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Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
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Inside Look: Estella Grace
Posted on June 20, 2014 at 9:57 AM |
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One
of the treasures I brought home for the kiddos from the amazing Club MomMe
Spring Family Fest was a homemade, hand-crafted lotion bar from the Estella Grace
display. I got to visit with Amy’s
assistant, Jenelle, at the event; Amy was chatting with another customer when I stopped by. Amy was kind enough to do a
virtual interview with me and share these beautiful images of her products, all
of them hand-crafted and made with love in the USA. SPB readers will want to consider using her handmade lotion bars as part of, "avoiding harmful substances" during pregnancy, or maybe the aromatherapy candles for use during relaxation practice, labor, or the postpartum period to add a little lift to your days. If you are lucky enough to have a little girl in your life, the mommy-daughter items are definitely in your future!! We look forward to filling our home with more Estella Grace items now that I don't have to worry about trying to bring them all home in one carry-on bag :) About Amy: Amy Passantino is the founder of Estella Grace.
She is an interior designer, food blogger, and author. Amy was born and raised
in Wayne, New Jersey and received her Bachelor Degree in interior design back
in 2002. She went on to work for renowned firms specializing in high-end
residential design, which eventually led her to work on Brad Pitt’s ‘Make it
Right’ Project in New Orleans. She helped thousands of people across
the country with their homes while managing a national program, Color Makeover, for
Benjamin Moore. She worked closely with consumers and spoke at events for House
Beautiful Magazine. In 2012, she opened AEP Interior Design in Los Angeles
where she designed coastal homes and used her knowledge of feng shui and color
psychology to re-design healthcare facilities. Her biggest venture yet is
Estella Grace - a vintage inspired brand that will help people get back to the
heart of the home through an American Pie experience. SPB:
How did you get started with handmade candle and lotion bar crafting? AP: I began developing this vintage-inspired brand about 2 years
ago. I knew exactly the look, the smell, and how I wanted my products to make
people feel. Originally I was just going to buy candles from local craft people and sell them, until one day I was talking to a friend of mine
about buying some candles as gift. She turned to me and said "Why don't
you just make them yourself? " I had never thought about that
before. From there I began researching candle recipes and developing my
technique. Candle making is definitely not for everyone, but for me, it
was a way to create some of my first products. Once I mastered the
candles, I moved on to my homemade lotion bars. From my
experience in working with candles I was able to know what
scents would be perfect for my lotion bars. SPB:
What motivated you to start Estella Grace? AP: I was raised in a generation where everything was sold in a
store without any real understanding of where it came from. I remember the
first time I made homemade preserves. I couldn’t believe how easy it was and
how much better it tasted. I felt like I had been missing out on fresh foods
for most of my life. My passion for homemaking grew from there. I began making
my own apple butter, breads, and pies. Every time I got in the kitchen it was a
new challenge on what I could create from scratch and I eventually began
blogging and tailoring the recipes toward beginner cooks like myself. I believe
there is something special about the act of sharing recipes and teaching that
makes a home special. When I came up with the name Estella Grace I pictured
this 1940's house wife as someone who would take us back in time to a
simpler life. Estella means Star. She is ‘The Star of Grace’ empowering women
and reminding us of our homemaking roots. She will teach us how to make things
from scratch and have a new appreciation for items which are sometimes taken
for granted. My hope is to inspire a new generation to focus on creating a
home with meaning and purpose. SPB: Where do you draw your inspiration for
the candle fragrances and the lotions? AP: Part of the Estella Grace experience is nostalgia and having those
special scents that take you back in time. I drew inspiration for my fragrance
candles and lotion bars with scents from my childhood like blueberry
pie and banana bread. I also love the simplicity of the South and
the down home scents that are yummy and delicious! Some of my recent
favorites are peaches n' cream and strawberry lemonade. In addition to my
fragrance candles I have created an Aromatherapy candle line which
uses essential oils. Depending on the properties of the oils they can either
relax you after a stressful day (Rosemary Lavender) or revive you if you have
been feeling run down and need a boost of energy (Peppermint Fir.) They are a
different type of candle that makes you feel good and all of the candles
are 100% soy. SPB: What spurred
the expansion into mommy-daughter items? AP: Every girl remembers their time in the kitchen with their
mother. That is why I created the 'Mommy and Me Aprons.' Little girls
love to be like their mother and these aprons will make them feel extra
special! That is what it is all about, being in the kitchen and sharing
memories. I want to continue creating mother-daughter products because they are
the younger generation and it's important for them to learn
and be apart of this teaching brand. SPB: I understand
you are expanding into a clothing line - what is the inspiration for the
clothing design? Will those items also be handmade? AP: I just designed my first Estella Grace dress. There will be 4
dress lines in total, each designed after an iconic woman from the 1940s-1950s.
