life as i know it...

Hi everyone! We're all alive here, and we weren't carried away by the flood! Things have just been very busy here lately! I'll post an update soon, but in the meantime, I just wanted to pass along a tidbit of information.

A friend called this morning to tell me that Zellers stores are giving refunds for any product which they've pulled off their shelves due to BPA (Bisphenol A) concerns. I called the store, and as far as I can tell, products do not have to be in their original packaging, nor do you need to have a receipt. They will give you a gift card with your refund on it. This is only until Friday though!

I'm going to bring back our Avent bottles and a few other things this afternoon, so I'll let you know how it goes!

For a comprehensive list of which products have BPA in them, check out the Z Recommends BPA Report.


*Update*
I didn't have any trouble returning my Avent bottles, and I received a $95 gift card in return! I kept the nipples and sealing caps though, because they fit on the Klean Kanteen sippy cups (which use Avent sippy cup spouts). Also, I figure that Avent will probably make bottles without BPA that can use the same nipples, so that may save me some money when we have another baby.

Posted in: baby, health, kids, toxic on May 07, 2008 0 comments    

To commemorate Earth Day, here's a 'green' roundup!

• Sign the petition to urge Clorox (the makers of the Brita water pitcher) to make their plastic filters recyclable, reusable, or to create a take-back program.
  
  
• For those of you who complain that your Klean Kanteen water bottle is too cold, check out Yvette's crocheted Klean Kanteen cosy/cover. I've bought yarn and needles, and plan to try it! (This is very ambitious for me. I bought two balls of yarn, because of the inevitable disaster that will happen to the first!) I also bought a neoprene bottle cooler, pulled out the stitching and folded it so that it fits on C's Klean Kanteen sippy cup. Functional, but not as pretty as the crocheted cover!
  
  
• Here's a cute little book for kids called Michael Recycle, which I read reviews of on the blogs Fake Plastic Fish, and Nature Moms.

• The Green Parent (and my non-affiliated pharmacist hubby) would like to remind you to bring your expired medication to your pharmacy to have it safely disposed of. You should be able to do this at any pharmacy, with prescription and over-the-counter medication. Reduce the amount of meds showing up in our water supply!

And check out Treehugger for a ton of interesting articles!

Posted in: books, crafts, environment, health, kids on April 21, 2008 5 comments    

As most of you have heard by now, Canada has declared the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) a toxic substance, and plans to ban the use of the chemical in baby bottles. In my opinion, this is a positive step, although BPA is still used in many other plastic children's products (sippy cups, soothers, teethers, toys, dishes and utensils...).

This evening I found a GREAT resource to help parents make sense of the recycling symbols and the confusing claims from companies selling children's products. Head on over to Z Recommends for current and frequently updated information on BPA, PVC/vinyl, phthalates, and other nasty chemicals in children's products. They have comprehensive reviews of:

• BPA in children's feeding products and pacifiers (this is a fantastic resource - click on each company's name to get a list of which products include BPA, and which are BPA free. They've even created a text message service to get you info while you're shopping!)
  
• A guide to safer teethers
  
• A guide to safer bath toys
  

They also had a "sippy cup showdown" which rates some of the BPA-free toddler cup options on the market.

I was very happy to see that the plastic sippy cups we use for C do not contain BPA, although we're using her Klean Kanteen more often anyways, and plan to buy another one (who knows what other chemicals in plastic will be declared toxic in the future?).

Z Recommends also reviews new and interesting children's products, and posts interesting tips. A very handy site for busy parents!!

- - -

Also handy for parents to know...

What to do when your child goes nuts with a marker:

Posted in: baby, health, kids, toxic on April 19, 2008 0 comments    

By now I'm sure everyone has heard about how unhealthy using plastics to store and heat food products can be. While the results aren't 100% conclusive, there are tons of studies linking the chemicals in everyday plastics to cancer, hormone disruptions, and other nasty health problems.

I have my concerns, but so far, I've found few concrete suggestions of how to avoid using plastics in the kitchen, and even when products are recommended, even fewer that are available where I live! That's why I was pleased to see this SavyMom.ca article about reducing our reliance on plastics in our kitchens. It not only gives tips, but links to products and retailers! I'm going to have to work on this list - I'm a big user of Ziplock bags, and we have a lot of plastic containers too.

Since I know some of you won't click on the link (but you should, it's a great article!), I'll summarize some of the tips here.

