Bumkins is sponsoring a giveaway in honor of World Breast Feeding Week (August 1st-7th).

“In celebration of this wonderful cause, we will be giving away an All-in-One Cloth Diaper Bundle 3 pack, retail valued at $72.95, to one lucky winner. To enter all contestants have to do is sign up for an informative, educational cloth diapering newsletter.”

Click here for further details.

You spend your hard earned cash on skin and hair care products that are touted as “natural” and “organic” and believe that you are buying non-toxic and organic products, which mesh well with your health lifestyle…..but are they really non-toxic?

We sat down with Diana Kaye, co-founder of Terressentials, a company who makes hand-crafted organic products, where every ingredient used is 100% certified organic, to learn more.

Please can you tell our readers about Terressentials? What was the inspiration behind the creation of your company?

Well, Terre, means Earth in Latin, so it’s all about: what’s essential for the Earth, or from the Earth. About the how and why we got started, we’d like to point you to a terrific story by the Washington Post that does a great job of covering the things that got us started.

Terressentials is a genuine USDA certified organic company with authentic USDA certified organic products. Can you please tell us about your product line? What products do you offer for men, women and baby? We are artisan crafters of gourmet, genuine organic products for your face, body and hair. Our products can be used by women, men and children. Some folks even use our Fragrance-free products to wash their cats and dogs!

It’s very important for us to point out that everything we make — our full-line of more than 100 different items — is certified to the USDA National Organic Program standard and we are certified as a dedicated organic processor. This is a critical distinction and few, if any, other companies can make this claim.

We craft a wide range of multi-use, effective organic personal care products that have everyone’s needs covered from head to toe! Our organic Flower Therapy and our Fragrance-free skin care systems are both extremely popular. Our Baby products are all organic and are enjoyed by adults, too. Our Organic Real Soap Hand Soaps are year-round favorites loved by everyone and are non-polluting in our waterways. Our line also includes our unique clay-based Pure Earth Hair Wash (as seen on Dirty Jobs!), our yummy organic aromatic Body Washes and our range of deeply moisturizing 100% organic Anointing Body Oils and Body Cremes. Lastly, we must also mention our White Chocolate Lip Protectors available in Mint, Vanilla, Orange and Lime which are all 100% organic and positively delicious!

We understand that you are on a mission to educate others about the USDA National Organic Program and about the USDA organic seal. Please tell us more…

It’s simple, really. Consumers don’t expect industrial chemicals in products labeled “organic,” but, when it comes to personal care products, unfortunately, they’re usually in there. The one and only way to be sure that a product meets the rigorous legal standard for “organic” is to look for the USDA Organic Seal or the logo of a state organic certifier on the front of the product. The USDA National Organic Program federal regulations stipulate that a genuine certified organic product will bear the seal on the front label of each product bottle or jar. A product is not authentic if there is simply a USDA seal on a web site page or in a brochure or magazine ad — the law says the USDA seal must be on the FRONT of each bottle.

Folks should also watch out for the duplicitous labeling practices, such as a faux organic logo or claim, as well as deceptive industry-based “organic” “standards.” Big corporations in the personal care industry in the US and abroad have concocted chemistry-based “organic” “standards” and logos. After reviewing all of these chemically-permissive standards, and seeing their allowance of synthetic detergents, preservatives, emollients, emulsifiers and sunscreens, it doesn’t surprise us that NONE of these industry standards — hailing from the US, the European Union and elsewhere in the world — come anywhere close to the strict legal USDA Organic federal standard that consumers want.

Remember…if it doesn’t have the USDA seal, it ain’t the real deal.

Many companies as “all natural” and “organic” are in fact selling unnatural synthetic and even toxic personal care products. Can you comment on this and offer any suggestions for readers?

