My Barefoot

Rereading - Harry Potter (Again)

2010-07-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

It has been at least a year since the last time I read the Harry Potter series - again. It's time to pick it up again and share the story with my dd. My sweet dd is starting kindergarten in just a few weeks- maybe it is the start of something big that causing me to daydream about the wizarding world - or maybe it was the reminder from my wonderful friend Michelle- she is reading the series to her boys...either way tonight I am cracking open our much loved copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
(Really, why couldn't we in the US have the title Philosophers Stone- really we are not all that dumb that we would have been turned off by the title.)

When I was pregnant with our son, as my belly grew, my ability to fall asleep shrunk. It could have been the hormones, the night hiccuping of my growing little boy, or whatever- but I just couldn't fall asleep. One night, my husband picked up the copy of Harry Potter that had been sitting on the nightstand and began reading to me. That simple act of sharing his love of reading - awakened a thirst for great books I didn't even know I had. Night after night he would read to me. After our son was born we actually used to fight over who got to read.

Bedtime reading is one of my most treasured time with my munchkins. The quiet time at the end of a day right before they fall asleep, where all of the craziness of living stops and all focus shifts to a new world, a new adventure, and someone else's story. As my children get older and there want and need of my company diminishes- I hope we never stop reading together!

Tenzin’s Deer

2010-07-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

We just recieved the new Barefoot Books catalog (which is amazing) and after flipping through it my ds asked for a copy of Tenzin’s Deer. I knew we had a copy somewhere in the house and spent the day looking for it.

My ds had a pretty hard time learning to read, and only this past year in third grade, did he really get the hang of it. As such anytime he is remotely interested in a book I do my best to get it for him, or borrow it from the library. But today we were in luck, since the book he wanted was already in our collection.

Like so many of our books it was still in a box in the garage from when we moved (almost two years ago). On our way to swim class today my ds sat quietly in the back of the car reading Tenzin’s Deer. Getting out of the car he said, “Mom, that is a great book.” It had been a long time since I read Tenzin’s Deer but remembered how powerful the message of the book was. What struck me was that all I remember feeling sad about the loss Tenzin felt, and what my ds seemed to feel empowered by the kindness the boy showed to the animals around him. One true sign of a great book is that you feel changed by having read it and Tenzin’s Deer is one of those great books.

Tenzin's Deer

A Tibetan Tale

Meet Tenzin, a kindhearted boy who discovers a wounded musk deer high up in the hills. In this Tibetan tale, Tenzin nurses the deer back to health, and must learn the most important lesson of all: how to love enough to let go.
Ages 5 to 10 years
Written By: Barbara Soros
Illustrated By: Danuta Mayer

Wordless Wednesday (Favorite Places)

2010-07-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

Shopping with Dad (New Format)

2010-07-06T14:26:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite books is now available in paperback! Shopping with Dad by Matt Harvey is super fun to read aloud perfect for preschoolers and elementary school age children. This lovely book is brilliantly illustrated by Miriam Latimer who's playful style and bright colors are sure to capture your little cuties attention.

This is a great book to give as a gift or keep for your personal collection!

Late Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

The Magic of Chinese Delivery

2010-05-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

The story begins with
(One little miss with a cold
+One mama that was not feeling much better
+ One son just getting over a cold)
- One daddy at work late
= Chinese Take Out!

To be completely honest it doesn't take that much for me to be convinced that it is a Chinese Take Out night, (proof of this is that the person that answers the phone at our favorite delivery place knows my voice) but today was an exceptional example of the absolute need for me like many other moms to have a Chinese delivery place close by at all times.

Back to the story, last Wednesday (also known as little Miss's birthday) when my sweet son came down with a nasty cold. Mr. Sweet shared his cold with me and by Friday I was feeling miserable. The weekend was spend with bouts of sneezing, mild fevers, and many attempts to nap.

Fact: The worst part of a weekend with a sick mom is that all those errands that are left 'till the weekend inevitably are left undone.

Which brings us to Monday...when little miss woke up and came in to my bed to snuggle with a a mild fever and very stuffy nose. So Monday brought with it an empty fridge, a still under the weather mother, a sick little miss, and a beloved Chinese restaurant that delivers!

Thank you China Wok without you this day would not have been possible!

Wordless Wednesday - Walking

2010-03-17T06:47:00.000-07:00

Picky Kid's Syndrome

2010-03-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am not a bad cook more like a reluctant one. It would seem that when homemaking skills were given out or taught in school, I must have been absent. I wish some of the time that I was one of those mom's that got excited about grocery shopping and cooking for my family, but honestly, I just don't. In part this is due to what I like to call the Picky Kid's Syndrome. Now I bet you are wondering; what is Picky Kid's Syndrome?

Symptoms of Picky Kid's Syndrome
*Have you found yourself in the grocery store and are unable to remember what you are there to buy?
*Have you had the experience of after returning from the grocery store you are unpacking and putting the groceries away and realize that you have spent way too much and have no actual meals?
*You and your spouse are grocery shopping and they ask (passive aggressively) "So it looks like we have a lot of "snacks" and not a lot of meals"? In response to their inquiry you want to pull out your hair and cry.
*Do you find yourself eating cold left over french fries and fish sticks (or chicken nuggets) for dinner?

Signs of Picky Kid's Syndrome
-Tired mom
-Hungry frustrated mom
-A lack of desire to cook
-Grocery shopping seems like a new form of punishment designed to make you remember what a snotty teenager you were.
-A willingness to eat out almost anywhere just so you don't have to do the never ending amount of dishes that magically appear in your sink.

If you answered yes to any of the above you too might be suffering from Picky Kid's Syndrome.

Seriously, I used to like to make dinner and try out the occasional new recipe, but since my DH is often working late (at an awesome company that feeds him) and my children in most cases won't even try something I have cooked, I just gave up trying. DD will try things but often won't like them enough to take more than one bite. DS won't even try something new, nor will he eat a banana or any other fruit if it is bruised even in the slightest. Some might think that this is silly and they should just eat what ever I make or not eat, but that just isn't the kind of mom I am. I have two wonderful children and I respect that they might not enjoy what I do so I end up making them the few things that they are willing to eat. Unfortunately, that means that either I make two meals, one for them, and one for me (since DH's work has catered dinner, which I will touch on at some time soon, along with the magic notepad and pen) or I eat what they eat .

In practice what happens more often than not is that I make the kids food, work some while they eat, realize I am starving and eat the cold left overs. (Rather pitiful, huh?)

It is my goal to reawaken the inner cook in myself and find some new inspiration for cooking for my family and myself. So, I am ordering some interesting cookbooks including Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights: Recipes for Every Season, Mood, and Appetite & Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple Ingredients. My next step is to actually write down a meal plan and try to stick with it.
Wish me luck!

Wordless Wednesday - S.F. Love

2010-03-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

Paper Hearts

2010-03-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

I guess it is just that time of year when everyone is sick...me included. As a mom having a cold is just not allowed. Working from home and being a mom is really, really, not allowed. So what does this mom due when she is feeling ucky and would like nothing more than to curl up in bed...well, for starters try to keep her very inquisitive almost 5 yr old DD busy so that she doesn't make gigantic messes. In an effort to keep little Miss.Mess Maker entertained I discovered that she didn't know how to make a paper heart.
Here are some pictures of the fun DD had while I tried to get some work done.

Just in case you forgot how to make a paper heart here is what you will need;

Paper and Crayons
Oops, almost forgot you will also need scissors to cut out your heart (no pun intended).
Next you will want to fold a single sheet of paper in half.
Draw your half heart on the side of the paper that is folded (not the side with the edges of the paper). We found that using a dark crayon made it easier to see when you the lines when you cut it out.
First heart! Not bad at all.

The second heart came out a bit better. DD found it easier when I drew the heart and she cut it out.
Lots of great hearts! DD made one into a card for a friend at school.

Week in Pictures

2010-02-25T19:33:00.001-08:00

Why anchor your efforts in social media with a blog.

2010-02-24T13:44:00.000-08:00

Now that we know what social media is and why it is important let’s move on to some best practices. While we are all out on the web posting updates on Twitter, reviews of restaurants and such on Foursquare, pictures and articles on Facebook, it can quickly become over whelming (or a waste of your efforts) if you do not have a place to anchor it all, like a blog.

To have a conversation in person you have two or more people (two or more identities) engaging one another. The same is true for conversations on-line; to create an on-line identity you need to designate a space to where that identity lives. A blog or some other similar space holder is essential to the creation of your identity or on-line persona.

If you are a business it is important to maintain a business persona along with a personal voice. A blog or even a Facebook Fan page can act as a place holder for a company’s on-line persona. Having one or a few people in the company acting as the company’s on-line voice can be a great way to promote and communicate with your customer base, find partnerships, and grow brand awareness through viral marketing.

Once you have a persona, an online voice, taking the next step in pushing content, creating community and having conversations will be a natural next step.

Social Media Part 1 of many

2010-02-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

It is an amazing world we live in. Technology has made the world smaller than it ever was before by connecting people all over the world through social media. So what is social media really? Well, let's break it up into the two terms that we use to define it: social & media. I think social is fairly easy to understand that it is how we in engage with others (or at least I am going to define it that way…). Media we will think of as information that way we are not limited by a classical understanding by which one would limit the channels to which the information could and would come from. You could ignore my definition and opt for the Wikipedia definition and I think you will still be able to derive the same conclusions that I have in the following posts.

Types of social media include things like e-mails, chat rooms, message boards, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and I would venture to say that most things that you can find on-line would have some component of social media that they participate in.

Why is social media important? To answer that we need to consider what makes human being, well, human beings. I think at the heart of it is that we are by nature social beings and as we create, invent, and dream up technology we inherently look for ways to connect with others. These new and old technologies have made it possible for us to connect or “socialize” in ways we that were not possible in the old world before computers and telephones before that. Communities are no longer bound by geography and can be based on a simple love of rocks, trees, comic books, skateboards, art, music, pain - sorrows, tribulations, motherhood, fatherhood; it really is limitless in complexity and simplicity. These artificial communities exist not only in the abstract sense but they also have a firm foot in the here and now.

What does this translate to in “real life”? Marketers (like me) and businesses look to these communities as a way to market or hand sell to their consumers. We want to meet and speak to our customers and target market when, where, and however we can, on-line communities offer that possibility in a unique way.

Social media has become the heart and blood of how many companies find and sell to their customers. So the importance of social media is not only to the media, marketers, businesses, and sales people, but also to the consumer who can and do frame how they are marketed to. Consumers have a new voice and a new power for change.

We have seen various examples of this recently:

Toyota, Southwest, Tiger Woods, Sigg, and many more companies/celebrities have found out what happens when consumers have a voice and a viral voice at that.

Dreamy Voyage

2010-01-27T18:51:00.000-08:00

Written By: James Mayhew
Illustrated By: Jackie Morris

Starlight Sailor is a new favorite of mine. I love the moody blue and gold that linger throughout this fantastic book. One of my all time favorite poems from when I was a child are combined with new life and versus. The red dragon, unicorn, and humpback whales make the the voyage of the paper boat only that much more special for the reader.

I would recommend this as a great gift for a special child in your life!

*I am an employee of Barefoot Books.

2009-05-19T15:47:00.001-07:00

the great tollipop giveaway

2009-04-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

I just heard about a super cool giveaway on Tollipop.com!

To enter the contest,go to Tollipop.com leave a comment . There are, however, several ways to procure additional entries that you can check out on her site!

*****

Comments will be open until my bedtime this Friday (April 17th), whenever that may be, and over the weekend I will announce the winners.

Earth Tales First Project

2009-03-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

Bedtime in my house consists of tubbies, pjs, brushing teeth, and (my favorite part) bedtime stories! Most, if not all, families have some sort of bedtime ritual which is done every night with varying degrees of success (at least in my house). Last night we decided to begin reading Earth Tales, a great new title from Barefoot Books.

Discover how the rest of the world is 'Living Green'!

The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales -
In this beautiful anthology of folktales, young readers learn how different cultures around the world live in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of nature. Discover how to tread lightly on our precious Earth by following the easy eco-tips and trying out some of the fun and creative activities that accompany each story

The perfect gift for any earth-conscious child!

We read the first story which is the Aboriginal tale of the begin of the world. Gabbie exhausted from a full day of running around like a monkey fell asleep part way through the story. Theo and I finished reading the story and were delighted to find a fun activity. Since it was 8 pm we planed to get painting as soon as we finished breakfast.

The directions said to use a brown or tan piece of paper...we opted for a brown paper bag. We really do our best to bring reusable bags to the grocery store, but every once in awhile we either forget, or buy more groceries than the bags we have brought will hold. I guess we have been doing a great job of remembering to bring bags with, since we were only able to find one bag.

We were instructed to create a picture using colors you would find in nature, like the Aboriginal people would use in there drawings. Colors like brown, red, yellow, and green we decided on the tempera paint that came with our art box. The directions suggested using paint brushes, cotton balls, fingers, and a few other things to create the Aboriginal art work, we figured paint brushes and fingers were enough for us. Using an empty pickle bottle to carry out some water to clean our brushes between color and we were ready.
We gathered up our supplies and headed out onto the porch.

After cutting up our bag into four nice sized bits we got down to business.

The directions explained that Aboriginal art work tended to be a about an aerial view of places and things. We used dots, circles, lines, representing things like grass, water, and bushes. Above you can see Theo's picture of a walk in the park.

Theo put the finishing touches on his second picture of the bush he saw covered in butterflies.

Here are the finished works of art! Gabbie had a lot of fun with dots. I asked her what the dots meant and she looked at me as though I was a small silly child and said in her best my silly mommy voice, "Mommy they are just dots".

Barefoot Books will be planting trees in partnership with Eco-Libris, for each copy of Earth Tales sold in the till the end of April in honor of Earth Day. If you would like to purchase a copy of this fantastic new title or check out what other great books please visit my Barefoot Books site;

www.ReadingBarefootBooks.com

Or to learn more about planting trees to offset the publishing industry you can visit Eco-Libris;
www.EcoLibris.net

Birthday!!! No Way 8

2009-03-11T21:29:00.001-07:00

So, my super boy turned 8 yrs old last month. I really can't believe just how big he is. Not just how amazingly tall (and he really is tall) but more how he is turning into such a wonderful person. Since, heading back to school in January he has grown as a person so much. He has some great new friends and is really working hard to learn to read.

While Theo was at school I ran all over the place getting decorations for the house. We have not had the "friend party" yet but we have had two family parties. The cake pictures below is from the party we had with my parents on the night of Theo's birthday. It was the first time since Theo turn 1 that my parents were able to be with us on Theo's birthday.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Theo from his first birthday! I made the flower crown for him. It probably took me 2 hrs to make and I am sure he really didn't want to wear it...but it looks so incredibly cute on him.

Ruby Sky (Whoo Hoo Thats Right!)

2009-03-07T09:56:00.000-08:00

Saturday: March 14 - 2pm-5pm

Ruby Skye Presents

BABY LOVES DISCO

Baby Loves Disco transforms San Francisco's hottest club into a child proof disco as children (6 month to 7 years) and parents looking for a break from the routine playground circuit let loose for an afternoon dance party featuring real music spun by real DJs blending classic disco. Plus, bubble machines, a chill-out area, diaper changing stations, a full spread of healthy snacks AND optional cocktails for non-driving parents.

Saturday afternoon is the new Saturday night. Come join us!

Advance tickets at: PURCHASE TICKETS

New Friends

2009-03-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

After moving 2,000 miles it can be a bit hard to find your way. Lucky, for us we lived in the Bay area pre-kids so we kinda know our way around. We are finally feeling a bit more settled after almost 6 months :) Oh, and I am way behind on posts... So for the next week or so I am going to be posting a bunch to try and catch up!

It is so funny to think that when you are young and in school making friends is like walking, it takes little thought, once you get the hang of it. After you leave school and especially if you are an at home mom, making friends takes work, sigh....

At last resort you end up making friends at your kids school, lol! Anyway, we have some great new friends with children around the same ages as ours. (Which makes hanging out much easier.) They came over a couple of weeks ago for dinner and brought us a master piece of confection for dessert!

Yummy! Really, it looks amazing and it tastes even better. This heavenly desert was enjoyed by all. (Even Theo who is pickier than anyone loved it!)

Thank you! T.K.T.J!!!!

Year of the Ox

2009-01-29T19:29:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the Chinese New Year Theo's class had moon cakes! Theo being the sweet big brother he is ( and an incredible picky eater) brought home his moon cake for his sister. Theo also brought in a copy of the Great Race to share with his class. The Great Race is a fantastic book that tells the story of the Chinese Zodiac.
Gabbie and her class painted a card board box and used it to make a dragon head for there parade! So fun!!!

The Great Race - Hardcover

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac

Which animal will win the race and get the first year of the Chinese calendar named after them?

Race long with Rat, Monkey, Dragon, and their companions while discovering the origin of the Chinese Zodiac. This bright and colorful book includes intriguing notes about the Chinese calendar, the festivals, and the animal that rules each year.

Poem By Gabbie

2009-01-28T17:11:00.000-08:00

I am Boxer
I am Boxer
and I am a Dragon

I am a Dragon
I am a Dragon
and I am a Princess

And that's it!

Gabbie 3 1/2

Barefoot Books is CSPIA Compliant

2009-01-23T20:41:00.000-08:00

Safety Information

The health and safety of the children for whom we create our books is the top priority.

All of our products comply with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Barefoot Books products also exceed the more stringent safety standards required under European Union (EU) law.

Barefoot Books CPSIA Certificate of Compliance is also available here.

In addition to manufacturing our own products, we distribute puppets manufactured by Folkmanis and puzzles and games manufactured by Mudpuppy Press . These partner companies products also comply with CPSIA requirements.

For more information go to www.ReadingBarefootBooks.com

It Is Official We Are No Longer Happy Homeschoolers

2009-01-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

That is exactly how I feel; Lost & Found .... or maybe it is Happy & Sad? Our homeschooling journey began about a year and a half ago. We became homeschoolers in part out of curiosity and part out of need. For kindergarten our son went to an amazing private school which we loved, but could not afford on one income. With a new baby at home we knew that we were going to have to have financial aid, which is what we told the said private school.

We were given financial aid for kindergarten and I spent every moment I could volunteering for the school. With my little baby girl on my back I even set up a book fair. Long story short the administration changed during our first year and we were not given financial aide for the second year. As it would happen we found this out in the middle of the summer and were left with little options in the way of schools that late in the game. So we decided to try our hands at homeschooling.

Luckily for us Chicago has an amazing homeschooling community. (which we took full advantage of) Tons of great classes and wonderful people all supporting each other in homeschooling there children.

Fast forward to this past September when we moved to California.... It became apparent rather quickly that our little girl really wanted to go to school. Our move left us with in a new state with no playdates and poor Gab missed her friends. We found an amazing preschool and began to learn about Parent Participation schools. We mentioned that we were toying with the idea of school for Theo and Gab's teach suggested the elementary parent participation school, her kids went too.

Theo had begun to ask about maybe, possibly going to school again. He too was missing his friends back in Chicago and we were having trouble finding other homeschoolers here. But what kind of school would welcome a former homeschooling family with open arms? And Theo had never been to a "normal" school would it be fair to just send him to a school and see what would happen. (no way we are so not that kind of family)

Both Gab and Theo also began taking gymnastics classes in hopes of meeting new people and of course they also wanted to learn gymnastics. After the first class Theo had made a couple of new friends and couldn't wait for the next class! Gab had a great time also. During the second class I was chatting with another mom of one of Theo's classmates, she suggested the same school Gab's teacher suggested. I was starting to see a pattern forming ... people we like, like this school. We decided to check it out for ourselves.

Love at first site is a good way of characterizing our experience. Both my husband I fell in love with this school. It just felt right. So after a few weeks and much anticipation today was Theo's first day at his new school.

Mom really? Must you take my picture?

And they are off.

Ok, maybe I am a little excited about my first day!

And there he goes ... my sweet boy.

P.S. He told me he had a GREAT day!

You And Me

2009-01-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

New In Lap Book!

The imaginary games of a boy and a girl form the basis of this enchanting picture book about opposites and contrasts. As the two children play together, they picture themselves as all kinds of characters, animals, landscapes and moods. "I'm a circle, you're a square; I'm a tiger, you're a bear."

Celebrating difference, but above all celebrating relationship, You and Me is a very special picture book that will captivate pre-school audiences but is also sure to attract plenty of adult fans.

This is a great early reader. It has all of the things you look for in a beginning reading book. The pictures tell the story. It has repetition but is far from boring. With illustrations that speak to the imagination and perk curiosity this book is so fun to read.

The second time my son read us You and Me he pointed out to his younger sister "Gab did you notice that they are opposites?" It is so much fun to see them discuss books. Theo further explained "See Gab I am Hot and You're Cold, they are opposites."

For the past week Theo has read us You and Me every night! He has begun to read it from the back to the front... just to change things up!

If you would like to learn more about You and Me or Barefoot Books click below.

Children's Books Numbers, Big and Small

2009-01-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

Partial review of one of my favorite books for those who enjoy a great mathematical tale!
By JIM HOLT Published: January 9, 2009

For the slightly older child, “The Real Princess: A Mathemagical Tale” ought to prove a beguiling mix of number lore and fairy tale. The plot elements will be familiar: three princes looking for brides, a king with three bags of gold and a queen with nine magic peas. But running through Brenda Williams’s story is a riot of numerical coincidences, some turning on the curious fact that if you take various multiples of nine (18, 27, 36, 45 etc.) and add up the digits (1+8, 2+7, 3+6, 4+5), you always get nine back again. This is the kind of hidden pattern that children delight in discovering. And if some of the artsier parents fail to get it, they’ll at least smile at Sophie Fatus’s illustrations, which have a little of Marc Chagall in them, and a little of Joan Miró.

The Real Princess - Hardcover

A Mathemagical Tale

Travel to a land far away and step into a fantastical world of math & magic!

A classic with a twist, this number-crunching take on “The Princess and the Pea” features not just one princess, but three, not to mention four horses, five dogs, six grooms, seven gardeners, and all kinds of chances for young mathematicians to put their adding and subtracting to the test! It includes a "Test Your Math Skills" section.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-31T07:33:00.000-08:00

Go Barefoot Today! Free Shipping

2008-12-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

Cool Coffee Giveaway!

2008-12-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

Keurig Brewing System Giveaway

Author: Momstart // Category: coffe machine review, coffee, giveaway, K-cup, Keurig

Thank you MomStart for this great giveaway! I love the idea of being able to brew just one cup of coffee.

TheBabywearer.com Article on New Legislation

2008-12-15T21:19:00.000-08:00

TBW Statement Opposing the Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act
There is little more important than keeping children safe. However, The Babywearer is gravely concerned about the impact of the pending Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act. We believe that if this Act is enforced, there will be serious economic consequences on the child/baby product industry, and specifically to manufacturers of babycarriers. The Act would require ALL manufacturers - including small business owners who sew their products by hand and artisans who sell to help support their art - to submit each piece of their product for cost-prohibitive government-approved testing. Each component - buttons, threads, fabrics, padding, etc. would need to be tested independently for lead content. The cost and extent of this lead testing would be impossible for any small business to afford. Thousands of small businesses will be forced to close. Consumers will have fewer products to choose from. In the babycarrier world, the only products that will remain will be ones those that are manufactured en masse - and are widely considered inferior to those made in smaller quantities. The date that CPSIA is set to be enforced has already earned a nickname by many experts: "National Bankruptcy Day." Please write to your Senators and Congressperson and express your concern about the CPSIA. More information: Petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/e...SIA/index.html About the bill: http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/legislation.html Read more about what's being dubbed National Bankruptcy Day here: http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

TBW Statement Opposing the Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act

There is little more important than keeping children safe. However, The Babywearer is gravely concerned about the impact of the pending Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act. We believe that if this Act is enforced, there will be serious economic consequences on the child/baby product industry, and specifically to manufacturers of babycarriers.

The Act would require ALL manufacturers - including small business owners who sew their products by hand and artisans who sell to help support their art - to submit each piece of their product for cost-prohibitive government-approved testing. Each component - buttons, threads, fabrics, padding, etc. would need to be tested independently for lead content. The cost and extent of this lead testing would be impossible for any small business to afford.

Thousands of small businesses will be forced to close. Consumers will have fewer products to choose from. In the babycarrier world, the only products that will remain will be ones those that are manufactured en masse - and are widely considered inferior to those made in smaller quantities.

The date that CPSIA is set to be enforced has already earned a nickname by many experts: "National Bankruptcy Day."

Please write to your Senators and Congressperson and express your concern about the CPSIA.

More information:
Petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/e...SIA/index.html
About the bill:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/legislation.html
Read more about what's being dubbed National Bankruptcy Day here:
http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

Mothering Magazine article on New Toy Legislation

2008-12-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

Toy Safety Legislation: Good Intentions Lead to Catastrophic Results for the Natural Toy Industry

Imagine Christmas morning without Selecta, Haba, Sarah's Silks, Etsy toys, or American toys from small, creative mom-and-pop natural toy companies. It reminds one of the Grinch who stole Christmas—and unfortunately, it is days away from coming to pass. That's why we desperately need your help to contact your representatives in Congress and share your concerns.

Parents everywhere have been deeply concerned and up in arms about the unsafe state of toys in the USA. We've been happy to see laws formed to ensure more safety for children everywhere. It's been disappointing to find out that the law is not retroactive—but now, there is even more disappointment at hand. The new testing protocols will ironically hurt and undermine the one group that has been a toy safety advocate for children all along: safe, principled, small and independent toymakers and sellers.

The new toy safety law, if not amended, will require every toymaker (including the ones we love so much on Etsy) to test each toy at a cost of $500 to $1500 per toy. European toy companies will also have to retest their toys, at the same expense, with a company that tests to American standards. This sounds fair, until you consider that Europe has an established, exceptionally thorough and successful testing system in place, and the tests would be redundant.

Increased toy safety is absolutely the right direction for our country; however, a poorly nuanced law like this one, as it stands, will devastate the very best parts of the toy industry and leave only companies like Mattel and Fisher Price standing. Please write and/or call your representative to share your concern.

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

EXAMPLE LETTER

Here's an example: Holztiger is a beloved German toy company that produces wooden animals and figures, painted with clean, non-toxic paints. If they were to meet this new law's testing requirements, instead of only having to test a vat of paint, which could be applied to 300 different animals, they have to test each animal or figure individually. A small company like Holztiger would have to spend $150,000 to $450,000 to test 300 toys. And this would need to be done on a regular basis—at least annually, but possibly with each production run.

Sarah's Silks is a beloved and popular source for playsilks, canopies, and more. They produce their silks in a Chinese village within a program that allows mothers to be work-at-home-moms. Sarah's Silks also runs a Waldorf school in China with the proceeds from its business. They would need to test each color silk four times, given the four components of the playsilk.

Yesterday, Selecta, a German natural toy company, announced that they will no longer sell their toys in the USA. "This is just the beginning of the disappearance of natural toys in the USA," said Rob Wilson of Challenge and Fun, an online natural toy store.

