Baby girl has suffered from eczema pretty much since birth. I know that it is all tied in to her food allergies, but even after eliminating the offending foods she just has sensitive skin making her more susceptible to eczema. After trying all the things recommended to me from friends, her doctor, and even the internet, I think I have finally discovered something that works!

This is our new routine:

1) Give lukewarm baths every day only using soap on hair, under arms, diaper area and feet. The warm bath allows the pores to open. Do not let baby stay in the soapy water too long, so soap up at the end of the bath. I have used both little twig organic unscented babywash and Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash with great results.

2) Immediately, within 2 minutes, put on Angel Baby Bottom Balm- yes it’s a diaper balm, but it also works miracles on the skin for eczema. The benefits of Angel Baby Bottom Balm were clear to me for diaper rashes, burns, scrapes, bug bites, and cradle cap. Now I can add one more to the list: eczema!

3) Lastly, I have been using a cool mist humidifier on a low setting at night and for naps. This has has worked miracles! I started using it when baby girl had a cold and soon realized the benefit to her skin as well!

4) In the mornings and throughout the day, if I ever have time, I try to also put on a good lotion on the most severe spots. I will also use Angel Baby Organic Herbal Massage Oil or light vegetable oil when we have our massage time. This is becoming less and less frequent the more feisty she is becoming! I would stay away from any type of mineral oil as it does not absorb into the skin as easily.

You wouldn’t recognize baby girl now if you had seen her before! Her skin is so much softer and smoother. Hey, maybe I should start using it myself in the winter months!

Photo via Flickr using Creative Commons

The new styles of Robeez we just got in come with a little something extra… free socks! Sweet! Who doesn’t like getting something for free? The fact that these little socks are so super cute is just icing on the cake. Check out a few of our favorite styles below, but you can shop all of the Robeez with free socks on Clementine NW.

These Robeez are for baby fashionistas. Trendy colors, retro circles, and bold striped socks are the perfect finishing touch for those fun Spring outfits:

These sweet little elephants are perfect for any little guy. Great colors to match almost any outfit, you’ll find these a most versatile pick:

 Aww! Sweet hearts for your sweetheart. Pretty in pink, a classic color for any little girl’s wardrobe:

Arr, mateys! Pirates are still a hot trend for little swashbucklers:

Shop now for best selection, once they’re gone, they’re gone.

How about a little free shipping for this lovely day? Use coupon code: love

So get shopping!

I just had to share this amazing eco-friendly home that I Stumbled Upon. It is incredible. I think I am in love with it a little.

A Welsh dad and his father-in-law, along with a few passers by and friends, built this house for his family.I love the look of it, very fairy-tale or hobbit-like, but even more than that I love the choices made in total regard for the environment.

Some of the key points of design and construction:

• Dug into hillside for low visual impact and shelter
• Stone and mud from diggings used for retaining walls, foundations etc.
• Frame of oak thinnings (spare wood) from surrounding woodland
• Reciprocal roof rafters are structurally and aesthaetically fantastic and very easy to do
• Straw bales in floor, walls and roof for super-insulation and easy building
• Plastic sheet and mud/turf roof for low impact and ease
• Lime plaster on walls is breathable and low energy to manufacture (compared to cement)
• Reclaimed (scrap) wood for floors and fittings
• Anything you could possibly want is in a rubbish pile somewhere (windows, burner, plumbing, wiring…)
• Woodburner for heating – renewable and locally plentiful
• Flue goes through big stone/plaster lump to retain and slowly release heat
• Fridge is cooled by air coming underground through foundations
• Skylight in roof lets in natural feeling light
• Solar panels for lighting, music and computing
• Water by gravity from nearby spring
• Compost toilet
• Roof water collects in pond for garden etc.

 There is a wealth of information on their website. I encourage you all to check it out. You can even get information on how to join in a future building project with them- if you’re in the neighborhood

Via: http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm

My children are still too young to use a dictionary, except for the myriad of picture dictionaries they love to comb through, so I hadn’t paid much attention to news that the publisher of the Oxford Junior Dictionary is going to be exchanging “nature words” for “tech words”.

In:  Blackberry, blog, MP3 player, voicemail, broadband

Out: acorn, blackberry (the fruit), clover, heron, ivy, magpie, otter, sycamore, willow

Seriously?!? I don’t know about you, but I would hope that kids would gain much more from keeping words that are from our natural world, instead of the tech-obsessed one that we have created. Aren’t kids losing access to nature fast enough? Do we really need to include MP3 players in the junior dictionary?

I found the information while searching for this book, Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Today has been such a nice day, almost warm! I thought about how much my boys love to be outside. They are right now.. screaming laughing, running around and burning energy!

I personally have such a hard time getting outside when the weather is yucky, but they don’t seem to care. I am so glad that they have the opportunity to get to go outside so often. We have a nice safe backyard, plus we are walking distance to the woods and a couple of parks. So many kids don’t get this and they are really losing out.

How often do your kids get outside?  Do your kids know what an acorn, blackberry, clover, heron, ivy, magpie, otter, sycamore, willow are?

Via: childrenandnature.org

Are you looking for the perfect Valentine’s gift for a pregnant mama or little one? I love celebrating Valentine’s Day as a parent, much more so than when it was more of a romantic holiday. I love making homemade Valentine’s cards with and for my family. I love making fun Valentine’s treats- anything heart shaped, pink, or red. I love showing my family just how much I love them!

Here are a few eco-friendly gift ideas for children from Clementine NW (click on the photos to shop):

The Giving Tree:

A moving parable about the gift of giving and the capacity to love, told throughout the life of a boy who grows to manhood and a tree that selflessly gives him her bounty through the years. $14.95

Eva Necklace:

Children love playing dress-up! Here is a sweet necklace with adorable wooden hearts and circles separated by blue glass beads from Haba. $11.66

Little Luck Rings:

Set of two rings: one heart and one lucky mushroom ring. Packaged in a sweet little metal jewelry box. A wonderful gift for any little girl.Made by Haba. $7.61

Threading Hearts:

Classic threading toy with sweet heart beads perfect for Valentine’s Day. Made by Haba. $11.21

Little Love Socks & Shoes Set:

Your little sweetheart will look adorable in these layered hearts on pastel pink. The beautifully-packaged set is complete with four unique pairs of socks in stripes, hearts, and polka dots. $39.95

 Organic Bear:

The perfect first doll for a baby! Our Bear doll is 100% organic cotton inside and out, and dyed with metal free dyes; making it safe for babies. $11.95

We’re pleased to announce that we just added Robbie Adrian Luxury Organic baby blankets to the Clementine NW boutique. The perfect eco-friendly blanket to bundle up the most vulnerable of us all. You will not find a softer, safer, more luxurious blanket anywhere.

Robbie Adrian blankets are made in the United States with 100% certified organic cotton velour or fleece and trimmed with naturally processed silk. The cotton itself is grown in West Texas, and later spun and knitted on the east coast using fair labor.

These make the perfect shower gift whether you’re giving to a celebrity-loving mama, an eco-conscious mama, or a high fashion mama. Celebs like Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera, Salma Hayek, Halle Berry and Nicole Ritchie love Robbie Adrian blankets for their little ones.

Buy one now for your little one and give one as a gift! Perfect alone or create a custom gift box with any of our other fabulous eco-friendly products for mama and baby. We’ve got Robbie Adrian Luxury Organic baby blankets in three great sizes and several different colors. Interested in a size or color that we don’t have yet, just ask!

Shop now: Robbie Adrian