Saturday, August 6, 2011

Eco Posh Trainers


These trainers hands down are the ones I am most eager to try. Earthy Crunchy Mama I think is the same way.

I got these in the mail late last week. To prep these honeys they recommend you wash them five times. I know your thinking ahhh hemp you have to be kidding me. No these are a bamboo and recycled water bottle blend. I know what the heck. I need stock in this company. This is the most Eco friendly trainer I have yet to use.


They are close to the softest fabric I have felt. I want under ware for me. The only super funky part I had trouble stomaching is the inside liner is brown. I can't find them on line except carried in stores already. I was told they are the same company who makes my beloved Joeybunz. They run about $15 a pair. I am fortunate in receiving two. A medium on Declan who is 30 pounds and a large on Sonny who is just shy of 40 pounds. Both boys have some room.

Declan after our photo shoot took a nap. Three hours. Touching the outside of the trainer it was dry. Inspecting this lining it was soaked. Pulling the trainer off of him nothing dripped on me. Pretty cool.

Sonny I let run wild in his. He climbed trees and rolled in the grass and gave them an awesome durability test. They got dirty but did not snag, pill, ride up or sag. Sonny is potty trained more or less. Has an accident once in a long while if he doesn't go potty before bed. He pulled these up and down like a champ. No trouble at all.

Once Preschool tells me there option of these awesome trainers I will let you know. Think Monday night early Tuesday. I am dying to see how they like them. Yes both boys will be wearing them.

Trainer Reviews Recap, The Cause, and a random gift of Love

Some of my readers may have noticed my blog posts are not coming nearly as often. There are a few things going on that I can point at to blame. One is not fun. I went back to work after 10 weeks off. Two a little more fun.... I am the ultimate Soccer Mom. OK may not ultimate but I have three kids playing this year and me time will be stretched. One of the three has decided she's also going to ref. I think a data card may be in my future to keep up with all I want to share with you. Third. my next review required a lot of prepping and my informant at preschool took vacation. With that said one to more cool things.

Cole and the Crooked Flower is at 42% of there goal of $6500 to be able to self publish a book where every dime goes back to learn more about  Infantile Progressive Scoliosis. This is an amazing cause for a disease that has a cure already and not enough doctors know what to do. Take a look a the closest child to you and imagine them deformed for life when they could have been cured . One dollar helps or even one tweet or Facebook post. Every little bit helps.

I am here to tell those of you who are helping a little everyday thank you! with a random gift of love. If your an Earthy Crunchy Mama fan or a Blended Family of 5 fan all you have to do is express you want to be in this drawing. I will pull a name using random.org Sunday evening 8:59 PM PST and you can choose a trainer I have reviewed this far or a cloth diaper in Earthy Crunchy Mama's store. Or something more grown up like a $15 Starbucks gift card. I just want to say THANK YOU!!! Your help is invaluable.


Here is the trainer review Recap in my current order of favorites and a brief explanation.
Imse Vimse. Nothing water proof included however it doesn't leak easy. It's easy to pull up and down, fits trim,  allows baby to feel the wetness and it's also Preschools favorite.

Kushies training pants. Yes they are puffy. They hold so much pee you wont have to change baby's clothes. I have used these through three boys. They are economical. Preschool gives me a thumbs up. Easy to pull up and down .

KaWaii Baby Training Pant. Economical, puffy but work under clothes, absorbent, prints are a little dated and cut is confusing. No leaks yet. Preschool hasn't complained once.

Charlie Banana training pants. Trim fit. Not very absorbent. Super soft. Preschool is not a huge fan but will use them if the other choices are worse.

Blueberry trainers will catch an accident and then create a mess. I'm getting a 50/50 feeling from preschool with these. I like them at home because Declan knows he's wet. Very cute.
Mother-ease training pants. They probably make an awesome diaper. These trainers would make an awesome diaper. They are huge and super puffy, they are absorbent like no other and preschool hates them.
Little Beetle Learners to me are a waste of money. They look like a diaper with snaps on he sides, never catch an accident and are really expensive. Two thumbs down from me and preschool.

