tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11750310654521326082023-11-16T07:47:49.824-08:00Keeping Up With DappleDapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-3783600948126841732011-10-12T11:22:00.000-07:002011-10-12T12:09:36.922-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHG35PPjYCIvoS90yS6huXq8HXM_on20IbSq2UfhHRdWl3H9hn0VelOgc4QJx7v9tTv8P8dww0Jes4xZ_7TpQSfVCZNgGtx8qkxTSdOc3E5SIif2KTJR0NAoF7f4cpjcX0l7AGqT02ELc/s1600/double-chocolate-cake-pops-500x500.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHG35PPjYCIvoS90yS6huXq8HXM_on20IbSq2UfhHRdWl3H9hn0VelOgc4QJx7v9tTv8P8dww0Jes4xZ_7TpQSfVCZNgGtx8qkxTSdOc3E5SIif2KTJR0NAoF7f4cpjcX0l7AGqT02ELc/s320/double-chocolate-cake-pops-500x500.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662684814395065970" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Cake Pop Funeral<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Stunning and yummy - in theory. But have you ever tried to make them? I have! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">For three evenings, I labored with my kids. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Here's approximately how it went:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Evening 1: Bake white cake. Make some fresh frosting. Crumble and mix the two together. 4 pairs of super-sticky hands. Cover. Refrigerate. Clean up. Sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Evening 2: Get our cookie scoops. Form 20 gorgeous, symmetrical and equally sized cookie balls. Line them up on parchment paper. Wash bowls. Sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Evening 3: Melt chocolate. Put little dabs of chocolate on cake balls. Stick in lollypop sticks. Melt more chocolate in a double boiler. Get excited. Dip first cake pop into chocolate. Loose cake pop in chocholate. Repeat mistake. 20 times! Kids sticky AND devastated. Refuse to sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Uplifting (if not entirely satisfactory) postscript:<br />We threw out the chocolate mess and gathered around the kitchen garbage. I intoned, "dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the sad demise of our cake pops. we will miss our dreams of eating you up, our thoughts of rolling you in sprinkles and edible glitter. you will now lie here forever, with the leftover cereal from this morning, last week's coleslaw and some moldy lemons we found in the bottom of the refrigerator." Lips started turning up and tears turned to smiles. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Does baking with your kids truly need to be a life lesson in coping with small failures?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Love,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">Tovit (a dapple mom)<o:p></o:p></span></p>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-23172895104854443182011-06-06T10:40:00.000-07:002011-06-06T11:11:24.660-07:00KinderGARDENing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWava1CTLmEEsEj9jGl8fkhJbpiwqcnPe3mC41Ri7yCIQjSo5IimjslPlalgUdYPyfiOEVmYMjUCFoIxB__5iM-YJG0MGoRMV2nHkYIk2aNX_aB4vjSqglBGEFhNn_76Kya702vUOqHo/s1600/kinderGARDENing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWava1CTLmEEsEj9jGl8fkhJbpiwqcnPe3mC41Ri7yCIQjSo5IimjslPlalgUdYPyfiOEVmYMjUCFoIxB__5iM-YJG0MGoRMV2nHkYIk2aNX_aB4vjSqglBGEFhNn_76Kya702vUOqHo/s320/kinderGARDENing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615168455378839970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Are you feeling the summer weather yet? We definitely are, and we're sure your kids are too. Here’s a great idea to spend some quality outdoor family time and fill a long summer day – Garden with your kids! It is the perfect time of year to teach yourself and your little one about growing herbs, vegetables, and flowers.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Maintaining an </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1307382269_5">organic garden</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> is a great way to get healthy food for your kids and makes them more aware of where their food comes from. These tips should start you on the right track:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1. Don't worry if you have limited space. Small gardens are easier for young kids to maintain; even a very small yard or apartment terrace will suffice. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1307382269_6">Container gardening</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> is also an easy option for those families living in a city.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2. Use tools that kids can handle, and be extra-safe if you're working with young ones.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3. Kids love to dig! Soil needs to be broken up before planting, so allow them to go crazy and prepare the plots or pots before starting your garden.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4. Herbs like mint for lemonade and vegetables like radishes, leaf lettuce and pea pods, have short </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1307382269_7">growing seasons</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">. This means your kids won't have to wait all summer to see results of their hard work.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">5. Use dapple! Make sure their tools, toys, or anything else they brought out into the garden is cleaned with natural dapple Toy & Surface Cleaner.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Gardening with your kids allows you to do something together. It teaches them patience, organization, hard work, and how to be "green" early on!! And who doesn't love eating food fresh from a garden?</span><br /></span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-54303564941601248272011-05-26T13:23:00.000-07:002011-05-26T13:46:06.008-07:00Bethenny Frankel Is a Dapple Mom!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwR33jnUPr6T2lujEVfOgNiIcTndeiYmya3JF8VUZE4IKBMEQ-9LeL0bEmRHA4SyK-DCiUQKBqrhQzHsWzyODvPN2ZPJy9HQDSPER6HpRDEP84mcA2wKk6mkJ_ua12R0935p9XQjPlxI/s1600/Beth+Frank+Dapple.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwR33jnUPr6T2lujEVfOgNiIcTndeiYmya3JF8VUZE4IKBMEQ-9LeL0bEmRHA4SyK-DCiUQKBqrhQzHsWzyODvPN2ZPJy9HQDSPER6HpRDEP84mcA2wKk6mkJ_ua12R0935p9XQjPlxI/s320/Beth+Frank+Dapple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611127332110703826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Super-mom Bethenny Frankel uses Dapple to wash her baby bottles. A big Dapple fan sent us the above photo (Thanks Yael!) that she got from one of Bethenny's tweets and told us to look closely. Behind the sink is a bottle of Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid! That's right, just beyond those delicous looking vegan banana chocolate chip cookies. Now if she only posted a picture of her playroom we can tell you what she uses to clean her toys.......</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-30202216297009826002011-04-08T06:35:00.001-07:002011-04-08T06:36:52.386-07:00Tips for a Weed-Free Lawn, a Salad Recipe, and Little Greens!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">One of our Little Greens viewers, Erika Kerl, wanted to know “Now that spring has sprung...I am wondering what is safe to use on your grass to keep it dandelion and weed free but is also safe for my 10 month old to crawl around on?”</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Great question, Erika! Here’s what we were able to dig up:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1. Vinegar: a 5% concentration of vinegar diluted in water is a natural and effective weed killer. Just remember that vinegar is “non-selective” meaning you need to spray the top of the weed directly or it will kill your grass as well. Spray only on the plants you wish to kill.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2. Corn Gluten Meal: A very safe and environmentally friendly way to combat dandelions and other lawn weeds is with corn gluten meal. This natural product will not kill established plants but it will stop germination of new ones. To control dandelions, it is best applied to the lawn about 4 to 6 weeks before weeds germinate. If you think your weeds have already germinated, don’t fret! Weeds sprout at all different times, so you can apply corn gluten meal a few times during the growing season. Corn Gluten Meal also benefits your grass by adding nitrogen to the soil.