Eco-friendly baby/family products MADE in USA

Review of Simply Gum, handcrafted in New York City. A little over a week ago someone shared a blog post with me revealing the fact that Glee Gum & all other “natural” gums in the US contain polyvinyl acetate in their base. They can get away with calling it natural as the base is not digested, the digestible ingredients are natural. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be chewing on a piece of plastic, even if it does taste good for a few minutes (blog post here: http://themindfulhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-truth-about-glee-gum-made-with.html).

The AWESOME news is, within 2 hours of sharing that post, I had a message in my inbox from the CEO of the newly released Simply Gum, who is a huge fan of my page! Info she gave me about their brand new product: “we’re the ONLY 100% Natural gum in the US. We use only 6 ingredients and we list each of them on our label. We’re completely transparent and we don’t hide behind the term ‘gum base.’ We decided to create this product after seeing how all other gum companies don’t even tell consumers what’s truly in the product – gum base contains over 80 synthetic ingredients – many of which are potential toxins.” The 6 ingredients are: organic dried cane juice, all natural chicle, organic vegetable glycerin, all natural cinnamon flavor, organic sunflower lechitin, organic rice flour. That’s it!

I asked for a sample, which I received yesterday & I can tell you it’s a very unique gum indeed. The packaging is fabulous: simple, but charming. The gum itself does have a natural look. The closest thing I can compare it too is a chunk of amber resin that I’ve used in the past as a natural perfume, which kind of looks like a brown rock. My toddler is in love with gum, and when he 1st saw this gum he was not impressed, saying “no Mama, I don’t like it”, as it didn’t look like any gum he’s ever seen. Dada & I popped a piece in & started enjoying it immediately so he gave it a try too, and we all really like it. It has a mild, not spicy, cinnamon flavor & I really enjoyed the texture as well. The flavor lasted longer than what I’m used to with Glee, which loses its flavor almost immediately. I chewed mine for probably 20 minutes. Then, I went to the bathroom & came out to find my toddler under the table with the pack of gum. I asked him for it & he handed me an empty pack—he had the entire remainder of the pack (10/12 pieces) in his mouth at once. It was this huge ball (for a toddler). So, I guess you can say he likes it. I was immediately sad that it was gone, as I wanted more. I took several photos before it disappeared, but none turned out with my lousy camera- I really wanted to show you what it looked like! I’m so excited to be among the 1st in the country to try this gum. It is available in select Whole Foods, online through their website, and I’m proud to say it’ll be available through the Buying Club as well, for $2.99/pack of 12 pieces. If you enjoy gum, I think you should give this a try, and support the only TRULY natural gum on the market (to my knowledge). Also, it’d make a great stocking stuffer/gift for the gum lovers in your life! I can’t wait to stock up on it myself (and keep it hidden from my toddler).

Has anyone seen it in their Whole Foods and/or tried it?

Website: http://www.simplygum.com/

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/SimplyGum?fref=ts

Review of Molly’s Suds powdered laundry detergent, made in St. Petersburg, Florida. Molly’s Suds has been on my safe list for some time after Monica shared her great product info with me as I was forming my “safe/approved” list. She/many of you know I love soap nuts (EcoNuts specifically), but I wanted to round out my safe list with both a liquid (MamaSuds) & powdered detergent so there’s something for everyone. I’m very happy she sent along a 70-load sample along with the box of goodies you all ordered through the Sep. Buying Club order, so I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now. I can say that it completely lives up to my expectations & the peppermint essential oil leaves a faint but pleasant fresh smell. Many using soap nuts have commented at the less than fresh smell left on their clothes, although many of us don’t want our clothes to smell like anything. That being said, I haven’t used conventional laundry products for a few years now & don’t expect my clothes to be sparkling clean. With any natural laundry detergent your best results will come if you don’t let stains set in to begin with. I didn’t put this to any red wine stain test or anything, just have been using it on our normal, everyday laundry and am completely satisfied with the results. The cloth diaper powder is a new product. The standard laundry powder can be used on cloth diapers but does contain the peppermint essential oil which can void some diaper warranties, which is one reason Monica developed a specific laundry powder just for cloth diapers. I stuck with using my soap nuts for my cloth diapers, as I was a bit weary of using the peppermint oil.

Here are the details of Molly’s Suds:
Laundry powder ingredients: Proprietary blend of sodium carbonate from the Green River Basin in Wyoming, sodium bicarbonate, epsom salt (epsomite) and sea salt. While there are no perfumes, which are neurotoxic and petroleum based, there is a very minimal amount of organic peppermint essential oil. Additional info from Monica: ”Another note for you about our Laundry Powder is that our sodium carbonate is NOT super washing soda… It’s mined from the Green River Basin and crushed, packaged and shipped to us. Most detergents in the industry use the solvay synthetic and processed from ash (hense soda ash) and it’s not natural. We use food grade, aluminum free sodium bicarbonate safe for use in organic formulations and food. We use only corn and gluten free sea salt without the use of separators, fillers and anti-caking agents, it’s more pure than table salt, crazy what they put in table salt. Our Epsom salt is pharmaceutical grade and pure. Also zero anti caking agents, free flowing additives or conditioners- found in most all Epsom salts. None of our ingredients are of animal origin. No melamine- also common in “homemade” packaged laundry powders. It’s very pure, and while I know it’s not soap nuts it’s a fabulous alternative and more pure and primal than homemade detergent people make that has so many hidden ingredients they aren’t aware of.” Ingredients are from USA and the molding for the bottles and scoops are all done in USA as well but she can’t guarantee that the raw material is from USA.

You can purchase a 1-2 load sample for $2.75 if you’d like to give it a try before committing to the 70 or 128-load bag. Also available is a cloth diaper powder, dog shampoo, All-sport wash, wool dryer balls & a starter pack with a combo of these—check it out:

I know many of you have tried this detergent, please share your feedback on it too!
Website: http://www.mollyssuds.com/
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/mollysuds?fref=ts

Review of Cold Bee Gone, made in New Hampshire. It’s official—cold season is upon us. I am thankful that I was sent a bottle of this to have on hand. Of course I was hoping I wouldn’t need it, but I did have a chance to test it out last week after my 2 ½ year old came down with a cold. I didn’t do a controlled study, and I didn’t use this product alone so it’s impossible for me to say how well it really worked. I used it in conjunction with increased levels of Vitamin D3 and elderberry, Echinacea, zinc syrup. I can say that while his cold stuck around for the better part of a week, it didn’t progress past the point of a slight runny nose with congestion and a little cough (only during the night & when he got worked up). My feelings are that it’s a great product to have as part of your natural medicine arsenal to start using as soon as you feel/see symptoms coming on, or when everyone else around you is coming down with something. When I mentioned that we were using this product on my page many of you expressed interest in trying it. So, I’m happy to announce that it will be available to purchase through the November Buying club order (I’ll attach that note below).

Ingredients: proprietary apitherapy blend including raw honeys, essential oils, citrus, lavender, L-Ascorbic acid.

Info about the product from their website:

What is Cold Bee Gone? Cold Bee Gone is a remedy that you swab inside your nose to help support your body’s fight against cold and flu.  It is a unique blend of the world’s most powerful medicinal honeys and essential oils. Targeting the treatment in the nose allows the remedy to work its magic where most cold and flu replicate.  It smells pleasant, is gentle, natural and effective!

How does it work? Did you know 95% of colds and flu start in your nasal passages?  They enter by being breathed in or by touching your nose, eyes or even ears!  The germs travel to your nasal passages where it can remain dormant for up to three days before it passes it’s “code” to your cells.  Then your cells do all the dirty work by replicating the virus millions of times over.  That is when you will start to feel that familiar tickle in your throat signaling imminent illness.  Every time you swab, within 15 minutes your nasal cilia (tiny hairs) deliver the remedy directly to the back of your nasal passages where germs replicate. That’s when Cold Bee Gone Nasal Swab Remedy goes to work to help support your body’s fight against cold or flu!

**When used as a daily preventative people report that they are often the only person who escapes illness when everyone around them is sick!

**Fans of CBG report that they experience shorter colds, milder symptoms and a lack of a stuffy nose, which is often the most miserable part of a cold!

As always, I enjoy hearing from you. Let me know if you’ve used this, and how it works for you!

Website: http://www.buzzagogo.com/

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ColdBeeGone

Buying Club info: https://www.facebook.com/notes/eco-friendly-babyfamily-products-made-in-the-usa/eco-friendly-usa-buying-club-a-one-stop-shop-for-safe-products/716799785002331

Pure Play Kids, newly based in TN. Tania and Mike Grant are the “mom and pop” behind Pure Play Kids. “Creative, Wooden Toys, Made-in-USA Toys ,Waldorf toys and Organic Stuffed Animals. Choose open-ended, battery-free  toys and watch imagination and skills flourish in Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers and Big Kids! Pure Play Kids creates and sells great wooden toys, cloth toys, organic toys and Waldorf toys with a strong focus on toys made in America. Pure Play Kids started as a personal quest to find better toys for our own kids and ended up as a full business selling online and making toys in our own Tennessee Toyworks facility in 50 Centerville, TN.”

I am so happy to be doing a review for Pure Play. Mike Grant, the founder of Pure Play Kids was one of the 1st ‘likes’ to my page, finding my page within a week of launching it in Feb of ’12. We had a great chat about made in the USA & why it was important, and I found out about his amazing company straight from the owner himself (thanks to FB timeline you can scroll back to Feb 28th & find the conversation under the “responsibly made in China” thread, if you wish). Since then, Pure Play has been one of the 1st places I search if someone asks about a toy made in the USA, because chances are they have it. 90% of the items they sell are made in the USA, with the rest made in Europe. You will not find a single item made in China through them, and it’s something they take very seriously. Here’s info from their website.

From their website: “At Pure Play Kids, we do things the right way, not the easy way. Despite the challenges, we decided to make our wooden toys in the United States. China would be cheaper and easier, but we want to create American jobs and to have complete quality control of the materials and work from start to finish to make the best wooden toys available anywhere. We know our customers also make choices, and we appreciate each and every one of our supporters whether you buy from us, write about us or tell others about us. Know that you are helping us bring back toys with better values and stronger development qualities. Also know that your support of us and businesses like ours is the key to creating great jobs here in the United States.

In addition to the toys we design and make ourselves, Pure Play Kids also sells toys made exclusively by other small US and European toy makers who share our goals, values and commitment to quality and safety.

Everything at Pure Play Kids is selected based on:

Play Power:  Play is the work of children, and toys are the tools. Play is sacred, and toys should be cherished. Through unstructured play we nurture our imaginations and develop emotionally, socially and cognitively. Pure Play Kids stands for toys that are kid-powered (not battery-powered or based on TV/movie characters), open-ended (not pre-programmed), and will grow with kids (allowing parents to buy better, not buy more). Of course, our toys are also all about FUN!

Integrity: We have a responsibility to our children, our people and our planet. We sell wooden toys, recycled and other natural products wherever possible; such products are kinder to our world and safer for our children. Pure Play Kids does not market to kids through advertising, licensed characters, film tie-ins, or noise- and light-starting buttons marked “Try Me!” All Pure Play Kids toys are made in the USA or Europe to ensure product quality, product safety, the dignity and freedom of workers, and stricter environmental standards. It’s about giving our kids their best possible world, after all.

Quality Products: Pure Play Kids adheres to the strictest American and European standards. Our products are constructed of safe, durable and non-toxic materials. Our toys last longer – both physically and in terms of maintained interest – than plastic toys, so they won’t end up in a landfill in months. Our toys also pass the Living Room Impact test: they will look far better occupying all rooms of your house than will plastic toys.

Country of Origin matters. We only sell products made by highly ethical companies making products in the United States and Europe. US-made toys account for about 90% of our sales, but we acknowledge Europe’s great toy culture, coupled with its similar wage, safety and environmental standards. All products at Pure Play Kids should have an American flag of European Union flag so that shoppers know what they are buying.”

Their website is HUGE, with tons of categories to browse through. I went straight to their ‘best sellers’ tab to get an idea of what others are enjoying from them, and the selection is just astounding! It’s one of those places where I honestly would love to have one of everything they offer, and be able to rest assured that it is safe. You can shop by age which is always a feature I appreciate to help narrow down the choices. Some of the categories of products include: handmade organic dolls, capes & dress-up gear, art supplies, hand & finger puppets, doll houses & gear, kitchen/market play, wooden animals, puzzles & blocks, outdoor fun, tub time, Waldorf, classic wooden wagons, and a sale category that many of us appreciate  And they offer more than just toys- you’ll even find bamboo burp rags, crib sheets, towels & washcloths all made in the US, & SO, SO much more.

They sent me the amazingly adorable magnetic wooden fishing pole in the picture, and an adorable wooden rattle for Althea (will attach as a separate photo). We are a very outdoorsy family & my husband does quite a bit of fishing. My son had been going with his Dada often and wanting to fish for himself so we recently purchased a toddler fishing pole for him before realizing it is just too early for him, he was going to destroy it before he got the hang of casting. Thus, this is the perfect toy for him at just the right time. I had no idea what they were sending me & it was so fun to get the package & tell my toddler it was for him & see the look on his face when he saw the pole. It has a working reel with 3 feet of string, and you can even purchase a set that includes a larger one for Mama/Dada to fish with babe. It comes with 5 magnetic fish. Mike included a handwritten note stating that the fishing pole is made from sustainable American hardwoods and a finishes that have won prizes for their safety & environmental-friendliness. It’s labeled for ages 3+, but is perfect for my son at 2 ½. It sells for $29.95. The only other thing I own from them is a ½ dozen wooden eggs that I purchased  for my son’s wooden kitchen (that a local family is borrowing us!). I certainly can’t wait to add many more of their offerings to our collection over the years!

With 201 items under $25 and $6.95 flat rate shipping, I feel that Pure Play Kids truly offers something for every budget. Finding something your kids will enjoy will certainly not be a problem. I’m so thrilled that people like Mike & Tonia Grant are following their passion to create & provide safe, fun, engaging toys for their family, and ours and can’t wait to see what they’ll come up with next!

Website: http://www.pureplaykids.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pure-Play-Kids/291759023668?ref=ts