Mkokopelli

Pacha's Pajamas Book & CD GIVEAWAY

2012-01-30T15:44:00.004-05:00

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."- Nelson Mandela
Pacha's Pajamas- A Story Written by Nature by Aaron Ableman, is about a little girl named Pacha who has big dreams. She used to love being outside with nature but began choosing playing indoors and watching TV over going out to play. One day Pacha's parents give her magical pajamas and she has an amazing dream about trees, mushrooms, animals, and a variety of other things from nature coming together to put on a nature concert- Pacha Jamma. The nature concert was to bring awareness about the environment and that it's never to late to dream about making changes and working together to bring unity to Mother Earth.

I was sent Pacha's Pajamas and EP to review and I am enthralled by them both. Aaron Ableman wrote the book to bring music and storytelling together to share the important message for children. E is esp in love with the 6 track disc- including two excerpts from the Musical Story and four songs from Pacha Jamma. The CD features Rapper/Actor Mos Def, Poet/Rapper Talib Kweli, and a group of talented kids. E has been listening to the cd in her playroom singing, dancing, and jumping around. I think she is the perfect age for the book and EP- though older children will enjoy as well.

The book, Pacha's Pajamas, engages young ones and sends positive message to make a difference in the world. To me, it's important to teach our children to not litter, to recycle, to reuse, to not be wasteful, and to treat our planet with respect. Pacha's Pajamas is a fun unique way to introduce concepts like pollution, our environment, and how children can make a difference through the youth movement for Nature's rights. The musical approach is different than the eco kid books I've reviewed in the past and I love that angle.

The book is 31 pages with small graphics, printed with soy ink. Younger children might not have the attention span for the story- but 5 seems the right age to introduce. E loved listening to the story and asked questions throughout. I love the fun facts after the story that share information about all of the characters in the book- which really came in handy!

My favorite line of the book is by a spider, "Life is like one of my webs- it becomes stronger when all the parts are connected."

You can download the ebook for free as well as some of the songs on the Pacha's Pajamas website. The book EP set is only $12.99 and I highly recommend! You can also play games, learn about the characters, and how you can help the Nature movement.

Giveaway: Enter to win your own copy of Pacha's Pajamas and EP

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Frosting Without the Dyes

2012-01-23T16:46:00.004-05:00

I was told to share my icing recipe that I used for E's cupcakes for her party. She asked for pink icing and I'm highly against Red Dye-40, so I got crafty in the kitchen.
Organic Pink Icing

Cut up organic strawberries and raspberries. I used about a cup. Add 1/4 cup of water, 1 tbs of lemon juice, and 1/2 cup of cane sugar. Simmer for about 30-45 min. You don't want it to have a thick consistency like jam, but close to it. I then jared and stored in the fridge for 2 days.

2 cups organic powdered sugar

1 stick organic butter at room temp (1/2 cup)

Blend together the butter and powdered sugar at a high speed until thick and fluffy- usually about 3 minutes. Add coloring to desired color and taste. The more you add, the more it tastes like the berries. :) You can do this with other fruits for different colors.

(Note: the frosting consistency is thick like normal buttercream frosting. I am just not that good at using a icing bag.)

Mat Kearney Live

2012-01-23T15:52:00.010-05:00

Friday night I got to go to a Mat Kearney concert at Amos' Southend in Charlotte. I first learned about Mat Kearney when I did a review of his third album, Young Love. He has such a happy vibe, I was excited to get to see him live.

Mat's newest album, Young Love, was inspired by his new wife. The hit song "Hey Mama" is about meeting her at a Anthropologie store in TN while she was working and then falling in love. "The album really began with 'Hey Mama'. After clapping into my laptop and programming this beat, I was dancing around the room actually freestyling words. This wasn't me sitting around with some friends and an acoustic guitar. It was this visceral writing experience. I tried to find a way to write stories to these beats," said Mat.

This same style was totally brought to the show. Mat and his bandmates were crowd pleasing, intimate, energetic, on key, and totally in the moment. I was really impressed at how well Mat won the crowd over. He was very interactive by talking to the audience and actually jumping down to sing in the crowd. Mat threw in quite a few " I love you too's" to all of the fans shouting out during the show. He even did a little personalized freestyle song about Charlotte which was pretty awesome.

My favorite part of the show was watching Mat play his piano and guitar while singing at the same time. It seriously blew my mind at how talented he is! If Mat Kearney is playing near you, be sure to check them out. It's really a pleasant happy show.

You can keep up with the tour online, on Facebook, or Twitter.

Jan. 19^th Lincoln Theater Raleigh, NC

20^th Amos’ Southend Charlotte, NC

21^st The Handlebar Greenville, SC

23^rd Track 29 Chattanooga, TN

25^th Floyds Music Store Tallahassee, FL

26^th The Ritz Ybor Tampa, FL

27^th The Beacham Theatre Orlando, FL

28^th Center Stage Atlanta, GA

30^th Soul Kitchen Mobile, AL

31^st House of Blues New Orleans, LA

Feb. 1^st House of Blues Houston, TX

3^rd Majestic Theatre Dallas, TX

4^th Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK

7^th Beaumont Club Kansas City, MO

9^th Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO

10^th Ogden Theater Denver, CO

11^th Belly Up Aspen, CO

13^th In the Venue Salt Lake City, UT

15^th Knitting Factory Spokane, WA

16^th Showbox @ The Market Seattle, WA

17^th Roseland Portland, OR

18^th McDonald Theatre Eugene, OR

20^th Knitting Factory Reno, NV

22^nd Warfield San Francisco, CA

23^rd Music Box Los Angeles, CA

24^th Access Aliante Las Vegas, NV

25^th House of Blues San Diego, CA

Happy Birthday E

2012-01-20T12:07:00.009-05:00

My sweet baby girl turned 5 yesterday! I think she had the best birthday EVER! Woke up to a room filled with balloons, ate organic oatmeal chocolate chip strawberry muffins, went to the zoo and got to walk with Kangaroo's and play with birds, rode a pony, rode a carousel, had cake, opened presents, and her bff spent the night! Here is a replay of her day:

This Moment

2012-01-20T12:00:00.002-05:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Mat Kearney Live Tonight

2012-01-20T11:45:00.004-05:00

Tonight Mat Kearny will be playing at Amos' Southend Charlotte, NC

9 p.m. Doors open at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets $23

Mat's new album, Young Love, was released August 2011, with the hit song "Hey Mama." Check out my review of the album here!

Mat Kearny's music has been featured on 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, Friday Night Lights, Scrubs, NCIS, and numerous other television shows. Mat's been winning over the crowds on tours with everyone from John Mayer and Sheryl Crow to Keane and The Fray.

Hope to see you there!

Slowing Down & Mkokopelli

2012-01-17T15:16:00.004-05:00

This year I made the resolution to slow things down. This week has surely shown me that I need to remember my resolution! There are lots of changes taking place in my life and by handling them slowly, I'm hoping to avoid overload! It seems I've taken on too much and have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for the past 2 years. But with this zen mentality, things have been rolling by instead of going at a fast pace. I'm finding time to write, to read, to decorate, to discover new things, and to enjoy my family. Here are some things that are going to take place on Mkokopelli this year in result of me slowing down. :)

E turns 5 on Thursday! It seems like yesterday she was my little itty bitty baby. I don't know how time flew by so fast! It really seems like she went from 3 to 5 in a week. It makes sense, I went back to work full time when she was 3 and have been focused on life/work/writing rather than taking in every second with her. These are my last 7 months with her out of school- I need to slow down enough to enjoy every minute! That's why I will feature more things to do in Charlotte, NC with kids and other adventures.

Another thing happened this week that will shape this year in many ways that aren't so pleasant... My grandfather was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He turns 80 on Friday. This is going to be a hard year for my family. I have to say I'm quite blessed that I'm 31 and I have 5 grandparents living. I think part of me has taken for granted that my family is so large and still living. I think slowing down will open more time to be spent with them, especially my granddad.

Another thing in slowing down is making time for the things I've missed out on. Like music and books. I can't tell you when I've actively searched out new music until I started working with an amazing PR company. You will see more music reviews this year. The same with books. I've signed up with an amazing online book club- which I won't be doing reviews, but more of a inspired by book post.

Something very exciting has happened- Stonyfield has asked me to become a Yo-Getter! You will see some great posts about the company, campaigns we will be running, and lots of other fun things! Here is a note from Stonyfield about the Yo-Getter program!
"Over the past several months, we at Stonyfield have met, worked with, and been following so many amazing parenting bloggers. We wanted to formalize those relationships and continue the dialogue on healthy eating.

Many of you wanted to know more about the food you feed your families and we wanted a way to empower you with information that you can share with your networks. As a result, the Yo-Getters ambassador group was born!

We wanted to get to know this passionate group of parents and bring them inside our world so that can get to know us better, too. Throughout this first year, we'd like to provide exciting and meaningful opportunities for you to engage with our brands and learn more about the mission that drives us - healthy, organic food that's better for us and the planet. The more we share with you, the more you can share with your networks- and the more people that get to know their food the better.

Since this is not a paid ambassador group, we also understand the importance of highlighting and promoting your blogs through our networks to increase traffic and readership. We are trying to communicate the same message: We're all invested in feeding our families in a healthy way, and in order to do so, we need to know what's in the food we're eating."

And last but not least, I am going to continue my relationship with Healthy Child Healthy World and try to be more active in their blogger community. I love their organization and everything that they do.

I hope these changes won't keep you from visting! But, to have a balanced life, I think it's important to have a little bit of everything. No worries- I will still continue to review eco-friendly products and host giveaways and keep you up to date with eco news!

This Moment

2012-01-13T14:29:00.001-05:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Playing the Lottery for my Child's Education

2012-01-12T17:12:00.001-05:00

No, I'm not buying scratch off tickets- but after what I learned today I might have a better chance winning $20,000 than getting E into our choice kindergarten. Sadly, in Charlotte, NC if you want to get your child into a good school you either have to be rich to afford the $10,000-$15,000 yearly tuition or you have to play the lottery. There are very few good home schools (schools you are districted for) in Charlotte. 90% of the best schools are magnet programs that you have to "play" to get in- or of course private.

In our neighborhood, there are 3 elementary schools you can be chosen for. Yes, 3. I'd rather homeschool than send my kiddo to our home school for multiple reasons. And that says a lot. After this year of homeschooling I've learned that I'm not the best teacher. I have no patience- especially when I know E already knows something and she's trying to play dumb. This has resulted in some yelling matches, tears, time outs, and temper tantrums from both parties.

I've toured a hand full of schools over the past couple of months and have come to the decision that Montessori is the best schooling method for E. She was diagnosed with SPD as well as PDD-NOS this year and the kicker is that she has a IQ of 125. We are sure it's higher, but the testing was done before we knew she was on the spectrum. She will not flourish in a traditional classroom and will spend more time in the principal's office than in class. She is stubborn and she also doesn't like to admit she knows something until she's mastered it. This won't work in the traditional public school system. But with Montessori, she will learn at her own pace without the pressure. She will be hands on and have the freedom to discover what she wants. Everything in my gut tells me this is right.

But to get into a private Montessori school, it is $1,000 in fees, plus the $12,000 tuition or $6,000 if you can get financial aid. Umm, this is Kindergarten- not college! So today I toured the public Montessori school. I found out they only let a handful of 5 yr olds in since they start at 4 yrs old. The 4 yr olds parents pay $3,000 in tuition, so most of the open spots go to them instead of the free riding 5 yr olds. There were at least 50-80 parents attending today's open house and there is another next week. I feel like I could cry!

So I'm playing the lottery for E's education. She will go into a pool with the other 50+ kids trying to get a spot and we just have to pray they choose our number in February. This is so stressful and scary! I've met a child who is the male version of E and everything I've feared about public school has happened to this boy. I hate it!

So please, say a little prayer for us. We have another 2 months before we find out if we were chosen. My stomach is in knots!! E so needs to be in a school, but the right one! Anyone else dealing with lotteries?

Zarbee's Giveaway and a Q&A with Dr. Zak Zarbock

2012-01-11T22:01:00.000-05:00

I was sent some Zarbee’s All-Natural Nighttime Cough & Sleep Drink to review. My 4 year old very rarely gets sick, but she has bad allergies which lead into sinus infections and nasty coughs. We never tried Tylenol or any other brand and since the recalls that started happening a few years ago, I decided to avoid them all together when E got stuffy. Last year we tried homeopathic remedies and some worked, some didn’t.

We tried honey cough syrups and again, some worked some didn’t. So I was very curious to see if the Zarbee’s would work. The day we got it in the mail E had come down with a sinus infection. So perfect, we got to try it right away. E is one of those kids who doesn’t feel good yet can still run a marathon. So I was extra curious to see if the All-Natural Nighttime Cough & Sleep Drink would make her drowsy. And guess what, it did! E was able to sleep through the night without hacking and she was able to go to bed early to get some much needed rest.

The All-Natural Nighttime Cough & Sleep Drink is gluten, dye, and preservative free. It is safe and natural and contains no drugs or alcohol. Plus it tastes great- kid and mom tested and approved! You add 1 packet to 2 oz of warm water. We used cold and it still worked. So after trying and getting great results I was curious how it worked and how the concept was created.

I was able to have a Q&A session with Dr. Zak Zarbock, M.D. who is one of the country’s top pediatricians and the Founder and President of the fastest-growing children’s cough and cold brand in the country and thought I’d share!

Q. How did Zarbee's begin?
A. Most parents feel extremely frustrated when they go to the doctor and don’t come away with a solution to their child’s problem. On the flip side, as a pediatrician, it is also very painful to send away a sleep-deprived mother with an answer of, “I’m sorry you have been up all night, but there is nothing you can do for your child’s cough.” It was during those moments that I realized there had to be a better answer. After extensive research, I came across a study touting the benefits of buckwheat honey and its ability to relieve coughs more effectively than drug-based alternatives. That was the birth of Zarbee’s – the only natural, safe alternative with clinically proven results and recommended by more than 40,000 other pediatricians nationwide. With the help of my test subjects (aka our four sons), I was able to create a great tasting, all-natural, vitamin-enhanced, safe and very effective product, Zarbee’s All Natural Cough Syrup, specifically designed to keep mothers from going insane. We also recently added a new nighttime drink for children 2 years and older, Zarbee’s Cough & Sleep Drink, containing immune-boosting Vitamin C, zinc and elderberry and a small amount of melatonin, which research shows safely and naturally helps kids fall asleep – another big concern for parents.

Q. What causes children to overdose on OTC meds?
A. Parents must be extremely careful when giving more than one OTC cough and cold medicine to a child. Many OTC cough and cold medicines have more than one “active ingredient.” If you use two medicines that have the same or similar “active ingredients” a child could get too much of an ingredient which may hurt your child. For example, do not give a child more than one medicine that has an antihistamine.