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Where to buy it? Your local garden center or nursery.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3. Pulling Weeds: This may not be the most fun or quickest option, but it is effective if you pull out the entire tap root. If you don’t get the entire root the dandelion will grow again in the same spot. You can find a small hand tool at your garden center that will help get to the bottom of the tap root. Make a dandelion salad! Dandelion greens are more nutritious than spinach. They are high in Vitamins A and C, and contain high levels of iron, calcium, and potassium. So eat up, and enjoy your dandelion free lawn.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">View our latest Little Greens episode and remember to submit your questions! If your question is answered on the show you will receive a $25 gift card to one of our retail partners, Babies R Us, Diapers.com, or Abesmarket.com.</span><br /><br /><iframe style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jIv54xtGaV4?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" width="384" frameborder="0" height="236"></iframe>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-77783428343882391442011-03-10T07:15:00.000-08:002011-03-10T07:49:43.354-08:00Vote Cribsies!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here is the </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="messageBody">super cute commercial that we had mentioned in our<a href="http://dapplebaby.blogspot.com/2011/03/dapple-on-youtube.html"> previous post</a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dapple has been named a </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://cribsieawards.com/">Cribsie Awards</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> finalist in two categories!</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="messageBody"> We are up for awards in the "Safest Cleaning Products That Actually Work" section under the "Nursery" category, and under "Gentlest Detergent for Baby Togs" in the "Fashion" Category. If you vote for us and</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="messageBody"> let us know at emmett@dapplebaby.com we'll send you a personalized special something. The video below explains all.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We are going to upload Dapple videos to our </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Littlegreens1">Youtube page</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> regularly with Barry as the lead. Barry, our West Coast team-leader happens to also be an actor. Combine that with a passion for everything green with a whole lot of cute children and you have the formula for the ultimate Dapple video.</span><br /><br /><iframe style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MnxogNfyTLY?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" width="360" frameborder="0" height="222"></iframe><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="messageBody"><br /></span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-68924033367535867922011-03-01T09:38:00.000-08:002011-03-01T09:46:47.255-08:00Dapple on Youtube!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dapple is now on Youtube. You can find our channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Littlegreens1">here</a> . Barry, our Dapple West-Coast team leader, will be hosting videos answering your green parenting questions. We will be posting a new Dapple commercial in a couple of days. Not that we are biased.... but it is the cutest video ever! That's until the next Dapple video comes out. Enjoy the baby starring intro video below.</span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WlbFdzDFlbs?fs=1" allowfullscreen="" width="360" frameborder="0" height="222"></iframe>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-27030810324376721432010-11-22T06:45:00.001-08:002010-11-22T07:21:47.430-08:00Watch and Win: Free Clean-Up Kit 11/22 9PM ET<object style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" id="utv119868" width="480" height="296"><param name="flashvars" value="autoplay=false&brand=embed&cid=6233560&v3=1"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/viewer.swf"><embed flashvars="autoplay=false&brand=embed&cid=6233560&v3=1" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" id="utv119868" name="utv_n_306429" src="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/viewer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="296"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Baby Guy NYC, Jamie Grayson, called the "Best Baby Gear Guru" by New York Magazine, is hosting a Twitter Party tonight, 11/22 from 9-10 PM ET (6-9 PT). Jamie will be presenting a "fun-filled romp through baby gear" on his Ustream Channel, shown above, and will move to Twitter to discuss the show and to answer any questions parents might have. Just be sure to follow the instructions below.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Why participate? FREE DAPPLE CLEAN-UP KITS to 7 randomly selected participants and great gear advice from the only male baby planner in the world.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here is what you have to do to be eligible.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1. Follow Jamie at twitter.com/TheBabyGuyNYC</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2. RSVP </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HNVFXM3">here </a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3. RT the #ThankfulBabyGuy hashtag when you see it</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4. ACTIVELY participate in the discussion during the party! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Good Luck!</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-17574635037487129502010-10-05T08:39:00.000-07:002010-10-06T12:06:30.686-07:00Grandparents Day Giveaway Pictures<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">During the month of September, Dapple held a giveaway in honor of Grandparents Day. We asked you to submit a picture of your child and the grandparent they look most like (or of you and your grandchild). The picture that we thought was the best look alike won a Dapple Clean-Up Kit. Here is the winning picture:</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4VBwnX7qRdQommBqYqs86_1ysMD4SrOdbaEQ3Q35UW4ZKf5HHLYW6EOoQhyphenhyphenyW9QZm_sCd5mINQUXcuI_nmiObooyhxNmzI79BUU7oMh1vqz51lJ9nhcHMzen4RLWCal32PJSR7vXQP0/s1600/Picture+252.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4VBwnX7qRdQommBqYqs86_1ysMD4SrOdbaEQ3Q35UW4ZKf5HHLYW6EOoQhyphenhyphenyW9QZm_sCd5mINQUXcuI_nmiObooyhxNmzI79BUU7oMh1vqz51lJ9nhcHMzen4RLWCal32PJSR7vXQP0/s320/Picture+252.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524588912243650210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It was really hard to choose what would be the best lookalike. It's really incredible how much the grandchildren really look like their grandparents. We received many submissions and they were ALL AMAZING, not to mention cute. We just had to share them with you. Below are some of the pictures we received. Enjoy!</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseLuJhdDjSChZP_2pdiugMz7QZrl3pwwX346Vx9bW-sHXc8Rh6Wd4P5i0azw9z5DqaqN-apSKBm0bIrWLS8qtf4HiMHuCjx1MyBfB7rsspDXMnMcCXoMGN9m8QffY7k-vD-71oIDI01k/s1600/l_179fcb0001274043828266482536ffb9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseLuJhdDjSChZP_2pdiugMz7QZrl3pwwX346Vx9bW-sHXc8Rh6Wd4P5i0azw9z5DqaqN-apSKBm0bIrWLS8qtf4HiMHuCjx1MyBfB7rsspDXMnMcCXoMGN9m8QffY7k-vD-71oIDI01k/s320/l_179fcb0001274043828266482536ffb9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524592010555376834" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ImU7KXiKz_W6tLP8dthM1ROQ8pUAf5LeVf0vk-2mR1ylM2ObjdUQ_4HWY_QVXLwJYm1uQLF9Ssqn-lvnsBPM7yPzTUvEgNU3M7tv2SwPqdLWSolAQSS8b7a6RtE7_Aphu5maRs3FvVs/s1600/Almanzo+%26+Grandpa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ImU7KXiKz_W6tLP8dthM1ROQ8pUAf5LeVf0vk-2mR1ylM2ObjdUQ_4HWY_QVXLwJYm1uQLF9Ssqn-lvnsBPM7yPzTUvEgNU3M7tv2SwPqdLWSolAQSS8b7a6RtE7_Aphu5maRs3FvVs/s320/Almanzo+%26+Grandpa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524591577681668738" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd7XpOmUiy89xDxJ_Ju7KQGfU5PNhFjRc0hy5CdkO7fkdt25CYY22ErdZ_6BEebzUBVD791jZvInB5sHt3kFnOz0Hxdi9ZL53ZvwyA8InW8ZVg2cLF4HzqADjI4n29lpeBrQjNZe8n9g/s1600/mimi+%26+abby.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd7XpOmUiy89xDxJ_Ju7KQGfU5PNhFjRc0hy5CdkO7fkdt25CYY22ErdZ_6BEebzUBVD791jZvInB5sHt3kFnOz0Hxdi9ZL53ZvwyA8InW8ZVg2cLF4HzqADjI4n29lpeBrQjNZe8n9g/s320/mimi+%26+abby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524590288648532274" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEife8h5uUmwQD1ngAe6cZysUypsk3KpeqQkExzAhUV2Oa_d6cYpHaB8HU53uFjT00PTuk-WHOwYMpP7bAlqUTLvNzhDB-W9wK5GQ9qD5DZP05PDDILPy5uXqTkfTOUgRNxqEKuA3ny2iIo/s1600/nana.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEife8h5uUmwQD1ngAe6cZysUypsk3KpeqQkExzAhUV2Oa_d6cYpHaB8HU53uFjT00PTuk-WHOwYMpP7bAlqUTLvNzhDB-W9wK5GQ9qD5DZP05PDDILPy5uXqTkfTOUgRNxqEKuA3ny2iIo/s320/nana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524591840732292034" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRwN2s7Ueublj4ZG4gC5VjXtHcfiwOPO6dKJA5yUSlA4DaETJyqkrYS8KQpvoCyzsLI7qcskzmvL1HXu06NZiI9fHCC8AaOQdJ5sbMgh545MtZ7Sl-3Z5EK2JlMT5Ph50cGHkapA4PaQ/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRwN2s7Ueublj4ZG4gC5VjXtHcfiwOPO6dKJA5yUSlA4DaETJyqkrYS8KQpvoCyzsLI7qcskzmvL1HXu06NZiI9fHCC8AaOQdJ5sbMgh545MtZ7Sl-3Z5EK2JlMT5Ph50cGHkapA4PaQ/s320/DSC_0134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525011006748920914" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJRnlsZ3ewlBIRptvk4zuPSrUAQXA3lXglBJbEyq322xRHE6xw2kRAeVUyFfxKMA-0JhmJu0Gxl9dO_dyW5WUzGftcDPhVNIU0V1X-uRd3gR-W_bzrIKlfiYBz8sHdNMeqs8xGW3l8Gs/s1600/October+Pics+%287+months+old%29+048%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Xgd-5qkyQ8rv_SIYR1_I_0pNBhVKYPWmfLQuoLuUq6u_8NqMdalhFk-0ZRIqrGROHNBBEyOVr5a5EMg4RQJ55gfTpbber8N5afWLBASAyo3_UCPt_XhK1zgWpNVdqIXVL0HmRW64ziA/s320/DSCF1089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524657854163274562" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvvEpCZH_C0xfoHYdPl491-koVYoIYfDSALNTZtl48NmFzLqebK12SCb-0eSAY8UIDyxiEEPRZ7JwsqeMCP1Ppg2sBstnnt5XpnqhNj2p5QgqgowG3VywqXftpYTmWiRZ_JV72qcCLK0/s1600/grandbabies+and+family+010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvvEpCZH_C0xfoHYdPl491-koVYoIYfDSALNTZtl48NmFzLqebK12SCb-0eSAY8UIDyxiEEPRZ7JwsqeMCP1Ppg2sBstnnt5XpnqhNj2p5QgqgowG3VywqXftpYTmWiRZ_JV72qcCLK0/s320/grandbabies+and+family+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524937331088818322" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheojKAfAWzIZ3Ln8E7KDNtjwnamKxnO-P-BvrHHDAmxWubXqEI6c3-9mF718D42a2Czfoi75ZhC5jMqX7k7rOH9nbTp1aO-2gvRFXVft4er81zuai1deQC7xrH2fv4LVmK0haXRk2ASKc/s1600/Picture+017.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheojKAfAWzIZ3Ln8E7KDNtjwnamKxnO-P-BvrHHDAmxWubXqEI6c3-9mF718D42a2Czfoi75ZhC5jMqX7k7rOH9nbTp1aO-2gvRFXVft4er81zuai1deQC7xrH2fv4LVmK0haXRk2ASKc/s320/Picture+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524591119211226754" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5cRAhXJduaUBHv1vy3L79a1ZgdRZClPnmZmV4nZUdErJo5w2VXaJZrextNTiQiBtGKubrxEw0t-4YBs1jkSZlDtzf7F13h_D02sYhWLM8ZwAN8FqOU2GEFgDeFQ9O95hXAqxbjB46i8/s1600/grandkids.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5cRAhXJduaUBHv1vy3L79a1ZgdRZClPnmZmV4nZUdErJo5w2VXaJZrextNTiQiBtGKubrxEw0t-4YBs1jkSZlDtzf7F13h_D02sYhWLM8ZwAN8FqOU2GEFgDeFQ9O95hXAqxbjB46i8/s320/grandkids.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524591296401307698" border="0" /></a>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-83423567510379118922010-08-03T13:57:00.001-07:002010-08-03T14:02:37.241-07:00Little Builders<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.imaginationplayground.org/images/sized/images/uploads/photo_gallery/IPBS19-800x0.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 523px; height: 349px;" src="http://www.imaginationplayground.org/images/sized/images/uploads/photo_gallery/IPBS19-800x0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >We’ve come a long way from the steel, industrial looking playgrounds of the days of yore. We’ve got bright colors, safety-conscious <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1280860335_0">monkey bars</span>, and a whole variety of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1280860335_1">jungle gym equipment</span>. And yet, for all our modernization, these classic establishments seem to still lose out time and again to computers, TV, and video games – devices that have tons of entertainment packaged into one neat little box. It’s a shame, too, because we love playgrounds. We all know how important they are for our kids.<br /><br />But the good news is, there may be hope yet. It seems like playgrounds have decided to take a stab at the “neat little box” business themselves. Meet the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1280860335_2">Imagination</span> Playground, a playground that is, essentially, a box. This box holds biodegradable blue foam blocks that can be assembled to create any conceivable play structure. Designed by <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1280860335_3">David Rockwell</span>, he hopes that such a distinctly unstructured park will encourage greater levels of creative play and, well, imagination. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Geneva;font-size:9pt;" ></span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.imaginationplayground.org/photos/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1280860335_4">http://www.imaginationplayground.org/photos/</span></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />So, are playgrounds making a comeback? Can this new sort of box brings kids back to the parks, back to fresh air, free-spiritedness, sharing swings, waiting patiently for the slide, playing tag and chatting with peers? We hope so, because playgrounds have been underrated for <i>way</i> too long.</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-64407363118089362062010-07-08T06:45:00.000-07:002010-07-08T06:56:54.426-07:00Picky Eaters<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you missed our latest newsletter, don't worry, here are some tips for parents of picky eaters from the Dapple moms and our Facebook fans. To view the newsletter in it's entirety click </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001u7_KEUTyvZlURKGYHHvbv5tEQmpIqhKz7OxLwRkpHbgWem1b0g0z6yexgSGfyWnRmOLpF11NNCWc3mWmdEh3mPenk5bS3O-43bLSrOhNki46YONfauWAnA%3D%3D">here</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span><br /><br /> <table style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr> <td class="blank3height"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="bigTtl" height="27"> <div style="text-align: left;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><big><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dapple Dish: July 2010</span></big><br /> </div> <div> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><big><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"></span>Play With Your Food</big><br /> </div> <small><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;"><br /> </span></span></small> <div style="text-align: center;"><small><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;"> <img style="width: 282px; height: 421px;" alt="Play With Your Food" src="http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-15596662667625/PlayFoodNewsletter.jpg" /></span></span></small><br /> <small><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;"></span></span></small></div> <small><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;"></span><br /> </span></small> <div style="text-align: center;"> <big><span style="font-weight: bold;">Picky Eater?</span></big><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"></span><br /> <small><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"></span></small></div> <small><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;"><br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><big>Here are some tricks developed by the Dapple moms.</big> </span><br /> </span></small></td></tr><tr><td class="description"><br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">Bananas: </span>Instead of peeling the banana and giving it to them, cut it into coins with the peel still on each coin. Let kids peel each "banana candy" individually. They will have so much fun and forget that they are eating something healthy. Use organic bananas because you are cutting into the peel.<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;"><br />Twister</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span> Make separate bowls of red, yellow, green and blue veggies and fruits (we use yellow peppers, green beans, cherry tomatoes sliced in half and blueberries). Put a Twister spinning wheel in the middle of the table. Everyone take a turn spinning. Whatever color you land on, eat the fruit/veggie of that color.<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">Make Your Own</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span> Let your kids choose which fruits to include in their smoothie and let them help you blend all the ingredients, they will love pressing the buttons. If veggies are on the menu, let them pick their favorite veggies to include in their salad, they will like the salad much more when they are the ones making it.<br /> <big><br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">Here are some tips from our Facebook Fans</span>:</big><br /> <br /> <div id="text_expose_id_4c1919612b65b5fe84259" class="comment_actual_text"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jennifer L</span>.</span> : "My daughter will not eat vegetables, so I give her the fruit/vegetable juice a couple times a day. I mix it half & half water. There are a few different brands that I know of....V8 V Fusion, Juicy Juice Harvest Surprise, and Mott`s Medleys."<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Becky G</span>.</span> : "Pick-your-own places are great! We went cherry picking today and the kids are so excited."<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">Sima R.</span> : "For every four bites of unwanted vegetable, let your kid have one spoonful of marshmallow fluff."<br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Julie B</span>.</span> : "We give our two-year-old son two gummy bears if he finishes his dinner. One of the gummy bears is a vitamin so I don't feel too bad about it."<br /> </div> <br /> <big><big><small><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></small></big></big></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-90489681531629289722010-06-24T08:02:00.000-07:002010-06-30T10:42:41.694-07:00One With Nature<object width="389" height="311"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2fuIsaQSMg0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2fuIsaQSMg0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="389" height="311"></embed></object>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-58362884583350904182010-06-15T11:36:00.000-07:002010-06-15T11:38:23.954-07:00Dapple + Born Free: What It Means<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR19BYiJFFCbUjvVRUeomDEatXYsHlZzMcBqvZeK98-UQDVIzeYxSFRaomG7B2xekpA4jLYt-TRDwXR1TmpzcKS_zoSe9kjfbipRgYdXeB5kjzz-0JpJsTi2OK8Tgl-E3BScAeS1TE_6g/s1600/dapplebornfree-300x223.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR19BYiJFFCbUjvVRUeomDEatXYsHlZzMcBqvZeK98-UQDVIzeYxSFRaomG7B2xekpA4jLYt-TRDwXR1TmpzcKS_zoSe9kjfbipRgYdXeB5kjzz-0JpJsTi2OK8Tgl-E3BScAeS1TE_6g/s320/dapplebornfree-300x223.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483071583233237314" border="0" /></a><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dapple has teamed up with Born Free.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Makes perfect sense if you think about it. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Born Free was founded in 2006 by three concerned fathers, and has revolutionized the baby product industry in <span class="yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276617160_10">North America</span></span> with its insistence on BPA-free materials.</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dapple was “born” in much the same way. Two moms, Dana and Tamar, concerned about using chemicals on the very things that went right back into their babies’ mouths set out in search of the safest possible formulas that would, at the same time, really work on baby’s stuff : no more stale milk odors in <span class="yshortcuts"><span style="cursor: pointer; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276617160_11">baby bottles</span></span>, sticky fingerprints on toys, or spit-up stains on … well, everything. </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Babies have a right to BPA free plastics and they also have a right to cleaners without toxins, phthalates, parabens, SLES, artificial fragrances or dyes.<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What does the partnership mean for you? As parents, you will be seeing many joint Dapple and Born Free promotions on <span class="yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276617160_12">Twitter</span></span>, <span class="yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276617160_13">Facebook</span></span>, and on the Born Free and Dapple blogs. Dapple is now available on the Born Free website. If you are in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276617160_14">Canada</span>, you will soon see Dapple samples in <span class="yshortcuts"><span style="cursor: pointer; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1276617160_15">Born Free bottle brushes</span></span> and gift packs at most major retailers. </p>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-18987241427409679572010-06-01T08:17:00.000-07:002010-06-01T09:38:54.560-07:00Baby Steps<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This past pre-Memorial Day Friday, the Dapple Team handed out samples to moms and dads getting in some baby shopping before the long weekend at the Babies 'R Us Union Square in NYC. Some babies even came along to let mom and dad know exactly what they wanted. The cutie in this video had no interest in shopping though, only having fun with mommy. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwP8QsXyh_2EZgikqhV9n_84jeS19bP9eFT2nUe-6wisI_ULk_8rbYRE2eVWUyij85m_O3f7nAME0Ynzntcrg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxkglc53y0Nnw2or7eA7z1JBwpTjQKz7W0BOVg70Ld07onirCv61MRYfDEtAfzbo-ZIhOH8wxbTfqfljuJO3w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-57896379872015140672010-05-17T07:11:00.000-07:002010-05-17T08:09:10.621-07:00Why Green?<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='292' height='243' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dydRPJJMZm1HDtO2CWHhMQ7tYjn9mr6gLiesCU_giAPjb68mu16KRmDk6WMieXcQ4SXpnwKbLVB9PoP3yStzg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='292' height='243' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dym5HPcSQKNQOBGpOkLghomqU6Z2RWvLO7tbCIUang63jlwx0guJRCrtLcOkOQbtQbLGQeyUpxAUqeBWe6XKg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Last Friday, the Dapple team was handing out samples and helping spread the word about the importance of cleaning green around kids at the Babies 'R Us Union Square in New York City, when we had an idea. Instead of Dapple telling people why it is so important to clean green around children, why not have the parents and other customers tell us why they think it is so critical. The above videos are the result of our research.</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-30915281022394558712010-05-06T10:19:00.000-07:002010-05-06T10:36:15.594-07:00Lemonade!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.newsgroper.com/files/post_images/lemonade.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 305px;" src="http://www.newsgroper.com/files/post_images/lemonade.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If regular 'ol lemonade just won't do, check out these two recipes that will definitely excite. Let your kids squeeze and press for delicious fun and a great time!!!!