Uhma Spa: The Miami Beach eco-chic urban sanctuary

There are spas all over Miami -- many of the beach resorts have spas -- but Uhma Spa is one that was designed and built to be environmentally friendly as well as naturally relaxing. I got a chance to visit this spa on the Chevy Eco Chic Tour last weekend and experience how being "green" is the perfect choice for a spa.

Uhma Spa uses bamboo flooring as well as domestic wood and low-VOC paint on the walls, so as soon as you enter, you are enveloped in a more-natural atmosphere. HEPA air filters and the scent of essential oils and soy candles even make the air more breathable. The owners, from Brazil, filter their own water so no plastic bottles are used, and all their products are organic and cruelty-free. The spa's shop sells nontoxic and all-natural products.



In addition to Uhma Spa's "green" factor, the spa treatments are top notch. On the tour, I had a mini massage -- definitely the most relaxing 10 minutes of my week! This was my spa room:



They also do facials, scrubs, masks, wraps, acupuncture and water therapy, including a Vichy shower, which originated in Vichy, France. A uniquely designed shower head arm streams jets of water over your body while you relax:

The bathtub is designed so that each jet has its own pipe, so there are no worries about contamination. Uhma Spa really has thought of everything, including a quiet waiting room where you can comfortably sip complimentary tea or water.

It's hard to believe all this natural goodness is right on the street in Miami Beach and definitely worth a visit when you are in town.

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Chevrolet provided a day of visits to green Miami businesses including Uhma Spa and transportation to and from them. They also provided a gift bag with items like a tire gauge/pen set. Uhma Spa gave each person on the Chevy Eco Chic Tour a gift bag with items like sunscreen and samples of Jane Iredale makeup. Opinions and silliness are my own.

Ecoist handbags and accessories reduce trash and help families

You've probably seen those bags made out of candy wrappers and chip bags -- they've been in lots of fashion magazines. I had heard about them, too, but had no idea the company that sells them, Ecoist, is right here in Miami.

Last weekend when I went on the Chevy Eco Chic Tour, I got to visit the Ecoist office and learn more about how the fun bags are made. Our group went to an upstairs room in the Wynwood Art Gallery area and found several shelves displaying the colorful bags of all sizes.

Total eye candy!

Candy for real -- many of the bags are made out of candy wrappers like M&Ms. Other bags are made out of chip bags or soda labels, all what's called post-industrial. See these rolls of labels?



Ecoist gets these from companies that would normally throw them away because they are changing the label. So they get saved from landfills or incinerators.

The label manufacturers in Peru hand them over to workers there who are skilled at folding the labels just right and sewing them into shape to create the Ecoist bags. Some of the workers, all working by hand, are mothers with young children. Ecoist is certified Fair Trade, so you know that these moms and others are getting good pay and not working in a sweat shop.

Saving items from landfills + paying workers a good wage = win/win for the environment and society.

And, of course, the bags are just plain cute.

I love this little leafy clutch.



But I also love the newspaper tote too.



The Ecoist office is full of other items made from wrappers. Take a look at these lamps! And the mannequin's hat!



The workspace is so open and funky that I imagined designing and creating there ... not sure what, exactly, but oh, I did imagine....

Want to win this Ecoist Diet Cherry Coke change purse? (valued at $22)



To enter, please comment below about your favorite item from the Ecoist site. I'll randomly select a winner next Friday. (Also check out the $20 Bloomingdale's gift card giveaway here.)

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Chevrolet provided a day of visits to green Miami businesses including Ecoist and transportation to and from them. They also provided a gift bag with items like a tire gauge/pen set. Ecoist gave each person on the Chevy Eco Chic Tour an Ecoist bag, and I have decided to give it away to generate more interest for the company. Opinions and silliness are my own.

Driving to green Miami hotspots with Chevrolet and GreenerMiami

Last weekend, I got to drive the new Chevy Volt, an electric/gasoline sports car. My husband is a Big Car Guy, and I was excited to drive a vehicle he hadn't driven yet! (Score one for the wife!) I texted him this picture of me so he would be extra jealous. I also got to ride in the hybrid Tahoe, a Chevy SUV. Both rides were great.

