greenshanti

Green is "Being conscious of the earth's limited natural resources. Rethinking, recycling and reusing natural resources to build a more sustainable lifestyle." Shanti means "Peace, tranquility, enlightenment, the inspired path."

Knowing these definitions, I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn that greenshanti offers artistic, eco-friendly products that are handcrafted from recycled, natural, and organic materials.

greenshanti is the result of the founders' travels...travels that let them to communities of artisans of less than ordinary means creating things of extraordinary beauty. They appreciated how the communities sustained themselves by pooling their local resources and directing them into creative energy. And to help these communities prosper, greenshanti offers these naturally beautiful products to the global community.

Visit greenshanti.com and you'll find a gorgeous collection of all natural handmade goods, including bags, stationery, blankets, eye masks, gift wrap, and soaps. All items are perfect for gift giving!

aden + anais Sale

Hazel spent a great amount of time her first few months of life in aden + anais muslin swaddling blankets last year. I still use them quite often as sun shades and to play peek-a-boo!

Luckily for all of you who have yet to discover these great blankets, aden + anais has decided to get in the spirit of things this month by giving customers 15% off all purchases made between December 3-18.

To take advantage of this great offer, enter coupon code CELEBRATE at adenandanais.com!

giggle Think Pink Fleece Blanket

My mother is a breast cancer survivor so I appreciate all of the donations made in the month of October. And giggle's donation of 10% of their proceeds from the sales of this Think Pink Fleece Blanket are no exception! The money will be donated to the Young Survival Coalition in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This blanket is not only stylish, but it's also eco-friendly! It's made from double-layered fleece in stylish, contemporary pink with a bold single dot pattern. But what's really special about this blanket is that it's made from recycled soda pop bottles, for the ultimate in responsible synthetics.

Visit giggle.com to purchase your own Think Pink Fleece Blanket where it is sold exclusively for $50.00.

aden + anais Giveaway

aden + anais is giving away one of their new Sleeping Bags, which I reviewed last week. The lucky winner gets to choose the size and print they prefer. This great giveaway is worth $29.95!

To enter, visit adenandanais.com to see the style options available. Then, click here to provide your contact information and size/style preferences, and to answer a few questions. Deadline for entry is the end of day Sunday, August 2. The lucky winner will be announced Monday morning, August 3 and alerted via email.

aden + anais Sleeping Bag

I've been a fan of aden + anais for a while now and have written about their muslin swaddling blankets as well as their winter warmth line. I'm excited to announce that they now have the most amazing Sleeping Bags as well!

The quality is excellent, as you'd expect from aden + anais, and the prints are just as sweet and hip while also maintaining a vintage feel...I don't know how they do it! Now you have a great transitional sleep sack to keep your baby or toddler warm without overheating!

Visit adenandanais.com to see their full collection of Sleeping Bags and also to take note of their new prints and organic muslin wraps!

Lala's Pequenos's Noonies

Oh how I wish I had a Noonie for baby Hazel when she was a newborn this past winter! Even today, if she would fit into one (and keep still long enough), I'd be cuddling her close and keeping her snug on this cool Summer day. But alas, her time has passed for this snuggy pod...but perhaps it isn't too late for you!

Noonies are made from soft organic fabrics and are a cozy environment for your baby to be cuddled up close, to lounge in after a bath, or for extra-cute photos to send to your family and friends! This would also be a show-stopping baby shower gift!

See all of the lovely fabric choices at Lala's Pequenos's Etsy shop at lalaspequenos.etsy.com where prices range from $45.00 to $62.00. Please note that Noonies are not intended for unsupervised sleeping.

Merino Kids

My 9 week old daughter, Hazel, is one strong girl...she first rolled over at 2 weeks old...at her well visit so there was a witness! So you can imagine how she laughs at my attempts to keep her swaddled at night...silly old me trying to keep her comfortable and cozy in this brutal Wisconsin winter.

But I've found that a combination of a Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag and a swaddle does the trick: she's kept warm, and she's kept safe from her loosened swaddling blanket inching up to her face...it grips to the Baby Sleep Bag. Problem solved...take that my smart cookie!

Merino Kids Sleep Bags are sized for babies up to two years and toddlers up to four years...good news for children like my daughter, Martha, who sleeps sideways on her bed no matter where I put her in, and how well I cover her. And like babies, toddlers too will sleep comfortably in their Sleep Bag...all Merino Kids products are crafted from 100% natural, renewable, biodegradable and unbleached merino wool...New Zealand's finest! And the bag's outer layer is all-natural fine Pima cotton for extra durability to withstand wear and tear.

Merino fabric has the remarkable ability to regulate a baby's body temperature...it captures and circulates air to insulate your baby when the room temperature falls, and releases excess body heat and moisture as the room temperature rises...it creates the perfect micro-climate around your baby's body. Merino fabric will readily absorb perspiration and release it into the air to help prevent your baby from overheating (and waking up damp)....much safer than synthetic sleep sacks and blankets. Overheating is a possible SIDS contributing factor, and risk of overheating is an important consideration when choosing nursery bedding!

Available to purchase at babysleepbags.com. Prices start at $119.00.

Peke Moe

What do you do when your baby can break even the strongest of swaddles but is still too young to sleep with a blanket? You purchase a Peke Moe!

Unlike other baby sleep sacks, the Peke Moe provides your child with a sense of restriction which is comforting for little ones! But your child is also snug all night in 100% brushed cotton...a warm fabric that breathes (or you can choose the summer weight muslin...but in Wisconsin where it is -8, I'm months away from even thinking of summer!).

Peke Moe sleeping sacks are wonderful for developing a baby's ability to sleep unwrapped. They're great for preventing children from scratching themselves. They are unbelievably soft! And they allow your child to self-soothe by finding their thumbs through the corner of the fabric!

Available at pekemoe.co.nz for approximately $40.00.

Fill In The Blankie

I have the perfect gift idea for you...a gift for a newborn, for a birthday, for a Baptism, for a Bris, for a first airplane ride, for a, well, you get the idea...for anything! Fill In The Blankie is the perfect gift for any occasion...for any baby or toddler.

All four silky sides of the blankie you choose (which is difficult...they have so many options) can be personalized. You can go the generic (yet thoughtful) name, birthday, height, and weight. Or you can get more personal and use nicknames, meaningful quotes, song lyrics, etc. And if you're coming up short on creativity, Fill In The Blankie offers an inspiration page to get you motivated.

And when you make your purchase and gift your blanket to a special child in your life, know that another child, a patient at the Children's Medical Center in Dallas, is receiving a blanket that very same day. Fill In The Blankie has donated a year's worth of baby blankets, fully embroidered with nursery rhymes and sweet sayings to be given to children staying in the hospital...after surgery or even on their birthday being celebrated in the hospital. What a wonderful gift!

Prices start at $39.00 at fillintheblankie.com.

CoZibug

CoZibug is a carbon-neutral company that offers wonderfully eco-friendly sleep sacks, stroller blankets, swaddlers, burp cloths, bibs and very plush towels. And all of these stylish pieces arrive in a matching cloth bag that is easily reusable!

I received a CoZi Dry towel after my daughter was born and I was excited to use it for her first bath, knowing that she'd be comfortable and warm in the soft towel. And with it being oversized, I know she'll be using it for years! But probably not just for baths, but at our pool and at the beach as well...it's thin and will be easy to pack!

Available at kangaroodles.com where prices start at $30.00 for a bib and burp cloth set.

Shi Shu Baby

Great Gift for Baby!

When my Shi Shu Style baby blanket arrived, I instantly was in love with the soft lemon yellow color I can only compare to butter. And coincidentally enough, that's the texture of this 60% cotton and 40% bamboo blanket as well...it's as soft as butter! And silk...like a buttery silk! When my husband came home, I greeted him at the door, blanket in hand, and said, "Feel this. But wash your hands first." He too was impressed.

Shi Shu Baby blankets are a generous 30" by 40" and are handwoven and trimmed in sateen. I love the antibacterial and eco-friendliness of the bamboo...and it's breathability. And I love that there is also a larger Shi Shu Home version for me as well...which I can't wait to purchase!

Shi Shu Baby blankets are available at amazon.com for $88.00. There is also a snuggler/lovie size for $29.00.

Beba Bean

I remember the first time my mother saw my daughter standing in a pair of black patent Mary Janes on Christmas...it brought tears to her eyes. I believe it was because she could recall me being small in a similar pair of shoes. And timeless, classic pieces is what Beba Bean is all about!

Beba Bean creates some wonderful knitwear in great solid colors as well as the herringbone above. They also have a great line of bamboo sleeping sacks, hats and blankets for babies along with a wide variety of shoes for your little boy or girl.

If you are looking for something special for your child to wear for a holiday photo or to church on Christmas, look no further than Beba Bean. And if you're looking to steal the show at a baby shower, I strongly suggest their shoes...sure to bring oohs and aahs from everyone in attendance!

Visit bebabean.com to see their entire collection as well as find purchase locations.

aden + anais Winter Warmth

A few months ago I wrote about aden + anais muslin swaddling wraps. And now I'm happy to tell you that they have a Winter Warmth version that consists of a double layer to keep your little warm and cozy during cooler weather, that I must admit to myself has reached Wisconsin. The positive is that the leaves are beautiful, the negative is that I'll need to start allotting an extra 15 minutes to bundling my kids before leaving the house.

The aden + anais Winter Warmth Swaddling Wraps keep your baby warm without overheating. How? Their blankets are made using the softest, open-weave natural fibers that help to regulate your baby's body temperature naturally. But they're also good for covering your little one on the way to the car, while nursing, or to block out the sun when your baby is sleeping in their stroller.

Available in packs of two for $49.95 at adenandanais.com.

LANACare

LANACare...where do I even begin? I'm so in love with these 100% merino wool products from Denmark that I'm finding it difficult to organize my thoughts this morning. Do I list all of my favorite pieces such as the pilot cap, booties, nursing pads, blanket, mittens and clothing? Or do I emphasize the benefits of this soft merino wool? I suppose I'll touch on both...

So, as I mentioned, one of my favorite LANACare products is this lace-edged pilot cap. With a little girl on the way, I was drawn to it's soft woolen comfort and antique look...her name will be Hazel after all. And when it arrived, it was just as lovely in person...and the quality is just beautiful! Paired with the mittens, booties, and overall, your little one will be cozy and warm all winter long!

And my other favorite LANACare product is their nursing pads...and here's where I'll go into the benefits of 100% untreated merino wool. These nursing pads are soft and contain natural lanolin making them comfortable even in the early days as they help to maintain a healthy nipple while nursing. They can absorb up to 40% of their weight without feeling wet...and as they absorb the moisture, the lanolin is converted to lanolin soap which has an antibacterial effect.

They're easy to care for as you only need to let them air dry as the lanolin will clean the wool as it dries. As the moisture evaporates numerous times and you feel the pad stiffen, you will then need to wash them (only then, not with each wear). You can do this easily with a mild shampoo or with LANACare lanolin soap...which I recommend.

All of these great products and benefits are available at danishwool.com where the hat starts at $31.00 and the pads begin at $16.50 for a pair...and most women will only need two pair!

The Snuggly Blanket

Let me introduce you to The Snuggly...a blanket that will grow with your child!

The Snuggly is part of Cover Me Collections and is made of 100% Merino wool and edged in French ribbon. Merino wool is one of the softest and finest fibers in the world...and this wool just happens to come from New Zealand high country farmers. The blankets are really soft and snuggly (it's not just a clever name) and quite luxurious!

Measuring over 47" x 59", The Snuggly is large enough for a toddler to sleep with in a twin bed. And because Merino wool is light weight and breathable while simultaneously being warm, it can be cuddled year round. It's also machine-washable, non-allergenic and asthma-friendly. Sounds like an heirloom-quality blanket to me!

Available starting at $149.00 at covermeblankets.co.nz.

