Happy Halloween, you broomtiful mombies! Can you believe it's already the last day of October? As we gear up for the hectic holiday season, let's all take a moment to pause and really soak in these days. I often find myself getting stressed during this time, but it all goes by so quickly. Have a safe and spooky night!

• Be Aware: What to keep in mind while shopping for brands for you and your family's daily routine.

• Lunch-Packing: Practical tips for making the process of packing your kids' lunches a breeze.

• Halloween Controversy: The Switch Witch - the newest holiday tradition under debate.

BEAUTY

Don’t Get Spooked by the Ingredients in Your Products

Halloween is here, and there's nothing spookier than the idea of toxic ingredients in the products you use every day. Consider this unsettling fact: on average, women use 12 beauty products every day, containing over 168 chemicals. If you're in search of clean products, it means they should feature natural, safe, organic ingredients, be ethically sourced, environmentally sustainable, and cruelty-free. That's quite a comprehensive list to consider.

Why go clean and what to be aware of?

• Endocrine Disruptors. These are chemicals that have the ability to mimic your body’s hormones (ie Parabens). It can lead to bigger problems in the future like reproductive issues, birth defects, metabolic problems, and cancer. *Parents, be aware of these when choosing products for your little ones!

• Fragrances. It’s a skin irritant. Look out for sneaky ways brands label products like ‘fragrance-free vs. Unscented’. Unscented doesn’t mean there isn’t a fragrance on the ingredient list.

• Carcinogens. These are linked to cancer. A lot of ingredients are disguised in other names - the chemical formaldehyde might be under the guise of quaternion-15 or bronopol.

• Green Washing. Stay vigilant when products are marketed as 'natural,' 'eco-friendly,' 'organic,' or 'environmentally conscious.' It's essential to conduct your research, as there's a strong possibility they may not genuinely align with those claims.

USEFUL TOOL: The Good Face Project provides a valuable tool for moms wanting to evaluate various beauty products to determine their true level of cleanliness. It gives an overall score, and an extensive toxicity report, suggests alternative products, and offers convenient links for purchase.

Some trends we have been seeing in the clean beauty space…

💄Going “Free From”: Increasingly, consumers are seeking products that are free from toxins such as formaldehyde, sulfates, and phthalates, emphasizing safety and health.

💄The Rise of DIY Beauty: Embracing natural ingredients like honey, coconut oil, and aloe vera, this trend empowers individuals to have full control over what they apply to their skin and hair.

💄 Skinimalist Approach: Simplify your routine by focusing on a select few products that offer tangible benefits, promoting a minimalist and effective approach to skincare. This has been my approach since day 1 of motherhood 😆

👦👧 ❌🧴Regrettably, kids' products can also be laden with harmful toxins, making the process of selection quite overwhelming. To safeguard your family, be sure to apply the guidelines mentioned above when searching for products.

PARENTING

To Pack or Buy School-Provided Lunches?… That is the Question. - Not Shakespeare

UGH. That’s how I feel almost every morning on the hamster wheel of packing lunches for my kids. It seems like such a simple task, but when your preschool bans peanut butter or there is no option to warm a lunch, choices are minimal.

1 in 3 moms said they’d rather clean a toilet than pack lunches. Yes, same. But even after cleaning that toilet, I’d still have to make the darn lunch.

🥪 Pack-Your-Own-Lunch station. At Home With Shannon has come up with a brilliant way to not only simplify the process of packing school lunches but also to engage your kids in the task. Perhaps involving them will encourage them to eat more of their lunch!

🥪 Stock up on the right stuff every week. Jennifer Anderson, a registered dietitian, suggests using appealing disposable bags with designs like sharks as an alternative to standard ziplock bags. Also, select non-perishable foods, like frozen waffles with nut or seed butter, pasta with olive oil and vegetables, yogurt, cheese, and nutrient-rich muffins, to avoid the hassle of freezer packs.

🥪Please Mom, not another sandwich. Truth be told, my kids love sandwiches, but not every child does. Here are some ideas to please the sandwich haters out there.

AND ALSO THIS. . .

Many parents adore the tradition of trick-or-treating but are less enthusiastic about having excessive candy in their homes or their kids consuming too many sweets. One seemingly controversial solution is the Switch Witch. Now, I've been a mom for 6.5 years and had never heard of this trend until recently. I stumbled upon it when a family faced criticism for introducing this tradition to their two-year-old daughter.

So what is a Switch Witch? 🧙

She’s a GOOD witch who visits your house while your kids sleep and switches out the majority of their Halloween candy for a toy. Check out the blogger, Mama Natural’s explanation, and other helpful tips like alternative names for the witch.

THE DEBATE:  Does the Switch Witch send the right message surrounding food to kids? If you are considering the Switch Witch tradition, these do’s and don’ts might be worth considering.

• Make the switch witch optional. If your kids don’t want to give away some of their candy, don’t force the issue. It’s important to trust our kids, and for our kids to trust us. Otherwise, you may end up with a child who sneaks candy and other “forbidden” foods and feels shame about wanting them.

• Let your kids decide what to give. There are various ways to do this - some parents allow their kids to keep a certain amount of candy, and the rest goes to the witch, or it's just the pieces they don't like.

SNIPPETS

👻 Ghoulish Guardians. Here are 8 different types of parents you’ll encounter trick or treating tonight. 

☕Mom Fuel. For the first time in 60 years, Coffee Mate is expanding outside of creamer.

💳 Sale Alert. Don’t miss out on Sephora’s fall savings event happening now!

🧥 Fall Wardrobe Staples. As the weather cools, stock up your closet with these warm favorites.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up here

View our Privacy Policy