Put a Little Green “umph” In Your VDay Plans: Natural Aphrodisiacs

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Photo credit: Flickr creative commons

(Put a little “umph” or hump… whichever applies!)

Valentine’s day is on Sunday and you know what that means… lot’s of lovin’ will be going around.

Is it possible to green that area of your life, you ask? Why, yes it is!

Valentines day is all about LOVE so why not put a little eco in it…

If you find yourself one of those who just can’t resist all the candy hearts and red, pink and white decor …

perhaps, consider a few eco-friendly options for your loved one!

The Checklist

Flowers: Organic Bouquet or VeriFlora

Gifts: Check out Guffly or Etsy for some pretty eco rockin’ gifts!

OR make your own special something … felted mittens, jewelry; turn something old into something new, etc.

Treats/Food: Organic & Fair Trade if at all possible!

Green Condoms: Skip the latex and go for Natural Lamb

Lube: 3 words… Good Clean Love!

OR, you could just use straight up coconut oil /EVOO (I use it for a number of things!)

Skip the card: Say it all with your actions.

Now, how about a few natural aphrodisiacs to help set the mood or rather get in the mood!

An aphrodisiac is a substance such as food, drink, drug, scent or device that can arouse or induce feelings of sexual desire. Aphrodisiacs are named after Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty. Aphrodisiacs can be powerful as they trigger the release of chemicals in the brains which then stimulate certain organs.

I heart Better Nutrition magazine…

February’s issue has an interview with author Chris Kilham on how to boost libido and improve sexual health- naturally, or in non toxic fashion, if you will.

His new book,

Hot Plants; Nature’s Proven Sex Booster for Men and Woman

sounds very interesting…  I’ve already requested it at my local library. LOL! 

I’m all about doing things the natural way; even in the bedroom.

Natural Aphrodisiacs

- Chocolate: It’s the LOVE drug! Contains compounds that mimic the brains natural chemistry when we fall in love.

- Oysters: High in zinc which is considered the “sexy” mineral; important for healthy sexual function.

- Maca: Considered the King Kong of herbs in the aphrodisiac catagory!! A natural sex booster.

-  More Sexually Stimulating Foods: Mushrooms, Asparagus, Onions, Garlic, and Chili Peppers/ Banana, Fig, Pomegranate, Avocado

- Panax Ginseng: For men, nuff’ said!!

- Scents: Vanilla, Patchouli and Musk

- Touch: Skin is the largest organ and made up of many nerves… give your special someone a massage with coconut oil then to soak up the oil sprinkle on some cornstarch (for silky effect). It’s very relaxing and tingling at the same time. ooooh la, la!

So; skip the trip to Europe for the Spanish fly because these items for your sweetie could very well be in your own home.

Make this year’s Valentine’s day sustainable and eco sweet.

Peace & Love!

UPDATE:

Here are a few links that relate to this post!

Super Natural Mom discusses green romance;

Evergreen at the Happy Raw Kitchen has a wonderful breaky treat you can put together in minutes for your loved one on VDay;

Send an e card through the David Suzuki Foundation and a “generous donor” will match your donation;

What are you planning to do for your loved one?

Exit for Non Toxic Highway, On Back!

Photo credit: Jeff Keen via flickr

Yesterday, I didn’t have the time to elaborate in yesterday’s post… but the message in A Wake Up Story really hits home, doesn’t it? Just last week, I was feeling discouraged about all the toxic chemicals us moms have to worry about. A friend and I were talking about toxic chemicals (more of a rant) and I was giving her a toxic 411 lesson on all the yucky chemicals. Both she and I have tried to eliminate product containing harmful chemicals but every time we turn around; we learn about another pesky and toxic chemical to lookout for. I’m so sick of having to flipping items around to look for harmful ingredients. These companies are poisoning us AND as long as we continue to support them with our hard earned cash they won’t stop!

It’s not an easy task (nor easy being green, for that matter!) but avoiding products that don’t contain nasty chemicals is important for the sake of our lives and the planet.

The simplest item such as toothpaste can contain numerous chemicals that are known to cause cancer (found this out the other night when trying to make a decision on which one to buy; basically, it was which one is least harmful). Does this mean I need to start making my own toothpaste too? In my opinion, hell yes it does! Plus, Tom’s of Maine isn’t cheap and it STILL has propylene glycol in it! ARGH! An organic version (Jason Organics) is $8 bucks and I’m not going to spend a pretty penny on toothpaste, thank you very much (or any other overpriced “natural” product). Not right now, anyway.

Everything and it seems like everything sold in stores is bad for you. It’s impossible to avoid all of it the chemicals whether in our homes, outside, or at the movies!  What we can do as consumers and as FRIENDS is make a difference.

Tell all your friends as the Healthy Child Healthy World video implies and help spread the word! Secondly, stop buying the product and try to find an alternative. Finally, start writing to the companies and DEMAND change. This could seriously devote ones time since there are so many companies out there who are polluting the planet and our bodies (toxins + plastic). As a consumer we need to start standing up for what’s right- not wrong!  The FDA (Food and Drug Adminstration) does not require premarket health or safety studies or testing on products that hit store shelves which means were the guinea pigs who suffer!

