Sama Baby head designer, Neha Gupta, picked out this summer’s essential Sama Baby pieces. Check’em out!

Bring out the rock star in your baby. 

 All glammed up!

The newest and greatest addition to the Sama Baby line, organic DENIM!!

Go green!

 Aside from the cute clothing, you might ask – why dress my child in organic clothing? 

There has been an emphasis on the food we ingest and the relevance of consuming organic fruits and vegetables, but often we overlook the many harmful pesticides and fertilizers that are used on cotton.  Since it isn’t a food crop, the use of chemicals on the plant is not regulated.  Believe it or not – 25% of the world’s pesticides are used when growing cotton!  Since an infant’s skin is very thin and porous, she is very susceptible to ingesting some of these chemicals. Studies have shown that organic cotton can benefit children who show symptoms of asthma, eczema and allergies.

Remember, taking small steps – such as buying organic – helps create a pure clean environment for your little ones and for future little ones to come.

Sama Baby is proud to offer CitySaheli readers a 10% discount!  Simply enter the code SAHELI during check out. 

Vitamin D is a steroid with hormone-like activity and is also one of the four main fat-soluble vitamins. It regulates the functions of over 200 genes and is essential for growth and development of the body. 

Vitamin D is especially important for pregnant women.  According to Science Daily, seven out of every ten pregnant women in the United States are not getting enough Vitamin D. Though supplementation poses as a solution, prenatal vitamins do not provide enough vitamin D, and at times higher doses are needed to raise levels.

Vitamin D deficiency amongst newborns and infants has especially been linked to an increased risk of respiratory infections, asthma, neurodevelopment disorders, and weaker bone structure. For adults, deficient levels have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and certain types of cancer.

CitySaheli asked Health Guru, Anita Mirchandani, how to ensure our Sahelis get enough Vitamin D.  Here is what she shared with CitySaheli: 

• Be cognizant about your annual physical and blood work
• As little as ten minutes daily of sun exposure could help achieve your recommended daily allowance (RDA)
• Dietary sources include fatty fish such as salmon, tuna or sardines, eggs with yolk, mushrooms, vitamin D fortified milk, orange juice fortified with vitamin D, 6 oz yogurt fortified with vitamin D, 1 ounce Swiss cheese * always check labels for exact daily value amounts
• Try a multivitamin (includes vitamin D) especially if you are trying to conceive, are pregnant, live in colder climates (up north especially), or work indoors most of the day
• Recommended amount of Vitamin D includes 5 micrograms (200 IU) for all individuals under the age of 50 including pregnant and lactating women

Satya and Beth decided to pursue their dream of designing their own line while on separate soul-searching journeys. “I was in Thailand immersed in Buddhist culture while Satya was in the Bahamas at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram engaged in a month long teacher training course,” explains Beth. Satya adds, “At the end of my training, I was given the spiritual name Satya, meaning “truth”. We were both excited to use the name for our collection and create jewelry with beauty, truth and meaning.” 

Each Satya jewelry piece is tagged with an explanation, so the owner knows the meaning behind the different components of the piece.  Satya designs have been worn by Courteney Cox, Susan Sarandon, Scarlett Johansen and Rachel Bilson.

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Satya Jewelry has just launched a fabulous mother daughter line.  The collection  is in silver and carries lovely charm bracelets, and necklaces that can match mom. 

CitySaheli got a chance to speak to the founders of Satya jewelry to find out more about their their jewelry line.  Read below to find out what they had to say. 

CitySaheli: What are five words used to describe Satya Jewelry?
Satya & Beth: Delicate, unique, inspiring, meaningful, playful 

CitySaheli: What inspired you to start your own company?
Satya & Beth: Taking a thrilling leap with my best friend (business partner) to be truer to myself.  

CitySaheli: Now that the company has grown so rapidly, has your role changed in the company?
Satya & Beth: I am not packing the boxes anymore but the essence of being hands on is the same.    

