{Rockin' Green Soap} Review & GIVEAWAY! *CLOSED*

So do your cloth diapers need to be "de-funked," as Rockin' Green Soap puts it??


Made for cleaning out the nasties from stinky cloth diapers, many people love this stuff so much (and frankly, with all their delicious scent choices, I can see why!), they use it on all their household's clothing! It is safe and phosphate-free and designed to cut through minerals and grime that other soaps leave behind.

In fact, according to their website, here are more reasons to love this stuff!

Rockin’ Green is:

• Dye free
• Comes in several yummy scents (& an unscented version for sensitive skin)
  
• No fillers
  
• No enzymes or optical brighteners
  
• 100% Phosphate free
• Vegan
• Great for sensitive skin
• Easy rinsing formula
• Approved for military use
  
• Works wonders on microfiber stink!
  
• Perfect for cloth diapers
• HE compatible
• Reusable packaging
• Great for all water types
• Economical at .13 cents a load!

Sounds just about perfect, right? Get their "hard rock" soap in any one of their delicious scents, or opt for their "soft rock" (unscented) version for sensitive skin. And, if you can't decide on a scent, you can also order their scent cards of all their "flavors" for just $.25 each!

Well, I put this soap (they sent me the "Mango Sorbet" scent....heavenly and scrumptious, I must say!) to the test on some cloth diapers used by my son (and on some others that had been laundered in other detergents before), and they came out brilliantly clean with no stains and smelling, well, just plain clean {I think I'm going to get some and use for the whole family's laundry now!}!

Being fairly new to cloth diapering myself, this was the first soap I tested, and not only was I not disappointed, but I've also heard from many others that this is the soap that got out stains other cloth diapering soaps left behind! Now that's impressive!

Now for the "rockin'" news!

The Giveaway!

Rockin' Green Soap is giving away a 45/90 load (45 loads for normal/top loader, 90 loads for HE/front loader) bag of soap in the winner's choice of scent! I know you'll LOVE this stuff! {for PUBLIC HT&BC blog followers only! if you aren't already one, make sure to become one in order to enter!}


Mandatory Entry: Become a PUBLIC follower of our blog, Haute Tot and Baby Couture (no need for this step if you already are one), AND visit Rockin' Green Soap to find the soap product (and scent!) you'd like to try if you won! Then come back here and tell me what it is in a comment (1 entry). Be sure to leave your email address in the entry so that I have a way to contact the winner! If there is NO EMAIL left, another winner will be drawn! Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen. Entrants can enter through February 21st. Winner to be chosen February 22nd, 2010.


Want More Entries?? Once you've completed the mandatory entry, you may do any of the following for more entries! Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and don't forget your email address, as well!

*Subscribe to our blog (2 entries possible: via google - 1 entry, via email feedburner - 1 entry (must be activated to count as entry)).
*Include our blog in your blog roll and include URL (must leave link to
your blog in comment - 1 entry)
*Become a fan of Adam's Blankie on Facebook (1 entry).
*Follow Adam's Blankie on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with the following tweet (copy and paste), (1 entry - can be done daily):
"Win some Rockin' Green (cloth diaper) soap! Enter athttp://hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com/2010/01/rockin-green-soap-review-giveaway.html !"

(Be sure to leave a link to your tweet/s!).

*Post our blog buttons on your blog in a conspicuous place and include link to blog. (6 entries possible - 3 for Adam's Blankie Etsy shop button and 3 for Haute Tot Couture blog button).
*Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post (3 entries).

Please note, I was not paid to do this review.
Opinions are strictly my own, and no one or nothing else has influenced me in my review.

Have a product you'd like reviewed?
Contact me at adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.etsy.com
www.gourmetplay.etsy.com

{Wahmies} Review

Wahmies is a cloth diapering company specializing in one size diapers, inserts, cloth wipes, wet bags & my definite favorite of theirs, their award-winning diaper pail liner.

So I recently received one of their one-size diapers with all snaps (they do also carry their one size diaper with snaps and their "quick hook feature" - see image below). The first thing I noticed was its absolutely beautiful (to both see and touch!) with cozy, velvety velour lining on the inside that fits up snug to your baby's bottom and wicks away the moisture from their skin. As it is a pocket diaper, you put in the insert/s of choice in the back opening, with the number/s of inserts you use dependent upon how heavy a wetter your child is (or if you're wearing during the day vs. nighttime, for example). It does conveniently comes with a trifold insert made of bamboo & cotton.



My 2yo son tested it out, and it fit him snugly. We had no leak issues whatsoever, and getting it on him was a snap (no pun intended!). The diaper also washed up beautifully and dried quickly (one of the big benefits of pockets versus AIOs (all-in-ones)).



I also received one of their Diaper Service Quality Pail liners (MSRP $17.95) in a soft, pearly irridescent pink. It's really quite beautiful and is a 3-time award winner!


So what makes it award-winning, you ask? Well, for starters, it's a very versatile design & size to fit almost all diaper pails out there (most people use a typical kitchen garbage can for these). It fit my 42 quart pail nicely, and the site says it fits up to the 52 quart-sized pails, as well. What aids in that perfect fit is the elastic top to contour to any sized opening (round, square, or otherwise), which is also a safety feature in itself, as there are no bungee ties in which a child could become entangled (unlike some other diaper pail liners out there). It is made of the ever-popular PUL waterproof liner and is PVC, pthalate and lead-free, making it even that much safer a product.


But what do I love best? The little patch of fabric sewn into the seam on the inside. Whatever could you use that for, you ask? Well, you can add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender, orange, lemon, tea tree, etcetera) to help keep it smelling fresh (or, at least, as fresh as a diaper pail can be)! Ingenious! And when wash day comes around, just remove the whole liner with diapers, empty into the washer, and toss the liner in with your wash, and voila! Everything comes out clean and ready to be used again after drying.

Visit Wahmies to see more of their products and retailers that carry their products, as well.

adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.etsy.com

{Tilly Tally Diapers} Review & GIVEAWAY! *CLOSED*

Tilly Tally Diapers is a cloth diapering company run by a WAHM who started making the diapers for her own kids when they were babies. Her shop features pocket diapers made with a PUL exterior and a soft microfleece on the inside. She uses a FOE (fold-over elastic) to bind them together. This FOE works very effectively and adds some sophistication & pizazz to the diaper's look, as well.



There are a multitude of snaps on the diaper to allow for easy adjustment when you need it. There is also a back pocket opening for the insert to be placed. An insert is included with the diaper, and is a very thick insert, indeed! It is a very absorbant microfleece insert that you actually fold into thirds, making it 3 inserts thick, meaning at least 9 layers - wow!

Tilly Tally Diapers recently sent me one of their Pocket Diapers for review, and we tested it on our little guy who is into potty training now. As he is 29 pounds and quickly approaching 3 years of age, we ordered a large, and it had plenty of room to spare (although he is quite slim), so I think you could easily use this size to last into and through potty training. We wore it at night with the ultra thick insert it comes with, and our little guy (who will be 3 within a couple months) had quite a good sized bottom! The 9+ layers add quite a bit of bulk, so I wouldn't recommend using the insert it comes with for daytime wear - just save that insert for overnight usage. {That being said, the nice thing with most pocket diapers, including this one, is that their pockets are a pretty generic cut, and so will accommodate a multitude of other inserts/doublers to customize the absorbancy and size {bulk factor}. He was sort of waddling in it at first (keep in mind, he's nearly three, and has just become introduced to cloth diapers within the last couple weeks, so he's not very used to cloth on his bum in general), but came around and was quickly running around in it, having himself a good ol' time!

When morning time came around, his pajamas and bed were totally dry, and not a drip had come out! There were not red marks around his legs, meaning the diaper wasn't too tight - just comfortable enough to contain everything within the diaper - a success!

And now what you've been waiting for...

The Giveaway!

