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Meal Planning on the Go {Thrive Market giveaway}

discounted organic food and natural beauty products

While we enjoy a little vacation, this week’s meal planning post shares some tips on how to plan meals ahead when traveling. At the end of the post is a giveaway for you to try shopping the new Thrive Market site. When you get ready for a vacation, you often plan all the snacks for traveling to your destination. But then it stops there. Each day you still need to figure out breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes it’s okay to throw planning out the window for vacation weeks, especially when your travel plans dictate it. Other times you are visiting family and will need to team up to plan some meals, especially when you are bringing five hungry people to visit.

Plan to eat like the locals and grab what’s in season. I know we are all looking forward to fresh Florida oranges this week. If you are in a foreign country, try something new. Encourage your children to try new flavors together. Just have something small packed to avoid meltdowns while on the road. No one needs that on vacation.

Recently I tested out the new Thrive Market, which is a bit like Whole Foods/Costco/Amazon/Instacart all rolled into one. Like Whole Foods, the items available through Thrive Market are already filtered to be organic, sustainable, dye-free and so on. They make shopping easy. It’s a great alternative for people who have to travel a long distance to their closest Whole Foods.

With Thrive Market, I could order a batch of goodies and have them shipped directly to my travel destination. You could do this when traveling to family or even a hotel. It’s not two day shipping like Amazon Prime, so plan ahead. It comes from the West Coast so deliveries are faster to California then say, Boston.

What to buy at Thrive Market

Here’s what goes into my cart…

  • Seventh Generation Diapers and wipes (not as cheap as Amazon, but one of the few places with a great price on just one package.)
  • Arrowhead Mills Organic Popcorn (feeds a crowd)
  • Arrowhead Mills Pancake Mix (make breakfast for your hosts!)
  • Bonne Maman Raspberry Preserves (awesome price and it’s so hard to find jam without high fructose corn syrup)
  • Sunscreen (remember to pick a healthy sunscreen)
  • Late July mini cheddar cheese sandwich crackers for the littles

While we are not strict about meal planning while we are away, I still want to make sure the kids are eating lots of fruits and veggies at each meal. Having some quality snacks while traveling to our next adventure is better than them filling up on something we find at an amusement park.

Curious about ordering from Thrive Market? Just think, healthy food delivered to your doorstep. They have been so kind to offer one of my readers $50 to test them out. Maybe eating healthier foods is one of your goals this year? Thrive Market makes it a little easier for you to achieve your goal. Going on a trip? Test out the idea of sending some of your needs ahead to your travel destination.

Please let a comment below and share where you would want to travel to this year if you had all the money in the world. A random winner will be chosen when the giveaway ends on February 9th, at 12:01am. I will announce the winner in next week’s meal plan. US residents only.

Note: Thrive Market provided me with a complimentary membership. You do not need to purchase a membership to order as they offer a 30 day free trial to test it out. If you get hooked, it’s $5/month.

 

Monday meal plan to help organize family dinner

For more inspiration, see three years of past menus here, my Pinterest board here, or OrgJunkie for a link-up of meal plans.

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Peapod Celebrates 25 years of Grocery Delivery {Giveaway}

Peapod grocery delivery.

Grocery shopping takes on new meaning once you have a child. You have to plan your trips around naps and you may not be able to go as often as you once did. You also need a lot more stuff. Switching to home delivery of your groceries can free up so much time, and money. No more buying incidental items, no more adding things the kids are asking for. I have used Peapod grocery delivery for a long time, going back to my Boston College days. We had a dorm room with a kitchen, but no one had a car. I still remember getting groceries delivered and I thought it was the coolest thing.

Peapod is actually turning 25 this year. They were ahead of the trend on home delivery. New this year is the expanded Pick-Up Service, which means you can order groceries and pick them up at the store when you are out and about. No need to stay home during the delivery window. You can learn more about my experience with the Stop and Shop/Peapod pick-up service here.

