Little Twig - A Safe and Natural Bath Time Alternative - and Made in the USA!

I am always on the lookout for natural skin and hair products that are made in the USA.  I was excited to find that Little Twig has products that provide families with a safe and natural bath time alternative to the many chemical-filled bath products that are on shelves. Little Twig’s priority is to ensure that each of their products are safe and mild for newborn skin as well as the entire family. They use ingredients that are mild and effective, like Aloe and Vitamin E.   I love that Little Twig’s bath and body care products are made in USA, but equally as important, they are made from organic and natural ingredients and are pediatrician tested.  For those of you who have done your research on bath and skin care ingredients, they are paraben free and SLS free, pH balanced, hypoallergenic, have no synthetic fragrances, are phthalate free, have no artificial colors, are not tested on animals and are packaged in PET #1 recyclable bottles. 

Little Twig offers bath care, bubble bath, and body care products that are made in the USA (including diaper cream!).  I was sent samples of the Little Twig Baby Wash in Lavender-Lemon Tea Tree and in Extra Mild Unscented.  The Lemon Tea Tree smelled light and lemony, just like it sounds!  And the unscented still has a wonderful light natural fragrance from the ingredients that I enjoyed.  The baby wash bubbled up just fine for us, which is sometimes a drawback with some of the more natural products, but we had plenty of suds to work with.  The body milk was smoothing for the baby, and I used some for myself, too!  I will be switching over to Little Twig, since I find their prices are not as high as some of the all-natural, organic competition. An 8.5 oz bottle of their Happy Tangerine Baby Wash retails for $9.99.  Right now you can save on shipping from the Little Twig website! Free shipping offer for the month of December by using the code FRSHDEC. 

Made in the USA goes Mainstream!

I saw the following article on MSN.com this morning when I turned on my computer:


American-made Toys and Games on MSN.com

 I was so excited to see the mainstream media finally paying attention to the importance of buying American-made toys!  And really it is not as hard as some people think to find Made in the USA.  You might have to give up some of the plastic, blinking light toys that talk, maybe even some of the television and movie characters, but in return you will get high-quality, SAFE and EDUCATIONAL toys.  Isn't that a pretty good trade?   I was happy to see some of the brands that we carry mentioned...Holgate and TAG toys to name a few, but there are so many more! Check out our All-American Holiday Gift Guide for even more Made in the USA toy ideas, and of course our website All-American Baby!

Work at Home Helper Blog Carnival: An All-American Work at Home Mom

When my first child was born, my husband and I made the tough decision for me to stay home with the baby. It was what I had always wanted, but cutting our income in half was going to be an adjustment. I had just finished my Master’s degree in education, and that, paired with my National Board Certification gave me two additional salary bonuses that I would only benefit from for a few months if I left. I was at the top of my professional game, but I had been teaching other people’s children for 14 years, and as an “older” mom and after years of infertility, I was ready to spend some time enjoying my newborn. The first year was wonderful but tough, as it is on all first-time parents! We were so lucky to have an “easy” baby, although I don’t think we realized it at the time (it wasn’t until our son was born that we realized how good we had it with our daughter). One of the things going on at that time was all of the recalls for the lead-tainted Chinese products. I was very committed to buying high-quality safe products for my daughter, and I really preferred to buy American-made, but it was so hard to find at the time! The Made in the USA products were out there, it was just a challenge to pull everything I needed together. I figured that other parents must be feeling the same way, and I wished there was one place I could find everything! That is when the idea for All-American Baby was born, and my husband and I began the planning process for our very own business!

It has been a wonderful adventure, but certainly one with a lot of challenges, and both successes and failures along the way. At one point we had our own retail space, but the amount of extra time and effort was not worth it. The online store was growing much faster and sales were stronger, so we backed down on the retail location to focus on the website. The biggest challenge for me has been striking the balance between work and home, since work is at home! I have to made sure I schedule time away from work…having my work at home makes it harder to get away from it. And honestly, being in retail, especially children’s retail, does make the holiday season that much more hectic. But having the flexibility to be at home with my children every day (even if part of that time I am “trying” to work) is so worth it. I get to enjoy the everyday joys of raising my children. I am able to set my own schedule and can be completely flexible when things come up, such as a sick child, or just a beautiful afternoon when we want to get outside for a picnic! My advice to any parents beginning the “work at home” adventure is to be prepared to work hard to strike the balance that is right for you. It is not as easy as it seems!

