Petite Planet

Paper Hats Have Come a Long Way

2012-01-26T22:03:00.000-08:00

I'm smitten with this collection of amazing paper hats highlighted at Babyology. The crafty among you may be inspired to spend a winter afternoon concocting an impressive topper for your tot after viewing this amazing handiwork by artist Stuart McLachlan.

Hats off to McLachlan for these dainty masterpieces.

Images via: Stuart McLachlan

Rhoost Makes Babyproofing an Eco-Friendly & Stylish Endeavor

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Baby proofing. There's no way around it. Nor should there be... but until I found the Rhoost collection of child proofing products, I had been lamenting the lack of stylish options on the market -- options that don't require an engineering degree for installation.

Our walls, TV stand, cupboards, and nearly every surface of our home bear the marks of the safety products we have installed to keep Miss O and Mr. A from harm's way. But for those of you just embarking on the process, look no further than the Rhoost collection, which features an array of solutions that may be installed without using the invasive procedures that mar furniture and the like -- and the products are easily portable for trips to grandparents, friend's homes, etc! Even better, they are 100% recyclable (the products and the packaging), and totally non-toxic: free of BPA, lead, PVC and phthalates.

My favorite product in the comprehensive line, which includes blind cord winders, cabinet locks, safety outlet covers, and table corner guards, is the finger guard. We have two front doors: one screened and one solid. We like to leave the solid door open and let fresh air come in through the screened door. But, this is hardly possible with a crazily curious and mischievous 17 month old boy in the room. I even filmed him over the summer as he outsmarted every single keep-door-open-thingamajig that we bought from Bed, Bath & Beyond, Amazon, you name it. No matter how many stars the products received for effectiveness, Mr.A found a way to instantly dismantle their integrity and bring the door to a crashing close.

But alas, enter Rhoost's finger guards (that boast screw-free installation), and Mr. A has met his match. Now we can keep the door open without worrying about his defiant and dallying digits.

Do yourself, your kids, your home, and the planet a favor, and look to Rhoost for your child proofing needs. I wish I had these products home to roost years ago!

Live Clean Baby Skin Care Products Bring Green to the Mainstream

2012-01-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

The most prevalent reasons people offer for not living an eco-friendly lifestyle is that green products are too expensive and too hard to find. So I was thrilled to discover a collection of baby bath and skin care products, Live Clean Baby, that are not only sustainably crafted, but also affordable ($7.99 each) and readily available at Walgreens drugstores -- making it much easier for parents to choose healthy, nontoxic personal care products for their babies. (And ditch Johnson & Johnson once and for all!)

The Live Clean Baby collection has got green babies covered from head to toe. Products in the line include: Moisturizing Baby Bath, Shampoo and Wash, Moisturizing Baby Lotion, Diaper Ointment, Moisturizing Bar Soap and Non-Petroleum Jelly.

I love the Non-Petroleum Jelly the most because it goes on smooth and it's not at all greasy. Mr. A took a nasty spill and I used it on the scab on his face, to keep it from feeling tight, and it has done a remarkable job aiding in the healing process as well. It is simply comprised of three ingredients: castor seed oil, cera alba and tocopherol. This is an ingenious alternative to the (gasp!) petroleum jelly parents have been using for decades - because it is effective and safe. The diaper ointment is also great, and combines zinc oxide with several soothing plant based ingredients including chamomile and lavender.

I also really like the fragrance free bar soap (three full size bars come in each package) and I have been using it myself in the shower. And the baby shampoo and wash suds up nicely without the use of SLS. Also, a teeny, tiny bit of the shampoo and wash goes such a long way -- so you can really get your money's worth.

I really enjoy these products and I think they're a great choice for families who want to detoxify their baby's bath time regimen. The only thing I wish I could change about them is the added ingredients to give them their fragrance. I love the scent of these products, but I'd prefer if they all came in a fragrance free version, (the bar soap and non-petroleum jelly are available fragrance free), because I think the fragrance is nice, but not necessary, and that ditching the fragrance would raise the integrity of the products' ingredients list.

Here's the 411 on Live Clean Baby products eco attributes: all products are vegan, never tested on animals, FREE of sodium lauryl sulfate, DEA, parabens, petroleum, phosphates and phthalates. Formulations are made with a minimum of 98% replenishable, renewable and sustainable natural and plant ingredients, and packaging is recyclable.

Urban Tickle Modern Decor Brings Sweet Messages Home for Kids

2012-01-18T20:19:00.000-08:00

When I shop for art decor for Miss O and Mr. A's spaces, I search for whimsical, vibrant designs that also deliver messages of cheer, inspiration and love. Urban Tickle creates exactly this type of modern decor to brighten a child's world, while enlightening his/her mind. From wall decals, growth charts and personalized prints, there's a sentiment and a style to suit every family's taste. Here are some of my favorites from the collection, which really speaks volumes...

This cool guitar art print would remind my kids that they rock.

These inspirational recycled wood art panels bear the loving sentiments: "In life, I hope you will always go the distance." "I hope that even the sky is not the limit for you." And "May you sail through all of life's adventures."

I give a hoot what this wise owl wall decal has to say: Dream Big!

Check out Urban Tickle's entire collection. It really runs the gamut, featuring classic kid favorites such as cars and robots and princesses to retro transistor radios and Vespa scooters.

Planes, Tractors & Automobiles: Eco Toys for Tots' Obsessions

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Loving these eco exquisite wooden toys from aptly named Etsy shop Friendly Toys. Their entire collection is so full of personality and beautifully crafted. Have a look here.

Team Studer's 25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

2012-01-13T10:52:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine just emailed me a link to this beautiful post written by the mom at the helm of the blog Team Studer. These 25 Rules for Mothers of Sons brought tears to my eyes... and I also found the rules highly applicable to daughters, fathers, grandparents, any caregiver/child combo there is, really. Inspire and rejuvenate your day by reading this poignant post.

Best Eco-Friendly Toy Cars for Tots

2012-01-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, Mr. A lucked out in the toy car department. Herein are some of our favorites.

Above: Hape International Bamboo E-OffRoader. This was Miss O's sibling gift to Mr. A for Christmas. It is one sweet ride. And it's comprised of durable bamboo and features water-based nontoxic paints.

The other side of this cute truck bears the recycling symbol. Mr. A eagerly watches out our window each week when the recycling and garbage trucks pick up our trash and recyclables, so we thought we'd give him a little piece of the action indoors. The Wonderworld Mini Garbage Truck is so well made and I love the quiet rubber wheels, a key aspect on our hardwood floors, and the fact that it is completely nontoxic and biodegradable. It would be my dream come true to own the entire Wonderworld collection of toys, frankly!

Pure elation was Mr. A's response to these Automoblox Mini A9 /M9 /X9-X 3-Pack, but before the clock struck noon on Christmas day, I had to pry them out of his excited hands. It was a major parenting FAIL making your kid cry on Christmas because you had to confiscate a toy for safety reasons. While the manufacturer does say for ages 3+, we thought they'd work fine with our tiny tot. Wrong. Each wheel actually comes off. And fits PERFECTLY into a little mouth. I realized after the fact that the reason they are called AutomoBLOX is that they are cars and blocks... you can take them apart and piece them together. Which, evidently was our son's DREAM toy. But when I was reaching down his throat for one of the wheels, I decided to put them away until he's older, and no doubt he'll be just as enthused to receive them at a later date.

This Hape Bamboo Mini Hot Rod looks bigger than it actually is. So, emphasize the word "mini." Still, we got Mr. A four of the Hape Bamboo mini cars and they fit perfectly in the palm of his hand. The parts don't come off, but our little puppy/boy still likes to gnaw and chew on the wheels, so it is pretty stress inducing. In hindsight, I probably should have waited til he was older to buy this collection of toy cars as well.

So, in closing. I'd say be sure to check the age requirements (and follow them) for toy cars. With Miss O., we were able to get around the strict 3+ standard because she didn't really try to eat every object within her grasp... but Mr. A does, so bigger is better in the case of cars.