As you head into the holiday baking season, here’s a quick tip. There are huge sales on staple baking ingredients coming up the weeks before Thanksgiving. It’s the best time of year to stock up on flours, sugars and baking supplies. Even spices that never go on sale can be found at a discount. Getting a large ordered delivered is so much easier than trying to do it with multiple children in tow. I also remember to add in other heavy items when I do online orders, like seltzer cans and distilled water.

Peapod 25th Anniversary Celebration. Switch to getting groceries delivered to your door step!

Want to try out online ordering? Peapod is offering one of my readers a $25 gift card. Who doesn’t like free groceries?! Did you know they have over 15,000 items in their online shopping site?

Please use the Rafflecopter to enter below. Contest will close November 21st at midnight. US Residents only. Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim their prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy shopping!

Disclosure: Peapod provided gift cards to me to facilitate this review. All opinions shared here are my own.

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HEALTHY SQUASH MUFFINS {PLUS A DREAMFARM GIVEAWAY}

As the temperature drops, it seems like my kids want to eat all the time. After packing two snacks and a lunch for my daughter, I’m doing round three of snacks come 4:00. I started playing around with some new recipes using root vegetables in season and came up with a healthy Squash Muffin recipe that is kid-friendly and easy to make.

When the kids saw the butternut squash, I was quickly told they do not eat it. I corrected them and said they don’t like it plain, but we are trying something new. They helped with the prep work and because this is an egg-free recipe, I agreed when they dove in to lick the bowl when we were done. (Although truth be told, I often don’t say no when it’s fabulous cookie/brownie/cake batter either.)

Dreamfarm steamer is easy and convienient in the kitchen

I had picked up squash at my local farmers market, but you can grab it peeled and cut up at the supermarket which makes this come together even faster. Steaming the squash preserves the most nutrients so I used my new Dreamfarm steamer, which the kids thought was very cool and “squishy.” It’s made of silicone and fits in a variety of our pots, which is key for my busy kitchen.

photo 3-9

If your kids, like mine, enjoy these mini muffins, I encourage you to try to find other muffins that incorporate veggies instead of always relying on fruits. In October, we also cooked up some Frankenstein-muffins, courtesy of some spinach. It was also a winner!

 

Healthy Squash Muffins

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: muffins

Ingredients

  • Dry Ingredients
  • 1 cup ground oats blend rolled oats in a blender to make a "flour"
  • 1/3 cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp of baking powder
  • 1 tsp of cinnamon
  • 1 Tbl sugar
  • Wet Ingredients
  • 6 oz plain whole milk yogurt I recommend Stonyfield Plain or Vanilla
  • ¾ cup steamed Butternut Squash
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ¼ cup milk
  • Instructions
Tried this recipe?Mention @emilyroachwellness or tag #erwellness!

You can win your own new Dreamfarm kitchen tool, the Vebo strainer. The names are super silly so take a look and see what would be a great addition to your kitchen. PLUS– some coupons for free Stonyfield Yogurt. All entrants must be US residents. Contest ends Nov 21st at midnight.

LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOUR FAVORITE SNACK TO MAKE TO BE ENTERED TO WIN!

 

Disclosure~ I am a Stonyfield Clean Plate Club Ambassador and received a Dreamfarm kitchen tool to help develop a new recipe. All opinions shared here are my own, or my kids. 

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Don’t Lose It! Label it with Mabel’s Labels. {Giveaway}

Back to school Giveaway from Mabels Labels

If you have kids in daycare, preschool and beyond, you know how important it is to label EVERYTHING with their name on it. Even if you are just bringing in your kids to the daycare at the gym you need to label everything, like their shoes. {ask me why I know some time…} We have used Mabel’s Labels since Madison was in daycare and I have passed along clothes to friend’s babies with her name labels still attached. This year you too can get organized for back to school with the Ultimate Back to School combo pack of labels.

Shark Mabels Labels

JJ was the lucky winner of getting to pick out new labels this year. He was excited about the shark logo. I got started using those cute shoe tags to label his new back to school sneakers. His best buddy (or his Mom) picked out the same sneakers as JJ so having a label makes life a little easier.

