Susie’s Chem Free Zone

Copy of Susie's Chem Free Zone

IMG_0934Welcome!

Hi there! I’m Susie and I want to welcome you to our blog… we are so happy to have you here. If you’ve clicked on this tab then you are probably wondering what we mean by a ‘Chem Free Zone‘. I’ll explain just that along with a little about our mission and our ‘CHEMICAL-FREE JOURNEY’ in the paragraphs below. Please know that we are not saying our journey is perfect or ‘the right way’ but it is our journey and we know that everyone’s journey in life is very different. We do know that we all learn from our mistakes and hopefully, we can help prevent anyone from making the same ones we made!

We also know that scientists are learning new things every single day and what we think today may be challenged or proven wrong tomorrow. We can only do the best we can with the information that is available. However, we can always look back to the yesteryears when times were simpler and we can rely on the knowledge and wisdom that they had then when it comes to making our lives simpler and toxic-free today.

Our mission

We are passionate about our families and those around us as they mean the world to us! We have been on a mission to improve the quality of life in our home by reducing the TOXIC CHEMICALS that we use, eating healthier, and just being more aware of what we are doing in our day to day activities. With so many new warnings on products lately, it’s nice to have a little less to worry about!

Back in our grandparent's day, we didn't have all of these different kinds of cleaners, medications, and genetically modified foods. Yes, they still had illnesses and they got sick but they had a knowledge of natural remedies and resources to use for just about anything and everything. Most of the food they ate came from their own backyards or their neighbor's gardens.

Back in our grandparent’s day, they didn’t have all of these different kinds of cleaners, medications, and genetically modified foods.

Yes, they still had illnesses and they got sick but they had a knowledge of NATURAL REMEDIES and resources to use for just about anything and everything. Most of the food they ate came from their own backyards or their neighbor’s gardens.

With the increase in TECHNOLOGY, we have seen a ton of new medications, new cleaners, and even new foods. This isn’t all bad but we have also seen a dramatic increase in sicknesses, diseases, and rare cancers starting at earlier ages.

As a momma, I only want the best for my kids. If I can learn about more natural ways to care for my family then I can pass this knowledge on to my kids and hopefully, they will pass it on to their kids, and their grandkids, and so on.

There are so many things I have learned over the past several years that I REALLY wish I had known sooner but you can’t change the past and you can only try to do better when you know better. There was a time when I felt so GUILTY over some of the choices I had made with my older kids but you know, you live and learn so you have to let go of that guilt and just stay determined to do the best you can on a daily basis.

What does chemical-free mean?Granted the term 'chemical-free' can be a bit misleading because, in reality, we can't really live totally chemical-free. The truth is that chemicals are all around us... all matter is made up of chemicals in one way or another. The air we breathe is a chemical, a very necessary and beneficial chemical. Our bodies contain chemicals that we need for digestion, emotions, and other essential functions. I won't get too technical here but I just want to clarify that all chemicals are not created equal. The fact remains though that there are many harmful, toxic chemicals in our world. Many of these have been linked to various health problems like nervous system disorders, asthmas, and the most well known... cancer. Our goal is to educate ourselves and those around us so that we can try to avoid those certain harmful chemicals and make better choices for ourselves and our families whenever possible. 

The term ‘CHEMICAL-FREE‘ has been thrown around a lot lately and I latched on to it early in the game when I associated it with being ‘HEALTHY‘. In fact, the term ‘CHEMICAL-FREE‘ can be a bit misleading because, in reality, we can’t really live totally CHEMICAL-FREE.

The truth is that CHEMICALS are all around us… all matter is made up of CHEMICALS in one way or another. The air we breathe is a CHEMICAL, a very necessary and beneficial CHEMICAL. Our bodies contain CHEMICALS that we need for digestion, emotions, and other essential functions. I won’t get too technical here but I just want to clarify that ALL CHEMICALS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.

The fact remains though that there are many harmful, TOXIC CHEMICALS in our world. Many of these have been linked to various health problems like nervous system disorders, asthmas, and the most well known… cancer. Our goal is to educate ourselves and those around us so that we can try to avoid those certain harmful CHEMICALS and make better choices for ourselves and our families whenever possible.

Being more mindful…

We also try our best to be more mindful of the things we use in our day to lives. We try our best to buy reusable instead of disposable and we are working to reduce the amounts of harmful plastic in our home because many plastics also contain cancer-causing chemicals. It really is scary to learn about all the chemicals that are considered 'safe' even though they have been linked to so many horrible conditions. When you realize just how many resources are being destroyed for the sake of convenience the price is outrageous. We are literally destroying millions of acres of forest for the paper products that we use in our homes on a daily basis. Recently we have begun to use counter cloths instead of paper towels for the biggest majority of the time. We have also been working on replacing those plastic food storage containers with glass ones... a few at a time as our budget allows. One thing that I can't see us getting rid of is the toilet paper but we can make better choices based on how the companies are working to protect the environment.

We also try our best to be more mindful of the things we use in our day to lives. We try our best to buy REUSABLE instead of DISPOSABLE and we are working to reduce the amounts of harmful plastic in our home because many plastics also contain cancer-causing CHEMICALS. It really is scary to learn about all the CHEMICALS that are considered ‘SAFE‘ even though they have been linked to so many horrible conditions.

When you realize just how many resources are being destroyed for the sake of convenience the price is OUTRAGEOUS. We are literally destroying millions of acres of forest for the paper products that we use in our homes on a daily basis.

Recently we have begun to use counter cloths instead of paper towels for the biggest majority of the time. We have also been working on replacing those plastic food storage containers with glass ones… a few at a time as our BUDGET allows. One thing that I can’t see us getting rid of is the toilet paper but we can make better choices based on how the companies are working to protect the environment.

Toxic chemicals are everywhere!For several years we have been using essential oils in our home and we have been researching the many uses and benefits of essential oils. Over time our knowledge has increased, although we are nowhere near experts with them, and we have been able to replace many storebought items like air fresheners, bug sprays, and some cleaners with our own homemade versions that work just as well, if not better.

For several years we have been using ESSENTIAL OILS in our home and we have been researching the many uses and benefits of ESSENTIAL OILS. We started off with a few blends and a couple of oil diffusers in our home and recently added a salt lamp.

Over time our KNOWLEDGE has increased, although we are nowhere near close to being experts, and we have been able to replace many storebought items like air fresheners, bug sprays, and some cleaners with our own HOMEMADE versions that work just as well, if not better.

Our foods have more toxins than we realized!

The second part of the plan came with their health. We began to experiment with different foods to see what they were sensitive too and what they tolerated well. These kids were completely confused one night when we had baked chicken. They refused to eat it because it was a chicken nugget as they had never had chicken 'with a bone in it'... kinda funny, but kinda not. I started reading each and every label which was something I had never really done a lot before. I found that they reacted to certain dyes and ingredients more than others and I also found that certain brands that seemed to cause negative reactions as well. 

Our DIETS have also been undergoing changes as well. Back in 2010 when our three ‘unexpected blessings‘ came into our lives we felt as though we’d been thrown into a whirlwind as we didn’t have a clue where to start to help them. They had many different diagnoses like Down’s Syndrome, ADHD, ODD, allergies, asthma, Hirschsprung’s Disease, and many others.

Through many sleepless nights, hours of independent research, long discussions with health care providers, teachers, and social workers we began to formulate a plan. The first part of that plan was to incorporate some structure and routine into their lives.

The second part of the plan came with their HEALTH. We began to experiment with different foods to see what they were sensitive too and what they tolerated well. These kiddos were completely confused one night when we had baked chicken. They refused to eat it because it had a bone in it! The only ‘chicken’ they had previously eaten had been in the form of chicken nuggets… 

I started reading each and every label which was something I had never really done a lot before. I quickly found that they reacted to certain DYES and INGREDIENTS more than others and I also found that certain brands seemed to cause ADVERSE REACTIONS as well. It was really a PROCESS of ELIMINATION.

Some of the ingredients in the foods on grocery store shelves are extremely dangerous. Many have been chemically processed and can contain toxin-laden artificial ingredients that have been linked to numerous health issues... not to mention that many of them have been engineered to overpower our brain's ability to stop us from eating these unhealthy foods. (Google "food reward hypothesis of obesity" for more information on this.)

During that time, I learned some valuable information. I learned that some INGREDIENTS in the foods on grocery store shelves are EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Many have been CHEMICALLY PROCESSED and can contain TOXIN-LADEN ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS that have been linked to numerous health issues… not to mention that many of them have been ENGINEERED to overpower our brain’s ability to stop us from eating these unhealthy foods! (Google “food reward hypothesis of obesity” for more information on this.)

Just like all CHEMICALS are not created EQUAL, all PROCESSED foods are not created EQUAL either! Just because a food is PROCESSED doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad for you though. It’s HOW they are PROCESSED that really matters.

As a general rule, we try to stick with WHOLE FOODS as much as possible (think eggs, fruits, and veggies)  and try to avoid the ‘ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS‘ (think pop-tarts, sodas, and candy bars) as much as possible.

After many months we were able to come up with a list of foods to AVOID and we helped to ELIMINATE a lot of the gastrointestinal issues that these kiddos had. (I also noticed that a lot of my own issues were clearing up!) The CRAZIEST thing was that with the routines and DIET changes we also began to see a remarkable change in their BEHAVIOR. Even the teachers at school and daycare noticed them.

Was it possible that their DIETS had been causing a lot of their ISSUES?

Does this mean we never eat anything ‘good’?

No, we enjoy roasting marshmallows for S’mores, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, and the occasional candy bar from time to time, we just don’t make them an everyday habit.

We have also been trying to find HEALTHIER ways to make the dishes we love so it can be a win-win for everyone. You can eat HEALTHY while enjoying some delicious treats, the KEY is LEARNING to make WISE CHOICES in what you decide to put into,  and onto, your body.

A connection was made…

I wasn't sure of the connection but now, almost 10 years later, we have learned that there is indeed a connection. Doctors and scientists have been linking many different toxins to birth defects, learning disorders, and a variety of other childhood diseases.  We are striving to learn new ways of eating that will improve our lives and help our bodies to function in the way that God intended them to work. We are a work in progress but getting better every day.

At first, I wasn’t sure of the CONNECTION between BEHAVIORS and DIETS,  but now almost 10 years later we have learned that there is indeed a connection.

Doctors and scientists have been studying and linking many different TOXINS to birth defects, behavior disorders, learning disorders, and a variety of other childhood diseases. It is a very SCARY and EMPOWERING thing to know that so many things could be PREVENTED just by CHANGING our LIFESTYLES!

We are striving to learn new ways of eating that will IMPROVE our LIVES and HELP our BODIES to FUNCTION in the way that GOD intended them to work. We are a work in progress but getting better day by day.

By educating ourselves we have been able to use the dietary changes, essential oils, and natural remedies, along with positive parenting techniques, to help our special needs kids to be taken off of their prescription medications for various health conditions including ADHD and sleep disorders. This has not always been the ‘easiest route’ but we have witnessed some remarkable results since taking them off of all medications. We all agree that not dealing with the awful side effects has been a blessing in itself. We are not doctors and all dietary/medication changes should be discussed with your doctor beforehand.

Knowledge is power, the power to change lives!

We hope that we can help to EDUCATE others and help them to LEARN TO LIVE more NATURAL lives that will IMPROVE the overall QUALITY of their lives.  They can then pass their KNOWLEDGE on to others who will, in turn, pass it on to even more people so everyone can live to the healthiest and fullest life possible while preserving our world for the FUTURE GENERATIONS to come.

These are just some of our reasons for starting this page… it’s not just about one particular company or one area of our lives… it’s about the WHOLE PICTURE. When we share a product or company with you it is because we have found them to be a beneficial RESOURCE for our family and we want to pass this RESOURCE on to you so you can benefit as well.

Please join us as we learn how to live more NATURAL and HEALTHIER LIVES. Share this page with your friends and family who might be interested in the tips and resources that we provide as well.

What is Norwex?

I recently became an Independent Sales Consultant with the Norwex company. I had heard about them many months ago and I was intrigued but just never really had the time to get my research done and I didn’t know anyone in the area who could help me.

Fast forward and I found a local consultant who explained a lot about the company to me and I was interested. I bought a couple of items and then decided it would be well worth my time and money to invest in becoming a consultant myself.

So I ditched some of those subscription services that required a monthly purchase and/or a yearly membership fee and started using products from Norwex that allow us to the majority of our everyday cleaning with just a Norwex rag and water! Not only do these products ease my mind, but they are also saving me a ton of money!

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We truly love these products and would love for you to check out our webpage and see all the wonderful products that are available. You can follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram @susieschemfreezone to stay up to date on specials. You can also subscribe to the newsletter on the webpage.

I look forward to helping you improve the quality of your home with Norwex products!

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**This post does contain referral links to products and/or services that we use. We may earn a teensy weensy small commission (at NO EXTRA cost to you) if a purchase is made through these links. These links help to support our family, our blog, and our homeschooling mission.

 –Thank you!