Pretty by Nature » Ethics

For Here or To Go?

Noel Boehm — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:05:59 +0000

So this has absolutely nothing to do with makeup or pretty things but I just had to share it with you. It is of the eco-friendlier persuasion at least. It’s a coffee cup. Not just any coffee cup. It’s THE coffee cup I have been coveting for months. Well mostly I REALLY, REALLY want it…waaaaaaa. I live on coffee; like it’s my one true love. I need it in order to not kill people. So I’m constantly trying to find the perfect on-the-go mug that works great at home too. Behold “I Am Not A Paper Cup“. It’s porcelain, reusable and easy to carry or stick in a bag once it’s empty. Would you use it? Am I being stupid and am justifying it just because it’s cool? Should I get a life? What if you had this cozy to go with it, would that change your mind?

Via MoMA

Post from: Pretty by Nature

Farmers’ Market: Yay or Nay

Noel Boehm — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:45:56 +0000

I was listening to NPR a few months ago and they were discussing the WIC program now including an additional allotment for produce. This has led to an increasing number of Farmers’ Markets accepting things like WIC and Food Stamps. They were referencing a specific area in Southern California in the broadcast. Here’s an article that goes into more detail about it. It’s no secret that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and healthy grains is optimal but it’s pretty difficult for the average family to do that, especially on a very limited income. We go through A LOT of produce every week and it adds up…quickly. I have found that here in the Midwest, the produce at the Farmers’ Market is a great deal cheaper. I’m not talking about only organic. Just fresh, local produce. Making that more accessible to everyone is a great thing. How do you feel about this? Do you get the bulk of your produce from Farmers’ Markets or grocery stores and how much does cost and availablity affect that decision? I would like to hear your thoughts and more information. Please share with the class.

Via Kingston Farmers Market

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Ditch the Habit

Noel Boehm — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 02:49:10 +0000

Since there’s been this Ditch the Disposables Challenge we talked about the other day I thought I would share some great replacement options. I used to have a pretty powerful paper towel addiction. It was ugly. It took a serious re-wiring of my brain to adjust to not pulling a paper towel out for EVERY.SINGLE.THING. However, I am proud to say that I was victorious over my addiction. Thanks to an army of dish rags, flannel wipes and cotton napkins, I find very few occasions where I just need to use a paper towel. Instead of going through a roll every few days, we now go through one every month or so. I’m not tooting my horn, It was just a REALLY hard habit to kick. Plus I only end up doing one load of these a week so it’s really not as labor intensive as I anticipated.

And here are a few of my favorite options that will last for the long haul. Oh and honestly if it’s a choice between some organically grown bamboo, über expensive fabric and coventionally grown cotton product that’s from used fabric, I’m always going to choose used. Old cut up t-shirts make awesome all-purpose rags. I use them for just about everything. Oh and certain kinds of sweaters work well too. These are great for dishes and stubborn floor stains and you just throw them in the machine. Oh and these we use…well for the obvious but they also have a dozen other uses. We do keep them seperate so the butt ones don’t get mixed with the face and hands ones. They are excellent for quick cleanups after meals and I always stuff a few in my purse/diaper bag for when we’re out. Really anything work ya know. Just ditch the paper habit. If not completely then at least you can reduce it.

Via PurlBee

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Drugstore Organics

Noel Boehm — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:14:35 +0000

I really like the idea that products not tested on animals and free of Parabens and synthetics ingredients are becoming so widely available. If it’s better for some, then why shouldn’t it be better for everyone is my question? Everyone should have access to quality produce and soap that doesn’t melt your skin off. Along these lines, I would like your input on Physician’s Formula Organic Wear line. The two products, tinted moisturizers, listed on Cosmetic Database have a rating of 3, which is better than I had expected. I would like to hear from you if you have actually tried any of the products and how they worked and felt on your skin. I think it’s good for us to be able to share information and personal experiences with different products here. Please fill us in!

