Bagshot Row Bamboo Diaper Giveaway Winner!

Jun 25,2010 / By Maria / No Comment

The winner of the Bagshot Row Bamboo diaper giveaway is Ida Mae of Trees Will Bend!

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered! If you didn’t win, don’t despair. Head over and enter my giveaway for a mini-stash of three diapers!

Favorite things “mini stash” giveaway – 3 diapers CLOSED

Jun 24,2010 / By Maria / 898 Comments

I’ve said before how I wish I were wealthy, so I could send each of my readers a package with one of each of my favorite diapers. Unfortunately for all of you (and me too), I’m not. I have however, gotten lots of great stuff because of this blog, and I just earned my first little bit of money. None of that would be possible without you.

So, I decided to pay it forward and offer one blog reader a “mini stash” of three of my favorite diapers. Here’s the deal: This is just three of the diapers I like a lot. I have other favorites too. I don’t want my other diapers to be sad that these three were getting special attention!

You’ll notice they are all snap closure diapers. That may seem strange since you probably know that I prefer aplix/Velcro for ease of use and adjustability. Unfortunately, I don’t have a single Velcro diaper that hasn’t given me some kind of trouble, usually from the aplix itself. It either immediately won’t stick to the laundry tabs, sticks too much and is difficult to remove, or is good initially but poops out over time. Also, my son has discovered the Velcro, so now as soon as I close a diaper, I hear “rrriiiipppppp.” Hee hee.

Here’s how it’s going to work: Follow the “rules” at the bottom of the post as usual to get your entries. I’ve taken photos of my own diapers for this post, but the winner will choose their own. I buy them and have them shipped to you. The winner will give me a first and second color choice for each item!

As of now, I’m planning to buy from Diaper Junction, but I reserve the right to change my place of purchase based on availability, price, or my whim. 🙂 Diaper Junction is one of a few online stores I like to buy from; they’re usually the second place I look, if my first choice is out of stock or doesn’t sell the item I’m looking for. They have a good selection and are usually well stocked. You have to spend $75 to get free shipping, but their shipping rates are very reasonable. You don’t have to pay $5 or $10 flat rate shipping charges for one item.

The winner will get one Kissaluvs Marvels AIO, one Flip Diaper with stay dry insert, and one Smartipants diaper (insert included).

My Kissaluvs diaper was one I was blessed to receive as a review diaper. Click that link to read my full review. I haven’t quite been using my diaper for two months, but it quickly became a favorite.

It’s an all in one diaper, but the insert is only sewn at one end. When I wash it, it turns completely inside out for thorough washing and faster drying. I haven’t had any stink issues, but the design would make it easy to remove the insert if you had to, and use it as a pocket diaper, or replace the insert.

The Marvels AIO is one size by way of a snap down rise (my favorite) has the microfleece inner I prefer and has an easy snap setup. It fits wonderfully and doesn’t leak. It’s one of a few that I would grab if we were going out or if my son was getting ready to nap. It’s a little pricier than some others, but definitely not the most expensive.

I bought my Flip when the Bumgenius spend $10 get a free AIO coupon was out. Again, you can click that link to read my full review.

The flip is a hybrid or an all-in-two, depending on who you talk to. You can get stay dry, organic, or disposable inserts for it. Pairing the flip with inserts (changing the cover only when soiled, wiping between uses) or prefolds can be a very affordable way to get started in cloth.

Again, it has a snap down rise to make it one size, and an easy snap closure. I only have the one insert, so after I’ve used it, I use the cover with my fitteds. It’s trimmer than a true cover would be, but it still works fine. It fits great, doesn’t leak and again, it’s one I reach for if my son may be in it for a while.

I’ve been using my Smartipants diaper for over six months now. Initially, I wasn’t that impressed. It’s not that I didn’t like it, I just thought that it wasn’t that great. It didn’t seem like anything special, and it was only $3 cheaper than the Bumgenius 3.0, but didn’t include a doubler.

The Smartipants is the perfect example of why I give things a good use, trying not to make a judgment based on initial impressions. I also think it’s smart to try different things, rather than put all your “eggs” in one basket. You never really know what you will like, or how your feelings will change over time!

The common theme here of course is that it’s one size via a snap down rise, has a simple snap layout, fits well and seems to be leak proof. In fact, I keep this diaper upstairs, and if it’s clean, it’s the first one I put on my son in the morning.

I just took this photo, so this is what it looks like after 6 months of nearly daily use! What’s unique about this diaper is that the insert goes under more of a patch of fabric than a pocket. It has openings at the front and back, and the insert agitates out in the wash. With my other pocket diapers, I pull the inserts out before I put them in my wet bag, so I can just dump it in the washer on wash day (don’t want to touch them again, ick!) This one, I can put directly in the wet bag.

So, there you have it. A few of the diapers I reach for first, just don’t tell the others they’re my “favorites!”

Here’s how to enter to win one of each, in your choice of color (subject to availability, I reserve the right to make substitutions):

Do any or all of the below. Leave a comment for each entry. Be sure to leave your email address in at least one of your comments, if it isn’t visible in your profile. This giveaway may seem swayed toward my followers since I’m offering some extra entries for using my button, adding me to your blogroll etc. That’s because it is. I want everyone to enter (hence the easy peasy entry as always) but hey, I want to encourage people to keep coming back and give my loyal readers a good chance to win!

1. Leave me a comment. Anything you’d like to say. What’s your favorite diaper? What’s the first cloth diaper you used? Have your likes changed over time? What would you like to see me review or give away? Do you like how I run my giveaways? Any other entry options you’d like to see? Are there too many? You don’t have to answer all that, just some ideas of what to talk to me about!

2. Follow my blog. Your choice of Google friend connect, RSS feed or email.

3. Like me on Facebook.

4. Follow me on Twitter.

5. Tweet about this giveaway and include a link. One tweet per day please. I go back and forth on whether to allow tweeting more often, but I don’t want people to associate my “name” with annoying giveaway tweets, nor do I want to make it too confusing! You may use this tweet if you like: kissaluvs, flip and smartipants #clothdiaper #giveaway from @chgdiapers. Build your stash! Ends 7/8 http://bit.ly/aC6UYz

6. Blog about this giveaway and link back here.

7. Grab my button and tell me where to find it. (Put it in a highly visible area somewhere on the main page of your blog for this entry. Sidebar etc. If it’s on a harder to find page, you qualify for the blog roll entry only.)

8. List me on your blog roll, leave me a link to it.

I will accept entries until Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 9 P.M., Eastern. I’ll select a winner with random.org’s true random number generator and notify the winner by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is chosen.

Please note that this giveaway is not approved by, endorsed by or affiliated with the above diaper companies, or any diaper retailer.

Quick reminders to please send me a message if you’d like to be listed on my blogroll or if you have a link that should be included on my link page, or if you know of an affiliate program you think I may like to add to the bottom of that link page. Also if you have any questions or have suggestions for reviews or giveaways!

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Change is good. Change is good.

Jun 22,2010 / By Maria / 6 Comments

>At least, that’s what I am trying to tell myself. You may have received this email from cottonbabies.

Cotton Babies

June 22, 2010
The last couple of years has been a wild ride for Cotton Babies and the brands we created. We started out on our product venture with a tiny shipment of diapers that sold out within hours on December 21st, 2005. Since that date, the production lines haven’t stopped and our most popular brand, bumGenius, has gone on to be sold all over the world, winning awards and accolades from media nearly everywhere it goes.

In keeping with our long standing tradition of excellence, we have been working on something new for quite some time. I’m not very good at keeping secrets, so news has gotten out here and there about what might be new. Speculation from you and your friends has been quite literally all over the map about what the new product might be. Up until today, we weren’t 100% sure of when we could tell you, but finally, we have a date. I am excited to announce that a new bumGenius product will be born on June 29th!

We’re confident that you will be just as excited about this new product as we are. So, immediately following my announcement, we will open up to preorders. We begin actually shipping orders on July 14th.

Something fun and new is coming. But that usually means that we have to say goodbye to something else. So, it is with slightly heavy hearts that we have to announce that we have discontinued our highly acclaimed bumGenius 3.0 One-Size Cloth Diapers. If you’re in the midst of building your stash, we still have a limited inventory available at the awesome Buy 5, Get 1 Free deal (while supplies & coupons last). Shop now or forever hold your peace! 🙂

We’ll email you soon with details of when and where the new product announcement will be made…. have a great Tuesday everyone!

Kindest Regards,

Jenn, Owner

Cotton Babies, Inc.

http://www.cottonbabies.com/

I got this email, just as I was working on a giveaway for a few of my favorite things, including Bumgenius 3.0’s. I am very worried, to be honest. It may sound crazy but OMG! Don’t tell me something is discontinued and then make me wait a week to find out about the new product!!

