Personal care Products

Taken directly from The Environmental Working Group

Better products are truthful in their marketing claims and free of potentially worrisome ingredients. Some products might make claims like "gentle" or "natural," but since the government does not require safety testing, personal care product manufacturers can use almost any chemical they want, regardless of risks.

How to read a label
Every personal care product must list its ingredients. Here's how to navigate the label:

• Start at the end, with preservatives. Avoid:
  
  
• Words ending in "paraben"
• DMDM hydantoin
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone
• Methylisothiazolinone
• Triclosan
• Triclocarban
• Triethanolamine (or "TEA")
  
  
• Check the beginning of the ingredients lists, where soaps, surfactants, and lubricants show up. Try to avoid ingredients that start with "PEG" or have an "-eth" in the middle (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate).
  
  
• Read the ingredients in the middle. Look for these words: "FRAGRANCE," "FD&C," or "D&C."

For grown-ups
Many parents pay more attention to their kids' environmental health than their own, but adult bodies can be affected by toxic chemicals, too. EWG's Safer Shopping List has nine common-sense tips to reduce everyone's exposures. For instance, buy fragrance-free, skip the nail polish and use fewer products.

Just for kids
Extra caution is in order for kids because, pound for pound, they are exposed to more contaminants in everyday products than adults. Their immature metabolism and organ systems are typically less capable of fending off chemical assaults. Even subtle damage to young bodies can lead to disease later in life.

Follow EWG's top five tips for kids:

1. Use fewer products and use them less often.
2. Don't trust ad hype. Check ingredients.
3. Buy fragrance-free products.
4. Avoid the use of baby powder.
5. Always avoid EWG's top six chemicals of concern for kids:
   
   • 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3 Diol
   • BHA
   • Boric acid and sodium borate
   • DMDM Hydantoin
   • Oxybenzone
   • Triclosan

Car seats- What do you think?

This information was published Monday, March 21st

***********************

CHICAGO — Children should ride in rear-facing car seats longer, until they are 2 years old instead of 1, according to updated advice from a medical group and a federal agency.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued separate but consistent new recommendations Monday.

Both organizations say older children who've outgrown front-facing car seats should ride in booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits them. Booster seats help position adult seat belts properly on children's smaller frames. Children usually can graduate from a booster seat when their height reaches 4 feet 9 inches

Children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat, the guidelines from both groups say.

Read the entire story here

Policy State from the American Academy of Pediatrics

So much to soak in

We had mom's group at church yesterday. I wish every morning I could go to mom's group. I always leave feeling refreshed; like I could conquer the world, or at least my kids for the rest of the day.
Yesterday I took so many notes I ran out of space on my piece of paper. I truly desire to be a wife-mom-friend-womanonthestreet whose face shines radiantly because I have the love of Jesus in my heart. I long to be a Woman of God clear through to my core. But I have sinned, I've messed up, and my thoughts are not always pure. My human nature says I'm not good enough, I don't deserve Him. And the truth is, none of us do. But read these verses...

'Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.' Psalm 34:5

'If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.' James 1:5

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.' Psalm 55:22

God longs for me to run to Him, to confess my sins and to cast my burdens upon Him. I first must clean my inside, then my outside will be clean, and radiant.

How am I going to do that?
I'm starting with 5 ways, maybe next week I'll add a few more.

1. I am going to lower the expectations I have for myself. Meaning: My quiet time, might not always be quiet. It might not always be 30 minutes of solid reading in His Word. Instead, I will grab Bits of God all day long. I will relax and allow God to speak through 'Bible Time' I have with my kids. Often times He has brought me to tears during this time, but I have not allowed it to qualify as being good enough for me.
   
2. I am going to start a 'Between You & Me' journal with my 11 year old. (more on that in another post)
3. I am going to make a conscience effort to get on my knees as I roll out of bed each morning.
4. I am going to post verses or short phrases in around my house for me to see. Ex: Rejoice in the Lord, Joy of the Lord is my Strength, Whatever I do do for the Lord... so that those words reiterate in my mind all day long.
   
5. I am going to pray for my husband as I pick up the things he leaves all over the place.
   

'Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.'
Psalm 86:11 NLT

Reading Helps

The School Bell is another great site for free printable learning activities for children. Kathy has a lot of learning games, theme learning activities, links to experiments, and Dolch Lists.

Click the link below to find all 11 Dolch lists and a link to a complete downloadable kit.