The next step will be to create a line of organic fabrics perfect
for homemaking. All of my products will be handmade in the USA.
I think a consumer can feel the difference between an item that is
handmade versus factory-made, and I intend to keep that human contact so my
products are of the highest quality and always made with love. SPB: Do you have a favorite item in your shop?
Which one is it, and why? AP: All of my products are
my favorite. I envisioned each and every one of them before it was created and
there is something so special about that process when you finally see it come
to life. From the material selection, to the construction, and the packaging, I
put my heart and soul into the final product you see. They all have a story to
tell and I love that! SPB: What sets your shop apart from other Etsy
shops? AP:I love all Etsy shops
and what they stand for. There is something to be said for artists who are
creating and inspiring people with their products. All of Estella Grace
products are handmade in the USA and are made of the highest quality
materials. I want customers to have that trust in my brand knowing we will
always deliver on that promise. SPB: Is there anything else you would like to
share with our readers? AP: I
look at Estella Grace as not just a brand, but a movement that will shift
you into a mindset of quality versus quantity. I would like to get back to
a community-oriented lifestyle offering baking, sewing, and gardening
classes in our first country store. We can't wait to finally open the doors and
give people the opportunity to have the Estella Grace experience. Organic fabrics sewn into beautiful garments...a community-based vision...this is a woman with an eye to the future. We wish Amy and her team all the best as they work to bring this vision and store experience to fruition. Estella Grace is an amazing place to shop on-line or at Los Angeles events if you are lucky enough to live in the area and shop directly from Amy. We expect it will soon be "the place" to visit and grow when she opens her country store. Many blessings to you, Amy! How to connect with Amy and the Estella Grace experience: Twitter
Handle: @EstellagraceUSA Instagram:
@EstellagraceUSA Website: www.estellagrace.com Do you have a favorite Estella Grace product? Tell us about it! Feel free to leave a comment - it will be moderated and posted. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Wordless Wednesday: Feelin' Green
Posted on March 12, 2014 at 10:54 PM |
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One of the principles we teach in our Bradley Method® classes is to avoid harmful substances. Whether you are TTC of already pregnant, it is important to think about your environment and reduce your exposure to chemicals, preservatives and toxins to the best of your ability. Here are some of the ways our family and our students have made small changes that are making our homes and nurseries non-toxic for our pregnancies and our families. Scroll down to the end of the post for descriptions and links if you want more information about the pictures below: 1. Pregnancy pampering with "safe" nail polish 2. Locally-sourced organic, preservative-free face soap and shaving soap 5. Fast food doesn't have to be junk food! 6. Grow your own pesticide-free food 9. Here's a Sweet Pea wearing his sun-dried cloth diapers along with his chemical-free diaper station and baby soap. Read more about greening after the Birth-Day on our sister blog, Sweet Pea Families. How have you greened your home, school or workplace? What was your motivation to make a change? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. 1. Read about the nail polishes we use HERE 2. You can learn more about Zoaps HERE - we use her green tea face zoap and the shaving zoap - bonus: they're vegan! 3. Kate S. says: "Fabric paper towels (purchased through a co-op from a WAHM, but will be making my own from now on!!) and my soap nuts that I use for laundry. Forgot to include my wool dryer balls in the picture." 