The Quest of the Best Organic Cleaning Products-7th Generation By Tara Pelton

Jessica Beam from "Moms for a Healthier Home" continues her research for the best organic cleaning product ...

 The next product I have been researching is 7th Generation.  This product is also available in most department and grocery stores.

 On their site they say: “Seventh Generation is the nation’s leading brand of household and personal care products that help protect human health and the environment” (www.seventhgeneration.com) Right from the beginning, I beg to differ.  

 Although their cause and what they are aiming to do (to “nurture the health of beings for the next 7 generations”) is great, in my household, they are not the leading brand. For starters, let’s talk about pricing.  Their pricing ranges from $2.99 to $21.99.  They carry cleaners, washes, detergents, free and clear products, diapers, pads, tampons, wipes and trash bags.  At this point, I have to say that an individual who buys this brand will be spending a lot of money.  I think that having trash bags and pads made all natural is great BUT on top of that if you need a product that is unscented (which are always more expensive for some reason) now you have to buy that, on top of everything else as well as a separate cleaner for your shower, tub and tile, and glass surfaces.  We are a generation that is suffering economically.  We are utilizing every possible way to save a buck and if we can save money while not compromising our health that would be wonderful. In their case, they are not seeing this situation.

I wanted to tackle cleaning the bathroom this weekend because I was having a party so I bought their tub and tile cleaner.  I didn’t think it did that good of a job cleaning.  I did like the little scent that was in their product but my mother in law is sensitive to perfume.  Due to me finding the product not cleaning that great, I had to use more to keep cleaning away the soap scum which in turn created what was a light scent to a strong scent which did not do her well.  For the tub and tile, they do not carry unscented.  Their glass and surface cleaner as well as their all purpose are unscented but I ask myself, if their all purpose cleaner was really “all purpose” why make other cleaners targeting specific areas of the house? 

My grade rating of this was a C because of the product’s lacking of ability to really clean and because of their specific cleaners not being available in “clean and clear.”

Living a Balanced Life & Health By Jannifer Ju

When I hear the phrase, "living a balanced life" I think of eating a variety of healthy foods, eliminating toxic habits like smoking or drinking alcohol, exercising-- you know, the usual. When a dear friend had a brush with death, his experience brought new meaning to the phrase, "living a balanced life."

My friend Michael had developed extremely poor habits over the years. When I first met him twenty-some years ago, he was a fit and active theater director. Over time Michael grew complacent, stopped doing what he loved, and eventually became lonely. Year by year he drifted further from the fulfilling life he had led.  It got so bad that he stayed in his home working online, smoked constantly, never exercised and became obese.

Then last year Michael made a resolution to get in back shape. It was tough at first, but he managed to quit smoking. He cut out fatty foods and made a sincere effort to lose weight; he started buying organic, shopping at the co-op and even tried some vegetarian dishes!

After six weeks he had lost thirty pounds, was able to walk a mile or more, and was breathing more easily due to having given up smoking. His energy improved, and he even began talking about doing some theater again.

Then on Valentine's Day, Michael suffered an aortic rupture that landed him in open heart surgery. Miraculously, he survived it, but suffered a stroke while unconscious. After five weeks in a coma, Michael woke up.  At first he had difficulty speaking and couldn't feed himself, but in a short time he was finding words, remembering faces, and walking with assistance. Before long he was able to move home again.

Michael lost considerable weight in the hospital and looks great, but more importantly, he has a renewed life force and positive outlook. He's writing about his experiences and planning future performance work. Recently, over  a cup of tea, I asked Michael if he had regrets about the way he had been living before the hospitalization.

 "I don't regret eating fried chicken or smoking if that's what you mean, but what I do regret is letting my creative spark go out." Grinning as he pushed his cane aside, he hobbled across the kitchen spilling tea with each difficult step, "See! I'm living a balanced life again."  We laughed together at the irony. It got me thinking about how important our passions are to living a balanced life. Perhaps the true key to health lies in following our individual dreams. When we do, we gain the inner strength to take care of ourselves both body and soul, and that is truly living a balanced life!

Do you have a creative spark that would balance your life if it were re-ignited?

Quest for the Best Organic Cleaner for a Healthier Home - Review By Tara Pelton

Jessica Beam, of "Moms for a Healthier Home" continues her research for the best organic cleaning products....

This weekend, I continued on my journey to maintain a healthy home.  The next organic product I tested was Caldrea cleaners.  This product I obtained from a friend who purchased this online awhile ago.  I proceeded to research.

I concluded this line has an abundance of different products from laundry, to baby, to countertop cleaner, to dish soap.  I do love the variety BUT again, being the lowest priced item seems to be $7 and change, buying all these different items will definitely put a huge dent on anyone’s bank account.  They do have an all purpose cleaner which I again reiterate, if it TRULY is all purpose, then why is there a plethora of different products targeting different areas of the house?!

Besides this item being expensive, none of it is scent-free, which poses a big problem for those that are sensitive to strong smelling perfume or who have allergies.  This does eliminate the need for an air freshener in the house but as I mentioned above, Caldrea definitely does not target the crowd of sensitive or allergy-suffering consumers.  I would also like to add that on their site they mentioned is “a pleasant change of pace from the strong chemicals and fragrances of ordinary cleaning products” which is interesting since their line is all about aromatherapy and aromatherapy is strongly scented.  While there is no trace of chemical smell it is still very much fragrant regardless of whether it is of a lavender pine or Clorox lemon scent.

The item I used was the countertop cleaner ($9!).  While it claims to be “beautifully clean and elegantly green” I did not enjoy the product because being that it was so strongly scented, I was afraid of the smell getting on to whatever food I placed on the countertop. I do enjoy the scent but again, living in a house where I do have people that are sensitive and need free and clear products, this was not meant for my household regardless of the product being earth friendly. So while it might have rid me of the toxins that were on my countertops, the price and the inconvenience of the scent definitely brought this product’s grade down to a C-.

Green House Cleaning - Where to Start By Jannifer Ju

Many common (and popular) household cleaning products are bad for the health of those use them and bad for the health of those who live in the homes where they are used. That is not all, however, as they are also often bad for the environment. The problem is that many people have no idea how to keep a home clean without using the same toxic chemicals their parents used, etc. This is especially true of those who have only recently become aware of environmental issues and the dangers associated with everyday household cleaners.

Health Issues Associated with Using Toxic Household Cleaners

Some household chemicals, like window-cleaners that contain ammonia (as many do), can trigger respiratory conditions. In other other cases, cleaners (such as those used in bathtubs)  can irritate skin or aggravate allergies. Dishwashing detergents, which should be the safest cleaning products of all, can cause mouth-burns if they contain phosphates.

Green Cleaning tips for the Environmentally Conscious Householder

If a householder wants to keep their living space clean, but also wants to be healthy and to show respect for the environment, what are their options?

One option is that they can go the homemade route, using toxin free formulas that have worked for generations. These include making an all-purpose cleaner with ingredients such as baking soda, borax and vinegar. There are recipes for wholesome, natural, and time-tested  cleaning products, these can be found in a variety of books and on a variety of websites, all containing green cleaning tips.

For those with busy lifestyles or who prefer to purchase ready-made products, there is the option of using a line of green household products such as the ones developed specifically for that purpose by iGOZEN. Our calcium-based products are all natural, organic and completely safe. Try a sample today via our Facebook Page for access to our coupon code.

iGOZEN Simply Clean - for those you love By Tara Pelton

We are reminded that we are here

in this awakened state

 to live within this moment of now. 

Every action, no matter how small,

is an opportunity to be in a sense of wonder and awe

at the magnificence of this opportunity. 

Enjoy iGOZEN™ Simply Clean micro fine organic cleaning 

* fruit and vegetable washes

* odorless organic everyday cleaner for all purposes

Enjoy peace of mind when you are cleaning and caring for your family with iGOZEN.

How iGOZEN Organic Cleaning Helps the Environment By Tara Pelton

iGOZEN micro fine cleaning & washing powders consist of organic calcium from purified seashells made into a micro fine powder using a patented process.  The blend of seashells used for vegetable washes gently cleans the fruits and vegetables removing pesticides and toxins.  

 

The meat wash is made of a special blend of sea shells, enabling the wash to penetrate and alkalize harmful bacteria present in meat such as e-coli and salmonella. The Fish/Meat wash also neutralizes the harmful effects of antibiotics in meat and fish. These food washes are scientifically tested and proven to remove e-coli and salmonella and the most common pesticides.

 

iGOZEN Everyday Cleaner is a specific formula using microfine ground sea shells and salt to produce a gentle yet powerful solution that, when sprayed on dirt, grime or caked on food, will neutralize and disintegrate the unwanted substances and neutralize the harmful bacteria and toxins. Unlike any other cleaner, iGOZEN Is pure, odorless and completely safe to use near foods (perfect to keep your refrigerator, appliances and countertops clean everyday).

 

Because iGOZEN is an organic source of natural calcium from sea shells, it is safe for people and pets.  It's also healthy for our environment; the oceans and waterways are actually benefited by use of iGOZEN products. 

 

Did you know that oceanographers led by W.K. Dewar of Florida State University have discovered that the swimming action of fish and other marine organisms may  play a critical role in driving ocean currents, thus our climate and weather conditions globally?

 

Switching from unhealthy and toxic cleaners to iGOZEN helps protect our waters and the creatures in our waters, whose ecosystem is more important than previously understood.

 

Let's help the environment by using iGOZEN.

The Balanced Boomer Lifestyle By Jannifer Ju

For many members of the Baby Boomer generation, living a balanced life has become a priority. We’re aging, it’s true, but we refuse to go silently into that good night. Our experience, and sheer numbers make us perfect candidates to “save the world” as we were purposed in the days of peace, love and rock and roll.

Although our carbon footprint has made a deeper impact on our planet than any generation before or since, Baby Boomers have plenty of opportunity to set things right with Mother Earth. 70 million of us born in the U.S. between 1946 and 1964 were born into a world just discovering the joys of convenience foods, luxury automobiles, disposable diapers and cutting-edge technology that would take it’s toll on the environment and the world we live in.

But, our generation eventually recognized the toll we were taking and such wonderful innovations as the hybrid car, once a dream on a drawing board, are now in many of our own garages, plugged in and charging while we set out our curbside recycling and turn the compost in our garden.

Baby Boomers lead the way into our 50’s, 60’s and beyond with a whole new attitude. No longer content to live in the shadow of our children, we’re recycling our destiny, living a balanced life and repurposing our dedication to make a difference in the world. Whether retired, semi-retired or currently working, we continue to grow and learn.

Living a balanced life is essential to finding meaning. Feelings of dissatisfaction can manifest into depression, disease, and a deep sense of longing if any aspect of our mind, body and spirit are out of whack. However, this generation offers a treasure trove of experience. From Woodstock to Wall Street, Baby Boomers have seen and accomplished much, and we’re just getting started.

Keep your synapses firing away by taking a class, or even better, teach a class. Perhaps you have a talent or skill you can teach a youngster or a group in your community. Get in touch with your inner activist and organize a clean-up of your local park or playground.

Stay or get physical!  Train for a 5K, join a Tai Chi group, or find a walking buddy. Practice meditation with a group, or prayer in your faith community. You’re writing a whole new chapter in Baby Boomer history and you have quite a story to tell.