Teeming with #2 - Week 16 update!

As you might have seen on my FB page the other day, this mama's been busy "cooking up another one"! Little Bean #2 is due on December 2nd, 2012!

Here's a nice closeup of the kiddo from our dating ultrasound on June 5th (13 1/2 weeks along):

And here are a couple belly shots - 13 weeks:

(...yup, I know the sticker says 12, but early on I had my dates wrong! Ooops!)

And 16 weeks.:

(I look HUGE here! Must've been extra bloated that morning as it's now a week later and I'm not nearly as big!)

I have to say the first trimey of this pregnancy hit me a li'l harder than when I was expecting with S. For several weeks there I was SUPER tired, and had a lot of weird food-related symptoms. Huge cravings for certain foods combined with totally feeling turned off other foods - including those I usually love! For example, I got really grossed out by the idea of one of my favourite salads - spinach with chopped almonds, feta and balsamic vinagrette. Cravings were generally for carbs and rich, fatty foods like dim sum. (MMMMmmMMM!) Probably makes sense; I weighed about 10 pounds less at the beginning of this pregnancy than last time, so my body's been telling me to gain some damn weight! Once into about week 13-14, cravings began to ease but not my overall appetite! I'm still eating like a horse and have put on about 10 pounds overall.

The tiredness thing really sucked. All of my available energy was going to caring for Starryn and work, so when the evening rolled around I'd basically be useless, either crashing super-early or couching out infront of the TV. Blogging? Out of the question on most days! Managing to post once every two weeks was about all I could muster. I'm very appreciative of my review/giveaway sponsors who have been very patient and understanding through all this! Now that I have some of my energy back, I should be able to get back to more regular blogging. *fingers crossed*!

(On a related note, if you're wondering how I managed to review The DivaCup so recently, well, let's just say the testing period wasn't so recent! I used it during my final period back in March, and then boom - positive preggo test! It just took my exhausted self 2 months to do the writeup, lol. :)

Another sucky thing? Hubby ended up selling our Chili Peppers tickets because I felt too crappy to go myself, and he couldn't find someone else to go with at the last minute. Boooo! (But we did see Dave Matthews earlier this month, w00t!)

Other physical symptoms from the first trimey - overactive bladder, super-vivid dreams and some general nausea (but thankfully just a few appointments with Johnny himself). Oh yeah, and a few awful headaches. Strangely, my boobs didn't start getting big & sore until the last few weeks. I spotted just a tad during weeks 5-7, but it didn't really concern me as it happened last time around as well.

All in all, though it was challenging at times, I'm sure my 1st trim symptoms were nothing to write home about compared to the stories I've heard from many other women!

Emotionally, I've been pretty level so far in general, though I have had a few completely out-of-the-blue crying spells. Good ol' hormones!

In terms of prenatal care, I'm going with the St. Jacobs Midwives this time around. I've been hearing Amazing Things about them, and so far I haven't been disappointed. I was initially assigned to Stephanie Gingerich who is AWESOME, but then a few weeks back (when I realized I'd miscalculated the first day of my last period by a week), they reassigned me to Katie, a new midwife who I will be meeting at my next appt, since Steph will be on vacation on my revised estimated due date.

I'm sooooo happy to be taking the midwife route for this pregnancy! Don't get me wrong - I did have a generally positive experience with my OBGYN last time, but the philosophy and standard of care offered by midwives just resonates so much more soundly with me. Midwives place greater emphasis on birth being a natural, healthy event (as opposed to a "medical situation") and foster informed choice for the mother, which I *heart*! For example, I was 9 days overdue with S. Thankfully I went into labour on my own, otherwise I was scheduled for an induction the very next day - something I really wanted to avoid, but I felt powerless against going the OBGYN route. I asked my midwife specifically about this, and she reassured me that while induction might be recommended at a certain point, it certainly wouldn't be forced, and more gentle methods would be suggested first prior to resorting to the more aggressive approaches (cervidil & pitocin, specifically) that the hospital regularly administers. We're also considering a home birth; I pretty much burst into tears every time I watch a video or read a story of a home birth as it's such a gentle, loving way to bring a new life into the world!

So what else? Well, next midwife appointment is on July 12th, then we're off for a week of cottage-y g00dness, then back to find out whether S will have a brother or sister on July 25th! (Yup, I'll share. ;)

How many of my readers are pregnant right now? How far along? How are things going for you?

Wordless Wednesday: Mommy Snuggles!

A rare photo of a not-so-rare moment. Love this one!

KinderGlo Night Light: Review & Giveaway! (Closed)

Our 18-month-old daughter S has long mastered the "fine art" of sleeping through the night, however sometimes it takes her a little while to settle down in her crib. We often hear her talking to herself, singing and sometimes crying a little bit before she drifts off to dreamland, and this can can go on for 30 minutes or longer. To help her transition, we started giving her a few "stuffies" and a plush sound machine to play with in bed (once she was no longer at risk of SIDS). However, with all the lights off she couldn't really see all her little friends! Due to this, we ended up buying her a plug-in night light which fascinated her greatly, but also frustrated her since it was all the way across the room and she couldn't explore it directly. Another issue was that it stayed on indefinitely so we had to remind ourselves to shut it off once she was asleep so we didn't waste unnecessary power.

When I discovered the company KinderGlo and its line of portable LED night lights, I knew I'd found the perfect pre-bedtime lighting solution for our daughter! 

