Is Your Skin Ready for Summer?

Happy First Day of Summer! 

You may have been having summer-like weather already or you may live in an area where "summer" is just around the corner, but, either way, is your skin ready?

Warmer weather means more of your beautiful skin showing and, of course, you want it to look it's best. While you may have prepared for summer in the past by simply getting a pedicure and a bikini wax, now that you're pregnant, you may be finding your skin has a host of other needs - dry and itchy skin, the dreaded stretch marks, not to mention the fact that you may have trouble even reaching your precious toes to get them ready for sandal season! Don't despair, though, here are some tips get you glowing and beach ready in no time!

Every great work of art has to start with a great foundation, right? Your skin is no different. Now that your shedding the long sleeves and trading your pants for skirts or shorts, you may be noticing that the skin you're revealing is less than glowing. If you're skin is anything like mine was during pregnancy, it's super dry and itchy, too. A great exfoliator is the place to start to rid yourself of all the dull, dry skin and begin revealing your skin's true beauty. Be sure to use it from head to toe for an all over glow. Exfoliating once a week should be enough to keep your skin looking great throughout the summer. Just be sure you're using one that you find comfortable. A good exfoliator shouldn't feel too rough or hurt to use.

Now that you've revealed your most beautiful skin, you want to keep it that way, right? To do so, you'll need a daily moisturizer that keeps your skin hydrated and healthy. Depending on your preference, this could be in the form of a lotion, balm, or body oil (check out our great selection!). Again, apply it all over to keep your skin looking great. The added bonus of keeping your skin properly moisturized, too, is that it lessens your likelihood of developing stretch marks. Despite claims by many products on the market, there is nothing that will actually prevent them, but, by keeping your skin hydrated, your contributing to your skin's elasticity which will help it to stretch without leaving those telltale marks.

And, your toes? You may not be able to reach them, but that doesn't mean you should ignore them. Splurge on a visit to the nail salon for a pedicure or simply enlist the aide of your partner or a friend to get your toes painted to perfection. If you're having them done at home, we suggest Zoya polish, too. It's free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor; plus it's long-wearing and that's a bonus when reaching your toes is an issue!

Finally, now that you've got the beautiful, glowing skin you deserve, show it off in a terrific swimsuit. Swimsuit shopping may have been your least favorite thing to do before you were pregnant but it doesn't have to be now that you are. Parenting.com's editor has found some of the most flattering suits that will fit any budget. Best of all, they're gorgeous, too; just like you!

PS. Be sure you're using sunscreen, too! An spf of at least 15 should be sufficient on days that you're just running errands but, if you're going to be out in the sun for a prolonged period of time, grab a great beach hat and be sure to go for a higher number so you don't burn.

Baby Food for Thought

At em we spend a lot of time thinking about what goes on the bodies of customers. It's only natural considering that's what we specialize in. Today, though, we want to talk about what goes in. Specifically, what goes in your baby. When the time comes to begin feeding baby more than just breast or bottle, we know that many families are concerned about finding the very best for their little ones.

Of course, there are plenty of options when you're at the grocery store. There are multiple brands, choices between regular or organic, decisions about which type of cereal to choose. When my youngest was a baby, it was much easier. There was basically just one brand and about the only decision was whether he liked peas or carrots better (for the record, it was peas; lots and lots of peas).  Unfortunately, the other consideration is cost. Good gravy, baby food is expensive! If you want to buy organic, be prepared to pay upwards to a dollar or more for a single jar! As babe gets a little bigger and is eating a couple at one sitting, that really starts adding up! The solution? Make your own! I know it sounds difficult. It sounds time consuming. It sounds messy. Trust me, it doesn't have to be! 

First, there's cereal. Many people believe that cereal is the only option for a first food. In my own personal experience, that's not always true (but I'm not a pediatrician so please understand this is only my personal experience and should be taken only as that).  My own children at a combination of cereal and fruit and veggie purees as their first foods.  But, I digress... cereal.

