v4 issue 25: Winter Wonderland

The cold weather has arrived and it is time to bundle up. This issue brings you winter style... from blankets to jackets we have listed some fantastic products that will keep your little ones warm.


Cover by Dawn Sela








1 Federal Safety Guidelines state children should NEVER be strapped in car seats over heavy coats or snowsuits (click for more information!). Babycapes are the innovative solution to keeping baby warm while secured safely in a car seat, stroller, or any product with harness straps. Front and back openings allow for easy strap adjustments. Colorful fabrics provide the warmth!

2 Wrap this jacket around your little one for an instantaneous "Oh my, how adorable!" Pink fuzzy polka dots adorn this kiwi green fleece swing coat, making it adorable and cozy. Made with high quality fabrics and quality craftsmanship from Corky.

3 Sweaters from Sweeters are all hand-made by knitters in the USA. No mass production here... this is the real deal. Pick colors, designs, and styles. Available in all sizes. The initial sweater is just one of many great designs.

4 Stonz Baby Booties will get you out of the door lickety split. They glide onto feet in a flash and stay on with an adjustable toggle at the calf & ankle. These versatile booties have a nylon shell, fleece lining, and slip resistant soles.

5 To cover the ears, or not to cover the ears...that is the question. The Scout hat, with its warm sherpa lining and quilted rip-stop nylon shell, has a rim to keep the sun out and flaps to keep the ears warm (or not). Visit The Short Hat Company to check out this and many other cool pieces of headgear.

6 Blankets

a Parents and big kids can get in on double-sided fleece softness with this Jumbo Cuddle Blanket by Ambajam.

b Baby Harrill brings on the elegant style with this blue pineapple and minky dot baby blanket.

c Customized coziness from The Blanket Lady couldn't get more personalized!

d As tempting as a box of truffles...the micro-cozy blankie with its chocolate colored microfiber fabric and silky backing for only $20.00 at Elegantbaby.com!

e Toddlers can bundle up perfectly in this 40"x40" blanket of personalized pink and brown delight courtesy of 2 Little Stars.

f Babies will love the 9 squares of patterned & textured fabrics on the front of this fabulous CoZee Crib blanket at Bugaboobaby.


This weeks Mom tips:
Green tip:
Natural Drain Cleaner
1-1/2 cups vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
Boiling Water
Put a kettle of water on the stove to boil. Pour the baking soda down drain. Next, pour in the vinegar and cover the drain. Allow the solution to sit and work for at least 5 minutes. (The vinegar and baking soda will begin to break down some of the fatty acids which will allow the clog to wash down the drain.) Grab the now boiling kettle of water, remove the cover from the drain and begin to pour the boiling water down the drain. Do not use this method if you have used a chemical drain opener as it may still be present in the drain.

Financial Tip:
Protect Your Home
If you haven't carefully read your homeowner's insurance policy in the past year or so, you could be seriously jeopardizing your biggest investment.
Even before the massive losses caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, insurers were scaling back policies to make it harder for homeowners to receive payouts that would cover their true rebuild costs in the event of a total home loss.
You should have an extended replacement coverage policy, where your payout can be more than the current value of your home. Find out what it would actually cost you to rebuild your home today. If your policy doesn't cover that amount, raise your current level of insurance.

Cleaning Tip:
Clean one room at a time. Don't even think about cleaning the whole room, it will only bring you down. If you just have a few minutes, de-clutter the floor first. If the floor is picked up, it makes the whole room feel tidier and gives you a little psychological boost. If you tell yourself you're just going to do one small part of the room, you will find the energy to get it done quickly - and sometimes build momentum to keep cleaning, if you have time.

Time Saving Tip:
Download free workout routines you can do in 30 minutes or less from Shape, or follow exercise videos at Women Workout Routines and YouTube. Search for videos on YouTube by using the phrase "exercise video" and the body part you want to concentrate on like "abs."



