Legistated Out of Business? S.O.S.

Save Our Shop and fight the CPSIA
While the big corporations are refusing to reveal and account for billions of tax-payers' dollars in bailouts, the government has passed a little known new law that effectively legislates work at home mothers (and fathers) out of business. Back in August, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was passed. It is a broad sweeping knee jerk reaction to the Chinese imports of poisoned toys, a law designed to keep lead and pthalates out of products for our children. We are all for keeping our children safe, and while the basic aim of the law is good, it is a fatal blow to small manufacturers and crafters. The fact that so many of the crafters and makers of lovely things I have spoken to don't know about it yet makes me sad and angry that it was snuck so quickly under the radar. Not only am I angry for the millions of WAHM's around the country who are bringing home extra money for their families, while being able to stay home with their children by lovingly creating toys and items for children, but I am angry for me, too! I will no longer be able to buy the things I love so much for my own family. And, to ice the cake, as of Feb 10, 2009, most of the inventory of Blessed Baby Boutique will become illegal. The entire foundation of the shop, built with the love and support and products of so many WAHM's in Maine and around the USA, has become illegal. Without the funding to third party test every component of every hand-crafted item, each of these moms will not be able to make their products anymore, and I will no longer be able to legally sell them. This is the fatal flaw of the CPSIA, and this is just sad. Many crafters and small businesses are calling Feb 10 National Bankruptcy Day. Please join in and voice your concerns and opinions and support for changes to the CPSIA to keep these women in business:
*Joni James, WAHM, maker of handmade toys in Industry, ME
*Aimee Grimmel, WAHM, maker of cloth diapers and slings in Mexico, ME
*Harmony Lattin, WAHM, maker of handmade toys from recycled fabrics in Winthrop, ME
*Katherine Kollman, WAHM, maker of handpainted onesies, doll slings, blankets, warming packs, jewelry, and more in Gardiner, ME
*Raylene Hunt, WAHM, maker of beautiful quilts from recycled fabrics in Maine
*Deborah Sheehan, WAHM, maker of cloth diapers in FL
*Dawnella Sutton, maker of many many handmade things for children in Freedom, ME
*Karen Kangas, weaver of handmade bassinets in Strong, ME
*Leah Danala, maker of blankets and baby shoes in Strong, ME
*Alyssa Geis, maker of blankets, quilted blocks, and diaper bags in Farmington, ME
*Kelly McCrillis, maker of crochet baby blankets, stuffed animals, and toys in Wilton, ME
*Jennifer Ward, maker of cloth diapers in Limington, ME
*Chuck Baker, maker of hand carved wooden puzzles (a retired Navy Vet and grandfather), in Sterling, VA
*Cindy Heyes-David, maker of hand-quilted baby books in Strong, ME
*Heidi MacIsaac (me, of course), seller and supporter of WAHM-made things, maker of quilted blocks, dolls, bean bags, blankets, burp cloths, and other fun things for children as I find the time and inspiration.
We are the women in your community. We are wives and mothers. Our children go to school together. And we are asking for help.
I feel quite sad about the coming months, and wonder truly what the fate of these women (including myself) is. What will become of us, of our shop, of our Maine WAHM Network, and of WAHM's around the USA? Remember that beautiful baby doll that was lovingly made that your child carried everywhere? The hand-made toys of wonder, that last forever, are played with over and over, are passed down from generation to generation, will become obsolete without the voices of parents and concerned citizens everywhere. Please speak up, and Save Our Shop.

Great Baby Toddler Derby Race!

What a great fun time this will be! At this year's Wilton Blueberry Festival, we are sponsoring a Diaper Derby of sorts. Here are the details:
When: Saturday, August 2, 2008
Time: Registration begins at 12:30, Heats start at 1:00
Where: Kineowatha Park, on the Flagpole Green
Who: All children ages 0-24 months. They will be divided by age and ability at registration (0-12 mo, or crawling; 12-24 months walking)

Some Rules to Follow:

• All racers MUST have an adult supervisor present
• All racers must confirm registration by 1pm
• All racers in the crawling division MUST crawl. Anyone who gets up and walks will be disqualified (although celebrated!)
• Each racer will be called up to race by division and number.
• Preliminary races will have no more than 12 per heat
• 1st and 2nd place finishers in each heat will compete in the final heat
• Adults may use any means necessary to entice baby to reach the finish line- toys, dolls, bottle, rattles, keys, etc. But no adult can assist the racer or cross the starting or finish line during that race.
• All decisions of the judges are final

Winners will receive in each division:

1st place: $50 Bond

2nd place: $10 Chamber Bucks

For more information, please call Heidi at 645-2545.

