A besties gave me this when I was recovering from surgery. I remain obsessed and always have it with me.

All-in-one, which I love, nourishing for hands, face, body and lips. Soothes dry skin irritations, too. Matte finish and non-sticky.

The perfect cream for your purse, backpack, yoga bag, and travel.

More than a moisturizer: my dermatologist recommended this moisturizer brand for the lactic acid content. This daily lotion has the powerful ability to leave rough, dry skin soft and smooth.

Another dermatologist recommended product: 2-in-1 intensive exfoliator and moisturizing lotion: Lactic acid to boost healthy skin renewal. 24 hours of intense hydration visibly restores my skin. Sometimes I use the daily lotion, sometimes I use this one, and sometimes the next product.

My dermatologist recommends this awesome moisturizing cream that gently exfoliates and hydrates face, hands and body.

The skin is the biggest organ in the body. and I do my best to care for mine. If you are like me and tend to be on-the-go, an all-in-one lotion is so relaxing because you're having to think less.

I use all these biodegradable wipes all the time. To “bathe” while camping, for hands and faces. Gentle to protect baby’s skin and all the other delicate skins on your body, if you know what I mean. (Places where chemicals and fragrances are no-nos.) I keep them in my yoga bag and car and travel bag...

I purchase a case, but they come in smaller batches!

I didn't realize I could love a hair dryer.

I wanted one that wasn’t going to break the bank. Recommended by Wirecutter, this hair dryer is incredibly fast, with gentle heat. I usually do a quick dry and air dry from there. But when I put in effort, I get salon quality blowouts.

We have four. We use in bedrooms and have one dedicated to travel.

Two-speed options for adjustable tone and volume. Effectively masks background noise, allowing for better sleep, office privacy, soothing for kids and babies, and calming for sound-sensitive dogs.

My awesome eye doctor recommended this antibacterial, latex-free, washable eye mask for when my eyes bother me.

I go through periods of using it to lubricate the eyes. It is ridiculously relaxing as well. Of course you do not want to overheat.

I use the highest level of Systane eye drops when I’m done.

A MUST in an oral care regimen. Tongue scraping is part of Ayurvedic oral care.

Gently graze the tongue to remove debris and bad bacteria, cleaning the surface of the tongue. This is complementary to brushing, flossing, waterpik.

Use each morning before eating or drinking. It's stainless steel, easy to clean, adjustable, and lasts for years.

The BEST. If you're barefoot a lot like me, or a runner, you get dry feet or callus build up. If these areas get too thick and crack, it is painful, and can even cause infection.

Calluses also protect where you regularly have friction. Use with mindfulness and care. I use this a few times a month. They last a super long time.

A FAVORITE kitchen accessory! Quickly boils up to 1.75 L of water. We drink lots of tea, but it's great anytime you need quickly boiled water.

Choose your desired temperature, a calm beep alerts you when it's ready, and it holds that temperature for 30 minutes.

Durable, BPA-free, thermal-shock protection, water-level visibility.

OXO has descaling solution, which you need to use occasionally in am electric kettle. The bottle is costly, and I don’t like the environmental impact of two uses in one bottle.

This universally compatible descaler comes in 4 packets and you add your own water. I use half a packet for each descaling. I only do it every couple weeks. This product can be used to descale many products.

I have a 7.25 quart size in the color above. Comes in other sizes and colors. Perfect for one-pot meals, stews, whole roasted chicken, and more. It’s pretty, and the enameled cast iron perfectly distributes heat. Unlike my cast-iron skillet (also loved), it is ready to use and requires no seasoning.

Easy-to-clean and resists dulling, staining, chipping and cracking.

DescriptioHow did I get through my culinary life prior to this tool?

The best zest, fluffy grated parmesan. You can grate ginger and garlic into minced pastes to flavor foods. Create your own ground spices from whole hard cinnamon or nutmeg. Burnt toast or cookies? Scrape off burnt spots with the Microblade.

Made in USA. 🇺🇸

My OXO is my go-to, we keep this in our back office and use it for local travel. This baby went skiing in Mammoth last year.

Quickly boils but only one temperature. Great for making tea, hot chocolate, instant soups, instant oatmeal.

Love lattes? Foam milk or non-daily substitutes to make favorite drink at home! Best part? Easy cleanup.

My daughter now requests "frothy milk".

Food-safe stainless-steel whisk and BPA free shaft. A few reviews mention it broke within a few months, but my first one lasted for years. I'm on my second. :)

A go-to pan. Great heat retention and can be used: oven, stove, grill, campfire. It also adds trace amount of iron into your food.

Occasional seasoning keeps your pan non-stick. I use avocado oil for its high smoke point. Clean after cooling with a little kosher salt and a small amount of water. Rub with a clean cloth to remove food. Rinse, dry well, and rub with a very light coating of oil. USA made. 🇺🇸

We use stainless straws at home and try to us them while out.

We’ve had these for years. The colored silicone tips are exchangeable and protect the teeth. They come with a cleaning brush and are easy to clean. Assortment ofl straws, some with curved tip, which make them good for different things.

Super portable Ultimate Ears wireless Bluetooth speaker with wonderful 360° sound. Up to 15 hours of battery on a single charge. Comes in multiple colors. We use this indoors and out. It's such a great speaker.

Waterproof and floats. Can be totally submerged in water up to 1m for 30 minutes.

Another Ultimate Ears portable speaker with beautiful sound. Totally waterproof (I have not had the opportunity to test this). Hang over a hook in your office, as I do, take it on vacation, kayaking, strap to a bike or backpack. Stretchy, attachable marine-grade bungee. I also use in my yoga room, and it’s fabulous.

Outdoors in the summer is not fun when you're eaten up by mosquitos. Wirecutter-recommends this repellant, and it’s worked for us! The repellent is Allethrin, a synthetic version of a naturally occurring repellent found in chrysanthemum flowers.

Up to 9 hours per charge (with a 12hr cartridge insert). Creates a 20-foot mosquito protection zone. Micro USB charger. Includes one 12-hour scent-free refill.

Mosquito problem? These are replacement cartridges for the Thermacell Mosquito Repellent E-Series. This refill pack offers 120 hours of mosquito fighting.

It’s a scent-free repellent , and the active ingredient is Allethrin, a synthetic version of a naturally occurring repellent found in chrysanthemum flowers.

We are VERY happy with this camp/kitchen setup. A friend has a deluxe version, but we wanted something easier to carry and store. Cooking prep is off the picnic tables!

Easy carrying bag, and quick set-up. Lots of room underneath for a plastic food storage bin (no critters). Can be used for picnicking and tailgating.

A wonderful resource for child development with practical tools to foster security and brain growth. (NOT in a “get them into college” way.) Foster play, safety, and confidence with evidence-based activities - that look a lot like Attachment parenting!

Great for all people involved in the care of a small child. Should you really read to your baby? Can teaching a baby sign language boost IQ? What about classical music in the nursery?

“Edu-tainment” doesn't nurture an infant’s brain, Attention, Bonding, and Communication do, which are within every parent’s ability to provide.

Manga Gerber was a world-renowned child therapist and infant specialist, a leader in the field of early childhood education. She founded RIE Parenting (Resources for Infant Educarers), which recognized babies as whole people from birth who deserve respect and should be welcomed into the world as “honored guests.” Here is the first RIE pamphlet.

I believe this is one reason our kids are confident and like themselves. This was further fostered with four years of Waldorf Early Childhood education. (Then our kids went to public schools.)

Your pediatrician may suggest sleep-training around 4mos. This went against our general parenting style. I don’t recall when the authors recommend sleep-training, but they’ll tell you the most thoughtful way to do it.

We NEED sleep to be well. A psychotherapist friend highly recommended this book, and it became my bible - it was completely dog-eared. It gives ALL the information about when kids naturally should sleep, how long, when naps should be weaned, etc. Up to age 5.

