The EcoChic

GIVEAWAY ALERT!  Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for the third contest of The Eco-Summer Blog Party!

Lil’ B will be 6 months old on Saturday and we have recently introduced solid baby food to her.  Most doctors recommend introducing solids anywhere between 4 and 6 months of age.  We introduced solids to Big B at about 4 months but I was little more patient this year with his sister.  We almost made it to 6 months before she started stealing food right off our plate!  No kidding…she would literally grab for any kind of food within reach.  And once again we were faced with another parenting decision…homemade baby food or commercial baby food?

It’s much more common these days to hear about parents preparing fresh baby food for their little ones.  Back when Big B was a baby I was a huge fan of the book Super Baby Foodby Ruth Yaron.  It was great because it provided a list of foods and at what age it was best to introduce those items to babies.  Unfortunately, I loaned it to a friend and haven’t seen it in about 3 years.  I began searching the internet for baby food recipes and ran across the  Homemade Baby Food Recipeswebsite by Christine Albury.  What a wonderful website full of information about introducing solids to your baby, how to overcome feeding problems and hundreds of easy to make recipes.  

I chose to make our own baby food because of all the fillers and water that are contained in commercial baby food.  I like having control over what I feed my baby.  I can control if I buy locally grown fruits and vegetables.  I can control if I buy organically grown foods.  I guess I am a bit of a control freak!  It’s more than that though, it’s easy!  For me I purchased the Magic Bullet, a small food processor that fits neatly on the counter.  I had considered buying those fancy food mills but after reading some of the reviews I decided my money was better spent on the Bullet.  (I’m still unsure whether the plastic in the Bullet is BPA-free or not…see my posts on July 9th for more information on that!)  

What’s on the menu for Lil’ B?  So far she has tried (and liked) avocado, mango, sweet potato, plain yogurt, banana, and pear.  I’ve even mixed a few for some great tasting combinations.  We also have a box of traditional rice cereal (organic of course) but I don’t use it much.  I would rather fix her something fresh.  I’m dying to make my own yogurt but scared to try it!  

Which brings me back to Homemade Baby Food Recipes website.  In addition to the wonderful baby food recipes they have a great monthly newsletter, Baby Bites.  When you sign up for Baby Bites you get a free e-book called Ten Perfect Purees.  They also have a great set of e-books for purchase; Tempting Tiny Taste Buds, the 2009 Homemade Baby Food Recipes Annual, and the Best of the Blog.  This set of e-books is almost 600 pages full of everything you need to know about feeding your baby for the first year and beyond.  It’s more than just recipes.  There are sections on food preparation, food storage, flying with baby food, eczema & baby food, asthma and baby food, and so much more!

Giveaway!  Would you like to win your own copy of Homemade Baby Food Recipes e-book?  Christine has graciously offered TWO copies for TWO lucky readers!  

To enter you MUST do two things: 1) Enter your favorite homemade baby food recipe HERE.  This can be your own or something you saw on Christine’s site.  2) Complete the entry form by clicking HERE.  That’s it, Good Luck!  HINT: To find the answer to the question on the entry form you will need to go to Christine’s site and look under the About Us section.  Happy Hunting!

Win your very own Mommy Necklace.  Click here for details.  To read more on my journey with breastfeeding click here.  

Be sure to become a Fan of both The Eco Chic and Mommy Necklaces on Facebook for an extra entry.  Also, if you are a mother looking for tips on breastfeeding you can go to Mommy Necklaces website for valuable resources.

Would you choose to breastfeed your baby if you knew your favorite celebrity breastfed?  I was looking up some information last night on www.breastfeeding.com and found a list of celebrities who do/did breastfeed.  Is your favorite celeb on the list?

Here are a few that caught my eye:

1. Angelina Jolie
2. Britney Spears
3. Brooke Shields
4. Christina Aguilera
5. Cindy Crawford
6. Debra Messing (and she has twins)
7. Demi Moore
8. Elizabeth Hasselbeck
9. Faith Hill
10. Gwen Stefani
11. Gwyneth Paltrow
12. Kate Hudson
13. Katie Holmes

These ladies all have fabulous bodies…I wonder if breastfeeding helped them loose the pounds?

