top baby gifts (part 3)

5) cuddly wrap from peapod creations ($84.95)
before trying a wrap firsthand, i had always thought they were rather daunting, but once i saw for myself how to tie one, i realized that it's quite simple once you get the hang on it, and it's super comfy to carry baby around in one. this wrap can be used from birth (even premature babies can be carried in this wrap!) all the way up to the toddler phase, but as my 3 year old won't let me try and carry him around in it, i cannot attest to how comfortable that would feel. however, carrying my second born around in this was a dream. when she was wrapped up in it, i could barely feel the extra weight on my back and/or shoulders and my hands were free to do things around the house or chase after my first born. the wrap is made from 100% organic cotton and is made right here in canada.

6) amber teething pain necklaces from healing amber ($19.99)
these necklaces are made from baltic amber, which is considered nature's pain reliever. when worn regularly, they will help your little one manage their teething pain symptoms. at first i wasn't sure if this worked, but one day my daughter did not have it on and she was more irritable than i'd ever seen her. that made a believer out of me! and it looks pretty cute on them too. just remember that babies should not be left unsupervised while wearing amber necklaces. when napping or sleeping, i usually wrap the necklace around my daughter's ankle and tuck it into her sleeper.

top baby gifts (part 2)

continuing on from yesterday's post, here are another two of my fave baby gifts to give:

3) 2-piece 100% certified organic cotton set from pure blankz ($18.95 per piece / $30 for the set)

these pieces are oh-so-soft again baby's skin. i only wish they came in adult sizes too! whether out and about or just lounging at home, baby will look eco-chic in this two-piece outfit. the clothing is made from soft slub yarn fabric, which gives it an unfinished edgy look. the tops have elbow patches (and bottom patch on the onesies and leggings). the first photo is of my lil cutie in the 'mauve over' colour.  :o)


4) organic teething bonbon by dress me up organic ($15.95)

this teething bonbon is hand-made in canada using 100% certified organic USA cotton and stuffed with Canadian lamb's wool. each bonbon is unique as they are hand stitched in dress me up organic's Canadian west coast studio. the thing i love most about this teether is that you can dip both ends in water and put it in the freezer. then when you give it to baby, the cold ends can soothe their gums while the middle (stuffed with lamb's wool) keeps baby's hands warm.

preview: tomorrow's items keep baby feeling snug and pain-free...

top baby gifts (part 1)

so it's been quite a while since i last posted a 'real' post so i thought it was high time for a new one. since many of my friends seem to be pregnant or having babies, this was a natural blog topic for me. this week i will be blogging about my favourite gifts to give to expectant mommies or new babies. i'll be writing about two per day (in no particular order) so be sure to check back in to catch all ten items. hope it gives you some ideas you might not have thought of before.  :o)

items #1 and #2 come from the same company. delish naturals is a mama-owned company specializing in handcrafted body care (made from all-natural and/or organic ingredients) for the whole family. so far everything i've tried from this line has become a family fave. their scents are oh-so-delicious and good for you too!

1) delish-ious shampoo & body wash by delish naturals ($15.50)

this scrumptious tear-free blend acts as both shampoo and body wash and works great on baby's delicate skin as well as yours. it is made entirely of the most gentle saponified oils, amino acids, vitamins and proteins and is nut, dairy, gluten, paraben, wax and phalate free. my favourite scent has got to be grape soda. definitely can't stop sniffing my kiddos post-bath when we use this!

2) yum bum butter by delish naturals ($15.50)

don't let the name fool you, this product is good for more than just bums. just some of its many uses include treating diaper rash, eczema, psoriasis, cradle cap, cracked skin, and softening elbows and heels. just recently, i used it on my daughter's face (where she had scratched herself ... man do her fingernails grow quickly!) and those scratches started clearing up within the same day. for those parents who cloth diaper, this bum butter is also cloth diaper friendly. this product is available in a 4 oz tin or as a sampler kit if you want to try out 3 fabulous scents. monkey farts is a best-seller, but my new fave is probably mojito EO (EO = essential oil).

and all of the delish naturals products are made in canada (alberta, to be exact)!

preview: tomorrow's picks feature organic cottony goodness...

what's in your body?

