Zealand's Mom Blog is hosting a new giveaway for us - Free Monkey Pants!

Visit the Zealand's Mom blog for a chance to win one of our Monkey Pants. Winner will receive a randomly picked style/color in the size of their choice. Contest ends Feb. 14th, 2020

The Dangers of Soy - Please read!

Some of you already know that I'm a big fan of making meals from scratch using natural organic foods. Well, tofu was one of my favorite ingredients to use, as I always thought that soy based products  (ie. tofu and soy milk) were tasty and healthy protein options. Was even proud to give these foods to my children, but lately I've been reading really alarming details about soy based foods. I suggest you also get informed by reading more on the truth of soy. Even when you think you are not at risk because you do not consume soy foods, you should know that many of the food products sold in the USA have added soy substances (much like corn products that are added to other foods as fillers, additives, etc.)

I am concerned because just recently learned that soy contains high levels of naturally occurring toxins, which once ingested can wreak havoc in a person's body and mind. Some of the health problems linked to consumption of soy are malnutrition, stunt growth in children, digestive problems, thyroid dysfunction, cognitive decline, reproductive disorders, decreased libido, immune system breakdown, and even heart disease and cancer

Follow the links below to read more:

http://www.nourishingourchildren.org/Soy.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/Soy-Alert

I've decided that I'll have to let go of my favorite curried thai tofu recipe for good and no more chocolate soy milk for the little ones!

Please get informed. Don't quit these foods simply because I say so. I urge all of you to learn more about the foods we eat. Don't let big food companies decide for you. They are not always thinking of what's the most nutritious way to feed America, but rather the most profitable. Soy is very cheap to produce and due to misinformation, people (including myself until a few days ago) think of soy as a miracle food.

A final word of caution for pregnant women, soy has estrogenic effects, which can make those dark patches, also known as melasma or chloasma, worse. "Soy can make the 'mask of pregnancy' (dark splotches on facial skin) worse", so if you are pregnant stay away from soy foods and soy based skin products. Read more here

The Why’s of Babywearing & Moby/Sleepy Wrap Giveaway

Rhiana from the Hurried Homemaker blog is hosting a baby wrap carrier giveaway for Bestbabyorganics.com
Visit Rhiana's blog to read her why's of babywearing and a chance to win one of our Moby Wrap or Sleepy Wrap Baby Carriers in the color of your choice

The Why’s of Babywearing & Giveaway from Best Baby Organics

January 25, 2010

By Rhiana

Babywearing is a trend on the rise, but in fact babywearing is an ancient tradition. It is a primal maternal instinct to carry our babies. With the help of a babywearing device (like the Moby Wrap or Sleepy Wrap), it is also a modern convenience. You may remember that I LOVE using my Moby Wrap with my little one. So, “Why wear my baby?” you ask …
GOOD FOR BABY:

• Newborn are used to being in the womb and the shock of going from constant to little contact can be an unsettling.
• Being in sling/carrier with motion from your movement is womb-like and very comforting for baby.
• That dreaded “arsenic hour” always seems to fall during dinner prep time (the Moby/Sleepy is only carrier I’d feel safe using while cooking).
• Soothing touch and being able to see what’s going on make a needy baby a happy baby.
• Toddlers also enjoy the comfort of being close to mom/dad.

NEED TO BACK THAT UP?

Research shows that babies worn by their mothers (and fathers) cry less; and that babies develop a sense of secrity and trust – meaning they will become independent at an earlier age.

From API:  Needs and the Benefits of Nurturing Touch

• For the child, nurturing touch stimulates growth-promoting hormones, improves intellectual and motor development, and helps regulate babies’ temperature, heart rate, and sleep/wake patterns.
• Babies who receive nurturing touch gain weight faster, nurse better, cry less, are calmer, and have better intellectual and motor development
• Cultures high in physical affection, touch, holding or carrying, rate low in adult physical violence

GOOD FOR MOM, TOO:
I didn’t want to leave my baby, not even an arms-length away, after giving birth. Since newborns sleep so much, I couldn’t very well stay in bed all day – I had another child to care for! Wearing my baby was a great way for me to feel at ease. Now, the baby is a year old and I still wear her almost daily. She feels great seeing everything I’m doing, and feels safe and secure in public (since she is very wary of strangers). And I don’t have to lug a heavy stroller everywhere I go!
Two more great reasons?  (1)Nursing a baby while going on with your daily life is a cinch while carrying baby in a sling/wrap.  And, (2) babywearing even helps prevent postpartum depression!
Now that I’ve given you no reason to not wear your baby, you want to get started right? Wrap carriers are by far my favorite way tote baby around (and I’ve tried them ALL). There are so many great ways to carry your baby or toddler in one of these because it wraps different ways for different positions. It is so nice to have a wrap that can be used from infant to toddler, and even with multiples (whether it be twins or 2 different aged little ones). The lovely folks over at Best Baby Organics are helping the fine readers of Hurried Homemaker to get started with their own baby wrap!

Moby Wrap (shown in Moss with toddler)

Sleepy Wrap Carrier (shown in Light Blue with infant)

Visit the hurried homemaker blog to read more and enter the giveaway

Livie & Luca Toddler Shoes Giveaway- Modern Funky and Hand-Made

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!
CONGRATULATIONS DANIELLE!!

I am obsessive about finding durable and well made shoes for my kids. The shoes I buy for them MUST be made of leather in and out and if they are eco-friendly, I'm totally sold!!

I heard great things about Livie&Luca's shoes, so I had to see what the fuss was all about. Turns out that Livie&Luca is my kind of company. It was started by three moms who wanted to create comfortable, flexible, and stylish shoes for their own babies and toddlers. After much research and devotion they launched the company in May 2005 and they have been making high-quality adorable shoes ever since. But there are two more things that make Livie&Luca's footwear unique: 1) the "artisan touch" - yes, they are hand-made and 2) they are made from high-quality left over leather that would otherwise be discarded.

Livie&Luca sent us this gorgeous pair of London Boots in orange from their fall collection. The boots were an immediate success with our little one. She loved her new boots and they were a great match for her orange striped Monkey Pants.  I am sold! these shoes are so well made - great craftsmanship and quality. They meet all my baby shoe requirements. I just wished they made them in adult sizes as well :-)

And now is GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

Here's a chance to win a pair of these fabulous shoes - in the style/color of your choice

Simply visit Livie&Luca and leave us comment below indicating which style you would like to win. Don't forget to list your email address, otherwise we can't contact you in case you win. The winner will be notified by email on March 1st, 2010

To enter the Livie&Luca Giveaway leave a comment on this post listing the style you would like to win

How to get extra entries:

1. Visit Best Baby Organics and find one maternity, post-pregnancy, or baby product you like the most and then leave us a comment listing the item.
2. If you blog about this, you get an extra entry. Leave a comment with the link to the post.
3. If you twitter about it, you will receive an additional entry. You can twitter everyday for a extra entries. Again, leave us a comment below.
4. write a comment below telling us how you heard about this giveaway!

Giveaway Details:

• Anonymous comments will be ignored.
• Giveaway is open to USA and international readers also - All countries welcome to enter the giveaway
  
• One winner will be randomly selected.
• The deadline to enter is February 28th, 2010 Midnight EST. Winner will be announced on March 1st, 2010
• The winner will be able to choose style and color of the shoes. If we don't hear from you within 7 days to claim your giveaway another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

-------------------------------------------
Can't wait until the contest ends?
Pick your favorite Livie&Luca shoes and
use Coupon Code: bestbabyblog (all one word) to get 10% OFF the purchase price
CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW
-------------------------------------------

Great gift idea for your Valentine

Was looking for unique Valentine's day gift ideas to wow the love of my life :-) and came across these gorgeous Lemon Heart Cookies from Yummy Affair, a Las Vegas based small family-owned and operated pastry shop. These cookies not only look exquisite and almost too beautiful to eat, but they are also hand-made, hand-cut and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives. You can order on-line and get 15 cookies for $7.95

Yummy Affair is offering free shipping this January. Probably will have to pay shipping for Valentine's day, but seems very worth it. Besides getting the pleasure of supporting a small family owned business.

We just got listed on the Cloth Diapers Made Easy website - Please give us your vote so we can make it to the top of the list.

semi-wordless wednesday

one of those two for one deals you find while traveling around the world

Haiti in agony

January 12th 2010

 Port-au-Prince, Haiti 
 7.0 magnitude earthquake

lives lost

heartache and agony
why have you forsaken me?

donate

50% OFF Organic Baby Clothes - Use Code: savings

For a limited time only: Speesees, Sckoon, Under the Nile, Kate Quinn Organics, Lukeeno and more on sale!
visit www.bestbabyorganics.com and buy your favorite organic baby clothes at half the price. Plus all orders over $35.00 get free shipping
Use code: savings

Moby Wrap Baby Carrier receives Mom's best award

Moby Wrap just received Mom's Best Award!
Yay!!!!

       
Mom’s Best Award winning product evaluators are moms, grandparents and childcare givers who use these products in real life situations, and then offer valuable feedback on how these products performed in everyday living for families. Evaluators are not paid for giving their feedback.

“Products displaying the Mom’s Best Award Winner’s Seal offer consumers the assurance that these products were evaluated by moms and childcare experts, and will perform to the highest level of satisfaction,” said Emily Perilla, MBA coordinator.  “The Mom’s Best Award Winners Seal says it’s earned the discriminating judgment of the true experts – moms.”

To view the previous season MBA winning products and Literary Gold winning books, click here.

------------------------------------

Moby Wrap coupon code:

Buy a Moby Wrap from BestBabyOrganics.com and receive 10% OFF plus free Shipping

Use Code: mobywrap at checkout

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Marketmommies.com is hosting Our Free Monkey Pants Giveaway

visit Marketmommies.com to enter
The winner will get to pick the size and we'll send them a randomly chosen Monkey Pants favorite style.


     


Deadline to enter is January 15th at 11:59pm.  You may enter as many times as you like :)

Good Luck!

10 products you should ban from your home forever

I really enjoy reading Sustainlane's newsletters. Their last newsletter for 2009 highlighted blogger favorite posts of the year. I particularly liked Jordana G. 's post on the top 10 products that should be banned from people's homes - forever! She also gives some easy DIY recipes for  natural household cleaners (read item No. 3 on the list)


Here's Jordana's list:


1. Non-Stick Cookware. When non-stick pans were first introduced into American households in the 1960s, they were thought to be a godsend. Gone were the days of soaking pans for hours and scouring pots with steel wool. In the forty years since then, however, we’ve learned that the ease of cleaning comes at a steep price: the coating that makes Teflon pans non-stick is polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE for short. When PTFE heats up, it releases toxic gasses that have been linked to cancer, organ failure, reproductive damage, and other harmful health effects.
The problems with PTFE-coated pans seem to occur at high temperatures, so if you must use Teflon, cook foods on medium heat or less. Avoiding non-stick pans altogether is the safest option. If you’re able to do so, try anodized aluminum, stainless steel, or cast iron pans with a little cooking oil. SustainLane reviewers like LeCreuset cast iron pans and more cost-effective ones like Lodge Logic. Using a lower setting on the stove will reduce the chances that your food will burn, which is how it usually gets stuck to pans the first place. If you’re worried about the extra calories cooking oil adds, try baking or steaming your food.

2. Plastic Bottles. By now you’ve heard of dangers of BPA in those ubiquitous neon water bottles. BPA mimics the effects of hormones that harm your endocrine system. While the company at the heart of the controversy has switched to BPA- free plastic, those aren’t the only toxic bottles. Single-use plastic bottles are even worse for leaching chemicals, especially when you add the heat of the sun (think about bottles left in your trunk) or the microwave. Aside from the fact that bottled water sold across state lines is not as regulated as tap water, the bottles themselves are spawning grounds for bacteria and are a source of needless waste. Each year, more than one million barrels of oil are used to manufacture the more than 25 billion single-use plastic water bottles sold in the U.S.
Choose a reusable, stainless steel or glass bottle instead. SustainLane users have reviewed several water bottle alternatives. Check the SustainLane GreenSaver for coupons for stores that sell them.

3. Conventional Cleaning Supplies. These routinely make the top ten lists of worst household offenders. They contain toxic chemicals that negatively affect every system in your body. All purpose cleaners often contain ammonia, a strong irritant that has been linked to liver and kidney damage. Bleach is a powerful oxidizer, which can burn the skin and eyes. Another danger lies in oven cleaners, which can cause chemical burns and emit toxic fumes that harm the respiratory system. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports that more than 120,000 children under the age of five were involved in incidents involving household cleaners in 2006, the most recent year for which data is available.
To protect you and your family from the hazards conventional cleaners pose, choose non-toxic or natural cleaners, like these. SustainLane reviewers have particularly enjoyed Method and Seventh Generation, which are commonly found on supermarket shelves. Bon Ami is a safe alternative to Comet and Ajax. If you have the time and want to go the extra mile, you can even mix your own using common household items like vinegar and baking soda. Here are easy-to-make recipes household cleaners.

4. Chemical Insecticides and Herbicides. Since the purpose of these products is to kill pests, you can bet that many of them have ingredients in them that are also harmful to humans. For example, the active ingredient in Round-Up—a weed-killer popular with gardeners—is known to cause kidney damage and reproductive harm in mice. And cypermethrin, one of the active ingredients in the popular ant and roach-killer Raid, is a known eye, skin and respiratory irritant and has negative effects on the central nervous system.
There are several companies that sell natural and organic weed- and pest-control products. Buhach makes a natural insecticide from ground chrysanthemum flowers that controls ants, flies, fleas, lice, gnats, mosquitoes, spiders, and deer ticks, among other pests. Boric acid is an effective, natural solution for cockroaches as well; sprinkle it around baseboards, cracks and other places likely to harbor roaches. You can use this boric acid recipe to control ants. For weeds, check out E.B. Stone Weed-N-Grass or try spot-spraying with household vinegar.

5. Antibacterial Products. The widespread use of antibacterials has been shown to contribute to new strains of antibiotic-resistant “super-bugs.” The Center for Disease Control says that antibacterials may also interfere with immune system development in children. Triclosan—the most common antibacterial additive found in more than 100 household products ranging from soaps and toothpaste to children’s toys and even undergarments—accumulates in the body. In a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group, 97% of breast feeding mothers had triclosan in their milk, and 75% had trace amounts of the chemical in their urine.
Make it your goal to be to be clean, not germ-free. People who are exposed to household germs typically develop strong immune systems and are healthier overall. Avoid buying antibacterial products or soaps containing triclosan. Soap and water is really all you need to clean most things. There are plenty of eco-friendly hand washes and other cleansers that are safe for you and easy on the planet.

6. Chemical Fertilizers. These are notorious for causing damage to our water supply and are a known major contributor to algal blooms. Whenever it rains or a lawn is watered, the runoff goes straight into storm-drains, and untreated water is dumped into rivers, streams, and the ocean. This causes an imbalance in delicate water ecosystems, killing fish and degrading water quality.
If you have a lawn, choose organic fertilizers rather than chemical ones.
As another alternative to harsh chemicals, consider starting a compost pile to create nutrient-rich soil for your flower beds and vegetable gardens. You’ll be creating your own inexpensive fertilizer just by letting food scraps and yard trimmings sit. An added benefit: it’ll also help divert waste from landfills. SustainLane users have reviewed several compost bins here.