Q. Why is Dextromethorphan harmful?
A. If used exactly as recommended, most OTC cough and cold meds will cause little, if any harm. The problem is, they are still ineffective and have potential for harm and/or abuse. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, dosage guidelines for cough and cold mixtures are extrapolated from adult data and clinical experience, and thus are imprecise for children, which can lead to adverse effects and overdosage. Additionally, studies have shown that traditional OTC cough medicines, including Dextromethorphan, in children from two to 18 years of age are no more effective than a placebo. In fact, a glass of water would give you the same results. So the obvious question becomes, if these products are ineffective and potentially harmful, why are we giving them to our children?

Q. How are they able to keep it on the shelves if it can poison a child?
A. Despite the many strong warnings, lack of efficacy, reports of abuse, severe side effects and several deaths, Dextromethorphan (DM) continues to be used by many parents for their young children with coughs and colds. Because this drug is generally viewed as safe and somewhat effective for adults, many continue to extrapolate that it must be the same in children. And until recently, there haven’t been any safe and effective alternatives for the pediatric population, which is why I created Zarbee’s. Additionally, many physicians and pharmacists continue to reluctantly recommend DM products when a persistent parent is clamoring for a solution to their child’s symptoms. For all of these reasons, I think it will take a new generation of parents and a persistent awareness campaign to healthcare professionals to heed current warnings.

Q. How are your products natural, yet effective?
A. Each of the all-natural ingredients in Zarbee’s were specifically chosen for their clinically tested ability to serve a particular purpose. For example, recent clinical trials have shown that buckwheat honey is more effective than traditional over-the-counter medicines at reducing coughs associated with the common cold (it’s high in antioxidants, helps coat the throat and reduces irritation). Other carefully chosen ingredients include immune-boosting Vitamin C, Zinc and elderberry (which studies have shown can dramatically decrease the length of an illness caused by the influenza virus) and a small amount of melatonin in the Nighttime Cough & Sleep Drink, which research shows safely and naturally helps kids and adults fall and stay asleep.

Q. What are some other hidden dangers in OTC cough syrups?
A. Not reading or understanding labels continues to be the number one mistake parents make when administering OTC medicines to children. Combination products also pose a problem because a parent may be unknowingly doubling up on certain ingredients which may lead to an overdose. Extreme care should be taken to read and understand all of the active ingredients in any OTC product. Parents should always consult their child’s healthcare provider with any questions or concerns.

Q. Do most OTCs contain preservatives such as harmful parabens?
A. Most drug-based OTC cough and cold medicines (Delsym, Triaminic, Little Remedies) contain chemical preservatives. Many of those preservatives are in fact parabens, which may carry health risks and have already been banned in other countries for young children.

Q. Why are dyes harmful?
A. Food dyes, which are found in most OTC products, have been linked to hyperactivity in children, cancer (in animal studies) and allergic reactions. In general, it is better to avoid products with added dyes if an equal alternative, such as Zarbee’s, if available.

Q. Could these preservatives, dyes, alcohols, and artificial flavors cause other health problems or aggravate the cold/cough?
A. Most of these added items would not aggravate cough and cold symptoms. However, they do carry potential for other side effects that may be even more worrisome or harmful.

Q. What is the difference between your cough syrup and regular honey?
A. Zarbee’s uses a blend of dark honeys, including buckwheat honey, which has been clinically proven to reduce coughs. Dark honeys are much higher in antioxidants than the typical honey you’d find at a grocery store. Zarbee’s is also fortified with Vitamin C and Zinc to help speed up recovery and support the immune system. Because buckwheat honey has a strong flavor, often not appreciated by young children, Zarbee’s also contains natural flavors to make it taste much better.

Q. Is the cough syrup supposed to be used during the day and the cough & sleep drink at night?
A. Zarbee’s All Natural Cough Syrup can be used anytime, day or night. In fact, in the clinical trial with buckwheat honey, children not only coughed less, but they also slept better, and so did their parents. Zarbee’s Nighttime Cough & Sleep Drink is designed to be used specifically at night. It is a warm drink that not only contains our antioxidant-rich honey but also melatonin. Melatonin is a natural substance that has been studied extensively in both children and adults, and found to be very effective at helping people fall and stay asleep.

Q. Often a fever accompanies coughs, what do you suggest to reduce the fever naturally?
A. Recently, more attention has been brought to the fact that a fever is not harmful, and using natural means to make children more comfortable may be a safer way to help our children feel better. This could be dressing in lighter clothing, reducing the amount of bedding and keeping a child’s room at a cooler temperature. It may also help to apply a cool cloth to the forehead or a soak shortly in a lukewarm bath. Adequate rest and an emphasis on hydration are also keys to bringing a fever down naturally.

Q. Over the past couple of years there have been many children OTC recalls due to higher concentration levels of active ingredients, is this something to worry about with all-natural products?
A. Despite all the negative attention, drug-based OTC products may not be the only products that can cause problems due to regulation of active ingredients. As a pediatrician and a father, I recommend reading every label to understand what you are giving your children. Even if the product is natural, if there is something on the label you don’t understand, it may not be something you want to give your child.

Thank you Dr. Zak Zarbock for your amazing answers! Here is a little bit more about Zarbee’s:“About Zarbee’sThe fastest-growing children's cough and cold brand in the country, Zarbee’s is proven safe and effective for children 12 months of age and older. Developed by Dr. Zak Zarbock, one of the country’s top pediatricians, Zarbee’s products—a children’s cough syrup with a special blend of honeys fortified with immune-boosting vitamins that is also safe for women who are pregnant or nursing and a nighttime drink that soothes coughs and promotes healthy sleep—are recommended by more than 40,000 pediatricians nationwide. Zarbee’s products are all natural and gluten free, contain no drugs, alcohol and dyes, have no side effects and carry no risk of overdose. Zarbee’s All-Natural Children’s Cough Syrup and Zarbee’s Nighttime Cough & Sleep Drink each retail for a suggested $8.99 and may be purchased at Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Kmart, Kroger, Winn Dixie, Albertsons and Meijer stores nationwide as well as on www.zarbees.com. For more information, visit www.zarbees.com .”

Giveaway: Win a bottle of Zarbee's Cough Syrup! (click read more if the rafflecopter widget doesn't show up)

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Toxic Nail Polish

2012-01-11T20:00:00.001-05:00

This week on Pinterest there have been a lot of pictures of scary nail polishes- which led me to this post. Most of us don't think twice about what we put on our nails- or even our children's. Of course we do not eat nail polish, so why worry about it. But the main ingredients in most nail polishes are noxious chemicals which are hard for your liver to process. Long term toxic chemical exposure burdens your liver which causes all sorts of health problems. Are pretty nails really worth it? Especially for children or if you are pregnant?

2 years ago I was introduced to several "natural" lines of nail polishes and I thought I had it all figured out. But guess what... I've been duped again. According to Fig+Sage there is no such thing as organic or even "natural" nail polish. It would take all night for your nails to dry if they were truly chemical- free and they sure wouldn't be shiny!

But what about the past reviews I've done about Piggy Paint? When I did my past reviews, PP didn't release their ingredients. So I had nothing to look up. I believed what they told me- that they were as "natural as mud." And the styrofoam test had me convinced! They recently published their ingredients, and I found out they use:
Water, acrylates copolymer, butoxy diglycol, Neolone 950. May contain mica, red 34 lake, ultramarines, titanium dioxide, iron oxide pigments

OK, so that isn't as bas as OPI:
Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Tosylamide/Epoxy Resin, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Benzophenone-1, Silica, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate, Polyvinyl Butyral. May contain: [+/- CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 15850 (Red 6, Red 7), CI 15880 (Red 34), CI 77491, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride), Polyethylene Terephthalate, CI 77000 (Aluminum Powder), Mica, CI 77007 (Ultramarines), Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Ethylene/VA Copolymer, Tin Oxide, CI 77120 (Barium Sulfate), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet).

But still, the last time I checked, mud didn't contain Neolone 950. Neolone 950 is a formaldehyde-free preservative with the active ingredient Methylisothiazolinon. Even though Neolone 950's manufacturer says the bactericide is safe, doesn't bioaccumulate, and degrades, its active ingredient, Methylisothiazolinon, has been found in various marine species and has been considered a neurotoxin. Maybe the concentration level is so low in the Neolone 950 that it's not harmful or the tests run are picking up the active ingredient instead. Either way, it's not "natural as mud."

I'm also disappointed that red 34 lake is used since it is a coal tar dye. There is no safety testing info available, so information about the dye is not known or limited. The Good Guide says it has concerns about the mica and titanium dioxide in the Piggy Paint, but otherwise they scored the product a 8- low concern. I would not label this product 100% non-toxic, chemical free, or by any means natural. Safer than some, yes. But don't be a "naturalwasher" as Fig+Sage put it.

The blogger also called out other "naturalwashing" companies that used water-based formula's like Acquarella, Scotch Naturals, Suncoat, and solvent-based formulas like Priti NYC, Peacekeeper, Butter London, Zoya, Sheswai, and Revlon. You can see their ingredients in her post. Solvent based formula's will have the chemical smell, so I would choose a water-based if you are pregnant or want to paint your child's nails. Even though none of these polishes are natural, they are free of the 3 worst polish offending chemicals: formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalates, and toluene.

Majority of regular fingernail polishes contain formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalates, toluene, coal tar dyes, and other toxic cocktails. These harmful ingredients can cause miscarriages, birth defects, infertility, cancer, allergic reactions, asthma, they are endocrine disruptors, and can cause other severe health problems. Now this is JUST from the nail polish itself!

If you take a trip to your local nail salon, you have a whole new array of harmful chemicals to worry about- not only on your nails but what you are inhaling while you are being pampered. Some cheap salons still use the poisonous illegal chemical methyl methacrylate or MMA for acrylic nails. They also can use fiberglass which is harmful if inhaled. The nail polish removers are usually acetone or ethyl acetate, which can also contain other toxic fragrances. It's no wonder the workers wear masks and gloves. We won't even begin to discuss what's in their lotions, glues, bath salts, waxes, and spray dry coats.

There are greener options for spa's and mani/pedi salons. You can always soak your feet in a pot with some warm water and make your own bath salts. If you do want to paint your nails, go with a water-based polish. It may not last as long as a solvent-based polish, but it has less chemicals and doesn't smell. But mainly know what you are buying isn't natural. And majority aren't worth the extra $10.

O'Brother Garden Window

2012-01-10T21:32:00.005-05:00

Before I had E I lived for music. I went to live shows ALL of the time. I bought at least 3 new albums a month. I loved unwinding (or cleaning) listening to new jams on my computer or on my stereo. I love to relate music to my life in some way to give it a new outlook. My all time favorite band is Tool. I've been a huge fan for the past 17 years. (that made me feel really old!) So when I read about the new band O'Brother and how Alternative Press compared the vocals to Tool, I knew I had to check them out.

Here is one of the more calmer songs, "Lay Down," for those of you who aren't big rock fans :) There are a few more video's on You Tube or you can check out AOL to hear the full album. But Garden Window hit stores today, so you can purchase on iTunes if you like them! I let several friends hear them at my house and they were majorly impressed!

When asked about their influences, O'Brother responded, "We all consciously or subconsciously think, speak, and act based on what influences us. We look for inspiration to get us through tough times while realizing our past experiences have a stronghold on how we now see the world. If you had the opportunity to sit down and reflect on what you believe and who you have become, your main influences will emerge. Imagine trying to capture this experience. You transcribe it for either your own pleasure or catharsis. Finally, you etch your name into this work that significantly represents a time in your life and release it." This is seriously felt throughout the album. You can hear their influences, yet with their own unique take on things.

When I listed to the Garden Window it reminded me of Tool, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, and Deftones. O'Brother's style has a techno, punk, rock, metal vibe that's high frequency, hypnotic and makes you want to move. Each song has a different style which I love! I can only image what an amazing performance they put on live. You can check out their Facebook page for their tour details. I wish they were coming to NC!

If you are interested in something a little funky, different yet familiar, be sure to check out O'Brother's new album Garden Window. The 11 track album will leave you wanting more! If you like it, come back and tell me! I love sharing new tunes :)

This Moment

2012-01-06T19:34:00.000-05:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Citrus Lane GIVEAWAY

2012-01-04T22:11:00.002-05:00

Have you heard about the fabulous eco-care package website Citrus Lane? This is the perfect baby shower gift for the eco-conscious parent! I wish they would have had this when E was a baby. What a wonderful idea to sample brands and find what you love.

Citrus Lane is a gift package website that you can buy a 3, 6, 12 month subscription to or a deluxe baby shower box. Every month a box is delivered for your newborn to age 3 yr old or for moms-to-be. This is seriously a gift that keeps giving! Every month the boxes change, so you will never receive the same items. Each box is $25 and during the month of January, a portion of the proceeds go to Healthy Child Healthy World.

I got a sneak peek at the January box (which will soon be on the way!) and you won't want to miss out. (The last day to subscribe to get the box is January 14)

The limited-edition Healthy Child Healthy World box, curated by their Executive Director, Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, features non-toxic products from brands like HAPPYBABY, Green Toys, BabyGanics and Dolphin Organics to help educate families on safer and healthier alternatives for the home and your baby’s nutrition. I can't wait to see the box to try out some of the goodies- thanks Healthy Child & Citrus Lane!

Past Citrus Lane boxes have includes items from PlanToys, Clean Well, aden + anais, cloud b, eco-kids, iPlay, miYim, Plum Organics and more!

Giveaway: One lucky winner will receive the limited-edition Healthy Child Healthy World box!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BIG Lotus Bebe Deal!

2012-01-04T17:10:00.000-05:00

A couple of years ago I held a Softest Blanket contest in search for the perfect eco-blanket for E. We tested out several beautiful blankets and E had to choose her favorite. The Lotus Bebe Soy Blanket was by far her very favorite. And 2 years later it still is! She will not use any other blanket and refuses to sleep without it. You can read the Lotus Bebe Luxury Soy review here along with the benefits of soy!

Now until Feb. 28 you can get 45% off any Luxury Soy Blanket PLUS a free insulated lunch tote from Lotus Bebe by entering SOY45 at the checkout!

Here is the info from the Lotus Bebe site:
"It's not just for babies, perfect for using as a throw or just for snuggling. Our plush and beautiful soy luxury blanket comes in a natural gold color with a soy silk box pleated edge.Luxury Blanket42" x 31"Edging available in : Brown and pink"

These make gorgeous baby shower gifts, throws, and security blankets!

Mom on a Mission- Alicia Voorhies

2011-12-29T17:30:00.001-05:00

When Healthy Child Healthy World asked me to nominate a Mom on a Mission I had no clue who to pick. There are so many amazing moms accomplishing big missions that I truly admire. So many of the companies I've worked with are mompreneurs who are making fabulous safe products for our families. Not to mention the countless mom eco-bloggers who keep everyone informed with chemical updates and calling out green washers.

So I had to step back and look at what Healthy Child Healthy World is searching for. "Celebrating special and inspiring American parents who are dedicated to creating healthier and happier environments for children and families, our 4th Annual Mom on a Mission campaign is designed to shed light on those who put our words into action." (They are now accepting nominations and will be choosing 8 finalist from January-August to feature each month that will enter the running to be the 2012 Mom on a Mission.)

So I thought about who has inspired me the most with words AND actions, and that was easy- Alicia Voorhies of The Soft Landing.

2 years ago Alicia opened my eyes to Avoiding Toxic Plastics with her amazing Ebook. I had worked with Alicia on my blog before, but this guide truly stuck out for me over everything else I had read. You shouldn't have to be a scientist to understand what is in your child's products and Alicia made it easy for everyone to interpret what chemicals are what.

Not only does Alicia educate her readers with her Safe Living Guide and newsletters, she has working relationships with tons of manufacturing companies helping to educate them on what is toxic and asking them to change ingredients when she finds chemicals of concern. Alicia spends hours researching chemicals and their safety while providing her fans with easy to read articles that are beneficial to our children's health.

Alicia (with her family by her side) created The Soft Landing to help busy parents navigate unlabeled baby products. Since she closed her internet store last month, she has focused on a new venture- The Seal of Approval system. Companies can submit products to be reviewed for harmful chemicals by their team of experts. They are accepting submissions for baby, breastfeeding, clothing, dishes, eating gear, food storage, health, home, skincare, and toys. You can search the guide by product, manufacturer, or material which makes toxin-free shopping extremely easy for everyone!

Alicia is also working with a local birth center called the New Birth Company. It's the first truly eco-conscious birth center of its kind. She has also partnered with Melissa Moog of Itsabelly to launch the first green baby and pregnancy resource in Kansas City. The Soft Landing and Itsabelly team is functioning as the New Birth Company's non-toxic product sourcing experts and healthy living class instructors. They will be organizing eco baby fairs for pregnant moms in their community and connecting them to natural health practitioners. It's an amazing opportunity to lead by example and help new parents take positive steps toward to creating a healthy environment for their babies from the beginning!

Alicia and The Soft Landing have been featured on ABC News, Newsweek, the New York Times, the Kansas City Star and health-conscious websites such as Dr. Greene, National Geographic’s The Green Guide, Environmental Working Group (EWG), and the Center for Health Environment and Justice (CHEJ). Alicia is currently serving as a Healthy Child Healthy World Parent Ambassador and volunteers for the Natural Parents Network. Alicia also can be found writing for various organizations and blogs, actively on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Alicia is a retired RN with a specialty in developmental disabilities, autism spectrum, seizure and behavioral disorders. She homeschools her 3 children, all while helping change the world. :)

Man Pans Pizza Pans

2011-12-23T23:34:00.001-05:00

Every Monday night is homemade pizza night. We've been doing this for the past year since it is an easy meatless meal. :) I made my dough for a while, but then we went gluten free for a month. We were testing to see if gluten was causing any behavioral and digestion issues with E, but it made no difference. But while we were on the gluten free kick, I discovered the best pre-made pizza crust from Udi's. So now we go back and forth depending on how busy I am throughout my day.

A few weeks ago ManPans released their new pizza line and sent me a Perforated Pizza Pan to review. My family is in love! We love crispy crust that's not too greasy. With traditional pans, you have to spray with oil and sometimes it can ruin the pizza. With the ManPans perforated pizza pan you don't need to use any cooking spray and the crust turns out perfectly crisp every time!

Since we've had the 16" ManPans pizza pan, we've tried homemade crust and Udi's and both have been the best pizza's we've had yet. I also have used the pizza pan to reheat zucchini bread which gave it the crispness I was looking for. Here are some pictures of some of the yumminess we've cooked:

We all like different toppings, so usually it's a mixed pizza. :) We also participate in meatless Monday, so we do fruits and veggies on the pizza- unless we have leftover chicken in the fridge. I use cheeses like fetta, ricotta, mozzarella, parm, romano, cheddar, and some mixed varieties. I also make our own sauce which is organic tomato paste, organic tomato sauce, organic italian seasoning, and organic garlic. I'm allergic to onions so we can't use store bought stuff.

The ManPans Perforated Pizza Pan specs are:

Perforated Pizza Pan 16" in diameter pizza pan
Very durable, made of heavy 14-gauge (.063") hard anodized aluminum.
The perforation adds more snap to bottom of crust.
The easy grip-lip makes removing your pizza from oven easy with an oven mitt.
The perfect pan for home with commercial durability and performance Easy grip-lip rim
Commercial Quality Hard Anodized .080 Aluminum Exceptional Durability
PTFE Free, Water-Based Release Coating: Gem-X2 Easy Clean Up Heat Safe to 700 Degrees Fahrenheit.
Only $21.99!!

ManPans uses .080 aluminum that is is coated with Gem-X2. Not only are the pans non-toxic they are manufactured in a eco-friendly way. You can read more about that here. The Gem-X2 release coating is water-based, and is 100% PTFE free and free from any fluoropolymer coatings. The coating will not scratch or flake off into your food.

Until January 1, 2012 you can get a FREE Perforated Pizza Pan with every $150 purchase. To receive your free pizza pan, just add it to your order, then at checkout go to "Redeem a Coupon" and enter the following code: pizzatreat2011. The cost of the pizza pan will automatically be removed.

All ManPans are:

Made in the USA
Non-toxic and stick resistant surface
Durable and metal utensil safe
Green, Eco-friendly Manufacturing
Guaranteed: 30-day money back and limited lifetime warranty

The new Pizza line consists of a Pizza pan, two 9" pie pans, and a pizza rocker knife- which I must get!

*Thank you ManPans for sending me a Pizza Pan to review!! This is no way changes my opinions of the items. I have loved everything I've tried thus far. :)

This Moment- Holiday Edition

2011-12-23T18:14:00.000-05:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Since it's the holidays, I want to do a special this moment with some of our holiday memories from this month. :) Hope you enjoy!

Orange Cranberry Cookies

2011-12-23T17:51:00.000-05:00

We made "santa" cookies today and they turned out so divine I had to share the recipe!

Ingredients:
1 cup organic butter, softened
1 cup organic cane sugar
1/2 cup organic brown sugar
1 organic egg
3 teaspoons orange zest
3 tablespoons organic orange juice
1 cup organic stone ground wholewheat flour
1 1/2 cups organic oat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups dried organic cranberries
1/2 cup walnuts

topping (optional)
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 1/2 cups of organic powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 375
In a mixer, cream butter and sugar. Then add beaten egg, orange zest, orange juice and blend. Gradually add in flours, baking soda, cranberries and nuts. The mixture will be runny and not firm.

Drop small spoonfuls onto cookie sheet at least 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool.

Mix the orange zest, orange juice, and powder sugar in small bowl.
Drizzle or cover the cookies in the topping.

The left are without topping, the right have it. I am sooo in love with my Man Pans cookie sheet!! If you have leftover holiday money, you should totally get one!

James Morrison- The Awakening

2011-12-21T20:59:00.000-05:00

Almost 5 years ago I was watching/listening to Live From Abbey Road on the Sundance channel and stumbled across the soulful UK artist James Morrison. I loved him so much that I recorded the show so I could keep listening (ok, watching because he's kind of hot) and it was perfect to unwind to. E was a newborn around this time, so this was great background noise as we napped and snuggled on the couch. I still love to curl up on the couch watching the recording with a glass of wine. It's that feel good kind of music. :)

James Morrison was diagnosed with whooping cough when he was a infant and was given a 30% chance of survival. After he stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated 4 times, he beat the odds but then faced countless battles throughout his life as his family were affected by poverty and other illnesses. James' most recent struggle is the loss of his father who had battled alcoholism and depression. Though, there is light for James since he just became a new father and his latest album has been topping the UK charts at #1! You can feel what he's gone through in his life in his music which makes it real and unforgettable.

James Morrison has a soulful, whispy voice that carries a passionate note. His latest album, The Awakening, has a jazzy, soul beat with some deep, emotionally raw lyrics. His past albums have been sort of romantic, but this is a nice change. If you've ever known anyone who has faced addiction, the song Up will really hit home.

The 13 song album is hard hitting, beautifully written, and totally meets my expectations. My favorite song is Beautiful Life. Got to love positive singing in times like these!

If you are in the mood to hear some great new music, check out James Morrison on iTunes! This would make a great last minute stocking stuffer or gift.

*Thanks to Stunt Co for sending me his latest album The Awakening to review!

Slowing Down- My New Years Resolution

2011-12-19T20:00:00.006-05:00

In 2012 I will slow down. I will take everything in at a slow pace. I will breathe. I will live. I must learn patience! I can't believe in 6 days it will be Christmas. In less than 2 weeks it will be a new year. And in exactly one month E will be 5. Another year has flown by and I've been too busy to take in all of the joy we've had.

Every year I make a "healthy" new year resolution like giving up something or cutting back. I was going to make my 2012 new years resolution to do yoga every day because I take my resolutions seriously and force myself to go through with them. I need to get back into shape and yoga is beneficial in so many ways. But tonight a friend shared one of my favorite stories that I want to share with you:
‎"In Washington DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about four minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. About four minutes later, the violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. At six minutes, a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. At ten minutes, a three-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly. At forty-five minutes: The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. After one hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music. This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. This experiment raised several questions: In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? If so, do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made… How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?"

This story gives me chills every time I read it. There are so many things we take for granted and miss out on because we are in a hurry. So in 2012 I will slow down. I will enjoy my last several months at home with my kiddo. I will enjoy good books and make time for them. I will spend more time with my friends and family. I will stop rushing to get things done in time and waiting last minute to complete tasks. I will do yoga every day because it teaches your body how to be calm and enjoy the moment. I'm going to savor every minute of life because lets face it- time passes by way too fast!

What are your new years resolutions? Be sure to sign up for the Healthy Child, Healthy World newsletter to read more inspiring new years resolution posts!

ManPans New Cookie Sheet

2011-12-14T19:34:00.001-05:00

ManPans just released their baking and pizza line and I'm officially in love! Tis the season for baking and making special treats!! The Cookie Sheet came just in time for a holiday cookie swap over the weekend. I had to bake 4 dozen cookies (in a hour- I'm so last minute) and they were perfection!

This is a truly amazing Cookie Sheet. The cookies came out perfect on the bottoms (which I sometimes burn) and the pan held true to the recipe cook temp/time. I also made eggrolls on the Cookie Sheet and they were the best yet! The cookies slid off the Cookie Sheet easily and I didn't have to grease the sheet for the egg rolls- which I normally do. I can't wait to use it for our Christmas morning mini quiches!

The Cookie Sheet is 18" X 13" and I was able to fit 20 cookies on the sheet. The last pic was my last batch- so there are less cookies. :) The pan is flat (no sides all around-other than the grip-lip) which is easy to use. You can get the Cookie Sheet for $29.99 and this would make the best gift for anyone who loves to bake!

ManPans uses .080 aluminum that is is coated with Gem-X2. Not only are the pans non-toxic they are manufactured in a eco-friendly way. You can read more about that here. The Gem-X2 release coating is water-based, and is 100% PTFE free and free from any fluoropolymer coatings. The coating will not scratch or flake off into your food.

You can get free shipping with any order over $200 and right now they have a great holiday special:
Free 8" Fry Pan ($63 value!) with orders of $250 (until December 20) Add the 8" Fry Pan to your order then enter the code: holidayfrypan2011 at checkout.

I'll be back with a Pizza Pan review! Thank you ManPans for sending me the pans to review!

Carolina Christmas

2011-12-14T10:51:00.003-05:00

We went to Carolina Christmas Monday night and it was a blast! Charlotte Motor Speedway, located in Concord, NC, has set up over 600 LED light displays with over 3 million lights. The Speedway is open every night from 6-10 p.m. until December 31. Be sure to check their website for weekend events. Even though the traffic might be more congested, I recommend going Thursday-Sunday so you can see the Christmas Village that has a Bethlehem-themed village, a Festival of Trees, photos with Santa and areas with food and music.

As you drive through the dragway and on to the speedway, you can tune into 91.1 to hear holiday music, trivia, and NASCAR drivers talking about their Christmas memories and traditions.

The Christmas light display begins on the zMax Dragway. We went on a Monday night, so there was very little traffic. As soon as you get on the track, you turn your lights off and follow the other cars in your lane. There are festive and fun light displays along both sides of the road. The 3 adults in our car all agreed they weren't the most extravagant light displays, but for the 4 year old, it was pretty amazing. E was in awe the whole ride getting even more excited with each new display. Her favorite was a unicorn family and some igloos.

Here are a few light displays you will see on the dragway:

The adults favorite part was getting to actually drive on the race track. It was really neat! Even though we were only going 5 miles an hour (so wish we could have gone faster!) it was fun- even for non-race fans. I especially like we got to drive on a slanted turn which made you feel like your car was about to tip over. There are several light displays set up on the track and a huge screen which was showing clips from holiday movies. The Christmas Village is also on the racetrack but was closed when we visited.

Here are some pics of the track:

Tickets are $20 per car/SUV which can be purchased online or at the gate. There are group rates as well as pricing for buses and group vans. “Elf,” will be shown this Friday through Sunday evening, Dec. 16-18 at 7 p.m., and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” will be shown Dec. 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. The movies are included with regular admission to the Carolina Christmas holiday light show, which is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Palma Collection GIVEAWAY

2011-12-12T17:25:00.002-05:00

This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered!!
I love unique, funky jewelry. One of my favorite eco-jewelry companies is Palma Collection. You might remember an old review I've done here. All of their jewelry is designed sustainably with palm tree nuts from South America coast lines. Palma Collection creates gorgeously fun necklaces, earrings, and bracelets!

Palma Collection just added 2 new necklaces to their line- the Cadena and Kayiduro. You can find them in vivid colors like purple, green, black, white red, pink, and blue. I was able to review the Kayiduro in purple/green and I am in love!

The Kayiduro comes in either black/white, purple/green, purple, red/black, magenta/black. The necklace is mostly palm tree nut, but the cord is Vegan-friendly, adjustable faux-suede. Here is a more detailed view:

Each necklace will vary slightly due to the nuts and the fact that they are hand crafted. Each palm nut is about the size of a chicken egg when harvested. The Kayiduro has chunky pieces which are beautiful! It can be worn casually or with an elegant outfit.

I LOVE the texture of the necklace. I keep finding myself rubbing one of the solid nut pieces, which Palma Collection describes the palm nut as vegetable ivory. :) I also love the circular half pieces which are different colors. You can get the Kayiduro for $65. (check out the discount below!)

This is from Palma Collection on how the palm nuts are harvested:"These palms are short in size and grow in the humid forest, under the canopy. When the flowers of the male palm open, they drop a sweet perfume, which fills all around. Before becoming ripe, the fruit of the female palm has a sweet milk that the Indians like to drink. Its fruit looks like a bunch of pineapples inside of which you find the nuts. When they ripen, the fruit drops to the ground, and the nuts can be collected for processing. Afterwards, they must be left to dry for 2 months, and they become extremely hard. The nut is non-toxic as are the dyes used; neither have any smell. Its cellular structure is similar to animal ivory, but it’s a little smoother, harder, and more manageable."

