Friday, June 28, 2013

Bamboo Charcoal Pocket Diaper & Wetbag from ecoWays.ca: Review & Giveaway! (Closed)


ecoWays.ca is a new family-owned and operated small business based in Mississauga, Ontario which offers a large selection of cloth diapering and other eco-friendly products for babies, toddlers and moms. The store carries a variety of 3rd party cloth diapering brands including AMP, bumGenius and Flip, and recently introduced its own line of custom-made diapering gear, designed to be comparable to the "big name" brands at a lower price point. ecoWays.ca-branded products are sourced in Canada, China and the Philippines and are tested first-hand on the store owner's son before going to market. I've had the opportunity to review several of these products which I'll share with you here today!


My Review Package / Product Info:

The owner of ecoWays.ca sent me the following items to test out:


    • Outer: Waterproof Polyester PUL
    • Inner: 100% micro-polar bamboo charcoal fleece (stay-dry)
    • With top front leak protection for tummy sleeper.
    • Available in 16 different colours and shades



    • One size design: S.M.L all in one size, could fit 3Kg to 13 Kg
  • 2 bamboo charcoal inserts

    • Combines the benefit of bamboo charcoal and microfiber materials to make it more absorbent
    • 5 layers in total (Approx. 35cm x 13cm, 14" x 5")
      - 2 outer layers: 100% bamboo charcoal material
      - 3 middle layers: 100% microfiber material
    • Non-flimsy design for easy stuffing on pocket diapers or for use on diaper cover
    • Easy to clean, washes well and quick to dry
  • 1 AMP bamboo fleece insert


    • 70% rayon derived from bamboo, 30% cotton blend
    • Super soft and silky
    • Very breathable
    • Anti-bacterial
    • Absorbs 3 to 4 times more than cotton
    • Doesn't feel sticky or uncomfortable when wet
    • Fold them once for four layers in a size large original pocket diaper or fold in three in the size smalls.
    • So trim you can easily double them up for a heavy wetting baby all night solution
  • 1 bamboo fleece insert

    • Made in Canada
    • 2 layers of Bamboo fleece, 70% bamboo rayon, 30% organic cotton
    • 1 middle layer of double Bamboo Terry 70% bamboo rayon, 28% organic cotton, 2% polyester
    • Size Large, approximately 5.5" x 15"
    • Cuper soft , thirsty and with full texture
    • Serged edge
    • Good option for moms who prefer natural fabric as opposed to microfiber
    • Recommended use for heavy wetter: used two or combine with bamboo charcoal insert
  • 1 ecoWays.ca wetbag with pocket

    (Note - my wetbag has a different pattern than the one seen here.)

    • Made in Canada
    • Outer layer: 100% home decor polyester
      Inner layer: PUL (polyurethane laminated) polyester
    • Has hidden seams and additional layers of enclosed PUL to avoid leakage
    • Size: 11" x 15", holds approximately 6-8 diapers
    • Detachable handle that opens and closes with a snap
    • Made using DiaperMaker PUL fabrics that meet CPSIA and OEKO-TEX 100 standards and are manufactured in the USA in modern non-polluting EPA compliant facilities.
    • Can also be used to store your wet swim suit, as lunch bag, as a reusable gift bag and more!


My Review - Cloth Diapers and Inserts:

The first diaper I received is in the Bella Flores print with snap closures. There are 10 "standard" waist snaps plus two crossover snaps, and three different rise options. Here you can see the diaper set to the smallest and largest sizes, as well as fully unbuttoned.




Here is a close-up of the wing snaps. There are three on each side (two top and one bottom).


The second diaper I received is in the Pisces print and has hook and look (aplix) closures, including crossover aplix. Here it is set to small and large sizes, and fully unbuttoned.




The aplix strip at the front does not go right to the edges, which on the one hand may mean it won't fit as large as some other diapers, but on the other it prevents the diaper from being fastened so far out that the laundry tab chafes your little one's skin.

The aplix on this diaper is very sticky and rugged, which is good to see as I own a few diapers with "wimpier" aplix that has lost stick after several months - boo!


The pocket opening of both diapers is quite wide and easy to stuff. Dads, you have no excuse with these. ;)


Both the PUL outer and bamboo charcoal fleece inner of the diapers are soft and pleasant to the touch, and the waist and leg elastics are nice and stretchy.

Next, a close-up of the three inserts - bamboo charcoal, bamboo fleece and AMP (trifolded), respectively.




A couple more pics of the AMP - up-close and unfolded. Notice the top-notch stitching, and the green thread colour gives the insert a unique look.



All inserts feel soft, plush and "thirsty" - ready to take on whatever your babe has to throw at 'em!

As per its product description, the bamboo charcoal insert can be used in a cover. Here it is laid on top of the Pisces diaper in "all in two" fashion. Notice both the insert and diaper inner are lined with the same bamboo charcoal material.


My 2 1/2 year old, 25 lb daughter is day-trained, and currently wearing disposable pull-ups at night (so she can "operate" them more readily herself). So, as I'm sure it goes without saying, I didn't want to put her in the situation of actually "performance testing" these diapers. However I did get her to briefly model the flower one (stuffed with the AMP insert) by explaining that we were trying it out for other little girls who are still wearing diapers. As you can see, it fits her well - trim and snug, moves with her well and no wing droop. And she told me it felt comfy too! Also notice that the waist snaps are only on a middle setting, so I can definitely see the diaper accommodating a 30+ pound child.





To show off the Pisces, I recruited my 6 month old, 13 lb skinny li'l man. Up until now, we've mainly used prefolds and fitteds with covers on him, since he goes through so many and since most single-piece diapers have resulted in a significant leg gap. I'm happy to report that the Pisces (and yes, the Bella Flores too; don't judge ;) achieve an amazing fit on him. Take a look for yourself!






Next up - my official evaluation! Note that unless a specific item is referenced, comments apply across the board (i.e. to both closure types and all inserts).

******************************************************************************************

Appearance/Style:
+ Attractive design
+ Nice, trim fit - on both a super-skinny 13 lb baby and 25-lb toddler
+ No notable wing droop or sagging
+ Available in a wide variety of gender-specific and gender-neutral colours and patterns
Score: 5/5

Performance (tested on 13 lb long/skinny, medium night-wetting baby):
+ Super day-time performance with all insert types - only one leak in about 8 test wears and this was due to user error (oversaturation).
+ Perfect night performance on four test occasions, using a combination of both aplix and snap diapers, and charcoal bamboo and AMP insert types.
+ No leg gap present
+ Even after a single wash, all inserts were already quite absorbent and able to hold an impressive amount of liquid
? Haven't been able to test yet on poop, as our guy currently only does a #2 once every 4-5 days!!
? Haven't tested performance on our toddler as she's potty-trained and we obviously don't want regression!
Score: 5/5 (Note: test situations limited as indicated above, but no issues so far with everything we have been able to test out!) 

Comfort & Health:
+ Nice, stretchy waist and leg elastic; does not leave notable marks on baby's skin
+ Achieves a snug fit without pinching at both 12-13 lb and 25 lb weights
+ Bamboo charcoal inner starts out very plush and maintains its softness well over multiple washes
+ Our daughter commented that the diaper felt comfortable during her test wear (she had on the snap diaper with an AMP insert)
+ Does not appear to cause/exacerbate diaper rash (bamboo charcoal is naturally anti-microbial and hypoallergenic so it is a recommended material for sensitive skin)
+ Shell combined with organic cotton sherpa insert is a great option for super-sensitive skin
Score: 5/5

Ease of Use:
+ Easy to stuff via large pocket
+ Easy to launder; no special instructions
+ Quick & easy to change baby
+ Nice, sticky laundry tabs on aplix shell
? No poop yet so haven't been able to test spray-down/clean-up. Though, from experience, pocket diapers are easy since there is just a single piece to spray down.
- Snaps are a bit loose on both diapers which can cause the rise to come undone during a change if you pull up on the front of the diaper. And a more adventurous toddler could probably bust out of the snap closure variant fairly readily.
- Inserts do not appear designed to come out in the wash on their own
Score: 4/5 

