Well, you knew it would happen eventually. Everything else is going “organic” so why wouldn’t dry cleaners jump in too? Apparently, however, this recent trend is again something you should check into. So here’s the scoop. As you may already know, perchloroethylene or PERC is what is used by most dry cleaners. It is a highly toxic chemical (a “probable carcinogen” according to the EPA) that is used to clean clothes. BTW – “dry” cleaning is actually a misnomer – the solvent is a liquid and the clothes do get wet but just not from water. PERC can not only be harmful for those who work at dry cleaners, but also for people who wear clothes that are dry cleaned if they haven’t had enough time to have the chemical smell dissipate. Some states have actually begun to phase out its use.

Anyway – it’s clear that PERC is a no-no. So when environmentally friendly cleaners started popping up, I quickly joined up. We have been using one that I LOVE (or should I now say, loved, sadly…). They are one of the ones that uses an organic process. On their website they say “Customers can rest assured that we clean all garments with high quality, natural, organic solutions and soaps. These solutions break down naturally in the environment and are gentle on clothes. We use the industry’s best lines of detergents and soaps that have been tested to ensure great results, free of chemical odors.” Sounds perfect, right? When I called the company they confirmed that they use a natural, hydrocarbon solvent that is better for the environment. Still sounds good! But then they confirmed that it is something called DF-2000.

This is where the “uh oh” comes in. Turns out, DF-2000 is a petrochemical. Yes it’s natural – meaning it is from the earth, but in the same way as gasoline. It’s derived from crude oil. Not to mention the fact that it’s actually made by Exxon-Mobil – enough said, right? OK so it’s marginally better for the environment and health, but it is still not great. I applaud companies looking for better methods, but it looks like this isn’t the be-all/end-all that it seemed to be.

So be sure to check with your dry cleaner to find out how they are cleaning your clothes “naturally”. If they are using DF-2000, as them if they have considered other options like either a carbon-dioxide cleaning method or an actual wet-cleaning method using water (who knew??). Those are the best not only for the environment and for health. Meantime, I’ll be on the hunt for one near my house. I’ll let you know when I find one!

Last week, my whole household was excited to receive a package from NECCO! For those of you in New England, you are probably very familiar with the NECCO brand – which stands for New England Confectionery Company. But for those of you outside of New England – you may know them best for the Valentine’s Candy Hearts with the little messages on them.

Well, inside our package was a bag of mini rolls of NECCO wafers and some of their newest product – rolls with various chocolate flavors. Chocolate? Oh boy. I have to say – the chocolate wafers have always been my favorite (along with the yellows and pinks). So a whole roll of chocolate ones sounded especially yummy – and they were! Milk, dark and white chocolate flavors plus mocha. A great little chocolate fix that’s fat free!

The great thing about NECCO has always been its simplicity. These “old school” wafers in a few flavors packed the same way they always have been – in that waxed paper wrapper. Very nostalgic and traditional. Well now it turns out that they have gone all natural. The original roll is now flavored and colored naturally. But no worries – they still taste just the way you remember.

And one last thing that is very important in our house – they are nut safe (and actually free of most food allergens). Always a bonus!

So now there’s a great option for Halloween – a natural treat that’s fun, sweet and nut-safe. (Oh – and not to mention the fact that I won’t inhale them as fast as I would a bag of Hershey’s bars so my waistline will not have to suffer so much…)

Last week, after reading many great reviews about Kiehl’s new Mineral Mascara, I excitedly placed my order and it arrived a few days later. It is paraben-free, and has a pretty impressive list of natural ingredients. But when the box arrived, I was at first confused then a little disappointed. The return address was from L’Oreal. I didn’t realize that they were owned by L’Oreal now? Anyway, the disappointment soon gave way to eagerness to check out the product.

Let’s start by saying that up to this point, I had transitioned all of my makeup to minerals, except for mascara. I couldn’t find a natural mascara that I liked so I had been using regular one. I have been searching for one that I like – and that really works. So when I heard about the new Kiehl’s version, I figured I’d check it out.

Here’ my scoop. My first reaction was just kinda “OK.” But after a few more tries, I realized that it was just “OK” because I was expecting more. While not crazy expensive, the mascara is not cheap – it was $16.50 + shipping for a 0.16oz tube. So I guess I had really high hopes. But in the end – I’d say I’d give it a “B” grade. Here are my pros and cons:

PROS

• It definitely thickens – that was the first thing I noticed
• It lengthens nicely, leaving your eyes notably enhanced

CONS

• It is very thick and clumpy
• It takes a bit of practice to get the results you want without it looking lumpy
• It takes a few coats to get the thickness and length (of course, this is coming from someone who has minuscule eyelashes!)

So I will definitely keep using it, since I hate to waste things! But will I buy it again? Probably not. I’ll stay on the lookout for a natural mascara that’s as good as a regular one. There has to be one out there.

File this under “huh”. I didn’t realize that those annoying little stickers on produce actually have a meaning other than just to help the stores and the distribution companies. While that is clearly the main reason for those little bits of plastic that seem to grip tighter once you get them wet, it is great to know that there is a benefit to consumers as well! The numbers on the stickers tell you whether the fruit is genetically modified, conventionally grown, or organic. Isn’t that worthy of a “who knew”? (OK – maybe everyone else already knew this?)

Anyway, for those of you who were unaware like me, here’s the scoop:

• A 4 digit number means it was grown conventionally
• A 5 digit number beginning with an “8″ means it was genetically modified
• A 5 digit number beginning with a “9″ means it was grown organically

Pretty handy! Now I’ve gotta run. Need to go check out the stickers on my produce!

(and if you want to know what is best to buy organic, and which conventional products are generally OK to buy, check out my previous post “The Dirty Dozen – What to Buy Organic”)

This month’s Natural Products Marketplace magazine features an article Anti-Aging Naturally in which Garden Girl is quoted. The article touches on how many people are turning to natural products to fight the signs of aging.

“Getting older—gray hair, wrinkles, sagging skin—is avoided like the plague; and, if you show any signs of aging you are sent off to leper island where peels, Botox, surgical lifts and paper-bags-over-the-head are mandatory before catching a ferry back to the main island, where everyone is shiny, supple-skinned and radiantly young.
Our culture is overrun with vanity and is, perhaps, narcissistically obsessed with youth.

“We have become a society that is obsessed with image,” said Kristin Miller, owner/founder of Garden Girl Skin Care. “I think this is driven by a combination of the influence of fashion magazines and paparazzi-hounded celebrities coupled with significant advances in anti-aging techniques from dermatologists and plastic surgeons.”
But these more expensive options are often a luxury, and the average consumer is looking for less expensive, over-the-counter (OTC) options. Miller added: “It is becoming easier to have treatments and procedures that can alter your looks and make you appear younger—just like the celebrities. But for many, this is not an option, either due to the high cost of the treatments or simply because they are not interested in taking such drastic measures. Therefore, the OTC options for anti-aging products have become more important.”

Read the full article!

I decided it might be fun to throw in a recipe once in awhile just for a little change! Since this blog has become all about (trying!) to live a healthy and eco-friendly-ish life, healthy eating is a part of that. Not that we are the picture of health in our house – I sadly have a very huge weakness for baked goods, chocolate, and basically anything that is sweet! And unfortunately one of my sons inherited that. The other son inherited my husband’s penchant for fruit. We always say – one has a sweet tooth like mom and the other has a fruity-tooth like dad!

Anyway, I do try to put a little something healthy in my sweets when I can. And since the whole family loves pancakes, we have adapted a recipe that was given to me from an old family friend when I got married. The original version had 1/2 whole wheat flour, and 1/2 regular flour which was great. But I have actually found that using all white whole wheat flour, you really can’t tell – so why not?

The best thing about this pancake mix is that you keep it in the freezer and it’s ready whenever you want to use it. You just need to add eggs and milk. Just as easy as Bisquick only much healthier! And it’s very forgiving – you can play around with it. Different “add ins” – depending on how healthy you want it.

They’ll-never-know-these-are-healthy Whole Wheat Pancakes

• 6 cups white whole wheat flour (or 3 cups whole wheat flour + 3 cups all purpose flour)
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt

(NOTE: I add about 1/3 cup ground flaxseed meal, and sometimes wheat germ. I have also played around with a little cornmeal which gives it a different texture and taste – it’s yummy!)

Whisk together in a big ziplock bag. Store in the freezer. When ready to make pancakes (or waffles) do the following:

For every 2 people (8ish pancakes) mix together:

• 1 beaten egg
• 1 cup buttermilk (you can use regular milk too)
• 2 tablespoons oil (I don’t usually add – I’ve never missed it. Sometimes I’ll add a spoonful of yogurt which works well – otherwise I just exclude it altogether. It’s probably in there for a good reason??)
• 1 cup mix

It will be lumpy – don’t worry! Cook them on a preheated pan coated with spray-oil. Turn over when they are bubbling a little and drying around the edge. I add chocolate chips, banana slices, blueberries, chopped apple/cinnamon or other berries. YUM.

Wow – great news! The EPA has recognized that there are some major issues with our current system of regulating chemicals that can pose threats to people and the environment. The top ranking environmental administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, stated that the existing antiquated regulatory system (which was put into place in 1976) is “cumbersome” and “time consuming”. She expects that a new chemical law will be promoted in Congress in coming months.

In a speech on September 29th in San Francisco, Jackson stated that the 1976 law has “been proven an inadequate tool for providing the protection against chemical risks that the public rightfully expects.”

She gave a great background and history of chemicals in the US, saying “After World War II, the chemical industry in this country grew by leaps and bounds, earning the US an enviable reputation for innovation but also making chemicals pervasive in our lives. Everything from our cars, to the cell phones we all have in our pockets are constructed with plastics and chemical additives. The technological revolution that my two sons take for granted has done more than change the way we interact with each other – it’s made chemicals ubiquitous in our economy and products – as well as our environment and our bodies.”

“A child born in America today will grow up exposed to more chemicals than a child from any other generation in our history. A 2005 study found 287 different chemicals in the cord blood of 10 newborn babies – chemicals from pesticides, fast food packaging, coal and gasoline emissions, and trash incineration. They were found in children in their most vulnerable stage. Our kids are getting steady infusions of industrial chemicals before we even give them solid food. Now, some chemicals may be risk-free at the levels we are seeing. I repeat: some chemical may be risk-free. But as more and more chemicals are found in our bodies and the environment, the public is understandably anxious and confused.”

Jackson stated clearly that there is no incentive for the manufacturers of chemicals to supply any new safety data, just any data that may already exist. She said that “today, advances in toxicology and analytical chemistry are revealing new pathways of exposure. There are subtle and troubling effects of chemicals on hormone systems, human reproduction, intellectual development and cognition. Every few weeks, we read about new potential threats: Bisphenol A, or BPA – a chemical that can affect brain development and has been linked to obesity and cancer – is in baby bottles; phthalate esters – which have been said to affect reproductive development – are in our medical devices; we see lead in toys; dioxins in fish; and the list goes on.”

Jackson concluded by saying that she will give Congress clear Administrative principals to help guide them in developing a new law that will address the current inadequecies. She also stated that she plans to address key chemicals in the near term – including Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates.

To read her complete speech, go to the transcript at the EPA website.