Chick-fil-A #freshmade Giveaway

May 18, 2013 By 18 Comments

There’s something new at Chick-fil-A!

If you enjoy dining at Chick-fil-A, you might be interested to know that they recently introduced three new premium salads (Asian, Cobb and Grilled Market) and an improved sandwich wrap! Even better, they are all under 430 calories and are made with premium ingredients. Chick-fil-A has launched a #FreshMade campaign to spread the word about their new menu offerings, and it comes with a fun game and a giveaway!

I took the starter quiz and it described me as a “Go with the flow” kind of person. :-) How about you?

One of my readers will win TWO coupons for a free Chick-fil-A salad! Just use the Rafflecopter form to enter. Open to US residents only.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All images, videos and apps courtesy of Chick-fil-A and CFA Properties, Inc.

Disclaimer: I am working with Chick-fil-A to help promote the new menu additions. No compensation was received by me in exchange for  posting this giveaway. I was supplied with videos and the blog app to help publicize the promotion.

 

Filed Under: Giveaways

Mother’s Day Giveaway: Moody Sisters Skincare

May 10, 2013 By 7 Comments

 

This month we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day, and if you’re looking for gift ideas, inspirations or maybe just the chance to win something fun for your mother, this giveaway hop is just for you! Hop around and read some great reviews, and then enter to win from May 10th to May 26th. A special thanks to the Blogging Mamas Network for hosting this!

Make sure you also enter the Grand Prize – a $250 Gift Card to Mía Mariú! One lucky Mama is going to look so pretty with all that eco-friendly makeup!

Mia Mariu Giveaway

I’m giving away a $25.00 gift card to Moody Sisters Organic Skincare. To read more about these wonderful products, take a look at my full review here.

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below!

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According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Something Special for Mom participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Filed Under: Giveaways

Deema’s Rainbow and Lucky Little C’s Diaper Review & Giveaway

May 8, 2013 By 53 Comments

Is there anything more beautiful than a handmade cloth diaper? What if the fabric used to make the diaper was hand-dyed with swirls of delicious colors, customized by you? That’s the kind of diaper we were given by our friends at Deema’s Rainbows and Lucky Little C’s Cloth Diapers!

Diane is the talented lady behind Deema, and she swirl dyes everything from luxury velour fabrics to store-bought shirts and onesies. I used the color wheel at her website to choose my hues – blues, greens, teals and lavender. And then the magic began! After dying the cotton velour with my chosen colors, Diane sent the fabric to Amanda at Lucky C’s, where it was sewn into a plush fitted diaper for Susanna. It’s a size 1, which fits from about 9 to 29 pounds (Susanna is 26 right now).

Here’s the fitted diaper opened up. It features a cotton velour outer, a heavy Windpro poly fleece hidden layer and a color-coordinated cotton velour lining. The petal soakers are a soft blend of heavy organic bamboo fleece, hemp fleece and cotton velour.

This picture illustrates how the snaps are situated on the waistband. To shorten the rise, you simply fold down the waistband and fasten the snaps which are sewn on the inside of the diaper.

And now look at these photos!! Amanda put some really incredible details into this diaper. Each soaker is embroidered with her signature “L” to mark it as a Lucky Little C’s creation. And each is serged on the edge with sparkling metallic thread! Her exclusive label is sewn onto the waistband. The photo at bottom right is just to show you how plush and thick the leg gussets are. They are great at keeping messes inside the diaper! This one-of-a-kind hybrid fitted retails for $38.00. It’s a higher price tag for a true “Cadillac” of cloth diapers.

Because there’s a layer of Wind Pro in this diaper, it can resist a lot of moisture. However, if it’s going to be on your baby for a long time, a roomy PUL or wool cover will provide good back-up. Our Swaddlebees size 2 Capri cover worked well paired with this diaper, as did Sweet Pea covers.

And here’s how it fits on Susanna. She loves to touch the soft fabric and says “pretty!” when I put it on her. This diaper definitely attracts attention!

I was actually quite surprised at how quickly this diaper dries. Although it’s on the bulkier side because of the plush fabric and thirsty soakers, drying time is average. Unlike some of my other fitted diapers, I don’t have to run a second cycle to get our Lucky Little C’s diaper completely dry. Another observation: because the fabric is thicker and so well-sewn, the wings never curl back but always stay nice and flat.

