Join From Left to Write on their Adult Summer Reading Challenge! Here’s how the summer reading challenge for adults works:

There will be some awesome prizes: Amazon giftcards, books, cool t-shirts or gear from Out of Print Clothing!

E has incredibly sensitive skin and has ended up in the ER several times from chemical reactions. I learned when she was an infant, she had an allergy to zinc oxide and it irritates me as well- so I was a bit hesitant to use zinc products on little man. Unfortunately, all of our zinc free options have reformulated since last year and have left us in a bit of a rut! So I decided to take a chance with Badger Baby Sunscreen for him and I’m glad I did!

Sunscreen is one of those tricky personal care items that you really should research before purchasing. TONS of big named brand sunscreens contain chemicals that are known to cause cancer, so it’s ironic people use them as a cancer preventatives. Finding a good, safe, organic sunscreen is very important for children and babies. It is seriously worth the extra money! Badgers Baby Sunscreen is actually reasonably priced at $15.99 for 2.9 ozs. Last year, I paid $30 for my daughters. We’ve had our for a little over a month and still have a decent amount left. We also go to the pool 1-3 times a week. Badgers Baby Sunscreen contains non-nano zinc oxide to protect from both UVA & UVB rays, in a base of safe, soothing USDA Certified Organic ingredients. It is water and sweat resistant for 40 minutes, biodegradable, and works immediately upon application. There is NO oxybenzone, octisalate, octinoxate, avobenzone, or added Vitamin A. The sunscreen comes in a BPA & phthalate-free tube from 40% PCR recycled #2 plastic.

Badgers Baby Sunscreen Active Sunscreen Ingredients:
Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%

Other Sunscreen Ingredients:
*Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, *Cera Alba (Organic Beeswax), CO2 Extracts of *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Organic Seabuckthorn), and *Calenduls Officinalis (Organic Calendula), *Anthemis Nobilis (Organic Chamomile) Essential Oil, and Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E).
* = Certified Organic

I’ve been really happy with the Badgers Sunscreen for little man! We’ve had no sunburns or redness after 4 hours in the sun, no rashes, no hives, not even bumps! His skin has remained silky smooth! I forgot our Badgers one day at the pool and we used something else. Within 1 hour he was slightly pink, so I’ve made sure to always have the Badgers Sunscreen on hand! Badgers also makes a Baby Sunscreen Lotion that is not water resistant. This is great for going to the park, hiking, or any other time you are out in the sun without going in the water. The sunscreen lotion is safe, chemical-free, broad spectrum protection from UVA & UVB using the mineral zinc oxide.We have only used this a couple of times and I love how easy it applies. It is only $17.99 for 4 oz. 

It is made with: Active Sunscreen Ingredient:
Uncoated, Non-Nano Zinc Oxide 12%

Inactive Sunscreen Ingredients:
*Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Juice, *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes, *Sucrose Cocoate (from Coconut), Water, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Citric Acid (from Non-GMO Corn), Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate (from Radish), *Glycerin (from Sustainable Palm), *Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Extract, Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E), Gluconolactone (from Non-GMO Corn), *Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) CO2 Extract, Xanthan Gum, *Lecithin (from Soybean), Cellulose Gum, *Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Essential Oil. * = Certified Organic So I have to admit, that I’ve been forgetting to apply my own sunscreen. By the time I get both kids lathered up, they are ready for the pool and I forget my own. And I’ve been guilty several times for forgetting to reapply to E. So we’ve come home pink more this summer than we have in the past 6 years. (I think I finally have it down now- but it took a month!) I was very happy to have the Badger After Sun Balm waiting for us at home to help soothe our sun-kissed skin.

After Sun Balm is made with rich Cocoa and Shea Butters, which not only smelly yummy, they are yummy for your skin. Sun, wind, salt, and sand all take a toll on skin, and After Sun Balm helps to restore the balance. Lavender and Moroccan Blue Tansy oils contribute to the delightful tropical scent and have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, helping to soothe, cool, and relieve your dry, tight skin after sun exposure. This beats totally beats regular ole aloe! You can get a 2 oz can for $9.99. I have very dry hair which allows me to go 1-2 weeks without washing. When I have to wash chlorine out of my hair once or twice a week, it makes my hair even drier. With the help ofBadger Argan Hair Oil, this summer has been so much gentler on my hair! Argan Oil helps repair damaged hair, smooth split ends, and it reestablishes a healthy balance while protecting hair from heat, chemicals, and UV damage. Argan Oil is rich in vitamins, proteins, and essential fatty acids, which strengthen and soften hair at the same time. You can get a bottle of Argan Oil for $18.99

 Argan Hair Oil Ingredients: *Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Oil, *Helianthus Annuus (Organic Sunflower) Oil, *Argania Spinosa (Organic Argan) Oil, *Adansonia Digitata (Organic Baobab) Oil, Essential Oils of *Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Organic Sicilian Orange), *Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Organic Bergamot), *Santalum Album (Organic Sandalwood), *Cananga Odorata (Organic Ylang Ylang), and Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E). 

You can find more information on Badger Balm online and be sure to follow them onFacebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Sample Disclosure: The opinions expressed above are honest, accurate, and not encouraged anyway by monetary donations. A sample free of charge was received from said company, as stated within the editorial

When little man was born I was very anemic. I was able to encapsulate my placenta and got my iron from that for several months, which was awesome. But after those ran out, my anemia came back and I was bruising very badly. Like if you touched me I’d bruise. So I went to the Dr. to have my levels checked.

In June 2013, my iron levels were at 32 (standard is 42-145). Not as bad as when little man was born, but enough to make me weak and bruise easily. I really didn’t want to take prescription iron because it can be hard on your stomach. I also don’t like the nasty filler ingredients. Some of the side effects were dizziness, vomiting, fever, metallic taste, headaches, abdominal pain, and even seizures. Not exactly what I wanted to take when there are alternatives. So I reached out to Mountain Meadow Herbs and got to try their Herbal Iron. I began taking the Herbal Iron in late July. I took 1/4 teaspoon 4 times a day until I was able to get back in to my Drs in November for a checkup. I took the iron with vitamin C to help with absorption. In 4 months, with taking the Herbal Iron daily, my iron count went up to 85!! So I got the same results as I would have if I had taken the nasty prescription they wanted to give me, all naturally. I am more than thrilled!

It has been a year since I started taking the Herbal Iron and I am still maintaining my levels! 

Mountain Meadow Herbs Herbal Iron is made with Organic Stinging Nettle Leaf, Organic Dandelion Root, Organic Yellow Dock Root, Vegetable Glycerine, Distilled Water and approximately 5% Organic Grain Alcohol. All these herbs are gentle on your stomach, non-constipating, and no side effects! It is safe for nursing and pregnant women as well. Herbal Iron is available in 2, 4, and 8 oz and ranges from $18.27-$59.98.

Be sure to like Mountain Meadow Herbs on Facebook and sign up for their newsletter to stay up to date on specials, promos, and giveaways!! 

Sample Disclosure: The opinions expressed above are honest, accurate, and not encouraged anyway by monetary donations. A sample free of charge was received from said company, as stated within the editorial.

This month’s book club came at a perfect time. Little man is starting the emotional roller coaster of toddlerhood. This book was a refreshing reminder that all toddlers go through this phase and no meltdown is unjust.

In spirit of the book, here are a few of my own Reasons My Kid is Crying:

This month marks the 7 year anniversary of my divorce, so this month’s book club is kind of ironic. Luckily, our divorce wasn’t ugly, there was no back and forth and it was as painless as a divorce can be.

When I was a child, I swore I’d never get divorced. My parents split when I was 6 months old and my mom divorced 2 other times after my dad. I swore I’d never be like her. I would never be a single mom. When I said I do, it would be forever, no matter what…

I now find it funny how life seems to teach you lessons and put you in your place. Here I am 7 years later, divorced, and for the most part, have been a single mom. Granted, there was no way I could have stayed in my marriage. There was no way I could have tried harder. There was nothing I could have done to make it work. He became an addict and refused help. He pawned most of our stuff and cleared out our bank account, every week. Leaving was my only option. And even though it was complete hell, there was part of me that hated myself for it.

It took me 5 years to truly mourn my marriage and the loss of my best friend. I can now look back and know it was the best decision I could have made, even though it went against all of my beliefs. After 7 years, I can finally say that I would one day like to get married again and try again for my happily ever after.

This post was inspired by the novel The Divorce Papers by Susan Rieger. Young lawyer Sophie unwillingly takes her first divorce case with an entertaining and volatile client in this novel told mostly through letters and legal missives. Join From Left to Write on March 18 we discuss The Divorce Papers. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

I wanted to give my daughter’s Step 2 car a makeover for my son. Not that there is anything wrong with a pink car for a boy… I just wanted to do something fun to match his personality. So I got some black Rust-Oleum 211338 Paint For Plastic Spray that is for outside use. It even has Step 2 written on the bottle, so it was made for this sort of thing. I sprayed the whole car, wheels, inside, underneath and got this cool black car. It took maybe 30 minutes and took 24 hours to fully dry- so super easy Saturday afternoon project. I then added the finishing touch: a Batman decal.
And you now have the Batmobile! I knew his car needed one more thing- Batman, so I looked around for a cape in a toddler size. That is how I found SuperHeroStuff.com. SuperHeroStuff.com has a ton of great superhero gear for everyone in the family. They have tees, sweatshirts, capes, belts, accessories, and a ton more! Their kid selection is pretty awesome. I found the Batman Kids Cowl and Cape Costume Hoodie and knew it was the perfect finish to our project.
I love that the sweatshirt includes a cowl and cape! The cowl can be tucked under the hood if your child doesn’t like it and the cape is removable. The sweatshirt zips up and has the Batman logo on the front.
The Batman Kids Cowl and Cape Costume Hoodie is available in sizes 2T-7. We got the size 2T and I hope it still fits for Halloween. The cowl is a bit loose, but he is also on the tiny side. If you are looking for something for warmer weather, SuperHeroStuff.com also has quite a few Batman tees, tees with capes, and pj sets- and they all are on sale right now. The hoodie is usually $31.99 but is currently listed for $25.99!

 Be sure to follow SuperHeroStuff.com online on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and onInstagram. 

Sample Disclosure:  The opinions expressed above are honest, accurate, and not encouraged anyway by monetary donations. A sample free of charge was received from said company, as stated within the editorial.

I know I can be a helicopter mom. When E was born, something overcame me and I felt the need to shield her from ALL the bad. I know that’s somewhat normal, none of us want our kids to get hurt. Though I know my mom didn’t want me to get hurt and I was allowed to roam the neighborhood adult-free at 5. I try not to be a super hoverer and let E be as free as possible, but when it comes to being in a situation where she could be kidnapped, I’m pretty much a chopper.

I know we live in nice neighborhood and I should feel ok about letting my somewhat responsible 7 year old outside without an adult- but it’s not happening. We live in a somewhat safe culture, nothing at all like the girls in Mexico or other foreign countries, but reading news stories about girls being taken 2 houses down from their home, taken from a mall, or predators using technology to lure kids in- makes me want to lock her in her room until she’s 30. OK, maybe not that drastic 😉

I often wonder if by not allowing her to roam free, if I am hindering her independence or if I’m being smart by not taking that risk? I’m not sure I know what age I should/would start letting her roam stores without being in eyesight, or run at the park without me 30 feet away, or walk to her friends house by herself. I was attacked when I was 12, so I know that is where most of my fear originates. I would never want her to go through what I did. But I know I have to let go at some point- which is terrifying!

This post was inspired by the novel Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement. Ladydi was grew up in rural Mexico, where being a girl is a dangerous thing. She and other girls were “made ugly” to keep protect them from drug traffickers and criminal groups. Join From Left to Write on February 18 we discuss Prayers for the Stolen. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

I prefer taking herbs over drugs in most cases. So when I was writing my birth plan, I wanted everything to be all natural. I had heard amazing things about Mountain Meadow Herbs, so I contacted them to try out their awesome New Mommy Gift Set. Of course things didn’t go as planned, and I ended up with a C-section, so I wasn’t able to fully review the kit. But from what I did get to try, I’m extremely thrilled with!
The Mountain Meadow Herbs New Mommy Gift Set comes with After-Pain Relief, Maxi-Milk, andHerbal Calcium. The After-Pain Relief is meant to be used immediately after birth. Since I ended up with a c-section, I wasn’t able to use the extract- but I plan on trying it the next time I have cramps. The extract is meant to naturally ease after birth and menstrual discomfort by relaxing muscle tension, easing spasms and cramping. You cannot use the extract with anesthesia, so I didn’t want to risk taking it after the C-section in case of complications.

The After-Pain Relief is made with: Cramp Bark, Black Haw Bark, Organic St. John’s Wort Herb, Organic Yarrow Leaf & Flower, Vegetable Glycerine, Distilled Water and approximately 5% Organic Grain Alcohol. A 2 oz. bottle retails for $18.27.

The Maxi-Milk is amazing! After a bad case of mastitis, my milk supply dropped. I began taking the Maxi-Milk and after several big doses my milk began to come back in! You can take the extract several times a day to ensure a healthy milk supply and it doesn’t make you engorged. The Maxi-Milk is made with Organic Marshmallow Root, Organic Blessed Thistle Herb, Organic Anise Seed, Organic Stinging Nettle Leaf, Organic Peppermint Leaf, Organic Red Raspberry Leaf, Organic Chaste Tree Berry, Organic Milk Thistle Seed, Organic Lemon Balm Leaf, Organic Alfalfa Leaf, Organic Fennel Seed, Organic Skullcap Herb, Vegetable Glycerine, Distilled Water and approximately 5% Organic Grain Alcohol. The organic ingredients give the breastmilk a richer, higher quality. A 2 oz. bottle retails for $18.27.

The Herbal Calcium can be used by anyone- including teething babies! I can’t wait to see how the extract helps when little man begins to teeth. Herbal Calcium is a plant based calcium that helps restore bone and joint integrity. It can also be given to infants to help encourage sleep. The Herbal Calcium is made with Organic Stinging Nettle Leaf, Organic Horsetail Herb, Organic Oatstraw Herb, Organic Cornsilk Herb, Organic Chamomile Flower, Organic Skullcap Herb, Vegetable Glycerine and Distilled Water. A 2 oz. bottle retails for $18.27.

The New Mommy Gift Set is available online at Mountain Meadow Herbs for $49.33. Be sure to follow them on Facebook!

Sample Disclosure: The opinions expressed above are honest, accurate, and not encouraged anyway by monetary donations. A sample free of charge was received from said company, as stated within the editorial.

“In the spirit of her blockbuster #1 New York Times bestseller The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin embarks on a new project to make home a happier place.”

What better way to start the year than with an inspirational book for having a happier home! This book couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve been struggling with my 2014 resolution. I know that I wanted to make a big change, I just wasn’t sure where to start. Then I got inspired and I’m ready for greatness!

When making a resolution, it’s important to make sure you are able to track your progress. That’s why most resolutions don’t get carried out! Happier at Home has 8 focal areas to help make your home a happier place. I took most of the focus areas and applied them to my own resolution. I can’t wait to get started!

Here is my breakdown on how I’m going to make it happen- inspired by Happier at Home:
Possessions: Organize my life and priorities. Get rid of unneeded junk- not just physical possessions! If my life becomes cluttered again, I haven’t gotten rid of enough stuff. Repeat.
Marriage/relationships: Stop wasting energy on those who won’t help themselves. Focus on positive relationships and set the tone with positive words. Say at least 1 positive affirmation a day to my partner.
Parenthood: Change my tone and continue the Yell-free year challenge. Read more here.
Interior Design: Learn how to overcome passive aggression, emit energy instead of consuming it, stop judging others, kick out negative thoughts, focus on the positive and own my destiny.
Time: Focus, stay present. Don’t dwell in the past, overthink the future, but live in the now.
Body: Maintain weight, focus on strengthening.

Hope everyone has an amazing 2014!! What are some of your resolutions?

This post for the From Left to Write book club was inspired by Happier at Home by Gretchen Rubin. Join us for Book Club January 6 as we discuss Happier at Home! As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.