Tips for creating your Home Management Binder

A home management binder is literally, a three ring binder with dividers that contain important information, menus, schedules, ideas, and so much more (I'll be giving you everything you need to make your own tomorrow!). Unfortunately, many people don't know where to start when creating a home management binder. It's simpler than you may think, though, and the effort is so worth it! You will always know where information is, have ideas at your fingertips, and will be able to manage your home more efficiently and smoothly. Here are seven tips to help you get started:

#1: Collect your supplies. 

You will need: a three ring binder (good sized), a 3-ring hole punch, paper to print forms off of your computer/Internet with, clear plastic page protectors, write on/wipe off marker, pens, tab dividers, a zippered pouch or two that will go into the binder, and a few business card page holders.

#2: Print a nice cover! 

You can download the ones in the photo for free by clicking here.

#3: Laminate/use page protectors for "to-do" lists so you can write on/wipe off instead of have to always print new ones.

#4: Keep your binder up to date.

#5: Make copies of anything really important you want to put into your binder, like automobile registrations, birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, etc.. Keep those originals in a fireproof safe or filing cabinet!

#6: Use dividers to organize your binder

#7: Get the printables for the contents of your binder. We already put together a list of everything that should go in your binder, as well as a bunch of Free Printables For Your Home Management Binder. So get clicking and be organized! :)

BEST Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deal To EcoMom ($70 for $15 or FREE)!

Receive $70 worth or products for only $15 OR FOR FREE plus free shipping from http://www.ecomom.com/! Here's how:

1) Go to http://www.plumdistrict.com/three_for_free/22b56c51a7/click and buy a "$50 gift certificate to EcoMom for $25" BUT...ENTER THE DISCOUNT CODE  "ENJOY10" to receive $10 off "SATURDAY40" to get $10 off (deal is good for four more days, but the $10 off code is only good for today, Black Friday  code for 40% off is valid only on 11/26!). So now you are getting $50 for $15.

2) Order today through Monday from EcoMom. You will receive another $20 off of a purchase of $50 from their site (or $40 off of $100). So now you are getting $70 worth of products for $15!

3) Share this deal with all of your friends, using the code you will generate (you must purchase the deal first). After three of your friends also purchase the deal, you will get your deal for FREE! So now you have gotten $70 worth of products from EcoMom for FREE!

I hadn't been to EcoMom until I found this deal (and yes, I bought two gift certificates!). They have so much "green" stuff! Diapers, clothing, toys, food, skincare, bathing stuff, household things, etc.. This is an amazing deal and definitely the best one I have found, possibly EVER!

Yup, I know ya love me. ;-)

Bubbles Couture Diaper Review & Giveaway!

 Meet Bubbles Couture, maker of the cutest diapers in the world.

 

Handmade in Canada, these cloth diapers are both luxurious and adorable, and as far as I know, are the only diapers designed by an actual fashion designer. By using cotton embellishments on PUL, your child's bum is taken to a whole new level while also being comfortable thanks to the VERY soft plush or suedecloth inner lining.We were sent the above diaper, a style named "Woof!" along with a matching bamboo insert.

What we think: You already know that I think it's an exceedingly adorable diaper, and also super-duper comfy on my little one's bottom because of the soft lining. The elastic doesn't leave marks unless it's truly too tight, and I never had a problem with the snaps coming undone. The insert is the thinnest I think I've ever seen and so is easy to stuff into the pocket opening and doesn't bulk up the diaper. Even when I double the inserts, they stay snugly in the pocket and I've had zero wicking problems! Overall, this diaper wins out because it's so fashionable and soft.

Cons to this diaper include that the leg adjustment system is tricky. You adjust the legs by reaching into the elastic casing that's left open and pulling on the elastic. Along the elastic, there are snaps put through so that you can pull a snap through the opening and it can't slide back in unless you push it into the casing. The good thing to this is that it really isn't going to un-size itself once you set the elastic where you want it. The bad news is that it's hard to pull through and I'm worried that I'll stretch out the elastic in the process. When adjusting the waist snaps, it can also look a little funny since it wont always look symmetrical to the other snap placements. I think this is just due to the triangular design.

I also found that I really needed to add a microfiber doubler to use with the bamboo insert for my toddler daughter. Otherwise, the appliqued decorations on the diaper would start to soak through.

Other stuff...We also received a can of their organic diaper rash balm. It's certainly the most unique I've seen! Instead of being made with the typical ingredients like zinc oxide, it has things like clay, vanilla and lavender essential oils--and is all vegetarian and hand made! I liked that it went on smooth, but there is a little grit to the texture from the clay. While it didn't clear up any diaper rashes over night, it didn't make them any worse, and it didn't irritate any little bottom skin, either. It does smell a little like play doh. :-)

Buy It! Bubbles Couture just released a whole new bunch of diapers in their line up! Check them out on their website at http://bubblescouture.ca. Diapers retail for about $45.00 (USD), so they are a bit pricey, but really are a special treat for your fluff stash!

Win It! Bubbles Couture is giving away a diaper, insert, and diaper rash balm to one of my readers! *You MUST be publicly following this blog in order to win. Just click the "Follow (with Google Friend Connect)" button in the far right hand column near the top of this page. Problems? Send me an email and I'll help you out! lifemoresimply@yahoo.com.* Contest ends 12/2/10 at noon, EST.

To win, leave me a comment below telling me what print diaper you want--be careful, because what you choose is what you'll get if you win! Be sure to include your email address in EVERY entry and leave a separate comment for each entry as well.


Additional entries (after the above is completed):
1) Tell me WHY you want to win this.

2) Subscribe to Life More Simply via email.

3) "Like" our Facebook page.

4) Follow us on Twitter (LifeMoreSimply).

5) Blog about this contest ---3 entries!

