Mom of the Month: Lisa Leake of 100 Days of Real Food November 13, 2012 15:51

Feeding your kids = a lot of work. Feeding your kids a healthy diet (and keeping it affordable!) =  a full time job. Feeding your kids exclusively a diet of whole foods and eliminating processed junk completely = seemingly impossible.

Lisa Leake, a mom of two and the highly followed blogger of 100 Days of Real Food, did what most families consider unattainable. On a quest to a healthier family, in 2010 Lisa and her family set out to completely eliminate highly processed foods, including all white flour and refined sugar, from their diet for 100 days. At the time when the family embarked on this pledge, Lisa had no prior knowledge of whole food nutrition and claims she had never before read an ingredient label, nor did she know there was anything wrong with that. Her children were ages 3 and 5 years at the time – which she points to as a testament that any family can change their eating habits to include only ‘real’ foods.

Lisa blogged through the entire process, documenting what the family was eating and the challenges they faced through the first 100 days. Throughout, her family maintained the pledge amidst birthday parties, travel, restaurant meals and school lunches. As a mom who shares Lisa’s passion for nutrition, I know how difficult and time consuming it can be to feed your family well for every meal, every day.

After successfully completing the first 100 days, the Leake family took on another 100-day challenge of real food on a budget, wherein they spent only $125 per week on food. For families who think they can’t afford to eat well, this is a great inspiration, and Lisa details on her blog dozens of tips for how to make a budget work for a real food diet.

Lisa’s blog has evolved since those first challenges, and is now a rich resource of information for readers from across the spectrum of food consumption – whether you are a die hard fast foodie looking for education about food or you already know all the ropes of whole food eating, you will find value in Lisa’s blog. She has hundreds of recipes, a list of kitchen essentials, ‘rules’ for anyone ready to take on the 100-day challenge, 14 mini-pledges for those looking for a slower transition away from processed foods, and new content every week with information, interviews and tips for healthier eating.  

So our hats are off to Lisa! We love your blog, and are so happy there’s someone out there taking such a firm stance on improving the way families approach nutrition. Take a moment to read her blog and tell us what you think!

-Ashley

 

A Dozen Must-Read Books for Expectant/New Parents November 9, 2012 15:48

I am a bookworm, and ever since I entered expectant motherhood five years ago, I have not been able to get enough of books about pregnancy, babies, parenting and child development. I’ve read dozens of books and am always looking for the next best insights. Since there was no way I could limit this list to just 10, I decided to give you a dozen. 

Some of these books have fundamentally changed the way I approach parenting (like Mary Sheedy Kurcinka’s spirited child book, John Gottman's emotion coaching book, and Elizabeth Pantley’s no-cry sleep book), and I hope you enjoy reading at least one of the books on this list! They are in no particular ranking…

1.     What to Expect When You’re Expecting, by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel, or some other week-by-week pregnancy book

2.     Raising Baby Green, by Alan Greene, M.D.

3.     Birthing from Within, by Pam England and Rob Horowitz

4.     Spiritual Midwifery, by Ina May Gaskin

5.     Super Baby Food, by Ruth Yaron

6.     The Baby Book, by William Sears, M.D.

7.     The No-Cry Sleep Solution, by Elizabeth Pantley (there is also a second version geared toward children ages 1-6 years)

8.     The Happiest Baby on the Block, by Harvey Karp, M.D.

9.     The Holistic Pediatrician, by Kathi Kemper

10. The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, by Robert Sears, M.D.

11. Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive and Persistent, by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

12. Magic Trees of the Mind: How to Nurture Your Child’s Intelligence, Creativity and Healthy Emotions from Birth Through Adolescence, by Marian Diamond and Janet Hopson

And, a bonus book, just because I couldn’t leave it out: Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child, The Heart of Parenting, by Ph.D. John Gottman. I bought two copies of this book because I loved it so much we needed an extra copy.  

