Mommy Goes Green

I’m not a doctor, chemist, or scientist (nor do I pretend to be one)  -  I’m a concerned mom, wife and woman that wants to make sure that the food my family eats and the products we use are healthy and safe. We’re always talking about chemicals around here, particularly how to AVOID them.  One of the ways I find out what chemicals are being used, how they are used and how dangerous they are is to read Chemical of the Day.  It’s a blog written by Stephanie Greenwood, owner of Bubble & Bee Organic.  Stephanie is serious about chemicals used in cosmetics and shares her research findings daily. 

Any time I pick up a new product, I look at the ingredients.  I first scan for anything ending in ‘paraben’ like methylparaben, propylparaben, or ethylparaben (there are several others as well).   The reason I look for parabens first is that they are easy to identify – usually near the end of the ingredient list – and if they exist, I immediately put down the product.  I challenge you to go grab your makeup bag and look through the ingredients.  You likely have parabens in several of your products.  Why should you care?  According to Chemical of the Day, ”it has been proven that excess estrogen does lead to reproductive cancers (like breast and uterine cancer), and it has been proven that parabens act like estrogen and accumulate in the body.  Studies have also shown that parabens have accumulated in breast cancer tissue.”   Parabens are a hot topic right now – you’ll notice a lot of personal care products are starting to put “no parabens” or “paraben free” on their labeling.  That’s a good thing BUT there are many other chemicals besides parabens to look for. 

I know it can be overwhelming at first but with a little reading – at Chemical of the Day - you can determine the chemicals you want to avoid for yourself and your family.  Then find brands that are committed to not using those chemicals – a good place to start is at the Cosmetics Database.  A word of caution – the database isn’t 100% accurate – products are constantly changing formulations so make sure you check the product label when purchasing.  You’ll also find recommendations from Stephanie on the blog.

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A Cottage Industry is hard NOT to love! I stumbled upon it about a year ago and have followed it faithfully. The author, Tracey Buxton, chronicles her love for ‘junkin’, repurposing old furniture, baking cupcakes and loving T.J. Maxx ( me, too! ).  She writes openly about her faith and fears and her loyal following always has an encouraging word for her.  She’s got some sass, too, which I love – as long as it’s not coming out of my daughter’s mouth!

Tracey can take the most downright ugly piece of furniture and turn it into a treasure and she does it time and time again for friends, family and her booth at a local antique shop.  She constantly inspires me to shy away from new furniture for a well loved piece that I can craft into my own personal treasure. 

A Cottage Industry has also recaptured my interest in visiting antique faires, markets and garage sales.  When I was a poor college student, my roommate and I would often visit on the hunt for fun finds for our little 2 bedroom cottage.  We’d come home with our loot and paint it or repurpose it with love.   Over the years, with less time on my hands and more money in my bank account, I turned to buying new at some of my favorite retailers.  Not to say that I’ve stopped buying new but I have a wonderful renewed interest in scouring garage sales and antique stores for my next bookend or candlestick  ( some of my favorite collectibles ).

Tracey’s newest venture is partnering with her friend, Tracey, ( there are 2 Traceys! ) to turn a hidden gem of a cottage into a wonderful event center to host vintage faires, bridal and baby showers, and rehearsal dinners.  I can’t wait to see the turn out!

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This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy.