Strength in Letting Go

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well and staying warm. It's been a while since my last post and there are a million reasons why I have been such a slacker.

As you may know, I injured 3 fingers on my left hand in September, 2009. Several surgeries and countless trips to the torcher chick {therapy} later, I am left with fingers that won't straighten. They are in a permanent bend, and will be for the rest of my life. I'm also experiencing nerve issues because of all the trauma my fingers have been through.

Dealing with the day to day of functioning with this slight disability, it has forced me to take a hard look at my life, both personally and professionally. The statement of "you don't realize how much you miss something until it's gone", is an understatement. I figured it was my left hand and not my right hand, which is dominant. Once it healed, how bad could it be?

There are many duties or actions I can no longer perform without my hand interfering. I'm here with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart to announce I will not be manufacturing cruelty free and vegan bath and body products as of April 1, 2011.

I'm a perfectionist to a fault and was raised to be a hard worker and put 100% of myself into everything that I do. I am no longer 100% because of my hand, and I am not one to offer any less to my customers.

Cactus & Ivy was created on April 1, 2000 and it only seems fitting to close down the manufacturing on the same day, especially since I have a little "OCD" in me that wouldn't have it any other way. The site reflects changes that have already taken place, as in the removal of products that are no longer available for retail.

Cactus & Ivy will remain a company and I am planning to have other projects under its umbrella. Once I have all the particulars nailed down, I will announce what is to be next on this journey.

I've been my own boss for close to 11 years. I know for a fact I would make a terrible employee, just because I've been doing my own thing for so long. I am taking the front seat in my other venture, Personal Care Truth, that I co-founded with Kristin Fraser Cotte with The Grapeseed Company.

Even though I will not be manufacturing personal care products, I believe in the truth and will continue to fight for all the manufacturers in the industry, both big and small. For those that know me well, know that I stand firm in my beliefs and I can be just as loud, if not louder, when it comes to standing up for the truth.

Thank you for making my dream a reality. For the business, feedback, comments and press for the past 11 years. I've met some fabulous people and gained valuable friendships over the years. I'm confident that the trail I blaze will always be associated with the cosmetic industry. It's in my blood. This decision would be unbearable if it weren't for the love and support of my husband, family and friends.

I leave you with a quote that I shared with a friend that was moving forward in her life. “Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong - sometimes it's letting go."

Thanks for stopping by y'all! Have a fabulous day!

Happy New Year

For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning ~ T. S. Eliot


Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year, full of love, laughter, good health and prosperity. Thank you for a beautiful 2010!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your family and safe and happy holiday!

Cactus & Ivy will be closed from December 24, 2010 and re-open on January 3, 2011.

Thank y'all for a wonderful year! I couldn't have been blessed with a better bunch of customers and readers of this blog.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

Honoring Our Veterans

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous day! For those that know me, know that I love the military, HOOAH. I'm a Navy brat and an Army wife. While this post has absolutely nothing to do with the science behind personal care products, it has everything to do with honoring our nation's Veterans.

My husband is on his 25th year in the Army. The military has been very good to me and my family. Growing up in a military home, I learned discipline from a very early age. Moving every 3 years molded my personality. Saying goodbye to old friends and hey to new friends was an emotional cycle, and one I'm very glad to have experienced. It especially helped me in my teenage years when being a follower would have been an easy choice.

When my husband Prevo returned home in 2006 from a tour in Iraq, he wrote the song, 'Veteran's Hand'. It's about his experience while being in a foreign land, away from the comforts of home and everything you know. Away from everything you hold to be true and dear to your heart. Last year, Dennis, a brother in arms, contacted Prevo to ask permission to use his song in a video to honor Veterans. Some of you may have seen this video on my post last year and I wanted to share it again.

Our Nation's Veterans, past and present, deserve to be honored for their dedication, service and sacrifice. A favorite quote by Gen. MacArthur says it all, "Duty," "Honor," "Country" - those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you want to be, what you can be, what you will be".

Thanks to all Veterans and their family members. I greatly appreciate your dedication, service and sacrifice. You will never be forgotten.

Thanks for stopping by y'all. Have a wonderful day!

Risk!