6) After you've "liked"/"friended" Life More Simply on Facebook, put this as your status: "Bubbles Couture cloth diapers are the cutest! I just entered to win one at http://tinyurl.com/2adshlq from @Life More Simply" (my name will come up in BLUE if you did it right). 1 entry/day.

7) Tweet this message (up to two times a day for 1 entry each): Win a Bubbles Couture cloth diaper from @LifeMoreSimply! http://tinyurl.com/2adshlq  (ARV $45) #giveaway #contest #clothdiaper #baby #green


8) Spread the word on a parenting forum, message board, or any other way and tell me how you did it with a link!

9) Sign up to Design America's Next Diaper:  http://lifemoresimply.blogspot.com/p/life-more-simply-review-panel.html

*Note: Bubbles Couture supplied me with the product for review and giveaway. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are all mine.*

ecoSTORE USA Laundry Liquid and Wool Wash Review

 ecoSTORE USA contacted me quite a while ago to do a review for them. After checking out their website and seeing how dedicated they are to making cleaning products (home, pet, and person) that actually live up to their claim of being natural and "green," I obviously said yes--send me some stuff to try! Like all of other reviews you're reading on here, it's way overdue. The good news for you is that during your long waiting period, their prices have lowered and they are currently running a special where if you buy any two household products, you'll receive a Pure Oxygen Whitener for free. And then there's the free shipping for orders over $25.00 which is nice, too.


This company has taken the problem of household chemicals seriously. It's worth your time to read through the information they have available on their website. Here's just a snippet of what they report (backed by research):

• According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers accidental poisonings occur in the home every 30 seconds.
• The National Safety Council has reported that more children under four die of from accidental poisoning than are killed by guns.
• A report by the EPA to Congress determined household cleaners three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air pollution.
• Women who work from home and are more frequently exposed to household toxins and poor air quality are 50% more likely to develop cancer.
• Newborn infants have trace levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies, passed on by their mother’s exposure.

Makes you think...what's in your cupboard?

My favorite thing about ecoSTORE USA actually has nothing to do with their products, but with their origins. Check it out:

The original customer base of ecostore NZ was comprised of mostly ‘Greenies’ and organic gardeners. However, it was not long before testimonials from other parents (many of whom were unaware of the benefits of eco-friendly products) began to pour in with wonderful news of their children's allergies and eczema clearing up. Many noted that any respiratory issues were healing, and many lingering chronic conditions were disappearing.

WOW! Their products sound like an internal cleanse that starts on the outside! I love it. And I love that they are from New Zealand since I'm pretty sure that's where I was supposed to have been born and where I would love to visit or move to some day. :-) Enough background though. On to the review!

I chose my items based on the fact that I was almost out of laundry soap and didn't even own any wool wash to clean my ever growing stack of wool and delicate articles that were dirty. There are other products I'd love to try, too, though, like their Baby Nappy Balm, Baby Sleepy Bath, and their hair care line (I hate regular store bought hair products!).

 

 

Laundry Liquid Ingredients:

• Palm and Coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants
• Fatty acid derivative
• Mineral hydroxide
• Certified organic Eucalyptus oil  

My thoughts: at first, I was taken back by the small bottle and Vicks-Vapoo-Rub smell. After using it, though, I was amazed how many loads I actually got out of the bottle. You really use only a very small amount of the soap to clean a load of laundry--and your clothes just come out smelling clean (not like a medicine cabinet). The soap passed all of my tests, including that it didn't cause any colors to run, rinsed completely out (thus not requiring any softener), and didn't cause a noticeable build up on my cloth diaper stash. It's a winner! The best news is that it does all of this with only having a small number of ingredients. Simplicity is a beautiful thing in my book.

Wool Wash Ingredients:

• Anionic and non-ionic surfactants (from glucose and coconut oil)
• Plant based alcohol and solvents
• Citric acid
• Water 

I actually enjoy the smell of this wool wash. While it still has a slightly medicinal smell to it (must be those plants that do the cleaning!), it also has a fruity note to it, making it more delicate and lovely. It's a great product, making wool diaper covers and clothing that was stiff when it went into the washer soft and snuggley when it came out.  Very easy to use, doesn't require a lot to get the job done, and has great packaging to boot with a very fun photograph on the front of the bottle. Once again, I love the short ingredients list!

Check out their website to find more information or to make a purchase at http://www.ecostoreusa.com!

Note: thanks, ecoSTORE USA for giving me the products for this review! No other compensation was received and though late, the opinions are all mine. :-)

We Have the Flu--HELP!

We have the flu. Both babies and the mama...which blows my mind. My 100% breastfed baby is SICK and he's only 6-weeks-old?! How is this possible? LoveBug never got sick until she was exactly one-year-old. I guess it's really more of an intense upper respiratory infection plus a cough and low grade fever, but it makes you feel all achey and like a train hit you on top of the breathing problems.

Here's what I've got going so far:
*humidifier with white vinegar added
*big garlic oil supplements for mom
*organic immune boosting vitamin gummy bears for LoveBug
*Cold-Eeze every two hours for mom
*Lots of fluids and rest for everyone (try nursing with a stuffy nose--not easy)
*Vicks for everyone
*Tylenol as needed

I need some help here! What else can I do for my babies that is along the "natural" line of thinking? Please share your ideas and recipes. I'll be checking this post until we're better and will try everything I'm able to.
 Seriously, I already missed 11 hours of work because of this and am scheduled to work 8.5 hours tomorrow. :-\ I need all the help I can get with overcoming this super bug!

Hugs,
Rachel

So Easy baby food kit Review and Giveaway!

We as moms know that it's probably better for our babies to eat homemade baby food rather than prepared or processed baby food. Unfortunately, many parents are skeptical of their ability to prepare baby food —how to do it, if they’ll have enough time, and if it’s really worth the effort. It’s all become a simple thing to understand and accomplish though, since two moms have teamed up to provide you with the “So Easy Baby Food Kit.”

In the kit, you’ll find a 22-minute DVD that will teach the auditory and visual learner everything you’ll need to know in order to make baby food. Not only are you instructed on the actual preparing of baby food, but safety, nutrition, food storage, and health are all encapsulated in the “how to make baby food” disc. I thought it provided a clear, easy to understand, and not-obnoxious way of teaching families about infant food preparation.

Secondly in the kit is a “Personalized Guide to Making Baby Food at Home” 118-page spiral bound cookbook. It covers a lot of information but isn’t at all overwhelming and even includes space for you to document the early eating and feeding memories of your baby! Contents include:

·         Feeding Memories and Fun

·         Healthy Eating Habits

·         Benefits of Home-Prepared Baby Food

·         Introducing Solid Foods

·         Dietary Essentials for Your Baby’s Diet

·         Making and Serving Fresh Baby Food

·         Kitchen Tools

·         Safety Basics

·         Food Choices

·         Fresh Baby To Go

·         Managing Your Time—30 Minutes Per Week Is All Fresh Baby Takes

·         Fresh Baby Recipes (from “the perfect start” to over 12 months)

On top of all of that, you’ll also receive two high quality freezer trays. I like these better than the ice cube trays I’ve previously used for making baby food because these have lids, and are sturdier. They are BPA and phthalate-free…and are dishwasher safe to make your life easier!  While these aren’t a necessity to making your own food, they are definitely nice to have on hand.

The last thing this kit includes is actually one of my favorite components: a nutrition tips card. It’s the size of a regular sheet of paper and is laminated to protect the colorful print and illustrations. Not only does it contain quick to find information about nutrients, what foods should be introduced when, and a little bit about preparation, but it even contains safety information like first aid for choking. This card should be in every parent’s kitchen if she has young children!

Overall, I think this is a great product. Many people want to prepare their own baby food but are intimidated or don’t have the time to read a book about it. The Fresh Baby food kit honestly makes it as easy as can be. It’s a great starting point, easy to understand, and nicely arranged and professional. Great for the first-time food maker or as a baby shower gift!

You’ll also want to check out their website as it’s packed with lots of information including a blog, ideas for both toddlers and babies, and downloadable free recipes. http://FreshBaby.com.

BUY IT! Visit Freshbaby.com or Amazon.com. Retail cost is $37.95

WIN IT! The ladies at Fresh Baby are generously giving one of my readers her own Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food Kit. To win, please visit their website and find something interesting to share here that no one else has shared yet. You must also be a subscriber of mine somehow (Google, Feedburner, Facebook, Twitter…you know, just pick one and tell me which one so I can verifty!). Contest will end on 8/29/10 at noon, EST. You MUST leave a separate comment with a valid email address in EACH entry! If the winner lives outside of the US, she may be responsible for shipping costs. Good luck!

EXTRA ENTRIES:

·         Grab an entry for each way that you follow Life More Simply: Blogger (Google Friend Connect), Feedburner, Email, Twitter, Facebook.

·         Three entries if you have my button (leave me the address)

·         One entry if you sign up for Fresh Baby’s email list

·         One entry per other current contest of mine that you’ve entered.

·         Two entries if you email 4 friends about this contest (CC “lifemoresimply(@)yahoo.com”)

·         One entry per tweet about this contest (max: 3 tweets per day, at least one hour apart): #win a So Easy Baby Food Kit from @LifeMoreSimply! http://tinyurl.com/freshbaby

·         Three entries: Spread the word on a parenting forum/message board/etc. (leave the link)
 

 Note: this review is based on a free sample provided by Fresh Baby. The opinions are all mine and I received no other compensation.

Seventh Generation Mother Nature Contest!

Win a green home makeover! Seventh Generation is giving away an awesome $5,000 green home makeover to one really lucky lady...The contest, which runs from now until May 31, asks you to nominate your “Mother Nature,” a person that has been inspirational to you by making their home, community and/or environment safer and healthier. The grand prize winner will be awarded a $5,000 green home makeover and both the nominated “Mother Nature” and the grand prize winner will receive a year's supply of Seventh Generation products. IN addition, a $2,500 donation will be made in our “Mother Nature's” name to an organization working to make the world a safer place. Six finalists will also receive a year's worth of Seventh Generation products to help them protect their planet home.

To kick off the contest, Seventh Generation is sharing the story of Ivette, "a trainer at Women's Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES), a non-profit organization helping low-income women in the San Francisco Bay Area establish cleaning service cooperatives that use environmentally-safe methods to protect everyone's health." The contest's site shares her inspirational story as well as natural cleaning tips and ideas from Ivette. Here are her top five cleaning rules, just to give you an idea:

Rule 1: Go Top-to-Bottom.

Whether it's a room or a bookcase, clean from the top to the bottom and you won't have to go back and pick up any stray dirt or errant dust that falls as you go.

Rule 2: Go Back to Front.

Always clean from back to front for similar reasons. If it's a room, start in a rear corner and work toward the door. If it's a cabinet, begin in the back and clean out toward the edge.

Rule 3: Work Clockwise.

Pick a starting spot and work in a steady clockwise direction. Working systematically in this way will ensure that you don’t forget anything and won’t have to spend any time thinking about it!

Rule 4: Don't Use or Do More Than You Need To.

Always start with a small amount of cleaning product and use more as necessary for tough spots and other challenges. Using more than you need to start only creates more work when it's time to rinse everything off!

Rule 5: Look Before You Leap.

If you're cleaning something you've never cleaned before and/or using a product for the first time, you'll save a lot of aggravation by always testing things first to make sure you won't cause any damage.

Win It!
To get you inspired to use natural cleaners and nominate a Mother Nature (myself, anyone?), Seventh Generation will be giving away the following cleaning kit to one of my readers:
- Ivette’s top three cleaning tools (pocket scraper, microfiber rag and scouring pad)
- Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes
- Seventh Generation Natural all-purpose spray
- Seventh Generation Natural dish liquid
- Seventh Generation Recycled paper towels

They sent mme the same kit to check out and I've actually been using it everyday. With living in a house that's being remodeled, having a toddler, and fervently "nesting" thanks to my son-on-the-way, I have a never ending supply of things that need to be cleaned! The "cleaning tools" have been extremely helpful and I can't believe I didn't have a scraper in my arsenal before! I used it to finally get our wooden highchair clean last night (we've had it almost a year now--it was really gross). While I don't care for the smell of the disinfecting wipes, I am finding them very handy as well to wipe out the potty chair that my daughter has been faithfully using, and since the other cleaning products have no smell, they are being a tremendous help as I wash dishes in our bathtub and eat on our coffee table right now (remodeling, of course)! I hope you win this kit if you have any children or any house in disarray!

To win, go and enter their contest at http://www.seventhgeneration.com/mothernature. Like I said, if you are having a problem thinking of someone to nominate, remember that I'm sitting right here drooling about the possibility of winning a green home makeover. ;-) After you enter, come back here and tell me who you nominated! Be sure to leave an email address and separate comment for each entry. This contest will end on May 31, 2010 at 11:59pm, EST.

Extra Entries:
The usual--spread the word about this contest and my blog with links and tell me what you did. One comment/entry per word-spreading. You can tweet and Facebook about this contest 1x/day!

Otherwise, boost my blog somewhere (Technorati, Digg It, etc.) or grab my button and earn more entries!

Of course, you're already following me on Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Google Friend Connect, and you're an email subscriber...right?...if not, get on it! Let me know which way you follow and your name for another extra entry (one entry per following way).

Good luck and be blessed!

Seventh Generation provided me with a sample kit for review. No other compensation was received for this post.

Spa Baby Eco European Bath Tub Review & Giveaway!

A big thanks to A Mother's Boutique for being a big sponsor of the Baby Mama Shower!

Spa Baby Eco European Bath Tub Review & Giveaway!

When my first daughter was born, I opted to register for a cheap and small baby bathing thing to clean her with. I found out that it didn't really work well and wasted a lot of water since it had to sit directly in our big bath tub. Needless to say, that bathing thing isn't being kept for Baby Monkey (due in just over 10 weeks!) which left me to figure out exactly what sort of bathing unit I wanted to use for him. In my search to find an eco-friendly and child-safe baby bather, I found Spa Baby Tubs. They make European style baby bathtubs which are pretty much the coolest thing since sliced bread. Basically, these tubs are like buckets that allow a baby to sit cross legged in the tub, making them feel secure and calm as the environment mimics the womb. I've even read that this sort of tub is especially effective in calming fussy babies because of the womb like atmosphere it creates! There aren't very many US companies that make these sort of tubs, and Spa Baby is the only one I've found who offers a tub made from toxin free, recycled plastic (I've seen others that are toxin free, but none that are made from recycled plastic). This new tub, the Spa Baby Eco, is made from 100% recycled, non toxic plastic, and is the model that Spa Baby Tubs sent to me for review.

Key features that make me like this tub:

1) The size allows for newborns-babies 10-months-old (based on mobility) to use it.

2) It comes with a skid-resistant mat that you can suction to the bottom of the bucket in case you've got a little baby that may slide somewhere (not sure how that could happen since the bottom is narrow, but it makes me feel better none the less).

3) Made from BPA, phthalate, latex, and PVC free 100% recycled plastic...and is still recyclable, of course.

4) Can be used for much more than just a tub--my current daughter is too mobile to use the tub, so we've enjoyed it as a toy bucket, cleaning bucket, and storage/carry unit since receiving it. The fact that it's multi-purposeful makes me like it oh-so-much more since I'm all about simple living. :-)

I've been busy showing this tub to everyone who comes to my house for the last few weeks, and the biggest question I get is "how can you put a new baby in that?" Well, it's pretty simple and Spa Baby Tubs has videos and photos to make it more understandable. For any baby, you will fill the water up to his or her chest level (there's also a line around the tub's inside to guide you). The way that they sit will keep the water away from any their mouth and noses, but since a new baby's head is wobbly, you will still need to support the unstable head with your hand simply so they don't cut of their own breathing ability by having a chin touching their neck. :-) The photo below is of a 16-day-old baby using the regular Spa Baby Tub:

I'm impressed by the size, shape, and sturdiness of this tub. I can't WAIT to use it with Baby Monkey when he arrives and am thrilled to have found this! Thank you, Spa Baby Tubs! Finally, a tub that fits my lifestyle, belief in recycling, need for safety, and need for multi-purposeful items...not to mention the fact that I really think my baby will like sitting in water rather than laying all stretched out with me dribbling water over his belly like traditional baby tubs would have me do. Ha! Keep reading--after Baby Monkey is born and I use the tub, I'll write an update post here to let you know how it's working. :-)

Buy It! Make your baby comfortable and safe; you can buy an Eco tub from Spa Baby at their website: http://www.spababytubs.com/ or through Amazon. Prices for these tubs range from $44.95-46.95. This seems a little on the pricey side, but if you have the money then I'd definitely say to get one, considering how much more natural of an environment it provides for your baby during bath time, the fact that it's made from SAFE plastic, and that you can use it for other purposes, too.

