Back from our mini trip

Sometimes even I need a break... and starting LATE Wednesday night, I took one. After a 6 hour road trip to IL with a crying 6 month old, a 4 year old, and a 5 year old with an ear ache... at 3am we were on "vacation"... I headed home to visit family for a few days while Zaq is in Europe with Motion City Soundtrack. *lucky goose* I figured, why stay home alone when we could take a few days off. The days off of course, still involved tons of emails for work, and running from one place to another... but still great none the less... Its always hard living out of a suitcase with 3 kids. Between clothes, diapers, food, and feeding... with a baby it can be a nightmare. So - I wanted to take a second to share my MUST HAVE ITEMS when I go home with the kids.

MY LIST: In no particular order...
* Bumbo: It replaces the need for so many things... I feed Rozzlyn in here... Its also a great tool just to sit her down to play for a bit if I need both hands... Its light, small, and easy to bring place to place... *reminder: always keep the bumbo on the floor for safety reasons*

*gDiapers: I am a cloth diapering mama - but man, on the road it can be tough... and when I am home visiting I have ZERO time to do diaper laundry... so gPants are a great way to still use cloth, but get the convenience of disposables at the same time. YAY Eco-Friendly!

*Plum Organics: With baby Rozz, I have chosen to make my own baby food. I have SO SO much fun doing it... but traveling, there was no way I was going to bring a bag of fruit and vegis, my blender, all my storage, ETC. So I needed another solution... Plum Organics pouches were AMAZING! Such quality, organic baby food... So easy to squeeze from the pouch into a bowl, and recap if she didn't feel like finishing! Its so great to know there is an affordable, easy, organic option on the market that comes in all the great flavors I love to make at home.

*Nuby Easy Go Suction Bowl: MY LIFESAVER! This little contraption was my lifesaver... and Im not even exaggerating. It made feeding SO SO convenient. When we were headed out the door I would pour a little cereal into the bowl, cap it with the super tight sealing lid, and snap the spoon into the top. Everything was in one spot and easy to grab. When I was ready to feed her I would fill it with the Plum baby food... mix it up and feed her. When she was done, I would just re-cap and toss the rest in the fridge. THANK YOU NUBY for such an amazing product.

*Diaper Bag: Shameless plug? Maybe... but its true. I don't know what I would have done without my awesome diaper bag. Its an exclusive line by Stellar Cheri made JUST FOR RockerByeBaby... you can't get this anywhere else, as this specific pattern was made exclusively for us. And let me tell ya, its perfect! It was plenty big to hold all randomness that makes its way in there while you're on the road. But not SO BIG that you feel like you're carrying your suitcase... I definitely recommend grabbing one from our shop! They're custom made to order... so if you need a different print, just ask!

Well! Those are my 5 absolute must have's for travel... I hope you find some (or all) of these goodies to be useful on your next road trip! If you have them (or get them), we would love to hear what you think! And of course - if you have any other traveling tips we would love to hear them!!

Ms. Princess has a tummy ache :(

 We started some solids with Ms. Rozz... and after a couple weeks of trying different things, I screwed up and gave her a breakfast of fresh pureed organic bananas mixed with rice cereal. *dumb dumb dumb* My poor little lady has been "backed up" to put it nicely... So, I cut the cereal totally and have been giving her lots of fruits hoping to stir things up..... and this morning I even gave her some watered down prune juice... but nothing seems to be helping... I know this isn't the most exciting topic of conversation, but I know lots of you understand it... does anyone have any good, natural tips to helping her out? I have been do proud making all my own baby food... but I just want to be sure I'm not making anything that will constipate her. Feel free to post all your baby pooping tips below, haha. Thanks!

Belated Favorites Friday: We're Pregnant!!

So - as some of you may have heard from our Facebook Fan Page - were expecting! I am 6 weeks along as of yesterday, and feeling pretty great... aside from the sleepiness & bloating - so far so good. So of course, this calls for some major maternity shopping on etsy :) Which brings us to, Favorites Friday :)
(if any of you awesome sellers would like us to host a review & giveaway for you, please email us! rockerbyebaby@gmail.com WE LOVE GIVEAWAYS! 500+ blog follower & 3,500+ fans on facebook)

(click photo to enlarge)

#1: Mamasanmaternity - D-Rebel d-ring maternity dress
#2: JellyBeanApparel - Jeart Hands long sleeve shirt
#3: KSSMaternity - Cut the Cord tshirt (Bamboo)
#4: RunSystem63 - Striped Belly Band
#5: XYFactory - Double Sparrow Maternity Tunic
#6: Angeldamico - Magenta Day of the Dead Tunic (CODE: Winter15) for 15% off!
#7: WrenWillow - Mom Tattoo Heart Babydoll
#8: RainbowSwirlz - Floral Skull American Apparel Drapey Tank
#9: AsianApparel - LeSac Dress in Charcoal Gray (can be worn loads of different ways)

New Giveaway: Amenity Home... one you WON'T want to miss...

