Holly's Knitting And More Blog: Knitted Sock Monkey

Holly's Knitting And More Blog: Knitted Sock Monkey

Tag - You're It

Tag!

I've been tagged so I thought I'd post this and get you all tagged too. Start Copy and Paste Here.

This link loving in 2008 came from http://www.homebizprincess.blogspot.com/om/

I have randomly selected 5 of you below to be tagged and I hope that you will similarly publish this post in your blog. You will have to tag 5 other bloggers and just keep adding on to the list. (Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!)It’s real easy! Tag others and see your Technorati Authority increase exponentially! The benefits of Viral Linking:- One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!- Increase your Google PageRank fast- Attract large volume of new traffic to your site- Build your community- Make new friends!Add your blog url here...
The Strategist Notebook Link Addiction Ardour of the Heart When Life Becomes a Book The Malaysian Life Yogatta.com What goes under the sun Roshidan’s Cyber Station Sasha says Arts of Physics And the legend lives My View, My Life A Simple Life What Women REALLY Think Not Much More Than This Marlee Lib Patti Nature's Prism Lana Nancy LeAnn http://beadbetweenthelines.blogspot.com/ / http://sonyareads.blogspot.com/ / http://dailycelebrations.blogspot.com/ / http://www.homebizprincess.blogspot.com/ / http://tanicotravel.blogspot.com/http://www.1bizathome.blogspot.com

You are next...Now, add/tag 5 of your friends' blogs... http://www.whispercanyouhear.blogspot.com, http://www.steppingoutsidethebox.blogspot.com, http://www.beadbetweenthelines.blogspot.com, http://blog.myspace.com/abullterriernamed, http://www.pillowcasetalk.blogspot.com, http://knittingmonkeefan.blogspot.com

I like this idea. What do you all think of this game of tag? Do you think it will bring traffic to your sites? (Above graphic by Claire)

Right On!

This type of test is always intriguing to me. How do they know? But they are right on with all of my personality characteristics. It's a little disturbing to know that by taking a simple test, I can get an accurate picture of myself but yet after being married for 28 just shy of 29 years, my husband couldn't tell you anything close to it! Amazing the colors are so exactly what I love!

***Your Power Element is Water***


Your power colors: blue and aqua

Your energy: deep

Your season: winter

Like the ocean, you evoke deep feelings and passion.
You have an emotional, sensitive, and spiritual soul.
A bit mysterious, you tend to be quiet when you are working out a problem.
You need your alone time, so that you can think and dream.


What's Your Power Element?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyourpowerelementquiz/

Steps to Success

It was time to do something - time to make a change. It had gone on long enough. What you ask? My lack of direction, enthusiasm, commitment, excitement, conviction - you get the picture. So I did something about it. Coaching.

It was the best decision I ever made (other than getting married to my husband, having my children, working from home, and ....). Earlier I wrote about the inspiring book by Jack Canfield, The Success Principles. After enrolling in the coaching that can help you put all the principles to work for yourself, I have been on a roll. Taking a good look at where I want to go was first on the agenda. This gave me a start to the year right out of the gate. I knew where I was going and how I was going to get there. But not only did I have the plan laid out but all the small pieces are beginning to fall into place.

Let me explain. After writing out my life plan and focusing on one goal in particular, I have the opportunity to fine tune myself as I work to achieve my goal. The coaching leads you through a step by step process. You are given the blueprint to follow and you build your dream according to your own vision.

I am only half way through the coaching and already I can see where I have changed. Careful planning and nightly daily success journals are becoming a part of my daily schedule. Daily affirmations are a welcome addition as well. Focusing on a daily, weekly and monthly plan is the key.

In addition to the Canfield coaching, I am also working with another coach from another program. Her name is Lisa Kitter. Lisa is a success coach, speaker, author and expert in direct marketing. I have worked with Lisa before by participating in her group classes. Now I decided I needed some one on one coaching. It has been so powerful and so empowering. Lisa follows the same principles as Jack Canfield therefore my focus is on expanding my belief system.

By using Lisa's book Posture Up! Your Complete Success Guide for Network Marketing and Direct Sales I am able to paint the pictures I need and envision the goals I am working toward. Not only that, I have a step by step process to assist me in making sure everything is written out to read on a daily basis. That way I can visualize my dream to become a reality.

So many people are intrigued by "The Secret". After seeing the movie, I decided I would do the research necessary to accomplish the secret. Actually, through my search, I have discovered that the secret is really inside all of us. It is a step we need to consciously take toward becoming the person we are meant to be. It has nothing to do with wishes and hopes, it has everything to do with wanting to change and going the extra miles to see the change through. The reason so many people don't ever attain their dreams in life is that they are not willing to make the change. It's either too much work, not seeing the picture clearly, not having the deep down desire to make changes or a number of other reasons. What you need to ask yourself is, "Am I willing to go through the steps and take a good look at myself and where I want to be?" It isn't about some magical dust being sprinkled on you as you walk along the street. It's about truly making changes in your life and putting that change out there for everyone to see.

Take the steps toward your success. You'll be so excited at what you will find!

New Adventure

Eating dinner out is enjoyable to say the least. Trying new restaurants is exciting. Last night we had the opportunity to do both and meet some great people as well. We were invited out to dinner with our friends, a couple we do dinner with on a regular basis. Last night, we were meeting them with some of their friends at a new restaurant for us called Opals on Queen Ann Hill in Seattle, WA, We live in a suburb of Seattle so we don't get to some of the great neighborhoods of Seattle very often. We have our regular favorites when we go out to eat but never have ventured to Queen Ann Hill. Don't ask us why - we couldn't figure it out it out either. Needless to say, we will be going back again soon.

The owner is Orpin, an intelligent and savvy business owner, of which, Opals is her third restaurant. She is a native of Thailand so one of her establishments is of course a Thai restaurant. Opals is only 6 months old, so obviously a new venture into the realm of eateries with an amazing menu. Orpin is someone you want to sit with all night long because she is such a great story teller. She has traveled the world and has the stories to share that only she can tell. Dinner at her establishment and sitting with her while we ate was a lesson in food preparation, story telling, world travel and good old friendship.

You never know what to expect when you enter any eatery in Seattle. Our city has its fair share of the standard foods such as Italian, Mexican, Chinese and of course the standard American. But Seattle is also the best place to try new foods from all over the world. I don't think I have ever lived anywhere else where the food choices and combinations are so unique and delicious. Opals definitely falls into the new food category.

After perusing the menu, I was surprised to say the least. The appetizers were a mixture of tastes that only a gourmet chef could conjure up. One, which we did try, was french toast topped with sweet potato and asparagus with a sauce, you can't believe the taste but I couldn't tell you what it was. I know the combination sounds anything but tasteful but you have to believe me, it was delicious. Main course, wild boar. Yes, you read right - wild boar. I'm adventurous, what can I say. What would you expect that to taste like? Pork right? Wrong - it tasted like beef of all things. It was tender and very tasty. Unbelievable. Dessert was another unique but pleasant experience - a combination of apple with ice cream in an apricot crusted pie shell. We were given a coffee type pot filled with pressed cider, vanilla and cream mixed together into a hot compote to pour over the top of the sweet treat.

All in all, we had a meal that can't be repeated. We met some people we will be getting together to break bread with again and again. We learned about a new restaurant with an owner who isn't afraid to venture out and try something new and unique, not to mention her magnetic personality. What a treat! It was a great way to spend our Saturday night. Hope you had a great weekend too.

Why People Are Switching Stores

The top 12 cancer-causing products (called the“Dirty Dozen” ) in the average home include the following:

· Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder w/Talc

· Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste

· VO5 Hair Conditioner

· Clairol Nice-n-Easy Hair Color

· Ajax Cleanser

· Lysol Disinfectant

[Source: The National Cancer PreventionCoalition]

Here’s WHY thousands of people every month are SWITCHING STORES…

Environmental ProtectionAgency
studies have shown that indoorairpollutants are
3 to 70times higher than outdoors .

