Knowing what goes on your baby’s skin is a must! More and more we see words like “natural” and “organic” on a product’s label, though often these terms are misleading. Many parents in the hustle and bustle of daily life just don’t take the time to read a product’s label thoroughly if at all. In addition there are those that simply just buy what they know, what they’ve grown up with, what the advertisers push. That said, I’m not a naysayer to the mainstream, I do however believe that it’s important to know what’s in the products I use, not just for my baby but for my whole family. Moderation is key, I’m not prepared to give up my M.A.C. make-up though I have streamlined it and have incorporated better choices. The following site, Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database, is a great resource, one I hope that you’ll find useful!

It’s our mission at the Environmental Working Group to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment.

Often, that means building databases. EWG’s data gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from the health risks we all face from everyday exposures to myriad industrial chemicals.

In 2004 we launched Skin Deep, an online safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products. Our aim was to fill in where companies and the government leave off: companies are allowed to use almost any ingredient they wish, and our government doesn’t require companies to test products for safety before they’re sold. EWG’s scientists built Skin Deep to be a one-of-a-kind resource, integrating our in-house collection of personal care product ingredient listings with more than 50 toxicity and regulatory databases.

Now in its fourth year and third major update, our Skin Deep database provides you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings for nearly a quarter of all products on the market — 52,698 products with 8,846 ingredients. At about one million page views per month, Skin Deep is the world’s largest and most popular product safety guide.

-Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database

Recently I came across a WAHM’s review and just had to share it, this is good stuff! I wrote the WAHM to thank her for her honest and unbiased review as I do not know her personally nor have I sewn for her directly. In my short and sweet email to her I had to add that the rumors aren’t true and I’m not mean! I laughed out loud at this as those of you that know me know that’s the furthest from the truth.

Having had the pleasure of sewing for more than a few WAHM’S such as Amanda of sweetiebums, Genevieve of The Cloth Canoe and Claudia of Sticky Peas to name a few, I can say that it’s truly a special experience and one that I value. Whether sewing for a WAHM directly or having a WAHM purchase my product second hand, the sentiment is the same, to have another seamstress appreciate the time and detail that goes into my work really does mean so much.

Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 293
Rep Power: 209313

I have to admit… when I read all the drama and the hype and saw the pricetag I was very curious…. so I couldn’t resist when I saw a couple of them listed for cheap in FSOT — in cute boy prints.

They are flawlessly sewn with details like having the size tag machine embroidered on each diaper. The margin for error must be microscopic because each one is just perfect. The snaps are exact… not even a mm off ever anywhere. She is like the not-quite-human seamstress… they are that perfect.

If you hold it up to my $35 piddle poddle — the piddle poddle’s snaps are a mm off here and there, serging a little goofy some places, wrinkle here or there — you know, nothing that would affect function or that
the average person would probably even notice. But they were definitely made by a human.

Obviously the stinky couture diapers took anywhere from 4 to 10 times as long to make as my speed serged piddle poddle… so asking $50 does not seem like much, relatively, to me. The perfection of her diapers also explains why people tend to have to wait so long for their orders as I believe she also has a full time job.

On that listing with the $70 diaper — I’m sure she probably paid anywhere from $10 to $15 just for the cut of that fabric sooo it still doesn’t seem outrageous to me.

Of course, that is more than the average person would expect to pay for a diaper.

If I had so much money that I didn’t have to worry about anything, I would be wearing $900 pants… not as a status symbol, but I enjoy luxurious and beautiful fabrics that cost $50 or $100 per yard and clothing tailor made to fit my every curve and angle and that is probably going to outlive me if I take care of it.

All that said, if all the rumors are true then she is pretty unstable and mean and it would be better not to do business with her imo.
__________________
wahm behind Tat2 Boutique

Again, no the rumors aren’t true and no I’m not mean . . . really.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We’re on Holiday break until 2010.

A thought provoking video on the progression of information technology, researched by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod, and Jeff Brenman, remixed . . . Did You Know?

We love the holiday season and this last year Stinky Couture™ was excited to announce the adoption of a new tradition, our version of Secret Santa. Here we go again . . . Do you know someone that is kind, considerate, cares for others and is rich in all things that matter? Stinky Couture™ wants to be a Secret Santa for a special someone. With your help someone deserving will receive a beautifully gift wrapped Stinky Couture™ gift pack for their sweet baby this holiday season. Gift pack will include a Stinky Couture™ Signature Series™ fitted cloth diaper and a pack of yummilicious Stinky Couture™ baby wipes.

Please submit your nominee to CustomerService at StinkyCouture.com with “Secret Santa” in the subject line. Please do include your nominee’s full name, email address and a short description of why you feel that they are deserving. Submissions are being accepted through 12/21.

This year our youngest daughter, when asked what she wanted to dress up as for Halloween, responded quite simply “a bird”.
At that moment I had no idea of the many hours of work that lay ahead for me. She chose a picture of the bird she wanted to be and it was my mission to bring it to life . . . here it is! The costume is made up of two separate pieces: a lined hood and a separate jacket that has movable wings instead of arms. The feathers are sewn on by hand, which alone took approximately 7 hours. In keeping with my belief that it’s all about the details, there are even eye lashes!

above: Leaning in to get a treat!

Polyester. What falls into the category of polyester? For starters, those pocket cloth diapers we all love made using suede cloth (bumGenius), micro fleece (FuzziBunz) as well those cloth diapers that incorporate Polyurethane Laminate (PUL) and athletic wicking material, which is, guess what . . . polyester! Even the beloved OCBV (Organic Cotton Bamboo Velour) fabric that can be found in many of our favorite “green labeled” cloth diapers, commonly has a 2% polyester backing. Regardless of how it’s labeled polyester falls into the category of a fabric that is less than eco friendly due to it’s carbon footprint. That said, when incorporated to make a cloth diaper I believe, as do many, that the environmental benefits gained by the choice to use cloth diapers far out weighs the less then green facet of it. We, our babies, our planet, benefit from using cloth diapers whether they are made up of natural fibers or not. Fabrics made up of polyester work and work well giving parents the option to not use disposable without sacrificing performance. As each baby’s/parents needs differ the need for options is a must. Have you thought about how many parents might choose not to cloth diaper if there were not options?

I don’t think imitation is the highest form of flattery,
I think it’s annoying. -P!nk

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time… and remember that time waits for no one…

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off benefits, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you’ve had a drink, until you’ve sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy… Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

~ Father Alfred D Souza