This post (originally published in January of 2010) has gotten pretty popular lately! Here is an updated link for all of you doll lovers who asked for details on the woman who makes them – (click here)

Originally Published: JANUARY 2010

One of each please!  Artist Loanne Hizo Ostile says her intent is to put a smile on your face when you see her creations.  Goal accomplished.

Let us know if you purchase one!

Last holiday season we showcased a list of black doll options with kinky curly hair (click here)

Well this year, as I headed out to shop for my daughter’s Christmas gifts – I surveyed the toys in her room and realized there’s not much diversity in her doll collection.

It hit me, in my attempt to offer my daughter something I never had – I may have tipped the scale a little too far. Our little girl truly lives in a multicultural world – her friends are made up of all different races and nationalities – I think her play things should reflect her reality.

So – for the last few weeks I’ve been on a quest to find diverse dolls. Here are some of my favorites.

Journey Girls

Toys R Us Journey Girls offer an array of dolls with different personalities and interests. Last year we got Taryn – the cute chocolate doll who loves to sing and dance. This year she’ll be joined by her friend Callie – an Asian doll who also happens to love dancing. $32 Toys R Us

American Girl

American Girl has a huge selection of dolls of different hues. Each doll has a story to go along with it. Above: Kaya, Native American from the Historical Characters Series: $100

It’s fun to go through the American Girl catalog (or store) to find that perfect doll. NOTE: They are pricey – starting at $100 – and recommended for girls 8 and up.

Multi-Cultural Toddler Dolls

The name says it all! These cuties can be bought individually or as a set from Discount School Supply $222 here. For 2 and up. Too cute!

Karito Kids

I’ve showcased this line before and I’m doing it again because I love the Karito Kids mission! A  percentage of sales from each doll is donated to Plan USA, a worldwide children’s charity.  $70 Karitokids.com. Recommended for kids 4 and up.

A great site to find multi cultural dolls: http://www.dollslikeme.com/

What’s your favorite doll line? Share it with us!

Sometimes I have to pinch myself and wonder, “How the heck did I get here?!”

Me, Roots of Empathy Founder Mary Gordon, Research Professor Dr. Stuart Shanker

Tuesday night I had the pleasure of moderating an event called “Science, Self-Regulation and Citizenry,” at Town Hall in Seattle. Roots of Empathy Founder Mary Gordon and York University Research Professor Dr. Stuart Shanker shared with the audience of 500 the importance of teaching empathy and self regulation in young children. I was so captivated I almost forgot I was in charge of keeping everyone on time!

What is Roots of Empathy?

Roots of Empathy is a program that uses the parent-infant connection to build empathy in elementary school children. Over a school year students interact with a mom and baby. Roots of Empathy instructors guide the children as they observe the relationship between baby and parent, understanding the baby’s intentions and emotions. Through this model of experiential learning, the baby is the “teacher” and a catalyst, helping children identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others. It’s quite amazing to see:

Courtesy: Roots of Empathy

What is Self-Regulation?

In simple terms, self-regulation is the ability to stay calm, focused and alert. The better a child can stay calmly focused and alert, the better he/she can process various forms of information. Self-regulation nurtures the ability to cope with greater and greater challenges because it involves emotions, behavior, and – as the child grows older – thinking skills.

Dr. Shanker showed a video of children placed in a room alone with a marshmallow. The “teacher” says to each child, “When I return you can eat the marshmallow, but don’t touch it until I return.” A hidden camera showed just how difficult it was for some children to “self-regulate” and wait. Other children, while tempted were able to control their impulses, waiting until the teacher returned. Scientists have found those children who were able to self-regulate went on to do things like graduate from college and become productive citizens.

There are many reasons why kids have trouble self regulating, but I had a light bulb moment when Dr. Shanker said this:

Outside stressors in a child’s life can set them up for failure when it comes to self-regulating. Here are some common stressors for kids according to Dr. Shanker:

1. Television and video games. For young children TV and video games can over stimulate which in turn stresses the child.

2. Lack of sleep. Dr. Shanker says our kids get on average 2 hours less sleep than they did 30 years ago.

3. Poor nutrition

4. Not enough play. Children NEED play time. This includes mentally stimulating arts and crafts, imaginary play, games and OUTSIDE time. Most importantly according to Dr. Shanker, they need friends!

Here was the clincher for me: Our kids are often stressed because we are stressed. As I listened to him I thought about my own life. There is a string that connects me to my 4 year old daughter. I can feel it, I can see it in her actions. It hit me that even if I’m not SAYING or ACTING stressed, there is an energy field that is felt among those closest to us – and it affects them as it affects us. I left last night promising myself that I would not only work at reducing the stressors in my child’s life but also taking BETTER CARE OF MYSELF.

Want to help shape better human beings? I would encourage you to read Gordon and Dr. Shanker’s books -

Mary Gordon: Roots of Empathy

Dr. Stuart Shanker: Self-Regulation: Calm, Alert and Learning

Happy Reading!

A Consumer Reports investigation has found arsenic and lead in apple and grape juice. The organization is now calling for higher government standards to limit our exposure to these toxins.

From Consumer Reports:

“The tests of 88 samples of apple juice and grape juice purchased in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut by Consumer Reports staffers found that 10 percent of those samples had total arsenic levels exceeding federal drinking-water standards of 10 parts per billion (ppb) and 25 percent had lead levels higher than the 5 ppb limit for bottled water set by the Food and Drug Administration. Most of the arsenic detected in our tests was the type called inorganic, which is a human carcinogen. For our complete test results download Consumer Reports Arsenic Test Results January 2012.pdf.

The investigation included an analysis of the National Center for Health Statistics’ National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2003 to 2008. The results of that analysis suggest that these juices may be an important contributor to dietary arsenic exposure. Through interviews with physicians and authors of peer-reviewed studies, Consumer Reports also found mounting scientific evidence suggesting that chronic exposure to arsenic and lead even at levels below federal standards for water can result in serious health problems, especially for those who are exposed in the womb or during early childhood. FDA data and other research reveal that arsenic has been detected at disturbing levels in other foods as well.

While federal limits exist for arsenic and lead levels in bottled and drinking water, no limits are defined for fruit juices, which a recent Consumer Reports’ poll of parents confirms are a mainstay of many children’s diets. The FDA says when a fruit juice sample has 23 ppb or more of total arsenic, it will retest the sample to determine how much of it is inorganic, because according to the agency’s 2008 hazard assessment, 23 ppb of inorganic arsenic would represent a potential health risk. But that 23 ppb “level of concern” is not a mandatory limit, nor is it based on arsenic’s well-established cancer risks.”

So what does this mean? Should you eliminate apple and grape juice from your kid’s diet?

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions:

1. Dilute your juice

2. Only give 4 to 6 ounces per day for kids under 6, and 8-10 ounces for older children.

NewNaturalista’s thoughts: We did not introduce juice to our daughter until she was 3. Even then we limited it to special occasions, a juice box in her lunch here and there. We did this mostly because of the sugar content. The arsenic news takes our actions to another level. Our daughter gets plenty of fruits and veggies in her diet  - water is just fine!

For a full review of the Consumer Reports investigation, including the brands, click here

Weigh in!

NewNaturalista Rewind

One of my favorite childhood memories is enjoying a warm bowl of my grandma’s greens. I’d tediously help her clean each leaf before stirring them in that bottomless pot we’d let simmer for hours.

Today I keep up the tradition, adding a few other “green” favorites to the list. You’ll be happy to know that (sans the neckbones or pork) – greens are one of healthiest foods out there. Chock-full of folate, vitamin K (which helps prevent blood clotting) and a host of other vitamins and minerals – you’d do your body good to incorporate them in your diet! (I typically simmer in a pot with a tiny bit of salt, water and olive oil.)

