You too can support relief efforts in Haiti

In the past on this blog we would do a "thankful thursday" post. It's been a really long time since we've had one and the recent devastation in Haiti (due to a 7.0 earthquake) reminded me how very blessed I am. I wish it didn't take a disaster to put things in perspective but that's often what happens.

Who cares if I have purple crayon all over my walls? At least I have four walls that make a home for our family. So what if my foot sticks to the floor when walking through they kitchen? At least we have food on the table along with the floor. My furnace may make really strange sounds in the middle of the night but it keeps my family warm. And though my girls may use up all the hot water when they shower, there's more where that came from.

My heart goes out to those affected by the recent earthquake, both in Haiti and around the world. But a heart can only do so much; that's why I'm so glad Cool Mom Picks promptly put up a post outlining a variety of ways in which you can donate your time, money and supplies:

"Got donations? Here's how to help Haiti"

I chose to go with Direct Relief International since every penny I donate goes directly to relief efforts already underway in this earthquake-ravaged area but there are plenty of other options and resources.

My friend Sarah over at Cable Car Couture also mentioned another option for those looking to help. In "Contribute Aid for Haiti Earthquake Victims" Sarah highlights a local Utah business owner who is partnering with Healing Hands for Haiti in gathering donations. Vanessa from I Never Grew Up (one of my fave blogging girlfriends) also has a few links to other organizations. You can catch those links in her post here.

And the efforts don't stop there. Take a few minutes to count your blessings...and then count out a few dollars or a few hours of your time to help those in need. Every little bit helps. --Emily

P.S. If you check the comments below, my friend Kalli (My Life as Kalli) is organizing a quilting bee here in Utah and could use donations. Please read her comment for more info and donate if you can!

P.P.S. Allison from Petit Elefant just posted about a fabulous auction our mutual friend Alma is having on her Ollibird site to benefit victims of the recent earthquake. Some fabulous prints and some fabulous prices on Photoshop and Illustrator classes (if you live in Utah). Check it out!

Image by alandd, shared via Flickr.

A Glimpse of Santa

Camille over at Make It Work Mom gave me the heads up about a fantastic photo opportunity for the holidays, not only because it's sure to be the easiest, cutest way to get pics with Santa but also because it supports a worthy cause. A Glimpse of Santa is truly a gift that gives back!

I too have dealt with those oh-so-fun trips to the mall for a photo with Santa. It was a traumatic experience and like Camille, the end result was a photo of not only Santa and my dear daughter but also me (and I'm pretty sure I didn't have makeup on either). That's why I love the idea behind A Glimpse of Santa. Here's an intro, thanks to Make It Work Mom:

A friend of mine, Jennifer Eliason, is offering special photo sessions with your kids and Santa. Only this one has a twist. The Santa is YOU! How cool is that? "Santa’s" face won’t be in the picture, but your kids’ true, naturally excited expression will! So, instead of tucking away a picture taken by a mall employee of a bearded guy from off the street holding your screaming toddler, you walk away with a classy, quality candid of your little one that you’ll want to frame and display throughout the holiday and each year!

And if you book your session for DECEMBER 12, you’ll be helping out little Odette, a 1-yr-old who is battling leukemia because 100% of all Jen’s proceeds for that day will be donated to her fund.

Check out Jen’s blog for more details then contact Jen today to book your session!

You can also check out Camille's post over on Make It Work Mom. Her blog is definitely one you'll want to add to your blog reader!

Though we probably won't make the December 12th date as times are going quickly, I am hoping we can find another time early this season to catch our own glimpses of Santa, Christmas pj's and all! --Emily

Celebrate Nie Nie's birthday with The Sweet Tooth Fairy!

Just the title of this post should have your tastebuds all atingle with the thought of a celebration complete with decadent cupcakes, cookies and my newest love, The Sweet Tooth Fairy's famous cake bites. (Yes, they really are famous. To find out why, click here. Hint: it has something to do with Rachael Ray and the "snack of the day.")

I love a good celebration, but what makes a celebration great is when it's all about helping, lifting, supporting someone else, and this is one is all about doing just that. It's Nie Nie's birthday and what better reason to celebrate? (Okay, kids sleeping through the night comes close!) In honor of Nie Nie, The Sweet Tooth Fairy is having a celebration tomorrow, June 27th at their store located in Provo, Utah. From 11am to 7pm you can shop, eat and shop some more. (Think gifts for friends or a "sweet" pick-me-up for a family member.) Proceeds from the sale of her special VaNIElla Squared cupcake will benefit the Nielsen family and the Arizona Burn Center.

Don't live within an hour's drive of Provo, the city The Sweet Tooth Fairy calls home? Don't worry; you can still party along with the rest of us and show your support by ordering your VaNIElla Squared dozen (or two) over the phone and have them shipped anywhere in the U.S.! Trust me, their worth 100x their weight in gold! So satisfy your cupcake cravings and support a worthy cause by joining in the Nie Nie birthday celebration with The Sweet Tooth Fairy. (And while you're at it, order about a pound or two of their cake bites.)

For more details on the event, click here. --Emily

P.S. You can follow The Sweet Tooth Fairy on Twitter (@sweettoothfairy) or become a fan of her on Facebook!

Don't miss Utah's 7th annual Chalk Art Festival!

I am the worst mom when it comes to doing fun, culturally enlightening, non-McDonald's-playland things. I could learn a lesson or two from my friend Vanessa over at I Never Grew Up and Utah's Natural Kids! But I am stepping up my mothering a notch this week and plan to take my kids to a wonderful event put on by the Utah Foster Care Foundation.

The 7th annual Chalk Art Festival will be held June 19-20 along Rio Grande Street at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Festival attracts more than 120 artists ages 12 and up and more than 17,000 visitors each year and turns The Gateway into a live entertainment and street painting celebration. More importantly the event helps to raise funds for the Utah Foster Care Foundation.

The festival is completely FREE to the public--a great thing for those of us on a tighter budget! The professional, adult and student artists will transform the streets of The Gateway into a beautiful, temporary art gallery for the entire family to enjoy. How cool is that?!?!

The festival also features a “Kids Korner” where children can create their own chalk art. The Chalk Art Festival is a great way for the family to spend more time together while at the same time helping people become aware of 2,600 Utah children in foster care and their need for loving homes and families.

Festival hours:
June 19 from 4-9pm
June 20 from 10am-9pm

Not sure you want to attend? I bet checking out artwork from some of the past Chalk Art Festivals will change your mind! You can view a slideshow of past artwork here.

I believe there is still time to help sponsor the event and sign up as a volunteer. Unfortunately for your budding artists, artist registration is closed for the year. But now that you know about the annual festival you can start planning your entry for next year! For more information visit www.chalkartfestival.org.

Darling, can you hear me? SOS!

My good friend Jyl from Mom It Forward recently wrote a post titled "10 Tips for Raising Service-Oriented, Giving, and Charitable Children" (a must-read for every parent). The post got her thinking about how "one of the best ways to teach your children to be service oriented is to model the behavior for them." That thought led to what is now the Summer of Service (SOS) Challenge. What I love about this challenge is that it's not only easy and fun but it will make a big difference in the quality of our family's summer. Here are the details:

The SOS Challenge

Every Sunday from now through Labor Day you will find a new SOS Challenge of the week on http://momitforward.com.

Simply click on the SOS Challenge post and read the details and 10 suggested ideas on how you can make a difference related to the week's theme. The goal is to do one act of kindness a week. (If you have other ideas that fit the topic, feel free to share them on the site.)

Once you have completed the week's challenge, post on your site about your experiences and/or leave a comment on that week's post.


The Giveaways

The fun part? Each week a different company will sponsor the challenge and they come bearing gifts! You can enter to win one of the giveaway prizes every week. This week's giveaway includes a popcorn bowl, three boxes of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn and Kathy Peel’s most recent book, The Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Organized Home. Click here for details and to enter!


The Button

The more people involved, the more lives changed. If you'd like to help spread the word about the SOS Challenge, please copy the image above and paste it in your blog or site's sidebar with a link to http://momitforward.com.

Diane Birch: Discover & Donate

I didn't know anything about Diane Birch until a recent #gno on Twitter and even now I know I still have much to learn about this rising new star in the musical world. Apparently her iTunes Single of the Week "Rise Up" was downloaded over 500,000 times! Bible Belt, her debut album, was released only a few days ago.

