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Because we homeschool we studied up a little on St. Patrick to find out what we were celebrating. Thanks to Wikipedia and the world wide web here are a few little facts we dug up that you can use to WOW your friends.
1. Maewyn Succat is the "real" name of the Saint we call Patrick today. He took the name Patricius (latin for well-born) upon becoming a Priest. He died on March 17, 460 AD.
2. Patrick wasn't actually Irish. He was born in Scotland. In his youth he was taken to Ireland by raiders and it is said he prayed every day during his captivity. He escaped back to Scotland only to hear the voice of the Irish say "Come back and walk among us" in his dreams which he did.
3. Blue, not green, was the original favored color of Ireland; the Coat of arms of Ireland, the Irish Presidential Standard, the Ancient Colours of Ireland as well as the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom representing Northern Ireland all prominently feature blue. The change to green most occurred around the 1750's where wearing a shamrock represented nationalism or Roman Catholic faith.
4. The actual phrase "wearing of the Green" most likely comes from a Irish street ballad dating to 1798 (anonymously penned) about the Irish Rebellion of 1798. Green was the color of the Society of the United Irishmen. Wearing a shamrock in the hat was a sign of rebellion.
5. St. Patrick used a shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity (3 persons in 1) to the people of Ireland.
To end today's little lesson, here's an Irish Prayer in honor of St. Patrick:
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
Here's hoping the answer is "yes".
Lucky me, it's getting warmer again so I'm making the transition with skirts and long-sleeve shirts. I've worn this cotton sweater before in a more winter outfit and I'm happy to say that it works as a transitional piece.
The Breakdown.
Merona argyle sweater ($6 thrift store/ARP $25), Spiegel denim skirt ($4 thrift store/ARP $29), white tank top (Rave $3/ARP $3), Lucky Brand Vintage Inspired purse ($24 thrift store/ARP $200), Cherokee leather slides ($3 thrift store/ARP $20)
Grand Total: $40
Approximate Retail Price: $277
Savvy Savings: $237
This week in Music City we are looking at hitting the 70's again so I'll be breaking out more skirts. I can't wait!
Just a reminder, this week is St. Patrick's Day so think GREEN if you have kids (or adult friends that act like kids) 'cause you know they'll use any excuse to pinch an adult and I, for one, am not about to give them one!
Cold weather is here in Music City.....brrrr! I know y'all up North have it so much colder than we do here, but it was 80 degrees on Monday and by the end of the week it was in the 30's! It's suppose to warm up in the next few days so till then we're layering around here.
The Breakdown.
Old Navy cords ($4 thrift store/ARP $30), Vibe suede jacket ($13 eBay/ARP $50), blue Mossimo cotton sweater ($5 Target/ARP $17), white tank top ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), Ripani leather purse (FREE - trade in from Plato's Closet/ARP $400), Diesel boots ($5 thrift store/ARP $200), suede cap ($8 Plato's Closet/ARP $10).
Grand Total: $38
Approximate Retail Price: $710
Savvy Savings: $672
I had never heard of Ripani handbags before finding it at Plato's Closet, but it is gorgeous. The leather is soft and supple, and I'm guessing by the size and quality that it probably retailed for more than $400. That said it was only $30 at Plato's Closet and I had a 20% off coupon which would have put it at $26, which I would have paid out of pocket had the clothes I brought in for "trade" not given me $45 in spending money that day. I put the rest of the money in the bank to save for another day of savvy spending.
Today in the Washington Post an article went to print talking about the trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer found in some baby shampoos and lotions (Johnson & Johnson and Baby Magic are two brands cited). Not one to overreact, I wonder about the media's tendency to put focus on something that is really quite minor even as I am kind of glad to see that we don't have to worry about even trace elements when using the 365 line of toiletries for our family. That said, I (and dare I say millions of moms) have used their products in the past and I'm thinking that the genetic lineage of cancer in my family will probably have more affect in my children's lives than using Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo ever will. Probable Carcinogens Found in Baby Toiletries
By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 13, 2009; Page A04
More than half the baby shampoo, lotion and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer, the organization said yesterday.
Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion, tested positive for 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.
The chemicals, which the Environmental Protection Agency has characterized as probable carcinogens, are not intentionally added to the products and are not listed among ingredients on labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product break down over time, while 1,4-dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals.
The organization tested 48 baby bath products such as bubble bath and shampoo. Of those, 32 contained trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane and 23 contained small amounts of formaldehyde. Seventeen tested positive for both chemicals.
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"Our intention is not to alarm parents, but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkan, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the government to more strictly regulate personal care products such as shampoo, lotion and makeup.
Companies that manufacture and sell the products tested by the group stressed that they comply with government standards.
"The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."
The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient in personal care products, but the Food and Drug Administration has not established a safe limit for the chemical in shampoo, lotion and other toiletries. It maintains that the trace amounts found in those products are not harmful.
A 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4-dioxane can penetrate human skin when used in lotion.
Health advocates argue, however, that federal regulators have not considered the cumulative effect of chemicals in personal care products.
"The levels we've found are relatively low, and the industry often says there's just a little bit of carcinogen in my product," Malkan said. "The problem is, we're finding a little bit of carcinogen in many products. Many of these products are used every day, so we've got repeated and frequent exposure to these low levels of chemicals. They're not the safest and purest products, and parents ought to know that."
In addition, government studies have not examined the effect of chemical exposure on the particular vulnerabilities of infants and children, whose bodies are still developing, the advocates said.
Several Democratic lawmakers said the report is evidence that the nation's chemical regulation system needs to be changed.
"The fact that we are bathing our kids in products contaminated with carcinogens shows how woefully out of date our cosmetics laws are and how urgently they need to be updated," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.). "The science has moved forward; now the FDA needs to catch up and be given the authority to protect the health of Americans."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) called the findings "horrifying" and said she intends to introduce legislation that would require stronger oversight of the cosmetics industry.
The report can be found at http://www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub.
Yesterday was a breezy 80 degrees here in Music City. The Superstars and I had a wonderful day out and about our fair city. It started with a field-trip to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) to watch The Gruffalo a cute play adapted from a picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
We walked around the Tennessee State Museum for an hour after the performance since the museum is free and in the same building beneath the theater. By then it was lunch so we headed to one of my old single-day's haunt, SATCO (San Antonio Taco Company) and ate out on the deck after which we walked around the grounds of the church where my husband and I were married. From a 3500 year old mummy to chips & queso, all in all we had a fun-filled day full of new experiences as well as a reminder of why I love homeschooling so much.
This beautiful green outfit fit the day to a T and I was thankful to squeeze it in before the cold front moves in to give us 40 degrees and rain today.
The Breakdown.
Green cotton Mossimo Sweater ($5 Target/ARP $18), white tank ($3 For Love 21/ARP $3), green leaves Liz Clairborne skirt new with tags ($4 thrift store/ARP $60), Enzo Angiolini bronze leather shoes ($5 thrift store/ARP $80), bronze leather Banana Republic hobo ($10 eBay/ARP $150).
Grand Total: $27
Approximate Retail Price: $311
Savvy Savings: $284
Once this cold front moves on you'll be seeing me in more skirts as the weather warms up. I was never really one for skirts growing up a tomboy and all, but the hot humid summers here in Music City have convinced me that skirts are very practical and cool, not to mention SO much more flattering on me than shorts and most capris.
3. Blue, not green, was the original favored color of Ireland; the Coat of arms of Ireland, the Irish Presidential Standard, the Ancient Colours of Ireland as well as the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom representing Northern Ireland all prominently feature blue. The change to green most occurred around the 1750's where wearing a shamrock represented nationalism or Roman Catholic faith.
