ERGObaby Performance Carriers

I've been pleased lately when I see a review for a forward-facing carrier on People Magazine's Celebrity Baby Blog because the comments are full of informed parents who know these carriers are not ergonomically (and developmentally) ideal for baby...or the parents wearing them!

It's great to see parent-facing carriers finally catching up in popularity in the USA to fall in line with the rest of the world...as it is with breastfeeding and cloth diapering.

I was thrilled today when I learned that superstar baby carrier company ERGO Baby has a new carrier line called Performance Carriers!

If you're familiar with ERGO you may be wondering what they could have possibly improved...they're the gold standard for baby carriers. And those who own them know they're well worth the price tag as you use them long into todderlerhood. And if you're planning on having more than one child, well, you can imagine how worth the investment is!

Hazel will be two this fall and I can tell you we are not even close to approaching an end date with her in our ERGO! And even with her being our last child, I'm considering purchasing this new Performance carrier...here's why:

1. It's lighter (about 1/3 that of ERGObaby's Standard carrier). It has a mesh lining that's great for active parents like my husband and I with our older children who love all things outdoors.
2. It has a water-repellant exterier to provide extra protection against the elements.
   
3. The shoulder straps are contoured to keep baby close (like the Standard carrier). This eliminates strain on shoulders and back. Plus, the Performance carrier has thinner padding which provides the cushion without the bulk.
4. The chest strap easily adjusts to accommodate multiple wearers, like you'd expect to do on a long hike.
5. And one extra variation from the Standard carrier is that the Performance's waist belt extends an extra 5" longer to provide a better fit for babywearers of all sizes.

If you want to take a closer look at ERGObaby Performance or Standard carriers, visit ergobabycarrier.com. The Performance line starts at $120.00, the Standard at $105.00, and the organic line at $120.

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!

Serena & Lily Year End Sale

I've written about my love of Serena & Lily's organic Market Slings. I loved carrying Hazel in it her first few months of life while I ran around with and after August and Martha. She was as snug as a bug in a rug and slept away close to hands-free me, enabling me to meet the needs of my other two children. Everyone was happy!

If you've had your eye on a Market Sling or any other lovely product Serena & Lily carries, now's the time to buy! They are having their Year End Sale and many products are now 25-70% off!

Visit the sale at serenaandlily.com.

I Am Thankful Tee

It's now October and Thanksgiving will be around the corner. I recently stumbled upon this I Am Thankful Tee on Chasing Fireflies and thought it was worth sharing.

Teaching children gratitude will not only make your day-to-day life more enjoyable, but it truly will have a lasting impact on those around them. I figure a shirt that calls out personal reasons to be thankful can't hurt!

I'm thankful that the shirt is organic and made in the USA. There are two to get you started!

Visit chasing-fireflies.com to order your shirt with three thankful fill-ins. Please allow 2 weeks for personalization.

Graze Organic

With three children, you can imagine the number of snacks I need to pack for trips to Costco, play dates, school and for the baby to eat during her older brother and sisters' activities! And I truly believe that every bag matters. So you can imagine how excited I was when my set of reusable sandwich and snack bags arrived from Graze Organic!

I must admit that although I am a fan of reusable bags, I had never purchased them in a snack/sandwich size because I just didn't like the plastic lining in them. I do not have the time to specially wash yet another thing since caring for my family of five (plus our dog)...we make plenty of messes and laundry that keeps me busy enough. Graze Organic bags do not have the plastic lining...they are made to simply be thrown in the laundry. That, I can handle!

These stylish reusable bags are made for 100% organic cotton and printed using water-based inks. I love their modern yet vintage hip look that will also teach my children word recognition...the first step in reading. They're colorful and my children are proud to use them. And for adults and older children who want to forgo the illustrations (although I personally like them), there is a set of sleek bags which simply states "because every bag matters."

Visit grazeorganic.com to purchase the bags. Prices start at $24.00 for a set of three and a set of five is $38.00.

Oak Tree Twinset

Time to switch the focus from Mother's Day to Father's Day. My first gift idea is this great Oak Tree Twinset. This tee set is great for the father/child duo who lives out the familiar saying The nut doesn't fall far from the tree. Also for wonderful fathers and children who are proof that From tiny acorns, great oaks grow.