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Organic Raspberry Lemonade<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Mash 1 cup rinsed fresh raspberries (6 oz.) with 2/3 cup of organic unrefined sugar</li><li>Let stand 10 minutes</li><li>Press through a fine strainer into a pitcher and discard seeds</li><li>Stir in 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice from organic lemons and 2 cups water</li><li>Pour into ice-filled glasses</li><li>Enjoy!!!!!</li></ul>Organic Kiwi Lemonade<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>Peel 6 organic kiwi’s and puree in blender</li><li>Strain mixture through fine strainer and discard seeds </li><li>Combine 1 cup organic unrefined sugar and ¾ cup freshly squeezed organic lemon juice in a large pitcher </li><li>Stir in strained kiwi </li><li>Add 1 liter ice water</li><li>Enjoy!!! </li></ul></div></div>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-73682152895069809642010-04-30T06:31:00.000-07:002010-05-03T11:25:04.173-07:00A Natural Story<object width="399" height="242"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8p3ONBIMUbk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8p3ONBIMUbk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="399" height="242"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Getting to know your neighbors" is how we described<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </span></span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.abesmarket.com/">Abe's Market</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://dapplebaby.blogspot.com/2009/09/getting-to-know-your-neighbors_24.html">back in September</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">.</span> In this case your neighbors are entrepreneurs and their children are their products. Abe's is bringing the mom and pop experience to e-shopping by offering "remarkable natural products" of all kinds,with the story of the people and the personalities behind them.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dapple is </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.abesmarket.com/store/dapple">available at Abe's</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> along with Dana and Tamar's story. In the above video, our fellow eco-entrepreneurs share the stories behind their brands. What inspired them, what they gave up, and what advice they have for others to follow their dreams. It is an uplifting, beautiful clip. It might even make you want to have "children" of your own.</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-11215372673415612272010-04-23T10:48:00.000-07:002010-04-23T11:01:26.215-07:00Spotted! Damon Dash, a Pink Bugaboo, and Dapple!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf29qrzwrxLPVkMlw9Kbq2I2S-P3ybWkFxAODbiVEkGdNuaYyeGHb5DBG0GcyZ-CLZd4y9Mi68gr-uf_MXaokaSC8VcXqeyok4GC2XQRfKHNBctB7hyphenhyphenLJp0V5ym27y7rpG0jUfImUIFfo/s1600/downsize(2).jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf29qrzwrxLPVkMlw9Kbq2I2S-P3ybWkFxAODbiVEkGdNuaYyeGHb5DBG0GcyZ-CLZd4y9Mi68gr-uf_MXaokaSC8VcXqeyok4GC2XQRfKHNBctB7hyphenhyphenLJp0V5ym27y7rpG0jUfImUIFfo/s320/downsize(2).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463393868672032354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Dapple team was handing out samples in New York City yesterday when they came across a hip-hop mogul pushing a pink Bugaboo. A sample was promptly given. We Dappled Damon Dash! We had a chance to speak to the baby's nanny, who said that the family had gotten Dapple as a gift and that they love the Toy Spray! See that in his left hand...... that is Damon Dash going green for baby!!!!</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-33047094142567003002010-04-09T11:24:00.000-07:002010-04-12T06:45:45.736-07:00Ana Ortiz Goes Green & Clean With Dapple!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzQ1KC7CXvKcsorn3NJCnQ8wiwHL3lyGwwA1yiUuWyoWxZYG904i_1r_O5pR2HFJVOwnbLAjWXrzqqPfOD9fw9-Zi5by1v3CwsVxAh_Fya7ba2-Xy2BmSbaRuLeLky6bbqCtG2WpX5TA/s1600/Ana+Ortiz+Ugly+Betty.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzQ1KC7CXvKcsorn3NJCnQ8wiwHL3lyGwwA1yiUuWyoWxZYG904i_1r_O5pR2HFJVOwnbLAjWXrzqqPfOD9fw9-Zi5by1v3CwsVxAh_Fya7ba2-Xy2BmSbaRuLeLky6bbqCtG2WpX5TA/s320/Ana+Ortiz+Ugly+Betty.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458215478518021442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ana isn't the only celebrity mom who is green for baby. According to </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.sheknows.com/articles/807953/what-celebrity-moms-are-doing-to-go-organic">She Knows.com</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, "when Nicole Richie and Joel Madden launched their Richie-Madden Children's Foundation" they presented mom's with organic items for babies, including organic cleaning products!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sheryl Crow had an eco-friendly baby shower featuring email invites and botanical party favors, Jessica Alba bought organic crib sheets just before her daughter was born, and Julia Roberts feeds her children foods from her own organic garden!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What changes did you make to go green for baby? We would love to hear from you!</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-91153954250077531912010-03-25T10:22:00.000-07:002010-04-09T11:21:17.552-07:00The Scoop on Phthalates<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.betterphoto.com/uploads/processed/0026/0601081734031steil_111205171_cb_t.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 210px;" src="http://www.betterphoto.com/uploads/processed/0026/0601081734031steil_111205171_cb_t.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Phthalates are a class of chemicals that are produced at extremely high volumes. Manufacturers typically use phthalates to increase the flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity of plastics. They are also used in personal care products such as hair spray and shampoo as a solvent.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />According to the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/phthalates_ap_2009_1230_final.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EPA</a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" >, phthalates “are used in medical applications and have been detected in food. A number of phthalates appear in bio-monitoring surveys of human tissues, evidencing widespread human exposure (CDC 2009).” This is just one example of how widespread phthalate exposure is in our environments. </span> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">There is a lot of discussion about the adverse effects of phthalates. The most common reason for avoiding phthalates is because exposure to phthalates has the potential to adversely affect the human reproductive system.</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/phthalates_ap_2009_1230_final.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">According to the EPA</a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">, “the reproductive developmental effects observed in humans include shortened anogenital distance observed in newborn boys; and shortened pregnancy, lower sex and thyroid hormones, and reduced sperm quality observed in adults.”It should be noted that exposure to Phthalates doesn’t just begin after birth, it begins in utero and continues throughout the course of your life. (EPA)</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">There has also recently been some press linking phthalates to a rise in autism among children. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/opinion/25kristof.html?ref=opinion" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span id="lw_1269537394_0" class="yshortcuts">http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/opinion/25kristof.html?ref=opinion</span></a></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">What does that mean for Baby?