Giveaway Survey

Sep 15,2010 / By Maria / 1 Comment

Loading…

0

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

Sep 14,2010 / By Maria / 3 Comments

>

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 items are normally shipped in nice, heat-sealed bags. Since mine were samples, they were shipped in regular baggies.

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.

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!

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.)

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

0

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Ruby Moon Winner!

Sep 14,2010 / By Maria / 1 Comment

>

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!

0

Mailbox Mondays

Mailbox Mondays 9/13/10

Sep 13,2010 / By Maria / 3 Comments

>

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

http://adventuresofashandrowe.blogspot.com/

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.

0

Friday Giveaway Linky Giveaways Linky

Weekly Friday Giveaway Roundup for September 10th, 2010

Sep 10,2010 / By Maria / 1 Comment

>

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.

This week’s giveaway finds:

My giveaway for Ruby Moon Cloth Wipes & Solution ends 9/13!

Mother-Ease diaper from The Momccupation (ends 9/17)

Fuzzibunz Wipes from Wee Little Changes (ends 9/16)

GroVia diaper from Nicki’s Diapers (ends 9/16)

Ergo Baby Carrier from Mama B (ends 9/18)

Bumgenius 4.0 from Monkey Tales and Diaper Junction (ends 9/28)

Doopsy Diaper from Cloth Diaper Addiction (ends 9/17)

Snugglibebe Diaper from Coping with Frugality (ends 9/14)

Bummis Fabulous Wet Bag from Coupon Clippin’ Mommy (ends 9/25)

Twinkle Toes Diaper from Familylicious Reviews & Giveaways (ends 9/19)

AppleCheeks Diaper Cover and Insert from SAPsMaMa (ends 9/27)

Bottombumpers Diaper from Dirty Diaper Laundry (ends tomorrow, 9/11) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Monkey Snuggles Pocket Diaper from Mama B. (ends 9/22)

Mother-Ease Sandy’s Fitted Diaper & Air Flow Cover from Big City Baby (ends 9/28) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Whamies Wet Bag from The Cheap and Choosy (ends 10/5)

SoftBums Diaper from Stuff Parents Need (ends 9/17)

Tot Wraps Dream AIO from Biehl Adventures (ends 9/16)

Sleepy Wrap from Drea Wood (ends 9/16)

Bottombumpers AIO from Snooty Booty Diapers and The Cloth Diaper Retailer Cooperative (ends 9/15)

AppleCheeks Little Bundle from Waking Up Williams (ends 9/12) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Giveaways still running from last week:

Knickernappies Diaper from Wee Little Changes (ends 9/26)

Doopsy Diaper from Liz Has a Life (ends 9/12)

Nifty Nappy Fitted Diaper from Mom to Bed by 8 (ends 9/18)

Doopsy Pocket Diaper from The Cheap and Choosy (ends 9/14)

Nicki’s Best Bottom Diaper from Home Grown Families (ends 9/16)

DyPeas Pocket Diaper from Mommy is Green (ends 9/20)

Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm from Mom to Bed by 8 (ends 9/20)

Bummas Wipes from Chubby Cheeks Thinks (ends 9/13) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Thirsties Duo Wrap and Washy Wafers from Familylicious Reviews and The Diaper Wagon (ends 9/19)

Drybees AIO Hybrid Diaper from The Cheap and Choosy (ends 9/20)

FuzziBunz One Size Pocket Diaper from The Small Town Mom (ends 9/14)

Bummis Easy Fit Diaper from Stuff Parents Need (ends tomorrow, 9/11)

$15 Gift Card to The Diaper Wagon from The Review Stew (ends 9/15)

Thirsties Duo Diaper from The B Keeps Us Honest and Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique (ends 9/12)

Planet Wise Large Wet Bag from The Cloth Diaper Report and Doable Diaper (ends 9/14)

Knickernappies 2G Pocket Diaper from Earth Angels Diaper Co. (ends 9/15)

WHAMies Pail Liner from The Cheap and Choosy (ends 9/30)

Thirsties Duo Wrap & Hemp Prefold from Chubby Cheeks Thinks (ends 9/21) Open to the U.S. and Canada

Ergo Baby Carrier from I’d Rather Be Changing Diapers (ends 9/19)

Snap EZ diaper from Organic Girl and Dapa Diapers (ends 10/4) Open to the U.S. and Canada

FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper 3-Pack from Well Born Baby (ends 9/30) Mandatory Facebook Like

Planet Wise Swim Bag from Monkey Tales (ends today, 9/10)

$20 Gift Certificate to Wee Little Changes from It’s Me Melbie (ends 9/22)

Moo Moo Kow Diaper from It’s Me Melbie (ends 9/25)

Tiny Tush Disposable Liners from Happily Southern and Giggle Britches (ends 9/12)

Planet Wise Wet/Dry Bag from A Family Full of Opinions (ends today, 9/10)

Planet Wise Wet/Dry Bag from Turning the Clock Back (ends today, 9/10)

AMP Diaper from My Life as a Married Girl (and Mommy) (ends 9/13)

Trimsies AIO from Baby Belle and A Mom’s Take (ends 9/13)

AMP Stay Dry Diaper from It’s Me Melbie (ends 9/15)

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!

0