Twelve Tips for Winter Skin Care
1) Create a moisture rich barrier that is applied just after bathing or washing. It's important that the product not sit on the skin and suffocate it, as something heavy like petroleum jelly, vegetable shortening or cooking oils can (which many people actually turn to in desperation believe it or not).
For body a very generous application of body cream rich in oils and emollient.
For face, a hard working face potion will do the trick.

2) Don't skimp on the sunscreen - even though it's Winter, sun damage can still happen, particularly if there's snow on the ground.

3) Keep bath water at a body friendly temperature - this is one that I've had to learn the hard way. An afternoon outside in frigid air has made me come in and virtually par-boil my skin under a too hot shower. According to WebMD- hot water breaks down the lipids in skin, and contributes to itchiness and dry patches. They recommend a lukewarm bath with baking soda or oatmeal for a short amount of time - which sounds like a true buzz-kill to those of us freezing to the bone on these 0 degree wind-chill days, but is pretty good advice.

4) Crank up the Humidifier! Mine has become my constant companion when inside. Purchased from CVS (their store brand) for $14, I sprinkle in a bit of sea salt to get a good amount of steam going and keep it filled 24/7. It's marvelous for banishing static electricity, and dried out anything. The plants are even happier!

5)Turn down the thermostat at night- even on that electric blankie - you may not realize that bedding down under 6 quilts and cranking up the heat can turn your bed into an all-night sweat box. If you wake up thirsty as a desert dog in the morning this could be the cause. Sweating and reheating can really irritate skin and disrupt sleep. Turn down the room temp to around 60 degrees or lower, and keep a glass of water at your bedside.

6) Dress in layers, with natural fibers such as cotton or wool next to skin. Again, sweating and overheating can really irritate and spark a nasty itch/scratch cycle. Make sure you have a natural moisture wicking fabric closest to you to protect from this.

7) Exfoliate, but don't torment your skin. When skin is irritated from dry winds, and/or too much indoor heat, it's not the best time to heap on more insults in the form of intense acids and peels. A nourishing scrub made from nice things like sugar, coffee and hazelnut oil will be a welcome treat, rather than torture test. Make them in your kitchen from the day's coffee grounds and a teaspoon or two from the sugar bowl. For face, turn to a gentle scrub made by sprinkling a teaspoon of sugar over a tablespoon of plain yogurt, and follow with a nice soothing and regenerating treatment.

8) Supplement from the inside with Flax Seed Oil. I've been hooked on this stuff for years. I use it instead of butter on veggies, and salads. Loaded with essential fatty acids, it accelerates healing and is a natural anti-inflammatory agent. If you're not feeling the flavor, it comes in convenient pills. If you're still not loving it, experiment with other great oils such as hazelnut, walnut, and avocado oils. Available at Whole Foods and health food stores.

9) Moisturize lips with non addictive lip balms.

10) Cover your face! Some of the most delicate skin on your body should not be pointed at a freezing 40 mile an hour wind without protection. We love our creams but they can only go so far. This one takes a bit of planning in order to avoid looking like you're pulling a heist at your local bank branch. A cowl / neck warmer that can be pulled up over the face without having to maneuver a lot of yardage is a great choice.

(11) Lighten up on the dieting a little. There's a reason little ducks get through Winter sitting out on a frozen pond. They have a helpful layer of fat to work as a buffer against the elements. We're not saying dive into the dessert bar at the next party, or even the cheese plate, but you may want to make sure you have a good amount of healthy fats in your diet in the way of salmon, eggs, nuts, oils. These will help protect your entire body from the elements and help lubricate skin. Also, now more than ever, focus on skin loving foods that boost skin health, such as leafy greens, and our favorite, Sweet Potatoes.

12) Exercise inside. Get your blood and all those nutrients flowing to your skin with a quick and healthy yoga routine or 30 minutes on a treadmill. Working out indoors is less stressful than braving the cold winds. Keeping the cells of your skin open in the warm and moist indoors so they can excrete toxins will keep it lubricated and cleansed. Not that we have anything against skiing, but racing down a hill at 60 miles per hour is not skin friendly no matter how much cream you slather on.


Source: Bloomacious