Author Archives: Maria

Maria is an aspiring "fit mom" of 3 children, writing about cloth diapers, going green, and her life as a single mom. Maria works with many companies within the cloth diaper industry and beyond, providing social media management, product development, and other services.
Baby Legs Deodorizers Detergents Giveaway Made in the USA Review WAHM made

Kickin’ Creations Review & Giveaway (CLOSED 9/21)

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kickin creations
I originally contacted Mandy of Kickin’ Creations to buy some wool dryer balls.  As it turned out, she was not happy with the new method she was trying (at the time) for making them, and didn’t want to sell any to me until she was pleased with how they ended up.
We got to chatting and I agreed to review her cloth diaper safe laundry detergent, deodorizer powder (pail powder) and baby legs.  (She also sells sugar scrubs, burp cloths and more!)
kickin creations
Kickin’ Creations items are normally shipped in nice, heat-sealed bags.  Since mine were samples, they were shipped in regular baggies. 
kickin creations packaging
I received the detergent and pail powder, both in Wild Cherry Blossom scent.  Other scent options include: Sweet Pea & Jasmine, Lavender Essential Oil, Apple Cinnamon, Fresh Linen and Unscented.
cloth diapers
I’ve had such a hard time with detergent, that I was really surprised and impressed by Kickin’ Creations.  Like the other scented detergents I’ve used, the scent was very strong.  I could smell it as soon as I opened my mailbox!  I’m a little more sensitive to smells than others, so I put the detergent and pail powder in an OXO container for storage.  Like that, it made my laundry room smell great!
cloth diaper safe products
Each bag of detergent contains up to 70 wash loads, and sells for $15.00 plus $4.95 shipping.  A half-batch sample pack sells for $8.00 plus shipping.  The instructions are to use 1-2 tablespoons (3 to soak, less per load for an HE machine.) 
kickin creations
The first time I used it, I used a little more than I needed to.  After that, I used a little bit less, and while the laundry room smelled great while washing, the diapers rinsed clean.  When they were finished, they had a faint scent, but just smelled clean.  I used the whole bag (it lasted at least a week, I should have kept track!) and it worked wonderfully.
I use a Planet Wise large hanging wet bag as a pail, and don’t have a lot of stink issues.  However, since I’ve started washing every other day, things get a little…eh…”gamey” by wash day.  The Stink Be Gone All Purpose Deodorizer Powder is available in the same scents as the detergent, and a 10 ounce package sells for $5.00 plus shipping. 
If you used it in a shaker bottle (relabeled for safety!) like an empty baby powder or spice container, it would be very easy to sprinkle a bit in your diaper pail or trash can. I just shook a little bit out of the bag onto the diapers as I added them to the pail & noticed some stink.  It really did a good job of neutralizing the odor.  My laundry room (where I keep my pail!) smelled fresh, not like flowery dirty diapers, hee hee.
baby legs
Last up are the baby legs.  You really have to cut me some slack on my pictures.  Lately, trying to photograph my son feels like trying to photograph a squirrel on redbull.

baby legs

The pair I received are navy blue, and like other WAHM baby legs, they are made from knee socks.

kickin creations baby legs

Mandy also makes a “Tiny Legs” version of baby legs for 0-3 month olds.  They sell for about $5.00 plus shipping.

kickin creations baby legs

I am looking forward to using these when the weather gets cooler and he gets that chilly gap between socks and pants!

kickin creations

Kickin’ Creations sells both in the Cuties with Cloth Booties Congo (CWCB) on Hyenacart and the Bliss Congo.  Her CWCB store stocks tomorrow, September 15th.

Giveaway: Mandy is offering one reader his/her choice of any one in-stock item!  (Value up to $15.00)


Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below.  Feel free to leave a comment about the post, or simply to remind yourself that you entered however, comments will not be counted as entries.  Mandatory entries include name, email address and the item you like best after visiting the Kickin’ Creations CWCB store.  You may “like” the Kickin’ Creations Facebook page for a bonus entry, and double your chances!  This post will be updated daily (or so) with the # of entries received, for those of you who like to know your odds.


