Nov

22

Toy Guide Highlight: Melissa & Doug Wooden Workbench from GummyLump(& Giveaway!)

Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews, Toy Safety | 310 Comments

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    One of the items I chose for this years Holiday Toy Guide was the Melissa & Doug wooden Workbench. GummyLump is a great online source for wooden toys, carrying a variety of wood toy making brands like Melissa & Doug, Haba and KidCraft.  I really like that they have an entire section dedicated to special needs toys as well.  It’s been my experience that the toys I get for my kids that are made of wood get more play and are more durable that the cheap plastic toy sets they get.

    I know that there can sometimes be questions about materials even with wooden toys but the Melissa & Doug Wooden Workbench passes my quality tests with flying colors. It’s mostly unpainted wood and comes with a variety of tools and project ideas to keep you and your little handy man to create.

    Despite it coming in what seemed like 1000 pieces, it assembled quickly and with only mild cursing from my husband – which is a feat.  It is very solid and sturdy once assembled and looks nice (as opposed to the plastic eyesore that is Fisher Price).  I think this will be a lasting addition to anyone’s toy collection, even lasting through generations to come. Cute, functional and timeless.  All Melissa & Doug toys are 20% off the the market suggested retail price on GummyLump so it’s a great place to get them!

    GummyLump has generously offered to giveaway a Melissa & Doug Wooden Work Bench to one of our readers!

    Here’s How To Enter:

    Visit GummyLump.com and tell me what other item they sell would make a great gift for your little one this year!

    For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

    • Fan/Like Gummy Lump on Facebook (first name, last initial)
    • Follow @GummyLump on Twitter (Twitter name)
    • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
    • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
    • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
    • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
    • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  Enter to #WIN a Melissa & Doug Wooden Workbench on @SafeMama from @GummyLump! #giveaway #holiday ends 12/1

    One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until December 1, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

    Congratulations Jessica P. commenter #136!

    Nov

    16

    Holiday Help: Pacific Natural Foods Cream of Mushroom Soup

    Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Food Safety | 8 Comments

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      Last year I did an article about making traditional Thanksgiving recipes a BPA Free makeover.  Many of our holiday favorites require canned ingredients to make them the foods we love during the holidays.  In my own effort to stop using all canned food items in my life (which has been really easy – I haven’t bought a can of anything in over a year) I published a few ideas to replace the required “can of mushroom soup” from green bean casseroles.  At the time, I could not find cream of mushroom soup in anything other than in a can so my solution was to a) use cream of celery, which was easier to find in a box or b) make your own.  Suggesting to someone who is hosting T-Day dinner might laugh in my face over that one.

      Pacific Natural Foods to the rescue.  They have recently release 3 new condensed  soups that can round out your recipes for the holidays or any other of your traditional favorite meals.  Their new condensed soups include Cream of Mushroom (finally!), Cream of Celery and Cream of Chicken.  Hooray!

      Bonus? They’re all USDA Certified Organic and are packaged in a BPA Free aseptic box. Now before you ask: There is a layer of aluminum, however the aluminum is not in contact with the soups (its there to protect the soup from light to eliminate the need for added preservatives) and the two inner most layers are made of polyethylene, which is a BPA Free food grade plastic. The boxes are also recyclable in some areas. I much prefer this over a can if I need to purchase prepared soups.  If you’re not comfortable with the plastic you can always make your own – no harm in that.  But in a pinch I think these are a great and healthy alternative.  Sorry, Campbells.

      In case anyone is interested, they make a great low sodium Organic Creamy Tomato Soup too – it’s my favorite!

      Nov

      12

      Britax B-READY Stroller

      Filed Under Product Reviews, Stroller Safety | Comments Off

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        After considering stroller safety a while back, I’ve been checking out various strollers features to see which ones offer the best in safety.  People don’t often consider much about safety with a stroller as they do with a car seat.  And I understand why… but accidents do happen in strollers and I’ve seen first hand what happens to an over loaded stroller – they can tip backwards posing a serious head injury risk to the child.  Some strollers are riskier than others in that department.

        I was more than thrilled to have the chance to test out the new B-READY stroller by Britax the last few months and I have some really positive feedback about it.  Let’s check it out.