Hey Y'all - Today I'm sharing with you a fabulous post by Dene Godfrey. Enjoy and if you have any questions or comments, they are always welcome!




In recent years there has been an ever-increasing tendency for the media and many pressure groups to publicise negative reports on synthetic chemicals, using emotive words such as “toxic”, “dangerous”, “nasty” and “polluting”. Even accepting the official legal (EU) definition of “toxic”, very few of the chemicals under attack are truly toxic, but the main point is that the reports usually focus on the hazard(s) identified with the chemical in question.

Identification of the hazards is important, but it is only the first step in a broader process. If only the hazard is known, the information is almost useless, partly because all chemicals have a hazard associated with them. Water, for example, has an inhalation hazard; sodium chloride (common salt) increases blood pressure to dangerous levels at fairly low doses. It is possible to identify a hazard for any chemical, given a high enough concentration and an appropriate route of exposure.

Once the hazard has been identified, the next (and most important) stage is to determine the level of exposure. This enables calculation of the risk involved in its use:

RISK = HAZARD x EXPOSURE

Risk is much more important than hazard. To give two examples from everyday life where we almost subconsciously calculate risk:

1) Crossing the road. Here is an obvious hazard – getting hit, possibly killed, by a moving vehicle. If you only take the hazard into consideration, you would never cross a road – ever! This would clearly be nonsensical, and we all calculate the risk and choose a safe moment to cross. This is exactly the same principle as that which should be applied to the use of chemicals.

2) Taking paracetamol. Each day, millions of people take paracetamol tablets as a headache cure. Paracetamol is a chemical, and it is hazardous. As few as 12 standard tablets can cause irreversible liver damage and a slow, agonising death. So why do people expose themselves to such a dangerous chemical? The answer is because exposure to the lower levels contained in the one or two tablets typically consumed have no significant adverse effect. Low exposure reduces the risk to an acceptable level.

Telling people not to use a chemical because of its hazard is, therefore, highly misleading. If we were not to use chemicals solely based on their hazards, we would have to exist in a total vacuum!

There is also the common occurrence of “implied hazard”. For example, there are many accounts of the use of propylene glycol in cosmetic products, where the article claims that this is used as antifreeze as though this obviously, therefore, makes the compound unsuitable for cosmetic use. This is a common internet myth and, in fact, it is ethylene glycol that is used in antifreeze! However, the principle remains the same and, whilst skin contact with neat propylene glycol is not recommended, it is only slightly irritating (although it can increase the transport of other, less desirable compounds through the skin) but it is not particularly hazardous. At the much lower concentrations used in personal care products, the irritation potential is reduced to insignificance. There is no correlation between its (alleged) use in antifreeze and its use in cosmetics. This principal applies equally to other ingredients that are used in cosmetics and also in other applications.

Unfortunately, the scientific community must shoulder some responsibility for this situation. There are many examples of studies that have identified a hazard that has been publicised by the authors before any attempt has been made to assess the risk. In the absence of the correct context provided by the risk assessment, the media are free to revel in the negative connotations – bad news is always better than good news!

In summary, whilst the hazard can be useful information, it bears no relation to reality until the risk is assessed. If the approach we adopt to risk in our everyday lives was applied to the use of chemicals, the world may be a slightly better, less neurotic place!

__________________

This post originally appeared on Personal Care Truth

The Home Farming Movement

Hey y'all -

I hope this post finds you doing well. In addition to being an animal lover, I love nature. I'm also a novice composter, thanks to my dad. This year we did not plant a garden because we couldn't decided where to put it and by the time our location was chosen, it was too late to plant.

The fact we could not decide on a location should not have prevented me from planting a few container or raised bed gardens. This fact reminded me of a great site, Home Farming.



So what is Home Farming? I'll let the creator of the Home Farming site tell you. "Triscuit has created this site with help from Urban Farming, a non-profit organization, to help build a home farming community where both beginners and more seasoned gardeners can dialogue and gather information towards their common mission: to reap food that is deliciously fresh, penny-wise, healthier for themselves and the planet. It’s about home farming, and the everyday joy that grows out of it".

So what can you do on Home Farming?

