Happy Birthday Baby Girl

I know it's not exactly related to all things eco-friendly, but she is my light.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart, just now - at this moment - you are ONE year old!

A nursing bra that you'll love!

I have been a nursing mother for the better part of the last 5 1/2 years.  I have a 5 1/2 year old, a 2 1/2 year old and now an almost 1 year old.  I have owned countless nursing bras in this time.  My first ones were okay.  They were supportive, but not always easiest to use.  Since then, I've gone through - hideous but functional, hideous but comfortable, pretty but painful, so-so and so-so, and several more.

This time around - with my youngest - I was introduced to a store called Breakout Bras.  They have a different way of sizing for your bra.  When I read through their directions I recalled an old Oprah episode that talked about how most women chose a bra that had too big of a band and too small of a cup.  With that in the back of my mind, I went to the mirror and measured myself.  To my surprise my band size was 4" smaller than I was buying and my cup was 3 cup sizes larger!  I was a little skeptical, but I double and triple checked my measurements (using the mirror to make sure the tape stayed level) and sure enough it was right on.  I cannot stress enough how much of a difference this sizing has made!  I feel so wonderful in my clothes now and the bras always fit!

With my new sizing in mind, I set out looking for the right nursing bra.  I had heard wonderful things about Bravado, but had never had the chance to try them.  I saw that they had a new bra out called the Bravado Bliss and was quite curious.  I loved the look and LOVED that it had an actual cup.  So many in the larger sizes are just a flimsy material and I don't find them supportive at all.

What really had me wavering was that it is not an underwire.  I have never in my life worn a bra that was supportive and pain free without an underwire.  I have tried a couple but they always have these stays in the side that flex and dig into you.  So awful!  I contacted Bravado and they were gracious enough to help me out with a review.

When the Bliss arrived I was so excited!  I tried it on right away and was blown away by it's fit.  Not only was the new sizing perfect, but the bra was so comfortable!  The bliss is a silky soft material and beautiful in the Chai color that I chose (a neutral but shimmery!).  Gentle foam cups that have NO stays!  Though there is no underwire, it does have Bravado's proprietary Flexi-Fit support channel.  This is a firm, but flexible underwire shaped channel.  You get the benefit of the shape and support without the issues of underwires.  Another fun bonus with the Bliss is that they have what they call double-cup sizing.  As a breastfeeding mother, this is very helpful as size can change from one feeding to the next.

I have had the opportunity to wear this bra for a couple of months and I must say that I am in sheer and utter love with it.  It fits wonderfully, is comfortable, supportive and pretty!  I have washed it several times (by hand in my sink then laid to dry overnight).  It holds up beautifully and looks the same today as the first day I got it.

I was a complete skeptic of all things underwire.  Thanks to Bravado and the Bliss, no more!  Well, at least not when it's from Bravado.  I have to admit, I love it as much, if not more than any underwire I've ever worn, and I'll never have to worry about a wire poking through and ruining my favorite bra!  Now if they would just make their fabulous nursing tanks in my size.

I would like to mention that the Bravado Breastfeeding Information Council has just released a White Paper on the US Health Care Reform that helps employers comply to the new legislation and implement a Breastfeeding Policy in their workplace.  I've seen several nursing mothers mention the new legislation and wonder how/when it will help them successfully breastfeed when returning to work.  This is a wonderful resource to help get your company on board!  You can check it out at http://www.breastfeedinginformation.org/white-paper.

Also, as luck would have it, Bravado is running a promotion right now for 20% off of your entire online purchase at BravadoDesigns.com  Be quick though!  This is only running through Monday (August 30, 2010)!

Use code:  LDAY-195

Happy shopping!  You will love your new Bravado Bra.  Be sure to measure yourself too!  It really will make all of the difference.  If you have any questions, please ask!  I'm happy to help in any way that I can.

Have you tried a Bravado bra?  The Bliss?  I'd love to hear what you think!

Healthy from the Start

If you want to raise happy and healthy children you want to get them eating right from the start.  Instilling a love for healthy foods is essential.  Children can learn early on to love flavors and colors and appreciate trying new things.  Start early and you won't be sorry!

I was recently introduced to a new book called Organically Raised: Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers by Anni Daulter.  This book is such an amazing and beautiful resource.  It offers a loving and practical approach to introducing your children to healthy foods. 

Organically Raised is full of amazing, delicious and colorful (beautiful!) dishes from simple first foods to complex dishes and sinfully nutritious deserts!  The imagery in this book doesn't hurt either.  It is quite inspiring for even the busiest cook.  I have three little ones and can't wait to make more of these for my family.

What's so wonderful about these recipes is that they aren't just great for babies and kids, they are great for the whole family.  I love this approach to feeding kids and nurturing their love for colorful, flavorful healthy foods.  This book is a must have for any parent who cares about what goes into their child's body.

You can pick up a copy of Organically Raised on Amazon.  You will be so happy that you did and as it will fast become one of your favorite recipe books

Do your little ones have any favorite healthy recipes?  Any tips or tricks to getting your little one to try new things and eat well?  Please share!  I would love to hear them, and I'm sure others would as well.

Cloth Diaper Rap

I have only recently heard of this brand and have never tried them, so no endorsement here, but this video is too cute not to share!  I would love to see this on TV!

What about small appliances?