        Basic Features: The B-READY is a very versatile stroller in that it has dozens of configurations including a second seat and infant carrier in many ways.  14 ways actually.  If you look at their images online of the many ways it can be configured you’d be amazed at the possibilities.  The top seat is reversible and has 3 reclining positions and if you include the second seat, that also has 4 reclining positions as well.  It has 4 point suspension for easy maneuvering and spacious under carriage storage with a removable storage bag that includes insulated drink holders.

        What I loved about it: The Britax B-READY is one of the smoothest strollers I’ve experienced.  I supposed the 4 point suspension has a role in that.  The storage space is plenty and fits my diaper bag and anything else I happen to have with me.  I have never once needed to hang anything off the handles. But here’s the thing – without my child in the stroller I loaded it up just to see and I hung my large diaper bag full of stuff along with 2 reusable bags full of groceries off the handle bar and the stroller did not tip backwards or even lift off the ground. The center of gravity is much better balanced than other strollers I’ve used.  I don’t recommend ever doing this with a child in it.  I just want to point out that it’s quite stable.

        Ample storage... even my dog fit in there. She liked it

        The top seat has 3 reclining positions and you can lift and reverse the position so baby can see you or he can look forward. I’ve used both positions with ease and it’s a quick step to get it switched around.  Very easy to do.  My only wish would be that the most upright position be a bit more…upright.  Now that my son is a little older he likes to sit more forward so he can eat snacks. But the way it’s designed he is almost always somewhat reclined.  Which may not be an issue for some.  The signature stroller brake that Britax uses allows you to lock and unlock the stroller by stepping on and pressing down on one pedal.  Many others require you lock both wheels and that you need to jam your toe under the pedal to push it back up to unlock it.  If you have ever done this with sandals on you know it’s not easy to do.

        The canopy has 3 large sections to it so it covers nicely… it would be ideal if it went one more to shade completely but it hasn’t posed too much of a problem.  The peek-a-boo window for mom is convenient and is a mesh window (versus a vinyl one) so there is better airflow.  Plus, I don’t like vinyl anyway.  There is plenty of storage and despite it not having a “mom tray” at the handle bar, I’ve not missed it too much. But that may very well be a deterrent for some.  Britax did replace the mom tray with a removable insulated pouch with houses 2 drink holders and a center pocket for keys, etc.

        3 Reclining Positions allow for easy and comfy napping

        My only gripe with modular strollers is that they tend to be really heavy, especially with an extra seat attached.  This is also the case with the B-READY but the features kind of make up for it. We even took this stroller on our recent trip to Disney World and while it’s not the most convenient stroller to carry, once you’re inside the park it’s kind of a dream to have it – smooth steering among the crowds, big canopy to block the sun and a good recline for napping while big brother rides Splash Mountain.

        Adjusting the shoulder straps is a cinch with one step – no rethreading or any of that baloney. Folding the stroller up is super easy and if you aren’t a goofball like me you won’t pinch any fingers. You lock the brake, pull up on the handle bar grips and fold it down.  Done and done.

        The B-READY is really versatile and perfect for expanding families that need options and want something stylish.  Whether you need to use the infant seat adapter or the full second seat there are a ton of configurations to accommodate your style. The stroller holds kids up to 55 lbs so it will be around for a while.  And it looks stylish!  The test stroller we used was in their silver fabric but it also comes in red, green and black as well.  Overall it could use one or two tweaks but as far as a stroller goes, they really nailed it with this one.  It’s pretty fantastic.

        Get It: You can buy the B-READY online at Amazon.com.

        DadLabs has a really great demonstration from Kate of Britax during the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas – she shows you how easy it is to to make the stroller into a travel system.  She also demonstrates how easy it is to fold up even with the second seat attached.

        Nov

        11

        What’s That Smell? Toxic Toys R Us

        Filed Under Take Action, Toy Safety | 7 Comments

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          Toxic Toys R Us is a project developed by a collection of environmental justice organizations, consumer advocates, public health professionals, parents, children’s health activists, and workers. They are trying to raise awareness regarding toys sold at Toys R Us that still contain toxic PVC.  They use the term “contamination” to describe it and I think it’s the best way to say it.  Contamination.

          Even though Toys R Us and other large chains have made promises to the public in the past to reduce the toxic chemicals in today’s toys, new tests are showing that many toys sold at Toys R Us, including newly released toys prime for the holiday shopping frenzy contain PVC.  The toxins off gassed from PVC during it’s lifetime are linked to a bevy of aliments and diseases like childrens asthma, learning disabilities, obesity and even cancer.  Come on Toys R Us…

          Toxic Toys R Us is going to highlight a Toxic Toy of the Week to demonstrate that the toys that might show up under your tree this year could contain PVC.  Toy Story Barbie is the toy of this week and she tested positive for PVC in her hair. Sheesh.  This is a great organization to watch and support.  Visit ToxicToysRus.com to learn more about what they’re doing to protect our children from PVC in toys.

