Organic Baby Apparel

Moms get Mother’s Day, Dads get Father’s day, but what about the people we grew up with? The ones we fought with, learned with and sometimes wished we could have sent back to the baby store. April 10^th is dedicated to these loved ones, it’s National Siblings Day! Today is a good reminder to pick up the phone and call your brother or sister and catch up. They’ve been with you through it all and for some of us they’re our best friends. This is also a prefect day to celebrate the bond between your kids. Sure they might bicker but deep down there is a love and understanding between them that can only be formed between siblings.

Claudia Evart, who lost both her siblings in separate accidents, created national Siblings Day. She felt there should be a day to honor her siblings, as well as everyone else’s. Siblings come in all shapes in sizes. Some are step, others half and some aren’t related at all but you consider them family. In your house you can make this day extra special for your kids.

If your siblings have children arrange a play date together. It’ll be a sibling celebration!

Come up with questions about each of your kids for the other ones to answer. Make it a game to see how much they know about each other. Ask what their favorite colors are, or their birthdays or their first word. They’ll learn a lot about each other!

Siblings always seem to fight over toys. Play games today that involve all your kids and reinforce the importance of sharing.

If one of your kids has a sports game or recital today, have the whole family attend to show sibling support. You can cheer and celebrate accomplishments together.

Have your kids write cards to each other, celebrating their special day.

Now that it’s springtime there’s no better chance to go for a bike ride! As everybody knows once you learn to ride a bike, you never forget. It’s a great activity to do as a family. You can enjoy the scenery, get some exercise and your kids will learn a life long sport. Before you hit the road remember some important safety tips to make sure you have the best time out there.

ALWAYS wear a helmet. Not every state requires you to wear a helmet but it’s the key to safety when bike riding. All helmets have to pass CPSC standards so you don’t have to shell out for a $200 helmet. Cheaper ones have to stand up to the same tests and rules. It’s recommended to buy a smooth helmet because there won’t be any snags if you fall.

You want a helmet to be comfortable and won’t move around even during a lot of shaking. Be prepared to try on more than one helmet. It might be boring for your kids to keep helmet hunting but finding the perfect one is crucial.

When your kids are starting out they might be a little wary on a bike. Keep your trips to just the driveway or neighborhood until they’re more confident. Then maybe try some bike paths and nature trails before hitting the pavement.

When you start bike riding on the road make sure to ride with traffic. When you’re walking you should always be against traffic but when biking you need to go with the flow. When making turns use your hands to point in the direction you’re going so motorists know.

If you decide to ride at night make sure to wear reflectors and bright clothing. Also have a headlight on the lead bike. You should even have a headlight during the day when biking on the road.

Bike riding is a great activity and can make for some springtime fun!

It is so exciting to bring your baby home for the first time. It’s stepping into the door as a new family. But sometimes you already have a baby at home… a furry one. Suddenly your barking or meowing pride and joy goes from being #1 in the house to #2. It can be a hard adjustment for everyone in the family. You want your pet to love your little one and know that your baby is safe. There are some things you can do to help create harmony in the household.

Keep in mind that no matter what you do, having a baby in the house will be an adjustment for your pet. They were once the king or queen of the house and now are demoted. The attention and time you spent on them is now going to your baby. Don’t be surprised if your pet shows jealousy or acts needy. It’s important to reassure them that they still have a place in the family. You also need to keep an eye on your pet around the baby. Don’t leave the two of them alone, or have the baby on the floor or anywhere your pet can access them. While you would never dream of Fido behaving badly he might react negatively to this new member of his pack.

If you have any friends or family with babies have them come over so your pet can get used to a little human being. Keep an eye on how your dog or cat reacts and respond the way you plan to when you bring home your baby. Prepare ahead of time for the changes to come. You won’t have the same amount of time to devote to your pet once you have your baby. Start to limit the time you spend together before the baby comes. It’s also important to address any training issues before the baby comes. If your dog likes to playfully nip or your cat likes to swat tame these actions ASAP. Too much change all at once can really stress a pet (or anyone!) out. By slowly switching your schedule to baby mode before the baby comes you’ll help acclimate your pet. Consider a doggy day-care where your pet can have some fun time and attention.

Determine which rooms will be off limits to your pet. Maybe you don’t want him in the nursery. Consider having a gate on the door so he can see in but can’t enter. When your baby is born have someone bring over a blanket or clothing with her scent on it so your pet can get used to it before you come home. Remember that rewards are better than scolding and make for a positive experience. You want your pet to love your baby!

