Go Green Lunch Box is genius.  Plain and simple.  This company has invented a way to totally cut out all waste at lunch time, right down to the little love note from mom.  Not only does this lunch box help save the environment, it teaches your children early about the importance of “reduce, reuse, recycle”.  Just as important, this lunch box also regulates portion size and encourages complete, well-balanced meals.  The “turn-and-lock” technology ensures that all compartments stay separated, even yogurt, salad dressings, pudding, etc.

Clearly, this girl has places to go.  Good thing her food is safe in her Go Green Lunch Box, even the yogurt!

Go Green Lunch Box is offering one lucky reader their very own lunch box, their pick.  To enter, comment below telling us which style lunch box you like best. See the styles here.  For extra entries, post this giveaway on your Facebook, Blog, Cafemom group, or Twitter.  For another entry, DIGG this by clicking on the “digg” button on the main page here.  Leave additional comments with links to your promotions in order to receive your extra entry. Contest ends at Midnight on Saturday, October 3.

My daughter is the girliest of all girls. She’s constantly talking about pretty clothes, pretty hair, pretty shoes to anyone who will listen. I recently discovered Kula Klips, a Canadian company started in 2006. Their assortment of clips is seriously huge. Their clips are categorized on their site by style to help slim down the options for you (Flower, Bows, Trendy, Seasonal, Animals, Bugs, etc). Their designs are adorable and really do stay put versus a lot of the other clips out there. My daughter loves to go pick out which hair accessory she’d like to wear to match her chosen outfit for the day. They are your one stop shop for hair clips of every style and color.

Personally I love their Kula Band. My daughter thinks headbands are supposed to be worn on the back of her head and refuses to wear them any other way. I was so excited to try the Kula Band on her. After our small disagreement where she kept telling me it was a necklace, she finally agreed to let me put it on her. After all of my gasping at how cute she was, she asked me to stand her up on the counter so she could stare at herself for a few minutes to admire her reflection. I love that the tension is adjustable because tight headbands can seriously cause headaches. How they work, is that they are made of ribbon with stoppers at the end to keep the toggle from falling off. Make it as loose or tight as you want. One size fits all.

Their attention to detail is easily seen in all of their products. Click here to let your little one browse through all of the options and purchase your Kula Klip products.

Kula Klips is generously offering In The Know Mom 20% off of their purchases through October 31, 2009. Enter Kula09 when checking out.

Follow them on Twitter here and become their fan on Facebook here.

In a perfect world my daughter would have a place mat, a plate, utensils on the side… all in neat order.  Well I have a toddler and it’s not a perfect world so I need Skip Hop Stay-Put Plate + Mat.  The trusted brand has designed an all inclusive eating system that will restore order at your table.  The removable plate is microwave and dishwasher safe.  The plate also features a 3 compartment design, allowing you to serve balanced meals neatly.  Of course all materials are PVC-Free, Phthalate-Free and BPA-Free.   To purchase directly from Skip Hop go here.

 Ok, I admit it, I’m a germ freak. Even if people don’t know it, I’m internally cringing when touching doorknobs and such. It just grosses me out. My daughter constantly has her hands in her mouth after running around at her school and i just have to accept that the germs are building her immune system. I love my hand sanitizers, but hate the smell and how dry they make my hands. Have you ever eaten something with your hands after applying hand sanitizer? It’s not pleasant. I recently found VMV Hypoallergenics who specialize in effective yet safe products for kids and pregnant women. Their items lack not only all cosmetic allergens, but also all 65 known allergens.

Their Grandma Minnie Mom & Baby line of products really target sensitive skins during pregnancy, lactation and uber sensitive kiddos. Personally, I’m in LOVE with their Kid Gloves Monolaurin Hand Sanitizer. Monolaurin is coconut-derived, skin-friendly, gentle-yet-powerful disinfectant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral + antiprotozoal and is clinically-proven as effective as 70% isopropyl alcohol and topical antibiotics. It also contains green tea for reparative and antioxidant benefits.

I love that instead of drying my skin out, which alcohol can do, Grandma Minnie’s Hand Sanitizer actually moisturizes and softens it. Pick yourself up some of their hand sanitizer that helps to prevent the spread of and clears existing infections.

Not all of us care for the traditional diaper bag, a big poufy pastel thing.  Sometimes it’s more practical to find a tote that has excellent storage.  But when you do that you miss out on the necessities like changing mats, diaper or wipes containers, bottle holders, etc.  Babystar is a trusted brand that we know already by their soy organic infant clothing.  How cute are those rompers? Well now they have put out a line of diaper bags and I couldn’t be more excited! These modern print totes are 18″x15″, giving you lots of room to house the million things you need for your baby.  They have made organizing easy with multiple pockets, zippered and open.  There’s also a home for baby bottles, cell phones, etc.  Included with the tote is a matching wipes case and changing pad… all FORMALDEHYDE-FREE, BPA-FREE and AZO-FREE.  These totes certainly create a happy marriage between style and functionality. Sign up for the Baby Star newsletter here.

Baby Star has extended a coupon code to In The Know Mom readers for 30% off purchases until December 31, 2009.  Enter 20twinkle09 at checkout for your instant savings! Purchase from the site here.

Baby Star also is offering one lucky reader their Rock The Tote in Daisy Chain, an $88 value. To enter, comment below telling us which Baby Star product you like best. To see the products, click here.  Want extra chances to win? Promote this giveaway on your Twitter, Facebook, Cafemom Group, or Blog. For more chances, follow Baby Star at Twitter, Facebook, and their blog, links below.  Report back with the link in a separate comment for every promotion you do.  That’s a lot of chances, Good luck!  Contest ends October 2, 2009 at Midnight PST.

Prize: ROCK THE TOTE IN DAISY CHAIN

Every child deserves a good night’s sleep. With the economy changes, natural disasters and every day misfortunes, over 298,000 families are homeless with children from birth to pre-teen. These children need and deserve essentials to help them feel secure, ready to learn and significant. Project Night Night is a charity that packages security blankets, age-appropriate children’s books and stuffed animals inside a small canvas tote for children. They donate 25,000 totes every year to these homeless children to help ease the anxiety of shelter living.

How can you help? 

• Donate gently used books, stuffed animals and new blankets to be packaged for a homeless child. Items can be dropped off at donation centers listed here.
• Organize a tote-packing fundraising party. Project Night Night will supply you with totes that cost $3.50 each. You round up your friends, blankets (new with tags, please), and gently used books and stuffed animals to fill each tote.
• Or donate money here to help underwrite the cost of a Night Night package. $20 can help change a child’s life forever.

Project Night Night helps to reduce trauma and advances the emotional and cognitive well-being of the children they help. Help encourage a child with reading, help them feel more secure with their own blanket and help by giving them a cherished new friend.

I can’t even begin to tell you all of the times I’ve taken my daughter for a walk in her stroller and had her throw her toy or sippy cup out of the stroller onto the ground. First couple of times it’s ok, after the third or fourth you begin thinking “So help me, if she throws that toy one more time, it’s going in the storage basket under the stroller.” I’ve now noticed I avoid bringing toys to street festivals that we go to or even the zoo for fear that it will be the last time we’ll see them.  The Mini Toy Wrangler by Luvloo is seriously the third arm you’ve been wishing for while out on the walks. One end of the Mini Toy Wrangler is a plastic link, the other is a velcro elastic cuff and the two are joined together by a fabric bungee.

Test Baby: She drops her toy while playing with it. Then realizes it’s attached to the Mini Toy Wrangler and then is able to grab it all by herself!

I love the versatility of the Mini Toy Wrangler. You can use either side of it depending on the width of the item you’re using it with. Some bottles and sippy cups can actually fit around the plastic ring. If they’re too big you can easily use the elastic cuff like in the picture below. Finally, you’ll be able to enjoy a meal out at a restaurant without having to bend down picking up toys every thirty seconds. You can even use it with toys on your infants car seat. I remember the days of driving Sydney and she’d be screaming that she dropped her toy and I’d have to keep saying “I’ll get it as soon as we stop at the next red light” as if she had any idea what that meant. If they get a little bit dirty, just toss them in the wash on the Gentle cycle and you’re good to go again.

Dapple Baby uses green technology to harness the power of natural ingredients, such as baking soda, to keep your home and environment a healthy one for your child.  Right off the bat I want to say that Dapple Baby products are not proven antibacterial. They work like a thorough wash though, so your baby can build up a strong immune system while enjoying clean surroundings.  Dapple uses natural ingredients to keep your baby’s area clean.  All products are Phtalate-free, paraben-free, SLES- & dye-free, and biodegradable (even the wipes).  Dapple Baby also donates both proceeds and products to family and eco-friendly causes. Once again, here’s a company that is part of the solution.

Just how many times does your baby drop their bottle on the floor while feeding?  The next time your infant fumbles the bottle, just take it to the sink and wash it with Dapple dish soap.  You can be assured that the all natural, eco-friendly soap won’t leave a harmful residue behind.  My favorite use for the Dapple dish soap has been for products my daughter puts her mouth directly on like: squeezable yogurt tubes, applesauce crushers…  I also rewash any sippies, or baby utensils that come out of the dishwasher.  Specifically made for babies and their messes, it can get rid of that smell and film that regular dish detergents can’t remove. (wuhoo)

And how many times are you out and your kid drops the one toy that is actually keeping them happy?  Is a baby wipe enough?  There’s no time to wash and rinse enough with a toxic cleaner.  Your baby is a ticking time bomb, 3, 2, 1. Don’t fret!  Whip out your Dapple toy wipes for an effective, safe clean.  And with the wipes coming in a convenient travel pack, you can keep one in your diaper bag.  Hello park playdates!

Even at home I stress about the cleaners I am using around my daughter.  I have to get that mysterious goo off of her toys, where did that even come from?  But am I using safe cleaning products for her things?  Are the cleaning products leaving a toxic residue on the toys?  I can rest assured that most everything in her room will end up her mouth eventually.  With Dapple I know that my daughter can lick any toy in there and she’s safe.  The toy cleaner comes in two convenient forms, spray and wipe. The toy cleaner can be used to not only clean toys, but everything else your kids touch (play equipment, high chairs, swings).

Dapple Baby products can be purchased at convenient stores such as: Babies-R-Us, Toys-R-Us, Bed Bath and Beyond, diapers.com.

The deadline has arrived and the winner has been picked… drum roll, please.  The winner was picked by a random number generator, picking a comment by Stacey W!  CONGRATULATIONS Stacey!

And thank you once again to Dante Beatrix for the amazing giveaway!

I’ve been searching for quite some time for environmentally friendly and non-toxic art supplies for my daughter. The frustrating part was I would find one manufacturer that made one and only one great product. That is, until I discovered Clementine Art. Their products are made from 80% post consumer recycled and reusable materials and are professional quality. They are the first line of all natural children’s art products available nationally at Whole Foods Market. Their product lines include washable paints, water-based markets, crayons, crayon ‘rocks’, scented modeling dough and washable glue.

Their products are colored with plant and mineral pigments instead of artificial dyes. Their paints won’t crack or flake and their modeling dough will never turn into a crumbled mess all over your carpet. Here’s another crazy tidbit, Celementine Art is the first art product company to list all of their ingredients on its packages. How crazy is that!!

Clementine Art was founded by Diana Mercer, a former teacher with 20 years of experience in education, arts education and child development. She knows first hand how important it is to have safe products for fear that the second you turn your back, your may child sneak a taste of one of their art supplies. She also knows that if a product doesn’t work well or isn’t vibrant enough, it won’t keep the attention of your child. Art products encourage imagination, problem solving, creativity and a way for your children to express themselves.

My daughter absolutely adores her Clementine Art Soy Crayons. The colors are extremely vibrant, no more having to press hard to get deep, rich color from the crayons. My daughter carries her crayons around with her every where she goes and has become slightly possessive over them. No, really, she’ll yell at you if you even look at them. I’ve never been so excited over art supplies for her before. Tomorrow, I’m making a special trip to Whole Foods for the Strawberry, Lemon and Lime scented modeling dough.

I recently heard about a product called Baby Silk that made SPF 30 wipes.  I was shocked, skeptical, and EXCITED.  The real kicker was that these products are manufactured by pediatrician moms.  I mean if you can’t trust them with your baby’s skin, you can’t trust anyone.  My daughter does not have incredibly sensitive skin, but something about sunscreen irritates her severely.  I’ve tried all kinds of sunscreens, finally finding a couple natural ones that don’t make her face break out in a burning rash.  But even still, I’m faced with the daunting task of applying cream all over her, avoiding her eyes and hair, all while she wriggles and squiggles.  NO THANKS.  But I live in the steaming hot desert so what do I do?

MD Moms, the miracle workers as I like to call them, have solved the equation.  Take out the messy creams and add in sweat-proof SPF 30+ Towelettes! Unbelievable.  They are dermatologist approved and award winning.  Naturally, I had to take my daughter to our neighborhood fancy resort for some fun in the sun and pool.  I grabbed her rashguard, floaties, and the towelettes and I was out the door.  At the resort, I threw my diaper tote on a bed and pulled out the towelettes.  My daughter looked confused as I wiped her whole body down with the one wipe.  (Yes, 1 wipe works for the entire body of a 2 year old.)  The towelettes left little white residue, but enough for me to be secure that they were working.  I wiped it all over her face, even over her closed eyes, and through her hair.  I was able to rub it over her scalp without making her hair one gloopy mess.  Well a couple hours later she looked great, no signs of sun at all.  I couldn’t believe they worked!  I felt like a doubting Thomas having brought my back up sunscreen bottle.  Here she is happy (and singing).

My complete love affair with the SPF towelettes aside, MD Moms has many other fantastic products for everyday baby care.  The all purpose Cleansing Towelettes are wonderful and have the best smell I’ve ever smelled on a wipe.  They are strong and durable and I’d never go back to previous brands I’ve used.  These towelettes have a powerful cocktail of ingredients including: marine silk, vitamin E and B5, organic aloe, ginger and chamomile.  They not only clean but nourish your baby’s skin. Md Moms Moisturizing Balm is also fantastic.  The smell, once again, is gloriously fresh and the consistency is great.  It’s silky and moisturizing unlike some baby lotions that are sticky and thin.  It’s lightweight and is absorbed easily into the skin.  With ingredients such as shea butter, aloe, oat, avocado oil, and olive oil, you know this is one powerful moisturizer.  To help your skin naturally defend itself from the elements, it contains antioxidant vitamins E and B5, and grapeseed oil.

Go now to MD MOMS and buy some Baby Silk products.  It’s the smart thing to do for your baby.  If you order 6 or more products, enter LOVEYOU at checkout for 25% off your order.

Hi there.  I’m Neil.  I’ll be your bartender this evening.  What’s it gonna be?

This week’s drink is a very simple version of a popular classic.  Guys, listen up. If you think you’re going to give that special someone a Bud Light mug filled with vodka from a plastic jug splashed with cranberry juice, think again.  I mean she’s already starting to wonder what she was thinking coming over in the first place.  Let’s not belabor the point, shall we?  Here’s an easy way to impress her, and yes, even you can do it.

APPLETINI

* 1 measure apple schnapps (apple pucker does nicely)
* 1 measure apple juice ( Simply Apple is what sets this drink apart, but any apple juice will do.  If you prefer a clear drink, a white apple juice is nice)
* 1 1/2 measure vodka (an apple infused version is clearly tastier, but any quality brand is ok)

Combine apple schnapps, apple juice, and vodka in a shaker over ice.  Shake vigorously and pour into a frosty martini glass.  Garnish with some thin green apple slices.  Like I said,  simple.  Pay attention here, and she may just come by again.

Stop by next week for another adult time out beverage.

Back when I lived in Chicago, my girlfriend Michelle and I would regularly plan days where we’d schedule pedicures, order up bloody mary’s and then head down to Lincoln Park to do some boutique shopping. I remember the day we discovered Lush. We walked in the door and immediately fell in love with their handmade products.  We spent more time than they probably wanted smelling and testing the different products out.  

Fall is my favorite season and I love changing out my summer products for more earthy scented ones that are slightly more nourishing for my skin. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite products from Lush with you that compliment my favorite time of year.

Not only does LUSH’s Figs and Leaves Soap scream ”FALL” from it’s appearance, but it both smells and feels like it as well. One edge of the soap is covered in fallen leaves and the earthy colored soap is packed with aloe vera and fig seeds for gentle exfoliation.  The smell is extremely calming to me and I love the way my skin smells after my shower. I guarantee that once you try this soap, you’ll always have an extra bar hidden in your bathroom at all times.

All of LUSH’s thick body creams come in black pots, lighter ones are packaged in bottles. Each item they create comes labeled with a sticker showing the friendly face of the actual person who packaged that item along with a “best when used before” date. I don’t know why, but I just mentally feel at ease seeing that. Everyone knows that products go bad after a while, but how long is that?? LUSH actually tells you when it was made and bottled and when to use it by. For our Vegan readers, you can easily see the Vegan products when browsing through the different categories on their site and you’ll be happy to see that almost all their products are Vegan.

Their Vanilla Delite Body Lotion is light but still penetrates into your skin leaving it fragrant and soft. It’s made with light oils and butters – including Hawaiian tamanu and monoi – organic coconut water. For a girl who typically remains faithful to her thick butter lotions, I have to admit, I’ve been using this lotion every day.

Another absolute favorite addition to the Fall Must Have body products list is Lush’s Creamed Almond And Coconut Smoothie. Don’t be fooled by the name, it smells like jasmine and ylang ylang, vanilla and labdanum versus it’s scent. It’s named after the moisturizing body oils contained inside. It’s packaged in the most adorable twist off container similar to that of ice cream. I have to say this was me going outside of my box a little. I’m used to either soap or shower gels. You literally scoop out the smoothie soap out of the container and lather it on. It’s such a refreshing and fun addition to my shower routine and I’m completely sold on the smoothie concept now!

Last, but definitely not least is Lush’s Smitten hand cream. Packaged in the same adorable twist off container as their Smoothies, Smitten is an almond scented deep moisturizing hand cream. It’s thick and creamy without being greasy. I love to use this after I’ve finished getting ready so I can enjoy sniffing it on my hands and then again before I go to bed. I love using a thick moisturizer on my hands and feet before I go to bed. You always wake up with the softest skin! Once you try this delicious cream, you’ll be absolutely Smitten! The name says it all.

I have to admit I wasn’t a fan of “baby wearing” when my daughter was young.  I really dislike that term “baby wearing”.  Anyways, the reason why I didn’t like to wear my daughter is because it KILLED my back.  I’m not built like a linebacker so I can’t have a baby hanging from my shoulders.  Being a new mom with little to zero friends with babies, I didn’t know about all the options available.  I thought there was BabyBjorn front carrier and that’s it.  As my daughter grew, so did my knowledge of baby carriers.  I realized there was a veritable cornucopia of baby carriers, slings, and wraps.   Once I found a couple slings that were top quality, I was sold.  The sling style carrier makes much more sense to me, distributing your baby’s weight from shoulder to hip.  Women naturally carry their babies on their hip.

I had the pleasure of testing out the Roundhouse Baby Carrier this week.  Since the weight limit is a whopping 35 lbs, I threw my 2 year old in there.  Once I configured her in the hip carrying position, it was like she didn’t even exist.  I could have walked around all day with her in that carrier.  The best part is that she LOVED being in there and being a “baby” again. The padded shoulder area is very comfortable and totally adjustable.

The carrier is very spacious and adaptable, allowing for 6 different positions: cradle carry, upright cradle carry, facing in (belly to belly), kangagoo carry, side carry, and hip carry.  Roundhouse Baby Carrier has brought two worlds together: the comfort and ease of use of a sling, with the adjustability and security of a front carrier.  With the carrier being so spacious, it can double as a nursing shield.

My experience with the carrier:

Swallowing a vitamin or other nutrients in pill or liquid form require the product to undergo quite a journey before they are fully digested into your body. Most of the time, the process is so taxing that our bodies eliminate some of the nutrients before we absorb them. Sprayology has created a revolutionary product where vitamins are sprayed into the mouth, under the tongue. When sprayed under the tongue, they are absorbed right into the bloodstream, eliminating the standard metabolic process. All of the formulas made by Sprayology are designed in FDA approved laboratories by expert medical doctors and homeopaths. They currently have 20 homeopathic FDA regulated sprays and four vitamin sprays.

I asked my mom to try out the B-12 + Folic Acid spray, the Energy Vitamin. Clearly I didn’t realize what I was giving away because I’m constantly battling to keep my eyes open at any given moment. I wanted to give this spray the test of a lifetime with my 60 year old mother. I showed her how it worked (she swore it tasted like apples) and she took it home with her. A few short hours later she was deep cleaning the house and standing on a chair scrubbing her two chandeliers!!! She called me up ecstatic over the vitamin. She said a couple of days ago, she realized later in the day that she was seriously missing some of her gusto. She put two and two together and realized that she had forgotten to use her B-12 + Folic Acid spray. She grabbed the spray and within minutes, she was feeling peppy again. Not only does this vitamin give you energy, but it metabolizes fats and carbohydrates while helping maintain healthy nerve tissue and protecting you from anemia and heart disease. My mom was so impressed with her Sprayology vitamin, she’s already ordered four additional formulas!!

I’m one of those pathetic saps that when I come into contact with something I’m allergic to, I’m instantly plagued with a runny nose, itchy eyes and the awful 30 sneezes in 4 second intervals. We recently flip flopped our daughter’s room with our guest room and had to take apart the guest bed. I swear, I never saw an ounce of dust, but my nose obviously did. I went into a major allergy attack. YEAY, (not very often someone is excited for an allergy attack) I get to try out the AllergEase spray. I kid you not, moments after using it, I was instantly relieved. I love that it’s gentle enough for even children over the age of two to use.

Sarah: I have been diagnosed with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) and suffer from constant anxiety.  There are lots of natural steps to take I’ve found: staying very hydrated, physical exercise, fresh and healthy foods, breathing techniques.  But sometimes that just isn’t enough.  I was sent and have been using the Stress Relief spray on my very anxious days (2 sprays 3 times a day) and I am a believer.  The Stress Relief can even be used in a lower dosage for kids 2-12.  It’s sad, but a reality today is that a lot of kids are stressed out from their demanding responsibilities and challenges. Stress Relief combines homeopathic ingredients to temporarily relieve feelings of stress, nervousness, mood swings and irritability. This fast-acting restorative treatment contains 8 natural ingredients such as passiflora (passion flower) to calm nerves; avena (oats) to ease nervousness; cinchona (cinchona plant) to reduce mood swings; and valeriana (valerian root) to treat irritability.

I also have been a guinea pig for the Party Relief and I must say I’m impressed!  Prior to drinking, I spray a couple sprays under my tongue.  After a couple cocktails, I spray a couple sprays under my tounge and I’m good to go to bed.  (I also recommend only drinking high quality liquor, lots of water, and the Daily Multi vitamin spray.)  Party Relief combines 12 natural Ingredients to relieve the symptoms of alcohol-related discomfort including headache and dehydration, upset stomach, nausea, sluggish feeling and liver toxicity. Some ingredients include; carbo animalis (activated charcoal) for headache; teraxacum officinale (dandelion plant) for upset stomach and nausea. Carduus marianus (st.mary’s thistle) for abuse of alcoholic beverages, especially beer and also helps to protect the liver. Capsicum annum (red or chilly pepper) for the sluggish and feeble digestion. Avena Sativa (oats) for the sluggish and sexual incapacity from excessive alcohol intake

Sprayology is offering a 15% discount for our ITKM readers. After you’ve decided on your favorite vitamin and homeopathic sprays, call 800-377-5787 and mention discount code SPRAY15.