Note: Avoid cooking greens at high heat – you want to preserve all the good stuff!

Mild Greens

Beet Greens: Mild flavor, very similar to spinach. Generates a pink liquid

Chard: The sweetest of greens, it can be used like spinach. Stem requires a little more cooking time than other greens

Spinach: Great raw or gently steamed

Bitter greens

Kale: I love lacinata kale the best, but green (above) and red bore kale are also yummy

Collard: Chop and simmer in water until leaves turn bright green or braise. Yum!

Mustard: Peppery, very assertive flavor. Strip leaves from stem and braise.

Other greats:

Rapini (also called broccoli rabe): One of the milder bitter greens, with tiny broccoli-like flowerettes amidst delicate leaves. If you use just the leaves, stripped from the stems, they’re hardly bitter at all. Braise quickly.

Watercress: Tear from stems and use leaves whole on salads for a powerhouse of nutrients and spunky flavor.

Partial Source: PCC Natural Market

What are your favorites?

When my little girl was a baby (oh so long ago!) I had such a great time making fresh, organic baby food for her.

More blueberries please!

Feeding your little ones homemade baby food is not only good for their bodies – it also trains their palate, teaching them to enjoy and expect those vibrant flavors that only fresh food can offer.

Michelle DuPuis from Rust & Sunshine has put together an easy step by step guide to making your own baby food.

I love it!

Rust & Sunshine’s Guide

1. Clean, peel, and chop your fruits or vegetables. It’s fine to leave the skins on for added vitamins and fiber, but I peeled anything in the Dirty Dozen unless it was organic or came from my own garden.

Courtesy: Rust&Sunshine

2. There are a few different cooking methods to choose from. For the most part I simmered fruits, steamed vegetables, and roasted sweet potatoes and squash.

To simmer: Place chopped fruit into a small pot or saucepan and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. (You can simmer juicy fruits like pears and plums without water.) Cover and cook over low heat until soft (less than 5 minutes for most fruits). Reserve juice to thin puree if needed.

Courtesy: Rust & Sunshine

To steam: Place vegetables in a steamer set over boiling water. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Reserve cooking water to thin puree if needed.

To roast: Preheat oven to 400° F. Spread the chopped vegetables on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Roast until the vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes.

3. Transfer the cooked fruits or vegetables to a small pot and, using a stick blender, puree until smooth. (You can also use a regular blender or food processor for this step.)

Rust & Sunshine

4. If needed, push the puree through a sieve with a rubber spatula, then add reserved juice or water to thin the puree to the desired consistency.

Courtesy: Rust & Sunshine

5. Spoon puree into ice cube trays (I used these ones from Oxo) and freeze immediately.

Rust & Sunshine

6. Once frozen, transfer cubes to freezer-safe storage bags, label, and return to the freezer.

Courtesy: Rust & Sunshine

Courtesy: Rust & Sunshine

A few additional tips:

Avocados & Bananas - it’s probably easier to just mash up a fresh avocado or banana but, if you have some that are overripe or leftover, they do freeze well. Thaw in the refrigerator and stir before serving. They will be a bit discolored but are still fine to eat.

Berries – Skip the prep work by using frozen berries!

Meats - Cook meat however you would normally make it, then grind with blender or food processor adding water to make a thick paste. My son wasn’t crazy about meat on it’s own, but when I mixed it with vegetables he loved it.

Prunes - I used Sunsweet’s new D’Noir Prunes which are preservative free. Absolutely amazing. (Yes, even I ate this puree!) Completely cover with water before simmering. The cooked prunes are super thick when blended, so you’ll probably end up adding most of the water back into this puree.

From The Washington Post:

Associated Press — “Amid pressure from activists, Johnson & Johnson said Wednesday that it is continuing efforts to remove traces of two harmful chemicals from its baby products around the world.

An international coalition of consumer and environmental groups has been pressing J&J since May 2009 to remove two potentially cancer-causing chemicals from products including its signature Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, long advertised under the slogan “No More Tears.” read more here“

Johnson & Johnson products are often the first products parents use on their babies. What are your feelings about this news?

My husband and I decided to forge our own Thanksgiving tradition a few years ago. Instead of turkey we have seafood…sometimes crab and sometimes this!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We aren’t big turkey fans and since we’re a small family – it’s a nice way to indulge without a ton of leftovers that we’d never put a dent in.

Here are some other alternatives we’re trying this year:

Instead of:

We’re Trying: BAKED APPLES

• 4 apples
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon butter

Preparation:

1. Wash and core apples, then cut a 1 inch strip of peel around the middle of each apple. Place in a 2-quart shallow baking dish.

2. Mix raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar in a small bowl.

3. Fill the center of each apple and dot with 1/2 teaspoon of the butter. Add just enough water to baking dish to cover the bottom of the dish.

4. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for about 30 minutes, or until apples are tender. Baste with juices occasionally.

5. Serve warm – and if you’d like added a dollop of sweetened whipped cream!

Instead of:

We’re Trying: CORN COUSCOUS SALAD

• 1 red pepper, roasted and skinned
• Olive oil as needed to roast pepper
• 1 3/4 cup plain bulk couscous
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano leaves
• 2 cobs fresh corn, cooked
• 2 green onions, sliced on the diagonal
• 2 to 3 oz. olives
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Preparation:

1. Set your oven to 400 degrees. Coat your red pepper lightly with olive oil.  Cook on cookie sheet until the pepper has blisters on all sides, carefully turning with tongs to cook all sides. When cooled, remove and peel off the charred skin. Dice and aside for the salad.

2. In a medium saucepan, bring the defatted chicken or vegetable broth to a boil with the olive oil, salt, pepper and dried oregano leaves. As soon as the liquid comes to a full boil, remove the pan from the heat and add in the couscous. Stir until the mixture is smooth and cover the saucepan with the lid. Let stand for about 5 minutues to allow the couscous to absorb the liquid.

3. While the couscous is absorbing the broth, cut the corn from the cobs and place in a mixing bowl. Add in the sliced olives, green onions, diced roasted pepper, chopped cilantro and parsley.

4. After the couscous has absorbed all the liquid, take a fork and lightly fluff. Add the couscous to the vegetable mixture. Stir lightly to incorporate all the ingredients together.

5. Enjoy!

Instead of:

We’re Trying: MAPLE ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

Courtesy: EatingWell..com

• 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces (about 8 cups)
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Evenly layer the sweet potatoes in a glass baking dish. Mix maple syrup, butter, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the sweet potatoes.

3. Cover and bake the sweet potatoes for 15 minutes. Uncover, stir and cook, stirring every 15 minutes, until tender and starting to brown. Total process 50 minutes!

These changes are slight – some of them only take off a few extra calories — but for us it’s fun to try new things and ultimately forge our own traditions.

What are some of your Thanksgiving favorites?

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is taking a bold approach to fight childhood obesity. The children’s hospital has put together a billboard and YouTube campaign called Strong4Life. Here’s a description:

“We can’t continue to ignore the fact that Georgia has the second highest rate of childhood obesity in the country. Kids are now suffering from diseases once seen only in adults. Start by joining the community. It’s a small step in a long journey, but together we can get there. Now is the time to fight back.”

Here’s a look at a few of the ads running in Georgia:

Childhood obesity is certainly an issue. Are these ads an a effective way to tackle it?

Seattle area naturalistas, join NewNaturalista for an evening of beauty with the leaders of eco-glam!

NewNaturalista Tonya Mosley, Natural Beauty Expert Sherrell Dorsey and Celebrity Makeup Artist Kim Roxie team up to host this eco-glam event showing you how to green up your beauty routine.

With special guests Good Hair Salon & AloeForMocha Skin care

Purchase tickets before October 31st at the discounted price of $10. Click here!