Eco-Friendly Mama: Safe product recommendations with a focus on organic and Made in USA!

Review of Seven Acre Toys, handmade in Providence, Rhode Island. Seven Acre Toys is making great quality wooden toys, including: Rattles, Blocks, Pull Toys, Mobiles, Teethers, Developmental Products, and MORE!!  From their website: “By using all natural materials we ensure that our toys are free from hazardous chemicals. All of our toys are made by us, start to finish, and are quality checked at every step. We want to make better wooden toys. That means better design, better materials, and more attention to detail. Our toys are made to promote creativity and imagination in an unconstrained and open way.”

They sent me a Star Stacker, one of their best sellers, which uses a gorgeous combination of Maple & Walnut. They don’t know this, but star items have special meaning to use as my son’s name is Orion, so we love connecting him with anything celestial 🙂  I tried to take a picture of the largest star to show you how beautiful the grains of black walnut are, but my camera takes horrible close-ups & the photo doesn’t do it justice at all, but this is an absolutely gorgeous toy. It has been sanded so incredibly smooth, you definitely don’t have to worry about a splinter. My son is 2 ½, and he has enjoyed using it to stack & un-stack. He’s still working on grasping largest to smallest, but this kind of toy will definitely help him work on that concept. I’m very excited to have this as part of our toy collection, and know baby girl will get lots of use out of it when her big brother outgrows it. That’s one great thing about wooden toys, they are so durable & can be passed from child to child, and to another family even, when we’re done with them. About the material used:  “We use only certified sustainable harvested hardwoods, which are sanded super smooth. We use our own food safe/ baby safe blend of beeswax and mineral oil to finish our products, so they are safe to put in the mouth (because we all know that’s where it’s headed anyway).” I really love this gorgeous, simple, safe, handmade toy, and can see why it’s a best seller for them! http://sevenacretoys.com/product/star-stacker/star-stacker-maplewalnut/#!prettyPhoto

I really, really like their teethers, and my baby girl is enjoying the one they sent very much! Althea will be 4 months old tomorrow, and all of the sudden wants to put everything in her mouth. She seems to really enjoy soft things, and will put any cloth she can get into her mouth. I like the combination of both hard & soft that this teether offers, and often catch her putting the wood part in her mouth too. The cloth portion can be frozen for those that like cold things to chew on (something my son never cared for, but maybe Althea will).It’s contoured so she can grip it easily with her adorable little baby hands. You can choose from a variety of woods, and shapes, and all cotton is organic, unbleached & un-dyed. I asked why some cotton is brown, and some white, and learned this: “different species of organic cottons grow in different colors; it has to do with the natural wax resins in the plant.” They selected different colors to add variety & compliment the wood used. http://sevenacretoys.com/product/2-in-1-teething-ring/2-in-1-teething-ring-cherry/

Rattles are what they started their business with, so they are near & dear to the owners. I really appreciate the beautiful simplicity of their rattles and they offer many to choose from. They sent me a Ginkgo leaf rattle in Maple. It’s easy to grip, super smooth, and you have to look very hard to even find the crease where they cut it to put the beads in. It makes a very delicate, peaceful sound when rattled, and of course doubles as a teether also. Althea is still a bit young for larger chunks of wood. She’s been OK with the smaller wood like what the teether has, but I’ve let her play with the rattle a few times, and she gets really excited and has bonked herself in the mouth a couple times. That’s the only safety concern with wood, so I’m waiting until she’s a little bigger to give her this adorable rattle to keep her entertained. withhttp://sevenacretoys.com/product/ginkgo-leaf-rattle/ginkgo-leaf-rattle-maple/

Info about their mineral oil finish: “We researched many different plant based oils, but were never happy with any of them.  Our biggest problem with the plant oils is that all of them have the potential to go rancid- especially when heated, which we have to do to incorporate it into the wax.  And since we cannot guarantee how long a tin of it might sit on a customer’s shelf in between uses, it was a risk we didn’t want to take. The mineral oil that we use is food grade light mineral oil, a higher quality than many baby oils on the market.  The purpose of the oil in our polish is basically just to thin the bee’s wax to a consistency that can be applied to the wood more easily, the 2 waxes (bee’s wax and carnuba wax) are what do the heavy lifting. Our recipe is based on a traditional salad bowl/cutting board polish that has been a staple of woodturners for decades.  For those who are vegan or would like to paint or apply their own finish, all of our products are available without our wax finish upon request.” NOTE: Mineral oil contains petroleum (which yes, is a natural substance, but many like to avoid it), so if that makes you uncomfortable, order it unfinished & use whatever you’d like!

They have very generously created the coupon code “ecobaby” that will give you 10% off your total purchase. This code is good the remainder of this year. I hope you’ll take advantage of this code and include Seven Acre Toys as part of your Holiday shopping this year. Please feel free to share the code with friends/family who are looking for great quality wooden toys as well!

Website: http://sevenacretoys.com/contact-us.aspx FB page: https://www.facebook.com/sevenacretoys?fref=ts

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

Photo from Google Images. Review of BabyHawk Mei Tai baby carrier, made in Oceanside, CA. From their website: “The modern Mei Tai is borrowed from the ancient Chinese method of babywearing.  Traditionally a large square or rectangular piece of cloth, the Mei Tai was secured by tying its four corners together.  Today’s Mei Tai come in a variety of colors and patterns, offering on-the-go families an excellent, comfortable, and stylish solution for carrying babies and toddlers.  Mei Tai offer caregivers three positions for babywearing (front, back, and hip) and can be tied for a custom fit. BabyHawk Mei Tai can fit women up to size 22/24 and men up to an XXL; you have the option to customize your Mei Tai with extra-long straps.   Lightly padded for comfort and durability, Mei Tai straps are 3 3/4 inches wide and is designed for children weighing between 8 lbs. and 40 lbs.  Mei Tai can be machine washed with a small amount of detergent; line drying is recommended to preserve color. BabyHawk is dedicated to quality carriers that reflect the style of each baby wearer and the creation of jobs in USA.  Your new Mei Tai is proudly made to order in in Oceanside, California with 100% cotton chino twill and 100% quilting quality cotton.”

I started this page when my son was 1 year old, so wasn’t on my made in the USA mission when I worked on my baby registry for the shower/blessing way I had for him. I therefore registered for an Ergo as it was the name I saw recommended over & over, and my sister got it for me, and another friend got me the infant insert. I wore my 1^st born quite a bit, it was definitely convenient here & there. I flew alone with him on 3 separate trips to go visit my sister before he turned two & can’t imagine having to navigate the numerous airports without a carrier. My husband wore him throughout our trip to Yellowstone when he was 5 months, through the Denver Botanical Gardens, to various music festivals & and on many more trips, so it has great sentimental value. But now I have a new baby & don’t want to keep using the same ol’ carrier for sentimental reasons! I’m SO grateful the kind folks at BabyHawk agreed to send me one of their carriers to try out. I sent email inquiries to a few of the other made in the USA carrier makers I’m aware of as I really, really wanted to have a Made in the USA option to recommend over the Made in China Ergo & the others didn’t even take the time to respond, so I believe this says a lot about the BabyHawk company! They are very proud to be making their carriers in the US, and want to highlight that fact more.

My baby girl is sleeping in it right now, with her forehead close enough to kiss, one of my favorite parts of babywearing J  With a toddler & a newborn, babywearing is not just a convenience, it’s a MUST. I truly can’t fathom life without a baby carrier. I honestly wear my baby girl, who is currently 9 weeks, at LEAST 8 hrs. a day. It’s like my 2^nd skin, and she LOVES it! She’s a super happy baby and rarely fusses, but if she’s tired & getting a bit fussy, has been fed & has a clean diaper I can place her in the carrier and it’s like she just melts away.   I love that you can get it very tight, I squeeze a burp out of her 90% of the time, and if it loosens up a bit over time as all carriers usually do it’s super easy to retighten it without taking it off (something I’ve struggled with using the Moby, I’ve gotten it tight enough a few times, but it just seems too loose most of the time & I don’t like that feeling). The firmer piece of fabric that goes behind the neck area does a fabulous job of supporting her head & keeping her from slumping backwards, something that happened often in my Ergo. I love that you don’t need an infant insert with this one, and I feel the infant insert in the Ergo made it quite a bit hotter for babe & I. I love the minimal amount of fabric, and that she’ s not cocooned in there. Also, you can send in your own piece of fabric and they’ll custom make you one, which is very attractive to many!