Its rare that I can click on a link to a store and say I want everything... but let me tell you... Amenity Home is one of them...

If you havn't ever seen their store, then you are surely in for a treat... until recently, I hadn't... But strolling through twitter (as I do too often, lol) I saw the amazing @SarahSophia tweeting to them about their amazingness, so I had to check it out... I instantly fell in love. 

"Amenity Home offers a wide array of eco-friendly products for thoughtful modern living. At Amenity Home, we are dedicated to the never-ending process of maintaining Amenity's harmony with the environment." They have absolutely everything you could want NEED for the most eco-chic home. They make custom bed frames... linens... organic bedding... stretched canvas prints, and the most amazing throw pillows... 

and lets not forget their amazing organic baby goodies! Blankets, pillows, sheets, wall art, crib bedding and more...

We're absolutely in love with every single thing they have to offer... and when trying to decide what to "review" it was next to impossible... After a long deliberation, we chose the "Woods Organic Baby Blanket".  Deer always make me think of my grandpa who passed away... so there was no doubt that this was the perfect print for us. You should have seen the huge smile on my face when I opened up the box... It was beautiful... perfect... and i was ecstatic. Idyllic scenes are printed with certified organic dyes onto a 300 thread count, organic cotton percale and backed with a soft and cozy organic cotton fleece. It is a size Large Crib Blanket measuring size 34x46 and is valued at $115.  Could it be any cuter? I think not...

So naturally, I just couldn't WAIT to be done with work so I could snuggle Zavery up for pictures... he LOVED it. *spamming pictures here, lol*

I absolutely melted over this shot... can you say - heart breaker!?

BUTTERFLY!

Clearly - we love our new blanket... and to win Zavery's love is a tough task... he is pretty picky when it comes to new blankies... Adorable right? And it gets even better. Outside of bedding & decor, they also have everything baby could need for Bath & Meal time...

And one of you lucky winners will win the Bath Time Package... "Our organic cotton hooded towel combined with four organic cotton washcloths, along with our favorite Little Twig extra mild unscented bath wash and lotion, make this a fun and healthy gift for caring for baby at bath time!" Valued at $79.

One lucky winner will receive this set in your choice of print, in either Ducks or Squirrels. Here is how you win! LOTS of ways to get entries, as well as how to win a $1000 bedroom makeover!


HOW TO WIN! (#1 IS MANDATORY)
#1: Mandatory - Subscribe to the Amenity newsletter... its on the left hand side of their home page.(They will verify this so leave your email address in the comment)
(All below are optional for extra entries!)#2: Follow Amenity Home on Twitter!
#3: Follow RockerByeBaby on Twitter!
#4: Tweet This: (up to once daily)
"Organic Hooded Towel & Bath set ($78 value) by @amenityhome at the @rockerbyebaby blog Comment at link to enter! http://bit.ly/9V4Ikp"
#5: Enter the Amenity Home Facebook Sweepstakes for the $1000 bedroom Giveaway!
#6: Follow the RockerByeBaby blog! (sidebar)
#7: "Like" Amenity Home on facebook!
#8: "Like" RockerByeBaby on Facebook.
#9: Put the Rockerbyebaby flash button on your blog or website. *sidebar*
#10: If you win - would you choose the Ducks or Squirrels print?

Favorites Friday: Drool-worthy Diapers

Ive been on a total diaper kick lately... ALLLLL I  wanna do is buy new diapers... but seeing as Zave is so close to potty training age, its silly to buy new... so ive been stalking diaper swappers... I need to get rid of a bunch that I dont use anymore... and then if zaq ever lets me have baby #3 Ill just save the current stash for him/her... ANYWAYS... This weeks favorites friday post is dedicated to all the cloth on etsy that i would LOVE to fluff my stash with...

#1: lastminuteboutique - Red & Black Pirate Booty Wool Soaker
#2: The Eli Monster - Anarchy OS fitted diaper
#3: Brookiellen - Guitar Dot Diaper Cover
#4: BananaBottoms - Fitted Organic Bamboo Diaper "Ninjas"
#5: NorthernMom - Skull HEads OS pocket Diaper w/ Bamboo
#6: Guerillafluff - XLRG Side Snapping Diaper w/ Rockin Green Detergent
#7: Monkeez - OS Organic Bamboo Fitted "Zaney Zebra"
#8: LibertysBelle - Fleece DIaper soaker - Sweet Child 'O Mine (Have this, LOVE it... great soakers)
#9: FLuffyMail -  Movie Theatre Size 2 Hemp diaper

You know I could go onnnnnn and onnnnnnnn about all the rad etsy cloth diaper goodies on etsy... like rad wet bags... cloth friendly diaper bags from Brooke Van Gory... reusable wipes... Wee Essentials soap bits (free sample in RockerByeBaby orders) but I only had room for 9... :) Do any of you have any of these items? Or items from these sellers? Id love to hear your opinion!

