Going Green with Green Disposable Diapers

Make the transition to green, eco-friendly diapers. I did! It's really great for the babies and toddlers because it's natural, free of chlorine, plastic and dyes. I just bought Seventh Generation, a hypo-allergenic, chlorine free diaper. My daughter Emily has eczema so this is even better for her not having those irritants and if you have a baby eczema you should not even think twice about making the switch. I kick myself that I haven't been using green disposable diapers for the last two and a half years but better to start now then never at all. I don't know why anyone would buy regular disposable diapers when there's a good natural alternative that is better for your child to wear and better for the environment.

According to FoxNews.com article How Green Are Disposable Diapers, 95% of parents use disposable diapers. Changing to green diapers can make an impact and benefit your child. If you buy organic food, BPA free bottles, plates and cups, then why would you buy regular diapers that are filled chemicals?

I found a great quick comparison of green diapers on Keen for Green if you want a little more info on what's available. I am very happy with Seventh Generation. I have used the Huggies Pure and Natural Diapers in the past which I think are good too and probably more readily available but I've made the switch to Seventh Generation. I was worried about how they would hold up and I'm happy to say I haven't had any issues and they are more green-friendly.

I just found out that Seventh Generation just started a rewards program.

Jan

Good Job! -- Cancer free

I subbed for a fitness class today for a fellow instructor that was just diagnosed with breast cancer.  It is upsetting to hear because not only is she a nice women, she is also a women with three kids that eats her fruits and vegtables.  It makes you wonder, why are so many people getting cancer?  This was the topic of conversation before our class today. Everyone has their theories, the water, packaged foods, pesticides on the produce, red meat, grilled chicken, diet soda and of course the obvious smoking and alcohol.  But then some people have all those things regularly and never develop cancer.  A doctor once told me, "it's just what you call, bad luck!"  I don't believe that, I believe we can find the answer and abolish this terrible disease forever!  The best thing to do is to stay positive!  We should always try to eat healthy but we can't be afraid to eat something because of fear of cancer. 

The best thing to do is to manage stress and be positive.  I like to let clients know when they are doing a good job.  I often say to them and my children "good job!"  It has been a phrase I often use to motivate others that many people have adopted the phrase.  One client told me that her and her husband often say "good job!" and think of me.  My 3 year old when I do things will say to me "good job, mommy!"  It is kind of funny how being positive can rub off onto others, so stay positive and happy!  Cancer free or not, you will have a better chance of surviving. Go to the doctor for annnual check ups, early detection is key.  Take good care of yourself and be happy!

Steph

What's Too Young for Pierced Ears?

I saw a segment on the Today Show about an appropriate age to get girls' ears pierced. I was shocked to see the choices provided. Infant, 6 or 8. I think all these are too young. I have always told my daughter who is 6 that she could get her ears pierced when she is 16. I think 6 and 8 are way too young and I'm shocked there were no options for 13 or 16 in this poll. I don't think a young child of 6 is responsibile enough to handle piercing which needs to be cleaned and rotated daily. At 6, girls are still playing dress up. Give them clip on earings that they can enjoy wearing with no threat of infections and feel grown up without being grown up.

Earings are a sophisticated jewelry. I think girls should be in their teenage years for this but at least in a double digit number when they are old enough to be more responsible and more mature. Does a six year old really need to wear earings to feel pretty? What does this say about creating body image issues and self esteem issues? Am I going too far? I don't think so.

Why is society in a rush to make girls grow up faster. Let ear piercing being a right of passage and something to look forward to at a later age. It may seem trivial to make a stink about ear piercing but add up the "things" that are becoming more acceptable in our society and it quickly becomes pushing girls to start trying everything earlier in life and slowly our society changes what we find acceptable.

For instance the Abercrombie and Fitch padded bikini top, as I spoke of in an earlier blog entry. Put that out there and most parents are horrified but some parents defend it and will buy it.  Wait a few years and the shock value will fade and it won't seem as bad. In fact look at showing a bra in public. Years ago on Seinfeld, it was a joke when Elaine gave her friend, who often went braless, a bra to wear so she wore it with no shirt on with an open blazer. It was funny because it was unrealistic that anyone would actually walk down the street wearing a bra with no shirt. Then Maddonna came around sporting see through tops and pointed bras. She was provocative and parents were outraged. Now it's totally acceptable to show bra.

A week after I saw this poll on the Today Show, my daughter came home and told me her BFF just got her ears pierced and asked if she could get her ears pierced. This was a tough conversation because I will not allow her to get her ears pierced at 6 but when her BFF got her ears pierced, it's hard to seem fair and it's a hard fight. I just thought to myself, are you kidding me? Why? Why? I told her I got my ears pierced at 16, her cousin got her ears pierced at 16 and she will get her ears pierced at 16. But this also gives me insight into the tough road ahead of trying to keep my daughter young and innocent when friends at school are allowed to do things at a young age that I feel is inappropriate.