Via Physicians Formula

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Worth A Chuckle

Noel Boehm — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:54:16 +0000

Have you seen those new commercials for High Fructose Corn Syrup? No, I said it right, for, like in favor of HFCS. Here’s the one that I found particularly hilarious. Umm right because far be it from me to actually READ for myself what’s wrong with HFCS or actually be able to use critical thinking to make my own decisions. Here is a great resource for real info about why limiting or eliminating it from your diet is a good thing. The point they are trying to make is that cheap, mega processed preservatives are actually good for you in moderation. What exactly does moderation mean though? Take a quick look down every. single. aisle of your local chain grocery store and find something that comes in a box or a bag without it. Go on, I dare you. Wheat bread, rice, soup, juice, crackers, spreads, yogurt…I could go on for hours. So bascially it’s in everything. The commercials are funny but only because it’s so obviously ridiculous. “It’s natural because it’s made from corn”. Awesome. Brought to you by your friends at the Corn Refiners Association who have absolutely no vested interests. They just care about your health and your family and want you to be happy. Well happy and hopped up on fruit punch laced with crack.

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BPA: Yay or Nay?

Noel Boehm — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:56:26 +0000

So unless you have been living under a rock I’m sure you’ve heard about the BPA controversy that has been swirling aroung for the past couple of years. BPA refers to bisphenol A which is chemical compound that is toxic at certain levels and could maybe sorta, depending on who you talk to, be linked to cancer, abnormal sex organs and infertility later in life. Maybe. At certain levels. But you don’t need to worry your pretty head about that. The government will let you know when the levels present in so many things you use EVERY DAY get too high. Right now it’s so low there’s no risk at all. Probably. Here’s an article on Grist about it. Some things that contain the highest amounts of BPA and should probably be avoided are anything made from polycarbonate plastic that you would use for food or drink. There are lots of great alternatives to hard plastic water bottles and “tupperware” that are available. We swtiched to good old-fashioned Pyrex containers that are great. If you have babies and young children, the clear plastic bottles and cups that are so prevalent are an area of concern. If you have them I know that some Babies R’ Us locations will take them back for store credit but you should check with your specific location. Safe Mama is a great resource for which bottles and cups are BPA free.

Also some of the highest levels of BPA are found in canned goods such as baby formula, canned soup and tomato sauce to name a few. I have no recommendations on what you should do about all of this, just thought I would bring it up and share the recent article. As if you don’t have enough to worry about.

Via Soft Landing

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Get Naked

Noel Boehm — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:36:46 +0000

Apparently PETA is not the only group that will get naked to titillate passers-by. LUSH employees staged a naked butt-a-thon, my title not theirs, in order to educate the public on the ills of excess packaging in cosmetics and personal care products. Personally I don’t want to see anyone on the street naked to promote anything. It just makes me want to wash my hands but you know different strokes. I can’t argue with the cause and I just love LUSH anyway so there you go. What do you think about it? Tacky or cute? Savvy or sexist? Why were there no shop boys with their bums hanging out?

Via Grist

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For Women Only

Noel Boehm — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:14:28 +0000

Okay I have something personal to discuss with you. It’s um about…um you know, your special lady time. Aunt Flow, “THE CURSE”, the rag, your menses or whatever you want to call it. I personally find “the rag” to be the most offensive of the bunch. This might be delicate in nature so I will encourage those who are easily offended or skeeved out to leave the room now. So I got my period when I was 13 and then hid it for another year. I was mortified at the thought of it and believed that everyone would know when I was on my period. Then you have to carry around a pad or tampons in your bag praying that no one sees. I was a gymnast, so I really had to wear tampons, which was a nightmare. I remember crying in the bathroom while on the phone with my mother because I HAD to wear one and I didn’t know how to use it. Life Lesson: The applicator is not meant to stay in. Horrific.

