The Fashionable Bambino

Earth Friendly Products and Back-to-School Giveaway

Theresa Gould — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:00:34 +0000

After a recent study by Pediatrics that found that children are at an increased risk for health problems when chemical-laden cleaning products are in the home, your readers may be looking for a solution to cleaning pollution.

Earth Friendly Products, (www.ecos.com) makers of all-natural, green cleaning products for more than 40 years wants to give several lucky parents the chance to makeover their children’s classrooms or dorm rooms with all-natural cleaning products, as part of the company’s continued Safeguard Your Home! campaign.

To enter, simply visit Earth Friendly Products Facebook page, “Like” the page and leave a wall post explaining why the child’s classroom or dorm room can use a free supply of eco-friendly cleaning products from EFP, including:

* ECOS Laundry Detergent
* Dishmate Hand Dishwashing Soap
* Wave Autodishwasher Detergent
* Eco Breeze fabric refresher
* Window Cleaner
* Parsley Plus all-purpose cleaner

This giveaway ends today, so if you really want to enter do it now while it is fresh in your minds before it’s over!

Every Day Household Products Can be Deadly for Children

- Earth Friendly Products urges parents and schools to rethink harsh chemical cleaners at back-to-school time –

Earth Friendly Products (www.ecos.com) urges parents to think about the products they use as they send their kids back to school. Everyday cleaners, those used to launder school uniforms, clean lunch boxes, sanitize school supplies and toys or even freshen the air, contain dangerous, toxic chemicals, many of which are deadly if swallowed. Even the products used to clean school classrooms are harsh chemical cocktails with noxious fumes.

In an ongoing effort to drive awareness of the products that are brought into homes by unsuspecting consumers across the nation, Earth Friendly Products, a leading maker of all-natural, eco-friendly cleaning products, is re-launching its “Safeguard Your Home!” online campaign on the company’s dedicated Facebook page, but with a back-to-school twist. Safeguard Your Home! is a nationwide program to push families to rid their homes of lethal household cleaners and Earth Friendly products is extending the campaign to encourage parents to protect themselves and their children from the health dangers that toxic cleaners pose at schools and in dorm rooms.

To participate in the back-to-school campaign, Earth Friendly Products fans can visit www.facebook.com and “like” Earth Friendly Products. Once a fan, users are encouraged to explain on the Earth Friendly Products wall why their classroom or dorm room needs a green cleaning makeover. Everyone from teachers, students, parents, professors and caregivers are encouraged to tell their stories on Earth
Friendly Products Facebook page. All participants will be entered to win free, full-sized Earth Friendly Products samples. The prize packs include ECOS Laundry Detergent, Dishmate Hand Dishwashing Soap, Wave Autodishwasher Detergent, Eco Breeze, Window Cleaner and Parsley Plus all-purpose cleaner.

“Whether preparing a young adult to go to college or sending a five-year-old off to kindergarten, parents should be aware of the products their children come in contact with on a daily basis,” said Van Vlahakis, CEO of Earth Friendly Products. “Recently it has been reported that cases of children being poisoned by household chemicals has risen and the time has never been more apt to change the way we clean. Avoiding harsh chemicals can also prevent a slew of respiratory ailments, not to mention accidental chemical burns from contact with the skin.”

In August, it was reported by Pediatrics magazine that each year, nearly 12,000 are rushed to the emergency room after ingesting chemicals from household cleaners from ammonia to bleach. For a small, but startling percentage of children, this brief contact with chemical-laden cleaners results in life-threatening symptoms and, in some cases, long-term disabilities. To date, little has been done to change the dangerous compounds that threatened people’s health and the planet and Earth Friendly Products is set to change it.

Readers who would like more information about Earth Friendly Products should visit www.ecos.com .

About Earth Friendly Products

Earth Friendly Products is the leader in the development and production of environmentally friendly cleaning supplies for household and
commercial use with over 150 products manufactured, distributed, and sold in the USA, Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. All Earth Friendly Products are created with only replenishable and sustainable plant-based ingredients that are safe for people, pets, and the planet. The company proudly adheres to its strict “Freedom Code”, a list of harmful and toxic ingredients that are not found in any its products. Earth Friendly Products has proudly received the 2009 Green Patriot (TM) Green 100 (TM) Designation and the Champion level recognition from the US EPA through the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program’s Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative.

Credit Cards for Kids – What Do You Think?

Theresa Gould — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:00:13 +0000

I just read an interesting article on CBS Money Watch Blog by feature writer Stacey Bradford entitled, Credit Cards with Training Wheels for Teenagers.

