tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87028607991426200272024-03-12T17:43:15.975-07:00kitty's Zen of HomekeepingKittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-89055740079560913382010-08-23T12:42:00.000-07:002010-08-23T12:42:56.976-07:00Kitty's No Bummer Summer Hiatus is Over: Celebrate With This Giveaway!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dehydration during and after exercise can cause muscle cramps, dizziness, and heat exhaustion. Staying hydrated is particularly important for athletes, but pregnant women, children and many patients need to monitor fluid intake as well. Many sports drinks replace electrolytes, but are loaded with sugar and empty calories as well as unnatural food coloring.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Active people looking for a great natural sports drink will love <strong>Ultima Replenisher</strong>. Although many athletes and parents opt for plain water to avoid empty calories and harmful chemicals, Ultima provides complex carbs, water-soluble vitamins and antioxidants without artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. Vegan and gluten-free, Ultima Replenisher speeds fluid absorption and delivers electrolytes, hydrating the body and boosting metabolism.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Sweetened with natural stevia, Ultima contains far less sugar than most sports drinks on the market, and uses natural sources like beet color rather than chemical food coloring agents. It’s packed with nutrients like calcium, zinc and potassium, and Ester C helps to support the immune system. Other sports drinks are either loaded with calories or formulated with artificial sweeteners; Ultima Replenisher only contains about 10 calories per serving, making it an intelligent choice for children and others concerned about sugar content.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Ultima Replenisher is also eco-friendly; the powder is easily mixed into your own container (hopefully a nice stainless steel canteen) so you can avoid wasteful and potentially toxic plastic bottles, especially in warm weather, when toxins like BPA from plastic may leach into the drink. Ultima is available in delicious grape, banana berry, kiwi strawberry, lemonade, orange and wild raspberry flavors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5R9LRw6s0wlsRHTZhtsWrs3DviERu9as-HQJuuZV6jSZgEVV1l7f-zY8P1OkEAtjlAspnkvZfPHXi0m54ccvb2-f1I8YYKzURGYnvF0dOdbMBThue5XBYx_GDcLV8aNL5SjyCdz-9nSyt/s1600/ultimapic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5R9LRw6s0wlsRHTZhtsWrs3DviERu9as-HQJuuZV6jSZgEVV1l7f-zY8P1OkEAtjlAspnkvZfPHXi0m54ccvb2-f1I8YYKzURGYnvF0dOdbMBThue5XBYx_GDcLV8aNL5SjyCdz-9nSyt/s400/ultimapic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">For the next two weeks, Zen of Homekeeping will be hosting a giveaway for a box of Ultima Replenisher packets. Tested by Kitty herself, and approved with Two Paws Up, you'll love this natural product. All you loyal kittens need to do is head over </span><a href="http://www.examiner.com/healthy-trends-in-indianapolis/smart-rehydration"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">here to read the review</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">. Follow Kelly on Examiner.com, then come back to Zen of Homekeeping and leave a comment to let us know you're a new subscriber. Five random kittens will be selected to receive the goods. Meantime, if you want to pick some up at your local store, Ultima is available at Wild Oats and Whole Foods stores. Good Luck and Happy Hydrating!</span></b></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-2951597619681119342010-05-03T13:26:00.000-07:002010-05-03T13:26:05.078-07:00Tiny particles of WHAT, praytell?!?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Just in case you haven't heard, </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/page.jhtml?id=/include/new_recall.inc"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">McNeil Consumer Healthcare Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain OTC Infants’ and Children's Products</span></b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>. Apparently, the liquid suspensions of your kids' Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and Zyrtec aren't up to par and may contain "particles" they shouldn't. Great.</b></span></span>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-37515163492567965472010-04-26T08:56:00.003-07:002010-04-26T08:56:41.225-07:00Clinical Aromatherapy<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hello, Kittens! When I first started blogging, I became an instant fan of<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1463562841"> Liz on the </a><i><a href="http://thefragrantmuse.blogspot.com/">Fragrant Muse</a></i>. She has taught me so much about essential oils, which are now a staple of my laundry room, first aid kit, yoga practice, and stay-sane regime. Essential oils are the only permissible perfume in my world, and I even like to re-broadcast what Liz has taught me. Please <a href="http:/bit.ly/clinical-aromatherapy">click here to read my recent Examiner post</a> featuring <i>The Fragrant Muse</i>, who is by far, one of the smartest cats I know. Peace & Love, Kitty.</div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-63941732789225909452010-04-18T07:39:00.000-07:002010-04-18T07:39:00.882-07:00Earth Day Is Coming: Are You Ready?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kittens, Earth Day is coming! Are you ready to green up your attitude? Let's start by getting rid of toxic cleaning products in our homes.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=43440.10001928&type=3&subid=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Save big on Eco-friendly products that help you help the planet.</a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=43440.10001928&type=3&subid=0" width="1" /></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Here are some easy things you can do now:</b></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you aren't <b>recycling</b> yet, start small. Maybe you'll just do plastic. That's very helpful. Although curbside recycling is offered in my community, I just stuff paper grocery bags with cans, bottles, plastic, and the mountain of papers that comes home from school every day. When I have a few bags, I drop them off at the recycling bin. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Group errands</b> (such as the aforementioned recycling trip) so as not to be driving all over hell's half acre every day.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Observe Ozone Action days</b>. As the temperature soars, it's better to fuel vehicles and run the lawnmower early or late in the day.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Turn off everything that's not being used right now.</b> If your microwave or coffeemaker has a digital clock, unplug it.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Does your pool or hot tub really need to be 90-100 degrees all the time? I cut my electric bill in half this winter by <b>turning down</b> the swim spa to 80. This is a good tip for water heaters as well</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Don't run the tap</b> while you are brushing your teeth.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Just buy less plastic period</b>. Plastic is hella bad for your health, and for the environment. It's unrealistic to think we can live without it, but all of us can certainly think of ways to cut back on our consumption before even purchasing plastic. See <a href="http://tippecanoegreen.blogspot.com/">Citizen Green's blog </a>on "Stupid Plastic Crap." It will educate you and make you think twice before buying plastic you don't need!