There are a few differences between the BabyHawk and the Ergo, but both are Soft- Structured. There is no hood and no zipper pocket. It has no buckles which I really, really like. This means you can get a perfect fit. One issue I was having with my Ergo is that in order to get it as tight as I like I had to tighten the straps way up, and the strap that loops around my arm was cutting into my breasts, making them sore. With the BabyHawk I can tie the straps where I want, usually around her back, or down by her feet and I don’t have the problem with them cutting into me. You can wear your babe in front, back or side just like the Ergo. With my son I only ever wore him in front, I just never got the hang of getting him on my back so even at just shy of 2 years old I wore him through several airports in the front. Plus, I truly adore having babe’s forehead close enough to kiss. I tried getting the Ergo side hold figured out once and gave up, but will definitely be trying to perfect some of the other holds as my baby girl grows up.

Most of these carriers are $85 which I believe is a fabulous deal considering Ergo’s are $115 at least, and are made in China. The one & only thing I miss about my Ergo is the hood. I can live without the zipper pocket the Ergo offers, I used it a few times but it’s not crucial. But I did use the hood a lot to keep the sun off my babe’s head, but more-so while eating. I don’t  know how many meals I’ve eaten while wearing my babes, and eating things such as corn on the cob, can be quite messy. A simple solution I’ve come up with though is to just lay a towel over the top of my babes head instead of the hood. It’s a feature I can live without, but it did come in handy here & there.

I realized I was madly in love with my BabyHawk Mei Tai when I left it at a friend’s house after visiting for the morning. I got home and a bit later went to strap my baby girl on & couldn’t find my BabyHawk. I got a panicky feeling, my heart rate seriously went up, and I remembered  taking it off at my friend’s house to nurse & walked away later, leaving it lying on the ground. Even though I had an Ergo, Moby & Balboa laying right in sight at home, I only wanted my BabyHawk. I packed up the kids & immediately drove back to my friend’s house (just a few miles away thankfully) to get my carrier as they live on a farm & I was super worried about a farm dog carrying it off or something, and I just couldn’t chance it. I was so happy to have it back in my hands again. I knew then that I valued this piece of fabric greatly!

I THANK the kind folks at BabyHawk VERY much for generously sending me this carrier, and more-so for giving all families a fabulous, made in the USA option to wear our babes in. I will be recommending this carrier over, and over as much as possible. Please check out their website & FB pages to stay in touch!

Website: http://www.babyhawk.com/

Fb page: https://www.facebook.com/BabyHawkInc?fref=ts

Review of Vermont Soap, based in Middlebury, VT (a location chosen due to its proximity to a hydroelectric dam where they get their power).  From their website: “We make 100% natural and non-toxic alternatives to the chemical based personal care products now in general use. Our products are so natural, they’re certified to USDA organic food standards by Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF)”

All products have very minimal ingredient lists, something I value greatly. I’ve done reviews for other lines that are indeed using safe, even organic  ingredients, but even then I don’t like to see paragraph-long ingredient labels. Less in more; simpler is better, in my opinion. We use so many products daily that it really does make a difference what is in each & every product we use.

You can shop by product type, category or skin type. They offer a wide array of classic handmade bar soap with beautiful options such as Amethyst Swirl. Also castile liquids, shower gels, foaming handsoap, non-toxic cleaners, moisturizer/anti-aging, bath accessories, gift sets, outdoor & animal care (the world’s 1^st USDA certified organic Horse Shampoo),  baby care, even organic oral care (tooth salt!), 3# boxes of thirds, the list goes on & on. If it’s a product you need that is soap-based, they likely have it (I didn’t see hair care though). They have a ‘Soap of the Month” club, which would make a fabulous Holiday gift for that person you have no idea what to get—who doesn’t love a high quality, pretty, good-smelling bar of soap? They have a Bubble Bucks Rewards Program where you can earn points for every dollar you spend which you can use towards discounts. I know many people like to participate in such programs: http://vermontsoap.com/about-us/bubble-bucks-rewards-faq/.

I really enjoyed clicking around their website- they have a TON of info, and I highly encourage you to go visit it yourself & click around (link to their website at end of review). Tidbits I learned by browsing their website: none of their products contain soy, and they offer gallon (& even 5 gallon) refills of many products which is something I always love to see.  I really enjoyed reading the link regarding Corporate Responsibility, which had the following info: “Vermont Soap is a different kind of company. Our job is to make yummy stuff to replace all the yucky stuff that’s been clogging up our world. Every employee has a vested interest in bringing you the highest quality, most reasonably priced, natural and organic products possible. We bring an ecological mindset to our day to day operations. Products do not appear out of a vacuum! Every raw material and ingredient is put under a microscope, literally and figuratively. And we take the same approach to the sourcing of our packaging. Vermont Soap uses materials, equipment and services produced in the US and local to us wherever feasible. Green is a process not a result. Vermont Soap is there with you on your journey toward a non-toxic work and home environment.” They also discuss their sourcing of shea butter, palm oil, tea tree oil, coconut oil & butter, all of which present individual concerns & considerations: (http://vermontsoap.com/corporate-responsibility/responsible-sourcing/), and their energy use: (http://vermontsoap.com/corporate-responsibility/hydropower-soap/)

Here’s a list of the products I was sent, their prices & ingredients, and my thoughts on them:

Foaming hand soap- Lemongrass Zen,  7 oz. $7.90. I’m a recent convert to foaming soaps, and will never, ever go back to soap any other way. This soap smells so wonderful, the Lemongrass gives it a clean and fresh but still earthy smell. It’s a wonderful soap and one pump is plenty to wash your hands. This is a product I definitely think I will be ordering once I run out!

Liquid Sunshine Zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) Cleaner: World’s FIRST certified organic ZERO-VOC surface cleaner. $7.87 16oz., gal $49., 5 gal $199. Ingredients: Super-purified water, saponified coconut, olive and jojoba oils, natural rosemary extract (preservative). This is a very concentrated product, 1 or 2 sprays provides ample soap. It has done a nice job on my stove top, counters, fridge, anything I could need a soapy spray for. I have really, really enjoyed having it around! It is so nice being able to spray a few squirts here & there and do some cleaning while I am wearing my 2 month old in her carrier & have no concerns for the fumes she & I are inhaling!

Baby shampoo/wash- 9.98 8oz pump bottle- Saponified Organic Oils of Coconut, Olive & Jojoba, Vegetable Gum / Glycerin Extract, Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Rosemary Extract. This is not a foaming soap, but you could certainly put it in a foaming pump bottle if you had an extra one. This is a very mild, basic soap with no unnecessary extras which is exactly what I want in a baby soap when I use one. I honestly don’t use soap all that often on my toddler, and have never used it on my 2 month old, but it’s nice to have this bottle around for the occasion that I do want to lather up my toddler after a long day outdoors!

Shea butter- pocket/purse size $3.00 They also offer a 4# bulk bucket for $49 which I think is a great deal if you need a lot of it! Shea butter, along with coconut oil, are my go-to moisturizers. I use coconut oil on a daily basis, but if I have any ‘problem’ skin (extra dry) I use shea butter. I also used it often on my growing baby belly. Shea butter is very thick & nourishing. I keep the small container they sent me next to my bed & use it as lip balm before going to sleep. As I mentioned above they provide information about how they source their shea butter from sustainable sources, which is of course very important!

They sent me 2 bar soap which retail for $5 ea. The Oatmeal Lavender is their best-seller, and I can see why. It has a delightful lavender smell, with small flecks of oatmeal throughout it. We rarely use ba soap in favor of liquid soaps, but it’s been nice to have a bar soap around again that we thoroughly enjoy using. Since we don’t use them often, it’s something my toddler really loves to soap up with in the tub. They also sent me their Aloe baby soap which has nothing but a soapy smell to it.

I thank them for sending me these products to try out & for making great, safe, effective products here in the USA! T Here are links to their website & Facebook pages for you to check out. A great way to get a feel for a company & what people think of their products is to visit the wall of their Facebook page & see what others are saying!

Website: http://vermontsoap.com/
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/VermontSoap

Review of latex pillows from My Green Mattress, based in LaGrange Highlands, IL.

Healthy pillows & mattresses are one of the last categories many of us “green” up in our lives as it’s an expensive category to replace ($69-$79/pillow). I was previously unaware that latex existed as an option for pillows and mattresses. I was really excited when I was contacted by a representative from My Green Mattress & they offered to send me 2 pillows to try out. I was sent 2 king size pillows in medium support, which are ideal for back sleepers which I mainly am these days. It wasn’t until I received the new pillows that I realized how terrible the pillows I was using were .  Even though I just bought some new pillows no more than 2 years ago, they were already all bunchy & not comfy at all. One of the 1st things I noticed after waking up the following morning after using my new pillows was that I didn’t have ‘bed head’ nearly as bad as I had been having, which made me aware that I had been tossing & turning a lot before, trying to get comfy. I’ve been using my new pillows for 2 weeks & am very, very happy with them. I’ve been sleeping great & feel I’m not tossing & turning at all. The pillow does cradle your head very nicely & will never bunch up like my other pillows all are!

I Googled “concerns with using latex pillows/mattresses”, and the only ‘con’ most articles pointed to was some think they smell like rubber, like a new tire would, but that seemed to be associated mainly with synthetic latex pillows, which these are not. I had to bury my nose in the pillow to smell the slightest odor from it, and I didn’t think it smelled like a new tire. But, if you’re extremely, extremely sensitive to smells you may notice an odor from it, of course it will dissipate over time. But, that’s the only concern I could find about them. While these pillows are made in the US, I noticed that the pillow case covering the latex pillows are made in China.

As latex is not sourced in the US I asked where the latex from these pillows was sourced, and if it was Fair Trade, etc. Here’s the response from the company: “We purchase our latex from Latex International. A representative from Latex International has explained to me that the raw form of latex is harvested from a number of different farms, including, but not limited to farms in Brazil and Sri Lanka. I have found in my research that the governments in both Brazil and Sri Lanka have developed union-type groups called Rubber Clusters to protect the labor force that harvests the raw latex. These groups protect the land from deforestation, and help to develop strategies for being competitive in the world market. These strategies include training personnel from plantation managers and laborers to research and development to marketing. Much of the work on the plantations is still done by hand, with machinery that harvests the latex becoming more common.”

Here’s info about the pillows from their website: Imagine the perfect night’s sleep. Did you imagine lying on a pillow that cradles your head in comfort? We invite you to try our 100% Talalay latex pillows. Derived from the natural milk of the rubber tree, latex foam pillows conform to the delicate neck and head areas for superior comfort and support. Why not make tonight perfect?

Benefits of sleeping on a latex pillow:

•Eco-friendly – Our latex pillows are derived from the sap of the rubber tree, a renewable resource.
•Resilient – Latex pillows bounce back and never bunch, flatten, or sag.
•Conforming – Immediately conforms to contours of head and neck, helping to keep your entire spine relaxed and aligned.
•Comfortable – Reduces high-pressure areas that can cause tossing and turning.
•Durable – Natural latex is resilient and does not break down the way other foams can.

Uniquely Healthy:

•Hypoallergenic—Latex has anti-microbial properties that make it resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew. This relieves allergies and helps you breathe easier during sleep.
•Pressure Relieving – Latex pillows are supportive to alleviate pressure points that can cause, stiffness, pain, tossing, and turning.
•Breathable – unique pinhole design heightens air circulation, which keeps you warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
•Moisture and heat resistant.
•Chemical-free materials –Natural latex reduces your exposure to the chemicals and manmade synthetics found in polyurethane foam pillows.

Comfort Options:

•Plush – ideal for stomach sleepers
•Medium – perfect for back sleepers
•Firm – great for side sleepers

They offer several mattress options as well, including a twin mattress for $299 or a queen for $399 (+ shipping of course). These are the lowest prices I’ve seen on ‘green’ mattresses offered anywhere! If I were in the market for a new mattress, I’d definitely look into these!

The company has a new FB page which they’re trying to grow, so please hop on over & give them a like to stay in touch for future giveaways & more! Do you own a latex pillow? Would you like to try one?

Website: http://mygreenmattress.com/about.htm
FB page: http://mygreenmattress.com/view_products/latex_pillows.htm