Friday, November 01, 2013

Things I Learned in October










How about you - what did you learn this last month?


Danielle said...

We had two Britax Roundabouts for the boys and then Sophia used one and we were happy with them. We just got Sophia a new car seat though, as recently she hated it and cried everytime we got in the car. She was close to out growing it so we went ahead and upgraded. Which reminds me, what have you done with your old car seats? I can't find any place that will take and recycle old ones locally. I feel it's such a shame to throw something away that can be recycled! I understand the need for expiration dates, although I think it's a bit of racket too.

So what IS in Mr. Clean, because it does have a warning on the box that says it's toxic for children. I can't remember because I stopped using it. I use Norwex clothes now and love them because they're not consumable.

I LOVE Gala and Stayman apples.

I have 42 on my movie wish list, so I'm glad to hear you liked it!

Amy said...

Old carseats - we've only had that problem once, and it wasn't expired, so we gave it to a family we knew who needed one. You aren't supposed to buy used seats, but that's just because you don't know if it's been in an accident. I'd never buy one at a yard sale or on craigslist, but I wouldn't have a problem if it was someone I trusted. Jude's infant seat is just sitting in our doesn't expire for a few more years. I'm not quite ready to get rid of it, but I was hoping to at least loan it to someone--but everyone we know having babies is having second babies and not needing a carseat. I hate that it's such a nice, expensive seat and it's just collecting dust...

With the expiration dates thing, I never understood that until someone pointed out that the plastic really will degrade over time--you think about the extreme heat and cold it's exposed to, sitting in a car 24/7.

Magic erasers - they're made of melamine foam. No chemicals, just the abrasive properties of the material that make them scrub surfaces clean (which means you really have to be careful what you use them on or how hard you scrub, because they are essentially sanding off a layer as I understand it). They disintegrate with scrubbing like you'd expect sandpaper to do, kind of.

Galas are sometimes OK, but the ones I've gotten at the grocery haven't been crisp enough for me. And I think Staymans were what I got at the farmers' market last week--they are supposed to be similar to Winesap. The lady insisted that Winesaps are crisp, and that if I'd gotten soft ones, it was because they had been stored for a while, but that these were fresh off the tree. So I tried them, but they were NOT crisp. Alas :P

Danielle said...

Right, I know that the plastic is supposed to degrade over time with car seats, I just have a hard time believing it's 5 years. I have three car seats that are expired in the basement. That's what happens when you have twins, so many car seats!! :)

My issue with the magic erasers was more worried about my kids messing with them eating them and so forth. Yes, the boys have been known to bite off foam!?! Melamine is still toxic for kids. But in my old house my cleaning products had to be at a level where my kids could get them and now they don't. Also, Sophia doesn't have an oral fixation, so I could probably try using them again.

Try getting Galas from an orchard instead. I pulled my Staymans right off the tree and they were very crisp. You might have to pick them yourself. What about Granny Smith? Too tart? I like to just eat them plain. What about Honey Crisp? They are definitely crisp, but perhaps not tart enough for you? They tend to be a bit sweeter. Happy apple picking! ;)

Amy said...

Five years does seem kind of short. I thought it was usually 7? I think that's what ours have been.

Yes, I imagine it would still be toxic to eat melamine - yikes! My concern with the chemicals is more breathing fumes and such. My boys have never gotten into the cleaning supplies and haven't had the temptation to eat foam so I haven't had to worry about that! Ha!

Granny Smiths are too tart, yes - and I did recently discover I love Honeycrisp but they are usually really pricey - plus they are not available locally or organic. I usually try to hit one or the other with apples (never can get both). I'm so crazy picky about apples! Gettting a bushel of Cameos tomorrow...crossing my fingers! At least if they are bad, they aren't wasted, I can always make applesauce/apple butter.