The Itsabelly Blog

Look Mommy a Red Pony!

 I've been wanting to post about this really cute on-line toy store that I found while poking around the internet a few months ago.  Finally, I can share my discovery with you...called Nico and Zoe.  Nico and Zoe carry unique and artisan made toys that you can't find at your local big box toy store.  And if your sick of all of the recalls and plastic junk your kids are exposed to Nico and Zoe is definitely a place that will make you wish you were 2 years old again!

 I bought a few items for Isabella (Sudoku Set (cute wooden animal game pieces) and Primer Pak (lacing, puzzle pieces - great learning toys!) and some items she won't be ready for until she's 3 but I had to have them.  I think it was more for me to play with than her, I admit it!

The cool little Rody Pony is a great toy that any child would fall in love with, awesome for balance and coordination - a popular pick for many parents wanting to give their toddler something fun and different!

Has Your Child Inspired You to Become an Entrepreneur? Check out Rain Frog Boutique.

Like I said before I love finding women who are inspired to create their own businesses and really follow through with it. Mainly because I know it's a tough job being a mom, wife and business owner all at the same time. I live this challenge every day and it's exhausting but worth it when you are doing something you truly enjoy.  You just have to remember to sleep in between!!

Karen Spaeder was inspired by her young son after he recited the Pledge of Allegiance. At the end, he innocently replaced the traditional words, saying instead, “with liberty and justice for frogs.” She didn’t correct him but instead decided to create a business selling a beautiful line of bamboo and organic cotton clothing (for women, men & babies) along with luxury organic spa items called Rain Frog Boutique.  She was able to do two good things in one; follow her ambition and help preserve our planet.  Props to Karen!

I had the privilege of being able to try out her comfortable tee made of bamboo and  organic cotton.  It felt oh-so soft on my skin and it was in one of my favorite colors cherry red!  The really cool thing was that the tee features natural UV protection, moisture wicking properations and thermal regulation.  It also included a cool stitched-on frog embroidery and came with a real bamboo hanger. It is made with 70 percent bamboo, 30 percent organic cotton.

You can see all of Karen's products at Rain Frog Boutique.  An extra treat you might want to check out is the store's current sale.  You can get a hip bamboo tee in cherry red to wear with your shorts this summer!  She's also added some really hip chocolate brown tees. I'm going to have to do some shopping! 

Give the Gift of Reading - Check out The Gifted Grasshopper

When I first found The Gifted Grasshopper I was impressed with the organization of their website and totally enamored by their product.  I love books and I especially love books that make my little one's face glow after she flips through the pages and points to the pictures. 

The Gifted Grasshopper is a perfect way to send that special gift of reading to a child if you're a parent, grandparent, relative or friend looking for something educational.  The books can be gift wrapped with a cute stuffed grasshopper and placed in a re-usable book bag for your child to carry his favorite books in.  You can find books for baby through third grade from a hand picked selection of wonderful children's literature.  Customized book bags, gift certificates and even party favor gift bags starting at $7.99 are available.  Gifts under $30 may also fit your needs.  This company was created by two former first grade teachers so you know they'll have your little one's interests at heart!  The Gifted Grasshopper definitely gets a thumbs up from Itsabelly!

Our Special Announcement to Honor Earth Day!

             

Itsabelly's Guide to Going Green with Baby is the first book to provide a simple resource for evaluating eco-friendly baby gear and to learn more about organic and natural family living. We offer mom-tested product reviews and tips to raising a healthy baby and creating a happy planet. The founders of Under the Nile, gDiapers, TheSoftLanding.com and Earth Mama Angel Baby provide insight on why choosing organic and natural baby products is important to creating a healthier lifestyle. Going Green with Baby features personal product recommendations from eco-minded moms Jennifer Lo Prete and Melissa Moog. Jennifer is a writer and mother of two that has long practiced green living. Melissa is mom to a toddler, writer and the founder of Itsabelly Baby Concierge, a premier baby planning agency that specializes in going green with baby.

Going Green with Baby will be released in the Summer of 2008. To pre-order your copy, please send us an email to info@itsa-belly.com or call us at (503)799-5719 with your name and contact information. We will contact you when the book is available for purchase. Wholesale inquiries are also welcome.

A Peek Inside...

• Plan your baby registry with the best mom-tested reviews of over 300 eco-friendly baby products. We cover all your baby’s needs from slings to strollers, non-toxic bottles to safe skin care products, organic baby clothes to eco-friendly diapers and sustainable nursery furniture.
           
• Learn why going green with baby is important for a healthy baby and happy planet. Our panel of eco experts weighs in on the importance of organic apparel, sustainable wood, non-toxic feeding products and natural skin care products.
           
• Discover our simple eco-mom tips to raising a healthy baby and protecting our planet.
           
• Decipher the meaning and standards behind eco-labels. What does organic mean anyway? We make your trip to the store easier with a useful guide to common eco-labels and organic certification standards.
           
• Gain valuable tips on going green on a budget. From our own experience, it may not be financially feasible to turn your household completely organic. We give you tips on how you can make green choices that are right for your family.

      

Do You Want to Glow?

I really enjoy finding other mom entrepreneurs who have used their skills and talents to create a business that they are truly passionate about.  Glow Mama is a perfect example of this!  I was introduced to Glow and discovered a refreshing way to hydrate rather than drinking my boring old water. 

Lucy Leahy has created a beverage made with natural ingredients that is flush with the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients for moms.  In addition, she has a company brand that I thought was hip, sophisticated and fun.  What I thought was especially important was that Lucy's company has chosen an eco-friendly path by using plastic bottles made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) which are easy to recycle.  Glow Mama’s labels are printed with soy based inks and all of their marketing materials are printed on 100% post consumer waste materials with soy inks.  Go "green" Glow!!!!
 
What I loved most about Glow Mama was that it's main ingredient is Kiwi which was given the grand title of “the most nutrient dense fruit in the world” in a recent study by Dr Lachance of Rutgers University. One tiny kiwi packs twice the vitamin C of an orange, twice the vitamin E of an avocado and 20% more potassium than a banana.  It has more fiber than a serving of bran flakes and is a good source of calcium, iron and folic acid.
 
So, if you're eating and drinking for two these days (or running after your toddler like me) give Glow Mama a try because it will only do your body (& baby's) good!  Oh, and it's only 70 calories per bottle, yeah!

Ingredients:

Filtered water,kiwi juice concentrate, white grape juice concentrate, cane juice concentrate, dietary fiber, calcium lactate, natural flavor, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), niacinamide (Vitamin B3), ferrous fumarate (iron), pyridoxine hydrochoride (Vitamin B6), cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12), folic acid

Luna Lullaby's Bosom Baby...Could it Be Your Breast Friend?

Luna Lullaby was kind enough to send me their Bosom Baby Organic Breast Feeding Pillow for review.  I really liked the fact that it's a large pillow that could form to the shape of your body as needed.  The organic materials were of course a definite plus and because the pillow is large in size moms can use it to feed twin babies.  It also acts as a great sleeping pillow!  I know that my pillow definitely became my best friend when I cuddled up with it at night after a long day with baby. 

Bosom Baby creates the perfect position for mothers to raise baby up to breast level, making the latch-on process easier. The unique V-shape also makes a cozy, comfortable maternity sleeping pillow.  The pillow cover design does not utilize zippers or velcro. Instead it is a fold-over design that helps keep the inner-cushion secure and in place. 

The organic flannel pillow comes in an oatmeal and light pink color.  It sells for $58 on Luna Lullaby's site and they offer covers  (no organic covers at this time) at $34.

Here are some facts about Bosom Baby pillows:

*Helps properly position baby for any breastfeeding hold
*Size and shape supports elbows and shoulders
*Fits every waistline
*Great maternity sleeping pillow
*Removable washable covers
*Good for twins
*Good for tummy time
*Helps in handling and holding baby
*Soft, luxurious covers

Happy Mama and a Great Green Company!