While I was on Twitter during my lunch break I asked some intriguing questions about breastfeeding.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Do you nurse in public? Where are some of the most interesting places you’ve nursed?  @rbrinner The MTR in Hong Kong…a gondola at the venetian macau…top of the St Louis arch…likely over the North Pole in an airplane.

What is your favorite breastfeeding accessory?  @beanersmama I use nursing tanks all the time and just layer.  He just bites me when I cover him up.

Do you breastfeed and why? @nicolemarr I breastfeed for bonding, health and money reasons. @abusymommy Because I could and it was free.  Formula costs a small fortune. 

What about you?

GIVEAWAY ALERT!  Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for the second contest of The Eco-Summer Blog Party!

Breastfeed: \’breast-fed\ verb, to feed a baby from a mother’s breast.

As a mother one of the first decisions you get to make at the hospital is how you are going to feed your newborn baby.  For me, I had heard all the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding and was convinced that I was going to give it a try.  I was hoping to make it three months.  Instead I made it eleven months, three weeks, and three days (but who’s counting) before I had to ween my son. 

Why did I choose to breastfeed?  I have asthma (always have) and the main reason I breastfed was because I heard that it reduces your childs chance of having asthma.  No one in my family had ever breastfed, none of my friends had breastfed, I knew no one who breastfed!  That was six years ago and today I am breastfeeding our second child (going on 6 months). 

Disclaimer:  Breastfeeding is not always easy!  With my first child he wouldn’t latch on at all so we left the hospital with this strange contraption called a pump.  As a first time mom this can be very discouraging but I really wanted to make it work.  I don’t like to fail.  So I kept it up, pumped milk every few hours, bottle fed my baby breastmilk, and kept practicing latching on.  On a trip to Target I found the Nipple Shield and thought it was worth a try.  Luckily it worked for us.  (*Note…Lactation Consultants don’t recommend using shields without supervision and proper guidance.)  After a month or so our little boy finally caught on to the latch and the rest is history…kinda!  I didn’t have any other major issues until about ten months when I was pumping at work (oh yeah…I was working a full time job and pumping during the days) and the milk looked like creamy tomato soup.  Now…like I said…I knew no one who was breastfeeding!  Who was I going to ask about this one?  After I freaked out for a few hours I called my OBGYN and made an appt to see them.  According to the mid-wife that I saw that day I needed to go in for a mammogram and quit nursing!  What?!?!  I had made it ten months, I wasn’t ready to wean yet!  Well, fortunately my stomach told me to keep looking for answers and that lead me to the local La Leche League.  I found a phone number for a local consultant and called to get her advice.  Thankfully, I did not have to wean.  It was a cracked nipple and it would heal in a few days AND I could continue to breastfeed my baby.  To my surprise it only took a day or two for things to go back to normal and I didn’t follow through with the mammogram or wean my baby.  I did end up weaning him at almost a year when my hubby and I decided to go on a trip alone for our anniversary.  It was perfect timing and I never looked back.  

Take Two:  Fast forward 6 years to January 2009 and I am once again blessed to have another beautiful baby to breastfeed.  This time the hospital was much easier and I was better prepared to feed my baby.  She latched on much better than her older brother but still didn’t latch properly.  I still had to work with her for a few weeks to get her to latch on the right way.  I am learning that each child is different.  She is much rougher on the boobies and pulls the nipple with her as she turns her head to look at the world!  Honestly I feel like Elastigirl from The Incredibles!  Yes, it does hurt sometimes and I’ve already experienced my first cracked nipple with her.  I think she’s teething so that makes things a little more challenging.  Again, it healed in a day and we’re moving on.  

