The Bedtime Blues.

It seems many of the babies and young children in my life are having trouble sleeping.  I decided to research some tips to help during nap time.  My first step was a call to my mother because I am more than aware that I was a "difficult child" and therefore was certain my sleep habits fit into this "difficult child" persona.  Her advice was simply to swaddle the baby in a soft blanket and try different rocking techniques.  She also found some relief in a few aromatherapy solutions (chamomile, rose and lavender essential oils to name a few).  Even as a seasoned child-care provider, I still have yet to perfect "the swaddle".  Companies like Satsuma Designs and Swaddle Designs have created the perfect size swaddling blanket taking away the complications involved with wrapping up your little one.  If you're in the market for a new swaddling blanket check out Satsuma Designs' brand new flannel swaddling blanket, perfect to keep your baby stylish, comfy and cozy this winter!

My second step was a trip to the library and found a fantastic book:  Rock-a-Bye Baby: 200 Ways to Help Baby (and You!) Sleep Better.  This book is jam packed with great ideas.  This book has everything from schedules and swaddling techniques to uses of aromatherapy and body positioning.  There is surely something in there for every mother and child.

Third (and final… for now) came my quest through the depths of the World Wide Web.  I came across the Nap Nanny.  The site claims “The Nap Nanny mimics the contours of a car seat, the comfort of a baby blanket and features maximum stability”.  With a safety strap and waterproof lining this seems like the perfect way to get those fussy babies to sleep.  Like any other product it is important to read and follow the safety recommendations (don’t put carrier on counter, table, or inside the crib).

 

 

Photo courtesy of Satsuma Designs LLC

Baby Gifts Galore!

So excited about the launch of the new Satsuma Designs' baby gift sets and new products.

The Bamburp is a one-of-a-kind burp cloth fashioned in soft organically grown bamboo velour paired with ultra-absorbent bamboo terry cloth to keep baby messes (cute as they are!) to a min. $10 or $18 per pair.

Bambibs are the most eco-luxe dining accessory in bamboo velour and soft organic cotton flannel to keep every clean and cozy. Extra long satin ties keep the business in place. $12.

How Does Your Garden Grow: Big, Small or Italian, Tomatoes Are The Way To Go

The Baby Grows Green garden planting day was followed by a day of drizzle to soak those little roots. This gray Monday called for a soak under the Happy Lamp, but the dreary weather was great for the veggie patch.

Our tomatoes loved the rain the most. As mentioned in the inaugural garden post, we put down two kinds of tomatoes - Roma and Sweet 100, a juicy little delicacy that we grew heartily last year. Aside from being adorable and delicious, ounce for ounce, tomatoes are a super food for everyone.

With their bright red features, tomatoes boast lycopene, an antioxidant, and beta carotene, the same good stuff found in carrots. What's more is the incredible concentration of Vitamins C and A and their helpful dash of potassium and iron.

To get the most from these little gems when planting, consider investing in a $3-5 dollar tomato stand or circular 'trellis' to get them up off the ground and producing right away. We staked and strung our tomatoes last year, which worked 'okay', but we sadly sacrificed some of them to the slugs et al. This year we're doing it right!

How Does Your Garden Grow? Easy, Organic Veggie Planting

Mother's day was a beautiful day in the northwest! The weather was perfect for planting a modest, but abundant selection of veggies to start the season. We hope to share our bounty with you, dear readers, and show how easy and cost effective organic gardening can be.

At the Baby Grows Green veggie patch we started with a raised bed approximately 4'x8' (32 sq feet), tilled up the soil with our metal rake, amended it with a $10 bag of 15% chicken manure mulch and went to town.

Here's what we bought, planted and spent.

- 4 plants - Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes

- 2 tomato stands

- 1 bag onion sets (approx 50 set) These are little gems! They're already seeded and sprouted onions that when harvested early make nice scallions and held a little later a nice small scale onion for salads and sauteing.

- 4 small spinach plants

- 3 Roma tomato plants

- 8 mesculun mix lettuce plants - great salad starts with a mix of green and purple lettuces

- 8 Paris lettuce plants - bright green, soft leaves - think mix of butter with romaine leaves

Grand total = $50 at our local nursery

We can't wait to share our harvest with you!

All Natural Window Cleaner: Really Streak Free

I've tried nearly every home-made, kitchen concocted all natural cleaner out there, but have never done glass cleaner. Maybe it's because I never clean the windows or could be I'm more counter and frig handle obsessed.

Either way, this morning I got fed up with the little streaky mits on our back door and set to work. I used my trusty mix of 1 part water, 1 part distilled white vinegar (apple cider vinegar works great too and smells a bit nicer), and a few dashes of tea tree oil for its naturally antibacterial properties.

I spritzed a little of this over the window panes and wiped away with a sheet of yesterday's newspaper to fabulous results. Really!

I'm convinced and won't it be nice to see through those windows for once?

Happy Monday from Satsuma Designs!

Pass on the Grass

It's Holy Week and it's easyto forget that this time in sacred. But don't you agree that there's no forgetting that it's Easter Basket a Makin' Time! We'll play along and decorate the eggs. This year with homemade dye and natural decorations, but we will resist the grass.

You know Easter basket grass. The stuff that you find mid-summer in the couch whose half-life is 1,000 years and goes straight to the landfill. Look, I know it's a buzz-kill, but there are alternatives.

Here are a few ways to make Easter basket giving just as bright and bunny-ful sans the day-glo colored grass. Consider using:

- Shred up some all magazine pages. If you don't have a shredder or paper cutter, use a pizza wheel or head down to Fed Ex/Kinkos and use theirs.

- Make your basket sizzle with your own zizzle and fold up accordion-style a few sheets of seasonal construction paper and cut into 1/8" strips. It's fast and easy. Use these cut up again as confetti for the next birthday card you send to Grandpa.

- Abandon basket grass or filler altogether and give one gift wrapped item. Use an old scarf or a scrap from the fabric bin.

I know you can think of other great solutions, just keep on walking when you approach your local 'Easter Extravaganza' aisle.

Have a Blessed Easter.

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!