Yes, I live in California. Yes, I know there is no such thing as cabin fever here. But it is DAMN cold this week! At the same time I'm hoping for snow on the beach early this morning. Why? Because I want to take a picture of my kid on a sandy snowy beach. Is that too much to ask of global warming? An odd and rare photo op? I think not. Anyway, I've been saving up some random thoughts for my blog, so here we go:
The C-string is insanity. If you don't know what it is, google (probably nsfw). It has NOTHING to do with html coding.
Can Jennifer Aniston stop posing semi nude for semi men's magazines? For Christ's sake woman, COMMIT! I'm all for nudity, it's this flirting around the edges that makes me nuts. Why does she do this? I will NOT "just go with it."
Can we all agree that fur vests are NOT going to happen? I like me some Rachael Zoe, she is Buh-na-nuhs, I die. But really, vests are bad enough on their own, they really only have a place with hikers. But even in a world where it snows on beaches, I can't think of one social occasion where a fur vest (or even a faux fur vest) would be appropriate attire.
I love me some Mad Men as much as the next girl, but I'm beginning to suspect that nothing has really changed in the ad industry since Don Draper's (historical yet fictional) day. Somewhere in a city with high rises, some bitch called Peggy Olsen has decided that along with reliable birth control, I want the following for my life:
Friday, February 25, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Mother of A Sale Diaper Event: Will Blog for Free Diapers
Mother of a Sale is having a huge cloth diaper event TODAY!
They are also running a giveaway-visit their facebook page to post and get your name in to win $250 of new diapers for your stash. This would be an especially great win if you are just starting out!
Also, if you blog about MOAS, you could get 3 samples of the new diapers to review on your blog- you know I'm ALL OVER that!
They are also running a giveaway-visit their facebook page to post and get your name in to win $250 of new diapers for your stash. This would be an especially great win if you are just starting out!
Also, if you blog about MOAS, you could get 3 samples of the new diapers to review on your blog- you know I'm ALL OVER that!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Cloth Diaper Reviews 2
Hello my name is Sarah and I'm a diaper-holic. Not only have I become a cloth diapering advocate, it's become a hobby. I don't know if it's akin to a girl thing-like collecting lingerie, albeit baby lingerie-but I've been enjoying buying new diaper brands to try out as I've built my stash the past few months. I've sold diapers that didn't work for us and bought new or gently used diapers that will work, or just to try. So far I've broken even money-wise when I've used the swap sites, but I admit I bought some with real money. Now that I'm "stashified" I must woefully admit that it's become a sort of game to try new brands, but I tell myself it's ok because I'm giving it up for Lent. So let the fun begin!
Sunbaby 2.0
I bought Sunbaby 2.0 from ebay first. I guess I didn't google well enough to find the main website, but I am still happy with the earlier version of Sunbabys. The 2.0 are great diapers for itty bittys and skinny babies. The elastic is a little bit thin so I did notice some read marks on Vy the first time I used them. I've since adjusted the snap to give her a little more room and I'm able to avoid leaks at the same time.
Sunbaby 4.0
I really like the Sunbaby 4.0. The fleece is soft, the PUL on the solid colors is thick so they do not fit as trimly as the prints, but they are still trimmer than other diapers like the Bumgenious 4.0. The print PUL is nice and soft, I feel like these would make great swim diaper. The fit is super trim and the added hip snaps make a nice fit. The inserts are the same with both Sunbaby 2.0 and 4.0, they have several layers of microfiber serged together into an absorbent insert. I didn't feel like I needed to prep them too many times to get good absorbency. The best thing about Sunbabys are that they are cheap! At $60 for a dozen it's a great way to bump up your stash and give your more expensive diapers a good rotation.
Weehugger Snap Cover-I tried Weehuggers before I found my love for fitteds, but I felt overall they had a great fit. I had some wicking issues when I used a wide insert/prefold, but it was easily remedied by double checking the legs. I think I'd like the aplix version of these covers better, just because Vy is crawling around like crazy these days and does not like to stop for a diaper change.
Clotheeze Workhorse (fitted)-I had tried Dream Eze fitted diapers but didn't like them, but after reading so many raves about the Clotheeze Workhorse (and at $7.95 a piece), I couldn't resist trying them. I've long been attracted to quilty fluffy prefolds, despite only owning Gerber prefolds. I feel like I don't use them enough to buy more, but the Clotheeze Workhorse is a modified prefold so it is the best of both worlds. SUPER absorbancy, even without being properly prepped (I couldn't wait), they work great with Flip diaper covers and Bummi's Super Whisper Wrap. They have made me discover my love for fitteds.
Bummi Super Whisper Wrap-I generally shy away from aplix closures fearing that they won't last until potty training. Although, with no experience to the contrary, I must admit this to be an irrational fear. I have become a bit of laundry tab nazi, but I excuse myself of bad behavior claiming frugalism and protection of our investment. Ahem. Anyway, these covers seem to run a tad large for us, but I like they will have a long life. Bummis are made from TPU instead of PUL and I'm really digging it's softer features. I also like that you can dry them in the dryer in a pinch. I can't wait to try these with aplix closure fitteds (fluffy mail is on its way!).
RockinGreen Detergent-Our laundry sturm und drang is quite impressive: sensitive skin (fragrance allergies), wool allegies, HE front loader machine, and hard water! Whew! While our trusty Seventh Gen laundry soap has been doing the job of washing the diapers just fine, I did notice a few issues with Sticky PUL. When I saw RockinGreen comes in a specialized formula for hard water I decided to give it a try with some cash back points from diapers.com. It made a HUGE difference. After one washing all my diapers feel like I stripped them, nice and clean. I love the scents, my favorites being Lavender Mint Revival and Smashing Watermelons.
Joeybunz Hemp Inserts-What can I say, in the world of diaper absorbancy, hemp is king. I use my old gDiaper inserts as night doublers and Vy stays nice and dry all night, it's amazing. Why I ever thought I needed to use sposies at night the first few months of cloth diapering, I'll never know. These hemp inserts differentiate themselves by being contoured. The hourglass shape really helps reduce bulk in between the legs. While I didn't really NEED them because I have the gdiaper inserts, the contour shape helps turn my Fuzzibunz Medium pockets into trim night diapers.
Imse Visme Flannelette Wipe and Green Mountain Diaper Two Sided Wipes-Cloth wipes you ask? I say YES! It never really occurred to me to use cloth wipes until I started seeing a lot of buzz around them on the Baby Center Cloth Diapering board. While trading in some of Vy's old clothes and gear I saw some wipes and decided, why not? At first I used a store bought wipe solution spray, but Vy didn't have a good reaction to it so I decided to make my own. I love it! I like that I can add a light scent.
My current favorite recipe is:
1 cup brewed Camomile Tea
1 tsp Vitamin E Oil
1 tsp Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser
Mix together and put in a spray bottle or bottle (I use a sitz bottle)
Back to the wipes...I like the flannelette wipes. They are a little thin but they stay soft after washing and do the job. The two sided wipes are great for the big messes. The terry side is great at really getting the diaper area clean and the flat side is getting softer by the wash. I still have a stash of disposable wipes for outings, but I'm coming to really prefer cloth wipes. Here's a great site with lots of wipe solution recipes: Zany Zebra
Wetbags:
Itsy Ritzy Wet Happened Wetbag-this is a CUTE wetbag. Itsy Ritzy does great patterns. The waterproof liner is really thick, I hang dry because it looks like it might crack if dried.
Weehuggers Small Hobo Wetbag: This wetbag has style! With two compartments (one for clean, one for dirty), this diaper does double duty in your diaper bag, or take it on it's own for quick trips.
More Reviews to Come: Fuzzibunz sized and one sized fleece/microfiber and fleece/hemp pockets, Baby Chai Lucky Jade bamboo AI2, Bagshot Row Bamboo AI2, Happy Heiny, Blueberry (regular and minky), and Swaddlebees, and alpaca dryer balls
Sunbaby 2.0
I bought Sunbaby 2.0 from ebay first. I guess I didn't google well enough to find the main website, but I am still happy with the earlier version of Sunbabys. The 2.0 are great diapers for itty bittys and skinny babies. The elastic is a little bit thin so I did notice some read marks on Vy the first time I used them. I've since adjusted the snap to give her a little more room and I'm able to avoid leaks at the same time.
Sunbaby 4.0
I really like the Sunbaby 4.0. The fleece is soft, the PUL on the solid colors is thick so they do not fit as trimly as the prints, but they are still trimmer than other diapers like the Bumgenious 4.0. The print PUL is nice and soft, I feel like these would make great swim diaper. The fit is super trim and the added hip snaps make a nice fit. The inserts are the same with both Sunbaby 2.0 and 4.0, they have several layers of microfiber serged together into an absorbent insert. I didn't feel like I needed to prep them too many times to get good absorbency. The best thing about Sunbabys are that they are cheap! At $60 for a dozen it's a great way to bump up your stash and give your more expensive diapers a good rotation.
Weehugger Snap Cover-I tried Weehuggers before I found my love for fitteds, but I felt overall they had a great fit. I had some wicking issues when I used a wide insert/prefold, but it was easily remedied by double checking the legs. I think I'd like the aplix version of these covers better, just because Vy is crawling around like crazy these days and does not like to stop for a diaper change.
Clotheeze Workhorse (fitted)-I had tried Dream Eze fitted diapers but didn't like them, but after reading so many raves about the Clotheeze Workhorse (and at $7.95 a piece), I couldn't resist trying them. I've long been attracted to quilty fluffy prefolds, despite only owning Gerber prefolds. I feel like I don't use them enough to buy more, but the Clotheeze Workhorse is a modified prefold so it is the best of both worlds. SUPER absorbancy, even without being properly prepped (I couldn't wait), they work great with Flip diaper covers and Bummi's Super Whisper Wrap. They have made me discover my love for fitteds.