</span></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Taking it to the next level:</b></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Check the weatherstripping around doors and windows, and replace it if necessary.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider getting a tankless water heater. You'll always have hot water and incur less charges for gas or electricity because you'll be heating on demand.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Switch to washing most laundry in cold water and buy eco-friendly detergents. Wash large loads, and do the same with the dishwasher (allow dishes and as many clothes as possible to air dry). Go easy on the bleach.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When it is time to get rid of expired pharmaceuticals, take them back to the pharmacy rather than flushing them or tossing them out so medications don't end up in the waterways.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ditto for batteries. Many hardware stores have collection sites for used batteries; switch to rechargeables while you're at it - especially if you blow through them playing Wii and Guitar Hero like we do!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Buy Energy Star appliances. You may get a tax incentive to do so.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider replacing doors and windows with the more energy-efficient newer models; if you do this for your family home, you may get fat tax breaks.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Stop accumulating plastic bags already! Take your own to the store!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Quit drinking so much bottled water; get stainless steel canteens (not lined with plastic <a href="http://zenofhomekeeping.blogspot.com/2010/04/bpa-and-epa.html">so as not to ingest BPA</a>), and refill as you need to rehydrate. Take your own mug to the coffee shop, too!</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Clean up your cleaning products by <a href="http://zenofhomekeeping.blogspot.com/2010/03/vinegar-attacks-hard-water-stains-and.html">making your own</a>, or switching to green brands that don't pollute our waterways when they are rinsed down the drain.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Buy local produce to cut down on shipping emissions.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Buy organic anything and everything from foods to meats to clothing. Cotton manufacturing incurs many pesticides; organic farming of all agricultural products is best for the Earth and our bodies.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Green your personal products and cosmetics. Read my blog, <i><a href="http://organicorgy.blogspot.com/">Organic Orgy</a></i> to learn how!</span></span></li>
</ul></div></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-73941939402993728212010-04-06T12:41:00.001-07:002010-04-06T20:25:33.020-07:00BPA and the EPA<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Two things today, kittens. First and foremost, BPA. Bisphenol-A, or BPA is now being taken seriously by the Environmental Protection Agency. BPA is the nasty chemical in plastic that leaches into our food and beverages. How you ask? Canned goods and bevs are lined with a think plastic layer to keep the product from oxidizing. Microwaveable dinners come in plastic containers; baby bottles and sippies are often made of plastic, notably polycarbonate (#7). Heat these things in any way, including leaving water bottles in the sun and you will be ingesting BPA. Gross. This insidious chemical is also in some cosmetics. Read my <a href="http://bit.ly/chLoja">full post in my column on Examiner.com</a>; please do subscribe! I list some options for getting this toxin out of your life!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Second, a blogging tip from me to you: ever find yourself cutting and pasting some mobius strip of code? You can easily shorten long URLs by going to bit.ly. No www is necessary. Copy your link into the magic box and you'll get a bit that looks like this: http://bit.ly/chLoja. Presto! No more ridonculously long web addresses!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Don't forget your sunscreen, kittens. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6057256832596729191&postID=1493715030538095984">As promised, I will be posting a piece on green and natural sun options. I am still hard at work testing some products for you</a>. (Update: click on the latter link; I just posted a little something for you) Love, Kitty</div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-77879818930128130082010-03-17T18:37:00.000-07:002010-03-17T18:38:30.397-07:00Vinegar Attacks Hard Water Stains and Scale<div>Hello Kittens,</div><div>As if these 4 Blogger blogs, my yoga blog, and my <a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/">yoga website</a> weren't enough, I recently began working over on eHow. This evening, I was scrolling through content and came up with this gem:</div><div><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_5029260_rid-lime-deposits-vinegar.html">How to Get Rid of Lime Deposits With Vinegar | eHow.com</a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Our grandmothers used vinegar for cleaning, and to rid our homes of toxic fumes and save money, we should as well! Vinegar and an old toothbrush are my favorite tools for attacking lime deposits around the faucets. Not only do I avoid scratching the metal finish as I might otherwise using commercial abrasives, but I avoid breathing in harsh chemicals whose residues could potentially contaminate water from the faucet as well. Click on the eHow link above for an excellent tutorial on cleaning with vinegar at home. Be well! Love, Kitty</div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-23981701834527921952010-03-01T17:51:00.000-08:002010-03-01T17:52:21.945-08:00Swap Your Books and Make Some New Friends For years, I operated under the mantra, "<i>No new people</i>," thinking the world was filled with untrustworthy cats who wouldn't like me for me and must be filled with nefarious agendas. I thought I had all the friends I needed: kittens I've kept around since the days of yore, a husband I'd had for 16 years. Then I started blogging and found out the universe is filled to the brim with new people: like-minded souls I may never meet personally who brighten up crappy days and open worlds to me. People from far-flung places whom I wish I could invite over for a cup of coffee, people I would listen to all day long about dharma, aromatherapy, chinoiserie design, travel and funny stuff.<br />
A few years ago, a neighbor and I moved into our houses the same week. Our boys go to school together, and we'd wave cordially but I didn't really know her. About six months ago, my massage therapist's massage therapist called looking for a new yoga teacher at a new mixed martial arts studio in town. The joint ended up belonging to my aforementioned neighbor across the street! I ended up becoming the in-house yoga instructor and landed a new BFF in the process. Loves dogs, loves to read, and has a wicked sense of humor. I call her Marion the Librarian because she drops off bags full of paperbacks, preternaturally sensing when I've just finished the previous stack.<br />