What age do you think is appropriate? Infant, 6, 8, 10, 13 or 16? When did you have your ears pierced? Please comment below or email stephandjanblog@gmail.com.

Jan

Dinner plan: Tonight is easy. Left over ham with crushed pineapple, mashed sweet potatoes with butter and cinnamin, and corn.

Sweet Sound of Happy Easter

Emily, my 2 going on 3 year old, said "Happy Easter" today. Perfectly. This was exciting because speaking clearly has been a challenge for her. I actually just called Birth to 3 because I have been concerned with her speech development. She does not have a large vocabulary although she will have full conversations with us which typically go like "Na na na na na me". She speaks like Squirt in Nemo. I often think to myself I know you're trying to tell me something, I just can't understand you. She also will pronounce words wrong. Like Do Do Dora, she will say Oo Oo Ora. Yet when she says OK, she throws a D in and says Do Day. So today when she woke up and I wished her a Happy Easter and she repeated it back perfectly, it was a thrill and the best Easter ever.

Please share any tips on how to help improve her speech development. Please comment below or email stephandjanblog@gmail.com. Thanks.
Happy Easter!

Jan

Women- Let's take a stand!

On the front page of USA Today there was an article about a film study that was quite disturbing.  It is time that mothers and women everywhere start taking action and demanding respect for ourselves and the women of our future, our daughters!  It showed that "67 percent of men had speaking roles in films as opposed to only 33 percent of women."  Females were used more in films for eye candy and not for speaking roles!  What are we trying to tell young females of today?  You are just eye candy don't speak!

The article also said, "the sexulization of teen girls in the movies was the most troubling finding to researchers....that female TEENAGE characters were more likely to wear sexy, provocative clothing 40 percent than other women- even more than girls 21 to 39 and teenagers were more likely to appear partially naked!  The data speaks to an overemphasis on beauty, thinness and sexualization of women at younger and younger ages! The study, to be released today, also found that 29 percent of teen girls were called attractive by another person in the movie vs. 18 percent of women ages 21 to 39 and only 8 percent of women 40 to 64."

"This is sending a powerful message that it's important for girls and young women to be sexual objects from a very early age."  It is time that women take a stand!  It disturbs me that men look at my 11 year old as a sexual object and that women as a whole are thought of more as eye candy than as having a voice!  It seems to me that it is more of a men's world today than it has ever been!

I want my daughters to be respected for their minds (intelligence and personality) not just for their looks!  It is time that women everywhere start taking a stand!  We want respect for ourselves, we are not just eye candy and women 21 to 64 are still attractive!  We need to protect our daughters from thinking that by the time that they hit 21 they are not as attractive as a teenage girl!  We also have to emphasize   that women have a voice and can be attractive for having a mind!  It is time that women get together and start a movement for change!  We are no longer allowing our young girls to be pieces of meat! We are all attractive but more importantly we want respect for our intelligence!

Steph


quotes "USA Today by Nanci Hellmich"

Going Green Can Put Green in Your Pocket

Do you have old cell phones, radios, cameras or gaming devices in the corner collecting dust or taking up room in your junk drawer. There's a better way to unload your unwanted electronics. Now instead of throwing them away, you can bring them to Target and trade them in for a Target gift card. How great is that! You're doing your part in keeping our environment cleaner AND you benefit financially for being a do-gooder so you'll have cash to upgrade to newer electronics.

I found this program through the Green Mom Review. NextWorth is based out of Target retail stores and they resell the electronics you bring in.

Do your part for Earth Day. Help keep toxic electronics out of the wastestream and protect our air and groundwater. Don't toss your electronics, donate it. It couldn't be easier to go green.

Jan

Dinner plan: meatloaf with shredded carrots and asparagus and a dash A1. Sweet pototo with butter and cinnamon and diced green beans.

Eat Healthy--Live Longer!!

It is hard to always eat healthy.  Most of the time, we are all on the run and have very little time to go shopping and then come home and cook a healthy meal.  It is sometimes easier to grab something quick and usually it is far from healthy.  That is why it is important to get in as many healthy meals as you can during the week.  Make two days a week fish night, even if it just means buying a piece of salmon and broiling it in the oven for 12 minutes.  Fish is high in omega-3 and is one of the best things for you along with veggies!

It is important to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, so always have some fruit and/or veggies cut up in a bowl.  This way when you need to grab something quick you will grab those apple slices over chips.  Don't have time to cut up all those fruits and veggies, buy pre-cut produce.  I always have a bag of pre-cut carrots in my fridge so my kids can grab those for a quick healthy snack. 

Blueberries are extremely high in antioxidants and are easy to prepare, just rinse and munch and reap the benefits of a longer, healthier life!  Bananas are another healthy food you can grab on the run and are full of potassium!  Good Luck on taking steps to eating healthier, you will be glad you did!

Steph

BTW, we'd love to hear your tips on eating healthy made easy. Email stephandjanblog@gmail.com.