COOL STUFF
| by Candace Walsh | photos by Melyssa Holik
strokes of
Genius
Our roundup of the latest and greatest tricks,
tools, and treasures for you and your family

Lately, I’ve been really impressed
with the supremely appealing clothes
out there for grade-school kids. There’s
an abundance of cute baby wear, but I’d
noticed that the pickings got slimmer as
the kids grew taller—until now. ; Olive
Juice’s Schoolgirl Dress is just one item
in their line. Its vibe is prim and proper, but
it’s made of French terry, so it’s comfy and
recess-friendly ( www.olivejuicekids.com).
Hang it up with the ; Tatty Bumpkin
Bendy Hanger ( www.franklingoose.com).
; City Threads’double-layer T-shirts
come in a variety of motifs with beautifully
patterned sleeves ( www.citythreads.com).
; Angela Frost’s Zippitty Doo Da leg-
gings are the perfect under-skirt element
to dress up an outfit while keeping your
girlie covered as she hangs upside down
from the monkey bars ( www.frostcool.com).
And the ; Monkey T is just one of Tyler
Trends’ fair-trade, organic tops featuring
animal faces ( www.tylertrends.com). Polarn
O. Pyret, a Swedish clothing company new
to the US, is known for its versatile, durable
items in striped cotton, including these
; Classic Stripe Boxers from
their ECO collection (www.
polarnopyretusa.com).
When laundry time
rolls around, check
out Sweet Grass
Farm’s ; Farmhouse
Laundry Soap—a
little goes a long way,
and it’s low-sudsing and
biodegradable (www.
sweetgrassonline.com).
Speaking of
baby clothes,
these ; organic-
cotton baby hats , ;

from Hoot Organic are sure to stand out, thanks to their adorable silhouettes and fetching prints (www.hoot organic.com). Baggino’s sleeved ; Learner’s Bibs have it covered when you want to keep mealtimes from gumming up your cherub’s sleeves and lap ( www. baggino.com). Our fulfillment manager, Simone, tested out Spa Time Baby’s ;; Cozy Care Cape—a baby-bathtime towel smock that parents can wear—and loves it ( www.spatimebaby. com). Want to wear your baby in a sling or wrap over your coat? Kowalli’s ;; Baby Carrier Cover drapes securely over your sling as an extra insulating layer that’s also stylish and streamlined ( www.kowalli.com).

;; Earth Hydrating Phytelene Cream, from emerginC, is a pleasure to slather on my face ( www.emerginc.com). Sweetsation Therapy’s ;; Choco-Smooch Organic Baby Lip & Face Balm, with argan, calendula, and sea buckthorn, is the moisturizer my kids prefer by a mile—its main ingredient is organic cocoa butter. Also pictured is their ;; Sun’n’Fun Organic Baby Sunscreen ( www.sweet sationtherapy.com). ;; Good For You Girls is a line of natural skin-care products for teens that includes a cleanser, a toner, and a moisturizer that rely on green tea, chamomile, and vitamin E (www.goodfor yougirls.com). ;; Wembé soaps, from Paraguay, are fair trade and organic, and feature essential oils and moisturizing butters from the Amazon ( www.wembe.com).

Nature’s Way’s ;; Umcka Cold+Flu
Care is a homeopathic formulation
made from a species of geranium to treat
ha r
coughs and respiratory complaints.

Regrettably, I’ve had more than
one opportunity to try it this
year, as colds and flus
have made their way
through my family.
It’s been e;ective;
I’m a convert ( www.
umcka.com). My other
go-to concoction is
;; Jungle Balm, made of
culilawan (aka Lawang) es-
sential oil, sourced from a plant that grows
in the rainforest of only two of Indonesia’s
17,000 islands. In World War II, culilawan
was used as a substitute for morphine.
Jungle Balm has worked wonders to
relieve pains in my achy neck, and on
any of the kids’ bumps and bruises
( www.junglebalm.com).

And now the latest from the world of innovative, zero-waste lunch. ;; Yubo’s BPA-free Deluxe Lunchbox includes a nesting icepack and three lidded food containers ( www.getyubo.com).

It’s recyclable, dishwasher-safe, and has changeable faceplates. These organic-cotton sandwich and snack pouches from ;; Graze Organic are brilliant. Not only do they have cute graphics, they’re machine-washable, seal securely with Velcro, and don’t take up much space ( www.grazeorganic.com).

;;
o

Candace Walsh, mom to Honorée and Nathaniel, is Mothering’s features editor and product reviewer.