This post is part of the blog carnival "Share Your Work at Home Success Story" at the Work at Home Helper.

Sweeters Hand-Knit Pals Review and Giveaway! {CLOSED}

I am very excited to introduce you to Sweeters, a Grandma-owned company that makes hand-knit sweaters and fun sweater pals! Years ago company owner Sue Katz started to hand knit 100% cotton sweaters as gifts for family and friends. The sweaters were a hit and their feedback is what gave her the idea to turn her knitting into a full time career. That is how Sweeters was born! Each sweater is handmade by knitters here in the USA and all of their hand knit sweater are designed by Sue in Florida. Sweeters’ sweaters are hand knit one at a time; they do not mass produce their sweaters. A Sweeter sweater is hand knit when you place your order.

The Sweeters Pals are individually hand knit just like the sweaters. The Sweeters Pals collection is also made in the USA and the Sweeters Pals can be personalized because they are handmade when you place your order. All the yarn and stuffing is sourced in the USA so you can be assured that Sweeters meets the highest quality standards.


I have worked with Sweeters for several years, and my customers have always been more than pleased with the quality of the products. I can also personally recommend Sweeters’ products; my daughter has her own personalized Sweeters Pal, an Easter gift from the “Easter Bunny” that ended up as a favorite bedtime buddy! So much for putting it away with the rest of the Easter toys for the following year! She named her pal “Gigi” (her version of her own name at the time), and this beautiful, heirloom type gift has held up to nightly snuggles and various washes (we have to sneak it away to be washed) for over 3 years, and is still looking just as new as the day we received it! My son also has his own pal, a striped honey bear that keeps him company in his crib. It was one of the first toys I put in the crib with him…I didn’t have to worry about button eyes or noses popping off. Plus I knew that it was safe for him to snuggle with (and yes, chew on…there’s just no stopping it!).

All-American Baby has teamed up with Sweeters for an amazing giveaway offer: One lucky follower will receive their own Personalized Monkey Sweater Pal from Sweeters! This is such a special giveaway offer because the winner’s pal will be hand-knit to order! The winner will be able to choose from pink, blue or orange for their monkey's outfit, and will provide a personalized name to be knit into the monkey's shirt!  The winner should allow 3 weeks from the time of order for your new Sweeters Pal..just in time for Christmas!


Can't Wait?? You can buy it: Sweeters Pals and sweaters retail from $42.00 and up and are available at the All-American Baby retail website! Enter “Sweeters” in the product search box, or look for pals in soft toys and sweaters in clothing.  Remember, each pal or sweater is hand knit to order.  To allow 3 weeks before shipping, if you are hoping to receive your order before Christmas, you should order your pal or sweater this week!

Win it:

1. Mandatory Entry: please visit our website (http://www.all-americanbaby.net/) and return with a comment on one item that you LOVE!


Additional Entries (must complete mandatory entry first):
2. "Liking" us on Facebook
3.  "Liking" Sweeters on Facebook
4. Follow us via GFC
5. Subscribe via email or RSS (one entry each)
6. Add your networked blog
7. Grab our Holiday Button and post it on your blog or website for TWO entries (leave the link in your comment)
8. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to All-American Baby Blog, and leave the URL to your blog post in the comment for TWO additional entries.


Be sure to leave an additional comment for each entry to get credit! And please leave a way to contact you! Comments without contact information will be disqualified. Contest winner will be drawn using Random.org. Winner has 24 hours to respond or another winner will be drawn (this is a time-sensitive prize, so winner will need to respond ASAP). Contest ends November 28, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Please note that all comments are moderated, so your comment will not appear until it has been approved.


