It wasn’t too long ago organic children’s clothing had very little to offer when it came to super stylish clothing. Though you could easily find onesies, tees and caps in muted colors, it was a bit more of a challenge to find a party-worthy dress or playdate-ready outfit. But times have changed and thanks to companies like Postively Organic, you can find eco-friendly children’s wear that sports serious style while managing to look good even after playgroup, park visits and everyday antics.

Positively Organic’s children’s clothes (sizes up to 4T with seasonal sizes up to 6) are made using certified organic cotton. The company combines earth-friendly materials and sweatshop-free/fair-trade manufacturing with “bold graphics, bright colors and hip yet simple designs.” From henley and raglan tees to kimono one-pieces and yoga pants, Positively Organic is not your typical organic children’s wear line. When they say “bright colors and hip yet simple designs,” they mean it! I’m lovin’ the Earthgirl raglan tee, long-sleeve Cowboy tee and printed blankets.

Positively Organic sent Livi a cute long-sleeve tee and pants set. Though a size smaller than she usually wears, the outfit was designed well enough so she is still able to wear it…and wear it she has! We’ve already worn and washed this outfit two or three times, and each time it seems to get softer. The colors have held up well to both play and laundry detergent and this has become one of our favorite go-to outfits. (Trust me, she likes the outfit. What she doesn’t like is my taking her picture.) Though the pants are now a bit short I still love putting this outfit on her for slow, comfy days around the house.

Positively Organic’s collection is reasonably priced, which makes it even sweeter, and they have a pretty awesome clearance going on right now too. The fall line has some yummy colors like the bright raspberry in Livi’s outfit and some great styles like the corduroy cuff-up jeans for boys. And don’t forget those adorable kimono rompers! Along with offering customers stylish organic clothing for kids, Positively Organic also works with several causes supporting children’s welfare and environmental responsibility. Your children will look good and you’ll feel good when dressing your kids in the chic styles from Positively Organic. –Emily

* Promotion! Positively Organic is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off any regularly priced item! Simply enter code “cafe09″ at checkout. Offer expires December 23, 2009.

Hello! My new organic towels from Welspun are here!

After the exciting release of my organic bedding, I’m so happy to expand the collection with my beautiful bath towels. Made with 10% organic exchange cotton, these towels are super soft to the touch. The bold and vibrant colors will brighten up any bathroom space even in the wee hours of the morning when waking up is so hard to do. These joyful designs will lift your spirits and get you going!

My new line will be available in my online shop, along with Bed, Bath & Beyond stores nationwide and on Bed, Bath & Beyond.com (with many more retailers to come!). Please visit my website for inspirational photos and all the great details.

Warmest Wishes,
Amy

If you were to grade my pantry on how healthy it is it would probably get about a B. We have lots of healthy food in there like all-natural peanut butter, almonds, olive oil, rolled oats but we also have a few not-so-healthy selections like Cocoa Puffs and the occasional box of  Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies. But our pantry just got a whole lot healthier with the addtion of family meal kits from The Healthy Pantry.

The Healthy Pantry believes that “many common lifestyle illnesses resulting from eating the Standard American Diet (high calorie/low nutrient density foods) can be prevented, remediated or reversed with four fundamental dietary changes:

1. Reducing overall glycemic load of diet
2. Upgrading quality of dietary fats
3. Avoiding chemical, artificial and highly processed food products, ingredients or additives
4. Increasing micronutrient content and variety in diet

I would love to give you the complete lowdown on how they do this with their pre-packaged meal kits but it would take the entire page. Believe me, their nutritional philosophy is worth the read. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll learn about nutrition and how your food choices could be affecting your family’s lifestyle.

I’m all for improving the quality of food I feed my family but it has always seemed a task requiring more work than I have time or energy for. That’s why I love The Healthy Pantry—their meal kits take very little time to prepare, use quality, natural whole foods and are backed by sound nutrition. Their meal kits are basically simple bags (and an applesauce cup or jar of chutney once in a while) you open and mix with an ingredient or two from your fridge. They have a huge selection of meals, from whole grain apple cinnamon pancakes to chicken tenders with apple-baked beans to oatmeal raisin cookies. And customers can review each meal so you know what others thought of the recipe before trying it. Though some of the prices may seem a bit high for a mix, take into account someone else is buying, measuring, chopping those all-natural, healthy, good-for-you ingredients so you don’t have to. That’s definitely worth it, especially when school is back in session and weeknights get crazy!

The Healthy Pantry sent us a few of their meal kits to test, and though I didn’t have time to test as many as I’d like, we did try out their whole grain oatmeal raisin cookies (a bestseller) and pineapple meatloaf. The oatmeal raisin cookies were a cinch for my 11-year-old to make even with the “help” of her little brother and sister, and they were super tasty even for a “healthy” cookie. The dough was a bit trick to work with when it came to scooping it onto a cookie sheet (a little on the dry/crumbly side so we had some runaway raisins) and we found the baking time was way off for our oven and size of cookies (about 11 minutes instead of 18). But I’ve managed to eat about half a dozen a day, so it’s a good thing it made a lot!

The pineapple meatloaf was quite possibly the easiest dinner I’ve made in weeks (except for the Stouffer’s enchiladas I baked the other night…but those are definitely not the healthiest meal!). A spice mix, a jar of chutney, three eggs and two pounds of ground turkey. I had been looking for a way to incorporate ground turkey into meatloaf but was scared to do so ever since my grandmother made a “turkey loaf” once. It scared me off ground turkey meatloaf for years! But this changed my whole perspective! The Healthy Pantry’s pineapple meatloaf had a wonderful blend of peppery spices and pineapple chutney, which made for a sweet and spicy meatloaf that was super moist and full of flavor. You couldn’t even tell it was ground turkey! I totally loved this new take on our traditional recipe, though two of my kids stayed true to Grandma’s version and turned up their noses at this one. What can I say? They love Grandma’s meatloaf!

I am anxious to try more of The Healthy Pantry’s meal kits and not just because they make meal prep easier. It’s about time I paid a little more attention to what I feed my family and The Healthy Pantry makes it easy to do so&mdashand with my life as it is now, I’m all about healthy and easy! –Emily

*** Giveaway!!! The Healthy Pantry is giving away a $100 gift certificate for use in their online store! To enter to win you can do a few things:

• Become a fan of The Healthy Pantry on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you’re their newest fan.
• Visit their site and tell us which meal kit you would like to try.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
• Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your blog post.

We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: August 20, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Bonnie Walker, the winner of The Healthy Pantry giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

Sparklehearts is a new line of natural beauty product for girls. The products are as happy and sunshiny on the inside as their packaging is on the outside and made of 99.6% natural, vegetable and plant-based ingredients. Sparklehearts is all about just saying no to “the icky chemicals and toxins that make up the majority of make-up, bath and beauty products for girls. Their products, which include Bubbling Blooms Body Wash, Shine Shampoo, Rainbow Soft Conditioner, Sweet Hearts Sparkly Lotion and Peace Out No Knots Hair Detangler, are made in the USA, never tested on animals, environmentally friends and even use 100% recycled packaging. All that in a super sparkly, brightly colored, exuberant bottle!

My girls received the Shine Shampoo and Rainbow Soft Conditioner combo. Both have Sparklehearts’ naturally sweet signature scent and girl-friendly packaging. The shampoo contains pansy and violet extract, rosemary and natural coconut and sugar while the conditioner has Vitamin B-5, shea butter, jojoba and wheat protein. My girls couldn’t wait to try these out but of course I made them wait until they had used up their current shampoo and conditioner. (Looking back they went through it faster than usual…I think a lot of it went down the drain…literally.)

I asked them what they thought about their new Sparklehearts sparkly bath products and here’s what they first said (both in agreement): “I think they smell good but when you mix them together they don’t smell very good.” Huh?!?! I was confused by what they said–were they mixing the shampoo and conditioner and putting them on together? Were they putting on one, then the other before rinsing out the first one? Apparently not. They explained they did the lather and rinse thing for both the shampoo and conditioner, and once they were done and out of the shower they didn’t like how their hair smelled. You’ve got me–I didn’t have this issue when I used the Sparklehearts shampoo and conditioner. Hey, our master bathroom shower was being cleaned and regrouted. (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!)

My oldest daughter did walk off with this comment: “I like the outside of the bottles; they’re cute!” So score one for 100% recycled packaging decked out in shininess, sparkles and glitter! I’m good with a more natural smell because I know the product is a lot better for their bodies. I think my girls are just too used to their typical “toxic” haircare products! It’s about time Sparklehearts helped them kick the habit, don’t you think? –Emily

** Giveaway! Sparklehearts is giving away one product, winner’s choice! Please visit the company’s site and leave a comment telling us what inspiring quote the little Sparklehearts bird carried across the screen while you were there; include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: July 7, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Promotion! Sparklehearts is offering Daily Dish readers 20% off their purchase! Simply enter code Blog20 when checking out at Sparklehearts.com.

* Congratulations to Kim M., the winner of the Sparklehearts giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

Do you remember those questions on tests that went something like “Puppy is to dog as _____ is to cat?” Today’s question is “Stretching is to yoga as skin care is to _____?” Unless you’re well versed in Ayurvedic skin care, you won’t have a clue. Let me fill you in: the answer is DoshaCare. DoshaCare is customized Ayurvedic skin care, but it is more than just skin care; it is a philosophy for life.

DoshaCare combines the knowledge from the Ayurvedic tradition of India with the best of western science to for a lifestyle approach that focuses on “authentic radiance.” Their skin care line helps radiate your inner beauty and actually evolves with you. With a series of questions under “Ayurveda & Dosha Types” you can find out your primary and secondary Dosha (the page also goes into more detail about Ayurveda and Dosha) and then from there you can tailor your skin care to match. As your skin changes throughout the year (and we all know it does) you can change your regimen along with it.

I answered those questions and found out I was pretty much Pitta all the way, so DoshaCare sent me their Pitta Cleansing Bath to review. Designed to protect and soothe normal and sensitive skin, this cleanser is 98% botanical and organic. It contains turmeric for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, hyperpigmentation correction and softening properties; neem to promote skin elasticity; and aloe vera for hydration and soothing. It was a good thing the information sheet I received with it had directions, for I could not find any on the box or bottle. I know, I know–lather, rinse and hopefully not repeat but I am one of those that thrive on written instructions. But I did lather and rinse…and if I was wearing makeup, I had to repeat. Plus, I’ve kind of gotten accustomed to “less is more” with most cleansers I’ve reviewed, and this one took a full pump and then a second full pump to get my face completely makeup free.

It did leave my skin feeling soft and hydrated, though not as hydrated as I would’ve liked. Though the scent was rather strong (albeit natural), I found it very earthy and somewhat relaxing. My husband walked in once while I was using it and even noticed the scent-not in a bad way, but how often is a cleanser that strong? I would have loved to have tried out the full line to see if I felt more “balanced” and if I felt it really were tailored to me and my primary Dosha.

As much as I should embrace the DoshaCare approach to life I’m not sure I’m in a place to do so just yet. (That statement probably shows I definitely should take the time to become more centered!) The Pitta Cleanser (4.2 fl oz) costs $34–a bit on the high end if you’re using twice as much as the next cleanser. But it is customized skin care, and I can’t say that Avon or Oil of Olay or any other skin care lines have ever asked me how well I sleep, what my appetite is like or how I react to stress. There just might be something to this DoshaCare thing! –Emily

** Giveaway! We are giving away a gift set to one lucky reader! (Note: The gift set may not include DoshaCare products but will include something equivalent if not better!) Visit the DoshaCare website and click on “Ayurveda & Dosha Types,” then take the test to find out your primary Dosha. Leave a comment letting us know what that is and include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 17, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

* Congratulations to Ann H., the winner of the DoshaCare giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

Mmmmmm…smell that? It’s the refreshing, invigorating mix of rosemary and mint I’ve enjoyed sniffing for the past couple weeks every time I’ve showered. No, I wasn’t showering in my neighbor’s herb garden (I could do without those fifteen minutes of fame). What I was doing was using Organics by Noah’s Naturals’ Rosemary Mint Travel Kit while on vacation, and its fresh, stimulating smell did a great job reviving me after the 10-hour drive (made by myself with four kids in the car).

Organics by Noah’s Naturals is setting a new standard in organic bath and body care with its line of products, which include organic blends like rosemary mint and coconut vanilla. But they don’t just smell good; these products help cleanse, revive and condition skin and hair with good-for-you formulations. For example, their Rosemary Mint Shampoo has Vitamin B5 (great humectant) and cone flower extract (natural healing properties, while their Coconut Vanilla Lotion has Vitamin A (improves texture, firmness and smoothness) and safflower seed oil (replenishes moisture). All I know is my travel kit (rosemary mint shampoo, conditioner and body wash) left my skin, hair and senses feeling fabulous!

Along with Organics, Noah’s Naturals offers an original line of bath and body products including an impressive lineup for facial care. I was sent their Hand Salve but was only able to test it once. (If it were winter I’d be all over it on a daily basis!) I don’t use a lot of wax-based hand moisturizers because I don’t love the often greasy feel, but Noah’s Naturals’ hand salve, which contains soy wax oil and beeswax, absorbed quickly and even the smallest dollop did a great job with moisturizing my scrubbed-the-house-all-day hands.

Noah’s Naturals is committed to being good for you and good for the environment. Besides only using nutritionally fortified formulas (e.g. pure essential oils, organic plant oils and emollients) and staying away from harsh chemicals (e.g. petroleum, parabens, propylene glycol), the Noah’s Naturals is also a member of One Percent for the Planet. The company donates 1% of their sales to environmental causes worldwide.

You can find Noah’s Naturals online and at select Wal-Mart stores. I’m basically saying you can purchase a high-quality product at an affordable price and donate to a worthy cause all at the same time. I love it when I’ve got a great excuse to shop! –Emily