          Take Action: Even better join the campaign and write to your elected officials.  Voices in numbers can make a difference.

          Nov

          10

          Method Antibac Line Cleans Up SafeMama’s House (Giveaway!)

          Filed Under cleaning products, Giveaways Coupons | 83 Comments

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            There is one other thing besides lip gloss that I collect, and that’s less toxic cleaning products.  Sure I could DIY my little heart out but here is a confession.  I don’t do it. It never happens. So I turn to products that do the job without subjecting myself and my kids to harsh chemicals, bleach and now the all too infamous Triclosan.  We don’t need it, and there are products that work better without them.  One of those is the new line out called Method Antibac. Method partnered up with the CleanWell Company to create this new line of antibacterial products using botanical cleansers that kill 99.99% of household bacteria including E.coli, salmonella enterica, influenza A and H1N1 virus on hard, non-porous surfaces.  Ok, I’ll admit it… I like that. I know its good to be exposed to stuff like this but ew. If I can avoid even one illness this season, I’ll take it.

            How Well Do They Work? I’ve been using these at home for a while now and with great results.  The Method Antibac line has several products: An antibacterial kitchen cleaning spray in lemon verbena, an antibacterial bathroom cleaning spray in spearmint, all purpose cleaning and disinfecting wipes in lemon verbena and of course their new hand sanitizer.  The lemon verbena kitchen cleaner and disinfecting wipes work great.  They actually do an impeccable job on my stainless steel appliances, not to mention they smell nice without leaving a strong lingering scent.  My husband is not a fan of the lemon verbena but he never knows that I’ve used it since the scent doesn’t sit around.

            What I really enjoyed was the spearmint antibacterial cleaning spray. The bathroom smells super clean and lightly minty fresh.  My kids bathroom is the worst and it effectively removed that gross toothpaste river out of the sink and erased the soap scum off the tub and shower.  I also used it to clean the toilet and it’s pretty sparkly if I do say so myself.

            I was so impressed with the Method Antibac line that I bought a Method Hand Sanitizer for my car… it makes my hands soft and smell nice. I hate leaving the playground without a quick rub down on my hands.  Those places are grimy!

            I’ve given Method a hard time in the past but I’ve given them my approval based on their transparency on their sustainability practices, and their transparency in ingredients.  They don’t use phthalates in any of their fragrances and I can live with that pretty comfortably.  If you just aren’t ok with them I always recommend being  DIYer.   But in circumstances where you just don’t want to, you don’t need to.  You can still have safer products that work really well and don’t cost a fortune.  I think Method Antibac products would be PERFECT for schools and I plan on supplying the teachers that requested bleach wipes for the classroom a few containers of the Method Antibac cleaning wipes.

            Where to get these: You can find the full line of Method Antibac products at Target, Lowe’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and Whole Foods as well as at many local grocery and drug stores.  One of the best features is they’re affordable. I love affordable.

            Want To Win A Method Flu Kit?

            Method is giving a super rad Flu Kit to one lucky SafeMama reader. Inside is a bottle of the Method Antibac Bathroom Cleaner, a bottle of Method Hand Sanitizer along with some really funny stickers.  This Flu Kit is not available for purchase so get your entries in to win it!

            Here’s How To Enter:

            Leave a comment on this entry letting me know what Method products you have tried and liked… if you haven’t tried any, visit Method online and tell me what sounds appealing!

            For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

            • Fan/Like Method on Facebook (first name, last initial)
            • Follow @MethodTweet on Twitter (Twitter name)
            • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
            • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
            • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
            • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  I entered to #WIN a Method Flu Kit on @SafeMama from @MethodTweet! #giveaway ends 11/18 http://tinyurl.com/3xz3o3q

            One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until November 18, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

            Want more chances to win Method products?

            Join the #ecowed Twitter party, hosted by @thesmartmama on November 17th from 10pm-11pm EST to have your cleaning questions answered by Method and chances to win some great prizes!

            Note: I received complimentary samples of the Method Antibac products as a part of the Mom Go Green Blog Tours so I could check them out and give an honest review.  Samples in no way affect my honesty in reviewing a product.