My kids remain GREAT sleepers, love their cozy beds, and I believe it was because I followed this.

Siegel is a neuroscientist and Payne is a therapist and parenting expert. They offer an approach to child rearing that is broken down into twelve key strategies that foster healthy brain development and calmer, happier children.

The “upstairs brain,” which makes decisions and balances emotions, is under construction until the mid-twenties. In young children, the right brain and its emotions tend to rule over the left-brain logic. Hence, tantrums, fighting, or sulking in silence. These are opportunities to integrate your child’s brain and foster vital growth. This team has many great books.

It would be nice to parent with perfect calm in the midst of fighting, yelling, and chaos. I do my best, but I’m human with my own inner life. We all are.

Kds’ high emotions and snappy behavior reflect internal conflict. Thus, they need support and not punishment for their nature. This book highlights a child’s neurological development and offers effective, compassionate ways to approach tantrums, tensions, and tears.

Discipline means instruct. Problem-solving becomes win/win.

Plastic-free, 99.9% water-based, biodegradable, unscented wipes. Perfect on-the-go or at home to clean your baby’s bottom, hands, or face. I used washable wipes for awhile, but that’s hard to sustain.

We still have these around to clean parts that might need it. They have a minute amount of preservative, and that doesn't bother me. My Honest Company wipes got moldy…I think that’s worse! (NOTE: not flushable!)

LOVE these Aiden + Anais soft muslin swaddles. We used them all the time: to swaddle, in the stroller, etc., and we still use eleven years later.

Easy to wash durable, and cute. Perfect form and function. They are very popular for a reason.

I had three for each kid. One would be in the wash, one with the kid, and another ready for action. My kids slept with them for years (though they weren’t so attached they freaked out without them). They come in different colors/animals.

A great gift for someone having a baby, and it’s likely not something someone placed on a registry.

Super cute and a fave.

Waterproof, washable, polyester bibs and smocks with pockets. Comes in many colors/patterns.

Pockets rule for catching drips and crumbs. I had 2-3 of these bibs for each kid, and they lasted the whole time I needed them.

Bumkins also has other cool products like reusable storage bags. Check out the Bumkins page at the link below.

We got these when the kids were two. I’d have gotten them earlier if I knew they existed. We STILL use these at 11yo to pack lunches.

We have a lot of the Lunch Bots line. Two different styles of the above, kids stainless silverware, tiny containers for things like raisins or hummus, wide-mouth thermoses for warm or cold food, and round containers with colored lids. See the next posting with a link to the entire Lunch Bots line.

We have so many of these items, and we still use them all the time. It's a worthy investment that is great for the environment. See previous post for what we have!

We had three for each kid at 18mos, and we STILL use occasionally.

BPA-free with an impact resistant, durable, copolymer. Will not absorb or impart flavors or odors. We wash in top rack in dishwasher or by hand.

Interchangeable parts fit other Foogoo Phases cups. Easy to open with hygienic push button pop-up llid with pop-up silicone straw.

My kids took their first bites with these spoons. Clearly they'd been watching us because they perfectly navigated the food to their mouths. Perfect baby spoons.

Gum-friendly, BPA/Lead/Phthalate/Plastic Free. Great gift set. I gave most of them away but kept one in case I have a baby guest.

Great Gift Set!

Our Toddler utensils were loved as much as their first spoons.

Stainless steel with food grade thick silicone handles that are easy for kids’ grip.

The perfect length for littles continuing to learn self feeding. That means your child won’t push their utensils too far into their mouth, so they’re less likely to choke. The rounded fork tines are gentle on gums and developing teeth.

100% dishwasher safe for quick and easy meal times!

Available in different colors with optional lids.

This 3-pack of suction plates are for Babies & Toddlers. They’re 100% silicone, divided, and microwave & dishwasher friendly. I like to microwave in glass, so I never used these plates for that.

The lids are a nice add-on. I didn’t suction anything to my wood table, but these work on a high chair.

I was so grateful to learn about these Disposable Stick-on Placemats.

