Wear your baby and enjoy hands free motherhood. At least for a little while!

Baby wearing is and has been practiced around the world for thousands of years. Wearing your baby is the action of the definition of human bonding. It reduces crying and colic, enhances learning and bonding; and best of all allows you to carry your baby hands free! I wore my little bird in a wrap sling for about 7 months straight, while working, shopping, hiking and traveling. Pretty much until he was too big to just pop in and go. (darn it, how they grow!) It was great for nursing and napping without having to stop what I was doing, and it was so comfortable and secure, I felt like I could run a marathon with it on.(if only I could actually RUN a marathon...)It's great for Dads, Grandparents, and caregivers too! Ok-So here are the goods! The Organic wrap from Sleepy Wrap. The key to a great wrap sling is the stretchiness. When it has a good amount of give to the fabric, you can put it in tightly, put the baby in, keeping them securely bundled up right next to your heart!
It may seem a bit daunting at first to look at roughly 5 yards of fabric and ponder how to put it on, but this yummy wrap comes with detailed instructions for how to put it on, and several different carrying positions. When all else fails, you can always go to Youtube for video instructions by searching for "wrap sling". The Pump Station even gives free, weekly sling clinics! (they rule!) *A trick the lovely ladies at the Hollywood Pump Station told me; once you get the sling on, just leave it on. Put the baby in and take them out as you need, but then you don't need to worry about taking it off and putting it back on continuously. Don't worry though, after a few times, you'll be a pro, and you'll be slinging (couldn't resist!) it's praises! Only $59.95 for all of this Orgainc goodness, and it comes in Natural, Khaki, or Black (my personal fave-goes with everything) Buy it here!
Sleepy Wrap's tag line is "The best place after the womb" I couldn't agree more!
This company walks the walk too. They generously support and donate to not for profit organizations around the country and France, such as La Leche League and WIC programs (Women Infant Children). Inspiring!

Take care of those sore, leaky breasts!

There's nothing worse than an ill fitting bra. Even more so when you're filling it with engorged, sore, or leaking breasts! Try this: The super soft, Organic cotton Sleep Bra by 1 in the Oven. It's the only Organic sleep bra you'll find with discreet pockets on the inside to put breast pads in. Perfect for new moms who want extra bust support at night during their pregnancy. You just slip it on, no hooks or clips! (I love that part) Great for breastfeeding after your baby is born, just pull aside to feed that hungry sucker. It even has a plantable hang tag that grows flowers! How can you resist? Comes in Black, Lavender, and Natural for $42 at Supermomz.com And to "stuff" them, because blouses with milk stains are so uncool, try Organic wool breast pads by Better for Babies. Amazingly soft and effective, with two layers of organic merino wool jersey, they're trim-fitting under clothing, yet still absorbent. Set of two $9 at globalenfant.com

Reduce and reuse with recycled Maternity clothes and consignment!

I stumbled across this great site the other day, and wanted to share it! Two best friends and mothers from Raleigh, NC, started Belly Bundles, a maternity consignment boutique, after spending a significant amount of money on maternity clothes and getting very little wear out of them. Very Eco savvy! They recognized the need for consigned clothing and accessories in 2008, and now Belly Bundles currently has drop-off locations for consignors in Birmingham, AL; Charlottesville, VA; Richmond, VA; Charleston, WV and Raleigh, NC. Items can also be shipped to 10616 Marabou Court, Raleigh, NC 27614.
Start shopping now! I saw a yummy, olive, cordorouy jacket perfect for Fall, for $60 that was originally $120!
If you've got maternity clothes and no pregnant friend to pass them on to, send them in and make some cash, while knowing that your clothes are not ending up in a landfill, and some other hot pregnant chick will get as many compliments on that great top or jeans as you did! (It's all about paying it forward ladies, you belong to the best club ever now. With a lifetime membership!!)
There is a one time consignor's fee of $10 payable at time of consignment, and you will receive 50% of the actual selling price for all items sold. See all of the details here. If you are interested in becoming a consignor you can email them at info@bellybundles.com.

Instant happiness with Polaroid!

Nothing to me is as classic, cool, or iconic as a Polaroid picture. Everything is digital these days! I actually reach for my phone first when I want to snap a pic of my fast moving toddler, and the last time I had my digital photos printed to put into frames, that same toddler was barely walking... BUT, in April of this year, Polaroid brought Instant back by introducing The Polaroid 300! It has great added features like four lighting settings and an auto-flash, so your photos will be perfect every time. The only drawback (I'm being picky here) is that the pictures aren’t the same size as we remember, they’re now ‘business card’ sized with a picture size: 2.1” x 3.4" and an image size: 1.8” x 2.4”, but hey, it's a start! The cameras come in red, blue or black for $89.99, and ten packs of film will cost you $9.99 each. You can purchase online here!
If you happen to be a purist, and you prefer the old 3.5" x 4.2" size photos, Go for the 600 Series. It has a focus-free lens for shots as close as three feet (36 inches) and the autoflash helps to illuminate pictures in any light with red-eye reduction mode. It also features a digital LCD picture counter and feature setting display.(those good old days just got better, no?) It is a bit more pricey, the camera sells at @ $114 and the film goes for a whopping $165 for 3 packs (30 exposures) on Amazon. Either way, get shooting and spread some Instant happiness!

Eco-kids natural art supplies ignite imagination!

This company is so awesome! Everyone loves "play dough", but who wants the list of chemicals you can't pronounce, artificial coloring, and fragrance? Not I!
Eco-Kids has created an all natural molding dough handmade (they still make it at home from mom's recipe!)with flour, salt, cream of tartar, organic rosemary oil, vitamin E oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, potassium sorbate, citric acid, natural and organic fruit, plant and vegetable extracts from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomatoes. Yum! This stuff is genius. If it gets a bit dry, just rub some olive oil in it, if it gets into the carpet (now, how would that happen?) use warm water and a sponge to remove. There is even a Gluten free Eco-Dough for babes with wheat allergies! They offer rolling pins from the North American woods that they cut and brand by hand in Maine, and it works great with cookie cutters!
The husband and wife team that is Eco-kids also offers eco-paint; a powder paint handmade with flour, cornstarch, seaweed, natural and organic fruit, plant and vegetable extracts from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomatoes (also available in a gluten free formula), eco-colored pencils; made from recycled newspaper, wax, natural mineral pigments and glue derived from corn and potatoes, and eco-art pads; made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials and agricultural waste. This “treeless” paper is made from the discarded stalks of banana trees (or pinzotes), which would otherwise have gone to waste.
I mean, seriously!! Let's get artsy!
$12-$30(for 5, 4oz containers) Buy directly here, or locally in LA at the yummy Little Seed 219 North Larchmont Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90004. Not in LA? check out the store locator for a place near you.

Coal Train Railroad Jazzes up the babes!

So I am in my car running a few errands WITHOUT baby in back(say what??), it's a gorgeous day(of course, I live in L.A.), the CD player's up loud, and it suddenly dawns on me that I'm belting out all of the words to "My bellybutton stays the same". I'd been listening and singing along to my son's favorite CD without even realizing it! This is the brilliance of Coal Train Railroad, a collection of jazz songs created just for kids! Written from a child’s perspective and covering such important topics as bellybuttons, juice, sharing, and snuggling, the songs are inspiring kids all over the world to dance, play, and use their voices to riff along with the musicians. My personal fave is called "I need a nap" (you do the math). It is produced by bassist Chris Donohue (Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Collective Soul) and features the charmingly sweet, playful voice of Katy Bowser.
I have the extreme honor of knowing the genius Chris Donohue and his family, and can vouch for all of the hard work, inspired creativity, and incredible musicianship that has been poured into the rails that make the Coal Train go!
What I love best, is that it doesn't dumb anything down for the kiddies. Yes, the subjects are kid-related ("It's hard to listen"), but the music is real, un-watered down Jazz! They say kid's brains are like sponges, why not give them a head start and a taste for all genres of music now while the getting is good? Maybe you'll be yelling at them to turn down the Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday in the dreaded teen years.
A mother can hope, right?
$0.99 per track or $8.91 for the album on itunes. If you live in Nashville, check them out live at one of their many local gigs! Woo Woo!

Earthlust bottles: Eco friendly art to drink!

The US Consumes 1500 Plastic Water Bottles Every Second!
Out of the 50 billion bottles of water being bought each year, 80% end up in a landfill, even though recycling programs exist.
17 million barrels of oil are used in producing bottled water each year.
I came across Earthlust water bottles last year when looking for a stainless steel alternative to aluminum, and I was absolutely blown away by their gorgeousness!
Stainless steel is a neutral metal and doesn't leach - that's why silverware and cookware are made of steel. Aluminum bottles need to be lined to prevent the metal from leaching into your water (which may be harmful) and imparting that "metal" taste.
This awesome, San Francisco family company started making these handmade bottles when their first baby was born. They use BPA-free safe polypropylene #5 caps, and non-toxic paints on all of their limited edition and ever changing stunning designs.(the crow is a picture from a family walk they took on Treasure Island in San Francisco!)
It's still summer, and it's hot out there! With Earthlust bottles, you'll be inspired to stay hydrated just to keep looking at the artwork!
$16(13oz)-$21(1L) Buy them directly here, or buy local at Atmosphere 1728 North Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, 90027