6 Questions to ask!

I wish I could give attribution to this apple image. It came in one of those e-mails that one is supposed to forward, maybe it was called "cutting edge." I really like apples. Mom always said to eat an apple a day! (Mom is 94 now.) And the butterfly is such a lovely symbol that I thought I'd use this to link you to the 6 questions that you should ask yourself before you buy any product that is "PINK." You know, where if you send in 4 lids from a yogurt, a donation will be made to breast cancer research. The list of questions are very illuminating. Read them here.
Oh yes, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month: we're aware already! How about some Breast Cancer prevention!! Thanks for listening, please read the questions and pass this information along to others.

Toile-la-la

There are a lot of features in this bag I created for a charity auction, which I don't do on my Fritzi shop bags, in order to keep the costs down. For this bag, I made an adjustable strap, have an inside pocket with a hook and loop closure, and the bag is reversible. The Toile is the outside BUT it can be reversed for the floral exterior. I included a matching Purse for Change. Also, this is new fabric. I wanted to have some pink for reference to cancer, and created it in honor of our cousin, who just finished her chemo. The name of the bag: Toile-la-la!

Think Pink? or Think Again!

As you've read in previous posts, I'm very concerned about the safety of skin care products and cosmetics. My daughter alerted me to a way that we can make our voices heard by sending letters to cosmetics companies via a web site called Think Before you Pink
Clik on their "take action" button. Also, see
mica's blog on the subject. We can make a difference in the market place. Don't buy products that contain known or suspected carcinogens, don't do it. Check out your products on the Safety Date base, Skin Deep.
You're worth it, spend the time, spend the money, do it as if you life depended on it, because it may. Can I make this any stronger? Don't give your money to companies that don't care about your health. Take action!

This just in...more about Cancer awareness.

My cousin just sent this e-mail. She had a bi-lateral mastectomy last month so is, naturally, very concerned. She has made herself very knowledgeable about products and here's what she found out. I have to admit, I'm the one who bought this bottle for her at a sporting goods store, thinking that it'd be SAFE! Fortunately, she did the research.

Hi all,

I need to spread the word that several stores across the U.S. are selling this pink water bottle (pic attached), called the "Breast Cancer Awareness Bottle," and that it would be in your best interest to NOT PURCHASE IT! It contains chemicals linked to Cancer, specifically BISPHENOL-A (BPA). This is an ingredient used to make polycarbonate. Canada has BANNED these bottles and other products made with this chemical, but our own Food and Drug Administration says that the link to cancer "cannot be proven," so these products are still on the shelves!

This BPA bottle is technically not refillable because once the bottle warms up/heats up and reaches a certain temperature, the toxins from the plastic bottle can transfer to the liquid you are drinking inside it. Repeated cooling and then thawing/warming of bottles made with this chemical is not recommended.

The next time you drink from ANY plastic water bottle be sure to turn it over and look for the number inside the little recyclable logo. If it has a number 7, make sure you throw the bottle away after drinking its contents. PLEASE DO NOT REFILL, CHILL AND REUSE BOTTLES UNLESS THEY ARE BPA-FREE!! Fortunately, there are BPA-free brands available to us, just do a Google search.

I cannot believe the irony in this situation. A product is being sold to bring awareness to Breast Cancer and it's not safe and may actually cause Cancer?!

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, PEOPLE! SPREAD THE WORD!

x.o

Safe?

A special post for all my dear family and friends, and readers of my blog, wherever you are:
since being with our cousin after her breast cancer surgery, I'm even more aware of the need for women to take to the market place concerns for what is in products aimed at women. The statistic that I read and had confirmed by our cousin's oncologist is that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer. These are women with no family history of it. What can we do to prevent cancer? Who really knows for sure, however, there is something we women can do and that is to change the products we use. Products that we put on our skin are absorbed quickly into our system, thus the use of patches to administer meds. Our skin is our biggest organ. So what do we put on it....known carcinogens! Yes, check out the products you use, moisturizers, make-up, shampoos, and even nail polish. Make yourself aware of what is in them. One place you can check is on-line at the Skin Deep cosmetic safety data base. It's run by a non-profit group. I have been gradually eliminating products containing phthalates, lauryl and laureths, and parabens. So far, I have found moisturizers, sunscreen, shampoo and conditioner, nail polish, and some makeup that I feel is safer for me. I, also, learned that there is mercury in mascara and found one by Jane Iredale, that I buy on-line, that is mercury free. (put "mercury in mascara" into your browser and see what you get, Minnesota has banned the sale of mascara with mercury.) You can find resources to purchase these products on-line if you can't find them in a shop where you live. I buy my moisturizer by Nuxe through SpaSkin, which doesn't charge shipping, a plus. I was able to buy Badger sunscreen on-line, then found it at Wegman's in New jersey. The Burt's Bees was available in Walmart (which I don't shop at normally, but went there with our cousin) but I'm sure it's readily available in stores. I was really impressed by the Burt's Bees because right on the label it said "no phthalates, no lauryl or laureth, no parabens. O.P.I. nail polish is free of dangerous chemicals, yay, I love my purple and blue nail polish! The E.U., European Union, is very strict about carcinogens in the skin care and make products sold in E.U. countries. Buying from those countries, if the formulation hasn't changed for American export, is a better choice for us, which is my reason for buying Nuxe, a French product. I am really upset, really, when my female friends and relatives mention price when talking about skin care products and make-up. It's our health here, dear ones. Gradually replace your products with safe ones. You're worth it. Please! Do it! For those of you nearing your 40th birthday, get that first mammogram. For those of you who are pregnant and not considering breast feeding...re-think this decision. Breast feeding can lower your risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, not to mention the benefits to your child. Educate yourself, please. Vote for safer products in the market place with your purchases. Please share with me any other information you learn, a products you like, a site you found that is helpful, and so on. Please pass this information to other women. HUGS for all of you.

Pink

This post is for Dawn. Yesterday, our cousin Dawn had a bi-lateral mastectomy. Today, at my hair cutting place, they were making a cancer survivor chain in preparation for their annual Lance Armstrong cancer awareness day. I added a link in the chain with Dawn's name on it. I'm wearing a pink tee shirt in her honor. (I rarely wear anything but black) She is a survivor. I'll be going to spend time with her in a few days.