I will accept entries until Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at 9 P.M. Eastern.  I will select a winner using random.org’s true random number generator and notify him/her by email.  View my giveaway rules page for complete details.  This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

# of entries as of September 21st, 2010 at 8:30 P.M.: 116

https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dGU1UERuRFczdnBUUTNqeXVjMWo3aVE6MQ

FTC Compliance: I was provided with review samples for the cost of shipping, and a giveaway winner will receive a free item as well.  I was not otherwise compensated for this post; I was not required or requested to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Ruby Moon Winner!

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giveaway winner

The winner of the Ruby Moon wipes and wipes bits is #31, which is Jenn, whose favorite Ruby Moon item was the cloth diaper detergent!  Jenn, I’m getting ready to send you an email, congratulations!

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Mailbox Mondays

Mailbox Mondays 9/13/10

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email
Every Monday I will answer user submitted questions. They don’t have to be about cloth diapering! I’ll always answer questions via email, but if you would like your question to be answered in a Mailbox Mondays post, send an email with the subject “Mailbox Mondays” to Maria at change-diapers dot com.

Please note: My intent is to get a queue of questions for the next several months, so it may be some time before your submission is posted. If you would like me to email my response so you don’t have to wait until your question is posted, let me know!

Ash says:
Hey Maria!
I have another question for you! And guess what?! It’s about washing diapers of course! So I’ve been using cloth diapers on my daughter for about 4.5 months now and am always curious as to what other Mama’s routines are for after they change their baby’s diaper. Do you take your sons diapers and just dump them in the diaper pail after changing him or do you rinse them first? What is your routine? And do you ever feel the need to soak the dirty diapers after you get everything off of them to help get the stains out or do you just let them get some sun after washing them?
Oops! I guess it’s a couple questions! 🙂
Thanks again!!
Ash from The Adventures of Ash and Rowe
Hi Ash!  I know everyone seems to do things differently, but here’s what I do: If the diaper is just wet, I pull the insert out with the wipe, fold the laundry tabs in (if it’s velcro) ball it up and toss it in my hanging wet bag/pail. 
If it’s dirty, I flip the poop in the potty and follow the same routine.  If it’s really messy (like we’ve been dealing with after too many blueberries!) I will flip off as much as I can first.  Since I’m not washing every day anymore, I will then either spray the diaper off in my laundry room utility sink, or if I have several, I’ll do a rinse & spin in the washer.  I don’t like to let diapers sit with poop on them.  A diaper sprayer will take care of it too, but I never got around to getting one, and since I’m through the messy stuff for the most part, I haven’t bothered.  When he was still mostly breasfed, I didn’t rinse at all!
I don’t soak them or add anything to them, aside from when I use RLR every few months.  I don’t have any major issues with stains; I find that light stains fade with subsequent washes.
That said, the aftermath of blueberry-gate 2010 left me with some staining!  My first try at sunning my diapers had me sold.  They weren’t in direct sun very long, not long enough to completely dry them, yet the stains nearly disappeared!

How about you, readers?  What do you do?

Pamela says:

My very first cloth diaper purchase was a half dozen Bum Genius 3.0 OS diapers which are still my favorites and have fit my son through thick and thin (literally). But, 18 months later, the time has come to repair the laundry tabs and aplix closures. I bought the repair kits, and they have been sitting next to my sewing kit for almost a month – just daring me to give this a try. I’m terrified that I’m going to ruin one of my beloved BGs. Any experience and tips?

Thanks!

Pamela
 
I haven’t repaired any of mine, though I have a few that need it!  I think this tutorial on P.S. house is great!  I’m going to have to replace some of them soon.  I did get two replaced under warranty, but the others aren’t bad enough yet, and my warranty expires in about 5 or 6 weeks.  I don’t have a sewing machine; my Mom has an old and no-so-great one, but I’m thinking it might actually be easier to do it by hand.  Eek!

How about my readers, anyone replaced the velcro on their Bumgenius?

P.S. I’d love to have a guest post with a step by step tutorial for replacing velcro and/or doing a snap conversion.  Shoot me an email if you’re interested.  I’d like original material only, which wouldn’t be reposted elsewhere.

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Friday Giveaway Linky Giveaways Linky

Weekly Friday Giveaway Roundup for September 10th, 2010

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giveaway

Each Friday, I will post cloth diaper, babywearing and “green” giveaways that I’ve found, or that readers have submitted. The post will be accompanied by a linky where you may enter any family friendly (no “adult” products please!) giveaways, they do not need to be diaper related.

If you have a cloth diaper/accessory/babywearing/green giveaway you would like to be listed in the next giveaway roundup post, please email a link, blog name, giveaway title, end date and photo (if applicable) to maria at change-diapers dot com.

The Cloth Diaper Whisperer

mother-ease cloth diapers

Bottombumpers Diaper from Dirty Diaper Laundry (ends tomorrow, 9/11) Open to the U.S. and Canada
Giveaways still running from last week:

 

 
 
 
Bummas Wipes from Chubby Cheeks Thinks (ends 9/13) Open to the U.S. and Canada 
 
 
 
 
Thirsties Duo Wrap & Hemp Prefold from Chubby Cheeks Thinks (ends 9/21) Open to the U.S. and Canada
Snap EZ diaper from Organic Girl and Dapa Diapers (ends 10/4) Open to the U.S. and Canada
 
 
 
 

 
You may enter any family friendly giveaway in the linky below. The form Blog name – Giveaway Item – Ending date works well. At a minimum, please include the item and end date, and link directly to the giveaway.
 

Please view my post on where I list my giveaways to find more great places to link up!

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BPA Free Eco-Friendly/Green Review

Munchkin BPA Free Dinnerware Products Review

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bpa free munchkin

Since my kids are pretty far apart in age, all of the dishes and such we used when my daughter was little are nearly 5 years old now.  Not only did we not know about BPA then, but some of the stuff was looking a little worse for the wear.

munchkin bpa free cups bowls plates

I went hunting at the best place ever, Target, and these Munchkin products caught my eye.  I didn’t buy everything at once, but each time I looked for something new, my eyes seemed to go to Munchkin again.

snack cup

The first thing I bought was the 2-pack of snack catchers, which were $4.49 at Target.

bpa free snack catcher

They have a soft lid, which is secure and easy for little hands to reach through.  The handles make it easy to hold.  The only spills we’ve had were because my son shoved his fist in, then turned it upside down!

baby snack cup
It”s hard to see here, but there is a place on the bottom to write your child’s name!
snack catcher
It holds 9 ounces of snacks.  The first time I used it, I grossly underestimated the amount of snacks he would eat, LOL!
snack time
Next, I bought the plates, cups and bowls.
dishwasher safe
The cups and bowls were $2.99 for a pack of 5, and the plates were $3.79 for a pack of 5 (also at Target.)  They are again, BPA free and dishwasher safe.  While I’m not totally loving the pink & purple for my son, they have a gender neutral fishy pattern on them.
The curve of the bowls make it easy for little hands to hold it in place while scooping.  My son gets excited when he sees the bowls because he thinks it’s yogurt time!
thirsty baby
The cups are also perfectly shaped for little hands to hold. 
baby drinking from cup
They do leave a little red mark on his forehead though.  Tee-hee!
stainless sippy
So lastly, I was looking for a hard spout, BPA free sippy cup (preferably insulated) since until now, we’ve just been using Born Free soft spout cups.
munchkin sippy cup
I thought this Munchkin Sippy was a little spendy at $9.99 for a single 9 oz. cup, but it’s insulated, and it’s actually stainless!
9 oz sippy cup
I was a little disappointed to learn that it isn’t dishwasher safe, but the design is simple, and a quick wash in soapy water gets it clean & ready to use again.  Really, that’s good since I don’t need to have multiples to use while others are in the dishwasher.
spill proof cup
It doesn’t leak, if you remember to put the valve in (not naming names, ahem!)

Munchkin makes tons of products, and I’d definitely look to them next time I’m searching for something!

FTC Compliance: All items featured in this review were self purchased at normal retail prices.  All opinions are my own.

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