MyPerfectGift iPod Nano (Giveaway)

So what’s on your Dad’s wish list for Father’s Day???

Make sure you get EXACTLY what he wants by letting him create a personal registry on MyPerfectGift.com! MyPerfectGift.com lets you buy the gift your loved ones really want!

Think Dad would like a new iPod Nano?? One lucky reader will receive an iPod Nano (MSRP $149)!!

TO BE ELIGIBLE: Create a registry with at least 3 items on MyPerfectGift.com (or add an item to an existing registry if you already have an account). Use “MOMMY” in the “Referred By” field. All other entries in the Rafflecopter are optional.

Sponsored by MyPerfectGift.com! Hosted by Bay Area Mommy, Katie’s Krazy Savings, & Filipino Cooking Recipes.

Giveaway ends June 14 at 11:59pm EST. Open to US residents only. Must be at least 18 years old to be eligible. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. This blog is not responsible for prize fulfillment. MyPerfectGift.com will send the prize directly to the winner chosen randomly. See full terms and conditions in the Rafflecopter form. For questions regarding this giveaway, contact Bay Area Mommy.

LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls Review

When I first started cloth diapering, I knew I wasn't supposed to use dryer sheets. In fact, I stopped using those well before even getting pregnant since I found out some of the nasty things they had in them. When I found out, however, that fabric softener wasn't safe for the cloth diapers, I was at a loss. What would I do?

I decided to test some things out with our regular laundry. I wasn't about to use something in our washer that couldn't be used with my fluff, too. Residue, etc etc. If it wasn't good for the diapers, it probably wasn't good for us, right? I ran a load without softener and dried it in the dryer. Not too pleasant feeling, and lots of static. I then ran a load of wash sans fabric softener and hung it out on the line. No static, but boy if I dropped something from the line I swear it was going to shatter like glass. Stiff as can be!

After this, my husband said there was no way we would NOT use fabric softener... but then I heard about LooHoo wool dryer balls (then known as Wooly Rounds). I decided to purchase 8 of them and try them out. I got 8 since all the reading and researching I did said the more you have, the better.

Our next load of laundry tested (after receiving the wool balls) was impressive. The laundry wasn't full of static, and it was soft as can be. My husband grabbed something out of the dryer and said something about how we just have to have fabric softener because of the huge difference in softness.... he thought I had used fabric softener on that load! Well, that was a win in my book!

I've used my dryer balls every time since they arrived. Sure, sometimes there are less than 8 because one sneaks into the laundry basket (and then into Bobble's hands!), but they are always being used.

LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls are HANDMADE in Maine with 100% domestic wool. Each one is approximately the size of a baseball, ~9 inches in circumference and weighs ~ 2oz. They are sold individually or in packs, so you can get as many or as few as you like! Being all-natural, there are no harmful chemicals or toxins, so you don't have to worry about what you are drying them with. They are safe for everything! Another perk? They cut down on the drying time! The more you have in the dryer the better!

Worried about how noisy they would be in the dryer? Don't be! They aren't noisy at all! Yes, you can hear something is in the dryer with your laundry, but it is nowhere near as loud as, say, shoes. I was worried about how loud they would be at first, but my washer makes more noise when it is running than my dryer with the wool dryer balls in it!



Have a wool sensitivity? I don't, but I have read that even people with wool sensitivities are fine using wool dryer balls. How fantastic is that?!

LooHoo Dryer Balls have a life span of approximately 1-2 years. That's a LOT of laundry! We have had our Wooly Rounds Dryer Balls (that's how long ago I got them!) for about 2 years now, and they show signs of wear, but still work great.

You can purchase LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls from various retailers both in store and online. Some natural parenting stores carry them (which is how I first learned about them!), or you can get them directly from LooHoo on their website store!

Disclosure: The product mentioned above was purchased by me. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.

LunaPads Review

I was very excited to be offered LunaPads for review from BePreparedPeriod.com. For those of you who don't know about BePreparedPeriod.com, they are a fantastic website with all sorts of options for you in regards to that time of the month. You can purchase any sort of cycle items you need (including disposables, should you choose to go that route), and you can have the products delivered right to your house! They offer mama cloth, menstrual cups (my favorite!), and more. Take a peek to see how they can help you out!

 

So, as excited as I was to partner up with BePreparedPeriod.com and review LunaPads for them, I was confused as to how I should go about reviewing them. You readers all know I am expecting Squiggle this summer, and many of you are well aware that I will never use disposables on myself again. Still, trying to figure out how to review the LunaPads wasn't a simple task for a pregnant woman... right?

Well, I was wrong. I figured I'd try them out just to see how they fit for comfort, and then later, postpartum, write another review for you to read on how well they handled. What I didn't expect was a lovely side-effect of pregnancy that I never experienced the first time around: leaking.

My lovely little Squiggle has been head-down for a while, and also looooooves moving around a lot. Hands hitting me in the bladder, head pushing against my bladder... and, of course, my muscles are already a wee bit weaker from having Bobble a couple years ago. Still, nothing prepared me for leaking. Seriously, nothing.

A couple droplets here or there. Nothing horrible, right? Surely that's not that big of a deal. Well, when the end of the workday arrives and you find yourself wondering if that smell (the smell of a wet bed) is YOU... it becomes a big deal. How embarrassing! Not enough to ever worry about your pants even getting wet, but enough to let you know it's happening... and maybe even letting coworkers know it's happening too.

HORRIFYING!

So, I figured it was a great time to try out the LunaPads. After all, if they can hold up to a period, surely they can hold up to a bit of urine leakage, right?

I got to thinking: What is it about periods (and items used with them) that women complain about most? Comfort, absorbency, easy of use, and odor control... right?

Many of you may remember my DivaCup review last summer. I'm a cup girl. When I used disposables, I was a tampon girl (you may remember my story from You ARE Loved a couple years or so back, too). I hated pads. They are just sooooo uncomfortable to me! Well, postpartum mommies don't have much of a choice. It's pad or nothing! I grabbed one of the cute LunaPad prints I was sent to try out (I had already prepped them, which was super easy.... one wash!), and snapped it on. They have very simple instructions, too, so I couldn't get confused if I tried!





After the initial "ugh, I'm wearing a pad!" feeling faded away (about 2 minutes), I couldn't feel the LunaPad! I was very thankful for this, because, as previously established, I was NOT a fan of pads! I was surprised at how comfortable they were once I got used to the feeling of having something there. You just snap them around your underwear and you're good to go!






LunaPads come in many different sizes, and have insert options to help customize the absorbency  too.  I tried them with and without an insert, thinking that maybe the cute little ribbon that holds the insert in place might be uncomfortable directly against my skin. Again, didn't notice it. What a relief that was! The inserts are easily put in and taken out, so adding absorbency is a breeze. How nice that it is so easy to customize! I was sent a couple for review, and actually had a few (never used since I got them while I was pregnant) from before, so you will get to see a whole array of prints and sizes in this review! The largest one (with the fold-out absorbent layer [pink]) is the postpartum pad.












While I cannot, yet, attest to how well LunaPads hold up to a cycle, I can say that they are good for what I tried them out for. My underwear were constantly slightly damp (which sucked, by the way) from the pressure of this baby's head, but the LunaPads kept ME dry. Nothing leaked through (though, as I said, I wasn't leaking a lot), and nothing felt like it was damp. What a lovely feeling to feel dry again! If you needed extra absorbency, adding to the pad is a breeze. You just slide the extra layer under the ribbon on either end, and you're set!

Storing used LunaPads was a breeze, too. You can use a small wetbag for storage, and you can just snap the LunaPads together when they are dirty. (See below)

Not only did the LunaPads keep me dry, but the days I would wear them were the only days I came home without being able to notice the smell of urine on myself. Might I add how embarrassing that is, again? Seriously. Sitting at work for 10 hours a day and feeling like others must notice it. After all, if I could smell it, they could, right? Even showering immediately before work didn't help any. I didn't think the LunaPads would really make a difference with smell... after all, it's still just fabric in the end, right? Well, they made a world of difference. No hint of smell at all. NONE AT ALL. If they are that great with urine, I can only but imagine that they will work the same for a cycle and odor.

These far surpassed my expectations for reusable mama cloth, and I will write again when I know how they hold up to my soon-to-be-tested postpartum wear.

If you'd like to check out LunaPads for yourself, head on over to BePreparedPeriod.com and look at their recently expanded mama cloth options! While the adorable prints may not matter in the grand scheme of things, it's nice seeing something cutesy like flowers or elephants. I think it's the same as wearing cute underwear when you know nobody else will see them anyway... it makes you feel better.



Disclosure: The product mentioned above was sent to me by the company in exchange for a review. This did not influence my opinion of the product in any way. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own.

Bummis Training Pants Review & Giveaway

Bummis has some new training pants out that you may or may not have seen by now. Bobble was sick for a bit and we had some looser messy diapers for a while (as in a long while), and we were unable to test them right away. Something about trying to teach a little one where to potty when they can't even control what is happening because they don't feel well just didn't seem right! However, he is doing better now and back on the potty learning track!

 

Thanks Mama gave me the opportunity to try these out, so a big thank you to them! If you haven't heard of Thanksmama.com before, they are a family owned & operated natural baby store that offers a huge selection of cloth diapering products, potty training pants, swim diapers, natural baby care products, baby carriers, bibs, toys, nursery furniture and bedding, strollers and much more. If you're looking for innovative products that are good for the baby and also good for the environment, check them out! Thanks Mama understands that many families are on a budget, so they offer the lowest prices, free shipping on orders over $60 (within the USA), 90 day easy returns, and The Buy Safe Guarantee and Price Guarantee. Don't live in the USA? That's okay... Thanks Mama ships worldwide!

You can follow Thanks Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Pinterest or Google +. They host weekly Giveaways, Contests, Sweepstakes, Twitter Parties, talk about modern family fun and challenges, natural parenting and green living.

I received the Bummis Potty Pant in Pistachio Dot. I picked the Medium size (25 - 30 lbs) even though Bobble is 30lbs, because Bobble is built tiny and all sized diapers or training pants seem to be big on him if I go with recommended sizes. I must say, however, that these seem very true to the size! I should have probably gone with a large. Still, these fit him well, they just were more difficult for me to get on him (partially because he doesn't want to hold still. EVER.) and off of him.

Of course, the first time he had them on, he messed them. Seems to go that way with new diapers, too! On the bright side, that gave me the opportunity to see how well they held, and they did a stellar job! All was within the pants! (If you're curious, they washed very well, too... you can't tell they had a mess in them!) They have a nice lined central area from front to back (see picture above) that will absorb small accidents well so you don't have puddles on your floor.

With urine, they held nicely when Bobble peed in them. Assuming you don't leave them on after one pee, you shouldn't have much of an issue. I wouldn't use this for night time, though. Bobble tends to drink a lot at night still, so we would be guaranteed a leak!

These pants stretch nicely, and are easily pulled up or down (well, if you get the correct size, anyway!), so that makes it easy for your little one when they have to go potty! They have a nice, trim fit (even though they have the lined mid-section), and they fit nice and snug against the legs.

You only have two choices of colours, so I picked the one with polka dots on it. I didn't care that there was pink on it and Bobble is a boy (and neither does he!). I liked it better than plain white.

Thanksmama.com is dedicated to bringing the best cloth diapers, training pants and swim diapers on the market at the best value. They have many cloth diaper packages that have volume discounts built in, many come with complementary products and make shopping for cloth diapers in bulk easy. Cloth diapers for parents that are new to cloth are also available; they are great for trying different types and brands of cloth diapers. Thanks Mama has knowledgeable customer service that would be happy to help
with any questions or concerns.

If you want to be up to date on everything cloth diapers, know about current promotions, want to read and participate in discussions about natural parenting, modern family fun and challenges, green living;
not to mention participate in weekly Giveaways, Sweepstakes, Twitter Parties and Contests, follow Thanks Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Pinterest or Google +.


If you want to purchase a Bummis Training Pants, head on over to Thanks Mama's store and pick one up for only $15.95!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: The product mentioned above was provided to me by ThanksMama.com for review. This did not influence my opinion of the product in any way. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. 

Max's First Barnyard Birthday Bash Giveaway!

Welcome to Max's first barnyard birthday bash! In honor of my son turning one we are having a GREAT giveaway! Thanks to so many wonderful sponsors- Hotslings, Fun bites, teething bling, Green Apple Supply, Begin again toys, Jack and Lily shoes, and Glow bug cloth diapers and Our5cents for hosting! 

There are eight great prizes and four lucky winners!

Each week there will be new ways to enter so make sure you check back to the rafflecopter often to make sure you get in as many entries as possible! 

The giveaway will start Wednesday May 8th and end Friday May 30th. Open to US residence 18 yrs & older. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, or pintrest. 

All entries will be verified. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Our5cents is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact Megan at our5cents1@gmail.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

Earth's Best Jar & Pouch Giveaway!

Love Earth's Best products? Well, here's your chance to win 3 jars and 3 pouches of their delicious, nutritious food! Not sure if you like jars or pouches better? Here's your chance to find out!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Earth's Best Foods: Jars vs. Pouches

Lately, baby purees in pouches have become quite the thing. You see pouches of all sorts everywhere. Earth's Best, however, offers their delicious, organic foods in both glass jars and pouches. Both have their ups and downs, and many people have their reasons for liking one over the other. Personally, I prefer squeeze pouches because Bobble is at the point where I can just hand him one (opened) and he drinks them.

We did Baby-led weaning with Bobble, so we never really had a need for purees unless we were traveling, so we pretty much only wanted the squeeze pouches. I have found, especially over the last winter, that the jarred fruits that Earth's Best have are fantastic for adding to greek yogurt for a healthy snack for my munchkin. Especially when fresh fruits are way too pricy to purchase like in December in colder states!

I did have a mind blank the first time I attempted to mix the yogurt with fruit (I believe I mixed it with the Earth's Best Apples & Blueberries) and I mixed the entire jar with an entire greek yogurt individual sized container. There's a reason that they have fruit "on the bottom" and not half and half. Just saying. Not my proudest moment!

A benefit to using the glass jars over the squeeze pouches is they can be reused for multiple things. Crafts and storage, especially! If you have a crafty person in your house (maybe they have lots of beads?), they can definitely put these empty jars to use!

Earth's Best has great options for your child for whatever your preference is for feeding, and whatever stage they are at. They have over 90 jar varieties and 35 pouches! Check out their First Foods, Second Foods, or Third Foods for jar options, or click here to check out their puree pouches in any of the above mentioned stages. Don't forget to check out their toddler food and kid food, too! (By the way, the toddler/kid food is totally delicious and not limited to just them eating it! I eat the oatmeal all the time!)

What sort of food do you prefer to feed your little one? Do you like jars or pouches better? Maybe you utilize both depending on the occasion? I'd like to hear about it!

Enter for your chance to win a pack of 3 pouches & 3 jars from Earth's Best and see what you like best!