Top 5 Favorite Non-Toxic Products

As some of you know, I am a consultant for Beautycounter, which is a safer beauty brand. I share lots of Beautycounter favorites on my Instagram, but I also have some favorite non-toxic products that are not Beautycounter brand and wanted to share those with you guys. I am all about trying to limit the amount of harmful chemicals and toxins in my life as much as I can, but still enjoy a good quality product. I am so happy that I have been easily able to swap some things out one-at-a-time in efforts to make my home a safer environment. I definitely believe in balance and not being extreme, but my motto is: every time you run out of a product, replace it with a cleaner, safer option! Here are my top 5 favorite non-toxic products of the moment:


1. Norwex Mop System

This thing is seriously AMAZING!! I have been using a cheap little mop with wet pads over the past few years and I love how well they work to clean my floor, but A) The pads are expensive and B) They are made with harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances. I saw my IG friend from @paisleyprintsspokane post on her stories about this Non-Toxic Mopping system that looked like a more heavy-duty version of what I had been previously using. She said it was Norwex, which I had heard of before, but didn't know much about it besides the fact that it was non-toxic. She gave me the run-down on all of the details behind the product and how everything works. If you are interested in learning more about it you can research it or reach out to her on IG (the science/mechanics behind it all made perfect sense to me, but I want to make sure you get all of the bases covered, so make sure you ask someone who sells it!). It's basically a special cloth material made up of fibers that you just have to add water to and it effectively removes dirt and germs from your home/body/etc. She has been using it for years and said she had saved so much money on cleaning supplies because of the fact that you only have to use water and the quality is so amazing. I think it comes in a pretty rose gold color too! Seriously guys, this thing is amazing and makes me feel SO much better about my 1 year old crawling all over the floors and my dog eating scraps of food or chewing on toys that have touched the ground.

Lindsey's Norwex Link
http://www.lindseyjones3446.norwex.biz


2. Everyone Soap

This stuff is so great! It is really affordable and easily accessible, too. I see it at Target and the grocery store, which makes it nice because as much as I love to order stuff online, sometimes you just run out of something and need to run to the store ASAP to grab it! My favorite scent is the Coconut & Lemon scent. The soap is a 3-in-1 product so you can keep it anywhere that water is running! We use it in our shower as a body-wash and Chris uses it as a shampoo. We have it in our guest bathroom too and can also be used as a baby wash. Such a great product!



3. Doterra Lemongrass Essential Oil

My mom is a distributor for Doterra and she gave me this oil to put in my diffuser or add to a spray bottle for cleaning. I am not super brand-loyal on essential oils because I haven't really gotten super into them or anything, but I know I have a lot of friends that sell both Doterra or Young Living. I just really freakin LOVE this scent! It is sooo fresh and lemon-y. I put it in my Amazon bamboo color-changing diffuser and it just makes my house feel fresh and clean without spreading toxic fragrances into the air we are breathing!



4. Primally Pure Deodorant

I have only used the Charcoal Deodorant, but I know they have a bunch of other ones to pick from. I had messaged them before I purchased it and they said their best sellers are the Charcoal or the Blue Tansy, so I might try that one next. I just love this stuff and it actually works for me. I was super disappointed in a brand that I had tried prior after I found out they use Fragrance/Parfum in their products. I immediately found Primally Pure after this and have been obsessed. This is one of the first things you should change out in your beauty routine because conventional deodorants have so many toxic carcinogens in them. No one likes a stinky, sweaty armpit, and I think you guys will really like this brand!

https://primallypure.com/products/charcoal-deodorant

5. NKD SKN Self Tanner

I did a blog post a while back on this product (go to my beauty tab to read the whole post), but I have been using it for a lot longer now and have come to seriously LOVE this stuff! I don't know about you guys, but I feel 100% better with a nice tan on my fair-skin! I used to do the booth spray tans, which are nice because you don't have to apply anything yourself, but I know they use synthetic fragrances in the ones I was doing and some toxic preservatives too. Getting sprayed as often as I want to be tanned is also pretty expensive! The Dark Shade of the NKDSKN tanning mousse has been my favorite. It is so affordable and accessible, too. It runs about $20 and you can pick it up at Ulta! They have a bunch of other products too, but this has been my favorite. I actually just recently had to repurchase for the first time, so it lasted me a long time. Highly recommend!!