In honor of celebrating Mother's Day Itsabelly is giving away Earth Mama Angel Baby's "I Love My Mama" gift set (to enter contest see below).  Earth Mama Angel Baby is a genuine "green" company which produces the only line of 100% natural skin and body care products to support the ENTIRE birth process: pregnancy, labor, postpartum and c-section recovery, breastfeeding, baby care and even the loss of a baby.

It's no secret that I love Earth Mama Angel Baby's products since I use them on my baby and myself!  So, I decided to get the inside scoop directly from the woman and pioneer who started it all.  I was able to visit with Melinda Olson (founder) and she gave me a tour of her wonderful company.  I was impressed by Melinda's deep passion to protect our babies and mamas with her creation of pure and safe products.  Melinda has been creating Earth Mama Angel Baby's products since 2002 where she started out of her home.  She is one of the FIRST companies to exclude the use of phthalates and parabens for several years now (way before the recent media hype on toxins).  Her company continues to create positive waves across the country as families come to Earth Mama Angel Baby for phthalate and paraben free products.  Not to mention all the employees I've met and talked on the phone with are every bit as warm and kind as Melinda herself!

Earth Mama Angel Baby uses the highest quality oils and QAI certified organic herbs. Their products are cruelty-free, certified vegan, kosher, and 100% toxin-free - that means NO phthalates, parabens, SLS, artificial preservatives, fragrances or dyes.  In fact, Melinda has created an invaluable resource with her "reading room" materials on various toxins like phthalates to help educate parents, see information here.  The company also honors the earth by using only eco-friendly recyclable or reused/resuseable packaging and packing materials.  Earth Mama Angel Baby is even the proud recipient of the BRAG (Business Recycling Award Group) for their green practices.

The "I Love My Mama" gift set was specially designed to pamper mamas, so it's perfect for that special person on your Mother's Day list, birthday or just because you love them.  The gift includes Happy Feet soothing organic foot soak, Mint Herbal Lip Balm, Happy Mama Spray to ease both morning yuckies when pregnant and the downs after baby is here, Earth Mama Body Butter for healthier happier skin and Natural Nipple Butter, all packaged in a reusable pink organza bag.  The set is an almost $50 value.

To win all you have to do is sign up for our blog through Feedblitz located in the top right-hand corner of our blog, sign up for our newsletter as seen on the bottom of our home page here or leave a comment on this entry.  So, you can enter your name up to 3 times maximum if you'd like to!  The contest starts today April 19th and ends May 7th just in time for Mother's Day. 

What are you waiting for?  Treat yourself or a mama you know.  Sign up to WIN!

The Non-toxic Feeding Series Review - Part 4 - Safe Sippy & Klean Kanteen for Tots

Isabella finally put two new sippy cups through her tough toddler test.  The sippy cups she tested were the Klean Kanteen and the Safe Sippy. 

Klean Kanteen is a 12 ounce stainless steel bottle which you can use an Advent spout with (made from safe, non-leaching polypropylene, pp#5) as seen in the picture to the left.  It is a safe container that is non-leaching.  It's also great because it will grow with your toddler into pre-school and beyond because you can switch out the Advent spout for the regular water bottle spout.

I have to admit that the Safe Sippy that we received didn't screw on properly but at no additional charge the manufacturer shipped me a new one free.  Great customer service!  I really like the Safe Sippy because it is covered in thermoplasticized rubber material so that when your toddler decides to throw the bottle across the room and it hits the floor it doesn't dent like stainless steel.  The rubber also keeps liquids hot or cold. 

Although the Safe Sippy's spout is made out of plastic it is very safe made out of Polypropylene #5 plastic.  This is the most stable of all plastics.  Overall, from Itsabelly's review based on form, functionality and frugal-ness (is it worth the money I spent) we give Klean Kanteen 4 out of 5 bellies and Safe Sippy 4 out of 5 bellies (5 being excellent).  Check out more safe sippy cup reviews and non-toxic feeding products at The Soft Landing.