Quality & Durability:
+ All shells and inserts appear very well-made; no loose seams, flawed stitching, etc.
+ Aplix is very strong; I expect it to last a looong time (unlike the aplix on a few other diapers we own which has lost stickiness after several months)
+/- Snaps appear sewn in snugly, though as mentioned earlier, would ideally snap together a bit more firmly.
+/- Most items have maintained their size and shape perfectly after laundering, however the bamboo fleece insert has become slightly bunchy/uneven (but still perfectly usable).
Score: 4.5/5

******************************************************************************************

Total "Diaper Awesomeness" Score: 23.5/25 (Pretty much a perfect diaper. Go out there and buy some NOW! :) )

Overall Comments: This is one amazing OS pocket diaper! Terrific performance, fit and comfort, and comes in a wide variety of colours/patterns and both aplix and snap closure types. Multiple insert options are also available for ultimate customization. Particularly notable is the diaper's snug fit on a skinny baby (and, presumably, a newborn), which can be hard to find!  Criticisms are few and minor; the only one which I feel may affect a purchase decision is that the snaps are a bit loose, so the aplix closure type, given its strength, may actually be a better choice for an "adventurous" toddler.

Estimated Stash Cost: $485.76 to $676.56.
Calculation details: Bamboo charcoal cloth diaper shells cost $13.99 each, so 24 would total $335.76. A single bamboo charcoal insert is included with each shell at no extra charge, however if you would like to add a second one and/or prefer to "upgrade" to AMP or organic cotton sherpa inserts, the price increases accordingly. Let's assume a "luxury" option would be two inserts per shell - a bamboo charcoal and an AMP bamboo - then the cost for 24 diapers would be the base $335.76 + $190.80 for 24 AMP inserts = $526.56. Diapers are advertised to fit from 3 to 13 kg = 6.6 to 28.6 lb so the OS premium is $150.00 for a total estimated "stash cost" of $485.76 (base) to $676.56 (premium). Note: since this diaper fits small/skinny babies so well, you should be able to start using them right away on your newborn (or very young baby), and then wait and see to determine whether they'll last all the way to potty training, or whether your toddler will outgrow them. They would have definitely worked from birth to potty training on my daughter, who weighed 8 lb 8 oz at birth and trained at 25 lbs.

******************************************************************************************

My Review - Wetbag with Pocket:


I love wetbags. We own several and use them for numerous purposes (aside from dirty dipe storage, we also fill 'em with used wash cloths and take 'em to the pool for wet bathing suits, among other uses). I really like the ecoWays.ca wetbag with pocket, for the following reasons:
  • Its two compartment design means you can store both dirty and clean items together. The main compartment (for dirty items) is lined with PUL and has a standard zip closure, and the clean compartment is simply an open pocket on the outside of the bag.


    I often fill the pocket with everything needed for a single change (diaper, cloth wipes and solution bottle) when I know I'm going to be some place where a super efficient change is desired (e.g. a restaurant bathroom). I'm undecided whether I prefer the open pocket over a closed compartment for clean items (which I have on another bag I own); on the one hand, an open pocket allows easier access and can probably fit a bit more stuff, but on the other said stuff could potentially fall out. In any case, a clean compartment in general is a Good Thing.
  • Its inner PUL layer is truly leak-proof; it passes the "fill with water and squeeze" test, unlike other wetbags I own. This also helps ensure unpleasant smells don't escape!

  • It has a hanging loop. A simple feature, but a useful one - and surpringly not all wetbags have one! We hang small wetbags on our son's change table, the bathroom cupboard and other places. The detachable nature of this one means you can hang it from an enclosed fixture - for example, a stove handle if you want to use it as a kitchen wetbag.
  • It is large enough to hold 7-8 dirty diapers, which is key if you're going to be out & about for a full day! The bag below is holding 7 dirty diapers plus wipes, and I could definitely cram a bit more in there.
  • Maintenance-wise, no complaints. It washes well and hang dries quickly, thanks to its two separable layers.

