Scotts has gone green!

Imagine changing one of the biggest paper consumptions any family has into a green choice, easily, using the same brands you know and trust. Scott is a household name when it comes to personal paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, paper napkins, ect) has come clean, I mean gone green. heh. I've always wondered why more paper companies have not offered a green option, or even just converted all their products into more green friendly products.

Scott Natural paper products can have up to 80% post consumer recycled fiber, on the paper napkins, and 40% on the toilet paper. This means with no more change than buying a trusted brand in basically a different packaging you are making your family more green without having to sacrifice anything! No more excuses people you can make your first baby steps to living greener without even noticing!

Seriously enough I try not to use paper towels unless I have to, though there are times where its hard to avoid like cleaning up nasty puppy messes or using them to cover food in the microwave. All in all I probley use one paper towel roll every three months. However, my mother can use an entire paper towel roll in a day or worst. Though I'd really love to convince her to use cloth at least I can breath a little easier when I know her Scott Natural Paper towels are made with 60% post consumer recycled fibers! Not only that but the packaging is recycled as well! Let's not even get started on what sort of impact we could have in my family alone if all our toilet paper was from recycled fibers!

Have I peeked your interest yet? Well even if your not as obsessed about going green as I am you can't deny that Scotts is a quality brand. Why would you even bother buying anything else when you can have quality AND make a difference in the world around you. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren to at least make an effort. I don't expect people to change their lifestyles and I am not this super hippy everything has to be green sort of girl. My goal is to make one small change a year, or as often as I can, every baby step makes such a huge difference over a person's lifetime. Sure I fall off the train myself at times to, I was on a six month stretch where I recycled every piece of paper that came across my desk and to be honest with you other than the fact that I still print my coupons on the backside of printouts that are no longer useful, I totally stopped recycling paper. Don't worry though I'm gonna get back on that horse and get back to it.

As far as Scott Naturals? I forsee my toilet paper stash getting a little more green as soon as my current stash is gone.

Scott would like to give one lucky reader a gift bag to get them started with the Scott Naturals line and start them on their own green journey! The gift bag includes some of my favorite easy to go green items. Scott Naturals product coupons, Clorox Green Works items, a reusable shopping bag, green light bulbs and a reusable water bottle!

To enter :

• Leave a comment on this post. Check out Scott Naturals and let me one step your taking in your own home to live a greener life or a step you'd like to take!
  
• Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
• Please US entries only.
• To get extra credit :
  • For an extra entry :
  • Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
  • Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
  • Let people know about the giveaway on Twitter with a link to the giveaway!
    
  • THREE extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
  • This contest will end June 30th at midnight!

Who needs old tshirts at bedtime?

Ok, I almost hate to say this but I have some pretty ugly pjs. I mean when it comes to bedtime comfort rules and in the past that meant wearing an old tshirt that is five sizes too big with holes in it. Shh.. don't tell but I have a few just like that in my closet and I have a few that my family has "lovingly" named moomoos as they are way too big and shapeless and they look like something that sadly you'd find in my grandmother's closet.

I'm not sure what's happened but at the end of the day I'm so tired the last thing I want to wear is something clingy and honestly Connor doesn't care what I wear so It's just become a habit and I'm no way ready to give up my tshirts especially on hot nights and yes I wear them while I do housework too. So whats a girl to do? The real question is : Is there something out there that is as comfortable as my old tshirts but doesn't look like I raided the closet of someone twice my size? Recently I learned there is not just a comfortable solution but one that will appease those of you that love organics too.

My Earth Too is a clothing company that makes organic cotton clothing and most importantly very adorable organic cotton pajamas that have become my new favorite lounge wear. I have a pink tee shirt pjs from My Earth Too that I simply love. Its slightly tailored so it doesn't just look like a huge shirt but its in no way clingy so it pasts my comfort test. So I guess you could say I am just as comfortable in it as I am in my normal huge tees but without looking like a blob in a huge tee which makes everyone around here pretty happy.

The best part about My Earth Too's clothing and accessory line is the fact that they are very affordable. With prices around $20-25 it's one of the most affordable organic lines I have seen. Not to mention you can find My Earth Too's items at Kohls, Peebles, JcPennys and more... all of which I shop at when I'm looking for a deal.

To learn more about My Earth Too visit their website and check out the listings of where you can find their products. If your looking for a special gift for Valentine's Day the pajamas are a great option as they are not only comfortable and adorable but I always choose organic when I have the option.

The Joobles are totally huggable!

There are some toys that just arrive and you greet them with open arms and open hearts as you just know from the moment you see them that they are destined to become special companions. When our new Joobles Bunny arrived I knew a match was made. Connor's plush collection is pretty exciting as from the beginning I've tried to collect interesting characters for him to play with. As a child my plush "friends" were really a special bunch to me. We moved often enough that real friends were sometimes scarce and it was sometimes a bit scary being in a new place. My furry friends were a huge comfort to me and I still have some of the more special ones today. I treated them like they were honored guests in my life and even went through a phaze where I couldn't sleep unless every single stuffed animal I owned was in the bed with me, thank goodness I had a queen sized bed as a seven year old.

So when I found out I was pregnant with Connor I started searching high and low for really unusual and memorable plush for him to treasure. I'm a firm believer that the toys and items that we have around us growing up really influence who we become or least leave their mark on us forever. Textures, colors, fabric, unusual shapes, things that break us out of the normality of life are all wonderful and even comforting things. So the toys and plush animals that we most treasure are the ones that are a little different from the rest and I am especially excited about toys and plush that are ecofriendly, organic, and participate in fair trade. Connor may be too young to understand any of the above quite yet but one day the fact that his favorite toys and plush friends were made in such a manner may just inspire him to live a more world responsible life. Not to mention having great toys sparks the imagination and my biggest wish for my son is that he follows his own path not one that he feels that I or anyone else lays out for him.

Our new bunny, Bella, from Joobles is everything I look for in a toy. Incredibly soft made from brightly colored organic yarn. She was hand crafted in Peru, possibly by another mother or father who is being paid a fair wage for making my son's new friend. For those of you that do not know what fair trade is, I'll explain in a simple version. In way too many cases if you buy an item that was made in another country, especially developing countries, all too often workers are not paid a livable wage to make the items. Meaning factories will hire desperate workers for little to nothing and they end up having to work 18 hours a day just to barely and I do mean barely feed their children. Fair Trade means that workers that make the products are paid a fair wage, or you could call it a living wage, meaning that instead of paying them the bare minimum for their time they are paid a wage that is "fair" in their country, a fair wage would be similar to what we would consider a living wage here. For instance for those of us who have worked for minimum wage here in the US know just how bad that can be.. well I assure you that a minimum wage in some other countries is far far worst. So imagine being a family without a job, without running water, without anything more than a shack to live in and you are suddenly given a job where people actually care. That's the whole idea of fair trade in a very tiny nutshell.

The Joobles line is adorable regardless of where or how they are made but knowing that our new bunny was made in the fair trade system leaves me with a warm fuzzy feeling. I also love the fact that one day when Connor is old enough to understand we can get out a book and read about Peru and talk about where his bunny was made and talk about some of the aspects of fair trade and organics.

One thing that really surprised me about the Joobles when Bella arrived is I did not at all expect her to be so big. She is a good 11 inches tall and fairly plump so she is about the size of a classic teddy bear and stuffed with super soft cotton which makes her super squeezable which is just right for hugs. Compared to other knit plush I have seen $29 is a really good bargain as I have seen very similar toys selling for double that price in the same size range.

If your interested in learning more about fair trade, the Joobles line including the super cute matching hoodies, or finding more ecofriendly and fair trade items a great place to start is Fair Indigo!

The ultimate green car!

Dreaming of an ecofriendly car? Well I am no expert on electric cars or hybrids though I too would love to have one. In the meantime however Connor has discovered his own personal favorite version of an ecofriendly car in Imagiplay's Push Along Hybrid Car.

The Imagiplay Push Along Hybrid Car is a super chunky sized wooden car that is built perfectly to interact and survive toddlers. Connor is really getting into cars lately and he loves his wooden cars but we have a problem where some cars are really still too big as he has a hard time maneuvering the larger cars quite yet and the super small cars I worry he will end up destroying as totally at no fault of his own he tends to get a little rough on the cars. Its not that he is being destructive with them, by no means, as he is super careful with his toys but its not uncommon for him to trip over them, lay on top of them, or even roll them off a shelf purely from complete klutziness of his growing body. The Imagiplay Push Along Hybrid Car however seems to be his perfect companion as of late.

The larger size, 5 inches by 4 inches, is perfect for Connor's not so nimble hands as its easy to grip and steer. The tires also have a rubber band built into the tire itself which protects my hardwood floors from scratches when Connor pushes it around the room no matter how hard he pushes the car rolls smoothly without any fear of gashes in the car or the floor. Not to mention I absolutely love how beautiful it is!

Like other Imagiplay toys the Push Along Hybrid Car is eco friendly as it's built from a fast growing sustainable rubber wood which gives this toy super durability and the warmth only wood can provide. Its colored in a darker green with natural stained tires and it looks as pretty sitting in my living room as it does waiting to be played with on Connor's shelf. Needless to say it spends more time in the living room than on the shelf but I'm working on getting Connor to clean up his toys.

If you love the car check out the other push along's from Imagiplay. You can get a duck, dog, cat and my personal favorite the fox! Go check out the Imagiplay website to see the entire line of Imagiplay toys as well as to purchase them online!

Looking for something a little diffrent this holiday season?

I've really started taking account of the things we buy for this household. I've replaced 90% of our paper towel usage with using washable rags, most if not all of our household cleaners are now ecofriendly and a good portion of Connors clothes are now made from renewable sources. Mind you we have a long long way to go before I can truly declare us a green household but I've made it my goal to make a few small changes every month not only in the way we live, but eat, and play.

I know man of you would like to start making green choices in your life and have no idea where to start and the holiday season is no exception with so many choices out there its just a bit overwhelming not only to pick products that are exciting but also ecoconcious this includes items that qualify for fair trade. I'm sure some of you are asking what exactly is fair trade? The US has been doing business with developing nations for some time but up till recently very little thought among the consumer mind was given to where exactly do these products come from and are the people who make these products treated fairly? Well the answer to that is not always a good one as sadly in some developing countries workers are treated somewhat like slaves and are paid wages that would make the average Americans jaw drop. Mind you a fair wage to you and to them may be something quite different as the cost of living differs highly as well but regardless a worker should make enough money to feed and take care of his family, I think we should all agree on that one.

Needless to say even I am still a bit puzzled as to where to start when it comes to buying items that quality as fair trade friendly though I think I'm getting the hang of organic and green products these days. When I saw Taraluna's shop I was overjoyed as not only does it offer a great tutorial on fair trade but you can find articles on everything from bamboo to building a "no waste lunch". Not to mention Taraluna offers a fabulous selection of fair trade and ecofriendly products that range from baby and toys, cosmetics, clothing, pet supplies and more! You can find a gift for virtually everyone on your wish list and feel good about your choices as well.

I know I've mentioned it before but one of our favorite toys around this household is Connor's wooden blocks. After all blocks can be anything you want them to be, castles, houses, I've even caught Connor using one as a car. However things really get fun if you introduce little wooden figures to your block collection as it just brings a whole new dimension to the play possibilities. Not to mention our new recent love of wooden puzzles. Up till a few weeks ago Connor would just rip the pieces out of the puzzles and then that was the end of it but now we are just starting to understand that puzzles fit together. Well his new puzzle that we got from Taraluna, an Imagiplay Puzzle Play Set, does both, its a wooden puzzle which fits together to make sort of a scene but the pieces are individual little animals each a toy all on its own.

Actually while your over at Taraluna check out their entire selection of baby and children's products. There is a table and chairs set under the furniture section that I would absolutely love to get my hands on. I can actually say without a doubt if I got one of those Crosby and Friends tables I would get rid of my small table in the kitchen and just replace it with that toddler table as its so gorgeous.

Head on over to Taraluna to check out their entire collection of gift ideas, while your over there don't forget to check out the learning section so you can learn more about fair trade, organic products, and becoming more "green".

In the meantime Taraluna has been amazing enough to give us a $25 gift certificate for one of our lucky readers!

To enter :

• Leave a comment on this post. Check out Taraluna and tell me which product other than the ones we mentioned is your favorite!!
• Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
• Please US entries only.
• To get extra credit :
  • For an extra entry :
  • Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
  • Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
  • One extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
  • This contest will end Dec 30th at midnight!

The most goregous doll on earth.

The first time I laid eyes on a Bamboletta Doll I knew regardless of the fact that I have a boy I absolutely had to have one. For you to really understand that one you have to realize that I am not a doll person. Though I do love dolls, at least very special dolls, for a doll to get my attention it really has to have something special to offer. The Bamboletta dolls blow pretty much any other doll I have ever seen out of the water.

Now one of my most precious belongings I really consider my doll as much a work of art as a fabulous plaything. I actually caught my breath the moment I took her out of the box. I fell in love with Christina's, the creative mind and seamstress behind the Bamboletta doll, faerie and mermaid dolls but I knew I had to have a doll that would not only capture my heart but would capture Connors as well. So I asked Christina for the impossible, a gender neutral doll who had the amazing blue multi colored hair that she featured on the mermaid you see to the left. Ok, I still call my doll a "she" but other than her amazingly gorgeous hair she features a pretty plain outfit and is not overly girlie.

Once I got over just how gorgeous she was I carefully lifted my Bamboletta doll out of the box like she was a porcelain doll. I wasn't really sure what to expect but what I found shocked me. She is surprisingly "substantial" meaning she features a really tightly stuffed body that gives her a weight unlike any other doll I have ever owned. Her body and limbs are slightly rigid and tight, not squishy like you find in most cloth dolls, so it gives her this life all her own. I found myself holding her tightly and not wanting to let go as the combination of her cloth body and the weight really give her a super comforting "life like" feeling. I can't really explain it as you really just have to touch one to understand.

I have to say I am still totally thrown by her. The amount of work that went into her still astounds me from her handcrafted clothes complete with working buttons and laces on her shoes to her amazing hair that gets comments from every visitor that sees her in Connor's room. Even Connor loves to spend time touching her hair and kissing her on the face. I hate to say it though Christine nailed exactly what I wanted her to look like on the head she is just so gorgeous that I do long for her to wear a dress one day. Hopefully at some point I'll have a little girl and my precious doll will find a new home with a little girl in a gorgeous little dress. heh. Either way I know our Bamboletta doll will be with us for a long time as I have a feeling with as well as she is made she will be playing with my grand kids one day.

You really have to check out Bamboletta dolls. You can get your own custom made doll directly from Bamboletta dolls though you will have to possibly wait a bit I assure you its 100% worth every second of the wait or you can buy a premade doll over on the Natural Pod or Etsy!

Beautiful, Simple, Fun!

Wooden toys are in my opinion a luxury, a luxury that every child should at least have one of. There is just something timeless and comforting about the feeling of playing with something wooden over plastic which most toys are made. With that said the one drawback to wooden toys is many wooden toy designs are well classic wooden toy designs and though there are companies making some really unique wooden toys I still get incredibly excited when I find something really unique.

Earthentree Toys is a toy company that specializes in eco-friendly wooden toys that carry a unique edge. The very first thing you may notice about their toys is the color scheme, dark greens, rich reds, oranges, navy blues all are made from vegetable and plant based dyes and then lacquered with a super shiny non toxic coating. All of Earthentree's toys are handmade in India and it gives them a sort of personality as you can really feel the care coming through in each toy.

I received a Tommy Turtle pull toy for Connor and my first impression was just how reasonably priced it is. For a handmade wooden toy a mere $30 for a substantial piece seems unusually inexpensive. It's movement when pulled, however, is really the unique aspect. Tommy Turtle features a gorgeous ball on his back with a circular design engraved into the ball, this makes up Tommy's turtle shell. When the toy is pulled the ball spins on his back. It's really an unusual feature and I can't say I've seen anything even remotely like it before. Tommy Turtle has a really adorable little carved face which is all slightly different as they are hand made and it gives the turtle a bit of a folk quality which is comforting. My only complaint is that my Tommy Turtle had a rather short leash and Connor tends to flip him over if he gets going too fast as he will pull up on the string causing him to flip. I've tied on a slightly long string and that totally cured the problem and it was an easy fix.

Tommy Turtle looks amazing sitting on Connor's shelf and until people inspect him closely he is normally mistaken for being a decoration piece instead of a toy. Though I think the real beauty of the toy is watching it move as that circle design on the shell is really gorgeous when he is on the move.

If your looking for something really memorable to add to a baby gift or looking for a great heirloom quality toy to add to your collection for Christmas you really have to go check out Earthentree!

The ultimate christmas wish list..

I've been thinking as the holidays approach if I really was Santa and I could get Connor anything I wanted for Christmas what would I get? I'm sure we will revisit my ultimate wish list as it gets closer to Christmas but I just had to share with you the company that is responsible for a large amount of the items I would just love to have.

I've loved horses from as long as I can remember and the earliest toys I remember loving were my rocking horse and a set of porcelain horses of my mom's which I ended up breaking, and still feel horrible about sorry Mom! Though I won't be able to afford to buy Connor his first real pony for quite some time I knew immediately that he had to have a rocking horse no matter what. The problem is my house is not terribly large and a rocking horse is usually a fairly large item. I just couldn't imagine having a huge cartoon looking plastic rocking horse in my living room so any potential horses have to look as good as they are fun. The new Arabian from Plan Toys is just what I've been looking for! Simple in design it will not overwhelm my living room but with a hint of color its not boring either. The best part though is the price, not only is it one of my favorite items from their large scale line it's also the cheapest! Don't let the price fool you though as with every plan toy I have gotten my hands on its incredibly well built, easy to put together, and with a little care you will have a little rocking horse that your own kids can give to their kids. Unlike a plastic toy you can always take it apart and store it almost flat between children as well, but I'll bet you wont want to as its just really too pretty to store under a bed somewhere.

While I was over at Plan Toys drooling over the rocking horses I spotted something that I knew we just had to have. When I met Connor's daddy he was working as a forklift driver which is a pretty fun little vehicle but have you ever actually seen a toy forklift? Plan Toy's activity line is a medium sized wooden vehicle line. From school buses to motor homes its designed with boys and girls in mind. Scaled perfectly for toddler's hands they are fabulous to play with all on their own but they perfectly match the Plan Dollhouse toys as well. The forklift in particular is sized perfectly to move your blocks from one side of the living room to the other. It comes with its own little driver but the real driver is your child! Complete with a little knob on the back which is perfect for little hands to steer it left and right its addictive fun to move the blocks around. The best part is, its really fun, and there are no batteries required!

Go check out Plan Toys and browse through their entire selection of toys. I think you will be as tempted as I am to add a few of them to your own Christmas wish list! Plan Toys is a green company as well, all of their toys are made in an ecofriendly plant with earth friendly materials! You can really feel good about that.

I saved my favorite diaper for last!

So I've had a few emails as to what was my very favorite diaper from diaper week. Well it's a hard choice as I really love them all but one just stands out from the rest in functionality and convince that I have to admit I found it was my preference early on. The easiest way to tell which diapers are my favorite is its rare to find them in the diaper drawer as pretty much as soon as they are washed and cleaned they end up back in the wet bag as they stay in heavy rotation.

Softbums brand new Perfect Fit diaper is the most unique, best fitting one size diaper we own. It's brand new revolutionary way that it adjusts makes it quite easily the trimmest and best fitting one size diaper currently on the market. Most one size diapers adjust in a series of snaps or other sorts of adjustments on the front of the diaper. Basically lowering the rise of the diaper by folding over the fabric. and latching it down.This results in an unusual amount of bulk in the front of the diaper when the diaper is on its smallest sizes. They do not always account for skinny legged babies in the adjustment so in those awkward growing spurts sometimes you may need to use a doubler or extra liner to make up the space. The Perfect Fit diaper by Softbums solves both of these problems in a very unusual adjustment method.

