Please welcome “green” blogger, Kirstin, of Trying to be Greener to MomDot!

1. Congrats on being a MomDot Feature Blogger! Why don’t you start by introducing yourself to our readers!

For 14 years, I was a 5th grade Special Education teacher where I worked with children who had learning disabilities and behavioral difficulties. This past December, I had my first child and now have a “classroom of one.”

2. How did you arrive on the blogosphere? What got you interested in blogging?

When I became pregnant, I started doing a lot of research on products I felt my daughter would need once she arrived – soaps and lotions, baby bottles. It was then that I learned about harmful chemicals, such as parabens and phthalates, that are often found in popular baby soaps and Bisphenol A, a questionable component in some plastics that can be found in some baby bottles. I found out so much about safer choices for children and adults that I decided to put it all together in the form of blog posts so that others could learn from them and use them as as references.

3. What are some of your favorite posts, ones that you’re the most proud of?

I’m especially proud of the posts I’ve done on “How Safe Is Your Shampoo and Conditioner, Deodorant, Bar Soap, Baby Shampoo and Mascara.” The Environmental Working Group has a Web site called Skin Deep. This site is an excellent resource for consumers in that it lists thousands of personal care products in an organized way and rates them on how safe their ingredients are. I put together safer choices based on ingredients from Skin Deep’s site that can easily be found at your local drugstore. I also list some common items with high (not safe) scores as comparisons.

You can read those posts here:

http://tryingtobegreener.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/how-safe-is-your-deodorant/

http://tryingtobegreener.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/how-safe-is-your-babys-shampoo-and-soap/

http://tryingtobegreener.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/how-safe-is-your-shampoo-conditioner/

http://tryingtobegreener.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/how-safe-is-your-mascara/

http://tryingtobegreener.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/how-safe-is-your-soap/

4. How did you come up with the idea of “Trying to Be Greener”?

I decided on the name of my blog because I felt it described what so many of us feel. Many of us know we should make some changes in our lives to help the environment but we think only the big changes count. I wanted to show readers that small changes, over time, can make a big difference.

5. What are some of your other favorite “Green” blogs?

I have quite a few favorite “green blogs”. They are:

www.greenandcleanmom.org

www.safemama.com

www.thesoftlanding.wordpress.com

www.treehugger.com

6.Can you give the MomDot readers a “sneak peek” into what’s coming up next for your blog? Any new events, giveaways, interviews, etc.?

Readers can look forward to more posts on safer personal care products, simple changes to “green” your home, and giveaways.

Thanks for the interview Kirstin!  Go leave her some comment love and tell her you saw her interview on MomDot!

Interviewed by MomDot Feature Writer, Christy aka The Write Gal