7. More Bulb for Your Buck. A Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulb uses just a fraction of the energy regular light bulb uses. When your current bulbs burn out, swap them with CFLs, and start calculating your savings. General Electric has an online calculator that shows you just how much money you can save by making the switch.
One caveat of the low-energy bulb is that it contains mercury. Even so, CFLs are still your best bet, according to EPA Energy Star program director Wendy Reed. Coal-fired plants are the biggest emitters of mercury. Using CFL bulbs means you draw less power from the grid, which means less coal is burned for electricity. Because of the mercury, take precautions when disposing of these CFL bulbs. Rather than throwing them in your household trash or curbside recycling bin, take them to a hazardous waste collection or other special facility. This story from National Public Radio has a more through discussion of this topic.

8. Air fresheners. Just like cleaning supplies, these are incredibly toxic and can aggravate respiratory problems like asthma. Even those labeled “pure” and “natural” have been found to contain phthalates, chemicals that cause hormonal abnormalities, reproductive problems and birth defects. Try simmering cinnamon and cloves to give your home an “I’ve-spent-the-whole-day-baking” scent, and leave a few windows open to let in fresh air. You might also boil a pot of water on the stove with a few drops of your favorite essential oil, or use an essential oil burner.

9. Flame Retardants. A common flame retardant that was used in mattresses—polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)—is known to accumulate in blood, breast milk and fatty tissues. This chemical is linked to liver, thyroid, and neuro-developmental toxicity. According to the Environmental Working Group, new foam items often do not contain PBDEs, but foam items purchased before 2005 (like mattresses, mattress pads, couches, easy chairs, pillows, carpet padding), are likely to contain them. Household furniture often contains flame retardants and stain repellents that use PBDE’s as well as formaldehyde and PFOA (the same chemical used in non-stick cookware).
If you are in the market for a new mattress or sofa, ask manufacturers what type of flame retardants they use. Look for products that don't use brominated fire retardants. Organic Abode sells natural and organic furniture. If you’re looking to keep your existing mattress, but make it safer, use a cover made of organic wool to reduce PBDE exposure. You can find organic furniture and interior décor here.

10. Plastic Shopping Bags. Remember: Like diamonds, plastics are forever. Ever heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? It’s a giant mass of plastic twice the size of Texas that’s floating 1,000 miles off the coast of California. In the United States, only two percent of plastic bags are recycled, which means that the remaining 98 percent is dumped into landfills or blown out to sea. According to Californians Against Waste, the City of San Francisco, which recently banned plastic shopping bags, spends 8.5 million dollars annually on plastic bag litter.
The good news is, we can easily decrease our plastic bags use. Bring in your own reusable cloth bags when you go shopping. If you have kids, ask them to remind you to bring them. Or keep them in a place by the door where you’re most likely to remember them on your way out.Watch this informative cartoon on your own or with your kids. If Salon.com is more your speed, read this.

for more ideas and alternatives to have a greener lifestyle in 2010 visit Sustainlane

Miami gets frosty

just got this picture from a friend who lives in West Miami. This morning she had frost on the hood of her car. crazy weather!!

15% OFF Japanese Monkey Pants - coupon code expires 1/15/2010

Save 15% OFF on all Japanese Monkey Pants
Use coupon code: monkey at checkout
expires 1/15/2010

New Belly Bandit Review with pictures

It works!!

here's another review with pictures and everything. Click on the link to read it

http://community.babycenter.com/talk/a5295615/diary_of_a_belly_bandit

When you are ready to buy your own Belly Bandit remember that BestBabyOrganics.com always has free shipping on all Belly Bandits. Plus for a limited time, you can take 10% OFF your purchase price with coupon code: site

buy it now

Organic Treatment for Baby's Congestion

It's been bitterly cold these past days in Miami. Actually, we are braving our coldest cold snap in almost a decade with the lowest temperatures in the 30's and 40's. Very unusual for Miami!, but the most unusual part is that the cold weather seems to be sticking around. Normally, we have a cold day in the 40's or 50's, everyone bundles up, and the next day we go back to the 80's. But this time is different. Arctic cold front after Arctic cold front are really dropping the temperatures and keeping them low for us. I can only imagine what folks in the rest of country are going through with below zero temperatures.

So, my 18 month old has been teething like crazy these past months and now with the cold weather, she's also extra congested. It breaks my heart to see her sick. She's usually full of energy, but these days she's not herself. Being the organic freak I am, I totally refuse to give my daughter any unnecessary drugs that can cause side effects and do more damage than good. I always go the natural way and do as my mom did for me when I was little. The best way to treat a cold in our home is simple:
- warm Chicken Soup
- warm herbal tea
- lots of natural juice
- lots of rest
- lots of love
- Plus a warm bath and a nice chest rub with "magic potion" (that's what my mom used to call it). Back then my mom would use a menthol based chest rub. Now I have my own magic potions :-)

I prepare my baby for a good night's sleep by giving her a warm aromatherapy bath using OG Baby Breath Free Tea Tree Gentle liquid Soap followed by a generous application of OG Baby Breath Free Tea Tree Respiratory Rub on her chest and throat, as well as the backs and bottoms of her feet. Both products are made from organic natural oils: eucalyptus "keeps everything flowing" and Tea Tree "nature's ultimate purifier, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, yet extremely gentle". My baby thoroughly enjoys being "treated" with mom's "magic potions". I of course enjoy the special bonding with my child and the peace of mind I get knowing that my baby is getting the best natural care for her congestion.

I have done a lot of research on baby skin care products and fell in love with the OG Baby Organic line from Trillium Organics because they are the most natural and non-toxic for babies. If you've been reading our posts about the toxic substances hidden in many popular baby skin and hair products, you would know why it's so important to be smart about the purchasing decisions we make and the products we buy for ourselves and our children.

All Trillium Organics products are:
Allergen Free
Paraben Free
Phthalate Free
Petroleum Free
Nano-Particle Free
Propylene Glycol Free
Synthetic Fragrance Free
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Free

 Plus they are:

Certified Organic
Certified Cruelty Free
Handmade in the USA
#1 Recyclable Packaging
Woman Owned/Operated

 Now how many other products can make those claims?? Not many!

Want to try out the OG Baby Breath Free Tea Tree Congestion Care products for free?
Win a Free OG Baby Congestion Clearing Kit from Best Baby Organics

Win a Free OG Baby Organic Congestion Clearing Kit

ENDED 2/6/2010

CONGRATULATIONS JEN!!!

Here's a chance to win your own OG Baby Organic Congestion Clearing Kit.






Winning is easy!


Simply visit Best Baby Organics and find three maternity, post-pregnancy, or baby products you like the most and then leave us a comment listing the three items. Don't forget to list your email address as well, otherwise we can't contact you in case you win. The winner will be notified by email on February 7th, 2010

To enter the OG Baby Congestion Clearing Kit Giveaway leave a comment on this post listing the three products from our store you liked most

How to get 3 extra entries:

1. If you blog about this, you get an extra entry. Leave a comment with the link to the post.
2. If you twitter about it, you will receive an additional entry. Again,leave us a comment below.
3. write a comment below telling us how you heard about this giveaway!

Giveaway Details:

• Anonymous comments will be ignored.

• One winner will be randomly selected.

• The deadline to enter is February 6th, 2010 Midnight EST. Winner will be announced on February 7th, 2010

• Winner will have 7 days to claim their prize, otherwise another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

-------------------------------------------
Can't wait until the contest ends?
baby's congestion needs immediate natural care
CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW
-------------------------------------------

Baby naming experts predict top baby names of the future

Baby naming experts, Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz, have come up with a list of top 20 boys' and girls' names of 2019. Pamela and Linda say that many parents want to know which names that sound fresh and stylish today might be heading for overexposure tomorrow. This list comes in quite handy for expecting parents who are looking for the "it" names of the future:

Top 10 Baby Boy Names 
1. ETHAN
2. AIDEN
3. MILO
4. CHARLIE
5. OSCAR
6. RYDER
7. CASH
8. RIVER
9. KAI
10. MAXIMUS         

Top 10 Baby Girl Names
1. AVA
2. AMELIA
3. ELLA
4. VIOLET
5. LILA
6. GRACE
7. RUBY
8. MATILDA
9. HARPER
10. EVELYN

Read the full article, along with the reasoning, scientific and subjective, behind their choices. According to the predictions, some of these names are already rising rapidly through the ranks; others might still be considered cutting edge (but won’t be for long). Also, if you are not totally sold on these names, there are runners up for every slot.

So...which names do you like for your baby??

     

Moms in America are lonelier than ever

Abbey, from the Living My Moment Blog needs some time off! She's on maternity leave and I volunteered to be a guest blogger while she's busy giving birth and taking care of baby #2.

As I was sitting down to write for Abbey's Blog, I couldn't help but remember a headline that caught my attention a few weeks ago. The news reported that modern American women are feeling lonelier and more isolated than ever, despite having lots of people around them.
This got me thinking why is that? So, I went digging for more info on this "phenomenon".

Many modern moms are constantly on the go and establishing meaningful long term relationships with new people is becoming harder and harder. Moms are so consumed by work, children and household work that they hardly have any time left for themselves, much less to nurture friendships with others.

Well educated and well prepared women who start a family must wear many hats at all times. As women, we put so many expectations on ourselves. We have to be the best moms to our kids, the best wives to our husbands, the best at work, etc. But things are not always perfect (as we all know) and women can feel disappointed and lonely when things don't go as planned. But we must be careful with these feelings of loneliness, because according to a recent study, a lonely heart can lead to actual heart failure in women. The study's lead author, Rebecca C. Thurston, an assistant professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, says that women are more vulnerable to developing these feelings of loneliness because they tend to be more concerned about relationship quality than men. Women also tend to be more distressed when relationships with spouses and friends aren’t as close as they hope.

But why is this loneliness and isolation affecting women in America?
In some countries new moms are surrounded by family members who are in close proximity and who can be readily available to help out. In other cultures mothers, sisters, cousins, and aunts may even take turns caring for each other's children and this offers a familiar support system and a form of relief to women who may become overwhelmed by their new lives as a moms. As the baby grows up, the familiar support system, the bonds, and the closeness remains in place. Millions of women in America do not have these familiar support systems because families in America often do not live in the same town as their relatives.

So what can women in the U.S. do to combat those feelings of loneliness and isolation? what can we do to protect our hearts?

For now, I am glad I can lend a hand to Abbey.
She needs a support system as her new baby enters the world and as she must be the best mom she can be to that little angel...

food/snacks for tots on the go? Ditch the tupperware

This past December we asked our twitter followers what were some of their New Year's resolutions. The most popular responses were of course loosing weight and getting in shape followed closely by having a greener life style.

So how about loosing weight and being green at the same time?
Avoid eating junk food. Pack your lunches and also your kids' foods and snacks for on the go.

If you want a cleaner, non-toxic alternative to tupperware and other leaching plastic containers, these supper cool 100% Stainless Steel tiffins from To-Go Ware are the best way to go. Who knew a tiffin could be so practical and eco-friendly :-)

I have seen many people in poor countries use metal tiffins to carry their food and always thought what an ingenious way to stack up food in different compartments and carry it all in one hand! So great to see an eco-friendly non-toxic version now available in the US.

The To-Go Ware tiffins are not just any tiffins :-)) these are nicely designed, small sized (perfect for little hands), and made from 100% Stainless Steel. They come in 2 and 3-tier versions and they are great for hot or cold foods. We have the 2-tier version with the side kick (great for yogurt sauce to drizzle over our to-go fruit salads). Picnic anyone?

If cared for properly, these multitasking/super safe food carriers can last forever. So you can pass them on to all your future generations. Try that with tupperware... eeewww!

fun at the monkey pants photo shoot