iPlay Garment Extenders Review

iPlay Snap 'N Grow Garment Extenders
Retails for $6.95 CAD

Company Description
Extending the life of baby's clothes is a snap! These soft and sturdy cotton extenders stretch wearing time by adding extra length to one-piece garments. Convenient 3 pack with different snap sizes fit most one-piece bodysuits. Awesome for use with cloth diapers.

Review
I wish I could make great use of these. Fantastic idea especially when it comes to cloth diapering. I can't really review these since... IT WASN'T COMPATIBLE WITH ANY OF MY ONESIES!!! I researched online and even sent a message to iPlay about this. They claim they've never encountered that problem. I wasn't too happy with their response.

My research resulted in many disappointed individuals who claimed the same issue.
"...I was disappointed to find that the snap size does not match most of the onsies we have. They do match up with some Carter's brand onsies but do not match with Gerber, and some others I purchased from boutiques and Target."
"It doesn't work with: Gerber, Osh Kosh, Carters, First Year, Circo, Gymboree, Gap, Old Navy, or Tea brand baby clothing. "

I tested is on a few on my onesies. It doesn't match with my Joe, Mexx or Baby Gap clothes. The snaps are larger than the ones used by these companies. Unless you know that it'll work with your set.. save your money and make your own. I plan on doing that myself and will post pictures when I get around to it.

Do Conventional Detergents Kill Cloth Diapers?

A "MUST READ"
Do Conventional Detergents Kill Cloth Diapers?

http://blog.thegreennursery.com/?p=86

Photo courtesy of www.justmommies.com

ERGOBaby Carrier Review

Organic Twill Blue Carrier w/Embroidery Applique
Retails for $149.95 CAD

Stylish, comfortable but a little hard to use with Kate. This is my first carrier so I don't have much to compare it to - other than the Baby Bjorn that was second-hand. She's a little too short and unless I strap myself in to the point for barely being able to breathe... she slips through. I'm hoping it gets easier to use once she grows into it. Basically my only peeve, I wish it had a better design for newborns like I saw in other brands. I'm also dealing with the aftermath of shoulder surgery pains and the limitations of arm movement... it's difficult for me to strap her in when I'm wearing this on my front. I couldn't imagine doing this alone when she's on my back - this is clearly a 2-person job. I have a few slings, but slings seems to put far too much pressure on ONE shoulder. The ErgoBaby spreads the weight evenly and I can see myself carrying her for longer periods of time - Kate just need to grow a bit before I stopped worrying about dropping my baby!

Comparing this to the Baby Bjorn that was lent to me? I choose the ErgoBaby hands down. I keep my carrier in my trunk. Sometimes its just easier to use the carrier than lugging out the stroller.

Dream-Eze Diapers

Testing Dream-Eze Organic All-in-One
Retails for $24.95 CAD (WEB)

I finally got my hands on these. One thing I hate the most, is how bulky a nighttime diaper can be. I'm tried a few - bamboos, hemps, doublers, then adding a cover,.. I got irritated and did disposables for overnight sleeps because I found there was 1 too many soakers. I was doing my usual consignment shopping and found a used Dream-Eze in a grab bin at Belly Laughs in Kanata. For $6.99, I figured why not try it out. I LOVE this as a nighttime diaper. Trimmer than most, easy care, and not too long to dry. They only come in 4 colours and as a diaper collector like myself, I'm slightly disappointed. Then again, they are bold and bright happy unisex colours.

After my amazing $7 purchase, I opted for more of these and less Huggies. I now own 4 of them, and I have 2 more coming in the mail - a steal through Grovia's EBay site. I usually go through 2 a night. I change Kate at 3am and then again at 6am. I've never had leaks - and she's had explosives poops to boot. I also like the idea of not needing a cover with them. Less bulkiness. As a day-time diaper, I still have to move up a size in her pants, since these diapers are thicker due to the doubler inside. Great for long trips though... just stick a onesie, some baby leg warmers, add a blanket after you strap baby in - and you're set!

Pros:

• Absorbency - One of the most absorbent nighttime diapers I've used
  
• Fit - snug fit and very trim
  
• Leaks - none at all
  
• Softness - the inserts were really soft, but after 8 or so washes, it's starting to lose it's softness. I boiled it and it helped a little, but it's a little stiff after washes
  
• Drying time - 6 hours
  
• Insert - 2 inserts are attached at the back of the diaper, gives it a faster drying time
  
• Ease of Use - a little confusing the first time you use it... think origami
  
• Style - Vibrant neutral colours.
  

