Bisphenol-A Plastics

Many toys have been recalled recently due to toxic levels of lead. Many plastic toys have been recalled and this started making me wonder if my little princesses sippy cups were safe. We used the Dr. Brown's bottles and now we have graduated to the Nuby straw sippy cups (Made in China). While reading blog entries on the No More Made in China site I found a topic regarding this very subject. No lead has been found in sippy cups as of yet but other harmful toxins are present.

It seems I learn something new and potentially health threatening everyday. Bisphenol-A is a "is a hormone-disrupting chemical considered to be potentially harmful to human health and the environment," and can be found in many of the sippy cups and baby bottles on the market today. Please click on the link to learn more. So which bottles and cups are safe? Z Recommends is an interesting blog that addresses this very question. "Sippy Cup Showdown" and "The Z Report" blog articles offer all the information you could possibly need to begin your research and make choices regarding your future purchases.

Bornfree offers a full line of baby bottles and sippy cups. They actually offer glass bottles! I am definitely going to try those if we have another little angel. For now I'm searching for a safe sippy cup that my little princess will like. Something comparable to the Nuby straw sippy. I'll let you know how it goes. I hope this post is helpful!

Petition to Stop Toxic Toys

Check out Moms Rising! They have a petition to stop toxic toys. Please sign it!

Make Your Own "Play Dough"

Photo: PreparedPantry.com

The other day I decided to go up to the store to buy some Play-Doh for the little princess to play with. For safety concerns I checked the packaging to see where it is being made nowadays. You guessed it, Our beloved Play-Doh is being made in China. Needless to say I did not purchase the Play-Doh.

I searched online and found "Play Dough" recipes to make at home. Here is the recipe I found to be the best. Enjoy! Play Dough Recipe

The Boston Toy Party

We have continued to have more recalls in the last month. It seems like the "Domino effect" is taking over. Is it that just now these companies have decided to implement quality control in leu of the recent lead "scandals"? Or have they known about this problem and simply did not address it? And are they just now reporting these lead paint issues to follow suit and to cover their fannies? Hmmmm....seems like 6 months ago a unknown supplier had a fantastic lead paint clearance sale that the toy companies just couldn't refuse. "Get your lead paint here! Get your lead paint here! Fun for children of all ages!"

A friend of mine was kind enough to send me the above photo via email. Maybe some of you have already received it. It certainly tickles my funny bone. I think through its humour it also presents important questions like, "What will be our level of tolerance? What other hazards will we uncover? Will we as a nation of consumers be strong enough to define a zero tolerance policy regarding these toys?" The shelves of our local Toys R Us are still stocked with, seemingly, nothing but Made in China products. The toy stores are still opening everyday. People are still buying theses toys. This boggles my mind. How do "they" trust? We once were a nation of boycotting, strong willed bulls. Why hasn't anyone suggested the "Boston Toy Party" yet???

Yes, all toys haven't been recalled. Maybe the October 4th, 2007 CPSC recalls will be the last of it. I bloody doubt it. This blog entry was spurred by the most recent recall of the Kids II Baby Einstein blue color block lead violation. I purchased my set for my little princess at a the Super Blue Devil (Wal-Mart) while I was still pregnant. I trusted the brand name Baby Einstein because it is a Disney brand and I thought the blocks would be both educational and safe. She has happily played with those blocks since she was 2 months old. They hold within them many happy memories. So when I found out about the recall I was crushed. I didn't want to have to give up one more toy. I thought surely the fabric toys were safe. WRONG!

According to the Kids II recall website my product is NOT affected by this recall. But I'm affected. My little princess is affected. So this corporation is trying to tell me and millions of other parents that their manufacturing facility in China only used lead paint the summer of 2007? Oh, of course, how stupid of me! Lead paint wasn't being offered at never before seen reduced clearance prices before 2006! I'm supposed to buy that these manufacturers never used lead paint before? If they bought and used lead paint in 2007 then I'll bet they bought and used lead paint in 2006, which is when I bought my blocks. These companies are so shady. Needless to say, although my toys aren't "affected" my little princess will no longer be playing with them.

The "scary" blocks are sitting on my guestroom bed as did all the Fisher-Price toys in August. I haven't thrown them out yet. I'm waiting for the next toy recall just in case. I don't want to waste a garbage bag on such a small lot. I'm sure more of her toys will perish before the year is over. Maybe I should save them for the Boston Toy Party? How's 2A.M next Wednesday sound to you ladies? I'll bring bagels. Who's bringing the coffee?

P.S. More Made in USA links at the bottom of my blog to come. Just uncovered more companies.

"Honey, It's Green!"

Baby Poop. It comes in all colors and shapes. My DH was most alarmed when he discovered a poopie diapie that contained 'Martian' excrement. "Honey, it's green!", he yelled from the nursery. "Its ok. It's green sometimes!", I yelled back whilst I continued cooking dinner in the kitchen. Green poopies, smelly poopies, smushy poopies and RUNAWAY poopies...They are all a part of the life of a Mommy.

DH you are too cute. Your reaction was classic and still tickles me!

The H Word (WATCH OUT!! ITS A RANT!!)

When I'm filling out a questionnaire, the ones that are commonly given at the Doctors offices, under occupation I always write, HOUSEWIFE or Stay at home Mom (SAHM). Recently, when I visited a new physician the nurse reviewing my paperwork corrected me. "Who is the primary on your insurance plan?," calmly asked the nurse. "My husband is the primary," I responded. "OK. Occupation...Oh, You must mean you're a HOMEMAKER," explained the nurse with a tone that almost resembled embarrassment. She very quickly scratched out what I had written and wrote HOMEMAKER on my form. I wanted to laugh and yell all at the same time. I thought, "The word HOUSEWIFE doesn't offend me. Why does it offend you?" It seemed to offend her, or in the least it embarrassed her, as if I had written down that I was a pole dancer or a circus freak. I guess the word HOMEMAKER upgrades my existence and makes what I do sound more evolved.

I am a HOUSEWIFE and a young SAHM. Its shocking, I know. Some say that that's just "No longer done." Well, I'm proud of what I do and what I am. I am 26 and by the time my little ones are in Pre-K I'll barely be 30. My whole life will be ahead of me. I'll have a beautiful life of ministry to my family and husband. The women's lib movement and many of our Mothers' (Gen Y and Xer's) have made the word HOUSEWIFE a dirty, antiquated, word. Why is my occupation less than? I work very hard and I have pride in my work. I work long hours and I am always on call. My work benefits society and I complete countless selfless acts on a daily basis. I have done the DIVINE and I created a human being. I nurture that human being and I enrich it with knowledge everyday. Why is what I do not desired? Why should women feel the need to look down there noses at the modern HOUSEWIVE's and SAHM's of our country?

Early on, I made a concious decision that I wanted a traditional family lifestyle. I knew I wanted to get married in my 20's and have children at a young age. I also knew that I wanted to be a SAHM for my children. Even though I attended the university, I kind of always felt that the degree I was working towards was somewhat of a hobbie more than a vocation or future career. I knew that I would only work a year or two before marrying and having a family. Sounds like a waste of money, huh? Perhaps it was, but it was expected of me. My baby boomer, MBA, mother tried to hypnotize me and fed me women's lib philosophies from birth. But it didn't work. Sorry mom! My mother was literally the 1980's version of Samantha Jones and was surprised with baby. Samantha was a single-parent and so I naturally became very independent. I am grateful for that. However, I saw her struggles' on a daily basis. Even as a child, I knew that that was not the life for me.

I am now doing what we are biologically intended to do. BTW, Eggs do expire ladies (thanks for being my muse Miss Shannon). The women's lib movement can't override Biology (Wait a minute. I guess they are already working on that). The tasks nature has assigned to us are by no means easy. My life is challenging. Why add to that the pressures of a career in an idiotic, still mostly male, work environment? We are supposed to have it all. The current status quo now is to assert ourselves and have successful careers. Once we have proven ourselves equal and/or superior to men, we then marry these men and try to make babies with them. If unsuccessful, we buy the methods to have these babies with all the riches we acquired whilst stomping on male egos. Once we have procreated we are to continue being fabulously successful in our workplace whilst raising our family. It is my understanding that if we don't do this then we haven't reached female NIRVANA.

Ask any woman who works and is married with children if they cook, do laundry, do bills, iron shirts, clean toilets, build male egos, change poopy diapers and/or vacuum. The answer is usually 'ALL OF THE ABOVE.' The women's lib movement and all the attitudes and expectations it has created has ENSLAVED us as women. A man couldn't have done it better himself.

Where is MEXIMELT? BEASTIE want FOOD!

My DH, the little princess and I had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. My DH actually offered up the idea of going shopping at the outdoor town centre mall on Monday morning. He was in such a wonderful mood. DH said, "Hey lets go window shopping and then have some ice cream at Cold Stone." What wife could refuse? On the way into the parking lot he even suggested we do lunch afterwards.

We walked around and then DH actually suggested we go into BabyGap. I thought the aliens had abducted him and replaced him with some kind of droid. Maybe he was coming down with something? My DH doesn't like shopping and likes spending money even less. He never suggests going to out to lunch unless I've brought up the topic. He does everything in his power to steer me away from my weaknesses whilst shopping (i.e. BabyGap, Ann Taylor Loft, Dillards, Etc.). This morning was most bizarre and untimely. You see PMS had started rearing its ugly head that morning. The cramps, bloating, irritation, moodiness, and cravings had slowly started to kick in. DH actually wanted to do what I wanted to do for a change but his timing could not have been worse.

We walked around some more and then something wonderful happened. The heavens opened, cherubs sang and little birdies chirped. My DH actually suggested we go into Kirkland's (for those of you not familiar it is a home decor/home wares store)! "Are you sure?", I asked puzzled. "Yea, its hot and they have A/C," he said very calmly. I thought, OK, he isn't completely out of his mind. We browsed a bit and then DH pointed out a horizontal painting with an Italian orchard scene. "We should get that for the wall above the recliner," he said so sweetly. What? He actually wanted to spend money (fifty dollars, no less) on home decor. Any self-respecting housewife would have jumped on the offer or at least rolled with it to suit her needs (i.e. What about this one honey?). But it didn't matter because the PMS MONSTER within, we'll call him BEASTIE, was gaining strength now. I made a face and said, "I don't think so."

After leaving Kirklands, we decided to walk around a bit more and then leave. I was trying to hold BEASTIE's comments back. I was trying to enjoy my beautiful morning. I was trying, oh so hard, to be pleasant. The mall is outdoors and it was very hot by the time we were ready to leave. I was hot and my jeans were getting sweaty. Heat is not BEASTIE's friend.

After piling back into the car the cravings started. We couldn't do lunch after all because the little princess was falling asleep and I didn't pack enough for the excursion. Who is BEASTIE's favorite food source? Fast-food of course. "I really want some Taco Bell," I said. "Lets pick some up on the way home." My DH didn't particularly want Taco Bell but because he was so angelic that morning he agreed. I think I ordered everything on the menu. But the thing BEASTIE craved was a nice greasy Meximelt. Oh, BEASTIE was salivating all the way home. BEASTIE could smell the processed cheese and BEASTIE wanted its so much.

Of course DH dove right into the bag before I could even get the little princess into the house. What is this? He was eating my meximelt!!!! "What are you doing?", yelled BEASTIE, "That is my Meximelt." DH explained, irritated, "No its not. Its my Enchirito." BEASTIE frantically searched the bags. No meximelt. Where is MEXIMELT? BEASTIE want FOOD! I snapped and very quickly said, "Well that was probably my Meximelt you just ate!" We actually have an ongoing debate about whether or not the new Enchirito is actually the same as, or is a descendant, of the Meximelt. "We PAID for a Meximelt. Why don't we have one? UGHHHH....," added BEASTIE. I fed the little princess and inhaled my Taco Bell, but it just wasn't the same. A PMS craving unsatisfied is like an itch on your back that never gets scratched.

My Made in the USA, Organic, Groovy Kinda Life

The Fisher-Price & Mattel lead recalls have definitely affected us as a family. It was a major wake-up call. All of this globalization, and the convenience that comes with it, is biting us in the butt. I call for a move towards 'LOCALIZATION'.

Over 60% of my 16 month old's toys were Fisher-Price. Although, thankfully, none of them were on the actual recall list, I decided not to take any chances and I removed them from her gigantic Step 2 toy box (made in USA btw). Truthfully, I had a little freak out. I've always been a type A control freak. After becoming a mom I've turned into a crazed perfectionist regarding everything baby. Don't we all to some degree? We are all crazy about our kids. We would give our lives for our children. We want them to be healthy and free from harm's way. So, I freaked out and removed all of the toys that were made in china and composed of plastic with paints in the late hours of the night whilst 'the little princess' was fast asleep. Nothing but her plush toys and books were left. I almost cried because I felt like the Grinch. I worried she'd miss her "Little People" and her "Fisher-Price Shape Sorter" that she loved so much.

I thought, "I have to replace her toys." I piled all the scary toys atop the guestroom bed so she wouldn't get into them again. Then, I quickly became an expert in all things "made in the USA." I had my 'little princess' tested for lead by our pediatrician (all results came back within normal ranges) and bought lead test sticks online. I bought my 'little princess' new toys from companies who make their products in the USA, from non-toxic materials. Interestingly enough, I spent less money than what those other toys cost! I couldn't believe it! And she liked the new toys MORE!!!

Now that I know she is lead free I have come down from my freak-out. I plan on readmitting her favorite toys into her spacious, and now prestigious, Step2 toy box once my test sticks have arrived and I can make doubly sure everything is ok. However the other 50% of her toys, Fisher-Price toys and anything that looks really cheapy, is going to the dump.

You may ask why I am going to get rid of our Fisher-Price toys even though they weren't on the recall list and even thought 'the little princess' is healthy. Well, I simply don't feel those toys are safe. I ask myself, "If they don't have lead, then what other toxic things are they composed of or have been in contact with?" Perhaps I am overreacting. And I'm ok with that overreaction and I'd be happy to have anyone call my crazy. I'm a great big worry-wart freak parent. THERE I said it!!! My 'little princess' is my world, my heart, and I am going to continue to be overprotective. I have lost trust in the big boys of toys. The 'Fisher-Prices' of the toy world have left me feeling vulnerable and scared.

I feel taken. We are told its more cost-effective to manufacture items in China. I find there is a misconception, among consumers, that it is "cheaper" for the consumer. Is it? Who really benefits? Sounds like the enormous profit margins are only benefiting the top executives. We have so many misconceptions and general hopeless feelings about the marketplace. I always hear "Oh well, what can we do?" and "I guess that's just the way it is now." Just the way it is? Why be so complacent? We are Americans, yielding dollar bills and freedom. We can buy from whomever we want; items that are made in whatever country we want (well, whats within the law anyways). My Internet research for Made in the USA products has brought me to the conclusion that buying American made isn't as "hopeless" as many people think. It just requires a little planning and giving up our love affair with the IMPULSE BUY.

All the Chinese food recalls drove my family to go Organic. Let me clarify; made in the USA Organic (Yeah, the USDA allows the usage of the ORGANIC labeling even if it isn't made here as long as they have third party USDA inspections). I didn't want to be afraid to eat my pre-packaged frozen Tilapia anymore. I was tired of worrying about food safety. I was sick of not understanding what any of the ingredients in my cereal were. I was just over it. We had to change some of our eating and cooking habits a bit but it was worth it. Our health and safety is key. We spend on average $30-50 bucks more every visit to the Publix store and I don't watch the CNN ticker every hour for food recalls. A local CSA farm opens their farmer's market in October and we will be purchasing fresh produce there.

The choice to begin only buying American made products just felt natural, and so right, after the Fisher-Price scandal broke. There are many Made in the USA products to choose from. There are a great many toy companies to choose from. Holgate Toys and Maple Landmark to name a few (Please check out Maple Landmark's 'Buy Responsibly' page. It is very interesting!). The majority of the toys that I found don't have elaborate electronic features (bells, whistles, lights, action!) but they are safe and fun and require my 'little princess' to use her imagination. Isn't that what playing is about? It used to be.
Where is our imagination? Why can't we live a Made in the USA, organic, groovy kinda life? It is possible and its within our reach. All it takes is little forethought, a little planning and a desire to change things.

Please find the links on my site for the Made in USA toy companies and other Made in the USA products. Please support these companies! Lets put pressure on the BIG BOYS to be more responsible and accountable for the safety of our children.

~ Mommy Macgyver

Don't ever clean out your purse....

Ladies, never clean out your purse if you can avoid it. That clutter of hair accessories and dental freebies from your hygienist can come in handy one day when you are in the middle of a noisy restaurant with a messy 18 month old with no bibster in sight.

What can you make with two hair clips, a paper napkin and a piece of floss? A makeshift bibster of course!

Just kidding! I would never make my little princess wear that. Of course I'd never leave the house without a bibster.