Ain't No Mom Jeans

LunchSkins - Eco Friendly Snack Bags

I'm slowly transitioning away from plastic.  Our plastic bags have been replaced by Envirosax Bags (to read all about my love for them, click here), plastic sippy cups never stood a chance against my Sigg bottles (despite the recall, I'm still a fan) and at long last, I've found a solution that makes those annoying little plastic baggies obsolete:  Lunch Skins.

Lunch Skins are the creation of Three Green Moms, who wanted to come up with an answer to your "plastic baggie blues".  Three Green Moms were concerned with amount of landfill waste the modern family was contributing, and knew they could come up with a product that was safe, affordable and cute.  Working with patisseries and bakeries in Europe, they created Lunch Skins out of a thick cotton fabric coated with a food-safe polyurethane lining (read: no plastic-leaching worries) that could also withstand high heat: Voila!  An environmentally friendly, dish-washer safe, and very cool alternative to the plastic baggie. 

NOTE: They have been certified as lead, Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalate-free. The very thin layer of polyurethane has also been tested and found not to migrate into food or leave a “plastic” odor behind, and meets EU requirements for food contact (typically stricter than US laws).

I've filled these baggies with popcorn, chips, pretzels, cut fruit, cheese, sandwiches, peanut butter crackers, and, in a pinch, a rolled-up clean diaper and wipes when I needed to downsize my diaper bag to better match an outfit.  My husband regularly steals them for his own lunch, and I've been known to swipe some for toiletries while traveling.  

Lunch Skins now come in three sizes - a smaller size, shown in the pic of Raines happily snacking, a larger sandwich size bag, and a "sub bag".  Best of all, they come in some pretty cool fabric choices (see below for pics).

Local gals can find Lunch Skins at Real Baby in Denver or Boulder, or you can always order them online from Three Green Moms.

xo,

S

Toddler Gift Guide – Christmas & Holiday 2009

What to get the toddler who has everything?  Ideally something that inspires her budding sense of independence, captures the imagination, and challenges him to learn new skills, all while having fun. Here are our top-five picks for the season:

1.) Run/Balance Bike ($69.99 +)
What toddler wouldn’t squeal with delight at the sight of a shiny new bike under the tree?  I take intentional detours through Target specifically to avoid the bicycle section, but when we do stop to look at the shiny yumminess, it’s obvious that bicycle riding is a long way off for my little guy as even the tiniest bikes tower over (and threaten to topple on) him.  Not so with a run bike, the hottest new development in kids’ cycling.  Unlike tricycles and training wheels, run bikes teach the most critical component of bicycle riding first: balance, only without those pesky pedals that are always gumming things up.  Check out runbikes.com for both wooden and metal balance bikes, including LikeaBike ($192.00+), KaZAM ($99.00), Strider ($95.00) and Kettler ($110.00).

 

2.) Dress Up Box ($9.99 +)
Watching as the apple of your eye develops a sense of humor, self and imagination is an experience like no other, so foster your kiddo’s penchant for imaginary play with a dress up box.  There are a number of pre-fab dress up kit options out there that run around $100.00 - $150.00, but most tend towards professions or princesses, and, I feel, are too rigid and generic to be fun.  Check out this post on Martha Stewart for ideas on how to stock your dress up box with items you most likely have around your house or can pick up at Goodwill, throw in some fun career hats available from Amazon ($32.99) and a bunch of Waldorf-inspired play silks, fairy wings and soft swords ($9.99+) from Three Sisters Toys and you’re all set.

 

3.) The Learning Tower ($190.00)
I love love love the Learning Tower ($190.00) for kitchen and creative play.  This is truly one of the best tools for helping your child become independent and do it, whatever that is, for himself.  Not only can your little guy or gal safely help out whilst you whip up and burn a batch of cookies, s/he can also use The Learning Tower as an easel with the attachable, reversible dry erase/chalk board ($69.99), as a playhouse with the company’s playhouse kit ($34.99), or, again go Waldorf and throw a night sky silk scape or similar ($34.95) in the mix to make it even more fun.

4.) Sticky Fingers Kids Cooking Kits ($27.00 - $52.00)
Kiddos love to do things themselves, and nowhere is that more true than in the kitchen.  Case-in-point:  my picky eater will gobble virtually anything he’s had a hand in making and while it’s a tad freaky to watch him teeter atop our kitchen step ladder, the cold sweat is worth it when he chirps “Aye didit!” and then noshes happily on whatever we’ve made.  With the focus on getting kids to eat more wholesome foods in school and out, the more our babes are in the kitchen the better.  But how to scramble, stir and slice with the giant-like utensils found in the common household kitchen?   Enter Sticky Fingers kids cooking sets.  These high-quality utensils actually work, unlike play sets, so your honey bunch can get elbow-deep in the flour without frustration.

5.)  Hohner 1/2 Size Classical Guitar ($49.00)
I don't know a single child who isn’t fascinated by musical instruments of all shapes and sizes.  I’m not a musician and don’t have a strong interest in trying to make my boy a prodigy, but his all-out obsession ("Taaaar.  Tar tar tar.") with our otherwise un-played full size guitar made me think—why are we always pushing drums and not other instruments on babes when they can play them just as easily?  Save your sanity.  Skip the drum kit and get your dumpling an actual, tune-able guitar he can hold and strum, but save yourself some trouble: resist the temptation to go with the cheapest option.  Every kids’ guitar I’ve seen in stores like Target and Toy R Us is junk.  Junk junk junk (you can see where my boy wonder gets his emphatics from, no?).  If they’re 1/2 size, which is appropriate for small kids, they’re toy guitars that can’t even be tuned, or if they’re somewhat decent, they’re 3/4 size, which is more appropriate for the 6-and-up-set.  Whether or not your musical monkey ever takes a single lesson, this guitar will prove to be a toy with staying power because it's not actually a toy, so check out the Hohner 1/2 size classical guitar at Active Musician, which has nylon strings that are easy for little hands to strum, but skip the pick if you have wee ones under three about the house.

Happy holiday shopping, Mamas!

- M

The Best Modern Highchairs

I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist.  However, when I was attempting to furnish our house with all necessary kid-gear before the little man was born, I decided, at some point along the way, that SOMEONE (maybe our government?  maybe the French government?) must be conspiring to Keep America Fugly.  The super-secret Keep America Fugly campaign was the only possible explanation I could come up with as to WHY WHY WHY all of our easily accessible baby items were covered in patterns with names like "Jungle Jubilee" or "Sleepy Safari".  Even the plaids were insipid.  In order to come up with acceptable baby gear items, one had to launch a massive research project worthy of a doctoral thesis, and then, be willing to shell out majorly BIG BUCKS in order to get a pack-in-play not covered in smiling animals. 

For me, the highchairs were the worst.  Not only were they, IMHO, the pinnacle of the Keep America Fugly campaign, but unlike other baby items, they weren't hidden away in the nursery somewhere.  They were out, in plain sight.  Shudder.

So two years later, the landscape has changed somewhat.  The Keep America Fugly campaign is still out there, but losing steam.  The good news is that there are now a plethora of super-cool looking baby gear items (especially highchairs), but the bad news is that most are still pretty pricey.  If you are concerned with good design, a highchair isn't a bad place to put your money, considering that it is arguably the most visible baby gear item. 

NOTE:  If you are tight on space, check out our post on the Best Modern Highchair for Apartment Living.

Now, here are my picks for the coolest modern highchairs:

Pure Eye Candy - Fleurville's Calla Chair

At left is Fleurville's Calla Chair, which retails at MyUrbanChild.com for $575.  No offensive to Fleurville, but these guys are out of their minds.  Don't get me wrong - this chair is positively drool-worthy.  However, it takes up a decent amount of floor space, there's no mention of how long kids can reasonably use it, and the price of $575 is hardly justified by the claim that it's "easy to clean!"

However, if you are a total design freak, must have something that fits right into your sleek mid-century modern, like to make all of your friends jealous, and think nothing of dropping $575 on a highchair, than this is your chair.  Own it, rock it.

