Helping the environment one candle at a time!

A Shameless Plug...
I just wanted to share with you a little about my newest business venture this evening. It doesn't hurt to mention it... and everyone loves candles! Right? I feel like I'm a mom on a mission!
I just joined an All-Natural Gourmet Candle business opportunity. I've always loved candles, but have only recently become more aware of the toxicity of burning paraffin wax. Most candles fill a room with toxic, carcinogenic smoke and soot. In fact, burning paraffin candles releases many of the same toxins as diesel fuel.
Here's a little background info on the process of making paraffin wax. It begins at the bottom of an oil barrel (the worst 5% or so that has been rejected by the gasoline industry). This by-product of crude oil is then mixed with another less-than-enticing substance known as industrial strength bleach. This is what gives wax its pleasant whiteness. As if that weren't enough, they then add stearic acid and a few other minor ingredients, and you have the very wax burning in most of your homes. Shocking isn't it?!
As soon as I became aware of these harmful toxins being released by paraffin wax I didn't want to expose my friends, family, or children to it anymore. That's why I was thrilled when I discovered an alternative non-toxic wax which is made from ingredients such as vegetables and other natural, renewable sources. It's entirely non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. It also burns practically soot free and it smells better than ANY candle I have ever smelled! Honestly!
The clean glass and absence of black soot on the inside of the candle-holder is definitely comforting, when it is considered that this soot is the same substance being breathed when a paraffin candle is burned.
Note: Many soy waxes are not what they seem to be. The law only mandates a small percentage of the wax to be soy-based in order to be called soy wax. Therefore many soy waxes are still made mostly of paraffin.
There are also many other benefits of using these delicious smelling organic candles. Apart from being a healthy alternative to paraffin, the scents smell true-to-life from top to bottom, and they burn SLOW and EVEN too (retaining their fragrance stronger and longer).
Last but not least, using these all natural waxes supports a renewable U.S. resource rather than an imported, limited oil supply. Let's support our U.S. farmers! Please visit my Organic Candle website to learn more about these wonderfully safe candles!

I also want to make mention of a movement taking place on March 29th. If you haven't already heard about Earth Hour, click on the banner below to visit the site. I have already signed up to take part in this global event!

Let's turn off the lights and light a candle instead!

Footed sleepwear for adults!

Have you ever envied your children when they're wearing their comfy-cozie sleepers? I've always thought it would be nice to have a pair of them myself (especially on those cold winter nights)! My daughter will be 4 years old in less than a month and her toes are already trying to poke through her pajama feet... Until now, I thought she was going to outgrow her "footed sleeper" stage... But as I was browsing through my Entrepreneur magazine this evening (Feb. 2008 issue) I found a small listing for Jumpin Jammerz - Cute, hard-to-find and fun footed-pjs!
Aren't they just the cutest most comfy looking things you've ever seen?

They have provided these fun footed-pjs to thousands of customers worldwide; and it doesn't stop there! Their Jammerz have even been worn by an ever growing list of celebrity clients! I think I really need to get a pair of these for myself!

“No Constitutional Right to Homeschool”?

I just received an e-mail from my mother that contained some disturbing news. Being recently transplanted to the state of California, I immediately decided that this was something that deserves some attention.

Not more than two weeks ago, a California appeals court declared in In Re Rachel L. that the vast majority of parents in the state of California may choose only between sending their children to public and/or private schools. These three judges believe that the parents are unqualified to teach their own children. Tens of thousands of children in California are currently homeschooled, but that wasn't enough to convince these three judges, who boldly proclaimed that “parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children,” unless they are certified by the state to teach. The California court refused to recognize the rights of the parents as fundamental rights. According to the court, homeschooling could not be a legitimate educational option because it would place “an unreasonable burden on the state to have to supervise each and every home in which a child was being educated.”
In a recent Press Release Governor Schwarzenegger declared that “parents should have the right to decide what’s best for their children.”

Read more about this topic here »

90210 organics

My friend Sarah and her business partner, Jennifer, have decided to open their own online Baby Boutique that reflects their love of all things natural and organic. These two California moms wanted to share their passion for living naturally with the rest of the world, and what better way to do just that than to open their own shop! 90210organics.com
In their shop you'll find high quality organic fashion, natural baby products, and beautifully handmade accessories, all personally handpicked by Sarah and Jennifer. In Sarah's words, let them "inspire you to live the natural life you were meant to live.”
Here is a small sampling of what you will find there:

Organic Dish Cloths/Exfoliating Wash Cloths


Cozy Cocoon Organic Leopard Cocoon

Ecobaby Cozy Rattle Large - Maiden Love Flora Spring Green Elephant

So what are you waiting for? Go visit them today where Being “green” is not a trend, it is a way of life!

the Boo Boo Baby Booty line by Rheba James

I stumbled upon the cutest little baby shoes tonight, while reading through my Tot Trends Weekly online magazine. I just had to share these with you! I actually found them in a posting on the Editor's blog titled "Beautiful Baby Shoes by Rheba James".


Rheba James designs the most surprising and wonderfully decadent baby shoes! Boo Boo's are her most recent design, inspired by the delightful babies in her life. Aren't they adorable and oh so beautiful? It's too bad that my kids are too big to wear them. They are only available in 0-3 and 3-6 months at RhebaJames.com.

Let's try this again!

Okay... Let's try this again! It's already 2:00am and once again I'm still awake, working on some of my business stuff online. Seems that as of lately this is the only chance I get! I've been really sleep deprived this past week. Let's see if I can finish this post without one of the kids waking up!
They should sleep good tonight though... I recently joined a "mommy group" that I found through "Meetup" and today was our first playdate with them... About 5 moms showed up at the park (with babies in tow). I'll have to say that I know I was the oldest mom there! But it was nice to get out of the house for a bit and to enjoy some fresh air. And the kids got a much needed chance to burn off some of their energy! We stopped at Taco Bell on the way back home and then it was straight into the bath with them! You see... while we were at the park, Caitlin took it upon herself to dump a handful of sand down Brandon's back, which made it all the way into his diaper! Ahhh... the joys of motherhood!
By the way, I do apologize for not keeping up with this blog as I had intended. I've been focusing a bit more on my other 2 blogs lately. But I am going to do my best to start posting here again as well...

I've also added a link to my Monkey Baby Etsy shop on the side bar. So feel free to check out what I'm offering over there right now too! You'll find one of my original knitted hoodie patterns, which Caitlin is modeling above, and a couple of pairs of my soft soled baby shoes!
Well, until next time... I think I'm going to try to get to bed a little earlier tonight!

We made it!

We are finally settling into our new home in the San Francisco Bay Area. We arrived last month, but have been so busy getting organized. More to come... I hear a wee one waking up just now!