Heather is not only providing green goodies to this wonderful community, but she is making it her mission to provide parents and caretakers with the support that they need and deserve. Heather Co-Founded Alameda Parent Support just this past year. You can read more about this below.

Monkey Bars turned 3 this past December and Heather invited Zoe Organics to join in on the festivities. It was a great afternoon filled with Zoe Organics massages, drinks, snacks and also the debut of the super cute Luna Leggings! We had a great time! Thanks, Heather!

Here is a Q&A with Mama Monkey, Heather Reed:

Q:  Tell us a little about the concept of Monkey Bars. Was this a lifelong dream or something that arose after having your baby boy?

It was more of an accident, actually. I’ve managed successful retail business in the past, but always yearned for something that was my own. I have a background in the wellness industry and before giving birth to Kyle in 2005, I was running a spa & all-natural skincare shop. I had every intention of going further down this path, but after getting to know my son & growing with him, my focus changed a bit. I feel like Monkey Bars is the best of both of these worlds.

1. Q:  You are a mother and run your own business. What advice would you give other women out there that are wondering if they can handle the challenges it can bring.

Well, I had NO idea what I was getting myself into, but it was all totally worth it! When I began, I had been divorced for just over a year, and my son & I were barely getting by. I started this with nothing but good credit (thankfully) and a giant leap of faith. Being a single mom brought its own challenges, but we got through it, and I ended up meeting my new husband who also helps me in the shop. Aside from challenges, being a mom and running a business also has its rewards. When school is closed, I can bring my son to the shop with me & since we’re expecting our 2nd child May 30th, I’m looking forward to bringing my nursling along too.

Q: We are truly impressed with the variety and quality of the products sold at Monkey Bars. What are a few of your guidelines for selling eco-friendly products at your store?

I’ll start off by saying that I don’t bring anything into the shop that I wouldn’t use myself – so my customers can rest assured that everything in here is either something I have used, or would use with my own kid. I exhaust myself with research as well as take loads of feedback from my customers & fellow mama friends. I like to tell new moms and dads that “I go crazy so you don’t have to”. That’s pretty much served everyone very well so far, however there are a few basic guidelines that I adhere to. First, we do our best to source locally (CA/Pac NW). When that’s not possible, we go for products that are US made. When we pull in lines from overseas, we only chose reputable vendors that have earth-friendly, fair, and responsible business models. For example, with the price of cotton skyrocketing globally, India is still able to produce quality, reasonably priced Organic apparel. Plus we love to support other small businesses, and when companies are starting out, they usually have to begin their manufacturing overseas.

Q:  You have a new baby on the way! What are some of your must-haves for new parents?

This is a fun one… As most moms have learned, there’s a lot of crap out there that leaves us wondering why we have certain things lying around the house, let alone why we even registered for them in the first place. In the spirit of keeping it simple (this time ’round), I’m gonna go with 3 things:

1st – a Safe, Reliable, Easy to Operate + Easy on your Body stroller/car seat system. We’re going with the Orbit Stroller Travel System. It’s got a big price tag, but after having been through my share of snap-n-go systems with the first kid, this is the way to go. Not to mention that I’ll be saving money (and my back) in the long run.

2nd – a Good Carrier. Speaking of back-saving goodies, this is a biggie. I’m not a fan of slings because of the asymmetric way they force you to hold the baby. My pick is the BECO Baby Carrier. Infant to 45lbs all in one system. And it’s organic!

3rd – Good Boob Pads. Something reusable, comfortable, and healthy. My pick here is Bamboobies – eco-friendly, bamboo nursing pads.

Q:  You are also the Co-Founder of Alameda Parent Support. Tell us a little about this and why it is important to you.

When Kyle was first born, I felt great and was excited to conquer the world, new baby in tow… And then it got lonely. And cold out. And going to the grocery store stopped becoming a good enough reason to leave the house every day. When Kyle was 5 weeks old, I began participating in the state-funded New Parent Support groups offered by Smart, Healthy Babies. These groups were a Godsend. I never struggled with PPD (thankfully), but I was REALLY excited to get out of the house for my weekly meetings with other new moms, some of which I still get together with 6+ years later. These groups provided an invaluable resource for the community, and when they lost their state funding in 2008, new parents were left with nothing. Alameda Parent Support was created to help fill this void. It is important to me because I think new families don’t realize how great it is to just sit around and chat with other people dealing with very similar life changes until they are in a group. Our groups are also facilitated by licensed professionals which makes us different from casual playgroups. In addition to one facilitated meeting per week, our 6 week sessions include an informal weekly meeting (sans facilitator at a location of the group’s choosing), and a meet-the-partner evening potluck.

Q:  Zoe Organics recently took part in your Holiday Party/3^rd Birthday Party. What are some highlights of the last 3 years?

We’ve won some awards both locally in Alameda as well as the Greater Bay Area, however I have to say a consistent highlight is meeting new moms & dads, and interacting with them on a regular basis. We were also just approved for a city-subsidized Facade grant, so MBs will be getting a facelift very soon! We’re constantly trying to improve our visibility so we can continue to provide great stuff for new parents, but getting the word out is the first step. We’re really excited about our new look. Stay tuned for photos!

Q:  What do you hope for Monkey Bars in 2012?

Since we’re extremely focused on health and wellness issues here at MBs, we’re hoping to shift more of our focus to that arena in the New Year. I’ve done a soft-launch of a food blog, but that’s just the beginning. I definitely see many more workshops in our future as well. We love food & one of my big goals is passing this love of healthy food on to the little ones. Some people are scared of the work that comes with switching over to a healthy, non-processed-food diet. I want to help alleviate some of that fear and make it simple for parents to make nutritious meals for their kids. We hope to get all of that accomplished this year! We’ll be busy…

Thank you Heather! We love your heart and vision and can’t wait see where your passion takes you and Monkey Bars!

Heather is generously offering 15% off Zoe Organics products in-store! Just use code: ZOE15 to receive your discount!

Face:

For a day moisturizer, I use oil. Jojoba and Argan are my top picks because they mimic our skin’s natural sebum. If you are a little freaked out by the word “oil” with “face”, try using just a few drops as soon as you get out of the shower (or even in the shower! some use jojoba oil as a face cleanser). When the skin is warm and damp the oil goes on easily and evenly. Just use a few drops and very gently massage into skin on face and neck.

At night, I use something more intense, like Zoe Organics Extreme Cream or an organic balm. Again, a very small amount is adequate for most, and you can always get your hands or face damp before applying or rub product between clean hands to warm. Then cup each side of your face with your hands and begin to work the product into your skin. If you aren’t used to using waterless products on your face and body, it may take a bit of getting used to, but you will soon appreciate the benefits!

For chapped cheeks, mouths and lips (think teething, windburn, snow…), I’m all about Zoe Organics Baby Balm. Six amazing organic ingredients; shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, beeswax, lavender oil and vanilla precious oil work together to provide a seriously healing combination. The product comes packaged in an easy to apply large balm tube. Even your kids can apply it themselves!

Body: 

Again, I love a nutrient rich organic oil. As soon as I step out of the shower, I slather it on. My skin drinks it up and by the time I get dressed there is no oily residue. I can’t stress enough the importance of a quality oil. If you are just beginning to use oils as part of your skincare routine, you may experiment with grape seed, jojoba, apricot kernel or a blend. Zoe Organics Love My Body Oil is a newly reformulated scar and stretch mark buster with rose hip seed, tamanu and pumpkin seed oils among the blend (new formula available January 30th).

A body butter will provide a nice barrier on the skin and seal in the moisture. This is particularly beneficial for eczema, psoriasis or very dry skin. Again, you can adjust the amount and by applying to damp skin you can avoid the “greasy” feeling. Keep in mind though that the temporary greasy feeling is sure better than the itching, burning and redness that comes with dry skin.

Hands and feet: I keep a butter based cream like Extreme Cream or a good balm for my hands and feet. I place a small amount on the back of one of my hands and then rub the backs of my hands together. At night, slather on feet and put on socks before bed.

I’ve written before about my lack of love for traditional lotions. I realize the feel of oil, butter or balm is difficult to get used to if you are used to slathering on a lightweight lotion that is..ahem…70% water. However, you just aren’t going to reap the same benefits from a water-based lotion or cream as you would a concentrated pure oil, body butter or balm. Also, keep in mind that you can easily use 8-12 oz of lotion in the time you would use a 2 oz jar of body butter. Water in any product means it also requires an emulsifier to get the oil and water to bind, and you can count on a preservative or five. I liken it to packaged junk food for your skin versus a gorgeous raw salad.