Bummi Super Whisper Wrap-I generally shy away from aplix closures fearing that they won't last until potty training. Although, with no experience to the contrary, I must admit this to be an irrational fear. I have become a bit of laundry tab nazi, but I excuse myself of bad behavior claiming frugalism and protection of our investment. Ahem. Anyway, these covers seem to run a tad large for us, but I like they will have a long life. Bummis are made from TPU instead of PUL and I'm really digging it's softer features. I also like that you can dry them in the dryer in a pinch. I can't wait to try these with aplix closure fitteds (fluffy mail is on its way!).
RockinGreen Detergent-Our laundry sturm und drang is quite impressive: sensitive skin (fragrance allergies), wool allegies, HE front loader machine, and hard water! Whew! While our trusty Seventh Gen laundry soap has been doing the job of washing the diapers just fine, I did notice a few issues with Sticky PUL. When I saw RockinGreen comes in a specialized formula for hard water I decided to give it a try with some cash back points from diapers.com. It made a HUGE difference. After one washing all my diapers feel like I stripped them, nice and clean. I love the scents, my favorites being Lavender Mint Revival and Smashing Watermelons.
Joeybunz Hemp Inserts-What can I say, in the world of diaper absorbancy, hemp is king. I use my old gDiaper inserts as night doublers and Vy stays nice and dry all night, it's amazing. Why I ever thought I needed to use sposies at night the first few months of cloth diapering, I'll never know. These hemp inserts differentiate themselves by being contoured. The hourglass shape really helps reduce bulk in between the legs. While I didn't really NEED them because I have the gdiaper inserts, the contour shape helps turn my Fuzzibunz Medium pockets into trim night diapers.
Imse Visme Flannelette Wipe and Green Mountain Diaper Two Sided Wipes-Cloth wipes you ask? I say YES! It never really occurred to me to use cloth wipes until I started seeing a lot of buzz around them on the Baby Center Cloth Diapering board. While trading in some of Vy's old clothes and gear I saw some wipes and decided, why not? At first I used a store bought wipe solution spray, but Vy didn't have a good reaction to it so I decided to make my own. I love it! I like that I can add a light scent.
My current favorite recipe is:
1 cup brewed Camomile Tea
1 tsp Vitamin E Oil
1 tsp Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser
Mix together and put in a spray bottle or bottle (I use a sitz bottle)
Back to the wipes...I like the flannelette wipes. They are a little thin but they stay soft after washing and do the job. The two sided wipes are great for the big messes. The terry side is great at really getting the diaper area clean and the flat side is getting softer by the wash. I still have a stash of disposable wipes for outings, but I'm coming to really prefer cloth wipes. Here's a great site with lots of wipe solution recipes: Zany Zebra
Wetbags:
Itsy Ritzy Wet Happened Wetbag-this is a CUTE wetbag. Itsy Ritzy does great patterns. The waterproof liner is really thick, I hang dry because it looks like it might crack if dried.
Weehuggers Small Hobo Wetbag: This wetbag has style! With two compartments (one for clean, one for dirty), this diaper does double duty in your diaper bag, or take it on it's own for quick trips.
More Reviews to Come: Fuzzibunz sized and one sized fleece/microfiber and fleece/hemp pockets, Baby Chai Lucky Jade bamboo AI2, Bagshot Row Bamboo AI2, Happy Heiny, Blueberry (regular and minky), and Swaddlebees, and alpaca dryer balls
Saturday, February 12, 2011
More deal sites
I was prompted to write the last blog because one of my deal sites was offering free diaper samples, but it got me thinking about all the other sites I visit. So, I thought I'd post them:
Groupon and Living Social
Zulily-for mom and baby: items sell out fast but shipping can be spendy. Please use this link so they know I sent you: Sarah's Zulily Link
Mama Bargains-all manner of baby items, terrific sales on high end gear...up to eight daily deals
Babysteals-same as mamabargains...two daily deals
Baby Half Off-the name says it all!
These are my favorites so far, my inbox gets a little full, but that's what naptimes are for!
Groupon and Living Social
Zulily-for mom and baby: items sell out fast but shipping can be spendy. Please use this link so they know I sent you: Sarah's Zulily Link
Mama Bargains-all manner of baby items, terrific sales on high end gear...up to eight daily deals
Babysteals-same as mamabargains...two daily deals
Baby Half Off-the name says it all!
These are my favorites so far, my inbox gets a little full, but that's what naptimes are for!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Money saving tips
As a single income family we are always trying to save where we can. Coupons and sales are a way of life, but for items that are hard to find on sale I turn to Internet deal sites. Often times they have designer baby clothes, expensive gear, and other items 50-80% off retail. Shipping is usually reasonable, and it's nice to not have to run extra errands around town burning gas and cash. One of the newest sites I've found is motherofasale.com. They just had some cloth diapers on sale-what a deal!
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