Make your own truly natural organic baby products!

As my husband and I prepare for our second child, I have been thinking more and more of what I will use to clean and care for my little one. It has become increasingly easier and harder for moms to get natural organic products for baby. With more choices than ever before of true honest organic products. But along with that comes high prices and the twisting and spinning of words. Most people don't realize that the label word 'Natural' means nothing. There are no government regulations to have that label on your product. Or the latest word 'Green'.
When I go to buy my sweet baby's bath wash I don't want to have to decipher the riddle on the ingredients label. I want to know exactly what I am exposing my child to.
My husband and I are always look for a way to save some money, but with our Kids we have realized that there well being has to come over cost. However sometimes, the cost doesn't have to be so high. I was thrilled to find this site with some wonderful recipes for making your own products! That means as mom (or dad) you regulate what is truly going into each thing (bath wash, powder, oil)!

It is truly cost efficient and a great way to still put baby first!

-Evie




"Many conventional baby products contain questionable ingredients such as parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), talc, and synthetic perfumes and fragrances. All of these ingredients can have adverse effects on the health and well being of your baby, so it is no wonder that many parents have chosen to take matters into their own hands.

Parents are now finding that it is easy, more cost effective, and safer to make their own baby products with natural ingredients. By stocking your pantry with a few key natural ingredients you can make all sorts of natural baby products for baby. You don’t have to be a chemist to create luxurious, baby friendly products that are all natural.

Here are a few easy recipes for natural baby products that are sure to please:

All Natural Baby Wipes Solution
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup Aloe Vera Juice
• 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Calendula Oil
• 1 teaspoon grated, unscented soap
• 2 drops Lavender Oil
• 2 drops Tea Tree Oil

Mix in a jar and then pour over organic cloth wipes or paper towels. This baby wipe solution is anti-fungal and great for discouraging yeast diaper rashes.

Homemade Baby Powder (Talc-free)
½ cup corn starch
½ cup Arrowroot powder
1 tablespoon dried ground chamomile
1 tablespoon dried ground lavender
¼ cup finely ground oats
Blend well and put in a shaker style bottle. Now you can powder your baby’s little bottom in safety.

Baby Bath Milk
1 cup milk
¼ cup corn starch
¼ cup finely ground oats
2-3 drops lavender, rose, or chamomile essential oils

Mix ingredients together and put in a shaker style bottle. To use, sprinkle a small amount in warm bath water.

A Better Baby Oil

1 cup Grapeseed or Apricot Kernel oil
4-6 drops lavender or chamomile essential oils
1-2 vitamin E capsules (optional)

Squeeze the vitamin E capsules into the oils and mix together. Store in a dark colored bottle and use as a bath or massage oil.

Lavender Dryer Sachets

1 small muslin drawstring bag (you can usually get these at craft stores)
Dried Lavender
2-3 drops lavender essential oil

Fill the muslin bag with the dried lavender and add the essential oil. Close the bag tightly and throw in the dryer along with your baby clothes. They will be super soft and they will smell great!

The skin is the body’s largest organ and it has the ability to absorb things that is comes into contact with. With that in mind do you want to expose your baby to potentially harmful chemicals or safe and natural ingredients? Most parents would agree that ensuring your baby products are completely natural is worth it. These recipes should help you get started.

Making our own baby products with all natural ingredients is fun to do, it saves money, and most importantly it ensures that our babies’ delicate immune systems are not unduly taxed by harmful product ingredients. Most of the ingredients listed above can be bought at conventional supermarkets and natural food stores so you can pick some up on your regular shopping trips."

Originally Posted by Jessica Fuqua on March 3, 2009

Also here are 2 great site that shows how to make other great natural products for around the house!!

http://lorettawallace.net/clean_green.html

http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

Everything has a label.

As a mom I have noticed for babies...everything is edible. Or at least everything makes it to the mouth. So then everything must have a 'food' label. As my Daughter is growing and advancing, my interest in what surrounds her is growing and advancing. As I research more and more into what is in the food we eat, I start to wonder what is going into and onto everything else? Toys, clothes, bottles, diapers, ointment...Etc.

Unfortunately living 'green' isn't a cheep thing in any area of life. It can be extremely overwhelming... To help my husband and I have decided to move slowly and start replacing (one by one) each item with organic. So as her shampoo runs out, we will buy something organic/natural, As she grows out of her clothes, start buying organic cotton/soy print. Also slowly buying wooden toys and putting others away. This way It does not come as one big shock, you can fit it into your budget as your budget allows. Another good idea is to make Christmas and birthday lists for grandparents and relatives. I send my family a list of sites with items that we really want for our little girly. That way grandma and grandpa can still get the joy of picking out her gift, and it is still something we approve of!