Tilly Tally Diapers has graciously offered one lucky Haute Tot and Baby Couture reader a cloth pocket diaper in the color and size of their choice! {Open to US and Canadian residents only}.


Mandatory Entry: Visit Tilly Tally Diapers to find your favorite color combination you'd like to try. Then come back here and tell me what it is in a comment (1 entry). Be sure to leave your email address in the entry so that I have a way to contact the winner! If there is NO EMAIL left, another winner will be drawn! Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen. Entrants can enter through February 16th. Winner to be chosen February 17th, 2010.


Extra Entries: Once you've completed the mandatory entry, you may do any of the following for more entries! Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and don't forget your email address, as well!

*Follow our blog publicly on Google Friend (right-hand column, 1 entry)
*Subscribe to our blog (via google - 1 entry, via email feedburner - 1 entry (must be activated to count as entry).
*Include our blog in your blog roll and include URL
(must leave link to your blog in comment - 1 entry)
*Become a fan of Adam's Blankie on Facebook (1 entry).
*Follow Adam's Blankie on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway with the following tweet (copy and paste), (1 entry - can be done daily):
"Win a Tilly Tally cloth fitted pocket diaper! Enter at http://hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com/2010/01/tilly-tally-diapers-review-giveaway.html !"

(Be sure to leave a link to your tweet/s).

*Post our blog buttons on your blog and include link to blog. (6 entries possible - 3 for Adam's Blankie Etsy shop button and 3 for Haute Tot Couture blog button).
*Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post (3 entries).

Please note, I was not paid to do this review.
Opinions are strictly of my own, and no one else has influenced me in my review.

adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.etsy.com

{J Holton Quilts} Review & GIVEAWAY! *CLOSED*

I received some adorable girly Baby Wash 'n Wipes starter set from Jessica at J Holton Quilts and immediately adored their soft & cozy look and feel!


The package included 8 wipes that were handcrafted in a variety of materials - everything from terry cloth and minky to flannel and chenille for a textural variety. Each wipe measures about 6 inches square and has professionally surged edges. Our mix included pinks, purples and whites (for our baby girl who will be here in another couple months!), but you can order them in about any combination you like. Besides picking something specific to a gender (theme-wise), you can also choose specific colors and fabric combinations for a totally custom look!

But beyond being adorable and plush, they are downright as versatile as you can imagine! You can use them for everything from bath time, messy meals, runny noses, & diaper wipes to stowing in your diaper bag or purse when you're on the go (a travel-size squirt bottle filled with water would be a good pairing for the diaper bag option, too)!

We used ours for our messy meal times with our toddler (he didn't seem to mind the pinks and purples! ha ha...), and they worked wonderfully! We conveniently stowed them in a kitchen drawer and just got them a little wet (water only) before using. We used the soft side (minky or flannel) for the face and the rougher (chenille or terry) side for the hands, and they worked like a charm. No chemical-ridden disposable wipes, and no rough paper towels for cleanup - just soft, natural fabric to do the job! And starting at just $8.00 for a pack of 8, you can certainly afford to get a few packs to keep in different places around the house (e.g., diaper bag, kitchen, nursery and bathroom). They're a very small investment up front, and well worth it (you'll already be saving the money you would have spent on disposable wipes after just a couple months!).

Beyond their economical value, they also only get softer with each wash (they can be conveniently machine-washed on cold, and tumble-dried on low)! We did already wash ours, and there were a few loose strings to trim off afterwards, but all seams were still secured, and colors were bright and clean (actually, the picture from above shows them post-wash!). And the other huge convenience here is that you won't need to be running to the store when you're about out of {disposable} wipes because they'll always be there with you at home ready to be reused again and again....

Now for the good stuff...

The Giveaway!

J Holton Quilts has generously offered one lucky Haute Tot and Baby Couture reader
this adorable wipes starter set (10 - pics show fronts and backs) of their own!
(Contest open to US and Canadian residents only).