            Nov

            10

            SafeMama’s 2010 Safer Holiday Toy Guide

            Filed Under Toy Safety | 5 Comments

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              SafeMama 2010 Holiday Toy Guide!It’s that time of year! As much as I tried to avoid the holiday shopping madness and excessive Christmas decorations at Target it came anyway. “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet!“… I know I know.  But we’re all thinking about it even if we haven’t started shopping yet. Last year I was home with a new baby so I decided to skip doing a gift guide.  But I’ve got the hang of two kids (I question it daily but I think I’m ok) and decided to refresh the gift guide for this years shopping season. Behold, The 2010 Safer Holiday Toy Guide.

              My goal with this year’s guide was to find some newer items that of course were safer options, but that covered a range of costs and tastes.  Some items are more of a big ticket that could be the centerpiece of your holiday gifts and others are in a more affordable range and even a few stocking stuffers. Hopefully there is a variety that will be useful.

              I decided this year that I will only be shopping at smaller stores here and online to support the small business owners that put so much heart and soul into their work.  I hope you’ll support them too! And now, we kick it off: Happy Holidays!!!

              Nov

              4

              Stainless Steel Tazzini Reusable Bottle

              Filed Under Food Safety, Product Reviews | 45 Comments

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                I’ve mentioned before that I am slowly moving away from using plastic in my life as much as possible. For me right now, it’s not totally avoidable. I have 2 kids, a dog and a job so being as dedicated to a plastic free life as some of my green colleagues isn’t coming as easy to me as I would like. But I try. In one way I have tried out several stainless steel water bottles for my daily water requirements. Tazzini contacted me about doing a review and since I hadn’t found a stainless water bottle that I really liked, I was anxious to check it out.

                What I haven’t liked about other stainless bottles is the weight, the spout or lack thereof and the clangyness. If that’s even a real word. What I liked about the Tazzini water bottle was several things. It fits in the cup holder of my car, the bikes in my spin class and it fits in my hand. The middle tapers in making it easy to hold. The cap is pretty genius too. It has a flip top so you can keep the spout clean and covered. The spout itself is made so that it has a twisting lock feature to prevent leaking and spills. The cap/spout piece screws off for cleaning and for adding ice. The spout and top are made of BPA free recyclable plastic too. Of course, the rest is stainless steel which is a non leaching material and perfect for containing beverages.

                My only “wish” for this bottle would be that it was double walled for insulation to keep the bottle from sweating, but compared to the competition this is a pretty neat water bottle.

                Get One: You can pick this bottle up at The Soft Landing (get 10% off with code TSLSAVE10 at checkout!)

                Win It

                Tazzini has generously offered to give a SafeMama reader a stainless steel reusable Tazzini bottle!

                Here’s How To Enter:

                Leave a comment here letting me know what kind of reusable bottle you use now and why you like it or don’t like it. If you don’t have one, let me know why you’d like to start!

                For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

                • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
                • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
                • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  I entered to #WIN a Tazzini Reusable Bottle on @SafeMama #giveaway ends 11/11 http://tinyurl.com/3yn3okb

                One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until November 11, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

                Nov

                3

                General Mills Muir Glen Ditching BPA in Canned Tomatoes But…

                Filed Under Articles, Bisphenol-A | 12 Comments

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                  I ran over an article at the same time that my friend from Ely Organics did on Facebook and we were questioning the accuracy of the information.  So of course we started digging around and I decided to give Muir Glen a call to get clarification.  Or at least as much clarification as a helpful customer service rep is allowed to give me.

                  The article in question, published in The Independant on November 1st said (amongst other things)

                  “General Mills, the US giant behind the Green Giant tinned brand, has already ditched BPA from its Muir Glen tomato range, while Campbell Soups says it has done “hundreds” of tests exploring alternatives.”

                  While this is definitely good news, it’s also kind of a sweeping statement that leaves more questions than comforting answers.  A quick look at the Muir Glen website reveals a statement made by the company informing us that they will be transitioning to BPA free cans.

                  “Muir Glen has been working diligently with our can suppliers to develop and test alternative linings that do not use BPA, and we have successfully identified and tested an alternative that has proven safe and viable in our processing of tomatoes. We are transitioning to cans with liners that do not use BPA as we are canning this year’s tomato harvest.”