In closing, no amount of topical moisturizer is going to take the place of staying hydrated on the inside. Don’t skimp on your water. Add some lemon and drink your favorite teas.

Enjoy this mild, late winter and have fun experimenting with some new products! Do you have favorites? I’d love to hear about them!

xo

Heather

This morning my 6 month, 3 and 5 year old kiddos woke up at 6:30am. I had intended to get up early to write about my New Year’s resolutions, so my kids are to thank for helping me follow through. Actually, my kids are to thank for much of this, including my New Year’s resolutions this year.

The past several years have been an incredible journey through the land of skincare; learning the almost magical qualities of plant ingredients for our skin, how toxics affect us and linger in our bodies, the benefits of aromatherapy…the list goes on. After being somewhat obsessed (ok, really obsessed) about the things that we put ON our bodies, I have begun to really scrutinize what goes IN our bodies. After all, you cannot help but evaluate your diet and overall nutrition when you enter the world of organics.

Throughout my 3rd pregnancy last year, my diet was high on my radar. Pregnancy does that. Knowing we have a tiny, vulnerable developing person inside of us can really help us get our acts together. Although, I have always had a love for everything related to health and wellness, this past year has been very eye opening. While contemplating and researching these past few months, I made the decision that 2012 was going to be the year that I really made my family’s diet a priority. When my husband expressed his interest in doing the same – I knew I had to run with it!

There are some things I have come across this past year that have been part of this new commitment. One of our favorite blogs, Fig+Sage, summed it up perfectly in their post, Soapbox:: Green Beauty, Hypocrisy, Food, Health And Negativity.

I’m often frustrated by this disconnect in the green beauty movement.  Sure, there are many who advocate both healthy eating and healthy beauty, but there are many who don’t make the connection or maybe don’t care.  Maybe it’s easier to watch what we put on your skin than it is to police what we put in our mouth…it’s all about the toxic burden on our bodies.

Additionally, my husband and I have been reading The China Study. For a great summary, read China Study Cheat Sheet: 10 Things You Need to Know by Well+Good NYC. Also inspiring was the book I finally read a few months ago, No More Dirty Looks and the infamous, Food, Inc.

The Organic Family:

About 6 months ago, I had the pleasure of connecting with Anni Daulter, author and eco-mama extraordinaire, and was introduced to her newly released cookbook; The Organic Family. Anni was so kind to send me a copy of the cookbook and the timing could not have been more perfect. First off, I am not much of a cookbook gal. I rarely follow recipes, but toss a ‘lil of this and a ‘lil of that together. I enjoy the creativity that comes with cooking, much the same way, I enjoy mixing essential oil blends. However, when I cracked open The Organic Family cookbook I knew this book was different. As I flipped through each section; Naturally Tasty Breakfasts, Simple Snacks, Wholesome Lunches, Family Favorite Dinners, Savory Sides, Refreshing Desserts and Homespun Extras – I was instantly captivated by the use of my favorite farmer’s market produce, wholesome grains and absolutely stunning photography that made each dish pop from the page.

In addition to her tasty recipes, Anni has included a really special personal touch. She includes a short bio for each of her four beautiful kids and shares the roles each of them plays in their organic family. She also offers “Growing Together”, “Greening Together” and “Cooking Together” tips throughout the book – BRILLIANT!  

Anni talks about going “back to basics”, but the beauty and depth of flavor in these delicious recipes are anything but. I find myself longing for spring; for farmers markets and the rich earthy smell of the garden. For now I will enjoy our CSA box and another bowl of Anni’s Favorite French Onion or Nurturing Butternut Squash Soup. I can’t say enough about my love for this book, so I decided to ask Anni a few questions so you could hear a little from her as well:

Q: Anni, please share some of your inspiration for this book.

A: Pretty simply put, my family is my inspiration for this book. I wanted to write a cookbook that read more like a book, was interesting, helpful, fun and packed with easy delicious recipes. These are recipes that my family loves, and I think yours will too.

Q: Have you always enjoyed cooking and gardening? Please give us a glimpse into your creative process.

A: No. I came into the cooking and gardening scene a little later in life, after I had my first child. I think children inspire us to live to our fullest potential, and mine inspire me every day to do better, cook more, and live more simply. I do love it though and I am happy to say that my children have led me down the path I am on now.