CitySaheli: Much of the jewelry carries symbolic meaning, how have you seen your customers react to this feature of the jewelry?
Satya & Beth:  Very often customers write or tell me how the jewelry has become a part of their life (they imbue it with an intention or use it as a reminder of an event, person, desire), I feel very humble and honored.  The jewelry can be a vehicle for people to embrace themselves and potential.

CitySaheli: What is the most glamorous part of owning your own company?
Satya & Beth: Getting to travel to yoga conferences and exotic places for work!

CitySaheli: What goals do you have for your business in the future?
Satya & Beth: To touch more people and raise more money for great causes.

CitySaheli: We know that you have travelled to India and the Far East quite a bit, what were your favorite spots? 
Satya & Beth: The most memorable moments of our trips are always the time we spend with people: seeing a rural culture with the hill tribes in northern Thailand, hearing Thich Nhat Hanhs speak at his root monastery in Vietnam during his first trip back since his 40 year exile and visiting the schools we sponsor.  Most relaxing were secluded beaches on Thai islands Ko Chang or Ko Samui. 

CitySaheli: Can you tell us what your must have pieces are for the Summer?
Satya & Beth: Layered turquoise necklaces with layered stretch bracelets from our new “stone of health” collection.   

Here are some of CitySaheli’s picks…

Events & Promotions

Satya stores are popping up everywhere, with the newest opening in Short Hills Mall in New Jersey. Foundrs Satya and Beth will be at the Satya Shop in NJ on Thursday April 29^th between 6 and 8 pm.  Wine, Cheese, and author Dani Shapiro will be reading from her new memoir, Devotion!

Also if you purchase more than $150 in store or online, receive a complimentary Bliss gift bag!! While supplies last!
 

For more info or to shop online visit: http://satyajewelry.com

City Saheli has had a chance to sit down with some of our own mothers to find out exactly why we are told to eat and drink certain concoctions during this exciting and overwhelming time in our lives.  We have chosen to list a few that were most commonly referenced by our ‘expert’ sources:

Raab – This liquid mixture, made of a combination of cloves, ajwain (carom seed) powder, ginger powder, jaggery, ghee and water, is an internal cleanser that helps reduce your stomach.  It also is supposed to increase your energy and strengthen your back, which is much needed after all the pushing and heavy lifting you have done for the past 9 months!  It should be taken first thing in the morning for approximately 2 weeks post partum for the desired effects to be achieved. 

Gundar Pak – A form of mithai (Indian sweet) made of gur (jaggery), gundar (gum), almonds, coconut, white poppy seeds, and ginger powder.  Similar to Raab, this mithai is meant to be taken post partum and functions as an internal cleanser and increases your energy level to help with all those sleepless days/nights ahead!  It should be eaten daily in the early morning for approximately a month after delivery.

Methi (fenugreek) – Used in many cultures, methi is taken by pregnant woman to help induce labor by stimulating contractions, and post partum to increase milk production in breast-feeding moms.  Although it can be consumed in an array of different forms (it comes as a seed, leafy green, or in pill form), our sources all say it is best taken mixed into a laddu (Indian sweet in a shape of a ball) and eaten daily. 

Kesar (saffron) – In a culture where the fairness and brightness of ones skin is emphasized, it is logical that there is a concoction given to pregnant women to improve their complexion in the hope it will impact their baby’s complexion as well.  A mixture of kesar, ground almonds, ground pistachios, cardamom powder, and sugar are mixed into a cup of hot milk and should be drunken daily after the 7th month in hopes of a “brighter outcome” on “d-day”. 

Ghee (clarified butter) – Ghee is one of the most common ingredients found in an Indian household, and lucky for all you pregnant moms out there – it supposedly helps you to have an “easy/slippery” delivery!  A spoonful should be melted and mixed with enough milk and sugar to ensure you can take it down, and it should be taken towards last month of pregnancy. 

