Greening your bathroom with Green Goo

I recently had the chance to try out products from a company called Green Goo. I had never heard of them before and was happy to find out they are a B Corp company! I have made a huge dent in greening my bathroom, but there are always those less-than-green products that sneak their way back into my cabinets. With Green Goo, I now have even more options to not let those sneaky products back into my life!

First product that I am 1000% on board with is their lip balm, seen above. So we all know every company has tried this, some come close to perfection and some are total garbage. I have tried them all. I have a tiny stash of lip balm in a few spots in my house and since adding citrus zest and cool mint to my collection, I will dig around specifically for those instead of just grabbing any one from the cup and using it. Yes, those iconic mustard yellow lip balms you can see in my picture aren't getting any use now that I have Green Goo. It goes on so smooth and leaves my lips so moisturized and shiny but not heavy feeling! The lip balm is so easy to put on and doesn't drag like some other natural brands. Also of note: some natural lip balms get weird in cold weather (like the coconut oil in your pantry...) but so far these Green Goo lip balms haven't changed one bit. Both scents are amazing and I can't wait to try Sweet Honey and Kiss-On next!

Product Love: Hip Peas

Have you heard of Hip Peas? They are a great all natural company that focuses on kids' hair care and other bathroom essentials. We got the chance to try out the products shown above and are big fans! Before I even cracked open the lids, I was swooning over the design and packaging. And the scent itself is lovely, I actually enjoyed that it was a calming scent other than chamomile or lavender. I love those scents but it was nice to have a little departure from the tried and true with the rosemary and green tea. The foaming soap and bubble bath passed the test for my myself and my kiddos. We just used the foaming wash for shampoo but I think I might check out their actual shampoo once we run out.


And heads up for all new mamas to be or people like me who want to get useful gifts for baby showers: they have a cradle cap care product that looks like a must-have! It is made of a blend of natural oils and no harsh soaps-perfect for newborns.

How I Use: Seabuckthorn Oil

I am a big fan of oils in beauty routines and lifestyle in general, which is why I was excited to try Seabuckthorn Berry and Seed oils. I have used their cleanser and taken their supplements in the past so I knew it was a company I trusted. Both of these oils are excellent to put directly on the skin to help with inflammation, which is the root of all health problems. These both are excellent Omega sources and can be taken internally and externally! They are truly super, hardworking powerhouse oils that you need in your medicine cabinet.

Personally, I like to put it directly on my face before bed but be warned, it will turn your pillowcase (and face!) orange. It soaks in during the night so when you wake up, there are absolutely no traces. If you aren't down for slathering it on, you can also add a few drops to your night cream, stir it with a toothpick and then apply as normal. I know you will soon be as hooked as I am.

My "go to sleep" kit for babies and kids

Now that my daughter is one and her sleep is pretty regular, I am doing my best to keep it that way with nightly routines. With cold season coming up I know we are going to take a hit with my son bringing home lots of germs from preschool which always affect the kids' sleep. I'm sure our future holds many nights with the humidifier and nightly wake-ups due to coughing. I rely on my go-to sleep kit mainly for my daughter but I also can use it on my 4 year old son on especially rowdy nights or when he is sick.

I add a cup or two of magnesium flakes or epsom salts to their bath to start the calming process. Most people are deficient in magnesium and making sure your body is getting enough is key in getting proper rest. Other benefits include: improving circulation, stress relief and improving skin hydration among many more.

I spray Mommy's Bliss sweet slumber mist on my daughter's favorite lovey so she can snuggle it while she drifts off to sleep and not have to worry about the smell overpowering her pajamas. All of Mommy's Bliss products are safe and free of yucky chemicals. Sometimes I spray this on my pillow!

I roll essential oils on her feet as a final step to set the tone for sleepytime. My blend contains lavender and I feel that smell triggers something in her to know its close to naptime or bedtime.

What are your go-to tricks or routines in getting your kids to have good quality rest?

Greening your bathroom: Boka floss

I think the process of "greening" your bathroom can feel a little overwhelming at first, so I think it's best to go one product at a time and start with something slightly insignificant. Like floss! (Tip: do not start with shampoo, that one should go last) Most people aren't brand loyal when it comes to floss; they might get a pack free at their dentist or grab whatever they find at the store sort of without thinking. Unfortunatly for us, all the options at the typical drugstore are no bueno. Most floss is made from nylon (petroleum based product) and then coated with Teflon (yes the toxic stuff in the non-stick cookware, which is for another post). These are things we don't want in our mouth, period!

Enter, Boka Oral care. Their floss is petroleum-free and Teflon-free and coated with natural beeswax and mint oil so it still glides just as nice as the traditional kind. It also doesn't fray or shred! I seriously love this stuff. And not to mention it is the cutest little container.

All of Boka's products are designed so well and have ingredients you can trust. They have subscriptions too! I can't wait to try out their other products, especially their Cocorinse! 

Oli & Carol Natural Bath Toys

I am obsessed with these bath toys by Oli & Carol. The designs are fresh and playful and most importatntly, they are 100% pure latex from Hevea trees.
They also float in water yet do not have a hole so you don't have to worry about mold growing inside. That cheap tub of squirter toys from Buy Buy Baby is tempting, but you soon realize that if you don't squirt the water out after each bathtime, mold can grow inside.
I just got a couple for Ivy's Easter basket as they also make great teethers!

Bathtime Routines (& Aveeno Baby giveaway!)

For Jonas, bath time is every night. I know you don't technically need to bathe your baby more than every 2-3 days but we did it nightly early on to help establish a nighttime routine and cue bedtime. Which worked, because as I have boasted in the past, he has slept through the night since about 9 weeks. Even though the routine isn't as necessary now, we still love doing bath time nightly because he loves it so much! He gets so giggly when he is naked and Jon is carrying him into the bathroom, even if he was fussing just 5 minutes prior. So we run through a lot of baby wash with how frequently we soap him up! I was happy to try out the Aveeno Baby Wash and Shampoo and am pleased of its really light scent as the best smell is the baby themselves, they don't need heavy fragrance! It soaped up nicely and while Jonas doesn't have sensitive skin, this is great for those babies that are prone skin allergies. And bonus points for no parabens!!

If you'd like to enter to win a bottle to try for yourself and baby, leave a comment below. You have until Friday 12AM PST. A winner will be randomly selected and emailed on Monday morning. Good luck!