I had to repost this because it just puts things into perspective so well. Enjoy!

There are few things less attractive than a person eating. People who do so in public should be charged with indecent exposure. At the very least, they should apologize to all the other folk in the vicinity. If they can’t cover their naked mouths then they should stay at home!

I don’t see why people can’t either eat before leaving the house, or just take an IV with them. It is a simple matter to carry the necessary equipment and liquid nutrients in a small cooler. For goodness sakes, companies give away the coolers for free! And did you know that the growing trend is to wear a permanent hep-lock in your arm?

Who wants to see people put food in their facial orifice in public? Come on, we all know what mouths are for, and THAT is most appropriately done in private!

If people insist on eating in public, the least they can do is to use a head cover. There are so many attractive covers now available that you can even match one to your outfit as a fashion statement. It is easy to make your own from a yard of knit fabric, and you don’t even need to hem it.

As for this law I keep hearing about, prohibiting the harassment of those who feed in public, well, that is just ridiculous! We need to return the the good old days when public decency was more common.

Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC
Breastfeeding Matters in the Capital Region
www.NormaRitter.com

• Are they really flushable?
  These “flushable” inserts are not safe in septic systems. Period. What’s that? You aren’t on septic, so they’ll work perfectly for you? Let me tell you why you should still care. Our waste disposal system has been carefully orchestrated to allow bacteria to decompose all the yucky stuff before it ends up in our oceans. If we interfere with that process by using non-biodegradable washing solutions or super absorbent polymer-containing “flushable” diaper inserts, we are interfering with that natural process, thereby creating a big problem in our eco-system. The result is contaminated beaches, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and certain sea creatures heading toward extinction.
• They just don’t fit {most} babies well
  The inner waterproof lining is designed to fit inside baby’s thigh fold in order to work properly. I’m serious. Have you ever changed a squirmy baby? Are you sure that you could get an elastic leg opening in that crease every. single. time? I am a veteran mom of three, and I wouldn’t even want to try. Had I not known about cloth, I might have just started running to the traditional disposable aisle after learning this information. This is just too much. Feedback we receive from our customers further reinforces the idea that these diapers are just hard to fit correctly without a certain amount of effort.
• They leak
  The only person I’ve spoken to that didn’t experience leaks with these diapers is an elimination communication guru. You can’t get leaks when you don’t have output! Ask anyone that’s used them, and you’ll hear the same story. I just think the die-hards continue to use them because a) they assume cloth is more difficult (you know what they say about assuming), b) they truly believe that this is the best option for the environment, so they’re willing to make the sacrifice.
• They are expensive
  Looking to save money? These diapers are not the answer. You’ll be spending as much if not more than disposables, as well as sacrificing precious resources (petro-based products, time, sanity).

My vote is to switch to cloth (bet you didn’t see that one coming!). Cloth diapers save money, keep nasty chemicals away from baby’s bottom, and they look so gosh darn cute!

Do you have experience with hybrid diapers – good, bad or indifferent? Tell us about it!

1. Become familiar with the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database and slowly replace your products with new, safe products
   This free to the public database is one of my most valuable tools – here you can research the toxicity of all your personal care products.
2. Stop wearing perfume!
   That’s right, you heard me. I know. I was addicted to perfume as well. The big problem is that perfume usually contains phthalates, which are hidden in the non-descript ingredient “fragrance.” So you can unwittingly be poisoning your child’s endocrine system and liver by smelling so fruity. It’s just not worth it. If you really like to smell “scented,” try switching to quality essential oils (Young Living is a great brand – remember to dilute with a carrier oil before placing on your skin).
3. Make your own baby food from fresh, local organic produce.
   Now I know what you’re thinking: “You’re one of those! There’s only so much you can do, and I draw the line here lady!” I totally understand. Being a mom is so overwhelming that it’s hard to imagine adding one more thing to your list of to-dos. However, the most valuable gift you can give your child is a love for fresh and freshly prepared whole foods. This will serve them well in life – native civilizations that eat only whole foods do not experience cancer, diabetes, hypertension or obesity at all. This can also be a great step toward meeting your own healthy eating goals. It can be as easy as preparing a side dish of fresh vegetables every night and pureeing it for your child.
4. Ditch the disposables!
   You had to know this was going to be on the list! I’m the first to admit that everyone will use disposable diapers and wipes every once in a while – even me (gasp!). When you consider all the chemicals that go into the production of just one disposable diaper (even the “green” ones), you will probably make this the exception to the rule. Just one scary thought: disposable diapers are known to increase scrotal temperature in boys, interfering with the mechanism necessary for the production of sperm. The moment you throw that diaper in the trash, it works on polluting not just your sweet baby, but the entire world around us (including our oceans). For more facts about the benefits of cloth and the dangers of disposables, visit the Real Diaper Association (I could write a book about my cloth experience, so I thought I’d send you to the concise version ). Also, disposable wipes aren’t much better. Every single package of wipes I’ve seen in brick and mortar stores (even the “green” ones) contain 1,4 dioxane, one of the most potent carcinogens tested to date. Look for any ingredient with the letters “eth” in the name, and there you’ll find your 1,4 dioxane. Tricky, huh?
5. Wash new clothes before wearing
   I thought I’d leave you with an easy one ALL clothing, even organic, contains chemicals left over from the processing and manufacturing process. Wash them with a non-fragrant, biodegradable detergent before you or your child wears them to avoid the prolonged chemical exposure. Easy, no?

doorbusters (8 am – 12 pm)*
50% off Sigg reusable bottles and accessories, Ergo Infant Insert in green, Envirosax reusable bags
35% off Large Plan Toys vehicles and large scale items (4×4 WD Adventure Car, Forklift, Kitchen Center, Bulldozer)

other great deals
Free Leslie’s Boutique 10″ x 6″ wet bag with every $30 spent on Leslie’s Boutique products
Free Tiny Bubbles detergent with every Gro Baby purchase over $50 while supplies last
Free Idbid with every purchase over $100 while supplies last
10% off all clothing, books/cds/dvds (excludes Mothering magazine), My Brest Friend nursing pillows and accessories
15% off all FuzziBunz products (additional rewards offered through FuzziBunz for every $40 spent), CatBird Baby, BabyHawk
20% off select bumGenius! products (Flip Stay Dry, Econobum, All-in-Ones, Bamboo Wipes, BG Detergent), Kissaluvs (excludes size 0)*
30% off Rockin’ Baby Pouches, Lunapads, KnickerNappies products*, Sigg reusable bottles and accessories*, WishGarden herbs, Dirt Candles
50% off pregnancy and ovulation test strips, Kicky Pants*, Stacinator products

*these offers are not available online

Black Friday is almost here and some sales are already beginning! We love this time of year! As of yesterday, for every $30 spent on Leslie’s Boutique products, you will receive a FREE 10″ x 6″ wetbag!!! Yay! Also, starting tomorrow at midnight, all FuzziBunz products will be 15% off retail! These sales will continue through Cyber Monday. Purchase early to ensure the best selection and stay tuned for more Black Friday steals and deals!

No Sugar Added and Holistic Moms Network of Pomona Valley are proud to bring you Fresh! FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

We will begin the movie at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5th. After the movie there will be representatives from local farms ready to answer questions and offer their services. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free for members of Holistic Moms Network and $5.00 per family for everyone else. See you there!

Just a note to remind you that Village Venture is tomorrow! We are super excited about participating in this annual event for the first time. Stop by and visit us for great one day sales, finger painting, and free organic lollipops! See you there!

p.s. The costume parade begins at 9 a.m. sharp – look for our red wagon

Medela Freestyle and Pump in Style breast pumps

Klean Kanteen Sippys and *new* Baby Bottles

Burp Armor

Swaddlebees EcoNappi and EcoPocket

Tres Tria Co-Sleeping Solution

Better for Babies {little to big} options

*New* Hooter Hider prints

Eco Kids Natural and Non-Toxic Art Supplies

Maple Landmark wooden teethers, rattles and puzzles

Flip and Econobum by bumGenius!

Limited re-release of Blue Scooters print by Beco

New boy stuff and blankets from our favorite eco-conscious designer

Also, we are fully stocked on Teething Bling jewelry for moms! These necklaces are not only cute, but they are so practical for moms of active babies. Baby can chew and pull on the necklace and it won’t break or harm baby in any way. It is constructed of medical-grade silicone, so no worries about leaching!

Are we out of stock on an item you can’t live without? Just shoot us an email and we’ll get it in asap. We appreciate your feedback!