~~ 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.

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.

Okay, I’m taking another try at this. Last time I wrote an article about replacing my plastic freezer bags with Pyrex, I forgot the lids are plastic. I contacted Pyrex and they assured me that the lids are BPA free, but I understand moms wanting to get completely away from plastic touching their food…whether it be in the freezer, fridge, snack table, or packed in a lunch box.

Here are some awesome alternatives to storing your food in plastic. The new types of materials that parents are using are glass, stainless steel, and bamboo. I love these funky little bamboo bowls that are sold in most specialty stores. They are called Mini-Me’s Hand Coiled Bamboo Bowl and are completely food safe for hot and cold items. Since cleansing my house of all plastic plates and bowls coded with resin 7, I’ve had a tough time replacing them with something light (I get worried handing over my heavy Denby bowls to toddlers). They are expensive but would be a great gift or investment and look so cute. Very functional for daily cereral, fruit, snacks, etc. They are not suitable for dishwasher or microwave and in some family’s homes the no dishwasher rule is a tough one to follow.
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Thank you to Amanda who informed me about Mommies On Main.  I normally don’t write about events that are only local to my city, but this is something that could (and should be) recreated anywhere.  It’s very inspiring and I’m so excited to learn about it!

Vancouver is hosting a first annual ‘mamapalooza’ featuring creations from local Mom artisans and designers.  It is called Mommies On Main and will arrive July 12th and 13th.  I took a look at their Vendor-roll and OMG..it’s like Etsy has come to life here in Vancouver.  Many of these Vendors actually have Etsy stores.   What an awesome opportunity to support local moms who are using organic and eco friendly products.

Okay…hold up!  After looking through the Vendors again I haven’t been able to keep my drool inside my mouth.  There is an Etsy artist/store called Superfly Lullabies and they make Owl hoodies!  Oh my…do you think I could wedge my body into a size 4T?  It wouldn’t be pretty, but I’m sure I could make it happen!  <grin>  Not only is there a pink owl, but the fabric is my other Etsy learned favorite - Amy Butler.  Ray if you are reading this - maybe hide my wallet the weekend of July 12-13th.

Picture Source: Superfly Lullabies site

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Thank you to Aliisa who sent me the link to this edgy, fun artist. A talented mom has found a way for people to send paper cards without feelings of guilt about waste or recycling. The card is called REUSEM and they are attractive and funky. These cards are designed to be used 10 times and you simply write the date and occasion on the history chart inside, write a personal message, then the next person repeats the process…9 more times. Who doesn’t like to looky loo at other people’s thoughts or flash-back to past memorable events?

How fun would it be within your family or mom circle to send a REUSEM around?  That card would turn into a keep sake for sure!  It’s another Etsy artist who has found the perfect product to satisfy our need to send a thoughtful card, but to remember we are trying to minimize our impact to trees.  The designer is a graphic artist and the prints are amazing.  Check out her hip, new-age designs, from the ‘thank you card’ to the ‘multi occasion’ card.

With my husband’s nieces and nephews starting down the road to marriage and babies - I’ll be purchasing my REUSEM cards to remember these fun occasions and with the shipping cost being $.50, it’s cheaper than the cost of gas to drive to the store.

Please note, www.mommyfootprint.com now has a subscription option. If you would like to be notified with a brief summary email when new articles are placed on the site, please scroll to the top of this page and subscribe with your email address.