Mandatory Entry: Visit J Holton Quilts to find one other product you'd like to try. Then come back here and tell me what it is in a comment (1 entry). Be sure to leave your email address in the entry so that I have a way to contact the winner! If there is NO EMAIL left, another winner will be drawn! Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen. Entrants can enter through February 14th. Winner to be chosen February 15th, 2010.


Extra Entries: Once you've completed the mandatory entry, you may do any of the following for more entries! Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and don't forget your email address, as well!

*Follow our blog publicly on Google Friend (right-hand column, 1 entry)
*Subscribe to our blog (via google - 1 entry, via email feedburner - 1 entry (must be activated to count as entry).
*Include our blog in your blog roll and include URL
(must leave link to your blog in comment - 1 entry)
*Become a fan of Adam's Blankie on Facebook (1 entry).
*Follow Adam's Blankie on twitter and tweet about this giveaway with the following tweet (copy and paste), (1 entry - can be done daily):
"Win a custom cloth baby wipes starter set! Enter at http://hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com/2010/01/j-holton-quilts-review-giveaway.html!"

(Be sure to leave a link to your tweet/s).

*Post our blog buttons on your blog and include link to blog. (6 entries possible - 3 for Adam's Blankie Etsy shop button and 3 for Haute Tot Couture blog button).
*Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post (3 entries).

Please note, I was not paid to do this review.
Opinions are strictly of my own, and no one else has influenced me in my review.

adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.etsy.com

{Thirsties Diapers} Review & GIVEAWAY! *CLOSED*

Time to kick off our {Cloth Diapering Reviews & Giveaways}! Are you as excited as I am about this?!

So Thirsties sent me their new Duo Diaper to review, and I will just say to begin with, that I was pleased with the results! {More on that later!}. Thirsties is a relatively new company, founded in 2004. All their products are FREE of PVC, phthalates, lead and latex, and made in the USA by work-at-home mothers! They also donate diapers to Miracle Diapers, a company that helps support those in financial need with free or low-cost diapers.


Here are some features about the Duo Diaper:

*2-piece diapering system coming absorbant insert and waterproof sleeve diaper
*An adjustable rise to grow with your baby (2 sizes fit from birth to potty training).
*2-ended pocket/channel for stuffing inserts
*Includes 2 inserts for absorption - 7 layers in all!
*Microfleece liner on inside to protect skin from wetness & also resist staining
*Leg gussets for leak-proof protection
*7 color choices: rose, orchid, mango, honeydew, meadow, ocean blue and storm cloud

The two sizes are appropriately named Size One and Size Two. Size one fits a baby 6-18 pounds (about 0-9 months in age), and Size two fits a child 18-40 pounds (about 9-36 months in age). And within each sized diaper are 3 rows of snaps for even more versatility and flexibility in size. It's like 3 diapers in one for each size, for maximum adjustability!

Two inserts are included in the diaper, one made from hemp and cotton, and the other from microfiber terry. They included snaps to stay together inside the diaper, as well, which is great for minimizing shifting.

So upon receipt, I prewashed the diaper just once (they do advise to prewash at least once before wearing, but also say that prewashing more times will yield more absorbancy...this is true for all cloth diapers, you will discover), and my 2 year old tested them overnight. He just so happened to take a monster "nap," if you will, and had them on a whopping 13 hours! And guess what? No leakage! That's huge, to say the least.

Beyond that, they were extremely easy to get on. Just stuff your pocket, and tab them closed. That's it. As easy as a disposable with just the one extra step of stuffing the insert!

The Giveaway!

Thirsties has generously offered one lucky winner a Duo Diaper of their size and color choice! (Contest open to US and Canadian residents only).

Mandatory Entry: Visit Thirsties to find one other product you'd like to try. Then come back here and tell me what it is in a comment (one entry). Be sure to leave your email address in the entry so that I have a way to contact the winner! If there is NO EMAIL left, another winner will be drawn! Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize or another winner will be chosen. Entrants can enter through February 10th, winner to be chosen February 11th, 2010.

If you'd like a catalog sent to you, please visit here.

Extra Entries: Once you've completed the mandatory entry, you may do any of the following for more entries. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and don't forget your email address, as well!

*Follow our blog publicly on Google Friend (right-hand column, 1 entry)
*Subscribe to our blog (via google - 1 entry, via email feedburner - 1 entry (must be activated to count as entry).
*Include our blog in your blog roll and include URL (must leave link to your blog in comment - 1 entry)
*Become a fan of Thirsties on Facebook (1 entry).
*Become a fan of Adam's Blankie on Facebook (1 entry).
*Follow Adam's Blankie on twitter (1 entry).
*Tweet about this giveaway (can be done daily) with this message (copy and paste):

"Win a Duo Diaper from Thirsties baby! Enter at http://hautetotandbabycouture.blogspot.com/2010/01/thirsties-diapers-review-giveaway.html! "
(Be sure to leave a link to your tweet/s - 1 entry per day per tweet).

*Post our blog buttons on your blog and include link to blog. (6 entries possible - 3 for Adam's Blankie Etsy shop button and 3 for Haute Tot Couture blog button).
*Blog about this giveaway and include link to your post (3 entries).

Please note, I was not paid to do this review.

Opinions are strictly of my own, and no one else has influenced me in my review.

{Anatomy of a Cloth Diaper and their Types}

So if you're fairly new to this journey of cloth diapering and are still a bit mystified as to what all the terms mean, then this post is for you. We are going to go through some of the most popular types of cloth diapers on the market, as well as dissecting what all those terms related to cloth diapering mean anyway!

Cloth Diaper {TYPES}:
Prefolds
These are probably what generations past think of when you speak of cloth diapering today (except, back then, most weren't even prefolded, they were just a flat cloth with no guidelines for how to fold as a diaper and called "flats," accordingly). They are the most affordable of all cloth diapers (except for the flat, of course, although flats are pretty much extinct these days), but come with, some may argue, the most work. They are rectangular in shape and have extra layers in their center (for where most of the wetness occurs, of course). These are generally made of 100% woven cotton, although they can come in a multitude of fabrics including hemp, bamboo, Indian cotton, and flannel (among others!). You will need a diaper cover for this, as the wetness will leak through to the outer side of the prefold, of course. The covers are sold separately. You can use either the traditional diaper pins to hold in place, or the more modern Snappis work wonders!

Many people use the prefolds for newborns who go through so many diapers a day and then switch to the {easier} AIOs, pocket diapers, etc., after the first few months.

Fitted Diaper
These pretty much look like a disposable diaper, except that they're made of adorable different fabrics, of course! They have elastic around the legs and are made in a variety of fabrics, patterns, sizes & absorbancies.

Pocket Diaper
These cloth diapers are made with a cover sewn onto a layer of fleece and include an opening on the inside for you to put your insert. The pockets allow you to customize how thin or thick you want the diaper to be (depending on the number of inserts you want in there) and, best of all, allow you to control how absorbant the diaper will be. If you have a heavy wetter or are wearing overnight, many advise 3 inserts at a time!

AIO (All-in-One) Diaper
This diaper is about as close to a disposable diaper as they get, convenience-wise. It means just what it says - there are no inserts to put in - it is just ready to use as is and includes the cover and absorbancy layer all-in-one. No stuffing, no layering - just put it on and wear it. You can't adjust the absorbancy with these types of cloth diapers, of course, but they have the convenience being able to put on with little fuss and then washing once soiled.

The diaper's {ANATOMY}:
PUL (polyurethane laminate)
This is the waterproof fabric used in most cloth diapers (the cover portion) out there.

Microfleece
Most pocket cloth diapers use this material for the part of the diaper that will be right up against baby's skin. It is a very soft fabric that does not absorb but insteads wicks moisture away from baby's skin to help prevent rashes and keep baby dry.

Aplix
This is a certain type of closure used on some diapers. You basically will either have APLIX (or some other velcro option) with the tabs or you'll have snaps. Aplix allows for easier adjustment, of course, although snaps are more durable and most likely to last longer, in my opinion.

Gusset
This term refers to the insert in the seam of the diapers, that allows for easy expansion and strength. They basically move with the baby's movement and thereby aid in preventing against leakage by keeping the diaper snug with the baby.

Hope this helps anyone out there trying to figure out the cloth diapering world! I certain realize how overwhelming it seems, having recently become more acquainted with them myself, but this should offer a good guideline to help you get started, at least!

Happy diapering, and let's let the giveaways begin TOMORROW!!


adamsblankie@gmail.com
www.adamsblankie.etsy.com

{Cloth Diaper FAQ's}

Our reviews and {giveaways} will kick off this week! But before we begin, I wanted to bring some frequently asked questions and answers, which are directly (ver batim) from the Thirsties brochure. {Thirsties will be our first review and will be up and live this week some time!}

"How much money will I save?"
Savings from choosing reusable diapers over disposables can add up to $2000! Using cloth wipes will rack up another $500 in savings!

"How often should I launder my diapers?"
One load every 2 days is ideal.

"How many daily diaper changes?"
Newborn - 10-12 diapers
6-12 months - 7-9 diapers
12-24 months - 6-8 diapers
Potty Learning - 2-4 diapers

"How many diapers in rotation?"
Newborn - 20-24 diapers
6-12 months - 14-18 diapers
12-24 months - 12-16 diapers
Potty Learning - 4-8 diapers

"How many covers do I need?"
One cover for every 3-4 diapers in rotation (excluding waterproof diapers).

{Valentine Inspirations}

Can you believe we're halfway through with January, and Valentine's Day is right around the corner? Phew. Where does the time go?!

So I thought I'd bring you some Valentine inspirations & lovelies today...enjoy! Make some of your own, purchase, or just enjoy the eye candy!

conversation heart cookies, $10 for a dozen at Sugar and Flour

heart felt cookies, $4.50 for 2 of your choice from Gourmet Play

diy cupcakes...make some heart cookies, too. then place cookie on cupcake, sprinkle whole top of cupcake with powder sugar, remove cookie. Add ribbon around the cupcake, and presto! you have an adorable heart cupcake and matching cookie!

heart onesie, $16 from Adam's Blankie

heart felt bag, $16 from Gourmet Play

scrapbooking and crafting images, $4.00 for a dozen at Goodness & Fun




glittery chunky heart crayons, $4.25 for 3 at Gourmet Play

edible cookie toppers, $10 for 12 images at Paperliciousdesigns

diy, paper valentines...i made some similar ones like this for my son instead of the cartoon character-themed ones last year..i just cut out felt hearts and sewed them onto notecards, and they turned out beautifully! you can just have fun with these ~ there's no right or wrong way to do them!

Cloth Diapering in the Modern World.

I'm about ready to kick off our Cloth Diapering Blog Series and wanted to start by introducing you into the "cloth diaper world," per se, if you haven't already been introduced!

Many women don't even consider it as a possibility because they've been told by their own mothers or grandmothers how they used to "cloth diaper" back in the day and how horrible it was. But I gotta tell you {and them, for that matter!} that it's not at ALL the same as it used to be. They might as well be two completely different things! Now, yes, you CAN choose to cloth diaper with just what are called "prefolds," which is probably as close to what generations past are talking about when they refer to old methods of cloth diapering (although back then, they weren't even prefolded..they were just square pieces of flannel or other fabric that they had to fold and figure out themselves.

Now. If and once you've even considered cloth diapering today, it's a daunting topic for a lot of Moms out there. I get it! So many choices, (all in ones, pockets, liners, prefolds, pins or no pins, snaps or velcro, brands galore, etcetera, etcetera). Been there, done that. {BUT}. Once you can wrap your heads around it a bit, the choice is clear {at least, to me it is!} that's it's a fantastic option for diapering your babies these days!

