McQuilton Family Sprouts

School Lunch Idea - Food Jars

2010-09-26T18:03:00.004Z

I don't know how many of you out there have a real concern in regards to school lunch menus. I do. Especially after watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution this past year. The food-like-stubstances, sugary and artifically flavored milks, high-carb lunches served to our children are not healthly. Many schools are trying to make-over their school lunches - but, they've got a long way to go.

This year, my children are going to German kindergarten. Lunch is not served there. So, USDA lunches are not a concern of mine - for now.

However, I'd be packing a lunch for my children this year whether they were going to the American school or German school. Therfore, I was racking my brain as to how I would send my child to school with a warm, healthy lunch. Cold lunch day after day could get a bit boring for my two budding real food foodies! Enter the food jars shown above (or any thermos-type food jar).

You can pack yogurt, pasta, stews, soups, rice dishes, and more in these things. Warm them up by adding hot water to them while you prep a warm lunch or leave them in the fridge overnight for a cold lunch. Not only that, these are great for road trips! Warm up last night's left-overs, throw them in food jars and you'll have a warm lunch ready to eat - saves your family a trip to a fast food joint!

My girls love the designs on these. I almost got them Thermos characture-themed jars. However, I decided to go with something more neutral/non-character based instead. The girls love of specific Disney characters changes daily.

You can find these Crocodile Creek food jars at Amazon for about $15.

Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder

2009-12-26T12:48:00.002-01:00

I have been searching high and low for a good dishwasher detergent that doesn't have bleach, phosphates, is generally eco-friendly and actually works!

I've tried Seventh Generation products and found that they leave build-up on my dishes. I have found versions that have no phosphates but have bleach. Bleach isn't a good idea because it'll eventually wear down the color of your dishware and it's harmful to the environment.

When I stumbled upon this review here, I decided to give it a try and now I have new detergent. It's not quite as good as a product I've used with bleach in it, but, it's comes in very close behind it. Since I don't feel comfortable using products with bleach anyway, this is what you'll find me using from now on. The review linked above is more detailed than mine, so double click if you're still unsure.

One More Reason to Avoid CAFO Meat

2009-04-26T17:03:00.007Z

You have all probably heard of the swine flu outbreak by now. I came across a blog post today at Food Renegade. Scary and gross!

For those of you still buying CAFO meat (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) because you can't fathom spending the higher prices of CAFO-free meat, this news may scare you into making the switch.

If we all stopped buying CAFO meat, maybe the powers that be would get the message, make some much needed changes, and things like this wouldn't happen (swine flu is spread person to person - but appears to have started with CAFO pigs)...

What do I think about the higher price of CAFO-free meat? Spend the same amount as you usually do but buy less of it. Most of us could probably easily cut back on our meat consumption anyway. Not only will you feel better, you'll be helping to save our environment. CAFO animals are sprayed down regularly with antibiotics (that get into our environment) to help prevent the diseases they are extremely susceptible to because of the inhumane, dirty living conditions they are in!

Here's the link:

Deadly Swine Flue Outbreak Linked to Smithfield CAFO's

Health Benefits of Grass-Fed Meats

2009-03-30T15:18:00.006Z

Recently, I began following Food Renegade. As most of you know, I've been slowly making changes to our diet. That includes purging most (not all) pre-packaged foods and making wholesome foods from scratch. A little bit more time-consuming in the beginning - but, now that I'm getting into the grove, I am finding it so much fun and worth the health benefits! Food Renegade is a great blog I've begun to use as a valuable resource for tips, recipes and information. Which brings me to the topic of today's post (mostly, I'm going to provide links):

Most of the meat we find in grocery stores is CAFO meat (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation). Read Food Renegade has a great article about CAFO meat here. It is my opinion that everyone should know what they are eating and where it comes from...

After you read the article, you may decide to switch to grass-fed meat. Food Renegade has an informative post explaining the health benefits of grass-fed meats. The post also has embedded links to where you can find it. You can read the post here.

This is a bit of a sensitive subject because grass-fed meat is pricey. We don't eat a lot of meat, therefore, I don't mind paying extra money for good quality, healthier meat (I get mostly organic, free-grazing meat here).

After you read the articles, I'd love to know what you all think on this subject.

Cupcake Courier Review

2009-02-10T09:09:00.003-01:00

I love this handy cupcake/small tiered cake/muffin carrier/mini-cheesecake carrier. I don't know how many times I've wanted to bring muffins or cupcakes to a playgroup in the recent past and couldn't find a good way to transport them. I had seen this on the Rachael Ray show a while back. I knew I needed a carrier for 20+ cupcakes. Many of the holders out there only hold a dozen. This carrier holds 36!

The Cupcake Courier latches snugly and the handle is low-profile, so you can, if need be, store in the fridge. The trays easily stack together and there is enough room in between each tray for generous frosting.

There downsides:

It is a bit heavy. However, how often do we have to walk very far with baked goods? It is not so heavy that it would ever be an issue for me.
It's large. However, it serves more than one purpose, so I can justify the room it takes up.
If your cupcakes don't rise very high, they can be hard to get out of the cups without touching the frosting. The solution: add flat marbles to the bottom of the cups (the kind you get at craft stores. Some have also used pie marbles (most of the reviews for all other cupcake holders had this issue).

A teacher friend of mine saw this the other day and jumped for joy when seeing this product. She said it would be perfect for bake sales too.

You can find these at Amazon.com, Target.com and The Cupcake Courier website (currently out of stock on the CC website) from $24 on up (Target is the lesser priced). Comes in several colors.

Discussion: Being a Good Guest When Eating Healthier

2009-01-29T12:47:00.004-01:00

Cathy, over at A Life Less Sweet recently posted a blog entry entitled, Being a good guest when eating healthier.

In the post she quoted Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food. He's quoted saying,

I really care where my food comes from, but I also care about being a good guest. So I eat whatever is put in front of me and don't make special requests.

As a mother who does not allow trans fats and HFCS in my home (heck, I don't even allow juice in my house unless it's a special occasion or we make it ourselves with our juicer. My kids eats eat so much fruit a day, I'm surprised the don't smell fruity!), I'll blog about what I allow and don't allow and my reasons behind it. I've recently seen the wonderful and drastic health benefits of eating healthier (my weight loss, specifically) and I'm proud of the way my family eats and blog about it, like many other parents do.

I do not, however, make a fuss when I am visiting well-meaning friends or family members (I even try to hide disappointing facial expressions - something not easy for an opinionated, outspoken person like myself). Some people haven't caught on to a healthier way of eating, some people are in the process and haven't quite got to where I am, and there are people who eat above and beyond better than we do (we're still a work-in-progress when it comes to healthier eating).

Unless someone asks me, specifically, about how I cook and buy food for my family, I try my darnedest to keep my mouth shut when we're guests in someone else's home. I think it's rude for people to bring their kids over to a playgroup and then make a fuss about what is or isn't being served (allergy issues aside). I try to urge my kids to eat the healthier options at guests, and I'll limit how much juice or cookies they are given. I draw the line right about there.

That doesn't mean I'm not concerned or feel a sense of alarm when some parents serve food I would never allow, but, I made it a point, months ago, to worry about what we eat in our home. Since our family eats about 80% of our weekly meals at home, and I am (I hope) teaching our girls life-long healthy eating habits, I don't think it's necessary to be overbearing and rude about it outside of the home.

What do you all think? Do you say something? Should we say something? Thoughts in general?

Healthy Eating Blogs

2009-01-28T12:01:00.003-01:00

Here's some links to a couple of blogs I'm now following that I thought I'd share with all of you who are trying to cook healthier for you family and would appreciate some recipes, tips and healthy eating information (click on links for the jump). I'll also add them to my sidebar for easy reference.

Super Healthy Kids
Check out her Master Muffin Mix recipe (she also has a pancake one) and browse through her recipes. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and inspired to spend some time in your kitchen.

A Life Less Sweet
"One Family - No High Frutose Corn Syrup - Eating Healthier"

Padraig Slippers

2009-01-28T10:03:00.009-01:00

I have been a big fan of these hand crocheted wool slippers for a few years now. I found them a natural parenting/living store in Alaska. I bought Olivia her first pair when she started walking and they've since been handed down to Lila - in excellent condition. They hold up amazingly well.

These slippers are made of 100% New Zealand wool and hand crafted in Canada. The slippers are durable, machine washable, breathable, incredibly soft and oh so warm.

I recently bought a pair for my husband. He is not easy to please, especially when it comes to his footwear. Here's what he said about these slippers:

"These slippers are so comfortable, I want go on a run so long and so hard that I tear my feet up. I won't mind because I'll know I have these to come home to."

Wool has been known for it's antibacterial properties for centuries, therefore, these are especially good for a foot soldier like my husband. Any wife of an infantryman knows that her husband needs all the help he can get in regards to healthy feet!

I bought Lila a pair of animal slippers recently and she prefers her Padraig's over her bunny slippers. That's saying a lot because she loves bunnies!

These slippers are worth every penny and are a great China-free option.

Comes in infant, toddler, children and adult sizes at Padraig Cottage.

Prices start at approximately $16.

Looking for Chore Charts?

2009-01-07T07:46:00.004-01:00

I've really been enjoying reading Just for Fun. Sandy has great art project ideas for toddlers and young children. We've enjoyed doing a few of projects and I look forward to all her great ideas as I am an uninspired mother, when it comes to art projects. I need all the help I can get!

Her latest post, Bedtime Struggles, highlights chore charts that she printed out online at DLTK. You can find the charts by clicking here. You can customize these by season, character, chore, etc. Your child can then color the picture above the chore chart and then you can laminate it and reuse it!

I did just buy a Melissa and Doug Responsibility Chart. I haven't used it yet and may try DLTK's chore chart as a test before I pull out Melissa and Doug's Chart.

I've been looking for printable chore charts online for quite some time and am happy that I finally found one!

The Better World Shopping Guide - Book Review

2009-01-02T15:47:00.008-01:00

My friend, Laura, recently sent me "The Better World Shopping Guide." By the end of page four, I knew I had to tell everyone I knew about the book and the website.

"Money is power... As consumers, we vote every single day with the purest form of power...Money." - Ellis Jones

The author, Elis Jones, spent five years researching corporations. Which brands belong to what corporation. What corporations are socially and enviromentally responsible, which ones are involved in child slavery (Nestle, Wal-Mart, 40% of all chocolate companies), and so on. He then put together a book rating companies with report card grades A-F.

I subscribe to the author's belief that, as consumers, we are the face of change. When we avoid buying products from companies involved fighting clean air legislation, public deception, child slavery lawsuits, unnecessary animal testing, etc., we can help bring about change. Laws are lax and our government needs consumers to give them a push. There are many ways we can do his. How we spend our money makes a huge statement. Unfortunately, not enough people are informed, or care. This is one resource, among many, that helps get the word out. Informed and consciencious consumers spread the word and help bring about change.

I like that this book fits very nicely in my purse (4x6) so I can easily use it as a reference when shopping. The guide is in alphabetical order by product. For each product, there are two pages. One page depicting the report card that lists corporations and their grades. The second page lists the best and worst company on the report card and why they are rated as such.

The one complaint I have is that I wish the book had a few empty pages in the back in order two write down updates that are sometimes listed on the website.

You can also use the website as a guide. Browsing the website, you'll find top best and worst lists and specific catagories (auto, airlines, coffee, retail stores, etc.) You'll discover how corporations are graded, be guided to the author's sources and so on.

As a teaser, I'll list the top three best and worst companies:

Best Companies:

1.) Seventh Generation

2.) Working Assets

3.) Eden Foods

Worst companies:

1.) Exxon Mobil

2.) Kraft

3.) Wal-mart

This book sells on the Better World Shopper website for $10. Pick it up on bookshelves in most bookstores. Makes a useful, inexpensive gift for eco-minded friends and family members.

Melamine in Formula-Addition at Bottom

2008-11-28T07:19:00.004-01:00

I'll be the first to admit that I need an in-depth lesson (history to current) on public health policies in America. Recently, however, I've read enough green blog entries and listened to podcasts that, at times, lead me to have disturbing thoughts in regards to big business and our government...

I had heard about formula contamination in China a while back. I'm ashamed to admit that, until it hit closer to home, I didn't give it much notice.

Now, trace amount of melamine have been found in samples of US infant formula. You can read discussion about it here and here. The FDA won't release the name of the brand of formula (yet). I don't know about you all, but, shouldn't the FDA have no tolerance for even trace amounts of potentially harmful contaminates in infant formula?

When reading about this contamination, I became outraged. This isn't about breast vs formula. There's no reason to pick that apart. Parents choose or need to use formula for numerous reasons.

Shouldn't we trust our government to protect our infants? If I were using formula right now, or if I have to in the future, I don't even know how I would be able to make a decision as to which one was best for my infant! I would hate to even have to wonder about trace amounts of anything potentially harmful!

This whole subject, along with other food issues in the US, has spurred me to do a lot more research/reading on our government, health policy, the FDA and so on. Upon returning to the US in 2009, I've got to get involved in more ways than just blog posting (any good reads, ideas and suggestions would be appreciated)! Sitting here, at my computer, reading a bit online here and there, and then only posting about my outrage is getting a bit pathetic! I need to get involved and help DO something about these things I am becoming more and more passionate about!

Update: Eco Child's Play writer, Jamie Ervin, wrote a fantastic response article on the lastest (30NOV08) information put out via CBS news. Find the Jamie's article here.

