Looking for some ways to limit your baby’s exposure to chemicals? Many people are most concerned with newborns and infants, as their body mass is so much less, making even small amounts of chemical exposure a bigger risk. I’ve got some great choices for you here.

Fleurville Re-Run Mod Pod Changing Kit Made out of recycled plastic bottles! It has an integrated changing pad, 3 interior pockets, 1 exterior pocket, includes wipe case and adjustable, removable shoulder strap. And is totally cute, to boot!

Boon ModWare These BPA-free toddler utensils will make mealtime a breeze!

Waldorf Maple Teether Non-toxic maple made in the US makes this teether a winner!

Kringelring Another fabulous non-toxic teething ring that also doubles as a rattle!

Organic Fruit Basket Teething Toys This cute basket is made of organic Egyptian Cotton and stuffed with 100% organic cotton, so no worries about baby chewing on them!

Priva Snoozy Organic Cotton Waterproof Multi Use Pad A rare waterproof pad with a 100% natural cotton surface. It also features antimicrobial qualities and an allergy barrier. Use it for bassinet, crib, stroller, and changing table.

Naturepedic Waterproof Organic Cotton Flat Crib Pad This crib pad is all you could ever want! Waterproof, soft and breathable, 100% organic cotton fabric, and no vinyl/PVC, phthalates, or latex.

SwaddleDesigns Organic Ultimate Receiving Blanket This very highly rated receiving blanket is the perfect weight, and especially important, the perfect size for swaddling. Comes in many different color options.

California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Body Wash I’m going to go out on a limb and call pretty much every newborn “super sensitive.” California Baby makes great stuff, and Amazon actually has the lowest prices I’ve seen.

Seventh Generation Baby Wipes I can’t in good conscience leave out one of the most famous and best “green” products for baby. Chlorine free, fragrance free, and biodegradable. What’s not to like?

Who’s the best Barbie interpreter of the week?

Leo Says:
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 pm

Barbie knew she shouldn’t go out with a guy named Van de Graff.

As always, real congratulations and imaginary swag to the illustrious winner. This week we are presenting Leo with this, the very dapper (and hat-hair-hiding)Stetson Retro Panama.

From prolific professional pet portraitist Kim Santini comes this image of a somewhat frazzled Barbie doll. This is what overprocessing will do. I always had a feeling she wasn’t a real blonde.

Captions in the comments.

I know that Ugly Dolls are all the rage with the hipster crowd, and they are indeed cute.

But, I think I’ve found something better. Not only are they cheaper, but I think they are cuter (uglier?) and they can be found on Etsy. And further kudos to Monster Lab for their inventive and entertaining blurbs!

Almost all Monster Lab creatures are baby-safe, unless otherwise noted.

Now, take a look at one of these guys and tell me you don’t want to give them a home!

Amigurumi Monster Friend

“This sweet monster dear is about 10″ tall and loves unconditionally. No bad habits and can keep himself entertained indefinitely when you’re gone.”

Amigurmi monster mama and baby

“As you can see, mama is quite the snazzy accessorizer with her um, ear socks? antenna warmers? protuberance hats? Anyway I’m sure she’s feeling proud of herself and her get-up today.”

Gus–amigurumi monster friend

“Does this one look like a Gus, or what? Of course you are welcome to change his name, Monster Lab monsters are notoriously easy-going about that kind of thing.”

Sheepish

“About your new barnyard friend: she is 4″ tall, moderately overweight and fine with it, exceedingly nosy (er, delightfully curious), and a world-class snuggler.:)”

Jermaine (the hopeless romantic)

“Please meet Jermaine! He enjoys picnics, long walks on the beach, writing poetry, and day dreaming about the moment he meets his one true love. Are you the one…?”

$40,000 a month in child support and they still have to wear clothes Mom made (ICDYK)

National Reading Day (LilSugar)

Online Charity Auction to fight Breast Cancer (TriageFromHome)

Boob Tube fails nursing exam (CBC)

Sandra Bullock, Jesse James and family (CelebrityBabyScoop)

Katebot Speaks! (GlamBabyBumps)

The online egg timer (E.gg)

Worst canned food ever (BuzzFeed)

Becoming our parents (LaughingStork)

When your kids feel like playing with themselves (Fracas)

The latest toy to make potty training fun (MagnetoBoldToo)

White Trash triumphant (WhiteTrashMom)

How many Barbie-related posts have there been by that title? Surely they number in the thousands, for Barbara Millicent Rogers is the most famous doll the world has ever seen, and in a world of implants and lipo, Ken Paves extensions and MAC cosmetics, what’s historically understood to be the Barbie look is more attainable than ever before.

