Affordable Eco Friendly Shoes for Kids

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Nothing ( almost nothing ) makes you feel better than a new pair of shoes.  I absolutely believe in high quality shoes made from sustainable or otherwise eco-friendly materials and I know that the methods used to manufacture those products can be costly.  The good news is that many large retailers are starting to carry eco friendly shoe lines that are affordable.

zoezacflat2 Payless Shoes has recently launched Zoe & Zac, a line of organic cotton and recycled rubber shoes, both for kids and adults.  These adorable Snapdragon Ballet flats for girls are $19.99.

western-chiefSpring is here and rain coats and rain boots are starting to appear.  When shopping for them, make sure to find products made without PVC ( the “poison plastic” ).  Opt instead for rubber boots – Target carries a cute pair of Uda Frog Rainboots  for $16.99.  Western Chief has a lot of fun prints ( on the right: Pretty Pony Rain Boot ), many of which are currently on sale on Amazon for $18.50.

simpleboyssimplegirlsSimple Kid’s shoes are made with sustainably grown products.  This pair of Mary Jane’s has hemp uppers with bamboo fabric lining; coconut buttons; organic canvas footbed lining; and a recycled car tire outsole.  Not only are they CUTE but they are also affordable as Amazon is currently selling them for $26.97.  Simple also has a very stylish pair for boys for even less.  The Loaf Slip-On is $15.88.

 
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Serta ‘organic’ crib mattress

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I don’t usually post twice in one day but when something gets me fired up, well then…..all bets off.

I’ve spent a lot of time tonight researching mattresses and mattress covers and have come across some great information to pass on but it’s going to take a week or two to get it all together so you can expect more detail next week.  Anyhow, in the process I came across a Serta organic crib mattress sold at Babies ‘R’ Us.  “Impressive!”, I thought, but not for long.

The mattress is made with organic cotton layers ( I’m not even sure it’s 100% organic cotton ) but it’s clothed in vinyl ( in full disclosure the mattress vinyl is phthalate free but read my post on March 26th about vinyl – nasty stuff ).  To add to it, it also has chemical fire retardants in it instead of using wool, a natural fire retardant.  This irritates me because the label ‘organic’ seems misleading when the organic material is surrounded with a bunch of other toxic crud.  

This is a great reminder to check  ingredients when purchasing products because the label ‘organic’ for mattresses ( and a lot of products ) is not yet regulated.  Serta – we’re watching you and we’re on to your tricks!

 
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Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

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One of the things I’ve found in my ‘green’ journey is that there is likely a healthier alternative to something I’m already doing or buying.  Although at times, that seems overwhelming, I just focus on one new change or purchasing one new product at a time.  Right now, I’m looking ahead at Easter. 

In 3 weeks, we’ll host our families for a big brunch after church and it wouldn’t be the same without a good ol’ fashioned Easter egg hunt.  As this is my 2 year old’s first year hunting eggs, I want to use real eggs, and I want to spend time with her dyeing them.  So, I went on a hunt looking for alternatives to the normal artificial food coloring in the $3 boxes at Target.

Now, I won’t say this is less work but I definitely think this is way more fun and educational, particularly for older kids.  Round your kids up and have them help you hunt through your kitchen and pantry for foods or spices that can be used to dye your eggs.   Here are a few examples to get you thinking: 

Red: Beets, cranberries

Orange: Outer skins of onions

Light Yellow: Carrot tops, orange or lemon peels

Dark Yellow: Turmeric

Blue: Blueberries, red cabbage leaves

Beige or brown: Coffee or tea

Once you gotten them together, put each in a pot to boil with water and a tablespoon of vinegar.  After they’ve boiled, put them into separate bowls and dip your eggs as normal.

We’re going to try our first round of naturally dyed eggs soon, I’ll let you know how they turn out! 

I’d love to hear your ideas on foods or spices to use – add a comment!

 
Filed Under: Baby and Kids, Event, Food and Drink Tagged With:

Triclosan and Alcohol in Hand Sanitizers

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When my daughter started crawling and then walking, she instantly started touching everything she could get her hands on. Most medical recommendations say that washing with good ol’ soap and water is sufficient but sometimes there was no soap and water in sight so hand sanitizer became a ‘must-have’ in my purse.  I couldn’t stand the alcohol smell of most hand sanitizers so with a little research, I found Cleanwell, an alcohol free hand sanitizer, that has a pleasantly light lemon smell.  Little did I know that the smell of alcohol wasn’t the only thing I should have been concerned with.

I didn’t realize the actual amount of alcohol in most hand sanitizers.  I’ve even read that children have been hospitalized for alcohol poisoning from them!   They have a surprisingly heavy amount of ethyl alcohol ( Purell and Germ-X contain 62% ethyl alcohol, a little 2oz bottle = 4 shots of vodka! ).

Triclosan is an anti-bacterial ingredient used not only in hand sanitizers but also in a lot of personal care products.  According to the EWG, it is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity, and low levels of triclosan may disrupt thyroid function. Wastewater treatment does not remove all of the chemical, which means it ends up in our lakes, rivers and water sources.  

The American Medical Association recommends that households do not use anti bacterial products as it contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacterias and the New England Journal of Medicine reports that alcohol based hand sanitizers pose as intoxicants to high-risk populations, like toddlers.

CleanWell, a hand sanitizer made with Ingenium, is a great alternative.  Ingenium is a patented mix mix of plant essential oils, including the active ingredent, thyme oil.  It is 100% biodegradeable and kills 99.99% of germs including MSRA, Salmonella and Staph.  It’s totally safe for kids with no risk of harm from ingestion.   They have a couple products, including a purse version of their hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes and hand soap.  You can purchase their products in the MGG SHOP, Target, Whole Foods, and Bath & Body Works.  Other alternatives to try: For My Kids or Clean George products.

One last thought : a lot of day care centers, preschools, and schools use hand sanitizers in their classroom.  You might ask them to choose a better product or donate a large bottle to your class. 

FREE STUFF: We have a 6oz bottle ( over 1300 uses! ) of CleanWell Hand Sanitizer to GIVE AWAY to our readers – you can enter to win by signing up for the MGG newsletter by Sunday, March 22 at 11:59PM PST.   The newsletter sign up is located on the right hand, middle section of the MGG homepage.  We will choose one winner at random and notify them by email. Open to 18 year old + residents of the U.S. and Canada.

CONGRATS to Jessica Petlun, the winner of our CleanWell Hand Sanitizer sweepstakes!

 
Filed Under: Baby and Kids, Beauty and Personal Care, School Tagged With: , , , ,
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