ParentPicks

CleanWell All Natural Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Soap

MsGreene — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:58:23 +0000

All natural AND anti-bacterial? Is it possible? I don’t know how they do it, but the good people at CleanWell have created a product that I love and trust. It’s made with Ingeniium — a patented formulation of essential plant oils proven to kill 99.99% of harmful germs. Natural AND kills 99.99% of harmful germs. How cool is that?

We’ve got a pump by every sink in our home and the kids love it. The foaming action makes it fun to use and it feels great on your skin. I use it like crazy and my hands aren’t dried out at all.

It comes in several scents. Honestly, I like them all so I just select the bottle color that matches the room decor.

Cleanwell All Natural Anti Bacterial Foaming Hand Soap, Orange Vanilla, 9.5-Ounce Bottle (Pack of 4) can be purchased at Amazon.com

Tip – Shipping is free if you buy $100 or more of Qualifying Items offered by Home Naturals at Amazon.com. Tis the season to be happier by stopping the spread of germs, so stock up.

Notes Left Behind

MsGreene — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:59:30 +0000

When I had breast cancer, I was told I had months to live. I had a decision to make — If the doctors were right, how I could I invest my life in the best way possible? That was in 1996 and DrGreene.com had just launched. The world didn’t know yet how important the Internet would be, but I knew people were logging on to our site every day looking for help. My choice was to dedicate myself to getting as much information from Dr. Greene published online as possible in as short a time as possible. That was going to be my legacy.

When 6 year old Elena Desserich was diagnosed with brain cancer she was given months to live. In an unbelievable act of love and courage she left her legacy with little notes and drawings for her family. Hundreds of little notes and drawings. She hid them throughout the house so they would find them over time, when they needed them most.

Elena’s parents, Brooke and Keith Desserich are now sharing this incredible gift with the world in the book, Notes Left Behind. Proceeds from the sale of the book go to the non-profit organization, The Cure Starts Now.

Buy it as a gift. Buy it for yourself. You’ll be inspired by one little girl’s amazing ability to do something utterly remarkable.

Notes Left Behind can be purchased at Amazon.com

Wii and Wii Fit

Heather Cunningham — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:01:31 +0000

When we finally got a Wii my mental image of kids in front of the TV zoned out to the world around them shattered. Playing the Wii has my kids interacting with each other, and not just through the TV. Working out schedules and cheering each other to beat the high score were not things I ever imagined coming from a gaming system.

Even on the days of constant bickering and fighting it all comes to a crashing stop when the balance board is brought out and we take turns at hula hooping. Nothing turns the negative noise into uncontrollable laughter like seeing Mom hula hooping on the Wii.

Wii is available online at Amazon.com

Personalize Your Gift — Create Your Own Book!

MsGreene — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:07:20 +0000

I love taking pictures, but find it difficult to share them with family and friends — especially those who aren’t particularly computer savvy. Plus, it’s fun to have something tangible to give. That’s why I began creating full color, hard bound books using Blurb Books. I’ve been incredibly happy with the end result whether I’m documenting a family trip or a friend’s garden.

So far I’ve created three books. Each one is coffee table size. I know the people I’ve given the books to have displayed them proudly and shared them with guests, something they would have trouble doing in digital format.

The color printing on Blurb Books is quite good and the interface is easy to use. The shipping is fast, but I don’t recommend putting off creating your book to the last minute. Click here to get started today.

So(y) Lovely, So(y) Soft! Ecofriendly Soybu Throw

MsGreene — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:18:44 +0000

So(y) Lovely, So(y) Soft! Ecofriendly Soybu Throw

A few years ago, Alan and I went to a beach front hotel for a short get-away with just the two of us. It was magical, but I hadn’t packed properly and was cold. In the hotel gift shop we were amazed to find an ecofriendly sweatshirt made of soy and bamboo. It was just the combination of soft, cuddly, and warm that I needed for long beach walks.

What was surprising was this "I only bought it because I hadn’t packed properly" sweatshirt became one of my all time favorites. Since that trip, I’ve worn it hundreds times — seriously. I’ve also washed it repeatedly. Each time it comes out looking like new and feeling just as soft.

It’s no wonder that I went looking for a soybu blanket when I wanted a throw that is super-soft, easy to clean, and ecofriendly. I just got this one made by Colorado Clothing. I’m not keeping it for myself, but I’m pleased with the quality and am happy to be giving it away. I highly recommend this for your next gift purchase or buy two and keep one for yourself.

Colorado SY2151 Soybu Throw Blanket - Ecofriendly is available online at Amazon.com

Every Kitchen Needs a Good, Dishwasher Safe, Cutting Board

MsGreene — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:07:48 +0000

I remember having a cutting board that slid out from under the kitchen counter. We cut fruits and veggies on it, but knew not to cut meat on it — thankfully. When we were done, we’d wipe it off and slide it back under the counter where the now-moist wood slowly dried … or not … until the next meal. Occasionally we would take the board outside and set it in the sun for a few hours to “sanitize” it. I now cringe just thinking about those days.

Over the last few years we have invested in several, dishwasher safe, environmentally friendly cutting boards by Epicurean. They are made of wood fiber harvested from managed forest and are approved by the National Safety Foundation. I love the fact that they are very thin so I can stack (or hang) three or four in the amount of space one bulky old-fashioned cutting board takes up.

We own four — two large for meal preparation and two small for cutting a single piece of fruit or slicing a block of cheese. When I’ve completed one task, I open the dishwasher door, slip in the Epicurean Cutting board in, and I don’t have to think about germs growing on a surface that my families’ food will come into contact with at the next meal.