* Shop Deema’s and Lucky Little C’s *

You can find lots more of Diane’s hand-dyed creations, starting at just $8.00,
at her Hyena Cart store.  Lucky Little C’s also has  an online shop; her stuff goes FAST!

* Enter to Win *

One lucky reader will win this hybrid fitted, which is almost identical to the one I reviewed!
It features dark green snaps and a luxurious teal inner lining.
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

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Filed Under: Cloth Diaper Reviews, Giveaways Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda Review & Giveaway

May 3, 2013 By 4 Comments

Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda is formulated to be a non-toxic, hypoallergenic and earth-friendly detergent for all household laundry.

Nellie’s asked us to try their 50-load bag of laundry soda, and I put it to the test on everything from sweaty shirts and jeans to days worth of cloth diaper laundry. I was curious about two things right off the bat. When I opened my bag of Nellie’s there was no smell. It’s completely unscented. Then I read on the back of the bag: “You wash your clothes to get the smell out.” Makes sense! And it struck me that this would make it that much easier to tell if my laundry was really fresh and clean, and not just covered up by pleasant fragrances.

The scoop also seemed quite small, and I wondered if just 1 tablespoon of Nellie’s would do the job. But after visiting their website and blog, I learned that most consumers are conditioned to think that more detergent is better, when in reality most commercial formulations are loaded with unneeded fillers. Nellie’s is super-concentrated so 1 tablespoon really is the proper amount to use.

I tested Nellie’s with our high-efficiency top-loader and local water (which is on the softer side). For regular household laundry I use warm water and a cold rinse; for my cloth diapers I do a pre-rinse with warm water and then a heavy-duty wash on hot, with one extra rinse at the end.

What were the results? Here are all the things I let Nellie tackle:

Prepping Diapers: We recently bought some flat diapers from Lovely Eco Chic and they needed to be thoroughly prepped so all the natural oils would wash out. Nellie’s plus hot water did the job just fine.

Dirty Diapers: Nellie’s recommends that you strip whatever detergent you have been using from your diapers before trying their soda. I’ve used Tide for over a year now, and haven’t had any buildup or odor issues, but just to play it safe I did strip my diapers before trying Nellie’s. There was a good three day’s worth of cloth diapers from my three little ones. Nellie’s thoroughly cleaned everything from newborn poo to the big, stinky toddler messes. I have a few Kawaii Goodnight Heavy Wetter pockets for my toddlers and they get super saturated; even those were completely fresh and odor-free. Although all my diapers did get good and clean, I did notice that a fresh stain on the Kawaii diaper lining did not come out with the Nellie’s. When I contacted the company about this, they recommended their chlorine-free Oxygen Brightener for treating and eliminating stains.

Clothes and Linens: The results were just the same with our regular household laundry. Everything came out clean and fresh, and I never noticed any bubbles or suds (residue) in the rinse water. As with the cloth diapers, Nellie’s didn’t eliminate any tough stains, but I’m so impressed with how the detergent works (and the great price!!) that I’m seriously thinking about adding the Oxygen Brightener to my routine.

You might be wondering what exactly is in Nellie’s All Natural Soda. Here are the ingredients and how they work:

  • Coconut Oil Based Surfactant: This is what cleans.
  • Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash): This softens the water so the detergent can clean more effectively.
  • Sodium Metasilicate: This helps to keep the metal parts in your washer from corroding.
  • Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate: This is another natural cleaning agent.
  • Sodium Chloride: This helps to hold everything together.

After using Nellie’s and learning what it’s made of, I can see why it’s especially good for cloth diapers. It dissolves completely in the wash water and rinses out thoroughly, leaving nothing behind but fresh, residue-free diapers. That means no lingering odors and no leaking or repelling.

* Shop Nellie’s and Save! * 

A 50-load bag of Nellie’s is just $9.99!
Save $5.00 on your order online at www.nelliesallnatural.com.
Use coupon code FBFAN#5 to save $5.00 off orders of $40.00 or more before tax and shipping.