Win It! Spa Baby Tubs is giving one of my readers her own Spa Baby Eco Tub! To enter, please visit their website at http://www.spababytubs.com/, look around, and tell me your thoughts. What do you like? What did you learn? Be sure to leave an email address and separate comment for each entry! Contest will end on or after May 7th, 2010 at noon, EST.

Extra Entries:
Follow Life More Simply through Blogger/Google Friend Connect
Subscribe to me in a reader/Feedburner
Subscribe to me through email
Tweet about this contest with a link @LifeMoreSimply and @dreamgreenshop. Tweet 1x/day!

Follow @LifeMoreSimply on Twitter (check the sidebar link) (2 entries)
Become a Facebook fan of Life More Simply (check the sidebar link)
Blog about this contest! Tell your friends on a parenting forum! Just spread the word and tell me how you did! (1 entry per way)
Grab any of my buttons and put them on your blog (1 entry/each).

Note: Spa Baby Tubs provided me with the sample to do this review. No other compensation was received and I was under no obligation to write a positive review.

ECOLunchbag Review and Discount

Rarely do I receive a product only to have it exceed my expectations. This isn't because I think the products I'm going to review are bad; on the contrary, it's because I only agree to review products that I think will be awesome! When I received a Crimson Gold Circles ECO lunchbag and napkins from ECOLunchbox, though, my husband and I both remarked how impressed we were!

Description from www.ECOlunchboxes.com:

How eco is your lunchbag? Maybe you'd like to try a machine washable ECOlunchbag with matching napkins? There are surprisingly few options available to the standard vinyl/plastic insulated lunchboxes commonly sold in big-box retail stores.

While we have grown to enjoy the benefits that these synthetic lunchboxes offer, it is becoming increasingly clear that their manufacturing burdens our environment; news is emerging about the health hazards of leaching plastics and off-gassing vinyl; and they don't decompose in our landfills.

Our handmade and machine washable ECOlunchbags are a beautiful back-to-the-basics solution for adults and children who would like adopt sustainable, waste-free lunch habits. At ECOlunchboxes.com, we believe that lunch by lunch, we can green our world a whole bunch. Please join us!

• The handmade ECOlunchbag is machine washable and 100% cotton. Sewn from fabrics that are hand block printed by artisans in India, the bag is fully reversible and adjustable to fit children and adults. It converts to a backpack, sling bag, shoulder bag and hip bag.

• The lining is loose and can be easily spot washed at the sink for easy overnight drying or tossed in the washing machine and tumbled or air dried.

• The three napkins measure 16 inches by 12 inches and are designed for use as placemats or napkins.

• The bag, which is 100% sweatshop free, measures 12 inches tall and 6 inches wide. The bottom is square, measuring 6 inches by 6 inches.

My Thoughts:
First off, the bag is bigger than I'd thought. I'm not sure what I'd expected, but I was delighted to find that it's really a bag. It could easily fit my water bottle, food, and accessories. Secondly, it's very sturdy! The bag can stand up on its own and all of the pieces are thick. I'm not worried about putting too much weight in it, carrying it a wrong way, or having it tear after a few washings. Thirdly, it's beautiful with hand block prints by artisans in India. The fabric chosen looks even better in real life, and the 100% cotton napkins are a great addition (and since there's three of them, they could easily serve as a placemat, too!). I love that the bag can be worn different ways--carried as a purse, buttoned into a backpack, or worn messenger-bag style. It's quick and easy to turn the bag into any of these things, too.
 
This is a bag that I really like and that I feel GOOD about carrying around or sending with my child. It's a flattering accessory for your outfit as well as a healthy and functional product that will last for a long time to come! ECO Lunchbox also offers stainless steel food containers and bamboo silverwear (including sporks) that fit right into their lunch bag. I didn't have the chance to review these, but I think it looks like a great idea, especially because you can get a kit with everything in it.
 
 If you're still not convinced to switch from disposable, plastic methods for transporting your lunch, check out this 2010 Lunchbox Waste Study.
 
Buy It!
Visit http://www.ecolunchboxes.com/ and use the code "eatgreen15" to get a 15% discount on your purchase! This offer is only good for my blog readers and will end Earth Day, April 24, 2010.

Using Cloth Diapers While Working Full Time

We began using cloth diapers on LoveBug before our stash of newborn sized disposables that people had given to us as gifts even ran out. It was a decision that I carefully researched and knew would be the BEST decision for the health of our baby and our sanity (who really wants stinky, oily diapers sitting in a can? Not to mention the cost...). Her grandmothers would be the primary caretakers of LoveBug during the day and when we mentioned using cloth diapers, we were met with a look of horror and a comment of "well, you can just buy disposables for me! I'm not using cloth!" from one of them. Yikes.

Day care and family providers both may show resistance to cloth diapering your child. On top of that, there are a lot of logistical factors to figure out when your child is watched outside of the home during the week. Here is a list of things that can help you make the transition to or maintaining your use of cloth while still working outside of the home:

1) Educate your provider. Instead of telling her that your child will be using cloth diapers, bring a diaper to show her when you approach the topic. Most people still envision prefolds, pins, and Gerber rubber pants when they think of cloth diapers! Showing them a ready-to-go, cute, and easy to use diaper may make the entire difference. It wasn't until my mother-in-law actually saw one of our pocket diapers that she decided she could try it.

2) Only send easy-to-use diapers with your child. The easiest diapers would be an all-in-one, sized diaper (not a one-size which requires more snapping), that uses aplix (Velcro) to keep it on. That way, your provider doesn't have to stuff anything, doesn't have to Snappi or pin anything, and doesn't have to try to remember which snap setting works best for your child. An AOI aplix diaper is as close to the convenience of putt on a disposable that you can get! If you want to keep using pockets or something (like we do), pre-assemble everything for the provider. Make it easy.

3) Be educated yourself. A provider may still have reservations if she doesn't know about the benefits or ease of cloth diapering. Bring a wet bag to show her about storage and come prepared with a list of benefits to using cloth. A little information can go a long way as long as you don't come across as rude!

4) Have a big wet bag on hand. If your child is going to need 7 diaper changes, your regular sized wet bag that holds 4 diapers may not do the trick. For any size, I recommend using a bag from Monkey Foot Designs. They're the best made bag I've used and come in a variety of prints and sizes. You certainly don't want a leaky bag or one that isn't big enough. Should your provider ever run out though, tell her to just use a plastic grocery bag for used diapers!

5) Consider using disposable liners. The Diaper Junction offers a variety of liners that you just lay on top of your diaper like usual, but then can throw into the toilet, taking any solids with it. Biodegradable and easy to use...and you won't have to deal with 8-hour-old poo.

6) Buy a diaper sprayer. There will be times where your dirty-diaper bag sits for a few days before you can get to them (embarrassing to admit, I know). In those moments, a diaper sprayer will make your life a lot easier. My top recommendation is the bumGenius Diaper Sprayer.

That's it! Continuing to cloth diaper while working is not only easy (with planning), but affordable, better for your baby, and better for the environment. More questions? Shoot me an email!

Tips For Making Your Own Baby Food

Making your own baby food is an inexpensive way to provide maximum nutrition for your child. Most people don't realize how easy it is to do, too! I first got into making our own baby food after reading the Super Baby Food book and after comparing it to the cost, ingredients, waste, and unappealing nature of jarred baby food, I am hooked. :-)

Items needed to make your own baby food:

• a blender
• oven or steaming method
• ice cube trays
• something to store the food in like tin foil, freezer bags, or tupperware

Choosing your food:
Choose your food wisely. Things that freeze well are sweet potatoes, beans, broccoli, carrots, rice, pastas, applesauce, etc.. Things that don't freeze well are white potatoes, bananas, and celery (plus more that I'm just not aware of, I'm sure). If you can afford it, buy organic and local! This will reduce your risk of allergens, food diseases, and exposure to chemicals.

Preparing the food:

• Wash fruits and vegetabls.
• Prepare the fruit, vegetable, grain, or meat as you would normally. Baking or steaming is preferred as these will preserve more nutrients than microwaving, boiling, or sauteing.
• Don't put any added fats, sugars, or dyes into the food. Keep things pure and natural!
• Once food is soft, put some liquid (mama's milk is best!) into the bottom of your blender and then add chunks of the soft food on top. Liquids to consider would be breast milk, formula, water, or diluted 100% fruit juice. Be sure to only use enough liquid to get the food to blend properly.
• Poor or scoop the now pureed food into ice cube trays, and pop into the freezer with a sheet of wax paper sitting lightly on top to reduce any freezer burn.
• Once things are frozen (around an hour or two, depending on the temperature of the food and freezer), pop the cubes out and put them in a sealed container (or wrapped in foil) for storage. Be sure to write the contents and date of the food on the package!

Eating the food

• Ideally, take however many cubes your baby will eat out of the freezer and let them thaw in the fridge over night. Otherwise, thaw them in any method you choose.
• Once it's unthawed, mix fresh mama's milk, formula, water, or diluted 100% fruit juice with the food until you achieve your desired consitency. Why not do this before freezing? Because then you'll take up more freezer space (the cubes are denser when containing more food and less liquid), and you will also be able to adjust the food to the consistency your baby needs as time goes on (a 6-monther will need a smoother and thinner consistency than a 9-monther will).
• Warm on stove, in oven, or microwave (least desireable). Be sure to stir well and test the temperature before feeding to your baby!
• Note that most food stored properly in a deep freezer will keep for up to one year.

Thoughts on making your own baby food
LoveBug always enjoyed our "home made" food better than out of a jar--and I don't blame her! It's much tastier, is more pleasing aromatically and aesthetically, and fresh! Many people are turned off by the thought of making their own food because they think it'll take a lot of time. Honestly, it really doesn't. I cooked three large sweet potatoes in the oven (5 minutes for washing, poking holes, putting in the oven, and then taking them out later), mixed them all in the blender at the same time (another 5 minutes?), froze them, and stored them. This all took less physical time for me than a trip to the grocery store, and I didn't have a zillion little glass jars to clean out when we were all done. :-) You'll be surprised at how LONG three sweet potatoes will last for a baby!

The key is to make a lot at once. A few potatoes, a head of broccoli, or a pot of rice. A little goes a long way for babies, and even making food once a month will last for the entire month. If you don't have enough ice cube trays (which you probably don't), just store the food in the fridge as you get through freezing everything. The effort put into this should be less than it takes to go to the store, and the peace of mind you'll have knowing that you're providing better and cheaper food for your baby can't be beat!

Upcoming this week: reviews of SAFE eating products for babies and toddlers!

We'll visit companies like Zak!, bambu KIDS, and more

Mrs. Meyer's Review & Giveaway

I've fallen in love. I didn't think it'd ever happen with me and cleaning products, but alas, it has. I do NOT like chemical smells, dry skin, or scary ingredients. I DO like a clean house, aromatherapy, and natural ingredients. Combine these last three things and get ready to meet Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day!

The friendly folks over at Mrs. Meyer's sent me a whole bunch of awesome products to review and share with you after I stumbled upon them via the Internet. Since the day I received that package, I realized that my cleaning life had previously been missing something: great smells. The first thing you'll notice about Mrs. Meyer's products is that they smell fantastic and are scented by way of essential oils. In fact, they're so good that I have actually mixed up a batch of their all-purpose cleaning solution and left it to sit in my kitchen so that the aroma could fill my household! Their products span a variety of choices in fragrance including Baby Blossom (for their baby product line), Basil, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon Verbena (my favorite), Scent Free, and a seasonal scent of "Iowa Pine." The second thing you'll notice is their fun packaging. Simple characters and colors are used to send a down-to-earth personal message on each product.