This set is 100% organic and is printed in the United Kingdom. Personally, I love the bold graphics and can see my husband and my children wearing these shirts year round. I only wish the tree shirt was available in a fitted women's version!

I've found these tees at twistedtwee.co.uk where they're sold as a set and at mimimyne.com where they are available to purchase individually, which is great if you have more than one acorn in your family.
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I received word that Mimimyne's online store is not set up to ship to the US...but they are will to do so. If you email them, they will send a PayPal invoice which you can pay through your bank account or credit card. You can read the details by clicking on the comments for this review. Sorry for the confusion, and Tabitha, thank you for clarifying!

Giggle's Better Basics

I love soft, organic and simple baby clothes for my children! And Giggle has some of my favorite basics...Better Basics!

The color combination used in Giggle's Better Basics collection are wonderful: pink and red, blue and orange, orange and pink, and navy and blue...some of my all time favorites!

All pieces are organic, stylish and so comfy for your new little one! No wonder the collection is loved by celebrities like Alyson Hannigan from How I Met Your Mother (one of the few sitcoms I watch)!

View the entire organic and affordable collection at giggle.com.

Organic T-Shirt Companies

As each Summer approaches I start looking for new tees for my kids...shirts that are clean, organic and not too distracting. I just found three new companies I'm excited about: Farmerkids Organics, Manny & Simon and OBLI Organics. Here's a bit about each one:

Farmerkids Organics

If you're looking for simple, organic clothing that makes you yearn for clean country air, Farmerkids Organics is for your children...like it is for mine!

Their shirts are made from 100% organic cotton in sweatshop-free environments in the USA. They are incredibly soft and feature embroidered patches that are also made with USA grown and produced 100% organic cotton.

If your child fits into a size between 3-6 months and 6T, you'll want to visit farmerkids.com.

Manny & Simon

Manny & Simon tees are designed and made in the USA by a family business started by two sisters who named their company after their grandfathers. Their great shirts are soft and super comfortable to wear. Each is hand-screened and their sizes fit babies and toddlers up to size 4.

The Manny & Simon collections feature over-sized and off-centered animal prints...all classics loved by children...from dinosaurs and monkeys to lambs and fish.

They offer organic tees as well as hoodies, bibs, and onsies. Their is sure to be a product and animal your child will love!

You can see all of their design options at mannyandsimon.com.

OBLI Organics

My favorite new tees are from OBLI Organics. They are amazingly soft and of a substantial weight I know will last. They are available from size 0-3 months to 5T and each features an eco-friendly design to get your children (and hopefully T-shirt viewers) inspired to live a green lifestyle.

OBLI was started by two sisters who parent 3 boys and 2 dogs between them (there are dog shirts available as well, such as green to the bone). Their goal is to provide "hip and trendy styles for children and pets while being stewards of the environment." And from reading about their company and experiencing their shirts first hand, I must say they're well on their way!

And in case you're wondering, OBLI (pronounced oh-blee) is a word created for their line of clothes inspired by their corporate name On Borrowed Land, Inc. OBLI is a reminder that, in the end, we are all truly just borrowing the land and passing it on to the next generation. Isn't that the truth?!

Visit obliorganics.com to see all of their creative designs and relaxing products.

Organic Easter Egg Dye

Easter is approaching and one activity I remember loving as a child was dying Easter eggs for my parents and grandparents...I made them but never wanted to so much as taste them. And like most everyone else, we used a dye kit purchased at the grocery or drug store. It certainly go the job done. But this year, I'm going to try making my own natural Easter egg dyes for my children to dunk their art pieces (organic, free-farmed eggs) into.

Dye Recipe

• 1 tablespoon of a spice or 4 cups of a chopped fruit or vegetable (see list below; adding more of these ingredients will give the dye a darker hue)
• 4 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of white vinegar (to help the dye adhere to the eggs)

Instructions

1. First, wash eggs with soap and water to remove dirt or oils that may prevent dye from sticking to the shell.
2. Combine the ingredients in a pot, and bring them to a boil, then reduce heat and let the mixture simmer for 15 to 30 minutes. The longer you allow the ingredients to simmer, the darker the color will become.
   
3. Remove the dye from the heat, allow it to cool, then run it through a strainer. Dip your hard boiled eggs in the dye for at least 15 minutes—longer if you want a darker color. When finished, you can rub the eggs with vegetable oil to give them a soft sheen.