Talk to your vet and pediatrician and see if they have any tips. They’ve had experience with the pet/baby dynamic and probably have some ideas to help you.

Pregnancy changes your whole life, as any mom can say. It’s like everyday you learn something new as your body changes and your baby grows. There’s so much information to absorb in those nine months. To get you up to speed on pregnancy talk here are some words you might not have heard before having a bun in the oven (that means being pregnant!).

Amniotic fluid: The fluid that covers your baby as he grows inside you.

Amniotic sac: What holds your baby and the amniotic fluid during pregnancy.

Braxton Hicks: Contractions that can start at 6 weeks into your pregnancy. Though you won’t feel them that early.

Birth center: A place specially designed for women to give birth. Can be found inside or outside a hospital.

Birth plan: Your preferences about the way you’d like your labor and delivery to be performed.

Breech: When the baby is born feet or but first.

Fontanelle: The soft spots on your baby’s head where his skull hasn’t fused.

Gestational age: The length of a pregnancy.

Jaundice: When your baby has yellowish skin due to abnormally high blood levels of billruibn.

Lanugo: The first hair a fetus produces. It’s downy hair found on the body and is usually shed by eight months of gestation.

Mask of pregnancy: Brown pigmentation that can develop on a pregnant woman’s face.

Prolactin: The hormone that stimulates the production of breast milk.

Quickening: The first movements your baby makes that you feel during pregnancy.

Growing your own herbs has so many benefits. It can help spice up your cooking, keep cost down from grocery shopping and many herbs have multiple uses. You don’t need a lot of space to grow herbs; even just a window ledge is a good start! This spring try out your green thumb and reap the benefits of your own herb garden.

Lavender is a great herb to grow in the spring. It’s beautiful when it blooms so it’ll add some color to your herb garden. You can use lavender as a natural calming agent and to add some wonderful smell to your home.

Parsley is an easy herb to grow and a great one to choose if you’re just starting an herb garden. Parsley is low maintenance and the results will dress up your dinner plate!

Thyme is a culinary staple and growing your own means you always have it around. Thyme can be difficult to grow from seed so consider transplanting a growing thyme plant to your garden.

Basil is probably the most popular herb in the herb garden world. Who doesn’t love some fresh basil with juicy tomatoes and mozzarella? Basil is a plant that can be grown in a container if you don’t have space outside. Late spring is the best time to plant basil because it’s sensitive to frost.

Consider growing herb plants instead of seeds especially if you’re learning. You also won’t have to wait as long for your delicious results. Prune and pick your herbs in the morning, that’s when they are at their freshest.

Gas prices seem to be climbing higher and higher the closer we get to summer. And if you don’t own a hybrid the only option is to feed the pump. Is there anyway to not go broke when fueling up? We looked into the best ways to conserve fuel to help you save a few dollars this summer.

When does your car use the most gas? When it accelerates. This means every time you step on the brake and then the gas your using more fuel than if you were to coast along. Try to keep a good distance between you and other cars so if they keep speeding up and braking you don’t have to do the same.

We all know how hot it can get in the summer; sometimes air conditioning can be a lifesaver. But it also reduces the fuel economy of your car. On cooler days drive with the windows down. When parking find spots in the shade so you don’t get into a car that feels like a roasting oven.

Are you a car pack rat? It can be an easy trap to fall into, especially when you have kids. But the more weight in the car, the more fuel you need to go. So consider taking the kids bikes and hubby’s weight equipment out of the car before you drive.

Reducing your speed when you have a billion things to get done can seem impossible. But driving at or below the speed limit can help you conserve fuel. Try to leave a few minutes early so you aren’t rushing and can drive at a slower rate. If other people pass you because of your slow speed they’ll be the ones paying at the pump.

Keep track of gas prices as you drive. If you find a pump with an amazing price stop and fill up even if you don’t really have to. It’s better than filling up later on at a more expensive station. Also consider doing a little searching for stations. If you’re leaving a tourist hot spot the first station you see will have the most expensive gas. A little hunting can help you find somewhere cheaper.

Checking your tires and making sure they are fully inflated can help you save at the pump as well. Under-inflated tires can soak up fuel.

Our favorite tip: Carpool and combine trips! Nobody wants to spend a lot of money on gas so carpool with other parents. Also try to combine errands that are close in location.