The following information came from a conference call with Kay Heizer,Director of “Healthy Choices” (a non-profit organization comprised of doctors, nurses, environmental scientists and educators committed to teaching the public about the hazards of chemicals in our home and how we can avoid or minimize the risks):

50% of all illness is due to poor indoor airquality[Source: 1989 State ofMassachusettsStudy]

Ø Since 1950, at least 70,000 new chemical compounds have been invented and dispersed into our environment. Only a fraction of these have been testedfor human toxicity. We are, by default, conducting a massive clinical toxicology trial, and our children and their children are the experimental animals. [Source: Herbert L. Needleman, M.D., Philip J.Landrigan, M.D., Raising Children Toxic Free]

150 Chemicals found in the home are connected to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders. [Source: Consumer Protection Agency (CPA)]

The United States of America Federal Code of Regulations exempts manufacturers from full labeling of products if used for personal, family or household care. [Source USA FCR: Section1910.1200C, Title 29, Section 1500.822Q1A]

3 groups of people are primarily affected by indoor chemical concentrations because they spend more time indoors and their immune systems are weaker.The 3 groups are:

· Infants and toddlers
· Chronically ill
· Elderly

[Source: 1988 EPA, 5-year study]

In 1901, cancer was rare: 1 out of 8,000.Since the Industrial Revolution, the cancer rate today has risen to 1 in 3 and by the year 2002, it will be 1 in2 .[Source: The American Cancer Society]

The top 12 cancer-causing products(called the “Dirty Dozen”) in the average home include the following:

· Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder w/Talc

· Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste

· VO5 Hair Conditioner

· Clairol Nice-n-Easy Hair Color

· Ajax Cleanser

· Lysol Disinfectant

[Source: The National Cancer Prevention Coalition]

Liquid dish soap is the leading cause of poisonings in the home for children under the age of six (over 2.1 million accidental poisonings per year). Most brands of liquid dish soap contain formaldehyde and ammonia.

Of 2,983 chemicals found in personal care products:

· 884 are toxic

· 146 cause tumors

· 218 cause reproductive complications

· 778 cause acute toxicity

· 314 cause biological mutations

· 376 cause skin and eye irritations

[Source: United States House of Representatives Report, 1989]

The State of California recently passed legislation requiring a 45% reduction in the amount of toxins found in:

· Hairspray aerosols
· Furniture polish
· Window cleaners
· Air fresheners
· Shaving cream
· Laundry detergents
· Nail polish remover
· Insect repellent
· Hair styling gel and mousse

[Source: Healthy Homes in a Toxic World]

Out of 2,435 pesticide poisonings in a one-year period, over 40% were due to exposure to disinfectants and similar cleaning products in the home. [Source: State of California Study]

Just by reducing (not eliminating)environmental carcinogens alone, we would save at least 50,000 lives taken by cancer annually. [Source: Dr. Lee Davis, former advisor to the Secretary of Health]

Most laundry detergent contains a form of NTA. NTA is a substance we may reasonably anticipate to be a carcinogen. [Source: The Merck Index]

Household bleaches which claim to disinfect are classified as pesticides under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. Inadvertently mixing bleach with other cleaners that contain ammonia produces a toxic chloramines gas.These toxic gases can cause coughing, loss of voice, a feeling of burning or suffocation, and even death. [Source: Guide to Hazardous Products Around the Home, Household Hazardous Waste Project,1989]

Women who work in the home have a 54%higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside of thehome. [Source: 17-year EPA study]

150 chemicals found in the home have been connected to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders. [Source: The Consumer Protection Agency)

As more toxic chemicals have been introduced to our everyday environment in greater amounts over the last 20 to 30 years, the level of toxins stored in a dipose tissues (fat cells) of our bodies have risen.Bioaccumulation studies have shown that some toxins store in our bodies for life. Greater and greater amounts are being stored at younger ages. One study showed that in the fat of 100% of the people tested was 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, a chemical found in most household deodorant fresheners.

Diseases that used to occur later in life are now appearing at younger ages. Diseases that used to be rare are more frequent. For example: There has been a 28% increase in childhood cancer since the addition of pesticides into household products. Cancer is now the #2 killer of children –second only to accidental poisonings. Since 1977 the rate of cancer among American children has been steadily rising at a rate of nearly 1% each year. Source: National Cancer Institute]

There is an increased risk for leukemia in children where parents have used pesticides in the home or garden before the child’s birth, [Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute]

Some products release contaminants into the air right away, others do so gradually over a period of time. Some stay in the air up to a year. These contaminants,found in many household and personal care products can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, eye/skin/respiratory tract irritations and some cause cancer. [American Lung Association]

