The EcoChic

So maybe Lil’ B won’t appreciate National Tell a Fairy Tale Day this year (unless she gets to eat the book) but reading is a wonderful gift to our children.  I have been reading to my oldest son since he was just a baby…almost every day.  He’s turned into a very successful reader, so successful that he’s actually reading above his grade level at school. 

Here are some ideas for sharing National Tell a Fairy Tale Day with your children, no matter how old they are. 

1.  Share your favorite fairy tale with your kids.  I wonder if Little Red Ridinghood will become our new favorite story since Lil’ B has red hair? 

2.  Play dress up and turn yourself and your children into characters from a favorite story.  Big brother would have fun dressing up as the big bad wolf. 

3.  Have your kids put on a puppet show of their favorite fairy tale.

4.  Help turn your child’s room into a scene from their favorite fairy tale. 

5.  Make a fairy tale inspired craft.  I really like the Little Red Ridinghood toilet paper characters on DLTK’s website.  What a great way to reuse those pesky TP rolls.

Sprout Baby online store has some cute eco-friendly toys that will help inspire your children to use their imagination.  I really like PlanToys wooden tea set.  Don’t forget to use coupon code SBBL055 at Sprout Baby and save 15% off your first purchase.  I’m part of their Word of Mom program and can earn a little extra money if you enter that code when making your purchase (Thanks!).  After you place your first purchase you can join the Word of Mom program too…look under their affiliate program. 

Now, I think I need to go find a copy of Little Red Ridinghood for my Lil’ Red!  What is your favorite fairy tale?  What will you do to share National Tell a Fairy Tale with your kids today?

It is now 382 days (and counting) into our 2nd journey with breastfeeding and things are still going strong.  I’m still excited to have this bond with Lil’ B today.  My journey the 2nd time around has been different than with my oldest.  Primarily because 98% of the time I work at home. 

For the first 8-9 months I was blessed to be able to have Lil’ B home with me at all times.  After I returned to work at 3mo Lil’ B had an amazing nanny part-time.  Whenever she was hungry the nanny would bring her to me and she would eat.  As the months went on I actually decided to start pumping because I had to travel. 

I am an experienced pumper….with my oldest I had to pump everyday since I worked out of the home.  I had a Medela hand-me-down (actually it was only used 1-2 times before I got it) from a friend.  That was one of the items that I kept to use again.  Unfortunately after just a few short months it started to have some issues.  I was frustrated beyond belief…I rarely used the breast pump but I needed to have one for when I traveled for work.  I never leave for long; usually just a day or two.  Either way, a good dependable breast pump is a necessity. 

I decided after one trip to buy a hand-pump because I just couldn’t see spending any more money on a pump that would get used once a day.  That was a disaster…it was horrible!  It took me almost an hour one trip to get both sides expressed and my arms were killing me. 

Then heaven arrived…my Hygeia EnJoye  breast pump!  The EnJoye is slightly larger than my old Medela but is very similar.  It actually looks more like the pumps that the hospital rents than the personal pumps.  It has an internal rechargeable battery which is a blessing.  My old one took 2C batteries which were always dead…and pumping was WEAK!  With the EnJoye I often forget to plug it in because the battery is so strong.  I’m on a business trip right now (just for one night) and I didn’t even bring the plug.

The pump and all of the parts that would come in contact with breast-milk are all BPA/DEHP Free and safe for your baby.  There is also a button on the front that allows you to record your baby’s voice or cry to help with letdown.  I’m not a big fan of the carrying case though…as a parent who is a frequent flier the bag is rather large and awkward.  I always try to fit the pump into my carry on luggage so I don’t have to carry their bag.

The greatest eco-features of the EnJoye are 1) it’s approved by the FDA for multi-users, and 2) it’s recyclable!  When you no longer need the pump you can sell or donate it to another mom.  All they need to do is replace the plastic tubing and accessories (Retail $35 for accessories).  I’m actually excited that I’m going to be able to pay-it-forward when I’m done with our breastfeeding journey.  The EnJoye has a 3 year 3-year limited warranty…but never fear…if it can’t be fixed you don’t have to landfill your pump!  Hygeia will recycle your used breast pump for you (only Hygeia brands are accepted for recycling).     

And face it…no one really LIKES pumping!  Hygeia has brought a little Joy back into my life with the EnJoye….Thank You!!!  My journey into breastfeeding wouldn’t have lasted this long without you. 

Are you curious about my views and the products I talk about? Be sure to read my Disclosure and Privacy policies.

Since I’m celebrating our 365th day of breastfeeding (i.e. my Lil’ B’s first birthday) and another nasty cold I thought I would share some alternative uses for breast milk. 

