MamAnomolie

We all want to use the safest products for our wee ones, but who has the time to research all of the products out there and find out which ones are free of BPA, PVC, and other potentially harmful chemicals? Thanks to the hard work of the folks over at SafeMama, now you don't have to!

in 2007, Kathy Scoleri was a mom like the rest of us who was totally overwhelmed by having to research safety issues for the products she was purchasing. Not only did she do her research, but she also decided to start SafeMama to help other parents who were also in search of the safest options out there. Kathy, from one mother to another, let me just say THANK YOU!

My favorite part of the SafeMama web site is the cheat sheets. They make it so easy to find all of the information you need in one place on a single topic. I wanted to get some teethers for Sophie, but didn't want her putting things in her mouth that were full of BPA or phthalates. I went to SafeMama's BPA-Free Pacifiers and Teethers Cheat Sheet and immediately had a list of available options from a source that I trust. Over the past few days, I've been checking out the cheat sheet covering dishes and utensils in preparation for Sophie beginning solid foods.

There are more than 20 cheat sheets on the SafeMama site. This is a resource, like the Cosmetic Safety Database, that I will keep going back to. You rock, SafeMama! Now, if you could just create a cheat sheet on putting babies down for a nap, all will be right with the world.

There are some blogs that I follow simply to be inspired. Clean is one of those blogs. How can you not be inspired by what is described by the author as "your (crafty, organic, bubble-filled) happy place?" Clean is the blog from LuSa Organics, makers of baby, mama and body care products in Viroqua, Wisconsin and is written by Rachel Wolf.

Be forewarned - Rachel, like Beth Terry over at Fake Plastic Fish which I mentioned in my last post - lives a green lifestyle to the nth degree. Maybe everyone else out there is not like me and doesn't start comparing themselves and their efforts to other people, but just in case you are like me, don't compare yourself to Rachel. It will only leave you feeling uncrafty, bubbleless and sad. Instead, learn to do what I have done, and use her amazing work for your own inspiration.

Clean follows Rachel and her family on their everyday adventures. Now, "everyday adventures" could really mean anything, but these people really have adventures every day. Rachel shares her lessons as she homeschools her two children, invites us into her kitchen as she cooks, provides countless ideas and tutorials for sewing, knitting and other crafty projects, lets us tag along as she explores nature as well as her small town community. She has a way of describing her days that allow you to feel the connectedness and presentness that she fosters in her life. To be honest, the photographs that she takes and uses in her blog are reason enough to visit!

As I settle into motherhood, I am learning not to compare myself to others so much, to focus on the present and to enjoy the inspiration and joy that is all around. The Clean blog is definitely an inspirational source. I even dreamed the other night that we went to visit Viroqua and really tag along on a few adventures. In my dream we rescued baby owls, had to climb into Rachel's home through tree roots and, once inside, I was so impressed by her kitchen which had craft activities ready to go hanging on the pegboard walls. All of these things were creations of my own subconscious imagination, but Clean is full of stories and adventures with just as much whimsy, passion and charm. Check it out here!

When you are pregnant, you'll find that friends, acquaintances and even complete strangers will offer you advice on pregnancy and parenting. People seem to feel comfortable saying things that they would not normally think is appropriate. Like when a woman who works in my building told me that I was becoming "S-shaped."

As for the advice, a good friend of mine and mother of a one-year-old told me that it's best to just say, "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," even if you vehemently disagree. I have found this to be a very useful phrase, and have even used it on her from time to time. Overall, I have been enjoying hearing people's perspectives and ideas.

So, for you pregnant ladies out there, although I know you're being bombarded with advice, I thought I would share a few resources that I found recently and thought were helpful. The first is from the folks at the Environmental Working Group. They actually sent it to me in a comment to one of my previous blogs about their work. I was (a) flabbergasted that someone else was reading this and (b) impressed that they took the time to write and share more resources. I thought their 10 Healthy Pregnancy Tips were great. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the number of things you have to worry about when you're pregnant, but this list seemed manageable. It also provided a lot of resources to help you act should you so choose. Thanks, EWG!

The second resource comes from Rachel Wolf of LuSa Organics and her blog, Clean. I met Rachel once a LONG time ago when I was in graduate school in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She is one of those amazing people who live a life that I admire but know I could never emulate. I love reading her blog, and figure if I can take away just a smidgen of the organic, handmade, non-consumeristic vibe and apply it to my own life I'm doing well.

A friend of mine who introduced me to her blog told me about the New Baby Checklist that had been posted and said it had a good list of what newborns and new mamas really needed. I must admit, the first thing out of my mouth was, "It doesn't tell me to grow and collect almonds to grind into my own homemade postpartum belly paste, does it?" She promised that it did not. I checked out the checklist, and I suggest all you pregnant people out there check it out as well. It was created for a wide audience. It may lack some things that you think are must-haves, but when you are overwhelmed by the amount of stuff that is out there for new babies and new parents, it's great to see a scaled down list of what you really need. It's worth taking a look, and the Clean blog is definitely a great source of inspiration for anyone!

One of my favorite blogs for lots of great, green information is called the Alternative Consumer. It features green news and product reviews, and the folks who work there are just plain witty. How else can I find myself laughing at an article on global climate change? With titles like, "U.N.: 2000-2009 Likely the Warmest Decade on Record - Glenn Beck says their thermometer was broken," you can't help but giggle. Whether you're interested in alternative energy or green fashion, the Alternative Consumer offers a little bit of everything in a short, to-the-point format. Take a look see for yourself!