My decision to make my own shampoo

It's been a while since I bought "conventional" shampoo. You know things like Pantene Pro-v, Bed Head, or any other regular shampoo.

 When I got pregnant I decided to go all organic. What I didn't know or check into is that even though it might say "organic" or "Natural" doesn't mean it is good for you. Then one day I ran across the environmental working groups pageSKIN DEEP and googled my "natural" shampoo. What was I using at the time? A brand called  Jason. It was their one for kids so I thought it was good. When I checked into it I was horrified to find that there are ingredients in it that cause "reproductive toxicity". I threw it out the same day. I went to the nearest natural co-op and asked them what they recommended. They said it was always best to make your own but if you are too busy you can buy Hugo Naturals which is the least toxic one they sold. Since both the accountant and I were still working at the time I went the "easy" route and bought Hugo. It worked great and I loved it (cheapest place I found it was on amazon.com)

But then little Olivia came. I quit working, money got tight and I ran out of shampoo. All I had in the shower with me that day was castile soap. So I tried it...along with the "natural" conditioner I had bought at the co-op and it worked fantastic. Then I started to experiment with it.
Here is what I currently use and love.

Ingredients:
You will need a container to store it in. I use this  large empty plastic one from a former shampoo. For travel I use this nifty thing from humangear. I love it! (My sister bought one and I fell in love)
4 oz of castile soap any scent that is available. I buy mine in the gallon size, because I use it for so much.
10 drops of lavender oil
10 drops of sage oil
10 drops of rosemary oil
Original recipe found here
 The original recipe calls for MSM or organic sulphur. I don't have any so I didn't use any and what I have works fine.

Place all ingredients in the bottle and shake before each use. Talk about simple to make! I have a few more recipes I would like to try but for now this is the cheapest for me and the easiest. Next on my list to try is the baking soda shampoo. I will let you know what I think when I do it!
The best thing about making your own shampoo? It is so CHEAP!
Now to make my own conditioner!
(note: when you make this shampoo it is more runny than what you are used to and does not really suds up, suds are from an additive.)

link to cosmetic database.

This website is great! It ranks everything from dishwashing liquid to the foundation you put on your face. I use it frequently when I have questions about something I am thinking about buying that claims to be "Green", "eco-friendly" and so forth. Check it out at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php .
It is from the environmental working group and called "Skin Deep".

Chicken salad sandwich for the accountant's lunch

So last night we had chicken for dinner. The accountants favorite lunch is a sandwich. So I thought I would mix it up and make him a chicken salad sandwich. This recipe is dairy free and depending on what bread you use could be gluten free too. I plan on having a sandwich too with Udi's gluten free bread!

Ingredients: 

2 Chicken breasts

3 tablespoons of white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon of mustard (Dijon would be best)

salt to taste

1 tsp of pepper

pinch of sugar

1/4 cup of organic extra virgin olive oil

Place chicken in a large bowl, broken into small pieces

In a separate bowl whisk together all other ingredients

Then pour over chicken and stir

Then place chicken salad on bread and make the rest of the sandwich. For the accountant I just added tomatoes...

Then pack it in the lunch or serve. Yummy!

Elderberry Syrup. A flu season staple at my house.!

Photo credit

Elderberry syrup is a potent herbal anti-viral. Elderberries contain high levels of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that protect cells against free radicals. They are found in blueberries and cranberries also, although the levels in elderberries are much higher. Elderberries grow wild across most of north America and Europe. You can make your own Elderberry syrup or buy it at the local health food store. Fred Meyers sells sambucus,( the trade name for it) as well as amazon.com. 
Note it is WAY cheaper to make your own. I started out by buying it. I found it worked so well I started to make my own. Last winter I was pregnant, so everytime I thought I might be starting to catch a cold I took the elderberry prophylacticlly (2 tablespoons daily, four tablespoons throughout the day if sick.). I was working in the hospital and did not want to catch any of the nasty flu and cold bugs. I made it through the winter without ever fully developing a cold!


How to make your own,
First buy dried elderberries at your local health food store or order online at frontiercoop.com. (not currently available on amazon.com although they have a picture of some here.


You will need: 
2 ounces of dried elderberries
1 quart of water
1 1/2 cups of honey
Jar with tight fitting lid
saucepan
strainer

• in a saucepan place place the dried elderberries and water. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the amount in the pan is down to a pint or two cups.
• Remove from heat and strain.
• Place the liquid back in the saucepan
• Then stir in the honey
• Heat until thoroughly dissolved
• Let the syrup cool to room temp
• Pour into a clean jar with a tight lid
• If stored in the refrigerator this will keep for up to a year.
• Make sure you label and date the jar

Here is a link to another blog with a recipe using fresh elderberries.

I for one plan to buy a bush and start growing my own!

A quick smoothie in pictures

I just wanted to share with you the accountant and I's mid morning snack. It was quick and easy on a busy Saturday morning. I was given the magic bullet as a wedding gift. I love to use it because it is single serving sizes and super easy to clean. Its major downfall is it is made of plastic not glass.BUT I still love it! So here is today's organic smoothie.

Mango, Raspberry, Almond Milk Smoothie
Ingredients per serving: 1/2 cup of mango, quarter cup of frozen raspberries, Vanilla flavored almond milk fill cup to 3/4 full, 1/4 teaspoon of honey
Place all in the blender and blend. Serve!

Olivia was looking longingly at me begging for some. Does anyone know much about almond milk and how healthy or not that it is? I love it so I haven't researched it yet. I figure it must be better than soy for me...guess we will see!

Dioxins what are they and why do I care?

The accountant and I have recently decided to attempt to be as dioxin free in our house as possible. Not so much for us as for our little ones. I am sure we will be helped in the long run but have probably already had our lifetime exposure met...so we want to limit little Olivia's as much as we can.
First what is dioxin and why do I care?
Dioxins are a by-product of industrial processing of chlorine bleach, bleached paper, manufacturing of pesticides, waste incineration such as burning of plastics, treated wood and bleached paper. Dioxins accumulate in the fatty tissues of humans and accumulate over one's lifetime. Once in our bodies they stay there. According to the EPA exposure to bleached coffee filters on a daily basis is enough to exceed a lifetime of acceptable levels. Dioxin is passed from mother to child via the placenta and breastmilk.

So why do I care? What does dioxin do to me?
 Dioxins are known teratogens, mutagens and human carcinogens. "Dioxins mess with the growth regulation of our cells-inducing or blocking cell death and may cause tissue underdevelopment, overgrowth or tumors."  Dioxins appear to be a "complete carcinogen" that doesn't require another chemical to have the effect. According to the world health organization they increase all cancers. They also mess with estrogen receptors, may be toxic to growth  and development and cause liver, nerve and glandular damage. they are also suspected of causing respiratory tract, and prostrate cancers, endrometriosis and contribute to type two diabetes.

How am I exposed?
More than 90 percent of our exposure comes from our intake of food.

• Animal fats from conventional meat
• Full fat dairy products that is non-organic
• Fatty fishes like herring, mackerel, sardines, trout and tuna
• Produce laden with pesticides

We are also exposed by foods that come in contact with containers that have dioxins such as bleached paper plates, food containers and milk cartons. We absorb dioxins from bleached tampons and maxi pads. 

Other ways they enter our bodies are through gases, vapors, emissions from hazardous waste incinerators, paper mills, cement plants and metal smelting plants.

Wow. They sound  like they are everywhere! What can I possibly do to limit or avoid exposure? A few simple things we can do that will help limit our own personal exposure is really quite uncomplicated.

• First choose paper products wisely. Opt for unbleached or oxygen bleached products, esp for products that come in contact with our food and body. Items such as tampons, toilet paper, tampons, paper towels (or use rags) and coffee filters.
• Choose organic grass fed animal products
• organic produce 
•  a more plant based diet.

The accountant and I are doing really well in the food area. What we are working on are the paper products arena. I am trying to eliminate the paper entirely or find an unbleached substitute. I will let you know when I find good deals!

Source: Easy Green Living by Renee Loux

We recently switched to unbleached toilet paper which I bought through the amazon subscribe and save program.

Baked lemon, basil cod fillet

Ingredients: 2 fresh Alaskan cod fillets

1/2 a lemon

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil for drizzling

2-4 Tablespoons of dried organic basil

Himalayan salt (my favorite salt. Sold at Trader Joe's) and pepper to taste

Sorry this is the only picture. I forgot to take more! But the recipe itself is yummy and very very simple.

First pre-heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then place cod fillets on cookie sheet. For less mess line with aluminium foil. 

Then drizzle olive oil over fillets.

Sprinkle 2-4 Tablespoons of dried basil over fillets (this is for two fillets)

Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the fillets.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Place in oven, on middle rack and cook until done. About 20-25 minutes.

Serve with side of choice.