One last bit of info for you.
  • Earthy Crunchy Mama has a $100 gift card giveaway around Cole and the Crooked Flower. Donations at certain amounts will get you a copy of the book.
  • Special LIMITED Offer!: Magnolia Organics Has heard about or project to raise funds for Progressive Infantile Scoliosis and has VERY GENEROUSLY donated 10 organic cotton swaddle blankets (36 x 36 inches) to the first 10 Earthy Crunchy Mamas who donate $15+ to the cause!
  • Marysa Jane Pencil Pouches purchased will contribute 100% earning to Cole and the Crooked Flower. Free shipping. Can be pre-ordered through PayPal sonnys.mom@gmail.com let me know what print you like. They are $8.00 Will post prints today 8/6.
  • If there is something you would like reviewed and giveaway sponsoring Cole and the Crooked Flower please let me know.
  • Looking for women who will review Mom cloths for me. I will supply. Just email me. Thanks!
  • Barefoot Books sales go back to Cole and the Crooked flower when bought through this link.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Do you know someone who is/has been in the Military?

I tweeted with Kari this morning and wanted to say thank you to all that helped.

Kari's final count was 23, which is great! Her unit (100+girls) total was around 350. That's a lot of troops who will get a little extra while they are doing a whole lot.




Those who know or follow probably know I am a believer/do-er of kindness to others and expect nothing in return. Well Kari is one of my recipients  random acts of kindness. She contacted me asking if I would share this with my followers. I of coarse agreed, not only to put it out there for all of you to read but because I think this is a great effort to provide a little comfort to those of us who give to the freedom of our country daily and really don't get much in return at all. The troops.

Just a little blurb from me then on to the details Kari gave me. My mother is 73, her older brother passed away when I was in 5th grade almost 25 years ago. The link here is it was skin cancer related and he was a life time military man. I never got to know him well but my Mom who is the nicest person you ever could meet speaks fondly of him often with a sadness in her eyes. Maybe if he had been given a gift as nice and sun screen and lip balm with added sun screen I may have had more of a chance to know my uncle and he wouldn't be a  memory a sweet old lady talks about.

I hope there are a few who will participate in a selfless act and help Kari send sun screen care packs to our troops.

I'm a Mary Kay Consultant and this month, in honor of Independence Day, Mary Kay has teamed with Soldier's Angels (www.soldiersangels.org) to bring sun care kits to combat troops. The average temperature in Afghanistan between the months of May and November is 102 degrees! We believe that battling sun cancer, sun poisoning, and sun blisters is the last thing these troops should worry about while they're protecting our freedom.



My unit's goal is to sponsor 400 combat troops (one soldier is sponsored for $20). I would love to surprise my director with 100 donations! By any chance would you consider posting about this on your blog? Of course if you feel you would like to donate that would be appreciated as well. I could send you any information you would need and any donations would be tax deductible as Soldier's Angels is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Thanks so much for your time! :)
Kari

Photobucket
Here are some links of products that can be purchased for our troops.

http://www.marykay.com/karimeeker/spabody/suncarecollection/suncarecollection/10010349/default.aspx


http://www.marykay.com/karimeeker/spabody/suncarecollection/suncarecollection/10006948/default.aspx




http://www.marykay.com/karimeeker/spabody/suncarecollection/suncarecollection/10010349/default.aspx


http://www.marykay.com/karimeeker/spabody/suncarecollection/suncarecollection/10006948/default.aspx


To see of print the flyer please click here.


Monday, August 1, 2011

Wordless Wednesday


My hubs!

My boys.

My sweety and my DD

My dare devil.

KaWaii Baby Training Pant Review- First Impression

 First impression here is the outside looks like a camo running suit material. The inside is really soft. It washed beautifully. Going into the wash was the same as coming out. Always one of my favorite features when they don't change.

Declan is wearing them at preschool today. His teacher was really excited about this trainer. She likes the big puffy ones. She says he's funny and likes to dance in them. I am actually very excited about these as well but not for the funny dancing. I seem to have better luck with the absorbency with the puffy trainers.


This Declan barely aware in the KaWaii trainer. I think they may be on backwards, I'm not sure because there is no tag on them.

