THE BAD BLANKIE

Johnnie napping with her BAD BLANKIE

If you've been reading for awhile, you know that I am the strange bird who can't wear perfume, burn candles or use normal shampoo without breaking out in a rash. (If you are a perfume wearer, know that if I hug you it's because I really love you a lot.) My sensitivity seems to only get worse over time, but fortunately I've noticed a huge difference in the health of my skin as a result of switching to natural, fragrance free products. I've mentioned before that we try to keep our household and personal care products as natural and organic as possible. While I can't claim we are a model family for green living, we do try to make choices that are better for us and for the environment as often as we can. Something about that makes our home feel better too.

Before Johnnie was born, I went on a hunt for affordable organic, dye-free bedding for her crib. It was a harder endeavor than I thought it would be, and it made me more aware of exactly what goes into the things I buy. We're now in the process of looking for a new coverlet or duvet for our own bed, since we upgraded from a full to a queen. I still haven't figured out what we'll end up with in the end, but the search has turned out to be fruitful in other ways. Sometimes the internet is magical like that.

I was poking around on Etsy one night, searching for organic linen and cotton coverlets. I happened to stumble upon and favorite the "BAD BLANKIE" -- a 55% Organic Hemp; 45% Organic Cotton blanket -- made by BAD Organics. Though it's not really a coverlet, it stuck out because it looked so soft, simple and inviting. A couple hours later, I got a sweet message from the shop owners, Brittanny and Daniel. They thanked me for liking their products and told me they had read my blog, were inspired by our family and our story, and wanted to send a blanket to Johnnie as a gift. No strings attached. We started emailing back and forth, and it turned out they got into the organic blanket-making business for the same reasons I was in the organic blanket-buying market -- unpleasant reactions to synthetic products. They even articulated something I've felt but never put into words: that natural/organic products don't emit harmful chemicals, yes, but that's not all -- they also send out positive vibes. The kind that make your home feel better. Kindred spirits.

The BAD BLANKIE arrived last week (after a slight delay thanks to another snowstorm here in Maryland), with a handwritten note addressed to Johnnie that was so sweet I got a little teary. J loved that a package came just for her, and she helped me wash it and put it on her bed. The blanket is made with two layers of thin, soft fleece sewn together, and it's super soft and plush. We never bother using a top sheet on her bed since she'd only get tangled in it, so the softer the better. Every morning I find her thoroughly snuggled in it, so from her perspective I think it's a huge hit. It even arrived at a perfect time, because we recently realized her comforter was too hot, and her crib quilt was too small. BAD BLANKIE = perfect solution.

It does cost more than I might normally pay for a blanket, especially one I hadn't felt and tested for myself, but the BAD BLANKIE the nicest blanket we've ever owned by a long shot. I'm officially a fan, so I encourage you to check it out if you're into this kind of thing. I am thankful to have met Brittanny and Daniel and to know a little of their story, as well as for their sweet generosity in sending us a BAD BLANKIE so we could try it out. (Thank you, B©D!) We are happy, snuggly little campers over here.


Full disclosure: We received this blanket free as a gift, with no obligation for a review. Opinions are my own.