Words of Wisdom: 

1. I have a theory on breastfeeding.  200 years ago what did women feed their babies?  In remote Africa what do women feed their babies?  Mother’s Milk!  There was no formula 200 years ago.  God made our bodies so that we could produce milk to feed our babies.  It’s 100% natural and costs nothing!  It’s not produced in a factory in China or shipped thousands of miles to our local store where it sits for months before we spend precious money to mix it withwater and hope that our babies don’t spit it up withtheir reflux.  It’s a wonderful way to bond with your baby.  Somedays nothing will soothe her better than cuddling up next to my breast and suckling sweet, warm mothers milk until she falls asleep.
2. Trust your instincts!  Only you will know what is right for you and your baby.  If I wouldn’t have trusted my instincts I would have had a mammogram and weaned my baby before either of us were ready.  My son was a little baby and my friends and family always asked me “How do you know he’s getting enough?”  I trusted my instincts.  As most of us know, babies don’t come with directions.  They don’t require 1 oz of milk at 1 month, 2 oz of milk at 2 months, etc.  They (like us) eat differently each day.  Some days they will eat more, other days they will eat less.  You have to have faith in yourself that your baby will know when it’s hungry.  
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  There are professional lactation consultants out there who do this everyday.  I called the local hospital’s lactation consultant yesterday actually for help with the recent cracked nipple incident.  I learned (was reminded actually) that there are support groups for breastfeeding mothers.  I’m planning on attending my first meeting next week to get some ideas on how to handle my difficult baby.  Look online, there are so many resources available FREE online to help breastfeeding mothers.  

This leads me to my next product review and giveaway!  I have recently found Mommy Necklaces.  The owner created these necklaces out of a necessity of sorts, she too struggled with a baby who was curious about the world around them.  Much like my little baby, Raelynn’s baby liked to grab at every necklace she wore.  I’m always afraid that my baby will break my favorite necklaces so I tend to go without jewelry.  Mommy Necklaces are beautifully created and stylish enough to wear any place.  The cording repels water and won’t deteriorate when wet, they are even washable.  The beads are non-toxic acrylic (lead and phthalate free) and have been tested to exceed CPSIA regulations.  Another unique feature is the break away closure.  Your baby can (and will) tug as hard as they want and won’t break your Mommy Necklace.  (*Warning: Mommy Necklace beads can still cause a choking hazard if it were to break.)  I received my own Mommy Necklace last week and I am already in love with it.  It helps to keep my baby focused on the task at hand…breastfeeding!  My only problem, I need one for every outfit so it looks like I’m going to need a few more!  Shhh…don’t tell the hubby!            

Giveaway!  Click HERE to enter to win your very own Mommy Necklace.  Even if you don’t breastfeed this necklace is wonderfully stylish and would be great for any mommy!  Using the very easy entry form you will be asked to enter your name, email address, and answer a question about Mommy Necklaces.  You can earn extra entries by becoming a Fan of both The Eco Chic & Mommy Necklaces on Facebook, Tweeting about the contest, blogging about the contest, adding a party button to your blog/website, etc.  Just let me know how you have shared this contest with your friends!  Winner will be selected at random (using Random.org), contest ends July 4th at midnight (EST).  Good Luck!     

GIVEAWAY ALERT!  Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for the first contest of The Eco-Summer Blog Party!

Let the party begin!  It’s July 1st (Canada Day as I’ve been told by my dear friend Cindy Loo) and that means The Eco-Summer Blog Party (ESBP) is officially under way!  I’ve gotten many questions about the ESBP over the last few weeks by curious readers wanting to know, “What exactly is The Eco-Summer Blog Party?”

To understand what The Eco-Summer Blog Party is you must first understand who I am. 

