Laundry is not one of my favorite things to do, and yet I seem to do it a lot. Like most moms (or dads) I’m always looking for the one item that will make this job a little bit easier and a little more enjoyable (short of hiring a laundress.)

I came across wonderful laundry soap by a company called Mrs. Meyers (yes, she really does exist).  A mother of nine children should know a little bit about washing clothes I would think, so I checked her out.

Mrs. Meyers Baby Blossom Laundry Detergent is made from all natural ingredients inspired by her gardens.  Lemon, honeysuckles and verbena as well as essential oils enhance this aromatherapy experience and are especially good at fighting stains.

No added phosphates, bleach, distillates or chemicals are added so they are perfect for your baby’s sensitive skin.  These detergents are richly scented and perfectly safe for expectant mothers to use.  All of her products are cruelty free and never tested on animals.

These organic and biodegradable detergents are the perfect product to add to your busy household.  These extraordinary detergents are also available in other natural fragrances as well as fabric softeners. (Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Lemon Verbena Fabric Softener)  this luxury item makes a fantastic baby gift (with a couple pairs of organic baby socks) or simply as a special treat for you.

There are some things in my house that are not negotiable.  One of these includes my son wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle – it’s non-negotiable!

Too bad my son can’t ride a bike yet. But he is perfectly willing to put on a helmet as he attempts to maneuver his two-wheeler (still with training wheels) around the driveway.

This request gets a bit trickier as they grow up.  According to the The Consumer Product Safety Commission, cyclist’s ages five through fourteen have the highest injury rate of all riders and approximately one third of injuries are head related.  In a survey conducted by this commission, most kids reported they did not like to wear a helmet because of the way they looked in it.  (“Nerdy” was one of the objections))

Today, there are so many styles to choose from you are sure to find one your child or teen will wear. My 16-year-old nephew is a serious cyclist and the one he currently wears is the Giro Saros Livestrong Bike Helmet. It boasts a 4-fit system so even little kids can wear it, and twenty-three air vents to keep heads cool and dry. This helmet offers the ultimate protection for their head with its added roll cage protection.  Best of all, the cool black and yellow design reminds everyone they’re sporting the same one the champion wears.

It’s excellent for scooter riding, too. (Razor Pro Model Scooter)

While re-doing my sons bedroom (A Pirates Life For Them) I got quite an education in the various options available in bedding.  Pillows in particular.

Now you might think that with my background in marketing I would be able to dissect just about any product and make a decision as to which one was best.

Not true when it comes to Pillows.  Perhaps I was being too picky.  Just grab a couple of big puffy ones and head off to register (or Paypal) and get on with your life.

However, with allergies running rampant at my house I had to be extra careful in choosing one that would not have my son sneezing all night.  I knew down was out, but I wanted a good synthetic one that was hypoallergenic and that would last for a while.

The Moonlight Slumber Serenity Star Pure Slumber Pillow was one that had everything I was looking for.  They claim to be unlike anything on the market and since I inspected about a dozen, I have to admit this is true.

What I like about this pillow is it offers a hygienically clean sleeping surface and will remain dust mite free for the life of the pillow. It’s made with synthetic down which offers that “puffy” feel I was looking for.  It’s machine washable and guaranteed not to clump.

They’ll rest easy and so will you.

One of the most exciting milestones in our infant’s life is the arrival of his or her first tooth.We exclaim over their emergence then spend the next 18 years reminding them to brush them.

Perhaps because we have a dentist in the family, this ritual is particularly close to my heart.  The tiny little pearls that appear in that first toothy grin of theirs are precious, so teaching them to keep them clean from a young age is imperative.

The Safety Toothbrush from One Step Ahead is the one I used and it is a safe and gentle introduction to baby’s first teeth cleaning.

This comes in a two pack, which is important, as your baby will most likely drop at least one toothbrush on the ground a lot.   The big chunky handle allows her to grip it easily while the tiny soft bristles gently clean her teeth.

They will usually turn this around and gnaw on the rubber handle too.  This is great for babies who are teething, as this will gently massage their gums. And the wide base on it won’t allow baby to insert it too far into the mouth.

I like to tie this on to a gift for the new baby.  This is one way to get them started on the road to good oral hygiene and an amazing smile!

Another spring has come and gone and it’s a good thing I live in an allergy free region.

As a child, I suffered horribly with them. I used to endure weekly shots and consume countless medications for my constant sneezing and congestion, all to no avail.

While the recent medical news in regard to children’s cold and allergy medications is not good (they don’t work anyway) there is a way to offer your child relief.

The Neti Pot has been around for thousand of years and is used in homeopathic medicine practices. Now you can clear stuffy noses quickly and naturally using only pure saline and warm water with the SinuPot Neti Pot.

Simply fill the Neti pot with the pre-measured solution and warm water and insert it gently into their nostril. Your child then tips their head to one side and the water will gently flow thru the sinus cavity and out the other nostril, clearing the passage so they can breathe again.

The Neti Pot can be used daily with no medical concerns and is actually approved by pediatricians as a safe and effective way to clear nasal passages.

