Ho Ho Ho, How about a great giveaway!!!

So I have to share something fabulous with you all! We all know blogging is fantastic and a wonderful way to help document our lives and to record memories. Nothing could be more important to me than recording this precious time with my boys. They grow and change so quickly! I blink and they have grown :)
I know a lot of you can relate to that!

Well a company called My Memories contacted me, and I was instantly in love!

I started scrap booking when Austin was born but shamefully I never even finished his scrapbook, let alone start one for the other boys. But digital scrap booking I can do!! But I will warn you, it is addicting! My Memories has some of the best software for digi scrap booking and it does everything for you! Designing layouts, picking fun embellishments, adding your own pictures and text. Seriously the possibilities are endless. They have fab freebies and even a forum!

If you have never used digi scrap software before, do not fear! I jumped right in without even reading any tutorials and could find my way around!

You can use this software to make scrapbook pages, photo albums, gift tags, and blog headers like I did! Really anything you can dream of, you can make!

I love that it is versatile and fun. It is a fast and beautiful way to personalize and document your life!

As a super busy mom, I value my time greatly. Personally, I love digital scrap booking because I can stop and start pages, work in little 5 minute spurts, and I never have to clean up or make sure the scissors are put away :) It really is the best of both worlds.

I encourage you to go over to My Memories and look around at all the great things they have!

The best part? I am giving away an entire My Memories Suite to one lucky winner! This has everything you need to get started!

**In addition to this all my readers can get $10 dollars off the My Memories Suite Software and a $10 coupon to use on the site, by using the code STMMMS79345  !**

To enter to win your very own Suite, all you have to do is go to My Memories and leave a comment telling me your favorite scrap booking kit!

If you want extra entries, you are in luck! Just leave a separate comment for each of the following. (So a total of up to 5 comments, and 5 entries)

1. Follow my blog with google friend connect

2. Follow me on Twitter

3. Follow My Memories on Twitter

4. Friend My Memories on Facebook

Contest ends January 15, 2012 at 12:00pm. Good luck!!

Merry Christmas Everyone and a Happy Holiday!!!

Thank you to My Memories for providing the My Memories Suite for review and for sponsoring this great giveaway!! Although item for review was provided, all opinions in this review are my own.

winner winner chicken dinner :)

Congrats to:

zookeeper said...
I tweeted!

https://twitter.com/#!/ZootasticZookpr/status/71430202617634816
@ZootasticZookpr
(Zootastic at peoplepc dot com)

May 19, 2011 11:25 PM 

I sent you an email!!!!!  Thank you all for entering!

Austin has a wonderful next couple days planned! Today was pj day, and they all brought board games! We brought Toy Story Operation :) Tomorrow is water day and they wear their swim suites and we are having an icecream party! Then thursday he has a birthday party to go to! So I am busy busy but will check back in soon! Can't believe tomorrow is the last day of school! Summer here we come!

Motherease Review/Giveaway

Mother-ease Cloth Diapers is a company I have "known" for years. When I started cloth diapering when EJ was born, there were so many different brands and so many different styles of diapers that it was overwhelming to a beginner. Over the past two years I have gotten to know and have experienced many different types of diapers. I now can say that I know what works for us and what my personal preferences are. (Although they frequently change!! :)

When first trying out fitteds, I had always heard Mother-ease Sandy's were wonderful. If you look on diaperswappers.com, Motherease diapers are always snatched up quickly! Their quality, ease of use, ease of washing, and dependability is clearly witnessed once you try one of their diapers.

For review, I received a large Motherease Sandy with a large Sandy's absorbent liner. I also received a large ocean Airflow cover. 

The thing that is great about Mother-ease is that there is an option for everyone. You can choose from their beautiful colors, go unbleached, organic, or bamboo! The Sandy's diaper is a two sized system with small going from 8-20 pounds and large from 20-35 pounds. They also offer a one size diaper to make it even more simple! For us, I wanted a sized diaper as I knew Ej was not going to potty learn any time soon. I needed something that was guaranteed to fit even at the upper weight limit. 

For covers, they offer two different styles, the Rikki wrap and the Airflow cover. The Rikki wrap is an aplix cover and the Airflow has snaps. They are both sized to get the perfect fit. 

One thing I noticed right away with their diapers is that you do not want to size up prematurely. Their diapers and covers are generously sized. This is not the most trim diaper by any means, but is exactly what I needed for night time diapering. They are bit wider in the width than other fitteds, and paired with the cover, has a substantial rise. I do not have to worry about blow outs or inadequate coverage at all with this diaper! 

The Sandy's is a side snap diaper which I have come to prefer. The side snap system allows you to not only adjust the waist but also the leg opening. They each have their own snap. This is wonderful! I can get it tight around his waist without leaving huge red marks on his legs by morning. 

