Illinois ladies facing bc

All this good chatter  prompted me to go to ulta to look for shampoo in glass bottles and no paraban.  I could swear there were shampoos in glass bottles but it must be from my childhood when plastic was not used so routinely.  So I started talking to the woman who works in the salon at Ulta  and I was so impressed with her knowledge on the subject.  She knew exactly what the concern was and had some information on paraban.  She agreed with someone here who mentioned that shampoos cover such a small part of our body, that it is not worrisome.  Sun screens and body lotions are the worrisome products.  I am glad we are having this conversation.  I was oblivious to all of this a year or so ago.  I think I would probably get greener products from WholeFoods rather than ulta. Oh and when I asked her if there was a completely green shampoo, she said I would have to make it myself and it would be with grapefruits and oils....won't be doing that I guarantee.

Just checked on my library of linkies:

Joan you might find this one interesting: sunscreen linky 

And everyone including Joan concerned about cosmetics, shampoos etc might like this: linky  and this linky2 

ADEY!

I am a maybe for lunch on Thursday. Depends on if I get a free-lance project.

jmo...I am anti-sun screen. It's difficult these days to "trust" anything. Sigh...

Robo, it may have been you that mentioned Urban Styles in Batavia (I cannot go back and check) but I did get a gift certificate there for my daughter on someone's suggestion.   She and her DH have had stress with this pregnancy and she needs to do something for herself;  they are all-organic, they live near Batavia,  and so it sounded  like a good plan.  If she doesn't want services, she can use it for supplies.  To any one near there who is interested, their webpage is:

 http://www.urbanstylesalonandspa.com/

Question:  Whole Foods sells canned foods, right? Should they, if in fact they do? I go back to work tomorrow and so I will be off my new obsession here (carcinogens).  I have enjoyed it, however, and have learned a great deal.  Thank you.

Wendy, I spent the weekend with family(Waterloo)  and of the four of us, three have  cancer, so I am wondering. what that is all about..  Moderation is a great guideline, but I want to know if there is more we can do to help our kids and our grandchildren, so I personally welcome this discussion.  I personally feel that our environment is resulting in more BC and I simply want to understand that connection, if that connection is based on fact.  Love you always!

Zap - I agree and welcome this discussion.  People may think I am going overboard but you have to realize that I always exercised, ate healthy, non-smoker, no fast food, no fried foods, no soy, and have been a health professional for over 20 years.  I was leading a very healthy life before my dx.  I figure that if I was eating healthy and exercising and doing most of the right things all those years and still got BC I need to make additional changes.  Look where being healthy got me....   My changes are just like someone with a not so healthy lifestyle making changes after a BC diagnosis by eating healthier, lower fat, exercising more, etc....  For me, I don't eat any meat unless it is hormone free, organic, grass fed.  When I eat out if they don't offer that, I eat vegetarian.  The same with dairy.  I avoid white rice, flour, bread, etc... and only eat whole grain for the most part.  My splurges are saved for desserts  - not mashed potatoes or white bread!  I love chocolate...my daily splurge is organic dark chocolate (from Trader Joe's).   I have a young son and I worry that he may have inherited something from me that will make him more prone to cancer.  He eats healthy and whole grain.  I am glad I am starting him young.  He is five and eats quinoa, brown rice, veggies (including brussel sprouts and cauliflower!!!), whole grain breads, beans, lentils, etc..  I would have never eaten this at age five because my mom didn't introduce those kinds of foods.  I hope I am setting him up for healthy eating habits which can really prevent a lot of disease over his lifetime (I hope!).  He also has stainless water bottles or organic milk/juice in cartons. 

Mdg....my Mom was just like you, food-wise! All she ever asked was that I at least try a food once. I too loved all the different veggies and would still rather snack on a green pepper than potato chips! Good for you!



And why is NCIS a repeat tonight? No ice cream and repeats....boo.

Hi everyone pebee from Kenosha here....

Has anyone gone to the Block Intergrative Center in Evanston?  Any feedback? Is it worth it to go down for a second opinion on how to avoid a recurrance?  I know that I have some thyroid issues and blood sugar issue that I would like to have looked at...