• Put your garden on the map
• Connect with other Home Farming members in their forum
• Get expert advice from Paul James, their resident expert
  
• Explore their crop guide - vegetables and herbs no home farm should be without
  
• Watch videos on starting and tending to your bountiful harvest

There's nothing in this world like fresh vegetables and herbs. Join the movement today! You'll be glad you did!

Thanks for stopping by y'all. I hope you have a fabulous fall day!

Remembering September 11, 2001

This is a day of remembrance. A day of honoring the men and women who lost their lives 9 years ago today. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the loved ones whose lives were lost on this tragic day.

In honor and remembrance of United Flight 175, American Flight 11, World Trade Center, Pentagon, American Flight 77 and United Flight 93.

This American will never forget. May they rest in peace.

Doing Nothing?

Hey Y'all -

I hope this post finds you doing well. A tweet came through my stream last week that is the inspiration for this post.

The Safe Cosmetics Act 2010 was released last week. If this bill passes, the cosmetic industry will change which will trickle down to you, the consumer. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group are proponents of this bill. They are telling any and everyone that will buy into their propaganda that cosmetic manufacturers are putting anything they want in cosmetics because the industry is not regulated. That is so far from the truth and typical of these organizations. The FDA regulates the cosmetic industry.

The Safe Cosmetics Act 2010 will not benefit consumers or the small cosmetic manufacturer. People who buy into what the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group are peddling are in for a huge surprise if this bill passes. Consumers need to get involved with this proposed legislation draft. This brings me to the quote.

Never act until you have clearly answered the question: "What happens if I do nothing? ~ Robert Brault

If we do nothing, this bill may pass and some of your favorite personal care products could disappear. Cactus & Ivy would surely close up shop because I could not afford the additional costs this proposed bill would place on my company. Many small businesses would be in the same boat as me.

Variety is the spice of life. Don't you want to have that same variety in your choices for personal care products? There are so many talented companies on the market now and the small cosmetic manufacturers are bringing a great deal of innovation to the table. That innovation would no longer exist. Big box manufacturers would be the only choices you would have.

Take time to read the bill. Also, visit my other company, Personal Care Truth for a wealth of information on personal care products. We can't afford to do nothing. We need to fight this with every inch of our being. Cactus & Ivy opposes the Safe Cosmetics Act 2010. Will you join me?

Thanks for stopping by y'all. Have a great day!





Chief Guinea Chick
Cactus & Ivy

The Life of Reed Diffusers

Hey y'all -

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous day! I've talked a few times about our Reed Diffusers. Today I am dealing with the fact I created a pretty awesome product, if I do say so myself, and it lasts and lasts and lasts.


Throughout the world of reed diffusers, it has been my experience that they typically last 2 - 4 months. Not ours!

Customers have been reporting that Cactus & Ivy Reed Diffusers have lasted them well over 6-8 months. What does that mean for you? It means that you are really getting a value for your money. The economy has caused us all to cut back. To only spend money on things we need. The wants in life are put on the back burner to simmer until we have the extra money.

If you want to freshen your home with the sweet aroma of lilac or the eye opening and refreshing scent of Spearcalyptus, I'm here to tell you our reed diffusers are worth the moolah. If that isn't good enough, we still have our 'Just Because' 15% discount available. At checkout, use customer code JB2010. For an order with 5 or more items, you automatically receive an additional 5% discount that is applied to your order.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!


Lisa M. Rodgers
Chief Guinea Chick

Cactus & Ivy

Independence Day Hours

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. Just a quick note to let you know that Cactus & Ivy will be closed July 2nd - July 5th in observance of Independence Day. We will re-open on July 6th and process orders in the order in which they are received.
As a thank you for your continued support, here is a discount code for 15% off, good through midnight, July 9, 2010. Use customer code fireworks at check out.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!





Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator Extraordinaire

Treat Your Summer Feet to Peppermint Tree Foot Balm

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a spectacular day! What a slacker I have been! Time to remind you that summer is here and your feet need to be at their best.

I can't say enough about Peppermint Tree Foot Balm. The tingling and cooling sensations coupled with the moisturizing ingredients is a must have for keeping 'barking dogs' at bay. Volleyball has been wreaking havoc on my feet so Peppermint Tree Foot Balm is my BFF!



