Subscription boxes. There’s no shortage of them these days. From fitness focused to eco-crafts for kids, there’s something for everyone who likes to find fun things in their mailbox each month.
My favorite? Conscious Box, hands down. This is the box that is curated just for me. For my interests. For my commitment to the planet, to pureness, to sustainability. When a Conscious Box shows up in my mail, I know I’m about to find some new treasures.
Filed under giveaways, Green Living, Product & Restaurant Reviews
I’m so glad I’ve taken a trillion photos since our little guy was born three years ago. It’s so much fun to go back and reminisce about the days when my house was relatively quiet…
This photo is one of my favorites. It’s from the days when he was still tiny and using the baby bath tub. Can you imagine being so fascinated by a simple stream of water? Babies are sooo cool…
Bathtime was so much fun that I couldn’t wait until we could put him in the big tub and fill it with piles and piles of bubbles. Once he could sit up, that was the first thing we did…and it was a blast! Until a few weeks later when his skin starting getting red and scaly. It was eczema, and we narrowed it down to the bubble bath.
I was devastated to think we’d have to bathe bubble-less!
Luckily, a little research introduced me to Episencial, a safe and natural skin care line with products you can feel good about for both mom and baby. We ended up trying several of the products in their baby line, and adding them to our list of everyday must-haves. (Note: The name of the line has recently been changed to Babytime! by Episencial, mainly because it is easier to remember and spell, and it resonates more with moms. A really smart move, in my opinion. I love the new name!)
Filed under Baby Guide, Green Living, Product & Restaurant Reviews
A few months ago, I announced that I had become an ambassador for one of my very favorite cloth diapers brands – BabyKicks!
I spent some time learning and telling others about our experience with the BabyKicks products we used with our son, but I wasn’t really using the diapers at the time. Just relaying how pleased we were with what we had already tried.
But now, we’re back on the fluff wagon again, and we got a great start with a new product from BabyKicks! It’s the Premium Pocket Diaper (a new and improved version of the diaper formerly knows as the 3g) and we love it!
I’ll admit, it took us a little while to get cloth on our little lady’s bum. I had some health issues after delivery, and I wanted to get adjusted to our new tandem breastfeeding relationship, so I took the pressure off and gave myself permission to use some sposies for a week or two, which was good. But I couldn’t ignore the call of my fresh and fluffy cloth…
I was skeptical when the folks at BabyKicks told me that their Premium Pocket Diaper could accommodate babies from 7 to 40 lbs. Our newborn looked so tiny! How on Earth would this diaper adjust down small enough to fit her? But it did!
The secret to the newborn setting? All I had to do was tuck the upper part of the front waistband inside the pocket! Clever.
Here are some pics of the BabyKicks Premium Pocket on its smallest and largest settings:
And here, on our baby girl. She was born at 7lbs 7oz, but this was taken at 2 weeks when she weighed 7lbs, 3oz, so she was only slightly larger than the smallest recommended weight. I was really surprised at how well it fit!
This fit around the waist seemed comfortable, and did not irritate her at all. The bottom looks a little puffy, I know, but it’s very light since you don’t need to use an insert for the first 2 weeks or so. It could also be hiked up a little higher, but I like it fitted slightly lower because it doesn’t cut into her belly and it was low enough that the aplix never rubbed her skin.
My biggest concern was the fit around the leg. Hers were pretty teeny and I thought for sure there would be a gap, which would mean a leak. But there wasn’t! As you can see, the butt is a little roomy, but the elastic fit nice and snug around her leg, protecting against leaks.
Plus, those gussets in the leg area are made of a special fleece material (the white part) and contain no PUL, allowing air flow to help prevent rashes. They’re soft and comfy, so they don’t leave red marks on baby’s legs while still providing great protection against leaks or blowouts (we haven’t had one yet!)
Each BabyKicks Premium Pocket Diaper has a natural fiber inner lining made of an incredibly soft combination of 30% organic cotton and 70% bamboo rayon. I’m not kidding when I say that you just might want to sleep with your head on this diaper! It’s a comfy one, for sure, and it only gets softer and more absorbent with each wash.
Each diaper comes with a One Size JoeyBunz Insert for a trim fit and unbeatable absorbency. We used these inside various covers with our first baby and they are what made us die-hard fans of BabyKicks products. They hold a ton of pee, and even though they are made from 6 layers of hemp/organic cotton jersey, they are only 1/8” thick and super trim. You’ll also get a separate Stay-Dry Liner with each diaper, for an even drier feeling, if you choose.
