Living Cruelty-Free: An Introduction

A while ago I talked about a few passions of mine - one being animal rights.  I haven't talked much about it on here but it's such a big part of what I believe in that I feel like I should share more about it and try to educate others who love animals the way that I do.  I feel that if by doing these posts, I've convinced just one person to be a more humane consumer, I've succeeded.

Recently, I have been a lot more careful about the products that I buy so that I know I'm not supporting businesses that still test on animals.  It is UNREAL how many companies still test their products on animals.  A few of these products really surprised me and a few were hard to give up,  but looking at the sweet faces of all of the animals I'm in contact with on a daily basis, makes it so much easier.

One that was hard for me was Giorgio Armani because Josh wears Code and I think it smells amazing but then I see photos like this and suddenly, it doesn't smell so good any more.

Yes, this is hard to look at but please don't just leave this page and ignore it because it's easier to do.  There are plenty of resources out there that provide the names of companies that still test on animals:

The Vegetarian Site is one that I've printed out and take with me when I go shopping.  You may look at the list and think that there are a lot of products on it that you use every day and that there is no way you can give them up.  But do me a favor and look at that sweet animal of yours and then back up at that picture above ... if that's not enough to change anyone's mind, I don't know what is.

If you want to ease your way into buying cruelty free products check out the Leaping Bunny.  The leaping bunny guide is a great place to start as it is a list of products that ARE NOT tested on animals.  The companies listed have a met the requirements of a rigorous, internationally-recognized cruelty-free standard.  And of course, there's an App for that!  Just look up leaping bunny on your Iphone/Android and it will help you with your shopping.  I use it every time I question a product!

Beagle Freedom Project also recently launched an App called Cruelty-Cutter.  It is $2.99 and totally worth it.  All you have to do is scan a product and it will tell you if a product is tested on animals or not.  You can even share these findings on Twitter and Facebook and earn "Doggie Dollars" which can be redeemed for discounts on cruelty-free products!

Also, some of the companies (but not all) have this logo on it to help shoppers recognize cruelty-free products:

Over the course of ... well, however long it takes, each Thursday I will be sharing products that I use that are cruelty free and that wont break the bank.  I plan to break these products up by company and share the products that I use as well as the products that leaping bunny provides on their site. 

As I said before, if one person takes this seriously I feel like my time writing these posts is well worth it.  

Oh, and if you still need more convincing, watch this video of rescued pups taking their first steps in grass ... ever.   They spent their ENTIRE lives in steel cages.    I ugly cried through 90% of this.

Dream Job

I'm asked quite often what job I'd choose if money for college and job availability were not an issue.

I have a few dream jobs but the two I would love most are Marine Biologist/Zoologist or Travel Writer and Photgrapher.

Marine Biologist or Zoologist

It's no secret that I love animals.  Dolphins are one of my favorites and I would love to work with them!  I can't wait to swim with them in November in Grand Cayman!  I would be just as happy working at a zoo!  I would love to work with the sea otter or my favorites ... the Prairie Dogs!  Even though I don't work with them, I still like to keep educated about the issues involving marine and zoo animals.  I also usually donate my monthly donation to a cause involving animals.

Travel Writer and Photographer

Hello dream life?  Who wouldn't love to travel the world and write about it and take amazing photos?  All while getting paid?  Sign me up!  Writing and taking pictures for National Geographic would be a dream come true.  Freelancing would be OK though ... I'm still waiting on that winning lottery ticket!

Costa Rica, 2009

France, 2006

Being a Humane Consumer: Make-up

Today, I am going to share some makeup product lines that are cruelty-free.  Just as an FYI, I don't wear makeup at all due to my own personal opinions about health and chemicals, ect.  So, all the products I've listed here are just what I know people seem to like - I have no personal experience with them.

Urban Decay

 
Now Urban Decay is kind of tricky.  Technically Urban Decay products are cruelty-free, however I would not buy the product because the parent company test on animals.  So, even though this particular line is Cruelty-Free, the whole company is not ... if that makes sense.

Some others that I've heard of that are on the list are:

After Glow Cosmetics: Also Organic

Kiss My Face:  This is a fairly common brand that I've heard good things about

These are just a few that I've heard of that are on the leaping bunny list which you can check out here.

As I said before, I don't wear any makeup so I don't have personal experience with any of these.  Try any brand you think you'll like, but there are definitely a good bit of options for cosmetics. 

Being a Humane Consumer: No Good Products

Right now I am trying a few new haircare products that are Cruelty-Free and I want to be using them for at least two weeks before I review them, so this week instead of sharing Cruelty-Free products, I want to share some products that are definitely tested on animals and that are probably in your home right now!  

I think its just as important to know what products you should stay away from as it is to know what products are OK.   So, today I am going to share only a few of the many products to stay away from if you want to be Cruelty-Free - which is obviously the best way to be ;)

All of the companies listed above still test their products on animals.  Of course, they are not the only ones.  An unbelievable amount of companies do.  A good way to know right off the bat if a company is testing on animals is to find out if the product is SOLD in China.  China requires products sold in the country to be tested on animals.  Also, this is a very helpful list that I take with me when I shop: The Vegetarian Site.  