You might be wondering what a Dolch list is... it is a list of words which (the majority of) cannot be sounded out using common sound-to-letter phonics patterns or taught through picture word teaching (e.g. 'if' 'soon'). The words have to be learned by sight. The 220 high frequency Dolch list was published by Edward William Dolch in 1948. The Dolch List is a great supplement to your phonics program. It is important to remember that memorizing the Dolch List doesn't make your child a proficient reader, he/she must be able to recognize the words in sentences too. But, learning the list will do a great deal for your child's reading ability.

Remember to make learning words fun...create your own Dolch Memory Cards, race the clock, or play online Dolch games.

Meal Giving and a question or two

Have you ever received a meal from someone due to a birth, death or family tragedy? If you have, you know what a blessing it can be. We have received many tasty meals from family, friends and church members since the birth of Ashlynn. It has been great not to have to worry about what is for dinner.

But what if your on the other end, your the meal maker. Does it make you nervous? Do you make excuses so you don't have to? God may be asking you to use a gift He has given you to be a blessing to others. I love to bake and cook, but I still get nervous over what to make. As a Deaconess at Church, my job is to make meals for families with new babies. I have several 'go to' recipes I use as well as these guidelines when I am making a meal...

• Don't experiment with a new recipe, unless you totally trust the source. Instead have several recipes you feel comfortable with, that are yummy, and pick the one that suits the family you are taking the meal to.
  
• Ask about allergies/special diets. You wouldn't want to take a dish with breading if someone in the family had Celiac disease...make a meat dish for a vegetarian...take peanut butter cookies to a family who had a child with a peanut allergy.
  
• Ask if there is anything they really don't like or have received numerous dishes of...fish...pasta...hamburger casseroles...
  
• If you are really ambitious, ask what their favorite food/vegetable/salad/dessert is. And make it.
  
• If there are children in the family, ask about their preferences. The last thing a mom wants is to have a meal delivered only to have children who won't eat it.
• Make it fun. A friend recently brought us a meal with cool whip in a can. I don't know when the last time was I bought that stuff. My kids thought they were in heaven!
• Take a meal, not just a dish. I include a main dish, a vegetable or lettuce salad, side salad, dessert and maybe applesauce or something else kid friendly.
  
• Make everything in disposable dishes. (disposable baking pans, baggies, glad ware...) You can even take paper plates and plastic silverware if you'd like.
• Ask when the best time to deliver is. Arrive on time and don't overstay your welcome.

If I am making a meal for my sister/other family or a close friend, the last two guidelines aren't quite as important. Those people I see a lot, I am comfortable with them and if I show up when they are nursing or aren't home, they won't care if I walk on in. I also know I will be at their house again soon and can up my own dishes.

My questions for you are:
What kind of meals do you like to receive the best?
What are your 'go to' recipes?
What are your most kid friendly dishes?

Moms by Heart

I recently found a new blog via a link from another bloggie mom. It is called Moms By Heart It is written by a Christian mother of 5. The mission of her blog is 'Encouraging and equipping moms to live a life of abundance.' She shares how she learned to save using coupons, how to make homemade products for your home, leaving lasting memories and offers 'DailyNuggets' to help you get through your day.
Check her out.

www.momsbyheart.net

Thank you God for the privilege of being a parent. For sleepless nights, spilled drinks and eyes that twinkle with laughter.

I would not trade these for anything.

I look in amazement at the perfect little hands and toes You have created. I know no man could create something so precious as a child.

I am in awe that You would thrust me with a child of Yours.

I often wonder how I am going to do this. How will I raise my children to respect others, to not exclude other children and to give willingly when I struggle with these same things. How can I teach them Your Word, when sometimes I don't understand it myself? What do I say when I have no answers to the trials and struggles of the world?

I look at the faces of my children, so innocent and unsuspecting of what the world wants to do to them.

I want to shelter my children and keep them from the hurt and pain of life. But I know when I look back over my life, it is my struggles that have taught me. The hard times are when You, my Heavenly Father, have molded me into who I am today. God, please give me the strength I need to allow them to struggle and the loving words to say when they come running back.

Watch how you act

because your little ones are sure to follow.

Why is he counting the tines.?.
because Dad does.

How does he know how to shave.?.
he watches dad.

Why is she cheering.?.
because her family cheers her on.

I'd like to say our children only pick up good thins from us. However, that would be a flat out lie. I don't take pictures of their downfalls, they're not nearly as cute.
So just for fun, where do they get these downfalls, mom or dad?
*leaving the fridge open
*putting empty containers back in the fridge
*eating out of a food container
*leaving their shoes smack dab in front of the door
*the phrase "let's check Ebay!"
*Feeling they deserve a bedtime snack each and every night
*Arguing because they don't want to be wrong

...and the list goes on.
Having children has made me change my habits.
And shown me which ones I still need to change.
Now, I think I might have left the fridge door open... better run!