The Airflow cover is also side snapping and besides wool, it is the only cover I will use overnight. With aplix covers I have found them to have more of a tendency to leak, especially along the front where the hook and loop is. With the Airflow cover the snaps are on the side and I have never, ever had any wetness wick even when the diaper was fully saturated. Having a dry morning is priceless!

Again though, expect some bulk when using this combo. His sized pj pants still fit, but he definitely has that fluffy bottom look :)

As far as absorbency goes, the Sandy is wonderful. I have to use the absorbent liner for over night but together it works great. The liner is cotton and I like knowing that natural fibers are touching his skin. We have used the fitted with the Airflow cover and with our wool, and we have never had a leak either way. This diaper can definitely hold a lot of liquid! If you want a stay dry feel for your little one you would want to add a fleece liner. I love that cloth diapering is so customizable!

For washing, this is one of my easiest to clean and dry. Honestly, I struggle with keeping synthetics clean and that was one of the main reasons for us to switch to natural fibers. They always come out clean and I have never once had a stink issue with these after months of use. Plus they dry in one full cycle. They are still soft and squishy and have shown no wear whatsoever. This really is a no fuss diaper. Also, out of all my diapers, this one has yet to stain despite plenty of reason too :) Maybe it is the terry material? 

All I can say is that the Sandy has lived up to the hype I always heard. It is a simple, absorbent, easy to clean, and great fitting diaper. For an overnight fitted, I think it is one of the best. 

For day, I prefer a trimmer system and I am thrilled to see that Mother-ease has come out with a new AIO system called the Wizard! I can't wait to hear about it! If it is anything like their other products, I know it will be amazing!

Between their customer service, their business ethic, and great quality diapers, I am a true Mother-ease fan. I have always said that I love all things eco friendly but it has to be easy and functional. It has to truly work! Thank you Mother-ease for being a great company and not compromising on that!

The best part!? One of you will win an unbleached cotton Sandy's fitted diaper, an absorbent liner, and an Airflow cover! How wonderful is that! 

All you have to do is visit Mother-ease and leave me a comment letting me know what size of Sandy's you would want and what size/print of cover! It is that easy!

For additional entries, just leave a separate comment for each of the following.

1. Follow me via google friend connect

2. Follow me on Twitter

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me a link (can be done daily)

4. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

5. Like Mother-ease of Facebook

6. Follow Mother-ease on Twitter

Giveaway will end May 23, 2011 at 12PM and the winner will be announced May 24, 2011. Good luck!

Fine print: This review was written by me and shows my true opinions. I was not compensated for this review and am happy to share a product I genuinely love with you all!

Alabu Skin Care - A Giveaway!

Alabu Skin Care is a family run, all natural skin care business. Founded by Maryclaire from a desire for a more simple way of life, Alabu has now grown into an incredible line of soaps, lip balms, moisturizers and more!

More and more people today are also realizing that Maryclaire's vision is one that they have as well. However, while searching for more natural, more organic, and eco friendly products, we are usually left empty handed or having to pay large amounts of money for them.

Alabu offers a great line of products and they are all natural. Every single one. You can trust that the goats milk soap or the almond lotion you are using come from the best, safest ingredients out there. In fact, all of their soaps are made in small batches and used by the family themselves. Every order is guaranteed to be the quality that people have come to expect from Alabu.

For review I received two bars of soap (Baby Me and the Oat and Honey), two lotions (the naturally preserved in original and almond), the vanilla lip balm, and the original Shea body butter.

I have been using their products for a couple months now and all I can say is that I love it! I switched to natural soap about a year ago, but this has been the best I have tried. The Oatmeal and Honey is exfoliating and has a more rough texture that I love. With bar soap, I like it to have some texture. It is very moisturizing and that is saying a lot due to the fact that I have eczema and very alligator like skin. The Baby Me soap is for the boys and is very gentle, unscented, and also extremely moisturizing. Both boys use it and have no reactions what so ever. As a mom, it is so important that my children use the safest, most natural products available.

The lotions come in a 4oz bottle which is perfect for your purse. I also keep some by our guest sink. The original is unscented and very gentle. I used it on Easton after bath one night while he was having an eczema flair up on his face. While it didn't make it go away, it didn't aggravate it either. That is huge! So this is the lotion you want if you have the most sensitive of skin. The almond scented is my favorite because, to me, it smells like chocolate covered cherries. Seriously it smells good enough to eat. The fragrance goes on strong but fades quickly so you don't have to worry about an intense fragrance all day. It is such a treat after I wash my hands. I will say however, that it is a lighter moisturizer and is not for intense dryness. It is great for the every day wear but not a really thick lotion.

The Shea Body butter stick on the other hand, is for those really dry spots. I use it on my elbows and knees and occasionally on my hands. It is a bit greasy but absorbs very quickly and really works great. I love this product so much, as again, I have some seriously dry skin. Plus you cant go wrong with a roll on product. No mess!

Last but not least, is the lip balm. Now here is where I am super picky. I have a brand of lip balm that I use and I only use that brand. However, this one worked just as great as my go to and I loved the vanilla flavor. It is very subtle and Adam took it for himself since it wasn't too girly like my others! I loved it and it really works on some of the worst chapped lips.

When it comes to natural skin care, Alabu is awesome. I love their soaps and light weight moisturizers so much but my favorite was the body butter and the lip balm. We really tested these products out over the winter and they far exceeded my expectations. I have to say thank you to Alabu for making quality, natural skin care that is actually affordable.

The best part of all of this?? One of YOU will win a $50 gift certificate to their online store!! How amazing is that! You know that summer is fast approaching and you will need some great skin care!

All you have to do is visit Alabu online and leave me a comment telling me what you would spend the money on! That's it!

For extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):
1. Follow my blog with Google friend connect
2. Follow me on twitter
3. Tweet about the giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)
4. blog about the giveaway and leave me a link

Giveaway will end on April 22, 2011 and the winner will be announced April 25, 2011 . Good luck!

Thirsties review/giveaway!

First of all I want to apologize for being absent lately! We have been under the weather (aka battling one of the worst bugs this year!) and I had to take care of two little special someones. We are not yet 100% but thankfully much, much better!
Thank you all for being patient!

Now on to the review ;)

Thirsties is a well known and well loved company! Started in 2004, they have strived, and succeeded to make fab diapers for fab babies! Here is their mission:

 "Thirsties line of cloth diapers were launched in 2004 in an effort to offer sustainably produced and quality designed diapers at affordable prices. Our mission is to make it easy and attainable for every family to choose cloth while simultaneously investing in our local economy and sustainable business practices."

One of the things that I personally LOVE about Thirsties, is that all of their diapering products are made here in the USA. This is important to me and I love supporting local companies!

Also, their diapers are adorable. Seriously cute fluff! Look at some of their new prints!

Aren't those gorgeous!?

Thirsties is currently making their famous fab fitted which comes in many beautiful colors, their sized diaper covers, their new duo wraps (a two sized cover system), and their new duo diapers (an all in two). They also provide prefolds, inserts and an assortment of different accessories!

For review I received the duo wrap and a stay dry duo insert to use inside it.  

The duo insert is WONDERFUL!! It is two inserts, one polyester and one hemp/cotton blend. They snap together for easy use and easy laundering. The insert is super soft and after we prepped it, it is super absorbent! All I have to do is lay it in the wrap and put it on EJ. Like a trifolded prefold but without the work, and with much more absorbency. Also I love that I can decided what material is against EJ's skin. You could use the fleece or the hemp if you want all natural fibers against babies bum. An extremely versatile item. I bet you could use these as a pocket insert as well and would work fabulously! Few things can beat the combo of microfiber and hemp for heavy wetters!

As far as the duo wrap is concerned, it is one of my favorite covers. You all know I love wool, but this is a close second. I love how the cover is soft and moves easily so it is not sticky, sweaty, and it doesn't restrict movement.  Another thing I love is that they come in your choice of aplix or snap closure. I prefer snaps as they tend to last longer and my little magician can't get it off!

They thing that really surprised me about the duo wrap was the sizing. They come in two sizes (size one and size two) and each size is adjustable by a snap down rise. With EJ being 26 pounds now and having a 18 inch rise, I need adjustable. I need a diaper that will fit him well and will fit through potty learning. A generous diaper will fit over his huge fitted diapers, and will be comfortable while being leak free. The duo performs! The size 2 duo is a large cover and very generous in its sizing.  While all other covers either don't fit, or are on the largest setting, he wears the duo comfortably on the medium setting. He has plenty of room!! I was thrilled with this! When he wears this over his duo insert, the trimness can not be beat.

I have been a long time fan of Thirsties. I have had their covers since we first started cloth diapering. I will attest to their quality and customer service. Almost two years ago, when one of my diaper covers had a seam that came undone, Thirsties paid to mail the cover back, fixed it, and sent it back to me within a week. Time and time again they have proven to be one of the best products out there and they stand by their products.
True work horse covers for a great price!

So I just know you are wanting in on the Thirsties love!!! Well you are in luck!
Thirsties is generously offering to give one of you a duo wrap in your choice of color and size, and a stay dry insert!!

All you have to do is visit Thirsties and leave a comment letting me know what color and size of duo wrap you would want!

For extra entries (leave a separate comment for each)
1. Be a public follower of this blog via google friend connect
2. Request a Thirsties Catalog
3. Be a fan of Thirsties on Facebook
4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link
5. Follow me on Twitter

Contest is open to Canada and USA. Giveaway will end December 31st, 2010 and winner will be announced January 2, 2011. Good Luck!

OweWhoaWhen review/giveaway!

OweWhoaWhen is an amazing shop run by Linda. You can find her on etsy or at her other site  http://www.owewhoawhen.com/. Linda specializes in wool soakers and the quality of her products are incredible. It never ceases to amaze me when I receive an item that has been handmade and it is flawless.You can tell so much time and talent go in to each and every one.

