REVIEW: Sew Silly Designs

I know I said I was moving away from cloth diaper-related posts, but I saw Kammie, the mama behind Sew Silly Designs at a local community fair and I caught myself drooling over her diapers. I am such a sucker for cute prints, and I kept going back to stalk her table even though I didn't have any money. I contacted her a few weeks ago about possibly reviewing a diaper of hers and she sent me one! *yay*

The first thing I noticed was how lush and soft the inside of the diaper was. And the insert is made with the same cotton velour material as well. [I hate when a cover or AI2 is minky inside and then it gets covered by a less luxurious diaper or insert, so this made me happy!] According to the Sew Silly Designs Etsy store, "The insert is made with 2 layers of matching CV and 6 layers of absorbent, all natural fiber, pre-washed bamboo fleece."

Another thing I love is that this particular diaper is an AI2 with a cotton outer layer and a hidden layer of PUL, which means it looks like an adorable fitted, but doesn't need a cover!

This is a one-size diaper, which means it has three different rise snap settings, and they run a bit larger than typical OS diapers, so they should fit babies from 10lbs. through potty training. You can even use the shell as undies while potty training!

At first I had issues with gaping at the legs, but I am certain it was user error, because the next time I put it OTB, it didn't seem quite as bad. If the insert seems a little thick, you can always switch it out for a trimmer one in your stash. (I used a BabyKicks hemp insert the second time just for comparison's sake and it worked just fine.) The only change I would make to this diaper is adding an extra row of waist/hip snaps to reduce "wing droop." It's purely aesthetic, as it doesn't affect the function of the diaper at all. Lucky for you, if you want a double row of snaps, you can request one for $1.50 extra.

All in all, I LOVE this diaper. I honestly do. It fits my chunkster around the thighs, which is a feat! The print is one of MANY adorable prints she has available. It also fits around the waist with room to grow. If you have a small or thin, lanky baby, the waist snaps cross over for a tighter fit.

Where can you get a Sew Silly Designs cloth diaper?
You can find OS AI2s, newborn AI2s, and OS fitteds in the Sew Silly Designs store on Etsy. She also does custom orders!

If you want to see what prints she has in stock, LIKE the Sew Silly Designs Facebook page! Stalk away, I know I do!

REVIEW: Country Save laundry detergent

For the first few months of cloth-diapering, I used Tide Original to wash my diapers. There is no clear stance on Tide from cloth diaper experts. Some swear by it, others claim it will ruin your stash. I figured I would start out with Tide and see if I had any problems. At first, I didn't.

Back home in Central Florida, we had soft water. I never had an issue with my wash routine. Once we moved to Texas and started using the luxurious (*eyeroll*) city water, my laundry lost its luster. (The English teacher in me refuses to edit the alliteration.) Every load seemed to be slightly dingy and my diapers never smelled completely clean. I considered changing detergents, but never really got around to it until I had a conversation with the lovely ladies (kids, today is brought to you by the letter 'L') at my cloth diaper store, Mami's and Papi's--yes, I am in there a LOT, at least once a week--and had a sample of Country Save thrown at me. :D

I figured it couldn't hurt, and I had heard great things about Country Save from other mamas. I threw it in with my next load, and I was relieved to find that they didn't look or feel as grimy as they did when they were washed with Tide. (I'm telling you, I said a secret prayer every time I opened the lid on my washer that it didn't smell like ammonia and/or poop.)

Why is Country Save considered safe for cloth diapers? It doesn't contain any fragrance, dyes, phosphates, or optical brighteners that could affect the integrity of the fabric. It is also:

• Completely biodegradable
• Gentle for sensitive skin but tough enough for battlefield conditions!
• Ultra-concentrated - actually get 40 scoops of detergent out of a 40 wash box!
• Septic Tank Safe
• Gluten free; no coconut-derived ingredients
• EPA - Design for the Environment Certified

My hesitation to buy any "specialty" detergents has always been cost, but Country Save is actually (wait for it) almost HALF the price of Tide! (According to their price comparison chart, Country Save costs about $0.12/HE load whereas Tide HE costs about $0.23/load!) That makes my cheap behind VERY happy. As soon as I figured this out, I went back to M&P's (as we local folk affectionately call it) and bought a 10lb box.

