Keeping Up With Dapple

2011-10-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

Cake Pop Funeral

Stunning and yummy - in theory. But have you ever tried to make them? I have!

For three evenings, I labored with my kids.

Here's approximately how it went:

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.

Evening 2: Get our cookie scoops. Form 20 gorgeous, symmetrical and equally sized cookie balls. Line them up on parchment paper. Wash bowls. Sleep.

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.

Uplifting (if not entirely satisfactory) postscript:
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.

Does baking with your kids truly need to be a life lesson in coping with small failures?

Love,

Tovit (a dapple mom)

KinderGARDENing

2011-06-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

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.

Maintaining an organic garden 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:

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. Container gardening is also an easy option for those families living in a city.
2. Use tools that kids can handle, and be extra-safe if you're working with young ones.
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.
4. Herbs like mint for lemonade and vegetables like radishes, leaf lettuce and pea pods, have short growing seasons. This means your kids won't have to wait all summer to see results of their hard work.
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.

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?

Bethenny Frankel Is a Dapple Mom!

2011-05-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

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.......

Tips for a Weed-Free Lawn, a Salad Recipe, and Little Greens!

2011-04-08T06:35:00.001-07:00

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?”

Great question, Erika! Here’s what we were able to dig up:

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.

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.

Where to buy it? Your local garden center or nursery.

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.

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.

Vote Cribsies!

2011-03-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

Here is the super cute commercial that we had mentioned in our previous post.

Dapple has been named a Cribsie Awards finalist in two categories! 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 let us know at emmett@dapplebaby.com we'll send you a personalized special something. The video below explains all.

We are going to upload Dapple videos to our Youtube page 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.

Dapple on Youtube!

2011-03-01T09:38:00.000-08:00

Dapple is now on Youtube. You can find our channel here . 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.

Watch and Win: Free Clean-Up Kit 11/22 9PM ET

2010-11-22T06:45:00.001-08:00

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.

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.

Here is what you have to do to be eligible.

1. Follow Jamie at twitter.com/TheBabyGuyNYC
2. RSVP here
3. RT the #ThankfulBabyGuy hashtag when you see it
4. ACTIVELY participate in the discussion during the party!

Good Luck!

Grandparents Day Giveaway Pictures

2010-10-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

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:

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!

Little Builders

2010-08-03T13:57:00.001-07:00

We’ve come a long way from the steel, industrial looking playgrounds of the days of yore. We’ve got bright colors, safety-conscious monkey bars, and a whole variety of jungle gym equipment. 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.

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 Imagination 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 David Rockwell, he hopes that such a distinctly unstructured park will encourage greater levels of creative play and, well, imagination. http://www.imaginationplayground.org/photos/

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 way too long.

Picky Eaters

2010-07-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

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 here.

The Dapple Dish: July 2010

Play With Your Food

Picky Eater?

Here are some tricks developed by the Dapple moms.

Bananas: 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.

Twister: 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.

Make Your Own: 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.

Here are some tips from our Facebook Fans:

Jennifer L. : "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."

Becky G. : "Pick-your-own places are great! We went cherry picking today and the kids are so excited."

Sima R. : "For every four bites of unwanted vegetable, let your kid have one spoonful of marshmallow fluff."

Julie B. : "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."

One With Nature

2010-06-24T08:02:00.000-07:00

Dapple + Born Free: What It Means

2010-06-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Dapple has teamed up with Born Free.

Makes perfect sense if you think about it.

Born Free was founded in 2006 by three concerned fathers, and has revolutionized the baby product industry in North America with its insistence on BPA-free materials.

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 baby bottles, sticky fingerprints on toys, or spit-up stains on … well, everything.

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.

What does the partnership mean for you? As parents, you will be seeing many joint Dapple and Born Free promotions on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Born Free and Dapple blogs. Dapple is now available on the Born Free website. If you are in Canada, you will soon see Dapple samples in Born Free bottle brushes and gift packs at most major retailers.

Baby Steps

2010-06-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

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.

Why Green?

2010-05-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

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.

Lemonade!

2010-05-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

Organic Raspberry Lemonade

Mash 1 cup rinsed fresh raspberries (6 oz.) with 2/3 cup of organic unrefined sugar
Let stand 10 minutes
Press through a fine strainer into a pitcher and discard seeds
Stir in 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice from organic lemons and 2 cups water
Pour into ice-filled glasses
Enjoy!!!!!

Organic Kiwi Lemonade

Peel 6 organic kiwi’s and puree in blender
Strain mixture through fine strainer and discard seeds
Combine 1 cup organic unrefined sugar and ¾ cup freshly squeezed organic lemon juice in a large pitcher
Stir in strained kiwi
Add 1 liter ice water
Enjoy!!!

A Natural Story

2010-04-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

"Getting to know your neighbors" is how we described Abe's Market back in September. 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.

Dapple is available at Abe's 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.

Spotted! Damon Dash, a Pink Bugaboo, and Dapple!

2010-04-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

Ana Ortiz Goes Green & Clean With Dapple!

2010-04-09T11:24:00.000-07:00

Ana isn't the only celebrity mom who is green for baby. According to She Knows.com, "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!

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!

What changes did you make to go green for baby? We would love to hear from you!

The Scoop on Phthalates

2010-03-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

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.

According to the EPA, 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.

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.

According to the EPA, “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)

There has also recently been some press linking phthalates to a rise in autism among children. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/opinion/25kristof.html?ref=opinion

What does that mean for Baby?

Babies can have direct exposure to phthalates via toys, teethers, or other children’s products made of flexible PVC (plastic).

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).

How can you determine whether a product contains phthalates or not?

· As always, read the label! If a label contains any of the following abbreviations or chemical names, according to Pollution in People and The Daily Green, the product certainly contains phthalates.

“DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEP (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.
DEHP (di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) is used in PVC plastics, including some medical devices.
BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate) is used in some flooring, car products and personal care products.
DMP (dimethyl phthalate) is used in insect repellent and some plastics.
The ingredient “Fragrance” might also be reason for concern as it is used to “denote a combination of compounds, possibly including phthalates.”
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.

Dapple's Favorite Children's Books!

2010-03-23T05:56:00.000-07:00

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?

The medical advisory board at Baby Center says a very enthusiastic, YES!!

"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 Read Aloud Handbook, 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."

Not only is reading to your baby a great bonding experience, it also helps with their growth and development! According to Baby Center "Studies have shown that language skills — and even intelligence — are related to how many words an infant hears each day!"

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!

Baby Books!

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
We're Going on a Bearhunt by Michael Rosen
Too Many Toys by David Shannon
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Toddler Books!

The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman and Marla Frazee
The Incredible Book-Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers
Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore and LeUyen Pham
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Thing-Thing by Cary Fagan and Nicolas Debon
Little Movers - Crane by Arlene Blanchard and Tony Wells
The Bears Picnic by Stan and Jan Berenstain
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

What are your favorites? We want to hear from you!

Paul McCartney!

2010-03-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

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!

Paul McCartney stopped walking and said:

"Wow, that is one cute baby!"

Miel gave Paul a huge smile.

"Babies always give me good vibrations!"

One of the most famous musicians in the world then proceeded to sing Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys to our little cutie.

All it takes is a smile!

Pollen and Baby

2010-03-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

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?

According to Fit Pregnancy 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."

If you notice your baby with nasal symptoms that appear to be allergy-like, according to Fit Pregnancy, it is possibly a lingering cold.

"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."

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!

Read the whole article here: http://www.fitpregnancy.com/experts/question/40246857.html

Baby Time!

2010-03-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

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!

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.

Dream Team Baby 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...

If you have a more flexible sleeper:

On Saturday night, simply put your child to bed at their normal bedtime. No pregame adjustments necessary.

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.

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.

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.

If you have a more “sensitive” or challenged sleeper:

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.

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!

SLS and SLES

2010-02-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

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."

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?

SLS (Sodium Lauryl sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate ) are surfactants – wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid such as water, allowing for better penetration of the liquid and thus acting as primary cleaning agents in many formulations.

SLS and SLES are very commonly used in household products such as toothpaste, shampoo, bubble bath and all sorts of cleaners. They are also very often used in "natural" cleaning products since both SLS and SLES can be coconut derived.

So what’s the problem?

SLS is an irritant. According to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, "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 "skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties."

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, creates small amounts of the carcinogenic byproduct 1,4 dioxane – something we talked about in greater detail in a previous post on our blog.

How do you avoid SLS and SLES?
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.

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 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate are and can direct you as to whether their product contains either.

Parabens

2010-01-26T07:41:00.000-08:00

Parabens are tricky. They are in some of our favorite products (including the most delicious baby shampoo 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.

Still, for us at Dapple there is one clear and overriding mandate: Keep it Baby Safe. 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.

Here is some background information on parabens so you can make up your own mind:
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." (Chicago Tribune, 9/4/07)

Parabens are so commonly used that they appear in 25,000 of the cosmetics and skincare products documented by the Environmental Working Group!

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 breast cancer. In a study conducted by the University of Reading, 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 conclusive evidence that parabens cause cancer, and the FDA does not ban its usage, some of the research is disconcerting.

Here are some more articles about parabens and their possible consequences:

New Scientist

Web MD

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

Chicago Tribune

Dr. Weil

Parabens are easy to spot on a label. They are listed as one of four indgredients: methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben.

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.

Helping Haiti

2010-01-22T10:06:00.001-08:00

It’s amazing to see how the world is coming together to offer their expertise to the victims in Haiti. Dapple donated to Unicef. If you want to also you can do so here.
https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6680&6680.donation=form1

1,4 Dioxane

2010-01-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

So you know how we always talk about being “free of SLES, 1,4 dioxane, parabens, phthalates, dyes, etc…”

And you are probably thinking “Great. These things sound unsavory. Don’t want them around my kids. But what in the world are they anyhow?”

Over the next several weeks we will be posting a series of blogs about the different toxins and contaminants commonly found in household cleaners and cosmetics and how you can best protect your families from them. We will also be devoting a section of our site to information every parent should know about keeping a healthy, toxin-free home.

Let’s start with 1,4 dioxane.

What is 1,4 dioxane?

The carcinogen 1,4 dioxane can occur as a byproduct of a process called ethoxylation, during which various chemicals are processed with ethylene oxide to make them more soluble and, in the case of personal care products, to make them gentler on people’s skin. 1,4 dioxane is not to be confused with dioxins, a class of chemical contaminants found in soil and sediment and much lower levels found in air and water.

Why do I need to know about 1,4 dioxane?

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics recently published the following report on toxins in children’s care and bath products:

http://www.safecosmetics.org/downloads/NoMoreToxicTub_Mar09Report.pdf

It’s important reading. But it is 32 pages long. So we have summarized it for you.

In this report the CSC found that:

67% percent of baby products tested were found to be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane
1,4 dioxane is a“probable human carcinogen”
Here’s the tricky part: since 1,4 dioxane is a by-products and not an actual ingredients, manufacturers are not required to list it on labels

All this is true not only for cosmetics but for household cleaners as well – many of them labeled natural or organic. See http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneResults08.cfm

So what can you do to steer clear of 1,4 dioxane?

Check Labels. If the label doesn’t specifically mention that the product is free of 1,4 dioxane, check the ingredient list
A common list of ingredients contaminated with 1,4 dioxane include: Peg-100 stearate, Sodium laureth sulfate, Polyethylene, Ceteareth-20.
Email Your Favorite Brands.Just check in to see if all of their products are clear of 1,4 dioxane
And stay tuned for further safety updates from your Dapple Team

2010: The Year To Give

2010-01-06T07:20:00.000-08:00

Although the holidays are over, there are still many opportunities to give to children in need. Yael Weiss, a Dapple friend, gave something that CNN featured in its "Giving in Focus" series, and that Yael called "immensely rewarding."

Yael donated breast milk over the course of this past year to an organization called International Breast Milk Project, IBMP.

"They do amazing work in collecting, processing, and donating breast milk to infants in need, both in the U.S. and in Africa. It was an immensely rewarding process to be involved in and I wish more mothers knew about it because it was fairly easy to do. I volunteered to be interviewed by CNN when they chose to feature IBMP in a series called Giving in Focus. Please spread the word to any nursing mommies you know, it is a fantastic organization to support."

Comfy and Cozy!