Q: I am so inspired by the way your whole family enjoys cooking together. Please share some of the ways we can involve our children in the process and get them enthusiastic about cooking and creating wholesome, healthy food.

A: If your kids are like mine, they love to be a part of EVERYTHING. Because we spend so much time in the kitchen, its not wonder my oldest want to be a chef, and my 4 year old want to be a baker when he grows up. When we include our children in cooking, we pass down our food traditions, and give them valuable life lessons about how cooking and sharing food can bring whole families together.

Q: In the introduction you state, “But the truth is, the one place we cannot afford to skimp is our family’s nutrition”. I wholeheartedly agree! What are some tips for keeping our family’s nutrition a priority when we are strapped for time or on a small budget.

A: People ask this question all the time and I always same the same thing. Cooking does take time and you can’t expect it not to. We are all very busy, but when we value our family’s nutrition, we need to put in the time. You can cut time corners by planning, keeping your cabinets stocked with some basics (like I always have vegetable + chicken stock in my cupboards + onions, so I can always whip up a healthy soup if need by), and have your family help you in the kitchen. As far as cost is concerned, I would say to grow your own as much as possible, shop at co-ops, farmers markets and invest in CSA shares.

Q: If you can pick just one, what is your favorite recipe in this book?

A: Garden tacos and the flour less chocolate cake (addictive)!

Thanks so much Anni for sharing your book and tips with us!

Giveaway!

I hope you are all inspired to make your family’s nutrition a priority (or even more of a priority) this year (and beyond)! I can’t think of a better way to spend more quality time together, learning, growing and greening your lifestyle!

I was thrilled when Anni agreed to give (2) of her cookbooks, The Organic Family, to (2) of you! So here’s how you can enter:

1. Leave a comment here telling us one way you resolve to prioritize your family’s nutrition this year.

2. Like The Organic Family on Facebook

3. For an extra entry, tweet about this post and giveaway! Please include @zoeorganics and @organicraised in your tweet (and don’t forget to leave us your twitter handle here so we know its you!).

Two winners will be selected via random.org and announced on Monday, January 9th! Winners will be posted here and contacted via email. They will have 24 hours to contact us to claim their cookbooks or new winners will be chosen.

In closing, my heart is full of appreciation for the amazing moms, like you and Anni, that I continue to connect with. You are all so inspiring with the choices you make to create a better life for your children and communities. I consider myself abundantly blessed to have crossed paths with you. I look forward to this new year and especially to Spring time when my family will plant our first real garden together and share in the miracle of life. Until then…Salude!

-Heather

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting Granola Babies in Costa Mesa, California. Not only was this my first visit to Granola Babies, but I got to see their beautiful new store in the brand new SoCo shopping center! Giselle, the founder of Granola Babies and I had exchanged many emails since she began carrying Zoe Organics in 2010, but I finally had the pleasure of meeting her in person.

It was a gorgeous, sunny Saturday morning, and it was just my luck that I was visiting on the same day that Jean from Evolue was at Granola Babies for an Eco Beauty Soiree event! I had my 4 month old baby, Grace, with me so we took our time perusing all of the fantastic “green” goodies Giselle keeps stocked on the shelves. Every item is eco-conscious from cloth diapers, feeding supplies, toys, books, clothes, art supplies, skincare and baby carriers. I felt like my own kids when I take them to our local toy store. I didn’t want to leave! When we arrived, Giselle was teaching a cloth diapering class and I strained from where I was shopping to hear all of the expert advice she offered – from how to choose the right diapers to how to wash and care for them. The store has this beautiful area near the back with comfy white couches where many of the classes take place – and this couch also doubled as a great spot to hang out when Grace needed to breastfeed.

When I left, the eco beauty event was in full swing and lovely mamas were getting non-toxic makeovers by Jean of Evolue, happy moms and babies were roaming through the store, the sun was shining in and all was well at Granola Babies. I would have stayed all day had I not had another appointment to get to. But I didn’t leave without buying a few things; a couple of cloth diapers and a glass bottle for Grace.

I loved chatting with Giselle and had the opportunity to ask her some questions about her store and being a mompreneur. Here is what she shared:

Heather: What led you to start Granola Babies?

Giselle: I wanted to have a place where I could provide my favorite products for our own kids, but to everyone else. 

Heather: Granola Babies has been open now for nearly 7 years, how has it evolved over the years?

Giselle: Granola Babies started as a small cloth diapering online store with just the basics, but has grown to become a place where parents can go for all the green and eco-friendly product needs, from cloth diapering to imaginative toys, in order to raise their babies green. 

Heather: I love connecting with other “mompreneurs”. How do you balance being a mom with running your business? 

Giselle: Most don’t realize how much of a challenge it can be to be a mompreneur, however, it can also be a very rewarding and fulfilling journey. As a busy homeschooling mom of three while also running an online store and active brick and mortar store, it definitely takes balance to be able to do it all. I’m very lucky to have an amazing team that works at Granola Babies, so I am able to be at home or out and about with my kids knowing that our staff is caring for our customers like I would as well.  

Heather: What do you love most about your work? 

Giselle: Interacting with my customers is the best part of what I do. I get to meet many of them while they are pregnant and then am lucky to be able to get to know their babies as they grow each month. Many of our customers become my friends and that’s also something I love. 

Heather: What criteria must a product meet to be sold at Granola Babies? 

Giselle: It has to be something I’d use with my kids or in my home and my criteria for that is pretty strict. We don’t do plastic in our feeding products, toys are also as natural as possible (wood and fabrics), bath and body products need to be toxic free and the ingredients so simple and natural that you can read them and know what each on is, and everything we add to the store needs to be green and eco-friendly. 

Heather: I subscribe to your newsletter and see all of the fantastic events and classes you hold at the store. Please tell us more about them and why you offer them. 

Giselle: Events are so much fun! It’s a great opportunity to gather other resources in the community and to connect them with our customers. It’s also a way to be a resource to our customers through workshops and exclusive classes. We’re known for being a community resource and we’re able to provide much of that through our events. 

Heather: Where do you see Granola Babies in 5 years? 

Giselle: There’s so much planned for Granola Babies. We’ll continue to provide green parenting products and we hope to be able to do that by opening an additional location in Southern California within the next 5 years. 

Heather: What advice can you offer to parents who are trying to make more sustainable/eco-conscious choices for raising their children, but are overwhelmed by all the choices, greenwashing and the idea that being green has to be more expensive?

Giselle: Being green can actually be more affordable than not and so one thing we do at the store is to show parents how simple and easy it is to go green! We have a lot of experience through our own three kids and the store, so we’re able to easily guide parents to the choices that best meet their needs. 

Heather: What are your green essentials or staples for new parents? 

Giselle: Cloth diapers, natural bath and body, imaginative toys and a comfortable baby carrier. 

Here are a few ways you can learn more about Granola Babies, and stay connected:

Granola Babies
3315 Hyland Avenue, Suite B
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 445-4948
www.granolababies.com

Facebook

Twitter

Giselle is generously offering 15% off Zoe Organics products online and in-store! Just use code: ZOE15 to receive your discount!

Thanks so much to Giselle and Granola Babies for being one of our exclusive retail partners. We wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous holiday season and 2012!

I am passionate about motherhood and babies, but I am also passionate about small business. I am just incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to combine these two into work that makes me excited to get up every morning (at 5am).

How important are small businesses to the U.S. economy? Here are some facts I pulled from the Small Business Administration:

Small firms:
•    Represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.
•    Employ half of all private sector employees.
•    Pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll.
•    Generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years.
•    Create more than half of the nonfarm private GDP.
•    Hire 43 percent of high tech workers ( scientists, engineers, computer programmers, and others).
•    Are 52 percent home-based and 2 percent franchises.
•    Make up 97.5 percent of all identified exporters and produce 31 percent of export value
•    Produce 13 times more patents per employee than large patenting firms.

Think about your own local community and the relationships you have been fortunate to form; your favorite coffee shop, restaurant, dry cleaner, florist, pharmacy, toy store, clothing store… If you only shop at Target and Costco, you may want to consider some of the benefits of shopping small:

• Personable – the owner of your favorite restaurant knows you by name and puts in your usual order (with its ridiculous list of substitutions) when you walk in the door.
• Unique – that divine, handmade item you couldn’t live without? Nope, you won’t find that at Walmart.
• Authentic – real people who work real hard – and treat you like a real person.
• Sustainable/Health - as in locally grown, carefully harvested, transparent about ingredients, processed humanely, fair trade, packaged in non-toxic containers with a shelf life shorter than my grandma has been alive. Oh, and the ozone is not destroyed in the process.