How to Score Cool Mom and Baby Gear on Ebay

I am, admittedly, an Ebay junkie.  While waiting for the birth of my son, I spent many hours on Ebay, trying to score some cool baby stuff.  I'd blame it on nesting, but my Ebay habit started long before my pregnancy.  At first, many of my purchases bombed.  There was the $50 plane ticket (to anywhere!!) that turned out to be a hoax.  (How did I not know that???).  And there was a host of ill-fitting dresses, uncomfortable shoes, and a purse that I just didn't need.  Or love.  I just got caught up in the bidding war.  BUT....over the years, I've learned a few things, gotten a little smarter, and managed to use Ebay to score some really great things for the babe.  My piece de resistance?  The super cool denim Bugaboo Frog stroller for $350, or maybe the 25 piece lot of Splendid baby clothes for $70.  Here's what I've learned:

Best Modern Highchair For Apartment Living

I like to think that I'm living my life, for the most part, without regret.  But I would like to go back and knock my 7-year-ago-self upside the head for buying a white cotton couch.  Seriously.  A. White. Cotton. Couch.  What an idiot.  And I couldn't even count on my husband ("Whatever you want, Babe") to talk some sense into me.  Whatever.  I'm over it.  And yes - for those of you that have visited our pad, I realize you are now dying of shock to learn that our couch is, technically, white.   Let it be a lesson for us all.

I do have one more regret.  I regret not buying the Bloom Nano Folding Highchair.  Not only is it all cool and modern looking, but it FOLDS up.  EASILY.  I could use it, then fold it, and put it somewhere out of sight.  The "out of sight" ability is always the key when living in a small space.  

The Nano retails for $179.99 (including free shipping) at AlbeeBaby.com and comes in a wide range of colors.

So to recap:  White couch?  Bad.  Nano?  Good.

xo,

S

This Snack Catcher Is My #1 Baby Gear Find, Ever!

Hands down, the Munchkin Snack Catcher is one of those amazing products that you just can't live without.  Its so simple, yet so effective.  From grapes to cereal to diced veggies, this snack catcher holds it all!  There are so many different versions of this product on the market and trust me, we have tried them all, but Munchkin has nailed it!  Its great design allows easy access for little hands yet prevents (almost) all the snacks from escaping!        

Munchkin Snack Catchers are available at many of the big retail stores and also online at Amazon.  I assure you that the $7.99 for a two pack is  well worth your investment.  And, of course its BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.  I recommend buying a few extra, as my little one does not let us leave the house without one! 

--j

Bonne Nuit, BPA Plastic Sippy Cups

Not only does plastic not biodegrade, but now studies are coming out about how plastic can be hazardous to your health -- especially babies’.  Why I’m worried about this one small piece of news when my son chews on everything (including an ancient cafe chair at one coffee shop that will remain un-named...his mouth came away black)  is beyond me.  However, upgrading his old sippy cup to a plastic-free SIGG bottle is something that may not make me mother of the year, but makes me feel slightly smug nonetheless.  It also doesn’t hurt that the new SIGG bottles for baby are in the super cool and stylish category.  But really I’m concerned about his health.  Really.

My favorite SIGG baby bottle is the Bonne Nuit mouse (pictured above), but there are a tons of cute choices.  You can also buy sippy-cup like handles if your little one isn’t ready for a water bottle.  They are surprisingly easy for the little ones to drink from.  And they don’t leak.  EVER.  Not even when upside down in your diaper bag.  You can find SIGG bottles in many stores (including Whole Foods), but I found the best selection at http://www.mysigg.com/  However, the frustrating thing is that each SIGG retailer appears to be carrying a different style, so you might want to look around.  The Bonne Nuit mouse is from http://www.getngreen.com.

Each baby SIGG bottle holds .3L and retails for about $18.  The handles are about $6.  www.mysigg.com is offering free shipping for all orders over $30, so get yourself on too.  Especially if you are breastfeeding.  The plastic free bottle will help offset all of that holiday booze and chocolate.

xo, S