If you’re planning on diapering your newborn (or bigger!) baby with cloth, I hope you’ll give the trimmest natural fiber diaper on the market a try! There are a lot of choices out there, but these have quickly become our go-to pocket, and you can bet your bum they’ll be yours, too! 
Who’s a Lucky Mama?
Me <––– This chick, that’s who!
Upon my arrival home from the hospital, with a new nursling in my arms and a definite hobble in my walk, I found a fabulous surprise in my pile of mail: a Boobie Box from Lucky Mama Boxes!
What’s a Boobie Box? It’s a carefully curated box of nursing essentials, brought to you by Kerry G., the mom behind Bamboobies (a.k.a. the most brilliant breastfeeding product ever!) When I saw the Boobie Box, I couldn’t wait to tear into it. I knew that if it came from Kerry, it had to be good!
I wasn’t disappointed. Rummaging for goodies in the box was more fun than any Easter basket or Christmas stocking! It was spilling over with fun products, some of which I already knew and loved, and some that I had been wanting to try since our little man was tiny.
My favorite find? The Bamboobies! These are the best reusable breastfeeding pads I’ve ever used, and I was beyond giddy to find one regular pair and one overnight pair in the box. They’re soft, absorbent, and 100% non-toxic, and I highly recommend them for anyone who’s making milk! (See that packet of Milk Money in the photo above? That’s full of high-value coupons…including one for Bamboobies! Those coupons alone make this box worth the price!)
The regular daytime pads are heart-shaped to fit well under your clothing. All pads are made with soft, comfortable bamboo fabric.
Another must-have is the Motherlove diaper rash/thrush ointment (known in our house as “The Good Stuff.”) There were some Motherlove samples in the box, so those went directly into my purse, where I know they’ll come in handy.
A newly discovered favorite: The Milkmakers lactation cookie! I had seen these advertised everywhere, but had never tried one, so I did…immediately. Since the Milk Money also contains a coupon for Milkmakers, I’m thinking about investing in a stash of them. Since we’ve gone tandem now, I could use the help! (Plus, they’re just really good.)
So, with one easy purchase, you can pamper yourself, increase your milk supply, soothe discomfort, stop leaks, stock up on discreet breastfeeding fashion essentials and more! AND, in addition to all of that, everyone who purchases a Boobie Box is entered to win a monthly grand prize* (right now, that prize is a Bamboobies Breastfeeding Bundle valued at over $100!)
With a purchase price of only $25 with FREE standard US shipping, the Boobie Box is a real steal! Treat yourself, or send one to your favorite mama-to-be (and support a small, mom-owned business while you’re at it!)
Visit Lucky Mama Boxes to place your order, learn more and see the list of items in each box. Check in often, because the new Bump Box and Baby Box are coming soon!
One lucky ABCGP reader will win their own Boobie Box, courtesy of Lucky Mama Boxes. Enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below. Ends 3/17. US only.
*No purchase necessary. US only.
When I came home from the hospital with our new little love a couple of weeks ago, the first thing I did was stock up on movies. Some for me, since I expected to be up all night, and some for my son, who I knew would be pretty bored while Mommy was stuck recovering on the couch for a while. Since our favorite, Peter Pan, had just been rereleased, we skipped the RedBox and just purchased it.
I was a little irked to see that I could only purchase the movie in a set that included both the DVD and the Blu-Ray disc. I guess I see the idea behind it – if you buy both, you’ll have the disc when you decide to make the switch to Blu-Ray (which we have not done yet, although I feel like we won’t have a choice soon.)
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love new technology. Really. What I don’t love is the pile of old electronics in our garage! TVs, VCRs, old monitors, and other old relics, tossed aside and dusty. Still working, but outdated. It’s kind of sad, really, for the poor, once-loved technology as well as the environment! After all, you can’t just throw that stuff away so it tends to just stick around as clutter…for a looong time.
Luckily, there is a quick and easy way to get rid of those unwanted items. Did you know that you can recycle them at Best Buy? In fact, Best Buy not only accepts your old electronics for recycling, but they are leading the industry in recycling efforts by offering the service for FREE in every Best Buy location in Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Filed under Green Living