Says Adam Frost of TheWoodenWagon.com, "We are very selective in the manufacturers we work with. In our discussions with these workshops, we've been told by many that they are satisfied that their toys and stuffed animals meet or exceed all safety standards, and that they would not be able to bear the expense of testing. (The same of course is true for small American manufacturers who produce their goods in this country.) This would in effect cut off the supply of all those toys that have been held up as exemplars of good craftsmanship, the imaginative and natural toys to which many parents have turned since the lead scares began to happen a year or more ago."

Fairytale skill of storyteller Tomos earns trip to New York

2008-12-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

Dec 11 2008 by Kelly Fenna , Daily Post

A SCHOOLBOY was so captivated when he heard an Irish folk story that he re-told it to win a national storytelling competition for children and a prize of a trip to New York.

Tomos Turtle aged nine, from Abersoch, was one of six finalists from all over the UK and Ireland in the competition to celebrate the National Year of Reading.

He first heard the story of Michael and the Fairies when his parents Margot and Martin took him and his sister Mali to a storytelling evening in Harlech.

And in true storytelling tradition he then stood up and related the magical tale in front of a panel of authors, storytellers and around 60 guests at independent children’s publisher Barefoot Books’ UK head office in Bath.

Now Tomos will jet to New York with his family to tell the tale on Barefoot Books’ Storytellers Throne in famous toy store FAO Schwarz.

His efforts have also won £1,000 worth of Barefoot books to be shared between the Ysgol Sarn Bach Primary School where he is a pupil and his former primary in Abersoch.

Tomos’ mum Margot said her son’s prize was a tribute to the teaching at small schools in Wales – so often under closure threats.

Free Shipping Plus a Free Books *

2008-12-09T21:12:00.000-08:00

Get a great start (or finish) to your holiday shopping with this fantastic offer from Barefoot Books! Free Shipping on all orders Plus a Free Copy of Storytime on all orders $60 or more!

Storytime - Paperback & CD

First Tales for Sharing

"The art is fresh, vibrant, and full of child appeal."—School Library Journal

Following the success of The Story Tree and in response to our customers' demand for a comprehensive preschool collection, this new edition features a Story CD with Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent narrating all the tales! This anthology brings together a cast of characters that kids and adults will love - from the Gingerbread Man to The Ugly Duckling and The Three Little Pigs. While it is tailored for two- and three-year-olds, this collection will entertain everyone with its dynamic storytelling and vivid illustrations.

It was soon time for the ducklings to be introduced to the rest of the farmyard. But when they arrived, all of the other animals teased the big duckling. "You look so weird!" they sneered. Soon, the ugly duckling's life was miserable." - The Ugly Duckling

Live Barefoot, Give Barefoot!

2008-11-27T08:54:00.003-08:00

Books For Africa

Barefoot Books is delighted to partner with non-profit Books For Africa, dedicated to bringing books to needy children in schools across Africa. The books we have selected to send all have African themes, and will make a huge difference in the lives of children across the African continent.

For a few dollars, you can put a Barefoot Book in the hands of an African child. We hope you will be a part of this wonderful partnership.

About the Organization
The mission of Books For Africa is to end the book famine in Africa. Since 1988, Books For Africa has shipped more than 20 million books to 42 African countries and put books int0 the hands of those who need them the most: children who are hungry to read, hungry to learn, hungry to explore the world in ways that only books make possible.

Watch the Books For Africa Video!

Read more on our 'Live Barefoot' Blog

We All Went on Safari
Hardcover
$5.00

We're Sailing Down the Nile
Hardcover
$5.00

Mama Panya's Pancakes
Hardcover
$5.00

Hidden Hippo
Hardcover
$5.00

How Loud is a Lion?
Board Book
$3.00

Zoe and Her Zebra
Board Book
$3.00

Books For Africa

2008-11-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

"One penny donated to Books For Africa gives a child access to a book. Where else can you do so much with so little?”
-Tom Warth, Founder of Books For Africa

We are delighted today to introduce you to our new partners at Books For Africa! Since 1988, Books For Africa has shipped more than 20 million books to once-empty library shelves, to classrooms in rural schools, and into the hands of children across the African continent.

With Barefoot's focus on spreading literacy, art and cultural understanding to the children of our world, we wanted to do what we could to supplement the amazing work of Books For Africa. To launch our partnership, we've donated a carton of our books that are now en route to Liberia. What's better, we've developed an easy but effective way for you to help too! For our friends in the United States, we've created a collection of books that you can donate to Books For Africa for just a few dollars per book. By adding any of the books on this page to your order, you are covering the cost of shipping a beautiful, culturally-relevant book straight to Africa and into the hands of a child who may have never held a book before.

While we cannot offer the same capability to our friends in the United Kingdom and Europe, we encourage those of you across the pond to make monetary donations, no matter how small, to Books For Africa to help offset the hefty cost of shipping their parcels of books to the African continent. Wherever you're located, we hope you'll join us in supporting this wonderful cause!

We'll be posting more on this amazing organization and details about our partnership in the coming months. For now, here are some beautiful photos provided by Books For Africa, along with quotes from their supporters and people who have benefited from their work. For more background, be sure to check out this inspiring video about the mission of Books For Africa.

Taped message from Kofi Annan in celebration of BFA’s 20th Anniversary

“Books For Africa is a simple idea, but its impact is transformative. For us, I have said before, literacy is quite simply the bridge from misery to hope. Literacy provides the keys to learning and empowers the individuals to expand their choices and opportunities for the future. In doing so, it is a crucial bulwark against poverty and a necessary foundation for sustainable development. For everyone everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right. Over the last two decades, Books For Africa has made tremendous progress helping to extend this right in Africa.”
-Kofi Annan, former U.N. Secretary-General

“I think that Books For Africa is about giving opportunity to children in Africa. An opportunity to read a book. An opportunity to improve themselves. An opportunity to become literate. And an opportunity to help their societies prevent problems (such as hunger, unemployment, disease) before they occur through education and economic development. Books are the doorway to imagination for a child and I’m happy that we are able to provide so many millions of doorways every year to so many children in so many African countries!”
-Patrick Plonski, Executive Director of Books for Africa

“I cannot express in words our gratitude for the books you sent to us and the difference they have made for our students and community. I walk into the library now and see the number of students reading your books. I thank God for you. You have made friends in Africa for life.”
-Dr. Morgan Chawawa, Director of Academic Studies at BA ISAGO University College in Botswana

“We are very pleased for the special gifts that you gave to our school. It is with great pleasure to hand this letter of thanks to you. Each and everyone at my school is willing to work very hard to read and learn from library books.”
-Motseoa Monyatsuoa, Lesotho

“I would like to thank you so much for the great gift you sent us. Believe me, with all the books you offered us, I can now carry on my research and this is all thanks to your generosity. God bless you.”
-Teguia Cherif, Algeria

Pumpkin Hat

2008-11-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

Here is my latest creation. This cute pumpkin hat is a gift for a great fellow blogger with a baby on the way. I used a simple double crochet stitch and super soft merino yarn from Malabrigo. To allow the yarn and shape to be the focus of this cute hat, a simple stitch is the best way to go.

Old Red Barn Co. Quilt Giveaway

2008-11-12T20:29:00.000-08:00

Ok, I think I am rather crafty, but Dana at the Old Red Barn Co. kicks my butt!!!
Check out these amazing quilts that she is giving away on her blog.

Old Red Barn Co. is one of my favorite blogs. Dana has a great selection of streaming music that I just dig. I love to read about all the amazing quilts being created, Dana's family, and her life.
Thank you Dana for sharing with the rest of us!!!

CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN

2008-11-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

Posted by Ezra Klein on November 7, 2008 10:01 AM

On Monday night, at the Obama rally in Manassas, Virginia, I stood by the press railing watching the most poignant scene I'd witnessed during the whole campaign. There were two small children, both on their father's backs. At the beginning, they were about 10 feet from each other, staring anxiously at the stage. One was black, the other white. The little white kid had an Obama sign, the little black kid didn't. They took stock of each other. Soon, the little white kid leaned all the way over to try and give his sign to his new friend. The fathers, noticing, moved closer to each other. And the kids held the sign together. I had forgotten my camera, and was begging others to take pictures. April Winchell, however, succeeded:

Get your Yoga On Special Offer Barefoot Books

2008-11-07T08:46:00.000-08:00

Get our brand new Yoga Planet free with a $50 order from Barefoot Books.

"Yoga Planet is a great way to get kids (and adults) moving, laughing and most importantly thinking about the world around them" —Tobey and Jennifer Maguire

Here is my son pretending to be a tree.

Theo learned this pose from My Daddy is Pretzel. The picture below is from the book and shows how to do the pose. It is a fantastic introduction to yoga!

Kasiisi Prodject

2008-11-06T16:54:00.000-08:00

“One day these Ugandan children, like our own, will need to make important decisions about their world. Access to the best kind of books will help them make the right ones.”
Elizabeth Ross, Director of The Kasiisi Project

One of the joys of "Living Barefoot" is seeing the books we produce positively affecting the lives of children around the world. Nothing is quite as inspiring as meeting like-minded organizations who are putting our core values into action, and few stories fit this example so brilliantly as the work of The Kasiisi Project.

The Kasiisi Project is a Boston-based non-profit organization whose focus is funding classroom buildings and scholarships, encouraging literacy, and working to give rural schoolchildren in western Uganda a chance for a successful future. Barefoot’s own Sales & Marketing Director, Melisa Schulman, recently learned of this wonderful organization and their growing cultural exchange with Weston Public Schools in Massachusetts. After hearing that many of the books donated to Ugandan children from the west are so culturally irrelevant as to prove useless, Melisa thought, “Barefoot can help!”
Read the full post @
http://www.barefoot-books.com/us/site/community/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=2&showentry=22

We tip our hats to the Kasiisi Project, both for their inspirational work and the opportunity for us to see our own work brightening the lives of children all the way across the world. To learn how you can help, visit their web site at www.kasiisiproject.org.

Proud To Be An American

2008-11-05T10:45:00.001-08:00

For the first time in my adult life I am proud to be an American! Last night was probably one of the five most memorable events in my life. It is right up their with my first date with my husband, our wedding, and the birth of my two children. Why, you ask? Because I watched the dawning of a new age, the first step of the country I love becoming a country to truly be proud of!

Last night I sat on my couch with my mom and two cuties watching on my laptop MSNBC (we are going without tv) the election coverage. My husband was at work watching the coverage with his co-workers. Theo my 7 year old son who has been doing his part to campaign for Obama for the last year was dancing around singing "Yes We Can." (You should hear some of the park conversations he has had about the state of the country. That boy is too funny sometimes.) Well, here we are at the point of no return the states are being called....no way Pennsylvania, could it be real. Obama/Biden won Pennsylvania!!! Until that point I hadn't realized how worried I really was, that horrible knot in my stomach finally loosened. Once we won Pennsylvania I knew we Won!

Obama campaigned with a message of change and hope and that is exactly what I feel. As a country we are poised for change and I am so hopeful for the coming years. We as citizens, as people, as friends, and as families have an obligation to make change happen, to strive for greatness and reach our goals of environmental stability, equality, the economy, healthcare for all, and peace. I say to you, "Yes We Can!"

As overjoyed I am with the victory in the presidential election, I am embarrassed and sadden that in this day and age that Ballot Measure California Proposition 8: Ban on Gay Marriage won. This is the first time in our history as a Country that we have taken away a right. We have come so far and yet it is not far enough. So to take a quote from our President Elect's running mate and our Vice President Elect Joe Biden, "When you get knocked down, Get up!" Proposition 8 has knock us down and as a State I say "Get Up!" We need to fight for the rights of everyone to have the ability to marry.

Thank you to all of those who voted and worked on so hard to make this happen for all of us. I thank you for the promise of hope for myself, my family and most of all for my children. President Elect Obama and Vice President Elect Biden I am here and ready for change I promise to be one of the many proud Americans to work hard and do my part as a citizen for these United States. Just Ask! :)

Dirt and Noise Book Review

2008-10-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

Just posted a review of a couple of Barefoot Books!

Check it out at
www.dirtandnoise.com

30% Off Barefoot Books 'till November 3rd

2008-10-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

Under the Same Sun Presents: Persons with Albinism in Tanzania

2008-10-23T14:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I read some of the most disturbing stories of discrimination I have ever read. Albinism is a rare genetic condition, in Tanzania it is 5 times more likely to occur. Which Makes the story below even more horrific.

Persons with albinism in Tanzania face several major challenges:

1. The horror of a rapidly growing industry in the sale of albino body parts.
This unimaginable evil is driven by the belief (in some areas of the country) that the body parts of people with albinism have magical powers capable of bringing riches if used in potions produced by local witchdoctors. In the last year official reports indicate that 26 persons with albinism have been brutally murdered and their body parts hacked off and sold to witchdoctors. Though the official count is 28 leaders in the albino community believe the number to be over 60. Some recent reports indicate that body parts are also being exported outside Tanzania. In one instance a Tanzanian trader was caught with the head of an albino baby on his way to The Democratic Republic of Congo. He told police a businessman was going to pay him for the head by its weight.

To read the more please go to http://www.underthesamesun.com/home.php

Under the Same Sun is collecting signatures to ensure that those that engage in the sale of albino body parts are prosecuted and education is available to the communities to stop this horrific practice.