I don’t like environmental waste, but I didn’t want my kids eating off a table at a restaurant. I worked in restaurants after college, and a towel would wipe a number of tables, and who knows what’s on there. I’m a little weird about that, but clearly not the only one.

Another great gift because it’s unlikely anyone thinks of this.

For small teeth and delicate gums with very soft bristles. The handle is the perfect size for kids. We brushed their teeth for quite a long time, but we also had them play with these on their own, too.

BPA-free, latex-free and phthalate-free. Handle is made with FDA-approved dyes, which is something I didn't think about, frankly. The handle is 100% re-cyclable.

There are many great teething rings on the market (there is an orange silicone one shaped like P’s and T’s that were great during the biting phase).

We liked these because they can be cooled, refreshing for teething discomfort.

Nitrosamine-free, Pvc-free, it's a safer plastic filled with sterilized water, and a textured surface to massage gums.

LOVED this silicone teething jewelry in many styles and colors.

Whoever carried a kid wore one. We had three necklaces, and I’ve purchased them for otherf moms.

Safety clasp pulls off when yanked too hard, but we didn’t have a problem with them coming off easily, as other brands are known for.

I have no affiliation with this company! it’s just a product I highly recommend.

No surprise, I was obsessed with supporting my kids’ natural movement, reflexes, and opportunities for their developing brains to view the world.

It would be too easy to keep the babies in swings a lot, so I didn't get one.

Someone gave me one of these Baby Bjorn Bouncers, and I ended up buying another. They fit everything I wanted when I needed a break. We often placed them on a balcony in our old condo, so they could observe, be outside, and still be able to move.

A friend recommended these, and they were awesome. Available in many colors, patterns, and fabrics.

Can be layered with warmer sleepwear. Zipper opens from the bottom for easy diaper changes. Arm and neck openings sized for a safer fit

Designed for babies 6-12 pounds, generally 0-3 months old, and 19-23 inches long. Stop swaddling when baby shows signs of rolling over or breaking out of the swaddle wrap.

Super cute, protective flexible, baby sunglasses from Italy (assembled in USA). Comes in many colors.

Shatter resistant and polarized with 100% UVA/B/C protection. BPA, phthalate, lead & latex free, and all small parts tested. The frames are soft and designed for little hands and faces.

BABY size sunglasses typically fit infants and babies 0-2 years old (depending on head size). TODDLER sunglasses for 2-4 year olds. JUNIOR sunglasses for 5-12 year olds.

Many colors, this was a great, adjustable sun hat.

Baby Banz fit 0-2 years old ( up to 19 inch head circumference ). 100 % polyester

Features velcro closure in the back of the brim to allow easy adjustment for years of wear as the child grows.

I am maniacal about well-fitting shoes and preserving the function of my kids’ feet. I waited until they were walking before ever encasing their feet in shoes built for kids' feet.

Pediped shoes marry form and function. Kids' feet grow rapidly - get them slightly big and they have a 2mm insert to customize size. Memory foam insole customizes to your kids’ feet, soft rubber soles mimic the natural shape of a child’s triangular foot, with a wide toe box that allows toes to naturally grip the floor. Light and eco-friendly.

This was my second go-to for kids feet for years.

Fashion shoes typically are smaller versions of products designed for adults. But adult feet are shaped differently than baby, and most adults already wear ill-fitting shoes.

These cute shoes are designed for kids' triangular shaped feet. Flexible, with room to wiggle toes. They’re not cheap, but supporting a lifetime of perception and good movement is worth it.

I saved this toy to hand down to my kids’ kids. They loved it that much. It’s also a great gift.

It’s made by an Italian company, and has the design and quality you’d expect from that. The kids play with it so many ways: stacking, making shapes, sorting by color, shape, or number. Even just exploring an individual peg. There are an unbelievable combinations of things they can do. They explore naturally, and you can teach them by sorting, stacking and playing.

Hape produces toys made from sustainable materials. Their puzzles and playthings promote dexterity, hand-eye coordination, matching, and spatial relationships. Chunky pieces fit perfectly in little hands for creative play and practice of new skills.