* Enter to Win! *

One lucky reader will receive a 50-load bag of Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda, just like I reviewed!
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Cloth Diaper Reviews, Giveaways Tagged With: , , , , ,

Grow Your Stash: Cloth for a Cause Giveaway

May 1, 2013 By 27 Comments

Why did you decide to begin cloth diapering? The most popular reasons are money savings, health and the environment. Many families out there would love to give it whirl, but financial difficulties keep them from making that initial investment into reusable diapers. That’s why I’m so glad there are organizations like Cloth for a Cause (CFAC). My blogging buddies, Cloth Diaper Addicts, Viva Veltoro, and Leettle Baby, have teamed up to help raise money for CFAC, and also to giveaway TWO great prize packages to say “thanks” for getting the word out.

Cloth for a Cause is a brand new Canadian charity that has been in operation since 2011. The mission is simple: help those hard-hit 33% get their babies in diapers. And they are already making great progress! CFAC has expanded from one chapter to fourteen in just eighteen months. Nearly 150 families have been helped. Now, CFAC is officially a legal charity and so this is a great time to get on board with their mission. Donations can be made via Paypal, and diapers can be dropped off or mailed to any chapter.

If you live in Canada and are making a donation of $20 or greater, CFAC can issue a tax receipt.

And now for the giveaway details! Here’s a preview of the great brands included in the two prize packages. There will be one winner from Canada and one winner from the US or Canada.

Sponsors

Several wonderful companies have teamed up to put together to help us put together two awesome packages to Grow Your Stash!

Package #1 is open to Canada and the US:
One Best Bottom Shell and two medium inserts from Nicki’s Diapers
One Glow Bug Spectrum Package (six diapers, eight inserts, and a wetbag)
One newborn diaper by Diapers by Chris
One pocket diaper and insert from Hunny Bunny Baby Wear
One fabulous bag of Rockin Green detergent!
One AppleCheeks swim diaper!

Package #2 is open to Canada only:

A Thirsties Package (Thirstiest Prefold, a Thirsties Stay Dry insert, a Thirsties Duo Cover, and a Snappi pack) and a Rockin Green sample pack, all nicely bundled in a Cozy Bums shopping bag.
A fifty dollar gift certificate to Lagoon Baby
One Glow Bug Spectrum Package (six diapers, eight inserts, and a wetbag)
One pocket diaper and insert from Hunny Bunny Baby Wear
One fabulous bag of Rockin Green detergent!
One AppleCheeks swim diaper!
One diaper and wetbag from EcoWays!

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Fluffy Mail Hipkiddo Pocket Diapers Giveaway

May 1, 2013 By 2 Comments

Welcome to the Fluffy Mail Giveaway Hop, hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network!

Isn’t it exciting to open up a package with a new diaper or accessory for your little one? That’s what this giveaway hop is all about! I’m teaming up with over 30 bloggers to give you lots of chances to win some “Fluffy Mail” for yourself!

One of my readers will be getting a package full of Hipkiddo goodness…..

I’m a fan of everything we’ve tried so far at Hipkiddo diapers. In February, I reviewed the Intelligently Hip pockets, which are lined with polar fleece and feature double snaps on the waistband. The Weebaby AIO diapers were perfect for Erik when he was newborn, and I daily use our fleece liners to make cleaning up #2 messes easier.

Hipkiddo also sells a “frugal and fabulous” pocket diaper which they call “Classicly Hip.” At just $10 each, they are trim, brightly colored and easy on the budget. All of the Hipkiddo pocket diapers fit a size range of about 8 to 35 pounds.

My prize package contains THREE Hipkiddo Classicly Hip diapers in some fun gender-neutral prints and colors: Bright Night, Bumblebee Yellow and Retro Dots. How exciting!!

Enter to win using the Rafflecopter form below beginning May 1st! Then “hop” around and enter all the other cloth diaper giveaways listed below.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
     

According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, The Blogging Mamas Network and the Fluffy Mail participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Hop around and enter these giveaways, too!


Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , ,

Squishable Baby Wool Longies and Shorties Review

April 30, 2013 By 5 Comments

After happening upon The Squishable Baby blog, I knew right away it was one-of-a-kind. And the person behind the blog, Lisa, is just as unique. Her writing makes me smile; it’s upbeat, positive and family-focused. And she injects her fun personality into the Squishable Baby bamboo and wool shorties and longies that she sews and sells.

Where did the cute name come from? Says Lisa: “I have 3 very cute and sweet squishes in my life – two sons (8 years old and 7 months) and one baby girl (4 years old).  They are my all and my everything.  Heavenly Father certainly blessed me with these three kiddos.  They drive me crazy and give me complete joy – at the same time.”

Here’s how Lisa describes her hand-dyed Merino wool and bamboo pants: “They are fun, soft and squishy pants that they can rough and tumble play in – or go out at night and be fancy in! The fibers are certainly sustainable – and durable!” 

Lisa sent us two delightful selections from her shop. Each design has its own name:

 

The Arlo shorties are made of felted Merino wool and start at just $15.00. The size small fits perfectly on Erik, who’s now past the newborn phase and just over 13 pounds. I love the soft and smooth fabric, the wide stretchy waistband, and I usually let the cute “Squishable Baby” tag show on the front. :-)

Aren’t these shorties the cutest?

The Haydn longies are also made with a Merino wool upper and lower; these gems start at just $20.00 a pair. Erik is a short little “squish” so the legs are a little long, but since he’s not crawling yet, I’m not bothered one bit. I love that the longies keep his legs cozy and warm!

If you’ve used wool before, then I don’t have to tell you how phenomenal it is as a diapering fabric. Besides being naturally antimicrobial and resistant to odors, wool is extremely waterproof. I think these shorties and longies could hold back Niagra Falls. For me, they are the perfect thing for Erik to wear overnight over his cloth diapers; they keep in wetness and keep him warm, just like a pair of pajama pants. Basically, a wool cover doubles as an article of clothing. Pretty nifty, huh?

When ordering from The Squishable Baby, you get to choose from an enticing assortment of colors. It’s fun to look at the fabric selections and pick my favorite color pairings for the upper and lower parts of the pants. Some of the shorties and longies are made with bamboo lowers and wool waistbands, which is a really unique combination.

And now it gets even more fun!

Lisa told me that one of you will get to choose a shorty and longy set for your little one! Isn’t that wonderful? Just enter the giveaway by using the Rafflecopter form below. And don’t forget to follow Lisa’s blog!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Cloth Diaper Reviews, Giveaways Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Nuby Whale Pail Review & Giveaway

April 28, 2013 By 43 Comments

 

Nuby has come up with yet another wonderful addition to bath time play: the Whale Pail! He’s big and blue and has a friendly smile on his face, and he helps to keep tub toys organized.

We have a lot of bath toys, and the Whale Pail can hold nearly all of them.

The carry handle is easy for everyone from toddlers right on up to mama to grip. And there are holes inside of the Whale Pail so that water can drain out of all sides when bath time is done.

The Whale Pail also comes with easy stick-on wall hooks so you can keep everything neatly on the wall.

Susanna thinks of her Whale Pail  kind of as a pet. She wanted to give him a drink of water!

I’m so glad the Whale Pail doesn’t use suction cups to adhere to the wall, because over the years we’ve tried many of those and they never stay put for long. In fact, I like everything about this newest addition to the Nuby lineup! The Whale Pail is a cute, simple and very useful toy.

If you’d like to get one for your little one’s bath time, try retailers like Amazon and Bed, Bath & Beyond. The Whale Pail retails for about $19.95.

Here’s how to connect with our friends at Nuby:

www.facebook.com/nubyusa
www.twitter.com/nubyusa
www.pinterest.com/nubyusa
www.instagram.com/nubyusa

You can also enter to WIN a Whale Pail from Nuby! Use the Rafflecopter form below. And don’t forget: Nuby is also holding an Ultrasound Photo Contest on their Facebook wall; upload your picture and be entered to win a special prize!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Giveaways, Home and Family Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Gift for Our Godchild: Review & Giveaway

April 25, 2013 By 20 Comments

My husband and I are fortunate to be the godparents of three wonderful children – from three different families. Being a godparent or “sponsor” is an ancient tradition which dates back to the earliest centuries of the Church. If you are curious about what role a godparent fills, the Code of Canon Law states that he must “help the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it.” One way that godparents can do this is to celebrate important sacramental milestones like First Communion and Confirmation, and even marriage and Holy Orders later in life.

This year, one of our godchildren is making her First Communion, and so I naturally turned to one of my favorite online stores for religious and devotional items: Catholic Family Gifts. Once again, my dear friend Ruth offered to send something from their extensive selection of First Communion gifts. I chose this lovely White Pearl Holy Communion bracelet and pendant set. It retails for just $21.99.

