Your Health and the Environment

I believe most of us are committed to good health and have daily activities and routines we follow to help support our health. We exercise, take natural supplements, drink a high-protein smoothie, drink water, wear sunscreen...the list goes on! 

All these small steps taken day in and day out lead to a stronger and healthier YOU!

While all of those things are an excellent way to be healthy, I want to be sure you aren’t missing an important part of the health puzzle by being exposed to chemicals in your environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tracks more than 84,000 chemicals used in commerce.  These chemicals, have worked their way into our everyday lives. Now, no matter how clean you try to live, it is impossible to escape exposure from these chemicals that may put an amazingly heavy burden on our liver and other detoxification pathways in our bodies. Chemicals are found in the food we eat, clothes we wear, personal care products we use, and even the very products that we use to keep our homes clean and safe.

Take a look at the chemicals found in common household cleaners:

Name	Found in	Potentially harmful effects
Phthalates	Solvents used to make fragrances	Endocrine disrupters: Men with high levels of phthalates in their blood have reduced sperm counts.
Perchloroethylene(PERC)	Dry-cleaning solution, spot removers, carpet cleaners	The EPA classifies PERC as a possible carcinogen and has ordered a phase-out of the chemical by 2020.
Triclosan	An antibacterial found in dishwashing detergents and hand soaps	Leads to drug-resistant bacteria and is a possible hormone disrupter.
2-Butoxyethanol	Mostly found in window cleaners, is responsible for the sweet smell	General irritant when inhaled, at high levels can damage lungs, liver, and kidneys
Ammonia	Found in many cleaning products	When inhaled, it can irritate the lungs and potentially worsen asthma.
Chlorine	Another ubiquitous chemical, found in toilet bowl cleaner, mildew removers, laundry products, and even tap water	Chlorine is very reactive and irritates skin and lungs. It may disrupt the thyroid.

While it can be daunting to think that we are surrounded by so many chemicals, the good news is that there are fantastic natural choices that will do the job these chemicals do just as well without exposing you and your family to potentially harmful fumes, solvents, and toxins.

Be sure you only have safe, green cleaners under your sink and in your laundry. Choosing green cleaners means that you are doing the best for your health, the environment, and your family’s well-being! My family exclusively uses Shaklee green cleaners...they're safe, nontoxic, they work and are saving us a ton of money!

What is your favorite green cleaning tip?

Thank you to Dr. Jamie McManus for contributing much of this information!

On the First Day of Spring...

Woo hoo! It's FINALLY spring!
Did winter seem to DRAG on for you, too?
Thankfully, we're kicking off the first day of spring with temps in the 70's today! I love it!
Starting Monday, I'm going to be embarking on a Get Clean for Spring series that will hopefully help you (and me!) get your homes cleaned and organized! I can't wait!
But first, we all need our arsenal of safe, nontoxic cleaning products, right?
I get asked all the time what I clean my house with to keep it both clean and toxin-free! Well this is it, and to celebrate spring, I'm having a special!
Box up all those chemical cleaners and replace ALL of your household cleaners, including laundry and dish soaps, with these green, non-toxic cleaners that are cost effective and really work!

Bonus: Purchasing this kit qualifies you for a FREE Shaklee membership and a FREE canister of Cafe Latte smoothie mix! Your membership gets you 15% off all products!!
I'm so thankful for you and for everyone who has joined my Member Team! Together, we're making a great difference in the health and happiness of our families!!

The Benefits of a Get Clean Kit

If you know me in person, you know that I just rave about Shaklee's Get Clean line. We love it! It has completely replaced all of our toxic, caustic, harmful cleaners. No fumes, no worries about calling Poison Control...it's a fantastic cleaning line!
I wanted to give you some details about our Get Clean Kits. I've had some excellent questions about them and a few people say they probably wouldn't use everything in the kits. I get it; trust me I get it.
If you're like me, the word 'kit' can be a turn off. I don't know how many times I've purchased a kit because of the supposed value and was pretty disappointed that there were a few products in said kit that I really had no use for. Money down the drain, right?
The Shaklee Get Clean kits are definitely something you will be using. Every last product. Every last drop.

