Toxin Free Living for Busy Mamas

Where are the busy mamas at? 🙋‍♀️

As a busy mom, you have a lot on your plate, and it can be challenging to keep up with everything, including making sure your family is living in a toxin-free environment. However, protecting your family from toxic chemicals is essential for their health and well-being. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make toxin-free living a priority, even when you’re busy:

  1. Know your toxins

The first step to toxin-free living is to understand what toxins are present in your environment. Do some research on the chemicals commonly found in household products and learn how they affect your health. Be sure to also check for toxic chemicals in personal care and cleaning products. Use this blog as a resource! I also have a clean living group on Facebook and that search bar is gold. There’s over 4 years worth of content in there.

2. Swap out toxic products for safer alternatives

Once you know which products contain toxins, start replacing them with safer alternatives. Look for safe and organic products that are free of harsh chemicals. Swap out chemical-laden cleaners for vinegar and baking soda. You can also make your own cleaning products using natural ingredients like essential oils. When you’re ready to swap your makeup/skincare/body bar/little’s products, I’m your go to gal and can’t wait to help you!

    3. Check your food and drink

    Toxins can also be found in the food and drink we consume. Be sure to read labels and avoid foods with artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Choose organic produce and meats to avoid exposure to pesticides and hormones. You can also switch to a water filter to remove toxins like lead and chlorine from your drinking water.

    4. Limit plastic use

    Plastics can contain toxins like BPA and phthalates, which can leach into your food and drink. To limit your exposure, try to use glass, stainless steel, or ceramic containers instead of plastic. Use cloth bags instead of plastic bags when shopping, and avoid heating up food in plastic containers.

    5. Keep your home well-ventilated

    Indoor air can contain a variety of toxins, including chemicals from cleaning products, furniture, and paint. Keep your home well-ventilated by opening windows and using exhaust fans. You can also add plants that help purify the air, such as snake plants and spider plants.

    6. Reduce stress

    Stress can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to toxins. Take steps to reduce stress, such as practicing mindfulness and deep breathing, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep.

      Still feeling overwhelmed and needing help? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me ❤ Helping other women live healthier lives is my passion and I would love to help you any way I can!

      Some helpful links:

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      Like what you see here and want to join a community of like-minded women with the same goal – living our best, healthiest, happiest lives? Hop over to the Raising Clean Facebook Community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean

      Organization Tip #3 – Create a Plan to Create More Freedom Within your Day

      As someone who has always loved planning, I’ve seen the difference it makes in my day. One time I tried unplanned Sundays and my day felt like a chaotic mess. But, I’ve heard from people who don’t plan that they feel it takes away the freedom within their day. It is a common belief that having a plan, structure, or routine that governs your day limits your own personal freedom to just do what you want, when you want. I disagree with this.

      I’ve been reading “Atomic Habits” with my Crunchi team and he talks about this in regards to habits. He mentions that people wonder if habits and routine will make their life dull, restrict their freedom, and take away the spontaneity of life. He writes that it does the opposite, it creates freedom.

      Having a plan, structure, or routine for your day actually opens up more freedom for you. It allows you to live your life proactively rather than reactively. You know what you need to get done that day, so you don’t waste precious time and energy on less important tasks or wander aimlessly, unsure of your priorities. It allows you to spend time doing the things you want to do rather reacting to the needs and wants of others all day long. It can completely change the way you live your day to day life.

      I’ve talked about a few different ways to plan your day in previous posts, but below I’ll list some tools you can use for planning.

      🌿 Google calendar, I LOVE to color code mine

      🌿 Paper planner, keep it basic or go all out with the fun planner stickers

      🌿 Desk weekly calendar to be able to easily glance at important tasks or events for the week

      🌿 Shared family calendar with the app Cozi

      🌿 White board daily, weekly, or monthly calendar

      🌿 A simple to do list on a blank piece of paper

      I encourage you to try something for at least a week to see how you like it and how it makes your day run differently! Remember, you don’t have to plan out each minute if that isn’t your jam, you can have a loose plan, a general idea for your day, certain blocks of time for certain things, or just a simple list, but having some sort of plan will create more calm within your days,

      Which one are you going to try or do you already use?!

      Like what you read on this blog? You’ll LOVE the Raising Clean Facebook Community -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean

      Organization Tip # 1 – A Place for Everything and Everything in it’s Place

      One thing I’ve noticed is that my mind is more cluttered when my environment is more cluttered. So, this tip not only will help you have more of a clear, organized mind, but of course an organized home as well.

      I will say this is something I have to actively work at, it does not come naturally to me. I am actually an incredibly lazy “active” person. I love to be active, I love to workout, but when I’m not being active, I’m super lazy 😆. This means, I often will remove a hoodie and lay it on the couch, leave a tea mug by my bed, things like that. If every single thing in my home doesn’t have a place and I’m not mindful to make sure I put it back in its place when I’m done with it, my home can become cluttered real quick.

      It takes an extra minute or two to put something back when finished with it (as long as you know exactly where it belongs) and it makes a massive difference in keeping clutter away. This is something that can be taught to the little ones. We’ve taught our daughter to put her toys back when done since she was one. Now that she’s three, she’s usually good about putting toys away as she finishes with them, but of course she doesn’t always do it. In that case, we start bedtime routine a little early and work together to put the toys away. If she doesn’t know where they go, however, that would be impossible for her little self to navigate.

      I’ve also found that being able to see everything works tremendously well for us. We got rid of our kitchen cabinets for open shelving and keep things in clear containers. We store a lot of kitchen appliances on an open shelf in our dining area. I also use the Marie Kondo method for folding my clothes, and my hanging clothes are color coded. All of these things are not only esthetically pleasing, but they keep things organized, easy to find, and therefore easy to put back.

      Some other quick tips for clothes since this was a highly wanted topic:

      • Each person in the home as one solid color of socks, never waste time matching up socks again.
      • Opt for a capsule wardrobe or a more minimal wardrobe.
      • To help you purge some clothes, try the hanger method where all hangers are facing one direction and after you wear something turn the hanger the other direction so you know which clothes are getting worn and which aren’t. I personally do this and the first day of each month I remove a couple of pieces that I haven’t worn and put in the donate bin.

      I hope this is helpful! Happy organizing 🥰

      Like what you read on this blog? You’ll LOVE the Raising Clean Facebook Community -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean

      Hey, friends!

      A massive welcome to the Raising Clean blog!

      Raising Clean was created in June of 2018 (on Facebook, the blog came later). I had only been on my own toxin free journey for 3 months and honestly had no idea what I was doing. But I knew one thing. I was fired up about all I had learned about the harmful chemicals lurking in our products and our children’s products and I had to share it with anyone who would listen. 👂 I now have a fabulous community of like-minded women who all just want to live our best, healthiest lives!

      👉👉 Here’s how to get the most out of this blog: 👈👈 

      Shop Clean Beauty or Join Me: Ready to detox your makeup bag or learn more about the Safe + High Performing + Eco-conscious makeup and skincare I use –>> crunchi.com/jessicaderico 👉

      GET FREE SHIPPING WITH EVERY $150 ORDER!

      Need a shade match or free consultation to make sure you’re picking the best products for your skin type and needs? Fill out this free skincare quiz and I will reach out to you! https://forms.gle/idGpUXkUcPz31qFp8

       Safe Swaps Master List: A growing list of Safe Swaps beyond cosmetics + skincare that I have sourced to help you take baby steps in eliminating toxins from your life! –>>> You get access to this when you join my email list: http://eepurl.com/dC_rFL 

      Toxic Ingredients Cheat Sheet: Aka – The Banished list! Click this link and save this image to help you when making everyday choices. —>>> https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10157870866692607… 

      Never miss anything CRUNCHI related: ☀ Join my VIP text notification list for insane deals, re-stocks, & new product launches. Simply click https://www.remind.com/join/raisingcle and type in your phone number and name

      Subscribe to the monthly newsletter here —>> http://eepurl.com/houQJj

      Cosmetic Brand Ingredient Review: If you would like an ingredient review on any of the brands you’re currently using, do not hesitate to ask. Knowledge is power and I would be honored to support you in your journey by reviewing the ingredients in your current products, completely judgement free. You can always email at derico.jessica@gmail.com for the fastest response.

      Ready to partner with me in the Clean Beauty Movement? —>> https://crunchi.com/the-movement/what-is-the-movement… 

      Want to learn more about the Clean Beauty Movement —>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/benevolentbeginnings 

      Thank you for being here 🌷✌️

      vulnerable post ahead ↴

      Formerly, I was a partner (fiancé) who gave up a teaching career to show up for her family as a stay-at-home mom. What I did not see coming was a break up after 7 years.

      5 months ago I became a single mom with primary custody of my daughter (plus our two dogs). A daughter who I wanted to continue to support and show up for as I always had. What immediately ran through my head was:

      1. WHERE are we going to live?

      2. HOW am I going to support all of us, feed us, clothe us, without her dad’s income?

      3. WILL I be able to do this on my own?

      SIGH – 😞

      Well, it’s all because of my toxin free business that I’ve been able to get us into our own home (that even has a small yard for the dogs), work around the needs of my daughter, and SHOW up for her as I always have!❤️❤️❤️❤️

      It nearly brings me to tears each time I take a moment to truly reflect and be grateful 💫 for where I am and what I’ve accomplished. I am forever grateful to the direct selling industry as it has changed my life not once. It’s because of companies like this one that women have the opportunity to make part time income working less than part time hours or make career income and accumulate wealth working full time hours. Did you know that 80% of women who make six figures do so through direct sales?!

      Now, I ask you… what could you do with an extra 400-600 a month, or even an extra couple thousand+ a month, or heck six figures a year?

      I do it for her

      Because 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime — I do it for her
      .
      Because more than 40,000 women will die this year of breast cancer — I do it for her
      .
      Because research is showing that 5-10% of breast cancer is actually genetic and the other 90-95% of breast cancer is due to environmental toxins — I do it for her
      .
      Because of my daughter, my eyes have been opened and I’ve made changes I never thought I would make — I do it for her
      .
      Because of her, I’m conscious and aware and making educated decisions on the products we use in this house, on and around our bodies, that will impact our health.
      .
      Because of her, I have much less of a chance of becoming a statistic and a greater chance of living disease-free WITH her.
      .
      If not for yourself, who would you do it for?
      .
      .
      .
      Sources // Breast Cancer Fund // The American Cancer Society // California Breast Cancer Research Program // BCPP //

      Safely Smell Autumn

      Safely smell Autumn? What does that even mean?

      I love all things Fall. I always have, even before it was trendy. It has always been my favorite season because I loved going back to school, Halloween is my favorite holiday, the sound of leafs crunching as you step on them is honestly my favorite sound (weird I know).

      But, for the past 2+ years I wasn’t able to enjoy the smells of Autumn in my home. You know the pumpkin, caramel, vanilla, those types of smells. Why? Because I threw away at least a dozen candles when I switched to a toxin free lifestyle.

      Candles wreak havoc on your health, my friends, let’s dive into the details…

      In conventional candles, you are likely to find:

      Paraffin: This is made from petroleum as a by-product from making gasoline.

      Benzene & Toluene: Toxic and harmful chemicals released from burning paraffin. They are known carcinogens and have been shown to be just as bad as second hand smoke and diesel fumes.

      Lead: In the United States, there is not supposed to be lead in candles anymore, but unfortunately it is still happening especially in candles manufactured in China. Lead in wicks releases 5 times the amount of lead considered hazardous for children and these pollutants are released whether the candle is lit or not…

      Fragrance: This is one of the worst ingredients in anything, including candles, as you have no idea what is actually in it. Phthalates are almost guaranteed which can aggravate allergy symptoms, asthma, and even alter hormone levels.

      There ARE safe options out there friends and my personal favorite is https://www.sealovecandles.com

      These candles are hand-poured in-house on the coast of Maine in small batches using simple, clean ingredients – 100% coconut and soy wax, lead-free cotton wicks, and phthalate-free fragrances blended with pure essential oils. No additives, enhancers, colorants, filler waxes, phthalates and petrochemicals added. All ingredients are mindfully sourced in the USA and are vegan and cruelty-free. 😍

      Plus, when you use code: RAISINGCLEAN10 you get 10% off your order!

      If you snag some, definitely comment below what you think and as always, head over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean where I share daily clean living info including ditch and switches for all areas of life.

      Raise Clean, friends 🌿✌️

      Ditch & Switch •• Shave Gel/Cream

      Who uses a shaving cream or gel?! ❤️❤️

      I personally have never been able to use a shaving cream as I always broke out in horrible razor burn every time I tried. But, when I used regular body wash my legs would itch and itch SO badly. I FINALLY found a solution in my toxin free Gentle Cleansing Bar and it is all I will ever use to shave my legs now. The gentle soap moisturizes my legs while shaving so I have zero itch after shaving for the first time in my dang life!

      Chances are, you’ll use shaving products every day or every week for decades of your life. Even if it takes just two or three minutes to shave every day, this amounts to around a thousand hours of exposure to whatever chemicals are in those products or more if you use toxic aftershave or lotion after shaving.

      👩🏻‍💻 I used some market research to look into some ingredient lists… Out of three women who shared what they’re using, two contained harmful substances including but not limited to:

      ❌ Phenoxyethanol ➔ A member of the glycol ether family and is the product of the reaction of highly corrosive phenol with carcinogenic ethylene oxide. As a result, it may contain residue amounts of both. The American Society of Contact Dermatitis lists phenoxyethanol as one of its core allergens, even in concentrations as low as 1%.

      ❌ Fragrance ➔ A chemical mixture of over 3k components used to create or mask a specific scent. The FDA does not require the disclosure of individual ingredients used to create fragrances. Many ingredients of fragrances are associated with contact allergy and may contain diethyl phthalate.

      ❌ Propylene glycol ➔ It is a controversial ingredient associated with skin irritation. Numerous patch tests on humans have shown that it has a very low risk of causing a skin reaction even at concentrations as high as 20%.

      ❌ Petrolatum ➔ There is strong evidence that mineral oil hydrocarbons are the greatest contaminant of the human body, amounting to approximately 1 g per person. There have been studies done on women post delivery and scientists have found these contaminants in breast milk as well! -> The scariest of these possible contaminants is called 1,4 dioxane, an impurity found in 22 percent of all petroleum-based cosmetics that is a known human and animal carcinogen.

      𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙄𝙎 𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣!

      One awesome gal shared that she uses Dr. Bronner’s Shave Gel and it passes with flying colors

      ✅ Lots of organic ingredients

      ✅ Toxin free

      I personally have only ever had success with my favorite Gentle Facial Bar. It is the first time in my life that my legs don’t itch after I shave and has been a literal god send. 

      ✅ Lots of organic ingredients

      ✅ Toxin free

      ✅ RSPO certified sustainable palm oil

      ✅ Vegan

      ✅ Zero Waste

      ✅ Cruelty Free

      ✅ Made in the USA

      PS – have a safe swap request? Drop it below!

      To learn more about the gentle cleansing bar I mentioned and get access to half priced and free products, you’ll want to hop over to my community on FB 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean/ ❤️ I’ll see you over there!

      Dropping Some Truth

      I wanted to drop some truth in here really quickly… 😙

      I want everyone to feel comfortable commenting on this blog and joining me over in my wellness community on FB no matter where you’re at on your toxin free journey. If you’re as crunchy as it gets or if you haven’t started going toxin free at all yet, but you’re interested in learning about it, I don’t ever want anyone to feel judged or to ever feel like I am perfect. So, I want to share the real me, flaws and all, with all of you! ☺️

      I started my toxin free journey in March of 2018 and I’m STILL not 100% toxin free in all areas of my life, and to tell you the truth, I may never be. My fiancé and I talk about balance a lot and how important it is to us to keep our sanity.

      THERE ARE A FEW SAFE SWAPS THAT WE JUST MADE, ALMOST TWO YEARS INTO OUR JOURNEY. THOSE ARE:

      Switching razors

      Switching toothpaste (I was still using Toms even though I knew it wasn’t the best option)

      Going from ziplock bags to reusable silicone bag

      Switching things in our kitchen like cookware, food storage containers, and mugs

      THERE ARE A FEW SAFE SWAPS I AM STILL PLANNING ON MAKING BUT HAVEN’T YET BECAUSE OF TIME, MONEY, ETC. THOSE ARE:

      Plastic wrap

      Using plastic straws when out

      Water filter

      Birth Control

      AND, THERE ARE A FEW SAFE SWAPS I MAY NEVER MAKE BECAUSE I FEEL MY HAPPINESS HONESTLY DEPENDS ON HAVING BALANCE IN THESE AREAS. THOSE ARE:

      Dunkin’ Donuts coffee

      Candy (while I don’t buy the toxic stuff for myself anymore, if someone gives it to me, I’m gonna eat it, I just am)

      Mani/Pedis

      Not worrying about what we eat outside of our house (or special occasions like when I wanted cookie cake and wine for Mother’s Day!)

      Moral of the story: Just because you see me posting about living a clean, toxin free life that doesn’t mean I’m perfect in every area all the time. So, whether you haven’t started your toxin free journey yet, you’re in the beginning steps, or super duper crunchy, you have a place in my group! I’d love to welcome you in with open arms https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean/