healthyliving

Chemical Free Baby Products

September 26, 2016

Becoming a mother instantly makes you a fierce protector of your children. From what they eat, to who is allowed to drive them in a car and especially the products that go on their skin. I have always wanted only natural and chemical free washes and shampoos for both my kiddos. Luckily there is no shortage of brands out there and ample options. Today I am sharing some of my favorite companies including Good Bubble!

Tubby Todd Bath Co.

This company has the best smelling bubble baths. The cranberry and mandarin wash smells like Christmas and my son even noticed how sweet the scent is. Usually, he is too busy playing or splashing water in his sister’s face to notice yummy smells. They have seasonal scents and I always stock up on the Fall & Winter bundles since those are my favorite months with the best smells.

The Honest Co.

I don’t think there is a mother out there who hasn’t heard of Honest products, but just because they’ve been around for a while doesn’t mean I can’t include them. Their face + body lotion is a household staple. There is no scent, it’s lightweight, non-greasy and absorbs fast. I love the new pump packaging for their shampoo and body wash and their breath easy rub definitely helps when my kids start to get the sniffles, plus it smells incredible. I also keep their spray sunscreen in the car, which I highly recommend doing no matter what brand you use. Sunscreen is key for little one’s delicate skin and your own! buy valtrex online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/noprescription/valtrex-no-prescription.html no prescription

Burt’s Bees Baby

Burt’s Bees was the first organic brand I started using when Henry was born, over four years ago. Their products have never let me down and I’ve used them for years on myself. I always add a few drops of their baby oil to the kids’ bath and it makes their skin so soft and moisturized. A few other favorites: Wash & Shampoo, Baby Wipes, and Bubble Bath.

Babyganics

I was introduced to this brand while pregnant with Henry. I use their fragrance-free bubble bath the most with the kids and love that it’s made with plant-based, certified organic ingredients and is free of perfumes, dyes, parabens, sulfates, etc. Babyganics make a wide range of products that extend outside of skincare. There is dish soap, toy & high chair cleaner, laundry detergent, etc. I’ve never been disappointed with any of their products. buy wellbutrin online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/noprescription/wellbutrin-no-prescription.html no prescription

A few weeks ago I highlighted a newer company, Grace Mabel, and their range or products. They are also another favorite of mine. Head here to read more about them. I love finding out about new brands, what are some of your favorites? Happy last Monday of September! buy zithromax online https://blackmenheal.org/wp-content/languages/new/noprescription/zithromax-no-prescription.html no prescription

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Toddler Snacks: 18 Months

July 28, 2016

Evelyn has always been quite the snacker. She could literally eat all day long if there was enough food around. There are never enough hours in the day to constantly be chopping and prepping food so healthy premade snacks are a life saver. My diaper bag is always packed with the following: Pouches, Cheerios, Soft Granola Bars, a sippy cup with water and an assortment of snacks from one of my new favorite brands, NurturMe. All their food is organic, gluten-free, NON-GMO verified, Kosher, made in the USA and no added preservatives. I mean seriously, what more could a parent want out of a brand when it comes to providing healthy food for their little ones? There is a variety of snacks and cereals that are perfect for babies and toddlers. Evelyn’s favorites are the Quinoa Squares and Dried Fruit. I also really love how this company gives back a portion of sales to help Peruvian children. Now, without further ado, please enjoy pictures of Evelyn stuffing her face while looking adorable 🙂

Romper & Bow: June & January

A big thank you to NurturMe for providing Evelyn with some seriously yummy food! All opinions expressed are her own 🙂

Summer Beauty Must Haves

July 20, 2016

There are so many products I am loving this summer. We are in the midst of the never-ending heat wave here in Atlanta and these items have been a life saver. I always love finding new products to use so I thought I would share what has been working for me!