Here are a list of some great sites:

Our Green House- http://www.ourgreenhouse.com/ (love love love it!)

The Land of Nod- http://www.landofnod.com/gifts-for-baby/toys-gifts/1

The Soft Landing- http://www.thesoftlanding.com/

Diapers.com- http://www.Diapers.com- this site is not fully organic, however I have been able to find some great deals on organic items especially Diapers and wipes!! (free 2 day shipping)

Fair Indigo (Fair trade and organic for the whole family)- http://www.fairindigo.com

Eco Sleep Shop- http://www.kushtush.com/


Originally posted on: http://buginfood.blogspot.com/

Oh those crazy summer days...

Elina Had a pool day yesterday...sadly all i had was my camera phone...
what a ham. :)

The Future of Food

A terrifying reality.




This movie really helped to open my eyes even more to what is really going on in the GM (genetically modified) world!! I would recommend this to anyone. If you care about what you or your family is eating or 'feeding' into this is a MUST SEE.

For more info on pesticides used on produce and other chemicals check out http://buginfood.blogspot.com


It is so easy for us to see the harm in fast food, deep fried food, sugars. But who sees the harm in having corn on the cob with dinner? So many things that we saw as being nutritious and healthy are starting to fall through the cracks in to GM territory. Luckily for us Certified organic food and seeds can NOT be genetically modified. There is a way to still protect yourself and your family.

To live.

We are happier in many ways when we are old than when we were young. The young sow wild oats. The old grow sage. -Winston Churchill

I like this quote. I think because I tend to fear becoming old. It seems to be the breakdown of two major things...
-physical
-Emotional


But why fear the inevitable. God had a reason to Create beings in such a manner.I have been wondering Why this wold be the case. Then it hit me.
In so many old people they can keep their physical bodies healthy but in most cases there does come a point where it is just out of their hands. The long process that starts from birth picks up it's pace.
Also I have noticed that emotionally, life becomes difficult. Maybe it is just out of the pure frustration with their physical self. Or maybe it is just their mind giving up to what seems they are unable to outrun any longer.
However out of all of these frustrating breakdowns and deterioration of the body and mind, the one thing that only seems to grow stronger and more intense is the Spirit. I have seen so many elderly where their last years, weeks, and even days are their strongest with the Lord. God is preparing us to release our flesh to be with him for eternity.


I remember when I was about 8 moths pregnant my midwife said to me "I think it is great that God makes pregnancy more and more uncomfortable the longer you are pregnant. That way by the end you are willing to go through the immense pain in birth to be relieved of all the discomfort. It is seemingly only ways to prepare your mind to want to do this one thing that you fear for so long."


I think that this completely applies to life. Discomfort is seemingly one of the only ways for God to prepare us to leave our loved ones here on earth and the only 'home' we have known to truly come home to Him.

I can't wait to grow sage.
This makes me happy.

Testing the bounds

In our house we have a ceramic tiled area on which Elina is not allowed to crawl. I am not just being a mean parent, I assure you, the tile surrounds our wood fireplace. However there have been many times where she will definitely try to straddle the thin line between carpet and tile. Today was the day she crossed the thin line into the tile.I was in the kitchen preparing our lunch. (From the kitchen i can see the entire living room including this tiled area) Elina kept a close eye on me awaiting the moment I would look down. Something on the tile had caught her attention...the cat. She knew of the consequences but all was lost as she gazed into the cats eyes.




I looked down and she took off.




meanwhile in the kitchen...


While cutting some bread I noticed that Goober (brit's cat) was sprawled out on the tile, and Elina was seemingly captured by her. This wasn't unusual, Elina was always captured by 'kitty'. I thought to myself 'The tile must be Goober safe zone from Elina.' I noticed Elina was inching forward toward the tile. I called out her name to catch her attention. Elina looked up her huge eyes full of innocence. I smiled and looked down to cut the bread. All of a sudden I hear the slapping of hands and knees on ceramic tile, quickly followed by shrills of joy and excitement. I look up to see Elina going absolutely crazy!! Jumping around and throwing her hands up, almost as if she were doing some crazy tribal dance!!


then the moment came...when her gaze met mine.


She scooted backwards so fast off that tile I thought she was going to fall over.
quickly covered my mouth to hide the enormous smile. I slowly started to walk around the couter...


The tears came.
I didn't even have to say a word.


I picked her up and placed her in her 'pouty chair' aka time out.
she only sat for about 20 seconds. And then gave me a hug and stopped crying.




All was forgiven.


While Elina was in the pouty chair I pulled out my phone to take a picture...I couldn't resist capturing the moment. (keep in mind this is a picture phone...not great quality)

2 years!!

Happy anniversary baby! I love you.