Funky Felt Hairclips!

Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Boutique is now a proud distributor of these adorable handcrafted felt hair clips by Babble Blossom. Stop by and check out these funky felt finds HERE.

When & Where Holiday Cards

Our friend, Mandy, over at When & Where Invites just informed me that she has completed her holiday collection for this year and it is too cute! You may remember Mandy from a feature and giveaway I hosted for When & Where earlier this year (see the article HERE). She makes it so easy to get fabulous stationary at a really affordable price. Simply choose your design (or email her to custom create one of your own!) and send an email with the images you would like to use. Within 48 hours, Mandy will send a proof for your approval. Once approved, you receive a high resolution file that you can print at any photo finisher or from home all for only $12! Print as many as you like, the price for the file is still the same. Don't feel like printing your own? No problem, Mandy can also print them for you and send them in the mail. Can't beat that!

For Your Smiling Pleasure

Compliments of the Evian Roller Babies...Enjoy!

Holiday Card Giveaway!

Our friends at Jamie's Precious Peas are hosting a fabulous giveaway for 30 holiday cards from Marmalade Ink. With so many super stylish designs to choose from, you're sure to find something perfect for this season! Giveaway ends November 17th, so don't delay!

How To Tell A Cold From H1N1 (Swine Flu)

Given the continuing saga of the spread of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) and the unrelenting runny noses and hacking coughs of 3 of my 4 little ones, I thought it was about time to get myself a handy reference for differentiating H1N1 from the common cold. After an exhausting search and comparison of numerous respected medical sources, I was able to compile the following chart as a personal reference. Granted, there are still many similarities between your garden variety seasonal flu and H1N1, but being able to rule in or out the common cold still goes a long way to preserving my peace of mind.

**This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the need for medical advice from a qualified practitioner. If you are experiencing any health related symptoms, seek consultation from your preferred medical provider.

Symptom	Cold	H1N1 Flu
Fever	Fever is rare with a cold.	Fever is usually present in 80% or more of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3-to-4 days is generally associated with the flu.
Coughing	A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.	A non-productive, non-mucus producing cough is usually present with the flu. It is sometimes referred to as dry cough.
Aches	Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.	Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
Stuffy Nose	Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.	Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
Chills	Chills are uncommon with a cold.	60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
Tiredness	Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.	Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
Sneezing	Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.	Sneezing is not common with the flu.
Sudden Symptoms	Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.	The flu has a rapid onset within 3-to-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache	A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.	A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat	Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.	Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.
Chest Discomfort	Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.	Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

The Sweet, Sweet Smell Revealed!

Da, da, da, da...and here is the fruit of yesterday's labor! What do you think? Perhaps not as refined as some, but I really like the deconstructed layers. I think they give an earthy quality to such a refined scent. Now for a name...

I could go with something as simple as "Orange Blossom" because it smells just as heavenly, but I'm looking for something with a little zip. Any suggestions? Made from a custom blend of essential oils, including neroil and soft citrus notes, this baby is a soft floral that is prominent but not overpowering. I would love to hear what some of my lovely bloggy friends have in mind for my latest creation, so please, fire away!

Ahhhh, The Sweet Smell...

...of orange blossoms! With 3 of 4 munchkins currently fighting off sniffly noses, my mind can't help but wander to thoughts of this sweet citrus fruit (I'm practically bathing them in it in order to get as much Vit C into their little bodies as possible!). This, in turn, leads to thoughts of one of my favorite scents of all time...orange blossom. I've been wanting to play with this heavenly scent in my soaping for some time now, but given how expensive neroli essential oil is, I must plead "chicken" to this point. I just couldn't stomach the possibility of botching a batch (we all know how the merciless Soap Fairy can rear her ugly head from time to time!) and wasting such a prized commodity. Well, no more! This morning I made a trial batch of this sweetly floral wonder...I can't wait to cut into it tomorrow morning and check the "fruits" of my labor (tee, hee)!

Happy Monday :)

Come On Over!

Be sure to stop by Bullfrogs & Butterflies Baby Boutique today to check out the new bath & body line from Ellia C. Naturals.