Cons:

• Fit - I can see my little one growing out of this diaper fairly quickly, I wish it had tab extenders like Applecheeks offers
  
• Retail price - a little steep for my taste - luckily I got my hands on these for $6.99 and $12.99, you just need to be willing to do the research
  
• Insert - a little longer than the rise
  

Company Description
The Dream-Eze Organic All In One (AIO) Reusable Diaper by The Natural Baby Company is an easy to use fitted diaper that makes using cloth diapers a cinch for everyone.

With a simple one piece design, Dream-Eze Organic AIOs feature an absorbent, certified organic cotton inner with an attached soaker for customizable absorb-ability without stuffing pockets. Durable snaps and a soft, waterproof outer cover of TPU in fresh modern colors make the Dream-Eze Organic Cloth Diaper one of our family favorites!

Sizing Information:
SIZE - RISE - WAIST - LEGS - WEIGHT
Small: 13-16", 9-17", 5.5-12", 8-16+ lbs
Medium: 15-18", 12-20", 6-14", 15-25+ lbs
Large: 16-20", 12-21", 8-16", 24+ lbs

Made By: The Natural Baby Company
Made Of: 100% Certified Organic Cotton (inner, soaker), Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) (waterproof outer)
Made In: China

NOTE: I did not receive any compensation for this review. I have purchased all additional diapers post-review as seconds or at sale prices.

Laundry Wars!!!

I decided to try as many WHAM brands as I could before writing this review. I still have a few on my to try list, but figured 4 different detergents is a good start. I tried them all on towels on a hot cycle, sheets on a hot cycle, the baby's clothes and ours on a cold cycle and finally.. those stinky stinky, dirty diapers. That being said, let's get this started.

Nellie's Laudry Soda (WEB) (BLOG) (FACEBOOK)
Retails for $20.99 CAD (100 Loads / 200 HE)

Hypoallergenic, and amazing for softness. It's ok on diapers, but staining is a little more difficult to deal with - I had to do more than 1 wash, even with a presoak. It's concentrated, which means you only need one tablespoon per wash and half of that for HE washers. My favourite use for this is towels and sheets!!! Towels come out feeling amazingly soft. (We don't use fabric softeners due to skin allergies.) It doesn't smell like anything - the way I personally think laundry should smell like.... I also wash my sheets in Nellie's and ONLY Nellie's. MY red bumps have gone away and laundering is now only a fraction of the cost from using Store Brand names. It's worth the switch. I love that you can buy this stuff in bulk, and that it's available from Costco in an enviro pack (samples of MOST of their products) or in a HUGE pail!

Boasts:

• Made for HE washing machines
• Made in Canada
• Does not test on animals
• Works in cold or hot water
• Leaves no residue
• Biodegradable, non-toxic, hypoallergenic
• Uses recyclable packaging
• Made of nothing but all natural ingredients: all natural laundry soda, sodium silicate and coconut oil based detergents

The box reads that it is "especially good for babies clothes and individuals with allergies or sensitive skin." (Agreed!)

Tip: if you put a scoop of Nellie's in the soap dispenser of your carpet cleaner mixed with hot water, you may be able arm water), you may be able to get up very old stains.


Rockin Green (WEB) (BLOG) (FACEBOOK)
Retails for $19.99 CAD ( 90 loads/180 HE)

This was a CLEAR winner. It worked on all of our needs. Even used it to clean some dingy toilet as a tester. I bought some used diapers that were in serious need of stripping and had some nasty stains on them. I bought this diaper for a mere $5 because the seller thought it was a goner. I figured it was a great opportunity to test out my detergents. Rockin Green was the ONLY one that got my diaper virtually stain free (1 overnight soak is HOT kettle water, 1 HOT wash and 2 days of sunning.) For diaper cleaning, Rockin Green is my pick. Great smells that are barely there after the wash. With my skin sensitivities, this is a MUST.

It was a little difficult to find here in Canada at retail price of $19.99 CAD for 90 load bag. However, they are winning their way into Canadian hearts and are finding more and more retailers. Rockin' Green detergent comes in your choice of fragrance (Orangevana (discontinued, snag it while you can!, Smashing Watermelons, Rage Against the Raspberries, Mötley Cleän, The Plain Green Tea's, Lavender Mint Revival, Bare Naked Babies and the newly introduced Mighty Mighty Marshmallows) . They also sell 8 oz Shake It Up! Pail Freshener in your choice of fragrance. I honestly didn't see a difference between using this and a few drops of tea tree oil on a rag - but then again Tea Tree Oil is expensive and can harm the vinyl lining of your diaper wet bags.

Boasts:

• No fillers
• Great for sensitive skin
• Economical at 0.13 cents a load!
• Rids microfiber stink
• HE compatible
• Great for all water types (offers soaps designed for your water)
  
• Reduces repelling
• SLS Free

Crunchy Clean (WEB) (BLOG) (FACEBOOK)
Retails for $18.50 CAD
(80 loads / 160 HE loads)

Crunchy clean is a cloth diaper detergent made from "naturally occurring minerals, detergents, oxygen releasing agents that have proven to clean diapers in a safe way that does not harm your precious baby or your diapers". I don't fully agree with this statement. I tested is on lightly soiled towels. It made my towels stink like wet dog. I tried it on one load of diapers and it made my diapers smell like skunk - I read reviews that Crunchy Clean also made diapers repel - I did not experience this. I'm wondering if it was the scents I chose??? I have a second sample pack that I am willing to try... stay tuned. Available scents: Monkey Fart, Pink Sugar, Baby Bee Clean, Clothespin, Vanilla Lavender, Unscented, Custom fragrances also available. See website for details.

Boasts:

• No optical brighteners, fillers, dyes, or enzymes
• Great for military use!
• Clean rinsing - an extra rinse isn't necessary!
• No soap to build up in your diapers.
  
• HE compatible.
• Great for all of your family's clothing and diapers.

- Phosphate free
- Chlorine free
- Non-toxic
- Planet friendly
- VEGAN (ALL NEW, FALL '09!)
- Dye free
- Free of enzymes, and optical brighteners
- Approved for military use!


Lastly....

Soap Nuts (WEB) (BLOG) (FACEBOOK)
Retails: $22.00 CAD (500g bag)
Trial Size $1.00 CAD (good for 4-5 washes)

Great little story - which I've already blogged about in the past. (See HERE) The idea behind this, is that you place 4 Soap Nuts - they look like empty shells - in the small muslin bag (provided), tie it closed, and throw it into the drum of your washing machine along with your articles of clothing or diapers that need washing. You can reuse this batch for 4 or 5 loads of laundry. The soap nuts turn mushy and grey when they're no longer usable. You can then throw them in your garden as compost. INGENIOUS!? Thought so. I'm not sure how I feel about these... ridiculously cheap to use, but they left a spring air smell - and not the good kind. I found it smells a bit like rotting leaves. Just not as pungent.

Soap nuts are perfect for HE and front load washers since they don't really suds up. That makes me feel like it's not really cleaning. I know this isn't true, it's just my store brand mentality I guess. Go marketing! The jury is out on this one... I'm not sure if the diapers would have been just as clean had I just used really hot water. I'd have to try them again on a very soiled load before I could make a good verdict on this. That being said - it does NOT work on removing deodorant from shirts.

However, it claims that there's a myriad of uses other than laundering...

PERSONAL USE

• Mosquito Repellent: Spray it onto your hands and then rub onto bare arms, legs or face. Safe and gentle to use for babies and children.
• Liquid Hand Soap: Fill a regular or foaming pump bottle with the liquid and use to wash your hands. It will not create tons of lather like traditional soap, but it will still get your hands clean. Also consider adding some tea tree oil to make your hand wash a tea tree soap.
• Shampoo: Use the liquid instead of your regular shampoo. It can even help prevent dandruff and hair loss! Leave it on your scalp for 5-10 minutes, and rinse as normal. It will not create a lot of suds, but it will still work!

------

Try your Rockin' Green for FREE!!!
Sugar Baby Sweetness is currently having a $50 gift certificate giveaway on their facebook page. They carry Rockin' Green products! web product link

FREE Diaper Pattern!

http://handmadebyrita.blogspot.com/2007/10/httpwww.html

I will definitely be trying my hand in making my own diaper... I just need a serger first. :)

TODAY ONLY! Agoo And Fuzzibunz AND Bumkins Pull-on Pants 50% Off

Fuzzibunz and Leg Huggers.. what a perfect combo!

Why not add a little mystery?
Each Diaper includes one mystery pair of Bamboo Leg Huggers. Pick your color diaper, your babies gender and wait for the surprise in your mail box! Fuzzibunz are available in sized and one size.

Go to Baby Half Off, one day only while supplies lasts.

* I've ordered from them before, took 5 days to receive shipment. Leg Huggers are soft, but very long. I need to fold mine in half for Kate.


---------------



EcoBabyBuys.com is a one-deal-a-day website that offers at least 40% off retail prices on eco-friendly, organic, non-toxic and fairly traded products for babies, children and expectant parents. Daily Eco-Buys include clothing (organic cotton, bamboo & soy), toys, bedding, gear, bath and feeding accessories for baby and toddler alike! We currently ship within the U.S. and Canada.

AppleCheeks Review

Apple Cheeks Diaper (BLOG) (WEB)

I won this AppleCheeks diaper from 3 Little Monkeys on Bank Street, here in Ottawa.

I love the fit of this diaper. It is very sleek, and I didn't have to move up a size in my onesie to accommodate this diaper. We used this for our long trip (7 hours) up north over the weekend, and it sustained a 4 hour nap in the car. It was soaked - but there were no leaks. So far this is one of my favourites. Canadian made in Montreal, the AppleCheeks system is a much trimmer fit that most of the other diapers I've tested. Looks very similar to the Anne-Marie Padorie (AMP) envelope wrap diaper, although I have yet to test their version. The cover is an envelope design similar to a pocket BUT there's no need to unstuff since the inserts slip out in the wash. I HIGHLY recommend having a few of these in your stash.

I liked this one so much that I've gone out and bought 3 more. :) They come in vibrant and cheerful colours. Trial packages are available - 1 cover with 3 prefold inserts. The diaper cover retails for $20.00 CAD and the bamboo insert for $9.00 CAD, although I also use extra Fuzzibunz microfleece insert for ease of use. I'm also using one of their storage sacs and it does the job. I would however prefer canvas handles and an elasticized opening to ease over my garbage can.

Pros:

• Absorbency - Great absorbency
  
• Fit - great fit, poofs a bit at the bum, can buy tab extenders to lengthen the lifespan of the diaper
  
• Leaks - 2 over the last 2 months
  
• Softness - bamboo is really soft
  
• Drying time - 2-3 hours
  
• Insert - a bamboo or hemp prefold that stuffs into the pocket
  
• Ease of Use - a little confusing for newbies, diaper is an easy toss into pail, no need to unstuff
  
• Style - Vibrant colours
  

Cons:

• Retail price - a little high at $30 for a complete diaper without booster
  
• Insert - can twist, pocket is a little difficult to stuff
  

---------------

Would you like to try your own???

Sugar Baby Sweetness is currently having a $50 gift certificate giveaway on their facebook fan page. Go to http://www.facebook.com/SugarBabySweetness to enter!

Seven Sling Review

Seven Sling Review (WEB)

I got this sling as a tester (I had purchased their Hooter Hider from the same mothership). This carrier came as a gift set with matching baby leg warmers and an adult acrylic cuff bracelet. I wasn't too keen on the print of the baby leg warmers, but the bracelet was pretty sharp. That being said, the pouch sling... I was disappointed with this. It retails for $48 US (Gift set retails for $72 US) and is nothing but a thin one-sided material. I found it uncomfortable to wear and didn't feel safe using it. It lasted one day as a carrier and I am now using it to tuck baby into her car seat as a wind and rain protector. Save your money and try something else... then come back and tell me about it!

Monkey Doodlez Review

Review (WEB)

As cute as these diapers are.. I do have 1 issue... not one of my diapers are actually the same at the other... This diaper retails at $22.00 CAD and I've bought several online and in-store.

