I am hoping to make my giveaways as easy to enter as possible. I know I hate leaving comment after comment...Here is a generic form I created in hopes of making your lives easier! What do you think? Should I adopt this new entry system, or stick to comments? Any feedback is appreciated!
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As a mama of 2 babies, I know one thing to be an absolute truth: Babies LOVE to chew. Everything goes into their mouths, it seems. (Whether it's safe or not!) And for some reason, babies LOVE jewelry. True story: A couple of weeks ago, I was carrying my always curious 16 month old down the stairs. I was wearing a necklace that my husband bought for me for Valentine's Day about 5 years ago. It wasn't anything super shiny or fancy...Just a simple sterling silver chain with a small heart pendant. Well, Sophie always tried to get her hands (and mouth) on my necklace. She would tug and pull, and try and chew on it any chance she got! This time, she got lucky...She managed to break my necklace altogether! She actually broke the chain itself, and the pendant came off and was in her tiny hands. It's a good thing I noticed, because the last thing she needs to be putting into her little mouth is a small silver pendant. (Can we say Choking Hazard?) I was pretty upset, since I don't have a ton of jewelry, and this had sentimental value since it came from my usually unromantic husband. This incident got me to thinking, though. There has to be some option for a mama who loves wearing jewelry that is not only baby-friendly, but looks nice, too. That's when I discovered Teething Bling, made by Smart Mom Jewelry. Teething Bling is the original teething jewelry, and it's designed specifically with baby in mind. (All while looking great on Mommy!) Teething Bling is also made of the same safe, FDA approved materials found in most teething toys. Their jewelry is non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, PVC, latex and lead free. Their pendants even have a breakaway clasp for added safety. The team at Smart Mom Jewelry is 100% committed to safety, and you can rest assured that all of their Teething Bling products meet and exceed all safety standards here in the United States, as well as those in Europe. Teething Bling is available in cute necklaces, as well as coordinating bangle bracelet styles. There are a TON of color options, and they are made to mix and match! There is even a fun line called Tween Bling, which offers a fun, heart shaped pendant, as well as standard donut shaped pendants that come in fun colors and patterns. Some are even scented! These would be wonderful for that big sister, cousin, or aunt who likes to look hip while spending time with baby! I received two Teething Bling necklaces to review, the Tanzanite Solid Donut Shaped Pendant, and their NEW Zebra Patterned Donut Shaped Pendant. I was impressed by the appearance of these pendants. They are super- cute and they come on a silky black cord. The materials used in the Teething Bling pendants are a hard, rubber material that is attractive without looking overly plasticky, and they are perfect for the baby that loves putting things in their mouths. I absolutely LOVE these necklaces! My daughter, who is 16 months old, loves tugging on them and playing with them. She even likes putting them in her mouth, as you can see! Now she has teeth already , and these are designed more for babies with emerging teeth, so if you have an older baby whose mouth is already full of pearly whites, you will need to closely supervise them, as they may be able to bite through the material. I have not had any issues, as Teething Bling is made of very durable material. Still, I keep a very close watch on Sophie while she handles these pendants.