The folks at Chevrolet and GreenerMiami organized a "crawl" of places in Miami that are environmentally minded -- and fun! The Chevy Eco Chic Tour led a handful of influential {cough cough} eco-minded bloggers to green hotspots in Miami (Ecoist, Uhma Spa and Metro Organic Bistro). We took turns driving and asking questions about the Volt and Tahoe in between stops, and the Chevy folks pointed out ways that drivers of any vehicle can increase fuel efficiency. (For example: Did you know flags mounted at the top of your car doors can ruin the aerodynamics of your auto and cause it to use more gas?)



The Volt uses electric battery power up to about 50 miles per hour, then switches to gasoline. If you have to travel more than about 35 miles in a day, then gas takes you the rest of the way until you can charge again. To charge the battery, just plug it in a regular outlet with a regular extension cord, like we did at a car wash:



The Volt is fun to drive, and I think my kids would like the backseat with the hatchback that lets in lots of natural light overhead. I do wonder about the effects of electromagnetic radiation with a large battery that rests between the two front seats.

The hybrid Tahoe was plenty roomy and seemed like any regular SUV. If you're going to get an SUV, I think getting a hybrid is a great idea because it is more fuel-efficient (costing less money in gas) and has lower emissions -- better for the greenhouse gas problem.

Both the Volt and Tahoe come with OnStar, which is a service that helps drivers with navigation and emergencies like unlocking car doors when you've lost your keys or, way worse, someone steals your vehicle. (OnStar is free for the first three months after buying the new vehicle, then you pay for the service.) All of us on the tour tried out calling OnStar to ask a real person to send turn-by-turn directions to the car's navigation system. (That was just what I needed, because I'm sadly not that familiar with Miami.)

I'll post highlights of my visits to Ecoist, Uhma Spa and Metro Organic Bistro in upcoming posts -- watch for a giveaway!

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Chevrolet provided a day of visits to green Miami businesses and transportation to and from them. They also provided a gift bag with items like a tire gauge/pen set. Opinions and silliness are my own.

Miki House children's clothing comes to Florida -- win a Bloomingdale's gift card!

Finding fun clothes and accessories for children that are also unique is something I like doing for my boys or for friends who are having birthday parties or showers -- and a visit to the new Miki House store in South Florida is a great place to shop for them!

Miki House has super cute, high-quality clothing for children 6 months to 6 years. The company started in Japan 40 years ago and now has stores all over the world. South Florida is lucky to have the only Miki House store in the state -- at Aventura Mall in Bloomingdale's.

Miki House has great accessories, too. I bought a sippy cup and the cutest chopstick, fork and spoon boxed set. The backpacks are just the right size for little backs to carry and are huggable too:




The Miki House clothes for little ones are made from supima cotton, so they are extra-super soft and hold up wash after wash. I like that the infant clothes have stitching on the outside, so babies' tender skin won't be irritated by rough edges or seams. There are lots of little details like that in the Miki House clothes, which are colorful and easy to mix and match.

One thing about being a mother of boys is you realize the shopping experience really is made for girls. Stores usually reserve more than 50% of their space for girl clothes and accessories, and the boy items don't seem nearly as cute. The Miki House boy clothes really are just as cute as the girl's, though. Shoes that look like cars? A reversible jacket with removable hood that has bear ears? Adorable stuff.

Speaking of shoes, I love the Miki House shoes! The designers have taken special care creating shoes that are truly just for kids (and the parents who have to put them on tiny feet). The shoes open wide so they're easy to slip on, then they close easily with Velcro. The toes of the shoes spread out and angle up to make it easier for new walkers to keep their balance -- and prevent falls. If you ask me (mom of two boys whose shins are often covered in bruises), that feature alone is worth the $60-$90 price tag.

If you'd like to get shopping and want a chance to win a $20 Bloomingdale's gift card, please leave a comment below with something cute you saw at the Miki House Facebook page. I will pick a winner next Friday so someone can hit the mall next weekend!

