- Inc. Online
- ABC's The View From the Bay
Clever Parents.com
Even though it is snowing outside my house right now, I know that sun and fun are just around the corner. No, really, I was out trying to get a head start on my garden just a few days ago. While talking with another mom the other day, the day with the sun and completely melted snow, we began discussing what constituted safe products for kids, as well as adults, and which brands fell into that category? Since scientific data is constantly being collected we can only do what we know to be the best decision based on the supporting information at that time.
Last month I wrote about some disturbing facts concerning our beauty product content supervision and regulation. In that Health Mama article I also included some helpful guides from the CosmeticDatabase.com for kids, (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/parentsguide/EWG_parentsguide.pdf), where they listed a few top three products in commonly used items such as:
Moisturizers
1. Aveeno Daily Baby Moisturizing Lotion
2. California Baby Botanical Moisturizing Cream
3. Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream
Sunscreens
1. Blue Lizard Australian Suncream, SPF 30
2. Sensitive California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion No Fragrance
3. Coppertone Endless Summer Ultra sheer Sunscreen Stick
Shampoos and Conditioners
1. Burt’s Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar with Oat Protein and Pro Vitamin B5
2. California Baby Shampoo & Body wash
3. Super Sensitive Jason Natural Cosmetics Aloe Vera 84% Hair Smoothing Conditioner
Another great thing about this flyer is the information it provides on what to look out for in advertising. It lists catch phrases and what to check for in the contents to see if the sunscreen really fits your level of health criteria or if the company is trying to sell you something that doesn’t exist.
TOP FOUR TIPS (Safety Guide to Children’s Personal Care Products)
1. Use fewer products and use them less frequently.
2. Don’t trust the claims. Check ingredients.
3. Buy fragrance-free products.
4. Visit cosmeticsdatabase.com - !
Since swimming is a regular activity for my daughter in the warmer weather, my concerns center around the ever changing research results of sun protection products. Coming from a family with a long history of skin cancer, I have always been alert to the dangers even when it was popular to bake your skin in oil for that deep dark tan. However, I didn’t have the information and product selection we do today. Sun damage on my skin is evident through freckles, extra wrinkles in exposed areas, and especially with the age spots on the top of only one of my hands, the one that sat in the window of the car.
So what should we be looking for in our sun products? It is especially confusing since there is such wealth of information and often giving conflicting information. According to cosmeticsdatabase.com, sunscreen needs to protect against BOTH UVA and UVB. UVB radiation contains the cancer causing rays but UVA sinks even farther below the surface of the skin. According to cosmeticsdatabase.com,
• For years the sunscreen industry has focused primarily on UVB, the light that causes the most immediate skin damage, inflicting sunburn as well as increasing skin cancer risk. The SPF test is designed to measure the UVB protection of a sunscreen.
• UVA, however, penetrates deeper into the skin than UVB, reaching the fragile subcutaneous tissue, and creates harmful free radicals when it interacts with certain chemicals in the skin.
Then there is the issue of the SPF rating - “SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measurement of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays, the kind of radiation that causes sunburn” (cosmeticsdatabase.com). According to the American Cancer Society 15 is the recommended SPF rating and the higher the number the greater the protection up until 30 and then there isn’t much of a distinguishable difference.
So which products have the lowest hazard ratings and are effective? Below are some of the 150 products listed with their hazard ratings on cosmeticsdatabase.com. I clicked on a couple of the products listed and was given customer reviews and any specific information on that brand that was available. I also entered in a product I bought for the first time last year that I wasn’t totally happy with and discovered that it had a hazard rating of 7 across the board (0-2 is low hazard, 3-6 moderate, and 7-10 high).