-Ashley

Celebrity Baby Spotlight: Beyonce and Blue November 7, 2012 15:23

I LOVE Beyonce.  I think she is amazing.  When I was in college, I worked at a small boutique and she came in late one night. I got to shop with her.  It was amazing.  She picked out the same dress that I had just bought. Of course now I dress with the validation that we totally have the same style! 

That was why it was no surprise when I saw a photograph of her baby girl wrapped up in one of our favorite muslin swaddling blankets by Aden + Anais. These blankets are stylish, functional, soft, durable and environmentally friendly. We offer this style flaunted by baby Blue, as well as others that you will love! 

 

-Alyssa

 

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. 

Being A Poser Mommy October 24, 2012 11:01

As the proud Auntie Issa of 3 adorable nephews (and two more little ones on the way), I think ‘my’ little boys are the best things to ever hit earth.  But despite this unconditional adoration, I do have a bone to pick with one of them. For the last year or more, my almost-two-year-old nephew has endearingly selected a not-so-endearing nickname for his Auntie Issa. Somehow his mommy – my older sister – still finds a way to torment me even in adulthood. Let’s start at the beginning.

As you might have seen from our picture on the site, Ashley and I look kind of similar, in a way sisters do.  If you know us, or have ever spoken to us, you know that our voices and laughs sound exactly the same.  Understandably, this can be confusing to a baby, who doesn’t quite know what to think of this person he sees a handful of times a year, who sounds and looks like his mom, but is definitely not his mom.

For my nephew, this confusion turned into stranger anxiety, with the stranger being me. Every time his loving auntie tried to pick him up, he started to cry, at which time my sister would chime in with “Uh oh Poser Mommy’s got you!!”.  And born was my new nickname, ‘Poser.’  And although the kid now knows my real name, and has gotten over his anxiety about me, he still refers to me as Poser. Even better, now when I go to pick him up, he shakes his head and says ‘I don’t like it,’ referring to me of course. Who says toddlers don’t know how to mock?

Really though, poser mommy is a pretty accurate nickname for me.  My role as Auntie was a natural fit, in part because my sister and I are practically the same person. But above that, I have the highest respect for my sister’s decisions as a mother.  As aunt, I know that what she says goes. I might spoil those little boys any chance I get, but I would never undermine the ruling that mom and dad have enforced.

And this is the boundary. It’s often hard for aunts, uncles, grandparents and other relatives to respect the parents’ choices, and most families struggle with these nuances. I think it’s so important for families and friends to be supportive and reinforce a mom’s and dad’s parental authority. From what my sister tells me, having children is hard enough work, without having to constantly defend your decisions as a parent. For me, if mom says no sugar, ‘my’ boys aren’t getting sugar, but you can bet this Poser will be stopping by the train store on the way home to pick up a new Cranky the Crane.    

-Alyssa

 

A Parent’s Solution to the Halloween Candy Hangover October 22, 2012 14:12

Halloween is so much more fun with your own kids than it ever was as a child or single adult. There is so much magic in every little thing leading up to Halloween night. Finding a costume, decorating, crafts, pumpkin picking and carving, school and community activities, hay mazes, the smell of candy corn, the fall leaves and crisp autumn evenings. It is spellbinding for adults and kids alike, and makes it a little easier to say goodbye to summer.

When my oldest child was big enough to understand the concept of trick-or-treating for the first time, my husband and I were so excited and amused watching him hold out his little felt bag and say those adorable words. We tramped up and down our neighborhood street crunching on the fall leaves and loving every minute – completely oblivious to the fact that we were going to have to deal with the issue of way too much candy the following morning.            

Being a somewhat strict family when it comes to sugar indulgence, we subtly started siphoning our son’s loot, and implemented a daily ration, until a month later the candy was finally gone and forgotten (just in time to be replaced by Thanksgiving pies and Christmas cookies!). For me, the whole thing put a bad taste in my mouth and took some of the fun out of Halloween. Just another thing to regulate. And then I met my new best friend, the Sugar Fairy.

