No More Nail Clipping Cries!

Did I mention I don't really miss the end of my pinkie that my Dad nicked off while clipping my nails as an infant? Oh, no, I didn't? That's because I DO MISS IT!

Satsuma Designs has an organic and affordable solution to the anger, guilt (Dad?) and anxiety that clipping baby's nails can evoke. Check out our brand spanking (no necessary) new Organic Bamboo Baby Scratch Mittens ($8/pair). These little gems fashioned with an adorable gros grain ribbon tab for easy on/off will keep baby's gnarly nails from inflicting permanent damage on that soft, fragile little skin.

Come on folks, protect the next generation!

Enjoy!

This chore is not a bore!

Well, for some, this might be a bore but my favorite thing to do is laundry. I love shopping for laundry detergent, and figuring out ways to organize dirty laundry. I enjoy spending time folding clothes and organizing them. Don't get me wrong, I love all types of cleaning products but laundry detergent is my absolute favorite. To me there is nothing better than taking a load of wash out of the dryer and seeing all the sparkling clean towels, shirts, and socks. It may seem a bit exaggerated but I speak the truth. I've been noticing the eco-downfalls in my lifestyle and my choice of detergents has been no exception. Until recently I followed the tide (pun intended) but no more! I have discovered some wonderful detergents that are phosphate-free, dye-free, higher concentration, with a biodegradable or plant based container.

My two favorites:

Method Laundry products:
Their products are ultra concentrated and contain a plant-based formula. To top off the quality of the soap, the bottle that holds the detergent is made from 50% recycled plastic. This is by far the most concentrated detergent I have come across and the easy pump feature makes doing laundry less messy-- no more drippy lids with soap residue in the cap!

Seventh Generation:
The Seventh Generation detergents have no dyes or fragrance, no phosphates, are safe for septic and gray-water systems, contain no animal derived ingredients and are hypoallergenic. They have options for 2x concentration as well as a detergent formula specifically for babies!


Both products have pages with coupons on their websites along with laundry and cleaning tips.

Remember when shopping for detergent to consider the type of washing machine you own. If you have a front loader, look for detergent marked with HE (high efficiency). The high efficiency detergents will help keep your washer in working condition (if you use regular detergent on a front loading machine you can cause serious mechanical failures) and keep your clothes cleaner. If you have a top loading machine it works best to let a powder detergent dissolve in a few inches of water before washing your clothes.

If for some reason you are looking for something eco-friendly to wash in an environmentally friendly fashion check out Satsuma Designs' line of blankets and bedding. I can't imagine anything better than a fresh, clean bamboo velour crib sheet fresh from the laundry :)

I enjoyed writing about detergent so much.... I think I'll go do some laundry!


Photo courtesy of Seventh Generation

The toothbrush blues.

I was unfortunate enough to catch the oooogy sickness going around last week. Being a germ-a-phob I make it a point to replace my toothbrush immediately after my ooogy sickness has gone away or anytime my toothbrush is compromised (falls on the ground or in the sink--a simple rinse of water does not suffice!!). I finally realized how destructive my habit could be to the environment, so I set out to find a quality eco-friendly toothbrush, and find I did!! Preserve sells an awesome toothbrush made entirely from recycled yogurt cups. This product is BPA free, made in the USA (meaning less fuels are used transporting from country to country AND it helps keep jobs in the US), and my personal favorite part about this product... it is NOT tested on animals! There are tons of great colors available as well as your choice of bristle firmness. They also have a jr toothbrush for the kids. Their products can be found at Trader Joe's, PCC, Metropolitan Market as well as many other stores. Check out their whole line of personal care products and other awesome recycled items on their website.

If you're in the market for other bath products check out Satsuma Designs' all new, all natural bamboo washcloths. These washcloths are ultra soft, ultra absorbent and a great way to wash up tiny faces after washing tiny teeth :)

Happy brushing!




Photo courtesy of Preserve

C-U-LTR, Gotta Bounce!

Not a Cadillac, more like a tricked out Prius, is one way to describe Bloom Baby's Bouncer Lounger. This bouncy chair screams sidecars and cosmos, from a bottle, bien sur.

It's made of a patented material called stylewood, which basically sums it up. Offered in an excellent array of trend-forward colors, Bloom has upped the standard on baby soothing techniques. My guess is 20 minutes in this and baby is happily dreaming.

Check it out at Best Baby Organics where you can save 15% store wide through 10/30/09 while they're gearing up for the holiday season.

No goods or services provided for this review. Photo courtesy of Best Baby Organics/Bloom Baby

A friend told me about tea tree oil. It's used in aromatherapy and is naturally antiseptic and antibacterial, which makes it a super all natural cleaner. I picked up a 4 oz bottle of NOW Tea Tree Oil from Amazon, but this stuff goes a LONG way so am recommending a 1 oz bottle here.

In an 8 oz spray bottle I mixed 1 teaspoon tea tree oil with a cup of white vinegar to create my new all purpose cleaner. I tackled the powder room first where my preschooler is learning to use the toilet and it works like a wonder! The vinegar and oil make it smell clean and I feel really good about spraying this cleaner in highly kid-trafficed areas.

Word to the wise, tea tree oil comes with warnings because it's so concentrated. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. I wrote Danger/Poison on the outside of mine and put it in our locked closet. And with that paranoid warning, enjoy!

Go Back to School with a Green Goodbyn

I think there could be entire blogs dedicated to greening up lunchtime. Perhaps there are, but I'm too lazy to Google it right now. Enter, Seattle-based Goodbyn, a company that has created an incredibly stylish (kid-stylish) bento-style lunch box that's very eco-responsible. It's the first product from byndoo, a design braintrust developing healthy kid products.

According to the Goodbyn site, they've spent over a year researching best practices for design, production and more and have launched a lunchbox to meet needs the of kids and care givers alike.

For $34.95 you get a high quality lunch box with trays and top for any lunch combo imaginable. What's more is the cool custom art that each Goodbyn Kid can create with three sheets of stickers. And the whole thing is dishwasher safe (remember to only run full loads).

They also have a school fund raising program that gives almost 15% of the purchase price to your school. Consider looking into customizing stickers for your own school.

Neat (and tidy)!

Photo from Goodbyn

WWW.messoflettersandnumbers.COM

I think part of being green is being efficient with resources, time, and web addresses. I just love TinyURL.com. You can turn any URL into a short, efficient, manageable on. Good for send links.


Try it. Copy this great article on green baby showers in which Satsuma Designs is mentioned http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/baby_showers/photos_baby_shower_guide/3 and paste into the field at TinyURL.com.


Now make things Tiny!