Happy birthday to me!

Photo by George Hodan

Today is my birthday. In the last year, I've gained new friends and lost old pounds. Sounds like a good year, don't you think?

I was born to a mother who did not want me. Really. She told me so over martinis one night about nine years ago. I was shocked and hurt. I'm sure it's not something she ever intended to say to me, but with martinis and such...

At least she told me my dad wanted me.

The thing is, she didn't like getting fat. A chubby adolescent, Mom worked hard on her figure as a young adult. After she had my sisters, she was back to being a bit overweight. After losing the baby fat, the last thing she wanted was to gain it back again. So, after finding out she was pregnant with me, she dieted. In the end, she only gained 8 pounds during her pregnancy. She drank. She smoked. She dieted. And after I was born, she left the hospital 15 pounds lighter than when she got pregnant. 

Good for her. Bad for me. I've suffered a lifetime of sickness and I blame most of it on my time in the womb. 

Of course, my mom didn't know any better and I don't blame her for my health issues. And I don't blame her for not wanting me. Not all of us are thrilled when we find out we're pregnant. Just because I wasn't planned does not mean I wasn't loved. I was. Without doubt.

My birthday wish for you, dear reader, is that you embrace the path God sends your way -- whether it includes pregnancy or not -- and that you celebrate the wonder of you, whatever size you are. You are beautiful. You're wonderful. You're a precious gift to the world.

Celebrate my birthday with me by celebrating the wonder of YOU!

With love,

Hana

Where we're headed

 

Wildflower Reserve. Raccoon State Park, PA

If we don't change our direction,

we are likely to end up 

where we are headed.

~ Chinese Proverb

Taking the train -- Friday's IOTUT

Train's eye view of PA countryside

Welcome to another edition of Friday's Instead Of This, Use This. Today we're talking transportation.

I traveled across the state of Pennsylvania yesterday to attend the Pennwriters Conference in Lancaster. I can't tell you how many times I vacillated between driving and taking Amtrak. Once I was planted in the dining car of the train, laptop open, steaming coffee and a pastry beside me, I wondered why I ever tortured myself with the debate. For me, traveling by train is heaven. Seriously.

Dining car of the Pennsylvanian Train 42

So why the debate? There were several reasons, but one of the main ones involved my independence. I don't like having to depend on others to pick me up and take me where I need to go. It's as simple as that. I don't like not having a car to take me where I want to go when I want to go there. I guess it's the same for people who don't like to carpool to work every day. Let's face it, having a car available is convenient. 

Sitting in the dining care with my laptop and coffee

But since I am trying to live a greener lifestyle, I believe I made the right choice. After all, I just kept my car off the road for a 500 mile round trip. Cool. Cost wise, there wasn't much of a difference. The train was $51 each way. Between turnpike tolls and gas I would have spend close to that, not to mention wear and tear on the car. Add in the fact that I could actually work while on the train, and I came out way ahead than had I driven. Naturally, the cost factor would change if I was traveling with a family.

Horseshoe Curve Altoona, PA

While it's not always possible, if you have the option, my advice for this Friday's edition of IOTUT is -- instead of driving, use the train.

Keeping it green with better choices,

How do you green your travel routine?

Greening my routine . . . taking care of me

Welcome to the May 2014 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Green Moms.  

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and Crunchy Farm Baby through the Green Moms Network. This month, our members are talking about how they take time to care for themselves. Stop by all of the posts to get green ideas on how you can take better care of yourself . 

 To be honest, I wasn't an overly green mom when my children were little. Oh sure, I cloth diapered, breastfed, and made my own baby food, but I didn't know enough about toxins to avoid them in my home. I should have known better, since I suffered from Epstein Barr Virus Syndrome and fibromyalgia which was triggered by chemical exposure, but I guess I was just too trusting. If a cleaning product was on the market, surely it was safe. Right? If detergent said it was gentle and perfect for cloth diapers, it must be. Right? If fabric softener showed a picture of a cuddly teddy bear, it must be the right choice for baby clothes. Right? Wrong. But I just didn't know. 

Don't let the smiles fool you. We were loaded with toxins!

Back in the 80s, when I was having babies, we didn't have access to the Internet the way we do now. Mamas were left on their own, reading outdated books on parenting or listening to the advice of other moms who were just as clueless. 