Book sharing and book borrowing is the new Borders. My literacy has skyrocketed, and my book budget is practically nil these days. Through her, I've discovered Tom Robbins, the most excellent author of my new favorites, <i>Jitterbug Perfume</i> and <i>Half-Asleep in Frog Pajamas</i>. Weird like Kafka and Camus, literary as hell. As you attack your spring cleaning, why not start a book swap amongst friends? It's the ultimate recycling campaign! Happy reading! <i>Your Kitty</i>.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=189673.10000005&type=4&subid=0" target="new"><img alt="Alibris" border="0" src="http://images.alibris.com/marketing/234_green.gif" /></a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=189673.10000005&type=4&subid=0" width="1" /></span></span>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-8564145840597950742010-01-06T04:47:00.000-08:002010-01-06T04:47:05.230-08:00Removing Toilet Bowl Stains NaturallyHey kittens! Happy New Year! Just a quick note to tell you I discovered a new method of cleaning disgusting black stains from the toilet. Our water is harder than hammered hell, and my toilets are scuzzy with black manganese stains. Yesterday, in an effort to douche out my entire house down to the microbial level, I tried a homemade paste that worked marvelously.<br />
You need cream of tartar, hydrogen peroxide, an old toothbrush (reuse, reuse, reuse!) and a scurfy toilet.<br />
Mix the powdered cream of tartar with enough peroxide to form a paste, and get to scrubbing. I can't believe how clean all of our porcelain gods are. So much nicer to stick my head into during flu season, right?!?Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-81711743469456689022009-12-07T19:27:00.000-08:002009-12-07T19:27:15.793-08:00Zhu Zhu Pet Paranoia We've had real guinea pigs and hamsters. The idea of which, always proved to be more fun than the real thing. The former fling pissy hay and poo ("<i>Don't eat the brown tic tacs</i>," my son would say when we would find said poop far from the cage). The latter scatter, only to be found dead and shriveled in a duct somewhere. If this is not your hamster's fate and he or she lives to the ripe age of 18 months or so, you can expect a lifetime of wild goose chases through the house looking for them and wondering how they broke out of the plastic ball. I'm not really a rodent person.<br />
I am, however, a robot person, and the idea of a sweet little animatronic Mr. Squiggles who won't die or get lost of fling poo is suddenly somewhat appealing. I got all excited for nothing when I learned sometime around Thanksgiving what these were. By the time I got on board, the little bastards had sold out like Furbies or Cabbage Patch Kids. Then my mom got her hands on a couple of them, and now the news that they may not be safe! Here is my report:<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times;">I woke Monday morning to the first snow in Indiana, and the report that Zhu Zhu pets may be unsafe due to high antimony content. Merideth Viera announced the news on <i>Today</i></span><span style="font-family: Times;">, which basically amounted to the product’s manufacturer insisting the toys couldn’t even be imported into the US if the levels weren’t safe (<i>oh, because that’s always carefully monitored and enforced – hello lead toys!</i></span><span style="font-family: Times;">). Then we heard about the throngs of shoppers clambering for these furry little f-ers, selling them for up to three times the retail price on Ebay.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I happen to be expecting two of these toys any day now; my mother tracked them down in Florida. Your Kitty, half-mad with OCD over toxic chemicals to begin with, began fur-reaking out. <i>What is antimony, why is it used, and are these hamster robots going to drive Spot bonkers and then kill him when he stalks and eats them?<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the <i>Today</i></span><span style="font-family: Times;"> show reported was that antimony is used in flame retardants. Well, that’s all I heard anyway, before I dashed off to my trusty iKitty to begin a whole science project.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, antimony is used in flame retardants, and it’s actually a naturally occurring mineral that has numerous purposes. In fact, it has been used since pre-Islamic cultures as a cosmetic! It can be mixed with fat to make kohl eye makeup. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Wikipedia cites “The most important use of antimony is as a hardener in lead for storage batteries.” It’s also used to treat protozoal infections (eeew) and to harden ceramic enamels and glass. It’s the sort of thing one would expect to find in electronics such as robotic vermin.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Initially, I decided the boys around here are all old enough not to put a toy hamster in their mouths, so it’s probably OK. But my obsessive thoughts wouldn’t leave it alone, and I worried about my pups (who attacked both the Roomba and Scooba floor robots). What if the dudes and dogs handle these things…will antimony rub off like lead paint chips and hurt them? I dug deeper.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Rather than paraphrase the rather disturbing effects of high doses of antimony, I’ll take the liberty of posting Wikipedia’s paragraph labeled</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, “Precautions:”</span><span style="font-family: Times;"> <i>(*I edited this a little for space and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">boringness </span>relevance, but you’ll get the gist)<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>“See also: </i></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic_poisoning"><span style="color: #002cb8; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Arsenic poisoning</span></a></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Antimony and many of its compounds are </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic"><span style="color: #002cb8; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">toxic</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">. Clinically, antimony poisoning is very similar to </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic"><span style="color: #002cb8; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">arsenic</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> poisoning. In small doses, antimony causes </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headache"><span style="color: #002cb8; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">headache</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizziness"><span style="color: #002cb8; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">dizziness</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, and </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(mood)"><span style="color: #002cb8; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">depression</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">. Larger doses cause violent and frequent vomiting, and will lead to death in a few days…Antimony leaches from </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalate"><span style="color: #002cb8; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">polyethylene terephthalate</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> (PET) bottles into </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottled_water"><span style="color: #002cb8; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">bottled water</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, but at levels below drinking water guidelines…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aw snap! One more horrible toxin to avoid. See, the thing is, maybe the amount of antimony contained in a Zhu Zhu pet is minimal and thus considered “safe” by toy industry standards. But what about the antimony that lurks in a Wii Remote, or an MP3 player, or batteries, or cell phones? What is the cumulative effect of all this exposure?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">And most importantly, what is the effect of chronic antimony exposure to a developing, pediatric brain? Over time, how can we expect children of the Digital Age to develop given the deluge of electronics in our ever-evolving culture?</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><i>So, that’s what I worried about today for about 3 hours. How did your morning go?!?</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-14848809880155870472009-12-01T19:33:00.000-08:002009-12-01T19:33:52.928-08:00A Great Gift Idea for the Kid Who Already Has Everything<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=176539.10000318&subid=0&type=4"><img alt="Teach kids to love nature and learning with
