Where has this device been all my life?
Category Archives: Products and Gear
The diva in my life
If you are a guy, go ahead and stop reading. Seriously. Stop.
It took me three months to work up the nerve to use the Diva once I bought it. Each month, I would take it out of the little purple pouch and contemplate my readiness for this new venture. Then I would quietly put it back into the little purple pouch. Now I’m several months into the experience. Let me say this: It was only my love for the environment that kept me on the diva path. I added up the cost savings of not buying tampons and well, it wasn’t super significant. It isn’t that the diva is horrible. No. But the learning curve was steeper than I expected. And I was mightily skittish about the process. My imagination sometimes gets a little out of control. I had a few vivid images involving my uterus and suction dancing in my head. The first time, I had to call a friend to talk me through it (ok, more than just the first time). Still, each month, I feel a little more comfortable using it. Really, it isn’t bad. Sorry about that image of suction.
The diva: one more tiny way to decrease my footprint and lower the amount of chemicals entering my body. Check that one off my list.
I was also excited to see a full page diva ad in Scott’s Outside magazine.
Booklist
I haven’t written a book post in awhile. Here are a few of the books we’ve been reading lately:
Nora and the Great Bear: Norah LOVES this book. Young girl trying to keep up with the adults. She ends up discovering better ways of living (sum-up: you catch more bears with honey than guns…).
A Cat in a Kayak: A book I bought for Scott. I don’t think he read it. But Norah likes it. About a man who lives on an island and transports via kayak an assortment of animals to join him.
The Gas we Pass: Seriously, I learned some scientific things from this book. I mean, how many children’s books teach that a healthy person releases about 2 cups of gas each day? And contains such scientific lines as “These gases are made when leftover food is broken down by bacteria, rots and becomes poop.”
She is Born: I’ve been reading this book to Norah since, well, she was born. And I still cannot read it without crying. Still. If you are searching for the perfect gift for a new mother of a daughter, you cannot go wrong with this book.
The Runaway Pumpkin: Because it is October! Hoorah!
You can also take a look at the books we don’t yet own on Norah’s wishlist. You might even find some gift ideas for a toddler in your circle.
Simple (boring) me
I’ll let you in on a little secret about me…shhhhh…don’t tell…I don’t really go to any health providers on a regular basis. There. It is out. I don’t see a chiropractor, I rarely, rarely go to an MD, I don’t get regular massage therapy, and it has been way too long since I saw Mr. Dentist. (I would absolutely get regular acupuncture treatments if I could afford it though!). So, when I went to see Cara Davis for some chiropractic care after a long birth, I was relieved that she called me “simple.” I like that better than “boring.” I have no dramatic stories of body trauma and no car accidents to report. My husband is busy enough in that area for the both of us.
I was very happy with Cara’s work. She is so gentle! And I love her sweet spirit. She also shares a passion for pregnant and postpartum moms. So we hit it off right from the start. I’ve had a few friends who have taken their little ones to her and were amazed at how low-key and calm the visits were. If you’re seeking a chiropractor, I highly recommend Cara.
If You Are Searching for a Holiday Gift for a Toddler…
I know I’ve written about playsilks before. I’ve posted pictures and you’re probably tired of seeing them. But I’m still amazed at how these simple Waldorf silks have become a daily staple.
Here is a picture of Norah getting ready for “work.” Notice she’s babywearing her puppy. When I ask her what she does at her work, she tells me she plays with the children all day. The secret irony of this scene is that her t-shirt reads, “I’d rather be naked.”
Full disclosure: Lest you think I’m some spectacular Waldorf mama, it should be noted that yesterday while playing in the beautiful dusky outdoors, I saw Norah doing something in the grass with her fingers.
Me: Norah, whatcha playing?
Norah: I’m blogging, Mama. Here’s an email for you [she hands me a leaf].
And a few weeks ago, she handed me my white contact lens case saying, “Here’s your ipod, mommy.”
Technology creepin’ in.
Real Woman of Genius
That is YOU, Tracie Birch, photographer extraordinaire.
Yesterday, I witnessed my amazing photographer friend in action. She was photographing four tots (my wild daughter being one of them). I was impressed by how she kept her cool even though it was steaming hot outside.
What you will NOT get from a Tracie photo shoot: an obtrusive photographer yelling instructions or twisting you into fake poses. Tracie is all about documenting life and enjoying doing it. She photographed the Upstate Childbirth ladies once and I felt like a million dollars when she finished. I normally hate being professionally photographed.
