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  1. Ecological Intelligence - A Great Read!

    Thursday, December 31, 2009

    Over the holidays I finished up Daniel Goleman's book, Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything. I highly, highly, highly recommend it! (That was three highlys, in case you weren't paying attention.) Goleman's premise in the book is that if consumers had all of the facts about a product in front of them, something he calls "radical transparency," then they would be making smarter choices for their health, the health of the environment and the well being of others.

    It all sounds so simple, but Goleman isn't talking about knowing the recycled content of a product. In fact, he considers most green claims, even those that are one hundred percent true, to be a form of greenwashing. Take an organic cotton t-shirt. Sure, removing pesticides from the cotton-growing process can have major impacts on the level of pesticides ending up in the environment. However, what about the amount of water necessary for growing the cotton used in the t-shirt? What about the dye that was used to imbue it a lovely blue? How much of that dye ended up in local waterways? What about the carcinogenic ingredients that make up many commonly-used dyes?

    Goleman's point is not to squash people's hopes of making consumer choices that can improve the environment. He does, however, encourage a broader look at items. A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of an item allows people to consider all of the parts and processes necessary for creating that item and measure its impact on nature from production through disposal. Having this kind of information for any item easily available to everyone is what Goleman means when he writes about radical transparency.

    What's even better is that Ecological Intelligence isn't one of those books that leaves you depressed about how many issues surround our daily consumption. Goleman actually sees radical transparency as something that we're getting closer to. He brings up great resources that work using this model, like the GoodGuide and the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database. He sees a future in which people have all of the information they need, and their response to this information urges companies to continually improve their products and their processes. He sees a future where profit and public welfare will not pull in opposite directions, but rather work together towards safer products, healthier workers and environmental sustainabilty.

  2. All About PVC

    Wednesday, December 30, 2009

    Greetings! I managed to come down with a cold the day after Christmas. That and some major computer problems have kept me from blogging very much, but I did want to share this article from Healthy Child Healthy World. Many of us have heard that vinyl and PVC are not so good for us, but this piece gives more information as to why that's the case and whether all vinyl is made of PVC.

    One easy thing that I've done in the house is get rid of the vinyl shower curtain liners. I bought cloth ones on their place. You can just stick the whole thing in the washer when it starts to get funky. I cheat and have two for each shower. That way, I don't have to stress about getting the laundry done.

    I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and has a happy new year!!!

  3. The Cleanup Begins

    Saturday, December 26, 2009

    Now that Christmas is over, what do you do with all of the stuff? From wrapping paper to the tree, this Yahoo Green post has lots of good advice for how to clean up green after the holidays.

  4. Handmade for the Holidays

    Thursday, December 24, 2009

    I must admit, this year I have not been nearly as crafty in my gift-giving as in holidays past. I am happy to say that I have been working on knitting a scarf for a certain someone. Of course, the scarf is not quite done yet, and I can tell it's been quite some time since I've picked up my knitting since my finger is sore. My knitter's callus had disappeared and I'm now working on building it back up.

    While I do love being crafty, patience is not one of my virtues, which comes back to bite me in my efforts to be crafty. I know how to knit, but after several failed attempts at hats, I mainly stick to simple scarves made of fun yarn. I know how to sew, but I'm definitely limited in my skills in that department as well. I once made a purse that was so horrible my husband suggested turning it into an art installation piece called "I hate sewing." It can be joined by my too big hat that I unsuccessfully tried felting into a bowl that I'll call "I hate knitting" as well as my melted and blackened mini-blinds that I'll call "I hate candlemaking."

    I tried to teach myself to crochet recently and ended up feeling quite the failure. I need to take some classes. I need to find more people to help me. But most of all, I think I need more patience. I hear that patience helps in child-rearing, too, so I better start working on that now!

    For today, I'm just happy that I'm creating at least one homemade goody for the holidays. Merry Christmas everyone!

  5. Toxic Flame Retardant to Be Banned...Soon

    Tuesday, December 22, 2009

    Three large chemical companies and the Environmental Protection Agency have struck a deal to phase out Decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca), a toxic flame retardant, by December of 2012. A full-fledged ban of the substance will take place a year later. Deca is commonly used in electronics as well as furniture, and is a strong neurotoxin and suspected carcinogen. Click here for more information on the ban from the Environmental Working Group.

    Reading about the banning of this substance reminded me of an encounter I had a few years ago. I was doing a presentation about informed consumer choices for a group taking part in a leadership development program. These were highly educated people who were leaders in the public, private and non-profit fields. We were playing a very competitive game of Eco-Jeopardy and had come to a question about VOCs in paints and other household materials. One of the participants stopped me in the middle of my explanation of what VOCs are and some of the concerns about them and said, "Do you mean to tell me that there is a substance that is known to cause health problems and the EPA hasn't banned it?"