To register, you may download and print a form at http://www.route2.com/wbf.htm

Good luck, have fun, and pray for sunshine!

Blessings,
Heidi

New Affiliate Program

Join Blessed Baby's affiliate program and earn store credit towards the things you love! From cloth diapers to handmade toys, laundry soap to bath soap, you can use your credit for Christmas, birthdays, baby showers, or just everyday needs! Here's how it works:
*You sign up as an affiliate at our site
*You are given a unique affiliate number and website link, and an emailed banner
*You post this link/banner online everywhere you post messages- online communities, emails, blogs, chats, wherever!
*Every customer that clicks from your link to our site and buys something earns you credit!
*Sales and credit will be calcuated monthly
*Sales of $1-$100 will earn 5%
$101-$250 earns 6%
$251-$500 earns 7%
*Credit can be applied online, in the shop, or both- you choose!
Questions? Email me!
Sign up today!

Doggy Doula

Last night I attended a birth as a doula. This wasn't mom's first baby. Oh, no. She has raised more than 20. She birthed 9 babies just last night. She is Emma, our black lab, and experienced mother. I have been so busy with the shop and with Maia that I forgot how amazing it is to witness the birth of little squirming puppies. Watching Emma birth, and supporting her with soothing words and hugs, reminded me of the way we treat birth in America. When a woman gets pregnant, she is sent to the doctor and many times treated as if her pregnancy is an illness. She is not allowed to birth on her own, to trust her own body and instincts. And amazingly, many dog breeders take this same approach with their dog-moms. They take the puppy from mom, cut the cord, clean it up, then place it on her nipple. They then remove that puppy so the next one can be born. When left to her own instincts, mom will calmly birth her baby, open the sack (each puppy is born in its own sack), shred the cord (cutting it too cleanly could cause excessive bleeding), and clean up the puppy herself. The licking clears the nasal passages and stimulates the pup to breathe. The pup makes his own way to the nipple and nurses until mom stands up and moves to birth the next one. She also will then return to nursing her litter. We (my husband and I) attend the births as observers, ready to help if needed. And the only times moms have needed help was with the first puppy ever- then mom does the rest- or with a very large litter and mom is exhausted with the last few.
I'm saddened at how much of a loud and chaotic time we make our births out to be. A quiet, calm, mother-centered birth can really make the difference between birthing with fear, and subsequent complications, and birthing with power. The addition of a doula to the birth team can help a mother to reduce her risks of complications and c-sections, and the doula serves to help mom's caregivers carry out the birth plan. Having a professional support in labor also frees dad up to support mom emotionally and to fully attend his child's birth.
Maine WAHM Network member Harmony Lattin has set up a CAPPA (Childbirth and PostPartum Professionals Association) training for labor and post partum doula certification. I will be attending, as will some other MWN members. If you are considering becoming a doula, or hiring a doula, you can email me for details. Each doula-to-be is required to attend at least 3 births for the certification process, and you may be able to take advantage of our eagerness!

Grant SemiFinalists!

HOORAY FOR US!
A little while back, I applied for a grant from Idea Cafe. They are this great website for small businesses dedicated to finding and offering grants. Their newest grant is in honor of one of their own, and it's an inventive idea award. Apparently, Blessed Baby and all it's ways to support moms and families is inventive enough.
700!
There were more than 700 applications, and we were selected as semi-finalists.
Check us out here:
http://businessownersideacafe.com/small_business_grants/semi_finalists.php?grant_id=8
Help us become finalists and come celebrate with us! Go there and check out our name, then email me with the names of the people above and below me, and I'll send you a coupon for 20% off anything in the store! Or write it on paper- any kind of paper will do, just have the right names- and bring it into the shop for the same coupon!
The first 25 people with the names will also get a special prize, so hurry!