City Saheli was lucky enough to have some of these home recipes passed along to us so that we could share them with Y-O-U!!!   Of course, every household may have variations on how these home remedies are made so feel free to change them as per your family’s traditions. 

* As with all diets, please check with your physician before starting any new regime or if you have questions as to what can be safely consumed during pregnancy. 

HappyBaby offers mothers a plethora of information on why organic, why frozen baby food and much more detailed information. They have teamed up with pediatrician, Dr. Sears.  Happy Baby also packs South Asian influenced meals including Baby Dhal.

CitySaheli talked to the founder and CEO of HappyBaby, Shazi Visram, to find out more about this innovative business idea.

What inspired you to start your own business in organic baby food?

I was inspired when I saw the opportunity to create a business that could actually make a difference in people’s lives. In this case, it was with children In the U.S.; our children are suffering from a horrific health epidemic where one in three is obese, 16% of toddlers are overweight, one in three will develop adult onset diabetes before even becoming adults, and the rates for ADD are staggering. When a friend of mine with twins was complaining to me about how she had no good options when it came to feeding her babies healthy foods made from real fresh foods, I realized there was a great opportunity to create something so much better. It was then that I saw that in our country we start babies off on processed foods that can sit on a shelf for three years and realized why they are addicted to processed foods as they grow into children! Further, by creating a brand with truly great products that could affect change when it came to babies’ health, we could create abundance and use that abundance to give back. We found a great partner in the nonprofit, Project Peanut Butter in Africa. My father is from Tanzania so working to help children in Africa really hit home. So for every unit of anything we sell we work to feed a starving child with Project Peanut Butter for an entire day. In general, this model has been effective and rewarding, and I hope it is inspiring for other businesses as well. 

Did you find it difficult to start your own business as a woman?

Not really in our case. I think being a woman working with other women to start an organization that appeals to women is a distinct advantage when it comes to building a brand, creating a marketing message and developing products that women will be excited to purchase for their family’s health and happiness.

What are your goals and plans for the future?

We aim to create a platform for health and wellness for young families so that parents can feel good about what they feed their children.

What would your advice be to young professionals like yourself who want to start their own business?

Be persistent. Surround yourself with talented people and partners whose skills complement your own. Be flexible with you business plan. Channel creativity to transform obstacles into opportunities. Truly love what you do because it will be easy to give up on something that you are not passionate about.

Below is a Happy Baby recipe for Homemade Granola.  Try it at home!

Happy and Healthy Granola Bars

Here is a healthy breakfast bar or on-the-go snack for you & your children!

1½ cups of HappyBellies oatmeal or multi-grain cereal

½ cup organic oat bran

1/8 cup organic sesame seeds

1/8 cup organic flax seeds

¼ cup organic pumpkin or sunflower seeds

½ cup of your favorite organic nut – like almonds or walnuts

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

2 cubes of HappyBaby frozen apple or squash (or one each!), defrosted

½ cup of organic honey or 100% pure organic maple syrup

2 large organic eggs

¼ cup of flaxseed or canola oil (organic)

¼ cup unsweetened organic shredded coconut

1 cup organic raisins or unsweetened dried organic cranberries

Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8×8 dish with wax paper. Make sure wax paper sticks out just beyond sides of pan on 2 sides.

In a food processor, combine HappyBellies cereal, oat bran, seeds, nuts, and cinnamon until ground. Add in all other ingredients except raisins/cranberries and mix until well blended. Stir in raisin or cranberries. Should make a thick paste.

Spread into prepared dish and press down with spatula until evenly distributed. Bake for 20 minutes or until just done. Use ends of wax paper to remove giant bar to cutting block and cut into small bars while still warm. Store in airtight container for up to a week in the fridge or freeze in plastic bags.

Note: if you would like to add calcium, add ½ cup of nonfat dry milk or serve with yogurt or a glass of milk!  This recipe may be doubled and cooked in a 9×13 pan and add 5 minutes to cooking time.

