Hitting the Reset Button for the New Year January 4, 2013 12:37

I run.  I am active. I go to this awesome gym called Amenzone and get my butt kicked every week.  I also make a conscious effort to eat clean.  But the holidays, visiting family, eating Christmas foods and spending the afternoons watching movies on the couch just because I am on vacation, have my routine all in a funk.  It can be hard to bounce back from these two full weeks of “off the wagon” as Ashley likes to say.  Don’t fret.  I have the cure.

A few months ago my friend and I decided to do a cleanse.  I am not a believer in diets, but this cleanse was a commitment to eat PERFECT whole foods for 10 days with the goal of resetting our eating habits and changing how we thought about food.  And it worked.  It makes you very aware of what you are eating and what you should be eating.  The actual program that we followed calls for a 30-day commitment, but as one who eats very limited meat, it was hard to get enough protein and I started adding in other foods after 10 days.   

The cleanse makes sense.  It’s a no mercy, no excuse, no cheating, you can do this mentality, and if you can muster up the will power to eat strict for the 30 days (or 10 as I like to do it), you’ll be able to tell the difference. 

So, the rules.  First, and most importantly, NO PROCESSED FOODS. No processed foods of any sort.  All fresh, whole, real foods, no added ingredients.  Eat lots of veggies, fruits, eggs, organic and sustainable meats (for the carnivores), and almonds.  You cook with only Extra Virgin Olive Oil or coconut oil.  No dairy, no sugar, no sweetener of any kind (yes that means no honey or maple sugar).  No legumes (sooo hard for me) and no grains.  It’s hard, but it’s not that hard and it’s totally worth it. 

Ashley and I believe in everything in moderation.  You have to find eating habits that align with your beliefs, goals and personal preferences.  But, if you need something to jump start you and get you in the right mindset, this cleanse could be just what you need. 

Here is the link to the site with all of the information.  Highly encourage everyone to at least check out the site and read about the nutrition behind the theories.  Good luck and Happy New Year!!! 

http://whole9life.com/category/whole-30/ 

-Alyssa

Introducing: Weekenders! January 2, 2013 21:14

Traveling is awesome. Traveling with kids is awesome, mixed with some other stuff (exhausting, lots of work, excessive planning, anxiety). Part of the fun of parenting is experiencing things with your children anew; which means you are most likely going to be taking them places such as the beach, camping, skiing, to concerts, swimming, and lots more.

To try and make the process of planning and packing for a trip with your babes a bit easier, we’ve created Weekenders (and Recycled Weekenders from our Lovingly Recycled collection are coming soon). These handy little packages include the basics for just about any getaway you can dream up.

Weekenders also are designed to take the guesswork out of gift giving. If you are looking for the perfect gift for a new babe or a shower, our Weekenders should be your first look. 

Our inaugural Weekenders (with more coming soon!): 

-Babe’s Winter Vacation Weekender:

·      Organic Under The Nile sherpa snap hat

·      Long sleeve organic cotton Twosie bodysuit

·      Babylegs

Comes wrapped up in an Ash & Alys Babes handmade organic crocheted scarf. Boy and girl options are available.

-Overnighter Weekender:

·      Kicky Pants PJ set

·      Safe Sippy 2

·      Beba Bean knit lion plush toy

·      Eco-friendly toothbrush

Comes conveniently packed in a Lassig min-backpack. Boy and girl sets available.

-Bringing Babe Home Weekender:

·      Organic aden + anais swaddling blanket

·      Organic cotton Twosie bodysuit

·      Organic cotton Under The Nile newborn hat

·      Kicky Pants newborn footie

·      Rock Love Peace cherry wood teether

It all comes wrapped in an organic Moby Wrap. We have boy, girl and gender neutral sets available.             

-Baby Momma Weekender:

·      Earth Mama organic Milk Maid Tea

·      Earth Mama organic Peaceful Mama Tea

·      New Chapter Perfect Calm multi-vitamins

·      Earth Mama nipple butter

·      Organic hand made bath bombs

Wrapped up in an organic Moby Wrap for the perfect gift.

-Cuter Than A Baby’s Bottom Weekender:

·      Organic cotton long-sleeved Twosie bodysuit

·      Eco Leeko jingle me fish

·      Beba Bean crocheted bear hat

An adorable package wrapped in a FuzziBunz Elite One-Size fitted cloth diaper. Boy and girl sets available.