Here’s what I’m hoping for: a 4th snap setting for smaller babies, a snap closure option, more colors and prints, a hemp insert/microfiber that doesn’t end up reeking and better/more durable velcro closures/laundry tabs.

I’m taking some deep breaths, I didn’t know I would get this worked up over a diaper. I’m not going to include the BG in my “favorite things” giveaway, since I might have difficulty finding one in stock. However, definitely count on a review and giveaway for the new Bumgenius in July, as long as it looks good when I find out what exactly it is next week!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Winners

Jun 22,2010 / By Maria / 1 Comment

Getting to pick two winners this time was fun!! Each winner will receive the hand soap, dish soap and countertop spray from Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day in their choice of scent!

I know this wasn’t quite as popular as diaper giveaways, I hope to have more of those for you soon! As always, please drop me a line if you think of something you’d like to see me review or give away, and I’ll see what I can do!

Comment #146 is janetfaye of Blog-Giveaways, Janet’s Book Place and Grammy Janet’s Place. Whew, three blogs, she must be busy!!

Comment # 206 is Louis. I love the profile pic of a kitty in a hat. Aww!

The winners have been notified! Thank you so much to Mrs. Meyer’s and to everyone who entered!

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Dads change diapers too!

Jun 20,2010 / By Maria / 2 Comments

Last week marked 9 years of marriage for my hubby and I. Sometimes I think he deserves a medal for just putting up with me, but he’s been supportive of all of my seemingly “crazy” ideas, including cloth diapering.

In fact, he even changes a few diapers. The Pocket diapers with Velcro are just as easy as disposables for him, and he even changes dirty diapers. That’s right folks! If any of your hubbies/partners/significant others/male counterparts are hesitant, you can ask mine. It was no harder to flip the poop in the potty and flush than to deal with (pee-yew!) a dirty diaper again on trash day.

I wanted to do something special for him on Father’s Day. We celebrated a little early since he will be on a plane for the actual day. I’m shocked and amazed that I managed to pull this off. Dana of Dana Grayson Photography took photos of the kids (we’ve never had professional photos done) and I managed to keep it a secret! I think the trick was not telling my daughter what we were doing or that it was a surprise. She usually spills the beans instantly, but smugly adds that it’s “a surprise.” Ha.

I had special, custom embroidered shirts made by Nikki’s Little House. She also made my son’s birthday shirt. Beautiful stuff at great prices.

We did some shots in formal outfits, but I wanted to get some photos in their special shirts. I was worried that the matchy-matchy shirts would look like something on Awkward Family Photos, but I think they look great!

It was nearing bedtime; I had just fished a rock out of my son’s mouth, and he was pretty mad at me for not letting him eat rocks.

That is another rock he is contemplating tasting.

Dana squeezed me in at the last minute, but still edited/touched up the photos and got digital copies to me in time for Father’s Day! If you live anywhere near the Maryland/D.C./Virginia/West Virginia/Pennsylvania area, I highly recommend Dana Grayson Photography. She does amazing Wedding/Engagement photography and I thought she did a fabulous job with my kids. Especially considering the real reason we’ve never had professional photos done is not so much because of the cost, but because of how uncooperative my daughter has been since birth!

My husband chose to go to the Chinese Buffet for lunch, and I gave him a special, manly “bouquet.”

Yum yum!

There are too many reasons to list why my kids are lucky to have my husband as their Dad! Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads, especially the cloth diaper-changing, baby wearing ones!

I wanted to do a special, Dad related giveaway for Father’s Day, but I wasn’t able to think of anything in time! If anyone has any great ideas for something to do in the future, let me know. In the meantime, check out the giveaways that are still going on:

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day (Last chance on this one, ends 6/21! Two winners.)

Bagshot Row Bamboo Diaper (ends 6/24)

Planet Wise Swim/Diaper Bag (ends 6/28)

Please remember you can email me any time at change.diaper.change.the.world at gmail dot com. I love to help if you have any questions, or if you have any comments or suggestions about my blog. I especially love suggestions for what you would like to see me review or give away! just remember to be gentle if you have constructive criticism for me, I’m still working on thickening my skin!

Please note: I received permission from Dana Grayson Photography to use the above, copyrighted photos on this blog.

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Bagshot Row Bamboo Diaper Giveaway Winner!

Favorite things “mini stash” giveaway – 3 diapers CLOSED

Change is good. Change is good.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Winners

Dads change diapers too!

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