Don’t forget to label lunch supplies too– lunch boxes, water bottles, reusable bags and an ice pack.

Label those ice packs for the lunch box

Note~ This is our favorite ice pack for the kids lunch. It’s “sweat-free” so it makes clean up at the end of the day a lot neater.

There’s still time to order your favorite set of labels for back to school from Mabel’s Labels. Got big kids? There is a Stylish Scholars combo that may interest them. Are you a blogger? I have seen lots of people use their Skinny labels on their iPhone case, chargers, and water bottles when they are at a blog conference. Just because you are a grown up it doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the fun!

Please enter below in the Rafflecopter. You will be able to pick the Ultimate Back to School combo package or the Stylish Scholars combo. Entries will close this Saturday at midnight~~ enter soon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure~ JJ got a new package of Mabel’s Labels to help facilitate writing this post. All opinions shared here are my own. Some links included are Amazon affiliate links. 

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Healthy Snacks for a Road Trip {courtesy of OneBar}

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of OneBar.

healthy snacks for a road trip

Are you getting ready for a road trip this summer? Anything that takes longer than one hour in the car for us is considered a “road trip” since we don’t do it often. We will be visiting Connecticut this weekend so I’m thinking about what snacks to pack to keep the whole family happy, and quiet, for the three hour drive.

The kids recently taste tested the OneBar and they gave it a big “yummy” when they tried out the apple, cherry and mango flavors. Kids can be very picky about eating fruit and the OneBar can help fill in the gaps. Each bar counts as a full serving of fruit, but is low calorie so the kids will still eat their next meal.

On car rides, one thing that drives me crazy is accidentally packing a snack that leads to very messy hands in the car. Since we drive a minivan, those kids are wayyyy in the back and I can’t just wipe hands off as we travel. Maybe your kids love cherries, but you won’t take the risk of packing cherries in the car. Could you imagine? Just pack a OneBar and they get a favorite treat and you don’t have to deal with the mess. Each bar is “dusted” with a superfruit called baobab. The dust keeps hands from getting sticky, but also delivers a healthy dose of antioxidants.

Onebar-what's inside?

For parents packing for kids with allergies or food sensitivities, the OneBar is made without gluten or wheat. Plus it’s made without added sugar, and no food dyes either. Sometimes life moves at a fast pace and it’s great to have a snack ready for a road trip or in between school and sports practice.

Packing a variety of snack items for the family on a road trip not only helps keep everyone’s energy level up, but it helps beat boredom. Try to pack a rainbow of colors and see if the kids can name every color they ate. Pack up snacks in individual bags so you can avoid sibling squabbles.

onebar flavors

Which flavor OneBar would your family like the most? Any new flavors you want to see in the mix?

All Random Recycling readers can enter to win a giveaway for three boxes (all three OneBar flavors, including Apple, Cherry and Mango). Don’t want to wait for the contest? Order now with the coupon code EasyFruit – good for 25% off their total order placed by August 31 at OneBar. Check out where everyone else is enjoying their OneBar by searching the hashtag #easyfruit.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

onebar healthy snack

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of OneBar. All opinions shared here are my own.
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Summer Reading Challenge (and a PB Kids Giveaway!)

As summer vacation beckons, it’s a time for kids to let loose and just play. It’s also a good time to let them read books of their own choosing to foster their interests. In our family, we often plan a visit to a new library when we have a rainy summer day. We read as many books there as we can, then put them away and say goodbye till next time. Having a “new” place to read can help keep the fun in an educational activity, for both little kids and big kids.

Pottery Barn Kids partnered with PBS Kids to promote the Summer Reading Challenge. Read any 8 titles from their recommended list and receive a free book! PB Kids stores also have weekly story times where kids can help reach their goal. The challenge runs through July 17th.

Creating a summer reading nook is another way to encourage reading during the quiet times of the day. On a recent visit to Pottery Barn Kids, they shared their ideas for a successful reading nook.

create a reading nook

There are also some fun book plate DIY projects to make with the kids for their favorite books. I tried making a couple at the Pottery Barn Kids store and will do it again with my kids. The downloadable templates for the project is found on the Building Blocks blog, a fun collection of ideas from Pottery Barn Kids.

