Saturday, December 3, 2011

Organic Products From Their Family To Yours: Nature's Baby Organics


Nature's Baby Organics makes products that are safe for the whole family. Ingredients are natural, organic and are extremely effective. In the winter time my son's skin gets quite dry and sometimes small patches of eczema can flare up if I don't keep his skin slathered in lotion. The problem is that I hadn't found a lotion that kept his skin juicy long enough to keep dry skin away for the whole day. I was re-applying lotion two to three times a day. Nature's Baby Organics Soothing Stick works really great and I'm glad I received this. It comes like a big oversized chapstick tube and you can apply it liberally to any area of the skin that needs protection such as the cheeks, arms or legs. It's scentless and has ingredients such as chamomile, shea butter and olive oil. It doesn't get much more natural than this.
I've always been incredibly cautious with my son's skin. While I occassionally like to slather on some regular store-brand lotion, I pay more attention to what is going onto my son's delicate body and skin. I like Nature's Baby Organics because the products are so simple but they work well. They feature a full ingredient disclosure on every product which is great because not many people realize that many bath and body products don't always list some of their ingredients which could cause allergies or health problems for many people. All products are also paraben, SLS, phthalate and propylene glycol free. Packaging is BPA free as well.
Nature's Baby Organics has products for kids of all ages, and adults will even be stealing a few drops here and there. Shampoo, conditioner, diaper ointment, baby oil, chest rub, dusting powder and bubble bath are all available and all perfectly safe. The best part is that all of these products are baby staples that almost every nursery has.

B.Witching Bath Company For Your Entire Home

I love products. It's always been my weakness and I always love natural-smelling soaps, lotions, scrubs and more. I've never been one for chemical-packed items that make me wonder if ingredients I can't pronounce are safe for us so I was happy to be in touch with the B.Witching Bath Co. Their beauty secrets are currently serving customers all over the world.

B. Witching Bath Company's products include ingredients that lightly scent your body and your home such as therapeutic botanicals, essential oils along with minimal preservatives. My absolute favorite is their Kitchen and Garden soaps. Since I'm a stay at home mom who works from home, it seems I'm always doing dishes. I've stuck with organic or natural-based soaps since my son was born because I felt it was safer to wash his bottles with those products instead of harsh chemical soaps. The problem is that most of the soaps I've used have no scent or a strong citrus smell which a person can get quite tired of. With soaps like Rosemary and Herb, Mango Chutney, Heirloom Tomato and Bordeaux, my kitchen now smells wonderful all time! I love that tea tree oil is included as a natural antibacterial.
B.Witching Bath Company's products aren't mass produced with little attention. Most products require over 35 steps to create and certain products are only made during certain times of the year because of the availability of ingredients.
Products are never tested on animals and you can trust these products are safe for your whole family. I wash sippy cups, pet bowls, dishes, pots and pans in the soaps and love them! You can also find bath, face and men's products at www.bwitchingbathco.com. Prices are very reasonable and they are a great addition to any home. They are also great gift options.

Embracing Emotions with the Worry Woos


The Worry Woo Monsters are a delightful toy option for children who tend to experience emotions such as loneliness, insecurity, innocence, confusion, worry or frusteration. The colorful and cuddly stuffed animal coupled with the book explain the emotion and how to properly deal with it.
Designed by Andi Green, the Worry Woos were first featured in a New York City art exhibition back in 2001. The goal was to inspire people to embrace their emotions and she was approached to turn her creations into stories to help others. In 2007 the Worry Woo collection was released.
Each story comes in a hard cover book that is illustraded with pen, ink and watercolor. Approximately 67 pages feature each character. The plush dolls are soft and meet ASTM standards. They are about 11 inches in height and are made of safe materials that you can trust with your children.
Nola, Rue, Fuddle, Squeek, Twitch and Wince will all help comfort your child during rough times in their childhood. When you don't know quite what to say, a little coaching from the Worry Woos will help parents connect with their children and help them feel comfortable and safe with their emotions.
You can visit www.worrywoos.com for more information or to order your own set.

Protecting Your Child With Allerbling


Food allergies are on the rise and some of the most common triggers for children are peanuts, milk, wheat, fish and eggs. While some children grow out of their allergies, many are plagued by them for most of their life. When your child becomes old enough to head to pre-school or kindergarten on their own, you try your best to educate them as well as the school's staff on the nature of the allergy and what should be avoided, but mistakes are always made, especially if someone isn't aware there is an allergy present in the class. Allerbling has made a great product that helps protects children from having an adverse reaction to a food or product by alerting people that they have an existing allergy. It's also great for parents to put their mind at ease that your child will be safe while they are away from you for the day.
Allerbling is a wristband that can be customized to reflect specific allergies by adding small 'buttons' to the bracelet. You can then secure it to your child's wrist and it is colorful enough that people will take notice. It may also remind your child to communicate their allergy to someone who may be serving them food.
A standard Allerbling set comes with charms for allergies to soy, tree nuts, dairy, shellfish, eggs, peanuts, wheat and fish. Each bracelet can hold up to 4 charms along with the medical cross charm. The cross is recommended to catch people's attention more and make them aware a life threatening situation could occur if these foods are consumed.
For more information you can visit www.allerbling.com. Allerbling is dedicated to supporting organizations that raise awareness and work to find a cure to stop food allergies.

Keeping Your Pet Cheerful With Cheerful Pet Toys

With the holiday season approaching it's time to think about all the special people in our life. We can't forget about our beloved furbabies though, and should make sure there's something special under the tree for them too.

A Cheerful Pet is a family owned business and they have a passion for helping people and they aim to provide pets with unique and attractive products. Their pet toys are designed in the United States and are crafted by hand in Nepal. Each piece is handmade with 100% New Zealand wool, and is completely unique and a one-of-a-kind.
The set of standards that products are upheld to at A Cheerful Pet confirms that you will receive a quality gift for your pet that they will love. The prices are also very comparable to other products at local pet supply stores and online. They are durable and will hold up well.
A number of different products are available including small bone-shaped chew toys, frisbees, animal shapes, balls and even pull toys that are strong despite their wool make-up.
You can visit www.acheerfulpet.com for more information or to order a toy for your pet. Become a fan on their facebook page as well for contests, special offers and pet photos.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Raising a Little Chef with Curious Chef

I was incredibly excited when my son was old enough that he started asking to help in the kitchen when I was cooking. So far he's only a fan of baking for the most part but I'll take what I can get. Curious Chef has a line of products that promote children learning in the kitchen and they not only teach children how to measure, stir and more, but they are also really safe for little hands to use.

The best part about Curious Chef's products is that they are a little chunkier and easier to grab than my regular measuring cups and spoons. Especially things like tiny measuring spoons are tough for my son to keep steady while pouring so these products are a really great addition to our kitchen. We keep them in their own 'baking' box in the kitchen and they are ready to go when the house is chilly and it feels like a good day to bake some chocolate chip cookies! A variety of cookie cutters are also available that are made of plastic. You won't have to worry about the metal side of the cutters.
Curious Chef is available for purchase online as well as in select retail stores. You can visit www.curiouschef.com for more information. This is a great product to purchase now in preparation for the upcoming holiday season. This year you can have your little ones help you out by making their own batch of cookies or baked goods and you can even give them as gifts.

Perplexus: The Bendy, Trendy, Can't Put It Down Challenge

I like to have toys and games around that don't require batteries. There's just something about spending large amounts of money on huge packs of batteries that bugs me, not to mention the time I spend charging all our rechargable ones. It seems a number of the battery operated toys don't do much and don't inspire imagination. My son also seems to play longer with toys that require more concentration like puzzles, books and such. We were able to try out the Perplexus, which is a new spin on a maze or puzzle.

The Perplexus in a clear plastic ball. Inside of it there is a number of shutes, bridges, slides and more that you can to navigate in order to pass a small metal ball from start to finish. There are different levels of the game that are available and the most basic ball starts at age 6. My husband and I enjoyed trying to complete the maze so adults will find this toy just as intriguing.
Perplexus began by a 3D design teacher as a project for art class. Michael McGinnis thought the project could be so much more and inspired to turn the creation into a toy. 20 years later that thought began to form into reality.
Perplexus.net has more information on this challenging toy and locations where you can purchase them. Once you've mastered it once the toy doesn't become boring, you want to do it again and again. Not to mention you can purchase the tougher Perplexus balls and master them all.

Find Fun With Find It Games

In my house we have tons of search and find books, magazines, games and toys. Anything that involves looking for something, my son loves it. We received the kids version of the Find It games and immediately he fell in love with it. Heck, I did too! We enjoyed sitting together, looking for the various items like a balloon, an egg, rubberband and top hat. Find It games encourage children to manipulate the tube to move the beads around and attempt to find everything. It is actually very educational and helps my son focus on the task at hand.

There are a number of different versions of the game available including: Bird Watch, On the Farm, Original, Veggie Tales and many more. Each game retails for about 20 to 25 dollars. Along with the tube you get a pad of paper to check off the items and 26 letter beads. You can compete to see who can find all the items first or you can sit and do it together which is my favorite way to play.
You can visit www.finditgames.com for more information. It's a great idea for Christmas, birthdays or just because, for kids and adults alike.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Growums: Adding Character to Your Garden

I have a three year old son and I love this age. We can do so many more activities and try new things together. My son loves to see how things go together, come apart, grow and figure things out on his own; taking on a new sense of independence.

We were able to try Growums which is a gardening kit for the smallest beginners. The pizza growing kits provided us with seeds to grow our own tomatoes, peppers and herbs. Being big homemade pizza lovers (Smiley face pita pizzas are a hit around here!) I was excited to get these seeds going and see how they would turn out. My thumb is only partially green so I was also eager to see if this kit would work for us.
The process is very simple. You get dirt pellets that expand with water. You can then plant the seeds along with your helper and put them in sunlight to get them going. They germinate in a normal amount of time and we found that watering them every other day or so worked great for us. We started them indoors in our morning room and had no problems.
Moving them outdoors is always the tricky part for me. It's one thing to water them when they are indoors but when I have to venture outside with my son, fill up his watering can, drag out the hose (you get the idea) it becomes a task. Luckily these plants were pretty resillient and did rather well with occassional waterings from us and a little help from the rain.
The Growums kits are definately an affordable way to show your preschooler what it means to grow something and make your own food from it. Aside from the pizza garden you can also buy the salad, herb or taco versions. Visit www.growums.com for more information or to find a retailer nearest you.

Rocking Out With iLuv Creative Technology

iLuv Creative Technology is the supplier for all things Apple and smartphone. Their award winning products are a favorite of tech-fans all over the world and they have been featured everywhere from CNN to Modern Bride. All of their products are designed and discussed at their headquarters in New York City and are available through a set of distributors world wide.

I frequent the gym a number of times per week and when I do I have to have my MP3 player with me or the workout just doesn't seem quite right. There's something about the music that is my driving force to 'get it done and go home' and when I have gone through my third or fourth pair of basic earphones and they still seem to short out or get tangled into a knotted mess, I get a little aggravated. Luckily, iLuv makes a line of earphones (And headphones) that are tangle free and the sound is great.

You don't need to have an Apple product in order to use these earphones. I have a very basic MP3 player that gets the job done but I wasn't a fan of the phones that came with the unit. After trying out the iLuvs, it was like I had a new MP3 player again! There are a ton of different colors and designs avalable with a bunch of different features depending on the model of player you're going to use them with.

You can visit www.i-luv.com for more information on how you can upgrade your current earphones to a higher-end model that will bring you excellent sound and style all in one package.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Sleep Better. Play Better.

Sheex is a line of high performance luxury bedsheets that claim to keep you cool and dry all night long; providing you with an excellent night's sleep. The fabric is very similar to the athletic clothing you can find on the market like Nike Pro or Under Armour. It's 50% more breathable than cotton and it wicks away any moisture it comes in contact with.

The best part of Sheex is that the fabric is much for flexible and stretchy than your typical cotton sheet set. I always find it hard to pull a set of sheets onto our matress because it's a little deeper than most and the corners constantly pop up. Sheex sheets stretch and fit your matress like a glove. It's wrinkle and shrink resistant as well.
The downside to Sheex is that they are a little bit on the high end side when it comes to price. If you factor in how much you would spend on sheets over the course of 10 years, as yours sets become worn and shrink, it may be worth it to you to invest in a set of Sheex. You can buy their product right on their website at www.sheex.com. There are a few shades to choose from and they really are a classy look for your bedroom.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

i am BEYOND: The Evolution of Beyond Yoga

i am BEYOND is a line of fashion that is practical for any person who lives an active lifestyle. You can find clothes for yoga class, working out, staying home with your kids or heading to the beach. They've also just released a line of clothing for men and are really taking their fashion line to the next level.

I received a beach coverup from i am BEYOND and I really liked to product right away. What I was happiest about was that it looked nothing like the traditional beach coverups you find in the stores, it looked like an actual shirt that would look cute with a pair of leggings and sandals. Nonetheless, I'll wear it to the beach because that's what it was made for. The coverup is made of a cotton / silk blend and washes perfectly. It didn't shrink one bit, and it even held up fine in the dryer. This specific coverup comes in black or white and retails for about $84.
i am BEYOND also has a line of loungewear that I love. Being a stay at home mom who works from home, I'll admit that I basically live in loungewear. I like calling it loungewear because it makes me feel like I accomplished something by changing out of pajamas in the morning. i am BEYOND deserves it's own title when it comes to loungewear because a number of these pieces are acceptable and comfortable for running errands, cleaning the house, working from home, playing with the kids, hitting up the gym and even sleeping in. There are basic tanks, tees, pants and pullovers that are all really great, really comfortable pieces.
For more information on i am BEYOND, you can visit their website at www.iambeyond.com. You can shop their men's presale until Monday, August 8th and orders will ship on October 1st.

Riding Along This Summer With the PlasmaBike

Once the weather warms up we're immediately outside spending as much time as we can in the sunshine before another summer passes us by and we're stuck inside watching the snowflakes fall. My son just turned 3 at the beginning of this past spring and that means we've done a lot of riding around on ride on toys, bikes and scooters. A really cute toy that is a lot of fun but can also help teach children how to balance properly to prepare them for riding a regular bike is the PlasmaBike.

The PlasmaBike has no pedals and no regular wheels. There are two very thick plastic wheels and the bike itself weighs less than 8 pounds (Which is a great feature around here when my son decides he's had enough and I have to carry the bike back home). The child uses their feet to push the bike along, and it can easily glide down a small hill or the driveway. It's not difficult to balance the bike but it teaches children how to hold up their weight and ride. Children as young as about 18 months old can use this product.
This progressive approach to bike riding is just what my son needed to make sure he wouldn't be scared when hopping on his 'big boy bike'. The PlasmaBike is engineered in Europe and has an attractive and sleek design. You can visit www.plasmabike.com for more information.

Tommee Tippee Cups Can Tip, But The Mess Won't Come Out

I received a set of Tommee Tippee truly spill proof cups in the mail and decided to try them out because I had never been able to find a cup for my son that truly stood up to what it claimed it would do. We must have tried every brand of sippy cup. Most of them claimed to be spill proof, others came with caps for the lids, covers and plenty of other gadgets. Unfortuntely none of them worked well enough that I ever bought them again.

Tommee Tippee's Explora line of sippy cups are considered stage two cups for children nine months and up. They are BPA free and come with a hygeine cap which basically fits over the spout of the cup. I liked this feature because the cap is attached to the cup and I always throw my son's cup in my purse when we're heading out. I've never liked the cups or bottles that don't have a lid to them because I worried about them getting dirty or germy.
The soft-flex spout protects children's gums and it makes the cup comfortable to drink out of . I noticed a number of sippy cups these days have extremely hard spouts to them and when my son was learning to drink out of a sippy cup, it was sometimes hard for him to get used to that hard piece when he had been drinking out of a soft bottle nipple for a full year.
The leak proof portion of this cup is because of a valve system that is like no other on the market. It allows for liquid to only pass through and out if it is being used. It's sensitivity level makes it perfect for a small drinker to get their juice or milk, but allows for them to throw their cup down and not make a mess. This is my favorite part.
You can visit www.tommeetippee.com for more information on the Explora line of products. Tommee Tippee also sells bottles, pacifiers, chewthers and breastfeeding products.

Feeling Good and Looking Good With SassyBax

Sassybax undergarments are made for the 'real' woman who has curves, ages and wants to look good. The design of these items are intended to give a slimming effect without showing bulges or lines underneath your clothes. In 2004 these products were brought onto the market and within their first year, Sassybax landed over 300 high end clients and did very well in profits.

Sassybax vows to "create only useful, solution-based apparel that women with real bodies can enjoy." Their slips, bras, full coverage tops and full coverage bottoms allow women to feel better and look more fit. As women age, weight can shift and end up in places we didn't have problems with when we were younger. Sassybax provides women with the added confidence they need to walk out the door in the morning and feel good about themselves.
The Classic collection from Sassybax is great for women just getting started with the line. It provides the basic pieces neeeded to go with any outfit. The Pretty collection is a sexier line that features more lace and detail.
When choosing a size you can visit www.sassybax.com for more information on what size of Sassybax would work best for your typical measurements. These pieces are meant to be stepped into and be a form fitting to keep everything in and smooth. I did find that the pieces ran a little smaller than I would have typically worn but it really all depends on your comfort level and how you want the product to work for you. Sassybax bras are recommended for pregnant and nursing women as they are very comfortable, give a lot of support and can be pulled down for feedings.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Hours of Fun With ImagiPLAY

ImagiPLAY has been creating children's toys and gifts for over a decade. The quality of their products are wonderful as they are all made of beautiful wood and ecofriendly products. The best part is that they're educational as well. As a mom, I'm constantly trying to figure out where to to stash my son's new toys that he seems to get on a weekly basis and it always bugs me when I'm putting away huge battery operated toys that don't seem to do much. I'm a much bigger fan of things that teach and are quiet.

The Lacing Scapes are by far the best product I've come across for a toddler (over the age of 3). The wooden board comes with a scene painted on it and it has holes all over it. Smaller pieces including pictures of animals, plants and such can be laced onto the scene using cord and the child can make their own pictures time and time again. It's a toy that can be re-invented day after day and the best part is that there's no mess to clean up from this creative toy!
Poseable animals, yoyo's, puzzles and pull along toys are all available from ImagiPLAY. Craft kits that allow your child to paint their own wooden puzzle, magic sets and food play are all great toys to have in your home for hours of endless fun. You can even buy a wooden tooth saver for your older one who is starting to leave presents behind for the tooth fairy.
The price of ImagiPLAY's products are very reasonable and you can visit www.imagiplay.com for more information. You can also contact their customer service department with any questions you may have. Retailer locators can also be found on the website.

Peter Pauper Press: The Best Fine Gifts Since 1928

I'm always happy when I can buy a number of gifts for a number of different people but get them all from the same place. Peter Pauper Press truly has an item for everyone and you can get the whole family done in a relatively short amount of time. They've been making fine gifts since 1928 and have everything from kid's activity sets to to notecards and journals for the adults.

Peter Pauper Press' Scratch and Sketch activity books are great for children over 5 years of age. Each book comes with a wooden stylus and you scrape into the special black paper to reveal your colorful pictures. A number of themes are available such as Wild West, America, Ancient Egypt, Ballet and more. Each book retails for $12.99 and comes as a spiral bound, heavy duty sketch book.

For families on the go, the Good to Go! placemat activity set is a great buy to keep the kids occupied at fancier restaurants that don't necessarily provide activity sheets and crayons for the kids. This set comes with a pad of placemats in a carrying case along with crayons. These sheets are good for kids over the age of 3 and it retails for $9.95. Mega MagnaForms are another great buy for active children. 40 pages along with over 100 magnets come covered in wired binding and a magnetic activity board is attached.

The note cards are my favorite product from Peter Pauper Press. They are small in size, about 3" x 5" and they are very detailed. The pictures on them are beautiful and come with matching envelopes. Each pack contains 14 cards and retails for $8.99. They're great to have on hand when you have to send a quick thank you or get well message.

Designer journals are great to have even for the non-writer. I keep one in my bag at all times for the moment I need to jot something down. The back cover has a sturdy envelope in it so I stash receipts and small pieces of paper in there. I even stick coupons in the pages and the elastic band keeps everything organized and contained. Peter Pauper Press even has journals that allow you to monogram the cover with your initial.

For more information on Peter Pauper Press' fine gifts you can visit www.peterpauper.com.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Hearing and Water Protection By Mack's Ear Plugs

We're a family that's always on the go with some activity or another. We like to go to a lot of festivities, events and whatnot even though we have a young child. Now that my son is a little older, he's very interested in things like Monster Trucks. Our plan was to take him to one of the events in our area but I was worried about the sound level for such a young child, not to mention the other concerts and things like that occurring throughout the summer. I came across Mack's Ear Plugs and Hearing Protection and I was thrilled with what they had to offer.

The business began in 1962 and was sold, to later become Mack's. To date, they sell a wide variety of ear plugs designed for hearing protection, water protection and more. All kinds of people will find their products useful including teens going to concerts, children who swim and are prone to swimmer's ear, motorcyclists and people who want to get some shut eye in a noisy environment. They also offer a deluxe sleep mask to go along with the plugs.
The best part of the product we received was the keychain carrying case that comes along with the pack of earplugs. If I know we're going somewhere and we'll need to bring a few sets of the earplugs along, I don't have to try to find a clean and sterile place in my bag, I can pop a few of them into the keychain and we're ready to go. For great hearing protection you can visit the website: http://www.macksearplugs.com/. There's something for everybody and we can all protect our hearing in the future.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Learning Your Letters With the Alphabeasts

My son learned all his letters pretty early on and absolutely loves practicing his ABC's and the sounds each letter makes. Aside from workbooks, coloring pages and battery operated toys, I've been running out of ideas for great alphabet products. That is, until I came across the Alphabeasts. The Alphabeast line consists of 26 plush characters that each have an uppercase and lowercase letter on them. They also each have a name. Each character is different in shape and color and they motivate children not only to learn their letters but to get creative and try to create words.