I like the way they fit under his shorts. The puffiness I can't even see. I am excited to see how well or not they work at preschool today.

I got these trainers from Sandbox Lane. I have never heard of this brand before. The story behind this company I found on their Facebook page. It  seems that the person who created them was concerned with what disposable diapers where doing to both earth and babies. They wanted a diaper that was economical with purpose. These trainers and even the cloth diapers are by far the least expensive I have seen. I hope they work out because they would be a good alternative for frugal living parents to help raise their children.

****Preschools impression.
Declan's teacher said he refused to pee today. That his trainers were dry. The funny thing about these trainers is they are so incredibly absorbent Declan can't tell he's wet and you can't really tell unless you press your fingers into the fabric. We went to the pool after I picked him up from school and I still wasn't convinced they were wet even after pressing my fingers in them until we were done swimming and I could smell the urine.

Today at home we tried them again. He has no problems wetting his pants at home. In fact it very rare he will sit on the potty for me. It was this way with all my kids actually. Preschool is usually the first place children learn when Mom works. I think this for two reasons. First other kids are usually training at the same time and that encourages the child. Second they see Mommy as a place to be themselves, were they can pee freely. It's doesn't last forever so keep taking your little one to the potty and give lots of hugs and kisses for trying when they do. Back to the original thought. Declan went pee-pee in his trainer. He did not feel it. So when I grabbed his cute little puffy butt and it felt like it was cold liquid I offered to change him. My head strong toddler did not want to change he likes this one. After I pulled them off and chased him down finally getting in to a diaper he found his sisters flip flop and beamed me in the head. I've learned in the beginning when your little one starts to get stressed from being asked to go potty over and over it's important to give them a break. To me a break means a few hours back in the familiar diaper.

As far as how I would rate this diaper. I like it. I think it's good for long outings, nap and over night so they still know they are wearing big kid undies. I would probably want two of them since I do laundry everyday. I would turn them inside out to wash and dry because of their thickness. I got mine for just over $10 at Sandbox Lane. They are a good value to me. The pints however seem really old school and did not thrill me.


Enter this Giveback/Giveaway for a chance to win this trainer in one of our random drawings. Ends 10/17/11

Sunday, July 31, 2011

powering down: chickens feed me

powering down: chickens feed me

This blog is golden for the new Urban farmers or those of me who want to be. Fabulous read packed full of helpful information.

Rinse your Plate

As part of a family with seven member we go through a lot dishes and everything else for that matter. Five of the members of our house are over 10. About a year ago I introduced reminder cards around the house. The one above the kitchen sink is the reminder card to rinse your plate. I thought it was a good idea.

Today my kids had me take them to the pool like I do most days. However today I was in some bad pain. Around 5ish my hubs called and asked what we should do about dinner. Our second oldest just got back to us for a vacation in Europe with her Mom and told me she was making Beef Stroganoff. (Hamburger Helper). I assumed she and hubs decided on that. Silly me she thought it was in stone and he thought it was small talk. However my hubs is awesome and went out and got everything needed to make it as well as a few more dinners for the week.

I came home with the kids and sat down. Hubs came home and saw our sink was full of nasty dishes from the day. I came in to help and saw my reminder card, thought about how nasty the sink could be and decided today my 10 and ups would learn to do the dishes.

First they loaded our dishwasher without rinsing. Can't do that. You need to rinse. Every dish had to come back out and rinsed off. They loaded the dishwasher and left all the used pots and pans in the sink.

This is where it got fun. I showed them how to scrub.After all I have been doing this everyday of their entire lives and before. They cried and yelled. I got told how unfair this was and nasty. I couldn't help but laugh and say you know you're right. Went on to explain it's so much easier to do dishes in a sink where the dishes are already rinsed.

I guess I'm kind of a mean Mom since their complaints made me smile. All I can think of was I was about this age when I started helping out. Our dishwasher never worked and I can remember being in the kitchen with my sisters and  working a line. Someone washed, someone rinsed and someone dried and this wasn't once in a while this was our life.

My kids have it easy. I do most of what needs to be done. I just think going into fifth grade they need to do a little too. This I am excited about.