The Creators of Naturebag Open Up

We love Naturebag and the two Canadian mompreneurs who developed it. Here Naturebag creators Sylvie DeSousa and Katharine Byers talk about the challenges of developing a new product, making partnerships work and why it's so important for kids to get outside.

1. How did you come up with the idea of Naturebag?
We wanted a fun and easy way to get children outside. We thought it would be easier to give families a 'kit' so they wouldn't have to change their habits too much or try to think up or research fun outdoor activities. "It's all in the bag" came to mind and we just went from there, thinking convenience and ease for parents and fun outdoor time for children.

2. Why is it so important for kids to get outside?
We are all hard wired with the need to spend time outdoors.
Viewing screens has become a child's full-time job. Kids are plugged in 24/7, watching an average of 25 hours of TV a week (Gentile & Walsh, 2002) and then logging additional screen time on the Internet, browsing the Web, playing video games, and engaging in whole new verbs, like IMing and Facebooking.
Richard Louv, author of 'Last Child in The Woods' coined the phrase nature-deficit disorder to describe the "human costs of alienation from nature" (p. 34), including diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illness. Just when students need contact with nature more than ever, they have abandoned it.
A Canadian study found that children whose school grounds include diverse natural settings are more physically active, more aware of nutrition, more civil to one another, and more creative (Bell & Dyment, 2006). Another study discovered that children playing in green settings have reduced symptoms of attention deficit disorder (Taylor, Kuo, & Sullivan, 2001).
The more studies are published, the more they agree: exposure to nature raises test scores; increases creativity, cooperation, and self-confidence; reduces stress; and enhances cognitive abilities.
We could go on and on, but we think you get the picture. Take your kids outside... NOW!

3. You've created a brand new product - something from nothing. What's been the most difficult part?
The sourcing of the 10 items that make up the Naturebag. We were so determined to find the best quality for the children who would end up using the Naturebag and also wanted to respect the planet in the process. We had to research everything: fair trade working conditions, organic cotton, rubber wood, soy crayons, recycled paper, cardboard, pencils, hemp. You'd think we were there as a society, that ethical products were easy to find. Well, think again!

4. You're two busy mompreneurs. How do you make your partnership work?
Ahhh, it's a match made in heaven! Without meaning to sound overly corny, it's really one of those things that was meant to be. Katharine and I work so well together, with our priorities straight and complete respect for one another. We complement each other perfectly with different strengths for the business and both have a great sense of humour which is terribly important I might add when you start a small business!

5. What's the best part about your work?
Working with Katharine (says Sylvie), working with Sylvie (says Katharine) and getting feedback from parents that are grateful that they have found more balance in their lives since spending more time outdoors.

Thanks for the insight ladies! Sylvie and Katharine's innovative Naturebag is available at Lavish & Lime. Do you have ideas or tips about getting kids outside? Please add them below! Everyone who leaves a comment before July 31st will be entered to win a sport size all natural sunscreen from Soleo Organics.

My Daughter Loves Her Sigikid Toy More Than Me

I know she loves me. Really, I do. It's just that I thought it would be different with our second.

Lucy is almost two. She runs. She falls. She cries. She holds up her arms so I swoop her up for a cuddle and then it happens. She says, 'Sigi'.

I don't mean to be needy. I just think that at this point something along the lines of 'Mommy' might be nice. Is it possible to be jealous of an inanimate object?

Sigi is an organic teddy bear snuggly given to her at birth by her older sister as part of the second baby process. Everyone told us to have Polly give Lucy a gift to ensure Polly still felt secure, loved and to curb any feelings of jealousy. We didn't really think about the effect this toy would have on us - jealousy? Surely not.

Like Polly did - and still does at the age of five - Lucy learned to fall asleep with her Sigikid toy. Sigi is her comfort, like the blankie or dolly most of us had as kids. Sigi was easy for Lucy's little hands to hold so it was one of the first things she could grasp and now that she's walking, one of the easiest things for her to carry around with her. Lucy's third word after 'Dada' then 'Mama' was 'Sigi'. And why not? He's super soft, cuddly and her constant companion.

Sigi has recently gone awol from the stroller a couple of times but with a bit of backtracking down the aisles of Safeway, he's been found, thankfully. What would a night without Sigi be like? I hope never to have to find out because it might be me sleeping with Lucy rather than him and right now - with much thanks to Sigi - I'm enjoying my eight hours. (Touch wood.)

- Louise Campbell, Lavish & Lime Co-founder

Sigikid is an innovative German toy company new to Canada but established in Europe for over 40 years. Lavish & Lime is the first Canadian e-tailer to offer Sigikid products online. Shop our Sigikid collection of organic and other toys here.

Tips for Buying the Perfect Baby Gift

It may just be in our world, but it seems there are loads of babies around at the moment. Naturally, this means the need for lots of baby gifts – whether for baby showers, births, first birthdays, baptisms or christenings.

The question is, what to buy? If you want to give a gift that will be well-liked and even cherished, one that’s a little different from all the rest, then consider these tips.

The cute factor
Everyone thinks ‘cute’ when they think ‘baby’ so if this is the angle you’re leaning towards, you really can’t go wrong. Just be sure your gift is over-the-top adorable and in this eco-friendly climate, organic, to ensure it stands out from the crowd. Consider an organic mouse snuggly or organic bear snuggly. Super cuddly and easy to grasp, these little guys have every chance of becoming baby’s one and only won’t-sleep-without-it favourite.