</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Babies can have direct exposure to phthalates via toys, teethers, or other children’s products made of flexible PVC (plastic). </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Luckily for us parents, a law was passed in 2008 that prohibits the sale of any children’s toy that contains 0.1 percent of" DEHP, DBP, or BBP (types of phtalates) as well as prohibits the sale of any children’s toy that can be placed in a child’s mouth or child care article that contains concentrations of more than 0.1 percent of" DINP, DIDP, DnOP (other phthalates).<br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">How can you determine whether a product contains phthalates or not?</span></p> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span>·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;">As always, read the label! <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">If a label contains any of the following abbreviations or chemical names, according to </span></strong><a href="http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/phthalates-47020418" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pollution in People and The Daily Green</a><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">, the product certainly contains phthalates.<br /></span></strong></span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">“DBP</span></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (di-n-butyl phthalate) and <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">DEP</span></strong> (diethyl phthalate) are often found in personal care products, including nail polishes, deodorants, perfumes and cologne, aftershave lotions, shampoos, hair gels and hand lotions. (BzBP, see below, is also in some personal care products.</span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">DEHP</span></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) is used in PVC plastics, including some medical devices.</span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">BzBP</span></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (benzylbutyl phthalate) is used in some flooring, car products and personal care products.</span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">DMP</span></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (dimethyl phthalate) is used in insect repellent and some plastics.</span></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">The ingredient “Fragrance” might also be reason for concern as it is used to “denote a combination of compounds, possibly including phthalates.”</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Always choose plastics with the recycling code 1,2 or 5. Recycling codes 3 and 7 are more likely to contain bisphenol A or phtalates.</span><br /></span></li></ul>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-20985033717395926142010-03-23T05:56:00.000-07:002010-04-08T06:57:20.200-07:00Dapple's Favorite Children's Books!<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAWKQoAA1X1Yc4FXWXwN-F3W3gL7ldjqCRk2XH7MQjELed8nqizlDlzK9BVKj3VURc9YFYOwp4vWCGeEKJoqTsL_72zl0h6E_VJUJ29-PHzWvyleNH-T4DQQiMmR-lTjz6gvd8TOVnyQ/s1600-h/3-23-2010+9-33-08+AM.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAWKQoAA1X1Yc4FXWXwN-F3W3gL7ldjqCRk2XH7MQjELed8nqizlDlzK9BVKj3VURc9YFYOwp4vWCGeEKJoqTsL_72zl0h6E_VJUJ29-PHzWvyleNH-T4DQQiMmR-lTjz6gvd8TOVnyQ/s400/3-23-2010+9-33-08+AM.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451822167889751938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Green Eggs and Ham, Goodnight Moon, Madeline, these are all classics that we enjoyed as children and that our kids today still love. These books might be great for children who are a little older and can understand the words, or at least the pictures, but should we be reading books to our babies too?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The medical advisory board at </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.babycenter.com/">Baby Center</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> says a very enthusiastic, YES!!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading aloud daily to your baby starting at 6 months of age — about the time when he'll really begin to enjoy looking at books with you. But Jim Trelease, longtime read-aloud expert and author of the </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Read Aloud Handbook</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, says that you can start when your child's a newborn. No matter what your baby's age, of course, reading provides a great opportunity for cuddling and bonding."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Not only is reading to your baby a great bonding experience, it also helps with their growth and development! According to </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.babycenter.com/0_reading-to-your-baby_368.bc?showAll=true">Baby Center</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> "Studies have shown that language skills — and even intelligence — are related to how many words an infant hears each day!"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Growth and development and cuddling and bonding time gives us the perfect reason to read to our kids. The Dapple Moms have a few favorites (really their kid's favorites) that we would love to share with you!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Baby Books!</span></span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li><span style="font-style: italic;">The Grouchy Ladybug</span> by Eric Carle</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">We're Going on a Bearhun</span>t by Michael Rosen</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Too Many Toys</span> by David Shannon</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Jamberry</span> by Bruce Degen</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">But Not the Hippopotamus</span> by Sandra Boynton</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Goodnight Moon</span> by Margaret Wise Brown</li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Toddler Books</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">!</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li><span style="font-style: italic;">The Seven Silly Eaters</span> by Mary Ann Hoberman and Marla Frazee</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">The Incredible Book-Eating Boy</span> by Oliver Jeffers</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Freckleface Strawberry</span> by Julianne Moore and LeUyen Pham</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Corduroy</span> by Don Freeman</li><li><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thing-Thing</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> by Cary Fagan and Nicolas Debon</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Little Movers - Crane</span> <span class="ptBrand">by Arlene Blanchard and Tony Wells</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">The Bears Picnic</span> by<span class="ptBrand"> Stan and Jan Berenstain</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">The Little Engine That Could</span> by Watty Piper<br /></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What are your favorites? We want to hear from you!</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-35648917205165196152010-03-18T06:51:00.000-07:002010-03-23T09:24:18.727-07:00Paul McCartney!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5Yt89VaGU23XbfiCeLR4sOXDi4B3X2q7k0Xs328YOM4-zJ4YokxmZD1HZot1p5MPfZ2ASKctpomCFsPa_KDZhRXO3ObebjUo9FtGMta6HVI0DZ8lUJz33IMq7liP3xeDfKBM5p9qxS4/s1600-h/IMG00072-20100318-1305.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5Yt89VaGU23XbfiCeLR4sOXDi4B3X2q7k0Xs328YOM4-zJ4YokxmZD1HZot1p5MPfZ2ASKctpomCFsPa_KDZhRXO3ObebjUo9FtGMta6HVI0DZ8lUJz33IMq7liP3xeDfKBM5p9qxS4/s400/IMG00072-20100318-1305.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449975993815697314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Yesterday, Dapple user Miel K. was strolling the streets of London when she happened upon a singing knight. A singing knight? Yes.... Sir Paul McCartney!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Paul McCartney stopped walking and said:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Wow, that is one cute baby!"