Get the lead out

Lead poisoning. Does it frighten you? Do you even think about it?

Remember when the big scare was paint chips -- like any of us let our kids sit around eating paint chips! Last I recall, they didn't flavor them. I mean, there weren't Barbecue Paint Chips, Salt and Vinegar Paint Chips or even Veggie Paint Chips. Paint chips were ... well, unappetizing. I was never concerned.

In recent years, however, the lead issue reared its ugly head in ways that did concern me. Lead in toys?! What?? We can largely thank China for that! You see, the problem is, while the U.S. government may enjoy poisoning us with GMOs, they do have stricter guidelines when it comes to toys. Which is probably why most of them are made in countries where the rules are, shall we say, lacking? I wonder if any of the people working in the toy factories in China let their kids play with the toys.

Or course, the U.S. government didn't get with the program about lead until the late 70s, which means environmental lead actually is a problem, in that much of the paint and plumbing in older buildings was packed with it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, here are some common sources of lead that can put your children at risk:

• Artificial turf (Phew ... don't have any of that around)
• Ceramic cookware and dinnerware (I'm really not too sure about this one)
• Candles with lead wicks (uh oh)
• Folk medicines (I don't even know what they mean with this one. There haven't been any medicine men around my neighborhood lately, so maybe I'm safe)
• Imported candy (What?? From what I read on labels lately, it seems like nearly all candy is imported these days!)
• Imported vinyl mini-blinds (It's bad enough I have to look to see where my lettuce is coming from. Now I have to check out my mini-blinds. And what if they do have lead in them. I'm not planning on feeding them to my grandbabies!)
• Porcelain-enameled bathtubs (NO!!! My haven. My retreat. My ... source of lead poisoning?! Maybe that's what's wrong with me. Too many hours ... and hours ... and hours ... soaking in that cesspool of lead.)
• Tap water that moves through old pipes (Hmmm. House was built in '47. Pipes have not been replaced. Ummm ... things aren't looking too good here.)
• Toy jewelry. (I'm thinking it's time to toss some of those necklaces, bracelets and rings from Chuck E. Cheese, Laura dear.)
• Toys (Yes. I said it again. Toys.)

So what if your kiddo is spending his time playing with lead-infused toys? Or your little princess simply won't part with her Dollar Store tiara? Well, chances are your child won't end up with a blood level of 10 micrograms/dL or higher, but here are the signs to look for if you fear your child has been exposed to a bit too much lead:

• Abdominal pain
• Agitation
• Clumsiness
• Constipation
• Decreased activity
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Restlessness

I know. Sounds like any number of things from typical kid stuff (clumsiness for instance) to too much cheese to boredom.

But if there is any chance these symptoms are a result of lead poisoning, it is important to get your child to a doctor immediately. Even when the amount of lead in the bloodstream is less than what is considered "poisoning," long-term problems can still develop. Elevated levels of lead can affect behavior because it disrupts brain and nerve function.

If your child is at risk, talk to your pediatrician about lead screening (which is usually done between the ages of 9 months and six years). Here is the list of questions to ask yourself, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

1. Does your child life in or regularly visit a house or child care facility built before 1950?
2. Does your child live in or regularly visit a house or child care facility built before 1978 that is being or has recently been renovated or remodeled?
3. Does your child have a sibling or playmate who has or had lead poisoning?

If you answer 'yes' to any of the above questions, look into screening. The initial test is just a simple finger prick blood test. Your pediatrician might recommend screening if your child has a speech or language problem, delayed growth, anemia or an attention or behavior disorder.

There is no way to reverse the brain damage or neuropsychological effects of lead poisoning, so treatment (which could include chelation therapy) must be sought as early as possible.

It's about being a good parent. And that, after all, is your primary job.

Keeping it healthy,

Hana

Review It Wednesday with a Giveaway!

We were hot and sweaty. It was the middle of the day, but my 2 1/2-year-old grandbaby and I decided to hop in the shower. As we were enjoying the spray of cool water, I thought about how many other parents or grandparents do the same, without thinking twice about the products they're using on those precious little ones.

I was relieved and happy to reach for a product, uncap the lid and squirt some fragrant foam in Laura's hands, knowing what I was giving her was 100% toxin-free. I can't imagine using anything else.

This past week, I've been trying to subdue my anger at the U.S. government for their assault on the citizens who pledge allegiance to the flag and then put government-sanctioned poisons into and onto their bodies. Quite honestly, I'm infuriated. But that's not what this post is about.

This post is about a product and company we all can trust to provide safe and effective products for our families.While there are many products in their line that I could sing the praises of, today I simply want to focus on one.

Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash by Earth Mama Angel Baby. With the first puff of foam in Laura's little hands, the aroma of vanilla and orange gently fills the air. I was able to wash her, head-to-toe, with this amazingly gentle castile soap, knowing that there wasn't a single toxin to disrupt her hormones or rev up some cancer cells. That made me want to pin a "Good Grandma" badge on, but, ummm, we were in the shower and there wasn't exactly any good places to pin it!

After sudsing Laura up, I turned the power of Angel Baby on me. Why not? It certainly wasn't going to hurt me. I personally wouldn't touch the baby shampoo if it was perhaps Johnson & Johnson Johnson's No More Tears Baby Shampoo, which rates pretty high for immunotoxicity rates. Sure, it may reduce the chance for tears during bathtime, but the long-range repercussions could be devastating.

Does Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash boast the 'no more tears' claim? Not during the bath ... but down the road, you can bet the zero-toxins formula had no ill affects on your child's development or health. Now that's something to smile about!