Our New Shop!

Thanks so much to WAHM Joni and her hubby for the beautiful sign!

It's been a while- sorry about the absence! But our new shop is now officially opened and running, and we're so glad we did it. Who knew how many people were in Farmington? ;-) I knew, and it's made all the difference.

Since opening, we've seen a great increase in customers, and a wonderful response to our products and mission. So many moms have come in and said "I've been meaning to come see you, but I never get to Wilton." And others have said, "We're so glad you're here! Now it's easier for me to come shop here!" New browsers have told us what a lovely shop it is, that our presence is very soothing, and that we've got great things for women of all ages.

Thanks to everyone who helped!

WAHM's Karen, Crystal, Joni, Raylene, and SAHM Jeannie all helped paint and paint and paint, with the assistance of Raylene's DS Matt, and my DS Jeffrey on job-shadow day.

It took many many trips with pickups and mini-vans to get all of our stuff over to the new place as well. Thanks to Aimee, Michele, Jeannie, Crystal and her DH Glenn, my DH Jeff and his friend Rian, Meghan, Joni and all the mamas who made trip after trip with stuff. Seriously, we just took the last load over this past Sunday!

Karen's DH made her a great new shelf for her Spring Blossoms line of handmade skin care and perfume, and Joni's DH put up our new slatwall, helped build our sign, and built her a new display for her Sweet Zinnias Floppy Friends. It's truly been a family affair, and we're so grateful for it!

Being in town has a couple of other bonuses!

There's a lovely walking trail out back that leads to a tressle (sp?) bridge in the woods.

We have quick access to the weekly Farmer's Market on Fridays 9-2 in the parking lot of the Better Living Center (quick access to the BLC for snacks as well!).

Maia loves hearing the church bells every day at noon and 5!

The House of Pizza delivers.

Nina's gourmet coffee and chocolate right next door.

Endless walks around town window shopping.

OK- I just had to put out there how much life and fun there is in town that we didn't have in Wilton. Maia insists on a midday walk daily, so we close up for 20 minutes or so and hit the pavement. It's actually a trick to get her to sleep- I throw her in the mei tai!

Along the way to Farmington, we've picked up a few new products-

Kelly's Crocheted Critters are handmade by Maine WAHM to 2 Kelly McCrillis. She makes some gorgeous little and BIG crocheted animals for little ones, including a big ole' sock monkey that lived in our tree for a total of 2 hours before hitching a ride home with Nina from Up Front and Pleasant. She's sending it to her brother in Tuscon. Yes, he was that cool- I'll post a picture of him soon! We've also got a butterfly, a hippo, and an heirloom-style bear.

We've also gotten some great upcycled Jacob's Ladders from Bangor. This guy makes some beautiful Jacob's Ladders from used books! He takes the title page of the book for packaging, and recycles the rest of the paper. Then he uses the covers to make the ladders. They're fun, beautiful, classic, and a wonderful use for old books (texts mostly, I think!). Check him out!

Another beautiful and hand made toy we've begun carrying is Grandpa's Woodshop wooden puzzles. They make a great gift for an older toddler or preschooler, and are made in the USA by a retired grandfather and USA Navy Veteran. He does a beautiful job, and these puzzles are guaranteed for life!

So that's the update- come and see us soon.

Blessings!

Heidi

What is Your Baby Drinking?

If there was a small thing you could do today to decrease you and your family's risks of cancer, would you do it?

In the past week, the Today show has covered an issue that we so called "hippie" mommas have known for a while: plastics can be toxic. (Read more on the MSNBC website about what Canada is doing about it ).Our children are drinking from plastic baby bottles, then plastic sippie cups (I have strong opinions about the need for those foolish things!), then plastic water bottles, and eating from plastic containers. But our disposable mentality is literally killing us. We are exposing our children to levels of Bishphenol A, a chemical used in many plastics, that has been related to early puberty (notice how girls are getting breasts younger and younger?), prostate and breast cancer (just look around you- I'm sure you know someone who has been affected by one of these). BPA is used in baby bottles, water bottles, and many many other types of plastic containers. It is also used in the lining of some baby formula packages (read more here)- another great reason to breastfeed our babies.

