Check-Out Hunger Returns for 20th Anniversary

Check-Out Hunger, an annual front-end awareness and fund raiser for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, will be marking its 20th year milestone this fall. This campaign is run at supermarket chains across the northeast.

1.6 million people in New Jersey qualify for

food assistance of some kind.

500,000+ are children.

No one in the Garden State should go hungry,

especially not our children.

In 2009, Check-Out Hunger crossed the $2 Million plateau for the first time. The campaign raised $2,093, 086 for food banks across the state. Since 1992, millions of people have supported the program at food markets and online at http://www.checkouthungernj.org/.

Participating food markets include A&P, Food Basics, Foodtown, Kings, Pathmark, Shop Rite, Super Fresh, Wawa, and Wegmans.

This campaign was developed by the Community FoodBank in conjunction with the New Jersey Food Council and supermarket chains with headquarters in New Jersey. Currently the Community FoodBank of New Jersey administers the regional campaign with 14 chains for 32 food banks and affiliates in 9 states and the District of Columbia.

[DONATE NOW]

About Community FoodBank of New Jersey
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, a member of Feeding America, distributed 35 million pounds of food in the last year to people in need in 18 of New Jersey’s 21 counties. Its staff and volunteers fight hunger and poverty not only through the distribution of food and grocery products, but by education and training, and by creating new programs to meet the needs of low-income people.

Latest Recalls from CPSC

Here are some of the latest recalls from the CPSC in case you haven't seen them:

 

• Bathtub Toys Recalled by Munchkin Due to Risk of Injury
• Girls’ Ruffle Vests Recalled by The Children’s Place Due to Choking Hazard
• Dollar Tree Recalls Children's Halloween Lanterns Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
• Meijer Recalls Infant Shoes Due to Choking Hazard
• Victory Land Group Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs Sold Exclusively at Kmart Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards 

Recall of Powdered Similac Formula

Abbott Laboratories is recalling about 5 million containers of Similac powdered infant formula due to possible contamination by beetles or larvae of the bugs.

Abbott says the recalled formula “poses no immediate health risk, there is a possibility that infants who consume formula containing the beetles or their larvae could experience symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort and refusal to eat as a result of small insect parts irritating the GI tract.Consult a doctor if symptoms persist for more than a few days.”

The recall involves Similac powder sold in plastic containers and certain product sold in 8-ounce, 12.4-ounce, and 12.9-ounce cans.

Visit similac.com or call 800-986-8850 to see if your baby's formula is affected or for more information.

[Read more]

Source: WebMD

P.S. Just one more case for breastfeeding. You don't have to worry about recalls. :(

Green Back to School Shopping with Crayola (Giveaway)

One Goodies for Mom reader will win a colorful, green prize back from Crayola and MyBlogSpark that includes:

• Crayola Markers 
• Crayola Crayons
• Crayola Colored Pencils.

Since back to school shopping is upon us and an expensive fact of life, it makes it a little easier on us moms if we at least feel like we are being a little greener in the process.  Crayola is helping us do just that as we buy school supplies this fall. We can feel even better about Crayola products because we are supporting a brand that cares about kids and the environment, while still getting the same great quality and colors at the same price! Yes, you read that correctly for the SAME PRICE. So while some environmentally-friendly products cost more green, not so with Crayola! And they work the same as the ones we've known since we were kids.

According to the Crayola website, "Crayola may make virtually every color under the sun, but its current favorite is green. By using renewable energy, reducing waste and protecting the rainforests, Crayola's green initiative is helping to ensure that today's kids will have a healthy environment for their creative tomorrows."

But how are they doing this? As part of Crayola’s green initiative, this back-to-school season, Crayola is making crayons with solar power, markers from recycled bottle caps, and colored pencils from reforested wood.

The packaging of Crayola crayons, markers and colored pencils have special icons calling out the way each product is lessening its impact on the environment. These affordable and “green” back-to-school essentials include:

Crayola Markers - New, innovative ways to manufacture Crayola markers from recycled bottle caps, “black” is the new “green!” Crayola markers will now have black barrels instead of white, which allows for more recycled plastic to be used and gives a second life to more than 1 million pounds of plastic bottle caps. Plus, switching to black barrels keeps hundreds of tons of plastic out of landfills each year.

Crayola Green 24-ct. Crayons - More than 26,200 solar panels will convert sunlight into electricity, generating the energy required to make 1 billion of the 3 billion crayons Crayola makes each year, which equals 60 million 24-ct. boxes.