The beauty of making your own is that YOU get to choose the ingredients. If you want to do rice cereal, for example, you have the option of choosing what kind of rice it is - white, brown, basmati, jasmine, organic, etc.  So, how do you make it? It's a piece of (rice)cake!  Just grind up your chosen grain.  A coffee or spice grinder is perfect for this as it will grind your grain to a nice powder. Once you have your powder, just store it in an airtight container. To turn your magical powder into cereal for baby, just add 1/4 cup of cereal powder to 1 cup boiling water, stirring constantly, and simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to cool. If desired, you can then stir in breastmilk, formula, juice, or a fruit or veggie puree.  See? Easy!! And, you're not limited to rice. You can do the same with barley, oatmeal (don't use the instant "quick" oatmeal; only use the old-fashioned oats), uncooked pasta, or quinoa.  Just be sure you cook the cereal. Your powder is from an uncooked grain, after all, and that's hard for baby to digest.

This is a great example of brown rice from grain to powder to cereal from www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com. They've got TONS more great information on their site, too!

Moving on from cereal, fruits and veggies are always fun to introduce to baby. I would write a bunch about it here, but instead, I'm providing you with a video from Abbey at Everyday Champagne. In less than 5 minutes, she shows you how to make roughly 28 ounces of homemade baby food for around $3. That's an amazing savings, and she does it all in a tiny little corner of her kitchen! 

See what I mean? Easy! And you don't have to use flash frozen veggies if you don't want to. Pick up something delicious and seasonal at your local farmer's market. Pick something delicious from your own garden. Just be sure it has been cooked first (in the case of most veggies and apples) and is soft enough to go into the blender. Personally, I'm thinking carrots and green beans from our garden or blueberries from the local U-Pick farm.  Yum!!

So go pull out your blender from the back of the pantry. Pick up some extra ice cube trays at the dollar store. And start with the baby food makin'!  Don't forget to share your success stories with us, too!

 

Reformulation, Sodium Benzoate, and YOU

You may have heard the recent uproar over the reformulation of a certain competitor's products.  Now, I don't like to bash other companies because I think it's just uncalled for.  Name calling is not a way to do business, in my opinion, and turns us all into nasty sounding people.  That being said, I felt like I had to say something in response to all the drama that is unfolding around this "scandal".  If you want to read more about this company and what has happened, I would Google "calendula cream" and "[name of a sunny west coast state where movie stars live] Baby".  That should get you more than enough to read.

The general story that is unfolding is that this company, which has purported to produce natural products for babies, reformulated their famous calendula cream as well as added sodium benzoate as a preservative to many of their other products.  After releasing the new formulation and not announcing it as such, they began to receive many complaints with many people reporting rashes, hives, etc.  Apparently, and this comes just from what I have read online from consumer comments, the initial response to these complaints was to flat out deny that there was any reformulation.  Consumers were told that it was the same product.  Complaints, and photos of skin reactions I'm told, were posted on the company's Facebook wall en mass and the company eventually made a statement and came clean.  However, all complaints, responses, and the company statement have since been deleted.  

As a maker of natural products, especially ones that are used on pregnant moms and babies, I find this whole scenario sad. It is true that many companies will reformulate (or formulate in the first place) based on costs. It's expensive to create products that are truly natural and/or organic.  And, when production costs are higher, that means we have to charge more for a product when it's on a retail shelf just to break even. The end result is typically companies that make excellent products that you've never heard of.  It's hard to compete with a product that appears similar and is half the cost.  In the end, though, you get what you pay for. 

Speaking to the actual ingredient that is getting so much attention in all this mess, sodium benzoate, let me ask you this... does it sound natural?  In reading a list of comments left on a blog about all of this, one commenter said she found the ingredient listed on the Seventh Generation Baby Wipes that she uses.  Upon inquiring to the company about it, she was told:

 You ask a great question. The concern with Sodium Benzoate is when it is in the presence of ascorbic acid, which we don’t use in any of our products. This concern came to light in sodas and soft drinks because they use both ingredients. We are using sodium benzoate as a preservative for our baby wipes and is the most responsible, natural option that we can find.

Sodium benzoate naturally occurs in several fruits like apples, plums and cranberries. A few sweet spices contain small amounts of sodium benzoate, including cloves and cinnamon.