So what's a mom to do?
*Don't microwave foods in plastic
*Don't put boiling water in your baby's bottles
*Don't reuse plastic water bottles
*Stick to using glass for your drinking and cooking needs
*Check out our alternatives to baby bottles and water bottles
If you can't breastfeed, or you choose a bottle, or you work and need bottles for your little one, there is an alternative!
The Adiri Natural Nurser is a breast-shaped bottle, designed by doctors, nurses, midwives, and lactation consultants, and is completely BPA free. We are currently offering these bottles on pre-sale status. Check out our website, ask for your login information, and get yours today!
Don't have a baby? Your little one ready for cups and a water bottle? We will be offering a line of Swiss made aluminum bottles with clay polymer linings as well- again, on presale status for the next month. Just in time for summer, and bottles for mom and dad as well!

What's a presale? This is a discounted order for items that we are going to be stocking but haven't ordered yet. This helps us to meet the minimum order requirements as a retailer, and- because we're a small shop- helps us to increase our cash flow and continue to stay open! We order the items in bulk, then ship to you. This is not a buying co-op- you are still paying retail prices, but are getting a 10-15% discount for ordering first.

Product Review: Itsa Greener Clean

I've been using Itsa Greener Clean laundry detergent for about a year now, and I just thought I'd throw down my 2 cents on it!

As a cloth diaper detergent, it is hands down the best I have found. I have never had issues with buildup and it cleans better than I could have dreamed in my hard well-water. I do have to use a little extra than the directions state, but that's true for a lot of things at my house! Maia's diapers are soft and clean and fresh every time!

As a laundry detergent in general, I also love it! I completely weaned myself from harsh fabric softeners, and have no need for them with Itsa Greener Clean since it contains natural softeners! And because it doesn't leave any residue, is all natural and gentle, it can be used for the whole family. Since switching all of our soaps and cleaners to natural, my son's persistent exzema has nearly completely resolved without medication. (bonus savings there!).

As a general household cleaner, you can mix it with hot water to clean the kitchen, bathroom, floors, toilets, just about anything! Just be sure to rinse food surfaces before you're finished.

And, my recent experiment- it works great in a pinch in your dishwasher ;-) I don't know what the long-term affects it would have on the dishes, but I do have to say so myself that it works. Not as well as true dishwasher detergents (of course, that's not what it's formulated for), but I tried it because it doesn't suds up and I knew what a great cleaner it is!

Homestart Conference!

I recently was honored to be a presenter and vendor at Maine's Annual Homestart Conference. While I was there, I reconnected with some old friends and colleagues from Head Start, taught a 2 hour session on Yoga with children, had a great lunch, and sold lots of Melissa and Doug toys.

I also was blessed to hear our Attorney General- Steven Rowe- speak on the importance of investing early in child care and education. Not early like kindergarten early. He believes in the incredible importance of investing in PRENATAL early, quality care for infants and toddlers, and keeping our children safe in these most tender times in their lives. He also believes it's important to support parents in these times to give them the support and skills needed to be happy and effective parents. It's so nice to hear that someone in our government gets it. He knows that investing early will save so much money down the line because well-cared for and well-adjusted children make for happier teens and adults in society. He knows that mothers without support are more prone to depression and therefore less able to meet all their children's needs. And sadly, his term is ending soon. I hope he was able to get his message across to someone who can continue his mission. I would love to see more put into our child care system to pay those providers who are helping raise our children what they are worth. They are doing some of the most important work in society. And I would love to see more available for parents in those critical early years. Stay tuned for more updates on Western Maine Mothers' Center coming!

And for the rest of the conference- what fun I had! We did 2 hours of yoga- first for the providers to stretch and relax and find some new muscles they didn't know they had! Then, on to yoga for infants- how to relieve gas and tummy troubles, how to soothe a really fussy baby, and how to stretch and have fun with baby. Then- toddlers! Imitating animals and moving our bodies. And up from there to preschool and school aged. The big focus was integrating it into our routines in child care so it becomes predictable for children. Then, they can use what they learn about their breath, their bodies, and their emotions to help self-regulate, which is what we want for all of our children. To be able to recognize what's going on inside their bodies- both physically and emotionally- and to have effective strategies to deal with them in a healthy way. And to be moving their bodies and being physically fit as well!