A new plan of attack

We have things that NEED attention at our house...
I have been inconsistent in my parenting the last several weeks. It's amazing how quickly things have fallen apart. I have children who have established bad habits that NEED corrected. I have issues to work on too.

THE ISSUES

• I have slacked off Big Time with Bible Time during school
• My daughter has once again taken up screaming as a way of expressing her happiness, sadness, joy, frustration, annoyance, playfulness...
• My oldest has decided to voice his opinion on every issue, it's his way of 'kindly' talking back
• My middle has a problem with picking on others
• Tattling, solely to get someone in trouble, has escalated
  
• Attitudes need adjusting
  
• Chores need to be done without reminders
• I need to make new chore charts!
• I need to say what I mean and stick to my guns

THE PLAN

• Start School with Bible Time every day, no exceptions!
• Discipline every scream, not just the ones that are convenient for me
• Don't tolerate talking back, or deal making
• Punish picking
  
• Adjust my attitude. For the children, add extra chores, extra writing, or room time to deal with bad attitudes
• Make new chore charts
  
• Establish consequences for chores not done by an established time
• Don't say sometime unless I am willing to follow through

How do you deal with tattling? Sometimes it is needed. PLEASE, give me suggestions!

Now, I'm off to make new Fall Chore Charts :)

FEAST * Food & Energy

Food
Energy
Attitude
Schedules
Time

Welcome to week one of FEAST!
These are my energy shoes. When I put on my shoes, I get so much more done. Not sure why, they are just Nike 360's, but oh so comfy.
Try it!
Put your shoes on.
Now, let's get started...

QUIZ time...
What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

a) Cereal
b) donut or something else fried/baked or sugar laden
c) something that you can pronounce all of the ingredients on the ingredient label, if it has a label
d) coffee
e) nothing

My answer: c

What time did you go to bed last night and what time did you get up?

a) around 11/11:30 pm & 6:00/6:30 am
b) around 9/9:30 & 5/5:30 am
c) around 1/1:30 am & 6:30/7 am

My answer: b

Why is sleep important? Why is breakfast important?

Sleep lays the foundation for a successful day. When we sleep our bodies repair muscle and cells, release growth regulating and appetite hormones, and combine memory functions. The lack of sleep has been linked to decreased immune function, obesity, increased risk for cancer, impaired judgment...Personally, when I don't get enough sleep, I tend to be a crab. I feel run down and depleted before the day even begins. I tend to get sinus infections and throbbing headaches. I need sleep!
However, sleeping in isn't an option for me. I get up early. I have learned to love the early morning hours. I know I am better equipped to face the day if I have a few hours, of a quiet house, to prepare my mind. I need to have time with God before the noise begins. I exercise in those early morning hours, (some mornings I have to force myself, but the feeling I get when I am done is worth the suffering) and it is easier to prep the house/school/schedules for the day without little ones under foot. I know I need around 8 hours of sleep to feel my best. When my day starts peaceful and un-rushed, my day continues that way. When my day starts rushed, stress has set the tone and it is hard to turn it around.

Food is fuel for the body. When our bodies don't get the proper foods, they don't run efficiently. When I don't start my day with the right foods, I feel sluggish, down and lazy. I have found that with the right foods, and proper sleep, I feel like the energizer bunny! My mind is sharper, my attitude better and my mommy skills increase. (And no, I don't get that feeling from drinking coffee) To achieve this energy, I go for complex carbohydrates (for energy) and protein (for endurance). What do I (& my family) eat? A combination of the following...
Fruit & Kefir Smoothies
Whole Grain Toast/Mini Bagels/Pancakes
Eggs
Fresh Fruit
Nuts
Old Fashioned Oatmeal
Kefir/Yogurt
For some recipes go here: Breakfast

This weeks challenge:
Eat a healthy breakfast & try to get 8+ hours of sleep for one week.
And, if you're an over achiever, try exercising 3-4 days.
Let me know next week if you feel energized :)

I am trying to figure out show to make a link badge for FEAST. Any blogging wisdom out there for me?

FEAST

Coming soon (Lord Willing)...
..FEAST..

