The Ingredient Geek

Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options

eczema

Going Somewhere? Road Trip Ideas

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Going Somewhere? Road Trip IdeasTravel is on my mind as we start to plan our 30th Anniversary Road Trip (I’m gathering ideas of what to see & do along the way. San Diego -> Colorado -> Oklahoma -> Texas -> Arizona -> San Diego ? I’ll have a separate travel log for the trip). I figure I’d share some road tip ideas that have worked for me over the years and maybe they’ll help somebody else too.

Check your carrier’s website before your flight

Apparently the sizes of carry-on bags have changed for many airlines, so what worked last year might not work this year.  Last year I discovered that since I had purchased an “economy” ticket, I was ONLY allowed a personal item, no carry-on bag at all. Good thing I checked before I got there or I would have had to pay extra fees if I tried to board with my carry-on.

Plan, but be as flexible as possible.

On one of my flights I was in the airplane an extra 2 hours!  I was so thankful that I had many of my road trip survival items with me, and not with my checked baggage! In 2016 Roy & I spent 8 days and 44 hours (!) in the car on one trip. Of course that wasn’t the original plan, however I’m so thankful we had some of our road trip survival items with us.

Here are some of my road trip items.

WATER:  If we’re flying, I like to bring my empty stainless steel water bottle. Once you get through security there are often Hydration Stations where you can fill your water bottle for free. Just remember to empty it BEFORE you go through security (yep, made that mistake once and got to experience the extra screening process). It also comes in handy if you’re at a conference/convention and you can fill that up once or twice for the whole day instead of having to go back & forth with a glass.

BRING SNACKS: I like to bring individual raw almond butter packets to add protein to the usually carb heavy free breakfasts. They travel well in my backpack.  I’ll often have the almond butter with a banana (shh!  Sometimes a waffle or English muffin sneaks in with them, but that’s our secret!)  It’s also great to mix in oatmeal. Nuts, dates, and protein bars are some of our other go-to snacks.

Ever since our honeymoon, we now travel with some snacks.  We landed on the big island of Hawaii and thought we’d take a quick nap and then go out to dinner.  We woke up a few hours later and discovered that the town had shut down for the night.  Nothing was open, and our dinner consisted of a vending machine picnic (ugh!)

LOOK FOR HEALTHY FOOD: If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see some of my great healthy finds at a few of the airports.  I did have to walk quite a ways for one, but since I had a 3 hour layover, it wasn’t an issue. It’s tempting to eat a bunch of junk when traveling, but I always feel better when I eat better.  Of course I don’t always eat that great, but I do try more often than not, and allow myself grace for when I don’t.

ESSENTIAL OILS: Sweet Orange, Peppermint & Lavender are the ones I take with me the most. We have a plug-in diffuser for the car and a battery operated one for the hotel room.  Diffusing oils helps keep us alert while driving, refreshes stale hotel rooms, and helps us relax in different surroundings.  It’s also great when we are driving through some “interesting” smelling areas ~ like lots of cows & chickens.  😉 Since I have MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) I also wear my oils around my neck in an aromatherapy locket, just in case I might have a migraine triggered by a funky smell, or someone around me wearing perfume.

PERSONAL CARE: Of course I like to travel with my Pure Haven non-toxic items. With my eczema I need to bring items that I know won’t irritate my skin.  I love our Hands-on-the-Go for quick hand cleaning, and I put our Hand Soap in a small bottle since I can’t stand using the drying, smelly fragrance, and often toxic hotel soap.

SUNSCREEN: this is a must for me.  Read my post here about what to look out for when choosing a safe sunscreen for you and for the environment.

MUSIC: what road trip would be complete without some rousing renditions of some favorites? We’re pretty eclectic in our taste from Broadway (nothing like Phantom of the Opera when driving at night!), 80’s rock (don’t judge!), Oldies, Classical, Praise & Worship, and Movie Soundtracks (The Greatest Showman is the new favorite).

MISCELLANEOUS: Reading material (of course) you never know when you’ll be stuck on a plane for an extra 2 hours.  Extension cords (empty plugs are notoriously in awkward places).  I was so thankful to have also brought 2 portable phone chargers with me.  I was able to charge my phone on the plane so I had enough power to schedule Uber when I landed.