If you’ve never checked out her work, go take a looksee. And you might even recognize the sweet puppy eyes on the site entrance pic.
the GO
A few weekends ago, Scott got to borrow a SylvanSport GO. Our brilliant engineer friend, Tom Dempsey, designed this incredible trailer/camper hybrid. We’d seen his design but to feast our eyes on the finished product–Oh My! Scott took it to the NOC/Dagger Freestyle Shootout and it certainly drew a crowd.
The pic below shows the GO in its most compact form. The top compartment holds the tent and gear with storage in the middle. The GO is light enough to pull behind a small car or even an ATV.
Then it is stretched open to hold…how many kayaks? It could also transport an ATV, motorcycle, surfboards–you name your outdoor adventure.
And my favorite part: the living quarters. Tom thought of everything; even a welcome mat! It takes only minutes to pop out the Kelty tent. The beds include a self inflating air mattress. Everything transforms so smoothly.
Genius!! I wish we hadn’t had to give it back to Tom. It would be perfect for an extended family trip across Canada. Maybe to Oregon? Alaska?
Pickens Flea Market
I wanted to properly introduce my friend Abby to SC. She’s from Vermont. Nothing captures the layers of our unique culture better than the Pickens Flea Market. Where else can you find old cobalt blue apothecary bottles and gorgeous stained glass windows on the same table with beanie babies, guns, and saran-wrapped meat?
Today I bought some honey sticks, The Healing Foods Cookbook, Healing with Whole Foods, not-ripe-enough muscadines, yellowroot sticks, Yogi Bedtime tea (1.00/box!), and garam masala. The trick is…you must look past the haze of cigarette smoke and fried pork skin fumes to see the promising treasures.
Things we did not buy: baby turtles, exotic chickens, boiled peanuts, plastic toys, eucalyptus plant, socks, squirrel feeder, or a frightening mole trap (I did get a mole trap demonstration though).
The Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap Book Sale
I went to the GLA annual book sale yesterday. Even dragging my tired tot along, I found some great books!
For the gentle parenting lending library, I picked up Positive Discipline, Positive Discipline A-Z, and Punished by Rewards. I squealed triumphantly when I found the Alfie Kohn book. I startled the pregnant mom beside me.
For the UCEDS library, I grabbed The Premature Baby Book, A Child is Born, Mamatoto: A Celebration of Birth, and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
For my husband, I snagged A Naturalist’s Guide to the Southern Blue Ridge Front, South Pole 900 Miles on Foot, Alaska Wilderness: Exploring the Central Brooks Range, and Still Waters, White Waters. He asked me if I was intentially trying to drive him away.
For Carey: Footprints by Denise Levertov. I finally found a bosom friend, kindred spirit who quotes poetry to me by email; not nearly as romantic as hand-written perfumed letters but who keeps stamps these days?
For Norah: only a tiny goblin book she sneaked into our bag. I’m a children’s book snob and the pickings were slim.
For me, I didn’t have much time. I mentioned the tired tot, right? I tangled with a football-playeresque guy over The Unicorn & Other Poems. Go figure. And, walking to the check-out, I reached back and grabbed Midwives.
Final bill: 25.00 Not bad. Until they announced that the “fill-a-bag-for-10.00” sale was starting in 15 minutes as I’m handed my receipt.
And now a word from our sponsor
Well, not quite–although if any companies out there would like to sponsor a family vaca…
Really, I wanted to give kudos to our carefully selected chemical-free sunscreen. I am super impressed by the way it performed on this vacation. We spent full days on the beach; Norah rolling in the sand and laying in the surf. We only applied sunscreen once before leaving our room and not an inch of ourskin was sunburned (except the parts we forgot to put sunscreen on–oops. Don’t worry, mom, Norah was slathered head to toe; I’m talking about her parents). I researched many sunscreen brands. I cross-checked EWG’s report and Safe Mama’s cheatsheet. I narrowed it down to a product I could buy locally. I had no expectations of it performing this well! It doesn’t even claim to be water-resistant. Cue the music.
Thank you Jason’s Natural for your amazing Sunbrella Mineral Sunscreen which is PABA-free and UVA/UVB-blocking. A little went a long way. And my test toddler put it to one heck of a test. You have won a loyal customer.
Inexplicable Ways 