lakeshore farmers market

I am delighted to see colours and such variety at the market. Today the french tulips, dancing, ranunculi and radishes caught my eye. The most delightful hand dyed scarf made of hemp silk came home with me. I could not control my spending urges as I found the mug I have been manifesting for quite a while hand crafted by Architectural Ceramic Design. Alas, my morning ritual of matcha has the final element--the perfect mug!
Connecting with the seasonal offerings of abundance is so critical to our lives. Connecting with purveyors and such gifts of creativity as well as nourishment is underrated in an age of technology.

http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/realmoney/articles/food.cfm

Creative REUSE

Making use of things that would otherwise be discarded is of particular importance to me. I've been recently packing my lunches in glass jars that used to be homes for mustard and nut butters. I really enjoy conserving and reusing although sometimes it can be insurmountable. Finding practical purposes for things we traditionally dispose of is something I aspire to incorporate daily. That box of chocolates? now a pencil box! I received a package in the mail today, apparently friends of mine are on the same bandwagon! It is delightfully refreshing. Please enjoy this photo with lovely and stylish creations! You may recognize the material.

Clean products NOW! www.safecosmetics.org

A Toxic Tub for Baby - And a Call to Action for Congress

Take Action! Ask Congress to Clean Up Cosmetics

Babies across America are sitting in bubbles tainted with cancer-causing chemicals and other toxins linked to serious health effects, according to a report released today by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Many of the contaminated products are advertised as "gentle," "pure" or "naturally refreshing."

Read the new report, "No More Toxic Tub," for all the details, but this is the quick and dirty version:

The Campaign sent unopened bubble bath, baby lotion and other products intended for babies and children, purchased in cities across the U.S., to an independent lab to be tested for 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde. Both chemicals are contaminants that do not appear on product labels, and both are carcinogenic; formaldehyde can also trigger rashes in those with sensitive skin.

The lab tested 48 kids' products for 1,4-dioxane and found it in 67 percent of the products. Of the 28 products tested for formaldehyde, 82 percent were positive. Seventeen products were contaminated with both 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde.

Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea baby wash, Sesame Street Bubble Bath, American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel, and even the iconic Johnson's Baby Shampoo were among the products that contained both of these toxic contaminants.

We know that cosmetics can be made without hazardous ingredients and contaminants. So what's going on? How is it legal for companies to sell baby and kids' skincare products that contain toxic chemicals used in embalming fluid, fumigants and automotive coolant? Worse yet, these chemicals aren't even on the label, so even the most ingredient-conscious parents wouldn't know whether the product is safe.

Take action right now: Ask your legislators to clean up cosmetics.

Some industry representatives say that a little bit of formaldehyde or 1,4-dioxane isn't going to harm anyone. But these bath products are regularly used on children in combination with numerous other products. Because our air, water and food can contain harmful chemicals, too, our total daily exposure to toxic chemicals can be significant and can add up to harm.

According to the National Academy of Sciences, several factors contribute to children's special vulnerability to the harmful effects of chemicals:

• A child's chemical exposures are greater pound-for-pound than those of an adult.
• Children are less able than adults to detoxify and excrete chemicals.
• Children's developing organ systems are more vulnerable to damage from chemical exposures.
• Children have more years of future life in which to develop disease triggered by early exposure.

The widespread presence of contaminants and other harmful ingredients in children's bath products is just one symptom of a self-regulated cosmetics industry badly in need of reform. We deserve better!

What Can You Do?

Ask your legislators to give the FDA the authority it needs to ensure that all cosmetics, from baby shampoo to lipstick to body lotion, are truly safe.

Spread the word to friends and family.

Download the report, check the list of products we tested and find safer alternatives at www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub.

Natural Products EXPO- Business as usual

With all the talk about the economy I didn't know what to expect for Expo West 2009 in terms of attendance. What I found instead were people coming together, to do what they've always done, and keep the pace of the industry stable and secure. The show seemed mellow, which may have been a result of my having known the floor layout from previous experience. I spoke with a woman I met last year and she verified I was looking for "quality not quantity." I know the show is a draw for many to get free stuff. I like to meet the producers, ask pertinent information and see the new products as well as get ideas for merchandising. Expo west always has incredible networking potential. Though I was only there for a day, the trip was well worth it. More later...