FunQuilts: Many Hands Blankies

Many Hands Blankies are colorful, soft, machine-washable and feature animals your child is sure to love! They are made in small batches by an enthusiastic workforce of developmentally disabled adults at CARC, an organization that provides training and jobs to special needs clients in Chicago. Each blanket's hangtag explains the blankie's origin...that "your purchase provides meaningful work for many hands."

All Many Hands Blankies are reversible, made of 100% cotton flannel and measure 30" by 40". The blankies are available in two colorways for each of the animal patterns: Herd of Elephants, Troop of Chimpanzees, and Pod of Dolphins. They are a great gift for a baby shower or for your own little one you're looking to start down a charitable path.

To learn more about the blankies, including watching a video of how they're made, visit funquilts.com. To order a Many Hands Blankie for $75.00, call FunQuilts at 708.445.1817.

Amenity

Amenity is a wonderful home interiors company specializing in all things bedding. I myself have been coveting the Alpaca Throw for some time now. But I'm also in love with their nursery bedding, particularly the blankets, like the deer one shown here.

Amenity nursery pieces are made of 100% organic cottons and hemps and printed with low impact dyes making this collection every bit as innocent as the deer, turtles, bunnies, flowers, and ferns make it look.

The organic gender-neutral colors of their pieces and soft designs make them the perfect accessories for any baby's room. Shown in the photo on the left in a soft pink nursery, this set would work just as well in a pale blue setting...after all, a soft morning sky would fit right into your baby's natural nursery surroundings!

Amenity nursery bedding is available at amenityhome.com where the pieces range from $40.00 for a crib sheet to $355.00 for an entire crib set.

Kensington Baby Play Mat

The Kensington Baby Play Mat is a signature item for Plain Mary, a wonderful source for luxurious baby items...and the Kensington Baby Play Mat is no exception! And Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie must agree as they just made a purchase for their newborn twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline.

Created using quilted micro-suede fabric, it is extremely soft and well padded, making it perfect for baby's tummy time and first crawls or scoots! And it's generous size makes it the ideal place for older siblings to play alongside their new baby brother or sister. When I opened the package of our Kensington Baby Play Mat yesterday, my son August said, "There's enough room for Martha and me to play with the baby on there!"

Upon first glance and feel you will think it's too lavish to actually use! But, surprisingly enough, it's machine washable! And can be tumble dried! And it's been tested to have everything from drool to sweet potatoes wash out without a second thought! Finally, an heirloom worth using!

Visit plainmary.com to see all of their fabulous color options and embroidery styles! The Kensington Baby Play Mats retails for $190.00.

Noonoo Design Sale

I'm a big fan of Noonoo Design for many reasons which you can read more about in my review of their playthings and blankets here. And now they are having a sale!

Their set of three unbleached cotton muslins make great lovies! And their Baby Eye Pods are great for babies to chew on and play with! Both items are regularly priced at $30.00...and are now on sale for $15.00!

Visit noonoodesign.com to start shopping. For the next six days, all items ship free!

A B Sea

When I was growing up, my family and I would head to Mackinac Island each summer. My brother and I would spend days biking around the island, eating fudge, exploring caves, and hiking up trails...and there are no cars on the island, adding to the magic of it all. As an adult I've traveled to Nantucket and found it to be just as magical. Anyway, what I'm saying is I'm in love with islands and water and the sea! So it's no surprise that I'm in love with a new clothing company: A B Sea!

Even if you're not a fan of beach life, you'll fall in love with the 70% silk and 30% organic cotton blend of their fabrics that melts in your hand like sand through your fingers! And their use of calming colors such as wave (a deep blue), sand (a light caramel), bay (a sea glass green), and buoy (the softest of pinks) will make a water lover out of the most timid aquaphobe!

If you're looking for the perfect Take Me Home outfit for your new little one, or for the baby shower gift that will be oohhed and aahhed over, it's as easy as A B Sea! Their clothing is beautiful, über-soft, machine-washable, and classically styled!

Visit abseababy.com to see their full line and color options! You too will be planning a trip to the sea!