I'm so excited about it- I've been teaching yoga for many years, and just now it's at a level that I wanted it to be! I'm teaching another class for infant/toddler teachers for KVCAP in April, and I'll be doing another one this summer for another program. Woohoo! I wanted to start another class for children this year, but time has been a little (OK a LOT) tight. Too much to do so far, so we'll see about it during the upcoming year. After the move, I'll have a bigger back room, so maybe...we'll have to see what God has in store for us!

Product Review: Organic Caboose

I've recently tried out some of the Organic Caboose products, and I'm in love! I've been using the Top N Bottom shampoo and body wash and Silk N Such lotion on Maia and myself for about 2 weeks.

Top N Bottom: On Maia, this gentle and all natural cleaner leaves her little hair and body smelling sweet like lavender and clean as a whistle! She also, having a tendency for excema, has not had any problems with it drying out her skin. On me- after a brief time of detox (when your hair begins to get rid of the waxy build-up from other shampoos and conditioners it gets a little coarse for a bit), my hair is now healthier and more manageable than it's been in a long time! Because it no longer has that heavy conditioner, it has a lighter feel to it, and more body and fullness as well (which is great, since it's thinner with all this breastfeeding!). My skin is happier, too! Makes a great body wash for mom, baby, and the whole family.

Silk N Such: This is a thick, rich moisturizer with no scent to overwhelm the senses. It goes on creamy and absorbs quickly, without a greasy feel. No alcohol to dry your skin out again, and all natural and organic ingredients make it safe for you and baby!

Buns n Stuff: Now this is a great diaper cream and sking ointment! Its extremely short list of ingredients is its biggest asset (no pun intended...teehee). Shea nut oil, jojoba seed oil, beeswax, shea butter. Nothing harsh, nothing scented or perfumed, nothing to worry about. I have had a really hard time finding something simple enough to put on Maia's most tender skin without an allergic reaction. Buns N Stuff IS IT! I love that I can put it on her as often as I want, and I don't worry about buildup on my cloth diapers (I use a flushable liner), and I can use it on any skin that's dry and cracked. My waitress hands sometimes need an extra boost of love and care, and I just slather some of this on for the night and wake up soft and refreshed. I also put it on Maia's Maine-winter distressed cheeks, and my son's teenage-distressed skin. It's our miracle cream.

BFF's (Breast Friends Forever)

Maia and I are still nursing, and there are no signs that she's ready to stop any time soon. I get some comments at the restaurant about it when it's brought up- "You've got to get that child off the tit!" I just smile and walk away. Wean her? Weaning is for quitters! And anyway, my little firecracker would never allow it! While some days she's happy for just a couple sessions, and to nurse to sleep at night and then again early in the morning, there are some days when I have to simply shut her off. These past few days have been such a time. She's so incredibly "nurse-y" lately because she's getting her I-teeth. All four of them, all at once. Last night, she again illustrated how important nursing still is to her. We had been nursing for over an hour at about 2am, when she wanted to switch again ("I sitch. I sitch.") and I cut her off..."Maia, mama needs to sleep! Milks are sleeping, and you should, too." And from the dark comes her desperate plea..."Peas! Peas!" and even more sad "I yuv it! I yuv iiiiit!" She's in love with my breasts, and will tell you that they are hers. Any kind of stress, and her hand is down my shirt to hold one. At night, she takes them out herself and is nursing while I still lay sleeping.

It's funny that I feel like I live in two worlds- during the day, at the shop, extended nursing is something I advocate for, and we nurse while we work, and nobody thinks twice. At night at the restaurant, I'm the weird one. They love me there, but they still think I'm a little weird for the way I parent (I'll post more later about their opinions on co-sleeping!). I'm always trying to convert them to "my side", but it's slow going. ;-) A professor of mine, and shop advocate- Juliana Acheson- said I'm working against a hegemony when it comes to breastfeeding. It's so true.
For a great article on extended breastfeeding and its benefits to your child, check out Mothering Magazine.

Click here to subscribe to Mothering!

Welcome To Maine

Here are few pictures of spring in Maine, and the sunset in my own back yard.

Green Shopping

Reusable Bags for Green Shopping.

A small, easy, yet huge impact step to living greener is to switch to reusable shopping bags. Did you know that anywhere from 500 billion to one trillion plastic shopping bags are consumed each year? These bags end up in the landfills, along the highways, and in the oceans, contaminating our world. Environmental clean-up crews site plastic bags as one of the 12 most common items polluting our earth, and are responsible for the deaths of thousands of marine animals annually as they eat them thinking they are food.

Plastic bags are made using one of our currently most expensive, non-renewable, incredibly polluting resources- petroleum. They are seldom recycled, so although they are cheap for the stores to use, the environmental cost is incredible. So let's join the "BYOB" campaign- Bring Your Own Bag! It's simple- bring your own bags when you go shopping to tote back your goods.

Some good choices:
*Book Bags
*Large Purses
*Canvas Totes
*BackPacks
*Diaper Bags

You may already have a good starter stash at home, and can find many cheap options at thrift stores and online! Now our local Hannaford and WalMart are offering fairly cheap options as well, and Hannaford offers you a small discount for each fabric bag you bring to the checkout and use. Something else to consider as you build up your stash- the small plastic grocery bags don't hold much, so you will need far fewer fabric bags to hold the same amount of food and goods. Bonus if you want to save trips from the car to the house when you get home!

Another way to go green is to choose a fabric gift bag instead of paper. A fabric gift bag can be given, used over and over by the recipient, and re-gifted. Blessed Baby has many options in-store for green shopping- come and see!

Snow and Sun Bread

Seriously, I've had it with snow. We have had 140+ inches of snow this winter already, and it's snowing again. It's bad for business, and it's just not any fun after a while.
For a while, it snowed almost every Monday or Friday. Now it's every Wednesday, and it's been every Wed for a few weeks. It's pretty weird.

But yesterday, I friend of mine loaned me a book that she absolutely loves, and it's the perfect day for it. The book is called Sun Bread, by Elisa Kleven. It's got a lilting rhyme and beautiful illustrations, and it speaks about a dreary day full of snow and grumbles. The baker bakes a sun bread, "and filled them up from toe to head, With puffy, hot, delicious bread. Bread so brilliant, bright and sunny, Summer seemed to fill their tummies." So today, we will make sun bread, and pray for summer to come quickly!

Product Review: Babies Beyond Borders

Today I received shipment of 2 products from Babies Beyond Borders:
Bambino Soft Infant Shoes
Mei Favorite Mei Tais

What fun I've had!
The soft shoes, which are made of 100% fair trade leather, and made by fair-wage paid seamstresses and designed by a WAHM, are beautiful. The quality of the stitching is great, and the Double Suede Padded Soles make them hartier in the sole than the IsaBooties. They also come in sizes up to 7-8 years old, which makes them a great investment for older kids, too. In my shipment, there is one pair of 7-8 yrs old, and I have very small feet. So guess what? They fit me and I wore them for a few minutes. The fit was nice- nothing binding or tight (and I have wide feet!) Also, the DSPS made for a soft walk around the shop! LOL The styling is lovely as well- some really great designs! Great colors, and a huge variety for both boys and girls. If I hadn't just bought Maia some new IsaBooties, I'd buy her a pair of these. Maybe I will, just for the sake of having a child-tested review...we'll see:)

As for the mei tais, I instantly saw a difference between my current mei tai (a Kozy, which I still love love love) and this new one. The waist is a well-padded and clipped strap (much like the Ergo), which makes for quicker and simple putting on. And it's incredibly ergonomic that way. As for the straps, they are less padded than my Kozy, but wider and longer. This provides for a Tibetan tie if you'd like, and more flexibility for a larger person.
Maia was happy in it in the back carry for a while, then wanted to nurse ("I need milk!") so we switched her the front. I had a little bit of a hard time fixing the belt on the front, but sometimes you need some practice I guess. And, she was fidgeting and trying to get to her milk, so she made it tough. But, she nursed and fell asleep...and voila. I love it.