KinderGlo night lights are designed to be played with and snuggled by your little one directly. They never overheat, they're made of soft and durable, BPA and lead free material and they hold a battery charge lasting 8-10 hours. Each one is equipped with four different colour modes (solid blue, green, red and a rotating colour spectrum) and two power settings (stay on mode, and 30 minute "gradual fade") mode. Both of these settings are easily controlled via a single button at the bottom of the unit. The KinderGlo is super-easy to charge - just plug in the charging base and set the unit on top. And, to top it all off, it's available in the most adorable selection of characters!

 

Take a look at the following video for more product information on the KinderGlo, as well as some cute clips of toddlers enjoying their li'l glowing pals!

The company offered me the opportunity to review a KinderGlo portable night light of my choice. Naturally, I let my daughter choose, and she pointed at the elephant with a big grin on her face. ("Guess she's over the Hickory Dickory Dock incident!" I noted.)

Here's a product photo showing the elephant in its charging base.

And here's the actual night light and charging base that we received. Nice & simple!

The KinderGlo comes fully charged, so we were able to get "testing" right away.

It was love at first sight for our daughter! S was immediately transfixed by the colours and wanted to snuggle and kiss her new "Elphie"!

She quickly learned how to change the colour modes via the button at the bottom of the light. I like how the same button controls the stay-on vs. fade off setting but requires a 3-second press. Both a simple approach, and effective at allowing little hands to control the "fun" colour setting, but making it more difficult to activate the other one, which most parents would probably prefer to keep control over!

The product video mentions that the KinderGlo is tough enough to withstand teething and slobbering. Snotty noses too, apparently! :)

Elphie has definitely made a welcome addition to S' crib ensemble. When I peek in on her just before she nods off or when she's beginning to stir in the morning, I often catch her snuggling her glowing pal or changing the colour mode. Though sometimes she prefers to play "toss Elphie out of the crib" - usually when she's a little on the crabby side and wants to get Mommy or Daddy's attention! (Evidently she's learned that her elephant makes a much louder thump than her stuffies in this scenario!) I'd be a little concerned by this if the KinderGlo weren't so durable; clearly (in addition to saliva and boogies) it can handle prototypical toddler abuse as well!

So far, Elphie has stayed with S in her bedroom (aside from a trip to Gramma's for a sleepover) however I can definitely see bringing the light on a long car ride for a little extra entertainment and comfort, and I like the concept of it being a portable travel night light for potty-trained toddlers and preschoolers heading out on a late night bathroom trip.

As for battery life, I was super impressed by how long the KinderGlo's first charge lasted. We got over 2 weeks of regular use before the light started to fade! When it does need a charge, the process is indeed as simple as advertised. That said, I did find a few details on this missing from the instructional booklet (which is otherwise clear and comprehensive), so my PR contact filled in the blanks. It takes 4-10 hours to charge fully (depending on the starting battery life) and the light turns from red to green when fully charged. Periodically letting the battery drain fully is recommended as well to extend its life. Since other parents might have the same questions, I recommend that the company adds these details into the booklet and on their website.

We've run into one minor snag with the KinderGlo so far. When the battery life was getting low, it got stuck in a state with the light on, and the button had no effect. According to the instructions, this is known but rare behaviour, and inserting a paper clip through the pin hole at the bottom is advised to reset the device. Thankfully this worked for us, and following another charge Elphie was back to her old self. When I let my PR contact know this happened, she was apologetic and even offered to replace the light if it continues to happen for us! Clearly this is a company which takes pride in their products, and strives to ensure their customers are 100% satisfied. Now that's what I like to see!

All in all, I think the KinderGlo portable night light is a wonderful product. It is fun, versatile, cuddly, cute and practical, and completely safe for babies and young children. Two thumbs up from this mama!


Buy It:

To purchase a KinderGlo portable night light for your own sweet li'l monkey, you can choose your favourite (or better yet, let the little one pick!) directly from the KinderGlo store, or visit their Where to Buy page to find an online or local retailer.

Bonus: KinderGlo has generously offered M2M readers a discount code worth $5 off each night light ordered from their web store! To redeem, enter HES6HKNHCA2J as your coupon code at checkout!


Win It:

One lucky Manager to Mom reader will win a KinderGlo portable night light of their own! Winner selects style.

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Comments do not count as entries, however feel free to add a comment to remind yourself that you entered! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

The DivaCup Review & Giveaway! (Closed)

Along with cloth diapering, eco-friendly cleaning and healthier, more sustainable food choices, another "green" step I've been eager to take is switching to a reusable solution for my period. I first discovered there were many alternatives to throwaway pads and tampons early last year when I began entering blog giveaways, and I was certainly interested in giving 'em all a try! And then came The Tale of the Moldy Tampon - even further incentive that it was time to ditch those disposables. (Yuck!!)

One of the products I came across that I was most intrigued about was The DivaCup. Simply put, it's a reusable silicone cup which is worn inside the vagina during a woman's menstrual cycle to collect fluid. Various other brands offer a similar product, however The DivaCup appears to be among the most popular and well-reviewed, plus it's made right here in Canada! Since first discovering The DivaCup, I've learned that several people I know personally (my naturopath and a coworker, to name a couple) use the product and LOVE it!

As it turned out, I had to wait awhile to try one out for myself as dear ol' AF decided to delay her return until over 13 months after our daughter was born. When she finally announced her arrival earlier this year, I wasted no time contacting the folks at The DivaCup to see if they'd be interested in partnering on a review/giveaway. Lo and behold, they were. Yay!!!

Before I get into my own experiences with the DivaCup, let's look at some product details.

First of all, the DivaCup comes in two sizes. Size 1 is for women under 30 years old and who have never given birth, and Size 2 is for women over 30 years old and/or who have given birth. Model 2 is slightly larger in diameter than Model 1, though both are approximately the same length.

The cup comes with a handy little drawstring storage bag, keeping it clean & dry between uses.

When inserted properly, the DivaCup cannot be felt and can safely be worn for up to 12 hours (including overnight) for a completely leak-free experience. It is worn low in the vagina (not near the cervix) so it is easy to remove. Finally, it is made from durable top quality, healthcare-grade silicone that is free of latex, plastic and BPA. More information can be found on the Product Features and comprehensive FAQs section of the DivaCup website.

All that sounds pretty good in theory, right? So the big question - how did everything work out when put to the test?

Admittedly, I was a bit nervous at first. I'd read a few reviews and forum posts from women who'd had some difficulties, at least getting used to things initially. And lemme tell you, I'm not the most physically adept person myself. Given all this, I was pleasantly surprised to discovered that my own learning curve wasn't steep at all!

To keep things organized, I'm going to break down my experiences (and the review in general) into four sections: Insertion, Wear, Removal and Cleaning/Maintenance.

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Insertion

My first thought upon studying the cup was "How the heck am I supposed to get this thing in?" It's not the tiniest li'l doohickey, after all. (Note - I received a Size 2 given I'm a mama and, yup, the other "condition" is true too! :)

Thankfully, the product directions (which are quite clear and easy-to-follow) quickly solved this "mystery". You first pinch the cup into a u-shape which makes the whole thing narrower and more solid.

As you insert the pinched cup, you rotate it at the same time which causes it to unfold and maneuver itself into the right spot. You continue to insert until the cup has fully reopened, the "stem" is at (or just inside) your vaginal opening and you can't really feel anything. All in all, I was happy to find the insertion process quite easy, and I was readily able to gauge when the cup was in the right spot.

Wear

The DivaCup is, indeed, very comfortable to wear when it is properly in place. Physically, it's not really noticeable at all, though doing a kegel makes you go, oh yeah, there is something in there. :) I did find I was quite mentally aware of it the first few times I wore it, but that's probably expected because, well, I had something new hangin' out within a very sensitive bodily area! But this awareness lessened with each subsequent usage.

Apparently the length of the stem can result in a little discomfort for some women, in which case the stem can be trimmed down. I didn't find this myself, however.

As for performance, I'm happy to report no leaks so far! Granted the longest I've worn it was about 8 hours and I have yet to wear it overnight, however I don't see wearing it those extra few hours being a cause for concern, at least not for most women. The cup holds 1 ounce of fluid, and evidently the average woman flows only about 3-4 ounces during her entire cycle. My own flow is probably on the low-ish side, which was echoed by the amount I'd find in the cup upon removal - always well below the half way mark. As for activity level, while I can't vouch for its performance during scuba diving or extreme sports, The DivaCup did stay in place just fine during mild to moderate activities such as walking and household chores.

Note that while my cup didn't leak per se, I did find that a tiny amount of fluid would sometimes sneak downward, presumably because it was kicking around below the inserted cup. Given this, I did feel a little more comfortable wearing a pantyliner during the heaviest parts of my period. This will likely be something that improves as I continue getting used to the product, however.

Removal

Of all the stages, I'd say I find removal the most awkward. While it's not incredibly difficult or messy per se, it does take a little getting used to. First of all, the inclination is to pull the stem, however this isn't effective. You need to grab the base of the cup, pinch it and wiggle it a little to break the suction before the whole thing can be pulled out. I found this part a tad uncomfortable at first, but it got easier with each subsequent attempt. Second, as you're guiding it out you need to be careful to keep it upright so the fluid stays inside. Again, not an arduous task but something which requires a bit more focus than removing an absorbent device (i.e. a tampon).

Cleaning/Maintenance

This part is super-easy! To reuse, simply dump existing fluid down the toilet, wash with a natural, non-fragrance soap, rinse and you're good to go! DivaCup sells a product called The DivaWash for this purpose, however I didn't have this myself so I decided to use my daughter's body wash which appears to be working well. I've read some comments that the holes just under the rim of the cup can get clogged quite easily so special attention needs to be paid to these, however I haven't noticed a problem with this myself yet. In the event they do become clogged, a procedure for dislodging the residue is described within the Cleaning and Care section of the product's FAQs page.

While I haven't run into the following scenario, I could see the cleaning process becoming a bit awkward if a change was required in a non-empty public bathroom. I mean, most women would probably rather not deal with those inevitable curious/odd glances, though some might look at is as an educational opportunity. (I'd fall into the former group myself most often, though might dabble in the latter when feeling particularly peppy. :) In any case, carrying a small container of natural wash is a good idea for those occasions when you do need to do a public change, so that you're not forced to choose between the always-questionable bathroom soap and a water-only cleanse.

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

All in all, based on my limited experience so far, I am definitely pleased with The DivaCup. I have found that it performs well, is easy to care for and the learning curve was surprisingly gentle. And it's great knowing that I'm no longer exposing myself to potentially dangerous chemicals and throwing out unnecessary waste with every change.  I'll definitely continue using this as my go-to "monthly solution" and will recommend it to other women looking for an alternative to 'sposies.

