skin saver: 911 rescue cream

 The Green Walnut, The Healthy Walnut
Nov 112011
 

I’m two seconds away from calling my dermatologist. Sporadic blasts of cold air, coupled with excessive hand-washing to ward off cold/flu season, have laid the groundwork for an eczema flare-up…and there’s no turning back until spring. Here at The Talking Walnut, we can’t get enough of lotions and potions that vow to combat winter-dry skin on kids and grown-ups alike. Because we’re especially mindful of products that are safe for the environment, we love a product that’s as good for us as it is for our planet. And if it looks attractive on our nightstand or in the nursery, then so much the better! I’m sure I’m not the first mom to sneak some of her kid’s stuff (after all, I am the girl who misted herself with her mom’s Norell perfume way back when…). So sue me if I decide to sample some of Butt Naked Baby’s 911 Rescue Cream. The name alone cries out to me in my time of need, wrestling with parched skin. Smooth some on and you’ll see for yourself how skin drinks in the moisture-inducing, organic ingredients like shea butter, white and green tea extracts and sunflower seed oil. We love that it works on practically any problematic area of skin and with just a small dab, your skin feels better almost immediately. Thanks to 911 Rescue Cream, maybe I won’t have to call my doctor after all…

In a Nutshell: Dry skin emergencies call for 911 Rescue Cream. This is one wintertime remedy you’ll need to have on speed dial.

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baby’s best defense

 Bathing Walnuts, Diapering for Walnuts, The Healthy Walnut
Oct 262011
 

It’s only October, and I’m already seeing signs of dry skin on myself and my daughters. With more frequent hand-washing during cold/flu season, our hands are a bit chapped and rougher than they were just a few months ago. Because my girls have unfortunately inherited my tender Irish complexion, they are more susceptible to winter’s wrath and therefore are slathered with lotions and creams more often than they’d like. Since the Talking Walnut is always on the lookout for products that combat eczema and other irritated skin conditions, we’re always willing to put new skincare to the test. Well, Episencial’s Soothing Cream is just what the doctor ordered. A pleasant-smelling balm made with a blend of natural ingredients like organic green tea and jojoba seed oil , it goes on smooth without that heavy, greasy feeling of some other lotions we’ve tried. I like that it’s as effective for both my young girls’ sensitive skin as it is for mine.  The ideal after-bath companion, the Soothing Cream seems to absorb best on clean, dry skin, leaving no match for Ol’ Man Winter this year.

In a Nutshell: We’re one step ahead of the colder weather with a lotion that leaves skin soft, smooth and soothed.

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wii for wee folk

 The Healthy Walnut, The Playful Walnut, Wired Walnuts
Aug 222011
 

My 3-year-old tries to be like her big sister in so many ways. She mimics what she says and how she says it, she sings the same songs (eat your heart out, Katy Perry) and she so desperately wants to join her in playing Wii. Sadly, yoga and go kart racing doesn’t exactly appeal to the average preschooler, so she has been forced to watch her sister and dad from the sidelines…until now, that is. We recently got our furry paws on a copy of Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Grover!, a video game for the Wii and Nintendo DS, and let’s just say she has found her idea of true blue heaven. Right off the bat, the ultra plush remove cover in the likeness of the lovable furry monster is especially designed to keep little digits focused on the game play, and not distracted by which button to push when. The message of developing eating healthy may be a tough pill for Cookie Monster-loving kids to swallow, but the game play itself is so much fun, kids may not even realize they’re absorbing this idea. My two daughters both had a blast moving their bodies as they helped monsters drop good-for-you food into their bowls as it was being hurled toward them. Factoids about how drinking milk is good for your teeth and bones are added in for flavor, making these teachable moments. Our best laugh-out-loud experience? When Elmo flew through the air towards us, that he practically landed in our family room. After all, belly laughter is good for digestion, too.

In a Nutshell: Little ones can join in on the fun of console video games at a speed and style that’s all their own.

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thirst quencher

 Feeding the Little Walnuts, The Healthy Walnut
Aug 112011
 

There’s nothing more refreshing than a cold drink on a hot summer’s day…especially when you’ve been outdoors for hours. My 7-year-old takes a water bottle with her to camp everyday, but after so many refills, she craves something with a bit more flavor. Rather than load her down with sugary juice or lemonade, we thought we’d give coconut water, the latest fad in the beverage world, a try. But this isn’t just any coconut water, mind you. O.N.E. Kids Coconut Water with Fruit Juice is specially designed for finicky taste buds who need to rehydrate after a long day at play. Flavored with natural juices and no added sugar, this drink is packed with potassium and electrolytes to replenish growing bodies. We decided to put O.N.E. Kids to the test during a long, sweltering week at camp. The results? One happy camper. “It wasn’t so sweet, but it tasted really good and that made me want to drink more,” said our resident tester. Available in a medley of fruity flavors like apple, fruit punch, raspberry lemonade and orange, O.N.E. Kids Coconut Water with Fruit Juice is one drink your kids will go nuts for.

In a Nutshell: When lemonade and plain old H2O have had their day in the sun, switch over to this delicious, healthy beverage of choice.

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and to all a good night

 Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Healthy Walnut
Aug 092011
 

It’s hardly Christmas, but next winter, my sister’s co-worker will be having her first baby. She has just started checking out all the baby gear she’ll want to register for, and it got us to talking about all those things she’ll need in the first few months. When my girls were born, I was fortunate enough to have a bassinet handed down from my sister. It was simply outfitted in a white eyelet bedding and a basic mattress. Today’s bassinets are not only more functional, but they aim to offer a better night’s sleep for both baby and mom. Kolcraft’s Preferred Position 2-in-1 Bassinet & Incline Sleeper is specially designed for the colicky newborn who benefits from a boosted sleeping position. This bassinet features a removable insert for a baby’s head, which is just what the doctor ordered to relieve congestion, colic or even an ear infection. And when your little one is perfectly healthy, you can switch over to rocking mode, offering gentle vibration and soothing melodies. We love a baby product that can multitask…just like mom!

In a Nutshell: No need to listen to that colicky cry at 3 a.m. Your newborn will rest easy in this bassinet with elevated insert that provides a restful night’s sleep.

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u.f.o. baby

 Feeding the Little Walnuts, Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Healthy Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
Jul 282011
 

Last week, I took my 2 girls out for a bite at a kid-friendly restaurant near our home. My husband had evening plans and we were in the midst of a heat wave, so it seemed like a fine idea. I forgot how much 2 little girls can talk (both at the same time, mind you), but with a glass of Chardonnay, a bread basket full of warm pretzel sticks and coloring books for the little ladies, I was well-armed. While nibbling on our appetizer, I couldn’t help but notice a toddler at a nearby table who was having a ball. Much to his mother’s horror, he dipped every fry several times in ketchup before aiming them towards his mouth. Naturally, he missed his target more than once and before long, the table space in front of him looked like a war zone after a bloody battle. Keeping kids occupied before their food arrives is one thing; keeping them and the table relatively clean is quite another. The Neatnik Saucer is one mom’s solution to this dilemma. Having become increasingly frustrated about cleanliness while eating out with her new baby, she designed this portable product that is a high chair cover and baby playmat in one. The saucer comes in two parts: a chair liner that fits inside a standard restaurant high chair and a lightweight tray that fits over and suction cups to the table, giving your child a clean, secure play to eat, color and enjoy her meal. We favor the saucer’s extended sides that prevent food or small toys from dropping onto the floor–how many times can you play pick-up after all?–and that it wipes clean and folds up easily. I’m guessing the mom we saw at dinner would have benefited from the Neatnik Saucer; those fries fast became Unidentified Flying Objects.

In a Nutshell: Less messy mealtimes are on the menu with this on-the-go feeding accessory. This is one saucer that’s out of this world.

 

 

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shoo fly

 The Healthy Walnut, The Safe Little Walnut
Jul 132011
 

Kids are not unlike bugs: Sometimes, they are pesky, persistent and just won’t go away when you want them to. (Can you tell we are already a few weeks into summer vacation?) But unlike with actual bugs, there’s no real repellent which, with a simple spray, you can buy yourself some alone time. So for now, we’ll just concentrate on trying to keep those pesky, multi-legged critters at bay. At my house, we go through bug spray like some people go through water. OK, well maybe not that fast, but I wind up buying a few bottles over the course of the spring and summer. I’m more mindful about what products I’m using on my kids these days (yes, even if they bug me, I’m still nice to them…most days.) And because I have equally bright kids who oftentimes inspect the bottles of sunscreen, bug spray and other protective goods, we know a standout product when we see one. We’re particularly fond of Bug Bandit from Fairy Tales Hair Care , an all-natural, DEET- and pesticide-free insect repellent. My 7-year-old doesn’t care for the company’s name (she’s the one with a strong aversion to anything related to princesses), but both girls get a kick out of the image on the bottle. The masked bug looks ready to take on the world of pesky critters, and if he can distract by kids from being doused with bug spray, so much the better. The delightful scent of lemongrass, citronella, rosemary and lemon eucalyptus reminds us of a outdoor candles we use during BBQ nights. Hey, if the thought of grilled burgers and corn on the cob isn’t enough to keep them happy, what will? Kids…yeah, sometimes they really bug me.

