One of the first dished I made was spaghetti squash mexicana with tropical avocado salsa fresca. It turned out amazing!!! I found out my new favorite spice is cumin, so yummy!

Here is the recipe

Here is a great alternative for you! Jann Iredale Mineral Makeup.

Here is some information on the makeup line…

Known as The Skin Care Makeup, the jane iredale line is so safe and beneficial to use that it is recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists throughout the world.

Jane Iredale’s Skin Care Makeup combines the most up-to-date colors with skin-care benefits that conventional makeups can only envy:

• Non-comedogenic, will not block pores.
• Virtually no allergy risk.
• All products have been sensitivity tested.
• Broad-spectrum UVB and UVA protection – up to SPF 30.  UVA tested at High.
• Anti-inflammatory, helps to calm and soothe irritated skin.
• Very water resistant rating by an FDA-approved lab.
• Complete coverage for skin conditions like acne, rosacea and redness following treatments like chemical peels and laser resurfacing.
• Contains no talc or parabens.
• Composed of inert minerals that cannot support bacteria.
• No products have been tested on animals.  Vegans click here for product information.

Jane’s line is a highly-sophisticated blend of minerals and pigments that are micro-pulverized, using proprietary technology and processes to form microscopic flat particles. These particles overlap each other on the skin to form a filter that allows the skin to breathe and function normally while still protecting it from air-borne pollutants. The staying power of the minerals is so great that they rarely need a touch-up during the day. And because these silky-feeling powders are water resistant, they won’t crease or smear even during the most strenuous exercise.

These state-of-the-art minerals are available in so many shades that there’s one for every complexion no matter what the ethnicity.

95% of the chemicals used in fragrances today are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum, including known toxins capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions.

So why are they allowed to use these chemicals in perfumes? The fragrance industry is not regulated and it desperately needs to be. The cosmetic industry is self regulated and isn’t required to give formulations, test results, safety data or consumer complaints to the FDA..

Its crazy to know that many of chemicals in perfumes are the same chemicals that are in cigarette smoke. I know a lot of people (including myself) that won’t stand for cigarette smoke but they are happy to wear a fragrance

The entire Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia has a “scent-awareness” program that urges the use of unscented products only.

I now have a couple Vegan cook books (there is a lot to learn!) and I choose a new recipe every couple of days to try out. I am going to be posting some of my creations as I explore more into becoming Vegan.

I have since ordered:

• 2 blankets
• 2 track jackets
• a couple onesies

Here is from information on Pukies

All Pukies products are made with Soy Genius -a soft, luxurious fabric made from a blend of natural soy fibers and organic cotton.

56% Organic Cotton:
● Free of toxic chemicals
● Biological and sustainable growth methods utilized
● No synthetic and destructive fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides nor pesticides

37% Soy Fiber:
● Buttery soft
● Naturally antimicrobial
● Wicking action makes it difficult for most stains to set
● Made from the by-product of soybean production
● Sustainable, renewable and biodegradable

7% Spandex:
● Adds stretch and versatility
● Tightens knit to provide a UPF 30+ rating
● Increases the life of a garment

Check out pukies

Here is some information on the candles:

• Hypo-allergenic
• Incredibly long burning
• Naturally honey scented
• Smoke and soot free
• Naturally dripless
• Pure natural beeswax
• Renewable resource

Beeswax is a renewable all natural product with no additives or fillers. It is non-toxic, safe enough to eat, and often used in cosmetics. It is most commonly used as a clean burning & bright fuel source as a beeswax candle. Unlike most of the manufactured paraffin candles, beeswax is hypo-allergenic, great for people with allergies or other sensitivities and for those of us who want a safe, clean burning candle in our homes.

Check out Bee Hive Candles

According to a recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 40 percent of candles on the market contain lead wires inside their wicks. Most often, the candles with lead wicks are scented candles. Fragrance oils soften the wax, so the manufacturers use lead to make the wicks firmer.

A candle with a lead-core wick releases five times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and exceeds EPA pollution standards for outdoor air, says the CPSC. Exposure to high amounts of lead has been linked to hormone disruption, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and numerous health problems.

In addition, you’ll want to look out for aromatherapy candles made of paraffin—a petroleum by product—which release carcinogenic soot when burned. The soot can also cause respiratory problems and will aggravate the conditions of those who already have asthma, lung, or heart problems.

“Burning an aromatherapy candle made of paraffin is similar to preparing a healthy drink of fresh squeezed juice and adding a shot of gasoline,” says Eric Johnson of Candleworks, an Iowa City, Iowa based company that specializes in nontoxic aromatherapy candles.

Besides endangering your health and that of your family, soot from paraffin wax can cause significant damage to the inside of your house, plus your computers, electrical appliances, and ductwork. And if that weren’t enough, aromatherapy candles that are scented with synthetic oils release microscopic particles that can cause cancer and other health problems when inhaled.

We now have no paraffin based candles in our apartment. I have a few soy candles but until I am sure they are no toxic I won’t burn them.

I am looking for beeswax candles as they are 100% natural and are for sure free of any toxins.

It wasn’t until recently that I look at what was actually look at what some of his clothes were made of. Alot of baby clothes are made of polyester which has flame retardant in them. I would never want this to be on Raine’s skin!!! I went through all Raine’s clothes and got rid of anything that had polyester in it.

I found a great place in Seattle that has trendy organic Kids clothes. Kate Quinn Organics has great items!! Raine now has quite a few items from there. Check them out.

I will post more great organic kid clothing sites as I find them.

I had always been interested in organic food but to be honest I think it was because it was “trendy”. I didn’t know anything about why I was buying organic vegitables.

In June my partner went to see a shaman in the Peru rainforest to do a cleanse and to make peace with his illness. He was carrying around a lot of sadness and it was important for him to work through that. He was about to become a father and didn’t want to pass that sadness onto his son.

While my partner was away I started my research into toxins. I started buying local organic veggies at our local farmers market here in Vancouver. I was 8 months pregnant and made my way up the hill to the market every Saturday. If you live in Vancouver they have great summer markets. More information is available here: www.eatlocal.org

The summer market ended in October so we needed a new source of organic food. Having a baby and my partners declining mobility we needed an option that was easy. I did a search online and found Spud! They are an online organic grocery service that delivers for free when you spend over $50 (which we do). They use reusable plastic bins to pack their groceries. Its an amazing service and a HUGE help to us.

If you have not checked out Spud you should!!