The correlation between poverty and religion

So... Someone posted this to facebook... I couldn't figure out how to link to it properly so I have included the link here.  Hope this isn't 'infringing' in any way...


Either way this is an interesting graphic representation as well as a blogging...

http://howtobreakanything.com/the-correlation-between-poverty-and-religion

Safe? Cosmetics

So... I was facebooking this morning and safe cosmetics popped up with a post about something (I don't remember what).  At any rate I read the article and then got to checking some of my own products at www.skindeep.com.  It is a database setup by Environmental Working Group.  They rate the toxicity of your cosmetic items from soap to lip gloss to baby care products.  So for giggles I checked my mascara...  on a scale of 0-10, 7-10 being pretty toxic, my mascara was a 5.  So then I proceed to check out the baby shampoo that I use on the boys...  They are all 7's!!!!!!  YIKES!!!  These are the baby care products that I use on them EVERYDAY!!!  I thought these were better products because they were European.  I know that Europe has stiffer regulations for that kind of stuff so that is why I was purchasing these!!  OK.  So now to find something safe.  Some brand names are:  Belly Buttons and Babies, Simply Pure, and Healing Scents.  Gotta get to my 'organic' store.  Now on to my products.


Did you know that sodium laureth sulfate (in every shampoo I own) is a toxic chemical.  It is a know pathway for some serious carcinogens.  How it was phrased somewhere was that it is typically heavily contaminated with carcinogens.  It also, when used as shampoo, makes your scalp/skin crave it.  Oh joy.  Did you know that you can make your own shampoo with a little baking soda and water.  Condition with a little apple cider vinegar and water.  And supposedly you won't have to wash your hair as often.  Shampoo and Conditioner are a 20th century craze.  You know the bit, "Better living through science."  Yeah, I don't know about that guys.  Hmmm... So now on to the rest of my "daily" product list:


MAC: ?? (nothing listed)  hmmm...
Almay Mascara: 5  (mine is the i-color intensifying blah blah blah)


So have you checked your 'daily' product?  I know I've got more work to do.

American Consumerism

So... This weekend I was helping with a consignment sale (in which I also consigned some items).  I never knew how much "stuff" Americans are being sold.  American Consumerism is disgusting.  (And I am soooo guilty.)  There were so many items that were barely used that they looked brand new.  Yet most of us are gonna go out and buy all brand new stuff for our kids before shopping a sale like this.  Why? Not too long ago people lived without all of this stuff.  You know, one pair of shoes, maybe two if you are lucky, a nice shirt and pants, and a work set.  That was it.  Now we have pajamas, hats, belts, shoes, socks, dress clothes, play clothes.  You know the drill.  Why?  So that we can give more of our money away?  Do we really need all this stuff?

There were bouncy seats, baby swings, dollhouses, tricycles, activity mats, activity seats, exersaucers, toys, toys, toys, clothes, clothes, and even more clothes.  Can you live without any of this stuff?  My parents did.  I did.  I even LIVED through it.  CRAAAAZZZZY!  Who knew?

What I think is even worse is that a majority of parents both work to buy all this stuff.  So their child spends all their time in daycare to then come home and spend time strapped in something in the house so that the parents can get the 'house'work done.  So has this made our life any better?  Who suffers under this model?

I am not at all saying that we should go without some of the helpful things that our increased technology has brought us.  For example:  WASHING MACHINES, DRYERS, DISHWASHERS, STOVES/OVEN that don't heat the entire house, A/C.  But people did live without all these conveniences not too long ago.  And they SURVIVED.  So...

The next time I think, "It's cheap.  I'll just go buy another one."  I should really contemplate the cost involved.  And I didn't even talk about the environmental cost.  

School Photographers

So... L came home from school today with a flyer from the photographer who will be doing school pictures TOMORROW!!  The flyer gives "several tips" to FOLLOW so that we can get the best possible portrait of our child.  (I won't digress on the 'tips' becoming steps that should be FOLLOWED.)

Those "simple tips" include:

Make sure hair is clean and fixed the way you like it best.  <----  REALLY?? Do people really need to be told to take a shower and do their hair?

Maybe I'm just pms'ing or something, but this just got on my nerves.  Never have I been told to make sure my child has taken a bath before he gets his picture taken.  And of all the places to live and be told this.  I could understand if we were ... I don't know... at our last school maybe? ... where this note might be appropriate.  But really folks, REALLY, REALLY??!!  Do parents need to be told to make sure that their child bathes?  Isn't this part of your daily parental duties?

Oops!  I guess I got confused.  Maybe I just needed to be reminded of my parental duties.  I wonder if they will go so far as to tell me HOW I should fix his hair.

I realize it isn't a personal insult, but do people really need to be told this in an affluent school?