Is UNDERWEAR Clothing? Or Have I Blown It!?

I went to Target (that doyen of the fashion industry) yesterday to buy something necessary (true!) and boring, and noticed that they had a sale!!!

Oh no! The dreaded word.  SALE. This was a big test.

What was on sale was underwear:  bras and briefs.

I browsed, not intending to buy (strong willed-person that I am) but, just out of curiosity, decided to use the self-bar scan to see how much some of the items were to buy.

Famous last words.... $5 bras and $1.50 undies (Bonds brand yet!). 

Yup, I bought a year’s supply!

Bang! went my ‘I won’t buy any clothes for myself for a year!’ pledge.

When I got home I looked at my purchases, sorted through what I already had, and justified.....

1.     About 30% of the things I have already need replacing

2.    About another 30% of them will need replacing in the next 4 months

3.    The remaining 40% will give me enough for 3-4 days of wear without washing (not a safe ‘week’s worth!’)

4.  Underwear is not clothes!

Huh?  How can I clarify that last statement? Underwear is not clothing because:

a.    it is socially expected

b.    other people rarely see it on you

c.    over-used underwear should not be worn in case you are in an accident

d.    running with loose elastic can be a health hazard!

I can make myself believe it but, just in case, I am selling 5 pairs of shoes on ebay. 

Anyone want some leather, pointed toe, silver coloured flats? (Size 9 Zu brand)

Dali's animal icons

I recently watched Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’; where famous 1920’s Parisian-based artists, designers, authors, composers and mentors were depicted in wonderful, quirky characterisations. 

Allen’s Salvador Dali was humorously wacky; insistent on painting a portrait of the lead character (Owen Wilson) as a rhinoceros shedding an oversized tear drop holding a reflection of Christ.

In the context of the movie you laugh; how bizarre; what a vivid caricature of the man (Dali); how weird would that painting look, etc. 

Dali’s fascination with animal images was represented in many of his works from the 1950 onwards.  The rhinos in his paintings and sculptures are elongated and majestic. Much is written about the iconography: Dali painted rhinoceros horns, signifying divine geometry, because they grow in a logarithmic spiral. Dali also linked the rhino horn to the legendary unicorn horn, a symbol of chastity.

My favorite are his butterflies: I am absolutely captured by them. The colours and the essence of them, on sailing ships and windmills, creating images of freedom, travelling in course-less directions, where ever the wind takes you.  

In ancient Greek, the word ’psyche’ means soul and butterfly.

I wonder what my psyche is trying to tell me?  

LIVING WITHOUT ADDED CHEMICALS PART 2

The next instalment in my list of the ‘tried and good for me’ products

Shampoos and Conditioners:

The Swisse shampoo and conditioner is a winner.  The front of the package highlights what is NOT in the product (lots of nasties are eliminated).

The shampoo and conditioner smells gorgeous (citrusy), suds better than the other chemical free brands and makes it easy to comb through afterwards.  Not super cheap (half a litre for $20) but awesome to use. 

Available in Chemist Warehouse. J

Downside: ‘One choice fits all’ with this one, so if you have massively flyaway hair or it is dry as a bone, this is probably not for you. 

Kitchen stuff:

I am on the mailing list for a website called Nourished Life out of Sydney.  http://www.nourishedlife.com.au/.  The lady who runs this site is trying to eliminate all toxins from her life.  I was a bit horrified when I was reading about baking paper (which I use all the time!!!!). This is an excerpt from her blog (I also verified her findings by doing some research of my own, and she is correct!)

‘Some conventional baking paper (parchment paper) is lined with a chemical called quilon, which is made from a heavy metal that becomes toxic when cooked! (And) ... standard white baking paper is bleached with toxic chemicals that can leach into our cakes.’

She found a toxin-free baking paper (a company called 'If You Care') that she imports from USA.  I bought some - two rolls of baking/ parchment paper and two boxes of muffin paper cups (mini and Texan) for $15, plus about $6 for postage.  Works just the same as the supermarket bought products: is just a different colour.  J 

I will buy extra next time to cut down on postage.

‘Processed’ Food:

I am trying to not buy canned food unless the tin says it is unlined.  Many brands of tomatoes, beans, chickpeas, soups etc come in white-lined tins.  The more acidic the contents (ie tomatoes), the worse the leaching of the BPA from the plastic lining.

Different cans have different levels of BPA, so you don’t know how much you are ingesting. (See the excerpt from the SMH at the bottom of this post.)

This is the busy mum’s dinner nightmare.  (A BPA-free can of tomatoes is >$2.50!!!!!!)

Solution:

Tomatoes: I am buying passata in glass jars (yes – there is BPA in the lids, but much, much less overall than in the whole can).  I look for the passata that has no added stuff, just tomatoes and salt. The packaging is still recyclable and it works out about the same cost as the canned tomatoes I used to buy.