2009-12-21T09:52:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday night we here in New York City got nearly a foot of snow delivered to us, just in time for the holidays! Snowy conditions mean frigid temperatures, not the best environment for a baby's sensitive skin. Here are some tips from Parents magazine for protecting little noses, cheeks, ears and lips during the chilly winter months:

CHAPPED LIPS
Babies’ lips are always wet thanks to drooling, lip-licking and drippy noses. That moisture can break down the protective top layer of skin. This leaves lips vulnerable to cold, windy air. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or lip balm to create a barrier against the elements and to moisturize already chapped lips.

FROSTNIP
This mild form of frostbite makes skin red and tender. Exposed skin, fingers and toes are particularly susceptible. Dress your baby in mittens and a hat or hood, and don’t stay out too long. Extend the cover of your stroller to block the wind. If your baby’s skin looks red, give her a lukewarm bath. Call your doctor if her skin color isn’t normal in a couple hours.

HEAT RASH
It’s not just a summer thing. If your baby is bundled up, he can become overheated. Itchy red bumps appear when tiny sweat glands get clogged. Dress your baby in breathable layers, and remove one if he’s hot. Use a 1 percent hydrocortisone preparation to help with the itchiness. The rash will go away on its own after a few days.

The Dish!

2009-12-16T07:33:00.001-08:00

Mrs. Mogul from Mogul Baby prides herself on finding things that are "Funky, Fine and Fabulous!" Perhaps that is why she decided to review Dapple:

"For washing baby bottles, pacifiers or just to use to clean your own plates, Dapple Dish Liquid is non-toxic and kid-friendly.

It is phtalate-free, paraben free and dye-free. So what's inside this clear bottle? Purified water, baking soda, cleaners derived from fruits, tree oils, and french lavender essential oils.

The dish liquid rinses off quickly, leaving no residue. I've been using this product for awhile now and definitely feel better that I'm using something safer for the baby while being more eco-friendly."

Check out Mogul Baby and the Dapple review here!

Droolicious!

2009-12-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

Dapple was just reviewed at Babble.com by their resident product tester, Lisa Estall! Well enough of me, here is what she had to say:

"For washing baby bottles, pacifiers or just to use to clean your plates, Dapple Dish Liquid is a very eco-friendly cleaning product. Specifically made for babies, it is phtalate-free, paraben free and dye-free.

The ingredients even sound lovely. The solution is made of purified water, baking soda, cleaners derived from fruits, tree oils, and french lavender essential oils.

I’ve been using Dapple Dish Liquid for awhile now and really can tell the difference between this and the regular dish liquid. It leaves no soapy residue so I’m happy that I can wash the baby’s things with this product." http://blogs.babble.com/droolicious/2009/12/11/dapple-dish-liquid-for-babies/

Toys for Tots

2009-12-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

The holidays are a time for loving, sharing, and especially giving. The Marine Toys For Tots Foundation "collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distributes those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted."

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the Toys "R" Us flagship store in Times Square to meet some of their team members, and to ensure that there is enough Dapple for all of you to buy! I had seen the Toys for Tots army truck parked right outside and I had a great idea! I bought some Dapple Toy and Surface Cleaner spray and wipes, "marched" outside, and gave the Marine standing in the truck the bundle of wipes and sprays!

So Please Spread The Word! The Toys for Tots foundation is a truly great cause, as every child should have a new toy (or something to clean it with) for Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Cute and Little! Our Illustrations

2009-12-09T07:04:00.000-08:00

Dapple was created by two moms, Dana and Tamar, when they couldn't find any natural cleaners that would safely and effectively clean their daughter's baby bottles. Being moms themselves, they created Dapple with the knowledge of all the little details that matter the most to moms. Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid has an extra-large pump head to enable mom's with no free hands to "dish out" the Dish Liquid (heh heh) with an elbow, an arm or even a little hand. The Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid formula is low-suds so busy moms don't have to spend a while rinsing their baby bottles. The harshest chemical we use is baking soda, letting moms who worry too much, worry a lot less. These are just some of the features that really sets Dapple apart from other organic baby products.
Our old labels were very informative and detailed, but for a mom who needs to make a fast decision on the fly, all the detail might have been a little superfluous. Our new Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid label features cute, little illustrations that help moms really understand what we do best!

Baby Bottles - Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid is formulated specifically to remove milk film and odor from baby bottles. It is how we all started!
Sippy Cups - Our Dish Liquid isn't just for babies, you can use it for toddlers too!
Pacifiers - The peace of mind that anything you clean with Dapple is safe for even the most sensitive mouths!
Breast Pumps - Get's out that milk film and odor from all those hard to reach nooks and crannies!
Grown-Up Dishes - Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid is so effective, it works great on all dishes!
Pots and Pans - Strong enough to handle even the messiest pan, but still gentle enough to use for babies!

Earthly Delights!

2009-10-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

We just got reviewed! Parent Guide News wrote a great piece on Dapple called "Earthly Delights."
As we are always respectful, Dapple is quoted as being "being gentle to Mother Earth."
"In today’s world, being environmentally conscious is becoming increasingly important to families. To clean up your clan’s act around the house in terms of using wipes, toy cleaners and dish-washing liquids, look into Dapple’s products."

To skip the middleman and read the review in it's entirety, click here!

Times Square!

2009-10-21T12:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the Dapple team went to hand out samples outside of the largest toy store in the world, the Toys "R" Us in Times Square. It was a beautiful day and there were so many parents and kids enjoying the warm, sunny weather. There were even two fashion photo shoots going on right near where we were sampling!
We had a great time letting people know that they could clean their baby bottles, sippy cups, and breast pumps in an effective, natural way. The weather is supposed to be beautiful again tomorrow, October 22nd, and we are going to be handing out more FREE Samples outside of the buybuyBaby in Chelsea! Come say HI!

Pasta Bolognese!

2009-10-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

Meet Luna, a team member at Dapple. Last night Luna made pasta bolognese (pasta with yummy meat sauce) for her fiance, Dan. As Luna recounts it, she was walking into the living room holding two heaping plates of pasta when the one in her right hand just slid off the plate. Shocked, Luna looked at the plate in her left hand and saw that it too was headed south. The pasta and meat sauce got EVERWHERE. Sauce on the walls, the floor, Luna, Dan, and his WHITE COUCH.
Desperate, Dan tried saving his white couch from the grasp of the meat sauce using heavy soap and water, but to no avail. Just then, Luna remembered that she had brought home some Toy Cleaner spray from work when Dan had moved into his apartment. She also remembered someone telling her that they used Dapple Toy Cleaner spray to clean their white carpet when it got stained. Luna decided to give it a try. She sprayed a little Toy Cleaner to combat that meat sauce, scrubbed a little, and......... Voila! The stain disappeared! Unfortunately though, so had Luna and Dan's dinner.

It is of complete coincidence that this event happened a few days after the blog post about cleaning the Pyrex dish. Today, Luna had no leftovers to bring for lunch, so we are ordering in. Have a GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Made Mother Proud!

2009-10-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

My mother has an old Pyrex measuring cup dating back to the 197o's that functions as a very large tea cup when the weather calls for it (to dispense not to drink). Through the years tea stains have made themselves at home in "Ol Pyrex" and have stayed there for about two decades. My mother has tried for all of these years to remove the tea stains, but no conventional dish liquid has done the trick. A month ago, while visiting my folks, I proposed a challenge. I would try to remove the tea stains using Dapple!

I scrubbed those stubborn tea stains off in about a half a minute, using elbow grease, a sponge, and a dollop of Dapple. My mother was very proud and offered me to come over and wash the dishes anytime. I love making mother proud!

Yummy!

2009-10-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

Cookies and Cupcakes are amazingly delicious, but they aren't always nutritious. It took three moms to devise a bakery that makes baked from scratch delicious cookies, muffins, bars, cakes, cupcakes and doughnuts packed with meaningful nutrients in right size portions. Their result, the "smart baking company"Three Tablespoons, is.......yes! delicious and nutritious!!!!!

If you just take a quick look-see at that picture above yonder you will probably become quite hungry. I did.

They promise to make everything with 100% whole grain flours, load everything with vegetables, fruits, beans and seeds, and make sure everything is mostly vegan, except when honey is used. In addition, all their products are baked primarily with organic ingredients, are all dairy-free and egg-free, made with all-natural sweeteners, never refined and are free of trans-fats and hydrogenated oils. Their final promise is to make sure everything is "always delicious!" Check them out, and begin a healthy diet of cookies, doughnuts, and cupcakes!

http://www.threetablespoons.com

Play Dough!