I really can't think of anything bad to say about this bag, and would wholeheartedly recommend it for dirty diapers and other "wet storage" tasks. Note that (as of this writing) it is only available in a single print, so hopefully additional choices will be available shortly.


Buy It:

Visit ecoways.ca to stock up on bamboo charcoal diapers, inserts and/or wetbags of your own! While you're there, be sure to browse all the other eco-friendly baby products the store has to offer! Shipping is free to Canada on orders of $150+ and to the United States on orders of $200+.


Win It:

One lucky Manager to Mom reader will win a bamboo charcoal diaper in the gender-neutral "Happy Face in Red" print + two bamboo charcoal inserts from ecoways.ca! Winner chooses closure type (aplix or snaps). Open to CANADA ONLY.


To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Please follow all instructions within each entry option to ensure your entries are valid.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  The prize is being provided and shipped to the winner by ecoways.ca.  I received no financial compensation for writing my review or offering this giveaway, although I did receive the sample items free of charge.  This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: A Not-So-Sad Goodbye!

Our daughter's most recent home daycare provider just started a new job outside the home. Bittersweet, as she's been an awesome provider and we'll miss her, but on the other hand she's really excited about the job and we certainly wish her the best!

S and our provider's son, N, were super-cute on their last day together - lots of smiles, laughs and hugs! But it wasn't a true goodbye, as they will both be going to the same new provider over the summer! (N fulltime and S part-time, just a day or two a week so I can continue spending some dedicated time with CJ.) Here are a couple pics I snapped of the adorableness!



Tuesday, June 11, 2013

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Mmmm Tasty!!!


Our little guy turned 6 months old today! Over the last few weeks, he's been getting increasingly excited around food, so we've given him the occasional taste - for example, here he's enjoying a wedge of peach from his mesh "feeder".

Tomorrow we're going to start solids for realsies! Our 6-pack of Baby Gourmet creamy brown rice cereal arrived this afternoon so we're going to start with that. (Upcoming review/giveaway alert!!),

At what age did you start your little one(s) on solids? What were their first foods?

Dizolve Ultra Laundry Detergent Strips: Review and Giveaway! (Closed)


Did you know that Canadians spend $890 million annually on laundry detergent, and that 33% of this is wasted due to over-use? How about that we go through approximately 134 million plastic detergent jugs each year (enough to circle the Earth more than once!) and that 94 million of these end up in landfills?

These are just a few of the scary estimates you can read about in The Eco-Impact of Laundry Detergent in Canada, an article from Dizolve Group Corporation. The goal of the article is to create awareness and steer families toward their considerably more eco-friendly solution - Dizolve Ultra Laundry Detergent Strips. I got the opportunity to try this product for myself (well more specifically, my family's never-ending mountain of laundry) and I have to say it's the cat's (clean) pajamas!


Product Info (abridged):

 

Dizolve packs ultra-concentrated cleaning power into a tiny, pre-measured strip of detergent that you just toss in the wash.

It makes your laundry washing chore easier, healthier, more economical, and much kinder to our planet.

Doing laundry has never been easier!

  • Small and light, easy to carry and store
  • No waste, no messy spills
  • Dissolves completely in hot or cold water
  • For H.E. and standard machines
 
Half load or hand wash? Just tear a sheet in half.

Just about everyone is impressed by Dizolve’s amazing concentration: 93% of participants rated Dizolve's cleaning power equal to or better than their usual brand, according to a 2012 independent research study of 177 participants washing 1,649 loads of laundry with Dizolve.

  • Hypoallergenic for sensitive skin
  • Free of 1,4-dioxane
  • Phosphate-free
  • Biodegradable
  • Safe for septics

If everyone in Canada switched to Dizolve, the annual eco-savings would be enormous:
  • Eliminate 134 million plastic jugs, saving 94 million from going to landfills
  • Save 8.2 million litres of truck fuel and 23.8 million kg of CO2 - equivalent to taking 3.2 million cars off the road for a day, or planting one million trees

But that's not all: a portion of your purchase payment supports the environmental youth education programs of the Sierra Club Canada or another fundraising cause of your choice.