1.  Clogged tear ducts and other eye infections.  Simply place a few drops of breast milk in the infected eye and it should clear up the infection.  I actually had to use this when Lil’ B was only a few weeks old and it worked wonders for us.

2.  Chapped or cracked nipples.  Yet another personal use for myself both with Lil’ B and her brother.  Simply allow the breast milk to air dry on the chapped nipple. 

3.  Stuffy nose.  I still haven’t tried this one but since Lil’ B is battling a runny nose and cough I am going to try it today.  I’ve had friends swear by this to help their little ones breath easier.

4.  Ear infections.  I have to admit this one was new but not surprising.  Place a few drops in the infected ear to help speed up the healing time.

5.  Insect bites.  Again, another new use for breast milk to me.  Allow breast milk to air dry on the bite.

6.  Diaper rash and eczema.  This one would be perfect for use with cloth diapers too since you can’t use heavy ointments.  Again, simply allow breast milk to air dry on the rash prior to placing the new diaper on your baby.

7.  Contact lens solution.  Yep, try a little breast milk next time you run out of contact lens solution.  It’s a great moisturizer.

8.  Make up remover.  Breast milk can be used as a gentle, natural make up remover and moisturizer. 

9.  Donate your milk.  Yes, there are many milk banks that will accept breast milk for both infants and adults.  Did I just say adults? 

10.  Caner treatment.  Infants, children and adults can possibly benefit from breast milk as a cancer treatment.  When I was researching alternative uses for breast milk I found several touching stories where adults were healed of their cancer by adding breast milk to their diet each day. 

Now, I know that some of you are seriously looking at me like I’ve lost my mind!  The research is out there and mom’s all around the world are using what God gave us to help treat mild (or severe) ailments naturally.  I must also say that while research does say the ‘breast is best’, that not all women can breast feed.  I respect your right as a parent to make the best choices for you and your family. 

For us, both our children have been breastfed.  Our son was breastfed for 11 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days.  For me that was quite an accomplishment since I worked outside of the home and none of my friends or family had breastfed before me.  Our Lil’ B who is celebrating her 365th day of breastfeeding today will continue to breastfeed. 

For how long?  Only time will tell.  Reseach is supporting extending breastfeeding past the first year.  There are women who still breastfeed their young children…some up to 8 or 9 years.  Again…that is a personal decision for the parents and children.

My plan is to continue for as long as it benefits both myself and my child.  Happy Birthday Lil’ B!

Today we celebrate the day that our baby girl blessed our family!  About this time last year I was welcoming her to the world and introducing her to our family and friends.  Our lives have not been the same since!

Today we not only celebrate her first 365 days but we also celebrate our first year of cloth diapering (almost a whole year at least) and 365 days of breastfeeding! 

I thank the Lord everyday for all that you have brought into our lives!  Happy Birthday Lil’ B!

I’m really trying this year to not get carried away with all the commercialism of the season.  I’ve realized this year that my son takes a lot of things for granted because he’s never ‘needed’ anything that he hasn’t gotten.  It’s not an easy thing but we’re working on giving from the heart. 

I mentioned a few days ago how I am trying to give my son something from the heart each day for Advent.  Special time with me is something that I’m sure he will remember and value when he is older.  So far we’ve made rice crispy treats together, we’ve decorated our tree together, and a few other things.  Tonight I treated my kids to another special family night.

The weather in FL was fabulous so I decided to pick up McDonald’s and take the kids to the beach after school.  I had forgotten how early the sunsets this time of year so we only had 20 minutes before we were asked to leave the park (we went to our favorite State Park beach) because it was closing.  It was ok though, the weather on the island wasn’t as nice as it was on the mainland.  It was already misty and windy so we couldn’t stay long anyways.  It was just long enough for the kids to put there feet in the sand and listen to the sounds of the ocean. 

Since we were so short on time at the beach we didn’t eat until after we left…so I stopped on the Causeway Beach to finish watching the sun go down.  It’s so strange how you can drive one mile and loose the mist and dreariness.  It was nice to see the sun go down.

Next up on the events of the evening…drive through a local neighborhood and look at Christmas lights!  What an un-eco-friendly way to end our night! LOL!  Sometimes holiday traditions and eco-friendly don’t go hand in hand…but it’s still special!  Here is one of my favorite light displays…

I wonder what other special things I can do with my kids?  What will I do next? 

Tis’ the season for our children to WANT, WANT, WANT!  I struggle each year around this time to remind my 6 year old that it’s not all about presents and Santa.  He had a homework project this week to talk about the holiday that we celebrate (Christmas) and why it’s important to him.  His teacher is including Winter Holidays in her lesson plan and each child gets to contribute with the holiday that they celebrate.  While working on his project I realized that he still doesn’t ‘get it’ with the reason we celebrate Christmas. 