Award-Winning Magazines from ShopNWF.org - just $19.95!" border="0" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=176539.10000318&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=13" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ranger Rick is HUGE at our house. We currently subscribe to pretty much all of these publications, and I find them particularly refreshing after a day of being bombarded by violent, vacant and vapid television and print media. The photography is amazing. Stop buying plastic toys and start buying the kids in your life an education and frame of reference! Besides, who doesn't like to get a magazine in the mail?!?</span></span></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-689978655188335422009-11-23T19:01:00.000-08:002009-11-23T19:01:17.000-08:00Is Your Home Fragrance Product Making You Sick?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As fall continues, we spend more time closed up indoors. The same air is circulated over and over again. The products we use to fragrance our homes may be toxic, and the effects can become more noticeable as winter wears on. With the holidays, I am constantly burning candles to evoke the scent of everything from candy corn to apple pie and sugarplum dreams (whatever that smells like). Boys and dogs stink this place up, so I've always been one to spray down with the sweet smell of anything other than what I can only call "dudes." And that's putting it politely.</span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I've blogged many times about my revulsion for synthetic fragrances. They give me migraine headaches, sneezing fits, burning eyes and skin irritations. When the family and I undertook our green initiatives, fakes smells were among the first products to be banned up in here. Candles went in the trash in favor of diffused essential oils, laundry went unscented, and I stopped wearing perfume (until I found Lavanilla). Within weeks, many of my symptoms disappeared. I could breathe clearly for the first time in ages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I don't think it's necessarily one toxic product that will do a person in; it's the cumulative effect on our bodies as we go throughout our days consuming garbage. I'm reminded of Lily Tomlin in </span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Incredible Shrinking Woman</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, where a housewife ends up moving into her kids' dollhouse, shrunken to Barbie's size from her use of common household products in the modern 1980s.</span><br />
</div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> What I've learned is these types of symptoms are indicative of poisonous chemicals like VOCs, volatile organic compounds. According to the </span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Environmental Protection Agency, VOCs</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">are "</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many <span style="color: #38761d;">VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">"</span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The EPA also comments on how VOCs can damage health: "Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system." </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Another big offender: pthalates. You may remember a lot of press about getting pthalates out of the plastics used in baby products. That was a few years ago. I honestly can't say I trust agencies, manufacturers and media to tell me something is suddenly safe. Pthalates are particularly nasty for developing nervous systems; this toxin is most definitely disruptive to the endocrine system (and I wonder why my thyroid is thrashed?!?). </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Pregnant women and families with children should be particularly vigilant about creating a pthalate-free home. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel the only way to minimize exposure is to use completely natural products as much as I can. I've learned this is actually possible 90% of the time. When utilitarian items like PVC shower curtains, new upholstery, or dry cleaned clothes happen into my life, I allow them to "off-gas" outside before I use them.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=170507.10000135&subid=0&type=4" target="new"><img alt="Alen Air Purifiers" border="0" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=170507.10000135&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=15" /></a></span> </span></span></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"> I feel pretty well-versed on green cosmetics (please see <i>Organic Orgy</i>), so I've decided to make sustainable, healthy fragrances my next pet project. Over the next several indoor months, I'll post lots more on indoor toxins like VOCs, BPA, Formaldehyde, Pthalates and all their nasty cohorts. </span></span><br />
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</div></div></div></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-37867344650837080632009-11-10T20:05:00.000-08:002009-11-10T20:43:36.017-08:00Spread Art and Love Just by Shopping For Cool Stuff<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
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<b>January 2009:</b> Last fall, I called upon family and friends of Innerspace Yoga to reach out to help at-risk children in the Indianapolis community. Thanks to your generous donations in class, our seven year old friend had a warm Christmas with many toys and new boots! Thanks to your abundant shopping through links on <a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/">Innerspace Yoga</a> and <a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/kitty_/House/House.html">kitty:</a> we also raised about $100 in advertising revenue, which bought materials needed for the art studio at St. Mary’s Child Center!<br />
One person bought her holiday stationery; another picked up a motherlode of Legos. Little bits added up and the children enjoyed new art supplies! The teachers requested a gift certificate to Michael's, where they could maximize their dollars. They loved it!<br />
Although I don’t really know who did what since Innerspace isn’t privy to your personal information, I thank you from the bottom of my heart....whomever you are! In the coming year, Innerspace Yoga will reach as many as 100 at-risk Indianapolis youth, spreading the message of peace, love and sustainability through the art and science of yoga. As always, I invite you to get involved with that effort. Namaste!<br />