For good or ill.

But on the Good side of the equation, we grown women can now purchase actual clothes inspired by Barbie and – wait, wait, come back YOU HAVE TO SEE THESE! – they’re actually quite lovely.

For Barbie’s 50th birthday, Mattel commissioned some of the top designers in the world to make Barbie-inspired outfits: Past Barbie, Present Barbie, or Future Barbie, and these, shown Saturday at New York Fashion Week, were the result. Yes, Barbie finally had a full-on fashion show, complete with swag bag. Despite the sneers of a few hardened cynics, the collection was generally well-received.

All photos by my homeboy Kris Krug of Static Photography.

Past Barbie had some snappy, sexy outfits in the Marilyn Monroe vein:

Lyn Devon for Barbie. Past Barbie rocked the Black and White hard!

I don’t know who designed this one but I WANT it!

A classic Barbie look, and one I could really use for this Thursday. Hmmmm…

Not sure if this is Past or Present Barbie, but it’s very reminiscent of early Bruce Oldfield, before he hooked up with Princess Diana and became all about the bling. I’d wear this every damn day if I could afford the cleaning bill, and that goes DOUBLE for the hat.

Moving into Present Barbie era, the colours are softer and there’s enough pink to satisfy even Carey Hart. Am I just old-fashioned, or are the clothes less wearable? Because I do indeed wear a lot of cocktail dresses, but I prefer the kind that stay closed until you decide to open them and whose hems don’t come infused with antigravity devices.

Juicy Couture, but you could probably tell without reading. This girl has to be the Barbiest Barbie in the entire show, and the hair and makeup are perfect. But…is she wearing stencilled socks with open-toed pumps? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, I don’t think even a Betsey Johnson Barbie would wear those!

ThreeAsFour, and easily an eight in my book. The Big Hair is just Too Big, of course, but I might dig out the mousse and see what I can do in the way of a modified Barbie Do. What else am I gonna do with it, use it as improvised weather stripping?

Kenneth Cole did Ken (so to speak). If black tie with jeans is wrong, I don’t want to be right!

Future Barbie needs a blue eyeshadow intervention, but the clothes were imaginative, sexy and generally wearable, if you happen to be an ageless plastic doll whose life is a cross between a Monte Carlo cabaret and a Malibu beach party.

You can just tell, she’s the fiercest bitch in the square dancing club.

Bob Mackie. Of course! I love this, it’s just so completely Cher Starring As Crazy Horse Stripper Barbie.

And last but not least, the finale, in which each model re-emerged, holding the hand of a little girl wearing a Barbie t-shirt and a coloured tutu, while heart-shaped confetti fell from the ceiling and digital fireworks went off in the background.

Barbie Fashion Show Finale – New York Fashion Week – nitrolicious.com from nitrolicious.com on Vimeo.

In the most unexpected place: GI Joe Action Figures! Yes, the Mighty Morphin Michael is surgically stalking someone…Behold the major metamorphoses of Michael and their eerie parallels in the world of plastic, macho male models. Click it to view in all its forensic glory on Defamer.

Barbara Millicent Rogers comes in for a lot of flack in the blogosphere, some of it deserved, and some strictly appearance-based and you know how we feel about catty remarks based on someone’s appearance around these parts. Long, indeed, has it been my own hope that she, like Nancy Drew, might some day stop tooling around in that dopey convertible and accessorizing compulsively and get a real job.

That day, my friends, has arrived. Behold the Angela Merkel Barbie:

As part of a series to celebrate the toy’s 50th birthday, manufacturer Mattel has brought out a version modelled on the German chancellor. The doll wears the politician’s tailored trouser suit and her trademark blonde bob, but the resemblance ends there: its tiny waistline is more Heidi Klum than Angela Merkel and its smiling face is free of the worry lines produced when you are trying to fight economic crisis in Europe’s largest economy.

A spokeswoman for Mattel said that like Barbie, Merkel embodied the dreams of many girls who want to get on in the world. “She’s simply a good role model for girls around the world,” she said.

Alas, like the original, the Barbie Angela Merkel is one-of-a-kind and not for sale. No word on how well she plays with others, but the signs are good: