My staycation in Tacoma

Someone asked me today if I will go somewhere in Tacoma next week that I have not been to before. I am taking a staycation in order to get some rest. You see, most of my vacation is used to travel to Chicago, and while restful in a different sort of way, I am really looking forward to my time here.

I want to swim in the Titlow pool. I want to finish one book I am reading, (The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner) and start another... any suggestions?

There is lots to do in that week. I may just blog about it. But Titlow pool... that is on there for sure.

how do you know???

Since this blog was supposed to be about social and corporate responsibility, it leads me to ask the question "how do you know?" How do you know parabens are bad for you? You know because there is research... but who is behind that research? How do you know that your cat food company was just bought out by Proctor & Gamble? You know because the awesome, gritty, dreadlocked, beautiful girl at your pet food store told you. But how do you know that means you should watch out?

I have been giving these things a lot of thought... not specifically abut the parabens, or the P and G buy out, but how I internalize this information to make decisions. There is research. There is media coverage. There is hearsay. But in the end, I base so much of my trust in information on two things: my gut, and social capital. Actually, the two usually combine in my heart and head to formulate how I operate on a daily basis.

It is because I trust the dreadlocked girl at the pet food store, that I decide to start paying sixty cents more per can of food to get away from supporting P & G. It is because I trust a company like Burts Bees that I can latch onto their products, which I know will not have parabens or other bad chemicals... and it is because I trust in the social networks that connect these things, mind is set at ease and I trust my gut... so, I suppose it is cyclical, really.

It is really this way in human relationships as well. I trust those around me if they have demonstrated their willingness to engage in social relationships with productive benefits. Benefits sounds weird. Short answer: if someone is open to relating to me, and we can benefit each other in some way, then there is a fit. These benefits range from making me smile or laugh, to helping me through my darkest hour. And the benefit also means I can provide something for them (which, that gets into altruism, best covered in another blog post). And when that fit feels right, I feel it in my gut. And then it feels good. And when I do not feel it, I also feel that in my gut. But that pang does not feel nearly the same. Not the same at all...

This is why you should care

One day, a long time ago, I fell in love. Her name is Neko Case. She is cool. She calls Tacoma home. She sings songs. And she just seems like the type of lady that I would love to drink a glass of wine with.

She is playing a show in Tacoma, just two days before she plays in Seattle. I cannot make the Seattle show. I will be in Michigan. I can, however, make the Tacoma show. Nothing could be finer.

More to come... I await the online tickets being available in just a few minutes!

Thanks Mom

Even though I know my mom does not read blogs I had to thank her for helping me in my "smart choices" endeavors. You see, after about thirteen emails with Tricia from Aveda HQ (thank Tricia, you rock, and I still owe you a thank you note in the mail!) I was able to secure a list of most Aveda products that are paraben free. As a side note, I learned that all Aveda products are phthalate free... So there was some good news and some bad news on this list. Perhaps the saddest news was that I was going to stop using Brialliant humectant pomade. But the best news was that I could keep using Sap Moss conditioner (but not shampoo... poo!). So I went to buy some Sap Moss conditioner and they were out... but they were not just out-ish, they were OUT! As in, I could not find the Sap Moss section. As in, I felt that something was terribly wrong. I know this might seem dramatic, but just imagine if the one product that could help you have consistent good hair days, which took you about 26 years to find, just decided to end one day... So I slowly and sadly approached the counter to ask what gives? And I walked out of Aveda empty handed that day. (Okay that is not true, I bought some paraben free face wash that I love- called Outer Peace).

Where does mom come into his story? here is where my mom comes in.

I call her at lunch today and say "I do not want you to do anything over the top, but could you"- pause- when I start a sentence like that, I can see my mom cringing in her chair with her frugal roots and Midwestern sensibility oozing out of her-- "could you send me the half bottle of sap moss conditioner that I left in the shower when I was home at Passover?"

At which point my mom says the reasonable thing that anyone should say. "Did you call any other Aveda distributors in town?"

"No... but I will..."

I now have a bottle of pure goodness on hold for me downtown and my hair can get back in shape just in time for the weekend!

Again, thanks Mom!

Making Smart Choices

This is something I posted to Don't Worry Be Hambly

Using the Earth to Help Brynn Give Cancer the Smack Down

The Breast Cancer Fund

http://www.breastcancerfund.org

In response to the public health crisis of breast cancer, the Breast Cancer Fund identifies – and advocates for elimination of – the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease.

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

http://www.safecosmetics.org/companies/index.cfm

Learn who is and who IS NOT getting in line to remove parabens, phthalates and other harmful synthetic ingredients from cosmetics and body care products.

Think Before You Pink

http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/

Ever stop to wonder if that bottle water with the pink ribbon purporting to support breast cancer research might be causing you cancer? Check this site out to learn how to make smart choices in this regard.

Smart Food Choices

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/Dirty-Dozen-Foods

Environmental Justice Resources

http://www.chej.org/BESAFE/pvc/about.htm

Learn why and what about PVC is bad. Learn about SAFE alternatives here:

http://www.chej.org/BESAFE/pvc/safe.htm

Think Global, Act Local

Want to get involved in Seattle:

http://ccej.org/about.php4

In T-town:

http://www.tpchd.org/page.php?id=341

Corporate Responsibility

Lastly, I (Kate) have been casually emailing all the companies that I use products from with the following email. I intend to write them all a break up letter, but right now I am fact-finding. I will post what I find on Brynn’s blog.

Can you please provide a list of all ____________ (Aveda, Neutrogena, etc.) products that the are free of parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben, and butylparaben) and phthalates?

Thank you in advance for your assistance and I look forward to hearing from you.

OR

(This was my example to Aveda)

Hello!

I would like the full and complete ingredient list for the following products please:

Brilliant Humectant pomade
Sap Moss Shampoo
Sap Moss Conditioner
Etc. Etc. Etc.

All this for nothing?

A friend just sent an interesting link about chemicals in our body and how we CANNOT avoid them. please check it out:

http://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/0803.asp

And while the article has some good info at the bottom about what we can do, it left me asking the question: Did I throw out all my paraben and phthalate containing products for nothing? Switch from gladware to pyrex for nothing? I hope not...

I look at the box, but I do not stand on the box

Hi all! This is my first official post to my first official blog and I am not sure where to start. I guess I wanted to make clear what my intentions are: I would like to make more educated decisions about the products that I use, have in my home, and support through spending, on a local, national and global level.

That being said, a wise woman once said "You cannot live in a tree house and sleep on a bed made of horse hair." In other words, I am doing what I can to make these choices (and look forward to the blog as a space for education and sharing), but I am not the utmost socially responsible person around and I recognize that for myself and others, this is not an overnight process.

Lastly, let's face it: the fight for justice can be a real downer. Therefore, I will be adding in occasional highlights from my lovely life as a thrice all American (A Tacoma dweller and proud of it)!