Help with your voice!

Oppose HR 5786: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, That doesn't mean I want unsafe cosmetics around, like the "natural" lotion I bought that caused a rash, but that the over regulation will kill our freedom of choice in bath and beauty products. Many of you may be completely unaware of this bill and that's ok, it's not like we all sit around watching CSPAN, but making bath products one of the things I do and want to continue doing in the future. Making bath and beauty products on small scale business or hobby would be nearly impossible if this were to pass. Here is what some of my mentors and peers in the herbal and bath and beauty communities are saying:

"The FDA already requires all ingredients to be listed. This bill however
requires those ingredients to be broken down and include all chemicals and
'contaminants' to be listed. So instead of writing 'water' on your ingredient
list you might write:
Aqua (lead, acrylamine, alachlor, alpha/photon emitters, antimony, asbestos,
arsenic, atrazine, barium, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, beta photon emitters,
beryllium, bromated, cadmium, carbofuran, carbon tetrachloride, chloramines,
chlordane, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, chlorite, chlorobenzene, chromium,
copper, cyanide, 2,4-D, dalapon, o-Dichlorobenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene,
1,1-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene,
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, dinoseb, diquat, endothall, endrin, ethylbenzene,
fluoride, glyphosate, hexachlorocyclopentadiene…mercury….radium….uranium, vinyl
chloride, xylenes.) "
Cindy Jones
http://www.sagescript.com

"it would mean that everything would have to be tested and registered
with the government. Each product would cost thousands of dollars to put up for
sale - each variation of a product would need the same expensive pre-market
testing and registration.
Most small businesses don't even make that much on a given product in a year.
Then let's say you decide to tweak your formula and add a little chickweed.
Back to square one, with all the costs and red tape. It would destroy cottage
industries. No more herbalists at farm markets, no more hand made herbal
products. Nobody could afford to jump through the hoops involved."
Tina
http://www.essentialherbal.com

Small companies are the backbone of our nation's economy. In fact, today, they
are sustaining it almost single-handedly. As unemployment figures continue to
rise, small companies are hiring employees, contractors, vendors and other small
scale service providers to help their businesses grow.
Consumer Choice at farmer's markets, locally owned spas and boutiques and in the retail stores
that small cosmetics manufacturers are opening everywhere, consumers are able to
choose to buy a wide and appealing variety of cosmetics to suit their personal
needs. They can choose from products made by big companies and they can choose
from products made by smaller companies. That choice will be removed if HR 5786
becomes law. if that happens, consumers will be left with a small selection of
products sold only by our nation's largest retail chains.
America is filled with talented innovators and entrepreneurs who don't need a
big bank loan or a huge line of credit to manage a profitable business.
Small cosmetics companies can continue to do their share to carry this nation,
but not if HR 5786 passes.
It is the duty of our Congressional representatives to pass laws that are
carefully tailored to deal with specific problems that need to be addressed on a
national scale. HR 5786 is not carefully tailored to help anyone.
If HR 5786 as drafted becomes law, it will close multiple thousands of small
companies immediately and in one fell swoop.
Oppose HR 5786
We, the nation's small cosmetics manufacturers, their customers, vendors,
suppliers and other supporters, urge you to vote against HR 5786.
The previous excerpt was written by Donna Maria Coles Johnson of the Indie Beauty
Network


Please help us keep our choices when shopping the bath and beauty isle and sign the or contact your representatives:

You can view this petition at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/tell-a-friend/7553846

The bill was introduced and Co-sponsored by:
Reps. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc. As of the publication of this petition, the bill is new co-sponsored by Reps. John Conyers, D-Mi, Diane DeGette, D-Co, Alcee Hastings, D-Fl, Barbara Lee, D-Ca and James Moran, D-Va.


Thank you,
 Head Bather

Night all!

Fun kid toys or something out of the Beetlejuice set!

http://www.kidsmodern.com/gallery/1000096/
I just found this kids website and while I'm not modern in design preference (I'm more old Victorian with a dash of bright color) I do love the functionality of a lot of modern kid furniture design. It helps that this looks like something out of a "Tim Burton" style kids room. I love it!

Off to do some decorating,
Head Bather

Calling all Etsy'ians in LA and SF

There are two meet and greets in the California area if you are a fellow Etsy seller check out this article and plan on meeting up!

Head Bather

Here comes the heat!

I know many of my family and friends have been experiencing high heat and humidity but here in So Cal it has been mild, up until now. We are projected to reach our own triple digits by the end of the week, which has me adjusting my menu plans. Lots of crock-pot, salads, cold soups, and frozen treats are in my households future, here is just one of the recipes I collected and adapted to fit our pantry. Check out Cafe Fernando's blog not only delicious sounding food but gorgeous pictures as well.

Pomegranate Frozen Yogurt : Cafe Fernando – Food Blog - frozen yogurt - pomegranate - Ice Cream & Sorbet: "Pomegranate Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients
2 cups POM wonderful juice
1+ 1/2 cup plain, whole milk Greek style yogurt
2/3 cup Grenadine (pomegranate syrup)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
Method
Stir pomegranate juice and sugar over moderate heat until the sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and let cool to room temperature.
In a bowl, combine yogurt, pomegranate juice and pomegranate syrup and whisk until completely combined.
Chill the mixture thoroughly (3 hours in the freezer works for me), then freeze it in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Adapted from: Pomegranate Frozen Yogurt from Cafe Fernando - Food Blog

Putting the ice cream maker in the freezer,
Head Bather