Amazon Fashion Favorites

Hey guys! I wanted to share with you guys some things from Amazon that are on my wishlist in case you have similar taste in style. I think these are all super good finds and almost all of them are affordable (I included the Frye boots, which are a little pricey, but such a good quality boot and you would really get a lot of wear for the price). I actually ordered the platform espadrilles, but they haven't come in the mail yet, so I will probably do a post on how to style them when I get them this week :) I am really wanting to get back into more consistently posting on here. I am sorry that I have been MIA, I think I can get easily caught up with wanting to be a perfectionist and thinking I need to have these perfect ideas or images to go with blogposts, when those aren't even the types of posts that I enjoy reading! I am actually thinking of starting up a YouTube Channel, but want to know if you guys would be interested. I actually used to have one a few years ago, but stopped posting because I was feeling a little uninspired. Anyways, I hope you guys like these items and think I will do Amazon or store-specific wish lists periodically.

Shop my Instagram

Cozy Loungewear

Hey guys! So, I was recently sent a pair of super cozy joggers from Pink Blush and I wanted to do a review on them. *Disclaimer: these were gifted to me, but I did get to pick them out amongst other pieces and as always I would never collaborate with a brand that I don't like myself!* If you guys didn't know, Pink Blush is a super cute online boutique for women. They are mostly known for their maternity clothing, but they also carry non-maternity clothing as well (I didn't know this until they reached out to me). I chose these super cozy lounge-y joggers because I noticed that I have been really reaching for lounge clothes over jeans lately and I only have black bottoms, so I wanted something a little different, but still in my neutral color palette. The joggers I chose come in two shades of gray. They are soooo buttery soft and stretchy! They have two big pockets, which are perfect for putting my cell phone or keys. I do find that these particular pants do run a little big, so make sure you size down, unless you want an oversized fit! I have already been wearing these nonstop to bed and around the house. I am sharing a couple of pictures that I took when I wore them a few different ways. You can easily throw on a plain tee or sweatshirt and slide sandals or a jean jacket and sneakers! So cute and casual. I think they would make GREAT coming home pants from the hospital or a great gift for a new mama. I will post the link below so you can shop them yourself. Make sure you check out all of their cute maternity clothes too if you are expecting!

Click the link below to shop the joggers!

http://www.pinkblushmaternity.com/p-45224-heather-grey-brushed-joggers.aspx?DepartmentID=2&utm_source=8146&utm_medium=collab

Sandals under $30

Summer is just around the corner and being a shoe person, I LOVE picking up a few pairs of affordable sandals before each summer so that I can change up all of my outfits! Gladiators, slides and platform sandals are my favorites for this summer, so that is what most of them are. I've picked up a few pairs from Walmart and Target that are under $20, but I wanted to include a bunch of different options all under $30! You guys know I love a good bargain, and I think these all are so cute for the price! Hope you enjoy! And if you end up getting any of them make sure you post a picture and tag me! I want to see them on!

Top baby buys: 6-9 months

Photo Credit: @ardourphoto

So, this time around I have less items because I just don't feel like I use as much stuff! Luke is currently almost 10 months old (omg where has the time gone?!) so I am a little late on this one :) Hope you guys enjoy and find these useful :)

1. Probably the best thing we bought during this time frame was the Ikea Antilop high-chair! It is seriously amazing! I LOVE how tiny it is. It's also extremely affordable and takes up no space in my house. I have seen a lot of girls I follow on Instagram use it and I just love the simplicity of how it looks. It's so easy to put together and the legs pop right off so you can bring it with you wherever you go. It's also such a life-saver for when you are trying to get things done around the house (just having a high-chair in general) and you can just put some snacks on the tray to occupy the baby and makes it really nice! I have even brought it to the hallway by the bathroom while I straighten my hair so I can keep Luke contained haha! I have heard people say the tray is really hard to put on and off and clean, but I just leave it on and clean it while it's still attached and haven't had any problems. This is also a great idea to keep an extra one at your parent's or in-law's because its so cheap!

