Accidentally Green

Making Healthy Decisions That Honor God and Happen to Help the Environment

Studying the Adverse Effects of Vaccines

To follow up on Monday’s post about vaccines, in 2011 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies published a 648-page report, “Adverse Effects of Vaccines: Evidence and Causality.” The IOM reviewed “epidemiologic, clinical, and biological evidence regarding adverse health events associated with specific vaccines.” While the report didn’t judge the effectiveness of vaccines, it did focus on the risks of vaccines. Let me be perfectly clear: I did not read the entire 648 page ... Read more

Learning About Vaccine Resources

Last week I shared my family’s metamorphosis of vaccine decisions – you can read about it here and here. I want to be perfectly clear that every pediatrician I have talked to - whether they support traditional or alternative vaccine schedules - recommends vaccines. And even though I know the pediatricians I trust fully support vaccines, I always feel like my vaccine decision isn't completely finalized. We’re still following an alternative schedule for our children. Until we find a doctor ... Read more

My Family’s Vaccine Decisions, Part 2

On Monday I shared how my husband and I formed our vaccination decisions for our family. It’s been quite a journey – and that was just with Big Brother. How did we decide to approach vaccines once Little Sister was born? For starters, we declined the Hepatitis B vaccine when she was a day old in the hospital. I waited for massive protests from the hospital staff, but didn’t hear a word. Whew. We fully intended to start her on Dr. Sears’ recommended alternative vaccine schedule at her ... Read more

My Family’s Vaccine Decisions, Part 1

It’s been a while since we’ve talked about vaccines, but I did want to give an update on my family’s vaccine journey. As I’ve shared in the past, Prince Charming and I chose an alternative vaccine schedule for our children. But I’ve never fully explained how we reached our decision. Ready for a long story? Big Brother's vaccinated start When I was pregnant with Big Brother, I didn’t give a second thought about vaccines. I knew newborns received shots during their hospital stay, but ... Read more

Foodie Friday: Homemade Bread

Once my son was born and I became a stay-at-home mom, I started making my own bread - for the financial savings, health reasons and for the taste. (Who doesn't like the smell or taste of freshly baked bread?) I fondly remember holding my tiny son in one arm and trying new bread recipes with the use of my one free arm. Every time my Kitchen Aid mixer started kneading the dough, I’d explain it was going “around and around” and Big Brother and I would turn around in circles in our ... Read more

First Day of Snow Fudge

Why not turn the first snowfall of the year into a special family celebration?! I started making First Day of Snow Fudge when my son was a year old, and it’s turned to an anticipated (and fun!) family tradition. This recipe is easy enough for toddlers to help with, especially if you don’t mind when they sneak chocolate chips. This definitely is not health food, but we only eat it once a year … I like to cut the fudge into tiny squares, so it lasts about a week. This recipe only ... Read more

Greening Your Finances

New Year’s resolutions can usually be divided into several basic categories: organization (covered on Monday), exercise/weight loss (check out posts about this topic next week), and finances. While I can’t help you with your financial resolutions – although my guess is that advising you to save more and spend less would probably be helpful – I can help you face your finances with a greener state of mind. Many of these tips are common, no-brainer solutions. They’re worth mentioning, ... Read more

Getting an Organized Start to the Year

It never fails. Every year, I can count on two things. I will have a consuming desire to get organized each January, and a similar desire to deep clean my home each March. (I think my internal clock must be synchronized with each calendar year.) Now that January is here and my planning/goal setting/resolution making couple of days are coming to an end, deep down I know it’s time to get organized. Unfortunately, this is impossible for me to do right now – we’re still living with my ... Read more

My Favorite – and Your Favorite – Posts of 2011

This year is rushing to an end, and I have just one more blog post left … tomorrow’s. Before I completely wrap up this year, I’d like to share My 11 Favorite Posts of 2011, as well as Your 11 Most Popular Posts of 2011. Ready for some end-of-year reading? My 11 Favorite Posts of 2011 1. A vaccine truth that’s stranger than fiction 2. Is there a link between flame retardants and SIDS? 3. 68 things you don’t know about me 4. Color me dangerous 5. Toxic cosmetics 6. Do you know what’s in ... Read more

How to Celebrate a Greener New Year’s Eve

Whether you love to ring in the new year with a big night out on the town with parties or a quiet evening at home, here are a few ways to celebrate with a greener New Year's Eve: Going out? If you’re headed away from home, try to ride with a friend as a way to cut back on fuel and emissions. Staying in? If you’re hosting a party, use glass plates, glassware, and real silverware instead of disposables. If you’re short on supplies, borrow from a neighbor or recycle tableware by ... Read more

In the News: Formula Recalls

Chances are, you’ve heard the story about the 10-day-old Missouri newborn who died on Dec. 18 because of a bacterial infection caused by infant formula. Kroger Co., Safeway, Supervalu Inc., Walgreen Co., and  Walmart have removed 12.5-ounce cans of Enfamil Newborn with the lot number ZP1K7G from store shelves across the country. The potentially tainted cans of formula will be held until federal health officials release test results on the formula. 1 Even though stores have removed ... Read more

Return. Reuse. Recycle.

Merry Day-After-Christmas! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas weekend. Today, as all the festivities begin to wind down, there’s another rush to the stores. If you think you have a lot of gifts to exchange this year, I’d like to present three possibilities: Return. Reuse and Recycle. Return Did you receive a gift that you love but just isn’t the right size? Or do you despise the gift and long to pick out something you do like? Return it – or exchange it for the right size. Many stores ask ... Read more

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