Mama Speaks

Squeaky Clean Sans Spit

I swore I would never clean my children's face with spit. I have vivid memories of pulling up in front of school or a friends house in my mom's car, as I tried to escape with a hurried goodbye, she'd reach over and attempt to rub something off my face with her spit moistened finger. Gross. I'd shrink away doomed to spend my day wondering when the last time she'd brushed her teeth had been. I swore I'd never torture my kids this way. And yet, I hate to admit that almost daily I find my self licking my finger to remove a little left over breakfast from my little guys face.

Finally someone's bottled it and slapped a label on. Ok, just kidding. But MomSpit has come to the rescue. Three genius Moms have developed the perfect product to keep your saliva in your mouth where it belongs. MomSpit's line of no-rinse cleanser will eliminate everything from milk mustaches to gas pump grunge. It's not a sanitizer and contains no-alcohol, just a couple of safe ingredients for gentle, moisturizing clean.

MomSpit is available in two scrumptious scents - fig & green tea, and lemon & white tea - along with an unscented version for you sensitive types. The 7oz counter top bottle [$18] is perfect for swabbing off quick messes at home and the 2oz bottle [$9] will fit right in your bag so you can freshen up on the go.  With the gentle, kid safe ingredients, recyclable packaging, cruelty free testing, and absence of human saliva, MomSpit can't be beat.

You can stock up on MomSpit at Pacifier. Just enter the code mamaspeaks for 10% of any purchase. [Valid on regular and sale-priced items. Not valid on furniture, strollers, or gift cards. Offer expires August 30, 2007.]

Win it!
Of course we have some  MomSpit to share! Send your answer to following question to reviews@mamaspeaks[dot]com by midnight July 31 for your very own bottle. Who are the Chief Executive Moms who founded MomSpit?

Mummy's Little Monster

Monday seemed like the perfect time to highlight baby's darker side. The punky, funky, rocking gear available from Monster Baby will do just that. Conceived in Australia and born in the US, these high quality, unique tee's are certain to impress. Most styles are printed on both sides with a process made to last and have a true to size fit- slim, yet generous in length, that we found to be perfect.  We go though shirts like water and these were some of the best we've come across in terms of softness, fit and print quality. 

We'll admit that some of the styles were a bit too edgy for us Mama's (one tester pointed out that "kinky" and baby just don't belong in the same sentence), but we're particularly fond of the X-ray tee, and with the selection available you're certain to find a style that's right for you.

Monster Baby has offered a generous discount for our readers, enter the code MAMASPEAKS at checkout for 25% off your entire order! And the goodies don't stop there, order now through the end of August and you're automatically entered to win $100 worth of clothing (your choice) and submit a picture of your little monster in their Monster Baby gear for the Monthly Photo competition.

Thanks Carol E.!

Homegrown Vintage

I'm always on the look out for comfy cute tees for my little one and Havins Originals are one of a kind. Literally. The vintage inspired tees are all hand made so no two are exactly alike. And would like to know exactly where that shirt came from?  All Havins tees [$25] are made completely in the USA- the cotton is grown in Tennessee fields where it's hand spun and shipped to California to custom-dyed, vintage washed and screen-printed by hand.If that isn't enough the So. Cal inspired graphics and a super soft feel will give you the perfect excuse to squeeze in some extra snuggles.

Win it!
We're giving away a Havins Original "Born Lucky" tee (size 4)! Just let us know where Havins is based at reviews@mamaspeaks[dot]com by midnight July 29.

The Juice Box’s Long Lost Cousin

Aqua2Go is the juice box alternative I’ve been waiting for.  It’s just like a juice box except without all the sugar, additives and calories.  OK, so the only similarity is the extremely convenient (sustainable!) packaging which makes it the perfect drink on the go.  If you’re like me, you’ll never fail to forget the sippy cups at home. 

It's aseptic packaging is 74% paper, making it more eco-friendly than plastic or cans. And Aqua2Go has a five year shelf life so you don’t need to worry about it spoiling or fermenting. This means it’s great to keep one tucked in your diaper bag, or car or anywhere else thirst may strike.

On your next play date, bring along a few boxes of Aqua2Go.  The kids will think they are getting a fun drink while the Moms will know they are getting the benefits of fresh, healthy purified water. A play date is no place for sugar, I prefer my kid not to be bouncing off the walls anymore than normal.  You also won’t find bright-colored fruit characters all over the box so parents can feel comfortable taking one to the office without it looking like you raided your kid’s lunchbox.

Aqua2Go may not have the so-called added vitamins or fancy “natural flavors” but what it does have is the natural benefits and refreshing taste of good ol’ fashion water.  Just what a child’s and mother’s body needs.

-Cara

Perfect in Punk

We might be a bit off season here, but hey, we figure it's cold somewhere and we just couldn't resist. New Yorker's Alyce Benevides & Jaqueline Milles are serving up the coolest accessory for Mama's little punk rocker. The signature Mohawk hat [$80] available from Knit-Head is handcrafted from wool and mohair and features a mohawk, earmuff accents and tassles.