Thank you

Don't know whether to jump in or not -- might get tarred and feathered.  I go with the skip some things almost completely and use moderation as the guide for most of the rest.  Some people do everything right and and still Fail.  Others do soooo many of what we look at as wrong things and skate right through. 

So, I think there is something to be said for TRYING too hard.  I really do think you can stress yourself into some of the very things you are trying to avoid. 

I could go on and on, but the truth is most of these things are just my pretty much personal opinions.  The last thing I would bring up is the hardest for people to conceptualize.....and that is that we grow by the hardships we have.  If life was mostly perfect.....no "major" bumps in the road many of us could be first class wimps.  So....I think in all that we do their is a physical, metal, and spiritual aspect......This is why I'm more a proponent of moderation in most, avoidance in a few......I'm only putting this out here -- not going to defend my position --- some may see it, or maybe no one will -- I just feel that no one has a guarantee and nothing is random.....that everything that happens to us -- to anyone, has a reason.....whether we see it or not, agree with it or not, care or not.  But then I also believe a lot of things because I've had a lot of "whys" come up for a long time...a few were why me, but most were just simply why. 

We can worry, worry, worry, but we just have to save some time for living, for laughing, for enjoying life.....I think it is a very much a part of why we are here.  We should be concerned and question, but in the end I do believe there is a time and a season, and those things will not change.  They will come.  It may be on the simple side, but I may as well greet what comes and get on with it.  Even if you start out with a reluctant smile....it may soon sneak up and have you really meaning it

I hope you all had a wonderful day.

Hugs, Jackie 

i love you BJ........we all  love you and we all look upon  your teacher friend  with you as  a kindred spirit of care and concern. Please feel peace, girlfriend, and know you are the best friend ever!

BJ....prayers out for your co-worker!



Jackie....you always manage to say what I was trying to say but so much better. Thanks!



Onward....bum. Although I have to say this winter so far has not been too bad...but we do have 2 more months of it. Sigh.....



Ok...I did pay attention...I have found substitutes for many canned foods but so far cannot locate frozen artichokes, just the canned or fresh ( won't work in my recipe)...anyplace out here in the W burbs? Jergens makes a body lotion that is all natural...I find it just at Walgreens tho. The only makeup I use is Bare Escentuals....it's just ground minerals, preservative free. It seems pricey but it lasts forever. Mascara I use tho is Rimmel which has "stuff" in it but the one type I use makes my skimpy lashes appear long, thick and curled...



4 degrees on my deck......brrrrrrrrrrrrr! But off to the gym I go! 6 days to the scale....

Wendy...frozen artichokes are at Trader Joe's in a bag. They very yummy. Best one's to buy is  from Costo in olive oil in a glass jar. I use them in everything. They bake up very well  when I make roaster veggies.

Bye for now ...off to school for another fun fill snot day with kids. lol

I also second TJ's frozen artichokes.  Meijer has some in a jar too I believe.  Meijer actually has a pretty good selection of organic items and healthier items for being a mainstream grocery store. 

 Like all of the decisions we have had to make in our BC diagnosis/treatment along the way, what we eat and use is a personal choice.  I know for me personally I want to live without any regret of thinking there was something else I can do.  I would say my strong motivation for doing that is having a 5 year old.  The thought of not being here for him is my motivation.  I know all too well what that is like.  My dad died when I was two and I lived my whole life without him.  If the BC comes back, I will know whole heartedly that I did everything in my power to stop it.  I know in the end I have no control ultimately, but I am willing to try for my son.  I am not crazy about it. It is just a lifestyle now.  I do enjoy wine on weekends occasionally and desserts when we eat out, but 90% of the time I am good and avoid things I shouldn't have.  Each of us has to make a personal choice and there are several factors that go into that decision.  Having a young child heavily weighs on the decisions I choose to make.

BJ - I am sorry about you friend.  I will say some extra prayers for her and her family.  That is heartbreaking.