Posts
Saturday 17th April 2010
The Mooncup
Saturday, 17 April 2010
The Mooncup
As I was casually browsing a money saving forum I came across an item called the Mooncup. I would liken this product to a femidom. The Mooncup is a reusable menstrual cup, around two inches long and made from soft medical grade silicone. You only need one, as you take the cup out and rinse it every 4-8 hours.
I may give this product a go because it is more hygienic than sanitary towels and you only need to buy one. It’s also friendlier to your body (relating to my previous organic post) - I have also read on this money saving forum that sanitary towels contain all sorts of toxins and bleach.
The cup is only £20! I think I’ll give it a go and get back to you! Let me know if you have had any experience with this product?
Also, just to give some context to this post and the previous post about going organic, I just wanted to explain that my quest for organic products is also about saving money. Research on the internet and in a couple of books I have bought have led me to a term called old style money saving. Old style money saving is about going green to save money. I will be doing some more research and blog posts about this in the future, looking into the three things I mentioned in the previous blog – food, cleaning products and cosmetic products.
Watering my potatoes today, I fear I may have planted them upside down, there is a definite root looking object poking out of the soil :-/.
Going from menstrual cups to watering potatoes, how did that happen?
stargirl
Friday, 16 April 2010
Long lost friends
Friday 16th April 2010
Long lost friends
Last night I met up with my group of friends from college, which started 6 years ago and finished 4 years ago. Since college ended and we all went our separate ways (to uni or work) we have tried to remain friends and remain loyal to each other. In the first year after college we met up a lot, for every special occasion and in every half term or holiday. During the second year it kind of fizzled out and last night was the first time I had seen them all for over a year.
I was very nervous about meeting up with them. A lot has changed since we were friends in college. I am now a graduate and live with my partner. Two of the people I met up with are still at uni and living at home in the holidays. And lastly, one of the friends in engaged and is working full time. This made me anxious about how we would get on and what we would talk about. Another reason that I was nervous is because 2 people who we used to be really good friends with us have recently made it quite clear that they have moved on and want nothing more to do with us. I felt that with one of these people, i was to blame. (long story about her not getting on with Starboy).
When we met up last night (two girls, a boy and me) it was actually revealed that I had blamed myself for nothing and this particular person had been very horrible to my other friends as well. I took a big sigh of relief and began to relax into the evening and enjoy myself. I ended up having a really lovely time and we all got on very well. Although it was clear that the others were also a bit nervous, everyone ended up smiling and laughing just like old times.
Last night made me realise that although people grow up and move on with their lives, the basis of your friendship (your personalities and shared interests) probably still remain. There is no reason why a group of people who are at different stages of their lives can't still be friends. Not just friends, best friends. So let me say this to you, its better late than never. Find time to connect with your old friends, and you may find a friend for life.
Stargirl
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Education policy 2010
13th April 2010
The conservative education policy 2010
I have just read the Conservative education manifesto, and I am outraged. It's a topic I have been getting more and more annoyed about and now one of the political parties is backing it up, I am even more angry. The topic is exclusion.
Teachers, parents, grandparents, infact anyone who comes into contact with a child in school is moaning about discipline in schools. The children arn't disciplined enough, there is violence and anti social behaviour in classrooms and teachers have no way of dealing with it. Children do not respect adults.
CHILDREN DO NOT RESPECT ADULTS BECAUSE ADULTS DO NOT RESPECT CHILDREN.
Children are naturally good natured. They want to share and make friends and go to school. As they get older this may then begin to change, their behaviour may start to deteriorate, they may not make friends, they may begin to swear and be angry, they may begin to bully and then eventually they may act violently towards the teacher. The teacher responds to these behaviour changes with discipline, mainly expelling the child.
We should be trying to help these children.
Children who are acting up (swearing, bullying) are asking for attention. Disciplining the child should be immediate consequence for the childs action. But there should also be a follow up between the teacher and the child. This child is obviously not getting attention else where. Do they have friends? What is their home situation like at the moment? What is their self esteem like? The answer so at least one of these questions will be negative. So help them. They are in your class, as a teacher you should want to help them. Sit them down, talk to them, build a relationship!
Children who are skipping school and being violent when they do come to school obviously have more serious problems. Its common sense!! How can you simply ignore this and want them out your classroom? The reason you teach is to help children!This child needs you. This child needs a stable relationship with an adult. Talk to the child, they are human! Why dont you like school? Why are you being violent? Are you angry? Are you violent at home? Why dont you like school? Why dont you like me? Explain to the child that you want them to enjoy school, that you want them to have friends, that you want them to be happy. Simply excluding them is reinforcing their previous consumption that adults are untrustworthy and horrible. We know this isn't the case, lets help them to find this out too!
The conservative party wants to bring in more powers for head teachers to exclude whenever they want. How is this going to help are society at all?? More children at home, which is more than likely dysfunctional, and on the streets when they should be at school.
WE DON'T TRUST OUR CHILDREN SO OUR CHILDREN DON'T TRUST US.
Lets instill some trust into our children. Lets help them instead of punish them.
I really would like to know your thoughts on this. It's such an important issue. We all need to vote in May!!!
Stargirl
The conservative education policy 2010
I have just read the Conservative education manifesto, and I am outraged. It's a topic I have been getting more and more annoyed about and now one of the political parties is backing it up, I am even more angry. The topic is exclusion.
Teachers, parents, grandparents, infact anyone who comes into contact with a child in school is moaning about discipline in schools. The children arn't disciplined enough, there is violence and anti social behaviour in classrooms and teachers have no way of dealing with it. Children do not respect adults.
CHILDREN DO NOT RESPECT ADULTS BECAUSE ADULTS DO NOT RESPECT CHILDREN.
Children are naturally good natured. They want to share and make friends and go to school. As they get older this may then begin to change, their behaviour may start to deteriorate, they may not make friends, they may begin to swear and be angry, they may begin to bully and then eventually they may act violently towards the teacher. The teacher responds to these behaviour changes with discipline, mainly expelling the child.
We should be trying to help these children.
Children who are acting up (swearing, bullying) are asking for attention. Disciplining the child should be immediate consequence for the childs action. But there should also be a follow up between the teacher and the child. This child is obviously not getting attention else where. Do they have friends? What is their home situation like at the moment? What is their self esteem like? The answer so at least one of these questions will be negative. So help them. They are in your class, as a teacher you should want to help them. Sit them down, talk to them, build a relationship!
Children who are skipping school and being violent when they do come to school obviously have more serious problems. Its common sense!! How can you simply ignore this and want them out your classroom? The reason you teach is to help children!This child needs you. This child needs a stable relationship with an adult. Talk to the child, they are human! Why dont you like school? Why are you being violent? Are you angry? Are you violent at home? Why dont you like school? Why dont you like me? Explain to the child that you want them to enjoy school, that you want them to have friends, that you want them to be happy. Simply excluding them is reinforcing their previous consumption that adults are untrustworthy and horrible. We know this isn't the case, lets help them to find this out too!
The conservative party wants to bring in more powers for head teachers to exclude whenever they want. How is this going to help are society at all?? More children at home, which is more than likely dysfunctional, and on the streets when they should be at school.
WE DON'T TRUST OUR CHILDREN SO OUR CHILDREN DON'T TRUST US.
Lets instill some trust into our children. Lets help them instead of punish them.
I really would like to know your thoughts on this. It's such an important issue. We all need to vote in May!!!
Stargirl
Monday, 12 April 2010
Polite Drugs
Monday 12th April 2010
Polite drugs
Even though some drugs are illegal, it's a well known fact that people still take them. Growing up has led me to realise that it isn't a certain 'type' of person that takes drugs, it could be anyone! And the reasons why people do it vary even more than the kind of person - pain relief, addiction, peer pressure, just to try it once, for some fun, etc. I have grown up around cannabis, with various family members and friends smoking it, but personally I have never tried it. I do not take drugs for personal reasons: I worry what they might do to my body, I am scared of being caught and I am scared of what my behavior would be like. Although I don't take them I do not preach about other people taking them, as long as they don't do it right in my face. I think that's fair enough. Its polite. If you know someone doesn't do it, don't rub it in their face that your doing it!
The reason I am writing this is because last week I had all the girls ( my girls consist of mainly my cousins who are my age and my best friends) over. We had wine and snacks and played a bit on the Wii before heading to town. Half way through the night, still at mine, my auntie turned up with two people I didn't know. They were completely stoned out of their heads! They stood outside my house, knowing that Starboy wants to be a PCSO and that I want to be a teacher, and smoked even more spliffs. This is just plain rude!!! You know I don't take drugs, infact, you know I don't smoke at all. You know I don't know the people you are with. And you know that Starboy's career may be on the line if you got caught. Do not turn up at my house with strangers, stoned, and then get more stoned.
I suppose the reason for this blog is to point out that I am not a preacher. I do not care if you do drugs in your own time or even whilst I'm with you. Just be polite about it! It's common curtesy.
Let me know if you have any thoughts about this,
Stargirl
Polite drugs
Even though some drugs are illegal, it's a well known fact that people still take them. Growing up has led me to realise that it isn't a certain 'type' of person that takes drugs, it could be anyone! And the reasons why people do it vary even more than the kind of person - pain relief, addiction, peer pressure, just to try it once, for some fun, etc. I have grown up around cannabis, with various family members and friends smoking it, but personally I have never tried it. I do not take drugs for personal reasons: I worry what they might do to my body, I am scared of being caught and I am scared of what my behavior would be like. Although I don't take them I do not preach about other people taking them, as long as they don't do it right in my face. I think that's fair enough. Its polite. If you know someone doesn't do it, don't rub it in their face that your doing it!
The reason I am writing this is because last week I had all the girls ( my girls consist of mainly my cousins who are my age and my best friends) over. We had wine and snacks and played a bit on the Wii before heading to town. Half way through the night, still at mine, my auntie turned up with two people I didn't know. They were completely stoned out of their heads! They stood outside my house, knowing that Starboy wants to be a PCSO and that I want to be a teacher, and smoked even more spliffs. This is just plain rude!!! You know I don't take drugs, infact, you know I don't smoke at all. You know I don't know the people you are with. And you know that Starboy's career may be on the line if you got caught. Do not turn up at my house with strangers, stoned, and then get more stoned.
I suppose the reason for this blog is to point out that I am not a preacher. I do not care if you do drugs in your own time or even whilst I'm with you. Just be polite about it! It's common curtesy.
Let me know if you have any thoughts about this,
Stargirl
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Going Organic?
Sunday 11th April 2010
Going organic?
For a couple of years now my parents have been buying organic food and trying out organic cosmetic products, such as the so organic range in Sainsburys and bath bombs from lush, nothing to dramatic. I used to complain about these products all the time, the chocolate cake didn’t taste as sweet and the hair conditioner had no effect on my hair at all! Now that I am running my own household it’s up to me whether or not I ‘go organic’. This is one of the choices that you could make as well, when you go to uni, when you buy your first property or even when you start having children. It may not be a choice that you would automatically think about, but I am going to write a brief record of one day below and all the products I use. None of these products are organic. The food is probably genetically modified, and increased with manmade products and chemicals. The cosmetic and cleaning products may claim to contain some plant extract (or items similar) but the basis of them is chemicals.
So here we go, the products I use and the food I eat on a typical non organic day:
• Shampoo
• Bubble bath
• Toothpaste
• Moisturiser
• Foundation
• Mascara
• Pre made smoothie
• Granola bar
• Salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, ham, coleslaw
• Risotto with smocked haddock, fish stock, onion
• Washing up liquid
• Surface cleaner
• Disinfectant spray
This is quite a short list and on some days, like when I do a whole house clean or when I’m going out in the evening, a lot more products will be used.
All of the cosmetic products listed are based around the combining of different chemicals. These chemicals then soak into your skin, scalp, gums, eyes, etc. We do not know what these chemicals are doing to our bodies and health. It is a very clichéd statement to make, but it is 100% true. The average twenty-something does not recognise each chemical and what it does, using the ingredients list on the packaging. Because these products are so common, used by everyone and every day, we just take for granted that they are normal and therefore will not harm us. Well this isn’t necessarily true, they could be harming us.
The cleaning products I have listed are also based on the combination of many different products. When cleaning products are used, they are either sprayed or poured onto the surface which is being cleaned. Particles of it are therefore in the air, we then breathe them in. Particles are on the surface, which we then touch or put bare food onto. Again, because we see them so much, they are on adverts on the television, we see other people using them; we believe it’s normal and therefore not harmful. Anything based around chemicals, even if it claims to have some sort of natural product in it, must affect us in some way.
Lastly, let’s look at the food products. There is one product on that list which does not contain chemicals directly and that is the smoothie. On the ingredients list of this product, there is only fruit. However, this product does not claim to be organic, and therefore this fruit could be genetically modified and pesticides or other chemicals could have been used during the growing of these fruits. These chemicals are therefore in my body. Chemicals are used in every single food product we buy, but not just chemicals, bad bits of meat, etc, are used. If we really saw what went into the making or our food, I don’t think we would eat it!
So, what could we do about this? You could go completely organic, and in that I mean grow your own food, make your own cosmetic and cleaning products. Or you could just purchase more wisely, choosing the organic ranges where possible.
Before I decided which one to do, I am going to look into organic cosmetics products on the internet and in shops. I’m going to try and discover the cost of buying them compared to ‘normal’ products, but I’m also going to look into how expensive and time consuming it is to make them. There is a series on the BBC at the moment called ‘grow your own drugs’. It is very interesting and makes it look very easy. There is also a book to accompany it, which I am going to purchase.
With regards to the cleaning products, I have looked into this in the past and have found a lot of information on money saving websites. One of the main ideas on these websites is so buy Ecocloths (which you can get in supermarkets or online) and spray bottles. Fill the spray bottles with water and then add a few drops of some different essential oils, depending on what you want to use it for. It is very cost effective and means that there are no chemicals flying around your home. The essential oils contain natural anti bacterial and bug fighting properties.
On Friday I went to my local DIY/gardening store and bought seeds and bulbs, compost and grow bags. I have planted: potatoes, carrots, leeks, onions, tomatoes and shallots. I have also got seeds for some salad leaves, which I will be planting very shortly. I am also going to try and buy from the organic range, and eat mostly vegetarian or fish based meals if I can. I am going to try cooking from scratch as well. Making and cooking a pie, pizza or sauce, instead of buying a pre-made one.
This is going to be very hard and a huge culture shock, but I think it’s worth it. You don’t know who you can trust these days. As I have said in previous blogs, I want to be healthy and happy. I think going organic may help me achieve this. You just need to take it very slowly, changing a little bit at a time. Choose one organic cosmetic product, have a go with the water based cleaning products, plant a seed or two. Just experiment and see what works for you and what doesn’t. I will let you know how I am doing in the future. Maybe you could let me know your views on this. Would you ever go organic? What is your view on the chemicals used in our products?
Going organic?
For a couple of years now my parents have been buying organic food and trying out organic cosmetic products, such as the so organic range in Sainsburys and bath bombs from lush, nothing to dramatic. I used to complain about these products all the time, the chocolate cake didn’t taste as sweet and the hair conditioner had no effect on my hair at all! Now that I am running my own household it’s up to me whether or not I ‘go organic’. This is one of the choices that you could make as well, when you go to uni, when you buy your first property or even when you start having children. It may not be a choice that you would automatically think about, but I am going to write a brief record of one day below and all the products I use. None of these products are organic. The food is probably genetically modified, and increased with manmade products and chemicals. The cosmetic and cleaning products may claim to contain some plant extract (or items similar) but the basis of them is chemicals.
So here we go, the products I use and the food I eat on a typical non organic day:
• Shampoo
• Bubble bath
• Toothpaste
• Moisturiser
• Foundation
• Mascara
• Pre made smoothie
• Granola bar
• Salad leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, ham, coleslaw
• Risotto with smocked haddock, fish stock, onion
• Washing up liquid
• Surface cleaner
• Disinfectant spray
This is quite a short list and on some days, like when I do a whole house clean or when I’m going out in the evening, a lot more products will be used.
All of the cosmetic products listed are based around the combining of different chemicals. These chemicals then soak into your skin, scalp, gums, eyes, etc. We do not know what these chemicals are doing to our bodies and health. It is a very clichéd statement to make, but it is 100% true. The average twenty-something does not recognise each chemical and what it does, using the ingredients list on the packaging. Because these products are so common, used by everyone and every day, we just take for granted that they are normal and therefore will not harm us. Well this isn’t necessarily true, they could be harming us.
The cleaning products I have listed are also based on the combination of many different products. When cleaning products are used, they are either sprayed or poured onto the surface which is being cleaned. Particles of it are therefore in the air, we then breathe them in. Particles are on the surface, which we then touch or put bare food onto. Again, because we see them so much, they are on adverts on the television, we see other people using them; we believe it’s normal and therefore not harmful. Anything based around chemicals, even if it claims to have some sort of natural product in it, must affect us in some way.
Lastly, let’s look at the food products. There is one product on that list which does not contain chemicals directly and that is the smoothie. On the ingredients list of this product, there is only fruit. However, this product does not claim to be organic, and therefore this fruit could be genetically modified and pesticides or other chemicals could have been used during the growing of these fruits. These chemicals are therefore in my body. Chemicals are used in every single food product we buy, but not just chemicals, bad bits of meat, etc, are used. If we really saw what went into the making or our food, I don’t think we would eat it!
So, what could we do about this? You could go completely organic, and in that I mean grow your own food, make your own cosmetic and cleaning products. Or you could just purchase more wisely, choosing the organic ranges where possible.
Before I decided which one to do, I am going to look into organic cosmetics products on the internet and in shops. I’m going to try and discover the cost of buying them compared to ‘normal’ products, but I’m also going to look into how expensive and time consuming it is to make them. There is a series on the BBC at the moment called ‘grow your own drugs’. It is very interesting and makes it look very easy. There is also a book to accompany it, which I am going to purchase.
With regards to the cleaning products, I have looked into this in the past and have found a lot of information on money saving websites. One of the main ideas on these websites is so buy Ecocloths (which you can get in supermarkets or online) and spray bottles. Fill the spray bottles with water and then add a few drops of some different essential oils, depending on what you want to use it for. It is very cost effective and means that there are no chemicals flying around your home. The essential oils contain natural anti bacterial and bug fighting properties.
On Friday I went to my local DIY/gardening store and bought seeds and bulbs, compost and grow bags. I have planted: potatoes, carrots, leeks, onions, tomatoes and shallots. I have also got seeds for some salad leaves, which I will be planting very shortly. I am also going to try and buy from the organic range, and eat mostly vegetarian or fish based meals if I can. I am going to try cooking from scratch as well. Making and cooking a pie, pizza or sauce, instead of buying a pre-made one.
This is going to be very hard and a huge culture shock, but I think it’s worth it. You don’t know who you can trust these days. As I have said in previous blogs, I want to be healthy and happy. I think going organic may help me achieve this. You just need to take it very slowly, changing a little bit at a time. Choose one organic cosmetic product, have a go with the water based cleaning products, plant a seed or two. Just experiment and see what works for you and what doesn’t. I will let you know how I am doing in the future. Maybe you could let me know your views on this. Would you ever go organic? What is your view on the chemicals used in our products?
Stargirl
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