This is the soaker Linda made for EJ. It was a semi custom soaker, so I picked the embroidery and she picked the wool. Isn't is just gorgeous!? Her embroidery is what really sets her apart from other shops. I love having such a unique piece in our stash and I am always showing this off to people. I am just in love!

As far as functionality goes, it is great. It has a second layer stitched into the wet zone for better protection and fits like a glove even on his chunky thighs. The waist and leg openings are nice a stretchy and are soft against his skin. He loves this cover because of the turtle and I can't blame him ;) We have worn this over prefolds and fitteds and it fits great over both types. Because of its stretch it really can accommodate any diaper. The rise is high enough to cover the top of his diapers generously but does not go too high like his night time covers do. An ideal rise for an anytime cover. So if you are looking for function and one of a kind designs, OweWhoaWhen is perfect for you.

In fact, one of you will win an OweWhoaWhen cover for yourselves!

(Winner can choose any in stock soaker!)

All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog via google friend connect, visit OweWhoaWhen and leave me a comment letting me know what cover you would get if you won! That's it!

For additional entries (leave a separate comment for each)

1. Follow me on twitter

2. Like OweWhoaWhen on facebook

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

4. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

5. Have the cool cloth event button on your site

Giveaway will end December 31, 2010 at 12pm and the winner will be announced January 2, 2011 at 12pm. Good luck!

Flora Gayle- wool longies and soakers (review and giveaway)

Flora Gayle is a wonderful etsy shop, owned by Amanda, and has beautiful recycled wool longies, soakers, and unique fabric necklaces. What drew me to her store was her gorgeous soakers but after talking with her more I knew what a great company she has. Amanda's husband has been serving in Iraq, and I can't help but feel good knowing that when you buy a soaker from her, you are supporting a military family! But back to her wool, they are truly one of a kind!

See what I mean? However when it come to cloth diapers, it doesn't matter how cute it is if it doesn't work! Function is key especially with a diaper cover. Wool is known for its benefits with cloth diapering. It is highly absorbent, leak proof, breathable, and all natural. I find that a good fitted with a wool soaker is bulletproof for night time diapering. There is no way I could do it without wool! I think it is safe to say I am a bit obsessed with all things wool. Especially cashmere! So when Amanda generously sent me a pair of cashmere longies I was over the moon! Cashmere is the softest material I know, all while allowing one to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I love that EJ has something so soft and wonderful to wear to bed at night. Also, our longies have a double layer of wool, with a heartier wool in the soaker area sewn right in to the inside. We have used these longies for a couple weeks now and we have never had a leak or compression wetness. The fit is perfect on my hard to fit toddler. EJ has short legs, chubby thighs, and a 19 inch waist and she was able to send us something that fits like a glove! Another thing about Amanda's shop is that she strives to make wool affordable for all. Almost all of her wool in under $20 so there is something for everyone. Her what she says:
"One of my main goals in making my diaper covers is to make wool affordable so that more people will be willing to try it. I got in to cloth diapering to try to save some money (among other things), so I couldn't justify paying $30 or $40 on one diaper cover--no matter how cute it was! Especially considering how fast babies grow.



I'm lucky enough to have learned to sew as a child, so now I'd like to offer some cute, functional, eco-friendly, well crafted, recycled wool diaper covers to others who might not be able to pick up a pre-loved sweater at a thrift store and turn it into and item of baby-couture. Don't be intimidated by wool, either. It's not hard to care for! "

The best part of all of this, is that Amanda is going to give one of you a wool soaker/longies of your choice. You pick the size, let her know if you have a boy or girl, and whether you want a soaker or longies and she will do the rest!
All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog, visit Flora Gayle and leave a comment letting me know what item is your favorite!

For extra entries: (leave a separate comment for each)
1. Follow me on Twitter
2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link (can be done daily)
3. Blog about this giveaway (leave me the link)
4. Have the cool cloth button on your blog

Giveaway will end November 12/31/2010 at 12pm and the winner will be announced 1/2/2011 at 12pm. Good Luck!

Knit Together review/giveaway

Beautiful right? Well I think it is no secret that I love wool. I believe there is a place for a PUL cover, but for me, wool is supreme. Especially with sensitive little ones with eczema and prone to rashes, wool is our best option! I have some super soakers for bed time, but what about a perfect daytime wool cover? Something super light weight and breathable. Something super cute :)

Knit Together has the answer!

These shorties are so darn cute I can barely stand it. For review I received a pair of shorties in this gorgeous turquoise color. Right from opening the package, I knew I would love these. Debbie, the owner of Knit Together,  has an amazing gift! I only wish I could knit like this. She also hand dyes her wool yarn! Talk about talent!