The ingredients in Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash are all USDA Certified Organics. There is nothing artificial in this wonder soap ... nothing. Every drop, every luscious mound of foam, is completely safe. Just don't get any in your baby's eyes. The self-foaming dispenser keeps the soap from running, which reduces the risk of that irritating, but safe, soap-in-the-eyes experience.

The castille soap contains organic calendula. What it does not contain (unlike other popular baby products on the market) is petrochemicals, synthetic surfactants, sodium laureth sulfate, cocoamidylpropyl betaine, Quarternium-15 (you've heard me talk about this toxin before!), 1,4-Dioxane, formaldehyde or phthalates. You can actually pronounce all the ingredients in Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash! How's that for a pleasant change of pace?!

It smells good. It's safe. And it's effective in removing all the dirt and grime your little ones, and not so little ones, tend to get into.

Now, are you ready for a happy dance?

Mama, at Earth Mama Angel Baby, wants one of you to give Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash a try. So she's giving one away! Who wants to win it?

Here's what you need to do. Post a comment either here, or on the GG Facebook page, recalling your favorite way to get dirty when you were a kid. Don't you wish you had some Angel Baby to wash up with back then?!

You have until midnight (EST) on Monday, July 18 to enter. A winner will be chosen via Random.org and I will post his or her name right here on the blog on Tuesday.

Good luck! Can't wait to find out your dirty little secrets!

Reviewing it for you,

Hana

The Ultimate Recycler

Today, I am honored to share this post written by my friend, Maureen Profeta. You can follow her journey on her blog, Parable of my Life.

When my son was twelve years old, he was in a fatal accident. After twenty-four hours of one extreme measure after another to save his life, the medical team liaison informed his father and I that he was brain dead. After explaining what that meant, she asked if we would be willing to consider organ donation. We decided that our little boy would have wanted that. He was a loving, giving child and we could think of no better way to honor the short but joyous life of our son than to consent to organ donation. While I can’t tell you who all received the gift of life from our decision, I do know that one of his cornea went to a grandmother in Ohio who is now able to watch her grandbabies grow up and his heart and lungs went to a little boy right here in Pennsylvania who loves to play sports, just like my son did.

Many Americans who need transplants cannot get them because organ donors are always in short supply. There are far more people in need of a transplant than there are people willing to donate an organ. At this moment, more than 100,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for an organ. Four thousand more people are added to the national waiting list each day. Everyone of them is in desperate need of a heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, lung, or other organ. More than 6,500 people a year – about 18 a day – die before that organ ever becomes available. By becoming an organ donor, one person can save up to eight lives and enhance the quality of life for many more.

What can one donor do?

One donor can:

• Donate kidneys to free two people from dialysis treatments needed to sustain life.
• Save the lives of patients awaiting heart, liver, lung or pancreas transplants.
• Give sight to two people through the donation of corneas.
• Donate bone to help repair injured joints or to help save an arm or leg threatened by cancer.
• Help burn victims heal more quickly through the donation of skin.
• Provide healthy heart valves for someone whose life is threatened by malfunctioning or diseased valves.

The bad news is that every 11 minutes one more person is added to the transplant waiting list. The good news is that someone may be receiving that long-awaited, much needed organ right now. Statistics can sometimes be overwhelming and difficult to comprehend. One way to understand their magnitude is to remember that every number is a person whose only hope for life is for someone to donate the organ they so desperately need. Each number represents a mom, dad, brother, sister or a child – someone who is important to someone else, maybe even you. What if it were your family member or friend on that list?

It's especially important to consider becoming an organ donor if you belong to an ethnic minority. Minorities including African-Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and Hispanics are more likely than Caucasians to have certain chronic conditions that affect the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver. Certain blood types are more prevalent in ethnic minority populations. Because matching blood type is necessary for transplants, the need for minority donor organs is especially high.

While a small number of organs come from healthy people (about 6,000 transplants from living donors are performed each year) most of the organs that are available come from deceased donors. To donate your organs after death, you can either register with your state's donor registry, or fill out and carry an organ donor card or designate your choice on your driver’s license when you get or renew it. To become a living donor, you can either work directly with your family member or friend's transplant team, or contact a transplant center in your area to find out who's in need of an organ.

Be the ultimate recycler….give life by becoming an Organ and Tissue Donor.


On a personal note (from Hana), for various reasons and concerns, I am not a registerd Organ and Tissue Donor. However, everyone in my family knows my explicit wishes to donate when I die. I just am uncomfortable with the medical profession having that knowledge ahead of time ... call me cynical. I guess I am. If you are not registered, but Maureen's story has moved you, make sure your family understands exactly what you want in the case of your death. And don't wait. Like Maureen shared, accidents happen ... every day.

The best laid plans of mice and men

Ahh. The Sabbath. How much I have enjoyed The Sabbath Experiment / Experience. It really has changed my life and, dare I say, greatly improved my marriage. Bill and I were talking about that yesterday afternoon and he agreed. Since starting The Sabbath Experiment the last week in September, we've grown closer and are generally happier in our marriage. That was a perk I hadn't planned on from the beginning, but in hindsight, see that it makes sense.

Slowing down. Enjoying life. Enjoying family. Even if it is just for one day a week, that's certainly better than no days a week. After all, I was just too busy. Or so I thought.

Do you fall into that trap? Do you feel as if you slow down you might miss something? Guess what? If you don't slow down, you will miss things ... many things.

