The Unique Vunerability of Children to Environmental Toxins

Children are not simply "little adults." Four fundamental differences between children and adults contribute to children's heightened susceptibility to environmental toxins.

This is a crucial reason to look at all sensible ways to de-tox their environments.  It is imperative to find solutions and these are just a few reasons why . . . .

    * Children have disproportionately heavy exposures to environmental toxicants due to their greater intake pound-for-pound of food, water, and air, coupled with their unique behaviors - in particular, hand-to-mouth behavior.
    * Children's metabolic pathways, especially in the first months after birth, are immature. In many instances, they are less able than adults to deal with toxic compounds.
    * Children are undergoing rapid growth and development. These developmental processes create windows of great vulnerability in which the course of development can be permanently disrupted by environmental toxins.
    * Because children have more future years of life than adults, they have more time to develop chronic diseases that may be initiated by early exposures.

*National Research Council. Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2000.

Frugal Creative Organization (FCO)

Frugality and Creative Organization Meet!

I love to find new and creatively innovative ways to use things . . . . old things, odd things, ordinary things, created things, recycled things. I have done this all of my life (as I am sure many people have). Here are a couple of examples.

Pantry Pockets -- This is a fabulous way to get a lot more organizing space out of your pantry. You can find these shoe pockets at any discount store.

They have 4 small hooks that go over the back of your door. I think it helps to tack them to the door about mid-way down, also.

I think they are a perfect gift for a college student or a young person moving into their first apartment or house. You can fill them with all sorts of goodies from necessities to comfort items!
There are clear vinyl and mesh style pockets from which to choose -- all in the same price range.
Total cost ~ $9.00 to $12.00 (empty)
My pockets hold:
lids to the jars I recycle by re-using
rubber bands
rice
Sustain Sports Drink Packets
straws
beans
pectin for jam making
Tough and Tender wipes
Hot chocolate mix
salad dressing, gravy, onion soup, chili & taco mixes
post-it notes and small notepads
cornbread mix
yeast packets
emergency votive candles & matches
mouthwash
Renew hand lotion
Chocolate chips
wildflower seeds to be planted this fall
FiberWise packets


AND . . . . . This is my Organizational Corner.

• I have been using my Birthday Calendar for about 7 years now. I printed it out at Kinkos on over sized card stock, had it spiral bound and viola! Total cost ~ $4.00
  

• I love that I have found a great new use for an "old thing" (aka: an LP holder). It now holds bills, mail and catalogues perfectly.

Total Cost: *free!* (Found in an attic clean-up . They were going to toss it!)

The lamp sheds light on the whole corner and is like the lamps on my parents' bedroom end tables. This lamp is one of my favorite Salvation Army finds.

I do have a Salvation Army rule though -- I give before I buy anything. And I only buy decorative things because there are many who have a greater need than we do for necessities (clothes, shoes, coats, cooking supplies, basic furniture)

Transportation

Since I can't yet afford the deisel that I am going to buy and then convert to a recycled vegetable oil fueled machine I am thinking of alternatives.

Yep, I am thinking something along the lines of this means of transportation if gas prices keep rising . . . . .

Fuel Options?

Click on the picture to watch this clip about fueling a car with vegetable oil. I apologize for the commercial at the begininng. The story is worth waiting through the silly commercial.
This information has been labeled quirky by some of my friends but I think "quirky" is not bad in many cases!