  DIY book plate

Here is the list of books included in the challenge:

·         Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman

·         Big Brothers Don’t Take Naps by Louise Borden

·         Corduroy by Don Freeman

·         Curious Baby Counting by H.A. Rey

·         Good Night, Good Night Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld

·         Grammy Lamby and the Secret Handshake by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise

·         Heads by Matthew Van Fleet

·         How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? By Mark Teague

·         How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?  by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

·         Ladybug Girl by David Samon and Jacky Davis

·         Llama Llama and the Bully Goat by Anna Dewdney

·         Madeline and the Old House in Paris by John Bemelmans Marciano

·         Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too by Anna Dewdney

·         Olivia by Ian Falconer

·         Paddington Bear by Michael Bond and R.W. Alley

·         Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by James Dean and Eric Litwin

·         Sniff by Matthew Van Fleet

·         Tallulah’s Toe Shoes by Marilyn Singer and Alexandra Boiger

·         The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

·         What Sisters Do Best/What Brothers Do Best by Laura Numeroff and Lynn Munsinger

 

Ready to create a new summer reading nook for your kids? To kick things off, Pottery Barn Kids is offering a $25 gift card to one lucky winner. Please leave a comment below naming your favorite childhood book. Contest is open until Saturday June 7th. Winner will be notified via email.

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Tommee Tippee Winter Essentials Giveaway- 6 month baby update

Although I generally don’t share a ton of baby updates here on the blog, I’m sharing a bit today as I partner with Tommee Tippee to giveaway a set of their winter essentials for baby.

Baby C six months

Our little guy is now six months old and has been such a wonderful addition to our family. He is generally a very easy baby, with one exception. He hates taking a bottle. Even when it’s mama’s milk, he was very difficult to feed when I was out of the house. We were told to supplement his feeding with extra pumped milk due to his slow weight gain, but he refused the bottles. We had to start solid food at four months to make sure he was getting enough calories since he tends to sleep through the typical night-time feedings. (I know, terrible, right?) Even though that wasn’t what I planned, we all had to adjust.

tommee tippee winter essentials #giveaway

Now at six months, we had turned a slight corner. We switched over to the Tommee Tippee bottles I was given and switched to the faster flow nipple. Finally we have some success when it comes to a bottle. Although he does tend to growl his way through it, at least I know he won’t go hungry if I’m working. We are also using the electric bottle and food warmer, more often for the food. He likes his meal on the warmer side so it’s handy to put in a jar while I’m getting meals ready. I like using this instead of a microwave for his food as we try to rely on a microwave less and less.  Connor is still breastfed primarily and we hope to until he can have regular cow’s milk.

Now you can win a very fun winter essentials pack from Tommee Tippee. If you don’t need it, get it for a friend or donate it to a local charity. The contest is open to US residents only and ends at midnight, Friday December 20th.

The Tommee Tippee winter essentials pack includes:

·         Limited edition snowflake bottle and pacifier set (available exclusively at Target). The winter-themed snowflake gift set includes 3-9 oz. Bottles and 2 pacifiers, and retails for $19.99.

·         Our Closer to Nature Electric Bottle and Food Warmer, which heats bottles and baby food quickly and safely

·         Hat + mittens to keep your baby warm for the first snow (winner to specify if they have a boy or girl and will receive the gender-appropriate set; please note that both are pictured below)

·         Hand warmers for mom + dad to stay toasty

·         Hot chocolate for mom + dad to enjoy while baby’s drinking from his or her snowflake bottle

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sister feeding baby C

I have a little helper now to feed Connor.

Disclosure: I have received Tommee Tippee products when Connor was first born…thank you! We have been using the products above and the Diaper Disposal system too (that seals each individual diaper…when we use disposables at night.) All opinions shared here are my own. 

