Beat the Heat!

Put the Lime in the Coconut…

My skin was extremely dry and dehydrated after Hayden was born so I had a facial. The beauty technician told me that coconut water would hydrate my skin, and it has.  Now that it is (insanely) hot, I find it especially refreshing and I love the taste. It isn't high in calories and has no caffeine. It is a great way to stay hydrated as it contains a ton of electrolytes, like potassium, that your body needs in the summer. I'm not ashamed to say that I have probably been drinking it every day since this heat wave started!

There are a lot of different brands out there now, some organic, some not. They also make flavored kinds, sweetened with tangerine and other fruits; these are slightly higher in sugar and calories but make for a delicious (and still nutritious) summer treat that transports you to the tropics. 

I am about to put on my (non-toxic) sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat and grab a cold coconut water to go. You should too! 

Just in Time For Summer...

Photo Courtesy Environmental Working Group

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has just released its latest report on suncreens, and let me tell you, it is anything but skintastic. They found that 92 percent of sunscreens either don't adequately protect the skin or contain harmful chemicals -- and, in a lot cases, both. The upside? EWG doesn't just scare you, they recommend products that are better.

They are especially concerned with the increase in higher spf sunscreens (50 or higher) even though there is no evidence they offer more protection. They point out that Vitamin A-- a very common ingredient in suncreen--may be linked to cancer. They also call out the worst offenders, a list that includes popular brands like Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic and even Aveeno. Ugh.

If you're not familiar with EWG, its Skin Deep Cosmetics Database is an invaluable resource for choosing everything from mascara to body lotion to baby shampoo. You can type in virtually any product name and it will provide a safety rating based on the ingredients.

You should definitely check out the list before you stock your beachbag this summer. Your skin will thank you!

They’ll Never Buy the Cow…

Or why I drank organic milk all through my pregnancy and continue to do so now...

My husband joked that he should have just bought me a cow for what it was costing us each week in organic milk, but during my pregnancy, I was craving the stuff like it was going out of style. It just tastes better than conventional milk in my opinion.

New evidence from a recent study by Quality Low Input Food (QLIF) conducted by Newcastle University in England has also found that levels of antioxidants and vitamins —particularly CLA9 (Conjugated Linoleic Acid, a beneficial fat like Omega3) in milk produced by grazing cows on organic farms in the summer months--was found to be 60 percent or higher than conventionally raised cows.

It makes sense that the levels were highest in the summer because that is when the cows are grazing the most and eating grass and clover. In February the USDA tightened their rules on what is considered “grass fed.” Among other things it says that:

“Animals must graze pasture during the grazing season, which must be at least 120 days per year;”

This is of course in addition to existing rules against the use of pesticides, artificial hormones and antibiotics in organically raised cows.

Organic milk has long been an MBO (must be organic) for me and now there are even more reasons to raise a glass! 

Sleep tight, don't let the vinyl bite!

Photo: Rachel Batya Alintoff

When choosing a baby mattress I did a lot of research. I chose a Moonlight Slumber mattress for Hayden's crib, bassinet as well as his changing pad. Did you know that it is illegal in the state of California for mattresses to be sold that contain phthalates? Unfortunately, in the other 49 it is still perfectly legal and acceptable. According to their website,

“Moonlight Slumber mattresses are free of PVC, Vinyl, PBDE, Phthalates, Phosphorous, Arsenic, Antimony and many other harsh and dangerous chemicals commonly used in crib mattresses.” 

I also really liked that the company was started by a Chicago mom, Terri Paul. When she was pregnant, she couldn't believe that none of the mattress standards for industries like hospitals, hotels and nursing homes were in place for infant mattresses. So she went out and created her own sleep products.


My mattress is firm (very important to look for in a crib mattress as soft mattresses have been linked to SIDS) and fits snugly in a standard crib (also extremely important for reason stated above.) The mattress cover is waterproof and completely sealed (so there is no bacteria, like mold, getting in.) Unlike standard mattresses, mine does not smell of--nor contain--all those nasty chemicals. And since there is no off-gassing to worry about, you don't have air out your brand-new mattress for two days before putting it in baby's crib. Imagine that? The cotton is not organic, but the company says their cotton is not "bleached, dyed or chemically altered."