As a new MOMMY who DOODLES in her spare time I hope to one day DESIGN a wonderful legacy to leave my children.  This MOMMY wears many different NECKLACES each day as I breastfeed my newest little angel (Lil’ B), work my full time job, blog about the environment, and look for great HOMEMADE BABY FOOD RECIPES.  Each and every day I try to make an effort to Reduce, Reuse, and RePEaT my actions from the day before.  It’s not always easy since my life was not HAND PICKED by me but rather by my PUMPKINS that I love so much.  Some days I wish I could escape to ERBA and drink some wonderful ORGANIC wine grown from the TERRA.  Instead I am asked by Big B to CYCLE around the block in the 92 degree heat of Florida.  My friends have called me an ECO-freak, but I prefer the LABEL of Eco Chic.  During the school year you will find me FUNDRAISING for the local PTA or T-ball team.  I rarely have time to pick up the PAPER or enjoy the high CULTURE that I once enjoyed by visiting museums.  I dream of the day my husband will take me to the Greek Isles to see the wonderful DITTANY flower of Crete along with my BABY and little boy.  I try to remember my SOFT sweater when I travel for work, it makes the LANDING much smoother on my head which is propped against the window taking advantage of a few minutes to myself.  I quickly return to reality when my LADYBUG dirty’s her cloth DIAPERS that I’ve been using for a few months now.  In my spare time I am trying to find time to get the PIGGYs soaked and coated with a fresh color of PAINT.  It is my PURE desire to DESIGN a world where my KIDS THINK GREEN and take pride in this wonderful GREEN PLANET that we live on.  The hubby and I will continue to hold our pool PARTIES, cookout with friends, and TRAVEL around the world.  Maybe one day we’ll even take a train from the DEPOT or watch the STELLA BLU in the night sky.

Why are there words in all upper-case?  Well those are the fine sponsors of this party!  Without their help there would be no party and I wanted to start by thanking them all.  If you are a regular reader of The Eco Chic you may have noticed that things look a little different around here.  With the help of my first sponsor, MOMMY DOODLES DESIGN, I have a fresh new blog header, background and logo buttons.  Mommy Doodles (AKA Melanie) is a graphic designer from Massachusetts who I met over a year ago when she was holding a giveaway on her own blog.  I actually won the contest and we’ve been friends ever since.  

Did I say CONTEST?  I did indeed!  The ESBP is full of contests, starting right now!  One lucky winner will receive a blog design and/or redesign including a logo header, background and button.  This also includes one image or clipart download from istockphoto.com (valued at $95) compliments of Mommy Doodles Design. 

Click HERE to enter to win!  A winner will be selected at random (using Random.org).  Contest ends July 14th at midnight (EST).  You must leave your name, email, and answer to the first question to be entered to win.  Extra entries can be earned by:

1. Subscribing to both The Eco Chic & Mommy Doodles blogs.
2. Following both @theecochic & @mommydoodlesblg on Twitter.
3. Become Fans of The Eco Chic & Mommy Doodles on Facebook.
4. Other:  Add our buttons to your blog/site, blog about the contest (or ESBP), tweet about the contest, etc.  Just be sure to leave a link to where you have posted the information. 

The Eco-Summer Blog Party will continue from now until July 15th.  Join me tomorrow (July 2nd) as I explore the world of Breastfeeding!  As a sneak peak at other contests and giveaways here is a picture of what is to come!  See you tomorrow!

You are cordially invited to

The Eco Chic’s

1^st Annual Eco-Summer Blog Party

When:  July 1-15, 2009

Where: www.theecochic.com and also appearing on Facebook and Twitter (@theecochic)

What:  The Eco Chic is kicking off a summer of green with an Eco-Summer Blog Party.  What is a Blog Party?  It’s a combination of networking, marketing, and social media.  For readers it will give you a chance to meet other eco-minded people around the world.  You will learn about new and innovative green products and services.  You may even win one of the many giveaways our sponsors will be providing.  For businesses it is a great no (or low) cost marketing opportunity.  You will be able to reach an audience as far as the Web can reach.  The great thing about the Eco-Summer Blog Party is that everyone is involved.  Readers are encouraged to spread the word to their friends via their own blogs and social media tools.

