Da' Burgh

Mother's Day and Graduation

Bill's mom Bernadette is in town for his graduation, so she also got to celebrate Mother's Day with us! We were so proud to watch Bill graduate Saturday.  It's been a long road (an even longer one ahead of us) and it was nice to see it pay off.  Unfortunately, our new camera was acting up, so not many photos to share.

This is Bill trying to look smart....

A very tired Kade...

The ceremony was a bit much for Kade.  Pap Pap had to take him on a tour while Bern and I watched the graduation.  I wish I had more pictures, especially of Kade's suit, but I just don't.  After that we took Bill to Church Brew Works for some hops and eats.  MMMMM.  He was elated to receive his grad gifts of a Garmen, Blackberry, Banana Republic threads.  Then vegan coconut lime cake back at our place.  What a day!

Mother's day started off with brunch at Dozen Bake Shop in Lawrenceville, another yummmm.  I had a tofu hash that was so vegany delicious.  And, of course, all the moms received a miniature cupcake!  After brunch we hit the Pittsburgh zoo.  Bill got me a sewing crafts book and I can't wait to get started!

Super Hero Kade

Here are a few pictures of his cape I bought from etsy.com

"Steak" Tips

I wasn't raised vegetarian...
When I was a kid I hated any meat you had to work at to eat, such as a steak or chicken on the bone.  I LOVED steak tips though.  I stopped eating beef as a teen, then went full fledged veggie at 18.  When I was pregnant with Kade I had major meat cravings, especially for steak.  I found out soon after that I had seriously low iron.  Anyway I came up with this dish to satisfy that steak craving for vegheads or just for those of you who love mushrooms like me!  I saute' thickly sliced baby bella mushrooms in Earth Balance and steak seasoning until brown.  Mmm, I made some today and forgot to save any for Bill.

Earth Day Salute

Please visit  http://www.saferchemicals.org/ in honor of Earth Day.  I know that so often (at least in my family) environmental concerns a chocked up to be political party concerns and a waste of time.  Well no matter what your political affiliation is and whether you choose to believe in global warming or not, chemicals matter.  They are effecting our children and we can do something about this!  So whether or not you give a hoot about the tree in your back yard, you should care about the chemicals polluting your family...

Here is a quick list of info from an online mom's forum I'm a member of:

LIST:


Fake Organics: These companies use synthetics and sometimes very little organics in their finished product. The ingredient names follwoing the brand name are examples of the exact toxic ingredients these companies use, that landed them on my No No list and the USDA Organic regulations do not condone use of. You won't see the USDA Organic logo on any of these brands, yet, they still try to trick the uneducated public into believing they are an "organic" product by calling their brand name " ____ organic".


Alba Botanica - Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Octinoxate , Oxybenzone, Peg-100, Sodium PCA, etc.

Avalon Organics - Cocamidopropyl betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium oleamido succinate, Sodium PCA, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, etc.

Babywise Organics - Octyl Palmitate (I'm finding this to be another name for Dimethicone..correct me if I'm wrong), Retinyl Palmitate , Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Cocamidopropyl Betaine , Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, etc.

Derma E Organic Expressions - PEG-7, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Dimethicone, Peg-175, PEG-200, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, etc.

Giovanni Organics - PVP (which is vinyl), PEG-40, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Octylmethoxycinnamate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocamphodiacetate, PEG-8, etc,

Head Organics - PEG-7, PVP (which is vinyl), Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, etc.

Jason pure natural organic - Cocamide MEA, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone,

Juice Beauty - Retinyl palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl (octyl) palmitate, Cocamidopropyl betaine. Only 4 of over 30 products actually carry the USDA Organic logo, all other 30+ products do not. To me having only 4 certified products, does not make you an organic company.

Kiss My Face Organics - Phenoxyethanol (funny their adverts claim they are "Obsesivly Organic". HA! Really?)

Lotus Touch organic & natural - PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Bisabolol,

Mill Creek Organics a.k.a. Amazon Organics - Cocamidopropyl betaine, Octyl dimethyl PABA, Acrylates copolymer,

Natures Gate Organics - Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-120, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone, PEG-100, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, PVP, Dimethiconol,

Organix - Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Dimethicone, (Behentrimonium 2 of 4 are toxic, they don't notate which of the 4 types they are using..so this one is iffy), Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone, etc.