Before closing things out, a few comments on cost savings. The DivaCup retails for about $39.99, and the manufacturer's suggestion is to replace it once/year given it is a personal hygience product. Prior to The DivaCup, I'd estimate I was spending $6-7/month on disposable products, or around $80/year. So assuming I do replace it every year, I'm already cutting my costs in this area by close to 50%. That said, given the replacement guidelines are fairly conservative, my guess is that with proper care and maintenance, I could reuse the same cup for 1.5-2 years or longer, in which case costs savings increase up to 75% (or more). That's pretty sweet, as I'd consider saving $$ a fringe benefit on top of the more pertinent health and environmental benefits inherent in making this switch. The DivaCup website actually suggests that the average woman spends closer to $150-200/year on disposable products, which could again reflect that my own flow is lower than average (and/or that I do a particularly good job of sourcing out bargains ;). In any case, however you slice it you're definitely going to save money making this switch!


Buy It:

To purchase a DivaCup of your own, visit the "Buy Now" section of their website where you can view a list of online retailers and find a store in your area.


Win It:

One lucky Manager to Mom reader will win a DivaCup + storage bag of their own! Winner selects size.

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Comments do not count as entries, however feel free to add a comment to remind yourself that you entered! 


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

Swaddlebees Simplex 2.0 Diaper from Kissed by the Moon: Review & Giveaway! (Closed)

Kissed by the Moon is an online cloth diaper and natural parenting store based in Elk Grove, California. I was first introduced to this store earlier this year, when the owner Tami contacted me regarding a possible blog review/giveaway. Upon visiting the website, I was immediately impressed; in addition to featuring 20-30 premium cloth diapering brands (including AppleCheeks, Bummis and Thirsties, to name just a few), KbtM also offers previously loved diapers and a unique diaper rental program. To round things out, the store carries a selection of other products including Boba carriers & wraps, Planetwise snack and lunch bags and BabyLegs legwarmers. And if all that weren't enough, KbtM boasts an affiliate program, "Kissed Cash" rewards, a Gift Registry and free shipping on all orders within the United States. Whew!!!

I'm also a big fan of the site's organization - you can browse for items by manufacturer, product or price, or do a general search. Search results come up as you type, including customer ratings, which is super-helpful.

Tami offered me the opportunity to review a diaper of my choice, which made for a challenging decision indeed! I ended up choosing the Swaddlebees Simplex 2.0 sized AIO diaper for a few reasons:
1) I already own another Swaddlebees product - the EcoNappi - and love it
2) The Simplex 2.0 has a totally unique design that I was curious to try
3) The print selection is ridiculously adorable. And I'm a sucker for ridiculously adorable prints. *nods*

From the product description:

A unique all-in-one diaper design that combines the convenience of an all-in-one diaper while providing the absorbency adjustability of a pocket diaper.

It is made with a waterproof outer layer and 11 layers of 100% cotton birdseye fabric in the wet zone.

The diaper has pocket openings on both ends that allows you to increase the diaper's absorbency by adding extra inserts. This also enables any extra stuffed-in doubler or insert to agitate itself out in the wash. Half of the soaker pad is attached, while the other half also comes out through one of the pocket openings during the washing cycle. The result is a diaper that is thoroughly cleaned inside out and dries fast-either in the dryer or on the line.


(Approximate) sizing is as follows:

	SMALL	MEDIUM	LARGE
Waist	9" - 17"	11" - 20"	13" - 22"
Thighs	6" - 11"	8" - 13"	9" - 15"
Rise	14"	16"	18'
Weight	8-16 lb	12-25 lb	22-35 lb

Tami sent me a medium Swaddlebees Simplex 2.0 in the Monkeys print. Here it is!

The Simplex 2.0 is a "tongue-style" AIO; here you can see the absorbent tongue extended out and placed in "all in two" mode on top of the inner (respectively).

The diaper has a large pocket which can be used to house the absorbent tongue in pocket mode, or an insert/doubler for added absorbency.

Both the legs and back of the waist have strong and stretchy elastic. The front waist isn't elasticized.

One of the most unique aspects of this diaper is the side snap design. Rather than wrapping the back tabs over the front of the diaper and snapping in the middle (which is standard), with this diaper you wrap the front over the back tabs and secure at the sides, using one of four waist snap settings.

Neat, huh?

Before prepping the diaper, I was a bit put off by the "bunchiness" of the inner. It seemed like there was way too much inner material kicking around. Plus, the texture of the material was pretty rough - definitely not the buttery softness I've grown to expect from new fluff! But then I thought hey - the inner's made of 100% cotton. Wouldn't it behave similar to a prefold, shrinking upon prep and softening more and more with each wash? Happily, I was right! Here's a comparison of the diaper pre-prep and following about 8 washes:

Sadly, diaper changes have become somewhat of a chore with our 17 1/2 month old daughter as she does not want to lie (nor sit) still for the process, plus we've been "spoiling" her with a lot of bare bum time these days since introducing her to a potty. That said, she was actually fascinated by the monkey diaper when I unveiled it for the first time, and allowed me to snap her into it rather painlessly. And then, bless her li'l heart, she went & grabbed her own monkey! Ahhhhhh. :D

S was about 20-21 lbs here, so closer to the upper than the lower recommended weight limit, but still well within the range.

The diaper creates a smooth, trim fit which is flattering from all angles - front:

Back:

And side:

Notice that she's on the second tightest snap setting despite being on the upper end of the weight range, as she's a skinny minny.

The waist and leg elastics fit nice & snug. Arguably a tad too snug, though S didn't seem to mind this.

Overall, the diaper moves really well on her and we have yet to see any wing droop. Aside from looking cute, this appears to be another benefit of the side snaps!