 Check out all of our Weekenders in our Gear section: http://www.ashandalysbabes.com/collections/gear/sub_cat_weekenders

-Ashley

Top 11 Must-Have Baby Registry Items November 3, 2012 20:40

 Most expectant parents are clueless when it comes to preparing for their first child. The amount of information out in the universe is overwhelming to say the least, and can be excessively confusing and stressful to try to navigate. Add to that a desire to raise the baby ‘green’ and new moms and dads could be feeling on the verge of a full-on meltdown.

While pregnant with my first child, I became obsessed with what car seat, or stroller or diaper bag we needed. I agonized over what to do about plastic toys we would receive as gifts, or non-organic clothing that well-meaning relatives would expect to see outfitting our new bundle. As the birth neared and some research was conducted, I was able to relax a bit. But I always wished there were more resources available to help us determine what we really needed and what natural products we just could not live without.

Every family is different, and there are dozens of items that your baby will need that didn’t make this list. In the interest of narrowing things down slightly, Ash & Alys Babes has compiled the following list of must have (natural) items that should be on every baby registry.

1.     Blessed Nest Nesting (Nursing) Pillow: This is the most amazing product we’ve found. It is far superior to the popular ‘Breast Friend’ and ‘Boppy’ brand nursing pillows. This unique nursing pillow is 100% organic, super soft and just makes you want to sit in a rocker and cuddle your babe all day long.

2.     Angel Baby Bottom Balm: From Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics, this diaper salve is the best on the market in our opinion, and it won’t ruin your cloth diapers. It smells amazing, and can be used to treat just about any ‘owie’ under the sun, as well as it’s designed purpose as a diaper rash and barrier balm. Personally, I’ve been through just about every diaper rash product out there, and this is by far the favorite.

3.     Smiling Planet Hooded Towels: Every baby needs a hooded towel. Both for functionality and the cuteness factor. These towels, which come in prints to suit boys and girls, are luxuriously soft, very high quality and big enough to grow with your baby for years. Made from organic cotton and designed by a mom.

4.     Cloth Diapers: Cloth diapering is so much easier than general opinion, and provides a more sustainable (and toxin free) option to using disposable diapers. We will be offering FuzziBunz on our site beginning next week, but also love BumGenius and Thirsties.

5.     Organic Cotton Baby Body: We love the long-sleeved, side snap baby body from Under The Nile. Organic, soft and sized just right to grow with you baby a bit, these are a great everyday essential item. Under The Nile also offers adorable striped options as well as their warmzy and bunting bag for bundling up your bundle.

6.     Eco-Conscious Diaper Bag: These are hard to come by, but important for parents who want to limit their consumption of goods to brands that are socially responsible, sustainable and utilizing natural materials. Lassig does a great job of combining an eco-conscious foundation with great design and function. Their diaper bags will be arriving on our site in time for holiday shopping.

7.     Organic Lovie: Every baby needs a lovie to stimulate their senses and provide a sense of familiarity to soothe them during fussy times. There are so many loveable lovies. Our favorites include the super soft organic security blanket from SwaddleDesigns, Sneakle Fox from Eco-Leeko and the striped giraffe from Under The Nile.

8.     Wood Teether: Babies put everything in their mouths, causing worry and dismay for parents far into the toddler years. Rock Love Peace makes sustainably harvested wood teethers that provide a safe option for your babe’s mouth—and they come in fun shapes making them stimulating for your baby to grasp and hold.

9.      Soft Sleepwear: We love Kate Quinn Organics infant saques for bedtime dressing. Another favorite? Kicky Pants bamboo footies. Stock up on these – you’ll never want to dress your babe in anything else!

10.  Story Album: Capturing the magic of your baby’s birth and early life is priceless and something you will treasure for a lifetime. Collard Story Albums are the perfect gift for sentimental expectant parents who want to document every little detail of this special time in life. They save mom and dad the time of creating a handmade baby book, and have endless possibilities in price and customization.

11. The Basics: Of course you can’t go without burpies, washcloths, bibs and body products. We love organic burpies and washcloths from SwaddleDesigns and Under The Nile, muslin bibs from Aden + Anais and silky soft baby lotion from Earth Mama Angel Baby.

-Ashley

Guest Post: Kids' Nutrition November 1, 2012 23:02

Guest Blog By Wendy Camaano, Registered Dietitan

When you are facing strict schedules that accompany the school year and an upcoming busy holiday season, it is easy to let planned, healthy meals fall by the wayside, in favor of something quick, and perhaps, not as nutritious. Despite the chaos, it is important to remember that children are in a critical developmental stage in their lives both physically and in creating healthy eating habits.

Kids need a focused diet—with lots of whole, nutritious foods that offer balance and variety. This means fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and healthy fats throughout the day.

It’s important to teach kids to listen to their bodies and trust their hunger and over-indulgence cues. As a parent, you may want to decide what and when they are eating, but it should be up to the kids to decide how much they eat.

Children are born with a pretty good sense of when they’re hungry and when they’re full. We as adults need to trust these instincts. Some days, kids will eat more, or less, and as long as they’re eating from different food groups, you don’t have to worry about them eating too many or too few calories in a particular day.

If kids are in the habit of eating balanced amounts of fruits, vegetables and whole grains during the day, they are more likely to choose these nutrient-dense foods rather than refined carbohydrates and processed foods when snack time rolls around. A balanced, whole-food diet including all the food groups must be the foundation.

The best thing parents can do is keep a variety of whole foods available in the house and remember that not everything is in your control. If you offer balanced, wholesome snacks and meals, and set a good example yourself, then you are laying the groundwork. When possible, try to get your kids involved in the food process (gardening, cooking, prepping, etc.) so they have a better appreciation and understanding of food, and where it comes from.

It is also important to remember that kids won’t eat well 100 percent of the time. Kids will be kids, and it is totally okay!  If your child eats only macaroni and cheese and maybe a carrot once a week, that is okay, too! They go through eating stages. Just keep offering healthy options and know that kids need to try things over and over again before they may learn to like something. Just don’t give up and keep setting a good example. 

Product Testing: Choosing What to Sell October 12, 2012 15:49

Retail buyer was not on my resume prior to founding Ash & Alys Babes. I’m still learning the ins and outs of managing inventory and how to know what quantities to order to keep us stocked and our customers happy. It’s a recurring theme with us: everything is a learning experience. 

That being said, while we’ve been pondering over pricing and quantities and placing orders, we were never intimidated by knowing what products we wanted to offer. Clearly products must meet our green standards for sustainability and safety. But as a mom, I already knew of hundreds of products that I had used, sampled or heard about from friends – this was an amazing foundation for this site.

All of the products we sell have been put to the test on our very own babes (and the mommy products are tested on those babes’ moms). Both directly in my home with my boys over the last four years since I became a mom, and in the homes of trusted and discerning friends, these products have been evaluated to ensure usability, durability, value and quality. Everyone has different tastes, but we feel very confident that most of what we offer on our site will truly become our customers’ favorite and most loved products.

There have been some that don’t make the cut. We’ve purchased a handful of items that seemed to be a great fit for our site that ended up in the ‘no’ pile. If the product isn’t truly usable, or if it doesn’t resonate with the little ones, we won’t sell it. Some of our products have a high price point – we know that causes shoppers to hesitate – but if it is pricey, we believe it is truly a must have item that will prove its worth in your home or as a gift for which you will be sincerely thanked.

We love to hear from other parents. If you have a favorite ‘green’ baby product that isn’t on our site, please tell us about it. You can email us anytime at info@ashandalysbabes.com. We’d love to check it out for a hands-on evaluation. You should also stay tuned on the blog for product reviews every month!

-Ashley

Launch News Release October 8, 2012 14:54

Site Makes ‘Green’ Products More Accessible for Moms, Babes and Toddlers and Introduces Lovingly Recycled™ Fashion

SEATTLE—October 8, 2012—Ash & Alys Babes today announced the launch of its online boutique (www.ashandalysbabes.com), providing natural products for moms, babes and toddlers and introduced its Lovingly Recycled shop for gently used children’s clothing. Following its commitment to playing a part in the movement toward a more sustainable society, Ash & Alys Babes created this boutique to make natural options more accessible to families, while providing an enjoyable online shopping experience.

Today’s environment is rampant with harmful impurities, as well as an abundance of conflicting information that can be confusing for parents. As awareness grows about the importance of raising babies green, parents are seeking out natural products that will help them protect their children from toxins and chemicals. Drawing on personal experience as a mom, co-founder Ashley Allman aimed to provide a single online shopping destination that offered exclusively the best natural products available, making it easy for eco-conscious parents to find exactly what they need for their babies and toddlers.  

In addition to the popular eco products sold on the site, Ash & Alys Babes launched Lovingly Recycled, providing an online shop for buying and selling gently used children’s clothing. Consignment shopping has become increasingly popular among families, as children’s fashion can be expensive, and has a short shelf life as children grow. However, parents are busier than ever, giving them little time to do all of their shopping in brick and mortar stores. Lovingly Recycled provides an alternative for when parents need to rely on the convenience of online shopping, but still want the option of purchasing used clothing for their babies and children. Lovingly Recycled only re-sells premium brand clothing that is like new.

Ash & Alys Babes is also the creator of the SlumberSling® the one-of-a-kind car seat headrest that provides head and neck support for toddlers napping on the go. In succession with the launch of the online boutique, the company has launched Twosie™, its line of organic cotton bodysuits that have a charitable purpose. For every Twosie item sold, Ash & Alys Babes donates $2 to its fund benefitting charities that serve children and environmental conservation.

“For us, this site is much more than an online store, more than a convenient place for buying natural products,” said co-founder and CEO Alyssa Wolfe. “We see ourselves as part of a bigger movement wherein consumers have the power to vote with their dollar for more sustainable and safe products, and make green mainstream. Our site and products are aimed at making sustainability accessible for new families. Babes are born pure, and we believe in keeping them that way.”

About Ash & Alys Babes

Ash & Alys Babes was founded in 2010, subsequent with the launch of its flagship product, the SlumberSling, for dreamy car rides®. The company launched its online boutique at www.ashandalysbabes.com, as well as its Lovingly Recycled online shop and Twosie line in 2012. The company has a strong philanthropic foundation, and supports causes that benefit children’s well being and environmental conservation.

Contact

Ashley Allman

pr@ashandalysbabes.com

Ash & Alys Signature Babes: The Pre-Launch Photo Shoot September 28, 2012 15:43

I could sum up our pre-launch photo shoot in three words: cute, cute and more cute! How lucky are we that we got to host nearly 10 babes, play dress up with them, give them new toys to explore and watch them soak up a beautiful sunny Seattle day?! It could barely be considered work.

But amidst all the overwhelming cuteness, was some serious chaos. Major kudos to our very talented photographer Molly Vaden, who has great vision and was totally flexible to bounce from kid to kid getting all of the photos we needed, and making them gorgeous to boot. It certainly helped that she has four of her own babes, so she was in her element! Alyssa and I were zipping all over the place throwing outfits at moms and asking them to change their babes over and over again, and then hurrying to make sure we weren’t missing any good candid moments that would capture the essence of our site.

The kids did surprisingly well, and we averted any major meltdowns. There were definitely a few naturals who may have a future in modeling; Charlotte, Ester and Julieta, three girls you will see all over our site, were charming, happy and playful throughout the whole process. Even my four-year-old son, who tends to be touchy about getting dressed, was a trooper and it was only at the very end of the two-hour marathon shoot that he finally refused to change again.

Ultimately, the photo shoot was a celebration for us. A major milestone in the long road we have traveled to get to this launch. We brought together a big portion of our support system and reveled in what we love most: the precious little babes that have inspired this entire business.

-Ashley

Two Novices, Dozens of Boxes and Inventory September 26, 2012 15:51

Our first inventory session started off by Ashley and I staring at each other trying to figure out our first move.  It was about 10pm as we sat surrounded by boxes in our warehouse (also known as home).  This is the moment that everything we are doing became real. 

There is no reason to hide the fact that Ashley and I are new at this. We both bring important skills that are propelling this business forward, but at the end of every day, we are on a learning curve. 

This photo of our late night inventory session – where we counted and priced and documented every item in our opening inventory – is a perfect illustration of how crazy this ride has been. No fancy warehouse, no assembly line of employees. Just us, some wine, music and our amazing supportive mom to help us stay motivated to sort through and organize dozens and dozens of boxes. 

-Alyssa