Today [cue music] it’s a different story.  There is a whole new breed of cloth nappies making it tremendously easier to diaper your wee one in the more traditional and healthier cloth option.

Why healthier?  Most disposable diapers contain a number of toxic chemicals like TBT (Tributyl-tin), a chemical that has been shown to cause hormonal problems in animals, and sodium polyacrylate (from the absorbant gel) which causes skin irritation and is the same chemical once removed from tampons because of its link to toxic shock syndrome.

Cloth diapers are healthier for the planet too.  About 80% of the diapers used in the US are disposables, totaling 18 billion disposable diapers in the US each year…piling up in landfills from sea to shining sea. The fact that we call these “disposable” is somewhat laughable because they won’t ever truly be disposed of.  They may sit in that landfill for as many as 700 years with no hope of breaking down and truly being “disposed of” sooner than that.

Ok, enough of the serious stuff.  What everybody wants to know is will cloth be a lot more work and aren’t they more expensive?!

No and no!

With the new breeds of disposable diapers, outfitted with velcro and shaped just like the disposables you’re familiar with, they feature simple cloth inserts that slide into the reusable (and often cute) outer pant.  That’s simple.  And, they’re cheap!  Especially when you compare it to the cost of the 8000 single-use diapers you could be buying (that’s the number that the average child uses from birth to age three).  Instead of spending as much as $3000 on diapers, the cloth alternative costs as little as $300-800.  And they can be used for more than one child!

The people at gDiapers (the ones I’ll be using for my little one, come June) recently did a study in which they compared the cost of disposable diapers to their g-cloth option.  Keeping in mind that it can cost as much as $3000 to diaper your child in disposable, here’s how the g-cloth ones compare.

1 Newborn Bundle $149.99
12 small gCloth $59.98
12 m/l gCloth $59.98
6 medium little gPants (as low as $70 for our everyday g’s) or $101.94
6 large little gPants (as low as $70 for our everyday g’s) or $101.94

This amounts to a cost as low as $410 for the bare minimum with gDiapers (to cover the whole life of the child!).  You may choose to buy more of the diapers so you don’t have to launder every day and that could increase the cost.  But even if the cost doubles, you’re still saving over $2000!

I’m choosing cloth for the healthy of my baby, the health of this planet….and it sure doesn’t hurt that it’ll save us money, too!!

Give cloth a chance!!

Also on SaraSnow.com

And so, in 2008, A Part of Something Big was born.  They piloted the program in 6 schools initially, looking for PTA leaders who would seize the opportunity to do something bold when it came to school fundraising.  Richard realizes it will take courageous moms and dads who will lead their schools, non profits and communities to a different future – raising money and making a difference at the same time.

A Part of Something Big sells only products that make a difference in our communities and our world, focusing on goods which support fair-trade, micro-finance, social-development and environmental stewardship initiatives.

Their soaps are made by women in a substance abuse recovery program outside Chicago.

Their coffee is from co-ops around the world who farm without destroying the forest.

Their chocolate comes from the worlds only co-op owned chocolate company which has revolutionized a rural township in Ghana.

And as an added bonus, they have created educational activities and lesson plans so that parents, teachers and students  can begin a conversation about “voting with our dollars” and how we make choices about who to support with every dollar we spend.

As we enter school fundraising season, I hope you’ll be encouraged to branch out and try this better way of fundraising.  Let’s support individuals, groups and cultures who need your support.  And let’s teach our children this lesson as well.

Also on SaraSnow.com

It was a rare trip to the states for the husband and wife team, who live and work as ecopreneurs in Kenya.  Philip is the son of renowned paleo-anthropologists, Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey. And though Philip doesn’t work uncovering fragments of man’s past like his father, he is turning to nature to create gifts for the planet’s future and to provide sustainable work opportunities for over 1400 of his neighbors, the Maasai.

Last year was the year of a historic drought in Kenya, so severe that even giraffe, which are usually very resilient during droughts, were dying in masses. Even though rains came on Christmas day, it is still uncertain if Kenya will recover this year.

In order to meet this challenge, Philip and his wife Katy have expanded their Lifestyle line (The Leakey Collection) using “nature’s leftovers” (fallen acacia wood, a nuisance grass and fallen Marula fruit). Philip & Katy have built a business “from the ground up” and in turn have provided work opportunities that are affecting lives on a grand scale. The Leakeys run their global company from a 12×12 tent in Kenya.

The Leakey Collection, a fair trade company,  was born eight years ago, during the last severe drought which devastated Kenya’s pasturelands, bringing dire conditions to the Maasai who depend on their cattle for a livelihood. At this time, the Leakeys were personally supporting over 100 Maasai families financially.  Quotes Philip, “This situation was not sustainable for either party”.  The Leakeys were determined to find a way to help their neighbors become self-sufficient. Realizing the potential of the Maasai’s natural bead working skills, the Leakeys combined Philip’s knowledge of ecology and conservation with Katy’s artistic abilities and love of nature to create Zulugrass jewelry.