My 3 month old son, Xander, is just starting to show the early signs of teething. His fingers are constantly in his mouth, and he likes to try and "chew" on the bottle while being fed. He is not yet putting things into his mouth, but he does look at the Teething Bling with great interest and curiosity. He especially seems to like the bright, vibrant blue of the Tanzanite pendant. While I am wearing it, his eyes get all wide and he smiles as he examines it. I'm sure as soon as he figures out that Teething Bling can go into his mouth, that's exactly where it will end up! And I will be able to feel good about him chewing away at my jewelry, as it was made especially with a teething baby in mind! And did I mention they're cute and comfortable to wear? I would definitely recommend Teething Bling jewelry to any mama with a teething baby. While you're out and about, you can always have the perfect teething accessory on hand, AND you'll look great wearing it. Why didn't someone think of this sooner? BUY IT: Teething Bling is available at several retailers, as well as on their website. They even have a handy store locator, if you don't want to buy online! WIN IT: The generous folks over at Smart Moms Jewelry are offering one of my lucky followers a Teething Bling necklace of their own! Winner's Choice! Please complete the mandatory entry first, and also PLEASE leave a valid e-mail address in all entries. If you're the lucky winner, I will need a way to contact you! Here's how to enter: MANDATORY ENTRY:
***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided. My opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** So tonight I am making my famous, super-cheesy, mouth-wateringly delicious baked-potato soup. Seriously, this stuff is better than anything I have ever had in any restaurant. The difference is in my secret recipe. Maybe I'll share, but that's a whole different post! Anyway, when I told my husband that I was making baked potato soup for dinner this evening, his eyes kind of glazed over and I could see him start to salivate. Yep. The stuff is THAT GOOD. It's loaded full of cheeses, (5, to be exact) bacon, ham, butter, cream, and lots of potatoey goodness. (Yes, I am aware that "potatoey" is not a word. It's MY word, though!) While this soup is spectacular, I rarely make it, for two reasons. One: It is a heart attack in a bowl. Literally. This is NOT for anyone counting calories! I only make it a couple of times per year, and every time I do, I want to run a marathon afterwards to rid myself of the calories that are sure to attack my belly and thighs. The second reason I rarely make this dish? You guessed it! The clean up. I am not a sloppy cook by any means, but when you're dealing with lots of things like frying bacon and bubbling, melted cheese, accidents and splatters are inevitable. I always dread cleaning up the mess that comes along with making my fantastic baked potato soup. You see, as a busy mom of 3 kids, 2 of which are floor-dwellers under the age of 2, I don't like using harsh chemicals for cleaning. Especially in heavily lived-in areas such as my kitchen, bathrooms, and our family room. I can usually get away with using white vinegar as a cleaning agent, but for some tough-to-tackle messes, it just isn't enough. That's why I was so happy to get the chance to review Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner. Simple Green is safe around children and pets, as it is non-toxic and biodegradable. As a matter of fact, it can replace many of the bottles currently under your sink! Simple Green has a TON of uses. It can be used on...well, pretty much everything that needs a good cleaning! Anything with a water-safe surface, that is. It can be used on any kitchen or bathroom surface, as well as floors, walls, doors, light-switches, even outdoor patio furniture gets clean with Simple Green! It can even be used as a laundry booster! Simple Green can also be used where most of your typical household cleaners just can't hack it; places such as aluminum siding, garage floors, on fireplaces, as a floor wax remover, on your grill, on toys, and even as an adhesive remover! All while being completely SAFE and NON-TOXIC. Now that is one versatile powerhouse of a product, if you ask me! Oh, and I should also mention that using the concentrated form of Simple Green can save you money, too! One bottle goes a LONG way! With proper dilution, just one 32oz bottle of this product will literally yield GALLONS of this cleaner! Yes, I said GALLONS...Plural...Now that's a TON of cleaner! I received the Original Concentrated Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner for my review. It came in a HUGE 32oz bottle, and along with it came a handy and attractive Simple Green spray bottle for dilution. The spray bottle took all of the guesswork out of mixing the proper amount, since