Under The Same Sun intends to invest significantly in resources within Tanzania to improve the life of persons with albinism by:

Providing resources to the Tanzanian Albino Society
Researching the possibility of establishing a resource center for persons with albinism where they might receive education and medical support
Planning an outreach mission to Tanzania in October 2008 to meet with government, educational, and other leaders to highlight these macabre killings and create political pressure to have those involved stopped

Under The Same Sun is proud to be partnering with Positive Exposure

Under The Same Sun Fund
Suite 400 - 15225, 104 Ave.
Surrey, BC Canada V3R 6Y8

E-Mail: info@underthesamesun.com

Green Mom Finds Barefoot Giveaway

2008-10-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Whole World Gift Set Giveaway!

We love Barefoot Books. Their children’s titles are beautifully illustrated, unique and educational. Even more, we love giving away their children’s books to our wonderful readers! If you want a chance to win THREE of their eco children’s books, then you’re in luck because we are giving away…

A copy of Whole World Fun Eco Activities
A copy of Yoga Planet
A copy of Whole World - Mini Edition

To Enter: Go to Green Moms Finds

Review: Arthur of Albion Will Knock Your Chainmail Socks Off

2008-10-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

By Matt Blum

It's a rare storybook that blows you away with the beauty of its art. Rarer still are such books where the stories are captivating as well. Arthur of Albion, a new book of King Arthur stories, is one of those. It's the sort of book you might buy for your kids—say, as a way of getting them interested in the Arthur stories—and then find yourself sitting on the couch reading it and staring at the art after your kids are in bed.

The stories in the book will be familiar to anyone who knows the Arthur legends: The story of the Questing Beast, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the quest for the Grail, etc. But each story is written in a simple, yet richly detailed, style, with the occasional old-style wording (e.g., "he knew not"), and you will find yourself drawn in by them even if you know the plot by heart. Some of the stories are written with morals, but none too heavy-handed, and all true to previous versions. The stories are separated by short two-page spreads on subjects related to the following story, providing quick glimpses into the characters and settings. The book is very faithful to the history of Arthurian legend, written as it is by John Matthews, a noted expert on the subject (he was even the historical advisor for the 2003 movie King Arthur).

Read the rest of this fantastic review

Treehouse in the Glen

2008-10-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Since our move my wonderful husband has been working pretty much non-stop. In hopes that our children will remember what he looks like Dave took us out to lunch. After lunch we decided to check out a cute little toy shop we had driven by on our way to lunch. Treehouse in the Glen is a fairytale come true. We had so much fun looking around this cute Waldorf Inspired shop!

We each picked out something fun to bring home and play with!

Theo picked out this cool airplane kit and a bag of marbles. We have yet to try out our airplane making skills but hope to get a little help from Dave with them. (I can't fold an airplane to save my life, lol) The marbles were choosen to replace the lost marbles from our marble run... lets see how long it takes us to loose these also.

Gabbie choose a package of wooden beads and string. We are planning a necklace and bracelet set. We also grabed a couple Matchbook Garden seed packets. We are intending to add them to our porch garden...I will let you all know how it goes.

It has been a long time since I have done any needle felting. With Halloween quickly approaching I just had to get some roving to make pumpkins.

The fruit of our labor :)

Treehouse in the Glen
1275 Lincoln Ave, Suite 2 [ map ]
San Jose
408-294-8699

Smarty Pants

2008-10-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

I never thought of balloon folding as art until I met Smarty Pants. Smarty and his wife and partner The Lovely Miss Dena were set up next to my booth at a local street fair over the summer. It was mesmerizing to watch Smarty turn balloons into gorgeous pieces of art! Here are a few of my favorite creations from the fair.

Smart has one of the best Yelp reviews I have ever read :)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/smarty-pants-chicago

You can check Smart and the Lovely Miss Dena on their website

www.smartypantsworld.com

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty

2008-10-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life, including food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, and may also include the deprivation of opportunities to learn, to obtain better employment to escape poverty, and/or to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens. According to Mollie Orshansky who developed the poverty measurements used by the U.S. government, "to be poor is to be deprived of those goods and services and pleasures which others around us take for granted."^[1] Ongoing debates over causes, effects and best ways to measure poverty, directly influence the design and implementation of poverty-reduction programs and are therefore relevant to the fields of public administration and international development.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty

Effects of poverty

The effects of poverty may also be causes, as listed above, thus creating a "poverty cycle" operating across multiple levels, individual, local, national and global.

Those living in poverty and lacking access to essential health services, suffering hunger or even starvation,^[84] experience mental and physical health problems which make it harder for them to improve their situation.^[85] One third of deaths - some 18 million people a year or 50,000 per day - are due to poverty-related causes: in total 270 million people, most of them women and children, have died as a result of poverty since 1990.^[86] Those living in poverty suffer lower life expectancy. Every year nearly 11 million children living in poverty die before their fifth birthday. Those living in poverty often suffer from hunger.^[87] 800 million people go to bed hungry every night.^[88] Poverty increases the risk of homelessness.^[89] There are over 100 million street children worldwide.^[90] Increased risk of drug abuse may also be associated with poverty.^[91]

Diseases of poverty reflect the dynamic relationship between poverty and poor health; while such infectious diseases result directly from poverty, they also perpetuate and deepen impoverishment by sapping personal and national health and financial resources. For example, malaria decreases GDP growth by up to 1.3% in some developing nations, and by killing tens of millions in sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS alone threatens “the economies, social structures, and political stability of entire societies”.^[92]^[93]

Those living in poverty in the developed world may suffer social isolation. Rates of suicide may increase in conditions of poverty. Death of a breadwinner may decrease a household's resilience to poverty conditions and cause a dramatic worsening in their situation. Low income levels and poor employment opportunities for adults in turn create the conditions where households can depend on the income of child members. An estimated 218 million children aged 5 to 17 are in child labor worldwide, excluding child domestic labor.^[94] Lacking viable employment opportunities those living in poverty may also engage in the informal economy, or in criminal activity, both of which may on a larger scale discourage investment in the economy, further perpetuating conditions of poverty.

Low income and wealth levels undermine the ability of governments to levy taxes for public service provision, adding to the 'vicious circle' connecting the causes and effects of poverty. Lack of essential infrastructure, poor education and health services, and poor sanitation contribute to the perpetuation of poverty.^[95] Poor access to affordable public education can lead to low levels of literacy, further entrenching poverty. Weak public service provision and high levels of poverty can increase states' vulnerability to natural disasters and make states more vulnerable to shocks in the international economy, such as those associated with rising fuel prices, or declining commodity prices.^[96]^[97]

Areas strongly affected by poverty tend to be more violent. In one survey, 67% of children from disadvantaged inner cities said they had witnessed a serious assault, and 33% reported witnessing a homicide.^[98] 51% of fifth graders from New Orleans (median income for a household: $27,133) have been found to be victims of violence, compared to 32% in Washington, DC (mean income for a household: $40,127).^[99]

The capacity of the state is further undermined by the problem that people living in poverty may be more vulnerable to extremist political persuasion, and may feel less loyalty to a state unable to deliver basic services. For these reasons conditions of poverty may increase the risk of political violence, terrorism, war and genocide, and may make those living in poverty vulnerable to human trafficking, internal displacement and exile as refugees. Countries suffering widespread poverty may experience loss of population, particularly in high-skilled professions, through emigration, which may further undermine their ability to improve their situation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty

How can we make a difference?

Buy Fair Trade

http://www.fairtradefederation.org/

Cloths

http://www.fairindigo.com/
http://www.marigoldfairtradeclothing.com/
http://nosweatapparel.com/
http://www.pristineplanet.com/
*http://www.globalmamas.org/*

I love the little girl dresses made by Global Mamas!
Over the summer I had the pleasure of meeting the founder of Global Mamas at a street festival.

COFFEE

Equal Exchange's Organic Breakfast Blend ($8/12 oz.; www.equalexchange.com; 781-830-0303)

Caffe Ibis's Organic Espresso Roast Blend ($9.49/12 oz.; www.caffeibis.com; 888-740-4777)

Grounds for Change Sumatra Roast ($8.95/12 oz.; www.groundsforchange.com; 800-796-6820)

Millstone Coffee ($7.99/10-12 oz.; www.millstone.com)

Cafe Canopy's triple certified French Roast ($10.50/12 oz.; www.cafecanopy.com; 888-299-1147)

CHOCOLATE

La Siembra Group's Cocoa Camino (www.lasiembra.com/home.htm; 613-235-6122) hot chocolate, chocolate bars. Buy at globalexchange.org, www.serrv.org and www.chocosphere.com.

Green & Black's and Maya Gold Chocolate $3.50-$4 for a 100-gram bar (www.greenandblacks.com)

Equal Exchange (see above) hot-cocoa mix ($6 for a 12-oz. can)

See Coffee and Chocolate product reports at www.thegreenguide.com.

Become a Kiva Sponsor!

http://www.kiva.org/

How Kiva Works

Choose an Entrepreneur, Lend, Get Repaid

The below diagram shows briefly how money gets from you to a developing-world entrepreneur, and back.

1) Lenders like you browse profiles of entrepreneurs in need, and choose someone to lend to. When they lend, using PayPal or their credit cards, Kiva collects the funds and then passes them along to one of our microfinance partners worldwide.

2) Kiva's microfinance partners distribute the loan funds to the selected entrepreneur. Often, our partners also provide training and other assistance to maximize the entrepreneur's chances of success.

3) Over time, the entrepreneur repays their loan. Repayment and other updates are posted on Kiva and emailed to lenders who wish to receive them.

4) When lenders get their money back, they can re-lend to someone else in need, donate their funds to Kiva (to cover operational expenses), or withdraw their funds.

To learn more about Kiva head on over to their website at www.kiva.org

Talk to Your Parents About John McCain

2008-10-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Pediatricians Recommend Doubling Vitamin D for Kids

2008-10-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

This is an article from the The Wall Street Journal as it relates to children's health I am reposting it here with a link to the original article.

Posted by Sarah Rubenstein

Getty Images

The case for plenty of vitamin D continues to grow. The American Academy of Pediatrics is now doubling its recommendation of the amount of the vitamin that kids should get.

The new recommendation comes amid a steady stream of reports about the benefits of Vitamin D. There’s been discussion of its ability to help prevent heart disease, cancer and mortality risk. For instance, research has suggested that women with low levels of vitamin D when they’re diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to die from the disease than those who have higher levels.

The pediatrics academy said its recommendations also come because vitamin D helps prevent rickets, a bone-softening disease that continues to crop up in kids, and because enough vitamin D throughout childhood may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

The revised guidelines “are based on evidence from new clinical trials and the historical precedence of safely giving 400 IU of vitamin D per day in the pediatric and adolescent population,” the academy wrote in a statement. (Click on the PDF icon at right to read the recommendations and the rationale, published here with the permission of the AAP.)

The academy is now recommending 400 daily units of vitamin D for children from their first days of life through adolescence. That means some teens and kids, including breast-feeding infants, may need daily supplements, the Associated Press reports. Infant formula contains vitamin D, the AP explains, while breast milk is sometimes deficient.

Photo: iStockphoto

Permalink | Trackback URL: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/10/13/pediatricians-recommend-doubling-of-vitamin-d-for-kids/trackback/

Shopping With Dad

2008-10-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

Shopping with Dad by Matt Harvey has become one of my favorite books to read to both of my children. Full of silly rhyming and a sweet message that accidence happen and no one is to blame, Shopping with Dad is the perfect anytime book.

We were in the grocery store today and my little cutie Gabbie asked "Mommie can we get some DangerJam?" I was laughing so hard that I got a couple funny looks from the other shoppers.

Honestly, lately with all of the stress of moving across the country I could use some Strong Anti-Grump Pills!

I love the bright playful illustrations.

Theo says "I think Shopping with Dad is interesting. It reminds me of myself even though I am not a girl. I often go shopping with my dad which is special because I have alone time with my dad."

Free Shipping

2008-09-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

Tennis Opportunity Program Saturday, Sept. 6th

2008-08-13T10:47:00.001-07:00

Saturday, Sept. 6th
Midtown Tennis Club
1pm - 5pm
(located in the paddle hut - North side of Elston)

Exclusive sale to benefit TOP (Tennis Opportunity Program)!

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15% of all sales will be given to TOP!

- shop the latest fall/winter collections

- save on discontinued items

- slightly irregular items generously discounted

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Tennis Opportunity Program

TOP is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide economically disadvantaged children with the opportunity to achieve excellence - as students, as players, and as citizens. The organization has been operating in the Chicago area for more than fifteen years.

Please join us for TOP's Annual Fundraising Event, October 11, 2008

- Jim Courier, Celebrity Guest

Barefoot stallholders come to the aid of library devastated by fire

2008-07-31T08:39:00.000-07:00

On June 24, fire ravaged the Swans Island Library in Swans Island, Maine, leaving not much more than a pile of ashes where the 100-year-old building once stood.
This August, Barefoot Books stallholders will rally to rebuild the library with amazing children’s books.
“When I heard about this fire, it tugged at my heartstrings,” says Kasey Jackson, a Barefoot Books stallholder in Indianapolis, Indiana. “I wanted to do something myself to help—send a few books—something. But I also thought we could do something on a larger scale. That’s when I decided to spread the word to see what we could do.”
Want to help? Here’s how:
If you’re attending the International Stallholder Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts:
• Bring a book or offer to bring books for other stallholders in your area.
If you’re not attending the Conference, but want to help:
• Send a book to Rock City Books and Coffee 328 Main Street, Suite 102 Rockland, Maine 04841
put a slip of paper in each box that says the book(s) is (are) a donation to the Swans Island Library.
• If your idea of Living Barefoot is sharing beautiful stories and works of art with children, then please consider donating a book today. The children of Swans Island will thank you.