Diane's life experiences have made her aware of the great need for charitable work around the world and she's given fans a great way to support a variety of charitable organizations. Through Discover & Donate, Diane has teamed up with S-Curve Records so you can Discover her critically acclaimed album and Donate $1 to charity in the process.

To participate, visit the Discover & Donate page and choose a custom Diane Birch widget from one of six charities: Autism Speaks, March of Dimes, Keep A Child Alive, Share Our Strength, SOS Children’s Villages and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Then post the widget on your blog, website or social networking page.

Once you've done that tell your friends and family about Diane's new album; for each person that buys the album from either the iTunes or Amazon link through the widget you posted, a $1 donation per album sold will be made in your name. How cool is that! And get this: whoever raises the most money for charity through their widget by June 23rd will win a free private performance in the winner’s hometown!

What are you doing this weekend? I'm planning on checking out Bible Belt and spreading the word about Discover & Donate. Shouldn't that be on your to-do list too? --Emily

Hope for Maggie

I never watch the news. I should, I know, but it's often depressing, sometimes wrong and I rarely like what the weatherman has to say. But I am glad my friends watch the news since Vanessa from I Never Grew Up posted about Maggie's story, which she recently heard on ABC 4 here in Utah:

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Maggie Agnew is a bright, 10 month girl who is suffering from multiple medical problems. She has been called 'The Incredible Shrinking Baby' because now at 10 months, she weighs only 10 pounds.

Specialist after specialist has tried to diagnose the problem. But so far the cause of her ailments eludes them as does a treatment.

Her parents now believe that the best hope for Maggie may be at Boston Children’s Hospital. But to go there will cost money — lots of money. And even though the Agnews have health insurance, the copays and deductibles have already left them with a substantial debt.

You can read more about Maggie's story on the family's blog Hope for Maggie. You can support the cause by donating to the Agnew family through the PayPal link on the site.

And as Vanessa said, please feel free to copy this blog post and do your part to help spread the word about Maggie. Every little donation helps! --Emily

Made By Survivors: Give a truly meaningful gift this Mother's Day

I am all for sparkly things and two-pound boxes full of dark chocolate come Mother's Day, but what really sets my heart aflutter is a gift that gives back. I don't think we give these gifts often enough, and so this Mother's Day I want you to really think before buying that slow cooker or Kitchen Aid mixer. They may help support your position as the "favorite" in the family but do they support a more worthy cause like fighting human trafficking and modern-day slavery?

Made By Survivors is part of The Emancipation Network (TEN), an international organization that "[helps] survivors of slavery rebuild their lives after rescue from slavery, with sustainable income, education and help reintegrating into society. [They] work to prevent slavery in high risk communities such as red light and refugee communities, by creating jobs for adults and through volunteer trips and donations to our shelter partners for rescue, school fees, emergency needs and reintegration."

The Emancipation Network imports and sells a wonderful collection of beautiful handmade products created by survivors of slavery and persons at risk of being trafficked into slavery. Made By Survivors is where you can find these handcrafted products, from jewelry, handbags and clothing to paper products, home decor and fun children's items such as the Butterfly Purse pictured at left.

I love the Silver and Stone Necklace and these whimsical Recycled Rice Bag 3-Pocket Wallets! Though the selection isn't as huge as what you might find elsewhere online, I dare you to find a cause more worthy of your support. You can still give sparkly things for Mother's Day--they'll just have greater meaning this year.

For more the full line of Made By Survivors products, visit TEN's online store. To learn more about TEN and how they are "fighting slavery with empowerment" please visit The Emancipation Network site. --Emily

O Easter tree, O Easter tree!

Service is always important and especially so in an economic time like ours. There is no better way to forget yourself, your worries and your pity party than by serving others. And in today's world of "entitled" children, there's no better time for teaching our families the importance of service. It is an easy and wonderful way to remind them what's really important is not what you have but what you can give.

I recently had the opportunity to attend one of Mom It Forward's service projects. On March 28, 2009 Mom It Forward joined with Make and Takes to host a family-friendly service project benefiting The Christmas Box House in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Christmas Box House provides "greatly enhanced services to abused and neglected children and reflects a statewide model for delivery of best practice assessment and treatment services to victims of child abuse."

Inside the home is a large Christmas tree, which groups and individuals newly decorate each month. We had the month of April so a group of moms and children arrived on Saturday morning ready to craft! Marie from Make and Takes came with an arsenal of craft supplies provided by Provo Craft. We created tissue-paper chicks, paper Easter eggs, wooden Easter ornaments, tissue-paper flowers, styrofoam bunnies and various springtime pipe-cleaner designs.

Once our crafters were done crafting we carried the decorations to the tree and all the children helped strategically place them on the branches. (Okay, not so strategically but the effect was no less stunning!) The tree went from forlorn to fantastic in record time and the effect was very refreshing. Our kids gave that tree the Easter-y pick-me-up it needed!

After all our hard work glueing, taping, twisting and coloring we enjoyed the most decadent, scrumptious mini cupcakes from Cupcake Chic. I think I sampled all four flavors; my favorite were the ones that tasted like orange rolls--to die for! (A big thank-you to Cupcake Chick for donating the goodies...they were a huge hit!)

We had a really enjoyable time getting together with old friends, making new ones and thinking about someone other than ourselves for once. We are already looking forward to the next Mom It Forward service project. Until then we'll enjoy watching the slideshow from this one! --Emily

Eat at Costa Vida and support a worthy cause

My friend Jyl from Mom It Forward needs your help spreading the word about tomorrow's fundraiser. We're planning to be there and have already told friends and family about it. We'd love it if you'd now do the same. Here are the details:

Meet with Friends & Family & the Social Media Scene in Provo for a Great Cause Saturday, April 18

Mom It Forward, in partnership with 12 for 12K, is kicking off 6-weeks of fundraising for moms and by moms (March 31 through May 12) and we need your help!

On Saturday, April 18, events will be taking place all over the US, Canada and Australia with one event taking place right here in Utah.

The goal is to raise funds and awareness for a Utah-based charity—Yehu Microfinance, BasaBody, and Coast Coconut Farms to empower poor, rural entrepreneurs in Kenya to help lift themselves out of poverty through enhanced accessibility to sustainable financial services, business opportunities, and skills training. Mom It Forward's goal is to raise $50,000 and we'd like to raise $2,500 at our Provo event to contribute toward that goal!

* Date: Saturday, April 18

* Time: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

* Place: Costa Vida/Fat Cats Provo

* Activities: Dinner, Bowling, Games, Raffle

What is the Charity?

Yehu Microfinance, BasaBody, and Coast Coconut Farms work together to achieve this mission. How? First, women secure micro loans from Yehu Microfinance. Next, they purchase a franchise from Coast Coconut Farms, which gives them the materials, skills/business training, and opportunity to run a coconut oil extraction business right from their village. Then, Coast Coconut Farms makes regular village runs to purchase the coconut oil and processes it in its plant. Finally, Coast Coconut Farms exports the oil to the U.S. where volunteers there use the oil to create and sell bath, body, and cooking products—part of the Basa Body and Coast Coconut Farms product lines—returning the proceeds right back to Africa to help more and more women.

For questions, to learn more about the charity or to donate to the event please contact momitforward@gmail.com.

Can't Make the Party? You Can Still Participate in the Fun!

Take the attached coupon with you to any Utah Costa Vida location on Saturday, April 18 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 20% of your proceeds will go to charity. (Click here to see locations.)

The Voice of Mom: Tide Loads of Hope

I love when I can combine fashion with supporting a worthy cause, and thanks to a recent post from The Voice of Mom, I get to do that today! I had no idea Tide had a campaign called "Tide Loads of Hope," which "helps in the aftermath of a natural disaster by providing clean clothes and a sense of comfort to families in need."

Tide has partnered with Feeding America and the campaign travels to disaster-affected neighborhoods with either or trucks or vans providing families with free mobile laundry service. Who knew laundry was going mobile? What a great concept! From The Voice of Mom's post: "To date, Tide Loads of Hope has washed more than 35,000 loads of laundry for over 20,000 families. Most importantly, the Tide Loads of Hope program means [they’re] equipped to take action whenever and wherever there is a need in our country."

Here's where the cause ties into our fashion trend tuesday. You can support Tide Loads of Hope by purchasing one of their cool vintage tees. The tees come in four colors (red, green, blue and yellow) and both women's and men's styles. They are only $20, which is a small price to pay for a cool t-shirt and a cool cause. All profits go to support families affected by disaster.

