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Mamas, I just came across this 20% off discount that I had to share!  If you’re planning to buy a reusable, stainless drinking bottle or a SIGG, you should take advange of this coupon for www.ReusableBags.com.  Reusable Bags is the most popular site for safe, reusable drinking options and they have lots of other great products too.

1. Visit www.reusablebags.com
2. Add desired items to cart
3. Proceed through check-out
4. Redeem your special code: Enter the following  code in the Gift Certificates/ Discount Coupons section: 102275.
5. Complete check out process (discount will be shown before confirming the order).

Special offer is valid from 5-1-08 to 5-28-08. One use per customer.

My family uses the Guyot bottle, which is most like the Nalgene (but not plastic!).  I’ve also been eyeing those adorable lunchboxes by Mimi the Sardine lately.  If only my daughter needed one…

On earth day there is no limit to those inspiring ”go green” lists.  Lists of 100, 50, or even 25 ideas tend to leave my mind realing with the possibilities.   It’s important to take steps to live lighter on the planet, year by year.  Ready for something more manageable? Here are five of my favorite ways to go green this year:

1. Line-dry Laundry:  The dryer is the single biggest consumer of electricity in your house.  Line drying is a lifestyle change that will force me to spend more time outside, possibly in quiet contemplation (doesn’t that sound nice?).  As an added bonus, it’ll make my clothes last longer too.
2. Reduce Errands:  I hate running to the store for one thing.  Talk about a time-sucker!  Reducing and combining errands will make an impact on the air quality in my community and on my bank account, considering gas prices today.  I want to learn to wait longer between errands and plan ahead better to get everything in one outing.  My kids will be glad too!
3. Choose Cloth: I switched to cloth diapers last year.  I could never imagine going back!  Now it’s time to switch to reusable cloth anywhere and everywhere else: shopping bags, napkins, towels, even menstrual products.  I’ve tried cloth products in all these areas.  Turns, out cloth is actually NICER to use.  The disposable product category is such a marketing gimmick!
4. Eliminate Junk Mail:  It’s as easy as writing to Mail Preference Service, c/o Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008 (include date, name, address, signature, and the message “Please register my name with the Mail Preference Serivce”).  I’ll also call catalogs that I don’t want to receive and ask to be removed from their mailing list. 
5. Shop Smart:  I want to continue to think long-term about the products I buy.  Is it high quality?  Will I still love it next year?  Was it manufactured safely, without dangerous chemicals?  I hope to consume less by repurposing items I already own, borrowing when possible, and only buying real quality that is meant to last.  It’s shopping with an eco-conscience. 

Woohoo!  This January I finally got my hands on a Beco Baby Carrier.  I waited until the new Butterfly version came out, because I loved the idea of the inner sleeve.  The butterfly version was released this January so I’ve been using mine for over a month.  I LOVE it and use it ALL THE TIME!!!  It’s so easy to put Liam in the carrier and so easy to swing it around to my back.  The inner sleeve makes the whole process so worry-free.  In fact, I can even put him in the carseat while he’s still in the carrier.  That may not be is not recommended by experts, but it’s nice when we’re just moving the car to another parking spot.

I use my Beco at all sorts of places: at farmer’s markets where uneven surfaces mean that a stroller just wouldn’t work; at the mall when I’m shopping with my 3-year-old daughter so that I can hold her hand; when I’m shopping for myself without my daughter… with Liam on my back it’s almost like I’m shopping alone.  Almost.  In fact, I use my carrier and find that I prefer it for so many occasions that I now see why some women don’t even use a stroller.  I haven’t sold my stroller yet, but the thought has ocurred to me!  

If you haven’t yet tried a good, comfortable baby carrier, you should!  Of course, I recommend the Beco butterfly!!!

My article regarding my cosmetic purge has spurred quite a bit of interest.  If you’re wondering how legitimate these concerns really are, please see this article published last year by aScribe Newswire:  http://www.greennest.com/category_files/GN_DangerousBabyProd.pdf.  It details how different ingredients in your baby care products endanger the health of your child and also answers the popular question, “Then why are they allowed in the products at all?” 

In my opinion, it’s better to be safe, rather than sorry, when affordable options are so readily available.  And, I have to say, that we’re loving our Earth Mama Angel Baby products so far. 

So, we’ve been a bit SWAMPED lately.  Part of the problem (i.e. blessing) is that we received three shipments last week of preordered products.  I love shipping out packages that customers have been eagering awaiting.  I imagine all the happy customers: their glee as they discover a shipping confirmation email, their anticipation as they track the package, their giddiness on the day that the package finally arrives! 

OK, maybe it’s not that exciting for everyone, but I do know that we made a whole group of mamas happy last week when we shipped out their Safe Sippy Cups.  As it turns out, we had MORE orders than we could fill for those spiffy little cups.  And, we’re already accumulating a stack of preorders for our February shipment of Safe Sippies.  If you haven’t taken a look yet, check them out.  They’re BPA-free and totally cool too.  I know we’re going to sell out of our February order before they arrive, so don’t dawdle if you want one!

Here they are:  Safe Feeding

Toys, toys everywhere and not a place to step!  As the mother of two young children who are blessed to live nearbye two sets of loving grandparents, my kids made out this Christmas!  I hadn’t thought much about putting gifts away when I received a phone call from a dear friend who found herself in a similar situation.  She is totally overwhelmed by her kids’ Grandparent Christmas Loot.  She says that Grandma and Grandpa arrived with enough wrapped gifts to fill a four foot cube of space in their small 1000 sq foot house.  The kids had a blast opening presents, but now what?  Where is she going to put so much stuff?  Her phone call prompted me to glance around.  I had to admit that I had just left toys lying where they fell – in complete denial of the fact that I would have to make room for said toys in appropriate closets, bins, etc. 

So, what to do?  One popular solution is to donate unloved toys to charity.  This works well in most cases, but as my friend pointed out, sometimes the old toys are actually the best ones.  Well, donate the new ones then?  OK, but watch out that you don’t offend Grandma and Grandpa! 

I think the best solution is a proactive one.  Step One:  have a tactful conversation with extravagent gift-givers regarding concerns for space/waste/materialism.  Step Two: create a list of gifts that would be appropriate and desirable (and if quantity itself is really an issue, you could even state a per-child limit). Keep in mind that the list could be as specific or general as you like. 

I hereby pledge to create a wish list of items that our kids actually need the next time a birthday or holiday comes around.  I always feel so awkward doing so, but I am now convinced that it would truly make celebrations more fun for all of us.  Some ideas for my son’s first birthday: an organic crib mattress, children’s plates/bowls/utensils that are plastic free, an extra-large hooded bath towel, that beco baby carrier… 

My babies have always had a somewhat magnetic attraction to any jewelry I wear.  If I wear dangly earrings, I spend the day ducking and swerving from grabby hands.  If I wear a necklace, my baby will greedily shove it in his mouth just as soon as I pick him up like it’s some sort of candy.  It’s as if babies are born with a love for shiny things (wait a minute, are they?). 

Well, anyways, with all the lead toy recalls lately, a parenting magazine pointed out that jewelry often contains lead.  Yikes!  What’s more, lead actually does have a sweet taste to it!  Oh dear…  Since reading that article, I’ve made a concerted effort to keep those necklaces OUT of his mouth.  And I plan on ordering a lead test at our next well check-up, just to see.  Hopefully he’ll pass with flying colors, but if not, I’ll know to start searching for and eliminating possible exposures. 

Poor baby, he loves playing with my necklaces!  I recently came across an alternative option - mama jewelry designed for baby to mouth.  Smart Mom makes a collection of necklaces and bangles called Teething Bling that are lead-free.  They’re made out of soft silicone plastic that’s non-toxic, phthalate free and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp.  As an extra measure of safety, Smart Mom just had their jewelry tested lead-free by an independent lab.  A copy of the report is available.  Through November they’re offering a free bangle with any purchase of a pendent.  Euphoria Blog readers can also get free priority mail shipping, just use coupon code “6N19L20FPKL40K8G7″.  
  

Wow, we have been so busy lately!  In part, that’s because last weekend was fashion market.  Market is fun, but exhausting!  My mother and I do the buying for our family business.  Last weekend we travelled to Atlanta to see designer collections for maternity, nursing, and baby.  The collections were for spring/summer 2008 and will start arriving as early as January!  So… I thought you might want to know what’ll be new and hot next spring!!!

First of all, prints – prints – prints!  Designers were heavily influenced by 80’s style, so prints were in an abundance.  You’ve got your loud prints and your soft prints, but you MUST HAVE PRINTS!  Personally, I’m thrilled to see their return.  I love how a good print will express your personality and set the “tone” for your day.  It’s fun

Also, tunics and leggings!  They’re not going anywhere ladies!  If you haven’t tried a pair on yet (and I haven’t), I think it’s about time…. Or at least it will be time come next spring when the weather warms up and I’m sick and tired of wearing jeans and cords.  I’m starting to see myself in leggings someday, much to my husband’s dismay.  But what does he know about fashion!

And finally, it’s all about dresses!  We couldn’t see a collection without finding another dress we just had to have.  Some designers seemed to be showing more dresses than tops.  As a mom, it’s easy to see the dress as something to wear on a date or for church.  Let’s kick it up a notch and try dresses for casual-wear, next spring.  You have to admit it’ll make you feel pretty!

So, what do you think of this little sneak-peak?  And, can you see yourself in leggings next year?!!! 

Is it just me, or is organic cropping up everywhere?  Organic food, we know and love.  Now there’s organic clothes, organic purses, organic sheets, organic mattresses, the list goes on and on.  Soon we’ll be buying organic sofas and driving organic cars!  Don’t get me wrong – I think it’s great.  I’m all for protecting our natural resources, our world, and ourselves.  I guess I just feel a little overwhelmed by how fast this is changing.  Just a few years ago, only the real serious “naturalists” ate organic.  Already, I’m starting to think about switching over to organic linens…  My husband still says “no” to cloth diapers.  Maybe I can wear him down?  Where do you fall?  Are you green?  If you’re not, you soon may be! 

My daughter, Aria, is about 2 1/2.  It’s been sooooo hot lately that we’ve been stuck indoors for weeks.  Coloring, painting, reading books, and the like are starting to get rather old.  Then, when I was browsing at Target the other day, I came across workbooks by Kumon designed for children Aria’s age.  At 2 1/2, Aria is very interested in learning, but she’s not quite ready for math books or writing her letters.  Kumon makes an adorable series of books abouting cutting, pasting, folding, or coloring.  Each book progresses gradually to build skill, while keeping it fun for your child.  When I told Aria that she could choose between learning to cut or learning to glue, her eyes got so big!  She loves the cute drawings and I love having a way to interact with her that’s so enjoyable for both of us.  Cutting has been a big hit.  She is learning a lot and is that much more ready for preschool.  We’ll definitely be getting “Let’s Paste” next.  You can get yours online at: http://www.kumonbooks.com/catalog/catalog_firststeps.aspx.