    I just stared at him for a moment. This was one of those instances where what I wanted to say was nowhere close to what I had to say. I was utterly taken aback that he actually believed all health impairing substances had been banned. I realized as he was staring at me just as incredulously as I was staring at him that he truly believed that someone somewhere in some government agency was taking care of all of this.

    In actuality, there are agencies set up to protect us, but there are a lot of out-dated laws and untested chemicals. These agencies are underfunded and face very strong lobbying opposition. There are a lot of fingers you can point to try and pinpoint who's to blame when it comes to protecting consumers, but at least one of those fingers points right back at the consumer. Companies are making what we, the consumers, demand of them.

    I am a firm believer that we as consumers need to become informed and make smart decisions for ourselves. Yes, there needs to be more transparency. Yes, the people with the money have too much clout. But I still think some of the responsibility falls on the consumer to become more educated and aware of what they are buying and the impacts these choices have on themselves, other people and the environment.

    So, here's to more action being taken to protect consumers from toxic substances and to becoming better informed as we vote with our dollars. I'm going to toddle my little pregnant self down off of my soapbox now.

  6. A Fish Story That Uncovers the Truth

    Saturday, December 19, 2009

    Whether you take fish oil supplements or not, Paul Greenberg's recent op-ed in the New York Times is worth reading. Why? Because it's a great illustration of how a seemingly tiny consumer choice can have far-reaching implications. Plus, even if you don't buy fish oil supplements, chances are you use products that contain the menhaden oil Greenberg writes about. He manages to, in a very short piece, paint a picture of how consumer choice, big business and government oversight all intermingle, and how something as tiny as purchasing fish oil supplements can have an impact on the health of our oceans and the fisheries industry. And while this story is about fish oil, if you look at just about any other product out there, you can uncover a similar story of hidden impacts and chains of cause and effect. It just really makes you think! Thank you to my friend, Kate, for passing this article along to me!

  7. Shopping Towards a Better World

    Thursday, December 17, 2009

    All of our purchases have impacts on people, communities and the environment, but these impacts are usually far-removed from us and they can be difficult to trace. There are, however, some great resources that can help you figure out which companies have values that match best with your own.

    A GREAT and easy-to-use resource is the Better World Shopping Guide. There are so many reasons that I absolutely love this guide. First, it's so easy to look up what you are interested in. It is divided by product type. It covers airlines to wines and everything in between. Buying chocolate? Flip to the chocolate page and you will see just loads of brands listed, each given a grade anywhere from A through F. How easy is that?

    What else do I love about this guide? It does a great job of including LOADS of brands. Not everyone can or wants to shop at specialty stores, but most people could choose between Crest or Colgate wherever they shop, and now you can see which brand ranks higher.

    What are all of these brands graded on? That's another aspect about the Better World Shopping Guide that I like. So many times when looking for information on products, resources focus on only one aspect of the product, like environmental imapct. Not this guide! Each company is ranked on their track records in the areas of human rights, the environment, animal protection, community involvement and social justice.

    Finally, the Better World Shopping Guide is pocket-sized. It's easy to whip out of your purse when you're at the grocery store. It costs only $10, too. What a great stocking stuffer!

  8. A Scraptastic Menorah!

    Wednesday, December 16, 2009

    I could not be more proud of my oldest niece, Zoey! Over Thanksgiving, she and my dad spent hours down in the basement working on Zoey's "make your own menorah contest" entry. Zoey and her grandpa decided that they weren't going to make just any menorah, they were going to make one using only scrap materials. And look at the beautiful result!

    Zoey learned how to use all of the tools that were used to create her menorah and kept track of all of them. She got to try out a hand drill, push drill, screwdriver, brace and bits, and a hand saw.

    She also kept track of all of the reclaimed materials that were used to build and decorate her creation. Ingredients included the following:
    - Zoey's Great Grandpa's office chair
    - Spring from G.J.B. (Grandpa's Junk Box)
    - Plastic crystal underlay
    - Rainbow electrical wire
    - Plastic ice crystals
    - Stones
    - Feathers
    - Metal brackets
    - Computer parts
    - Nuts
    - Bolts
    - Shells

    Even the decorative items were not purchased for this project. My dad does a lot of photography, and these items had already been purchased and used for some of his photography endeavors.

    The best part is what Zoey wrote for her project description. "This menorah was made with only recycled items. Nothing was purchased and nothing electrical was used to make it. I used all of the tools with my Grandpa in Virginia and had a blast!!"

    See, recycling, reusing and being green just runs in my family. Oh, and she won second place in her contest! You're first place by far in my book, kiddo! Congratulations Zoey on an awesome, artistic and green job well done!

  9. Happy Chanukanomolie!

    Tuesday, December 15, 2009


    During this holiday season, I'm just realizing how appropriately I have named my blog. The anomalies seem to abound this time of year.

    I come from a Jewish family and my husband from a Christian one. Our personal views are very similar, but people always ask about what we do for the holidays. It actually works out very well. We go to my parents for Thanksgiving/Chanukah and to his parents for Christmas. Everyone is happy. Oh, and let me clarify that Thanksgiving/Chanukah thing. Religiously, Chanukah is not one of the more important holidays, so it has become a tradition in my family to celebrate it while everyone is home for Thanksgiving. That way my mother can claim two holidays in one, further ensuring that we will always go there for Thanksgiving.


    Not only do Jonathan and I come from different religious backgrounds, but his family is from the rural south while mine is from the urban north. Our wedding was somewhat of a culture collision, and it was great. At one point my cousin asked Jonathan's dad if sparklers were a southern tradition. He replied that he had thought it must be a Jewish thing. But let's get back to the holiday anomalies!

    The day after Thanksgiving, we always have a Jewish deli-style lunch. While Jonathan cannot wait to dig in to the lox, whitefish salad and egg salad, I won't go near the stuff.

    Jonathan gave my mother truck antlers as a Chanukah gift this year. I'm not sure truck antlers have ever been given for Chanukah. The same can be said for the hitch hauler that is currently wrapped in Chanukah paper downstairs for Jonathan. And the Redneck Dictionary he gave my parents a few years ago.

    I like to shoot mistletoe out of trees. I'm quite sure I'm the first person in my family to ever do that. I'm not too bad at it, either!

    Anyway, my point is that I enjoy the irony and celebrate the diversity that our families bring. So, from our crazy family to yours, Happy Chanukah!

  10. Cosmetic Safety Database

    Monday, December 14, 2009

    Recently while watching television with my husband, a commercial came on for some lip gloss. "Sometimes I wish I was one of those people who could see a commercial for something like lip gloss and just go out and buy it," I said to Jonathan. I am not one of those people. Not since becoming more aware of all of the questionable ingredients that can be found in our lip gloss, shampoo, lotion - all of our personal care products.

    Luckily, there is a GREAT resource out there that can help you sort through all of those ingredients and make informed decisions about what you put on yourself. It's the Cosmetic Safety Database from the Environmental Working Group. The Cosmetic Safety Database lets you look up just about any personal care product out there. Each one has been ranked on a scale of 1 to 10 based on the known and suspected hazards or each of the ingredients.

    The database is incredibly thorough. One thing I really like about it is that you can look up everything from the froo froo fancy organic shampoo to the CVS brand of shampoo. But c'mon, doesn't somebody already test all of these products for safety? Nope. And while there are about 1,000 ingredients banned from personal care products in the European Union, there are only about 9 banned here in the U.S.

    So, take a look at the Cosmetic Safety Database, but be warned, you may never see lip gloss commercials the same way.

  11. Back to Basics with Borax

    Sunday, December 13, 2009


    Matt Hickman over at the Mother Nature Network has been writing a series of posts called "Back to Basics" in which he shares information on earth-friendly household cleaners that were used back in the day and are still great to use now. Check out his piece on 20 Mule Team Borax.

    Personally, I use borax to scrub soap scum out of of the bathtub. It works really well, and I don't have to run out of the bathroom every two minutes because I'm about to suffocate from the cleaning fumes. Another great thing about borax? You don't have to go to a specialty store to find it. It's usually in the cleaning section of your basic grocery store.

  12. Seafood Choices Made Easy!

    Saturday, December 12, 2009

    I previously wrote a blog as part of my job called the Eco-Smart Consumer. For those of you that kept up with it, I'm apologizing now for some repeats that you might see here, but there are some resources that are just too good not to share again on MamAnomolie.

    One of these great resources is the Seafood Watch program and their handy dandy wallet cards and mobile apps!

    The Seafood Watch program comes from the good folks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and there are several reasons why I like this particular resource. One is that it ranks seafood choices on environmental sustainability, but also indicates which choices have health concerns due to pollutants. It's nice to have information on both issues in one place. Second, Seafood Watch breaks up their information in ways that make it easy to use. They have regional guides so you actually have the information that pertains to wherever you are purchasing your seafood. There is even a guide specifically for sushi. Finally, they make it so easy to have the information you need at your fingertips. You can choose from one of their wallet cards, or you can download the Seafood Watch app on your mobile device. You can discreetly check your phone or wallet card when out for a meal with friends without anyone ever even noticing. I've done it myself!