First baby
Often new Moms don’t know exactly what they need, no matter how many books they read or websites they scan. Give a gift that will undoubtedly prove critical to baby’s health and safety: a baby care kit. Packed with everything from a rapid-read digital thermometer and to safety grip nail clippers, this gift is good for baby and great for Mom. Another gift to consider is a baby necksaver. Made with soft, hypoallergenic zebra print material, this ergonomically designed, award-winning travel neck pillow helps support baby’s head more effectively than a car seat insert and can be transferred to a stroller – great for running Moms. Remember a quality baby gift for the first will keep on giving as it’s passed from child to child.

What Mom’s into
Taking into account Mom’s lifestyle or interests too is key to giving a baby gift that’s cherished. For example, if she’s into music, or Dad’s in a band, then a bag of rock n’ roll bath squirties is a guaranteed hit. Or is she into greener, organic living? Consider giving a paraben-free natural baby gift pack with chemical-free body wash/shampoo, baby bum spray, balm and more. A BPA-free snack set or feeding set are also good options and so is a non-toxic 100% melamine dish set. And if she’s Canadian or at least the baby is, then a red/white organic onesie printed with ‘100% Organic (made in Canada)’ is sure to bring a smile to her face.

Another important factor to consider is the occasion you're buying for.

Baby shower: practical gifts are always popular as are those that are helpful to Mom. Try a clever Canadian-made baby bath apron that not only keeps Mom dry during bath time, but prevents her from losing her grip on a slippery baby. It makes bathing a stress-free breeze and comes in velvety soft pink/blue velour or cool green gingham (pictured above). Two more great shower gifts are a must-have diaper bag and a European baby sleeping bag, guaranteed to help baby sleep through the night and let Mom get her much-needed rest.

Birth: your friend/cousin/sister-in-law has just had a baby and you’d like to take a little something with you when you meet the wee one or send a gift in the post. A three-pack of brightly coloured organic onesies would be a welcome gift as would a set of adorable organic socks printed with ballerina shoes or Converse high tops. Another thoughtful option is a super soft and super green organic frog rattle or a teddy sculpture packaged in a lovely feather-top bag.

First birthday: a great opportunity for either a playful gift like an organic play ball and animal bowling set or something slightly more memorable like a silver plated giraffe bank. A lovely organic teddy bear is also a winner. It has undeniable classic appeal but the green twist makes it a modern must-have.

Baptism or christening: generally people think about traditional keepsake gifts at this occasion – something that will be treasured for years to come. For a contemporary twist on the classics, check out this silver plated baby comb & brush set and the matching first tooth & curl set - because the alternative envelope stuffed in a drawer just doesn’t seem right! Photo albums are always something to consider too – whether featuring classic silver plated ABC baby motifs or a suede teddy bear style.

Whatever you choose, a little thought can go a long way to making your gift one that is not only liked, but loved and well-used for years to come.

For a baby gift that's different, check out our selection of stylish keepsakes, toys and essentials at Lavish & Lime.

Eco-friendly Trends: 6 Smart Ways to Greener Living

Green is definitely the new black.

The Eco trend looks set to continue through 2008 and beyond and it’s just as much about materials as it is attitude.

Here are six smart ways to greener living that have risen to the top of the heap.

1. Safer Sipping: Take your next drink from aluminum, stainless steel, glass or plastic drinking bottles made without bisphenol A, a potentially harmful and increasingly controversial chemical found in polycarbonate plastic. Recent research has shown the chemical, which mimics estrogen and is a known developmental, neural and reproductive toxicant, can leach from bottles and sippy cups into the contents. Try Laken's lightweight aluminum water bottles made in Spain with one of the thickest, dent-resistant exteriors around and the BPA-free sippy cup from innovative designers Boon.

2. Green Toys: At this year’s toy fairs, eco-friendly products have been front and centre. Toys can be made ‘green’ in a number of ways, including using natural products such as cotton or wood with fewer harmful chemicals, reducing waste with less packaging and using recycled materials. With recent recalls for toys made in China, many toy buyers were keen on toys made in Europe. Go green for the little ones with organic cotton stuffies from Germany - luxuriously soft, super cuddly and simply adorable-looking.

3. Pass on Plastic Bags: Paper or plastic? Make it neither by toting your own reusable grocery bag and help reduce landfill waste. Lightweight and waterproof, the stylish eco-basket (pictured) collapses to fit in your purse or backpack. If this is too big of a commitment for every shop, find a second use for the plastic bags you do take home – line a small trash can, pick up after your dog or cushion those holiday postal packages.

4. Go Paraben Free: Increasing concern for the safety of the wide use of parabens – synthetic preservatives – in cosmetics and lotions has made natural products more popular than ever. Potential links have been reported between parabens, which research has shown can mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, and cancer. As a healthy alternative, try 100% paraben-free natural body butter made in Canmore, Alberta or a great outdoors gift pack containing five different paraben-free body care products. And for the little ones, choose paraben-free body wash/shampoo and natural baby bum spray.

5. Become a Flexitarian: Swap one meat dish a week for a veggie plate. Why? Because raising produce is ‘cheaper’, in terms of energy consumption, than raising animals. Click here for a huge selection of tasty, meatless recipes.

6. Be Produce Picky: Make informed choices on your next shop for produce. Download the Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce from the Environmental Working Group. The wallet-sized list distinguishes between the fruit and veg that tend to be higher in pesticides (ie. apples, spinach) from the produce with a lower count (ie. bananas, peas).

Visit Lavish & Lime for a great selection of eco-friendly gifts for him, for her and the little ones. Many of these products are also Canadian-made.