My kids played with many of these things long after they “should”.

The previous link shows all the wonderful Hape eco-friendly toys and puzzles.

This specifically is for a drum my kids loved!

Sustainably made from rubberwood with organic-pigment coloring and water-based dyes. Drumstick has rubber head.

My kids played with this for years, and we gifted it many times.

The egg crate contains 6 colorful squeaking eggs. They have shells that "crack" open to reveal colorful chicks. Press down on the colored chicks' heads, and they chirp, NOT in a way annoying to parents. The kids love it.

They learn about colors and shapes as they sort each egg into its own special base (the bottom of each egg has a shape that matches with its place in the crate). They also will mix and match by color. A great toy!

This pair comes in other colors.

Simple to play egg maracas. When shaken, they produce clear rhythmic maraca sounds. You’ll often see these at kids’ music classes.

Durable and easily cleaned with a dry or damp cloth. Ours stayed intact with heavy use, but the internal filling is non-toxic.

Pairs well with any other instrument and a key component to your kids “bands”.

32-Inch Caution/Go Slow/Children At Play Signage.

We didn’t use it a ton, but I was glad to have it on many occasions. Very durable and I still felt secure in our area without the flag, which a kid played with a lost… Though that visual reference is good for safety.

Before the know (and even after), kids run in the street. This is good to have.

Rain gear is costly, and you don’t use it regularly in So. Cal.

Yet we needed it for rainy walks, building dams, and worm rescuing. We welcomed hand-me-downs, and I also would buy this high quality yet reasonable gear and pay-it-forward when we were done, thus helping someone else and reduce/reuse/recycle. (My kids were not getting Hunters...)

I bought these a little big to get the most bang for our bucks!

This fun, light-up memory game builds problem solving skills, sequential thinking skills, and enhances memory.

You challenge your brain by observing the light sequences and following along for as long as you can without breaking the pattern. Not as easy as it sounds. I’ve been meaning to explore this to sharpen my own brain!

Sound can damage ears. These high-definition stereo headphones were developed with noise reduction technology and pretty great audio quality. These were my kids’ school headphones.

We use wired, so I can’t speak to the bluetooth versions. I hesitate to recommend headphones because they’re personal and can have issues. I settled on these because they’re well-reviewed, and they’ve been great for us.

Puzzles and brain games are a fun way for kids to exercise their minds. This has 100 challenging puzzles that get more difficult as they progress.

I like to have a number of inexpensive things like this (and STEM or art projects) around, so my kids have alternate activities to screens…

This SUPER popular plushie is very soft, portable, and genuinely satisfying to flip, even for a mom. Available in different characters.

It reflects different emotions on each side, and the flipping action relieves stress for some kids. We constantly getting rid of older stuffed animals. My daughter would not part with these. Some kids might like them a year or two earlier, and others into their early teens.

Heart plus other designs.

This product is pretty popular for girls right now. I’m sure there are some boys who enjoy them, but mine has zero interest. I like the creativity, patience, further development of hand-eye coordination, and my daughter loves to display them as a manifestation of her work. She is very creative in all ways. These are fun for the kids, and introduce to another form of design.

This sealer is a powerful adhesive that firmly secures gems in place in 5-8 hours. No whining due to lost gems in the kids’ art!

8fl oz of diamond painting glue is enough to complete 4-6 12x16in diamond paintings. Also can be used for puzzles, and other products, but our kids do their puzzles over and over, thank goodness.

3-piece embroidery kit for beginners: Comes in one other design. I like my daughter to have creative projects that also are grounding in the midst of all the noise in the world. She likes activities like this.

The cross stitch fabric is printed with the embroidery pattern. The needlepoint frame has an adjustment screw, which can be tightened if necessary to tighten the cloth. Comes with everything you need to complete the project.

Available in different images. This German company makes painting sets that have everything you need to complete the project: 1 pre-printed cardboard, 3 high-quality brushes, eco-friendly acrylic paint, plastic frame, and instruction manual.