Crayola Green Colored Pencils - All Crayola colored pencils have been made from reforested wood instead of wood sourced from tropical rainforest or endangered species. For every tree used, a new tree of the same species is planted.



ENTER TO WIN
To win this colorful, green products from Crayola, just visit Crayola website than return to leave us a comment telling us what product you would most like to try from the Crayola Store. Deadline is September 17, 2010 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win
Extra entries for:

• Follow Crayola on Facebook.
• Follow Crayola on Twitter.
• Linking to this contest.
• Subscribing to our feed.
• Follow us on Twitter.
• Following us with Blogger.
• Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
• Tweeting about this giveaway.

Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know. Make sure to share your links with us.

Disclaimer: The Crayola products, information, and giveaway were all provided by Crayola through MyBlogSpark.

Winner of Seventh Generation Giveaway

Congratulations to the winner of the Get Ready for Back-to-School with Seventh Generation (Review/Giveaway):

• Commenter # 5 - Hbomb

Thanks so much to Seventh Generation and MyBlogSpark for sponsoring this great giveaway!

“Every Step Walk” to Support Hunter’s Hope

Pro Hall of Fame Quarterback Jim Kelly and wife Jill Invite New Jersey to Participate

Hamilton / Trenton, NJ – In an aggressive attempt to educate and fundraise on both local and national levels again this year, organizations and families throughout the country have come together with the Hunter’s Hope Foundation to assist in the effort to make Universal Newborn Screening in the United States a reality – hopefully in the near future.
Universal Newborn Screening ensures that every child born in the United States has a fair start in life by testing them for every possible disease, thereby ensuring early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of potentially devastating diseases.

According to the Hunter’s Hope Foundation, one in 100,000 live births in the United States are afflicted with Krabbe Disease, an inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal enzyme disorder affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems. Moreover, about 2 million people (or one out of 125) in the United States are carriers of the genetic deficiency that causes Krabbe Disease. If both parents carry a disease-causing mutation in the GALC gene, there is a 25 percent chance of having a Krabbe affected child with each conception.

By hosting the Every Step Walk locally at Veteran’s Park in Hamilton, NJ, “we hope to help the Hunter’s Hope Foundation raise awareness of the need for newborn screenings. Currently, there’s only one state that screens for Krabbe Disease. If caught before symptoms start to show, diseases, like Krabbe, can often be treated,” said Nichole, whose daughter suffers from Krabbe Leukodystrophy.

Nichole’s daughter was five months old when symptoms of the disease began to appear and she started to regress. “She was diagnosed in December; it was right around Christmas. She lost milestones. She can’t hold her head up anymore. She won’t be able to walk. She’s basically like a newborn, and although she eats baby food, she also requires a feeding tube to supplement what she is able to consume.”

“Each year, children die or become permanently disabled because they were born in the wrong state,” said Jim Kelly, Founder of Hunter’s Hope and Pro Football Hall of Fame Quarterback. “We have the chance to help give these children hope and a future from the moment they are born through Universal Newborn Screening. We are excited that the New Jersey community is walking for our mission on August 29th. Together, we can and will make a difference in the lives of thousands of children – Every Step we take will make a difference.”

The first Every Step Walk … the Walk for Universal Newborn Screening to benefit Hunter’s Hope will be held on August 29, 2010 at Veteran’s Park in Hamilton. Day of event registration as well as pre-walk activities begin at 9:00 am followed by the opening ceremony at 10:00 am.

Pre-registration for this non-competitive event is strongly encouraged. Walkers and teams can register online at http://www.huntershope.org/. An opening pledge of $20 counts toward an overall fundraising goal and includes lunch and entertainment. Fundraising incentives are also offered!

About Universal Newborn Screening
Newborn Screening is a state-based public health system that is essential for preventing the devastating consequences of a number of medical conditions not clinically recognizable at birth. All babies in the U.S. receive newborn screening, although all babies are not screened for the same number of diseases. By screening every baby at birth for the same number of diseases, serious mental or physical disabilities, even death can be prevented. Thousands of children die and thousands more become permanently disabled because they were not screened at birth through their state’s Newborn Screening Program. Everyday another treatable disease will take another child’s life. Every newborn in every state needs to be tested for every possible disease. One heel prick is all it takes.

About the Hunter’s Hope Foundation
Established in 1997 by Jim Kelly and his wife Jill, after their infant son, Hunter (February 14, 1997 – August 5, 2005) was diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy, an inherited fatal nervous system disease. While Jim and Jill have been blessed with the opportunity to share Hunter’s story and the hope of the Foundation named after their son all over the world – their greatest passion is to bring encouragement and hope to families in the midst of suffering. The Foundation’s mission and focus is threefold: to fund research necessary to treat and cure Krabbe Disease as well as other devastating leukodystrophies, increase newborn screening standards across the United States to obtain early detection and treatment for all treatable diseases, and ultimately Hunter’s Hope exists to inspire all parents to thank God for their children.


