The MomSpeak

My girls have a half-gallon a day milk habit. If I’m buying organic, that’s $5 a day. If I’m going for the regular old stuff, that’s about $1.75.

Big difference.

Of course we all want to do the best for our kids, but in this economy we sometimes have to make decisions between “the best” and “won’t really kill them, right?” So I started researching which foods make sense to buy organic and which don’t really offer enough improvement to make it worth it. What I found was fascinating.

I checked sites like Consumer Reports, the EPA pages on pesticides in children and the Environmental Working Group and the info was actually really helpful for me.

First off, if you buy anything organic it should be milk, eggs and other dairy products, along with chicken and meat. If animals are eating (excuse me) crap feed, then what you’re going to be eating are crap animals, eggs and milk. Your kids are more vulnerable to the toxins in animals (hello, mad cow?) than we are, so for me, this is the priority.

So if you’re like me, you’ve got “get organized” as one of your New Year’s Resolutions list. Or maybe it should be “Yeah right, like that’s ever going to happen” list. Even though I have trouble keeping up the changes I vow to make every year, I still feel obligated to write them out. Even if I’m only able to keep up the exercise plan for a few months, and spend less time on the computer for a few days, I do think the idea of thinking about doing things differently and better every year is inspiring.

When it comes to getting organized, I’ve decided I need one central place for to-do lists, appointments, and every thing else I seem to write down on the backs of envelopes. And in most cases, a regular old day planner would suffice. But now that my daughter is school aged and my toddler has a few activities each week, I’m not only keeping track of my own schedule, but that of a few other people too. And that little square space in those regular old day planners just doesn’t cut it anymore.

If you’re in the same situation, that you’ll want to check out these fabulous organizers that are all mom-friendly. Alright, so maybe they don’t come with a personal assistant and built in babysitter, but they will help you keep track of everyone in the household so that you can focus your energy on other things. Like making sure you’ve got matching socks on.

Thanks to a bunch of sick kids and way too many work deadlines to count, I’m still holiday shopping for a few friends and their kids. And while I generally do everything online, I’ve hit the point where shipping something will now cost me my first born child. Not to fret, however, because sometimes the simplest gift, like a book, can be the best.

That being said, a wrapped up book or one stuffed in a gift bag can sometimes look a little chinsy. So along with giving some of my favorite books, all of which I can grab at my local bookseller, I’m adding a little something extra that’s inspired by the words themselves to make it personal and a bit more special.

For the little one

Kit Allen’s adorable “Long John’s” board book is a fave in our house. Pair it with a fun pajama set from Old Navy.

For the princess obsessed preschooler

We always get a hearty chuckle after readinng Robert Munsch’s “Paper Bag Princess.” Pair it with a tiara and a wand.

I admit that I have spent way too many pennies on my kids’ Christmas outfits in years past. Lovely as they were, the truth of the matter is that they didn’t wear them enough to warrant how much I spent. Not even for that one prized photo with Santa Claus. I suppose it’s a little hard to wear velvet to the playground and then again to bed, but for what I shelled out, that’s the only way I would have gotten my money’s worth.

Since adding another kid to my brood and holding my wallet a bit tighter these days, I’ve learned that your kids can still sport festive and fantastic holiday outfits without you having pay out the nose. With a little creativity and smart shopping, you can find items that will look great on Christmas Day and some random day in February.

Just say “no” to velvet

Just because the dress is beautiful does not mean your kid will want to wear it. Not only can the fancy attire be terribly uncomfortable for your kid, but they’re darn hard to keep clean. For girls, search for a simple red, white, or even black cotton or cotton blend dress that will look great in pictures, but won’t cause them to have major tantrums after wearing it for fifteen minutes. When it comes to your little boy, grab simple basics that he’ll be able to wear for other formal functions; a white or blue button down shirt and khaki pants can go a long way.

When it comes to my own holiday traditions, my fondest memories are of those involving the various ornament making sessions with my mom and my younger brother. Each year, my crafty and creative mom would pull out a bunch of organized craft supplies and we’d create everything from beaded Christmas balls to mini-gingerbread ornaments, all of which she’s since saved and now uses to decorate her tree every year.

So as my children get older and can actually do more than just make a gigantic mess, I’ve started my own tradition of yearly ornament making. But for someone whose craft closet contains nothing more than crayons, construction paper, and a few glue sticks, the idea of making ornaments can seem like a bit of a far stretch. However, I’ve found plenty of super simple ones that require nothing more than a few simple supplies and your kid’s little hands to create – no hot glue guns, special tools, or a sewing machine.

And whether you give the ornaments as gifts, hang them on the tree, or toss them in the “ornament retirement home” (ahem), it’s the time you’re spending with your kids that can be the best part of all. Well, at least until they start fighting.

Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments

Just combine cinnamon and applesauce until it forms a dough, roll out between two pieces of wax paper, and use your favorite cookie cutters to create different shapes. Make sure to poke a hole for the ribbon, and the let dry for around 5 days. No extra decoration necessary!

When it comes to a mom wardrobe, accessories can definitely take your mom uniform from drab to fab in a pair of great earrings or the perfect ring.  But with the economy on shaky ground and the holidays around the corner, most of us aren’t dropping cash on things for ourselves. And we are, we’ve probably only got a few bucks to spare and that generally means something and your local mall and most certainly not handmade.

Of course, when you hear the words “handmade jewelry,” you might imagine either a noodle necklace your preschooler created at school, or a gorgeous artisan piece that will probably cost you an arm and a leg. But thanks to Etsy, a veritable online craft fair that allows anyone with internet access to thousands of artisans and their wares, handmade jewelry can be whatever you want it to be, and in this case, it’s stylish, affordable handcrafted pieces that can help make or break your wardrobe this Fall without you having to spend money on mass produced jewelry that everyone else might have.

If you’re not familiar with Etsy, then you might find yourself completely addicted and perhaps a bit overwhelmed. However, the search categories, along with their frequently updated gift guide and main page features, make finding cool items a bit easier. The key is to visit often, save your favorites, and remember that the items are handmade, so there might be some discrepancies or minor irregularities that just make it unique. But being able to support an artisan, crafter, and/or small business owner all while decking yourself out on a budget is a fantastic reason to click around and shop.

Breastfeeding can already be pretty tricky for even the most seasoned moms, but then try feeding your baby in middle of the mall or your favorite restaurant and it can become downright complicated.

Some moms shrug if off like it’s no big deal and just have a go at it regardless of where they are or who’s around. Others take the “recommended” blanket approach, although most often they spend more time trying to figure out how to keep the blanket over their baby than actually feeding her.

Regardless of which “camp” you fall in, breastfeeding in public can take a bit of juggling so that you’re not only comfortable doing it but you’re not inadvertantly giving a peep show to half the dining section.

Thankfully, we’ve come across a slew of amazing products that can make breastfeeding outside of the comforts of your own living room much easier.

Nursing Wear

Many moms find nursing attire to be a luxury and not a necessity, but it can definitely make nursing in public more comfortable. From simple tees, try the organic cotton nursing v-necks from Momzelle or the BOOB’s classic nursing shirts. For something a bit fancier, you’ll love the kimono top from Isabella Oliver that allows you to feed the baby in style without stripping down.

And athletic moms will love active nursing mom line from Mountain Blue Eyes. Hey, you just never know when you’re going to have to nurse your baby out on the trail, right?

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.

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?