And sellers *** we would LOVE to try them out! We host a review & giveaway every Tuesday and would be honored to have you join us! Just contact me on etsy (RockerByeBaby) or send me an email. Rockerbyebaby@gmail.com

Wordless Wednesday - Me wordless? Not so much...

So, I know today is supposed to be "Wordless Wednesday" But there is WAY to much to shout about... For starters.. Mommy The Kids have a play date at Chuck E Cheese today.... Thats pretty much awesomeness... Gotta love social time!

I went to the Gym today... feeling pretty good... trying to get my fat ass back in shape,  regain my girlish figure.... "tighten up"a bit...

BEst news of all? I just snagged two @BarleyandBirch t-shirts for only $10 each!!!!! You MUST go to this site... Its pretty much the awesomest ever and i MUST figure out how to be apart of this... but for now, im there to shop!! Its called The Mini Social... go set up an account, and then you have access to all of these insane 3 day sales... Barley & Birch shirts are usually around $27 each and right now they are just $10. Limited time & limited selection... so hurry hurry hurry!



I snagged up these to in a 6t to stash away for their next size... seeing as by the time this last order shows up i will have....... 8 4t shirts i believe? Yeah... its an obsession... can't go wrong with organic, eco friendly goodness with adorableness screened on the front. Win-Win. So yeah! HURRY! They will go fast!! Remember, just click here and set up an account at The Mini Social... and then click barley and birch... you can shop from all the other sales too with one shopping cart... oh and Pili you should totally snag some for R cuz they ship overseas!

Favorites Friday: Diet? What diet?

I was sitting here drinking my green tea... snacking on some carrots & hummus... and all I can think about are the Vintage Confections Red Velvet truffles... *dies* so I thought that this week MUST be on all the yummy desserts on etsy... and for the next hour while I put this together ill be thinking, diet? What diet!? and drooling over all this yummi-ness...

#1: Vintage Confections: Red Velvet Cake truffles (sadly, she isn't shipping chocolate this summer, but check out all her other year round goodies!!!)
#2: TheChocolateSprinkle: Organic Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies (MUST try these!!!)
#3: BlissBrownies: Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Chip Brownies (*drool* hubby would kill for these)
#4: DivineCupcake: Organic & Vegan Mocha Cupcake Mix (yes. I said Organic AND Vegan... MUST TRY!!)
#5: FriendlyCreations: PeanutButter Explosion Cup (is this what heaven looks like? Also available in VEGAN form!!!)
#6: Nikid: Belgian White Chocolate Organic Dried Cranberries and Almond (I think I could eat this, pretending its healthy since its organic & lots of fruit... so its like... guilt free... right?? just say yes.)
#7: SinnersSaintsSweets: Double Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pretzel (yummmm... get in my belly.)
#8: Calabasascandyco: Organic Coffee Truffles (buzzzzz, can i start each morning with this?)
#9: ASugarAffair: Cookies N Cream Chocolate (Zaq loveeeeeeees Oreo bark)

Swinger Sunday - Sometimes being GREEN sucks!

I was so excited to be asked to guest blog for Amber! Well, until I had to think about what to write, that is. RockerByeBaby is all cool and edgy and Amber has cool and edgy friends that do cool things.

I’m just a treehugging law school geek! I have no kids and nothing fun to write about!

But then I just asked myself “What is something you wanted to blog about but can’t on your blog?” And then it hit me: I wanted to write about why being ethical and green really sucks sometimes. So, what follows is the bitter rantings of a pretty square business owner. (: Sort of punky and rockery right?

So--- sometimes being ethical and green all the time sucks!

I own a business that really hangs its hat on being the greenest brand out there. We source organic US-grown cotton to make garments made in the US that are then dyed naturally and printed with waterbased inks. I, personally, have collaborated on some technology that makes our garments easily the most eco-friendly out there. We have our garments sewn by co-ops owned by refugees that are supporting their large families on their work with us. We never cut a single corner on greenness or social responsibility.

Yes, this all sounds great and I sleep easier at night and I love looking people in the eye when I truthfully tell them our supply chain and all that.

BUT what these standards do to my stress levels SUCKS. And sometimes I just want to VENT about it

Jodie, our designer, is a genius. She makes cool stuff. And so she sends me a design I love and I am like “YES!” and then send it to our printer and we can’t get the colors right because of the ec-friendly inks we use. So that is scrapped. Or Jodie and I will want to create a certain product but the co-op that does our work doesn’t have the machinery to handle it. So its scrapped, too. And we want to dye shirts but crunched up bugs and plants can only dye so many colors. So lots of color ideas are scrapped.

Our costs are super high because we are 100% USA made. We donate way over 30% of our profits. We basically donate whatever we have in our bank account. I do this because I feel obligated. I have a business that has a bank account, so I should be helping these people. We grow so so slowly because our margin is small and that margin goes to other people. I’ve never taken a cent from the business personally.

So we go to trade shows and these brands that put the “Organic” sticker on their booth have one garment made from like “organic bamboo” (which is very rare and therefore likely isn’t even organic and bamboo is like... as ecofriendly and polyester, oh, but I digress) and they are dyed in a shade of blue I know uses heavy metals and they are printed with white (which ALWAYS is done using plastic or a toxic wax) and they are acting like they are saving the planet. And I ask where they are made and they smile and say “China  and India of course!” THEN because they have the organic stockers and are super cute and have low prices buyers flock to them. And THEN most buyers look at our pieces, that due to legitimate eco- and socio-constraints are more plain and expensive and the buyers think “Pfft.... no way.”

That SUCKS, right?

So on the weekends, as I chat with friends that are also in the kids industry, I realize how different our lifestyles are. They make blankets and clothing abroad for about $4 each, and wholesale for $40 and retail for $80. They are making draws from their business of over 100k a year and are very well dressed and groomed. They spend their day chatting and designing and paying a large staff and getting massages and going to expensive lunches. I spend my day in dirty jeans with a 8 year old t-shirt getting calls from our sewers that all their kids have the flu and they won’t be in all week and our stuff will be a few weeks late. And then calling retailers to explain. And dealing with sales smaller than similar brands due to our high pricepoint. And dealing with our school in Haiti that has barebones structural support and cash reserves to continue due to the additional people being fed by the rice and beans it stocks. And stressing about the slow progress of our new website because we have no money in our bank account (see previous sentence.) And stressing about how we will pay for our Fall catolog to be printed if I need to send our school in El Salvador a check. And figuring out how to pay Jodie her weight in gold (her worth, basically.) And digging out cans and bottles from public garbage cans to take home and recycle because, well, why did someone throw them in there in the first place?

Being green and ethical SUCKS! It makes me work my ass off all day long just to keep the business moving and grooving and for what? So some kids in Haiti can go to school? So some kids in Texas won’t have to drink water with pesticides? Oh. Uh. Actually, YES.  So I calm down and buckle down and keep doing it.

But sometimes I just need to VENT! So thank you for listening.

Hi guys - its me... i know I mention pretty much, well, all the time... how much i love Kyle... she always amazes me... and this right here... this post is exactly why i wanted to start the Swinger Sunday... a chance for people to vent... spill it all here... get it all off their chest... Kyle asked me if this was too "bitchy" haha... I read it, and said nope, not bitchy at all... thats Kyle. Always working her ass off... Never getting a break... and I now see... not even taking any profits for her hard work. Giving SO much more than she gets... This girl deserves a medal. She is easily the most self-less person i know... every time I think im having a bad day, kyle and I rant on gmail... we usually have a 10 minute "bitch" fest where we freak out about what ridicules thing is going on in the stores... take a deep breath, and move on... But every time, i leave feeling better having had talked to her. Kyle, your amazing. I love you girlie!

Wordless Wednesday Eco @ the park

it's no secret that we lovvvve barley and birch... I snapped this photo with my iPhone yesterday at the park and just love it. Zaverys flowing hair... Adorable shirt...and running through the air, lol ... Pretty awesome shot if I must say so myself :)

Favorites Friday: Be a loser!

Zaq and I are on a work out kick... were were finally getting back in shape after the wedding... then came honeymoon... packing... moving... settling... and BAM! extra 20 pounds... ouch.... :( So its time to get our butts in gear... be a "loser" with us!! Hes been going to the gym every morning before work... we wake up at 5am, have coffee & Special K... then both start our work outs... this weeks favorites friday is glimpse into our tired, sore, hungry, chubby world, lol... enjoy!

#1: BellaPoshPillows - "Microwavable Spa Pillow Heat Therapy Neck Wrap - Hearts and Skull Flannel" MY MUSCLES NEEED THIS!
#2: TeasandPestries - "This is an Oolong tea known to promote weight loss!! This tea is a fabulous start to the day and an even better 'pick me up' after lunch. I add lemon grass and hibiscus for nice subtle undertone flavors." I bought some Organic Slim Life tea at the store, but had I known it was on etsy I would have gotten it here! Ill be back for a refil :)
#3: ChangeYourLife - 30 weight loss hypnosis Program... NICE! I totally need this, lol
#4: Sacredvibes - "Triphala is an ayurvedic herb that has been used for hundreds of years. It maintains healthy cholesterol levels,supports proper weight management,maintains healthy digestion and absorption and removes deep-seated toxins from the tissues. Our triphala/guggulu is 100% organic."
#5: Ahpeele - *just died and went to yoga heaven... I love yoga, i really do... and it just got a WHOLE lot cooler :) "These fitness pants are nice. They'll work with your curves, have a slightly flared leg opening. two-piece waistband help to minimize the back view. Preshrunk and laundered 87% cotton 13% spandex, 8.0 ounce."
#6: Itsmeowornever - "These organic lemon pop energy squares will make not only fill you with energy but make your mouth pop with delight! Packed with real lemon flavor, organic dates, raisins, sunflower seeds, and apricots. Packed with nutrition and taste these bars are perfect anytime you crave a snack." Its healthy, awesome snacks like this that make it easier to survive a "diet"...
#7: AlterEcoClothing - "DIY Ripped Tattered Two Layer Skulls Stars ORGANIC PANTS" As always... leave it to the uber hottie Bianca to keep me motivated to lose weight, lol Perfect goal is to get into her sexy yoga pants! Get your mind outta the gutter, duh, i mean, Wear them!!
#8: ItsMeowOrNever - "Treat yourself to our awesome berry mix. Packed with strawberries, sour cherries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries, blueberries, and bing cherries. This is definitely one mix you do not want to miss." I just HAD to use them again... Im falling in love with all their heathy snack options!!
#9: NatureBaby - could this be ANY cuter!? "Baby's Yoga Mat 100 percent recycled" Izzaq always does yoga with me and wants to be on the mat... i bet he would LOVE this!

**If any of you wonderful featured sellers would like to host a review & giveaway here at the blog leave a comment or send me an email to rockerbyebaby@gmail.com We would LOVE to try your products!!!***

New tags!

Alright - now how cute are these? Around here at RockerByeBaby we are always striving to be more Green & Eco Friendly... we use recycled paper... reuse all our packaging... most of which was even recycled in the first place... we cloth diaper... we eat Organic, etc etc etc.... another big step we just made was switching over to Organic tags! They are printed with a water based ink and super gentle on both baby and the environment and will even soften as they are washed... love them! Take a sneak peek here... and slowly but surely we will get all the shop photos switched over to the new tags :)

Wordless Wednesday? No, something better!

I know i know... today is supposed to be Wordless Wednesday... but how can I be wordless when I have so much to say!! Today I have to talk to you about the new love of my life.... Yogurt... Almost every morning for breakfast Zave gets a big bowl of Organic Oatmeal & Yo!Baby Yogurt. I love that he can eat something SO amazingly healthy and really enjoy every bite. Plus, its organic so I know he is getting the best of both worlds. Oatmeal is super high in fiber and can help reduce the risk of diabetes. Diabetes is a major factor for heart disease so Oatmeal is an easy way to help prevent it. Just half a cup of oatmeal offers five grams of heart healthy fiber and only 130 calories and it even helps to keep baby full rather than a small breakfast then one snack to the next. And yogurt? There are SOO many reasons why to love Yo!Baby Yogurt...

"YoBaby contains our exclusive blend of six cultures, including the probiotic L. rhamnosus. it provides 25% of your baby’s daily need for zinc, the mineral that helps support a healthy immune system... YoBaby provides at least 25% of your baby’s daily needs for calcium, protein, and vitamin D, plus other nutrients essential for babies' growth." Now, I have been using Yo!Baby since they were both little... so over 2 years now... and though I am completely loyal, I can only get the Fruit & cereal yogurt at my local Target. :( When shopping yesterday for groceries... I found something new... and one step above my love for my Yo!Baby yogurt options... Horizon's Natural Little Blends...

I am ALWAYS fighting with my kids to get them to eat their Vegi's and they always win... but with this, they have no clue... no fighting... just eating... like I said before, im in love... Horizon's Little Blends are "produced without the use of artificial flavors, preservatives, colors, and sweeteners, Little Blends is natural. And that means no high fructose corn syrup and only milk from cows free of growth hormones (rbST). In fact, every container supplies 25% of the recommended daily value (DV) of protein, 20% DV of calcium (crucial to developing strong bones and teeth), 20% DV of Vitamin A, plus Vitamin D, Iron, and probiotics. Little Blends is also a source of DHA Omega-3, a nutrient that doctors agree children don’t get enough of. Shown to help support eye, brain and heart health for growing kids, DHA Omega-3 is a fatty acid that has been recognized as playing an important role in children’s development." If you check out the ingredients you will see they use Organic Milk and lots of other Organic ingredients... so I still know Zave is getting the best I can give him... and now, even better than before.

