Portable North Pole

If you have a little one, you need to try this- so cool! You can make their very own video message from Santa!!!
http://www.portablenorthpole.com/home

Sensitive Skin Care- Exederm to the Rescue!!

My kids were blessed with my sensitive skin (poor things). About a year ago my eldest son started scratching his face constantly to the point that it was bleeding and I finally figured out it was the Johnson's bubble bath I was using was giving him eczema. A trip to the pediatrician confirmed that yes indeed the "supposedly pediatrician recommended" Johnson's is not that great for sensitive baby skin in fact it can be down right harsh as we found out the hard way. So she recommended something gentler like Aveeno baby products so I switched. Then came the info that Aveeno products as well as a lot of Johnson Products (Aveeno is owned by Johnson) have cancer-causing chemicals in them.
See link http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/johnson-johnson-baby-sham_n_1069123.html

So I went on the hunt for something safer that was for sensitive skin and one day I happened upon Exederm in the baby aisle at Stop & Shop. It had the National Eczema Association seal of approval, boasted that it contained NO HARSH chemicals and had an adorable baby on the packaging. I decided to take it home and try it out. It worked like a charm and cleared my son's eczema up in two days!!!

Children with Eczema require sensitive skin care that does not have harsh irritants in them. Exederm's line of baby cream, baby shampoo, baby bath wash, and baby lotion and baby oil boasts that they contain:

-NO Fragrance
-NO Parabens
-NO Lanolin
-NO Propylene Glycol
-NO colors or dyes
-NO SLS- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
-NO CAPB- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
-NO Phtalates

Check out there web page for comparison charts of Exederm vs leading baby products and their ingredients to see what your current baby products contain. www.exederm.com

Ever since I have changed to Exederm about a year ago my son has NOT HAD ANY flare ups. I even use the products on myself. They have an adults line, but I just use the same as the kids since I already have it in the house. I usually buy mine a Stop & Shop- they have the cheapest price. Bottle of the products are usually $9 and change, every so often they go on sale for $7 and change and I try to stock up then. You can check their website for stores that carry them www.exederm.com

Visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Database to see how safe your cosmetics, shampoos, sunscreens, and baby products are. http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=308

 

New Logo

OK so I think I am officially happy with the new logo and I am finally settled with the look of the blog. I think this graphic is perfect!!! What do you think?

I found the graphic at this neat website- has sooo much. Check it out!
www.clipartof.com/

Are You Listening to Your Baby?



 

This is a fascinating video from The Oprah Show about how babies use 5 words to communicate with us their needs. Wish I had heard this when my first was little- would have helped alot! Check it out- it's simply AMAZING!!!!

 

 

Are you intrigued? For more info check out the website- http://www.dunstanbaby.com/

Nature's Promise Organic Foods

For those of you looking for Organic foods, but don't live close to a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods stores. Try your local Stop & Shop. They have their own brand of organic foods called Nature's Promise. They have recently expanded their brand to include many different items and some stores have now made an entire aisle dedicated to healthy, organic brands.
For a listing of items under this line click here http://www.stopandshop.com/our_stores/offerings/brands/index.htm?brnd=NATURE_PROMISE

We love their Organic Animal Crackers, Cheese Crackers, Pasta Sauces, Chicken Broth, Frozen Strawberries, Homestyle Frozen Waffles, Milks, Meats, Cheeses, Lemonade, and Black Beans- just to name a few.

Everything we have tried under this brand we like better than the non-organic version we had been eating before. I have even had people ask me what sauce I used in my ziti- because it tasted so good! Being a busy mom, I can't always do homemade everything so when I do buy ready made items I always try to get the best products for my kiddos and I know when I give them Nature's Promise items that they not only taste good, they are good for them! Nature's Promise items are cheaper than most other organic items found in your regular grocery store and because it is made by Stop and Shop they have these items on sale regularly. So if you haven't tried Nature's Promise brand I highly recommend you do so!

Honest Company Diapers

I recently have not been happy with the diapers I had been using on my toddler- Pampers Baby Dry (didn't have Dry Max). I noticed that they smell a little chemical to me lately- that I never noticed before and that the seem to fall apart very easily lately and I have those annoying gel beads to clean up. I suspect they have changed something in the way they make their diapers. So I went on the hunt to find the best diaper and while I was at it I wanted to find a more eco-friendly option.

My research revealed that the diaper I had been using was the best-rated for keeping kids dry and lasting through the night. Well damn, that is not what I was hoping to find. And all the eco-friendly brands where more $ and didn't get the greatest of ratings for holding up well. Then I came across a new brand of diapers- The Honest Company.

The Honest Company is the baby of Jessica Alba (that's right, the actress) and Christopher Gavigan (former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World). They make top quality eco-friendly diapers that your order from their site and are delivered to your doorstep. https://www.honest.com/ I was intrigued- so I researched them and found that moms who tried it seems to all be singing their praises. So I ordered a sample and have been very happy and decided to order the monthly bundle.

THINGS I LIKE ABOUT HONEST COMPANY DIAPERS:

• Naturally biodegradable & pure plant-based PLA in the inner & outer sheet (NO petrochemicals/oil)
• Bio-based wheat / corn super-absorbent materials blended with reduced SAP gel  
• Secure moisture barrier cuffs to prevent leakage or blowouts
• Comfortable stretchy, re-fastenable grip tabs- they feel more sturdy than our old diapers
• Hypoallergenic 
• Chlorine free fluff
• Non-toxic adhesive used
• No heavy metals in the inks used
• Super Absorbent

So if you too are in the market for better quality, safer, eco-friendly diapers I suggest you check them out. They are a little more expensive- a month supply is about $80 plus shipping and tax, but hey they work, don't smell (unless your child makes you a present) and are very absorbent for overnights. They have a free sample package (you pay S&H) if you wanna test them out before ordering.
https://www.honest.com/

Cleaning Schedule

As fall approaches I am reminded of all the fall cleaning that needs to happen; take air conditioners out of windows, clean window screens, wash curtains, clean the rugs, and it goes on and on. In an attempt to be more productive and organized this year, I have compiled cleaning lists for fall, spring, monthly and weekly. Happy cleaning!

Weekly Cleaning Schedule

• Wash Bed Linens
• Dust Bedroom 1
• Dust Bedroom 2
• Dust Master Bedroom
• Dust Kitchen
• Clean Bathroom
• Dust Ceiling Fans
• Do Laundry
• Put away Laundry

Monthly Cleaning Schedule

• Wash air conditioner filters
• Wash air purifier
• Clean windows
• Dust/Vacuum under/behind furniture
• Clean Microwave
• Clean Washer/Dryer
• Scrub bath, shower, bathroom floor
• Clean trash cans
• Vacuum Baseboard heaters

Fall Cleaning Schedule

• Replace Hepa filters air purifiers
• Wash and/or change out curtains
• Change out kids clothes fall/winter
• Steam Clean carpets
• Remove air conditioners and clean them
• Wash window screens and put back
• Vacuum mattresses and flip them
• Clean out Fridge and Freezer
• Clean out pantry
• Clean kitchen cabinets inside/out
• Oil burner inspected and cleaned
• Winterize sprinkler system
• Turn off outdoor faucets and store hoses
• Clean and store patio furniture
• Clean cars inside/out
• Check and repair caulk around windows and doors inside and out
• Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors- replace batteries
• Rake and clean up yard
• Check and clean gutters
• Go through toys to donate
• Go through clothes to donate

Spring Cleaning Schedule

• Replace Hepa filters air purifiers
• Wash and/or change out curtains
• Change out kids clothes spring/summer
• Steam Clean carpets
• Clean air conditioners and put in windows
• Wash window screens
• Vacuum mattresses and flip them
• Clean out Fridge and Freezer
• Clean out pantry
• Clean kitchen cabinets inside/out
• Power wash house
• Turn on sprinkler system/ repairs
• Turn on outdoor faucets and hook up hoses
• Clean and put out patio furniture
• Clean cars inside/out
• Mulch garden
• Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors- replace batteries
• Go through toys to donate
• Go through clothes to donate