Top 10 little BIG KID FAV'S (mommy approved)

Life on the other end of toddler hood is almost as bad as i was forewarned. Between the new and improved (and changing on the daily) personal preferences, dropping nap time conflict and mediating the ever prominent tantrum - life has been, well... busy. 

But, lets shine light on the things that get us through- the simple pleasures. 

Here are a list of my top 10 little BIG kid (and mommy approved) favourites... for this week.

yogurt drinks. nuff' said. 

weather you pass them off as milkshakes, yogurt, 'pop' or whatever. they do the trick, crave hanger and are great mini portions

comfy pants- cause really, aren't we all happier in comfy pants. 

Little's move, ALOT. All those cute skinny hipster pants are great for your photo shoot but be real..the daily grind is all about comfort. 

yummy vitamins DHA vitamin (max & ruby) cause they are good for you.

This sweet lemony concoction is treated like a reward at our house- can't get enough. so, "OK... i guess, if you promise to be good"... your welcome. 

Tupperware wipes case. the mecca of all wipes cases is here. 

I haven't met a wipe that doesn't fit in here- if you are reusable i think they would even fit.. keeps wipes wet, and the latch to let them out stays closed and only lets one out at a time. what a concept! 

fun band aids - duh. 

for invisible owies, teddy bears, big boo boos and even your own needs- everything does feel better under the care of a Disney princess.. 

backpack/suitcase- its time.

start letting them haul (some) of their own crap. of course your still the following mule, but it sure helps when your trying to leave the house and their entire stuffy collection can't fit. tough choices. like life. start em young... 

Squeezies for veggies - sneaky. 

my house isn't much of a nutritional palace so i sneak these babies in anywhere i can. No they aren't just for babies.. celebs even carry them in their gym bags for a quick recharge. And no, i don't prepare them myself but by all means.... 

thirty one snack thermal zip cooler- you need one. 

This little cooler pouch is a saving grace for on the go. its small enough to fit in my enormous bag, holds all the snacks and keeps them cool. i love this for carry thing things like the inevitable cheese string and even yogurt drinks! (it also does hold 3 beer- just sayin) i love mine. Check out my friend Erin's ThirtyOne Gifts website for options 

Honest Co. Breath easy rub 

your always in cold season when you have a little one. this rub is awesome. Its child friendly, kids can apply it to their own chest or feet and feel 'big' helping. its safe and chemical free- unlike the nasties in Vick's, you can feel good about this choice. 

SAGO mini app - if you can't beat em, make it educational. 

A friend introduced me to this line of apps geared towards toddlers and inspires interest in numbers and letters- the cute animals and monsters don't hurt either. Its as not annoying and really does a great job teaching age appropriate lessons. 

home sweet home

well.. i feel inspired to start caring more about the world I'm living in. Why does this sound so harsh to say?? 
i suppose I'm just a sheep in the heard of carelessness and chemical waste when it comes to this sort of thing and having a legacy naping in the next room really does make the future of our earth, the wellbeing of his generation at the forefront of my mind..

its not that i have been carelessly littering and watering my lawn for days but i have been neglegent about my recycling duties, the chemicals i use to clean my home (mostly cause those chemicals are so budget friendly) and obviously there is so many more little things i can change and teach my little about preserving our resources and being environmentally friendly and to top that- a conscious consumer.

so here i am finding myself at a bend in the road - a road trip with jessica alba & al gore.

it seems daunting to do a total overhaul and although i have ambitious plans about being that old 'earthy' chick with long white hair, growing a sustainable garden, smelling sweet like lavender and not wearing shoes- i suppose that story starts here, one change at a time. i already have birkenstocks. its a start.

i grow herbs, i make my detergents and i know how beneficial oils are but perhaps its time to get a compost bin, make more of an effort to recycle (almost) everything and make educated and slightly more expensive yet healthier product purchases. I just might make a leap from disposable diapers (we only use them in the evening anyway) and read ingredients in my floor cleaner.

i have innocently or not so innocently been nieve to my personal impact on the environment- but as a dear (and environmentally conscious friend) mentioned- it starts with one person, much like many of the amazing stories of transformation- it often begins with one person and one idea. I was faulty in believing i can't change anything- "if Vegas doesn't recycle- there is no hope for the rest of us.."
Shame on me, small things do add up and i am hopeful i can make a difference and of course wanting to impose these principles to the next generation- it is their world, my sons world after all ...

funny-Isn't that just a mothers way- we bend over backwards and stride to do the right thing all in the name of our children. we do things for them that we wouldn't dream of doing for ourselves- perhaps thats love. 
When the future of my child's deteriorating earth is sitting before me looking messy, chaotic and lacking its environmental resources- hurt from the years of uneducated purchases and massive consumption, my heart aches as our afflictions will be the problem of our children. It just doesn't seem fair to wait another day to make a change.. 

Earth in its glory is humbling, remarkably beautiful- its swirling scope of blues and greens accented with whispers of white, its a stunning and amazing place to call home. 
From the images of NASA and google and it seems a foreign dream, too beautiful to be called our own but we are the caretakers- blessed to be entrusted with such a gem. its a huge responsibility I'm going to take accountability on my part- i suppose i am late to the table and have a long way to go but I'm going to take my own responsibility to create a cleaner home, healthier home, make more conscious decisions and try to create a safer and cleaner piece of earth- for me and you and our children. I will do what i can in my own small way and someday, hopefully, my little and his littles will progress with the same determination and responsibility and in turn-we can make a large impact together..

We are all earth neighbours, our world does so much to divide us, but being an avid documentary watcher, i remember a piece of text i heard on the NASA documentary. I believe it was about an astronaut admiring the earth from above, he said: if everyone could just see how remarkable and fragile our planet really is, we could let it unite us and not divide us (thats a whole other bag of tricks) but in that is so much truth. 

So here lies the call to action, the commitment to making a small difference and to be healthier, wiser and more conscious. Plan of action time, i will follow up with a part 2 on greener changes and alterations... 

Stay tuned...