The Sugar Fairy loves candy. And although she must brush her teeth dozens of times a day to fight off the candy cavities, she is very pretty, and very sweet and will do just about anything to get her hands on more treats. So, on Halloween night, after all the children have finished their trick-or-treating, and set aside a few of their favorite treats for later, the Sugar Fairy begins to make her rounds. Any child that agrees to leave most of his Halloween candy out on the front steps for the Sugar Fairy to gobble up, will awake the next morning to find that in exchange, this little fairy has left behind a special toy he has been wanting.

It’s genius. Not only does it solve the candy hangover, but it adds even more fun, magic and anticipation to Halloween.

I have no idea who thought it up, but I fell in love with the Sugar Fairy as soon as my close friend told me about her. The Sugar Fairy made her first visit to our house last Halloween, and was welcomed with open arms by my sons. She is eagerly awaited by us all again this year.

-Ashley

The Basics About Home Births October 19, 2012 15:11

Today, home births are considered unconventional and many people find them scary. Before I had my first child (who was born in a hospital), I felt strongly that they were unsafe and irresponsible. Education and an open mind led me to soon believe otherwise, and with my second pregnancy, we sought care from a professional midwife and began to consider (and ultimately plan for) a home birth.

After having experienced a home birth with natural delivery and a hospital birth with pain medication, I would recommend that every pregnant woman with a low-risk (that’s most women) pregnancy seriously look into the option of a midwife over an OB. When there’s a healthy mom and a healthy baby, midwifery care is a great and very safe way to go. There have been recent studies that have even concluded that in the case of a healthy mom and baby, midwifery care can often be the safer option over obstetrical care.

Just a few points to compare and contrast OB care and hospital birth versus midwife care and home birth, since I’ve now experienced both.

Home Birth/Midwifery Care

·      Midwives by practice give moms much more hands on care and attention; typical midwifery practice is to schedule every prenatal visit for one hour, allowing enough time for the parents to get questions answered and spend time getting to know the person(s) who will be attending the birth

·      When you have a midwife, your options are much greater for the type of labor and birth you want to have; home, birth center and hospital are all available options, and you can choose to deliver your baby in the water, standing up, in a bed, or any other scenario that is comfortable (and deemed safe) for you

·      Medical interventions such as the use of drug-induced labor, IV, epidural, forceps/vacuum extraction, episiotomy, cesarean, etc., are off the table unless absolutely medically necessary, in which case you would be transferred to a hospital and OB care (however, midwifes are licensed to administer IV and select medications if the mother needs it during or after the birth; for example, if pitocin is needed to help the uterus contract after delivery, the midwife can provide that)

·      Your midwife stays with you throughout the labor from the moment she arrives until hours after your baby’s delivery; she’s there monitoring the process and being as involved in supporting the laboring mom as needed and wanted

·      At home, there is no post-partum nurse, so the birth partner (usually dad or a friend/family member) is typically responsible for caring for the mother’s immediate needs for the recovery period; the midwife will visit at regular intervals from the day after birth through the six week post partum milestone to ensure everyone is doing well, but if the mother spends her first few days after delivery on bed rest (which is recommended), someone at home must be around to meet her needs

·      When the baby arrives, he is not taken away from mom at all; his first hour or so is spent cuddled right up at the breast, bonding and being comforted as he adjusts to his new world; the midwife monitors the baby all from the comfort of his mother’s arms and when the time is right, the midwife will do a gentle newborn exam right there on the bed next to his parents

Hospital/OB care

·      If you find a good OB, he/she will provide you with quality medical care and answer your questions and concerns as they arise, and your OB will (hopefully) respect and honor your wishes for the baby’s birth plan

·      OBs are surgeons, and therefore on a demanding on-call schedule when deliveries and cesarean’s take place; this means you may spend long waiting times for your prenatal visits, or get only a brief time speaking with your OB at each appointment; this varies greatly depending on the doctor you choose

·      Another variable is who will deliver your baby; most of the time, your baby is delivered by the doctor on-call at the hospital when you are in labor—this may or may not end up being your chosen OB