My Review:

I received a 72-load package of Dizolve laundry detergent strips to review.

 

I immediately took note of just how small & light the package was. Pretty remarkable that this tiny li'l box can handle 72 loads of laundry! (More, actually - I'll get to this in a bit.)


The product's contents - a recyclable cardboard outer sleeve, and a booklet of detergent strip sheets. That's it!


Here's a single 3-gram strip - all you need to wash a full load of dirties!

 

Needless to say, I'm sold on the company's claim that Dizolve has a considerably reduced ecological footprint.

In terms of safety, first of all the strips have an almost neutral smell which is a good thing in my books. Strong scent = narsty chemicals, in most cases. Second, I reviewed the product's full ingredient list. Each one includes a layman's description of its source and purpose, and none of them appear on several "toxic laundry ingredients to avoid" lists I found online. Convincing enough for me! Side note - the company is working on a natural scent for those who do enjoy a li'l olfactory goodness infused into their family's duds.

All of this is well and dandy, but the most important question - does Dizolve actually work? Happily, I'm one of the (quoted) 93% who believes that it does. And very well indeed! I've run about 20 loads so far in our front loader using these strips (in softened water, at different temperatures), and consistently noted the following:
  • Laundry comes out smelling fresh. (Not chemically-scented "fresh" but truly clean fresh.)
  • Stains are easily eliminated (or, at least, minimized)

Upon receiving the green light from my PR contact, I've even taken the plunge into cloth diaper laundering and it's been working fabulously. The standard wisdom for washing dipes is to halve the amount of detergent, and this appears true here as well. I initially used a full strip, however following my regular 3-cycle routine, the diapers appeared to be holding some residue. The next time, I tore a strip in half and the everything came out perfectly clean and neutral-smelling. This means a 72-load box could go even further for CDing families; perhaps about 90-100 loads total. Awesome! (All this said, I should note that our son is exclusively breastfed right now so we're not dealing with "real" poo just yet. I'm certainly interested to see how well Dizolve handles things when we get to that point, especially since I've wrestled with major funk in the past with my daughter's diapers.)

Finally, a comment on the convenience factor. I love how clean and simple it is to rip off a strip and toss it in the drum! The instructions say to put in the strip before your clothing, but order doesn't seem to matter in practice as (true to its name) the strip dissolves as soon as it comes into contact with water. On this note, however, my husband pointed out that we shouldn't store our Dizolve under the laundry tub like we do our other detergents. One significant splash and the whole box could dissolve away! As such, it's found a new, safer home on top of the dryer.

Overall (in case it's not clear) I'm a huge fan of Dizolve. It's safe, convenient, performs well and leaves a significantly reduced ecological footprint. I honestly can't come up with any criticism, and that's rare for me. :) The strip format just makes sense, and I can see it becoming the new gold standard for laundry in the not-so-distant future. Kudos to the Dizolve Group Corporation for creating a truly stellar product - I'll certainly be ordering more when my current box is finished!



Buy It:

Purchase Dizolve Ultra Laundry Detergent Strips directly from the Dizolve website. Shipping is free to any address in Canada. Make sure to select the fundraising campaign you wish to support! (Read up on the Dizolve Fundraising Cleanup Program for more information on this.)

Dizolve is also sold in some grocery stores in Atlantic Canada and several other countries.


Win It:

One super-lucky Manager to Mom reader will win a one-year supply (6 boxes) of Dizolve! Open to CANADA ONLY.

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Please follow all instructions within each entry option to ensure your entries are valid.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  The prize is being provided and shipped to the winner by Dizolve Group Corporation.  I received no financial compensation for writing my review or offering this giveaway, although I did receive the sample items free of charge.  This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

5 (More) Differences Between the First Child and the Next One

I recently read 15 Differences Between the First Child and the Next One over at the awesomely hilarious site Scary Mommy which had me both nodding enthusiastically throughout most of the article and automatically conjuring up my own list of add-ons. Here are my Top 5!