Organix South Inc, a.k.a. Thera Neem - Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Lauramide DEA, PEG-7, PEG-40,

Pharmacopia Organic - Phenoxyethanol; Chlorphenesin, Cocamidopropyl betaine

Sexy Hair Organics. i can't find even 1 website online, including the company website, that lists the ingredients. next time i'm at the mall i will jot them down, this is where i

             
 

Fake Naturals: These companies claim they are natural, safe, part of wellness, or pure; but use toxic synthetics in their products. The words Natural, Pure, & Safe have no regulations guiding their use. Any company can make these claims regardless to if the claim is true or not.

365 by Whole Foods (so confusing to me at to why their body care products contain junk ingredients).

Alba - Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Octinoxate , Oxybenzone, Peg-100, Sodium PCA, etc.

Arbonne - Cocamidopropyl Betaine Coconut , PEG-80, Peg-120, Retinyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol , Hexylene Glycol , etc. (their baby line is horribly toxic).

Arm & Hammer Essentials Deodorant- propylene glycol, tricolsan, (they test on animals, this alone is enough to boycott them)

Aveda -

Aveeno - Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Distearyldimonium Chloride, PEG-80, Trisodium EDTA, PEG-150, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

The Body Shop - PEG-100, Parabens (1 product alone had 5 different types of parabens), EDTA, Yellow #5, Red #4, PEG-8, Cocamide DEA, Dimethicone, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-18, PVP

Derma E - Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethyl MEA , PEG-100, Cocamide DEA

Earth Science - Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, benzophenone-3

Healthy Times baby line - Parabens

Huggies/Pamper naturals. "Yeah, right." yes that was sarcasim

Jackson Reece Herbal baby wipes - cocamidoproyl betaine, phenoxyethanol

Kiss my Face - Trisodium EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Propylene glycol, Triethanolamine.

Korres Natural Products - Propylparaben, Methylparaben, PEG- 8, Aluminium Oxide, PEG-100, Phenoxyethanol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, PEG-60, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol (one product had 5 parabens & pheno. That's just ludacris)

Lush - Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, (this company is at least 1/2 honest...when listing their ingredients, they color code the natural & synthetic so it's easy to read, but they call them "safe synthetics", I have to disagree)

Melaleuca - Dimethicone, PEG - 100, Phenoxyethanol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Avobenzone, Ostisalate, Octinoxate, Octocyrlene, EDTA, Triethanolamine, PEG-7, PEG-60,  

Method - Cocamidopropyl betaine, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Cocamide DEA, retinyl palmitate, (gets sneaky & shady by not disclosing the name of their preservatives or what type of color they use. it just says "preservative" "color")

Mill Creek Botanicals - Disodium-EDTA, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Imidazolidinyl Urea

Nature's Gate - Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Octinoxate; Oxybenzone, Dimethicone

Pure and Basic - Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-90, Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben

Shaklee - Phenoxyethanol, Didodium EDTA, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Oxybenzone, PEG-10, Dimethicone, AMMONIUM LAURETH SULFATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFOACETATE, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, PEG-12, RETINYL PALMITATE

Tom's of Maine - SLS, Proplyene Glycol

Zia - Phenoxyethanol, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate,

            
Hit & Miss/ Murky Companies. These companies have some products that are really clean and other products that are not. Read Labels and know what you are choosing before you spend the $$. be on the look out for: Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, PEG's, Parabens, Urea, Propylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine...if those are in it, stay away. 


           

Aura Cacia - Very Hit and Miss. Their certified organic line of esseintial oils are the bomb though, VERY high grade and very clean!

Bare Minerals- I found Dimethicone in 1 product out of about 12 that I researched. Seems they have taken out most of their nasty ingredients. I used to have them on my fakers list.

Beeceuticals - some products carry the USDA logo, other products have phenoxyethanol in the ingredients. I have spoken with the owner of the company and they are working on an enzyme based presevative to replace the pheno. so be on the look out for this positive change.

Burt's Bees - the good thing, is each product tells you on the front of the bottle exactly what % it is natural. they are a pretty clean company. there's not much i would shy away from.

Desert Essence - again a truly hit or miss. mostly miss. mostly on my fakers list with the exception of their pure oils and castile face soap, essential oils; those are truly natural and some even organic

Eco-Bella. All of their body care is 100% clean, but their cosmetic line still carries several ingredients of concern, including parabens.

EO - Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethicone; mostly on my fakers list, though their lip balm is really organic

Honey Bee Gardens

ikove

         

            Real Organic: no synthetics; never ever.

