my new job? origins marketer

i recently went to the origins store to check out their skin care products. the woman who worked there told me that, due to customer demand, origins has been changing ALL of its products so they no longer include any of the cancer causing ingredients that we're all worried about. since july 2007, they have been phasing out all parabens, propylene glycol, and dea.

in the stores, these changes are more obvious. right on the box, they have the list of all the ingredients that are NOT in their products anymore. but they aren't really doing anything to advertise it on their website. i had to dig through it - eventually finding the information in "about origins" and "product purity."

from their website:
Our products have always been formulated without Phthalates, Petroleum, Paraffin, dyes, mineral oil, the chemical sunscreen PABA and Animal Ingredients (except cruelty-free honey and beeswax.) And Origins tests its products on volunteer panels*.

Recently certain ingredients with previous long histories of safe use in the cosmetic industry have become the focus of attention. In response to consumer desires, Origins initiated a voluntary reformulation program to free our formulas of Parabens, Propylene Glycol and DEA. All existing Origins products have been reformulated and will begin to phase in as they become available through our standard manufacturing process.

Furthermore we use no synthetic fragrances (which are often made from petroleum or its by-products) or synthetic colors in our Skin and Body care products.

your personal pound of chemicals?

i just had the opportunity browse through a 1968 version of newsweek while i was eating breakfast this weekend. this is from an ad for celanese chemicals:

"celanese makes about one pound of chemicals a year for every person on earth. and production is growing faster than the "population explosion,"...not everyone yet enjoys his personal pound of celanese chemicals but, as we open new markets everywhere, we're getting closer."

!!!!!!!!!!!!

A LOT to share!

#1 - i finally got (and accepted) a JOB!!! i will be working through the ymca youth services bureau as a crisis counselor at an alternative high school in san bruno, ca (about 20 minutes from my house). i'm going to sign papers tomorrow and school starts on the 18th! my life of leisure is coming to an end BUT my life of health insurance in california is beginning!!!

#2 - i was accepted into an amazing program for young cancer survivors called first descents. they take cancer survivors on week-long kayaking trips. and i'll be doing one in the northern, northern tip of california on the salmon river in september!! firstdescents.org

#3 - my letter of intent was accepted for this incredible grant program called the SAMFund. they provide young cancer patients with money for all kinds of things...car insurance, health insurance, yoga, physical therapy, rent...so now i just have to write a full proposal by november. thesamfund.org

#4 - and...what else? my friend juliet just had a baby! i have a cousins' double date tonight with my cousin julie, her friend piper, and her cousin spencer. in a few weeks i get to see all my eastman cousins again for ashley's birthday. some denver friends (taylor and jay) will be here this weekend...you might remember them from the haircutting pictures last fall. and i'll get to see my lovely friend riki the weekend after that in sacramento... :)

so...all in all...one year post surgery...things seem to be working themselves back into place...*sigh*

call for suggestions...

i am applying for this grant from the SAMFund - an organization helping young cancer survivors to move forward from their diagnosis and treatment. i can apply for funds to help pay rent, car insurance, student loans, physical therapy, lots of things.

for the application, i have to write an essay on my cancer experience and what is unique about it. any suggestions? my experience is so much my day to day...that it's hard to piece out what is unique. any suggestions?

i think i should rename my blog...

these days i relate more to something like "ihatecancer." or "cancerisbullshit.com."
















do you remember this picture of me, lynn, and willie on the beach in the marin headlands (back in march)? all of us had cancer. all of us are positive thinkers, active, smart. and i just found out that willie passed away yesterday. his cancer had started in his heart and traveled to his lungs. despite all different treatments, the cancer took control.

willie was a NOLS instructor for years. he lived in the marin headlands with his wife. i only met him once. but he was so interesting, so nice, so thoughtful, so good to talk to.

i'm so sick of hearing about cancer taking pieces of people's lives away.

next saturday

next saturday i can start to attend yoga every saturday morning. for free. indefinitely. 17 blocks from my house.

www.yogabear.org rocks.

avon

i know i have a different reaction than many to the sight of a pink ribbon - or to the sight of billions of pink ribbons getting ready for the avon walk for breast cancer in sf this weekend. there are definitely emotional reasons...not ready to fully associate myself with the disease. but there are other reasons:

"...the Avon Company has chemicals linked to breast cancer in their products! Yet Avon, “the company for women,” has refused to talk to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics or even admit they have possible carcinogens in their products.

Currently there are 392 Avon products listed in Skin Deep, a personal care product safety guide with in-depth information on 14,406 products. Of the Avon products:

• 65 are listed in the Highest Concern category
• 291 are listed in the Moderate Concern category
• 36 are listed in the Lowest Concern category

Avon products contain eight different parabens which have been linked to breast cancer. Other chemicals of concern include endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins and possible other carcinogens." (http://www.mbcc.org/content.php?id=169)

according to breast cancer action: "Avon will be removing dibutyl phthalates from its product lines. This is a small but important step by a corporate giant. It's important for the people Avon markets to, many of who are women of childbearing age, and it's important for future generations." (http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/CosmeticCompanies.html)