It’s unbelievable to us that this situation has gotten so far out of hand. “Natural” and “organic” should mean something that you can find in a field, a meadow, a forest, a grove, a garden or your kitchen, not something that comes out of a pipe at the back of a chemical refinery. But the chemical companies have taken over the “natural” personal care product market, and many health food stores and web site businesses are very happy with the dramatically increased revenues they are accumulating from sales of products labeled as “all natural” and “organic” from their trusting organic-minded customers. What is truly sad for consumers is that the USDA has said that they have very little funding, thus there has been no organic labeling enforcement in the personal care marketplace leaving consumers exposed to too many misleadingly labeled products.

It is troublesome to see that these big companies are only looking out for themselves and to see that they are using predatory schemes to manipulate the market and consumers. These large companies do not truly care about the health of their customers or about environmental degradation. If they truly cared about protecting health, they would not be using so many synthetic and toxic chemical ingredients in their “all natural” and “organic” products.

We think it’s quite interesting to mention that that there appears to be quiet agreement among companies in the “natural” products industry to NOT seek USDA certification. That’s correct, to NOT seek USDA certification. We believe the unspoken plan is that if no companies get their products certified, then all of the companies look like they’re making sense when they repeat the same tall tales: “It’s extremely difficult to get personal care products certified.” and “It can’t be done.” and “There is no organic standard for personal care products.” and “The USDA National Organic Program is only for food products.” Remember the old adage “A lie told often enough becomes the truth?” We think that this is one prong of the chemical personal care industry’s strategy to carry on with business as usual and to degrade the integrity of the National Organic Program. Why, the big companies just can’t have a few small companies getting USDA certification and causing consumers to see their products for what they are: not so natural and not organic, right? Hey, it’s the emperor’s new clothes!

We have heard and read all of the excuses above many times. Our response to those who won’t follow the rules is “shame on you.” To caring organic consumers we say seek out and support the handful of pioneering companies who do have USDA certification and who are proving that USDA certification for personal care products is real and that one can enjoy a wide range of effective and lovely products that meet our USDA National Organic Program regulations — the strictest standard in the world — over 500 pages!

Our best advice to consumers is to read all of the ingredients on every label and ask “would I eat this ingredient?” Become an educated and informed consumer. Get to know the history of a company and their products — WHO really makes it, WHERE it is made and HOW it is made. Don’t be duped by slick marketeers. Finally, be sure to look for the USDA Organic seal on each bottle of product. The words “certified organic” or just “organic” on a label aren’t good enough…they might be referring to one organic ingredient that’s mixed into conventional industrial chemicals. Don’t be fooled by the name of a certifier on the back label of a product, either (this is another trick frequently employed). Only legitimate USDA organic products will bear the USDA seal or a state government seal (from one of the 20 states with organic programs) on the FRONT label of each product.

Can you suggest some links where our readers can learn more?

*Green Standard
*Terressentials line free of Dioxane
*Dioxane found in Personal Care Products
*Organic FAQ
*Double Standard
*Ingredient Guide
*Tricks of the Trade
*USDA Organic
*Exposure to chemicals

Where can our readers buy your products?

Log onto www.Terressentials.com to shop.

Will you be selling your products in any retail locations such as Whole Foods in the future?

We have been trying to find retail organic education partners since 1996 and we do have some smaller retail partners across the US and one in Canada that are listed on our “Stores” page on our web site. Generally, though, we have found (and this was surprising to us) that most of the stores that we have spoken to over the years don’t like organic personal care ingredients advocates who tell it like it is. We found that most stores expected us to ignore the synthetic chemicals in personal care products and not EVER talk about why our products are different from the conventional products sold in all of the natural stores. We found we were also expected to run lots of expensive ads that make only vague, happy statements, fill a store’s shelves with our products for free to buy our way into the store, AND produce cheap familiar/conventional products and sell them to the stores through a costly multi-tiered distribution network at deep discounted prices to allow retailers big markups — big profits — at your expense.

As far as we know, we make more 100% USDA Organic body care products than anyone. We have found that too many businesses that talk about supporting organic, environmentally-friendly or local are only interested in buying the stuff that is heavily advertised in magazines and that they can easily buy from their one big grocery distributor (produce, beans, potato chips, dog food, toilet paper, etc.).

