Take Me Away to Maho Bay
Already longing for your next vacation? Today, Sarah shares a tropical vacation that’s proven fun, eco-friendly, and affordable for her family of four:
I’m not really a cold-weather person. In my humble opinion, once the holidays have come and gone, it could go right ahead and get on to spring. However, seeing as New England clearly isn’t in on my plan, I have only one recourse: a tropical vacation. And amazingly, I found the perfect solution that allows my family of four to spend a week in the Caribbean without completely breaking the bank.
Though I always remember my reusable totes when I hit the grocery store, produce bags are another story. I save plastic produce bags with the best intentions, but they never make it back to the store with me. Solution? The pretty, fabric trimmed, cinch-top produce bags by
As the mom of a sock-resistant child in a “no shoes” house (a rule stemming from my Asian upbringing and immense distaste for increased need to vacuum), slippers are a must. And if you want cute slippers for kids and grownups, check out
I’m all about useful, meaningful, and green goods, and one of my favorite finds for the school-aged set (and their parents) comes from
Looking to take dress up play to a fun, new, and eco-friendly level? Today,
April Paffrath is one of the most devoted foodies I know. No taste is too simple, no ingredient too humble. And when you read her writing, you can tell how much she relishes preparing, tasting, and writing about food. April is a regular contributor here on Boston Mamas, but today I’m thrilled to introduce her via her voice on
It's no secret that I’m a bit obsessed with kids wearing properly fitting, comfy shoes. And what I dig about
Though I’m not worried about aging per se, at some point during the last decade I started listening to my mother’s advice to stop sunning and start taking better care of my skin. I’ve heard a lot of people extol the virtues of Arbonne (including a few girlfriends with lovely, creamy skin...), but it wasn’t until late in the summer that I started using
I’ve always been a fan of the diaper bag that doesn’t look like a diaper bag, and if you share that aesthetic, you’ll no doubt dig the modern simplicity of
Whether her nails are exposed during summer or concealed by socks and mittens during winter, Laurel loves having her nails painted; she typically wants at least four colors in one sitting. Subsequently, I only use non-toxic products and am a fan of
I have long been a fan of
Despite my clean approach to food, I still periodically long for – but abstain from – classic (i.e., preservative laden) childhood confections. So I was more than a little intrigued to learn about
Davis Square’s bargain retail profile recently kicked it up a notch with the addition of
Like most parents, I periodically lament over packing lunch and snack, especially when we’re low on fresh produce. Having a stash of
If you’re looking for ways to improve the eco-friendliness of your diapering routine, consider the bamboo baby wipes and diaper rash ointment by locally operated
Today,
Today, guest contributor Robin shares a review of cloth diapering covers and doublers from
My mom and I never discussed birds, bees, or any other metaphorical critters, so it’s not surprising that I was completely unprepared when my period started. I’m thus committed to educating Laurel
Yesterday I was honored to speak about
For those who desire organic play dough but don’t have the time or interest to
Today,
Today,
As an eco-geek who truly believes that every little environmental effort counts, I also can’t help but stand in awe and admiration of those who take eco-activism to a new level of awesomeness. And as you outfit your family for fall footwear, consider supporting
When it comes to toys, I always opt for wood over plastic, both for eco reasons and because I admire those who do woodcraft on any scale. And if you’re looking for unique wooden baby toys, consider
I’m forgetful about plenty of things these days, but one thing I’m reliably mindful about is recycling and toting my reusable bags to market. And if you need to stock up on eco-wares, check out
I love the comfort of cotton but often times want something with a little more pop than a basic tee. And if you dig fine prints with a touch of urban edginess, check out
This may sound a little odd, but having diapered Laurel with basic rectangular
Crafts and toys typically occupy separate real estate in stores and playrooms, but
Today,
One of the things I love about weekends is restoring a sense of order to our home after a busy (typically rather untidy) week. And purging is one of my favorite mechanisms to achieve said order. Appropriately then, for the first installment of my new
Once again there’s no shortage of festivals this weekend; consider these family friendly picks to suit a variety of interests and locations. On Saturday:
Today,
Today,
Today,
Thankfully for those eager to celebrate green living alongside great music, the skies are supposed to clear for this Saturday's
I’ll be the first to admit that cleaning is not among my top priorities these days, but hand me new eco-friendly cleaning products and I'll roll my sleeves right up to start scrubbing, hoping upon hope to discover that the eco stuff can live up to the non eco stuff. And this was, in fact, the case when I got my hands on
On Laurel’s first birthday my friend Anne gave us art supplies and a box of
I’ve 
One of my favorite time and energy savers these days is store-bought rotisserie chicken. I don’t need to remember to prep and bake it (perfect, since there’s no way I’m turning the oven on today…), my kitchen is saved from pan dripping smoke, and the chicken is ridiculously versatile. Today, I’m sharing our latest favorite usage of rotisserie chicken: fast and fantastically yummy chicken pesto salad.
Happy Earth Day everyone! Wherever you are with your green practices, I hope you’ll consider making a green change today, whether it’s
If you love the ease of boxed cake mixes and desire all natural ingredients, fear not - you can have your cake and eat it too. Today,
As someone who likes things to be just so (yet periodically frets about permanence), I can’t help but love
Laurel used to paint voraciously as a toddler, but in the last year or so she has tended towards passing up her paintbrushes for other tools; that is, until she discovered
Whether you’re just starting to explore or already are immersed in green initiatives, no doubt there's plenty to learn at
Today,
Detangling Laurel’s hair can be one of the most challenging parts of our morning routine; she has very fine hair that’s prone to bird nesting in the back overnight, and chopping off length (short of a buzz cut...) doesn’t solve the problem. So I set out on a mission to identify effective natural and organic kids hair detanglers. Read on for my report, which also includes some discount shopping codes and a Goody giveaway!
This weekend we met friends for lunch in Wellesley, at what possibly is one of the most family friendly restaurants I’ve been to in some time –
During this seemingly endless winter, why not think green thoughts? And tomorrow (Thurs., March 5), you can think and learn green at
Now that our
If you’re like me, and periodically (accidentally) make off with another kid’s lunchbox at school pickup, check out
I adore clever green solutions, and here’s a fabulously chic pick to encourage shopping local. 
If there’s one lesson I've learned from my mom, it’s that it’s never too early to start caring for your skin. And today we offer a little something for the daddies who read this site (yes, daddies apparently read this site) and/or the women who like to gift them.
Despite the glorious weather of the last couple of days, no doubt there’s more winter in store. Today,
In an ideal world, I’d make everything from scratch, but often – not surprisingly – time is an issue. But the one thing I never, ever compromise on is granola. Store bought granola has never suited me (too sweet, not clumpy enough, skimpy on nuts and fruit, etc.), and the good news is that granola is super easy to make at home. I made
Given that Laurel was born in the Year of the Monkey, I've always had a soft spot for simian styled products. So it’s no wonder that I adore
Today,
For parents who don’t have the time to cook and puree baby food from scratch, organic jarred food is a blessing. And our next installment of Giveaway Goodness is well suited to the need to offer baby a varied palette. Now through the end of March, Earth’s Best is hosting a
I used to have a love-hate relationship with laundry, but these days it’s all love thanks to
I’m always looking for ways to improve our green living practices, and was pleased to see Bon Appétit’s February 2009 feature on
Laurel’s life is captured in many ways, but when I want to take a walk down memory lane I invariably gravitate towards her baby book (handmade by an artist friend) above the scores of digital photos and videos. If you’re looking for a similarly beautiful, tactile, and practical way to record memories, check out
Short on time this holiday season? Today,
Got an eco-minded mama to gift this holiday season? The limited edition
Does your kiddo have sensitive skin? Today,
Laurel has an insatiable appetite for arts and crafts, and as she's grown more dexterous we’ve had fun experimenting with more complex projects. If you’re also looking to explore beyond crayon and paper parameters, check out
In these challenging economic and environmental times, consider
Given that Laurel - much like mom - gets insanely grumpy when she’s hungry, I always try to tote a snack when we’re on the go. So I was thrilled to learn about
Welcome to
As much as I love summer, I’m always relieved when fall arrives and I no longer need to slather Laurel in sunscreen. The task is completely necessary, but nobody enjoys it. Even after summer, though, skin protection is important and I love the nifty little shortcut that
Today,
One of my favorite things about fall is the return of snuggly jammies, and
We've long been fans of cloth – whether in the form of diapers, napkins, or handkerchiefs – so it’s no surprise that I love the concept of
On Tuesday I attended Seventh Generation & the Environmental Working Group’s
Whenever I see Laurel’s stack of bland, misshapen, undersized receiving blankets, I wonder how we survived her swaddling months. It’s no wonder those busy feet kept busting out of her burrito, and I certainly would have enjoyed prettier patterns. Luckily, for moms looking to swaddle in style there’s
Here’s an event that eco-parents will want to try to attend: on Tuesday, Oct. 14 (6-7:30pm),
The forecast is putting a wrench in this weekend's outdoor events, but let’s keep our fingers crossed for good weather on Sunday, when
Today,
Today,
Whether through books, toys, clothing, or gear, I’m always on the lookout for cool kid’s products that will inspire conversations about – or simply reflect the beauty of – diverse cultures. And
Today,
Today,
The skort concept isn’t just handy for jungle gym climbing tots. Whether you’re hitting the yoga studio, hiking trail, or local barista, you’ll be cute, concealed, and eco-conscious in the
In our house, talk of fall inevitably leads to talk of Halloween, which leads to my fretting over ways to enhance Laurel’s costume for warmth on what's typically a very chilly and spooky night. Luckily, there's a super cute and functional solution from
It’s never too early to start incorporating green habits into your routine, and babies – with their perfect, delicious skin – offer excellent inspiration to live naturally. To get you started, today,
One byproduct of toting reusable grocery bags is that we - thankfully - are free of that landslide of plastic shopping bags in our pantry. But it also means we no longer have those bags for toting Laurel’s soggy swimsuits. No matter - far more stylish storage is available.
For a cultured alternative to the typical “A is for Apple” learning model, check out
The days are longer; the bedtimes are later. And come tomorrow, you and the kids can wile away the summer hours in green fashion at
Given that kids dig shapes and animals, and modern parents are hungry for stylish simplicity, the designs at
My friend Nooshi is amazing at identifying a cool party theme then really running with it. A couple of weekends ago she threw a marvelous Messy Party for her son’s third birthday and the party was unbelievably fun and beautifully creative. Here’s a run down of how she made it all happen:
When it comes to cloth diaper services, there’s a real supply and demand problem in the Boston area. But now there’s good news for parents who live south of the city. Sweet Pea Diaper Service is live as of this month and will swap out your soiled diapers for fresh ones for $21 - 26 per week depending on your diaper plan. Serving families in Norfolk and Bristol counties (plus parts of Rhode Island), we’re thrilled to welcome this new business as it meets both local and global needs.
For the past year we’ve been sharing in our neighbor’s
One pragmatic plus of having a daughter is dresses, which create a cute look instantly and make frequent changes a cinch. And if you share my love for simple, elegant, comfy, and good for the planet, check out the chic offerings at green boutique
Welcome to the 2nd installment of
Looking for a natural craft dough, but don’t have the time to
Want to foster your child's love for learning letters while supporting a local, eco-conscious mamapreneur? Today,
Despite the fact that the only bike I ever owned was stolen 2 days (1 blissful ride) after I bought it, I still hold out hope that one day I’ll ride again. Meanwhile, this Sunday (June 8), those with wheels can join the Bikes Not Bombs
In my opinion, every day is Earth Day, and if you love naturalistic homages to animals as much as I do, check out the amazing
For those who wish to roll into Sunday with yours truly, tune in to WERS 88.9 FM’s
We talk a lot about tea sets and tea parties in our house (what with all the repeated reads of
As grateful as I was for my first cookware set, I distinctly remember Jon and my later disdain – sometime before the Teflon safety scare actually - when we looked at the set's scratches and thought about all of the little Teflon flakes we likely had ingested over time. We’ve since stuck with stainless steel or cast iron, but recently have enjoyed
Today,
As someone for whom the word Clorox tends to elicit middle school memories of fad-driven bleached denim experiments, imagine my surprise when I learned that the makers of Clorox products were rolling out a natural cleaning line. And happily, these green goods deliver. Plant and mineral based, biodegradable, and petrochemical-free, the
I think people who love hosting parties inherently have a bit of control freak in them. That’s certainly the case for me anyway; I think a lot about assembling a good mix of people, food, and drink, I inevitably fret over the RSVPs, and I want everything to look perfect yet effortless. And last week, at my
Mamas need to stick together, and former New Yorker Erin Brennan Allan and Nairobi native Mary Wambui are helping women do just that through
As much as I love the convenience of online shopping, I also firmly believe in supporting the local economy, particularly when the offerings are fabulous and eco-minded. Today,
If you’re looking to streamline your laundry routine and your imprint on the planet, check out
Ticketed outings were far and few between when I was a kid (given the family head count of 9), so I have a firm place in my heart for the
It only makes sense to recycle quickly outgrown kiddie goods, and lucky for Boston parents,
It’s amazing how donning quality fabrics can improve your posture and relax your breath, and those attributes come in particularly handy when you’re baby wearing. To inspire good form, check out
Coconut scents can go terribly wrong (think overpowering suntan lotion), but sumbody’s
No matter your age, there’s something undeniably comforting about cozying up under a great blanket. And for a petite yet inclusive collection of cashmere/silk and – get this – bamboo blankets for all ages, check out
It’s never too late to make a resolution to go green, and whether you’re new to eco efforts or are an avid recycler, check out