Halloween from 4-8pm. FREE for the whole family,followed by Trick or Treating Downtow. Take advantage of what our wonderful city has to offer. Click here to see the details.

I will be there for sure, too bad you don’t know who I am . (wink,wink) Just teasin’. I hope to see a bunch of mama’s and super cute babies dressed to the nines!

Thanks to About Memories and More for sponsoring this event. Another reason AMAM rocks!

You can check if there are sex offenders in your neighborhood. Just an FYI…

Go to http://az.gov/webapp/offender/searchZip.do

but FDA, I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!

I also mentioned a few days ago, BEFORE the study was released, that I thought the Plastic Co’s has lobbyists working with the FDA. Independent scientists say BPA’s are NOT safe. Please consider this when buying items for your family!

So, today they released a report regarding the FDA’s investigation into BPA safety. Well, guess who funded ALL THREE STUDIES used to evaluate safety? They were funded by the plastic industry.

Don’t forget to smoke a pack a day, too. Remember the tobacco industry said cigarettes were safe.

LET”S BAN BPA’s!!!!! Canada already did!!!!!!

I am so sick of hearing people complain about everything being made in China, but shopping at WALMART!!!!! Especially kids toys. Buy your kids less junk, and more quality stuff. For the price of a FP toy made in China you could buy a wood toy, by PLAN TOYS,Manhattan toys,  M&D, EEBOO, etc. Less is more. I am “craigslisting” a bunch of cheap  “MIC” toys my DD has. She has so much stuff!!!!! I hate stuff. For X-mas I would love a PLAN Toys Kitchen, hopefully from the G-Parents (hopefully they will get it from ZBB, so we are supporting  local mama’s). I have gotten her a few MIC things like a PBK doll stroller, Manhattan Baby Stella Accessories (their MIC stuff is so safe), etc. I am focusing on pretend play, to foster her imagination. I would rather have the PLAN kitchen that makes no noise, rather than the FP plastic piece of garbage.

Sorry to vent. I just hate the hypocrisy of people that complain about things, but enable them! Like people that don’t vote, but complain about the state of the government. If you are sick of buying MIC stuff, Walmart is the LAST place you should be shopping. I would rather go to ZBB, spend the same $20, but on one nicer item.  Plus it is a MAMA owned LOCAL business. Yes their prices are higher, but their quality is better. Plus Brittany has 3 kids, and she uses the stuff she sells. So she does her own quality control. I wanted cloth diapers and went to ZBB, knowing that they really care about the environment and could give me good advice. Brittany had just tried the Blue Penguin diapers on her son. I have to say I felt more confident buying them knowing she used them herself.  I like that Blue Penguin Diapers are MIA, and that it is a small company.

Our economy will improve if we support local businesses, buy things MIA or by responsible American companies (like PLAN Toys).  This Holiday Season try to buy BETTER stuff, and less of it. We are teaching our kids to live in excess, with our current mortgage crisis, do we really want to reinforce that? Isn’t that part of the mortgage crisis? Living beyond our means?

Woooh. I feel better that I got all of that out!!!!

out and proud OBAMA MAMA!!!!! For so many reasons I LOVE Barack Obama!!!! I am not telling anyone who to vote for, I am telling you who I am voting for. No matter what candidate you support, VOTE!!!!!

Will endorse a Presidential Candidate. I have decided that since I believe so strongly in someone, that I will come out and say who it is. If you follow this blog, you can probably guess who. This blog is not a business, I make no money from it, and feel that most people reading are probably like minded. I hope no one stops reading because of it, but if they do, that is their choice.

I overheard a mom recently at the park say something about BPA being everywhere even in our water, so it’s not worth trying to get BPA free things. I have to disagree. Don’t we eat healthy and exercise to reduce health risks? So, if we can reduce our children’s exposure to a chemical know to be harmful, why wouldn’t we do all we can? FYI Formula cans have some of the HIGHEST BPA levels. Another reason to BF!!!

My DD sips from Born Free Sippy’s (locally available at Zen Baby). Yes, they are more expensive, but to me I would rather pay a bit more for healthier things. I would feel horrible if my DD got cancer later, because I didn’t want to spend a few bucks more on BPA free items. I also buy mostly organic for the same reason, and paraben-free phalate-free skincare. BPA-free is just in line with my values.

The article from SELF Mag was GREAT.  They informed me, one who thinks she is pretty well informed, that BPA is in can lining used for fruits and veggies, etc. That was news to me. I make my own pasta sauce, using canned paste and sauce, so now I need to take it one step further and make it from real tomatoes! Eden foods, found at New Frontier’s uses BPA free cans for low acidic food, which saves me from having to cook dry beans!!!! YAY EDEN!

While there is no “definitive” answer to whether BPA causes cancer in humans, I believe there is a correlation. BPA has very strong esterogenic properties, and we KNOW that estrogen is related to Breast Cancer. Canada has banned BPA’s. The FDA hasn’t (yet). I wonder if the American Plastics Council has lobbyists? They are a lobby group for plastics companies! Plastic lobbyists?  Youbetcha! Hmmm…. Remember Thalidomoide babies?

We are currently scheduling appointments for Family Holiday Portraits.  We will have our Christmas background ready by November 1^st, and are able to offer over 50 different Holiday Greeting Cards.

We also have the ability to do outdoor portraits, if you prefer a natural setting.

We are extremely excited to have SANTA in our studio for portraits this year!  He will be here on 3 Saturdays:

November 15

November 22

December 13

Your children will enjoy quality time with Santa in a relaxed 15 minute visit and photo session.  Portrait packages are available at a reduced price for Photos with Santa.  Don’t wait in line at the mall this year!  We expect that appointments with Santa will fill up quickly, so call today to schedule your time!  (phone number:  213-9886)

Debbie Allen

1300 S. Milton Ave. Suite 121

Flagstaff, AZ 86001

928-213-9886 phone

www.cherished-image.com

I like La Belle, but that is bacuause I like to walk around and hit the Farmer’s Market. Same basic menu, same owners, same recipes. Brandy’s is usually busier, and is a bit more out of the way for me. I love Brandy’s, too though. The French Toast is soooooo good!

They will be featured on THE FOOD NETWORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2008/10/22/news/20081022_front_183798.txt

The LNT sale was super janky! It should get better in the next few weeks. Oh, but they had fleece lined baby/toddler jeans at ON for $12, along with a bunch of other jeans/cords.