Enough about how happy you'll be with these products, though. Let me tell you about the stuff that they sent to me, and then give you a chance to grab some of your own!

Countertop Spray $3.99

This is a great multi-purpose spray that actually combines their All Purpose Cleaner with a special Vegetable Protein Extract that provides a "naturally fresh way to remove odors." It works! I've used it in my bathroom, kitchen, and even on a coffee table. Each time, it's left my surfaces clean and with a fresh, pretty scent behind. It's a love.

Surface Scrub $4.99

Made with naturally safe ash and oxygen bleach, I've found you won't need a ton of this product to be effective. It creates enough scouring action to remove scummy build up in my bathtub, but not enough harshness to scratch anything. I've used it in both my shower/bath and the toilet, but it's recommended for tile, stainless steel, professional cookware, porcelain fixtures and more! The powdery scent is more potent to my nose than their liquid products and did make it itch a little.

All Purpose Cleaner $7.99

First, let me tell you that again, a little goes a long way. I just mixed a little bit in a bucket of warm water and was ready to rock and roll. My floors, counters, and surfaces have all been cleaned--and I didn't want to STOP finding things to clean because it smells so darn good and is very gentle on my hands! If I were to purchase just one thing, this would be it.

Shower Cleaner $4.99

Squirt this on your shower/tub surfaces after using, and prevent soap scum and mineral build ups! I'm not a huge fan of scrubbing the bathtub, so a product like this is very handy when you're trying to save time in your life. I love that it's easy and quick to use, and also that the scent is fresh and not overpowering in such a small space.

Dish Soap $3.99

Of course, another awesome smelling product from Mrs. Meyer's. Their dish soap suds well very quickly (a few times, I had to scoop bubbles out because there were too many). The suds don't stay forever though, but I didn't find that this affected the cleanliness of my dishes. I did find that with my bottles--and bottles only--I had to rinse extra well because a greasy sort of film would build up on the inside of them. I didn't have this problem with any of my other dishes, and think it's just a rinsing issue. The overall effectiveness is equivalent to any name brand dish soap, but the quality of ingredients is far better than the regular leading brands.

Surface Wipes $3.99

My mom always keeps a stack of anti-bacterial cleaning wipes under her sink. While I love the convenience of them, I do not love the harsh chemicals involved and so don't buy them. THESE surface wipes though... they thrill me! They're biodegradable (the wipe is cellulose plant derived), gentle on the skin, durable, smell fantastic, and do the job! I have moved them from house to purse to car and back to the house. I can't decide where to keep them because they are so handy to have and use! I wouldn't mind if I found a few packs of these in my stocking...

BUY IT! I do suggest that everyone run out and purchase something from Mrs. Meyer's--you won't be disappointed and the stress level involved in cleaning your home may diminish! Select full size products are now available at Target, and I've also seen a few at my local Wegmans. If you want to purchase from Mrs. Meyer's website, they have free shipping on all orders of $50.00 through 12/17, and are also offering 25% off their Iowa Pine holiday items.

WIN IT! Mrs. Meyer's is giving away two different gift packs to my readers! Two winners will be chosen, one for the Holiday Hand Kit, and one for the Clean Day Kit. To enter, please visit http://www.MrsMeyers.com and tell me something you learned or a product you're dying to try from them. Please leave a separate comment WITH an email address for each entry. Contest ends December 31 at 12:00pm, EST.

Mrs. Meyer's Holiday Hand Kit includes:

Iowa Pine Liquid Hand Soap, 8 oz

Iowa Pine Hand Lotion, 8 oz

Iowa Pine Scented Soy Candle, 7.2 oz $14.99

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Kit Includes:

Countertop Spray, 8oz

Liquid Dish Soap, 8oz

All Purpose Cleaner, 8oz

Window Spray, 8oz

$14.99 (on sale right now for $11.25!)

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Seventh Generation Free & Clear Starter Kit Giveaway & Review

Green Cleaning Giveaway #2

The Free & Clear line from Seventh Generation are biodegradable, non toxic cleaning products that are free from fragrences, dyes, and masking agents. I had the pleasure of testing many of their products from this line and can highly recommend them to you.

The first thing that I like about Seventh Generation is that they're proactive in trying to reform how the US in particular looks at the safety and environmental impact of cleaning and personal products. The second thing I appreciate is that they genuinely want to help people out. They continually offer contests and send out free samples of their products to people, as well as offer ongoing education through their website in the form of Q&A and pages dealing with ingredients and topics specific to the products. It's often difficult to get a straight answer from companies when you ask them tough questions, but Seventh Generation has been quick and thorough in answering any questions I have had for them!

I found the Free & Clear line to honestly not have a fragrance. The liquid laundry soap has a slight odor to it, but you can tell it's just naturally from the ingredients used to make it. Everything worked just as well as a commercial chemical cleaner, but it was much more pleasant to use because it isn't harsh on your skin and you don't have to worry about breathing it in or pouring it down the drain! You can view all of the ingredients for any of these products on the Seventh Generation website.

Seventh Generation has packaged together several products from this line into a Starter Kit. They have generously offered to allow me to choose one of my winners to receive one of these, so here are my comments on each of the products that you could win (see bottom of the page to enter):

2x Liquid Laundry (32 oz.) - This unique, non-irritating blend of plant-based surfactants and enzymes powers out the toughest stains. This works quite well. I don't have to use very much, the container is small, and it doesn't seem to create any build up, though I would still not use it for cloth diapers.

Hand Dish Soap - Tough on grease, gentle on your hands and the earth. No phosphates, safe for even the youngest dish-washing family members. This is definitely gentle and still creates decent suds (though that is NOT necessary to clean). I do kind of miss having a good scent while I'm washing dishes though. :-) The non-irritating qualities would make this excellent for anyone sensitive to traditional dish soap!

All-Purpose Cleaner - Cleans and degreases hard surfaces, indoors and out. Non toxic, it creates no harsh fumes. Safe for your family and the planet, great for wet mopping; not recommended on wood floors. I use this for everything from counters to floors. It doesn't particularly get hard scummy areas (like a bathtub) to clean up easier, so I'd recommend another product for that. This is an excellent product to just have around for quick cleaning.

Auto Dish Tabs (15-count tabs) - Concentrated automatic-dishwasher packs deliver phosphate- and chlorine-free detergent in convenient packets. Environmentally friendly, safe for your family. These did get our dishes clean, but when combined with our soft water, we found that some of our aluminum/stainless steel dishes didn't fair so well. :-( Be sure to not use on metal dishes and silverware like this! Otherwise, it was a great product and dissolved quickly in the water. It also seemed to rinse off well and not leave any residue.

Glass & Surface Cleaner - Effectively cleans glass, mirrors, chrome and other hard surfaces – without streaks, toxins, fumes or harsh chemicals. Works as well as other commercial cleaners but without the scary chemicals and smells. However, the old vinegar/water solution still cleans windows best. I particularly like to use the Glass & Surface Cleaner for wood/glass or plastic/glass areas.

Liquid Fabric Softener - Free & Clear 40oz.Canola-derived fabric softener makes your laundry naturally fluffy and static-free. Add to your final rinse cycle or use for hand-washing delicates. Truly free and clear of fragrances, dyes, and masking agents. I have never had such soft clothes until using this! I don't know if I'm using too much or if it just REALLY works, but it works! No static, and very soft clothing. Be careful to not let it build up on your washer if you have cloth diapers.

Some other products (not included in the Starter Kit) that I was also able to review are:

Natural Fabric Softener Sheets - I didn't find these to work as great as the liquid fabric softener, but they certainly do lead to static-free clothing and aren't nearly as greasy as regular softener sheets. If I was in the habit of buying softener sheets, I would definitely purchase these.

Rinse Aid - Never having used a rinse aid for my dishwasher before, I wasn't sure what to expect from this product. However, I found it to last a long time and it did help to minimize water spots on my dishes!

Chlorine Free Bleach- This product is made from hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine, so 1) it's safe for colors, and 2) it doesn't smell like chlorine. I stopped using bleach a long time ago because it is sooooooooo corrosive, stays in your body for a long time (even just from breathing it in), tends to ruin my clothing, and is just dangerous in general. I didn't realize the difference between chlorine bleach (which is what I grew up with) and NON-chlorine bleach until I used this product and asked Seventh Generation about it. If you like using bleach or would like a safer alternative, then this is definitely for you and worth the money! It works and isn't nearly as scary as chlorine bleach. :-)

Buy It! Through the Seventh Generation website or at many local retailers.

Win It! One winner will receive the Free & Clear Starter Kit with the six items listed above as well as a handy dandy tote bag to keep everything in. A value of $30.00. To enter, visit Seventh Generation's website and tell me one product you'd like to try (not listed here) or something you learned on their website. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and include an email address each time! Contest ends December 23, 2009 at 12:00PM EST.

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SKOY Cloth Review & Giveaway

Cleaning Green: Giveaway #1

SKOY Cloth is...

• 100% biodegradable (testing has shown it will break down in 5 months from beginning composting)
• Absorbent (15x its own weight!)
• Re-usable (one will last for the equivalent of 15 ROLLS of paper towels)
• Clean (can microwave to sterilize or throw in the dishwasher or clothes washer!)
• and Fun… (comes in a variety of colors and prints--including for Christmas)

Made from 100% biodegradable natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp, SKOY cloth is a chlorine-free product using water-based colors and inks. They were first designed almost ten years ago by two stay at home moms who were sick of the 2.5 million tons of paper towels that fill up our landfills every year. Since their beginning, SKOY cloths have been featured on O, The Oprah Magazine, Reader's Digest, and numerous other publications and radio/TV shows!

The Basics: SKOY Cloth sent me a free sample pack of 4 cloths. When dry, they're stiff. When wet, they act like a chamois to clean up spills and scrub down messes. I haven't had any tears yet, and even though I've been using them for months, they are showing no signs of decay.

The Good: They save a ton of money and are easy to clean (I throw them in the washer and dryer)! Very absorbent, and I also love the fact that they're manufactured with humane and green practices and also made of fully biodegradable materials.

The Not-so-Good: SKOY Cloth suggests throwing a wet cloth into the microwave to kill bacteria. Frankly, the steaming and temperature of the cloth concern me because 1) I don't want to start a fire, 2) I don't really like using microwaves, and 3) I don't want it to be too hot to touch. So I recommend the dishwasher or clothes washer for cleaning. I did let one sit next to my sink wet for a while, and sure enough, little spots started to form (mildew? mold?). Microwaving left them looking about the same. I threw it in the wash after that, and though the spots are still visable, I don't worry about anything growing on them. :-) Just make sure you wash them regularly!

Buy Them: You can buy a 4-pack for $5.99 directly from http://www.skoycloth.com/ . They even have a regular shipping service that will send you 8 cloths for $11.98 every 3, 4, 5, or 6 months!

Win Them: SKOY cloth also provided me with a 4-pack to give to one of my lucky readers. To enter, please first click on one of the SKOY links in this website to support them. Then, let me know something interesting that you learned from their website! Please include a valid email address in every entry. Contest ends December 23, 2009 at 12:00pm, EST.

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