Wednesday, July 25, 2007

guys... skip this one...

okey dokey gentlemen... this posting isn't for the faint of heart... so, if you "eww-out" too easily, you may want to skip this puppy cuz it's about... you know... "that time of the month"...

good, now that they're all gone, we can chat...

while perusing crunchy chicken -- the latest blog i've come to adore -- i came across a posting about how wasteful (not to mention down-right gross) all those tampons and pads that get tossed by each of us every month are... to be honest, it hadn't occurred to me that there were alternatives, other than the "healthier" products offered by seventh generation and natracare. man, was i wrong!

while i haven't tried glad rags, luna pads or hag rags (which are just funky as all hell... LOVE all the design choices), i MUST sing the praises of... (drum roll, please)... the diva cup!

i admit, i was a bit apprehensive, but -- good golly -- if this isn't the most efficient, no-brainer way to get through the lamest 5 days of the month, i don't know what is! simple to use, comfortable, easy to clean and maintain, and NO waste... PLUS, no more tossing a ziploc bag full of tampons into your backpack any time you go on a trip "just in case" (wooo hoo!) ... and no "errant strings" to embarrass you (ok... i think i went too far... ewwww....)

i am SOOOOOO a diva girl!

yes, you all know waaay too much about me now... now snap out of it!

oh, and any ideas on what i can do with costco-size boxes full of tampons are most welcome! (i'm thinking about some sort of progressive artwork, but am open to ideas!)

Friday, July 6, 2007

smell ya later

as i'm packing my bags, getting ready for a week of YMCA summer camp with 150-ish stinky kiddos baking beneath the southern california sun, i'm thinking... man, i hate it when i stink. at the same time, i don’t relish the idea of slathering my tender underarms with icky chemicals. oddly enough (and contrary to popular belief), sweat is odorless. it’s the nasty bacteria that gather on the skin and break down the sweat that cause the big smell-o-rama. (more than you really wanted to know, right? yeah, me, too.)

all antiperspirants (and I mean all -- if you find one that doesn’t, let me know!) contain aluminum, which has generated greater debate than an inside pitch at my daughter’s softball game. aluminum has been linked to cancer and alzheimer's disease. especially at risk -- according to a 2004 u.k. study at university of reading, as well as subsequent studies -- are women who shave and immediately apply antiperspirant (don’t try to tell me you don’t. i know better!). also present are parabens -- synthetic preservatives found in many personal care products -- which are linked to various cancers.

deodorants, on the other hand, neutralize smells and provide antiseptic action against bacteria. so, if you can deal, why not try a natural deodorant ? whether or not this these links to disease are true, it seems to me that anytime one can replace a chemical cosmetic with a natural one, so much the better.

there are abundant choices out there. and, while i’m not sold on the rock deodorants, there are some good alternatives offered by companies such as alba botanica, avalon organics and jason natural cosmetics, among others. test some out and see what works for you.... and if you have any other suggestions, let em rip...

on that note, i'm outta here until the 15th... smell ya later!

Sunday, July 1, 2007

dirty deeds

washing machines account for about 20% of the total volume of water consumed in residences. toss kids’ clothes into the mix, and i’d be willing to bet it’s even higher than that! but there are many ways you can lower your water usage -- even if you’re like me and don’t have a new, energy-efficient washer.

most machines allow you to adjust the water level to fit the size of the each load. Simply adjusting the water level to match to the load size can save as much as 12 gallons per week. of course, waiting to wash a load until the pile is large enough (but not so large that you’re overloading, as that’s a whole other problem) is a better way to go.

now, if you happen to be in the market for a new washer, it’s worth noting that front-loading machines use between 20 and 33 gallons of water per cycle, while top-loading machines may use 35 to 55 gallons. in fact, on the most common setting, a front-loader will use about half the water, half the hot water, and one third of the detergent of a top-loader. man, I want one of these! (some women dream of a sparkly bauble -- i dream of a major appliance. yes, there is definitely something wrong with me!)

also, many of today's detergents clean just as well in warm or cold water as they do in hot, so washing clothes in warm or cold water will save you some cash in energy costs. and, because hot water is really tough on fabric, lower temperatures will extend the life of your clothes.

last (and this is something we’re all guilty of, me especially), how many times have you tossed a perfectly fine item of clothing into the hamper (or, in your child’s case, on the floor), simply because it was easier to do that than actually fold it up and put it away? taking that extra minute or two to really make sure it needs to go into the wash and, if not, put it away can save water, energy and clothing wear and tear!

any other ideas? i'd love to hear them!