Mama’s Monday Favorite: Plum Organics Baby Food
In our quest to find healthful, tasty, organic food to feed our babies, we stumbled upon Plum Organics baby food. Plum Organics offered everything we were looking for; gently cooked baby food made with fruits and vegetables, wholesome toddler food, and bite sized snacks made with organic fruit and whole grains.
Our babies’ favorites are the Just Peaches (4 months and up), the Pumpkin and Banana (6 months and up), the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal breakfast meal (8 months and up), and the Blueberry, Oats, and Quinoa Mish Mash (toddlers). The sweetness, texture, and overall flavors satisfies hunger while providing important nutrients. We must confess, we like to eat them too!
Plum Organics is so dedicated to serving up healthful food and making the experience great for parents and children that they partnered with Boon and created a dispensing spoon designed specifically for their portable pouches. The spoon attaches directly to the pouch and makes serving easy.
Reasons why we feed our babies Plum Organics:
- certified organic with 100% pure organic fruit
- non-GMO ingredients
- nutrient rich
- no high fructose corn syrup
- no added sugar, juice, colors or flavors
- no trans fats
- no artificial ingredients
- BPA-free packaging
- convenient portable pouch
- child-safe cap, reseals for flexible portions
- meat and vegetarian options
Plum Organic baby foods cost around between $1.40 and $1.19 each and are available online and in stores like Target, Whole Foods, and Babies R Us.
Have your baby or toddler try some today!
- Mama
** Plum Organics provided the product for review.
Mama’s Monday Favorite: Dr Brown’s Make-A-Smash Food Masher
As an avid user of Dr Brown’s Natural Flow Bottle Warmer and Glass Bottles, were were excited to try out the “Designed to Nourish” Line. The “Designed to Nourish” line includes a blender, puree masher, food storage pods, proportional plates, snack cups, bowls, utensils, and storage labels. The first item we tested is the “Make-A-Smash Food Masher“.
The Make-A-Smash Food Masher is a must have food preparation tool. It’s easy design makes mashing fruits and vegetables effortless. It is simple to use and lightweight enough to take with you wherever you go. You can take it on vacation, to mommy and me outings, to a friend’s house, lunch with grandparents, or even the park.
The masher is small enough to fit into your diaper bag or purse! It also comes with a bonus feeding guide and a booklet with recipes and simple tips and helpful hints on how to introduce solids to your infant. Our favorite helpful hint is “Gauge food sensitivities and allergies by introducing one food at a time to your infant, spacing two or three days apart.”
Looking for a fun way for your baby’s older sibling to bond with the baby? Have them use the food masher to make the baby’s lunch or dinner.
The Make-A-Smash Food Masher comes in vibrant colors to capture your baby’s attention. Our masher is white and orange, blue and white is also an option.
Dr Brown has plenty of other amazing products. Visit their website and join the Designed To Nourish community to receive special product news, promotions and tips from Dr. Brown.
- Mama
Mama’s Monday Favorite: Fitter First’s Soft Balance Board
When it comes to Fitness Balance Boards, there is only one name you need to know Fitter First.
The Fitter First Soft Balance Board comes in beginner, regular and advanced versions. The Soft Balance Boards are great tools for individuals seeking muscle or joint rehabilitation, balance-training, or strength building.
The Fitter First Soft Balance Board’s gel-like cushion is easy on the knee joints. If you’ve had a knee injury, you can use the beginner’s board to regain your balance and strengthen your muscles without putting yourself through a lot of pain. The non slip 4 corner compression legs create a solid contact with the ground, enhancing your experience and creating a no slip sensation.
The board’s gel-like cushion is also great for strengthening muscles, ankle ligaments and tendons. The cushion gives you the sensation of floating on a cushion of air while still providing a predictable foundation underfoot. And with its light weight, you can take and use it anywhere.
Source: Balanza Tablero by Trendy Toys
Already have good balance?
Then the advanced soft board is the one for you. The advanced board is specially designed to improve balance, increase core stability, motor function, posture and stance. The advanced soft board is a unique tool that can be added to any exercise routine. This board is especially useful if you are training for a marathon or a triathlon and need to build your core strength. 
Benefits we love:
- Safely achieve better balance, coordination and overall agility.
- Enhance function based on a 3-D sensation where the boards tilt and float laterally creating a tri-place sensation for the user.
- Non slip legs create a solid contact with the ground – no slipping sensation.
- Non marking and silent base means these boards are quiet when in use.
- Larger surface area allows for a variety of foot or hand and sitting positions.
Letters to myself: a journey of self-exploration
Waiting for the perfect moment is often a waste of time
Some would even call it another form of procrastination because, well, it is. One of the most painful self-reflections I’ve imposed is realizing all the things I didn’t do because the time just wasn’t right.
There were jobs I didn’t go after because I felt I wasn’t ready. Maybe I wasn’t as prepared as I could have been, but looking back, I understand it was just an excuse. In my twenties, there were men I wouldn’t speak to because I didn’t feel ready for any kind of relationship, as if every man would immediately fall into one with me. When I first started writing, I didn’t allow others to read what I’d written because I wasn’t ready for their critiques. Keeping talents to yourself is no talent at all.
So what was it all about? I was scared. I was afraid of rejection, of getting hurt, of finding out I was no good. Rather than expose myself, I claimed it was never the right time. There was a perfect moment, and THIS wasn’t it. I was only going to put myself out there when I was certain of success. And guess what? That moment never came.
Losing out on jobs, relationships and careers because of fear is a crime, punishable by days, weeks, months and years that you can never get back.
In Dr. Seuss’s Oh, The Places You’ll Go! he speaks of “The Waiting Place”. It’s obvious the characters on those pages are wasting time, waiting “around for a Yes or No”, or “their hair to grow”, or for “wind to fly a kite”, or “a pot to boil, or a Better Break.” Seuss makes it clear that the reader won’t be that person. The reader will rise above and move forward, embracing the unknown, taking chances, trying things because there’s no other way to live.
The first time I read the book, I cried. It was obvious to me I wasn’t living the best life I could live because I’d been waiting so long for the perfect moment that never came. Through self-exploration, some therapy and plenty of joy and pain, I’ve managed to overcome this issue, to a degree. I remind myself that life goes on whether we take part or not. No matter the excuse, the moment is here… and then it’s gone. Whether it’s perfect is not the issue. Whether I seize it or waste it is.
- Althea
Mama gets a little dirty planting trees
We are on a serious mission to do everything we can to give us cleaner air and protect wildlife that depends on trees for food and shelter. So far, we have planted 18,930 with our partner Trees for the Future.
Spread the word. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and we will continue to plant more trees.
- Mama
Mama’s Monday Favorite: Baby Silk by MD Moms
Last week, some of our babies and toddlers were lucky enough to try out the MD Moms product line. MD Moms, Diane Truong, MD, FAAP and JJ Levenstein, MD, FAAP created Baby Silk moisturizing balm and hair and body wash after being inspired by the needs of their patients and their own children.
We love Baby Silk. Kid-tested, Mother approved.
Baby Silk is the first pediatrician-developed personal care line for babies! The Baby Silk personal care line includes moisturizing balms, hair and body wash, moisturizing towelettes, moisturizing towelettes with sunscreen, liquid powder, diaper rash cream, exfoliating cleanser for cradle cap, and SPF 30 moisturizing lotion. All of their products are made in the U.S.A. and have not been tested on animals.
baby silk gentle all over clean
fragrance-free hair and body wash
Baby Silk Gentle All Over Clean is fragrance-free for ultra-sensitive skin. It is also soap-free, sulfate-free and tear-free. Baby Silk Gentle All Over Clean contains a blend of gentle ingredients that includes marine silk, certified organic aloe and antioxidant vitamins E and B5.
Features we LOVE:
- Paraben-free, preservative-free, sulfate-free
- Contains no phthalates, lanolin, mineral oil, petroleum, waxes, wheat or gluten
- Clinically rated tear-free
- Clinically tested & hypoallergenic
- Made in the USA
- No animal testing
- Recipient of National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance
baby silk daily skin protection
moisturizing balm
Baby Silk Daily Skin Protection moisturizing balm is a quick-absorbing, lightweight moisturizer that is perfect for restoring and maintaining the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Shea butter, aloe, avocado oil, olive oil and marine silk soothe baby’s dry skin, cracking or irritation. Antioxidant vitamins E and B5 and grapeseed oil help protect from environmental damage and reinforce the skin’s natural defense system.
Features we can’t live without:
- Paraben-free, preservative-free
- Contains no phthalates, lanolin, mineral oil, petroleum or waxes
- Clinically tested & hypoallergenic
- Made in the USA
- No animal testing
- Recipient of National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance
Mama’s Monday Favorite: BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Miracle
All baby carriers are the same right? Absolutely not. The BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Miracle is the crème de la crème. It seriously doesn’t get better than this!
If your baby loves to be held and you need your hands free to do household chores, read a book, shopping, or if your hands simply need a break, the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier Miracle is for you. We put a 4-week old fussy, crying newborn into the carrier and she was comfortable and sound asleep within 3 minutes.
Features we LOVE:
- Easy to put on. For forgetful moms, dads or grandparents, directions are sewn into the inside of the carrier so you won’t have to look for a manual if you happen to forget how to put it on.
- Color coded buttons for easy adjustments.
- Waist belt and flexible carrying for superior comfort.
- Body length chart inside so you don’t have to guess if your baby is longer than the recommended 30 inches
- Easy on your back and waist. The ergonomic waist belt allows flexible carrying in a variety of ways. Adjustment options transfer baby’s weight between your waist, hips and shoulders as needed.
- Head support for the newborn baby’s neck. The head support is adjustable and can be folded down once the baby can hold his or her head up (around four months).
- Once baby is able to hold his head up, you can carry him facing outwards.
- Fits baby perfectly – from newborn up to 15 months.
- Developed in collaboration with pediatricians to fit your baby perfectly. No extra insert or pillow needed.
- Extra soft and durable fabric.
- Made from a soft, durable cotton mix. Non-chafing seams.
- 2 color options: Black and silver or Black and purple
Too much Thanksgiving Turkey? Slim Your Waist With These Easy Moves
If one of the goals you have with your strength training workout routine is to try and slim down your waist as best as possible, it’s important to know which exercises will help you work towards this goal and which will actually move you further away from it.
One important thing to note is that some exercises that are more targeted towards muscle growth and development could actually make your waist appear wider, so you must make sure that these are not being included.
If they are, you’re not going to get the results that you’re after. You may get stronger, which is definitely a good thing, but you won’t get slimmer.
Let’s take a look at three exercises that will work to your benefit, however.
Exercise Bar Twist
Most gyms will have weighted exercise bars so choose one that’s approximately 10-15 pounds for this movement. If you don’t have a weighted exercise bar because you’re doing this movement at home, not to worry as it can be done without weight as well.
Placing the exercise bar across your back and holding on to both ends with your hands, you’re to then twist from one side to another, while keeping the knees slightly bent and shoulder width apart.
Really focus on using those ab muscles to generate the twisting motion for best benefits rather than allowing momentum to do the work for you.
Interval Training
Next up you have interval training. How could interval training help you get a slimmer waist?
The answer to this is simple. Since interval training is highly effective for helping you burn off your body fat stores, it’s going to be one of the best ways to go about reducing your overall body fat.
If you perform these two to three times per week along with your weight lifting workouts, you will start seeing fat loss take place. As that occurs, you’ll notice your stomach getting slimmer as well.
In most cases it’s not just a matter of firming up the muscles in the ab region but rather losing body fat that’s covering them.
Plank On An Exercise Ball
Finally, the last exercise to perform to help you get a slimmer waist is a plank exercise on an exercise ball. Since the plank is an isometric contraction that calls for you to hold this position in place, you’ll maintain a steady rate of tension on the ab tissues.
By then adding the exercise ball into the mix, you’re going to up the intensity even further, really forcing those muscles to tense up hard.
As they do, this will train the stomach to stay sucked in at all times, so that when you’re going about your everyday activities the stomach appears flatter and more firm.
So there you have three top movements that you should do regularly if you want to achieve a slim waist. Be sure to do these along with a good diet for the best
- Mama