1) Laundry

1 kiddo: Dirty laundry was kept neatly in the hamper or diaper wetbag (as applicable) and taken downstairs when there was enough to do a load. Clean laundry was folded and/or hung right away so it didn't wrinkle.

2 kiddos: Dirty laundry often exists in many places outside the hamper (floor, bathroom countertop, hung over a chair, etc.) Periodically I do a general "sweep 'n' dump" into an ever-present pile beside the washer, where it's easy to tell when laundry's (over)due. Clean laundry often remains in a basket (either folded or unfolded, depending on my ambition level) for days at a time. What can I say - it's more accessible. Go-to outfits are right there at our fingertips!


2) Toy Cleanliness

1 kiddo: Toys were washed or wiped down regularly; usually about once per week. I even came up with mnemonic "Wipedown Wednesdays" to ensure I stayed on track with this not-so-fun but necessary (or so I thought) task.

2 kiddos: Are you kidding? With (more than) twice the toys, half the time and a whirlwind of a preschooler constantly tracking germs into every nook & cranny of our home, keeping everything in baby's path pristine is an intimidating proposition, at best. So I basically use the "senses" test - if something starts looking or smelling dirty, it gets cleaned. Until then, I can't rationalize the time investment.(Note - we've been lucky enough to avoid hardcore sickies coming into our house since the little guy arrived, which would warrant a thorough, cross-the-board sanitization!)


3) Toy "Preservation"

1 kiddo: Significant effort was invested into keeping playdough colours separate, carefully repairing book booboos (with clear tape, of course) and the like.

2 kiddos: See previous point. So freakin' many toys that I'm no longer gonna get my knickers in a knot if a few get a little bunged up.(That said, we do try to keep the higher quality and/or favourite items in good condition.)


4) Weekly Menu Planning

1 kiddo: I got into this when my first was about 5 months old. There are many reasons to do so, and it worked well for us for several months.

2 kiddos: I'm sad to say, I haven't managed to get back into this since DS arrived. [Insert numerous lack of time and health-related excuses here.] Short answer is I do want to get back to this, but it'll definitely be more challenging than it was with one little munchkin. In the meantime, I'm happy to say we're not sacrificing proper nutrition - if anything, we're eating healthier than we were a couple years ago as we're more knowledgeable now - but we have been spending more and we probably end up with a bit more waste. I'll definitely let y'all know if we do manage to get back to MPing - wish me luck!!!


5) Cloth Diapering on Vacay

1 kiddo: I was dedicated (some might say militant) that a 'sposie wasn't going anywhere near my DD's sensitive little bum, no matter what! As such, I cloth diapered for over a week at the cottage and on various other trips. I was SuperGreenMom, gosh darn it!

2 kiddos: I did it once - on an easy weekend jaunt to Great Wolf Lodge, and lemme tell ya - packing the trunk was a serious space optimization exercise. In lieu of a Very Large Roof Rack (which we could consider buying, sure), moving forward my fluffy stash is simply gonna go on its own vacation while we go on ours.


How about you? What main differences did you note between child #1 and #2?

Monday, June 3, 2013

Princess Grace Bowtique: Review and Giveaway (Closed)


My daughter's hair, much like its owner, has a mind of its own.


We usually just let it do its thang 'cause, well, she's a toddler and at this age she can get away with it. ;)  But occasionally I do try to clean things up for daycare, for a special occasion, or when it's clear the unruly strands are beginning to irk her. Historically I've tended toward standard piggies secured with those teeny little elastics but then, a couple months ago at a play group, I spotted a gal about S' age sporting the most adorable flowered headband. Aha, I thought, now that's a stylish AND practical way to tame those toddler tresses - I must score me some of those! I turned to Etsy and a quick search led me to Princess Grace Bowtique, a shop based in Toronto, Ontario which offers a wide variety of hand-made baby, toddler and girl hair accessories: no slip hair clips, hair bows, felt hair clips, headbands and flowers.


The owner is an active mom of three - two older boys and (as you likely guessed!) a little princess - the shop's namesake! Princess Grace models her mom's lovely creations, and the two boys help test out colour combinations for new items to sell. When I contacted the owner about reviewing a selection of her products on my own little wild-haired child, she was game and sent me a generous assortment of headbands, no slip hair clips and specialty felt clips.


I received three headbands (two satin and one lace), each one adorned with a purty jewelled flower in a different colour and style.


Each of the bands is stretchy enough to fit from baby to adult. (In fact, my hubby helpfully agreed to try on the purple lace one and, indeed, there was room to spare. Of course I snapped a pic but in the interest of remaining married I'll refrain from posting it here. ;) The flowers are all constructed well and firmly affixed to their bands, so they should have some good longevity.

I also received two sets of no slip hair clips (flower and ladybug designs) and two specialty felt clips (princess crown and blue jewelled flower designs).



All of these clips feature 1 3/4" partially-lined "alligator" style closures, and are lined with silicone no-slip grips to help them stay in place. All ribbon ends have been heat sealed to prevent fraying.


Now for the fun but challenging part - getting my own super-active princess to model the whole set! Naturally, as a 2-year-old, she's not a fan of sitting still nor does she love stuff going into her hair. As such, it took several sessions, but I finally managed to capture her in all her new bling!

First, a few comments on usability. I find the clips the easier of the two accessory types to secure in place; the alligator style (IMO) is vastly superior to the snap style found on most commercially-available clips as it allows you to basically apply and remove a clip with one hand, it's gentler on your little one and it's easier to get a snug fit. The no slip grip strip (try saying that 10x fast!) certainly keeps things in place through lots of active play, however it does surrender pretty easily to yanky little hands, which is good as this prevents rippage. The headbands are a bit trickier to get in the right spot with li'l one's hair smoothed down properly; distraction definitely helped here! Once in place, however, they stay put very well.

Alright, it's slideshow time!

Yellow flowered headband - love this style and colour on her!



Pink headband with white flower - I do find this flower a bit on the large side for her but overall still quite precious!



Rope flower hair clips - love these! Girly but not over-the-top, and she's a "pink girl" so they coordinate well with most of her outfits.


Ladybug hair clips - very cute and more casual. I like sending her to daycare in these....


...and look! Still in place after a fun-filled morning playing at the park!


Blue jewelled flower felt clip - one of the more sophisticated items we received.


Can we say "2 going on 22"??! *tear*


Purple lace headband - got her to model this one after bath time by enticing her with a bribe to stay up a bit later. ;) Her hair's always extra curly when she gets out of the tub, which added to the utter adorableness of this shot!


Princess crown felt flip - admittedly, neither my daughter nor I are the biggest fans of this piece. I think it's too big and chunky for S' fine hair and (as you can see) she wasn't the most thrilled to show it off either. I could see it looking pretty cute on a gal with thicker, coarser hair, though!


All in all, I'm very happy with the package of hair accessories we received from Princess Grace Bowtique - they're pretty, stylish, practical (the clips in particular) and appear to be very well made. Browsing through the shop, there are many more styles that would look great on our daughter, so a future shopping trip to add to her collection may be in store! :)


Buy It:

Head over to Princess Grace Bowtique to purchase some sweet hair accessories for your own little princess(es)! For a limited time, use the special discount code M2M20 and receive 20% off your order! Note that the shop will be closed for most of July and August, so get those orders in stat!! (Note: Etsy policies apply to all purchases.)


Win It:

One lucky Manager to Mom reader will win $20 to spend at Princess Grace Bowtique - good toward products and shipping charges. Open to CAN/US.

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Please follow all instructions within each entry option to ensure your entries are valid.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  The prize is being provided and shipped to the winner by Princess Grace Bowtique.  I received no financial compensation for writing my review or offering this giveaway, although I did receive the sample items free of charge.  This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours.