Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Hidden Killers


I'm the type of person who tries her best to cook our meals from scratch ensuring they are healthy. I try to use any body products for myself & our girls that are 'Good' which means - I make my own lotions HERE and body scrubs HERE and I use a shampoo that pretty much has good ingredients (after much research that is)

So, today I just wanted to share with you my readers some info that you may or may not know about. Some of the sites I use on a regular basis and how I 'Shop' for anything I would consider to use on our bodies. 

For many years I have known about some of the 'NO, NO' chemicals that are in most of everything, but some I have learned about over the last 2 years, thanks to our little girl Carys having super sensitive skin, but if i'm honest I don't like what the big named companies are putting into their products - even if they say it's 99% Natural ( If you learn how to read the label and its ingredients - you will realize it's not all that it's made out to be)




Below is a list of what to look for - I will add there are so many other products that have these NO-NO Chemicals so make sure you read the label BEFORE buying.


I love this site, you can type in a chemical and find out about it and its ratings on how good or bad it is;

Ingredients to avoid1

Prefixes ethyl, methyl, butyl or propyl


  • What it is: Parabens
  • Health risks: Endocrine disrupters that mimic estrogen; linked to weight gain and breast cancer
  • Found in: Lotions and shampoos

Fragrance, DEHP, DHP, DBP 5, dibutyl phthalate



  • What it is: Phthalates
  • Health risks: Sperm damage, infertility
  • Found in: Nail polish, shampoo, deodorant, lotion

Dyes: Blue 1, Green 3, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 33



  • What it is: Coal tar
  • Health risks: Carcinogenic
  • Found in: Hair color, medicated shampoos

Triclosan, chloro, phenol, irgasan



  • What it is: Triclosan
  • Health risks: Endocrine and thyroid disrupter; promotes antibiotic-resistant bacteria; bioaccumulates in the body
  • Found in: Antibacterial soap, shampoo, facial cleanser, toothpaste, deodorant

3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), octyl-dimethyl-PABA (OD-PABA), bexophenome-3 (Bp-3), homosalate (HMS)



  • What it is: Sunscreen chemicals
  • Health risks: Estrogenic activity; enhances the potential for pesticides to penetrate the skin
  • Found in: Sunscreens

Polyethylene glycol (PEG, PPG, Cocoate), propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, polyethoxyethylene, polyethoxyethylene mineral oil



  • What it is: Petroleum byproducts
  • Health risks: Carcinogen; liver and kidney effects
  • Found in: Lotions
  • WET WIPES.

Petrolatum

  • What it is: Derivative of petroleum
  • Health risks: Endocrine disrupter; carcinogen
  • Found in: Lotions

Lead acetate, thimerosal, mercurius solubilis, mercurius sublimates, mercurius corrosives, mercuric chloride



  • What it is: Lead and mercury
  • Health risks: Found in higher levels in women with breast cancer; neurotoxin
  • Found in: Hair color, wound treatments, artificial tears

Isobutene

  • What it is: Propellant made from petroleum processing
  • Health risks: Carcinogen
  • Found in: Moisturizer, shaving cream, foot spray, breath freshener

Placenta

  • What it is: Placenta, placental enzymes, placental extract
  • Health risks: Filled with hormones that upset your own balance and increase estrogen
  • Found in: Skin and hair conditioner

Hydroquinone

  • What it is: Hydroquinone
  • Health risks: Can cause a skin disease called ochronosis
  • Found in: Skin whitener

Nano zinc oxide <100mm



  • What it is: Nanoparticles
  • Health risks: The safety of nanoparticles has not been tested, but they can cross the blood/brain barrier and move along nerves
  • Found in: Sunscreens, lotions

READ THE FULL ARTICAL HERE WRITTEN BY ANGELA KOWIESKI







CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR A FREE DOWNLOAD FROM NATURAL HELATHY CONCEPTS




Read more >>

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Feild Museum, Chicago.

Last Sunday, before we drove home from Chicago,  we visited Chicago's Field Museum. 
It houses 'Sue' the Trynnosaurus Rex. 
And boy, she is quite the dinosaur!