Click the link below
https://tinyurl.com/yyejb8ry

2. Lillebaby Carrier (I think the Ergo is pretty similar): I really liked the Baby Bjorn for when Luke was little because it is SO easy to put on (the Lillebaby and Ergo's are a bit bulkier and have more pieces), but once he hit like 13 lbs or so it really killed my back because of how little support it has. My boss actually got me the Lillebaby and I had never heard of it before, but it is amazing! It has great back support, even with Luke weighing around 22 lbs right now. It is a little tricky to set up (I watched a few Youtube videos on it and eventually figured it out), but it is so worth it! This would be a great gift to go halves on for a good friend or sister for a shower!

3. This is not a baby buy, but something that I just HAD to include because whenever I go on a road trip it always comes in handy! If Luke is ever crying for a long period of time in the car and isn't tired, I play him this video on Youtube: Baby Rainbow Sensory Video. It is seriously magic and makes him stop instantly! I don't like to have him watch a whole lot of videos on my phone or anything, but this one is good for desperate times and it's mostly just a black screen with bright colored shapes!

4. Beautycounter Baby balm: Luke has super sensitive skin and this stuff works great for any kind of scratches or dry spots he has! I also used it as a moisture barrier on his chest when he had a bad teething rash and it helped everything heal! If you are interested you can use my link to shop it on the Beautycounter website (I am a consultant, so I do make commission off of it, but I swear I love this stuff!) This is an amazing multi-purpose product for babies and yourself! I use it on my cuticles and think it would make a great anti-stretch mark product too!

www.beautycounter.com/tiffanyoakes

5. Travel Stroller : We have the Nuna Pepp stroller and we have used it so much over the past few months! It is definitely not for off-roading or jogging, but it is the perfect travel stroller! It is so lightweight and folds down super flat. We took it on our Hawaii vacation and it was a life-saver! It pops-up so easily too! Definitely recommend getting the Nuna Pipa in a set with this because you basically get it for around $100-200 if you can find a sale!

6. Snacks: This is definitely my most cost-effective recommendation that I have given! I am not a Dr. by any means and not a baby-expert, so do your research on what kinds of foods are appropriate for your baby, but just snacks in general have been a huge life-saver! Especially for traveling on the airplane and going out to eat places, I like to break them up into super tiny pieces to make them last longer and it also helps them with their coordination! Our favorites are the Yogi's and Creamies by Happy Baby Organics and the Teether's by Happy Baby Organics.

7. Teething Kit: Teething can be super hard on babies and on parents too, so I found that having a little kit all prepared helped. In the kit I have: teething tablets, teething drops, teething toys that you can freeze and bibs. My favorite Teether's for Luke are the Itzy Ritzy teethers (they also have super cute teething mitts) and Sophie the Giraffe. I like the bandana bibs in this case because they can wear them with their outfits and don't look super obnoxious (these are mainly to just prevent the drool from sitting on their chest and causing a rash). I ordered a pack of organic ones from Amazon in black, white and gray for super cheap and they work great!

8. Crib Soother Aquarium: This thing is amazing! It has a few different settings you can choose so you can decide if you want ocean noise or classical music. It's basically just a little aquarium you can attach to the side of the crib for the baby to look at to help with falling asleep. Luckily, Luke does well in the car, otherwise this would be great to attach to the back of the seat too!

Top baby buys: 3-6 months

I feel like babies change sooo much so quickly, so I wanted to do a post on my favorite baby purchases for the last three months (that aren't already listed in my previous post). If you haven't checked out my 0-3 month favorite purchases make sure you check it out because almost all of those are still some of my favorite items during these last few months! During month 3 and 4, Luke started to be SO much more independent and has been a lot more okay with having me set him down and play for a while, which is great for the both of us! I am going to include favorites for both him and I and I'll post links to them all at the bottom! Also, let me know if you guys have any requests on blogposts that you want me to write! I would love to hear your feedback. :)


1. Exersaucer: I have this exact one and love it because it folds down to be completely flat (makes it great for travel!). It also converts to be a table for when he gets older and he can run toys across the top! Luke LOVES things with faces and I picked this one because it has big eyes on all of the characters. It doesn't seem too overwhelming either. For whatever reason, his favorite part of this is the bits of crunchy material on the seat that he grabs and chews on. He usually lets me put him in here for 15-20 min, which is awesome because he can play while I do some chores!

