Posts filed under 'USA'
Do you find your little girls attracted to body products that smell of candy and youth but are loaded with synthetics that are harmful for their skin?
Sparklehearts bridges the gap between the amount of all natural baby products you can find and the all natural beauty products for women. Somewhere in there, natural based companies seem to have forgotten about the needs of young girls. They need youthful qualities in their products—smell, packaging, maybe a sparkle or two…and please can it also be healthy???
Sparklehearts says “”No way,” to the icky chemicals and toxins that make up the majority of make-up, bath and beauty products, and say, “Yes” to all natural, all safe, practically edible, but seriously glamorous.” You’ve got to love that!!
And—the lotion SPARKLES–with wonderful all natural mica!! Not only does it feel fabulous ( I got to feel it after I had to pry it from my daughter’s hands!!) it has subtle youthful sparkles…not ala Halloween…very hip and subtle! It also smells like dessert which is a bonus!
Sparklehearts currently carries a fun line of hair and body products that are priced right, “rocking some serious style in 100% recycled packaging,” and are made in the USA by two moms!
Thank you Sparklehearts, for recognizing such an important product consumer who also deserves all the health and glam that natural products can bring!!
I posted on this a few weeks ago and for some reason, it has disappeared, so if you feel like you are having deja vu…that’s why 
Mama Jen
June 8th, 2009
Fresh off a Sharpie high, after labeling all of my preschooler’s clothing and gear, these landed in my inbox. Label Daddy peel-and-stick stickers would have saved me a little chunk of time, and a little aggravation … maybe it’s just me, but it’s pretty hard to write neat little names, let alone initials, on some of those teeny tiny, shiny, slippery tags.
Two California dads who’ve been through the process came up with this brainstorm. They’ve created a variety of sticker types, which can be personalized with your child’s name. The allergy notes boldy declare your child’s triggers. Shirt tag labels fit those tiny labels I mentioned above, and the shoe labels come laminated for extra durability; in fact, all labels can be laminated to repel dirt, sunscreen, etc. Sport labels are UV resistant.
As an extra cool measure, you can further personalize all your labels with different fonts, icons and colors. And, you can even go the photo route: use an image of your child, instead of name or initials. The labels and stickers safe in the microwave, dishwasher and laundry.
Other labels in the company’s arsenal will help keep you organized, from garbage bin, return address, and spice labels, to small- and medium-sized all-purpose labels.
I think these snazzy little things will help me keep tabs on my kids things — and mine — in the school years ahead.
— Mama Kate
January 27th, 2009
“I’m obsessed,” said Natalie Bass the first time I asked her how she finds the awesome fabrics and combinations for OrangyPorangy, her line of metro, retro and cool “fine ladywear.” Bass’s skirts in particular are arty, graphic, sometimes even sweet, but never boring — and as a mom on the run with little time for wardrobe/styling, I don’t want to be the latter if I can help it.
“I look for bold, graphic designs that catch the eye, but are not too busy. I love contrast, which is why I pick a lot of black and white prints. They also go with everything,” says Bass. She unearths her ever-changing array of fabrics everywhere, from antiques and thrift shops to e-bay for vintage patterns, and wholesalers for designer prints. “I look for what I like and what I would wear. My clothing designs are very simple; I let the fabric do most of the work. It makes having style easy. You can pair one of my bold, graphic skirts with a very simple top and a fun pair of shoes — everyone has those in their closet.”
“Most of the prints I pick also tend to have a vintage or retro feel. I love fashion from the ’60s; styles were so simple, yet so bold,” Bass adds. Currently she’s got two skirt lines — Poly, made of reclaimed fabrics “for your wearing pleasure,” and Opal, two-tiered with various fabrics — and Jane dresses, “simple, but never plain.” Frankly, I’d buy her stuff just for the cleverness with which she describes it all.
OrangyPorangy skirts flatter all body types. Really. “I have found that the A-line is a miracle of nature,” says Bass. “It looks good on everyone. It’s really comfortable, too.” While she doesn’t do commissions — wedding dresses, for example — she does do custom work, including making special sizes or lengths. She’s also considering making kids’ skirts.
I love that thanks to the cut and the fabulous prints Bass has chosen, I can wear strappy sandals one day with my skirt, and chunky shoes the next. And, of course, black; Bass tries to craft her skirts so they coordinate with that wardrobe staple.
You can find her skirts at OrangyPorangy.com (hey! free shipping all August long!) and around the country in a few hip boutiques. If you live in Madison, WI, on Farmers’ Market Saturdays you can visit her tent at the top of State Street and try them on for yourself. I dare you to walk away with just one.
The tagline on her fashions is reclaimed, recycled, really cute. And, truly, OrangyPorangy’s skirts make me feel terribly flirty in a modern, no-girlish-”frills” sort of way. Hmmm. I think I’ve found a new obsession, too.
Mama Kate
August 7th, 2008
I like my jewelry to be bold, especially since I usually wear only one piece at a time. And, while it needs to have presence, it’s got to be less than gargantuan, i.e., not so chunky that it fills the entire short/little space between my shoulders and ears.
Enter Stubborn. Artist Melissa Stiles’ pieces are eye-stoppers (and, apparently, people-stoppers — I can’t wear my orange Olicook without being plied with inquiries). Stiles handcrafts her earrings, bracelets, cufflinks, rings and necklaces from stainless steel, aluminum and silver and fills them with opaque resins in hip colors (brown, red, orange, citrine, graphite, even turquoise, blue and pink).
Stiles’ pieces are simple statements. To me they’re perfect modern minimalist objects: They don’t overwhelm, but they demand notice. I like the contrast, too: a bold piece suspended on a delicate wire, the industrial shine of silver partnered with earthy texture and tones of the resins.
Stiles started out as an architect and then became enamored with metal smithing. Now she’s in Portland, Oregon — that hotbed of creativity — and is “no longer an architect, but still stubborn and still making jewelry.” That’s bold, too.
Mama Kate
July 14th, 2008
Kice Kice is a clothing boutique for kids with a big conscience. The gorgeous, artfully designed clothing is 100% certified organic and sweatshop free.
Kice Kice is created by twin sisters in Southern California who both have art backgrounds—it shows in their clean, modern, whimsical designs. The clothes all are comfortable which leaves lots of flexibility for play. I don’t know about how it goes in your house, but my daughter insists on “cozy clothes” which is her definition for soft cotton clothing with elastic…I agree!
Mama Jen
June 3rd, 2008
Being a product junkie myself, I naturally continued the habit for my daughter since she can’t very well be one on her own yet. Thymes, a Minnesota based company has a new collection of products for babies called Sweetleaf Baby.
The Sweetleaf Baby collection is formulated to be oh so gentle on that new skin you’ll be pampering. The scent is light and airy with hints of lavender, chamomile.
The gift set is so wonderful with a refreshning hand sanitizer, diaper balm, cute yellow washcloth and nursery mist…mmmm! Perfect! The massage oil I tried is delectable—not too greasy, great smelling and paraben free which is fab!
Happy pampering!!
Mama Jen
May 5th, 2008
Like the rest of you parents out there, I think some of my kids’ artwork is super cool. Now I can have it with me constantly (around my neck or wrist, on my keychain) and show it off at will. All you have to do (dads, this means you) is upload a scan of your child’s artwork and, vóila, the gals at Mommy Tags will emblazon it on a 1-inch-wide circular tag made of recycled silver. Last step is to order a chain — silver or leather — and wait for the masterpiece to arrive. And, you get a professionally mounted rubber stamp of the artwork as well — great for making cards, Ts, etc.
Mommy Tags is very clear that YOU own the copyright to your child’s artwork; they will not use or distribute it.
Tags are $95. Chains start at $15.
And, dads, while your order probably won’t make it by Mom’s Day at this point, you at least can frame the original artwork and let Mommy know what’s on the way.
Mama Kate
April 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 the holiday season coming up, Mama Jess and I will begin every week with a gift idea for parents and/or their kids. In the meantime, I came across a wonderful collection of links to toys made in the USA which may come in handy while shopping this year if all the recent recalls from toys made overseas has you bummed out. Check it out at this fellow mom’s site http://journeytocrunchville.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/toys-made-in-america-part-two/. Mama Jen
October 25th, 2007