4. Kate S. says: "DIY dish soap, All purpose orange cleaner, glass cleaner, vinegar (which cleans stainless steel!), foaming handsoap (and DIY dispenser), bath salts, deodorant, vicks-like chest rub, toothpaste, tooth powder, powder foundation, bronzer, blush, mascara, and eyeliner. Everything is in glass except the mascara, blush, foundation, and bronzer. Those are in the containers my old makeup was in." She's making the journey to a non-toxic, natural household including the beauty of oils (essential oils!) 5. Read Chipotle's commitment to local, organic, non-GMO sources HERE. 6. Read more about our Tower Garden and the other foods we grow HERE. 7. Find your local farmer's markets HERE. 8. Find out about how we greened our nursery HERE: we use cloth wipes with a non-toxic cleaning spray, and organic cotton wraps from Imse Vimse with Chinese pre-folds. 9. Here's an SPB Sweet Pea with wearing his cloth diapers; drying in ths sun saves energy, deodorizes, and uses UV rays to sanitize them. Mama is using cloth wipes from Shannon's Cloth and More, and she is making her own bum spray. Dr. Bronner's is another great green choice for the nursery and the whole family. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Inside Look: Postpartum Planning
Posted on February 28, 2014 at 4:33 PM |
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New to her store are Postpartum Pads. These are fabulous for mamas who want a little "vag cush" in the postpartum period after labor.
HERE is her tour of the postpartum pads on YouTube. I wish something like this had been around when we were birthing Sweet Peas!! Reasons why you might consider greening personal care items:
After seeing how easy it was to make that transition, we made the switch to "unpaper" towels. This family of six that used to go through a bulk store pack in about six weeks had the same package last for 4+ months. The only reason we finished the pack is because our washing machine broke down and wasn't repaired for six weeks...long story...after a few 15+ load trips to the laundromat something had to give. Anyway, happy that our machine is fixed and we are now fully back to our reusable habits. We are now venturing to try the mama cloth - the more I know about the chemicals in personal care products, the less willing I am to expose our daughters to them, especially as they enter their reproductive years. What do you think... Have you thought about making the switch to reusable items in your home? Did you make the switch? Tell us about it! Please leave us your comment - it will be moderated and posted :)
Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Greening Your Nursery: Cloth Wipes
Posted on January 17, 2014 at 12:39 PM |
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Our December/January newsletter has finally arrived…here is
the link for you to find out what we are sharing with our students: After we started our journey to green our environment, I
came to the realization that our conventional wipes were no longer welcome as
we move towards as toxin-free a home as we can manage. Nothing I looked at was free of all of these
chemicals. Around the same time, I heard
about Shannon’s Cloth and More. HERE is an eye-opening article about the little thought of ingredients
in conventional wipes – preservatives that are added to the product to minimize
bacteria in a perpetually moist environment.
Children are breaking out in rashes due to an allergic reaction in
supposedly harmless ingredients. I encourage you to read the article about the rashes that
children are having as a reaction to the ingredients in conventional wipes, and
to research reusable alternatives like the products that Shannon provides. Although I was hesitant about it, and couldn’t imagine convenience and reusable in the same sentence, we started
using them over the summer. We have not looked back, and I can barely bring myself to buy the conventional product anymore.. It was a much easier transition than I
anticipated. We got some Baby Bits to
make our own cleansing solution plus spray
bottles from GoGo Natural, started using our wipes from Shannon’s Cloth, and
just started rinsing and washing our wipes as we do with our wraps. EASY! Plus – we are supporting a small business owner, saving
money since we are not buying a product that we throw away after one use,
keeping trash out of the landfill, as well as keeping icky chemicals away from
our Sweet Pea’s skin. Win. Win. Win. Do you have a green product that you like to use in your
Sweet Pea’s nursery? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
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