Inspired by Finn Review

I've always been curious about Baltic Amber Teething necklaces. I used to use Highlands teething tablets for my son and was DEVISTATED when they were recalled! When I got the oppertunity to review a Baltic Amber Teething Necklace from Inspired by Finn I was really excited!
It was hard for me to choose which necklace to order because there are so many cute colors and patterns. In the end I decided on the 4 Different round.
I've wondered if Baltic Amber was all it's cracked up to be. I'm open to try just about anything, and since I could no longer use my beloved Highlands, I needed something to ease my sons suffering!
My son has been working on his molars for months. It started back in December, they finally came in 2 or 3 weeks ago. I noticed a difference in how fussy he was within the first day. At night, to avoid a choaking hazard I would take it off his neck and double wrap it around his ankle. When it was wrapped around his ankle I would either have him in footie jammies or put a sock on over the necklace so it couldn't slip off.

I can't say for sure that Baltic Amber helps. Here is what I can say.......My son was crazy fussy due to teething pain before the Baltic Amber. He would wake up screaming in pain at night. Within the first few days my son acted like his teeth hardly bothered him. He would have occasoinal pain and fussiness, but it was few and far between. I believe that Baltic Amber has helped my baby.  A few weeks ago my son had 6 teeth break through within a week. He acted like it didn't bother him one bit. Those were the last 6 teeth he should get for a while. I'll be leaving his Baltic Amber Necklace on anyway!

Don't know much about Baltic Amber? Check out the Benefits of Baltic Amber and Hazelwood


Buy It: You can purchase any of her Baltic Amber Products HERE
 Inspired by Finn offers Flat Rate Shipping within the US

Want a 15% discount? Click HERE for deatails on how to get your discount! It's easy!!!

One Small Child Review & Giveaway***Closed***

I recently won the One Small Child giveaway hosted by Flutie Patootie. After winning I contacted Audrey at One Small Child, who was kind enough to sponsor a giveaway over here!
First of all I was impressed with the quick shipping! I received the Pima Sleeveless Bodysuit just days after the giveaway ended. When I got the body suit I fell in love with the super soft material. You can tell by looking at the bodysuit that it is made from high quality materials. The first time I put it on my son he sat there rubbing his belly because it was so soft! Though I love the Pima Body Suit, One Small Child has much more to offer! They offer a beautiful selection of Christening Gowns for boys and girls, and of course offer all the accessories that you could need to go with the gown....I was even surprised to see Christening gowns for Premies!  In addition to Christening Gowns they also offer quite a selection of Flower Girl Dresses, Communion Dresses, and many other items. I especially loved some of their little boy shoes and sandals!
One Small Child does offer FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100, which is something I love!

Giveaway: One Small Child is offering 1 lucky reader their choice of either the Pima Sleeveless Bodysuit (boy) or Pima Cotton Camisole Bodysuit (girl)

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Sample tweet: "I entered to win a @OneSmallChild Bodysuit from @FeelinCrunchy, you can too! Ends 4/3 http://tinyurl.com/4whpjqh"

Giveaway will close on April 3rd, 2011 at 10PM EST. Winner will be drawn using random.org and announced on 4/4. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email. If the winner does not respond to email within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. Good luck to everyone! OPEN TO US ONLY

The product I reviewed was won from another blog giveaway. No other compensation was received.

Bummas Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to kmogilevski

Comment # 192

kmogilevski said...
Your button is on my blog (http://allnaturalkatie.blogspot.com) - 1

The Winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to contact me! Thanks to everyone who entered. Look for another giveaway to be posted in the next couple days!

GroBaby Review

 Since I really liked the Flip System I thought I would love these diapers! I love the color options because they are so vibrant. I also really liked the fact that the insert snaps in so it can't slide around if you have a wiggly baby!

These diapers have a very trim fit and a low rise. I like the rise to come up a little higher since I have a boy but I think if I had a girl it would have worked well. I have known many people that like these diapers but they were not the right option for us. My son is chubby and it seemed like I could never get a good leak free fit. As you know by now I'm not crazy about the Aplix closure. When I bought these diapers I don't think they were available in a snap closure. It has been quite some time since I used them. They changed the name to GroVia. The GroVia diapers have an option for snap closure and color/print options have expanded. I would really like to give GroVia a try to see what the differences are.

