Love These Organic Teething Necklaces!

I wish I had discovered these fashionable teething necklaces four kids ago (did they even have them then?) Regardless, these teething necklaces are completely awesome. For one, they're designed to be worn by the Mom and they are cute and fashionable.

But, they also tag team as a teething toy for baby!

Made with organic cotton overlaid on unfinished, natural wooden beads, these teething necklaces are pure genius.

I love that I can wear this necklace and not worry about it breaking while my baby is pulling on it. It hasn't broken or come untied while he's doing so and I wear it nearly every day.

It quietly keeps him occupied while he's on my lap as he fingers the beads and chews on them. This necklace is absolutely perfect for a Momma with a baby who is old enough to grab at things regardless of whether or not the baby is teething.

Another reason I love my adjustable necklace is because when I nurse the Chunky Monkey, it gives him something to hang onto instead of pulling at my hair.

Sometimes I like to dress up an outfit with a necklace, but these days, my little guy loves to pull at them and I don't want them to break. With my teething necklace from Teething Couture I have fashion and practicality all in one necklace.


About Kayla

As a stay at home mom of two, Kayla makes these wonderful teething items in her home to help supplement her family's income. Each necklace is made in a smoke and pet free environment and is crafted with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton fabric and natural, unfinished wooden beads.

Kayla has several patterns to choose from as well as a few additional styles. She is the mompreneur behind Teething Couture. You can find all or products in her etsy shop, where she sells teething necklaces, as well as teething scarves. She welcomes custom orders, special requests and gift wrapping. You can also find her at www.facebook.com/teethingcouture if you have any questions.

Kayla has done a wonderful job on her workmanship and each necklace arrives packaged beautifully.

All of my readers who place an order from her etsy shop will receive free shipping when they enter "1 PURPOSE" at checkout! (Thanks Kayla for the sweet deal!)

 

 

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. I'd love for you to stay connected through the following social medias such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest.

 

Purposeful Homemaking received one or more products mentioned in this post at no cost in order to conduct a thorough and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Additionally, this post may contain affiliate links for which I will earn compensation should you choose to make a purchase. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Thank you for your support of Purposeful Homemaking.

The Bird and Elephant {Natural Teething Rings Review}

Most of you know we have a new baby around the house, but just in case you hadn't heard, here are a few of my favorite pictures of our gift from God. Oh my, he has totally stolen my heart (and my sleep, but that's another story!)

 

 

 

 

So, this little guy is just shy of 5 months but has already had two teeth pop through! I knew the day was coming so I got ready ahead of time and found the cutest little natural teething ring from The Bird and Elephant, a home-based business in Virginia.

 

I love it when a package arrives with fun details added to it!

 

The "bunny ears" part of the teething ring is made from 100% certified organic cotton fabric and an organic, unbleached bamboo terry cloth. The ring is natural maple hardwood and does not have any chemicals or treatments added. It is sealed with certified organic natural beeswax that is NOT imported to prevent the wood from splintering. (You can learn more about the importance of purchasing your honey and honey products stateside here.)

Photo Credit

 

How it Worked for Us

 

First, I have to say that I think this teething toy is uber adorable. I love the simplicity of it and I love that it's quiet. Our baby loves to gum on his and chomp those two razor sharp teeth into the ring. This ring is very durable as I have not noticed any marks in spite of him gnawing away on it like he hasn't eaten in days (which you can tell from the pictures above that he is more than well fed!)

 

He does also enjoy chewing on the material and simply holding it in his hands although for the life of me I can't get it to stay on the ring. Oh well, something for each hand, right?

 

While I do still have some plastic teething rings around here from babies gone by, I am glad that this one isn't plastic and that I don't have to worry about him scraping the paint off with his teeth and ingesting it. This is definitely my go-to for teething right now.

 

 

 

This one's a winner with us! Want one too? Check out all of the adorable fabric patterns from The Bird and Elephant. Trust me, you're going to have a hard time choosing just one! :)

 

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter and Pinterest or stay connected with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!

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Current Sponsors

I am blessed to have the following sponsors on Purposeful Homemaking. Interested in adding your name to the list? Check out my advertising policies.

• Halifax ISA-Individual Savings Accounts
• Jenuinely Pure-organic and natural skin care 
• Usborne Books-excellent books for children of every age
• Mary & Martha-Meaningful Entertaining...Made Simple
• doTerra-certified pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils

Purposeful Homemaking received one or more products mentioned in this post at no cost in order to conduct a thorough and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Additionally, this post may contain affiliate links for which I will earn compensation should you choose to make a purchase. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Thank you for your support of Purposeful Homemaking.
Disclaimer: And Then There Were More, Mommy's Favorite Things and the Merry Fluffy Christmas Bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that fail to fulfill their prizes."

Libre Tea {Glass Tea Holder Review}

Photo Credit

 

I love to drink tea. In fact, everyday pretty much. I also love to save money. Which is why it's more economical to buy tea in loose leaf form than it is to buy it in a tea bag.  And while my husband came up with a handy dandy little solution for brewing loose leaf tea it is much easier to use a Libre tea glass.

 

 

I use my Libre just about every day and I love to steep my favorite organic, loose leaf tea from Cultures for Health with some raw honey in it. I know you're supposed to sip tea, but man, when it cools down I just want to guzzle it. :)

 

I reviewed the Original Libre and it is the perfect on-the-go size. I love to keep it with me as I homeschool and the fact that it has a lid means I'm much less likely to spill than if I had my tea in a mug.

 

As you can see from the picture, it's also a great fit in my stroller which is the perfect way to help warm up on brisk walk during this time of year.

Libre Glass Tea Features

The Libre Glass Tea Glasses have a glass interior and a poly exterior. This is great because your tea can be hot on the inside, but cool to the touch on the outside. (Just remember to be careful when you take a sip!)

It also has a hand-washable, removable stainless-steel filter that keeps the tea leaves in the glass. I love this feature because I don't have to worry about accidentally drinking any tea leaves and I think it looks pretty seeing the loose leaf tea in the glass.

Additionally, by having the loose leaf tea steep for as long as you want, you get more health benefits from the tea rather than steeping it quickly so you can get out the door on time. Plus, I find that the loose leaf tea I use can easily be re-steeped a second time for additional health benefits and cost savings.  

And just in case you were wondering, the glass ‘n poly Libre styles are all BPA-free.

There are three Libre tea glasses to choose from. The Original (9 oz), the Large (14 oz) or the Mug (10 oz).

Photo Credit

Click here to order yours!

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter and Pinterest or stay connected with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!

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Current Sponsors

I am blessed to have the following sponsors on Purposeful Homemaking. Interested in adding your name to the list? Check out my advertising policies.

• Halifax ISA-Individual Savings Accounts
• Jenuinely Pure-organic and natural skin care 
• Usborne Books-excellent books for children of every age
• Mary & Martha-Meaningful Entertaining...Made Simple
• doTerra-certified pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils

Purposeful Homemaking received one or more products mentioned in this post at no cost in order to conduct a thorough and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Additionally, this post may contain affiliate links for which I will earn compensation should you choose to make a purchase. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Thank you for your support of Purposeful Homemaking. This post was written completely from my research, but I was paid to write on the actual topic.

Anna Naturals: Nursing Mama Tea {Review and Discount Code}

I've done a few reviews in the past for Drink Mamatea but they recently rebranded to Anna Naturals to expand their product line to include not only some new teas (one for energy and one to help with sleep), but also prenatal vitamin drink mixes (no more horse pills!), and some all natural bar soaps, hand washes and lotions. They'll still have their teas for preconception, pregnancy (including morning sickness), postpartum and nursing. All of Anna Naturals teas are hand-blended and made only from certified organic and all natural herbs. Every "ingredient comes from a source that does not irradiate any products and uses strict testing procedures to ensure that no product is altered in any way."

But let me tell you about the Nursing Mamatea.  It is the perfect blend of fenugreek seed (a definite milk supply booster!), rooibos (a caffeine free tea) and fruit to create a fenugreek tea that is not only beneficial for breastfeeding mamas, but also tastes and smells great.

"Fenugreek works because it stimulates sweat glands, and the milk ducts actually operate and function the same as sweat glands - thus fenugreek helps increase milk production. Most women will experience results within 24-72 hours of starting to drink New Mama fenugreek tea." And yes, I did! I couldn't believe how fast this tea worked. I have to be careful not to drink too much of it because I have never struggled with insufficient milk supply. I think I like the taste of this one the best though overall!

 

Nursing Mamatea is made in the USA and can be purchased either loose leaf or in a bag. If you purchase the loose leaf tea, you will receive one tin which contains 2 ounces of loose leaf tea and a 2" steeping ball. One tin will make about 30 cups of tea. Purposeful Homemaking readers can use the code 15offpurposeful to receive 15% off their purchase. This coupon code is valid until October 21, 2013.

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter and Pinterest or stay connected with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!

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Current Sponsors

 

Halifax ISA-Individual Savings Accounts
Jenuinely Pure-organic and natural skin care 

Usborne Books-excellent books for children of every age
Mary & Martha-Meaningful Entertaining...Made Simple
doTerra-certified pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils

Purposeful Homemaking received one or more products mentioned in this post at no cost in order to conduct a thorough and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Additionally, this post may contain affiliate links for which I will earn compensation should you choose to make a purchase. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Thank you for your support of Purposeful Homemaking. This post was written completely from my research, but I was paid to write on the actual topic.

Drink Mama Tea: New Mama Tea {Review and Discount Code}

I am a huge tea drinker. I drink it nearly every day. There is something about it that helps me relax even in the midst of the craziness of motherhood. Now, I can't guarantee that it's always going to be hot when I get around to drinking it, but still, it's something I enjoy.

But, if you're a new mama, then you might like to try the New Mama Tea from Drink Mama Tea. This tea is hand blended with Lady's Mantel to help with after labor and delivery. I made sure to drink all of mine and I loved the flavor of it with some raw honey mixed in.

This tea helps with healing after birth, in part, because of the lady's mantle, which has amazing healing properties. Lady's Mantle has long been known for its aid in healing damaged tissues. It may also help with perforated eardrums, hernias, and varicosities. The benefits of lady's mantle after birth can be excellent considering it will help with healing and toning damaged tissues. 

New Mama postpartum tea also contains alfalfa which is very rich in Vitamin K. Vitamin K helps aid in blood clotting which may reduce your chance of postpartum hemorrhage. Nettles are also high in Vitamin K, as well as calcium, which can help with postpartum depression, muscle aches in the abdomen and legs. It's a good idea to increase your calcium intake after pregnancy and especially if you're nursing.
This tea also contains dandelion, strawberries, cherries and cranberries in addition to the above mentioned ingredients.

New Mama tea is made in the USA and can be purchased either loose leaf or in a bag. With each purchase you will receive one tin which contains 2 ounces of loose leaf tea and comes with a 2" steeping ball. One tin will make about 30 cups of tea. Purposeful Homemaking readers can use the code purposeful13 to receive 15% off their purchase.

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter and Pinterest or stay connected with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!

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Current Sponsors

 

Halifax ISA-Individual Savings Accounts

Usborne Books-excellent books for children of every age

doTerra-certified pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils

 

Purposeful Homemaking received one or more products mentioned in this post at no cost in order to conduct a thorough and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Additionally, this post may contain affiliate links for which I will earn compensation should you choose to make a purchase. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Thank you for your support of Purposeful Homemaking. This post was written completely from my research, but I was paid to write on the actual topic.

We Pick U-Pick

 

One of our family's favorites ways to get fresh fruit is to go the U-Pick route. Leading the U-Pick parade in Michigan this time of year is strawberries. Our family went this past week and picked from a local farm/orchard that uses organic practices with all their produce. We were able to pick about 26 pounds of strawberries! (Some farms use organic practices in their produce but haven't paid the fees for becoming certified organic. This is good enough for our family.)

Of those 26 pounds, we will eat some fresh, freeze some whole (for smoothies), freeze some sliced (for strawberry shortcake later in the winter), and make some homemade jam. I also try to use some of the fresh berries for a few fun recipes like strawberry soup.

In our opinion, U-pick farms are the way to go. You can pick a large quantity of produce for cheaper than you could get it at the store. For example, we paid $1.55 per lb this week, whereas the organic variety at our local grocery store this week on sale are $2.50/lb. Plus, it's a good idea to buy in bulk now and freeze some for the winter when strawberries will be at their peak price.

 

There are a few things that I try to buy only organic these days, and strawberries are one of them. They happen to be #3 on the EWG's Dirty Dozen list that lists the top 12 worst produce to buy in the non-organic variety. Their Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists help you make an informed decision about whether or not a produce item is worth getting organic.

Organic strawberries really are a must because they can have up to 13 pesticides sprayed on them before they reach your tastebuds. Yum.

As for U-pick farms and orchards, my husband and I have gone apple picking for years now, but starting a couple of summers ago we added strawberries to our annual family traditions. Then last summer we added raspberries and blueberries to our U-pick list. This year we plan to add cherries (ready the first of July) and peaches (ready the first of August). A lady from my church has graciously offered to teach me how to can peaches and applesauce and I am so excited...seriously, I cannot wait!
 

If you're looking for a great resource for preserving the season's bounty, Stephanie Langford includes a section on that in her book, Real Food on a Real Budget. I plan on checking out a few other resources she recommends as well.

If you're planning to be picking a lot of strawberries there are a few tools you really must have in your kitchen. My two favorites are Pampered Chef products (I know a consultant if you need one). They are the cook's corer (for hulling) and the egg slicer plus (for slicing berries). Carter is demonstrating the egg slicer plus below. :)

After all that strawberry picking we ended the day with some yummy strawberry shortcake. The kids LOVED it and I couldn't help taking a picture of each of them eating it.

This picture cracks me up. It was like he was trying to get the biggest possible bite in there!

Little Miss Curly digging in as well. :)

And Caleb was enjoying himself, too!
 

Our trip to the strawberry farm was a blast! I love that my husband took the day off, that our family all crammed into our old subaru, that we picked berries and ate them to our heart's content, that the kids got to pet and feed the animals at the U-pick farm, that they got to run around on the great play area and that we all split a couple of yummy cider slushes. When I wearily crawled into bed that night I said, "Now that was a fun day."

As you can see, U-pick has more than one kind of healthiness for your family in mind. Not only are you getting pesticide-free food (now that is yummy!) but you're also building healthy memories with your kids. It doesn't get much better than that, huh?

If you're looking for some U-pick farms in your area go to www.pickyourown.org. Click on "Start Here to Find a Farm Near You." Any farms that use organic practices will be hi-lighted in green.

 

Does your family go to U-pick farms? If so, for what kinds of produce? Do you have any canning/preserving tips to share? 

 

 

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter and Pinterest or stay connected with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!

Boba Wrap {Review}

With our last baby, I discovered an Ergo Baby Carrier at a garage sale for $4. I had no idea what one was but thought it looked neat and that it would be helpful to have on our upcoming vacation when we'd be hiking. Our baby was nine months old when I first started using it but it got me hooked on baby wearing.

Now that we have a new baby, I wanted to try baby wearing from the get go. After getting the opinion of some of my readers, it seemed that the Boba Wrap was the way to go.

I had the opportunity to review a Boba Wrap in the Stardust print and I love the pattern of it! It retails for $45.00 and is for babies from birth until about 18 months of age (around 35 lbs.). There are no buckles, straps or snaps. You simply tie the material snugly against your body and it can even be used while breastfeeding.  The Boba Wrap comes in one size and is machine washable (good thing when dealing with babies!). The material is comfortable to wear, not binding, and has a nice soft texture.

 

I must admit I was a little nervous about whether or not I'd be able to figure this out, especially with a newborn, but after following the directions one time I was able to do it on my own. I love that I can have our baby close to me as I'm working around the house and I think it's going to come in very handy this fall when I'm homeschooling our other three children. Our baby also loves it. He was tired and fussing a bit and the minute I put him in here he was OUT!

When you order a Boba, you will receive the wrap, a matching carrying pouch, instruction manual, safety brochure and a benefits brochure. The Boba Family includes the Boba Air which is for parents who are traveling or frequently on the go, the Boba Carrier 3G which is for babies through toddlers, and of course the Boba Wrap. You can see all of these options at www.bobafamily.com. Organic styles are also available.

 

Boba Carrier 3G

I'm thrilled to have this option for holding our little one, yet remaining hands free. It's a perfect situation for a busy mom of four!

Do you baby wear? Have you tried a Boba?


Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter and Pinterest or stay connected with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!

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Current Sponsors

While these companies are not in direct support of this sponsored post, I am blessed to have them on Purposeful Homemaking. Interested in adding your name to the list? Check out my advertising policies.

• Halifax ISA-Individual Savings Accounts
• Usborne Books-excellent books for children of every age
• doTerra-certified pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils

Purposeful Homemaking received one or more products mentioned in this post at no cost in order to conduct a thorough and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Additionally, this post may contain affiliate links for which I will earn compensation should you choose to make a purchase. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Thank you for your support of Purposeful Homemaking.