Healthy choices are better than unhealthy ones, but they’re not a guarantee for a problem-free life.

Growing up, healthy choices weren’t important to me. I never gave a second thought to healthy eating or exercise. And I never considered the safety (or hazards) of products.

Quite naively, I thought that because I lived in First World America, my products and food all were safe — and good for me.

When I realized this was not the case — and I had spent a lifetime consuming unhealthy things — I wanted to change for the better.

• I started reading labels.
• I stopped buying toxic products, like cosmetics made with parabens or cleaning supplies made with triclosan.
• I cut out processed food and tried to buy as much organic food as possible.

With every healthy choice, I felt confident that I could benefit the health of my family members. If we just continued pursuing a healthy life, we could forget about health problems.

Except that life is not like that.

One morning, when my husband and I woke up and thought our neighbor had started fracking directly behind our house (praise God, he hadn’t), I realized what very little control I have over my family’s health.

Sure, healthy choices are better than unhealthy ones. They may help us prevent certain problems.

But they’re not a guarantee for a problem-free life.

Other factors in this broken world plague our best attempts. Someone else’s poor choices might directly affect you. Your own unhealthy past might create a problem. Genetic issues may be stacked against you. Or life just happens.

Healthy choices are good. They’re better than unhealthy ones. But healthy choices don’t guarantee health.

The post The Day I Realized Healthy Choices Don’t Guarantee Health appeared first on Accidentally Green.

Insect repellents are necessary, but safe choices are hard to find. Instead of synthetic bug sprays, I like all-natural repellents.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Butterbean Organics.

I still remember crawling into an orange pup tent as a child, excited for my first campout in my parents’ wooded backyard. I can hear the crickets and tree frogs in my memories … and smell the overpowering scents of a DEET-based mosquito spray. It was hard to get to sleep, partially because of the different sounds right outside my tent, but also because of the horrid fragrance.

I have to believe the synthetic deep woods repellent couldn’t be too great for my health.

Granted, insect repellents are necessary: they help keep mosquitoes and ticks away. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ticks infect more than 30,000 Americans with Lyme disease each year and mosquitoes infect more than 2,000 Americans with West Nile virus.

The trouble with insect repellents, though, is that completely safe choices are hard to find. You want to make sure to use an effective product to keep bugs away. But at the same time, you don’t want to compromise safe standards.

In 2013, consumer watchdog organization the Environmental Working Group described this challenge:

The bad news:  there’s no sure, completely safe way to prevent bug bites.  All bug repellents have pros and cons. 

The good news:  some repellents are effective and relatively low in toxicity – provided you take precautions when using them, particularly on children.

The surprising news:  among the four repellent chemicals EWG found to be top picks is DEET, which is widely used but much maligned.  DEET’s safety profile is better than many people assume. Its effectiveness at preventing bites is approached by only a few other repellent ingredients.

DEET isn’t a perfect choice nor the only choice.  But weighed against the consequences of Lyme disease and West Nile virus, we believe it is a reasonable one.

What if there’s another alternative?

Personally, I hate using synthetic products if a natural product is effective. In my own experience, I prefer to use insect repellents made out of essential oil blends … or even by making my own potent repellent with fresh basil leaves and hot water.

I know essential oils and certain plants repel mosquitoes. But sometimes, when I’m rushing around in the middle of summer fun, I just don’t feel like making my own repellent. (Even if I have all the ingredients. What can I say? Just because I can DIY doesn’t mean that I always do.)

I like when concerned companies use the same products I would choose to use … and then create a great product.

Like Butterbean Organics.

Started by a mama of five children, Butterbean Organics is a family-run company that creates and sells Bug-A-Boo bug spray and sunscreens made with safe and healthy ingredients.