The aplix closure seemed to be pretty good. It was soft, so if it ever did rub up against baby's skin it wouldn't hurt them. It seemed to wear well, but I did have problems with the laundry tabs staying closed. Since the tabs would open in the washer and dryer it did cause pilling on the diapers. Over time the tabs did curl a bit but it wasn't too bad.

Inserts:

The only insert I ever used with my GroBaby Diapers was the organic cotton insert. It was absorbant, but not as absorbant as some of organic cotton inserts I have used. GroBaby also offered a disposable insert option.

Sizing:

GroBaby diapers were a one size diaper that adjusted with a snap down rise. They were a bit smaller than most one size diapers I have used. I have heard they work well on babies that are not too chunky!

I really liked the idea of these diapers and was really sad that they did not work out for us. I would definately be willing to give GroVia a try in hopes that I could get a better fit. I ended up selling all of my GroBaby diapers on DiaperSwappers. The mommy that purchased the diapers loved them! It just shows that different diapers work better for some people than others!

BumGenius 3.0

 BumGeniuse 3.0s were my next step in my intro to cloth diapers. I had a coupon for buy one get one free so I was all about getting them! Overall I do like these diapers. I found them very easy to use and experienced very few leaks. In the beginning these were my night time diapers. I purchased them in Aplix closure because the only store that sells them locally did not have a snap option available. Being new to cloth diapers I initally liked the aplix closure. It was really easy to get a good fit, even in the middle of the night when I was half awake! Also, since I was used to sposies, the aplix closure made for an easy transition. Though I liked the aplix in the beginning I did notice that it wears quickly. Also the laundry tabs don't always hold when the diaper is in the washer or dryer, so the diaper has become a little pilly over time. I don't use this diaper often because snaps work best for us. From the time my son was about 7 months old he has been able to pull apart the aplix, so if I do put him in this diaper he must be fully dressed! Aside from the closure I do like this diaper. I have often thought of sending it in to have a snap conversion but...I'm just too lazy! I really do think I will send it in since I plan on using it for baby number 2 in the future. I love that this diaper never causes red marks on my son's skin and he always seems to be comfortable in it. If I would have purchased these diapers in a snap closure I would use them a lot more....maybe someday I will be motivated enough to send them in for the conversion!

Color Options:

Here is the BumGenius Color chart....all the same colors as the Flip System since both diapers are made by Cottonbabies.

Diaper Insert:

This diaper comes with a microfiber insert and a booser (aka newborn insert). I really like that the insert snaps down to adjust to the size depending on which rise setting you have the diaper on. The insert is as absorbant as any microfiber insert I have used and my sons skin always stays dry. I have also used hemp and organic cotton inserts in this diaper. It makes the diaper very trim and leak free!

Rise:

These diapers have 3 rise options. They get pretty small on the smallest setting. My son is still on the medium rise and he is 24lbs and 16 months old. The diapers are designed to fit from 8-35ish pounds. I have no doubt that these will fit my little guy until he is potty trained!



Since BumGenius introduced their newest diaper "The 4.0" its hard to find these diapers. The 4.0 is similar to the 3.0 but has some improved features and more color options. I'll be reviewing that one very soon since I just purchased my first 4.0!



Flip System Review

Flip System

The first diapers I purchased. These diapers came highly recommended by both moms that were new to Cloth Diapers and moms that had been CDing for some time.

What I Love: 

These diapers are a GREAT way to get your stash started! You can purchase 2 covers and with six inserts for $49.95 for the Stay Dry or $59.95 for the Organic. (If you watch diapers.com they will also offer $10 off your first diaper purchase every so often!)

These diapers are also easy to use. The cover can be reused several times before being washed. You just take out the wet insert, wipe out the cover and place a new insert in it! If the cover gets dirty (i.e. poop on it!) just toss it in the washer. The Manufacturer recommends line drying, which I normally do. I have thrown them in the dryer many times though and they seem to stand up just fine on medium heat. 

These covers also work well with prefold diapers. Prefolds are relatively inexpensive and can really help bulk up your stash in the beginning. Another great option the Flip System offers is a disposable insert. I personally never used them but could see how they would be a good option if you were traveling or are new to using cloth diapers. 