Some of Cosmeticsdatabase.com recommendations:
• Lavera Sun Screen Neutral SPF 40
• Vanicream Sunscreen Sport, SPF 35
• UV Natural Sport SPF 30+ New Formula 2007
• UV Natural Adult SPF 30+ New Formula 2007
• UV Natural UV Golf / Ultra
• UV Natural Baby SPF 30+ New Formula 2007
• Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 35
• ColoreScience Sunforgettable Rock and Roller Ball, SPF 30
• Badger SPF 30
• Keys Soap Solar RX Therapeutic Sunblock, SPF 30
• California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick, No Fragrance
• Lotus Moon Sage Sun Protective Cream - SPF25
• California Baby SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick Everyday/Year-Round
• Fallene Total Block Cotz Waterproof
The data is overwhelming. I am still researching all the truly hazardous ingredients but that would change my brief and informative article into a complex tome. Then there are lip balms, but that’s another story. Check out all of these resources. Each one gives essential and beneficial information for our daily effort to provide healthy products for our families.
RESOURCES:
Cosmeticsdatabase.com
Melissa is the mother of a six year old little girl, Madeline, and the wife of a former ship captain. She and her family just moved to Maine a year ago from Monterey, CA to experience a change in lifestyle and become middle aged entrepreneurs. After 22 years of teaching, Mel (Melissa) needed more time with her family and so she and a friend started Dancestones.org; the business of giving comfort through Maine’s rolled stones. Reading and Writing are her deepest passions- when she’s not collecting stones in remote areas of Maine!
Last month I discussed reducing your fashion footprint to benefit the planet. By re-working your skin care, hair, and makeup regimen to include natural beauty products, not only are you helping the Earth, you are letting the Earth help you.
Evaluate
Long before the cultural push to go green, I was happily spreading egg and oatmeal on my face in search of soft, clear skin. My teenage attempts at homemade facial masks admittedly had more to do with a lack of funds and transportation, rather than a desire to engage in an organic lifestyle. But they did encourage me to be in-tune with my body and it’s sensitivities.
Before heading off to the store consider the current products you are using, as well as your lifestyle. I’ve got an entire family with sensitive skin, so the first products I sought out were moisturizers that are free of artificial preservatives, as well as ones that contained no artificial fragrances. I was happy to learn that “no artificial fragrances” does not mean “fragrance-free.” One of my favorite natural and organic personal care companies, Kiss My Face, fragrances their products with essential oils. These concentrated (and odiferous!) components of therapeutic plants can also effectively combat dryness, treat blemishes, promote exfoliation and cell regeneration, and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. I’ve also noticed that in many cases the scents from essential oils positively affect my mood!
Investigate
Currently there is an overwhelming amount of “organic” and “natural” products on the market. Just because it says “natural” on the label doesn’t mean you should blindly purchase items without reading the ingredients or getting some company info. I found http://www.safecosmetics.org/index.cfm a helpful place to start. This site provides a directory of companies who have pledged not to use toxic chemicals and to make safer, reformulated products readily available in the U.S. and other markets they serve. The site also includes a free Healthy Cosmetics Spa Party Kit in downloadable pdf format, complete with recipes for making your own lipsticks and lotions.
Even natural or organic products may contain a few ingredients that are difficult to pronounce or completely unknown to you. I found the ingredient glossary at http://www.kissmyface.com/content/new_content/ingredient_glossary.htm a helpful guide to their products and natural beauty in general.
Experiment
Once you’ve located some products you’d like to try, give them a test run. Whenever possible, try before you buy, as some organic or natural cosmetics can be very expensive and trial-size bottles are often available.
When introducing new products be mindful of your body’s response. After having both my daughters react with rashes and inflammation to several sunscreens, I made the switch to using sun care products that use natural minerals as a physical sun block. Try new products on a patch of skin before slathering them all over your face or entire body.
Influence
Of course many of Mother Nature’s best beauty secrets can’t be found in a bottle. Drink water, eat healthfully, get lots of sleep, and definitely don’t forget to exercise. Even the best cosmetics can’t hide stressed out skin or poor nutrition. Certainly not every cosmetic I use is natural or organic, but by beginning to change over some of the more important players in my skin, hair, and makeup routines I am already beginning to see health benefits. I think you’ll find small changes like these have can have a way of permeating other areas of your lifestyle as well.
