Category : Review

Eco-Friendly/Green Natural Household Products Natural Personal Care Products Retailers Reusable Products Review

Soap Hope – All Natural Soaps, Body Care & More, Plus an Amazing Mission!

soap hope 1

Soap Hope sells not just soap, but makeup, products for face, bath, body, baby, home, and even your pets!

soap hope 2soap hope 3

I received my samples in one of their “ugly boxes,” which is scrap cardboard taped together. I love that this “garbage” is getting another life before being recycled!

soap hope 4soap hope 5

I received a sampling of some of their great, natural products (yes, including some soap) but it’s not really their products that interested me as much as their mission did. Soap Hope is a for-profit company, with a non-profit mission. Under their “good returns” model, 100% of the profits Soap Hope earns are invested for one year, interest free, into women’s programs to empower women and provide education and financial opportunity. After a year, the money is returned to Soap Hope to start the cycle again.

Check out the Soap Hope deals page for discounts and special offers!

You can also sign up to receive special offers from Soap Hope, follow Soap Hope on Twitter, “like” Soap Hope on Facebook and follow the owner’s blog!

FTC compliance: I received the sample package pictured to assist in my review. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.



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Cloth Diapers Coupon Discount Giveaway Newborn Diapers Pocket Diapers Retailers Review Sized Diapers Snap Closure

FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper Giveaway Sponsored by FluffyRump (CLOSED 7/26) U.S./Canada & Review of XS

Fuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 1

I’ve had my medium FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper for about 10 months now, and I still love it. Naturally, I wanted to add the XS/newborn size to my newborn cloth diaper stash for the new baby! Though I purchased this diaper myself, FluffyRump is generously sponsoring a giveaway for a perfect size diaper in XS, S, M or L!

FluffyRump

FluffyRump is a small (but growing!) cloth diaper retailer, run by WAHM Stefanie and her husband Kevin. They carry cloth diapers, accessories and other eco-friendly items that the owners themselves have used and loved, including LifeFactory glass baby bottles! They have reasonable shipping rates (there’s a calculator right in the shopping cart, and they refund any shipping overcharge.) They offer reward points on every purchase too! Stefanie is very friendly and you can contact her anytime with questions you have!

Fuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 2 in package
Fuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 3 frontFuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 4 back

The XS is estimated to fit 4-12 lbs (preemie-4 months), the small 7-18 lbs (0-8 months), medium 15-30 lbs (6-26 months) and large 25-45 lbs (12+ months.) My son was about 18.5 pounds at 16 months when we bought our medium FB perfect size. He is still rather petite at 23.5ish lbs at 25 months. The medium FB is definitely much larger than other medium diapers we were using, but it fit him well then and fits him well now with tons of room to grow. I doubt we will ever need to go to larges in the FuzziBunz! I don’t have a small though (ahem, I need to get one, don’t I?) so I don’t know how they fit vs. the XS. If you have bigger newborns, you may very well be able to use the smalls and mediums and that’s it!

Fuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 5 snap closuresFuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 6 inner and elastic
Fuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 7 pocket opening

It has easy snap closures, leg and rear elastic, and a rear pocket opening.

Fuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 8 insert

Just like the medium, the XS came with a microfiber insert that was perfectly sized to fit in the diaper.

Here is the XS measured folded and stretched:

Fuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 9 foldedFuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 10 stretched

Now here is my “newborn model” wearing it. I’ve also pictured him wearing a newborn disposable so you can see how the fit compares.

Fuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 11 newborn disposableFuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 12 newborn disposable back

Fuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 13 frontFuzzibunz Perfect Size XS 14 back

Our medium FuzziBunz Perfect Size is a “go-to” diaper for us when we’re going to be out and about. It fits well, despite it’s more generous size, and absorbs well. I expect the same performance from the XS, and we’ll find out in December when I get to test the fit & absorbency on a newborn. So, watch for an updated review then! Read about how this worked for our newborn.

Discount: Use code FLUFFY15 for 15% off your order at FluffyRump. Once this code has reached it’s maximum # of uses, there will be a 10% code posted on the FluffyRump home page that will be valid through 7/31!

Giveaway: FluffyRump is offering one reader a FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper in his/her choice of size (XS, S, M or L) and color, subject to availability. (ARV $15.95-$17.95.)

Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. I love comments (great way to remind yourself you entered) but comments do not count as entries. One entry per person please (not per day.) If other members of your household enter, I ask that they enter for themselves and that you do not enter on anyone else’s behalf.

Mandatory entries include your name, email address and that you visit FluffyRump to view their product selection, then tell me what product or brand you’d like to see them carry.

You may receive a bonus entry if you “like” The FluffyRump Fan Page and/or follow FluffyRump on Twitter.

I will accept entries until Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 at 9:00 P.M. Eastern. I will select a winner using random.org’s true random number generator and notify him/her by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is chosen. View my giveaway rules page for complete details. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. (First class shipping to Canada.)

# of entries received as of giveaway close: 482

FTC compliance: I paid normal retail prices for the above item, though FluffyRump will provide a winner’s prize. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

Disclosure: This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, nor associated with Facebook. By entering, you release Facebook from any responsibility and understand that the information entered on this form will not be disclosed to Facebook.


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Affiliates All In One Diapers Cloth Diapers Newborn Diapers Review Snap Closure

Rumparooz Lil Joey Newborn Cloth Diaper Review

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 1 2 diapers

Rumparooz Lil Joeys are eeny-teeny, snap closure AIO newborn diapers. They are sold in 2-packs for $29.95. Most retailers sell them in packs of 2 of the same color, but Diaper Junction (affiliate link) allows you to choose two different colors.

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 2 in pkg

It was hard to choose from 12 colors and 6 prints, but I chose lazy lime and platinum.

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 3 frontRumparooz Lil Joeys 4 side
Rumparooz Lil Joeys 5 back

These are some of the tiniest newborn diapers I have seen, plus they have an umbilical cord snap down. I’d expect them to fit all but the smallest babies. They are estimated to fit from preemie/4 lbs up to 6 months/12 lbs.

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 6 vs os xsRumparooz Lil Joeys 7 vs os xs side

They are smaller than even the smallest setting of the Rumparooz one-size diapers.

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 8 snap closure umbilical snap downRumparooz Lil Joeys 9 umbilical snap down unsnapped

The umbilical cord snap down can of course be used unsnapped as well!

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 10 soft inner with gussetsRumparooz Lil Joeys 11 narrow to fit tiny babies

The inner is super soft, with the same gussets the one-size has. It’s much narrower to fit tiny babies without added bulk.

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 12 sewn in soaker thickRumparooz Lil Joeys 13 thickness of diaper folded

The sewn in soaker does make the diaper a bit on the fluffy side!

Here are the measurements (folded and stretched with the snap down snapped and unsnapped):

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 14 foldedRumparooz Lil Joeys 15 measured stretched

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 16 measured folded unsnappedRumparooz Lil Joeys 17 measured stretched unsnapped

My model for now:

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 18 model

In a preemie disposable and the Rumparooz snapped down:

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 19 preemie disposableRumparooz Lil Joeys 20 preemie disposable back

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 21 snapped downRumparooz Lil Joeys 22 snapped down back

Newborn disposable and the Rumparooz unsnapped:

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 23 newborn disposableRumparooz Lil Joeys 24 newborn disposable back

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 25 unsnappedRumparooz Lil Joeys 26 unsnapped back

It even fits around his tiny chicken legs.

Rumparooz Lil Joeys 27 fits newborn chicken legs

Naturally, my model isn’t a heavy wetter, so I can’t speak on the absorbency. I actually think this would be a great diaper for the newborn baby photo ops. There are so many colors available and they are just so.darn.cute. At under $15 each, they’re also not the most expensive newborn diapers out there. See this on my newborn.

FTC compliance: I paid normal retail prices for the above items. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. This review is not sponsored, endorsed or approved by any cloth diaper company or retailer.



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Eco-Friendly/Green Natural Personal Care Products Review

Buzz Away Extreme Natural Insect Repellent Review (and my Mommy Fail)

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I have been meaning to buy some natural insect repellent for the kids for like, forever. But I didn’t. I’m not completely sure why. Mostly because it’s expensive, and I was afraid to pay $10+ for something that wouldn’t work. So what finally pushed me over the edge? Feeling like a total loser of a Mommy when my son was eaten to bits. He’s apparently extra tasty (or it might just be that he’s a messy eater and usually covered in food of some sort!)

On Wednesday the 29th, we were outside playing before bedtime. As we were coming inside, we noticed an enormous lump on my son’s temple area, along with a tiny bug bite on the corner of his eye. I was about 2 feet from him when he was bitten because I told him not to rub his eyes when he had sand on his hands! 🙁 I didn’t take a picture because I didn’t think much of it, but this is what he looked like Thursday morning (you can see a little remaining redness on his temple and the other bite near his eye):

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It got worse as the day went on, and this is what he looked like by the evening (to add fail to fail, he got another bug bite above his eyebrow in the morning, just before we went to buy the bug spray!):

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I actually had two people at swim lessons ask me what happened because he was so swollen! I’m not one to rush off to the doctor, but I did call Thursday afternoon. The nurse told me to expect more swelling, to call if it wasn’t better by Friday, or got better then worse. She also said that I could give him some Benadryl to help with the itching. We had some dye free generic Benadryl from when my daughter had an allergic reaction, so she gave me the dosage and I planned to give it to him before bed in case it made him tired. (It ended up making him crabby, but didn’t make him sleepy, LOL.)

Here was my poor boy before bed:

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Well the nurse wasn’t kidding when she said expect it to be worse in the morning! Look at him on Friday morning. 🙁

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Thankfully by Friday evening he was just about back to normal:

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I chose Buzz Away Extreme because (drumroll please) it was the only bug spray at the organic store! LOL

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It really does have natural ingredients. Active ingredients of the Buzz Away Extreme DEET Free Insect repellent are: Castor Oil (8%), Geranium Oil (6%), Soybean Oil (3%), Cedarwood Oil (1.5%), Citronella Oil (1%), Peppermint Oil (0.5%) and Lemongrass Oil (.25%). Inert ingredients (79.75% total) are Purified Water, Palm Oil, Glycerin, Lecithin, Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda), Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (a preservative that is naturally occurring in some foods and chemically produced and added to foods & cosmetics) and wintergreen oil.

It smells like a citronella candle. Not my favorite, but tolerable (except when you apply it, then drive in a car with closed windows, pee-yew!) A little goes a long way (it was $9.99 for a 4 ounce bottle) and it does seem to work. It even kept gnats away. My son has gotten one more bug bite since we bought it, and that’s because I didn’t put it on him (le sigh, when will I stop with the mommy fails?)

If I come across another natural bug spray, I will definitely try it, but for now, this is just fine!

Have you found a great natural bug spray, or do you have a home remedy that works to keep them away?

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Cloth Diapers Giveaway Made in Canada Review Swim Diapers Velcro/Aplix Closure

Bummis Swimmi Review Update & Giveaway (CLOSED 7/19) U.S./CAN

Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 1

It’s been over a year since I posted my Bummis Swimmi review! I actually bought it the winter before when I thought we were going to do YMCA swim lessons, but we ended up not. I bought the turtle print then since it’s hard to come by a swim diaper in the winter, but I really loved the clownfish print. We call this “the fishy diaper” in our house, but there’s actually another print called fishy!

I hadn’t actually tried the medium diaper from last year on my son, but I assumed he’d need a new one since he’s over 23 pounds now and the medium is supposed to fit 15-22 pounds. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a spare anyway!

Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 2 inner

Like most swim diapers, the swimmi isn’t absorbent, it’s just intended to catch, ahem, messes before they make it into the pool. Unlike an unstuffed pocket, the swimmi will allow the water to flow through, so your child won’t be waterlogged with a gallon of water in their diaper! The mesh inner is quite soft, and the Velcro closures are really easy to use. There are no laundry tabs, but I just close the diaper up to wash it and it works just fine.

Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 3 med vs lgBummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 8 med vs large front

No surprise, the large is a bit bigger than the medium! The small is estimated to fit 9-15 lbs, medium 15-22 lbs, large 22-30 lbs and x-large 30+.

Here is the medium (turtle print) and large (clownfish print) measured folded and stretched:

Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 4 med foldedBummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 5 med stretched

Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 6 large foldedBummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 7 large stretched

Here’s my son at around 23 1/2-ish pounds and 25 months old in the medium. This is what it looks like at more than a year old, just some pilling. Sorry, my guy is not exactly a willing model anymore so the photos are pretty so-so!

Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 9 med on 23 lb 2 yr oldBummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 10 med on toddler
Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 11 med swimmi after a yr useBummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 12 med back

It still fits him really well, and he’ll get a lot of use out of it! Of course, if your child is close to the top of the weight range (or over, like mine is!) it makes sense to buy the next size up to get more use out of it. Even with a little extra “junk” (fabric) “in the trunk” it’s quite trim under a bathing suit.

Here is is (same day) in the large:

Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 13 largeBummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 14 large side
Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper 15 large back

Using a Velcro closure swim diaper with no swimsuit (on a baby who has discovered the joys of riiipppping Velcro) might lead to some streaking, but it’s really easy to use and works great under a swimsuit, or on a smaller baby alone.

Giveaway: I am offering one Bummis Swimmi to a reader in his/her choice of size and print (subject to availability, I reserve the right to make substitutions.) ARV $14.50.

Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below. I love comments (great way to remind yourself you entered) but comments do not count as entries. One entry per person please (not per day.) If other members of your household enter, I ask that they enter for themselves and that you do not enter on anyone else’s behalf.

Mandatory entries include your name and email address.

You may receive a bonus entry if you “like” The Change-Diapers Fan Page.

I will accept entries until Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 at 9:00 P.M. Eastern. I will select a winner using random.org’s true random number generator and notify him/her by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is chosen. View my giveaway rules page for complete details. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

# of entries received as of giveaway close: 229

FTC compliance: I paid normal retail prices for the above items. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or approved by any cloth diaper company or retailer.

Disclosure: This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, nor associated with Facebook. By entering, you release Facebook from any responsibility and understand that the information entered on this form will not be disclosed to Facebook.


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