Category : Review

All In One Diapers Giveaway Made in the USA One Size Diapers Review

Kissaluvs Marvels AIO Diaper Review & giveaway CLOSED

May 5,2010 / By / 505 Comments

>kissaluvs marvels aio

We love our Kissaluvs Wool Lover diaper cover, so when some readers told me they’d like to see me review wipes and wipe solution, I immediately thought of Kissaluvs.  I had looked at their diaper lotion potion and premium wipes several times, but hadn’t tried either.

I was hoping to review the wipes and lotion potion, but then I saw the Marvels one size all-in-one diaper.  Kissaluvs sent me one for free to try and review, and one reader gets one (their choice of color!) as well!  The colors are: Butter (with yellow inner), Raspberry (with Pink), Kelly Green (with Yellow) and Summer Sky (with White).  They retail for $22.95, which is the middle of the road price wise.

You’ll have to forgive me for some of these pictures.  It was really sunny and I was having a hard time getting enough light but not too much!  I know I could edit them but I think you’d rather read a review with a couple of washed out pictures than read nothing because I’m busy trying to edit the pictures.  Tee hee.

Generally speaking, an all-in-one diaper (AIO) will look pretty much the same as a pocket diaper except the soaker is sewn into the diaper.  The Goodmama One is an exception to that, it has a snap-in soaker.  Like a pocket diaper, an AIO has a waterproof outer or hidden layer, usually PUL.  They also usually have a stay-dry inner made of microfleece or suedecloth.  I like AIO diapers for their ease of use, but they take longer to dry and are harder to get clean.  So why was I so interested in the Marvels?

The soaker is only sewn into the diaper on the end, so it’s almost like a pre-stuffed pocket diaper.  The insert can agitate out of the diaper in the wash and turn the diaper inside out (it did in mine), which reminds me of the Smartipants diapers.  Very nice not to have to pull a yucky insert out! 

The pocket also allows you to add additional inserts if needed.  The opening is wide enough for easy use, but not gaping open.

The Marvels have the snap down rise adjustment, which is my preference for a one-size diaper.  They aren’t too difficult to undo, but I didn’t have any trouble accidentally popping them open either.

The wing snaps are easy-peasy too.  There are just two snaps on each wing, I prefer it, and I get a lot less complaining from my hubby.

There are two overlap snaps for smaller babies.  The guidelines for this diaper are 7-35 pounds (varies by baby as always of course!) and I do think this is likely to fit smaller babies better than other one-size diapers.

The large setting is about the same size as the medium on the Flip.  No fear though, it’s really just because the leg elastic is drawn a bit tighter.

When I fully stretched them, they were about the same size.

The small setting is pretty small though!

It doesn’t seem bulky, even on the small setting.

I can’t get over how soft the diaper is.  Not just the inner, but the PUL too!

I didn’t have any issues with marks from the leg elastic, but we also had no leaks.

After washing, it was less work than a pocket diaper, since I didn’t have to find the matching soaker, then make sure I had it in far enough (but not too far!) and laid flat.  However, I did have to flip the diaper right side out and then smooth the insert flat.  So, it’s not quite as easy as a sewn in soaker.

I really ended up liking this more than I thought I would.  It looks so basic, but it’s so soft and easy to use!

I didn’t get to try the premium or hemp wipes, but Kissaluvs did send me some of their “awesome knit terry wipes.”

At $1.25 each, they are more affordable than other wipes, but they are really, very basic wipes.  They are single thickness and feel like thin washcloths.  They are a bit larger than baby washcloths (8 x 8), but they curl up after washing just like our cheap Target brand baby washcloths do.  Maybe I’m spoiled by other wipes now, but I don’t think I would buy these, I’d save my money for nicer ones, like their premium wipes (those are $2.00 each.)  I will certainly use them though, they do the job!

Now, want to win a Kissaluvs Marvels one size all-in-one diaper?  Kissaluvs is sending one to a lucky blog reader, in the winner’s choice of color! 


Here’s how to enter:


Be sure to leave your email address in a comment if it isn’t in your profile.


1. Visit Kissaluvs and tell me either what product you’d like to try or what product you wish Kissaluvs made.
2. Follow my blog, current followers count.  Comment saying you’re a follower to get your entry.
3. Like me on Facebook, current likers count.  Comment saying you’re a fan/liker (can’t get used to that!) to get your entry.
4. Follow me on Twitter, current followers count.  Comment saying you’re a follower to get your entry.
5. Tweet about this giveaway.  Be sure to include @kissaluvs and @chgdiapers.  You can use this example “If you love #clothdiapers enter this #giveaway from @chgdiapers for a @kissaluvs Marvels AIO before 5/19 http://bit.ly/d9OqVB”
6. Like Kissaluvs on Facebook.  Comment saying you’re a fan/liker to get your entry.
7. Follow Kissaluvs on Twitter.  Comment saying you’re a follower to get your entry.
8. Blog about Kissaluvs and/or this blog or giveaway.  Just spread the fluffy love, you don’t have to be all like “Golly gee wilikers mister, I sure would like this diaper!”  Hee hee.
9. Bonus Entries Review a Kissaluvs product you’ve tried and liked on Amazon, on diaperpin or on the review tab of Kissaluvs Facebook page.  One entry per review, leave a link to your review in a comment to get your entry. 


I will accept entries until Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 9:00 P.M. EST.  I’ll use random.org’s true random number generator and will email the winner.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim his/her prize.

Thank you to Kissaluvs for sending me a Marvels diaper and terry wipes at no charge.  I’ve reviewed them both the same way I would have if I had paid for them.  Thank you also for agreeing to send a blog reader a Marvels AIO as well.

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Baby Food Giveaway Natural and Organic Food Review

YoBaby Yogurt Review & Giveaway CLOSED

May 4,2010 / By / 62 Comments

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YoBaby organic yogurt isn’t new to us, we’ve been buying it since my 5 year old was a baby.  We never actually stopped buying it.  My daughter still loves it, both for the taste and the cute babies on the package!
YoBaby also has codes on the lids for the Stonyfield Farms Reward Program.  The points add up quickly (the 6-packs or 32 ounce containers are 4 points I believe) and redemptions start at 25 points.  The rewards are pretty good too I think!  I got 2 free HappyBabyFood product coupons for 25 points!  If you register, you can also print coupons, I think they reset monthly.
The plain variety is new to me.  It seems to be the same as the Stonyfield Farms organic plain, whole milk yogurt we usually buy, but in different packaging.  I was able to find it at Whole Foods when I made the trip to get some of the Happy Baby Food items for my review, that I couldn’t find locally.

There’s no added sugar, and it’s so good with some fresh fruit mixed in, maybe a drizzle of agave nectar if the fruit is tart.  I believe it has the same active cultures as the Stonyfield Farms, which recommended most often for use as a homemade yogurt starter because of the active cultures.  It’s of course a bit more expensive per ounce than the big tub, but that’s to be expected.  It’s nice to be able to grab a 4 ounce container to take with us somewhere.  I just wish I could find them locally!

The YoBaby 6-packs also come in banana/vanilla, peach/pear and blueberry/apple varieties.

It does have added sugar, though there’s no HFCS or dyes.  The package states that the count includes natural milk sugar, I’d just like to know how many of the 12 grams are added.  Other yogurt marketed to kids has 13-18 grams of sugar in 4 ounces.  YoBaby is the only one (that I know of) made with whole milk, and I don’t know enough about milk to know whether that increases the natural sugar content when compared to low fat milk.

My favorite flavor is the apple, so I had to taste one (purely in the name of research of course!) since I haven’t had one in quite some time.

This is cream top yogurt.  This is what it looked like after being squeezed and manhandled (babyhandled?) by my son, prior to opening it.

Stir to mix and enjoy.  Mmm…heavenly.  At 110 calories in 4 ounces, it’s a bit higher in calories (and fat, but…duh) than light/low or no fat yogurt.  However, I don’t really enjoy the artificially sweetened, artificially flavored, thin stuff.  A 4 oz YoBaby is more filling and satisfying to me than a 6 oz. container of the “other stuff.”

Oh wait, this stuff was called YoBABY, right?  Oops.  It makes me want to make jokes like, “Yo’ Baby’s diaper is so fluffy…”  OK never mind!

Other products include Fruit and Cereal, drinkable yogurt, YoBaby Meals, YoKids Yogurt and YoKids Squeezers.

Anyway, one lucky blog reader will win two coupons for free YoBaby yogurt 4-packs, along with an Eric Carle growth chart! 


Please be sure to leave your email address in one of your comments (you can use the format name at domain dot com to hide from spam bots.)  If it’s in your profile, no need to leave it in your comment.  If you’re the winner but I can’t contact you, I’ll choose someone else.


Here’s how to enter:


1. Leave me a comment.  Do you like yogurt?  What’s your favorite kind?
2. Follow my blog, current followers count.  Comment saying you’re a follower to get your entry.
3. “Like” me on Facebook, current “likers” count.  Comment saying you’re a “liker” to get your entry.
4. Follow me on Twitter, current followers count.  Comment saying you’re a follwer to get your entry.
5. Tweet about this giveaway (make sure you use @chgdiapers) and link to your tweet in a comment to get your entry.  Please tweet no more than once per day.  I don’t want your followers to associate me with annoying spammy tweets, LOL.  You can use this tweet if you like “@chgdiapers has #organic YoBaby yogurt up for grabs until 5/11 http://tinyurl.com/22q53rf #giveaway”
6. Write a blog post about my blog.  It doesn’t have to be specifically about this giveaway, but please be sure to link back to my blog.  Comment with a link to your post to get your entry.
7. Fan Stonyfield on Facebook (“like,” whatever you want to call it!)  Comment saying you’re a fan/liker (whatever!) to get your entry.
8. Like YoBaby on Facebook.  Same deal, comment here to get your entry.
9. Follow Stonyfield on Twitter.  Comment saying you follow to get your entry.


As always, you can do any of the above.  You don’t have to do one in order to do the other.  🙂


I’ll accept entries until Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 at 9 P.M.  I’ll choose a winner with random.org’s random number generator and contact the winner by email.  Coupons will be mailed to the winner by the company.

HappyBabyFood/YoBaby provided free product coupons to me and will provide the coupons to the giveaway winner.  The freebies in no way affected my review. 

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Natural and Organic Food Recipes Review

Homemade Marshmallows (don’t laugh!)

May 3,2010 / By / No Comment

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OK, you can laugh.  Only if you’re laughing with me though!  You may be wondering why on earth I would do this.  Well, ever since we tried the ricemellow creme, I’ve been wondering if I could make marshmallows with brown rice syrup.  We really enjoy roasting marshmallows on a campfire when the weather is warm, and making s’mores.  However, I’m not crazy about the #1 ingredient being corn syrup.  Our organic market has some “gourmet” vegan vanilla marshmallows, but they still contain corn syrup (and they cost a small fortune).
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Cloth Wipes Giveaway Made in the USA Review Wipes Solution

Thirsties Fab Wipes and Booty Luster Review and Giveaway! CLOSED

Apr 30,2010 / By / 289 Comments

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When I started cloth diapering, using disposable wipes got real old, real fast.  I kept wanting to ball the wipe up inside the diaper like I did with sposies.  It was a pain to remember to pick them out and throw them away!

When I ran out of the disposable wipes I had, I cut up some burp cloths that were laying around.  I didn’t like them as burp cloths because they were very thin and washcloth-like.  I doubled them over and zigzagged them.  Not easy since they were super stretchy!
Not only are they not pretty (LOL) but they’re actually kind of scratchy compared to materials used in cloth wipes.  I also don’t always have enough since I don’t have to wash every day anymore.  I was finding myself using several for a diaper change and having to scrub a little bit, which isn’t fun for my little guy.
I really wanted cloth wipes, but I was kind of scared to buy some and not like them.  I wanted to find a brand I liked, and buy a nice pretty stack of them, rather than have a mismatched collection!
I’ve heard Thirsties talked about in my cloth diaper groups.  Both the Duo Diapers and the Duo Wraps came up an awful lot when I was asking other cloth diapering mamas about night time diapering.  I haven’t tried either of those yet, but Thirsties agreed to send me a 6-pack of their fab wipes and a 4 oz. (travel size) bottle of their booty luster wipe spray.  There’s a giveaway too, so keep reading!
“Thirsties® is a small (but growing!) cloth diaper company committed to greener parenting and Eco Friendly solutions, not to mention 100% USA Made quality!  Erin, the owner of Thirsties, started this business with an old sewing machine and $100 5 years ago.  Through her hard work and diligence, her company is now one of the leaders in the cloth diaper industry.  Our diapers are now made by work at home mothers, and very close to our Canon City warehouse, reducing our carbon output. Erin and I are experienced cloth diapering moms, and offer our knowledge to our retailers and customers alike.”
The wipes!  Oh my goodness, if you could feel these things.  Buttery soft is an understatement.  I feel bad for wiping my son’s tush with those rough burp cloths.  🙁
The wipes are cotton velour on one side and microfleece on the other.  Both sides are super soft and the white side is nice to be sure you got the tushie clean.  They’re 8 x 8 (after washing and drying) and will fit in a wipes warmer or empty wipes container.  The washing instructions say to dry on low, but I dried them on high with my diaper inserts and had no trouble.
It’s been a while since I bought disposable wipes, but my rule of thumb was that I wouldn’t buy them for more than 2.5 cents per wipe, and under two cents per wipe, I would stock up.  That was the “sensitive” brand.  (Add a scoffing “ha!” to that please.) 
I seemed to use a zillion wipes, but let’s just say 15 per day for simplicity here.  That’s a cost of about $9 for a month.  If you’re buying smaller refill packs or tubs, not shopping sales and clipping coupons, your cost per wipe will be a lot higher.  For me, a 6 pack of thirsties wipes ($10.75 MSRP) would pay for itself in just over a month.  So even if I had bought three dozen wipes, they would have paid for themselves by now. 
I’ll just skip right over the issue of ingredients in disposable wipes and impact on the environment and add that based on the reviews I’ve read, people continue to use these wipes long after their kids are out of diapers.  Wiping faces, cleaning the house.  Let’s see you do that with a “used” disposable wipe!
The compulsive side of me feels the need to point out how nice and pretty they look stacked up all nice and neatly.
I had to run a quick load of diapers to avoid using those nasty burp cloth wipes on him!  I want to buy 3 more packs of these.  I think that would give me enough to have some upstairs and downstairs, not have to wash every day, and be able to ditch the burp cloth wipes!
The Booty Luster ended up being a whole lot nicer than I expected.  To be honest, I thought it was going to be a pre-mixed, overpriced version of every other wipes solution.  Sorry, I was wrong!
The ingredients are: Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, 100% Pure Coconut water, Organic White Honey, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Glycerin, Humectant Moisturizers, Avocado and other Organic Ingredients.
The “other organic ingredients” is a little bothersome to me.  Edit: Those “other organic ingredients” are just purified water, so no worries!  Anyone who has experience with food allergies will tell you how irritating listed ingredients like “natural flavoring” can be!  My son doesn’t have any topical allergies that we know of, so I didn’t pursue this.  I do like that it uses Grapefruit Seed Extract as the anti-fungal ingredient, rather than Tea Tree Oil.
I’m used to squirting away and wiping, squirting some more, wiping etc.  I had a hard time getting used to needing only 2 squirts of the booty luster.  My son’s tush wiped clean easily, felt smooth and clean, no residue at all.  The spray came out with just the right mist, though we did have a few drips.  The scent was very light, but pleasant.  Like a very light, summery citrus.
The MSRP of the 4 oz travel size bottle is $6.25, and the 8 oz bottle, $11.00.  That’s a little spendy for cough*cheap*cough, ahem, frugal me.  However, using the math I did earlier, this would most likely still be cheaper than disposable wipes and very convenient to boot.  I’m not sure how long a bottle will last, I’ll have to update on that.  If I can get used to only needing two squirts, it will probably last a long time!
If you want to drool over all Thirsties has to offer (and maybe leave a not so subtle hint with some dog-eared pages), you can request a catalog on their website.  Just go to www.thirstiesbaby.com/catalog.htm.
Want it?  Find a retailer at thirstiesbaby.com.  Or, win it!

Thirsties is sending one lucky blog reader just what I got!  A 6 pack of fab wipes (your choice of boy or girl colors) and a 4 oz. bottle of booty luster!  U.S. Residents only.

Here’s how to enter (the first entry is mandatory, you may do any, all or none of the rest as you choose!):

Please be sure to leave your email address in at least one of your comments if it’s not visible in your profile.  If you win and I can’t find contact info for you, I will choose another winner.

1. Visit http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/ and tell me what else you’d like to try. 
2. Follow my blog publicly.  Current followers count, comment saying you’re a follower to get your entry.
3. “Like” me on Facebook.  Current, uh, “likers” (?) count.  Comment saying you “like” me on FB to get your entry.  (They like me, they really really like me!)
4. “Like” Thirsties on Facebook.  Same as above.  Current likers/fans count & leave your comment to get your entry.
5. Follow me on Twitter.  Current followers count, comment saying you follow to get your entry.
6. Tweet about this giveaway.  Please include @chgdiapers and link to this giveaway.  You may use this example if you like.  “@chgdiapers is giving away Thirsties wipes and Booty Luster until 5/14  http://bit.ly/dsSyLJ #clothdiapers #giveaway”  Limit one tweet per day, please comment with the permalink to your tweet for your entry.
7. Blog about this giveaway and link back to it.  Leave a comment with a link to your blog post for your entry.

Then do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around while patting your head and rubbing your tummy and…ok that one was just for fun!

I will accept entries until Friday, May 14th at 9 P.M.  I will use random.org’s true random number generator to select a winner.  I’ll notify the winner by email and s/he will have 48 hours to claim the prize!

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Eco-Friendly/Green Giveaway Handmade Items Made in the USA Reusable Products Review

QwertyO Reusable Ready Mop / Swiffer pads / Produce Bags review & giveaway! CLOSED

Apr 27,2010 / By / 87 Comments

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Long ago and far away, Etsy and I weren’t acquainted.  *gasp* I know.  Therefore, when I was looking for a reusable pad for my Clorox Ready mop, I had nowhere to look really, but Ebay.
This is what I got:
It did the job I suppose, but the overhanging material constantly got flipped under and gummed up the works, then the fleece flaps would slip out and the whole pad would fall off.  Plus, it was made out of a prefold, so it often ended up just absorbing most of my liquid instead of actually mopping the floor!
Not too long ago, I was browsing Etsy and came across QwertyO’s Store.  She makes ready mop pads (these also fit the regular/not wet jet swiffers), pads for the Swiffer wet jet, reusable produce bags and reusable sandwich bags.  The bags are made by her 17 year old daughter.
QwertyO generously offered to send me a pad for my ready mop.  She is also sponsoring a giveaway, so read on my fellow moppers!
Susan also sent a Swiffer wet jet pad to share with a friend.  I intended to test, photograph and review it as well, but I’m still hunting for someone local who still has one.  Many people I know got rid of theirs because of the chemicals, but she included instructions for opening your wet jet solution bottle and making your own, earth friendly solutions!
The package really was a present!
Instructions for homemade solution were right on the package.
The Swiffer pad packaging includes a link to instructions for opening the bottle of solution to fill it with your own.  It’s all terry and has the same velcro attachments as the disposable pads.
The ready mop pad is microfiber on one side and terry on the other.

The wide border of terry allowed me to really secure the pad onto the mop.  I was able to mop without having to stop and stuff it back in at all!

I love my QwertyO reusable pad.  It’s so nice to be able to grab my ready mop for quick cleanups, without dragging out the mop and bucket.  Now I can do it more efficiently and in half the time since I don’t have to wrestle with my old pad!  Doesn’t my floor look great?
Want it?  Buy it at QwertyO’s Etsy shop.
Want to win it?  QwertyO is generously offering one lucky reader his/her choice of a set of wet jet pads, a set of ready mop pads or a combo set of 7 reusable produce bags.  Susan chooses the colors.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit QwertyO’s Store and tell me which of the 3 options you would choose if you won.
2. Follow my blog publicly. Current followers count. Comment saying you’re a follower to get your entry.

3. “Like” me on Facebook. Current fans count. Comment saying you’re a fan to get your entry.
4.  Follow me on Twitter. Current followers count. Comment saying you’re a follower to get your entry.
5. Tweet about this giveaway. One tweet/entry per day. Comment with a link to your tweet to get your entry. (Please be sure to include @chgdiapers and a link to this post)  You may use this if you like: Reduce your footprint. @chgdiapers has a #giveaway for reusable mop pads or produce bags made by QwertyO. Ends 5/11 http://bit.ly/
6. Write a blog post about this giveaway and link to it. Post a comment with a link to your post for your entry.
7.  Add QwertyO as a favorite shop on Etsy. Comment that you added her as a favorite to get your entry.


I will accept entries until Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 at 9:00 P.M.  Please note that all of my giveaways are available to residents of the U.S. only unless otherwise specified.


I’ll use random.org’s true random number generator to select a winner, then notify the winner via email.


Please be sure to leave your email address in your comment if it isn’t in your profile.  If I can’t find contact info for the winner, I will choose someone else.

Thank you to QwertyO for providing the two pads for review and the products for the giveaway winner as well!

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