Disclosure: This blog is used to promote American-made children's products, and our retail website All-American Baby. Many of the products reviewed here are available for purchase from our online store, http://www.all-americanbaby.net/. I am always on the look-out for only the best products to offer to parents looking for American-made items. I will only promote high quality, safe products that are made in the USA, whether in my store or in my blog.  I was not provided with any gift or compensation; this review is based on my experience with the product as a consumer and as a retailer. Sweeters is providing the gift for the winner of this giveaway. All views and opinions with regard to the products or manufacturer itself are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by the manufacturer prior to posting. Offer Valid US only!

Personalized Christmas Ornaments - Made in the USA!

I just wanted to let you all know about an online Christmas ornament shop that carries made in the USA ornaments!  There is a review and giveaway going on at Fun Saving Money's blog for Ornaments with Love, an online store offering a huge variety of personalized ornaments, and many of them are American made!  Since not all of their ornaments are made in the USA, you can use the handy search feature at the top of the page to narrow your search to “made in USA”.  You will have a great selection!  You can visit their website at www.ornamentswithlove.com, or you can enter to win a free ornament of your choice at Fun Saving Money’s blog.  Let her know I sent you!   

Coming Soon!

I am happy to announce our All American Christmas Event with some exciting upcoming Reviews, Giveaways, and an all-inclusive Holiday Gift Guide…with ALL American-made products!  There are many holiday shopping guides out there, but ours is unique in the fact that everything is Made in the USA!  We have some great product reviews and giveaways planned to help you get ready for the holidays with safe, high quality, American-made toys and accessories.  We will be spotlighting some of the many toys available on our retail website, but also sharing our insider tips on how to buy American-made in your local stores and (yes, elsewhere!) on the internet.  If you are tired of poor quality products of questionable safety cluttering your child’s play area, then this is the place to be in November.  Please check back often as we add products and links.

If you have an American-made product that you are interested in having included in our Holiday Gift Guide, or would like us to do a review or host a giveaway for you, please contact me.  Open to Made in the USA products only.

American-made for Baby

Wow, it has been so long since I posted...well for good reason! We have been blessed to add a sweet baby boy to our family, born in early April. I really didn't realize how hard it would be to juggle two children! Our daughter is such a Mama's girl, and she had a difficult time getting used to sharing my time with the new baby. She was sweet to him from the start, but she certainly took it out on me! Happily, things are much better now, and she absolutely adores her baby brother. And now that he is becoming so much more alert and interactive, he loves to watch her play!

Having the baby really renewed my passion for buying American-made products as often as possible. Although there will always be times that is is not practical, it is surprising how many items you can find that are Made in the USA if you are committed to looking past your local big box stores. I have found such wonderful, high quality products recently! I hope you will check out some of our new products in our online store. I am hoping to highlight a different product for you in each new blog.

One product that has been very popular in our store, and just recently I have been able to enjoy with my baby, is the Baby Barbell Rattle. These are the perfect size, shape and weigh for infants. They were developed by a Pediatric Therapist! The handle is small enough for the smallest baby to hold. They are extremely light weight (under 1 ounce), and have a soft soothing sound that does not startle the baby. Developmentally stimulating and balanced, it won’t twist the wrist of a newborn. And it is cleanable in the top rack of the dishwasher!

Here is the link to find them in our online store: http://www.all-americanbaby.net/babara.html

Well, baby is calling, so I will try to post more great products later. There are so many to share!

Toys Made in the USA for Christmas 2008

It’s unbelievable that the holidays are already just around the corner. Last year, the focus for Christmas was on safe, quality, American-made toys for the children…avoiding potentially lead-tainted Chinese-made products at all cost. But what about this year? With financial times so challenging, budget is definitely a major consideration. It’s tempting to run out to the nearest Target or Wal-Mart and buy all cheap plastic toys to make sure there are lots of toys and gifts under the tree, while still keeping to the budget. But what is that teaching our children about quality vs. quantity? And how long will that Chinese-made plastic toy really last? Are you certain of its safety? It is still important to remember the many reasons for buying American-made items wherever possible. Here are a few reminders:

1. Safety – American-made toys and products have much stricter safety requirements than many foreign made toys. The recalls for lead paint last year are still fresh in the minds of parents, and when it comes to our children…safety trumps all.

