For six years I have had to live with horrible shrinking linoleum in our kitchen and then the foyer followed suit. A large swatch of concrete slab peeked through, it taunted me with it’s dried floor glue ridges every time I swept or mopped.

I hated this floor, even worse I wasn’t a fan of my husband who did not see why we needed to spend the money to replace it.

Something changed in him this year, and along with his bonus from work we asked family for cash this Christmas instead of gifts so that we could get the dreaded floors replaced…. finally!

We knew we wanted laminate. The search went on for weeks. We went to several different stores. Some were too cheap, the big box stores were to expensive and some were just laughable. We had it between two stores and then we had to decide what type, color and price worked best for our budget.

Brian and I were at a stand still. He liked one type, I hated the color. I loved one type, it was too expensive. He went out without me and brought home two samples, we placed them on the floor by the kitchen cabinets and the decision was made…. finally!

We procured a wonderful man from church to install our new flooring. He used to do it for a living before he needed something more secure for his family and now he does jobs on the side.

Ryan, is amazing. Not only did he do an incredible job he taught Brian how to be a little more handy during the process. Even I got in on the action. I pulled a few nails which turned out I’m not a fan and took off some baseboards which was much more fun.

I don’t have a quality before picture as my husband took it with his phone and I never thought to take one at all. Why would I want to remember the horror that was my kitchen and foyer floors?

But here is what it looks like now and I am thrilled that it’s done.

Finally!

I went to one of those home party’s, you know what they are. The invitation you get from your friend that makes you cringe. The party you can’t miss because she’s your BFF and she’ll kill you if you don’t show. Purchasing something out of guilt is what friendship is all about right?

This party was different.

I walked away feeling disgusted with my lack of knowledge and my shared public ignorance.

A small ember of glowing light flickered to life inside me, by the end of the week my mind was a towering inferno of swirling information and fiery wisps of anger.

I was so worked up I decided, after conferring with my husband, that I needed to be in a place to share this message with others and offer them a solution.

I became a direct sales consultant.

What message could make me, an introvert at heart, go into direct sales?

In 2008, at the age of 14, Ava Anderson saw a report on hazardous chemicals in the blood of teenagers that directly reflected the products they were using on their skin. The study had been conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).  She researched products on the Cosmetics Database created by the EWG and began removing all harmful products from her parents and grandparents homes, much to their chagrin. They wanted replacements, and with a lot of research Ava could not find a full line of products that had a “0″ hazard score out of the 0-10 scale used on the Cosmetics Database.

Trying to find safe products had become a full time job and she was becoming angry that so many products claimed to be natural and safe but were actually toxic. After 8 months, with the help of her family, she came to the conclusion that she needed to make a fully non-toxic line of skincare, with the promise that if any ingredient ever becomes more than a “0″ that product will be reformulated.

They felt the best way to get out the important health message of the products was to do direct sales instead of having items sitting on shelves of a store and I couldn’t agree more. Ava Anderson Non-Toxic is the first full line of non-toxic skin care.

A few tidbits of information:

Europe bans 1,342 toxic chemicals from personal care products. US bans just 9!

Manufacturers must clean up their products for European distribution, but leave the toxic chemicals in for US…. because no one is stopping them.

The FDA has no oversight. The people who “oversee” personal care products are a committee of executives from the biggest personal care product companies themselves. The committee makes their own rules and posts them as “guidelines.” Adhering to them is optional.

According to Dr. Samuel Epstein, Former Head of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, and author of TOXIC BEAUTY, “It is more dangerous to put a product on your skin than to eat it.”

Our skin is our largest organ.

What we eat gets detoxified by our bodies. When chemicals are put on the skin, they do reach the bloodstream. Think of trans-dermal medicinal patch drug delivery systems, like a nicotine patch, estrogen patch or seasickness patch.

Adults have, on average, 485 chemicals in their blood. The average woman is exposed to approximately 250+chemicals each morning. (EWG, Environmental Working group)

Disease in this country is up way beyond genetic incidence! Environmental toxins are being blamed, and they are everywhere in our environment. We can’t control genetics….we can’t control the air … but we can certainly control what we eat and drink and what gets to our blood stream directly by what we put on our skin.

Manufacturers can legally hide hundreds of toxic chemicals in the word FRAGRANCE without listing them on the ingredient label. They call it a “trade secret.” The Environmental Working Group has randomly tested products off the shelf and found “phthalates” in more than 72% of the products tested, yet not listed on a single bottle. (EWG)

Studies link phthalates to cancer, autism, ADHD, infertility and more. (Dr. Philip Landrigan, Mt Sinai) In 100% of scientific studies, phthalates cause genetic mutations.

Other red flags and blaring sirens you can find on your ingredients list: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, anything starting with PEG, or ending in –ETH or paraben

Getting to know your product labels with the support of the Cosmetics Database will help empower you to make healthier decisions.

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As soon as I got home from my friend’s party I checked the products I was using against the Cosmetics Database and saw that they were moderate to high on the scale.