That's a nice statement and, to most, would do much to ease a worried mind.  After all, it appears it's only an issue if it's in soda, right?  I'm sure that plenty of other "natural" companies like 7th Gen will tell you that, too (and I apologize for using their name outright but felt it was appropriate since I was quoting their response to a consumer).  However, it is NOT entirely true. Benzoic acid is a naturally occurring substance BUT sodium benzoate, the ingredient in question, is a chemical that is synthesized in a lab. So, no, sodium benzoate does NOT occur in several fruits and a few sweet spices as the 7th Gen representative stated.  It is NOT the natural preservative that they want you to think it is.  And, don't even get me started on the sodium laureth sulfates that many of these natural companies' products contain!

Anyway, it's frustrating to see this kind of thing happen in our industry because it creates a veil of suspicion around all of us that create truly natural products. For my company, I determined long ago to only use ingredients my great grandmother would recognize. So, no, our products are not on the shelves at Target or Whole Foods or Motherhood Maternity.  And, while it would be nice if they were, our guiding light is not the almighty dollar.  It is YOU.  We have never received a complaint about any of our products, and we're very proud of that. Our products may be harder to find and may cost a bit more, but we believe YOU, and your family, are worth it!  For the record, here's the ingredient list in our baby balm, which is a miracle worker on diaper rash, too!

sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, shea butter, beeswax, lavender oil, vitamin E oil

Yep, that's it. Good for baby; good for Mother Nature. Yes, we know it's more expensive than others that are out there, but we're confident that, if you try it, you'll find it really is pretty spectacular. Order some today and refer to this blog in the Notes to Seller section when checking out. When you do, we'll refund $5 of your purchase price now through February 15, 2012.

Holiday Spice Body Scrub

No doubt about it, the holidays are one of the most stressful time of year. And, as women so often do, we spend a lot of time making sure everything is "just so" for everyone else but ourselves and that invariably leaves us burnt out by the end of December.  This year reclaim your holiday sanity with a little something special.  This yummy body scrub is easy to make (and I mean EA-SY!) and might just make you linger in the bath or shower for a few extra relaxing minutes!  It makes a wonderful gift, too! Just package it in a small jar, wrap some raffia or ribbon around it and you're done! 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp vitamin E oil (optional)
• 2 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tsp ginger
• 2 tsp ground cloves
• 2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
Mix all of the ingredients well.  Massage scrub over your body and rinse with warm water.

Easy DIY Pumpkin Facial

Halloween may be over but Thanksgiving is just around the corner and that, of course, means pumpkin pie. Since I'm the pie maker in the family, I'm usually busy in the days just prior to the holiday, but this year I've got a new recipe to share and it won't be going on the table!

If putting pumpkin on your face seems like a crazy idea, think again. Fruit enzymes and Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA's) that are found in pumpkins help to increase the skin cells' natural turnover rate.  As an added benefit, they also help to remove dead skin cells on the surface.  The lactic acid from the cream in this facial will also help to to do that, and the honey will help your skin retain its moisture.  The end result? Soft, smooth new skin cells on the surface to give you a beautiful fall glow! 

So, whether you're making your own pies this year or not, head over to the store and pick up some pumpkin and whipping cream.  The pies won't be the only sweet treat at the table this year!

Hydrating Pumpkin Facial

2 tsp canned pureed pumpkin
1/2 tsp honey
1/4 tsp heavy whipping cream

Mix all ingredients and apply to face. Leave on for 10 min and rinse!

A belly facial? What the heck is that?

We hear questions like that all the time when people hear us talking about doing a belly facial during pregnancy. You may very well be asking the same thing right now. A belly facial? Yes, a belly facial.

You know what a facial is; it's a beauty treatment for your face. It's designed to cleanse, hydrate, and, in some instances, repair your delicate skin. If you've ever gotten a facial, you also know that the benefits of a facial typically go beyond the physical. The relaxation you experience and the permission that you've given yourself to take the time to nurture and pamper yourself are far reaching.

So, just like a facial for your face, a belly facial is a beauty treatment for your blossoming belly. It's designed to address the very unique skin issues that pregnant women have during pregnancy - dry skin, itchy skin, and... the dreaded stretch marks. And, just like a facial for your face, the physical benefits are just the beginning. Taking a quiet moment to focus just on yourself can do wonders for your mental state.

But what do you need to be able to give yourself a belly facial? Glad you asked. All you need is the bellyfacial™ by em! Available in a simple standard form or as a deluxe kit, we've given you everything you need so you don't have to stand in the beauty products aisle of your local variety store wondering what to pick. You'll also have everything you need for not one but up to three applications so you'll really get your money's worth (number of applications varies depending on the size of your tummy)!

The standard bellyfacial™ is made of our specially formulated facial powder made from coconut milk, honey powder and ground oats. It helps to gently exfoliate your skin while easing that itchy skin that is so common during pregnancy. Just add water and you're ready to go! 

But, if you're a deluxe kind of girl (and we know you are), then our deluxe kit is just for you!  Not only do your get a full size jar of facial powder, you also get our exclusive facial oil.  Combine the two and the bellyfacial™ is truly born. The rich blend of five natural oils will moisturize and hydrate your skin like nothing you've ever experienced before. Applied with the included brush, this belly facial is truly a one of a kind experience.

Typically only offered in upscale spas, experience a belly facial in the luxury of your own home. A belly facial? Yes, a belly facial. A bellyfacial™ by em.

Sensational Strawberry Facial

Summer is in full swing and it's nearly impossible to not find strawberries in grocery stores, farmer's markets, and backyard gardens everywhere.  While they are packed with nutritional goodness for your insides, they're high levels of antioxidents and salicylic acid make them the perfect ingredient for a wonderfully refreshing summer facial, too!

We found these super simple facial recipes at, where else, http://www.strawberry-recipes.com/.  You can quickly whip these up with ingredients you likely already have at home.  Then, all you have to do is relax while the facial does the rest (and maybe munch on a few extra berries, too)!

EASY STRAWBERRY FACIAL

Ingredients

• 4 to 5 very ripe, medium size strawberries
• 2 teaspoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon honey

Rinse strawberries and dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. In a small bowl, mash fruit with a fork. Add cream and honey, mixing well. Apply immediately and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse of with lots of warm water.

STRAWBERRY FACIAL WITH CORNSTARCH

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 tablespoon fresh milk
• 1 tablespoon rice flour or cornstarch

Mash together all the ingredients to make a smooth paste. Spread over your face and neck and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry.

See what we mean?  EA - SY!!  This would be a perfect way to use some of those berries that may be getting a little soft and on the overly ripe side, too!  Live mindfully, facial friends!

40 Tips for Making Everyday Earth Day

It's Earth Day.  So what?  I know there are a lot of people that feel kind of like that.  But, just like dieting, this day is not so much about making a choice that doesn't feel natural to you to begin with.  It's about making a change in your lifestyle.  Here's a quick list of some ways to make a change today.  Some take a little more effort than others, we'll admit that; but all were included because they are easy to implement.  Choose one; choose all.  What's important is making the choice to live mindfully.

1. Replace paper coffee filters with a permanent filter that can be washed and reused.
2. Use reusable rags instead of paper towels.
3. If you do use paper towels, purchase a brand that lets you select the size of towel you use each time.
4. Keep drip pans on your stove clean. Clean drip pans radiate more heat, so your stove doesn't have to work quite so hard.
5. Purchase reusable water bottles and coffee cups and USE THEM!
6. Use a water filtration system with your tap water instead of purchasing bottled water.
7. Store leftovers and/or bulk food in glass or porcelain containers.
8. Use rechargeable batteries.
9. Purchase fresh produce instead of canned and use a local farmer's market when possible.
10. Make your own baby food from your fresh produce. It tastes better and is better for baby, too!
11. Choose soy or beeswax candles instead of petroleum-based paraffin wax candles.
12. Wash most of your laundry in cold water. Most detergents today are designed to work just as well at this temperature.
13. If possible, hang your clothes to dry.
14. Install a dual flush upgrade to your toilet. Kits are available in most home improvement stores for around $20 and install in about 10 minutes.
15. Plug the bathtub before turning on the water for your little one's bath.
16. Use a washable shower curtain liner instead of a plastic disposable one.
17. Use a razor with refillable blades.
18. Choose body oils made from the seeds of fruits and nuts instead of baby oil.  Baby oil is just scented mineral oil - a byproduct of gasoline production. ick
19. Repair worn shoes instead of throwing them out and buying new ones. It's cheaper and you'll still have the shoes you love!
20. Discover the joy of resale shops! You'll be amazed at the gems you can find from clothing to curtains, to holiday decor and everything in between!
21. Install a programmable thermostat.  It's easier than you think!
22. Install an attic fan. They're easy to install and can lower the temp in your home significantly on hot days.  You can even purchase a solar powered model!
23. Don't throw out your magazines when you're done reading them.  Share them with a friend!
24. Purchase exercise equipment secondhand. It's cheaper and there are a lot of lonely treadmills out there just waiting for a new home.
25. Unplug your appliances, when possible, when you leave on vacation.
26. Quit using disposable pens. Find a pen you love and just refill the ink cartridge.
27. Opt for e-billing and online financial statements.
28. Use direct deposit if it's available to you.
29. Pay your bills online.
30. Don't throw away your old cell phone. E-cycle it or donate it to a charity (women's shelters are often in need of them)
31. Set outside lights on timers or motion sensors so they are only used when you really need them.
32. Plant native plants in your landscaping. They are better suited to your climate and less likely to die and need replacing.
33. When possible, choose to plant drought resistant plants.  Once established, they'll require less water.
34. Grow something edible, whether it's a basil plant on your kitchen windowsill or a full vegetable garden.
35. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to water your gardens. There will be less evaporation and no wasted water on leaves and foliage.
36. Maintain your vehicle - regular oil changes, keeping the air filter clean, checking tire pressure - for optimum performance and longer life.
37. Limit car idling time.  An idling car emits 20 times more pollution than one traveling at 32 mph!
38. Use mass transit or carpool.
39. Learn a skill.  Sewing, knitting, wood working, plumbing, electrical, etc. You can make gifts, repair items, build what you need, etc.
40. Use em naturals products!  They're all 100% natural, good for you, and good for Mother Nature, too!

