SimplyComplexJen

Environmental hazards that are part of our everyday existence.  It's not everyday that I can tell you about a book the profoundly changed the way I look at what I buy and the environment (self-made) around me AND how you can buy that book for $5 and change.  I'm happy to be able to do that today (and frankly, bought 5 copies when I realized how cheap it was, hoarding for next Christmas season).

The Friday Recommend of the day is:

The Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being

I realize that doesn't sound like a very exciting topic to most, but once you get into it, you'll be enthralled by what you learn.

Did you  know that the FDA does not test or check the submittals by chemical companies?  If the company submits XYZ is safe for your baby to lick, and can provide the reports to back it up, it is taken as truth.  That is, until someone gets sick or proves otherwise.

What do you know about what your family is being exposed to?

If you are worried about the rising rates of cancer, ADD, leukemia, autism, asthma, and other diseases, read this book.  Learn what the plastics we use in our baby bottle, the chemicals in our carpets, and other every day items do to us.

Do you think eating organic is worthless?  Then you should read the chapter on pesticides regulation in the US (or lack of).

Environmental hazards that are part of our everyday existence.  The question is, which ones can you control?

The book is full of documentation for you to follow up on and do your own research.  Baker's book traces the path of atrazine (a common pesticide), phthalates, flame retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), bisphenol-A, Teflon (perfluorinated chemicals) through their impact on humans and the environment, and through any relevant (though mostly absent) government regulation.

This book is also where I found the link to the website where I check the safety of my moisturizers, sunscreens, shampoos, and other personal care items: http://www.ewg.org/.  I certainly look at nail polish differently now.

In short, this book makes me angry and increases my resolve at the same time.  It reinforces the point of view, that as consumers, we really are at the mercy of corporations and it's up to us to make informed decisions the best we can. 

Each time I make a purchase, not only do I ask myself if it will end up in the goodwill donation box in the next 3 years, but also have started asking myself the impact on my house and my family if I buy this.

This bok is one of the reasons I bought a previous Friday review: Organic Housekeeping.  I felt I had to start with small steps with making the environment for my family better.  After all, what is the use of making my house organic dairy/organic produce, if I'm just going to introduce toxic chemicals when I clean up after dinner?  It all matters, and as the book points out, it's cumulative.

It's an eye opener.

It's definitely a "must read"

My Rules of Friday Recommendations.
1. I've read it (probably more than once)
2. I would loan it to you.
3.  I would then buy a copy in case you didn't return it because I loved it so much I want to keep a copy in my house.
4.  Even if you didn't return it, I would be happy to have blessed your home with its pages.
5.  I'm pretty sure you'll get something out of reading it too.
(rules subject to change weekly)

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Today's Friday Recommendation.


 Organic Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck


To give you an idea, I refer to this book at least once a month.  It's starting to look like it too.  I'm fighting the clutter-bug urge to keep a "clean" copy around.

Chapter Highlights:

Chpt 1 - First Things First, Everything in Moderation
Chpt 2 - The Kitchen: You Are What You Eat
Chpt 3 - The Low-Maintenance Bathroom
Chpt 4 - The Bedroom
Chpt 5 - Laundry
Chpt 6 - General Cleaning
Chpt 7 - Indoor Air Quality
Chpt 8 - Hazardous Material, Fire Safety
Chpt 9 - In and Around the Garden


There is a recurring theme in the book about decluttering and routine, which for some may seem second nature, but for me is a struggle.  Not only do I want my home to be physically as chemical free as possible, I would like it to be peaceful as well.  Clutter is my burden.  I'm shooting for the healthy body / healthy mind connection.  It's definitely a journey, not a destination.  I consider this book one of the top 5 books for that journey.

If you're interested in how to clean more with vinegar, and salts, and lemon, and more natural ingredients, then this book is for you.  Mother Nature provided us with some natural anti-bacterials and cleaning agents.  Let's leave the laboratory created chemicals behind.

In short, it is uncommon good sense for protecting our health and the planet.  If you have interest in being more green, then your own home is a place to start.  Under my kitchen sink used to have as many chemicals as a chemistry lab, and now I can say we've reduced that amount by half and each month work on eliminating more.

Organic Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck



Ask your local library if they have it.

It is my understanding it is available on the Kindle as well.







My Rules of Friday Recommendations.
1. I've read it.
2. I would loan it to you.
3.  I would then buy a copy in case you didn't return it because I loved it so much I want to keep a copy in my house.
4.  Even if you didn't return it, I would be happy to have blessed your home with its pages.
5.  I'm pretty sure you'll get something out of reading it too.
(rules subject to change weekly)

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Overwhelmed.