Performance-wise, the Simplex 2.0 has been a winner. We've had perfect leak-free performance so far during both day use (7-8 occasions) and overight use (1 occasion, stuffed with a hemp insert). She pooped a couple times in the diaper and there were no concerns with containment either.

As for ease of use, the side snaps do take some getting used to, and are a bit tougher overall to secure than front snaps. I don't really mind them myself but my husband has professed that he isn't a fan. Caring for the diaper's pretty easy - just a single laundry cycle to prep, and wash & dry following your normal routine. Though you might want to prep a couple times to soften it (and get the material to shrink) which should be comfier for your little one, and probably result in a more absorbent dipe right off the bat.

Let's do our official evaluation, shall we?

Appearance/Style:
+ Super-trim fit
+ Side snaps create a unique and stylish look
+ Comes in the most ridiculously cute 'n' awesome set of patterns
+ Diaper moves well with baby; no wing droop or any other shifting
- Only a single solid colour available (white), so not a lot of options for matching with a "busier" outfit.
Score: 4.5/5

Performance:
+ Perfect performance so far - no leaks during daytime usage (7-8 occasions; no extra insert) nor overnight usage (single attempt; extra hemp insert)
+ Diaper achieves a snug tummy and leg fit
+ No problem containing solid messes. (Note - did not test with EBF poop.)
+ Diaper moves well with baby; no wing droop or any other shifting 
+ Side snaps are harder than front snaps for little hands to pull apart
Score: 5/5

Comfort & Health:
+ Diaper does not appear to cause/exacerbate diaper rash
+ Inner and insert material are made of cotton which is more breathable than a synthetic material like microfibre.
+ No buttons against baby's skin
+ Side flaps are nice & stretchy
+ Sized system, so no extra bulk due to rise or side adjustment settings.
+/- Inner material & insert are bunchy and a bit rough to the touch at first, but continuously smooth and soften with repeated laundering, similar to prefolds. 
- Moisture does not wick away from baby's skin; would need to use a liner to achieve this
- Waist and leg material feel a bit too tight (and not super stretchy)
Score: 4/5

Ease of Use:
+ Diaper is an AIO, so no stuffing or other prep required (for regular use)
+ Tongue-flap style allows diaper to dry quickly
+ Pocket provides flexibility; can stuff with an extra insert for night usage, or can stuff tongue flag insert into pocket if you prefer
+ Snaps are solid but not too tight
+ Double-opening pocket designed to agitate out its contents (tongue flap insert or double) on its own
+/- Diaper is pretty easy to care for. Only needs a single cycle to prep and can be machine washed and either machine or air dried. Spray down can be a little messier than average due to the bunchy material.
- Side location of snaps makes them more difficult to secure than the more standard front snaps 
- Pocket feels on the narrow side so can be a bit tricky to get insert to sit flat
Score: 3/5

Quality & Durability:
+ Overall, construction of diaper feels solid; snaps are strong & secure and elastics are tight & solid
+ Diaper outer looks & feels like new after several washings; inner actually continues to get softer and smoother!
- Noticed a few loose strands sticking out in various spots, though they don't appear to compromise the diaper's foundation.
Score: 4/5 
(Note - given I have only been using this diaper for a few weeks, I plan to update this section a few months down the road to get a true durability picture!)

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Total "Diaper Awesomeness" Score: 20.5 / 25 (Great diaper. Highly recommended.)
Overall Comments: The Swaddlebees Simplex 2.0 is a well-performing, trim, unique-looking sized AIO/pocket diaper which comes in the sweetest selection of prints! It's quite easy to prep and care for as well. Similar to a prefold, the cotton inner is a bit rough and bunchy at first, but continues to soften and smooth out with repeated launderings. I did notice some loose strands on my diaper, though this may have been a one-off and doesn't appear to affect the diaper's foundation. The side snaps are also a little more challenging to secure than standard front snaps, and the pocket's on the tight side. All in all, I do recommend trying this diaper, especially if you're looking to up the utter cuteness factor of your stash. :)

Approximate Stash Cost: $1364+
Calculation details: Assuming you would want 24 diapers within each size range (S, M, L), you're looking at $1364 for a full stash, plus the cost of any inserts/doublers for night diapering. So this is a pricier than average system to purchase in full, but on the flipside each diaper would be used less over the course of diapering a single child, so the full stash would be in better condition for use with another child, and/or would have better resale value than an OS system.

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


Buy It:

Visit Kissed by the Moon to purchase some Swaddlebees Simplex 2.0 diapers of your own, and don't forget to check out all the other great merchandise while you're there! Shipping is free within the United States. International shipping is available as well (except for Rumparooz, Cotton Babies and GroVia products which cannot be shipped outside of the United States).

Note: Swaddlebees stock is currently low (because the products are so awesome, of course! ;) however Tami expects a new shipment early the week of May 21st. So hang tight!!


Win It:

One lucky Manager to Mom reader will win a Swaddlebees Simplex 2.0 diaper of their own, from Kissed by the Moon! Winner chooses size and style.

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Comments do not count as entries, however feel free to add a comment to remind yourself that you entered! 

Using Cloth Wipes in a Warmer

In response to my Two Sweet Potatoes OBV wipes review/giveaway post, one of my readers noticed that the product description for these wipes mentioned they could be used in a warmer. She was interested in hearing more details on how this works, and I was curious myself as this is something I've never done (though I do remember reading that attempting to use cloth wipes in a warmer designed for disposables could be bad news!!)

In any case, I contacted Nikki (owner of TSP) for more information and she got back to me with the following:

I used this one for my boys.  With the bamboo velour wipes you can just wet them and set them right in the warmer.  No need to measure and no need for the wipes to be swimming in solution since they are absorbant and hold onto the water and they stay soft unlike many types.  They really do not need a solution.  I can't comment on how much solution goes in because each solution is different in how to mix it and use it.  One option could be to pre-wet the wipes and keep them in the warmer and then spray the wet wipe with a solution if you feel you need to soap and/or scent.  Some people may prefer to use distilled water if they have really hard tap water and don't want that sitting in the warmer for several days at a time.  And you don't need to roll them up like in the picture (these are square wipes they are using), just lay them flat right in there and they will all get nice and toasty.

Awesome tips, Nikki. Thanks for sharing!

This would certainly come in handy at times in our household. Although our peri bottle squirt approach generally works very well for us, the solution gets a tad chilly on our daughter's bum when the temperature of our house dips a couple degrees below normal. (She's pretty sensitive!) As such, during these periods I'll often pre-wet a wipe with warm tap water prior to a change to "take the edge off". A warmer would definitely be a more convenient alternative! (Though probably a purchase I'd only be able to justify if we end up welcoming another li'l addition into our family, since S is getting close to potty training herself!)

Do you use a wipe warmer? Do you have any other cloth wipe-related tips you'd like to share?

Sprouting Seeds with the Kids {Guest Post}

By: Jakob Barry

Sprouting seeds with our kids is an amazing opportunity to not only bond with them but teach a few things about the world without getting too much into the nitty-gritty. After all, there are so many lessons a child can learn from cultivating a plant, watching it grow, and enjoying its fruit. It's an experience which can positively affect them for years to come.

That's because the excitement generated when a little green stem pops through soil and grows is lasting, even when it doesn't always work out. Then, when it matures into a plant and bears fruit or flowers it's a rewarding feeling for everyone involved.

If venturing into the world of sprouting with young ones interests you, here are a few things to consider before getting started.

• Start small - As with most new experiences it's always good to start small, even if only one seedling is on the agenda. That way neither you nor the child is overwhelmed with the simple task at hand: keeping it alive.
  
• Time and space requirements - Next, consider the time it will take to grow certain plants and which are best suited for the task. For example, you don’t want to start with something like watermelon which will need a lot of space and takes months to bear a mature fruit, but you do want something that is (ideally) edible and matures steadily. Radishes, which grow quickly, are a good place to begin. You may also consider herbs like dill, basil, or parsley which are edible and have the added enjoyment of stimulating the sense of smell more deeply.

• Good placement - Whether the plant is kept inside or placed outdoors, make sure it gets plenty of sunlight though not so much that it will dry out. Consider keeping it in an appropriate spot in your child's room as this allows it to be observed and nurtured more easily by your son or daughter. Just make sure to put something under the pot if you keep it indoors to prevent water from leaking out the bottom and potentially damaging a window sill, flooring or other surface.

• Watering schedule - Wherever the plant sits, make sure to put it on a watering schedule that includes the parents so they can keep an eye on it as kids may not recognize if it's in distress or needs better surroundings. Also, making this a joint venture allows kids to take on responsibility for its care a little at a time.

• Materials - Because this is a small scale project, you'll only need a few things such as seeds, some earth, a starting pot and a few small pots if you want to transplant seedlings. The amazing thing is that besides the seeds, everything else can be found around the house. A few scoops of earth can be taken from the yard and empty containers from milk or juice can be repurposed into pots. That being the case, this is a great project which has little cost and reaps many rewards.

Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He blogs for pros across the U.S. like Atlanta, GA, flooring contractors.

Wordless Wednesday: Cousin Cuddles!

Organic Bamboo Velour Wipes from Two Sweet Potatoes (Etsy): Review & Giveaway! (Closed)

Get ready, because I'm about to tell you all about the perfect cloth wipes for bum changes.

Yes, I said it. Perfect.

I've had the opportunity to try many different types since our daughter was born, and there are lots of great options out there, but (in my opinion) none measure up to the awesomesauce-ness of the Organic Bamboo Velour wipes from Etsy shop Two Sweet Potatoes.

I first discovered Two Sweet Potatoes and these OBV wipes over a year ago via a giveaway at the mama blog So Easy Being Green which I was lucky enough to win!

Before I even got to trying the wipes, I was impressed that the shop owner, Nikki, took the time to write me personally congratulating me on the win and letting me know that the prize would be shipped out soon. Such a nice added touch!

Then when I finally got my hands on 'em I proceeded to realize just how sweet these things truly were. A full year of regular use later, and lemme tell ya - they'll still going super-strong!

Alright, let's get to the specifics.

From the product description:

Just say no to folding! These wipes will fit right in a wipes warmer or container without folding.

Features:

• Double-sided organic bamboo velour
• Ultra soft for sensitive skin
• Eco-friendly diaper wipes
• Washcloths
• Removing makeup
• Works well just with water or with your favorite wipes solution
• Use as a doubler/cloth diaper insert for added absorbancy (I use 2 for my son at night)
• These wipes are hand finished. I do not use chemical fray block

Measurements:

• Approximately 7 1/4 x 4 1/4

Materials:

• Organic bamboo velour (70% organic bamboo viscose, 28% organic cotton, 2% polyester)

Care Instructions:

• Machine wash any temperature (I wash mine in hot), dry low

When I contacted Nikki earlier this year about a blog giveaway partnership, I told her she didn`t even need to send me more wipes because I could base my review on the ones I already had. However, she was generous enough to send me an extra set of 8 wipes in a rainbow of colours (fuschia, apple, turquoise and orchid).

This should give you an idea how big these wipes are - about the size of an adult hand (unfolded).

And here is a comparison pic of a year-old wipe (left) and a brand new wipe. Aside from the material becoming slightly less plush over time, notice that they look quite similar.

So why do I luuuuurve these things so stinkin' much? Well, let me count the ways!

• They are incredibly absorbent - even after just a single laundry prep cycle!
• They have amazing "wipeability" - messes get picked up efficiently and stay on the wipe. 
• They're the optimal size and thickness. Thick enough to use without folding (giving a nice, large surface to work with), or you could fold a single time during use, if you prefer.
• They are reaaally soft - wonderful on your little one's delicate skin!
• They're made of organic bamboo velour - a more sustainable material than many other wipes on the market.
• They are super durable. As I alluded to above, the wipes I've been using for almost a year (through 100+ laundry cycles) are still in wonderful condition! They don't get at all wonky, bunchy or uneven after laundering, they maintain the exact same size and shape and the trim has remained perfectly snug after all these months.
• Finally, since these wipes are thick enough to use without folding, you save a bundle of time on your diaper laundry! How much? Well, let's assume a wipe which gets folded into quarters takes about 10-12 seconds to locate, fold and stack. 30 of these (an average laundry load) would then take 5-6 minutes total. While this may not seem like much for a single folding session, it adds up to more than an hour each month. Compare this with the TSP OBV wipes which just need to be located and stacked, taking about 3 seconds each. Doing the rest of the math, that's over 45 minutes freed up per month!

The only potential criticism I can see with these wipes is that they're not large enough for a single one to perform both as a wet and dry wipe. This isn't a concern for us as we keep a clean prefold on our daughter's change table to dry her bum before a new diaper goes on. And, as mentioned in the last point, the time savings involved in not having to fold these smaller-than-average wipes is worth any "inconvenience" here, IMO.

So yup - these are definitely my go-to wipes for diaper changes, and if I were to start fresh with the knowledge & experience I have now I'd invest in a 30-wipe starter set (or more!) upfront.

What about the other potential uses for the wipes as listed in the product description - as wash cloths, doublers for night diapering, etc.? Well admittedly, I haven't used these wipes for any other purpose because a) they're just so amazing as bum wipes and b) now that we've been using them as bum wipes, I don't really want to start using them for another purpose, if you know whadda mean. That said, I'm pretty sure I'd find these wipes a bit on the small side to use as bath or meal time wash cloths. This is where I do like some additional width and bulk, and I'm willing to spend the extra time prefolding to get it. The doublers idea is compelling, however I have so many dedicated diapering materials for this purpose that I'd rather keep these guys reserved for their primary purpose.


Buy It:

Visit Two Sweet Potatoes on Etsy and purchase some of these amazing Organic Bamboo Velour wipes for yourself! At just $1.50 per wipe (and less if you buy a set of 30 or 60) they're a total steal! Note that these wipes are (understandably) very popular so sometimes take up to 3 weeks before shipping, however Nikki accepts pre-orders which is a great option if you need them at a particular time!

While you're at her shop, take a look at the other sweet merchandise Nikki has to offer - hats, tops, dresses, bibs and more! Everything is organic, handmade and designed with comfort in mind for babies and toddlers!

Win It:

One lucky Manager to Mom reader will win a rainbow 8-pack of Two Sweet Potatoes Organic Bamboo Velour wipes of their own!

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Comments do not count as entries, however feel free to add a comment to remind yourself that you entered!

"Fit Moms for Life" book by Dustin Maher: Review & Giveaway! (Closed)

Are you looking to adopt a healthier mindset and lifestyle for yourself and your family? Become stronger and more energetic? Lose a few extra pounds and keep them off permanently? Or perhaps gain a few extra pounds?

If you answered yes to any (or all) of the above questions, I wholeheartedly recommend checking out the brand new book "Fit Moms for Life" by Dustin Maher. I was contacted by Renee, Dustin's PR rep a few months back regarding a review/giveaway for this book, and I was initially a bit hesitant because I'm actually underweight so the last thing I wanted to do was become even thinner! However, Renee assured me that Dustin's recommendations have also helped his underweight clients gain a few pounds (5-10 on average) so the book could definitely help someone in my own situation.

So, first of all, a little background on the author (and fitness tycoon) Dustin Maher. Dustin is a certified personal trainer who began teaching fitness classes in university. He graduated in 2006 and started working full time as a fitness professional, moving on to develop MamaTone classes and a program called Fit Fun Boot Camps which has grown into one of the largest boot camp programs in the US. To date, he has worked with over 5,000 people looking to improve their fitness levels, and sold more than 10,000 of his fitness DVDs to clients around the world. He also blogs and offers a newsletter including fitness and nutrition tips, inspiring stories and other tidbits. (Side note: it's one of the few newsletters I regularly take the time to read, so I definitely recommend signing up!)

If you're like me, you might be wondering why such a young guy (just 28 years old, and no children of his own) has chosen to work primarily with moms. First of all, he is very close with his own mother who stayed at home to raise Dustin and his three siblings, with an unwavering dedication to meeting their needs and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Secondly, he just enjoys it! He finds that moms bring a lot of energy to their workouts, appreciate having the time to focus on themselves, and are especially proud when they achieve results. Finally, he loves that in working with moms, he is also influencing future generations to be healthier and more confident.

The Fit Moms for Life program focuses on the entire person and is based around five pillars of health: mindset, nutrition, strength training, burst training and environment. Dustin asserts that this approach to fitness is well rounded and sustainable, and one busy moms can fit into their lives. It also reinforces that there is no "quick fix" to getting healthy and fit; one needs to be committed to the process and recognize that it's going to be challenging, but certainly worth it in the end! I really like that his approach is both holistic and pragmatic, unlike many other weight loss and health programs out there which strike me as gimmicky and too good to be true.

Before delving further into the book itself, here's a video narrated by Dustin which describes the pillars in more detail and includes numerous clips of featured moms rockin' some hardcore fitness moves!

 

Fit Moms for Life is broken into sections focusing on each pillar in more detail.

The first section on mindset explores concepts such as motivation, building confidence, positive thinking, setting SMART goals (i.e. those which are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timed) and conducting an effective "before" assessment (with respect to fitness, nutrition and other self-care elements). It does a great job illustrating why mindset and preparation are such an important part of a lasting fitness strategy. It provides moms with a number of tools to reinforce motivation and commitment when things get tough.

The second section on nutrition includes 16 rules to eat by, foods to avoid, keeping a food diary, planning meals, healthy snacks, grocery shopping strategies and many other helpful resources. This is one area where I've become fairly knowledgeable myself over the last few years, via independent research and communicating/working with associated professionals, and I'm happy to report that the info presented in this section of the book jives with my learnings elsewhere. This isn't to say I didn't discover a new thing or two. In fact, I was intrigued by one of Dustin's rules to avoid grains after 4 PM, and while I haven't followed this 100%, I have cut down on grains and carbs in general later at night, and I have to say I've noticed a positive difference in energy level in the morning. All in all, some super-valuable stuff in this part of the book.

The third section covers the "meat and potatoes" of the Fit Moms for Life program - strength and burst training. Two prominent concepts stressed here are that 1) lifting heavy weights will not cause women to bulk up and 2) long duration, steady-state cardio is not the way to get fit and lose weight, and may actually make you fat. In addition to explaining why strength training and burst cardio are the way to go for optimal fitness, this section includes practical instructions for putting together a workout routine and a complete, fully-illustrated sample workout. Now admittedly, I (currently) don't work out and have done very little of this in the past, however this section did a good job convincing me that I should start. While the idea of lifting heavy weights is somewhat intimidating, Dustin continually asserts that women can do a lot more than we think, and we often end up surprising ourselves. So hey, maybe even this here scrawny bod could kick some butt if sufficiently motivated! And the fact that cardio is recommended only in short bursts is appealing as well - less time required for a complete workout with better results. Sounds pretty good, right?

(Now, to get things started.... :) 

The final section of the book discusses environment, including the "fit mom, fit family" link and creating a fitness community of like-minded individuals who keep each other motivated and on-track. In this section, Dustin describes his latest mission: to have one million moms in the Fit Moms for Life community by the end of 2015, via embracing the program's philosophy and approach either individually or (even better) as members of local workout-oriented support groups.

Several appendices are included as well, including fitness for new moms (and moms-to-be), documenting your fitness journey, additional resources and FAQs. He also includes a full list of his workout DVD programs.

Finally, the best (in my opinion) part of the book: spread throughout the chapters are 31 real-life stories of women who took part in one (or more) of Dustin's programs and experienced profound transformations in mind and body. The women profiled range in age from mid 20s to early 50s, which I was happy to see as it illustrates that it's not too late to get started if you're past your physical prime. Each story includes before and after pictures, weights and clothing sizes, and tips from the woman on achieving nutrition, fitness and general health goals. The stories themselves are varied and unique, ranging from overcoming pervasive medical challenges, to beating clinical depression, to takings things to the next level and becoming a certified trainer! I really enjoyed reading every one of these stories, and went back and read some of them a second time. I found that they added a real element of credibility to the program.

A few more general comments on "Fit Moms for Life":

• It is an easy, accessible read. Perfect for overworked, sleep-deprived moms! ;)
• Dustin comes across as confident without being arrogant or pushy. He recognizes that there isn't always necessarily one "right way", that individuals are different from one another, etc. 
• The book contains a balanced level of information in the different sections - not too much and not too little! Dustin is quick to admit when he's not an expert in a particular area and includes additional resources for more information as appropriate.
• While the book is marketed to moms specifically, much of the advice is applicable to all people, young and old.
• There's a certain element of authenticity and trustworthiness in the writing which really makes me believe what I'm reading. In fact, there's even a little joke going on between my husband and I that "Dustin Maher says..." has become one of my go-to vocabulary staples. :)
• Finally, while this book could easily have been a fluffy, thin-on-content offering produced solely for the purpose of marketing more lucrative products (in this case, Dustin's DVDs and bootcamps), I want to stress that this absolutely isn't the case here. While there is some level of promotion for Dustin's other products (and why wouldn't there be?) Fit Moms for Life can definitely be used on its own to kick start an individual down a path to better fitness and overall health.

Buy It:

Order one or more copies of "Fit Moms for Life" directly from Dustin's website! Single copies can be purchased for $17.99, however if you order in bulk you can get them at a discounted rate ($14.99 if you order three or more, and $12.99 including free shipping if you order 10 or more.)

Win It:

One lucky Manager to Mom reader will win their own copy of "Fit Moms for Life"! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Comments do not count as entries, however feel free to add a comment to remind yourself that you entered!