Posts filed under 'parent'
I love soy candles, and while watching an episode of Oprah that was recorded on my DVR this week, Sandra Bullock was promoting her new line of eco-friendly soy candles called Bessence Candles which are in addition to her Austin, Texas eco-friendly restaurant called Bess Bistro. These candles are have lead-free wicks (why do some candles have lead-containing wicks anyway?) and clean burning soy wax. Check them out…healthy ambiance for the whole family!
There were also amazing tips from Hollywood mom Sophie Uliano who wrote a fabulous book called Gorgeously Green. If you are looking for a nice one-stop reference on how to bring more health to your family and our planet, this is your book!
Mama Jen
April 24th, 2008
The most important skin cream you can use is SUNSCREEN! The sunny time of year is here or approaching, depending where you live, and the Environmental Working Group conducted the first-ever study on the efficacy and safety of sunscreens out on the market.. Those found to be effective and safe might as well be considered samples from the “Fountain of Youth.”
EWG stepped up because, “After 29 years of debate, the government has failed to set mandatory sunscreen safety standards. In August 2007 FDA proposed first-ever UVA standards for sunscreen, but the rules are not yet finalized. In the meantime, companies are free to make claims about product quality.” Scary!
To see how your sunscreen stacks up, which is healthiest and most effective, visit EWG’s Skin Deep. While you’re there, check out any of your products for their safety as well as this handy-dandy parents’ buying guide. Parenthood is so busy that it is wonderful that this site has sussed out the good, bad and the ugly for us! I love this site!
Mama Jen
April 21st, 2008
Two products I have come across look like great ways to dial-up safety measures in your home.
Hot Stop has faucet, shower head, and shower-head/faucet combos to protect your family from scalding hot water. You can turn your water heater to a setting below 120 degrees F, but that isn’t a sure-fire way of knowing how hot your water can get. These products , that were featured on the Today Show will cease the flow of water in the event that it reaches an unsafe temperature. I found a link to a horrible tragedy I heard of in the last two weeks, and surprisingly it occurs more frequently than we think.
Definitely check your water heater’s thermostat, manual, and look into installing these devices in your home. If you are currently building, you can request that safety units be installed “behind the scenes.”
I also received a link recently to this video which shocked me out of my socks! Every parent should see this video— Most kids don’t wake for fire alarms!
They will, however, respond quickly to fire alarms that use the voice of their parent to deliver the warning. I found some of these types of alarms at Amazon and a price comparison at Nextag where you can record the more effective “familiar voice.” Pricey, but safety and piece of mind are invaluable! I am sure after more looking, deals on these items can be found. Just make sure it allows you to record your own voice. For a more formal study on this phenomenon, here is a Pediatric study that was published on the matter as well.
Feel free to leave a comment with your safety tips!
Mama Jen
April 14th, 2008
My inner Martha Stewart is making a rare appearance these days before she goes back into her usual hibernation….I am organizing a family cookbook!
My husband’s side of our family put together a wonderful family cookbook that each family member can go to when looking for their family’s favorite recipes etc…I loved the idea and wanted to do it for my side of our family.
I found a phenomenal site called Heritage Cookbook. Even Oprah likes it…
The best part of being able to make and publish your family cookbook with this site is that everyone you want to contribute can enter their recipes on their own. You simply sign up, add your desired contributors, and an email is sent to them to invite them to join in on your cookbook adventure! This saves the cookbook organizer from needing to decipher family penmanship and enter in all the recipes. Ugghh…the horror!
Make your own cookbook if you are a “culinary queen,” gift a collection of your family recipes to your mom for mother’s day, or make a cookbook to sell and donate the proceeds to charity! Actually 5% of your purchases to this company go to charity. Also, they only print on FSC approved paper so Heritage Cookbook.com has that great green thing going for them! Great great stuff!
The customer service here is top-notch. When you email Susan Love, the creator of this site a question or comment, she gets right back to you with whatever information you need! That is so valuable!
Enjoy!
Mama Jen
April 8th, 2008
Recently, I was reading a forum where lots of moms were praising something called a “Balance Bike.” I had no idea what it was, so I HAD to look into it.
Balance bikes are an alternative to the use of training wheels for the beginner cyclist. The balance bikes supposedly allow your child to transition to a full-on bike more easily and quickly than if they had started out using training wheels. That’s because the hardest part—balance—will have been learned.
In my searching I came across an aptly named balance bike company called SKUUT. Scoot is what you can do on these things while your body learns to balance the bike. You can walk them, ride them, “skuut” them or glide them. Definitely something to check out.
Check out the Skuut website or call your local bike shop to see if they have balance bikes for you to look at. Very Interesting!
Mama Jen
March 31st, 2008
The two most amazing nursing cover-ups I have seen are below—Hooter Hiders and Amuse Me cover-ups.
Hooter Hiders are chic little nursing cover-ups that help you stay modest while still being a fashionista—all while nursing your baby. The name is so cute and the fabrics are luxurious and modern.
