Green Resources
Safe (and Not So Safe) Sunscreens
May 30, 2011 by Mecca · 3 Comments
Our current sunblock that leaves skin icky white.
The sun and I have an uneasy relationship. I love the sunny outdoors but with fair skin and red hair I have to be careful. Growing up I was always the kid swimming in a hat (no easy feat). Needless to say I have a long history with sunscreen, hats and sleeves. I’m always on the lookout for the safest yet easiest sunscreen options. My little guy and I use Earth’s Best / Jason’s Mineral Based SPF 30 Sunblock. Honestly it’s not great. It turns my skin completely white and getting the recommended gobs and gobs on your child’s face is not easy. And he looks like a ghost when I’m finished. And ew, it also gunks up under my nails.
Spring Fever
February 25, 2011 by Tonya · 1 Comment
Prepare for your spring lawn and garden with these helpful classes
With the warmer weather recently, I’m salivating for the beautiful sights and smells of spring time gardens! Check out these classes to get your green thumb going this year!
Lawn Care 101: $25 for non-members and $20 for members. Sunday, February 27th from 2 to 330pm. Taught by Harvey Cotton, Vice-President and Chief Horticulturist at Huntsville Botanical Gardens. My husband went to this class last year and really enjoyed it! He came home with so much knowledge; it was awesome to see him so excited about lawn care. 
Click here to read the class description.
Grow Your Own Backyard Farmers’ Market: $25 for non-members and $20 for members. Saturday, March 5th from 12:30 to 2pm. Taught by Nikie Sothers, the Garden’s Director of Horticulture. I went to a similar class last year and loved it! I was overloaded with information about veggie garden basics. This is a great class if you’ve been wanting to get started, but haven’t taken the plunge yet. Click here for class description.
Or, if you are looking for more than a class, call on FoodScapes, Inc. I’ve mentioned them before, I know, but I can’t say enough positive things about them. What nice people who are so very passionate about helping others to grow gardens. They offer everything from garden coaching to maintenance services. Read more about the owner by clicking here.
And P.S.- My little one and I went to the Botanical Gardens earlier this week for play and a picnic with friends; it was so beautiful! If you haven’t visited the children’s garden area, make a point to this spring!
Recycle Your Bras!
July 16, 2010 by Tonya · 6 Comments
Think Outside the Recycle Bin
Check out this list of random items you can recycle. And yes, your bosom buddy can live on! Some of my favs from the list:
Wine Corks: Send your wine corks to Yemm and Hart Green Materials and they’ll turn them into cork floor tiles. You do have to pay the shipping, but they will send you tile samples upon request.
Running Shoes: The article mentions Nike-Reuse-A-Shoe, but if you’re in the North AL area there isn’t a drop off location. Instead, take your used kicks to Fleet Feet Sports in Huntsville and they’ll donate them to Soles4Souls. This is a Nashville based charity that donates the shoes to anyone in need! I am planning to take a couple pairs of shoes next time I am near Fleet Feet.
Bras: Send your gently used bras to The Bra Recyclers and they’ll be distributed to women in need. When I first read this, I thought “no way” that’s too private an item. However, we’re not talking about the dingy old stand-by but rather those bras that are just sitting in your lingerie drawer. I know I have a few: the ones that when you wear them make you cranky. Nothing worse than a bad-fitting bra. I hope my ‘cranky’ bras will be the perfect fit for another woman, so she can feel confident and secure!
Happy Weekend!
Safer Sunscreens
June 28, 2010 by Tonya · Leave a Comment
The hot June sun is out in full force and my freckles are cropping up all over! This is the time of year that I rarely step outside without some type of sunscreen on my body. I tried so hard as a teen to be like my friends and ‘tan’, but failed miserably every time. I’ve come to accept my fair skin and would like to keep it looking healthy and free from wrinkles (I can dream, right?). Same goes for my little one, I definitely want to keep her safe from getting a sunburn this summer.
Not only do I want to keep her safe from the sun’s damaging rays, I also strive to keep her away from the chemical cocktail found in some popular brand sunscreens. Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group is here to help! Click here to read EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Safer Sunscreens for 2010. I like the quick tips listed: “avoid the ingredients oxybenzone, vitamin A and added insect repellent while also avoiding products such as sprays, powders and any SPF over 50.”
We currently use California Baby and like it a lot; I purchased it at Target in Huntsville, AL. It does take time to rub it in good, otherwise you’ll look like a vampire from The Twilight Series! Of course sunscreen is not the only way to minimize sun exposure. Try hats, sunglasses and also limiting outdoor time between 10am and 2pm.
For more info about safer sunscreens check out the following:
EWG’s Sunscreen FAQs
EWG’s Top Sunscreens List
Senator Questions Sunscreen Ingredients
Safe Mama’s Safer Sunscreen Cheat Sheet
Do you have a favorite safe sunscreen? Let us know!
Ask LGB: Is Melamine Safe?
June 14, 2010 by Tonya · Leave a Comment
Little Green Bits answers a reader’s question.
I recently ran into another Mom who asked for my opinion on melamine plates. Most of the cute kids’ plates she finds are made of the material and she was uncertain about it’s safety. So, I’ve started a new series: Ask LGB. Here’s the dish on what I’ve found.
What is Melamine?
An organic compound often mixed with formaldehyde to make a resin. Learn more.
Melamine in the News
Melamine was the culprit in the massive dog food recall in 2007 and the infant formula recall in 2008.
Melamine Risk
A report from the National Toxicology Program states “some kitchenware based on melamine resin leach considerable amounts of melamine monomer”.
The Verdict
Healthy Child, Healthy World and Safe Mama both recommend NOT to use melamine plates for kids. Or if you do have them, take the following precautions: don’t microwave and hand-wash only. What’s a better option? Check out the Safer Dishware Cheat Sheet from Safe Mama and the Pocket Guide to Safer Plastics from Healthy Child, Healthy World.
My daughter does have one melamine plate and I think I’ll retire it to her play kitchen. Other than that I plan to stick with the “safer” plastics. I have started a collection of Preserve ware and love it! Although their plates don’t have cartoon decorations, they are made from recycled materials which are BPA and phthalate free. If you live in Huntsville, AL stop by The Little Green Store to pick up a pack of Preserve plates to try.
In the end, as parents we do the best we can! Our kids are exposed to so many things on a daily basis that we can’t control. As for me, I think every ‘little bit’ adds up! Now that I know, I’ll make a valiant effort to stay away from melamine.
9 Ingredients to Avoid
April 26, 2010 by Mecca · Leave a Comment
Spotlight on Processed Food Ingredients
We all know that fresh, real foods are best (as opposed to food products) but it can be hard to remember exactly why we should avoid ingredients like, artificial colors. So I was thrilled to find this easy-to-read (and remember) article, “9 Ingredients to avoid in processed foods“, on Yahoo’s Shine.
It lays out many common processed food ingredients to watch out for and lists the reasons to avoid them. For instance: Artificial colors are made from coal-tar derivatives to enhance color and have been linked to allergic reactions, fatigue, asthma, skin rashes, hyperactivity and headaches.
Click here to read the full article and check out the 8 other processed food ingredients that made the list.