These would make a fabulous holiday gift and awesome to wear to your New Years party!

Discount: Get 25% off by entering thanks25 until Dec. 31!

Giveaway: One lucky winner will receive a Kayiduro!

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST December 26, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US and Canada

How to Enter: Go to Palma Collection and tell me your favorite piece of jewelry, plus tell me which color you'd like to win in the Kayiduro. Click on "Comments" to leave your post. Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the "How To Enter" before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.

2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, Follow my blog on GFC, Follow on tumblr, Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry for each one)

3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)

4. Blog, Tweet, or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)

6. Become a Fan of Palma Collection on Facebook
7. Tell me something you learned about Palma Collection on their website

8. Follow Palma Collection on Twitter

*disclaimer: I was given the item reviewed free of charge. This in no way alters my opinions. These are my thoughts, results, and feelings.

Locks of Love part 2

2011-12-09T13:24:00.002-05:00

So I did it. 13 inches donated, 15-16 cut. We have donated almost 24 inches of hair this week between us!

This Moment

2011-12-09T13:19:00.001-05:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Locks of Love

2011-12-05T22:28:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend E did a really brave, admiring thing.. she donated 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love! We went to Wilmington, NC and visited our favorite eco-friendly salon- Ribbet Salon. You might remember my review here. It is seriously the coolest kids salon!

Ribbet Salon does free cuts for anyone who donates to Locks of Love. They do the cut and even send the hair in!! I was super impressed with everything that they did! E has gorgeous hair that she always gets compliments on. After 2 cuts this year, it kept growing wildly and was down to her butt. So we talked and she said she wanted to donate. We looked at pictures of children on the Locks of Love page and Facebook page and E was happy she was going to get to help the children who didn't have any hair.

Here is the before and after:

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

Shop With A Cause

2011-12-01T22:51:00.001-05:00

Shop with Natural Luxe and The Boulevard at South End on December 8th and they will donate 10% of your purchases to Bright Blessings!

Bright Blessings brings the simple childhood joy of birthday parties to homeless children through their shelter program and anonymously through outreach progams in local schools

The holiday season brings the extra burden of providing homeless children with the opportunity to celebrate, this year Bright Blessings will provide over 400 children with their own Christmas tree, ornaments and decorations.

Shop for a Cause will also feature the opportunity to donate to Bright Blessings Adopt-a-Tree project. A $10 donation provides a table-top tree and a set of ornaments and decorations for a homeless child to trim a tree of their very own for the holidays, an otherwise missed tradition for families experiencing homelessness.

Please join them on December 8th from 11am-6pm to support this amazing local organization!

From 6pm-9pm they will have holiday munchies and sparkling libations to celebrate the spirit of the season!

The Boulevard at South End

1440 S Tryon Street

Charlotte NC 28203

Free parking located on Summit Street just behind the store

Thank you for all of your support!

Tiny Prints

2011-11-27T14:14:00.001-05:00

6 days ago I created my holiday cards on Tiny Prints and yesterday they arrived!! I am beyond impressed with the turnaround!

We went with the tri-fold style because I wanted something different than the usual folded card. I love that Tiny Prints has tons of options so you can narrow your search. There are over 500+ holiday cards to choose from, so it can be daunting seeing them all at once. Tiny Prints has the traditional folded card, flat, postcard, flip card, and circle card. So I began with that search option and went from there.

I loved all of the designs, so it was hard to choose which card we liked the best. We decided it would be easier to take our holiday pictures before picking the card. Then based on the pictures that turned out and their photo orientation, we narrowed our search down. The tri-fold Merry Medley card has 5 photo's and allowed both landscape, portrait, and square.

The quality of the matte finish card is exceptional! I love how thick it is. The card doesn't easily bend or tear. I hate when you (or your kiddo!!) holds a card and then it gets a thumb imprint. E gave one card a thorough test and it was unharmed. :) The photos aren't pixelated and are crystal clear. The colors are true to the original picture which I love! The card is made out of recycled paper.

This was an extremely pleasant holiday card making experience and I know I will use them again! Be sure to enter to win a $50 gift card to Tiny Prints below!! It ends tonight :)

Lullaby Organics GIVEAWAY

2011-11-25T23:03:00.001-05:00

This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered. Congrats to Kim!

Instead of doing Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or even Cyber (green) Monday, Lullaby Organics is doing 12 Days of Holi-daily Deals! I thought this was extremely cute and clever. Each day there will be a category on sale- like today is PJ's!! Every day a blogger will reveal the deal with a review and giveaway (so be sure to check the Lullaby Organics Facebook Page to see the posts) and you can just visit Lullaby Organics to shop the deals so you can save big!

Lullaby Organics sells organic clothing, toys, bath, bedding, mattresses, furniture, air purifiers, diapers, baby gear, feeding supplies and more!

Every Christmas Eve I let E open 1 present, which happens to be pj's. I wash them before wrapping so she can wear them to bed and have pics taken of them in the a.m. when she's opening presents. Some years I do holiday themed and sometimes I just go for fun. Lullaby Organics has tons of adorable organic pj's (holiday themed and fun themed) from newborn all the way up to a youth 8! It's so hard to find older kid organic clothing so I was thrilled to see the awesome selection!

Lullaby Organics was awesome enough to send E the Organic Cotton Kitty Toddler Pajamas by Frugi. They got here super fast and I love the thank you card along with organic carrots and organic gourmet lettuce blend seeds that were tucked in the package!!

I LOVE the pj's drawstring waist. I can't explain why, but they look adorable! I have never tried any Frugi clothing before, so I was excited to feel their material- and I'm quite impressed. The pj's are super soft and thick like warm winter pj's should be. They are very sweet girly colors, and what little girl doesn't love a picture of a kitty sleeping? I've washed them twice and no shrinking or fading. E is in a true 5-6 and we got the 7. They are a little bit big in the pants, but look adorable! The Kitty PJ's are her new fav (I couldn't wait until Christmas to hand them over they are so cute!) so she had to decorate the tree and pose in them on Friday.

The Frugi PJ's are GOTS organic textile certified, so no worries about any nasty chemicals. The CPSC requires all children's sleepwear to be fire retardant or snug fitting. Majority of the pajamas on the market have been treated with some type of flame retardant and they could be treated with a type called PBDEs. Traces of PBDEs have been found in breast milk, blood, urine, household dust, fish, aquatic birds, and other wildlife. The dangers of PBDEs are liver toxicity, thyroid toxicity, developmental toxicity and neurodevelopmental toxicity. PBDEs do not break down in the body and accumulate in fatty tissues. Some scientists are linking PBDEs to autism, ADD/ADHD, obesity, diabetes, and permanent behavior changes. All of the Lullaby Organics pj's are snug fitting and flame retardant free, with no PBDEs, pesticides, insecticides or other harmful chemicals that can effect your child's health.

Lullaby Organics Daily Deal for 11/26: All organics pajamas (size newborn thru adult) are on sale for 20% off all weekend long (11/25-11/28). Saturday only deal: use coupon code SMALLBIZSAT for an EXTRA 20% off pajamas (for a total discount of 36%!).

GIVEAWAY: You can win 1 pajama set of your choice of style and size!!

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST December 12, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US

How to Enter: Tell me which Lullaby Organics PJ's you'd pick if you won! Go Click on "Comments" to leave your post. Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the "How To Enter" before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.

2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, Follow my blog on GFC, Follow on tumblr, Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry for each one)

3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)

4. Blog, Tweet, or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)

Enter to win your choice of organic pj's (size 0-8T) from @lullabyorganics on @Mkokopelli! Ends 12/12 http://bit.ly/uliSPU

5. Sign up for Lullaby Organics’ Newsletter

6. Subscribe to Lullaby Organics’ Blog

7. Follow @lullabyorganics on Twitter

8. Like @LullabyOrganics on Facebook

*disclaimer: I was given the item reviewed free of charge. This in no way alters my opinions. These are my thoughts, results, and feelings.

2011-11-24T17:39:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!! Have a beautiful day with your friends and family! XOXO

Mkokopelli Eco Gift Guide 2011

2011-11-24T01:25:00.001-05:00

Since Blogger doesn't allow PDF files I had to link to the products in text below the photo. :( Not the prettiest... I truly need my own website so I can do more fun things like this!! *Note: I wasn't given anything for review for the gift guide. These are all things we love!

Top Left Photo: Green Toys Tea Set with Sarah's Silks playsilk, and Yellow Label Kids knit food, Middle Left Photo: Orka Ice Pop Molds (we make new ones every week!), Bottom Left: a bath combo of Boon toys, Green Toys, and Endangered Species. Top right: Sarah's Silks and Inspired By Finn necklace, Bottom Right: PlanToys

Top left: Green Toys Blocks, Bottom left: miYim knit bunny, Top right miYim knit rattle, Middle rocklovepeace teether, Bottom right Wonderworld Stacker

Top left: Educo Switchback Racetrack, Top right PlanToys Cutting Fruit, Green Toys Racing cars, Bottom left: Uncle Goose Blocks, Middle: Under the Nile Fruit Tote, Bottom right: Grimm Rainbow

Top left: PlanToys Blocks, Top right: PlanToys Green Dollhouse, Bottom left: ImagiPLAY Lacingscapes, Middle: Planet Pixies, Bottom right: CitiBlocs

Top left: Toysmith Potato Clock, EarthOpoly, Bottom left: Crocodile Creek Travel Puzzle, Bottom middle: Round Wooden Knitting Loom, Bottom right: glob Collage Kit

Top left: Baby Soy, Middle: Kite Kids shirt (look for them on Zulily), Sama Baby jeans, Simple Shoes, Bottom left: Kiwi Industries, Top Right: Nohi Kids, Bottom right: Sama Baby

Top left: ManPans Stir Fry Wok, Middle left: Earth Mama Body Butter, Bottom left rocklovepeace bag, Top right: The Scarlet Robin, Middle right: Bamboosa Priya Skirt, Bottom right: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair

Remember to support your local owned stores, small online businesses, or try to buy items made in the USA!

Toys Made Out of PVC- a reminder before the holidays

2011-11-22T19:50:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we need a gentle kick in the tushie to remind us of why we take the stance that we do when it comes to buying children products. I wrote a post 2 weeks ago about When Being Eco is Hard. Basically E went to her friend's b-day party who got some My Little Pony's and E said that is what she was going to ask Santa to get her for Christmas. Seeing her little face light up, I let my guard down and thought maybe, one pony would be ok? I thought about it for a few hours then decided to write Hasbro to find out more info.

During my week long wait for a reply, I started researching blogs and websites like Healthy Toys to see if they had any info. Most bloggers said Hasbro didn't respond and Healthy Toys said My Little Pony's were a moderate hazard in 2007-2009 since they tested positive for chlorine. But I was hoping that Hasbro changed their plastic formulation- because face it- PVC toys are so 2008. Or so I thought....

This is from Hasbro: "We believe based on scientific evidence that PVC in toys presents no health risk to children. Hasbro's toys are designed to be compliant with all current laws around the world, including those relating to PVC. For more information on PVC, please visit www.cpsc.gov and to www.toy-tia.org. Please be advised My Little Pony figures do contain PVC."

I find that very interesting since a week before I wrote Hasbro the American Public Health Association passed a resolution urging facilities such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes to reduce the amount of PVC used. "Despite its ubiquity in the marketplace, the public remains largely unaware of the public health and environmental risks posed by PVC at all stages of its lifecycle (from production to disposal). PVC used in consumer products is not a pure material. Chemicals are added, that can make up as much as 40 to 60% of a product, to change its properties to meet different consumer needs. But these additives have toxic characteristics and moreover are unintentionally released in indoor settings posing avoidable risks to infants, children and other vulnerable populations. In addition, school-age children behave in ways that will increase their exposure to PVC additives in products, including putting plastic products in their mouths and spending a lot of time on the floor and ground, where they can ingest chemical residues from toys, containers, dirt and dust on a regular basis," said the APHA Resolution. The APHA is the oldest organization of health professionals working to improve overall health since 1872.

Some of the PVC additives listed on the APHA site are lead, cadmium, organotins, plasticizers like phthalates and fillers. Though phthalates have been banned from infant products and children (12 yrs and younger) toys since 2009, they are still in many PVC products. PVC also releases dioxins- an unwanted bi-product which is toxic- during production, disposal, and possibly when heated. Vinyl chloride, used to make PVC, is named a carcinogen by the EPA. It sounds like all of the above are health risks that I wouldn't want to chance when it comes to my kiddo.

When I first asked Hasbro what type of plastic they used and could it be recycled they said that information wasn't readily available and they'd have to dig around. That seemed very odd to me. Why wouldn't you know what your toys are made out of? If you talk to a personal care company they can list all of the ingredients very easily- well unless you are asking about fragrances. But shouldn't it be that way with toys and any other children's products? I want the right to know what I'm buying and letting my child play with. (Be sure to check The Soft Landing's Seal of Approval webpage for products tested and approved!)

The Hasbro representative wasn't able to give me a recycle code but told me to ask my recycling center if they'd accept the pony's. Then I responded, well if you don't give me a code, how I can ask if they accept that type of plastic? That's when I go the reply, "I am sorry we are unable to assist you with recycle codes as that are not available for our My Little Pony products." Great, so helpful!

So not only are My Little Pony's made with PVC, a potentially harmful plastic for your child, they are non-recyclable, made with the highest single usage of chlorine gas in the world, and they also emit dioxins in production, disposal, and possibly when heated- like in a warm bath. Extremely horrible for the environment on so many levels!!

When holiday shopping this year, remember to avoid PVC plastic toys. If you can, avoid ALL plastic toys (Green Toys is ok in my book) and purchase wooden toys from sustainable companies.

I broke the news to E that she wouldn't be able to get any My Little Pony's for Christmas and she was ok with it. Her response, "can I get a My Little Pony coloring book instead?" See, saying no isn't all that hard!

What toys are you buying this year?

Tiny Prints GIVEAWAY

2011-11-21T21:54:00.001-05:00

Before we went eco, we'd always send Shutterfly photo cards. Majority of my family doesn't get to see E but once or twice a year, so they really enjoyed the photo cards. Time got the best of me last year and it was too late to do anything by the time I thought about ordering/sending... but this year, they are ordered and should be on the way shortly!

This is going to be a 2 part blog post since I know everyone else is anxious to get their cards ordered, printed, and mailed out. And who wouldn't want the chance to win free Tiny Prints cards??

There are many eco-friendly options available for holiday cards. You can get 100% recycled paper cards, elephant poo cards, biodegradable seed cards, post consumer waste paper, and Forest Stewardship Certified cards. I've really enjoyed sending biodegradable cards with seeds in them as a small gift in the past, but they can get expensive when mailing mass amounts. Tiny Prints contacted me a while back to let me know about their 30% post consumer waste paper cards or FSC cards, and I couldn't resist testing them out this year! 100% of their photo cards, products, and packaging are made with eco-friendly recycled paper. Who knew?