Each Alphabeast is filled with polyester fill, two fleece letters (one upper, one lower), and are about 15" in height. They each have a collector's tag attached to them and they are completely washable. Created by two dads who wanted to provide children with an educational product that encourages adult interaction as well, the Alphabeasts are fun and loveable.
You can visit the Alphabeasts website at www.thealphabeasts.com for more information or to order one (or all 26) of these cute little creatures!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Teaching Your Preschooler

In our area, many preschools begin their programs for children at the age of three. Four year old programs are still the most popular, but many parents are turning to three year old programs for early childhood education. I spent a good 6 months going back and forth on our choices, talked to a number of parents who had children a few years older than my son and did all my research on every preschool in the area. I figured I needed to know what programs were out there anyway since we were planning to sign our son up for preschool at the age of 4 so he would be ready for the long days of kindergarten. I finally came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to enroll my 3 year old in a year long structured program. From what I heard from other people, and what I've experienced myself with playdates, tumbling classes and storytimes is that it's all purely social for the most part at the age of 3. I decided to keep doing what I was doing at home, which was basically working with my son everyday for a short while to teach him his basics like letters, numbers, shapes, colors, patterns, etc. I couldn't see that enrolling my son in a preschool program at such a young age was necessary since they get to be kids so little before they're off to school all day anyway. To make up for the social time I have a rotating schedule of different classes that my son takes including a creative playgroup and gymnastics class. We also have a number of friends who have boys our son's age and we set up playdates often to keep him around other kids.
Fast forward to sitting down with my son and getting more involved in learning than we were before with the very basics. I needed some sort of resource that I could teach my son from aside from his library of books that we read regularly. I came across the Twin Sister's Productions learning workbook series and found that they're a great stepping stone for teaching your preschooler. While different levels are available, we started using the Preschool level. It comes with a 12 song CD as well that has songs that teach the ABC's colors, numbers, letter sounds and manners. My son loves the songs so much he makes me put it on every morning while we eat breakfast. After we've settled in for the day we get out some crayons and start working on a few pages of the workbook. The workbooks are very colorful and are designed to look more like an activity book or coloring book. Every page is chalk full of information that we can go over together and I can challenge my son with the work on each page.

The best part about the Twin Sisters workbooks is how affordable they are. The Preschool version is only $4.99 with the CD. I've done some shopping around at local bookstores and online to find the best teaching and learning products on the market and I have to say this price point is the best out there. Other books are longer but they don't really cover much more subject matter and the pages don't hold my son's attention as well as these ones do. These books definately make the process of 'homeschooling' my son easier and more fun. It's also been extremely successful as well.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Potty Training Hands Free with The Little Looster

I potty trained my son when he was 2 1/2 years old. He's always been on the small side for his age so we used the little kid-sized pottys for quite awhile because he was pretty scared to climb up to the big toilet and use it with one of our padded seat covers. Once he had been trained for a little while he became much more comfortable going on the big potty but I was having a problem with getting him to use a step stool to get himself onto the potty. He was ready to learn this step of the process but it was hard for him to balance on a tiny little stool, turn around and scoot onto the toilet.

I came across The Little Looster and immediately thought it was a great product. Not only does this wrap-around design allow for a lot more space for a child to step up on, but it also stays out of the way if adults want to get into the bathroom as well. No more moving of step stools, pottys, seats and more.
The Little Looster retails for $34.99 and can be purchased on their website. It comes in white, is incredibly easy to clean and it allows kids to be hands free when they're on the potty. No more unnecessary touching of the toilet seat either (If you're a germ-a-phobe like me then this is a major plus!).

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Keeping Your Little Monkeys Dry and Happy With Monkey Doodlez

I've accumulated a pretty nice stash of cloth diapers and swim diapers and I have to say that Monkey Doodlez has by far made the cutest product I've seen so far. They feature a great Tuck and Go system that eliminates you ever having to touch a soiled liner again. You simply remove the diaper, flip it over and toss the liner into the wash. Putting on a clean cloth diaper isn't bad but when you have snaps and whatnot to remove when the liner is soiled, it can make you think twice about those disposables. Monkey Doodlez eliminates this need.

The Monkey Doodlez swim diaper is a great product and can even be used as a cloth diaper alternate when you're almost out of regular ones and don't want to do the laundry that day. Such adorable patterns and pictures are available on the swim diapers.
Customers rave about the coverage of the Monkey Doodlez diaper system as they are great diapers but they also can be reused over and over again before needing to be washed because there is typically no leakage outside of the liner. A variety of colors and sizes are available from the brand. You can visit www.monkeydoodlez.com for more information or to purchase one of their products.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

If you're new to the Paper Jamz line of products, they are basically a set of guitars, amps, microphones and drums that are paper thin. Their technology allows them to be lightweight, kid friendly and sound great. Their latest release is the Pro Series Microphone. The MSRP is $29.99 and is appropriate for kids ages 8 and up. My 3 year old had a blast with this toy but had close supervision.

The Perfect Pitch Technology that the Pro Series Microphone uses allows you to sing along with the 2 songs that are included with the unit but you can add more using your computer. The singer's pitch is analyzed in real time to make anyone sound like a rock star and there is the option of singing solo or with the artist's voice track.
Other features such as Auto-Harmony, Auto-Vibrato and Chorus allows your kids to feel (And sound) like a pro for an affordable cost to mom and dad. Each Microphone can hold 3 songs at a time and they can be found at PaperJamz.com. You can find the latest Paper Jamz products at many local retail stores or online. Add the Pro Series Microphone to the other products in the Paper Jamz line and watch your kids create their own music!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Detecting, Destroying and Removing Lice

Luckily, my son has never come in contact with lice and I sure do hope he never does. Unfortunately, however, many children do come in contact with the pesky bug at some point, often when they are school age. There are a few products on the market that claim to rid your child's head of lice but they are often pretty toxic because they are in fact, pesticides. LiceGuard makes a safe product called the Robi Comb which uses an electric battery charged comb to collect and zap the bugs. They are then combed out of the hair. The process sounds tricky since you can't always see lice, but the Robi Comb gives out an audible signal to alert you that lice are indeed present.

Keeping a Robi Comb on hand at home is a great investment on the occasion that head lice make their way into your quarters. Sharing clothing, bedding, toys and even playing with other kids at the playground can make a child susceptible to lice so getting rid of them as soon as they touch your child is something you'll want to accomplish. It's also important to vacuum frequently, wash bedding and toys frequently and try your best to prevent passing lice on to other family members and friends.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Radius Toothbrushes for the Whole Family

Radius Toothbrushes are unlike other brushes in their market. These brushes features larger, softer heads that cover more surface area and last longer than your typical toothbrush. Created by two architects who were displeased with the poor quality brushes they were finding, James O'Halloran and Kevin Foley created a line of toothbrushes that allow children and adults to brush longer, more comfortably and more efficiently.
The original Radius toothbrush features different brushes for left handed and right handed people. A variety of colors are available and each brush has very fine bristles and a large oval brush area. The handle portion is also designed to be more comfortable and secure than other models. This design also comes in a smaller version for children.

The Source toothbrush by Radius comes in three different handle varieties: Recycled dollar bills, recycled wood and recycled flax. The head on the Source brush is replaceable. These brushes also come in right and left handed varieties. The bristles are not aligned which prevents wear on teeth when brushing 2-3 times daily.
Natural flosses and cases are also available from Radius. You can find these brushes and a number of retail stores or by visiting www.radiustoothbrush.com.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Aladdin Reusable and Recycled Water Bottles

Many of you probably remember the old school character lunchboxes from many, many years ago. The company that made those lunchboxes is still around today and has made it their goal to create new and innovate designs to stay with the changing times. Aladdin now makes recycled and reusable travel mugs, stainless steel water bottles and reusable lunch containers and systems. A variety of water bottles, thermoses, soup bowls and insulated bottles are also on the market from Aladdin and their products are extremely high quality and affordable.

In my household we have a water purification unit and we utilize reusable bottles to take our water out with us. We also make it a point to not use plastic bottles for the most part because of the chemical leeching that can occur so we use glass and stainless steel bottles. After using a number of different brands over the course of the past 5 years that we've been doing this, I have to say I've enjoyed Aladdin's bottles extensively. The bottles are durable, easy to clean, attractive and convenient. Purchasing a simple stainless water bottle along with a travel mug is really the extent you need to get by each day. For people who pack their lunches and take them to work or on the go, the food containers are really great and are very high quality. Not surprising seeing as how this company has been around since 1908. For more information or to make a purchase you can visit http://www.aladdin-pmi.com/.

Traveling Down the Organic Path With Nature's Path Organic

In my household I do the grocery shopping. I also do all the cooking and for a couple of years now we've started consuming a lot more organic food than we used to. Products like cereal, oatmeal, snacks, granola, dried fruits, waffles and baking mixes are almost always organic in my house and I'm always trying new brands to see if we like their variety better than other companies on the market. It's taken some time to get used to foods like lentils, whole wheat flour and agave nectar instead of refined sugar but sometimes it's hard to make the switch to organic not only because of the cost but because some of the foods can taste a little different- especially when their texture is different because of different ingredients than you're used to. Nature's Path Organics provides consumers with a really great line of organic products that are super affordable and taste delicious. Your family won't be able to tell the difference in taste but they'll be eating better.

My absolute favorite product from the Nature's Path Organic line is the buttermilk pancake dry mix. I used to make my own pancake mix from scratch but after trying this mix for convenience I don't make anything else. It's simple to scoop out 1 cup of the mix, add some water and pour into the pan, but because it's so easy I always add an egg, substitute milk instead of water and I add bananas, blueberries or plain oats to the mix for healthier pancakes. It's a great base for a pancake and you can enjoy them alone or with additions. The bag is about $5 and it makes about 5 breakfasts worth.

Our second family favorite is the instant oatmeal mixes. A variety of flavors are included such as Flax Plus, Hemp Plus, Apple Cinnamon, Maple Nut and more. Many of the mixes are fortified with Omega's and these mixes are so good for you, you'll be eating them everyday. Between my husband and I we go through 2 boxes each week. Even my 3 year old son loves the oatmeal.

The frozen waffle varieties from Nature's Path Organics are great and it's really convenient to keep a couple boxes on hand at all times for quick yet nutritious breakfasts. You can buy plain, gluten free waffles that taste just like regular non-organic waffles (But so much healthier!) or you can try one of the other varieties such as Buckwheat, Flax Plus Red Berry, Maple Cinnamon or Mesa Sunrise. You can also treat your kids (or spouses!) to their toaster pastries which are fantastic because they're made with whole grains, real fruit and no refined sugar. You won't feel bad about serving these up as a breakfast or snack.

Nature's Path Organics is located in British Columbia and they house their very own organic garden to grow their own ingredients. You can trust this company to provide you and your family with healthy, all natural and organic food that is nourishing and safe to consume. You can visit www.naturespath.com for more information or visit your local grocery store to inquire about Nature's Path Organics.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Camelbak Hydration Options

60% of our bodies are made up of water. This percentage explains why it is recommended that we drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. If we don't, our entire body will lag in it's functioning and organs won't be able to perform at their peak ability. Water helps filter toxins out of our body, it helps digest our food and it helps fuel our immune system to fight off illness and disease. Whether you are working, engaging in an outdoor activity or simply spending time at home, keeping some sort of water hydration nearby is important. Camelbak makes a number of products that are great for people of all activity levels.

For the hiker, fitness enthusiast or runner, full hydration packs that can be worn on the back or around the waist are useful in keeping hydration nearby but without having to carry a large, heavy bottles. Depending on your needs you can buy smaller packs that are great for shorter durations and larger packs will keep you going for long journeys.
Water bottles include stainless steel bottles and plastic bottles that come in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs. The straw design requires the person to bite down on the tip in order to begin water flow out of the bottle so these are pretty safe inside a backpack or on a bike. A number of Camelbak's bottles are insulated as well so you won't have to drink down hot water on an excursion.
A number of accessories and drinks are available on Camelbak's website as well: www.camelbak.com. A wide variety of products are available and you can find very affordable products for the whole family as well as high end hydration systems for the professionals.

Stay Hydrated This Summer With Bobble Bottles


By now we all know that utilizing reusable water bottles is a great way to say money as well as helping out the environment. Each year, $1.5 Million barrels of oil are used to create the water bottles that end up in landfills all over the country. There are a great deal of reusable water bottles on the market and while some prefer plastic and others prefer stainless, there are people who are looking for an even more eco-friendly option when choosing a water bottle. Bobble Water bottles are not only reusable, but they come with a carbon filter (which can be replaced periodically) to help filter out all of the impurities and chemicals that is found in our tap water. 13 ounce bottles, all the way up to 34 ounce bottles encompass what Bobble is all about. A variety of colors are available and you should replace the filter every 2 months or so, depending on how often you use it. 
Chemicals that are found in our tap water can include chlorine, perchlorate, benzine, atrazine and many more. You may be surprised to find that one of the byproducts used for disinfection can often be found in tap water and it can increase your risk of cancer by 100%. While a whole house water purification system can be a great investment, a simple, affordable carbon filter can remove these contaminents and prevent you from ingesting them on a daily basis.
You can purchase Bobble Water bottles online at www.waterbobble.com or you can find them in various retail stores including Target for about $9.

Making Naptime Easier with Nap Mats, Etc.

In 2002, Nap Mats, Etc. was created using 100% high quality cotton fabrics. This all-in-one system is thick, durable and has quilted polyester batting in it which adds additional padding to the mat. The entire unit (Which is 26" wide and 48" long) folds up, velcros shut and has a thick padded handle for easy carrying by parent or even child.
The best part about Nap Mats, Etc. is that their price is currently $60 for each nap mat they sell. After looking online at a variety of mat systems available for kids, this price is extremely fair and reasonable, especially for the quality. These handmade mats come in a variety of colors and designs. All of the fabric used is extremely high quality and the whole mat is washable. You can even have the mat monogrammed with your child's name which not only looks nice but it's an easy way to 'name tag' the product to ensure it won't get swiped.

High quality fleece blankets are also for sale on www.napmatsetc.com for only $15. Minkee fabric blankets are also for sale on the site. A lot of the nap mats on the market have attached blankets but I actually prefer this one which does not. You can switch the blanket and add a clean one without having to wash the whole mat if it's not necessary.
Each nap mat can be ordered online by visiting www.napmatsetc.com and are delivered using Fedex. They arrive very quickly and are in flawless condition. This is a great product for kids who are in daycare, preschool, kindergarten, or even for nights when your little one is scared of the thunder and wants to sleep in your room. Everyone has a use for this nap mat in their home.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

BabyGanics: Safe Products for the Whole Family

The BabyGanics product line was created by 2 dads who decided to make a line of vegetable based products that are safe for the whole family. A number of cleaning products on the market these days contain chemicals that can be harmful on not only a child's respiratory system but also and adult's. Asthma has almost doubled in the past 20 years and something you may not know is that within 26 seconds of breathing in a cleaning product, those chemicals can be found in every organ of the body. Aside from the products that add essential oils as fragrance, everything is truly fragrance free and works great. There are cleaning products, sanitizers and bathing products that all work wonderfully and are really affordable. Some local baby specialty stores in my area constantly have sales going on and I can get these products usually buy one get one free.

I absolutely love these products. A couple of years ago I was trying to find an all purpose spray cleaner that I could use on everything: floors, countertops and even my son's high chair. I picked up a bottle of BabyGanic's Unscented All Purpose Spray and I was hooked. I ordered 3 more bottles online and have kept a few bottles under my sink at all times since then. I've used the spray on hardwood flooring, linoleum flooring, kitchen counters, bathroom counters, windows, highchairs, snack trays, wood furniture and even on toys. The all purpose spray never leaves a residue behind, there's no smell and I don't have to worry about any chemicals that could get onto my son's skin.
The second product I tried from the BabyGanics line was the Unscented Foaming Shampoo and Body Wash. Same concept as the all purpose spray but this product comes out of a special container and foams. I've used it on my son for over a year now and it gets him clean but never dries out his skin like a lot of other products we've used. I can use it on his hair, all the way down to his toes. I even use this soap and so does my husband. After being tired of navigating around 4 different bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and more, we were able to replace all those products (which are chalk full of chemicals anyway) with one really great product that works for everything. It leaves you smelling fresh and unlike some other organic shampoos I've tried, it gets my hair clean and doesn't leave an oily residue.
Some of the other kitchen products are great. The dishwasher detergent works really well and the best part is that one bottle lasts such a long time. You only have to use a tiny pinch in the dishwasher and all the dishes get clean, there's no residue left over and it's completely unscented and safe for the environment as well. The dishwashing detergent is another BabyGanics product I always have at least two of in the house.
You can visit www.babyganics.com for more information or to find out where you can purchase these products.

Smart Trike: A Safe Way To Ride


As a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of tricycles, Smart Trike provides products that are innovative and useful for babies all the way up to toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Their products can be found in over 40 countries all over the world and their designs are made to stimulate motor development for young children and children become independent and successful while playing with these tricycles.

Most of Smart Trikes products focus on a multi-step system so one bike can be used in a number of different ways as a child grows, instead of needing to buy 2-3 different products over the course of 5 years or so. Products like the Smart Trike Zoo allows for babies to begin riding the bike while their parent’s push with a handle attached to the back of the bike. Unlike other products that are similar to the Smart Trike line, many of these seats are fabric and are washable. This allows for children to be more comfortable and to use the product at a younger age. The typical hard, plastic seats don’t always provide a safe way for babies to ride. When the child becomes older, the seat enclosure can be removed and the parent can still push. Eventually the Zoo can become a single tricycle that a toddler can learn to peddle on his or her own.
As a multi-toy-award winner, Smart Trike has produced a great product that is affordable and will actually save parents money over time. Children can ride the bikes until about 33 pounds and the scooters can be used until 44 pounds. Smart Trikes can be purchased at a variety of retailers (Such as Toys R Us) or online. You can visit http://www.smart-trike.com/stores.asp to find a location nearest you.

The Women's Bean Project: Providing Opportunities Since 1989



In 1989 the Women’s Bean Project was created by Jossy Eyre who was volunteering at a woman’s shelter at the time. The plan of the Project was to help women escape poverty and unemployment by giving them the stepping stones they needed to get on their own two feet. Beginning with just $500 worth of beans and two women in need of work, the Women’s Bean Project has now become a $1.5 million yearly budget.
In 1993, the first grocery store began carrying products from the women of the Women’s Bean Project and in 1995 the Project was able to purchase their permanent home in Denver and they still operate their business there today. Salsa mixes, spice rubs, baked good mixes, soup mixes, jelly beans and more are all available from the Women’s Bean Project to date. Giving opportunities to single mothers, uneducated women, homeless women and women recovering from substance abuse now have a purpose and a job to go to each day. They are able to support themselves and their families because of one woman’s idea. Not only do these women make money but they learn life skills, responsibility and drive.
In addition to the mixes and food that you can purchase from the Women’s Bean Project, you can also buy gift baskets and jewelry. Beautiful necklaces, bracelets and earings are handcrafted and are incredibly affordable. You can buy a beaded necklace for only $20. If you are also feeling charitable you can donate to the Women’s Bean Project by visiting their website at http://www.womensbeanproject.com/donate.html.

Glass Dharma: A Fancy, Eco-Friendly and Fun Way To Drink

Whether you're sipping on a cocktail, giving your kids a cup of juice of drinking your 8 daily glasses of water, everything seems to taste better with a straw. It's no illusion, people drink more water each day if they drink through a straw. Today, many families are boycotting unnecessary plastic products not only because of it's disposability but because it can leech harmful toxins and chemicals into the food and drink we're consuming. Plastic straws are no different and luckily, Glass Dharma provides a new product that lets you drink through a straw, but lets you know it's safe because it's made entirely of glass.

This product concept might sound a little unsafe seeing as how straws are typically very thin and bendable. Glass Dharma's straws come in a variety of thicknesses, shapes and sizes. You can even buy a variety that has a bend in the top. Different designs and colors are also available. Most straws vary in price from about $6.99 to $8.99 depending on the size, but keep in mind these straws can be used forever as long as you take care of them properly. A small brush comes with each straw so you can thoroughly clean the inside and make sure they're ready for their next use. Glass Dharma provides a lifetime guarantee for their products so if there's a problem or something on the straw becomes damaged or breaks, you can head over to their website for more information on how to get a new one.
Borosilicate glass straws (The strongest glass available) from Glass Dharma are a must have for any household. They work great for kids, couples or family. For travel with your straws you can visit www.glassdharma.com for a number of accessories you can use including hemp sleeves and extra brushes.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

A Disposable Bottle Alternative

Steri-bottle was created a UK mom who knows the value of time when you're the mother of a newborn. These bottles come in a box, clean and ready to use. You simply take one of them out, fill them up and toss them when you're done feeding your baby. Keep in mind the Steri-bottle is 100% recyclable so consider giving back to the environment. No more messy bottle washing or sterilizing needed and in the middle of the night when it's time for a feeding, your sleep schedule and your hungry infant will thank you when you don't have to search around in the cupboards for a clean bottle to use.

You may wonder what makes the Steri-bottle an already sterilized product. The answer to that question lies in the manufacture of the product. Steri-bottles are made in a clean room where the air is filtered to control anything that could be airborne during the manufacture process. No further sterilizing is needed and the product is ready to use off the assembly line. Using these bottles out of the box is actually cleaner than any product you could try to sterilize at home. To protect your baby further, you can't re-open the bottle after it has been used once. The bottle locks closed and it has to be recycled when it's empty.
The Steri-bottle has scored very high among parents for it's latching quality. While all babies are different, your infant should have no problem feeding out of the Steri-bottle. It may be wise to try a pack out before you stock the pantry with boxes of them. But once you've tried one pack of them you'll be hooked!
You can visit www.steribottle.com for more information or to order your own set of bottles to try out.

Keep Lunches Healthy and Affordable with Bright Bin

Packing a lunch for your kids for school, preschool or even for a quick picnic or outing can turn into a mess of containers, baggies and bottles. With Bright Bin you can pack your child a well balanced meal, in a safe container that won't spill of crush. Two levels of separate compartments allows you to pack a sandwich along with fruit and snacks and even a dessert. The cube design snaps shut tightly and you can slide the whole thing into a lunchbox with a beverage or bottle, or you can let you child carry to bento-style box alone. Instead of throwing a big back of chips or cookies into your child's lunch you can portion out the foods you want them to eat more of and include the treats you want to. There will also be more variety to your child's lunch and they'll appreciate that.

Bright Bins not only make packing food easier but it saves you money. You will no longer need to spend money on zip baggies, plastic wrap or wax paper. The Bright Bin can be washed over and over again and will easily make it through the school year. The best part is, Bright Bin is dishwasher safe and you can even microwave it. Send your kids to school knowing they are enjoying a healthy, homemade meal and they'll also be safe from BPA, phthalates and PVC that is found in many plastic containers these days.
Each Bright Bin retails at about $16.95. You can visit www.brightbin.com for more information or to purchase a Bin for every member of your family (even adults will like this one!)

Way Basics: Keeping Your Home Organized Affordably and Without Formaldehyde or VOC's

Having kids means your house eventually looks like a toy store has exploded. It can be tough to keep toys and books organized so many parents turn to cube style organizers or shelves to store toys in and keep them off the floor and out of the way. What most parents don't realize is that the shelving products they are purchasing are affordable because they're not usually real wood, but these units are usually made of particle board that emits VOC's and formaldehyde in pretty large quantities. Luckily, Way Basics makes a line of storage products in a variety of sizes and colors and they work for every room in the house. The best part is that their products are VOC free and don't emit formaldehyde.

Way Basics products are incredibly easy to assemble which is another great feature. No hardware or tools are needed. Sticky 3M strips adhere each piece to eachother and they are very sturdy and safe. The glue on the strips is even safe and won't emit any odors. Products are made of Z Board which is made completely of recycled cardboard. It may sound odd but you'll find the quality is the same (or better) than other cube organizers. The end result is a lighter, healthier and eco-friendly product that you can use for your kids but you'll find yourself buying pieces for all over your house as well. For more information you can visit www.waybasics.com and start organizing your home in a healthier way.

Monday, May 30, 2011

The Green Garmento: Be Fantastic Use Less Plastic

Every time you get your dry cleaning done consider the amount of plastic that gets used to wrap up your clean clothes and keep them fresh. It's inevitable that you have to cover them up to keep them looking the way they looked when you picked them up from the cleaner but have you ever considered using a more eco-friendly way to accomplish this?
The Green Garmento makes a reusable bag that is recyclable and water resistant. The bag itself is breathable and can hold up to 14 garments. It's design incorporates 4 uses in 1 bag. You can turn the bag upside down to use as a laundry bag, you can line a hamper frame with the Green Garmento, you can use the strap on the bag to turn it into a duffle bag and you can use it as a traditional garment bag.
The Green Garmento even has features such as a clear window for an ID or ticket. A full length side zipper keeps clothes protected and the product is machine washable.
You can purchase a Green Garmento bag (Two are recommended so you can rotate them between home and the cleaner's) by visiting www.thegreengarmento.com. Consider helping the environment and helping your wallet by purchasing a Green Garmento.

Human Gear: For People On The Go

For anybody who has an active lifestyle and is always on the go, Humangear makes a variety of products that are great for traveling by plane, bike or foot. Created by a Stanford graduate who wanted to create a remarkable product that would leave it's impact on the world, Humangear products are a necessity for parents, travelers and more.
The GoToob is a squeezable tube that is airport approved. Each tube has a label system that can be switched when the product inside is changed. You can select from shampoo, conditioner and more and keep your products organized and readily available to you. The valves are drip-free and some of the bottles have suction cups on them so you can stick the tubes to your shower wall or wherever is convenient. Different sizes are available as well.

The GoTubb's uses are endless. You can keep your medication organized in it, fill it with snacks, nuts and bolts, change- really anything you can think of that could be easily lost. Like other containers of it's size, the GoTubb doesn't have a difficult screw-on lid that will leave you fumbling around. The lid easily squeezes on and off and stays on tight when not in use.
For more information on Humangear's products or to place and order you can visit www.humangear.com. 

NiNi Baby

Anyone who is a parent has experienced the delight on a child's face when he or she decides to take her sippy cup, snack cup or toy and throw it out of their moving stroller or into the front seat of the car from their carseat in the back. The child might find it funny but Mom or Dad aren't usually amused when they're trying to get something done and they find themselves stopping every few feet to retrieve baby items. Luckily, NiNi Baby was created in 2009 by a Mom who was tired of the throwing game and decided to come up with a product that would keep all items attached to a stroller, carseat, high chair or more.

The NiNi Baby Toy Bungee is such a great product you'll want a number of them to keep on hand. This product is different from others on the market because of it's unique button design which keeps the bungee fastened and doesn't allow for children to remove it. You'll find yourself attaching a Toy Bungee to everything your toddler owns!
The Toy Bungee can be easily washed with soap and water and it comes in a variety of colors. It's non-toxic and can be purchased for $8.98 at the company's website: www.nini-baby.com.

Skweet Sport Bottle Wash


Skweet Sport Bottle Wash is a cleanser that deodorizes and cleans your water bottles. Water bottles can be difficult to clean and often when you wash them, soapy residue remains inside the bottle or spout. When you go to fill it up and drink out of it again you find yourself ingesting soapy water. Skweet cleanser is great for any type of bottle including aluminum, stainless or even hydration packs. You simply measure out the cleanser into the bottle, fill it up with a little water, close up the bottle and shake it around. If you want you can use a brush to do a better cleaning job but it's not necessary. Rinse out the bottle well and you're ready for your next fill up.
This sport bottle wash is all natural, non-toxic and leaves no residual taste behind. You can order it online or find out the best method for cleaning hydration packs or bottles at: www.skweetclean.com.

Undercover Mama: Make Any Shirt a Nursing Shirt

There are a lot of nursing bras, tanks and shirts on the market but Undercover Mama makes a great product that is really unique and really functional. Their tanks are strapless but have a small hook on each side where the strap would be. You hook those pieces to your own bra that you're wearing, put a normal shirt on over it and you have an instant nursing shirt. When it's time for a feeding, pull up the outer shirt but still be covered by the tank underneath and you are using your own comfortable bra.

A number of neutral shades are available and sizes begin at small and go all the way up to XXL. Each tank is made of 95% cotton and 5% spandex and retails at about $24.99 each. Undercover Mama tanks can be found online at a variety of retailers. You can also visit www.undercovermama.com for more information. For maximum life expectancy you should wash your tank in cold water and lay it flat to dry. When you're done nursing your baby you can still use your Undercover Mama along with a normal bra. They are incredibly comfortable tanks that fit great.

Maisy's First Clock


This educational board book is a great investment for the little ones. A moveable clock is situated on the last page of the book and can be seen on each page. Different pages address different points in Maisy the Mouse's day and encourages children to choose what Maisy needs at that time. You can move the hands on the clock to show the child the time and reinforce the concept by talking about what your child does at that time of day. What do you as a family have in common with Maisy's daily schedule?
Maisy's First Clock, published by Candlewick Press and written by Lucy Cousins, is a great investment to begin the learning process of telling time. You can teach your child about time but they'll love reading about cute Maisy over and over again.

Allens Naturally: For People Who Care About Their World


As someone who is sensitive to harmful chemicals I have spent a few years making various switches in our home that eliminate the need for harsh cleaning products, unsafe cookware, non-organic cosmetics and beauty products and more. The one item I couldn't quite eliminate was laundry detergent. While I made the switch to dye and fragrance free soap many years ago I was unable to find a product that got the stains off my son's clothing, got clothes clean and made the bed sheets smell fresh and clean without smelling like perfume. For people who cloth diaper their children, it can be tough finding a detergent that works well with the cloth not to mention detergent that could be used for all the laundry in the home and be affordable at the same time.
Allens Naturally makes a number of products, including laundry detergent, that are free of dyes, perfumes and fragrances. A number of people with multiple chemical sensitivities swear by their products and after trying the detergent I'm hooked as well. No residue if left behind after a load of wash is completed and the best part is that one ounce (Or even less depending on your water and machine) of detergent completes an entire large load of wash. The pump-style bottle perfectly dispenses the proper amount of soap each time. The clothes actually come out of the washer smelling fresh and clean but without irritating perfumes that can mask the fact that the clothes might not be completely clean. Their products are also free from animal testing.
Other products from Allens Naturally include fabric softener, glass and surface cleaner, dish washing liquid, dishwasher detergent, all purpose cleaner and fruit and veggie wash. You can visit www.allensnaturally.com for more information or to order one of their products. After trying just one of their products I can guarantee you'll want to switch over to all their items and you can do so with affordability. If you're unsatisfied, Allens Naturally offers a money back guarantee to anyone who tries their products and are unhappy with their purchase.

Skoy: Earth Friendly Cloths

Skoy cloths are an environmentally friendly alternative to paper towels or sponges. 2.5 millions paper towels are being used annual in our country and while sponges can be used a few times before throwing them away, they can harvest harmful bacteria and eventually must be disposed of. Skoy cloths can be used so many times, one cloth equals 15 rolls of paper towels. They can be machine washed and dried and when they dry they harden into sheets so a large stack of them can be stored under the sink. When you wet the cloth it softens back to washcloth-like consistancy.

Skoy is run by two moms who make sure their product is created with renewable raw materials and is environmentally friendly. This reusable cloth will change the way you clean your home as well as change the money that comes out of your budget each month. A four pack of Skoy cloths costs $6.99. Different prints and colors are available and you can purchase these cloths or find out more by visiting www.skoycloth.com.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Bellybuds: A Safe and Convenient Way to Share Audio With Your Baby

Scientific research concludes that playing audio to the womb can help development and growth of the baby. Aside from having mom or dad talk to baby through mom's belly playing music or other audio for the baby can also be beneficial. Bellybuds are a safe way to play music and audio through the womb and their technology makes sure the volume level won't pass a certain point that would be unhealthy for baby. The sound waves penetrate the womb and reach the child but it's softer than the mother's heartbeat sounds to the baby. A baby has the ability to hear fully at 20 weeks and their memory begin to form at 30 weeks. This early development can be taken advantage of with use of Bellybuds and simple audio.



Bellybuds now participates with VoiceShare Voice Recording to help bridge the gap between out of town family members and the baby. VoiceShare can be used to record audio and then play it on the Bellybuds using any standard audio player. This is a great program for grandparents who want to get involved but don't live nearby or even if dad is currently overseas and can't bond with his wife and baby in their home during those nine months.

Each set of Bellybuds comes with bellyphones, two sets of adhesive rings so you don't have to hold the buds over the belly, you can adhere them temporarily, buddons which help muffle the sound to the outside world, a storage pouch, docks to keep the bellyphones clean and hygenic between use and an audio splitter so you can listen to the same music your baby is listening to, providing a unique bonding experience before he or she even arrives.

Bellybuds retail for about $49.99 and you can purchase them online or at select retailers nationwide. Visit www.bellybuds.com for more information.

Finis- Children's Products and Much More

Whether you're a professional, aspiring swimmer or a child just learning to take their first strokes in the pool, Finis is the "worldwide leader in technical swimming development." Their adult products such as goggles, caps, underwater MP3 players and underwater watches all stand proud at the top of the swim product market. For the ultimate safety and comfort for your child, their Finz, goggles, DVD's and floatation devices are all must haves whether you're traveling to the local town pool for swim lessons or you're spending the day on a boat.

Finis has a line of washable and reusable swim diapers that are great for babies or toddlers who want to have fun in the water along with the rest of the family. No longer will your little one need to wear a big, heavy diaper that weighs them down and makes them uncomfortable. These swim diapers come in sizes for infants all the way up to 4T. They are made of polyester and they are resistant to the effects of chlorine. You can also purchase safety quality life vests in a variety of sizes to ensure a perfect fit for your child. You can use these for the first time exploring the pool or out in a large body of water to ensure your child is safe. Boost a child's confidence with inflatable water exploration devices that they can hang on to and float around the water on. Older kids can use them to practice their stroke techniques.

Finis offers a number of DVD's that are great learning tools for parents or teachers who want to educate young children on the safety and ability of learning to swim. Go Swim Positioning Techniques teaches parents or coaches how to fine tune student's strokes to perfection. Steve Haufler is the host of the DVD and is known for being one of the best stroke teachers in the world. The Water Proof Kids DVD is an education tool for very young children who are learning to explore and swim in the water and need to know the precautions that should be taken in the water.

Finis' online site (www.finisinc.com) is a one stop shop for all things water. You can not only buy all your top of the line gear here but you can buy bags, footwear and apparel on their site.
How to Promote Creative Play in the Classroom

http://www.ehow.com/how_8192703_promote-creative-play-classroom.html?fb_ref=like&fb_source=profile_oneline


A child learns how to be creative with art, imagination and music while playing. Children learn social skills as they play together and work together in the classroom. The developmental stimulation that occurs with creative play is as important as learning from a book or a teacher. Creative play also can encourage students' independence and emotional development.

Allow children time each day to play freely with one another using a variety of toys or books in the classroom. Children can find a toy they like and play with it how they choose. If more than one child like the same toy this will promote sharing and social interaction. The children can work together with their imaginations and creativity.

Let the children put on a play or re-enactment. Depending on the children's ages, you can assign lines to learn or you can stick with songs and movement. Allow the children to come up with costume ideas, create backdrops and scenery. You can even invite parents to see the finished product. Parental encouragement and approval is important for promoting creative play.

Set out clay or Play Doh along with cookie cutters, kid-safe scissors and rollings pins and allow the children to each have their own piece of clay or Play Doh. Encourage them to make any creation they want using the tools. At the end of the activity, encourage the children to talk about what they created and why. You can even have an art show to display the creations.

Children love arts and crafts so setting out paper, paint, glue, scissors, tape, glitter, beads, markers and more will stimulate creative play. Children can create pictures, masks, cards or whatever else they want using the items available. Again, you can discuss what each child made and show the artwork to the children's parents to showcase their creativity.