*COOKIES!!! Instead of putting in a dish, plop down paste by spoonfuls and cook at 350 for 10 minutes. They will think you are the best mom to let them have cookies for breakfast! They will never be the wiser.

© Nurture, Inc. 2008

If you’re looking to order some of these incredibly adorable and chic outfits for your little Masala boy or Masala girl,  Masala Baby is offering CitySaheli readers a special discount until April 30th .  Receive 20% off your purchase (code: citysaheli) and free shipping on online orders over $75 (code: freeship). 

Want to learn more about Masala Baby and its founder? CitySaheli Baby had the chance to speak with owner and president, Dipali Patwa, to learn more about the company and how it came to fruition.  Check out what she had to say.

What inspiredthe different  styles Masala Baby offers and how often is the  line updated?

The styles and colors are inspired by my roots in India, mixed with the urban influence of New York, as well as my travels. Delicious curries, authentic spices, colors of the chaotic bazaars, bollywood movies, beautiful marigold flowers, traditional Indian tunics, ghummar skirts, are all blended together to create a unique eclectic, bohemian, mod relaxed style. I realized that kids respond to color instinctively. The Indian love of color is celebrated in every facet of daily life – the rhapsodic use of color in India in brightly painted streets, mosaics of the palaces, the vivid hues of the women’s sarees, the variety of spices used in Indian cooking and the exuberance of Indian festivals.  When I simplified the silhouettes and introduced in the urban influence, it just seemed to work. 
 
The line gets updated twice a year. There is a Spring- Summer and Fall-Winter collection.
 
Who is your target audience?

Masala baby has a universal appeal. Our customers appreciate stylish comfortable clothes with bold colors that have global influences- whether it is India, Africa, Morocco, East Asia, Latin America. Masala baby is bought by moms and dads, grandmoms, aunts and sisters alike who are well traveled, or aspire to travel, and appreciate the worldly influences.
 
Where can Masala Baby clothing be purchased in NYC?

In NYC, Masala baby is available at:

Apple Seeds
10 West 25th Street
New York, NY 10010-2703
(212) 792-7590

Half Pint Citizens
55 Washington Street

Brooklyn (Dumbo), NY 11201

What are future projects and partnerships that you are working on?

For 2010 our key focus will be to enhance the Masala Baby brand by introducing two new collections: 

The first is called ‘Mela Masala’, inspired by the Indian village fairs.  Mela is the Hindi word for gathering or village fair.  The line is inspired by wandering gypsies, fortune tellers, colorful caravans, medallions and peacock feathers which set the mood for our patterns and colors.  The cuts and designs are earthy, comfortable yet chic, catering to the new age young traveler that appreciates the simplicity and wonder of life.

The second collection called ‘Mod Masala’ is urban, modern and casual using our signature prints and unique appliqué techniques. We are introducing ‘khadi’ which is Indian homespun, hand-woven fabric, within this collection. Its natural properties keep this fabric cool in the summer and warm in the winter. In fact, Mahatma Gandhi promoted the production of khadi in his movement to revive India’s domestic weaving industry.  This fabric is close to my heart, both for its aesthetic appeal as well as the small scale industry that it supports in India. 

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs like yourself?

If you believe in something, it is worth giving it a shot. If you have an idea, explore its full potential and keep at it.  It is not rocket science. It is certain level of taste, craftsmanship, and business acumen combined with a whole lot of hard work.

Massaging not only helps the baby and parent relax together, there are also proven therapeutic benefits.  Regular massages can also promote healthy growth and development by increasing blood flow and strengthening the immune system.  Additionally, different massage techniques can be used to ease a baby’s discomfort associated with a host of common ailments such as teething, congestion, colic, constipation, fatigue and dry skin, to name a few.  Depending on the practitioner and massage style, different massage techniques may be used.  It’s important to find the right technique for you and your baby.  Use CitySaheli’s list of tips to share the benefits of massage with your baby today.

