There has been so much going on in my personal life lately that I haven’t been online as much but I couldn’t miss the opportunity to take part of the Cloth Diaper Carnival (VI) hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry!  With Kim’s wonderful campaign and our many voices I am confident that we can….and will…

GET CLOTH DIAPERS ON THE ELLEN SHOW!

And you can participate too.  All you have to do is write a blog post, link your post below using McLinky, and tweet a link to your post on Twitter using @TheEllenShow #operationflully and #clothdiapers in the tweet.  For example: @TheEllenShow you should see how cute my baby looks in #clothdiapers #operationfluffy!

Operation Fluffy actually began last night during our weekly cloth diaper chats on Twitter (which if you don’t chat with us…you are missing a lot of fun!) when hundreds of tweets went out to The Ellen Show.  We plan to continue Operation Fluffy until Ellen helps us laugh, dance, conquer!  You can read the rest of the plans of Operation Fluffy on the Dirty Diaper Laundryblog…there will be videos, pictures, blogging and so much more!  We really want to get Ellen’s attention. 

So who’s with me?  Do you want to get cloth diapers featured on The Ellen Show?  Write your own letter to Ellen telling her why you love cloth diapers and want them on her show. 

Here is my letter:

Dearest Ellen,

You can call us what you like but here are just a few titles that we are known as; mom, mommy bloggers, wives, sisters, daughters, caregivers, dads (yes there are dads in the revolution too), housekeepers, professionals, stay-at-home parents, working parents, environmentalists and revolutionists (to name just a few)!  We have all made a commitment to our children when we decided to use cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers…a commitment to our childrens health, the environment, and our bank accounts.

Did you know that disposable diapers contain toxins and carcinogens like Tributyl-tin (TBT) and Sodium Polyacrylate? These are known to cause cancer, skin irritations, and allergic reactions (including staph infections)?  Cloth diapers are much healthier for our babies and cause much fewer diaper rashes than disposable diapers.

Did you know that the average baby uses 6,000-9,000 disposable diapers in the first 3 years of life?  At an average of $65 a month that is $2340 over those same 3 years spend on disposable diapers alone.  That doesn’t include diaper wipes and diaper cream to cure diaper rashes.  Cloth diapers range in price (depending on the type) from $300-1000 for a stash of 24-36 diapers and when your baby is out of diapers you can resell them.  Cloth diapers can be reused over and over again saving you a ton of money.

Did you know that it could take anywhere from 250-500 years for disposable diapers to decompose in a landfill?  Did you know that disposable diapers use twice as much water as cloth diaper; and that’s mostly in manufacturing.  Over 27 billion disposable diapers end up in landfills each year.  Cloth diapers are much better for the environment and will reduce our children’s butt-print (carbon footprint) significantly. 

I want to see cloth diapers on The Ellen Show because the only way to change a diaper is one baby at a time and if you could help us reach just one more family than Operation Fluffy will be a success. 

We are your fans and we look forward to meeting you and showing off our babies adorable fluffy butts.  I’m sure you would fall in love with all of them…especially this one…

Much love and and lots of dancing,

The Eco Chic and family 

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Soapy Nature Getaways

Sorry!  My links aren’t working properly and I’m not that techie to be able to figure it out!  Please visit www.soapynature.com to learn more about the products mentioned in this post!

I mentioned the other day that I was going to the bar…the bar of soap that is! 

Before we begin I want you to do something, get up and go to your bathroom and tell me what’s in your shower.  For me I have 1 bottle of body wash, 2 bottles of shampoo (both hubby and I have our own), 1 bottle of conditioner, and 1 can of shaving cream.  There is barely room for all this stuff.  What happens to all those bottles when they are empty?  Hopefully you send them to the recycle bin but most people don’t have a recycle bin in their bathrooms so they can easily end up in the trash. 

Now imagine your life without all those bottles and cans!  Sounds nice doesn’t it?  When was the last time you used bar soap?  Did you know that there is bar soap out there that doesn’t leave that nasty dry feeling to your skin?  Did you know that you can wash your hair with some bar soaps?  Did you know that you can shave with them too?  Hmmm…see where I’m going?  Why not replace all those bottles and cans (or at least a few of them) with one bar of soap!!!

I did just that about a week ago and I have to admit I was hesitant…I don’t like bar soaps much.  My new friend Jen from Soapy Nature has made me rethink the bar and so far I’m loving it!  Here is an interview with Jen about her homemade soaps…I mean getaways!

When did you start making Soapy Nature Getaways? 
I started making soap about a year ago.  I had been buying natural soaps for a while due to my daughter having very dry skin and my newly acquired allergy to fragrances in commercial lotions and soaps.  With the natural soaps that I was buying I missed the fun fragrances and pretty packaging of the body washes we had previously used.  So, I began to learn how to make them myself and made bars that were more fun to look at and enjoyable to smell.   These bars actually get my kids excited about choosing one to use in the shower.  

What is the difference between your getaways and other bar soaps you can buy at the store?  There are a lot of differences, actually.  The biggest thing is that bar soap at the store isn’t really soap.  It’s detergent.  If you look on the package of your favorite “soap”, it probably doesn’t even say “soap”.  It says “beauty bar” or something like that.  Some people say, “My doctor recommended Dove or Ivory for my sensitive skin”.  Even these bars are not as gentle as natural soap. Their ingredient list looks something like this:   sodium cocoyl isethionate, stearic acid, sodium tallowate, sodium isethionate, coconut acid, sodium stearate, sodium dodecylbenzonesulfonate, sodium cocoate or sodium palm kernalate, trisodium etidronate, BHT etc.  These detergents strip your skin of natural oils and cause skin irritations.   Even bars that claim to have natural ingredients or glycerin soaps aren’t the same as cold process, handmade soaps.   They may have a few added natural materials, but a very small percentage and it’s still hidden in there with the detergents. 

My soaps have an ingredient list that reads like this: Olive Oil; Coconut Oil; Shea Butter; Distilled Water; Sodium Hydroxide; Essential Peppermint Oil; Peppermint tea leaves; and Spirulina.

And

 Palm Oil; Distilled Water; Avocado Butter; Shea Butter; Coconut Oil; Sodium Hydroxide; Cocoa Butter; Essential Oils of Lime, Lemon and Sweet Orange; Annatto and Alfalfa.

All of my bars, with exception of the “Getaway-of-the-Month”, contain essential oils.  These oils are naturally derived from plants.  They have skin nourishing properties and/or aromatherapy properties.  This is much different than the commercial bars, which are scented with a synthetic fragrance.   Many people who have allergic reactions to commercial “soaps” are having a reaction to the toxic fragrance chemicals and perfumes in the bar.

 As I mentioned earlier, I have an allergy to fragrances, but have never had a problem with any of my bars, even though they each have a pretty strong aroma. 

Another biggie that you want to avoid is “antibacterial soaps”.  These bars contain chemicals such as methylisothiazolinone, Triclosan and Tricolban.  Each of these chemicals have been linked to harmful effects on our bodies and the environment.  Antibacterial soaps kill some bad bacteria, but they are also killing good bacteria. 

Where do you get your inspiration for your getaways?   I think we all need a little bit of “me” time to recharge and take a break from normal stresses.   Enjoying a nice warm shower with a great smelling aroma and wonderfully feeling bar of soap can do a lot for your psyche.  I attempt to incorporate the look and scent to help motivate, recharge or relax you.  Like in Hammock Dreams, it’s made with Clary Sage and Lavender oils, both of which are known for their sedative properties.  Then I chose a color palate that I felt was relaxing.  With Spicy Sunrise, you have the opposite.  It’s made in a nice bright and energizing orange color with essential oils of clove and orange to stimulate your mind.   In bars like Runner’s High I’ve chosen colors that remind me of the activity.  It’s designed to look like the sky with a line of clouds above a running path.  When I go for a run, I spend a lot of time looking up into the sky.  The fragrance is Eucalyptus, peppermint and basil essential oils.  eucalyptus is known for it’s sinus and mind clearing properties.  It is even beneficial to sore muscles.  The peppermint is very cool and refreshing and the hint of basil just gives a little herbal(outdoorsy) bite to it. 

What do you use as dye for your getaways?  Most of the Getaways are made with herbs.  I use Calendula for yellow and orange colors.  Alkanet Root for blues and purples.  Annatto seed for deeper orange.  Cocoa powder for brown.  Alfalfa for green.  Spirulina for deeper green.  Green clay in the Spa Day bar.  Paprika for the beige in Barefoot Summer.  Red clay for red.  An ultramarine for blue and black.  

How long does it take to make a batch of soaps?  Each batch makes about nine bars.  The single layer bars only take about thirty minutes.  The layered bars, like Spring Picnic and Sunny Citrus, take about three and a half hours.    The ingredients are mixed together and poured into a wooden mold.   It stays in the mold for approximately 24 hours during a process called “saponification”.  This is when all of the butters, oils and sodium hydroxide actually become soap.  I remove the loaf from the mold after 24 hours and allow it to sit for a few days to allow some of the moisture to evaporate and then cut the bars.  They are ready to use right away, with a proper ph.  I normally, however, let them cure for about two weeks before selling them, in order for them to harden up a bit more and last longer. 

If you have really dry skin what are some ingredients that you use that will help?  My favorite is shea butter.  I love shea butter.  It is extremely nourishing to your skin and hair with Vitamins A, E and F.    Olive oil is high in vitamin E and antioxidants.  The Olive Oil Getaways are perfect for the most sensitive skin.  They are very gentle and have a lighter lather.  Avocado butter, avocado oil contain A, C, D, and E; proteins; beta-carotene; lecithin; fatty acids; and potassium.  Cocoa Butter is also loaded with antioxidants and essential fatty acids to restore irritated and dry skin.  

What is your favorite getaway?   When picking my favorite scents, I love the scents with lime.  That would be the Caribbean Island, Sunny Citrus and Bike Path.  I even love Key West Weekend and I normally don’t enjoy patchouli very much.   I keep a small bar of the Bike Path in my car for air freshener.   My second favorite is Runner’s High.   When it comes to the look of the bars, my favorites are Night at the Movies and Wet and Wild.  The bar I use the most is Spa Day.  It’s the bar I use on my face and it does great with absorbing oil.

Explain how using your getaways is better for the environment (and for ourselves) than liquid body wash?  Well, just like the difference between commercial “soaps” vs. Soapy Nature Getaways, the body washes aren’t soap.  If you read the label, you notice that it is loaded with chemicals, most of which will strip your skin of important oils.  There are some companies who realize the benefits of natural butters and oils and they will say, “with shea butter”  or “now with cocoa butter”.  But, if you take a look at the ingredients label you notice it is a very small amount added to the shower gel/body wash.  These washes are also loaded with synthetic fragrances.  They are also high in sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).  These chemicals are not only dangerous and irritating to your skin, but they are also absorbed by the skin and have been linked in some studies to liver toxicity, PMS, menopausal symptoms, and breast cancer. Both SLES and SLS are chemicals that are used in things like engine cleaner.   There are even handmade “soap” companies that are sneaking SLS and SLES into their soaps.   It’s important to read the ingredients labels.

The environment also benefits because we have less packaging per bar.   We are using things that came from the environment, there’s no chemical waste.   It is bad for us when using these chemicals and then it becomes bad for the environment when they are being washed down our drains.  You also decrease your plastics use a great deal, when you are able to use one bar to wash your entire body. 

Approximately how many washes can you get from each getaway?  That really varies depending on how much a person uses each wash and how they care for the bar.  If you let the bar dry out between uses it will last longer.  The Three-Butter Getaways last the longest.  Most of my customers get a little more than a month’s worth of use from one bar. 

Do you have any specials?    Each month we have a “Getaway-of-the-Month”.  We attempt to make it fun and seasonal.  May’s “Getaway-of-the-Month” was a huge hit.  Our Getaway for the month of June will probably be loved by everyone as well.  It’s called Fruit Smoothie.  The smell is absolutely delicious. These bars are always $3.99, a bit of a savings from the regular price bars.  We also offer monthly subscriptions for three, six and twelve months.  With these subscriptions we send out two of the monthly getaways for each month of the subscription, by the 15^th of the month.   The subscriptions are fun because you get something special each month.  With the six and twelve month subscriptions you also save money, as it’s free shipping and only $3.54 a bar with the twelve month subscription.  It makes a really great gift. 

All of the Getaways make fantastic gifts for anyone on your list, even men  (I even made my hubby try the getaways.  He was surprised that they lathered so well).  They are attractive, smell great and let’s face it everyone takes showers and who doesn’t want to be healthy?  We also offer custom labeling where we will print labels with your own message or quote to give your gift a personal touch. 

Well, thank you so much Jen for the lesson on soap.  I never realized how many ingredients went into our everday ‘soaps’ and body washes.  I cant wait for my next Getaway!

I challenge you all to just try one bar of Soapy Nature and kick the bottle habit.  I guarantee you will be surprised!

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I got a call from my brother last night who lives in Arkansas and he was talking to me about heating their home.  They live in a very old house where the heating only works in certain rooms.  They have gas heating so that creates another problem in the winter; especially with the cost of gas these days.  Well little brother, I have been doing some research for you.   Have you looked into vent-free gas heating yet?  Desa offers vent-free heaters for your rooms.  I had no idea how environmentally friendly gas heating could be.  Their vent-free heaters offer an energy efficient and safe heating source for all rooms of your house.  They can reduce your heating bills by 10% for every five degrees your turn down the thermostat.  Why would you turn down the thermostat you ask?  Because if you use the room heaters you won’t have to use that in-efficient thermostat that you have in your house as much.  Just use the vent-free heaters in the rooms where you are most often.  Now, I know little brother you may be ask me about cost and installation but please go check out all the details for youself at Desa.  They have room heaters that can be mounted on the floor, on the wall or even in an existing fire place.  With your house you could finally get some use out of those old fireplaces that you’ve been afraid to use.  But back to my favorite part, about the environment.  These vent-free heaters are safe in terms of air quality.  They even come with a safety feature called an oxygen detecting safety pilot which shuts off the gas supply if the oxygen levels fall below 18%.  Now you won’t have to worry about heating that baby room either because you can feel safe that it will shut itself off if it is too dangerous to run it. 

This is a sponsored blog by Desa.  Thank you.

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If you are anything like me you have heard the word radon and just assume that you are safe from it, right?  Well EPA has marked January as Radon Action Month for a good reason.  Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is the leading cause of lung cancer (in non-smokers).  The thing with radon is you can’t see it, taste it or smell it.  So how on earth do we know if it’s present in our homes?  EPA states that we should all have our houses tested for radon.  There are contractors that can test for radon listed on EPAs web site using the link above.  Another option is to self test your house with an easy home test kit.  The National Safety Council (NSC) sells low cost home kits for as low as $9.95.  The sell 2 kits on their web site; one is a short term test kit and the other is a long term test kit.  EPA recommends that you use the short term test kit if you have never tested your home before; this test runs from 2-6 days.  Then if your test results indicate radon levels then you can test it further with the long term test kit; this test runs for more than 90 days.  On EPAs web site there is a map of the U.S. and what the typical radon levels are by State and County.  Where I live there is low potential for radon; however just one county over (Hillsborough County, FL) there is moderate potential for radon.  If you are reading this and live near me I would definately recommend purchasing one of the test kits (which should also be available at your home improvement stores) for your home.  Check the EPA map for your State and County and see what the levels are near you; you might be surprized.  I’m glad that EPA and NSC have dedicated January as Radon Action Month; I certainly learned more about radon.  Let me know if you conduct a radon test in your home; I’ll share my results when they come in.

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