It's breast cancer awareness month!  Join the Breast Cancer Fund in pledging to go beyond the pink to prevention. Once you take the pledge, you'll receive a toolkit full of information on how you can avoid toxic chemicals in your home and when you're out shopping.

http://www.breastcancerfund.org/big-picture-solutions/beyond-the-pink/

Is thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative in your mascara?  There is a new global treaty that will ban the use of mercury in things such as thermoters, light bulbs & medical devises but mascara is exempt.  

Read more about the global treaty here. http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2013/in-the-public-eye-mascara-exempt-from-un-mercury-treaty

Check for thimerosal in your mascara here http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search.php?query=thimerosal&h=Search

A documentory for the whole family.  Chemerical is entertaining and informative.  My favorite thing about this film is that my kids loved it!  Throw in some cartoon characters & kids are always a little more interested.

Synopsis

From the creator of the award winning film "Garbage! The Revolution Starts At Home" (Sundance Channel, Super Channel) comes a shocking tale about the products we use to clean our homes and bodies.

"Chemerical" explores the life cycle of everyday household cleaners and hygiene products to prove that, thanks to our clean obsession, we are drowning in sea of toxicity.

The film is at once humorous, as we watch the Goode family try to turn a new leaf by creating and living in a toxic free home, and informative, as director Andrew Nisker works with many experts to give audiences the tools and inspiration to live toxic free.

Chemerical tackles "the toxic debate" in a truly informative and entertaining way, not only by raising awareness, but most importantly by providing simple solutions.

Watch.  Learn.  Enjoy.  Share!

http://vimeo.com/73713227

This is a must watch.  Our skin is our largest organ & what we put on it matters as much what we put in it.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfq000AF1i8  You can also watch it under our "Things That Matter" link.

Brought to my attention from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics http://www.safecosmetics.org/ & brought to you by http://www.30daysofdirty.com/ comes the Think Dirty app!  From their website "During Oct 1 - 30, 2013, the month of Breast Cancer Prevention month, we partner with Breast Cancer Fund, a registered charity, to spread the message of Breast Cancer prevention through avoiding potentially toxic ingredients in cosmetics and personal products. Each time you use Think Dirty app to scan a product, Think Dirty Inc. will donate $1 to Breast Cancer Fund for the cause of Safe Cosmetics."

Download the app & scan away!!

I just finished cleaning up from making two new recipe batches of soap.  The first, a lavendar smelling soap with pumice powder.  I am hoping for a nice gentle exfoliating soap but I may need to tweek my technique as to avoid clumping.  We'll see in a couple days when I cut it into bars!  The other is a slight tweek on a old favorite, mixed with oatmeal, barley, & cinnamon.  I replaced one of the main ingredients, olive oil, & used a Caledula infused oil.  Calendula infused oil smells warm with a slight floral scent & has medical properties as well.  

We received bags of whole Calendula flowers, Lavendar buds, & Comfrey leaves this week.  These will be turned into infused oils for several recipes coming soon!  Also Gotu Kola tincture for a salve, with it's medicinal properties it makes a great addition to sooth cuts, burns, scrapes & severe skin issues like eczema.