About the Author: Erin McKenna Nowak, is an entrepreneur, wife and the mother of two stylish little girls. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design and printmaking, she worked in New York City, Chicago and Providence, RI. Having been everything from a children’s book designer to the art director of several magazines, in 2004 Erin struck out on her own and started Bride Design. http://bridedesign.com features Erin’s fashion-forward, custom wedding and event stationery and accessories. Erin is also the pen and paper portion of http://sweettalkboutique.com, home of the Invitastion™—edible cookie invitations and greetings that are the tastiest trend in stationery! When she’s not busy designing or chasing after her kids, she can be found chasing after the latest styles in beauty, fashion, home interiors, music and more!
http://www.sweettalkboutique.com
By Christian Piatt
President, MyWordTree.com
A business is only as good as its marketing plan. However, it’s often this critical part of our overall roadmap to success that gets the least attention and resources. Instead of being an afterthought, our marketing plan should be one of the most important, and regularly revisited, components of our business model.
In a nod to Letterman’s nightly Top Ten, here’s our list of top five dumbest blunders when it comes to marketing your business:
Mistake #5 – More is always better: There was a time when television, radio and print media were the triple crown of marketing, garnering big bucks for those few who could afford to break into the fraternity. However, today’s markets are much more diverse, and can be accessed more effectively and affordably with a highly-targeted marketing campaign. Many web-based ad tools even offer you statistical reports so you can tell exactly what works and what doesn’t, even on a daily basis.
Whereas the old-school mantra was that you had to spend more to make more, today’s forward-thinking entrepreneurs know it’s all about spending smarter.
Mistake #4 – My product/service is so good, it sells itself: Today’s consumer is exposed to more marketing messages in two months than any other generation in the history of the world experienced during their entire lifetime. If you’re waiting around for the right people to stumble across your good idea and buy in, get comfortable, because it’s going to be a long wait.
This doesn’t mean that you have to be loud an obnoxious to be noticed, but it does mean you need to be reaching out to the right people. How long has it been since you did a test market for your product or service? Do you have testimonials from credible sources or other data to back up the claims you make about what you can offer? Knowing your market as specifically as possible and creating an airtight case for being the best in your field will get people to your doorstep; then you can let your amazing product do its magic.
Mistake #3 – I tried my marketing plan for a month, but it didn’t work: It takes an average of six impressions before consumers are moved to action. Just because someone sees your logo or name once or twice doesn’t mean they’re going to be inclined just yet to give you a try. If you are putting all of your faith in one or two pricey ads, you may be throwing your money away. Make a plan for how you will reach your coveted demographic consistently over a six- to twelve-month period. Allow people some time to learn who you are and what you’re about, and to get the sense that you’re going to be around tomorrow when they need you.
Mistake #2 – Money is tight this month, so we’re cutting marketing: Many businesses hack away at their advertising budgets when belt-tightening take places, but in reality, this should be one of the last things to get cut back. Think about it: your business is slow, so you rein in your plan to get your name in front of people. The result is fewer leads, which leads to less business and less income. Jettisoning your marketing plan just because you’re financially stressed is as good as raising the white flag.
Mistake #1 – I can do this marketing thing myself: While business managers should definitely be actively involved in their company’s marketing campaigns, there are a number of reasons why you should not rely on yourself exclusively to develop and execute your campaign. First of all, unless you are a seasoned veteran in the marketing field, you’re pitting yourself against a broad field of professionals who likely will eat your lunch. Second, if marketing was your passion, you should have opened a PR firm! Let the people who know and love this kind of work do what they do best so you can do what you do best. Finally, any time you spend doing the work that someone else could be doing, you risk compromising the vision and leadership of your business. Leaders should lead, always, but if you’re busy micro-managing every detail of your day-to-day operations, you’ll end up too burned out to be effective, plus you’ll annoy everyone else who would rather be left alone to do their jobs.
