Dentist

If you are anything like me, you dislike the idea of the Dentist and you bleed like mad when sitting in that chair.
I do not floss and I should, I know. I have to start and I will.
Every time I go for a cleaning its a long visit. It starts by my hygienists saying my gums are inflamed and I have to floss and would I like numbing cream before we begin.
I then take the pain and a little while later am all done. Looking down, that blue `bib`they put on me has now almost completely turned red. Its like a murder scene on the bib and its all from my mouth, not nice. And I should mention my teeth kill after, actually make that my mouth. My mouth aches for hours after.

I started using Melaleuca Tooth Polish one month ago and was excited to see if thy would make a difference at my dental cleaning yesterday.
Well it did folks! I do still need to floss and I get that but this is how it went yesterday.
She looks around my mouth and said it looks a lot better and my gums are not as inflamed as they usually are and asked if I had been flossing. I told her about Melaleuca and then proceeded to let her know that there is still no flossing going on in our house and I just ate McDonalds before I went there and I was sorry. HAHA.
Well she didn't even mention the numbing cream *thumbs up* She did the cleaning and it didn't hurt like it did once upon a time and in the end, there was 1drop of blood on my bib. 1DROP!!! crazy!
Between the time I walked in the waiting room, got the cleaning, waited for the dentist to check and say everything is great, made my next appointment and got back in my car, it was 30minutes. that's a record people!
I will continue to use Melaluca tooth polish and I will start to floss, I promise mom :)

Here is a link about the tooth polish, join Melaleuca today for 1$ and enjoy great products like their tooth polish!

http://www.melaleuca.com/ProductStore/Product.aspx?sku=5034

Melaleuca Info Night

Come one come all.
I am having Tessa over to our house for an information night on SEPTEMBER 21 @ 8PM.

Even the people that have signed up can come, there is always information that would be useful.

We will learn about products, what they are and what they do. Tessa will also let us know more about the company and how it works. Also if any of you want to be part of the business, we can talk more.

I can't stress enough how happy we are with the products. They don't cost a fortune, the shipments come straight to your door, the products are GGGGRRRREAT (like Tony the tiger!) for you and the Earth. It feels good that our home is converting to Melaleuca. I feel healthier already and have only been with the company since July.

Please let me know if you can make it that night, I would like to have enough treats for everyone.
We would love to see you and tell you about these great products.

Remember we do not take orders, its not a sales night. We are just spreading the word on Melaleuca and would love to sign you up.
If you have questions but cannot make it out that night then ask me and I will get you an answer!

Tell your friends, Bring your friends and family. It will be a fun night!!
Phone or Email me.
elyshakampen@hotmail.com
647.588.2908

Origami

The 'rings' in Masons room have remained empty for a while. I was waiting for my sister to visit and help me with Origami.
Well she has come and gone :( She is back in Africa...
We did this while she was here though.

I have to do a few more and hang them all and will get back here and post the final result.
Anyone know of easy origami other then a crane or butterfly?

Information Night

at my house!
I am having Tessa from Why I Love Mela come over and give myself and all of you more information on how Melaleuca works and the products.
I know a lot of you are interested but just want a bit more information on it, well she has all the answers.

I am looking at a week night in September and was wondering if there are weeks or days that are good, or not good? Tell me if you are away.
I want to make sure you can all come out.

An update on the products I have.
~The toothpaste is still great -I have a clean/checkup end of August, we will see if my gums bleed like mad or if this toothpaste is truly helping the girl who is known at her dentist for bleeding gums. Its usually so bad that the hygienist will ask if I want numbing gel before she even starts.
~The sol-u-mel, Tub&Tile, Tough&Tender and MelaMagic are all great cleaners. I am also not scared when Mason opens the cleaning cupboard to explore.
~Zap-it is AH-MAZING. I have lived with light acne since high school and as soon as I found Proactiv, I stuck with it. I tried a few things along the way like Aveeno, clean and clear, Arbonnes acne line and nothing worked as well as Proactiv. Also I should put out there that my face was not perfect with Proactiv but it was the closest. Well Zap-it has made me a believer in Melaleuca and I am so happy to have some that works and that is not harming me or my towels (for those of you who have Proactiv, you know what I mean)
~children's training toothpaste without fluoride. All I can say is that Mason loves to brush his teeth.

anyways I don't want to bore you. Let me know when in September is best for you and I will figure out a night.
Remember that it would not be a sales night. Melaleuca is a company where you sign up and order your own stuff, just like you would get things at Walmart but online.
I don't need you to bring your cheque book or credit cards and I don't need you to feel pressured to buy anything. We are not selling you things that night, just spreading the word on how good the products are and how easy it is.

Lord Of The Flies

Still here. Was away for the long weekend and it was wonderful.
We came home to a house full of flies? my first comment after "wow" was "its Lord Of The Flies"
We are honestly clean people! you probably don't believe me since we have about 100 new flies a day.
We assume it is from the dead furry things in our attic? We had some chipmunks come in from our neighbors roof and wander over to our side (we are semi detached to a dirty house AKA Hoarder)
So we called pest control to come inspect, show us areas to block and put down some yummy poison for whatever was coming in.
4days later, there was the worst-smell-of-life in our home, you could truly tell something died up there.
So we were happy our money spent on this pest control guy worked because they do tell you that there is no guarantee.

Now we have flies. Lots of them.

I trapped them in the window to give me time to figure out a game-plan

Does anyone else have a fly problem?
No, nobody?
Well I put up those sticky traps and I hope they work?
Has anyone used those? Do they work?

Now that you all think we are a dirty family with a dirty home, I'm going to sign out now and think of a post to get your mind off this dirty one.

I am out of brick songs

But we are not out of bricks.
We have some leftover brick from our patio. Remember I was asking for advice on things to do with it.
Well fire pit was one idea.
And it turned out well. take a look.

We had leftover limestone as well. So we first put that down and leveled it

Put the brick down. Made sure it was still level.

3 rows and its done.

The old fire pit 'bin' sat inside the bricks

BEFORE

AFTER

Brick House

Who knew there were bricks underneath our walls?

JUST KIDDING.
I had left over wallpaper from the laundry room. remember this?

This wall has always bugged me because it was never even. It had bumps and holes from various things. It just wasn't nice and smooth. So I thought I would try it out.
Before.

After.

You like?

Just another brick

in the patio...
It's done! Thanks to our talented friend Rob, its done. (and Paul & Chris for the prep work, the hardworkas Paul put it) In one day.
Even a beautiful cut corner.
I-L-O-V-E-I-T

We have extra bricks. Any advice on what we should do with them? Fire pit?

Ingredients

** I debated posted this post because I don't think one person will read it but its happening and its my last post about products and how they are bad and how you need to start buying Melaleuca. I promise, last post with so many words**

I said I was going to use the cosmetics, haircare and laundry products I had left before switching completely over to Melaleuca. However, Mason had an extra long nap today and it gave me time to clean out some cupboards and while doing that, reading labels.

I was taught at a Arbonne party not too long ago about a few ingredients you do not want to see on any labels in your home.

Parabens stuck out in my head but I couldn't remember the rest. So I went to a great website, MadeFromEarth

They list the following ingredients.

1. Paraben

2. Phthalates

3. Petrochemicals

4. Cosmetic Fragrance (Parfum)

5. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate

6. Diazolidinyl Urea or Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

They explain on the website what these are and how they could be harmful.

I read in a book that companies putting their products on the shelves, don't have to get the product tested or approved before we as consumers buy it. AND if there is something harmful in it, the FDA cannot recall it. As long as the ingredients are on the label properly, it is up to the consumers to figure out what is good for them.

For those who do not want to read through the website above I will sum up the ingredients in my opinion.

Paraben: Low Cost preservative that is used in face products, body moisturizers, body wash, cleansers, sunscreen etc. Testing has shown that the parabens absorb into our skin 10 times the concentration of an oral dose and contain estrogenic activity which can lead to breast cancer.

Phthalates: This ingredient is very toxic and helps the product you apply, absorb into your skin. L'Oreal discontinued the use of this in their products in Europe only due to severe allergy complaints. L'Oreal and other companies still use it in North America

Petrochemicals: Petroleum is found in almost all skin care products. anemia, kidney degeneration, nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord and the rise in cancer rates are linked back to Petrochemicals. During testing the products with petrochemicals, most animals died before the study ended. The FDA cannot stop the product from hitting shelves is more then 50% of animals died while testing it. What's it doing to us?

Cosmetic Fragrance: Artificial fragrances are made from petroleum or coal which degrade in the environment and cause skin irritations. Companies use these rather than the real thing in nature because it is cheaper.  

Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate: (SLS or SLES) FDA requires companies to list all ingredients and in order of the highest concentrations first. Go find your shampoo or face cleaner and this ingredient will be listed at least second or third. It is used in concrete floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car wash detergents, and just about every soap and shampoo on the market.In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It can change genetic information found in a cell, impairs structure formation of eyes, damage the immune system, causes separation of the skin layers.

Diazolidinyl Urea or Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate: It is used also as a preservative. causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The label on your skin care product may not list "formaldehyde". The following ingredients break down and release formaldehyde: diazolidinyl urea (or 3-diol diazolidinyl urea) 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (or bronopol) DMDM hydantoin. The label on your skin care product may not list "formaldehyde". The following ingredients break down and release formaldehyde: diazolidinyl urea (or 3-diol diazolidinyl urea) 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (or bronopol) DMDM hydantoin.

Just like Phthalates, it has been banned in Europe after studies concluded that effects can result in: carcinogen, causes allergic reactions and contact dermatitis; headaches; irritates mucous membranes; damaging to eyes; linked to joint and chest pain; depression; headaches; fatigue; dizziness and immune dysfunction.

In my opinion, you should read the website or go read a few labels.

I checked a few of mine and here they are...

LOreal Shampoo: SLS, Fragrance, Petrochemicals, Phthalates

Colgate&Crest Toothpaste: Petrochemicals, SLS

Aveeno Baby Cream: Petrochemicals, Parabens

Johnsons Baby wash and cream: Parabens, Fragrance, SLS

And that is just a hand full of products I grabbed. I actually went through all the creams, face wash, baby products, makeup and this is what happen.

A big garbage pile

Vaseline, Aloe, Johnsons, Proactiv -All products we had and they all had at least one ingredient listed above.

So much more organized in there.

 

We will be switching our products to Melaleuca a lot quicker than we expected. Go check at least one of your cosmetics, shampoos, cleaners.
Change to something that is all natural and that will not harm you as it enters your body.

Swing

$10 Swing I picked up a few weeks ago from Once Upon A Child. Some chain we had and a lock we had.

First Branch was too high.

Lower branches from the first were too low

So I double looped the chain

attached the loops from the swing onto the lock

attached lock to chain.

Ready for baby

Front yard is in my 'bad books' but its getting better