HFCS

2008-11-13T20:25:00.003-01:00

I found this article, over at Eco Child's Play, regarding high frutose corn syrup (HFCS) pleasing. For those of you who do not read Eco Child's Play daily, I thought I'd link to it from my blog.

There's a lot of misinformation beging put out there via commercial and magazine ads regarding HFCS. For those of you who like to err on the side of caution, you'll enjoy the quick read here.

Toxic Bottled Water? - You Sound Off

2008-10-18T12:20:00.005Z

I snagged the article below, by Derek Markham, from Eco Child's Place and I'm hoping for some feedback from you all.

I don't buy bottled water. Howver, some of you do buy it and some of you may even have great reasons. I'd love to hear about them. If you've gotten your water tested and found it undrinkable, how have you gone about making sure your bottled water is safer? If you know your water is fine and still buy bottled water, for what reasons (parties only, for emergencies, it tastes better, just because, etc) do you do this? Do you believe what Derek writes about or think he and the Environmental Working Group is full of it. I'd love to hear from you all!

Toxic Chemicals in Wal Mart’s Bottled Water

Myth: Drinking bottled water is safer than drinking tap water.

Truth: You are being ripped off, and then poisoned, by drinking bottled water from unknown sources.

Recently found in bottled drinking water: Trihalomethanes, Haloacetic acids, Nitrates, Ammonia, Acetaldehyde, Hexane, Toluene, bacterial contamination, Arsenic, radioactivity contamination (and more…)

Not the sort of chemical cocktail you had in mind when you bought bottled water at the grocery store, now is it?

The results of a two year study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) were recently released, detailing the lab tests of 10 brands of bottled drinking water from 8 different states in the US.

The report is shocking.

38 different chemical pollutants were detected, with an average of 8 contaminants per brand. One-third of the chemicals they found are not even regulated in drinking water. Some brands, like Sam’s Choice (Wal Mart) and Acadia (Giant) contained cancer-causing chemicals at levels exceeding the standards for safety set by the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.

A survey of 228 brands of bottled water by EWG found that less than half gave any information about the source of the water or any treatment (if treated at all). So where does the water come from?

Funny you should ask.

It could come from a rusty tap under the bathroom sink. It could come from a sterile bottling room. Who the hell knows?

It turns out that bottled water suppliers aren’t required to disclose the results of any contaminant testing or identify the source of the water. Tap water providers are required to report to consumers about filtration techniques, water source, and any contaminants found in the supply.

With bottled water being sold for up to 1000 times the cost of tap water, you might expect it to be somehow safer or healthier. Not so. It might just be tap water with a fancy label and a picture of a pristine mountain meadow…
Why the deception?

Because bottled water is a 12 Billion dollar a year industry in America!

“For years the bottled water industry has marketed their product with the message that it is somehow safer or purer than tap water. . “This new report provides even more evidence that the purity of bottled water is nothing more than a myth propagated to trick consumers into paying thousands times more for a product than what it is actually worth.” -Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, a non-profit consumer advocacy group
What can you do to ensure safe drinking water for your family?

Check out your city’s water supply at the National Tap Water Quality Database
Get a carbon filter or reverse osmosis filter for your tap at home and drink filtered tap water.
Change the filter cartridge regularly, as recommended
Carry your water with you in a BPA-free container, like stainless steel, so you aren’t tempted to buy bottled water.
Send your kids with water in a stainless or BPA-free container. Don’t let others give your kids bottled water.
Use filtered water for cooking as well.

Read EWG’s full report on bottled water.

How Much Water Should I Drink?

2008-10-01T12:19:00.002Z

This post is taken directly from the Nutrition Diva's website. I really enjoyed this podcast because the author helped clear up some water consumption "urban legends!"

If you'd like to listen to her podcast and/or view her resources, click here.

Hello there! This is Monica Reinagel and you're listening to The Nutrition Diva: Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous. These tips are provided for your information and entertainment and are not intended as medical advice. Because everyone is different, please work with your health professional to determine what’s right for you.

I bet you’ve heard it said that you need to drink at least eight glasses of water a day in order to stay properly hydrated. Perhaps you’ve also read that by the time you feel thirsty you’re already in an advanced state of dehydration, or that most of us are chronically dehydrated. Chances are also good that you’ve been told that drinking caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee cause you to lose more fluid than you take in.

What would you say if I told you that all of these widely held truths are little more than urban legends?

I can almost hear your shocked expressions! The dehydration myth has become so firmly entrenched in our collective consciousness that it may indeed come as a surprise to learn that there is very little scientific support for any of these notions.

Tales of the Overhydrated

Now, I have to tell you that opera singers are among the most over-hydrated people on the planet. That’s right: My people were carrying water bottles everywhere we went for decades before the rest of you got on the H2O bandwagon. Like most young singers, I was inculcated into the cult of hydration by my first voice teacher, who explained the danger and heartbreak that would follow if I failed to keep my vocal cords adequately lubricated.

I could picture the tragedy: I’d step out on stage, open my mouth to sing, and nothing but a small plume of dust—or perhaps a tumbleweed or two—would come out of my mouth. Hey, the odds of success as an opera singer are slim enough. I certainly wasn’t going to take any unnecessary chances!

So, I joined the legion of singers neurotically sucking down liter after liter every day. It’s a wonder I ever got through the first act of an opera without having to leave the stage four times for bathroom breaks.

Drinking Water Is a Good Habit

Look, as excesses go, drinking a lot of water isn’t a bad one. It won’t make you fat. It won’t rot your teeth or give you a hang-over. Drinking lots of water can temporarily assuage hunger pangs, which dieters find useful. It can also help prevent kidney stones in those susceptible to them. Drinking more can ease constipation and—ironically—also alleviate water retention.

The body has a fairly efficient mechanism for getting rid of excess water so under normal circumstances it’s hard to get yourself into trouble drinking water—except the kind of trouble that happens when you find yourself in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the interstate, or on stage for Act II of Puccini’s Turandot, and the next bathroom break is at least 50 long minutes away. Ouch.

Still, as a nutritionist, I feel compelled to point out that most people can stay perfectly hydrated on significantly less than eight glasses of water a day.

So who started this notion that nothing less than two liters of water a day will keep us from multiple-organ failure? You have to wonder whether this whole thing was somehow cooked up by the $60 billion bottled water industry, which has somehow figured out a way to take a cheap and widely available commodity and sell it at a mark up of anywhere from 250% to 3000%, creating an environmental disaster of nightmarish proportions in the process.

A Drop of Truth in a Sea of Misunderstanding

While I love a good conspiracy theory as much as the next guy, I don’t actually think that’s what happened. Like most urban legends, this one does contain a drop of truth. The average person needs about two liters, or approximately eight glasses, of water a day to replace what is lost through normal biological functions like breathing, sweating, and urinating.

But that doesn’t mean that you need to drink two liters of water. In fact, hypothetically, you don’t have to drink any water at all. For one thing, you can easily get a liter or liter and a half of water just from the food that you eat, especially if you eat lots of fruits and vegetables, which are up to 97% water. (If you’re curious to know how much water you’re actually eating, you can find out by entering a typical day’s intake into the diet tracking tools on NutritionData.com.)

Secondly, contrary to another widely held nutritional myth, coffee, tea, sodas, and other beverages also help fulfill your fluid quota.

What?! Have I lost my mind? Don’t I know that caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea are dehydrating? Actually, they aren’t. Dr. Ann Grandjean is a hydration researcher at the University of Nebraska and she has done some research that might surprise you.

Surprise! Drinking Caffeinated Beverages Won’t Dehydrate You

Dr. Grandjean has demonstrated that if you regularly drink caffeinated beverages, the diuretic effects are almost negligible. In other words, if you drink coffee every day, your body retains the same amount of fluid from a cup of coffee as it does from a cup of water.

If you don’t drink caffeinated beverages regularly, drinking a cup of coffee ends up being the equivalent of drinking about 2/3 of a cup of water. In other words, drinking coffee will hydrate you—just not quite as efficiently as water will.

Hey, don’t get me wrong: I’ve still got a pretty stiff water habit myself and I think you’re better off drinking water than just about anything else. But I’ve seen how overzealous the hydration police can get and thought it was time to separate fact from fiction.

There are a few more important things to say about hydration but they affect a smaller number of folks. So that this episode doesn’t run on too much longer, I’ll just mention them very briefly here but I’ll include some links with the show notes for more information on all of these:

1. The thirst reflex does decline with age and the elderly are at elevated risk of dehydration.
2. Excessive thirst and urination can be a warning sign for diabetes.
3. Those involved in sustained, strenuous exercise or spending extended periods of time in very hot or dry conditions need a lot more fluids to stay adequately hydrated.
4. When you’re sweating a lot, you need to replace sodium and potassium as well as fluids to prevent a potentially serious condition called hyponatremia.

The Bottom Line on Hydration

But barring ill health, extreme conditions, or intense physical activity, most people will stay well hydrated by eating a reasonably healthy diet and drinking water or other non-alcoholic beverages when they are thirsty. As a rule of thumb, if you are peeing several times a day and your urine is pale in color, you are doing fine.

This is Monica Reinagel, the Nutrition Diva, with your quick and dirty tips for eating well and feeling fabulous. Visit nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips.com for a transcript of this episode and links to lots more information about hydration. You can also post a comment about today’s episode on the show’s site. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Got a burning curiosity about some aspect of nutrition? Need to settle a nutrition-related bet with your roommate or spouse? Nutrition Diva is here for you. Send an email to nutrition@quickanddirtytips.com or leave me a voicemail at 206-203-1438.

Have a great day and eat something good for me!

Quick and Easy Ways to Encourage Breastfeeding

2008-09-26T12:02:00.001Z

I love to talk. I love to talk about all the great benefits of breastfeeding and I love to encourage pregnant women to try it by giving out book recommendations, quoting facts and more. However, there are other ways to promote, support and encourage breastfeeding. I've recently come across two easy ways nursing moms can do this with little or no words:

Mothering Media recently published a slide show distrubuted by Kathy O'Brien of the NIN (Nursing Is Normal) project (see link here). The NIN project is a "photographic display of nursing moms n public settings. This project reminded of me of one easy way nursing moms can encourage others to breastfeed. How easy would it be to grab a blanket or nursing cover-up and nurse in the bottle and formula section at Walmart or Target! While some moms choose not to cover up, I think it's best to try to be a little discreet in public settings. Especially department stores. You want to portray that breastfeeding in public is easy and you can do it without anyone seeing anything. Many nursing mom's breastfeed in public. But,often times, myself included, we find a discreet place off in a corner. Next time you're out and about and need to nurse, dare to find a public spot and encourage breastfeeding by setting a example of how easy it can be (lead by setting an example)! The more pregnant women, especially those unfamiliar with breastfeeding, see how easy and discreet breastfeeding can be, the more apt they are to give it a try.
As you pass by a mom nursing the park, off in the corner somewhere, at church, soccer practice, etc., give her compliment, oh and ahh over her nursing baby, share a very brief, nice experience you had while breastfeeding, etc. Find a way to get the point across that you are happy to see her breastfeeding - kinda like giving her a pat on the back. I did this once recently, without even thinking, and I know I made that mother's day by the smile on her face! Her smile was so genuine, she made my day too! You never know what your heartfelt comments may really mean to a nursing mom! You may actually say something nice to her on the exact day she was contiplating weaning and your one, simple, quick comment may change her mind! She may even ask you for advice or help! You just never know!

What do you think? Can you think of other simple, subliminal ways to encourage breastfeeding?

Mommy Lit and Medicalized Birth

2008-09-24T20:03:00.008Z

This week, Mothering.com published a thought-provoking feature article titled, "Mommy Lit and Medicalized Birth."

In the article, author Joanne Rendell writes about the new genre: mommy lit. Mommy lit authors have been including childbirth as a "highly medicalized affair." C-sections, fetal monitoring, epidurals, etc.

Most of the books mentioned I have read and, even as a strong supportor of natural birth, I still laughed through the books - mostly because the books were brain candy and I wasn't looking to get anything out of them. Though, I have to add that Holly's comment (see comments) is dead on - some of these books have characters leading such immoral and/or fabricated lives that I have either ditched a book or two or read them and felt that I lost a few brain cells. I also sometimes feel that by reading some of these books, I'm betraying my beliefs and values.

I will say that I get upset by books that poke fun of natural birth. Authors and people, in general, do need to realize that you'd be hard pressed to find a natural birth advocate who's natural birth was the worst experience she's ever had. Despite popular belief that natural birth is a horrible experience, it's really not (most of the time, our bodies can handle it-in my opinion and experience, it's the biggest mental challenge a woman will ever face). In fact, it can be empowering and a wonderful journey. In the end, often times, it can be the better option than the slippery rope that many women fall pray to during a medicated labor (failure to progress, fetal distress, tearing, and the list goes on).

I'm a natural birth advocate. So, naturally, I'd like to see natural birth portrayed positively in literature more often! However, I realize that medicalized birth is such the norm these days, and we all need to support all-birth choices. So, I can't allow myself to get upset when I read books that don't portray my birth-of-choice (as long as natural birth isn't bashed!!).

You can find this interesting and thought provoking article here. I'd love thoughts.

Bum Genius Organic One-Size Reusable Diaper

2008-08-29T15:46:00.005Z

Oh la la! I've read about this diaper on diaper boards, and have seen it for sale on several cloth diaper sites. When I was in Vermont, I happened upon a cloth diaper store (or two - the state is becoming very eco-friendly and it seems nearly everyone is screaming, "buy local and "go-green") and purchased this, despite it's price tag, I love it!

It's a one size, all-in-one diaper. If you're looking for a daddy and/or babysitter-friendly diaper, this would be a great choice. No added wrap - just snap and go. A handful of these would be an asset to any diaper stash.

Even though they are a bit pricey (approx $24 each), you must remember that even buying the most expensive cloth diapers save you money in the long run. The average family spends nearly $3,000 to diaper one child for three years (disposable diapers). Even if you spent $1,000 on your cloth diaper stash (diapers, covers, doublers, cloth wipes), most of the diapers, if taken care of properly (front load washer, line dry often) will last through two, if not three children (my Kissaluvs will make it through a third baby). Huge savings!

I love the stretchy tabs, seen on Lila, above. 100% organic cotton is not only grown with the environment in mind, it washes and holds up well. Lila has chunky thighs (I wonder where she got those - poor little thing) but has a small waist. This diaper fits her so well. I've washed it twice and though it takes a while to dry, that will get better as the natural oils wash out.

I recommend this diaper for ages 3+ months. As always, I recommend Kissaluvs Size 0 for newborn, breastfed babies (They are the best at containing breastfed poo). Many one size (OS) diapers, this one probably included, do not fit small newborns well and blow outs, therefore, are frequent. Stick with a Kissaluv for your newborn!

I also wouldn't recommend this diaper as an overnight diaper (all-in-one diapers are not known for being super absorbant). I would recommend a Growing Greens 100% organic cotton OS diaper with a doubler and a wool wrap for overnight.

Cotton Babies sells this diaper and has lots of information on it and other Bum Genius diapers.

FYI: Cotton Babies has this to say about the laundry tabs that sometimes don't stick: IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH LAUNDRY TABS, WE HAVE AN EASY SOLUTION THAT CAN MAILED TO THE CUSTOMER.

The DivaCup-Updated

2008-08-27T12:41:00.000Z

See post below.

The DivaCup - Update

2008-08-27T10:00:00.001Z

Update: I just had to post again about this product. Since my last post, I've used it twice on vacation with tremendous success. I swear, this makes life as a woman so much easier each month! When you're touring around, hiking, swimming with the kids at the beach, and shopping, there is nothing like having to NOT worry about taking an untimely bathroom break. Like most women who use this, I only have to empty it once in the morning and once before bed (with the exception of three times on my one very heavy day).

My girls, if I have my say, will only ever use this. Think about all those times in the high school girls bathroom that you tried to quietly remove a tampon and pantie liner wrapper? You just did NOT want any other girl to know that it was your "time" of the month. You also were more than just a little embarrassed when a tampon or sanitary napkin slipped out of your backpack and onto the classroom floor for all to see! No, my girls will head to school at 7:00am and not have to worry about it again for 12-hours, when they are in back the comfort of their own home. What a relief for their generation!

Added perks: Diva cups are eco-friendly, not associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome and many users find that they have less cramping when using them!

I can't think of a reason not to use this product. While it takes a couple of months to get used to (as a teenager, it took me months to get used to wearing tampons - and if I remember correctly, it was the same with many of my friends) and/or perfect, it is more than worth the try. If, for some reason, you just can't get used to it, send it back and get your money back (minus the nominal fee for returned shipping cost).

Here's what DivaCup says about the product:

Almost every woman's initial reaction to The DivaCup™ is "Ewww! That's gross!". When women first heard about tampons they had the same reaction. It took a long time before the concept caught on. Once you take the time to learn about The DivaCup™ and actually try it for yourself you will be shocked how clean and NOT messy it is.

Blueberry Baby, in Fairbanks, Alaska, carries this product in the store. When I first started turning to cloth diapering and natural baby and mommy products, I saw this and thought, as most women do, "well, that's just going too far."

Then, I started seeing reviews of these online. Women raved about it. So, of course, I had to try it out. The website has great directions, tips and general information.

I ended up snipping the stem off. I had no problem getting it out without the stem. So, if the stem bothers you, practice taking it out without using the stem and clip it when you get the hang of it.

These run about $30, will last for years and can be found locally (see website for store closest to you) or at Drugstore.com.

French Press

2008-07-30T06:58:00.006Z

A couple of winters ago, I was visiting a relative in New York. She asked me if I wanted a cup of coffee. I was dying for one. She entered her kitchen and began making coffee out of a French press. My initial thought was, "Great. I'd like a real cup of coffee. This isn't going to cut it."

When she handed me the coffee cup and I took my first sip, I was taken back. The coffee was hot, strong and full of flavor. I then thought to myself, "I have got to get myself one of these!"

A couple of years went by and this past winter, while browsing the coffee section at the PX in Italy, I noticed a French press for under $10. Matt bought it for me and I've been using it every day since we got back from Italy.

Filter drip coffee pots no longer do it for me. When I visit American friends and they serve me drip coffee, it doesn't taste as robust and it lacks flavor. I mean, I'll drink it. It's coffee, after all. However, I've come a long way from drinking only flavored coffee from a drip coffee pot to the dark, robust flavor of coffee (coffee is very cheap here in Portugal. A two pound bag of plain coffee beans can be found for under $10) out of a French press!

I think everyone should have a French press. Even if you don't use it every day, you'll appreciate having it when you're really in the mood for an especially great cup of coffee! And, they are especially nice if you entertain often. You never know if you have a coffee enthusiast in your dinner party. Best to serve a flavorful, dark, good cup of coffee!

Along with the French press, you'll need the following:

A tea kettle or electric kettle
Coffee beans
Burr Mill grinder (you'll need a course, even grind - not easy to get with a regular grinder).

CoffeeGreek has the best background information and instructions I could find (see here).

The Bodum Chambord French press appears to be the most popular, among French press lovers. It sells at Amazon starting at $22 for the 12-oz press and on up through $50 for the 12-cup press. Like I said, our inexpensive one is similar to the one sold at Ikea for under $20 and it would be a great one to buy to start out.

Tips: Don't drink the last couple of sips. French pressed coffee does have a tad bit of sludge on the bottom. Drink your pressed coffee right away. Pour any left-over coffee in a thermos to keep it warm (you don't want the coffee sitting on top of the pressed coffee grinds).

Soft, Spreadable Butter

2008-07-16T08:19:00.008Z

They're called butter bells, butter crocks, and butter keepers and they are wonderful little gadgets! I recently purchased a butter bell and have been enjoying fresh, spreadable butter daily. Just fill these jars with a stick of butter, making sure to get all air pockets out (butter will slip out and into water if there are air pockets), add 1/3 cup of cold water to base and change water every 2-3 days to retain freshness. Simple, sweet, spreadable butter!

Recently, I gave up butter-type spreads. You know the kind - they proclaim to be lower in fat, reduce cholesterol, etc. However, many "healthier" spreads contain artificial flavors, colors and more. Long ago, I gave up margarine because we all know how incredibly bad margarine is. Besides, the fake stuff is expensive here. Most locals just purchase fresh butter from the Azores and they know the meaning of moderation.

My husband thinks our butter bell is silly. Well, he says that, but, he appreciates bread that's not torn up by hard, cold butter! And, secretly, I think he appreciates that I've, for the most part, purged artificial ingredients, trans fats and am working towards even healthier ways of eating and living...it's not easy getting a man who, as a bachelor, lived on pizza, Mountain Dew and beer, to agreeably change his ways!

You can find these butter bells online everywhere. The one shown on this page can be found here for about $8.

The Sunscreen Dilemma

2008-07-11T08:49:00.005Z

I frequent several eco-friendly blogs and websites. For several months now, I've read an article here or there regarding how important it is to choose a safe sunscreen; warning that many of the ones on the shelves in stores or sold on popular websites contain ingredients deemed unhealthy. Convinced, I bought a tube of California Baby sunscreen, but the price tag is so high on just a few ounces of the stuff, that I just couldn't fathom buying a $17 tube of it every two weeks. So, I snatched up Coppertone's continuous spray broad-spectrum sunscreens at the NEX. We use a lot of this stuff. I spray down my kids a few times nearly every day.

Today, I stumbled on a post at Eco Child's Play entitled, "1000 Sunscreens Ranked - Check Yours. It May be Hazardous to Your Health."

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has put out a list that ranks sunscreens from low hazard to high health hazard. I quickly checked and discovered that the sunscreens I've been using are high hazard. Now, I'd, maybe, stick with a low-cost moderate hazard sunscreen. But, a high hazard? I feel as if I've been warned.

When I visit the US in a few weeks, I'll bring a printed list of the top ten safe sunscreens, hunt down some end-of-summer sales and stock up on some safer sunscreens!

You can click on the highlighted words above for more info and/or click here for the best and worst list.

Bags by Some Pretty Things

2008-06-30T20:34:00.002Z

My husband's job requires me to attend quite a few cocktail and formal events with him. For the last semi-formal event, I began looking for some sort of clutch to match my dress. I don't do much shopping here in Europe, at this time, because the US dollar is so weak. So, naturally, I browsed Etsy. There, I found this clutch at Some Pretty Things for a reasonable price.

Judith, the owner, is a seller in the UK. Her shipping fee to US addresses is only $10. So, when I saw this purse, I snatched it up! It arrived in a week. The quality of this purse is superb. I love it!

Some Pretty Things sells three different sized clutches and a few other various handmade items. I will be a frequent buyer! She also has a blog.

She sent me a couple of business cards and, at the cocktail party I attended the other night, they were quickly snatched up by admirers.

Visit her at Etsy here.

Arms Reach Co-Sleeper

2008-06-18T07:51:00.003Z

When I became pregnant with Olivia, I began a search for a bassinet I could easily reach into without having to get out of bed. My DH is a fitful and deep sleeper. Sleeping with an infant in our bed was probably not a good option for us. However, I was interested in some form of co-sleeping. I cannot remember who suggested the Arms Reach Co-Sleeper to me, but Matt and I purchased it, bought the leg extensions because our bed is high up off the ground, and each of our girls spent the first five months of their lives in it, attached securely to our bed and within arm's reach of me. Breastfeeding and soothing our infants was so easy. I loved not having to get out of bed! This product was probably one of the best infant purchases we made.

We purchased the co-sleeper mini because it travels well (we brought it back to the Northeast with us a few times) and fits easily into a small room. We also purchased an extra fitted sheet (it comes with one). I like how the mini has side pockets for diapers and wipes (pockets even hold a cloth diaper and cloth wipes). Underneath, in the storage bin, we stored extra blankets and sheets.

Arm's Reach has a whole line of co-sleepers of various sizes and functions (some convert to a playard).

While these are a bit pricey, it's one product that is worth the price if you're looking for a co-sleeping option without having the baby in the bed for you. The fact that this has traveled so well and held up impeccably through two infants (and, eventually, a third), makes it well worth the price.

These can be found at the Arm's Reach website and at Babies R' Us. Price range from $134 on up.

Great Breastfeeding Blog and Ad

2008-06-11T11:51:00.006Z

Recently, I began a search for a really good breastfeeding blog (The Lactivist, a blog I recently linked to from my blog, has evolved into a blog more about family and very little about breastfeeding, therefore, I decided to take it off).

I had heard that Motherwear had a great blog. It wasn't until today that I looked at the blog. Frankly, because I assumed the blog was primarily promoting their products. While I do have some Motherwear shirts, after 18-months of breastfeeding Olivia, I realized that all I really needed were a few really good nursing bras, nursing tanks (I prefer Bravado Designs tanks and bras to Motherwear products) and a nursing wrap (my favorite: Babe Au Lait).

At any rate, upon browsing Motherwear's blog today, I discovered a very informative breastfeeding blog. I now have a Motherwear Blog button on my side bar. This a great blog for pregnant and nursing mothers!

I especially enjoyed the breastfeeding ad they posted here last week. Please click on this ad, view it and pass it on!

I would love to see ads such as this in the US. In my humble opinion, The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society and other such organizations need to get on board and follow in the footsteps of countries such as Scotland. American women, too, deserve to get as much information as possible about the benefits to mother and baby in regards to breastfeeding; information that can help parents make fully informed breastfeeding decisions.

No matter the socio-economic class, most American families have a television and ads like this are a simple, quick and effective way to get the information out there!

MaraNatha Organic Peanut Butter

2008-06-08T10:47:00.006Z

I was raised on JIFF. The yummy, hydrogenated fat-filled creamy peanut butter many American family use as a staple . We even used to get it in bulk and we went through it quickly! I still remember my father's peanut butter and fluff graham cracker sandwiches - the peanut butter just oozing out the sides.

However, when I became aware of the dangers of hydrogenated fats, I cut all products containing it out of our diets. Now, I swear to you that I can taste foods that have it in it and it just grosses me out. I no longer can handle processed foods well. In fact, they just don't appeal to my pallet anymore.

However, I've been on a search for a yummy, organic and hydrogenated-fat free peanut butter for few years. I just couldn't stomach a peanut butter without the added sugar. I tried them all and, for a while, settled on Skippy's natural peanut butter (with sugar).

Then, I was sent MaraNatha peanut butter (creamy, salt added, organic) by accident from an online grocery company. At first, my thought was, "Yeah, I'll give it to the girls - they won't know. And if they do, I'll cook with it instead).

However, desperate and out of my normal peanut butter one day, I had to use this and have been hooked ever since. It's creamy, has just enough salt and, oddly, tastes like it has a hint of sugar (it doesn't). I don't know how it's done, but, this is the tastiest organic peanut butter I've come across. I swear I could eat the whole jar in a sitting!

Even better, the American store sells it. So, I can get it fairly cheap. I forgot to pick some up during my last visit and will have to have someone pick some up for me (since I don't go often to that store).

If you think you can't give up your sugar and hydrogenated fat-filled peanut butter, give this one a try. Give it a few tries. Sometimes it takes a few tries for a pallet to adjust. But, I think you may just like it!

Greening Up the Laundry Room

2008-06-03T09:39:00.004Z

On the right side-bar of this blog, you'll notice that I provide a link to one of my favorite green parenting blogs, Eco Child's Play. This is one blog that every family should browse through on, at least, a weekly basis. The team of writers provide valuable information and creative, fun ideas for green living and parenting.

However, I'm not sure if my readers frequent Eco Child's Play. So, today, I felt it important to post a link to the lastest blog entry about greening up the laundry room. This post (click here) highlights the following:

Front loaders: How they are green machines and cost effective
Why we shouldn't use chlorine bleach
Green laundry detergents
Green water softeners
Green static cling fighter
Green fabric softeners

The post at Eco Child's Play was written by Dr. Greene and Excerpted with permission from Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Baby Care by Jossey-Bass, A John Wiley & Sons Imprint. See Amazon.com for book reviews.

"Me and My Bag"

2008-06-02T06:41:00.003Z

My mother sent this book to the girls a couple of months ago as a gift. They love it. The other night, as Matt read it to them, I was reminded that I should do a short review.

The girls see Matt and I shop with reusable bags all the time. We explain to them (Olivia, specifically) the importance of why we use them. However, this book explains why we should be using them in catching toddler speak and explains it better than Matt and I have been able to.

It comes with a reusable bag attached in the back cover. Olivia immediately took out and asked to use at the store.

The one thing I don't like about this book was that it is printed and bound in China. I can only hope this was done responsibly.

This board book can be found at Amazon.com for under $9.

Barenaked Ladies Fan?

2008-05-23T12:26:00.003Z

My husband is a Barenaked Ladies fan. So, when I downloaded the sampler, "7-8-9" off of their new kids' album, "Snack Time," and played it, it only took Matt a few seconds to figure out who the band was. He was thrilled. What a great way to introduce the band to alternative rock!

The girls quickly fell in love with "7-8-9" and we just had to finish downloading the CD from Itunes as soon as it was released on 6May. We also love the Canadian Snack Time Trilogy. Many of the songs are a bit more appropriate, in my opinion, for ages 5-10. However, Liv listens to them all and I'm sure, as she gets a bit older, this album will be a favorite. This album gets good reviews at Amazon.com.

I believe I payed $9.99 to download the CD off of Itunes. It's $8.99 off Amazon's MP3 store or $11.99 for the actual CD. I doubt we'll ever buy another CD again. Downloading music is a bit cheaper and, obviously, more eco-friendly (we're all backing up our music, right?!).

We're always looking for fresh kids music. If anyone has a recommendations, send them our way!

Honeybee Gardens Nail Polish

2008-05-19T08:08:00.006Z

I recently began a search for a nail polish that did not have toxic chemicals in it such as, formaldehyde. I really didn't look hard because I found Honeybee's at Greenfeet when I was placing an order for something else. When this arrived, I realized I didn't order the color I thought I did. So, I tested it out on Olivia and I love it (the polish, not the color)! This nail polish is an odorless, non-toxic and easily removable nail polish (remove with rubbing alcohol, vodka, etc). It dried fast enough for my busy, impatient three-year-old! I only applied one coat and it lasted several days before she worked it off when biting on her nails. Her toes still look great a week later (and many dips in a pool and bathtub).

I did use rubbing alcohol to get it off, thinking it couldn't possibly really work. It does. I love that Olivia can chew on her fingers and not ingest toxins. I spilled some on a sweater and it came right out in the wash (I pretreated it).

A friend informed me that Sally Hansen removed formaldehyde and other toxins from their polish. I can't find the brand in Portugal. It may run a bit cheaper, I'm not sure. A bottle of Honeybees nail polish was just under $7. I'm sure that it is still more toxic-free than Sally Hansen's nail polish.

Honeybee's website states that this polish can be harder to get off after one week of wear and they suggest that you take it off once weekly. The site has excellent instructions and tips for proper application and removal. The polish can be a bit more finicky than the polish we're used to. However, it's a small "price" to pay for earth-friendly, non-toxic polish (worry-free).

Altec Lansing inMotion iM600 Portable Audio System for Ipod

2008-05-17T07:55:00.000Z

Last year, for our anniversary, I bought Matt an Ipod Nano. They're kinda of expensive, right?! Well, he was less than thrilled. He's a runner, but doesn't appreciate listening to music while running. He couldn't find a use for it and it's been sitting on his dresser ever since.

Enter the iM600. A friend recommended it recently. It gets wonderful reviews, is less expensive than a Bose and can travel nicely. It even ships from Amazon to FPO's. Matt and I are not the type who care about superb sound quality. I had listened to this and a Bose at a friend's house and, with my ear, didn't hear a difference in sound quality. So, I ordered it from Amazon for $120 (with free shipping).

It arrived the other day and we just love it! Matt pulled out his Ipod that has Phish, The Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, etc. on it and I've used my Ipod to listen to all my favorites. We've watched less TV and danced so much more! Olivia asks for her music and books to be played nearly all day. The sound quality is perfect for us. This is a wonderful mini-stereo system to use with your Ipod. It also has an alarm clock, AM/FM stereo, and remote control. I love the portability. If Matt's watching TV and I want to listen to music or a Podcast in the kitchen or bedroom, I can easily move it. It will travel nicely, if we so choose. It can be used internationally (with a plug adapter) because it converts up to 240V. It also has a rechargeable battery.

See the Amazon iM600 product description and reviews for more information.

If you're not a complete surround sound, stereo junkie and you're looking for a fairly inexpensive device to play music, Podcasts, and books off your Ipod, with quality sound and portability, this is for you.

DHA and ARA added to Formula Reported to possibly Endager Infant and Toddlers

2008-05-15T09:28:00.002Z

For those of you who formula feed or suppliment with formula, you may find yourself interested in knowing that the DHA and ARA, found in 90% of infant formula, has been found, in some infants and toddlers, to cause vomiting, diarrhea, severe dehydration, and seizures. The Cornuccopia Institute, a US-based corporate watchdog group, released a report about this. For more information and the specifics, follow the link here.

If you're interested in voicing your support of warning labaels on DHA/ARA infant formula products, please see here.

Breast-Fed Children Smarter, Study Says

2008-05-14T08:21:00.005Z

A friend forwarded this to me and I thought some of you may be interested in reading, if you haven't already. I'd love thoughts, if you have any.

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new study provides some of the best evidence to date that breast-feeding can make children smarter, an international team of researchers said on Monday.

Children whose mothers breast-fed them longer and did not mix in baby formula scored higher on intelligence tests, the researchers in Canada and Belarus reported.

About half the 14,000 babies were randomly assigned to a group in which prolonged and exclusive breast-feeding by the mother was encouraged at Belarussian hospitals and clinics. The mothers of the other babies received no special encouragement.

Those in the breast-feeding encouragement group were, on average, breast-fed longer than the others and were less likely to have been given formula in a bottle.

At 3 months, 73 percent of the babies in the breast-feeding encouragement group were breast-fed, compared to 60 percent of the other group. At 6 months, it was 50 percent versus 36 percent.

In addition, the group given encouragement was far more likely to give their children only breast milk. The rate was seven times higher, for example, at 3 months.

The children were monitored for about 6 1/2 years.

The children in the group where breast-feeding was encouraged scored about 5 percent higher in IQ tests and did better academically, the researchers found. Previous studies had indicated brain development and intelligence benefits for breast-fed children.

But researchers have sought to determine whether it was the breast-feeding that did it, or that mothers who prefer to breast-feed their babies may differ from those who do not. The design of the study -- randomly assigning babies to two groups regardless of the mothers' characteristics -- was intended to eliminate the confusion.

'MOTHERS WHO BREAST-FEED ... ARE DIFFERENT'

"Mothers who breast-feed or those who breast-feed longer or most exclusively are different from the mothers who don't," Dr. Michael Kramer of McGill University in Montreal and the Montreal Children's Hospital said in a telephone interview.

"They tend to be smarter. They tend to be more invested in their babies. They tend to interact with them more closely. They may be the kind of mothers who read to their kids more, who spend more time with their kids, who play with them more," added Kramer, who led the study published in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry.

The researchers measured the differences between the two groups using IQ tests administered by the children's pediatricians and by ratings by their teachers of their school performance in reading, writing, math and other subjects. Both sets of scores were significantly higher in the children from the breast-feeding promotion group.

The study was launched in the mid-1990s. Kramer said the initial idea was to do it in the United States and Canada, but many hospitals in those countries by that time had begun strongly encouraging breast-feeding as a matter of routine. The situation was different in Belarus at the time, he said, with less routine encouragement for the practice.

Kramer said how breast-feeding may make children more intelligent is unclear. "It could even be that because breast-feeding takes longer, the mother is interacting more with the baby, talking with the baby, soothing the baby," he said. "It could be an emotional thing. It could be a physical thing. Or it could be a hormone or something else in the milk that's absorbed by the baby."

Previous studies have shown babies whose mothers breast-fed them enjoy many health advantages over formula-fed babies. These include fewer ear, stomach or intestinal infections, digestive problems, skin diseases and allergies, and less risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that women who do not have health problems exclusively breast-feed their infants for at least the first six months, with it continuing at least through the first year as other foods are introduced.

Link to article found here.

KangaKid Child Carrier

2008-05-07T08:21:00.001Z

You'll notice this carrier in pictures on my other blog. Before I purchased the Ergo Baby Carrier, I purchased the older version of the model above. I have to give this carrier honorable mention because my DH loves it (he does like the Ergo too). Being an infantryman, he appreciates a frame-type child carrier. He's a heck of a lot more physically fit than I am, therefore has a strong back and shoulders. This carrier has served him well. Olivia, now nearly 30lbs, still fits comfortably in it.

DH loves that the carrier part zips up and you can tote it around as a backpack when not carrying a child. It fits very nicely under the seat of an airplane. It also has plenty of storage room for diapers and sippy cups. Deuter now offers an optional sun shade.

This pack wasn't designed for hiking. However, Matt uses it for light hiking and hasn't had any problems. It's a great pack for parents who travel a lot and don't want the burden of a bulky external frame carrier (or when hitting the mall or downtown).

You can find these, occasionally, on Ebay (where I got mine really cheap!). However, I suggest hitting a store to try all packs or child carriers on before purchasing online (unless you don't mind shipping it back). I've quickly learned that child carriers fit differently on each person (depending on torso, height, etc) and it can be frustrating to buy something online only to find out it doesn't fit you the way you expected.

This carrier hurt my shoulders and back once Olivia hit 18-20lbs. I much prefer the Ergo Baby Carrier over this. However, if you're in great shape, need something compact, and aren't interested in a soft carrier like the Ergo, you may find this carrier to be perfect.

KangaKid is sold at several places online and in many stores that sell child carriers. Childcarriers.com has great reviews and comparisons and sells it for $120.

Also note that, in my experience, child carriers, if taken care of properly, resell/consign very well. It's often worth it to spend a little more for comfort, take care of it, and get some money back later. Your back will thank you for it!

Reusable Snack Bags

2008-05-02T08:02:00.004Z

I don't know about your kids, but my girls love baggies. I don't know what it is about them, but they are baggie obsessed. They love to eat Cheerios and dried fruit in baggies. Recently, I noticed how much we waste them. They get ripped apart and we are unable to reuse them. Plastic baggies, obviously, are not eco-friendly.

Enter reusable snack bags from Gnomeclothes at Etsy. I ordered these a month or so ago and they became a quick hit with the girls. In fact, even my husband likes them. We put dried snacks in them. They look exactly the same (read: no fighting) and the girls ask for these over plastic baggies. I've washed these a few times and they've held up very well. I do recommend line drying.

Gnomeclothes sells reusable sandwich wraps, snack bags (two different sizes), cloth napkins and more.

My Little Seat

2008-04-28T13:01:00.005Z

Since we wear our kids (backpack) all over, we often find ourselves at a restaurant and no place to safely seat Lila. We've used belts or the Ergo to strap her in. However, she would slide down and out.

Recently, however, I noticed My Little Seat at Mom4Life. I had a coupon and she always has free shipping, so I snatched one up.

We love it! Granted, the chair has to be a square back and can't be too tall or the sling won't fit properly. However, we've already noticed that most restaurants have shorter seats if you ask for one and/or square back. But, really, it's only been a problem once. This arrived last week and I've already used it over half a dozen times.

It folds up into a little carry pouch, about the size of a diaper, and fits into the zippered pouch of my Ergo. It's simply made with no bells and whistles. However, does the job perfectly.

Finally, an infant and toddler seat solution for parents who don't use strollers, for those of you who want to save space at home (and it washes easily too as it's cotton!), and for parents who don't like the, often, germy child seats provided at many restaurants.

Sells for $39.99 at Mom4life (she will be getting more in stock, in a variety of colors, soon) or My Little Seat website.

All-in-One Cloth Diaper (Daddy and Sitter-Friendly)

2008-04-24T11:26:00.004Z

So, you just want a cloth diaper that does it all. Or, your husband/sitter doesn't want to deal with wraps and just wants something as easy as a disposable (Please note: Most AIO diapers are not a good overnight diaper. Please read GMD's AIO page for more information).

Then, I'm going to recommend the above All-in-One diaper. Sposoeasy AIO's are wonderfully easy! I've used the hemp version of the diaper above and really like it. This is the latest and greatest diaper by Blue Penguin. 100% organic cotton on the inside and waterproof lining on the outside. It's also Made in the USA. Oh, and while these do come with velcro option, I love snaps. My 17-month-old is great at pulling off a diaper with velcro. But, she can't get off this diaper!

I plan on adding a few of these to my stash soon and can't wait! AIO's are great for the diaper bag, sitters and dads! I have a few 100% organic cotton diapers and love them. They are absorbent and the softest diaper when I line dry!

GMD's sells these and has extensive information about these on their website.

You can also purchase them from Blue Penguin's website (scroll down to the Sposoeasy Diaper).

These diapers run about $17.50 each.

Diaper Pail Liners

2008-04-24T11:13:00.003Z

So, you think you need to use a pail filled with water, right? NO! You don't!

Three years ago, when we started cloth diapering Olivia, we used a "wet" pail. What a mistake. It's a drowning hazard and so messy. We were new to cloth diapering and didn't know that a wet pail wasn't necessary. If you're really worried about staining, especially if you want to consign your diapers after you're finished with them, I suggest you buy a yard of fleece, cut strips to fit your diapers and worry little about staining (the fleece will wick away moisture, as an added bonus). Though, I found that my front load washer washes my diapers so well that I don't have a problem with staining and laying my breastfed stained diapers out to dry in the sun bleached out most of those stains.

GMD and all cloth diapering sites sell pail liners. See GMD's page for pail liners here. You just toss your diapers into the lined pail and when you go to wash, turn your liner inside out and dump your diapers and liner into the wash without touching a diaper (a bit challenging with a front load, but you'll get the hang of it!). I suggest two pail liners and a wet bag for the diaper bag.

Average total cost of liners and one wet bag: $55

Note: When you're done using cloth diapers or when traveling, use your wet bag as a laundry bag or beach/pool bag for toting wet swimsuits).

Frugal Cloth Diapering

2008-04-24T10:23:00.006Z

So, I've posted about some of the diapers I like that are a bit on the expensive side. I recently read that the average family spends about $3,000, per child, on disposable diapers from newborn to age three. So, even if you buy the most expensive cloth diapers, say at around $20 each, you'll still save money. Say you buy 45 diapers total (three sizes: newborn, infant, toddler) at $20 each, some rice-liners (for a baby on solid foods with solid BM), cloth diaper wipes, diaper pail liners, wet bag (to store dirty diapers in when out and about) and several wraps in each size (including a pricey nightime wool cover). That'll run you about $1,200-$1,500 and, if taken care of properly, all but the rice liners (flushable) could last you through two children, possibly three (if you line dry and use a front load washer).

However, if your budget is really tight, prefold diapers are wonderful and inexpensive. They are the kind our mothers and/or grandmothers used. Except, now we don't have to use pins (use a Snappi as seen in the picture above) and we have wonderful diaper covers (such as a Bummis Super Whisper Wrap as previously mentioned in other posts) that prevent leaking really well. Green Mountain Diapers has a wonderful prefold page on the variety of prefolds, cost, diaper wrap recommendations and several different ways of snapping them, folding them, etc. She's wonderful over the phone too, in the event you get confused and need help about ALL things cloth diapering.

I recently saw the quality of the prefolds GMD sells when my cousin visited. She uses prefolds on her 10-month-old and purchased them from GMD along with several hemp doublers for nighttime or long car rides, and an Aristocrat wool night time diaper cover. She uses Bummis wraps for daytime. I have some prefolds, but they aren't of the thickness and quality of GMD's. Now, I'm tempted to buy a few! They are so soft and nice! I fell in love.

Prefold diapers, at GMD's and most other diaper sites, run about $25-$30/dozen. You'll probably buy four-five dozen diapers total. We're talking $100-$150 for the diapers and $200 for accessories. So, what, $500 to diaper, possibly, up to three kids. Wow! Can't beat that! And, even if you decide to get all new diapers and wraps for each child, you would still save up to several thousand dollars. Prefolds make great car washing rags later too!

GPS Navigation Systems AKA Marriage Savers

2008-04-23T14:29:00.001Z

I'm not going to recommend a particular GPS. Browse Amazon or electronic sites for reviews and recommendations. Some people have personal preferences in what they want in a GPS (some connect to Ipods, have music and book download capabilities, etc) and/or like to do their own extensive research on electronics. The price ranges and capabilities on these are extensive. We have a TomTom and haven't had a problem with it. Matt has overheard debates between Garmin's and TomTom's and the debates usually end about equal. Both have equal amounts of pros and cons. I prefer Consumer Reports for reviews on electronics - depending on how currently an item I'm looking for has been reviewed and recommended.

Here's what I have to say about what the GPS has done for us. It has saved our marriage (they are nicknamed, "marriage savers"). Ha ha...But, living in Europe, especially here where streets are poorly marked, presented challenges. After a fight or two during car drives (read: lost somewhere in Portugal and didn't speak a lick of the language), Matt forked a few hundred bucks and bought us a GPS. We love it. We don't go anywhere without it. If you don't travel far from home, you need not spend your money on a GPS. But, if you're a traveling family and/or a family who frequently moves to unfamiliar cities, a GPS will silence all those "lost" fights.

They aren't cheap - but, for us, worth every penny! Even if you are a pro at map reading, tuck away your map and turn to this. It'll save you time and frustration. Matt's a great map reader. But, that means I have to drive while he reads a map. Yeah, again, this is so much better.

Ecstatic birth-nature's hormonal blueprint for labor

2008-04-20T12:33:00.003Z

I've recently been in touch with the midwife who delivered each of my girls. She has been following the work of Dr. Sarah Buckely and recommended that I read her works and browse her website.

Upon doing so, I came across her 2005 article titled, "Ecstatic birth-nature's hormonal blueprint for labor."

My words cannot describe or say enough about such a wonderful, informative article. This article moved me. I've personally experienced both types of labor and deliveries she writes about. I found this article fascinating because I was able to learn what exactly happened in my disturbed birth and in my undisturbed birth. I don't have to tell you which birth was better. Read this article and you'll find out.

In it, she presents astonishing studies and facts about normal, undisturbed birth and the hormones during that labor and delivery. Later, she goes onto talk about disturbed and medicated labor and birth and the outcomes often resulting from that type of birth and disruption of our hormonal blueprint.

Her work is fascinating. This article is a must-read for health care professionals, health care students, expectant parents (most importantly), doulas, birth advocates, etc.

For those of you familiar with her work and those of you who read this article, I would love your thoughts!

Health Canada to Announce BPA as Dangerous (Update)

2008-04-18T11:31:00.012Z

Yesterday, Canada banned the use of BPA in baby bottles.

What is BPA?

Bisphenol A is "a chemical compound found in some hard, clear, lightweight plastics and resins. It's used in the production of various types of food and drink containers, compact discs, electronics and automobile parts, and as a liner in some metal cans. Animal studies suggest that, once ingested, BPA may imitate estrogen and other hormones, according to the National Institutes of Health." CBC News.

"Recent independent studies link the chemical to breast cancer, obesity, infertility and insulin-resistance in rodents. " CBC News

Plastic baby bottles such as Avent, Dr. Browns, and Nalgene sports bottles contain this chemical. Heath Canada is expected to make an announcement today proclaiming BPA as dangerous. Such an announcement would, likely, pressure the US and the EU to follow. Many stores in Canada are currently removing plastics containing this chemical from their shelves.

The subject, while somewhat controversial in the US, has recently gotten more press when The Today Show recently did a couple of segments on this dangerous chemical, telling consumers to air on the side of caution when purchasing plastics. The segments helped answer general questions about BPA and which plastics to avoid and how to treat plastics. Dr. Brown's and Nalgene will soon be coming out with lines of BPA-free products.

In the mean time, check out: The Soft Landing's store and blog (for blog, click logo on the right of the blog) for information and purchasing of BPA-Free baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers and so on.

Lactivist in Need of an Attitude Adjustment

2008-04-17T17:00:00.008Z

Last year, my outspoken disappointment over a friend's decision not to try breastfeeding cost me that friendship. Upset about the situation and confused as to why, when the benefits of breastfeeding clearly outweigh the use of formula, someone would decide to not even try breastfeeding (I'm not talking about those who have tried or those who have health conditions preventing them from doing so), I turned to a lactation consultant for advice.

The international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) I spoke with gently tried to readjust my Nazi-like stance on breastfeeding.

As a health care professional, she explained that it is sad and, sometimes frustrating, when you present the facts and women decide against it anyway. However, some women, especially those who use the word "disgusting" when describing their thoughts on breastfeeding, usually have deep seeded reasons for their choice. Here are some of reasons that a woman may choose not to breastfeed her newborn (in no particular order):

Poor self-body image issues.
Past and/or present unresolved abuse (all types of abuse) issues.
Believing in the myth that breastfeeding makes breasts saggy (it doesn't, pregnancy does the worst damage). Also would fall under poor self-body image.
Poor spousal and/or family support.
Uninformed: Little to no knowledge regarding the current information and benefits of breastfeeding.
Sister, friend or family member had a bad experience with breastfeeding.
Cultural reasons (all-encompassing). From being raised in a family environment where it was just not done and/or in an area where it is uncommon and, possibly, frowned down upon, etc.
Believing in the myth that fathers cannot bond properly with a breastfeeding baby.
Fear of failing/fear of infant failure to thrive and more: Many women are unaware that there are now lactation consultants in the community who help with issues such as: poor latch (poor latch can lead to sore nipples and, sometimes, poor milk supply), poor milk supply, poor infant weight gain, breast infections, sore breasts, general questions and concerns, etc.
Belief that breastfeeding ties you down (not really true unless you want to take a vacation away from baby) and unfamiliarity with breast pumps for use in going back to work and/or time away from baby.

After learning the above information, it became apparent that, while I don't know my friend's specific reason for choosing not to breastfeed (she never said and I never asked), I probably deeply hurt her feelings and offended her. The whole situation was extremely humbling and eye-opening on my part. I've been guilt ridden ever since and have been working hard to soften my thinking. I've learned that while some women casually laugh off breastfeeding or use terms like disgusting and give excuses as to their reasons that breastfeeding advocates and educators may find silly or uniformed, there are probably far deeper reasons in their choice than we really know. And unless we are in a position to offer advice, information, help (i.e, lactation consultant, midwife, OB, nurse) support, and understanding, is it really our right to judge? I think not.

gogo Kidz Travelmate

2008-04-16T15:14:00.005Z

We fly a lot. I can't even count how many times I flew from Alaska to the Northeast and back during DH's 16-month deployment. Thanks to my good friend, Jae Rin, travel got easier (especially when I was traveling without DH, with a toddler, and seven months pregnant with Lila) after she recommended this handy travel tool!

The award winning gogo Kidz Travelmate easily attaches to your car seat, therefore, allowing you to use it as a stroller! Once you get on the plane, you quickly detach it and store it in the overhead compartment. Putting it back on is a breeze (it takes some people a little while to get assembly down quickly-for me it was a breeze)!

The only downside to this, that we've found, is that you can't roll it onto the plane (depending on what car seat you use) itself. Our Britax Marathon is too wide. However, it came in handy during long layovers!! Olivia and Lila have both easily napped while being rolled around in their car seat. When I'm alone, I put one child in the Ergo Baby Carrier and one in this.

The reason I haven't posted about it sooner is that, upon arrival in Lisbon, Matt was strolling Lila through the luggage area when the handle broke off. Lila slammed to the floor. She was unharmed, albeit a little scared. Matt and I were more than a little upset that this broke. And, of course, it broke well after the warranty had expired. However, just when I was about to call the company and give them an ear full, I got a letter stating that they had become aware of a faulty handle and were willing to send upgraded replacement parts for free! I called, told them what happened and got my replacement parts in a week (that's saying a lot seeing as I have an FPO address)! Now that's a company that deserves a shout-out!

See the website for car seat compatibility and info: GoGoBabyz for $89.

Mouse Cookies & More - A Treasury

2008-04-14T11:05:00.006Z

This book and the CD of songs and stories is wonderful! Grandma McQuilton sent this to the girls recently. We've been reading the stories to the girls before bed frequently. Who doesn't love the series??!!

This weekend, I decided to give the CD a whirl in the car on a long drive (Matt and I love listening to books on CD during long car rides-which spurred the idea for the girls) and the girls loved it! Olivia is old enough to follow along to the stories and both girls clapped along to the songs!

I was just about to buy a DVD player for the car. But, for now, books on CD will do the trick! Who knew! I think we'll also try books on CD for Liv to listen to as she goes to sleep and, possibly, during days when she isn't napping. If I can get her to stay in her room and listen to a couple of books, I can at least get some quiet time!

You can find this book at Amazon for $16.49.

What books on CD do your children love? This is the only one we have and we're looking for recommendations! So, please leave any recommendations in the comment section.

Shout Out - Maui Jim

2008-04-10T13:48:00.008Z

I have to give a shout out to companies who, I feel, deserve a pat on the back.

A couple of years ago, I purchased a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses at Beaver Sports in Alaska. Several days before, I had lost my favorite Maui Jim's in an iced-over parking lot somewhere in Fairbanks. Since they were several years' old and only just lost, I justified that I was responsible enough to drop $210 on another pair. Immediately. Hey, the glare from the sun off the snow was just too much. I needed polarized lenses! Oh, and my husband was in Iraq, for the second time in less than three years, on what I later found out, was an extended tour (16-months). Most everyone who's been through a separation as such, knows that retail therapy can be just as good (or better) than the real thing.

Somehow, I neglected to register them online for warranty purposes. Then, in the process of moving or blatant carelessness, I lost the receipt. So, when I put them on soon after arriving in sunny Portugal and noticed a crack down the center of one lens, I thought, "Great. No receipt, did not register them. Screwed. $210 down the fricken drain! Matt will not approve of another steep sunglasses purchase in the near future."

I humbly packaged them up, along with a check for $8.95 for return shipping, and sent them to Maui Jim for repair. I figured they'd call and declare total loss and suggest I buy a new pair. So, I was surprised when I got an email stating that they repaired my glasses as "a one time goodwill jester" and had already sent them back to me. A quick phone call to their CS department also confirmed this (Their phone CS is, in my experience, also great).

I received them in the mail yesterday and I am thrilled! Completely repaired and they even sent them in a brand new case. I sent an email thanking the company for their wonderful customer service and for supporting our troops (they ship to FPO and APO's without exorbitant fees).

Now, I did notice that Maui Jim now has sunglasses for women that are more stylish and current with the latest fashion trend (fatter sunglasses). But, I won't complain or hint for another pair! Oh no! I have a perfectly good, simple pair of sunglasses (similar to ones above)!

So, if you're ever in the market for an expensive pair of sunglasses, you may want to consider Maui Jim. I hope the same quality (though I do doubt they repair all sunglasses, no longer under warrenty or without proof of purchase, for free) of customer service applies to everyone!

Stem Cells Found in Breastmilk

2008-04-08T20:19:00.004Z

For all those interested in breastmilk/breastfeeding research, you may find the following article on a recent breastmilk discovery informative and interesting (copied from Mothering):

Stem Cells Discovered in Breastmilk

By Christine Pollack

Breastmilk has been found to contain stem cells, according to research presented in January at the International Conference of the Society for Research on Human Milk and Lactation, in Perth, Australia. Dr. Mark Cregan, lecturer in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Western Australia, sees this significant finding as a stepping stone to new, undiscovered benefits of breastmilk.

Stem cells are "generic" cells that can make exact copies of themselves and also have the ability to produce specialized cells. While adult stem cells are generally specific to certain cell types such as skin and blood, embryonic stem cells are more versatile because they can produce cells for almost any tissue in the body. However, the use of embryonic cells for research is controversial.

Several years ago, while investigating the intricacies of cells in breastmilk, Cregan wondered if it also contained the cells' precursors. He and his team cultured cells from breastmilk and discovered nestin, a stem-cell "marker." In addition to nestin, Cregan and his team found one population of stem cells with the potential to, like embryonic stem cells, differentiate into multiple cell types.

"We already know how breastmilk provides for the baby's nutritional needs, but we are only just beginning to understand that it probably performs many other functions," says Cregan. He is eager to see major changes in the next few years as scientists harvest these stem cells, in a completely ethical manner, to research treatment for conditions such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, spinal injuries, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.

Homemade Baby Food

2008-04-02T12:55:00.007Z

I'm not against store-bought baby food altogether. It's come in handy when I've been sick (I always kept some on hand in my cupboard for that), during travel, the early weeks here in Portugal when I didn't have a microwave, blender or even bowls.

However, I've been mildly irritated when people find out I make my own baby food and tell me they don't have enough time to do it. It takes about a half-hour, once a week, to make a week's supply of food. Since I manage my time worse than anyone I know, I don't understand how a parent doesn't have a half hour if I do. I think marketing is so effective, that parents just don't realize how easy, healthy (especially if you have a local farmer's market or organic food options) and frugal it is to make their own.

Store-bought baby food, organic or not, is cooked so many times before bottled, that the taste is cooked right out and nutrients have to be added back in. Even my non-picky eater, Olivia, wouldn't eat jarred food too often (unless it was banana). She preferred homemade food over store-bought any day. Lila was less picky because I used more jarred food than I wanted during our move and the jarred food here has spices - so she minded it less.

Here's what you'll need:

Ice Cube Trays

Hand Blender (see here) or Food Processor (hand blender is easier to clean and use).

Microwave-Safe Bowls with Lids (such as Corning Ware)

Vegetable Peeler

Knife

Internet to access sites such as: Wholesome Baby Food (recipes and food introduction recommendations-always check with your pediatrician before starting solids. Most will give you a chart).

If you're willing to spend a little bit of money: Baby Food Cookbook such as the one I use: Fresh Baby Cworkbook and kit also found at the Fresh Baby site.

I bought the whole Fresh Baby kit. However, it's not necessary. I will pass it on to family when I'm finished having kids - so, it was worth it to me, but, the Internet or used book stores are great resources for free or inexpensive recipe ideas.

Here's an example of how easy it it can be:

Sweet Potatoes: Ages 6-months+

Wash, peel and chop 2-3 sweet potatoes into one inch pieces. Place in microwave-safe bowl with lid (Or use plastic wrap. I use the glass lid to my Corning Ware) 2 tablespoons of water. Cook 8-10 minutes or until easily pierced with fork (I prefer to microwave because it is faster. Steaming is also good). Let stand 5 minutes.

Puree with hand mixer to desired texture, adding water as needed to achieve desired texture. Spoon into ice cube trays. Freeze 8-12 hours then pop (running warm water on underside of tray helps pop them out) into freezer-safe containers and thaw as needed (cubes are one ounce servings). Freeze up to two months.

Note: As baby gets older, you can add cinnamon and other spices (avoid salt). Make different combinations of foods (sweet potatoes and apples) and experiment.

Some mothers start making baby food a month or so before they plan on introducing solids so they have a stash to add to when baby starts eating.

By ten-months of age, most infants no longer need baby food. Unless they have allergies, they can have foods such as yogurt, cottage cheese, small chunks of hard cheese (such as Cabot Cheddar), very small pieces of meat, tofu, fruit (small pieces of apple, banana), diced and cooked veggies such as peas and carrots, egg-free noodles, 1-minute Quaker Oats oatmeal, Cheerios, etc.

Happy baby food making!

Cloth Napkins for Kids

2008-04-01T20:25:00.009Z

Well, I've done it. I've ditched paper-towels! Following the example of a neighbor of ours in Alaska, many months ago I purchased white bar rags at Sam's Club, in bulk, for less than $10. Matt and I have used them as cloth napkins during our informal dinners and to clean up messy faces, counter tops, spills, dusting, etc. I have been lazy about soaking them overnight in OxyClean or non-chlorine bleach from time to time. So, they are a bit stained. Since I refuse to use chlorine bleach, they'll stay that way until they wear out and I buy more. Maybe in a darker color next time!

We've only kept paper towels around because Olivia likes to use them. How crazy is that? The bar rags are too big for Olivia's liking, I guess. So, many families on my cloth diapering board have mentioned several sites where they have been purchasing WAHM wipes. For butts (many cloth diapering families also use cloth wipes instead of store bought wipes. I do to from time to time myself-wetting them with just water. They work great! I've been disorganized lately and have reached for sposie wipes-I know-so sad!), noses and use at the table.

I purchased the girls "napkins" at Emi Bean's in two patterns (fabrics: flannel-sherpa). One pattern is shown above. From ducks to pirates to flowers and hearts, she's got a lot to choose from. I paid under $20 for 12 wipes, including shipping. If you sew, you could easily make your own for much less. I really need to take some basic sewing lessons because I would save a lot of money! Though, fabric isn't easy to come by over here. I haven't seen one fabric shop yet (aside from curtain fabric shops).

I'm thinking of going back to Ikea for more dinner napkins for Matt and I or custom ordering from Wallypop. She (a WAHM) custom makes napkins at, what I think, are very reasonable prices. With the U.S. dollar so weak, I don't think I could get them cheaper around here, even at Ikea.

On a side note, if any of you have purchased dinner napkins that are fairly wrinkle-resistant, let me know the brand and where you purchased them! Our adult napkins will only be ironed when we have guests!

Doll Diapers

2008-03-29T15:24:00.004-01:00

Olivia loves her doll diapers! She got online with me and picked out the ones she wanted. I found the above diaper at Etsy for $5.00. Shipping was under $2.00 for two diapers, I believe. I've also purchased a couple at Wallypop for less and in prints boys would like when diapering their bears (or dolls). They fit all Olivia's dolls well, including her large Cabbage Patch dolls. Both are made by WAHMs. As you know, I love supporting the WAHM.

These are so much better than buying imitation disposables at Walmart. Not just in support of cloth diapering and the environment , but, because they are so much cuter, easy to for toddlers to put on their dolls, and last ages!

These make great gifts!!

Reisenthel Mini Maxi Shopper and Envirosaks

2008-03-25T21:00:00.008-01:00

My friend, Laura, bought me one of the Reisenthel bags (she's greener than me and we share tips and green products on a regular basis) and Matt and I use it all the time. Yup, even my husband is good about avoiding the use of plastic bags. He even has regular conversations with Olivia about the dangers of plastics bags in regards to the environment and animals:

"Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food. Turtles think the bags are jellyfish, their primary food source. Once swallowed, plastic bags choke animals or block their intestines, leading to an agonizing death.

On land, many cows, goats and other animals suffer a similar fate to marine life when they accidentally ingest plastic bags while foraging for food."

These fit great in my purse and diaper bag. Matt and I don't leave the house without one stored away somewhere.

Found at Reusable Bags for $9 (check for frequent sales).

Also great reusable bags, according the Jae Rin and Amie, are Envirosax. Amie (you can find Amie's review in one of her March 2008 posts) found hers at Delight. Jae Rin found hers on a different site that included free shipping. Search around and you may find a great deal. Approximately $32-$34 for five compact bags.

Robeez Tredz

2008-02-22T14:48:00.003-01:00

Now that Lila is walking, we needed a shoe that she could wear outside. Original Robeez will not withstand much outdoor use. Enter the new Robeez Tredz!

These are great. They came in yesterday and we tried them out at the park today. I love how well they flex. So much better than a stiff sneaker. For first walking shoes and sneakers, I was a StrideRite mom. No more. We're so excited that we can transition from Robeez Originals, right into these!

Note that these do run large. As I feel all Robeez do. Lila is nearly 16-months. She's wearing size 12-16 months and they are quite big on her. Now, my girls are small. However, I would love to see Robeez readjust their sizing just a little bit. That being said, despite the size, they still stay on! A true Robeez! I also wish they had a toe guard because Lila still scoots on the ground from time to time, therefore, scuffing up the toes. That stage will soon pass, so, it's not too much of a big deal.

My advice is that you download their sizing chart off the Robeez website and/or try on in a store. Or order two sizes from an online retailer that offers free returns (Zappos, ShoeBuy, etc.) and return the size that doesn't fit.

http://www.robeez.com/ for $41.95

Flushable Liners

2008-02-14T14:24:00.004-01:00

I would NOT cloth diaper without these. I'm not going to buy a sprayer that attaches to my toilet. I'm not going to scrape poop off my diapers. After a while, you kind of know when your child is going to have a BM. Around that time, I'll add a flushable liner to the diaper. It contains BM (You don't need these for newborn BM. That washes out without the need to rinse or scrape if baby is breastfed) and you only have to pick up the liner, flush liner and BM down toilet.

Imse Vimse sells a good diaper liner and you can find them on nearly every cloth diaper website. Make sure you purchase toddler size no matter how young your infant is. Cut them in half for a younger baby, if need be.

They run about $7.00 for 100.

Growing Green Diapers-Day and Nighttime Diaper

2008-02-12T13:57:00.000-01:00

As soon as my baby hits four months, I switch to a Growing Green Hemp/Cotton blend fitted, one-size diaper with a Bummis Super Whisper Wrap cover (see previous post about cover). These will fit an average size baby 5-30lbs. Your super chunky or super tall babies may not make it that long, however, close to it. I started using these when Lila's BF BM was less frequent and loose. I think Kissaluvs holds in BF BM better than any other diaper. So, while you can use the contoured snap-in soaker that comes with each diaper alone as a newborn diaper, I suspect you'll have some leaks from time to time.

I love hemp. Here's what Little Sprout Diapers has to say about hemp: Hemp is the perfect fiber for cloth diapers with four times the durability and absorption of cotton. It also contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which help prevent diaper rash. The growth of hemp has less impact on our environment, requires less labor, and hemp can be reproduced much faster than cotton.

As I previously mentioned, the GG diapers come with a snap in soaker. These diapers hold so much pee when the soaker is used. I started using the soaker when Lila turned six months because she's a heavy wetter.

Little Sprout Diapers sell Growing Greens in organic 100% cotton or the hemp combo and good online "how-to" pictures. They have a great package deal that includes the overnight doublers. I love the overnight doublers because they have fleece sewed into one side. Fleece wicks away moisture and when using the overnight doubler with snap-in soaker, it makes a great absorbant, overnight diaper. You can use a Bummis cover or a wool cover. You can find great overnight wool covers at some of the cloth diaper sites I list. I use a wool longie or an Imse Vimse wool diaper cover. Wool covers and instructions on how to clean wool are found at Green Mountain Diapers. You'll need to hand wash and lanolize them once a month or when they are soiled. Other than that, you just hang them out to dry and the urine smell will disappear as the cover dries. We love wool! Keeps baby cool in the summer and warm in the winter. And, no, the wool covers we get and are sold online are not very itchy at all. Nice and soft.

Tip: If you like fleece and it's wicking away moisture ability, go to the fabric store, buy a yard of good quality fleece. Cut it up to fit the length of your diapers and you have a great diaper liner that will help prevent diaper rash, if your child is prone.

Diaper Covers

2008-02-06T08:23:00.000-01:00

Bummis Super Whisper Wraps (BSWW) are "workhorse" diaper covers. They are used with fitted, prefold and flat diapers. They dry quickly and only need to be washed when soiled and/or smelly. I wash about once a week with my diapers and line dry (you can dry in dryer - they'll last longer if you line dry). I have covers that are 2.5 years old. They come in several prints and white and also in white with snaps if you don't like velcro. There is also a new Bummis called, "Super Brite." I have yet to try it, however, it's getting good reviews. It has leg gussets to further contain leaks and is a bit more trim than the BSWW.

I use a size newborn with my newborn baby diapers and size medium has lasted on all my other fitted diapers up through toilet training. They run about $11/each. I suggest four newborn and four medium (Skip the small unless you can find them on sale or consignment. Your baby will only be in them for a month or so). For great pictures and info, see Green Mountain Diaper's site.

Newborn Diapers

2008-02-06T08:10:00.000-01:00

For the first three months, I use Kissaluv's size 0, unbleached diaper. It's a fitted diaper. They hold in breastfed baby BM better than any diaper. These are daddy friendly because they snap! My DH loves these diapers. I recommend this diaper even if you're not interested in cloth diapering long-term. I can count the number of blow outs we had with diaper on one hand. It was very very rare. Lila was our extreme pooper. For some time her nickname was, "Poops." They even have a snap in which to fold down the diaper for the unbilical cord. Breastfed (BF) baby BM washes right out of these. No need to rinse or soak. Just lay out in the sun when damp if they look a little yellow coming out of the wash. The sun bleaches out BF BM wonderfully!

You can search the site for local retailers or find them on the links I've provided on the side of the blog. They run about $11.50/each. However, they hold up very well. We will use them on three babies before handing them over to the girls' dolls. They also resell very well at cloth diaper/natural living consignment stores.

Cloth Diapers

2008-02-04T13:38:00.000-01:00

Since Lila's birth, I've become obsessed with cloth diapering. I'm part of a message board, and frequent many online cloth diapering stores looking for exciting new products or sales.

Olivia was cloth diapered for the first six months of her life. Then, Matt deployed to Iraq and I became lazy. Cloth diapering adds about 15-minutes of work to my life a week. It's very simple and I had no good excuse for slacking as much as I did during the deployment.

Since birth, Lila has been cloth diapered 95% of the time, and Olivia was toilet-trained in cloth training pants. I believe we go through about one bag of disposable diapers every four-months (mostly used by babysitters, and the rare laundry pile-up, etc).

I'm going to do a series of posts on what diapers, covers, liners and other products I use and love. First, however, I wanted to touch on the diaper debate:

Before Googling cloth vs. disposable diaper studies online (most studies are done by disposable diaper companies, therefore, bias), please read Punkin Butt's article entitled, The Diaper Dilemma: The Environmental Cost of Diapers Weighing the environmental costs of disposables versus cloth diapers.

Here's what our family does to make cloth diapering easy on the environment:

We do not use bleach. It's very bad for the environment and ruins cloth diapers. We use a scoop of Oxygen cleaner (Oxy-clean Baby) occasionally in the wash. The sun is the best way to get breastfed poop stains out and a few drops of tea tree oil in the wash (from time to time) help disinfect, if you think the sun and/or a hot wash (120-130 degrees) is not enough.
We us an environmentally-friendly detergent (such as Charlie's Soap).
We line dry when possible.
We use a front load, energy efficant washer.
Our diapers are unbleached and/or organic. Organic products have less of an impact on the environment. As do unbleached products.
We reuse! Olivia and Lila have both been able to use the same newborn diapers. They are in such good condition, the next baby will be using them too. When the next baby has grown out of them, they will be used on dolls. They fit dolls 14-inches and above nicely!

Cloth diapers have come a long way in the past several years. There is no longer a need for pins, there are several types of liners you can purchase if your child is rash-prone, and there are even flusable liners that prevent solids from having to be scraped out of a diaper (Yeah! No mess!).

Interest peaked? Start out by reading Green Mountain Diaper's, "How-To" information. It'll start you out learning how to fold the very basic, prefold diaper (one diapering option, among many) and it will go on to tell you about washing diapers.

Stay tuned to find out what we use to diaper a newborn...

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

2008-01-11T15:30:00.000-01:00

Update: Please see comment section for another great breastfeeding book recommendation! Thanks, Holly!

Breastfeeding bible! Read it during your pregnancy and keep this book and a lactation consultant's number handy for the first days and weeks after your infant's birth. As the months go by, you'll find, like me, that you refer to it from time to time or loan it out.

It can be found at most bookstores or online at Barnes and Noble for $16.20.

Bebe Au Lait - Nursing Cover Up

2008-01-11T15:18:00.000-01:00

These are great nursing cover-ups. I have this exact one. Blankets usually fell off my shoulder or I just couldn't get the blanket adjusted properly. This is nice because it has boning in the top center so you can look down at your baby. It's not bulky and fits nicely into the diaper bag or even a medium sized purse. I didn't leave home without for months!

These make great shower gifts! I bought mine from Mom4Life for about $35. She offers free shipping. It's lasted through two infants.

Vermont Maple Syrup

2008-01-02T13:06:00.001-01:00

What? Maple Syrup? Why would she post about that?

Well, I grew up on the real stuff. Rarely did we ever have the "fake" stuff in our house and in local restaurants. Vermont maple syrup is famous, as is Canadian maple syrup (and we lived about 1.5 hours from the Canadian border).

I remember Log Cabin or Aunt Jemima in our house every now and then. Sometimes because my mother was on a diet and purchased the low-cal imitation stuff. Sometimes because our friends had Aunt Jemima and we kids thought she looked cool. However, that stuff would sit in our fridge and rot because we never got around to finishing it. We just couldn't give up our true love of the REAL stuff.

It's not easy to find in Portugal and wasn't easy to find in bulk in Alaska either. And, I especially couldn't find it in large quantities in Georgia. My mother has been shipping it to me for several years.

My husband calls me a "maple syrup snob." I just don't understand why anyone could use that stuff. It smells fake and is filled with corn syrup and artificial flavorings. I can't stand walking into a restaurant and smelling it. Heck, in Vermont, you can go to a mom and pop restaurant, buy a short stack of pancakes, home fries, and coffee for under $5.00 (Nectar's for you Vermonters reading) It includes REAL maple syrup. Yup, even the "dive" restaurants serve the good stuff. The imitation stuff is just plain unnatural and bad for you. That's not to say maple syrup is good for you. We all know sugary foods offer empty calories. However, it's a natural flavoring, there's nothing artificial in it, and now can be purchased in organic varieties.

That being said, my Southern friends laugh at me because most of them don't like the real stuff. However, if you keep trying it, you'll grow to love it. I've heard this from many people who have cut out high fructose corn syrup and/or artificial flavorings and made the switch, somewhat reluctantly in the beginning, and were eventually hooked.

So, cut out the imitation stuff and make the switch!

It can be purchased everywhere online. Here's a link to purchasing it at Shelburne Farms in Vermont. Not only a good online retailer in which to purchase Vermont made products, including syrup, but a great place to visit with the kids and stay when you're visiting Vermont. Check out the whole site and see for yourself. We love it there!

Bialetti Mukka Express L'Art del Cappuccino

2007-12-25T12:17:00.000-01:00

Update: This item gets better and better the more you use it. I switched from a store-brand expresso to ILLY brand. I was using whole milk, but decided all that fat was too much. Skim milk does froth very well. It didn't at first. However, once the cappucccino maker was broken in, it produced more and more froth. Matt prefers a creamier cappuccino, therefore, the skim milk version doesn't cut it for him.

I've been eyeing these Italian cappuccino makers since I became addicted to the Portuguese version of cappuccino. This is a stove top cappuccino maker. I had forgotten how much they were online but was sure I could find them fairly inexpensive in Italy where they are made. I wanted the polished aluminum model and searched high and low for one in Italy. Matt helped me search one afternoon. We went to a local supermarket and they had them. Only in the cow design and for 42 Euro. About $60 US. I wasn't going to fork out that much money for one. I was sure they were less online and I could also get the design I wanted.

Then, I hit the Nex and found the cow design model for $35 US. I snatched one up. Hey, I don't really like the design. It certainly doesn't match my stainless steel tea pot and countertops. But, I couldn't beat the price.

When I got home last night, I checked online and found out that they are $89. Wow. I really scored with my NEX purchase! I should have picked up a couple of them to give away as gifts.

How do the cappuccinos come out? Really well. I used low-fat milk because that's all the local market had. So, the froth wasn't as good as it probably could have been, however decent enough. I also heated it for one-two minutes after I heard the maker start to froth because I like my coffee and cappuccinos quite hot. It takes about three tries to get it right. You must use expresso and make sure all the measurements are exact. It takes four minutes to make two cups. I stay in the kitchen to keep an eye on it (some reviewers have said that theirs overflowed - mine has not even come close). Matt and I are really impressed and I'm so excited that I got this item for such a steal!

Is it worth $90? Probably not. I'd wait and see if it goes on sale after the holidays. Amazon sells the cow model and the brushed aluminium model. In Italy, I also saw a pyrex model. I highly recommend this maker. Read the reviews at Amazon, get some tips and try to find the right price. I doubt you'll be disappointed with this maker. In fact, I also have the Bialetti stove-top expresso maker (2 cup). I'll review about that when I use it. While I love cappuccino, coffee, I think, is an aquired taste and I'm still aquiring a taste for expresso. However, I used to detest cappuccino and now I look forward to a rich, hot cup!

Bummis Training Pants

2007-11-29T15:52:00.001-01:00

Okay, here's my two cents. Ditch the Pull-Ups. In my experience, they don't work. Olivia would wear a bummis (shown above) and would start to make progress. We'd throw a Pull-Up on for hourly care at Fort Wainwright (they didn't allow "cloth" in the under two's room) and she'd regress. It was fun to pee on Dora!

Here's the truth. Potty-training sucks. Especially if you have carpet. Children will have accidents and there's no way around it. To get the job done quickly (or more quickly, I should say), they need to feel wet. Whether they're regular Pull-Ups or the "Feel-Wet" kind, they just don't do the job regular old panties or a thick cloth pull-up would (save the Pull-Ups for night-time if you really want to use them).

Putting off potty training because you don't want to deal with accidents, laundry or carpet abuse are poor excuses (in my humble opinion). I think these really do help (hey, if you have hardwood floors, turn up the heat and let the kid run naked, even better. Most toddlers don't like the feel of pee running down their legs).

Once Olivia entered the two's room, where they help out with potty-training, they allowed Olivia to wear these. While, I still packed regular Pull-Ups because I didn't want to deal with the scorn of some of the caretakers there, I usually sent her wearing one of these. If she had an accident, I let them put on a Pull-Up. For a while. By mid-summer, I ditched the Pull-Ups altogether and THEN we made progress. Olivia was potty-trained a couple of weeks before we got to Portugal.

While she has the occasional accident (they will for years to come folks), I'm a firm believer that these did the trick. They are nearly leak proof, hold a lot of pee and your child will feel wet. They are bulky. But, the Gerber, cloth-lined plastic ones found at Wal-mart were cheap, and made Olivia's butt break out in a rash because they didn't breath at all. We love these Bummis! She still wears them from time to time. Especially on long drives or adventures far away from toilets.

What about the poop? Well, you could get bio-degradable liners. Place one in the training pant and if your child poops, pull out the poopy liner and flush down the toilet. If your child wets, wash the liners with your laundry and reuse 1-2 times (they'll start to fall apart after that).

You can find Bummis Training Pants at Soft Cloth Bunz and all over the internet. As you can the liners.

Robeez

2007-11-29T15:41:00.000-01:00

I've loved Robeez for nearly three years. Olivia wore them and now Lila wears them. They aren't outside shoes. But, great for inside wear. They clean up nicely (I use a baby wipe to spot clean) and they STAY ON! Great boy, girl and neutral designs available.

I think the 0-6 month size should be labeled as 3-9 months (or 12 months in my girls' case - but, they have very small feet).

Robeez is currently offering free shipping.

Where Do My Sneakers Go at Night - Rick Charette

2007-11-27T15:49:00.000-01:00

I have three sisters. I am eight years older than my baby sister. When she was a toddler, I still loved this CD! We all did. Heck, we named our family dog after one of the songs. Your kids will love this CD. I've even seen him in concert and have fond memories. Some of the songs date back to the late 80's and early 90's. I believe this CD is a different version than the tape version our family listened to. But, close enough! Enjoy singing along! Even as an adult, you'll get hooked!
Found at Amazon.com here.

Charlie's Soap

2007-11-27T15:33:00.000-01:00

Charlie's Soap is a laundry detergent. I've been using Charlie's Soap for about six-months now. It's eco-friendly, baby-friendly, and cloth-diaper friendly (no build-up with this soap). It's been featured on The Today Show and is just wonderful. It doesn't smell and you only need one teaspoon (it comes w/a scoop) per load. As with any detergent, I do sometimes need a laundry boost and in that case, I'll use an eco-friendly Oxygen boost or Borax. I pretreat my stains with Charlie's All-Purpose spray or an eco-friendly Oxygen laundry stain spray.

My family has sensitive skin. Matt can break out from Tide and Lila has mild eczema. We have not had a problem with this detergent. That being said, some people have had problems with rashes. That would be the case for some people with all types of detergents. So, don't let any bad review sway you. This stuff is great. I just bought five gallons for $120 (free shipping). That will last us through 1280+ loads of laundry. Possibly a year or more supply! Plus, I bought in bulk - which is an eco-friendly practice! Found at Charlie's Soap in powder or liquid form.

InchBug Bumpy Names

2007-11-27T15:20:00.000-01:00

We love these. They could last for many many years. I may even purchase a set for my travel mugs and water bottles. Great for daycare, playgroups, etc. No more sticky tape residue! You can pick from the preprinted labels or have your custom made. Found at Inchbug.com

Safer Water-Bottles for Kids

2007-11-27T14:51:00.000-01:00

I try to avoid plastic bottles and sippy cups. The ones that we do have and use are made of #5 plastic (Such as the Avent Magic Cups). Plastic studies, currently, show #5 plastic to be non-leaching. However, I am, slowly, making the switch to non-leaching stainless steel and SIGG bottles. Olivia loves her SIGG. We have ceramic tiled floors and this is barely dented, despite lots of drops (you can purchase neoprene sleeves for these at the Sigg website and on Ebay).

We also have Klean Kanteen's sippy cup (I recently purchased the sports cap for Olivia). It's stainless steel and made responsibly in China. This cup can really take a beating! The sippy spout is made of #5 plastic.

We've had both of these cups for a year or more and they have held up very very well.

Both of these bottles can both be found at Reusablebags.com. There, you can also find NY Built Neoprene sleeves to protect and insulate these.

What About the Toys? My Wish List

2007-11-27T12:50:00.000-01:00

So, you've browsed the site and keep wondering, where are the toys? Aside from the sling, I haven't posted any toys. Why? Well, I've recently begun to rethink toy purchases my husband and I make. With the lead scare and recalls, I've begun to think that "quality instead of quantity" is more appropriate. Also, I've been more than bit disturbed when I realize that many of the toys my children play with have been made in unsafe and unfair environments. Ten-year-old children may have helped make several of my children's toys.

That being said, not buying toys from China is nearly impossible. I encourage every parent to start really paying attention to the toys their children actually play with, stop buying impulsively and/or giving into fad toys. Start phasing out the plastic and focusing on toys, books and puzzles that are educational and more realistic than much of the plastic toys on the market. I've noticed that Olivia and Lila play with very few of the plastic toys we've given them. So, while I have thrown out recalled toys (we did have some) and haven't bought any toys recently, here's a list of toys I plan on purchasing over the next few months and up through the next few years. Each company does their best to practice fair wage, labor and safe work environments.

1. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Fold & Go Dollhouse with Furniture & 2 Doll Figures
We'll probably start out with this. It's foldable, affordable, will travel nice in the car to friends houses and on road trips in which we will stay in a hotel. It's small, can be carried to the kitchen table and will fit nicely in our current small house. Lila and Olivia should get lots of use out of it. Additional dolls and furniture can be purchased separately. I could paint it if I were crafty. When it starts to fall apart, it can be burned. Something you can't do (or shouldn't do) with a plastic dollhouse set! It can be found at Amazon.com for $40 or less.

2. Plan Toys has many great things for a broad range of ages. If I had boys, I'd be purchasing the Plan Toys Airport. Who knows, my girls may even like it! If the girls really like the M&D house shown above and show interest in a bigger house, we'll probably purchase this. It's made of made of "replenishable rubberwood processed naturally, and free from any wood preservative." They could use it for years and as they got older, add on to the furniture and dolls with money from their allowance or ask for additions for gifts, etc. Most kids play with dollhouses up until eleven or twelve years old. Again, if I was crafty, I could paint it and if I dared, I could allow my girls to paint it. It and other dollhouses, dollhouse dolls, furniture and other items for all ages from Plans Toys are found at Amazon.com.

3. Julianna's Kitchen from Nova Natural Toys and Crafts. This could end up being an heirloom if taken care of properly. If it survived all our military moves, that is. If not, it could be burned. Once again, something you can't do with plastic kitchens. Nova Natural is just a great site. I have a few items from them. This is expensive at $214. It doesn't come with any dishes. However, it's made so well and is gender-neutral. There are several other kitchens, sinks, iceboxes, etc. If only this shipped to an FPO!! It'll have to wait until we head to Kansas in a year or two (unless I find something comparable here). Kitchen accessories and play food are found at on the site also.

4. Play SilksI meant to buy these from Blueberry Baby in Alaska before I left. However, Olivia just wasn't there yet. I'm not sure she's there now because her clothing preference is none at all. But, in future, I'm sure I'll be purchasing this skirt and some play silks. These too, for boys and girls, are found at Nova Natural.

5. More dress-up - Tutus

I've been eying these tutus at Mom4Life for months and months. You can find similar ones on Ebay. However, since this site offers frequent free-shipping, I'll probably buy from her. I could, also, have my mother-in-law make some for the girls. If you sew, I hear these are pretty easy.

6. Travel Chalkmats

I recently purchased these. Again, from Mom4Life. It looks like it'll take some abuse and will fit nicely in the diaper bag. I haven't used it yet. When we use it, if I have any problems with it, I'll post about it. But, so far, it's super cute and it'll be a great addition our eating out and travel stash.

7. Hapai Baby Doll Carrier

I recently got this for Olivia. She's been asking to wear her babies on her back. This Hapai can be worn on the back also. It hasn't come it yet. But, I know Olivia will love it. Once again, if we have any problems with it, I'll post about it. In the mean time, you can find them here at the bottom of the page. $24 and free shipping.

Bravado Designs Nursing Bras

2007-11-21T14:09:00.001-01:00

Pregnant and Nursing Mothers!

These are the best nursing (and maternity) bras out there. I spent a lot of money trying to find the right bra. After months of frustration, a nursing-friend recommended these and I've been hooked ever since. I've been pregnant or nursing for the past 43-months - so, these are tested thoroughly by me. These bras look like a normal bra and don't have the stupid circular fabric in the cups that I was always adjusting. I mean, what are those things for anyway? My pregnant and/or nursing breasts never fit in them.

Browse the Bravado Design site. My favorite bra is the Lifestyle Microfiber (shown above). I also love the nursing tank (there is now a shrug to go along with the tank) and the panties. I also noticed a new, sexier bra (Exquisite) and panties coming out soon.

Even celebrities, such as Jennifer Garner and Angelina Jolie have raved about Bravado Bras. I hope you will too!

The Chariot

2007-11-18T16:03:00.000-01:00

Cadillac of jogging/recreation strollers. This is a jogger, bike trailer, ski trailer and more. We didn't love the initial price tag, however, it's durability and mulit-usage more than made up for it. We bought it from REI and had it shipped up to Alaska at a very reasonable price. Customer service at REI was exceptional. Find it here at REI for about $400.

Kids Baby Sling

2007-11-18T15:50:00.000-01:00

Olivia has one of these slings found at Peppermint.com for $15 and she loves it. If you sew, you could easily make one. I don't know any doll-loving child who wouldn't get a kick out wearing his/her baby. Great lead-scare-free gift idea!

"Clean House, Clean Planet"

2007-11-04T10:32:00.000-01:00

My friend, Laura, recommended this book and I've used many of the cleaning "recipes" successfully. I don't like to use products containing bleach (harmful to the environment) or other harmful chemicals.

I especially like the all-purpose cleaner. This book offers recipes using products such as baking soda, vinegar, and the natural disinfectant tea tree oil. Once you stock up on the relatively inexpensive ingrediants, you can make all of these products for pennies and, for the most part, they are non-toxic. Meaning, your child can help you clean!

The author is a little extreme (she doesn't recommend the use of vacuum cleaners). So, take what you want and/or need from the book and don't worry about her other recommendations. Hey, you do what makes sense and works for you.

Is Your Baby Bottle Safe?

2007-11-04T07:07:00.000-01:00

You may have seen recent national news broadcasts and news articles reporting on the dangers of chemicals leaching from certain baby bottles. Recent research has shown that popular polycarbonate baby bottles, such as Avent and Dr. Browns, may leach a harmful chemical called Bisphenol-A.

We all know that breast is best. However, when you do have to reach for a bottle, whether it is expressed milk or formula, these bottles above (sold at Babies R' Us and Whole Foods Markets) may be the better option, especially if you're looking for a bottle that provides air vents that may help eliminate colic symptoms and/or gas.

Born Free bottles are a bit pricey. So, if they aren't in your budget, reach for a bottle that has a plastic code of 5 on the bottom. You'll know because it's the kind of plastic that gives when you squeeze it. The Medela Breast Pump bottles are made of that type of safe, non-leaching plastic.

I've used New Born Free bottles and sippy cups and really like them. Lila, especially, likes the sippy spout.

Reusable Grocery Bags

2007-11-04T06:43:00.000-01:00

Many people are making the switch to reusable grocery and produce bags. Why? Well, many grocery stores now charge money for each bag you use at the check-out. Some cities no longer allow the use of plastic bags. I mean, it's obvious. We all know why we should be using reusable bags. It's the eco-friendly thing to do.

We use the ACME Earth Totes pictured above. I bought the tan. But, scuff marks do show up. So, if I was in the market for bags again, I'd buy the same ones in black instead. These bags fold up nicely and I keep them in the trunk of my car along with the produce bags. And, no, I am not given a hard time at the check-out.

Here in Parade (Portugal) where I live, many people use grocery trolleys to cart their food home (they walk). And, when I lived in Alaska, people in the store and at the check-out would ask me where I got them. Take a look around your local grocery store, you may find that they actually sell reusable grocery bags at an extremely reasonable price.

Olivia has already learned that we don't use plastic bags and will help me put these on the check-out counter. She also uses these to pretend grocery shop with her dolls.

For more information about the effects on the environment when using plastic bags, and great products (and gift ideas) at various price ranges, go to Reusablebags.com

2007-11-01T16:03:00.000-01:00

Join Hopkins, Alex and Leah for Signing Times. These DVD's, Music CD's and Books make great baby shower gifts. Olivia's first "words" were signs. You will enjoy seeing your child speak to you in sign language. Check out the site for much more information and facts at the Signing Time website.

Temporal Thermometer

2007-11-01T09:52:00.000-01:00

I first saw a similar version of this on the pediatrics ward in Fairbanks, AK. Then, a friend of mine told me about the one she purchased for her son and she highly recommended it because it was as accurate as the rectal thermometer the doctor had used on her son. Instead poking and prodding at an infant or toddler, you swipe this from the center of the forehead to the temple (read instructions for proper use). It's the only thermometer I use now. You can find them at local drugstores including Walgreen's and Wal-Mart for approximately $30.

BabyLegs

2007-11-01T09:29:00.000-01:00

Whatever you choose to wear your baby in, you'll probably notice that space between their socks and pants. Inevitably, baby's pants ride up when you place him/her in the carrier, leaving a gaping space where little legs can get cold. These are wonderful to put under pants. I love them and so does my husband. When we lived in Alaska, or visited NY in the Fall, he was always concerned about his girls getting cold. Therefore, he was eager to try these out and ended up really appreciating them! He keeps a pair in the carrier at all times.

As you can see, they aren't just for baby-wearing. Throw on a onesie or t-shirt and diaper changes are made in a snap. My babysitters love them! Also, use underneath dresses, skirts and tutus. They even come in great boy colors.

Price: $13-$15

Ergo Baby Carrier

2007-10-30T14:18:00.001-01:00

This may be one of our family's favorite products. I can't even tell you how much money I spent on carriers before I found and fell in love with this one (thank you Jae Rin). While I do like the Maya and Moby Wrap, my husband and I love this carrier. I was so tired of my shoulders and back getting sore when I used a frame-pack or even the Maya Wrap.

I always find it funny when I see moms chasing or trying to prepare food for a toddler while holding a baby. Some people would tell me that they like holding their baby. But, I would think to myself, "you are holding your baby just as close in the Ergo but you have your hands free!" And, here in Portugal, you cannot properly get around many of the historical sites with a stroller. I get laughs watching people try to do it, but, inevitably, they have to ditch the stroller to climb stairs to see a view, etc. Or the parents take turns or one parent misses out. I've seen red-faced, frustrated parents struggle with their toddler or heavy baby in the heat. Tantrums abound. They look at my longingly, point or ask where I got my carrier.

With Lila, as a newborn and small infant, I used the infant pillow that is inserted into the Ergo. By three months we removed the pillow and by six months I had her on my back.

There are several Ergo accessories that are wonderful. As you can see in the photo above of Olivia and I, the backpack works great. As does the front pouch for holding a wallet, keys and cell phone.

Now, my husband is a frame pack kind of guy. He bought a frame carrier for Olivia when she was just weeks old (even though it would be several months before she would fit in it) and deployed to Iraq before even using it. When he returned home 16-months later, he was hesitant to try this. He found getting Olivia on his back a bit tricky (it does take practice). He declared that he hated it. Olivia loved it and when he used the frame pack, she would tell him that her butt hurt. So, he gave in and tried using the Ergo again. And again. It's now his preferred carrier. He's even gotten over the bug motif lining our Ergo has.

Olivia, now nearly three, still rides comfortably on our backs in the Ergo. Lila jumps up and down when I pull it out. It is especially helpful when I'm trying to get dinner ready and Lila is cranky. On my back she goes, quiets down and watches me cook, often, running her hands through my hair or gently rubbing my arm.

Ergo Carriers now come in great organic fabric and colors and each comes packaged with a great instructional DVD. If you're hesitant to try it, go to the website, watch the DVD online and browse the pictures and testimonials:

Price: $92-$105

Site: http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/172.html