Fast Five – Edition No. 3
This post is the third in a series designed to provide you with easy-to-digest resources as you expand your knowledge on topics related to healthy living and stewardship.
Each of the five topics includes a link for learning more, along with short description of the resource and/or an action point to apply the learning. Feel free to tag Erica in your Instagram stories if you find value in the information or decide to follow through on any of the action points!
- Branch Basics’ Oxygen Boost – My favorite non-toxic cleaning powder
The same company who makes my favorite cleaning concentrate also makes a product called Oxygen Boost. It is biodegradable and made up of two ingredients: sodium percarbonate and sodium bicarbonate. No bleach, ammonia, dyes, or synthetic fragrances.
Compare that to your traditional oxygen boosting product that contains sodium laureth sulfate, ethoxylated alcohols, tetrasodium EDTA, and fragrances, just to name a few (seriously…these are only a fraction of the harmful ingredients added).
Oxygen Boost can be used for tough stains, regular laundry loads, moldy/mildewy grout, scum on showers, sinks, and bathtubs, toilets, burnt pots and pans, and more. Our referral link will get new customers $10 off!
- To Buy or To Make? – Helpful blog post on 5 questions to ask yourself before deciding to buy or make a product
A few years ago, before I discovered many of the awesome non-toxic companies and products I use today, I found myself feeling the overwhelm of wanting to make the switch to natural options in practically every category of our lives. Quite frankly, it led to some burnout. Thankfully I came upon a post from the Live Simply blog that streamlined my decision making process. I found it to be so helpful, I printed out the graphic she included at the bottom of the post so that I had a physical list to reference whenever I needed it. You can check out the post here!
- Wellness Challenges – Free resources from Mindful by Sodexo for every day of the year
While I do not remember how I first found out about this company, I do know that the challenges I have joined have been thoughtfully organized and very helpful!
From week-long challenges to increase your hydration to four-week challenges to improve your sleep to 30-minute “get active” challenges to month-long smart financial choices challenges, there are various categories and challenges for everyone – including ones in which your kids can join! Start on your own timeframe, without any need to sign up or buy anything! This page is where you can find their archived challenges.
Don’t forget to tag Erica in your Instagram stories of you find value in any of these resources!
- Childcare Log – A simple resource and communication tool for parents with young children and childcare providers
A few years ago, when I was working as a part-time caregiver for families with young children, I found this neat notepad that helps to organize recorded information such as diaper changes, meals, and naps.
Instead of having to remember all those details and relay them at the end of a period of caregiving, the provider can simply record them and leave the sheet with the parents. There are also spots for additional notes and for parents to write down any important information for the provider on the front end (ex: like the last time your children had a snack or details about their bedtime routine). 180 pages and just under $15!
- Book recommendation – A comprehensive guide for natural pet health
From research on the optimal diets for supporting and regaining your animal’s health to tips for choosing a healthy animal, from information regarding responsible pet management to holistic and alternative therapies for common ailments, this book has been an excellent resource in our home. It is one of those books that gets Sticky Notes and dog ears for quick reference throughout the year!
While specifically tailored to care for dogs and cats, I think it is worth reading for any animal caregiver. You might be able to find it at your local library, or you can buy new or used here.s
Lifelong learning is a big part of this blog, and more specifically, lifelong learning about healthy living and stewardship. If you are feeling a nudge to learn more about any of these topics, we encourage you to lean into it! With this, if you come across any other helpful resources, don’t forget to share with our community in the comment section at the bottom of the post!
Yours truly,
Erica Barlow
My Non-Toxic Skincare Routine