Butterbean Organics’ Bug-A-Boo Spray includes:

• Neem oil – An ancient, non-toxic herbal oil used to repel mosquitoes. (The EPA approved cold-pressed Neem oil as a mosquito repellent in 2010; Butterbean Organics uses organic, cold-pressed Neem oil.) Neem oil is known to have antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antiviral properties.
• Castor oil – Known for natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Ceylon citronella oil – All-natural insect repellent.
• Cedarwood oil – Can be used as an antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, fungicidal, and insecticidal substance.
• Lemongrass oil – Known as an insect repellent.
• Peppermint oil – Popular for analagesic, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral properties.
• Rosemary oil – Used as an antioxidant.
• White vinegar – Useful as an antiseptic, a help with circulation, and a great pH regulator.
• Witch hazel – Used as a carrier for the oil combination, witch hazel also has anti-inflammatory properties.

With this group of effective, natural ingredients, there’s no need to worry about exposing yourself to hazardous synthetic sprays. Butterbean Organics is natural, safe, effective – and their products are recommended by the Environmental Working Group and Cool Mom Picks.

You can buy your own Bug-A-Boo bug spray online or at certain U.S. retailers.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Butterbean Organics.

The post Avoid Synthetic Bug Sprays with All-Natural Repellents appeared first on Accidentally Green.

After a life of eating processed food, I was sure I couldn’t cook real food. Was I wrong!! I’ve found it’s easy and affordable to cook real food.

Growing up, I never helped much in the kitchen. Oh, I’d look forward to baking Christmas cookies with my mom every December, and I’d make my own macaroni and cheese from a box for summertime lunches … but that was it.

Once I graduated from college and moved far away from my family, I needed to figure out cooking on my own. Cooking for one isn’t that easy – I never felt the desire to spend a lot of time creating a fantastic meal for just myself. And I didn’t want to eat leftovers for days and days afterward. Small and simple was key.

To figure out how to cook, I scoured cookbooks and created recipes shared from my mom and aunts. Inevitably, I’d end up trying to make recipes found on the boxes of the processed food I bought. When I eventually got married, I continued my cooking habits.

Then I discovered Food Network. My husband and I became rather addicted to several of the network’s shows, taking mental notes of the flavor combinations and cooking techniques the chefs used. It didn’t matter if it was “Chopped,” “Iron Chef America” or “Next Food Network Star” – when someone was cooking, I paid attention.

Attempting real food recipes

I liked baking from scratch and loved the taste compared to boxed baking mixes. So eventually I tried cooking from scratch. I experimented with some of the recipes I had watched on TV – and they were delicious. Surprisingly, cooking with real food wasn’t difficult. It was fun, relaxing, and I loved the taste.

My days of whipping together a dinner casserole of boneless skinless chicken breasts, a box of stuffing, can of orange juice concentrate and brown sugar were over. I stopped buying boxes and cans of processed food and started buying real food.

Much to my delight, I didn’t notice a huge change in my grocery bill. I had stocked my pantry with nutritious food, and I had learned to cook with it so I could create a variety of delicious and nourishing meals.

After cooking real food for the past nine years, I’ve learned that it’s a lot easier and affordable than I ever imagined. Switching to a real food diet takes a little patience and willingness to experiment and learn. But the reward is food that tastes like food – because it IS food.

Have you always cooked real food? What has your real food learning curve been like? What resources do you like to use?

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After a lifetime of bargain shopping without thrift stores, my shopping changed once I tried thrift stores. I appreciate how it’s affordable to repurpose quality clothing!

Growing up, I was taught to be a good bargain shopper – to this day, I still gravitate toward sales racks and clearance sections. (Why spend extra money if you don’t have to?)

Yet I never stepped foot in a thrift store. Ever.

I was happy with my discount store deals, but when I got pregnant in 2007, I knew there was no way I’d be able to splurge on a complete maternity wardrobe for work and home, especially when I was planning to become a stay-at-home mom and needed to save money.

Friends had been helpful when they passed along their maternity hand-me-downs, but I had a variety of sizes and styles.