Today Zulugrass is sold in shops in over 20 countries and at leakeycollection.com. As Kenya experiences trying times, The Leakey Collection continues to offer hope to thousands in East Africa.

According to Katy, her husband “has the unique ability to see potential that others overlook. From turning fallen acacia wood into a serving tray, to making jewelry from grass, or lotion from Marula nut oil, Philip is incredibly creative.” She also went on to say that the Maasai have become very entrepreneurial and that these opportunities have inspired them to develop their own businesses.

Sara with Maasai women

I grew to love the Maasai people during my trip last year to Kenya with the Microfinance company, MicroPlace.

And I began to love the Leakey Collection when I was first introduced to it a year or two ago. Since then I’ve worn the Leakey bracelets often and am now sold on the Marula Oil the Leakeys have developed with these same Maasai beauties – women who know a thing of two about hydrating skin and looking effortlessly young.

Also on SaraSnow.com

More than 70% of women in the US believe that if the appearance of their eye area were improved, their whole face would look younger.

As someone who frequents lumpy pillows in hotel rooms, red eye flights, and pregnancy induced sleep deprived nights, I’d have to agree!

Just a couple of weeks ago I started using the Skin Authority Dramatic Eye Lift cream.  It’s a highly-concetrated formula designed to “lift and tighten” the skin around the eyes.  (I can think of a few other places I’d like it to “lift and tighten” but, alas, the bottle isn’t big enough for that.)

The skin under my eyes has always been a problem area for me.  It’s either dark (ala ‘dark circles’) or it’s flaky and dry.  Since I’ve been using this Eye Lift Cream I have noticed an improvement in both areas.  And if this cream means I can eventually leave the house without my daily swipe of under-eye concealer, then I’m sold for life!

The product isn’t cheap ($120) but it may be worth it.  It’s recommended that you use the Dramatic Eye Lift with their Moisturizing Lift Cream for your whole face.

Skin Authority is committed to creating natural products that are healthier for you and me as well as the planet.

• No dyes
• No added fragrances
• No parabens
• No animal testing
• Recyclable packaging and materials
• Eco-sensitive treatment protocols
• Renewable energy to power production

Also on SaraSnow.com

You see, in my mind fruit is the perfect convenience food.  Take bananas and oranges.  They come loaded with vitamins and minerals like Vit C and Potassium and they come pre-packaged in their own individual little wrappers.

Perfect!

But, I’m willing to admit, with a baby on the way myself, that there are times that busy moms needs the convenience of little cheddar fishy crackers and, even, squeezable fruit.  If it’s still healthy, free of preservatives and other junk, then why not?

This is where GoGo squeeZ fits the bill.  GoGo squeeZ makes 100% fruit (no sugar added), squeezable applesauce.  And they have a cute history.

A friend of mine recently told me about a fabulous company called Bling Baby: sassy, sparkling clothes and accessories for baby.  It turns out, it was her friend who started the company and her first baby girl who was inspiration for its inception.

Here’s the founder, Jennifer Linder’s story:

Let’s face it…all girls are born LOVING bling.
The minute I found out that my friend Carolyn delivered a baby girl I could not wait to deck her out in something pink that sparkled! I was surprised how hard it was to find the perfect, personalized baby gift. (Even in a big city like Chicago). I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands. I guess I’m more of a “chip off the old block” than I ever thought. My mother has always encouraged me to satisfy my artsy side through various craft projects. Since I couldn’t find the perfect gift, I decided to make my own design for Taylor and that is where BLiNG-BABY was born.
I love the idea of creating personal designs for children that are affordable and adorable. Whether it be their name, nickname, initials or just something endearing to Mom & Dad, make it sparkle and say it in BLiNG!

My first reaction was, “cute story and cute stuff” but I’m not huge on sparkles and I’m going for organic cotton as much as possible for my baby girl.

AND THEN………

Then I discovered the Bling Baby Organic Cotton Line!  Personalized caps and onesies made from 100% organic cotton.  Fabulous!!!

I only wish we had a name picked out so I could order up some stuff now.  I promise I’ll put some pics up once this little green bean is born with her wearing all sorts of sparkly, personalized garb.

If you’re like so many women out there and you want to live a healthier, greener life without giving up the fun and fashion you’ve always enjoyed, Bling Baby’s organic cotton line offers the solution.  Fabulous, fun, fashions for babies that are made from organically grown cotton to boot!

Here’s to Jennifer for following her dream….and helping to fill our babies’ closets with cute and eco baby bling!

Also on SaraSnow.com

You can view the whole interview here.

Suzy: Why do you think it is important for people to slow down and simplify in this day in age?

Sara: Because we’re all, simply put, moving too quickly. Life didn’t use to be like this. We didn’t used to be “plugged in” every minute of the day. We took walks, we sang to the birds, we ran barefoot and sat in silence. All of this is so important for our brains, our muscles, our digestion, and our spirits.
I will always remember one particular day during college. I was stressed and over-worked and worried and I called my mom to cry to her a bit. And she told me that I needed to find a park bench and to sit and watch the squirrels for a while. That’s it. Just watch the squirrels.
It’s still what I do today when I’m overly stressed. I call a time-out and I just sit and watch the birds or the squirrels.
A fantastic practice to get into is a short meditation session in the morning or evening every single day. The simple act of emptying your mind and breathing deep, cleansing breaths can be so incredibly healing.

I do believe in the powerful healing forces of meditation.

Among other things, meditation can:

• Increase blood flow and slow your heart rate
• Increase serotonin production to positively enhance mood and behavior.
• Enhance the immune system.

Try it today!

Also on SaraSnow.com

You cut some chicken; you wash your hands.

You work in the garden; you wash your hands.

You’ve been doing it countless times a day, all your life, but did you know that there’s a right and a wrong way to wash your hands?

According to Dr. Larry Weiss, Chief Scientist at CleanWell, makers of All Natural Antibacterial Hand Soaps, there is a correct way to wash.  And, says the good doctor, it matters!

Hand Washing 101 from Dr. Larry Weiss

• If you think your hands need washing, they probably do.
• When people around you are coughing and sneezing, wash more frequently.  All that coughing and sneezing creates a mist of virus that lands on every surface that you touch.
• Use the time that you are actually washing your hands to relax.  Don’t try and “just get it done.”  Instead, take five slow, deep breaths as you wash.  Use the moment to calm down and enjoy the sensation of warm water and soap on your hands.  Pay attention to what you are doing and you will do a better job and feel better.  (This is an alternative to singing happy birthday- something that no one actually does and if they do, it makes them feel silly and childish.  Five slow deep breaths will calm you down, reduce your heart rate, clear your mind, and take about 20 seconds – enough time to do a good job washing your hands).
• Make sure to dry your hands thoroughly.  Wet or damp skin is much more likely to pick up germs from surfaces like doorknobs or countertops.
• Use a paper towel to open the door when you leave a public restroom.  If there is not a wastebasket outside the door for the paper towel, drop it on the floor outside the door.   If enough people do that, a wastebasket will appear!
• Teach hygienic habits and educate children about the importance of cleaning their hands immediately after a sneeze or wet cough. A “Bless You” or “Gezundheit” means a trip to the sink or use of a sanitizer whether a tissue was used or not.

CleanWell All Natural Antibacterial Hand Soaps retail for $4.99 and are available at Whole Foods Markets, select Target stores, Babies R Us, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC and Amazon.com.

Also on SaraSnow.com

These changes were the inspiration for her new book, The Green Pregnancy Diet, an accessible, you-can-do-it approach to eating green when pregnant.

The book contains:

• Guidelines for a non-toxic, environmentally-friendly diet
• Nutrition during pregnancy
• 20 easy, nutritious, flavorful recipes
• Organic, vegetarian ingredients with dairy-, gluten-, nut- and wheat-free options
• Tips for creating a green kitchen

“There is no doubt,” says Radha, “that you and your baby are better off if you eat a green diet.”

This book makes doing just that easy.

Also on SaraSnow.com

In case you’re like I was and don’t know much about this company, here’s some background.  Melaleuca develops, manufactures and sells over 350 of “the world’s leading wellness products for your home and family.” They say they carefully craft products with the highest standards of safety, health, and wellness in mind.

Ok, but a lot of companies say that, so I did my best to dig farther.

Their products are concentrated, thus cutting down on packaging waste.  In fact, if all consumer product companies followed their lead in this regard, each year landfills in North America would have 890 million tons less plastic waste; enough to fill the entire state of Delaware with a 3-foot layer of plastic.  Cool, I’m definitely a fan of concentrated products.

What about the ingredients?  All of their home-cleaning EcoSense products are:

• free of chlorine bleach
• free of ammonia
• free of formaldehyde
• non-caustic
• super concentrated
• made of ingredients that are sustainably source whenever possible

And they say that the EcoSense formulas are developed around the most effective naturally derived ingredients. Here are some examples:

Sol-U-Guard Botanical® 2x Concentrate teams up two potent botanical germ killers: citric acid and thyme oil. This dynamic duo kills 99.9% of common household germs on hard, non-porous surfaces in less than 10 minutes.

Rustic Touch® does its beautiful work with carnauba wax, the strong natural wax that protects but never dulls or yellows.

Aside from relying on natural cleaning agents, they also use trigger sprayers instead of aerosols in order to reduce the chances of inhalation.

So, that all sounds pretty good.  I was recently sent a number of their cleaning products to try.  So far, no complaints with how well they work, but I was finally able to get a look at their full ingredients list (something that I couldn’t find anywhere on their websites) and found that they still list ingredients like “fragrance” and “preservative” – two words I don’t like to see.

For now, I think I’ll stick with my other natural cleaning favorites or the old standbys – vinegar, baking soda, and soap.

Also on SaraSnow.com