Thursday, April 22, 2010
Nana's Natural Diapers: Biobottoms Rainbow Wool Diaper Cover
(click any photos in this post to enlarge and see detail)
Check out our new Biobottoms wool diaper cover from Nana's Natural Diapers.
We've had this diaper cover for some time now, and we are loving it! It's made from dense felted lambswool and really does its job.
Take a look up close. This cover has both velcro and snaps. It is very well constructed and although it is still fairly new to us, I believe it would hold up through multiple babies! It's simple but cute, and gender-neutral! The wool allows this cover to be breathable and leak proof at the same time. Absolutely NO issues with night-time leaks here. She stays comfy all night long, and our sheets stay dry ;-)
It's hard to see here, but the leg holes are surrounded with a soft and stretchy material that is gentle against her skin and doesn't leave marks. The waist has lots of easy stretch as well.
This cover is super slim but very effective in our experience. We are unable to close the snaps on this cover, but the Velcro holds plenty well on its own. For little ones like mine with chubby thighs, their high-cut covers would be better. If I had more cloth diapers that require covers, I'd happily get more of these! They dry nice and quick too.
Nana's Natural Diapers carries so much more, and they were a pleasure to work with, so take a look at their shop, and let them know that Woman Uncensored sent you :-)
Friday, April 16, 2010
Banana Peels Diapers, Bum Genius Organic OS
(click photos to enlarge)
Banana Peels Diapers has a massive selection of various brands, and we tried one of their Bum Genius Organic one-size.
The snaps allow you to adjust the fit as your baby grows, from about 8-35 pounds
The inside of this diaper is 100% organic cotton, and oh-so soft!
I love this little diagram they have so you can see what I'm talking about!
The stretch to fit tabs give it a nice sort of fit that I often miss from our disposable diaper days. According to the site, these are an industry first, so no wonder I haven't seen this in other diapers! It's a great feature. The liner is sewn onto the front and back of the diaper, but is loose in between for easier washing and faster drying. This really does make a difference when I'm hand-washing! I also appreciate not having to stuff it, or dig for the right liner. Everything stays together! This diaper is so easy to use, which would make it good for those of you with hesitant hubbys or childcare providers. Ours has snaps, but they also come in hook and loop for those of you who may prefer that. The leg elastic is gentle, but contains any mess. It has a waterproof outer layer, and we've had zero leaks with this diaper, even during long nights. We feel totally confident using this diaper any time, any where. Overall, this diaper is slim and comfy but effective!
You just really can't go wrong with Bum Genius, and Banana Peels Diapers offers free shipping on all orders over $50. She carries a ton of other brands and diaper types too, AND lots of other products. Baby carriers, mama items, gifts, baby legs, swim diapers, and a lot more! There are even great resources there about cloth diapering, diaper care, potty training, etc. I found their service was quick and friendly.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Cuter Than a Cupcake, wipes case and flower clip
(click photos to enlarge and see detail)
I absolutely love Etsy, and Sara from Cuter Than a Cupcake goes above and beyond the norm with her items!
Take a look at that adorable travel wipes case! I just about swooned when I opened it, I'm such a sucker for all things girly (even the wrapping was done beautifully)! I love that she's taken something bland, and turned it into something so fabulous.
There's so much more here than meets the eye. She uses a Huggies brand travel case underneath. I've always used these, and they hold up very well. She pads it lightly to smooth out the surface and make it feel nice under the fabric. I've seen some wipes cases in other shops that are quite frankly padded to the point of ridiculousness, and I appreciate that this case isn't made extra bulky considering I carry it in my purse everywhere. Her fabric selections are fun and modern, and she adds some pizazz with ribbon and Swarovski Crystal rhinestones. LOVE the sparkle! She uses high-quality trim, usually with velvet in the middle:
She really puts a lot of thought into the details! I struggled to even find where the seam in the ribbon is, she hides it so well. It is strongly affixed, and I have no worries about my little one being able to pick the pretties off the case. Every time I pull this out of my bag in public, someone asks me where I got it!
I kinda wanna go buy ALL the cases she has, lol! I have 4 pregnant friends now, and these would make such great baby shower gifts.
