Christmas Gifts

I did my Christmas shopping late this year since I had exams and traveling to do before holiday. While I was at West Elm, I found the cutest, eco-friendly children's toys! Usually I prefer recycling toys by passing them on to friends or buying from Goodwill, but these were irresistible. These Green Toys reminded me of the toys I used to have as a child: trucks, dinner ware, and blocks.

The recycled plastic is also free of BPA- perfect for the little ones! I cannot wait to open them up and let baby girl play!

Green Points:

1. Recycled materials
2. No BPA

Patriotic Mommy Points:

1. Fun for kids
2. 100% made in the USA!

Exams

Exams. It was my first semester back at  university since having my daughter, and my fears that studying time would be tight were being manifested in my minimal-sleep-part-hallucination-part-reality existence. Yet, through the lack of sleep, the mother in me was fully re-charged, thinking of new ways to study while taking care of the little one.

While looking for some baby shampoo in the cupboard, I passed by some Crayola Bathtub Crayons I had picked up at the store awhile back, thinking when I was bored I would create a Mona Lisa on my shower walls. This of course never happened. However, I decided, this might be my ticket to studying. I wrote out all my notes on the mirrors above the sink and the tiles around the shower, repeating sections I did not remember well. So, after laying down the little one for bed, I could take a shower and give myself a 5 minute quiz.

Green Points:

1. didn't waste paper
2. made me want to take an even shorter shower

Studying Points:

1. as most of my best thinking occurs in the shower, so did my best studying
2. a nice cold shower really wakes you up for an all-nighter study session

No Time

In between getting little girl dressed and packing my bags for school, there is no time for a shower. Finally, I discovered dry shampoo that did not emit aerosol gases! Although many of the spray cans of dry shampoo are recycable, you can just smell the aerosol as you "shampoo" your hair. I love the Klorane dry shampoo. It's recycable, does not use aerosol gases and saves me time that I can't spend washing my hair.

Environmental Points:

1. No aerosols
2. Recycable
3. No water wasted

Mommy Points:

1. More time to get baby ready
2. Get out the door on time