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Flip Hook & Loop Closure Diaper Cover and Organic Insert – Photo Review and Giveaway (CLOSED 11/27)

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Flip Hook and Loop and Organic Insert

In April, I reviewed a Flip cover with stay-dry insert.  I’m less a’skeered of snaps now than I was then, but I was still happy to learn that Flip Diapers was coming out with a hook and loop (a.k.a. Velcro or Aplix) closure diaper cover!  Right now, they are only available for purchase separately for $13.95, but Cottonbabies plans to sell them packaged with inserts, and in day packs in the future.  Lucky for one of you, I also bought an organic insert ($7.95 retail) to send along to the winner too!
 
The other Flip I bought came with a cardboard “wrapper” so I hadn’t planned on taking photos of the hook & loop Flip, since I didn’t want to give away an opened item!  I was a little surprised to find that both the diaper cover and the insert came without tags, wrappings or packaging, so I’ve done a little photo review.  The winner will receive the butternut color cover and organic insert pictured in this review however, we do not have pets (unless you count the kids) and the items were only on my laundry room counter, which is very clean, and my hands were clean as well!
 

Flip Hook and loop closures

Some of us were wondering whether the hook & loop would be the “old” Bumgenius 3.0 style, or the “new” Bumgenius 4.0 style.  Fortunately, it is the new style!
 

flip velcro closures

 
The “new” style laundry tab velcro is actually grippy, instead of just the fuzzy fabric of the 3.0s.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying the 4.0s, the laundry tabs will touch baby’s skin, but they are very soft, and haven’t caused my son any irritation.
 
inside flip hook and loopinner of flip diaper

The hook & loop cover has the same, easily wipeable PUL inner as the snap closure Flip.  My snap flip has the same white fabric, but only over the closure snaps, not the rise snaps.  I assume it’s to keep the PUL from leaking where it was punctured to attach them.

Here it is on the small setting, folded and stretched:
 
flip diaper small setting flip diaper small stretched

Medium setting folded and stretched:

flip diaper medium settingflip medium stretched

Large setting folded and stretched:

flip diaper largeflip diaper large setting stretched

The organic inserts are made from 100% Oeko-Tex® certified organic cotton.  Cottonbabies sells them for $7.95 each; $6.65 each if you buy 3 or more.  Buying a cover with an organic insert adds just $6 to the cost of the cover alone.

flip diaper organic insert

I was surprised by how soft this is!  Granted, it is new and hadn’t been washed but wow, it is baby blanket soft!  Since this hasn’t been washed/dried/prepped, you can definitely expect it to shrink a bit.  You simply fold the insert along the long or short side to fit inside the insert.
 
Here it is measured along the short side:
 

flip diaper organic insert width unprepped

 
Measured along the long side:
 

flip diaper organic insert length unprepped

 
In the cover on the small setting:
 

flip organic insert in diaper small setting

In the cover on the large setting:

flip organic insert in diaper large setting

As you can see, the hook & loop and flip covers are very much the same.  Of course, mine was purchased 7 months ago, so small changes wouldn’t surprise me anyway!  One difference is that the Hook & Loop cover stinks!  I noticed a very strong, plastic-y/chemical smell that gave me a headache, as soon as I opened the mailer it came in.  I have never noticed this with any other diapers I’ve purchased.  My guess is that others begin with the same smell, but they’ve sat in warehouses and been shipped back and forth enough to air out before I get them!  Hopefully it will do the same before I ship it to the winner!

flip hook and loop vs flip snap diaper flip snap inner vs flip velcro diaper inner

Here’s a side by side of the small organic insert (remember, it hasn’t been washed/dried so it will shrink!) compared to the small stay dry insert, and the same for the large.

unprepped flip organic small vs flip stay dry insert small unprepped flip organic insert large vs stay dry large

Hooray for hook and loop!  Now when it Cottonbabies going to come out with newborn versions of their pocket diapers and flip covers?  Hmm?

Giveaway: One winner will receive the Butternut (sorry, boring, but I wanted it to be gender neutral!) Hook & Loop Closure Flip Cover (ARV $13.95) and Organic Insert (ARV $7.95) pictured.  Combined value $21.90 if my brain is working.


Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below.  Mandatory entries include Your name and email address.  I always email winners, and I do try to look for them before giving up on them!  However, if you want to be sure it’s you when I announce the winner, please use a middle or last initial, or nickname, so you’ll know it’s you.  I do announce names just as you enter them!  I’m offering a single bonus entry for following this blog.  You may choose GFC, RSS feed or email.  If you prefer, you can elect to “like” me on facebook or follow me on twitter instead.  Whatever will bring you back!  🙂


I will accept entries until Saturday, November 27th, 2010 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.


I’d love for you to leave a comment (also a great way to just remind yourself that you entered) but comments don’t count as giveaway entries.  I will update the post daily with the # of entries received!

# of entries received as of November 27th at Giveaway close: 241

https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dG5JR3RiU3ZHbko2TE96N1Q2ZVgxY1E6MQ

Please note: This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, approved by or affiliated with Cottonbabies, Flip or any cloth diaper retailer.

FTC compliance: I paid normal retail prices for all items pictured.  I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

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Friday Giveaway Linky Giveaways Linky

Weekly Friday Giveaway Roundup for November 19th, 2010

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giveaway

It’s Friday, which means it’s giveaway roundup time, when I will post cloth diaper and babywearing 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 giveaway you would like to be featured 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. I want to keep the featured giveaways to cloth, accessories & babywearing only please.

This week’s giveaway finds:
The Cloth Diaper Whisperer

Funhog Felts Wool Dryer Balls from Marlie and Me (ends 12/2)

Bummas Wipes from Marlie and Me (ends 12/3)

Pooters Pocket Diaper from Marlie and Me (ends 12/4)

Kawaii Snazzy minky Diaper from Life of This SAHM (ends 11/26)

Babykicks 3g Pocket Diaper from Baby Dickey’s Giveaways Mandatory GFC follow (ends 11/27)

Planet Wise Medium Wet Bag from The Not So Secret Confessions of a First Time Mom Mandatory GFC follow (ends 12/4)

Planet Wise Wet/Dry Bag from Bum Covered Diapers and It’s Me Melbie Mandatory GFC follow (ends 12/2)

Happy Heinys Pockets Diaper from Nature Bumz and The Cheap and Choosy (ends 12/12)

Rumparooz One Size Diaper from Kelly Wels Mandatory GFC follow – I think?  it’s listed as entry method #1, but doesn’t say it’s mandatory! (ends today, 11/19)

Applecheeks diaper from Life With My Littles Mandatory GFC follow (ends 11/28)

Katydid Cloth Diaper from Diary of Momma Mandatory GFC follow (ends 11/23)

Kawaii Pocket Diaper from Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique and The Cheap and Choosy (ends 12/15)

GoGo Green Wet Bag from Mommy’s Blessings (ends 12/3)

Nifty Nappy Wool Longies from Biehl Adventures (ends 11/23)

Baby K’Tan pink baby carrier from Mama to 4 Blessings Mandatory GFC follow (ends 12/11)

Bunzoo cover from Cloth Diaper Addiction Mandatory GFC follow (ends 11/22)
Doopsy SD Diaper from Life with my Littles Mandatory GFC follow (ends 11/30)

Doopsy SD Diaper from Luvs Jurn (ends 11/25)

NykiBaby One Size Pocket Diaper in Mint Chocolate from Monkey Toe Diapers and Etsy Cloth Diapers (ends 11/24)

FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper from Thanks Mama and The Cheap and Choosy (ends 12/17)

Babee Greens Organic Cloth Diaper from Children Teaching Mama (ends 12/6)

Giveaways still running from last week:

Babee Greens Wool Diaper Cover from Crunchy Beach Mama Mandatory GFC follow OR Facebook Like (ends 11/22)

Boba Carrier from Born 2 Impress Mandatory GFC follow (ends 11/28)

FuzziBunz O/S Pocket Diaper from Thanks Mama and Mama to 4 Blessings Mandatory GFC follow (ends 11/24)

GoGreen Pocket Diaper from The Girl is A Mom (ends 11/24)

Babykicks 3G Pocket Diaper from Chubby Cheeks Thinks (ends 11/26)

$10 GC to SweetBottoms Baby Boutique from Chubby Cheeks Thinks (ends 11/26)

$10 Bumbledoo Gift Certificate from SAPsMaMa Mandatory GFC follow (ends tomorrow, 11/20)

Mother-Ease Diaper & Cover from This Mama Loves Her Bargains (ends today, 11/19)

Katydid Cloth Diaper from The Cheap and Choosy (ends 12/2)

Kissaluvs Marvels AIO from Hip Tips For You Mandatory product review OR Facebook Comment (ends 12/1)

Wool Dryer Balls from The Cheap and Choosy and Tree Huggin’ Mama (ends 11/25)

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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Giveaway Natural Personal Care Products Review

Tom’s of Maine Wicked Fresh Toothpaste Review & Giveaway (CLOSED 11/22)

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Tom's of Maine

I’ve been a Bzzagent for several years now, and my most recent campaign is for Tom’s of Maine Wicked Fresh Toothpaste.

I try to buy natural products for my kids whenever possible, but there really hasn’t been room in the budget to “green up” my own health & beauty routine.  Tom’s of Maine Wicked Fresh Toothpaste contains fluoride (which I know some people avoid) and also contains sodium lauryl sulfate.  It does not contain alcohol, or any artificial ingredients.  It’s easy to find in “big box” stores nationwide, and it’s available in both Cool Peppermint and Spearmint Ice flavors.

tom's of maine box

Tom’s of Maine is cruelty free, with no animal testing or animal ingredients, no artificial colors, flavors, fragrances or preservatives.  They share every ingredient, it’s purpose and it’s source on their website.  Sustainable practices are a priority for their business, and they maximize the recycled content and recyclability of their packaging.  They dedicate 5% (12 days) of employee time to volunteering, and 10% of their profits go to human and environmental goodness.
 

tom's of maine box 2

 
My daughter, husband and I used the sample size boxes, which were all cool peppermint flavor.
 

tom's of maine wicked fresh

The toothpaste had a natural looking color, slightly gritty texture, and a natural, almost herbal-y (not sure how else to put that!) mint flavor.
 

tom's of maine toothpaste

 
After I brushed, my teeth didn’t have quite the same slick clean feeling that I’m used to, but after I flossed and used my mouthwash, they felt very clean.  I didn’t notice any extended freshening though!  The suggested retail price for a 5.2 ounce tube is $4.19.  I’ve been CVSing (yeah, I used it as a verb) for about three years now, so I haven’t paid any “real” money for toothpaste since before then.  The Tom’s of Maine toothpaste really isn’t much more than other brands, but for someone not used to paying for toothpaste, it’s a lot!!
 
Giveaway: I am sending the full size, 5.2 ounce tube to one of my readers. 
 
Here’s how to enter: All entries go in the form below.  Simply enter your name and email address.  Post will be updated with the # of entries received.  I’d love for you to leave a comment, I’m always interested to hear what products others use.  Keep in mind that comments don’t count as entries.
 
I will accept entries until Monday, November 22nd, 2010 at 9:00 P.M. Eastern.  This is a short one.  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.
 
Entries as of November 22nd at giveaway close: 78
 
https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dGY2S3NyQ2dKM0hqdnJmNDB5Qnd6Z1E6MQ

FTC Compliance: I received the above samples at no charge as a Bzzagent.  All opinions are my own.

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Composting Eco-Friendly/Green Review

Nature Mill Composter Update

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tomato plant august 24

If you missed my Nature Mill Composter review, I bought one at a tidy discount, as my birthday gift to myself.  I may have been eating PB&J and grilled cheese on my birthday while my husband was in Italy, but I was having fun with food waste, tee hee.

The photo above was our tomato plant on August 24th.  We’ve been using the composter and have transferred and used the compost several times in the past 3 1/2 or so months.

Below is the same plant on September 4th, after putting some compost around it:

tomato plant sept 4

After building our house, we had nearly an acre to seed, but we couldn’t afford to pay someone to do it for us.  Some of it was coming in nicely, but we had areas where it just wouldn’t take root it seemed.
 

grass aug 24

This is one of those areas on August 24th.  My husband had tried tilling and seeding it many times before with so-so results.  He threw some more seed down, but also spread some of the compost on the area.  Here’s what it looked like on September 8th:
 

grass sept 8

 
The difference really is striking, the compost made all the difference in the world.
 

grass close up sept 8

 
The composter was pricey, but it’s awesome to have this rich compost right at our fingertips, and to be keeping all that food waste out of the landfill!

FTC compliance: This composter was purchased at a discount.  I was not requested or required to write a positive review.  I was not asked to write an update post, all opinions are my own.

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Mailbox Mondays

Mailbox Mondays 11/15/10

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email me
Every Monday, I will answer user submitted questions in a “Mailbox Mondays” post.  They don’t have to be about cloth, anything you’d like to ask me is fine!  I love to answer cloth questions when asked, but if you’d like your question to be answered in a MM post, send it to Maria at change-diapers.com with “Mailbox Mondays” in the subject.
Sara Says:
Maria,

I’m using cloth wipes full time now, and am wondering if you have any suggestions on where to put them for ease of use and if you use a solution? Right now my wipes are by the bathroom sink where I can get one wet when I need to change someone. It doesn’t work to have them on the changing table (top of the dresser with pad) due to lack of space, boys kicking them off the dresser, etc. I’m always trying to think of different places to do/put things to make it easier. Thanks so much!

~Sara

I think that cloth wipes are a must have when you cloth diaper!  When I first switched, I was using up some disposable wipes I had, and what a pain to remember to pick them out and throw them away. 

I change most of my son’s diapers downstairs in the family room, so I just keep diapers, wipes and solution on a ledge by the couch. 

cloth diapers

The wipes are just in a stack, nothing fancy, but you can also fold them to pop up in a wipes container.  I made a quick video if you aren’t familiar with how to do it:

Upstairs, I have just a few diapers and a handful of wipes (plus solution) in a drawer.  It’s rather messy, I just have them stuffed in where I keep nail clippers, comb etc. 

cloth diapers

If you don’t have drawer space, and you don’t have space on your dresser/changing table, I love the idea of a small shelf mounted on the wall, right above the dresser/changing table.  You can get inexpensive ones that are very basic but do the job, or you can get stylish, decorative ones that match your decor.  A small shelf just big enough for a few diapers, wipes and solution can be used later to store knick knacks, keepsakes, stuffed animals or decorations.

Speaking of solutions, I really liked the Thirsties booty luster I reviewed, but I’m cheap frugal, so I’m just reusing the bottle right now.  I’ve used booty cubes, Ruby Moon Wipes Bits and Lil Outlaws Rump Solution as well.  I use mine in a spray bottle, so my lasts seemingly forever.  I’ve used a booty cubes sample pack, I still have some Ruby moon bits left, and I’ve barely made a dent in a single pack of Lil Outlaws bits, so it’s very cost effective for me.

I spray directly on my son, then wipe, so I use very little.  Now that it’s gotten cold again, I’ve been spraying the wipes, which takes more solution to get the job done.  The cold spray didn’t bother him last year, but it seems to this year!  If you make the solution and pour it over your wipes, you will of course need more.

I have seen some amazing setups where people have this beautiful, neatly organized shelf with all of their diapers, covers, prefolds and so forth arranged just so.  For me, the best setup/storage is out of reach of my kids!

How about you?  How do you store your stuff?

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