Check out some of the other ones she has:
Her shop also carries jewelry and hair accessories, and we got a darling little flower clip:
Now, anyone can grab a cheap flower from Wal-Mart and glue a clip to it, but once again, Sara goes above and beyond. She uses soft, high-quality silk flowers that you can't just buy at any old craft shop. She even trims the edges and heat treats them to prevent fraying. This clip has a Swarovski Crystal Rivoli center, double bonded for durability. She can also do acrylic centers, but the Swarovski upgrade is only $1.60 extra, so heck... go for it, lol! Underneath is a hair clip covered in coordinating ribbon, and she can make them no-slip too for little ones with fine hair. Simple but lovely in every detail! I wanted to get a photo of this on my little one, but she wasn't in the modeling mood this time, alas.
Just some more loveliness you have to see:
If you're looking to add some high-quality sparkle to your life, or bless a friend with a beautiful gift, Cuter Than a Cupcake gets my stamp of approval! She enjoys custom orders, so if you don't see quite what you're looking for there, drop Sara a line. She was a pleasure to work with!
She's also on facebook (here)
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Mama Necklaces by Moon Dog Farm
Since becoming a mommy, I can tell you that I got to a point where I very rarely wore jewelry anymore. Delicate necklaces and bracelets were so easily grabbed and broken or chewed on by a curious baby/toddler! I've got a whole jewelry box full of things that need new clasps or chains.
God bless the internet and "mama jewelry"! I found Moon Dog Farm on Etsy and fell in love with the beautiful simplicity of her items. This butterfly necklace is my favorite! Green is something that normally doesn't even exist in my wardrobe, but this particular piece just struck me. I love the detail, it's definitely not going to break! She uses slip knots to make the length easily adjustable, so it works with whatever neckline you've got on. The stone is Serpentine, also known as "New Jade".
I also got two of her simple round stone necklaces, one in amethyst, and another in a clear stone that I can't recall the name of. I love having these simple but lovely necklaces that can go well even with my casual clothes. My little one loves to play with them, and no amount of pulling could break this tough cotton cord! I far prefer it to her fingers up my nose or pulling my hair, LOL! These could even be great indestructible jewelry for children. My 5 year old loves to borrow them.
She has such a wide variety of stones to choose from, I would definitely go back for more! There are some really vivid stones too, but I have a preference for the lighter stuff.
Some of my other favs from her shop:
She also carries some felted items if that is up your alley!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Recycled Tee Fitted Diaper from Lovey Bums
We love our new fitted from Lovey Bums!
The outer layer is 100% cotton and made from a recycled t-shirt! I happen to think that is really stinkin cool. Check out the back of it:
Simply cool, and she's got a bunch of different ones in her shop, all unique! She also carries prints, solids, embroidered, hand-painted, and a boatload more.
As for our diaper, the inner is 100% organic cotton velour, and the hidden layer is cotton sherpa. The snap-in soaker has 2 layers of 100% organic cotton fleece topped with a layer of 100% cotton velour. All of that translates to: HEAVENLY SOFT!
I love that comfy familiar feeling of a T-shirt on the outside, and I only hate that it has to be covered up! I let her run around without a cover if we're just around the house. The snap in soaker makes this diaper a quick dry. It also has no-droop wings and hidden snaps. It has just-right stretchyness in the legs and at the back and sturdy stitching. I can tell Charlotte is super comfy in this one! It is nice and slim, and I'd recommend it for daytime use only unless you use extra soakers or have a lighter-wetting baby. My little one is 2, so her pees are higher volume. As for poops, hers are more solid due to her age, so no experience with "blow-outs" in this diaper.
They've got some LIO's (loveybums-in-one) that I think look pretty fabulous and may have to add to our stash ;-) There's so much selection in this shop it is hard to choose, but I don't believe you'd be disappointed in anything there if our diaper is an indicator of the quality of their other items. Whenever I touch this diaper, I can't help but wish I had a nice big blanket made with the same materials!
Take a look at their diapers and other products at www.loveybums.com
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Prarieland Herbs: shampoo bar, vinegar rinse, and facial serum
I've been dying to ditch chemical shampoos and conditioners for ages and am finally free! I also managed to ditch my usual body wash, face wash, and moisturizer as well.
I found a site called Prarieland Herbs and decided to give them a try.
I've always hated the disgusting build-up on my scalp thanks to my usual store-bought products. It seems no matter how hard I scrub, there's always that gunk!. I got their peppermint and tea tree shampoo bar, and was pleased to see that it can also be used on body and face, suh-weet!
My hair is color treated and cut above my shoulders. It gets blown dry and flat ironed nearly every day. For obvious reasons, I've had a lot of trouble with dry ends in the past. The only thing that fixes it is a trim, and I don't get that done often enough. Anyhow, I was skeptical about going without conditioner. I imagined that with just a bar and some vinegar, my hair would surely feel like straw and be difficult to brush, BUT I gave it a shot anyway.
Within seconds, I was in love with the shampoo bar! Anything minty honestly rocks my socks, but everything else about it amazed me too. The lather was so rich, and I barely had to use any. When I rinsed, my hair was a level of clean I have seriously never felt before. Woah, just WOAH.
I followed up with one of their vinegar rinses, in lavender and rosemary. These rinses are supposed to help avoid the "funky hair syndrome" that can happen when making the switch, as well as add shine and help balance the pH of your hair. It definitely still smells like vinegar, despite the other ingredients, but you rinse it right out anyhow. I had hubby sniff-test me afterwards, and all was well ;-) Don't pour this stuff straight on your hair! You keep a cup in your shower, add a couple tablespoons of this, then fill with water and pour over your hair. If you happen to have a toddler in there with you like I often do, try not to get any on them, lol, or you may get some nose wrinkles and "ewww"! This product was nice to start out with, but when I ran out, I found that apple cider vinegar does the trick to keep the shine.
I used the same bar on my face and body, which also left my skin feeling nice and clean. When I got out, I followed up with their Capture Facial Serum to moisturize my face. The smell is a little different, but not bad. Just a little bit goes a long way, and feels really nice! I use Bare Minerals make-up, and I REALLY like the way it goes on after using this serum. Very smooth, and less make-up seems to do the trick now for some reason.
After my first use, I carefully brought the comb to my hair and found that it glided through just as easily as always! I dried and flat-ironed as usual.
In the following weeks, my hair adjusted to the new products, and I had a few days of dryness, a few days of my hair feeling a little heavy, and it is now just simply smooth and clean! It is much easier to flat-iron now, which saves me time, and my ends are no longer constantly dry. All smooth and soft from root to tip, it seriously shocks me that so little could accomplish so much, lol!
Myself, my husband, and my kids all used the shampoo bar on hair and body. I didn't do vinegar rinses on my daughters. My 5 year old has butt-length hair, and it is clean, shiny, and manageable with just the bar. We only have to wash her hair about once a week, otherwise it gets too dry. It could probably even go less often than that, it never seems to get oily at all, but she does usually get something sticky in it eventually, lol. My 2 year old has wild curly hair that reaches her mid-back if stretched out. We only use the bar on her as well, and her precious curls are as shiny and bouncy as ever! She has to be washed more often because she gets much messier ;-)
PrarieLand Herbs even threw in a bottle of their body and linen mist for me to try, in lilac scent! It does contain alcohol and some of the scent options use fragrance oil instead of essential oil, but I still love it, and the ingredient list is short compared to our usual store-bought stuff. The lilac is so perfect for spring, but I think I will try their natural perfumes in the future instead.
I'm very pleased with how many chemical products I was able to ditch from our shower routine, and how well they work! I'll never go back to Wal-Mart for shampoo, conditioner, detangler, face wash, moisturizer, or baby wash!
They carry LOADS of other products, so take a peek and give them a try!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Knoodle Knits, custom wool hats
Baby it's cold outside! The sunshine was out for just a few days to tease us, and now it's behaving like winter again. -Le sigh- Time to break out the warm clothes again!
My family and I LOVE to go on walks. I usually recruit my mom to come along and push the 2nd stroller. Although Brooklyn is 5 now, the distances we walk are just far too much for her. We usually stop by Dutch Bros to feed my mother's addiction. Here in Oregon, with cold and rain a large portion of the year, good warm clothes and accessories are a must!
(click on any photo to enlarge and see detail)
This is a Custom Matty Hat, Lavender and boucle accent, 100% Wool
This one is a Custom Virginia Hat, SWS geranium and black, 100% Wool
So cute and funky, both hats made just how we wanted! Both are soft and stretchy, and will certainly fit them for at least a couple winters. Their heads stay nice and toasty in these.