Christmas of course is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in the Christian religion.  One way that people help celebrate the holiday is with Advent Calendars.  You can find them in most retail stores filled with candy hiding behind little cardboard doors.  The last two years I’ve made our Advent Calendar.  Last year I had a different part of the Christmas Story from the bible to read each day…leading up to the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day.  I really enjoyed that version because in addition to counting down to the big day Big B got to learn a little each day. 

This year I finally broke down and purchased an actual Advent Calendar (I fell in love with one shaped like Mickey Mouse from Disney World) but I still want to make it special.  I just caught up reading some of my favorite blogs and I just had to share these ideas with you all.  One of our family friends is Genie who writes a great family and Christian blog The Blazi Gang had a wonderful idea on how to make the Advent Calendar a little more special.  She decided to make a list of 24 activities for her family to complete like 2) Build a fort and have dinner in it, Make a Christmas craft, and 22) Go downtown and look at lights.  You can see the full list on her blog or you can make up your own list.  I’m going to try to start this tomorrow because I think it’s a fabulous idea to show that giving is not only about giving gifts….but also about giving of yourself and your time. 

Another blog I like to skim each day is the Crafty Crowbecause they collect great craft ideas from around the blogosphere and share them.  They always have great holiday ideas and I found one today from a blog called Maya Made on making an Advent Calendar from toilet tissue tubes.  Last year Maya made a similar Advent Calendar and she had a ticket in each tube with a special activity for the family members. 

So then I decided to search the web for some other Advent Calendar ideas using scraps and trash.  How about these:

Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar

Mini Muffin Tin Advent Calendar

Bottle Cap Advent Calendar Magnets

Recycle Bin Advent Calendar

Altoid Tin Advent Calendar

I could probably search all night but the truth is I don’t have a ton of time to make something new for this year AND Lil’ B just woke up with a horrible hacking cough.  I guess I’ll go snuggle up to her before I drift off to sleep.  What are your family traditions around the holidays?  Do you have an Advent Calendar that is unique…I’d love for you to share it with me.

Today I spent an hour at my son’s school with about 40 first graders talking about trash!  The Great American Teach In is a time for parents and community members to come into the schools and show the kids what we do for a living.  I love talking to the kids but I was a bit intimidated when I drove up…there was a garbage truck, a helicopter, and a police car in the parking lot!  And here I come with my reusable shopping bag full of goodies.  I was afraid they wouldn’t be interested but they loved it.

I decided that this year I would talk about the 3R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!  The media tends to push recycling but they don’t mention the other 2 R’s.  I started by asking kids if they knew where their trash goes to…that big hole in the ground we call a landfill…and told them that hundreds of years from now their trash will still be there!  Then I talked about the Mobius Strip (the recycling symbol) and what it means.  Did you know that it was created in 1970 by a 23 year old college student; Gary Anderson? 

I showed the kids some simple ways to reduce and reuse their waste.

-Reusable bags
-Reusable water bottles
-Using both sides of the paper
-Using trash for craft projects

I even prepared a small craft project for the kids.  I took some of our cardboard boxes from the recycling bin (cereal, pop tarts, mac-n-cheese, etc) and cut them to the size of a bookmark.  Each kid got to draw and color a picture on the backside and I finished them off by adding a ribbon to the top.  It was so cute to see the kids all excited about playing with trash! 

I can’t wait for next year to visit again; I wonder what I’ll talk about then?

Whether you are considering cloth diapers or already using them one of the reasons for choosing cloth is because of your concern for the environment.  You can’t see adding 6,000 disposable diapers to the landfill.  But you’ve also heard that cloth diapers cause diaper rash and that scares you.    

We’ve all been there, our little ones wake from their naps and what do we find inside their diapers? 

A big red diaper rash! 

Admit it when you see it for the first time you feel like the worlds worst parent.  When my son was a baby we used disposables and his little bum was always covered with a rash.  No matter how much cream I lathered on his bum it was always red.  Back then the world of cloth diapers was not much more than pre-folds and covers and the only person I knew who used cloth was my mom!  Our pediatrician (thinking it was caused by the chemicals in the wipes) told us to use cloth wipes (wash clothes) and water.  It was months before I tried regular wipes again but the rashes still appeared.  This experience was one of the primary reasons I wanted to try cloth diapers with my daughter.

What causes diaper rash?  There are actually many causes of diaper rash and we may need to channel Sherlock Holmes to figure it out. 

*Wetness
*Rubbing/Chafing
*Chemicals in urine/stool
*Teething
*Diet
*Perfumes
*Detergents
*Antibiotics
*Fabrics
*Illness

And I’m pretty sure that there are more reasons that I’ve missed!  Did you know that the rate of diaper rashes have increased since the development of disposable diapers?   Did you know that diaper rashes are most common in babies between 9-12 months?  Did you know that ALL babies get at least one diaper rash in their lifetime? 

If you are lucky enough to determine WHY they have a diaper rash you are now plagued with another challenge in the world of cloth diapers.  Diaper rash creams can ruin your cloth diapers!  The bases of most creams are oils which will leave a residue on your diapers and can cause them to repel…your worst nightmare!      

Don’t put away those cloth diapers yet, you can help your baby and still use your favorite cloth diapers!  Here are some tips to help return your babies bum to soft and smooth:

*Find a good cloth diaper friendly diaper rash cream.  The traditional creams that you can find at your local big box retailers are probably NOT your best choice.  The cream we use on Lil’ B is more like a lotion than a cream and has always healed Lil’ Bs rashes within a day or two.  Ask your favorite cloth diaper retailer what they recommend. 

*Don’t have a good rash cream; try one of many home remedies that can treat diaper rash.  Did you know that coconut oil and olive oil can be used to treat rashes?  Or that tea tree oil can be used to treat yeast infection rashes? 

*Use a liner between your baby and the cloth diaper.  You can use flushable liners or make your own cloth liners from fabric scraps (old t-shirts or blankets work well).  When using a cloth liner, be sure to wash them separate from your cloth diapers since the creams can transfer to your diapers.

*Change their diaper more frequently.  Your goal is to keep them as dry as possible.

*Practice elimination communication or diaper free time.  Regardless of the type of diaper rash the best way to treat it is by allowing their bum to air out.  Even 20-30 minutes every few hours can help keep the wetness from their red bum.  Think of this as the ultimate in environmentally friendly diapering. 

The most important thing to remember is that all babies get diaper rashes; they are common!  Have patience and try to eliminate the causes of the rash.  Don’t forget why you chose to use cloth diapers to begin with.  They are better for your baby, better for your wallet, and better for the environment!

I wrote this article for the Parenting By Nature’s Blog to Inspire contest.  If selected as a finalist you can vote for me starting December 3, 2009.  Wish me luck and be sure to share this post with your friends and family.  

Giveaway Alert!  Bamboo Bums is giving away $25 Bum Bucks (e-gift certificate) to one lucky reader! All readers win with a coupon code good until Dec. 15th! Details at the end of post!

I’m quickly learning that in the world of cloth diapers the possibilities are endless!  You can have your prefolds, flat folds, pockets, all in ones, all in twos, one size, sized, velcro, aplix, snaps, loopy doos, microsuede, bamboo, hemp, organic, cotton….well you get the picture!  It can be a little overwhelming for the newbies but it’s actually quite exciting for the seasoned cloth diapering mamma (or pappa!).  I was just reading an article today about using receiving blankets and t-shirts as diapers! 

I have also come to realize that cloth diapering parents can differ in what they prefer.  Some parents are really after the most economical cloth diapers that are out there while others are looking for the easiest options available.  If there is one thing I’ve learned it’s that there is no perfect diaper and no perfect system…you really have to do what’s best for you…and only you know what that is! 

Our newest fluff is a deep red Bamboo Bum!  I decided on red because it was fall, which means football, and that’s our team colors.  When our new fluff arrived I had two initial thoughts…1) OMG this is soft, and 2) what the hell am I suppose to do with all these snaps!  Every Saturday this fall Lil B has been sporting her red Bamboo Bum Utility Diaper under her UGA attire!  During the week I’ve tried it for day and for night.  Laura (the genius behind Bamboo Bums) told me I should also try it as a swim diaper and for a potty trainer too…but I haven’t gotten around to either of those yet!  (Mostly because it’s fall and the water is too cold…and Lil’ B is only 10mo!!)  But rest assured we’ve tried our Bamboo Bum solid for 2 months.

Let’s start with my first impression…bamboo is SOFT!  It seriously feels like a really nice stuffed animal.  I absolutely love putting the bamboo next to Lil B’s bum.  The material is actually a blend of viscose made from organically grown bamboo, organic cotton, and polyester.  It also has the traditional PUL waterproof outer layer to keep your little bear dry.  Bamboo is one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics because it replenishes itself rapidly…growing at a rate of up to 4 feet per day!   

And my second impression…since the majority of my stash is made up of velcro I struggle with snaps.  I have a few other snap diapers and I’ve learned to love them…so I wasn’t too scared….but there are A LOT of snaps!  I’m counting 34 snaps right now and that can be a little intimidating for a velcro mamma!  But I haven’t let this one beat me.  The first time I used it I was ready to send it back to Laura and admit my defeat…but she was very supportive and linked me to her tutorials.  She also gave me some tips on making sure I had the best fit for Lil B.  The first time we had some leaks but that was because I didn’t have the snaps adjusted properly.  I am happy to announce that we have had no more leaks since that first day! 

Unfortunately for me…I tried Bamboo Bums at THE worst time…Lil B is 10 months old and is EXTREMELY WIGGLY!  She never sits still and I can barely put a velcro diaper on her…let alone a snap! 

I like the fact that the soaker pad snaps into the diaper cover.  It saves so much time from having to stuff my pocket diapers.  The Bamboo Bum is said to fit babies from 8-40lbs and with the amount of snaps I can see how this would be possible.  This diaper comes with one infant soaker and one large soaker.  For nighttime I use both soakers for the maximum absorbency!  It may be a little bulky but it works. 

Miscellaneous Facts About Bamboo:
1.  Bamboo is 60% more absorbent than cotton.
2.  Bamboo is naturally anti-microbial.
3.  Bamboo is naturally anti-fungal.
4.  Bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial.
5.  Bamboo is biodegradable. 

Buy It Now!  Want to try a Bamboo Bum at a discounted price?  Use the coupon code ecochic for a 15% off savings from now until Dec. 15, 2009.

Win It!  One lucky reader will win $25 Bum Bucks (like an e-gift certificate).  In addition to their Utility Diaper Bamboo Bums also sells bum cloths (bamboo wipes), wet bags, and prefolds.  To enter you must visit Bamboo Bums and tell me one reason why Laura prefers snaps over velcro!  Leave your comments below and then you can enter the bonus entries!

Bonus Entries:
1.  Follow Bamboo Bums and The Eco Chic on Twitter.
2.  Become a Fan of Bamboo Bums and The Eco Chic on Facebook.
3.  Tweet about this giveaway.  Must include @TheEcoChic, @BambooBums, and link back here in your tweet. (Max of 5 tweets per giveaway!)
4.  Subscribe to The Eco Chic via Feedburner, Google Reader, or other feed reader. 
5.  Add my button to your blog.
6.  Blog about this giveaway.
7.  Enter one of my other giveaways.

Leave a seperate comment for each entry (and link if applicable) and be sure to leave your email address in your entry somewhere. 

Contest ends on November 23, 2009 at noon (EST).  I will announce the winner around 8pm EST during the cloth diaper chat on Twitter!

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS HERE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!

Bamboo Bums is also an Extreme Sponsor in the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt!  During the month of November you too can search for little pink owl/diaper icons on sponsor sites for a chance to win some amazing prizes!  I’ve actually enjoyed visiting the sponsor pages and learning about all of the fun products that are available online.  I now know what Hyena Cart is! LOL!

This post is sponsored by Bamboo Bums who sent us a Utility Diaper for review.  Bamboo Bums is providing the giveaway.  The opinions in this post are my own and were not influenced in any way.

I enjoyed my Saturday Morning Musings so much I’ve decided to make it a regular feature on The Eco Chic! 

This mornings is going to be quick though because my children did not let me sleep in!  Hubby had to work this morning so as soon as he left at 5:45am my morning began…and it went something like this:

6:00am:  “Mommy, my tooth came out all by itself!” His top front tooth has been REALLY loose for a few days and last night ended with tears because it wouldn’t come out.

6:05am:  Lil’ B decided to join in the fun and wake up too!

6:06am:  Started to feed Lil’ B, listened to Big B talk about his tooth (loudly), changed Lil’ Bs diaper, watched them play for a few minutes together in the bed….pulling my hair, climbing on top of each other, and all the other fun things kids do in the morning when their mother wants to sleep!

6:24am:  Told Big B to call his Grandmother!  LOL!  That should be funny, right?  She did tell me last night she was going to hit a big sale at 7am…they should be up by now. 

6:29am:  Heard Grandma tell me how lucky I was that they were up!  I just wanted them to experience all the joy that I was experiencing. 

6:30am:  Put Lil’ B back in her crib and told Big B to go play quietly until 7am!  I needed a few more minutes of beauty rest…

6:54am:  After listening to them play quietly together in her crib for 20-some odd minutes I decided to get up and write this post!  Big B has been looking over my shoulder the whole time asking why I’m writing about him on The Eco Chic! 

7:05am (now):  I’m going to get my day started!  Happy Saturday!!!