Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Edushape’s New Wooden Toy Collection + a Giveaway

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I think most of us probably played with some type of wooden toy in childhood, and so they are undeniably nostalgic. But those days aren’t gone, because many modern parents are turning to classic wooden toys for their little ones to grow up with. That’s why I’m so glad to share with you that one of my top picks for children’s toys – Edushape – has introduced a new line of products.

We received Edushape’s Sort-a-Truck and Dilly Dally Snail to review and share with you this month.

Sort-a-Truck is three toys in one: shape sorter, pull-along and a set of blocks which fit into specially shaped holes. The set also includes a driver in uniform and measures approximately 7x5x6 inches. There are nine pieces in all and it retails for $21.99.

Designed for ages 2 and up, it’s colorful and cute, and we’ve found that it offers lots of play possibilities for Mary Kate. When she’s done sorting shapes, it’s fun to pull around by the string. Sometimes she just enjoys dumping all the blocks out, taking off the lid and dumping them back in again.

Dilly Dally Snail’s a simpler toy that aims to please toddlers who are independently walking. His body is jointed and he rolls along on smooth wood wheels.

Young children who are just taking first steps might need some assistance in keeping the snail balanced.

Dilly Dally Snail also retails for $21.99.

Safety is always a priority at Edushape. Here is their statement: “We have independent labs test our products, considered by many to be the best scientific laboratories in the world. All products meet and or exceed CE and ASTM toy safety standards. Each Edushape toy is the result of a team effort involving designers, psychologists, teachers and at times parents who have a great concept, working in conjunction with those who manage sourcing to ensure that all materials are safe and durable.”

Do you like classic toys, too? What was your favorite thing to play with as a child?

Giveaway: Edushape is giving away the same two classic wooden toys that I reviewed! Enter the giveaway using the form below. It’s open to US residents only. Good luck!

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SprayStand Cloth Diaper Shield Review and Giveaway

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Cloth diaper super fans tend to gloss over the reality of dealing with messy diapers. But it’s a real thing that holds many families back from ever trying them. So thank goodness for tools like diapers sprayers and shields. They are considered by some to be absolutely essential to their success with cloth diapers. This June, I was given the chance to try out a complimentary SprayStand by SimplyImagine.

Here’s their story, as shared with me by Trent:  “Our family wanted to use cloth diapers but the process of cleaning them almost made us change our minds early on. But we wanted to stay on point and not give in to disposable diapers. My wife stayed the strongest. But we knew with 2 young kids in diapers, we needed a better process and searched around for ways to get the debris off them before they hit the wash.”

They felt that there was still room for innovation in the market. “We tried a couple spray shield versions but there was very little out there that met our needs. As I thought more about what would help us, I envisioned more of a hands-free approach where you could pin the diaper up and have more freedom to clean without it being a big messy ordeal. With advice from family members, we sought out a designer who was able to take our ideas and bring them to fruition. Through many iterations, we came up with the SprayStand.”

At first look, you can see that the SprayStand has some obvious advantages:

  • The free-standing design means you don’t have to hold on to it, bend over, or find a place to sit while using it.
  • It’s highly durable and holds its shape.
  • Multiple clips make it easy to secure one or more items and spray all at once.
  • The wide open top makes it easy to secure your items before spraying.
  • It’s tall, so longer items won’t be dangling in toilet water.
  • It’s multi-purpose. Use it to spray things beyond diapers. It can double as a trash can later on.
  • It doesn’t go into the potty, but stays positioned above the dirty water.

The versatility of the clip system is a huge plus; you can position them any way you please. Clip multiple diapers or inserts and spray all at once to save time. Use them to secure bulky or heavy objects like boots or coats.

The hands-free concept is so dead-easy that my daughter, Susanna, can spray like a champ.

See how the SprayStand is positioned while in use? It doesn’t actually sit inside the potty, and end up resting in a puddle of poo water.

In our testing, the SprayStand did its stated job well – gripped diapers tightly, contained all back spray, and didn’t move or shift around.

Larger than its competitors, the SprayStand does not fold up for compact storage. For us, it wasn’t an issue, since our bathroom isn’t tiny. If you’d like to estimate how much space it would take up in your bathroom or closet, the measurements are 17x17x9. One storage idea for tiny spaces would be to set it in your tub or shower.

Also, because it’s not flexible, you can’t use to press the diaper and squeeze out excess water.

I underestimated the importance of the bonus drip tray until my first test. When you’re done spraying anything, there’s going to be dripping water. Because of this, a spray shield of any kind is always going to need a place to sit, or you’ll have water on the bathroom floor. Some people use towels or buckets; other stow theirs in a wet bag. With SprayStand, the handy drip tray fits perfectly under the bottom, looks very tidy, and it’s easy to keep clean.  TIP: The SprayStand will be dripping as you remove it from the potty, so have the tray handy and hold it underneath the SprayStand as you return it to the floor.

At this angle, you can see how tall the SprayStand is. It’s simply marvelous for those cloth diapers that come with “snake-style” soakers that love to hang down in the dirty potty water.

I’ve also used our SprayStand outside for cleaning muddy shoes this spring. The clips hold up even heavy boots with no problem.

I’d love to know what you think of the new SprayStand shield! What feature jumps out at you the most? Let me know in a comment below.

You can shop for the SprayStand on Amazon
with FREE Prime shipping

Use code SPRAYSTAND to get an extra 10% off!
until June 30th

Giveaway: CLOSED

 

 

 

Wink Training Pants Review & Giveaway

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You never know how long the potty training phase will last, so it pays to find affordable cloth training pants from the very beginning. Today, I’m going to share with you a brand Katie and I both had a positive experience with: Wink Diapers. We purchased a couple of the new organic bamboo trainers to try out on our toddlers (ages 2 and 3).

Basic features of the Wink trainer:

Waterproof thermally bonded PUL (or TPU) outer
Sewn-in organic bamboo terry inner lining with 2 layers of microfiber underneath
360° Elastic for extra leak protection
Side snaps for easy clean-up
Rise snaps for three sizes
Fits 12 Months – 2T
12 month warranty

Performance: For Katie’s 3-year-old it holds a full accident and is easy to pull up and down. My experience with 2-year-old Mary Kate has been the same. Because the trainer opens up, it’s easy to spray (or dunk/swish) in the event that you’re dealign with number two. Dry time is on the long side since there are multiple sewn-in layers.

Fit: The suggested size range is 12 months to 2T, but it can work beyond that if your toddler isn’t too chunky/tall. Katie’s feedback on her 3-year-old: “Looks great on Roderick and was his favorite print because of the space theme!” One thing Katie would change is not having the plastic snaps exposed on the inside. This left red marks on his skin.

Roderick’s beautiful blue print is called Celeste:

Mary Kate, who’s small and slim right now, can wear the Wink trainer fully open OR snapped up once for a more “low rise” fit. Her unicorn print’s called Mystic. It puffs out a little at the front, but otherwise is a super cute pair of learning pants. The exposed snaps were not an issue for Mary Kate likely because she is smaller in the waist.

Other organic trainers on the market may cost $30 or more, but not Wink. They are just $15.99 each and the print/color selection (as always with Wink) is incredible!

Shop for Wink Training Pants
and get 20% off with my exclusive coupon code!

 ZEPHYR20

Giveaway: CLOSED My readers in the US can enter to win a pair of Wink training pants. Choose your print/color!

Nicki’s Overnight Training Pants Review & Giveaway

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There are now two different styles of washable trainers from my affiliate, Nicki’s Diapers – the daytime pants (reviewed here) and now a new night time option!

Nicki’s Overnight Training Pants feature:

  • A waterproof outer
  • A built-in microfiber layer for absorbency
  • A fleece lining to keep your toddler feeling dry
  • A separate foldable 2-layer bamboo insert
  • A retail price of $14.00
  • Size options of Small (16-21 lbs), Medium (22-30 lbs), Large (30-38 lbs), and X-Large (34-45 lbs).

Performance: Right off the bat, there were a few things Katie and I liked about these trainers. The stretchy side panels, the stuffable pocket and the free insert. As a bonus, you and your child can pick from some really imaginative colors and prints.

For Roderick, Katie picked Tree Friends (above). I grabbed Compass Stone (below) for Mary Kate.

The pocket opening is unique because it opens at one side, instead of at front or back. The foldable bamboo insert is easy to tuck inside for nighttime.

Value: This is one of the best deals on the market when it comes to a reusable cloth trainer. For $14.00 you get something that works during the day and possibly at night, too. Plus, the foldable insert can be used for newborns or young babies; I found that it fit great in a newborn cover. Laid flat, it measures 11×14 and doesn’t shrink.

Click here to shop for Nicki’s Overnight Trainers for just $14.00!

Fit: With no insert, the fit is nice and trim, and the trainers go up and down easily. Add the bamboo insert and it’s definitely more puffy. But that was at nighttime when fit and aesthetics don’t matter as much. As is, the trainer only has one set of snaps at the sides/hips. We both felt it would be a nice improvement to have one additional waist setting for more flexibility and comfort.

Here are the two sizes we tried, side by side. As mentioned above, you can also buy Small and Medium. Judging from the fit on our two toddlers, I’m thinking that only very tiniest of learners would be using the size small.

Here’s Mary Kate (age 2) wearing size large. She’s 27 pounds right now. This is without the extra insert. I think the fit is really cute, and the contrasting side and front panels add some pizzazz.

When I stuff the extra insert inside, the fit gets pretty puffy and the trainer sags a bit on her rear, especially when she’s on the move or goes from sitting/squatting to standing, and back again.

At 3.5 years old and 35 pounds, Roderick fits well in size large, with the exception of the waist being a bit loose (that second set of snaps would be helpful). Without the insert, Katie reported that it held a full accident. Tucked in the pocket it worked for all but the heaviest night’s sleep for Roderick.

Katie liked the peace of mind you get with a stuffable trainer like this. Whether it’s those first days when accidents are frequent, or sitting on the couch for a long time watching a movie, it’s nice to have training pants with some extra absorbency.

Giveaway: One lucky reader will win two pairs of Nicki’s Overnight Trainers – choose your colors and prints! Open to US and Canadian residents. Thanks for playing!

 

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Steeped Single-Serve Coffee Review and Giveaway

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If I didn’t have nine children and a packed homeschooling schedule, I’d probably visit a coffee shop every day. There I would sit, for an hour or so, reading recipe books, Far Side cartoons, and H.G. Wells. The next best thing, I suppose, is to enjoy a cup of coffee while blogging at home. And it’s really nice when you don’t have to turn on a coffee maker or get out the French press. In the past, the single-serve answer was instant coffee granules, but I don’t think much needs to be said here about how disappointing the flavor can be.

No need to put on your thinking cap, though, because Steeped Coffee answered the challenge. This California roaster has rolled out specialty coffees in convenient single-serve bags. Read on for my full review of the samples we received, plus don’t miss the giveaway for your chance to win two boxes of Steeped Coffee!

Our sampler included:

  • Sunrise Blend (light roast)
  • California Blend (medium roast)
  • Odyssey Blend (dark roast)
  • Driftwood Blend (French roast)
  • Eventide Decaf

Whether you’re at home or on the go, Steeped Coffee is a simple way to enjoy a great cup of java with just a mug and some hot water. It’s ideal for camping and traveling, too.

I love the concept of being able to brew just one specialty cup of coffee. Coffee pots take more time and often result in waste; plus there’s that horrible burned flavor which permeates the coffee that stays in the glass carafe for too long. My French press is nice, but it makes several cups at a time and is difficult to clean. And not everyone can afford a “K-Cup” machine and the pricey pods.

How Does it Taste?

True to my continental roots, Driftwood (French roast) was my favorite, but even I was pleasantly surprised by the full flavor of Eventide Decaf, which I can enjoy in the evenings. Sunrise and California were too light for my personal tastes.

At the age of ten I was already sipping coffee alongside my mother and father in the mornings. Starting young like that is a Southern thing, I think. Over the years, I’ve become very snobby choosy about coffee, and would say that the best cup I can get right now comes from my local coffee shop. Just a hair under that would be fresh-ground coffee out of my French Press. How does Steeped Coffee measure up in terms of taste? It’s very close to what my French Press can deliver, but not quite, so I think that’s a good testament to its quality. After all, it’s quick to prepare and doesn’t require a grinder or a barista. Mission accomplished, no?

How Do They Do It?

I wondered how Steeped delivers flavor and depth without using traditional coffee prep methods. Their coffees are roasted in small batches using precision grinding. Once that’s done, the grounds are nitro-sealed to keep oxygen out, and then tucked inside an ultrasonic sealed filter bag. When fully immersed in hot water, the end result is a near-perfect cup of coffee with minimal effort on your part.

To prepare a cup of Steeped Coffee, simply pour hot water over the filter bag. It’s pre-measured for you. There’s a little string and tag attached, just like a tea sachet. After about five minutes, your coffee is ready to sip. The Steeped Coffee packs keep for months and are easy to store.

If you need any more reasons to give Steeped Coffee a try, their business ethos is truly impressive.

  • Guilt-free packaging uses renewable and compostable materials; packages are printed with water-based ink.
  • Made in the USA: roasting and manufacturing all take place in California.
  • All Steeped Blends are ethically sourced; all wages exceed Fair Trade minimums
  • Steeped is certified: Kosher, Organic, Non-GMO and Vegan

If you’re a coffee lover who loves to try new things, see how you can get started with a coffee subscription for just $14.00. There’s a free trial offer you don’t want to miss, either. And then be sure to follow Steeped on Instagram and Facebook!

Before I share the details about the giveaway, here are a few things I learned while preparing and enjoying my samples of Steeped Coffee.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Steeped Coffee

  • Pour hot water over the Steeped filter bag.
  • Make sure you agitate the bag a little, side to side or up and down
  • Steep for 5 minutes minimum before enjoying
  • Let the bag float in the mug while you drink. It will develop its full flavor potential, and there won’t be any bitterness, like you might experience with a tea sachet.

Giveaway:  CLOSED