Besides all of that, my husband at the time worked at a chemical company and brought home all those nasty toxins five days a week. It wasn't until a couple of years before he died that a doctor determined the chemicals were the main source of my health problems and we started isolating them as much as possible. Jim took his car to work and I stopped riding in it. He did his own laundry, so the girls' and my clothing were no longer washed with his. As my exposure to the toxins from Neville Chemical Company was lessened, so were my symptoms. I regained strength in my arms and legs as I dealt with a reduction in pain. Yet, I still didn't realize the connection to the toxins I used for cleaning, laundry, and other household tasks. I cooked with Teflon. I washed windows with Windex. I whitened clothes with bleach. I let Calgon take me away . . . nearly every day. Yikes! I developed asthma when I was 27 and still didn't make the connection. 

Now I'm a grandma and my daughters are much wiser moms than I was. Their children aren't subjected to the same toxins I exposed them to. And I'm much wiser, too.

How do I take care of myself these days? While I still relish my hot baths for relaxation and relief from my fibromyalgia pain, I no longer dump a cupful of toxins in the tub. Instead, I reach for the apple cider vinegar or baking soda. When I wash my hair, a bunch of harmful chemicals no longer stream down my body. Instead, I either no poo (click here to find out what that's all about) or I use zero toxin shampoos. I've even stopped dying my hair and guess what? I'm actually liking the gray. 

What I'm not liking are the wrinkles associated with too much sunning when I was young (if you're still doing it, let me warn you, it will catch up with you). I just can't embrace those frown lines. But I also can't go the route of high-priced wrinkle creams that are loaded with carcinogens, etc. So I either reach for the coconut oil or, in recent days, I massage some moringa oil on my face and neck, hoping that someday I'll see some positive results. Either way, I'm keeping it safe and healthy, and mommas -- isn't that much more important? 

We all need pampering sometimes. But there's the safe way and the not-so-safe way. Here's hoping you choose wisely.

Keeping it toxin-free and green,

Visit Happy Mothering and Crunchy Farm Baby to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival! Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed:

 

In need of a few more hours to the day

 

One of those days . . . when my kids were young!

Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Of course, you do! Many of you are moms with young kids and the demands on your time are, well, overwhelming. While I don't have any young ones at home, I'm still feeling stressed by too much to do. 

I'm boarding a train in Pittsburgh at 7:30 Thursday morning, heading for Lancaster for the annual Pennwriters Conference. I'm on the faculty again this year, so there is much to do in preparation. I can't believe this mid-May conference is in just a couple of days. Where does time go? 

In the meantime, I'm trying to catch up with my work so I can 1) keep my clients happy, and 2) pay my bills. The juggling act is tough sometimes. 

Then there are the family obligations. My grandchildren have been sick and there have been multiple trips to the ER and Urgent Care facilities. My oldest, who is only five, was finally diagnosed -- mono. Not what we wanted to hear. Her mommy has strep. At least that's treatable. 

Why am I sharing all of this? I guess I just needed to rant for a bit. Plus, sometimes it's good to know we're in this together, don't you think? While you may have piles of laundry waiting to be folded and put away, I have narrations that need to be edited and sent off to the client. You have dishes filling the sink and counters? I have editing projects piled in my to-do slot. Your kids need your attention? My clients need attention. 

While our lives are not the same exactly, in many ways they are. It's kind of like apples and oranges. And from this busy grandma, let me tell you, I understand.

Wishing you some relaxation and peaceful moments,

Relish Reusable Giveaway Hop

  

 Welcome to the 2014 Relish Reusable Giveaway Hop hosted by Measuring Flower and Slightly Steady! I have teamed up with our hosts and a bunch of other amazing bloggers to bring you a variety of eco-friendly, reusable prizes each worth at least $50! So after you enter my giveaway below, be sure to "hop" on to the next blog to enter their giveaway, as well. You can find a list with links to all the participating blogs towards the bottom of this post.

 

Also, don't forget to check out the event's grand prize! It's an incredible $300 gift card to MightyNest! MightyNest is a great go-to source for eco-friendly, healthful products for your home and garden. One neat thing about MightyNest is how they're giving back by doing a fundraiser known as MightyNest for Schools. The MightyNest for Schools program generously supports the school of your choice when you buy any of their high-quality, eco-friendly, healthy gear, by donating 15% of your purchase. MightyNest further engages your school community in healthy living with great tips, challenges, and pledges. For more info, visit MightyNest for Schools.

You know, part of green living is making the most of what you have and/or purchasing reusable products to replace the countless disposables our society has become accustomed to. Things like facial tissue, paper towels, paper plates, paper napkins. Now, according to the commercials, we're even supposed to ditch the hand towels in our bathrooms and replace them with disposable hand towels which are thrown away after each use. I don't know about you, but I easily wash my hands 0-15 times a day. Can you imagine how much waste it would produce if I threw away my towel each time. No thank you. I'm a hanky, rag, cloth napkin kind of grandma (old fashioned, I know) whose stomach turns every time I see commercials promoting waste.

To help you in your quest for sustainability, I have a prize package for you that includes:

• A HankyBook -- Made in the USA from 100% certified organic cotton, the HankyBook is machine washable and dryer safe. No more toting tissues in your purse or diaper bag. Just toss a durable HankyBook in and you're ready for anything from runny noses to sloppy sweet potatoes.
• A cloth reusable bag -- Since the bag "advertises" my book, VINEGAR FRIDAYS, I thought it only proper to include two signed copies of the book as well (one for you and one to give away). In it are ways to continue your quest for sustainability and toxin-free living.
• A reusable water bottle and foldable water bag. Both are made of BPA-free plastic.

Enter to win this prize package with a purpose on the rafflecopter below. Easy entries. Winner must be in continental US and be 18 or over. Entries will be verified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

An InLinkz Link-up

100% certified organic cotton
Machine washable, dryer safe
Made in U.S.A
- See more at: http://hankybook.com/hankybook/turtles-hankybook#sthash.l9HQTt5k.dpuf

This event brought to you by Measuring Flower Events.

Prizes were not donated by any companies and are simply gifts from Green Grandma.

Mother's Day mourning -- for those with empty arms

Photo by Larisa Koshkina

 
I normally reserve weekends for quotes or an occasional giveaway. However, today, I wanted to talk a little bit about Mother's Day. For many, this isn't a happy time. If you are one of those people who purposely avoid Hallmark stores around this time of year, I want you to know, I understand. Having lost my own mom in January 2013, I'm facing my second Mother's Day without her. It hurts, but it's something most of us face sometime in our lives. The first holidays that roll around seem to be the toughest, with Mother's Day being near the top of the list.

I often drove with my children and eventually, grandchildren, to meet my mom in Bedford, PA for lunch on Mother's Day. It was a tradition we enjoyed. Since we usually couldn't get away for the entire weekend, this halfway meeting point along the turnpike was something we all looked forward to. Last year, it didn't happen. And it won't happen this year either. 

Last month, my stepdaughters lost their mom to breast cancer. This will be an extremely difficult day for them. At least I had my mom until I was 55. They are only in their 30s. It's way too early to face this Mother's Day without their mom and I grieve for them.

But Mother's Day is even harder, I imagine, for another group of women -- those who longed to be mothers but were deprived of that opportunity. My heart, dear ones, goes out to you especially. Some of you lost children before they were born and your arms ache from emptiness. Others hoped to conceive, but it just never happened. Still others, dreamed of being married and having a family, but the right man never came along.

Let's face it . . . for you, Mother's Day sucks. 

With that in mind, I won't post my usual Mother's Day sentiment for the weekend. Instead, I'll post this message and hope you find some comfort in knowing that you are not forgotten. 

With hugs and affection,

KitchenAid Mother's Day Giveaway

Hosted by:

NYSavingSpecials

Co-Hosted by:

Ramblings of Mama, Simply Sherryl, Lost in Boston, So Simply Stephanie, Sweet Sensible Scents, Barbara's Beat, Filipino Recipes, Michigan Savings and More and My Fab Fit Forties

Come and join us in this great giveaway. The KitchenAid mixer is every baker's dream. Winning one makes it even more appealing, right? 
So enter to win. This just might be your lucky day!

KitchenAid KSM75SL 4.5 Qt. Classic Plus Stand Mixer, Color silver

Dates:

May 9 12:01am EST. To May 23 11:59pm  EST.

Valid only in the Continental United States. 

Void where prohibited

18 years or older to enter/only 1 entrant per household

 Winner is chosen through random.org

All entries are optional.

All winning entries will be verified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Disclaimer: Green Grandma is not responsible for the awarding of the prize.  If you have any questions about this giveaway, please email the host at nysavingspecials@gmail.com.  This blog, Facebook, Twitter or any other social media network is not associated with this giveaway.

Forget the F-word. This T-word is nasty!

Our society likes to make a fuss about swear words (fair enough), but how is it we don't cringe when we hear words like triclosan? Let me tell you -- it's much more harmful to our health than a F-bomb. Seriously.

Dr. Ben Kim, writing for the site BeyondPesticides.org, lists the health warnings as well as some pretty surprising places where triclosan is hiding out. 

First, let's look at why we should avoid triclosan according to Dr. Kim. It can cause

• problems with the endocrine system -- especially troubling is its effect on the thyroid 
• weakening of the immune system
• birth defects
• uncontrolled cell growth (I don't know what that means, but it sounds scary, don't you think?)
• unhealthy weight loss -- we're talking about when the pounds start falling off and you haven't reduced your dining to a few celery stalks a day

And, according to Regina Bailey, writing for About.com, there is strong evidence of a link between triclosan and breast cancer.
 

So, where do you think you'd find triclosan? In all those antibacterial soaps, right? Well, of course. But did you know it's also in some toothpastes and mouthwashes? Spit that stuff out! Yuck. Not seeing it on the ingredients listed? Try looking for these instead: Microban® Additive B, Irgasan® (DP 300 or PG 60), Biofresh®, Lexol-300, Ster-Zac or Cloxifenolum. Triclosan in disguise.

Okay, let's switch to cosmetics. Here's a surprising one for you -- triclosan is an ingredient in the brand Jason Natural Cosmetics. Once again, it's evident we cannot trust the word "natural." Some of the other cosmetics listed (which is a partial list, I'm sure) are Supre® Cafe Bronzer™, TotalSkinCare Makeup Kit, Garden Botanika®Powder Foundation, Mavala Lip Base, Blemish Cover Stick, Movate®Skin Lightening Cream HQ, Paul Mitchell Detangler Comb, Revlon ColorStay LipSHINE Lipcolor Plus Gloss, and Dazzle.

So let's move on to some other personal care products. Deodorant. I only use non-toxic deodorants, personally, but I was once again surprised by the name of one of them -- Queen Helene®Tea Tree Oil Deodorant and Aloe Deodorant -- Tea Tree Oil?! Aloe?! Beware of those who will suck you in with their natural and "healthy" sounding names!

 Then there are shave gels, acne treatments, and even Diabet-x™ Cream. First aid products are another tricky category -- from antiseptics to medicated sprays to cervical collars with Microban. Look out. 

From medicine chest to kitchen cupboard, beware of Farberware®  Microban Steak Knife Set and Cutting Boards. Looks like that Microban is bad stuff, huh? You'll want to stay away from the Hobart Semi-Automatic Slicer and the Compact Web Foot® Wet Mop Heads, too. Oh brother.

You'll even want to steer clear of Microban in your office -- Fellowes Cordless Microban Keyboard and Microban Mouse Pad may sound like a healthy option, but they're harboring the T-word. Stay away!

Clothing is even an issue. Dickies, Fruit of the Loom, and Biofresh® socks are just some of the items you don't want touching your skin. Even Merrell Shoes and Sabatier Chef's Aprons are unsafe.

Of course, as parents and grandparents, we're especially concerned about the kiddos. So, here's a list of toys from Playskool® that contain triclosan:

• Stack 'n Scoop Whale
• Rockin' Radio
• Hourglass
• Sounds Around Driver
• Roll 'n' Rattle Ball
• Animal Sounds Phone
• Busy Beads Pal
• Pop 'n' Spin Top
• Lights 'n' Surprise Laptop

Makes you wonder what other nasty toxins are in their toys, doesn't it?

According to BeyondPesticides.org, here is a list of miscellaneous items you want to avoid if you don't want to be affected by triclosan:  Bionare® Cool Mist Humidifier; Deciguard AB® Antimicrobial Ear Plugs; Bauer® Re-Akt hockey helmet and 7500 hockey helment; Miller Paint Acro Pure Interior Paint; Holmes Foot Buddy™ HMH120U Antimicrobial Foot Buddy Foot Warmer, Blue Mountain Wall Coverings, California Paints®, Davis Paint® Perfection, Hirschfield’s Paint®,O’Leary Paint®, EHC AMRail Escalator Handrails, Dupont™ Air Filters, Winix Dehumidifiers, J Cloth® towels, select Quickie cleaning products, Kimberly Clark® WYPALL X80 Towels, Canopy® kitchen towels, ALUF Plastics®, BioEars earplugs, Petmate® LeBistro feeders and waterers, Infantino cart covers and baby carriers, Oreck XL®, Bissell Healthy Home Vacuum™, NuTone® Central Vacuum systems, Rival® Seal-A-Meal® Vacuum Food Sealer, CleenFreek SportsHygiene Yoga Mat, Resilite Sports Products, Rubbermaid® Coolers, Stufitts sports gear, Venture Products® fitness mats, Custom Building Products, DAP®Kwik Seal Plus®, Laticrete, Niasa Biquichamp® mortar grout and sealant, ProAdvanced Products. 

Of course, this is not a comprehensive list. There is triclosan lurking all around us. You have to be proactive in keeping your family safe as best you can. Keep in mind, too, that many companies are quietly removing toxins month by month. The above products did, at one time and most likely still, contain triclosan. Read labels, be informed, and sign the pledge to ban triclosans from your home.  Also, if you want to do more, follow BeyondPesticides.org on their FB page or Twitter account and click here to take a survey about antibacterial soap.

Taking action and keeping you informed,