The shorties she makes are flawless and squishy soft. They are only one layer which makes them ideal for day time use. My favorite thing about them is that they have a drawstring waist. I just pull them on, just like shorts-Ha!, and then tie them up. Never an issue with fit this way! I bet these will be our go to spring/summer cover. Ej loves them because of how comfy they are for him. No tags, no tight waist to hinder movement. Perfect for my little "on the go" EJ. I truly think everyone should have a cover like this. If your babe needs to air out, especially during illness or during a bad diaper rash, but you don't want them to go completely coverless, you have to get one of these. Or two! have you seen all the colors!! Sigh :) Also for a hand knit item her shipping was super fast! I was amazed at how quickly it came!

The best part of all of this is that Debbie is going to give one of you a pair of her fab shorties! You pick the color and the size and she will get them to you!

All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog, visit Knit Together, and leave a comment telling me what color/size you would want if you won! That's it!

For extra entries: (leave a separate comment for each)

1. Follow me on twitter

2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

3. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

4. Have the cool cloth button on your blog

Giveaway will end 12/31/2010 at 12pm and the winner will be announced 1/2/2011 at 12pm. Good luck!

Crunchy Angel-Toodle Bugz (review/giveaway)

Crunchy Angel is a cloth diaper boutique selling cloth diapers and accessories! When Wendy contacted me, I was thrilled! Wendy is super sweet and has excellent customer service! She always responds super fast to my emails and always goes above and beyond helping her customers.

Wendy generously sent me two pairs of Toodle Bugz leg warmers for review. I choose the Bambooz Navy and she sent me the Monkeying Around pair as well.

The first thing I will say is that I love these leg warmers. I have a ton of babylegs and I do like them, but these are so much better in my honest opinion. For one, they are sized so you can ensure a perfect fit, they are super soft, and they have gentle elastic so no red marks on your little ones thunder thighs! I got the toddler size and they fit EJ perfectly and they also fit Austin! The bamboo pair I received are a just a bit softer than the regular and almost silky. I love bamboo so much! The Monkeying around print is adorable and EJ loves the "mokeys". I have washed both pairs several times and they show no wear at all.

These are perfect for under pants to add extra warmth in the winter, great for those who are still crawling to protect their knees, and great for quick diaper changes! You don't have to hassle with pulling down the pants first and then leaving their little legs exposed while doing so. Toodle Bugz would also be perfect for your arms! I have Austin wear them with short sleeved shirts to warm up his little arms when he gets chilly! So versatile! I just love leg warmers and Toodle Bugz are the best I have tried.

The best part is that Wendy has generously offered to give one of you a fabulous pair of Toodle Bugz in your choice of print and size! All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog, visit Crunchy Angel and leave a comment telling me what pair of Toodle Bugz you would love!

For extra entries: (leave a separate comment for each)

1. Follow me on Twitter

2. be a fan of Wendy's facebook page

2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

3. Blog about this giveaway and leave the link

4. Have the cool cloth  button on your blog

Giveaway will end 12/31/2010 at 12pm and the winner will be announced 1/2/2011 at 12pm. Good Luck!



Bitty Bumz review

Bitty Bumz Boutique is another etsy favorite of mine! Amanda is the genius behind these adorable diapers and she is amazingly talented. Just take a look at these little works of art~

Tell me those are not the cutest things you have seen! Perfect for the holidays! Bitty Bumz diapers are unique in that they are a one size fleece all in two. The shell is fleece with a snap in soaker on the inside. You can choose either a snap in contoured bamboo soaker, or a snap in petal soaker. I had the petal soaker and it was fabulous! These diapers fit pretty trim and are really squishy soft. They stretch great to get a perfect fit and are not bulky at all between the legs. And again, these are so so soft!! Not all diapers that claim to be "one size" really go the distance, but with these diapers I truly feel as if they could fit through potty training. There was still room to grow for EJ but I can also see it fitting much smaller babies with how trim it is. These diapers have a wonderful fit! Also, we only washed our diaper once and wore it for almost two hours. The insert was barely wet so I call that a success! It was super easy to snap in and snap out as well. You could definitely reuse this shell if you needed and either snap in a another soaker or even use a prefold trifolded. All in all fabulous diaper!

Now the fun part!!! One of you is going to win one of these fabulous diapers!
All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog via google friend connect, visit Bitty Bumz Boutique and leave a comment letting me know which one you want if you win! 

For additional entries (leave a separate comment for each)
1. Follow me on twitter
2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)
3. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link
4. Have the cool cloth event button on your site!

Giveaway will end December 15th, 2010 at 12pm and winner will be announced December 16th, 2010 at 12pm. Good Luck!

Some fine print:
Now although I give this diaper 2 thumbs up, I do have to let you know I found out EJ is sensitive to fleece. Since wearing this diaper (and him having a reaction to it) we have tested several different fleece items on him and he broke out in blisters to all of them. Even his fleece blankets when rubbed on his skin directly cause a horrible rash. This is in no way related to Bitty Bumz diapers and I wish he wasn't reactive because his diaper is soooo cute! Fleece sensitivities are extremely rare but if your little one is also sensitive, please realize this diaper would not be for them.

