Pick of the month

Like many shoppers these days, I find myself at the grocery store trying to figure out where I might be able to trim back. Do I really need that $4.50 jar of jam, or could I possibly make do with this nice, but not great, brand of marmelade? I came to conclusion that I can and will be more deliberate in my purchasing decisions. I'm willing to buy generic, or a less expensive alternative, so that I can still "treat" us to a few other products. These are things that either I can't live without, or that are so wonderful, that I'm willing to shell out a few extra clams and make concessions elsewhere.

So that got me thinking, if these products are so wonderful, maybe I should share my passion for them with others! And that was the genesis of my idea for a new monthly feature, Liz's Pick of the Month. (Yes, I realize that the name is not especially clever, but I opted to spend more time on my photos than trying to brainstorm a catchy name.)

January's pick (well, actually there are two) is Burt's Bees Tear-Free baby shampoo and wash, and Burt's Bee's Apricot Baby Oil. I love the combined wash/shampoo. It smells so nice--sweet, like a baby should smell, but not "chemical sweet". What I'm especially excited about is that it contains no parabens, phthalates, or sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate.** Many baby washes that have been around for years have one, or several, of these ingredients, none is which is really ideal for baby's skin.

You can find the "B.B." wash pretty easily. Most big groceries carry it, as does Target. It's a little more expensive than the $2.50 jumbo bottle of soap, but the price point isn't so high that I deem it "out of reach". Besides, it lasts awhile; you really don't need that much soap to wash a baby.

The apricot oil is perfect for locking in that moisture after the bath. I like it because it goes on easily, smells nice and is free of any petroleum-based oils, another huge plus in my book.

**If you're curious about parabens, phthalates and other unsavory ingredients that make their way into our children's products, I have found Dr. Green's Raising Baby Green to be a great resource.