Kirsten, the owner of The Village Toyshop, speaks to parents about carrying dolls that aren’t sexual with body image and risque outfits. Beautiful, wholesome dolls that are still ‘edgy’ and cool do exist without the commercialism. My girls started with their Corelle babies from this store and the selection for older children is amazing.

During my last visit, I was actually stunned by the beauty of a new line of dolls I hadn’t seen before. They are called Karito Kids. If you haven’t heard of them, but have a daughter over the age of 5, brace yourself.
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Want to recycle your tubby toys containing phthalates?  Unless they’ve been stamped on the packaging as ‘phthalate free’, I would recommend staying clear of having your kids bath with them and mouth them.  Refer to my previous article ‘Protect Your Family From Phthalates In Your Home’. Here is a great activity from National Geographic Kids that promotes early science type learning for a young child and keeps a phthalate filled rubber ducky from sitting in the land-fill.  Try creating a Motion Ocean!

Source: National Geographic Kids

What does this project accomplish? 

Teaching kids about density with liquids. Water is denser than oil and the two materials never mix. So when the water moves, it pushes the oil around, making shapes like waves.

Materials:

♦  Clear jar with lid
♦  Water
♦  Blue food coloring
♦  Glitter
♦  Baby oil
♦  Plastic floating toys

1. Fill the jar halfway with water.
2. Add drops of food coloring until you like the color you see. Shake in a little glitter.
3. Pour in baby oil until the jar is three-quarters full.
4. Place a floating toy on top of the oil, then screw on the lid tightly.
5. Shake the jar gently to set your ocean in motion.

~~ update.  This program is only open to US residents ~~

Thanks to Laura who forwarded me this information regarding the Whirlpool Mother of Invention Grant Program.  Check out this program from Whirlpool - details below:

Whirlpool brand has recently kicked-off the fourth annual Mother of Invention Grant Program. In the past three years, Whirlpool brand has recognized and helped more than 15 moms turn their innovative ideas into reality.

The Whirlpool brand Mother of Invention Grant Program provides seed money and expert guidance to moms to turn their invention, business or service ideas into full-fledged businesses.  Contest winners receive:

-A $20,000 grant for the grand prize winner

-$24,000 in grant money for the four runners-up

- Appliance prizes

-Invitation to business boot camp where winners will receive guidance from Whirlpool and industry experts

This year, Whirlpool is greening the program by adding a new category focused on moms who create an environmentally friendly product/service or use natural/recycled materials to create their invention. 

More information and entry forms can be found at www.whirlpool.com/moms. Entries are accepted through July 31, 2008.

What are phthalates and why should parents be concerned?  Phthalates are man-made chemicals used in PVC plastics and many products that surround our home and children. They seem to have a similar effect on humans as BPA…targeting reproduction systems as they are endocrine disrupters. But unlike BPA, this chemical is especially potent for boys as it targets their developing reproductive systems causing great harm such as genital abnormalities, birth defects, and decreased sperm count in men. Phthalates are also linked to asthma, allergies, testicular cancer, and early puberty.  As a parent, when you see the products where this chemical lurks - you’ll be concerned. 
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Another inspiring day in the life of hanging with mom entrepreneurs.  I met so many lovely, Eco driven, knowledgeable moms at Mommies On Main today.  They’ve all created products that blossomed from their natural talent and passion from becoming a mother.  I got to spend a few minutes talking to Sarah, one of the talents behind Meals for Mums.   Is this company ever something!  The idea was ‘born’ when two Vancouver moms realized shortly after having babies, that friends and family stop bringing healthy, home-cooked meals by about week 4.  Working with two other women specializing in culinary arts and holistic nutrition, their company was started.  The goal is to create convenient food that is healthy, made from fresh, local, and when possible, organic ingredients.  So you can focus on being a busy mom (and wouldn’t this be amazing for mom’s that work outside of the home?) so you don’t have to feel guilty about quick and easy foods that are not healthy, but something we all do when schedules get busy.

They have incorporated so many other wonderful messages into this company.  Sarah mentioned that the majority of their clients opted to have their meals delivered in glass Pyrex dishes rather than plastic.  Concerns about plastic with food storage and thinking about reducing waste in the environment made this a standard feature of Meals for Moms.  Kudos on this environmentally responsible initiative by these moms - what a powerful message for other food establishments to hear.  When given the option, customers want to reduce waste for the environment, even paying extra to help our planet.

When you visit the Meals for Mums’ site, you can feel their passion for nutrition.  Like my nutritionist reference Jen, you can tell promoting healthy eating is their passion.  There is a section on their site that talks and educates customers about healthy eating.  I personally found the feeding a fussy eater article a good read!  Also, there’s a section that features a food of the month (spinach, rhubarb) with a description about why that item is healthy with an easy recipe to follow.  What an awesome feature for those of us who never think to try new ideas with our family (we just rotate the same 7 meals around here).

To begin ordering, you simply create a profile and start ordering meals.  This service is only available to certain areas of Vancouver, but I believe if you email about a surrounding area, Spud can assist with the delivery.  They have orders for large plates, kids food, lighter plates, and gift certificates!  Yummy…the smoked wild BC sockeye salmon pasta plate must be mine. The description and picture looks amazing. Wow - next time you visit your friend in the hospital with a new baby (or anyone facing a new challenge in life), take them a gift certificate instead of an expensive bouquet of flowers..wouldn’t that be the BEST thing ever?  Baby shower gift?  Helloo!  Offer your friend or loved one great nutrition as a way to send your congratulations.

I left this Mommies On Main symposium today, recharged that everyday moms are creating these magical businesses that help other families lead more sustainable and healthier lives.  A wonderful event that is well worth checking out for folks local to the Vancouver area.