Abby's Lane review and giveaway

Abby's Lane is a fabulous diaper shop owned by Stephanie. In her own words:

"Hello! Welcome to Abby's Lane, a unique boutique offering products to make your parenting experience enjoyable and a little closer to nature. I am Stephanie, owner and founder of Abby's Lane, which opened in September of 2004, we are currently located in Northern Virginia. My husband, Phillip, and I are proud parents to our 3 beautiful daughters and one little son.


Our cloth diaper journey began when Abby was 3 months old, Camille, Lucy and Sebastian have been cloth diapered from birth. I was a reluctant participant at first, I believed the myth that cloth diapering is messy, messy, and...well...messy! I assure you that is entirely false! Cloth diapering has been the most wonderful experience, and if my husband is an advocate, anyone can do it! The products I carry at Abby's Lane are carefully chosen to make your cloth diapering experience an easy and enjoyable one."

What I personally love most about Abby's Lane is Stephanie herself. Sure the free shipping on all orders is a huge plus as well as the vast selection of cute cloth diapers! But her customer service is what has made me the most loyal of customers.

First of all when I received my Blueberry diaper for review from her, it had a slight manufactures defect in the bamboo lining. I contacted Stephanie and told her and she responded within an hour. She paid my shipping to and from, and sent me a brand new diaper within three days. Fabulous! Although defects are rare in diapers, they can and will happen on occasion. Knowing you have someone backing you and who will always go above and beyond to correct any mistake (even in this case it was not her own!) shows what kind of company she has. Furthermore, she ships FAST. No waiting and waiting for your fluffy mail to arrive!

As if this wasn't enough, I have been emailing Stephanie for about a month now about some serious stink issues we have been having recently. She always responds right away and has given me lots and lots of great tips. She is patient and relentless in her pursue to make cloth enjoyable for everyone. Sure enough after trying almost everything, it was Stephanie who has helped me refine my wash routine and I am happy to say we have zero stink and zero rash. She has made all the difference for me.  That is the difference in a person who loves what they do! We have even talked on the phone and she is always willing to help! I don't know how she does it with four little ones!

Needless to say, Abby's Lane is by far one of the best companies I have had the privilege of working with.

 Blueberry diapers have long been considered one of the best. With there generous one size sizing and their luxurious minky outer, they left little room for improvement. That was of course, unless your little one was sensitive to polyester! Almost all pockets out right now have a fleece or a microsuede lining on the inside. EJ has never been able to wear these diapers with out getting a rash and therefore although I wanted a blueberry for my own, I never could get one. Until now ;)

Blueberry now makes a bamboo pocket, with the inner lining made of a bamboo/organic cotton blend! So of course I had to try it and I have to say I am impressed! The outside minky of the diaper is buttery soft, like a velvet. I love having something this soft for EJ to wear. The inner is super silky soft as well. Plus the great thing about this diaper is it is a pocket, so you can customize the absorbency. We love this diaper for outings, or for when we need a quick change. EJ has worn it over night but I prefer my fitteds and wool for that. All in all  this is the greatest pocket I have tried. Natural fibers, great absorbency, snap closure, and so stinking cute. Also EJ is 21 months and 25 pounds. This diaper fits him great and we can even wear it on the medium setting. He wont be out growing this any time soon! I imagine it would be a bit bulky on a small baby, but for my toddler the fit is wonderful. You simply must try this diaper!

                                                             How cute is this cow print??

So the best part of all this? Abby's Lane has generously offered to give away a $10 store credit to her shop! I can think of about 100 different things I would want that $10 for! Maybe you have been looking at a new diaper, some new detergent, or maybe a diaper sprayer? Now you will have an excuse to splurge :)

All you have to do is be a public follower of this blog and visit Abby's Lane and leave a comment letting me know what item you would purchase with your gift certificate!

For extra entries: (leave a separate comment for each of the following)

1.Follow Abby's Lane on Twitter

2. Follow me on twitter

3. Like Abby's Lane on facebook

4. Tweet about the giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

5. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

6. Have the "cool cloth" button on your blog

Giveaway will end December 31, 2010 at 12pm. Winner will be posted on January 2, 2010 at 12pm. Good luck!



CSN review/ Petsmart giveaway ($200 value)

Well I am happy to once more introduce you to CSN. I know they are no stranger around here and I can't say enough good things about them.

For review, I chose to receive something for the newest member of our family, Finley!

I really wanted a feeder for him, so if we ever had to leave for the day, or overnight, I know he has plenty of water and food. I feel it is a way of being responsible especially with hospital visits being a reality this season. If I didn't make it home in time to feed the little guy I would feel horrible. Well now I don't have to worry about it!

Thanks to the petmate pet cafe, he has all the food and water he could possible want! The first day he was a bit leery but now he loves it. He knows that it is always there when he needs it. Did I mention that he hops? Like a little bunny! I love to watch him hop, run, and romp around the house! He is getting so big now! Anyways.....

We also received a nice new hooded litter box that he loves! It is much bigger that his old one and he has plenty of room to grow into it! The litter box is also by petmate and I love it. This brand is so wonderful and equally affordable. All three pieces are very easy to use which is key for me. The food and water containers do not leak and always give just enough food and water. They are easy to clean and maintenance free.

The little box is great and comes with its own carbon filter. We haven't had any odor at all with it. The lid comes off easily which allows you access to scoop it out, but it also actually snaps down well so you can lift it by the handle. All in all I am thrilled with what we received and I know Finley is as well!

What really made an impact on me though, was the way CSN ships things. Not only is it fast, even for large items, but it always packed so carefully. I have never received anything damaged and they don't use packing peanuts! They use a more eco friendly choice, it is plastic, but at least it is recycled and recyclable. That's a big plus. There is no waste and I appreciate that. It is nice to see companies making better choices, not just for us, but for our four legged friends as well.

In honor of our sweet furry friends, I have a great giveaway for you! We all know Petsmart as a great company who loves and supports animals of all kinds. They offer everything you could possibly need and have great prices and excellent service. We love going there and looking around. They also have classes available and are always able assist you with questions and give a lot of support.

Well, I have a $150 Petsmart giftcard and a $50 visa gift card to give to one of you! This should get you everything you need to go out and adopt a new furry buddy, or to take care of one you already call your own! You could even use the visa card to take them in for their annual exam at the vet!

With the holiday season here, we don't want to forget about our most loyal companions!

To enter to win these two fab giftcards, all you have to do is follow me publicly on google friend connect, visit CSN and Petsmart and leave a comment telling me what you would buy for your pet! That is it!

If you want more chances to win leave a separate comment for each of the following:

1. Follow me on Twitter

2. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

3. Have my button on your blog

4. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

This contest expires November 30, 2010 at 12 pm. Winner will be announced on December 1, 2010. Good luck!

Fine print:

Although CSN generously supplied the items for review, they did not sponsor the giveaway items from Petsmart and Visa. If you should win this giveaway you will be notified, and the items will be shipped directly to you . You will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

CSN review and a fab Fall-Tacular giveaway!

Did you know it has been in the 70's here?! And one night this week it is due to get into the 40's?? Ummm, YES please! It is no secret I LOVE fall, and I love this weather. On cooler days, I especially love to come inside and bake for my family. I love to bake about as much as I love fall and I do admit to baking year round. However, there is something so wonderful about baking in the fall. From pound cake, to pumpkin squares, I love it all.
When I bake I always bake from scratch as I find it is great to be able to control what goes into my food. I also think it is easy! Especially when you have a great mixer. Behold:

This is my new baby. I have had my eye on a kitchenaid stand mixer for what seems to be forever, but with a price tag of over $300, I will have to wait. However, when CSN contacted me to do another review for them, I was thrilled to be able to try out the Cuisinart 7 speed mixer. Now the mixer I had before had recently broken down and I needed a new one. My old one had no power and only one speed and was impossible to mix things like butter cream icing and egg whites.
Not anymore! This mixer can do it ALL! It is so powerful and can honestly handle anything including thick dough. My only complaint is that it is so robust (for a tiny little person like myself) that my arm hurts after awhile from holding it. Ha! Not to bad of a complaint!
I had to test it out right away and I made lemon pound cake! When I made the lemon butter cream for it, I have never been more proud of an appliance. For the first time ever ( I have been perfecting my butter cream recipe for ages) my icing came out perfect and thick. I am in love y'all!

I am so happy with it that I am rethinking needing a stand mixer at all! Well okay, maybe I still want one someday...

Anyway, TODAY, you have a chance to win a KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer of your very own! You even get to pick the color!

How is that!? Kitchenaid is known for their quality and excellence and are the standard for today's kitchens. With a mixer to match every budget and every style, you can't go wrong!

All you have to do is follow me on google friend connect, visit CSN and KitchenAid and leave a comment telling me what color you would like! It is that easy!

Extra entries:
Follow me on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)
Have my blog button on your blog
Have my Fall-Tacular button on your blog
Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

The winner will be chosen on October 8, 2010 at 12pm. Good luck!

The fine print:
Although the mixer I reviewed was supplied by CSN, the opinions of said mixer are my own. It is also important to note, that although CSN sponsored this review, they are not sponsoring the giveaway (kitchenaid mixer) as that is being supplied by a third party and will ship directly to you if you win! Good luck!

Fall-Tacular $200 Visa Gift Card

So this giveaway doesn't really need a lot of explanation! Who couldn't use an extra $200, especially with the holidays right around the corner?

This gift card is a Visa gift card that is accepted anywhere that Visa is! So you can spend it on anything you like!

All you have to do is follow this blog with google friend connect and leave me a comment telling me what you will spend the money on! That's it! I can't wait to hear all your fun ideas!

For extra entries:
1. Follow me on Twitter
2. Have my button on your blog
3. Have the Fall-Tacular button on your blog
4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)
5. Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link

Winner will be announced on October 8th at 12pm. Good Luck!

Fall-Tacular Herbolution Giveaway

As fall progresses, so do the colder temperatures! Eventually, the temperatures chase us indoors to enjoy our homes and our families. One of the things many of us blogging mommies do, is spend some extra moments on the computer. (When we get those precious extra moments :) One thing that will make this time a bit more special is this beauty

Completely organic , soft, and fragrant, I know I would love to surf the Internet with this! I love the smell of lavender so much and it always make me in a calmer mood!
So for all those late night online shoppers, your wallet may hurt, but your wrists won't! :)
This wrist rest comes in two styles, both non washable and washable. You can find the washable here.

One of you lucky readers is going to win the Organic Ergonomic Computer Keyboard Wrist Rest!! (non washable)
All you have to do is follow this blog via google friend connect, visit Herbolution and leave me a comment letting me know what other product you would love to have!

For extra entries:
1. Follow me on Twitter
2. Have my button on your blog
3. Have the Fall-Tacular button on your blog
4. Tweet about the giveaway/your favorite product from Herbolution and give me the link (can be done daily)
5. Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
6. Follow Herbolution on Facebook and Twitter

Winner will be announced on October 8th,2010 at 12pm. Good Luck!

Fall-Tacular Bragging Bags Giveaway

Do you love weddings? Do you love decor? Do you love etsy stores that could make you swoon with their gorgeousness? Yep, me too!

Bragging Bags is one of those etsy stores that you just cant look away. It is very unique and they have the most precious decorations that are personalized! I love personalization! They make all kinds of things for weddings and for everyday use. Look at these little cuties!

Wouldn't those mini pumpkins look amazing as a vase filler or for me, I would LOVE them for my hurricanes!
And look at this

Yep, I am in love! This fall I have really been decorating with natural elements and this is perfect!

Bragging Bags has generously offered to give one lucky winner either two bags of unscented pumpkins, or two shorter birch vases with personalization!
All you have to do is follow this blog with google friend connect, visit Bragging Bags and leave a comment telling me what other item you love! That's it!

For extra entries: (make sure to leave a separate comment for each)
1. Follow me on Twitter
2. Have my button on your blog
3. Have the Fall-Tacular button on your blog
4. Tweet about the giveaway (leave me the link)Can be done daily
5. Blog about this giveaway (leave me the link)

Winner will be announced on October 8,2010 at 12pm. Good Luck!

Fall-Tacular Corinna Couture Giveaway

Do you have a little girl in your life? Maybe you are a mom of girls, or an auntie? You will LOVE this amazing etsy shop!
Corinna Couture is a boutique with the most beautiful girls dresses. They are very ornate and very distinct. I simply love them!! I only wish I could sew like this!

Isn't that gorgeous!?

I have a feeling that if my two boys were girls I would have every dress she makes!

Instead, Corinna Couture is giving away a Shania dress to one of YOU! You can choose the size from 6months-6!
All you have to do is follow this blog via google friend connect, visit Corinna Couture and then leave a comment telling me what other dress you love! That's it!

For extra entries: (make sure to leave a separate comment for each)
1. Like Corinna Couture on Facebook
2. Follow me on Twitter
3. Have my button on your blog
4. Have the Fall-Tacular button on your blog
5. blog about the giveaway and leave me the link
6. Tweet about the giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)

Winner will be picked on October 8, 2010 at 12pm. Good Luck!

Fall-Tacular Indigo Fragrance Giveaway

Indigo Fragrance is an amazing etsy shop! I love everything about fall and the "smell" of fall is one of my favorites! I am even known for lighting a spice scented candle year round. There is something so great about coming home to a warm smelling home everyday, especially this fall! If you look around Indigo Fragrance you will see so many different scents. I would love to try them all! But this season, pumpkin spice, winterberry, and fall festival sound delicious! The great thing about fragrance oil is that it is always present. You don't have to worry about lighting a candle or blowing one out before you leave. It is safe and very fragrant.
The very best part? YOU can win a whole pumpkin spice reed diffuser set from Indigo Fragrance! (Set includes the bottle, reed diffuser oil, reeds, funnel and instructions.)

All you have to do is follow my blog via google friend connect and visit Indigo Fragrance on etsy and leave a comment telling me what other scent you would love to try!

Extra entries: (make sure to leave a separate comment for each)
1. Follow me on Twitter
2. Have my button on your blog
3. Have my Fall-Tacular button on your blog
4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done daily)
5. Blog about this giveaway

Good luck!! (Winner will be announced on October 8th,2010 and 12pm)