One Minute News

[omn-blog]

Why Some Moms Are Boycotting Johnson & Johnson And Why You Should Too.

Johnson & Johnson has long been revered as a reputable company with quality hygiene products for babies. The company claims its shampoos are "as gentle to eyes as pure water" because as Johnson & Johnson states on its website, "when the two of you are bonding, there's no room for tears." Yet, millions of moms are crying out and urging others to boycott the brand until these two chemicals are removed from the brand's famous yellow-hued shampoo. 

According to an international coalition of health and environmental group, two chemicals considered harmful to babies remain in Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo sold in the U.S. and some other countries, even though the company already makes versions without them in South Africa, Sweden and Japan. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has been fighting for nearly 3 years to get Johnson & Johnson to remove trace amounts of the potentially cancer-causing ingredients, dioxane {a byproduct of a process that makes chemicals gentler on skin} and quaternium-15, a substance that releases formaldehyde {yes, the substance used as embalming fluid}. 

Baby shampoo can clearly be made without ruining the integrity of the product by eliminating those toxins or else the company wouldn't be able to sell its reformulated, healthier version in other countries, so why hasn't Johnson & Johnson cleaned them up for our American babies? As Lisa Archer, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, puts it, "all babies deserve safer products."

In response to the boycott, Johnson & Johnson released a statement pretty much saying that "formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are safe and approved by regulators in the U.S." and it is currently "reformulating baby products to reduce the level of dioxane below detectable levels." Great, so the shampoos will still have cancer-causing ingredients, just not enough to show up on tests. Awesome. 

Think Aveeno's baby line is safer? Think again. The article on msnbc.com states that, in a May 2009 report, called "No More Toxic Tub," studies by an independent laboratory, Analytical Sciences LLC, found that 1,4-dioxane was contained in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Oatmeal Baby Wash, Moisture Care Baby Wash and Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash.

Bottom line: Boycott these brands until they put our babies' safety first and pay the extra money for organic and natural brands you can trust. Our little ones are much smaller than we are, and we can't be sure what those trace amount of chemicals are doing to their developing little bodies.

I mistakenly thought Aveeno was a much better option and picked up the fragrance-free, dye-free creamy wash yesterday at Target. What can I say, it's going back today. I think I'll check out California Baby.

What natural brands do you trust on your child?

[omn-blog]

Another Reason Why You Should Eat Local.

Buying local is a great way to get affordable, organic produce that actually tastes like nature intended. Even though much of the food isn't labelled "organic," many small, local farmers still practice an organic, pesticide-free mantra when it comes to their harvests -- they just can't afford the pricey "organic certification." While buying local is great for the farmers and often-times for your wallet, it's also a really great idea when it comes to avoiding this...

     Ants in your sugar, fish that smells like dirty diapers, botulism-tainted beans and whatever else foreign importers think they can get away with sending to our country. And while the FDA is in place to monitor the foods coming in, the agency only inspects a measly 2 percent of the 24 million shipments that come through our nation's ports yearly. 2 percent!!! And those ants in your sugar, well, they're OK as long as the amount of animal parts, larvae and hairs are within the acceptable range as defined by the FDA's trusty manual. 

It looks like the FDA can't keep up with the increasing amount of shipments, leaving you, me and our families at risk when we sit down to eat. And even though the new Food Safety Modernization Act was passed earlier this year, mandating the FDA to make sure our food is safe with more inspections and stricter rules placed on imported foods over the next few years, the FDA says it can't happen. “It would be impossible for FDA to complete 19,200 foreign food inspections in year six without a substantial increase in resources or a complete overhaul in the way it operates,” the July report said. So, as Congress continues to make cuts on spending to lower the national debt, those additional resources aren't likely. 

So, as you're planning your weekly food menu, try limiting your grocery list to things you can find at the local produce stand or at least those items in the store you can flip over and see "made in America," as it seems the FDA is still doing a decent job on the domestic side of things. Don't forget to wash all of your produce and cook meat to acceptable temperatures of done-ness along with buying local to ensure the food that makes it to dinner tonight is safe. 

Do you buy local? Have you gotten sick from imported foods? How do you feel about the FDA only checking a mere 2 percent of imported foods?