How to Participate:  For businesses, retailers, authors, artists, bloggers, etc. all you need to do is contact The Eco Chic at theecochic@gmail.com and let me know how I can best help you.  I am looking for variety.  Specifically, I am looking for eco-minded products to test and review, samples and giveaways for my readers, coupon codes or other specials to share with readers.  Don’t have a product but still want to participate, maybe you have an eco-service you want to tell others about.  In addition to traditional blog reviews, I can do interviews, service and website spotlights, or blogger spotlights.  Have a button or ad you think would go nicely on my blog, we can discuss options.  Visit The Eco Chic to see examples of ways I’ve helped others in the past.  If you need references, I can provide those to you as well.

Schedule of Events:  This is only a tentative schedule and events may switch dates and/or new events added. 

July 1: Eco-Summer Blog Party Kick Off & Blog Redesign Unveiling (Mommy Doodles Design)
July 2: Breastfeeding (Mommy Necklaces)
July 3: Foodie Friday (Homemade Baby Food Recipes)
July 4: Entertainment/Simple Changes (To-Go Ware)
July 5: Style (Handpicked Pumpkin)
July 6: Fundraising (TerraCycle & Eco Label Fund)
July 7: Entertainment (Paper Culture)
July 8: Baby Wearing Wednesday (Dittany)
July 9: Plastics/BPA Guest Post (Soft Landing)
July 10: Cloth Diapering (Ladybug Diapers)
July 11: Kids/Style (Piggy Paint)
July 12: Style Guest Post (Pure Design)
July 13: Kids/Books (Kids Think Big)
July 14: Entertainment (Green Planet Parties)
July 15: Travel (Travel Depot)

Update:  The following sponsors have RSVP’d for the Eco-Summer Blog Party!  Don’t miss this party…RSVP today!
http://www.dittanybaby.com  
http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/
http://www.greenplanetparties.com/
http://www.ladybugdiapers.com
http://www.handpickedpumpkin.com
http://www.to-goware.com
http://www.kidsthinkbig.com
http://www.ecolabelfundraising.com
http://www.mommynecklaces.com
and more!

Readers & Bloggers!!!  You too can join the party!  The themes are set and I know that you have your favorites.  Please add the Party Button (see sidebar) to your blog or website and encourage your readers and friends to join the party.  There is something for everyone at the Eco-Summer Blog Party (not just for mommies).  Each day there will be giveaways, coupon codes and contests so be sure to visit daily (even better…subscribe to The Eco Chic in your email so you don’t miss a beat!).  Also, follow The Eco Chic on Twitter and Facebook for extra chances to win!

Do you want to join The Eco-Summer Blog Party?  Invite others to join you by adding the following badges to your own blog.  Let me know that you’ve added a badge to your blog and I may even add you to my blogroll as party of the Party Kick-off Celebrations!  Remember…the Eco-Summer Blog Party begins July 1st!

<a href="http://www.theecochic.com/?page_id=493" mce_href="http://wwwtheecochic.com/?page_id=493"><img border="0" alt="theecochicm" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/theecochic_BlogParty.jpg" mce_src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/theecochic_BlogParty.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://www.theecochic.com" mce_href="http://wwwtheecochic.com"><img border="0" alt="theecochicm" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/TheEcoChic-125x125Button.jpg" mce_src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/TheEcoChic-125x125Button.jpg"/></a>

Be sure to join me next week as I unveil my new Blog Re-Design and kickoff the Eco-Summer Blog Party!  The festivities begin July 1st and run through July 15th!  There will be prizes daily, product reviews, company spotlights, blogger guest postings, and so much more!  We will also celebrating on Facebook and Twitter (@theecochic). 

More teasers coming this weekend!  See you soon!

Does something look different to you?  Don’t be alarmed, The Eco Chic is Under Construction, and will be bigger and better than ever!  I finally took the leap and have asked my blogger buddy (that’s what I call her) and Graphic Designer, Mommy Doodles, to help me redesign The Eco Chic.  I figured that with the upcoming Eco-Summer Blog Party that this would be a great time for a facelift. 

With that comes new opportunities for you all!  I’m in the process of cleaning up my ads and my blogroll.  If you would like to have your blog, company, or product featured on The Eco Chic please email me prior to June 26th.  I am offering  FREE 30 day advertising for those who participate in The Eco-Summer Blog Party!