Some months ago when my vacuum cleaner was giving me less than stellar results I began searching for a green option.  I saw lots of gimmicks claiming to be 'green' but nothing I read stood out as truly earth friendly and the brands concerned me.  I have tried several brands in the past and none have done much good.  It seems that the ones I've used don't pick up well enough and the most recent one even flicked dirt back at me while I tried to vacuum!

I sent out emails to a few different companies hoping to get some feedback and information about their companies practices and the (hopefully) Earth consciousness of their products.  To the pleasure of my curiosity, Dyson wrote me back and offered to let me review their Dyson DC31 handheld.  Though it was not a floor vacuum, I had actually read a bit about this device because of it's highly efficient motor.  I was interested in seeing how well this little device could really work.  After all, my current handheld wouldn't hold a charge and barely picked up anything even when it did.

The Dyson handheld's motor is unlike traditional electric motors.  It is smaller, lighter and more powerful than conventional motors. It has no carbon brushes, therefore no carbon dust and less components to wear out and degrade performance.  The latest Dyson digital motor is three times faster and more power efficient than any other - meaning Dyson's new handhelds can deliver twice the airwatts for the same run time.  This is truly an innovation.  It also has a dual power mode to allow you to save even more energy when wanted, or get an extra boost when needed.

I have been using this handheld daily for a few months now and it's been a blessing in so many ways.  I think my favorite is using it in the kitchen and dining room to help tidy up my counters and floors.  We spend so much time in there that crumbs end up in, on and around everything.  In addition to my counters, it was a life saver when our brand new 'other' brand vacuum died.  I was able to keep things tidy while I searched for a new vacuum.  I have to admit that before this handheld, the price of a Dyson put me off a little.  The thought of spending a few hundred dollars or more on a vacuum was a bit to swallow, but the thought of purchasing trash that would quickly end up in a landfill concerned me much more.

I was able to pick up a Dyson recently for a great price and I am beyond thrilled.  I realize that Dyson is not directly an "eco-friendly" company, but from all I have experienced (with two products now) and through reading their literature, I am very pleased to have worked with them and to have purchased their product.

The amount of dust and fiber that I can pick up with my machines is amazing.  They are both highly efficient.  I spend very little time vacuuming in comparison to other vacuums that I have tried and the amount of dirt removed.  I am continually shocked by all that comes up and  I could not be happier.

At the end of the day I think quality makes it's mark on the environmental front.  Yes, I could have spent a couple hundred dollars less on a vacuum, but then were would I be?  I did that recently.  I purchased a $90, well rated by Good Housekeeping, vacuum and it was picking up nothing inside of a month.  All of the energy used to manufacture it - wasted.  All of the components and plastics in the machine - wasted.  The gas used to transport it from factories and stores - wasted.  The man hours spent moving and stocking it - wasted.  My time and hard earned money - wasted.

In addition to the Dyson products being highly efficient, they don't continue to produce waste like many of their counterparts.  There are no bags or filters to replace.  It's not hard to see that their machines were built with sustainability in mind.

Household purchases like this that often leave me wondering, "Was it the most eco-friendly choice."  With my Dyson, I believe the answer is "Yes."

FCC Disclaimer: I was provided product to review.  No money or other perks were given. All reviews are my own and honest opinions. For more information about this blog please look here.

Recycling

Infographic by Recycle - Don't bin it, recycle it

As my city is cutting their drop-in-the-bucket 16k yearly recycling budget (which will close the best, most used center) yet still wanting a pat on the back for making their buildings more energy efficient, I felt this graphic properly illustrated my sadness.

Reportedly just 32% of municipal waste is recycled in the USA, just in case you were wondering were we would fit in on that graph.

Healthy Hair

I love when my hair is healthy and shiny.  Like most, I spent most of my years lathering up my hair with harsh shampoos and then loading up on conditioners to help soften and replenish.

I tried going 'no poo' (a wash method consisting mostly of baking soda an apple cider vinegar), but that didn't work out.  I haven't totally given up on the idea, but I'll need to find a better system before I try again.

One thing I did take from my first attempt was the use of natural products and my favorite, Apple Cider Vinegar.

As a side note, if you're looking for a great bar shampoo, I encourage you to try J.R. Liggetts Shampoo.  I got great results with it in combination with a good natural conditioner and ACV (which I'll explain in a moment).

So here is my routine.

1) Wash my hair with natural shampoo - I've become fond of both Giovanni and the J.R. Liggetts mentioned above.

2) I condition my hair.  For this I keep a cup in the shower.  I put a splash of ACV in the bottom before getting in (maybe an inch in the bottom of the cup) and then put in a little squirt of my conditioner.  I use Giovanni.  After that, I swirl it a bit to mix it and then before using I add warm water up to nearly the top of the cup.

I like to dip the ends of my hair in the mixture first to give them extra attention.  After I've given them some attention I dump the rest over my head as I run my fingers through it to help rid any tangles and disperse the 'conditioner'.

I typically let this sit while I finish washing up and rinse it out last thing before getting out of the shower.

Apple Cider Vinegar does have a vinegar scent, but it is not as strong as white vinegar.  Also, after you have dried your hair, the smell is gone.  It does not linger, and the results are worth it.  Not only does it cut down considerably on my conditioner budget (I use to use twice as much conditioner as shampoo on a regular basis) but my hair is much healthier and shiny!