Being a Humane Consumer: The Kitchen

Today I'm going to share a few cruelty-free products that we have in our kitchen.  As I said last post, I love Method Home products and they have taken over my kitchen.

Method Dish Soap
I told you you'd be seeing Method around a lot.  Method is definitely my favorite dish soap.  This stuff smells great, is really good with breaking up grease, and you only need to use a small amount at a time.  I have used several different scents but my favorite is Fresh Currant.   This product is also biodegradable, so it's easier on the environment.  This product is found at target for 3.99 per bottle.

Method Kitchen Hand Wash
Another Method product for the win!  I love all of methods hand wash products!  My favorites are the foaming hand washes!  If it gets all the crap off Josh's hands after he gets home from work, it must be a beast!  And we've tried quite a few smells, including some of their seasonal ones, and LOVE them all!

Method also has dishwasher tabs but since we don't have a dishwasher, I've never used them.  Once we move I'll definitely be giving them a try.

Some other great Kitchen products listed on Leaping Bunny are:

Mrs. Meyers, Seventh Generation, Sound Earth, Greenwood Naturals, and Aspen Clean.  There are quite a few others listed but these are all of the ones I have experience with.

Also, check out this adorable video of BFP rescues seeing the grass for the first time!  P.S. Have a box of tissues ready!  I ugly cried, but this is exactly why I donate to them!

Being a Humane Consumer: The Laundry Room

I want to start this new series of mine by starting with the easiest products to find.   The laundry room products that are cruelty-free are so easy to find it's not even funny.

For Laundry Detergent I use Seventh Generation.  Not only is it cruelty free, but it's also better for the environment and for you.

I use blue eucalyptus and lavender laundry detergent.  What I love about Seventh Generation is that they are available at major retail stores such as Target and Wal Mart.  And guess what??  They are only a few cents to a dollar more expensive than Tide.  ALSO, they are 2X concentrated which means that you use less per load for the same result.  

Another that I use is Method Home.  I use this for a lot of things including Laundry Detergent.  I switch between Method and Seventh Generation depending on sales etc.  I love both products and both are cruelty free and environmentally friendly.   Method products are in the same price range as brands such as Tide and are also available at Target.   I use Lavender Cedar laundry detergent.

I love the method detergent because the bottles are light and all you have to do is squirt a few (2-6) pumps into the washing machine and you're done.  You hardly have to use any detergent and your clothes will smell great!  Oh, and the bottles are refillable!

My go-to for dryer sheets is Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day.   While I'm not a big fan of their laundry detergents, I love their dryer sheets!  They smell so good and are both cruelty-free and environmentally friendly.  All Mrs. Meyer's products are also found at Target!  I buy these in - you guessed it - Lavender!

 These are the products that I use, but all of these companies also produce fabric softener, stain remover ect.  All of which are cruelty-free with a  bonus of being environmentally friendly!

 All of these products are also available at Target!  Even I have a Target nearby and I live in the sticks, so these products are definitely accessible to just about everyone.

Passion

I was recently asked to think of different things that I am passionate about.  Of course, that immediately sparked a blog post!  So, I'm going to share with you today, 4 things that I am passionate about. 

1. Travel

 This is probably the most obvious.  I love to travel and it's a love that started when I was very young and traveled to Canada.  I love going somewhere that I've never been before.  I love meeting people whose way of life is different than mine.  I love learning about different cultures and hearing stories from people who live so far from me.  I love the experiences and the knowledge and acceptance I've gained from traveling.   Each of my trips have been a unique experience that I'll always treasure and the people I've met will always have a place in my heart.  I also think that due to the nature of some of my travels, I have a different perspective on things than others on certain subjects.  Because I have witnessed such extreme poverty, I have learned that I need to be grateful for what I have and I do not concern myself with things such as brands or having the newest "thing".   I've learned that I can live minimally and still be happy.  I get by on what I need and the rest of my money gets donated or put in savings.   Travel can teach so much and that is definitely something I am grateful for.

2. Reading

This is another one that is probably pretty obvious.  I love to read, and do so every chance I get.  I am one of those people who gets so lost in a book that if you try to talk to me while I'm reading, I probably wont hear you.  I love being transported into someone else's world and going through the ups and downs with the characters.  It also amazes me, people's ability to write these stories!  J.K. Rowling just amazes me, the world she created is so complex and detailed and I'm amazed at her ability to create that world in a way that feels so real to the reader.  I often get so emotionally invested in books but I love that.  I still get sad thinking of Dumbledore and Fred.

3. Animals and Animals Rights

As I mentioned in this post, I love animals and usually like them more than people.  I am passionate about animal rights because for the most part animals are defenseless against humans.  Dogs are so loyal and trusting that humans have the ability to take advantage of them and break them.  Horses are such beautiful animals, but are often mistreated especially in the racing industry.  Elephants are incredible creatures but people kill them for money.  It absolutely breaks my heart and infuriates me that people can be so selfish and hateful.   Most of my donation money goes towards animal shelters and rescues because I want to help give a voice to those who can't speak.  Also, I make myself aware of the products that are tested on animals and am sure to avoid such products.  There are lists online that I check quite regularly - I just started doing this within the last  year so I am definitely still learning.

4.  Education

I think education is one of the most important things a person can have.   I believe that everyone who wants an education should be able to get one and that college tuition rates keep intelligent people from getting the education they should be allowed to get.   This is one of the reasons I love Coursera.  Even though I can't get a degree from taking the classes, I am taking classes taught by professors I'd never be able to take classes with and learning things I otherwise wouldn't have has access to.  It makes me so angry that funds are being used for millions of other things but our schools are barely getting any funding.   It infuriates me that the children of Baltimore City are getting a lesser education than they deserve because people in power don't believe it's worth it to invest in them.  I could go on about this topic for hours. 

52in52: The Beagle Freedom Project

One of my goals for my 52 in 52 project is to donate $10 per month to a good cause.  As soon as Rachel posted on her facebook page about fostering Beagles through the Beagle Freedom Project, I knew I would be donating!  I was low on funds in January because of my job change and I didn't donate, so I just doubled my donation for February.   

The Beagle Freedom Project is an amazing organization that rescues Beagles from laboratories.  Did you know that Beagles are the most popular breed of dog to be used in laboratories because of their trusting nature?  I didn't either and I was heartbroken when I learned this.

Beagles have a special place in my heart because of my dog Buddy, who passed away in 2010.  I want to share Buddy's story today and why this cause is so close to my heart.

In 2003 we had just put down our Foxhound, Bear because of liver problems - we had put down our other Foxhoud, Penny the previous year because of a Brain Tumor that was causing horrible seizures. 

A few months after putting Bear down, my friend Kris was playing at our neighborhood playground when a lady and her two kids approached him and asked if he knew anyone who had a Beagle because they found a lost dog.   My neighbors Allen and Judy had a Beagle at the time so he sent them to their house.   Their Beagle was home so they sent them down to our house thinking that Penny and Sandy were beagles and not knowing that they were no longer with us. 

The lady came down to our house and we told him he wasn't ours.  She then proceeded to tell us about how they found him walking along the main road but they were leaving on vacation and the humane society wasn't open ect.   While talking to us, the two kids with her looked really sad and the Mom was looking around like she was checking the place out.  We think they were trying to escape an abuse situation and needed to leave the dog.  Their car was packed way more than for vacation, the dogs nails were clipped and he was clean like he'd just had a bath (it had just rained and was muddy out).  We told the lady we'd take the dog and call the humane society when it opened the next Monday (this was a Friday).  Allen and Judy kept him for a few hours but he didn't get along well with their other dogs so they asked if we could keep him.  

We took him in and kept him in the back yard during the day because we didn't know how well behaved he was and we crated him at night the first night ... that did not go over well.   Turns out he was super well behaved and was able to stay inside and sleep without being crated the next night.  Well, the humane society wasn't open on Monday so my sister and I walked around the neighborhood asking if anyone recognized him, they didn't.  My Mom also called the humane society and left a message saying that if anyone called about a Beagle to give us a call - just as we expected, we never got a call. 

So, Tuesday we continued looking and my Dad called the house from work asking if the dog was still there any saying we're not keeping him, which he'd been saying since Friday.   Well, the next morning before work my Dad got up and took the dog for a walk.  As soon as he left the house my Mom looked at my sister and I and said, we're totally keeping this dog.   We had him for 8 years.

I came up with the name Buddy but my Mom didn't like it because she called my brother Buddy and didn't want to get mixed up.  We went with Skip for about a day and that just wasn't working so we went back to Buddy and it stuck.   Buddy was definitely the best dog I've ever had.  He was so well behaved it was crazy.  He loved getting belly rubs and anytime anyone walked into the door he plopped down ready for a rub.

Funny story - my boss at Schwans used to have the same job I had while I was there and was our RSR when I was younger.  My Mom stopped ordering in 2005.  I recognized him and told him I think he was our "Schwan man" when I was younger and told him where we lived and my Mom's name.  It wasn't ringing a bell.  Then I said we had a beagle named Buddy and he said, "Oh yeah!  I remember Buddy"!   He was definitely that dog that everyone loved to death.  

He also loved treat time and knew exactly when it was.  Right around 9:30 every night he would start staring at my Mom and following her around.  Every night she would ask what he wanted and he's starting barking and hopping backwards!  I wish I had a video!  

Buddy will always have a special place in my heart and I still miss his cute face.  When I saw those little faces on the Beagle Freedom Project website, I knew there was no way I could pass it by and not donate.

Our Family loves Beagles so much my Mom and sister adopted Charlie, a Beagle mix