Here are some great pros to why you should consider cloth diapering:

*MORE AFFORDABLE {in the long run}.
YES, they do cost a lot up front to get started, but research has shown diapering with disposables until potty trained can typically cost about $3000 (birth to 3 years), and with cloth diapering, you might be looking at about $500 or so. Not to mention, you can use them for more than one child. Now that's a deal!

*LESS DIAPER RASH.
Research shows cloth-diapered babies have fewer diaper rashes. So not only is baby in a better mood {and so are you!}, but you'll also be buying less rash cream, and thus, saving you even more money. {Plus you can use cloth wipes now, too, and save there, as well!}

*SAFER FOR BABY.
Did you know disposable diapers have traces of toxic by-products in them? One of them, Dioxin, is actually banned in all other countries except the United States, as it has been linked with cancer. And another, TBT, has been shown to cause hormonal problems (see here for more details). I bring this up not to scare you, of course, but to make you aware and, again, show some more pros for cloth diapering.

*CLOTH-DIAPERED KIDS TEND TO POTTY-TRAIN FASTER.
Now seriously. If someone had told me this, I might have listend with our first child. We're heading into the 3's shortly and are still not potty-trained! Need I say more here?!

*SAFER FOR ENVIRONMENT.
We're not clogging the earth with even more disposables. They are, in fact, the 3rd biggest contributor to landfills, and it is estimated that it takes 250-500 years for one to decompose!

Now, to be fair, we'll go with the cons, too.

*LESS CONVENIENT.
They do, of course, take a bit more work and time on your part as the care-taker. You'll be doing more laundry, and diaper changes won't be quite as quick. But, if that's your biggest concern, you can always just use the AIOs (all-in-ones) that are just like a disposable diaper, except that you must wash it. But at least with this option, you aren't doing any stuffing of inserts into the diapers and dealing with the plethora of absorbancy choices out there. {Another great alternative here, if you don't want to deal with them outside the house, is to just use disposables for days outside the house or for vacations, for example}.

*MORE MONEY UPFRONT.
Yes, they are an investment. The good news is that many companies now offer layaways on cloth diapers. Another great option? Have your friend host a "cloth diaper baby shower" and have your friends and families buy many for you! I also think that if you start by just buying one or two a month once you find out you're pregnant, you'll have a good stash started by the time you actually need them!

That's really it for the cons. Honest to goodness. They just take a bit more effort and cost up front, but all in all, the pros far outweigh the cons, in my {humble} opinion.

Stay tuned! Next week we'll start up on some reviews and {GIVEAWAYS}! Can't wait!!

I {Heart} Candy.

So I recently made some custom hard candy bean bags for a client for their child's upcoming birthday party, and I thought it was such a fabulously fun theme that I'd share some inspiration with you! {Disclaimer: Kids will certainly leave on a sugar rush after a party like this, but come on...it IS for a special birthday that comes but just once a year, right??}

You can start by sending these beauties below out to all your party guests...

$16.00 for 12 from cards by carolyn

And birthday girl {or boy} can wear a shirt like this...

$18.00 from sew cute creations

And here's a festive way to decorate your cupcakes...

$16.80 for 24 cupcake toppers from graceful notes

Alongside these marshmallow pops...

{Directions for how to make are here}

And let's not leave out these sugarmelts as a simply divine treat for your guests? (And p.s., they come gift-wrapped...nice bonus)...

$8.00 for 24 pink signature bonbons filled with cotton candy from sugar mohawk

Then you can have the kiddos play a bean bag game (just toss into a bucket...whoever gets the most in WINS!) with these hard candy bean bags...

$22.00 for set of 3 candy bonbon bean bags from gourmet play

And the lucky winner (and all participants) can score these for playing...

$3.25 for a classic mini gum-ball machine from beau-coup

Another great activity would be using this pinata....

$28.00 from birch angel

...filled with hard candies {of course} and these lovely candy towels (that's right, towel...it expands into an 8"x8" towel...how cute!)....