All this to say that even though we have come really far as women, we are still offered the same few options under the guise that they are what’s best for you. And although they suck we still keep using them. So after much soul searching and thinking about all the gajillions of sanitary napkins (that are anything but) and tampons just sitting in landfills I am not going to contribute to it any longer. I am going to try dum, dum, dum the Diva Cup. If you haven’t tried it, it’s sort of like Instead except for it’s reusable. It’s similar to the Keeper but it’s made of medical grade silicone. The gist is that it collects the flow for up to 12 hours and then is emptied, washed and reused. This means your don’t have to carry anything, change anything every two hours or worry about all the chemicals in tampons and pads. I heard about it a while ago and was sufficiently grossed out and amused. I then thought why is this any grosser than tampons? I HATE tampons however I feel forced to use them, with a pad to boot. What a crock. It’s taken a while for me to get the courage to try it but I am taking the plunge and I hope some of you will take it with me. Or if you have used it please, please give us your feedback. I think this would be HUGE if more women used these methods as opposed to the conventional ones. I also picked up a few reusable cloth pantyliners so I can ditch that habit as well. What say you? I want lots of comments about this; I need encouragement. You can tell grandma to come back in the room now.

Via Diva Cup

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Everybody’s Got Their Something

Noel Boehm — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:16:56 +0000

Everyone has something, some little guilty pleasure that makes them feel just oh so good. Some have more than one. I have a few but I’ll just talk about the only acceptable one; pedicures. There is just nothing that makes me feel so happy, so feminine and lovely as getting a pedicure. When I walk out of there I practically float. Behold my dainty, painted toes peasants! Ok not really but I sure do like it. I don’t get them that often because, well, it’s a coordinated event just to get out of the house sans kiddo and hubs and two, I can give myself a pretty decent pedicure at home. It’s just not the same though. The salon I go to, where the technician lets me know when I am getting fat in a chipper voice with a smile. I can’t tell if , “Oh you look so much fatter now” is a compliment or an insult but I roll with it. They also use O.P.I nail polish and I was feeling pretty bad about it but I figured it looked pretty so what’s the big deal if my future children have a couple extra arms. Lots of snark there.

Lo and behold I researched it and O.P.I nail polish is DBP, Toleune and Formaldehyde free. Yippie! Formaldehyde is a possible carcinogen adn doesn’t easily break down during the water treatment process. DBP or dibutyl phthalate has been linked to cancer as well and underdeveloped genitals in newborn boys. I know they say you must suffer for beauty but there are limits ya know. Anyway this is a great alternative and O.P.I is available in stores so you can pick some up and give yourself a home mani/pedi. Be sure to check the label though because the older versions still contain the above ingredients. Now if I could just figure out how to beat my own calves and feet with the same disgruntled fervency I will never have to go elsewhere again.

Via Amazon

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Good Habits Start Early

Noel Boehm — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:23:00 +0000

Planet Green has an article I saw today about making your own organic baby food. If you’re healthy on the inside that translates to outer beauty. The best way to get those habits started early is to get your kids used to the taste of “real” food. I am no organic nazi. We try to stick with what’s local and in season. There are certain things that are more important to me to buy organic than others, like the dirty dozen. Making your own baby food is sooo cost efficient and it’s greener. Little to no packaging, fresh stuff you can pick up at the Farmer’s Market for pennies and you know exactly what went into the food your baby is eating. There is no reason to stock up on “organic” jarred food at a premium.

This is what we did with the bug and it worked out so well for us even with me working outside of the home all day. It was so easy to do. I would make large batches and freeze them in ice cube trays or glass jars for later. Wholesome Baby Food is also a great resource for getting started. But it’s pretty easy to figure out. The bug’s favorites were golden delicious applesauce and cauliflower. If you buy packaged applesauce, check out how much added sugar is in one little container. They’re apples, they’re already sweet. Like I need a more hyper child…um no thanks. Oh and I would eat it too. Warm sweet potato puree tastes like heaven.

Via Amazon

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