There are some awesome finds for Mamas-To-Be, new Mamas, Babies, and the rest of the family. Plus, we'll be adding some fabulous Holiday Gift Baskets very soon!

Let Ellia C. Naturals help you start making your list for this Holiday Season!

Whoo Hoo, More Sleep For You!

This Sunday, November 1st, is Daylight Savings. At 2 a.m. time will leap backward and give us all an extra hour of sleep (or whatever else you find yourself in need of an hour to do!). Enjoy the rest...Monday it's back to the grind!

Staying Heathy This Winter

Well, it's done. Everyone that is able to receive the regular flu vaccine has. Little Micah Moo is exempt due to an egg allergy (for those who are not currently aware, the vaccine is cultured using egg protein, therefore, those with egg allergies should not partake), but I must say that all others involved were incredibly brave (including Daddy!) and did great :)

The question comes up every year about whether or not to vaccinate for the flu. Given that it is not used for long-term disease prevention, must be repeated annually, and does not prevent against all strains of flu because of the incredible ability of the disease to mutate, the list of cons is impressive. However, with 4 little ones, 2 of whom are in kindergarten and preschool respectively (and likely to pick up everything under the sun!), it's something that, when combined with good nutrition and loads of hand washing, works for us.

The H1N1 vaccine (commonly known as the swine flu vaccine) is not yet available from our pediatrician and we have not decided about whether we will seek it out when it does become available. Many people have fears about it related to problems that were experienced over 30 years ago, when a similar vaccine was linked (rightly so or not) to an increased incidence of Guillain Barre Syndrome, in which the body damages its own nerve cells, causing weakness and sometimes paralysis. Some studies found no link at all, others claimed that one person in every million might be at risk.

The difference between the vaccine produced in the 70's and the one today is that the H1N1 vaccine today is produced and tested in the same manner as the regular flu vaccine. Ironically enough, had the H1N1 strain of flu emerged only months earlier, it would have been included as one of the components in the regular flu vaccine for this year and would not have been administered as a separate dose.

According to some sources, Swine Flu has emerged in 190 countries, has infected millions, and has resulted in nearly 4000 known deaths. Whether you choose to immunize or not, it is important to educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of this particular strain of flu and the typical treatment options. Above all else, as with any cold and flu season, proper hand washing should be top priority in every household. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should:

Always wash your hands before:

• Preparing food
• Eating
• Treating wounds or giving medicine
• Touching a sick or injured person
• Inserting or removing contact lenses

Always wash your hands after:

• Preparing food, especially raw meat or poultry
• Using the toilet
• Changing a diaper
• Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes or waste
• Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands
• Treating wounds
• Touching a sick or injured person
• Handling garbage or something that could be contaminated, such as a cleaning cloth or soiled shoes

Of course, it's also important to wash your hands whenever they look dirty.

How To Wash Your Hands:

It's generally best to wash your hands with soap and water. Follow these simple steps:

• Wet your hands with running water.
• Apply liquid, bar or powder soap.
• Lather well.
• Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
• Rinse well.
• Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel or air dryer.
• If possible, use your towel to turn off the faucet.

Keep in mind that antibacterial soap is no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Using antibacterial soap may even lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the product's antimicrobial agents — making it harder to kill these germs in the future.

The Mayo Clinic also provides guidelines for using alcohol-based hand sanitizer as follows:

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don't require water — are an excellent alternative to soap and water. If you choose to use a commercially prepared hand sanitizer, make sure the product contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Then follow these simple steps:

• Apply enough of the product to the palm of your hand to wet your hands completely.
• Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces, for up to 25 seconds or until they're dry.

If your hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water. Antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are another option, although they're not as effective as alcohol-based sanitizers.

Hand washing, whether with soap or hand sanitizer, doesn't take much time or effort, but can go a long way in helping to prevent illness. Adopting this habit withing your own family can play a huge role in keeping your loved ones healthy this winter season (and always!).

Thank you to The Mayo Clinic for some great information regarding proper hand washing!