2009-10-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

My two favorite arts and crafts projects growing up were making tie dye t-shirts and PLAY DOUGH!! I haven't made play dough in years...... so when I came across instructions for making play dough, I just had to share them with you! The instructions are courtesy or Mom Tips by Life Tips. Here they are!

Mix 2 1/2 cups of flour with 1/2 cup of salt. Add 2 envelopes of kool-aid (any flavor except lemonade). Meanwhile, bring 2 cups of water to the boil. Add the boiling water and 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the dry ingredients. Mix together. Be careful, it will be hot for a little while. Let the kids play with the scented dough. Dough can be stored in plastic bags for a few days.

Recycling Soup

2009-10-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

Here at Dapple HQ we only use recycled Paper Towels to wipe our hands, and recycled Toilet Paper to..... well I'm sure you can figure it out. We got a new batch of both today, and I wanted to share something that most people don't know about recycling...... how paper is recycled!

Once recyclable paper is collected, it is compacted into bales and transported to the mill. At the mill, it is mixed with hot water to make soup; steamy, hot, and delicious recycling soup. The soup is purified using screens and filters, then is washed to remove inks. After cleaning, the pulp is pressed, dried, and converted into paper, cardboard, or take out containers (not limited to these three)! That is how recycling works! RECYCLE!!!!

Weekend!

2009-10-02T10:40:00.001-07:00

The weekend is finally here! Spend your time outside with your children before it gets too cold. Perhaps you would rather relax. That sounds even better. Have a great weekend!

Do it for Your Baby

2009-10-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

"A recent study published from Norway by Obstetrics and Gynecology has shown a direct relationship between exercising during pregnancy and prevention of excessive weight gain in newborns. Reduction of birth weight by regular exercise can be as great as 23–28%!"

Not to be positive or anything: "There is an increasing trend worldwide towards heavier birth weights. Birth weight is an important predictor of morbidity, infant survival, later childhood size, heart disease and diabetes in later life." If you are not pregnant...... you can still exercise.... it's baby safe!

AHA!

2009-09-30T07:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most interesting and useful pieces of information we have heard in a long time. "When choosing which line will be the fastest at the grocery store, it might surprise you to learn that the "express" lane may not always be the best choice. The number of people in line adds more to the wait time than the number of items each person has in their cart!" A math teacher named Dan Meyer came up with this theory.

""When you add one person to the line, you're adding 48 extra seconds to the line length (that's "tender time" added to "other time") without even considering the items in her cart. Meanwhile, an extra item only costs you an extra 2.8 seconds. Therefore, you'd rather add 17 more items to the line than one extra person!"" http://lifehacker.com/5369876/how-to-choose-the-fastest-line-at-the-market?skyline=true&s=i

Jenny Mccarthy

2009-09-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

A little while ago, we met a celebrity. A very sweet, fun, and beautiful celebrity. We met Jenny Mccarthy!

Reducing Waste (into something else)...

2009-09-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Every so often we hear about great new products on the market that are truly from highly sustainable sources. This is a product made from what probably is the most sustainable stuff on earth........ Poop!!! It is amazing that people have the ability to create something green and clean out of what is the epitome of waste. You must read this........ thegreenmomreview.com

Getting to Know Your Neighbors

2009-09-24T10:15:00.001-07:00

Don't you always wish you knew the story behind the items you bought? We are now sold at Abe's Market, an online retailer specializing in all-natural goods. Abe's provides the story behind every product they sell. It is quite inspiring to read all of the reasons that motivate people to start their own companies. They also have an awesome logo. Check them out!

Reviews!

2009-09-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

Everyone enjoys a good compliment. Yesterday, we got three. We were featured as the product of the day at Kids Today magazine http://www.kidstodayonline.com . We also got glowing reviews from the "Moma to the littlest lovebug," http://momalovebug.blogspot.com , and from one very satisfied Minnesota Mama, http://www.minnesotamamasmusthaves.com . We hope you enjoy these reviews. We sure did.

We Are Back!!!!

2009-09-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

For the past month, we have been trying to login to our blog, but our old password and sign in didn't work for some reason. We finally reset the password and the login info and here we are! This blog will be updated (almost) daily from now on. Elliot of the roadtrippers is going to be the in-house blogger at Dapple. (I am writing about myself). We aren't on a roadtrip, but the blog will contain constant updates from the green world, the baby world, the kid world, and any other world that is fun and interesting. It will be fun!!

Elliot

BUY BUY BABY - WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!

2009-08-11T13:52:00.001-07:00

Thank You!

2009-08-06T16:55:00.000-07:00

After 7000 miles, 21 States, and thousands of new Dapple fans, we have arrived back in New York! It was great to meet so many of you and see so many different places. Although we have finished this road trip, we are soon going to the West Coast to Dapple and spread cheer throughout the masses. Our Blog will Continue to be Updated often from our NYC headquarters. So keep reading, we have many more fun little snippets to share with you. Thank you for "keeping up with us."

This is a Thank You, Not a Goodbye...... Thank You!! - Elliot and Rachel

New Recruit

2009-07-30T18:40:00.001-07:00

We were in Skokie, Il stuffing samples and we were in dire need of a new recruit. Rachel had fallen asleep! We searched extensively and found....Gabriel!!!

Cute Baby!

2009-07-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

We saw the cutest baby in Downers Grove, IL. We just had to show you!

Buy Buy Chicago

2009-07-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

We Dappled the Buy Buy Baby team in Downers Grove, IL (a suburb of Chicago). Is it just me or does our team look happier?

Buy Buy Coral Springs

2009-07-30T17:48:00.003-07:00

The Dapple founders joined our road trip.. sort of. They Dappled the Buy Buy Baby team in Coral Springs, NJ!

Memphis Mothers of Multiples

2009-07-30T17:41:00.000-07:00

Elliot and the Memphis Area Mothers of Multiples group.
He took a whole bunch of ladies out for ice cream.

Bats!!

2009-07-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, Bats with wings! Austin, Texas is the proud home of about 1.5 million Mexican fair-tailed bats, all living under The Congress Ave. Bridge. Very thankful to the Bats for their commitment to 'community service', Austin did not always hold their little friends in such high regard. A little PR campaign let it be known that the bats provide a valuable service, consuming thousands of mosquitoes... and suddenly they were very popular!

Check out the picture of them flying out in waves. (Click on the picture for a better view). Millions of tiny bats filling the sky may sound scary, but these are just fruit bats and it is actually very cool to see.

Balloons & Bibs

2009-07-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

We were very popular at The Grove in Austin, TX.... The balloons & free give-aways had nothing to do with it... It was simply our charm

Dapple on TV!!

2009-07-22T20:14:00.000-07:00

Full of Joi!!!

2009-07-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

We met Joi in San Antonio, Texas today. Joi is a midwife for the Texas Midwives Group and is honestly one of the most enthusiastic people we have ever met.

In case you were wondering, Joi is not a black blob, this is what she actually looks like.

Breakfast in Texas

2009-07-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

Sunset In The Panhandle

2009-07-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

Genius Jones

2009-07-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

Thank You Genius Jones for hosting a DappleFest in Miami, Florida. Definitely stop by one of their stores, they are awesome- I think I would have been picked on less in the playground if my mom & dad had shopped there.

The Yamini family and their newest addition were surprised to see us at Genius Jones. We tried to Dapple them- but as they already own our entire product line, they told us to save the samples for others.

Toad on the Road

2009-07-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

We stopped off to visit The International Kids Zone in West Palm Beach Florida, and we saw that the frog had already been Dappled.... So we left.

Rachel's Secret Super Power?

2009-07-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

Two Times a Charm? Where I go Babies follow. I arrived in West Palm Peach, FL and that day my friend gave birth to a beautiful baby boy- Three weeks early!

Once again Dapple rearranged our itinerary so that I could visit Baby Boy Knoll (name to be determined), his glowing parents, and adorable Baby Brother- who is apparently a big dapple fan.......

OK maybe it was just the bright colors & beautiful baby girl on the sample. After all, Azi is an accomplished flirt at the ripe age of 15 months.

Our Subtle Ride

2009-07-07T21:47:00.000-07:00

We pull up to the stop light minding our own business and then we notice that everyone seems to be staring at us... it takes us a second or two and then we remember...

We Never Stop Working

2009-07-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

Wondering what we do when we are not visiting day care centers, hospitals, parks... or driving?

We shop for supplies... and sometimes the Dapplemobile catches the eye of someone in the parking lot. Check out what our friend, who may or may not be affiliated with a certain store, had to say...

UTOPIA???

2009-07-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

Do all siblings play nicely here?

Peach Throwdown

2009-07-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

Lessons from the road; inspired by a 7 ton peach.

Ever heard of the Gaffney Peachoid water tower? Can't miss it if you are driving down I-85 between Charlotte and Spartanburg South Carolinia (which we just passed). Figured it was prudent to find out more about the big peach before posting the picture on our blog, and in our research we stumbled accross a very interesting story.... apparently the Peach Crown of the south may not belong to Georgia- it is a disputed title.

On March 2, 2006 Governor Bob Riley of Alabama received a bill to be signed into law making the peach the official State "tree fruit" of Alabama

Georgia, the "Peach State", had to speak up..... "Georgia is the Peach State. We're known internationally as the Peach State. We have always been the Peach State, and we think we have the best peaches in the world.... We probably grow 10 times as many peaches as they do." (Robert Dickey, past president of the Georgia Peach Council and a fourth-generation peach grower)

What did Alabama have to say?..... "If you've ever tasted Alabama peaches, you'd throw rocks at Georgia." (Representative James Martin of Chilton County, Alabama)

How did Georgia react?..... "I didn't realize Alabama had any peaches at all." (Thomas Irvin, Georgia's agricultural commissioner)

But what about South Carolina?..... They are " just fine as frog hair" with Alabama's bill. "South Carolina welcomes Alabama to the peachy keen bandwagon." (South Carolina Peach Council)

Was South Carolina truly that gracious about sharing the Peach Crown?..... "South Carolina welcomes Alabama to the peach community and invites consumers to 'Taste the Difference'..... South Carolina is The Tastier Peach State" (South Carolina Peach Council)

I guess we will have to taste peaches while traveling through all three states to officially determine who's peaches reign supreme.

Truckin'

2009-07-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

We have done a lot of driving the past three days; we meaning Elliot. There is only one reason for this - ok maybe two, Rachel is a horrible driver, and.................. (Hint: Watch the video)

Room with a view

2009-07-01T06:48:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, good morning. We are currently in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. The weather is great and the people are really friendly. Last night I looked out of the window and wondered what the view from the room was. This morning I looked out and saw a really beautiful sight. The Greensboro Grasshoppers stadium.

Update: I just looked out again, and there are kids running the bases. I have always wanted to do that and I am quite jealous. - Elliot

MY New Niece Zoey!

2009-06-30T22:47:00.001-07:00

My sister just sent me this picture from our first stop on the Dapple Road Trip- the Mt. Sinai Maternity Ward. I arrived from Denver that morning and we were supposed to head straight to Maryland. Thankfully, Dapple insisted that we re-route through New York so that I could see my sister and meet my new niece Zoey. So... Elliot gave out Dapple products to the nurses and left samples for new moms while I surprised my sister and was able to hold my adorable niece.

Virginia

2009-06-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hello from Virginia!

Today we Dappled four Day Care Centers.

How does it feel to be Dappled? Check out Jenny from Chesterbrook Academy in Sterling.

Meet another friend of ours from Sterling. She schooled us on how to use the Dapple Toy Cleaner! Can you top that?

Dapple Parties in NYC!

2009-06-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, Elliot here. On Friday Dapple kicked off our road trip with a fun filled party at the New York Kids Club! The kids had an amazing time rock climbing and jumping on the trampoline. The biggest hit with the kids weren't the Dapple cupcakes, (although they were my favorite part of the party) it was........ the dish soap????!!!!

The trampoline was also really fun!

Meet the Dapple Road Trippers!

2009-06-26T09:48:00.001-07:00

I’m Rachel.
A.K.A ‘Aunt Rachel’ or ‘Aunt Ra Ra’ to my nephews, niece and lots of friends. I’m a Dappler from Denver who dabbles in singing wheels on the bus, reading ‘Pajama Time!’, and keeping our environment clean and green

Meet Elliot – that’s me. No kids yet but I’m stocking up on Dapple in anticipation. I am super passionate about keeping it green and am all about the Dapple lavender scent. I hail from Chicago, where it is always sunny and never snows.