Putting our dollars to work: Giving Back 2008

Some of us may be buying less this holiday, but it sounds like all of us will still be doing some level of gift giving this year.  Looking for ways to spend our dollars in a way that could also help a great cause?  Consider these options:

• Our Children's Store.  An annual favorite whose location has found itself in different spots through the years.  This year, the store is at the Lloyd Center Mall again.  The store sells products that have been donated outright.  Previous years, we've bought Baby Legs, Groovy Girls, or other items we would have otherwise bought elsewhere.  Why not buy at Our Children's Store, where 100% of the proceeds go to supporting 25 local children's charities?
• CHAP Holiday Bizarre.  CHAP sets up shop in the 937 Condos from now through Christmas Eve.  All proceeds benefits the Children's Healing Art Project.  Columbia Sportwear donated tons of gear for sale, but most of the store is dedicated to art-making: crafting ornaments or silkscreening tees.  Be sure to check out the full calendar of events including workshops, dance, music, and art performances. 
• Ten Thousand Villages.  Also an all-time favorite, this national nonprofit sells handrafted products made by more than "130 artisan groups in 36 countries".  You'll find tons of high-quality crafts - jewelry, furniture, household goods, toys, and artwork.
• Willamette Week's Give! Guide 2008.  Maybe you care to just give a gift to one of 55 worthy organizations in the name of your friend or family member?  The neat thing about giving through WW's program is that you get a heap of swag for any gift over $25.

There have got to be more ways to give back while you shop.  Your top choices for spending a buck for a good cause?  We're always looking for more thoughts and suggestions.

Healthy Toys 2008 Database is out: Holiday shopping made easy

While it's a serious bummer that a database is required to identify non-toxic toys these days, I'm glad that Healthy Toys.org is there to make it easy.  And this year the site is vastly improved with all kinds of new bells and whistles to make your search & shop experience that much easier.  Here's how they describe the 2008 version:

This year's site is newly-redesigned, easier than ever to use, and includes new features. Visitors to HealthyToys.org can now create their own personalized holiday wish lists that can be e-mailed to family and friends. You can buy toys directly through links on HealthyToys.org, with a portion of the sale going to fund our work to test more toys.

A new widget can be posted to your blog or website for quick searches of toy ratings for lead.  And, of course, we've updated our Take Action  page so you can contact your Congress Member, the largest toy manufacturers, and the organization in your state to urge full protection for children from toxic toys.

The Activista in me especially appreciates the Take Action piece.  'Cause really, this just shouldn't be necessary.  And while we can shop with our Big Green Purse, speaking up is critical, too.

How to transition: from co-sleeper to crib?

Each time our first daughter transitioned further from us, it was a difficult change, for mama, papa, and for babe.  First, it was from our bed to her crib in the corner of the room.  Then, it was from the corner of our room to her own room across the apartment.  It felt like she was taking leaps and bounds in her journey away from us.

An urbanMama seeks some advice and your perspective on the transitioning:

I'm a 27 year old married mama to an 8 month old breast feeding, sweet, smart, active, adorable boy.  My husband and I have been co sleeping with our little man, but have reached a point where he is so active, even in his sleep, that we think all of us would sleep better if he had his own space.  He has a crib, but doesn't even nap in it at this point.

I would like to transition him to his crib to sleep for (at least most of) the night and for naps.  I would say that we are semi attachment.  I don't want to traumatize him, but I also don't want to bother him in an attempt to soothe him.  We are both frustrated during the "soothing" process which consists of breast feeding, rocking, bouncing, shushing, and/or rocking.  I feel like he's outgrowing some or all of these.

Any mamas have advice for transitioning from co sleeping to crib?

Seeking Black Santa

We believe that Santa can come in different forms and colors.  We all know, though, that the darker-skinned Santas are few and far between.  Have you come across one?  urbanMamas want to know!

I heard that there is a chocolate Santa some where in Portland during the month of December. I would way prefer to take my son to an unconventional Santa. Anyone know where he is?

Politics & holidays: Bad timing??

I'm sure my 5-Yo isn't the only Portland kid to haver uttered these words: "Mama, what does a McCain sign look like?" Such a great Portland joke. So, when we trekked to the other end of the country to spend Thanksgiving with my father and drove his car (yes, the one pictured above), I was able to at least show my son what an anti-Obama sign looked like! Yes, I'm one of those lucky people whose political beliefs are no less than wildly different than both my parents.

So it was with some fear and trepidation that we jumped into this car at the Miami airport for a few days of post-election family fun. I couldn't help but wonder whether it might be productive for general American family dynamics to set election day a wee bit further from the holidays. You know?
All that holiday wine and the election mere weeks ahead of the turkey cooking.

I've got a family election story to beat all (think: parent reads blog post, child cancels cross-country holiday trip), but I'm not quite ready to divulge the details online yet - still licking my wounds offline. How did it go for you? Were you able to discuss the recent election while passing the sweet potatoes or creamed onions? Or was it best left unsaid (as with us)? Do tell, 'cause I don't like to think that I'm the only one whose holiday table was strangely quiet on the political front.

Buying Less This Holiday??

Many of us have been talking about cutting back lately.  Either because of the economic situation, or because of the environmental impacts of consumption, or because we're concerned about what might be in the things we buy. 

As the holidays approach I find myself thinking about establishing some new traditions.  I come from a family that went all out for Christmas. We got (literally) piles of gifts, aided by my dad's small yearly bonus.  In my parents' defense, they wrapped everything (underwear, socks, soap, you name it), and we didn't get much else during the rest of the year, but Christmas was definitely a big deal.  My husband, on the other hand, comes from more of a one-good-gift and a stocking household, something he hopes to continue.  So I guess you could say our ideas of Christmas morning are...different.

I don't want my kids' Christmas memories to be like mine mostly because it sends the wrong message about consumerism and materialism to open a big pile of presents, one that contradicts what we try to teach the rest of the year.  And, not to sound too cliche, but the holidays should be more about giving than getting piles of crap, right?

Ideas?  As I look for some ideas on scaling back I'm wondering: what do you do? Something from Mom/Dad?  Something from Santa?  Both?  Neither?  Any special gift-giving traditions in your house?

Or are you vowing to spend less this year? Shop local?  Shop "green"? Go plastic-free?  Buy Handmade only?  Make your own gifts?

(Photo Credit: Andrew Eick, Flickr Creative Commons)

Seeking Fluoride Tablets: is there a shortage?

Perhaps you can help this mama with finding the fluoride?

I've been trying without success for a week or so now to get a prescription refill for my son's fluoride tablets.  The pharmacists at Fred Meyer, Walgreen's, etc. tell me there's been a manufacturer's recall and none are available (one suggested, "just have him drink lots of water", umm...we live in PORTLAND!?)  i thought we could just get a multi-vitamin with flouride but that's not available either.  Inexplicably, his pediatric dentist is not aware of the recall (though someone is supposed to be researching and call me back.)  Has anyone else encountered this problem and/or figured out what to do?