it has a very easy to understand dilution chart right on the bottle! So whether you're scrubbing the bathtubs or scrubbing down a car's engine, you can always be confident that you're using the proper strength Simple Green. I have been using my Original Concentrated Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner for a few days now, and I have been quite pleased. I have used it on my kitchen surfaces and floors, on the baseboards, and in my bathrooms. My 1 year old actually decided she was going to pour a ton of baby oil into my tub and smear it around. I didn't realize this when I went to shave my legs, as she did this under Daddy's supervision while I was laundering our cloth diapers. He was giving her a bath, and he thought it was cute, so he let her play and smear it ALL OVER the tub. It was all up the sides and everything! So I went to take a bath and shave my legs, and once I got into the tub and started shaving, I noticed something VERY oily....I was slipping and sliding all over! By this time, it was too late. I had already started shaving, and now there were little, stubbly hairs sticking to everything because of the baby oil mess! Thank Goodness I didn't submerge my head under the water! My hair would have ended up looking like I had swam through an oil spill! Anyway, by the time I drained the water from the tub, it was a MESS. The hair I had just shaved off of my legs was ALL OVER the sides of the tub. I tried wiping it away with a wet washcloth, but it wasn't very effective, and it left a nasty, greasy residue. So I decided I would try Simple Green in tackling this mess. I used a 1:10 dilution for heavy applications and I went to town. And guess what? My tub was CLEAN and baby-oil free, with very little elbow-grease on my part. It only took me about 10 minutes before my large soaking tub was looking brand new! I have since also used it to clean toys, windows, even a pet stain on my carpet! Simple Green didn't disappoint, even though I tried it on everything under the sun. My husband, the car guy, even used it to de-gunk some of his tools. Worked like a charm! I will now be using Simple Green products as an everyday cleaner in my home, and I will be reclaiming the space taken up by several bottles of chemicals that once lived under my kitchen sink. I will be listing them on Freecycle and they can find new homes. I don't need them anymore, because Simple Green is safe around my babies and dog, and effective enough to take care of any mess I can possibly throw at it. Except for cleaning the interior of my Mercedes. Simple Green is NOT recommended on leather surfaces. But it can handle anything else I come across that needs a good scrubbing! BUY IT: Simple Green can be bought at most major retailers like Home Depot, WalMart, Lowe's, Ace/True Value,and many, many more. Visit their website to find a retailer near you! WIN IT: The nice folks at Simple Green are so sure that you'll love their cleaning products, they're offering one lucky follower of mine the chance to try the same 32oz. Original Concentrated Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner and spray bottle package that I received! ***PLEASE LEAVE A VALID E-MAIL ADDRESS IN AT LEAST ONE OF YOUR ENTRIES! I have had to redraw winners a few times due to lack of e-mail address. Also, please complete the mandatory entry before submitting any extra entries. I DO CHECK ALL ENTRIES. So please be honest, and be fair. Don't say you completed a task if you have not. It's not fair to those who play by the rules. Giveaways are FUN! Let's keep them that way!*** MANDATORY ENTRY: (Leave ONE comment for the mandatory entry)
This giveaway will be open until 11:59 PM EST on 4/21/2011. I will draw my winner using random.org, and I will post the winner here as well as contact them via e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to reply and claim their prize, or else I will have to redraw a new winner. ***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product from Simple Green to facilitate my review. No monetary compensation was provided. My opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** WOW! Random.org sure does like you, Tandra! You have won my Goodnight Sweetheart Couples Edition giveaway! I am e-mailing you now. You have 48 hours to reply or I will have to choose another winner.
Thanks to all that entered, and please check out my current giveaways! Okay...I know you are all familiar with my love for cloth-diapers and all things fluff-related. You know I can't resist my babies' butts covered in cute, soft, fun prints. My 11 year old was solely diapered in Pampers, and even my 16 month old daughter started out wearing disposables. We decided to make the switch to cloth-diapering shortly after we got the shock of a lifetime and discovered we were pregnant AGAIN when my daughter was only 3 months old!
So at that point, due to our panic, we started looking into money-saving options that would help us provide for 2 babies and a preteen. Disposable diapers were expensive enough for 1 baby, so adding a new baby to the mix would positively bankrupt us! Think about it: A case of diapers can run up to 50+ dollars. And that's for usually about 200 diapers, depending on the baby's current size. A case of diapers would generally last us about 2-3 weeks with Sophie. Multiply that amount, and take into account that newborns go through several more diapers in a day than an older baby does, and we're talking serious money here! So rather than making the hubby get a second job JUST to keep up with our diapering needs, we decided to look into the world of modern cloth. At first, as with any change, we were pretty dumb-founded. There are so many different options out there as far as cloth diapers go. There are prefolds and covers, pocket diapers, All-In-Ones, All-In-Twos, Hybrids, sized diapers....And the list goes on and on. Not to mention all of the possibilities for inserts! There are hemp, bamboo, microfiber, cotton, flannel...It was definitely overwhelming. But once I researched cloth and tried them for myself, it became a lot less confusing. Once I started using cloth, I never looked back. This is a switch I can fell GOOD about. Not only do cloth diapers save a TON of money, especially when diapering multiple children, they are adorable, chemical free, and environmentally responsible. Can you imagine how many disposable diapers end up in landfills every year, worldwide? Did you know that those same diapers can take up to 500 years to biodegrade? That's not a pretty sight! (Or smell, for that matter!) Cloth diapers are also VERY easy to use and to maintain. I was a bit skeptical about their use at first. I thought they would be nasty and stinky and hard to clean. I also envisioned diaper pins and plastic pants, like my grandmother used on her babies. Luckily, I couldn't have been more wrong. Clean-up isn't bad at all, and with a decent wet bag or diaper pail, the stink is kept at bay. And with my daughter, who is older, the poop literally peels off the diapers and is flushed down the toilet with ease. And those diaper pins and plastic pants? A thing of the past. Sure, you can still use those old-school prefolds... I use them, and I love them. But there is no need anymore for diaper pins, since you can secure them with a plastic Snappi. And those squeaky, rubber pants are a thing of eras gone by, as well. Today's diaper covers are slim-fitting, breathable, and are often very cute! The best part about prefolds and covers is that often the covers can be reused. (Unless there is a massive explosion and they get poo-drenched!) My personal favorites are Ebber-Deeber pocket diapers. Pocket diapers are very easy to use, and often come in a One Size option that makes diapering 2 babies a snap, literally. With a few simple snaps, you can change the size of the diaper to accommodate a toddler AND a newborn, and every size in between! So have YOU made the switch yet? If not, what's stopping you? I'd love to hear your thoughts! ***Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Cottonelle blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.*** I am MORE than just a little excited about my next sponsor for my Mad About Mama Mother's Day event! I actually found Erin, owner of the Skirt of the Month Club, while entering a giveaway she had going on over at her blog. I loved her designs so much, that I asked if she would be interested in sponsoring a review and giveaway for my event. I am so happy she agreed, and that I have the chance to share her amazing skirts with you all! Skirt of the Month Club is a unique and FUN club where you can choose a 3, 6, 9, or 12 month subscription. Each month you're a subscriber, you will receive a wonderful boutique-style skirt that is handmade with only the highest quality materials and designer fabrics, such as Michael Miller, Amy Butler, and Alexander Henry. Each skirt is lovingly made with great attention to detail, and are serged and top-stitched for added durability. That's right! Don't be afraid to let your little princess play hard in these skirts in fear of ruining them. These skirts can stand up to the adventures of even the most curious and playful little gals! So let them run, jump and frolic in these twirly skirts, as they are very well-made and durable enough for everyday wear! I recently interviewed Erin, owner of the Skirt of the Month Club to learn more about her inspiration and how she got into making these whimsical, adorable skirts. I love getting to know the person behind the business, since I feel it gives a little more of a personal touch to the wonderful creations they produce. Erin is a joy to work with, and is a very sweet person, too! Here is a little more about her, in her own words: "I'm a wife of ten years and a stay at home mom of two girls, ages 5 and 7. I grew up in a family full of very creative people, and some were/are really good at sewing. While I've always been good at more 'right-brained' pursuits, like art and dance, I was afraid to try sewing. I felt I would be lousy at it because it takes some patience and problem-solving! But I still put it on my bucket list of things to do, and finally got around to trying it, expecting to hate it and that would be that. Well, I not only didn't hate it, but I actually took to it easily. The funny thing is that I was right about needing patience, but it actually helped me learn it instead of being a source of aggravation. Well, most of the time! Having two little girls is a huge inspiration for me. I love picking out fabrics and styles that I know they will like. A lot of the fabrics I pick are with them in mind, of what they will like and what I think their friends will like, too. It helps having two very different personalities! My older daughter likes pretty much anything, especially anything Kawaii/Japanese or with cute animals, while my younger daughter is all girl and if it's pink or purple, she loves it! I personally love Woodland themes, or anything retro, so I like to mix those with my daughters' tastes! Picking fabric is the most fun and most addicting thing ever! I also started sewing things for friends' kids and found I liked sewing for others, too, and that's what led me to opening an online shop. It's been so much fun, and an added bonus is that I've made some really great friends through customers and other online sellers!" I know I am glad she decided to try her hand (and her patience) at sewing, because her skirts truly are gorgeous. Just look at some of her designs: And an added bonus to joining the Skirt of the Month Club is that every month, you will receive one of these gorgeous skirts, as well as a newsletter and other fun goodies for your little diva! Here is an example of what you will receive each month. Please note that skirts will vary, so these skirts may or may not be included in your monthly subscription. Doesn't that look fun? I love that Erin includes little goodies for the girls she creates these skirts for. It's part of that added touch you only get with WAHM's. No factories or mass-produced goods here! You can be sure that your little girl will be the envy of all her friends in her skirts from the Skirt of the Month Club!
There is also an amazing sale going on over at the Skirt of the Month Club through May 31, 2011. With every subscription, Erin will be including BONUS SKIRTS!
But it's not quite time yet... As always, for those of you who want an edge come contest time, I have some EARLY EXTRA ENTRIES available to you! Please leave your early entries here, as there will be instructions on how to redeem them once the giveaway begins later this month! I will keep it simple. EARLY ENTRIES:
Tandra A.
Congrats, Tandra!! ***Note: I had to re-draw winners TWICE because people did not complete entries that they claimed to. YES, I DO CHECK! So please, be honest while entering.*** Tandra, I am e-mailing you now, and you have 48 hours to claim your prize, or else I will have to choose a new winner! Thanks to everyone who entered, and please enter my current giveaways! I have provided easy links under the tab at the top of the page that says Current Giveaways. Also, a reminder that my Mad About Mama event starts at the end of the month. I have LOTS of wonderful sponsors and some really nice giveaways scheduled! Please get in your early, extra entries in my Sponsor Spotlight posts. (You can find these by using the search bar or looking in the archives.) Each sponsor's extra entry options are worth 10 extra entries!! On a personal note, today is my 3rd wedding anniversary, and my husband has taken the day off of work to spend the day with me. So I will not be posting today, more than likely. Stay tuned tomorrow for another giveaway as well as the Sponsor Spotlight for an amazing shop, Skirt Of The Month Club! You guys won't want to miss this one! ESPECIALLY if you have little girls! Tomorrow, April 5th, 2011 marks my 3rd wedding anniversary to a man who has proven to be not only the love of my life, but my best friend as well. This photo is a few years old, and was taken before he finally decided to cut his hair and look like a presentable member of society. What can I say? I've always liked the bad boy image! However, my husband is not the bad boy he once was, and he truly has a heart of gold. He is the most caring, loyal, and genuine man I have ever known, and I am so lucky to be his wife and the mother of his children. (And for the record, I am THRILLED with his new, clean-cut appearance. For awhile, he was frightening small children when we went grocery shopping!) Anyway, I have actually known my husband for the better part of 17 years. I met him when I was 13 (and didn't look it) and he was 17. I used to hang out at the local mall because that's what the "cool kids" did, and he and a group of friends approached me and started talking to me. I remember being impressed, because he didn't have any corny pick-up line. (Even at the age of 13, I had heard them all. One of the worst was "Excuse me Miss, Can I use your butt as a hat?") He just confidently walked-up to me, smiled, and said "Hi, I'm Dan." What a concept! A guy who was comfortable enough with himself to just be....well, himself! I remember we got along very well, even back then. We dated for a few months, which as a kid is an eternity, and as kids do, we went our separate ways, with no hard feelings. We even remained friends for awhile. Well, time went on...We both married and divorced psychopaths, and eventually, he found me again on MySpace of all places. This was YEARS ago, back when people actually used MySpace,lol. I remember being apprehensive about meeting up with him again. After all, I was at the end of what was a long and abusive relationship and I had a very young son to take care of, and I wasn't sure if Dan was still the "bad boy" I remembered. I was past that stage, and was ready to find a NICE guy. He was persistent, though. He sent me numerous IM's and we had several phone conversations. Finally, after a couple months of me avoiding him, I agreed to meet him at Denny's, a nice public place, to catch up and talk with an old friend. Nothing more, nothing less. That day literally changed my life. I pulled into the Denny's parking lot, and there he was, leaning against the Celica he was driving at the time. I was nervous and pretended not to see him. I was heading into the restaurant, and he came up behind me and put his arm around me and said "Hi! Looking for me?" Time seemed to stand still while we were there...We laughed and talked, and reminisced about old times. He was the same, but he wasn't the same...The boy I had thought I loved