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Miel gave Paul a huge smile.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Babies always give me good vibrations!"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">One of the most famous musicians in the world then proceeded to sing </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Good Vibrations</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> by the Beach Boys to our little cutie.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">All it takes is a smile!</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-25083827345210869222010-03-15T08:09:00.000-07:002010-03-23T09:23:48.099-07:00Pollen and Baby<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://magicalmenagerie.org/pix/spring%20baby.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 501px;" src="http://magicalmenagerie.org/pix/spring%20baby.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">With Spring right around the corner (March 20th) and warmer weather starting to creep in, the yearly ritual of runny noses and watery eyes more commonly known as allergies is almost upon us. We might run away from floating dandelion seeds but what about baby? Do babies get allergies? Should we check the pollen counts before taking them for a stroll?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">According to </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.fitpregnancy.com/experts/question/40246857.html">Fit Pregnancy</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> magazine, "allergies are relatively rare in children and even more so in infants. In fact, it takes several years of exposure for a child to develop a reaction to an allergen like pollen."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you notice your baby with nasal symptoms that appear to be allergy-like, according to </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.fitpregnancy.com/experts/question/40246857.html">Fit Pregnancy</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, it is possibly a lingering cold.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Nasal symptoms are very noticeable in infants because young babies are lying down most of the time, causing mucus to accumulate in the back of the nose. And even when awake, they don't clear their breathing passages by coughing, sneezing or swallowing, as someone who's older would. Finally, the tininess of a baby's nasal passages ensures that even a little blockage is clearly audible."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As a member of the Hay-Fever club myself, I am extremely happy that babies can enjoy spring time like it should be, without the tissues!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Read the whole article here: </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.fitpregnancy.com/experts/question/40246857.html">http://www.fitpregnancy.com/experts/question/40246857.html</a>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-78817797667830627782010-03-04T10:17:00.000-08:002010-03-04T10:39:15.764-08:00Baby Time!<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.babybingo.com/GIFTS/our_name_is_mud/onim_clock_baby.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.babybingo.com/GIFTS/our_name_is_mud/onim_clock_baby.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal;">If you missed our newsletter, we had some great tips for helping your baby adjust to the clock change. But need not fret, you could help baby transition smoothly and you can get more sleep by reading those same tips below!<br /><br />Spring is almost here! Dapple has spring cleaning covered, but there are other baby matters that even our Toy Cleaner just won't fix. We might gain an hour of sunlight come March 14, but some babies have a hard time adjusting to the clock change. As moms we have encountered this problem every spring. So we here at Dapple turned to the experts for advice.<br /><br /></span> <a href="http://www.dreamteambaby.com/">Dream Team Baby</a> was founded by two sleep-deprived moms who worked with sleep specialists to create a proven approach, and now help parents and children everywhere get a good night’s rest! We knew these ladies would have some great insight for us about this topic. Here’s what they had to say...<br /><br />If you have a<span style="font-weight: bold;"> more flexible sleeper</span>:<br /></span> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">On Saturday night, simply put your child to bed at their normal bedtime. No pregame adjustments necessary.</span></li></ul> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">On Sunday morning, your child will likely wake up at the normal time - though the clock will read 1 hour later. In this case, use naptimes to help your child adjust to the new time. Put your little one down at his or her normal nap time(s). This may be a challenge the first day or two since it will feel an hour earlier to their little bodies. Help get them ready for this “new” nap time by getting plenty of fresh air during the day and introducing some fun, novel activities so your child is nice and tired by the end of the day.<br /></span> </li></ul> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">If your child happens to wake a little earlier than usual on Sunday, allow them to get up and start the day - as long as it isn't more than an hour early. But expect that he or she may be a little overtired by naptime. Again, try to put your child down at the normal naptime(s) (according to the new clock) - but let him or her sleep a little extra if needed. 15-30 minutes is fine - just make sure to wake them up no more than 30 minutes late or they will not be ready to sleep at bedtime.</span></li></ul> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">At the end of the first day (Sunday), try to help your child be dressed and ready for bed at the normal bedtime. If your child is not showing signs of being tired, it’s okay to make bedtime 15-30 minutes later (according to the new clock) and continue to refine the schedule the next day.<br /></span> </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" > If you have a <span style="font-weight: bold;">more “sensitive” or challenged sleeper:</span><br /></span> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">On Saturday, use your child’s nap and bedtimes to help him or her pre-adjust to the new schedule in 15 or 30 minute increments. For instance, a 1-3 PM nap and 7 PM bedtime would turn into a 12:30-2:30 PM nap and a 6 or 6:15 PM bedtime. Doing this homework ahead of time will give your child a head start on Sunday’s change, and you will have a whole extra day of the weekend to perfect the schedule before going back to work on Monday.<br /></span> </li></ul><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" > Please remember that all children are different. Some may make the jump in time change seamlessly, and others may take a few days to fully adjust. Just be patient and it will all “spring” in to place!</span>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-87158576722270918232010-02-11T12:16:00.000-08:002010-03-23T05:51:31.051-07:00SLS and SLES<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i196/lashopaholic/bigstockphoto_Clean_Baby_1562904.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 293px;" src="http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i196/lashopaholic/bigstockphoto_Clean_Baby_1562904.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It’s not an airline of some Scandinavian country. It’s not a new way of sending text messages. And it’s also not a "safety learning school."<br /></span> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">So what exactly is SLS? And what is SLES? What’s the difference between them? And why are we making a big deal about them?<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">SLS (<span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266938683_0">Sodium Lauryl sulfate</span>) and SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate ) are surfactants – <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266938683_1">wetting agents</span> that <span lang="EN">lower the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266938683_2">surface tension</span> of a liquid such as water, allowing for better penetration of the liquid and thus acting as primary <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266938683_3">cleaning agents</span> in many formulations.<br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">SLS and SLES are very commonly used in </span>household products such as toothpaste, shampoo, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266938683_4">bubble bath</span> and all sorts of cleaners. They are also very often used in "natural" cleaning products since both SLS and SLES can be coconut derived.<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">So what’s the problem?</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"> SLS is an irritant. According to the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sls-JACT-report.html"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266938683_5">Journal of the American College of Toxicology</span></a>, "studies at Georgia Medical College indicated that SLS kept young eyes from developing by possibly denaturing the proteins and not allowing for proper structural formation. This damage was permanent." The journal also states that "other research has indicated that SLS may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin." The article explains that "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266938683_6">skin layers</span> may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties."<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">In order to make SLS less irritating, it is often ethoxylated, resulting in the modified, far less irritating compound of SLES. Unfortunately, this process of ethoxylation, <span style="color:black;">creates small amounts of the carcinogenic byproduct 1,4 dioxan</span>e – something we talked about in greater detail in a <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://dapplebaby.blogspot.com/2010/01/14-dioxane.html"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266938683_7">previous post on our blog</span></a>.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"> How do you avoid SLS and SLES?<br />For starters, you should look at the ingredient list of the products you buy. You want to look for products that are free of SLS and SLES. Many natural cleaners do contain SLS or SLES – so you need to check natural products as well.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">If you have a question regarding a certain product, you may want to try their customer support line, they are often very helpful. They should know what <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1266938683_0">Sodium Lauryl Sulfate</span> and Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate are and can direct you as to whether their product contains either.<br /></p>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175031065452132608.post-63639793361193929262010-01-26T07:41:00.000-08:002010-03-23T05:55:47.635-07:00Parabens<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLaUXR3DhgZDc9HPeHWJ2PwjWFFrU0SXqKvOcLGsWnKgev2ucWa81PVMGRI_cGwsBqac9McE6F3I-2tozNDnG8jwNh5hVfP7AdR10DvpnDtgM4i5KCIc-HWlr_Rrjv3vuxbCyUZdS198/s1600-h/1-26-2010+11-20-13+AM.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLaUXR3DhgZDc9HPeHWJ2PwjWFFrU0SXqKvOcLGsWnKgev2ucWa81PVMGRI_cGwsBqac9McE6F3I-2tozNDnG8jwNh5hVfP7AdR10DvpnDtgM4i5KCIc-HWlr_Rrjv3vuxbCyUZdS198/s400/1-26-2010+11-20-13+AM.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431084381569100338" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><span style="color:black;">Parabens are tricky. They are in some of our favorite products (including the most <span class="yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1264522696_0">delicious baby shampoo</span></span> on the market), they are mild preservatives that work incredibly well, and the scientific community is somewhat divided as to whether parabens, to the extent used in consumer products, pose a real danger to humans.</span><span style="color:gray;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><span style="color:black;">Still, for us at Dapple there is one clear and overriding mandate: Keep it <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.dapplebaby.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1264522696_1">Baby Safe</span></a>. If there is even a small chance that an ingredient could prove dangerous for our babies or yours … we stay far away from it. So we formulated all our products without using parabens.</span><span style="color:gray;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><span style="color:black;">Here is some background information on parabens so you can make up your own mind:<br />Parabens are a class of chemicals that are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics and other personal care products. "Parabens inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeasts and molds in personal-care products such as shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and sunscreens."<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/sep/04/health/chi-0904_health_parabens_r_qsep04"> <span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: rgb(68, 159, 204); text-decoration: none;">(Chicago Tribune, 9/4/07)</span></span></a></span><span style="color:gray;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><span style="color:black;">Parabens are so commonly used that they appear in 25,000 of the cosmetics and <span class="yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1264522696_2">skincare products</span></span> documented by the <span class="yshortcuts"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1264522696_3">Environmental Working Group</span></span>!</span><span style="color:gray;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.2pt;"><span style="color:black;">Now, some studies have shown that parabens can mimic the activity of estrogen in the body's cells and estrogenic activity in the body is associated with certain forms of <span class="yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1264522696_4">breast cancer</span></span>. In a study conducted by the <span class="yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1264522696_5">University of Reading</span></span>, parabens were found in 18 of 20 breast cancer tumors studied. A recent Danish study showed that when parabens are applied as a cream to the backs of healthy male volunteers, the chemicals can be measured in the blood within hours. This demonstrate that parabens do penetrate the human skin intact. While there is no <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1264522696_6">conclusive evidence</span> that parabens cause cancer, and the <span class="yshortcuts"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1264522696_7">FDA</span></span> does not ban its usage, some of the research is disconcerting.</span><span style="color:gray;"></span></p> <span style="color:black;">Here are some more articles about parabens and their possible consequences:</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4555-cosmetic-chemicals-found-in-breast-tumours.html">New Scientist</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20040112/antiperspirant-chemical-found-in-breast-tumors">Web MD</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=291">The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2007/09/should-you-go-p.html">Chicago Tribune</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><a href="http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA333875">Dr. Weil</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;"><br />Parabens are easy to spot on a label. They are listed as one of four indgredients: methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben.<br /><br /></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal">If you have a question regarding a certain product, you may want to try their customer support line, they are often very helpful. They can direct you as to whether their product contains any parabens.</p>Dapplebabyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11066400113034282269noreply@blogger.com1