Eventually, I plan on revamping MamaResource.com® to make it all about the following categories. Until I have time to do this time-consuming task, I've got this page called "Amy's Picks" to list the topics I really care about. Check back often, this page is a work-in-progress.

NATURAL LIVING

Environmentally-Conscious, Simple, Sustainable Living
Finding Your Supportive Community & Tribe
Holistic Health Care
Traditional Diets

PARENTING JOURNEY

Early Parenting:

Babywearing
Birth Support
Breastfeeding
Cloth Diapering
Elimination Communication

Continuous Parenting:

Attachment Parenting
Co-Sleeping
Unschooling

Books, Products and Sites I recommend

Gift ideas for new mamas:

Mothering Magazine
Kangaroo pouch (for fall and winter babies)
Wrap

Attachment, Gentle, Continuum Parenting:
Attachment Parenting International
"The Daily Groove" by parenting coach, Scott Noelle
The Natural Child Project
The Continuum Concept

The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff
Amy says: After reading this book, I could no longer live and parent as I had before. It changed my life for the better. Here are some other books that changed my life in subtle ways:

Your Competent Child by Jesper Juul
http://www.yourcompetentchild.com/
Amy says: My favorite parenting book.

Hold On to Your Kids by Neufeld and Mate
http://www.gordonneufeld.com/

The Family Bed by Tine Thevenin

Magical Child by Joseph Chilton Pearce

Noah's Children: Restoring the Ecology of Childhood by Sara Stein

Punished by Rewards by Alfie Kohn

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
http://ishmael.com/

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D.

How to Win by Quitting by Jerry Stocking

The Way Home (a Korean movie, a great example of unconditional parenting!)

Birth
Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May

Homebirth by Sheila Kitzinger

Birth As A Healing Experience by Lois Halzel Freedman

Hands of Love: Seven Steps to the Miracle of Birth by Dr. Carol J. Phillips
http://www.newdawnpublish.com/
Amy says: This book made me decide to have a doula and my mom present for birth. The author's daughter did my cranialsacral therapy.
Book Description:
Hands of Love ... combines 200 beautiful color photographs with more than two dozen inspirational birth stories to give the reader a seven step approach to the quest for a gentle, spiritual birth for an unborn child. Dr. Carol Phillps combines her patient's birth stories with her shared experience as their doula, their birth photographer and their chiropractor to give the reader a new awareness of the humanistic-assisted birth model.

Gentle Birth Choices: A Guide to Making Informed Decisions about Birthing Centers, Birth Attendants, Water Birth, Home Births by Barbara Harper
Amy says: This book helped me create a lot of "alternative" birth plan choices.
Synopsis:
The author's thesis is that "birthing centers and home births, along with other 'gentle birth choices,' are beneficial to both mother and baby. . . . {She} discusses giving birth in water and explores the connection of mind and body during labor and birth."

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon
From the Publisher:
Since the Bradley method was first introduced in 1970, a growing number of expectant parents have opted for natural childbirth, knowing that it's safer than medicated or surgical delivery. But where can parents-to-be go for information on how to have a successful Bradley birth? This book provides all the answers, offering sound advice on how to prepare physically for labor and what to expect during each of its stages. Photos & line drawings.

Mind Over Labor by Carl Jones
Annotation:
In his breakthrough book, Jones introduces a new, highly effective method of childbirth preparation using mental imagery. He shows expectant parents how to prevent the pain and fear associated with childbirth.

Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth by Marshall H. Klaus, Phyllis H. Klaus, John H. Kennell
Annotation:
A doula is an experienced labor companion who provides continuous emotional support and assistance before, during, and after birth. Through research with over 2,000 women, the authors show that the presence of a doula shortens labor by an average of two hours, decreases cesarean sections by over 50%, decreases the need for pain medication, helps fathers participate, and more.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Annotation:
"...based on the latest medical studies and literature, provides clear, concise information on tests, procedures, and treatments...covers cesareans, ultrasound, inducing labor, IVs, epidurals, episiotomies, midwives, & much more."