What To Look For

(derived from better nutrition magazine)

Phthalates: found in synthetic fragrances, are endocrine disruptors that have been linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity. If it contains the word FRAGRANCE- stay away!

Propylene glycol: found in tortillas, lotions & potions, deodorant, many snack foods, etc., is linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies, immunotoxicity, and skin and eye irritation.  Also listed as 1,2-dihydroxypropane; 2-hydroxypropanol; methylethyl glycol; 1,2-propanediol; or propane- ,2-diol.

Parabens: used as preservatives in a wide variety of body care products. Also linked to cancer and developmental and reproductive damage. AKA 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, benzoic acid, p-salicyclic acid or zoic acid.

Mineral Oil: Petroleum based, linked to cancer and can be listed as paraffin.

Sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate: used as a foaming or sudsing agent – found in bubble baths and body washes, shampoos and hand washes. It can cause organ toxicity and irritation of the skin, eyes and hair. May be listed as PEG 1-4 or lauryl ether sulfate, sodium slat, polyethylene glycol (1-4)

Oxybenzone: widely used in sunscreens and other skin care products with SPF protection, is linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive damage and cell damage. AKA benzophenone-3, 2-benzoyl-5-methoxyphenol, phenylmethanone and other names.

Familiarizing yourself with these chemicals is your exit sign for the non toxic highway!

Resources

Healthy Child Healthy World

Enviroblog

MomsRising

I’m always checking out these helpful sites for the latest information! I know I’ve mentioned it before but if you’re curious to know what’s in your products be sure to check out the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database. Be sure to also check out their chemical index!

Beware!

Just because a product advertises “all natural” or “organic” doesn’t always mean that it’s non toxic! Reading labels is a huge preventive measure when it comes to buying products that may contain harmful ingredients.

Have you recently switched out a product because it contained unsafe chemicals?

Please, share your thoughts!

Is Your Purse Toxic?

Happy Friday!!

Yes, that’s my purse above and yes, is your purse toxic?

Your favorite accessory may be toxic and should know why!

In about a minute’s time, my friend Jennifer Taggart, The Smart Mama, will tell you what to watch out for.

I couldn’t get the video to come up but you can view here!

Jennifer recently wrote the book Smart Mama’s Green Guide: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Child’s Toxic Chemical Exposure.

In her book she provides great tips and tricks to help kick those pesky toxins to the curb & live easily without them!

Her website is also filled with tons of information on her latest investigations concerning toxic products on the market and the 411 on toxic chemicals.

So, back to the question, is your purse toxic?

(In case you were wondering, my purse is made from hemp and the other two accessories are made of cotton.) 

P.S. Thank you, Lisa for tipping me off about this !

Vlog: A Refillable Mug for Tea Drinkers!

Bringing a vlog at ya today… it’s all I had time for… and it’s something I’ve been saving for a rainy day (except, today the skies are clear for the first time in a week!)

I’ve written about Mighty Leaf tea in the past and just LOVE their tea (not being paid to say this- I promise!). The brew cup is great and I even take it with me to my local coffee shop!

Be Planet Wise Use Rechargeable Batteries

Photo credit: JohnSeb via flickr

Before I started vlogging I honestly had no idea how many batteries we might of gone through (A LOT, I’m sure!). The Flip camera kills batteries fast- a major drawback about the Flip. Myeco guilt was killing me ever time I changed the Flip’s batteries. It seemed like I was changing out batteries on the constant. It was gut wrenching each time I replaced out  batteries.

After expressing the guilt I’d been feeling to my dad one day he turned around went into his office and came back with a  rechargeable battery charger. My hero! I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it earlier. I took the charger home and was ready to start a new eco life using rechargeable batteries.

I mean just look at that awful picture above! It’s amazing when you think of how many things around our home require batteries. Having rechargeable batteries makes a huge difference for the planet and your wallet. I no longer change out new batteries I replace them with charged batteries.What a relief!

Did you know…

Read more

My Journey to No Poo!

Photo credit: mollypop’s via flickr

It all began one morning when I finally ran out of shampoo.

(Ha! Ha! You were thinking potty poo! Gross. LOL!).

I figured that moment was as good as any to take the next plunge in this mission to green our beauty routine. I’ve already taken a few steps in knocking out the chemicals… such as making my own deodorant, switching to all natural perfumes, and making my own body oil to name a few.

At first, I used up a sample bottle of Aveda shampoo. Then I started using an old Burt’s Bee’s shampoo bar I had from one of their sampler packages.. This all began just before Thanksgiving sometime.

With the economy like it is and the holiday’s quickly approaching I pretty much set the “transition period” aside and went for it! I began using the shampoo bar and almost immediately noticed the effects of not having a lather. My hair instantly felt dry and yuck!