Why Choose Natural Products?

I was at the grocery store recently to purchase items for a homemade pizza dinner.  As I contemplated my many shredded mozzarella cheese options, something caught my eye... A bag labeled "Mozzarella Cheese Style Topping".  Huh?  Intrigued, I picked up the package and checked out the ingredients.  Hmm... not even enough stuff in there to be considered actual cheese.  Artificial flavoring, yes; but no real cheese.  Now, I ask you, would you buy that and feed it to your family even though it's a bit cheaper than real cheese? I didn't.

Life is full of choices and, when it comes to what we put in our bodies, many of us will make that choice to eat the real cheese instead of the imposter.  What about those products you put on your body, though?  The moisturizers, the soaps, etc?  When it comes to these products, you'd really be amazed at what is passed off as natural and "good for you".  Lotions with alcohol in them (it will actually cause your skin to become drier, thus needing more of that lotion!), soaps with harsh sulfates, and don't even get me started on anything with petroleum jelly in it! 

While on the surface (of your skin) they may seem harmless, all of the chemicals, sulfates, synthetics, and parabens don't just remain there.  They soak in; they absorb.  What do our bodies do with them then?  Well, since these imposters aren't recognized by our bodies, they are taken in as toxins.  Fortunately, the human body is designed to flush out these toxins.  Unfortunately, living in our world today, we take in toxins from so many different sources that our bodies are easily overwhelmed and cannot properly eliminate all that we absorb.  The result? Toxins that are retained in our body fat and in our organs.  They deplete our energy stores, lower our metabolism, and, ulimately, end up in our blood stream.

The solution?  Go natural!  Whether it's ingredients in your food, your moisturizer, or in your laundry detergent, natural is better.  Real cheese tastes better, right?  Well, real moisturizers moisturize better.  And for longer!  Detergents without sulfates and chemicals get your clothing just as clean but won't aggravate allergies or sensitive skin.  Not even all "clear" detergents can boast that.

Finally, natural products are not only better for us as individuals, but they're also better for the environment.  There are no chemicals to leech into our groundwater; they aren't filling our air with toxic gasses.  By making natural choices, we're taking care of our own health, but we're also taking care of the health of Mother Nature.  It's a win-win.

So, celebrate Earth Day by making a natural choice.  Read labels and choose to use products that contain ingredients you can pronounce.  And, above all, live mindfully! 

Nature...

Found this quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe the other day and love it...

Nature understands no jesting.  She is always true, always serious, always severe:  she is always right, and the errors and faults are always those of man.

How true!  We've always been of the mindset that Mother Nature has provided the very best ingredients.  And, when you have the very best at your disposal, what's the point of adding anything else?

live mindfully, friends!