I shared this story with my Sunday School class yesterday morning:

A migrant South African tribe went for long marches on a regular basis. Day after day they would trudge along until suddenly, they would stop and set up camp. When asked why they stopped, the answer was simple -- so their souls could catch up with them.

Ask yourself -- when was the last time you let your soul catch up? Have you been trudging along at such a harried pace that your soul has been left somewhere in a cloud of dust? Be honest. God calls us to rest one day a week. It's not a legalistic calling, but one of concern, care and love for you, a vital part of His creation.

The Sabbath is so important to God, that He even calls upon us to allow our animals to rest on the Sabbath:

In Exodus 23, verse 12, He says:  “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed."

If a Sabbath rest is important enough for your ox and donkey, don't you think it's important for you?

It's funny. I spent several hours out with a friend on Saturday. My plan was to come home and work. However, I got home and simply didn't feel like it. So I told Bill I was going to have to work on Sunday evening. And then I sat down to prepare my Sunday School lesson. Talk about conviction!! There would be no work for me on Sunday. Or so I thought.

My intentions were good. My plan was to go to Sunday School and church, out to lunch with the kids and grandkids, and then come home for an afternoon and evening of rest. We were going to watch a movie, play some Bananagrams and possibly nap. It was going to be a lovely day. But then I opened my silverware drawer. The smell of peppermint oil wafted up from the open drawer. As I reached for a teaspoon to stir my coffee, I stopped and stared. There, positioned neatly between two of my favorite spoons, was a shiny new piece of mouse poop. Like a balloon encounting a sharp object, my plans for the day quickly deflated. So much for the peppermint oil -- the mice in my house are not at all repelled by it.

Although we did nap for awhile after lunch, we eventually had to get up and face the daunting task of emptying the drawers, washing everything, wiping down the drawers with vinegar and then with the Norwex cloth. Of course, that wasn't all we had to do. Since this was the third time mice left evidence in our drawers of their presence this summer, and since the peppermint oil apparently was ineffective, we had to work, and I mean work, on solving the problem. That meant closing up the entry points.

Could someone explain to me why kitchen cabinets are not closed up all the way in the back? Apparently, I'm not the only one with this problem. When I started typing in the problem on Google, all I had to write was "Mice in ..." and Google completed the sentence with "... silverware drawer." Really? There were 104,000 responses. I was not alone.

Reaching into the back of cabinets through narrow drawer openings was not an easy task for a husband with bursitis (we think) in his shoulder. The pain, evidenced by his facial expressions and not by his complaining, was intense. And this was supposed to be a day of rest!!

The moral of the story -- despite our best intentions, sometimes life has a way of undoing them. In this case, our intentions were undone by a mouse.

Hoping your day was restful,

Hana

Accountability

Photo by Petr Kratochvil

"We of an older generation can get along with what we have, though with growing hardship; but in your full manhood and womanhood you will want what nature once so bountifully supplied and man so thoughtlessly destroyed; and because of that want you will reproach us, not for what we have used, but for what we have wasted ... So any nation which in its youth lives only for the day, reaps without sowing, and consumes without husbanding, must expect the penalty of the prodigal whose labor could with difficulty find him the bare means of life."

                                                                           -- Theodore Roosevelt

"Arbor Day - A Message to the School-Children of the United States" April 15, 1907

Friday's 3Rs -- something to make you smile

CT scans -- helpful or potentially harmful to your child?

You rush your child to the ER with stomach pains and the first thing they want to do is send him in for a CT scan. What should you do?

That's a good question. And it should be followed by some more questions -- directed at the doctor who is ordering the scan. Since you can't plan your emergencies, it's a good idea to write these down and slip them into your wallet in case you ever need them. Look the doctor straight in the eye and ask:

• Will you be reducing the radiation dose according to my child's size? It is essential that the facility has a method of reducing the dose for children and teenagers.
• Are there any non-radiation types of tests that could be run first? Your goal is to lessen the risk of radiation exposure for your child ... sometimes it is absolutely necessary, and sometimes it is not.
• Is your facility accredited with the American College of Radiology or the Intersocietal Commission for Accreditation?
• What kind of credentials do the imaging technologists have?
• Do you have a pediatric radiologist on staff?
• Will I be able to go into the scanner room with my child?

Perhaps these seem like unnecessary questions in light of a doubled over kiddo writhing in pain. However, radiation exposure from imaging tests is a real concern, especially for children and teenagers.

According to Virginia C. Calega, MD, vice president of Medical Management and Policy at Highmark, "Children are at greater risk of developing future cancers than adults from a given dose of ionizing radiation. It's because their young bodies are more radiosensitive and because they have more remaining years of life, during which radiation-induced cancers could develop. Also, children's bodies are growing, which means their cells are dividing more rapidly than in adults. This results in a greater opportunity for radiation to disrupt the growing process."

Especially susceptible is the abdomen because the digestive organs are more sensitive to the radiation than is the brain. Of course, the above questions need to be asked in the case of a PET scan or a nuclear stress test (myocardial perfusion imaging) as well.

Granted, there may be times your little one will need to be scanned. Just be sure it is absolutely necessary and that reduced levels of radiation are used.

Then pray ...

Keeping your little ones safe whenever possible,

Hana

An ERGO by any other name is simply not an ERGO!

Welcome to another Review It Wednesday. Today, I'm happy to have my daughter, Bethany, back as a guest reviewer. This time she's offering her opinion of the ERGObaby Carrier. Thanks, Bethany.