The color is thick enough to cover the lines well, and there is enough paint to complete the picture. Includes 3 types of good wood brushes.

These are good quality cast iron kettlebells with a vinyl finish. We got the full set, but you might want only a couple sizes.

See here for a Men’s Health article that gives potential weights for 10 classic kettlebell exercises. Each person will have a different tolerance to load. (It says 26lb for Turkish get-up, and I’m challenged with 10lb.)

The color-coded vinyl prevent corrosion, increases durability, reduces noise, and protects my flooring. Smooth textured steel handles.

These are good quality cast iron kettlebells with a vinyl finish. We got the full set, but you might want only a couple sizes.

See here for a Men’s Health article that gives potential weights for 10 classic kettlebell exercises. Each person will have a different tolerance to load. (It says 26lb for Turkish get-up, and I’m challenged with 10lb.)

The color-coded vinyl prevent corrosion, increases durability, reduces noise, and protects my flooring. Smooth textured steel handles.

These are good quality cast iron kettlebells with a vinyl finish. We got the full set, but you might want only a couple sizes.

See here for a Men’s Health article that gives potential weights for 10 classic kettlebell exercises. Each person will have a different tolerance to load. (It says 26lb for Turkish get-up, and I’m challenged with 10lb.)

The color-coded vinyl prevent corrosion, increases durability, reduces noise, and protects my flooring. Smooth textured steel handles.

These are good quality cast iron kettlebells with a vinyl finish. We got the full set, but you might want only a couple sizes.

See here for a Men’s Health article that gives potential weights for 10 classic kettlebell exercises. Each person will have a different tolerance to load. (It says 26lb for Turkish get-up, and I’m challenged with 10lb.)

The color-coded vinyl prevent corrosion, increases durability, reduces noise, and protects my flooring. Smooth textured steel handles.

These are good quality cast iron kettlebells with a vinyl finish. We got the full set, but you might want only a couple sizes.

See here for a Men’s Health article that gives potential weights for 10 classic kettlebell exercises. Each person will have a different tolerance to load. (It says 26lb for Turkish get-up, and I’m challenged with 10lb.)

The color-coded vinyl prevent corrosion, increases durability, reduces noise, and protects my flooring. Smooth textured steel handles.

These are good quality cast iron kettlebells with a vinyl finish. We got the full set, but you might want only a couple sizes.

See here for a Men’s Health article that gives potential weights for 10 classic kettlebell exercises. Each person will have a different tolerance to load. (It says 26lb for Turkish get-up, and I’m challenged with 10lb.)

The color-coded vinyl prevent corrosion, increases durability, reduces noise, and protects my flooring. Smooth textured steel handles.

High-end exercise bands I love. 5 resistance levels, so they’re perfect for a variety of different exercises and loading. The only complaint I get is when men use them on their upper legs without wearing shorts or pants - a little hair-pulling. They’re a great tool.

Mid-sized PVC ball for balance or stability. I use for gluteal massage and pelvic floor. It’s softer than the regular Tune Up Fitness® balls, which are my go-to balls. It’s smaller and slightly firmer than the Tune Up Fitness® Coregeous ball. Recommended to me by my pelvic physical therapist.

Better than walking with a book on your head. This excellent product helps you find the natural axis of your spine, so your head is in proper postural position. Wear while seated, walking around the house, doing chores, etc.

Good posture relieves neck and shoulder pain, upper back tension, low back pain. This also can improve your gait - the way you walk - so you efficiently use your core, hips, and everything downward.

Hand washable. I have gifted this to many people!

These are the first Yoga Tune Up™ therapy ball, and they are classics for a reason. We use them in our Functional Yoga and Massage classes. An all-purpose massage tool, it gets better and softer with more use. Store in a dark spot, alternate therapy balls when you use them so they “season” evenly, and they will last for years.

Common sense caution: do not use in delicate areas such as the throat, inguinal ligament, on the tailbone or xyphoid process at the base of your breastbone.