CitySaheli Tips to Massaging your Baby

1.        Learn a few techniques. Take a class or pick up a book to learn a few massage techniques that are right for you and your baby. Below is a list of local resources:  

A. Local Classes

        i.      WeeMassage for Manhattan’s Happy Babies

       ii.      Infant Massage USA

      iii.      A Child Grows in Brooklyn

B. Books

        i.      Baby Massage: The Calming Power of Touch, by Alan Heath

      ii.      The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact With Your Baby Leads To Happier, Healthier Development, by Sharon Heller

C. Web resources

       i.     ivillage:http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/ncare/0,,lz_76tp,00.html 

      ii.    Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Channel

2.      Choose the right massage oil for your baby.  Experienced baby masseuses recommend using gentle, fragrance free oils to prevent allergic reactions. Examples may include olive oil, sunflower oil or canola oil.  In many parts of India, mustard oil is also used. 

3.        Choose a warm, draft –free place.  It is important to pick a place in your home where your baby can be comfortable.  Make sure there is no draft in the room, as you don’t want your baby to get sick.   Use the same place if possible – so that your bundle of joy starts to associate that place with her massage and can anticipate it.  If the changing table isn’t the right spot, you can massage your baby right on the floor. In India, mothers sit on the floor with the soles of their feet together, forming a diamond shape with their legs.  They drape a blanket over their feet and place the baby between the knees. It may sound uncomfortable but babies love it.  

4.        Choose consistent timing.   Babies thrive on routine and massage timing is no exception.  Think about your schedule and pick at least fifteen minutes each day that works for you and the baby.  Often, parents will massage before the baby goes to sleep, after a bath, or on the changing table with some milk, making the routine easy to stick to.    

5.        Start Massaging.  First, take a deep breath (or several) before starting. It’s very important that you are relaxed before massaging your baby. Second, always massage in a clockwise direction to maximize the benefits of the massage.  And most important, be sure to have fun!  

Gnaana’s products are inspired by the Montessori Method. The Montessori Method emphasizes early learning – stressing that a child’s mind is most receptive to learning specific skills and knowledge (such as languages) before the age of 6. The products sold on the site, which range from alphabet blocks in 5 regional Indian languages (Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu), to puzzles, musical CDs, a recipe collection and child-sized aprons available for personalization in Indic fonts, are designed to inspire children to take interest in learning about one of the world’s ancient civilizations. The products are geared towards children from birth to 12 years of age. 

Although the initial launch focused mainly on India, the company plans to soon have items that are relevant to the other South Asian countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal) and also the region’s various religions (Islam, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism).

“We believe young children can benefit tremendously from being exposed to elements of the South Asian culture,” says Aruna Hatti, founder of Gnaana. “This is a living culture which is over five thousand years old and infinitely rich in philosophy, science, literature, religion and art. There is a lot of ancient wisdom that’s being lost between generations. I think that’s a shame.”

 Hatti, an attorney who practices in commercial real estate and environmental law, was living in Bangalore, India when she came up with the idea for Gnaana. “I was pregnant with my son, and I looked all over India for toys and material that could help my children learn about and appreciate our Indian heritage. I found a few books and DVDs – but they were geared towards older children, and most were of poor quality. There was nothing that babies, toddlers or young children could relate to. I was very surprised.”

EVENTS

Gnaana is teaming up with Making Books Sing to present a family musical based on the book  Chachaji’s Cup by Uma Krishnaswami.  The musical is directed and choreographed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj.  There are performances Saturday January 30^th to Wednesday February 3^rd.   Gnaana is offering a reduced rate admission. 

Please visit http://www.gnaana.com/events/Tea_With_Chachaji.htm for more information. 

PROMOTIONS

Gnaana is proud to present a special offer to CitySaheli readers:  Free CD of choice with any purchase over $15.00.  Just enter “CitySaheli CD” in the Comment Box at checkout and indicate your CD selection (Tagore or Krishnasastry) and it will shipped along with your order.  This offer is valid until February 15th 2009.