Simple e-mail:
Barefoot Books stallholders are coming together to donate Barefoot titles to the Swans Island Library in Swans Island, Maine, which burned to the ground on June 24 after lightning hit the 100-year-old building.
According to reports about the library rebuilding efforts, children’s books are the most-needed. This affords Barefoot Books a unique opportunity to step up and make a difference to numerous children.
If you want to donate:
Bring your book(s) to the International Stallholder Conference in Cambridge, Mass., or send your book donation to Rock City Books and Coffee 328 Main Street, Suite 102 Rockland, Maine 04841
put a slip of paper in each box that says the book(s) is (are) a donation to the Swans Island Library.
Contacts at the store are KT or Geri, both women.

Here’s their e-mail if anyone has other questions:

books@rockcitybooks.com

Phone number is 207-594-4123
If you would like to add the title(s) you are donating, so that we don’t overlap too too much.
Thank you!!!!

Here are some links to more information;
http://www.rockcitycoffee.com/secondread.htm
http://bangornews.com/news/t/hancock.aspx?articleid=167577&zoneid=178

Little Leap Forward

2008-07-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

My son Theo and I decided to spend the afternoon reading Little Leap Forward together.

This was one of the best ideas we have had lately :) Snuggled up together in the backyard we read the first 5 chapters of Little Leap Forward. My son is 7 and my daughter is 3 it can be hard to meet both of their needs at the same time. It worked out beautifully Gabbie (below) played and listened and Theo was able to just snuggle and read with me.

Gabbie although you wouldn't think it was paying close attention to the story.

She would come over to look at the pictures and than run off.
She really liked that the part about the kites, the Chinese characters for kite mean "wind" and "bamboo struggle." Gab thinks wind bamboo struggle is very funny and has been saying it over and over again while explaining that she is speaking Chinese, lol!

Here are Theo's thought so far about Little Leap Forward.
-It is good!
-Little Leap would make a good friend, I would want to play with him.
-His mom seems nice and it is sad that his father died.
-The pictures are great!

For me Little Leap has been a new journey of discovery, I must admit that China and Chinese history is a complete mystery to me. The illusions to communism and the struggle Little Leaps family is having to survive are masterfully written. This is one of those books that everyone should read.

Tuthillo

2008-07-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Talk about cool! My son has already lost 10 teeth and more to come...I can't wait to try out this cool companion!!!! Tuthillo is such a great name.
Teeth Come. Teeth Go.™

But how do you pronounce it? Think "tooth pillow" and try this... tooth-uh-low.

Check out all the cool colors!!!!

Cool Review By a Barefoot Dad!

2008-07-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Geekly Reader: The Boy Who Grew Flowers by Jen Wojtowicz (art by Steve Adams)

By Matt Blum July 10, 2008 | 11:00:00 AMCategories: Books

Rink Bowagon has an even weirder family than most people. Many of his family members on Lonesome Mountain are shape-shifters, and his uncle trains rattlesnakes. Rink grows flowers, but not in a garden: he grows them all over his body every full moon. He's shy at school because of his differences, and as a result is shunned by his classmates.

Then one day a girl named Angelina Quiz joins his class, and, despite the other students trying to get her attention, she is interested only in Rink. Rink overcomes his shyness to ask her to the school dance, and she reveals to Rink that she can't dance because one of her legs is shorter than the other. Rink shows up at her house with flowers from his own body (for of course the dance is on the night of a full moon) and a solution to her problem, and they not only dance but fall in love.

The Boy Who Grew Flowers is a picture book that treats individuality and quirkiness as things to be embraced, not overcome (the author, Jen Wojtowicz, who is also an artist, was inspired to write the book by her relationship with her brother with autism). The story may sound heavy-handed from my description here, but, judging from my kids' reactions to it it only seems that way to adults--the fantasy on which the story is based prevents, I think, most little kids from realizing the message is there, even while they absorb it. The art, by Steve Adams, is brilliantly done—simple but beautiful, drawing you into the story and never distracting from it. The book is published by Barefoot Books , which is dedicated to combining great art and great stories, and you can definitely see that in this book. (Sample pages can be viewed here and here.)

The Boy Who Grew Flowers is aimed at children ages 4-8, and, with its beautiful art, makes a nice gift.

Full disclosure: My wife is an independent stallholder for Barefoot Books, and her website is linked to above.

Old Red Barn Co. Quilt Giveaway!

2008-07-15T08:03:00.000-07:00

P.S. Winners will be selected by random draw and will be announced next Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Peace out.

Little Leap Forward

2008-07-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

WATCH AND LISTEN to Little Leap Forward author Guo Yue share his story of growing up during China's cultural revolution.

WATCH VIDEO

My son and I are going to begin reading Little Leap Forward this evening. I will share our experience with you as we read. We just watched the movie about the book and here are the questions my sweet son asked;
"Mom why did they take his mom away?"
"Mom why did they burn all of his moms pictures?"

We might find the answers to his questions as we read, but I really don't think I will ever understand why or how people can be so cruel. Just watching this short little movie brings tears to my eyes. My sweet, sweet son finished the movie reflecting, "that little bird is so beautiful." It reminded me of a book that has become one of our favorites The Big Brown Box by Toni Morrison with Slade Morrison.
"Patty and Mickey and Liza Sue
Live in a big brown box.
It has carpet and curtains and beanbag chairs.
And the door has three big locks.

Oh, it's pretty inside and the windows are wide
With shutters to keep out the day.
They have swings and slides and custom-made beds
An the doors open only one way."

Happy Birthday: Eco-Libris is one year old!

2008-07-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Eco-Libris!
Thank you for all your hard work!

Eco-Libris is a fantastic company that gives us the opportunity to balance out our environmental impact of the publishing industry.

How We Do It

You decide how many books you want to balance out with Eco-Libris
About 20 Million trees are cut down annually for virgin paper used for the production of books sold in the U.S. alone. That’s definitely a problem - trees are one of the most valuable natural resources we have. They literally form the foundations of many natural systems and provide us with numerous benefits (carbon dioxide absorption, soil and water conservation, avalanche control, desertification prevention to name a few).

Eco-Libris is providing you now with a simple and affordable way to do something about it. All you have to do is to choose how many books you want to balance out with Eco-Libris, pay for it online, and a tree will be planted for each of these books.

Eco-Libris works with its planting partners to plant your trees in developing countries
Our planting partners are organizations that work in developing countries. Their planting and conservation activities are an integral part of their efforts to help local communities in these countries move towards a sustainable future. We make sure that your trees will be planted where they provide significant value for both the environment and the local communities, who are very much involved and play an important part in the planting projects.

You receive an Eco-Libris sticker for every book you balance out
The Eco-Libris sticker, which is made from recycled paper, is designed for you to put on the cover of the books you balance out, to show your commitment to sustainability and responsible use of natural resources. We hope you show off these books and inspire your family, friends and colleagues to take responsibility for their books as well.

Planting trees is the first step towards sustainable reading. We encourage you to explore a few more.
We would like to see more (and eventually all) books printed in an environmental friendly manner on recycled paper. If virgin paper is being used, then it should only be from certified forests. You can help make this happen by writing publishers and encouraging them to do the right thing. Also, you can help by spreading the word – tell your family and friends about Eco-Libris and about the way books should be produced.

I Love the Ergo

2008-07-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

Ergo in my opinion is the best baby carrier on the market! My husband and I carried both of our children as infants and we still use our Ergo for our three year old daughter.
Here are just a few reasons we love this carrier;
-it is washable
-completely adjustable and both my husband and I can wear the same one even though we are completely different sizes
-it has a accessories and a pocket so that I can just grab and go with out a purse
-most of all it is comfortable and easy to use
For instructions on how to use the Ergo click below

Instructions

About the Company
At the 2nd Annual Baby Wearing Conference I had the great pleasure of meeting the owner and designer of Ergo Karin Frost and the US Sales Manager Angela Pennette.

Our mission is to offer parents the most thoughtful, highest quality, and most innovative baby carrier and accessories found on the market. It is our pleasure to be educating parents about baby wearing and related topics to improve the way our next generation of babies are introduced into the world. We are committed to customer service, including immediate order response, and friendly support of product use and understanding. Education and consumer response is our priority.We are marketing worldwide and have created a team that efficiently runs our business; each of us is dedicated to reliability and serving with integrity. We are a family owned and operated company located in Maui, Hawaii where we practice the Aloha Spirit.

The ERGO Baby Carrier was initially developed out of a personal need when Karin Frost, our owner and designer, had her son in 2001 and created a carrier for him. With the help and feedback from other parents the ERGO was born. An immediate market response followed with the ensuing development of it's own market based on consumer support and incredible 'word of mouth'. The market is constantly expanding because its niche, attachment parenting, is in its early phases of growth and recognition.

The ERGO Baby Carrier and accessories is many baby carriers, slings, and strollers consolidated into one product line. It saves the consumer money because they only have to buy one baby carrier for the life of their baby wearing years. It is the most comfortable and physically supportive baby carrier on the market. None of our competitors put the majority of the weight of the baby on the parent's hips which is the most important weight bearing part of the body.

More and more parents want to be physically active and productive during the early stages of their child's growth. Wearing their baby supports this need. Research on baby wearing has also observed great benefits to the child. The ERGO holds the baby safely and closely to the parent's body and provides the parent with the desired mobility. It also builds parent's awareness of their child’s needs.

Karin's focus now is Research and Development and she is constantly extending the product line, updating and creating new packaging and offering seasonal promotions to offer more to the customer. She happily stays in touch with our customers by writing and talking to them. Testimonials about the life changing stories parents have experienced in their lives with the ERGO are received several times a week. We value our customers and respond to every inquiry we receive. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Thank You
As my daughter was melting and hysterical I walked around the lobby of the conference with her on my back (in her Ergo). I found myself over by the Ergo table, the incredible sweet women sitting at the table (I am so sorry that I have forgotten her name) was so kind to me. She made what could have been an extremely stressful situation so much easier for me. I would love to thank her again for her kind words of support.

In the last few years I have hear all kinds of stories about Ergo as a company. Let me just take a second to put my two cents in. I do not know the full details of any of the stories I have heard...things like Ergo pulling a trade account because the distributor was tie dying the carriers, suing companies for copying their design, and so on.....
Here is my take on the whole thing Ergo makes a great product and they are a wonder company.
I would ask before someone posts on a forum or tells stories about the company do a bit of research and see if you have the whole picture. My person experience with Ergo has been wonderful.

Wahloo

2008-07-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

This is such a cool sling, I love the pocket! It has a great key ring that is detachable.
Finally, a super functional sling with simple, classic style. The navy stretch fabric has just enough stretch to keep mom and baby comfortable while maintaining a slim, refined line with no extra bulk. The soft, 100% cotton lining is available in preppy pink, green, or blue stripe. Two pockets, one with a snap and one open, hold mom's wallet or necessities. The stylish (and removable) leather and tortoise accessory ring keeps baby's toy or pacifier in close reach and off the floor.

The Wahloo baby sling is designed to be worn on your left shoulder and "slung" around your right hip. If you are a lefty and/or prefer to wear it around your right shoulder and left hip, that's okay, too. You just might have a harder time reaching the toy ring. Please watch the video .

Before our son could pronounce, "I love you," he said, "wah-loo." I liked the way it sounded, and it reflects one of the most fundamental reasons for using a sling: Love.

When I first wore a pouch-style baby sling, it literally changed my life. My son loved to rest quietly nestled next to my heart, and it freed my hands to allow me to get through my busy day. There was only one problem. While the sling was very functional, it didn't reflect my personal style. I wanted to design a high-quality baby sling that fit my life. With the help of a design team and an internationally recognized manufacturer, Wahloo slings were born. I hope you will enjoy wearing them as much as I do.

Together Be

2008-07-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

Here is another great company, Together Be!
They are a super nice family that make a wonderful products!
You can read about them below and their products below.

Peekaru Beginnings

"When our daughter was a baby I carried her everywhere. She was born in May and since we were busy chasing her big brother, staying inside wasn’t an option.

I wrapped her up as well as I could in my carrier, trying to keep her tiny legs and arms from the sun. When fall came the temperatures dropped and I found myself wearing my husband’s coat zipped over both of us. This worked, except the coat’s zipper hit her in the back of her neck, and wind whipped down my exposed neck.

One night I pulled out my sewing machine, something I hadn’t used in years, and made the first Peekaru Original. It worked wonderfully! I could finally wear my daughter UNDER my winter gear. Her body was covered and protected from the wind, and the best thing was, the Peekaru Original worked with all of the carriers I already owned!"

-Melissa Radcliffe, TogetherBe Founder

Company Basic

TogetherBe LLC was founded by Melissa Radcliffe and husband D. Hamilton Radcliffe, inspired by their children.

Peekaru product line is designed to help parents and children stay close all year round. We provide simple, elegant alternatives to shapeless bulky outerwear. We maintain a socially conscious focus by using recycled materials whenever possible and keeping our manufacturing in the USA.

Amelia

A classic Damask print, white design on black background with black straps. Upscale and elegant.

Baby Wearing Made Warm

The Peekaru Original is a fleece vest that zips over a soft baby carrier to keep you and your child warm. It fits comfortably over all carriers, including Baby Bjorns, Hotslings, Ergos, Mei Tais, and Wraps¹.

TogetherBe LLC (www.togetherbe.com), the maker of the Peekaru Original fleece baby carrier cover announced today that all Peekaru Originals will now be made exclusively from 85% recycled Malden Mills fleece.

Baby K'Tan

2008-07-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

The Baby K’tan™ Baby Carrier is made entirely of soft, breathable 100% cotton knit fabric that is strong enough to hold a child from birth to 42 lbs. The unique patent pending design consists of two loops of fabric connected with a sliding support band. Parents can stylishly carry their babies in 8 comfortable positions, while freeing up their hands to tend to other tasks or other children. Babies can be snuggled and breastfed in the Cradle and Explore positions. They can also be carried upright, facing in or out, and as they get older, they can be carried on your hip.

HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT?

8 comfortable positions to conveniently carry babies in style
Easy to use and put on; NO WRAPPING (see instructions)
No buckles, rings, snaps, clasps, bulky padding, metal or plastic
Soft, breathable, machine washable and dryer safe
Unique figure 8 design and sliding lumbar band (patent pending) offers greater support for back and shoulders
Calms fussy babies – minimizes frustrations
and maximizes success with your infant
Creates an ideal environment for premature babies and babies with special needs. See Medical Endorsements
Fosters Kangaroo Care
Assists and promotes successful breastfeeding
Discreetly nurse your baby while on the go
Unmatched double loop design holds baby more securely than traditional slings while distributing weight on both shoulders
All contents 100% breathable cotton with cross stretch soft knit fabric
Innovative double loop design can hold twins
Matching baby hat & sash included
Baby carrier can be personalized
Durable enough to carry babies and toddlers from preemie to preschool (42 pounds)
Chiropractor, physical and occupational therapist recommended
Recommended by lactation specialists
A percentage of the proceeds from every sale of a Baby K’tan™ Baby Carrier will be allocated to the American Heart Association, and to help fund education, medical research, advocacy programs,
and promotion of awareness and inclusion for individuals and families living with Down syndrome.

I had the absolute pleasure of Michal Chesal (inventor and co-founder of the Baby K'Tan) company at the 2nd Annual Baby Wearing Conference. Michal and I had met last year at the La Leche League's 50Th Anniversary. Michal had been our neighbor at the Conference and been kind enough to let us stash our extra stock in her hotel room. Thank you Michal!

Baby K’tan, LLC was founded by two couples, the Chesals and Wernicks, who have been close friends for years. Each family was raising a child with special needs, in addition to two other children. With a desire to provide their babies with the sensory nourishment they require for optimal development, while also wanting to carry their babies as much as possible for parent-child bonding, both couples experimented with different baby slings and carriers.

Not finding the ideal carrier on the market, they began creating different designs to satisfy their children’s needs, while combining style, ease of use, and comfort.

Improving and incorporating different aspects from various slings and traditional front carriers that were already on the market, the Wernicks and Chesals created the Baby K’tan™ Baby Carrier!

What is Babywearing?

2008-06-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

The 2nd annual Baby Wearing Conference was this past weekend in Chicago. I had the great pleasure of being a vendor at this 4 day conference. Below your will find a great bit of the article I found on Chicago Public Radio. * we just made our family pledge to the Chicago Public Radio :) In the next few days I will post more about baby wearing and some of the great carriers/products I found at the event.

Posted 6.30.08 by Eight Forty-Eight

Photo by Stephenie Dame

This past weekend, thousands of people headed to the Crosstown Classic, the Pride Parade and Taste of Chicago. But those weren’t the only events. Hundreds of women—and some men—attended the 2nd annual International Babywearing Conference at DePaul University. Eight Forty-Eight’s Ashley Gross investigates.
More...

Barefoot Books Leaps Forward

2008-06-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

By Sally Lodge, Children's Bookshelf -- Publishers Weekly, 6/26/2008

Next month, picture book publisher Barefoot Books launches its Young Fiction Program with the publication of Little Leap Forward: A Boy in Beijing, an illustrated novel. The book is based on Guo Yue’s experiences growing up in the 1960s during the Cultural Revolution, as Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward policy dramatically altered life in China.

In keeping with Barefoot’s picture book list, the new fiction line will focus on stories that draw from various cultures and traditions, but which, as Barefoot’s co-founder and editor-in-chief Tessa Strickland puts it, “speak to our times.” Illustration will also play a prominent role in the fiction list. “We place a high value on art as well as story, and on the importance of the visual education of older children,” she says. “So the novels will be illustrated throughout in full color.”

Little Leap Forward, which features art by Helen Cann, is a collaboration by flautist Guo Yue and Clare Farrow, a freelance writer and journalist, who live in London with their two children. They also teamed up to write an adult book, Music, Food and Love, a memoir of Guo Yue’s life that was published in 2006 and is due out in paperback from Piatkus Books in December. Told through the eyes of an eight-year-old boy, Little Leap Forward describes how the descent of the Red Guards on Beijing during the summer of 1966 brought drastic changes to the life of this child, who had previously spent his days flying kites with his friends and playing his flute to his beloved bird.

Guo Yue.

“The book is based on characters and events from my childhood, especially on the relationships I had with my mother and sisters and my best friend and on everyday details,” says Guo Yue, “but it is fiction as well as fact. I guess you could say it’s a kind of poetic interpretation of actual experiences.”

Those memories are clearly indelible, and continue to affect his life 42 years after that summer. Guo Yue says that it is impossible to exaggerate the effect of the Cultural Revolution on his life and the lives of those close to him—especially his mother, who was branded a “counter-revolutionary” and sent to the countryside to perform hard labor for more than two years. “The Revolution’s darkness has stayed inside me, especially in my music,” Guo Yue says, “and it gave me the most profound belief in freedom. But the realization of what it meant came slowly to me as a child. For children of my age, the Revolution meant that we didn’t learn about the world, we only learned about Mao and communism. Poetry, literature, the music of Mozart, anything that was not revolutionary was banned from our lives.”

Clare Farrow.

Farrow, who praises Cann’s illustrations for their “colors, patterns and attention to authentic detail,” hopes that young readers of the novel will “first and foremost love the story and the characters,” but will also gain insight into the history of modern China. “Children are used to reading about Chinese emperors, but here are ordinary children trying to make sense of an extraordinary period of history,” she says.

Two additional novels in the Young Fiction Program are scheduled for 2009. According to Strickland, the line will be characterized by fiction that is “not just about escape but which broadens older children’s horizons, preparing them to engage with other cultures in an informed and open-minded way.” And she sees Little Leap Forward as a fitting debut title. “We couldn’t have wished for a better first project to convey the cultural and political importance of the arts in children’s lives.”

This mission is closely aligned to Guo Yue’s own thinking about the importance of bringing diverse experiences to children through literature. “As a child I saw piles of books being burned, including the old Chinese poetry books and Russian novels that my mother loved so much,” he recalls. “During the Revolution, when I was sent to work in the fields, I remember a handwritten and hand-stitched copy of Anna Karenina—a book that was then banned—passed around among my friends, to be read and discussed in secret. I think one of the greatest gifts you can give to children is the love of books and the ability to read freely, about the lives and thoughts of people all over the world.”

Come Here, Cleo!

2008-06-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Come Here, Cleo! Was our first Barefoot book almost 6 years ago. My son then 18m and I found this adorable book in a small toy shop. It quickly became his favorite book, and after reading it to him over and over again I had it memorized. Now that he is 7 and becoming a great reader himself he has taken to reading his beloved book to his sister.

Theo actually looks like the cute little boy in the book!

We also happen to have an orange cat named Simon!

The final page of the book has the sweetest little kitty kiss that still makes me smile! I can't say enough about this book and the memories it holds.

As Reviewed on Wise Mommy

2008-06-16T14:06:00.000-07:00

Barefoot Books are a very creative and intelligent line of children’s books, created by two mothers in 1993 who wanted to publish a line of books which introduced children to languages, other cultures and traditions, and high-quality art. They succeeded in creating a very imaginative and thought-provoking line of books and CDs that not only are fun, but also are educational to both children and their parents. Barefoot Books works with authors and storytellers from around the world, each one bringing their own cultural flavor to the stories. The artwork and illustrations are cute and colorful, also bringing a unique flair to the stories for which they are drawn.

I am especially a fan of the book My Daddy is a Pretzel. Being a yoga enthusiast myself, it is wonderful to read a book describing the art of yoga to my son as well as teaching him about yoga postures and how they can be integrated into our everyday lives. It is surprising to find how easily my son has picked up on the art of yoga by reading this book with me. He has so much fun trying all of the postures in the book, which makes this story all the more amazing in that it engages him actively.

The Barefoot Books Website is a fantastic place to explore their unique line of books, CDs and gifts, as well as an interactive website for you and your children to visit. They have printable activity sheets, workbook pages, coloring pages, masks, and puzzles which are based on their line of books.

Day in Toulouse Part 2

2008-06-13T13:17:00.001-07:00

A bit of window shopping since the exchange rate is so horrible, that is really all the shopping I could do ...well, maybe I bought a couple of things :)

What an amazing city! It was so much fun just walking around. My French is worse than bad, luckily I had a wonderful fellow Stallholder Hillary who translated for me. Hillary, Karen, and I had a wonderful time getting lost together, during our search of the city for handmade paper to make a gift for the amazing Tessa's Birthday. Hillary thank you for being such a big sport when I asked if you wanted to go on a mission with me!

It was a beautiful day with gorgeous blue skies. That I will remember for the rest of my life. Walking around a city where you do not speak the language gives you a completely different perspective on how isolated we are in the states. It is easy to forget that their is a whole world out their and I can't wait to experience more of it!

Xeko Cards

2008-06-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

I am not a big trading card game fan...why would we want our kids spend time, money, & energy learning about made up characters? In hopes of convincing my son that Pokemon Cards were not worth his time or his allowance I went on a search to find an alternative. To my surprise I found exactly what I was looking for and MORE!

Xeko

Based on the Legend of Xeko and conservation hotspots, Xeko ignites imaginations and sends the next generation of heroes on an adventure to save the world.

The Xeko game features remarkable plant and animal species from Earth's biodiversity hotspots first identified by Norman Myers and recognized by Conservation International. Currently numbered at 34, the hotspots contain 75 percent of the planet's most threatened mammals, birds and amphibians while covering just 2.3 percent of the Earth's surface. An estimated 50 percent of all vascular plants and 42 percent of land vertebrates exist only in these hotspots.

Preserving our planet's biodiversity is Xeko Mission: Critical.

Every Xeko player is an eco-hero. Every game purchase helps fund conservation efforts in the field.

The Xeko motto: Have fun, do good!

The 3 Rs — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

All of our actions combined make a big difference. That's why all Xeko game materials and packaging are made with recycled and recyclable materials. We use soy-based inks that are kinder to the environment. Xeko game packaging is kept to a minimum, and when we print promotional items like posters and postcards, we always do our very best to use only recycled materials for those, too.

If every person and every company were to choose recycled and recyclable products — and if we all reduced the amount of stuff we consume in the first place — just think how much better off our planet would be!

To learn how you can do more to help the Earth by recycling, click here.

To watch a demo click here.

Lunch in Toulouse

2008-06-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

Our first stop on our adventure in Toulouse was lunch!
Take a look at the amazing food.

Ok, so, is French Onion Soup in France
just Onion Soup?
Let me say Yummy.

Nancy was kind enough to allow me to take a picture of her delicious salad above and Steak Tartare to the right.
Thank you Nancy!
My amazing lunch consisted of the Yummy Onion Soup* to the left and the fantastic salmon and potatoes below.

Highlights from the Barefoot Books Summit in France

2008-06-10T19:33:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the highlights of my amazing trip to Southern France for the 4th Annual Barefoot Books International Summit.

We stayed at the lovely home of Nancy Traversy, Le Tupe!

We had meetings by the pool and on the back porch surrounded by trees. Who can beat that? Really!

Our meals were made by Marty (Nancy's gracious husband) which were all wonderful!
Thank you Marty!!!

So Cute & Organic to Boot!

2008-05-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

These are the softest baby cloths I have ever touched and super cute with a modern flair. Take that and combine it with the great story behind this fabulous company and who wouldn't want to start shopping!

Chapter One Organics supports socially and environmentally manufacturing in the US. Our organic baby clothes are made in the US by an organization that is helping women facing significant barriers to employment. Our organic baby clothing is modern, fun and luxuriously soft.

To view and shop our collection of organic baby clothes click here.

To shop for organic baby clothes locally click here to see a listing of retailers.

Amazing Organic Baby Food Made By An Amazing Mom

2008-05-26T13:43:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for great tasting and nutritious organic baby food you have to check out Maddy's Organic Meals!

Maddy's has a great variety of flavors for 4+ months and up.
*Here is a special hint...if you keep your meal frozen you can feed it to even an older child as a treat on a hot summer day ;)
In a word Yummy!
The Story of Maddy’s Organic Meals

Maddy’s Organic Meals (M.O.M.) was inspired by the birth of my beautiful,
spiral-haired beauty of a daughter Madeleine, and a well-timed question from my

husband. As we were shopping at a local farmer’s market, he turned to me and asked, “If you could start a business, what would it be?” I told him without skipping a beat…homemade organic baby food. It was that instinctual response that started this wonderful journey.

M.O.M. Knows Best

Maddy’s Organic Meals (M.O.M.) knows that 100% certified organic
provides the healthiest nutrients for your little darlings.

All Maddy’s Organic Meals are USDA Certified Organic and adhere to the highest organic processing standards.

All of our meals are prepared shortly after harvest
and then flash-frozen ensuring superior taste and nutritional value.

M.O.M. uses ingredients grown in the heartland, on Midwestern certified
organic farms practicing sustainable farming methods.

No harmful pesticides that can block a child’s absorption of nutrients.

No preservatives, fillers or additives.

Easy for you and delectable for your baby. Healthy, palatable treasures created
personally and lovingly just for your little treasure.

