you mums and dads who have dealt with--or are dealing with--baby constipation after introducing solid foods, my sympathies to you. It is no fun! Noëlle suffered from it for the first couple of months after we introduced food. We didn't feed her grains or dairy, we made our own organic fruit and veggie purees, and she was still nursing a lot and drinking water, so we were dumbfounded. Her doctor (an N.D., by the way--see my earlier post, "Who's your N.D.?") helped reassure us by reporting that some babies just take longer to acclimate, and that it should straighten out in time. And it has! Thank goodness, everything is moving along perfectly now. But while she was constipated, it was rough. She wouldn't have a bowel movement for days, and when she did it was clearly very, very uncomfortable. Poor babe! So I did my research and I found some things that I knew I would NOT do (mineral oil!?), but I also found some natural things that I did want to try, which really worked! So now here is my "Unplug the Plug Constipation Remedy" to help your constipated baby poop (yes, I wrote "poop" on my my Crunchy Chic blog). Of course, if your baby's constipation becomes alarming to you, seek advice from your doctor. But this may also help. It's a blend of advice I got from our pediatrician as well as my own research....

The Best Bakeware (and Cookware)

Good evening! I am sitting here at 5:00 PM on Tuesday night too excited by quality bake/cookware to wind down. Aaron has the baby, and I am determined to publish this post tonight! I have to pass on what I know in as brief a way as I know how (which isn't very). Bottom line, you may not think much about what those old muffin tins or spaghetti pots you have used for years are made of, but you should. What you cook your food in and on can have major impacts on your health, and not in a good way. So my aim in this post is for you to close this window knowing what cookware and bakeware NOT to use and what kind is safe and effective. So here goes...

Forget Fluoride

Hello everyone! It's been about 3 weeks since my last post. Over the last two weeks we were enjoying sunny, warm weather in San Antonio, TX and I couldn't bring myself to stay indoors long enough to write. This idea for a post, truth be told, has sat in "Draft" status for some time. But the topic of oral fluoride and its uses in water, toothpaste and other products was too important not to at least write the title and hit "save." And now back in WA, I can certainly find some cozy indoor time to finish it. So here goes...

I want to start by acknowledging and recommending to you all my favorite toothpaste. No, it's not Tom's (some contain questionable ingredients). It's by Jason, a great non-toxic brand of personal care products, including--and in my opinion, most notably--toothpastes and mouthwashes. My favorite of their toothpastes is Powersmile Whitening Toothpaste in Powerful Peppermint, which contains no harsh chemicals or abrasives and still leaves my mouth feeling fresh and my teeth white. I love the flavor, and I love the effects. This toothpaste does the job that any of your ordinary brands does, but it doesn't contain sodium lauryl sulfate (a harsh, chemical detergent), propylene glycol (basically antifreeze) or fluoride (a toxic waste). You may already know that the first two ingredients are questionable and the first is particularly under fire lately, but did you know that fluoride is considered by the EPA to be a "toxic waste"? But wait...fluoride? YES.