Badger Balm

Bottled Earth Company

Dr. Bronners

Earth Mama Angel Baby

Eco-Beauty Organics

Eminence

Essensa

Gratefulbody Organics

iLike (i have no idea how to pronounce this one)

Intelligent Nutrients

Le FP Green body Care

Miessence Organics (food grade, carries USDA label)

Nature's Baby Organics

Nourish (food grade, carries USDA label)

Oracle Organics

Organic Essence

Pangea Organics

Perfect Organics

Sun Dog

Trillium

             
 
Real Natural: though they might not use all organic ingredients, their finished product has NO added synthetics.

Alaffia (* Fair Trade)

Aubrey Organics, (they are not on my organic list because not all products are fully organic, though they never use chemicals or synthetics in finished product)

Bon Vital's natural line

Devita

Dr. Bronners

Earth Mama Angel Baby

Mexitan

Mychelle

Rare 2 B

Suki

Weleda

Zum

            've been reading the posts about bleach baths and kids with skin allergies and can't believe it either. The solution is to reduce their exposure to toxic household chemicals, not increase it. 

Though we clean our kitchens and bathrooms constantly - as we should - that doesn't mean we have to expose ourselves to lung irritants like ammonia and chlorine bleach or the hormone-disrupting phthalates in scented fresheners. Instead, Simple Steps suggests making your own cleaners from healthier, least-toxic ingredients. Here's a short list of eight essential ingredients to keep in your cleaning closet and a few easy recipes to make your own everyday household cleansers. This article first appeared here.





            
EIGHT ESSENTIALS

            Circumvent the armada of commercial cleaners by keeping an ample supply of these eight items, which make up the basic ingredients for nearly every do-it-yourself cleaning recipe.

           

            Baking soda: provides grit for scrubbing and reacts with water, vinegar or lemon juice by fizzing, which speeds up cleaning time

            Borax: disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes; very handy in laundry mixes

            Distilled white vinegar: disinfects and breaks up dirt; choose white vinegar over apple cider or red vinegars, which can stain surfaces

            Hydrogen peroxide: disinfects and bleaches

            Lemons: cut grease; bottled lemon juice also works well, although you might need to use a bit more to get the same results

            Olive oil: picks up dirt and polishes wood; cheaper grades work well

            Vegetable based (liquid castile) soap: non-petroleum all-purpose cleaner 

            Washing soda: stain remover, general cleaner, helps unblock pipes; should be handled with gloves due to its caustic nature. Usually found in the laundry aisle of grocery and drug stores.

           

            Pick up an empty spray bottle at the hardware store, and keep those old rags and used toothbrushes for wiping up and scrubbing.

           

            BATHROOM

            Toilet Bowl

            Baking soda

            White vinegar

           

            To clean and deodorize, sprinkle toilet bowl with baking soda, add white vinegar and scrub with a toilet brush.

           

            Tub and Tile

            1/2 lemon

            Borax

           

            Dip the face of the lemon half in borax to create a handheld scrubber for dirty areas. Rinse and dry the surface afterward.

           

           

            KITCHEN

            Countertops

            Marble: Mix one Tbsp. castile soap with a quart of warm water. Rinse well after using, then dry with a warm cloth.

           

            Other Surfaces
Use a halved lemon dipped in baking soda to scrub off residues. Follow up by spraying with glass cleaner mix (below).

Dishwashing
Castile soap
White vinegar

Wash your dishes in one dishpan filled with a mix of water and castile soap, then rinse in a separate pan containing a mix of water and vinegar (a 3-to-1 water-to-vinegar ratio works well).

Drains
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar

Add baking soda and vinegar to a pot of boiled water and pour down the drain, then flush with tap water.
For more stubborn clogs, use a "snake" plumbing tool to manually remove blockage, or try suction removal with a plunger.

To prevent clogs, install inexpensive mesh screen, available at home improvement and hardware stores.

Glass
1/4 cup vinegar or 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
2+ cups water

Fill a clean spray bottle with water and either white vinegar or lemon juice; wipe with a rag or old newspaper.

Oven
Baking soda
Water

Sprinkle baking soda on surfaces, spray water, then let soak several hours or overnight. Rinse with water.

Stovetop and Oven Grease Remover
1/2 tsp. washing soda
1/4 tsp. liquid soap
2 cups hot water

Add washing soda and soap to hot water in a spray bottle. Since washing soda is caustic, wear gloves when using.
Simple Steps new column, DIY Diva, offers great recipes for safe everyday products including cleansers, pet care, pest control and more.