All of the Tiny Prints products are labeled FSC or post consumer waste in their descriptions so yo know which you are choosing. Tiny Prints carries beautiful stationary, invites, announcements, thank you cards, holiday cards, gifts and more! You can get greeting cards, business products, wedding paper, and document every parenting occasion. I even had my baby shower invites made from them 5 years ago!! My have they grown since!

Shutterfly (my favorite photo website) acquired Tiny Prints this Spring, so I was really excited to see the two team up. I was thrilled 5 years ago with my Tiny Prints baby shower invites, and I've always been happy with my Shutterfly photo cards. I can only imagine how my new holiday cards will turn out!! I will be back with the full review as soon as they get here. But, I had a blast designing them yesterday. There are so many amazing options!!

Until then, take a look around Tiny Prints and pick which cards you want to order!! I'm shortening this giveaway to give you time to order and get them in time to send. Have fun!

This Moment

2011-11-19T11:18:00.000-05:00

Sooooo I'm a day behind... but I had to share this week's moment(s). E has taken a fashion turn this week and I wanted to document her new style. And I have to say she has been dressing herself and picking her own clothes for 2 1/2 years...

I can't help but be reminded of Punky Brewster

Health Science Labs- Endangered Species

2011-11-17T23:38:00.001-05:00

Not too long ago I did a review for Health Science Labs Endangered Species line and some of their bath toys, vitamins, eco-ID labels, and eco-doodle. A few months later I can say they are still a big hit with E and the eco-ID labels are still stuck to her cups that go in the dishwasher every day! She still loves playing with the foam animals for however long I allow her to stay in the tub. She would seriously stay in there all day if I let her. So when they asked if I wanted to review some of their new eco-bath pals, eco-bath mitts, and color me eco-pack I was thrilled!

Of course as soon as E opened the box she stole the mitts and pals and took off with them. They are now her babies which get to take a bath- unlike all of her other dolls. She has loved that she can play with a stuffed animal in the water. Since most dolls are made of PVC plastic (major no-no for bath time play!!), E only has a few cotton dolls. She has discovered imaginative play and likes to use stuff animals to role play- so this has been lots of fun for her. The eco-bath pals and eco-bath mitts are made with recycled polyester and the washcloths are made out of recycled cotton. All Endangered Species items support Defenders of Wildlife.

The eco-pals Harp Seal and Green Sea Turtle have a scrubbie belly to help get kids clean. I love that you can bathe your kiddo while talking about endangered animals. They are soft on the top and efficient on their bellies. You can get the eco-pals for $18.99.

I love the splish splash dolphin eco-mitts and how they can be used as puppets. E has loved putting them on her hand and have them jump in and out of the water. These would be great for water tables as well! You can get the mitts (2 dolphins) for $18.99.

After E took the pals and mitts, she decided to color her eco-pack on her own. My couch has a high back and E's play area is on the other side... so I was surprised to turn around and see the eco-pack fully colored. :)

The eco-pack is made with recycled cotton and plastic. Each bag comes with 8 washable, water-based, non-toxic markers. So that means you can wash the bag and color it all over again! This is great for traveling- especially since you can pack the bag with goodies. It reminds me of the drawstring bags we made in home ec in middle school. :) The eco-pack is $14.99 and comes in 3 different themes- under the water, safari, and jungle.

You can get the eco-pack, eco-mitts, and eco-pals at Endangered Species- Health Science Labs!

Today I'm Thankful

2011-11-16T18:50:00.000-05:00

Last night my little kiddo completely shocked me when she asked if she could say a prayer at dinner. She cupped her tiny hands together and said, "I am thankful for my great home, thankful for my nice good family, thankful for my friends I can play with, thankful for all things good, I'm thankful for love, I'm thankful that I have a beautiful heart, and thankful I can love with all my heart."Of course I was in tears by the end of her prayer...

I was awoken at 5 a.m. by my sweet little girl and was instantly a grouch. This mama needs a good night sleep and it didn't help I was up working until 12 a.m. I then let the dogs outside and saw all of the leaves on the ground.

I was instantly thankful that my mom didn't blow the leaves yesterday and I had one more day to enjoy their beauty. I felt peaceful just like I do when I see a fresh sheet of snow on the ground- just not so cold. I saw a tree with just a few leaves hanging on, and it reminded me how we all need to let go of our leaves (baggage) and prepare for the holidays and new year. The leaves in my backyard that are remaining have dimmed, yet on a cloudy day like this, they remind me of why I love Fall. I'm so thankful we get all 4 seasons here in NC.

Then my sweet puppies came inside and laid down on the new EarthDog hemp blanket I won from The Ultimate Green Store (you are awesome! thank u!) and became even more thankful that we have our Sadie back. She wasn't living with us for 8 months, and now has returned. I am beyond thankful my mom allowed her into our home because she is an amazing presence. And I am thankful E's grandparents raise such beautiful dogs and gave her to us.

I am also thankful for the puddles my little jumping bean could play in today and that she had the gear to do so. Seeing her smile and giggle is something to be thankful for all in itself. E is one of the most special children I've ever met- and I don't say that because she is my own. Everyone who meets her melts- and that goes for the 99% of strangers she goes up and talks to randomly.

I am incredibly thankful for my mom. I could make this list very long- but without her there is no way I could be the mom that I am today. Being a single parent is hard. She was one and now so am I. She has made it possible for me to stay at home with E for the past 4 years and I don't know how I could ever repay her for doing this. I have no idea how I could take E to therapy twice a week while working full time from an office. I praise those parents with special needs children who do have to work and juggle therapy, school, and regular life. You amaze me! I get to work from home and can take my computer wherever we go- which without my mom being here for us- I don't think could have happened. Speaking of therapy- I am beyond thankful that we the resources to go to the best doctors here that are helping E in amazing ways!

Of course I am thankful for all of you and everyone who has taught me so much in the eco world. There are so many of you out there that inspire me, support me, and keep me going. I wish I had more time to write and research! I thank each of you for being so patient and sticking with me!! I promise- I will get my groove back ;)

Lastly, I am thankful for all of the companies and organizations that are fighting for non-toxic products, reform, and making this world a safe place for our children. Especially Healthy Child, Healthy World, Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and Moms Clean Air Force to name a few...

So what are you thankful for?

*I am a blogger for Healthy Child, Healthy World and this is part of our What Are you Thankful For posts... though, I truly had to urge to be thankful today. :)

This Moment

2011-11-11T14:31:00.000-05:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

When Being Eco is Hard

2011-11-10T21:25:00.000-05:00

I feel like a big meanie and I don't like it! Being eco around the holidays is really hard now that E is getting older and has her own opinions. It was a challenge to get through Halloween without buying silly plastic toys/gifts, new costumes, and staying away from candy- especially with a really cute kiddo batting her thick eyelashes begging please. Thanksgiving will be difficult with our food limitations (low sugar, organic, and gluten-free). And now we are delving into holiday shopping and my baby wants to ask Santa for plastic junk. :(

Now my kiddo will tell you when we pass by Chick-fil-a or McDonalds that we don't eat there because they have chemicals in their food. She will tell you that we don't eat lots of sweet stuff because too much sugar can make you sick. And she will tell you that soap has bad chemicals so we have to use the safe stuff. But how do I explain that My Little Pony (her favorite TV show which she has to earn each day to watch) characters & play sets are made with bad plastic when her friends have them?

Now, for the record, I'm not 100% that My Little Pony's are made with bad plastic. In 2008 & 2009 they were tested by HealthyToys.org and they were given a medium hazard since they were made with PVC. I emailed Hasbro to find out if they have changed the plastics, but am awaiting a reply. But they are still plastic...

I vowed to stop buying plastic toys- unless they are made with recycled plastics. I vowed to stay away from commercialism. Our rule is that if you see it on TV, we can't/won't buy it. I vowed to never get sucked back into the hole- like the princess one we fell in a couple of years ago. And here we are again. When I told E that she probably won't get My Little Pony's for Christmas, she started crying and became really sad. How am I supposed to get past that if she asks Santa? This is when being eco is really hard...

What's in your child's shampoo? Earth Mama GIVEAWAY

2011-11-05T23:00:00.006-04:00

In March of 2009, Safe Cosmetics released No More Toxic Tub which enlightened many parents to the dangers in baby personal care. E was 2 at the time and had been suffering from eczema and rashes her whole life. Her doctors told me it was genetic and I could use this really harsh cream if I was concerned. I declined and never thought to research other causes. I had been given a huge gift basket at my baby shower that was filled with Johnson & Johnson products- enough to last me 2+ years. So when I read the report and learned I had been washing my baby with formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, I was beyond appalled. I then threw out all of our J&J and began learning about safe, non-toxic baby care.

Other double offenders that contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane from the report were:

American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out
Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (three samples)
Baby Magic “Soft Baby Scent” Baby Lotion
Barbie Berry Sweet Bubble Bath
CVS Baby Shampoo
CVS Kids Body Wash – Blueberry Blast
Dora the Explorer Bubble Bath
Equate Tearless Baby Wash
Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash
Hot Wheels Berry Blast Bubble Bath
Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber and Green Tea Baby Wash
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
L’Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Fast Dry
Shampoo – Burst of Cool Melon
Pampers Kandoo Foaming Handsoap – Magic Melon
Sesame Street Bubble Bath – Orange Mango Tango
Tinker Bell Scented Bubble Bath

*Note there were other brands listed with just having formaldehyde or 1,4 dioxane. You can read the full report here.

Now it has been over 2 1/2 years since the report and a call of action was issued November 1 from Campaign for Safe Cosmetics stating that Johnson & Johnson (including Aveeno) baby products have yet to be reformulated and it's time to ask them to clean up baby shampoo all over the world. The real kicker is that they have a safER version in other countries! J&J is selling versions of the shampoo in Denmark, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and the U.K. that don't contain formaldehyde-releasing chemicals.

Even though formaldehyde was classified as a carcinogen (cancer causing substance) this year, Johnson & Johnson issued a statement saying: "The preservative technologies we use are safe and approved by authorities in the European Union and in the United States, as well as in China and India, and we have not seen any evidence of allergy in hundreds of millions of real life uses of these products." They have also said they would phase out these chemicals (no time given) to undetectable levels.

Over the past week I've listened to numerous parents voice their concerns and I'm kind of in shock by some of the responses. I've heard a lot of parents say, "well it's just trace amounts" of formaldehyde and people are "overreacting." Another one commonly heard was, "my parents used it on me and I turned out alright." The fact is that some cancers are caused from our environment and over time toxins can build up in our systems and cause harm. Since I'm a mother of a kiddo who breaks out in horrible rashes when exposed to harsh chemicals, who has battled eczema, and has had hives so bad she had to be rushed to the ER from a chemical reaction- I've seen the instant reactions from the harmful chemicals that are said to be safe. I know these parents love their kids, but I honestly don't get why they would risk exposing them to nasty chemicals- even trace amounts. I wish I had people around 2 years ago telling me safe brands to buy- it would have saved me a whole bunch of trouble!

When I read the first No More Toxic Tub report, I made mistakes in buying personal care items from greenwashers. It wasn't until 2 years ago when Earth Mama challenged me to look up our "natural" and "organic" products on the EWG's Cosmetic Database. I was in shock at some of the things I found! Luckily, I was sent a bottle of Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash with ZERO toxins, and we've been hooked ever since. They kind of set the standard of safe baby care for us. If they can make excellent products with ZERO toxins, why can't everyone else? Sure, I make exceptions for some things like bubble bath. But my rule is that it can't rate higher than a 3 on the Cosmetic Database.

Earth Mama's gentle castile soaps are great for the whole family. The castile soaps have a PH high enough to deter mold and bacteria growth. Synthetic surfactants (detergents) need to have preservatives added to prevent mold and bacteria from growing- that's why J&J adds the Quaternium-15. You can read more about soaps vs. detergents here written by Mama Melinda.

My favorite Earth Mama soap is the Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash. I LOVE the vanilla orange scent! E and I both use it as a body wash and E uses it as a shampoo. Castile soap is great for fine baby hair, but it can cause tangles for older kids and adults. E has ultra fine hair, so it is great for her! (For adults I recommend John Masters Organics Bare.) E's eczema has definitely calmed down and she has less flare ups since we started using Earth Mama. The amazing thing about the soap is that it comes in a foaming container which pumps out over 300 pumps of soap!

We also have the Calm & Clean, Happy Mama, and Non-Scents at each bathroom faucet. So not only are they great shampoo and body washes, they are great every day hand soaps. All of the soaps are natural germ fighters! We also keep a mini bottle in my bag so E can wash her hands when using public bathrooms. (When I noticed my kiddo was using soap in public places that contained triclosan and not fully washing the soap off- I got grossed out.)

All of the Earth Mama soaps are USDA certified made with organic ingredients, vegan, cruelty free, anti-bacterial, are hospital recommended, and have ZERO toxins. Miami Valley Hospital just started using Earth Mama Angel Baby products in their NICU and nursery!! I am hoping more people start recommending their local hospital make the switch.

This is a great blurb from Earth Mama's site:
"Regarding the most recent Toxic Tub news story (Baby’s Tub is Still Toxic ), Earth Mama Angel Baby thinks it’s simple; a mama should be able to know what she is putting on her baby, and her whole family, without having to have a degree in chemistry. “With all this news about formaldehyde-releasing Quaternium 15 and 1, 4 Dioxane in babies’ tubs, we want to make it clear that Earth Mama Angel Baby has never contained those ingredients, or ANY toxins ever.” says Olson. Every Earth Mama product rates a ZERO for toxins on the Skin Deep database, and Mama’s Promise® is to offer only safe, pure, natural products that work. If it doesn’t measure up to Mama’s standards, it doesn’t leave the building."

What can you do?

Nobody thinks it’s a good idea to put toxins on babies (or big people for that matter), and when news like this hits, it spurs mamas to make changes. But how? Here are some ideas:

Make your voice heard – leave comments on articles you read to show the media that people care.
Get involved with companies like the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics who work to bring these issues to consumers.
Read ingredients and know what’s in your products.
Support change by buying safer products.
Pressure companies to do the right thing. The consumers have the power, and if people don’t buy it, the companies won’t make it.

GIVEAWAY: One lucky winner will win their choice of any 1 of Earth Mama's soaps!

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST November 20, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US and Canada

How to Enter: Tell me which soap you want to try! Go Click on "Comments" to leave your post. Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the "How To Enter" before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.

2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, Follow my blog on GFC, Follow on tumblr, Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry for each one)

3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)

4. Blog, Tweet, or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)

What's in your child's shampoo/soap? @EarthMamaHQ #giveaway on @Mkokopelli Win any choice of castile soap Ends 11/20 http://nblo.gs/pxfwr

5. Sign up for the Earth Mama Angel Baby Newsletter
6. Become a Fan of Earth Mama Angel Baby on Facebook
7. Follow @EarthMamaHQ on Twitter
8. Tell me something you learned on the Earth Mama Angel Baby site

9. Tell me a rating of one of your personal care products

10. Tweet either things:

Looking for a safe baby shampoo? Check out @EarthMamaHQ with ZERO toxins!http://bit.ly/bXMHmg

Do you know what's in your child's soap? Learn more at @EarthMamaHQ http://bit.ly/tw7tYv

*This is a personal review. These are my thoughts, feelings, opinions, and results. I've been using Earth Mama products for over 2 years and no product was given for this review.

This Moment

2011-11-04T16:18:00.000-04:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Glass Dharma GIVEAWAY

2011-11-01T22:23:00.002-04:00

So I've been eyeing these straws from glass dharma for a while now. I've been hesitant about ordering glass straws since my kiddo and I are total klutzes- though I adore all things glass. E has been great with her Silikids cups and even her glass plates, so I thought it was time to venture to the world of glass straws. And wow, I'm so mad I waited so long!

glass dharma began when David Leonhardt saw the need for replacing plastic straws. "I created the GlassDharma line of glass drinking straws and this website to contribute one solution to the misuse of plastics in our society," said David. McDonald's stated in 2008 that they sell 52 MILLION value meals a DAY- so think about how many straws are just sitting in landfills right now not decomposing! Yuck... That's not even counting non-value meals bought, other food places that straws are used, plus straws that are used at home.

Another yucky fact is that using plastic straws means that you are drinking out of a petroleum based product which could have toxins. When you use glass straws, you don't have to worry about any toxins leaching into your beverage because there are none! You can get a in depth review about plastic straws from The Soft Landing.

glass dharma makes a variety of glass straws for every type of beverage/glass. Here are a few images from their site so you can see the different widths and lengths.

Who knew there could be such an assortment of straws?? When I got my straws in the mail I was in awe. They are seriously a work of art! They are sleek, stylish, and BEAUTIFUL!! My favorites are the decorative dots. As E put it, "they are fancy straws." You can get them in red, green, blue, or amber in a sipper or ice tea diameter. We were lucky enough to get to try both diameters in the decorative dots!! I was scared to hand over the blue sipper to E because it is too pretty to break!

Then I read that all glass dharma straws come with a lifetime guarantee against breakage!! If for any reason the straw should break you can return it to be fixed or replaced. Note- the guarantee doesn't mean they are not breakable. :) But with the guarantee, I felt like I could hand E the straw and carry on.

I was also sent a smoothie straw and ice tea decorative dots and beautiful bends straw.

The smoothie straw is a bit too big for me. I like the smaller ice tea diameter- but I also have very tiny thin lips. It took several drinks before I got used to the glass feel around my lips, but I now that I'm used to them, I really love the straws! I can't wait to order a straw set for Christmas!

This is from the glass dharma site about the type of glass the straws are handmade with:
"Borosilicate glass is a type of glass with the main ingredients of silica and boron oxide. Borosilicate glass is most well known for having very low thermal expansion, making it resistant to thermal shock, more so than any other common glass. It is also non-porous and Hypo-allergenic. Borosilicate glass was first developed by German glassmaker Otto Schott in the late 19th century. Borosilicate glass is often used for high-quality beverage glassware and kitchenware (a popular brand name is Pyrex®). Borosilicate glassware has increased durability and has microwave and dishwasher compatibility. It contains no lead."

I feel very confident letting my 4 yr old use the straws. I would even hand them over to a toddler now that I've used them for a couple of weeks. You can get the straws online at glass dharma anywhere from $6.50-$12 and sets from $28-$69. They are seriously worth every penny!

Now on to the GIVEAWAY!!

*I was sent the reviewed items at no charge. This in no way alters my opinions. These are my thoughts, opinions, and results.

Yo Gabba Gabba Live Review

2011-11-01T20:29:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that it is already November! We had so much fun in October time flew by way too fast. Saturday we got to go Yo Gabba Gabba Live and it was a blast! I took E last year and we were able to meet the crew. I was wondering how this year would top last- and it totally did!

There were quite a few of the same songs and dances as last year, but who doesn't like, "Party in My Tummy," and "Get the Sillies Out!" This year was much more interactive which was tons of fun. We were out of our seats dancing 85% of the time. And I'll have to admit, I was kind of sad it was only a hour and a half show! But the parents behind us who had a 11 month old said it was perfect timing for them. :)

My favorite part of Yo Gabba Gabba Live was Biz Markie's Biz's beat of the day. Biz invited some kids to the stage to try to do various beats. Of course they were adorable. Then Biz broke it down into a 5+ minute set that was awesome. I remember listening to Biz in the late 80's and 90's, so it was pretty cool to see him live playing for kiddo's.

E's favorite part was when the leaves started falling and it snowed. It was during the "Fall Song."

I was thrilled Leslie Hall was at the show again! She is so much fun.

Also Mark from O.A,R. was the Dancey Dance special guest which was neat because I saw him in concert later on that evening. :)

There are many stops left on the Yo Gabba Gabba Live Tour. Check here to see if they will be visiting your area soon!

*I was given tickets to the show for free. This in no way alters my opinion. These are my thought, views, and opinions.

This Moment

2011-10-28T15:52:00.000-04:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Howl-O-Fest Boo Blast at Carowinds

2011-10-23T20:13:00.004-04:00

We had the best day at Carowinds and their Howl-O-Fest's Boo Blast!

I was only aware of Scarowinds (which is Carowinds turned into a haunted amusement park at night) until Thursday when I was told about the kids version- Howl-O-Fest's Boo Blast. It is tucked away at the side of the main entrance of Carowinds near the amphitheater and is loads of fun for everyone!

Starting at 12 p.m., Howl-O-Fest's Boo Blast activities begin. Your kiddo can meet Charlie Brown and friends, plus some other friendly costume characters; play in a Foam Pit; go through the Great Pumpkin Patch maze; pick a (free) pumpkin from the Mumpkin Patch; play ghostly games; get their face painted; color; and more! I was really impressed E zipped right through the maze by herself.

Starting at 2 p.m. there is trick-or-treating in the Boo Blast- plus in 5 other areas in the park. You are given a Boo Blast Treasure Hunt map to find the treasures throughout Carowinds. There are other special events going on at the Boo Blast at different times like the Fraidy Cat Show, Kiddie-oke, Peanuts Dance Party, and the attraction closes with a Costume Parade at 4:45 p.m.!

Howl-O-Fest's Boo Bash would make an excellent pre-Halloween party to take the kiddos to next weekend! October 29 and 30th are the last 2 days Carowinds is open until Spring 2012. Howl-O-Fest's Boo Blast is truly the perfect farewell to the amusement park fun.

We spent around an hour and a half at the Boo Bash then headed into the park to ride the fun rides. E got to experience her first front seat roller coaster ride- and now she is hooked!

If she was tall enough, she would have been on the upside down roller coasters. :) She was 2 inches too short to ride some of the rides when we visited in April, so we waited the perfect amount of time before returning.

Throughout Carowinds, there are skeletons and other Halloween decor. The super scary stuff that is saved for Scarowinds was closed down so the kiddos couldn't see. But there were some graveyards, broken skeletons, ghosts, grim reapers, and creepy clowns- which were very frightening to me! (I am terrified of clowns.) There was also a Boo Blast ride where you have a "boo blaster" to aim and shoot the ghosts which wasn't very scary. E laughed and said it was like Ghost Busters.

If you are in the Charlotte area, I highly suggest checking out Howl-O-Fest's Boo Blast at Carowinds before it closes! If not this year, definitely check it out next year.

*I was given free admission for this review. This is no way alters my opinions. These are my thoughts, feelings, and results.

Tropical Traditions GIVEAWAY

2011-10-22T15:31:00.002-04:00

This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered! Congrats to Erin N.!!

There is nothing like homemade potato chips, fried zucchini, fried ravioli, and fried chicken. We very rarely eat fried foods, but I usually get a craving once a week. We were using a "smart oil" but then I realized it wasn't organic and contained canola- which means it could be made with GM canola. I switched to olive oil, but not only is it expensive, it leaves the food with a weird taste. I've heard a lot about coconut oil over the past several months, so I finally decided to see what all of the hype is about.

I have several foodie friends who are pretty incredible people. They eat very strict diets and I look up to them for the choices they make. I asked them what was the best coconut oil and they told me to try Tropical Traditions. They also told me to buy by the gallon because it's worth it and saves money in the long run. But since I had never truly tasted coconut oil, I asked Tropical Traditions if they'd like a review.

I was sent the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil to review and I'm now hooked for life!

32-oz. - Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil - 1 quart

When I opened the bottle, I was intrigued by the texture of the oil. It is firm until you warm it. You can sit the jar in warm water or you can scoop a spoonful out and heat on the stove to get a liquid. I have fried, steamed, baked, made fruit drinks, and even ice pops with the coconut oil! I now use it at least once or twice a day. I LOVE the flavor the oil gives the food!! And the health benefits are amazing! I've read that coconut oil can boost your metabolism, can provide energy which can help promote weight loss, raise body temperatures, and has other healthy benefits. Coconut oil is also rich in lauric acid which is also found in mother's milk! Lauric acid supports the body's immune system, so some people think if you eat 2-4 tbs of coconut oil a day you can help fight/prevent colds.

You want to cook the oil at a lower temperature when frying. I mixed a little bit of organic soy when I was steaming the coconut oil with chicken. Here are some of the yummy dishes I've created using the Tropical Traditions Gold Label Extra Virgin Coconut Oil:

Chicken, pineapple, coconut oil, soy, red pepper, spinach, cheese, in a whole wheat tort

Tomato sauce, tomato paste, italian seasoning, garlic, 1 tbs coconut oil. Ravioli, rolled in coconut flour & panko fried in coconut oil.

Pumpkin cookies with coconut oil

Fried chicken in coconut oil

The possibilities are truly endless! And Tropical Traditions has a webpage with TONS of coconut oil recipes. This is from the Tropical Traditions website about the Gold Label:

"This Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is a truly unrefined coconut oil. This coconut oil is made on Mt. Banahaw and surrounding areas from organic coconuts. Coconuts are used fresh (within 24-48 hours of harvest) from small family farms on Mt. Banahaw and other rural places in Quezon Province, the coconut capital of the Philippines. Only the highest quality coconuts are hand-picked from each harvest. The volcanic soil of Mt. Banahaw makes these organic coconuts some of the most nutritionally rich coconuts in the world! Testing done in independent laboratories reveals higher levels of phenolic antioxidants than other coconut oils. The fresh coconut meat is shredded (wet milled), and then cold-pressed using the water from inside the coconuts to make coconut milk. The milk is then allowed to sit for about half a day, while the oil naturally separates from the heavier water. The oil is then filtered from the curds (coconut solids). No chemical or high-heat treatment is used, and this oil contains notrans fatty acids. We do NOT mass produce this oil. It is made by families who are coconut farmers using old-fashioned traditional methods that have been used in the Philippines for hundreds of years. Our coconut trees and family producers are certified organic according to strict USDA standards. The families who produce the oil are also trained according to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards and re-certified each year. This high-grade Virgin Coconut Oil has a long shelf life due to the high antioxidant properties. The Gold Label Standard is our highest standard for Virgin Coconut Oil."

As E would say, "try it, you'll like it!" I highly recommend trying Tropical Traditions Gold Label Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I can't wait to try some of their other products! Tropical Traditions has organic foods, skin care items, supplements, household items, pet products, and tons more! Tropical Traditions also has amazing weekly deals so you can get great discounts and sometimes even free shipping!

GIVEAWAY: Tropical Traditions would like to give 1 lucky reader:

32-oz. - Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil - 1 quart

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST November 6, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US and Canada

How to Enter: Tell me a coconut oil recipe you want to try! Go Click on "Comments" to leave your post. Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the "How To Enter" before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.

2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, Follow my blog on GFC, Follow on tumblr, Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry for each one)

3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)

4. Blog, Tweet, or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)

5. Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter

6. Like Tropical Traditions on Facebook

7. Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions newsletter (3 entries)

8. Tell me another Tropical Traditions product you'd like to try

*Disclaimer: I was sent the item reviewed free of charge. This in no way alters my opinion. These are all my thoughts, results, findings, and opinions.

This Moment

2011-10-21T15:36:00.000-04:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. (sorry I cheated- we've been busy & I <3 Fall!)

Pregnancy and Baby Loss Remembrance Day

2011-10-15T21:57:00.000-04:00

I've been dreading this day for the past 2 weeks. I've been working with Earth Mama on their newsletter and Facebook pages for the last week about loss and it's been really hard- yet extremely therapeutic. If you haven't followed my blog for very long, you might not know that I lost twins earlier this year. I went through the "losing them" process twice before I finally had them surgically removed in March. I have now lost 6 angels.

With my previous miscarriages, I never fully grieved. Don't get me wrong, each and every loss took a piece of me, but I buried the sadness. No one tells you how to grieve or how you are supposed to feel when you lose a baby at 6-9 weeks. People who haven't experienced a loss might undermine your feelings which can make you feel like your grief is invalid- especially if your loss was early on. I've recently heard many stories of this happening. It was easier for me to hide the pain and move on. But the problem with that is that it always comes back in different subtle ways.

This miscarriage was different because I knew from the beginning I might lose them. For one, I was high risk and two, at the first early ultrasound showed no fetal pole. We didn't see the second sac until the 2nd ultrasound. I didn't tell many friends or family members just because I thought it would be easier for everyone. I began to bleed 2 days before Christmas and just assumed it was a full miscarriage since it was exactly like my last 4. I tucked away my grief yet again so my daughter wouldn't see my pain during the holidays.

I looked at websites recommended from the Healing Hearts grief resources webpage, but wasn't ready to find comfort in them and other people's stories. Earth Mama Angel Baby had sent me a care package with Harmony Tea, a Light of My Heart Candle, and Healing Heart Mist which were soothing. But I knew I was about to break, so I sought out a guru to teach me how to meditate. My goal was to learn how to control my thoughts and to just be silent. There was so much going on in my world that my inner voice was soo loud. I needed peace to have the strength to face this loss.

At the time I didn't want to face the fact that I "lost" the twins- so much in fact, I put off going to the Dr. for the final check up for another month. I was gaining strength from the mediation, so I made an appointment to get checked out in early February. The ultrasound showed they were still there- undeveloped. I opted to finally take the meds they had offered me in November when we saw the fetal poles had stopped growing. During this, learning how to meditate became a chore instead of a therapy. I couldn't keep silent enough to meditate. My third week on the miscarriage drug, I began to bleed heavily which put me in the ER.

This was one of the worst experiences of my life. The staff was cruel, heartless, insensitive, jerks- I could go on. When I told them I was miscarrying I was asked, "could you be pregnant?" "what makes you think that are you pregnant?" I mean seriously! I didn't even have a Dr. look at me until 4 hours after we had been there and I had soaked through 6+ pads. When the radiologist told me the sacs were gone, I argued that no, I see them right there. Even 2 other Dr.'s looked at the ultrasound and said they were gone. Of course no one listened to me. I was sent home with nothing. No I'm sorry's, no literature about dealing with grief from a loss. Nothing.

3 days later I showed up at my Dr. and asked her to do another ultrasound- that I knew they were still there. So they did, and they were. They scheduled a D&E for the next week. I was numb/crushed that I had to go through this a third time. I have lost my other angels from 6 weeks-19 weeks and this was my first D&E. After the D&E I still wasn't given any literature or sources for grief. I have a huge problem with this and want to start something to educate hospitals and Dr.'s. Honestly, if it weren't for Earth Mama, I would have never known there were grief sites dedicated to pregnancy loss. I have no clue why I never Googled it- but I didn't.

After my surgery, I went back to work the next day. Granted- I worked from home. I started the bury the pain- again- because it was too sad and hurtful to really feel. I was learning peace then I lost them two more times. I have lived comfortably numb for the past 7 months, focusing on life and how to get through it. Trying to breathe and find peace. On their due date, I lit the Light of My Heart Candle and said the prayer included. I also planted 2 trees for them.

Mama Melinda challenged me to help with the Earth Mama newsletter that was dedicated to Pregnancy and Baby Loss Remembrance Day. I've been preparing myself for the past couple of weeks- terrified of putting my story on paper. I am a writer- yet I haven't been able to find words to describe what I went through until now. And I am forever thankful that she gave me this task. I feel like a weight has been lifted- especially since I haven't shed a tear while writing this. I want to share my story in hopes someone out there reads it and knows they aren't alone. I want to do more- but first I want to heal. Take a deep breath and carry on.

If you know someone who has lost a baby- no matter at what stage- reach out to them and let them know you are here to listen if they need to talk. I've had 2 friends lose a baby & and another friend lost her toddler this week. Miscarriage and baby loss are sadly common, yet no one wants to talk about them. If you don't know what to say, check out the Healing Hearts page dedicated to "What Do I Say."

You can read My Story on Earth Mama's website and see my Q&A with Jhene Erwin writer/director of the short film The House I Keep.

Thank you Melinda. (and now the tears start...)

Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Crew Review

2011-10-14T20:26:00.001-04:00

I am a proud member of Blogtricity and was thrilled when they told me about the Appalachian Outdoors Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Crew women's socks up for review. Wool is an amazing fabric- especially with its wicking properties. Wool is also sustainable and I've read that Smartwool is very friendly to their sheep!

Appalachian Outdoors has been providing excellent outdoor clothing since 1974. They sell clothing and equipment for snowsports, hiking, climbing, fitness, travel, and more.

"The women's PhD Outdoor Light Crew is one of Smartwool's most versatile outdoor socks. Whether you are hiking, biking, running or just walking around town your feet will be comfortable all day long."

PRODUCT FEATURES:

4-Degree Fit System for all-day performance fit
WOW™ technology in high density impact zones to reduce shock and abrasion
Merino wool inside for moisture, temperature and odor control
Duroyarn reinforcement for added comfort and durability
Strategic mesh zones for maximum ventilation
76% Merino Wool, 23% Nylon, 1% Elastic

Ok, to be honest, I was really scared to try them on when they first got here. I have sensory processing disorder and scratchy materials (even tags!) really bother me. Instead of putting the Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Crew socks on right away, I washed them and added some Ecover fabric softener. When I took them out of the wash, they were sooo soft. But after they were air dried, they were scratchy again. But, for the sake of the blog I put them on.

I am in love! The merino wool feels completely different on my feet, so I will just keep them away from my hands. ;) The Light Crew Socks are tight on my feet and feel like warm soft slippers. My feet haven't become sweaty when wearing them, even in warmer weather. I can't wait to go hiking in them! The socks go up to my mid-calf and offer support from top to bottom. I highly recommend!

You can get the Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Crew socks at Appalachian Outdoors for $19.95.

*disclaimer- Appalachian Outdoors sent me the Smartwool socks at no charge. This is no way alters my opinion- these are my personal thoughts & results.

YO GABBA GABBA LIVE- GIVEAWAY

2011-10-14T16:36:00.003-04:00

This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered! Congrats to Susan!!

It's time to dance!! In 2 weeks E gets to go see YO GABBA GABBA LIVE! THERE'S A PARTY IN MY CITY, presented by Kia Motors, in Charlotte and we are beyond excited! Last year we had a blast! You can read my review of the 2010 tour here. Of course any time I get the chance to review anything YO GABBA GABBA related, I jump on it. I love the social lessons, songs, art, and uniqueness.

YO GABBA GABBA LIVE is visiting 50 cities this tour! This is from their website: "Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! is going on the road again! The It's Time To Dance! Tour Presented by Kia Motors is traveling to more than 50 cities! But this time, it's an all new show. Come see all your favorites like DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Foofa,Muno, Plex, and Toodee, with special guests Hip Hop Legend Biz Markie and Razzle Dazzle Superstar Leslie Hall. You won't want to miss it!"

Check out what's left on the tour:

October 14	New York	Beacon Theatre
October 15	New York	Beacon Theatre
October 16	New York	Beacon Theatre
October 18	Scranton, PA	Scranton Cultural Center
October 19	Norfolk	Chrysler Hall
October 21	Charleston, WV	Municipal Auditorium
October 22	Richmond	Landmark Theater
October 23	Greensboro	War Memorial Auditorium
October 25	North Charleston, SC	North Charleston Performing Arts Center
October 26	Columbia, SC	Township Auditorium
October 28	Charlotte	Ovens Auditorium
October 29	Charlotte	Ovens Auditorium
October 30	Atlanta	Fox Theatre
November 1	Raleigh	Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts
November 2	Knoxville	Tennessee Theatre
November 4	Memphis	Orpheum Theatre
November 5	Tulsa	BOK Center
November 6	Kansas City	Music Hall
November 8	Denver	1st Bank Center
November 9	Salt Lake City	Kingsbury Hall
November 11	Vancouver	Queen Elizabeth Theatre
November 12	Seattle	Paramount Theatre
November 13	Seattle	Paramount Theatre
November 15	Sacramento	Memorial Auditorium
November 16	Reno	Reno Events Center
November 18	Fresno	Save Mart Center
November 19	San Jose	San Jose Civic Auditorium
November 20	San Diego	San Diego Civic Theatre
November 22	Bakersfield	Rabobank Theater
November 25	Los Angeles	Nokia Theatre
November 26	Los Angeles	Nokia Theatre
November 27	Las Vegas	Orleans Arena
November 29	El Paso	Abraham Chavez Theatre
November 30	San Antonio	Lila Cockrell Theatre
December 2	Houston	Verizon Wireless Theatre
December 3	Dallas	Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
December 4	Austin	Cedar Park Center
December 6	New Orleans	Mahalia Jackson Theatre
December 7	Tallahassee	Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center
December 9	St. Petersburg, FL	Mahaffey Theater
December 10	Fort Lauderdale	Broward Center
December 11	Fort Lauderdale	Broward Center

You can find more information plus get tickets at: www.YoGabbaGabbaLive.com

GIVEAWAY: YO GABBA GABBA LIVE would love to give 1 lucky reader a special CD/DVD that is only available on the tour!! The CD is the Music Is Awesome Vol 3 disk (available on Amazon) but the DVD is a LIVE show at the L.A. Nokia Theatre which can only be purchased at YO GABBA GABBA LIVE.

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST October 29, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US

How to Enter: Tell me if YO GABBA GABBA LIVE is coming near you! Go Click on "Comments" to leave your post. Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the "How To Enter" before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.

2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, Follow my blog on GFC, Follow on tumblr, Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry for each one)

3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)

4. Blog, Tweet, or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)

5. "Like" Yo Gabba Gabba on Facebook
6. Sign up for the Yo Gabba Gabba newsletter

This Moment

2011-10-14T15:58:00.000-04:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Celebrate Green GIVEAWAY

2011-10-09T18:30:00.012-04:00

This giveaway has ended! Thanks to all that entered!! Congrats to Emily :)

Mkokopelli's submission to Healthy Child, Healthy World Recommended Books

Hope everyone had fun at their local costume swap yesterday! The Charlotte swap was awesome!! I was so impressed with all of the costumes. Here are a few pictures of the swap:

In 2007, Corey Colwell-Lipson began the Green Halloween movement. In 2010, she began the National Costume Swap with the help of some amazing partners!! In addition to beginning Green Halloween, Corey co-authored Celebrate Green with her mom Lynn Colwell.

Celebrate Green-Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations & Traditions for the Whole Family, is an amazing book about putting the green into your holidays! The book is divided into seasons, with a fabulous intro- The Seed, Green Holidays 101, and a Year 'Round Celebrations chapter that includes baby showers, graduation, birthday parties and so much more. This book truly has it all- and then some!

Autumn is my favorite season and Halloween has always been my favorite holiday... that is until I became more eco-conscious. I feel incredibly guilty allowing E to trick or treat, then taking away most of her candy- not to mention avoiding the decor and plastic costumes. But thanks for Celebrate Green, I have learned some amazing tips to put the fun back into the holiday! I love some of the recommendations they have for handing out treats and treasures: honey sticks, organic fruit leather, organic raisins, recycled pencils, seed packets, sea glass, yarn bracelets, cookie cutters, play dough, crayons. You can see more ideas on their blog if you aren't able to get their book in time! They have so many ideas for parties, costumes, decor, and more.

I also LOVE the Thanksgiving excerpt!! Besides Christmas, Thanksgiving is a huge family holiday that brings everyone together. Which can be kind of tricky if one family member is "green" and others aren't. Celebrate Green offers tons of ideas on how to be sneaky without stepping on anyones toes, ways to eat green, plus money saving tips, recipes, mind blowing stats, and more!

Throughout the book you can find:

How to keep traditions alive without killing the planet
Where to find the best green gift ideas
How to decorate like the pros without breaking the bank
Six essential guidelines for planning any celebration
How you can celebrate green on no money at all
Turning activities, games, recipes and more, green

Check out Celebrate Green's website for other great tips, blog articles, activities, BUY the book, and some other neat stuff to make your world "greener!" Also, they are having 31 days of green giveaways going on- so be sure comment each day on the Green Halloween blog!

I was able to do a Q&A earlier this year with Lynn Colwell and I wanted to share since she (and Corey) are such amazing people. Below is your chance to win a copy of Celebrate Green!!

Q. How did Celebrate Green begin?

A. It all started when Corey was taking her kids around for Halloween six years ago. She and the other moms were amazed that the children loved stickers and bubbles even more than candy. It occurred to her that maybe there was an opportunity to make Halloween a bit healthier for kids and the planet. This was the germ of the idea for Green Halloween, a nationwide initiative that last year replaced 1 million units of conventional candy with healthier alternatives at events around the U.S. Right after the first Green Halloween, we were asked to write a book. The title, Celebrate Green! so aptly represented all we want to do to inspire celebrations are better for people and the planet.

Q. Why is it important to "green" holidays?

A. When we started some people said, Hey, it's my birthday, once a year. What difference does it make? And if we only celebrated once a year, maybe there wouldn't be an issue. But we don't and there is.

Take the biggies—Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day and a half dozen more, then add special events like birthdays, weddings, family reunions, office parties, baby showers—you get the picture. Millions of people celebrating dozens of times a year. That adds up to a lot of waste!

Q. What is the best "green" party planning tip you've used?

A. Stop, think and plan. A big problem is that with our busy lives, we tend to run on autopilot. When we do this we don't take the time to think through better ways to celebrate. Many people want to save money, but they don't think about the fact not buying paper goods for a child's birthday party saves money and time. They just do it because they always have.

Change isn't easy for most of us, but when we stop for a few minutes, think about what want to change, then plan it, it's amazing how much easier it becomes.

Q. What are your favorite holidays?

A. Lynn is a holiday freak, loves them all! I just love the idea of celebrating, getting together with family and friends and having fun. Over the last ten years I've especially enjoyed my birthday because we celebrate with a chili cook off plus lots of silly games. We've got people of every age laughing and playing together. Corey is a fan of Thanksgiving because family is so important to her. She really likes the fact there is no gift giving involved!

Q. When researching for the book, what was the most alarming fact you learned?

A. Oh my gosh, there were a lot, but one of the most significant was the waste associated with plastic bottles. Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year. And according to Food and Water Watch, that plastic requires up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce. Actually before we wrote the book I'm (Lynn) ashamed to admit that I didn't know that plastic was produced from oil!

Q. How do you suggest convincing family members to help "green" holidays?

A. We suggest not trying to convince anyone. We've found modeling behaviors is the best route, while trying to "talk someone into change," rarely works. Don't make a big deal of it. Just try one or two ideas from the book and see what happens. Of course if someone asks you why you're sending leftovers home in glass jars instead of plastic, or why you chose an organic turkey for Thanksgiving, you can answer—after they compliment you on how great it tastes!

GIVEAWAY: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Celebrate Green

If the Rafflecopter widget doesn't show up- click on the link to the giveaway. It will be there! Sorry for any troubles!

*disclaimer- I was sent a review copy free of charge. This in no way changes my views- these are my thoughts, opinions, and results.

The Organic Family Cookbook GIVEAWAY

2011-10-02T23:01:00.007-04:00

This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered! Congrats to Lana!

*Mkokopelli's submission to Healthy Child, Healthy World Recommended Books

Anni Daulter is my new idol. ;) She is an amazing author, chef, mother, editor, and human. She's creative, conscious, nurturing, wholesome, and 100% natural in every way. I have loved following her work over the past year and a half and look forward to what is next! (Hopefully more cookbooks! She truly inspires me in the kitchen!!!)

Anni Daulter is the author of the Organic Family Cookbook, Ice Pop Joy, Organically Raised: Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddler , editor of bamboo magazine- conscious family living and is the mom of 4 children. (Be sure to check out her sites for recipes!) Anni taught herself how to cook and then continued learning at a Zen Buddhist retreat- Tassajara. She also opened a fresh organic baby food company- Bohemian Baby.

I was sent a copy of Anni's newly released work of art, the Organic Family cookbook: growing, greening, and cooking together, and I am truly blown away. Not only does the cookbook include the most delicious wholesome recipes, it is a work of art with the photographs by Alexandra DeFurio. Anni has incorporated the normal cookbook stuff with a unique taste of her lifestyle. She talks about her family, how they are green, how they cook together, what her children like, and even some of their recipes! It has seriously raised the bar for cookbooks.

There are 7 food categories in the Organic Family cookbook: Naturally Tasty Breakfasts, Simple Snacks, Wholesome Lunches, Family Favorite Dinners, Savory Sides, Refreshing Desserts, Homespun Extras. Each chapter includes 9-12 recipes with stunning full size photographs of the dish, and litte personal extras throughout the chapter that are either about Growing Together, Greening Together, or Cooking Together.

I spent my weekend cooking different recipes from the Organic Family Cookbook, and coming from 2 people who have SPD/texture issues- YUMM!! I love the natural ingredients and how most recipes are low in sugar and are made with unique flours. I like trying new things and my pallet thoroughly enjoyed the new flavors!

Here is what we made:

Zoe's Favorite Baked Parmesan-Crusted Artichokes (artichokes with balsamic vinegar, garlic, and parm. SOOOO good!)

Goodwill Banana Bread (best banana bread I've ever had!)

Fall Pumpkin Spiced Cookies (soft, chewy pumpkin yumminess. Goes great with a glass of milk!)

Natural Cran-Strawberry Red Roll-ups (in the oven cooking. I burnt the edges, but they still taste wonderful)

All My Love Whole Grain Honey Bread (I will never buy bread again!)

Granola Bars

Anni said I could share this recipe! These are beyond amazing!!

2 cups whole grain oats

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup sliced almonds

2 pinches sea salt

1/2 cup almond butter

3/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon flax oil

1/4 cup brown sugar

mini chocolate nibs (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a ceramic or glass 9X13-inch baking dish and line with parchment paper.

Mix Oats, sunflower seeds, cranberries, wheat germ, and almonds together in a bowl. Spread mixture on a sheet pan and toast in preheated oven for 8 minutes. Return mixture to large bowl.

In a medium saucepan, combine salt, almond butter, honey, flax oil, brown sugar, and chocolate nibs (if using). Bring to a boil over medium heat and immediately remove from heat. Pour over oats mixture and combine until dry ingredients are evenly coated.

Transfer to the lined baking dish. Press mixture down and together by folding over parchment paper to press down. Tear off edges of parchment paper so it does not cover the mixture when baking. Bake for 25 minutes.

Let cook for up to 2 hours and then cut and serve.

I cheated and ate a bar after an hour- I LOVED it warm and gooey. Once it cools, it hardens like regular granola. This is by far the best granola I've ever had!

the Organic Family cookbook

Size: 8" x 10"
Pages: 176 pages
Binding: Paperback w/ flaps
ISBN13: 978-1-4162-0638-4
Sug. Retail: $21.95

GIVEAWAY: Anni would love to give 1 lucky winner a copy of the Organic Family cookbook!

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST October 23, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US

How to Enter: Tell me why you want to win! Go Click on "Comments" to leave your post. Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the "How To Enter" before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.

2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, Follow my blog on GFC, Follow on tumblr, Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry for each one)

3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)

4. Blog, Tweet, or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)

5. Like Anni's pages on Facebook: The Organic Family Cookbook, bamboo magazine, Ice Pop Joy, Organically Raised, Delicious Gratitude Food Styling
6. Try a recipe from Anni's and let me know which one (5 entries- you can find them on her book's websites)
7. Subscribe to bamboo magazine

*disclaimer- I was sent a copy of the book for free. This in no way changes my views. These are my thoughts, views, opinions, and results.

Oct. 8 Charlotte, NC Costume Swap

2011-09-27T14:55:00.002-04:00

The deadline to turn in costumes is quickly approaching for National Costume Swap Day! I am so excited that we are having a swap in Charlotte, NC thanks to Natural Luxe and Atherton Mill Market!!

To get things going, tonight from 9-10 p.m. EST, there is a Twitter Party thanks to Celebrate Green!, Green Halloween, Kiwi Magazine, EcoMom Alliance, Practically Green, Swap.com, and hosted by The Smart Mama! Make sure you RSVP to win prizes.

Hashtag: #CostumeSwap

Follow: @CostumeSwapDay

September 27, 2011 6-7pm PST

Here is the Charlotte, NC Costume Swap info in case you want to participate locally:

Get your Halloween off to a "Green" start at Charlotte's Green Halloween Costume Swap on Saturday, October 8th. Don't buy new this year - save some money and help green our community by swapping out your children's gently used costumes.

Hosted by Natural Luxe and Atherton Mill and Market, this is a great opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint and support your local farmers and vendors. We will have goody bags filled with great discounts and offers from our sponsors for the 1st 50 swappers to arrive.

Green Fact from Use Less Stuff - If half the costumes kids wear each year were swapped, we could reduce the annual waste by 6,250 tons, equivalent to 2500 mid-size cars!

Drop off costumes September 15th - October 5th
at the following Charlotte locations.

Keller Williams Realty SouthPark - 2115 Rexford Road 704-602-0400

Belly Elan - 9816 Rea Rd - Shops at Blakeney 704-544-3226

Eco-licious - 1916 Commonwealth Ave 704-966-7030

Atherton Market - 2104 South Boulevard - Open Tuesday 3 pm - 7 pm Wednesday 9 am - 1 pm and Saturday 9 am - 2 pm

We also have two special event opportunities for you to donate your costumes

All About Baby Charlotte - September 11th

Green Jeans Consignment Shopping Event 17105 Kenton Drive, Cornelius, NC Green Halloween Drop Off Times: Tuesday, September 20, 9am-8pm Wednesday, September 21, 9am-3pm Thursday, September 22, 9am-8pm Friday, September 23, 9am-6pm Saturday, September 24, 8am-3pm

The deadline to submit costumes is October 5th. Feel free to contact Jennifer with Natural Luxe at 704-904-2535 or naturalluxe@yahoo.com with any questions.

We are accepting gently used children's costumes. For every costume you donate, you will receive a ticket to swap out for a new one. We will gladly take donations of costumes too and help you clear some space in your home!

Join us Saturday October 8th at Atherton Mill Market 2104 South Boulevard, Charlotte

From 10am - 12pm swappers who have donated a costume will be able to pick out a "new" costume, after 12pm the swap will be open to the public to select a costume. All costumes left after the swap is over will be donated to a local charity.

For the kids - Children between ages 1-13 can enter the ChicoBag 4th annual Trick-or-Treat Bag Design Contest.

Assorted Pumpkin Seeds

2011-09-23T15:14:00.000-04:00

Yay! It's the first day of Fall! And how do we celebrate? With pumpkin seeds!! Pumpkin patches are up and running, super markets have pumpkins in bins, and super stores have oodles of pumpkins everywhere! As soon as it drops 10 degrees we will be heading out to pick our own carving pumpkin, but for now, a nice small baking pumpkin is perfect for pumpkin seeds.

Some people like sweet, some like spicy, and some like plain. That's why I make them all at once, by putting them in muffin pans and seasoning to taste!

Above are a mixture of garlic, sea salt, cracked red pepper, and pepper. You can also add cayenne or paprika for an extra kick!

E likes hers sweet, so I add a pinch of organic sugar and a bunch of cinnamon! They are super yummy!

How do you like your seeds?

This Moment

2011-09-23T15:05:00.000-04:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

In Honor of Fall- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

2011-09-19T21:59:00.001-04:00

I've been celebrating Fall a little early this year. There is nothing better than the smell of pumpkin and the cool air has made me crave it even more! I couldn't wait until Friday to begin my Fall baking, so I started today!! I've had several requests for the recipe so I thought I'd share with everyone! There will be more to come this week ;)

Organic Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

What you'll need:

Filling: Takes at least 6 hours total to prepare the filling!! After made, it needs to be frozen for 2 hours.

1 8 oz. Organic Cream Cheese (softened. I left out for 4 hours before I used)

1 cup Organic Powder Sugar

Batter:

3 cups Organic Whole Wheat Flour

1 tsp. Baking Soda

4 tbsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 tbsp. Cinnamon

1 cup Organic Sugar

1 cup Organic Brown Sugar

4 large Organic Eggs

1 1/4 Organic Oil (I used og canola, but vegetable oil would work too)

1 can 15 ounces Organic Pumpkin

Topping:

4 tbs. Organic Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 cup Organic Brown Sugar

2 tbsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

4 tbsp. butter cut into pieces

Filling: First set out cream cheese and bring to room temperature. It usually takes up to 4 hours. Once softened, use a blender and beat the cream cheese with the powdered sugar on a high speed until smooth. Spoon the mix into a log shape on to plastic wrap. Roll tightly and then cover with tin foil for extra protection. Freeze for at least 2 hours. You want it firm enough to cut into pieces.

Batter: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use eco-friendly muffin liners- should make 24 large muffins or 12 muffins and a bread loaf. In one bowl mix the flour, spices, baking soda. In a mixing bowl combine 4 eggs, oil, sugar, and pumpkin. Beat low/medium speed with an electric beater. Then slowly add the dry ingredients. Don't over mix!

Topping: In a bowl, add flour, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and butter. With 2 forks break the butter pieces up so you have a crumbly mixture.

Put it all together: Pour just enough batter into the muffin pans to cover the bottom. Pull the cream cheese mix out of the freezer and cut into pieces. Place in the middle of the muffins. Then pour batter on top of the cream cheese- make sure you cover completely! Then add the topping to cover the whole muffin top. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Make sure to check with a tooth pick. Wait at least 15 minutes before tasting... the cream cheese filling is super hot! Store in refrigerator and enjoy!

What is your favorite Fall recipe?

This Moment

2011-09-16T19:16:00.000-04:00

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Ok- I'm cheating... that is E's pumpkin baby wearing a cloth diaper...

Bamboosa GIVEAWAY

2011-09-15T17:58:00.002-04:00

This giveaway has ended! Thanks to all that entered. Congrats to debijackson for winning!

Fall is my favorite time of the year. The cool crisp air, light weight clothing that is comforting, beautiful vibrant colors, and sweet pumpkin scents... ah.. I can't wait!! My favorite fabric in the Fall is bamboo. The fabric is light weight, soft and luxurious, the fabric keeps you warm when it's cool and cool when it's warm, and it has natural UV protection. There are other qualities- but the FTC won't allow us to talk about them...

You can read some of my previous reviews about bamboo here: Bamboosa vs. FTC, Bamboosa Baby Blanket

One of my favorite bamboo clothing companies is Bamboosa. They make certified organic bamboo baby clothing and accessories, kid socks, accessories, soap bars, bamboo powder, and adult clothing right here in America... Actually, they are only 3 hours from me in SC! I got the chance to tour the facility last year and was beyond impressed! Here is a short video shot for Franklin Goose when I was working for them.

The Bamboosa factory is so safe, I even got to have E with me! She had a Franklin Goose tee shirt made from a women's XS and it fit perfectly. It has been one of her favorite tees. So I contacted them a year later, in hopes maybe they had extended their child line. Sadly, they haven't yet, but still sent me a XS tee with a BambooBaby Print E for Earth design on it for E!

Isn't that sweet? It's a tiny bit big, but super cute and will make a great playtime tee or even night shirt! The BambooBaby Prints run in sizes S (0-6 mo.), M (6-12 mo.), L (12-18 mo.). You can choose from short sleeved or long sleeved should lap tees, onesies, or cuddlesac. E is in 6T clothing and the XS woman size tee fits her. The short sleeve fit her when she was in 4T clothing. You might have to alter the long sleeve tee for you kiddo if you like it as much as I do!!

They also threw in a few Bamboo tees and a Slip Sleep for me!! I am in love with how they feel! I will be back with pictures of me later. :)

Bamboosa also has amazing bamboo socks! The are super stretchy, so kids (and even my big feet!) fit into the size 4-6. E refuses to take them off they are so soft and comfy!

This is from the Bamboosa website:

Keep your kids feet dry and cool in our Bamboosa ankle socks! Super absorbent and soft, try these Bamboosa socks to keep small feet warm and cozy. Socks fit kids size 6-10 and are very stretchy. 85% Viscose from Organic Bamboo/15% Lycra Sandwich Terry

Wicks and evaporates sweat and doesn't stick to the skin
Excellent permeability, keeping your feet comfortable and dry
Breathable and cool in hot weather
Thermal regulating, keep your feet significantly warmer in cold weather
Highly absorbent, causing feet to stay fresher and odor free
Soft on You, Easy on the Earth™

Machine wash, mild soap, cold or warm water and tumble dry.

Made in the USA.

GIVEAWAY: Bamboosa would like to give one lucky winner 2 pairs of bamboo Kids Socks- one Purely Natural and Basic Black!

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST September 30, 2011 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US and Canada!

How to Enter: Go to Bamboosa and tell me your favorite item. Click on "Comments" to leave your post. Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the "How To Enter" before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.

2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, Follow my blog on GFC, Follow on tumblr, Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry for each one)

3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (3 entries)

4. Blog, Tweet, or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)

5. Become a fan of Bamboosa on Facebook
6. Follow Bamboosa on Twitter
7. Tell me something you learned on Bamboosa
8. Leave a message on the Bamboosa blog and link back

24 Hours of Reality

2011-09-14T21:42:00.000-04:00

The Climate Reality Project started tonight at 8 p.m. EST!! For the next 24 hours, Climate Reality Project is hosting 24 Hours of Reality- a live-streamed event, for 24 hours, in 24 different places. Al Gore along with 23 other speakers will be discussing climate change and dispelling false claims made by its deniers. You can watch live below or go to http://www.ustream.tv/ClimateReality

Free desktop streaming application by Ustream

From Tonga to Cape Verde, Mexico City to Alaska, Jakarta to London, people living with the impacts of climate change every day will tell their story. The event features a new multimedia presentation created by Al Gore and delivered once per hour for 24 hours, in every time zone around the globe.

Will you be watching?

Green Halloween- National Costume Swap Day!

2011-09-13T15:03:00.002-04:00

Can you believe it's time to start thinking about Halloween? E has already begun asking when she gets to go trick-or-treating, so it must be something in the air! From what I've heard, costumes are already filling up the shelves at Target, Walmart, and Halloween stores. All I can think is YUCK! (For the record- Halloween is one of my favorite holidays!)

My biggest problem with costumes is that they are cheaply made, plastic, and doused with harmful chemicals. Majority of the costumes are made with toxic conventional dyes which can cause skin irritations and they pollute waterways. Not to mention they are made with petroleum based materials that can leach some nasties everywhere. Most costumes are nylon or polyester which are both non-biodegradable and end up sitting in landfills forever. They all are treated with flame retardants- which is good and bad. Good- it's saving your child's life in case they come across a open flame. Bad- there is a lot of negative attention towards certain flame retardants and you don't know which kind is in your costume. My thoughts are cheap costume = cheap chemicals.

You can find top quality dress up clothes at places like Sarah's Silks or other Waldorf inspired toy stores if you are looking to buy new and eco-friendly.

But if your kiddo really wants to dress up as a cartoon character or something that you can't handmake- the best thing to do for the environment (and your pocket book!) is to participate in a costume swap.

Oct. 8 is the National Costume Swap Day sponsored by Green Halloween, Swap.com, and Kiwi Magazine! You can visit the National Costume Swap Day website to see all of the locations where you can find a swap or even register your own! The swaps will last all the way up to Halloween. This is a great way to recycle your old costumes and find a gently used one. Costume swaps not only mean less resources are used to make new product, it also means less packaging, less transportation of the product, and less waste. For events of any size, here are some tips on how to organize and set it up.

Be sure to "Like" and Follow the National Costume Swap Facebook page and Twitter page, and Green Halloween's Facebook page and Twitter page for everything Green Halloween!!

If there aren't any Costume Swaps in your area, ThredUp has started Halloween Costumes Boxes TODAY! I just checked and there are over 230 boxes available now.

Also, on the subject of Halloween... Have you checked out Green Halloween? They are an amazing resource for parents, kids, and even schools! I will be back with some Green Halloween ideas very soon! But until then... happy planning!