The Sox Box ***GIVEAWAY***

I had to return from my hiatus, however briefly, to share this AWESOME shop with you! When we left off, I was educating you ladies on gym equipment. The Sox Box has the perfect accessories for your deadlift day! (For me, they are an absolute necessity as I don't enjoy bloody shins no matter how badass they look.) Obviously, you can wear them whenever the heck you'd like, though. ;)

Here are my socks, which I ordered about a month ago. These are so my style on two levels. 1. I honestly still have trouble remembering left and right. (Laugh if you like.) 2. They're orange and blue. GO GATORS!

The Sox Box has an awesome variety of socks (one would hope, right?) including a few of my favorites: Zombie Killa, Beauty/Beast, Tough Tatas, and Thick Chick.

One of my favorite things about this shop is that they donate 20% of all profits to the Independence Fund, which is a non-profit organization which seeks to provide tools and services for wounded military veterans. Being married to an active duty soldier and raised in a family full of veterans, this cause is dear to my heart.

Athena from The Sox Box has agreed to let me give away a pair of her awesome socks, so without further ado:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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. ***

REVIEW: MilkMakers Lactation Cookies

From milkmakers.com

     Breastfeeding mama confession: I have never had supply issues, but about 3 months ago, J-Bean decided she wanted to nurse exclusively on my right breast. When I initially noticed this becoming an issue, I began to pump and hand express my left to keep up supply (and more importantly, symmetry.) Of course, I kept trying to get her to nurse on both sides, but it soon became clear that she was just not interested and I all but gave up on poor Lefty.

     Fast-forward to last month and I am chatting with the lovely ladies at my local cloth diaper store. I mentioned that I blog, and before I left, I was given a MilkMakers lactation cookie to review. I go into all of my reviews a skeptic, and this was no exception. But, let me tell you... I definitely noticed an increase in my supply, especially on the left side. Was it my imagination? Maybe. But more than likely, it was actually the natural galactagogues. (I learned that word from the manager at Mami's and Papi's! She is the local LLL leader.)

     From the MilkMakers website:

What's a galactagogue?

Lactation cookies are a traditional lactation remedy. Our recipe uses oats, brewers yeast and flax seed. These are natural galactagogues, which means that they help promote an abundant supply of breastmilk.

If you're in need of a breastmilk boost, try eating one to two delicious lactation cookies every day. While every woman's body is different, most moms notice an increase in their milk supply after a few days.

Store milkmakers in the freezer to maintain freshness. They'll soften up after just a few minutes when you take them out.

     If you are in need of a boost (and you don't enjoy the maple syrup smell side effect of taking Fenugreek) MilkMakers cookies are a pretty darn tasty option! You can order one of two flavors: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (which I tasted and can TOTALLY vouch for, especially when dunked in coconut milk. *drool*) and Oatmeal Raisin, which is dairy-free.

Ordering options:
- Starter pack (10 cookies, $19.99)
- Mom on-the-go (20 individually wrapped cookies, $39.99)
- One month supply (30 cookies, $49.99)
- Monthly subscription ($49.99 monthly, FREE shipping)

     With any order aside from the Starter Pack, you can choose one flavor or a combination of both. With your One Month Supply or Monthly Subscription, you can also choose bags, individually wrapped cookies (great for throwing in the diaper bag), or a combination of both.

The fine print:
* Each cookie is 220-230 calories. Factor that into your daily intake if you are still trying to shake those last few lbs of baby weight. Luckily, they are organic and fairly healthy calories.
* If you have allergies, these may not work for you. Both recipes contain wheat, soy, and eggs. However, the Oatmeal Raisin recipe is dairy-free, both are nut-free, and gluten-free options may be available in the future.
* Yes, you can make them yourself. There are recipes floating around the internet for lactation cookies that include the "milk-making" ingredients (oats, flax seed, and brewer's yeast) but some of us cannot bake cookies worth crap (or just don't have the time) and brewer's yeast can be expensive and hard to find.

Conclusion:
     If you're struggling to maintain a supply or plan to go back to work, order a Starter Pack in your preferred flavor and see what happens. At the very least, you'll be treating yourself to a couple yummy cookies a day. ;)

Confessions of a Mommy Blogger

     I have had a few weeks to reflect on my blog. I know it's only been live a few months, but I've gotten pretty caught up in the mommy blogosphere. I figured that if I wanted more people to read my posts, I should give something away as an incentive. Then I realized that not many companies want to give you free stuff if it's only going to promote their product to 10 people. It's a cycle. You host giveaways to prove to sponsors that you have a broad audience. You convince the audience to stay by offering more free stuff. And you get free stuff, too! People have received some pretty sweet promos. How awesome would it be to get a $400 stroller to review? Pretty awesome, right? But...

   That is NOT why I started writing, and that is certainly not what inspired me to begin writing Minimally Mama. I don't want to hustle my blog to potential sponsors JUST to get free stuff. I learned a lot from this past giveaway. It was pretty damn hard to get sponsored for two reasons:
1. I ONLY contacted companies and individuals whose product and ethos I would be excited to promote.
2. Most potential sponsors won't give you the time of day if you don't have impressive numbers to share with them.

     I was very fortunate to have a really cool eco-conscious company and a super sweet and talented WAHM give me an opportunity. That's really the way I see it. I LOVE reviewing products for you guys! I love SHARING. (Some people have even accused me of oversharing.) THAT is why I started this! So here is what I am going to do...

I am going to continue to write Minimally Mama.
I am going to write whenever I feel I have something of value to contribute--not however many times a week will make me attractive to sponsors.
I am going to review products that I use and companies that I believe in--not whoever approaches me, and not whoever I beg for free stuff.
I am going to host giveaways if any of the aforementioned companies are gracious enough to sponsor me, or if I have it in my budget to sponsor it myself. For this reason, my giveaways probably won't be very often or offering really high-dollar items.
I am going to be honest with my writing (as I have been) and not try to lure readers with promotions, and if that means I am writing to an audience of 2 and not 2000, so be it.
I hope you find value in what I share and continue to read. I've always been a better journalist than a salesman and this past month or so has validated that for me.

Thank you for reading! Please stick around. I have a lot more to say. ;)

Sponsor Spotlight: Bog Berry Dryer Balls

Hey, y'all! I'm back from the dead! Well, sort of. We still have furniture to assemble and boxes to unpack, but I'm finally getting into a routine here and I've upgraded my status from "surviving" to "happy homemaker" (and by that, I mean dishes and laundry are being taken care of and the baby isn't crying at the moment...) Anyway, I absolutely HAVE TO tell you about Bog Berry Dryer Balls!

I have been curious about dryer balls since I started cloth diapering, but I was also a little too skeptical to invest any money in them. What was I so worried about?! Like a lot of things I've grown up with (e.g. household cleaners and medicine), I've been conditioned to believe that the "natural" alternative to dryer sheets wouldn't be effective or efficient. So, for the longest time I used nothing in my dryer with cloth diapers. (Dryer sheets leave a residue on fabric, causing diapers to repel instead of absorb.) I was beyond stoked when Brooke at Bog Berry agreed to sponsor me for the Merry Fluffy Christmas giveaway so I could FINALLY see what all the buzz was about dryer balls.

Before I moved, Brooke sent me 6 wool dryer balls to try out. I immediately noticed a difference in my diaper laundry. The microfiber inserts didn't cling anymore and it actually did reduce the drying time. I usually have to run the dryer twice to get everything completely dry, but to my surprise, they were done after one cycle. Woohoo!

FACT: I don't use liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets at all anymore. I just keep my dryer balls in the dryer and I'm good to go!

Why use Bog Berry wool dryer balls? 

 Bog Berry Dryer Balls are :

* the eco friendly alternative to dryer sheets

* biodegradable

* chemical free

* energy savers

* perfect toys for babies and pets....and adults! ( Do you juggle?!)

* NOT made of yarn

* great for scenting your drawers and closets

* excellent gifts for wedding and baby showers

* also decorative! They look marvelous in a pretty bowl on the table!

Brooke also helps support the local economy by purchasing her wool from a family farm in Lancaster County, PA and a small company in Maine.

What else can I get from Bog Berry?
Handmade Necklaces
Seed Bombs
Herb Blends
Tolkien-inspired Elf Cloaks (How freakin adorable are these?!)

Where can I get these awesome homemade products?
Brooke's website or her Etsy store.

Ooooor... You can win a set of dryer balls from me. Starting at midnight tonight!

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.

Make it Paleo *Review*

The Food Lovers Kitchen was one of the first websites I visited while researching paleo meals and nutrition. Their website is incredibly easy to navigate and full of useful information. The recipes are separated by course (breakfast, entrees, sides, treats, etc.) and they even have menus for planning special occasions like football games, Thanksgiving, summer cookouts, and birthday dinners.

I was given a copy of their cookbook Make it Paleo to review for you guys, and I have to say I really was impressed. I found several cheap and easy recipes that I could try without even needing to make a trip to the grocery store. I read in a few reviews that some of the recipes were too simple. How is that possible? As a mother, the most basic things tend to slip my mind, and yes I am one of those people that needs a recipe to make bacon and eggs. :)

I love that (as someone new to paleo) you can find recipes to replace meals that tend to be considered staples in most homes. I can still eat waffles and pancakes for breakfast! There is also plenty of useful information in the front of the book for someone just starting out on this path including:
- a list of seasonal fruits and veggies
- a basic overview of what foods do and do not fit into a paleo lifestyle
- essential ingredients for paleo cooking and baking

It was really difficult to narrow down which recipes to try out for this review, but I decided to build my menu around seasonal produce and stick to my skill level and cooking preferences.
For dinner, I made pot roast in the crock pot with turnips, onions, celery, and carrots. It was seasoned with a bouquet of fresh herbs, which made me feel fancy. It called for parsnips, but I won't lie. I had no clue what a parsnip looked like and I was too embarrassed to ask, so the roast was sans parsnip. (Now I know, it's kind of like a brown carrot.)

The 2.5lb chuck roast fed six people with no leftovers.

 

*fresh*

I made mashed cauliflower (to replace mashed white potatoes) and they were delicious! I don't have any pictures, but I think you can paint a mental picture here. ;)

Amazing meal. I am clearly *not* a food photographer.

For dessert, again I wanted something seasonal and not too complicated. So, we had baked apples. They tasted just like a healthier version of apple pie. I cannot wait to make them again! Even my dad, who doesn't eat fruit, ate the whole thing.

Cheap, easy, healthy, and delicious! Can't beat that.

Overall, we had a successful meal and it was simple enough for someone like me--the dummy who catches a paper towel on fire while trying to wipe down a gas stove... while it's still on. It was also inexpensive. I fed six people (including my hungry Army man) on less than $50.

Prep/Candid pics. Just because:

 

In the kitchen. What my brother would call "a woman's place."

Hubby, chowing down. (Ignore all the non-paleo condiments please...)

The whole family. Clearly, I am not *any* type of photographer. 

Tl;dr - If you are considering paleo, you NEED this cookbook. Like I said, it is very user-friendly. Great for beginners. Lots of information without being overwhelming.

Where to get it: The Food Lovers Amazon Store. It's $19.01, but you can also purchase the Kindle edition for $9.99 if you don't mind being deprived of the food photos.

Also: If you're not ready to purchase, at the very least, you need to download their myKitchen app for Android and iPhone. It includes 400+ recipes and you can customize weekly meal plans and shopping lists. Great for those days when you can't decide what to make!

Make It Paleo Review *coming soon*

I'm ecstatic to announce that I will be receiving a copy of Make it Paleo (from Bill and Hayley at The Food Lovers Kitchen) to review for you guys! I know I cannot wait to try out some of the 200+ recipes and share my experiences here.

In the meantime, check out their website (linked above) which is incredibly user-friendly and helpful for those of us just venturing into the Paleo world. If you have an Android phone or iPhone, you should also download their myKitchen app. It makes shopping, cooking and meal-planning ridiculously easy. From their website:

myKitchen is the easiest way to take your favorite Paleo, Primal, and Gluten-free recipes with you wherever you go. You can save your favorite recipes, create daily meal plans and unique menus, and even generate shopping lists.

It's true. So easy and it's FREE!