However, we do have an informative, easy-to-use web site and secure shopping cart for our good customers and we can ship — swiftly — to virtually every address in the world, and our site is, of course, available 24 hours a day.

For those folks in the Washington DC metro area, we do have two lovely TerrEssentials company-owned organic boutiques in Maryland that are filled to the brim with our authentic USDA organic personal care goodies, and the finest examples of unique Fair Made and Fair Trade handcrafts, and organic chocolates, snacks and teas from around the world. Stop in and say hello!

Any additional comments you would like to add?

We’d like to point out that there is a tremendous positive environmental impact in purchasing genuine USDA certified organic products as there are countless studies proving the personal health and environmental benefits from supporting organic farmers and their organic agricultural materials (rather than being dependent on foreign oil) and consuming certified organic products. Think about it, when your lip balm tube is empty, where did all of your lip balm go? You ate it! By the way, did you know that sunscreen chemicals used in lip protectors were NEVER tested as food additives? Food for thought…

Another significant issue is that of sustainability. Genuine certified organic products are required to be clean and predominantly petrochemical-free. The petrochemical-free concept is what author David Steinman calls “Green Patriotism.” Genuine USDA certified organic personal care products require far, far less foreign oil consumption than conventional petroleum-reacted synthetic chemical personal care products and, because USDA certified organic products are required to be minimally-processed, they are produced using far less unsustainable, non-renewable and polluting fossil fuel energy than conventional “all natural” and faux organic products. Be a Green Patriot! Buy certified organic products!

Lastly, we’d like to have folks think about the concept of Fair Made. Fair Made is all about supporting smaller companies in your own backyard– local companies who are the backbone of the American economy — made in the USA! Scrutinize your products and ask companies to state in writing where their products are manufactured. You might be surprised to discover how many personal care products are made overseas.

Our experience with the products.

A member of our panel had the opportunity to test out the Fragrance-free Organic Facial Care line for ultra-sensitive skin from Terressentials. The products arrived well packaged and we were struck by the beautiful labels which reminded us of the luxurious lotions and potions back in early 1900’s. Although the tester has naturally great skin, which she attributes to good genes and her healthy organic lifestyle, she is prone to blemishes in the T-Zone area. She cleaned, toned and moisturized with the Fragrance-free line for a duration of 1 month and was pleasantly surprised that she did not get any breakouts during this time. Her skin was soft and supple and she received many compliments about her beautiful skin. The tester added that she looked forward to her using her Terressentials products each morning and evening and noted that that the products have a calming and relaxing effect on her. Also available in the fragrance free line is the Fragrance-free Organic Silken Velvet Body Lotion which our tester really loved. She noted that the body lotion is light and glides on easily. It is quickly absorbed and makes the perfect lotion for summer!

The Terresentials range includes organic certified products for the face, body, hair and bath.

Terressentials offers a full line of organic baby care products which include Organic Body Wash, Organic Baby Massage Oil, Organic Baby Body Lotion and a 100% organic Tush Treatment.

The Terressentials website is packed with educational information and you will want to bookmark it and read it in sections when you have the time.

Visit: www.Terressentials.com to learn more.

July 2008 has been another exciting month here at Success Through Play™ Magazine. We hosted several fantastic giveaways, and published a wide range of articles with something for everyone. Here’s a re-cap of what we covered. Click on the link to read the full article.

*StrollSoft® Luxe Seat liner & Snuzzler Complete Head and Body Support
*Bumpstyle Gladys Knight Bump Tee
*The Deluxe Showerwise Filtration System from Waterwise
*Gymnic Exercise Balls

*Baby Planet Solo Deluxe Stroller
*BabyBam Collection
*TushyGear Travel Diaper Changing Pad

*Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate
*BabyLegs®: Leg and Arm Warmers for Children and Adults
*Zosephine Diaper Bag
*Giveaway: Boob® Designer Summer Apparel
*The Samsung Slash from Virgin Mobile.

This month, August 2008, we will continue to bring you fresh and exciting articles. Look out for an ice-cream review, low cal snack reviews, a fiber bar review, a low cal peanut butter review, a super fast cooking, delicious and nutritious pasta, a designer diaper bag review, a business case review, a wooden toys review, an activity gym, a green printing company review and many more interesting articles! Of special note is our new Weight Loss segment. A member of our panel has signed up for the Weight Watchers Online Program and will be tracking her weight loss journey with regular updates. Have a Happy August!

Sincerely,

The Success Through Play Team.

The new Samsung Slash has finally arrived! Weighing in at just 3.0 ounces and measuring 3.8″ by 1.8″ by 0.7″, this sleek and compact slider phone has set message boards buzzing around the nation. It has a large color display, bluetooth, 3.5 hrs of talk time and a week of standby time. We had the opportunity to test it out over several weeks. Since it is so compact and lightweight, it fits into the front pocket of a Palm Case and travels with ease. Despite its size, it has a solid feel to it and looks far more expensive than it costs (an affordable $79.99). We would rate the call quality “good” with the reception being equally good (minimum of 2-3 bars). The Slash can store up to 499 contact entries, with up to five phone numbers, two email addresses and one website per individual. Now you will always have family, friends and business colleagues details available at the touch of a button. On the right hand side of the phone you will find a button to access the speaker mode and we liked this placement. The speaker phone is perfect for when you are aren’t able to hold the phone but need to talk. Bloggers and internet users will appreciate this! A button to access the VGA Camera with 3 resolution options can be found on the right hand side, below the speaker button. We were impressed with the camera! The following images were captured at the High Resolution (640 X 480):

Indoor:

Outdoor:

Additional Features we like:

*Hip ringtones that will have you rocking out when you phone rings!

*Calling use voice commands-this feature worked really well and is ideal for hands free dialing like when you are in the middle of baking or if you are visually impaired or have arthritis.

*Virgin XL-your gateway to media! You can access music, entertainment, and info services. In addition, ringtones, games, wallpapers, screen savers to customize your phone. We were able to surf the web and access our email account with ease, enabling us to stay in touch when we were away from our laptop.

*If you need to kill some time, you can play some games on the phone and download additional ones.

The Samsung Slash is available at www.virginmobileusa.com and over 40,000 retail locations nationwide including Best Buy, Radio Shack, Target and Wal-Mart. To find a Virgin Mobile retailer, visit the Store Locator.

Virgin Mobile has a very cool recycling program which we detailed here. To view the full range of phones available from Virgin Mobile, please visit: www.VirginMobileUSA.com

Boob Design has graciously donated the following clothing for our Summer 2008 Giveaway. The following 4 prizes are up for grabs:

Prize A: Maternity Long Dress & Maternity Blouse with pockets, both are a Size Medium. Oeko-Tex Certified

Prize B: Maternity Top Short Sleeve and a Black Long Sleeve Nursing Top, both are a size Large. Oeko-Tex Certified.

Prize C: B-Flex Maternity Jean, Size 6 in Washed Blue. Straight leg with foldable jersey upper.

Prize D: B-Low Organic Maternity Jeans, Size 14 in Raw Blue. These jeans are super-flattering and comfortable. B-Low jeans feature a straight leg and come in a slimming shade of dark blue.

Congratulations Meg R., Anne P., Sarah H. & Tessa G.

To learn more about Boob Designs Line of Designer Maternity and Nursing Apparel, please visit:

www.boobdesign.com

Tired of carrying around a large, cumbersome diaper bag and looking to downsize? We have the prefect solution for you, the Zosephine Diaper Bag. This medium size messenger style diaper bag is the perfect medium sized diaper bag. We received the Zosephine Diaper Bag in the Minneapolis style to test. For those of you who are looking for a gorgeous orange diaper bag, look no further. This burnt orange color is the perfect bag for summer and coordinated perfectly with the Baby Planet Solo Deluxe Stroller in Terra Cotta.

This well constructed diaper bag has a strong canvas exterior and a nylon interior. The diaper bag flap opens and closes via two magnetic snaps. Lift the flap to reveal a cell phone pocket, which allows the user to easily retrieve the phone when needed. No more hunting around in your diaper bag to find your phone and missing important calls! The interior of the bag is an off white color, making it very easy to find and retrieve items. Two pockets on either side can hold a bottle for baby and a slim water bottle for mom. A top quality heavy duty key hook is sewn into the right side of the diaper bag and will enable you to locate your keys in seconds. This will save you time and frustration! Three narrow pockets in the front hold essentials such as anti-bacterial wipes, baby lotion, a pacifier or a small snack. The large central compartment will hold baby’s essentials, such as a diapers, wipes, an extra set of clothing for baby and a small blanket. The rear pocket separately houses the changing pad which is great for those extra messy diaper changes. A zippered pocket can hold moms valuables. A pocket on the rear exterior of the bag can house a small, thin novel or some paperwork.

The strap is adjustable so you are assured of finding a perfect fit. Since the straps are attached at the rear of the bag, vs the sides, as with traditional messenger bags, this bag falls beautifully against the body, and stays in a comfortable position when you are walking or on the go. It comes with an easy to clean nylon changing pad which measures 14″ x 21″. This diaper bag measures approximately 14″ X 12″ X 5″ (empty) and fit easily in the storage basket of the Baby Planet Solo Deluxe. Available in 4 styles, The Minneapolis, The St.Paul, The Kyoto, & The Seattle.

This high quality bag should last you many years, well beyond the diapering period. With its beautiful modern styling, you will be carrying it around long after the diaper days are behind you. This beautiful bag is handmade in the USA and is PVC free.

*Giveaway*

Congratulations Carolyn D.

For more information, please visit: www.Zosephine.com

Green & Black’s was founded in 1991 in the UK and entered the U.S. market in 2003. Green & Black’s spares no expense in producing the highest quality chocolate and has control of every stage of the chocolate manufacturing process. Green & Black’s sets the stage by starting with premium fine organic cocoa beans (the vast majority of cocoa beans are made from the inferior bulk beans) which are derived from two varieties: Criollo and Trinitario. Instead of including unfermented beans in the chocolate, which is a common practice, Green & Black’s has a policy to only use fermented beans, which produces the best possible flavor. After fermentation, Green & Black’s dries the beans naturally and not via fire, which can product unpleasant smoky flavors. The chocolate is allowed to develop in richness and complexity and this process is not rushed, as with other chocolate manufacturers. All this adds up to superb and an unforgettable bar which will delight the hearts of chocolate lovers everywhere.

Green & Black’s offers a line of ice-cream, baking cocoa, baking bar, hot chocolate and chocolate bars, . We received all 12 flavors which range from White Chocolate all the way through to Dark 85%, with a full range of flavors falling in between. Milk Chocolate fans will be delighted with the milk chocolate flavors which include Milk, Caramel & Almond. Green & Black’s uses a higher level of cocoa mass in their milk chocolates, emphasizing the chocolate over the milk, which really distinguishes them from other chocolate makers. Dark Chocolate lovers can select from Maya Gold, Ginger, Hazelnut & Currant, Cherry, Espresso, Mint, Dark 70% and Dark 85%.

Our testers are dark chocolate fans and the following 6 flavors were favorites among the testers:

*Mint
Dark chocolate shell made from 70& cocoa content, filled with a delicious sweet mint filling. This bar will make the perfect after dinner mint chocolate treat. Both adults and children will enjoy this flavor!

*Ginger
This flavor has just the right balance of crystallized ginger and dark chocolate which is truly rare to find in a ginger flavored chocolate.

*Maya Gold
Inspired by the Maya Indians in South Belize, this one of a kind chocolate bar is truly special. The carefully chosen spice blend and hint of orange are paired perfectly with the dark chocolate, resulting in a taste that will conjure up visions of romantic and exotic destinations.

*Hazelnut & Currant
Crunchy roasted Hazelnut and dark chocolate are the perfect duo which is further enhanced with the sweet currants.

*Dark 70% Heart Healthy (our top pick)
The perfect bittersweet chocolate. Once you have tried this chocolate bar, you will be smitten. Just a small piece of this dark chocolate will satisfy your chocolate cravings.

*Dark 85% Heart Healthy
Rich, creamy and decadent, this bar has a moist and smooth texture. Let this chocolate melt slowly in your mouth to appreciate the blend of chocolate mass, cocoa butter and Madagascan organic vanilla.

Research is showing that dark chocolate (minimum of 70% cocoa content), has heart healthy benefits including the ability to lower blood pressure, keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels and reducing the risk of blood clots. Many dark chocolate bars on the market may meet the 70% cocoa content requirement but are made from non-organic cocoa beans, plus they are loaded with sugar. Green & Black’s sets the standard by using the highest quality fine organic cocoa beans which means that the beans are grown without toxic pesticides. Due the quality of these beans and the careful manner in which the beans are processed into chocolate, the end result is a product that does not need excess sugar to mask the bitterness and poor quality that is found in other dark chocolates. In addition, all the added ingredients are all organic which ensures the purest, healthiest chocolate bar on the market. Chocolate makes the perfect gift for every occasion. You may have been to many wine tasting parties, but have you considered hosting a chocolate tasting party? Green & Blacks offers excellent tips on how to ensure a successful evening of chocolate tasting that your guests will be talking about for a long time!

*To find out where to purchase, please click here.
*UK readers can click here.

Heading out to the grocery store with your baby? Off to meet a friend for a quick cup of coffee? Popping into the library to return some books? There are many occasions when you don’t need to lug that heavy diaper bag while running quick errands. You just need something to hold one or two diapers, a pack of wipes and a changing pad and desire something more stylish than a zip lock bag! We have the perfect solution for you. The TushyGear Travel Diaper Changing Pad from Emily Sandberg Designs. These beautiful, high quality, handmade “totes” can accommodate up to 3 diapers and a pack of wipes. It has a built in changing pad which means that you will always have a soft, clean surface to change your little on (open dimensions 28″ x 12″) . It folds up compactly (12″ x 8″) and ties close with a pretty ribbon. It can be used on its own, or can be stashed in a diaper bag for easy retrieval of your diapering essentials. It is available in a variety of lovely prints, from classic to modern and is proudly made in the USA.

We really love the organic cotton print: Organic Grass, which we received. The organic cotton version is perfect for Green Mamas, and babies with sensitive skin and boasts a super soft organic cotton fabric. The TushyGear Travel Diaper Changing Pad will make a terrific baby shower gift which mom will get daily use of. Purchase at www.tushygear.com.

Jody Graziano Jonas is the founder and CEO of BabyBam Collection. She has a background in design. Jody founded BabyBam Collection after her two sons were born with severe milk allergies – which also caused them to have severely sensitive skin. In fact, her children could not wear traditional clothing fabrics such as cotton, polyester, silk, etc. Jody had always considered herself a “green” parent – and after much research (and trial and error) – she found her children could wear bamboo fabric. She then combined her expertise in design, with her sons’ needs for alternative clothing – and was pleased with bamboo’s eco-friendly qualities (a sustainable resource, can grow up to three feet in one day, reduces baby’s carbon footprint, grown without chemicals or pesticides).

We received the Swanky Gift set which arrived beautifully presented in an eco-friendly gift bag. This luxurious set will make a very special baby shower gift. The set includes the Little Lathers Organic Bamboo Baby Soap (vegan) Lavender Blissful Balm, hooded towel and washcloth set, and baby pajamas. The Little Lathers Bamboo Soap is made from saponified cold-pressed olive oil, wild yarrow, organic calendula, organic aloe vera, saponified castor oil, essential oils and bamboo powder. It is beautifully handcrafted and smells heavenly. The Lavender Balm contains certified organic extra virgin olive oil, wild yarrow, organic calendula, unbleached beeswax, natural vitamin E, lavender essential oil, tapioca starch, and essential oils. It soothes and moisturizes baby’s chapped and dry skin and serves double duty as the perfect cuticle moisturizer for mom and dad. Both items are free of synthetic chemicals, preservatives, petroleum products, artificial dyes, EDTA, TEA, DEA, synthetic fragrance oils, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfates and other harmful chemicals. Also included is a reusable drawstring burlap bag, to store these items. The lush hooded towel features beautiful embroidery on the hood and together with the washcloth, will make bath time a pleasurable event! Last but not least is the ultra soft, baby pajamas which are made from a blend of bamboo and organic cotton. These well designed pajamas feature snaps down the entire length for easy diaper changes. A special touch is the silkscreen on the front which reads “dream believe giggle.”

