New catty on the way!!!

It's been a busy summer around here...I hope everyone is enjoying the sun and some time with family and friends!

There are some exciting developments coming shortly from Under the Moon...a new catalogue, new products and more! We're anxiously awaiting their arrival...and as soon as they're here, I'll let you know!

In the meantime, feel free to check out the current catalogue (most of the items will still be available once the new catty is out), and as always, feel free to contact me if you'd like more info on any of our products or services.

Enjoy your summer dancing in the moonlight!

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day around the world. Here in Canada, this is the 20th year of celebrating the Earth. We have come a long way in that time, but there's still a long way to go to make sure we are leaving a clean, sustainable Earth to our children.

In honour of Earth Day, here are 5 things you can do to help the Earth:

1) Ditch the chemicals. Many of us have been brought up to believe that you need to disinfect everything and use the most powerful cleaners to be healthy. However, the use of disinfectants is often cited as one of the reasons for increasing rates of "superbugs" that are antibiotic-resistant. Try some natural cleaners, such as vinegar and water, for mirrors and surfaces. For tough scrubbing, use a bit of baking soda and a rag to get spills off your stove or stains out of your sink. If you want to try other natural cleaners, there are lots on the market. Just make sure to read labels so you aren't fooled by false claims of "green".

2) Buy local (and organic). This summer our family is participating in a box program from a local organic farm. For a modest weekly fee, we get a box of fresh fruits, veggies, honey and other goodies. We know where it's grown, that there aren't all kinds of chemicals sprayed all over it, and my daughter gets to see where our food comes from! Plus, our local economy benefits...it doesn't get any better than that!

3) Make the 4 R's part of your life. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, and Reevaluate your consumption habits!

4) Make Earth-friendly choices. Switch to cold water to wash clothes and a clothesline to dry them, choose products for your home that use less energy, unplug electrical appliances (computers, TVs, etc.) when not in use, and make sure your home is as energy-efficient as possible.

5) Consider switching to environmentally-friendly power sources (such as solar, wind, etc.), and evaluate purchases (such as cars and appliances) for their impact on the environment.

Here at Under the Moon, we strive to select products that are produced fairly and in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in learning about the background of any of our toys, clothing, diapers or other products!

And watch out for our new website, which will be debuting any day!

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Waiting for Spring...and Maple Syrup!

It has been awhile since I posted on here...some personal challenges have left me with too little time to devote to blogging it seems. However, with Spring just around the corner, it's time to get refocused and start afresh!

As the snow begins to melt and the days are lengthening, we enjoy getting outside and watching nature "wake up." We are lucky here in Niagara...there are lots of places to get outside!

One of our favourite things to do in March is to visit the Sugar Bush. There are a few around us, but the past few years we have travelled to Bronte Creek provincial park, near Burlington, with friends and family to enjoy the activities there. It is a great value (the only cost is per car to enter the park, and of course for food if you want some pancakes!) There are tons of activities for kids...maple syrup tours, wagon rides, lots of farm animals, tractors to climb on, an historic house tour and maple taffy, just to name a few! We feel good attending this event, as the proceeds go to help support the park and its conservation activities. In my book, anything that helps to support green space in the city is well worth the cost of admission!

As Spring approaches, we are also looking forward to the arrival of several babies in our circle of family and friends. The birth of a new little one seems like the ultimate symbol of the renewal and promise of Spring.

For those of you who are expecting a new bundle of joy, congratulations! Here at Under the Moon, we are also undergoing a bit of renewal...our website will soon be featuring some new and improved areas, and there are some great new products on the horizon! Stay tuned for more info, and may the moon light your way to Spring!