Amuse Me gives your babies flailing hands that have the tendancy to throw nursing covers off, something to do. There are soft ribbons on the inside where baby’s hands can reach, explore and stay busy. This is such a great idea! The patterns are beautiful and THOSE INTERIOR RIBBONS!!!
Mama Jen
March 27th, 2008
OK. So I’ve often thought I could make my own gift bags — just some cool fabric and a few zigzags on the sewing machine, right? Well, that means that I actually have to get out my sewing machine and go to the store to pick out fabric, iron it, make sure the kids are outta they way before I try to run the sewing machine, etc. etc. So, pretty much, my little spurt of craftiness is not gonna happen.
Enter Lucky Crow fabric bags, owned by Green Approach LLC in Portland, OR. Though I’m a fine papers fanatic, the sustainable/green aspects of our MomAppeal personas LOVE these. By design, they are reusable and, made of fabric, are much sturdier than any of the old paper gift bags, wraps and trimmings I have filling up two bins in my basement. And, the ribbons are attached and the fabric are cool: From the Retro-Rocket Rascals and the Sock Monkey patterns to some ’60s flashback prints (Carnival, Free Spirit and Happy Tree) and even holiday and hip organic prints, you’ll find a design that matches your gifting style and theme.
Lucky Crow bags are sold individually in a range of sizes ($4.50-$13.50), including those that just the right fit for tiny bling boxes, wine bottles, CDs, books and even bigger gifts. The largest size almost fit a Rody bounce-on toy; two extra large bags would work better, and allow you to wrap other similarly sized assembled gifts (we all know wrapping those well with paper is just about impossible).
Or, make your life really easy and choose from one of five collections ($17.99-$115.99) that include bags of assorted sizes and patterns. We love that the Lucky Crow tells you how much purchasing by collection saves vs. ordering oodles of individual bags, and that the company has some fun and free gift tags you can print from your browser window.
Here’s something else we like: Lucky Crow is a member of 1% for the Planet, an international group of businesses that donates one percent of their sales to nonprofit environmental organizations.
Lucky Crow has created a special promotion code for MomAppeal readers — so you can stock up now and be set for birthday parties, house warmings and holidays for the rest of the year. Type in the promotional code MomAppeal at checkout and you’ll receive 20% off any order of $50 or more. Thanks Lucky Crow!
Mama Kate
March 24th, 2008
With Spring officially arriving this Thursday (wahooooo!) you may be getting that spring cleaning fever. I know I have been organizing here and there—only for it to be re-organized by my two year old, but I am making a little, more, OK, some headway! Buttoned Up is a company that helps “stretched and stressed out women” get themselves and their families organized. Personally, I think they are going to rescue our bulging file cabinet.
Buttoned up features about 30 great products or “kits” that will help you organize your tax documents, be prepared if you are in a vehicle collision, get your fitness goals in order, organize to-do lists diaper bags, moves and more…virtually all the important parts of our lives that would be so much easier if they were neatly “buttoned up!”
You can browse their selection of nifty kits that help you organize life’s important information at their website, or look through them in person at Target, where they are available in some locations.
The company was invented by a Alicia Rockmore (a mom) with her business partner Sarah Welch and her sisters, who know just how much you are juggling and found a way to help.
Fabulous idea that has major MomAppeal! Mama Jen
March 18th, 2008
Remind yourself of the superhero mom you are everyday with a great, handmade necklace from Superhero Designs.
I came across this amazing jewelry while living in San Francisco and fell hard for the colorful and vibrant necklaces that the Superhero Andrea makes. I even had her make some jewelry for the bridesmaids in my wedding!
The necklaces are all unique because you choose from the color families provided( I loveEarth and Joy!) and Andrea will make you a fab piece of jewelry from sterling silver and vintage glass and lucite beads. Perfect for all of the superhero necks that will be transporting their families to and from camp, games, family outings and vacations all summer long….Ahhhhh….it’s coming!!! Summer!!
Check out the great onsies and t-shirts available as well! Great for superhero moms, dads and kids… Love ‘em!!
Mama Jen
March 12th, 2008
A while back, the catalog for Twilite Moon came to my house and I have been looking at their website ever since.
They have the most amazing selection of stylish items for mom, dad and baby. The items tend to be quite modern, though they do have some traditional items as well. Look at this amazing dresser for a child’s room. There is also a funky low piece that could be great for storing toys. If you are looking for your child’s furniture to be art, these are the ticket… You can customize what the accent drawer color is too! Maybe these should be in your room…so chic!
And GASP!! Sexy Nursing Bras??? They found ‘em…How’d they do that??
They also have a selection of accessories for safety and many practical items as well, such as the Sleepsack which I used and loved for my daughter—keeps little babies warm and covered without the fear of having them sleeping with loose blankets. In our experience, loose blankets never stayed on a sleeping baby, AND I was afraid about the blankets covering her face…the Sleepsack solves both problems.
At Twilite Moon, they put together a wonderful section to help you find gifts for every kind of child and family.
Twilite moon is one of those baby boutiques that makes moms drool—-and that has MomAppeal!
Mama Jen
March 4th, 2008
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