My son, via his Pa, has family in Wisconsin. (No, he will not be wearing a cheese hat as long as there is breath in my body.) And though I’ll dress him in blazers and Madras – when he has to travel “up North”, I know that “dungarees” are more suitable. (I am guessing that baby blazer sales are quite low up there in those them parts.)

These sweet organic overalls are just the thing for a trip to the woods. They seem as rugged as one expects overalls to be – and they don’t sport a huge “G” on them (mid-westerners will get that).

Coupled with these vegan booties – I think my boy will be just about as “country cute” as one can manage.

When in Rome….

(Well. One would rather actually BE in Rome, wouldn’t one….)

I’m planning a trip to my beloved London in May, and was plotting out “green” baby shopping….

…when I came across these I-must-have-them-right-now-or-I’ll-just-die shoes from No Sugar Added. Not only are these adorable shoes free of chrome, nasty dyes and all those other cheap Made In China additives – they are BIODEGRADABLE!  Oh, bless them, bless them.

I am SO ordering a pair!

Wot!

This is not a post about Chicago baseball.  I would never do that to you.

This IS a post about cozy socx  for your wee one that he is unlikely to wiggle out of, or that Molly – I mean – your dog, is unlikely to be able to pull off.

It’s almost November, and these Beba Bean  socx are perfect for junior to wear about the maison as those wooden floors look warmer than they actually are.

Note: Great gift idea, as you don’t need to get the size perfectly right.

Go Cubbies!

Think about the sidewalks that you walk on.  Think about the bottom of your shoes.  Think about the only way that that canine and human fecal matter, rat urine, throw up, spit, pesticides, lead, mercury,  petrol, tar, squirrel what not…all get into your house.  You walk it in.  And you leave all of that bacteria on your floor, and in your carpets.  The same ones your baby sits on.  And picks everything up from to lustily place into his mouth. The ones you then walk barefoot on before you jump into bed.  Ick.  Ick. Ick.

How anyone allows outside shoes on in their house - confounds me.  Would you let your child lick the bottom of your shoes? Exactly. 

Aside from the above, this, from the EPA:

“The potential impact of indoor air quality on human health nationally is considerable, for several reasons. Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations. Moreover, people who are often most susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution (e.g., the very young, older adults, people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease) tend to spend even more time indoors.  Health effects that have been associated with indoor air pollutants include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; headaches, dizziness, and fatigue; respiratory diseases; heart disease; and cancer.”

How does a great deal of that lovely pollution end up in our homes?

“…when people enter buildings, they inadvertently bring in soils and dusts on their shoes … from the outdoors, along with pollutants that adhere to those particles.”

According to the EPA’s “Door Mat Study“  lead-contaminated soil from the outside causes almost all the lead dust inside homes.  Trust me.  You  already have enough lead dust in your home. The same study explains that leaving your shoes at the door reduces your families exposure to lawn and garden pesticides, industrial toxins, mutagens and all manner of allergens.  (I would of added rodent poo and college student kegger vom.  But the EPA didn’t measure those sidewalk delights.)

The American Academy of Pediatrics  recommends that you to leave those Manolo’s at the door, as does the American Lung Association. 

So.

Why in the name of all that is holy would anyone, ever, allow shoes in their house?

If you are too embarrassed to ask people to remove their shoes, perhaps one of these signs  will help, as well as having a nice bench, rack or mat for people to place their kitten heels and driving mocks on.

You may also want to keep a stash of fresh socks or slippers for guests.

And if you have workers coming to the house – warn them in advance to wear clean socks.  I also keep hospital grade shoe covers  (ask them to double bag them), just in case.

It’s for the health of your baby and your family.

You’ll get used to it, as will your friends.

And if they don’t – sod’em. It’s the least they can do for free vino and nibbly things.

…sadly, she is me.  And if I were to live in a shoe – these would be it!  These darling things were not by mortal hands made – but spun by cobbler elves, of that I am sure.

Satch & Sol, (the employer of said elves), has a wonderful commitment to the environment, that will make you love these slippers even more – if that’s possible.