Food
Energy
Attitude
Schedules
Time

...These are my secret weapon...
(I'll tell you why later)

FEAST will focus on how food effects your energy, how your energy effects your attitude, how your attitude effects your schedule, how your schedule effects how you manage your time and how you manage your time effects what you decide to fill your body with to provide you with the energy and attitude you need to effectively schedule your day. Whooh, that was a long sentence! I plan to include an easy, healthy recipe each week as well.

Let me start by saying, I am a work in progress. I learn each day how to better spend my time, what foods provide me with more energy and how to effectively run our house.
September 23rd, 2007 I decided to cut soda from my diet. Period. My goal was to go 30 days, I really wanted to go a year, but that seemed like a very long time to go with out my favorite drink. I didn't know if I could survive with out my late afternoon caffeine boost. I didn't tell anyone the first few weeks because I was afraid I would fail. I didn't want to be a loser. Well I made it 7 days, then a week, then a month and now it has been over a year! Laugh if you want, I was addicted. Diet Coke was my drug of choice. I would start drinking around 4 or 5 in the afternoon & have one in hand the rest of the day. My shopping cart was an oxymoron, organic produce and organic dry goods right along side my case cases of diet coke.
If I can stop drinking diet coke, anything is possible.
Be sure to join in.
I'd love to hear your comments & suggestions!

Chores

I feel it is important for children to work around the house. It gives them a sense of responsibility. It builds self esteem. At first you will have to do chores with them. Walk beside them as they learn, encourage, encourage, encourage! Things will not be done as you would do them, but they are little apprentice's, soon they will be very good at their jobs.
Print out a chart. Let them cross off the chores or put a sticker in the box as they complete them. Young children love to help. Feed that hunger. Crank up the music, listen to Odyssey.
Mom, making work FUN is your job. You set the mood! Laugh, have races while you work. Time jobs. Children love a challenge.

My children get an allowance. Not for the chores they do, but to learn about money, saving and giving. Braden gets $7/week. He divides it like this: $3 for horse feed, $1 Church, $1 Savings and $2 spending. He also gets $2 an hour for mowing, he is required to tithe out of his mowing money as well. Tyson gets 4 quarter/week. He divides his like this: .25 Church, .25 savings, .50 spending. We sometimes reward extra work with trips to the ice cream parlor, friends, swimming parties or a little extra money.

We have had to implement a 2 week waiting period for BIG Buys for our oldest. He is a good saver of his 'spending money', but tends to make impulse buys. It has been neat to watch his excitement build as he waits to make a purchase. Frequently he rethinks his decision, then his excitement will build again, and oh what fun he has when those two weeks are finally up. The 'waiting period rule' is good for me to do as well ;)

Braden's Chores, 9
Feed horse.
Water, feed Chickens. Gather eggs.
Keep bedroom clean.
Put own clean clothes away as needed.
Mow at Shop once a week.
Mow for Papa once a week.
Clean garage once a week.
Help pull weeds once a week.
Haul trash to Shop.
Help clean house.

Tyson's Chores, 5
Feed Kittens.
Help big brother with Chickens.
Keep bedroom clean.
Put own clean clothes away as needed.
Set Table/clear Table.
Put Silverware away.
Help pick up weeds.
Help big brother clean garage
Help clean house.

On top of these chores, daily we pick up toys, help mom in the kitchen with food prep, help with little sister. And in season we tend to the garden, pick produce, prep produce for storage (canning), shovel snow...

pa·tience –noun
(information taken from dictionary.com)

1.	the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

2.	an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay: to have patience with a slow learner.

3.	quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence: to work with patience.

Is patience a noun or a verb?

Noun = person, place or thing...Verb = action word.

I have officially made patience a VERB until further notice. The past 10 days I have had to actively practice patience. Patience this week for me has been an 'action'. I have had to do it, have it, breathe it, live it. Why? My oldest was in a dirt bike accident and has 38 stitches in his leg. He is restless, he is tired of being still, he is tired of the aches and pains, the itching, and not being able to run and play like normal. He is irritable with his siblings. He is irritable with me. He is disappointed he can't play baseball.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

What have I learned... be thankful for Gods protection, it could have been MUCH worse... slowing down is good for a while... live for today... life is precious... take nothing for granted...

Chickens

We love our chickens. Fresh eggs are the best...

One egg provides 13 essential nutrients, 6 grams of complete high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

Eggs have high levels of selenuim, a trace mineral that helps prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Eggs also have iodine which has been proven to be beneficial for a healthy thyroid.

Egg yolks are a good food for babies starting around 7- 8 months. But don't feed your baby egg whites until he/she is one year or older.