My beautiful daughter, Bethany, and her handsome son, Lincoln

I get asked a lot about what my favorite baby products are. I have found many products I love for different reasons but the ERGObaby Carrier is on the top of my list. The ERGObaby Carrier is one of those products that has been a lifesaver. Other than the fact that I can get tons of stuff done while wearing Lincoln, it's also great bonding time. He loves to be held and that is not always possible when I'm trying to do laundry, shopping or taking long walks on the beach. We just got back from vacation in North Carolina, and let me tell you, the ERGObaby Carrier was a staple on this trip. I worn Lincoln in the front carrying position while he napped as I walked along the beach. My husband, Tom, wore him on his back for another sunset walk down the beach, and I wore him for a full day touring an island with wild horses!

The ERGO work will work for everyone- including Dad...

There are some of the other great benefits to owning a ERGObaby Carrier. Your baby can nurse, sleep and take in the world all while being close to you. Mom can get a lot done while wearing baby, especially since, at times, it is instantly calming for a fussy baby. Plus, it's comfortable for both the parent and child. The ERGObaby Carrier is ergonomically designed to safely carry your child with the baby's weight evenly distributed, which means no soreness or discomfort for either of you!! I have worn Lincoln for hours at a time without any discomfort.

The ERGObaby Carrier is suitable from birth to toddlerhood and one size fits most adults. My husband and I both wear it without any problems. I can usually put Lincoln in it without assistance, unless I'm wearing him on my back. It's great if there is help available, but if not, I try to put him on over a couch for added safety.




ERGObaby Blue Sport Carrier

.

I love the multiple carrying positions. It can be used in the back carry, front carry (face-in only, your baby should never be worn face-out!), or the hip carry. They recommend the ERGObaby Carrier for babies up to 40 pounds but I've heard of people using them up to 90 lbs!! Yikes!! You need to check out all the options the ERGObaby Carrier comes in. Like the Performance, Sport, Original and Organic. With all the beautiful colors and accessories, I would love to own more than one!


Sharing another product review to help you decide what's best for you and your family,

Hana


Here are some other great reviews posted by Bethany:

Cloth Diaper Review

Sophie the Giraffe

Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted Diaper

What do you get when you cross a frog and a tomato?

Photo by David Wagner

Stop! Before you bite into that apple, check the PLU!

The PLU? What's a PLU?

You know the little sticker you peel off as you're washing your produce (and I'm hoping you are washing your produce!). There is a 4 or 5 number code on it known as a Price Look Up code (or PLU). I thought that was just to make it easier for the check out clerks (who seem ridiculously inept at identifying the produce they sell in their stores) to determine the difference between a zucchini and a spaghetti squash when weighing them to be priced. Of course, that is one of the purposes. But for us, as consumers, the PLUs contain a very important piece of info we all need to know. The secret lies in the decoding (if only we all had decoder rings we could wear to the grocery store!). Here's what you need to know:

If your produce has a 4-digit code -- that means it has been conventionally grown, pesticides and all.

A 5-digit code can either be better ... or worse. The difference lies in the first number. A 9 gives you a green light to a safe purchase -- that means it is organic. Woo hoo. It might be a bit pricier, but after you read this post, you might be willing to fork over the extra pennies.

However, if your pear's PLU starts out with an 8 -- put it back!! An 8 means that lovely piece of produce has been genetically modified. What does that mean? Well, quite simply, it means someone's been messing with the genes. Huh? Take that GM tomato on the shelf -- did you know it was probably crossed with frog genes? Yes, I said frog genes. Why? So that feeble little tomato can be strong enough to withstand a bit of cold weather. Yum.

Bottom line on what to look for if you want to stay away from GMOs (genetically modified organisms), which started hitting the shelves in the early '90s:

Black plum -- 4039
Organic black plum -- 94039
GM black plum -- 84039

Here's an easy rhyme I came up with to help you remember:

Keep an 8 off your plate, bite into a 9 which is perfectly fine.

Silly? Yeah, but it just might help you remember.

Other than not wanting to imbibe on frog genes and other mad scientist experiments, there are some facts surrounding GMOs worth noting. GMOs are linked to a variety of conditions that seem to be growing in astronomical proportions in the last decade or so. Conditions such as:

• anemia
• autoimmune disorders
• cancer
• diabetes
• food allergies
• infertility
• and more

Scary, scary stuff. Scary enough to cause the European Union to take a stand against GMOs ... at least in some countries. You're safe from the devastating effects of genetically modified foods if you live in Germany, Austria, Luxemborg, Hungary, Greece, or France. More countries are waking up to the dangers and are adopting their own bans.

One of the problems in the U.S. is that, other than the PLU codes, labeling of GMOs is prohibited. How crazy is that?? And the problem is a bit overwhelming. As it turns out, 93% of the soybeans commercially grown in the States is genetically modified. Corn follows close behind at 80%. And it's not just fresh produce. Fresh nuts and herbs bear the PLU codes, but pre-packaged foods do not. It is estimated that 7 out of 10 products on the grocery store shelves are GM foods.

These products include dairy products, meat and poultry, eggs, rice, wheat, dressings and oils, soda and infant formula. What?? There are also countless processed foods packed with hidden GM additives and ingredients. Foods like spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and ice cream. Why? That's my question. Why??

What can you do? Campaign against GMOs! Check out the Organic Consumers Association for more information. Or sign the FB petition here.

You can also shop at stores dedicated to keeping GMOs off their shelves. At this point, I only know of one chain -- Whole Foods -- that makes this claim. Please let me know if you find there are others. CORRECTION!! Whole Foods has caved to the pressure. Click here for more info on this disturbing info.


We have a right to know what is being done to the food we eat and feed to our families. The thought of giving GM formula to an infant is enough to make me sick ... and it should make you sick as well. What is wrong with the U.S. food industry???
Keeping you informed in hopes of keeping you and your families safe,

Hana

If you want to learn more about the dangers of genetically modified foods, visit Seeds of Deception.

And the winner is ...

Congratulations

to Liz Solomon Wright!

She is the winner of

goodnight, Dad

 a WonderDads picture book.

Here's why Liz thinks her husband deserves

the WonderDad title:

My husband deserves the "Wonderdad" title because not only is he a dad, but he goes to art school full-time and works part-time all while being home by dinner and making my little one laugh every night (and he does baths every night, that's his thing). He's definitely a WonderDad.

Liz -- email your mailing address to me and I'll get the book out to you this week.

Photo by Petr Kratochvil

Freedom won
sacrifices made
blood poured out.

Yet we trash the land
with selfishness and ingratitude
in the form of litter,
pollution,
and toxic waste.

Forgive us,
dear forefathers,
our reckless disregard
of all you considered worthy
of sacrifice.

Forgive us,
dear Father God,
our careless disrespect
of all You considered worthy
of creating.


                                                                    -- Hana Haatainen Caye    

                                                                        ©2011

Friday's 3Rs -- Toothbrush issues

Photo by Petr Kratochvil

The American Dental Association recommends we replace our toothbrushes every 3 months. I don't know about you, but I fail miserably on that one. But when it is time to replace my toothbrush, I've always just tossed it in the trash. I never thought about an alternative.

Well, I won't be doing that anymore. From what I read, 50 million pounds of toothbrushes end up in landfills in the U.S. annually. I must admit, I find that number a bit hard to believe. But the bottom line is, they do produce a lot of needless waste. Most toothbrushes are made from #5 plastic, so if your curbside recycling program accepts #5, then just toss it in your recycling bin. That's what I'll be doing. Still, it seems awfully wasteful to keep replacing those toothbrushes, so I looked into some other options. Here they are:

• Quit brushing your teeth. It's not smart, but it is an option!
• Buy a toothbrush made from recycled materials, like the Source toothbrush, by Radius, with handles made out of recycled flax, wood, or ... get this ... U. S. Treasury bills!! That's one way to make your money work for you! Or check out the Preserve toothbrush, made from recycled Stonyfield Yogurt containers. How cool is that?! Preserve offers a toothbrush subscription program where they send you a new toothbrush according to a schedule you set up. When you get your new toothbrush, you also get a mailer to send your old one back for recycling. This is a win-win situation, folks! 
• Buy a toothbrush with a replaceable head.
• The Radius Source toothbrush features replaceable heads, which reduces 93% of toothbrush waste. And you can pick one up at your local Wegman's, Vitamin Shoppe, Target, Loblaw's or Whole Foods stores.
• Eco-DenT is another source for replaceable heads and you can find them in most retail locations (at least, that's what they say!)

  Norwex Silver-Care

  
• Norwex offers an amazing toothbrush with replaceable heads. While it is a bit more costly, each head lasts for 6 months! I'm going to buy one of these for myself and am looking forward to finding out if it is as good as it sounds. The bristles are made with silver-infused microfiber, which means the toothbrush self-sanitizes within a matter of hours after you brush your teeth. This means you won't keep re-infecting yourself if you're sick. And from what I read, it also means healthier gums and fresher breath. I'm all about that!
• Get a subscription -- a toothbrush subscription! Preserve offers a toothbrush subscription program where they send you a new toothbrush according to a schedule you set up. When you get your new toothbrush, you also get a mailer to send your old one back for recycling. This is a win-win situation, folks! Just think, maybe someday your very own toothbrush will end up back in your home in a recycled product!

Oh, and don't forget the many other uses for a worn out toothbrush, like a grout scrubber, jewelry cleaner, and back scratcher. No sense getting rid of something until you've gleaned every bit of use out of it, right?

Well, you got a bit more than you bargained for with today's 3Rs! What started out as a "what to do with your used toothbrush," became a plug for various products. But after doing the research, I just had to share. This is just one more way we can all do our part for the environment.

Keeping it out of the landfill,

Hana

Cloth Diaper Trade-In Program -- How cool is that?!

Okay, all you cloth diapering mamas and papas out there. This is really cool! Happy Baby Company now has a cloth diaper trade-in program. This is perfect for all those diapers you bought and ended up not using for one reason or another. Below are the "rules," but I'm adding one more ... well, it's not really a rule; it's more like a favor. Let Adam and Lilli know I sent you.

 

CLOTH DIAPER TRADE-IN PROGRAM

Ready for a new size or new style? No need for your old diapers?

Trade them in for store credit at Happy Baby Company!

Happy Baby Company offers store credit for your gently used diapers.

Here's how to do it:

1. Find your diapers on the drop-down here and add them to your cart.

2. Complete your order - no payment will be due.

3. Mail us your gently used diapers (or just stop by the store if you're local). Include a copy of your order so we know whose they are!

4. We'll check them and issue you a store credit for the value.

5. Buy something new with your store credit!

It's that simple! Here are the rules:

Diapers must be in excellent condition. Our customers rely on us to only offer excellent used diapers. This means:

• No stains.
• No odors (even detergent fragrance)
• Not repelling - we will check (a drop of water on the inside should begin to absorb immediately)
• PUL still waterproof (no cracking or dulling)
• No hair (check the velcro!)
• All inserts and pieces included (FuzziBunz One-Size extra elastic not required)
• Tags must be attached
• No "seconds"
• Must be current model/design
• No broken snaps
• No rips/holes
• Elastic still good (not loose)

You are responsible for shipping the diapers to us. Please purchase postal insurance as we cannot be responsible for lost packages. You will not be refunded for your shipping costs.

