The Handmadens Lil Mim GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Handmadens Lil Mim GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

ADORABLE Lil Mim!

I have discovered a talented Waldorf Doll seamstress--her blog is:
http://www.thehandmaden.blogspot.com/
She also has a shop on etsy.com.
I cannot recommend her enough--and she has the CUTEST ORIGINAL doll design, called "LIL' MIM".
Check out the link above to enjoy this cutie :)

Wooden Toys for Kids

Wooden Toys for Kids

This holiday season, parents will flock to stores to buy all types of gifts for their children. We’ve all seen the videos of parents fighting over the hottest new figurine or doll. This year, shirk the plastic type toys and instead invest in some wooden toys.

Wooden toys were the first type of toys kids knew. Dads would whittle a piece of wood to create toys in the shapes of animals, wooden dolls, puppets on strings, and toy cars. Kids would play for hours with these toys. Once the kids outgrew them, they could be passed on to younger kids.

Wooden toys have not lost their luster or durability but they have been passed over for the more colorful plastic types that talk and move. When kids are young, the one thing they have is their imagination. Wooden toys inspire the use of the imagination during play.

Wooden toys are also environmentally friendly. Many are used in their natural wooden state. Paints used on eco friendly toys are non-toxic and safe for kids.

When other toys are broken or the kids get tired of them, they are thrown away. Each year something new will replace the old favorite and they will no longer like it as much. In a landfill, those toys just sit and take up space.

Lots of toys that are thrown away still have their batteries inside. Toys that are filled with substances still contain them when they are disposed of. These chemicals can be released into the ground as the housings break down. This poses a potential hazard.

When wooden toys are broken, they can be fixed. If you know someone good with their hands, they can fix it for you. The point is that you don’t have to throw them away. Wooden toys can be passed down from generation to generation.

They maintain their shape and if scratched, the imperfection can be sanded out. Wooden toys hold together better than modern toys created on an assembly line. Small parts that break off of new toys can choke a young child.

If wooden toys are old and no longer usable, they can be disposed of. Because they are made of natural wood, they can be chopped up and used in compost. Colored wooden toys can’t be used for that, but maybe they can be refurbished and donated to local charitable organizations.

Introduce kids to wooden toys when they are young. Puzzles come in wooden and paper shapes instead of plastic. Most wooden toys have rounded edges so they are safer to play with and handle. Even if they gnaw on wood it won’t hurt them.

Choose wooden toys for the young’uns. They are environmentally friendly, safe for young children, durable, and repairable if they are damaged.

Nautural Dyes for Homemade Play Dough

In an earlier blog I explored different homemade play dough recipes, but I've discovered some GREAT natural coloring ingredients for safe-to-eat (though not very tasty, LOL) play dough for your little one!

A quick reminder of one play dough recipe:
1 cup flour, 3/8 cup salt, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil...and any of the following natural dyes:

BROWN: 3/8 cup plus one tablespoon hot water and 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
FUCHSIA: 3/8 hot beet juice (you can use the liquid from a can of beets)
ORANGE: 3/8 cup hot water and 1 tablespoon paprika
YELLOW: 3/8 cup hot water and 1 teaspoon turmeric

Make sure you store your play dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator!

Clean GREEN this Holiday for your Little One!

As the holidays approach, we want to make sure that our homes are prepared for visitors and family. It brings to mind the spring cleaning frenzy we participate in once winter is over. Now, we are cleaning out the house to make way for holiday decorations, smells, and warm feelings. Here are a few ideas to use when deciding how you will clean your home this year.

Chemicals used to clean our homes are harming our health and many don’t even know it. The cleaning agents rub out soap scum and degrease grime on the stove but they also give off fumes that hamper our breathing and fill our home with unhealthy things. This year, get back to basics with some natural cleaning alternatives that still do the job.

We underestimate the power of the simple things. If it doesn’t have ten different unpronounceable chemicals on the label, we think it may not be effective. Natural chemicals and stain fighters take a bit more elbow grease but they do work.

Try baking soda for instance. Baking soda can be used as an abrasive to clean the tub and shower. When combined with water, it begins to eat away at the dirt. Use a scrub brush to remove the softened dirt and wash it away.

What about vinegar? Vinegar is an all-purpose cleaner that most people don’t think about using. Vinegar can be used to clean windows, mirrors, other glass surfaces and to unclog the drain.

For windows, clean them with a bucket of hot water. This softens anything on the surface so the vinegar can do its work. Clean the window with some pure white vinegar. Afterwards, wipe dry with some newspaper.

Vinegar in combination with baking soda will unclog the drain. The bubbling action removes hair and other scum from the drain. Pour the baking soda inside the drain using a funnel or other instrument. Slowly pour the vinegar down the drain.

You will hear and smell as the two come in contact with each other. Wait about fifteen minutes and then flush with hot water. Repeat as often as needed to get rid of the clog.

Lemon is a good bleach alternative. Rub half a lemon on discolored grout between ceramic tiles to return it to its natural color. It also works on shower tiles and shower doors. Lemon is added to most household cleaners so why not cut out the chemicals and use pure lemon? Natural cleaning brushes can be purchased to use in conjunction with natural cleaners.

The chemical load of your home will be greatly reduced and the air will be cleaner. Speaking of cleaner air, give up those spray air fresheners in favor of beeswax candles. They provide a pleasant natural scent as they burn. Beeswax candles also trap odors in the air and neutralize them.

Don’t worry stocking up on chemical cleaners to get the house ready for visitors. Use all natural agents instead, most of which are already around the house.

GREEN Christmas Gifts (Eco Friendly)

The world is going green. That’s not a bad thing. When we respect the environment it respects us. Besides, the fewer chemicals floating around in the air, the better our bodies feel as well. For Christmas this year, consider giving some of the folks on your list a less tangible but more sentimental gift.

You know the people in your circle better than anyone. For those who would appreciate an environmentally correct gift there are a few ideas to choose from. The first is making charitable donations in their names.

Everyone is not as appreciative of donation gift giving, so be sure that the recipients are the sentimental type. People who like to donate to charities and campaign for causes are more likely to find this a worthy type of Christmas gift. If you know their favorite charity, contribute in their name. Adopt a whale, adopt a dog or cat, or donate money in their name to the local homeless shelter or non-profit theater. These organizations can send you a confirmation that can be placed in a Christmas envelope and presented to the people on your list.

Who says that a Christmas gift has to fit into a package? Instead of bringing the gift to them, bring them to the gift. This Christmas, think of gifts that won’t leave any waste behind.

Instead of buying a CD for a friend who likes music, treat them to a concert. Wrap up two tickets to an upcoming concert or a night of jazz on the town. Live music sounds better than recorded anyway. This is an excuse to dress up in our best evening wear.

Tickets for other shows are appropriately eco friendly as well. Take the kids to the zoo, the aquarium, or a science show as a part of their Christmas present. Younger kids seem to appreciate this type of activity more.

For a person who wants to go “green” help them out with a useful Christmas gift. Call it a “go green” starter pack. The present can be as simple as a composting bin for someone who likes to work outside. Use a gift basket to display the gifts. A fruit or nut basket leaves only the basket behind when the gift is gone.

Give new or soon-to-be parents a green "starter" set from amongst your favorite baby products at UndergroundBaby.net! You might help them replace their not-so-green disposable diapers with easy (and earth friendly)All-in-one Diapers. Even a cute Organic Holiday Outfit or baby blanket would benefit the earth and please new parents!

For Christmas, it is not so much about what we take but what we give. With eco friendly gifts, we are giving back to the environment and taking only what we need.

Choosing the Best Christmas Card

We send sentiment to people in our lives that we care about. And Christmas is definitely a time were we want to connect and express our feelings to family and friends. It is important to let others know that we are thinking of them during the holidays. But should we send a paper card or an electronic one? Here are some pros and cons for each.

Paper cards

Paper greeting cards have been around for at least a hundred years. It is cheaper than a telephone call and people can choose to keep our sentiments if they wish. Christmas cards say what we would like to but can’t seem to put into words. The fun begins when we shop for the cards and choose just the right one for someone we care about.

In that regard, Christmas cards meet a need. Many companies are striving to be more environmentally friendly by using recycled paper for their cards. The argument against recycled paper is that it is not as strong as virgin wood pulp. That may be a consideration for paper grocery bags but for cards, the strength is in the wording not what they are printed on. Purchasing greeting cards on recycled paper supports the recycling industry as a viable alternative to plastic and other materials.

On the other hand, after the holidays, paper cards end up in the trash along with wrapping paper and other items. Some people recycle but most throw everything away in the regular trash to get rid of it. This paper goes to the landfill and stays their indefinitely.

Yes, paper is made from trees and trees are organic and therefore biodegradable. Unfortunately, in a landfill, the conditions are not appropriate for that kind of biodegradation to occur. Paper hands around as long as plastic in a landfill.

E-cards

The electronic card is the greatest innovation. It helps out those of us who forget to send out paper greeting cards in a timely fashion. An electronic card can be sent on December 23rd and arrive on the twenty-fourth. They make noise, show interactive scenes and can be personalized to say whatever we want.

Online, people get to choose from free card offerings or pay for more detailed cards for Christmas or the service to be able to send cards at any time and for any occasion. E-cards can be saved on the computer and viewed as many times as you want.

Electronic card programs eliminate the need to go to the store for cards. Some people use those. These cards can be created and sent to others. People do print them out and that contributes to the trash situation in the landfill.

Which is better, e-cards or paper? That is up to you. Be responsible with your choices and instead of throwing out those paper cards, find creative ways to reuse them.

Responsible Holiday Shopping

For many, Christmas has become a commercial holiday. Instead of being a season of giving, we have bought into the media circus and it has become a season of greed and excess. This year tailor your shopping to be a bit more responsible in the items that you purchase.

Shopping responsibly doesn’t stop at spending frugally for what we need or want. It is also a matter of global implication. By that, we mean that we look at the people behind the products that we invest our monies into.

For example, let’s say that you wanted to buy a diamond ring for the wife this year. There are several jewelry stores in your area but which is the best one to use? One jewelry store may get their diamonds from a mine in South Africa that employs unsafe practices for workers or pays less than fair wages. By patronizing that store, you are condoning the practices by which they received their merchandise.

Who would have ever thought that buying and selling would come to such a level, but it has. People who do not value human rights are counting on us to let our wants overshadow any responsibility we have to our enslaved brothers or the environment. Eco friendly groups work to inform us about what is going on in the world and how we can make a positive difference.

The biggest way that can happen is through our shopping. We spend billions of dollars during the holiday season for gifts, decorations, and other things. Make the purchases mean something to someone besides just the recipient.

Shopping responsibly leads to helping the environment. Purchase recycled wrapping paper, low energy lighting for Christmas trees, organic cotton for creating clothing, and recycled ornaments and decorations. This supports the recycling industry. All paper that is recycled may not be suitable for paper bags in grocery stores, but it will make Christmas cards, gift tags, and wrapping paper.

Visiting fair trade merchants supports cooperatives and groups working in favor of oppressed and impoverished peoples in countries all over the world. These artisans use recycled goods and natural products like stone and coal to create ornaments, decorations, baskets, utensils, and more to be sold on the open market.

Fair trade merchandise can be purchased at a variety of stores including Wal-Mart, Target, Harris Teeter grocery stores, Whole Foods Market, and Costco. For a longer list of stores, go to www.transfairusa.org. Put in city and state or zip code to find merchants in your area who are fair trade certified.

Along those same lines, local merchants need your help and your patronage. Consider their wares when looking for unique gifts and decorations this year. Visit local farmers markets, flea markets, and trade shows to see who the local artisans are.

Save the planet and prevent waste but making informed choices this holiday season. In the process you will discover a world of new products you never knew existed.

Purposes of Baby Toys—the good, the bad, and the ugly!

With the holiday season upon us, I’ve been slowly building the following list of reasons we give our babies toys…there are some very positive reasons, of course, but I’ve also been pondering the not-so-positive (but sadly true, if we’re honest) reasons as well…

1. To help teach baby developmental skills that common household objects might not teach as safely or efficiently.
2. To entertain/distract baby when mom or dad need a momentary break from the job of full-time most interesting person in the universe.
3. To babysit baby—i.e. replace mom and dad.
4. To calm when baby is bored, over-stimulated, tired, or upset.
5. To give baby something safe to “put in the mouth” (for sucking, chewing, etc).
6. To provide safe tactile stimulation for baby’s growing senses.
7. To safely encourage baby’s boundless curiosity and exploration.
8. To expand baby’s horizons—through music, bright colors, manipulation, etc.
9. To help baby play pretend—either practice/ role-play adult activities (like cooking, eating, building, etc.), imagination-stirring toys (like unicorns and dragons), or experience aspects of the world not otherwise available to baby (like foreign cultures or being a horse trainer).
10. To sell merchandise associated with popular movies or TV shows.
11. To acculturate baby into gender-specific societal norms—like dolls and purses are for girls, trucks and transformers are for boys.
12. To subliminally teach/reinforce our own values and beliefs upon our children (ie: what we think is beautiful, right, appropriate, desirable, worthy, etc.)
13. To grow up good little consumers, who think that the more the better, and who always want something NEW.
14. To make mommy and daddy feel less guilty for not spending the time with baby that baby needs...
15. To reward or celebrate a milestone or special occasion with baby.
16. To satisfy our own need/desire to spend money (all the while justifying our poor choices because "it's for baby") by buying far too much for baby!

I hope this list gives you pause as it gave me—please email me with any other purposes that I might have missed!!

More Edible Tree Ornament Recipes

Gumdrop Ornaments
*Toothpicks, broken in half
*Gumdrops
*2- to 3-inch Styrofoam ball
*10-inch length of ribbon

Insert one end of a toothpick into a gumdrop and the other end into the Styrofoam ball. Repeat until the ball is covered with gumdrops. Tie the ribbon around the ball to hang it on the tree.
TESTER'S TIP: Use a Styrofoam cone instead of a ball and create a tree centerpiece covered entirely with green gumdrops.

Angel Ornaments
*Sugar ice-cream cone
*Three-ring pretzel
*Royal icing (blend 1 egg white with 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar)
*Colored sugar
*Tootsie Pop, Life Saver and red candy heart

Using scissors, cut off 1/2 inch from the cone's point. Ice the cone and pretzel, then roll them in colored sugar. For the head, insert the lollipop's stick into the cone. Using the icing, affix the Life Saver to the head and the pretzel to the back of the cone. Add icing features and a candy heart.

TESTER'S TIP: Simplify the angel by using a plain (non-iced) ice-cream cone and pretzel.

Cookie-shaped Candy Ornaments
*Holiday cookie cutters
*Hard candies and sprinkles (optional)
*10-inch length of ribbon

For a mold, wrap the bottom and sides of a cookie cutter with foil. Set on a baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Fill each cookie cutter with a single layer of candies. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes, or until melted. Add sprinkles, cool for 2 minutes, then use a chopstick to poke a hole near the top for hanging. Once cool, remove from the mold and hang with a ribbon.

TESTER'S TIP: Jolly Rancher candies work best, since they produce the brightest color.