Dear Debra, I know autumn has finally arrived on the central west coast of Florida, because I'm actually sitting here with the windows open! After months of air conditioning, it's great to have fresh air again. Debra :-) HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT ~ 18 October 2005 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AT HOME WITH DEBRA: Caring For My Cat My husband and I both love cats in general and our cat in particular. She's very healthy and happy, having been raised "all-natural" since since she was born to a cat who we also raised naturally from the time she was a kitten. Find out what we've learned in twenty years of natural cat care. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Organic Halloween Treats My husband and I have been contemplating what we could give out for Halloween treats instead of refined white sugar candy. We were thinking little boxes of raisins or little bags of nuts, but I found an idea the kids will like even better in the Ideal Bite newsletter: "hand out organic sweets this Halloween and be the hippest house on the block." They recommend these bite-sized, individually wrapped treats (and so do I): Endangered Species Organic Milk Chocolate Bug Bites. Each contains a trading card promoting beneficial bugs as alternatives to chemical pesticides (sweetened with organic unbleached sugar). Endangered Species Chocolate Chimp Mints (sweetened with Organic unbleached water-filtered beet sugar). Green & Black's Organic Dark Chocolate Miniatures (sweetened with organic raw cane sugar-- the gourmet choice). Organic Lemon Lollipops by Candy Tree (sweetened with fruit juice--probably the most fun for kids). Check your local natural food store for more organic treats. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Cookware Choices I've been getting more and more questions about cookware lately, especially since cookware made of new materials is now available. So I wrote up all the choices, plus their health and environmental pros and cons, in "About Cookware and Bakeware." My favorite new cookware is made from natural soapstone. It is beautiful, warms food amazingly fast over low heat, and is naturally non-stick. Read About Cookware and Bakeware...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DEBRA'S LIST: new website links Here are just a few of the website links I added to Debra's List in the last two weeks. Worldwide Child is "an extraordinary shop for kids" with organic and fair trade books, toys, and crafts.
The Diaper Jungle website has everything you could ever want to know about cloth diapers. Soapstone West carries soapstone for countertops, backsplashes, showers, floors, and more. Also traditional soapstone sinks. (Soapstone doesn't stain like granite and marble!) Squeaky Monroe has more than 350 unique, natural personal care items for your entire family. No perfumes or synthetic coloring agents. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DEBRA'S BOOKSTORE: What I'm Reading Fresh Choices: I've also added to Debra's Bookstore a whole new page of books on Natural Pet Care to that you'll want to browse. And, I've added two basic books I've been using for years: Ruth Winter's A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives and her A Consumer's Guide to Cosmetic Ingredients. Both are excellent easy-to-read resources when you run into ingredients you don't recognize. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SWEET SAVVY: New Recipes Here are the new recipes made with natural sweeteners that I've recently added to the Sweet Savvy recipe database:
All are made without refined white sugar--and they taste wondeful! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Q & A: Emergency preparedness for pets Dear Debra, After reading in your newsletter about your disaster preparedness preparations and then seeing you mention your cat, I thought I would pass along some information about disaster preparedness for pets... L. R. Read about emergency preparedness for pets... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Q & A: Nontoxic commercial cleaners Dear Debra ~ Can you direct me to nontoxic commercial cleaners? I am chemically sensitive, and I would like to promote safe cleaners to my medical providers. Thank you. J. S. Read the answer... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Q & A: Are these products really natural? My friend has introduced me to a company that is supposed to be natural. They have skin care and cosmetics. She is so head strong about this. She knows I am working hard and trying to get healthy and stay away from chemicals and toxins. I'm trying to eat organic, and I have a long way to go, and I would be happy if what she says about this company being natural is for sure. Could you help me? [Name of company deleted] Thank you. M. H.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Q & A: Plywood resins Dear Debra ~ I'm confused about plywood resins. I need to get kitchen cabinets for my new home, but there seems to be no such thing as actual solid wood cabinets. Even the ones called "solid wood" are made with plywood. I've heard that exterior grade plywood has a less toxic resin that interior grade. Can you help me sort all this out? T. A. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * If you have a question of general interest, I am happy to answer free it in this newsletter and post it on my website for others to benefit from. If you have a question you would like to submit, please send me an email to debra@dld123.com with your question. It may take two to four weeks or longer for your question to appear in the newsletter. Usually I send an immediate quick answer to email questions, but then give a more detailed answer in the newsletter. All of the questions and answers, include those in the current issue, can be accessed through the Q&A index page at http://dld123.com/q&a/index.php. I also am available to answer your questions immediately and personally with a paid telephone consultation.
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 The new, revised, edition of Home Safe Home is now available in bookstores nationwide. Home Safe Home tells what toxic chemicals are generally found in specific household products of all types, and safe solutions you can buy or make at home. It's different from other books on toxic chemicals because the focus really is what you can do to protect yourself and your family and create a healthy home. I bring over twenty years of research and personal real-life experience to this book. * 10 Simple, Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reduce Household Toxics * How Toxic is Your Home? Quiz (excerpt from the book) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Debra's List ~ 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise products
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