Originally created as a care product for knits, Soak is a premium no-rinse wash for all delicates, from lingerie and sweaters to baby clothes, quilts, stuffed animals…even your dog!

Soak is available in four scents (Aquae, Citrus, Flora and Celebration) as well as in Scentless; three size options make it easy to use while traveling or at home. And if you don’t “do” handwashing, Soak can be used in your washing machine’s delicate cycle! The non-toxic, biodegradable formulation uses no dyes or harsh ingredients (it’s phosphate-free), just skin-grade ingredients so gentle you could bathe in it.

If you’re looking to upgrade the way you wash your delicates, Soak is available at a 15% discount through the end of the year by using code SOAK09 on their website. Happy Soaking!

Recently I discovered a little company (run by 3 stylish moms who just happen to be sisters) called Do De Da that puts a cute new spin on the infant onesie/toddler t-shirt!

Capturing the innocence and wholesomeness of childhood with designs straight from the garden and their own kitchens, these super-soft, super-comfy shirts have a bit of a retro vibe that will warm the heart of everyone your baby meets! Two lines are available–Homebaked, with 9 different bakery-themed styles, and Homegrown, with a dozen garden-fresh choices–and each short-sleeved, 100% Organic Cotton shirt is available in sizes from 6 months to 5/6T at a price of $24.00 (not including shipping).

I ask you: with fall just around the corner, who could resist a little pumpkin like this?

Each year in the U.S., nearly 13,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer–which sadly is the leading cause of death for children ages one year through adolescence. Today about 75% of children diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors (up from >10% in the early 1950s), largely due to advances made by pediatric cancer research, which has led to essential treatment strategies such as multi-agent chemotherapy and combined modality therapy.

Research can and is making a difference, and philosophy invites you to join the fight against this deadly disease by supporting pediatric cancer research. From now through October 15, 2009, philosophy will be donating 100% of the net proceeds of their oatmeal raisin high foaming shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer–an organization created to raise awareness of and funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer through the concept of hosting local bake sales.

If you are interested in learning more about pediatric cancer research or in contributing to this vitally important cause, we invite you to visit the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer website and learn how to throw a bake sale of your own in four easy steps (planning, details, bake, sell). Or, support the cause–and give yourself a no-calorie treat–by purchasing your own bottle of Oatmeal Raisin bath gel from philosophy!

Kaboodle, the largest and fastest growing social shopping community on the web, is sponsoring a fabulous back-to-school giveaway that offers one lucky person the chance to win a $1,500 JCPenney.com gift card. In addition, six weekly winners will receive $100 gift cards.

To enter, simply create a styleboard that shows off your back-to-school style (and includes at least one item from JCPenney.com) on the contest website between now and 12:00 p.m. (PT) on August 28th!

Did you know that more than 10% of children suffer from snoring part or most of the night while sleeping? It’s true, and it may be an indicator of a far more serious problem–sleep apnea.

Symptoms that parents should be watchful for:
1. “Snoring that is loud enough to wake your child up” is the first indicator of sleep apnea, according to Dr. Dan Smith of the Focus Center for Sleep Apnea and Snoring. This is not the occasional snort or two but that incessant, honking-level snoring!
2. “If your child ceases breathing intermittently while sleeping.” When sleep apnea occurs, the tongue can be sucked against the back of the throat. This blocks the upper airway and airflow stops or is greatly diminished.
3. “Suddenly waking up because he or she can not breathe and has shortness of breath or gasping.” This is directly linked to symptom #2, says Dr. Smith. When the oxygen level in the brain becomes low enough due to the blockage, the sleeper partially awakens, the obstruction in the throat clears, and the flow of air starts again, usually with a loud gasp.
4. “If your child is excessively drowsy during the day.” This does not mean hitting the proverbial wall at 3 pm that a quick snack can fix or throwing a temper tantrum due to exhaustion. This means actually accidentally falling asleep during the day (not during nap time).

Sleep apnea is one of the most misdiagnosed medical problems–especially in children–and parents should know that loud and regular nightly snoring is often abnormal in otherwise healthy children. If a child suffers from this condition, he or she may be getting too little oxygen and too much carbon dioxide. This condition can lead to poor heart and lung development, behavioral problems, and even death if unchecked.

Thankfully, health centers have opened to help diagnose and treat sleep apnea. If you are concerned that your child may be suffering from sleep apnea, discuss your concerns with your child’s pediatrician to find out if further testing is needed.

Sometimes it seems like the quest for the perfect organizer is an endless one…and it doesn’t get any easier once you’re managing a family on top of all your own commitments. To make it a little easier to stay on track without compromising your sense of style, we’ve found a few great products that just might be perfect for you!

1. BusyBodyBook offers a range of modern, gender-neutral planners, calendars, and weekly organizers, all based on a grid format that lets you track up to 5 people at the same time. The weekly organizer (available in both August-August and January-December formats) also includes a full page of note-taking space for each week, making it easy to track those tasks that need to be completed soon…but maybe not today. Prices range from $17.95 for the weekly organizer to $12.95 for the undated grid pad.

2. Truly Mom is a line of stylish stationery, planners, calendars, and more. The weekly planner runs from September-December (of the following year, of course) and includes monthly pages, stickers, and a handy pocket designed to hold all those little scraps of paper than accumulate at the bottom of your purse. At $6.95, this compact planner is a great deal, as well!

3. momAgenda’s offerings are more expensive, but worth it if you’re interested in a complete system. Colorful planners, organizers, notepads, and more are designed to meet any need–and are refillable! The website also offers downloadable lists to help you organize specific tasks such as throwing a birthday party, tracking your spending, tracking holiday gift purchases, and setting goals. Prices range from free (for the downloads) to $145 for a refillable leather binder. Refills (which may be purchased and used on their own) are $23.95, and cover the months of September-December.

4. Galison’s Weekly Organizers offer a great value for anyone interested in an undated system. Within each stylish folder, you’ll find a sheet that helps you plan your week, as well as sticky notes in a variety of sizes and a reclosable envelope to hold receipts or any anything else that comes your way. Priced at just $17, these would make fantastic gifts for friends and family members as well!

Summer is here, and the Kessler Foundation (one of the largest nonprofits serving people with physical disabilities) and its chapter of ThinkFirst (a national injury prevention program that teaches children how to decrease their risk of experiencing a disabling injury) would like to take this opportunity to provide parents with some important tips to help keep children safe during these busy and active months. Nearly half of all childhood injury-related deaths take place in the summer months–and many of those can be prevented without compromising a moment of anyone’s fun in the sun!

1. Check all outdoor toys that have been stored during the winter to insure no wheels are loose, no pieces are missing, and there is no other wear that would make the toy unsafe for children. For new toys, check the packaging for warning labels and consider checking online to be sure that the toy is considered safe by child safety advocates.

2. Insist that your children wear a helmet every time they ride their bike, skateboard or rollerblade. Studies have shown wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a head injuries by as much as 85 percent. When purchasing a helmet, insure that it fits properly and meets or exceeds the safety standards developed by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and/or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

3. At the pool, experts recommend that young children do not dive at all, while older children should only do so in at least eight feet of water with arms extended out in front. Also teach all children to look before they leap into the water–it’s the only way to be sure that they won’t land in a crowded area of the water and potentially injure both themselves and others.

4. Always require children to wear a seatbelt while riding in a car and check to be sure that the belt is snug across their hips. If your car becomes really hot, take care to avoid “buckle burns”–this can be a particular problem for young children who are still in car seats. And, of course, NEVER leave a child unattended in a car!

As you strive to put together a creative, modern nursery, it can be difficult to find a mobile that matches your sense of style. Some of us are crafty enough to tackle the project and create our own unique piece, while others (like me!) are left trawling all over the internet in a desperate quest for something we can stand to look at every day.

Enter three fabulous companies, each offering their own (affordable) take on the modern mobile:

1. At Gifts Define, the DECO Mobile offers six adorable and colorful handmade options with themes ranging from “Home Sweet Home” to “Bird Parade.” Each sells for $78.

2. At Petit Collage, three stylish bamboo mobiles offer new parents an environmentally friendly (and retro-cool) choice priced right at just $68 each.

3. At Hanging Mobile Gallery, new parents can browse through a wide range of options in categories such as “Educational,” “Baby and Child,” or “Modern” to make the perfect selection for their little one. Best of all, prices start under $30.

Just because your waistline is growing at the same rate that the economy is shrinking doesn’t mean that you can’t show off your bump in designer style. InStyleBelly.com offers an affordable array of new and gently used fashions at their online consignment shop.

From the company’s press release:
Women don’t want to give up style for nine months; they want to find an extension of their regular wardrobe rather than temporary departure from it. For example, if you wear Rock & Republic jeans pre-pregnancy, most likely you’ll want to wear them when expecting too. Now you can. Today’s designers showcase an expecting mom’s new curves and make clothing that is size appropriate verses the one-size-fits-all mentality from the past. InStyleBelly offers a large selection of affordable maternity clothing for casual, business/professional and special occasions from specialty retailers including GAP and Ann Taylor; as well as designer brands such as Cynthia Rowley, Michael Stars and True Religion.

From their current stock:

Isabella Oliver dress for $87

Jules & Jim pantsuit for $90

It may be true that babies don’t need shoes until they start walking, but who can resist buying at least a pair or two for those tiny little feet? Enter ShooShoos, a South African company dedicated to making cute leather shoes that also support growing feet. With both flexi-soled options for beginning walkers and soft-soled styles for younger babies, each set of ShooShoos are guaranteed to add a fashionable note to your baby or toddler’s look!

Right now many styles are on sale at their online storefront ($14.95-$19.95), so hurry over and stock up!