For details, visit: http://www.huntershope.org/

Get Ready for Back-to-School with Seventh Generation (Review/Giveaway)

One (1) lucky Goodies for Mom reader will win a Seventh Generation "Back-to-School" kit courtesy of Seventh Generation.

The winner receive the following great eco-friendly products from Seventh Generation:

• Seventh Generation backpack
• two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes (one for home and one to donate to your child´s classroom),
• disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner,
• facial tissue and
• paper towels

We at Goodies for Mom always love receiving products to use from Seventh Generation because they work hard to protect our environment and our homes. Our favorite is the disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner. It really brings a shine to your surfaces and cleans even tough dried up spills, which we have a lot of at our house. The disinfecting wipes will be greatly appreciated by your child's teacher since as we all know it seems like children are germ magnets.

With nearly 22 million school days lost each year due to the common cold and flu (CDC) and as many as 2.7 million bacterial found per square inch on common school surfaces (NSF International), it´s no wonder that 82 percent of parents with kids in grades K-5 fret about the germs in their children´s classrooms (according to a survey conducted by Seventh Generation).

This school year, Seventh Generation is sharing tips from best-selling author and pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, to help parents protect their child´s health during back-to-school season. Dr. Greene suggests taking the following precautions:

Optimize the immune system

• Reap the benefits of probiotics like those found in yogurt. A recent study showed that children who received enough probiotics daily throughout the cold and flu season had a significant reduction in the number of illnesses they had and, when they did get sick, the symptoms were both milder and didn't last as long.
• Be sure your child is getting plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement.
• Build a strong foundation. Good food, good sleep, and good physical activity all help the immune system to flourish.
• Be wise about reducing unnecessary exposure to harmful germs
• Teach children the key times to clean their hands in the classroom. The most important times include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving "high-risk" places (recess, naptime, play stations) and before meals or snacks.

History of germs (video courtesy of Seventh Generation)


ENTER TO WIN

To win this wonderful tote bag filled with Seventh Generation products, just visit the Seventh Generation website than return to leave us a comment telling us what product you would most like to try from their fine line of eco-friendly products. Deadline is August 20, 2010 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win

Extra entries for:

• Linking to this contest
• Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
• Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
• Tweeting about this giveaway

Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know. Make sure to share your links with us.

P.S. You can get great coupons for Seventh Generations products by clicking here and joining the Seventh Generation Nation.

About Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation is committed to becoming the world's most trusted brand of authentic, safe, and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home.  For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit http://www.seventhgeneration.com/.

Disclaimer: We received the products, gift pack, and an aadditional gift pack to give away free of charge from Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.

Back-to-School Sanity Saver Tips from Annie Pleshette Murphy

from Office Max

With summer winding down, it’s important for the entire family to transition from a summer playhouse to a more structured environment BEFORE school starts.

To do this without loosing your sanity, Annie Pleshette Murphy a psychologist, author, parenting expert for Good Morning America, and former editor-in-chief of Parents magazine recently teamed up with OfficeMax to host the “Back to School Sanity Savers Blogcast” where she provided tips and tricks for getting your family prepared and your kids ready to head back to class without a hitch.

You can view some of Annie’s great tips below, or check out the 30 minute Sanity Savers video provided by OfficeMax by clicking here!

1. Roll back your child's bedtime in 10-15 minute increments leading up to the first day of school, so they're in the habit of going to bed and waking up earlier!

2. Schedule a nightly "Family Quiet Hour" to avoid the evening "witching hour" when homework time can be particularly challenging. During quiet hour, the entire family should turn off the TV and literally do something quiet. For kids, they can do homework or read. For parents, this is a great time to pay bills, read, do a puzzle with the kids, etc. This hour builds good work habits and also helps you connect as a family in ways that TV just can’t.

3. Kick first day anxieties your child may experience by trying to meet the teacher or a few kids in your child's class before school starts. There’s nothing like having a few familiar faces to ease first-day jitters. And if it’s the first day of first grade or a new school, definitely do a dry run by walking or driving them to see the building.

4. Engage your child in the back-to-school process! Sit down with your child, read the school materials and fill them out together. Talk about his/her teacher, the room number, school supply list, and any after school activities. Most importantly, remember if you model calm, collected behavior, your kids will be far more relaxed as school approaches.

5. Setup a family calendar in a central location that EVERYONE can view. Color-code activities for each child and mark important dates for school on the calendar. Find out ahead of time what your child will be participating in and keep an eye out for conflicts. For the first week of school, don't make any plans, so you can adjust as a family. And don't forget to schedule down time as a family and a regular date night for mom and dad!

6. Create a Parent/Kid station. A clever, easy solution to morning madness is to designate an area near the door or place you walk by every day where you can set up a central station for everyone’s necessities. The idea is to have space and easy access to all the things you don’t want to leave behind. The parent's station could include a space for house keys, spare change, cell phone charger, and inbox/outbox for your child’s school forms. The kids' station should include a place for their sports equipment, lunch box, snacks, backpack, etc.

7. Buy school supplies early and let your child select items that reflect his/her personality. New school supplies can make the back-to-school process fun and exciting. Let your child choose items that reflect their taste and personality. When it comes to the almightily backpack, look for wide padded straps and padded back. Teach your child to pack the heavy items at the back of their bag to prevent shoulder strain. And remember, you're child's backpack should not way more than 10-20% of their body weight.

8. Create savvy shoppers by engaging your child in the school supply shopping experience. If you're child is old enough, arm them with a calculator, list and budget and do the shopping together, considering the available funds. Explain that they can spend a lot on one special item – like a new backpack – but that they will then need to buy plain pencils or use last year’s binders. You can also teach kids that private brands like OfficeMax's Schoolio product line are a great way to save on supplies while still getting fun designs and patterns.

9. Involved parents equals good, happy students. Several studies show that children whose parents are involved in their education do better academically and socially. Open the lines of communication as soon as you receive your child’s classroom assignment. Most teachers are accessible by email, so a quick note expressing your hope for a great year, eagerness to meet the teacher and willingness to volunteer in the classroom is a nice gesture.

10. Stay engaged in your child’s class throughout the year. Create a weekly report card that addressed your child’s specific challenges. For example, list 3-4 questions on an index card: Is my child keeping up with the reading? Getting homework in on time? Participating in class? Yes/No questions are best. Needless to say, having to hand the teacher a card is a good incentive for your child to connect with his/her teacher and a nice way for you to stay updated on your child’s progress.

Learn more about Annie Pleshette Murphy at annpleshettemurphy.com. Find your local school supply deals at OfficeMax or view school supply lists by grade on OfficeMax’s Back-to-School site. You can also find OfficeMax on Facebook or @OfficeMax on Twitter.

Fisher-Price Recalls Little People Play 'n Go Campsite™

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Fisher-Price has announced a voluntary recall of the Little People Play 'n Go Campsite™. The plastic Sonya Lee figure in the play set can break at the waist, exposing small parts that pose a choking hazard to young children. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. They have received eight reports of the Sonya Lee figure breaking. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported.

[More Information]

Source: Consumer Product Safety Commision. (2010). Fisher-Price Recalls Little People Play 'n Go Campsite™ Due to Choking Hazard.

BlogHer 2010 Here We Come!!

I'm very excited to be heading to Blog Her 2010 next week in NYC! Hoping to meet lots of others bloggers and learn about a lot of new products to share with you soon.

The Jensen Project Airs Friday 7/16 on NBC

Procter & Gamble and Walmart teamed up together for the second time for a made-for-TV family movie, "The Jensen Project." The 2-hour movie stars Kellie Martin, Patricia Richardson and LeVar Burton and airs on Friday, July 16, 2010 at 8/7c on NBC.

“The Jensen Project” is a secret community of geniuses who conduct underground research.They are charged with helping to solve many of the world's most difficult problems. This science-fiction family movie tells the story of Claire and Matt Thompson, two former scientists who return to project after a 16-year absence. Together, with their son, the family is thrust into a pursuit to keep a potentially-dangerous technology from falling into the wrong hands. As the family races to stop the group's rogue faction, they rediscover the importance of honesty, courage and being there for one another. Important and valuable traits for all families.

You'll see several familar faces in the movie. The mother is played by Kellie Martin, who is most widely remembered for her Emmy-nominated role as Becca Thacher on the ABC series "Life Goes On." Also in the film is Emmy, GRAMMY and NAACP Award-winner LeVar Burton, who starred in the acclaimed miniseries "Roots," four of the recent “Star Trek” series and the public television program "Reading Rainbow.” Patricia Richardson, formerly Jill Taylor on the popular sitcom "Home Improvement," plays Ingrid.

“I am excited to be playing Claire because I feel as though I understand her in a lot of ways and think that her journey in The Jensen Project is interesting and relevant,” said Kellie Martin. “I feel like a lot of moms will relate to the struggle Claire goes through in the movie, with trying to be adept at both her home life and her work life and I’m anxious for families to be a part of the Thompsons’ adventure!”

“The Jensen Project” will also feature the P&G’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program. For every P&G item purchased at Walmart through the end of July 2010, P&G will donate 50¢ to the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Fund up to $50,000. This is equal to a week’s worth of clean drinking water for a family (50 liters) in developing countries will be donated to the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (up to 5 million liters). For additional program details, visit purwater.com (or csdw.org).

Disclaimer: We received a copy of the Jensen Project dvd/soundtrack from P&G and Walmart as part of this review..

Drop Dead Diva: Season One DVD; Season Two Starts Sunday

One of my favorite series is Lifetime TV's Drop Dead Diva. I'm pretty sure I saw all the season one episodes and enjoyed every one. Maybe it's because I can so relate to the main character, plus-size Jane; maybe it is because it is just the right combination of humor and drama. I am not sure. Let's you escape from your own problems for an hour each week.

The top-rated series came to DVD June 1st when Sony Pictures Home Entertainment debuted Drop Dead Diva: Season One. Also watch for the premiere of the second season on Sunday, June 6 at 9PM EST.

For those of you who are not familiar with the series, the beautiful, model wannabe Deb has a fatal car accident. She finds herself in front of gatekeeper at Heaven, who declares her a self-centered “zero.” Outraged, she tries to persuade him to return her to her shallow existence, but in the process she is accidentally relegated to the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum. Jane is a brilliant, thoughtful and plus-sized attorney. Deb has always relied on her external beauty, and now, by a twist of fate, Deb must come to terms with inhabiting Jane’s curvier frame, while learning to reconcile her beauty queen ways with her brilliant, new mind.

In the season two premiere, Jane has a dream where she is in a big musical dance number, working at a food court alongside Judge Paula Abdul, “Dinner Impossible”‘s Robert Irvine and “So You Think You Can Dance”‘s Tyce Diorio. We pick up with Jane exactly where we left off last season as the real Jane's husband arrives at her doorstep, much to the surprise of Jane and her best friend, Stacy.
This past week bloggers were treated to a backstage pass with castmember Ben Feldman ("Fred") hosting. Join in the fun:

Clip 1 - Ben Feldman ("Fred") welcomes viewers to the set of Drop Dead Diva
http://www.sonypictures.com/sphe/dropdeaddivas1/welcome.mov

Clip 2 - Ben Feldman finds Margaret Cho (Teri) sleeping on set!
http://www.sonypictures.com/sphe/dropdeaddivas1/sleeping.mov

Clip 3 - Ben and Margaret find snacks at "craft service" on set.
http://www.sonypictures.com/sphe/dropdeaddivas1/snacks.mov

Clip 4 - Ben takes viewers behind-the-scenes in "Video Village" to meet the director and 1st AD
http://www.sonypictures.com/sphe/dropdeaddivas1/videovillage.mov

BONUS CLIPS!!!!

Clip 5 - "AFTER THE SHOW" - Ben chats with Brooke Elliott (Jane) and Kate Levering (Kim) off-stage, talking about Drop Dead Diva on DVD!
http://www.sonypictures.com/sphe/dropdeaddivas1/Aftertheshow_05.mov

Clip 6 - "AFTER THE SHOW" - Ben asks Brooke and Kate what their favorite episodes were from Season One!
http://www.sonypictures.com/sphe/dropdeaddivas1/Aftertheshow_06.mov

Don't forget to watch the season two premiere on Sunday, June 6 at 9PM EST!!!

Disclaimer: We received a copy of the season one DVD free of charge in relation to this post.

Winner of the HAPPYBABY Giveaway

The winner of the Juggling Work/Life and Having it "All" / HAPPYBABY Giveaway is Commenter #42 JazzyJane.

Thanks to Happy Baby for sponsoring this great giveaway.

Recent Recalls from the CPSC

Here are some of the most recent recalls from the Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) to help keep your kids safe:

• McDonald's Recalls Movie Themed Drinking Glasses Due to Potential Cadmium Risk
• One Step Ahead Recalls Children's Stacking Toys Due to Choking and Aspiration Hazard
• Infant Death Prompts Recall of Ring Slings Made by Sprout Stuff Due to Suffocation Risk
• Children's Giraffe Blanket Recalled by Rashti & Rashti Due to Choking Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Target Stores
• Step2® Recalls to Repair Riding Toys Due to Risk of Injury

[Learn more about the CPSChttp://www.cpsc.gov/]

10 Things Any Family Can Do To Live Greener, Even Yours

Let me start by saying that there many families that live a totally organic, eco-friendly lifestyle. Unfortunately, mine is not one of them. "Simple Living" just does not fit our buys, hectic lifestyle. Convenience and time saving are critical. However, there are simple things any family, and I mean any family can do to live a greener, more earth-friendly lifestyle. Believe me if my family can do little things to help the environment, yours can too.