Peppermint Tree Foot Balm can be used daily to revive tired, dry feet or as an intense overnight treatment for really worn out tootsies. The oils of apricot kernel and sweet almond penetrate the skin easily, emollient and great for dry, inflamed or irritated skin. Menthol gives it the fantastic tingling and cooling kick! Includes tea tree oil and the pick me up relief of peppermint oil to round out this fabulous product.

How about a discount? Ok, here's 15% off, just because. Use promo code JB2010 at checkout, good through midnight, June 30, 2010. Also, you automatically receive an additional 5% discount when you order 5 or more products.

So, kick your tired and dry feet to the curb and pick up a tube of our cruelty free and vegan, Peppermint Tree Foot Balm today! Thanks for stopping by y'all and I hope you have a fantabulous Wednesday!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Memorial Day 2010

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well and enjoying your Memorial Day weekend.

Today we remember the men and women of the United States military who paid the ultimate price for our great nation. At 3pm today, please join in on a national moment of remembrance.

To the brave men and women who served our country with honor and courage, may you rest in peace, for you are not forgotten!



Thanks for stopping by y'all and I hope you have a great day!


Cactus & Ivy

Buzz Off, Flies!

Hey Y'all!!

I hope this post finds you doing well. It is that time of year when the flies really bother our four legged friends. Several years ago, I created Natural Buzz Off Horse Spray to give my horses relief from the pesky and annoying buzz of flies, gnats, horseflies and other flying pests.



Our neighbor, Clint, ropes in his spare time and is also a Farrier. I asked him to put my creation to the test for 30 days. Here's what he had to say:

"What really surprised me was the effectiveness of the spray after I worked my horses. I figured that the spray would lose its kick after working the horses in 90 degree temperatures for hours at a time. I have really been impressed by the product, especially since it is "All Natural". I am now and will forever be a customer!"

I was so happy to have the opinion of someone that is constantly working around horses. Clint now markets Natural Buzz Off Horse Spray to all his horseshoeing clients and roping buds! In addition to the spray, we also offer Natural Horse Bug Off Bug Balm and are adding Natural Horse Hoof It Butter and Natural Buzz Off Horse Shampoo.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and I hope you have a fantastic and safe Memorial Day weekend!



Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Serene | A Fabulous Soap for All Skin Types

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous day! I'd like to introduce you to a soap that has proven to be one of our most loved and best seller!



Serene Face & Body Soap is unscented and full of moisturizing and nourishing oils that are gentle to your skin, whether it is sensitive, mature or baby.

Serene Face & Body Soap is superfatted and gentle and perfect for all skin types. While I can't make claims about Serene, I can pass along a couple testimonials from our customers.

"I wanted to tell you how pleased I have been with the products I ordered from you last week! The Serene soap is so wonderful for my sensitive skin. It is so amazingly moisture-filled and has made my hands look years younger" - Louise, SC

"I am more than pleased with my Serene soap. I have been using it only for about four days. It makes my face feel so clean and soft. One of my co-workers even asked me if I was wearing new makeup. I told her it was the soap. If it makes me look better in just four days of use I can hardly wait until I have used it for a lengthy period of time. Thank you so much. I will never use store bought soaps or cleansers again" - Wanda, TN

Now, don't take my word for it, take the word of Louise and Wanda. I do have to agree with them though. Not because I am the manufacturer of Serene Face & Body Soap. It's because I am also a customer.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a fabulous day!



Lisa M. Rodgers
Cactus & Ivy

Personal Care Truth | It's Finally Here!

Hey y'all

I hope this post finds you doing well. It's been a while since a post, my apologies. Today is a wonderful day for me. A few months ago I had a dream about all the misconceptions and half truths surrounding the cosmetic industry. I woke the next day with a feeling of urgency that something had to be done.

I contacted my uber cool surfing friend on the left coast, Kristin Fraser Cotte. Kristin is the CEO of The Grapeseed Company, located in California. I told Kristin about my dream, hoping she wouldn't hang the phone up mid sentence. Thankfully, Kristin listened, agreed and then we started working on a plan.

I'd like to introduce you to Personal Care Truth!

Personal Care Truth is not about scare tactics, generalizations, fear mongering, or hopping aboard what’s considered trendy at the moment.

