The MomSpeak

There are few things more irresistible to me than hotel toiletries. Those tiny bottles of shampoo and body wash, little bars of soap wrapped up in paper, individually-wrapped Q-Tips…I hoard this stuff like crazy. And I mean crazy, weird, compulsive hoarding. The first thing I do upon checking into a hotel room is survey all the free toiletries…and then shove them all in my suitcase so the maid will give me a full restock of everything the next day. Which I will also shove in my suitcase. I won’t actually USE anything, most likely — I usually opt to pack my own shampoo and conditioner and cleansers, as I am a fussy, annoying, delicate little flower. I don’t remember the last time I actually used a shower cap, but if I ever need one, I have at least eight or nine of them lying around. My sewing skills begin and end with sort of being able to sew a button back on, but the presence of a free hotel sewing kit is like hitting the hoarding jackpot.

I occasionally dip into my stash when I travel — I’ll pluck the best of the shampoos or some bubble bath to take with me to yet another hotel, just in case I don’t like their offerings. (Will still totally  steal them, all right, but I prefer OPTIONS.) Our guest bathroom is also stocked with hotel samples for any overnight guests who may fancy some mouthwash or a two-pack of cotton balls.

When was the last time you stopped and took some time to smell the roses? Your preschooler probably does it all the time. Give young children the opportunity and they will sniff every flower, turn over every rock, and inspect every leaf they can find. It can take them 15 minutes to traverse a single city block!

Children are extremely curious about their surroundings and genuinely excited about all things nature. And the park, your backyard, or a walk down the block are great ways to spend some time with your family without spending a lot of money. 

The next time you take a stroll outdoors, turn your trip into a little adventure. Gather some acorns or walnut shells, and when you get home, turn them into teeny boats that can actually float! Or if your child is more interested in an art project, collect leaves of different shapes and sizes on your walk. When you return home, you and your child can use those leaves to create a beautiful work of art.

There are many inexpensive ways to explore the great outdoors and bring back little treasures for your home. Here are some of Savvy’s very best:

Did you hear? The United States is in economic crisis, and much of it has to do with credit. That is, buying stuff with someone else’s money hoping you can pay it back later. Which sounds a lot like what my nine year-old son tries to do with me: “Pleeeeeease can you buy me Super Mario Giganto Turbo Supernova III: The Adventure Continues? I’ve got the money! I’ll pay you back!”

Um, no. In fact, my saying no is part of an important financial lesson: you can only buy something if you can pay for it. In this case, I meant it literally — he needs to bring his wallet along if he wants to buy something. But it also applies to the notion of saving one’s money for future purchases.

It’s just one lesson along the way to my son’s understanding of the fundamentals of money management. It’s more important than ever for kids to learn how to make money, how to save it, and when (and on what) to spend it.

Getting Clean and Going Green

The change of season and the cold dry weather seem to be breeding grounds for a slew of lovely illnesses. With my oldest in school and a newborn at home, you can bet Iím a bit more conscious of keeping things extra clean. But in the past, cleaning meant diving into a bunch of bottles of chemicals I could barely pronounce only to be left with shiny floors and one big toxic headache. So when it comes to household products, I always on the look out for products that are gentler on the earth, my kids, and my own skin. Plus, I figure if itís a fairly all-natural or organic product, I can stick a bottle in my kidís hands and let her help me wash the windows or scrub the toilet.

Now over the last year, many of the larger grocery chains have started carrying green products, making them way more accessible to folks who don’t have a health store nearby (or one that isn’t a little scary and patchouli-smelling). In the same vein, the larger brands are now producing ìlight greenî lines, although many eco-ists are raising an eyebrow at the environmental claims.

Even with increased accessibility and mass production, most green products will hit your wallet a bit harder than regular old stuff. That’s not such a big deal if you had some assurance that they will in fact clean the heck out of your kitchen counter and not just make it smell like hemp and lavender–which honestly, a lot of them don’t. That doesnít mean you should give up altogether and soak your entire bathroom in ammonia. It just means you should look for reviews or better, personal recommendations from other germ-obsessed eco-moms who have put the products to the test.

Here are a few of my own personal tested and approved favorites:

Laundry Detergent

Not only are Dropps neat, clean, and environmentally friendly, theyíre completely free of everything that gives my daughter a rash. Plus thereís no question about how much detergent to use; just drop one or two pods into your wash.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Thereís no lack of green all-purpose cleaners out there, but one that actually cuts through the grease instead of spreading it around in pretty patterns on your counter? Try Epic. My husband the cleaning junkie gave it a big thumbs up and that’s saying something. It produces fantastic results and a scent thatís not overpowering but doesnít scream hippie convention.

Toilet Cleaner

One great thing about kids in diapers is that you’re not cleaning up the toilet or the potty after them too. And if that weren’t gross enough, try inhaling the toxic scents of the toilet cleaning products. Well, thatís not the case with Posies Cleaning Products and their Scruffy Silk toilet cleaner which uses natural peppermint and lavender oils combined with baking soda and vinegar to help you get the you-know-what-off your bowl.

Dish Soap

Dapple is a completely natural and biodegradable dish soap that will clean your babyís bottles and your greasy frying pans with ease. And along with smelling fresh, they make a got a dishwasher detergent that works equally as well.

So spill it. What are your favorite green and light green cleaning products? Do you spend the extra money to buy something thatís a bit safer and less toxic, or do you just open the windows and shoo the kids to the basement?

I have these fantasies every year about making my daughters’ Halloween costumes myself. But between work and home obligations (and watching Project Runway) it never quite happens. Next thing you know it’s October 30, and I’m picking through the pathetic remnants at the local costume store, trying to decide if it’s worse to make my three year-old a sexy cheerleader to just stick her in a sheet and call her a ghost.

And yes, they really do have sexy costumes for little girls. I’ll spare you a link.

Perhaps you too want to resist the quick ‘n easy appeal of store-bought pvc masks and shoddy quality vinyl capes but also find yourself pressed for time (or, um, skills). If so, it’s easier than ever to find the accessories you’re looking for online. Just a quick poke around some of Cool Mom Picks’ favorite haunts on the web, yielded the following beautiful items.

I used to think babies were expensive, with all of their baby toys, exersaucers, developmental playthings, and of course the Baby Einstein DVDs. And then my oldest grew into a preschooler, and I realized the entertainment only gets more expensive as they grow older. The newest electronic toys, that Dora DVD, and let’s not forget her begging to go to the local children’s science museum or the zoo constantly. It all adds up. 

Here are a few ways to save on entertainment so your little one can be happily occupied without draining your bank account:

We have tried to develop a love of books in our daughters. Our three-year-old loves to pick out her favorites for nighttime reading and even “reads” them back to us. Our eleven-month-old likes to chew on the corners — you can’t win ‘em all. As a family we are always looking for new books to cycle through the collection. This can get expensive if we were to buy new every time. Instead, I have compiled a list of ways to obtain free or inexpensive copies of our favorite tales to share with our readers.

My first visit to the dollar store filled me with a mixture of wonder and horror. I was overcome by the vast array of products that could be purchased for Only! One! Dollar! But I was depressed by the mass of cheap plastic that would eventually find its way into the landfill. Could there be some decent buys for someone who values quality, but wants to save a few bucks?

In fact, there are enough deals to make a stop at the dollar store worthwhile, especially if it’s nearby other shops you frequent. Here’s what I found on a recent visit:

Art and craft supplies: If you’ve ever been to one of those big box craft stores, you know how easily you can blow your budget there. You go in for a few bottles of tempera paint and some brushes and you come out with a hundred dollars’ worth stuff you swear you’ll use but probably won’t. If you’re just looking to set your preschooler up with some basic doodling equipment, you’ll do just fine at the dollar store.

Every season is birthday season, at least in our household, although now that our kids are starting preschool, the quiet little family gathering might not just cut it anymore. 

Then again, it’s not like we all have a ton of cash lying around to start spending on games, prizes and party favors, to say nothing of the custom-cake with the princess kissing a clown (don’t ask). And who wants to get stuck with all the leftover paper and plastic items that do nothing but load up the local landfill?

Ho, Ho, Ho. It’s late September and time to start decking the halls. Yes, school just started back and you’re swamped with all sorts of fall season stuff, and the economic news keeps getting worse,  but trust us, now’s the best time to start thinking about the December holidays. Really. For one thing, keeping ahead, really ahead of the rush will let you make considered decisions about what to buy the people on your list and allow you to spread out the cost of the season.