Some things I ‘ve learned by using the Neti Pot

1. This is a particularly fun (or gross, depending on the kid) activity for a sibling who may be watching.

2.  Having your kid use it while in the shower works REALLY well because the water is already in their face anyway so they don’t seem to notice it as much.

3. When you run out of solution packs, you can use iodized salt and warm water.

One of my favorite things to do with my son is to visit the Aquarium.  We take a lazy Sunday afternoon and head off to visit the amazing creatures that live there.

It’s an opportunity to see numerous different species of fish and their friends that co-habituate with them.  It actually inspired us to purchase a fish of our very own.

Of course the study of Marine Biology may be over a one year old’s head, but they will definitely enjoy this soft and colorful Aquarium Toy by Almas Designs.

While my own home has no shortage of plush toys there is not much to do with them after your child hugs them, spills cereal on them as they try to feed them and then leaves them outside in the rain for you to find the next day.  They usually end up on a shelf after a week or two.

That’s why I like this colorful set. It comes with a miniature starfish, octopus, stingray, turtle, dolphin and colorful fish.  Take them in and out of the soft-sided aquarium for hours of imaginative play. The zip around case allows all of the sea creatures to fit in there for a play date (they’re all friends) and allows for easy storage of the pieces

The animal lover will adore Almas Designs Noah’s Ark. These are wonderful learning tools, and cute as can be!

As I wrote in a previous post, getting your kids to go to bed at night can be a difficult task. (Starry, Starry Night)

We recently converted my son’s bedroom from a nursery to a big boy’s room.  This was somewhat overdue as I was busy putting off the fact that he was no longer a baby.

This project turned out to be somewhat poignant, but with each passing year I learn to embrace his independence. Together we picked out a bed, comforter and accessories.

One of his favorite things to pretend to be is a pirate, so that’s what we chose for the theme of his new room.

I was quite pleased with the results until I discovered this Disney Pirate Ships Bed.  This is the one I wish I’d bought. Arrrrr! If any of you have a young lad or lassie that is interested in sailing the high seas, this is just the thing to complete the décor of the room.

The beautiful cherry wood color of this bed is accented with a real pirate ship map on the footboard and the headboard is made to mimic a ships wheel including compass points.

With dual height adjustments and classic styling, this bed will last for years.

Optional bedding is available, as well as a Trundle for when the first mate sleeps over.

We’ll probably purchase this bed the next time we re-do his room (when he’s 18!)

When I was growing up I was a swimmer.  Luckily, I was of the dirty blond persuasion, so my hair never produced the lovely green tint that my white blond sisters suffered every time they emerged from a seriously chlorinated pool.

There were not a whole lot of solutions to get rid or it, so they just kind of stayed that way until Labor Day till it gracefully faded away like a (bad) summer memory.

Fortunately there are products in the marketplace now to correct that beauty problem and one of the best is California Baby Swimmers Defense Shampoo.

It’s made with all natural ingredient including extracts of palm and coconut oil and uses no synthetics, which can dry and irritate skin.  Of course it’s tear free, too.

Use it immediately after swimming and this PH rebalanced shampoo will gently moisturize the hair while washing away any traces of chlorine which, when mixed with trace concentrations of copper can turn hair color green.

Use it as a body wash and they’ll smell like summer all year long. I like the fact that I can use it too. (Safe for color treated hair).

Pick up California Baby Swimmers Defense Conditioner with a built in sunscreen for the smoothest summer yet.

Some of you may remember sticking brightly colored alphabet letters on your mom’s refrigerator as a child.  While she cooked dinner you would be playing at her feet, asking her how to spell this or that.  It was a great way to entertain yourself, and guess what? It was educational too.

With the introduction of Leap Frogs Fridge Phonics, this easy activity is taken to a whole new level.  With its magic letter reader, kids can simply insert the letter in to it and it will teach them its name and sound, as well as fun learning songs.

This is a simple and appealing way to teach your child the fundamentals they require once they reach kindergarten.  Sadly, some schools no longer teach phonics, a very important skill to have in order to succeed in reading and spelling. In addition, batteries are safely encased in each letter so even babies can play.

Once they master this, consider purchasing the Word Whammer also by Leap Frog.  This ups the challenge by allowing them to create up to 325 three-letter words, learn how to blend the letters together to make words and even demonstrates how to rhyme them.

What an innovative way to give your kids the head start they need.

With summer almost upon us, I feel obliged to share some important information with you.

We are all aware of how good water is for us and how essential it is to keep hydrated during the warmer months.  But did you know that dashing into the convenience store to grab your child a bottled - water on their way to soccer practice because she left thers at home can be potentially dangerous?

The Precidio Pink Polka Dot Aluminum Water Bottle is BPA- free (So important because of the many toxic risks associated when heating or cooling plastic) and because it’s made of aluminum, it won’t change the taste of whatever you put in it.  Drinks stay cold for hours and the built in hang -tag allows you to easily attach it to their belt loop, sports bag or shorts.

These clever containers are available in a variety of different designs, including a cool geometric pattern that boys will like. This makes a thoughtful gift for a summer birthday or even  High School graduation.

Teaching our kids to take care of their health as well as the environment is a good thing and introducing products like reusable bottles is a great opportunity to do just that.   (They’re fun, too!)