Tuesday 28 February 2012

whats the matter grumpy?

This is what I've felt like the past few days ^

I just wanted to be warm and cosy in my burrow, its been so cold and rainy lately it has made my procratination levels soar and I have been feeling rather down about life, I think a lot of people dont admit when things get on top of them, I know I don't, I just smile and say "yeah I'm fine" when asked, but instead I would like to be honest and say "you know what, NO I'm not ok, I feel crappy, I feel like screaming rather loudly and stamping my feet like a two year old, I want to forget work, forget making dinner, forget homeschooling and hide under the duvet until the sun comes out and this dark feeling passes".

Periods, they are blamed for a lot of this hormonal disruption and yes I do know when I'm being a bitch and have a weepy day and that is def down to periods but other times, times when all around you seems happy and nice do you get this despair and nothings good feeling?

I have suffered from postnatal depression in the past and got so low at one point in my life a long time ago that I tried (and failed obviously) to kill myself, I think it was a cry for help rather than me not wanting to live, I was in a very bad relationship at the time and had no support from family. This was one of my lowest points, so I know what it is like to be depressed.
I'm not depressed now, I'm not talking about depression with the feelings I described, more of an nagging feeling of despair that passes as quickly as it comes.

I am, I think a positive person, one who tries to see the good in all we do, one who has a happy life with an adorable partner and 3 lovely (if not rather trying ) teens, I craft , I bake, I have good friends, I enjoy my life, I am thankful but still I feel like crap some days.
We are going to a discover your true potential seminar tonight so I'm hoping my black cloud will pass and tomorrow I will wake with new vigour and a real smile.
Thanks for reading my rant, its nice to have a blog to say how I really fell sometimes x

Thursday 23 February 2012

Claires highstreet shop rips off UK crafts woman

Check out Tatty Devines post Can you spot the difference? this is a blatent copying from highstreet chain Claires, they should be ashamed of themselves, please share this with all your friends and social network sites, this kind of thing needs to go viral, Claires has been deleting anyones posts about this on facebook and not issued a statement about it, as a small business and crafts person myself this disgusts me, and we should make others aware that this kinda thing goes on, how would you feel if this was your design?, I know I would be fuming, hurt and upset. So please share x

Friday 17 February 2012

NEW GIRL - "Hey Girl" Music Video: Lamorne's Choice


I'm really loving the new series starring Zooey Deschanel, New Girl. It's quirky, funny and makes me feel all warm inside, I love the fashion she wears in it and the relationship between all the flatmates, the actors have been chosen brilliantly, if you in UK and haven't seen it yet you can catch up on 4OD.

I also watched Flakes last night, a film about a ceral shop! this also starred Zooey and was odd but good, you can see it on netflix, have a lovely weekend all you girly girls and enjoy singing "who's that girl" over and over because it gets stuck in your head!

Monday 13 February 2012

Research - The Dangers of SLS

If you know me well you will know how passionate I am about not using anything un-natural on our bodies, I know take my knowledge for granted as it has become second nature to me not to buy mainstream products because of the chemicals and carcinogens they contain but whilst out shopping with a friend the other day, she was complaining about her psoriasis and was looking at the head and shoulders range of shampoos, it dawned on me that whilst a very intelligent person she was unaware of the hidden nasties. I do sometimes wonder if friends and family get tired of me talking to them about all this kinda stuff but i feel its my duty to say, in fact I just can't keep my mouth shut about it, so with that in mind dear readers I am telling you today about one of the most common ingredients that's found in your bathroom products, well actually I will leave it to an expert, the following is some interesting research carried out by Philippa Turnbull at www.naturallybetterforyou.co.uk. This information originally appeared in Naturally Better for You, the magazine about natural products, their health benefits, and where to buy them.
"...When was the last time you covered your body in corrosive industrial cleaner? The answer is, probably this morning. And if you have children, what about them? How would you feel about washing their hair in something known to cause cataracts? Again, chances are you already do. These shocking facts are incredible but true. After reading this article, just go to your bathroom and look at the lists of ingredients on the personal care products you and your family use. The higher up the list that an ingredient appears, the greater the proportion of that chemical in the product. This article is about ingredients that you can truly say are a real health hazard. The information here could save your life.

Chemical exposure in the home today is a far greater contributor to poor health and increased cancer risk than ever previously thought. The word “cancer” has become one of the most feared words in society today. It is established that at this very moment one third of us have cancer at different stages of development and in the next 20 years it is expected that this figure will rise. Harsh toxic industrial chemicals and carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) are invading our lives through ingredients we believe are safe, and trust. They are found in many of our commonly-used shampoos, conditioners and bubble baths (and many other personal care products). When they interact with other ingredients and substances, it is now known that once they get into the body through their intended use they can have a serious effect on our health through gradual poisoning and an increased risk of cancer. For example, most commercial shower gels contain a corrosive industrial cleaner. More about this later, and about an actual poison warning that appears on toothpaste in America.

Let’s talk about some of the experiences we may have had that are chemical reactions: – sneezing after using a scent or spray deodorant, a skin reaction after using a particular cosmetic, lotion, or shampoo. Even more common is the persistent headache after painting the house or having a new carpet laid. Or have you noticed how itchy your scalp can feel if you don’t manage to rinse out your shampoo properly? We are all exposed to these chemical reactions and don’t even realise it.

Which do you think is commonly thought of as the most dangerous room in the house? The kitchen? If you think of the dangers in terms of health risk, not injury statistics, the bathroom is the most dangerous room in the house. Of the chemicals available for use in personal and skin care products, 884 have been reported as toxic substances and 125 as cancer-causing agents. It may surprise you to learn that at the turn of century cancer was a rare disease, but today 1in 3 get cancer and 1 in 4 die from it. Why, you ask, are these potentially harmful ingredients allowed in personal care products? What are they doing to me and my children and grandchildren? Are there any safe alternatives out there?

I want to alert you to the possible health hazards you may encounter in the products you use every day and to enable you to make informed decisions concerning the kind of ingredients you should look out for. Research has found that many ingredients used may be linked to liver, lung, heart, brain damage, premature babies, cataracts, environmental cancers, contact dermatitis, and possibly eye damage in young children. Most people have no idea what many of the products they use every day in good faith are doing to them. In the UK in June 1999, the chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition was a keynote speaker to a select committee from both houses of parliament, on the need for cancer prevention and the ways in which this should be done, with particular emphasis on avoidable toxins in the home and workplace. The fact is that information on these damaging chemicals has been available for several years, but it hasn’t even been publicised inside the medical community let alone more generally. It usually takes about 20 years for scientific health information to become general knowledge but that doesn’t mean that you have to wait to protect yourself and your family. Of the 1000 new chemicals introduced onto the market each year, only 12 are tested for carcinogenic effects.

So what are some of the most harmful ingredients that you should watch out for? Well, the greatest concern of many scientists has centred around an ingredient that’s found in about 90% of all commercial shampoos, shower gels and bubble baths. It’s sodium lauryl sulphate, or SLS for short. It has other names too –see below. There is also sodium laureth sulphate or SLESf the most harmful ingredients that you should watch out for? Well, the greatest concern of many scientists has centred around an ingredient that’s found in about 90% of all commercial shampoos, shower gels and bubble baths. It’s sodium lauryl sulphate, or SLS for short. It has other names too –see below. There is also sodium laureth sulphate or SLES. But with sodium laureth sulphate, dioxins are created – and they are some of the most potentially dangerous carcinogens in the world. That’s what Agent Orange the chemical foliage spray was composed of. And from which those serving in Vietnam have been getting cancer. Now just check your present shampoo bottle! The reason SLS is so common is that it is inexpensive, and just a small amount mixed with table salt produces a lot of foam. But, profound health hazards aside, SLS is highly corrosive. In the industrial world it’s used for engine degreasing, garage floor cleaning, in car wash soaps and the like. The manufacturers of SLS, in their material safety data sheets, issue strict guidelines for the safe handling of the material. These include wearing self-contained breathing apparatus, heavy rubber gloves and safety goggles! The guidelines say to avoid inhalation and not to get in the eyes or on skin as it is irritating to mucous membranes and the upper respiratory tract. This could be a challenge when taking a shower, or having a bubble bath in the stuff! SLS also corrodes hair follicles and impairs their ability to grow hair. One study showed that if you use SLS on your scalp it will cause hair to fall out! If it is known to corrode hair follicles and stop hair growth and to make it fall out, whyever use it?

There are however other more profound health hazards associated with SLS. Scientists have studied the effects of SLS extensively, and their studies reveal compelling and alarming evidence indicating that it should be avoided. Among the findings is that SLS is rapidly taken up by eye tissue and retained. Its uptake is greater in young children. Again SLS is absorbed through skin contact, not just through the eyes. Our eyes develop most during the first few years of our lives, yet we’re dousing children with SLS. And it’s not just bad for children’s eyes. SLS has been also linked to cataracts in adults. SLS has been documented to enter and maintain residual levels in the brain, liver, heart, and lungs from skin contact such as shampooing. It can damage the immune system and cause severe inflammation of the skin. The damage is accumulative. Once your immune system is damaged it takes long time for it to recover. This can lead to a form of suppression of your body that allows you to become more vulnerable to viruses or bacteria.

What about baby shampoos? A quick glance in the supermarket is all it takes to see that SLS is the main ingredient in baby shampoos. (The higher up the ingredients list SLS occurs, the higher its concentration compared to the other ingredients.) But it’s not only shampoos we have to watch out for. SLS is in a lot of other personal care products as well, including toothpaste, hand and body soaps, facial cleansers, shaving gel. In bubble bath it can cause urinary tract infections. Another concern with SLS is its tendency to react with other ingredients as it can form a potent cancer-causing agent.

Why have you not heard more about this? Remember that the makers of personal care products are making billions of pounds a year. Just like the tobacco industry was able to do for decades, the makers produce scientific data of their own to cast doubt on findings. After all it took 20 years for the tobacco industry to be forced just to add warnings to their products. The US Food and Drug Administration has insisted that the following warning appears on some tubes of toothpaste there. “Do not swallow …. In case of accidental ingestion, seek professional assistance or contact a poison control centre immediately.” Well, the fastest way to absorb things is under the tongue where it can take as little as 30 seconds. Is it not possible that some toothpaste might get under your tongue for that length of time while brushing? In fact, children have died from swallowing too much toothpaste. But more about toothpaste in another issue. The skin is a living and breathing organ of your body. To demonstrate just how much can pass through it, if you spend just 17 minutes in a bubbly bath, analysis of your urine would reveal traces of all the ingredients of that bubble bath product.

So, in summary, SLS is a major ingredient in most shampoo, bubble bath and shower gel. It appears there because it is cheap and very effective at producing foam. There is a large amount of evidence to suggest that SLS is a health hazard. The companies that produce most of these products want to produce them as cheaply as possible, and to make them as bubbly as possible. Whilst the evidence against SLS is not widely known, there is no commercial incentive for these companies to use anything else. As consumers, the best way for us to bring about change is to vote with our wallets. If people don’t buy their products because they want to avoid SLS, then these companies will stop using it. Until then, they won’t unless the are forced to by law. But the good news is that you can avoid SLS and SLES if you want to. There are many, many small companies - and some larger ones - producing products without these chemicals. It’s just a case of finding them.

Other Forms of SLS
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulphate have many, many other names. Here are just a few of them to help you spot them: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate - Sodium lauryl sulfate - Sodium dodecyl sulphate - Sodium n - dodecyl sulfate - Sodium dodecyl sulfate - Dodecyl sodium sulfate - Sodium monododecyl sulfate - Sodium monolauryl sulfate - SDS - SLS Sodium Laureth Sulphate - Sodium laureth sulfate - Sodium polyoxyethylene monoalkyl ether sulfate - Sodium polyoxyethylene monoalkyl ether sulphate - Sodium lauryl ether sulfate - SLES ...."

There are alternatives, I currently use a great smelling shampoo that lathers up well and makes your hair feel really clean, its from Holland and Barrett, so is easily available to everyone.
Another shampoo that is lovely and smells like lemon sherbet is from an Australian company called miessence, they also have a make up range which I recommend too. These shampoo's may cost a little more but they last a long time as you on need a tiny amount plus your safe in the knowledge that your not harming yourself each time you wash your locks x

Thursday 9 February 2012

Introducing Mrs Marmalade and a craft fair invite x

I'm not sure if any of my regular readers know that I am organising a weekend vintage and handcrafted fair in Blackpool 23rd -24th June and I have another blog promoting all the stall holders and anything crafty I may come across, here is a snippet from my other blog:
 
There is the most wonderful lady sewing away in Blackpool, she makes the most adorable pincushions with kitsch trinkets on top and gorgeous patchwork quilts that make you think of home, her designs are bright, cheerful and unique just like her, as a stallholder and a good friend I asked her about her crafting:


She said "The joy of homemade has always charmed me - reworking vintage loveliness into "new" and finding lost treasures appeals to the Mrs Marmalade in me. Making quilts is a pleasure I have been making baby and dolly quilts for 10 years and just can't stop :O] x!"
 Always on the look out for unusual finds she scours charity shops and boot sales looking for interesting pieces to add to her wonderful kitsch collection of trinkets .

She takes pieces of vintage and retro fabric and turns them into the most lovely fun
items for your home, she explains she was a late starter, just a decade of making and a dreadful sewing student at school she is only too happy to sew and make in place of everyday busyness, she is most happiest sewing, creating and reading blogs
 
If you want to carry on reading pop over and say hello at truly scrumptious fairs blog please x

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Alternative healthy living sites to share x

Hello earth lovers, well I thought I would share with you some of the best sites I have found whilst on my journey, my journey into living a more healthy and pure life.

These sites are excellent for the begginer and also for people who want to live a different way. I cannot reccommend this first site enough, sign up to his emails and you will be kept upto date with all the latest health news. Dr Mercola


The next site I use most often is an E numbers site where you can either search the extensive list or put the E number you want to find out about in the search box. Remember not all E numbers are bad, some like E260 which is simply vinegar, when I started on my changing our foods to chemical free I armed myself with a list, on one side was good E numbers and on the other bad E numbers, this side was double spaced there are that many!, I felt pleased with myself and popped to the shops - boy was I in for a shock, it took me over 2 hours reading the labels, I felt despair, thought "we are never going to eat again!", slowly though, I began to remember some of the real nasty ones and it made it easier, now after 3 years or so I can glance at the label and know if its worthy of our bodies or not, sometimes especially when money is tight I go back to that despair feeling but know in my heart the choices Im making for myself and my family are good ones and it spurs me on to do my best. My advice to you is to make a list too (or get in touch and I can send you one) and start off with the ones that are most important to you, if you have children then the page on "keep away from children" would be most suitable as a starting place, focus for now on this when you next go shopping and don't get upset if it seems hard, its just different thats all. I will go into much more detail about food on more posts as I could ramble on for ages! E number site

The last site for you is Skin Deep, this is a great site where you can check your cosmetics, body products, household products etc, it has a simple search box with traffic light coding for each chemical, red for danger, amber for moderate use and green for go ahead, personally I stick to green only.

Lastly, if your new to all this it can be overwhelming, I would pick one area to focus on, each area is massive and the information endless, if you try and do it all at once you will probably get confused and give up. You can do it, you can live a healthier better way one step at a time, and to quote a terrible chemical laden company "your worth it!"

You can also get apps for your iphone now that has a chemical database on it so whilst your out shopping you can check on your products, much easier that when I first started out with a long list!

If you have any questions or want more info on anything relating to my post don't hesitate to ask, I love sharing my knowledge with others x