Winner of the Organic Poetry Blanket Announced!

07/01/2010

Congratulations to Melissa R who shared her favorite lullaby in our Facebook page and has been chosen as the winner of an Organic Poetry Receiving Blankets.  Melissa shared the lyrics of a song by Renee & Jeremy (formerly of the band Brad) from their CD of children’s music.  Thank you Melissa for sharing such a lovely lullaby with us!

I don’t mean to shake your slumber
Lying there you look so sweet
Before the birds begin to wonder
Arise my love and follow me

Welcome to this world whether you’re ready or not
Welcome to this world come give it all that you got
Welcome to this world before you know it you’ll be
Singing right back to me welcome to this world

I know you’re happy in your safe haven
Where there’s nothing that you don’t know
But you could spend your whole life there waiting
So don’t be shy come on let’s go

Welcome to this world whether you’re ready or not
Welcome to this world come give it all that you got
Welcome to this world before you know it you’ll be
Singing right back to me welcome to this world

The future’s knocking at your front door
So much for you to see
But if you’re looking for something more
Come on baby breathe this moment through your eyes
Treat each moment like a prize

Welcome to this world whether you’re ready or not
Welcome to this world come give it all that you got
Welcome to this world before you know it you’ll be
Singing right back to me welcome to this world

By Rachael Flug | Posted in Just for Fun | Tagged , , , | Comment (1)

Bella the Cat Gives Us a Sneak Peek at the New Cloth Diapering Product!

05/02/2010
Dear Friends,
This post comes from Abraham, Rachael’s husband.
Rachael has been busy day and night (with the help of her faithful companion, Bella The Cat) working on some great new products for babies and their parents.  These pictures should give you some idea of what this process is like–and what our house looks like during this process!
I think you will really love what she will be introducing, and you should have a chance to try them soon.  In the meantime, please forgive her if she doesn’t blog or respond to your questions quite as quickly as she-and you-would like.  She will do so, as soon as she can dig her way out of this pile!
Happy Diapering.
Abraham

Dear Friends,

Rachael has been busy day and night (with the help of her faithful companion, Bella The Cat) working on some great new products for babies and their parents.  Just for fun, we wanted to share these pictures to give you some idea of what this process is like–and what our house looks like during this process!

I think you will really love what she will be introducing, and you should have a chance to try them soon.  In the meantime, please forgive her if she doesn’t blog or respond to your questions quite as quickly as she-and you-would like.  She will do so, as soon as she can dig her way out of this pile!

Happy Diapering.

Abraham

Bella_Fitted Diaper.IMG_0011

Bella on the Pattents

By Abraham Entin | Posted in Just for Fun | Comments (0)

Lights Off: Don't Forget Earth Hour 2010 this Weekend!

03/26/2010

Something very exciting is happening this weekend.  On Saturday, March 27- millions  around the world are going to make a bold statement to show our concern for climate change by simply turning off our lights from 8:30-9:30pm in our local time zones.   Earth Hour 2009 got a lot of attention from the media and world leaders as you can see from this video- and we need to continue to send a message to preserve our beautiful planet for future generations.  Please help by spreading the word!  Remind your friends and neighbors to participate!

By eileen | Posted in General, News and Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Healthy Child Healthy World Wants Parents of Young Children to Wake Up

02/22/2010

Healthy World Healthy Child - CHEC Creating Healthy Environments For ChildrenI have been familiar with Healthy Child Healthy World for a number of years.  This is an outstanding organization that advocates for healthy and toxic free living for our children.  It was founded in the early 90s by Nancy and Jim Chuda after their beautiful young daughter, Colette, died of a non-genetic cancer.

They recently released a powerful video to spread their message even further….please watch this video and share with your friends- even non-parents need to be aware that there are small steps we can take to protect ourselves and our families from harmful chemicals and a toxic home environment.

Purpose and Goals
Expand awareness and understanding of environmental hazards to children’s health
Help the public learn about healthier practices, solutions, and products in the marketplace
Encourage daily action and informed lifestyle choices
Create standards and policies for safer products, foods, materials, and chemicals used in the home – promoting safer options and new alternatives
Advocate for and support corporate policies and governmental legislation that protect children from environmental risks
Engage communities to make wise choices and responsible decisions so families can flourish

Purpose and Goals of Healthy Child Healthy World

  • Expand awareness and understanding of environmental hazards to children’s health
  • Help the public learn about healthier practices, solutions, and products in the marketplace
  • Encourage daily action and informed lifestyle choices
  • Create standards and policies for safer products, foods, materials, and chemicals used in the home – promoting safer options and new alternatives
  • Advocate for and support corporate policies and governmental legislation that protect children from environmental risks
  • Engage communities to make wise choices and responsible decisions so families can flourish
By admin | Posted in All Things Organic, General | Tagged , , , , , | Comment (1)

Natural Tips for Cleaning and Sanitizing Cloth Diapers

01/12/2010

VinegarLemonOur site features a detailed resource guide on how to properly care for and launder cloth diapers; and I wanted to share some wonderful tips I found in Readers Digest on using natural ingredients to get your cloth diapers (and other laundry) even cleaner and brighter!  Forget expensive stain fighting boosters, fabric softeners and whiteners.  Save your money- these inexpensive ingredients are non toxic and are probably in your pantry.  These tips are from the article:  8 Ways to Naturally Boost Laundry Detergent

Baking Soda
It may sound like a cliché, but adding 1/2 cup baking soda to your usual amount of liquid laundry detergent really will give you “whiter whites” and brighter colors. The baking soda also softens the water, so you can actually use less detergent.

Lemons
To remove rust and mineral discolorations from cotton, pour 1 cup lemon juice into the washer during the wash cycle. The natural bleaching action of the juice will zap the stains and leave the clothes smelling fresh.

Vinegar
There are so many benefits to be reaped by adding 1 cup white vinegar to your washer’s rinse cycle that it’s surprising that you don’t find it prominently mentioned inside the owner’s manual of every washing machine sold. Here are the main ones:

  • A single cup of vinegar will kill off any bacteria that may be present in your wash load, especially if it includes cloth diapers and the like.

Rachael’s note : For diapers, vinegar should only be added to the rinse cycle. If you have hard water, the vinegar can combine with trace minerals in your water supply and this can cause your diapers to stink once peed on.  If you have normal to soft water you can use 1/4- 1/2  cup in your rinse cycle as needed.

  • A cup of vinegar will keep your clothes coming out of the wash soft and smelling fresh — so you can kiss your fabric-softening liquids and sheets good-bye (unless, of course, you happen to like your clothes smelling of heavy perfumes).
  • A cup of vinegar will brighten small loads of white clothes.
  • Added to the last rinse, a cup of vinegar will keep your clothes lint- and static-free.
  • Adding a cupful of vinegar to the last rinse will set the color of your newly dyed fabrics.

Rachael’s Addition : Don’t Forget the Sun
Hanging your clean wet diapers outside will reduce stains and give them an incredibly sweet , fresh smell. You can air dry them in the dryer afterwards to soften them up.

By admin | Posted in Baby Care, General, Natural Diapering | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Tis A Gift To Be Simple

12/12/2009

Wishing you the Simple Joys of Life

One positive that has emerged from the difficult times we are in, is that we are learning to live more simply. From growing a vegetable garden to making home cooked meals (instead of eating out) we are spending less time shopping and consuming. As we enter this holiday season I hope that you can continue to consume less without feeling guilty.

You might even discover that Simple is even better than you could have imagined.

This song Tis A Gift To Be Simple was originally written by Joseph Bracket a Shaker in 1848.  I really like the newer verses that go with this melody.  You’ll find the original verse with the sheet music

Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
‘Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we’ll all live together and we’ll all learn to say,
‘Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
‘Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of “me”,
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we’ll all live together with a love that is real.

simple-gifts-lead-sheet

By Rachael Flug | Posted in General, Just for Fun, Rachael's Musings | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Top Ten Environmental Reasons For Choosing Cloth Diapers

12/10/2009

EarthI have devoted my time and efforts to advocating a cloth diapering system because I believe the diaper choice you make will have a lasting effect on your baby and the future of our planet.  Here are 10 reasons why cloth diapering is more sustainable than disposables and better for the environment:

1. Disposable diapers use 2x as much water as cotton diapers.

2. Disposable diapers use 3x as much energy as cotton diapers.

3. Disposable diapers generate 60x more solid waste than cotton diapers.

4. Disposable diapers use 20x as much raw materials as cotton diapers

5. 1 billion trees per year are destroyed to make disposable diapers—approximately 4.5 for each baby who uses them

6. It takes between 200-500 years for a disposable diaper to decompose.

7. Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent 30% of non-biodegradable waste

8. 1 ton of garbage is created for each baby who uses disposable diapers

9. 1 cup of crude oil is used for the plastic in 1 disposable diaper

10. 18 billion disposalbe diapers are used in the U.S. each year ­ enough to stretch to the moon and back 9 times

The sources for the facts listed above are the following: Sierra Club, Californians Against Waste, Rhode Island Solid Waste Management Agency, Lehrberguer Report on the Impact of Diapers on the Environment, Greenpeace, Environmental Defense Fund, Center for Policy Alternatives

By Rachael Flug | Posted in General, Natural Diapering | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

How to Make Delicious Roasted Pumpkin Seeds...Don't Throw Out the Seeds with the Pumpkin!

10/29/2009

pumpkin-seed-halloween-recipeI know that you have a lot to do to get ready for Halloween. But here is an easy recipe for making yummy roasted pumpkin seeds from that pumpkin you bought to decorate your house (see my previous blog for carving an Enlightened Pumpkin). This is also a good teaching lesson for your children — instead of throwing away — look first to see how it might be used. An added bonus : pumpkin seeds are very healthy for every member of your family !