I have about 8 of these in small, in solids, really fun prints (see Betsy on the right) and minkies - not 1 of them fits the same at the other. (I also have mediums and medium-longs to test out later). That being said, I haven't had any issues to far. Other than the hook and loop tabs seems to come undone and do cause pilling in the wash. I don't see any difference between the Bamboo Doodlez and the Micro Doodlez. Save your money and opt for the cheaper Micro instead. I also tried the Pocket version of these diapers. Stuffing is a little more difficult that other company and although with other Pockets you can mix and match your favourite cover with your favourite insert... this is impossible with the Monkey Doodlez. The AIO is a great way to ease someone into cloth diapering, sitters seem to prefer this - however, it's not the best one out there. Drying does take time. I've started putting them in the dryer until mostly dry and then I hang to dry.

* Please note that I have not tried their Tuck and Go™ system.

Happy Heinys Review

Happy Heinys Review (BLOG) (WEB)

Kate is short. Unfortunately, I can't use the Happy Heinys One Size. Instead we've opted to try the Happy Heinys Pocket Diaper in Small with Hook and Loop closure. This diaper is adorable! I don't bother covering it up. I feel that with such a cute design, it would be a shame to hide it. This is my favourite diaper to pair with Baby Legs or to wear under a dress. No leaks, I even had a BIG mess in there, and my diaper suffered a bit of staining, but nothing an overnight soak in Rockin' Green and a bit of sunning couldn't handle.

Bulkiness is minimal. I was still able to put on pants without having to jump up to the next size. I tried this diaper with the microfleece insert, but opted to buy the hemp insert with oval doubler. Pay the extra few dollars for the hemp. You won't be sorry. Pocket diaper with 1 insert retails for $22.95 CAD

Little Beetle Diaper Review

The Little Beetle Diaper (WEB)

A few weeks ago, I won a Little Beetle Diaper from BetterForBabies. This diaper retails for $24.95 US and is made of organic cotton and is a fitted diapers that comes with a semi-attached and foldable beetle booster. This diaper is ideal for heavy wetters or as a nighttime diaper. It has a doubler that slides under a sewn in booster. Made in USA.

This is a SOFT diaper. A cover is a must. I tried it without a cover to see how long it would last before she peed through it... after her feed,... it was about 30 minutes. and it went through. However, I used a JamTot cover (Retails for $21.95 CAD with this diaper last night and I must day that I'm pretty impressed. the ENTIRE diaper soaks up pee. Kate slept for about 5 hours with this puppy and no leaks, no mess, just a very soggy diaper.

One downside.. at a whopping 9lbs 3 oz, Kate looked like she was wearing a sleeping bag. That being said,.. this is strictly being used as a nighttime diaper for us. It's just took bulky to wear under pants - I tried and I couldn't button up her sleeper with this.

Outgrow Outplay.. it's not all positive...

It took a while, but I finally have a few minutes to share my reviews!

Back in the Spring, I attended the Outgrow Outplay consignment show out in Orleans. I had a GREAT time, found some AMAZING deals and recommended the event to everyone!
I got more info and decided to try myself out as a consignor. Unfortunately, it tarnished my thoughts behind this event. It took me WAY too many hours to prepare myself - I literally spent about 1 week, a few hour every night tagging and displaying my items. I had a ridiculous amount of items to consign and figured that after tagging over $1000 worth of items, I'd see at least $100-200 worth in revenue... wrong. Normally you only get 60-65% of the consigned return... I decided to volunteer a double shift to get 75% and knock my member fee from $15 down to $10.

Long story short - it was a LONG day dealing with VERY RUDE people who probably didn't realize that this was not a garage sale where you can wheel and deal with any volunteer on the floor. I also caught a few shoppers opening up packages and trying to mix and match items. That equals stealing!!! One consignor will have lost money because someone else figured that hat looked cuter with someone else's mitts. On top of that,... I welcome the idea of allowing your kids to attend,... BUT letting the kids run rampant destroying toys from consignors who were unable to volunteer and therefore can't guard their merchandise was very disrespectful.

Could be that I attempted to do with after 1 weeks of giving birth to Kate, (my annoyance might stem from postpartum exhaustion) but for the measley $90 I made and the items that mysteriously disappeared, I actually decided to bail from the shows and I'm now attempted to take the cut and drop my stuff off to local shops. I'd rather only get 40% not have to pay a fee and keep my sanity.

---

Canadian Education Scholarships

On a bright note, I did meet a very nice man who's helping me out with RESPs so my dear Kate will actually be able to afford going to school when it comes a kazillion dollars.

----

My renewed faith in humans.

As some of you know, my labour day was quite eventful for me... no baby, however, I did have someone back up into my car. I went into labour the very next day and couldn't be bothered by dealing with the insurance after my car already looks like a derby car from a prior hit, and from parking at the Park-N-Ride. Surprise!!! The lady who hit me called the insurance company, and let them know she was completely at fault and took care of everything for me! Car is now fixed and it barely cost me a headache.

-----

MAKE YOUR OWN TUTU!!!

Fun Website!!! http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/baby-tutus.html

Cloth Diapers Canada: Cloth Diapering the Newborn Baby

Helpful info from Vicky at Ottawa Cloth Diapers: Cloth Diapers Canada: Cloth Diapering the Newborn Baby

Heavy Knitters

I know I've been MIA - but I have an excuse. Taking care of a baby is HARD!!! My mom and my sister were up to help last week, and knit me a few presents. My aunt sent me an beautiful dress, which Kate is slowly growing into. My mom made MANY MANY MANY hats - the bear one being my favorite... and my sister made her cute thumbless mittens. Click on picture for larger view.

So what did I make? Nothing. Because like I've stated before, I have no skills when it comes to knitting or crochet. But I make a mean Caesar!!

Any wins lately? Yes, I won a Little Beetle Diaper from Better for Babies Inc.. Reviews to come!

I know I've been lacking in the contest referrals department, but I've been out of the loop for the past few weeks. Once I get myself into a stable routine with Kate, I'll be back here spreading the news. :)

Sleep? Where are you?

I've been blessed with a happy, not so fussy baby. That being said - I'm still exhausted. Sleep when she sleeps? When do I get to catch up on laundry, and bottles and dishes and bills and ME TIME? Oh yea, me time doesn't exist anymore.. unless you have someone supportive enough who let me leave and have my hair done and do a bit of retail therapy by myself! :) I came home rather quickly though because something happened that I thought I was way too selfish for. I missed Kate. Never thought I'd end up being "one of those" but I am. Every kid I saw reminded me of her - and is it just me or is everyone and they mother pregnant??? I caught myself rubbing my gut wishing I was pregnant still. I'm told that hormones are taking over and I had to give my head a shake and remind myself that I haven't slept in almost 3 months.

I'm getting ready tonight for the Outgrow Outplay sale where I will be volunteering a few hours of my time because I'm greedy and I want to earn a higher consignment percentage. Never mind those precious extra hours I could potentially be washing SOMETHING... I want my extra 10% on sales!

Anyone interested in dropping by...


MEGA Kids Sale in Nepean.
Saturday, September 25 · 8:00am - 3:00pm

Location: Ben Franklin Superdome in Nepean

191 Knoxdale Road

For those of us who can't breastfeed, there's a voice...

I thoroughly enjoyed this blog, however I may not necessarily agree on all points, she does make interesting remarks.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/04/the-case-against-breast-feeding/7311/1/

Kate's First Photo Shoot

My little Kate turned 1 week on Wednesday. First milestone = First photo shoot.
She is sporting a cute ruffle diaper cover courtesy of Forward Thinking. All props were brought in from home. I did the frugal thing and went to the Great Canadian Superstore to have my pictures taken at a very inexpensive price - but their prop selection was horrendous. I'm happy I thought ahead and brought a laundry bag full of outfits, cute diapers, necklaces, hats and blankets to play with.

There is a second set of prints that won't be ready for pick-up until next week... stay tuned!

Curious about how I keep diapers clean?

This is where I get a lot of great info from.
Vicky is really helpful.
http://ottawaclothdiapers.blogspot.com/2010/09/cloth-diaper-wash-routines.html#comment-form

Visit her site! Ottawa Cloth Diapers

Rachelle Anne Miller Big Facebook Fan Giveaway!

I can't stop gushing about about this woman's work... please have a look at her portfolio. She's amazing!!!

In celebration of her recent news (baby on the way!) and to thank all the wonderful people who have joined her Facebook Fan Page, Rachelle Anne Miller is going to host her biggest giveaway to date! She will be giving away 3 art prints from her Etsy store to one lucky Facebook fan! The art prints are of the winner’s choosing :)

The draw will be done once her Facebook Fan page reaches 1000 members, so the more people you tell about it, the sooner the giveaway will be announced!

Good luck!!

Win a Paul Frank Diaper Set designed by Forward Thinking!

Chicago Mom Cheryl is giving away a set of her very cute cloth diapers, leg warmers, t-shirt, bib and wipes! She sells through Facebook under 4ward Thinking or through Sew Crafty Baby.
Simply "like" her page and at 2500 "likes" - Forward Thinking will GIVE AWAY a Full Paul Frank Set. If she makes her mark by Forward Thinking's 1yr Anniversary (Sept. 15th) she will also give away a second set to another lucky winner!

Baby Boom Show

I attended the Baby Boom Show in Ottawa today. I must admit, I usually dread the flocking seagulls of Advertisers in these type of venues... "Sign up and you can win!" usually translates to "Let me doop you into thinking you have the slightest chance, and actually get a hold of your personal info so I can hound you for the next few months and possibly share your info with others". I denied myself the urge to enter every contest that came into sight. Pat myself on the back for that one. However, I did catch a lot of great deals, and met a lot of nice vendors. (Props to The Extraordinary Baby Shoppe for recognizing me - you made me feel like a star, lol.) I highly recommend attending this event. Free admission was a bonus, and I like that they stuck to their guns and kept everything baby related (with the exception of Herbal Magic, but I'll forgive you since you gave me a free box protein bars and great post-pregnancy info). I was happy to see some sellers actually holding sales and promotions! I took advantage of that and I am really grateful that it made my trek across the city worth it. Extraordinary Baby Shoppe, Ottawa Cloth Diapers, and Sweet Peach were booths not to be missed!

Welcome Home Kate!

Kate
Weight: 7lbs, 13 oz
Height: 19.6 inches
Born: September 8, 2010
Time: 12:38am

How was my labour?
First contraction was at 10:46 pm. She was born shy of 2 hours later.
FASTEST DELIVERY EVER!

Dear Kate, your time is up... Guess you didn't get the memo!

My due date has come and gone... here I sit. No contractions, just a really really tired shell of a person with feet that are 2 sizes larger than normal.

My mom came up over the weekend to cheer my up and cheer me on. Long walks in the malls brought on some contractions, but they peaked at 20 minutes apart for about 3 hours... and then stopped. Guess someone's just not ready to come out and play yet!

We bought her Halloween suit. Kate is going to be a butterfly. :) I realized that it's very difficult to find a newborn costume that's weather friendly. Old Navy had 1, yes 1 costume left. I figured I should probably jump on it. Otherwise, my backup idea of her being a spider would probably be covered by her fall one-piece.

I also got my hands on an adorable dress. One that I've been trying to mimic, but was too much of a penny pincher to purchase on my own. I fell in love with this one, and couldn't resist. This pretty piece is made by a woman who sells under the company name Funky Laundry. She can also be found on Facebook. There are several of her products that I am dying to get my hands on. I must pace myself. :)

My mom (mostly mom) also got a leg up on new hats! As I've mentioned, I can't knit a square to save my life, I knit "non-squares". A friend of mine bought a pattern for me to try from Inner Hooker (clever name). Also on Facebook.

I will update this post with my mom's 1 hour creation - the Newsboy Brim Beanie - once my battery charges on the camera. I'm so happy with it! :D

Blabla Giveaway!

Enter HERE to win your own Blabla doll!

Ergo, Baby!

I've been waiting over 2 months to find it at an affordable price.. I caught someone last night mentioning the Ergo carrier was going on Baby Steals this morning and it only took me 3 hours of clicking refresh over and over again to ensure I got one... for more than half the price!!!

It even comes with a fanny pack. That makes me dead sexy.

Burping pads are complete!

My burping pad project is finished. I've upcycled old used prefolds, receiving blankets and bought some ribbon at Michael's to make wicked burping pads with a LOT of absorbency.

They're super cute!

I also made some out of just receiving blankets and left over material from bibs I've made in the past. These have pockets and can hide face wipes. :) They're slightly longer and wider than the ones you would typically buy in stores.

















My next project is finishing up my bibs! I have about 20 to sew necks to. I can't seem to find the motivation to do it though... grrr. In this heat,... baby can eat naked.