That’s all I can come up with off the top of my head.  I’m sure after I post this I’ll remember more things.  What are your road trip MUST haves?

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My passion is to help families with Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options. I can send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid. Let’s start the conversation about ingredients in products with others ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or a few friends gathered together online or in person. Making small steps CAN make a big impact. Let’s continue the conversation in our Natural Non Toxic Living Group.

How I’m Coping with Stress and Anxiety Naturally

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Coping With Stress and Anxiety Naturally

Here’s how I’m coping with stress and anxiety naturally. Like many, during the COVID-19 stay-at-home for months, I have ridden the rollercoaster of various emotions.  Many of the tips I used during this time I had learned and put into practice back in 2017. 

A few years ago anyone following me for very long on Facebook knew I had been dealing with my beloved Shih Tzu Ginger’s health. Around Memorial Day 2017 she fainted at the groomer and that started a bunch of tests ~ cardiac, blood, urine, etc. She was about to turn 14, had a heart murmur, and also had loose teeth and periodontal disease. September was her oral surgery where she needed to have about 15 teeth pulled.

Thankfully we had already been going to a great holistic, homeopathic vet who was able to find ways to support Ginger’s little body. We are huge proponents of the raw diet, as well as giving her good water to drink. It took months, and finally our vet felt she was healthy enough to go under anesthesia. As an Ingredient Geek I had to figure out how I would be coping with stress and anxiety naturally.

Of course I was happy that she would finally get her mouth taken care of, however, it started my mind going to the anxious “what if” places. Do you know that place? What if she’s not REALLY healthy enough? What if being under anesthesia is too much for her heart? What if this? What if that? Argh!

Natural Ways I’ve Used in Coping with Stress and Anxiety

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My Journey to Becoming an Ingredient Geek and Why I Chose Pure Haven

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Curious about my journey to becoming an Ingredient Geek and why I chose Pure Haven?

Day we adopted rescue Gracie @GracieGirlJourney on Instagram

Confession ~ I like to read.

When I say I like to read, I mean I REALLY like to read. A true Bibliophile with LackaNewBookaPhobia (fear of being without a new book). As a kid, I read the cereal box during breakfast, the shampoo bottle while washing my hair, and the toothpaste tube while brushing my teeth… you get the idea. I read long into the night with a flashlight under the covers. In fact, I still read under the covers so the light on my Kindle doesn’t disturb my hubby.

I’ve battled various skin issues & allergies including acne, eczema, psoriasis, & contact dermatitis my whole life.

One summer, my eczema got so bad my mom put the prescribed hydrocortisone steroid cream on the inside of my arms and wrapped them with plastic wrap. I slept with gloves on so I wouldn’t scratch! The doctors also tried an elimination diet where I remember ONLY eating green beans and drinking apple juice. I’m sure I probably ate more than that, but that’s all I remember from that time.  Side note, in addition to the red, itchy patches all over, I also wore glasses, had braces with full headgear, and had acne. Let’s just say, I was a vision to behold… and yes, I was smart, so truly a geek too.

My long journey of holistic & healthy learning

My Journey to Becoming an Ingredient Geek and Why I Chose Pure Haven

Us with our now Angel Ginger

Since I enjoy learning and researching healthy options, I’ve taken many courses. Everything from aromatherapy / essential oils, herbal remedies, and homeopathy. Thanks to menopause (aka mental-pause), everything got a bit crazy.  My hormones, thyroid, and adrenals got all out of whack. I began having a variety of extra health issues, including Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Environmental Sensitivities (ES). Many fragrances often give me a 3-day migraine. I started making my own products, which was rewarding, but time-consuming.

I wanted to find one place to shop for a full-line of personal care products

My hubby & I got tired standing over a hot stove melting beeswax for my eczema lotion. I saw a post about products made with great organic ingredients and essential oils. Praying that none of the products would irritate my skin or give me a migraine, I signed up as a consultant to get the best price. Thankfully, I loved all the products right out of my kit. It wasn’t until I started the training that I learned about “greenwashing.” I THOUGHT I was reading labels carefully & buying products that were safe, natural, and organic.

