New Report Finds Over 5,000 Childrens Products Contain Toxic Chemicals
According to reports filed with the Washington State Department of Ecology, over 5000 children’s products contain toxic chemicals that are linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive problems….

Keep Merida Brave!
Hundreds of thousands of people have spoken out and called on Disney to keep Merida brave! Merida is the strong, confident, self-rescuing princess that countless girls and their parents were waiting for; a princess who looked like a real girl, comple….

How to Make Origami Newspaper Seedling Pots
Recycle your old newspapers and get your seeds off to a good start in these pots that can be put into the ground with the young seedlings therefore minimising root disturbance. ….

Startling New Research Suggests Popcorn is a Powerful Superfood
Although popcorn has taken a beating for its tendency to end up in compromising positions — like slathered in “golden flavor” at the movie theater or harboring offensive chemicals courtesy of microwave-popping packaging — new research is showin….

Green Moms Unite to Talk About Toxic Chemicals
Everything from the food we eat to our cleaning products, furniture, personal care products and our yards can contain toxic chemicals. No one wants to be exposed to these harmful chemicals, but where do we begin? How do we sort through all the inform….

Eight Steps to Purging Toxic Chemicals from Your Home
When it comes to getting toxic chemicals out of your home, is there any question that can’t be answered with “baking soda and vinegar?”
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http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/plan-a-green-birthday-party-for-your-child/
If you have little ones, at some point you’ll be having a birthday party or two, so why not plan an eco-friendly event? Following are some simple ways to keep your child’s birthday party green and fun…..

Frugal Living Benefits Kids
Marissa and Jack choose to live simply in their own way. They buy clothing and their children’s playthings from thrift stores, exchange only homemade gifts, and emphasize having fun outdoors. They carefully consider expenditures based on their ethi….

Lethal Kisses: Major Lipstick Brands Found to Contain Lead
The FDA has named 400 popular lipstick shades as containing trace amounts of lead in a recent report issued in December 2011, with five of the top worst offenders being L’Oreal products…..

Is Fabric Softener Toxic? (Hell Yes It Is!)
Many moons ago, we were all convinced by the consumer gods that in addition to washing and drying our clothes, we needed to “soften” them too with a newfangled product: fabric softener. Not only would they keep our clothes from being hard and cru….

How to Help Ease the Pain of Teething Naturally (And What Products To Avoid)
When our children aren’t feeling so great, it is our natural instinct as parents to try and make them better. When it comes to teething, some parents are under the belief that giving a child a little dose of Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen is okay…..

50 things I did outside as a kid that didn’t kill me
Kids are pretty darn sheltered these days. On Facebook I once posed the question to some parents, “At what age is it safe to let kids play alone outside?” The answers I got freaked me out…..

Chemicals in fast food wrappers show up in human blood
Toxic chemicals used to line fast food wrappers migrate easily into human blood, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto and published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

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Homemade Christmas Fun: Christmas Snow Dome
Make your very own Christmas Snow Dome using recycled materials around the home!….

DIY Christmas Fun
It’s been touted as the “Lego of the next generation” by international media and has won a swag of awards for its ingenious craft connector system that transforms old packaging into cars, creatures and even places to play in. Add Makedo to your….

24 nature play and eco Christmas craft activities
We
e doing our first advent calender this year. I shared a tutorial for our leaf advent calender yesterday.

Each day of the month corresponds to a fun nature play or eco craft activity.
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DIY Christmas wreath
This simple wreath takes 10 minutes and requires no glue. It can be hung on the front door or inside for a colourful and fragrant Christmas addition…..

Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo Has Cancer-Causing Chemicals
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has unsuccessfully been urging the worlds largest health care company for 2 1/2 years to remove the trace amounts of potentially cancer-causing chemicals – dioxane and a substance called quaternium-15 that releases f….

Increase The Shelf Life of Your Fruit & Veg..Without Using Toxic Plastic Product
Would you like to increase the shelf life of your fruits and veggies without having to use toxic plastic products that harm both the environment and you?

In today’s economy you can’t waste money on food that will rot the day after ….

All Work and No Play: Why Your Kids Are More Anxious, Depressed
What are your memories of playing as a child? Some of us will remember hide and seek, house, tag, and red rover red rover. Others may recall arguing about rules in kickball or stick ball or taking turns at jump rope, or creating imaginary worlds with….

A future with food for all – ecological farming
When shopping for vegetables at the local farmers’ market I am struck by the abundance of choice. Local produce from local farmers on offer in all colors of the rainbow. The natural taste and beauty of the fruits and vegetables tells me about the c….

Study: Phthalates Affect Child Development
Phthalates are a class of chemicals that have been shown to disrupt the endocrine system. They’re used in all kinds of consumer products including flooring, cars and cosmetics.

A new study published today finds a significant link be….

Muesli not necessarily a healthy choice
BEFORE tucking into your morning muesli be warned, you may be about to eat more fat than there is in a McDonald\s Double Quarter Pounder, Choice says.

The consumer organisation tested 159 types of muesli and discovered that the popula….

Muesli not necessarily a healthy choice

BEFORE tucking into your morning muesli be warned, you may be about to eat more fat than there is in a McDonalds Double Quarter Pounder, Choice says.

The consumer organisation tested 159 types of muesli and discovered that the….

Got Clutter? 5 Great Ways To Get Rid Of Your Stuff
Once you’ve made the decision to simplify your life and clear the clutter from your home, it’s time to be ruthless. My rule of thumb is that if it doesn’t fit or get used on a regular basis, it’s time to toss it. ….

Not too sexy – hidden chemicals in purfume & cologne
A rose may be a rose. But that rose-like fragrance in your perfume may be something else entirely, concocted from any number of the fragrance industry’s 3,100 stock chemical ingredients, the blend of which is almost always kept hidden from the cons….

Toxic Dyes in Our Kids Food
There has been quite a lot of buzz in the media lately around the dangers of artificial food dyes and preservatives in our food. Particularly, with the effects they have on children and the links to ADHD, allergies and even cancer…..

How To Wean Yourself Off Processed Foods in 7 Steps
Swapping your processed food diet for one that focuses on real, whole foods may seem like a radical idea, but it’s a necessity if you value your health.

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Counting sheep
A natural material that has helped keep us warm through many winters, wool has become an Aussie cold weather essential. But is the very fibre itself being pulled over our eyes when it comes to the high ethical & enviro impact of this popular thread?<....

It’s Biodegradable… But Does That Mean It’s Really Green?
If you look at photos of the ocean-bound, conventionally manufactured plastic circulating our global gyres (otherwise known as the great garbage patch and – gulp – there are quite a lot of them out there), we’ve already done a crazy amount of d….

16 simple ways to reduce plastic waste
Many stores, such as Whole Foods, sell bulk food like rice, pasta, beans, nuts, cereal and granola, and opting to fill a reusable bag or container with these items will save both money and unnecessary packaging….

This Everyday Healthy Beverage Poisons Your Body One Swallow at a Time
Youve probably heard a lot about bottled water. That its healthier for you than tap water, that it can replace your vitamins, that its really only tap water and how environmentally unfriendly it is….

Roundup: Birth Defects Caused By Worlds Top-Selling Weedkiller, Scientists Say
The chemical at the heart of the planet’s most widely used herbicide — Roundup weedkiller, used in farms and gardens across the U.S. — is coming under more intense scrutiny following the release of a new report calling for a heightened regulatory….

Formaldehyde now officially listed as cancer-causing chemical; here are the top
Formaldehyde is present in relatively benign quantities in nature; however its presence in manufactured goods is a major health concern because according to a significant body of research, it is a known carcinogenic substance.

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Fukushima: Strontium levels up to 240 times over legal limit
Representing the first time the substance has been detected at the crippled plant, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) reported on Sunday that seawater and groundwater samples taken near the ravaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility in Ja….

Avoid Toxic Plastics Using Recycling Codes as a General Guide
What exactly are we trying to avoid in some plastics anyway? The biggest problem is a set of harmful chemicals called endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC). EDC’s are synthetic chemicals that mimic or block hormones . . ….

Are we Under Pressure to be Perfect Parents?
Open the pages of any glossy magazine and you will see photographs of beautiful celebrities, blooming in their pregnancy or photographed with their gorgeous offspring, all clean, fresh and serene…..

How Barbie Broke Ken’s Heart: Her Indonesian Deforestation Habit
Yes it’s true, Ken has dumped Barbie – he’s upset since he discovered that she’s intent on trashing rainforests and pushing critically-endangered wildlife, like tigers, towards extinction.

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Using Fruits to Replace Sugar in Your Recipes
Hopefully by now you’re aware that consuming too much sugar is bad for you. And maybe you’ve even read the fascinating article in the New York Times recently about how sugar at all, in any amount, is a straight up toxin to our bodies…..

Cotton is a cash crop, but buy organic and help farmers escape poverty
Buying organic cotton doesn mean you are depriving a farmer in the developing world of food crops, says Eliza Anyangwe of Pesticide Action Network. Rather, its one action every ethical consumer should take
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Green Breakfast Challenge!
Each day, we are working to incorporate GREEN into our breakfast. Here are a bunch of possible green breakfast foods to include!
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Would You Let Your Children Choose Their Own Gender?
Most expectant parents want to know the sex of their baby as soon as they can, and will reveal that information to pretty much anyone else who is interested. Some will keep quiet about it, and later make an event of the public announcement. ….

Cans bring BPA to dinner, FDA confirms
Federal chemists have confirmed what everyone had expected: that if a bisphenol-A-based resin is used to line most food cans, there’s a high likelihood the contents of those cans will contain at least traces of BPA…..

How to make your home environmentally friendly, warm and still save money this w
An eco-friendly home will save electricity and energy which in turn will lower your expenses towards it – that much, I know is true. Begin by looking into a few areas where you think you can make the biggest difference; remember that the smallest c….

Upcycling
Most everyone I know recycles at home, but how many of you upcycle? To upcycle, you take something that would otherwise become waste and turn it into something of value. Lately, Ive been using the concept to create craft projects to enjoy with my 3-….

Why chooks should be mandatory in Australian suburbs
Chooks play an important role in recycling food, fertilising the garden and cutting down on food waste. Heres why we all need a touch of poultry in our lives.

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How to make a recycled pencil holder
If your kids are like mine, they have tons of art supplies available for their creative projects. Keeping those crayons, markers and colored pencils at the ready for impromptu masterpiece creation is essential for your budding artist…..

Mothers Antithesis
I am large in my skin
I make no apology
This belly grew a baby
Why should it be flat?
It curves with the memory of the womb.
These breasts fed a baby
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How to Bring More Laughter – The Best Medicine – Into Your Life
We all know that staying healthy and thriving involves much more than the food you eat and the colds you don’t catch. Having a positive outlook may affect your health more than environment and even genetics….

Advertisers using same tricks as sexual predators
A speaker at a childhood conference in Sydney has accused the advertising industry of using the same tricks as sexual predators to sell products to children.

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What do you know about toxic fire retardants in Mattresses and Couches?
Do you know what your nursing pillows, stroller cushions, and other foam baby products are made of? Did you know many contain flame retardants?

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Why children are at a greater risk of toxic overload
During the first months and years of life, a childs organs are rapidly developing, making them more prone to functional damage. The nervous system continues to develop throughout childhood, and, therefore, is especially vulnerable to toxic chemicals ….

Lets be clear – what do we really want for our children?
When I ask parents this question, the most common response is: I just want my kids to be happy. This is great in concept, but what does this really mean?

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The Chemicals in Disposable Diapers
Disposable diapers seem to be a necessity in todays lifestyle of convenience and temporary items. Though they are commonly used, synthetic, single-use diapers often contain chemicals linked to long-term health conditions. ….

Are Canned Foods Healthy?
BPA, or Bisphenol A, is a plastic chemical and organic compound used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, including the liner on most canned foods.

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Bicarb soda blitz
It’s not just for baking! Bicarb soda is also great for cooking up non-toxic cleaning solutions. Also known as sodium bicarbonate or baking soda, this powder can be used to clean everything from your dirty shoes to your spoons…..

12 Amazing Household Uses for Vinegar
If your use of vinegar doesn extend beyond salad dressings, you don know what youve been missing. Did you know that there are literally hundreds of different uses and benefits of vinegar, and that most of them go nowhere near your mouth?….

Update on Japans Nuclear Crisis at Fukushima
The crisis at Japans nuclear reactors is still unfolding, and it can be hard to be sure of exactly what is going on…..

Co-sleeping until age 5 is healthier may reduce stress
In her book based on 800 scientific studies, Sunderland notes that co-sleeping is healthier than sleeping alone since separation from parents may increase a child’s flow of cortisol, a stress hormone. In fact, a neurological study showed that the b….

Clean with Green
Most people don’t give a second thought to buying and using harsh chemical cleansing agents in their homes, but perhaps they should. According to the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, more than 7 million accidental poisonings ….

Got the blues? Feeling S.A.D.? Here are some natural tips
Eating healthfully, avoiding sugar, sleep-inducing simple carbs and comfort foods will help, a 10 min walk outside for a dose of natural morning light…..

Why Mothers Kiss Their Babies
When a mother kisses her baby, she ‘samples’ those pathogens that are on the baby’s face. Those are ones that the baby is about to ingest. These samples are taken up by the mother’s secondary lymphoid organs like the tonsils, and memory B cel….

Which plastics to never use with food
Although the apron-wearing, martini-bearing, housewife-in-heels with her rainbow of Tupperware may be a thing of the past, the quest for a well-organized kitchen persists…..

Ten new ways to use vinegar around the home
Vinegar has been used in kitchen recipes for hundreds of years, but its valuable for more than cooking. Its a natural disinfectant, a cleanser, and a health supplement as well. Here are ten new ways to use vinegar around the house

10 green New Years resolutions – Making 2011 sustainable
What is your green resolution for 2011? We asked on Greenpeaces Facebook page what your green New Years resolutions were and there were some great ideas. Here is the top ten, for those who are still wondering what to do. . .

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Donate to the QLD flood relief appeal
The Queensland Government has launched an appeal to help fellow Queenslanders affected by the recent floods. Many communities have been devastated. Some families have lost everything. You can help make a difference by donating to the Premiers Flood R….

Why most natural disasters aren natural at all
Australia has had its fair share of so called natural diasters in the past few years but heres some interesting facts about our eco system to consider . . . ….

7 DIY gifts you can make this weekend

Do-It-Yourself gifts sometimes get a bad rap. Think about how many macaroni necklaces and Popsicle stick frames you made for your parents as a child…..

Warning: Christmas colored chips, cookies and treats may be poisoning your child
Those Christmas-colored snack chips and store-bought cookies may look festive, but watch out: Eating them may cause side effects such as hyperactivity, especially in children.

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Natural Substance in Breast Milk Destroys Cancer Cells
Breast milk is documented to be the best food possible for infants and breastfeeding is known to have enormous health benefits for moms, too. It turns out, however, that breast milk has even more amazing properties. Swedish researchers have found tha….

Are We Killing Ourselves with Cleanliness?
Growing up in developed nations enfeebles our immune systems. When its not constantly battling dangerous bacteria, “the immune system doesn know what to fight against,” Jouvin says, “so it fights against stuff that isn supposed to be dangerous, lik….

Raising eco-kids on the cheap
Raising eco-kids won cost you the Earth. Heres Gs tips for helping parents keep things light on the wallet…..

No such thing as too much love: “Spoiled babies grow up to be Smarter, KInder Ki
Over the last several decades, more and more research has suggested that experiences in early life — even prenatal life — can have a disproportionate influence on the development of personality and physical and mental health.

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We Play – 40 play ideas for everyone
Our playtime this week has seen us away from home, without our usual play things or play mates. Instead, we have been enjoying new experiences (which you will hear more about this week), making new friends and visiting many we have not seen for way t….

Baby is using you as a dummy – its just for comfort!
What is the big problem in our culture with young infants being dependent on their mother? I know at the moment there are big social pressures to leave the baby ASAP and reclaim independence, but they are so teeny and dependent for such a short time….

What Is Biodynamic Gardening and Farming?

To aid nature’s processes in the garden or on the farm, the biodynamic practitioner creates homeopathic doses of preparations that encourage the development of humus—a very beneficial substance—in the soil. Other preparations help plant….

Toxic Food Colours and the Natural Alternatives
So often when people are discussing the effects that artificial food colours have on children, I hear the comments, “It’s just every now and then” or “Just a little bit wont hurt.” ….

New Report Catalogues Chemical and Radiation Links to Breast Cancer
A report released today by the Breast Cancer Fund presents a comprehensive summary of the scientific data on the environmental causes of breast cancer. The report catalogues the growing evidence linking breast cancer to, among other factors, syntheti….

Still strutting their stuff
Bratz may have had a makeover but hot, thin, sassy values remain the same. As shown on the company’s website, the Bratz dolls are still presented as hot, thin and sassy, they like to “strut” and have a “passion for fashion” including 5-inch….

Processed Meats Declared Too Dangerous for Human Consumption
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has just completed a detailed review of more than 7,000 clinical studies covering links between diet and cancer. Its conclusion is startling: Processed meats are too dangerous for human consumption…..

Go Greenwash with ENVI
Q – how do you sell woodchipped Australian native forest to an Australian market who is becoming more environmentally aware?

A – buy some offset credits and launch Australias first carbon neutral paper…..

Playing with toy weapons: inevitable or preventable?
When I tell people we don’t allow toy weapons in our house, I get one of those knowing looks. This look is the dreaded “you’ll see” combined with an accusation: unrealistic control freak, in the house! ….

10 Alternatives to Synthetic Air Fresheners
I have never liked the smell of synthetic air fresheners. I have a sensitive nose. Even when Im not pregnant. I can remember disliking the one in my grandma’s bathroom when I was a kid. I bought fragrance-free or unscented personal products and c….

Fast Food outlets finally begin to get their recycling freak-on
It may come as a suprise to some that most fast food outlets, and small to medium businesses do not recycle. While Australians are among the most vigilant recyclers at home, when it comes to adopting recycling in offices, shops and retaurants we have….

Saving energy in the kitchen
Even if your souffles fall flat and your crepes are rubbery, you can at least be a good eco-chef with these energy saving tips for the kitchen. ….

Toxins In Disposable Diapers: Dioxin and Sodium Polyacrylate
Most parents have heard about the dangers of BPA in infant bottles, and as such, stores usually sell BPA-free options. However, there are other dangers that parents do not yet know about…..

Consumers find ways to spend less and find happiness
A two-bedroom apartment. Two cars. Enough wedding china to serve two dozen people. Tammy Strobel wasn’t happy, caught in the work-spend treadmill…..

Natural Teeth Cleaning
Everybody wants clean, pearly white teeth. But not everybody wants to spend a lot of money on a professional cleaning, or use a kit that is not good for their body. If you want to clean your teeth naturally you should consider all of the options that….

Risk to kids from toxic pesticides may be underestimated
When kids eat conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, what level of pesticide residues are they taking in — and to what effect?….

Make your own essential oil home made cleaners
Aromatherapy kitchen recipes for homemade cleaning solutions are simple but effective. Plus, you can often make them with ingredients already in your cupboards….

I’m Line Drying (Take 1)
For years now, I’ve had the green detergent part down. I do this to avoid non-renewable petrochemicals as well as skin and lung irritating not to mention hormone disrupting synthetic fragrances. Its residue is also far better for our waterways. And….

Fruit Loops Contaminated by Petrochemicals
Other than toys, there is not a product more targeted at children than sugary cereals. Marketing strategies aside, many commercial cereals are chock full of artificial colors and flavorings linked to hyperactivity in children…..

Vinegar – not just for fish and chips!
I was introduced to the wonders of vinegar when I first moved out of home. I hadn’t hit the shops yet to purchase all the new wonderful things I would need to clean my new home, so luckily my mother arrived with a bottle of white vinegar and some c….

Walk Against Warming 2010
On the last weekend before the 2010 election you could be the tipping point for a cooler Australia. ….

Great eco-friendly prizes up for grabs!
First prize: A trip with an eco friendly car, 2 nights in an Eco-lodge, a wine hamper, organic chocolate gift basket.
Runner ups: Organic wine bottles, waterless carwash packs, Organic beauty care products, and more!….

Batteries Are Recyclable?
Batteries are now so common – they seem to be in absolutely everything – that it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that they are harmless. It is even easier to be unaware of recent advancements in technology that can reduce the toxic effe….

Study Links BPA to Low Sperm Counts and DNA Damage
We’ve heard a lot of concerning news about the chemical Bisphenol-A, BPA, in our food supply and how it can have adverse effects on our health, especially for toddlers. A new study raises yet another alarm over BPA — this time on the effects of ….

The Contented Parents
Who needs nappies, cots and buggies? When you snub the child gurus and do what comes naturally you can get some surprising results….

How polluted is your baby?
Babies these days are born pre-polluted, having been exposed to waste by-products, heavy metals and toxic industrial chemicals among other things, writes Dr Sarah Lantz. ….

Does Your Furniture Contain Formaldehyde?
Nearly every day we are exposing ourselves to toxins that surface in products such as bookcases, end tables, and computer desks. The culprit: formaldehyde…..

Get ready for spring – Planting Guide
Spring is just around the corner! Check out this detailed planting guide for vegetables, legumes and grains…..

WIN a $100 Eco Toys art & craft pack!
We are giving away one lucky winner a packet of botanical paints, sustainable pencils, Forest Beads and a Makedo kit. ….

McDonalds threatened with lawsuit over toys in Happy Meals
A watchdog group says giving away toys with Happy Meals contributes to childhood obesity and threatens to sue…..