 

i found the above video on icareaboutcosmetics.com when looking for info about the great canadian hand cream swap that i mentioned yesterday. the video really prompts you to think about what you're putting in your body. after all, as their tag line states, "what goes on your body, goes in your body". we've been slowly making the change over to organic skincare products, but after looking up some of our old products on the cosmetic database, i feel the urge to get rid of the old even sooner than planned. lots of the standard baby products you see on the shelves are rated as high as 7 or 8 (on a scale of 10) on the hazard meter. 

i recently discovered a canadian line of natural and organic skincare products that i'll be carrying in my new shop (to be launched march 1st!). if you want to get a sneak preview of them, click on this link. the company is called lalabee bathworks and all of their products rate between a 0-2 on the hazard scale. in fact, their best-selling bottom balm is rated at a zero!

some me time

yesterday i got the chance to have a little "me time" and went to have a facial at a spa. a couple of friends had given me a gift card for a facial for my birthday, so i figured it was about time i used it (since it's been almost a year already!). the gift card was for a facial at pure + simple, which is a spa that uses all-natural (and mostly organic) products and its services emphasize holistic health principles. i've been experiencing bad skin since giving birth to my son almost two years ago. not sure if it's the weird hormones or if it's something else, but it's been a struggle dealing with it. the facial was very relaxing (with the exception of the extrations) and the esthetician was very good about explaining what she was doing and the products she was using. she explained that i needed to drink a lot more water since my skin was very dehydrated. i ended up getting a sampler kit to try some of their products at home. seems like quite the regimen, but if it'll give me nice skin, i'll do it!  :o)  if you live in the toronto area and you're looking for more natural skincare products, i highly recommend checking them out. david suzuki recently released a report about the "dirty dozen" cosmetic chemicals to avoid and all of the products at pure + simple are free of those chemicals.

mama earth organics

 i've been curious to try out one of these organic produce delivery services for a while, but with so many different ones out there, i couldn't decide which to try. i recently found this one company called mama earth organics and it seems to be reasonably priced. you don't have to commit to an entire season, but can just go week-to-week so the financial commitment is a lot less. for just $25 you can get a small produce basket delivered straight to your door. they also offer other organic items that you can add on to your order (such as bread, baking supplies, canned goods, cheeses, etc.). delivery is free for orders over $30 and the day of the week your basket gets delivered depends on where you live within the GTA. i think i'll give this a try some time this month. i figure at least it'll expand on the type of produce we eat and we'll also be supporting local farmers! more to come once we experience our first basket!

nate hearts books

my lil kiddo looooooves his books. he loves just sitting there flipping through the same book over and over again. most of the time, he prefers flipping the pages quickly. he also likes to taste his books. if i don't catch him in time, he'll start gnawing on a corner of the board book. luckily they're thick so they don't immediately disintegrate, but he has bitten off a corner before. a couple of weeks ago while i was shopping at costco, i noticed these books from priddy in the book aisle. they're printed on recycled paper and printed with natural soy ink. so big pluses on both sides: less pollution and less toxic! maybe this means i won't have to worry as much next time i find nate chewing on a book.  :o)

3 Sprouts

milo the monkey - hooded bath towel

we received a couple of these hooded towels (made by 3 Sprouts) as baby shower gifts. not only are they cute, but they're made from organic and natural cotton, so you know you're wrapping your lil one in goodness. our lil boy puts absolutely everything in his mouth, so at least we don't have to worry when we see him tasting this particular item.  :o)

owl organic canvas storage bin

while on their site, i saw that they offer these storage bins as well. how cute are these?! these would make a great addition to nate's nursery. they're made from organic cotton and eco-spun felt (made from recycled water bottles). loves it!