Mother Earth Greets, a Mom Owned Business that Knows How to Celebrate Motherhood

I received some beautiful eco-friendly greeting cards designed by Jenae Hester.  She is the founder of Mother Earth Greets, mama to Deja, and card designer extraordinare.  All of the cards are printed on 100% post consumer paper and a portion of each sale is donated to The Conservation Fund, thus preserving our Mother Earth.

From first glance, the pictures she chooses captivate moments in a mom's everyday life.  From mountain peaks with the sunrise behind them or a deep, red rose with dew drops, the pictures are really worth a thousand words.   My favorite card has a quote on the front stating "the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world".  When you flip the card open it says "Don't ever think of yourself as just a stay-at-home Mom.  Molding a human being is the single most important work in the world!"  Right on!!  As mothers who work very hard to raise responsible and kind adults don't we all believe that?

The sentiment on her cards really evoke a message that point out how motherhood can be the most challenging job you could ever have but also the most critical. 

Kudos to Jenae for creating a beautiful line of eco-friendly greeting cards, protecting our earth and celebrating moms everywhere!  Check out Mother Earth Greets and why not send a special greeting card to a mom you know needs support.

Finding Paraben and Phthalate Free Baby Care Products

Since the news about phthalates and baby care products came out a few weeks ago I've been thinking about how to help moms find the safest products out in the market.  I personally use Earth Mama Angel Baby and Mama Rose's Naturals products on my child which are 100% organic.  They are also made locally and I've gotten to know both company's business practices fairly well. 

Rosetta of Mama Rose's Naturals created her company out of a critical need to use products that were safe and healthy for her own child.  I love Mama Rose's Lala Baby Wash & Shampoo and Earth Mama Angel Baby's Diaper Rash Soap which I also use on myself like regular soap.  Mama Rose's Naturals Melody Lotion hypoallergenic & no scent) is also a great lotion for babies with sensitive skin or eczema.  It's scary to think about bad chemicals seeping into our children from toxic products.  If you're like me you try not to get too paranoid about it but you do the best you can to provide a safe environment for your child.  As I think about it further the products our parents used on us when we were babies were probably similar products containing phthalates (not a good thought).  It's just more recently that research and news has spread about toxic chemicals being in skin care products.  Overall, it's still a very positive thing that we're now doing more research and finding out how to keep our children and ourselves safe from harmful chemicals.

To help parents find the best non-toxic products Safemama.com has done a good job of starting a complete list of paraben and phthalate free products.  Safemama also provides tips below on how to find products free of these chemicals as noted below.  Itsabelly also provided an earlier entry about research on phthalates titled Recent Study Provides Research that Baby Shampoo May Expose Children to Phthalates.

Safemama.com Tips:

Read labels carefully.  This article from The Daily Green is a great intro to helping you identify and avoid phthalates in your products.

Shopping at a “natural” store doesn’t mean everything is paraben and phthalate free.  Read labels, know how to decipher the ingredients and don’t be fooled by the word “natural” on the label. If it says -paraben in any form, it contains parabens!

Be wary of the term “fragrance”. Synthetic fragrances are a phthalate culprit so if you can, try to use products with organic or natural fragrances or choose “unscented”. (NOTE:  See Itsabelly's blog entry as mentioned above regarding research on "unscented products" because this does NOT mean products are free of paraben or phthalates.  Some unscented products use synthetic ingredients to mask fragrances).

Use less products. This seems like a no-brainer but many people use way more than they need. Babies are born with the most perfect skin (usually) and it will never again be as perfect as it is when they’re babies. They don’t need to be slathered in lotions and powders. A little warm water and a washcloth is all they really need. When kids get older and grimier (like mine) a little soap and warm water does the trick and spot treat any dry skin problems or rashes.