The Perfect Fit by Softbums does not look like a one size diaper at all at first look, there is no snaps or loops on the front to adjust it and unless you knew where to look you might not even guess that it adjusts. This diaper is not a pocket diaper however it does have a front opening that hides the diapers unique secret. Just reach inside of the front opening and you will feel a toggle clasp. That toggle clasp is attached to the elastic that runs down the legs of the diaper. This is how you adjust the diaper from a newborn diaper to a full sized diaper for a toddler. Just slide the toggle up and down, tuck the elastic back into the diaper and you can adjust the diaper to fit your baby and even more importantly to make a snug adjustment on the leg openings of the diaper to not only give you the perfect fit but to keep any leaks at bay as you will end up with the absolutely perfect fit on the legs as well as the rise.

The really cool part though is because the adjustment sort of scrunches the fabric down instead of folding it down in one part it's really hard to notice that there is any extra bulk at all when the diaper is in its smallest setting as it distributes the extra fabric across the diaper instead in one location.

If you were listening you would have heard me say that this is not a pocket diaper. So I'm sure your wondering how exactly you add inserts if it does not have a pocket opening. This diaper is sort of a hybrid diaper.. you could call it an all in one, but instead of the insert being sewn into the diaper it snaps onto the back of the diaper and folds over in the front to adjust to the size of the baby. This makes this diaper my absolute favorite diaper to wash as there are no pockets to stuff or unstuff. The liner just snaps onto the back of the diaper and then when its time to wash it you just unsnap it. It dramatically reduces my folding and washing times as its just quick and easy.

If you plan on going with this diapering system buy extra inserts. As long as nothing gets on the diaper itself (if the mess is contained on the insert) you can really get away with using the same diaper across several changes.

Pros :

• Nothing to stuff, just snap the insert in and go.
• Will fit babies from newborn to 6lbs to 35lbs.
• Use the same insert from newborn to 35lbs.
• The trimmest fitting one size diaper we've tested thus far!
• Will be available in velcro and snaps!
  

Cons :

• It uses its own insert so you may not have as much luck using other brands of inserts with it.
• This is a new diaper so the color choices will be limited at first.
  

The Perfect Fit Diaper will be released officially on Sept 30th! I expect there will be tons of orders so if your interested head on over to the Softbums website and get your name on the list!
Check out the Perfect Fit Diaper at Softbums for more info!

Looking to purchase your diapers?

Cutie Tooties is a one stop shop for buying your first cloth diapers or adding to your current stash. They offer an extensive list of faqs to get you started including the most important one "Why cloth diapers!" as well as a calculator that will show you exactly what cloth diapering will save you financially. This is particularly useful for convincing husbands or partners who may see the price tag per diaper and back off at first in convening them that cloth diapering really will save you money in the long run. I know that was one of my very first obstacles myself as it was hard to imagine a diaper that costs $17 verses a whole pack of premium diapers that costs a little less saving me money. What most people don't take in account is that one $17 diaper can be used hundreds of times where that pack when used is gone forever.

Really the best way to get started in cloth diapers, is to buy a starter package, this can save you a lot of money and it is a great way to jump start your stash. Cutie Tooties takes the guesswork out of knowing where to start by offering starter packages of a selection of different types of cloth diapers and even a accessory pack which can take the guess work and the stress of knowing where to begin out of your diapering experience. One of the most amazing features of Cutie Tooties is the survey. Just fill out the survey which includes some information about your baby, your preferences and what you expect out of your cloth diapers and you will receive a custom response with recommendations and tips to get you going. Its like having your own diaper consultant in your own home. If you live in the Knoxville Tn area you can get a local consultation as well in person at their storefront!

Cutie Tooties was kind enough to send us a Fuzzi Bunz and a Thirsties All in One to review.

The Fuzzi Bunz I reviewed previously this week and is one of our staple diapers. Nothing fancy, nothing frilly, but if your looking for a solid reliable contender in your stash which is great for overnight use its a great option for taller babies as it has a higher rise than some of the other diapers I've tested. Its one of my favorite diapers and our first choice on days that Connor's butt is experiencing some rash issues as the lining is very soft and almost fluffy so it keeps the wetness away from his sore tush. It's actually the first diaper I reach for when we are going out as its generously sized and easy to double stuff and add extra doublers for added protection, its also one of my favorite overnight options.

The Thirsties All in One is what I like to refer to as one serious leak fighting diaper. Its almost the tank of my diaper stash, this diaper means business when it comes to preventing leaks. It's a true All In One and may just end up being dad's favorite diaper. Nothing to stuff, nothing to do, just velcro on and your good to go. It functions fabulously without any extra doublers or liners as an overnight diaper, Ive actually never added any extra doublers or liners to this diaper though its totally possible to do so. It has some pretty serious leg gussets on the side which is fabulous for teething babies who may be experiencing some runny poop. Really the only complaint I have with this diaper is its one of the bulkier diapers in my stash. For this reason we reserve it for overnight use and around the house as its pretty plush when it comes to pants. If you have a girl baby however it would be an adorable option under dresses as it comes in bright colors so there is no reason to hide it.

Both the Thirsties and the Fuzzi Bunz are our favorite overnight diapers as regardless how long I use cloth diapers I do sometimes worry about leakage at night, actually regardless if I'm using cloth or disposables I worry about overnight leakage as we had horrible problems with leakage using disposables when Connor was smaller. I wonder often if I would have had the same problems if we had used cloth.

One of my favorite features on Cutie Tooties is the diaper dictonary. The most confusing thing to new cloth diaper users is knowing the difference between an all in one, fitted, pocket, what are the difference in inserts, ect. Cutietooties guide not only answers these questions but shows pictures of the different types and offers some brand suggestions.

Head on over to Cutie Tooties and check out their great selection and all of those informational faqs too! You can even start a cloth diapering gift registry too!

Its the last day of our diaper week!

So whats the end result of my cloth diapering experience? We love it. Connor's butt has never looked better and our rash problem has dramatically decreased. Though we have had a few accidents with Connor removing his diaper, I've had no issues with leaks except the first week when I did not know how to properly wash the cloth diapers. Really any issues we have had have purely been user error. As far as saving money I'd say you end up saving a little over half the cost of disposables by using cloth as you still end up using money by washing them but honestly I think you save more by buying enough diapers that you don't have to wash every single day especially if you go the route of a one size diaper as you use the same set of diapers pretty much throughout the lifespan of your diapering venture. If your a first time mom planning on having more than one baby you can save an astronomical amount as you can most certainly use the same cloth diapers really throughout several children.

Here are a few tips I've acquired just from using cloth diapers for a few months.

• Though velcro diapers are the most convenient and daycare friendly, snap diapers last longer and are better for babies who learn how to remove velcro diapers. Id recommend purchasing a few of each for your stash as I always send Connor in velcro to daycare as there is no explanation necessary.
• Properly washing your cloth diapers is the most important aspect of learning how to cloth diaper. If you do not properly wash them they WILL leak. I will share my cloth washing routine below.
• Try several different styles of diapers as as your baby grows you will find some diapers work better for different situations, I don't necessarily recommend going with just one style of diaper.
• If you decide to go the used route, consider buying new inserts as really the inserts are the most important aspect of the diaper as its truly the absorbent layer. I also recommend buying several extra inserts and doublers (inserts that lay on top of the diaper instead of go in the pocket) as double stuffing or using a doubler is very helpful at night, on long car trips, or anytime a frequent diaper change may not be a possibility. I use a doubler when we go out to dinner or family events just for my own peace of mind as well.
• Cloth diapers are in my opinion one of the best things you can do for the enviorment when it comes to having a baby.
  
• Don't throw away those cloth diapers when your done with them, sell them, trade them, or give them to another mom in need. They can most certainly be used again and again on some cloth diaper trading/selling sites you can get up to 50% or more of your original purchase price if you've taken good care of your diapers and they are free of stains. Pay attention to washing rules however as different sites have different procedures on how you need to wash your diapers to sell or trade them. I won't be parting with any of my diapers until I am 100% positive I won't be having more babies.

For those of you that I've asked here is how I wash my diapers and thus far its working very well for me.

• First I unload my wet bags, I usually wash twice a week so its not uncommon for me to have three fully loaded wet bags ready to go into the wash. (Around 12+ diapers with extra doublers and our Bummas) I just sit the wet bag up on the side of the washing machine and pull each diaper out carefully and pull out the inserts with the tips of my fingers and make sure any velcro diapers have the velcro folded down for washing. When the diapers are out I just throw the wet bag in the wash with them.
  
• All the diapers go through a quick wash cycle on cold you do not need to add anything to this cycle, on rare ocassion I'll add a teaspoon of Borax but there is some debate if this is a good idea or not.
  
• After they have gone through the quick wash cycle, I turn my washing machine to hot and add just a few teaspoons of a cloth diaper approved laundry detergent. You'd be surprised how little you actually have to use and less is better. There is a pretty good detergent chart here. I usually just keep a list of four star detergents in my bag and find whatever is cheapest on grocery day.
• Then once they are done with the second wash I do a sniff test. If they smell even slightly off I do another cold rinse with a capful of tea tree oil or lavender oil (Whatever I found on sale) that will take out any smells and will leave the diapers with a fresh scent. NEVER use softeners on your diapers.. NEVER.
• Then I run them through the dryer and check them to see how dry they are. Sometimes the all in one diapers and hemp inserts may still be a bit damp after a dry so I lay those out to finish drying while I put away the others.

The big point I will make, anytime I've found that one of my diapers is leaking the usual suspect is washing them incorrectly or not enough before using. All of my new arrivals go through two wash cycles (with the other dirty diapers) before I even attempt to use them though I've found especially with the hemp inserts its almost better to put them through three washes. The only diapers I've had leak on me either didn't go through enough wash cycles or were washed in the wrong detergent. A careful choice of detergents will also prolong the lifespan of your diapers and your investment.

That's all, hopefully we will be doing more diaper reviews in the future as I am still looking to expand our diaper database. If your a cloth diaper manufacture or seller feel free to contact me if you'd like to be included. I have had so much feedback on this feature I know we will want to revisit it soon especially when it comes to cloth diapering accessories and custom diapers!

Prestons Pants

When I think custom diapers the one diaper that comes to mine is Preston Pants. Virtually any color combo you can dream up she can make. Minky, Cotton, Fleece, Pul, Wool, in a rainbow of colors in any snap color choice you can almost think up. It's a cloth diaper lovers dream. If you want something truly special you can add embroidery on the diaper as well. It's all just too much for me to take in, I can think up dozens of combos I would love to have.

Besides the amazing selection of custom options, Preston Pants are unique to all the other diapers we reviewed this week. I got the most gorgeous Halloween themed minky diaper. It has a black inner lining with a bright orange minky outer layer along with a set of black snaps. I couldn't have picked a better diaper myself as Connor looks beyond adorable in it with his pumpkin tee shirt I picked up for him this weekend. If I didn't know better you would swear it was a fitted diaper, minky on the inside, minky on the outside what you can't see is the PUL (waterproof layer) is sandwiched inside the diaper. This means you can have all the benefits of a fitted minky diaper but there is no need for a waterproof cover.

The diaper itself functions the same as any pocket diaper the only difference is having the soft layer both inside and out. This may make you wonder if the diaper may have leaking problems. We used the diaper daytime and nighttime with a variety of different inserts and had no issues. I did however wash the diaper three times before our first use just to make sure. I will have to note that a HUGE benefit to Minky is that it does not pill, at all. It stays soft and velvety no matter how many times you wash it. The funny thing is I catch Connor rubbing his butt when he is wearing his Preston Pants not that I blame him I have a hard time not rubbing them against my face when I'm stuffing them and putting them in his diaper drawer.

Hmm now the question is what would I order if I custom ordered my own Preston Pant.. maybe a purple and lime with a dragon or trinity knot. Or maybe a turquoise minky with a lavender lining and a lavender set of snaps? The choices are endless.

Pros :

• Endless color and fabric selection. You choose your own colors and fabrics.
  
• Waterproof layer is on the inside so both the inside and outside of the diaper can be any fabric you wish.
• You choose your own snap colors!
• Add embroidery if you wish.

Cons :

• You may end up paying more for a custom diaper.
• Custom diapers have a 3-5 week waiting time.

You can see more of the possible custom options and learn more about Preston Pants on their website as well as order your own diaper!

Kissaluvs!

Kissaluvs are the only fitted diapers I will be reviewing this diaper week. There are two reasons for that the first one was I was most interested in reviewing all in one, one size, and pocket diapers this first diaper week as though they are not necessarily easier to use than a fitted diaper but I think most diaper beginners usually tend to flock towards the all in ones as they fell they are "easier".

Kissaluvs attracted me as they are just incredibly beautiful, and still just as easy to use as a pocket diaper. I just could not turn down fluffy pastel diapers with the multi colored snaps. I actually regret that we only have two as I just adore them. They are so plush and fluffy in fact that if I was a baby I would be begging my mom to put them on me. The only issue is that they are a fitted diaper and fitted diapers require diaper covers as they do not have a waterproof outer layer and I just cannot bring myself to cover them nor have I found a diaper cover (yet) that I feel is worthy of them.



Fitted diapers are the modern version of the diapers your parents may have used. They look and function pretty much exactly the same way a one size diaper would. No inserts, no doublers, just put them on and your ready to rock. The only extra step that you need to do is cover them with a waterproof diaper cover to prevent leaks. I have used my Kissaluvs successfully with the addition of an insert for short periods of time without a diaper cover but if your worried about leaks its always better to just go ahead and cover them.

My favorite use for the Kissaluvs though is for the days where Connor is just not having a good day. Connor suffers from terrible diaper rash and sadly he inherited his mothers stomach too and even the hint of teething sends him into a bout of awful runny acidic poop which is a downward spiral as Ive found that his diaper rash is aggravated by the runny poop not to mention that very runny poop is classically not great with cloth diapers and disposable diapers seem to aggravate his rash even more. Needless to say up till the Kissaluvs it was always a game of rolling dice. Use a cloth diaper with two doublers and hope for no leaks, use a disposable diaper and risk worst rash than he might already have, or just leave him in the bathtub all day (not the best option). Well Kissaluvs claims that their diapers are fabulous for runny poop and boy are they right. The Kissaluvs interior is almost the constancy of a super super soft washcloth and its very absorbent but it also traps that icky poop in its terry cloth type fabric. So as long as you have a good waterproof diaper cover on your pretty much good to go no matter what a little butt can throw at you. Sorry not trying to gross you guys out!! heh. Needless to say that the Kissaluvs's fabric also seems to trap the poop away from the skin and its almost therapy on Connor's raw butt. We just love them. I just only wish I could find a really beautiful cover so I wouldn't feel so bad about covering them!

One note I should make about diaper covers, you do not have to wash your diaper cover every single change. I wash mine every third change so you can really get away with only a few covers.

Pros :

• The best option for "runny stuff".
• Beautiful color choices.
• Much easier to use than your mother's "folded" diapers.

Cons :

• You will feel guilty covering them with covers as they are too pretty!
• Finding a cover prettier than the diaper.

You can learn more about Kissaluvs at their website! Also check out the retailer search to find Kissaluvs online or near you!

Monkey Foot Designs

Monkey Foot Designs bring wet bags to a level that all mom's will appreciate, hey even non moms, will love them.

