All Washed Up!

Who says SLS free shampoo doesn't lather? I had my daughter take a pic of me washing my hair with my SLS free Dry Scalp Relief Shampoo. It took me over a year to formulate this shampoo.  I adore it, my hair adores it!
I do receive many compliments on my hair, the sheen, how healthy it looks, and then I get the question. "What do you use?' I love to respond, as I can say " I make all my hair care products from scratch". Then the jaws drop.. Love it. :-)   It has taken  many years to formulate natural, healthy, effective hair care products.

As women our hair tells a story about who we are. Our color choices, cut, and the over all look. I understand that we want our hair to be soft, silky, manageable and we want to be noticed. I also know that many people, not just women do not understand that the bubbles DO NOT CLEAN. When I first started making shampoo years ago, it did not foam. My hair was cleaned, my hair look fabulous, but my customers wanted bubbles.
You can educate about how the suds do nothing to clean, or nourish hair follicles, to hydrate damage hair and damaged scalps. But that fact remains people love the suds. That is why it took me over a year to formulate my shampoos. There were many mathematical calculations to be perform. The percentages of each ingredient to enhance other ingredients to create a product that will give women what they want for their hair.  Too much of one ingredient, to little of another. Keeping a journal of past failures, so I know what not to do next time. Adding additional ingredients.. Knowing the properties of each ingredient, the safe amount of each ingredient, how they will interact with one another.
Awww yes By George I Think I've Got It!!!

I had actually jumped out of bed at 2 am one morning with the answer, with the calculations. I went down to my lab (kitchen) and mixed up a batch. EUREKA!! SLS free shampoo. Healthy, Natural, Sudsy Shampoo.
Then the testing began. Everyone who tried it, loved it.  There were many Joyful Girls strutting around with shiny, manageable, healthy hair and I was one of them!

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

A very nasty chemical that is a known skin irritant. It is used in skin care, hair care, care engine cleansers, and cleaning products. The purpose and sole purpose for this nasty chemical is to provide the product with bubbles, suds, foam.... 

There was a study at the University of Georgia Medical College, indicated that SLS penetrated into the eyes as well as brain, heart, liver, etc., and showed long-term retention in the tissues. The study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children's eyes and prevented them from developing properly and caused cataracts to develop In adults. It can cause hair loss,can cause bladder infections, can cause skin rashes. Actually there is nothing good about SLS. 


So why use SLS? Are you really going to jeopardize your health for some suds?
Do the research, make informative healthy decisions. You can read more about  SLS  here http://healthychild.org/issues/chemical-pop/sodium_laureth_sulfate/ 

There is only one of you, and don't you deserve the best? You can have it, you just have to want it!
Come on  
     Bubbles are supposed to be fun, not hazardous to your health!

 

Babies are Not Safe

I just read a very disturbing fact. Babies are being born into the world with toxic chemicals already in their systems.There was a time when we thought that our babies were safe and sound within our wombs. Now the fact is, they are not.

Reading a newsletter from the EWG it states that when umbilical cord blood of 10 Americans were tested nearly 300 chemicals were found. Chemicals such as BPA, perchlorate, fire retardants, lead, mercury and PCBs. This just really blows my mind. No parent wants to think that these chemicals are running thru the veins of their baby.

How did they get there? They got there by the products we use on a daily basis. Our skin care, our cleaning products, laundry soap, fabric softener, the plug in room fresheners.(one of my biggest pet peeves) hair care products, food, and many other environmental factors.

This is what is stated in the newsletter from the EWG." The chemicals we found are increasingly linked to serious long-term health effects, from childhood cancer and autism to ADHD, learning deficits, infertility, and heart disease. We need a system for assessing chemicals so our children get the healthy start they deserve. The longer Congress waits, the more babies are exposed."

There are  a few actions we as parents can take to ensure the safety of our children. One is to become informed, remember the saying " Knowledge is Power". The more we educate ourselves on chemicals that are being used in our everyday products, the better we can make decisions to ensure the health of our children, ourselves, our pets and the environment..

Take the time to read all the ingredients that are in the skin care products, cleaning products, laundry products etc you use.What is in the new carpets, paint, furniture you buy.