Include a print-out of your order receipt in the package so we know whose diapers they are.

We reserve the right to refuse any diapers for any reason. You will be responsible for the cost of return shipping to you of any diapers that do not meet our quality rules. When in doubt about a diaper, contact us first.


If you have a diaper that you don't see listed, please contact us to ask if we are accepting it.


Didn't I tell you this was really cool? Have fun!

Hana

Review It Wednesday -- this one's for the guys

Did you ever notice that most of the resources out there are mother/child related and not father/child oriented? Well, Jonathan Aspatore noticed it, and it bugged him. So he did something about it.

WonderDads is a new media company expressly positioned for today's dads. Through their books, website, mobile applications, and events, they inspire fathers to engage with their children and families. They work with an editorial team spread across the country to bring dads the tools and ideas they need to turn them from parents into heroes, and create a community of engaged consumers ready to interact with brands and services that reward them for being dads. WonderDads supports and celebrates the moments when dads go beyond the usual, the routine and the mundane to do extraordinary things with their kids.

A couple of weeks ago, Joanna Green contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in reviewing one of the WonderDads books. "Of course," I replied. After all, who doesn't like getting free stuff?! I checked out the website and fell in love with the whole concept Jonathan Aspatore came up with. As Founder and "Chief Hero Helper" of WonderDads, Jonathan's frustration over the lack of materials available for dads spurred him on to creating this wonderful outlet that enables and inspires dad & child activities, trips and traditions. He wanted to make it easier for dads to become heros in their kids' eyes.

The company offers over 45 Dad-centric books, published within the last three years, including 37 city guides full of the best dad/child activities. I must say, I was disappointed to find that Pittsburgh wasn't among the lucky cities. At this point, the 37 cities include:

Albuquerque, Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Chapel Hill, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Durham, Greensboro, Indianapolis, Inland Empire, Jacksonville, Long Island, Los Angeles, Marin County (CA), Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Mobile, New Orleans, New York City, Orange County (CA), Phoenix, Portland (OR), Raleigh, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Paul, St. Louis, and Washington DC.

I have to admit, there is one thing I do not like about the website. You can't access it until you choose your city from the pull-down menu (or, as in my case, click on the "Don't See Your City" link. Then you have to enter your email address. That was enough to almost stop me from going any further, and I imagine there are countless others who feel the same way. It's something that, in my opinion, should be changed. If you can get past the login issues, the website is worth a visit.

Once I was on the site, I found so much to be excited about. Dads ... this site is for you!!! Seriously. In addition to the books, there is also other merchandise, like T-shirts, toolboxes and reusable cloth bags. There are loads of 'dad resources,' something you simply don't find very often. 

The board books are perfect for toddler's little hands. Joanna sent me goodnight, Dad by Chris Gattorna. It has an eye-catching cover and a cute story. It came in the mail on a day when my 2 1/2-year-old granddaughter, Laura, was going to spend the night. When it came time for her bedtime book, I read goodnight, Dad to her. When I was done, she turned the book over and said, "Read it again." Normally, she hops off my lap and reaches for a different book. Not this time. Instead, she wanted to read this book again and again. After the third read, I put the book aside and shuffled her off to bed. For me, her enjoyment of the book was the stamp of approval I needed. This book gets my green thumb's up.

goodnight, Dad usually sells for $9.95 in the U.S. and $13.95 in Canada. But you have a chance to win this delightful little gem. We haven't had a giveaway in awhile, so I thought today seemed like a perfect time to have one.

And entering is simple. Just head over to Facebook and 'like' my page and the WonderDads page. Post a message on the WonderDads page letting them know I sent you and post a message on my page telling me why you, your husband, your dad or some other outstanding guy deserves the 'WonderDad' title.

Contest ends at midnight EST on Monday, July 4th and the winner will be announced here on the blog on Tuesday. The winner will be chosen via Random.org. S/H charges will apply if the winner lives outside of the U.S. or Canada.

Celebrating the heroic efforts of dads everywhere,

Hana

Am I becoming my mother?

My mother with her sister-in-law, Claire.

I recently saw an article with the above title and, without reading it, it made me think. Am I? Would that be such a bad thing?


Gene Vilma Strickler

My mother is an extraordinary woman. At 17, she left her small Pennsylvania town (and a fiance) to see what life was like in the big city. She met my father, who was seven years her senior, while living in Washington, D.C. After the war, he settled there, after growing up in (Finnish) Harlem. They married, had two daughters while living in Arlington, VA, and then moved back to the small town of Manheim, PA, where my mother grew up. He worked as a treasurer for a company in Lancaster and she stayed home with her three little girls (I was a surprise after the move).

Life didn't go as planned for my mother. Just seven years after moving to Manheim, my father suffered two major heart attacks. It was 1964 and the doctors predicted he had five years left at most. My 37-year-old former SAHM quickly decided she better get a job and find a way to support her three daughters. So, she went to work, went to night school and learned to drive. As it turned out, Dad beat the odds and stuck around for another 18 years! I come from tenacious stock.

Rather than sitting around popping Valium, worrying about the future and feeling sorry for herself, she proactively transformed her life. By the time she retired, she had an impressive position in Human Resources in a large Lancaster County company.

Mom is a survivor. She's tenacious and driven. She does what she has to do.

My mom with some of the family. May '09
(Millersville University. Sculpture by my sister, Tina Haatainen Jones)

In the past couple of years, she's had some health problems. But each time, she's risen above them and bounced back. Just a couple of months shy of her 84th birthday, she had her left knee replaced. That was in November. She is now able to walk up steps without a problem. I'm impressed. So are the doctors. They attribute it to her taking water aerobics and staying active.

Oh, and she quit smoking after 60-some years. How about that? Cold turkey. No drugs, no programs, just will power. After all, she's quite bullheaded.


Gene and Danny

In 1996, she wed a man she'd known from back in her D.C. days. It was a beautiful ceremony in Las Vegas. Really. Danny died a few years ago, leaving her to face widowhood once again.

Mom has always been a stylish dresser, had a nice eye for comfortable, but classy, decor, and is generous to a fault. She is admired by many.

A voracious reader, my mother also attacks crossword puzzles with a vengeance, is tough to beat when playing Scrabble, Bananagrams or Boggle, and enjoys a competitive game of Pinochle. Her hospitality skills are unmatched and she can cook up a meal for a crowd or make an intimate dinner seem special for anyone lucky enough to be a guest in her home.


Mom and Laura

And she has always been a wonderful grandmother to Peter, Heidi, Bethany and Jessica, and now, a great-grandmother to Laura, Vera and Lincoln.

I would like to say, yes, I am becoming my mother. Perhaps that would be the greatest compliment someone could pay me.

Indeed, we are very much alike. But there are differences as well. While she opted for a corporate life, I choose to exercise my creative talents and work for myself. Despite being widowed at 32, I decided to stay home and raise my girls and not pursue a career until they were grown. I am passionate about causes I believe in, and they are not necessarily causes Mom even agrees with. I chose to remarry rather quickly after my husband died, much to my family's dismay at the time.

We often choose different routes than our parents. However, when there is a quality worth mimicking, how wonderful is it when we can actually do just that?

I'm thankful for a mother who taught me about strength. Who gave me a hunger for knowledge. Who never wanted me to settle for less than what I was capable of.

Are you becoming your mother? Or your father? Is that a good thing?

As children, it is our privilege to glean the good from our heritage. As parents, it is our responsibility to pass on outstanding traits to our children. My hope is that someday my daughters will look at themselves and say, "I'm becoming my mother," and they'll smile.

Sharing more of my life with you, my friends,

Hana

The Sabbath Experience -- week 38

The view from our patio

It started with a sore throat that got increasingly worse until laryngitis set in. For Bill, that is. With 50+ hours of voice-over work lined up for this week, I have to admit my biggest concern was not for how he was feeling as last week wore on, but rather for how I would be feeling come Monday. By Saturday afternoon, my worst fears were starting to materialize. A sore, scratchy throat. A raspy voice. NO!!! There was no way I wanted to let five different clients know I wasn't going to meet their deadlines. No way!

So, I reached into my kitchen cupboard and pulled out the honey and Dr. Bragg's apple cider vinegar and I mixed up my magic concoction -- a 50/50 mix -- and started taking spoonfuls every hour or so. By Sunday afternoon, my sore throat was gone and my voice was fine. You gotta love that vinegar!!

Bill ... well, he's still sick. He finally tried the honey/ACV miracle cure on Saturday, but didn't follow through with it. Plus, he'd already been sick for a few days at that point, so when he didn't feel better right away, he gave up on it. He's not the diehard vinegar that I am.

Since we were both not feeling well on Saturday, we found a substitute teacher for Bill's Sunday School class (thanks, Maggie!!) and decided to spend the entire Sabbath resting. I must say, it was a lovely day. With no alarms set, we slept until 10, and then spent most of the day outside on the porch. I had a time of Bible study and prayer, enjoyed a leisurely brunch, played a couple of games of Bananagrams, watched an episode of season one of the television show, Beauty and the Beast as we ate dinner outside, and finished the evening watching The Wish List on the Hallmark channel.

After a day like that I start off this work week with a few observations and realizations.

• I love having discovered for myself that the Sabbath was made for rest. I believe that more than ever after starting this experiment nearly nine months ago. I cannot recommend this necessary day of rest to you with more conviction. Of course, our day of rest usually starts off with worship with our church family, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But our afternoons/evenings used to be consumed with work and busyness. The day was no different than any other. God did not intend it to be that way. We all need a day set apart from our usual activities.
• I love my home and my backyard/patio/porch. The sound of the fountain in the pond refreshes my spirit. The pleasure of watching the birds as they fly from tree to bush to tree, the hummingbirds as they enjoy the nectar of hanging baskets and the butterflies as they glide effortlessly on the breeze, cannot be topped, for me, by exotic or exciting vacations to faraway places or, gasp, noisy amusement parks.
• I love to be and not do sometimes.
• I love the Creator and the Creation.
• I love my husband. Oh how I love my husband. And, the best part is, I really like my husband. What it a joy it is to spend every day with my very best friend.

Today, my heart is filled with an overflowing joy. God is good. A simple statement that holds a wealth of truth.

May you be blessed with a fruitful week and may you discover the joy of the Sabbath.



 
Keeping it restful,

Hana


 Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, 32 oz, Bragg - $4.29
Retail Price: $14.29
You Save: $10.00
from: VitaSprings.com

To Jessica

Today is my baby girl's birthday, so I thought I would share a poem I wrote for her wedding day. Written in the voice of her late father, who died when she was five, I tried to express what I thought he would say to her ... if only he could.

Happy birthday, precious one. I love you.

My beautiful daughters

To Jessica

Sweet, sweet Jessica.
It seems like only yesterday
you ran to me to climb up my legs and give me
your one-of-a-kind hugs.

It seems like only yesterday
you stood behind me, brushing my hair
and making me feel like the luckiest dad in the world.

It seems like only yesterday
your little girl smile lit up every room you walked in
and I know it still does.

I wish you could feel me beside you
as you hold on to your new dad’s arm.

No, there’s no aisle to walk down,
but don’t forget to look around and see
the beauty surrounding you.
See the love your new dad poured into
every part of the natural beauty there.

Feel the warmth of this place you called “home”
and cherish the memories that belong
only to you.

Have a wonderful life, sweet daughter.
You have everything it takes
to be the phenomenal wife and mother
I know you will be.

Enjoy this day.
You deserve only the best.

I’m here with you today, Jessica,
my beautiful baby girl,
all grown up and ready to give her love
and her life
to yet another man.
He is worthy of all you have to give
and he’s blessed to have you.

I know because I was the first man you loved
and it was one of the purest gifts in my life.
Let your new dad embrace you for both of us.
He knows exactly what I mean.

© Hana Haatainen Caye
    2008

Friday's 3 Rs -- Medications

Did you ever wonder what you should do with expired medications, or medications you are no longer taking? Flush them, right? Wrong! Dump them in the trash, right? Wrong! Leave them in your medicine cabinet and let your kids deal with them after you're dead. Well, I guess that could be an option.

Here's the thing -- prescription and over-the-counter drugs can leach into the ground water, as well as pose a potential risk of ingestion for curious kids and animals who may be attracted to the yummy candy-like appearance of a rainbow of pills and capsules.

So, what do you do?

Well, ideally, you take all your people (and pet) meds to a collection event close to you. Call your local municipal building and ask if a Take Back event is scheduled in your town.

You can also check with your local pharmacies and see if any of them have a safe disposal method for your expired prescriptions.

If there is not an event coming up and you can't find a pharmacy that takes your meds, you can still clean out your medicine chest by throwing the meds in the trash. However, you must be careful how you do this.

First, open bottles and dump contents (pills, capsules and liquid) into a sturdy Ziploc-type bag. Add a little bit of water to help the pills dissolve. Next, add some cat litter or coffee grounds to make the concoction less appealing to curious children or scavenging critters. Seal the bag and throw it in the trash.

Remove your name and any identifying information from the bottle and recycle it.

There, that's not too complicated. Ideally, you want to keep these toxins out of the landfill, but if you don't have another alternative, this is the best way to go.

The FDA released a list of meds that are safe to flush down the toilet. If this is the method you choose, pay strict attention to the following list. Do not add any meds to this list, unless the bottle specifically indicates that the drug may be flushed!

MEDICINES RECOMMENDED FOR DISPOSAL BY FLUSHING

This list from FDA tells you what expired, unwanted, or unused medicines you should flush down the sink or toilet to help prevent danger to people and pets in the home. Flushing these medicines will get rid of them right away and help keep your family and pets safe.

FDA continually evaluates medicines for safety risks and will update the list as needed.

Medicine  --  Active Ingredient

Actiq, oral transmucosal lozenge *  --  Fentanyl Citrate

Avinza, capsules (extended release)  --  Morphine Sulfate


Daytrana, transdermal patch system  --  Methylphenidate


Demerol, tablets *  --  Meperidine Hydrochloride


Demerol, oral solution *  --  Meperidine Hydrochloride


Diastat/Diastat AcuDial, rectal gel  --  Diazepam


Dilaudid, tablets *  --  Hydromorphone Hydrochloride


Dilaudid, oral liquid *  --  Hydromorphone Hydrochloride


Dolophine Hydrochloride, tablets *  --  Methadone Hydrochloride


Duragesic, patch (extended release) *  --  Fentanyl


Embeda, capsules (extended release)  --  Morphine Sulfate; Naltrexone Hydrochloride


Exalgo, tablets (extended release)  --  Hydromorphone Hydrochloride


Fentora, tablets (buccal)  --  Fentanyl Citrate


Kadian, capsules (extended release)  --  Morphine Sulfate


Methadone Hydrochloride, oral solution *  --  Methadone Hydrochloride
         
Methadose, tablets *  --  Methadone Hydrochloride


Morphine Sulfate, tablets (immediate release) *  --  Morphine Sulfate


Morphine Sulfate, oral solution *  --  Morphine Sulfate


MS Contin, tablets (extended release) *  --  Morphine Sulfate


Onsolis, soluble film (buccal)  --  Fentanyl Citrate


Opana, tablets (immediate release)  --  Oxymorphone Hydrochloride


Opana ER, tablets (extended release)  --  Oxymorphone Hydrochloride


Oramorph SR, tablets (sustained release)  --  Morphine Sulfate


Oxycontin, tablets (extended release) *  --  Oxycodone Hydrochloride


Percocet, tablets *  --  Acetaminophen; Oxycodone Hydrochloride


Percodan, tablets *  --  Aspirin; Oxycodone Hydrochloride


Xyrem, oral solution  --  Sodium Oxybate


*These medicines have generic versions available or are only available in generic formulations.


So, the next time you are about to toss some pills in the trash or flush a medication down the toilet, check back here first. There is a proper way to do it and when you care about the environment and the future of your children and grandchildren, it's definitely worth the effort to do it right!

Keeping it out of the landfill (as much as possible),

Hana