I don't know how many times I need to say this but a wet bag was the one thing I never knew I needed as a mom until I got my first one, with or without cloth diapers. I can't tell you how many times previously I used a ziplock bag or even worst a grocery bag to store wet clothes or even my bath supplies. The problem with this is its just not pretty, grocery bags leak, and really who wants to look down in their beach bag and find an ugly grocery bag staring back at you. Well if you had a proper wet bag you wouldn't have had to put those swim suits in a grocery bag and ended up with lake water all over your clean dry clothes. Arg I can't even tell you how many times thats happened to us.

Well the Monkey Foot Designs wet bag not only looks fabulous, not to mention you can custom order one to match your style! But it features a really unique option that made me go "doh". I love a nice thick handle on my wet bag, mostly because I love to hang them over the back of our door regardless if I'm using it for dirty diaper storage, or if I am using it to store dirty clothes it just seems logical to hang it so its easy to access. The Monkey Foot Designs bag offers a super thick loop which is great and sturdy for this reason, but it also offers a snap so you can loop it over your stroller, hang it in the closet, or even loop it across a handrail if your at the pool. Seriously it seems like a small little option but its fabulous!!

Check out Monkey Foot Designs on Etsy, at her personal blog, and see the awesome custom fabric choices you can choose form as well at her flickr website!

The Pocket Change

The Pocket Change diaper is a standard pocket diaper made by Natural Baby Company (The same people who brought you the Dream Eze).

My first impression of the Pocket Change diaper was that it looked tiny. The first time I laid Connor down to put it on I actually hesitated thinking that it just didn't look big enough. The diaper is fairly compact but yet it stretches quite a bit so it fits a fairly large group of babies per size. Connor is in the medium size which fits babies from 12 to 25lbs, he weighs around 21lbs and the diaper falls just below his belly button and is very trim fitting for a pocket diaper.

This diaper started off as the one I worried about as I was convinced the sizing was wrong as so many of our other diapers fell at or even above Connor's belly button when closed, and quickly its become my favorite going out diaper as it fits well under Connor's clothes and we have and zero issues with leaking. It actually fits fairly similar to the Dream Eze in its profile when on other than the fact that the Dream Eze has the built in inserts. One other very unique thing about this diaper is that it comes with not one but two inserts a trifold insert as well as a booster (the type of insert that lays on the top of the diaper lining to help boost absorabancy). I'm not usually a huge fan of trifolds as to be quite honest I'm lazy and I hate having to fold the inserts to insert them as sometimes they come unfolded in this process. This insert however is my favorite thus far of all the trifolds and I've not had any issues with it as well it affords the diaper a much trimmer profile than a diaper with a mirofiber insert.



After using both the Dream Eze and Pocket Change for a few weeks I honestly now belive that if your looking to use a pocket diaper and that diaper fitting trim or if you have a skinny baby like I have the Pocket Change is one of the best options on the market.

Pros :

• Very Trim Fitting
• Great for the smaller babies.
• Comes with both a microfleece booster and a trifold cotton/hemp liner.
• Lining showed no signs of pilling.

Cons :

• May not fit as well on very chunky babies.
• Limited color choices.

You can read more about the Pocket Change diaper on the Natural Baby Company website. To find a retailer that carries the Pocket Change use the retailer search.

Drybees All in One and Pocket Diapers

Wanna try cloth diapering but scared of the whole liner/soaker factor? The Drybees's all in one diaper is a foolproof diaper that functions exactly the same way as a disposable, minus the having to wash them bit.

The Drybees all in one at first looks like a standard pocket diaper, and even has a pocket opening encase you wish to add extra liners for heavy duty use, aka if you need more absorabancy or overnight use. However this diaper is an all in one and that quite simply means that the "liner" is perminately sewn into the diaper, so all you need to do is put the diaper on and your good to go. No fiddling, no stuffing, just velcro it on and its ready.

If your looking for the perfect cloth diaper to send to daycare or that is grandparent family all in ones are most certainly the best option. You can still use extra linerse or soakers if you feel you need them but I have tested this diaper overnight and during the day and though I do tend to put a soaker in a diaper for overnight use I have used it without and had no problems with leakage. The inside lining is made with a "suadecloth" which has a lower knap than some of the other fleece we have seen used and it's not as plush but it certainly makes shaking the solids into the toliet SO much easier especially seeing we are not using a diaper sprayer yet here.

I decided to review both the Drybees All in One and Pocket diaper in the same review as they are quite honestly the same diaper minus the sewn in liner in the all in one. Actually if they are both in my diaper drawer (other than they are diffrent colors) I cannot tell them apart unless I look inside the liner. Both are veclro diapers that are fitted to the babies size, meaning you buy the size you need. Both have wide pocket openings that will easily hold any liner you wish and double elastic around both sides of the pocket so there won't be any issues with the lining of the diaper poking out the back. They both even retail for around $16.95 so either way you can't go wrong. They are fairly low priced, and a good staple diaper for any stash.

Pros :

• Economically priced, great working diaper for your stash!
• The all in one diaper is fabulous for first timers or daycare.
• Lots of solid color options.
• Solid wastes shake easily off.

Cons :

• Velcro curls slightly on the tabs.
• Prints are available but its sometimes hard to find them online.
  
• Currently no snap versions available.

You can learn more about Drybees on their website as well as use the retailer search to find a retailer near you or online that carry them!