Nui Organics Grid Blanket
January 23rd, 2008
Now that I’m expecting my own little one this summer, I’ve been combing every available baby website hunting for clothes, cribs, gear and just about everything else!
Along the way, I found this amazing organic blanket made by Nui Organics and thought I would share it with you!
From the Tiny McSmall website,
NUI Organics baby blankets are crafted from the finest purest wool in the world - 100% certified organic New Zealand Merino.
They use no dyes, just all natural colors. The rich deep cocoa in the Grid blanket is from a black sheep. You will find no chemical dyes or bleaches in NUI Organics™ blankets to greet your newborn.
The blanket is a pricey $148, but it looks so luxurious that this one might be worth a splurge!
Alarming Levels of Mercury in Tuna Sushi
January 22nd, 2008
Holy crap! This story in today’s NY Times is making me want to cancel my dinner reservations.
It turns out that a recent test conducted by the Times of some of New York’s swankiest sushi restaurants showed levels of mercury so high that the FDA could take legal action to have the fish removed from the market.
A mere six pieces a week could exceed the levels recommended by the EPA.
According to the NY Times,
“No one should eat a meal of tuna with mercury levels like those found in the restaurant samples more than about once every three weeks,” said Dr. Michael Gochfeld, professor of environmental and occupational medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, N.J.Six pieces of sushi from most of the restaurants and stores would contain more than 49 micrograms of mercury. That is the amount the Environmental Protection Agency deems acceptable for weekly consumption over a period of several months by an adult of average weight, which the agency defines as 154 pounds. People weighing less are advised to consume even less mercury.
Here’s the kicker - it turns out that the more expensive the sushi, the more likely it is to contain higher levels of mercury because of the size of the fish it comes from. The bigger the bluefin, the longer it has been swimming and eating other mercury-contaminated fish, the more ends up finding a home in your tissues.
Pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers and children are obviously at higher risk, and are recommended by the City of New York not to eat any kind of mercury-rich fish sources, including the sushi grade bluefin tuna.
Yes, Mom, you were right and I was wrong.
Furochic Gift Wrap
January 22nd, 2008
I found this really beautiful and eco-friendly gift wrap idea on one of my new favorite blogs — Rare Bird Finds.
Sold on the New York Public Library website, the beautiful and reusable gift wrap comes in five different fabrics with a Japanese flair and sells for $12.95.
According to the library shop website,
Based on Furoshiki, a square cloth traditionally used in Japan to wrap shopping purchases and embellish important gifts, Furochic is made of 100% cotton and measures 27″ X 27″. Furochic comes with a full yard of tying ribbon, a matching card and illustrated instructions for wrapping techniques.
Next time you’re unsure about the gift you’re giving, why not wrap it in something so beautiful the gift itself is merely an afterthought?
And check out more of the amazing posts over at Rare Bird Finds — you’re guaranteed to find something to fall in love with!
Simple Food Soynut Butter
January 22nd, 2008
I must admit that I love me some peanut butter, but these super cute and super healthy soynut butters from Simple Food might just convince me to branch out!
In addition to the No Salt, No Sugar version for purists, the offerings include Slightly Salted, Slightly Sweet, Cinnamon Sugar and even Chocolate!
The butters are peanut-free, tree nut-free, gluten-free, certified organic, vegan AND kosher, so whatever your particular dietary hangup, these soynut butters are bound to fit the bill.
To be honest, I just can’t wait to open my pantry door and see these adorable jars sitting on the shelf! Now I just need to find the perfect jelly…
FDA Bans Cold Meds for Kids
January 17th, 2008
If your kid is suffering through a runny nose and cough this winter, you may be tempted to reach for the same cold medicine you take for your own cold symptoms.
According to an FDA ruling issued today, however, cold medicines for children, especially children under the age of 2, can be potentially life threatening.
According to MSNBC,
Thursday’s advisory marks the government’s first ruling on the issue: Don’t give the drugs to children under 2. And it comes now because the FDA is worried that parents haven’t gotten that message despite all the publicity last fall.
They may still have infant-targeted drugs at home, or they may buy drugs meant for older children to give to hacking tots instead, said Dr. Charles Ganley, FDA’s nonprescription drugs chief.
“We still have a concern,” Ganley said. “It falls out of people’s consciousness. We’re still in the middle of cold season right now.”
Time to head into your medicine cabinet and throw away all of those boxes of children’s cold and flu meds!