To read more about the Tide Loads of Hope trucks and vans and the cool things they're doing, check out "Buy a Shirt, Help a Cause: Tide Loads of Hope" from The Voice of Mom. To purchase your own vintage Tide tee, visit the Tide Loads of Hope T-shirt page here. Nothing like some good, clean fun tees to kick of spring! --Emily

Photo from The Voice of Mom.

tired of the CPSIA? we sure are.

If you follow me on Twitter or simply follow any #cpsia tweets, or if you're lucky enough to know someone in the business of creating products for children then you've probably had an earful by now about the CPSIA or Consumer Product Safety Improvment Act. But even an earful isn't enough as the possible effects of the law are felt by more and more businesses (think Etsy), organizations (think the ALA--American Library Association) and you, the end customer (think less choices and higher prices).

Today has been designated as a CPSIA Blog-in, a virtual sit-in of sorts. Perhaps if we inundate the Web with what we know about this badly written law, we will finally be heard. I'm not sure Henry Waxman, Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, will ever listen to the message I left on his voicemail. (As someone said on Twitter, he probably has an assistant sitting nearby with one of those bus-driver clickers keeping count.) But as seen from the recent Motrin fiasco, we do know the power of bloggers--it's a force to be reckoned with!

I have already posted about the CPSIA with some of my favorite links but here are a few more just in case you thought you, the end customer, wouldn't be affected by its reach.

• The CPSIA: Soon to bar kids from libraries? (Yes, your toddler may not be able to thumb through those board books after February 10th.)
• Ten predictions for the CPSIA's effects on children's products for 2009
• "Say No to the CPSIA" Blog-In (I love this one as it breaks down those affected by groups, from the entrepreneur to the second-hand shopper.)
• CPSIA Series: Business is Personal (You too should take it personally!)
  
• CPSIA Links (Probably the most comprehensive list of resources out there: articles, videos, contact information and posts from experts)
• The Ballad of the CPSIA (This is quite possibly the pièce de résistance of the posts for today. I much prefer to laugh than cry...)
  

LeShan and I are doing our own protest of sorts and have yet to take an XRF gun to our line of infant apparel. Though the law does not allow us to use certificates of compliance from our suppliers (American Apparel for our tees and a local screen printer for designs), we will have their certificates stating both tees and inks are lead free. For us, that is enough. As our local American Apparel distributor said, and I quote, "Don't they know there's no lead in apparel?" And by "they" I'm pretty sure he meant the idiots behind the CPSIA.

We feel confident our infant wear is lead free and will continue to sell it on our site. We are also confident that change is in the air. We will be offering a really great sale in the next few days in "honor" of the CPSIA, so keep your eyes out for that announcement. (We are still working out the details.) Because we did not do our own testing, though it would've cost us only a few hundred dollars, you will not see our infant line on some of our online boutiques. Hopefully the law will be resolved soon and we can all get back to work. I know for many of us this CPSIA has caused more than a few gray hairs and more than a few added pounds due to stress-related eating.

We would love your help in spreading the word about the CPSIA and the possible National Bankruptcy Day on February 10th. If you don't feel up to contacting your local congressman perhaps you'd be willing to link to this post from Twitter, Facebook or even your own blog. If you've never participated in a sit-in, or blog-in in this case, now's your chance! --Emily

the giving tee

You've heard of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree but have you heard of Tiny Revolutionary's The Giving Tee? I doubt it's as well known as the aforementioned book yet it has just as strong an impact, if not more, on society. Why? Because The Giving Tee supports a variety of worthy causes.

My favorite Giving Tee has "This shirt saved a life" emblazoned on the front. The tee is the result of Tiny Revolutionary's partnership with Africa Aid. The shirt truly is a life saver. When you purchase a "This shirt saved a life" tee, $20 is donated directly to Africa Aid to fund a child in their school lunch program in the Buduburam Refugee Settlement in Ghana for an entire year. Yes, an entire year. The design is printed on a super soft 100% cotton vintage black tee with non-toxic inks. Each tee includes an inside print explaining the program and is hand-numbered before it's shipped so it's truly one of a kind.

Tiny Revolutionary has two other Giving Tees, both just as cool as their "This shirt saved a life." "No guitar left behind" helps provide music education and instruments to homeless and underprivileged kids in the Chicago area through Rock for Kids. "Where there is love, there is life" helps caregivers learn techniques that improve their ability to nurture a child's social, cognitive and physical development through Hands to Hearts International.

Giving Tees cost from $34 to $40, but $10 to $20 of that goes directly to a charitable foundation. (I can't say the same for my latest Esprit t-shirt purchase.) Tiny Revolutionary is giving you an easy way to support a worthy cause, something that's always in style and even more so in today's economy. Make your next apparel purchase your most fashionable one yet. --Emily

almost better than an SNL skit

What's hot for today's that's hot! thursday? It's the buzz about the recent interview with Vallese from the CPSC regarding the CPSIA. If you've been keeping an eye on the CPSIA issue via blog posts, news headlines or even Twitter than you've probably already heard about the "enlightening" WBAL TV interview with Vallese, (former) spokeswoman for the CPSC. If you haven't watched it yet, it's a must-see for even those not involved in the CPSIA issue.

After you've watched the video, perhaps you can tell me if I'm wrong when I say Vallese never really answered any of the questions asked during the interview. She talked and talked and talked but never said anything. She went from stating resellers of used children's products don't need to worry about testing to saying in not so many words (actually, many, many, many words) that testing may be the only way for a business owner to have the "level of confidence" she needs to sell those used products. By the way, the phrase for the day is "level of confidence" so wonderfully utilized throughout the second half of Vallese's interview.

I just wanted to say thank you to Vallese for clarifying the CPSIA for me. Now everything is crystal clear: The CPSC is just as confused as I am about the new legislation. Just as entertaining as the uncut interview are the various blog posts from those same "mommy bloggers" Vallese referred to so affectionately in her interview. You will find of my favorites listed below. Perhaps SNL should consider having Vallese host an upcoming show...

• National Bankruptcy Day: Alert the media! The CPSC has a sense of humor (love the "transcript" from the interview)
• From Cribs to Car Keys: When Will They Learn...
• MomDot: CPSIA Insults Mommy Bloggers (a little PG-13 but worth the read)
• Business Is Personal: CPSC's Vallese interview review re: CPSIA

This is probably the first day in a long time I've smiled when talking about the CPSIA. Hopefully it won't be the last time. Better laughing than crying, right?!?! --Emily

pediped & Make-A-Wish; you can make it happen

Learning how you can support a cause is always a great way to spend a wonderful web wednesday so that's what we're going to do right now.

pediped Footwear, one of my most favorite children's footwear companies, has always been committed to giving back to the community. Even in this depressing and sometimes scary economy, pediped is making a very rare offer on its website. (Rare because this is only the second time the company has made such an offer.)

From December 17th through the 31st, pediped is reducing the price of select footwear and will donate 50 percent of the sales from these shoes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Angela Edgeworth, pediped's president:

We believe in the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the good work it does with children. We are blessed with healthy children and feel compelled to make a difference in these children's lives. We initially pledged $50,000, but thanks to the generosity of our consumers, we are confident we can double that. We've reduced the price of our shoes, something we never do, as a way to give back to our consumers while benefiting this worthy charity. We hope everyone shares in the spirit of giving this season. Goodness knows people need it now more than ever. We should be thankful every day for what we have.

This is the first time pediped has partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and through its fundraising efforts the company has already raised over $87,000, enough to grant the wishes of 12 children with life-threatening medical conditions. You can view some of the granted wishes and keep up to date on pediped's goal by visiting the Make-A-Wish page on their website.

This special online fundraising event is good only through the end of December. You can learn more about this fundraiser and view the select footwear at pediped.com. Trust me, you'll want to do some shopping. Not only will it support a very worthy cause but you'll be dressing your child in some of the most stylish, child-friendly, even podiatrist-recommended footwear around. Can you tell I'm one of their biggest fans? (You can see for yourself by searching "pediped" on BoutiqueCafe.com.) --Emily

help save small business!