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<b>Update 11-11-09:</b> This year, Innerspace Yoga will donate 75% of our advertising revenues between November 1, 2009 and January 1, 2010 to St. Mary's Child Center to purchase items from the wish list for the students' art instruction. To participate, just click on ad banners and hotlinks on any page in our domain - including this one. To learn more about the project and to get started, please visit our <a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/Innerspace_Yoga/Love.html">Seva</a> page on the Innerspace mothership site. You can also start now by browsing the Innerspace OM Shop at the bottom of this post.<br />
The products, brands, and artists advertised within the Innerspace domain are not directly participating in the Seva Project 09. When you click on their links, you are leaving us and going to them to become a customer (hopefully). Please enable your browser to accept cookies on these sites, otherwise your purchase won't earn revenue for us! <i>Thank You so much</i>, <i>Your Kitty</i>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <script src="http://shops.popshops.com/shops/1viu50298k4vapowj8z2iruxi" type="text/javascript">
</script><a href="http://www.popshops.com/" id="pspsFoot106137">PopShops™ affiliate stores</a> </span>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-24406340310869501082009-10-28T11:52:00.000-07:002009-10-28T11:52:45.902-07:00Quick Laundry Tip: Waste Not Want Not Hopefully, you have made the switch from America's favorite laundry detergent brands to something more eco-friendly, something not formulated with dyes, petrochemicals and fake fragrances that irritate skin, mucous membranes and the environment. In Kitty's laundry dungeon, current favorites include all the products manufactured by Seventh Generation, ECOS detergent, and dryer balls.<br />
One of the quickest ways to maximize laundry product efficacy and frugality is to drastically reduce the amount of soap you use. In my front loader, regardless of the product I may be using at any given time, I only add a drop of detergent the size of a quarter. When I bought my Maytag Neptune a few years ago, the salesperson told me I could continue to use my regular (not HE) Tide as long as I added this small amount. I have noticed even the HE formulations only require this tiny amount as well.<br />
My clothes are just as clean with this small amount of soap and cold water, and I am spending a whole lot less on products. The hours spent toiling in the dungeon, however, have not been curtailed. I still do over 10 loads/week!Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-68101186059965450092009-10-21T16:38:00.000-07:002009-10-21T16:45:28.133-07:00In the Event You Like Skiing as Much as I Do!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Kittens, I apologize for not blogging and bringing you the <i>Zen of Homekeeping</i> recently. Between all the shopping and mopping, I have had to choose between posting new insights and less pleasant chores like laundry and wall-washing! In the event you like skiing as much as I do, I have a North Face promotion for you (below). After all, "homekeeping" includes getting the winter gear out of storage and replacing pieces here and there, right? BTW, my first purchase of the winter is a helmet for shizzle!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; "><a target="'new'" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=162158.10000069&type=4&subid=0"><img alt="The North Face Shipping Tram - Unlimited 2-Day Shipping for 3 months" border="0" src="http://www2.thenorthface.com/tnfimages/1009_fsh3months_234x60.jpg" /></a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=162158.10000069&type=4&subid=0" /></span></div></span>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-72590454654764336852009-10-09T15:43:00.000-07:002009-10-09T15:44:20.625-07:00FTC Compliance<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>This morning,<a href="http://libertypostgallery.blogspot.com/2009/10/ftc-sets-endorsement-rules-for-blogs.html"> Liberty Post</a> pointed me to a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/05/AR2009100503620.html">new FTC rule</a>. Because I care about lawful compliance (although, I like to think I can discern for myself what is and is not malarkey in the media, and likewise I strive to be honest in everything I publish), I am posting the Advertising Policies for the entire domain.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> "</span>Innerspace OMnimedia publishes a variety of blogs and electronic magazines celebrating and supporting conscious lifestyle choices." That's the mission. Here are the facts: We are a privately funded corporation. We want to bring sustainable culture to people in many ways, from traditional news features to essays and yes, advertising. We like to think we are uniting cool people with cool stuff when indeed our editorial content is appropriate for "stuff." The companies featured throughout the domain demonstrate an aspect of sustainability, whether they are purveyors of organic clothing, natural cosmetics, or yoga products. Whatever.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>Innerspace OMnimedia chooses our advertising partners with discernment; sometimes a brand is featured because we ourselves use and endorse the products, and sometimes we feature ad banners from the aforementioned partners simply because we like the graphic effect. We pretty much do what we want when we want and we believe our readers are astute enough to know media is supported by advertising.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>When a customer clicks on these visual elements, she might or might not be taken to a place with further product information or the ability to purchase said item. If she buys the item, Innerspace OMnimedia is given a commission. It's called "affiliate marketing." It's an aspect of media in the digital age.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>During the holiday season, we sometimes run<a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/Innerspace_Yoga/Love.html"> </a><a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/Innerspace_Yoga/Love.html">Seva</a> Projects which take those commissions and distribute them to Indiana children's charities. During the rest of the year, those revenues keep the <a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/kitty_/Bonjour.html">Mothership</a> up and running. When readers' buying sprees go to charity, we are very explicit about run dates for the project, as well as who will receive portions of our revenues. In other words, you'll know about all the love you are about to spread by buying cool stuff!</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>As for consumer reviews (particularly on <i>Kitty</i> channels), your Kitty personally buys the products in question with her own funds, tests the products on herself, and gives a "transparent" and honest review. We do not review swag or samples. Your Kitty does not review anything she has not paid for herself; products posted in clickable links may or may not generate revenue, and exist mainly for the readers' convenience. Now you know. Thanks</div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-92039677222065750232009-09-26T18:53:00.000-07:002009-09-26T18:58:02.858-07:00All the Cool Kids are Doing it!