Bonjour

2008-05-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

In just a few days I am heading off to France!!! This is my first trip out of the country and the longest I will have been away from my wonderful children! I can't wait!

International Stallholder Summit

Last fall I was one of the lucky Barefoot Books Stallholders to win a trip to the International Stallholder Summit in France! Myself and six other stallholders from the US and the same from the UK will be spending almost a week in Toulouse. I can't wait :)

À la prochaine!

Special Savings For My Bolg Aversary

2008-05-23T07:34:00.001-07:00

Happy Shopping!!!!
In honor of my 1st year Blog Aversary click through this banner and shop away for 20% off!

My Pumpkins Third Birthday!

2008-05-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

Urgent Call: Save Children affected by Sichuan Earthquake

2008-05-14T16:45:00.001-07:00

Urgent Call: Save Children affected by Sichuan Earthquake

The death toll caused by the Sichuan earthquake is reported to be 15,000 already. The number is still rising. A lot of school children were amongst those tragically killed when their school buildings collapsed.

We have spoken to the local authorities and understand that water, clothes, medicine, and food are URGENTLY needed.

To help children and orphanages in the disaster area, Mother Bridge of Love (MBL) is making an urgent appeal to all our friends and colleagues to make a donation to support the disaster relief efforts. Your generous help would be much appreciated.

Last year, we donated money to the flood-hit area of Sichuan. The money we raised through Edinburgh Marathon was used to Tongjiang to build up a collapsed school kitchen in helping children back to school earlier.

100 % of donations received will once again be sent to Sichuan to provide much needed assistance to children. Our focus will be helping children and women to recover from physical (food, water, and medical care immediately) and physiological damage (Counseling in a later stage).

The donation will be sent to the local schools and mothers and carers directly through our local advisory volunteers. The money will be used to buy the most urgently needed goods and rescue the children still underneath the debris. We will report back the progress from the front line.

Please make a donation . This can be done quickly and easily online by supporting our Edinburgh Marathon Runners to raise funds for the disaster relief. Please go to the website: http://www.justgiving.com/rbsjames

For any other form of support you could provide, please contact WENDY WU (CEO) at headoffice@motherbridge.org 020 70340686

Great Review Of Beeman

2008-05-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

Concepts: natural resources, human resources, jobs

Review: A young boy values the company of his grandfather, a beekeeper who teaches the boy the tools of the trade. After the boy and his grandfather both suit up in protective clothing, they quiet the bees with a smoker and open the hive to examine the queen bee, the drones, and the worker bees. Next they remove the honeycomb and use a special machine to extract the honey from the frames. Most of the honey is jarred for later enjoyment, and the remaining honey is returned to the hive as food for the bees during the winter.

This exceptional book blends together a number of informative lessons in economics with an interesting story and lively artwork that will appeal to children and adults alike. What better way to spice up a discussion of jobs and human resources than to use this book about an occupation that appears to be, at least to kids, fairly unusual and slightly dangerous. In the back, the muffin recipe and the author’s notes about honey help to reinforce the book’s lessons about natural resources. Children may leave this book wondering if the tasty honey is worth the risk of getting stung by all those bees.

Review by: Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children

My Blog Aversary Giveaway!

2008-05-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned my blog aversary is coming up and I will be celebrating by doing a few giveaways!!!
If you would like to link to my website and be entered automatically for each giveaway leave a comment on this post and e-mail me the link to where you have linked to my blog!!!
All winners will be announced on May 29th my blog aversary!!!!!!

The 2008 Skipping Stones Honor Awards

2008-05-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

The 15th Annual Skipping Stones Honor Awards recognize 26 exceptional books and teaching resources. Together, they encourage an understanding of the world's diverse cultures, as well as nature and ecological richness. The selection promotes cooperation, nonviolence, respect for differing viewpoints, and close relationships in human societies. We present these great books to you as the summer season stretches before us. It's a time of year when many travel to explore new places in the world, or to revisit meaningful ones. Reading books is another way you can explore cultures, places and even other time periods. The winners are featured in our summer issue. Welcome to the wonderful world of words!

Multicultural & International Awareness Books:

One City, Two Brothers by Chris Smith, illustr. Aurélia Fronty. Barefoot Books; www.barefootbooks.com. Picture Book. ISBN: 978-1-84686-042-3

To read more about this award please go to

Mother's Day For Peace

2008-05-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

Northwest Suburban Chicago Holistic Moms Network and Mothers Acting Up (MAU)
Contact: Johanna Navari Welch at nwscholisticmoms@gmail.com or 847-567-1228.

Reclaiming Mother’s Day: UNITING OUR COMMUNITY TO PROTECT CHILDREN
Web-based Grassroots Movement Mobilizes Mothers* To Move From Concern To Action

Local organizers with Northwest Suburban Chicago Holistic Moms Network and Mothers Acting Up (MAU), a movement of mothers (*and others), passionately and publicly advocating on behalf of the world’s children, announce a Mother’s Day Reclamation Celebration to take place on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11 from 1-3pm. Welcome to families and friends of all configurations, ages and stages. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and your joyful spirits – come early, stay late!

Enjoy music by Solid-Aire, refreshments and children’s activities!

Reclaiming Mother’s Day events are inspired by the life, words and actions of Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 she wrote a Mother’s Day Proclamation and called for a day when the world would honor what mothers hold most dear: the lives of our children, of all children. The events celebrate the vision that Julia spoke of 100 years ago: mothers everywhere rising up together around that which unites us rather than divides us — our global family.

Guest Speakers: Sarah Jerome, Ed.D., Superintendent, Arlington Heights School District 25, and Karen Johnson, Illinois State Coordinator of The Peace Alliance Campaign to establish a U.S. Department of Peace

Exhibitors and Sponsors: Attachment Parenting International, Barefoot Books, Chicagohealers.com, Geoff Akins - the amazing bubble juggler, Harper College Interfaith Club for Peace, Holistic Moms Network, Knudsen Juices, La Leche League International, Matt’s Cookies, Mothers Acting Up, Northwest Suburban Peace and Education Project, The Peace Alliance Campaign to establish a U.S. Department of Peace, The Peace School – International Alliance for World Peace, The Sierra Club, Whole Foods Market, and more…

When mothers lead, generations follow!

For more information about the celebration, contact: Johanna Navari Welch at nwscholisticmoms@gmail.com or 847-567-1228 For additional information about MAU contact Juliana Forbes at 303-474-1286, or juliana@mothersactingup.org.

About Mothers Acting Up: Mothers Acting Up (MAU) is A Web based international movement of mothers, publicly and passionately advocating for the world’s children. MAU was started in Boulder, CO.

* mothers and others, on stilts or off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller

Donors Choose

2008-04-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

We all talk about how little teachers make and the lack of support for public schools. Donors Choose has made it possible for teachers to ask for exactly what they need to accomplish a project and We can donate to make it happen.

DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

Proposals range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Big Book Bonanza" ($320), to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search such proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project(s) they find most compelling. In completing a project, donors receive a feedback package of student photos and thank-you notes, and a teacher impact letter.

Canada to Declare BPA Toxic and Ban Baby Bottles

2008-04-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

Canada to Declare BPA Toxic and Ban Baby Bottles In November, Mothering's article "Out of the Mouths of Babes" told you about teethers, sippy cups, bibs, and other seemingly innocuous plastic baby items containing chemicals that may harm your child's health. Among these chemicals is bisphenol-a. The Canadian government is planning an announcement on Friday to declare bisphenol-a, also known as BPA, a toxic chemical.

Widely used to produce plastic polycarbonate food and water containers, some products containing bisphenol are already being removed from shelves by leading Canadian retailers, citing possible health risks. Canada also intends to ban the import and sale of baby bottles made of plastic polycarbonate. Evidence links the chemical to neurological and behavioural problems in babies and could be tied to early puberty, some cancers, diabetes, and obesity.

Environmental groups are adamant that BPA is a dangerous chemical, while the industry says its use in plastic products is safe and claim that media reports about toxic toys are sensational and serve only to frighten parents. Yet, more than 150 government-funded studies have shown health effects in animals at extremely low doses of BPA—sometimes 2,000 times lower than the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) safe levels.

Sources:
"Out of the Mouths of Babes" Mothering Issue 145 - November/December 2007
Canada.com

Barefoot in Manhattan

2008-04-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

By Judith Rosen -- Publishers Weekly, 4/21/2008

In a move that could push Barefoot Books further up Inc. magazine’s list of the top 5,000 fastest-growing private businesses (which it made for the first time last year), the Cambridge, Mass./Bath, England, children’s book publisher has reached an agreement with FAO Schwarz to create a dedicated Barefoot Books boutique in FAO’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. It will be the only bookstore within the revamped children’s retailer, a tourist destination with four million visitors a year.

To read the rest of the great article click below!

Barefoot in Manhattan

Kid Art Auction for Earth Day

2008-04-11T09:34:00.001-07:00

Some big-hearted and forward-thinking mommybloggers have organized the first ever Kid Art Auction for Earth Day!

Participants can donate their kids' artwork (with the permission of the artiste, of course!) to the cause. All funds raised will be donated to the organization founded by Al Gore, called We Can Solve It, whose aim is to educate "people in the US and around the world that the climate crisis is both urgent and solvable."

Complete details and instructions for this innovative event are available at Greeblemonkey, where pretty buttons like the one shown above are available. Head on over, join in the cause and spread the word!

It’s Easy Being Green with Barefoot Books $200 Giveaway

2008-04-09T21:04:00.000-07:00

This is a post from Mommy Poppins

Posted on April 9th, 2008 by Nina

Every few months I get to a point where I feel overwhelmingly bored of all the books my daughter chooses to read and need to find some exciting new ones to lure her away from the endless re-readings of her favorites. The Beeman, one of Barefoot Books’ new Spring titles is our most recent savior.

The Beeman teaches about the process of harvesting honey through the story of a boy whose grandpa keeps honeybees and while it’s still a bit out of reach for my two year old, she happily listens along and asks for more. The book ends with some solid in-depth science information and a recipe for apple honey muffins.

The thing I like about this book, and many of the Barefoot Books, is that I actually learn something from reading them as they go further in-depth than the average kids book and they aim to get the science right unlike some of the other pseudo science kids books out there (yeah, I’m talking about you, Very Hungry Caterpillar). And when you add the eye catching illustrations and rhyming text you get books that work really well for a wide range of ages.

Barefoot Books publishes children’s books with a slant toward openness, world-culture and themes that inspire goodness, think Putumayo on paper. You can see their line up of environmental and earth conscious children’s books on their online store.

As part of our Green Month we are giving away a $200 gift certificate to Barefoot Books where you can stock up on books, puzzles, puppets and more. Plus, Barefoot Books has offered ALL Mommy Poppins readers a 10% discount on all their products, just use the code SCTEMP which is good till April 30.

To win the gift certificate, all you have to do is leave a comment on the Mommy Poppins post before Saturday, April 12th at 8pm, letting us know which book from the Barefoot Books site you are most excited to check out. We will pick one commenter at random to win the $200 gift certificate. The rest of us will just be green with envy. But don’t worry we’ve got another big Green giveaway coming up on April 22, Earth Day.

Green Mom Finds

2008-03-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

We’ve Got the Whole World In Our Hands

Reading books with my son is one of my favorite pastimes – especially now that I’ve found Barefoot Books’ collection of children’s books celebrating nature and the environment. Of particular note is their popular title Whole World, a brightly colored, beautifully illustrated book that focuses on inspiring young children to live green. Recently featured as one of Oprah’s faves, Whole World features eco-tips and a sing-a-long CD — plus, a portion of the sales is donated to some great environmental organizations. As a company, Barefoot Books gets extra kudos for taking a number of steps to lessen their impact on the environment, including printing their books on recycled or ancient forest-friendly paper. They’ve even got some great online resources for eco-minded kids and parents, which are completely paper-free and 100% FUN!

Find It Here: Barefoot Books

Win It! Green Mom Finds is giving away a copy of the Whole World Mini Edition to three lucky winners. Each book will come with an Eco-Libris Sticker to show that a tree will be planted to replace those used in publishing the book. Enter by 3/20/08.

Emily's Tiger

2008-03-10T09:17:00.001-07:00

Emily's Tiger is a brand new book for Barefoot Books and one of my new favorites!!!

Emily's Tiger

What will ever stop her from roaring?

Whenever Emily doesn’t get her way, she growls and roars like a tiger. She roars when her mother tries to cut her hair, she roars when she doesn’t get picked to be the assistant to the clown at a birthday party… what are her mom and dad going to do with their tiger-daughter? Then Grandma comes to stay — and she knows a thing or two about tigers and tempers!This is one of my new favorite books!
Emily's Tiger is wonderfully Written and illustrated by: Miriam Latimer.

My daughter is what I affectionately call one of the naughties. Meaning that she is most definitely a two year old. She has a great deal of skill when it come to making messes and getting into everything including trouble. After reading Emily's Tiger I almost would believe it was written for my little girl, she even looks like Emily :) What I like most of all about this wonderful book is that instead of focusing on the naughty stuff Emily does, it really emphasizes the fun you can have with your child!

Let your imagination run wild with your cutie pie and be good tigers together!

Goods 4 Girls

2008-02-20T07:01:00.001-08:00

Goods 4 Girls was started to help young women gain access to better menstrual products. Our goal is to help these girls live their lives and go to school without fear that what they are using during their period will fail.

In many areas of the world, access to adequate menstrual supplies is difficult to come by. Many women and girls rely on rags, newspaper, camel skin or nothing at all for their menstrual needs. A lack of sanitary pads can be a big barrier to a girl's education.