Before my oldest daughter hit her teens, I would have been one of those parents who said, “No way will I give my child a credit card!” But now that she is a teen and has shown herself to be responsible and after reading Stacey’s article, I am inclined to think that I would consider giving her a credit card. Can’t believe the extra cost, but understand the reasoning behind it. I would much rather her learn to use a credit card wisely under my watchful eye than for her to learn the hard way. I never had a credit card until I was married, but due to watching the mistakes of others I understood the importance of living within my means and not overcharging, which thankfully is/was the way my husband uses credit cards too. We have always tried to supplement financial education into our children’s school curriculum and I think a credit card with training wheels could be another important aspect to incorporate into our homeschool.

In the future, I could see us getting credit cards for our daughters so they could help with our family shopping when they went out on their own errands saving us multiple trips out. This would not only give our children a chance to continue to practice being responsible, but I have no doubt that it would give them an extra boost of confidence knowing that we trusted them. And if we have done our job right, they won’t want to do anything that would break that trust.

What do you think about giving your kids a credit card?

Resources:

http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/family-finance/credit-cards-with-training-wheels-for-teenagers/2931/?tag=col1;blog-river

The Gift of a Pain-Free Back

Theresa Gould — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:00:16 +0000

Fashionable Media Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to me, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

Nearly 90% of American adults experience some sort of back pain. Why is this number so high when in other countries only 5% of adults report back pain? Esther Gokhale (pronounced Go-clay) has been on a quest to find out the answer to this very question due to her own failed back surgery. She has been teaching what is called the Gokhale Method (SM) for 15 years at her wellness center in Palo Alto and has now written a book called 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back.

Her book is a comprehensive, step by step guide to better posture and better health. It contains testimony after testimony from people who have used the Gokhale Method (SM) and have seen a positive change occur after using these eight steps to change the way they sit, walk, exercise and generally go about their daily lives.

Esther first takes the reader through the foundations of back pain and what good posture actually looks like. For this she provides photograph after photograph of people around the world who exhibit fine posture while doing every day activities, unlike most of us here in the United States who have lost the ability to do these things while maintaining good posture.

Then she goes through the orientation of how to use the lessons and how they are organized. She does not claim this is a cure all and definitely states precautions, but overall the whole Gokhale Method (SM) was intriguing enough for me to take advantage of the opportunity to review 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back, since my husband has struggled with back pain ever since he was rear ended in a fender bender in the late 1990s.

Each of the lessons is thoroughly explained, complete with photos of each step, including photos of the wrong way to do the exercises as well. I really think that this book could help people looking for an alternative way to relieve their back pain when surgery and traditional medicine has failed them.

8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back> is available through www.egwellness.com, as well as many other book retailers for $24.95.

About Esther Gokhale

Esther has been involved in integrative therapies all her life. As a young girl growing up in India, she helped her mother, a registered nurse, treat abandoned babies waiting to be adopted. This early interest led her to study biochemistry at Harvard and Princeton and, later, acupuncture at the San Francisco School of Oriental Medicine. After crippling back pain during her first pregnancy and unsuccessful back surgery, she began her lifelong crusade to find a solution to back pain. Her studies at the Aplomb Institute in Paris and years of research in Burkina Faso, India, Portugal, and elsewhere led to her development of the Gokhale Method (SM), which she has been teaching at her Palo Alto wellness center for the past fifteen years. Visit her online at www.egwellness.com

Wood Sprite Organic Body

Theresa Gould — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:00:39 +0000

Fashionable Media Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to me, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

About Wood Sprite Organic Body

Wood Sprite’s line of Premium Organic Soaps are artfully handmade in small batches using a base of organic olive oil, organic coconut and organic palm oil using the time-honored “cold kettle” method. They utilize whole or organic herbs, aromatherapy grade pure essential oils and exotic nut and fruit oils such as organic sunflower, organic sweet almond, kukui, apricot kernel and grapeseed or rich, nourishing butters such as organic shea, mango, organic cocoa and kokum, which add vital moisturizing properties to the characteristically creamy, luxurious lather of our organic soaps. Wood Sprite organic soaps are unsurpassed for purity, quality and performance. Naturally glycerin-rich, our organic herbal soaps gently cleanse the skin without stripping it of its essential natural oils, leaving your skin feeling soft, smooth and utterly pampered! We use only pure, natural essential oils to scent our soaps and organic herbs or naturally-occurring clays to color them. You will find absolutely NO artificial fragrances, colorants or preservatives in Wood Sprite Organic Soaps. In fact, they use no synthetics or chemicals of any kind and have never used parabens or pthalates in any of their products (for more information on the potentially harmful use of parabens and pthalates in cosmetics, please see the excellent “Think Before You Pink” website, at thinkbeforeyoupink.org). They do not test on animals, and use entirely botanical or mineral ingredients with the exception of only organic honey and beeswax. All of their ingredients are clearly disclosed on their website.

But organic soap is not all they make–they also make an assortment of fine organic spa and body care products, for the the highest quality and purity in organic skin care. For the discerning spagoer, they offer a full line of natural and organic, chemical-free spa products and professional spa treatments which you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, any day of the week. To complement their organic bath and body lines, they created a special selection of hand-poured Soy Aromatherapy Candles in their signature fresh and fragrant pure essential oil blends to light up your living space and enhance your mood. (Taken from www.WoodSpriteOrganicBody.com

Grapefruit-Mint Gentle Organic Body Wash: We loved the smell of this gentle organic body wash. Grapefruit-Mint may not sound all that appealing but really does smell very nice. It definitely lives up to Wood Sprite’s claim of leaving your skin feeling soft. Our oldest daughter just loves it. It comes in 5 scents and is $14.00 for a 9.5oz bottle.

Get Whipped Vanilla Shea Body Butter: This shea body butter is so nice to have for eczema. Our oldest has had some eczema and it took away some of it that was on her arm and it has since disappeared. We like how it applies, as it is not greasy feeling. I am not sure about the smell yet though. It comes in a nice plastic container and has 4 scents. It is priced at $19.99 for a 3 oz jar.

Sweet Orange Lip Balm: This lip balm is extra special as it has a really great smell – one of the best lip balm scents we have ever smelled – but we love oranges though! It is not greasy nor waxy tasting and is very helpful when you have chapped lips. It comes in 6 scents and is $5.00 for a .15 tube.

Tea Tree Complexion Soap: This soap is so soft it is hard to believe that it has no parabens or any other chemical ingredients. It is has olive oil in it so that makes it extra soft! Our oldest daughter is a huge tester in our family because if she can use a product, then usually it will be good for all of us. She used this on her face and had no problems. She didn’t break out at all, so we are very happy with this soap! It is $9.00 for a 0z bar. This soap is great to combat eczema, psoriasis or acne.

We definitely recommend Wood Sprite Organic Body! It is an added bonus that they are Certified Organic. We love it that they do not use any chemicals in their products. Be sure to check out the rest of their products at www.WoodSpriteOrganicBody.com.

Cool Cuffs for Boys

Theresa Gould — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:39 +0000

Renowned Hair Accessory Company Adored By Hollywood Offers The Original And First Of Their Kind Accessories For Boys

Ladybugs & Lullabies has become a household name in Hollywood since setting the trend in the world of girl’s hair accessories with celebrity moms including Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, Brooke Shields and Marcia Cross snatching up the adorable accessories for their little girls. But girls aren’t the only ones who want to have fun, boys do, too, and Ladybugs & Lullabies acknowledges that with their ultra cool and edgy Cool Cuffs line.

Cool Cuffs from Ladybugs & Lullabies are the first accessories of their kind for little boys. These luxurious, thick cotton cuffs are made from 100% soft cotton with high quality woven ribbons featuring intricate detailing and a rugged look. No satin or frills for these boys, that’s for girls.

They also feature a snap closure to keep the cuff in place, while still being easy to wear and easy to remove.

Ring of Fire Cuff

Cool Cuffs come in a variety of designs including Blue Flame, Celtic Weave, Barbed Wire, Circle Of Skulls, Ring Of Fire, Camouflage, Dragons and Spaceships. There’s something for every personality.

Circle of Skulls Cuff

Cool Cuffs retail for $8 each and are available for purchase in the U.S. and Canada at www.LadybugsandLullabies.ca.

Six Fun Tips for a Fit Family

Theresa Gould — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:26 +0000

by Tara Zimliki

The new school year is quickly approaching, which means less downtime for kids and more stress for parents. To make matters worse cutbacks in physical education, increased academic pressures, and ever-growing portion sizes in restaurants and at home are making families increasingly overweight. But who says you can’t make more time for the family and squeeze in a decent workout? The trick is to do both at the same time.

Tara Zimliki, fitness expert and founder of Tara’s Boot Camp in Branchburg, New Jersey, teaches people every day how to maintain
healthier lifestyles, no matter what their age or fitness level. Using her own family as an example, she helps families improve both their
health and their confidence. “By making a commitment to family fitness, you can strengthen bonds and get yourself in shape, too,” says Tara. There’s also the added benefit of setting your kids on the right path for later in life, when being fit will lessen the risk of diabetes, some cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression.

Try these strategies to get your family moving – this fall and all year-round:

* Start young. Tara advises parents to get kids moving early in life which will promote healthy development and keep sedentary habits at bay. Even your toddler needs at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity every day, and should not sit still for more than an hour at a time.

* Set realistic goals. Not all children are star athletes. But keep in mind that your child may have never been given the chance to shine. You can help by being realistic about your child’s physical ability. For some kids, even a jog around the block can seem intimidating. “Running ability is mostly mental,” says Tara, “It’s important to keep your child motivated by breaking down each goal, step by step.”

* Get animated. Running doesn’t have to be boring! Get creative with your workout. Form a conga line and play follow the leader. Flap your arms whenever you see a stop sign. Try running while hopping, pumping your arms, playing air guitar – whatever you and and your kids can dream up!

* Be a cheerleader. A recent study of 200 students in grades 2 through 11 showed that kids of all ages want their parents to help them stay active. Cheer them on frequently and show your child that activity is a priority every day. Tara says to make sure your children know that you would never be disappointed with their performance. “Remember, this is both a workout and a bonding activity,” says Tara.

* Use community resources. Your family run doesn’t have to be confined to your block. Keep it interesting by visiting different parks or neighborhoods other than your own. You can also check out whether your child’s school, or a local university or community center, offers an indoor or outdoor track for public use.

* Be vigilant. Although a family jog provides a convenient way for you to get out the door and run, the advantages don’t come without risks to your child. Try to avoid running at night when visibility is limited. “Your exercise should be satisfying and safe for both you and your new companions,” advises Tara. Also, leave distractions at home – including the iPod and the dog. Make this time simply about you and your kin.

About Tara Zimliki

Tara is a Certified Personal Trainer through The American Council on Exercise (ACE), and a Boot Camp Instructor. She has competed and trained with top athletes at the University of South Carolina where she was awarded a full cross-country scholarship. Tara has a B.A. from Rutgers University and specializes in fat loss and nutrition. She is passionate about helping people change both body and mind, believing positive results stem from positive attitudes. She helps clients maintain this attitude with fun, challenging and rewarding workouts.

Tara’s love of fitness started as a child when she began running at the young age of 7. She played numerous sports but running was her passion. Tara enjoyed it so much that she continued running right up until she had children, completing the New York Marathon 8 months pregnant and even ran 1 mile the day she gave birth to her first daughter and 3 miles the day she gave birth to her second daughter. Tara has completed 15 Marathons and hundreds of races worldwide. In addition, she has won many 5Ks and placed top in many long distance runs. In 2008, Tara placed in the top 500 women for the NYC Marathon. Recently, she won the USATF New
Balance Long Distance Grand Prix for women 34 & under for the 4th consecutive year. Tara’s practices what she preaches in all aspects of fitness and health and for this reason she is a trusted trainer that produces results.

For more information on Tara’s Boot Camp, including registration details and full schedule, visit www.tarasbootcamp.com.

Fierce Mamas by Christian Siriano on Ideeli!

Theresa Gould — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:00:02 +0000

Fierce Mamas a fashionable maternity line created by Project Runway designer Christian Siriano, is teaming up with Ideeli today, Monday, August 30, for a one-day only exclusive sample sale. From trendy tops that start at $12 to stylish dresses that start at $30, women can splurge on their bump without the guilt, saving up to 60% off retail price! Fierce Mamas is the go-to premiere luxury maternity line when it comes to dressing A-list celebrity moms-to-be that include Christina Applegate, Becki Newton, and Ali Larter.

We’d thought we’d share this with you all in light of our new giveaway posted this morning. Please feel free to share this exciting event with your own blog readers and friends! Co-founder, Elise, of Fierce Mamas by Christian Siriano and Moody Mamas, is thrilled to be partnering with Ideeli.com for their first-ever maternity sample sale. Below are a couple of dresses included in this one day sale:

MM Dress

Sweetheart Dress

Visit www.Ideeli.com for more sale items.

Moody Mamas Giveaway – Win a $25 Gift Certificate!

Theresa Gould — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:00:28 +0000

Moody Mamas and Fierce Mamas by Christian Siriano (winner of Project Runway) is a luxury maternity wholesaler that sells to high end boutiques worldwide as well as retailers such as Nordstrom and Harrods. As an LA based company, they have dressed many celebrity moms including Heidi Klum, Jennifer Garner, Laila Ali and Bethenny Frankel.

Pregnant fashionistas everywhere have been known to turn heads while wearing Moody Mamas and Fierce Mamas clothes and they want to help The Fashionable Bambino readers achieve this status by offering our readers a giveaway! In honor of their adorable summer styles available on Nordstrom.com, they would like to offer our readers a chance to win a $25 gift certificate on www.moodymamas.com as well as a discount code, MM Discount, valued at 30% off our entire site, www.moodymamas.com.

Elise’s Favorites (Co-Founder of Moody Mamas):

For more information on our brand, please visit:

www.moodymamas.com and www.mmlovesnordstrom.com.

Soooo…….you wanna win a $25 Gift Certificate to MoodyMamas.com?

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment telling me what you’d buy with your gift certificate Moody Mamas you’d choose.

Extra Optional Entries: (Leave 1 comment for each extra entry.)

1 Entry: Follow @fashionablebaby on Twitter (include your Twitter name in comment!)

1 Entry: Follow Moody Mamas on Twitter.

1 Entry: (per day) Tweet about this contest. Leave 1 comment for each tweet with the link to tweet.

GIVEAWAY! Enter to win a $25 Gift Certificate to MoodyMamas.com! @fashionablebaby http://tiny.cc/MoodyMamasGiveaway Please RT!

1 Entry: Become a fan of The Fashionable Bambino on Facebook

3 Entries for: Become a fan of Moody Mamas on Facebook

1 Entry: Subscribe To The Fashionable Bambino’s RSS Feed

5 Entries: Blog about this contest and link back to this post and Moody Mamas.

1 Entry: For every comment you leave anywhere on the blog besides here, you may add one extra link for each comment. Be sure to leave an entry comment on this post saying you posted your additional comments!

(Note: You must leave 1 comment per entry. Extra entries will not be counted unless you leave a comment for each one.)

Sometimes our spam catcher is a little over zealous and will snag your comments if you leave multiple comments very quickly, one after another. I recommend waiting a minute between each comment. If the spam catcher gets you anyway, don’t worry! Your comments have still been submitted, they are just being held for moderation. I approve them as quickly as possible. If you are very concerned about this issue, you may email me and let me know what the problem is.

Details

Contest runs from August 30th-September 12th. Last chance to enter is September 12th at 11:59pm ET. One winner will be contacted on or before September 30th, 2010 and asked for full name, along with their mailing address, etc. Moody Mamas will be sending one winner a $25 gift certificate to www.moodymamas.com! If no response is given within 48 hours, a different winner will be chosen, so please be sure to check your email. Must be 18 or older to enter. Contest open to only the USA!

Bitz Kids NYC – Cute Baby Clothes

Theresa Gould — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:00:44 +0000

Bitz Kids NYC has some cute baby clothes/children’s clothing and has a sale going on right now that you might want to check out.

About Bitz Kids NYC

Bitz Kids NYC aim to provide customers with “total fashion”–comfortable, safe clothing with high functionality that can keep up with ever-growing kids. They are a Japan based company which opened their first NYC store in 2008, confident their concepts would be appreciated by parents with small children in urban areas.

Children’s clothing is Bitz Kids main focus, however, they also promote family-style fashion with their cute, funky, household items such as tableware. They desire to make their store not just a simple retail space, but a enjoyable and exciting place for parents and children alike, making it look and feel as though you’ve walked into a big toy box flipped upside down. They have a play area for kids and family friendly bathrooms (baby changing area and breastfeeding friendly for those seeking a private place to nurse) to make shopping with the kids a more pleasurable experience for the whole family.

Cute Baby Clothes On Sale Now

2P Wear -Tee & Tunic Dress – $18.00 Sale $36.00 Regular

T-rex Tee Shirts - $16.10 Sale $23.00 Regular

Cotton Shorts - $13.50 Sale $27.00 Regular

They also have hats, halter dresses, a Hawaiian dress, pants and t-shirts for girls, as well as tanks and skirts.

Breast Pumps

Theresa Gould — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:00:06 +0000

This is one area of breastfeeding that I am totally clueless – breast pumps. I have only used one manual breast pump and come to think of it, I don’t even know where that is. I must still have it, but it’s packed away somewhere. I digress though, I just wanted to let you know that there is another deal going on at Diapers.com for those of you shopping for breast pumps. Many women rely on breast pumps to store extra breast milk for their babies for when they return to work or go out and need a sitter to take care of baby or simply to help increase their milk supply.

20% off Simplisse Breast Pumps

Get 20% off Simplisse breast pumps on Diapers.com! Just click here and use coupon code AUGUST20PCT

FREE Lansinoh Pump Offer

Get a FREE Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump with purchase of a Lansinoh Affinity Double Electric Pump on Diapers.com! Just click here and use coupon code AUGUST20PCT

When shopping for a breast pump, remember to do your research – read customer reviews, know what features you are looking for, your price range and the brand. Then take advantage of the discounts and sales, like those mentioned above!