Check out what comes in the Get Clean Starter Kit. (And see all my comments in red next to the descriptions!):

• Basic H Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate - We've had our Basic H concentrate for almost two years and we are just halfway through the bottle! We make a new bottle of cleaner every week to clean the kitchen; that's how concentrated it is!
• Germ Off Disinfecting Wipes - These belong in the car, in the bathroom, or in the baby's room!
• Nature Bright Laundry Booster and Stain Remover - Awesome stuff! Compare it to OxiClean! It gets stains out and helps whiten your clothes! You can also use it to clean your toilets to get the gunk off.
• Dish Wash Concentrate - LOVE this stuff. I was skeptical at first, but it's fantastic. A little goes a LONG way. See my post from last year comparing it to Seventh Generation!
• Dish Washer Automatic Concentrate - Ya'll, this dish detergent is amazing! Just a little scoop cleans your dishes! It lasts FOREVER...for us, it lasts an average of 10 weeks!
• Fresh Laundry Concentrate HE Compatible Liquid - Wonderful laundry detergent...fragrance free...and you don't even need as much as the directions call for!
• Soft Fabric Dryer Sheets - Yes!
• Dish Washer Automatic Concentrate Dispenser - this comes in handy for scooping out the dish detergent!
• Nature Bright Dispenser - this is also handy for scooping out the Nature Bright. 

Including all the accessories you need to get really clean:

• Organizer Caddy - holds all the spray bottles and cleaning cloths
• Spray Bottles - mix up your Basic H solutions in each of these bottles. One each for all purpose, glass, and degreasing
• Dropper Pipette - helps when you're mixing your Basic H solutions. 
• 1/4 oz. Dispenser Pump for 32 oz. Bottle - this is for the laundry detergent
• Laundry Measuring cup - don't think this needs explaining! :)
• Dual Measuring Spoon - again...no explanation needed!
• Cleaning Accessories - these clothes and sponges are wonderful! You get a microfiber cleaning cloth, microfiber window cloths, microfiber dish sponge and a scrubber pad

Now, out of all of those items in the Get Clean Starter Kit, what WOULDN'T you use? In fact, in all of our kits, you're going to use every single product. Every single one!
Shaklee is all about health, wellness, keeping our Earth safe and healthy. Every product that goes into every Shaklee bottle is designed to improve health, work without compromise, and be gentle on the planet! Find out more about the Shaklee Difference here.
**This month only, I've extended my FREE membership and FREE smoothie promotion! When you purchase 50PV in products (this includes the Starter Kit!)**
Is the Starter Kit not for you? Not to worry...I have three other amazing Get Clean Kits that are sure to work for your home and your budget!

Questions? Comment below or email me directly...my passion is helping other moms get their homes and lives healthy and happy again!

Helpful Cleaners Cost Comparison

Hi there!
I wanted to share with you a great cost comparison for household cleaners. Some folks have a hard time swallowing the Get Clean Starter Kit at $99 (member price). I get it. It's a lot to fork out all at once. I was skeptical at first too. 

But after doing research, I found the cost savings over time are FANTASTIC! Do you want to spend up to $3000 per year just to keep your home clean? Or does about $100 sound more reasonable??
I took a chance on Shaklee's Get Clean line and our family hasn't looked back since! Not only have we SAVED a ton of money on cleaners, but we're using SAFE and NONTOXIC cleaners, too! No need to worry about calling Poison Control if one of our boys or pets gets into the cleaners.
Plus, they work and, a big deal for me...there are no perfumes or fragrances!

Click to see this wonderful Get Clean Cost Comparison sheet of our Get Clean line versus other household cleaners.
Are you surprised at how much it REALLY costs to use the brands from your local stores? And do you know what's really in those cleaners?? You can be assured that Shaklee's Get Clean line is safe, nontoxic, and natural!

31 Days of Healthy Living | Day 8

Hello! 
Today, I'm going to let you in on my secret to getting our sinks, tubs, and floors super clean. It's safe, natural, nontoxic, has no fumes or odors. It's Shaklee's Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste. Once you try this amazing scouring product, you will never go back to Comet, Ajax, Soft Scrub, or any other toxic and dangerous cleanser! This stuff WORKS!
We use Scour Off to get the grime out of our sinks, get ring around the tub out of the boys tub, get crayon off ceramic tile, easily clean pots and pans...really the uses of Scour Off are endless! 
Scour Off is a paste, so there are no dust clouds, no gross fumes, you don't have to clear out the house to use it. It's made from cherry pits (abrasive), and other natural mineral and biodegradable cleaning agents. No chlorine, no bleach, no dyes!
Check out some of the ways we use it in our home!

31 Days of Healthy Living | Day 1

My husband and I decided to make a healthy change in our lives back in 2012 and we haven't looked back since! Sharing our new found healthy lifestyle is a passion for both of us. I hope you enjoy this post...check back daily for updates!

Welcome to Day 1 of my Healthy Living Series! 
Today, I'm sharing with you my absolute favorite cleaning product; one I use exclusively for our home: Shaklee Basic H2 Organic Cleaning Concentrate! I use it to clean counters, dust furniture, clean windows and mirrors, mop floors, clean bathrooms, wash my dogs (YES!), rinse off vegetables, and so much more!
Not only is it versatile, but it's the cheapest, and safest cleaner you can find. And don't let me forget...it WORKS! (It's even cheaper than white vinegar, plus it doesn't stink!)

Some of the most questionable chemicals used in household products are ammonia, chlorine bleach, phenol, butyl cellosolve, and formaldehyde - DANGEROUS! Basic H is NONTOXIC and SAFE for your family!

Important Things to Remember!

• Basic H is the most economical cleaner you can buy. One quart makes 192 gallons of cleaning solution by following directions.
• Just 1/4 teaspoon of the concentrate makes a full 16oz bottle of cleaner! 
• DO NOT USE MORE THAN RECOMMENDED! A little goes a long way! Save $$!
• Basic H contains no acids, no alkalis, no kerosene or solvent, and has no offensive or detergent odor.
• Basic H has pH factor of 6.5, right in the range of human skin.
• Basic H makes water many times wetter.
• Basic H is a fantastically versatile cleaner. The successor is soap!

I just know once you try it, you're going to love it! All of my wonderful clients RAVE about Basic H...they haven't turned back to their toxic cleaners at all! Get some today!

Do You Experience these Signs?

I'm passionate about removing toxins from homes. Toxins are primarily found in your home cleaning products; the bleaches, the 409's, the stainless steel cleaners, the laundry detergents, the dish soaps.

Many, many of your everyday home cleaners are dangerous chemicals in them. When it comes to home cleaning products, you really have little to go on beyond the warning labels the manufacturer is required to use. DANGER, WARNING, and POISON just give you a general idea of the seriousness of the unknown substances in the product. And those warnings apply only to a products immediate health effects, they don't say what can happen to your health after using them for a long period of time.

Scary.

I've compiled a list of things you might experience with your everyday home cleaners. If you experience these things, I encourage you to consider switching to non-toxic home cleaners. If not for YOUR health's sake, but for the sake of your FAMILY!

You should consider switching to non-toxic cleaners if you experience:

• Headaches during or after use
• Burning eyes
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Burning skin from contact with cleaners
• You freak out when your kids even look at the bottle of cleaner

You have a choice! You can get your home clean and not kill yourself at the same time! It's true!

And you know what? It doesn't have to be expensive!

Now there are many non-toxic cleaner recipes floating around, which are fantastic. They are made of your everyday ingredients: white vinegar, baking soda, and the like. All are non-toxic and all get your home clean! If you're interested in making your own (and you have the time!), then this is a fantastic way to start getting the poison out of your home!

In our home, we've completely Shaklee-ized our lives. You can check every cabinet in our home and you'll only find the Get Clean Line. It's wonderful! Shaklee's Get Clean line is SAFE, GREEN, and it WORKS! Read more about the Shaklee Difference here.


I've written several posts about getting toxin out of the home and you can view them below:

Green Cleaning Saves Money!

The Real Dirt on Clean!

How I Clean Quickly Without Toxins


And I have a secret for you...making your own cleaners may not be as cost effective as you think!

Cost Comparison: Vinegar vs Shaklee

Do you use non-toxic cleaners in your home? If not, are you willing to try them? I'd love your feedback!

Join me on the Healthy Life, Happy Life Facebook community!