In a Nutshell: Take a whiff of a bug spray that not only smells good, but gets the job done.

 

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a greener beach

 The Healthy Walnut, The Playful Walnut
Jun 302011
 

Brace yourselves: Today, I took both of my girls to the beach and we managed to return home with everything we brought, along with some sand, of course.  Armed with lunch, towels and a ton of beach toys, we were ready for a day of sun and fun….and for me, rescuing the requisite pail or hovel that always manages to tumble into a nearby stream that the girls love to play in, and inevitably wind up in the saltwater. (Can’t you just hear the cries of “Get it! Get it!”? I know they will haunt me in my dreams tonight.) At a moment when my daughters were play contentedly, I happened to look up and see a blue shovel floating by–one that didn’t belong to us. Because we were the only ones at the beach this day, I imagine it must have drifted over from a neighboring beach. Chasing after the shovel as it bobbed in the waves, I was able to retrieve it and passed it over to its new owners. The shovel was in perfectly good condition, but it got me to thinking about how many lost pails and shovels end up elsewhere over the course of a summer. Perhaps this very thought occurred to the makers of Zoe b Biodegradable Beach Toys. Developed by a mom looking to better environment for the future of her own family, this line of buckets, cups, geometric cut-outs and shovels are made from corn sugar. That means they’re designed to break down naturally over the course of a few years, as opposed to ordinary plastic, which can take hundreds. My girls don’t know–or care–what BPA means, but they do know what’s fun. How nice that we can all be satisfied from a great day at the beach.

In a Nutshell: Biodegradable beach toys? Now you can do your part to protect the planet simply by building a sandcastle.

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brush like bieber

 The Healthy Walnut
Jun 142011
 

Never underestimate the power of media. When my 7-year-old was looking at DVDs to borrow from our public library’s children’s department, she wondered aloud, “You think they have Justin Bieber’s ‘Never Say Never?’” (Why, won’t SpongeBob do anymore?…) For those kids who need their Bieber fix comes a product we didn’t think possible: a line of singing Justin Bieber toothbrushes (yep, you read that right) that sound like the boy himself. I’m all for getting my kids to brush regularly, but this product really takes the cake–and brushes away the potential for cavities. Each song includes two Bieber songs, specifically designated for daytime and nighttime brushes: “Baby,” “U Smile,” “Love Me” and “Somebody to Love.” Whichever tune strikes your mood is, of course, up to you. Aside from the toothbrushes, there’s also a microphone-shaped flosser and a travel kit. Closet Bieber fans need not hide out in Duane-Reade; there are adult-sized toothbrushes, too. What will they think of next? Well, we’re waiting for the haircare line (natch). The Brush Buddies Justin Bieber line will be available in early July.

In a Nutshell: Oral health just got a whole lot hipper with a line of toothbrushes that sing like Justin Bieber. And my spin brush just became oh-so-5-minutes ago…

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soak up the sun safely

 The Healthy Walnut, The Safe Little Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
May 172011
 

On Day 2 of a super soaker rainy stretch, it’s hard to imagine we’ll soon be trading in this wet spring for sweltering heat. In my family, the hot summer sun is nothing to scoff at; my girls have unfortunately inherited my fair complexion and I make a point of slathering them in sunscreen so much that the sun’s damaging rays don’t stand a chance. Of course, when my little ladies aren’t under my wing and it’s time to re-apply the lotion, it helps to have a way to make this chore both convenient and not so involved, especially for kids. Sunbow Sunscreen Sun Sticks are handy, portable sticks that stow away easily in camp backpacks. Not only do they offer optimal protection with an SPF 45, but they come in kid-friendly designs (yellow formula featuring SpongeBob and pink in a Dora the Explorer motif). I used to roll my eyes at character-influenced products, but in this case, if it helps my 7-year-old remember to take her SpongeBob stick out of her bag and use it, I’m all for it.

In a Nutshell: It may be OK for a sponge to soak up some rays, but when it comes to kids and the sun, the two work best in moderation–and with the proper protection. This sunscreen stick aims to keep kids covered, so they can enjoy the summer without the sunburn.

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