$3.50 each from beau coup

So have some fun now planning this party...and please do let me know if you actually host a candy party ~ I'd love to see pictures!

If you missed the post a couple days ago, please check for how to win some goodies from Adam's Blankie or Gourmet Play for simply dishing out some advice for new parents....and be sure to check back soon for upcoming {GIVEAWAYS} and great reviews on all things cloth-diaper related!!

{Cloth Diapering,..Watch for Reviews and GIVEAWAYS!}

I am sooo excited to let you all know what I've been up to (beyond just trying to prepare the baby nursery...which, by the way, should be done in the next few weeks, and I WILL be showing you some pictures - can't wait for that, too!). But anyway. Back to my original excitement. I am currently in the process of receiving and reviewing all cloth diapering-related items! I know I blogged about that topic when I first started my blog, and at that time, I was weighing out the pros and cons of it. Let's be real. There are always pros and cons to everything. But, having had a good year to think about it, and having baby #2 on the way now, I've taken the side of deciding to cloth diaper. Whoo-hoo! There are sooo many benefits to it..with the only 2 cons I see as having more laundry to do and being less convenient. Now, I have to confess. I may still be carrying a few disposables for day trips outside the house, but I plan to cloth diaper 95% of the time. And I must tell you, from every single woman I talk to who cloth diapers, they LOVE it, and say it's sooo easy! (To be honest, I'm still a bit hesitant to accept that claim as valid, but I will be sure to let you know how I feel once I officially being testing it out with my 2-year old who is yet to be potty-trained...another issue altogether {sigh}).

Anyway, so be on the lookout for some awesome products and GIVEAWAYS-GALORE coming your way soon! Should be a mighty fine time!

Hank & JoJo.

So I recently received these Retro Baby Tube Socks. What a cute idea for the little munchkins. And did I mention they come in an adorable mini tin lunchbox? How 'bout that they're dyed with toxin-free dyes? Or that with each purchase of the Retro Baby Tube Socks, Hank & JoJo donates one pair of their socks in each Homecare Starter Kit for parents and preemies released from NICUs in the East, through The Tiny Miracles Foundation?



What's more? The retro tube socks are made from 80% bamboo. What's so special about bamboo, you ask? Well, for starters, bamboo is the fastest growing and most sustainable resource in nature. It is grown without chemicals and so is naturally organic, biodegradable and anti-microbial. It also have natural UV protection, believe it or not!


Each set ($30) comes packaged in their adorable mini lunchboxes, as I mentioned before. The set includes 4 pairs of socks in Strawberry, Pear, Blueberry and Banana. So cute you could just eat 'em up (hence the color names, perhaps?)! To purchase, visit Hank & JoJo for local stores or online shops that carry their products.

Indestructible Books.

So do (or did) your kids end up chewing off and possibly eating corners and bits of paper from your paperback books? Or do they just like to tear out the pages? I've even heard of kids biting off pieces of board books. Say goodbye to those days.

Introducing "Indestructibles" by Kaaren Pixton. These new books on the market are water-proof, rip-proof, drool-proof and baby-safe. There are three books out in this series, and all have only pictures of animals or insects without any words. Truly perfect for perusing with newborns and infants. And at just $4.95 per book, they won't break the bank. Below are the 3 features - you can purchase at www.workman.com.

Happy New Year!

So with the New Year comes a time for rejuvenation, new {dare I say} resolutions, and, well, new life, right? So I was thinking, why not get some advice from all you seasoned parents out there to pass on to all those new {or soon-to-be} parents! Here's what we want to know:

*What is the best pregnancy advice you have for a soon-to-be new Mom or Dad?
*What is the best infant advice you can tell new parents?
*What is the best toddler advice you have for those dealing with the
terrible 2's and 3's?

And just to make this even more fun and interesting, let's start off the new year with a FREE GIFT for the best piece/s of advice we receive! I'll choose the winner/s at the end of January, and they'll have 48 hours to claim their prize from Adam's Blankie and/or Gourmet Play!