2. Boppy Lounger: This is something that I thought I would have used a lot more early on, but we haven't gotten much use until recently. Luke LOVES being on his back and grabbing his toes right now and with this lounger his head is elevated up just enough where he can see what's going on too! I usually throw a cozy blanket over the top of it and bring it everywhere (it's literally just a pillow so it's super light and makes for an easy spot to set baby down when you are doing chores or even taking a shower!). Plus, it's only $30, which is an amazing price point!

3. Lamb Plush: I got one of these as a gift from my friend after Luke was born. I was initially thinking this would be cute for milestone pictures, but I actually use it ALL THE TIME. We have hardwoods in our living room so it's really nice to have a flat, but cushy surface for Luke to do tummy time or just kick his feet around. I also bring this with me when we travel to change diapers on top of tables or harder surfaces (and throw a towel or blanket over the top). It rolls up to be super compact too.

4. Water Wipes: These are seriously the best wipes ever!! They are made of 99.9% water and 0.1% fruit extract, so they are super gentle on your baby. They always feel really "wet" and I only need one or two for all diapers. Luke has never gotten a diaper rash and I credit Water Wipes for that! They also make great wipes to just have around the house or in your car (to wipe off hands after eating or wipe spills around the car up with!)

5. Extra Diaper Bag: So good for overnight trips! I use one as my actual diaper bag and one with just all of his clothes and some extra toys. You really can use any one, but I have this one from Amazon. It's super affordable & fits quite a bit!

https://tinyurl.com/yd6hsero

6. Manual Breast Pump: This is sooo handy for anyone who is breast pumping and travels! I actually bought this because the motor on my pump went out and I was working the following the day, so I needed to buy something ASAP while I waited for my new pump to come. I hated using it at first because it really is quite a bit more work than the electric pump, but I have found several instances where it has come in handy! If you are going out to a wedding or date night without baby and you are planning on "pumping and dumping" (don't have to worry about storing the breast milk or anything). I went to a wedding and was gone for several hours and stored this in my tiny handbag super easily! It breaks down to be pretty compact so that was great. Also, road trips are a great instance where this comes in handy! If you have to pump to keep your supply up (or stop yourself from becoming completely engorged), but don't really want to stop you can use this in the car! Also, I highly recommend this exact one because I tried a cheaper one and it had way more parts and was harder to clean and use.

7. Mirror for Tummy Time: Luke hated tummy time so much until recently (he tolerates it, but it still isn't his favorite) & this really helped keep him happy. My mom got this on Amazon, but any mirror that stands up will do! Honestly, the quality of the actual mirror is pretty dull, but it does the job for them.

https://tinyurl.com/y7bss3h3

8. Nose Frida & Nail Frida: Baby fingernails grow so freakin fast! I clip Luke's once a week and I have (knock on wood) never cut the skin. The Nail Frida has a little extra window where you can see where you are about to clip down and the metal is super sharp so it clips them really easily. The Nose Frida has been a lifesaver too. I always felt like Luke was stuffed up in the morning so I started putting a little drop of saline in his nose and then using the Nose Frida to clear out his nostrils (I have heard you can overdo this, so I am not sure how frequently you can do it...maybe ask a doc!). It's SO easy and oddly satisfying (I know that sounds super gross, but everyone I know that has one says the same thing!). Worst thing ever though is when it's 2am and you are sleep deprived and accidentally suck the wrong end! So gross!

9. Bumbo Seat: I have a different version of this one, but I think the one with the tray is a better bang for your buck. Plus, the gray color is a lot cuter than the teal in my opinion :) This thing is awesome to put on the counter or table while you are cooking or eating (obviously you have to make sure you don't put it on the edge or anything!). I love how it's completely wipeable and compact so you can clean it off easily and bring it with you when traveling. This would be a great gift to get someone expecting a baby and even if you have a highchair this still serves a great purpose! I think Luke started using his at around 4.5-5 months and still uses it now at 6.5 months. We started feeding him solids in this seat too!