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February 21st, 2012
By Melissa Moog
I know there are many moms out there who are struggling to lose the baby weight or have kept the extra weight on for many years after having their baby. Admittedly, I am “that mom” who had her first baby, didn’t lose all the baby weight the first time and subsequently got pregnant with twins. Now, I’m stuck with losing all of the extra baby weight from two pregnancies, ugh!
All my life my weight has been like a roller coaster, up and down constantly. I’ve now reached the point where I’m disgusted with the way I look and feel. I think it’s the one major issue in my life that has always been a big chip on my shoulder. And it doesn’t help that my wardrobe consists of stretchy pants, big t-shirts and my go-to color is black aka the slimming color (wink).
So, a few weeks ago I decided to do something about it and started the Cinch Inch Loss Plan. I decided to try the program out because of my friend and fellow mom blogger, Sommer Poquette of Green and Clean Mom whose had great success with it. Sommer has lost 20.5 inches and 26.5 pounds since September 22, 2011!
So far, in just a few weeks I’ve lost 6 total inches mainly in my middle section and I’ve been tracking inches lost as well as how my clothing fits. What I like best about the program is it allows me to grab healthy meals on-the-go while still eating a balanced meal every day. It fits perfectly into my crazy, busy life style as a mom and entrepreneur. Below is more information about why Cinch works to help you shed the weight. I have also shared all of the critical action steps I’m following daily.
The Science Behind The Cinch Inch Loss Plan:
Instead of creating weight loss from water and muscle like with most diet programs, the Cinch Inch Loss Plan works by helping to preserve lean body mass and promoting weight loss from fat. Preserving lean body mass also prevents your metabolic rate, or ability to burn calories, from dropping. The Cinch Inch Loss Plan provides products powered by the essential amino acid leucine. Recent scientific research indicates that leucine may play a special role in weight loss because it acts as a signal for protein synthesis in muscle tissue. As a result, leucine helps your body preserve muscle mass while you lose weight from fat. The Cinch program has undergone preliminary clinical testing that indicated positive results for weight loss, fat loss, inch loss, and preservation of fat-free mass.
Here’s what I’m doing:
- Replacing two meals with a protein shake or bar and taking the Cinch 3-in-1 Boost Vitamin
- Drinking 6-8 glasses of water
- Eating a healthy, well balanced dinner (focused on lean protein and green leafy veggies)
- Keeping my daily caloric intake at 1,200 calories
- Exercising at least 30 minutes every day while allowing one rest day. I’m currently training for a 5k.
- Tracking my food intake via LoseIt.com (a great iPhone App)
- For support, I’m part of the Cinch Community and am able to share my struggles and wins daily in our Facebook group. I also have a fellow mom I’m exercising with weekly who helps me stay accountable and keeps me motivated (Thanks Pauline!)
If you’re interested in joining me and trying the Cinch Inch Loss Plan leave a comment here on our blog or email me at melissa@itsabelly.com. You can also call our office at 503-297-5326. Just make sure to leave your name, phone # and reason you’re calling. Here’s to a positive experience during my weight loss journey! I look forward to reporting some awesome results.
Even if you’re not doing the Cinch Inch Loss Plan with me and you want a partner in crime to help give you that jump start on your weight loss journey I’m happy to be part of your virtual support team!
Tags: Cinch Inch Loss Plan, Losing Baby Weight
Posted in Health & Fitness | 1 Comment »
January 7th, 2012
By Melissa Moog, Itsabelly Baby Planners Founder
I have to admit I’m a sucker for pretty things and I love dressing up for special occasions. I am indeed a girly girl and proud of it! That’s why I immediately fell in love with Birth Day Suit Maternity’s Feeding Frocks. I so wished that I would have found Birth Day Suit Maternity before I gave birth so I could have worn their chic looking Kathryn Birthday Suit at the hospital instead of the traditional and ugly hospital gown.
From the photos alone I was enamored by how gorgeous the prints and styles were. Although breastfeeding may not be typically what you have in mind for a special occasion (ie. anniversary party, wedding event) I think every time you take that moment to nurture the bond with your baby to breastfeed it is most definitely a very special time. So, why not treat yourself by wearing something chic and couture that makes you feel really good while making the time with your baby even more memorable. Or better yet give a beautiful feeding frock as a gift to a relative or friend who’s just about to enter one of the most special times in her life – becoming a new mama!
So, we’re happy to share that for all of our followers Birth Day Suit Maternity is offering a special 10% discount off your purchase, details below.
Reasons I love Birth Day Suit Maternity:
- Beautifully made with gorgeous prints and fabric
- Stylish and Chic – not like your standard, drab breastfeeding wear
- Easy access for breastfeeding
- Makes you feel beautiful inside and out
- Affordable at $44
- Created by two savvy mompreneurs (I love supporting my fellow mamas!)
- Where to Purchase: Shopping at Birth Day Suit Maternity
- Special Discount for Our Followers: ITSABELLY2012. For 10% off any purchase. Enter upon checkout.
Tags: Birth Day Suit Maternity Feeding Frock, breastfeeding gown, hospital gowns, Maternity Clothes, Nursing Cover, Nursing Gown
Posted in Baby Product Reviews, Breastfeeding, Pregnancy, Preparing for Baby's Arrival, Product Reviews | 3 Comments »
December 2nd, 2011
by Joanie Whitman, Itsabelly Kansas City
As a child proofer in Kansas City and while this festive time of year approaches, it’s important for me to share new safety concerns that may arise for families with young children. Although decorations and a trimmed tree are part of the holiday traditions, they can pose a risk to young children. By taking a few precautionary measures you will be able to rest easy knowing your child will be enjoying this Christmas season and creating specials memories along the way.
Childproofing tips:
- Securely attach breakable ornaments high on the tree out of the reach of children while only using paper or large plastic ornaments on lower portion of tree
- Candles should be kept out of the reach of children at all times
- Since poinsettias are not poisonous choose them over mistletoe (mistletoe berries are)
- Pass on the table cloth and runners. Young children pull on them sending hot food and tableware flying
- Unstable Christmas trees pose tip-over risk. Securely position your tree in stand and attach to the wall using durable twine and cord cleats for extra safety.
- Wait till Christmas Eve to put presents under the tree. Torn wrapping paper and ribbons can pose a choking hazard
- Keep small objects, such as hard candy or nuts in candy dishes, where younger children can’t get them.
- When visiting family survey the house for safety concerns. Look for open stairs, uncovered outlets, unlocked medications and household cleaners within reach.
Physical harm such as choking on decorations or playing with the outlet where Christmas lights are plugged in are not the only concerns. Surprisingly, toxic chemicals like lead in PVC trees and lights also play a big role in creating an unsafe environment too.
Choosing a Safe Christmas Tree
Most artificial trees are made from PVC plastic. Not only is PVC loaded with toxic chemicals, its production also results in emission of dioxin and ethylene dichloride. And to top it off, lead is often used as a stabilizer in PVC to make artificial trees more resistant to light and weathering. Lead has been linked to kidney, liver, neurological and reproductive system damage. Some Christmas trees are even required to carry warning labels because they shed lead-laden dust, exposing children to the toxic chemical. Many artificial trees are also treated with flame retardants. But that’s necessary for our safety, right? Well not always – even the treated trees can still catch fire.
Real trees make the perfect substitute for a PVC tree. Worried about allergies? Go with fir and spruce varieties which do not contain irritating resins. Fresh trees are a natural, renewable, reusable, recyclable source, and just think – you’re supporting US farmers and local businesses when you buy live Christmas trees.
If you’d still prefer to go with an artificial Christmas tree, be sure to choose one made from polyethylene (often labeled with “PE”) that hasn’t been treated with flame retardants. If you find a PE tree you like and it has been treated, confirm with the manufacturer if the flame retardants non-halogenated, as they are considered much less toxic.
Locating Lead-safe Christmas Lights
Toxic chemicals are also found in Christmas lights. Most are made from PVC and lead is specifically chosen as the main stabilizer in the PVC casing used on the electrical wiring because of its flame retardant nature. There are other substitutes like zinc and boron, but they are more expensive and not readily available.
The Ecology Center tested 68 Christmas light sets and found that 54% of the products contained more than 300 parts per million of lead in PVC encased cords and light-bulb sockets – a level higher than the CPSC’s standard for lead in children’s products.
Lead-safe lights can be found on rare occasions here in the U.S. and will be certified as RoHS compliant which monitors the levels of toxic chemicals allowed in electrical products. Most RoHS compliant lights are also LED which is great, but more expensive. We found many options at Environmental Lights (look for their commercial strings that begin with the letter “C” or choose from their retail strings, icicle lights and nets).
Lead doesn’t like to stay bound in the PVC cord casing, so it sloughs off and ends up on hands and in little mouths. So if you’re unable to invest in RoHS lights this year, just be careful to keep Christmas lights out of reach of your little ones and use gloves while decorating your tree – especially if you’re pregnant. Also keeping dust around the tree cleaned up and off of presents will go a long way in protecting your family.
Tags: Childproofing during the holidays, Childproofing Kansas City, Itsabelly Kansas City, Joanie Whitman, Lead Safe Christmas Lights, safe christmas tree
Posted in baby proofing, childproofing | 1 Comment »
December 1st, 2011
We’re excited to announce our Itsabelly 2011 Seal of Excellence Winners which is a list you don’t want to miss especially if you’re doing your holiday shopping for anyone pregnant or anyone who has just become a newbie parent! Because Itsabelly’s mission is to keep babies safe from toxins and protect our planet this list consists of vetted items mostly in the non-toxic/green baby product category with some items great for multiples. Our list is not in any particular order and is not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned. We hope you enjoy reviewing our list as much as we enjoyed evaluating and choosing each item!
If you’re a company interested in having us review your product for 2012′s Itsabelly Seal of Excellence consideration please email us at info@itsabelly.com with your contact info, a description and why you think your product should be a winner by October 1, 2012. Please note we prefer products that are non-toxic and/or green or if it’s a child safety/child proofing related item. Feel free to also share your comments about any of the products on our list especially if you’ve used them.
As always we love you, our supporters. Many thanks for stopping by!
 
Love it because:
- Exterior fabric is made using 50% recycled material. Seating surfaces made using 50% bamboo fiber for temperature regulation and moisture absorption.
- It has an optional non-PVC rain shield protects baby from the elements so you can run those necessary errands.
- Indie Twin’s rear wheel suspension and 12″ air-inflated tires, keep you rolling over any type of terrain.
- Has optional carrycot system utilizing an easy-clip latching system, they can be installed and removed quickly and easily.
- The carrycot features an extendable canopy, ergonomic mattress pad and a zip-on cover. The carrycot is also equipped with carrying handles.
Love it because:
- Face-to-face: As the only premium double stroller with front-and-back seats, Double Helix™ makes strolling-time sibling-time too
- Live life in 360°: Dual SmartHub® rings rotate to face any situation, and allow your child to pop into the double seat by herself
- Family flexible: Flexes to fit – whether you have two kids on the go, or just one kid for the day, Helix flexes to fit your changing family life
- Safe for your kids, good for our planet: Orbit Baby keeps your family healthy with the world’s first strollers and car seats using fabrics eco-certified safe by Oeko-Tex®
 
Love it because:
- It’s a safety winner in our book because it’s a bumper-free, 4-pc bedding set and features Skip Hop’s patent-pending Complete Sheet™. This “engineered” sheet offers bold graphics around the sides of the mattress with a contrasting pattern on top of the sheet. Also included is our Airflow wearable blanket, linen crib skirt and the softest nursery blanket.
 
Love it because:
- Strong and Durable – The GoCrib’s Rigid Inflation Technology and wide base create an inflatable structure that is incredibly sturdy and stable.