Asthma was once a very rare disease. Now the condition is extremely common – the asthma ratehas tripled in the last 20 years with nearly 30 million Americans currently afflicted. [Source: Consumer Federation of America ,1997]

In one decade, there has been a 42%increase in asthma (29% for men, 82% for women). The higher rate for women is believed to be due to women’s longer exposure times to household chemicals. [Source: Center for Disease Control]

Childhood asthma has increased by more than 40% since 1980. [Source: Environmental Health Perspectives, June 1997; 105(6)]

Asthma death in children and young people increased by a dramatic 118% between 1980 and1993. [Source: Environmental HealthThreats to Children, Environmental Protection Agency175-F-96-001, September 1996]

The average child visits the doctor 23times in the 1^st 4 years of life, with the most common complaint being respiratory ailment . [Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 1997]

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) in adults and children is also rising – in 1993, 4.5million children took the drug Ritalin so they could sit still long enough to learn. By 1998, 11.4 million children were being drugged with this powerful Class-2 narcotic. [Source: Your Children and Ritalin, The Detroit news (March 8.1998)]

Even small doses of neurotoxins, which would be harmless to an adult,can alter a child’s nervous system development. [Source:Environmental Health Perspectives 106 Supplement 3:787-794(June 1998)]

Developing cells in children’s bodies are more susceptible to damage than adult cells that have completed development,especially for the central nervous system. During the development of a child, from conception through adolescence,there are particular windows of vulnerability to environmental hazards. Most disturbing – until a child is approximately 13 months of age, they are virtually no ability to fight the biological and neurological effects of toxic chemicals. [Source:Herbert L. Needleman, M.D., Philip J. Landrigan, M.D.,Raising Children Toxic Free]

Today, children have chemical exposures from birth that their parents didn’t have until they were adults. Because children are exposed to toxics at an earlier age than adults, they have more time to develop environmentally triggered diseases, with long latency periods, such as cancer. [Source: Environmental Policy and Children’s Health, Future of Children, Summer/Fall1995; 5(2): 34-52]

Formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance. It is a highly suspected cancer-causing agent. It damages the neurological connectors in the body. It is an irritant to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs and may cause:

· skin reactions
· ear infections
· headaches
· depression
· asthma
· joint pain
· dizziness
· mental confusion
· nausea
· disorientation
· phlebitis
· fatigue
· vomiting
· sleep disturbances
· laryngiti

One in five people are sensitive to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is commonly found in:

· drugs
· mouthwash
· hairspray
· cosmetics
· cleaning products
· perfumes
· waxes
· hair settinglotions
· shampoo
· air fresheners
· fungicides
· fingernail polish
· floor polishes
· dry cleaning solvents
· toothpaste
· laundry spraystarch
· antiperspirants
· … just to name afew

DO YOU STILL WANT TO USE PRODUCTS IN YOUR HOME THAT CONTAIN FORMALDEHYDE?

Due to the increase in toxic buildup in our bodies, including the toxic build up of formaldehyde,dead bodies are not decomposing as fast as they used to.

· Bodies now start to decompose within 7 to 10 days after death.

· During the Vietnam War, Vietnamese bodies started to decompose within 24 to 48 hours. However,Americans didn’t start to decompose for 4 to 5days.

· Twice as much formaldehyde was needed to embalm a person 20 years ago compared to today.

How many of thesenames would you have recognized asformaldehyde ?

· Formalin
· Methanal
· Methyl Aldehyde
· Methylene Oxide
· Oxymethylene
· Bfv*
· Fannoform*
· Formol*
· Fyde*
· Karsan*
· Methaldehyde
· Formalith*
· Methylene Glycol
· Ivalon*
· Oxomethane
· Formalin 40
· Formalin
· Formic Aldehyde
· Hoch
· Paraform
· Lysoform*
· Morbocid
· Trioxane
· Polyoxmethylene

* denotes tradename

The following products are just a few that are so toxic that they should be disposed of in a toxic waste dump:

· floor careproducts
· furniture polish
· window cleaners
· bug spray
· nail polish remover

[Source: Water Pollution Control Federation]

Warning labels on containers refer only to toxic hazards from ingestion; however, only 10% of health problems from chemicals are caused by ingestion. 90% arecaused by the inhalation of vapors and absorption of particles.

Government regulations require that only the most EXTREMELY toxic substances must contain a warning label. Labels that say the following should be removed from your house immediately:

· “Do not induce vomiting”
· “Corrosive – rinse from skin immediately”
· “Harmful or fatal if swallowed”
· “Call physician immediately”
· “Warning!” (may mean that as little as 1teaspoon of product can harm or kill adult)
· “Danger!” (means that as little as 5 drops can harm or kill an adult)

Phenol is an extremely caustic chemical that burns the skin. Absorption of phenol through the lungs or skin can cause:

· central nervous system damage
· pneumonia
· respiratory tract infection
· heart-rate irregularities
· skin irritation
· kidney and liver damage
· numbness
· vomiting
· and can be fatal

Phenol is a very common chemical and is regularly found in the following common products:

· air fresheners
· aftershave
· bronchial mists
· chloroseptic throat spray
· deodorants
· feminine powders & sprays
· hair spray
· decongestants
· mouthwash
· aspirin
· solvents
· acne medications
· antiseptics
· calamine lotions
· cleaning products
· detergents
· furniture polish
· hair setting lotions
· lice shampoo
· polishes
· cold capsules
· all-purpose cleaners
· aerosol disinfectants
· anti-itching lotions
· carnex
· cosmetics
· disinfectant cleaners
· hand lotions
· lip balms
· sunscreen and lotions
· insecticides
· cough syrups

· … just to name a few

DO YOU STILL WANT TO USE PRODUCTS IN YOUR HOME THAT CONTAIN PHENOL?

TOXIC PRODUCTAWARENESS
Here is a listof several research sites regarding toxins and chemicals in the home. This is by far not the extent of what is available on the subject. This is a drop in the bucket, but enough to show us why Melaleuca is a GREAT choice!
Childrens HealthEnvironmental Coalition	Anational non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public,specifically parents and caregivers, about environmental toxins that affectchildren ' shealth
Center ForChildrens Health and The Environment	Research examining health hazards of environmentaltoxins.
Health andEnvironment Resource Center	Great site to help you learn about toxins in everyday householdproducts: MSDS sheets
U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA)	Chemicals in the Environment: Chemical FactSheets
U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency Integrated Risk InformationSystem	IRIS Database for Risk Assessment
U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency IRIS Acronyms and Abbreviations	Integrated Risk Information System Acronyms andAbbreviations
Cancer PreventionCoalition	Carcinogens At Home
RM BarryPublications	Your Melaleuca Non-CompanyInformation Source
NOW with BillMoyers:	Transcript Kids and Chemicals
SCORECARD The Pollution InformationSite	A website where you can check on the environment in your area by puttingin your zipcode.
The Physical and Theoretical ChemistryLaboratory OxfordUniversity	Chemical and Other Safety Info.
The National MSDSRepository	Search for Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)Information
Liberty Zone Cafi and InformationRepository	List of Hazardous Chemicals commonly found in householdproducts.
CHEM-TOX	Researching effects of Chemicals and Pesticides uponhealth
Asthma and Allergy ResearchGroup	Chemical Sensitivity,Asthma and Allergy
Environmental HealthNetwork	Twenty MostCommon Chemicals Found in Thirty-One Fragrance Products
University of MissouriExtension	Information about Hazardous HouseholdProducts
Minnesota Office ofEnvironmental Assistance	How to reduce Toxic Chemicals in Your home.
ABOUT.COM -FORMALDEHYDE	Information about Formaldehyde in the Home and Possible HealthProblems related to it.
ABOUT.COM INDOORAIRPOLLUTION	Information about Indoor Air Pollution.
Resource for BusinessBuilders	More information about Toxins.
UNSAFEHOME	A Z Toxic Dictionary
COMINGCLEAN	Facts about the Chemical Industry
Chemical EducationalFoundation	Educating consumers on how to handle chemicals in thehome.
State Environmental ResourceCenter	Protecting Kids From Dangerous Chemicals Policy IssuesPackage
National Resource Centerfor Health andSafety in ChildCare	Individual States Child Care LicensureRegulations.
The National Alliance Against MandatedMental Health Screening & Psychotropic Drugging ofChildren	Info for Parents of Children who are being Pressured to Diagnose and Drugtheir child for ADHD
Aspartame Disease: AnFDA-Approved Epidemic	Information about Aspartame Disease