After you have carved your pumpkin into a Jack-O-Lantern (or if you aren’t carving this year, after Halloween, cut open the top of the pumpkin and with a strong metal spoon, scoop out the pulp and seeds)

It’s best to start the seeds as soon as you can since once they dry out it’s almost impossible to separate them from the stringy pulp.

1) Separate the seeds and wash them thoroughly by rinsing under cold water. Use a strainer and let the water run over them, pull out as much of the pumpkin pulp as possible. Then dry the seeds with a towel or napkin.

2) Preheat oven at 325 degrees. Use a lightly oiled baking sheet and toss the seeds around a little bit to get an oily coating, then spread them out , all in one layer. Sprinkle with sea salt.  I find that stirring every 5-10 minutes works well and on average (depending on how plump and moist the seeds are) it takes 25 minutes.

3) When the pumpkin seeds are golden brown remove from the oven and let cool. Once they are cooled, place them in an airtight container so they don’t go stale. But at our house they usually don’t make it that far.

A Spicy Alternative :  Instead of sprinkling the seeds with just salt use some cumin, ginger and a touch of cinnamon. Not recommended for young children unless you know they enjoy the spices.

If you have a favorite Pumpkin Seed recipe please share it with us.

P.S. If you have the time, you can also roast the pumpkin. After removing the pulp and seeds, just discard the stem top and cut into large pieces (leaving the skin on). Place pieces in a roasting dish and roast at 375 for 1-2 hours or until tender . Remove pumpkin from oven and let it cool, then peel the skin and mash the pumpkin in food processor. The roasted pumpkin can replace canned pumpkin in any recipe.

By Rachael Flug | Posted in How To's, Just for Fun, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

How to Swaddle Your Baby

08/26/2009

Swaddling Your Baby Will Help Promote Feelings of Comfort and Security

Baby swaddling is a child-care practice that has been used for centuries over most of the world. It consists of snugly wrapping your baby in a blanket for a feeling of warmth and security, similar to what they experienced in their mama’s womb.

You’ll quickly see that a secure and cozy swaddling wrap will comfort and calm your newborn. It helps contain baby’s own jerky movements that often startle themselves.

We recommend swaddling for the first 3 months. When its time to help your baby transition from swaddling, simply swaddle baby with one arm out of the swaddle for a few nights. Then swaddle with both arms out. A baby who is able to roll over should not have their arms inside a swaddle.

Step 1
Begin by placing a rectangular blanket on a flat surface in a diamond shape. Take the top corner and fold it down a few inches.

Step 2
Place your baby on top of the blanket with shoulders just below the fold

Step 3
Pull the left side of the blanket across baby’s body so that it is comfortably holding baby’s arms on her chest. Keeping the blanket taut, tuck it under her buttock and lower back.

Step 4
Bring up the bottom corner of the blanket and tuck it snugly behind her left should (if the material won’t go quite that far, tuck it into the V at her neck)

Step 5
Tuck in the material at the top right a little bit just so it is out of the way. Take the right side of the fabric and bring it all the way over, under and back around your baby.

Step 6
How tight should the blanket be? You should barely be able to slide your hand between the blanket and the baby’s chest. So be sure that with each pull and tuck you are wrapping baby tightly. Also, your baby arms should be bent at the elbow, knees and hips bent as well. Let them be in their natural position rather than trying to straighten out their arms and legs. If baby’s hands are placed on their chest, within reach of their mouth, they can still suck on their hands and fingers.

Photo Credit:babycenter.com

By Rachael Flug | Posted in Baby Care, General, How To's | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Cloth Diapering Is Not Rocket Science- Tips To Get You Started

06/30/2009

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So you are thinking about using cloth diapers? Well the good news is it’s not rocket science. And you’ll be able to feel good about all the stuff you are not throwing away ( like 9000 plastic diapers ). The bonus is about $3,000 in savings over single use diapers. And the Ultimate Bonus is that your baby’s tender skin will be surrounded by soft, breathable, natural cotton. Do you know how good it feels to hold and squeeze their little bottoms in your hand and it NOT feel like a crinkly garbage bag?

Here is a quick lookie at how simple it can be. You can see more if you go to our website and click on NEW TO CLOTH DIAPERS. So here are the answers to the top 3 hurdles to using cloth diapers.

NO you do not have to dunk diapers or deal with poop — we have great biodegradable liners that completely take the mess out of using cloth diapers

NO you don’t have to learn origami techniques to fold a diaper — just fold it in thirds

NO it isn’t better for baby if their skin is next to a chemically induced dry diaper (they put super absorbent chemical gels in disposable diapers to absorb the wetness). They will get far less rash and potty train earlier if using cotton diapers

Check out Birth to Potty Package for the most economical, easy, chemical free cotton diapering system.

By Rachael Flug | Posted in General, How To's, Natural Diapering | Tagged | Comments (6)