Lavanila Deodorant – I’m slowly trying to purge my body of harsh chemicals, including aluminum. I’ve tried a few natural deodorants over the past few months and nothing has even come close to the Vanilla Grapefruit scent. I love how smooth the stick is and it has a cooling feeling after applying. It’s made from 100% all natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals like parabens, sulfates, and synthetic dyes. There are over 10 different scents and I can’t wait to try them all out. The stick seems to last a while and even after working out, I don’t sweat or smell at all. I was hesitant to change to an aluminum free deodorant in fear of stinking up my house but that hasn’t happened yet, whew!Thieves Toothpaste – There isn’t one person out there who hasn’t heard of essential oils. Thieves is one of the most popular oils, known for its cleaning power and immunity support. I love how clean my mouth feels after I brush my teeth. The mouthwash is in the queue for my next order!
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A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting Urbana Wellness Spa in Atlanta. While I was there I had the opportunity to learn about some of the products they carry and test out their services. Everything was amazing and I cannot wait to go back for a spa day. They carry a line called Image Skincare and I picked up some of the SPF 50 for my face. Usually, I wear an SPF 25 but I have noticed I wasn’t getting as much protection as I need so I opted to try a higher SPF. I cannot rave about this sunscreen enough. It goes on smooth underneath my makeup and leaves no greasy residue. I have combination skin but haven’t broken out once since using this the past month.
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Mai Tai Spritzer – If you have a Dry Bar near you I hope you’ve had the chance to get a blowout done. Your hair not only looks amazing but smells incredible too. There are so many Dry Bar products that I love but my favorite for summer is definitely the Mai Tai Spritzer. I rarely blow dry my hair in the summer because the heat and humidity just ruin it as soon as I step outside. I spray this on my damp hair and by the time my hair is dry I have a ton of texture and volume.

Charcoal Konjac Sponge – I’ve been using this scrub sponge since February after receiving it in my Julep box. I love how it gentle it is for everyday use and how it exfoliates my skin. It can be used with any cleanser or oil and makes my skin feel so smooth afterward. I use it at night and follow with a rich night cream so my skin can repair itself while I sleep. *I haven’t been using the same sponge, you need to throw it away after 3 months but the price is great*
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Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water – I saw this in the checkout temptation aisle at Sephora last month and thought I would give it a try. It has a dual use: spray on your face before makeup and also afterward to set your makeup. There is no alcohol in this so it won’t dry your skin and my face never feels oily or heavy. This primer sprays as a mist and even the travel size will last you a long time.

What products can you not go without this summer? I would love to hear in the comments below!

Homemade Body Butter

July 10, 2013

I saw this how to make your own body butter post a few months back and I have been dying to try it. The more research I do on drug store beauty products and all the bad chemicals used to make them, the more I want to use natural and safe ingredients on me and my family. Not sure what some of the bad chemicals are? See them here and here. I was pretty devastated when I found out my face cleanser, Cetaphil, was horrible for your skin. I am currently in the market for a more natural face wash and will do a review once I find something I like. Anyway, back to the body butter! I love body butter and I’m always trying different brands and scents, so I decided to make my own! My friend recently told me about a cbd body butter that she’d been using and it inspired me to make my own body butter!

Body Butter Recipe

Makes 2 1/2 to 3 cups whipped butter (I put mine in a 16 ounce mason jar and still had some left over)

1 cup organic raw shea butter (purchased from Amazon here)

1/2 cup coconut oil (purchased from Amazon here)

1/2 cup almond oil (purchased from Amazon here)

1. Melt shea butter and coconut oil in the top of a double boiler. I do not own a double boiler so I used my kitchen aid mixing bowl and set it over a pan of water (see photo). Be sure not to let the bowl touch the water. The key is you want to melt the ingredients without burning them. The mixing bowl got very hot so use an oven mitt or towel when removing. I let the water come to a boil and kept it boiling until the shea butter was melted and stirred occassionaly. Remove from heat and let cool at room temp for 30 minutes .

2. Stir in almond oil and essential oils of your choosing. I used peppermint oil (purchased from Amazon here) and loved the way it smells.

3. Place bowl with oil mixture in freezer for 30 minutes. (This is a crucial step, be patient!)

4. Wait until oils start to partially solidify then whip until a butter-like consistency is achieved. I whipped the butter twice. The first time was still hardened at the bottom and around the edges. I scrapped the sides and stirred together with a rubber spatula then whipped again on the highest setting.

5. Use a rubber spatula to scoop into a clean glass jar with lid.

**A few tips: The butter melts as you rub it in. A lot goes a long way. I would not recommend lathering up with this before putting on nice clothes and walking out the door. It takes 30 + minutes to absorb into your skin. Throw on some lounge pants and an old t shirt because if not, whatever you sit on will get oil on it (like my bedsheets. Great). **

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12 month Favorites

July 9, 2013

As my baby is now a one year old (heavy sign), I thought I’d share some of his favorite things. Some of these are new and some of these have been favorites for months (which means they are a good buy and a keeper). I have to say this age has been so fun. He is learning so much and picking up things quickly. I feel like I have a little old man walking around my house. He still only has 2 bottom teeth and is bald (for the most part). But that’s fine with me, it makes him look like a baby longer!