By the way, my kitchen does have one of those slide out cutting boards right above the silverware drawer (and who ever designed it that way just wasn’t thinking), but it stays put. Happy to live out its life in the dark, without germs infesting its surface.

Epicurean Cutting Surfaces are available online at amazon.com

~ MsGreene

Baby/Toddler Cups

Maureen Kilgore — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:53:09 +0000

Wow these have improved! My son is now 12 months old and when I started weaning him at 5/6 months I started with a Dr Brown 10oz training cup. It was brilliant; it has a really soft spout that means the baby barely has to put any pressure on to get fluid out. It makes it easy and my little one took to it immediately. It is spill proof as well, although my little one managed to chuck water everywhere by flinging the cup on the floor. A drawback is that it is a bit big for small hands but in fairness my baby managed pretty well and he certainly learned to drink from a cup much easier than my other little boy who was weaned using tommee tippee. It did crack though, I am not sure if this was because of the type of plastic it is made from or just the force by which my little one threw it, the rascal.

Now he is a year old I decided to try and move him up and found this, a masterpiece of design - the Amadeus 360 degree toddler cup. It is absolutely fantastic, no spout, no spill and they can drink like it is an ordinary cup. It allows babies to develop their drinking skills naturally. A child is able to drink from anywhere around the rim without spilling. My little one was able to drink from it immediately and within a week managed to drink from an ordinary cup although we stick to the amadeus as its no spill. Even my 5 year old likes to drink out of it.

Dr. Brown’s Training Cup is available online at amazon.com

~ Maureen Kilgore

KidCo Food Mill

MsGreene — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:32:06 +0000

KidCo Food Mill Makes Making Your Own Baby Food Easy — Seriously, Really Easy

This fall Dr. Greene is on a book tour for Feeding Baby Green. The book is all about teaching kids to love healthy amounts of healthy food — by age two. In the book, Dr. Greene gives great tips on how to do that and one of them is using a food mill to turn your food into baby’s food. I’m not going to say more here (yes, that is a shameless plug to get you to buy the book), but I will say Dr. Greene is carrying this food mill with him everywhere he goes this fall so he can show people how easy it really is. He’s been experimenting with our meals, just to make sure and it really works. Just the other day he turned a scrambled egg sandwich (one of our favorite breakfast meals) into perfect food for baby — and ate it himself.

This model, by KidCo, has a handy carrying case. That makes it easier for him to put into his suitcase and for you to throw into a diaper bag or backpack.

Great concept. Great product. Great price.

KidCo Baby Steps Food Mill is available online at Amazon.com

~MsGreene

Breast Milk and Baby Food Storage Trays

MsGreene — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:03:07 +0000

When I was breast feeding, I couldn’t find "the" breast milk storage solution. I used little plastic bottles (oh, I shudder to think what was in those bottles, but it was the best we had 14 years ago) then thawed them as needed. I usually had just the wrong amount — either too much (and we all hate wasting breast milk) or too little (can’t let baby go hungry!). It wasn’t until years later that I discovered "So Easy" covered freezer trays by Fresh Baby. They allow you to freeze one-ounce ice cubed size portions of breast milk. They come with convenient snap-on lids to keep the contents from being exposed to freezer burn or odors from other foods in your freezer. When you need to use the frozen breast milk, just thaw out what you need (and no more) and you’re set to go.

These trays are great for homemade baby food, too and the best part is that they are made of without BPA!

Breast Milk and Baby Food Storage Trays are available at Amazon.com

~MsGreene

Feeding Baby Green

MsGreene — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:57:30 +0000

Feeding Baby Green — A new way to train your baby’s taste buds for a lifetime of good eating habits

For the last decade (or more) I’ve watched Dr. Greene study nutrition and formulate ideas about the best ways to feed our kids. He combined all his "ah-ha moments", conclusions from scientific studies, observations from working with thousands of parents, and his own personal experiences in this book, Feeding Baby Green.

Dr. Greene outlines easy steps you can take to teach your child to love healthy amounts of healthy foods, by age two. For readers who want to know what is behind his theories he also provides and in-depth, science-based explanation for why these principles work. Feeding Baby Green is a life-changing book. Of course you know I’m biased, so let me share a few quotes from some pretty impressive people:

“What’s in this book could change the trajectory of children’s health.”
–Julius Richmond, MD, Founding Director of Project Head Start and Former U.S. Surgeon-General

"Dr. Greene’s groundbreaking approach to helping your child develop Nutritional Intelligence makes it easy for kids to learn to love healthy amounts of heatlhy foods — and to enjoy meals together as a family. As a mother of four, I especially appreciate the great tips and recipes included in Feeding Baby Green.”
–Brooke Burke, Season 7 Dancing With The Stars Champion and founder of ModernMom.com

“The health of our children and what they eat is deeply connected to the earth that surrounds us. Dr. Greene helps you give your baby the very best with his feeding program which fosters “Nutritional Intelligence” – a concept that is simple and makes great sense. This approach is a gift to ensure every little one will thrive for a lifetime!”
–Jessica Capshaw Gavigan, Mother and Actress

“A must read for parents who want to learn how to break out of this cycle, and a necessary resource for all those interested in healthy family nutrition, including a thorough examination of the Baby Food Industry… how it creates unhealthy eating patterns geared to sugar salts and fat.”
–Robert Kenner, Director-Producer, Food Inc.

After you ﬁnish Feeding Baby Green you’ll understand the simple plan to give your children the amazing gift of nutrition that will last a lifetime. Feeding Baby Green will create the blueprint for the generation that revolutionizes the way kids eat—a delicious revolution.

Pre-order your copy of Feeding Baby Green today!

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