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Miki House invited me to attend a special presentation at its new location. They gave me some stationery items, their signature children's washcloth and a pair of spats. Bloomingdale's provided me with the gift card to give away. Opinions and silliness are my own.

Around the Home: Front door sign

Wreaths seem to be the most common front door decoration. When I saw this sign (found at Target), I wanted to put it on the front door, though. Not inside the front door -- on the outside.

(Also, the tone of the colors matched the tone of the paint on the outside of the door very nicely.)

I think a sign on the front door gives guests a better idea of who lives inside. And some, like this sign, can be a positive reminder to anyone. This sign is a good reminder for me every time I leave or return!

Do you like front door signs?

Win a Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush and flossers

What's more fun than a toothbrush that looks like a Crayola crayon? How about a toothbrush that also lights up?

The GUM Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush helps kids brush for a full minute by flashing a light that signals to them when to stop. Kids push a button in the bottom of the toothbrush to start the light flashing, and they start brushing their teeth. When the light stops flashing, kids know they have brushed for a full minute -- and they can stop brushing.

It's fun!

GUM sent my family a Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush to review, and my preschooler couldn't wait to try it out. Mostly, he wanted to play with the flashing light, but eventually he settled down to brushing his teeth. See that nice glow around his mouth from the toothbrush?



Yeah. And when he was done brushing, the "toothbrush light" was still fun.



GUM also sent me a package of 40 Crayola-colorful kids' flossers, which have a nifty handle that helps kids hold onto the floss while they are cleaning their teeth.

Visit gumbrand.com and receive 30% off any order of $10 of more, using the promo code CR30. This code expires July 15.

If you'd like to win a GUM Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush and a package of flossers for your family, please leave a comment about your child's dental habits. GUM sent me five of each to give away, so there will be five winners! I'll pick a winner next Tuesday.

Helpful guidelines for kids’ oral care can be found on the GUM Crayola YouTube Channel and in this tip sheet (PDF).

Blog towel

Target is having a sale this week on beach towels -- and it looks like the store is really getting into social media!

Speaking of tech stuff, check out the Target app. It has the weekly flyer and allows you to create a shopping list with a drag-and-drop function. Which, as many Target lovers know, just might help you stay on track and buy only the things on your list. In theory....

Sons in Service flag

Lately, my husband has been spending his free time trolling eBay for historic American flags. And when he lifts his head up from the netbook, he likes to tell me facts about our country's history and tidbits he has learned about the past while searching for flags. I like to tease him that he's getting quirky in his old age -- but really, searching for American flags is a hobby that just might help preserve history.

Within the past week -- just in time for Memorial Day -- my husband won an eBay auction for what's called a "sons in service" flag. I had never heard of this flag before, so he had to educate me. During the first and second world wars, families would hang these small flags in a window or other place where they could be seen from the street. Each blue star on the flag indicated how many sons in the family were in service. This flag my husband bought (with nine stars) was either from a large family or possibly used by a business to show how many employees were actively deployed, as some companies did. My husband is considering getting the flag framed, which we hope will help preserve it. You can see how the flag is tattered and has permanent creases from being stored folded.

When a soldier died in service, a gold star was sewn over the blue star. I'm glad this flag has only blue stars, because I like to think all of those sons, or employees, made it home to their families.

Memorial Day is about remembering those who were given gold stars on sons in service flags -- an in life.

Caterpillar bracelet

Look at my new bracelet! It's from Shabby Apple, and it's called the Caterpillar Bracelet. (Please ignore the wrinkles and veins in my hand.)

About two months ago, I got the chance to give away a beautiful Shabby Apple dress. Freckle Face Girl won, and she posted about how she wore the Shabby Apple dress for Easter. She looks great in it (and her kids are so nicely dressed too)!

Well, Shabby Apple offered to send me their bracelet because I placed their button here as an affiliate. I like that they have a variety of dresses -- both casual and dressy -- and they are always coming out with new designs. Their newest collection, Set Sail, has a nautical look. I like this Land Ho! Skirt.

Most of the time during the summer, I live in shorts and tank tops (South Florida summers are hot and humid!), but if I had to be somewhere, I'd be happy to wear something fun from Shabby Apple.

What do you like to wear in the summer?

Thomas & Friends Adventures on Misty Island MEGA Bloks train set

Look what I won at a Twitter party recently: a Thomas & Friends Adventures on Misty Island MEGA Bloks set. My preschooler was so happy when I surprised him with it! (Whoever thinks Twitter is a waste of time doesn't know how you can form friendships and connections with people -- and sometimes win something cool!)

I just happened to see the Thomas & Friends Twitter party going on one night and joined in because my sons are completely indoctrinated in the cult of Thomas. We have several bins full of the Thomas Wooden Railway, Trackmaster and the Take Along lines of toy trains. And now, the boys can play with their new Thomas MEGA Bloks track.

My son wanted to play with the set immediately, and I took everything out of the box. I was a little intimidated setting it up because I'm just not used to putting together 101 pieces of anything while following directions in a booklet. I think it took me 20 minutes to put the set together.



I did a fine job, no?

My preschooler excitedly played with it (he had the set to himself because his little brother was taking a nap), but after about 40 minutes, he had dismantled most of it and wanted me to help him put it all back together again. I told him he should try to do it himself, and he found new ways of putting the set together. He got frustrated, but he did it.

So while a train set with lots of little blocks may be intimidating at first, the great thing is the MEGA Bloks set can be put together several ways. In fact, the layout shown on the outside of the box it came in is different from the way the booklet shows how to put it together. The downside is the little blocks come apart with play, but the upside is unlike some other train sets, kids can build and rebuild the track however they want.

It's a new world of trains -- and creative play -- for my preschooler.

Rope hammocks vs. fabric hammocks

This is our new hammock.



I picked it up at Target a couple weeks ago when there was a sale. I chose a fabric canvas hammock over a rope hammock because I figured when this one starts to go and rips, I can sew the fabric hammock back together (which you can't do with a rope hammock) and get more life out of it.

I like it, but.... It's not our old hammock.

The first Christmas my husband and I were in our home, I gave him a Pawley's Island rope hammock and a stand for it so the hammock could stay on the covered patio just outside the back door. I sewed a pillow for him that fit the width of the hammock just right and also matched our patio.

It's safe to say that over the past 14 years, my husband, our guests and I wore that hammock out. The South Florida climate didn't help. Several ropes snapped on it last month, creating a gaping hole that made the hammock unsafe.

Our new hammock is colorful and pretty (uh ... ahem ... in a masculine way, of course, dear), but it's slippery. There's no traction to it, and already both of my boys have fallen off the hammock onto the stone patio. The rope hammock had texture and would grip your butt. But in the nicest way.

My advice? If you have little people or are concerned about sliding off, get a rope hammock, which isn't slippery.

Every home should have a hammock!

Every Mother Counts on Mother's Day and every day

I bought a CD yesterday, and it will help save a mother's life.

A woman dies every 90 seconds from complications from pregnancy or childbirth -- and 90% of those deaths could be prevented. That's what's behind the Every Mother Counts campaign to educate people about how mother's lives (mostly in developing countries) can be saved.

The campaign was started by supermodel Christy Turlington Burns, who is behind the documentary No Woman, No Cry, which premieres this Saturday night at 9:30 pm on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Burns directed and produced No Woman, No Cry, no doubt encouraged by her filmmaker husband, Ed Burns.



That's where my new CD comes in, which is named for the campaign, Every Mother Counts. It's a compilation featuring songs by Madonna, the Dixie Chicks, Jennifer Lopez, Sheryl Crow, Ani DiFranco and other women artists. The album is available at Starbucks for $12.99, and $8.00 of that goes to CARE's maternal health programs.

There are other ways to take action and help efforts that aid mothers.

Right here in my state of Florida, midwife Jennie Joseph has worked with the Every Mother Counts campaign, and she appears in the film.