While Moonlight Slumber mattresses are pricier than conventional mattresses, I would suggest that a crib mattress of this kind is a wise investment. The crib is where your baby will be spending most of its time for a long time, so why not make it as safe and chemical-free as possible?


Watch this video from Good Morning America last year. Heather Maclean--another mom/entrepreneur--explains why she loves the Moonlight Slumber and also gives some great safety tips on cribs and mattresses.

Where to Begin?

When you are beginning the process of "greening" your life, it can be daunting. We read about all the hidden dangers lurking under our kitchen sinks, never mind pesticides on our fruit, BPA in water bottles, VOCs, phthalates... the list goes on and on. Before you throw your hands up (and your household budget out the window) start with one simple change. 


One thing that is easy (and economical) to change is laundry detergent.  Over the last few months, I have done some research to find a great smelling laundry detergent that is also is hypoallergenic, not tested on animals, biodegradable, non-toxic, free of allergens, dyes, perfumes and petroleum-based solvents. I found a product from a small up-and-coming company called Sun & Earth. They make a lot of great products including a Deep Cleaning Laundry Detergent that smells like fresh oranges. Yum... And it's only $6.49 for 50 ounces. 

My husband and I have been gradually switching our everyday household items such as laundry detergent, dishwashing soap and shampoo over to organic and eco-friendly products. Try not to feel overwhelmed to begin, though I know it isn't easy My suggestion is to do a little at a time and pick the items that you use the most to make the biggest difference.

Practice makes (picture) perfect

Photo: Rachel Batya Alintoff

In April, we rented a house in Turks & Caicos for a week with two of our closest friends. It was a wonderful, relaxing trip. Our house was right on the beach and its beauty inspired me to pick up my camera. It is not as easy as I thought to stay on top of my photography as I try to stay on top of my very active eight month old!

In an effort to keep my creative juices flowing, I recently joined the Red Bank NJ Photography Club. Sharing my work and looking at other people's photography is a great way to meet people in my new neighborhood while keeping my skills sharp.

I love photographing nature and since I now live right near the beach (though it doesn't look exactly like the one above), I'm hoping to do a series of beach photos taken at different times of day, changing seasons in all types of weather. Coming to an art gallery near you...maybe not...coming to a toddler t-shirt near you? Definitely!

Herbal Tea: It's in the Bag

It has been a few years since I stopped drinking my second cup of coffee at around 3 in the afternoon. Instead, in the summer months, I drink herbal iced tea, and in the winter, I have hot tea.

I like the process of making tea – although I am no where near a tea master—and taking time out of my afternoon to simply boil water, stand around in my kitchen, pick out a nice big mug and choose the tea I am in the mood for at that moment. For me, it is a mini-meditation. I also enjoy the act of buying tea. I feel it is very spiritual to go into a teashop, take time to walk around and smell the different varieties that come from all over the world. Whenever I can, I go to McNulty’s Tea & Coffee Co. on Christopher Street. Right now, I am into this delicious Magic Spice Blend of herbal tea that has rosehips, dried orange peels, almonds, cinnamon and dried apple pieces. I love it. I am also a big fan of Peppermint tea.

A sweet tea can also be a good dessert substitute. It certainly helps me at the end of the day to curb my desire for a big piece of…let’s say, caramel tart. I found a nice tea made by Celestial Seasonings called Honey Vanilla Chamomile. I add a touch of fresh vanilla bean to my cup along with a teaspoon of honey and it dessert in a mug.

A nice tea-recycling tip I got from an old issue of Body & Soul (now called Whole Living) magazine is that you can keep used green tea bags in a jar in the refrigerator and use them in the morning as a cleansing pad. The bag supposedly helps exfoliate skin gently and the tea has anti-inflammatory properties, which is perfect for morning puffiness.

I can't wait to try mixing some new and old flavored teas for sun tea this summer. I will definitely keep you posted on what I come up with.