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Addicted to Starbucks? If you're a woman, that may not be a bad thing. A new study shows that there's a relationship between regular coffee consumption and depression in women. Turns out the women who drank 2-3 caffeinated cups a day were 15 percent less likely to develop depression over a 10-year period than those who only drank 1 or 2 cups of java a week. 

Another good reason to get your coffee fix? Earlier studies have linked moderate coffee consumption with a reduced risk of suicide, breast cancer and stroke. 

And with the touch of fall in the air, I think those benefits have just taken the guilty out of guilty pleasure -- so time for a pumpkin spice latte! 

Are you a regular coffee drinker? Do you think coffee is especially good for you? Or something to be kept in moderation like everything else?

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Thank you Monday! What I have found about Monday's is they are only bad if you are not willing to celebrate the end of them!

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The west coast weather you just can't beat! But I do miss the turning of the leaves and the smells of the fall. But the ocean has a way of helping me deal with that! What's your favorite memories of the fall?

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Just wanted to share a quote I'm living by today... "...we don't care where we are, we aren't afraid to be great!" So many levels so many ways... Thank you and good day

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Ronan is sometimes this sleepy but won't lay down and just go to sleep! I think it's because she thinks she will miss something! After the near death experience when she first came home with Parvo, Ro is proving she is a fighter... Whether it's a deadly canine virus that claims half the lives of the dogs it infects or simply well ... Sleep!

[omn-blog]

Can The Campbell's. It Looks Like Kids' Favorite Canned Foods Are Teeming With Harmful BPA.

Cruising down the canned food items used to be safe territory for parents, but now Campbell's and even organic companies like Annie's Homegrown have targeted children with cutesy cartoon prints on their labels. I can barely make it down the aisle without my child running to the Lightning McQueen soup and begging me to buy it for him. Luckily, I've taught him about what "junk" is and that classifies as junk in our house, so he normally let's it slide and moves on to the next cartoon-themed goody. But, if you have been swayed by your child into buying kid-(un)friendly canned goods, throw them away now. 

A group of researchers from the Breast Cancer Fund tested for bisephenol A (BPA) in 6 kid-friendly canned products, including Campbell's "Disney Princess" soup and Annie's Homegrown certified organic "Cheesy Ravioli," and found that BPA is certainly lurking in there. “The levels we found in these canned foods were a little higher than those previously found in baby bottles and water bottles,” said Connie Engel, science education coordinator at the Breast Cancer Fund, a national non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and eliminating environmental links to breast cancer. 

So, why is BPA, which is normally found on receipts and in plastic products, in metal canned foods? Well, BPA is in the lining inside of the cans that keeps the metals from lurching into the food product, and it's also used to avoid tainting the food with a "metal-ly" taste. Basically, manufacturers trade one evil with what they consider a lesser evil. 

But BPA is not something you want to take risks with. The FDA has called for more research on the chemical because of "its concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate glands of fetuses, infants, and children.” It's just not safe, and I'd recommend nixing most, if not all, of the canned food products in your home, not just the kid-targeted ones. 

Do you have canned foods targeted to kids in your home? Will you toss them? Are you concerned with BPA?

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Found driving in Silverlake. Artfully, creatively, and simply put. Not much more to add but maybe... "now." Well done.

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Can I just say Jamie Lynn Sigler is even hotter in person than on TV!! My chance to chat with her on the red carpet of the Classy Awards is coming up on OMN!! Check back for updates!

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So excited about the Stay Classy awards!! Young people and non profits making a difference in their communities! I'll be posting pictures and videos all weekend! So check back!

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It doesn't look like a bunch of food.. So why am I so full Ikea? I did just hear a guy say... "I should bring a girl here on a date... It's mad cheap." I think I'm gonna do a dating tips peice for OMN. What do you think? It may have to wait until after the nap I'm going to have to take after all this food!

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Hey just wanted to share a bit of LA culture.... one might call them counter-culture but it's fascinating the imagination of the video. It's a group called Overdoze. It should be interesting to see how they progress. Can't stop playing it... Might be too much for some of you but you win some and ya lose some. Just listen... tell me what you think?

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Does being strapped for time lead you to make unhealthy food decisions? You know, the last time you went through Starbucks just to get your nonfat soy latte for a pick-me-up and ended up caving for a fat-laden pastry with toasted pumpkin seeds (I'm looking at you pumpkin bread!) because hungry got loose. OK, well maybe it's just me.

Regardless, I think anyone can appreciate and enjoy this nifty breakfast make ahead idea from The Kitchn. Take the mason jar - that's so having its moment right now - and fill it with alternating layers of plain greek yogurt, your favorite fruit (fresh or frozen) and a drizzle of honey. Looking for a crunch? Add granola or nuts. It's completely up to you and whatever is in your kitchen. Make a few jars one night when you're bored and Voila! Breakfast (or mid-afternoon snack) is served!

[omn-blog]

Coming of Age after 9/11

On September 11, 2001, I knew nothing about Al Qaeda, I had never boarded a commercial airplane and my knowledge of New York City didn’t stretch far beyond Home Alone 2. On my way to school that day, I had only two concerns: not failing my first-period world history quiz and,  more importantly, buying Bob Dylan’s ‘Love and Theft’  album which released that day. Then my world history professor was late for first period. That wasn’t unusual, but the look on his face was. He said this to his class of high school freshman: “Guys, something bad has happened. Two planes hit the World Trade Towers.” Judging by the reaction around the room, I realized two things: this was incredibly terrifying and tragic news, and now was not the time to ask, ‘What are the World Trade Towers?’   I went to an assembly room in my free period and watched the news. I saw the airplanes crash into those two massive buildings over and over again. I saw people cry. I heard reporters and commentators try to sort out the chaos.   As a second-string split end on the freshman football team, I spent most practices watching planes fly in and out of General Mitchell International Airport. I paid more attention to practice that day. I heard my teammates talk about relatives and friends that worked at the World Trade Center or were supposed to be there that morning. But nobody I knew lost anyone. I never had to take that world history quiz that morning. My dad didn’t let me bike to the record store after dinner. September 12, 2001 came. I prayed for the people that died and lost loved ones, but I was removed from the first-hand tragedies that so many had to endure. 9/11 didn’t change my life the way it changed countless American lives. But 9/11 shaped the last decade of my life. In the immediate aftermath, I saw a nation come together. Concerts and memorials, prayers and moments of silence, a brief hiatus from partisanship. Since then, I’ve watched friends go off to Iraq and Afghanistan. Some have returned as different friends. I went to college, where kids barely remembered the nation was at war. I covered the anti-war protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention. At the 2009 Inauguration, I listened to people preach on the streets about our next president being a Muslim. I sat next to my Muslim-American co-worker as he was escorted off a flight for unwarranted suspicion. In the hours after President Obama announced bin Laden’s death, I was amazed that it warranted a frat party outside the White House. Today I know more than I ever wanted to about Al Qaeda, I’ve flown countless times (but never with more than 3.4 ounces of fluid), a TalkBoy is no longer the first thing I think of when I see the New York City skyline. I came of age in the wake of the nation’s greatest tragedy. It’s been a unique time to grow up.

[omn-blog]

A pretty crazy day!

It all started as one of the hottest days in LA this summer. So of course that means it's a great day at the dog park right!? Wrong! Ronan was even too hot and ready to go after just 10 min outside. Then a great interview with Emmy nominated folks at Herzog and Co. For the outstanding History Channel special "Gettysburg." It's got 7 nominations! Then off to Fashion's Night Out festivities on Rodeo in Beverly Hills then Melrose! And I have a feeling it's not over yet!! I'll be posting pics from FNO in a little bit!!

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Ben & Jerry's Does It Again: Its "Schweddy Balls" Will Have You Begging For A Lick.

OK, what sounds totally inappropriate and absolutely hilarious is really just the moniker given to Ben & Jerry's newest ice cream flavor: "Schweddy Balls." The name comes from the “Delicious Dish” skit from Saturday Night Live starring Ana Gasteyer, Molly Shannon and Alec Baldwin. If you haven't seen it, check it out here.

                            Now, back to the ice cream. In an interview with NPR (of which the skit so aptly makes fun of) Ben & Jerry's spokesperson Sean Greenwood promises that the "Schweddy Balls" ice cream "tastes pretty good." So, what is in it you ask? Rum and balls. Yep, it's vanilla ice cream with a hint of rum and loaded throughout with fudge covered rum balls and milk chocolate malt balls. Yum!

So, if you find yourself craving some schweddy balls, you better hurry as it's only available for a short time. 

Will you try this newest flavor from Ben & Jerry's?