Soft Vintage-y Tees – Onesies are basically impractical for us to use anymore. Henry despises getting his diaper changed so the shorter he has to lay on his back for a changing the better. It is so much easier to pull up his shorts/pants and go. Target, Old Navy and H&M have great soft tees. Plus Target and Old Navy have amazing sales so often that most of the shirts I have purchased for Henry have been from the clearance section.

Straw Sippy Cups – Henry was never a fan of the traditional tilt back sippy cup. After trying about 4 different ones, we finally bought this Munchkin Straw Cup. I was shocked at how fast he learned how to use it. We put water, milk and smoothies in them without any trouble. We also like the Avent Straw Cups and the Zo-li cups are a big favorite in my mommy group.

Pajamas – Baby Gap is my favorite shop for 2 piece PJs. They are lightweight, comfy, and oh so adorable. They always come out with the best designs and graphics. They can be a little expensive at the store, so I wait until they go on sale, have an online coupon, and sometimes I even buy new on ebay! *Runner up would be The Children’s Place zip up one pieces. Light weight like Baby Gap but much cheaper! They have a zipper which I love.

Nuk Pacifier – Yep, Henry still uses his paci when he gets fussy and to get to sleep. When he was born we tried 4 different pacifiers and this classic was a winner. Luckily he only wants it when he is tired or cranky and doesn’t walk around with it in his mouth all day. He is too busy putting everything else he can find in his mouth. I hope that is just a phase. I love all the cute designs they have (especially the sports one). Please know he definitely rocks the football one every Sunday during football season.

Plastic Balls – Walmart has THE best deal on plastic balls which you can use to make your own ball pit (using a plastic kiddie pool). We bought ours in store and got 100 for just under $12. We ended up get 3 packs. Yes, I have 300 plastic balls in my living room (contained, most of the time). One of our best purchases to date.

Lovey + Blanket – Angel Dear makes the softest and most cuddly lovey’s. Henry sleeps with his every night and every nap. He needs to feel it touching his face for him to doze off. It’s so sweet and heartwarming to see how much he loves it. Our go to blanket has always been the Nordstrom Basket Weave Baby Blanket. We received one as a gift when Henry was 2 months old and were hooked. I bought another as a back up in case one’s in the wash or to keep upstairs/downstairs.

Almond Milk – The transition from formula to Almond Milk was SO easy and I don’t even think Henry noticed. I wrote about my qualms of dairy milk a while back here. He hasn’t had any allergic reactions or upset stomachs. I feel confident in my decision to put him on almond milk instead of cows milk.

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Whole Milk vs. Almond Milk for Toddlers

May 20, 2013

I recently switched to eating only a Paleo diet. I don’t want to call it a diet because it really is a lifestyle change. (I will do a more in depth blog post on that later with the reason for the switch and a ton of informative links). One of the food groups that is eliminated in Paleo is dairy. In the extensive research I have done on dairy, it made me think about Henry and alternative milk substitutes for toddlers, even though I hate to think of my soon to be one year old as a toddler. When babies turn a year old, the American Academy of Pediactrics recommends the stop of formula and the start of whole milk. **This does not particularly apply to breast fed babies, as a lot of mothers choose to breast feed past a year, which is still viewed as best for baby** Henry had to switch to formula at 5 weeks because I got a breast infection which stopped my milk supply. He has since been on Similac Advance and loves it.

There are quiet a few options out there for a milk substitute; coconut milk, rice milk, almond milk, hemp milk, soy milk, oat milk, goats milk … but the one I am leaning towards the most as an alternative is Almond Milk. If you want to learn more about the many benefits of oats, check out this article named, The Health Benefits of Eating Porridge Oats for Breakfast.

Almond milk is a great substitute however there is not that much protein in it (1 gram per serving compared to the 8 grams in whole milk). But it is low in calories, at only 40 calories per eight ounce serving, and low in fat. It contains only three grams of fat per eight ounce serving. Almond milk is lactose, gluten, casein and cholesterol free; it’s also free of saturated fats. Henry eats tons of vegetables and meats, so protein isn’t really a problem in his diet. Same with vitamin D and calcium … there are plenty of leafy greens, fish and meats, etc. You may be thinking “shouldn’t young children avoid nuts?” Yes, this is true, but it’s mostly peanuts that are worrisome. Also, Henry has never had an allergic reaction to any food I have given him, even foods high on the allergy list. At this age kids really need the fat that is in milk in order for their brains and nervous systems to develop properly, but there are fats in many of the other foods Henry eats (avocados, coconut oil mixed in his purees, salmon, eggs).

Here is a great link with more information.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on whole milk and milk alternatives!

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