If you do not know what an ingredient is look it up. You can go to the EWG and check out their skin deep database. There you can type in a product name or ingredient and find out if there is a health hazard connected with the product or ingredient.

Our children rely on us, their parents to make decisions that will effect their well being. Be proactive, be informed, demand American to come clean.

 Please sign this petition to demand that Congress take action to make chemicals in consumer products kid-safe.



Here are a few more links for information
.EWGs Kid Safe Blog

Health tips for the whole family

Learn which produce you should always buy organic

Be well Be Safe Be Informed

Peace

Your a Pain in the .......

 

Oh where Oh where is my car?

Snow, more snow than I have seen in a very long time! We had a total of 20 inches fall here in Northern VA. That was just on this past Friday and Saturday. Right now as I sit here typing away, snow is falling. Another 10-15 inches is what they are calling for. Many of you, I know are in this same predicament, I know this because you are writing me asking for advice.  Advice on how to relieve pain. The pain your body is experiencing due to participating in the sport of snow shoveling.

Snow shoveling should be a competitive sport. Every muscle in your body is used. Your heart gets a great workout as well as every other muscle in your body. You could have a whole team of snow shoveler's competing for the golden shovel!  After I shoveled for a little over 2 1/2 hours my pants were literally falling off. You burn some serious calories!

I myself feel pretty good. Haven't had any extreme pain as I have learned a few things about the art of snow shoveling in the past years. I have a few tricks up my sleeve as well. First I apply my natural menthol balm to areas of my body that I know will be effected by the strains of snow shoveling.  I apply my menthol balm to the back of my neck (I have a bulging disc and past herniation) so relaxing these muscles are important. I also apply my menthol balm to my shoulders specifically the rotator cuff area, triceps, my obliques,  quads and lower back. My lower back is a mess as well. Past herniation as well as degenerative disc disease.

Once I'm all balmed up, I stretch. You can do the same stretches you would do before a run.  I then apply my Organic Sunscreen to my face,and my Organic Shea lip balm, dress warmly, and I'm set for the snow shoveling Olympics. I did find a video on how to shovel snow http://www.howcast.com/videos/146119-How-To-Shovel-Snow  I'm not a fan of spraying the shovel with cooking spray as I do not use any aerosol type spray cans. You can just apply a thin coat of oil with a towel to your shovel. This keeps the snow from sticking. The video is fun to watch.

Preparation is the key to avoiding  neck and back strain as well as extreme muscular pain. I want to be able to build snow forts for my daughter, I want to be able to stand upright to make an organic soy latte, and I want to be able to well..... walk. Keep warm  Keep Safe. Peace

Super Saver Sunday 2-07-2010

Todays SSS is: All hair treatments are 25% off. You can choose from our newly listed Rosemary Lavender Hot oil treatment, Our Cooconut  Hair treatment, or our Extreme Hemp Hair treatment. Each of them made with Natural and Organic ingredients. Chemical Free. Aromatherapy Benefits included. Now is the time to get your hair conditioned and healthy before the summer sun reeks havoc. Nourish hair follicles, increase circulation to encourage growth and fullness. If you need assistance in choosing which one is right for you, Please contact me, I'd love to help. How SSS works. Just purchase your hair treatments as usual, I will then refund your 25% thru paypal.

Winter Days Winter Skin

Still snowing here in VA. Started yesterday afternoon. I think we  have about 18-20 inches and still more to come.
Pretty much stuck. Oven stopped working so I can't bake which I love to do. Printer stopped working last night, so can't print labels for my products. So, I guess I will post another giveaway!

Winter  is a great time for itchy dry flaky skin. O the pleasure of warmth and the havoc it can reek on ones skin.
I have very hyper sensitive skin, and many things will effect the quality of my skin. The heater running all day, the blast of heat blowing on me while in my car, caffeine obtained from sipping a warm cup of  coffee or tea, the cold wintry wind... Winter and my skin do not mix. I have to follow my skin care regimen and diet strictly  or I end up a dry flaky itchy mess. All over!