- Baby-Friendly Design – The GoCrib’s rounded structure is soft and safe. Its curved sidewalls eliminate hard edges and corners to prevent unintended bonks and bumps, and has no hinges, large metal parts, or pinch-points.
- It’s made of high-quality phthalate Free, lead Free, and AZO Dye-free non-toxic materials. Also, the breathable ClearView Mesh sides allows for full airflow and an unobstructed view of your child, even when the side is zipped up.
- Light and Portable – The GoCrib gives you freedom. Since it has no large metal or plastic components, it is super lightweight and incredibly compact, it comes in its own backpack, so it’s amazingly easy to take with you. Anywhere you go.
Love it because:
- gRefills are certified 100% biodegradable. They’re the only disposable diaper that truly goes back to the earth. gRefills are an absorbent diaper insert that tucks inside little gPants diaper covers.
- Biodegradable gRefills are plastic-free and have no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no smell, no garbage, and no guilt.
Love it because:
- The kit is a simple and cost effective way to introduce you to the wonderful world of modern cloth diapers. This kit also includes an easy disposable option for diapering on the go.
- The GroVia® Bio Soaker® is a perfect solution for cloth diapering on the go. Use when on vacation, at day care, or running errands. Use: Simply lay/spread your BioSoaker® in your GroVia® Shell or favorite diaper cover and fasten on baby. Use sticky tabs to adhere to cotton underwear as trainers!
- Fragrance & Dye Free
- Plastic & Chlorine Free
- Stay Dry Soaker Pads are designed to be extra absorbent and quick drying for total comfort against your baby’s skin. Made with a TPU outer, four layers of hemp/cotton blend topped with cozy micro fleece, and ultra soft leg gussets. 2 per pack.
- Choose from Boy (Planes/Vanilla), Girl (Mod Flower/Vanilla), Unisex (Nature/Vanilla).
All Kits Contain:
- 1 Cloth Shell
- 1 Cloth Shell
- 2 Stay Dry Soaker Pads
- 20 BioSoaker® Pads
- 1 Wetbag
Love it because:
- Safe for pregnancy, with no toxins ever.
- Mama’s Pregnancy Essentials Bundle contains naturally indispensable soothers to ease pregnancy’s common discomforts, from worried head to tired toes, and everything in between.
- Happy Mama Hand to Toe Wash (5.3 fl. Oz.) is USDA Certified Made With Organic Ingredients and a queasy-busting companion to naturally uplifting
- Happy Mama Spray (4 fl. Oz.). USDA Certified 100% Organic and Certified Kosher
- Mama-To-Be Tea Sampler has delicious, effective herbal teas for nausea, heartburn, pregnancy relaxation and labor preparation. Luxurious
- Natural Stretch Oil (4 fl. Oz.)
- Earth Mama Body Butter (4 fl. Oz.) help deter stretch marks and relieve the itch of expanding bellies, breasts and hips with heavenly herbal blends that won’t aggravate morning sickness.
- Mint Herbal Lip Balm keeps lips kissably soft.
- Retail Value $71.70, buy the Bundle for just $57.36!
Love it because:
- it’s made of non-allergenic, latex-free, BPA-free, and phthalate-free polypropylene. It is manufactured in environmentally-conscious Sweden.
- It’s doctor invented & recommended.
- It’s 100% hygienic due to the included filters (4).
- It’s fabulously reviewed (Rachel Ray, Parenting, & more).
- It’s a nasal aspirator that ACTUALLY WORKS!
Love it because:
- Love how this new style of blind cord safety device achieves a balance between safety and simplicity.
- It looks a lot more like a blind accessory than a safety product – but don’t be mistaken, dangling cords will be a thing of the past. The best part is that for really long cords, you can simply use multiple devices together to get the job done.
- Made of non-toxic materials.
Love it because:
- It’s the travel bed that does it all for the on-the-go parent!
- This smaller, 2-hoop design is great for outdoors because of its UV protection and wind screens.
