Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings...
28 July 2008 by 180|360
If you find yourself asking...
"What makes 180/360 tick? What turns her on? What kind of toothpaste does she use?"
Well then, this is your lucky week- because I've decided to spend the next few days posting about some of my favorite things.
And just for the record: nothing I mention comes with any endorsement deal.
My Sonicare Toothbrush
Several months ago, I broke down and bought my children electric toothbrushes and I kid you not, they brushed their teeth for like 24 hours straight. What was once a total struggle and one that often required restraint, brushing their teeth quickly became a pleasure- even to the point where I'd have to ask for the toothbrush back before they permanently removed their enamel!
Naturally, I started to wonder how an electric toothbrush would fare for an adult. So as a gift for Mother's/Father's Day this year, my husband and I treated ourselves to these sophisticated brushes. Since I've always been vigilant about dental care, I'll admit I was a tad skeptical that it could be that much more effective than a regular toothbrush, as their website (and leading dentists across the country) claim. But lo and behold, it really was. Besides the initial shock/tickle created by a supersonic, vibrating head, we were both blown away with how clean our teeth felt. It was as though we had an in-office dental cleaning 2-3 times a day.
Now that a few months have gone by, the excitement has worn off a bit. But overall, my teeth have never felt cleaner. I love it (and all of its various functions) and would highly recommend getting one. (We bought a special set through Costco that included 2 full brushes, 2 chargers and one sanitizer. It was the best deal I could find.)
I'm even ready to look for new ones for the children, because I'm pretty sure if Cinderella could see the Oral-B version of herself- she'd sue in a heartbeat. I'm always a little worried that the thick neck holding up her equally fugly head might start spinning around at any minute. And the way she grabs at her dress is just disturbing.
Whereas the new Sonicare brushes are so sleek and pleasant to look at. Perhaps they should make smaller versions for children?
And while we are at it... let's talk about toothpaste, shall we?
I've been using the all-natural "Sea Fresh" by Jason (see above) for a few years now and really love it.
In fact, I would like to challenge everyone to try a natural toothpaste for a mere 30 days. I guarantee that when you go back to your regular paste like Colgate, AquaFresh, or Crest, you will be SHOCKED with its chemical nature.
Most "regular" toothpastes contain multiple chemicals, surfactants, anti-bacterial agents (such as the dangerous Triclosan), as well as artificial coloring and flavoring. Like everything else, you may have to switch around until you find the right one for you. It took me several tries until I found this one. And I can honestly say, that on the odd occasion where I've had to use Colgate, I felt like I was brushing my teeth with Soft Scrub.
As I've said time and time again... question what you put in your body, and in this case- your mouth! Read labels and learn what the ingredients are. Chances are, if you can't pronounce them or they sound scientific- they are more than likely synthetic chemicals.
Moving on and calming down...
Pacifica Candles
I have been in love with candles for about as long as I've loved glass. Not only do I like them for their tranquilizing effect, I also enjoy the pleasing aromas they imbue. For years before I knew better, I burned the ever-popular jarred, Yankee candles. They were about the only ones I could find that you could actually smell. But through my "Ma Vie en Vert" studies, I discovered that paraffin is a by-product of petroleum.
[Sidenote: I've been wanting to do a post on petroleum and all of its by-products for over a year now and haven't gotten around to it yet. It's astonishing that there are over 4000 secondary products made from crude oil, also known as petrochemicals. I will eventually get around to writing about them, but in the meantime check out those links for more information.]
So, in an effort to not burn petroleum-based candles (which produce carcinogens as they burn,) I started to shop for a healthier alternative, soy candles. Like my quest for toothpaste, it took awhile before I found one that I really liked.
The Pacifica Candles I buy are handmade in small batches in Portland, Oregon. They have great names like Tuscan Blood Orange, Nerola Orange Blossom, Mexican Cocoa, Malibu Lemon Blossom, Hawaiian Ruby Guava, etc.
I have liked each that I've tried. But more importantly, they all smell wonderful and natural when they burn. Not to mention, they make perfect gifts, if you can spare to give one away.
"What makes 180/360 tick? What turns her on? What kind of toothpaste does she use?"
Well then, this is your lucky week- because I've decided to spend the next few days posting about some of my favorite things.
And just for the record: nothing I mention comes with any endorsement deal.
My Sonicare ToothbrushSeveral months ago, I broke down and bought my children electric toothbrushes and I kid you not, they brushed their teeth for like 24 hours straight. What was once a total struggle and one that often required restraint, brushing their teeth quickly became a pleasure- even to the point where I'd have to ask for the toothbrush back before they permanently removed their enamel!
Naturally, I started to wonder how an electric toothbrush would fare for an adult. So as a gift for Mother's/Father's Day this year, my husband and I treated ourselves to these sophisticated brushes. Since I've always been vigilant about dental care, I'll admit I was a tad skeptical that it could be that much more effective than a regular toothbrush, as their website (and leading dentists across the country) claim. But lo and behold, it really was. Besides the initial shock/tickle created by a supersonic, vibrating head, we were both blown away with how clean our teeth felt. It was as though we had an in-office dental cleaning 2-3 times a day.
Now that a few months have gone by, the excitement has worn off a bit. But overall, my teeth have never felt cleaner. I love it (and all of its various functions) and would highly recommend getting one. (We bought a special set through Costco that included 2 full brushes, 2 chargers and one sanitizer. It was the best deal I could find.)I'm even ready to look for new ones for the children, because I'm pretty sure if Cinderella could see the Oral-B version of herself- she'd sue in a heartbeat. I'm always a little worried that the thick neck holding up her equally fugly head might start spinning around at any minute. And the way she grabs at her dress is just disturbing.
Whereas the new Sonicare brushes are so sleek and pleasant to look at. Perhaps they should make smaller versions for children?
And while we are at it... let's talk about toothpaste, shall we?
I've been using the all-natural "Sea Fresh" by Jason (see above) for a few years now and really love it.
In fact, I would like to challenge everyone to try a natural toothpaste for a mere 30 days. I guarantee that when you go back to your regular paste like Colgate, AquaFresh, or Crest, you will be SHOCKED with its chemical nature.Most "regular" toothpastes contain multiple chemicals, surfactants, anti-bacterial agents (such as the dangerous Triclosan), as well as artificial coloring and flavoring. Like everything else, you may have to switch around until you find the right one for you. It took me several tries until I found this one. And I can honestly say, that on the odd occasion where I've had to use Colgate, I felt like I was brushing my teeth with Soft Scrub.
As I've said time and time again... question what you put in your body, and in this case- your mouth! Read labels and learn what the ingredients are. Chances are, if you can't pronounce them or they sound scientific- they are more than likely synthetic chemicals.
Moving on and calming down...
Pacifica Candles
I have been in love with candles for about as long as I've loved glass. Not only do I like them for their tranquilizing effect, I also enjoy the pleasing aromas they imbue. For years before I knew better, I burned the ever-popular jarred, Yankee candles. They were about the only ones I could find that you could actually smell. But through my "Ma Vie en Vert" studies, I discovered that paraffin is a by-product of petroleum. [Sidenote: I've been wanting to do a post on petroleum and all of its by-products for over a year now and haven't gotten around to it yet. It's astonishing that there are over 4000 secondary products made from crude oil, also known as petrochemicals. I will eventually get around to writing about them, but in the meantime check out those links for more information.]
So, in an effort to not burn petroleum-based candles (which produce carcinogens as they burn,) I started to shop for a healthier alternative, soy candles. Like my quest for toothpaste, it took awhile before I found one that I really liked.
The Pacifica Candles I buy are handmade in small batches in Portland, Oregon. They have great names like Tuscan Blood Orange, Nerola Orange Blossom, Mexican Cocoa, Malibu Lemon Blossom, Hawaiian Ruby Guava, etc.
I have liked each that I've tried. But more importantly, they all smell wonderful and natural when they burn. Not to mention, they make perfect gifts, if you can spare to give one away.
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Interesting post. I have never thought about toothpaste before. Now I will have to see what is offered in our Organics section.
As for candles. I did not know they were petroleum based. I don't usually buy the Yankee brand though because they are too strong smelling for me. And since I have small kids I never seem to get around to lighting candles anymore.
Thanks for sharing with us!
Brushing your teeth with an old-fashioned toothbrush once you've got used to an electric one just feels like a joke, doesn't it?
I like the idea of a natural toothpaste but I wonder if I'm too vain... can you get whitening ones?!
I'd like to read that petroleum post some time...
Those Sonicare toothbrushes call out to me at Costco every time I pass them. I am pretty cautious with the dental care too.
Speaking of Costco... we usually buy big packs of toothpaste there. The other day we realized we were on our last tube. Maybe we should give the natural stuff a try now. (Of course, if it doesn't have the 'ADA' stamp on the side, my husband won't touch it!)
I always find myself wondering about your toothpaste. You know, this post might be the thing that actually makes me stop being lazy and start buying organic paste!
I want to know more!!!
Beachmama- Definitely check out natural toothpaste. There are tons of varieties out there. Some are more natural than others. And petroleum byproducts are EVERYWHERE. Tons are found in personal care products.
Guilty- True! I've used my regular one at our cabin and it feels so bulky in comparison. And yes, you can get natural whitening pastes. I've never tried them though.
Jill- I don't even have a Costco membership. I had my sister hook us up! And as far as the ADA goes, I'm kind of the opposite. I don't really trust all the associations out there that are paid off in endorsement deals. They constantly tout things as safe that aren't. That said, it is still a good idea to verify companies as well as ingredients.
Punchline- Try this one. I prefer the paste over the gel. It's a little weird tasting at first, because it is made with algae. But once you get used to it, it has a nice aftertaste. I tried Tom's of Maine several times but didn't like the way my teeth felt afterward, nor did I feel like it sustained that "clean" feeling throughout the day.
the candles sound terrific- will google them 'cause i'm a candle freak! and of course i'll share pics- however, i do wish you were here 'cause you take some amazing pics and i'm sure you could do her better justice but we'll see how it goes! :)
That Cinderella brush looks like a nervous carnival freak.
Pacifica candles are the best! The have a nice even burn and not an overpowering smell.
Ever try palm wax? I make candles of paraffin, beeswax, and palm wax. Palm wax and beeswax are all natural and non-petroleum-based. Check them out in my Etsy shop! http://auntiebonline.etsy.com.
P.S. Soy wax "blend" could contain paraffin.
I'm partial to KissMyFace triple action toothpaste. I've tried so many other natural ones and nothing else comes close to the super clean feel after I brush with this...
Mrs. K- You should definitely try the candles! And I wish that I could photograph your daughter. If I'm ever down your way or vice versa I will snap some shots for you.
Dr. Zibbs- Thank you. I couldn't agree more. ;)
Sheasy- Exactly!
Sara- I haven't tried palm wax before but I am intrigued. I'll check out your site. I contacted Pacifica to query what "soy wax blend" meant. They said that they use ONLY soy (in their jarred candles) and the blend is in the natural fragrance. The pillars do have some "food-grade" paraffin in them, so I wouldn't recommend those.
Sonya- I will have to try that toothpaste. I love KissMyFace lotion and have been using it for quite awhile. Thanks for sharing it. :)
I love Pacifica candles. Unfortunately, I burned all of mine. Thanks for making me think of how I'm killing myself everytime I brush my teeth. Actually, my fetus.:)
I've had a Sonicare for nearly five years now. Since I've beenusing it, dental visits are a breeze and my problem with receding gums has all but disappeared. I'm a big fan!
During Erin's visit, she was telling me how much better natural toothpastes are... not only for overall health, but for mouth freshness (sorry, can't think of a better way to say that. vacation brain) All the chemicals and the artificial sweeteners cause more nasties in the mouth and bad breath! Of course, I haven't made the switch yet... but will do some trials here soon.
where can you get the toothpaste? target? or do I have to find a specialty shop??