It has been a hard couple of weeks around here. First I went to the hospital to get checked out because of this abdominal pain I was having. I ended up staying four days and having an appendectomy! That was fun. Luckily I am home now and appear to be doing well and the baby has stayed healthy throughout this whole ordeal.

I also learned about a friend’s more tragic news, which I will not get into here. Please just take the time to hug your children tight today.

There are going to be some exciting changes, additions, and maybe even a big sale this summer so stay tuned!

We want to wish all the mamas (and mamas-to-be) a very Happy Mother’s Day this weekend! I hope you all have a wonderful day to relax and enjoy those little reasons you are a mom!

Looking for green gift ideas? There are so many ways for your gifts to be more earth friendly. Here are some ideas for some of the traditional gifts…

1) Flowers. Buy locally grown first. There are several Farmers Markets that have already opened or find a shop or farm that sells local flowers. Buy organic if you can! Another great option to cut flowers is potted flowers, herbs, or plant.

2) Jewelry. Buy vintage! I just learned that it takes at least 5 tons of water and 20 tons of mine waste to produce a simple gold ring. Plus there is an even greater human rights problem in the mining and production of most jewelry. There are also some great artists that use recycled materials to create beautiful jewelry without the harmful ecological and social impact!

3) Candles. Try to find soy or beeswax candles, or make your own! If you need a scent, look for one made with essential oils and a lead-free wick. Just do a quick google search and you will find lots of information to make your own. Most candles are made with crude oil byproduct, the burning of which releases a lot of nasty chemicals into the air. Who wants that?

4) Chocolate. If you are going to go with chocolate, look for fair-trade and organic. The chocolate industry is rife with human rights abuses and ecological destruction. Fair Trade certified chocolate ensures that forced and abusive child labor are prohibited, farmers earn a price that is enough to endsure that basic needs will be met, and environmentally sustainable methods will be used. Plus it just tastes so good!

5) Spa Day. Choose a green spa! Green spas strive to reduce their environmental footprint by reducing water and energy usage, is committed to using recyclable materials, utilizes natural and organic skin care products, etc.

6) Anything made by little kids is pretty awesome. There are plenty of ways to use recycled materials to make something that will melt any mom’s heart!

See what you can come up with this year!

Babywearing is great for you and great for baby! The tricky part is finding the right way for you to wear your baby. Is it a sling, a wrap, a mei tai, or something else altogether? Well, Clementine NW is delighted to introduce Hotslings to our inventory of baby carriers.

Hotslings are a bestselling pouch sling, easy for beginners and perfect for the hip new mama! They can be used for newborns up to toddlers (35 lbs). They feature fun fabrics, including two organic options, leg padding to protect baby’s legs, and can be used in 3-5 carrying positions. Each Hotsling comes with DVD and written instructions so that you can get the most use out of it! I also love that they are made in the USA under fair labor conditions!

Check them out under our New Mamas category or Shop By Brand. And as always, we will accommodate any special requests for other fabric and size options.

The League of American Bicyclists recently bestowed Platinum status to Portland as a Bicycle-Friendly Community. Portland is the first major city to receive the top honors. Yay Portland!

U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer made a short speech on the House floor sharing Portland’s success and encouraging Washington lawmakers to think more on the advantages to promoting bike culture throughout the country.

Bike culture has long thrived in Portland. And why not? It’s a great way to save money on gas, eliminate carbon emissions, get exercise, get a shower… Seriously if we can do it in Portland, where it rains so much of the year, you can do it anywhere at least part of the year! Give it a try!

Want to involve the kids? If s/he is 12 months or older, then go for it! It’s great for the whole family! There are bike mounted seats or trailers for the littlest ones and bikes that attach to the parent’s bike for older children. Just don’t forget the helmet!