What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

My summer marathon of baby showers has officially ended. As I review, research and organize all of the gifts we've received (seriously, people were so generous it was almost vomitous. This kid is so effing lucky) I've learned a LOT of not so well known facts about major brands that I felt the need to share with y'all.

First off, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). About 2 years ago it was made public that JNJ knowingly had cancer causing chemicals in their products. This includes baby wash, shampoo and lotion. Article Here

Because they have until 2015 to clean up their act, this likely means they won't actually be done until 2020 when all of our kids have 12 arms and cancer coming out of their pie holes. Something I should have been more aware of but had totally forgotten is that Aveeno is also owned by JNJ. So while it's a "better" brand, there are still noted carcinogens hiding in their products that have been green washed to make us feel safe. Ack!

After some further research regarding the best baby products (at least in my opinion, obviously I'm no expert) I have confirmed that Burt's Bees, while still safe, is now owned by Clorox so I won't be using them after the Baby Bee's gifts I've received run out.  As a Vermont company, and one of the few large green brands that has yet to be bought out, I've now landed on my brand of choice as Seventh Generation Wee Generation. Sure, it's a bit expensive, but it's worth it for the peace of mind. Again, in my opinion.

Now onto food. Today I came across this article, which scared the bejesus out of me. There are literally things in food marketed to parents and children that are banned in other countries. WTF. It's times like this that make me so happy and grateful that I work in a place that subsidizes my organic meals, makes local produce purchases easier and more convenient and has helped effectively remove quite a few typical barriers to healthier eating and purchasing that others regularly face.

Ok now to sunscreen. I know, seriously, there's a lot of bad shit out there people.  A friend helped me realize the dangers of the toxins in conventional sunscreens (no this is not the same friend who got me to switch to natural deodorant). A few people have since recommended coconut oil as an all natural sunscreen alternative. Who'd a thunk it? I had no idea! It's findings like this that make me super excited for the pending Trader Joe's in Burlington. I think they sell coconut oil for around $8 for 32 oz. So much cheaper than sunscreen AND better for you.

So now it's clear that I'm slowly (or not so slowly) becoming a total hippie. While I don't have the land, resources or time (yet) to grow my own garden or raise my own chickens, I'm kind of naturally heading down that path. I guess it's a good thing we moved to Vermont because this shit would just not fly in Brooklyn.

You know you're irrational, hormonal and pregnant when

You may actually throttle your husband for the following:

A) eating loudly

B) eating ice pops loudly

C) eating YOUR metric ton of ice pops from Costco loudly

D) eating your metric ton of ice pops from Costco loudly when it's not even hot out

E) eating your metric ton of ice pops from Costco loudly when it's not even hot out and you're anticipating future hot weather which makes you want to stab him even more because you're anticipating being huge and uncomfortable.

If I were irrational and hormonal I would totally feel this way if this situation were happening but it's not and I totally don't feel this way right now. Nope. Not at all.

Nesting Nears Completion

I can't believe it but I'm almost out of projects in my house. I know. Shocking.

It's amazing what's few coats of paint and stain, rearranging what you own mixed with a few new things and repurposing a whole room will do to make a house feel more like a home. Only one room left to tackle and dare I say it, I feel home.

Oh Hormones, You Slay Me

So this weekend I had what I would like to think is my first real pregnant hormonal ragefest. I'm sure E would beg to differ but this isn't his blog.

I should preface this story with the fact that it was no less than 3,000 degrees with another 2,000% humidity making it hellish at my house this weekend. Not just weather wise. And this my dear friends, is where our story begins...

After taking the dog for a walk without feeding the beast (bad idea) we got home sweaty and tired and I proclaimed that I was hungry. Obviously any rational husband would cower in fear and immediately turn into a short order cook and make me eggs in under a minute because I'm hungry and could go into Incredible Hulk mode at any time. Not my husband. No, he slowly and carefully pulls out all of the individual ingredients, walking each ingredient lovingly over to the stove to be prepared for cooking. My patience began to fade as he lovingly debated whether or not to add sausage to the eggs. This is when I shouted "IF YOU DON'T MAKE THE DAMN EGGS NOW I AM GOING TO STARVE TO DEATH!"

Well this didn't go over very well and caused my husband to begrudgingly make me eggs (sans sausage) while grumpily slamming pots and pans to which I rationally responded by crying. Obviously. I even at one point tried to make him stop slamming pans and cabinets by weeping and telling him to stop and that I needed a hug. This request was met with "I HAVE TO MAKE THE EGGS!" Obviously at this point I should have removed myself from the situation. Instead I decided to shout that I'm pregnant and should be allowed to be irrational and cry. Husband response = more slamming pots and pans.

So I decided to lay on the couch and read US Weekly until the eggs were done, which was like another hour I swear. And when I got up to eat I noticed that my loving husband put I kid you not an entire onion in the eggs knowing that he loves over onioned food and I do not because I'm normal and don't want to eat whole onions. I even got him to admit to intentional onion abuse the next day.

At the time this was tragic and an awful start to the day (the onions in the eggs, the crying, the fighting!) but now as I sit and type this I'm kind of cracking up. I swear you can't script this shit.

I love you sweetheart, even if you admittedly over onion things when you're mad at me. You'll just end up paying for it in gaseous fumes later anyway...