For a little variation, you can have kids decorate the eggs with crayons or wax pencils before boiling and dyeing them. Or, wrap a rubber band around the egg to create contrast, either on a white egg, to prevent coloring, or on a dry, dyed egg, where it will give you a stripe of the original color if it's redipped in another.

Color Variation Ideas

The following materials will give a range of intensities and surface textures to create a unique Easter egg basket or tree. Measurements, where given, are approximate; play with additional spices, vegetables and fruits for different results. Canned vegetables will work in place of fresh or frozen, but their colors will be paler. Also, herbal and black teas will give you varying shades of greens, reds and browns.

Pink/red: Pomegranate juice, red onion skins, beets or the juice from pickled beets, pickled red cabbage juice, chopped rhubarb stalks, cranberries or cranberry juice, raspberries, red grape juice.

Orange: Yellow onion skins, paprik.

Dark orange: Chili powder.

Yellow: Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops or shredded carrots, celery seed, ground cumin, ground turmeri.

Green: Spinach.

Greenish yellow: Yellow Delicious apple peels.

Blue: Red cabbage, canned blueberries or blueberry juice, blackberries, purple grape juice.

Lavender: Small quantity of purple grape juice, violet blossoms plus two teaspoons of lemon juice, small quantity of red onion skins.

Brown/tan: Dill seeds, black walnut shells, strong or instant coffee, tea.

Joobles

Meet Mooey the Cow from Joobles, a subset of Fair Indigo (based in my home state of Wisconsin - yeah!).

Fair Indigo is a fair trade company...they ensure people who make their products are paid a fair working wage and are treated with respect. And they go a step further with the co-op in Peru that hand-knit Mooey and her friends...they provide free breakfasts to the kids in the community! I just love watching my Martha snuggle her Joobles, knowing the good that went in to it!

Mooey has many friends, there's Buzzy the Bug, Bella the Bunny, Mel the Monkey, Jiffy the Giraffe, Icy the Penguin, Pip the Dog, and Fair Bear. Each is made using pure and soft organic cotton and fun color schemes! And most have coordinating sweaters, bibs, tees and pants...all organic, of course!

Joobles are available for purchase at fairindigo.com. The animals retail for $29.00 and their clothing and accessories start at $20.00.

skinnyskinny

Who doesn't like going to a spa and getting a massage or facial? I know I do! And one of my favorite benefits is the lingering relaxing scents and the feel of the oil on my skin (especially in the dry Winter). I'm happy to report that I received the same advantages with skinnyskinny's Organic Body Oil! It is light and has a lovely scent that stayed with me for a few hours after my shower...and made me smile each time I noticed it!

If body oil isn't for you, I strongly suggest you try their Organic Soap that provide the same scents but in a non-oil application. The bars are large and generously-sized and will last you quite a long time. And they arrive packaged so lovely they make a wonderful gift for your friend's birthday or a special hostess!

One last skinnyskinny mention goes to their Organic Tea Tree & Mint Lip Balm. I've used Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm for years and this is the first product I've tried and really loved...enough to convert me! It's less greasy, light, stays put and you don't taste the mint as much, which I appreciate...especially since I'm a busy parent of three who grazes all day....mint doesn't compliment most foods and beverages. I'm happy to report I'm now a skinnyskinny girl!

Visit skinnyskinnysoaps.com to see all of the scents available and to purchase. A limited selection of their products is also available at Anthropologie stores.

3 Sprouts

My children aren't the biggest bath fans in the world. Our bath routine goes something like this: First, our children complain when you tell them it's bath time. Then, they decide they're OK for a few minutes playing with their boats, squirters, swimming animals and pouring cups. Next comes the crazy screaming when they get their hair washed (even though my husband and I rinse as if we're playing a vital game of Operation). And it all ends with some whining that they're cold as you apply lotion and get them dressed.

Sounds like fun, doesn't it!

The only time they aren't complaining during the bath routine is when they're getting toweled off. And I believe at least part of the reason is they all have special towels...and one of them is from 3 Sprouts.

3 Sprouts hooded towels feature double-layered organic construction of spa-grade, organic terry toweling on the inside and organic French cotton knit on the outside. And then the most adorable animal accents I've seen of a chicken, monkey or elephant. These towels are generously sized and are great for baths as well as dips at the pool.

The monkey and chicken shown here are available at landofnod.com for $30.00 and the elephant can be purchased at artebebe.com for $34.00.

Frenchy Baby

A few weeks ago I received the new Chasing Fireflies catalog full of adorable Spring clothing. There was one outfit in particular that caught my eye...the one shown here. I immediately began researching to find the maker and discovered it was Frenchy Baby. I'm sure you won't be at all surprised to learn that they offer many other wonderful designs as well! You can purchase individual pieces (shirts, pants, shorts, tunics and dresses) as well as mix and match sets for boys and girls!

Each piece is created using very soft and supple pure organic cotton and that will have you envious of your little one. The only negative thing I can think to mention after experiencing the clothing in person is that Frenchy Baby doesn't provide clothing in my size.

Visit frenchybaby.com for more information and chasing-firefliles.com to purchase this adorable outfit ($74.00 for the three pieces shown above).

Ringley Natural Teething Toy

I've read that if adults went through teething, we would not be able to handle the pain...it's that excruciating! I've always felt so helpless when my children were in pain from their teeth pushing through. I've purchased every teething product on the market: toys that vibrate, teething drops, water-filled toys, and Tylenol, of course. But I've recently come across a natural teether that I'm confident will assist my new little one, who is showing the first signs of teething.

Ringley is a natural teether that combines two efficient teething tools: untreated Canadian Maple and 100% organic cotton terrycloth. These materials provide two very different textures that enable children to satisfy their teething needs. The great design allows your child to easily grip the ring and cloth...and it can be used wet or dry!

There are two different styles as shown in the photo: knotted and straight. Both are handmade in Toronto, Canada. Mine arrived this weekend and I'm happy to say the wood is silky smooth and the terrycloth is soft. I can see my daughter using this as a comforter as much as a teether!

Visit ringleynaturalteethingtoys.com for a list of online retailers.

Canus Goat's Milk

Back in 1994, Andree Falardeau and Andre Beauregard, two friends from Montreal, decided the world would be a whole lot softer if more people washed with soap made from fresh goat’s milk. Thus began the making of the original triple-milled Canus Goat's Milk bar. They now sells 90 Canus products and are headquartered in Vermont while some operations remain in Canada.

Canus has four lines of products: Goat's Milk (products for adults), Li'l Goat's Milk (products for children), Nature (organic facial and body products for women), and Nature's Dog (natural products for our furry friends).

You may be asking yourself, why goat's milk...what's so special about it? The answer is it has superior moisturizing properties...and it's winter so that's especially important these days! Goat's milk leaves skin feeling silky smooth and supple because of its unique protein structure. There are shorter protein strands which allow for easy absorption. And it's not just moisture that's absorbed from goat's milk...natural minerals, vitamins and protein are also taken in, helping to nourish healthy skin and heal the rough patches!

And one last benefit to mention: fresh goat's milk also contains capric and caprilic acids that naturally balance the alkalinity of Canus products, which closely matches the ideal alkalinity level of the human epidermis. What I'm saying is, it keeps skin and hair from being stripped of their natural moisture – a common problem with regular commercial soaps and shampoos.

Canus products can be purchased from amazon.com where they are eligible for FREE SHIPPING!

The Playful World

The Playful World is self-described as "a toy company created to provide today’s children with unique, custom designed toys that are handcrafted by artisans in less developed areas of the world and purchased under fair trade agreements." What a wonderful mission statement for today's children! And what wonderful products they offer!

The Playful World's current product lineup includes Soft Blocks made from wool in Mongolia, Animal Pals and Finger Puppets created from organic alpaca in Peru, and my favorite, Bowling Buddies which are hand felted, dyed and sewn by women artisans in Kyrgyzstan.

Most components of The Playful World's products are organic and incredibly fun for our children...and all are handmade. But most importantly, all are fun! My children are thankful for our wooden floors as they have been bowling through our house for over a week now...and not showing any sign of tiring. And their hand-eye coordination is really improving! Between the Bowling Buddies and our Wii, they're bowling average will be higher than mine any day now!

Visit theplayfulworld.com for more information, including where to purchase.

bioME 5 Sale

bioME 5 is having a major sale on their long sleeve tees...originally priced at $36.00, they are now all on final sale for only $12.00 each! $12.00 for an amazingly well designed organic tee...WOW!

Visit biome5.com to stock up now!