CPSIA...It's Coming...

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Tomorrow is the Day

(Photo curtesy of www.phootprints.co.uk)

Yep, officially tomorrow starts the last of the grueling semesters of nursing school for Mister. I can't but help squeal with delight every time I mention that! And pardon me, I do mention it A LOT. It has been a long tough road, that we hope will benefit us as a family.

School is seriously one of the hardest things that has tested our relationship. Being sane with all the demands of school, parenting, work, lack of work, student loans piling up, etc. and then not taking it out on each other or the kids has been tricky. I am fully prepared to bawl like a baby at his graduation ceremony, just so all of you don't think I am crazy when it comes time. Heaven knows lots of sweat and tears have been part of the whole process, they should end it too. :) But in being positive and looking forward to a new beginning I wanted to list all the things that I have been grateful for in our crazy journey so far:

• welcoming our beautiful Jellybeans into our family
• Baptizing Girly
  
• having the best neighbors on the planet!
• excellent friends and family near and far that have cheered us on
  
• not living in an apartment for the last three and half years that has, albeit small, patio space that I can shoo the kids out onto
  
• having a kitchen big enough to open both the dishwasher and the fridge at the same time
• learning some really great frugal tricks that I might not ever have tried before like making my own babywipes, laundry soap, and finding out babysoap works just fine for a facial cleaner
  
• line drying clothes in the summer takes 15 minutes
• line drying clothes in the winter takes less than an hour
  
• that material things I thought I needed have some how become less important to me
• how much it means to have a good working washer,dryer, and dishwasher!
  
• that I am capable of handling far more than I gave myself credit for!

So here is to a successful last semester and to surviving it all!

We Survived Flu '08 and Other Musings

Finally after weeks of passing sickness to one another we are free from it! The holidays were interesting to say the least with all of us not feeling so well. But we managed to make just a few ornaments!

We made of course the traditional paper chain for each child so they could count down the days without fighting over who's turn it was every morning. I don't have a picture of ours because well they aren't chains anymore...more like Christmas confetti now.

But we did make what I think is one of the most delightful and easiest tree ornaments by using white pipe cleaners. We made 3D snowflakes. They also have the added benefit of being really fun to toss at the tree as well! Just remember to either do it before you put on the glass ornaments or leave those off altogether. I will have to dig pictures up when I can.

As for other ornaments, we were all to sick or had to many sickies for me to do any more involved crafts this year. We barely got the tree up the Monday before Christmas day. It was a minimalists kind of Christmas, which was actually kind of nice. We enjoyed the season the best we could and now I am glad that we are to the New Year!

I am thrilled that we have finally made it to 2009! Because it means Mister will graduate this May!!! It is coming faster than I thought it would but will be ready by May to take on our new adventure where ever that takes us. Only four full months left...