When I finally outgrew my pre-pregnancy clothes and my pants were bursting at the seams, I knew I needed a thrifty solution.

I knew I needed to try thrift stores.

I walked in to my local thrift store with a $20 bill and no idea what to expect.

I walked out with a bulging bag filled with name-brand maternity clothes and a new favorite store.

A thrifty switch

Ever since that night, I’ve gone to plenty of thrift stores – I’ve even searched out highly recommended ones on vacation.

Once my babies were born and I was introduced to a life of spit up on my clothes, I loved refreshing my wardrobe with ultra-affordable used clothes. It was a relief to not worry about staining a brand new outfit.

My thrifty habit has stuck with me as my children have grown, and I buy most of my clothes and my children’s clothing at resale shops.

I’ve noticed that I can find high-quality, name brand clothing for well under $10 with just a few tricks:

• Visit thrift stores in affluent neighborhoods.
• Before you go to the store, have an idea of what you’d like to shop for. What clothing do you truly need?
• Look for stains.
• Look for missing buttons.
• Look for missing accessories like belts.
• Try every zipper to see if they work.
• Check the care instructions. (I choose to not buy dry clean only items.)
• If the thrift store has a dressing room, try on your items before buying.
• Watch for sale tags and markdowns, if you’re hoping for big deals.

While I stick to searching for bargains at a few favorite stores, I also really like using referral credits at the online thrift store ThredUP.

I like the way my family’s clothing budget stretches, thanks to thrift stores. Plus, I love the way I can recycle and reuse someone else’s clothing.

For more thrift store inspiration, check out my posts:
The Art of Thrift Shopping
Readers’ Thrift Shopping Advice
6 Ways to Green a Wardrobe on a Budget
Repurpose Thrift Store Finds to Create Amazing Home Decor

Do you shop at thrift stores? What are your favorite items to shop for at a resale shop?

Disclosure: Purchases made through links in this post will result in a commission for Accidentally Green. Thank you for supporting this website!

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I admit that I skip exercising because I automatically remember that I hated gym class. But I need to practice my mental fitness and just do it. My health is too important not to fight to stay fit.

I never thought much about physical activity when I was a child. I liked to play – and once I started school, recess and gym class were fun enough. I preferred other “specials” like art and music, but I don’t remember much about gym class – except for playing with parachutes and having scooter races a couple of weeks out of the school year.

When I started third grade, though, we had a new gym teacher who brought a new approach to gym class. We actually started learning something about physical activity.

At the time, I didn’t realize that I wasn’t gifted in physical ability – but I started to discover it very quickly. Suddenly, gym class wasn’t just a bunch of fun and games. It turned into competition. And instead of just having fun and getting moving, we were tested on our ability – and inability.

Gym class morphed into a physical sort of math class for me: I desperately wanted to perform, but struggled miserably.

Instead of embracing the struggle and working harder, I began to loathe gym class (and math class). I didn’t care if I was one of the last ones picked for kickball, because I absolutely hated the game. And what was the fun of bowling if I couldn’t even figure out how to score it, for pete’s sake?

For the rest of my elementary, middle and high school experience, I dreaded gym class. Physical activity was completely unappealing to me.

Sadly, I’m still prone to keep that same kind of attitude toward physical activity – 30 years after my first negative experience.

Yet the truth of the matter is this: I do really, really enjoy certain kinds of physical activity. I love to dance. (College-level physical education electives were fantastic!!) I like to go on walks. I like aerobic activity. I really, really enjoy strength training. And I love the way I feel after I’m in a good physical activity routine.

The trouble is this: when my adult life is busy, the first thing to go always is physical activity. Not because I don’t want to do it, and not because I don’t think it’s important – because I do. But when I am in busy mode, I skip on exercise because I automatically remember that I hated gym class.

I admit that it is completely idiotic to revert to an elementary school disdain for physical activity. Yet it’s what I naturally do.

This realization has helped me understand that for some people, there may be deeper issues that hinder physical activity or healthy eating.

I also understand that when I’m tempted to skip exercise because I don’t think I like it, I need to practice my mental fitness and just do it. My health is too important not to fight to stay fit.

Did you hate gym class, too … or did you love it? What past experiences hinder you from healthy living?

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Create a safe and simple home with the help of a brand new eBook!

Sometimes it can be hard to create a healthy home. You may know that you want a healthy home, but have no idea what to do … or where to start.

I know this is true, because I faced the same situation eight years ago:

• I experienced a lot of trial and error.
• I attempted healthy changes that just weren’t easy.
• I changed my strategies to make the safest choices in the simplest ways.

Now that I’ve lived it and transformed my life from unhealthy to healthy – with a lot of simple, small changes – I’d love to help you do the same.

My brand new eBook, Safe and Simple, walks you through an easy process to healthy living. With 30 chapters and challenges, you can choose to take as long – or quick – as you’d like on your journey to a healthier home.

To celebrate the launch of Safe and Simple, it’s on sale for $1.99 until June 30. (After that, you can buy it for $5.99.) Buy your own copy today and start creating a safe and simple home!

Disclosure: Purchasing eBooks through this post will result in a commission for Accidentally Green. Thank you for supporting this website!

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Ready to start middle school, I was 12 years old when I was allowed to start wearing cosmetics. My mom took me to the drugstore and treated me to a pastel blue Caboodles container and way too many Cover Girl products – concealer, foundation, blush, eye shadow, pressed powder, and Lip Slickers lip gloss.

I just had muted colors (which was fairly miraculous for the late ’80s!) so my makeup looked fairly natural. But I still had the cosmetics – and I wore them each and every school day.

That day’s purchase started my lifelong cosmetics habit. Unless I’m sick or just working around the house at home, I typically wear makeup. I still only use muted colors so my makeup looks natural. And over the years, I’ve made changes – the foundation, concealer and powder is long gone, but I’ve added eyeliner and mascara.

I also stayed loyal to drugstore brands, using coupons to help replenish my supply.

Until one August Saturday in 2007.

Time for a change

After reading Stacy Malkan’s book, “Not Just a Pretty Face,” I was shocked and disgusted that all of the cosmetics I had used for 20 years were filled with toxins. Had I really exposed myself day after day to such harmful ingredients?

I experimented with mineral cosmetics and was pleased with them, but I put my old faithful (and toxic) products in my Caboodles and tucked it away in my linen closet – just in case. Just in case of what, I don’t know. Just in case I had a makeup emergency? Just in case my cheapskate tendencies forced me to use up the toxic products because I bought them?

On that particular Saturday, I decided to forget about just in case. If I was serious about a healthy lifestyle, I needed to get rid of what I knew was unhealthy.

So I dug out every single cosmetic – new and old – that was filled with toxic, synthetic ingredients, and I threw them in a little plastic trash can.

I kept the trash can filled with the products for a couple months, adding to it whenever I came across another toxic product in my home. Finally, after the trash can was full and my healthy approach to beauty products had become routine, I emptied my trash can into the garbage. (And no – at that point I didn’t even consider recycling the containers. I just wanted everything out of my home.)

Learning a lesson

I might have hesitated – a lot – when making the switch to safe cosmetics. But I did it.

In the process, I learned that sometimes I have to forget about my frugal tendencies. Living cheaply doesn’t necessarily benefit my health.

I also learned that I can successfully take a jump into healthy lifestyle choices. They may be different than the synthetic products I used to use, but they are effective, easy to use – and safe.

You can find the same success. You might prefer baby steps, or you might need to make a huge change to jumpstart a healthy lifestyle. Do whatever works best for you. You’ll appreciate living healthier.

Is it easier for you to make baby steps or huge changes? What healthy cosmetics do you prefer to use?

Disclosure: Purchasing items from links in this post will result in a commission for Accidentally Green. Thank you for supporting this website!

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