Whether you're getting a jump start on your cold weather essentials or just looking for a unique  hat to funk up baby's wardrobe, the Baby Mohawk will keep baby rockin' as you roll. And if you're looking to release your inner rockstar Knit-Head has mohawk hats (along with a few tamer styles) available for Mama's and Papa's too.

Crumb Catcher

We're currently mastering the art of eating with utensils and drinking from cups in my house. It's all great fun but also a great mess. Thankfully, the pocket bibs [$8]from Silly Billyz have been a life (and clothing) saver. The high quality fleece and nylon bib will catch all those crumbs and keep clothes dry. Plus, the adjustable snap closure makes it perfect for babes from 3 months to 3 years. I'm still debating if it's best feature is the fact it's PVC free or that you can toss it in the washing machine.

If the pocket bib isn't for you, biblets are the prefect choice for tiny babes and the long sleeved bibs are great for super sloppy eaters or just protecting clothes from your tot's finger painting project. And all of Silly Billyz offerings are available in a variety of colors to match any outfit or suit your mood.

Click here for 10% off any purchase!

Win it!
We're giving away a Navy Star Pocket Bib! Just let us know what other products are available from Silly Billyz by emailing reviews@mamaspeaks[dot]com by midnight, July 26.

Toddler Tumble

In all of his 19 months my son hasn't shown much interest in toys. Show him something with a specific purpose and he'll give it a once over and toss it aside. He'd rather play with pots and bowls and fabric scraps than any of those light-up plastic do-hickey's.  He has, however, found the Tot Tower's [$25] from eeBoo fascinating. And I'm right along side him in the limitless play. Our favorite is the Shaker ABC Tot Tower beautifully designed by children's  book illustrator Melissa Sweet.

The blocks can be stacked and tumbled or nested together. And if that gets old the illustrated numbers and animals from Antelope to Zebra will keep you endlessly entertained. The experts tell us eeBoo's Tot Tower's build large motor skills while promoting language and concept develop, but we just call them fun.

You can save 20% on any Tot Tower at GeniusBabies.com

Cause of the Week - No Coughing Matter

It may be over the counter, but cough medicine should never be over our heads as Moms. Do you know that "dex" use is on the rise? One in 10 teens today have reported abusing cough medicine with the active ingredient dextropmethorphan, and most often dangerously consume between 25 and 50 times the recommended dosage.

The five Moms here at Mama Speaks think you should know about another five concerned Moms who banded together to stop cough medicine abuse. They created Five Moms and are spreading the word about the dangers of cough medicine abuse, five Moms at a time. The Five Moms site has a short video along with helpful resources to know what to discuss with your children now, and educate yourself about the warning signs of cough medicine abuse.

Five Moms has a simple campaign that you can be a part of. Spread the word. Tell other Moms that you know online, in the neighborhood, at your next girls night out. Talk about being aware. Get the dialogue started with your teen or pre-teen. Cough medicine abuse is real. Now it's your turn to tell five Moms.

-Steph

My Kind of Clean

Don't you just love doing laundry? You think I'm crazy right? Ok, so I'm not too fond of it either, but it has to be done and unfortunately, it never ends. And so, I'm constantly on the look out for things to make it a little more enjoyable. Mainly a product that works that I don't feel guilty using. And so, I say a great big thank you to all the folks who spend their days making Charlie's Soap.

Whether you're washing a week's worth of baby's soiled diapers or mama's unmentionables, Charlie's Laundry Powder will leave "nothing behind but the good old-fashioned sweet smell of clean". It's completely pure, rinses as clear as water and is safe for the most sensitive skin. You won't find any phosphates, bleach, dyes, or perfumes here just all natural washing soda, sodium silicate and coconut oil based ingredients. And because they're so pure Charlie's products are completely biodegradable and hypo-allergenic.

If you're concerned that something that sounds so gentle won't cut it on tough stuff don't worry, they beat you to it. Charlie's Soap was put through the ringer- tested on blood, grease, grass and of course, poop stains and they pulled through with stellar results. For the toughest of stains just pre-treat with Charlie's All Purpose cleaner before tossing in the wash and you'll be amazed at the results. Now if only someone could explain how such little people can quadruple your laundry load, I'd have it all figured out.

Win it!
We're giving away a bottle of Charlie's Soap Laundry Liquid! Just email Charlie's full name to reviews@mamaspeaks[dot]com by midnight July 24.

When To Go Organic

We all know that organic is best but it's also expensive. So, when should you splurge and when should you skimp? It is almost universally recommended that meats and dairy products be organic whenever possible but it gets a little tricky when it comes to produce. Thankfully FoodNews.org has done the leg work and compiled a list of the best and the worst.

The dirty dozen, foods you should always try to buy organic are: Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Lettuce, Grapes (imported), Pears, Spinach and Potatoes. The cleanest twelve, foods you can safely go conventional are: Onions, Avocado, Sweet Corn (frozen), Pineapples, Mango, Sweet Peas (frozen), Asparagus, Kiwi, Bananas, Cabbage, Broccoli and Eggplant.

We're also in the perfect season to buy local. If you head out to your local farmers market you will find many farmers that may not be "certified" organic, but that don't use pesticides. All you have to do is ask. Plus, a tomato picked this morning vs. one that's been smooshed around on conveyor belts and trucked across country is going to win every time.