Do you have any fuel saving tips?

Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day so wear your favorite green shirt and search for some four-leaf clovers. But why is there a special day for the Emerald Isles and where did all these traditions come from?

Legend has it that St. Patrick was born in Britain in the fifth century. When he was 16 he was captured by Irish pirates and taken to Ireland. After six years he was able to escape and return home, but he heard voices asking him to return to Ireland. He did go back and dedicated his life to spreading Christianity.

Shamrocks are important to the St. Patrick’s Day story because supposedly St. Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to educate the Irish about the Christian Trinity. Finding a four leaf clover is considered good luck.

Can you believe the original color of St. Patty’s Day was blue? But because of the shamrock legend the color changed to green.

In Ireland St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday. It is also considered a religious holiday there. It wasn’t until the 1990s that Ireland started using St. Patrick’s Day as a way to spread tourism.

In Argentina St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in the streets with nightlong parties. It might come as a surprise but Argentina is home to the world’s fifth largest Irish community (outside Ireland).

Ireland is nicknamed the Emerald Isle because of its lush green hills.

Spring is on its way and we couldn’t be more excited! The first day of spring is March 20^th and to get you ready for the warm weather and smiling sun here’s some information before the April showers and May flowers.

The first day of spring is called the vernal equinox. During this time day and night are both 12 hours long. This means the end of the dark winter and the beginning of more time with the sun.

The only other day with equal daylight and night is the fall equinox.

Legend has it on the equinox you can stand a raw egg on its end. Take the kids out and try this challenge!

Get your kids involved in the changing seasons by tracking the appearance of new animals as spring approaches. Birds will be singing and animals will be coming out of their burrows.

The equinoxes are the only times when the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

Flowers that appear in spring include lilacs, tulips, dahlias and daffodils.  Decorate your house with these signs of spring!

We all know fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. But most people don’t know why. It’s amazing the things good food can do for you, just check out the list below!

Blueberries: After strawberries, blueberries are the second most popular fruit in America. So chances are you and your family enjoys munching on this yummy fruit already. Blueberries are full of antioxidants, which help your body fight free radicals. Free radicals damage cell structures and DNA so fighting them is a good fight. New research has shown eating blueberries daily can help improve your memory.

Bananas: One banana has 10% of the daily-recommended amount of potassium. Potassium helps with everything from digestion to your nervous system. In a bad mood? Have a banana; it’s got tryptophan, which can help how you feel.

Apples: Eating two apples a day can help lower your cholesterol. The skin of an apple is full of vitamin C. New studies are showing that apples may have a positive effect on your digestive tract.

Carrots: Orange or yellow fruits and vegetables have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Carrots are full of vitamin A, which helps your eyes.

Broccoli: This vegetable is full of good stuff including vitamin C and A, folic acid and calcium. Calcium not only builds strong bones but can also reduce high blood pressure and possibly help prevent colon cancer. Broccoli is also a great fiber source, it provides the two different kinds of fiber you need: soluble and insoluble.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are a great source of three powerful antioxidants: beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C. Cooked tomatoes can help a breastfeeding mom produce more lycopene.

So next time your kids complain about eating their veggies remind them of all the amazing benefits these powerful foods have.

Last week we talked about the great reasons to buy organic makeup. This week we looked into organic soap and the reasons to switch are just as compelling! Your skin is your biggest organ. You take the time to apply sunscreen and moisturize with lotion so it makes sense to use healthy, natural soap. There are a lot of options out there and if you’re really ambitious you can even make your own!

Non-organic soap is full of chemicals. Just read the ingredients and you might not recognize half of them! With natural soap you know exactly what you are putting on you and your family. It might not be the same candy colors you’re used to but that’s because there are no dyes. And that’s a good thing. Here are some soaps to try out next bath time:

Dr. Bronner’s: One of the original makers of organic soap. The USDA certifies them and all their products are vegetable based. They even offer a mild bar soap for babies! They were recently certified Fair Trade and take pride in how they treat their employees. A great company all around!

skinnyskinny: This company has delicious smelling soaps, which are all vegan. Their packaging is from recycled materials, which fits with their organic vision. Almost all their products are made in their workshop in Brooklyn, NY.

Pangea Organics: Every ingredient in the products Pangea makes serve a purpose. There are no fillers so you know exactly what you’re getting. They focus on using organic plant botanicals.