2. Quality – American manufacturers have a high standard of quality, and as many are still smaller, family-run operations, the focus on the quality of the products remains top priority.

3. Supporting our Country and Economy – Any shopping money that is dropped into our economy at this time will be helpful, but when you spend your money on products that are made in the USA, so much more of your hard earned cash is going directly to Americans, instead of supporting huge US corporations that pour the money in foreign economies.

4. Your Child's Development – Have you noticed how much noise those plastic toys of today make? American-made toys are typically more classic, and yes, quiet, toys…just like the ones you grew up with. How much more freedom does your child’s imagination have if they are not being “told” by a toy exactly what to do and how to play? So many skills can be developed by a simple set of blocks or a wooden train set: creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, collaborative skills, science skills, math skills, motor skills…just to name a few! And the time YOU spend interacting with your child and their “quiet toys” has so much more developmental impact than any songs or lessons a talking toy can teach.

So how can I make this a classic, quality holiday season for my children and myself, and still stay within my budget? It may not be practical to think that every item you place under the tree this year will be American-made, but you might be surprised at the wonderful, reasonably-priced gift ideas that are out there! Here are a few suggestions. Many of these items can fit in a variety of categories.

Holiday Gift Ideas from All-American Baby:

Boys
Train Sets
Floor Cars
Floor Trains
Trucks
Building Blocks
Alphabet Blocks
Boy Rag Doll
Art Easel
Puppet Theater
Personalized Books
Clothes


Girls
Tea Set
Cooking Set
Dolls
Stuffed Animals
Play Kitchen
Art Easels
Puppet Theater
Blocks
Music Boxes
Personalized Books
Clothes


Infants
Wood Rattles
Plastic Rattles
Stacking Toys
Pull Toys
Soft Blocks
Soft Knit Dolls
Soft Knit Animals
Bonding Dolls
Hats and Blankets
Clothes

Remember that with American-made gifts all the batteries, blinking lights and loud sounds are NOT required… but IMAGINATION is!!

And so it begins...

I am trying my hand at blogging...once upon a time in a life long ago, it seems, I actually enjoyed writing! Then life happened...teaching, master's degree, marriage, baby, new business, and so on. Recently, the desire to put my experiences into words has been reborn. I just want to share with myself and anyone who is willing to listen. Hopefully I can vent, entertain, teach, and share ideas that may not be far from others' thoughts as well.

Many people have asked my reasons for starting my retail business, All-American Baby. The reasons are many! When I took time off from teaching elementary school to raise my daughter, I found that being a mother is the most fulfilling job I could have ever imagined! I feel like my heart is walking around outside of my body each and every day! I want only the best for my daughter; the highest quality, safest products, whether they are toys, blankets or clothing. With recent safety concerns and recalls of toys and other children’s products, I found myself wanting to get “Back to Basics” for my daughter’s sake. I wanted her to have toys that would challenge her mind and encourage developmental growth (that’s my 15 years as a teacher coming out!). You remember from your childhood, the toys that don’t require batteries, but instead use imagination, creative thinking, and problem solving. I also wanted the quality and safety of these products to be unquestionable (that is definitely the mother in me!). These ideals became my beacon. At the same time, I have become even more aware of the importance of social responsibility, and the need to support our own nation, the workers, and the economy. Gone are the selfish days of my youth, replaced with a feeling of wanting to do my part, and an urgent need to protect not only my child, but other children as well. I searched and researched for products that I could feel good about sharing with my child, ones where I didn't have worry about the origins and the repercussions. My search for the perfect products was long and frustrating, and I wished for one place where I could find a variety of safe, American-made toys, and quality American-made baby products. So the idea for All-American Baby was born. I've done all the hard work! I’ve searched for and found everything you need for your baby and toddler...toys, clothing, skin-care products, blankets, diaper bags, books, bedding, furniture and accessories...All Made in the USA.