The Flip Cover is a one size cover that will grow with your baby. They fit from 7-35lbs. They are easy to use, like many One Size diaper they adjust with a snap rise. My son was 

Options:

Closure: Flip covers come in your choice of Snap or Aplix closure. I AM NOT A FAN OF APLIX!!! It has nothing to do with brands....just my preference. Aplix works great for some people, but not for us! That being said I would recommend these diapers in a Snap Closure

Color: Here is a link to the CottonBabies page that has the color chart

Inserts: 

Stay Dry (Right) VS Organic (Left)- I like both of these inserts. The Stay Dry insert truly does keep babies bottoms dry! That is something I noticed the very first time I changed a Flip diaper. The Stay Dry Suede does a great job of wicking water through it into the Microfiber layers. 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Organic insert! It is more absorbent than I ever could have imagined. It is perfect for night time. My son is a heavy wetter, but this insert will last him through the night. Since I normally use pocket diapers now I will stuff it in the pocket instead of a regular insert. This insert looks more like a Trifold or a prefold diaper. I was surprised at how soft this insert was. I have found some organic cotton inserts can be rough, but this one is still soft after being used for almost a year.

Where to buy: Most online cloth diaper retailers carry these diapers. Here are a couple of my fav retailers 

Abbys Lane (Free Shipping! Join their Yahoo Group to get monthly discount codes!)

Kelly's Closet (Free Shipping on orders over $49 and Monthly specials!)

Through time I have become a pocket diaper user, but I do still occasionally use my Flips. They are great for travel because they are not bulky. They have a very trim fit on baby....most cloth diapers are a little bulky. The color options are great because they have a lot of colors that won't be seen through clothes.....unless you want them to be! 

Bottle Free?

My big boy is almost 16 months old and I have decided its time to do away with the bottle. He has always taken water and juice from a cup but I could never get him to drink milk out of a sippy cup. He is down to one bottle because he bit a hole in all of his nipples and I refuse to buy more. The other day I just decided we were going to be done with it. Day 1 was rough. Since I wouldn't give him a bottle he repeatedly tried to rip my shirt off to get to the boob (we are working on breaking that too but its harder to take away). I was kind of worried cause he only drank a half sipppy cup of milk that first day....but he ate a ton of food to make up for it! Yesterday was better. He did throw a few fits and tried to pull my shirt off a few times. I am working today and tomorrow and REALLY hope my husband is not giving in and letting him have his bottle (hear that honey....I know you are reading this!!!) Wish me luck! I'm thinkin in a few days he will forget all about the bottle.....then maybe we can work on forgetting about the boob! LOL

Jade & Pearl Sea Sponge Tampon Review

When I started cloth diapering my baby, it was partially about being green and partially about keeping chemicals off his skin. I had no idea it was leading me to a greener life overall. So I guess one green product leads to another. I decided it was worth giving natural menstrual products a try. Gloria from Jade and Pearl was kind enough to send me two of their Premium Sea Sponge Tampons. I decided to do a comparison between the regular and premium sponges as well, so I purchased a pair of their regular sponges.

Some facts on Jade & Pearl Sea Sponges

• Sea Pearls are 100% Natural and Reusable
• Sea Pearls can be reused for 6 months or more
• The are easy to use, economical and Earth Friendly
• Their texture is much like the vaginal wall
• Sea Pearls are naturally very absorbent
• Can be left in during sex. You can even use Spermicide with them!
• Sea Pearls can help lessen the intensity of menstrual cramps
• Easy to clean (there are many cleaning options such as baking soda, sea salt, tea tree oil, peroxide, apple cider vinegar or Colloidal Silver)
• On Heavy flow days you can use 2 sponges at a time
• Sponges can be rinsed out and reused immediately

Regular Sea Pearls

Premium Sea Pearls

Looking at the sponges I could see a difference between the regular and premium. The Premium Sponges are much softer, but don't get me wrong, the regular sponges are soft too. For the small price difference ($2.00) I would recommend upgrading to the premium sponge.
The first time I used my Sea Pearls I had a little trouble inserting it. I finally got it after a little trial and error. Once it was in position I couldn't even feel it. After a little while I noticed that it had moved so I decided to try again. The second time I got it in right. I truly could not feel a thing. It is so comfortable! For the first day it seemed like each time I would insert it, it got easier and easier. It's crazy to thing that I was so scared to try these out! Of course I was also scared to use tampons again after I had my son! Thankfully I only used tampons for one cycle before I got to try these out.
I was also a little worried about removing them. I thought it would be hard. I was really surprised that they came out very easily. Jade & Pearl do say that you can sew a piece of waxed dental floss to the sponge if you would like, but I didn't really see the need.
I am so happy  Gloria gave me a chance to review these! I will be using them from here on out. I have always had severe menstrual cramps, especially on my first day. Since I have only used these for one cycle I can't say for sure but I am pretty sure they made me not have cramps. I absolutely love finding products that I am passionate about. These are one of those products for me. I would recommend them to everyone. Thank you Gloria for helping us reduce our footprint just a little more!

Jade & Pearl offers quite a selection of other natural products and gifts too. Check out there online catalog HERE

Jade and Pearl provided me with a sample of their Sea Sponge tampons free of charge for review purposes. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own!

**CLOSED**Bummas Review & Giveaway ENDS 3/6

For quite some time I have been going back and forth between cloth wipes and disposables. I love that with cloth I am not throwing anything away, and its really nice to not have that one wipe that ends up in the washer with my cloth diapers! I finally decided to fully make the switch and rid my life of disposable wipes! I was thrilled when Bummas agreed to let me host a review & giveaway! They sent me a set of the Wild Ones. The colors are so vibrant!

At first I thought they looked a little small compared to some of the wipes I have used, but after using them a few times I think they are the perfect size. There are so many uses for these wipes, I find myself reaching for them for almost any baby related cleanup I have.
The two sides have different textures. One is more of a scrubby texture and the other is nice and soft, as you can see in the pictures below.

Soft Side (above) Scrubby Side (Below)

Here are just a few of the things I find Bummas are great for:
-Drape one over private parts to avoid a "sneak attack" mid diaper change
-Either wet a wipe or use wipe solution for a quick cleanup of a messy diaper
-Use dry wipe to pat baby dry before putting new diaper on to prevent diaper rash
-Catch a runny nose
-Clean up a messy baby after a meal
-Clean up small spills
I'm sure I will come up with more uses as time goes on!

Bummas are 100% Cotton. They are super soft terry cloth and are very absorbent. Since Bummas leave baby's bum nice and dry there is no need for powders or rash creams. They are great for sensitive skin and my favorite part of all....they are Eco Friendly! They have several color combinations to choose from....I'll be buying some more just to get the other colors!

Buy ItHead over to the Bummas Website and order some! You can get a 10 pack for $16.99

Win ItBummas has been so kind to offer one luck reader a set of Bummas in their choice of color!

Manditory Entry Follow Feelin Kinda Crunchy via GFC and head over to Bummas and tell me which set you would choose if you win!

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Giveaway will close on March 6th at 10PM EST
Please make sure to leave your email in your comments so I can get in touch with you if you win!
Winner will be chosen using Random.org and posted on March 7th. GOOD LUCK!
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email. If the winner does not respond within that period a second winner will be drawn.

Bummas provided a sample of their product at no charge for review purposes. All opinions expressed are strictly my own!

*CLOSED*Skoy Cloth Review and Giveaway

Did you know that approximately 2.5 million tons of paper towels make their way into our landfills each year? I was blown away by this little statistic! In an effort to become more green I have decided to stop buying paper towels, but I wasn't sure what the best option for replacing them was. Then I came across Skoy Cloth. Skoy Cloth was created by two stay-at-home moms from California. They are made from cellulose (which is derived from wood) and cotton. It is 100% biodegradable, absorbent, and re-usable. It can be cleaned several ways. It is dishwasher safe, so you can just toss it in when you run the dishwasher. It is also washer and dryer safe or you can microwave it (while wet!) to disinfect it.

Over time these towels will start to breakdown. Skoy recommends "downgrading" them to floor towels and then outdoor use towels. Once you are done using the towel it can be composted and will break down completely in about 5 weeks!

You can find more information about their Use and Care at www.skoycloth.com

I have been using my Skoy Cloths for a week now and am amazed at how they are holding up. I have washed them several times and they are still standing strong. I love having these cloths around. I find myself reaching for them more and more each day. I would recommend these cloths to anyone that has anything to clean! They are just so handy to have around.

Buy It You can purchase a 4 pack on Amazon for $6.99

Win It Skoy has been kind enough to provide me with a 4 pack of Skoy Cloths for one lucky ready of my blog!
-Open to US only
-Giveaway will close at 11:59PM EST on 2/14/2011
-Leave your email address in each entry
-Make sure to leave one comment per entry

Mandatory Entry:
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Extra Entries:
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Disclosure: This product was provided 100% free of charge for review purposes only. Opinions expresses are completely my own!