Taken in by clever marketing, I realized I was not only wasting my money, but also exposing myself to harmful toxins.  That made me angry!

That’s when everything changed for me. I REALLY started reading the labels of EVERY product we used. Roy says I’m now a “crusader” empowering families to choose the healthiest lifestyle possible. Unfortunately, many are unknowingly harming themselves with their everyday products! Take a look to see if you are Avoiding These Top Toxins. Unsure of the ingredients on the products you’re using? I’m happy to help you decipher them. I’ll honestly let you know if they look good, or if there are ingredients of concern.

Products that are guaranteed 100% free of toxins.

That’s just one of the reasons why I chose to become an Independent Consultant for Pure Haven.  They create fresh products, made in small batches, free of toxins, environmentally sustainable, gluten-free, and cruelty-free. They adhere to a strict, six-step ingredient sourcing procedure and manufacture the products in their USDA Certified Organic facility.

Ready to start Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options?

Now that you know why I chose Pure Haven, are you ready to start Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options? Here are some First Steps to Living Toxic Free. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Let’s chat, and let me help you on your own natural non-toxic journey. I can send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid.

Monique, the Ingredient Geek has an uncanny sense of ingredients and what is reasonable for our best health.  She is able to make sense of some complicated products that would baffle any normal person. Being an Ingredient Geek is her superpower! ~ Milea S.

Let’s start the conversation about ingredients in products with others ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or a few friends gathered together online or in person.

What’s Hiding Behind the Fragrance Ingredient?

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What’s Hiding Behind the Fragrance Ingredient?Did you know that the word “fragrance” when used on personal care and home products is not just one ingredient?

So what’s hiding behind the fragrance ingredient?  Good question, especially since it seems to be everywhere. I don’t know about you, but since I am an Ingredient Geek, I’m always checking the backs of the labels ~ even (especially) the so-called “green” companies! Thanks to “mental-pause” I now have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) in addition to my eczema (and various other issues).  I REALLY need to know what chemicals might be in the products I’m using. Read my post Are You Avoiding These Top Toxins? to learn more about other top ingredients are best to avoid.

Phthalates are a large family of hormone disrupting chemicals and are hidden in the word “fragrance.”

@healthy_child says, “And it’s not only where you think it is, like perfume, body cream, and candles. It’s in diapers, toothpaste, even baby dolls and orange juice!”

@womensvoices says, “The term “fragrance” can be a mixture of up to 100 different chemicals, out of more than 3,000 commonly-used fragrance chemicals! Chemicals of concern in fragrance are linked to allergies, cancer, birth defects, and infertility.”

Even if a product says “unscented” on the front, please always read the actual ingredients on the label.

If I see the word fragrance, or perfume, or parfum, I don’t use it, simple as that. Because it’s classified as a “trade secret” companies DO NOT have to disclose what’s included ~ even if there’s a child going into anaphylactic shock triggered by a popular body spray (as seen in the move “Stink”)!! You can also read the story here (Thankfully due to the strong outcry, as of 02/13/17 the ingredients are started to be disclosed to the public).

Oh, and guess what?

That room spray you THINK is cleaning the air and smelling so fresh?

It’s just masking the odor and filling your lungs with unknown chemicals!

What’s hiding behind the fragrance ingredient? EWG’s Greener School Cleaning Supplies Report found that in the most popular air freshener, only 3 ingredients were disclosed on the label, yet the lab found 87 chemicals!!  (WAIT, WHAT?!) That’s crazy to have that many undisclosed ingredients, in fact it could be quite are dangerous to many.

If you want to wear some type of scent, check out this post Avoid Synthetic Fragrances and Make Your Own Scent

Overwhelmed? Want some help?

My passion is to help families with Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options. I can send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid. Let’s start the conversation about ingredients in products with others ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or a few friends gathered together online or in person. Making small steps CAN make a big impact.  Let’s continue the conversation in our Natural Non Toxic Living Group.

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Here are some great articles if you want to learn more:

✔  Healthy Child

✔  Womens Voices