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=194119&u=273742&m=8302&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/IdealBite-YOU-HotYoga-300X250.jpg" alt="Ideal Bite gives bite-sized ideas for healthy, light green living." border="0" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> When I first began greening up the place about three years ago, I signed up for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ideal Bite</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. I've enjoyed it ever since. They send free little tips for things one can do to live a more sustainable, healthy lifestyle. They're funny, too. I especially love to check their coverage of specific cities before I travel; it's always good to know where I can get local organics and natural spa treatments whenever I'm on location! Oodles of Toodles, Kitty.</span></span></span></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-3074361222317007752009-09-15T07:52:00.000-07:002009-09-15T07:52:00.493-07:00More Biodegradable Picnic ProductsThere are times when you just can't feasibly feed a huge crowd (or even just a big one) using proper plates, napkins and glassware: field trips, scouting & sporting events, parties beyond your china capacity and the like. So you use the paper plates and plastic cups and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sporks</span>, feeling guilty for denuding a forest for your fete. Never fear, Kitty is here with the latest in biodegradable serving products.<div> As seen in an earlier post, corn plastic can be used to make disposable cups. Utensils can be made from a similar starch product, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Spudware</span> or bamboo. I have seen sugar cane products at the store as well. Some food manufacturers are even packaging with such <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">eco</span>-friendly choices. I guess I could get my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">miso</span> soup anywhere, but I prefer Annie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Chun's</span> for the bio-bowl. Personally, I think disposables are terribly wasteful, and plastics aren't for everyday culinary use - but I don't feel as wasteful knowing my container won't be around long after I am not! Restaurant owners please take note of the new options in take-out supplies!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><a target="new" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=170666.10001084&type=2&subid=0"><img border="0" src="http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/Gaiam/14-0383?$small$" /></a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=170666.10001084&type=2&subid=0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;">Sugar cane bowls from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gaiam</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><a target="new" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=170666.10001083&type=2&subid=0"><img border="0" src="http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/Gaiam/14-0382?$small$" /></a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=170666.10001083&type=2&subid=0" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;">Plates, also made from sugar cane fibers left over from extracting the juice from the plant.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><a target="new" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=170666.10001080&type=2&subid=0"><img border="0" src="http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/Gaiam/14-0379?$small$" /></a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=170666.10001080&type=2&subid=0" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Spudware</span> made from plant starches makes an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">eco</span>-difference!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><a target="new" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=170666.10001082&type=2&subid=0"><img border="0" src="http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/Gaiam/14-0381?$small$" /></a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=170666.10001082&type=2&subid=0" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bagesse</span> cups: also made from sugar cane fibers. I like this material even better than paper because the products are made from by-products of sugar manufacturing instead of trees. We need all the trees we can get!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-22048430882888254002009-09-09T21:23:00.000-07:002009-09-09T21:23:00.280-07:00Our Pampered Butts Are Destroying the Forests!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJul-9dbvztUlYn7dCsku5ZPewdCP_dtpM7ziC-1XSDYO3lBfSNeepnpdQSL5UwUBplN6qk-J1SAH5f8d8LQ5jMsR4v53IZHyanetnetwXEdX3MjzWThav5wKe-TvQcRQEFkcgzsP8KSJY/s1600-h/west+08+vol+2+jg+294.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJul-9dbvztUlYn7dCsku5ZPewdCP_dtpM7ziC-1XSDYO3lBfSNeepnpdQSL5UwUBplN6qk-J1SAH5f8d8LQ5jMsR4v53IZHyanetnetwXEdX3MjzWThav5wKe-TvQcRQEFkcgzsP8KSJY/s320/west+08+vol+2+jg+294.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379285598595302626" /><br /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica Neue; color:#999999;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></b></span></p><div><p color="#999999" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Helvetica Neue'; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">California Redwoods 2008 Photo by Jacob </span></span></span></b></span></p><br /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica Neue; color:#999999;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I’ve blogged before how shocking it is to examine one’s own consumption and the consequences thereof; we’ve made great strides in our overarching family culture in terms of how much plastic, gift wrappings/trappings, and bottled drinks we consume. We recycle diligently, plant native species in our landscape and we’ve switched to geothermal HVAC in our home. Not good enough, I’ve learned. Not good enough.</span></span></span></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica Neue; color:#999999;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Apparently, Americans (including my family) are deforesting the planet at an alarming rate for the sole purpose of wiping our snotty noses and pampered hineys with thick, soft, white paper. According to a </span></span><i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/science/earth/26charmin.html?_r=3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">New York Times</span></span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> article</span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> published on February 25, 2009, we Yanks use an average of 23.6 rolls of t.p. per capita. Anyone who has lived in house full of women can attest to that and then some. </span></span></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica Neue; color:#999999;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">While a mysophobe like myself is never going to switch to the hand and water method of some less industrialized cultures (as many of the more radical environmentalists suggest), I will certainly be more conscious of my hygienic choices. From here on out, it’s recycled toilet paper all the way! </span></span><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/forests/tissueguide"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Greenpeace</span></span></a></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> publishes a guide to the most environmentally-friendly disposable paper products on their website. Among the worst: Cottonelle (my former favorite). Among the best: Seventh Generation and Trader Joe’s!<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; white-space: pre-wrap; font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=170666.10001336&type=2&subid=0" /></span></span></span></b></span></p><p color="#999999" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Helvetica Neue'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><a target="new" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=170666.10001300&type=2&subid=0"><img border="0" src="http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/Gaiam/28-1004?$small$" /></a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=170666.10001300&type=2&subid=0" /></span></span></span></p><p color="#999999" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Helvetica Neue'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></p><p color="#999999" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'Helvetica Neue'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica Neue; color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica Neue; color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', serif;font-size:130%;color:#999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:14px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-10272535858535103412009-09-08T18:24:00.000-07:002009-09-08T18:25:45.374-07:00Compostable Plastic Cups<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>How cool is this?!? Compostable plastic barware - use as many damn cups as you want because they will break down and truly be disposed! American bon vivants and mothers of toddlers everywhere, rejoice and be absolved of your plastic guilt. Made from eco-friendly, odorless and tasteless corn plastic.<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap; "><a target="'new'" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=170666.10001081&type=2&subid=0"><img border="0" src="http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/Gaiam/14-0380?$small$" /></a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=170666.10001081&type=2&subid=0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-28818442759586996352009-08-27T20:35:00.000-07:002009-09-02T18:58:03.660-07:00Replace Plastic Bottled Water With Stainless Steel<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Copious and wasteful use of bottled water is bad. Duh. The plastic isn't sustainable, the water isn't necessarily more pure, and the container itself may very well be leaching dangerous BPA into your drinks.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Obviously, bottled water is necessary in certain situations. We wouldn't want to lose it forever, perhaps just consume less of it. Baby steps, kittens. Baby steps. I <a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/kitty:_/Ecology/Entries/2008/5/26_I_drank_how_many_waters_last_year!.html">wrote about my own family's bottled water crisis</a>, and for the last year we've greened up for good.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This evening, I was perusing <a href="http://ecoyogini.blogspot.com/">Eco-Yogini's</a> post on the SIGG water bottle controversy. Turns out this greenwashing giant has been churning out super stylish aluminum bottles lined with a BPA liner. I don't have one. Instead, I invested in several Kleen Kanteens, and I couldn't be happier. They're manufactured in the States, made of stainless steel, and they stay chilled beautifully. Best of all, no runny, sticky plastic drink bottles to schlep home from the football fields! Yay!</div><div> <a href="http://tippecanoegreen.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-water-bottle-to-use.html">Citizen Green's post</a> on why these plastic containers are hazardous is a great starting point for learning how to mitigate your consumption.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><center><table border="1" width="200"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:9;"><a href="http://www.shareasale.com/m-pr.cfm?merchantID=14061&userID=273742&productID=466823470" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.buygreen.com/ProductImages/KLKN00004_st.jpg" border="0" /><br /><b><span style="color:0852A5;">Klean Kanteen 40 oz. Bottles</span></b></a><b><span style="color:0852A5;"></span></b><span style="color:0852A5;"></span> - $ 25.95<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:8;">Ban the bottle - the plastic bottle that is. Try the Klean Kanteen reusable bottle and up your water intake while decreasing your plastic consumption.<br /><br />A healthy alternative to polluting plastics or lined metal bottles, the Klean Kanteen is a reusable stainless steel beverage bottle that won't leach toxins into the bottle's contents. Reusable, lightweight, 40 oz stainless steel bottle comes with a loop cap. You can customize with a sports or flat to suite your needs. All caps are made from safe, non-leaching polypropylene (pp#5).<br /><br />Product Features: safe alternative to plastic and lined metal containers, high-quality food grade, 304 L.N. stainless steel, durable, lightweight, reusable and 100% recyclable, slim design fits most cup/bottle holders, non-leaching & toxin-free, no inner lining, clean tasting. <div> </div><h3>Additional Information</h3><a com="" detail="" target="_blank">See BuyGreen Standards detail for this product</a><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></center> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; white-space: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> I know $25 for a canteen seems a little staggering in this economy. You'll recoup your investment in a few weeks when you stop buying bottled water. I beat the hell out of these things on a daily basis, and they are still holding up perfectly. So what if it doesn't have some trendy pseudo-tattoo image screened onto its surface? That's totally played, anyway.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-28409733124396980222009-08-27T13:35:00.000-07:002009-08-27T13:43:59.322-07:00It takes balls to make an eco-friendly statement about the laundry!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=7gERbIHoUF8&offerid=127265.10000064&type=2&subid=0"><img border="0" src="http://s7d4.scene7.com/is/image/Gaiam/06-0598?$large$" /></a><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=7gERbIHoUF8&bids=127265.10000064&type=2&subid=0" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 36px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">About a year ago, I added dryer sheets to the long list of things around the house that worry me. Some urban legend or another probably found its way to my inbox and convinced me the teddy bear’s box of sweetly vanillaesque sheets would be the cause of a disastrous conflagration in the dungeon that is my laundry room. I found myself meticulously washing the lint screen with a soft toothbrush and Castile soap suds to dislodge any potential fire starting, fab-smelling lint and fuzzies lest we should burn like witches for our dependence upon lavender and moonbeams.