"Ball of confusion, oh yeah; that's what the world is today, hey..." Those are the lyrics (originally sung by The Temptations) that come to mind when reading about the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, or CPSIA for short. I've tried reading the info on the CPSIA website but my brain quickly becomes its own ball of confusion. What does it all mean for small business who manufacture/design/create products geared toward children age 12 and under? Will they (us included) go bankrupt because we can't afford third-party testing of our products to certify they do not contain lead or phthalates?

We are still doing our research but we have done enough to know reform is necessary to keep thousands of small business from closing their doors. "The CPSIA: Good in Theory, Hurting Small, Favorite Green Businesses in Practice" from The Smart Mama is a great post outlining the impact of the CPSIA on small and not-so-small business. It gives a better picture about what types of products/business are affected and the types of testing involved. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of the article:

On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed into law the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). It was drafted as a toy safety law in response, at least in part, to the numerous recalls in 2007 for lead in children's toys and jewelry. It was also drafted in response to the tragic death of a 4 year old after ingesting a charm that was almost pure lead.

It was designed to be a toy safety law, but its reach is much, much broader. And, like all broadly written, reactionary laws, it has very significant, it appears largely unforeseen consequences. Like perhaps putting out of business thousands of small manufacturers of children's products, including some of my favorites - the small manufacturers of reusable cloth diapers, natural wood toys, handcrafted costumes, and innovative children's products.

She promises to have another post on the phthalate portion of the CPSIA next, and we'll be on the lookout for it.

Another site serving as a clearinghouse for info is NationalBankruptcyDay.com: "February 10, 2009 untold numbers of children's products manufacturers and retailers will be closing their doors." Sounds like a national bankruptcy day to me. This site has the most recent info and FAQs on the new legislation with links to how you can get involved, from forums to writing the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and your legislator.

Z Recommends, one of my most favorite sites for children's product reviews, safety information and pretty much everything a parent needs to know, just posted "Five steps you can take to save natural/handmade companies from the CPSC and CPSIA":

Livelihoods, work-at-home arrangements, and the availability of handmade and natural products for our children are at stake. Here are five things you can do today to help force Congress to address the mess they've made before the law goes into effect on February 10, 2009.

The steps are fairly straightforward and require only a small amount of time. You might think the new CPSIA doesn't affect you, but even if you don't design and sell children's products, you probably buy them. With the way the CPSIA is now, you will have far less products from which to choose and the ones left on the shelves may carry a price tag no one can afford.

LeShan and I are still learning the ins and outs of the CPSIA but you can bet we're doing our part to make reform happen. Because if it stays as is, you will no longer see georgie tees cute infant onesies and tees online or in boutiques... --Emily

Tees for Change: inspiring, organic, & eco-friendly

I. Love. T-shirts. And that's probably the understatement of the year. My favorite outfit is a comfy pair of jeans and a super comfy tee, except in winter when it's a comfy pair of jeans and one comfy tee layered over another. I love it when I find a new line of tees like the PeaceLoveMom tees I reviewed on Boutique Cafe a few weeks ago.

Today's fashion trend tuesday features Tees for Change, a company I heard about only last week but wish I'd heard about sooner. Their line of eco-friendly t-shirts are not only super comfortable but stylishly simple and foster positive thinking with statements like "chase dreams," "practice kindness" and "live passionately." For babies my favorite is "dream big." They offer five different styles, from organic cotton fine jersey tees to bamboo raglan sleeves. All are super comfy and their styles appear to have a really flattering fit.

The tees from Tees for Change are all fair trade and made under sweatshop-free conditions from 100% organic cotton in the U.S. or 70% bamboo/30% organic cotton in Turkey. Just as cool as their eco-friendly fabrics is their commitment to giving back. Tees for Change has partnered with Trees for the Future and plants a tree for every tee purchased. (Trees for the Future plants trees in Asia, Latin America and Africa.)

With inspiring messages and an inspiring story, how can you not want your own Tees for Change t-shirt? I'd have purchased one by now but I'm having a hard time deciding which inspiring message is my favorite. Good thing I have a few pairs of comfy jeans just in case I need to buy more than one!

Right now Tees for Change is offering customers a free organic cotton tank with a purchase of $50 or more and they have $4.95 flat-rate shipping! Tees for Change make a great gift for friends and family, and you'll be giving back to the environment too. 'Tis the season to give, so give some 100% organic inspiration! --Emily

Project Angel Food: celeb-signed Trina bags on eBay

Though it's almost 3:00 p.m. MST it's not too late to post a very hot that's hot! thursday so listen up (or read through...).