·      Hospitals have a bad reputation for pushing medical intervention during labor to speed women through the process; if you choose to have your baby in a hospital, be prepared to stand up for any specific wishes you have, and ask a lot of questions if nurses/doctors begin recommending any form of intervention

·      In my experience having my first child at the hospital, I felt that the care was excellent, and I was very happy with the team of people who assisted us; we did have a few interventions, but I still believe they may have been unavoidable regardless of where we were; given the circumstances and how prolonged the labor was, we were in a sense ‘lucky’ that the OB on call at the time did not push for a cesarean

·      Standard practice in hospitals is to take the baby across the room as soon as he is delivered, to clean him up and examine him; he is handed to the mother after he has been washed and swaddled—if you wish to have your baby put on your chest right away, skin on skin, you will need to make this very evident and constantly remind the staff not to take him immediately away

·      Voicing your wishes is paramount in a hospital; if you do not, the staff will go along with their standard practices, which may or may not be aligned with what you want

·      The postpartum care in hospitals is really helpful for new parents—provided that you have a nurse that you like—they do all of the heavy lifting with the baby, and guide you through the first overwhelming 24-48 hours of your baby’s life

Whatever route you choose, take some time during pregnancy to figure out what you want for your birth experience and anything you really want to avoid during labor and delivery. Everyone is different, but most women do have specific thoughts about what is important to them; but when those wishes aren’t known to the people attending the birth, some women end up feeling disappointed or regretful of the overall experience. Welcoming a child into the world is the most fulfilling and life-changing time in everyone’s life, so starting off on the right foot with a good birth experience only makes the family feel more able to make the big adjustment.

-Ashley

Green Halloween® and Adorable DIY Costume Ideas October 16, 2012 13:25

Halloween is big on fun but, unfortunately, it‘s also big on unhealthy traditions and waste. Many moms worry about the impact of this holiday on the health of their kids and the planet. For good reason. Almost $6 billion a year is spent on costumes, candy, décor and other accessories, most of which are made from unhealthy, unsustainable materials, by people who may not be paid living wages or treated fairly. Most of the stuff – what isn‘t consumed - winds up in landfills. 

When many families make healthier and more sustainable choices for Halloween, big impacts can be made for the short and long term. Here are a few spooky statistics from Green Halloween® (www.GreenHalloween.org) that might fuel your desire to change the way you celebrate Halloween:

·       One in three trick-or-treaters born today will develop diabetes

·      One-third of America‘s trick-or-treaters are overweight; 17% are considered obese

·       EPA considers that 60% of all herbicides, 90% of all fungicides and 30% of all insecticides found in non-organically grown food- including goodies - are carcinogenic

·      A 2004 study with 1,800 three year old children found that behavior measurably improved after a one week diet without preservatives and artificial colors and dramatically worsened on the weeks they were given preservatives and artificial colors (present in most Halloween candy)

·       The chocolate industry has engaged in the use of child slaves and other unethical treatments of growers

·       One test of multiple brands of face paints found detectible levels of lead in all of them (according to experts there are NO safe levels of lead)

One easy way to ‘green’ your Halloween (and save money!) is to create your own costumes from safe materials, or swap costumes with other families in your community. You can also check out the National Costume Swap Day™. Here are a few adorable and affordable costume ideas we love.

 

Baby Dobby

 

 Mouse in a Trap

Clark Kent

Baby Peacock

Baby Movie Popcorn

Baby Sushi

-Alyssa

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter founders of Green Halloween® and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net.

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

A Little Stress Relief for Mom (and Dad) October 10, 2012 14:59

It’s my dirty little secret that it’s easy to ruffle my feathers. Well, it’s not really a secret since I’m also one of those people who wear my heart on my sleeve. But still, the fact that I am easily fazed is not a trait I’m proud of, and though I know I will always be this way, I’m always looking for ways to tone it down a bit.

Becoming a mom has had an interesting affect on this aspect of my personality. On one hand, my patience has grown leaps and bounds and my tolerance for adversity has greatly improved. On the other hand, parenthood is usually the most challenging and emotional job a person will ever have, and therefore I sometimes feel like all of the demands and noise and craziness that come with living with two young children is going to break me. I’d venture that there are a lot of parents out there who feel the same way, and who might be looking for a non-pharmaceutical option for easing the stress on days when you feel stretched too far.

After years of looking for a natural ‘happy pill,’ I’ve found not one, but two solutions:

·      Make Love Not War Tea: This herbal remedy tea is a miracle. I always tell people it makes me a nicer person, within minutes of taking my first sips. It tastes delicious and does wonders for your mood. I found this at a local natural remedies shop in Seattle called Rainbow Natural Remedies. Your local tea shop or natural health store could probably whip you up a similar mixture, if you ask for something to help with relaxation and adrenal support. We also sell Earth Mama Organics' Peaceful Mama Tea in our ‘mommy’ section – it’s another great option for chilling out on those stressful days.  

·      Rhodiola Force by New Chapter: Rhodiola is an herb traditionally known as a stress adaptogen that regulates its response based on what your body needs. It is used to increase stamina and provide adrenal support, reducing stress.

On our ‘mommy’ section of the site, we do also sell a few New Chapter products, but we don’t quite yet carry rhodiola (Perfect Calm is a multivitamin that has stress adaptogens in the formula, and is another stress-reducer worth trying). You can find Rhodiola Force at your local health food store or supplement store, and I promise it is worth every penny. (Full disclosure, my husband works for New Chapter, but if you do some research you’ll find that they are viewed as the best supplements in the natural products industry, and I’d feel that way whether he worked for them or not).

-Ashley

Launch News Release October 8, 2012 14:54

Ash & Alys Babes Launches Natural Family Products Boutique and Children’s Consignment Shop Online

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

 

Mom of the Month - Maya Thompson October 5, 2012 16:39

Every month, we’ll be featuring a ‘Mom of the Month,’ someone who is the embodiment of strength, love, sacrifice and responsibility. Someone who is not afraid to admit that parenthood is hard, and that sometimes we don’t feel strong enough to carry on. Sometimes our choice might be someone you’ve heard of; sometimes she might be just another mom from down the street.  If she advocates for a charity or cause, we will add that cause to our list of beneficiaries for our Ash & Alys Fund as well. Our Moms of the Month will come from all walks of life, but they represent the invisible thread that ties together all mothers around the world.

This month, we welcome Maya Thompson as our inaugural ‘Mom of the Month.’ We heard about her through the blogosphere, and were deeply touched and saddened by her family’s tragic story, and the real lives and loss that have brought Rockstar Ronan into notoriety. We don’t know her – and she doesn’t know us. But our hearts grieve for her family’s loss and for every family that loses a child.

Reading this woman’s blog is heart-wrenching and terrifying. Despite my tears, I read on, if only to support her in spirit. And I learned something.  What I have learned from reading about Rockstar Ronan is the surprising lack of resources and research that is given to pediatric cancer. I’m truly shocked that something killing children at such an alarming pace can go without more funding. I learned 46 children are diagnosed with cancer every day; seven of them will die today. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children.  

In honor of our Mom of the Month, the first contribution from the Ash & Alys Fund, which will be made at the end of 2012, will go to The Ronan Thompson Foundation. The Ash & Alys Fund is funded by Twosie™ and SlumberSling® sales. For more information, click here. To learn more about Rockstar Ronan visit http://rockstarronan.com/, and to learn more about his foundation, visit http://theronanthompsonfoundation.com/.

Please join us in supporting these causes and in extending kindness and encouragement to anyone grieving the loss of a child. Love and treasure your babes every day.

If you would like to nominate someone for 'Mom of the Month,' please email us the details at info@ashandalysbabes.com. 

-Ashley

 

Fall Fashion – Babes Favorites October 1, 2012 13:07

Fall is my absolute favorite season. Summer slowly and gracefully bows out, and before we know it, we’re watching the season’s colors transform, picking pumpkins, drinking hot cider and making Halloween costumes. 

I love boots, scarves, chunky sweaters and fuzzy hats. I love putting summer clothes away and cleaning my kids’ drawers of the sizes they’ve outgrown. Because my children are still not at school age, I am enjoying the measure of control I still have over what they wear. Despite my enthusiasm and efforts to involve them in the ritual of changing out their wardrobes, I am met with resistance.

Unfortunately, as much as I may want to stock up on hoodies, handmade sweaters and puffy vests, most kids really don’t like to bundle up. My four-year-old is currently on strike from wearing anything other than short sleeves and shorts, and while I keep reminding him that the weather is going to change soon, he keeps insisting that shorts are appropriate in the cold and that “being cold makes me feel hot, mom”.

So, with that as the inspiration, we’ve selected some of our favorite fall fashions that will hopefully go over well with children who don’t want the bulk or heavy layering that often comes with cold weather clothing.

·      Legwarmers/arm warmers: They go with almost anything and since they are very snug fitting, they keep those little arms and legs warm under skirts, t-shirts, tunics and more. Maybe my little guy will even get away with wearing shorts this fall, paired with some legwarmers.

·      Bamboo knits: More and more kids clothing is being made with this awesome material. It’s stretchy, soft and ultra versatile for any weather. Bamboo naturally regulates temperature; so despite its light weight, bamboo clothing can be great for everyday fall wear.

·      Crocheted accessories: If they are made with a loose stitch and lightweight yarn, crocheted scarves, headbands and hats appeal to even picky kids. They are perfect for layering over lighter weight clothing that needs an extra touch of warmth, and easy for kids to pop on and off depending on their mood or how chilly they are feeling.

·      Peasant and tunic dresses: These adorable little frocks make me long for a daughter! There are so many cold weather options out there right now, you really could keep your girl in dresses all season long. So much fun to mix and match pairing with knit tights, contrast leggings and of course legwarmers.

·      Jammies all day long: For the waddlers, crawlers and rollers, I think nothing is cuter than going out in cold weather in your favorite footie or romper. With a Twosie™ underneath, and a hat or scarf to top it off, little babes can easily enjoy the crisp fall days in their PJs.

-Ashley

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

 

From the Kids: Great (and Inexpensive) Gift Ideas – VIDEO September 24, 2012 13:10

For holidays, I always like to have the boys give their aunts, uncles, grandparents and each other gifts that are from them, not just from ‘all of us.’ Since we have a pretty big family, this can get very expensive if we’re always buying double gifts for everyone. Pinterest can be a life-saver for great ideas, but the recent Grandparents Day provided me with some personal inspiration. 

Grandparents Day was in early September, and I really wanted to have the boys do something special for their Oma, Grandpa Joe, Grandpa and Grandma. We always have oogles of art to give people with how many projects my oldest brings home from preschool, so I wanted to do something a bit different. With technology today, it is so easy to share video, and grandparents never tire of seeing their little grand-babes. So, I recorded a video of the kiddos singing ‘Happy Grandparents Day To You,’ and they said all of their grandparents names in the middle of the song so it was really cute and personal.

It was such a short clip, I could have texted or emailed it or put it up online to share it with them and that would have been a totally free and thoughtful gift. Since we had some blank DVDs lying around, I burned copies and put them out in the mail a few days before the holiday, with a little note written on the front of the disc so they would know what to do with it. Needless to say, the surprise was appreciated, and the boys and I had fun doing it together. They were really into it and knew they were doing something sweet. This idea would work great for any holiday, or just to make someone feel special.

If you do have some cash to spend, or want to mark a significant holiday/milestone, you could take it one step further and give a professional video gift to a loved one. One of our specialty vendors, Collard Story Albums, creates personalized ‘movies’ for special occasions, incorporating favorite music, pictures and video clips into a beautiful keepsake that everyone in the family will enjoy.  The pricing is accessible and ranges widely – you can check it out here.

I’m including one of the ‘outtakes’ from our recent video project, for a little laugh.

-Ashley

 

Welcome! August 5, 2012 23:48