Seventh Generation Fall Back to School

With nearly 22 million school days lost each year due to the common cold and flu (CDC) and as many as 2.7 million bacterial found per square inch on common school surfaces (NSF International), it’s no wonder that 82 percent of parents with kids in grades K-5 fret about the germs in their children’s classrooms (according to a survey conducted by Seventh Generation).

This school year, Seventh Generation is sharing tips from best-selling author and pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, to help parents protect their child’s health during back-to-school season. Dr. Greene suggests taking the following precautions:

Optimize the immune system
Reap the benefits of probiotics like those found in yogurt. A recent study showed that children who received enough probiotics daily throughout the cold and flu season had a significant reduction in the number of illnesses they had and, when they did get sick, the symptoms were both milder and didn't last as long.

Be sure your child is getting plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement.

Build a strong foundation. Good food, good sleep, and good physical activity all help the immune system to flourish.
Be wise about reducing unnecessary exposure to harmful germs
Teach children the key times to clean their hands in the classroom. The most important times include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, naptime, play stations) and before meals or snacks.

Sixty percent of teachers surveyed said that they request that parents donate disinfecting wipes to the classroom. Seventh Generation’s disinfecting wipes kill 99.99% of germs* naturally using the active ingredient thyme, a component of thyme oil which is derived from the herb thyme.

Stress the importance of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Demonstrate to your children how to cover their mouth and nose for every cough and sneeze. This simple maneuver has spectacular results in decreasing the spread of viruses and bacteria floating about the room, waiting to be inhaled.
*Refer to disinfecting product labels for full details


You can also check out Seventh Generation on Facebook and Twitter today! Visit Seventh Generation on Facebook or Seventh Generation on Twitter and “Like” or “Follow” the brand to keep up with the latest news from Seventh Generation.

I received a Seventh Generation product, gift pack from Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark to help facilitate my review.

Mold and Mildew? X-14 Saves the Day!

CHECK OUT OUR NEW MASTER BATHROOM!
We recently finished a huge project of gutting our old master bath and designing a new one complete with a beautiful, new SPA SHOWER! Yes, Mamma is a happy girl!
Thanks to X-14 Mold and Mildew Stain Remover, we'll keep it looking beautiful. Unfortunately, mold and mildew can develop aplenty here in Florida, even with vigilance in cleaning routines...
Like many of you, I'm a busy mom with lots to do and very little time - X-14 The Bathroom X-pert Mold & Mildew Stain Remover is a quick way to combat these dirty little nasties!

MomCental.com and X-14 Mold and Mildew Stain Remover provided me with a sample bottle to try around the house, and I was very pleased with the results! We've had a stubborn problem with yucky mold/mildew growing just inside our washing machine door around the vinyl basket. I sprayed on the areas and didn't need to scrub. I just applied the X-14 spray in a well ventilated space on the mold areas and rinsed. It was fast and very effective! Independent lab studies (Shuster Labs, Sept 2006) revealed that X-14 works up to 2 times faster than the leading competitor!


X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover is a strong solution designed to tackle mold and mildew stains - one of the toughest cleaning problems around the home, RV or boat. It's safe for use on sealed grout, tile, vinyl and plastic surfaces when used as directed, and keeps the treated areas stain-free for up to two weeks! I'm glad to now have X-14 "The Bathroom X-pert" on hand in my cleaning product tool kit!

Thanks to MomCentral.com and X-14 for providing the sample to try at home!

MRSA: Resource, Facts and Tips

A startling statistic: More than 90,000 Americans are affected by MRSA each year! This is a hidden danger that is becoming a growing concern for parents. MRSA (methiciliin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a potentially life-threatening, antibiotic resistant Staph infection. We are hearing more news reports of the growing increase in reported cases which were traced to locations in community settings such as gyms, locker rooms, childcare settings, senior centers, and schools.

I have heard very sad stories from several acquaintances over the past year or so who have experienced this first-hand. My friend's adult daughter suffered disabling illness for many months before medical professionals finally diagnosed her with MRSA. It's a troubling situation, but I believe we are making progress in diagnosis and treatment!

I personally carry around huge vats of hand sanitizer goo in my purse!

I've also be doing my research to get the facts. One great resource is to visit the Stop MRSA Now website (www.stopmrsanow.org) and also try the tips below:

• Scrub up - Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand rub sanitizer.
• Wipe it down - Use a disinfecting bleach solution to wipe down and disinfect hard surfaces. (1 tablespoon of disinfecting bleach diluted in 1 quart of water)
• Cover your cuts - Keep any nicks or wounds covered with a clean, dry bandage until healed.
• Keep to yourself - Do not share personal items, like towels or razors, that come into contact with bare skin.
• Use a barrier - Keep a towel or clothing between skin and shared equipment.
  

Easy Steps to Goin' Green and Contest

Many of today's families are taking steps to promote a more balanced and natural lifestyle. As Kermit the Frog has been quoted, "It's not easy bein' green!", but I beg to differ...

I read the daily paper, watch the local and national news, and sense the quickening pulse of the global village, and it gives me pause to wonder about the future for our children. I work hard to be a relevant role model to my kids which includes opting for more environmentally responsible choices. These are small steps to help our environment and help to protect our legacy for future generations - clean air, clean water, and clean food supplies are vital for all!

To this end, I'm embracing the ideal for a more natural approach including making some recent changes in cleaning products around the house. I'm also exploring natural cosmetics, beauty products, and food. More about those in another entry...

I have discovered the new line of natural cleaners, Clorox Greenworks. This great line of household products have been under development for over 5 years and launched this year in 2008. Clorox states that it is fully committed to continuing the development of these types of products and set standards in the natural line. I'm pleased to learn of these great products that leave no harsh chemical fumes or residue.

The sustainable products are 99% natural and contain no phosperous or bleach, but clean thoroughly with natural, biodegradable ingredients such as essential lemon oil and coconut-based cleansing agents. They do not test on animals. They smell wonderful and work comparable to the current products I had been using. They are widely available and are fairly priced. I have found promotional coupons available in the weekly newspaper flyers to help save, too!

The Clorox brand has been a favorite of mine for many years, and this line up of natural products does not disappoint:
All Purpose Cleaner Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Dilutable Cleaner Bathroom Cleaner
Glass & Surface Cleaner Glass Cleaner
Diswashing Liquids

Clorox has also collaborated in this important endeavor with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. All the Greenworks products sport a Design for Environment (DIE) Logo. The United States EPA created this identification to reduce risks to people and the environment by preventing pollution.

Further, you can visit the website: www.30daystonatural.com
Sign up for daily 30 days to natural emails and learn more about ways your family can help our environment.

Clorox is also offering a promotional 100% recycled cotton tote bag with a pretty daisy screenprint to celebrate their involvement with the Sierra Club. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will benefit the Sierra Club's important environmental work!

To celebrate our "Goin' Green" natural efforts, I am hosting a blog contest. One randomly selected winner will receive a free Clorox Greenworks Sierra Club tote bag. To enter the contest, please leave a comment post on this blog thread. Deadline for entries is Friday, October 31st at 12:01AM EST. One entry per person. US residents only please. Winner will be notified within 24 hours of contest end and must provide mailing address to receive prize.

Thank you for visiting my blog and participating in the contest.
Do your part today to help our environment!