This year at Divine Design, the West Coast's premiere fashion and home shopping event, 100% of proceeds from sales will directly benefit Project Angel Food, an organization whose mission is to "nourish the body and spirit of men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses."

At the event, leading designers donate fabulous fashions, furniture, beauty and gift items that are sold 50%-90% off retail. Trina, a line of luxury cosmetic bags, is donating close to $20,000 worth of product for the event but will also be raising additional money for Project Angel Food in a special auction on eBay starting December 5th. These auctions feature Trina bags signed by an impressive list of celebrities!

I absolutely love Trina--I was lucky enough to review Trina's Weekender bag on Boutique Cafe's Daily Dish. If you're looking for a new cosmetic bag or travel case, read my review.--you'll fall in love too! And if a higher retail price makes you hesitant about purchasing one, the following eBay auctions give you the perfect opportunity to own one at less than retail (unless of course the bidding gets out of control...a great thing for Project Angel Food, a not-so-great thing for you).

Here are the don't-miss eBay auctions of celebrity-signed Trina bags:

• John Mayer
• Adam Sandler
• Neil Patrick Harris & cast of How I Met Your Mother
• Vanessa Williams, Eric Mabius, Michael Urie & Ashley Jensen from Ugly Betty
• Ryan Seacrest
• Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill & Judd Apatow, producer of Step Brothers, Superbad, and 40 Year-Old Virgin
• Cast members from LOST

The auctions end December 13th so add them to your "watch" list. Just don't go watching the one signed by cast members from Ugly Betty...that one is SO mine!

If you have a blog or other website where you can post updates, please pass the word along. The auctions are for a very worthy cause. You'll be supporting Project Angel Food and crossing off an item on someone's wish list. I love win-win situations! --Emily

do you believe in Santa Claus?

It really is a wonderful web wednesday because without the web I may never have heard about Macy's "Yes, Virginia Letter" campaign to raise $1 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. I found out about Macy's wonderful holiday fundraising from one of my favorite blogs, A Mom in Red High Heels. She posted about the Santa letters on Tuesday and when it showed up in my blog reader I just had to click!

On the Yes, Virginia Letter page you can read Virginia's original letter to the editor and the editor's reply--one of my all-time favorite responses to one of the most important questions ever asked! You can also hear what the stars have to say about the spirit of Christmas and the belief in Santa Claus. But the real reason for the season can be found in Macy's efforts--and yours--to raise $1 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

How cam you help? All you need to do is write your own letter addressed to Santa Claus, place a stamp on it and take it to the special Santa letterbox located inside all Macy's stores. For every letter dropped in the letterbox, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Believe Meter (pictured above) will measure just how much we truly believe in the spirit of the holiday season. It will move based on the amount of letters received and any events where the holiday spirit has shined brightly.

Don't worry about your family's letters making it to the North Pole--Macy’s will mail them for you. If you're looking for something fun and meaningful to do with your children this holiday season, get together, write a few letters and help grant a wish. It's just one way to help remember the true reason for the season. --Emily

See Kai Run helps you "share a pair" for the holidays

What's hot? See Kai Run children's shoes (and their new Smaller line...see full "When 'smaller' is better" review on BoutiqueCafe.com).

What's hotter than that? Helping See Kai Run donate a pair of shoes to a child in need.

See Kai Run, a company that designs he perfect first shoe for new walkers, has just kicked off its Share a Pair for the holiday season. For every pair of shoes sold at SeeKaiRun.com starting November 1st and ending December 31st, See Kai Run will match the sale with a donation to Soles4Souls. (Soles4Souls is an international charity dedicated to providing footwear to disadvantaged people around the world.)

Share a Pair is part of See Kai Run’s ongoing campaign to share its shoes with children who need them most. To date, See Kai Run has shared over 24,000 shoes with children in need.

Though I don't often need a good excuse to buy cute new shoes for my babies, it helps to have one if only to somewhat appease the guilt of satisfying wants rather than needs. See Kai Run's Share a Pair is definitely a cause worthy of my support...and yours! --Emily