Got a question for big daddy? Email me, at: BigDaddy@mommyscompany.com
Christian Piatt is an author, columnist, and owner of http://www.mywordtree.com/ , a professional writing, editing and marketing service company. Their flagship service, Branching Out, is a custom weekly drip campaign service for only $129 a year. He is the father of four-year-old Mattias, and husband of Rev. Amy Piatt, pastor of a new church in Pueblo, Colorado, where he leads music. For more information about Christian’s books, and to read his personal blogs, please visit http://www.christianpiatt.com/
Amy Lang, MA - Birds + Bees + Kids
The idea that talking to kids about the natural, biological functions of our body somehow leads to “loss of innocence” is something many parents worry about.
This is what sex is, by the way, it’s a natural function of our bodies. At its most basic level this is how we reproduce – how we make babies.
It’s also a whole bunch of other things – fabulously fun; it feels really, really good; it’s a great way to be as close as possible to someone you love (or just lust after). It also can be emotionally draining; scary; inappropriate; relationship altering; and can kill.
Parents worry if their kids know about sex and baby making in particular, that little bit of info about how the sperm gets to the egg (you know, that penis enters the vagina) their kids will experience some kind of loss of innocence.
I think telling kids exactly how we and other animals reproduce has nothing to do with loss of innocence. It’s biology, plain and simple. It’s science.
Unfortunately, as adults we can’t get the yucky and complicated parts of sex out of our heads. When we think about talking to our kids everything we know about it, including our own experiences, springs to mind and we decide it’s too much information.
And we’re right! All of that is too much information, especially for the first conversations.
What’s appropriate for the early conversations, which need to start by five, if I have any say in the matter, is the basic biological stuff plus a very simple statement – “This is not something kids do.”
As your kids age, before they enter middle school, you need to introduce the tough stuff – the stuff that really can lead to “loss of innocence” especially if they discover it on their own.
Not all at once, mind you, but slowly over the years, deepen the conversations to include rape, pornography, sexual abuse, prostitution. Talk about how having sex changes your relationships and what it means to be “ready for sex.”
I firmly believe well meaning parents with their kid’s best interest at heart really can’t do any real damage to their kids by providing with this information that will serve them for life.
About the Author: Through her business, Birds + Bees + Kids, Amy Lang teaches parents how to talk to their children of any age about sex, love and relationships. She has a 16-year history as a Sexual Health Educator, a Masters in Applied Behavioral Science and loves to help people learn about this vital part of parenting.
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Susannah’s jewelry is delightful. It’s whimsical and light to wear. I love the variations in sizes and scale. If you don’t see it on the site, shoot her an email and she can custom design something for you. |
She’s giving away, that’s right giving away, a pair of free gray pearl earrings with the first 10 orders from Mommy’s Company. Log onto the site and then email her to let her know you are from Mommy’s Company to receive your additional free pair. skyle@ruby@lola.com
I own the gray pearl with jade and they are comfortable and trendy.
Materials
Ruby and Lola jewelry is made with sterling silver, semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, enamel beads, and fire-polished glass.
Fair Trade
Most of the beads and all of the silver that she purchases are from suppliers that support “Fair Trade” manufacturing. Fair Trade companies provide healthy humane working conditions and pay a living wage.
Sizing and Lengths
Necklaces are between 15 and 18 inches long, and some have pendants which hang below the chain. The length of each necklace is noted along with price and materials in the item descriptions. Earring lengths are measured from the earwire, which hangs just below the ear. Most pieces can be adjusted to the length that you would like- just ask her about your personal needs.
Sizing Tips
If you are not sure how a necklace might fit you, measure a piece of string to the length of the necklace and hold it around your neck to see if you like the length. Remember, most necklaces can be made shorter or longer so that you love the fit.
Clasps
Necklaces are fastened with sterling silver lobster claw clasps. If you are concerned about the ease of opening a clasp, let her know, she can replace the lobster claw clasp with a silver plated magnetic clasp. Bracelets are fastened with a silver plated magnetic clasp and have a safety chain.
Adjustments in Length, Size, Clasps, etc.
Please contact Susannah at: skyle@rubyandlola.com
Hello to all of you Bling Mamas out there. This is my first Bling Mama column for Mommy’s Company. My name is Susannah Kyle, and I am a mom and jewelry designer from St. Paul, Minnesota.
Each day, between transporting my kindergartner to and from school, caring for my infant, returning e-mails, making jewelry, and the million other tasks associated with being a working mom, I try to get myself dressed and look like I put at least a little bit of effort into it. I imagine that you, too, may juggle parenting with life’s other demands. How do we women conquer our daily lives and look cute doing it?
For me, it comes down to this- mascara, lip gloss, a good haircut, jeans, a t-shirt (with a down coat for this Minnesota girl) and jewelry. Not little tiny pearl earrings and a delicate necklace- Jewelry, capital “J”.
I love a pair of earrings or a necklace that stands out. Everything else can be simple, but the jewelry makes a statement. While I am always the one in my house with the least time to get dressed, I generally feel pretty stylish for my big day out at the coffee shop or kindergarten pick-up. Important places to feel stylish, right? Kidding, of course. The truth is that with all of the changes that parenting brings, the loss of focus on oneself, style is not something I am willing to give up. I have simplified it to the point that it is almost a formula, but it works for me.
Allow me to clarify one point, however. By style, I don’t mean fashion. Fashion is about what designers are selling. It changes all the time and it asks you to follow its rules. Style is about your point of view. How you wear your clothes, not what you wear, defines your style. Style is personal and it is creative. You make your own rules.
Now, I have nothing against fashion. In fact, I really like it sometimes. If I had unlimited funds, I would gladly shell out for the latest in high-end denim and expensive t-shirts. That is not my reality. My shopping sprees are at the Gap and Old Navy for the basics. I hit sales at my favorite local independent shops for fun shirts, sweaters, scarves or handbags to add some funk to my look.
So, what does this have to do with you? Let me get to the point. Look good, feel good. Find your style and make it simple. Add accessories to make your look your own. You work hard every day and you deserve to look great doing it!
So, if you wish to follow my lead and join the bold jewelry revolution, let me point you to a few websites with interesting handmade pieces:
Look and feel like the superhero you are in these bright necklaces made with vintage glass beads. Made by a cool San Francisco mom:
http://www.superherodesigns.com/
JoJo has bold necklaces that incorporate semiprecious stones with vintage components. Original and beautiful- you will love it!
http://www.jojolovesyou.com/
And don’t forget to visit my site, Ruby and Lola Jewelry! Lots of colorful necklaces, bracelets and earrings made with mother of pearl, semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals and enamel beads:
http://www.rubyandlola.com/
Remember, look good, feel good and simplify. And above all, believe in yourself!
Susannah Kyle owns Ruby and Lola Jewelry http://www.rubyandlola.com, which features original necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Each piece is designed and handmade by Susannah. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her amazing daughters and husband, a dog, two cats and her vintage jewelry collection. Viva La Bling!
“Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly at first.”
So says my Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) mentor, Tim Hallbom. Everyone always chuckles when he says it, but taken to heart, it can be one of the most encouraging statements you’ll ever hear.
Besides writing web copy, I also consult with independent entrepreneurs on how to make money with their online marketing strategies. And the biggest obstacle my clients (and I’ll venture a guess, you too) face is in their own minds.
It’s a desire to have everything be perfect BEFORE you get into action. You (and I say “you,” but I’ll admit I still fall prey to this same syndrome at times) are so worried about making a mistake in your marketing that you end up not moving forward.
You get stalled in developing your website because you want to find the “perfect” designer. You hold off on printing business cards while you obsess over coming up with the “ideal” business name and tagline. You embark on a never-ending search for a “foolproof” marketing approach.
Once you’ve got those in place, you tell yourself, then you can start marketing your business.