It's a word that has such depth, but is seemingly simple.

I know we (I) bring a lot of it on ourselves. So much to accomplish, so little time.

There's so much I've been trying this year (much to the detriment of my triathlon training) to make our lives simpler and more organic. What I didn't plan for in all my planning for our garden and hiking and other activities is what I was going to remove from my life to accommodate all these changes.

Planned workouts seemed to fall by the wayside the easiest, but I haven't let them go. Meaning, everyday my planned workout is on my list, and every day for the last 3 weeks (except 4 days), it's gotten bumped for other things.

Tomorrow's yoga? Bumped by having a 2 week late birthday dinner with a friend on my night where bebe is at her dads.

Today's lunch workout? Bumped by the fact I need to go to Lowe's to buy fencing supplies for the workers that will be there tomorrow.

Last night?  Stay up late working on project for Bebe's school program this Saturday.  

and on and on it goes. I thought I was working closer to balance, not throwing myself off more.

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A twitter feed today caused my ADD to itch.  Combine that with industry mags I get at work telling the woes of how the bee populations in our country are slowly dying and you have my google time suck of the day:


I don't like bees.  In fact, I have a strange suspicion based on a sting reaction when I was 11 that I am allergic to them.  Did I let those two facts stop me from researching the possibilities of bees in my backyard?

Nope.  That would just be silly!


I now am following:

http://twitter.com/beekeeping_Tips

http://twitter.com/abeeorganic

http://twitter.com/HelpSaveBees

and have a few google books boomarked (here's ONE for tonight's reading) and will report back on the feasibility of this project.

Want to know what groups and association of backyard keepers exist in your area?  Try going to this site:  State Honey and Beekeeping Associations.

 Organic bees in my backyard?  This strangely appeals to me. 

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We used to have a habit in our house that somehow we slid away from.  It wasn't that we just stopped cold one day, but you know how it is.  Let's skip this tonight, there's too much homework.  Or there's laundry to do.


You know how these things go. One thing leads to another and before you know it, you're out of the habit.  I'm not talking about my gym habit (although that could apply), but our board game tradition.

It used to be every night after dinner, we'd play a game.  Or a puzzle.  But it was something, just the two of us, no tv, no music, just us on the floor playing a game with no mercy.

This week is both Turn off the TV week (aka Digital Detox week) and Earth Week.

As I was thinking how I actually miss this tradition in our home, it also has applications to the themes of this week.

No only are Board Games an alternative to sitting around the tv, but it's greener too. And it's frugal.  Instead of heading out the door, driving somewhere and spending money, you have that time at home using things you already possess.

Maybe taking things back to a simple entertainment where it's about laughs and interactions, rather than zoning out is the next step on our 2010 goal of simplifying and detoxing our household.


And maybe we can't do it everynight, but if nothing else, we can designate one night a week for this and start from there.  Why not schedule in this time the same way we do yoga, girl scouts, and swimming?

It starts today. What about you? Can you give up the TV one night for a family board game?

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Work.

Parenting.

Working Out.

Volunteerism.

and now?  Urban Homesteading.


This actually isn't a new concept in our house, we've been working towards purging clutter, going green, being frugal, and being more self-sufficient for years.  This is just an attempt at a formalize plan and take our current habits to the next level. LOL.

So, the March/April rough draft looks like this:

• raised garden beds (that I meant to do LAST April  *blush*)
• fencing in the second lot behind ours
• extending the fence on the main lot to allow the raised beds to be within the fenced area
• moving the plants from my container garden from last year to said raised beds (to be built)
• finish compost pile structure
• gutters  (ok, gutters have nothing to do with urban homesteading, but just need to be done before spring rains)
• install rain barrels

Seems like a lot, and I decided it's worth it to hire the fencing done by my awesome Rent-A-Husband aka Miguel and his team.  They've helped with various projects over the last 18 mos around the house, and I would give them a 100% recommendation for painting, carpentry, and other handyman type services.

One of the best things about this project, is my daughter is 110% on board with this and realizes since this will be a family garden, the whole family helps out.  Good in theory, I'll update you on the reality come Mid-July when it's over 90 in the shade. ;)

Combine this with the busiest travel month I have for work, and we have a recipe for one of two things.

Either the most productive home-improvement month ever
or
The biggest FAIL on home to-do list ever.

HAHA!

So, send me links to your favorites gardening and home-projects blogs and sites.

p.s. I don't really need to blog about how home-repair/upgrades cut into tri-training, I'm pretty sure you know how that blog would read. haha