    So, if you're interested in making sustainable seafood choices, you should definitely check out what Seafood Watch has to offer!

  13. Check Out the Alternative Consumer

    Friday, December 11, 2009


    One of my favorite blogs for lots of great, green information is called the Alternative Consumer. It features green news and product reviews, and the folks who work there are just plain witty. How else can I find myself laughing at an article on global climate change? With titles like, "U.N.: 2000-2009 Likely the Warmest Decade on Record - Glenn Beck says their thermometer was broken," you can't help but giggle. Whether you're interested in alternative energy or green fashion, the Alternative Consumer offers a little bit of everything in a short, to-the-point format. Take a look see for yourself!

  14. So, in my very first post, I wrote about how I only ate meat if it was wild game. And that was true. It was true for many years...and then I got pregnant. Let me tell you, this little girl does not appear to be a vegetarian. At about week 6 the cravings began. And not just for meat in general. As my husband said, "You didn't go to grass-fed beef. You went straight to the bottom of the barrel."

    It's true. I made Jonathan go to the hardware store that had the hotdog stand in front. For a 4-day period after my morning sickness had just started, the only thing that would make me feel better was Campbell's Chunky Sirloin Burger soup. That's the kind with the miniature hamburgers in it. As a kid I used to eat it and the hamburgers even had tiny black lines that were supposed to look like miniature grill markings. Thankfully they have done away with those.

    I've had a reuben kick, a gyro kick and a buffalo wing kick. Before becoming pregnant, I had quite a sweet tooth. I even looked forward to being pregnant partially so that I would have an excuse to eat as much ice cream as I wanted. Alas, I have not craved ice cream at all. My only real cravings have been for pickles and crappy meat.

    In the beginning I felt so sick that I just threw my hands up and resigned myself to eating whatever my body craved. I'm not sure yet what I'll do once I have the baby. I had been quite committed to my wild-game-only eating ways before I got pregnant. I would like to say that I'll go back, or at least avoid canned beef, but only time will tell.

  15. In Search of Outdoor Kids

    Wednesday, December 9, 2009

    There has been a lot of interest and research lately on the effects of children's changing play habits. Outdoor play used to be the norm, but today's generation is mostly an indoor bunch. Much of the research shows that, while well-meaning parents are just trying to keep their kids safe, there may be negative consequences to this lack of outdoor play. Of course, this is easy for me to say right now while my baby girl is safely inside me, but the fact of the matter is that children gain a lot both physically and mentally from unstructured outdoor play.

    There is an interesting aticle from BBC News called "How Stranger Danger Changed the Way Children Play." It's actually a preview to a new BBC television series, but the article itself brings up some interesting issues as to why children are not allowed to play outdoors.

    This is an issue near and dear to me, so I'm sure it will come up again in MamAnomolie.


  16. Check out this free downloadable e-book from The Soft Landing all about how to avoid toxic plastics. It includes information on BPA, phthalates and PVC. I love the book's opener...

    "You shouldn't have to be a rocket scientist to choose safe eating gear and toys
    for your family."

    How true!

  17. I Bring My Bottles Back...Yeah!

    Monday, December 7, 2009

    For the third year in a row, NBC has celebrated Green Week. Whatever that entails, surely the best part of it this year was Jimmy Fallon's hilarious renditions of popular songs gone eco. Check it out for yourself!


  18. For Jews Who Love Chickens...

    Sunday, December 6, 2009

    It can be tough being Jewish during the holiday season. Especially in North Carolina. ESPECIALLY when looking for wrapping paper. Last year I was close to making a scene at my local Target. It went something like this...

    Me: "Do you have any Chanukah wrapping paper?"
    Employee: "What?"
    Me" (In my head) "The Festival of Lights, put on your yalmulke, c'mon, surely I'm not the only Jew who's come in the store."
    (What I really say) "Wrapping paper for Chanukah?"
    Employee: Doug, do we have any...um..."
    Me: "Chanukah wrapping paper?"
    Doug: "There's a display on an endcap at the front of the store."
    Me: (In my head) "Yeah, I saw where you put your crappy plain white paper and crappy plain blue paper together in a display and called it the Chanukah section. Do you think people who aren't Christian don't care what their presents look like? We don't even have a tree to dress them up! Give us a break!"
    (What I really say) "Thanks, I'll take a look."

    So, with Chanukah just around the corner this year, I had to share the great paper I found through Pristine Planet. Pristine Planet features lots of eco-friendly gift wrap. They won even more points with me by featuring 'Hanukkah Chickens Gift Wrap.' It comes from the Zola Shop and is made with vegetable-based ink on 100% post-consumer, chlorine-free paper and is made in the U.S. using renewable energy. And it's Chanukah paper with chickens on it!!!

    Even with lots of Chanukah wrapping to choose from, how many variations of Stars of David and menorahs can you have? This was a welcome break from the norm!

  19. Safe Paint for the Nursery

    Saturday, December 5, 2009

    Up until today, I have been quite frustrated on my quest for no-VOC paint for the nursery. VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, off-gas from a number of different materials, including most paints. They are know to cause a number of adverse health effects, and avoiding them can greatly improve the indoor air quality of your home. The great thing is that now there are several no-VOC and low-VOC paint options out on the market.

    My frustration came in finding these products. Since I knew they were available and I want to healthiest space possible for our little girl, I was set on finding a no-VOC paint. At both Lowes and a local Sherwin Williams store I had nearly identical conversations with store employees.

    Me: "Do you carry any no VOC paint?
    Employee" "Yes, this brand has no VOCs." (Olympic paint at Lowes and Harmony paint at Sherwin Williams)
    Me: "Oh, so the tints don't have VOCs either?"
    Employee: "No, the tints all have VOCs."

    What I found particularly annoying was that I had to ask to get this information. Not many people shopping for paint for their house get the plain white that comes ready in the can. Of course I'm going to have it tinted, and if I'm looking for no-VOCs, I don't want it in my paint or the tint.

    A few weeks ago I did go to Home Depot and found that they do have a line of no-VOC paints that comes in no-VOC colors. The brand is called Freshaire. The problem is that there aren't nearly the number of colors available as you find with other paints. That being said, I was very pleased to find that one of the big box home improvement stores has made an investment in no-VOC paint, and when I asked for no-VOC paint, that is the only paint they mentioned. They didn't try to sell me a paint that was VOC-free only before colorants were added.

    So, my husband, Jonathan, and I continued our search. And it ended today at the Common Ground Green Building Center in Durham, NC. If you live anywhere near Durham and you're looking for eco-friendly, person-friendly building supplies, I highly recommend it!

    Paul, one of the co-owners of the store, showed us not one, not two, but three different brands that were no-VOC AND that came in loads and loads of colors. He carried AFM SafeCoat, Yolo Colorhouse and Mythic. Not only are these paints zero-VOC, Paul explained to us, but they also don't have a lot of the other toxic ingredients found in most other paints.

    We went with a lovely light, light green made by AFM Safecoat. Very appropriately, the official name of the color we chose is 'Clean.' We also picked up some Mythic trim paint. I'll include pictures once we actually start painting.

    I'm just happy to know that there really are no-VOC, healthier paint options out there, that you don't have to sacrifice color choices in order to use them and that there are people out there who are knowledgeable about your green building options. Thank you Paul! Thank you Common Ground Green Building Center! Thank you Jonathan for painting the nursery...soon!

  20. Welcome to MamAnomolie!

    Friday, December 4, 2009

    Welcome to my blog! I'm so excited to begin this endeavor, but you, dear reader, are probably wondering what kind of endeavor this is. And what kind of a name is MamAnomolie?

    Well, first the easy half of the explanation. I am about to be a new mama. I'm five months pregnant, and I've been feeling my focus shift more and more to motherhood and parenting. I am preparing to leave my job for full-time motherhood. I feel very lucky that I will be able to stay home with my little girl. Also a bit apprehensive and nervous, but mostly thankful and enthusiastic.

    And why Anomolie? I feel as though I am a bit of an anomaly. For example, I don't eat meat except for wild game - a trait which offends carnivores and herbivore alike. I strive to take into account the environmental impacts of my purchases and habits, but I have a weakness for wrapping paper and Starbucks. I research personal care products and household cleaners for environmental health issues, but I won't hesitate to eat those bright orange "circus peanuts" candies that you buy at the gas station.

    In the past I struggled with my anomalous tendencies, feeling like I had to pick one thing or the other, but I now realize the two sides are part of who a am. I am an anomaly, and I've embraced that. So much so that, while I am normally tyrannical in my pursuit of proper spelling and grammar, I've decided that I like the look and feel of 'anomolie' better than 'anomaly.' So there.

    So, welcome to MamAnomolie. I hope you enjoy, laugh, learn, and discover new resources and inspirations on green products and lifestyles, healthy products, parenthood, arts & craftiness and whatever else this anomalous mama throws at you!

    Thanks for stopping by!