Ashley and Katie are stay at home Moms in a small town just outside of Salem, Oregon. Together they started a little business making organic beauty and wellness products they call, Crunchy Mamas. They produce cleverly named products such as Menth Head, Smelly Face, Nipstick, and Achy Breaky. Their mission is to provide you with chemical free alternatives to commercial products. They avoid everything artificial: NO dyes, NO GMO’s, NO fragrances, and NO preservatives. Their love for all things organic is what excited them about the opportunity to sponsor TLB. After all, what is more natural than leaky boobs?
Read on to get to know the goofy ladies behind Crunchy Mamas and enter to win one of four awesome prizes!
TLB: What should TLB readers know about Crunchy Mamas?
Katie: Crunchy Mamas was born one year ago to two stay at home Moms that prefer a more natural and simple approach to life. This business started out with a batch of 50 lip balms and now it has expanded beyond our expectations. We hope that we can help raise awareness about the dangers of commercial products and help people feel confident about the products they are using for their families. But please know, we aren’t perfect. We have been known to drink Diet Pepsi and eat Little Caesar’s while making batches of Crusty Foot!
TLB: How did this venture into handmade organic products start?
Katie: Having kids changed everything. Not only was I responsible for myself, but I was in charge of two little humans and they depended on me to make the best choices possible on their behalf. I began learning about dangerous chemicals in various commercial household products and that really fired me up. I promptly packed up my baby shampoos, deodorants, toothpastes, and household cleaners and tossed them in the trash. This led to me researching essential oils and various recipes for homemade goods. It is very empowering to know exactly what the ingredients are that I’m using on my babies and why they are beneficial. You can get to know us better by reading our blog post on our mission to be Crunchy.
TLB: What is it like, working together with your sister-in-law?
Ashley: Let’s be honest, I feel like a fraud calling it “work.” Katie is one of my best friends and I have so much fun getting to do this with her. We both have different weaknesses that are made up for by our different strengths. I’m in the running for the most impatient person on the planet, where Katie could sit contently and watch paint dry. This adventure is enjoyable because we are getting to do it together.
TLB: How do you balance work and family life?
Ashley: Most importantly, I try not to separate my family from my work. My kids play a big role in Crunchy Mamas. They help me label products (this explains why you may receive a bottle of hand sanitizer with the label upside down), pack up boxes, and keep me company when we sell our products at our local farmers market. I love that they are getting to see how much hard work and care goes into operating a small business. Also, my husband helps with whatever he can. In fact, he and Katie’s husband are appropriately referred to as the “Crunchy MAN-mas.” We couldn’t do it without their tremendous amount of support!
TLB: What is your favorite breastfeeding tip?
Ashley: Oh boy, how do I pick just one? Breastfeeding was very difficult for me in the beginning, so I’d like to target all the newbies with this tidbit of advice. DON’T GIVE UP! No one ever told me that breastfeeding could be painful, uncomfortable, and bloody. I had a 9 pound baby with a really strong sucker. I tell ya, that kid could have sucked a nail right out of a wall. (It was this experience that prompted me to start making Nipstick.) Fortunately, in the moment, I had cheerleaders around me encouraging me not to give up. They assured me it would get better and it did. If you’re new to nursing and are on the verge of reaching for that bottle, please don’t give up and seek a strong support system if you don’t already have one.
Ashley and Katie are giving away four different prizes to four lucky Leakies. The prizes are:
1. An expecting Mamas gift set. One tube of our pregnant belly relief – About to Pop. A tube of our Baby Butt Balm. Lastly, a tube of our fabulous nursing nipple relief – Nipstick. Retail Value: $25
2. One of each of our amazing Lip Balms. Flavors included are: Naked, Grapefruit, Honey lemon, Sweet Orange, Lime, and Mint. Retail Value: $18
3. A bottle of our all in one facial moisturizer – Smelly Face. Retail Value: $19
4. A collection of products perfectly suited for your all-natural first aid kit. One tube of our cuts and scrapes healer – Scab Stick. A tube of our all natural vapor rub – Menth Head. Finally, a bottle of our Lavender-Lemon Hand Sanitizer. Retail Value: $15
Currently Leakies can find these and other all-natural wellness products on the Crunchy Mamas website, www.crunchymamasgoods.com.
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Good luck to everyone! Please use the widget below to be entered. The giveaway is open from April 29, 2013 through May 6, 2013. A big thanks to Ashley and Katie and Crunchy Mamas for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.
This giveaway is restricted to U.S. residents only.