Our godchild will make her First Communion in May, and we are thrilled to have this beautiful gift to present. It’s going to look perfect with her white dress, and she can continue to wear it long after that special Sunday has passed.

The bracelet is crafted with glass pearls and silver spacer beads. Tiny little rhodium chalice and crucifix charms add an extra nice touch to this set. And because it’s a stretch bracelet, there are no worries about whether it will fit or not. It’s nicely packaged in a white leather jewelry box, just right for gift-giving. The quality and beauty of this pretty little set really impressed me, especially since it’s priced under $25.00!

So far, two of our children, Joseph and Catherine, have celebrated this important milestone. It’s very uplifting every Spring to see the Church filled with excited boys and girls all ready to receive the Lord!

 * Special Discount for April Only! *

Until April 30th, you can get 10% off any order
at Catholic Family Gifts using code W1304SWA

 * There’s a Giveaway! *

One reader will win an item of choice, up to $25, from Catholic Family Gift’s First Communion collection!
Enter to win using the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Giveaways, Home and Family Reviews

Omaiki AIO Diaper Review & Giveaway

April 24, 2013 By 105 Comments

 

Anouk and Ariane created Omaiki in 2007 to encourage families to “change the world, one diaper at a time.” They are both Canadian, both mothers, and best friends as well! These wonderful ladies at Omaiki sent us a one-size AIO in the cute “Whoooo” print, with Velcro closure. It has 4 snap settings on the rise to give you a very wide range of sizes. This diaper retails for $28.50; solid color AIO’s are $26.95.

An All-in-one (or AIO) diaper is as close as you can get to a disposable diaper. Absorbent inserts are sewn inside and the cover is waterproof. That means you literally just grab it from the pile and fasten it onto your baby. But an AIO has two great advantages over disposables – it won’t end up in a landfill, and it looks awfully stylish and cute on little ones!

The Omaiki AIO features a 100% PUL waterproof outer layer and a smooth stay-dry suedecloth lining inside. The soaker portion of the diaper is 70% bamboo, 28% organic cotton and 2% polyester. As a little “bonus” the Omaiki AIO diaper does include an extra “mini” insert that you can lay or snap inside for more absorbency. It adds some bulk, so Omaiki doesn’t recommend using it with tiny babies.

We have a lot of covers, prefolds and flats in our diaper stash, so the Omaiki AIO style definitely makes me feel spoiled. It’s ridiculously easy to use and the Velcro closures make diaper changes super quick. It doesn’t take that long to dry because the main insert is only attached at one end. The laundry tabs are very strong and have never come undone in the washing machine or dryer. The Velcro on the wings seems to be *slightly* less sticky than the laundry tabs, but it hasn’t affected performance and the diaper definitely stays fastened. I asked the gals at Omaiki about it, and they assured me that the same Velcro is used on the laundry tabs as on the waistband.

I’m really happy with how our diaper fits. Velcro on the waistband means you can fine-tune the snugness and never have the problem of being stuck in between snap sizes. The leg gussets are soft and well-fitting.

Most AIO diapers on the market range from about $15 to $26 in price, so the Omaiki is at the higher end of the spectrum. When you spend the extra money on an AIO diaper you are paying for convenience, a trim fit and ease of use. Some mothers have just a few in their stash, like me. Others prefer to build an entire diapering system from AIO’s. If you have a situation where a friend or husband or relative is helping with diaper changes, it’s nice to have some of these easy-to-use diapers on hand.

Now let’s see the how the diaper fits on a wide range of sizes! First up is Erik:

And then Susanna:

Three-year-old Samuel can even wear it:

Besides the AIO diaper (which won the coveted PTPA award), Omaiki also sells diaper covers, pockets, Mini-O newborn diapers, trainers, swim diapers and accessories like wet bags, totes and liners. They also have a line of breastfeeding and menstrual pads for mama.

* Get a FREE Diaper at Omaiki *

Right now, when you buy 5 AIO diapers
get the 6th one for free! In the ”comment box’
at checkout, tell Omaiki what color you want.

* Enter to Win! *

One reader will receive an Omaiki AIO diaper
in choice of color/print and closure (as available)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Cloth Diaper Reviews, Giveaways Tagged With: , , , , ,
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