Okay.  Admittedly, the “Falstaff” shoes may a bit much (aren’t these the same children who wear capes or wings to school?), but I LURVE them!  Can you have enough polka dots?

And these “puppy” slippers are pure magic.  I think I’d curl up to sleep with them (if I didn’t leave all shoes by the door, that is). 

I’m sorry, but Crocs and sneakers that light up just don’t have the charm or inspire the delight that these do. 

Clap your hands if you believe in fairies….

I thought so….

As I have mentioned before – I think that crocs belong trolling the Nile, not on children’s feet.  And “sneakers”? For sports.  Full stop.  And though I detest the idea of velcro (really, are we THAT busy?), these Livie & Luca shoes feature the stuff subtly enough as not to look too “chi chi patti”, as we say in Panama.  (It doesn’t really translate.)

Sweatshop free, made of discarded leather with non-toxic glues, these tres European, easy to slip on shoes are too divine.  It can be quite difficult to find adorable boy shoes – so Livie & Luca  will be especially appreciated by the mums of little gentlemen.

Honestly. Wise owls? Nothing could be sweeter.

And for your wee lassies – are these pink boots not worthy of a duchess?

Magical mushrooms will take him on fantastical journeys…or to the Farmers Market.  Same thing when you are two.

So for the crisp and delicious Fall spare your child those plastic reptiles, or dingy tennis shoes when he hasn’t a racket – these Livie & Lucas  are what they should trod through the crunchy leaves with.

Cider anyone?

If  Little House on the Prairie was your favourite show growing up (and the fact that half-pint went running and whining down the street in every episode didn’t annoy you even at the tender age of twelve)….this post is for you.

Infusion is yet another darling Etsy shop that makes unique, none of your friends will have them, organic, sustainable, feel oh-so-good about them bits and bobs for baby and family.  These boots are delicious, and a fantastic gift for your most romantic Cancerian friend.  They should come with bloomers and a copy of Anne of Green Gables.

Honestly. Does your child not need a pair of these magical little boots immediately? My only lament is that they don’t come in my huge drag queen foot size.  I HEART them!

When creating your green nursery, you really should scour Etsy first, before buying anything.  Everyday more and more extraordinarily talented cottage artists are joining and selling their beautiful, organic wares through this virtual town fair.  And if you want to a give a gift that you know won’t be something she already has – Etsy is truly the best place to go.  Unless she’s a Taurus. And then a Savings Bond is your best best.

Have a great weekend!

Though I haven’t bought my son many shoes as he won’t walk for almost a year, when I do, I’ll stock up on Simple shoes “Piggys“.  These delightful, sustainable, hemp, organic cotton lined shoes are too, too sweet.  And adorable boy shoes are so difficult to find.  Though I have yet to order a pair, it seems that the “Piggys” arrive in a post consumer recycled box shaped like a truck.  Oh, your little man will like that!

One does wonder if they go “wee, wee, wee” all the way home?

This journey back to organic and pure has, as you’ll find that it will, transcended the nursery and my son’s darling wardrobe, and begun to spill over into mine. Perhaps a few years ago, organic clothes meant hemp outfits more suitable to feeding a constipated horse than meeting friends at Fred’s for brunch, but that has changed.  For the more modern (rich) girl, there is Stella McCartney, but for a girl whose favourite store was always Anthropologie – the divine Hessnatur is heaven.  Mum can find GORGEOUS pieces that will last generations here, as well as buy daddy and baby equally beautiful things with which to be clad without chems.

Hessnatur makes the clothes that you save in tissue, not put into the give-away box.

And what shoes to wear with beautiful Hessnatur that don’t make you look as though you may not own a razor? Olsen Haus has vegan shoes that look as good and sharp as your Choos. (I know, I know, all of these companies sound like characters in an Ingmar Bergman film – what can I tell you….)

If you are a MOD Mum, you may like the very High Street looking Velvet Leaf or the tamer Juno & Jove, which will go nicely with your new vegan bag from Matt & Nat.

Either way, it’s nice to know that mum now has options to look wonderful without wrapping herself in formaldehyde and chemical drenched fashion -

And how to pay for you lovely organic and vegan wardrobe? Why, with your biodegradable credit card, of course!

Cha-ching!