As were my kids. I was poisoning my own children. Now if you are a mom, you know one thing, you do whatever you can to protect your children. I was angry that I assumed buying kids products meant that they were non-hazardous. The last thing I want is to be pumping hormone disrupting chemicals into my childrens blood!

I did the same with my Mom, one of her products, a simple face wash made by Equate was immediately thrown in the trash! She promptly ordered the skincare line and the hand and body lotions.

I am in the process of replacing all of our health and beauty products with Ava Anderson Non-Toxic.

Pictured above: Eye-Makeup Remover, Toner, Cleanser, Sugar Lip Scrub, Moisturizer, Exfoliator

Pictured above: Shampoo, Conditioner, Hand and Body Lotion, Shower Gel, Moisturizing Hand Soap, Moisturizing Hand Soap Refill, Lip Balm

They also have make-up featuring lip glosses, lipsticks, blush and foundation.

Not only are these products non-toxic, they are fabulous products that really work and smell great!

Check your products against the Cosmetics Database and see for yourself.

I think you might be surprised by what you find, especially in the products you use on your children on a daily basis.

You just might become as angry as I have and decide to do something about it.

If you want to replace your hazardous products or even become a consultant email me at veronica@mayangelstar.com or go to my site Ava Anderson Non-Toxic

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Give Away:

8 oz. Hand and Body Lotion ($14.95 value)

Our Hand & Body Lotion is formulated to go beyond what typical lotions are designed to do. Most lotions on the market create an immediate appearance of hydration and softness. Yet the majority contain ingredients that actually dehydrate the skin when used on a regular, long-term basis. The result of these formulas is best described as an intentional dependence…the more consumers use them, the more they seem to “need” them. Ava’s Hand & Body Lotion delivers genuine, meaningful hydration and moisturization to the skin. You will notice an improvement immediately and even more improvement over time. Our Lotion is safe & nourishing for the skin, and free of the toxins, irritants & harsh chemicals that could cause damage to the health of the body as a whole (and the environment, too).

INGREDIENTS: organic aloe vera gel, behentrimonium methosulfate, organic coconut oil, organic apricot kernel oil, organic olive oil, organic sweet almond oil, organic shea butter, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, allantoin, geogard ultra, potassium polysorbate, organic sweet orange essential oil, organic citrus lemon essential oil, organic pomegranate oil.

Required Entry:
1. Visit the Cosmetics Database and leave a comment with the toxicity level of one of your current skin care products. Please leave an email address or way to contact you if you win.

 

Bonus Entries:

2. Visit Ava Anderson Non-Toxic and post a comment with your favorite item.

3. Make a purchase from my Ava Anderson site post a comment stating you did.

4. Follow me on twitter and use the tweet below or make up your own as long as it has @mayangelstar and the link about this giveaway and leave a comment.

Find out what’s hazardous to your health and win an Ava Anderson Hand and Body Lotion via @mayangelstar http://bit.ly/fnOH6a #giveaway

5. Blog about the giveaway and leave another comment with the link to the post.

This contest will end on Monday April 4th, 2011 at 10:00 pm, eastern time. I will use random.org to select the winners and contact them. (If winners do not respond in 48 hours, I will pick another.) U.S. entries only. Good luck and thanks for entering!

Alex and baby dressed in holiday beauty!

Big sisters strike again.

For more Wordless Wednesday visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

The girls played basketball this winter for their school league. Wednesday night practices and Saturday morning games. Two very different girls, two very different games to watch.

I was proud of Brianna, as always a head taller than her teammates,  passing the ball, giving others a chance to score, when she could take it down herself with no contest. 40+ point games and she would score half of those points on her own. In the zone and loving the game.

I was proud of Katie’s quick pace, her willingness to dribble, strangely left-handed, and try to shoot when she had the chance. I cheered loud and clear when she scored her first basket!

The basketball awards were held last night. The teams were all introduced on the stage to upbeat music, clapping and cheering. A basketball entertainer, funny, mesmerizing to watch as well as sharing the message of Christ, it is a Christian school and league. Then came some special awards for most Christ-like referee, coach, and player in each age group/gender, nominated by players and parents.

Brianna received the honor for 3rd grade girls, she went up on stage and smiled broadly accepting her award.

My heart soared and I clapped with a beaming smile on my face and a quiet whisper entered my heart, This will hurt Katie.

We separated, Alex and Brian off to get Brianna and I to Katie.

Each child received a basketball award and Katie smiled, meekly for the one picture she allowed me to take of her team.

As I led her out to the lobby to meet up with the rest of the family, her small hand in mine, I heard her tiny voice, “Why did Brianna get to go on stage and not me?”

“What did you say?” I stalled, my heart breaking at my sensitive little girl’s sadness, her sister being a shining star, again, and Katie feeling not good enough, not-included.

“Nevermind.” She whispered.

Not the oldest who outperforms at just about everything she tries.

Not the youngest, the baby too cute to do wrong and an all-star at sports at such a young age.

Just the middle.

With a tiny voice.

Feeling insignificant.

And I’m scared…

She is 6 and already shows signs of a crushed little spirit.

I don’t want her to feel that way.

Ever.

I do what I can to build her up.

But what if it’s not enough…