cloth diapers, giveaways

CLOSED Giveaway and Auction: Fall 2012 Cloth Diaper Drive Nov. 5-30 (US & Canada)

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Welcome to the Fall 2012 Cloth Diaper Drive Giveaway & Fundraising Event hosted by Leettle Baby!

*Giveaway now closed. Fundraising efforts still open!

I’m excited to join Leettle Baby and other awesome bloggers to promote this worthy cause! Last spring, with the help of readers like you, enough funds were raised to send 30 diaper covers and 30 cotton prefolds to the DFW Cloth Diaper Project!

This time around we hope to make an even greater impact. For this event, we would love to help the Tomahawk Sustainment Mission in their efforts to expand their cause to begin a cloth diapering program that will benefit the people living in the poverty-stricken Appalachia region of Kentucky. The founder, Terri, has estimated that there were 500 children that could benefit from this program.

DID YOU KNOW? The Appalachia region covers 13 different U.S. states, encompasses 420 counties and includes 25 million people? Sadly, some of the most distressed areas have 150% poverty rate over the average U.S. rate.

Why Cloth Diapers?

As many of us parents know, diapering our children can cost us thousands of dollars. According to the Real Diaper Association, using disposable diapers costs a family about $66 dollars per month, and about $1,600 for the first two years. Now, imagine if you had to decide if your family was going to eat or spend money on buying more diapers. Some families even have to re-use their babies DISPOSABLE diapers because they cannot afford to buy more. The wonderful thing about cloth diapers is that you do not have to worry about purchasing more diapers, and you can always have clean ones readily available! With this diaper program, these families will not have to spend a penny on diapers for their children.

In addition, disposable diapers are not compostable and are estimated to take 250 – 500 years to break down! Now imagine if you did not have a trash service to remove those diapers (like some of those living in the Appalachia area)…where would they go? Cloth diapers provide a more sanitary option to the environment and reduce landfill waste.

Personally, I chose to cloth diaper my son to reduce landfill waste, and because I wanted something soft, gentle, and chemical-free against his skin.

How You Can Help:

A donation in any amount is greatly appreciated, and they’re tax deductible!

There are quite a few other ways that you can help us get as many of these precious children cloth diapered as possible, just click HERE.

As a thank you for spreading the word about this cloth diapering program, Leettle Baby and a team of amazing bloggers are going to reward you with an awesome giveaway…with the opportunity to win one of the two cloth diaper prize packages!

Grand Prize:

  • Thirsties
    3 Thirsties Duo Wraps (valued at $38.25)
    10 Thirsties Duo Hemp Pre-folds (valued at $80.00)
  • SoftBums
    Choice of Echo/Omni Diaper One-size Shell & One-Size Pod (valued at $29.90)
  • Little Bee Creations
    Ma Ma Cloth Starter Pack – Sizes 7, 10 &12 inch mix (valued at $27.50)
  • Little Bee Diaper Co.
    One-size Bee Changed Cloth Diaper in Choice of Color (valued at $19.95)

** Jona from The Little Bee Co. has graciously offered to send one Bee Changed Diaper for EACH one purchased during the diaper drive event, make sure that you put “LoveAppalachia” in the comment section when you order! Shop HERE! **

  • Lamb Babies
    Choice of Fitted or One-Size Cloth Diaper (valued at $19.00)
  • Green Bees
    2 One-size Diapers (valued at $16.00)
  • Rock In Green
    45/90 Load Bag of Detergent in Choice of Scent (valued at $14.95 – $15.95)

Second Prize

  • Funky Fluff
    1 One-Size Cloth Diaper (valued at $18.40)
  • Glow Bug
    1 One-Size Cloth Diaper (valued at $12.50)
  • Smart Snugs
    NatureSnug™ Bamboo Diaper (valued at $18.00)

Giveaway is open to US residents (US & CAN residents for second prize) ages 18 and older only, beginning on November 5th, 2012 and ending at 12:01 am on November 21st, 2012. Winners will be notified by e-mail provided by the Rafflecopter form and has 48 hours to claim prize before another is selected.

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life

Thank goodness for old friends!

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When I say old, I don’t mean age…just the length of time I’ve known them. 🙂 This afternoon, one of my oldest friends and matron of honor (though she’s not at all matronly) moved into town with her husband and kids. Her husband got a job here recently, so it was a quick move and until a couple of months ago, unexpected. I’ve been slowly meeting new people since we’ve moved here, but it’s still a feeling of relief and happiness to know that I have people close by that I for sure can rely on. My husband’s ship is gearing up to start sea trials again…which means he’s going to be gone for weeks at a time up until his next deployment.

I chuckle now when I think about how many, many years ago I used to think it would be so romantic to be the wife of a service member. There’s something about a man in uniform, right? What was I thinking!? Yeah, there’s nothing romantic about it.

For example, moving from Florida to Virginia alone in my last trimester of pregnancy was hard. I was working full time, plus monthly obligations to the Army Reserve. I had to choose and secure our apartment long distance. Arrange for the movers. Clean our old apartment. If my husband had seen me almost 8 1/2 months pregnant, sorting through stored teaching supplies and military gear, lifting/carrying/dragging furniture to the dumpster, squeezing a solid wood desk in my compact car…he would’ve freaked out!

You have to be a strong, independent, committed woman or man to survive being the spouse of a Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or Airman. I’m leaving Coasties out, cause they don’t count. Just kidding, just kidding! The Coast Guard is very important too. I think. 😉

Anyway, what is incredible is that some women move across country alone and pregnant and have several older children with them. It was just me, and it was hard enough!

I’ve been on both sides. I’ve been deployed, and I’ve been the one home, waiting. They are both very difficult, in very different ways. Honestly, I think it’s harder to be the family member. In my experience, when you’re deployed, you have very specific responsibilities, and that’s all you have to worry about. You get in a rut. Someone cooked my food, cleaned my toilet, and even washed my clothes. I didn’t worry about paying bills. My parents back in the States had my power of attorney, and they paid any bills I had. They even filed my taxes. All that concerned me was my public affairs job, day in and day out.

When my husband was deployed, he did wash his own clothes, and he cleaned. But I paid all his bills. I deposited checks for him. I renewed his vehicle tags and base stickers. I took over all his responsibilities outside of the military. I basically ran the household, and I missed J terribly.

I don’t talk about all of this much, because I don’t want to make it seem like I’m just whining or throwing a pity part. That’s not my intention at all. I’m just thankful for the people in my life who I can rely on if I need help!

If you know someone who has a loved one in the military…show them support, because it’s far from easy.

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cloth diapers, Review

Review: Hybrid Pocket Fitted Diaper by Poodelum & Missy Kate

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I’ve never had a diaper quite like this one before. We have fitteds, and we have pockets, but this is the first diaper that is both!

“Located in beautiful Bend, Ore., ‘Poodelum & Missy Kate’ began on the far end of my enormous kitchen table with my sister’s borrowed sewing machine.

Just this last spring, I decided to make a change. Our youngest, now 9 months, was going through disposable diapers with lightning speed. I had always been curious about cloth diapering and decided to take the plunge. I already did a TON of laundry anyway, so why not?

My curiosity grew when I found out how many different kinds/types/brands there were. I asked all my mama friends to share any knowledge they had and began searching blogs for any insight mamas I didn’t even know wanted to share with the world.

I became obsessed. But not really obsessed to the point where I buy every different kind/brand out there. I became obsessed with figuring out how to make them myself.

I’ve always been ‘crafty.’ It’s in my nature. I’ve always loved sewing and creating. But now, absorbing a wealth of information from other know-how, crafty, do-it-yourself-genius mamas, I am striving to become an expert.”

Click on Photos to Enlarge:

I received a one-size hybrid pocket fitted to review.

The outside of this diaper is made of cotton interlock, and the inside is lined with french terry cloth. French terry cloth is not considered a stay-dry fabric, but that is normal for a fitted diaper.

Because this is a hybrid fitted, there’s a layer of fleece sewn in the middle to help the outer layer stay drier longer. However, this diaper does need a cover to be completely waterproof.

The pocket of this diaper is quite wide, so an insert can be used if desired for extra absorbency. I used it with a BumGenius insert, and it fit quite nicely.

Our Experiences with the Diaper:

Since this diaper doesn’t come with a closure, a Snappi or diaper pin should be used to close it. Because of this and the fold down rise, it’s easy to adjust this diaper to fit all sizes of babies. This can be a great thing for newborns, small babies, or skinny babies.

Because of the fabric used, I wasn’t sure how well a Snappi would hold it together, so I used a diaper pin. My son is really squirmy, so I did struggle getting the diaper fastened with the pin. However, I know many parents have become well-practiced at using pins and can do it quite quickly. Also, Kate mentioned to me that she has become adept at fastening a cover over this style of diaper without a Snappi, pin, or any type of closure.

If you’re not sure that a no closure diaper is for you, Kate does make them WITH closures.

With one microfiber insert inside, this diaper started to feel damp on my son after two hours, so I definitely recommend using this with a cover. An extra insert or doubler can also be used.

On its own, it’s a simple diaper without a lot of bells and whistles. But what it does have is the ability to be customized to fit many sizes of babies: from the very thin to the very chunky. It’s made well with even stitching and nice, wide elastic. It’s also very reasonably priced: without closure $13, with closure $14.

5 1/2 months old, 19 pounds, 24 inches long

Besides the hybrid pocket fitted diaper, Poodelum & Missy Kate also sells pocket diapers, all-in-twos, hybrid fitteds, fitteds, fleece soakers, wool soakers, and inserts.

You can win a $25 gift certificate to Poodelum & Missy Kate to choose and purchase your own diaper! Come back to My Life: A Work in Progress on Oct. 25 for the Hoppin’ Halloween Giveaway Hop (Oct. 25-31).

Can’t wait? Visit Poodelum & Missy Kate on Facebook to buy your own!

Note: I received a sample product to review. I was not compensated for this review. The opinions are my own and may differ from yours.

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