Chemicals you may be absorbing.....

Have some new jewelery I've been working on in the studio. I'm doing a lot of greens, blues and deep garnet lately. I think its the fall/winter getting to me. Now that I have a toddler, I am really growing to loath winter. I don't mind the cold and the coats and I actually like the snow, but its SO dark! by the time I have dinner made and its been eaten by the babe/doggies (Aiben is very big on sharing) It's to dark to go anywhere with him without a car.

With Christmas coming up VERY quickly I just want to remind everyone about soap nuts being a FABULOUS stocking stuffer. Pick up your great and unique soap nut gifts at the Kitchener Market (Bi weekly), Let It Heal (222 Fredrick st), or CH candle making 111 (West minister Dr Cambridge).

A lot of people have been asking me about the uses for soap nuts other then Laundry.

Soap nuts are diverse and can be used for House Hold Cleaner, window cleaner, Shampoo, Dish soap, Hand soap, Insect repellent, jewelery cleaner, dog shampoo and to steam clean your carpets.

To use soap nuts for these different things, the main thing is to use the 'Soap Nut' liquid recipe I posted in a past entry. It's mainly a matter of diluting the liquid to your preference.

Just a little bit of Knowledge in regards to your regular laundry soap brands.........

When it comes to laundry soap, sometimes we don't realize that the stuff in our soap, stays in the clothes in whats called a chemical residue. This is the stuff that causes allergic reactions and sensitivities. Even if you don't react, YOUR SKIN IS STILL ABSORBING THESE CHEMICALS.

Here's a list of some regular ingredients in your brand name laundry soaps :

Cationic Surfactants, Anionic Surfactants,

Nonionic Surfactants,

Polyphyosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate,

aluminosilicate, optical brighteners, coulorants,

sodium sulfate, Enzymes, Mono Ethanol Amine

Ingredients in soap nuts:

Saponin (Plant matter)

A little food for thought......

Please contact me if you have any questions about Soap Nuts or Other rebel Flower Company products!

Tips on a healthier life

As Ive been on facebook lately I've been receiving status updates from a friend with tips on how to get the chemicals out of our lives. I have been following them daily, looking forward to the new tip on how to change something small to get those nasties out of my family's life and live healthier. Suzy is a strict follower of the Feingold diet http://www.feingold.org/.

Tip number 1- Artificial Vanilla. It is what it says artificial. Buy the real vanilla, yes it is more expensive but you use a lot less of it.

Tip number 2- Goodbye Margarine Goodbye Shortening! Real butter is cream and salt but beware of the phrase 'may contain colour'. Gaylea and sealtest are recommended as very good brands

Tip number 3-Ice cream. Most ice cream isn't really ice cream and is filled with additives including the evil artificial vanilla (see tip number 1). Breyers in the black box, real ice cream, real yummy.

Tip number 4- Dyes. Laundry Soap (switch to soap nuts!) Hand soaps, shampoos, even cleaners.
Use the natural products on the market, or create your own hand soap, shampoos and cleaners with soap nuts.

Tip number 5- Things to look for in your labels, artificial colors or flavours, the bad preservatives like TBHQ, BHT and BHA

Tip number 6- Flour. Most all purpose flours are bleached. if it says its bleached they mean the ol scrub your toilets kind of bleach. You can purchase un-bleached flour. If it doesn't say unbleached, it probably isn't.

Tip number 7- Bread. When you are buying bread try the made in store kinds. The expiry dates are a couple of days not a couple of weeks. You need less preservatives if it only is staying fresh for a couple of days. Of course making your own bread is the best way to combat preservatives in bread.

That's all for Suzy's tips so far but I'm sure there is more to come. I personally can't wait to get more info and ideas. Going green isn't just for the environment but for our bodies as well.

And remember SOAP NUTS are available at Kitchener Market, Let it Heal (Kitchener) and CH Candle making (Cambridge)