I also decided not to condition my hair as often. It was a little rough to brush my hair but I managed. Then after a couple days I put in a few dabs of coconut oil before washing with the shampoo bar and it seemed to help.

After about a month of using the shampoo bar my hair began to oil up and began to get heavy feeling. I could brush it but there was definitely a greasy feeling and look to it. Most days I found myself pulling my hair back or tying it up.

I even sponged curled it one evening for a girls night and boy did the curls hold up well. I think the oily factor shaped the curls nicely but that’s not my point. Even though it was greasy and oily you couldn’t tell. I was the only one who knew…at least I hope so, anyway.

The shampoo bar finally had it’s last shower the other day, so, it was time to go from “Lo Poo” to “No Poo”

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5 Ways to Reuse a Mylar Balloon

Hiya! TGIF!!!

Last week, the eco tot came home with this Mylar balloon. Apparently, one of the personnel from Vons grocery store was taking down holiday inventory and gave it to him (he was with grandma). I wanted to cringe when I saw it! I’m not fond of them because they don’t break down easily. Which as you know is bad for the planet!  Tons of them get tossed into the trash and end up in landfills to sit and rot for a LONG time.

We always try to follow the REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE hierarchy whenever possible…

But, after tossing the Crayola markers and a comment left from Evergreen; I vowed to look at the 3R’s hierarchy more often and consider the REUSE rule more patiently and carefully.

So, I looked at the shiny Mylar balloon sitting in our living room beginning to deflate and thought about it’s second life, maybe even third, perhaps; fourth.

AND

Here’s what I came up with!

5 WAYS TO REUSE A MYLAR BALLOON:

1. Reflate it! Mylar balloons can be properly deflated and used again. Your local party store may or may not properly deflate your balloon. The trick is to keep the valve inside the balloon intact. If you’re feeling tricky and think you can do it yourself … check out these instructions. Seems easy enough!

2. Use it as gift wrap. Turn it inside out or use as is!

3. Cut up into long strips and use as stuffing. Put into easter baskets, gift bags, shipping boxes etc.

4. Save for  scrapbooking, decoupage, or a craft project. Cut out letters & shapes, etc.

5. Turn it into a pinata (my favorite idea) !! The eco tot’s 3rd birthday is on the way (I’m already scheming on ideas). Last year, we attempted to reuse a latex balloon. Things would’ve been fine except  that it popped by accident (our fault). Just fill balloon up with your little ones favorite treats; preferably eco friendly ones and secure bottom- then hang with some twine. Instant pinata!

The balloon also has a clip (weight) attached to it. I plan to reuse it as a “chip clip”. Even though, I don’t normally buy chips they come in handy for securing other miscellaneous items.

Do you have any suggestions? What have you done in the past with these metallic celebratory messages?

Have a great weekend.

Fake Plastic Fish

Interesting visual isn’t it? Fake. Plastic. Fish. In our bathtubs??? A toy? Ocean?

If you haven’t yet heard those three words… then listen up!

Beth Terry is a woman whom I consider a pioneer in the quest to rid her life from pesky plastic. She  runs the site Fake Plastic Fish-Living with Less Plastic.

That’s right, PLASTIC! The unbiodegradable material that is ruining the environment, our oceans & wildlife.

Beth has gone above and beyond to prove we can live and enjoy life without plastic.

Just watch…  you’ll be inspired & motivated! I promise!

All I have to say is Beth YOU ARE THE WOMAN!

{Meatless Monday} Fantastic Falafel Recipe & more…

Hello dear readers!

Hope you had a great weekend. Mine was somewhat uneventful but I did manage to get some things done around the home. It seems like I’ve been decluttering a lot lately. Getting out what doesn’t fit in to my lifestyle or even my well being! I live in a small home so I declutter often.

In a sense I’ve also decluttered my eating habits. For 2010, as mentioned previously I plan to eat more raw foods and lean towards a vegan diet. I’m not going to set myself up for failure and plan to be quite flexible. I was a veggie for many years but had no idea what I know now. I definitely wasn’t getting the proper nutrition my body deserved nor was I getting the right amount of protein. Yikes!

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Drop Off @ Grace Resource Center!

Hello!

I meant to get this post up before Xmas but obviously that didn’t happen.

I did a vlog while driving…

::gasp:: I know!

I tried my best not to look at it and keep my eyes on the road..

Please excuse my nervousness…

My husband found a box of brand new blankets on the side of the road on his way to work one day.

He brought them home and he immediately suggested we donate them to a local shelter.

They were 15 blankets every single one was donated.

It felt really good to give back during the holidays and having the boys present made it extra special.

We also gathered a box of old toys to donate. I let T pick out each toy. He didn’t seem to mind at all and actually kept telling me how much other children needed toys rather than he did.

(when I arrived I jumped out the car and did a pass off since the boys were in the car with me and Clark was sleeping!)

We also decided that we would start a yearly holiday tradition of donating toys to the needy (besides Toys for Tots) and maybe even volunteer at the shelter.

I’m going to look into it further…

What traditions did you start this year?

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