Knoodle Knits has SO many design options for their hats, I had trouble choosing! My girls are very happy with theirs, and these are so much more fun than something store-bought.
All items are made by two WAHM's, Christine and Janet. They also do longies and shorties for all you cloth diapering mamas!
Angel Bums AIO Cloth Diaper
(all photos can be clicked to enlarge and see detail)
The outer layer is made from Ultrex, waterproof and super soft! They have hook and loop closures called DuraGrip (like Velcro but tougher). She sews all the way around the edges of the closures so there are no rough edges. There are also laundry tabs of course, so you can fold the DuraGrips over on themselves. This keeps them from snagging on other diapers in the laundry, a definite must-have feature!
We've only been using them a little while, but the diapers are well made and I believe will hold up well very well over time. The elastic is just the right amount of stretchy. Secure without being pinchy!
(click to enlarge and see detail)
Just when you're groaning to yourself about having to change another diaper, you open it up and ta-da! FAIRIES! LOL! These are so stinkin cute! She has a lot of different fabrics and is happy to do custom orders. I just love all things girly, so seeing these hang drying in my bathroom, or on my little one's tush just makes cloth diapering that much more awesome. And yes, her boy diapers are cute too!
The soaker is super absorbent, and attached securely at the back. No digging through the laundry for a separate piece, but it's not *inside* the diaper, so it washes and dries easier (a plus for me when hand-washing!) Like the rest of the diaper, it is well made and securely sewn on. I feel like we could beat the crap out of these and they'll just say "Is that all ya got?!"
Her diapers come in four sizes, and the newborns even have an umbilical cord cut out.
Little One here has just turned 2 and can be a heavy wetter at night. AngelBums lasted all night long without even breaking a sweat!
The pros about AngelBums: Everything!
The cons: I wish I'd had a full stash of these from day 1 when I became a mommy 5 years ago!
I absolutely love them. Adorable, customizable, soft yet durable, very absorbent without being bulky, and no need for extra soakers. I would definitely invest in more of these if we were to have another squeaker!
Check out AngelBums cloth diapers and other items on Etsy (HERE) and let her know I sent ya :-)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
IncrediBellas One-Size Pocket Diaper from BellaBottoms.com
(click photo to enlarge)
We recently got this Incredibellas from BellaBottoms.com and have gotten to use it several times now. We are new to cloth diapering, and are even hand-washing, so this is quite an adventure for us! This is the very first one that Charlotte has ever had on her little tushie, and she just turned two. Now I wish we had done this long ago!
I was so excited to receive it that I promptly snapped it onto Charlotte before even washing it, just to see how it would look.
She promptly poked at it in confusion, and started to cry! Oh dear! I gave her a big hug and let her inspect her new booty cover some more. After just a few seconds of "WTH is this thing?!" she dropped down onto all fours and started acting like a puppy. Okaaay... that was a quick adjustment period, hurrah! I was so amused watching her, I forgot to take the diaper off before she had a chance to use it. Ooops.
So anyhoo, after giving it a few pre-washes, we finally got to use it for real. I really love how soft cloth diapers are in comparison to disposables! This diaper is designed so the snaps are hidden and don't come in contact with baby's skin. It opens on both ends for easy stuffing, and it came with a 100% cotton tri-fold soaker AND a 100% cotton bi-fold doubler. I stuck both of them in there for night-time, she was still comfy as can be, and no leaks!
Their website says that these diapers use lastin elastic, and that it is the ONLY elastic that will withstand exposure to urine and hundreds of washes. I haven't had the chance to use the diaper THAT much and tell you our experience with it, but hey... it sounds good to me!
There is a stay-dry layer of butter suede on the inside, and it's very soft! When the diaper was clean, my little one held it up to her face and nuzzled it, LOL.
They say the cover is "Top quality waterproof 2mm PUL to prevent leaks and wicking", and with several uses and a few heavy pees, everything did indeed stay where it should. I'm all for NOT getting pee on me while I sleep, LOL.
This diaper washed up easily, and dried overnight just being hung in my bathroom. I only wish they had more colors to choose from!
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