Here are some tips, you and your family can do with little to no extra effort:

1. Buy Organic Foods. Many grocery stores are providing organic options, especially when it comes to dairy, produce, and meat.
2. Recycle and Reuse. Recycle bottles, plastics, cardboard and paper. Reuse items whenever possible, like using grocery bags for trash.
3. Receive and Pay Bills Online. Just think of all those paper inserts in those bill envelopes. Save paper checks for those that receive electronic checks or debits. Make sure to recycle the paper for those that you did get in the mail.
4. Use Organic Cleaning Supplies . Protect your family from harsh chemicals while protecting the water supply.
5. Use Towels/Rags. Instead of paper towels, use towels and rags for cleaning up messes. This was very hard for us but we are working on it.
6. Get a Water Filter. Although they are coming out with more eco-friendly water bottles, it's still best to use a reusable cup and fill it directly from the tap.
7. Use Organic or Chemical Free Personal Care Items. Not only are they better for the environment, they are safer for your family.
8. Turn Off the Lights and Unplug Unused Electronics. You'd be surprised how much you can save by turning off unused lights and unplugging items/turning off electronic items when not in use like DVD players or PC or printers, or cellphone chargers.
9. Turn Off the Water While Brushing Your Teeth. Think of how much water goes down the drain while you brush your teeth for two minutes and you don't need it.
10. File Your Taxes Online. This is late for this year but think about it for your 2011 taxes. With all the forms and schedules involved in do your taxes these days (mine would have been 24 pages), filing online is seriously saving some trees, especially if everyone is doing.

Will any of these changes the world overnight? Okay, probably not. However, if each person does their part no matter how small it can have a large impact. By doing these small, easy things you are making the world a little greener and your family a little healthier.

Baby OHM - First PVC-Free “Yoga-inspired” Baby Changing Mat

ZoLi™ has a great line of safe, non-toxic baby products from teethers to a changing pad made of the same materials as a yoga mat. One of their most popular new products is the Baby OHM. a unique changing pad. The mini yoga mat for your baby, Baby OHM is 100 percent biodegradable, completely non-toxic, and free of the PVC, latex and chloride often found in other changing pads and adult yoga mats. Baby Ohm features organic cotton edging and is available in both pink and blue and sells for just $20.00.

This convenient, easy to use changing pad conventiently rolls up to fit in your diaper bag. It also is extremely easy to clean. It just wipes off even after the messiest diaper changes. The mat's soft, compact material is cushiony to baby even on hard surfaces.

ZoLi™ also offers a teether, a formula/snack dispenser, and baby bottles. All their products are free of BPA, PVC, phthalate, latex, and chloride, and are completely non-toxic, dishwasher safe, and 100 percent recyclable. In addition, ZoLi packaging is also completely recyclable, made of post consumer waste and printed with soy-based inks. They also have great baby gift sets starting under $50.00.

About ZoLi, Inc.
ZoLi provides a line of baby products that offers safe and eco-friendly solutions for today’s parents who want to solve real-world needs. Its entire suite of products – from baby bottles to changing mats to snack dispensers – delivers both style and functionality that is healthy for children and the environment. Founded in 2008, ZoLi is based in Burlingame, Calif. For more information or to purchase products online go to http://www.zo-li.com/.

Before Cleaning Up After Baby, Re-Think "Clean"

by Alexandra Zissu
Blogs for The Daily Green and Ask and Organic Mom

What cleaning products do you use for your home and laundry? When I do find time or am faced with the necessity to clean, I’m almost scared to, because of all the toxic chemicals that are known as common household cleaning products. I don’t know what’s worse for my baby -- a dirty house or a so-called clean one. But with a baby comes lots of spit-up, poop, and urine. What can I use & do to have a clean enough home that is also safe for baby? Thanks again for sharing!

You’re right to question common cleaning products. The number one thing anyone can do to reduce indoor air pollution is to replace every conventional cleaner under the kitchen sink and in the laundry room with greener, non-toxic versions. It’s a move I encourage everyone I know to do as there’s a true, clear, and obvious easy fix -- just buy any of the many good, trustworthy green brands on the market like Seventh Generation or Ecover. Or, if you have the time, it’s easy (and inexpensive) to make your own.

The reason to leave the common cleaners behind is that the corporations who make them aren’t required to list their ingredients. Apparently these are considered trade secrets, and therefore none of the public’s business. But many of the chemicals used in the products most of us buy (from laundry detergents to oven cleaners to furniture polish to stain removers) haven’t been sufficiently regulated and can be hazardous to your health, not to mention children’s health. Chlorine, for example, is a known carcinogen. Some products have warning labels but a study by the New York City Poison Control Center found that 85% of these labels are inadequate.

While it sounds like you’ve already considered what is in these cleaners, have you thought about what you mean by "dirty?" What are you really trying to clean? Spit up and poop, especially in the early days before starting solids, is just breast milk (or formula). It’s really not very dirty at all. Neither is urine.

Bleach Isn't Best
Somehow cleaning product advertising and commercials have gotten under our collective skin and we (as a culture) feel that spraying bleach on high chairs, baby toys, and even inside fridge produce bins is a good, "clean" thing. Au contraire! These things really aren’t dirty enough to warrant this kind of indiscriminate bad chemical use. Think about the hygiene hypothesis theory -- that the lack of early childhood exposure to dirt and infectious agents increases susceptibility to allergic diseases.

It’s really helped me to rethink what "needs" to be clean in my house. I don’t want to clean so much that Aili will be susceptible to disease! I haven’t used anything harsh in years. Our cleaning is very basic. If you’re still not convinced you’re cleaning up or killing off whatever dirt/germs you feel like are lurking about, think about how most scientists and doctors say that soap and warm water are better than soaps or gels that contain antibacterials for hand washing. I think this applies to homes, too. You don’t need the added ammonia, chlorine bleach or what have you. Soap, water, and elbow grease are more than enough.

Alternatives (Like Going Shoeless) Work
Another thing you might want to start doing to reduce household dirt when you’re concerned about a crawling baby, or even a kid who spends a lot of time down close to the floor, is removing your shoes before coming into your home. I live in New York City and the idea of letting my baby ooch around on urban street residue really turned me off. So we made a spot in our entryway for shoes and I never thought about it again. We actually started doing this way before I got pregnant and have been pleasantly surprised with our guests when we ask them to take their shoes off. At first people were reluctant but I have found that more and more of my friends are doing this in their own homes these days, so much so that we almost never have to ask anymore.

If you feel like you have the time to make your own products, test combinations of the following things until you find what works for you: borax, vegetable based liquid soap, water, club soda, white vinegar, baking soda and lemon. For cleaning glass (or baby urine), mix equal parts white vinegar and water. For gritty jobs (like the tub), make a paste of baking soda and liquid soap, and for everything else (including wood floors), liquid soap and water will do the job nicely. If this sort of mixology interests you, check out more concoctions on the website run by Home Safe Home author Debra Lynn Dadd -- http://www.dld123.com/, or on http://www.betterbasics.com/, which is home to Annie Berthold Bond, author of Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living.

Happy cleaning.

Here are some additional helpful articles from The Daily Green:

• 30 Days of Green Deals: Coupons, Discounts and More
• 30 Days to a Greener Diet
• The Dirty Dozen: 12 Foods to Eat Organic
• Go Green: 5 Easy First Steps You Can Do Today
• What Do Recycling Symbols on Plastics Mean?

[Visit The Daily Green and Ask and Organic Mom]

Juggling Work/Life and Having it "All" / HAPPYBABY Giveaway

by Shazi Visram: Founder and CEO, HAPPYBABY
[See below to find out how to win a HAPPYBABY prize package.]

Sometimes it seems that your life takes on a life of its own. For me, being the CEO of a rapidly growing business is demanding enough. Layer in the crazy hours, my loving relationship with my husband, and a demanding family dog and things get even more complex. Then, just over nine weeks ago I had my first human HAPPYBABY, Zane. I was finally forced to step back and make some plans on how to keep it together—and so far, so good. As a result, I am happy to share my realizations with anyone wondering just how she is going to continue to manage it all.

First off, remember this: you can still do it all, but your definition of "it all” will simply have to change. Of course you have the best intentions and the track record to show you are a dynamo at anything you do, but major life changes like starting a family should be a time of re-evaluation. The thing to do now is to stop, reassess, and ask yourself “What is most important to me? What makes me happy?” Taking time to think about your priorities will allow you to create a schedule that honors them accordingly rather than simply adding more responsibilities into the mix. For me, this exercise made me realize that I don’t need to prove to anyone how productive I can be by pushing myself to the max anymore. Instead, I want to maximize my enjoyment. As far as priorities, baby and family come first, but HAPPYBABY is no less important to me now than it has ever been. This just means that I have to cut some things out for now, like regular trips with friends, some dinners out, and certain speaking engagements that require travel—the things that consume time that I would rather spend with Zane and my husband or focusing on the business.

Secondly, focus. If you are like me and linger too long on the phone with a colleague whose company you enjoy, be more disciplined with your time and cut it short in favor of lunch another day. Learn shortcuts, get more efficient at what you do, and focus on the task at hand while you are at work so that you get more done, feel accomplished, and can leave your work at work. The same thing goes for family time. Be present—don’t be on your Blackberry when it’s time to enjoy the little miracles of life and the first smiles. Everyone will be happier as a result. The way that I do this is meditating for a few minutes every morning before work and on my walk back to my apartment. I take some deep energizing breaths and set my intentions to be present, and it really works. Try it!

Lastly, keep this saying in mind: man plans, God laughs. (That’s one of my husband’s little gems.) This life is about enjoyment, beauty, and happiness. As long as you can have a sense of humor about what you are going through and can laugh about the ups and downs, you are already truly successful, no matter how well you juggle work/life balance.

ENTER TO WIN

One Goodies for Mom lucky reader will win a  HAPPYBABY prize package containing:

• 2 free trial coupons for each product line
• 1 FAQ on Probiotics and DHA
• HAPPYBABY: The Organic Guide to Baby & Toddler's First 24 Months
• 1 Infant & Toddler Nutrition Guide, co-authored by Dr. Robert Sears
• 1 HAPPYFAMILY recipes set

To win, visit the HAPPYBABY website, and then leave us a comment telling us which HAPPYBABY product you'd most like to get for your little one to try. Deadline is Thursday, April 29, 2010 at midnight EST. Open to US residents only.

More Chances to Win

Extra entries for:

• Linking to this contest
• Subscribing to our feed, follow us on Twitter or following us with Blogger,
• Having a link or button to the Goodies for Mom site on your site
• Tweeting about this giveaway
• Follow HAPPYBABY on Twitter
• Become a FACEBOOK fan of HAPPYBABY

Just leave us a separate comment for each letting us know.

 
About HAPPYBABY

A few short years ago, HAPPYBABY was the first premium baby brand to enter the market in five small stores in New York City—at a time when there were no homestyle options for parents to feed their children. Processed foods or homemade baby food—which can be time consuming for busy families—were the only options. A lot has changed, and they are now the leading premium brand of baby and toddler meals in the U.S.—sold in over 5,000 stores with 5 different lines of optimally delicious organic foods for your growing family.

[Visit HAPPYBABY now]

Dr. MOZ Daddy Gifts

Everyone always thinks of mommy and baby gifts but let's not forget new dads. They deserve gifts too right? Well, Dr. MOZ has gifts for daddy. They have the popular "GoodFather" tees that let the whole world know dad's most important title and a CD-Rom that teaches expecting dads baby skills in fun interactive lessons. In addition, they carry the PaPa Gift Pack that combines to popular gifts in one, the Baby Bandolier Sling Diaper Bag and the GoodFather CD-Rom.

So next time you are buying baby shower gifts don't forget daddy!

[Go to Dr. MOZ daddy gifts now.]

Product Review: Clorox Cleaning Products

I've long been a fan of Clorox wipes and have since found many other Clorox products to enjoy.

My favorite of which is the Clorox disposable toilet cleaner. I know it's not very "green" but with three "boys" (one is hubby) in the house, the toilet bowl is a nasty, nasty place and I want nothing more than to dispose of anything that comes in contact with it. These are perfect because I clean and toss.

The Clorox hard surface cleaner is great for cleaning toys/high chairs, especially during this time of year when germs seem to abound, just ask my two sick boys. :( It's mild smell makes it a pleasure to use and it makes things shine.

The one product I own that I'm not crazy about is the kitchen cleaner. The scent is just too strong and I worry it's a little too strong with the kids around so I think this may be replaced by something a little more environmentally friendly and kid friendly in the near future.

I've also started using the shower cleaning pads and they work great but to be honest I don't need these to be disposable. I'd much rather have this cleaner available to use with a resuable brush or sponge. But it does work great!

As always, I am going to work at replacing some of my household cleaners with more eco-friendly alternatives so watch for reviews in the future on more "green" products.

[Visit Clorox site now.]