Personal Care Truth is about education, facts, questions, research, sharing knowledge, and empowering consumers to make the choice that’s right for their families. We welcome your questions and submissions; let’s combine our resources and share scientific based information on personal care products with the world.

We believe it is more powerful to provide information to educate and empower YOU as opposed to scaring you with information that has not been backed by science.

You know how much I love feedback and I'd love to hear what you have to say. Leave your comments here or hop on over to Personal Care Truth and give us your thoughts.

If you're on Twitter, we can be found @prsnalcaretruth

Thanks for stopping by y'all. Hope you have a great day!

Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Happy Earth Day

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well and happy Earth Day! This is a re-post from last year with a few minor changes.

Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin to bring awareness, inspiration and gratitude for the Earth's environment. Reduce, Recycle and Reuse anything and everything possible. At Cactus & Ivy, we reuse packing peanuts and boxes that are received from our suppliers. If they are in good condition, we turn around and use them in shipments to our customers. Containers that store our raw materials are cleaned when emptied and reused whenever possible. We are also taking steps to securing biodegradable containers, where possible, and labels made from corn.

Here are some things you can do to make a difference:

• Replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Recycle your glass, plastic and paper
• Walk, instead of drive, whenever possible
• Turn your lights off in your house when not needed
• Unplug all non-essential appliances
• Take recycle bags to grocery store and stop using paper or plastic
• Plant a tree or two or ten
• Use appliances with the Energy Star logo
• Conserve water
• Use WaterSense products for your home, yard and business
• Keep your thermostat on 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter
  

The following are a few interesting facts on the Climate Change Fact Sheet, provided by Earth Day Network.

• By 2030 the number of automobiles in the world will increase by 50%.
• It took 125 years to consume the first trillion barrels of oil – the world will consume the next trillion in only 30 years, according to Chevron.
• During the last one hundred years the global temperature has warmed between 0.7-1.5°C.
• The current pace of sea-level rise is 50% faster then in the last century.
• Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide (a green house gas linked to climate change) in the atmosphere has increased by 35%.
• The Arctic ice pack has lost an area about twice the size of Texas since the mid-1970's.
• Each gallon of gasoline burned creates 20 pounds of CO2.
• As many as 15-37% of all wildlife species in some regions could be "committed to extinction" by 2050 years because of global climate change.
• By planting a large tree that creates shade, one can reduce heating and cooling costs annually by up to 40%.

Please take a moment to visit Earth Day Network to learn more and what you can do to help protect our planet! To read more on the history of Earth Day, click here. And, if you would like to know what your ecological footprint is, go to the Earth Day Network Footprint Calculator.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a fabulous day!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Earth Day Giveaway

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. Cactus & Ivy is participating again in Eco-Office Gals 2nd Annual Green My World Earth Day Giveaway.



One person will win the lot of fabulous products! For rules and more information, click the button above. This contest ends at 12 noon on April 22, 2010. Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!






Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Skin Deep | Scratching Below The Surface

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. Posts are few and far between while I am recovering from finger surgery. Therapy is intense and needless to say, when I'm not exercising my fingers, I don't really want to type. Praying for the strength to push through the pain!

Today I am sharing an article written by Dene Godfrey. You may remember Dene from the interview I posted last month on Preservatives in Personal Care Products. To read the article, please click the image below.

What are your thoughts on this article? As always, I love to receive your feedback - good, bad or indifferent so please leave them below.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!





Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Whimsical Wednesday | Did You Know?

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. I'm slowing getting back into the swing of things after having hand surgery last week. Did you know that today is International Moment of Laughter Day? I could use a good laugh today!

{image courtesy of marvins dad}

Humorologist Izzy Gesell created this day to encourage people to laugh. As he states on his website, to celebrate this day, do one of the following:

• laughing out loud at the funny cards in a greeting card shop

• calling a friend to share a funny story

• getting naked, looking in the mirror and laughing

• buying a "laugh-box" in a joke shop and turning it on at work or at home

• showing your baby pictures to someone who's never seen them

• thinking up your own way to get someone else to laugh with you

• or just laughing for no apparent reason at all

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a funny day! "Laughter is the shock absorber that eases the blows of life".






Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy