Euphoria for Green Mamas

Glass Baby Food Containers

Rachel — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:51:24 +0000

Looking for something eco-friendly and totally safe to store your homemade baby food? I was too! A smart Canadian mama has just introduced the solution – Wean Cubes. These durable little glass containers are fitted with silicone sealed lids so that the product is completely BPA, Phthalate, PVC and plasticizer-free. They’re NOT plastic – Yah!

These remind me of Pyrex; but unlike Pyrex, they’re able to store liquids without leaks and come in baby-sized 4 ounce sizes. The smart-clips lock on each side of the lid for a very tight seal. Plus, they come in 4 fun colors: pea, blueberry, carrot and raspberry. Buy Wean Cubes in packs of four for $28.00, all one color or multi-color.

Time to make up some baby food!

Reflections of Motherhood

Rachel — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:26:15 +0000

Welcome, Fall!

Rachel — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:08:02 +0000

Leaf mask by 5 Orange Potatoes (free download!)

When we arrived home from Nashville, Aria exclaimed, “Mama, the first dogwood is turning colors. It’s fall!” While temps this week remain near 100 degrees, fall is coming. September is always one of my favorite months. Cool weather starts to sneak in, the trees just barely begin to change and it’s my birthday too . Here are some fun traditions to anticipate as you welcome fall:

* Apple Picking. We take an annual journey to the apple orchards to pick our own and enjoy apple cider doughnuts. Look for an orchard near you at Pick Your Own.

* Leaf Art. All the beauty and fire of autumn leaves makes for endless art possibilities. I hope to let the kids play with some of the many beautiful leaf projects on the Crafty Crow this season.

* Harvest Party. Somehow it’s become a family tradition to host a harvest party complete with costumes, pumpkin carving and homemade food. Last year we did a pictorial scavenger hunt for the children. The Halloween Hunt was sooooo much fun, I have a feeling we’ll just do it again!

* Farm Festivals. If you anywhere near an agricultural area, do some searching to locate a farm that hosts a fall festival. We travel to visit Ovis Hill Farms. In the past their festival has included live music, square dancing, butter-making, crafts, tractor ride, sheep dog herding demos, sheep shearing demos and spinning wheel demos too. Such a wonderful experience!

* Costume Making. Costumes are a Halloween tradition, but they don’t have to be consumer or media-driven. If you’re thinking of making your own, don’t forget to start early with ideas and experimentation. I wonder what Liam will be this year?

Enjoy the season!

Fitting your Nursing Bra

Rachel — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:18:48 +0000

If you can’t make it into a nice maternity boutique for an expert nursing bra fitting, this video is for you. Produced by Nummies, who makes my favorite sexy nursing bra, the Perfect Fit video is 11.5 minutes long and answers these questions:

How do we measure a pregnant woman for a nursing bra
How do we figure out band and cup size
When is the best time during pregnancy to be fit for a nursing bra
How many bras should women ideally buy
What does a perfectly fit nursing bra look like
Special tips for finding the perfect fit
How to know if the fit isn’t right and then what to do about it
Information about nursing pads, underwire, engorgement
How to properly care for your bras
How to fit moms who are are already nursing

Click Nummies Perfect Fit Video to learn how fit yourself from the comfort of home! You’ll want a partner to help measure you correctly.

Gear up for Breastfeeding

Rachel — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:08:19 +0000

Between the baby registry and maternity clothes, most moms-to-be are “shopped out” as the due date nears. But before you meet baby, don’t neglect to set the stage for a positive breastfeeding relationship. It’s priceless! Here are the essentials you’ll want to invest in as you gear up for breastfeeding.

1. Quality nursing bras. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard customers regret buying cheap nursing bras. Lactating breasts are tender and heavy. They’ll be working hard, so get yourself some support! When you find a good bra, buy 2. Milk leaks will have you reaching for a clean, dry bra quite often in the first few months. I recommend Bravado’s original nursing bra for total comfort throughout engorgement and at night, and Bravado’s Body Silk Seamless for shape and support during the day.

2. Breast pads. Most women leak… a lot. Disposable nursing pads are reliable and easy. However, they use the same questionable absorbent gel as disposable diapers. A more natural alternative is cotton or wool washable pads. I suggest you get some of both. You can wear washables at home and disposables when you need total protection (and a pad that doesn’t show even through tight clothing). Always start out with just 1 pack of whatever you buy to make sure you like how they fit first.

3. Nipple care. If this is your first baby, count on breastfeeding being a little (or a lot) painful at first. Yes, it’s worth it, but it’s not necessarily the easiest road. Don’t wait until you’re feeling desperate – have some nipple cream and soothies pads on hand before baby is born so they’re ready to help you through the hard times. It seems to me that just about everyone appreciates these products! Other solutions like booby tubes and breast shells are more mama-specific, so buy as-needed.

4. Nursing pillow. No, you don’t need a nursing stool, but you will be glad to have a nursing pillow. True, you can make due with a few regular pillows, but considering the frequency of breastfeeding, a specially-designed nursing pillow is warranted. Breastfeeding pillows offer firm support to keep baby at breast-height and encourage proper posture for mama (ie no back-ache!). Be sure that the pillow you buy is NOT filled with polyurethane foam. Our organic Blessed Nest pillows are a customer favorite.

5. Privacy. This last category is definitely optional. If you do desire privacy when breastfeeding, you might consider nursing clothing or breastfeeding cover-ups. I personally prefer cover-ups, like our Bebe au Lait nursing covers, just since they’re more cost-effective. If you’re already breastfeeding and feel that you can’t nurse in pubic, you really should give nursing clothes and a Bebe au Lait a chance. Combining the two is a super-effective way of covering all your bases.

Wishing you many blessings!

What’s Stitching

Rachel — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:53:34 +0000

I’ve been sewing and blogging more frequently than ever at Stitched in Color (MAKE. handmade. do. Good). Here are a few glimpses of my projects this August.

Aria’s Fairytale Patchwork Quilt

I finished hand-quilting Aria’s new bed covering. It was delightful to experiment with different patterns on different blocks. And the finished quilt looks so wonderful in her room! I’m already dreaming of making one for Liam now…

Stitch Your Life

Two new articles for those interested in catching the sewing bug: How to Care for Your Fabric and Sewing Book Roundup.

Stockings All in a Row

Voila, they’re finished! One for each of us and in just the right color. I almost can’t wait for Christmas to get these out again. Almost… In reality, I have lots more sewing to do before then!

Refashion a la Alabama Chanin

When one of my favorite skirts was stained, I used the reverse applique method from Alabama Stitch Book to hide the stains and give my skirt a fresh new look. The process was simple and oh-so-enjoyable. I like it so much that I’m actually glad my skirt got stained!

do. Good Stitches

My charity quilting bee on Flickr is picking up steam. This month I’ve formed 2 more quilting circles and our first circle is putting together it’s first quilt for Wrap Them in Love. If you’re interested in joining our efforts, hop on over.

Lyla’s Banner

And, just last night, I shared this little name banner made for my best friend’s 2-year-old birthday. I hope it brings my love to her across the states. This project is easy and quick, if you’re looking for somewhere to start!

5 Trends in Fall Fashion (for Maternity & Beyond)

Rachel — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:42:54 +0000

Refresh your wardrobe with your favorite take on the top 5 Trends in Fall Fashion for Maternity & Beyond.

1. Feminine. Ruffles, buttons, lace – flirty, feminine details are still going strong in our favorite clothing lines. Choose lightweight fabrics and romantic colors to highlight this look.

2. Fitted. From skinny jeans to leggings, fall fashion is all about flaunting your shape. When fitted bottoms first emerged, seasons past, we wore the look with voluminous babydoll tops. Not so this fall. Fitted tunics are more on-trend, though loose babydoll styles still work for maternity. (Note: This maternity tunic by Olian is coming this fall!)

3. Faux denim. Think beyond jeans. Denim is making a strong comeback this fall, as soft and stretchy faux denim tops, jackets, dresses and more. So easy-to-wear – these pieces are a smart investment in any wardrobe – maternity or otherwise.

4. Florals. Full of color and loaded with personality… florals of all shapes and styles are a favorite fall fashion. Oversized florals make a strong statement even when cut in simple, classic styles. (Note: This gorgeous silk top by Maternal America is coming this fall!)

5. Fluorescent. Ok, so this fall it’s really about BRIGHT, not fluorescent. But, watch out – fluorescent is coming! By the new year the brights you’re loving now will take on that little extra glow.

Mommy Blogger Love: Progressive Pioneer

Rachel — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:16:59 +0000

Progressive Pioneer is one of my regular reads. I love this blog for how well-rounded it is. From snapshots of Amy’s life as a mom to tutorials and links for things to “make and do”, Progressive Pioneer has introduced me to many ideas that just “fit” who I am.

Amy is babymooning with her newborn. So rather than interviewing her, I thought I’d share with you this thought-provoking post. It’s a perfect introduction to her blog! Enjoy.

What is a Progressive Pioneer?

Sometimes the most progressive ideas are the oldest and simplest, the ones that took place 100 years ago, when no one saw anything revolutionary about them at all. Today there are so many parenting options, so many ways to feed, clothe and care for our children. Many spring from media moguls and business tycoons, others are born in laboratories and research centers. In the midst of all these high tech, color coordinated, safety tested, pediatrician recommended options, the most radical choice can be to simply say, “No thanks.”

When we trust our intuition, and look within, rather than to external sources for the answers, we will often find that the simplest solutions are best. Why feed our babies deconstructed, vitamin-fortified, puffed cereals when we can simply cook up some nice, hot oatmeal, vitamins all intact? Do we really need an entire car seat/carrier/stroller system that makes it entirely possible to go hours at a time without ever touching your baby? Hold that sweet babe tight to your breast, wrapped in a simple cloth as millions of mothers have done before! The latest parenting books urge us to let our babies “cry it out,” when every cell in our body tells us to fold them into our arms and soothe them to sleep. Listen to your body! Forget the cribs, the baby food, the play pens. We women have been doing this for eons. Choose to follow the examples of our pioneer forbears; live simply, live close to the earth and close to your loved ones.

There is a line of reasoning called Occam’s razor that states that when faced with multiple theories, the simplest answer is usually the correct one. So it is with mothering, and life in general. When all the world is turning to the latest gadget, the latest expert advice, the latest health fad, we can pioneer the way back to our roots, back to simplicity.

LunchBots Love & Coupon

Rachel — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:04:05 +0000

Packing lunches, whether for school or for work, tends to create a lot of waste. If you’ve been looking for something plastic-free to pack sandwiches and leftovers, look no more.

I asked the folks at LunchBots to send one of their containers for review. All LunchBots are made totally of stainless steel. The LunchBots Eco, which we’ve been testing, is their largest model and easily accommodates a big daddy sandwich. This baby has been receiving constant use for about two weeks and it still looks as good as new. It dishwashes just fine, but I hand wash it too when we need to reuse it quickly. We’ve had no problems with leaks or the lid coming off – it’s great!

We’ll be buying a few more to completely eliminate those little plastic baggies in our home. LunchBots makes some smaller sizes, including one divided to fit fruit and nuts or cheese and crackers, for example. And, if you have a child headed to school, you should checkout their adorable Waste-Free Lunchkits. Each kit comes with two stainless steel containers, 2 organic cloth napkins and a Mimi the Sardine non-toxic lunch tote at a 25% savings. So many fun designs! Makes me kind of sad we homeschool (not really).

LunchBots has generously provided a coupon for 15% off any items on their site. Use code BACKTOSCHOOL to activate your savings!

Rooting out Polyurethane Foam

Rachel — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:21:27 +0000

You’ve heard of the dangers of polyurethane foam, right? That’s why you’ve bought (or wish you could buy) an organic baby mattress. Great! But, did you now that polyurethane foam lives in lots of furnishings throughout most American homes? Unfortunately, it’ll take more than organic mattresses to prevent polyurethane foam from polluting our indoor air with it’s small airborne poisonous particles and ongoing release of VOCs.

I didn’t discover the plethora of polyurethane foam products in our home until last fall. My frustration spilled out in this blog, when I read labels on our sofas, armchairs and every mattress in our house, admitting to containing large amounts of polyurethane foam. Since then, I’ve also realized that our padded dining chairs are filled with this stuff and even my little tabletop ironing board sports a nice layer of toxic filling. Clearly, no one is using cotton anymore. Cheap, chemical-ridden foam is all the rage.

If you’re like me, it’s not possible to replace all of your tainted furnishings at once. But, improving indoor air quality is not an all-or-nothing question. Every little bit counts! I started with replacing my children’s twin mattreses. Since they spend about 12 hours a day sleeping on them, I was sure that was a good investment! Then, this weekend I recovered my ironing board. It was incredibly easy (tutorial here) and the results are so pretty! I used one bath towel in place of the polyurethane foam – much better – and a staple gun to make quick work of it. Many other furnishings can be recovered much the same way, from entry benches to foot stools. Old bath towels and thrifted cotton blankets make for plush padding with none of the chemicals. In the next few months, I hope to make time to recover our dining room chairs too.

Since I learned about the popularity of polyurethane foam with manufacturers, I’ve made a point to check labels anytime I’m considering bringing home something soft and plush. Every little storage cube, kid’s chair and soft toy is suspect. Unfortunately, so many of them are guilty. Finding a couch that’s polyurethane foam-free is not so easy. So far, I’m partial to those offerred by Crate & Barrel, who uses a soy based polyfoam instead and uses many other sustainable components as well.

We’re not ready to buy new sofas now, but when it comes time you can bet it’s going to be polyurethane free! Until then, I just keep opening the windows…

This is part of the Healthy Child Blog Carnival – an effort by Healthy Child Healthy World to help inspire a movement to protect children from harmful chemicals.