Beans/Chickpeas: I am cooking and freezing my own beans and chick peas: I soak and cook a whole mountain of them and then freeze them in can-size amounts.

Vegetables: I am using more frozen veges. Emergency meals with veges – peas/corn/etc. 

The down side: I need to buy a bigger freezer! 

From the Sydney Morning Herald comes this statement:

Conditions connected to regular consumption of BPA are varied and range from breast and prostate cancer, infertility and early puberty in girls to type-2 diabetes, obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Last year, a similar study by consumer group Choice found that 33 out of the 38 products they tested contained BPA. And just one serving of 29 of them delivered a dose that exceeded a safe daily level of exposure for a 70kg adult.

The Endocrine Society, the world's oldest, largest and most active organisation devoted to research on hormones, issued its first-ever scientific statement on BPA, saying that it can interfere with human hormone systems even at acutely low doses,( and contribute to increases in breast cancer).

SOMETHING FISHY – SUSTAINABLE TUNA

Sarah Wilson http://www.sarahwilson.com.au wrote in her blog today about the best tuna to buy ... which are most sustainable and which are lower in mercury.

She is also encouraging people to buy these products so that they stay on the supermarket shelves. A summary of her post is below. 

P.S. I usually get the Safcol brand in olive oil.  Would you believe that many other brands in ‘olive oil’ actually also have canola or other oil too.  Safcol is 100% olive oil and brine.  Yummy tuna too.

The ‘Portview’ brand is an Aldi brand but only comes in the smaller cans. 

Reasons for buying pole and line caught:

• fewer sharks, turtles, whales and dolphins will be killed. 
• the rate of fishing is more sustainable.
• tuna species that are under pressure will be given a break.
• more local fisherman can be employed. 
• developing coastal nations will feel the benefit.
• it won’t hurt your hip pocket.

Interesting to know: all the pole and line products (except Woolworths’) are skipjack tuna, which is significantly lower in mercury than yellowfin (which Sirena is full of).

THE POWER OF GIVING

Lots of big companies have these reward membership deals, Woolies and Coles, Priceline, Flybuys etc.  You save up your points for cheaper petrol, or a holiday, or a toaster that sings, etc.

Chemist Warehouse has just launched a rewards program too, but with a difference.

A percentage of your total purchases go towards a charity of your choice.

I know Ritches/IGA have always done this, but they don’t have a convenient outlet near me. 

I logged on to the Chemist Warehouse website and the charities they support are the Black Dog Institute, Kidney Health, Canteen, Children’s Hospital Foundations and the Asthma Foundation. 

You can change the ‘direction’ of your points allocation monthly, or donate to all.  You flash your card when you buy things.  You just have to decide to shop there (I know, and increase their profit margin too...)!

That started me thinking about GIVING

Wiki defines giving as ‘the transfer of something without the expectation of receiving something in return’.

The buying of gifts for special occasions, either real (Birthdays or Anniversaries) or commercial (Christmas, Valentines, Mother/Fathers Day) is a tradition that can cause pleasure and sometimes degrees of anxiety.

Choosing the correct gift, let’s say, for a 50^th birthday can cause anxiety.  Do you get something they will like? how much do you spend? should it be personal or practical? etc, etc, etc. 

At least with wedding anniversary gifts there is a convention ‘guide’: the 25^th anniversary is silver etc. to help you with your choice. 

With gifts, my mother has repeatedly stated that she doesn’t want gifts for any celebration at all (but she always gives us one!).

Children spend hours at the mother’s day stall choosing the correct mug or golf ball decorated with hair to fit the budget they have....  ‘Do you like it????’

Don’t you love seeing people open a gift you have given them, and know by the look on their face that they appreciate it?

How do you feel when you leave a gift under the Kmart wishing tree at Christmas, knowing that you will have made some young child’s Christmas that little bit special.

You bake biscuits and cakes for gifts because you know everyone loves eating treats; instead of the convenience of shopping for the gift, the giving of your own time is the gift (which is why handmade cards are so appreciated).

Why do so many people donate to the Salvos or volunteer for non profit organisations?

In giving either a gift or yourself there is no expectation to receive something in return; however in reality you do, you feel it!

Living Without Added Chemicals Part 1 (including a nasty chemical list)

I am trying to live more mindfully in terms of what I am putting in through my skin, and also down the drain, but still being realistic about the cost of these products.  I can’t afford to buy $40 specialist shampoos and $80 boutique moisturisers.

As I use up a product, I am replacing it with another that should be better in many ways, both health-wise and environment-wise.  I am trying to remove from my life the proven nasties like Parabens and Lauryl Sulphates etc, (see the nasties list at the end of todays rant).  I am undecided about mineral oils being bad or neutral, as there is clinical documentation both ways. (As always, I have done my scientific homework but don't want to bore you with the reference list!)

