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.