Two Green Thumbs Up!

Recently we added another California Baby product to our growing green inventory, the Calming Everyday Lotion. Like the diaper cream and shampoo/bodywash that we already use, this lotion smells so yummy and good. Knowing we will be using lotion for a very long time--and on two kids instead of one soon--I decided to invest in the 1/2 gallon bottle. Now having received it and used a little of it, I am reassured that this purchase will last a long, long time. The lotion is so thick that you really only need a small amount at a time. It rubs in very nicely and makes Lily's skin smell and look so good. I actually have been using it myself, as well. I can't get enough of that fresh lavendar scent! I used some this morning, and there is still a trace of the scent on my skin...and it makes my skin feel very soft and smooth. My big belly likes to absorb some of this lotion too! So far, we have really enjoyed all our California Baby products, and I would definitely recommend them to you. Though Lily rarely gets diaper rash, the CB diaper rash cream has cleared up her occasional redness within one diaper change. We use the shampoo and bodywash too, but since Lily really doesn't have much hair yet, it is difficult to write a very credible review. Nonetheless, it does lather nicely and gets her squeky clean before bedtime.

A non-California Baby purchase of ours this summer was TruKid Sunny Days SPF 30 sunblock. Like many parents of young kids, we are at the pool a lot over the summer, and we have gotten a ton of use out of this sunscreen already. I really like the consistency of this product, and it goes on easily and absorbs quickly. When first applied, it leaves a very light, almost purple sheen on the skin, which confirms that she is covered. I have been using it on my belly as well, and I have noticed when I get wet I can see it on my skin and it really does stay on. I can see the water bead on the area where I've applied it. My only complaint is that it is pictured on their website with a pump (as seen at the right), and ours did not come with a pump. Instead, it has a flip-top that allows for squeezing, much like a shampoo bottle. Because of the thickness of both the product and the bottle, it is difficult to squeeze much out. While this is not a major problem, it is an annoyance. TruKid sunscreen comes in a small 4 oz bottle, so you may want to order more than one if you plan to use it on your whole family. The upside is that a little goes a long way.

Product Update: Preserve Jr.

Preserve Everyday offers a 100% recycled toothbrush for kids. The Preserve Jr. is designed for children ages 2 to 8 and has a pea pod shaped handle that is easy for kids little hands to grab. In addition to its ergonomic design they are fun-colored and animal-shaped. They have partnered with the National Wildlife Federation and highlight different endangered species on each brush. Not only is the handle made of 100% recycled plastic, it is also recyclable when mailed back using the postage paid label the company provides.

Check out Preserve Everyday's website for more recycled and earth friendly products.

Post It Up, Baby!

Yes, we are now proud owners and users of a backyard composter...in other words, we are composter children. In our efforts to cut back on the waste we send to the landfill, we purchased our very own composter and in a few short weeks we will have wonderful organic fertilizer to use on our yard and plants. As you can see, I am part of the One Can a Month Challenge and one of the biggest tips Enviro Mom gives for getting to that one can goal would be to compost. After some product research I ended up buying this spinning composter from Gaiam when they were having a sale. I liked the idea that all we would need to do is fill it, spin it, and essentially forget about it until the fertilizer is ready. There are definitely cheaper ways to compost, but Jeff and I weren't really keen on the love and attention that goes into the other kinds so we settled on this one. If you don't have the outdoor space or want something even easier to use, you can try the Nature Mill, which is an indoor composter that works on a small amount of electricity and produces compost in about 2 weeks, all within the confines of your home. It will cost you around $300.00, but produces no odors, gives you endless fertilizer, and it diverts over 2 tons of garbage from landfills in its lifetime.

I will keep you "posted" on our composting progress!

Next Step: Black to Green to Clean

As some of you may know, Mavros is derived from the word "black" in Greek. As we continue to move from black to green in our house, we are shifting the focus of our greenification to our household cleaning supplies. Pretty much everything we use, with the exception of our dish soap, counter top spray, and laundry detergent, has some form of carcinogens and/or neurotoxins. Carcinogens are chemicals that cause cancer, and neurotoxins are chemicals that adversely affect the nervous system, reducing emotional well being, mental alertness, coordination and other functions associated with intelligence. When contemplating replacing our many different cleaning agents, I was figuring that this switch would be pretty arduous and costly. We would need all new bathroom, kitchen, glass, and carpet/upholstry cleaner...and the list would most likely go on from there. However, after doing some research I found a few natural and inexpensive solutions: distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. Vinegar can naturally disinfect and clean virtually every inch of your house when either used alone and/or mixed with baking soda and lemon juice. When I first read about vinegar as an all-purpose cleaning agent, I found myself scrunching up my nose at the idea of trading the "fresh and clean" smells of Clorox and Soft Scrub for the very pungent smell of vinegar. Just the idea of vinegar makes my nose close up. Fortunately, I found that you can mix in lemon juice to help balance the smell and that when the vinegar dries it does not leave an odor. So the task for this weekend is to go out and buy some distilled white vinegar and get cleaning! If the idea of using vinegar is a little scary to you, there are plenty of natural cleaning options out there...like Oprah's pick, Shaklee. Shaklee claims that all of their products are "non-toxic, eco-friendly and safe" but there are a few products in their line that have some questionable ingredients. Safemama.com says stick to the ones that are organic like the Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate and the Organic Germ Off Wipes. Other popular and safe companies are Seventh Generation, Dr. Bonner's and Method.

A word of warning: watch out for "green-washing" and stick to products that you know really use safe ingredients. Words like "bio-degradable," "eco-fiendly," and "natural" are actually all meaningless because there is no governing body to police these claims. If you want a full list of ingredients in your cleaning products, visit Household Product Database. To make sure your house is safe, eco-experts will tell you that making your own cleaning products is the safest and greenest way to clean. For some home-made cleaning agent ideas, visit Care 2 Make a Difference's website.

* Did you know:
Since World War II, roughly 75,000 chemicals have been introduced into consumer products, but less than 5 percent of them have been tested for health or environmental side effects. Many of these substances are found inside common cleaners such as countertop disinfectants, bathtub scrubbers and dishwashing liquids. Unfortunately, routine testing of these substances has revealed some un-routine results.

In 1989, the EPA estimated that the fumes produced by common household cleaners were three times more likely to cause cancer than other air pollutants.