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re-fined dining: re-play kids’ tableware

 Feeding the Little Walnuts, The Green Walnut, The Healthy Walnut
Feb 292012
 

My daughter’s very first “big girl” dinner plate has finally met its maker. After countless washings and many meals, the barnyard animals lovingly laminated on the divided sections are practically peeling off. A bit of a dining hazard…unless you want a side of toxic plastic with those mashed potatoes. These days I know I’m not alone when keeping an eye out for kids’ products that don’t have a zillion potential dangers lurking in their construction. And when it comes to mealtime, I’m especially mindful of safety first. It’s why the new Re-Play line of kids’ dishware and cutlery calls out to moms like me. Made from recycled milk jugs, this line is as environmentally-friendly as it gets. At first grasp, I could tell these products were tougher than they looked; the springtime hues of these sturdy plates, cups, bowls and utensils belie their sturdy exterior. Not only could we load up those plates with a well-rounded meal of chicken, rice and veggies, but they stood up to one dish-washing after another. Plates that don’t fall apart at the seams make this mom very happy. (And not having to explain why a horse on that plate no longer has a head  is even better…)

In a Nutshell: This line of BPA-free kids’ dishware will make you “re-think” exactly what kind of dinner you’ll be serving up tonight.

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tangled up in green: bayberry naturals detangler

 The Green Walnut, The Healthy Walnut
Feb 242012
 

Life as a mom is hardly a Bob Dylan song. The days of being completely carefree and going wherever the wind may take me are on hold…at least for now. Instead, my routine follows its own predictable rhythm of bus stops, preschool drop-offs, homework, dinner and the three B’s: bath, book and bed. Even with a schedule that hums like a well-oiled machine, there’s always those little snags that slow us down: a pair of shoes whose dread wears out, a backpack whose zipper that goes unstuck and kids’ hair. You heard me right on that last one. Yup, combing and styling my girls’ finer-than-fine hair is a never-ending battle. On the one hand, I have a 7-year-old who can’t quite grasp the concept of parting your hair on one side and keeping it that way. And the 3-year-old’s stubborn streak carries over to having her clips match her clothes…and deciding to pull them out no less than 5x a day to see what they look like (ever hear of a mirror, kid?). Fortunately, I’ve gotten one kid hair-styling task mastered–and one that no one messes with–and that’s untangling. I love the idea of hearing a comb slide effortlessly through their poker-straight locks, fresh from the bath. And that’s thanks to a simple spray of Bayberry Naturals’ Organic Leave-In Detangler. This is truly the fruit of the hair goddesses–and it smells like it, too. Because this detangler works best after it sits on your hair for a minute or two, it gives this time-pressed mom another moment to choose a book for storytime. If you’re a fan of green-minded kids’ products, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Organic Detangler contains no sulfates, no parabens, no phthalates and no artificial fragrances or dyes. Let’s just say it’s as healthy to smell as it is to put on those precious little heads.

In a Nutshell: No messes with these tresses anymore. Because the only “Tangled” in your life should be a Disney movie.

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