A baby in the house is a great excuse to leave shoes at the door. Your guests will be happy to comply, especially if you offer them slippers or cozy socks. One of our friends brings a fancy pair of boudoir slippers when she comes for dinner. Our no-shoe policy has led to a cleaner [...]
Archive | June, 2011
Printed in the USA
Last weekend we celebrated Sweet William’s first birthday. He wasn’t especially interested in his cake, but he loved his balloons and wrapping paper. Among the special gifts he received were the books Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb, by Al Perkins, and Chicken Soup with Rice, by Maurice Sendak. Both are printed in the United States. That’s [...]
A Gentle Reminder
The EPA published its Mercury and Air Toxics Standards and is receiving public comment until July 5. Please see that you are counted among the supporters of cleaner air for our children. Send a brief email to Lisa Jackson at the email listed below. It will make you feel good! Be sure to reference the [...]
Sun Hat
Sweet William wears his poplin sun hat from Under the Nile every day. The wide brim keeps the sun out of his eyes and does a great job of shading his face, neck and shoulders. It’s also great for a game of peek-a-boo. Under the Nile makes all its products from 100% organic Egyptian cotton, [...]
Off-Gassing and VOCs
Last weekend, Sweet William and his daddy and I stayed at a hotel that is evidently popular with families. Before we checked in, they ran out of cribs. A staff member kindly hurried off to buy a new Graco Pack ‘n Play so William would have a place to sleep. When we woke up the [...]
Another Reason to Eat Organic
From the business section of today’s New York Times: Pfizer will suspend sales of 3-Nitro (roxarsone), a drug given to chickens to promote growth and make meat look pinker. Why? It contains arsenic, which the government has found in trace amounts in chickens. Officials at the Food and Drug Administration said the amounts found were [...]
In Support of Cleaner Air
You have likely heard the news that the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed the first national standard for emissions of mercury and other pollutants from coal-burning power plants. Mercury emissions damage the nervous systems of fetuses and children. They aggravate asthma. They eventually accumulate in our waterways, rendering fish too toxic for pregnant women and [...]
Pura Kiki Sippy Cup
I’m happy to report that Sweet William’s Pura Kiki sippy cup passes muster. We’re satisfied with its performance and thrilled with its construction. Pura Kiki is made of stainless steel. The spout and cover are made of silicone. The exterior paint (in cute shades of green, blue and pink) is non-toxic and free of lead, [...]
About Elizabeth
I'm a writer and the mother of William and Fergus. Before dedicating my work to children's environmental health, I earned an MA in Cultural Reporting and Criticism from New York University and was a photography editor at The New Yorker. My family is preparing to move to New Orleans, where my husband, an architect, is building us a non-toxic home.
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