I've been using it with my cloth diaper laundry ever since with absolutely no complaints and I can rest easy knowing that I'm not prematurely wearing out my diapers with the additives found in most commercial detergents. Also! I can use it with my regular laundry and not worry about "wasting" the expensive stuff on non-diaper loads. In fact, as soon as I run out of this batch of Tide, that's exactly what I'm going to do.

If you haven't tried it yet, you can order a sample here. As a skeptic, I can appreciate your reluctance. ;) HOWEVER, if you trust me, just order the big box.

***I've said it already and I'll say it again, I will only review products I have used and I will only provide positive reviews for products I can confidently stand by. My reputation may not mean much to y'all, but it's pretty much all I've got. ***

MERRY FLUFFY CHRISTMAS!

Welcome to the 3rd annual Merry Fluffy Christmas Giveaway Event, hosted by And Then There Were 5…!

 

I am so excited to be involved this year and give you the opportunity to WIN some seriously rockin' cloth diapering prizes valued at more than $65 USD. Please check out the blogs at the bottom of this post for MORE amazing prize opportunities!

One lucky MM reader will win:

A Rockin' Green bundle in your choice of scent/formula + Funk Rock ammonia bouncer!

AND

6 felted wool dryer balls from Bog Berry Handicraft!

Rules are simple:

This giveaway is open to US residents only.

Please make sure you fill out all the information asked of you in each entry. This will be make things go a lot easier on me when I go back through to check all entries.

The Hop Link code is at the bottom of this post. Make sure you read the instructions carefully on each blog, as each has their own rules.

There’s an easy Rafflecopter entry form so good luck and let me know if you have any questions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rockin' Green Sponsor Spotlight/Review

If you are considering cloth diapers, one of the most overwhelming aspects you'll come across is the wash routine. You will hear a variety of responses when you ask (or Google) about length, temperature, detergent (How much? What kind?), bleach, soaking, stripping, drying, and so forth. While it will be a matter of trial and error depending on your machine, diaper material, water hardness, and your baby's diet, the Rockin' Green website is a fantastic place to start.

The site features a wealth of information that can help you determine the best wash routine for you, and if you're still having trouble, Rockin' Green employees and fellow consumers can help you out in the Community section of the site as well as the Support Page.





From the About Us page:

     Rockin’ Green is an award-winning manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning products designed to make cleaning easier and greener. Most well-known for their clean-rinsing laundry detergent formulated for use on all fabrics and especially useful on cloth diapers, Rockin’ Green produces detergents for hard, soft and normal water conditions (known as Hard, Soft and Classic Rock varieties).

I was mailed three samples of the Classic Rock variety (which was the right formula for the type of water in my area) in the Smashing Watermelons scent so I decided to wash a load of diapers and then soak some of the stinky microfiber inserts I have been using.

Since I have a front-loader, I consulted the Frontloader Database to figure out which wash cycles are recommended for my particular machine. I found this to be extremely helpful because front-loaders operate a little differently than top-loaders and it does make a difference! I realized that I needed an additional pre-wash in my routine. Who knew?!

I ordered the Smashing Watermelons scent, which was yummy, but not overwhelming, which is probably at least partly because all of the scents are natural. You can also get Rockin' Green laundry detergent in unscented (Bare Naked Babies). I thought my diapers may end up scented (like my clothes normally do when I use other detergents) but instead, they smelled CLEAN! I can't describe it in a better way, but if you've ever had a yucky smell after washing diapers, you know how relieving it is when they end up smelling like NOTHING. It's a good thing. ;)

I was having some issues with the microfiber inserts I use with my pocket diapers. They hold in the ammonia stink and I can always smell it, however faintly, even after I've washed them. While checking out the Rockin' Green website, I came across the "How to Rock a Soak" page. Since I have a front-loading washer, I can't soak in my machine, so I used the bathtub instead. I soaked them for 60 minutes and then threw them in the washer on a rinse cycle. It worked! The ammonia smell was gone! I was thrilled. Microfiber is pretty high-maintenance, though, especially if you are using it in an overnight diaper. In that case, Rockin' Green recommends trying their Funk Rock ammonia bouncer (which you can win along with a Rockin' Bundle from me in an upcoming giveaway!)


Even if you don't use cloth, Rockin' Green detergent can be used for clothing (and so many other things!) as well, and as far as I know, it is the only detergent with three different formulas to accommodate your water hardness. They also provide pet-safe detergent for chew toys and bedding, a garbage pail freshener, and odor neutralizing spray!

I was skeptical about "CD-specific" detergents going into this review, but I can honestly say that I absolutely LOVE Rockin' Green detergent! Their products are of the highest quality, eco-friendly, and bio-degradable and the website is more than just an online store. I have learned so much about my wash routine from visiting their site.

Nutiva Coconut Oil Review/Giveaway!

I absolutely LOVE this stuff! Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil rubs me all the right ways. (Yeah, pun intended.) It's cheap, it's healthy, and it has a TON of uses. Since I'm not a healthcare professional or nutrition expert (yet) I will provide links to reputable sources that identify the possible medical benefits of coconut oil once I get done blabbing about how and why I use it.

Cooking and Baking

• I use Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil to replace butter, shortening, or olive oil in recipes. Coconut oil doesn't oxidize as easily as other oils when heated, so it holds up better for sauteing and stir frying.
• It contains a higher concentration of saturated fats, but those fats are believed to be linked to dozens of health benefits including weight loss, improved digestion, and increased metabolism. (I also use coconut products to substitute for dairy ingredients because my daughter has a milk sensitivity.)
• So, as long as you don't eat the whole jar, you're probably going to be just fine--and maybe even better off--substituting coconut oil for other fats and oils in your diet!

Skin

• Coconut oil has many topical uses because of its anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties.
• I mainly use Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil for diaper rash prevention. (Obviously, I use a separate jar for the changing table from the one I use in the kitchen.) If you use cloth diapers, most diaper creams are off limits because they contain ingredients like waxes and petrolatum that will coat the diaper causing it to repel moisture instead of absorbing it. Coconut oil is cloth diaper safe and great for baby's skin. It creates the same "barrier" as commercial creams, and it's safer because it doesn't include preservatives, parabens or petroleum by-products. It glides on easy because it's not a thick paste or cream. It's also organic and 100% natural.
• Since bath time is part of our nightly routine, I will occasionally give my daughter a little massage before putting on her PJs. It also helps to keep her skin from drying out.
• I've also used it for acne, dandruff/cradle cap, and dry/cracked skin (like my lips and feet.)
• CO is also used to treat thrush/yeast infections and athlete's foot, but fortunately I have not had a chance to test those uses.

More Perks

• It contains ONE ingredient. Take a look at your skin care products like shampoo and lotion. I've counted over 30 ingredients in most of mine!
• It costs less than $10 for a 15oz. tub. compared with $6 for a 3.7oz tube of diaper cream, $11 for 8oz of BBW lotion, $15 for 750ml of olive oil, $4 for lip balm, $15 for 4oz of foot cream... Should I keep going?
• It's unrefined and cold-pressed, so you get that coconut smell and taste.
• It lasts forever! I have only gone through one tub that I've used for cooking. The one in the nursery is only about 1/2 gone and I use it at every diaper change.

Where You Can Get It

- From Amazon with Subscribe and Save, which makes it 5% cheaper and includes free shipping.

- Check your local health food store.

- You can win it from me! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I did not receive any compensation or free products for my review. I just <3 Nutiva Extra Virgin Coconut Oil! :)***

How to Sell Cloth Diapers

*SOLD*

One of the main reasons I decided to use cloth diapers was to save money. Kelly Wels has a great calculator that shows your savings for one year using cloth vs. disposables if you need a visual. One added bonus I hadn't initially considered was the possibility of resale. Not only do disposable diapers cost you (and the environment) more in the long run, but nobody wants your dirty Pampers. The cost of cloth diapers, however, can be partially recouped.
People choose to sell diapers for a variety of reasons. Maybe a style didn't work for them (like prefolds for me) or a certain brand didn't fit their little one properly (my Monkey has thunder thighs).  Otherwise, people attempt to streamline or "destash" because they simply have too many diapers. The value depends on the condition and quality of the diaper, of course.

Since I've just earned my first $100 reselling some used cloth diapers, I thought I would share a few tips.

1. Inspect the diapers you plan to sell. Look for stains, aplix/snap/elastic issues, pulls in the fabric, or general wear. 
2. Determine the condition (New, EUC, VGUC, or GUC - you generally won't make any money off of diapers unless they are at least in good condition.)
• New (never washed or used)
• EUC (washed and/or used once or twice, practically new)
• VGUC (used infrequently or in a large rotation, little to no wear)
• GUC (used regularly, shows some signs of wear)
3.  Find a venue. I've had success with CraigsList (in a very small, very non-crunchy town no less) and DiaperSwappers.com. You can also check Facebook for swap groups in your area.
4. Be honest and thorough in you descriptions. It is better to get less money than you think a diaper may be worth than to deal with the headache of unhappy buyers--especially if you are selling online and going through PayPal. I try to avoid disputes, refunds, and negative feedback at all costs, but maybe that's just me. ;)
5. Compare to other listings of the same or similar-quality diapers in the same condition in order to come up with a fair price. (Example: A Sbish fitted is going to sell for more than a GMD fitted because of the initial retail price, materials used, and perceived value to buyers.) 
6. Some sellers including shipping costs in your price (listed as PPD - Postage Paid Domestic) out of convenience, but you may choose to quote shipping depending on the zip code of your buyer. I've personally found there is very little difference in shipping cost based on zip code unless you are sending packages OCONUS, so all of my prices are PPD.
7. Try to sell in lots as opposed to listing individual diapers. Group by type (prefolds, pockets, AIOs, hybrids) or size (NB/XS, S, M, L, One-Size, or Size 1/Size 2) if you can. You'll get rid of more diapers and save on shipping this way.
8. Consider shipping costs and PayPal fees when listing online. Some sites also require you to include Delivery Confirmation. You can get an inexpensive postal scale from Amazon and reuse mailers/boxes so there are no surprises at the post office!
9. Have a back-up plan. If your diapers don't sell, you can store them for future babies or see if a shelter, foster home, or day care center in your area would be interested in donations!  Sites like Giving Diapers, Giving Hope also accept donations for families in need.

Happy diapering, mamas!

My Love for Cloth

My love affair with cloth diapers actually began before my daughter was even born, and continues to evolve through research and experience. The first time I heard someone mention trying cloth diapers, I was a skeptic. My immediate thought was, "Eww. No way I'm ever doing that!" Then I asked myself (maybe in my head, maybe out loud...) "Why not?" I figured I should at least see what it was all about before scoffing at the idea. Guess what? I didn't have an answer. Every preconception I had about cloth was wrong. I thought it would be complicated. I thought it would be messy. I thought it would be expensive. I was completely wrong.

It's easy! Sure, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which types and which brands to use, how to wash them, when to wash them. How will I know these will fit? How do I know they won't leak? Can I use them in public/on trips/at night? The best thing you can do is pace yourself when first learning about cloth. There are a ton of valuable resources online. Many online retailers include a FAQ/help section (Kelly Wels has even written a highly recommended book) and there are several forums dedicated to cloth diapering as well as websites that contain reviews of almost every brand and type of diaper on the market.
Having done six months of research before my little monkey was born, I can answer most questions about cloth now without even hesitating, or at least tell you where to find an answer.
My stash: I have a bit of a variety. I have mainly fitteds and covers, pockets, and a few AIOs. I also have a few stacks of prefolds around, but I've found that I don't prefer them like I thought I would. (It happens.) 

It's inexpensive! The reason many people believe cloth diapers are expensive is because of the upfront cost. Yes, it does sound crazy to spend $15 on a diaper when you can get 50 disposables for that amount. But you get hundreds of uses out of cloth (and obviously only one out of disposables.) It's also possible to buy pre-loved diapers (from retailers and other moms) to cut costs. Every online retailer I've visited ALWAYS has items on sale and clearance. And if you're still not sure, you can try/rent diaper packages for a minimal investment.
My stash: I purchased most of my prefolds, fitteds, and covers from the swap (FSOT) on DiaperSwappers.com for great prices. I have also purchased sale/clearance dipes from online retailers like diaperjunction.com, sweetbottomsbaby.com, and kissedbythemoon.com and had wonderful experiences with each!

It's not any messier than using disposables. Trust me. A poo explosion doesn't care what material is on your baby's bum. When you have a baby, you accept that you will have to tolerate a certain level of grossness. I haven't found cloth to be any grosser, messier, or smellier than disposables. I actually HATE how squishy disposable diapers get when they're full of pee. It's so unnatural.
My stash: I wash my diapers every two days in a front-loading washer with Tide Original (and occasionally OxyClean if there are any exceptionally impressive poops) on hot (Heavy Duty cycle with a prewash and and an extra rinse) and it takes 2 hours. I dry everything that doesn't contain PUL (so my fitteds, prefolds, and inserts) on hot. Everything else gets line dried. NO FABRIC SOFTENER! Fabric softener and dryer sheets leave a film on fabric that keeps it from absorbing moisture, leading to leaks. There are several theories on how to wash your diapers and what detergents to use, but I have found that this works for me.

With that said, I want to celebrate our first week of EXCLUSIVELY using cloth diapers! At first I was afraid (I was petrified. OK, bad joke...) of using cloth in public, but I got over that. But we were still using disposables at night because I was afraid of leaks. When my Pampers Baby Dry overnight diapers actually leaked all over my little monkey's jammies halfway through the night (even though they are supposed to last 12 hours) I decided enough was enough. What did I have to lose by trying cloth at night? The answer: nothing. But I do wish I could get my $10 back for those horrible disposables. Ugh.
My stash: I currently use BumGenius 4.0 pocket diapers with one stay dry (microfiber) insert and a Thirsties hemp insert for added absorption. No leaks so far!

Getting By

The intent here, if you haven't seen it, is my attempt to introduce each of the main topics this blog will address (health/fitness, clutter, spending) before really going into anything specific. I want you all to see where I'm coming from. I'm not an expert in any of these areas, so I only have my own experiences and personal research to share. I hope you're not too disappointed by that.
Before we decided to start a family, my husband and I were most concerned about our finances. We are fortunate enough (I say fortunate, but we worked our butts off...) to be almost completely debt-free. Our credit card debts were paid off before we were married, we own our vehicles outright, and are currently paying on my student loans and our mortgate. How? The same way we got in shape. The hard way. We made sacrifices. How do you pay off debt? You work, you earn a paycheck, you don't spend money on frivolous things. No racking up bar tabs, no new clothes, no movie dates. Was it easy? No. Was it enjoyable? Not always. But we are much better off financially for it.
One huge factor in our family planning was my husband's decision to join the Army. Obviously, he wasn't the typical recruit--28 years old, married, college education. It's a decision we made together, and if we hadn't, it might have been years before we were financially ready to have a child. I won't get into bonuses and other financial benefits, because that's a little tacky, but suffice to say I am able to stay home with our daughter instead of going back to work as a teacher in two weeks. Again, the key word is sacrifice. We've discussed on several occasions the plan to make sacrifices now in order to build a secure future for our children and ourselves. Would I have loved for my husband to be in the delivery room when our daughter was born? Of course. Does he want more than anything to be here to create a bond with his baby? Absolutely. Would my life be MUCH easier if I could wake him up in the middle of the night when she won't go to sleep (again...)? OMG, yes. But we keep reminding ourselves of the ultimate goal here and that we are doing the right thing. Trust me, it's not always easy. Anyway, we were talking about finances, right?
Since I'm not working, obviously we are down to a single income. Like I said, we have very few expenses, especially considering that the monkey and I are currently staying with my in-laws, who take care of groceries, cooking, keeping the house clean, and all of the things I will sorely miss once we our back on our own. I hate to leave you all hanging, but I will wrap this up by mentioning the two contributions I am able to make to minimize our spending: Breastfeeding and cloth diapers. We can go into detail in a future post, because they each deserve their own. Deal? Deal.

I hope you got through our three-part intro. I can't wait to really get going!

- Mama K.