“I would like thank BabyBam Collection for this beautiful gift set which will make every baby feel special and pampered. The Little Lathers Organic Soap Set is wonderful and I feel confident knowing that it is handmade in the USA from non-toxic ingredients. I wasn’t aware that bamboo fabric existed. I was so pleasantly surprised that bamboo fabric is SO soft and silky and boasts such unique characteristics which makes it very suitable for a baby’s skin. The footed pajamas are beautifully made from 70% bamboo fabric and 30% organic cotton and are simply adorable. The fabric is buttery soft and I know that the fabric will be perfect against my baby’s sensitive skin. The pajamas have snaps down both legs to make diaper changes easier! I really like the graphic: dream believe giggle! The hooded towel is really lovely and has beautiful embroidery with a logo and the words: Little Sprout, which gives it an elegant feel. It’s soft yet absorbent and makes bath time very pleasurable for the both of us!”

Available in size 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 months and 3 accent colors: Blue, Pink and Green. Visit www.babybamcollection.com to purchase.

Prevention Magazine has hailed the exercise ball as the “ultimate piece of belly-flab-busting equipment” based on the results of a recent study out of California State University, Sacramento. The study demonstrated that using an exercise ball in a specific way, recruits twice the amount of muscle fibers as traditional crunches or yoga and pilates. In the August 2008 edition of Prevention Magazine, you will find an exercise program using a ball, which has been specifically designed to tone that belly while offering a cardio workout as well. The take home message being that an exercise ball is a powerful piece of fitness equipment that is finally getting the credit that it deserves. An exercise ball can help you to improve your balance, flexibility, posture and strength and there are many books, DVD’s and classes which can teach you how to safely and effectively incorporate the ball into your exercise program.

Gymnic has a line of versatile exercise balls which are very high quality. Our panel tested the Gymnic Classic Plus and the Gymnic Arte Plus, both of which feature a burst resistant material and are latex free. Burst resistant means that should the ball come into contact with a sharp object, it is designed to deflate slowly, to give the user warning. We recommend choosing a burst-resistant ball whenever possible. Pregnant women and those with balance problems should always look for balls with this burst resistant material for safety. A hand pump which works on either models is available for purchase here. The balls are available in several sizes, with the key being to select one that is right for your height and weight, which enables you to maintain a good posture when sitting on it. The Gymnic Classic Plus is a best seller and is commonly seen in physical therapist units and reputable gyms across the nation. The Gymnic Arte Plus is visually stunning with each ball being a unique piece of art. Both balls come with an exercise guide which features a series of exercises which are rated according to difficulty. This terrific guide was developed in consultation with European Physical Therapists (Physiotherapists). Please consult your health care provider before starting this or any other exercise program.

The versatility of an exercise ball is truly remarkable, making it extremely cost effective. If you have a desk job, consider using the ball for short periods throughout the day, instead of your chair, to improve your posture at the desk! The ball support can be used for extra stability. Shrink your belly by adding a ball to your workout and you will soon be sporting the latest swim wear styles with confidence! Many women report having a more comfortable pregnancy and an easier labor with the addition of an exercise ball. Ask your midwife and doula for tips about how to use the ball during pregnancy and labor. With the addition of the ball support, new moms can sit on the ball with their baby on their lap and gently bounce them and soothe them. With 100% adult supervision, parents can place their babies on an exercise ball (choose an appropriate height) to help baby practice his balance skills. This DVD shows you how!

Items may be purchased by visiting Gymnic USA website or by calling 800-496-6427. International readers can visit the Gymnic International website.