The Trouble with Parents
February 22, 2010 4:32 pm - No Comments
Maia was frustrated because I couldn’t explain jet trails sufficiently enough to please her.
Maia: “Urgh, that’s what I don’t like about having parents! When you guys don’t know what to say when I ask a question … I like when I can be the parent … And I like when I can go bare feet in the grass.”
Sleeping off a cold
February 13, 2010 7:26 am - No Comments
M: Tarek gave his cold to you.
S: Did he give it to you too?
M: No, I got my own cold.
…
M: Where do our colds go when we sleep a lot?
Travel Pains
January 27, 2010 4:37 pm - No Comments
Maia has her backpack on and is planning a to board a plane. First, she told me that some one has to drive her to the airport.
Now that she reached the airport (couch) she said,
M: oh no, I forgot my tax limit!
S: what’s that?
M: a tax … it’s something you need to use for your phone … your phone from the airport … now I won’t have a phone charger
S: because you forgot your tax limit?
M: yeah, it’s a ticket … and I need a tax cord to change my battery to make sure I need it to um … just like you do with your phone when the batteries are dead. I don’t have my phone or my plug …ugghhh … now I won’t have anything to call on!
…
Apparently she’s been in transit while we were talking. Now she’s at the hotel – room 140.
What IS that on your face!?
January 21, 2010 9:46 am - 2 Comments
Knowing how many nasty chemicals are in cosmetics and personal care products, I’ve been looking for safer and greener alternatives. Sadly, I’ve found it a difficult search. Many companies that market themselves and natural, safe, green and even organic still use potentially harmful chemicals in some or all of their products. I guess I feel lucky to have never used an abundance of makeup, hair dye, etc. However, even lotions, sunscreens and baby shampoos often contain chemicals with the potential to cause cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and more. Additionally, many products are flagged as containing ingredients in violation of known restrictions & warnings – described as, “prohibited for use in cosmetics, or subject to concentration, use, or manufacturing method restrictions, according to industry safety guidelines and government requirements and guidance from the U.S., E.U., Japan, and Canada.”
Fortunately, there are resources to find better alternatives. Unfortunately, I’ve found many of these alternatives hard to find, hard to sample, or simply not as effective as their toxic counterparts. I have found some products I like and am comfortable with, but my search is not over yet.
Here are some useful web sites to visit:
- The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
- Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database – search by product, ingredient, or company
- Top 8 Safe Cosmetic Brands in the U.S. 2009 + 1 from Australia
- Tips on buying safe cosmetics and makeup products
- Green America – The Ugly Side of Cosmetics
Toxins in Makeup and Personal Care Products
January 21, 2010 8:47 am - No Comments