Not only should one be mindful of what they are putting on their skin we need to be mindful of what goes in our mouths as well. I say this because if you suffer thru the winter months with dry itchy skin then you need to know a few things.  Topical applications of moisturizers, body butters, and body oils will aid in hydrating and calming your skin but increasing your water consumption and increasing your Omegas will have your skin looking and feeling fabulous.

Using natural and organic skin care will eliminate toxins that promote dehydration of your skin. Fragrance oils and other chemicals  will aid in drying out your skin. Have you ever applied lotion and  30 minutes later need to apply more? After applying  lotion, does your skin feel and look moisturized, but by the end of the day sometimes by the end of the hour your skin is looking and feeling dry and itchy again?

Well, ladies this is what I call the lotion conspiracy. What will you do when your tube or bottle of lotion is empty? You rush off to the drug store to buy more. You will go thru your chemically laden lotion faster than you will go thru an organic lotion. The chemicals in many lotions simply dry your skin out. When you put pure natural resources on your skin you will benefit from not only fabulous looking skin, you will benefit from the moisturizing, nourishing, nutritional  properties of natural ingredients.

Your liver will love you too, because it doesn't have to work in overdrive to process all the chemicals you are lathering your skin with.
If you are not a regular user of natural and organic skin care please check out this link  
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
If your snowed in like me, go grab some of the skin care products you use on a daily basis, grab a cup of organic coffee or tea, sit down in front of your computer and click on the above link.  At the ewg you can type in an ingredient from a product you are using, or the brand and name of the product you are using. You will then get a plethora of information of the health hazards the ingredient has, or you can find out the level of toxicity in your product. The EWG rates products from a 0 meaning no health hazard to a 10 meaning the most toxic. You will be surprised to find out that some of the companies that you believed were selling a natural product are actually pretty toxic.

As a woman it is important to know what you are consuming through your skin. It is important to make mindful decisions about your health. Many chemicals in women's products are linked to Cancer, infertility, panic and anxiety disorders, depression, migraines, insomnia. and so many more aliments that can debilitate us. I have hundreds of stories to share about  my customers, who thru eliminating toxic products have healed from chronic conditions. I'm myself am a walking testimonial

. Do you want your skin care products to take you on the path of optimal health? If so, then read your labels, educate yourself, be mindful of what you are putting on and in your body.
To get you on your way to moisturized healthy skin and a healthier you, I'm giving away a jar of my newest creation!

I have a 2 ounce jar of Organic Pumpkin Whip! I formulated this to aid in healing my own dry, flaky, driving me insane itchy skin! After my head injury and a week of chillin my skin did what it does when ignored. It flared into a patchy red itchy mess. The pic just shows my arm, Ahh my legs were worse. I used my Calming Comfrey Spray
to calm the itch an bring me some relief while I whipped up my Pumpkin Whip.
 With the help of my Organic Pumpkin Whip and increasing my Omegas thru organic walnuts, organic flaxseed oil, Hemp milk, and a few other goodies, my skin is back to looking and feeling terrific.
My Organic Pumpkin Whip is a dry skin eliminator with the help of Organic Shea Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut oil,  Organic Babassu Butter, Abyssinian oil, Vitamin E oil.

Healing, Moisturizing, Nourishing skin lovin Pumpkin Whip.

 Organic Pumpkin Seed oil contains an incredible amount of Omega Fatty Acids. The skin just drinks it up! My Pumpkin Whip smells like..... a scrumptious chocolate coconut treat!
I haven't even listed this to sell, so whoever wins will be the first to get it!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Win It: 2 ounce jar of Joyful Girl Naturals Organic Pumpkin Whip 

COMPLETE THE MANDATORY ENTRY FIRST

Mandatory Entry: Become a Follower of my blog. 
Then leave a comment letting me know.

You have to complete this entry first or all other entries will be deleted.

Leave a separate comment for each entry. So if you complete an task for 3 entries leave 3 separate comments saying you completed that task ets etc.

3 entries:Subscribe to my blog via email.

2 entries: Follow me on twitter.

2 entries: Become a Joyful Girl Natural Fan on Facebook 

3 entries: Check out Joyful Girl Naturals and tell me a product that interest you 

3 entries: Tweet this giveaway and leave your link in your comment

5 entries: Look up an ingredient from a non organic product you are using on the ewg.Tell me what you found out.

