Build A Nest buildanest.com

Find babybe products on buildanest.com
25% of proceeds go to the cause

Why Nest is Unique

“A man came to our community and offered to provide us with loans. It had high-interest and we could not afford it. He came and locked up our house while we were outside and would not let us in. We had to beg for help to pay off our loan before we could have our house again. With Nest loan, I have no fear.” - Lolita, Trichy, India -

Mission

Nest is a nonprofit organization that empowers female artists and artisans around the world. Using a unique combination of interest-free microfinance loans, mentoring from established designers, as well as a market in which to sell their crafts, Nest helps its loan recipients create successful small businesses. Nest instills pride of ownership, preserves ancient artistic traditions and successfully moves women from poverty to self-sufficiency.

Wholesome sweets for the most wholesome sweets in your life...

Vegan Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
courtesy of...cookiemadness.net)

1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour – spoon and sweep, don’t pack
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons applesauce
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup natural type peanut butter (Jif would be fine too)
1/4 cup peanuts (salted is fine)
1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips or 1/3 cup chopped up good quality chocolate

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Grind oats in processor. Add flour, baking soda and salt and pulse to mix.

Stir oil and both sugars together in a medium bowl. It’s okay to do this with a spoon – no need to pull out the electric mixer. Beat in applesauce, peanut butter and vanilla. Add flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in peanuts and chocolate chips.

Using about 2 tablespoons of dough, form dough into balls and place on ungreased baking sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake until edges are golden brown, about 12-14 minutes, Cool on sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to racks; cool completely. Cookies will firm up as they cool.

Makes about 6 cookies


NO BUTTER! Non-hydrogentated.... sweeten these cookies more with organic products. YUMMY!

The Return

.... Well, I'm back. It has been 6 or so months since my last blog post. babybe's life was put on hold for a while to tend to my mother, for whom I have dedicated some of my previous posts. My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer some 4 years ago. The cancer began to take her physical body fiercly in August of 2009.

I am sad to say that she was not able to win her fight... although it has brought me so many life lessons. As with all challenges that universe and mother earth commands, so comes the beauty of life. The beauty of the exposure of the purest form of love and emotion. The kind that I didn't know really existed until now. For that, I am thankful. I can only hope that each of you are able to experience that at some point in your journey.

Let this be the beginning of a new babybe journey.

Jillian's Drawers

Jillian's Drawers of Ithaca, NY.... (my soon to be new home).
Jillian's offers products for natural parenting. This little shop's primary focus is cloth diapers. They offer an array of options and an awesome trial program. Visit Changing Diapers, Changing Minds to explore this program.

To boot, their website is amazing and they ship EVERYWHERE!

You can also come visit the most Eco Friendly town in New York, visit the many Falls and Gorges, and stay at the Holiday Inn Ithaca Downtown. Jillian's is 2 blocks from the hotel!

Namaste!

babybe Summer 2009

The Summer Line for babybe is sooo yummy. The new designs for the summer are:

Sweet Peace, a cupcake is our symbol for each baby being a Sweet Peace of the world.

Om, this lime green design on bark fabric is eye catching and artistic. The sanskrit mantra, "Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu (May all beings be happy and at peace)" is exactly what we all want to instill in our babies.

So Hum, the sanskrit mantra that means " I am you... you are me". This can be interpreted many ways; as mamas we are literally one with our babies during our pregnancies and we are all part of the universe and infinitely connected to each other.

Love + Bliss, two elephants link their trunks to form a heart , while Love + Bliss dance behind them.

See the collection at babybe.etsy.com

Organic Foods... How do I choose?

So, as a mama and householder... I know 100% organic all the time isn't always practical. And there is something to be said for providing a little challenge for your family's immune system.
I am constantly reminded in daily life of how fast our children are maturing physically. Much of that is the result of the growth hormone that is injected into the food supply. Although it hasn't been proven scientifically... it is thought that girls are getting their menstrual cycles, breasts, and adult hair sooner due to the heavy additives to our food supply. I'm also always reminded when visiting my teenage sister that hormones in the food supply can't help the violent mood swings of today's teenage girls!
So, how do you choose? Which foods have more impact on your child's body?
A good place to begin is with the foods your children and family ingest the most of. Milk is one that instantly comes to mind. Maybe peanut butter? Eggs... your kid's favorite fruit... and so on.
Here's a list of foods that are the most contaminated by pesticides. Buy these foods organic as much as possible; Peaches * Apples* Sweet bell peppers* Celery * Nectarines * Strawberries* Cherries * Lettuce* Grapes (imported)* Pears * Spinach* Potatoes .
Here's to happy and healthy children and a bit more peace of mind in the lunch box.
Namaste.

Infant Massage

As a part of the Spring 2009 mama and baby yoga series, we've incorporated an introduction to infant massage, which I am so excited about. As a mama, just another tool for you to sooth baby and ultimately self.

I am so excited to see how the babies respond to their mother's touch. Babies are pure inspiration... their ability to be with whatever is for them at that moment. Somewhere along the line, that gets lost. Yoga is about getting back to that point. To allow what is around you with the acceptance that you have no control over any of it. Everything is... indeed perfect.

Ahhh.