This week - were trying out the Strawberry & Carrot's and also the Apple & Butternut Squash. So far so good! Babies are eating it up and mama can sleep easy knowing they are getting all the goodies they need in their tiny bodies & brains. Hurry and get some yourself! Its on sale at target right now... a 4 pack for $2.50 (2/$5)... Their website also has coupons available so you can save even more. I believe it is $1 off a 4 pack... which makes them just $1.50 right now if you hurry!! HOpe you enjoy my little rambling today... I was really excited to find this new yummy yogurt.

I wanna share with you guys ONE MORE THING that I am sure you will love... back when i worked retail, I worked in a store that had a HUGE cooking section... and before I left I bought the book "The Toddler Cafe"

This book is so beyond amazing and I have not even got to try the majority of them yet. Some are really simple ideas like "Waffle Grilled Cheese" which is as easy as it sounds... just like making a regular grilled cheese but on a waffle maker instead of a skillet... Or, the Banana Hotdog?? Hot dog Bun... Banana... PB & j... crazy right? But genius... all the fun of a hot dog... with none of thr gross fats and fillers of a hotdog! But my favorite that I have been dying to try for the boys Lily Pad Pancakes.

Yield: makes 15 silver dollar-size pancakes
Ingredients
8 ounces (about 1½ cups) frozen peas, thawed
2 tablespoons water
1 egg
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
Vegetable oil, as needed
Butter or plain yogurt for serving
Directions
Preparation: Set aside 1/3 cup of the peas.
Add the remaining peas to a blender with the water and egg; purée until smooth.
Pour the mixture into a medium bowl and stir in the flour, salt, and baking powder and gradually mix with a fork or whisk. Stir in the reserved 1/3 cup peas; let the batter rest for 10 minutes while you clean up.
Place about 2 tablespoons of oil in a sauté pan, warm over medium heat until shimmering, and drop 1 tablespoon of batter into the pan. Gently cook for about 3 minutes, until you see bubbles forming around the edges. Flip and cook on the second side until very lightly browned. Continue until all the batter is gone. Serve warm with butter or plain yogurt.
Variation
1. Add in cooked bay shrimp, diced chicken, or fresh corn.
Notes
Use petite green peas when possible; do not use canned peas for this recipe.
Toddler tip
If your child won’t usually eat peas, make sure you add all the peas to the blender in the first step so they get puréed.

These ingredients will TOTALLY be on the grocery list this week... I know the boys will love them... There are SO MANY more creative and healthy recipes like these in The Toddler Cafe... I really recommend that you go out and grab one for yourself! Also - be sure to check out her blog where you can find random fun recipes that she comes posts through the year! Maybe if you guys comment enough, I can talk her into doing a giveaway on the blog!? COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT! What are your favorite creative kid recipes?

(I am in no way being endorsed by ANY of these products... just items I personally love and use regularly.)

Wordless Wednesday - Clearance shirts!

Hey guys! So we did a big custom order with our logo and they print just wasn't as big as we had hoped... So we are selling them at a MAJOR discount of just $10 and free shipping... $20 off from what the normal regular price is. They are 100% organic cotton with water based inks. Totally eco friendly...
I have:
2: size 6-12 months...
1: size 12-18 months...
3: size 18-24 months... SOLD OUT!!
Leave a comment here or send me an email if you want one! They will go super quick so Im not listing them in the shop...

Bonus Blog: Manic Organic

So I know its supposed to be my lazy day...
but i couldn't resist.
Yesterday Zaq & I went grocery shopping with the boys...
And i have made HUGE changes in the way that I shop...
Like I said - im trying to be more eco-friendly... and Green... and Crunchy....
and all of those kinda of things...
It started with little things I could do around the house... electricity... water...
and then diapering... Cloth @ home...
and the Green disposables diapers when were out or for nap & bedtime...
Then I started buying Organic as much as I can.

Well, for zaq its hard...
We have all been eating non-organic food forever and were still alive...
why stop now? And spend a ton of extra $ in the process?
...not really his thing, lol...
And alot of other people out there feel the same...
Im quoting an article I found here.
" Many people are aware that food grown according to organic principles is free from exposure to harmful herbicides and pesticides, but that is only one small aspect of organic agriculture. A larger part of organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and the ecosystem in which crops and livestock are raised. Why should a consumer care about agricultural techniques if an organically cultivated green pepper looks identical to a conventionally grown pepper?
The answer is multi-faceted, but simply stated, an organically cultivated pepper will be healthier and more nutritious than a conventionally cultivated pepper. By growing in a living soil where microbiotic activity constantly breaks organic matter and solid minerals into nutrients a plant can use, an organically cultivated pepper plant always has exactly what it needs to grow, from germination to fruit set, and the plant will be healthier throughout its lifespan than a conventionally grown pepper plant."
Still not completely sold? Maybe some of you are... but probably not most...
The price chance in items can be pretty huge sometimes...
Conventional Grapes cost around $2 a pound... Organic grapes sometimes costing up to $5.
Bananas that usually cost .29 cents a pound... may cost .50 a pound...
Its not easy... but there are ways to make eating & shopping organic more affordable.
Here is what I have been doing so Zaq and I can meet in the middle...
We used to buy all "brand" food... supplies... etc.
The first and probably most financially changing thing we did was start shopping @ Costco.
I can buy a 3 pound container for Organic Mixed salad greens for $2.95-$3.95
One time we even got a 3 pound shell of Organic strawberries for $5!!
I once went into target to find Strawberries - my only option were non-organic...
1 lb. for $6 Thats insane!!
So yes, Costco... they also sell the Eco-diapers we like @ Costco.com 170 diapers for $40...
rather than 62 diapers for $20 @ Target...
Costco is great when you need to do the one BIG shop...
spend a couple/few/four hundred dollars and store up for the month...
the savings are HUGE.
Anyways... back to my real point... shopping organic.
In no way do I buy everything organic...
but for the kids I try pretty hard to make positive changes...
In my shopping cart:
Organic Mac & Cheese...
Organic Ravs
Organic Lettuce (Romaine Hearts)
Organic Grapes (my favorite... never want to eat regular ones again)
Organic Yogurt (YoBaby w/ DHA) <-- love this stuff...
Organic Waffles
Organic Oatmeal
Organic Carrots
Organic Celery
Organic Bananas
and a bunch of other random things...
I buy when things are on sale... and some things I just buy that I love...
YoBaby and Organic grapes will ALWAYS be in the cart/fridge...
Im just trying to do better things for them...
with maybe a small sacrifice of my favorite brand for myself...
while not spending any more of hubbies hard earned money than we usually do...

The reason Im posting today is I would LOVE to hear how you mommies do it...
How do you shop? Where do you shop? Do you buy organic?
Everything Organic? Some things Organic?
Where are best deals... Coupons?
and how can you help me take even bigger steps towards an organic lifestyle.

Shayna Punam HUGE baby bath product giveaway DONT MISS THIS ONE!

When it comes to Shayna Punam...
I dont even know where to begin.
She is THE MOST under rated Etsy shop I have ever come across.
Her stuff is amazing... yet only 6 sales and 42 hearts :(
Well this week, we need to change that for her.

Before we get to the giveaway goodies, let me tell you a bit about her shop...
First off, she makes wonderful all natural body products for mommy & baby.
and Secondly, Shayna Punam stands for beautiful Face in Yiddish... awe...
well, a beautiful face is not all you will have with her stuff...
I wanna share with you the story of my son's beautiful Butt... yeah, thats right... BUTT!

The day my goodie bag showed up in the mail, my son had a HORRIBLE diaper rash...
the worst he has every had...
he was so red and raw just out of no where.
I didn't know what to do as the over the counter stuff like Balmex never worked for him...
and we didn't have any luck with Bordeaus Butt Paste either...
Well, Shayna Punam was the saving grace.
I pulled out the Butt Buster Bath Soaker and gave him a good soak.

You just drop it in and run the warm water.
The bath smelled wonderful...
full of all natural Oatmeal, calendula, chamomile and lemon balm...
After that I sat the bag out on the counter to dry (one pouch is good for 6 baths!!)
I dried him off and got him ready for bed...
but before I put on his diaper I gave him a good coating of the Butt Buster Balm.
By morning... it was half as red and irritated...
I continued to put the Balm on after every diaper change...
and repeated the soak and balm process over night...
and by the next morning it was gone.
I was absolutely blow away & i immediately wrote to her explaining our success w/ her products.

Part of me wishes the boys had a cold...
because Im sure the Cold & Cough soak works just as well...
No cold? Try out the Night Night Wash & the Night Night balm paired together...

Just wash up baby with the gentle lavender wash...
The take the balm, and just Rub gently on their Chest & Back...
and even under their nose if you want.
Feeling restless yourself? This is great for mommies as well.
Lavender is a natural stress reliever.

I could literally talk forever about all the amazing products that she has...
but you wont really know until you try them out yourself.
But I assure you... each item is worth the investment.
After all, its all natural ingredients for you and baby...
there's nothing more important than that...

Right now, you must be thinking, wow! It can't get an better than that!
Well, it can... ;)
She has a sister shop, ANNABELLA KNITS, that makes soakers, longies, skirties and more...
that she makes out of 100% hand dyed wool.
Guess what... she has sent us one of those too!

Now, I couldn't choose which one to review and which one to giveaway so Im letting the winner pick.
They are both around a size Large - that way most every mommy has a chance to win...
So - to the details...
The prize is valued @ almost $100
The soakers:


and the Travel Kit:


The winner will receive one of everything in the Travel Kit...
and ONE of the soakers...

How to win:
Leave us a comment here...
tell us why you want to win...
*AND* If you won... which soaker you would like to have... Blue or Skull

Extra Entries:
#2) Follow us (blogger) - Leave a separate comment for being a follower on our blog.

#3) Follow/Tweet us (Twitter) - www.twitter.com/RockerByeBaby Leave a separate comment for being a follower and TWEETING about this giveaway on Twitter... If your already a twitter follower of ours, TWEET about it for an extra entry anyways :)Just be sure to leave us your Twitter name so we can check up!

#4) Write a blog about this giveaway and link back to this review. Leave an extra comment with the link to the blog.

#5) Buy something from one of the two stores - leave the link to the transaction in a separate comment.

#6) Give their shop a "heart" on etsy!! Leave a comment saying you hearted them!

As always -
Thanks for reading and good luck!
Amber

Dont miss this one! Barley & Birch Giveaway!

I gotta say - Im in love with Barley & Birch.
If you visit their website...
http://www.barleyandbirch.com
You will see that its modern clean and bright, just like their products.
At the top of EACH page is a different adorable baby spreading the green word...
such as:
"Owen didnt sweat the big bad wolf, it was deforestation that kept him up at night"
"Luisa had plenty of milk. Still, she worried about the world's supply of fresh drinking water."
Ya know, here @ RockerByeBaby, were not perfect, but Im sure trying.
Inspired by last weeks review we have started cloth diapering part time.
I know I know... part time? Well, I figure its half the diapers in the landfill.
Its gotta be better than nothing, right?
We dont use throw away dishes anymore, at all....
We use reusable bags, and if I can't...
I reuse the plastic one as a trash bag in the bathroom.
For our wedding, I am using trees as my centerpieces...
Not waste, no cut flowers, and afterwards all our family can plant it.

I never used to care until I had kids...
and one day while reading my science book from college...
I read that in the year 2050 fresh water could be like buying gasoline.
Something we take advantage of now...
may not even be there for our kids and grandkids to take a clean bath or shower!!
This is the kind of thing that keeps ME up at night...
What are we doing to our world?
And most of all, what are we doing to our kids?
How can we be good parents when we are destroying their future?
Its time to make a change... its time to take a step in the right direction...
Baby steps...
All of their clothes are made in the USA and 100% Organic cotton...
soft like butter against babies skin...
they also use water-based inks that are gentle on our planet.
and best of all... they're not selfish...
10-30% of all their profits go to organizations to help better our earth.

See how easy it is to help?
Shop, I know you guys are good at it :)
Take a baby step in the right direction, your kids will thank you.
And, look how cute it is! Totally not your typical green wear...
I can't even begin to choose a favorite...
Their t's are awesome...
Bright, colorful, fun...


and it doesnt stop there with Pants, Hats, Tanks and more!



I really want to see these guys succeed in the quest for a greener planet...
Which means, I really want to see YOU GUYS go above and beyond to make this review count.
I want to see lots of tweets, blogs, followers and fans...
Barley & Birch deserve it!

They have been SO generous to let us try out their Monkey's t shirt...
Its so cute... so soft... and perfect for my little Monkeys.
Here's my attempt at a cute Barley & Birch photo :)
Wish it were better quality... but its cute, right!?

and guess what! You get one too!
Two winners will get a free tshirt this week...
I have a size 2t and a size 4t available in the monkey print.


Go check out their site and tell us about your favorite goodies they have up for grabs
Also, dont forget to tell us if you would prefer a size 2t or 4t Monkey Shirt if you win.

Extra Entries:
#2) Follow us (blogger) - Leave a separate comment for being a follower on our blog.

#3) Follow/Tweet us (Twitter) - www.twitter.com/RockerByeBaby Leave a separate comments for being a follower and TWEETING about this giveaway on Twitter... If your already a twitter follower of ours, TWEET about it for an extra entry anyways :)Just be sure to leave us your Twitter name so we can check up!

#4) Write a blog about this giveaway and link back to this review. Leave an extra comment with the link to the blog.

#5) Buy something from one of the stores - leave the link to the receipt in a separate comment. http://www.barleyandbirch.com/wherebuy.php

#6) Follow them on twitter and tweet about this giveaway @BarleyandBirch (Leave a separate comment here for your entry)

#7) Follow their new blog and leave them a comment on any blog of your choice. (Leave a separate comment here for your entry)
http://www.barleyandbirch.blogspot.com/