Anyway, here is a short list of what I have tried so far, and my ‘review’ of each.   J or L.  More reviews to come. Also, some ‘antiviews’ and a wish list.

My hair is normal and my skin is normal to dry-ish, if that helps you decide to try any of these.

Shampoos and Conditioners

©       E-Scen-Cia by Samy Shampoo and Conditioner

Ok, but doesn’t give a satisfying shampoo.  Not enough suds. Hair is a bit wild and dry feeling afterward.  Smells nice though. L

 

©       Eco Store Shampoo and Conditioner 

       A bit like the one above, does the job but ........ doesn’t feel right.  Very little perfume. L

 

Hand Cream

 

©       Swisse is an Australian Company ( did know that?) who make the vitamins that are heavily advertised. 

 

I am using their hand cream at the moment, nice citrus smell and it works great.  Not greasy and does the job.  Reasonably affordable ($12 in Chemist Warehouse). J

 

They have shampoos and conditioners too which I will try next, once I use up the other ones. 

 

Skin Care

©       Sukin – Cream Cleanser – I like this, and I like the smell too.  $10 for a pump bottle in Chemist Warehouse. I am going to get around to trying their other products when I use up what I have already. J

 

©       Nivea - the Cream, the one in the blue tub that has been around for years and years. There is mineral oil in it, but no other known nasties that they have on the ingredients list. Love the smell, reminds me of my childhood.  A bit heavy if you have oily skin, but I love it at night, or on my hands, legs, anywhere! J

 

©       Rose Hip Oil (any brand so long as it is 100% pure and organic) Sukin, Natio, Moogoo, Trilogy etc – This is great stuff.  Not too heavy and I love the feel. Good at night.  Prices range from $12 to $30 a bottle.  J

 

Stuff I would like to try

The products from these companies would be great to try but a bit out of my price range:

©       Miessence range

©       Say Yes to Carrots and Say Yes to Blueberries

 

Antiviews

These are the products that are not nasty free but should be as they make out they are.

Body Shop – most products here have at least 3 off the nasty list. L

Natio – same as above but with essential oils added (apart from their rose hip oil!). L

Avene – same as above L

Palmers cocoa butter/olive oil ranges- ditto L

 

House hold products

©       Ecostore: Dish wash tabs- work as well as the brand name ones.  30 tabs for about $18.  They come with water soluable cellophane wrappings, just bung in a start washing! J

©       Earth Choice: All the products I have tried from this company have worked well and are affordable.J

Dish washing tabs - 25 tabs for about $12. 

Laundry liquid – (the one in the clear bottle). Nice perfume, really cheap and works well, good for soaking clothes in too.  The concentrate is too perfumed for my liking. 

Toilet cleaner: works well and great scent.

Multipurpose spray: works well on everything.

 

More to come.

 

In case you were wondering ... how did I go at Ikea?  $20 over my return budget, so I am selling one of my handbags, a Country Road canvas tote, on Ebay. Feeling virtuous!

 

Toxic Ingredient Directory. 

These chemicals are present in many products and have been shown to have varying degrees of toxicity, and some have been shown to be carcinogenic.

·             1,4-dioxane

·             2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bronopol)

·             Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)

·             Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)

·             Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)

·             Anionic Surfactants

·             Benzalkonium Chloride

·             Butylated Hudroxyanisole (BHA)

·             Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

·             Cationic surfactants

·             Cetalkonium chloride

·             Cetrimonium chloride

·             Chloromethylisothiazolinone

·             Isothiazolinone

·             Cocoamidopropyl Betaine

·             Cocoyl Sarcosine

·             Cyclomethicone

·             DEA (diethanolamine), MEA   (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (triethanolamine)

·             Diazolidinyl urea

·             Dimethicone

·             Dimethicone Copolyol

·             Disodium Dioctyl Sulfosuccinate

·             Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

·             Disodium Oleamide Sulfosuccinate

·             DMDM Hydantoin

·             Ethoxylated surfactants

·             FD&C Colour Pigments

·             Formaldehyde

·             Fragrance

·             Hydrolysed Animal Protein

·             Imidazolidinyl urea

·             Lanolin

·             Lauryl dimonium hydrolysed collagen

·             Lauryl or Cocoyl Sarcosine

·             Lauryl Sarcosine

·             Liquidum Paraffinum

·             MEA compounds

·             Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone

·             Mineral Oil

·             Nitrosating Agents

·             Paraben preservatives (methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl)

·             Paraffin wax/oil

·             Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) compounds

·             Potassium Coco Hydrolysed Collagen

·             Propylene/Butylene Glycol

·             PVP/VA Copolymer

·             Quaternium-7, 15, 31, 60, etc

·             Rancid Natural Emollients

·             Silicone derived emollients

·             Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate

·             Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)

·             Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate

·             Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)

·             Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

·             Stearalkonium Chloride

·             Talc

·             TEA (Triethanolamine) Laureth Sulfate

·             TEA compounds

·             Toluene