There was quite alot to see...we managed to get to see pretty much everything,  even if it was a quick walk through the plant section and the worlds fair, and bio-mechanics!!.The girls didn't find them that interesting :-)
In most of our pictures, Carys is crying....she didn't much like the skeletal displays or the lions or gorilla. .. Etc. lol
Seren, on th other hand wouldn't stand to have her picture! ! Kids.
It was a nice day... even if our feet and legs ached from ALL the walking.
On the way home, we stopped at Portillo's diner... drive through. We ordered a classic Chicago dog, burger, a chocolate cake batter, shake and salad for me.

The shake... oh, I had a slurp and it was different to say the least..but an little too sweet for me (I know the lady who loves chocolate right!)

I had a bite of the burger... Very good and 2 bites of the Chicago dog and that was pretty good too. Salad... Well is salad right.
Then we drove home... All tired out.

I have to say, I stuck with my calorie counting and with all the walking l, plus I did ny exercise dvd too while there...I was way under my calories :-)

All in all....a much needed break and a great trip to Chicago.








Read more >>

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Sears Tower

Our visit to Chicago.

Skyline of the skyscrapers in Chicago.
And our trip up the Sears Tower or as it's called now the Willis Tower. Travelling up to the 103rd floor - makes your ears pop!
It was neat to look at the mini sized cars so far below.

And us having our picture standing in the glass Skydeck! ! But don't look down or you freak out....lol
All in  all a fun Friday Evening.


CHICAGO SKYLINE





LAKE MICHIGAN ON THE LEFT



THE BLACK SKYSCRAPER ON THE RIGHT OF CARYS IS THE



SEARS/WILLIS TOWER
SKYDECK!
SEE THE STREETS BELOW OUR FEET!!
HOW COOL IS THAT.




OPEN YOUR EYES, SEREN LOL


I WAS BRAVE AND KNELT DOWN!!

Read more >>

Happy 4th Birthday Seren - Shedd Aquarium

Today has been a busy yet wonderful day.

We woke to celebrate Seren's 4th birthday :-) 4 wonderful, sleep deprived, quick growing years. Seren was lucky to be born in my home country Wales, Great Britain.  And she has been a delight since day 1.
She was so happy to get 2 Lalaloopsy Dolls.

We had breakfast and headed out. We we going  to visit Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
What a beautiful ornament building.  There were tons and tons of different types of fish. etc and most of all Sharks and dolphins. .. Although my cell died so I don't have any pictures of the dolphins
:-(

It was wonderful seeing all these beautiful creatures and the graceful movements they made in water.
Gosh, I Waugh I could swim like a fish!! I have adverse reactions to being splashed let alone swim with my eyes open under water lol.

We also went to Adler Planetarium which Carys slept through half of it. Seren liked son of the hands on stuff. I'll post pictures of that again as I had to use my camera.

We had dinner at 312chicago.
  An Italian restaurant. ...so nice and the food was delicious, even the girls chicken tenders were proper chicken and coated in such delicious batter. I had an arugula salad with balsamic dressing followed by a Butternut squash Tortellini..so good and then naughty we had this lush, flour less chocolate cake - which Jason and I shared ( less calories for me right)

 And it wasn't too expensive. And a shout out to our server... His name was Tony...complete with a full Chicago accent. He was fabulous.
 We even left him a little thank you message on the receipt with a nice little tip. .. Yes, he was that good.
He even came up to us as we  are leaving the restaurant and was so thankful.

Now, we are back at the hotel... Worn out and our new 4 yr old birthday girl, Seren is fast asleep... Carys on the other hand, is finding anything to do to cause mischief! 

So till tomorrow and our day at the Field Museum. .. Night night.


GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY SEREN



OHHH....LALALOOPSY DOLLS







OUSIDE SHEDD AQUARIUM


HUGS FOR THE FISH!!

INSIDE SHEDD AQUARIUM

BABY CATFISH

SPOTTED STINGRAY



HOLY HUGE FISH!! 


STINGRAY KISSING THE GLASS

SEREN WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THE SIZE OF THE FAKE SNAKE.
EVEN THOUGH SHE INISITED IT WAS REAL LOL


SAY CHEESE!


LOOK MAMA!! TURTLES


NEON FISH



SHARKS!!!!



Duh Nuh, Duh Nuh, Duh Nuh ( jaws music)




Beluga Whales



PENGUINS

Read more >>

Popular Posts