'Tis the season

No - not Christmas!

'Tis the season for Spring! And it sure has sprung here in Connecticut. For me, that means Summer is closer and it's time for Spring cleaning, gardening, fresh fruits and veggies and one of my favorite things - tag sales!

'Tis the season for tag sales!

Since it's a gorgeous day here and we've been on the lookout on Craigslist and some stores for a few things, we came across a few tag sales happening in our area. So, after breakfast, my husband and I loaded the kids into the double stroller, leashed up the pup and off we went for a long walk to the tag sales.

This is where I stumbled upon one of my items I've been wanting for quite some time from the Ballard Designs Catalog - a stair basket.

Image via Google search

I've wanted this for quite sometime. I love the idea since our steps act as a dumping zone at times. I place things on steps that need to go up and down everyday - and I end up making a mess on the stairs which can be a hazard. Since we've been making some changes here at Casa Kirsch, we have been using the stairs much more during the days then before now that the kids are older.  (more on that this week!)

So, one of these would be perfect for me to load up and bring back down - and up and down - or to simply contain my stair mess ;)

I love Ballard, but it's $45 and not something that's at the top of the priority list.

Back to the story of the coveted stair basket. :)

As we approached the house of the tag sale, I did the once over as we got closer to see what I could see - and just as I began to feel a slight sense of disappointment when my eyes fell on nothing that struck me - suddenly, I saw IT.

My tag sale score - cleaned and happily awaiting
to be filled with stuff!

All of a sudden,  I gasped and squealed all at once and said quietly to my husband "They have a stair basket!" so that no one else would spot my treasure.

I snatched it and frantically looked for a price.
No price.

So I walked over to the woman who was busy with another tag sale attendee and waited patiently to find out the asking price on my fab find.

After waiting for what seemed like a small eternity, I calmly asked "How much?" and she thought for a second and I started guessing what she might say.  I figured at least $10-15.

"Um, a $1.50?" she replied in a questioning tone as if it was too much to ask.  I think the look of delight on my face may have been making her question it.  Quickly, I called back to my husband and the kids and said "Give me two bucks!" and then happily handed both dollars to the woman. She went to reach for change to give me back and I shook my head.  I already felt like I was stealing this away from her despite the fact she clearly didn't want it.

It's true - one person's trash is totally my treasure!

The only downside was we then had to walk around the rest of our long walk with the stair basket clearly on display across the canopies of the double stroller - but I didn't care.  I was super excited.

It's the little things, remember?

While my tag sale find lacks the front slot to easily grab it and some of the other organizational features the Ballard basket has, I couldn't care one bit! It did come with two built in hook eye holes that I could easily tie some string or attach a strap to if need be.

But after lugging around two kids - what's the hassle of my pretty little step basket? Pshhhh.

Do you love tag sales?  What's been some of your biggest finds?

Babies, toddlers and TV - finally, a solution!

Ahh, yes.  It's one of those hot topics in the parenting world.

The age-old question:

"How much TV is okay to let my baby/toddler/child/teenager watch?"

And the answer you hear from every parent will vary.  Some say "none".  Some will say "too much".

But the TV/No TV debate is not the point of this post.

Whether you choose to let your babies/toddlers/kids watch TV is YOUR choice and WHAT you let them watch is also up to you.  I'm Pro-Mom, remember :)

Anywhoooo - as a side note I will share with you that both of my children have been watching TV - meaning DVDs and age-appropriate shows on toddler-friendly channels - since they were young.  My now 2 year old son was exposed to it earlier than my 3.5 year old daughter was at the same age, but that's just a result of being in the same room with the older sibling and being a work at home parent.

On to the point - the solution!

One day, when we were a one kid household, my daughter was asking for "Da-Da"- she was around 13 months old.  As he works out of the home, there was really no way for this to happen (obviously before FaceTime on iPhones).  And, since I work from home, something came up where I really needed to do something work-related that was time sensitive and needed my daughter to be entertained so I could just get something accomplished.

As I searched through the selection and debated which DVD to put on for her that would really captivate her attention for longer than the usual 5 possibly 10 minutes. Then, just as I cringed at idea of her watching more TV that day than had already been "allowed"- I came across a "genius" idea.

Genius I tell you!

It was our wedding DVD.  It was perfect for a few reasons:

• It was something she had never seen before 

• It had music, motion and people in it

• She could watch our wedding DVD and therefore see her Da-Da

• It exposed her to a new language (Hebrew) from the Rabbi who married us

With fingers crossed, I popped in the DVD and hopped on my conference call and she was mesmerized!

Aside from screaming Da-da at the TV every few minutes, I was able to get done what I had needed to do while she was entertained by the TV but with something that was family-related and a part of our family history.

Of course, now I'm even more glad we paid a bazillion dollars for the wedding videographer :)

Now, when I need to get something accomplished my kiddos are now older so it is easier to avoid using the TV as a distraction - but there are days when I need to do something urgent or cannot be interrupted every five seconds.

This is now one of my four go-to DVDs.  Since our wedding DVD worked so well, it prompted my husband to create three additional DVDs of our kids and they are a compilation of everything from us in the hospital with each of them to themselves as babies playing with toys, taking their first steps, eating their first foods and enjoying cake on their first birthdays and beyond.

So, yes, it's watching TV.  But they are watching and experiencing our family moments.

Also, watching their faces light up while watching themselves is just adorable, too.

Postpartum Weight Loss

For my personal postpartum weight loss journey, I started a blog called It's Not Called Toddler Weight.

Because let's face it - I have two toddlers and there's very little baby left in them!

So, stop over and see me there - I'd appreciate it!

Tomorrow I'm starting a new weight and inch loss program that's perfect for busy moms.

Here's the link:

http://itsnotcalledtoddlerweight.blogspot.com/2012/04/its-cinch-i-sure-hope-so.html

And the award goes to....

Yay!  It's a big day for the baby planning world because they announced the winners of the 2012 Cribsie Awards!  


(It's like the Oscars of baby products)

I love the brands that won but am sad a few of my personal favorites did not.


Either way, congratulations to all the winners!


Looking forward to the year ahead and the 2013 award season :)

From The Pros: Green Baby Products

I recently wrote this blog post for the International Baby Planner Association's (IBPA) blog and I wanted to post it here as well since it's getting close to Earth Day and all.


But let's face it - every day should be like Earth Day, right?


For more information on IBPA, please visit the web site.


Green Baby Products - By Carly Kirsch of Newly Nested Baby Planning


I’d say it’s now safe to say that green may possibly be the new black! Thankfully, there are some amazing product manufacturers that are on board with this here-to-stay trend and making some truly fantastic swag that is good for baby and the environment.

Naturally (no pun intended) a huge part of baby planning is dedicated to helping parents make the best choices for their families – from the perfect nursery décor right down to the creams they choose to rub on their baby’s delicate skin. Therefore, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite green baby products for you to either learn about for the first time, rediscovering them for your expanding family or for you to pass along to a new mommy-to-be!

Products & Clothing

Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics has an amazing line of health, wellness and baby products that are safe and natural and oh-so pampering for both mom and baby. A few favorites are the Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm & baby Shampoo.

Stephanie Zerr of Birth Matters recommends Hevea pacifiers and teethers to keep baby safe while soothing gums when teeth begin to come in.

Joanie Whitman of Itsabelly Kansas City loves Boon Odd ducks for play time in the bath.

Sophie the Giraffe – Need we say more? Sophie is a favorite for a reason and babies cannot seem to get enough of her – which is okay by our standards!

Diapers

Cloth Diapers – Colorful and eco-friendly, both Bum Genius and Apple Cheeks offer some great ways to diaper your baby. Trust us. These are not your mama’s cloth diapers.

If you’re looking to cloth diaper but are looking for a bit of a mix, we suggest both GroVia Hybrid Cloth Diapers orgDiapers.

If you’re not into the idea of cloth diapering but you are still looking for safer diapers, try Seventh Generation Disposable Diapers or Bambo Nature diapers.

Cleaning

Dapple – I came across Dapple in 2008 for my first born and I’ve loved it ever since. Their entire line of products are really great and truly clean without unnecessary toxins.

Feeding

Plum Organics – Not only are Plum Organics foods tasty, they are more than just organic.  Their packaging is BPA free and makes feeding baby easy since the packaging is so portable.  It makes feeding baby carefree in more ways than one! http://www.plumorganics.com/index.php

5 Phases bottles - Check out this blog post by Stormie Sowinski  of Hello World Baby Planning for the scoop on these neat bottles:  http://helloworldbabyplanning.com/?p=905

Beaba products – From safety to making meals and more, Beaba products are sure to please with their fun colors and safe designs.  http://www.beaba.com/flash/#/en_GB/homepage/index

Hygeia Breast Pump – http://www.hygeiababy.com/ While many people first think of other brands when thinking of breast pumps, but Hygeia is making their products known for ease of use and their Green Breast Pumps and their eco-friendly recycling program.

Sleeping

Babyletto’s affordable green convertible crib –  The Babyletto brand prides themselves on being modern with fresh, clean designs. With a variety of products to choose from, you’ll see why we love Babyletto!

Green Buds http://www.greenbudsbaby.com/ Rest easy with Green Buds line of sheets, mattresses, covers and pillows.

Swaddle Designs Organic Collection – http://www.swaddledesigns.com/page/Category-Organic-Collection.htmlTheir blankets, crib sheets, blankets and more are just pure heaven for baby’s bottom.

For a closer look at any of these products mentioned and for more reviews on strollers and other gear, visit ItsaBelly’s blog for their 2011 Seal of Excellence award winners!

Simple & easy ways to go green in your home

Hello!  I hope this post finds you well :)

It's a snowy morning here in Connecticut after topping the thermometer here at nearly 60 yesterday - crazy!

As it's been a fairly mild Winter here in the Northeast, we typically spend quite a lot of time indoors.  Like most people, you consider your home to be one of the safest places for you and your family, right?  You keep things tidy and as dust free as possible - but did you know that indoor air can be more "polluted" than outdoor air?

I came across a company's web site called GreenGuard with some information that was a bit shocking to me.  After reading it, it made sense, but like a lot of things in life - you really don't view things or realize things that seem like common sense until you read it!

For example (straight from GreenGuard's web site):

Facts You Should Know

Children breathe in a greater volume of air than adults relative to their body size.

Children's organs and respiratory, immune and neurological systems are still developing.

Children are much closer to the ground, and as a result, breathe in more of the heavier airborne chemicals than do adults.

Infants and young children breathe through their mouths, more so than do adults, which increases their risk of pulmonary exposure to particulates and fibers, that would otherwise be filtered out in the nose.

So of course, I wanted to share and write about this (in case you're just like me and have an A-Ha! moment or a OMG I should have known that!).

There are some incredibly simple and easy ways to keep your home as green as possible by doing just a few things differently in your home - which thankfully we already do, but it's never too late to start!

1. Take off your shoes - we have a no shoe policy in the house.  Think of ALL the places you walk during the day - public places, public bathrooms (blech), sidewalks, shopping centers, etc.  Do you really want those traces of these places tracked throughout your home?  Methinks not.  Not only does it keep toxins and grossness out of your home, it keeps your floors cleaner, also.
2. Get some green - Add some green houseplants to your home. Plants are amazing at removing toxins in the air and replacing it with cleaner air.  Here's a post from TreeHugger that I found on the best air filtering plants.  I personally love Gerber Daisy, Bamboo and the Peace Lily plants.
3. Don't be smelly - Steer clear of scented air fresheners, candles, harsh perfumes and other "smelly" products that you may use in your home.  They can inject harmful toxins into the air.  Try using things that are fragrance-free. 
4. Use non-toxic cleaning products - I am quite the clutter-bug, but I do love having a clean home.  Foreverrrrr, I thought clean meant brands like Clorox, Lysol, Windex, etc.  But harsher chemicals does not equal cleaner things.  I still use the "strong stuff" for certain places such as disinfecting the kitchen sink and the toilet where the germiest things may be - but everywhere else I use "green" products or natural products wherever possible.  A few products I love are Bona Floor Cleaners, ActiveIon, Shark Steam Mop and Seventh Generation.  You can also go to The Smart Mama for more information on making your own cleaners from Vinegar, Baking Soda, Lemon and more. 
5. Just be more aware - Read the ingredients and just increase your awareness.  Simply opt for bringing products into your home that are as natural as possible - use safe laundry detergents, soaps, shampoos and other products that you put on, in or near your body.  

One last resource I love is the Environmental Working Group and their Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.  You can search thousands and thousands of products in tons of categories for harmful ingredients and they rate them on their safety scale.

Thanks for reading and stopping by and please feel free to share this with your friends and family!
~Carly

What to do with those "banned" cribs?

If you're like, oh, say most households today, you've got one of those now "banned" drop-side cribs not in use for one of many possible reasons.

Either you decided to stop using it (right choice), you gave it away awhile ago before the banning, you no longer have a baby that needs the crib, etc., etc.

Either way, it's probably taking up valuable storage space somewhere, right?  Now, you are unable to donate it, sell it or do much of anything with it.

So, if you're crafty (or think you're crafty, like me) I've found two solutions of what to do with those cribs.

I must of course thank Pinterest and my love of crafty blogs :)

An old crib turned into a work bench - via Apartment Therapy and created by A Little Learning For Two

Image courtesy of A Little Learning
For Two of the finished project

I could totally see my two kids sitting there nicely together!  Coloring. Using the dreaded Play-Doh. Reading books.

According to the original post from A Little Learning For Two, she created this space and did not lose the ability to turn it back into a crib should she require it again - which is amazing.

As you can see from the picture, the end result features a large work space that doubles as a chalkboard and has little hooks and nooks to hang scissors or any other accessories your little ones will require to be the creative beings they are.

This is just beyond adorable and looks quite easy to make.  They show you step by step in the blog.  I think one of the best parts is you don't even have to take the crib completely apart to make it.

I totally want to attempt to make this.

But then - just when I think I want to make one thing from the old crib, I come across another idea that I seem to love.

This project is an older antiqued headboard (not a crib) salvaged and re-purposed as a bench!  It comes from Scissors & Spatulas.   However, even though it was not a crib - the parts they used can easily come from your old crib.

For the record, my style is not country - at all.  But this bench just screams "I'm so country and cozy! Sit on me!"

Image courtesy of  Scissors & Spatulas blog

The pillow, the distressing of the white paint, the added swoop detail at the bottom - I love it ALL.

When I make this bench make my husband make this bench for us (he-he) I would likely make a cushion to go length-wise over the bench - and of course have a pillow, too.

I'd also grab some baskets to stick under it for extra storage.

Oh, the ideas just keep coming :)

Darn you, crafty people of the world and Pinterest!

So, there you have it.  Two great, yet different, ideas for re-purposing that old crib that's taking up space (or making you get that baby lust!)

But whether or not you choose to be crafty with your crib or are need of searching for a new one - have no fear.  I'll be here to help you!

Thanks for stopping by!