Green Treehouse

Have you ever wanted to share your contact info with another hip mama at the playground, but couldn’t because you didn’t have a pen in the diaper bag? Well, pen and paper is now old school thanks to funky Mommy Cards. Similar to professional business cards, Mommy Cards feature your pre-printed contact information, like your name and mobile number.

While pulling out a mom card scores serious points in the coolness department, the fun and practicality doesn’t stop there. A number of card vendors produce eco-friendly Mommy Cards–some at totally affordable prices–or free!

If you’re looking for a classy, eco-chic gift idea for a new or expectant mommy, personalized mommy cards attached to a BabyEarth gift certificate will surely put a lasting smile on her face.

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One of my favorite summer activities is watching my little ones draw on concrete with sidewalk chalk. It melts my heart to see a colorful, elementary stick person figure–you know, the kind with arms coming out of the head–drawn on the ground for the world to see.

It’s not just my own children’s sidewalk art that makes me smile. Today, for instance, I walked along a concrete path through a playground which was plastered with rainbow chalk art. There’s something magical in seeing the artwork, knowing the effort that was put into it, and enjoying it–however briefly–before it disappears forever along with the next rain.

If you’re looking for an outdoor activity that will entertain little children for hours, don’t underestimate the value of sidewalk chalk. And, don’t forget, you can do more with chalk than simply draw images. Your imagination is the limit when it comes to what you can make with sidewalk chalk. Here are five ideas to get you and your children started:

1. Draw a hopscotch game and play with your children.
2. Draw a play town, including roads, bridges, and buildings. Enjoy watching your children race toy cars along the colorful streets.
3. Trace your children. Let them trace you. Trace feet and hands. Use the tracings to talk about shapes and sizes.
4. Play tic-tac-toe.
5. Take photographs of your children’s sidewalk art to remember it long after the rain washes it away.

Have other ideas? Leave a comment here and share your ideas with other parents!

A baby just might be the perfect excuse for jumpstarting a green lifestyle. In case you missed it, check out Austin’s KEYE-TV segment, Go Green for Your Baby, which discusses biodegradable diapers and eco-friendly baby products and features BabyEarth staff, including Founder and Baby Green Expert, Heather Bendle and Director of Communications and Green Mom, Cathy Hale. For additional eco-friendly parenting ideas, check out KEYE-TV’s Go Green Tips for parents.

As is evident from KEYE-TV’s informative video clip, parents have eco-friendly options when it comes to choosing products for their families, and it’s possible to make consumer choices that are in sync with the environment. It’s also clear from this clip that BabyEarth staff are indeed Baby Green Experts. So, if you have green product questions, they have answers! Way to go BabyEarth!

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If you think an advanced degree may be required to decipher the growing number of eco-friendly labels, you’re not alone. Take for instance, organic vs. natural. They mean the same, right? Not quite.

Organic generally refers to production, manufacturing and handling of food or materials using certified “organic” (think stringent, without chemicals) standards. For example, when you’re talking about food or clothing, “organic” refers to how the ingredients are grown. Natural generally refers to how a food or product is processed. For example, a natural label implies that the product is not chemically altered or synthesized. A food that contains organic ingredients is not necessarily natural, and a food that is natural is not necessarily organic.

Why does organic or natural matter? There are many reasons, but a key reason has to do with human and environmental health. Food and clothing made without chemicals, or with less intensive processes, means less exposure to potentially harmful chemicals–it also means preservation of resources (e.g., energy). Reduced exposure to chemicals explains in part the growing push and demand for organic products, like organic baby clothes and bedding. Less exposure to potentially harmful chemicals may just mean better health, for longer.

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Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.

Moms, may your day be special!

Dads or fathers-to-be, there's still time to grab an e-gift certificate for that special mom (or mom-to-be) in your life!

Until recently when my child started attending birthday parties with VIP regularity, I didn’t realize how many parents have such strong feelings about birthday goodie (a.k.a. goody) bags. For many parents, it’s not the idea of giving kids goodie bags when they leave a birthday party that stirs the pot (although for some that is the issue). It’s what’s in those bags. Like ever popular small, choking-hazard, plastic, breakable, disposable trinkets.

If you’re planning a birthday party and looking for less contentious, eco-friendly alternatives to the traditional goodie bag, check out these cool picks.

Twig Pencils. Kids adore these pencils! Find them at Willow Tree Toys.

Chunky Sidewalk Chalk. Alex makes packages of four jumbo chalks with holders to keep little hands clean.

Mini Terracotta Pots & Seeds. Find mini pots at craft stores. Give seeds or a pre-potted small plant. As a party activity, kids will have a blast decorating the planter.

Have other ideas? Leave a comment and share your Eco-Friendly Goodie Bag Alternatives here!

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Want to make Diaper Duty a little sweeter on Mother’s Day? The gift of a designer diaper bag might just do the trick. Check out these fabulous finds:

Bumble Bags. Imagine a stylish looking bag that converts to a shoulder bag, backpack, or messenger (across the chest) bag. That’s what you’ll find with Bumble Bags Diaper Bags. These popular bags also fit over stroller handle bars, so mom can finally get the rest she’s been dreaming about!

Skip Hop Duo Double Diaper Bag. The perfect bag for a busy mom of multiples. Everything fits! This bag is designed to easily hang on a double stroller. Want something smaller? Check out the Skip Hop Duo.

Fleurville Escape Pod. The name says it all. What mom doesn’t need a simple, compact designer bag for that quick little escape? Easily fits a small stash of diapers and wipes. Fleurville is now offering a line of green diaper bags, too.

If you can’t get your hands on tickets to those hot celebrity style, kid-friendly dance parties–like Baby Loves Disco, which transforms popular night clubs into kid-proof dance playgrounds–or you live too far away from the club scene, why not throw your own party at home?

While you’re rockin’ out to your favorite tunes, don’t forget about baby. Save the classic lullabies for bedtime. Check out these hot kid tunes:

1. Rockabye Baby! Rockabye Baby has won iParenting Media awards and offers kid-approved renditions of Green Day, U2, Led Zeppelin, among other artists. Rockabye Baby renditions were recently listed as one of new celeb baby Harlow’s (Nicole Richie) favorite things in People.

2. Baby Jamz. Solange Knowles’ voice transforms traditional nursery rhymes into “jump up and down” and get “wiggly” hip-hop songs. My toddler LOVES his Baby Jamz CD! This is one of those rare CDs that just doesn’t ever seem to get annoying.

3. Mother Goose Rocks! Mother Goose Rocks transforms Top 20 hits into totally entertaining kid music, like Mulberry Bush by Gwen Stuffunny (a.k.a. Gwen Stefani). I’ve yet to meet a kid–or parent–who doesn’t love these songs.

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On Earth Day 2008, baby-Wise officially relaunched as BabyEarth! BabyEarth offers one of the largest selections of baby products on the planet. BabyEarth is the only site you need to visit for everything baby. Plus, the site is eye candy–filled with beautiful images and thoughtful descriptions for new and expecting parents. Check it out here.

Looking for a creative nursery theme? What about bugs? That’s the theme I would have picked for my little guy had I known just a wee bit earlier that he would come to love bugs. He loved bugs so much as a baby and toddler that he used to fall asleep with Margaret Wise Brown’s book I Like Bugs tucked in next to him.

The bug theme is simply adorable for a boy or girl. Plus, you can spin off so many cute nicknames for baby-to-be–hmmm…buggy, snuggle-bug, ladybug. If you’re looking for baby bug nursery paraphernalia or theme inspiration, check out these luscious bug washcloths by Little Twig to get your creative juices flowing.

Have a creative theme to share with other readers who are seeking nursery theme inspiration?

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