As we're thinking of Mother's Day this weekend, we can think of mothers who aren't ever given the chance to take care of their babies, and offer help to prevent that from happening to more women.

Sand and water play table

My sons love their new Sandy Lagoon Water Park sand and water play table.

My preschooler loves to play in the tables at school that are filled with grains of rice to scoop, pour and run your fingers through. I thought it would be great to find a rice table he could have at home.

When Toys R Us recently had a sale on sand and water tables, we went shopping.

My son had already been given a sandbox (which looks like a frog), but I never liked that he could sit right in the sand. Sand would be stuck to him all over. And then he'd bring it inside. Ugh. (And I don't want to mention how many times as a toddler he would try to eat the sand.)



A sand table, however, means that he would mostly avoid getting sand down his shorts! And because I plan to fill the table with rice anyway, I hope nothing will be stuck to him.

The table is divided into two sections so kids can play with the sand (rice) or the water. I have a feeling sand and water end up in both sides, though.... And little characters come with the Sandy Lagoon Water Park so I kids can pretend they are at Typhoon Lagoon in Disney World.



The table was so easy to put together, even I was able to do it.

Now I've just got to get rid of that frog sandbox!

Reusable coffee cups score

Finding these Copco resusable coffee cups this week was a happy accident. I went into the craft store for one little thing, and came out with these cups as well.

I was inspired by Starbucks' Earth Day offer last week to give free coffee to anyone who brought in their own mug or cup. I already knew Starbucks offered a discount on your drink when you brought in your own mug -- I have just never done it. Bringing in your own drink container prevents the waste of throwing away a paper cup.

But now that I have reusable cups that look like the paper ones that coffee shops use (complete with drink sleeve available in several colors), I'm going to remember to take my own cup in from now on (on those rare times I allow myself the treat of going to Starbucks). I'm going to use the red-sleeved one, and I got the green for my husband for a Father's Day present (shhh, I'm stashing it away!).

Have you ever used your own reusable cup at a coffee shop?

Easter baskets for kids with food allergies

As the mom of a kid with food allergies and intolerances, it's hard enough to figure out daily meals for him -- and then holidays come along, and my job gets harder. Holidays like Easter, Valentine's Day and Halloween are especially difficult because candy is a big part of the celebrations, but candy that my son can eat isn't easy to find.

For both of my sons' Easter baskets this year, I found a few fun things to add that won't be a problem, allergy-wise. (Even though, as I posted yesterday, most of the Easter baskets are non-food items.)

First, I love Annie's Bunny Fruit Snacks. My family eats these all year, but hey -- they're rabbits and it's Easter, so these are perfect!



Bunny Fruit Snacks are organic, have no artificial ingredients and provide 100% of your daily Vitamin C. And they're addicting. One time, my son ate the whole box! I have found them at my local supermarket as well as Target and Whole Foods.

Also at Whole Foods, I recently discovered Sweet & Sara vegan marshmallows.



My preschooler loooooves marshmallows, and I had been buying him a bag of organic marshmallows from the baking aisle. (Regular marshmallows are made with artificial food dye.) But those marshmallows tasted nasty. The Sweet & Sara marshmallows taste like heaven! And I'm not even a marshmallow person.

The kids are also getting some Yummy Earth organic lollipops ("pop!" as my baby calls them) and gummy bears. These are available in lots of places too.

Other places to get Easter basket goodies are no-nuts/no-eggs/no-dairy Divvies (which we've had at Disney World and SeaWorld -- the caramel corn is great!), Vermont Nut Free Chocolates and Peanut Free Planet.

If I have time -- and I probably won't -- I might even make some chocolate candies myself by melting dairy-free chocolate chips and using candy molds. DIY is another great way to go with allergy-free treats!

Alternatives to candy for Easter baskets

For most kids, one of the highlights of Easter is unpacking an Easter basket full of treats -- mostly, candy like jelly beans and chocolate rabbits. Because my preschooler has several food allergies and intolerances, though, he can't eat most candy. And my one-year-old definitely doesn't need a lot of junk food, anyway.