                  Great! But…. still, we’re left with the following questions: Are they on the shelves now? If not how will I know? When will the new cans BE on the shelves? and the million dollar question “What is the new lining made of?”  What if it ends up being worse than BPA?  Once upon a time BPA was “safe and viable” We know where that got us. So I called and here’s what I found out:

                  The 411: According to customer service rep I spoke to, who was quite helpful told me that the new harvest of tomatoes will be packaged in the new BPA Free lined cans.  The new BPA free canned tomatoes are not yet on the shelves.  They will also not be labelled BPA Free.  I asked “How will customers know which ones are which?”  He told me they will eventually be given a date of production and that all cans made after that date will be packaged in the BPA free cans.  As of right now they do not have that date of production available. The rep recommended I call back in February to obtain a date of production.

                  I also inquired about the new lining and all he was able to tell me was that it was a BPA Free non-epoxy lining.  Not entirely helpful but it was all he knew for now. I worry that a new lining will just lead to the same situation all over again that we have now with BPA.  What is it? How did they test it? This is what keeps me up at night.  I’m weird like that.

                  I was a little surprised when he asked me if I would like the cans to be labeled BPA Free.  I practically screamed YES into his ear and he said he would pass that information along to the company.  Hopefully is enough of us ask for it, that might actually happen and it will catch wind with other canned food makers.

                  Nov

                  2

                  HappyBaby’s Organic Baby Food and Snacks (Giveaway)

                  Filed Under allergies, Food Safety, Giveaways Coupons | 80 Comments

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                    I’ve been a HappyBaby customer before… when my second baby was born over a year ago. When he seemed ready to start solids I went right for HappyBaby’s frozen organic baby food and their Organic Puffs to get him started. He loved them and so did I. They dissolve easily and are fortified with Iron, Vitamin D and Calcium. Not to mention they are also Certified Organic and are packaged in recyclable BPA free packaging. So when I got an email from HappyBaby recently I was more than happy to try out and share with you their new line of Gluten Free Organic Puffs and Yogurt Melts!

                    HappyBaby’s new Gluten Free Organic Puffs come in two great flavors, Strawberry and Sweet Potato. Why is Gluten Free important? People are becoming more aware of food allergens in kids early on, so its critical to cater to that set of kiddos!  HappyBaby just released their version of Yogurt Melts as well, which are also gluten free (not dairy free) and are low in sugar. They are also fortified with prebiotics and probiotics for added digestive wellness. I handed a few of these yogurt melts to my 1 year old and he gobbled them up faster than I could give them to him. He really loves the Mixed Berry flavor!

                    I was really thrilled to find HappyBaby Organic Baby Food pouches at my local store too. While my son is eating basically everything on his own, I still buy these types of baby foods for 2 reasons. One is they’re a great way to make sure he’s getting the veggies and vitamins he needs. They are similar in their competitors selections but they seem to have found a way to add even more colorful foods our kids might not eat, such as green beans and beets. The other reason is the packaging allows for easy portability and self feeding. He can eat these all by himself.  A bonus is that they seem to be a bit cheaper than some other brands. I cleaned out my local Target yesterday because they were all 99 cents or less (versus other brands that are around $1.39 – $1.89). He had a pouch of Blueberry, Beets and Bananas this morning and sucked it down like it was ice cream. I really love the HappyBaby company’s philosophy and strive to make healthy, organic and safely packaged food for our babies and kids.

                    All of their packaging is BPA and Phthalate free and in most cases fully or partially recyclable.  Some containers are also made with recycled material. Their frozen meals are packaged in 100% virgin polypropylene and are recyclable. Additionally, ALL of their foodscontain no pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, no genetic modification, and no preservatives.

                    Get Some for your happy baby! You can purchase HappyBaby products at a wide variety of stores and online at HappyBabyFood.com

                    Win It

                    HappyBaby is offering two coupons for a free package of their HappyBaby Organic Puffs!

                    Here’s How To Enter:

                    Visit HappyBabyFood.com and leave a comment here telling me what products you think you’re little ones would love! Or if you’ve tried them, which flavors are the best?

                    For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

                    • Fan/Like HappyBaby on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                    • Follow @HappyBabyFood on Twitter (Twitter name)
                    • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                    • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
                    • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
                    • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  I entered to #WIN @HappyBabyFood Organic Puffs on @SafeMama #giveaway ends 11/9 http://tinyurl.com/26mf9js

                    One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until November 9, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

                    Congratulations commenter #40, Brie!

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