I’m honestly a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of products out there claiming to be green, safe, non-toxic – - especially when  they have a mile long list of unpronounceable ingredients!  Well, the woes of toxic chemicals in my cleaning products have been alleviated by two guys who decided you shouldn’t have to wear a gas mask when cleaning house.

When I opened my  package from Better Life (thanks guys!) and saw the ingredients used in their cleaning products I was intrigued.  Better Life products have rapid biodegradation profiles – meaning that over 99% of the ingredients they use are natural or derived from natural, renewable resources.  Ingredients that aren’t going to harm people or animals like sugar, starch, and amino acids.  I love that my kids can join do their chores without the worry of absorbing or inhaling toxic irritants!

You’ll never see sulfates, ethoxylates, fragrances, dyes, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as glycol ethers and alcohols in our products. VOCs vaporize, entering the air we breathe. They’re triggers for respiratory problems, nausea, headaches, and skin irritation, and contribute to many more ailments.

So the big question is – do they actually work?   I’ve been using each product for about 3 months now and I really like the job they do.  I do think it’s important to keep up on cleaning when using natural products because they don’t have the power to strip heavy duty grease, stains and mildew like harsh chemicals do.  I love they way the Starter Kit comes with everything needed to get the job done, and it’s even perfectly organized in a divided, reusable bag!

>> GET to know the guys behind the company on Twitter and Facebook.

>> FIND Better Life Green Cleaning Products online and in select stores around the country (Whole Foods is  adding their products too!).

When we first introduced you to the amazing Nose Frida, we got a lot of questions from unsure parents wondering if they could actually handle using it.  Now the cold season is just about upon us so we’ve put together a quick how-to video for you.  We want you to experience the same success we have with the Nose Frida too, while using fewer medications in the process!

If you’ve already tried it yourself, please share your experience with us.  We’d love for other parents to benefit from your tips and techniques!

>> FIND the Nose Frida at The Soft Landing

I have definitely fallen in love with the Aden + Anais Australian Muslin Wrap. This is the perfect baby blanket! Through the years of using baby blankets, I’ve always had several ones that were each used for a different purpose – all of which worked together to meet the needs of my baby. Never has there been a time when one blanket could do it all – until now.

Since using the Muslim wrap, all others have lost their purpose. I haven’t found a need for a blanket that this one wasn’t able to meet. It’s larger than the average baby blanket, which is very useful in so many ways.

• It easily covers us when nursing in public.
• Its lightweight weave provides enough warmth without overheating
• The muslin is soft and easy to care for
• I love that in comes in multi-packs, so I’m able to keep one in the crib and one in the car.

This is far and above the best baby wrap I’ve come across.  I look forward to getting more of their quality products with my next child.  Thanks to Aden + Anais for letting us give it a try!

Features of the Muslin Wrap

Muslin is a unique cotton fabric first introduced into England in the late 17th century. Muslin has a light, open weave that allows air to flow seamlessly through the material. The soft natural fibers allow your baby’s body temperature to adjust naturally, eliminating over-heating, but ensuring warmth and comfort. aden + anais wraps will allow you to safely swaddle your baby, giving you confidence that your baby will experience a peaceful and secure sleep.

I recently had the pleasure of testing a 100% natural and renewable baby wipe from Elements Naturals. The wipes superseded my expectations!

Since having my boys, I’ve been trying to find ways of reducing their exposure to unnecessary chemicals. In doing so, I was made aware of the typical ingredients – wood pulp, rayon, polyester, plastic, parabens and other various chemicals – used in the big-brand baby wipes. I was pleasantly surprised to find this natural alternative.

The elements wipes are chemical, fragrance and chlorine free. They are made from a natural material, Ingeo fibers, that is plant-derived, which allows them to be non-allergenic. I am impressed with their softness, durability and size. Because these wipes are larger, it only took one to clean a dirty bottom when it would normally take several standard sized baby wipes. The non-toxic cleaning mixture used to moisten these wipes works better and smells great too.  I also love that they are a mom-created product!

>> Read more rave reviews by other blogging moms: Inhabitots and SafeMama

>> Available at select Whole Foods, Diapers.com and Moms4Life.com

The advantages of baby wearing are many, but my top 3 reasons have to do with those inopportune times when I have to take my not-so-happy baby out in public. It may be that he’s under the weather or just plain unsettled.

• No worries about baby encountering the omnipresent germs on shopping carts
• People are less likely to try to touch them because they would have to enter your personal space
• It’s easier to turn the baby away from unwanted interaction if they are being carried vs. riding in a cart

Recently my baby was feeling wimpy while recovering from a cold.  It wasn’t bad enough to warrant staying at home, but I knew it would be wise to keep him from coming in contact with germs if possible.  Baby wearing provided that barrier for us during our trip to the local hardware store.  He also felt much more comfortable being next to me and was able to get in a little nap.

We’ve been dealing with dairy allergies in our family for over 10 years.  It’s been a trying experience to learn the ins and outs of the Dairy Free Diet, so when Home Free sent us a sample of their cookies, we couldn’t wait to give them a try.  I have to be honest though – after testing so many other products with my very picky eater, I wasn’t holding out much hope . . .

To my great surprise, every single family member – including the picky boy – was truly WOW-ed by how great these cookies tasted!  We all gobbled them right up.  And despite the amazing list of missing ingredients (dairy, eggs, nuts) as well as a lower sugar level, we found these cookies satisfied the sweet tooth without the worry of a reaction.  It is wonderful to know that there is a sweet treat that those of us with allergies can still enjoy!  Thanks so much Home Free for filling such a desparate need for us!

>> Get your own Home Free Treats here

As babies, both of my boys wanted to be held as much as possible.  And of course, I loved holding them but I just couldn’t get anything done around the house. That’s when I started using a baby carrier.

When my first son was an infant, I used a Snuggi carrier which was awful. It didn’t hold the baby securely and was painful on my back and shoulders – not to mention, he quickly outgrew it.

With my second son, I used a Cuddly Wrap in the beginning. This wrap was wonderful, especially from birth until about 3 months.  It totally secured the baby to my body and I could do any household chore with him attached. No worries about him falling out and he loved to be snuggled so close to me.  But as he grew, it became hard to get his long legs in it and he hated having to be held so tight to my body.

As the months passed, his need to be carried didn’t seem to subside. I really think in our case, he just wanted to be part of everything I was doing. I found I could get more done if I just gave in and took them with me rather than causing him cry over being left out.  Most days if I could do whatever it was I was working on – cooking, laundry, gardening – with the boy in tow, he was happy as can be.  The only trouble was that my arm and back would eventually get exhausted.

So I began the search to find an affordable replacement that could handle the job.  I’d seen a ring sling before and thought it looked like a great choice, but because they had become so popular, the prices were ridiculous. That’s when I found SweetPea Ring Slings. These homemade slings were selling for a much more affordable price and after reading the benefits of baby wearing, I was sold on trying this style of carrier.

The creator of SweetPea was kind enough to send us one of her handmade slings to try.  We have fallen in love with our ring sling!

• It slips on quickly and is so comfortable and easy to use.
• It’s like having a third arm! I’m able to do most everything with my 7 month old, 25lb son right along side me.
• It gives my arm much needed support.
• It’s also much more comfortable for baby, relieving pain and pressure on his back from constantly being held tightly.

The SweetPea Ring Sling is also very well made.  I believe it will pass the test of time and last through mine and my sisters’ babies too.  Now I just need to get SweetPea to make a waterproof ring sling for the pool this year!

It’s true, I’m wild about coconut oil.  I eat it, I wear it and I can’t get enough of it!  I thought I’d include the following excerpt from my interview for the book The Coconut Miracle just to show you how serious I am about it:

I began using coconut oil on my face and body, but never expected to watch years worth of keloid scars from injuries, surgeries and acne start vanishing before my eyes.  The deep pink color is fading quickly, the thick over-growth of skin is shrinking  and the itching has completely disappeared.  Scars were an area of my life that I had truly given up on, as all the treatments I’d tried in the past failed miserable.  I’m so thankful to be regaining the smooth, umblemished skin I had as a teenager.

Needless to say, when Jyl of Mom It Forward offered me the opportunity to try the new Basa Body product line, I jumped at the chance!  And from the minute I opened the box and the fragrant scents hit me – I was in love

Basa Body’s all natural body products are made using organic virgin coconut oil from wild coconuts harvested along the beautiful coast of Kenya. They are free from harsh chemicals and parabens that irritate the skin, and contain no artificial fragrance, color or preservatives. The ingredients in their hand and body products are kept to a bare minimum and are 100% natural.

I’ve tried many, many coconut-based products over the years, but this one was has definitely topped my list – and here’s why.  I have extremely sensitive skin and had no reaction to Basa Body’s Natural Coconut Oil Body Lotion, Cherry Chocolate and Mint Truffle Soaps or the Basa Body Stick.  Every single product is downright luxurious and feel spoiled everytime I use them!