- Zippered panel allows parents quick and easy access to baby from virtually any angle. The slick, easy to fold design makes it ideal for storage and use anytime.
 
Love it because:
- The Grapple™ suctions to any smooth surface and keeps your baby’s favorite toys always within reach and off the floor. It’s innovative, patented design makes it safe, easy to use and easy to clean.
- The Grapple™ has been evaluated by an independent safety lab and meets the safety standards of the CPSIA and ASTM.
Love it because:
- Provides two support positions for stages newborn to toddler
- Collapsible design and hook make storing easy
- Recline position cradles newborn, which helps keep their head above water
- Slim profile for easy storage
- BpA-free, Phthalate-free and PVC-free
- Ages: Birth to 18 months
Love it because:
- The Boba Baby Wrap is the perfect wrap style carrier – with its unique fabric blend and the no-guesswork tying, the Boba Wrap is a great choice for beginners and advanced babywearers alike.
- The simple design, free of buckles, straps or buttons makes it perfectly comfortable for both you and your baby.
- By evenly distributing the weight of your child, there is no time limit to how long your baby can stay in the wrap, so you may calm and sooth your baby with your warmth, your voice, your movement and your heart beat as long as you are both content!
Love it because:
- 100% Organic Cotton dyed using only 100% natural or low-impact dyes
- Hospital / Birthing Center friendly with short sleeves and a full coverage snap-open back
- Two ribbon-tied panels allow for quick and easy access for discreet nursing
Love it because:
- Designed GREEN for a new generation of eco-minded mothers and their babies.
- Deluxe Privacy Pillow just for Twins offering Support, Comfort and Discretion… for both mom and twins, anytime – anywhere!
- Made of baby-safe, patented eco-fiber that is hypo-allergenic, non-toxic, non-flammable (no fire-retardant chemical additives), and is recyclable, odor-free, glue-free, foam-free, lead-free and Phthalate-free.
- Available in super-soft plush fabrics in a variety of chic colors.
Love it because:
- Designed to work, our mitts feature a two-part signature closure system that keeps scratches and germs at bay while adjusting to fit as baby grows.
- Research has shown that high-contrast graphics promote infant brain & eye development. With hand discovery occurring between 1 and 3 months of age, guavamitts engage baby’s senses by keeping bold (and reversible!) patterns within easy view.
- Our bamboo/organic cotton blend is selected for protective breathability, antimicrobial properties and environmental sustainability.
Love it because:
- instead of handing your baby a set of pointy metal keys or a germ-covered cell phone when they’re restless or cranky, you can give them an alluring Oh Plah! bracelet. Babies are fascinated by the colorful, flexible bracelet and moms feel better knowing the bracelet is safe for their babies to chew.
- Oh Plah! was designed with baby’s utmost safety in mind, as it is 100% free from paints, lead, latex, PVC, BPA’s and phthalates and it’s made in the USA using environmentally-friendly practices.
- it’s a fashionable yet functional product that makes a busy mom’s life a little easier and helps her look and feel stylish and feminine too!
Tags: Boba Wrap, Boon Naked Collapsible Tub, Bumbleride Indie Twin, Earth Mama Angel Baby, gDiapers, Grapple, Green Baby Products Favorites List, GroVia, Guavamitts, Hot Mama Gown, Itsabelly 2011 Seal of Excellence Awards, Kidco Pea Pod, NoseFrida Snotsucker, Oh Plah! Teething Bracelet, Orbit Baby Double Helix, Rhoost Cord Blind Winder, San Diego Bebe Twin Eco Nursing Pillow, Skip Hop Complete Sheet, Sleepy Wrap, The GoCrib
Posted in Baby Product Reviews, Itsabelly Seal of Excellence Award Winners, Non-toxic Babycare, Organic, Pregnancy, Product Reviews, Twins | 4 Comments »
November 19th, 2011
 Breastmilk from a Milk Bank in San Jose, CA Delivered to My Home
By Melissa Moog
Five years ago I became a new mom to my daughter Isabella and all I wanted to do was feed her the best food that nature could provide which was my breastmilk. It turns out after a few months of trying while exhausting the various means to increase my production from a lactation consultant, Fenugreek to tea I was not able to breastfeed like I wanted to. This was an extremely emotional and physically trying time for me. I also felt like because I was a baby planner and living in a city (Portland, OR) with a huge breastfeeding population that the pressure I put on myself was tenfold. I was driving myself crazy on top of being sleep deprived as a new mom and also recovering from an emergency C. I followed my lactation consultant’s advice, nursed and pumped regularly and the amount of breastmilk I got barely measured 1 ounce! So, through this article I wanted to share my personal aha moment about breastfeeding and milk banks along with sharing my struggle of not being able to supply my babies breastmilk.
I remembered going to a Mommy and Me class at St. Vincent’s hospital and during the session a fellow new mommy told me she was bursting at the seams with breastmilk and she’d be happy to give me some of hers. Inside I was livid (hormones raging of course) and actually so offended that I drove home in tears. I was offended because I took it very personal that I couldn’t give my baby MY breastmilk and why on earth would I accept another mom’s breastmilk to feed my baby anyway. It was a totally foreign idea to me at the time, not only because the milk didn’t come from MY body but I also felt like there were health risks. In the end, I knew the other mom meant well but I really wasn’t emotionally capable of understanding her offer to help me at the time.
Well, let’s now fast forward to July 21, 2011 when my beautiful girl and boy twins were born. I promised myself I would try EVERYTHING possible from day one to breastfeed my babies even though I knew I had production problems from the last pregnancy. Please note it wasn’t just one baby this time it was TWO – I’m stubborn and there was no way I would let this stop me. I was also on bedrest for 3 months, had minor pre-clampsia, high blood pressure and to top it off I had gestational diabetes. Sounds like I was a big, fat mess, right?! Well, I was but still pig headed enough to try and feed my babies the best mother nature could provide regardless of the odds.
 Our Twins Born on 7/21/11 When the twins were born I immediately held them skin to skin in recovery which I was very thankful for because I had a cesarean and was told that I may not be able to hold them right away. I was also able to breastfeed both babies in recovery. I had a lactation consultant come in that same day to help me learn how to breastfeed twins (not a small feat). A hospital grade breastpump was already set up in my suite. So, I was definitely determined to feed my babies MY breastmilk. Well, in the end because the babies were slightly premature (I carried them to 37.5 weeks) I was also able to get a prescription for banked breastmilk from my doctor and fed them with a syringe through finger feeding. Additionally, knowing that I might not be able to produce enough breastmilk by the time I got home we ordered banked breastmilk to be delivered in time for our homecoming. I was very thankful for this option!
I have to openly share that in the year before my twins were born I did my research on banked breastmilk and found out that donors are screened and tested before their milk is accepted. Banked breastmilk is also given to NICU babies that are seriously sick to help them survive. My personal perception of never EVER wanting to feed my baby someone else’s breastmilk did a complete 360 degree turn! It was my “AHA” moment five years later realizing that feeding your baby banked breastmilk was absolutely safe and really good for them. I embraced the idea that even though I couldn’t supply my babies breastmilk that as long as they were growing healthy feeding them banked breastmilk was the next best thing! It was also comforting to know through the milk bank that other mamas were willing to share a precious gift to keep my babies thriving.
Last year, Itsabelly actually helped raise money for North West Mother’s Milkbank by donating raffle items and connecting them with the local news station to bring awareness about their mission to establish a milk bank locally. Afterall, I had to get the breastmilk for the twins shipped from San Jose, CA and the thought that many mamas are donating their milk in Portland but its being shipped to a bank in San Jose, CA or Denver, Colorado was crazy to me! My hope is that this post will bring more awareness to the public that milk banks are so very critical to many sick babies survival and even the not so sick but premature babies like mine.
Tags: Breastfeeding, Milk Banks
Posted in Breastfeeding, Green Baby, Milk Banks, Multiples Advice, Newborn | 1 Comment »
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