Birthing from within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England
From the Publisher
This holistic approach to childbirth examines this profound rite-of-passage not as a medical event, but as an act of self-discovery. Exercises and activities such as journal writing, meditation, and painting are designed to help mothers analyze their thoughts and face their fears during pregnancy.

Childbirth Website Links:
Childbirth Collective (Minnesota non-profit organization of doulas, conducts parent-topic nights in Edina and St. Paul):
http://www.childbirthcollective.org/

Doulas of America: http://www.dona.org/

The Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE):
http://www.efn.org/%7Edjz/birth/add695/alacegen.html

Midwifery Today: http://www.midwiferytoday.com/

Mothering Magazine (a lot of good info including natural parenting articles, resources, plus a great online discussion board with tons of subjects) http://www.mothering.com

Babycenter.com (pregnancy calendar and fetal-development updates, mostly-mainstream message boards, polls and a birth plan worksheet): www.babycenter.com

Babywearing
My favorite carriers to wear my kids in are the Kangaroo Korner fleece pouch and the Ergo Baby Carrier.
Pouch: http://kangarookorner.com/
Ergo: http://www.consciousmama.com/new/BabyCarriers.html

Babywearing support group: NINO (Nine In Nine Out)
Minneapolis/St. Paul group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/twincitiesnino/

Unschooling
Author John Holt coined the word 'unschooling'.

Summerhill School : a new view of childhood by Alexander Neill Sutherland

Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto

The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn
http://www.gracellewellyn.com/
Amy says:For teens and anyone that was ever a teen!

How Children Learn by John Holt

How Children Fail by John Holt

Learning All the Time by John Holt

Teach Your Own by John Holt

Homeschooling Our Children Unschooling Ourselves by Alison McKee

Yahoo Groups:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlwaysUnschooled
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingmn/
http://groups.google.com/group/UnschoolingDiscussion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CrunchyUnschoolers/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ECHO-MN
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unschoolingmn
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hsadventures
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FamilyHikingNatureStudyGroup

Topics Needing Attention and Positive Exposure
- breastfeeding past age 1
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBextended.html AND
http://www.mercola.com/2003/dec/24/formula_influence.htm

- co-sleeping and the family bed
http://www.naturalchild.com/tine_thevenin/rediscovery.html AND
http://www.cosleeping.org/

- immediate response to babies' needs
http://www.natural-wisdom.com/lovingresponse.htm AND
http://www.natural-wisdom.com/whatbabiesneed.htm

- wearing/slinging/carrying/holding baby and toddlers
http://www.nineinnineout.org/ AND
http://continuum-concept.org/reading/in-arms.html

- role modeling rather than disciplining
http://continuum-concept.org/reading/consequences.html AND
http://www.naturalchild.com/james_kimmel/punishment.html

- children being born and are naturally "good" and social rather than needing to be "trained" to be good
http://www.naturalchild.com/guest/thomas_gordon2.html

- *families* living and participating in intergenerational communities and activities rather than leaving kids with a sitter
http://www.naturalchild.com/peter_cook/attachment.html

- not using punishments (including time-outs) *or* rewards
http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/articles.htm#null, see "Five Reasons to Stop Saying 'Good Job!'"

- natural childbirth and homebirths
http://trustbirth.com/

- elimination communication / natural infant hygiene
http://www.natural-wisdom.com/

- selectively and/or not vaccinating
http://909shot.com/
Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide - how to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives by Aviva Jill Romm

- not circumcising
http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/

- unschooling
http://www.holtgws.com/whatisunschoolin.html AND
http://www.marygriffith.com/work6.htm

- traditional diets
http://www.westonaprice.org/index.html
Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price

nursing bras
Madela
Break Out Bras (Lucky Woman-firm but supportive)
Bravado (like sports bra/lacy tank)