Author: mkokopelli

mkokopelli https://mkokopelli.wordpress.com With a BA in Creative Writing, I have always had a passion for telling a story. When I graduated from UNCW, the job market was scarce so I pursued my other love, photography. I managed a photography studio for 3 years before starting my own company, M&M Photography. As luck would have it, one of my clients worked for the Charlotte Observer and asked me to join her team in launching their new mom website, MomsCharlotte.com. During this time, I had a baby and after learning some disturbing things about big name baby shampoo, I started researching children’s products and eventually family products. I began a blog, Mkokopelli, as a side project to document all of the things I was learning and to share my knowledge with other concerned parents. Mkokopelli led me down many exciting roads as I got to work with amazing companies and organizations. I began freelancing for several big named eco-friendly businesses including Inhabitots, Stonyfield, Franklin Goose, Earth Mama Angel Baby, The Baby Grocery Store, Juice Beauty, rocklovepeace, and Sacred Pregnancy. After having my second child, I decided to focus my talents on social media content as well as video editing. My current clients are a multi-billion dollar real estate company based out of Dallas, TX and a NC therapist who specializes in Transformative Insight Imagery. When not writing, I enjoy hiking, traveling, photo journalism, poetry, reading, nature, politics, activism, and painting.

Barefoot Books Giveaway!

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My favorite thing about Barefoot Books is that they grow with your child. My daughter is only 3, so she of course has no clue what Mexico, China, Egypt, or Africa stand for or even understand where they are on the map. But she does understand vibrant pictures of children playing instruments, people dancing, and that the numerous monuments in the pictures stand for something. She does enjoy the rhymes and discussing what she sees in each picture. Not to mention she learns a little something after each read. Even if she forgets it 5 minutes later, with repetition, she will one day get it. And after she gets it, there’s even more to learn!

One of my favorite Barefoot Books collections is the Travel Around the World Gift Collection. It is recommended for ages 3-10! That’s 7 years of learning packed into 1 book! In the series, you and your child get to sail down the Nile, go on a African safari, ride a caravan down the Silk road in China, go to Mexico, and go with granny to the market. Each book teaches your child about the culture, geography, language, and history of each location. You also get a 63 piece Landmarks of the World Puzzle and fun tote bag.

My daughter’s favorite book is “We All Went on Safari: A Counting Journey Through Tanzania.” She is just learning how to count, so going through the book and having her count the animals is lots of fun. The book also has the actual number, so if you are teaching how to recognize numbers, this is a great tool. The pictures are beautifully illustrated and I love the vibrant colors. The words are large enough for beginning readers and lots of repetition is used. I would even recommend this book for young toddlers who are learning their animals. For the older children, they can learn how to count in Swahili! They can also learn how to say each animal’s name in Swahili, learn Swahili names and facts about the Tanzania people, plus learn a short history lesson and see a map. I have enjoyed learning along with my daughter!

Each book has lessons in the back for older readers. You can learn about the Gods and Goddesses plus some cool info about Ancient Egypt in “We’re Sailing Down the Nile: A Journey Through Egypt.” You can learn about the story of silk, the Silk road, and even places along the road in “We’re Riding on a Caravan: An Adventure on the Silk Road.” And you can learn Spanish phrases and the history of Mexico in “Off We Go to Mexico: An Adventure in the Sun.”

Barefoot Books are great books for homeschooling. They make amazing gifts. And your child will enjoy them as much as you do.

Giveaway: Barefoot Books USA is giving 1 LUCKY reader all 4 titles mentioned above in paperback!

Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST October 5, 2010 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US

How to Enter: Tell me your favorite Barefoot Book Make sure to leave your email address!! I cannot contact the winner without it!

EXTRA entries: You must complete the “How To Enter” before making any extra entries. Make sure you leave a comment for each extra entry and tell me which one.


2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Follow Mkokopelli on Twitter, or Follow my blog (2 entries for each one)
3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified (2 entries)
4. Blog, Tweet or send a message on FB and leave a link here (1 entry per day)
5. Enter another giveaway I have going on and tell me which one or leave a comment on a non-giveaway post (1 entry total)
6. “Like” Barefoot Books on Facebook (2 entries)
7. Sign up for the Barefoot Books Newsletter (3 entries)

If you make any purchase at Barefoot Books during the giveaway, let me know and you get 5 extra entries.

New disclaimer: I was sent this item to review from Barefoot Books. This in NO way changes my opinions about the products or company. These are my thoughts, opinions and results.

Oops

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Yup, I did it again. This has seriously been one of the craziest years of my life. 🙂 Ella and I got to go to Richmond, VA to help set up Franklin Goose. OMG! It is amazing! If you are near Richmond, you’ve got to go check it out. I will be back with some more pictures and cool info about the store.

But right after our visit we ended up moving to the country! It was a spur of the moment decision, but needed to be done. The old house is still on the market and our cats made the upstairs smell. So we moved into a vacant house at Ella’s grandparents. It’s nice to be in the country and quite relaxing!

So I’m back! I’ve got some great giveaways and reviews coming up, so stay tuned! 🙂 Hope everyone is doing well.

Buzz Away

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The one thing I detest about Charlotte is the mosquitoes! The thirsty blood suckers thrive in my backyard. We’ve been held hostage in our house all Summer because if you are outside for 2 minutes you will have 10 bites. I mean they even swarm to my car as I’m strapping Ella in! I’m not exaggerating!! Ella was laughing at me “making the squito rest in peace.”

Then I was contacted by Buzz Away to do a review. I normally skip bug sprays and just avoid buggy areas, but Ella enjoys playing in the driveway. So I accepted, especially since it is all natural and plant based!

I have to say Buzz Away has a funky citronella smell, but it does the trick and keeps the bugs away!Quantum Health sent me a Citronella Candle, Buzz Away Extreme Spray, and Buzz Away Extreme Towelettes. I loved that each product repels against mosquitoes, ticks, flies, gnats, and no see ums. If you’ve been with me a while, you might remember my horrifying story about finding 32 ticks on us after leaving my grandparents farm. I know for sure I won’t go back without my Buzz Away!

Buzz Away is Deet free and is made with Soybean Oil, Geranium Oil, Castor Oil, Purified Water, Coconut Oil, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Lecithin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Benzoic Acid. In a blend of Essential Oils of Wintergreen, Citronella, Cedarwood, Peppermint, and Lemongrass.

The Buzz Away Extreme Spray is good for up to 4 hours for mosquitoes and 2 1/2 hours for ticks. It’s non-greasy and smells pretty much like the Citronella Candle.
The Citronella Candle is petroleum free and produces no soot. It will last up to 20 hours! It’s small and can fit into your purse. So it’s great for camping, outdoor concerts, barbecues, boating, or even while at the park. We are taking our candle camping in 2 weeks, so I’m hoping to remain bug free!The most convenient Buzz Away Extreme product is the Towelettes. I have loved keeping these in my purse, car, and Ella bag. Yes, she gets her own bag for going out. 🙂 I hate to spray anything on us when we go out, especially if you don’t know if there are bugs. So keeping them on hand has proven to be really helpful! We were walking through the woods and started to get bit by mosquitoes. We used the Towelettes and the mosquitoes left us alone!

You can get coupons, rebates, and buy value packs at Quantum Health online!

Recycle

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Recycling has become a lot easier for many people since curb side programs have become readily available. Using recycled glass, aluminum, and paper will take 50% less energy than when using virgin product.

Things that you can recycle that you wouldn’t think about:

  • Do you DIY when it comes to changing out automobile fluids? Oil and anitfreeze are recyclable and most oil change or auto service companies accept used motor oil from the public. Used motor oil can be re-refined into a brand new product that can go back into your car, recycled into clean lubricant or burned as fuel. As long as the used oil hasn’t been contaminated with other fluids. Used antifreeze can also be recycled by filtering out contaminants such as lead, then restoring the original properties through stabilizing additives.
  • Recycle wallet trash! Most gift cards, credit cards, discount cards, hotel key cards are made with PVC plastic and can be recycled. The magnetic strip used to be an issue, but now companies have begun to accept them and melt them down to reuse.
  • Before you throw out your cooking oil… This is a tricky one for most people. Pouring it down the drain harms many wildlife creatures while also causing damage to your pipes. And throwing it away is just as harmful to the environment. Now that people are researching biofuel, there is a need for used oil. You can use www.earth911.org to find a oil recycling center near you. Just store the oil in a container until you are ready to drop it off.
  • We’ve all seen the horrible pictures of birds with the 6 pack beverage ring caught in its beak. Most of the rings are made out of plastic #4 which is a recyclable plastic. If your curbside only picks up #1 and #2 plastic, you can mail your rings to Hi Cone.
  • Did you know that you can recycle your make up containers? Most are made with #5 plastic, so instead of trashing, just clean them out. Origins accepts any type of makeup containers. Mac will take back its containers and will issue a free lipstick with every 6 container returns. Aveda will take bottle caps, which are not recyclable, and use them for their packaging.
  • Want to get paid for trash? Go to TerraCycle.com and learn how you can recycle candy bar wrappers, chip bags, drink pouches, coffee bags, and lots of other wrappers and get paid for it! There are thousands of locations accepting your trash.
  • Most people throw away old keys, but now you can help a cause. Keys for Kindness accepts all metal keys to help raise money for Multiple Sclerosis.
  • Save your hair and donate! Many places accept hair to help make wigs for cancer patients. It takes up to 8 pony tails to make 1 wig. Pantene Beautiful Lengths will take 8 inches, Wigs for Kids accepts 12 inches, Locks of Love will take 10 inches, Childhood Leukemia Foundation will take 12 inches, Children with Hair Loss will take 8 inches, and Matter of Trust will take any length.
  • Don’t throw out your old or broken electronics. You can find e-cycling programs that will accept computers, tvs, video games, cell phones, and other electronics at www.epa.gov Most electronics contain hazardous materials like lead, mercury, nickel, cadmium, and lithium which can leach into the soil and contaminate the areas water supply.
  • Appliances are also recyclable. If you purchase a new one, have the store deliver so they will take your old one. You can also call Salvation Army to pick up working items. You can find out more ways to recycle metal at RecycleMetal.org
  • Aluminum foil, metal and plastic clothes hangers, stainless steel products like pans and tea pots, and even empty aerosol cans (at some locations) can be added to your recycling bin.
  • Packing materials, CD and DVD cases, plastic electronic casings, mixing bowls, tooth brushes, legos, detergent bottles, egg cartons, produce bags, and bread bags can also be recycled.
  • You can find places in your area that take batteries, pesticides, mercury, and light bulbs by going to the www.epa.gov site.

What about food recycling? Do you compost? If so, what foods do you recycle?

Reuse

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It is stated that the U.S. is the most wasteful society by sending 236 million TONS of solid waste into landfills each year. That’s roughly 4.5 pounds of trash per person, per day. Lots of things end up at the dump that can be reused, if not by you, by someone else. Today you can buy recycled paper, recycled clothing, recycled packaging, recycled rubber shoes, recycled books, recycled toys, and basically everything at thrift or second hand shops. By extending the life cycle of products, we are cutting down on usable garbage.

If a landfill isn’t properly cared for, ground water and surface water can become toxic. Even after a landfill is closed, we still have to worry about toxic gases being released which can cause degenerative diseases. Lots of people are doing their part by using reusable paper towels, taking tote bags to shop, taking their lunches in reusable bags, using cloth diapers, recycling, and ditching plastic bottles for stainless. Here are some other ways that you can reuse at home:

Buy recycled or second hand products.

  • Buy, trade, or get second hand furniture, electronics, ethical toys, books, shoes and clothing. Be sure to check out the recall list by the CPSC before purchasing any second hand baby products.
  • Buy books, paper, and even puzzles made out of recycled paper. There are tons of great companies that also use soy inks.
  • Green Toys is a great company that uses recycled milk cartons to build all of their toys and feeding products.
  • RockLovePeace, The Measure, Soft Star Shoes, and TreeBottom are a few companies that use recycled fabrics or donate leftover scraps.
  • Look for diaper swaps

Fix instead of replace.

  • Instead of buying new chairs or couches, choose a new fabric and reupholster yourself.
  • Sew holes in your clothing or make patches instead of tossing.
  • Turn tee shirts or favorite baby clothing into a quilt.
  • Make your own pillows, clothing, dolls, puppets, and other toys out of old clothing or even curtains. You can also buy iron on printer paper to make your own picture books out of white tee shirts.

Reuse your own trash:

  • Make bird feeders out of milk cartons.
  • Keep your glass containers to make your own juices, teas, or sauces.
  • Save baby food jars for homemade food or to keep buttons, pins, and anything small you wouldn’t want your child to ingest. Also great to put little candies in for party favors.
  • Make stilts, phones, or musical instruments out of aluminum cans. Make sure they are BPA aluminum cans!
  • Save yogurt containers to store pasta, sugar, flour, and even leftovers.
  • Save peanut butter jars to make your own jams, applesauce, or even store candies.
  • Compost leftover food.
  • Save spray bottles to make your own cleaners. They are also great to spritz yourself in the heat. Or you can add lemon juice and lighten your hair while in the sun.
  • Save everything from a cereal box. The boxes make great magazine holders if you cut the top off and wrap with paper. You can also use the box to ship something small. The cereal paper is great to keep to substitute for wax paper or to even pound chicken. But be sure to check with the cereal company to find out what their paper is coated with. You would want to reuse any that is contaminated with 2-methylnaphthalene.

If you do decide to make a new purchase, make sure to donate it to friends, family, thrift stores, or even Good Will. There are great books available that discuss various art projects that you can create with things you find around the house. What are things that you reuse? Do you have any fun art projects that you have created with recycled goods?

SK Parenting Awards

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Have you seen the SheKnows Parenting Awards? They are casting votes now!! I was happily surprised to see Earth Mama Angel Baby, Barley & Birch kids clothes, Happy Baby, PlanToys, Green Toys, Seventh Generation, Fuzzibunz, Stokke, Mothering Magazine, and lots of other eco-friendly companies nominated. Be sure to cast your votes today! http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/surveys/2010-sheknows-best-parenting-awards/poll/environmentally-friendly-green-products

Reduce your Footprint

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Did you know that it is estimated that the average American family uses 102,000 gallons of water and creates 3.3 tons of landfill waste each year? And the average American’s ecological footprint is 25 acres! That is tons of waste. The good news is that it is a very simple fix. To reduce your footprint, make daily changes in your behavior and start teaching your kids now. It’s important to start young so it is expected behavior. Here are some suggestions on how to cut waste from your life:

  • Cut off anything that uses electricity when leaving a room. This is a very simple way to cut back the use of energy and even a 3 year old can be taught to do. Make sure all windows and doors are shut when the air conditioner is running or turn it off. Want to save even more energy? Unplug everything when not in use. Buy energy star products. Use CFL or LED light bulbs.
  • Cut back on water usage. Do you boil enough water for 6 cups of tea or coffee when you only need one? Or do you leave the water on while brushing your teeth? You can save gallons of water every week by paying attention to how much water you are wasting. Want to save even more water? Get a rain barrel to capture water to feed plants. They also make eco-friendly shower heads that help conserve water while showering.
  • Just say no to plastic! Get reusable bags for grocery/farmers market shopping. Always carry a extra tote bag for any kind of shopping or put small items in your purse. Use reusable snack bags or bento boxes for lunches. Buy biodegradable trash bags and diaper pail liners. Want to save even more plastic? Opt for organic plush, wooden, rubberwood, or recycled toys. Buy glass bottles for any juices, milk, water, or sodas.
  • Recycle everything with a code or check http://www.earth911.org to find out what is acceptable. Most plastic toys, baby products, certain furniture, books, magazines, and junk mail can be recycled. If you eat out, make sure to recycle the plastic cups- including Starbucks cups. If you buy milk in glass containers, check to see if your grocery store takes them back. Most local farmers pick up the glasses to reuse. Want to recycle even more? Have your friends over for a clothing party where you can swap clothes and even kid toys. Whatever is left over, donate to Good Will or the Salvation Army. Make sure you don’t trash something that is in decent condition or unused.
  • Reduce your laundry/clothing waste. Make sure you run full loads at 85F instead of 140F. This cuts electricity by 1/3. Purchase a energy efficient washer and dryer. Buy second hand clothing and when done, pass them along again. Want to reduce even more? Wear unstained, non-smelly clothing more than once. Knit your own clothing or buy from WAHM’s. Line dry instead of using a dryer.
  • Cut down on driving. Make sure you do all of your shopping in 1 day. Carpool to work or when going out. Take the bus if you are going more than 5 miles. Turn your car off while waiting in carpool lines or while someone runs into the store. Want to do more? Bike or walk to your destination.
  • Cut out store bought household cleaners. You can use lemons and vinegar (ideas below) for pretty much everything. Make sure you use recycled paper towels or better yet a cleaning cloth that you reuse.
  • Reduce your baby’s footprints. Buy cloth or biodegradable diapers, cloth or biodegradable wipes, and cloth or biodegradable inserts. Breast feed or use glass bottles. Skip the battery operated toys, mobiles, and wipe warmers.
  • Don’t eat out. Buy local organic produce. Join a CSA. Compost all leftover food. Have your own garden.

For cleaning:
Vinegar has been made and used for thousands of years. Distilled vinegar has been used for cooking, medicinal purposes, and even cleaning. Because vinegar is highly acidic, it is able to break down mineral deposits. Vinegar is considered to be antibacterial. It can clean mold, mildew, bacteria, and some germs. I have just begun using vinegar this year as a cleaner and honestly I don’t know what we’ve done without it!

Here are several ways to use vinegar:

  • Vinegar can be used as a carpet cleaner. Not only does vinegar get marker, crayon, grease, and juice stains out, it also lifts pet urine out of carpet!
  • Vinegar is great for laundry. You can let your whites soak in 1/2 cup of vinegar and detergent to help brighten them. Vinegar also gets out laundry stains and bad smells.
  • Vinegar is a great fabric softener as well. Pour some in your softener compartment just like you would a mainstream softener.
  • Vinegar is great to clean coffee pots, water filter jugs, stainless steel bottles, and pots or pans. You can even soak bottles and lids to get out any unwanted mold.
  • Vinegar cleans up spilled paint. Vinegar also removes leftover paint on brushes.
  • Vinegar can clean and polish glass, stone, brass, bronze, or silver.
  • Vinegar also is a natural weed killer and keeps unwanted pests- like ants- out of your garden. All you have to do is pour the vinegar directly on your weeds to kill them.

Little Twig Inspiration and Giveaway

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So I really need your help!! It will only take 5 seconds, literally. I entered a “What Inspires You” contest on the Little Twig Facebook page and I was selected into the top 3! But I need to have the most votes to win and I’m behind by 12!! 🙂 So I thought I’d make this fun!! All you have to do is click on this link to take you to the Little Twig Parent Space Blog and check “Like” by my name- Michelle Lloyd. (Feel free to vote for someone else if you like what inspires them as well.) Then come back here and tell me your favorite Little Twig product. If I win the $100 gift card, I will randomly select a comment to send a special prize (I promise it will be awesome) from my winnings! Be sure to tell your friends! If you post on Twitter and/or Facebook, leave a link here and you can get daily entries. The contest ends on August 31, 2010. Haven’t heard of Little Twig? They have awesome baby bath products that even you can enjoy! And most of their products score between a 2 and 3. There are very few bubble baths that are safe for you or your child. Majority of bubble baths come back with moderate to high hazards on Skin Deep. Some contain sulfates and artificial fragrance which can be harsh on sensitive skin. Not only that, but some bubble baths contain the preservative quaternium-15 which can release formaldehyde at levels as high as one-tenth of the original ingredient. The sad part is that 84 bubbles baths tested, out of 141, by Skin Deep contain quaternium-15. The unscented bubble bath is safe for newborns.

We have been able to test out all of the Little Twig products and I have to say there’s none that I don’t like. I love their variety of smells! Lavender is great for night time baths, especially since it has soothing and relaxing qualities. The Tangerine is my favorite. Something about a tangerine scent puts me in a good mood. The Unscented is great for little ones with extra sensitive skin and can be used on any aged child.

All of the Little Twig products are tested by a pediatric dermatologist for efficacy and mildness. They are non-irritating, free of parabens, sulfates and synthetic fragrances. They are also made with botanical and organic ingredients.

Wish me luck!!

A Rant

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Right before I had surgery I was reading my favorite eco-friendly family magazine when I came across this article that totally irked me. I contacted the magazine after I read it and never heard a response. So I wrote a rant that was published in the Franklin Goose newsletter. I’m still fuming about it, so I wanted to share in case you read the article and thought you’d try some of the recommended products. 🙂

I recently participated in a magazine poll about favorite natural personal care items. Even though the term natural is used pretty loosely, I was still anxious to see what other moms were using. I was stunned by the companies that were given the all natural “awards.”

Burt’s Bees came in first place for shampoo and conditioner. This really didn’t surprise me since most of my friends use Burt’s and think it’s pretty safe. I was a huge Burt’s Bees fan, until Clorox bought the company in 2007. To me, there is something unsettling to about buying your baby shampoo from a corporation that makes bleach, but that’s just me. I looked up the Tear Free Shampoo on the EWG’s http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com and the shampoo scored a 4 on the hazard scale.

0-2 is a low hazard, 3-6 is a moderate hazard, and 7-10 is a high hazard. When it comes to my child, I will only accept anything under a 2. There are many 0’s available, (Earth Mama Angel Baby) so it’s totally unacceptable to me that this eco-friendly magazine awarded a company for a moderate hazard shampoo. Even if the public voted for them, the magazine should steer its readers in the correct direction. In a separate phone study, over 75% of the participants believed they were buying organic products, when they really weren’t. Isn’t it the editors journalistic duty to report that this product isn’t the safest/ most natural available?

The runners up in this category were Kiss My Face, Jason, and Aubrey Organics. Kiss My Face and Jason have been big targets for the Organic Consumers Association for years because they have allegedly lied to consumers by mislabeling their products. Data from a complaint states that most of Jason and Kiss My Face products are made with synthetic petrochemical preservatives, which are in no way organic or natural. (Unless you’re swimming in the Gulf right now.) The EWG has even found cancer causing 1,4 dioxane in both company’s products. Though due to the lawsuit, Jason and Kiss My Face have now changed their terminology- Jason has dropped the organic and Kiss My Face has “stopped making Obsessively Organic.” They both have the same old ingredients. If you use either, be sure to check them out on the EWG because lots are rated at high hazards.

I continued reading the award list and even more OCA frauds were showing up like Nature’s Gate and Avalon Organics. Both are on the OCA’s primary target list for this month. No wonder so many people are having a tough time choosing eco-friendly products. It seems like every large corporation is slapping a “natural” label on their products along with a $5 price increase. The only companies that had USDA certified ingredients that were given awards were Earth Mama Angel Baby and Dr. Bronner’s.

The article does talk about the EWG hazard list as well as the NPA member list, yet majority of the companies aren’t NPA members and have poor safety ratings. The magazine’s guidelines to win an award were pretty unclear. All the winning company had to do was be a NPA member or have ONE product in the winning line with a 3 or better rating. To me, this is as misleading as the word natural and the labels that profess to be safer or more organic than they are. I’m really disappointed because there are parents out there who rely on articles like this because they don’t have the time to do the research.

Links:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneAlert080314.pdf

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AmQUe_l_s2kvdGlsZmZZY2VGOV83dkhUb1ZGUWlpMVE&gid=1

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/index.cfm

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/documents/Complaint.pdf

http://www.npainfo.org/

Maukilo Review

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This is going to be my last post on Mkokopelli for a little while. 😦 Once I began working, Miss Ella got very sick. They are running tests to figure out what’s going on, but at this time we are all clueless. She has a baseball size lymph node on her neck and has been running a fever for 2 weeks. Once she is better, I promise to be back with lots of fun giveaways and reviews! But until then, I need to focus on getting her better and keeping my sanity!

Maukilo asked me to review one of their amazing toys for the Spring and Ella chose Deglingos Milkos the Cow to review. Maukilo carries products made for babies, toddlers, and kids that are sure to inspire their imagination! They carry brands like Haba, Green Toys, Plan Toys, Plasma Car, Sarah’s Silks and more.

Ella has been obsessed with cows since she was a baby and this was perfect for her collection. I love the variety of fabrics plus unique designs of the Delingos.
Original Deglingos are made from 48 different kinds of fabric and string, creating a tactile and visual feast! Their eclectic look endears them to kids and adults alike, whether to cuddle or collect.

Deglingo’s? What’s that? Never heard of them!
Deglingos (de-GLING-goes): common noun. Animalos molto funnios and muy cazios. A unique species of contagiously quirky animals, the

speak their own language which consists of finishing many words with “os”. They all hope to win the upcoming Deglingos Idol competition and can be found living in the best shops in town.

Safety and Quality
All Deglingos products have been manufactured with the highest quality and finishing in mind. They have been tested in one of the most recognized laboratory in the wold and comply with EX71 European regulations with guarantee a high level of security. Over 50 different kinds of fabrics and strings of different colors have been used to create the collection.

Maukilo is filled with tons of gifts for children of all ages, but since it is Spring, they wanted to showcase some of their Baby Shower Gifts:
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HABA Habalinos Cuddly Sheep Svea • $20
Babies will love playing with this soft colorful sheep blanket. Comes with four knots perfect for suckling. Parents can even put their fingers into the sheep’s head to make it into a finger puppet to entertain little ones. Approx. 10” x 10”. Ages 6M+

HABA Habalinos Clutching Figure Sheep Svea • $10
This adorable machine washable plush sheep has a pleasant bell rattle and is sure to keep babies occupied on-the-go or at home. Approx. 6” tall. Ages 6M+

HABA Lirum and Larum Rattles • $13
Brightly colored with water-based stain (no lacquer here!) clutching toy/rattles are sure to keep baby happy and busy. Whether babies want to shake it or spin it they’re going to love it. Wooden parts thread on elastic band. Material: beech wood. Length: 10 cm. Ages 6M+

BLABLA baby dolls – “Henri” & “Trixi” • $44
Blabla’s baby doll collection is designed by Florence Wetterwald and knitted by Peruvian artisans. Everything is made from natural fibers of exceptional quality grown in Peru, making the line irresistibly soft and cuddly. Florence’s poetic, simple, and vibrant style combined with the ancestral knowledge of the knitters has created products which look contemporary, yet feel like old friend. Both dolls stand at 18” tall. Ages 1+

Deglingos Toys – $19.95-$39.95 Deglingos are bright and interactive toys for little ones. Made with wide-wale corduroy and perfectly sized for baby’s hands. Ages 3M+.

“Such a Deglingo I am! Some even call me Mad Cow! But bonkers or not, I’m a bovine with my head over the moonos and my hooves seldom on the ground. To relaxos, I love to play the bagpipes with my udder. Isn’t it the unexpected things that make life beautiful?

Rubbabu Large Giraffe • $19.99
Introducing a soft and squishy toy car in the shape of a giraffe. This amazing vehicle is a truly unique and rather large toy car that both boys and girls really love. Available in four different animals, these colorful toy cars are made entirely of 100% biodegradable, all-natural rubber. They are soft and squishy to the touch, yet sturdy enough to handle years of abuse. The exterior of the toy is covered in safe and non-toxic flocking that makes the toy feel silky smooth to the touch. Dimensions: 7″ x 5″ x 6″. Ages 2+

Rubbablox, 9 pc set • $34.99 Perfect for child care centers, teachers, parents, or anyone interested in providing a truly unique set of soft blocks for learning and enjoyment. The soft shapes are perfect for little fingers, and the bright colors and unique texture will keep children engaged for longer periods of time. When held, children can appreciate the texture and squishiness, while increasing their sensory awareness. They are great for children of all ages. Set comes in a sturdy, vinyl carry case perfect for storage. 100% biodegradable and tested safe. Includes 9 blocks and 18 connectors. 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches – each block. Ages 2+

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