Joyful Girl Naturals Your Body Will Thank You!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED WINNING NUMBER WAS 5 OUR WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

Giveaway ends 2-13-2010 at 11:59 pm Winner will be emailed. Winner has 48 hours to respond before new winner is chosen. Please make sure you leave your email address in your comments or that your email address is visible on your blogger profile. Contest is open to US residents as well as International residents.

CSN EarthPan Giveaway

Tlyer from CSN contacted me and asked if I would like to sponsor a giveaway. Of course I couldn't turn down the opportunity for you all to win something! My only request for Tyler was that the giveaway would be an environmentally  friendly giveaway.

He suggested the 12 inch Hard Anodized Eco-Friendly skillet by EarthPan.

This is the information from the CSN site about this pan.
The foundation of this EarthPan™ Hard-Anodized skillet is the exclusive eco-friendly SandFlow™ nonstick coating. This unique nonstick originates from sand and is formulated to provide excellent food release and easy cleanup. Based on industry lab tests, SandFlow™ nonstick food releasing performance will outlast all other ceramic-based, eco-friendly cookware 3 to 1.
Features:

• SandFlow™ nonstick coating will outlast all other ceramic-based, eco-friendly cookware 3 to 1
• Hard-anodized aluminum is twice as hard a stainless steel for maximum durability
• Heats quickly and helps reduce "hot spots"
• Dual riveted silicone enhanced handle is comfortable to hold and provides a confident grip
• High-heat performance
• Reduced greenhouse gasses - lower carbon footprint during production

Specifications:

• Overall Dimensions: 3.25" H x 12.75" W x 21.5" D
• Materials: Hard-anodized aluminum with SandFlow™ nonstick coating
• Oven safe to 600°F/315°C
• Dishwasher safe
• Created with no toxic fumes, no PTFE, and no PFOA

I did not get to personally review this pan. I had been researching eco friendly cookware for several weeks now. The EarthPan has great reviews, this is a type of pan that I would feel good about owning. I was familiar with CSN due to many bloggers I follow doing reviews and giveaways. I'm impressed with their selection of cookware, small kitchen appliances,cutlery, and tableware. They carry top brands too. Did you know they also have an array of barstools?  You can check them out at http://www.allbarstools.com/ . Any kind of stool your looking for they have. Who doesn't love a counter top swivel stool?

 If you would like to purchase it you can do so here http://www.csnstores.com/EarthPan-80966-ETH1015.html
*Win it: One lucky follower will win 1 12 inch Eco Friendly open skillet by EarthPan valued at $39.95

*First your mandatory entry is to be a follower of my blog. You can find the google friend connect button on the left side bar. After becoming a follower leave a comment here to let me know. Already a follower, Thank you. Just leave me a comment letting me know.You have to complete the mandatory entry or all other entries will be deleted.

Please leave a separate comment for each task you complete. For extra entries you can do the following.

*one entry: Check out CSN and tell me another item that interest you.

*two entries: Following me on twitter   and tweet the contest. Leave your tweetlink(1 tweet per day is allowed)

*two entries: Fan Joyful Girl Naturals on facebook leave me a comment with your user name

* one entry: Tell me in a comment why it is important to use eco friendly cookware.

* five entries: Blog about this giveaway and comment back with link to your post
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED CONGRATS We used the Random Generator and lucky number 22 was generated. Congrats to Michelle P
Contest is open to US residents only.Please  include your email address in your entries if not visible in your blogger profile.Winner will be notified via email. You will have 48 hours to claim your prize. Contest will end 2/19/2010 @ 11:59 PM EST

Great Giveaway

Valerie over at Sweeps 4 Bloggers is having a great giveaway. Her giveaway is 1 Doie Designs Organic Cotton Top. The style is the Hermosa and the color will be white. This looks like a really cute top, and organic cotton to boot. The Hermosa is avilable in XS,S,M and L and at the sale price of $28.00 is a great deal, if you want to purchase it. Check out Doie Designs at http://www.doiedesigns.com/collection.htm
Then you have to go over to Sweeps 4 Bloggers and enter the giveaway.
http://sweeps4bloggers.com/?p=1187
Thanks Valerie!