as a child was now a man. We were at Denny's for hours and hours...From about 8:00PM-8:00AM. By the time we went to the parking lot, I knew this was the man I was meant to love. I wish I had known that all along, but sometimes I think things happen for a reason. Maybe I was meant to go through the horrible marriage I did so I could learn who I was. Plus, I got my son out of it, so I will never call it a mistake. It was literally like no time at all had passed. Like years of separation didn't mean a thing. We could still finish each others' sentences and read each others' thoughts... When he was walking me to my car, he gave me a hug. Nothing had ever felt so comfortable before. And then, to my complete and utter shock, he kissed me. I knew I was in love, but I didn't admit that to him... He asked me to be in a relationship with him, and I was afraid. I had a kid, and that was something new to him. I told him to think about it, and if he wanted, to ask again later. Needless to say, he did. We dated for awhile, and then one night, after he was acting awfully strange and probably had a few too many drinks, we were doing....adult things....and he said to me, out of the blue, "So I was thinking about that piece of paper. Whaddaya think, huh?" Now I knew darn well what he was talking about, but I wasn't letting him off the hook that easily. If he was going to propose marriage, he was going to do it RIGHT. As wonderful and loving as my hubby is, he has never had a way with words,lol....Finally I agreed to marry him, and the rest, as they say, is history! We have been together for almost 6 years and married for 3 years tomorrow. Now there is no such thing as a perfect man, but my Noodle is perfect for ME. He makes me laugh when I'm taking life far too seriously, and he puts things in perspective when I am unable to do so myself. He does the math and I correct his spelling and grammar...He is kind, caring, giving and gentle, and he is just enough of a smartass to keep things interesting. He complements me in every way possible, and we mesh together so perfectly that I am convinced he is my soul mate, if such a thing really exists. He is strong when I am weak, and he always gives a shoulder to cry on. He's a goofball, which can be annoying at times, but hey, that's just him. My husband knows every Beach Boys song by heart,as cheesy as they are, and he isn't afraid to make a fool of himself by breaking into spontaneous dance...even in public. He randomly says bizarre and off the wall things, just to get me to crack a smile. He supports me in everything I do, and I am his biggest cheerleader in his endeavors. He has always been there to take care of me and our family. He even cleaned up 2 years worth of vomit during 2 back-to-back pregnancies in which I had chronic (and often projectile) morning sickness the ENTIRE 9 months, and he did so with no complaint. EVEN when I threw-up on him! Now if that's not a good guy, I don't know what is! He is the best friend, husband, and father in the world. When I watch him hold and play with his babies, I fall in love with him all over again. He gives these kids all the love in the world, and is probably one of the most involved fathers I have ever seen. He is totally wrapped around our daughter's 16 month old finger, and he dotes on our 3 month old son. These kids bring out a tenderness in him that is a beautiful thing to witness. He even took in my oldest as his own, and acts as the dad that he didn't HAVE to be. I am so blessed, and so glad that my children have a REAL man to look up to as they grow up. I am lucky that he chose me to be his wife, when he probably could have had anyone he wanted. And tomorrow, we will be celebrating 3 wonderful years of marriage. I am more in love with him today than I ever have been. The man who holds my hand also holds my heart. So even though we can't afford gifts this year and probably won't do anything overly extravagant, it is sure to be a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. Wow, I'm a cheeseball! :) Mom, I don't want to hear it! I know you're either gagging or rolling your eyes at my sappiness,haha! Okay. So everyone knows I am absolutely obsessed with cloth diapers. It's kind of ironic, because 2 years ago if anyone told me I would ever use cloth diapers, let alone embark on a full-blown love affair with them, I would have died laughing. Then after my daughter was born, I found myself pregnant again when she was only 3 months old. Looking at the added expense of another baby in diapers, cloth became inevitable. I was so relieved when I found out that cloth diapers today are NOT your granny's old fashioned nappies! Okay. I lied. I have and LOVE prefolds, but I use them primarily as doublers for my pocket diapers or with a cover. I have since learned to love fluff, not only because they are adorable, but because they are so much better for the environment than disposables. Not to mention, they are chemical free, so I can feel good about sticking my babies' cute little butts in them! And the BEST thing about cloth in my humble opinion is that they are reusable. And there are even One-Size options available that can fit my 3 month old AND my 16 month old, all with a few simple snaps! I have been trying out every diaper I can possibly get my hands on. I have by no means tried them all, and there are many I would love to test. I know that finding a good overnight diaper can be a HUGE challenge for cloth-diapering families. I actually know some mamas who use disposables at night because they cannot find a cloth diaper that will hold up against their heavy wetters. I have heard that wool soakers work like a charm, but wool is EXPENSIVE and has to be lanolized and cared for properly. Now in my house, my husband does the bulk of the laundry, (that's actually his only chore now that I'm no longer preggo and on bedrest) and I do not think he would know what to do with wool! I have tried several different brands of diapers and diaper-insert-cover combinations, and have found limited success....Until I discovered Ebber-Deeber Diapers. My friend, Mary, who turned me onto cloth LOVES Ebber-Deebers, and suggested I give them a try. So I contacted Sara, the owner of Ebber-Deeber, and asked about ordering some custom dipes from her. She was very helpful and answered all of my questions, and then she directed me to her fabric choices. HOLY COW! Ebber-Deeber has almost 300 current fabric options! Maybe more, since Sara is as addicted to cloth as I am to the diapers themselves! My first Ebber-Deebers are the ones pictures at the top of the post: An all-fleece tie-dye OS pocket diaper and a 1/2 and 1/2 Thing 1 Thing 2 OS pocket diaper. (1/2 and 1/2 is Sara's unique design in which the top half of the diaper is print and the bottom half is a very soft, luxurious minky!) Ebber-Deebers come in either all print or in 1/2 and 1/2 and can be made with either a fleece or minky inner. I was so excited about my order than I checked my mail obsessively till they got here! When I received my Ebber-Deebers, I was instantly in love! They are soft, fluffy, adorable, and incredibly well-made. The stitching is expertly done, since Sara IS the best, and the pocket opening is generously sized, so even big, clumsy man hands can easily stuff these diapers. Now I know that cute and fluffy does not always equal effective, so I put the diapers to the ultimate test the same day I got them: Overnight on my heavy wetting Sophie-Monster! I cannot tell you how many times she has woken up in the morning with a leaky diaper. No fun for baby, and definitely no fun for Mommy! It's pretty nasty having to strip your child of cold, wet, stinky clothing. Ughhh.... Never on the top of my favorite things to do list! So I put Sophie in the all-fleece diaper the first night, and I tentatively waited for the morning, wondering what I would find...To my absolute amazement and delight, she was DRY! And I don't mean she didn't pee...The diaper must have weighed a good 5lbs, it was so full. But it was 100% dry to the touch. A lot of diapers will feel slightly damp, even if they don't actually leak. Not my Ebber-Deebers! I was elated! The next night, I tried my Thing 1 Thing 2 diaper. This time, Sophie wasn't feeling well and slept for a good 12 hours. AND had a massive poo explosion, on top of her normal heavy wetting. When she woke up, not only was the diaper completely dry again, it contained all of the mess perfectly with absolutely no leaks! Also, the fit is FANTASTIC. These diapers not only fit my toddler beautifully, they also fit my tiny, 11lb 3 month old! I think it's safe to say I have found my FAVORITE diapers! (And we have hundreds!) It is my goal to build a night-time stash for both babies consisting entirely of Ebber-Deebers. It's going to take awhile, but even my husband was so impressed that he told me I could order as many as I like, as long as the budget allows. So within 6 months, I should have a very nice stash! I have 2 currently, and 2 more on order. Here are a TON of photos to give you an idea of what Sara's work looks like, as well as a small sampling of her HUGE variety of prints: (Please note: A lot of these photos were taken BEFORE the snaps were applied. Ebber-Deeber Diapers DO have snaps!) And there are TONS more where that came from! I am officially hooked on Ebber-Deeber diapers. They are by far the cutest, best fitting, and best performing diapers I have come across. These puppies aren't just bullet-proof, they're MISSILE-PROOF! And Sara, the head honcho at Ebber-Deeber, is an awesome, sweet person, and I love her to death, too! Did I mention that they are VERY affordable, as well? They are priced about the same as any mass-produced diapers, but these are SO much better, and have so many fun, customizable options! Oh! I have a birthday coming up, and if any of my friends-in-real-life want gift ideas, I would LOVE more Ebber-Deebers!
So PLEASE, check out Ebber-Deeber Diapers. You won't be sorry! As a matter of fact, I am so sure you'll fall in love with these diapers, I am willing to offer 10 extra entries into ANY giveaway of your choice, current or for my Mad About Mama Mother's Day Event JUST for liking Ebber Deeber on Facebook and telling Sara that Newly Crunchy Mama Of 3 sent you! Just leave a comment here with your user name so I can verify with Sara! And while you're there, check out her amazing fabric selection, and see for yourself why Ebber-Deebers are cloth diapering's best kept secret! ***Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post. My diapers were purchased by me, at full price, and I did not receive a complimentary sample to facilitate my review. Actually, I wasn't even ASKED to post. I am advertising these products free of charge because I truly believe they are the best, and wanted to share with my readers.*** I was recently contacted by Rachel, the owner of Vandies Crafty Tree asking if I would like to review her Diddles and host a giveaway for her. My first thought, of course, was " What the HECK is a Diddle?!" I later learned that my dear old friend, Mary, came up with the name, and that explained everything. Mary, if you're reading this, I mean that in a nice way! You've always been creative and just a little kooky! :) So I rushed on over to Vandies Crafty Tree, Rachel's Facebook shop, and went to find out for myself what on earth a diddle was! One look, and I was HOOKED! And for your information, diddles are awesome, completely custom hair accessories that come as a clip, a barrette, headband, or hair tie. She even makes adorable knitted headbands you can attach a clip or barrette diddle to for the wee-tiniest of heads! Vandies Crafty tree also makes custom baby blankets, pins, corsages, and other accessories! Rachel's mission is to do her part to fill the world with fun, beautiful, and totally unique handmade gifts. I don't know about you, but I LOVE handmade items. They have much more diversity and character than their store-bought counterparts. And since each piece is custom made to your specifications, you can be sure that you or the little girl in your life will be the chicest around, since no one will be able to duplicate your look when you wear a diddle from Vandies Crafty Tree! Just look at some of her adorable diddles! The first pics are of my little diva, by the way...She was tugging at it and made a mess of her hair, but it's still cute! Her diddle is clipped onto a handmade headband that Rachel generously included for my review! Aren't these just adorable!? And there are MANY more styles to choose from!
I know you want a diddle for your little girl now! And FYI: Vandies Crafty Tree is VERY affordable, so you can buy several without breaking the bank! Rachel will be offering one lucky follower the diddle of their choice during my Mad About Mama event. (Yay!) But as always, you can get some early-bird extra entries before the giveaway parade begins later this month! I will keep it simple for you. Leave your extra entry comment here, as there will be further instructions on how to redeem them during the giveaway post once my event begins. EARLY EXTRA ENTRIES:
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PR Friendly Mama!
I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
June 2023
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