3 reasons you need to stop what you’re doing and go get Basa Body right now!

1. You can make a difference in the lives of the Mombasa women in Kenya.  These intelligent women work hard to feed their families to produce the virgin organic coconut oil used in Basa Body.   Basa not only purchases all their coconut oil from Coconut Coast Farms, but they also donate 10% of our profits to projects in Kenya to fight poverty.
2. Purchase any Basa Body or Coast Coconut Farms product by May 12 and you will automatically be entered into their giveaway and will have the chance to win one of three prizes: 1) a $250 Disney Gift Card 2) $150 amazon.com gift card, and 3) a $100 Target gift card. You will also be entered if you make a cash donation of $20 or more.
3. Between now and May 12, when you use the promotion code “momitforward,”  you’ll receive an additional 10% off Kiss Me pack purchases. This is a great Mother’s Day item for now less than $30!

>> CLICK here to donate

If you had asked me a while ago whether I would try a reusable cotton menstrual pad, I would have said absolutely not.  But over the last few years I’ve taken to investigating the cocktail of chemicals used in so many of my personal care products – including disposable pads.   As a result, I began using Chlorine-free Pads by Seventh Generation about a year ago.

Recently, I was offered the opportunity to try Lunapads, and I have to be honest – I only did it because I trusted the person who recommended them.  I kept thinking to myself, “I’m pretty sure reusable pads are for the extremely green gals out there who are willing to go through some torture to make a difference in the our landfills.”  But I decided to give them a try anyway, and my pleasant experience was more than I ever could have banked on.

My eco-friendly side is more of a light green, but I found that there are many more aspects to the Lunapads that make them desirable:

• Made with 100% cotton (available in organic), making them amazingly soft and breathable – unlike disposable pads and pantyliners.
• They don’t cause me to feel sticky and sweaty
• No glue means no pulling ouchies!
• Great for my sensitive skin (I experienced much less skin irritation caused by plastic and chemicals)
• I feel great about not adding to the 14 billion pads, tampons and applicators going into North American landfills every year

One concern I had in the beginning was how to go about using them while out in public, but they’ve solved that problem too with the waterproof Moon Bag.  It’s basically the same thing as the wet bags we use for storing cloth diapers, so I threw them in and washed the bag and all in a snap.  It couldn’t get much easier – and boy is it worth the new found comfort.  I’m a convert!

>> READ other informative reviews on Lunapads here and here.

We love 5minutesformom and everything they stand for.  We feel an especially deep connection with them, because they’re sisters working their business and blog together, just like us!  Janice and Susan have started a whole new tradition that we’re excited to take part in.

Say it Forward is a great concept in a world of too much to do with too little time.  It’s special way to thank our loyal blog readers and commenters.  You know – those sweet souls who take time out of their busy day to whisper a little something about how they appreciate your hard work

We’ve already mentioned how spoiled we are, right?  Well, a fellow blogging Mommy contributes constantly to our happy state of being.  Everything about her is wonderful – she makes our world go ’round:

Melissa Moog, founder of the amazing Itsabelly Baby Concierge, has truly become one of our favorite Super Mommies.  We’ve only met one time in person last September at the ABC Kids Expo – and that was after a full year of anxiously waiting (that’s Melissa to next to me on the far right).

But the best part of our story is that we met through 5minutesformom . . .

Melissa emailed me to say she was so excited to find our business highlighted on their website.  She was a major part of the Green Baby Planning movement, and explained how excited she was to find our non-toxic feeding gear store.  Our friendship grew quickly, and today she’s one of our most vocal supporters!  She still takes time to read every blog post, leaving comments for us

So as you can see, Susan and Janice aren’t kidding when they sing the praises of supporting other bloggers by leaving comments!  You’ll reap huge benefits in the long run, even thought it takes a little bit of time now.

>> TAKE a minute to visit Melissa’s blog.

P.S. Just in case you were wondering if Melissa and I really are cool enough to hang out with Christopher Gavigan, CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World (to my left), Jil Howard (Melissa’s right hand gal) and Kevin Brodwick, founder of Thinkbaby (far left) – the answer is YES

]]> http://seriouslyspoiled.com/2009/03/say-it-forward-with-5minutesformom/feed/ 3 http://seriouslyspoiled.com/2009/03/say-it-forward-with-5minutesformom/