It may seem difficult to comprehend for many women who have easy access to a varied source of supplies, but we can all appreciate how difficult life would be without them. Imagine trying to go to school or work without protection. For many, it brings life to a halt.

Providing disposable supplies creates an additional burden on some communities where solid waste disposal consists of burning the garbage. Since many disposable feminine hygiene products contain plastic, incineration potentially creates an environmental and health hazard.

Goods 4 Girls was started to seek out donors to sew or purchase new, reusable menstrual pads for donations to areas of Africa where these products are needed most. Providing reusable supplies not only provides a more environmentally friendly alternative for these young women (in areas of adequate water supply for washing), it reduces their dependence on outside aid organizations to continue providing for their monthly needs.

It's easy to donate, even if you don't know how to sew. For more information about why you should donate, read the About Us page.

For more information on what agencies we are working with, please visit the News page.
All text was taken from the Good 4 Girls website!

2008-02-14T06:15:00.000-08:00

Check out Mod*Mom and enter to win!
enter my fabulous valentine's giveaways worth $3500+
whole foods :: $100 gift card +3 heart gift baskets $250
tots-on-the-go :: 1 inline stroller with doubles kit $700+
kideko :: 1 mod luxury bedding set $260
blurb :: 10 publish-your-own professional books $300
global exchange :: 11 organic fair trade chocolates $250
itzbeen :: 6 digital baby care data trackers $150+
divvies :: 10 dozen vegan cupcakes $240
green works :: 12 green cleaners gift baskets $300
barefoot books :: 12 eco books/cd + 1 grand prize $240
roxio :: 10 mac digital burning software suites $1,000

2008-02-11T18:30:00.000-08:00

Go Barefoot, Go Green!

Renew!

As a mom with two young children it is important to me to send a message of hope and responsibility for our future. Barefoot books has taken many steps to work internally in an environmentally responsible way.

In 2007 Barefoot Books made a commitment to be “Green”. Part of this growing commitment is that we now print our books and marketing materials on ancient forest friendly paper, which means that our paper suppliers are obligated to replant trees that they have harvested, and that they do not damage rainforests or other ancient woodlands. In an effort to grow our commitment, this year we have formed a new partnership with another “Green Business” Eco-Libris giving each stallholder the opportunity to take this message of renewal one step further!

Eco-Libris partners with organizations that work in developing countries to plant trees. These planting efforts are an integral part of their efforts to help local communities in these countries move towards a sustainable future. Making sure that each tree is planted where it provides significant value for both the environment and the local communities.

With Eco-Libris stallholders can present their customers with a unique offer to purchase Eco-Libris stickers and plant a tree for the books they buy at our stalls. Each sticker retails at $1 and for each sticker Eco-Libris will plant 1.3 trees. The stickers can then be proudly displayed on the books our customers buy thus showing their commitment to the environment.

The Oprah Magazine, February 2008

2008-01-22T08:25:00.000-08:00

Barefoot Books children's book and CD
"Printed on forest-friendly paper, this sweet little children's book includes a sing-along CD and eco-tips for preserving the planet." — Oprah

	Price: $10 each, with 10 percent of net sales going to conservation organizations
	barefootbooks.com
	Featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, February 2008

Happy New Year!!!!

2008-01-03T06:25:00.000-08:00

Gosh, I am still in shock at how quickly the year has gone by.....
This has been an absolute crazy year for me and my family. Mostly wonderful with a few rather painful bumps in the road. As I look back on the year I am struck by a few major realizations;
1. We are Happy!
2. We have more friends as a family than ever before.
3. Boy have we have come a long way from.
Our decision to home school combined with my work with Barefoot Books has allowed for a lot of this. It is amazing how different a year can be. We began the past year rushing around getting Theo back and forth to an amazing private school. Even with the financial assistance we received it expensive and I personally was always stressed out! Gabbie was left constantly stuck in the car as we chafferered Theo to play-dates and school. Looking back I can see why the whole family seemed rather miserable.
Over the summer with a the stress of waiting to receive financial assistance from the school (which didn't come) and Gabbie hurting her poor little finger the decision to home school was made. It was one of the hardest and best decisions we have made.

Happy New Years!!!!!

Thanks for listening :)
I would love to hear about everyones year please feel free to leave a comment!
One person will receive a book of there choice from Barefoot books!!!!!

Top 10 Children's Books

2007-12-11T16:36:00.000-08:00

By Belinda Luscombe and Amy Lennard Goehner

Motherbridge of Love
by Xinran and Josee Mass
Publisher: Barefoot Books
32 pages

#3. Motherbridge of Love
Illustrated by Josee Masse

Got a girlfriend who just adopted a kid? You're going to want to get them this book, although the illustration is so gorgeous, you could give it to anyone. The text was submitted anonymously to the charity Mother Bridge of Love, which seeks to connect kids adopted from China with their homeland. As might be expected the sappiness meter is turned to 11, but it does explain quite lyrically how two mothers can each have a part in making one whole child.

Motherbridge of Love

2007-12-10T19:03:00.000-08:00

With the help of Amy Tan, acclaimed author of The Joy Luck Club, and Saving Fish from Drowning, who lent her voice to this presentation, Barefoot Books created this wonderful animated e-card that brings the art and poetry of this special book to life.

October 15th Blog Action Day

2007-10-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

Share the Message!

At Barefoot Books, we are concerned with the impact of climate change on the lives of children and the world they will inherit. We've partnered with The Green Parent, Kiwi Magazine, and Roots & Shoots to bring you playful and engaging resources for discussing the climate crisis and respecting our planet. Take a look around to find fun activities and specific, simple strategies that can be used to help preserve our planet’s precious resources!

To get you started I have made a list of 15 things you can do to help the environment!

1. Bring reusable bags to the grocery store

Top Facts - Consumption

Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year.

According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. (Estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion)

According to the industry publication Modern Plastics, Taiwan consumes 20 billion bags a year—900 per person.

According to Australia’s Department of Environment, Australians consume 6.9 billion plastic bags each year—326 per person. An estimated .7% or 49,600,000 end up as litter each year.

Top Facts - Environmental Impact

Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food.

Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade—breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food web when animals accidentally ingest.

As part of Clean Up Australia Day, in one day nearly 500,000 plastic bags were collected.

Windblown plastic bags are so prevalent in Africa that a cottage industry has sprung up harvesting bags and using them to weave hats, and even bags. According to the BBC, one group harvests 30,000 per month.

According to David Barnes, a marine scientist with the British Antarctic Survey, plastic bags have gone "from being rare in the late 80s and early 90s to being almost everywhere from Spitsbergen 78° North [latitude] to Falklands 51° South [latitude].

Plastic bags are among the 12 items of debris most often found in coastal cleanups, according to the nonprofit Center for Marine Conservation.

Top Facts - Solutions

In 2001, Ireland consumed 1.2 billion plastic bags, or 316 per person. An extremely successful plastic bag consumption tax, or PlasTax, introduced in 2002 reduced consumption by 90%. Approximately 18,000,000 liters of oil have been saved due to this reduced production. Governments around the world are considering implementing similar measures.

July 2003, ReusableBags.com goes live, advancing the mainstream adoption of reusable shopping bags.

Each high quality reusable shopping bag you use has the potential to eliminate hundreds, if not thousands, of plastic bags over its lifetime.

2.Recycle what you can!

Recycling

Recycling is the third R of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Recycling means taking a product or material at the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to make another product. This section of our site provides information about how to recycle, why to recycle, and what you can recycle. And of course the Earth 911 green recycling locator box above can help you find where you can recycle. Just type in what you want to recycle on the left side and where on the right side by entering your zip code or city and state.

Recycling Facts & Figures

In 1999, recycling and composting activities prevented about 64 million tons of material from ending up in landfills and incinerators. Today, this country recycles 32% of its waste, a rate that has almost doubled during the past 15 years.

While recycling has grown in general, recycling of specific materials has grown even more drastically: 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles, 45 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans, 63 percent of all steel packaging, and 67 percent of all major appliances are now recycled.

Twenty years ago, only one curbside recycling program existed in the United States, which collected several materials at the curb. By 2005, almost 9,000 curbside programs had sprouted up across the nation. As of 2005, about 500 materials recovery facilities had been established to process the collected materials.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

3.Eat locally produced food!
Try a local CSA

Why Is Community Supported Agriculture Important?

CSA's direct marketing gives farmers and growers the fairest return on their products.
CSA keeps food dollars in the local community and contributes to the maintenance and establishment of regional food production.
CSA encourages communication and cooperation among farmers.
With a "guaranteed market" for their produce, farmers can invest their time in doing the best job they can rather than looking for buyers.
CSA supports the biodiversity of a given area and the diversity of agriculture through the preservation of small farms producing a wide variety of crops.
CSA creates opportunity for dialogue between farmers and consumers.
CSA creates a sense of social responsibility and stewardship of local land.
CSA puts "the farmers face on food" and increases understanding of how, where, and by whom our food is grown.

Special thanks to the contributors to this description of CSA: Robyn Van En, CSA of North America (CSANA); Liz Manes, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension; and Cathy Roth, UMass Extension Agroecology Program.

Thanks to Community Supported Agriculture of North America at University of Massachusetts Extension for allowing us to post this article.
For more information on Community Supported Agriculture, please contact The Robyn Van En Center for CSA at: info@csacenter.org

4. Don't buy bottled water bring your own from home!

Try Sigg's they are indestructible and wonderful!

See my post on the 14th about water bottles :)

5. Trade instead of buying.

Try Freecycle it is fun and free!

Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.

6. Carpool or share a car.

Igo is a great option for people who might only need a car some of the time.

I-GO Green Benefits

I-GO is dedicated to improving the environmental quality of the Chicago region by promoting a Low Carbon Diet.

7. Use public transportation, bike, or walk.

8. Plant native wildflowers!

9. Time your showers to avoid using too much water.

10. Switch to long lasting low energy light bulbs.

11. Unplug seldom used appliances.

12. Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.

13. Purchase appliances and office equipment with the Energy Star Label; old refridgerators, for example, use up to 50 more electricity than newer models.

14. Use e-mail instead of paper.

15. Buy green electricity - electricity produced by low - or even zero-pollution facilities (NC Greenpower for North Carolina - www.ncgreenpower.org).

Water Bottles

2007-10-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

We as a family have been trying to be more envorinmentally friendly and one of the things we are doing it not buying water in bottles! A great water bottle we have found that is indistructable (trust me my kids have tried) is the Sigg's.
You can try and win one on Mamanista's Blog.
Contest ends November 6th.

Here are just some of the reasons why you should use Sigg's instead of plastic water bottles;

National Geographic: The Green Guide (July/August 2007 issue)

From childhood, we're told to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Unfortunately more and more Americans drink those eight glasses out of plastic bottles—a convenience that stuffs landfills, clogs waterways and guzzles valuable fossil fuels.

Not only does bottled water contribute to excessive waste, but it costs us a thousand times more than water from our faucet at home, and it is, in fact, no safer or cleaner.

Water aside, the plastic used in both single-use and reusable bottles can pose more of a contamination threat than the water. A safe plastic if used only once, #1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is the most common resin used in disposable bottles. However, as #1 bottles are reused, which they commonly are, they can leach chemicals such as DEHA, a known carcinogen, and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), a potential hormone disrupter.

While single-use water bottles should never be used more than once, some reusable water bottles simply shouldn't be used. The debate continues over the safety of bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone-disrupting chemical known to leach out of the #7 polycarbonate plastic used to make a variety of products.

Our Take: As the battle over bottled water rages on, the best reusable choices come in stainless steel, aluminum and non-leaching plastics. Our store offers several of the brands endorsed in this story.

Link: Tapped Out: The True Cost of Bottled Water

Slow Food USA

...Most of the price of a bottle of water goes for its bottling, packaging, shipping, marketing, retailing and profit. Transporting bottled water by boat, truck and train involves burning massive quantities of fossil fuels. More than 5 trillion gallons of bottled water is shipped internationally each year... As further proof that the bottle is worth more than the water in it, starting in 2007, the state of California will give 5 cents for recycling a small water bottle and 10 cents for a large one.

Just supplying Americans with plastic water bottles for one year consumes more than 47 million gallons of oil, enough to take 100,000 cars off the road and 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, according to the Container Recycling Institute...

More than 1 billion plastic water bottles end up in the California's trash each year, taking up valuable landfill space, leaking toxic additives, such as phthalates, into the groundwater and taking 1,000 years to biodegrade. That means bottled water may be harming our future water supply...

Los Angeles Times

Evidence is mounting that a chemical in plastic that is one of the world's most widely used industrial compounds may be risky in the small amounts that seep from bottles and food packaging, according to a report to be published this week in a scientific journal.

The authors of the report, who reviewed more than 100 studies, urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to re-evaluate the risks of bisphenol A and consider restricting its use...

Link: Study Cites Risk of Compound in Plastic Bottles.

Sierra Magazine - Sierra Club

Choose your plastic water bottles carefully -- Clear, lightweight, and sturdy polycarbonate plastic bottles are standard equipment for millions of hikers and babies. (They are usually labeled #7 on the bottom; Nalgene is the best-known producer.) Since polycarbonate bottles don’t impart a taste to fluids, many users assume they are safer than bottles made out of other kinds of plastic. But now an accidental discovery has cast doubt on their safety.

"We just stumbled into this," says Hunt, "but we have been stunned by what we have seen."

Most at risk, says Colborn, are people with developing endocrine systems: pregnant women and newborns, followed by young children, and women who might get pregnant.

Link: November/December 2003 - Sierra Magazine - Sierra Club.

2007-10-11T10:39:00.001-07:00

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