For my sons' Easter baskets this year, I shopped mainly for cute toys I know they'll love. Toys and books are good basket fillers -- they take up more room than most candy so you don't have to buy as much -- and they last longer!

I found these Easter basket goodies at Target: Hot Wheels cars inside plastic eggs, bug catchers, Thomas train Easter sets, sunglasses and books. I plan to divide the Hot Wheels eggs between the boys.



I know some girls like these things, too -- but if not, then little plush animals, Zhu Zhu pets, hair clippies and dolls are nice.

At Toys R Us/Babies R Us, I found some magnetic letters that will replace some of the ones that have gotten lost under the refrigerator (and likely sticking to the metal under side of the fridge, which is why I can't find them, ugh!).



My little guy is crazy for stickers.



And my preschooler, who between the two boys is the most obsessed with trains, will be surprised with an engineer's cap (also from Target).



Other ideas: coloring books and crayons (or my favorite, the Crayola Color Wonder markers and coloring pads), small containers of Play-Doh, jewelry, fun socks, trading cards, DVDs or even a rolled-up T-shirt.

What other non-food things have you put into a kid's Easter basket?

Fairy houses

Ever since going to the Flower and Garden Show at Epcot in Disney World last year (going on this year until May 15), I have had a fascination with fairy houses.

When I saw fairy houses at HearthSong, I couldn't resist them and spent a little gift card money on them. My favorites were the tree trunk house:

and the acorn house:

I like making my own fairy houses, but I thought these were the perfect size for two little bare spots I have in the front yard. Also, because they are resin, they won't disintegrate as quickly as the ones that I make! The southern Florida elements have a way with wood and moss that aren't so good for keeping more-natural fairy houses around.

For more fairy house goodness, check out Etsy.

Inexpensive touches of springtime decor

I like to switch out the decorations around my house with the holidays and seasons. It's not in my genes to do this. Nope, my mother never did this -- it's something I picked up from my husband's mother, who is one of those super decorators whose home always looks like it could be a magazine ad. So because decorating isn't in my blood, I'm not as good as she is (or frankly, not as interested in that level of perfection!), but I do a bit. After the Christmas decorations are gone, I just have to put out something so the house doesn't look so blah and bare.

Anyway.

I found this spring-y sign at Target for $3.99 and had to put it inside my front door.



The kids love window decorations, which I also got at Target, for $2.99 per sheet.



The window clings double as a way to keep birds from flying into my windows and dying. Ugh.



I also have some hand-me-down decorations from -- who else? -- my husband's mother. (I have to say it like that because she's forbidden me from calling her my mother-in-law.)



I think it's also perfectly acceptable to use my kids' craft projects as home decor.



Do you decorate for spring?

Win a beautiful Shabby Apple dress!

See this amazing dress? It's called Spanish Steps, part of a new line by Shabby Apple, which makes beautiful women's dresses. I first found out about Shabby Apple a couple years ago through another blogger. Shabby Apple has easy, casual dresses and dress-up dresses. They also design maternity dresses and dresses for little girls. If you love dresses, you should definitely know about Shabby Apple.

When you check out the Shabby Apple dresses, you can use the coupon code "tropicofmom10off" to save when you find a dress you have to have. Also be sure to like the Shabby Apple Facebook page for more discounts, giveaways and news.

The best news here is that Shabby Apple has offered to let me give away this Spanish Steps dress! I think it is perfect for all the upcoming spring and summer events you'd wear a dress to: Easter, Mother's Day brunch, weddings or graduation ceremonies. You could win this dress! Not too shabby. Except it is. Heh! Update: Commenter 19, Freckle Face Girl, has won. Thank you to everyone who commented!

To win, please leave a comment about where you'd wear this dress, or mention your favorite Italian art work (since Spanish Steps if part of the new Roamin' Holiday line of dresses from Shabby Apple.) I'm not one to make people go through a lot of hoops to win something, but I'd appreciate it if you'd follow my blog. I'll pick a winner at random next Monday. Good luck, and happy dress shopping! Contest open only in the U.S.