A Faery Hunt: A Local LA Adventure

2012-01-08T15:23:00.000-08:00

Looking for a fun way to spend a Sunday morning in Los Angeles? A Faery Hunt is a theatrical children's production that takes place in parks across LA. Miss O and I had the joy of attending this morning's show and it was so enchanting! All the kids dress-up as fairies and trek through the park to find personable fairies, and all the while a charming and funny story unfolds, with quite a surprise ending!

I'll be writing at length about our "hunt" on Red Tricycle LA. So locals, be sure to check that site next week!

'Spot It' and 'Tell Tale' Card Games from Blue Orange Games

2012-01-05T21:43:00.000-08:00

In a day and age when portable game systems, iPhones and iPads seem to be all-consuming for kids, it's a wonderful discovery, and frankly a breath of fresh air, to come across some good old-fashioned card games that captivate and delight children and the kid in all of us.

I have found the ultimate travel and on-the-go entertainment in Blue Orange Games's card game tins. I plan on keeping these games in my diaper bag or purse at all times for waits in long lines, or in the doctor's office, and especially for airline travel.

Tell Tale and Spot It are my new favorite games to play with Miss O. Being a writer myself, and having a daughter with a wild and inspiring imagination, Tell Tale: Take a Journey Into Storyland
encourages players of all ages to create stories based upon the pictures on the cards. While there are rules you can follow for play, Miss O and I simply pick out a few favorite pictures and take turns making up stories about what we see, or we shuffle the cards and come up with impromptu tales once we select an unforeseen card.

Spot It is a guaranteed good time. I've never seen a product on Amazon get 154 five-star reviews, but this game does, and that's saying something. As shown on the cards at the top of this post, each card in the deck features a bunch of illustrations, and every card has one picture in common. You split the deck among players, put one card down in the center, and you all have at it "spotting" the likeness on the cards in your hands in comparison to the card in play. Whomever gets rid of all their cards first wins! It takes razor sharp concentration and it is so much fun! Even 4 year-old Miss O loved it and excelled at it, and we had so many giggles as we tried to "spot" the matching pictures.

I would highly recommend these two games to anyone, especially parents with kids in tow. You'll always have entertainment at your fingertips. And of course, I love Blue Orange Games because they plant two trees for every tree they use for the construction of their games.

iHeart This Wooden Phone Teether

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

How clever and adorable is this wooden phone teether from Little Sapling Toys? Made from hard wood that is sanded to a smooth finish, and containing no paints, dyes or finishes, this is the perfect offering for teething tots who covet your cell phone. Show your babe you've got his number by giving him this chewable version instead.

The Quest for Inner Peace

2012-01-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about New Year's resolutions, and have come up with many things I'd like to do differently in 2012 -- but the one thing that trumps all when I have these inner convos is that I want to achieve inner peace.

Having struggled with bouts of depression my entire life, I have come to the realization that my idea of "happiness" will probably always elude me when it comes to attainment -- because it is an ideal that has been fed to me by the media and by other people's notions, and ironically, the people I have thought were the happiest, fall from grace all too easily. This concept of happiness is one that I think can be destructive to those who feel less than. I know for one, that I often wander around wondering why I don't feel as happy as I should, given all of my blessings in life. But I think I am framing it wrong. I am not one of those "happy go lucky" people. There are many times I wish I was, but then I wouldn't be who I am. I hurt deeply, I think too much, I empathize to my own detriment, I too often get lost in the black holes of my own mind...

But I know that inner peace may exist in spite of feeling "happy" or "sad." I want to accept who I am, not wish I was different -- and I am hoping that inner peace will spring forth from that acceptance.

My brother just sent me a great article called "The Joy of Quiet" that recently ran in the New York Times. Everyone, parents especially, should take the time to read it. It made me realize that my children and I will much more easily find our peace in the quiet. In a day and age when we are constantly bombarded with information, tweets, updates, likes, texts, emails, calls, it is the spaces between which matter the most.

May you have a "peaceful" New Year.

I took the photo above while on a walk with Miss O and Mr. A. I thought the raindrops were so beautifully poised on the leaf, such a dainty bit of nature atop a hard, cracked concrete backdrop. It just looked like poetry to me.

PONG iPhone & iPad Cases Reduce Exposure to Radiation

2011-12-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

Over at Inhabitots this year, we have been reporting on the disturbing research that has been making headlines with regard to children and cell phone use. Such studies, including the findings that cell phones are linked to cancer, and that children's brains absorb twice as much radiation as adult's brains during cell phone usage, are deeply disturbing.

So when I heard about PONG iPhone and iPad cases, (they also make cases for Blackberrys and Androids), which drastically reduce exposure to radiation, I knew I had to outfit our iPhones in them, as well as tell you about them.

PONG cases protect you from cell phone radiation, without compromising the integrity of your phone's performance. PONG cases offer the only solution proven in FCC-certified labs to protect consumers significantly (up to 95% below FCC limits) from wireless device radiation. Additionally, each case features a patented antenna technology that redirects and redistributes the cell phone radiation that would otherwise be absorbed by the user’s head and body (as opposed to shielding or blocking the radiation which the FCC warns may actually increase radiation exposure, forcing the phone or iPad to work harder to find a signal).

I feel a million times better about not having a land line, and relying solely on my iPhone for communication, now that I have a PONG case. However, even with this trusty new case, I still don't allow Miss O to play on my iPhone like I used to do -- before I knew doing so could be harmful to her health and development. Yet, it makes me wonder why SO many apps are designed and marketed to children. I used to employ my iPhone as the ultimate on-the-go entertainment center for Miss O, and I know many parents currently do. But I think it's time to go back to a notepad and a game of hangman or tic-tac-toe, some finger puppets, and good old fashioned paper and crayons.

At least in the meantime, as technology continues to excel at the speed of light, and our dependence on it continues to deepen, it is good to know that PONG Research has stepped up to create a solution that will help protect us.

Toy Car Art

2011-12-26T07:27:00.000-08:00

Check out this super cool art installation, 'Car Atlas' -- a rainbow made of 2,500 old toy cars by UK artist David T. Waller. It makes for quite the roundabout.

This would be Mr. A's version of heaven.

See more pics here.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Wishing you peace, love, health and happiness.

Last Minute Green Gift Wrapping Tip

2011-12-23T20:52:00.000-08:00

The countdown is on! No doubt we're all busy wrapping up holiday shopping and gifts, and I just came across this charming idea to top presents: evergreen and holly. What a beautiful, organic way to put an eco spin on your wrapping endeavors! See all of the details here at stephmodo.

Image via stephmodo

HOW TO: Make Personalized, Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper

2011-12-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

Every holiday season, the gifts that we spend so much time and money wrapping in fancy store bought wrapping paper get opened in record time and the paper is quickly tossed aside. This Christmas, save money and the earth by creatively wrapping presents in items you probably already have around your house. Doing so is a unique, personalized, eco-friendly way to present your offerings to loved ones. Here are some quick and easy ideas for making your own wrapping paper!

Materials you will need:

Brown paper bags- I know we all use reusable bags, so pick up a few brown bags the next time you go to the grocery store.

Small paper lunch bags

Shredded recycled paper

Magazines - This month's issue of Martha Stewart Living has beautiful holiday pictures!

Copies of family photos

Raffia, ribbon

Glue and scissors

Newspaper, butcher paper

1) Following the folds of your brown paper shopping bags, cut open the sides, and then cut out the bottom. Wrap your gift items in the brown paper, using it as the base layer before you start decorating it.

2) Once you have wrapped your gift in the brown paper, cut out your selected magazine pictures and glue them to your package. You can use colored paper underneath the magazine pictures as well, to make them 'pop.' You can even make a bow for your package (like the one I made above) using colored paper, newspaper, or old scraps of wrapping paper.

3) Give gifts an extra personal touch by using photographs. I took a picture of my son, made a copy of it, then traced his hands and glued them on a gift bag. Grandparents will especially love this!

4) Other sweet touches include cookie cutter or candy cane embellishments. Note the red filler in the gift bag on the left -- I simply ran red recycled paper through the shredder and used it as filler instead of buying tissue paper. You can do this with any scrap paper, or even newspaper.

Eco tip: Save all of the gift bags and wrapping paper you receive throughout the year, so you may pull from this collection and reuse these materials to wrap gifts you give out for every occasion.

Other clever gift wrap options: new dish towels (which the recipient may then use instead of paper towels, colorful comic pages from the Sunday paper, scarves or other scrap fabric.

Involve your kids in the art and fun of making their own eco-friendly wrapping paper -- have them color pictures and wrap smaller items with coloring book pages, or take a piece of recycled butcher paper and have them paint, trace or color on it, then cut and use their art as gift wrap.

Using household items to wrap gifts is a great lesson in green resourcefulness, reusing, recycling and upcycling! Kids will carry on this tradition with their own families and we can collectively stop piling gift wrap into landfills. You can make your own gift wrap for any holiday or occasion- simply pick a different theme and let your imagination run wild!

DIY: Make Holiday Candle Holders from Baby Food Jars!

2011-12-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wish you had a useful purpose for your empty glass baby food jars? We're taking it up quite a notch from typical recycling purposes for baby food jars, ie: storage for nuts and bolts, loose change, etc. Here is a great, eco-friendly way to upcycle your baby food jars into beautiful, decorative candle/votive holders, just in time for the holidays!

Materials you will need:

Baby food jars- any size, labels removed, washed and dried

Festive fabric

Old holiday cards

Stickers

Ribbon

Glue

Glitter

1) To make a fabric candle holder, take a piece of festive fabric and cut it so it fits around your jar. Brush glue on your jar where you are going to put the fabric, then place the fabric around the jar. Next, you can take ribbon or rikrak and glue it around the top and bottom of the fabric going around the jar. Allow to dry then place your votive candle in the jar.

2) You can add adhere snowflake stickers to your jars and make them sparkle by adding sequins. Or cut pieces out of old holiday cards and glue them to the jars, and then add glitter by brushing glue on your jar and sprinkling glitter over it.

3) Decorative options are endless- stickers, ribbons and glitter will jazz up any ol' jar! Note: when you tie ribbon around the neck of the jar, make sure it is positioned low enough to avoid contact with the candle flame.

If you are feeling really adventurous, you can also make your own soy wax candles to place in the jar.

These baby food jar candle holders make sweet holiday host/hostess gifts as well as adorable stocking stuffers! What a great, green way to literally brighten someone's holidays!

Merino Kids Baby Hoodie Keeps Little Ones Cozy & Stylish

2011-12-14T20:18:00.000-08:00

Holiday gifts for kids don't always have to center around toys. Keepsake clothing also makes a wonderful present, and I love this Merino Kids Baby Hoodie for all the little guys on your list.

Made of super soft New Zealand Merino fabric, this sweater is casual enough for playtime but may also be dressed up for a special occasion. I also like that it has a scoop neck which enables the hood to easily fit over your tot's head, and stay put.

Additionally, merino is allergy-safe and fire resistant and it absorbs moisture when tots get hot and keeps them warm when they're cold.

Today I layered this sweet sweater over Mr. A's other adorable Merino Kids long-sleeved top, and I loved that the fit wasn't bulky and that layering his clothes didn't put him at risk of overheating. He looked super cute and stylish while staying warm.

Another one of my favorites from the Merino Kids collection is their baby sleep sack. Mr. A wears his to bed every night. Read my extensive review of Merino Kids sleep sacks here. This sleep sack would also be a lovely gift for that special baby or toddler in your life.

Merino Kids Hoodie is available in sizes 6-12 months and 12-14 months.

Enter Your Favorite Photo Memory For a Chance to Win a $500 Best Buy Gift Card

2011-12-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

I wrote about my favorite family photos over at Inhabitots. Click through to read my post and to enter your own photos for a chance to win a $500 gift card from Best Buy!

Green Toys Tea Set from Pottery Barn Kids

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of the most gratifying things to witness as a green parent is when large, mainstream companies add a selection of eco-friendly toys and goods to their repertoire -- bringing nontoxic, sustainably made toys to the forefront for all to learn about and purchase. This season, Pottery Barn Kids is, as usual, offering an array of delightful holiday gifts for kids, and my favorite among their wide selection is the Green Toys Tea Set.

We are well on our way to owning every toy in the Green Toys collection, which are all made from 100% recycled milk jugs, and completely nontoxic and free of BPA and phthalates. The adorable tea set available from Pottery Barn Kids includes 17 pieces: a tea pot with lid, a sugar bowl with lid, a creamer, four cups, four saucers, and four teaspoons.

Both Miss O and Mr. A adore having carpet picnics and tea parties, and this set will really up the ante of our make believe play. We currently own the Green Toys cookware and dining set, and not a day goes by that the kids aren't playing with some pieces from that collection. Mr. A often carries around and refuses to relinquish the blue cup from that set - all day long.

I love that Santa can give this tea set as a gift for BOTH kids to share and enjoy many a special moment together.

Classic ABC Blocks from Uncle Goose

2011-12-09T09:48:00.000-08:00

Green parenting involves a lot of studying and decision-making. Especially around the holidays when the world tells you to buy everything in sight and to and fill your kids' lives with MORE STUFF. This year especially, I have been approaching Christmas with a decidedly eco attitude. We cleaned out a bunch of our old, unused toys and donated them to a rummage sale, and we're asking Santa to bring the kids just a few classic, high-quality and sustainably designed toys to add to their collection.

Classic ABC Blocks from Uncle Goose are an heirloom quality toy that we know will get plenty of use, providing learning experiences and fun -- and both Miss O and Mr. A can enjoy them together at playtime. And in addition to all of these qualities, they are most importantly eco-friendly and nontoxic.

The collection includes 28 blocks patterned after turn of the century blocks, embossed and printed with nontoxic, colorful child safe inks. The blocks are crafted from sustainable Michigan basswood, and they feature beveled edges to eliminate sharp corners. Each block tells a story, with letters, numbers and animals on all four sides.

I would recommend Uncle Goose blocks to anyone and everyone looking for the perfect gift for the children on their list. They also come in a Groovie Math Blocks set.

SPECIAL DEAL FOR PETITE PLANET READERS: You can purchase these magnificent blocks and get 20% off from Wild Dill, a Petite Planet sponsor, by clicking the Wild Dill banner in my left hand sidebar and entering code petiteplanet at checkout. Offer expires 12/31.

Recycled Wood Art Panels from Urban Tickle

2011-12-07T22:11:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely in love with these adorable wood art panels from Etsy shop Urban Tickle. How sweet are the inspirational sentiments: "I hope that even the sky is not the limit for you," and "I hope you will always go the distance."

And adding substance to style, the eco-savvy artist prints her unique designs on 100% recycled wood which she salvages from fallen apple orchard trees. They come ready to hang, as the back of each piece of art is equipped with a saw-tooth hanger. Panels may also be color customized to match your child's nursery or playroom.

Modern, Eco-Friendly Nativity Scene

2011-12-04T20:31:00.000-08:00

The true meaning of the holiday season gets all to easily buried by visits with Santa Claus, shopping trips to the mall, and gifts galore. I think a wonderful way to anchor the authenticity of Christmas is to display a Nativity Scene in your home, in a prominent place where little ones may look at it daily and be reminded that Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth. I have fond memories of interacting with and admiring the Nativity Scene my mom displayed in our house every December.

I have seen some pretty cool Nativity Scenes in my day, but this variation by Bunny With A Tool Belt is especially unique. Crafted entirely out of scrap wood and found objects, the figures are so very abstract, but so obvious as well. I love the artist's interpretation and think this scene makes quite a statement and an impact, and rightly so.

Gorgeous Advent Calendar Made from Toilet Paper Rolls from Maya Made

2011-12-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

One of these years, I will get around to making a homemade Advent Calendar. And when I do, I hope it is as gorgeous, green and innovative as this beauty from Maya Made.

Who knew toilet paper rolls could be upcycled into something so classy, festive, and important --counting down the days to Christ's birth.

See the DIY details here!

Image via Maya Made

Green Gifts for New Parents, Tots, Boys, and more!

2011-11-28T20:55:00.000-08:00

I've been a busy bee writing gift guides for Inhabitat's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! Check out the entire guide for great green gifts for the whole family, and for all of your friends and loved ones. And be sure to peruse my top picks of eco gifts for new parents, toddlers, and boys in the guides I authored!