Organic Certification 101

If natural & organic cosmetics are near and dear to your heart, here's a 101 on organic certification for skin care and on Eco-cert, the very first certification body to develop standards for natural/organic cosmetics and sustainable packaging.

Organic Certification for Skin Care
Today in the US, skin care companies can say just about anything to market their products (unless they are selling drug products, which are strictly regulated). The need for third-party standards is clear, but unfortunately the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) does not apply well to cosmetic products. This is because “organic” is a term used by the US government for agriculture (things that grow directly from the ground), and the NOP is the regulation for the enforcement of organic food production. In fact, cosmetics were not even a consideration when the regulation was conceived. The USDA Organic seal works great for a simple mix or blend of ingredients like powder or oils since there is no cosmetic chemistry involved. However, for anything more complicated like a shampoo, functional lotion, or cream (which, like it or not, must involve chemistry), certifying organic is a much more complex.

Who/what is Eco-cert?
Based in France but with global offices, Eco-cert is a certifying body that understands the complexity of cosmetics and has developed a standard for natural and organic cosmetics that works with local standards around the world. The Eco-cert seal is common in Europe and Asia, and is just beginning to gain traction in the US. Eco-cert got its start in 1991 specializing in the certification of organic farming and in 2002 leveraged its large knowledge base to create an organic standard specifically for personal care/cosmetic products. The Eco-cert standard is robust; it takes into account the practical nature of formulating, manufacturing and packaging this class of products that rely on a unique blend of nature, cosmetic chemistry, and sustainable packaging.

Why is a Standard Necessary?
A well thought-out standard goes a long way to cut through the noise and helps guide consumers and manufacturers alike navigate their way through a crowded and growing natural/organic world. Put very simply, a natural and organic standard ensures an environmentally friendly approach to the full product life cycle, from sourcing natural materials to producing and packaging the final product.

This includes:

• ingredients derived from renewable resources and manufactured by environmentally friendly processes
• the absence of GMOs
• products free of synthetic perfumes and dyes
• biodegradable or recyclable packaging
• a certain amount of natural ingredients from organic farming
• an on-site audit performed by an Eco-cert auditor

When you see the Eco-cert logo, you will know that a thoughtful and comprehensive approach was taken to evaluate the natural and organic claim and that these claims are third-party certified.
California Baby's manufacturing facility is certified by Eco-cert as an organic handling facility to the USDA Natural and Organic Product standard. We have recently completed updating some of our products in preparation for certification to Eco-cert's natural and organic cosmetic standard, and hope to have the certified products available by summer of 2012!

Essential Oils Made Easy

Welcome to the world of essential oils! Consider this your introduction to everything aromatherapy. I began using essential oils with my children on an almost daily basis once they turned 6 months, and I have noticed that they got sick less often than other kids and recover from illnesses faster. To get the biggest aromatherapy benefit, it is important to work with essential oil blends that contain high levels of plant actives and are synthetic additive and pesticide free. That’s where California Baby comes in: All California Baby® blends are tested by a third party for purity and developed in consultation with an aromatherapist; we only use oils that are known for their safety and efficacy and use them at appropriate levels for babies and kids.
Even if you're new to aromatherapy, becoming a skilled user is a snap. Soon enough, you’ll find that using essential oils is an easy and indispensable wellness tool to keep in your “Mommy bag of tricks.” Ready to start using essential oils? Here’s all you need to know about California Baby’s blends and how to use them.

Why Our Blends Are Different:

They’re safe for sensitive skin: Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts; most are not meant to be used directly on the skin. Because oil and water don’t mix, California Baby® Bath Drops contain a small amount of lecithin (sourced from safflower oil) to emulsify our blends into bath water. This does not affect the aromatherapeutic value, but it does protect sensitive skin by not allowing the oils to come into contact with skin.

1. They’re safe for the environment: California Baby® uses only pure essential oils that have been tested for purity and guaranteed pesticide free.
2. They’re effective: We test our essential oils for the active constituents in each to ensure they meet our exacting requirements.
3. They’re versatile: We offer our essential oils in blends and single oil notes; there are advantages to both and each have their different uses. Our blends are created with thought to synergy—they are “aromatherapy quality,” like doctors prescribe in Europe, blended to function, smell great, and leave the senses dazzled. California Baby’s single note essential oils, Tea Tree and French Lavender, are ultra-pure and chosen for their healing and therapeutic properties. Certain essential oils have been known for centuries to contain particular therapeutic properties. Lavender in particular is well known to have anti-bacterial and healing properties and is an oil that has been used in various medical studies. Tea tree oil is another oil that has a solid track record and is well studied, especially in its native Australia.
4. Tip: With aromatherapy, less is more and a little goes a long way. For example, just a touch of lavender on a zit will dry it up overnight (keep away from eyes). Need anti-fungal action? A drop of Tea Tree can help. The easiest way to apply is to drop directly onto a Q-tip.
   

Note: California Baby® blends are safe to use as directed in a bath, ages 6 months and up--but, as always, consult with your pediatrician or Naturopathic doctor before starting any new therapy. If irritation occurs, stop use and consult a health professional. The quantities noted in this article are based on a full tub sized bath filled with water.

Our Scent Bar

French Lavender™ dab onto the skin with a Q-tip; our oil is the highest quality available. No well-stocked first-aid kit should be without this “perfect” oil.

Tea Tree™ is a powerful anti-fungal; it works on athlete’s foot, ring worm, and when blended into a carrier, works as part of a home made lice treatment.

Bathroom Freshener™ is a lemony floral blend that works to chase away all kinds of unwanted scents. Perfect for the diaper pail, but may be used anywhere in the home when used with a diffuser.

Calming™ our proprietary blend includes French lavender and works to promote calmness and ensure a good night’s sleep.

Eucalyptus Ease™ (formerly know as Colds & Flu) works to unlock mucus and ease congestion with a blend of eucalyptus and Douglas fir.

Super Booster™ (formally known as Resistance Builder) works to stimulate the immune system’s own defenses by utilizing the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of tea tree, lavender and clove. This blend may be used anytime and is especially helpful when illness is present or suspected.

Overtired & Cranky™ includes Roman chamomile and tangerine and works to change a mood from cranky to sweet!

How To Use California Baby® Essential Oils:

In the Bath: Fill your tub with warm water; drop 4-10 drops of our Bath Drop blend into a plain water bath, then once the water lever has been reached, swirl your hand through to mix.

In Combination with CALIFORNIA BABY® BUBBLE BATH: Our essential oil blends are synergistic; add any California Baby® Bath Drop essential oil blend to a tub filled with California Baby® bubble bath. Once bubble level has been reached, swirl your hand through bath water to mix.

To Add Scent To Our SUPER SENSITIVE MASSAGE OIL: California Baby® Super Sensitive Massage Oil is a pure unscented vegan nut free carrier oil. Use it on its own or add our single note or blended essential oils to create your own signature scent. Add 36 drops to our 4.5 ounce bottle; or, 8 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. Shake vigorously to mix before every use.

To Refresh the Scent of Our Pre-Blended Massage Oils: California Baby® massage oils are dynamically scented. You may notice that over time, as the blend opens, different components of the oils emerge. You can refresh or increase the scent at anytime using this ratio: 4 drops for every 2 ounces of massage oil. Shake to incorporate before each use.

In the CALIFORNIA BABY® PLUG-IN DIFFUSER: Add scent to every room of your house…naturally. Aerosol sprays, candles and other types of synthetic air fresheners can overwhelm the senses and may exacerbate chemical sensitivities, cause headaches and trigger allergies. Instead of exposing your children to synthetic scents, nourish their souls with natural, beautiful high quality essential oils. Add 5-10 drops of your favorite blend or single note oil to the diffuser pad* and it will fill the room with just the right amount of scent—with added aromatherapeutic benefits like reduced tension, soothed senses and more.
* Be sure to place the pad with the oil FACE DOWN to come into contact with the diffuser's ceramic plate.

Tips, tricks & info:

In a pinch, you may use our Calming™ Botanical Moisturizing Cream as a carrier. Here’s how: First, scoop a big dollop (about 2 tablespoons) into the palm of your hand. Then, create an indent with your finger in the center (think mashed potatoes and gravy) and place 1 drop of essential oil into the center and mix gently with your finger. Rub your hands together vigorously to emulsify and apply where needed.

• We add a small amount of special lecithin (safflower source) to emulsify the oil and water in our blends. This keeps the essential oils from coming into contact with sensitive skin. The lecithin does not dilute the aromatherapeutic value or experience.

Because the “thickness” of essential oils can vary, some may be a little slow coming out of the bottle. Be patient and allow the plastic insert to draw in some air to release the oil. The more the product is used, the faster the dropping action. Do not shake; tapping on the bottom of the bottle while upside down, is helpful.

Now you’ve got all the aromatherapeutic know-how you need to get started. By incorporating aromatherapy and other natural health care practices such as homeopathy, herbs, vitamins and acupuncture, you can work to reduce the need for antibiotics, which are causing more and more resistant bacteria strains due to over use. After all, the human immune system is pretty incredible; sometimes all we need to do is simply give it a nudge in the right direction.

Massage me! - The benefits of infant massage

Studies have shown that infants benefit from the gentle touch of massage just as much as adults do. Massage is known to alleviate muscle tightness, stiffness, tension and cramping. It is also known to increase flexibility and increase oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body. The power of gentle touch in baby’s first year of life is very important to both child and parent. Share with baby the benefits that result from a gentle relaxing massage.

Colic can be a nightmare and difficult to deal with. There are many massage techniques that can ease the pain and discomfort of spasms or gas. They can help to disperse gas, ease muscle spasms, tone the digestive system and help it to work efficiently. It is not a miracle cure, and can take a few days to ease, but in my experience it can be more effective than a pharmaceutical remedy. Of course there can be other considerations – for example, the mother’s diet can be a factor if baby is breastfed, therefore it is wise to examine the possible causes in addition to giving a regular massage. Besides helping to relieve colic, there are also massage techniques that can help ease teething and emotional stress.

Benefits for infants:

• Stimulates circulation
• Improves muscle tone
• Releases stress
• Improves sleeping patterns
• Stimulates right/left brain development and coordination
• Increases sense of being loved and accepted

Benefits for Parents:

• Provides quality bonding time
• Promotes increased awareness of the baby and their needs

When to massage baby:

• Choose a time that best suits your family
• Try to wait 20 minutes after baby has eaten
• If baby is too upset, it is not a good idea to massage

 

Equipment for baby’s massage

• Massage oil
• A warm room with closed windows
• Soft and quiet music (optional)
• Towels so massage oil does not get on anything
• Warm loving hands, free of jewelry

How to massage baby

• Begin with baby’s feet (massaging the feet is very relaxing)
• Use firm but gentle and slow movements
• Slowly move up the lower leg to the thigh and across the hips

• Next, put both hands on baby’s shoulders and gently stroke from the shoulders towards the middle of the chest
• Another option would be starting at baby’s shoulders and massage down the arms to the fingers.

• Continue with tummy. Tummy strokes should go in circles; clockwise as you look at the baby’s tummy.  (Only massage the tummy if it is soft and baby doesn’t become unsettled or squirmy).
• When massaging the tummy, think of it as a clock and start the massage at 5:00 and gently move clockwise down to 6:00 and then up to 12:00 and back down to 5:00.

• Follow with massaging the face, gently use your index finger tips and use small circular motions across the forehead and lightly on the cheeks. You can also use these movements starting at the nose and moving outwards.

• End the massage by massaging the feet. If baby is really relaxed and loves their pampering, you can turn baby onto their tummy and keep massaging.
• Place baby on tummy. Starting from the head, use gentle strokes moving down the back to the legs and end on the feet.

Note: Baby will be relaxed after their massage, so dress slowly and in a relaxed way to keep the feeling of comfort.

California Baby oils safe for baby’s massage

• Super Sensitive - No fragrance or scent making agents for baby’s extra sensitive skin- the perfect choice for newborn babies. You can also add any of our essential oil blends (30-45 drops) to create your own massage oil blend. Do not exceed 45 drops

• Calming - Calm baby with aromatherapy of French Lavender

• I Love You - Let baby experience how much you love them with the Ylang Ylang and sweet orange blend oil

• Overtired and Cranky – Ease a cranky baby with a blend of essential oils that includes Roman chamomile

• Colds & Flu – Ease the discomfort that a cold brings with Douglas fir and eucalyptus aromatherapy. Use the Heart Massage Technique to loosen congestion in the chest. Gently move hands from center of baby’s chest up towards the neck, then outwards to the sides, bringing them back together in a heart-shaped motion.

Organic Call-To-Action

As a member of the Organic Trade Association, a group that works to promote organic agriculture in the U.S., I get the skinny on lots of inside info, facts, regulations, rule making... I'm not a policy wonk and sometimes the plowing through page after page of techo-lingo can be a bit much. Since I consider myself an advocate for health and the environment, I receive lots of 'Calls To Action' and many times I do send an email to my Governor or Senator, or I sign the petition. In fact, I contacted my Senator to increase solar panel funding/rebates so that average person can benefit from the free power that the sun provides just this morning.

I don't expect everyone to make that kind of effort because most folks have a household to run, kids to shuttle to school and dinner to put on the table. BUT, today is an exception because I think there is a particular issue that affects us all. Organic agriculture need our help. One might think otherwise because it seems organic is everywhere- and it is; but it is still niche and "Big Agriculture" is kinda piggy and they want all the funds to themselves.

If organic produce is important for your family, please take a moment and answer the Call-To-Action from the Organic Trade Association and put in your two cents. It's easy; just follow the links below to find your elected federal official.

Cheers!

Jessica



October 31, 2011

OTA latest news

Members respond to call to advocate for organic in the upcoming Farm Bill
As of this morning, 5,257 letters and calls have been sent and made to federal officials by OTA members and friends urging them to advocate for organic as they make tough decisions about what to save in the upcoming Farm Bill. Agriculture leadership has said it plans to have the Farm Bill planning completed by tomorrow. OTA thanks its members who have contacted their Congressmen and Senators, and reminds those who haven't that there still is time to do so. In the 2008 Farm Bill, the organic sector received support for critical programs resulting in increased staffing and oversight at the National Organic Program (NOP), data collection on organic agriculture, increased research at land-grant universities on organic farming, and support to reduce the cost of certification for small producers and handlers. These essential programs are now at risk, with everything under scrutiny. For those who have yet to act, OTA urges that you call or e-mail your Congressman and Senator today. See OTA's Farm Bill pages to learn more about its organic Farm Bill priorities. Don't miss this critical opportunity to preserve the well-being of your business and the organic industry.

DIY Pizza Party

Calling up your local pizza place and ordering a quick pie is a perfectly fine "Mom-what's-for-dinner?" solution. But I've found that making your own pizza can be a fun activity for the whole family. Invite over a few friends and their kids, offer up a selection of fun toppings, and you've got an instant, at-home pizza party.

Sure, making your own dough can seem daunting—all that kneading and proofing—so feel free to leave that step to the pros: Some pizza shops will sell you a ball of dough, so ask around at your favorite parlors. Or just pick some up at the grocery store.
Lucky for me, I'm friendly with a fantastic chef who handles the dough making for me.

Chef Gino can make pizza with his eyes closed.  We were introduced by our friends at the Garden School Foundation when he made fresh tortellini at our first ever Family Festival. In our area, Chef Gino's fun and educational Pizza Parties are a huge hit. I asked if I could tag along to a recent party to find out if mere mortals (read: non-Italian chefs, just multi-tasking moms like us) can do this at home. Turns out, yes we can! Although this party was geared toward families with kids, I can imagine this as a fun baby shower activity or even just something different to do on an evening with friends.
Here's how it works:

Prep, Prep, Prep 
 

By making (or buying!) the dough and sauce and pre-shredding the mozzarella cheese the day before, you can avoid frantically running around the day of the party.

Of Course all mini-chefs must have clean hands to cook. Remember: 20 seconds minimum of scrub time.

Lining the table with aluminum foil makes clean up a breeze, or even better, use freezer paper instead of aluminum, you can wipe it with a wet cloth while it's still on the table, then roll or fold for reuse, instead of throwing away!



Dust each pizza 'station' with flour so the dough won't stick to the work surface, then measure out about a cup-sized dough ball for each person. Next, either place the dough at each station—or do like Chef Gino and make a game of passing out the dough by rolling it down the table to each mini-chef!

Let's Get This Party Started!

Forming the pizza pie is easy enough: Simply shape and flatten out the dough with your hands. Giving it the old toss and stretch is fun too!

Put some tomato sauce in the center, then spread it out over the dough, leaving about a half inch border. Add some cheese and a few toppings or fold everything up to make a calzone. Yummy!

Oven Time 

Be sure to label the pizzas before putting them in to bake. Write each chef's name on a piece of foil with a sharpie then place next to his creation.

 

Making Pizza and Memories

Let guests savor the memory of your pizza party long after the last slice has been devoured with a fun gift. Personalized, pint-sized aprons are a unique take home for the goodie bags.

You can also have kids make a pizza-themed picture frame while the pies bake. Just use different colors of construction paper or craft supplies (think beads, string, etc.) for the toppings, cheese and sauce and place everything on a round piece of cardboard. Take a photo of each chef working on her edible masterpiece, then send the print home the following week to add to the frame.

Another option: Have kids decorate their own chef hat. Use paint, markers, glitter—whatever—to jazz up paper hats.

Buon Appetito!

Here's a how to video :


Ingredients (serves 2)
1 cup warm water (between 100° and 110° so you don't kill, or chill, the yeast)

1 package or 2 tablespoons active dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

2-3 cups all-purpose flour or whole-wheat flour

toppings of choice

Directions
Preheat oven to 400°.

Measure warm water into a large bowl. Add the yeast to the water and stir until dissolved. Add sugar, salt, and oil and stir well.
Add the flour in small amounts and stir well after each addition. Add just enough flour so the dough is not sticking in clumps to your hands or the bowl, winding up with a well-formed ball.

Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and, using your hands, knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Let the dough rest 5 to 10 minutes to rise roughly double in size before using.
Once the dough is ready, spread it on an oiled pizza pan (or pie pan or aluminum foil). Apply toppings of choice. Bake in oven for 20 minutes.

Visit Chef Ginos Website

How to sanitize a bottle

Recycling, reusing and refilling are always at the forefront of my mind when I am creating products for California Baby. This is one of the reasons why I created bulk sizes of some of our best-selling products. Buying in bulk allows you to refill rather than re-buy and it’s a money saver! Refilling is a cinch, but many people don’t know that you should always sanitize the bottle or container before refilling, which is why I created this video. It’s a step-by-step guide on how to sanitize correctly so you can get the best results out of your favorite California Baby product! Take a look!

Food for Thought

When I became a mother, I went a little crazy about what goes in, on, and around my child. Many women do. So we read labels, we research ingredients, we make ourselves the guinea pigs... and we buy organic.

Nowadays, there is organic everything. Almost anything you can find in a conventional grocery store has a correlating natural or organic product… organic cheese puffs, organic TV dinners, even organic wine!

But does an “organic” label on the package mean it is the best product out there for you and your family? As the natural foods movement becomes mainstream, more and more companies try to get in on your dollar. For example, lately I’ve been seeing “organic” produce from as far away as China at my local health foods store. Why are we importing – and more importantly – why are we buying imported organic produce?

I have been going to two farmers’ markets a week for the last twenty years. I admit, going to the open market can be a pain. I can’t just show up with a list, I’m never sure what the farmers will show up with, and all those bags can get so gosh darn heavy! But you know what? I do know that the produce I buy Sunday afternoon was picked on Sunday morning. I do know that when I have a question, I can ask the farmer standing in front of me. How can you do that when your farmer is on the other side of the world?


After a while, one gets used to the pace and soon it’s not too hard to figure out what’s in season. (My biceps even got a little stronger.) I love the fleshy heirloom tomatoes from Ed in Santa Monica, and the extremely fresh produce from the hardworking folks at Givens Farms. At the Hollywood market, I’ve discovered a new Sri Lankan farmer – actually his parents are from Sri Lanka and he’s from Lancaster, CA – he grows the best eggplant, okra and watermelon. These farmers grow organically, but I would still buy from them even if they didn’t have an organic banner hanging at their stand. Conventionally grown produce picked ripe the same morning it goes to market is better, in my opinion, than organic produce picked green and flown halfway around the world.

Local, local, local! That’s my new battle cry. Go to your neighborhood market and buy from the deserving farmers there. If they’re not organic, bring up the subject and talk to them about it. Let them know you’re interested. It’s a fun way to get to know your neighbors, get to know your farmers, and know that you are buying the best there is for you and your family.

Cheers!
Jessica