The irony is that this has the same effect –or worse- as trying something that doesn’t work well.
So, I’m going to give you permission –right here and now- to be less than perfect. (If you look closely you can see me waving a magic wand over your head.)
The field of NLP has a set of wonderful presuppositions about the world that can guide you toward a positive outcome in any situation. One of my favorites is right in line with what we’re talking about here.
“There’s no such thing as failure, only feedback.”
In marketing, like in life, there are very few absolutes. There are many, many variables that can come into play (the service you’re offering, your Core Audience, the timing, societal conditions, and on and on).
What bombs miserably in one context may reap grand rewards in another. What sounds fabulous on paper may flop when put into practice. What works today may stop working tomorrow. The point is, you can’t know until you try.
Personally, this need for experimentation and flexibility is what makes marketing my business fun. It means I get to try new things and see what happens. And then I get to learn from the experience – take what worked and improve on it, and discard the rest.
Because it’s all perfect, and it’s all just feedback (not evidence of my incompetence). The entrepreneur who isn’t experimenting with (and learning from) their marketing is the entrepreneur whose business is stalled.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Don’t be afraid of making a mistake. It’s called testing.
© 2008 Helen Graves
Helen Graves, Grand Poohbah of Crackerjack Marketing, helps lighten the marketing load for solo entrepreneurs. Get her free audio seminar, “7 Quick & Simple Ways to Get Your Website Working Hard–So You Don’t Have To” at www.crackerjackwebsites.com
Birds + Bees + Kids
Amy Lang, MA
Milo popped this question one day at dinner when we were talking about some gay friends of ours. He was five and I was all over the teachable moment dropped in our laps.
Only, I didn’t get to explain, as Kerry, my husband, jumped right in and handled the question beautifully. I was delighted he took it on – as you can imagine, I am usually the one spouting off informative factoids and bugging our poor boy about one thing or another related to baby making and playing safely.
For those of us in heterosexual relationships it is so tempting, I know, to give the “happy” definition when this question is posed, especially if the child is under five years old.
We don’t want them to know about something as complex and value ridden as same sex relationships because we are often uncomfortable with the topic ourselves.
Right now, in our culture we hear about gays and same sex marriage with regularity. Most of us know families with two moms or two dads and our kids are aware of this and, for the most part, it doesn’t phase them.
But once those wheels start churning and kids learn about intercourse, sperms and eggs segue into some great questions that can arise. The least of which is “What’s gay mean?”
Before you tackle this question, you need to be clear about what your values and beliefs are about same sex relationships. Your kids deserve an honest answer to this question and also need to know your values and the beliefs opposing yours.
Once you have a clear picture of what you would like your children to know about this topic it becomes much easier to talk about it.
Here’s what Kerry said to five year old Milo (and it’s just to get you started) - Great question! You know how Mama is a woman and I am a man? Well, we met and fell in love with each other. Sometimes, people meet and fall in love with someone who is the same sex as them and that’s called being “gay.” They are attracted to people who are the same sex as they are and they are this way from birth. In our family we believe it is perfectly fine to be gay, but you should know that some people don’t think this is okay.”
And then Kerry listed off all people we know who are gay and we chatted for a few more minutes about being gay.
It is important, no matter what you believe about being gay, that you talk to your kids about this in a way that will keep communication open. You can’t always tell by looking if someone is gay so tread lightly if you believe being gay is wrong. The last thing anyone would want is to alienate their child when they may need love and support the most.
Finally, for those of you with older kids who use “gay” as though this is an insult, it’s time to put a stop to this hateful talk. If you think being gay is bad or not, allowing kids to use an entire group of people as an insult is just plain wrong.
And you can take that from me, the red-headed stepchild of parent education.
About the Author: Through her business, Birds + Bees + Kids, Amy Lang teaches parents how to talk to their children of any age about sex, love and relationships. She has a 16-year history as a Sexual Health Educator, a Masters in Applied Behavioral Science and loves to help people learn about this vital part of parenting.