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 36px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">During that time, my friend Bebe turned me on to a fascinating idea: chemicals in my personal products, indeed all of our household products might be interrupting my endocrine system. <span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #ff0000">Perfumes and petrochemicals might be the cause of all the allergies, rashes and headaches at our house</span>! After doing some research you’re going to be hearing a lot about in these postings, I realized my zeal for a sterile but homey-smelling home might be the cause of many auto-immune health problems and sensitivities. That’s when I ditched the dryer sheets and opted for dryer balls instead (I also got a wooden dryer rack to cut back on dryer use - duh). </span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 36px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Dryer balls are nubby rubber balls that you toss into the dryer with your wet clothes. As the garments spin, dryer balls pummel the fabrics into soft submission, so the items dry faster and fluffier, saving wear and tear on the machine as well as on your threads. I find them to be particularly effective on towels, which are also more absorbent if they are not washed or dried with softener. You use less energy and actually get better results. I have seen them in a wide variety of stores for about $10. My grandma told me years ago I should dry things like comforters and down jackets with clean tennis balls, so I just want to kick myself for not thinking of inventing these first.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 36px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Aside from the ridiculous amount of trash generated by the damn things, the perfumes used in dryer sheets may – or may not be laden with carcinogenic chemicals like formaldehyde. Because “fragrances” are considered trade secrets, their ingredients don’t <i>have</i> to be disclosed on ingredient lists, and may actually read more like hazardous waste than what one would expect from baby/spring/summer/tropical freshness.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 36px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial; "><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/laundry-and-cleaning/washing-machines/truths-and-myths-of-dryer-fires/overview/index.htm">In an article debunking the myths of dryer safety</a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">, <i>Consumer Reports</i> maintains dryer sheets are safer to use than liquids on many frequently laundered household items.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 36px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>“Avoid using liquid fabric softener on all-cotton clothing made of fleece, terry cloth, or velour. In our flammability tests, liquid fabric softener added to rinse water accelerated the burning speed of these fabrics. If you want a softener, use dryer sheets” </b>the article suggests. For safety’s sake and for our environment I say get some balls instead ---for the laundry room, silly, the laundry room!</span></p></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-24843122380312192612009-08-23T19:47:00.001-07:002009-08-24T21:24:56.716-07:00Green and Natural Pet Supplies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQlOXeU0WlRh-dyPtTKrvigzdCx9pSFm0iO6BaBjB07R1bEeUoi1grPuIjHk-JULjWziiSh2wLq6afXIJS24SDfcaeCGEgEJj90d-L9aoLHun8HjISUdwVRarE3no2OjwyQECZaRJDxKM/s1600-h/IMG_1321.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQlOXeU0WlRh-dyPtTKrvigzdCx9pSFm0iO6BaBjB07R1bEeUoi1grPuIjHk-JULjWziiSh2wLq6afXIJS24SDfcaeCGEgEJj90d-L9aoLHun8HjISUdwVRarE3no2OjwyQECZaRJDxKM/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373613660120430610" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> My little Boston princess' favorite toy is eco-friendly!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><center><a href="http://www.shareasale.com/m-pr.cfm?merchantID=14061&userID=273742&productID=466753907" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.buygreen.com/ProductImages/WPDC00002_st.jpg" border="0" alt="Zogoflex dog toys" /></a></center> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:11px;">Best Biscuits</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:11px;"> My little darlings aren't finnicky; all the trainers (and whisperers and psychologists) we've had told us Bostons are notorious for wanting to chew and are mainly motivated by food. I realized this long before I paid a king's ransom to learn these particulars! I am always concerned about the quality of food for our pups. Since cookies and tweeties are such a mainstaple, I searched and searched for something tasty, but more holistic in nature. I wanted an American product (no imports for my babies) that was free from fillers and preservatives. Enter Wysong (below)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><center><a href="http://www.shareasale.com/m-pr.cfm?merchantID=21212&userID=273742&productID=464612458" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.wysong.net/products/images/full/Biscuits.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><a href="http://www.shareasale.com/m-pr.cfm?merchantID=21212&userID=273742&productID=464612458" target="_blank"></a> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702860799142620027.post-89604659275997926492009-08-23T16:16:00.000-07:002009-08-27T13:44:53.574-07:00What is the Sound of One Hand Clapping?<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> In the title above, I repeat the Zen koan and answer with, "I don't know because smart cats everywhere applaud this product!"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=172637&u=273742&m=9036&urllink=&afftrack="><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img src="http://www.shareasale.com/image/box.jpg" alt="The Home Detox Green Toolbox" border="0" /></span></a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> It's awesome because it contains everything one would need to test the parts of your house that your inspector might have missed like</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(50, 45, 30); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> mold, dust mites, pollen, dander, carcinogenic fibers and bacteria. EEEW! It's especially useful to know what may be lurking in your house if it's older; lead paint isn't the only dangerous chemical that can poison your family!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> As a real estate investor, I tour many homes of families from all walks of life. One mustn't assume newly built spaces are completely healthy and safe. In fact, new construction (unless it is conscientiously built from green materials - LEED Certified) can be quite messy. New flooring, upholstery and furniture can off-gas for months as these products can emit toxic fumes like formaldehyde. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> Private wells may be contaminated with heavy metals or bacterium that can make your family very sick. Ductwork can be loaded with particulate matter or mold spores. My own home was absolutely bogged down with animal hair when we moved in, though the house looked immaculate whenever we had visited prior to the sale.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;font-size:medium;"> Once you know what to clean, you'll want to transition to healthier products in your home. Your respiratory system will thank you! Kitty's <i>Zen of </i><i>Homekeeping</i> pledges to keep you informed of your options as a consumer, in our usual frank way. Your Kitty has been green for a few years now, and I am passionate about sharing information about keeping a healthy home. Welcome! Don't be greenwashed, read <i><a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/kitty%3A_/House/House.html">kitty</a></i><a href="http://www.innerspaceyogas.com/kitty%3A_/House/House.html">!</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;font-size:11px;"><br /></span></span></div>Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308101220891195220noreply@blogger.com5