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Zebra ERGObaby Carrier Giveaway from Thanks Mama

Ergo zebra giveaway

When someone asks me my favorite thing about babies I often think about babywearing. I love having my little one all snuggly warm next to me. Even better is when they fall asleep against my chest and I can relax and give the big kids my full attention. I’ve used different carriers with all three kids and I finally have an ERGObaby Carrier for baby #3! This week I’m excited to bring you an opportunity to win an ERGObaby Carrier from Thanks Mama natural parenting store!

Thanks Mama online baby store features a selection of twelve baby carrier brands, among them the popular ERGObaby Carrier. This particular brand was the one that started it all and revolutionized babywearing to be truly comfortable and suitable for every day life. The ergonomic design of this carrier supports the correct sitting position for baby and also balances baby’s weight on the parent’s hips and shoulders.

 

My Favorite Features of the ERGObaby Carrier: 
  • Reinforced stitching between fabric intersections make a safer carrier
  • Padded waist belt supports the lumbar area
  • Can be worn on the front, back, or hip
  • Attached sleeping hood that can be tucked away
  • Thick, comfortable foam straps
  • Fits babies from 7 to 45 pounds (with infant insert)

 

My Favorite Features of the Thanks Mama Store: 
  • Large selection of 28 brands of cloth diapers
  • Over 15 options of reusable potty training pants
  • Eco-friendly and non-toxic baby care solutions
  • Classic and modern wooden toys
  • Non-toxic mattresses for the whole family
  • Eco-friendly furniture for baby and kids made of rubberwood
  • Free shipping on all U.S. orders over $60 and Worldwide shipping rates available
  • Earn rewards dollars with every purchase

Purchase: You can purchase the ERGObaby carrier at Thanks Mama. Use code CARRIER for 15% off!

Win It! Thanks Mama is generously giving away the Zebra print ERGObaby Carrier to one winner.

Special thanks to AnaB Social for hosting this giveaway. Huge thanks to Thanks Mama and all participating bloggers as well! Giveaway ends November 21st at 11:59 pm, open to U.S. residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below (see directions on how to enter here). Thank you!




Disclaimer: Random Recycling, AnaB Social, Eco-Babyz, and all participating event bloggers are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. I did not receive compensation for this post but hope one of my readers can win this wonderful piece of baby gear for themselves or a friend. 

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The Story Behind Lunch Love (Giveaway)

A few weeks ago, I was surprised by an email from Pinterest that had my Lunch Love board featured in it. It is one of my favorite boards and it has helped me create lots of healthy lunches for my kids. I think it’s no coincidence that my Lunch Love board is a favorite, as packing lunches was what first clued me in to living a more sustainable lifestyle.

The Story Behind the Lunch Love Pinterest Board (giveaway)

My daughter started at day care and I was packing lunches for the first time. First it was breast milk and baby food, and then toddler food. Suddenly, there seemed to be a lot more waste happening. I wanted to make a switch and thankfully, there were lots of other mom-based business offering products to help. Reusable bags, cute toddler sized lunch boxes and kid friendly glass containers were suddenly a normal part of our lunch packing routine. After this switch in our routine, I made other small changes at home. Cloth napkins, cloth diapers, less paper towels, composting and so on. One small step kept leading to another and I was happy about cutting down on the waste happening…that’s really how the name Random Recycling came to be. I wanted to try to cut down on the massive amount of waste/stuff that was coming into our home when we first started having kids. Now the blog clearly has a larger focus and family nutrition is a big part of it.

Izy and Oly Kids Cloth Napkins

Izy and Oly Kids Cloth Napkins

Lunch Love can be a fun part of your routine too. Get your kids involved picking out lunches. Pick up a copy of Weelicious Lunches(which is just awesome!) and get some new ideas on what to pack. Plus tips on “how” to pack kids lunch as it’s so important to keep it simple for them. The time available for lunch is generally short so keep food simple and easy to unwrap. Make sure their containers are easy to open so they can be independent eaters as they sit with their friends.

To kick off my Lunch Love Celebration Week, here is a fun giveaway to enter. One winner will get the following:

  • Rock the Lunch Box assortment of samples and coupons from Stonyfield, Annie’s and Horizon Organics
  • Izy and Oly cloth napkins, just the right size for little hands
  • Squooshi reusable squeeze pouches

Squooshi reusable squeeze pouch for kids

 

Enter below using the Rafflecopter. Giveaway is open until midnight, Sat Sept 28th, 2013. Open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Join me on Thursday night as I chat with Danielle Shea Tan, a health coach who will walk us through how to pack a healthy lunch for our kids. She will have tips for picky eaters and we will talk about how to create the right balance between healthy choices and kids favorites. RSVP for this Google + hangout and we will be talking online at 8:30 pm EST. During the talk, I’ll be giving away one copy of Weelicious Lunches to someone who has RSVP’d!  See you there!

I hope you continue to find inspiration on the Lunch Love board. And thank you Pinterest peeps for sharing it!

I was a partner this summer with Rock the Lunch Box where real moms shared their favorite lunches. Check out the site for loads of ideas and photos. I also received samples of the Izy and Oly napkins and Squooshi pouches so I could test them out first. My kids love both fun accessories in the lunch box! The Weelicious Lunch link to Amazon is an affiliate link, which means this site gets a little kick-back at no cost to you.

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Keep Kids Healthy Naturally with Erba Vita – Giveaway

Erba Vita Tips to keep kids healthy naturally

As the kids return to school, so comes the return of the running noses and germy hands. With a little baby at home, I am super aware of the imminent germs coming into our home. There are a few new things we are doing this year to keep us all healthy and the germs at bay. Here are some ways to keep your kids healthy naturally this season, plus a giveaway for natural remedies from Erba Vita. Erba Vita is a European company with high quality natural products that are effective, GMO-free, and pesticide-free.

  • Buy a fun soap canister for the kids so they enjoy hand washing. Help them from an early age learn how to wash their hands well. Get them to sing a favorite song so they learn how long they should wash their hands.
  • Offer kids a balanced diet with lots of variety in their fruits and veggies. Offer favorite fruits for snack, or make them a fun strawberry fruit roll-up.
  • Use a hand sanitizer when you are out and about. We tested out the Mother’s Therapy Organics kids sanitizer Erba Vita Immun Kids and love it so far. It’s not as drying as most alcohol based sanitizer as it includes aloe vera-based lotion. I keep a small one clipped on my diaper bag so I can use it after changing diapers on-the-go. The kids gave it a “no sting” vote.
  • Get the kids to bed early. (And mom and dad too!) A good night sleep helps the body defend against germs during the day.
  • Boost immunity with a supplement, like Erba Vita’s Immun Kids. For ages 4 and up, it contains active herbal ingredients to help support a healthy immune system.
  • Keep tissues handy so they are ready for sneezes. Teach kids how to sneeze into their elbow by encouraging them to “catch” their sneeze.
  • Keep extra toothbrushes on hand so you can replace them quickly if someone gets sick.
  • Everyone in the house should get a flu shot. I know people have strong opinions on this, I’m voting for flu shots for our family since our littlest one can’t get a shot and I want to keep him as healthy as possible in his first year of life.
  • Make sure the kids stay hydrated. Send a water bottle to school and limit the amount of sugary beverages they consume.

 

Erba Vita is offering one lucky reader a $150 worth of products of your choosing. You can check out their Kids’ Line, Women’s Health, Weight Loss, and more. Please enter via the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway is open to US residents only until Sept 30th. Winner will be notified via email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received some of the Erba Vita products to review, including their Leg Light Gel that I used at the end of my pregnancy. It was great to use at the end of the day. I appreciate their commitment to using quality ingredients and following the safest standard of testing. You can get some of their product line in Whole Foods now or order online. All opinions shared here are my own. 

I also received the Mother’s Therapy Organic line of hand sanitizer and lotion. So far it’s one of the kids’ favorite as it’s not too sticky and doesn’t sting like most alcohol based sanitizers. 

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