Do Bees Really Have Knees?

The other night, I was giving my kids a bath, and let's just say it didn't go so well.

Earlier that day, I was walking around Mertz Apothecary in Lincoln Square, and I felt giddy as a girl in a candy store while I checked out the surplus of organic and "natural" body care products for my kiddos. After much deliberation, Burt's Bees Baby Shampoo & Wash was the winner.  Its "natural" reputation and price point were the deciding factors in my bath time purchase.  

Later that night...

The kiddos WERE NOT happy if a drop of this got in their eyes.  tear-free, I don't think so.

After my ordeal of soothing my slippery screaming tots and their burning eyes, I took another look at the bottle's tear-free and  96.08% natural label.  I asked myself what is that 3.9% doing to my children and their  future vision?  I found "fragrance" listed in the ingredients.  Hmmmm....that leaves a lot open for interpretation, don't you think?

Our quest for a
tear-free/natural/organic/fragrance-free/BPA-free/paraben-free/
sodium lauryl-free/laureth sulfate-free bath continues!

I'll keep you posted.

Clean Up in Aisle Four

Feeling a little leery about cleaning with bleach or other equally dicey chemicals where your children play and pets roam? We do have options people!

Natural All Purpose Spray

32 oz. spray bottle (dollar store)
2 cups h2o
1/2 cup distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon pure castile soap
3/4 cups hydrogen peroxide
20 drops tea tree oil (Trader Joe's)
20 drops lavender or lemongrass essential oil (Whole Foods)

This magic spray can be used on acrylic, ceramic tile, wood, marble and granite. I found this wonderful concoction in one of my favorite earth-friendly resource guides: Gorgeously Green, by our hero Sophie Uliano.