1. Hand wash your plastic containers. Yeah, I hate to do dishes too, but heat breaks down the plastic.
2. Don't reuse one-use plastic watter bottles. And even better than plastic Nalgene bottles are aluminum Sigg bottles.
3. Use glass or ceramic food containers instead of Gladware/Tupperware/Rubbermaid types. (Click for suggestions of brands and where to buy)
4. Use wooden cutting boards. Not for meat though - the bacteria can stay in the wood.
5. Use glass baby bottles, or look for plastic bottles with fewer chemicals.
6. Avoid plastic wrap. Use wax paper to wrap sandwiches. Use glass or ceramic food containers. Take the plastic wrap off your food when you microwave it - use a paper towel or wax paper to cover your food, instead.

Read the article for more great tips!

Technorati tags: plastic, toxins, chemicals, health, Canada

Posted in: baby, environment, health, helpful tips, household, toxic on January 16, 2007 5 comments    

Here's an interesting news tidbit that showed up in my inbox this morning. I wonder if seeing their own bodies' toxin levels will strengthen any of their commitments to the environment?

Toxic Nation on Parliament Hill: A Report on the Pollution in Four Canadian Politicians

For the latest round of Toxic Nation body burden testing, four federal politicians volunteered to be tested for over 100 different chemicals.

Toxic Nation on Parliament Hill reveals that our politicians are polluted, just like the rest of us. The participating politicians included Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment; Tony Clement, Minister of Health; Jack Layton, Leader of the NDP; and, John Godfrey, Liberal Environment Critic.

The group was tested for a slew of toxic chemicals, including pesticides, heavy metals and chemicals used to make flame retardants and stain repellents. For many of the chemicals tested, the politicians had the highest levels detected so far in the Toxic Nation studies. Of the four politicians, the highest number of chemicals was detected in John Godfrey, but Health Minister Tony Clement had the highest levels detected in three out of the seven groups of chemicals.

Technorati tags: politics, toxins, chemicals, health, Canada

Posted in: environment, health, politics, toxic on January 15, 2007 0 comments    

WTF??
There really are some sick people out there. As if girls don't already see enough images promoting unhealthy thinness...

Spanish authorities have banned an internet site which was about to run a competition for young women suffering from anorexia.
...

The [Porcelain Princesses] competition, which would have run for a fortnight from January 13, offered points to those reducing their calorie intake to a minimum, with starvation rations of 50-150 calories a day worth nine points while "the honour of a podium placing" and a maximum ten points was offered for not eating all day.

Prior to its closure the website said in a disclaimer it advised visitors to "not follow" advice they might read there.

Posted in: body image, fashion and beauty, health on January 10, 2007 0 comments    

In only a few days, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network's online auction will be over. Check it out now to buy some great Christmas gifts while contributing to a worthwhile cause.


They're auctioning tickets, trips, books, music, artwork, toys and much more!

Technorati tags: CBCN, breast cancer, Canada, auction

Posted in: breast cancer, health on October 26, 2006 1 comments    

On October first, I wrote a post about the overwhelming amount of pink ribbon products, and how you should question how much money from each sale is donated to which organization(s), and where the money is spent (Locally? Nationally? Internationally?).

A list of BlogHer blogs posting about about breast cancer and women's health led me to a post by MotherPie about shopping for a cause, which led me to the Think Before You Pink website, which lists some more critical questions to ask when buying pink ribbon products:

• What is the maximuim amount that will be spent? (some companies will only donate up to a maximum amount, no matter how many items are sold)
• How much money was spent marketing the product (vs. the amount donated to the cause)?
• What is the company doing to assure that its products are not contributing to the breast cancer epidemic?

If you don't receive satisfactory answers to your questions, consider whether your money would be better spent by donating directly to a breast cancer organization which funds programs that you support.

Technorati tags: breast cancer, fundraising, donation, charity, marketing, Canada

Posted in: breast cancer, health, helpful tips on October 17, 2006 2 comments    

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network is hosting an online auction from October 1-31. They have some really neat items, and it's a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping, while contributing to a worthwhile cause.


They're auctioning:

• Live theatre and film tickets
• Jazz, blues and folk festival tickets
• Museum and art gallery passes
• Spa packages
• Hotel, ski and golf packages
• Sports tickets and memorabilia
• Books, agendas and calendars
• Toys and games
• Artwork and photography
• CDs

...among other things. Check it out!

Technorati tags: CBCN, breast cancer, Canada, auction

Posted in: breast cancer, health on October 03, 2006 1 comments    

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this blog has gone Pink for October.

It's hard to miss the pink this month, with the Run for the Cure merchandise in stores, commercials on TV, and segments on the news. While some people may feel that they're being overleaded with pink, breast cancer is a serious issue that must be thought about all year round, not only when the marketing is going full speed.

Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian women? And did you know that an average of 407 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week? (from the Canadian Cancer Society)

I just returned home from meetings of the Canadian Breast Cancer Network, and they were very eye opening. I'm not a member of the provincial networks, but it was really interesting to see how they work together, and hear about the work that they do.

The most interesting conversation of the week was one about the marketing of 'pink', saturation, and where your donations go.

When you go in a store, you'll inevitably see a bunch of products sporting a pink ribbon. But have you ever thought about how much money from that loaf of bread, package of candy, etc. goes towards the charity? Sometimes it's as little as 1 or 5 cents! Also, do you know where your money goes? Does it go to a local organization or chapter? A national one? One in another country? Keeping donation money in their community/region is very important for many people, as is knowing how much of their donation is used for administrative costs rather than research/education/equpiment, etc.

Next time you're in a store selling pink ribbon products, look for that information on the package. Ask a sales associate. Call the 1-800 number on the package. And if you get a vague answer like "your money goes to breast cancer research" - no organization or amount specified - ask for details (I tried that this week at a store in Ottawa). The more you inquire about your donation, the more companies will stop using the pink ribbon merely to sell products, while giving a, quite frankly, pathetic donation to the cause.

Some companies giving substantial per-item donations:

Marks Work Warehouse - In addition to special discounts and prizes, Mark’s will match 100% of the proceeds raised from the sale of their One Night, One Cause t-shirt, benefitting the Breast Cancer Society of Canada

Penny People Designs - 50% of the proceeds from pink ribbon notecards goes to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

Avon - Depending on the product, Avon will donate all net proceeds or full proceeds from its pink ribbon products to breast cancer charities

Holt Renfrew - 100% of proceeds from the HR Private Brand pink cashmere turtleneck go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

WonderBra - $5 from each 'Me collection' bra will go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

More CBCF sponsors here.

More information: Many breast cancer donations don't go into research: study (CBC)

Technorati tags: breast cancer, fundraising, donation, charity, marketing, Canada

Posted in: breast cancer, health on October 01, 2006 0 comments    

Okay, I know fashion & beauty have been the subject of my last few posts, but I promise things will get back to normal soon. ;)


I can't believe that people find models this thin attractive. Yuck. Is it any wonder that so many girls and women have eating disorders, when this is the ideal of beauty, according to the world of fashion?!

Recently, Madrid refused to let models with a body mass index of less than 18 participate in the city's fashion shows, saying it wants to project "an image of beauty and health" (FYI, the World Health Organization recommends a BMI of between 18.5 and 25).

Apparently this is the first time extremely thin models have been excluded from fashion shows.

I think it's wonderful to see the fashion industry beginning to cut down on the amount of unhealthy body images they promote (not that the models in the Madrid show were full-figured by any means, but hey, it's a start). About 30% of models were turned away from the Madrid show - a scary thought considering how many women try to achieve the weight of models.

But wait, there's more...

Now the fashion capital of Milan has its feathers ruffled by the fear that the same type of restrictions might be placed on its fashion shows. Modeling agencies in other parts of the world are also outraged by Madrid's fashion show weight restrictions.

Cathy Gould, of New York's Elite modeling agency, said the fashion industry was being used as a scapegoat for illnesses like anorexia and bulimia.
"I think its outrageous, I understand they want to set this tone of healthy beautiful women, but what about discrimination against the model and what about the freedom of the designer." (Reuters)

Discrimination and the freedom of the designer?! Come on. Too short/too heavy models have been largely kept off the runways for years. No one is saying that models have to be huge, just a healthy weight. A restriction that makes sense given that these models' photos are seen in magazines and TV around the world.

I hope more cities and fashion shows will implement healthy weight standards.
Kudos, Madrid!

Technorati tags: fashion, models, skinny models, Madrid, Milan, anorexia, bulimia, body image, Madrid models

Posted in: body image, fashion and beauty, health on September 15, 2006 0 comments    

I recently wrote about buying non-toxic, biodegradable Method home cleaning products, and several people wanted to know how I liked them.

I've now tried all of the ones I bought (all-purpose cleaner, tub & tile, and leather wipes), and I really like them! The grapefruit scented cleaner had a nice light smell, and was great for the kitchen counters and table. I loved the minty smell of the tub & tile cleaner, although it was a bit stronger. Both worked well, and although I had to use a little bit more 'elbow grease' than with harsher chemicals, I didn't have to work too hard. If I sprayed the tub & tile and let it sit for a minute, it worked great. The leather wipes made our couch more shiny, but other than that, it's hard to comment on it. I'm waiting for their laundry detergent to come in.

I'll definitely be going back to Shoppers Drug Mart to try out some other products in the line!

Posted in: environment, health, household on June 28, 2006 0 comments    

I was picking up a few things at Shoppers Drug Mart last night, and I noticed a huge rack full of Method cleaning supplies! I've read about them, and wanted to try them, but hadn't seen them in any stores around town.

I seem to be getting more senstitive to the smells of harsh cleaners as I get older, and I hate the idea of using so many toxins around the house (it seems like almost everything these days contains toxic chemicals; laundry detergent, cleaners, soap, plastics...). Anyways, I've been trying to gradually switch to less harsh products, and I'm thrilled that major chains are starting to carry some of these products.

Method home cleaning products are non-toxic, biodegradable, not tested on animals, and the packages are recyclable. They weren't very expensive either; I think it was $4.99 for the all-purpose cleaner and the tub & tile cleaner. The liquid laundry detergent was $8.99 for a bottle that has enough liquid for 32 loads.

We'll see if this makes cleaning (a bit) more enjoyable!

Reviews: Vegetarian Baby and Child; About.com; Treehugger

Posted in: environment, health, household on June 14, 2006 3 comments    

Time for a public service announcement!


Check out the Canadian Breast Cancer's first online auction, going on from June 1-30, 2006.

They have over 150 items up for auction, and will be listing new items every day or two. You can bid on some neat stuff: theatre tickets, hotel packages, CDs and books, etc. Items will be available between 7 and 20 days.

Technorati tags: breast cancer, Canada, Canadian Breast Cancer Network, CBCN, auction

Posted in: breast cancer, health on June 02, 2006 0 comments    

Posted in: comics, health on May 29, 2006 0 comments    

1. The fact that immigrants with tons of education in their own country have such a hard time getting their degrees recognized or upgraded, and finding work in their field

When I worked at Future Shop in B.C. I saw this all the time. Many of my co-workers had been accountants, engineers or medical professionals overseas, but because their degrees were not recognized in Canada, they were working in retail to make ends meet. I can only imagine how frustrating this must have been for them!

Check out these great ads from the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (scroll down to the bottom of the page) (via Chandrasutra)

2. Companies are still trying to dump toxic waste into the environment

Do they think that if they dump it underwater, it will just go away?! Out of sight, out of mind? A company in Newfoundland is seeking the approval of Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to dispose of toxic waste in two central Newfoundland ponds.
(The picture is of Kent's Pond in St. John's - not a proposed dump site)


3. Denial of global warming

Businesses are trying to downplay the impact of carbon dioxide on global warming by saying 'It can't be bad - we breathe it out!'

In these videos, they whine 'But we neeeeed those fuels!'

Heaven forbid we reduce our energy use by trading in SUVs for fuel-efficient cars, using compact fluorescent lightbulbs instead of incandescents, and drying laundry on a clothesline on nice days instead of using the dryer. No one's asking us to give up everything that uses energy. It just seems like common sense to use less energy when possible, and try to produce less waste.

Click here for more 'crazy' but simple ways you can help to save the planet.

(via CathiefromCanada)


4. The unhealthy images the media shows us every day

I missed Turn Beauty Inside Out day on May 17th, but better late than never! The campaign:

"...celebrat[es] Inner Beauty - the beauty of conviction, caring and action. Girls and boys (not to speak of women and men) need a definition of beauty that focuses on who they are and what they do, not on how they look."

Some disturbing statistics:

• 80% of 10-year-old American girls diet. The number one magic wish for young girls age 11-17 is to be thinner
  
  
• Between elementary and high school, the percentage of girls in the U.S. who are "happy with the way I am" drops from 60% to 29%.
  
  
• Between 1996 and 1998 [only two years!], teenage cosmetic surgeries nearly doubled from 13,699 to 24,623, according to the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.

Technorati tags: immigration, Canada, USA, pollution, Kyoto, toxic waste, Newfoundland, global warming, co2, environment, media, children, eating disorders, girls

Posted in: body image, environment, health, kids, politics, toxic on May 22, 2006 3 comments    

The Breast Cancer Site is a great website that I visit regularly. I don't remember how or when I first heard about the site, but I've been visiting it for years. They sell pink ribbon products and other items to help fund free mammograms for underprivileged women in the United States.

You can also help fund mammograms very quickly and easily (and at no cost to you), simply by clicking on a banner once a day. For every click, site sponsors donate money to the (U.S.) National Breast Cancer Foundation. It only takes 10 seconds a day!

Please visit the Breast Cancer Site and click on the Fund Free Mammograms button.

During the month of May, in honour of Mother's Day, your clicks are worth double. In the first 9 days of May, site visitors have funded 73.9 mammograms!


You can also visit their 'sister sites': The Hunger Site, The Child Health Site, The Literacy Site, The Rainforest Site, and The Animal Rescue Site.

Technorati tags: breast cancer, mammogram, pink ribbon, Breast Cancer Site, free mammograms

Posted in: breast cancer, health on May 09, 2006 0 comments    

One in two!!!

Watching Wendy Mesley's CBC Marketplace news report last night, I was absolutely shocked to hear that statistic. Why isn't this front page news?!

Her report was enlightening, but much too short (why did the CBC only give her a half hour? It deserved at least an hour; I had so many more questions). I hope they'll show it on TV again, but you can read a lot of the information, and watch the program online by clicking the link above.

• Note: It seems that Mesley's report has generated criticism among bloggers (click here and here) for being biased, but at least it's getting people to question the factors that may be leading to rising cancer rates. Regardless of opinions on journalistic slant, she raises important issues that must be examined.

The story focuses on the subject of environmental toxins, and how people are unknowingly poisoning their bodies by using everyday products. Most laundry detergents, household cleaners and even makeup contain carcinogens or other toxins that have been linked to cancer. Dairy products, fruits and vegetables can be contaminated by pesticides, and Canadian meat often contains growth hormones which are carcinogenic and have been banned by the European Union.

Currently in Canada, household and personal care products are not required to list all of the ingredients on their labels, so people can't make an informed decision about product safety while shopping. Manufacturers often print a partial list, or merely list the 'active' ingredients. Thankfully, by November 2006, full ingredient lists will be required.

While it is not realistic that we can eliminate all of the environmental toxins in our homes, we can let manufacturers know our concerns, and reduce our use of toxic products. I don't have many toxin-reduced or toxin-free products in my home right now; I never realized how harmful they could be. But when I heard that 1 in 2 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer, wow, was that a wake-up call! I want to reduce those statistics for my future children, and if searching for lesser known brands and paying a bit more money for them to reduce the toxins in my home is the answer, then I'm willing to do that.

The Marketplace website has links to a lot of informative resources, including the Guide to Less Toxic Products, maintained by the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia, which describes the toxins commonly found in household products, and recommends safer products. Also, the Labour Environmental Alliance Society publishes the CancerSmart Consumer Guide, which contains information on carcinogens, toxins and chemicals that are found in brand name products, and suggests alternatives and product substitutes.

Many people in my life have been touched by cancer, and now that I've heard this information, I can't ignore it. If shopping carefully will reduce, even a little bit, the chances of my loved ones getting cancer, then I'm willing to try.


On a related note, visit the Breast Cancer Site and click on the big pink button every day to help fund free mammograms for underprivileged women. 100% of the revenue collected from the site's sponsors goes to pay for mammograms. Since 2000, the site has funded 14,450 free mammograms.

Technorati tags: cancer, CBC, carcinogens, Wendy Mesley, mammogram, Canada

Posted in: breast cancer, health, household, toxic on March 06, 2006 1 comments    

My workplace received an email about this from the Canadian Breast Cancer Network. Please take a few minutes to support these fabulous ladies in their quest to raise money for Breast Cancer research!

The Vancouver radio station Jack FM is giving away $25,000 to the person or team that has the most creative idea for "showing the world that they listen to Jack FM".

A group of women are circulating their photo around the world via the Internet, in the hopes of winning the $25,000 to put towards the 60km 2-day fundraiser, Weekend To End Breast Cancer. Help the gals out by letting Jack FM know you saw them!

Click here to see "BJ and the Boobettes" and support their cause!

All you need to do is:

1. Sign the guestbook
2. Email Jack FM and tell them you saw "BJ and the Boobettes" with their banner!

Posted in: breast cancer, health on March 01, 2006 0 comments